Tim Warren from Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide has been bestowed the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association’s (ASTMA) longest-running award at the recent 2025 National Turf Industry Awards. In front of a large audience at a gala dinner held at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park on 23 June, Warren received the ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award, sponsored by association Gold Partner Envu. 

The National Turf Industry Awards dinner officially opened the 2025 Australian Sports Turf Management Conference which was held in Sydney for the first time in 24 years from 23-26 June. The ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award was one of six awards handed out on the night which recognised the achievements and successes of Australia’s sports turf management professionals over the past 12 months.

The ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award dates back to 1990 and over the years has honoured a who’s who of the Australian golf course superintendent profession. Since 2019, nominees for the award have been taken from each of the state superintendent association Excellence Award programs, making it a truly national award. In receiving the award, Warren (pictured right) beat home a strong field of finalists including David Somerville (Bankstown GC, NSW), Graeme Andrews (Mt Tamborine GC, Qld) and Des Russell (Cottesloe GC, WA).

Established in 1927, the Glenelg Golf Club is one of Australia’s most progressive and proactive clubs in Australia and is renowned for its strategic design, with the course featuring 93 bunkers and 12 wetlands providing golfers with a challenging but accessible course that caters to all skill levels.

Warren has been actively involved in turf management for almost three decades with time spent at a number of golf clubs. Since joining the Glenelg Golf Club as superintendent in 2018, Warren has been recognised for multiple achievements including leading Glenelg as recipient of the coveted ASTMA Claude Crockford Sustainability and Environmental Award, becoming the first South Australian to achieve the honour. Tim joins a rare club of fellow Australian superintendents who have achieved the Crockford-Excellence Award double, which includes current ASTMA president Ben Tilley (Headland GC, Qld), David Warwick (formerly Avondale GC, NSW) and Mick McCombe (Maleny GC, Qld).

Warren has led the way in implementing sustainable practices including water conservation measures, incorporation of native grasses, returning the current landscape back to its original heritage and contributing to the preservation of natural ecosystems. Since joining Glenelg as superintendent seven years ago, Warren identified several key areas requiring attention and improvement, including turf quality and overall playing surface standards, bunker management and improving an aging irrigation system.

Warren has been proactive in his turf management practices, constantly evaluating the age of the greens, the extent of couchgrass encroachment both around and within the greens, the percentage of Poa annua and the suitability of the older bentgrass varieties.

He has set high standards in bunker management, with a strong preference for maintaining its traditional revetted bunker style. To achieve this, Warren initiated a trial of synthetic turf tiles as a sustainable alternative, with artificial turf sourced from a decommissioned hockey pitch in Melbourne, repurposing it to build trial bunkers in the club’s practice area to allow a demonstration of the potential to the committee.

Beyond his work on the course, Warren has committed to sharing his knowledge and contributing to the broader sports turf management industry, regularly presenting at conferences and state meetings, as well as appearing on a range of podcasts to promote the work being done at Glenelg. He has also placed a great focus on fostering a collaborative staff and team culture with both external and internal sessions to help develop the team.

“I’ve got to thank the Glenelg Golf Club first. I’m the fifth superintendent in 98 years to have the honour to be the custodian of that club,” Tim said when accepting his award. “I appreciate it every day and it’s why I do the things I do…I want to acknowledge all the other nominees, all of those guys are doing some fantastic work at their facilities and are all extremely well credentialed practitioners.”

Story by Nick Creely/Pictures by Brett Robinson (ASTMA)