INFORMATION BRIEF No. 137 | Feb 2026

Source: SAPPI Tree Spotting KZN-Natal and Eastern Cape Jacana Media 2013

By Alistair Collier | The Business of Golf Magazine

TURFGRASS MANAGERS AND SUSTAINABILITY

At the recent Gauteng Turf Grass Managers Association (TGMA) meeting, the issue of the career and role of the greenkeeper / course superintendent at a golf club was discussed at length.

This is not a new issue, for example at the CMASA Conference held at Steyn City in August last year, where some 136 club managers and heads of department attended. This topic was the subject of a panel discussion.

The discussion, chaired by the CMASA chairperson, included the general manager of Clovelly Golf Club, the director of golf at Stellenbosch Golf Club, the course superintendent from Royal Johannesburg, and a representative from Matkovich Golf as the panellists, and dealt with the relationship between the golf club general manager, the director of golf, the greenkeeper and greenkeeping team.

Some of the action items that arose out of those discussions were.

for management to consider strengthening the role and career path of the green keeper / course superintendent
to create educational content (e.g. video on “The Life of a Divot”), to help members better understand course maintenance needs
to establish a clear vision, mission, and operational values that align all staff towards common goals
to explore more education and training opportunities for greenkeeping staff

What became clear from the discussions at the TGMA meeting and CMASA Conference, is that much has been said, but little has been done at club and at industry level.

Looking at the USA approach, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), has been shifting viewing the role as “skilled labour” to “scientific management”, and has successfully branded the superintendent as a critical executive, who balances environmental science, financial management, and high-level agronomy.

Australia has moved toward a “Trade and Science” model, wherein greenkeeping is a regulated trade, meaning that a “Greenkeeper” isn’t just a job title; it is regarded as a professional designation earned through a specific legal and educational framework.

So, what needs to be done?

Some immediate action items (“the low hanging fruit”) include clubs reviewing their greenkeeping staff job descriptions, where professional certification and licencing (e.g. pest control operator – PCO – license) should be mandatory.

This professional status should be tied to a manager’s ability to document and reduce environmental impact, which will move the greenkeeper from being seen as a “grass cutter”, to becoming an “environmental guardian.”

In the medium term, the industry, through CMASA, should be building an apprenticeship / traineeship system based on best management practices.

This will help to fill an educational gap, where in South Africa, training is often fragmented between high-end private academies and informal labour.

Furthermore, a mandatory credit system, for TGMA members, with credits earned through attending TGMA meetings thereby earning continuing education units every year, should be introduced, which will help to ensure that managers stay current with the latest technologies and developments.

The real added value, of the above-mentioned points is that it will introduce a proactive approach, help to underpin a golf clubs’ sustainability journey, and help to reinforce its three ESG pillars; environmental stewardship (“E”), social responsibility (“S”), governance excellence and financial sustainability (“G”).

If you have any queries, why not contact the John Collier Golf through our website or via email ajcollier@telkomsa.net?

Yours in Sustainable Golf
JOHN COLLIER