Page 14 - INTRA MUROS November 2020

ESTATE NEWS

AFRICAN TURF ACADEMY

AT SILVER LAKES

ituated at the Silver Lakes Golf golf performance side, so ATA is now a
Estate in Pretoria, the African Turf golf course management programme
SAcademy (ATA) offers a greenkeeping and my academy is called the McKenna
programme which targets aspiring Performance Academy. Both are hosted at
professional golfers who are keen to Silver Lakes.
understand how to manage a golf course.
“It has been an amazing journey and is not
The ATA offers an international even close to where I want it to be, yet.
greenkeeping qualification; a two-year We are accredited with the South African
full-time programme of study, running education bodies so we can assist with BEE
in conjunction with a Tour Player skills development through learnerships
Development Programme. On successful or bursaries, helping young South Africans
completion of the programme, students to participate in our programme,” he
receive an internationally recognised explains.
National Certificate in Greenkeeping from
Elmwood College, St Andrews, in Scotland. In 2012, the R&A in St Andrews, Scotland,
and Jacobsen Machinery both agreed to
Scottish born Andrew McKenna is the CEO help fund the early years of the programme;
and founder of the academy. He was a and they continue to sponsor it. RainBird
professional golfer until 2002 and, after Irrigation also supports the programme.
ending his playing career, started coaching A bi-annual conference is hosted at Silver
the game. In 2008 he moved to South Lakes and many of the overseas partners
Africa and was awarded the contract to give talks to the students. The conference
run the Silver Lakes Golf Academy in 2010. is open to the golf industry as a whole, Andrew McKenna,
and having the big golfing brands support CEO and founder of the academy
“My background is the performance side of the programme provides credibility and
golf but I wanted an education component international opportunities. Online vs interactive courses
to the academy because I felt that not Greenkeeping/golf course management is
enough good golfers were becoming Next generation of golf course managers very much a practical, hands on job, so the
golf course managers. I therefore saw a The modern-day golf course Academy’s online platform is ideal for those
gap that I wanted to fill, with the aim of superintendent will be someone who currently in the industry; but for those who
having an educational component to the needs to engage in the business of the want to pursue a new career, it is best to
performance side of golf. This is still the club at committee level and have an come to the Academy. A correspondence
case. However, we now also do training understanding of the club’s financials. course will soon be offered for those who
in golf course management without the He will also need to present himself as a want to start working at a club and study
professional, be a good golfer and play with at the same time.
the members, just as the club manager
and pro should do. McKenna hopes that The Elmwood college curriculum is in place
graduates from his academy will one day and is respected worldwide, according to
be the general managers at clubs and not McKenna. The curriculum in South Africa is
only the golf course superintendents. based on a practical qualification and the
one from Elmwood “carries a lot of respect
Schools are the target market for the globally,” he states.
next generation of golf course managers,
and McKenna says he is looking for keen The golf academy differs from the
golfers and young men and women who performance academy in that the latter
aspire to be part of this industry, even serves to improve one’s golf. Pilates, yoga,
if they are not good golfers as yet. “We golf fitness, club fitting and coaching with
need to recruit from high schools (Grade radar technology are included. The turf
12 leavers) and we are therefore talking academy students experience all of this
to candidates from Grade 11 so that they and the education as well, so they can
know what to expect. Enrolment is our pursue both playing and a golf industry
biggest challenge,” he explains. career, simultaneously.

12 INTRA MUROS NOVEMBER 2020