North Adelaide Golf Club assistant superintendent Ryan Smooker has recently become the first student to commence and complete all 14 units of the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association’s Diploma of Sports Turf Management (AHC51024). 

The 40-year-old turf manager, who previously completed his Certificate III in Sports Turf Management 12 years ago as part of his apprenticeship (a requirement to undertake the Diploma), said he’d always wanted to take on the course and was delighted to complete it.

Smooker has been working at North Adelaide Golf Club for 15 years in the maintenance team and hopes the Diploma can help propel his already established career forward even more.

“I started the course two years ago, I got into the course when the ASTMA started offering it,” he said. “I thought it was a great course from start to finish. It was an excellent course. One of the big things for me was how well the course was planned and the timing of the subjects at the time made it relevant for what we were doing at the time.

“In this next phase, I would like to be a superintendent one day but as far as the immediate future I’m pretty settled here (at North Adelaide). We’ve got the redevelopment here proposed to host the LIV tournament in 2028, so it’d be great to be around for that.”

The Diploma of Sports Turf Management is conducted nationally and online, designed to support those looking to further their education from regional and remote areas, or locations where the Diploma is currently not available. Students must complete 14 Units of Competency to complete the course.  

Elective units have been selected by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association based on industry requirements and feedback.

“Any of the turf related subjects were great for me because that’s what we really enjoy obviously in our day-to-day jobs,” Smooker said. “But I enjoyed the budget ones, the contract ones, the managerial side of things, getting an in-depth insight inside the superintendent role was really interesting.

“It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do but here in SA there’s always been a lack of resources in that side of things and this opportunity from ASTMA was really the first time I’ve had to do the Diploma in SA.”

To learn more about the various courses and qualifications run by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association, head to www.astma.com.au/education/registered-training-organisation-rto/courses-and-qualifications/ or contact national training manager Albert Sherry on 0473 064 726 or via email at albert@astma.com.au

The ASTMA congratulates Ryan on his terrific achievement!

Story by Nick Creely/Picture supplied