Cottesloe Golf Club superintendent Des Russell has been crowned the GCSAWA Superintendent of the Year. Russell was bestowed the award, sponsored by AFGRI Equipment, in front of more than 500 people at last Friday’s WA Golf Industry Awards night held at Crown Perth. Remarkably, it was Russell’s third WA Superintendent of the Year title, adding to those he won in 2022 (Cottesloe) and 2011 when he was in charge at Bunbury Golf Club. Russell (pictured above left with AFGRI's Jack Latchford) beat home a strong field of fellow superintendent finalists that included Scott Barnett (Margaret River GC), Callum Hitching (Karratha GC), Nick Kinley (Hartfield CC) and Brad Pavlinovich (The Vines Resort).

“Des continues to lead Cottesloe to higher levels each year,” says GCSAWA president and Mosman Park superintendent Shane Baker. “2024 saw Cottesloe complete their course masterplan which included the reconstruction of 83 bunkers and 19 greens over the last few years, all while maintaining the rest of the course to the highest standard. Des’ ‘club first’ mentality as well as his willingness to help out other superintendents makes him a very worthy and popular winner.”

Posting on social media, Cottesloe was quick to praise Russell who has been at the club since July 2016 and superintendent for the past four years: “A huge congratulations and thank you to our super Superintendent of the Year, three-time winner Des Russell. We are so grateful for your dedication and skill. Des is an industry icon and a terrific mentor to young supers and greenkeepers. Well done Des, we are so proud of you and what you bring to Cottesloe.” 

Also honoured during the evening was Lake Karrinyup Country Club’s James Courtney-Bennett (pictured right) who won the GCSAWA Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by AFGRI Equipment. Courtney-Bennett, who began his apprenticeship at Royal Perth Golf Club before transferring to Lake Karrinyup for the final two years, took the honour ahead of Kasey Williams from Busselton Golf Club. Courtney-Bennett will now represent the GCSAWA in the final of the ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Toro, at this year's national conference in June.

“James has quickly risen up the ranks to be a valued leader amongst the Lake Karrinyup crew,” says Baker. “James has been heavily involved in the design and shaping of the new North Course greens as well as being trusted to run the DryJect and Air2G2 machine. The high pressure surroundings and the second to none presentation expectations has fast tracked James to be a future successful superintendent.”

Elsewhere on the night the Lake Karrinyup Country Club (superintendent Fraser Brown) and Kalgoorlie Golf Course (superintendent Roger Innes) won the respective Metropolitan and Regional Golf Course of the Year categories, with Mandurah Country Club named as Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year and Margaret River named as Regional Golf Facility of the Year.
 
Kalgoorlie continues to be a target destination for golfers from all over Australia, with the course experiencing a 20 per cent increase in rounds across 2024. Home of the WA PGA Championship for over a decade now, Kalgoorlie continues to defy the harshest conditions to grow grass to be one of the most spectacular golf courses in the country.
 
Lake Karrinyup has for many years been at the pinnacle of WA golf, providing a stern but fair test for all golfers on a championship calibre golf course. Since the completion of course works several years ago the course continues to advance each year with recent focus on environmental management. The club’s decision to minimise or eliminate common practices such as scarifying, vertimowing, coring and regular aeration to a ‘less is more’ program has seen a more consistent surface for members all year round.

Friday’s industry awards night capped off what was a big three days for the GCSAWA. It kicked off last Wednesday when more than 90 gathered at Royal Perth Golf Club for the annual WA TAFE Awards night where the state’s Certificate III in Sports Turf Management students were presented their qualifications by lecturers Jeff Austen, Simon Wood and Kaine Rogers. In addition to Courtney-Bennett being named the GCSAWA Apprentice of the Year later in the week, Scotch College's Nathan Hitch was named STA WA Apprentice of the Year (Hitch is pictured middle with STA WA president Chris Langsford). 

Other students to be recognised included:

Clements/Hambleton Shield (best block student, sponsored by Living Turf): Jordan Jury (Lakelands CC) - (Jury is pictured below left with last year's recipient Harry Quigley, lecturer Jeff Austen and Danny Hambleton)

Best Student in Certificate of Trade Studies (sponsored by Envu): Lawrence O’Toole (City of Rockingham) - (O'Toole is pictured below right with Envu's David Hurst and last year's winner Brendan Sholdas)

Lecturers Choice Day Student (sponsored by Lawn Doctor): Kye Woods (Royal Perth)

Lecturers Choice Block Student (sponsored by Lawn Doctor): Joel Caswell (The Cut)

On Thursday, the GCSAWA also held its annual Trade Challenge golf event at The Cut (host superintendent David Cassidy). A total of 21 teams (pictured below) contested the four-ball Ambrose event with the Nuturf team comprising Sam Cutri, Helen Oliver, Joel Caswell and Harry Bentley taking out the honours. Finishing second was the TQuip team of Tony McFadyean, Brendon Winterbourn, Veronica Winterbourne and Simon Turrell-Knight, with the AFGRI Equipment team of Jack Latchford, Steve Abbott, Dane McBride and Scott Barnett coming in third.

 

Photos: Australian Golf Media/Jeff Austen/Shane Baker