Ben Danckert has been supervising Lucas Thompson during his week at the Deniliquin Golf Club for work experience.
Lucas Thompson jumped straight into the driver’s seat of a multi-billion-dollar industry during an eye-opening week of work experience at the Deniliquin Golf Club.
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He quickly discovered that maintaining a championship-ready golf course requires very early starts.
"It surprised me how many machines are involved in the daily care," he said.
“It has been a fun experience, but I didn't expect it to be what it was.
“There are so many specialised vehicles just to keep the grass and sand perfect."
The hands-on placement involved thorough daily course maintenance.
Tasks included changing the physical hole locations on the greens, clearing balls from the driving range, and learning the art of cleaning out sand bunkers.
A major highlight of the week was getting behind the wheel of the course equipment.
Under close supervision, Lucas learned how to drive a specialised sand bunker rake, navigating his way to smooth out the sand.
"Spending those early, cold mornings - wearing gloves, a jumper and pants - in a roller or mower has been unforgettable,“ he said.
“You really get a sense of how much hard work goes into the course before the first golfers even arrive."
The fast-paced environment completely changed his perspective on the industry.
And the variety of tasks meant he was never bored.
"I would highly recommend this placement to anyone," he said.
“There are just so many different things to do, every single day."
Lucas’ successful week has now opened a door for a potential future career in turf management, or a related field.
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