John Flaherty – 2012 Living Turf Greenkeeper of the Year Award

John Flaherty
Elanora Country Club

The New South Wales Bowling Greenkeepers Association wishes to congratulate John Flaherty from Elanora Country Club on taking out the 2012 Living Turf Greenkeeper of the Year Award which was presented at the annual Turf Craftsmen v Legends game at Soldiers Point.

After doing a stint of work experience at Fox Hills golf course during high school, John gained a start in the industry as an apprentice at Northmead Bowling Club under Malcolm Randall in 1995. Northmead was at that time the host of the annual Triangular Day so he was immediately joined up as a member of the association.

On completing his apprenticeship and with Northmead unable to keep 3 tradesmen on staff he then moved out to Blacktown Workers Club under Gary Allen for 12 months looking after the bowling greens and sports fields.

In 2000 he took up the position of Assistant at Auburn RSL Bowling Club with Simon Cooper, a position he held for 3 years. During this time, he was elected Bowls Secretary of the association. In 2003, Simon left for the life of sales and John took over as Head Greenkeeper.

In August 2010 with Auburn looking like closing its doors, John departed for Elanora Country Club on Sydney’s northern beaches. This as a big change – ocean views replaced the hustle and bustle of downtown Auburn. All the years of counting every penny was happily thrown out the window with a club dedicated in providing its members with high quality bowling greens to go with its Group 1 golf course on a very healthy budget.

John maintains the club’s two bowling greens, croquet lawn, tennis courts and club lawns to a very high standard with the members taking great pride in showing off their greens to visiting clubs.

John is a very worthy winner of this year’s award. Congratulations!