The NSWGCSA joined with the wider NSW golf industry earlier this week to honour its top talent at the NSW Golf Industry Awards. At a gala dinner held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney on Monday, the NSWGCSA handed out four awards on the night as more than 350 from across the state converged to acknowledged the industry’s leading performers.

Taking out the top honour – Superintendent of the Year, sponsored by Australian Turf Projects – was Pymble Golf Club superintendent and former NSWGCSA Board member David Stone. Stone (pictured left) was bestowed the award for the mountain of work he has overseen in recent years and in doing so beat a quality field of finalists that included Mark Parker (New South Wales GC), Sam Neylon (Strathfield GC) and Shaun Probert (Ryde Parramatta GC). He will now go into the running for the ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award, sponsored by Envu, at next year’s National Turf Industry Awards to be held during the Melbourne conference.

Stone arrived at Pymble in March 2020 after a successful 10-year tenure at Bayview Golf Club. Having just come off a greens reconstruction project there, more of that was in the pipeline at Pymble which was looking to embark on major works to improve its offering to members in what is a very competitive northern Sydney market. Over the next four years, during one of the most challenging periods the industry has faced due to COVID, Stone guided the club through the biggest course project in its history which saw all greens, tees and bunkers reconstructed. Finished in time for the club’s centenary last year, the works have not only set up Pymble for a prosperous future they have also seen the course jump back into the Top 100 course rankings for the first time in over a decade. CLICK HERE to read more about the Pymble GC redevelopment that appeared in ATM Volume 26.1 (Jan-Feb 2024).

While just recognition for all his efforts at Pymble, the win was a bittersweet one for Stone who like many of his NSW counterparts has been mourning the recent loss of former superintendent Greg Smith. Smith had been a key mentor of Stone’s early in his career when he was superintendent of the nine-hole Terrigal Golf Club on the Central Coast. They remained close friends across the years and Stone was able to assist Smith in attending last year’s NSWGCSA Rube Walkerden Day at Pymble which doubled as a fundraising event for brain cancer which Smith eventually succumbed to.

Elsewhere on the night, New South Wales Golf Club assistant superintendent Steve Kazurinksy collected the NSWGCSA Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award, sponsored by Waterwise Consulting. Kazurinksy (pictured above right) has played a key role since joining NSWGC in 2023 after his former Concord Golf Club boss Mark Parker took over the La Perouse course in 2018. Kazurinksy, the course superintendent at Cabramatta Golf Club prior to reuniting with his former boss, played a significant role in the club’s recent greens and bunker restoration project which was carried out last spring and summer under the auspices of UK design firm Mackenzie and Ebert.

Kazurinksy was responsible for one of the more unique and striking features of the project – the almost 300-metre long sandstone wall that separates the practice fairway from the adjacent 18th fairway. Rather than using an external stonemason, the wall was constructed totally in-house, with Kazurinsky coming up with the tools to build the wall and leading the works. Using locally quarried sandstone, Kazurinsky sourced a special saw that could be put on a rail to cut it on an angle and create a bevelled edge for the top row of stone. The level of detail also extended to the look of the sandstone itself with many of the blocks etched so that they look like old convict pickaxe markings. CLICK HERE to read more about the NSWGC redevelopment that appeared in ATM Volume 27.3 (May-June 2025). 

The other two NSWGCSA awards saw Nelson Bay Golf Club superintendent Greg Stynes (pictured left) bestowed the Environment Award, sponsored by Syngenta, while Monash Country Club superintendent Rob Sain (pictured above right) collected the Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Living Turf.

“Well done to all of our 2025 nominees, who all deserve to be recognised for their contribution and dedication,” says NSWGCSA president and Cromer Golf Club superintendent Leon Hennessy. “These awards are a great recognition of the passion, dedication and professionalism that each of our winners brings to their roles. Their work inspires others and continues to raise the standard of course management and environmental stewardship across New South Wales.”

Also honoured on the night was Duntryleague Golf Club course superintendent Craig Geeve (pictured below, left, with club president John Cook) who received the Golf Management Australia (NSW Division) Employee of the Year Award sponsored by MiClub. Posting on LinkedIn, a very surprised Geeve was humbled to have receive the award.

“I’m truly flattered that I was able to represent Duntryleague Golf Club and my turf maintenance crew at the NSW Golf Industry Awards last night. I was truly shocked when I was nominated. The nomination represents the clubs desire to improve in all areas, especially the golfing experience. Our GM Michelle Carroll and the Board have been unwavering in their support to improve the course. I appreciate all they have done and for the trust they have shown our team in managing the course.

“It is also a testament to the turf maintenance team and the commitment and desire to always challenge what is possible and the level that can be achieved. Everyone contributes and goes above and beyond to improve every day. My name might be on the award and I took the stage to accept, but there are a lot of other people that have played a huge part in Duntryleague improving over the past two years.” CLICK HERE to read more about Geeve’s journey in turf management and his work at Duntryleague in Ben Gibson’s leadership profile which appeared in ATM Volume 27.2 (March-April 2025).

Long-serving Roseville Golf Club superintendent and NSWGCSA life member Mark O'Sullivan also had cause to celebrate on Monday evening. O'Sullivan is pictured below, second from left, celebrating with fellow Roseville Golf Club staff after they claimed the big award of the night - Metropolitan Club of the Year - for its innovation, sustainability and strong community culture. The club’s landmark year included a $1.5 million clubhouse upgrade, sustained membership growth and a commitment to inclusivity, with 42% of members now female. Roseville’s environmentally responsible operations and vibrant club spirit have set a benchmark for excellence across metropolitan golf. O'Sullivan has been at the club ever since he joined as an assistant under former superintendent Tony Brown in 1980 and has been superintendent since 1984, a remarkable 41 years. The ASTMA congratulates all award finalists and winners.

Story: Brett Robinson; Photos: Brett Costello/Golf NSW Media