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About this blog

TurfNet members Peter Braun and Paul Van Buren check in from the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Black Rock, Victoria, Australia.

Entries in this blog

An amazing adventure...

An amazing adventure...

I have to apologize for the tardiness of this summary post, but between the holidays and jet lag and the flu incurred during the very long flight home, it has taken me a long time to get back on my feet. But I did want to make one last post as an homage to my experience over perhaps the most professionally enlightening experience one could even imagine. Pictures cannot capture the dedication of the 45 full-time staff members who care for this 36-hole golf mecca. From the moment you step foo
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

0
A Tournament to Remember 

A Tournament to Remember 

I’ve made my way back to Minneapolis after a wonderful two weeks in Australia. My time spent at Royal Melbourne Golf Club volunteering was incredible and educational. Richard Forsyth, Craig Anthony and the rest of the staff were so accommodating to the volunteers and really appreciated our time there. A special thank you to Sonia Robertson, Links Administration, who coordinated all the volunteer information, schedules and uniforms! We always felt welcomed. Thank you for the hospitality!  Du
Peter Braun

Peter Braun

0
What’s up with this Sandbelt stuff?

What’s up with this Sandbelt stuff?

I’d had heard reference to this Sandbelt numerous times before ever actually standing in it and on it. One quickly realizes that the sand that makes up the Sandbelt is unique... and plentiful. We’ve probably all seen the video of Richard Forsyth explaining how the sand interlocks and how it packs so firm that you can create a vertical face with it, and I was fortunate enough to get my hands in it to do some pre-Presidents Cup bunker repair. Once mixed with water the sand beg
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

0
Playing conditions at Royal Melbourne...

Playing conditions at Royal Melbourne...

The Presidents Cup was a huge hit globally as Royal Melbourne showed the unique sandbelt style of golf that included extremely firm greens and approaches. The Internationals played inspired golf before succumbing to a comeback by the Americans, making for an intense final round and much talk about tour events coming back to the Melbourne Sandbelt.  Agronomically, RMGC was in top condition and ready to test the best professional golfers around the world. Social media was lighting up with thr
Peter Braun

Peter Braun

0
Own Your Job...

Own Your Job...

Royal Melbourne created a set of President Cup 2019 Group Goals to help the maintenance staff achieve the desired results by following set guidelines.  The first goal is to Own Your Job, meaning do the best you can do and when you walk away from it put your name on it. I just love this goal! How simple to get across the message of doing your best on every job every day.  The second goal is Communication. This starts with the morning meetings led by Richard giving instruction and laughs
Peter Braun

Peter Braun

2
RMGC Maintenance facility: Royal in every way!

RMGC Maintenance facility: Royal in every way!

Royal Melbourne Golf Club has one of the most technologically advanced and well thought-out maintenance facilities I’ve ever experienced. The moment you walk in the electric sliding front door, you know you are in a special place. Every morning we convene in the break room that easily seats all 80 volunteers with room for more. The break room has two ends, both of which have a dishwasher, sink, instant hot water tap, and enough plates and cutlery to furnish a large cafeteria. The managers u
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

0
A rugged course...

A rugged course...

The first few days at Royal Melbourne showcased a beautiful natural Melbourne sandbelt course and great Australian hospitality. Richard Forsyth explained in the orientation meeting that the goal is to show sandbelt golf to the world by keeping the course firm, fast, and rugged. Short grass surfaces will be pristine but the rough and bunkers will look very natural. Paul and I have gotten used to the course and the jobs over these days. Mowing surfaces, watering, divoting, and detail work hav
Peter Braun

Peter Braun

0
Day 1 at Royal Melbourne: Full Throttle

Day 1 at Royal Melbourne: Full Throttle

Setting out on foot for our first shift at Royal Melbourne was an experience that kept me up most of the night. Anxiety and anticipation are now going to be a thing of the past, replaced with pure excitement. Richard Forsyth welcomed us before the morning assignments and the volunteer orientation. The maintenance facility at Royal Melbourne is extremely functional, and revolutionary as far as I was concerned. Everything has a space and a purpose. It’s probably difficult for a permanent
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

1
Great golf and warm welcome in Sydney!

Great golf and warm welcome in Sydney!

On Sunday morning Anthony Mills (@thelakessuper), superintendent of The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, hosted me and my friend Ian and joined us for a round at his wonderful facility. Anthony and I immediately connected and we start talking about what it’s like to manage a club that has 55-60K annual rounds as The Lakes does. When I told him that we average 1,100/year at Kanawha, he scoffs, chuckles, and is generally mystified. Our round was an avenue for a 4-hour dialogue between two professio
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

0
Rounding out a world of experiences...

Rounding out a world of experiences...

Back in 2014-15 I wrote for TurfNet’s Greenkeeping: The Next Generation as an intern at Mount Juliet in Ireland and The Hills in New Zealand. I admit I was nervous at first to write a blog that anyone could see and read, but by the end I was having a blast sharing my experiences and thoughts. When Jon Kiger asked me to blog at The Presidents Cup, along with Paul Van Buren, I jumped on board.  Prior to 2014 I had completed internships at Westchester Country Club and Vineyard Golf Club. After
Peter Braun

Peter Braun

5
Overwhelmingly excited: A trip dear to my heart!

Overwhelmingly excited: A trip dear to my heart!

Wow. I can’t believe I’m sitting down to write my first blog post (ever by the way) about a trip that I have been planning in my mind for the last few years. I am embarking on a trip that will involve so many aspects of the important things I hold dear to my heart, it is utterly overwhelming how excited I am. Here are few snippets of what I’m looking forward to sharing with you in the coming weeks. First off, I’m the golf course superintendent at perhaps one of the most unique golf faciliti
Paul Van Buren

Paul Van Buren

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