Busselton apprentice scores Australian Open spot

Kasey Williams, an apprentice at Busselton Golf Club, has made her mark on the green at the Australian Open, becoming one of just three Western Australians among 60 selected national volunteers at Melbourne’s prestigious Kingston Heath Golf Club.

Her journey toward the Australian Open began in February 2023, when she volunteered at Coburn Brew Golf Club as part of a John Deere sponsorship.

“After that experience, I set my goal to be part of the Australian Open,” Kasey said.

Her dedication paid off when she was selected as a volunteer and awarded sponsored flights and accommodation.

“It was incredible when I found out I was chosen.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I’m so excited to be here, especially as a non-golfer.” Kasey said.

“I grew up playing many sports and am naturally a hockey player.

“I didn’t play golf until I came to Busselton; I just loved maintaining the grounds!”

The path to her turf management career began with a simple Facebook advertisement that caught her eye.

“I never knew what I wanted to do after school, and I didn’t know this industry existed until I saw that ad. I applied and started a month later,” Kasey said.

Now, three years into her apprenticeship at Busselton Golf Club, she is completing her Certificate III in Turf Management at South Metropolitan TAFE in Murdoch.

Her role involves every aspect of maintaining sports turf and golf course grounds, from mowing and irrigation to specialised turf care.

“I’ve always mowed lawns! I love improving a surface and making it look better than when I first saw it. It’s a great sense of achievement,” she said.

With only six female turf managers in Western Australia, Kasey stands out as one of the few women in the industry.

She is passionate about inspiring others to consider pursuing a career in turf management.

“It took me 12 months to meet another female in my field. I want to show that we can do it and spread awareness that there is no reason why you can’t give it a go.”

Her dedication has not gone unnoticed.

Kasey has been nominated for the Western Australian Apprentice of the Year, with the results expected in March.

This same commitment was evident during her time at the Australian Open.

At Kingston Heath, Kasey joined a hard-working team of 50 in preparation for the ISPS Australian Open, contributing to the essential bunker raking maintenance.

The workload was demanding, especially after challenging weather.

“At 4 am, around 30 staff were hard at work to prepare 180 world-class bunkers for round 1, following 80 ml of rain and the storms and lightning that struck on Wednesday night,” she recalled.

The experience has left a lasting impression on Kasey.

“Knowing that I have met and prepared surfaces to be played by the likes of Cameron Smith and WA local Min Woo Lee is still mind-blowing,” she shared.

“I am proud to represent the Busselton Golf Club, the Sports Turf Industry of Western Australia, and my family back home.”

“My career in the industry would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my superintendent, Lance Knox, and the entire Busselton Golf Club staff, with assistance from my TAFE lecturer, Jeff Austen, at South Metropolitan TAFE.” She added.

Upon her return to Busselton, Kasey will continue her apprenticeship while also pursuing her mission to inspire others to enter the turf management industry by sharing her valuable experiences gained from one of Australian golf’s most prominent stages.