Interview with Peter Boyd

Immediate Past-President of New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association

The 2011Turf Conference marked a changing of the guard at the New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association (NZGCSA). At the NZGSCA annual general meeting Grant Bunting was elected as president to replace retiring Peter Boyd, who had served as president for 4 years.

Peter remains active in the profession, both as a superintendent and as the NZGCSA representative on the board of the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation (NZSTITO). Nevertheless, retiring from a senior role in the profession provides an opportunity for reflection and perspective. Kevin Oldham of NZSTI interviewed Peter at the conference on behalf of NZ Turf Management Journal.

TMJ: What are the major trends that you see influencing the sport of golf globally?

PB: Everyone follows America, except once a year for the Open Championship. The sport is suffering a bit with the loss of Tiger Woods from the top ranks. He made the sport cool. The likes of Rory McIlroy have the potential to reignite that, but we’ll have to wait and see.

There is a risk of golf becoming more elitist, especially with people having less money following the global financial crisis.

TMJ: What the main global trends affecting greenkeeping?

PB: Member expectations keep rising - I call it the Augusta Syndrome. From a superintendent’s perspective the televised spectacle is a bit false. It’s simply not possible to achieve that quality on most courses. There is a disconnect between golf as a televised spectacle and course preparation: people see the players but not the practitioners.

Also there is constant pressure on costs. But we need to remember that people buy on value, not price. We also face more restrictions on the availability and use of chemicals that we have traditionally used. We may need to go back to some of the old methods of control.

On the other hand new technologies are making our job easier, such as improved mowers. And we have many more grass varieties now. In particular we are seeing much more use of couch. We are lucky: there is no shortage of choice in turf technology. And there are options to suit every budget.

TMJ: What effects are developments in sporting equipment having on course design and preparation?

PB: Equipment technology is having a major effect. We see it directly – I can now hit balls longer than I ever have. So we are having to make courses harder to compensate. It may come to the point where we need to change balls, or restrict the club technologies.

TMJ: Do you see trends in the styles of courses?

PB: It’s good to see links course being restored, but I’m against "manufactured" courses that are inappropriate for their setting. There’s more use of electric carts, which means that we

need more paths to get them around.

TMJ: What trends do you see affecting the game in New Zealand?

PB: NZ Golf has been talking for years about an emerging trend to the shorter game. I think they’re right. Many people these days just don’t have time for 18 holes. Maybe 9 holes is too short, so we may see 12 holes. Perhaps courses will be arranged in three groups of six (as opposed to the traditional front 9 and back 9).

Back in the good old days clubs were the hub of their community but that has dwindled over time, due to influences such as the drinking and smoking laws.

Golf clubs in general need to offer more than just a round of golf. People come for the experience. But they need to be able to walk straight in, to attract the "car park" golfers – who otherwise bypass the clubhouse. Do we need such big club-houses? Can they be hired out for other purposes – such as weddings?

TMJ: How do you see our industry?

PB: We are reasonably close and supportive, but could be better. It’s good to get together like this (the 2011 NZ Turf Conference), but we also like to retain our own identities.

TMJ: What threats does our industry face?

PB: Time and money. Memberships are down and some courses are laying off staff. That creates an employment risk. If you are a greenkeeper and you lose your job when the whole industry is facing a downturn where do you go?

TMJ: What impact is pay for play having?

PB: I think that the social discounting internet sites are having a major impact. Why would you become a member when you can buy a heavily discounted round any day on the week? Every club is doing it, and I can understand why, but (in the long run) it will reduce the overall income and growth of the game.

TMJ: What opportunities are there?

PB: Skills development, such as the new Level 5 qualification. We are not good at accepting change but are going to have to. We need to look outwards, not inwards.

Young greenkeepers have great opportunities through programmes such as Ohio State. We just hope they return, and many do. We need to encourage our young people to go abroad and work at a top course for the experience. Travel is very cheap these days.

I would like to see our industry be more positive. For example, there’s not too many golf clubs, just too few players.

We have people in New Zealand who are world leaders. We are not very good at telling the story about how good we are. For example we train superbly. I’m going through it myself – doing the Level 5 management qualification.

TMJ: Concluding remarks?

PB: It’s a great industry to be in. It’s the people that make it. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real New Zealand - hardworking good people.