THE superintendent holding the tiller on the Burleigh Golf Course ship for the past 17 years has cut the painter and headed off into the sunset.
Darryl Edwards, an award-winning golf course superintendent, told Inside Golf it was time to “smell the roses” and reset the alarm clock that woke him from his slumber at four o’clock every working day morning.
“I said to my wife, Anne-Marie, ‘that’s the four o’clock rise of a morning out of the way for a little while’,” he laughed. “Now you don’t have to twist my arm to stay in bed a little longer.”
Edwards will leave behind a legacy of golf course maintenance excellence and big shoes to fill.
Sydney born and raised, Edwards knew from an early age he wanted to work in the golf industry – either as a golf pro or a greenkeeper.
“As a 15-year-old I was playing off a two handicap and thought I was ready to take on the likes of Bob Shearer, Ian Stanley, Billy Dunk and Greg Norman,” he said.
The opportunity to become a professional golfer didn’t pan out so he accepted an offer of a greenkeeping apprenticeship at New Brighton Golf Club before moving on to Castle Hill CC as assistant super.
CLOCKED OFF: Retiring Burleigh Golf Club superintendent Darryl Edwards shows off his 2023 Superintendents Recognition Award.
His superintendents career began at Surfers Paradise Golf Club in 1986 and in 1991 he became the construction and grow-in superintendent at Laguna Quays Resort in the Whitsundays.
Then an attack of the wanderlust took him overseas where he worked in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Fiji and Egypt building and maintaining courses.
There is little doubt Edwards put his heart and soul into his work at Burleigh Golf Club.
“From humble beginnings I put a fair bit into it and we achieved a lot in that time,” he said.
“We installed a new irrigation system, purchased new machinery and built a new shed. Then we embarked on resurfacing eight or nine greens, rebuilt a few tee blocks and have done all but three holes with capillary concrete in the bunkers.
“It’s one of the best things I’ve seen in the industry.
“One of the things I’m proud of is the improvement of the turf quality over the years.
“We get a lot of different and better products so one would hope your grasses improve with technology, mowing equipment and chemicals.
“My aim was to keep the grasses (328 Bermuda greens and CT2 couch and winter green fairways and tee blocks) consistent all year round. They came up to a high standard and we are proud of that.”
Edwards said he had been fortunate to work at clubs that provided him free-rein.
“I’ve been lucky at the clubs I’ve worked at because they have let me get on with my chosen trade,” he said. “That is when you can produce a good quality product. It’s definitely a job I like doing.”
As a golfer who once played off a two handicap, Edwards now maintains a handicap that hovers around 12.
“I’m listed as a 12 marker, but I mostly play to 16. I’m hoping to play more golf now so that I can consistently play to 12,” he said.
Now that he has retired, Edwards says he and Anne-Marie are contemplating a trip to Bali where youngest son Glen is growing in a golf course.
“It’s our time now so we’ll see where life takes up,” he said. “It’s time to smell the roses and spend more time with Anne-Marie,” he said.
“We are going to enjoy what we can when we can. I would like to see more of Australia because I have not seen much of the place due to working overseas for many years.”
Of course, Darryl has another string to his bow – his beloved harmonica which is never out of reach.
Those people who know him well will know that when he’s in the mood he will whip out his harmonica and play the blues – like he did at the staff Christmas party.
“A fellow turned up with a guitar so I jumped up with him and played a few tunes,” he said. “I don’t play that often anymore, but that was nice.”
Happy retirement, Darryl.
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Article Link: https://www.insidegolf.com.au/golf_industry/golf-industry-news/time-to-smell-the-roses-says-super-darryl/