Long-serving Wembley Golf Complex course superintendent Darren Wilson (pictured) has been bestowed life membership of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia (GCSAWA). Perth-based Wilson, a former AGCSA/ASTMA Board member, was awarded the honour at the state association’s Annual General Meeting and Living Turf/Rain Bird Cup golf event which was held at Lake Karrinyup Country Club on Monday 5 August.

It was fitting that Wilson received the acknowledgment at Lake Karrinyup as it was at the club where he started his journey in turf management. Initially trained as a motor mechanic, Wilson joined Lake Karrinyup as a mechanic in 1988 under superintendent Niel Adams who himself would later be made a life member of the association. As he became involved in assisting the groundstaff with daily mowing, Wilson decided to learn more about turf by undertaking studies through what was then Murdoch TAFE (now South Metropolitan TAFE). He completed in two years and was awarded the Baileys Shield as best night school student.

After moving into a role with McIntosh and Son for a brief period, Wilson was then appointed assistant superintendent at The Vines Golf Resort in the mid-1990s during the glory years when it hosted a string of Heineken Classics. In 2002 Wilson took on the superintendent role at 36-hole Wembley Golf Complex where he has been ever since and overseen a raft of major course changes.

Across his time in the industry, Wilson has held pretty much every position on the GCSAWA committee at least once. He was instrumental in starting the Waterwise Program, was on the University of Western Australia research and trials panel, completed a Masters in Agriculture degree (Turf Management) in the early 2000s and was the editor of the GCSAWA’s Divots magazine. At the 2007 national conference in Cairns, he received the AGCSA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award (pictured below right), while in 2010 he also won the GCSAWA Environmental Award. continued...

While Wilson was inducted for his contribution to the GCSAWA, the life membership also acknowledged his time on the national board. Wilson spent six years on the AGCSA/ASTMA Board, including four as treasurer. He was heavily involved in taking the national turf conference to New Zealand in 2018 as well as the Board’s decision to purchase the current head office in Clayton, Melbourne.

“There is no-one more deserving of this recognition and on behalf of all GCSAWA members and the golf industry in WA we congratulate Darren on his wonderful contribution,” says GCSAWA president Shane Baker (superintendent, Mosman Park GC). “Darren joins an esteemed line up of fellow life members, including Pat Meagher (dec.), Niel Adams (dec.), Allan Barlow (dec.), Norm Ashlin, Geoff Osbourne, Trevor Strachan and John Forrest (pictured with Wilson above left).”

Posting on Facebook, Wilson commented: “Honoured to be bestowed with a lifetime membership by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of WA. Receiving the award at LKCC was particularly meaningful as it is the place where my career in turf commenced in 1988.” The honour was widely applauded by the industry, with many congratulating him in person on the day and across social media. Former Wembley general manager Matthew Day summed up the sentiments of most by noting, “I had the pleasure of working with Darren for 15 years, I couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient for all the hard work and dedication he’s put into the industry.”

The ASTMA congratulates Darren on this fantastic recognition and for his wide-reaching contributions to both the WA and national associations.