By Brett Robinson, ASTMA

Australian golf course superintendents Andrew Anderson (Ranfurlie Golf Course, Vic), Tom Smith (Waterford Valley GC, Vic) and Darcy Jones (Catalina Club, NSW) kicked off 2025 in memorable fashion.

As past recipients of The R&A Scholarship, the trio headed to the UK in mid-January to attend a special function to recognise the program’s 20th anniversary. In conjunction with this, they also attended the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association’s Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, before heading to Scotland to visit the Home of Golf, St Andrews.

“It was an incredible week in the UK participating in The R&A Scholarship program and visiting St Andrews,” says Smith, who recently graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Agriculture & Technology focusing on sportsturf science through La Trobe University.

“The experience was truly one of the highlights of my turf career and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of it.

“The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition was fantastic and we had the privilege of learning through insightful seminars and networking with turf managers from around the globe. It was great to reconnect with old friends and forge new connections.

“A standout moment for me was being part of the Q&A panel at the scholarship’s 20th anniversary dinner. I was honoured to participate and share with the group how The R&A Scholarship has significantly shaped my journey in this field.”

The trio got to stay at The R&A’s Waldon House which overlooks the Old Course 18th green.

Following the conference, the trio travelled to St. Andrews, where they stayed at The R&A’s famous Waldon House which affords stunning views over the iconic 18th green of the Old Course. During their stay, The R&A’s assistant championship agronomist James Walker took the trio on a tour of the Old, New and Jubilee courses, The R&A clubhouse and Allan Roberston House, which is The R&A’s dedicated equipment testing and research facility. They also visited Kingarrock Hickory Golf Course which incorporates sustainable agronomy practices in its day-to-day course maintenance operations.

For Darcy Jones, the trip was also “an incredible experience”, not just for the networking and golf course maintenance aspects but also from a cultural perspective.

“I’ve always enjoyed visiting new places and this was no exception,” says Jones, who earlier on in his career spent more than a year in London working at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club and Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.

Jones received The R&A Scholarship while he was assistant superintendent at The Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne. It assisted him financially to complete units in his Bachelor degree in agronomy and technology and he was also present at some networking events during the 2024 Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Brisbane.

“There were so many highlights from the UK trip,” reflects Jones, who at the start of 2024 moved to Bateman’s Bay in NSW to take on his first superintendent posting at The Catalina Club.

“The anniversary dinner was a great networking opportunity and allowed me to catch up with old friends from when I worked in London. It was also interesting to hear how the program had helped others and to see what they have done with their careers with the assistance they received from The R&A.

“The biggest thing for me though was spending time travelling alongside Andrew and Tom. Throughout our eight days together there were significant discussions on a variety of topics and hearing what they are doing at their courses. Speaking with them has inspired a few changes I’d like to investigate further at my club.”

Jones says that, naturally, the opportunity to visit the Home of Golf and see the history surrounding the place was a special part of the trip. Walker’s tour around the Old Course, where they witnessed the rebuilding of the famed rivetted bunkers and the maintenance shed, was fascinating, not to mention having the privilege of staying in Waldon House which is normally reserved only for R&A members.

“The BTME was also really interesting, particularly around robotic mowers and how they can assist our operations given the labour shortages we are currently experiencing,” adds Jones.

“I was also really impressed with Richard McCann who was one of the standout speakers during the education sessions. He spoke about resilience and mental fortitude having been through an incredibly tough childhood when his mother became a victim of the Yorkshire Ripper.”

The R&A scholarship trio (from left) Tom Smith, Darcy Jones and Andrew Anderson with R&A assistant championship agronomist James Walker (second from left).

Like Jones, Andrew Anderson has recently taken the next step in his golf course management career, taking the reins at Ranfurlie Golf Course in Melbourne’s southeast in December 2023.

He has wasted little time in instituting a range of changes there, including being among the first superintendents in Australia to trial and adopt robotic mowing technology as part of his course maintenance programs. Anderson says the UK trip was “a once-in-a-lifetime experience” and a testament to the wonderful opportunities the golf course maintenance industry can offer.

“The BTME conference provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with industry leaders and fellow turf professionals,” states Anderson.

“The education sessions covered a broad spectrum of topics, from sustainable course management to emerging technologies, reinforcing the need to stay at the forefront of innovation in our field.

“Attending the scholarship anniversary dinner with many scholars, as well as industry mentors, was inspiring. It was a great opportunity to see just how generous The R&A are in helping to shape hundreds of careers in turf management.”

An unabashed devotee of golf course architecture and having an acute appreciation for the origins of the game, Anderson says that getting to walk the Old Course and visit The R&A clubhouse was “nothing short of surreal”. Witnessing firsthand how these historic courses balance tradition with modern advancements deepened his appreciation for course management at the highest level.

“Engaging with other scholars and professionals from around the world broadened my perspective on global challenges and opportunities within golf course management,” sums up Anderson.

“The ASTMA does a fantastic job of exposing us to the broader industry on a global scale, but there’s nothing quite like experiencing it firsthand. Being on the ground, seeing world-class facilities and engaging with the people shaping the future of our profession brings a whole new level of understanding and inspiration. For that, I’m incredibly grateful to both The R&A and ASTMA for making this opportunity possible.”