Providing professional development

and Educational opportunities for

SUPERINTENDENTS.

Scholarships 2025 - Winners!!

We are excited to announce and congratulate the two winners of the 2025 Scholarships!

• Syngenta's Women in Turf Scholarship Winner: Holly Abell | PGG Wrightson Turf

• NZGCSA 'Wider Education Scholarship' Winner: Callum Cameron | Remuera Golf Club

Congratulations to you both!

Holly and Callum will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2025 ASTMA Turf Conference in Sydney, Australia.

They will also participate in exclusive Syngenta networking events and a specialized training session on plant protection products with Dr. Brett Morris, Syngenta's Technical Services Manager for Turf & Landscape ANZ.

This is a fantastic opportunity and our thanks goes to Syngenta Turf & Landscape ANZ for making this happen.

Dublin City University Research on Course Maintenance – Seeking Your Expertise

Hi NZ Greenkeepers,

We’re final-year Data Science students at Dublin City University, currently working on a research project to improve task scheduling in golf course maintenance. Our vision is to create an AI-driven tool that uses weather data, turf growth patterns, and past maintenance records to optimize how tasks are planned and how resources are allocated on the golf course.

We have the technical expertise, but we know that real insight comes from the professionals on the ground and those who live and breathe turf management every day.

That’s why we’re reaching out to you! As a respected voice in the industry, you have the knowledge and experience that can help shape this project into something truly valuable for turfgrass professionals.

We’ve created short, role-specific surveys (just 5 minutes each) for greenkeepers, head greenkeepers/superintendents, and golf course general managers. We would be incredibly grateful if you’d consider sharing this survey link with anyone that might be interested.

Link to the survey: https://forms.gle/Gta8dHCpkC2dkQjw9

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
Padraic & Jack

2024 NZGCSA Parkland Excellence Award - Winner!

The New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association (NZGCSA) and Parkland Products are proud to celebrate the pinnacle of achievement in golf course management with the 2024 NZGCSA Parkland Excellence Award. This prestigious honour recognises the dedication, agronomic expertise, and leadership demonstrated by New Zealand’s top golf course superintendents.

We would like to congratulate this year’s recipient Spencer Cooper for receiving this award. He was chosen by an independent judging panel for his exceptional work. Judges highlighted Spencer’s ability to maintain impeccable playing conditions, even while managing complex course construction projects, and praised his leadership in guiding his team through these challenges.

NZGCSA President Jason Perkins commended Spencer on his achievement, stating: “Spencer’s dedication to agronomy and team leadership set a benchmark for excellence in our industry. His ability to deliver top-tier playing conditions while managing complex course developments is truly commendable.”

Chris Todd, Managing Director of Parkland Products, added: “The Parkland Excellence Award represents the highest honour in New Zealand golf course management. We are proud to support this recognition of individuals like Spencer, who demonstrate outstanding commitment to their craft and set new standards for excellence.”

Spencer will be formally presented with the Parkland Excellence Award at the Fine Turf Seminar in Rotorua this July, where the industry will gather to celebrate his achievements.

Fine Turf Seminar - July 2025 - Registrations Open!

CNITMA and STANZ invite you to join them at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua for the Fine Turf Seminar which will take place 13 - 15 July 2025. 

The Evolution of Turf Management is the theme this time and as you can see there is a great line up of already confirmed speakers.

Registrations are now open and you can register by following the link 2025 Fine Turf Seminar which will take you to the CNITMA website where you can register on line and find out more information.

If you need accommodation, there are plenty of options in Rotorua including the Millenium Hotel (the Gala Dinner will be held here on the Tuesday night) and a special room rate code is available on the CNITMA website.

The NZGCSA will also hold our AGM on the Tuesday during the FTS - more details to come in due course about this.

Keep an eye on the CNITMA website and social media for all the updates about the event as it approaches.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

NZGCSA Environment Award Sponsored by PGG Wrightson Turf and Proudly Supported by Golf NZ - Winner 2024

Grant Saunders and St Andrews Golf Club, Hamilton is the NZGCSA Environmental Award winner for 2024.

This award, proudly sponsored by PGGWrightsonTurf and supported by GolfNZ recognises the course superintendent and golf club that have excelled in Environmental stewardship. 

Course Superintendent Grant Saunders has demonstrated extremely high standards in delivering golf course turf of the highest quality whilst managing an exemplary environmental program. The judges found that Grant's attention to detail, record keeping, low input management and sustainable turf management practices have put him at the top of the list in this award. Grant is held in high regard amongst his peers in the turf industry and he continues to deliver excellence in golf course management.

Congratulations to Grant and his team at St Andrews Golf Club for setting such high standards.

Grant will be presented with his award at the CNITMA Fine Turf Seminar in Rotorua in July. The NZGCSA wish to acknowledge the judges whose task was not an easy one with the calibre of the entries.

The NZGCSA also wish to thank the generous sponsorship of PGGWrightsonTurf in the running and presenting of this award. 

Unsung Heroes - A History of Golf Course Greenkeeping in New Zealand

A history of golf course greenkeeping written by Mike Finlayson. The book takes you from when golf was first introduced into New Zealand and through the decades with the evolvement of greenkeeping over the years to the present.

Past and present Greenkeepers share their careers, stories and memories. The book also features a chapter written by the late Nigel Lloyd on golf course machinery and equipment.

To order a copy please fill in the below form and we will contact you to get your book to you.

Each copy is $25 and includes postage in NZ.

Our thanks and gratitude goes to Mike Finlayson for the idea, concept, research and all his time taken to put all this history down on paper. Also thanks to anyone and everyone who contributed, offered advice, encouragement and their memories!

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