Episodes

  • EP.100 Keeper of the Greens - When the Host Becomes the Guest
    Dec 8 2024

    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

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    2 hrs and 4 mins
  • EP.99 Keeper of the Greens - Jason Seis (Mudgee Golf Club)
    Dec 1 2024

    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


    Superintendent of Mudgee Golf Club, Jason Seis, is a 5th generation farmer from the local Mudgee/Gulgong region of NSW. Knowing what farming life was all about and being a golfer as a kid, Jason took an opportunity for some work experience at Mudgee Golf Club during his later school years. It was at this time that he found a liking to greenkeeping and what it was all about.


    Fast forward to finishing school and Jason decided that he didn't want to work on the family farm but instead work as a greenkeeper. Without an apprenticeship available at the time, Jason was committed to his decision and put himself through the 1st year of greenkeeping at TAFE until he finally landed his apprenticeship at Mudgee Golf Club.


    After completing his apprenticeship Jason was soon on a path to an Assistant Superintendents role away from the local Mudgee area for a few years before the family farm would soon come calling. Moving back home and working on the family farm for nearly 10 years, an opportunity arose with a vacant position of Superintendent at Mudgee Golf Club and this time it was the passion of greenkeeping that came calling.


    Come for a journey with Jason and I as he gives us an insight into rural country life and greenkeeping in the Central West of NSW where it's hot and dusty, and 18 hole golf courses are separated by hours instead of minutes.


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    Mudgee Golf Club

    Mudgee Wine Region

    Doctor Doctor TV Show

    Wentworth Falls Country Club

    Bathurst Golf Club

    Henbury Golf Club

    Dubbo Golf Club

    Royal Sydney Golf Club

    ASTMA

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • EP.98 Walking the Fairways - My Kingston Heath Experience
    Nov 25 2024

    Kingston Heath Golf Club is co hosting the Australian Open this year. I recently travelled to Melbourne and was fortunate to be given an opportunity to play a round at Kingston Heath.


    In this episode of Walking the Fairways I want to give you an insight into just what I experienced and saw out on the golf course at Kingston Heath, along with giving you some things to look for if you're at the tournament walking the fairways, or watching it on TV.


    I hope you enjoy this walk of a different kind.


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    Kingston Heath Golf Club

    Royal Queensland Golf Club

    The Royal Melbourne Golf Club

    Cape Wickham Golf Links

    Golf Australia Magazine Top 100

    Australian Golf Digest Top 100

    top100golfcourses.com World Top 100

    Massey Ferguson 35x

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    46 mins
  • EP.97 Keeper of the Greens - Sophie Warren (Glenelg Golf Club)
    Nov 17 2024

    Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. Check out the brand new ⁠⁠185 E-Cut⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠225 E-Cut⁠⁠ fully electric walk behind greens mowers from John Deere. Find your nearest ⁠⁠⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ask for a demo.


    Sophie Warren is a young upcoming female greenkeeper! Having recently received the Turf Management South Australia (TMSA) Graduate of the Year award Sophie has got the greenkeeping world at her fingertips.


    Sophie is currently a 4th year apprentice and very soon to become a fully qualified greenkeeper at Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia. With a full course rebuild of Glenelg GC being conducted throughout her entire apprenticeship, Sophie is learning not only her trade, but she is being exposed to and learning many techniques and skills that few apprentices are afforded.


    Having been the first ever apprentice I've interviewed on the podcast, I wanted to see how Sophie got into the trade of greenkeeping and find out what it is about greenkeeping that she enjoys so much. We dive into what she's experienced in the industry, not only at Glenelg Golf Club, but also being invited to be part of the John Deere Women in Turf Program, and volunteering at the Australian Open.


    Sophie is a bright star of the future of greenkeeping and at the same time, a very down to earth individual. Come with us as we have a bit of fun and a laugh along the way and see just why this apprentice greenkeeper is enjoying her career so much!


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    Glenelg Golf Club

    Glenelg Golf Club Course Enhancement Plan

    Royal Adelaide Golf Club

    John Deere Women in Turf Program

    Cobram Barooga Golf Club

    Webex Players Series Murray River

    St Andrews Beach Golf Course

    TMSA

    St Vincent Gulf, South Australia

    EP.75 Keeper Of The Greens - Tim Warren (Glenelg Golf Club)

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    54 mins
  • EP.96 Walking the Fairways - Hobart, Tasmania
    Nov 12 2024

    Walking the Fairways is back in 2024 and what better way to do it than to give you an update as to just what is happening in Hobart, Tasmania after my recent trip there.


    Come with me as I give you a glimpse into some of the newest golf course projects happening in Australia, along with a couple of local stalwart courses of Hobart that are worth visiting when you're in town!

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


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    7 Mile Beach Golf Course

    Royal Hobart Golf Club

    Llanherne Golf Club

    Arm End Golf Course

    Mat Goggin on The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast

    Clayton Devries Pont

    OCM Golf Design


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    56 mins
  • EP.95 Keeper of the Greens - Richard Forsyth (The Royal Melbourne Golf Club)
    Nov 3 2024

    Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. Check out the brand new ⁠185 E-Cut⁠ and ⁠225 E-Cut⁠ fully electric walk behind greens mowers from John Deere. Find your nearest ⁠⁠⁠J⁠ohn Deere dealer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠deere.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ask for a demo.


    Richard Forsyth leads the team that maintain one of the greatest golf facilities on Earth, The Royal Melbourne Golf Club!


    From a farming background on the outskirts of Melbourne, a young Richard took an opportunity as a apprentice greenkeeper at Riversdale Golf Club in Melbourne. He quickly acquired the taste for golf greenkeeping which included the overall landscape of the site and not just the turf.


    A couple of appointments at golf resorts along the Murray River, including his first posting as a Superintendent, would set Richard up for the appointment as Superintendent at The Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne's famed Sandbelt region.


    Richard's experience gained thus far in his career was becoming extensive and he was at home leading the team at Metro. However, when the seat was vacated at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Richard threw his hat in the ring and ultimately was bestowed the responsibility to hold the keys and lead the team of maintaining the hallowed MacKenzie/Russell designed 36 hole facility just as the 2011 Presidents Cup was knocking on the door!


    Join with me as we ride with Richard throughout his greenkeeping journey before things get detailed and interesting as we talk about the inner workings of maintaining the Royal Melbourne golf courses. We discuss history, architecture, green firmness, the art and majesty of non uniform turf surfaces, philosophy of turf maintenance, and vegetation. We also discuss how Royal Melbourne is the sum of greater than its parts, and how, like that famous line out of the great Aussie movie The Castle, sometimes "it's the vibe" that is the indefinable quality of Royal Melbourne!


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    ⁠The Royal Melbourne Golf Club⁠

    ⁠Riversdale Golf Club⁠

    ⁠Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort⁠

    ⁠Murray Downs Golf & Country Club⁠

    ⁠The Metropolitan Golf Club⁠

    ⁠Alister MacKenzie⁠

    ⁠Mick Morcom & Claude Crockford

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    2 hrs and 5 mins
  • EP.94 Aussie Golf History - Killara Golf Club Part 2
    Oct 27 2024

    Killara Golf Club is celebrating 125 years in 2024!


    We pick up the Killara Golf Club story in 1932. This second part of the podcast sees the club navigate their way through the challenging time after the clubhouse has been gutted by fire. The Second World War has an impact on both the club and Australia, and moving into the 1960's the club was looking to upgrade the golf course with architect Commander John Harris.


    Along with learning about the continued history of the golf club, this second part of the episode brings in a number of personal insights from the recent history of the golf club with a number of guests joining me throughout the story. These guests allow us to understand and see what goes on deep inside the golf club and just how Killara is functioning as a club and looking to move forward and plan for the future.


    As we come to the completion of Killara Golf Club's story, I am also joined by Golf Course Architect Harley Kruse. Harley details his thoughts on just what his recent redesign of the golf course has delivered to the club and how it is setting the club and course up for the future.


    Come and join me on this final part of this history podcast journey as I continue the deep dive to complete this amazing story of just what makes Killara Golf Club not only one of Sydney's greatest golf treasures, but also one of Australia's!


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


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    Killara Golf Club

    NSW Golf Club

    Prosper Ellis

    Commander John Harris

    Harley Kruse

    Peter's Ice Cream clubhouse model


    This two part podcast episode was a paid project in partnership with Killara Golf Club.

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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • EP.93 Aussie Golf History - Killara Golf Club Part 1
    Oct 20 2024

    Killara Golf Club is celebrating 125 years in 2024!


    As one of the oldest golf clubs in Australia, Killara began its life in 1899 as Lindfield Golf Club and was also located on a different site than it is today. Only some details are known of the golf club's earliest history and I have set out to try and find some of those missing pieces during this podcast project.


    Working with Killara Golf Club on this project, some of what we have been able to discover includes the previously unknown first designers of the original Killara golf course, the beginning of the golf career of one of Australia's greatest ever amateur players, and never before heard details of Dr Alister MacKenzie's course report from 1926.


    Add to all of this, I along with you the audience, hear about the evolution of Killara's unique golf course through the various architects that have been involved, learn a bit about the early history of golf in Sydney, and get a broad understanding of just where Killara Golf Club sits within the golf landscape of Sydney.


    Come and join me on this two part podcast journey as I deep dive and tell the amazing and previously unknown story of just what makes Killara Golf Club not only one of Sydney's greatest golf treasures, but also one of Australia's!


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


    People and places mentioned in this podcast:

    Killara Golf Club

    Royal Sydney Golf Club

    The Australian Golf Club

    Newcastle Golf Club

    Bondi Golf & Diggers Club

    Avondale Golf Club

    Carnegie Clark

    Dan Soutar

    Dr Alister MacKenzie

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    1 hr and 19 mins