Magazine - Richard Forsyth Announced as Royal Melbourne's Next Super.

By Rob Jenkins in Golf on 28th Mar 2009 18:10

Australia's best golf course's search for a super is over. Richard Forsyth of Metropolitan Golf Club, has today been announced as the new superintendent of Royal Melbourne Golf Club, replacing the departing Jim Porter.

The guessing game is over after weeks of speculation amongst the industry. Richard will join the elite club of turf managers to have now managed Australia's top golf course. With new dams that where only completed a short time ago, Richard will be hoping for a wet winter to get the much published dam project off the ground, and get the course up to the condition Australia expects from its top golf course for the 2011 President's cup.

Richard had been at Metropolitan golf club since 1994 and has won a lot of fans during his time at the famed sand belt course. He had only just finished hosting the February 2009 Women's Australian Open Championship, which marked 100 years of play on the course's present location at Oakleigh. During his time there he has over seen tournaments such as the 1997 Australian Open and in 2001 Metro hosted the World Golf Championships, `Match Play Championship'. Many in the industry are of the opinion that Richard has produced the best fairway surfaces in Australia consistently for the last 10 years. 

Richard started his career in 1980 as an apprentice at  the exclusive Riversdale Golf club, before moving to Yarrawonga as an assistant once he became fully qualified. His first superintendent gig was at Murray Downs where he stayed for five years before moving to his position at Metropolitan in 1994.

As Metro is currently in the process of the construction of another hole on the course, Richard will not start his new job for a further 3 months. No announcement has been made on the upcoming vacancy now at Metropolitan.

Pitchcare wishes Richard all the best for his move and hopes he settles in quickly.

Royal Melbourne Facts

The club has existed continuously from 1891, and is regarded as the oldest golf club in Australia. It was originally organised by men, mainly from Scotland.

The privilege of adding the term `Royal' to the Club's name was granted by Queen Victoria in 1895.

The West Course was designed by the renowned golf architect, Dr Alister Mackenzie during his visit to Melbourne in October 1926. The East Course was designed by Alex Russell in 1932.

The course used for major championships is known as the Composite Course because it comprises 12 West course and 6 East course holes. This course is not available to visitors.

The Composite Course has been regularly rated in the top ten of the world's best golf courses.

Read more articles in Golf, by Rob Jenkins or from March 2009.