EP.141 Keeper of the Greens - Damien Bell (Wellington Golf Club)

Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast
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Damien Bell has a greenkeeping career that doesn't follow the
traditional path. Growing up at Wellington, in country NSW,
greenkeeping wasn't exactly on his mind when looking for work
after leaving school. After falling into a greenkeeping
apprenticeship, as he puts it, he was literally thrown the keys
to the golf course after his boss had an accident at home and was
unable to return to work. A steep learning curve by anyone's
standards. Damien stood tall and took on all the challenges that
confronted a young man looking to learn the trade of
greenkeeping, and after completing his apprenticeship, went on to
win the national apprentice of the year award which laid down a
path to a different world.





Damien was soon on a plane to the USA before taking on a new role
in Sydney and living in the big smoke! As life changes, so do
your priorities, which would then see Damien and his young family
looking to return to country life and taking on the role as
Superintendent at the club where his career began. But this was
only another small step in his career to date.





Join Damien and I as we record this one in person at the
Wellington Golf Clubhouse, catch up on old times, discuss what
it's like living and working in a regional town, the highs and
lows of maintaining a regional golf course within the swings of
Mother Nature, the incredibly unique setting and location of
Wellington Golf Club, and the club's bright future under the new
management of Wellington Soldiers Club! Oh, and there's plenty of
laughs along the way of course!





You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!


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Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com





People and places mentioned in this podcast:


Wellington Golf Club


Manly Golf Club


Pennant Hills Golf Club


ASTMA Golf Course Graduate of the Year Award (past winners)


Wellington Caves


Jenolan Caves


Big Cedar Lodge


Big Cedar Lodge - Cliffhangers Course video