The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast

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 

For the very first time, we're heading to the Northern Territory!

Jimmy Downes is Head Greenkeeper of the local nine hole golf course in downtown Humpty Doo, outside Darwin. Yes, you heard me right, Humpty Doo. This nine hole golf course might have a unique name, and be located in a unique part of Australia, but it's nothing compared to Jimmy's unique greenkeeping career path.

Leaving school early would see Jimmy finding horticulture where he made the most of it. Studying and gaining plenty of knowledge in horticulture saw Jimmy looking for work without much luck before he was given an opportunity in a very different place!

Taking the bull by the horns, this opportunity quickly became Jimmy's big adventure! Working on a golf course in a far away wonderland, Jimmy soon found himself at this new home for many years. Taking up the game of golf and enjoying the sport at his new home, many years would pass when things changed and he was looking for work again.

A stint outside greenkeeping for a few years soon had Jimmy thinking of golf and sports turf again, and it wasn't long before Humpty Doo just happened to be the right fit at the right time!

You're sure to enjoy this wild, and at times left field adventure, as we learn about golf and greenkeeping in the NT along with just how big Australia really is!

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Humpty Doo & Rural Area Golf Club

Humpty Doo Greenkeeper

Humpy Doo

Groote Eylandt

Alyangula Golf Club

Gove Golf Club

Royal Pines Resort

7 Mile Beach Golf Course

Lawntips - Ben Sims

Finding Fairways Australia

Inside The Greenkeepers Shed is a behind the scenes look into just what is involved in preparing a golf course and is broken down in a way for every day people to understand.

This episode I interview Superintendent of Cranbourne Golf Club, Nico Douglas, and we chat about his tournament preparation experience as a volunteer team member preparing for LIV Golf Adelaide earlier in the year at The Grange Golf Club.

Nico discusses his reasons behind wanting to be part of the team and also just why he believes it is a great opportunity for any greenkeeper to experience.

If you want to get an inside peek into tournament preparation, or are thinking about applying to be a volunteer greenkeeper at a tournament, you'll want to listen to this one!

People and Places mentioned in this podcast:

⁠Nico Douglas - Superintendent Cranbourne Golf Club⁠

⁠Cranbourne Golf Club⁠

⁠Volunteer for LIV Golf Adelaide⁠

⁠Rowan Daymond - Superintendent The Grange Golf Club⁠

⁠The Grange Golf Club⁠

⁠LIV Golf Adelaide 2025⁠

⁠The Australian Open⁠

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored 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 here at deere.com.au

Matthew Bailey may not have the experience of someone that has worked an numerous courses, but he more than makes up for it on the two courses he has worked at!

Matthew's early greenkeeping career saw him learning under two highly respected superintendents where he would experience course construction and a new course build from scratch. Quickly climbing the ranks it wasn't long before he would become Superintendent at Lynwood. An amalgamation soon after taking the reins and a few years working as Superintendent soon saw an offer of a senior management role inside the clubhouse. A pandemic and consecutive floods during one of the wettest periods on record had Matthew learning on the run and thinking outside the box in many ways to help make Lynwood a great community club as well as a great golf facility.

A greenkeeper at heart, the golf course has always been the centre of Matthew's thoughts, and it wasn't long before he was back outside leading the team and maintaining the golf course in the hands on role he loves yet again.

This is a fun yarn that has a bit for everyone. Strap yourself in for a ride that experiences everything without going anywhere.

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

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Lynwood Golf & Country Club

Wallacia Golf Club

Penrith Panthers Leagues Club

NSW Floods 2022

TPC Deere Run

John Deere Classic

Castle Hill RSL Group

IGA Blaxland

This Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by ⁠The Social Media Birdie If you're looking for social media or digital media management, then go one better with The Social Media Birdie "We're Better Than Par".

Fraser Brown might not be someone you've heard of in Australian greenkeeping before, but he will be after you listen to his story in this interview.

Lake Karrinyup Country Club is often considered one of, if not, the best golf course Western Australia has to offer. Designed by Alex Russell, Australian design partner of Alister MacKenzie, it is located on a unique site in Perth's northern suburbs. For nearly the past 8 years Fraser has lead the maintenance team as Superintendent of this wonderful golf course, preserving its unique qualities and retaining its proud place in Australian golf. Fraser's journey to becoming Superintendent at Lake Karrinyup could be considered as unique the course itself. A Scotsman growing up in an area the rest of us might consider golf heaven, Fraser found his early calling, before taking a path less travelled (possibly by no one ever before) to eventually landing in Australia and maintaining turf in one of Australia's most unique locations!

If this story doesn't show you just where greenkeeping can take you around the world, then nothing will. Come and join Fraser and I as we learn about the wild west and other far flung corners of the globe.

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

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Lake Karrinyup Country Club

Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Carnoustie Golf Links

Alex Russell

Dr Alister MacKenzie

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia

First Walking The Faiways for 2024 and I've got a few things to bring to you.

Come with me as I keep you informed with what's happening on golf courses around Australia with updates as to who is changing their course, which courses have architects starting new work and what has generally been happening around the country. The only place where you will get a huge insight from the inner working of Australian golf courses!

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

We need your help now, time is running out!

Moore Park Golf Course in Sydney is at an important junction in its long history as a public golf course. Moore Park Golf Course was a golf course that from its very inception was built as a gateway to the sport of golf for the working class of Sydney. Those who could not afford an entry into the private exclusive clubs that were being built in the surrounding areas. A copy if you like, of how golf was accessed by those of the old country, Scotland.

Recently, pressure to retain 18 holes of golf at Moore Park has been brought to a head, when late last year the NSW Government announced its intention to repurpose approximately half of the golf course space for other outdoor activities which does not include golf.

Join me on this episode as I phone in a friend with one of the leaders of the campaign to save Moore Park Golf Course, Jared Kendler. Jared is a very passionate nearby resident of the Moore Park Golf Course and a regular player of the course. Listen as we take a very deep dive into what is at stake for the Moore Park Golf Course and its long history that began as the very first iteration of a public golf course in Australia way back in 1910. We also wade through the details that are sometimes overlooked when discussing Moore Park Golf Course and why we believe its very much worth saving and participating in the fight to save it as 18 holes.

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

Important links to help save Moore Park Golf Course:

Centennial Parklands - Have Your Say on the Future of Moore Park South

Survey: Share Your Ideas - Moore Park South

The Future of Moore Park South - Discussion Paper

The Board Room segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by The Social Media Birdie. If you're a golf club, golf course or business in the golf industry, then The Social Media Birdie is who you need to look after your social and digital media for you. Check them out by clicking here The Social Media Birdie

Ever thought "Hey, someone should build a golf course over there!" Well, that's exactly what touring professional golfer Mat Goggin thought many years ago of an area of land at 7 Mile Beach in Hobart, Tasmania.

If you're into golf then you've probably heard something about the new golf course being built at 7 Mile Beach. If not, that's ok, because I'm about to load you up full of sand! And by sand, I mean information about the 7 Mile Beach golf course as I spend some time with Mat Goggin, the driving force behind one of the most exciting golf course construction projects in Australia.

Join Mat Goggin and I as we discuss just how much time, effort and work is involved in building a world class public access golf course from scratch. Mat is very open as we dive not only into the moments that spawned the idea of building a golf course at 7 Mile Beach, but also the passion he is putting into this project and what he wants it to become.

This podcast you are sure to enjoy no matter how much you think you already know about 7 Mile Beach!

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

People and places mentioned in this podcast:

7 Mile Beach Golf Course

7 Mile Beach Instagram account

7 Mile Beach Golf Shop

Mat Goggin (Wiki Profile)

Lindy Goggin - One of The Greats (by David Newbery) Inside Golf - 27th May 2016

Clayton DeVries Pont (CDP)

Barnbougle

Royal Melbourne Golf Club

2009 Open Championship Turnberry

This episode of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Campbell Chemicals⁠⁠⁠. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au

Settle into that seat of yours, turn down the background noise and lets have a good time.

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

People & Places mentioned in this podcast:

Colin Campbell Chemicals

The ASTMA

Royal Perth Golf Club

Te Arai Links

Dr Jim Brosnan

Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club

NSWGCA

Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠Colin Campbell Chemicals⁠⁠. Click on their name or go to and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au

Rowan Daymond is a Superintendent that has just experienced what it's like to LIV through being the host of a major tournament. (See what I did there?!)

Rowan's greenkeeping career began from humble beginnings in a small regional town along the mighty Murray River. Playing golf with his Grandfather as a young boy, Rowan would grow up to enjoy the game of golf along with getting a start as a greenkeeper on the local golf course of his home town of Coomealla. A move to the South Australian capital Adelaide would see Rowan gain significant experience under the guidance of a very well respected Superintendent before taking a break to travel to the UK. Rowan's career restarted back in Adelaide where he would begin his long relationship with The Grange Golf Club over a couple of stints including a rebuild.

Fast forward to today and Rowan leads a large team maintaining the largest golf facility in Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club which has just finished playing host to the very first LIV tournament held in Australia.

Sit down and grab a drink for this one as Rowan gives us an insight into what it was like hosting the newest version of tournament golf in the world. He also puts The Grange on your bucket list of courses to play as we explore just what make The Grange, The Grange.

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

Places Mentioned in this podcast:

The Grange Golf Club

Coomealla Golf Club

Kooyonga Golf Club

Royal Adelaide Golf Club

Murray Downs Golf Resort

The Castle Course, St Andrews

Walking The Fairways segment is here along with some news from what's happening on golf courses around Australia including the NT for something new. I also give you my take on the whole LIV/PGAT/EUROPGAT! So much going on but I just had to throw my thoughts in there this time around.

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