GCM

JUNE 2010

The
Business

VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 6
MAGAZINE
FOR THE GOLF INDUSTRY
GOLF CLUB MANAGEMENT Visit www.compleatgolfer.co.za for back issues of GCM

THE FIRST
GREG NORMAN
COURSE IN SA

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

■ Plant the right tree in the right place
■ Best methods of aeration

■ Make peace with Egyptian Geese

■ Water consumption tips

GCM IS PRINTED ON BROUGHT TO YOU BY


CONTENTS
BIRDIES AND BOGEYS
News from the last month 4
COURSE FEATURE
Eye of Africa is ecologically sound 7
FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
John Masson shares biodiversity expertise 12
TREES FOR COURSES
Planting and feeding tips for big trees 14
THE EDITOR
WATER FEATURE
Turf types to reduce water consumption 16
MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Carlo Prinsloo revives Randfontein Golf Club 20
HOW BUSY CAN YOU BE?
COURSE MANAGEMENT
Discover how to deal with Egyptian Geese 30 There is a theory, in the corporate world,
that if you want a task done quickly by a
PLANTING INDIGENOUS member of your team, for best results give
Discover the treasures of indigenous flora 35 the task to the busiest person. Although
this might be contrary to conventional
COVER PICTURE thinking, it has merit – particularly in the
The Greg Norman-designed Eye of Africa. golf industry.
Whether we are talking about club
■ EDITORIAL
professionals, course superintendants,
JOHN BOTHA or general managers; in my experience
Email: bogeyfree@mweb.co.za it would seem that the busiest individu-
Cell: 082 498 7380 als seem to find time to answer emails,
■ PUBLISHER return telephone calls and deal with other
SIMON TURCK mundane tasks.
Email: simon@ramsaymedia.co.za Someone was recently working on an
Cell: 083 252 8387 article for GCM, and required some basic
■ ADVERTISING information regarding his club from a
JAMES FERRANS (NATIONAL SALES MANAGER) certain club manager. One might have as-
Email: jamesf@ramsaymedia.co.za sumed that the manager in question might
Cell: 084 252 6373 have known the answer to these simple
NICKY MEARS (ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE) questions, but he presumably had to
Email: nickym@ramsaymedia.co.za check – full marks for his diligence. But he
Cell: 082 927 5408 was ‘too busy’ to attend to what might have
To request your copy of GCM, subscribe to taken all of five minutes and the informa-
Compleat Golfer by calling 0860 100 205 tion was never forthcoming.
(indicating that you would like to be placed on the This wasn’t a matter of life and death,
GCM mailing list) or go to www.compleatgolfer.co.za
but then few things are. It is interesting
to download your free copy.
to note that at the busier, more success-
A monthly business-to-business magazine
brought to you by ful clubs, the people in charge are simply
more on the ball. Perhaps this relates to
the fact that the service in a busy res-
taurant is invariably quicker and more
efficient than when the place is quiet.
To say that the response from clubs
regarding our tree register has been disap-
pointing would be a gross understatement.
Perhaps what we require wasn’t spelled
out clearly enough, so here goes another
attempt: We would like to hear from clubs
that have, or are planning to embark on a
EDITOR’S LETTER
tree-planting programme.
We do not expect a full audit of exist-
ing trees; simply an accurate list of the
quantity and species of trees that have
been planted. Asking too much? Appreciat-
ing that this might take up valuable time,
perhaps your club has an environmental
committee that might have this information
and would be willing to share it?
This brings me to another interesting
email that was forwarded to me regarding
membership fees, greenfees etc.
A person was attempting to establish
this information to compile a comparative
report, only to be told that this information
was confidential. Presumably when a visitor
plays at or joins this club, because of the
confidential nature of things like pricing,
he would be required to hand over a blank
cheque and only discover what he was
charged after receiving his bank statement
– an interesting way of doing business.
Finally, our Green Star Awards’ panel has
taken shape and we are fortunate in having
a group of knowledgeable, experienced
people who have volunteered their time to
convene on a regular basis to assess the
efforts made by golf clubs to become more
environmentally friendly. (And yes, these
people are very busy doing other things, but
have somehow found the time.)
It must be made clear that clubs are go-
ing to have to send a report motivating their
own nomination for an award and if your
club does not have an environmen-
tal committee (and every club
should), I would suggest
this task be entrusted to
someone who is being
run off their feet.
Golf Club Management June 2010 3
birdies and bogeys
proactive greenkeepers
association
The GCMGA has put together a winter
training programme for course main-
tenance staff that will be run by BC
Landscapes, the association’s preferred
supplier of education and training.
Planned to run through to August
2010, a time when workloads on
courses should be reduced, it is hoped
that more staff members will be able to
join the courses. “The training will be
conducted in five regions,” says GCMGA
chairman Malcolm Bromley. “These will
4 June 2010 Golf Club Management
thinking green
A group of influential people from
the golf industry met at Royal Johan-
nesburg and Kensington to discuss
the system to be employed in the
establishment of the Green Star
Award programme. Headway has
been made on how the system will
be implemented on this long-term
project, but in the meantime golf clubs
might consider matters such as water
management programmes, nutrition
applications, tree planting and the
elimination of invasive species etc.
Ideas are being welcomed from clubs
that are interested in greening up their
act, and when the panel meets again
on 31 May at Modderfontein Golf Club,
a broad outline of how golf clubs will
be assessed will be discussed.
(l to r) Smith Turf’s Lionel Coetzee, Pierre
Kotze of Talborne Organics, chairman of
the GCMASA and host Malcolm Bromley,
be Pretoria, the East Rand, the West Rand Water’s Megan Taylor, Randpark’s
course superintendant Roger Innes and
Rand and southern and central Johan- consultant Jock Tame. Also attending the
nesburg. The idea is that staff will not meeting was Carol Knoll, Dave Kirkby,
Dennis Bruyns, Doug Bain, Vic van Eyk,
have to travel long distances to join the
Dan Barwick, Roy Yeats, Craig Hunter,
training sessions. We are also aiming at Alex Ackron and Mike Slabber.
creating smaller groups in the sessions to
facilitate more individual attention.”
Clubs wishing to register for these
programmes can contact the associa-
tion on 082 260 5833 or email
malcolmb@royaljk.com.
Michelle Stoop of BC Landscapes can
be contacted on 011 475 7263 or
sales@bclandscape.co.za
no, not a Moses
Mabhida replica
Visitors to Randpark could be forgiven for
thinking the club decided to erect a replica
of Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium, but
this elaborate structure is part of a grand
entrance that will form part of the new
development soon to be opened alongside
the Randpark course’s first hole. Rand-
park earned Compleat Golfer’s 5-Star Golf
Experience Award for the first time last
year and the club continues to improve.
This new structure will better match the
image of the recently-revamped club.
 BIRDIES AND BOGEYS

L TO R: Derek Landman, Solly Sepeng,

EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE Paul van Zyl and Tertius Claasens.
A group of senior professionals recently
played at Magalies Park Golf Club as part of
an initiative begun by Andy Swartz. Swartz
has identified a group of talented caddies,
called the ‘Magalies park Tigers’, and is
arranging various events in order for these
players to learn from the experienced pros.
“These are a great bunch of guys,” en-
thused Tertius Claasens, tour professional.
“They know the rules and the etiquette of
the game, and it is a pleasure to help them
– there is also a lot of talent among them.”
A series of
senior pro-ams
are planned to
promote this
initiative.
The ‘Tigers’
even have their
own branded
vehicle to get
them around.
(pictured right).

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 eye of africa

eye of africa –
Up and rUnning

The recently-opened Eye of Africa Golf and Residential Estate, which includes
Greg Norman’s first course design in South Africa, is sure to receive rave reviews.
And as an example of astute and ecologically responsible planning goes, this
development is as good as it gets, writes John Botha.
I must say, on the few occasions that I have when combined with his own marketability Georgia, all are of the highest quality, and
had the pleasure of meeting Greg Norman, I has earned him a fortune. One of the most one would expect nothing else of anything
felt more than a little intimidated. The Great closely-guarded secrets is what he is really Greg Norman might put his name to.
White Shark’s reputation as a no-nonsense worth – I dare say if anyone had the temerity When news first broke that Norman would
sort of fellow, who has never suffered fools, to ask Norman they would probably be told to be designing a course south of Johannes-
is well-deserved. His achievements on the mind their own bloody business. burg in the Eikenhof area, I had my doubts;
golf course are legendary, and the fact that Norman, as a course architect, is highly this hardly seemed the place where the
he probably should have won more Majors respected – and for good reason. Among terrain would lend itself to the construction
than he has cannot detract from the reality his 70-odd completed layouts there are of the most spectacular layout. Well I got that
that the Aussie was by far the best golfer in some exceptional courses – and there are wrong. My visions of rather flat, uninterest-
the world for an extended period through the another 50 in various stages of planning ing terrain couldn’t have been further off the
late 1980s and into the 1990s. Norman’s and construction. Of the few I have person- mark. The 677 hectares upon which this
achievements in the boardroom are just ally visited, including The Tournament estate has been created is dominated by a
as remarkable, and his business acumen Players course at Sugarloaf near Atlanta in large ‘koppie’ and the interesting hilly, rock-

Golf Club Management June 2010 7

eye of africa
“the interesting hilly, rock-strewn
surroundings are an example of the
highveld’s most beautiful topography.”
strewn surroundings are an example of the
Highveld’s most beautiful topography.
At a time when the golf estate market has
been battered by a shaky economy, inves-
tors in this development can rest assured
that Medallist Developments (with a double
‘l’), a joint venture between Norman’s Great
White Shark Enterprises and the Australian
Macquarie Group, has an enviable track
record of successful, high-end projects
worldwide, and the financial muscle to ride
out recessionary times. For this project they
have teamed up with Pixley World Invest-
ments and recent sales, even in the current
economic climate, have exceeded expecta-
tions. Certainly no expense has been spared
at the Eye of Africa estate, and it will not be
surprising to see this turn out to be one of
the most successful in South Africa. Medal-
list has shown that its philosophy of com-
mitting to the preservation of natural fauna
and flora is combined with best practice
urban planning standards.
The architectural theme, a combination
of European and African styles quaintly
called ‘Afropean’, features a mixture of un-
8 June 2010 Golf Club Management
finished and untreated surfaces, textures
and light. Homes are envisaged as being
naturally integrated with the surroundings.
At the time of going to print, more than
400 stands had been sold at an average
price of R800 000.
But it is the quality of the golf course
that truly impressed me – much like a Jack
Nicklaus design, the course features gener-
ous fairways, and it is clear that Norman’s
shaper is a dab hand behind the controls of
a D6 bulldozer. The bulk earthworks were
done by Ruthcon Civil Contractors, using
30-ton excavators, 20-ton articulated dump
trucks, 10-cubic-metre tippers and a fleet of
graders and compactors. A total of 300 000
cubic metres of soil was moved, yet the end
result is a natural, flowing layout that fits
beautifully with the surroundings.
The course construction was done by
Golftek, and Vic van Eyk is justifiably proud
of the end result: “Working to the most
stringent ecological and safety standards,
for which Medallist is known, was both
challenging and enlightening, but the final
product speaks for itself,” he says. “These
are the first fairways in the Highveld to be
planted with Gulf Green, (the same as Cape
Town’s Atlantic Beach), and with the large,
undulating greens (A1/A4), that offer more
than enough interesting pin positions, I
can imagine golfers of all levels thoroughly
enjoying this course,” he adds.
The course is currently open to residents
and their guests, and will accommodate
small groups of up to 40 players. Inside
Right Club Management, led by Dave Usen-
dorff, will be running the golf operations
– and Usendorff is relishing the challenge.
“This facility will set new standards in South
Africa and we feel privileged to have been
contracted by Medallist to look after the op-
eration. The management of the course will
be based on the way they do things else-
where in the world. For example, members
will not pay greenfees, which, considering
that membership is being sold for R9 000
per annum, represents excellent value.”
This estate is a ten-year commitment
worth R1.5 billion in capital expenditure. But
then Medallist and its partner Greg Norman
have never done things by halves. ■
South AfricAnS AbroAd

top poSt
down under
In a new series, GCM will be featuring South Africans in the golf business who have
made their marks abroad – and indeed there is a long list of them. The first to be fea-
tured is Rob Selley, who has landed the top position at Australia’s most exclusive club.
The appointment of Rob Selley to the posi- golf estate development just outside Sydney. redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in the ‘80s, is
tion of chief executive officer of The Austral- As a result of his involvement at both regularly ranked in the top ten in the country.
ian Golf Club in Sydney is a testament to the Pecanwood and Pearl Valley from their incep- Says Rob: “The position is arguably the
standards and work ethic that exists in the tion, Selley was able to implement plans that highest profiled position in the industry in
South African golf industry. resulted in a dramatic improvement in the Australia, and judging by the more than
This is the view of Selley himself, who progress of the Twin Creeks development. 150 applicants for the post, it was obviously
started his career at the Port Elizabeth Golf In January of this year, the position highly sought after. With no real ‘history’ in
Club some 20 years ago, and was involved of CEO of The Australian Golf Club was the industry in Australia, I remained hope-
in the South African golf management advertised, following the impending retire- ful, yet cautious about my chances of being
industry with Sun International, Pecanwood, ment of the current incumbent. A colleague appointed. The process involved numerous
Pearl Valley and The River Club. suggested Selley had the right qualifications interviews, tests and referencing. It came as
In 2007, he left South Africa to head up a for the job and that he should apply. something of a surprise when I received the
company based in Brisbane that had the dis- The Australian Golf Club is to Australia call offering me the position.
tribution rights for golf-related brands such what The River Club is to South Africa. It is “I am extremely honoured and proud to
as Cutter&Buck, Ahead and Rhode Island. a private members’ club based in the heart have been appointed to this position. This
While dealing with the tough trading condi- of Sydney and its members include captains achievement is a credit to the standards
tions created by the global financial crisis, he of industry, sports stars and various celebri- and work ethics that I learnt in the industry
was approached by Troon Golf, an interna- ties. Founded in 1882, it is the oldest golf in South Africa.”
tional golf management company, to take club in Australia and has hosted numerous Selley will take up his new appointment
over the management of Twin Creeks, a new Australian Open championships. The course, in June. ■

“thiS Achievement iS A credit to the

StAndArdS And work ethicS thAt i
leArnt in the induStry in South AfricA.”

10 June 2010 Golf Club Management

 Green’s sand Promotion

a Proven
track record
A critical component in the recipe for healthy putting surfaces
and playable bunkers is the quality and specifications of your
sand. It is no secret that Green’s Sand CC is the industry
leader in this field, with a client list that proves the point.

Rosa van der Merwe is a lady in the golf busi-
ness who needs little introduction. With more
than three decades of experience in the field
of specialised sand, she and her dedicated
team understand what clients require, and
deliver it. As an expert in USGA specifications
and with a thorough understanding of not
only golf course construction and mainte-
nance, but of other turf applications, there is
no better person to speak to – and if the best
product is required, she can supply it.
When it was first established that South
Africa would host the Soccer World Cup, the
huge task of constructing and upgrading
preferred supplier for the world-class pitches
that would have to be produced. Other sport-
ing facilities, such as Turffontein Race Course,
also had no hesitation in ordering the best pos-
sible material from Green’s Sand for its track.
“There are ‘fly-by-nights’ in any busi-
ness, and ours is no different,” says van der
Merwe. “Our products are tested and re-
tested – a constant process of trials is needed
to consistently supply sand of the highest
quality for whatever application is required.”
It is fair to say that Green’s Sand is a
trusted supplier of at least 95 percent of
South Africa’s premier golf courses and there
als will cause layering in your greens, which
can cause problems. Your material should be
tested on a regular basis and do not trust a
small sample bag of sand,” she warns. “Test
from a stockpile, take small samples from
around the stockpile and employ the services
of an accredited laboratory.”
Green’s Sand, part of Bronx Mining and
Investments, supplies a vast array of different
products, whether you require topdressing for
fairways and tees, sand for your bunkers, or
specifically-sized gravel for the construction
of a green, you might want to consider the
most respected name in the business. ■

facilities was planned. It was not surprising to
learn that Green’s Sand was appointed as a
is good reason for this.
As a member of the Golf Course Managers
Association of South Africa, van der Merwe
is happy to offer advice where needed and
her opinion is certainly valued. “Considering
the considerable costs in the construction
and maintenance of golf courses, one should
be careful of using a material that is not suit-
able – even though it may appear to be. For
instance, you should stay with the sand that
has been used in the original construction; for
example, you cannot top-dress with rounded
or crusher sand if your greens were built with Website: www.greensand.co.za
a sub-angular sand. Using different materi- Tel: 011 964 3236/2997

Golf Club Management June 2010 11

EnvironmEntal managEmEnt

DEaling with thE

‘rough’ issuEs
John Masson has joined GCM’s panel of experts who will be judging golf clubs for the
Green Star Awards. In the first of a regular series, Masson draws on his expertise in the
field of biodiversity to point out common environmental problems and solutions.
I have been involved in many avenues of all as a canvas, LBS has transformed the tial, recreational and hospitality industries,
the ecological field for most of my life and I mining, petroleum, manufacturing, residen- amongst others, by integrating biodiversity
am privileged to have garnered an intricate throughout their property portfolios.
understanding of the complexities and John Masson, CEO of LBS Golf courses’ ‘out of play areas’ and
critical importance of biodiversity and its wetlands/water hazards provide the golfing
relevance to society. industry with a great opportunity to make a
Knowing that biodiversity destruction was major contribution to the environment, whilst
at the core of society’s environmental prob- providing access to the broad spectrum of
lems, I realised that it had to be restored benefits associated with local biodiversity.
within the urban footprint, not just restricted Most of the environmental problems
to the confines of the ‘Kruger’. This global emanating from and within golf courses are
need inspired me to co-found LBS, a well known: habitat destruction, incorrect ef-
company that vigorously mainstreams the fluent treatment and recycling, overindulgent
restoration and integration of biodiversity water consumption, erroneous and excessive
within all forms of land use. Instead of just additive usage, stormwater mismanagement,
ring fencing pristine natural environments erosion and the management of invasive
outside the urban edge (which is impera- alien plants species are but some of the most
tive), LBS recreates and restores habitats common topics of concern and the founda-
within the urban footprint that have been tion for much of the industry’s scrutiny. Using
tarnished or lost altogether. Converting some of the above-mentioned problems, I
areas that house non-locally indigenous wish to briefly explain how the transformation
‘gardens’, degraded habitat or no habitat at and/or rejuvenation of the ‘out of play areas’

12 June 2010 Golf Club Management

 EnvironmEntal managEmEnt

and wetlands/water hazards with local biodiversity can serve as the most
effective tool to solving them.

ProblEm Incorrect effluent treatment and recycling.

Solution If designed correctly, created wetlands can filter nutrient-
rich water through local flora species composition and micro-biological
processes, whilst providing habitat to a diverse array of local plant and
animal life. Treated water can be reused on site, recharge aquifers or be
healthily discharged into natural water catchment systems.

ProblEm Overindulgent water consumption.

Solution In South Africa’s water-starved environment, conventional
landscaped outdoor areas employ in the region of one million litres of bEforE
water per hectare per month. Locally indigenous vegetation however,
does not require irrigation to sustain itself and thus the ‘out of play
areas’ can incorporate the same self-sustaining properties found in
untouched, natural habitats.

ProblEm Erroneous and excessive additive usage.

Solution Natural ecosystems do not require the use of additives
because they manage themselves. The costs and impacts associated
with the application of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and insecti-
cides are non-existent. Golf courses that integrate local biodiversity
reduce their overall costs and environmental footprint.

ProblEm Stormwater mismanagement.

Solution Natural wetlands serve as one of the most effective aftEr
means of stormwater attenuation and ground water recharge acting as
sponges that hold water for sufficient periods of time. Over time, this
allows controlled water seepage to maintain correct groundwater tables
and surface run-off. Grasslands can also function most efficiently to
dissipate run-off velocities.

ProblEm Erosion.
Solution Local plant species have adapted to counter the condi-
tions that give rise to erosion – be it soil type, terrain, gradient, rainfall
or any other area specific topographical aspect. As such, the diversity
and richness of local flora species provides perfect vegetative cover
and protection for combating every scenario.
In the coming months, I look forward to continuing what I believe
will be a most beneficial relationship by creating solutions in an area bEforE
that has long been ignored – the ‘rough’. Here are some of the topics I
hope to cover:
■ Rationale for the integration of ‘out of play’ and ‘in play’ areas within

a golf course as a major step towards sustainability

■ Assessing bird life numbers as a key to measuring environmental

accomplishments. (Birds don’t lie!)

■ Creating and managing healthy wetlands – one of the key challenges

in our industry
■ Local biodiversity as an effective tool in achieving sustainable land

use
■ Making more use of the ‘out of play’ areas

John Masson would be more than happy to answer any questions you
may have. He can be contacted on 082 892 8860 or
john@localbiodiversity.com. aftEr
Golf Club Management June 2010 13
TREES FOR COURSES
PLANT PERFECTLY
FOR LONG-TERM RESULTS
Val Thomas gets planting and feeding tips for larger, woody
tree species from Sue de Zwart of Talking Turf.
Fortunately for us, Sue de Zwart of Talking
Turf will be sharing more of her golden tips
for successful planting and feeding of our
larger, woody species this month. Much
of this information will certainly apply to
smaller woody shrubs and even to general
garden areas as well.
Sue believes that the single most im-
portant fact to establish before planting is
the exact nature of the ground and the soil
where you intend to dig your holes. She and
I speak the same language. Whereas I tend
to focus above ground level, looking at the
general habitat, slope, amount of rain and
frost in winter etc, she makes an identical
case for the root system. We both agree that
for success you need to plant the right tree
in the right place – a place that will suit the
particular needs of the chosen tree.
Each and every tree deserves a decent
hole, dug to about one metre square and
equally deep, filled with nutritious soil. If,
for any practical reason, you are unable to
Albizia
versicolor
14 June 2010 Golf Club Management
do this – hitting rocks just below the surface
would be an example – the best course of
action would be to move to where a good
cavity is assured. Of course, if you have
chosen to plant a tree that really does like
living amongst rocks, such as one of the
Rock Figs (Ficus species), this will be less
critical. In these cases, it is still essential
that the tree’s roots have room to grow and
search for water and food.
Sue’s advice of a one square metre hole
actually has two meanings. The first con-
cerns size. It must be one metre in width,
length and depth; certainly no less, and
usually not more, unless the tree is already
huge. Secondly the word ‘square’ means
exactly that. Modern thinking is that trees
should not be planted in circular holes that
encourage the roots to simply grow round
and round in the softer soil, resulting in
the tree becoming ‘root-bound’, as well as
facing the risk of drowning if over-watered
by ground staff or should excess rain not be
Kirkia
acuminata
Celtis
africana
able to drain away. So ‘square’ also means
the shape you excavate.
Sue has some interesting observations
about ‘nutritious’ soil and planting that comes
as news to me and perhaps to you as well.
Her first line of problem-solving is to avoid
mistakes right from the start.
“Trees are for the long-term. They are
strategic and they are expensive to buy and
to care for. You do need to know the exact
nature of the soil where you are placing them
and you need to balance the chemistry of
the soil with correct additives – and keep it
balanced, if you want to optimise the money
you are laying out.”
All the art is by Joan van Gogh
Step by step, Sue’s suggestions for the
most cost-effective, successful long-term
results are outlined below.
■ Have the soil professionally tested and
then get expert advice from a good
organic fertiliser supplier about what is
needed to ensure a balanced, nutritional
mix. Sue assures me that this is not
Erythrina
lysistemon

expensive at the outset and good quality
soil will repay you, many times over, by
preventing damage later.
■ One important thing to avoid is the com-
mon or garden approach of ‘use 2:3:2’,
as this inevitably puts too much phos-
phate into the soil. Phosphate, unlike
other chemical elements, does not leach
out of the soil easily, over time, as water
passes through. Once you start to add
phosphate, you very quickly build up too
much of this element and there is no easy
way of removing it. Ultimately if you really
want successful growth you have to throw
that soil out and bring in new material.
Expensive mistake!
■ For planting a 40 litre tree, (discussed last
month) Sue generally makes a mixture
using half natural soil and half a well-
turned blend of bone meal (two to three
handfuls) and compost, combined with
three Agriform tablets. These tablets she
says are the most efficient and ‘fantastic’
way of feeding large trees, as they slow
release so they are ‘green’. Agriform is
available countrywide from Fleuron.
■ Sue has a word of warning on compost, if
you wish to avoid disasters. She suggests
that if you are planning to use an ‘untried’
compost, made from a new or unknown
source, you should have this tested, as
some composts do carry an unfortunate
amount of phosphate.
■ Finally, if you want the best and fastest
results, you do need to feed the trees
roughly every six weeks during the grow-
Syzygium
cordatum
TREES FOR COURSES
Many thanks to Sue, of Talking Turf, for
all her expertise. You can contact her on
reflections@telkomsa.net.
I asked Sue list her favourite, larger woody
species for planting on golf courses (obvi-
ously dependent on area in the country)
and she offered these suggestions. Only one
was not covered in my Sappi Tree Spotting
series. In the next few months I will go into
more detail about the trees.
■ LARGE-LEAVED ALBIZIA
Albizia versicolor
■ LONG-TAIL CASSIA
ing season. This can be applied most eas- Cassia abbreviata
ily in the form of organic pellets, loosely ■ WHITE KIRKIA
scattered around the ground under the Kirkia acuminata
tree, as far as the ‘drip-line’. Instead of ■ SILVER CLUSTER-LEAF
the phosphate-rich 2:3:2, Sue advises Terminalia sericea
the organic fertilizer, ‘Bounce Back’, or ■ SACRED CORAL-TREE
good old 5:1:5. The area of application Erythrina lysistemon
needs to be immediately well-watered, ■ WILD-PEACH
especially if the tree is in a grassy area Kiggelaria africana
where you could burn your turf. In Sue’s ■ AFRICAN WHITE-STINKWOOD
experience, as a rough guide, the roots of Celtis africana
many trees travel underground, roughly ■ RED IVORY
as far as their canopies spread above it. Berchemia zeyheri
If you mark out the shade under a tree ■ BROWN IVORY
at midday, you will get a reasonable idea Berchemia discolor
of what Sue terms the tree’s ‘drip-line’, ie ■ WHITE-STEM ACACIA
the circumference within which rain drips Acacia polycantha
off the tree. This method will ensure the ■ UMDONI WATERBERRY
fertiliser is carried by water to most of the Syzygium cordatum ■
roots. When scattering the nutrients, do
avoid any touching the actual tree trunk.
Terminalia
sericea
Kiggelaria
africana
Berchemia
zeyheri
Golf Club Management June 2010 15
The environmenT
Course designers’ love of generous, thirsty fairways is understandable, but besides the maintenance
expense involved in grooming these verdant areas, they are using up large amounts of precious water.

SelecTing improved
Turf TypeS To reduce
waTer conSumpTion
Most turf grasses need to be watered regularly to look their best. During dry periods, more
water is needed to maintain the lush look of traditional playing areas. Reducing the overall
area under turf is one way to reduce water usage, as described in last month’s issue of
GCM. Selecting turf types with relatively low water usage for the remaining playing areas will
obviously conserve even more water, writes Rand Water’s Megan Taylor.
uSe arTificial Turf cides. Regions in South Africa with parallel used in South Africa:
Replacing living turf with artificial turf is climates to the USA should be able to apply ■ Florida (Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-

being considered not only on practice golf these research results. Davy) – this used the least amount of
facilities in the USA and Europe, but on full- In South Africa different turf species are water.
scale golf courses. The quality of artificial also being tested by the turf grass growers. ■ Numex Sahara (Cynodon dactylon (L.)

turf being manufactured, (for fairways, tees The focus is on local indigenous species, Pers.)
and greens), actually now provides for a especially Cynodon, that are adapted to ■ Speedy Royal (Cynodon dactylon (L.)

viable alternative. local climate conditions and rainfall. Turf Pers.)

hybrids that provide the qualities required ■ Bayview (Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-

low waTer uSage graSSeS on golf course tees and greens are receiving Davy) – this had the highest water use of
Golf course designers should select grasses particular attention. Golf course managers the Bermuda (Cynodon) grasses
that are best adapted to the local environ- and greenkeepers, as well as golfers, are ■ Penncross Creeping Bent (Agrostis pulas-

mental conditions and need less water, accepting that seasonally dormant turf can tris Huds.)
while at the same time having the charac- provide a viable surface for play. ■ Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum

teristics required for good play. The United
States Golf Association has been commis-
sioning studies relating to golf since 1982,
including funding the development of grass
varieties that use less water and pesti-
differenT Turf TypeS
Research was done by Potchefstroom
University on the evapotranspiration rates
and crop factors of the following turf grasses
Hochst ex Chiov.) – this used the most
water of all the turf grasses evaluated.
Research has also been done by Top Crop
Nursery/Superlawn. According to them, the

16 June 2010 Golf Club Management


grass types that require the least water are:
Bermuda grass (Cynodon speCies and
hybrids)
Bermuda grass, known as kweek or couch
grass in South Africa, is a low water usage
grass. Tifdwarf Bermuda grass (a hybrid of
the South African I x Cynodon transvaalen-
sis) has been standard on USA putting green
surfaces for about 30 years. In the late ‘90s,
ultra-dwarf Bermuda grasses were intro-
duced for putting greens. They have higher
shoot densities and finer leaf texture than
Tifdwarf and provide better general quality.
They also compare favourably with creep-
ing bent grass surfaces. However, in South
Africa it is rarely used as turf growers have
developed more climate-appropriate varieties
from South Africa’s Cynodons.
Breeders at Oklahoma State University
have developed improved cold-tolerant
seeded-type Bermuda grass cultivars.
However, South Africa has a plentiful supply
of different varieties of Cynodon suitable for
a variety of different terrains and climates,
“By planTing Cynodon varieTies ...
WaTer savings of 30-50 perCenT
Can Be aTTained.”
and there is concern that imported seed
cultivars may cross with local varieties, to
the latter’s detriment and possible extinc-
tion. Top Crop Nursery/Superlawn experts
regard Cynodons as the best water wise turf
for golf courses. Various hybrids of Cynodon
dactylon and Cynodon transvaalensis are
recommended.
Water saving: By planting Cynodon varieties
instead of kikuyu or imported cold season
grasses, water savings of 30-50 percent can
be attained.
Benefits: Cynodon grasses are drought-
tolerant because most of their rhizomes are
below the ground and are protected from
desiccation. In addition, they tend to be in a
semi-dormant or ‘hardened’ condition during
dry seasons and as a result are more resist-
ant to desiccation. Therefore Cynodon varie-
ties can be used in the transition zones of a
golf course as a replacement for cool season
grasses that have high water requirements.
improved hyBrids of seashore
paspalum (paspalum vaginatum)
Turf breeders at the University of Geor-
gia have developed hybrids that can be
irrigated with sea water. However, to keep
the grass looking good, especially during
summer, it requires copious amounts of
water and requires high maintenance. In
winter it needs very little water because it
quickly goes dormant. It also requires warm
autumn, winter and spring temperatures.
The successful use of Paspalum depends
on the site having an appropriate climate
and soil.
Benefits: A salt-tolerant grass that can be
irrigated with high-salt or brackish water
with little effect on the quality of the turf. It
is also more effluent tolerant.
Buffalo grass (stenotaphrum
seCundatum)
Buffalo grass is a low water usage grass that
technically uses only a little more water than
the Cynodons. However, to keep it look-
ing good, it needs to be irrigated regularly
throughout the year. While buffalo grass has
good salt tolerance, it is not frost resistant.
It is also not drought tolerant and drought
causes severe damage. This is because the
horizontal above-ground stolons become
desiccated during a drought. If water re-
strictions are imposed during a dry season,
a golf course turfed with buffalo grass will
be severely damaged.
Benefits: It can replace high water usage
grasses on fairways and roughs in warm areas
where drought restrictions are unlikely.
Wild CoasT sun resorT,
porT edWard, easTern Cape
The Wild Coast Sun Resort was the first resort
in the country to attain platinum status for its
exemplary environmental management under
the Heritage Environmental Programme.
The resort selected turf types that suited
local climatic conditions, had low water
requirements and would provide quality
playing conditions: Paspalum vaginatum on
the greens and a mixture of Cynodon trans-
vaalensis on the tees. To reduce watering,
irrigation only takes place during the cooler
The environmenT
periods of the day and at night. All of the wa-
ter used on the course is recycled grey water
from the resort’s own water treatment plant.
rusTenBurg golf CluB,
rusTenBurg, norTh WesT
This golf course is in a region with only
520mm of rainfall per annum. The course
has Cynodon dactylon on the fairways
and greens, which greenkeeper Pieter
Cooper says needs only 50 percent of the
water required for bent grass greens. The
greens are watered only once a day, in the
early morning. For comparison, Cooper
established a trial area under bent grass
that was mowed to the same height as the
Cynodon. The bent grass area had to be
watered three times a day to remain in good
condition whilst the Cynodon required only
one watering. If watered only once a day the
bent grass burnt.
appleWood golf Course,
golden, Colorado
Golden is a semi-arid area in Colorado that
has an annual rainfall of 400mm. A decade
ago the Applewood Golf Course engaged
in a programme to reduce water usage.
Fescue grasses that require less water
were planted on the fairways and greens,
and the turf on the rest of the course was
replaced with a local low water usage tall
wheat grass. The 57 hectare course now
has about 20 hectares planted up with
these fescue grasses and water usage has
reduced from 380 000 kilolitres a year to
about 150 000 kilolitres.
ruBy hill golf Course,
California, usa
The Ruby Hill Golf Course in California, a
Jack Nicklaus design, was established in
1996. Bermuda grass (a Cynodon hybrid)
was used on the fairways and rough instead
of the cool-season grasses used on most
other courses in the north of the state. This
has resulted in water savings of about
40 percent, compared to similar courses
using cool-season grasses. ■
Golf Club Management June 2010 17
Course ManageMent

aeratIon the essential

ManageMent PraCtICe
In last month’s issue of GCM, Van Cline (PhD) of The Toro Company explained
the value of aeration tactics necessary for vigorous and healthy turf.
Here he expands on the different methods of aeration.
soLID tIne aeratIon compresses the soil around it upon entry. increase gas exchange. Water injection
The primary benefit of aerifying with solid cultivation is most effective when it is used
tines is enhanced gas exchange between sLICIng or sPIKIng frequently, every two to four weeks, as a
the root zone and the atmosphere. It is a Slicing and spiking are similar to solid tine complementary practice to core aeration.
particularly useful practice in cool season aeration since their primary benefit is to Water injection causes minimal injury to
turfs during the middle of summer when improve gas exchange by creating channels the turf, so it can be done throughout the
root respiration is high, increasing the into the root zone. Both are generally shal- growing season. It is actually most effective
demand for O2 and causing accumulation of low treatments and cause minimal injury during periods of mid-summer stress. One
CO2 in the root zone. to the turf. As a result they are most useful of the more popular side benefits of water
Solid tines cause less injury to the turf than during mid-summer stress periods when injection is that it leaves a clean surface
hollow tines, another reason it is more useful root respiration is high. when compared to hollow tine aeration,
during periods of stress in mid summer. A limi- which is popular with golfers.
tation of solid tine aeration is that it does not Water InJeCtIon CuLtIVatIon
reduce compaction since no soil is removed. Aeration using high pressure water injection DeeP tIne aeratIon
Soil bulk density actually increases slightly to penetrate the soil profile is an effective Deep aeration to depths of 30cm using both
in the vicinity of the aeration hole as the tine way to both relieve soil compaction and solid and hollow tines has become increas-

18 June 2010 Golf Club Management

 Course ManageMent

ingly popular as a way of breaking through

deep layers of compaction. Repeated
aeration using conventional 10-12cm hollow
and solid tines results in what is known as
a cultivation pan or layer of increased com-
paction just below the depth of aeration.
Another common problem that deep
tine aeration can address is the compac-
tion created during construction of new
golf courses when significant earth moving
occurs. Top soil is often stripped and then
reapplied after shaping the landscape,
which often results in a reasonably good soil
profile down to a depth of 15-30cm with
high levels of compaction below that.
Deep tine aeration can create drainage
channels as well as increasing aeration
deeper into the root zone. In the past,
deep tine aeration was a practice that was
contracted by many golf courses in the
US when there was an obvious need on a
problem green or fairway. Today many golf
courses purchase their own deep tine ma-
chines and incorporate routine deep aera-
tion into their overall cultivation programme.

LInear aeratIon
There is increasing interest in a concept
being referred to as linear aeration, which
uses machines with high rpm, saw-like
blades to cut grooves into turf to depths of
up to five centimetres. Groove width can
be up to three millimetres with spacing as
close as three centimetres. Linear aeration
is very effective for controlling thatch since
it acts as a form of deep verticutting and
removes large amounts of organic material
in the thatch mat zone.
What is also impressive about the ma-
chines on the market is the smoothness of
the surface after the debris is removed. This
attribute has stimulated interest among turf
managers in the idea of substituting linear
aeration for core aeration since golfers seem
to be more tolerant of the grooved surface
when compared to the condition of the
surface after coring.
Research is underway in the industry to
determine how this method compares to
more conventional forms of aeration for re-
lieving surface compaction, increasing gas
exchange in the root zone and as a method
of altering the composition of soil when
done in combination with top dressing.
Results to date have not supported replac-
ing conventional tine aeration with linear
aeration, but indicate there could be benefits
to incorporating the two methods together in
an overall aeration plan. Linear aeration also
appears to be an excellent tool for prepar-
ing the surface for overseeding. The method
causes significant injury to turf, so it should
only be done during periods of vigorous
growth in cool season species and when
weather conditions are conducive to recovery.
Other trends of note related to aeration
include the overall frequency of aerifying
the turf surface. Recent market research on
cool season species golf courses in the US
revealed that turf managers perform some
kind of aeration practice up to ten times per
growing season. Current thinking seems to
be that the more times during the growing
season that a turf can be aerified the better.
As a result it is common to find turf man-
agers using a variety of aeration methods in
a coordinated season-long programme. For
example, core aeration or linear aeration is
done in the spring, water injection cultiva-
tion or solid tine serration frequently follows
during mid summer, with another round of
core aeration or linear aeration carried out
in the autumn. Deep tining is often included
throughout the growing season as well. In
general the belief seems to be the more
aeration the better.
Another interesting trend that parallels fre-
quent aeration is the recommendation to dis-
turb as much of the total surface as possible
during given growing season. Current thinking
in the US is to modify 20 percent of the sur-
face during any given year. In order to reach
that goal it is now common to find hollow tine
spacing as close as two to three centimetres
on centre. Compared to past practices, that is
considered aggressive aeration.
To summarise, the problem to be solved
and the timing during the growing season
are the primary considerations in selecting
a method. Relieving surface compaction,
relieving deep compaction, improving
drainage, controlling thatch, managing turf
through periods of high temperature stress
by increasing gas exchange all require dif-
ferent approaches or methods of aeration.
The overall benefits of aeration are
compelling. It is clearly our most valuable
cultivation practice for maintaining vigorous
and healthy turf. ■

Golf Club Management June 2010 19

 EXTRA SPECIAL mAnAgER of ThE monTh

REvIvIng
RAndfonTEIn
The gold mining town of Randfontein is home to a most underrated golf course. Its
club, part of a large sports complex that has undergone radical changes in recent
years, has again reinvented itself. Carlo Prinsloo is the man in charge.
Randfontein Golf Club dates back to 1908, of resources in this facility. The imposing and other ‘non-mine’ people to join the
when the West Rand town was part of the clubhouse, considered by some at the time club, this sector invariably felt a little left
booming gold mining industry. For the best to be something of a white elephant’, was out. A major bone of contention was the fact
part of a century, this club was the social certainly impressive and featured various that the ‘outside’ contingent paid consider-
hub of the town. At its peak, in the mid-to- function rooms, a beautifully furnished ably more for membership and failed to
late 1980s, its large, modern clubhouse was chairman’s lounge, a snooker room and a appreciate that membership was one of the
a hive of activity, and although the sports 19th hole that was well patronised. perks of mine employees.
club offered tennis, bowls and even horse As with most golf clubs owned and man- There was also the matter of the man-
riding, the golf section, as it always had aged by mines, there was always the una- agement of the facility, which was controlled
done, formed the backbone of the facility. voidable rift between ‘mine members’ and by the mine, and although an ‘outside’ club
When the club was owned and run ‘outside members’. Employees of the mine, captain could be elected, the power and
by the powerful JCI group, the mining rightly considered the club to be theirs, and the purse strings lay in the hands of the
house invested a considerable amount while they welcomed local businessmen Randfontein Estates mine, which at one

Extra SpEcial tiMES, Extra SpEcial ScOtcH

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18

20 June 2010 Golf Club Management

 fortunately this has not happened, and due
largely to a young and enthusiastic team
led by Carlo Prinsloo, Randfontein is on
the rise. Over the last two years, member-
ship has increased to more than 700; the
course has been given a new lease on life
and there is again a pleasing feel about the
place. As anyone in this industry knows, the
most elaborate brick and mortar structure,
with a fine golf course, does not make a
club – but rather the people that run and
frequent the place – and Randfontein is
undoubtedly back on track. The owner, Mr
Koo, who is based in Malaysia, has largely
left Prinsloo to his own devices, and without
undue interference but with the help of a
committee that has the best interests of the
club at heart, he has proved his worth.
“We are constantly looking at ways we can
improve, and even in tough times we have
remained positive. There are no excuses –
we do the best with what we have,” he says.
What he does have is a committee that is
truly dedicated to making its club a great place
for the members and visitors to spend time.
“I must say that our club captain,
Stephan Vosloo, and his committee are a
pleasure to work with – they are involved
for the right reasons; there are no clashes
of egos and we all have the welfare of the
club at heart.”
An aggressive marketing campaign,
which offers great value golf on an ever-im-
proving course, has clearly paid dividends,
and rounds continue to increase. It is obvi-
ous that Randfontein is on the rise. ■

The young Prinsloo spent three years

studying various aspects of the golf industry,
and although well qualified academically,
he lacked experience working in the club
environment – however, with his energy and
infectious enthusiasm, he soon made his
presence felt. He denies running this facility
as a ‘one-man show’, but it is clear that he
has a handle on everything that happens
here, and what he does he does well. He
has a simple philosophy that clearly works.

time employed 13 000 workers.

At a time when the golf mines were
getting rid of their non-core assets, the
Randfontein club was sold to a Malaysian
businessman and it was mooted that he
wished to convert the club into a housing
estate. This never materialised, but a local
investor then began negotiating with the
owner, Mr Koo, to take over the club and es-
tablish a spa and up-market retirement vil-
lage. This plan was also eventually shelved.
In the meantime the club slowly went into
a period of decline. Membership dwindled
to less than 300 and the course began
to suffer from neglect. Sadly, it seemed
that Randfontein might join other ex-mine
clubs after ‘Big Brother’s’ patronage had
been withdrawn, and die a slow death. But

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18

Golf Club Management June 2010 21

HUMAN RESOURCES
The RULES of retrenchment
There can be a variety of reasons why an employer must retrench an employee. Namely, the
financial decline of a business, the introduction of new technology, restructuring or downsizing.
The Labour Relations Act 66 (LRA) codi-
fies the requirements for retrenchments by
way of section 189 and 189A. Employers
cannot achieve a fair retrenchment process
without following the requirements of the
LRA as it underlines the constitutional right
to fairness.
Whenever an employer contemplates
retrenching one or more employees, he or
she must consult both the union and the
employees that the retrenchment pro-
gramme might possibly affect.
The consultant parties must ensure a
meaningful joint consensus seeking process
and attempt to agree on various issues, for
example:
■ Ways and means to avoid dismissals;
■ Ways and means to minimise the number
of people involved;
■ The timing of the possible dismissals;
■ Ways and means management can miti-
gate the adverse effects of the dismissals
on employees;
■ The method for selecting is normally LIFO
(last in first out) or an entire department;
■ Severance pay must be discussed with
the employees. The minimum pay would
be one week, per completed year of
service. Employees must be given at least
one month’s notice of this retrenchment,
after the consultation has taken place
with regard to the severance pay.
The employer must put certain things in
writing to the employee, including:
■ The reasons for the proposed dismissals;
■ Any alternatives to the possibility of
dismissals and the reasons for rejecting
HOSPITALITY & LEISURE INDUSTRY
22 June 2010 Golf Club Management
these alternatives;
■ The number of employees likely to be
affected and the job categories in which
they are employed;
■ The proposed method of selecting which
employees to dismiss ie LIFO
■ The time when the company expects the
dismissals are likely to take effect;
■ The proposed severance payment, ie one
week per completed year of service, plus
one month’s notice;
■ Any assistance that the employer can
offer to dismissed employees;
■ The possibility of future re-employment of
retrenched employees;
■ The numbers of employees employed by
the employer;
■ The number of employees that the com-
pany has dismissed for reasons based
on its operational requirements in the
preceding 12 months.
It must be noted that the employer must
allow the employees an opportunity to make
representations on any of the abovemen-
tioned matters.
The employer must also consider and
respond to any representations made by the
employees or the union and, if the employer
does not agree with them, he or she must
state reasons for disagreeing.
The employer can only select the em-
ployees in terms of criteria that have either
been agreed, or that are fair and objective.
It is suggested that the first meeting take
place within the next few days and that the
employees of that department be presented
with a memorandum as has been prepared.
www.hospitalityjobsafrica.co.za
ONLINE RECRUITMENT
FOR THE
This first meeting would outline the reasons
for the proposals and some of the objectives
that the company is hoping to solve.
It would also specifically request the
employees and the union to consider ways
to avoid the retrenchment, to minimise
the retrenchment and the timing and the
mitigating of the adverse effects.
The second meeting would then be
called, at least one day later, and the
input of both the union and the employ-
ees must be minuted and considered by
the company.
At this meeting the company will say that
they must take that information away for
consideration, and that a written response
will be given to all the input given by the
union and the employees.
At least a day later, the company will
approach the union and employees for a
third meeting. Here the answers to the input
will be given by the company, in writing. A
discussion will also ensue with regard to
the reasons for accepting certain conditions
given by the union and for rejecting certain
of the conditions.
A final meeting will be held where the
timing of the retrenchments, severance pay,
assistance to the employees and a possibil-
ity of future re-employment are discussed.
If an employer is found not to comply with
fair retrenchment procedures and does not
have substantive reasons for retrenchment,
the employee/s could claim up to 12 months
compensation and / or reinstatement. ■
For further information, contact
Bernard Reisner on 021 423 3959 or
bernard@capelabour.co.za.

MORe OF the beSt
in the business
Two more companies have joined the Preferred Supplier fold,
and both have the credentials required to make it on to our list.
There has been a positive response to
GCM’s initiative to name suppliers that have
developed a reputation for not only being
reliable, but who consistently deliver quality
goods or services. All the companies on
our list have supplied us with references
from their existing clients that have been
checked. GCM is thus comfortable recom-
mending these companies to anyone in the
golf business.
GCM
GOLF CLUb MAnAGeMent
PReFeRReD
S U P
P L I e R
LIStInG
SMIth tURF eqUIPMent
Started in 1991, Smith Turf is the sole distrib-
utor in Southern Africa for Toro equipment.
■ 011 284 2000 ■ www.smithturf.co.za
On COURSe GOLFInG SOLUtIOnS
Suppliers of GPS Management Systems.  ■ Toll Free: 0800 336 996
■ 082 901 6184 ■ andrew@oncoursegps.co.za
PReFeRReD SUPPLIeR PROGRAMMe
StayPrime Golf, which has offices in the
Middle East, Europe, Singapore, Australia
and South Africa, has installed their ultra-
modern Ranger GPS devices in more than
250 golf courses worldwide. The company
acquired the international distribution rights
for the Ranger Plus GPS device and in
2008 commissioned the development of a
new generation Ranger Sp1 units.
Green’s Sand has established itself as
MAyFORD
MayFord is a premier supplier of
specialised lawn seed products tested
for local conditions.
■ 011 548 2820 ■ www.sakata.co.za
GOLFtIMeSA
GolfTimeSA delivers online tee-time
reservations and golf club IT.
■ 082 904 3285 ■ www.golftimesa.co.za
StIhL
The world’s number one manufacturer
of chainsaws famed for their legendary
German engineering.
■ www.stihl.co.za
the most reliable and cost-effective supplier
of quality sand for every application on golf
courses. Whether sand is required for the
construction of USGA specification or bril-
liant white silica sand for bunkering, Green’s
Sand has become the ‘one-stop-shop’.
Rosa van der Merwe and her team supply
materials that have been subjected to strin-
gent testing and come with the company’s
reputable guarantee. ■
StAyPRIMe GOLF
StayPrime Golf provides the latest cutting-
edge GPS systems and continues ‘building
golfing relationships’.
■ 086 166 7466 ■ www.stayprime.com
GReen’S SAnD
Green’s Sand is the preferred USGA Silica
Sand Supplier to the golf industry since
1979 as well as being the proud supplier of
the FIFA 2010 World Cup Stadiums.
■ 011 964 3236/2997 ■ www.greensand.co.za
For further information contact Natalie
Shekleton on 011 301 4448, email
her at natalies@ramsaymedia.co.za or
log on to www.compleatgolfer.co.za and
follow the link to PSL via GCM.
Golf Club Management June 2010 25
Central GautenG Golf union
StrateGiC tHinkinG
PaYS diVidendS at CGGu
GEMC, marketing and PR consultants to CGGU, takes a look at significant new
developments within the union that will set the standard going forward.
Central Gauteng Golf Union has undergone
radical change under the current executive,
headed up by the newly-elected president,
Errol Mills. Starting back in 2008, the
executive participated in a strategic planning
exercise to identify strengths and weaknesses
within the union and to clearly define its mis-
sion and goals for the future. The executive
has been hard at work implementing the new
plans ever since.
Mills has served on the CGGU executive for
several years and has represented the union
for the past 14 years as a player in the Senior
Amateur Inter-Provincial. During this period
he represented South Africa on no less than
five occasions. His stated reason for making
himself available to serve on the executive of
the union was to make a difference and this
he has certainly accomplished. At the annual
general meeting of the union held in February,
Mills was elected president, taking over from
the ever-present Kevin du Preez. William
Lucas was elected vice president.
The newly elected president recognises
that, “The union is the custodian of amateur
golf in the province,” but he and his execu-
tives view is that their responsibility extends
well beyond that.
“We have to grow the game and we must
make it accessible to all – it must become
a breakdown of CGGu member affiliation fee for 2010
SAGA
CGGU – Remuneration
CGGU – Governance
CGGU – Marketing & PRO
CGGU – Tournaments
CGGU – Inter-provincial tournaments
CGGU – Player re-imbursement
CGGU – Development
VAT
26 June 2010 Golf Club Management
universally acceptable as a sport for all
people,” says Mills. “Growing the game
includes easy access structures, affordable
memberships, discounted tuition, hospitality
days, rules and etiquette seminars and much
more.” Every provincial golf union has a
responsibility in conjunction with its member
clubs to grow the game and CGGU are fully
committed to achieving this goal.
In addition to growing the game, Mills has
begun to implement a business approach
to the affairs of the union. A formal and
accountable business structure is being
put in place with full-time paid managers
to ensure that all the goals of the union are
achieved. This will be a costly exercise, but
the executive is positive that the benefits will
far outweigh the additional costs. The plan
will include the appointment over time of
another three or four more full-time manag-
ers. This will only be implemented once
additional sources of sustainable revenue
have been put in place. The organisation will
have to operate profitably before any of these
far-reaching plans can be implemented.
At present, amateur golf in South Africa is
managed by only a handful of paid officials
and a large number of volunteer executives.
The task ahead to manage, develop and grow
golf is so huge that the present model simply
39.89% R90.00
8.56% R19.31
4.11% R9.27
3.97% R8.96
3.44% R7.76
7.87% R17.76
5.35% R12.07
19.44% R43.86
14% R16.66
R225.65
will not cope with the responsibility. CGGU is
ideally positioned to take the lead and begin
to implement these necessary changes. This
is the first initiative of its kind in amateur golf
in South Africa and is expected to become
the benchmark for others to follow.
As an extension of growing the game, the
union is committed to a Golf Development
Programme, which has already begun.
This clearly will cost more than in the past
and affiliation fees have been increased
accordingly. The 2010 affiliation fee has
been increased to R225.65 and CGGU has
fully accounted for the increased cost as
reflected in the table below.
andY oStle aPPointed CGGu
deVeloPment manaGer
The quiet spoken Andy Ostle, a member of
the CGGU executive for the past 14 years,
has been appointed as the union’s golf de-
velopment manager. In addition to this role,
he will continue to serve on the executive.
Ostle is a member of Wanderers Golf
Club and plays off a four handicap. He
has been a provincial golfer since the
‘70s, when he played county golf in the
United Kingdom. He represented Southern
Transvaal in the ‘80s and more recently has
represented Central Gauteng at senior level
for the past four years. Ostle received his
national colours as a member of the 2009
South African Senior Golf Team.
Ostle is committed to the development
of golf and has put his heart and soul into
making this initiative a great success.
deVeloPment driVe in
PlaCe at Central
GautenG Golf union
The Central Gauteng Golf Union has em-
barked on an ambitious golf development

programme with the objective of embrac-
ing a wide cross-section of people into
the game of golf and also to grow golf in
Central Gauteng.  Glenvista Country Club took the honours
Following the closure of the South
African Golf Development Board offices in
Gauteng, the union made a decision to fill
the gap by expanding its own involvement
in the region. Ostle and the union executive
have identified six projects that have already
been started. These are:
■ A caddy league where caddies who play
golf at member clubs are able to compete
in a formal league.
■ A School league, which will compete every
Friday afternoon in teams of six. CGGU
has sponsored a talented team from
Soweto schools.
■ A junior foundation league where the
union has sponsored a development team
of eight players who will compete once per
month throughout the year.
■ The Gary Player School of Champions,
where the union has awarded bursaries to
three development players to attend on a
full-time basis.
■ To re-introduce the training programmes
formerly offered by the SA Golf Develop-
ment Board.
■ A talent management programme to sup-
port, guide and manage talented players
identified in the region.
Other projects still in the planning stage are:  encouraged to support this worthy devel-
a development programme for lady golfers;
support for member clubs on their own
programmes identification and support for
players through driving ranges and multifac-
eted practice facilities and an extensive de-
velopment programme in co-operation with
the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council.
According to Mills: “This is the first major
development initiative undertaken by any
golf union in the country. CGGU is the largest
union and has taken the lead in golf devel-
opment, which is critical to the long-term
growth and success of the game. It is an ex-
tensive programme covering a wide range of
development needs and the union will report
on the progress regularly. We are confident
that we will produce outstanding results.”
CGGu Caddy leaGue in
full swinG for 2010
Central Gauteng Golf Union’s first caddy
Central GautenG Golf union
league tournament for 2010 was held at
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf
Club on 15 February 2010.
after an extremely close contest, ending in a
count out with Houghton Golf Club.
The event was held over 18 holes on the
west course with 13 Central Gauteng Golf
Union clubs each represented by a team of
four caddies.
The tournament format was individual
medal off scratch, with the three best
scores counting. Although the west course
was playing tough, the scoring was of an
exceptionally high standard, with two 76’s
being the best of the day.
The individual winner for the day was
Thomas Mashimbi from Modderfontein Golf
Club, followed by Oupa Jacobs from CCJ.
The golf clubs represented were Bryanston,
above: Errol Mills
Country Club Johannesburg (two teams), below: Andy Ostle
CMR, Eagle Canyon Golf Club, Glen-
dower Golf Club, Glenvista Country Club,
Houghton, Modderfontein, Parkview, Rand
Park, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington,
Walkerville and Wanderers.
The 2010 caddy league includes six
tournaments held throughout the year at
different venues.
The tournament consists of a league
order of merit with an overall winning team
and individual at the end of the season.
Club managers and club committees are
opment initiative by Central Gauteng Golf
Union and send their teams to the following
tournaments:
■ Jun 14 – Wanderers GC
■ Aug 16 – Country Club Jhb
■ Oct 18 – Reading CC
■ Nov 22 – Royal Jhb & Kensington GC
Ostle comments: “I am extremely pleased
with the success of the first tournament and
would like to thank Royal JHB & Kensington
for use of the golf course and my fellow
CGGU executive Peter Hains for assistance
on the day.” ■
For any development queries, please
contact Andy Ostle on 011 485 4251 or
at development@cggu.co.za. For general
CGGU enquiries contact Errol Mills on
082 892 7742 or at finance@cggu.co.za
or Marinus Weiss on 082 559 6119 or at
director@cggu.co.za.
Golf Club Management June 2010 27
retail 101
More
Perceived
value
Retail expert Kymi Bodenberger elaborates on the idea of
perceived value and gives some tips on how to harness
untapped potential in this area.
Last month we discussed the concept of
building perceived value in your golf retail
store. This month we’re going to further
elaborate on the topic of perceived value
as there is so much untapped potential in
this category. To refresh, perceived value
of a product is the difference between the
benefits, as perceived by the prospective
buyer, that a product delivers and its price.
If a customer sees the benefits as great, the
perceived value is great as well.
I mentioned in the March issue that stud-
ies have consistently proven that approxi-
mately two-thirds of purchase decisions are
impulse buys made while in a retail store.
Just this morning, I went to the nearest mall
to buy a computer program and came out
with a new outfit, right down to the shoes.
Can you guess what triggered this impulsive
purchase? I saw the outfit in the window
display of a clothing store as I was walk-
ing toward the computer store and had to
have it – not to worry, I still remembered to
purchase the computer program.
Displays are created to attract custom-
ers to your products. Every part of your
golf shop is a display area to promote your
selection of merchandise. I’ll say that again,
28 June 2010 Golf Club Management
it’s worth hearing twice: every part of your
golf shop is a display area to promote your
selection of merchandise. Therefore, we
need to treat every single product as an
item on display.
Let’s begin with the hanging clothing in
your shop. Not rocket science, right? Put
the shirt on a hanger and hang it on a rail.
Unfortunately, even this is often misman-
aged and the perceived value is lowered as
a result.
First, even if you don’t have matching
hangers throughout your store, try to use
the same style of hanger per rail and per
fixture. This creates a more consistent and
attractive presentation. Second, check the
hanging merchandise throughout the day
to ensure that every item is zipped and
buttoned up exactly as it was sold to you. A
shirt hanging skew with the placket unbut-
toned looks more like it came out of your
closet at home than a new, valued item for
sale in a shop.
Third, tuck the price tags and any
product tags into the garment. Your goal
is to entice the customer to the product
first; they will know where to find the cost
of the item and by then hopefully they’re
before
already smitten and the cost is a secondary
issue. Lastly, all hangers should approach
the rail from the right, not from the left and
certainly not mixed both ways. It seems like
a small point, but most of the population is
right-handed and this allows customers to
easily remove the hanger from the rail when
they reach for the item.
When it comes to folded merchandise, I
teach retailers to maintain what I call, ‘per-
fection folding’. This refers to every stack
of shirts or pants being displayed in size
order (smallest size on top to largest size on
the bottom of the pile) and being folded in
exactly the same dimensions regardless of
whether it is a size small or a XXL.
I also highly recommend that you keep
the tissue paper inside the shirt the same
way it arrives from the suppliers. Specifi-
cally in the light-weight technical fabrics,
the tissue paper helps to hold the folded
shirt together and fills out the garments so
that you can stack them more easily. On
the psychological side of stimulating buying
interest, when a customer picks up a shirt
with tissue paper folded within, the percep-
tion impressed upon them is that of a new,
high-quality item.
Generally, the folded sections are either
on nesting tables or shelves along the walls.
When merchandising on wall shelves, the
key is to ‘fill the space’. You want to build
up the clothing stacks so that when a cus-
 RETAIL 101

AFTER

tomer looks at the display they see product,

rather than the wall behind the product.
(Note the before and after shelving photos
from golf store example).
Another trick of the trade is to angle the
stacks of clothing differently to each other.
The human eye is drawn to asymmetrical
displays over symmetrical displays as
visually they are more unique. Picture the
last time you walked down a long hotel cor-
ridor, with pictures hanging between each
door – you spent little attention on the
hanging pictures – unless one is hanging
at a skew angle. be a quality golfing brand. Your role as a golf retail store. The goal is not to make
The characteristics of a product are com- golf shop owner or manager is to capitalize every shop a cookie-cutter copy of every
prised of three different attributes: physical, on these characteristics while creating a other shop. The goal is to make your shop
functional and symbolic. Physical attributes visually-appealing, quality-providing, value- unique and appealing and an enjoyable
of a shirt would be the fabric, the sleeves for-cost shopping experience. shopping experience for your consumers,
and collar. Functional attributes (what it can Many of the points I have made, and whilst maintaining fundamental principles
do for you) consists of moisture-wicking will continue to make in future articles, are that are applicable to any retail outlet to
abilities, UV protection, etc. Symbolic small within their own right, but it is the a greater or lesser extent. Enhancing per-
attributes are the mental association – ie combination of all of the different aspects ceived value is an essential step in building
Tiger Woods wears Nike, therefore it must that create a unique and financially viable that experience. ■

ACUSHNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD

TEL: 011 462 9165

Golf Club Management June 2010 29

Course management

What’s good for the

goose?
Most course superintendants subscribe to the theory that the Birds, and animals for that matter, tend
to migrate to areas where their particular
only good Egyptian Goose is a dead one. Declaring war on habitat and requirements in terms of food
these feathered invaders and simply culling them and nesting/roosting sites can be adequate-
ly met. Birds are highly mobile and, should
indiscriminately – whether legally or not – might end up
conditions in one area become less favour-
making the problem worse, writes Bronwyn Howard. able, they will rapidly move to and colonise
another area. Egyptian Geese in particular
Contrary to the belief of many golf course to the proliferation of man-made dams and may move anything from 70 - 800km to find
members and facility greenkeepers and staff, impoundments in rural areas. Population es- suitable habitat.
Egyptian Geese are not generally regarded as timates are around 500 000 birds in East and Golf courses are ideal habitat for Egyp-
‘pest birds’ in southern Africa – unlike Red- southern Africa combined (Roberts Birds of tian Geese. Unlike many other duck and
billed Quelea, where the population numbers South Africa, VII ed). In wild areas such as goose species, which feed largely on aquat-
literally millions of birds. These birds cause nature reserves, national parks and even on ic vegetation and/or aquatic invertebrates,
severe damage to cereal crops throughout farms, however, the geese rarely congregate Egyptian Geese are grazing specialists,
the sub-region, many of which are staples for in the type of numbers found on golf courses, feeding on Cynodon dactylon and certain
the local human populations in areas where but tend to be spread over very large areas. sedges. They are also grass seed strippers
these queleas occur. So why do golf courses in particular find that and will often settle in water bodies adjacent
Egyptian Goose populations increased Egyptian Geese are the equivalent of ‘bird to croplands where they can glean fallen
dramatically during the 1900s, due mainly pests’, congregating in large numbers? grain and also strip grass crops and the

30 June 2010 Golf Club Management


indigenous grasses surrounding them. On
golf courses, these geese have adapted
their diets to include grasses such as kikuyu
and bentgrass, which are kept short on golf
courses and are easily accessible due to
the wide area of open ground surrounding
fairways, tees, greens and even rough and
semi-rough. Golf courses which have large
expanses of kikuyu grass in out-of-play
areas compound the problem as there is
more food for these geese.
Egyptian Geese highly favour manmade
impoundments such as dams in addition to
other wetland types, and golf courses, with
their easily accessible water bodies (ie with
no dense vegetation surrounding them) are
particularly sought-after.
The geese are mainly terrestrial but will
also roost and nest on elevated structures,
from tall trees to buildings. They have even
been known to nest on top of old nests orig-
inally belonging to birds such as Hamerkop,
Black-shouldered Kite, crows and even
Sociable Weavers (in the arid regions of the
Western Cape). They are very adaptable
and naturally gregarious, although pairs will
tend to stick together.
Egyptian Geese are generally very success-
ful breeders. They are monogamous and may
lay as many as 22 eggs. Some 81 percent of
broods survive to adulthood. They are usually
single-brooded, but may be double-brooded in
optimum conditions (ie having more than one
breeding cycle in a season). On golf courses,
where conditions for survival are generally
excellent, the mortality rate of Egyptian Geese
is far lower than in the wild.
In the wild, young birds leave the area
once they reach adulthood (about three
months after hatching). In the case of
Egyptian Geese, if the young do not leave
voluntarily, the dominant males actively
chase them. This usually happens in late
summer/early autumn when the breeding
season is over. (We observed this recently
with an Egyptian Goose pair at Mankwe
Dam in Pilanesberg National Park.) This
needs to occur as resources in natural
areas are often limited due to a variety of
factors and, if the young birds do not dis-
perse to populate other areas, food scarcity,
insufficient suitable nesting and roosting
sites and competition for scarce resources
leading to fights and injury often results.
However, on golf courses, this does not
happen to the same degree. Often there
is not a dominant pair on the course as a
result of human intervention and tamper-
ing with the Egyptian Goose population in
an effort to remove the birds from the area.
There is also a more than adequate food
supply, some protection from predators
(usually because many predators found
in natural areas are largely absent on golf
courses) and plenty of suitable habitat,
including ample nesting and roosting sites.
Many golf courses wish to – and some
already have – gone the route of obtaining
permits from their local Nature Conservation
branches enabling them to shoot Egyptian
Geese. This can be a lengthy process – it is
very difficult to obtain permits, even for the
shooting of alien and problem species such
as the Common Mynah, which originated
in India and has since populated much
Course management
of South Africa, driving out indigenous
species of birds and even small animals by
its aggressive behaviour. Golf courses and
individuals found shooting indigenous birds
without a permit can expect a visit from the
Green Scorpions, a watchdog body created
by the Wildlife & Environmental Society of
South Africa (WESSA). It is illegal to shoot
indigenous birds without a permit.
And it does not work. Roberts Birds of
South Africa (VII ed) and BirdLife SA both
record that control measures such as shoot-
ing and poisoning have no effect whatsoever
on Egyptian Goose populations in a given
area as their survival rate is very high. As
there is no sexual dimorphism (ie no physical
difference) between males and females and
it is very difficult to tell which sex you are
shooting, persecution can lead to the popula-
tions of the birds being skewed in favour of
one or other sex, leading to the immigration
of yet more birds. Dominant males, which
are key in driving off other Egyptian Geese
that may arrive and stake a claim for existing
goose territories, may be shot or poisoned
inadvertently, in which case your golf course
becomes a free zone for every goose that
may happen upon it. This is a particular
problem in the non-breeding season, when
birds tend not to pair up and defend ter-
ritories. The average territory per pair of
Egyptian Geese is about one hectare in size,
but their home ranges may be much larger.
To summarise the problems – golf courses:
■ provide extremely suitable habitat for
Egyptian Geese, which tend to migrate to
areas of this nature, sometimes travelling
long distances to reach them;
■ have environments providing Egyptian
Geese with usually several large open
water bodies that they use as retreats when
threatened, as well as an excellent supply
of food in the form of short grass, which
forms a major part of the birds’ diet;
■ provide ample nesting and roosting sites;
■ provide protection from possible preda-
tors – of eggs, chicks and adult birds –
due to their being less predators around,
especially on courses situated far from
natural areas and reserves.
Culling by means of shooting and/or poison-
ing has proved unsuccessful in the long-
term in reducing Egyptian Goose popula-
tions on golf courses and also on croplands
Golf Club Management June 2010 31
Course management

where these birds are a problem.

There is only one mid-to-long term solu-
tion to problems of high Egyptian Goose “enCouraging other Wetland
populations on golf courses: environmental
management. There is an industry drive birds to PoPulate... [the] Course
towards implementing environmental
management systems on golf courses. Part
Will ... deter egyPtian geese...”
of this involves the creation of mini-ecosys-
tems and a replica of natural environments
which will, among other things, reduce the
incidence of Egyptian Geese on golf courses
and also have the function of increasing
the biodiversity of plants, birds and animals
on course, which will in turn also serve to
control Egyptian Goose populations.

aCCess to Water
Access to water is of utmost importance to
these geese, as they use water as a refuge
and will escape to water whenever perceived
or real danger threatens. Adult birds will fly
onto the water briefly, but not remain there.
However, when breeding, they need easy
access to water, particularly when needing
to move their young from danger. Planting
up the edges of all larger water bodies with
indigenous plants including reeds, sedges
and wetland grasses will create a vegetation
barrier making it more difficult for Egyptian
Geese with young to access the water. The
birds will also think twice about breeding in
that area. This will have the added benefit of
creating additional habitat for birds such as
Reed and White-breasted Cormorants (which
occur inland), other species of ducks and
geese (eg Yellow-billed and African Black
Duck and Spurwing Goose) and herons.
Herons are particularly useful in that many
herons eat the eggs of birds such as ducks
as part of their diet, as well as aquatic
insects, fish and frogs. Some herons are also
known to eat chicks of other bird species
nesting in the area.
Egyptian Geese may be highly aggressive
to other water birds during the breeding
season when protecting young. However,
they generally prefer to remain aloof from
other species. Encouraging other wetland
courses as this will always attract Egyptian
Geese, particularly when combined with sev-
eral large open water bodies in the same area.
Predation
Creating suitable habitat for other birds in-
cluding small birds of prey such as African
Harrier Hawks (Gymnogenes), which are
often found in suburbia, Black-shouldered
Kites, kestrels and owls, as well as small ag-
gressive animal hunters such as mongoose,
will increase the predation on Egyptian
Goose eggs and chicks, which will naturally
help to keep populations in check. Some
means of creating this environment include
putting bare dead trees in dams and wa-
terways (birds of prey use these as perches
when hunting) and owl nesting boxes in
suitable sites. One of the primary sources of
food for many owls and small birds of prey
is rodents such as rats and mice, as well as
is adequate cover. Once natural grasses
grow, they will create dense stands, which
provide cover for mongoose. Mongoose are
generally vicious and aggressive hunters;
food includes bird eggs (particularly of birds
nesting on or close to the ground) as well as
young chicks. Encouraging mongoose on
your course will also help to create natural
attrition of young Egyptian Geese.
nesting sites
Approximately 67 percent of Egyptian
Goose nests are on the ground, most often
close to water. They also use islands in the
middle of water bodies for nesting sites.
This makes them vulnerable to predators
such as mongoose, otters, herons, etc.
Stocking water bodies with appropriate in-
digenous fish will also encourage fish-eating
birds (darters, cormorants, herons, kingfish-
ers), water mongoose and otters. ■

birds to populate dams and wetland areas
on course will also serve to deter Egyptian
Geese from populating the same areas.
Food
Not much can be done about the large
swathes of short-grass areas found on golf
small snakes. Planting indigenous vegeta-
tion may in some cases encourage rodents;
the birds of prey should arrive to find them
and feed on them, in addition to young
birds such as Egyptian Geese.
Various species of mongoose generally
favour a variety of habitats, as long as there
To arrange a consultation and a full
environmental assessment of your course,
as well as more advice on how to deal
with the Egyptian Goose problem in your
area, please contact: JT Consultancy (Jock
Tame/Bronwyn Howard) – 011 425 2057
or 084 418 9283.

32 June 2010 Golf Club Management

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Golf people on the move

from m&h to
RetailtRibe
Andy Bean has left Matkovich and Hayes with what he tells GCM is a ‘heavy heart’.
He will be retaining his shares in the M&H company, but leaves to take up the position
of manager of RetailTribe in South Africa and the UK. In an open letter to his many
friends in the business, he explains his move.
The personal relationships built up at contained within their golf community and There is no doubt in my mind that the
Matkovich and Hayes, in particular with their golf professional’s shop. M&H design and construction business will
Peter Matkovich, have made the decision RetailTribe has also recently entered the continue to grow and flourish – especially
to move extremely difficult. Words cannot US market. My role at the company will give considering our future offshore and Africa
express my gratitude to Peter for the oppor- me a direct opportunity to both improve the projects, which we are perfectly positioned
tunity he has given me over the past seven commercial results for those customers and to take advantage of.
years. Not only that, but the advice and to extend participation in this great cause I am also delighted to announce that my
wisdom gleaned from him over the years – growing the game of golf. I therefore look position of CEO will be taken over by Gustav
have become invaluable tools. I have had forward to continuing my relationships and Putter. The respect and credibility Gustav has
the unique opportunity of working with a partnerships with my friends and colleagues gained in the golf industry over the last 15
living legend. We will continue a close work- associated with the golf industry.  years is testament to the fact that he is more
ing relationship and I will always treasure My departure has given us the opportunity than able to fulfil this position – Matkovich
our friendship. I also hope that I can break to restructure the construction and design and Hayes will no doubt benefit from his
par on his courses every now and then, business. In this regard Peter will retain his style of leadership and all the opportunities
especially when he is my opponent! design business in Ballito and the M&H con- of golf course design and construction will
It goes without saying that WBHO’s struction business will be managed from the be followed up with the same passion as has
majority acquisition of M&H benefitted us WBHO offices in Johannesburg. Not only as a been done over the years. Rest assured that
all. Its business acumen and work ethic result of operating from Jo’burg, but also hav- in my fortunate position as a shareholder of
have always been exemplary and a fantastic ing the full administrative support of WBHO, Matkovich and Hayes I will continue to retain
example to follow. Being part of the Matko- makes this a prudent business decision. a close interest in the affairs of M&H. ■

vich and Hayes ‘fold’ has always made me

extremely proud. Peter Matkovich (left) and
I have had the opportunity to contribute Andy Bean will remain great
friends and business partners.
to the game of golf through the involvement
and development of some truly world-class
golf facilities in our country, and joining Re-
tailTribe allows me to continue and extend
that contribution. This company is dedicat-
ed, through online marketing, to the devel-
opment of improved commercial operations
at golf facilities. The RetailTribe online mar-
keting service for golf professionals and golf
clubs strengthens the relationships between
golfers, their golf facility and golf profes-
sional. This results in more, active golfers
and more rounds of golf played, while ensur-
ing that a greater share of golfers’ spend is

34 June 2010 Golf Club Management


indigenous
must-haVes
Over the past few years South African golf clubs have begun
to use the great gift of our tremendous floral wealth. Some
plants are so rewarding and easy to grow that they deserve
the title of ‘must-have’. Here are a few of them as suggested
by Servest Landscapes.
Cape leadwart (Plumbago)
Plumbagos establish themselves quickly and
will grow up to three metres tall with a simi-
lar spread. They are available in blue and
white forms that flower throughout the sum-
mer, attracting hoards of butterflies. They
are fairly frost-hardy, but even if a harsh cold
spell knocks them, they will bounce back in
the spring. To keep the bush neat and com-
pact, prune them hard in late winter down
to as much as a half metre. They make ideal
hedges, can even be shaped into topiaries
and perform well in pots.
dogwood (Rhamnus PRinoides)
If it’s birds you want on your course or
around the clubhouse then the Dogwood
is just the thing, as it produces berries,
relished by fruit-eaters, for most of the year.
Its most outstanding feature is its dark
green, shiny leaves – hence its Afrikaans
name of ‘Blinkblaar’. In the wild it can be
found growing up to four metres tall, in
semi-shade, but it is far more attractive
when grown in full sun. It too makes a lovely
hedge and be trimmed to anything from half
a metre to two metres high. Traditionally, the
Dogwood is used to ward off evil spirits and
lightning – perhaps a good option if your
clubhouse has a thatched roof!
Butterfly Bush (buddleja sPP.)
For a pleasantly scented garden this is defi-
nitely a ‘must-have’. An added bonus, as
its common name suggests, is the host of
butterflies it attracts. It makes an excellent
screening plant in full sun, growing from
planting indigenous
two to four metres high. The flowers appear
in spring or summer, depending on what
species you plant. There are several species
available, with Buddelja auriculata being
the most common.
wild Violet/Bloukappies
(Polygala myRtifolia)
Unfortunately Polygalas are not that well
known, but they are one of the most pleasing
and rewarding plants for the garden. Magenta
flowers are produced throughout the year on
a three by three metre bush. It can be shaped
into standards and does well in waterside
plantings. Plant this frost-hardy plant in full
sun where you can fully appreciate the many
sunbirds and butterflies it attracts.
Cape honeysuCkle under-utilised in South Africa. Look out
(tecoma caPensis) for Cape thatching reed Chondropetalum
This is an extremely versatile plant. Use the tectorum that grows to about 1.2m x 1.2m
Cape Honeysuckle as a hedge, in pots or and prefers full sun. If it’s a semi-shaded
as a filler in an exclusion zone. It responds area that needs a touch of elegance Eligia
well to shaping and looks at its best when capensus or horse tail is ideal growing up to
pruned heavily in winter, but if left will reach two metres with a spread of one metre.
a height of three metres. There is a choice
of yellow, red, orange and salmon-coloured arCtotis and
flowers that sunbirds just can’t resist. osteospermum
If it’s colour you are after then look no
restio grasses further than these two beauties. Both spe-
The use of ornamental grasses on golf cies offer masses of flowers on compact,
courses has become hugely popular. perennial plants in spring and summer.
Restios, while not true grasses, have all the There are a number of different varieties to
characteristics of the perfect form plant. choose from. They are relatively low-growing
A number of stands at this year’s Chel- reaching a height of 30cm, with a spread to
sea Flower Show highlighted their many match. Replace every few years when the
attributes, but unfortunately they are still plants become woody. ■
Golf Club Management June 2010 35
On COurse GOlfinG sOlutiOns PrOmOtiOn
PeCanwOOd JOins
On COurse
GOlfinG sOlutiOns
stable
GPS golf course management systems are firmly established as a necessary tool
for the golfer and course manager. Pecanwood is the latest premier facility to
choose On Course Golfing Solutions to supply and service its system.
Pecanwood is an upmarket estate that
can boast the first Jack Nicklaus-designed
golf course in South Africa and, since its
opening, it has established a reputation for
setting the highest standards.
This club, on the banks of the Hartbee-
spoort Dam, has been a regular and deserv-
ing recipient of the Compleat Golfer 5-Star
Golf Experience Award since 2003.
The club’s general manager, Ken Payet,
and his golf operations team are known for
their commitment to excellent service and
expect nothing less from their suppliers.
“I inherited a GPS system for our carts
when I joined Pecanwood from Sun City,
and the decision to replace them with On
Course Golfing Solutions’ product had as
much to do with guaranteed back-up serv-
ice as the system itself, which is certainly
state-of-the art,” says Payet.
“Since this system was introduced, its
performance has exceeded expectations
and there has never been a hint of any sort
of problem.”
On Course Golfing Solutions’ Andrew
Nelson understands the importance of his
clients being assured that should something
go wrong, he will sort out the problem with
minimum down time.
“We now have 1 200 screens in opera-
tion and there are five dedicated service
technicians countrywide. Our maintenance
team is on standby 24/7 and will rectify any
problem immediately,” he says.
36 June 2010 Golf Club Management
“I am proud of the fact that our system is
well respected and well represented in the
market – we now have 32 facilities using
our system. Our programme of preventative
maintenance has proven to work well and
regular visits to clients by our technicians
ensures that the systems work at peak ef-
ficiency at all times.”
The obvious question must be asked
whether GPS systems justify their price.
“It has always been our policy at Pecan-
wood to offer a five-star experience at an
“sinCe this system was intrOduCed,
its PerfOrmanCe has exCeeded
exPeCtatiOns.”
affordable price and nowadays this is even
more important,” says Payet.
“All of us in this business know that
money is tight, and golfers are looking for
deals. But the matter of perceived value is
important. We did a survey, which showed
that premier clubs were charging around
the R240 to R280 mark for a cart fitted with
GPS. We recently increased our cart fee from
R220 to R250 and have found no resistance
to this,” he says.
The added income from cart rental via
advertising is another incentive, but one
shouldn’t have to rely on this to justify the
installation of the system.
“Obviously the numbers must make
sense,” says Nelson, who stresses that his
clients must be happy and should not find
the installation of his systems a bind.
For any club with carts doing more than
15 rounds per cart per month, it makes
sense to install the screens – based on a
rental increase of approximately R30 per
round, the system effectively pays for itself.
But depending on what deal is in place,
clubs can generate considerable revenue
from hole sponsorship and advertising.
Besides the income derived from carts,
there is no question that these systems
make the job of the director of golf and the
pro shop staff easier.
Conventional wisdom suggests that these
systems speed up play, with the most obvi-
ous advantage being that golfers no longer
have to wander around looking for yardages
on sprinkler heads and pace off distances
to their ball.
It has been estimated that as much as
30 minutes per round can be saved. Being
able to speed up play means increased
rounds and therefore increased revenue.
The system also allows for easy moni-
toring of each cart and compliments the
function of a course marshal.
 ON COURSE GOLFING SOLUTIONS PROMOTION

The ability to track every cart in real time,

knowing exactly where it is and knowing
which carts are lagging behind, makes for a
smoother operation during peak times.
The On Course GPS system can generate
a vast array of management reports – pace
of play information by cart or by hole can
be calculated, cart usage, round summary,
ABOVE: On Course Golf Solutions’ Andrew Nelson (left) with Ken Payet. food and beverage usage, pace of play
ABOVE RIGHT: This screen, which features high-quality graphics, has proved to be user-friendly and a firm relative to pin positions, as well as custom-
favourite with golfers.
BELOW: Pecanwood’s Levi Mashaba makes changes to the pin positions for the GPS system. created reports. Additionally, the ability to
print reports direct from the management
computer results in more efficient manage-
ment of the course.
A comprehensive tournament package
is also available, which offers real-time
leaderboards, customized formats and hole-
by-hole results.
There is no doubt that GPS systems have
won over golfers, who effectively have a pro-
fessional caddie on hand, with the added
advantage of having photo-quality graphics
of each hole showing sand, water, bunkers,
trees and areas of rough.
They can also see where they are in
relation to the cart in front of them. Golfers
can also communicate with the pro shop for
emergency assistance or to simply report a
lost club.
This two-way communication can be
utilised by the club to promote upcoming
events or to issue storm warnings.
“We can certainly recommend these
systems to every club,” concludes Payet. ■

For enquires contact:

Gauteng: andrew@oncoursegps.co.za or call 082 901 6184.
Cape/other regions: craig@oncoursegps.co.za or call 083 229 5820.

Golf Club Management June 2010 37

last word
are you ready
for the kick-off?
Gremlins in the ticketing systems, clouds of volcanic ash threatening to prevent visitors
from being able to fly from Europe, unwanted rumblings from the right wing and the
usual ill-conceived ranting from Mr Malema. What else could possibly go wrong with
Africa’s first hosting of the World Cup?
No one can tell us exactly how many visi-
tors we can expect during soccer’s great
extravaganza, nobody really knows if our
potholes will be repaired in time or whether
the road works will be completed in time.
Will golf clubs be inundated with requests
from foreign visitors wanting to shell out
whatever you charge for ‘unaffiliated’
rounds, or will your club be quieter than
usual, with members glued to their TV sets?
Certainly most South Africans have
shelved any plans they may have had to
travel during this time and most clubs we
have spoken to have few, if any, corporate
days booked over this period. It is sug-
gested that there could be no better time to
arrange member/guest competitions.
Whatever happens, and we all trust
that things will go well, it would be wise to
ensure that if a busload of golf tourists does
arrive at your club, your staff is there to look
after them.
HR consultant Andrew Pons, a regular
contributor to GCM, points out that 25
World Cup games will be played on week
days and all of the games will kick off dur-
ing the working hours of some of your staff.
Have you considered what they plan to do
and what will they actually do?
One suggestion is to institute a flexible
‘quid pro quo’ working arrangement, rather
than having a sudden surge of illnesses or
funerals that will have to be attended.
Another idea to make up for lost time
might be for certain staff to work overtime at
normal rates to make up for time off during
certain games.
It is fair bet that usual transport will be
38 June 2010 Golf Club Management
disrupted during this time, so alternate ar-
rangements might have to be made.
It is also worth assuming that your sup-
pliers might also have their hands full and
there is nothing more frustrating that having
a bar full of big spenders and not being able
to serve them what they want.
This is indeed a once in a lifetime op-
portunity for all South Africans, so it would
be reasonable to allow staff to select which
games they would like to watch and assess
the practicality of their requests.
It is certainly a good idea to begin and
complete any wage negotiations before
the first whistle (or vuvuzela) is blown.
“consider how the workplace could
become a ‘fun place’ during the
world cup that harnesses
the spirit of the event...”
Alternatively, it should be agreed that these
negotiations be postponed until after the
trophy has been won.
Pons’ best advice is to consider how the
workplace could become a ‘fun place’ dur-
ing the World Cup that harnesses the spirit
of the event and encourages staff to be at
work. It is has been obvious that at those
clubs that have supplied staff with soc-
cer strip to wear on Fridays, the buzz has
already started.
One course superintendant has made
arrangements for a television set to be
installed in his workshop for the duration of
the World Cup and has offered an incen-
tive for his staff – the best performers being
invited to match parties on game days.
GCM has come across some novel ideas
for clubs to encourage members, even
those that are not normally soccer fans, to
get into the spirit of the World Cup.
Besides themed lunches and dinners
matching the teams playing on a particular
day, golf competitions with players repre-
senting different countries could be held
prior to matches.
Failing to do anything special at all is
certainly missing an opportunity.
Certain clubs have already arranged for
teams to visit their facilities – it is surprising
how many soccer stars actually play golf,
and it is a fair bet that many of their mem-
bers would relish the chance to meet and
pose for photographs with these players.
Of course if this hasn’t been arranged by
now, you have probably missed the boat,
but there is always a chance that after a
team is knocked out of the tournament,
they would consider a period of ‘R and R’
on your golf course. If nothing else, this
would be a great PR exercise.
Whether Bafana Bafana makes it through
the group stage or not, we are behind the
‘boys’ and the GCM team wishes you a fes-
tive, productive and profitable World Cup. ■
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