MEMORIES AND ADVICE Compiled by Suz Trusty
Peter McMaugh, Turfgrass Scientific Services, Carlingford, New South Wales (N.S.W.) Australia, is a long-time ASPA/TPI member. He was recognized as an Honorary TPI Member in 2004.
Following college, Peter entered the turfgrass industry in 1964, hired by the Royal New South Wales (N.S.W.) Bowling Green Keepers Association to take over the helm of the Grass Research Bureau and revive it after a period of decline. Te Bureau was a private company which had been established in 1954 by the N.S.W. Golf Association to investigate problems at their member clubs and to help get basic data for the new greenkeeping courses being taught at Ryde School of Horticulture in Sydney. Te Bowling Association had joined the Bureau in 1956.
His presentation, “Turf—Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” which was prepared for the 24th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition, is available as a PDF upon request to Turf News. Peter will be a speaker during the Zoysiagrass Symposium at the International Turfgrass Research Conference in New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A., this July. His topic is, “Occurrence, Distribution and Introduction of Zoysia spp. and their Management and Current Use in Australia.”
He and 1981-1982 ASPA President Steve Cockerham, now director emeritus of the University of California Riverside (UCR) agricultural operations, first crossed paths in 1971. Tey share a few memories of those early days below.
Steve says, “About 1971, George Dukats visited Cal-Turf in Camarillo, CA, where I was working for one of ASPA’s founders, Tobias Grether. I was selected to squire him around. Mr. Dukats was a sod grower (the term sod was an anathema to him and to those who followed) in the Sydney area. I was invited to visit Mr. Dukats in Australia to help him at his farm called Beverina Estates Turf. He and his wife, Kate, had only been turf growers for a couple of years and were just getting started in turf production.
“At that time, Peter McMaugh was associated with a quasi- private Turfgrass Institute as an agronomist conducting research and consulting. He was working with Mr. Dukats on types of grasses to grow and in growing them out. Peter and I got along and had no problem working together to help the grower. Te most significant accomplishment I could contribute was getting the farm into the stolon (sprigging) business. We modified some of his equipment, making it suitable for stolon harvesting and planting bermudagrass (couchgrass). We did harvest some stolons and plant a lawn. During the trip, I was invited to Peter’s house. It was noted
2003-2004 TPI President Eddie Zuckerman (left) presents the TPI Honorary Member Award to Peter McMaugh (R) during the 2004 Conference in Santa Barbara, CA. Photo from the TPI Archives.
by a large accumulation of books. Books were everywhere. But his pride was in his wine collection in the cellar, much of which later was lost due to termites getting into the corks— still a sensitive subject for Peter.”
Peter says, “On my first trip to the USA in 1973, I renewed my acquaintance with Steve. He and his wife, Barbara, invited me to stay at their home in Ventura. I was on my way to the 2nd International Turfgrass Society Conference at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg. I asked Steve whom I should seek out as the movers and shakers in the turf world and his laidback reply was ‘Don’t worry Peter, you’ll sort them out.’ Well, I did and this began my very long friendship with Dr. Jim Beard. Later, I also connected with Steve’s colleague at UCR, Dr. Vic Gibeault, when we both served on the board of ITS.
“In 1997, I had the privilege of hosting the 8th ITRC in Sydney, Australia, and sitting up front in the audience as I gave my presidential address were Steve, George and Kate Dukats and Vic Gibeault. We’d all been in the industry for about 20 years so we had a great deal in common.”
Steve says, “Peter has worn many hats over the years. Trough it all, he has ever been the scientist and he is good at it. We communicate several times per year and it’s always been mutually beneficial. Although we don’t always agree on ‘turf stuff,’ we probably agree more than disagree.”
Peter says, “Whenever I travel to the U.S.A., I make time to spend at UCR with Steve. Tere’s not enough appreciation for the great things he has done for the sod industry. He is, after all, the sole person to publish a book specifically on Sod Production. I have unashamedly picked his brains and experience for great benefits to myself.”
Tey have so much more to share—and agree the memories are priceless. Teir advice to others in the industry? Concentrate on networking; make those connections. You’ll gain a wealth of information and incredible friendships, too!
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