EP.127 Keeper of the Greens - Mark Spraggs (Forster Tuncurry Golf Club - Tuncurry Course)

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It's time to venture to a regional part of the country and this time I'm talking with Superintendent of Tuncurry Golf Club, Mark Spraggs.

Mark was born and bred in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Growing up to a greenkeeping Father and living on course, it was basically inevitable the he was destined to become one himself. Mark's greenkeeping career began at a nearby 9 hole golf course before a move to the course where his Father worked at Hutt Golf Club to completed his apprenticeship.

Mark's interest in greenkeeping was soon to take a turn for much bigger adventures and he took the opportunity to look into a job at a new Jack Nicklaus golf course build, The Kinloch Club which he landed. Upon the completion of the build at The Kinloch Club, Mark decided to participate in the Ohio Program and head to the USA to work on some of their most well known courses which included the revered Pine Valley Golf Club!

Returning to New Zealand for a short time after enjoying his time in the USA, Mark decided once again on a new direction and this time he landed his first job at Elanora Country Club in Sydney, Australia. He was able to learn a great deal during his time at Elanora before it was time with a young family to move out of the big smoke and take up residence on the Mid North Coast of NSW. From here Mark took the opportunities that presented themselves to him before landing his currrent role as Superintendent at Tuncurry GC.

Join with me as Mark takes us through his greenkeeping career culminating in a deep dive into why Mark is so passionate about Tuncurry Golf Club and what it has the potential to become, more so than it already is.

You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!

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People and places mentioned in this podcast:

Forster Tuncurry Golf Club (forstertuncurrygolf.com.au)

Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club (formerly Hutt Golf Club) (boulcottsfarmhgc.co.nz/home)

Royal Wellington Golf Club (royalwellington.com)

The Kinloch Club (thekinlochclub.com)

The Ohio Program (astma.com.au/education/qualifications/the-ohio-program)

Pine Valley Golf Club - Wiki (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Valley_Golf_Club)

Sea Island (seaisland.com/golf)

Oakmont Golf Club (oakmontcc.org)

Elanora Country Club (elanoracc.com.au/cms)

Club Taree (clubtaree.com.au/golf)

EP.61 Keeper of the Greens - Glenn Gibson-Smith (open.spotify.com/episode/7weh6FDI05zcS6RfZB4iAT)