Ep77: Kate Torgersen & Sandbelt Vegetation

After an eventful week of golf twitter exchanges about tea tree and the sandbelt we have a timely interview to lead off this episode. Kate Torgersen from Environmental Golf Solutions joins us to talk about her career in golf. Starting with her time in turf management, then the switch to flora. We talk about her experiences, the people and courses she’s worked with, as well as the under-appreciated & important role she plays within the broader golf industry. She shares her knowledge of indigenous plants, and her views on lots of different points of interest to our audience. Learn more about Kate and Environmental Golf Solutions here - https://www.envirogolf.com.au/the-team

We then move to a discussion between Scott and Matt that focuses on vegetation, with a particular focus on the Sandbelt. We hope this chat builds an understanding among the listenership of the basis for so much important work that is getting done on-course. And that some widely accepted and long-held misconceptions are addressed.

As mentioned in the episode – a great article by Will Watt of Contours on the use of fire to manage indigenous vegetation - The Royal Back Burn - https://contours.golf/journal/the-royal-burn-back/

The reference texts cited within this episode were -

Flora of Melbourne - https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8155/

Indigenous Plants of the Sandbelt - https://openlibrary.org/books/OL28493513M/Indigenous_Plants_of_the_Sandbelt

C.S. Sutton report within The Naturalist, 1912 - https://archive.org/details/biostor-120900

Claude Crockford’s The Complete Golf Course - Turf and Design - https://www.finegolfbooks.com/pages/books/13684/claude-crockford/the-complete-golf-course-turf-and-design

As always – special thanks to Matt and his staff at Angus And Grace Go Golfing. Check their insta page and website for some of the best golf apparel on the planet. The new Australian Golf Passport cap is in stock now and smoking hot. A small run, so grab one while you can.  There’s a white tee with the AGP logo too, which is also very sharp. And don't sleep on the AAGGG rain jacket - as modelled by Scott at Tara Iti last month.

Thanks to Dean and h