Advertisement
The golf course at Kingswood, like the rest of George and surrounds, was inundated with heavy downpours lashing the district in the final month of winter. This necessitated remedial action on certain sections of the course.
But when chatting to The BUZZard on the Friday before the Sunshine Tour Pro-Am kicked off, Ivan van Heerden, Kingswood greenkeeper, was a picture of confidence about the playing surface being in tiptop shape, and ready to impress pro and amateur players from around the country.
“This is not my first rodeo,” he smiles, explaining that he cut his teeth at Randpark Golf Club in Gauteng, which was founded in 1940 and boasts three courses: Bushwillow, Firethorn, and Creek 9. The latter, then named Windsor 12, was completed in 1946.
“We hosted two South African Opens and a Joburg Open competition while I was head greenkeeper. So I am completely comfortable with any challenge that may have presented itself in the run-up to this month’s Sunshine Tour at Kingswood.”
Advertisement
Ivan has been greenkeeper at Kingswood for the past two and a half years, relocating to George in a flash when the job was offered to him.
“It was by far the best move for us, knowing that it would be a wonderful environment for our kids to grow up.” He has two daughters, both born in George, and currently aged two and a half and four months respectively.
After studying agronomy through PennState and specialising in turf, Ivan signed up for a three-year apprenticeship at Randpark, before taking over the greenkeeping reins at the historic club in Randburg. He was head of the greens for the next six years before being headhunted by Kingswood.
Ivan is supported by 17 staff members who follow his direction in maintaining the golf course. So when the skies over George produced 100+ millimetres of rain in half a day on August 19, Ivan and his team had their work cut out for them. Although water damage on the course was hardly extensive, remedial action at certain holes was undertaken as soon as the weather cleared.
Ivan says: “Irrigating a golf course is always a challenge, as there are many ways to manage the process but one is never fully in control of where run-off water will make its way across the estate.
Then and Now
These before and after photos — taken at the time of the deluge, and once the water
had been channelled off the course — show the extent of flooding and recuperation.
Photos: Byron Buys – Kingswood assistant greenkeeper
“A deluge like that comes around perhaps once in a decade and none of the conventional irrigation channels are equal to the task of dealing with its effects. Surface water is one’s biggest enemy in this context, as it may result in erosion and saturation.
“This is particularly risky for low-lying areas of the course if not dealt with efficiently,” he explains.
The adage, that water will always have the last say, really does ring true in Ivan’s line of duty.
“Some long-time George locals said they hadn’t experienced anything like the August downpour in 10 years. One can’t design or build anything for an event that occurs once a decade.
“You can only ensure that the fairways and greens are cut and cared for and prepared for the next round of golfers.
“When a bolt strips, we fix it. When a hole must be closed temporarily to make it effective and attractive for the coming weekend’s play, that’s completely within our control.
“When 30 millimetres of rain is forecast and falls, it’s good for the course. But a 50ml downpour is too much, and that’s when we jump in to take any irrigation problems by the horns.”
Ivan matriculated at Affies before choosing his career path, but this Pretoria native has not looked back or longed for any part of life in Gauteng.
“I don’t miss the crime, but must admit to missing the complete predictability of the Highveld weather – you could always tell what was coming. In George, there’s just no guessing what’s going to happen next.”
