Sue de Zwart is a well-known and respected greens consultant in the upper echelons of South African golf society. She formed her consultancy, Talking Turf, in January 2006 after working as the Golf Course Superintendent at the prestigious Leopard Creek Country Club for 8 years.
Her initial clients included Oubaai Golf Resort and the Fancourt Golf Courses, where she was privileged to work with Piet Pieters & Ingrid Diesel. Talking Turf currently has consulting agreements with Leopard Creek Country Club, Prince's Grant Golf Club, Kloof Country Club and Gowrie Farm Golf Club.
Sue is passionate about the education and staff empowerment opportunities which the Talking Turf consultancy provides. As a result, the Talking Turf Superintendents' Conference was conceptualised in 2002 to provide a high standard of education for superintendents from across South Africa. The conference features superb educational seminars from a range of local and international guest speakers.
The Talking Turf Superintendents' Conference is held on a bi-annual basis, alternating with the Talking Turf Golf Industry Show, launched in 2011 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The Golf Industry Show is a showcase of the products available to the golf and turf markets in South Africa. It also has a strong educational element, with the 2011 show featuring seventeen lectures which were extremely well supported.
The next Talking Turf Superintendents' Conference will be hosted at the Fancourt Golf Resort in May 2012, and the Talking Turf Golf Industry Show will follow at the Sandton Convention Centre in May 2013.


Sue approached numerous sponsors in order to raise funds to host an educational conference for the superintendents in South Africa. 60 Delegates are invited to the bi-annual conference. With a minimum of 5 international guest speakers it is an inspirational few days for all. It has developed into a product, which the superintendents thoroughly enjoy and Sue is fortunate enough to have companies lining up for sponsorship! The GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) now accredit the Talking Turf Conference.

Turf TalkJune 2002

Turf TalkJune 2004

Talking TurfMarch 2006

Talking TurfApril 2008

Talking TurfMay 2010

Talking Turf Golf Industry ShowJune 2011