Passion, skill, dedication and hard work continue to pay off for Maleny Golf Club Superintendent Mick McCombe

who collected Australia’s top gong for Excellence in Golf Course Management at an industry dinner in Melbourne last night.

Having won the Queensland Golf Course Superintendents’ Achievement Award in March, Mick was nominated by the Club for the national Award for Excellence. This required submission by the club of documented evidence to meet the Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association’s (AGCSA) criteria.

The award, which honours the turf industry’s outstanding achievers, is judged on criteria including commitment to excellence, maintenance and turfgrass management techniques, innovation, community engagement and outcomes.

Mick was up against Superintendents from some of the best and most exclusive courses in the country and now stands alongside previous winners representing a veritable “who’s who” of the Australian golf course maintenance industry.

The judges commended the key leadership role that Mick played during the construction phase and with a budget of less than $750,000 for full construction of the first nine holes.

The award, which includes a $5,000 bursary to fund further education or an approved study tour, was presented in Melbourne last night at the AGCSA’s annual Turfgrass Industry Conference dinner attended by some 300 delegates and guests. Mick is pictured above receiving his award from Tony Irvine of sponsor Rainbird (left) and AGCSA President Peter Lonegan.

On accepting his award Mick acknowledged the unqualified support he had received from committee members including President Dr Max Whitten and Greens Chairman Rob Bailo since taking on the daunting challenge in September 2014.

“This award is owed to the long term vision of the club and its board of directors and I also want to thank our fantastic team of volunteers who’ve enabled us to achieve such a high standard of presentation,” he said.

Dr Whitten said the award recognised Mick’s insight in interpreting the design by golf architect Graham Papworth, diverse operating skills and ability to manage and motivate volunteers who helped build and then maintain the nine-hole course.

“This is a fantastic achievement and a great outcome also for Graham Papworth, the Club, our Project Manager and Vice-President Rod Richards RPEQ, the Management Committee and all our volunteers,” he said.

“Mick McCombe has played a pivotal role in translating a weed-ridden and largely abandoned dairy farm into an operating golf course which is now receiving high praise from both members and visitors alike.”

Dr Whitten said Mick’s prowess as an A-grade golfer and ability to operate dry-hired earthmoving machinery had proved to be valuable attributes.

“Above all his personal capacity to work with and motivate volunteers and contractors has played a huge part in constructing a good golf course in a short time frame and with a modest budget,” he said.

Mick said he was now looking forward to starting construction of the second nine holes at Maleny.

Prior to taking on the role of Course Superintendent at Maleny Mick was the Course Foreman at Headland Golf Club, Buderim, and during a 15-year industry career gained international experience at Coombe Hill Golf Club in London.

Mick’s other passion in life is music and he has his own eponymously named Blues and Roots combo – The Mick McCombe Band.

Below is an article published on Thursday 24 June 2016 in the Sunshine Coast Daily.

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