Melbourne, Australia: Three Australian golf turf management professionals have been recognised at the 2026 Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) National Turf Industry Awards.

Presented as part of the ASTMA Conference, the awards celebrate excellence across Australia’s golf, sports field and grounds sectors, with three major golf honours recognising outstanding course management, environmental leadership and emerging talent.

Queensland’s Luke Helm from Meadowbrook Golf Club claimed the ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award, recognising his leadership of one of Australia’s busiest public golf facilities.

Despite annual rounds increasing from 48,000 in 2018 to more than 132,000 last year, Helm has overseen significant course improvements while leading a maintenance team of just six staff, including four apprentices.

Over the past year, Helm and his team completed major construction and renovation projects entirely in-house, creating cost savings while providing valuable development opportunities for staff. His leadership also guided the club through two floods and Cyclone Alfred, alongside on-going environmental and bio-security initiatives.

The ASTMA Claude Crockford Sustainability and Environment Award was presented to Adam Marchant, Director of Grounds at Royal Sydney Golf Club, for his role in delivering the club’s environmentally focused Championship Course redevelopment.

Completed in 2025, the project transformed the course into a landscape centred on native vegetation and local ecology, with sustainability embedded throughout its design and maintenance.

Under Marchant’s leadership, the redevelopment has included the planting of more than 500,000 trees and plants, increased bio-diversity, the creation of wildlife corridors and habitats, and reduced reliance on water and fertiliser inputs. The project has also established opportunities for environmental partnerships and education across the golf industry.

The ASTMA Graduate of the Year – Golf award went to Nathan Baker, recognising the outstanding achievements of the Byron Bay Golf Club apprentice.

Originally from Melbourne, Baker completed his apprenticeship at Byron Bay before gaining valuable experience at Kingston Heath Golf Club during the 2024 Australian Open and undertaking a six-month placement at Sweden’s Crownwood Club, where he assisted with the establishment of a new golf course.

Now back at Kingston Heath, Baker will be part of the course preparation team for the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open.

The ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award is the association’s longest-running honour, first presented in 1990, while both the Claude Crockford Sustainability and Environment Award and Graduate of the Year – Golf have recognised excellence in the profession since 1996.

ASTMA also recognised two long-serving contributors to Australia’s turf management industry, with plant pathologist Dr Percy Wong and turf industry leader David Worrad receiving the ASTMA Distinguished Service Award.

The honour recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to greenkeeping, research, education and the advancement of the sports turf industry over many years.

*Article courtesy Golf Australia