Bruce Armbruster – 2004 Scotts Australia Greenkeeper of the Year Award

Bruce Armbruster
East Lismore Bowling Club

Bruce Armbruster, greenkeeper at the East Lismore Bowling Club, has won the greenkeeper of the year award for this year.

Bruce, also known as “Buster”, was granted this prestigious award not only for the excellent standard of his greens and surrounds, but also for the contribution he has made to the greenkeeping trade over the his career.

Bruce started his apprenticeship at East Lismore in 1965, and carried out his studies through the School of Horticulture at Ryde.

His career has included 12 months at Woodburn Bowling Club, 4 years at Coraki Bowling Club, 4 years at Lismore City Bowling Club and another 19 years at East Lismore Bowling Club.

Bruce sets a standard for all greenkeepers in our area. He is highly respected, always willing to give a helping hand and offer advice if required.

He maintains his greens on a minimal budget and also maintains his machinery himself to a very high standard.

When greenkeepers know Bruce is coming to their club they always make sure that all is perfect this includes ditches, surrounds and sharp mowers and the shed is neat and tidy.

Buster is not only a top greenkeeper, he is also a distinguished bowler. He started playing bowls in 1968 at Lismore Heights Bowling Club.

Since then he has won the singles, pairs, triples and fours championships at both Lismore City and East Lismore Bowling Clubs.

Buster has also won the NSW Greenkeepers Pairs with Bill Scarlett (retired greenkeeper from South Lismore Bowling Club).

Buster is a great character, and has many fond memories and yarns to tell. Long before night bowls started, Buster and a few other night owls used to park their cars around the green at the Heights and play bowls under the headlights.

The Friday night Tooheys Challenge used to carry on well into the night, and throughout the cold winter months.