It’s been 15 years since Matt joined our team as Head Greenkeeper – the top job he secured thanks to a very timely award. Since then, Matt has overseen an incredible number of projects and initiatives around the grounds, which have all helped us to become the destination bowls club we are today.
Here, Matt talks about his start in greenkeeping, what’s involved in his work, the changes he’s seen during his time here, and what he enjoys most. Through it all, it’s clear that Matt’s love for the job is as strong as ever, even as he approaches his 30th anniversary in the turf trade.
How did you first get into greenkeeping? And what inspired you to pursue this career?
I started greenkeeping in Junee, NSW, back in 1994. I’d played a bit of lawn bowls for sport and was always keen on working outdoors. A job came up and I was lucky enough to get a start. When I completed my apprenticeship, I moved to Sydney and did some bar work until I could find a job back in greenkeeping. I’ve worked on bowling greens ever since – it’ll be 30 years this November.
How did you become Head Greenkeeper here at the club?
It’s a bit of a funny story. Keith, the previous greenkeeper, retired after 35 years. At the time, I was living in Engadine but working at Albion Park Bowling Club. So, I jumped at the chance to work close to home. As it turns out, my great mate Sean was also up for the job; he lived local as well. He had just nominated me for Greenkeeper of the Year, which I end up winning three days before my interview. That was enough to convince the club to give me the job over Sean.
What does a typical day look like?
It starts with a coffee and chats with the boys about the day ahead. Generally, this is a phone call to our greens staff at Wiseman Park Bowling Club and Club Kirrawee to see what’s in the planning there.
We can’t start machinery until 7am due to noise restrictions, so that’s when we get out to cut the greens, then roll the grass to flatten it out and set up greens for bowls. This normally takes two to three hours each day. The rest of the day is spent looking after the gardens and grass areas. For me, there’s a lot of planning and several emails over the day, and I mostly finish at 2pm, which often turns into 4pm.
You also oversee Wiseman Park Bowling Club and Club Kirrawee. What do you focus on to keep three venues in top condition throughout the year?
Bowling greens are a unique surface, like tennis, golf and cricket, except we cut the turf much lower – typically 2mm or sometimes less. This presents a few issues as the grass will grow under these conditions, but we are constantly watching for wear and over-use; turf health is always a fine balance with pest and disease issues. We aim to maintain an even cover of grass that is firm but also drains well.
How do seasonal changes affect your approach to maintaining the surface and quality of the greens?
The grass type we use grows best in the warmer months, with barely any growth over winter, so we normally renovate or refresh the surface in the warmer months and cut most days during this time. From late autumn to early spring, we can maintain the surface with just rolling and constant movement of play across the whole surface. Wet winters can be quite challenging.
How do you prioritise tasks, especially during tournaments or club events?
For tournaments and major events such as State Championships, we take extra care to make sure all the little things are in place. This includes ensuring garden beds are maintained, grass surrounds are neat, tidy and weed free, and that things get painted – all the little things. The greens aren’t really treated too differently, but we’ll try to get the greens similar in speed and pace, where possible. Apart from that, we have the greens prepared the same way every day of the week.
Can you share a memorable project from your time at the club?
I have hosted several Major State events, several State Pennant Finals, Platinum and Premier League games and everything in between. I think the biggest project was two years ago when we rebuilt the Number 1 green, new junior locker and storage shed. It was a six-month project that had several twists and turns we didn’t plan for, all while managing a second club’s greens for the first year and rebuilding a green there at the same time. The weather was against us the whole time, but, somehow, we got there in the end.
How has the club changed since you first started working here?
There’s been a lot of change outside as well as inside the club. I’ve implemented a few things outdoors, including installing an automated irrigation system, aluminium seating and shades around all greens, and we’ve changed from couch grass greens to tifdwarf greens. There has also been new lighting for the front carpark and renewed natives in the garden beds, and the Number 1 green has been rebuilt, along with a new retaining wall and rear shed. And recently, expanding our greenkeeping team to more clubs has given the apprentices and tradesmen greater job security along with the experience of working in a good team environment. The construction of The Lawn (our new alfresco space) was probably our biggest recent change.
Internally, the club has had several major and minor renovations, which, at times, have seen loads of great growth – much like the success of The Lawn.
Tell us about overseeing the construction of our new space, The Lawn.
I was keen to be part of this project from the start with CEO Chris and Ops Manager Andrew. Even though this would encroach on “my real turf”, I’d seen this work well at a lot of venues. I contacted several greenkeepers who had installed similar areas to ask for advice, dos and don’ts, so it was well planned from the start. Laying synthetic grass over the real grass hurt a little, but we knew it would really finish off the area. The native plantings in the planter boxes were in line with the focus carried over from the garden beds. The colour tones we used when selecting the plant boxes also fitted with the redwood of the seating.
I think we started planning it three months out with the launch date of Father’s Day and a soft start the weekend before. It seemed like we had plenty of time until the end when we rushed to get the synthetic grass down the week before while the biggest thunderstorm in August history bared down on us. The guys rushed the turf and got it down just in time. The end result is proof it was planned and set out well, with nothing but positive reactions and comments. It’s great to see so many new faces at the club.
What do you enjoy most about being Head Greenkeeper at the club?
I’ve always had an interest in working outdoors, and once I started greenkeeping, I developed a real passion for bowling greens. Engadine has a great mix of people and ages, all very friendly and supportive, and Alan Westwood, during his time as Chairman, was very supportive of everything I wanted to achieve on the greens. I feel that’s the most satisfying thing – seeing how I’ve changed a lot of things and modernised the equipment, greens and processes along the way.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in greenkeeping?
I say this to all my apprentices: Bowling greenkeeping is a lifestyle, not a career, but you can make a career out of the lifestyle. It’s a hard slog sometimes with work regularly going seven days a week. I’ve trained more than 12 apprentices. They haven’t all stayed in the trade, but most have. A few moved on mid-apprenticeship to venture into different areas of the turf trade, such as golf courses and cricket ovals. I’ve always encouraged them to do this – you’ve got to enjoy the work you do. These days, it’s extremely rare to work at the one place your whole working life. In order to progress and gain more experience, you may have to change jobs regularly to achieve your ultimate success.ß
Want to meet some of the other members of the Engadine Bowling Club team?
- Get to know Josh – another talented young bowler. Read More Here.
- Meet Carolyn who recently celebrated 25 years. Read More Here.
- Our apprentice greenkeeper Jacob. Read More Here.
