Well wasn’t that just the worst summer ever but at least we are getting a little sunshine now to hopefully dry things out!!! I must admit my couch grass has been very happy this year though I do agree pest and disease issues have been on the harder to control end of the scale on other surfaces.

Recently the current committee whilst now smaller are making good behind the scenes progress with the goal of making all organisational tasks easier to complete for month to month operations and communication processes. These small but vital changes will not happen over night, but will happen, so please if you notice any slight wrinkles in the armour these will be ironed out over time.

Omaha Beach Golf Club was the host of this year’s event thanks to Corey’s win last year and everyone who played or was part of the day was treated to fantastic weather and a superb golf course presented by Corey and his team.

This year’s winner of the Toro Cup proudly sponsored by Parkland Products and Toro was Ian Howells from South Head with 36 stableford.

Other winners on the day were.

            Best Team – South Head (98 stableford). Sponsored by Advanced Irrigation

            Best Nett – Laurie Hill (69 nett). Sponsored by Power Turf

            Best Gross – Martin Burger (71 Gross). Sponsored by Prebble Seeds

A big thanks must go out to Omaha Beach Golf Club and its staff for putting on such a great day and also to all those who sponsored prizes on the day. Your continued support is much appreciated.

We have two Workshop Days booked in for early and late May.

Our first day will be held at Remuera Golf Club hosted by Dave Smith. He is going to give us a run down of his trip to Las Vegas for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education Conference and also provide a course walk to show off his newly constructed green and tees.

Details are as follows.

Location:                     Remuera Golf Club

                        Date:                           Tuesday 1^st May

                        Time:                           10.30 am – Dave Smith talk

11.30 am – Lunch

12.15 pm – Course Walk

2 pm – Trainee Test

2.30 pm – Home time

Our second day is one that the AGCSA is proudly putting on for the Trade Industry who has for many years supported the AGCSA with sponsorship and prizes to many events. Peter Boyd and Pakuranga Golf Club have kindly donated their time to allow this day to proceed.

Details are as follows.

                        Location:                     Pakuranga Golf Club

                        Date:                           Tuesday 22^nd May

                        Time:                           10.30 am – Trade Show

                                                            12.30 pm – BBQ Lunch

                                                            1 pm – Final test for trainees

                                                                        Course walk for the rest

                                                            2.30 pm – Home time

If you would like to be a part of this day to give your company an opportunity to show off your latest products, machinery or ideas then please get into contact with Peter Boyd ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 027 486 9302). To all other AGCSA members please make sure this day is free on your calendar to support our trade partners.

This day will be the last of the trainee tests so make sure your trainee has at least three test scores submitted for entry into the Gordon West Trainee of the Year Award.

Recently the committee has reluctantly accepted two resignations. Brendan Allen (Committee member) from Royal Auckland Golf Club who is moving into a Golf Operations Manager role at The Hills near Queenstown and Brad Voullaire (Past President and Committee member) previously from Gulf Harbour Country Club has moved to the Taranaki to be closer to family. The Association wishes these two highly regarded Committee Members who have had a strong influence on the Association over the past few years all the best in their new directions.

The association has agreed to purchase its own laptop so all vital information is held in one central location and can be passed onto future predecessors. As this develops we will be searching for past information and history on the association where we can upload or scan to file. If you have information at your workplace or home from either being a past committee member or been a part of a field/workshop day then please get in contact with one of our committee members.

The annual subscriptions are now due. If you have not received a subscription form in the post yet please get in contact with one of our committee members for details.

Kind Regards, Martin Burger, AGCSA President