The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Queensland (GCSAQ) recently inducted three new life members into the association – Ben Tilley, Peter Lonergan and Rod Cook (pictured below, from left). The trio join an exalted list of fellow life members that includes Doug Robinson, Barry Cox, Jeff Gambin, Pat Pauli and Gary Topp. “All three are certainly very deserving of this recognition and we congratulate them and thank them for their service to the GCSAQ and industry over many years,” says GCSAQ president Mark Hauff.

BEN TILLEY (HEADLAND GOLF CLUB)  
Ben has a storied career that spans some four decades. He has been superintendent at Headland Golf Club since 2007 and prior to that was an assistant at Twin Waters Golf Club and superintendent at Beerwah Golf Club. He is a multiple award winner, having collected the 2000 ASTMA Claude Crockford Environment and Sustainability Award during his tenure at Beerwah, as well as the ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award in 2012 for his work at Headland Golf Club. He also played a major role on the GCSAQ committee over an impressive 16-year period, holding most positions including two years as president. In July 2020 he received the GCSAQ’s highest honour – the Superintendent Industry Recognition Award – at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards. He is currently into his second term as president of the ASTMA.

PETER LONERGAN (COOLANGATTA & TWEED HEADS GC)
Peter started in the turf industry in 1977 when undertaking an apprenticeship at Latrobe Golf Club in Melbourne. After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Colac Golf Club in regional Victoria to continue his career as a qualified greenkeeper. A desire to work and gain experience on the famed Melbourne Sandbelt saw him return to the city as assistant superintendent at Victoria Golf Club in 1982 under Bruce Grant. Two years later he found himself in charge and would end up staying there for a further 12 years, helping drive the renovations and change at Victoria and establishing it as one of the premier golf courses on the Sandbelt, if not Australia, with numerous domestic and international tournaments held there during this time.

After a short two-year stint in the trade to further expand his experience and knowledge, a move back to turf management was made when he was appointed as the superintendent at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, a role he continues to hold today. Throughout his career, Peter has been actively involved in both the state and national associations, endeavouring to use his passion for the trade to further the industry. This included stints as president of the VGCSA and GCSAQ. During his involvement with the VGCSA, he and the other state presidents of the time were instrumental in driving the formation of the national body, the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association, which later became the present day Australian Sports Turf Managers Association.

Peter has served on the AGCSA/ASTMA Board across several stints, including two as president, and is still a director. He spent 10 years on the GCSAQ committee including six as president. He was also awarded the Superintendent Industry Recognition Award in 2017 at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards and in 2019 became just one of two ASTMA life members, joining Doug Robinson.

ROD COOK
Rod started a one-year greenkeeping/horticulture course at Grovely TAFE which led him to an apprenticeship at McLeod Country Golf Club before quickly transitioning into the assistant role between 1985-1990. He then became McLeod superintendent from 1990-1994 and moved to Indooroopilly Golf Club as assistant superintendent from 1994-1996. He then landed the assistant project manager/construction superintendent role at The Grand Golf Club which transitioned into the superintendents role which he held for 24 years.

Rod is now semi-retired looking after a family cattle farm and is a gun for hire with various jobs in the industry. He has spent 15 years on the association committee including four years as president, nine as treasurer and two years on the general committee. Rod was awarded the GCSAQ Superintendents Recognition Award in 2015 at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards.

The ASTMA congratulates Ben, Peter and Rod on this fantastic recognition and for their unstinting service to the Queensland and national associations.