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DARRYL Edwards, the course superintendent at Burleigh Golf Membership on the Gold Coast, is a person who enjoys the lighter (humorous) aspect of life.
And those that know him effectively know that when he’s within the temper he’ll whip out his harmonica and play a bit blues.
“I usually have it (harmonica) tucked away within the go well with pocket,” he instructed me on the Queensland Golf Trade Awards on the Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre, the place he picked up the Superintendents Trade Recognition Award for excellent work within the trade.
“I play a little bit of blues, attempt to get pleasure from life and make folks snicker.”
Edwards, 65, has spent his whole working life within the golf trade and has been the course tremendous at Burleigh GC for the previous 16 years.
Sydney born and raised, Edwards knew from an early age he wished to work within the trade – both as a golf professional or a greenkeeper.
“As a 15-year-old I used to be enjoying off a two handicap and thought I used to be able to tackle the likes of Bob Shearer, Ian Stanley, Billy Dunk and Greg Norman,” he stated.
“I instructed my previous man I used to be going to be a golf professional and he stated, ‘Hmm’. We went to see a pal of ours who used to play golf with Bruce Crampton and he instructed me dedication was the secret.
“I used to be a sportaholic enjoying excessive stage soccer and cricket and he instructed me I had to surrender each different sport if I wished to succeed at golf.
“So, in the future I got here residence from faculty and requested mum if I might use the telephone and that I used to be going to turn out to be a greenkeeper. I rung round and was provided a place at New Brighton Golf Membership.
“I used to be 16, left faculty and began as an apprentice greenkeeper the following day.”
His superintendents profession started at Surfers Paradise GC in 1986 and in 1991 he grew to become the development and grow-in superintendent at Laguna Quays Resort.
Then an assault of the wanderlust took him abroad the place he labored in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Fiji and Egypt, constructing and sustaining programs.
“One of many difficulties working abroad was the language barrier,” he stated. “I learnt to be affected person shortly as a result of once I thought I had bought my message throughout they’d revert to the best way they did issues once I turned my again.
“For instance, we reduce greens up and down in stripes whereas they reduce in a round movement going spherical and spherical to the centre of the inexperienced.”
Coping with totally different local weather circumstances is a superintendent’s greatest problem, however so is ‘making an attempt to fulfill lots of people’.
“Coring and renovation to the grass is one thing some members don’t perceive,” he says. “Anytime we’ve got to disrupt the enjoying floor I really feel is the largest bugbear for members … and so is tempo of greens.
“The low markers need quicker greens, however most members don’t need them over 10 toes on the stimpmeter. 9-and-a-half is suitable for the typical golfer, however the low markers like them to run at 10 or 11 toes every single day of the 12 months and that’s virtually inconceivable.
“Attempting to please all people is a problem. Somebody as soon as stated to me there is just one one that enjoys the situation of the course and that’s the winner of the occasion.”
There are three issues Edwards encourages golfers to do throughout a spherical of golf – restore divots, rake bunkers and restore pitch marks on greens.
“With divots, a gamers ought to faucet in a divot after which apply sand and stage it,” he stated.
For Edwards, a typical working day is nine-plus hours.
“I get satisfaction from seeing golfers having fun with themselves,” he stated. “I additionally get a thrill once I see my employees (10 full-time and one informal) put out the course in pretty much as good a situation as is feasible.”
And Edwards has no qualms about leaping on a greens or fairways mower when there’s a employees scarcity.
“There’s nothing higher than a spring morning if you end up one man quick and get to leap on a mower. For me it’s a little bit of a sanity assault if you end up on the market and it’s quiet.”
One of many main advances within the golf trade, in keeping with Edwards, has been the event of bunker drainage strategies.
“In the meanwhile we’re placing in capillary concrete, a hydration and management materials, which stops bunkers being washed away in storms.”
As a golfer, Edwards maintains a handicap that hovers between 9 and 10.
Away from the trials of labor he enjoys fishing and enjoying golf with mates and spending high quality time together with his spouse Anne-Marie.
“It’s a stunning weekend when the telephone doesn’t ring as a result of there’s a downside on the course and I can go fishing or exit and have a pizza and a glass of wine with my spouse.”
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