Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Women in Turf Program is supported by John Deere in collaboration with Envu and the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA). A key part of the program sees a group of selected volunteer female greenkeepers from right across Australia assist the course maintenance team of Cobram Barooga Golf Club preparing their golf course for the Webex Players Series Murray River tournament.

Working with John Deere, I was given the opportunity to chat with each of the volunteers to get an insight into their greenkeeping careers understanding just what they enjoy about their chosen career, what it's like working and preparing a golf course for a tournament for the first time and what they are getting out of being part of this fantastic industry supported program. I also speak with Cobram Barooga Golf Club Superintendent Terry Vogel and CEO Bobby Brooks about what it means to have this program involved at their club.

Join me as we hear the enthusiasm from an energetic group of young female greenkeepers as they experience something new in a part of the country that they've not experienced before.

You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Women in turf Program

Cobram Barooga Golf Club

Webex Players Series Murray River

Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA)

Settlers Run Golf & Country Club

Kooringal Golf Club

Charlestown Golf Club

Green by Nature

Next Gen Jobs

Maroondah City Council

City of Stirling

Thanks to The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, The Design Brief is back!

Richard Chamberlain may not be a household name in Australian golf course architecture. As you'll soon hear, Richard is however extremely well experienced and has worked with some of those household golf course architecture names.

From an early career in cartography Richard was soon to make a change into golf course architecture, probably in a way you won't see coming. Once in the game, with a couple of Australia's well known names such as Graham Marsh and Ross Watson, Richard was soon finding his was in the earliest days of CAD for golf course design and construction.

Fast forward through some rewarding, and at times, tumultuous years, Richard is now well into his very own career as a golf course architect. As you'll hear, he is working on a number of golf course projects around Australia. One corner of his business that he has carved out in the industry himself, is that of mini golf course design. Different to the image that you conjure in your mind at the moment you first hear about mini golf, golf clubs and other golf facilities are seeing enormous benefits to adding mini golf to their established golf offerings.

Join Richard and I as we theoretically travel the country discussing old golf course design and construction, new golf course design and construction, mini golf, short par 4's, and the odd beer story all in the name of learning more and gaining an insight into the mind of a golf course architect.

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Richard Chamberlain Golf Design - website

Richard Chamberlain Email - richard@rgcd.com.au

Richard Chamberlain Phone - 0409 899 007

Graham Marsh - Planet Golf website

Ross Watson - Planet Golf website

Magenta Shores Golf Club

Kooindah Waters Golf Club

Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club

Karratha Country Club

Royal Hobart Golf Club

Ocean Shores Country Club

Wembley Golf Course

Royal Fremantle Golf Club

Palm Meadows Golf Course

Meadowbrook Golf Club

Cobram Barooga Golf Club

Bankstown Golf Club

Toowoomba Golf Club

The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA)

In news on Walking the Fairways I let you know about a $300M golf and surf resort coming to the Gold Coast, Rowan Daymond - Superintendent of The Grange GC in Adelaide drops in for a chat about preparing the course for LIV Golf Adelaide, Yowani Golf Club in Canberra gets a mention as their new layout design by Ben Davey from Contour Golf is growing in nicely, Mt Lawley Golf Club in Perth is soon to open their full course greens replacement program designed by OCM, and Nigel Taylor swings by to give us the details of his extreme challenge to raise awareness for mental health in the greenkeeping industry.

You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!

If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:

Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Palm Valley Gold Coast

Yowani Golf Club

Contour Golf

Federal Golf Club

Shoalhaven Heads Golf Club

Cobram Barooga Golf Club

Latrobe Golf Club

OCM Design

Huntingdale Golf Club

Riversdale Golf Club

Glenelg Golf Club

The Grange Golf Club

LIV Golf Adelaide

Nedlands Golf Club

Seaview Golf Club

Mt Lawley Golf Club

Nigel Taylor (Instagram)

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest ⁠⁠⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kate Rainsbury is relatively young in the greenkeeping industry. However, what she may lack in experience she more than makes up for with passion and energy about her chosen career of greenkeeping.

As a young golfer at The Dunes Golf Club on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Kate was looking for work, pocket money as a teenager. She got her first job working maintaining the golf carts and working in the clubhouse and driving range before an opportunity to become an apprentice greenkeeper fronted her. Covid was taking hold and the opportunity for full time work and not going to university was a real option. Kate took hold of the greenkeeping apprenticeship and ran with it. She ran with it to the point where she is now not only fully qualified as a greenkeeper, but has also recently landed herself a position as 3IC at the nearby established Sorrento Golf Club and is completing her Diploma studies.

Yes, Kate is quickly showing the greenkeeping industry that she is not only a passionate individual that loves her job, but also someone who is looking to climb the ranks to one achieving her goal of becoming a Superintendent of her very own golf course!

Join me as Kate takes us on the ride of her career from humble beginnings to working at one of Victoria's highly regarded golf clubs in a leadership role. This conversation is sure to motivate you and you will feel Kate's passion through the conversation. This is one young greenkeeper that we will all be hearing more about in the near future!

You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

John Deere Golf - Women in Turf Program⁠

⁠2025 Women in Turf Initiative

Sorrento Golf Club

The Dunes Golf Links

Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA)

Cobram Barooga Golf Club⁠

⁠Webex Player Series Murray River

Tara Iti Golf Links

Te Arai Links

Walking the Fairways is the news segment of the podcast where I keep you up to date with happenings on golf courses around Australia including who is doing redesign works, new construction updates, which golf clubs are improving their golf courses, and any new architecture updates.

On this episode I make a announcement of something new that I'm supporting in 2025 that we need your help with, and I also have friend of the podcast Nadeem join me to give you an update on a new resource that is available to the greenkeeping industry.

Come along with me as we traverse the country and get you up to date!

People, places and things mentioned in this podcast:

For the book - Biology and Integrated Management of Turfgrass Disease, send an email to Nadeem directly at zreikat@campbellchemicals.com.au

Behind the Turf Podcast

John Deere Women in Turf Program

Webex Players Series

Cobram Barooga Golf Club

The Western Australian Golf Club

Royal Fremantle Golf Club

Wanneroo Golf Club

Busselton Golf Club

Mollymook Hill Top Golf Course

Mallacoota Golf Club

Maleny Golf Club

Lakelands Golf Club

Kyneton Golf Club

Strathallan Golf Club

Hanse Golf Course Design

MacKenzie & Ebert Design

Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies

Ryan Van Der Veen Design

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest ⁠⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠

There aren't many people who can say they have worked at the one place for nearly 40 years, and there are less people that can say they've worked at the one golf club for nearly 40 years! Idris Evans is one of those very few people that CAN say they have!

Idris is Superintendent at The Western Australian Golf Club in Perth, WA. From a cricket loving background Idris found his way into golf greenkeeping as it was a job that gave him time to practice his cricket at a young age. Growing up in Darwin Idris made the move to Perth to further his potential cricket career before making the decision that cricket would only be a passionate hobby and greenkeeping would be his chosen career path.

Entering the greenkeeping industry at a young age, Idris would soon become a passionate and loyal team member of The Western Australian Golf Club where he would climb his way through the ranks, being mentored by some of the best in the west, before staking his claim in the role of Superintendent when the seat became available. His time as Superintendent began with a couple of significant projects on course which most people won't get to experience in their careers. As a passionate leader, Idris has built a passionate team at the WAGC which has helped produce a high quality golf facility with passionate members that punches above its weight given the smaller size of the golf course compared to it more well known neighbours.

Join with me for a great convo linking the east and west coasts over the phone as we dive into a remarkable greenkeeping career and get an insight into The Western Australian Golf Club.

You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

John Deere Golf - Women in Turf Program

2025 Women in Turf Initiative

The Western Australian Golf Club

Mount Lawley Golf Club

Lake Karrinyup Country Club

Joondalup Resort

Royal Perth Golf Club

The Vines Resort

The Cut Golf Club

Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club

Cobram Barooga Golf Club

Webex Player Series Murray River

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest ⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠

Glenn Stuart is Director of Courses at one of Australia's best golf facilities, Peninsula Kingswood, or PK as it's affectionately known.

Glenn was around good golf courses from a young age as you'll hear including the well regarded, regional Victorian, Leongatha Golf Club. When it came to getting full time work at the age of 17, Glenn put himself forward to a number of golf clubs, and as it would turn out, landed a job at the now former Kingswood Golf Club, which in recent years became one half of today's Peninsula Kingswood. Glenn was mentored by some of the greenkeeping industries brightest minds at a young age which would set him up to become a Superintendent himself for the first time at a young age at another well known Sandbelt golf course! Glenn continued his career as Superintendent throughout a number of Melbourne's best golf courses including preparing for some of the biggest tournaments held in Australia. Then came a new opportunity to take on a new role and the new Peninsula Kingswood, a merger of both Peninsula and Kingswood golf club's which entailed a rebirthing and redesign of Peninsula's 36 hole facility to create the new PK.

As you'll hear, this redesign was one enormous task that evolved during the process, and Glenn's insight into just what was involved to bring PK to life and how it is being maintained since, needs to be heard to understand another reason why I believe PK should be considered as one of the best golf facilities in Australia.

You are going to enjoy this interview, you are going to get a great deal out of this interview, you will consider your thoughts about PK after this interview, and you will be looking for a way to play PK after this interview!

Join me for one final ride in 2024 as we dive deep with Glenn into his incredible greenkeeping career and learn about PK like never before!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club

Leongatha Golf Club

Kingston Beach Golf Club

Riversdale Golf Club

The National Golf Club - Long Island Course

Woodlands Golf Club

The Metropolitan Golf Club

OCM Design

EP.95 Keeper of the Greens - Richard Forsyth (The Royal Melbourne Golf Club) on Apple

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest ⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠

The tables are turned for episode 100 of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast when I, Steve Smith, become the guest on my own podcast!

Join me as we wind up the fun factor for something very different where neither you, or I, know just what might happen!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

The Golfing Greenkeeper Instagram

The Golfing Greenkeeper Facebook

Cranbourne Golf Club

EP.54 Keeper of the Green - Nico Douglas (Cranbourne Golf Club)

Wentworth Falls Country Club

Blackheath Golf Club

St Andrews Beach Golf Course

Kingston Heath Golf Club

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club