Peter Frewin Appointed New AGCSA General Manager

The Board of Directors of the Australian Golf Course Superintendents' Association (AGCSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Frewin to the position of general manager, effective from Wednesday 2 November, 2011.

Peter brings an obvious wealth of knowledge of not only the association as a past president and board member, but of the entire golf industry as a whole following time spent as course superintendent and general manager at Barwon Heads Golf Club, VIC and also in his most recent position with Globe Australia.

Peter's appointment to the AGCSA general manager role follows an extensive procurement phase with a large number of applicants being assessed on their suitability, resulting in a list of 34 possible candidates. These applicants were then rated on a number of key criteria and a matrix developed where their suitability was assessed. From this a short list of eight interviewees was selected with seven accepting an interview.

These interviews were conducted at the offices of the AGCSA auditor, APL Financial, by a panel consisting of AGCSA directors Darren Wilson (Wembley Golf Complex, WA), Tony Fogarty (Club Catalina Country Club, NSW) and Peter Lonergan (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, QLD). Former AGCSA director Pat Pauli (Horton Park Golf Club, QLD) joined the panel as did AGCSA auditor Jon Griffin who was present as an independent observer.

The interviewees consisted of a number of people from within the golf industry and some from outside the industry from varying backgrounds. It was an exceptionally difficult decision with all interviewees impressing the panel with their varied expertise, but it was Peter's zest for the position and positive ideas on moving the association forward on behalf of the Board and membership that came to the fore. The Board would like to sincerely thank all applicants for the time they invested in their applications and interviews and for their valuable ideas on how the organisation can improve services to members and move forward.

Peter began his career in turf management as an apprentice at Melbourne's Cheltenham Golf Club in 1981 before taking up positions at Maryborough Golf Club and Rich River Golf Club. Following a two year stint as assistant superintendent at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, in 1988 Frewin was appointed course superintendent at Barwon Heads Golf Club on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula, a position he held until June 2009 when he resigned to embark on a role with Globe Australia.

During his career as a superintendent Peter was highly active at both state and national association level. Joining the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association committee in 1992, Peter was elevated to president in 1993 and held that position until 1997. In 1998 Peter was elected president of the AGCSA, taking over from Wayne Hinton, and served in that position until stepping off the Board at the 2002 Australian Turfgrass Conference in Brisbane. In 2009, at the 25th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Hobart, Peter was bestowed the national association's highest honour - the AGCSA Distinguished Service Award.

As mentioned, Peter will start as general manager of the AGCSA on Wednesday 2 November and the AGCSA Board looks forward to a very exciting next phase for this great association.

For more information please contact the AGCSA on (03) 9548 8600 or email info@agcsa.com.au