John Duncan – 25 years Service at Jamberoo Golf Club
John Duncan, or JD as he is affectionately known throughout the club, started work at Jamberoo on 1st February 1990 as a second year trainee apprentice . JD was lured to Jamberoo by then Directors Peter Townsend and John Parker after spending 9 years at Kiama Golf Club.
In those early days there were only 3 grass greens (9th, 12th and 14th) on the course. The rest were sand greens held together with sump oil. JD was involved in the design of the course which included the construction of the remaining the greens and tees. This work was carried out by him with the help of volunteers like John Henigan, Bill Freddricks, Clive Kingsford, Ben Churchill and Col Shean. Included in this design was extensive tree planting along the fairways whilst regularly up keeping of the course.
He even recalls when the club acquired its first greens mower from Kiama GC, which was a yellow Super Hahn, but he also recalls “it was more trouble than what it was worth”. JD was also instrumental in the implementation of the irrigation system throughout the course in particular the operation of the diesel pump at the dam that allows for the automatic watering of the greens and teas
There was a mountain of work to achieve in those early years and he ‘fondly’ remembers the frequent 3.00am starts he often put in to get on top of it all. Other notable achievements for John include Apprentice of the year 1991, the “Kiama Municipality Landscape Achievement Award” awarded to him in 2000 and a “Pride of Workmanship” award he received in 2002.
Over the years JD has demonstrated a range of skills that have been effective in insuring the up keep of the Course. His skills are not limited to green keeping but include building of various structures, maintenance of machinery and other. He has also supervised a team of staff and planned and managed the day to day running of all course requirements. JD’s commitment and passion to Jamberoo Golf Club is still evident and is still reflected in the quality and immaculate condition of the course today.
The Club would like to congratulate JD on this achievement of 25 years of service to the Jamberoo Golf Club and he was recently presented with a framed “Certificate of Achievement” together with a voucher to a local restaurant for dinner for him and his wife to celebrate his achievement.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU.
Congratulations, John. You richly deserve the accolades. The course is always a credit to you. John and Dell Brand.