The Turfectionists™: Interview with Bivek Inderjeeth & Jay Infanti

Meet our proud Turfectionists™ from The Eastern Golf Club; Bivek Inderjeeth the Club's horticulturalist, and Jay Infanti, Superintendent. Bivek was the 2019 Australian Sports Turf Managers Association Claude Crockford Award Winner, nominated by his superindendent Jay. 

The ASTMA Claude Crockford Environmental Award recognises golf course superintendents for their commitment to sustainable land management, long-term environmental planning, community involvement and overall environmental stewardship of their golf course. Syngenta have sponsored the award for many years, and are delighted to be able to put the spotlight back onto past winners, and take a look at the projects that they won the award for, as well as find out what they are up to these days at their club. 

The Eastern's 27-hole Greg Norman designed golf course has followed a "least disturbance" approach to the topography. Bivek and Jay discuss their onsite water storage, which is mostly through the wetlands system and irrigation dam. The drainage work they have done has captured more water, which returns to the wetlands and promotes numerous birds and wildlife to return to these areas. The Yarra River and the Winneke Pump Station are a challenge as their presence means that there are restrictions on water and pesticides use. The Yering Gorge Cottages are a great nature-based attraction on the property. Regeneration is a constant process on the course. With the help of the 'Ribbons of Green' program, the club continues to establish indigenous plants on their property to restore habitats across the Yarra Ranges. Completing their capital works program whilst the course remained open was a challenge to keep members happy and provide them with a quality course.

Meet our other Turfectionists™; Peter Watts from Muirfield Golf Club, Craig Molloy of Cypress Lakes Resort Golf Club, and Cameron Hall from Kew Golf Club.

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Do you know a professional turf manager who would be an excellent candidate for the ASTMA Claude Crockford Sustainability & Environmental Award? Why not nominate them by clicking here.