Having just notched up 31 years at City Golf Club in Toowoomba this week, course superintendent John Halter (pictured) is set to hang up the hole cutter for the last time at the end of the month. Making the announcement on his LinkedIn profile earlier this week, the Queensland stalwart will finish up at the club on Friday 25 July, bringing to an end a long and celebrated tenure.

“It’s been an incredible journey – full of wonderful people, challenges, laughs and unforgettable memories,” Halter posted on LinkedIn. “I’m proud of the work we’ve achieved and the relationships built along the way. A heartfelt thank you to all the team members I’ve worked with over the years, as well as the many trade reps, suppliers, businesses and colleagues across the turf industry. Your knowledge, support and good humour made the job easier – and a lot more enjoyable.

“As I close this chapter, I look forward to spending more time with wife Judy and the family, travelling and seeing where this next season leads. Here’s to new beginnings – and to all the people who made the last 31 years so memorable, thank you.”

Halter, a near 25-year member of the ASTMA and former Board member of the GCSAQ, initially did an apprenticeship as a mechanic through the Toowoomba Regional Council, undertaking further studies to become an ‘A grade’ mechanic. After heading up the workshop of a local earthmoving company and spending a short stint in the civil construction sector, Halter spied City Golf Club’s ad for a mechanic and was duly appointed there in 1994. Loving the change of environment and appeal of turf management, Halter enrolled himself into TAFE in order to gain his greenkeeping qualifications. He would eventually be appointed assistant superintendent and took over the top job there in early 2009, spending more than 16 years in charge.

During his time as superintendent, Halter and his team prepared the club’s kikuyu fairways and bentgrass greens for a total of 11 Queensland PGA Championship events between 2009 and 2020. The highlight came in 2015 when Kiwi Ryan Fox collected the title, finishing ahead of Cameron Smith in what was one of the strongest fields the Qld PGA had witnessed. Following the success of that tournament, the PGA of Australia extended City Golf Club’s hosting rights before eventually shifting it to Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane following the COVID years.

Halter also had to oversee the clean-up and reinstatement of the course following the 2011 southeast Queensland floods which severely impacted a number of clubs along the Brisbane River. Despite being 700m above sea level and well inland from Brisbane, the city of Toowoomba was among the first areas to be affected by the deluge and subsequent floods.

In 2014 Halter won the GCSAQ’s Superintendent Achievement Award which was bestowed at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards on the Gold Coast. The award was in recognition of his dedication to the exemplary presentation of the course for the PGA events it had hosted to that point, as well as significant course changes via the club’s master plan. 

“I certainly love what I have achieved since working for the club, starting out as the mechanic, going back to TAFE, gaining my greenkeeper’s certificate and progressing to superintendent in 2009 – I never dreamt anything like this would’ve happened,” reflects Halter, who served four years on the GCSAQ Board. “I have been blessed to have a supportive family, especially my wife Judy, who knows a lot more about turf, pests and diseases than some of my staff!”

The ASTMA congratulates John on a fantastic tenure and thanks him for his support of the ASTMA and GCSAQ over the years. The ASTMA wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.

Story: Brett Robinson; Photos: Brett Robinson and City GC Facebook