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Jim Furyk keen to stay on PGA Tour at age 50 ISSN 1178-0754 ISSN 1835-1336 XX 06
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EDITORIAL
pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz
The amazing feats of scoring in the 50s T
By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ
he main story in this edition of Golfer Pacific is about Jim Furyk who remains keen to stay on the PGA Tour at the age of 50. The story goes on to mention Furyk’s two amazing scores of 59 and 58 in PGA Tour events. A reminder, those scores are for 18 holes, not nine. The 59, scored in 2013, was 12 under par. The 58, scored three years later in 2016, was also 12 under par. After running those numbers through the calculator in my head, I worked out the 59 was on a par 71 course and the 58 was on a par 70 course. That got me thinking. During
the coronavirus lockdown period there had been numerous broadcasts of previous PGA Tour events on Sky TV and one of them had been the 2017 Hero World Challenge. In that event Charley Hoffman was the leader by four shots after the third round. Television commentators mentioned that Hoffman had held the lead going into the final round of a PGA Tour event two of three times before but had failed to convert any of them into a win. The inference was that with a four-shot lead he would this time, surely, be victorious. But it wasn’t to be. Ricki Fowler, starting the final round seven shots behind Hoffman, scored an amazing 61 to sweep to victo-
ry. Hoffman would have to settle for second. This was a tournament I could not remember and although the broadcast was three years old I was glued to the television screen as if the pictures were live. I was simply amazed by Fowler’s score. He birdied eight of the first nine holes for a mind-blowing first-nine score of 28. Fowler was rubbish on the second nine with only three birdies and six pars for a second-nine score of 33. He finished at 11 under par for the par 72 course. When reviewing Fowler’s scorecard, the television commentators jokingly referred to the seven pars as the blemishes on his card. Fowler’s score of 61 and Fu-
ryk’s scores of 59 and 58 got me thinking — yet again. How many sub-60 scores have there been on the PGA Tour, I wondered. At the same time I bet myself most sub-60 scores would be on par 70 courses and one or two, at the most, on par 71 courses. Wrong, Paul. There have been 11 sub-60 scores on the PGA Tour. Furyk’s 58 is the lowest along with 10 scores at 59. Of the 11 sub-60 scores, six were on par 70 courses and one on a par 71 course. But, amazingly, four have been on par 72 courses, dating back to 1977. In other words four of them have been 13 under par. Repeat that, 13 under par. It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it?
NEW ZEALAND EDITORIAL Paul Gueorgieff pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz Ph: 64 4 565 0385 Mob: 64 27 227 1038 SALES & CLUB PACKAGE GOLF TRAILS & NOTICEBOARDS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 7 5504 6334 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 LAYOUT & DESIGN layout.golferpacificnz@gmail.com PUBLISHER Golfer Pacific NZ LTD PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand ACCOUNTS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com SUBSCRIPTION $60.00 per annum including GST smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 5575 7444 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 NEW ZEALAND MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand AUSTRALIAN MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 264 Chevron Island QLD 4217, Australia COVER PHOTO: Jim Furyk during the second round of the RSM Classic on the Plantation course at Sea Island Golf Club last year at St Simons Island, Georgia. Photo credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images. COPYRIGHT All material published in Golfer Pacific NZ is subject to all forms of copyright. Contents of this newspaper cannot be reproduced in any way, shape, or form without the permission of the editor. Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of this newspaper, its management. New Zealand Golfer Pacific is published Golfer Pacific NZ Limited. The company’s registered office is unit 10/7 Aruma St Chevron Island QLD 4217.
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37-page document outlining health and safety measures was sent to players prior to the PGA Tour resuming this month. PGA Tour staff had worked extensively over the last two months to prepare the plan, which was crafted alongside leading medical experts from Harvard Medical School, with input from the US Federal Coronavirus Task Force and fellow professional sports leagues, as well as other specialists and laboratory experts. “We’re excited about how the PGA Tour can play a role here in the world’s return, if you will, to enjoying things we love and doing so in a responsible manner,” said Tyler Dennis, PGA Tour senior vice president and chief of operations. “We have spent a lot of time being very thoughtful, diligent and trying to be transparent with all of our constituent groups and thinking through what we’re calling our return-to-golf plan.” As detailed and cautious as the plan may be, Dennis reiterated that the tour would not play if it cannot do so in a safe and healthy environment. Just as importantly, the measures implemented will not take away from testing and medical resources in the communities the tour plays in, he said. The plan would continue to evolve as necessary, Dennis said. “It’s really a layered approach that
we’ve taken, and the heart of it is social distancing,” he said. “It’s something we’re all quite accustomed to in our personal lives now. We know that we can go throughout our day and week at a tournament site in a socially distant manner. That’s really critical to the overall health and safety plan.” Those social distancing measures will be best showcased during competition, where post-round handshakes and high-fives have been banned. Players and caddies will also distance themselves more than usual, with, for example, players accessing their own golf bags instead of the caddie. “We have taken the time to think really through a day in the competitive life of a player and caddie and how we need to make some small adjustments in places to ensure that we can be as comprehensive as possible with our health and safety,” Dennis said. Layered on top of those social distancing procedures will be the complete testing and screening plan, as well as a significant enhancement in disinfectant and hygiene practices. An average of 400 people are expected to be tested each week. Players, caddies and other officials will take part in a required pre-travel testing programme and then undergo a trio of screening methods upon
arrival at a tournament stop. This will include answering questions, submitting to a thermal temperature reading and a nasal swab test, which diagnoses Covid-19. Throughout the week, anyone who comes on site must go through a questionnaire and thermal screening before entering the property, according to Andy Levinson, PGA Tour chief tournaments and competitions officer. In the event of an elevated temperature of more than 100.4 degrees fahrenheit (38 degrees centigrade) during the daily thermal screen, the tour will initiate a protocol that could include a Covid-19 test. The tour aims to have test results back within 24 to 48 hours, though it has identified local laboratories that are not burdened with community testing to help decrease turnaround time. While awaiting test results, players are allowed to practice and play as long as they practice social distancing and do not use on-site facilities. In the event of a positive test, the person must isolate for a minimum of 10 days after the first positive test with no subsequent symptoms or two negative test results at least 24 hours apart. The tour and tournaments will both provide support throughout any potential isolation period. That limited access begins first with
spectators, who are not allowed at any of the tour’s first four events once play resumes. Pre-tournament pro-am events have also been barred in the near term. Fans’ attendance at any tournament beyond the initial four tournaments has not been determined. Beyond that, players’ families will not be permitted on site, and golfers will have scaled-back support staff limited only to an instructor, coach or interpreter. Clubhouse access will also be limited only to those who are cleared through testing. Media will be limited, and one-onone interviews will also be disallowed. All media sessions will take place in a socially-distance-conscious areas. Personal protection equipment such as face masks will be available, and sanitary items such as disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser will be available throughout each property where the tour plays. The PGA Tour’s controlled bubble will be extended beyond the golf course, too. Players are encouraged to stay at one designated host hotel, and the tour will provide charter flights between PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour events, to a maximum of 170 players and caddies. Courtesy cars will be decided by each event but using rideshare services is not allowed.
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GOLF NEWS
Jim Furyk keen to stay on PGA Tour at age 50 J
im Furyk’s residence in downtown Jacksonville’s Riverside neighbourhood is roughly 30 minutes north of the world golf hall of fame in Florida. But the PGA Tour mainstay has made only two trips to the museum in his storied career. The first visit came in 2012 to see his good friend Phil Mickelson inducted into the hall of fame. The second came four years later, when he contributed the hat, ball and glove from his record-breaking round of 58 at the Travelers Championship. A third—and permanent—trip to the hall of fame seems inevitable. Spanning nearly three decades on tour, Furyk has amassed 17 career victories — including a major championship at the 2003 US Open — and more than $US71 million in career earnings. Throw in a pair of sub-60 rounds for good measure, and the Pennsylvania native appears to be a lock to join his pal Phil in eternal enshrinement at the World Golf Village. “I have (thought about it) because I get reminded about it a lot in interviews with the media,” Furyk said with Jim Furyk during the second round of the RSM Classic on the Plantation course at Sea Island Golf Club last year at St Simons Island, Georgia. a laugh. Photo credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images. “What I can do in that scenario is everyone’s nature, to some extent. PGA Tour Champions. just keep playing well, and hope- pionship. Furyk is looking forward to one But I surely wouldn’t have imagined But as the clock begins to tick down fully it all works out. I haven’t been there (to the hall of fame village) toward its next phase, the good mem- day embracing those challenges as a rookie on tour that 17 wins and against Bernhard Langer and Ernie Els. 27 years later I’d still be out here playthat often, but it really is an amazing ories are beginning to flood back. “Surely more than they did 10, 15, 20 He’s even bringing a tournament to ing. place. I didn’t want to stand around “I’m excited about what I’ve accomand smell the flowers, but it would be years ago,” he said of his good mem- Jacksonville’s Timuquana Country Club in 2021, the Constellation Furyk & plished. But I still feel like there’s a little a great honour if one day that would ories. bit more left in there.” “As a young player I never stopped Friends, with him. happen.” The results bear that out. Though he All that being said he’s still waiting Always the cerebral player, Furyk and smelled the flowers. Even after hasn’t taken much time to stop and wins, it was a short-lived excitement for that final fulfilment on the tour missed his last three cuts before the reflect on all of the accomplishments and then back to work. As I’ve gotten he’s called home for 27 years. He’s not PGA Tour was postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Payne Stewart ready to hang it up just yet. he’s accumulated over his lengthy PGA older, I’ve appreciated it more.” “No matter how much success Award winner carded a tie for 17th at Furyk turned 50 on May 12 and 50 Tour career. He thinks about the misses far more often than the wins, he is a number in golf that has long been you’ve had, you always want a little bit the Safeway Open and a tie for 23rd at The RSM Classic during the autumn said, namely those two-shot defeats in viewed as the celebratory rite-of-pas- more,” he said. “There’s time for reflection down portion of the schedule. 1998 at the hands of Mark O’Meara at sage that sees one career end on the But nothing showcased his tradethe US Masters and the Open Cham- PGA Tour and another begin on the the road. I think that’s my nature, and
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NEWS mark resolve quite like the 2019 Players Championship, where Furyk put together a gutsy, final-round 67 to finish second, one shot off winner Rory McIlroy. He squeezed into his hometown event as the last player in the field — thanks to his high finish the week before at the Honda Classic — and ended up with his best result since the 2016 US Open at Oakmont. At TPC Sawgrass’s 72nd hole, Furyk stalked an approach shot that landed inside three feet. He tapped in for his fourth back-nine birdie and nearly stunned the golf world in the process before McIlroy maintained order with birdies at Nos 15 and 16 to clinch the victory. “I haven’t put myself in the heat with really a good opportunity to win a golf tournament in a while, and I’ve missed it,” Furyk said afterwards. “I’ve missed the nerves, I’ve missed the excitement, the cheers, and I think the emotion you saw on 18 was just I was proud of the way I played. That weekend put to rest any lingering questions about the state of Furyk’s game. Though he had been plagued by injuries in the years that preceded it — a nagging shoulder problem left him on the shelf for six months, in 2017 and 2018, which led to him missing the FedExCup playoffs for the first time in his career — his stirring performance on the Stadium Course proved he could still compete with the best. Rival player Jhonattan Vegas said at the time: “Amazing. I was talking to Tiger (Woods) about him yesterday in the locker room, and it’s incredible. “I mean, a guy at 48, contending at this course with these type of conditions? It’s not like the ball’s rolling forever and it’s playing short. It’s playing long and tough, and it shows the character of Jim Furyk and that’s kind of what he’s done all through his career.”
During the coronavirus break Furyk reflected on his very first win — at the 1995 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, when Woods was still a year away from winning his first PGA Tour title — and the last win, two decades later at the 2015 RBC Heritage. Furyk credits much of that first career victory, where he beat Billy Mayfair by one stroke, to the previous season’s Northern Telecom Open. It was there, in Tucson, that he posted the first of 188 career top 10 finishes and propelled him into the player he is today. “I was a rookie on tour when I first put everything together, when I had my first top 10 and chance to win, and finally felt like maybe I belonged,” he recalled. “That’s the first time I thought, maybe I can make a career out of this. As a kid, it’s more of a dream, and it’s something you hope is possible and you put a lot of time and effort into it, but I don’t think you ever really know until you get there and arrive. “This game can be mean at times, and it can get taken away really fast. I’ve remembered that throughout my career and always tried to work hard.” No one has questioned Furyk’s work ethic over the years. And yet, he will never be mistaken as a player who works himself into the ground trying to repair his game when it’s not at its best. That’s partly one of the secrets to his longevity. He strives to never forget why he plays the game, and he tries not to tamper too much with what’s worked for so long. “You’ve got to be careful sometimes making hobbies your work,” he said. “Sometimes they lose the fun a little bit. I think all of us that play golf professionally, if you start treating it as a job, the enjoyment is not quite there. I think the guys that still have fun doing it have that little kid at heart in them and go out and play just like they did when they were 14
years old.” Furyk, even at 50, still plays like he’s 14. Much of that is a credit to the only swing coach he’s ever known, his father Mike, and sticking to the unorthodox, upright swing the pair crafted together. “I never tried to totally break down my golf swing and start over again,” Furyk said. “Had I done so, I wouldn’t have had the career that I did. Dad always had a watchful eye. Anytime I hit the panic button on my career, he was a calming effect. We always tried to get back to the fundamentals in what I did.” It’s hard to argue with the results of that consistency, from the 17 wins to those aforementioned sub-60 rounds. There have only been 11 such moments in PGA Tour history, and Furyk is the only one to do it twice. The first, a 59 in the second round of the 2013 BMW Championship, would have certainly been enough to cement his legendary status. But he outdid himself three years later in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship when he carded a 12-under 58, the only player in PGA Tour history to put that number on his scorecard. Furyk’s monumental feat wouldn’t have even happened had he not shot 66 on Friday, which helped him make the cut on the number and advance to the weekend. He would go on to enter Sunday in a tie for 70th place after carding a thirdround 72. Furyk and playing partner Miguel Angel Carballo promptly went off early that morning —8.41am to be precise — with few spectators in sight. The leaders wouldn’t be playing for another five hours, and the pair had visions of a quiet morning before jetting off to their next destination. “It was our 29th day in a row on the road playing in our fourth straight tournament,” Furyk recalled.
“We were probably talking about what we were going to do when we got home and looking forward to some time off.” Of course, history had other plans. Furyk would open his day with a frontnine 27, highlighted by a hole out for eagle from 135 yards at the third. After a par at the fourth, Furyk added four consecutive birdies to make the turn at eight under par. Carballo said at the time: “I was so glad to be there and watch this player do this. After the eagle, we talked about the fact that he could make everything, because he was in the zone. We were seeing the best golf round in the history of golf, and we talked about that since hole number nine when he finished. (We knew) if he made three or four more, he’s going to have the best round in history.” Word about Furyk’s day began to filter around the golf course after that. The TV broadcast tuned in to his round, while on-site media and local fans flocked to the group to watch. “After making the turn at eight under, there was a huge buzz,” Furyk said. “A lot of fans started running to the 10th tee, and I was teasing some of the media that they were running out there too. To get off to a good start on the backside was exciting.” Furyk promptly added three more birdies — moving to 11 under for the day — before adding one more at the 16th. He closed with pars on his final two holes, celebrated with longtime caddie Mike “Fluff” Cowan and cemented his place in the PGA Tour record books. In typical Furyk fashion, he kept none of his personal belongings from that day as a keepsake, instead delivering it all during one of his two lifetime trips to the hall of fame. And he watched the round for the first time only over the last several weeks in a live question-and-answer session with fans.
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Ben Campbell recovering from back injury By Neville Idour
GOLF NEWS
Q
ueenstown golf professional Ben Campbell is on the road to recovery after a very difficult last two years injury-wise. Early in 2017 his runner-up to Michael Hendry, in a thrilling playoff at the New Zealand Open, signalled Campbell had arrived. Then in early 2018 he won the New Zealand PGA Championship and followed a tie with Ernie Els for third at the Fiji International and a close second at the Bangladesh Open. Campbell, 28, recalls how the injury developed. “After a long flight in May, 2018, I was stretching and felt a twinge in my lower back and hip. “After many scans it showed a tear in a disc in my lower back and also a labrum tear in my hip. “Despite the injury coming and going I managed to keep it under control for most of 2018, which overall was a
great season, including securing my Asian Tour card.” Things got tougher in 2019 with a tie for fifth at the Perth Super6 early in the year a rare highlight. The best in five events in Asia was a 35th placing. “It really started bothering me,’’ Campbell continued. “I would have some great pain-free days and then wake up hardly able to get out of bed. “I tried everything to avoid needing an operation. However, after support from doctors and physios an operation was the only choice. On December 18 I had a hip operation to fix the tear and give my hip a greater range of motion, which would take pressure off the back and hopefully allow the tear in my back to heal. “Since then it has been a pretty long recovery but everything is on track for a return to golf later in the year. I still have full status on the Asian and PGA of Australasia tours, so when I am back to full health I can return to them. Some
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of the more lucrative Asian events are co-sanctioned with the European Tour, which is good.” Campbell, formerly from Wairarapa, has used his time wisely during the last almost five months. “I knew it would be a long recovery, so I started my bridging course to become a qualified NZPGA coach,’’ he said. “It takes one to two years so I thought it would be great to have after my playing career ends.” With the current world situation it may be some months before he can rejoin the Asian Tour. However, he is happy to be able to give lessons at Arrowtown Golf Club near Queenstown and pass on his knowledge to people in the area. As far as hitting a golf ball goes he says: “I have been restricted to my short game and putting while I recover. It has also been time well spent working with my physio and gym trainer. I am hoping to be playing competitively
again by the time we are coming out of winter. So I am looking forward to clarification of when the Australasian and Asian tours are to restart.” Campbell was hoping his latest medical procedure, a cortisone injection in his back, will be the last he needs as he works toward a full recovery. A recent duck shooting trip also provided a welcome diversion. Campbell concludes with a note of gratitude. “I am privileged to have such amazing sponsors in Queenstown – Ultimate Hikes (Davies family) and also the Edwards family. “They have been a big driver of my success over the last few years and played a major part in my moving here. They are there in the good times and the tough times. We are very fortunate to have many amazing golf courses here and I am very lucky to call Millbrook my home course.” It is difficult not to wish Campbell every success in the future.
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Can driving distance alone take you to the Tour Championship? For PGA Tour professionals, length off the tee isn’t always the primary recipe for success.
Length off the tee versus accuracy
C
ameron Champ can pound the golf ball. Known as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, Champ validated that reputation by winning the driving distance category during the 2018-19 PGA Tour season. His measured drives last season averaged 317.9 yards (or 289.86 metres). The previous two seasons, Rory McIlory was statistically the PGA Tour’s longest driver of the golf ball. And in 2016, J B Holmes led the category. While the trio’s prodigious tee shots wowed fans as they bombed one tee shot after another, their distance domination didn’t necessarily translate into FedEx Cup success. Champ finished 62nd in the final FedEx Cup standings. McIlroy was 58th in 2017 and 13th in 2018. Holmes ended 30th in the final standings in 2016. That’s not unusual. In the 13-year history of the FedEx Cup, the driving distance leader has never gone on to win the FedEx Cup. Two years after turning pro, Champ burst onto the scene in 2019. He won the Sanderson Farms Championship and followed that with a win at the Safeway Open in the last northern hemisphere autumn, a tournament part of the now-delayed 2019-20 PGA Tour season. Champ has always been known as a long driver of the golf ball. His ascension to the PGA Tour and his victories prove he’s more than just a tee box sideshow. As he’s made his way through the professional ranks, Champ has learned that accuracy, along with blowing his ball past his competitors, counts for much. “I think for me dramatically, accuracy-wise with the driver, has increased, which is good,” he said in 2018, prior to winning his first victory, in Mississippi. “I [also] kind of create some shots that are my get-in-the-fairway drives. Once you get the rounds going and get comfortable, I kind of just let it go a little bit.” In other words, Champ has realised that sometimes it’s good to sacrifice a lit-
Cameron Champ tees off during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South in San Diego, California, in January. Photo credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images.
tle distance if it means he can keep his ball in the fairway. Bringing the driving accuracy category into the equation helps shed light on the need for both accuracy and length as it relates to overall success. But, again, success in one area without the same thing in the other seems to be problematic. Since 2007 only one driving accuracy leader has finished in the top 10 in the final FedEx Cup standings. That was Chez Reavie in 2019, when he closed the year in eighth place in the FedEx Cup. McIlroy’s 2017 season is the perfect example. He led in driving distance for the first time, yet he was also wild off the tee, placing 161st in driving accuracy, giving him a total driving number of 162 (his combined positions in both categories). That tied the native of Northern Ireland for 56th in the category. He was tied with Zach Johnson that year but Johnson was suffering an opposite problem to McIlroy. Johnson finished 22nd in accuracy but short off the tee, finishing No 140.
McIlroy is acutely aware of his statistics at any point during a particular year. In areas where he perceives he is struggling — and, let’s face it, as the No 1 player in the world, there aren’t many weakness — he makes that aspect an important part of his practice routine. At times it has included his driving of the golf ball. “I think a lot of the guys are starting to use ShotLink data to help with course management,’’ McIlory said earlier this season. “But it’s also how you practice. So, I got a stats report last week after the three weeks that I had at Torrey Pines, at Riviera, and Mexico, and that’s what I base my practice off going into the next few weeks,” McIlroy said after the Farmers Insurance Open, the Genesis Invitational and the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. “It’s stuff that you sort of know anyway, but it’s nice when you have that objective data in front of you. So, I use it for a lot of different things. It is very important.” Although not a perfect model — con-
NEWS
sidering that iron shots, chipping, bunker play and, of course, putting also come into play — total driving, where the ranking for players in both driving distance and driving accuracy are totalled together, shows how important play from the tee can be. In 2018, England’s Justin Rose won the FedEx Cup the same year he was the total driving champion. That season, Rose was 34th in driving distance and 33rd in driving accuracy, not great in either category but solid in both. In 2015, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson finished second to Billy Horschel in the FedEx Cup while winning the total driving category (12th in accuracy and 43rd in distance). Rose told Golf Digest back in 2014: “The most important part of my driver swing is generating power from the connection between my feet and the ground. “The key moment of my downswing is when I’m halfway down. There, I’m focused on storing power and maintaining my height. “I keep up the pressure into the ground through my feet. With all that leverage, I can push off and release the club powerfully into the ball. If I’ve stayed ‘in the shot’ and kept my connection to the ground, I’m ripping it down the middle.” Once PGA Tour action resumes this season following the pandemic-caused layoff, fans’ eyes will naturally drift toward the players who can crush the ball off the tee. It was true when Sam Snead was the tour’s longest driver of the ball, followed by players like Jack Nicklaus, John Daly and today’s bashers such as Champ, Dustin Johnson and Tony Finau. But observers of the game would be wise to also watch where those drives land. It’s all about distance and accuracy, which might explain why McIlroy is the No 1-ranked player in the world and currently third in the FedEx Cup. When McIlroy has his driver working, he’s tough to beat.
Another of the Great Walks
Situated next to spectacular Lake Te Anau and surrounded by the Fiordland National Park, the Te Anau Golf Club is a hidden gem and one of New Zealand’s most picturesque golf courses.
Ph: +64 3 249 7474 | Email: teanaugolf@xtra.co.nz
WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ
This picturesque, well groomed 18 hole course is on flat easy walking land and is adjacent to the Tarawera River. Mountain views and the bird life add to the enjoyment for all players. The 6th, 15th and 18th holes, make the course a true test of a golfer’s skills. We are open all year round with no tee off times needed. Visitors are always welcome to join the club haggles. The course is only 40km east of Rotorua and situated at the south end of the Kawerau township.
kaweraugolf@xtra.co.nz Cobham Dr, Kawerau 3127, New Zealand 07 323 7095
June 2020
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How much does a hole-in-one improve the odds of winning a tournament?
T
he list of achievers looks like a who’s who of professional golf. Tom Watson, Billy Casper, Cary Middlecoff, Byron Nelson, Tom Morris Junior and Hale Irwin, to name a few. Legends such as Johnny Miller and Gene Littler pulled off the feat twice, and they’re also on the list. But so, too, did Brent Geiberger and Richard S Johnson, and they’re not exactly familiar PGA Tour names. So, what is the one thing all these players—29 to be exact— have in common? They have all made holes-inone in tournaments they went on to win. The last time someone pulled this off feat was in 2019 when a pair of players, J B Holmes at the Genesis Open and Francesco Molinari at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, turned the trick. Holes-in-one may be considered rare, but they’re really not that unusual. There were 38 during the 2018-19 PGA Tour season, just six off the single-season record of 44 in 1994. At the 2009 Canadian Open, eight players amazingly made aces during the four rounds, and Robert Allenby and Hal Sutton hold the current PGA Tour record with 10 aces each. But an ace and a victory in the same tournament? That doesn’t happen every week and is something to brag about, something neither Allenby or Sutton can claim; neither can the likes of Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan. J B Holmes can, though. In the opening round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club outside Los Angeles, it was a cold, damp morning when Holmes stepped up to the sixth tee, his 15th hole of the day. From 146 yards (133 metres), he watched as his tee shot landed behind the tee and backed up directly into the hole. Three days later, he was hoisting the trophy, his 14-under
Littler, like Miller a Californian and a fellow world golf hall of fame member, made his two aces during his victories five years apart — the first at the 1969 Greater Greensboro Open (now the Wyndham Championship) and again at the 1975 Westchester Classic. Of the 29 players with the feat of scoring a hole in one and winning the tournament on their resumes, only Jonathan Byrd won a tournament with an ace as his final shot, ending the sudden-death playoff at the 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas with the second of his five career PGA Tour holes-in-one. Byrd is also the last player in this particular group to make an ace during the final round.
LIST OF PLAYERS WITH HOLESIN-ONES DURING TOURNAMENT WINS
J B Holmes reacts after winning the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club last year at Pacific Palisades, California. Photo credit: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images.
winning score aided by the two strokes he picked up with his third PGA Tour ace. “It was awesome to see that. I wanted to get it past the hole because I knew how much they were coming back,” he said of shots landing near that pin placement that day. “I hit it exactly how I wanted it, and it went in.” Steve Stricker used his second-round ace at the 2011 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, to help him to the 10th of his 12 career PGA Tour titles. But that win of Stricker also included two additional eagles in the third round, including a hole-out from the fairway on the par four second hole. Said Stricker: “You look back at all these things that happened throughout the week, the hole-in-one and obviously the eagles and a couple up-and-downs at (Nos. 12 and 16), and you really believe that it was your week to win when all
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8
those things happen like that.” If there is one player who knows about this kind of thing, it’s Miller, the world golf hall of fame member and former network television broadcaster. At the height of his career, Miller made holes-in-one during wins nine months apart in 1974 — at the Sea Pines Heritage in South Carolina, a tournament now known as the RBC Heritage, and then at the Kaiser International Open at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, a course Miller bought a few years later. At Hilton Head Island’s Harbour Town Golf Links in March, Miller made his ace in the third round on the seventh hole. That shot expanded his lead to 10 strokes. However, he seemingly fell apart after that, playing the final 11 holes in five over par. The next day, he shot a one-under par 70 and still won by a comfortable three strokes. Six months later, Miller again made a third-round ace that propelled him to his eighth win of the season. A resident of Napa, with a home on the course, Miller made a birdie to start his round then aced the second hole when his three iron tee shot from 193 yards (176 metres) flew directly in the hole. He followed that with another birdie, for a four-under par start to his day. “It was my best shot of the tournament,” Miller said of his ace. “I felt [the ball] was going to go too far. I hit it so good.” There was still disappointment despite the hole-out, though, when Miller learned the tournament offered a new Ford sedan for an ace on that hole, but only if it came in the final round. “Well, tough luck,” he said about the car, knowing his eight-stroke win and $US30,000 payday was salve for any hurt he felt about missing a chance to drive the vehicle home that night.
June 2020
Tom Morris Junior – 1868 Open Championship Horton Smith – 1928 Oklahoma City Open Byron Nelson – 1942 Tam O’Shanter Open Cary Middlecoff – 1952 Kansas City Open Billy Casper – 1969 Bob Hope Desert Classic Gene Littler – 1969 Greater Greensboro Open Doug Sanders – 1970 Bahamas Islands Open Johnny Miller – 1974 Sea Pines Heritage Johnny Miller – 1974 Kaiser International Open Gene Littler – 1975 Westchester Classic Butch Baird – 1976 San Antonio Texas Open Tom Watson – 1977 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Bruce Lietzke – 1980 Colonial National Invitation Gary Koch – 1983 Doral Eastern Open Joey Sindelar – 1985 B.C. Open Hale Irwin – 1990 Buick Classic Kenny Perry – 1991 Memorial Tournament Mark Calcavecchia – 1996 Phoenix Open Justin Leonard – 1999 Buick Open Brent Geiberger – 2001 Canon Greater Hartford Open David Toms – 2001 PGA Championship Jim Furyk – 2004 Memorial Tournament Mark Hensby – 2007 John Deere Classic Jim Furyk – 2007 Canadian Open Richard S. Johnson – 2008 US Bank Championship in Milwaukee Rocco Mediate – 2010 Frys.com Open Jonathan Byrd – 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Steve Stricker – 2011 Memorial Tournament Dustin Johnson – 2015 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship J.B. Holmes – 2019 Genesis Open Francesco Molinari – 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational
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From transferred to cancelled — World Amateur Team Champs
T
he World Amateur Team Championships, which had been shifted from Hong Kong to Singapore because of political unrest, has now been cancelled. The men’s section of the tournament, better known as the Eisenhower Trophy, was scheduled for October 21-24 while the women’s equivalent, better known as the Espirito Santo Trophy, was to have been held a week earlier from October 14-17. It would have been the first time the tournament had been held in Singapore
but the International Golf Federation (IGF) said the onset of the coronavirus made it too difficult. IGF executive director Antony Scanlon said: “This unprecedented decision was due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty that this has caused to ensuring that the 2020 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) could be staged successfully. “But most importantly, it was made to safeguard the health and safety of all athletes, officials and volunteers at the 2020
WATC, to which there was no certainty that this risk could be mitigated to an acceptable level.” The World Amateur Team Championships is held once every two years and Scanlon said consideration was given to postponing the event to next year. “I would also note that we gave thoughtful consideration to postponing the championships to 2021,’’ Scanlon said. “However, this would have created considerable scheduling and logistical issues
that were insurmountable, plus we still could not say with absolute certainty that we could hold it without risk next year. Therefore, it is preferred that the IGF looks forward to focusing on and delivering a wonderful 2022 event in France.” Dating back to 1958, the World Amateur Team Championships include up to 72 countries competing in 72 holes of strokeplay competition. Each country fields two or three players with the two lowest scores counting per round.
Golfers’ qualifying period for Olympics extended A
n adjustment to the qualifying system for golf at the Olympic Games to accommodate the new dates of competition in 2021, has been announced by the International Golf Federation and the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic Games have been delayed by a year and golfers will now accumulate Olympic golf rankings points through a period ending on June 21, 2021, for men and June 28, 2021, for women. The field for both men and women will consist of 60 players each. The Olympic golf rankings is based on the official world golf rankings for men and the women’s world golf rankings. On March 20, the governing boards of the men’s and women’s golf rankings determined the rankings would be suspended due to the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The International Golf Federation’s announcement of the revision followed the International Olympic Committee’s decision to postpone the Olympic Games and its subsequent release of the revised principles for Olympic qualification on April 2, which included the relaxation of the maximum two-year period and amendments to the qualification deadlines. International Golf Federation executive director Antony Scanlon said: “Having received from the IOC confirmation of the dates for when the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held and the qualification principles, the fairest and most eq-
uitable way to determine the qualifying athletes was to align the previous qualification system with these new dates. “We are pleased that the IOC swiftly approved these changes to provide clarity on this important area. The IGF will continue to work closely with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 to address the other areas that the postponement of the games affects our sport and our athletes, to develop the necessary plans to resolve these. We remain fully committed to providing safe and fair golf competitions and a memorable experience for our athletes when these Olympic Games are held in 2021.” The Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR) is calculated as follows: Each tournament earns a strength-of-field rating which determines how many ranking points will be awarded to top finishers. Points are awarded to players based on their finish positions in each event, with performances in stronger-field events earning more points in accordance with a points distribution table approved by the International Golf Federation (IGF). With the revision, ranking points for each player accumulate over a multi-year rolling period with the points awarded in the most recent 13-week period weighted at 100 percent of their original value. After the initial 13-week period, points are devalued by 1.1 per cent for each of the next 91 weeks (during which the ranking was not suspended) before they drop entirely off the player’s record. Each player is then ranked according to his/her average number of points,
which is determined by dividing the total number of ranking points she/he has earned by the number of tournaments in which she/he has played during that period. There is a minimum divisor of 35 events for the women’s OGR while for the men’s OGR, there is a minimum divisor of 40 events and a maximum divisor of 52 events. In the event of ties at any of the 60 starting positions, the ties will be broken by the following criteria, in order: * Total OWGR points earned in the most recent 52-week period, ending with the Olympic Golf Ranking as of June 21, 2021 for men and June 28, 2021 for
women. * Total OWGR points earned in the most recent 13-week period, ending with the Olympic Golf Ranking as of June 21, 2021 for men and June 28, 2021 for women. * The top-15 players at the end of the qualifying period will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15. The host country will be guaranteed a spot, as will each of the five continental regions.
AUCKLAND’S OPEN ACCESS GOLF COURSE 220 TEE TIMES AVAILABLE 7 DAYS A WEEK GOLF GROUPS WELCOME
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June 2020
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Golf could be a winner in post-coronavirus era A
unique opportunity to broaden golf’s base and attract a raft of new players to the game will present itself in the post-coronavirus era, says Troon which is one of the world’s largest golf course operators and management companies. As golf courses re-open around the globe following various government-enforced lockdowns, Troon is seeing the emergence of a positive new trend. “Without exception, every one of our golf properties that has re-opened has been busy,” said Dubaibased D J Flanders, senior vice president of Troon International, an executive member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. With social distancing likely to prove a major issue for sports such as football, rugby and basketball, Flanders believes golf is in a position to capitalise
F
by enticing exponents of those activities. Flanders said: “There’s a lot of people who usually play contact sports who now don’t have that outlet and are choosing to either take up the game of golf or come back to the game. “As an industry, if we manage this well, and are all responsible and take care of each other, I think the game of golf can actually benefit through this epidemic period and have a lot of new golfers once we get on the other side. That’s because people see it as a safe option to get outside and have some exercise.” Given the company’s involvement at more than 400 properties in 35 countries, Troon’s senior management executives are better placed than most to assess the current state of the industry. Flanders added: “We have calls daily with our
Golf is on the move
Break of tradition for nearly two centuries
or the first time in nearly two centuries the captain of the The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will serve successive terms. Clive Edginton took office as captain last September for the 2019-20 season but due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic the past captains of the club nominated Edginton to continue as captain for another year from this September for the 2020-21 season. This is only the second occasion since the club was founded in 1754 that a captain has served two successive terms. The first was Major John Murray Belshes, who held the position in 1835 and 1836. Edginton said: “It is an honour to be captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and I feel very privileged to be asked to continue in the role. This is a difficult time for all of us in the midst of this pandemic but I am happy that I can continue to serve the club as we look positively to the future.” Born in Walton-on-Thames, Edginton was educated at Malvern College and Oxford University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in law and a ‘blue’ for golf. After a successful business career
in London, latterly as chief executive and then chairman of Tindall Riley, a specialist insurance management company, he retired in 2014. He has since been a non-executive director and is now a consultant to the Medical Defence Union. Edginton became a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1997. He served on the rules of golf committee from 2000 to 2004 and was its deputy chairman from 2002 to 2004. He was chairman of the amateur status committee from 2007 to 2011 during which time The R&A and the USGA produced the first unified amateur status code. He was elected to the general committee of the club in 2014 and became chairman of the general committee and of The R&A’s principal companies from September 2015 until September 2018. Edginton’s home golf club is St George’s Hill in Weybridge, Surrey, where he became a member at the age of eight. He has served St George’s Hill as committee member, captain, director and trustee. He has been club champion on four occasions and is a nine-time winner of the club’s scratch gold medal. Aged 68, Edginton currently plays to a handicap of eight.
30 MINUTES FROM HAMILTON • 40 MINUTES FROM TAURANGA • 90 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND
Play at New Zealand’s Walton Golf Club
in heartland Waikato
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CARTS AVAILABLE BY ARRANGEMENT PH OR EMAIL • GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WELCOME
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teams around the world and they’re getting more and more positive about the future of golf. It’s been a long slog for the past six weeks. I know some countries were impacted worse than others, but I can assure you that from a Troon standpoint we’re seeing more positives than negatives now. “We’re seeing that courses that do re-open are opening up with pretty good revenue streams out of the gate – maybe not up to where we were budgeted, but healthy enough to support covering pay roll costs and, hopefully, most of the operating costs. And as we grow our business and get more comfortable with our social distancing and how we can maximise revenues while keeping everyone safe, I think the business is going to be there to support us through it.”
By Neville Idour
W
hen New Zealand went into coronavirus lockdown the immediate outlook for golf was looking very glum in the opinion of many. I shared those concerns about possible damage to golf courses because of the restrictions. However, thankfully this was short-lived. In some ways it was a blessing as courses recovered nicely with no activity for that period and natural growth repaired divots. My feelings were that golf now had an opportunity to grow the game and memberships. The signs are very encouraging. In Dunedin, my home club St Clair has gained 35 new members since Level 4 began. Otago Golf Club reports a similar increase. At a recent Golf Industry Council meeting, New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy reported on membership nationwide. “Total membership for the last year to April has increased from 101,410 to 104,552,’’ Murphy said. “Already in this period, since restrictions began, we are receiving reports from around the country of significant increases. For example Waiheke, with a membership of 330, has gained an extra 50 members. Harewood in Christchurch has gained 40 with another 30 in the pipeline.” Christchurch Golf club has also recorded a significant increase. There are many others. So the indications are very positive for the greatest game. Murphy also said many clubs have taken up the $1000 grant from the government scheme for sport. “If your club has not done so I suggest you do,” Murphy said.
June 2020
He also reiterated the need for clubs to ensure they are following the rules for clubs to operate. “They should ensure all players and visitors register for contact tracing at pro shops or reception and also observe hygiene protocols. When we reach Level 1, hygiene and contact tracing will likely be the only protocols remaining. I believe these are exciting times and should provide opportunities for golf.” The obvious question is why the sudden increase in membership? Quite simple. With the current worldwide situation, golf presents itself as a healthy activity on several fronts. It is the perfect sport for families looking for a sport they can play together in safety and in an attractive natural environment. Couples can enjoy it together and take it on holiday, playing some wonderful courses throughout New Zealand. My wife and I have enjoyed many wonderful holidays including golf. For younger ones, golf is the perfect opportunity for parents to teach them all that is good about sportsmanship. Bobby Jones once lost the Open Championship by one stroke when he called a penalty on himself for causing a ball to move. No one, including his opponent, saw it or thought it should be a penalty. Nor did the rules referee. The referee congratulated Jones on his sportsmanship and Jones simply said: “Why congratulate me for not cheating?” Surely one of golf’s greatest moments. All that remains now is for all of us to embrace what lies ahead in this new scenario and make sure no stone is unturned in promoting all that is good about golf and making it as accessible as possible — but that is another story.
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The Professional Golfers’ Association of New Zealand publishes a case study each month on golf industry success. This is the latest.
A fresh take on beginners’ golf S
helley Duncan, PGA of New Zealand member and director of golf at Otago Golf club, has done it all. From representing New Zealand and playing professionally overseas, through to high performance coaching – she’s been there. Shelley’s newest challenge has been based at the place she thinks of as home, with the people she considers a big, extended family – Otago Golf Club. The aim? Getting more women into golf. It’s safe to say, it has gone very well. Back in 2018, Shelley was at a forum in Christchurch, where the discussion was centred around getting kids out on the course in a team golf format. It was then that Shelley had an epiphany – it shouldn’t be any different for the beginner women. With that realisation and a slight change to the format (one ball between two ladies) Otago’s She Loves Golf programme was born. The first time round Rather than the usual introductory lessons with the basics, this new format meant the women went straight out onto the course and got a taste of real golf immediately.
In teams of four, each group was accompanied by a current female member. Shelley says this was not to enforce strict rules, but to assist in where to go and answer any questions the women might have around the course. She believes these club helpers were pivotal to the success of the programme. At $15 for six holes with food in the clubhouse afterwards, naturally, there was some curiosity from the full members around this new eight-week process. Shelley explained the pricing was a lost leader and was part of a bigger picture – not just a quick win. Throughout the process, the numbers have continued to grow. Starting at 20 players, Shelley says the number steadily increased to 80 players turning up on the night. Apparently, there’s no magic secret behind the increase in engagement. In fact, it grew itself. Shelley mentioned a bit of promotion on the radio and Facebook, but outside of these channels, the greatest promoter was the age-old classic of word of mouth. Women began bringing friends along to the Tuesday evening, 90-minute golf-
ing experience, most of whom already had their own clubs and simply lacked the opportunity to use them. With numbers growing so rapidly, the team had to work smart and digitise, using Google Docs for their draws. This collaborative and easily accessible approach allowed the ladies to add and withdraw with ease and took the administration out of the process. Another refreshing difference implemented by Otago was its introductory sixmonth membership. Not only does this provide full access to the course, it also offered two bonus lessons for a total of $365. This option helps the women ease in to a full membership and has been taken up by many of them already. What’s next? Shelley had plans for a dinner for the women before Covid-19 hit the world, and hoped to reignite this once things calm down. Mentioning the obvious effects that Covid-19 has had on the club, she remains very positive and says the club has even seen an increase in memberships during this time and the team have really pulled together. She says her regular She Loves Golf
NEWS
nights are her happy place. There’s not a grumble in sight and the laughter that fills the club is infectious. How has it helped? With many of the women transitioning through to members, it’s evident that the nights are a success. So far, roughly 20 of the participants have signed on to join as members. Shelley also mentioned there are at least another 10 in the pipeline as future members. Outside of the initial queries, there hasn’t been any other issues. In fact, the full-member women really enjoy helping out with the beginners on the Tuesday evenings, especially when they get to see some of the new women progressing with their golf. To thank them, each volunteer receives a post-round drink from the club. The clubhouse has also reaped the benefits of this new demographic. Shelley mentions how the women are noticeably more comfortable in this setting after being introduced to the facilities in the way they were. This, in turn, also led to more money being spent on food and beverages. In fact, on the second week the bar sold out of gin.
Playing golf in Queenstown? Just 20 minutes drive from Queenstown and rated 10th best course in New Zealand the Arrowtown Golf Course is a must play. The picturesque Arrowtown Golf Club is set in Central Otago, one of New Zealand’s most historic and scenic regions. This Golf Course is a must when playing Queenstown Golf, surrounded by mountains the 18 hole course has superb views from every fairway. The Arrowtown Golf Club is open all year round and welcomes green fee players. Golf clubs, trundlers and electric carts are available for hire. Concessions for groups. Please enquire at the clubhouse.
166 Centennial Avenue, Arrowtown • Tel: 03 442 1719 www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz
“New Zealand’s most scenic golf course”
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June 2020
11
Auckland golf professionals Hanee Song and Wenyung Keh share the honours
GOLF NEWS
A
uckland golf professionals Hanee Song and Wenyung Keh share the honours as joint recipients of the KFC Golf Scholarship. The scholarship has awarded a total of $13,000 in funds for 2020, helping to further the golfing careers of young New Zealand women professional golfers. The scholarship aims to create opportunities to allow golfers to attend qualifying school, play on tour or develop their coaching career. With both players competing on the China Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (CLPGA) in 2020*, Hanee and Wenyung will split the funds equally to compete throughout the season with the end goal of attending LPGA qualifying school in August. Hanee returns to the CLPGA in 2020 following a successful 2019 season. Finishing with a CLPGA ranking of 11th including four top 10’s across the CLPGA and ALPG tours, Hanee aims to break into the top five ranking this year. “I’m very grateful to be selected as a KFC Golf Scholarship recipient. I’ve played in the NZPWG tournament since 2016 and would like to acknowl-
edge the positive impact this scholarship will have,” she says. “I’m aiming to build on my success in 2019. The scholarship will allow me to access high performance coaching and contribute towards entry costs for the major qualifying schools this year.” Rookie professional Wenyung will be out to compete with the experienced professionals after gaining full status
on the CLPGA this year. Wenyung had an exceptional amateur career including being a member of the 2016 NCAA National Championship team with the University of Washington and finishing tied second at the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2018. “This is my first year as a professional and I’m looking forward to making an impact on tour.”
“It will be a big adjustment from amateur golf particularly as I will be managing my own schedule and logistics but I’m fortunate that my sisters will be on tour with me,” she says. Wenyung is the second Keh sister to benefit from the KFC Golf Scholarship with Munchin being a joint recipient in 2017 and receiving the NZPWG Fellowship in 2018. The NZPWG Board know both players will benefit from financial assistance the scholarship provides. The funds will contribute to flights, accommodation, coaching and tournament entry fees and will allow both players to focus on their preparation and performance. “Hanee and Wenyung are both working hard to establish themselves on the international stage and we’re excited to follow their progress this season,” commented NZPWG Board Member Kristin Farrell. The NZPWG Board would like to thank all sponsors, amateur and professional players and volunteers for their support in 2019. *Due to COVID-19, the start of the CLPGA season has been delayed.
US golf retail store openings jump to 75%
T
he percentage of off-course golf specialty stores in America open to foot traffic jumped from 61% to 75% last week in the National Golf Foundation’s (NGF) latest industry-wide surveys. On-course pro shops are following close behind with 63% now open, up from 52% the prior week. Even with some occupancy limitations not unlike restaurants, this reopening for business comes just in time for an important equipment buying period – mid-May to mid-June. NGF’s on-going customer research shows personal financial outlooks are inching optimistically upward, while golf equipment-related searches on Google have begun to resemble ‘normal’ for this time of year. “Both are evidence of increasing confidence, although we’ve yet to see significant changes in reported spend behaviour, as most core golfers indicate they’re still purchasing less or considerably less than pre-pandem-
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ic,” said NGF President and CEO Joe Beditz. “Some of this belt-tightening represents an inability to go out and spend, so we’re starting to look more closely at golfers’ buying behaviours – in and out of golf.” When do golfers expect things to ‘return to normal?’ This continues to shift into the future, with about half of golfers now thinking that time may not come until the beginning of next year, or even later. NGF’s latest golf facility poll found 95% of US courses are open for play, although many still have restrictions on operations. A month ago, less than half were open during the height of the pandemic due to a combination of State and local efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, as well as seasonality. Preliminary research indicates that most courses are busier than usual for this time of year, data that supports anecdotal reports about strong demand.
June 2020
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Corran Munro, 81, breaks his age again Golf is ideally placed for future prosperity A NEWS
five-week isolation break away from golf wasn’t long enough to stop an Otago Golf Club member from breaking his age for a whopping 146th time. Corran Munro, 81, accomplished a feat many golfers aspire to doing just once in their lifetime, and did it with a sensational round of four-under. It was his first round back playing after the country moved to Covid-19 Alert Level 3. Munro, who plays off a 6.4 handicap, was not only amazed he was able to break his age again, but that he was able to shoot an under-par round after not touching a club for five weeks as well. He says it was great to be back out there. “It was really interesting [standing on the first tee]. It felt great to be back on the course and I was playing with no expectations. Being back was even more special after I got on a dream run with these new Covid-19 rules for golf under Alert Level 3,” he says. Golf has looked a little different since the country went into isolation. Strict rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure the virus doesn’t spread further. One of these rules is all flagsticks and pins have been removed from their holes on every green throughout the entire golf course. Something which may have helped Munro’s game. “There were a fair few blind shots into a lot of the greens as there aren’t any pins in the holes, and luckily for me I managed to hit a few really close. I putted really well and had only 26 putts, which is a record for me. “I birdied the first, missed a short putt on two for birdie, and then went on to
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birdie the third where my wife thought I hit the upturned cup for my eagle. The ball finished about three inches away and we couldn’t verify whether it had hit the cup or not, so I took the birdie,” he explains. Munro had a couple of blemishes on the seventh and ninth holes to make the turn at even-par. However, it was the back nine where he caught fire. “On the 11th I hit a nine iron from the fairway, which hit the green and after a couple of bounces, hit the upturned cup for an eagle. “I made two more birdies and made par on everything else to shoot a round of 67,” says a thrilled Munro. The 81-year-old has made the most of being back out on the golf course having played six times in the past seven days, which doesn’t include the round he had booked after his interview with New Zealand Golf. He says it had been a long few weeks. “Being stuck inside was very frustrating. We are lucky we live right next to the golf club and it was full of people walking on it. So, we walked on and around the course too.” The return to the links was a welcome privilege under Covid-19 Alert Level 3. “I love the game. I like getting out in nature and having fun with my mates. “I’ve always played for fun. There is a group of 18 of us that play every Wednesday afternoon, which started back in 1986, and our rules are we are there for the company, the fun, and then the golf. “I’m looking forward to getting into Level 2 so we can play with our mates again,” Munro says. For now, he’s just happy he’s able to play the game he loves.
N
ew Zealand Golf Chief Executive Dean Murphy believes golf is ideally placed for future prosperity. Murphy spoke recently as New Zealand Golf presented its annual report to its members and other stakeholders via an online annual general meeting. While all parts of the golf sector are fully focused on managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on golf in New Zealand, the organisation paused to briefly look back on a successful 2019. After signalling an increased focused on participation initiatives at the close of 2018, New Zealand Golf was delighted to report that during 2019 the number of club memberships increased by 2.45%, the number of rounds played grew by 6% and the number of registered casual players grew by 15.8%. In total, there are now over 220,000 registered players in the country. Also, for the first time in six years, an increase in junior members (12%) and junior rounds played (13%) was achieved. While there were many highlights across the organisation in 2019, the organisation remembers fondly the 100th staging of the New Zealand Open Championship. This was a significant milestone and appropriately celebrated in the stunning surrounds of The Hills and Millbrook Resort. Although the organisation’s financial performance continues to be strong and have positive signs for the future, securing appropriate levels of sustainable
June 2020
revenue remains a challenging task, coupled with the unknown long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the future challenges for the sport, New Zealand Golf recently released its new strategic plan for the 2020 to 2025 period. Entitled ‘Enriching Lives Through Golf’, the new strategy sets a compelling vision for the future of the sport and the role it can play across the communities of New Zealand. New Zealand Golf believes golf is distinctive from other sports. It is a game that has a unique tradition and history that encompasses a values system that is unrivalled. It is the only sport that can be played competitively and equitably across all facilities in all conditions by participants of all ages and skill levels. “We believe the game of golf provides unique, inclusive and lifelong enrichment for its participants. These unique attributes provide us the platform from which to sustain prolonged growth and prosperity for the sport. “Golf is not immune to the challenges facing sport so it’s crucial we embrace the future and plan effectively to meet the changing needs of participants. This means not only sustaining what we currently have in terms of grass roots participation and performance success but delivering a sport that attracts a new generation of players who develop a lifelong love of the game.”
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DISCOVER OUR VERY OWN KIWI BACKYARD .
We have put together five New Zealand golfing mini-breaks for you and your golfing buddies to enjoy. You can also choose to include cycling the Otago Rail Trail or Fly-Fishing in Turangi before our Queenstown or Taupo Golf Escapes. Check out golfencounters.co.nz for all the details.
BAY OF ISLANDS OCT 20
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AUCKLAND NOV 20
QUEENSTOWN NOV 20
TAUPO
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Golf Encounters - Travel Encounters t/a Golf Encounters. Travel Encounters Ltd is an approved Travel Broker for the Travel Managers Group Ltd. The Travel Managers Group is a bonded member of IATA.
June 2020
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Take a day trip play golf Whanganui-Manawatu
RANGATIRA GOLF CLUB
GOLF D E S T I N AT I O N
ably one of the best golf courses in the Join us for golf at this unique 18 hole lower North Island as featured on Sky course situated in the heart of the Ran- TVs “The Golf Club” November 2009. We gitikei. What gives Rangatira that unique- were also the winner Golf Rankings ‘Hidden Gem’ award. ness; the course is built on three levels, Get your friends together and come stunning views of the Rangitikei River, and experience our fantastic course. and a ride in the Electric Cable Car, the Have a look at our accommodation oponly one of its kind in New Zealand. tions available. There are no bunkers. Contact Mary on 06 322 9859 or 027 We are on State Highway One 12km 322 9850 for more information or visit North of Hunterville. Rangatira is argu- www.rangatiragolf.co.nz
RANGITIKEI GOLF CLUB
Rangitikei Golf Club is known as the Jewel of the Rangitikei. It is located 5kms from the town centre of Bulls. The Rangitikei Golf Club’s par 72 course offers a challenging 18 holes with elevated tees, undulating fairways and greens to test the unwary. Please click on the video link on the website for a virtual tour of the Rangitikei Club course and its facilities.
Green fees are $20.00. We have golf carts available for hire, the cost is $30.00. Please phone (06) 322-1475 to book carts. Eftpos facilities are only available on Club Days (Wednesday and Saturday). Please ensure you have cash for green fees and cart hire. Visitors are guaranteed a friendly welcome. www.rangitikeigolfclub.co.nz
FEILDING GOLF CLUB
WAIMARINO GOLF CLUB
holes from tee box to green.. The course drains well both winter and summer. The green fees are reasonable with great deals for country and full membership. The course is managed by a Voluntary Committee who really enjoy hosting individuals and groups. It is a course not to be missed for serious and social golfers. Check us out on Ruapehugolf.com
The Feilding Golf Club is situated on the side of the Oroua River, just 2 minutes from Feilding’s town centre. This 18 hole parklike course features excellent greens, fairways lined with varied plantings of mature trees, is easy walking and well-draining. The Club has been on this current site since 1911. Supported with a Shop and Profes-
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sional on site, and with catering open for weekly golf commitments as well as functions by arrangement. The Club has been a proud supporter of the Arohanui Hospice over many years, hosts the Men’s Queen’s Birthday 54 Hole Match Play Open and Women’s 2 Day Premier Challenge Open Tournaments. The Club welcomes golfers from around New Zealand who enjoy what the Feilding Golf course offers.
The Waimarino Golf club is an 18 hole course at the base of Mt Ruapehu between Ohakune and Raetihi. The views of the Mountain are spectacular from many of the holes. Come and play any time or after skiing or mountain biking on this gem of a course cared for by our hugely experienced green keeper. There are beautiful trees and manicured
June 2020
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Green Fee Specials Play on one of New Zealand’s best layouts -
18 Holes only $59.00 this Summer
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Restaurant & Bar
Black Tee Challenge
• Weddings & Functions
1st Friday every month • Play the championship tees • 18 hole competition • Great prizes
• Corporate Events
Cost $69.00 pp
• Indoor/Outdoor dining • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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NELSON GOLF CLUB
NELSON GOLF CLUB’S 18 hole championship links course is adjacent to the district’s airport and the picturesque waters of Tasman Bay. This beautiful seaside links course has reputedly the ‘best’ greens in the country. Nelson golf links is only ten minutes from the centre of downtown Nelson and virtually next door to beautiful Tahunanui Beach and associated accommodation. Nelson enjoys one of the most favourable climates in New Zealand with high sunshine hours which helps to explain why Nelson is a popular golfing destination. Come and play this challenging links course year round. www.nelsongolf.co.nz
GREENACRES GOLF CLUB
Welcome to Greenacres Golf Club, where playing golf is a “fun” experience to be enjoyed. This beautifully-maintained 18-hole layout, rated one of the top 40 courses in New Zealand, is conveniently located on the outskirts of Richmond, just a short drive from Nelson Airport.
Nelson Golf Club
A true links experience situated in the delightful region of sunny Nelson. A wonderful golf course, good enough to be chosen for the 2014 NZ Amateur Championships... high praise indeed. Golfers of all abilities will find a round at Nelson very rewarding enjoying simply stunning views. There is a vibrant social side to the club making new members and casual players feel welcome to enjoy camaraderie both on and off the course. There is a full bar and catering facilities, also open to non members. There
Set on an island, the club offers magnificent scenery and tranquil surroundings. The course is renowned as one of the best all-weather courses in the region and tests players of all abilities, young or old, high or low handicaps. While this course is considered one of the most challenging in the top of the South Island it is a popular course for all playing levels. The scenic yet challenging links style layout of the course in a tree lined parkland setting, is a pleasure to enjoy. Greenacres has everything a good (and growing) golf club should have – a great course and facilities, and fabulous people that are friendly and welcoming and want you to be part of the club, even if just for one day We look forward to seeing you soon. www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz
MOTUEKA GOLF CLUB
Motueka Golf Club, voted the 2018 NZ Golf Club of the Year, prides itself on running a friendly and welcoming club. The course is relatively flat and has a park like atmosphere with the fairways lined by mature trees. In addition to our beautifully maintained
Greenacres Golf Club
are great deals available on green fees and a wide range of memberships – contact the staff at the Nelson Golf club, who will be only too delighted to explain all the options available. Call 03-548-5029 or email nelson@golf.co.nz Check out our website www.nelsongolf.co.nz and see what you’re missing. The site offers photos of the course plus other club information highlighting the Nelson Festival of Golf. Check it out on www.nelsongolf. co.nz/festivalofgolf
course we are fortunate that it is alive with abundant and varied birdlife. The course has been modified and improved over recent years. The trees have been trimmed and our fairways have been widened which has made the course more “Golfer Friendly”. The fairways are well watered and beautifully grassed and our greens are consistent and true. For those players who played last year you will find our greens are in even better condition this year! At 5800m off the White Tees the course rewards accuracy and correct club selection. Golfers of all abilities will welcome the challenge and if you play to your handicap on your first visit you should be well satisfied. You will be in the minority! The course sits on the east side of Motueka and provides some stunning views of Tasman Bay. With an increasing membership and glowing reports from both local and overseas visiting players, Motueka’s reputation continues to grow as one of the best country courses in New Zealand. We look forward to again hosting new and returning players to the Nelson Festival of Golf. www.moteukagolf.co.nz
G O L F D E S T I N AT I O N
Top of the South
Motueka Golf Club
2018 NZ GOLF CLUB OF THE YEAR
Harbour Road
Motueka
Tel: (03) 528 8998
Fax: (03) 528 8998
� Click to email us �
Harbour Road Motueka | Tel: (03) 528 8998 | www.motuekagolf.co.nz
The best island golf course in New Zealand
www.nelsongolf.co.nz
One of New Zealand’s GREAT GOLFING experiences Phone 03-544-6441 • www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz
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June 2020
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PGAPARS
pga.org.nz
Increasing the endorphin levels By Dominic Sainsbury New Zealand PGA General Manager
W
hat is the new normal now that we start to get back to living full lives again in the wake of our Covid-19 enforced lockdown? In times of recession and great uncertainty it is common to see an increase in leisure time spending. We need to boost our endorphins (chemicals produced by the brain that make us happy) to deal with the levels of stress we are going and have been through. Two of the best ways to boost your endorphins are exercise and laughing. This is often done in our leisure time. We have been through a time of stress, anxiety and worry about the future and the way we have lived our lives has been challenged and for most changed forever. We have been connected via a virtual world but we have been starved of face-to-face human contact that we are used to. Golf will play a vital role for so many of us moving forward and so far the game the good people working for/in the game are delivering. We are seeing an increase in people joining clubs, people are a lot more relaxed, realistic and positive when they are playing and we are seeing people enjoying each others’ company on the course and socially connecting again. Our game is doing a great job to heal the frustrations of the uncertain times we are going through with exercise, laughter and the community feel of being at one of our
great golf clubs around New Zealand. For a lot of New Zealanders, golf is their second favourite sport and for those Kiwis who have not been able to play their winter codes (netball, rugby, football, hockey etc), golf clubs and golf facilities have welcomed and embraced them. Golf is a great vehicle for keeping New Zealanders active and providing those well needed moments of laughter and enjoyment. For a lot of our domestic golfers who had an overseas golf trip booked in for this year, they are now locking in trips around New Zealand and in a lot of cases they will be joined by a PGA professional on their golf trip around New Zealand at some of our amazing hidden gems. I am in the final planning stages of my mid/lower North Island July golf trip where I will be taking in country gems such as Taumarunui, Waverley, Castlecliff, Rangatira and I cannot wait to play the new greens at Wairakei. Our message to all golfers is to make laughter, have fun, enjoy the company of your playing partners and enjoy the beautiful serenity of the course you are playing. This is your new normal when playing golf and if you are not a regular golfer, this is now the time to learn to play our great game that will embrace you. If you need help with any aspects of increasing your new normal or want to embark on a great Kiwi golf road trip then reach out to your local PGA professional who can be found in the find a pro section of the PGA website - Find a pga pro - PGA New Zealand
Long-time professional golfer Richard Lee (left) and businessman John Street, better known these days as a major racehorse owner. The pair have forged a life-long friendship through golf.
Waihi Golf Club is a wonderful par 72, 5685m golf course situated amongst beautiful lush green surroundings, overlooking the Waihi Township and surrounding farm land. The course is expertly maintained and managed and will be a challenge whatever your skill level.
For reservations contact richard@stonestorelodge.co.nz www.stonestorelodge.co.nz | Ph (09) 407-6693
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June 2020
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GOLFCOACHING
ianhardie.net
Why are my practice swings ‘perfect’ but my golf shots bad? By Ian Hardie NZPGA Professional
“If only I could hit all of my shots with my practice swing!” Does that sound familiar to you? That statement is one of the most common things I have heard golfers say to me over the years and it comes in a multitude of different forms: “I practice swing great, but it all goes to #$@! when I try to hit the ball!” “Why is my swing so different when the ball has to be hit?” “I practice swing perfectly without the golf ball there.” “I could play the PGA Tour if it was based on practice swings only.” OK, I will admit that I have only heard that last one once but all the others are fairly common and I’m sure that those are only a few of the many ways that this problem is described by golfers around the world. But I’m guessing you aren’t really interested in knowing how the problem is described, what you really want to know is how to solve it and in the process transform your golf game because if you are like most golfers that have this problem, you will have tried all sorts of different ways to eliminate it – with either little or no success in doing so. Sure, some of the things you will have been told or tried will have helped a little bit, but they normally only do so for a short period of time before the problem returns. Sadly though, most of the things that golfers are either told to solve the problem, or try and work out for themselves, don’t help at all and in fact mostly they
begin to remove any confidence that you had in your skills. So, what’s the answer to this problem? Well, before I get to that we need to look at exactly why it is that you do a practice swing, or swings if you do more than one, what is going on in your head when you do your practice swing or swings, what your body is doing when you do those practice swings, and what can possibly be different when it comes to hitting your golf shot. I’m not going to dwell too much on why you should do a practice swing or, as anyone that I coach generally finds out after their first couple of sessions, preferably your two practice swings before hitting each shot. If you don’t know why I’m suggesting that you can find out in the articles ‘Why do a practice golf swing’ and ‘Why do a practice golf swing – part two’ on golfhabits.com. The quick summary of them is that basically, between golf shots our body and brain are being used for activities that are far removed from hitting a golf ball – walking, talking, eating, drinking, pushing your golf clubs or driving a golf cart. So, a practice swing is the signal to both your body and your brain that it’s time to switch on to ‘hitting a golf shot mode’. It’s a physical signal to your body of what you are about to ask it to do, which is to use your body in an incredibly fast and accurate series of movements that will strike a golf ball towards your intended target. Doing a practice swing also gives you time to be confident with your shot decision – as the practice swing must come after the point where you have de-
cided what shot you are going to play and what club you are using for it. It is in essence also a physical plan of what you want your body to do. That makes sense doesn’t it? Well, it would if that’s how you approached practice swings – especially if you read the really important thing in ‘Why do a practice golf swing – part two’ about your second practice swing and how it needs to be different than your first. So, the first thing that you need to understand to sort out your problem of having ‘perfect’ practice swings but bad golf shots is that, rather than just having a practice swing or two because you think that you should or because the other golfers all do them, practice swings have an actual physical and mental purpose in preparing your body for the shot you are about to hit. However, even though it is you and your golf club that are doing them, practice swings are not golf shots as there is no ball to be hit, target to aim at or things to be set up, like ball position and body posture. You might want to read that bit again as it was an important point! This means that in effect a golf practice swing is like shadowboxing. “Shadowboxing is an exercise used in the training for combat sports, especially, as its name implies, in boxing. It is used mainly to prepare the muscles before the person training engages in stronger physical activity. In shadowboxing, only one person is required to participate; the participant throws punches at no one in particular.”
That sums up a practice golf swing or two pretty well, doesn’t it? Preparing and loosening up the muscles with nothing getting aimed at or hit. So, just as success in boxing is judged on how well the fighter hits their opponent as opposed to how well they can shadowbox on their own, success in golf is judged on how well the golfer hits their golf ball, not how good their practice swing looks or feels. Practice swings are just a small part of the pre-shot routine that contributes to the eventual hitting of the golf ball. Thinking about it in this way will have you realising that making a judgement as to how good (or bad) your practice swing is isn’t of any interest to the golf ball that you are about to hit, it’s only influenced by the clubface at the point of impact – not how good ‘you think your practice swing was’. This means that the first step in solving your problem is to stop judging your practice swings as they really aren’t that relevant to what’s going on while hitting a golf shot. There is no such thing as a perfect practice swing and even if it did exist, what use would it be when it comes to hitting your golf shot? I’m going to leave you to ponder that for a while but that of course isn’t the end of the question as to why your practice swings are ‘perfect’ but your golf shots are bad. So if you’d like to know more you can find ‘Why are my practice swings ‘perfect’ but my golf shots bad’ – parts two, three and four on: golfhabits.com Play well.
Ian Hardie is Golfer Pacific’s Golf Professional contributor. He is Club Professional at Omanu Golf Club in Mount Maunganui. Ian’s time is split between the pro shop at the club and helping people to improve, while enjoying their golf more as a result of his golf coaching. Over the past few years, in an effort to help as many golfers as he can, Ian has been sharing his common sense golf advice with golfers around the world through his website golfhabits.com. With over 500 articles to read, it’s a great resource for any golfer looking to improve their golf game.
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UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Only 5 mins drive from Waitangi Golf Club!
2 Puketona Rd • Paihia • Ph +64 (9) 402 8660 info@gatewaymotel.co.nz • www.gatewaymotel.co.nz
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Huntly Golf Club ABSOLUTELY NO PLAY… UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST REGISTERED YOUR CONTACT DETAILS & DISPLAY OUR YELLOW TICKET ON YOUR BAG! COVID-CARE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WILL APPLY AT ALL TIMES ON AND OFF THE GOLF COURSE.
Huntly Golf Club Golf & Footgolf courses are open for PLAY by Members and Visitors. Before play please refer to & comply with all Noticeboard & Local Rule requirements. Memberships to 28.2.21 | Full $435 | 1st Hcp $325 | 2nd Club $250 | 9-holers $225.
Huntly Golf Club
“YES, We’re Open” says the Huntly Golf Club advertisement. After six weeks of forced lockdown the club got rolling again under COVID Level 3, with upside down cups on the greens and then two weeks later advanced to flags once again under Level 2. The use of foam buffers in the cups mean players do not have to take the flagstick out, or reach down too far when retrieving their golf ball. Over the first four weeks the COVID Register shows that there was a continuation of the increase in demand to play golf compared with last year. In fact it is probably the most active the Huntly course has been over the past five years. The excellent condition of the course has a lot to do with the resurgence in numbers. Visiting Group Sundays have recommenced with a good turnout. Clubroom tables have been reduced to three chairs per table and the round buyer becomes a volunteer waiter for their table. Fresh glasses each round ensure minimal surface touching and waiters are expected to use the antibacterial bottles to clean their hands before swiping their EFTPOS cards and delivering the new glasses
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back to the table. The biggest learning for golfers was to putt the ball firmer at the raised cups. Now the open holes have returned, golfers are no longer leaving their putts stop short, as theyNew did Members pre- COVID. Who said there were & Visitors Welcome not positives from the pandemic!
GOLF OMANU
New Members & Visitors Welcome THE BAYS Play your Green Fee golf at Omanu. GOLF OMANU BEST GOLFING 18-hole affiliate rate $45 EXPERIENCE THE BAYS BEST GOLFING EXPERIENCE
For course availability book online or phone +64 7 575 5957 98 Matapihi Rd, Mt Maunganui
www.omanugolf.co.nz
For course availability book online or phone +64 7 575 5957 98 Matapihi Rd, Mt Maunganui June
www.omanugolf.co.nz
2020
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GOLF TRAILS
NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS
NORTHLAND NORTHLAND NOTICEBOARD 7 Jun
Whangaroa
09 405 1808
Mangonui Hotel Mixed Teams Tournament
19 Jun
Mangawhai
09 431 4807
Mix Vets 9 Hole Social Day
25 Jun
Waipu
09 432 0259
Women’s 18 Hole Open
26 Jun
Wellsford
09 423 8385
Mix Whangapiro Farmers Open
NORTH HARBOUR NEW INITIATIVE CONTESTABLE FUND
North Golf has announced that there is a New Initiative Contestable Fund available to all golf clubs for the 2020/2021 Financial Year. This is a fantastic opportunity for your club to access funding for a new initiative that will help strengthen your club. Funding applications are due by August 1st and the North Golf staff are available to work with clubs on developing their application. There is a maximum amount of funding per club of $2,000. All applications will be considered against each other and we will be funding projects that we believe have the greatest opportunity for success. Applications can be made at www.northgolf.nz
HARBOUR TOUR RESUMES
June – Waitemata Golf Club / 09 445 8716 Men – White Tees / Women – Yellow Tees July – South Head Golf Club / 09 420 2838 Men – White Tees / Women – Yellow Tees July – Omaha Beach Golf Club / 09 422 7551 Men – White Tees / Women – Red Tees August – Mangawhai Golf Club / 09 431 4807 Men – White Tees / Women – Red Tees August – Whangaparaoa Golf Club / 09 424 5441 Men – Red Tees / Women – Yellow Tees September – Redwood Park Golf Club / 09 833 8253 Men – White Tees / Women – Yellow Tees October – Pupuke Golf Club / 09 410 7906 Men – White Tees / Women – Yellow Tees November – Helensville Golf Club / 09 420 5454 Men – White Tees / Yellow Tees
OMAHA GOLF RESULTS
Saturday 23rd May Haggle Results Mens Division 1 1st: Peter Brickland, 40 points 2nd=: Shane Tate and Dave Rogers, 39 points 4th=: Peter Botherway, John Kinley,
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Richard Middleton and Reno Wijnstock, 38 points 8th=: David Frain, Paul McGill and Clive Sharp Men’s Division 2 1st: John Ward, 38 points 2nd=: Ean Pike, Chris Thompson and Richard Robson, 37 points 5th: Peter Pogoni, 35 points Twos: Gordon Wylde (3) Peter Brickland (8) John Weston (8) Reno Wijnstock (15) Peter Logan (15) Stephen Medforth (15) Bruce Stone (15) Keith McCracken (17) Club Net Eagles Hole #10 Drawn Dave Rogers and Jeff Muir Ladies Division: 1st: Judy Hard, 39 points 2nd=: Susan Flint-Hartle and Diane Pittman, 38 points 4th=: Pam Whaley and Annette Gowling, 37 points Twos: Susan Flint-Hartle (8) Toshie Sharp (12) Pam Whaley (12) NORTH HARBOUR NOTICEBOARD 8 Jun
Muriwai
09 411 8454
other tight finish – maybe even a play-off! However, lessons learnt from previous matches, where Howick had been in very good positions after 12 –14 holes, only to let the final result slip away, came in handy. Final result: 7-1 win. The only loss was a close result on the 18th green. A great result, which means Howick are promoted to Bisset Shield for 2021. Wins in the afternoon to Craig Van Der Nagel, Craig Wheat, Geoff Sisson, James Ellis (4 down at one stage), Dan Mantell, Richard Griffin and Vincent Chan. Well done guys. Unfair to single out a Player of the Day – the whole team contributed throughout the day, and a couple of points and a half point in the morning match proved vital. Interclub Div 2 Pennant Team – Sunday 22nd March v Formosa at Pukekohe After a nervous week not knowing if the playoff would go ahead at Pukekohe against Formosa, the game got under way, Sunday, on schedule. An outstanding fighting result for Howick, winning 6/2. Winners were Derek Peng 1 up, Stuart Cumming 4/3, Hoani Hakaraia 1 up, Scott Walden 2/1, Tom Kudoic 1 up, Ross Hewett 1 up. This game could have gone either way, as shown by five players winning 1 up, but it also shows the fighting qualities of the guys under serious pressure over the last few holes. The whole team should feel very proud of themselves. This game was a playoff between 5th and 6th places for ranking next season. A special mention needs to be made of 14-year-old Derek Peng, who went through the season undefeated, and showed he already is a serious talent, and has the ability to go as far as he wants.
South Head
09 420 2838
Mix Open
21 Jun
Muriwai
09 411 8454
Muriwai Masters
AUCKLAND HOWICK GOLF CLUB PENNANT UPDATE
Premiership Pennant Team – Sunday 22nd March v Waiuku at Akarana By virtue of finishing second in the conference, Howick had to play Windross Farm in the semi-final; a tough ask in that Windross had easily topped their conference. Every point and half point was to be crucial. The match was tight throughout. Howick prevailed 4½ to 3½, but not after some see-sawing individual matches made the result unclear until the last match was finalised. Wins to Mario Beer, Dan Mantell, Craig Wheat and Craig Van Der Nagel, with a gutsy half to Vincent Chan, who was 3 down early in the match. Onto the final in the afternoon – playing Waiuku, who had won a playoff with Onewhero, after they had finished 4 all in the other semi–final. After 9 holes, with the score at 4½ to 3½, it seemed that Howick was in for an-
Royal Wellington
10 Jun
Walton
07 888 3731
Midweek Open Tournament
13 Jun
Ngahinapouri
07 825 2898
Memorial Ambrose
18 Jun
Hauraki
07 867 3197
Mid-Week Open
19 Jun
Ngaruawahia
07 824 8006
Waikato King Country Lady Vets Tournament
4-5 Jul
Matamata
07 888 6109
Ruth Middleton
WEST COAST GOLF CHALLENGE MARCH 2020 STABLEFORD OVERALL PRIZES OVERALL STABLEFORD WINNER Trophy Steven Schwass 166 Grade 1 1st Steven Schwass 166 2nd Graham Gunn 158 3nd Peter Bourke 157 4th James Kirkwood 155 5th Richard Travis 153 Grade 2 1st Chris Holder 157 2nd Miguel Sobrino 155 3nd Gerald Hateley 149 4th Brent Foster 147 5th Mark Dixon 146 by lot 6th Roger Gibson 146 by lot 7th Geoff Day 146 LADIES 1st Chris Thom 146 2nd Jean Gibson 145 3nd Liz Gunatunga 144 4th Christine Ross 143 5th Jan Overall 134 TASMAN NOTICEBOARD 14 Jun
Rarangi
03 570 5709
Fairhall Cup
14 Jun
Rarangi
03 570 5709
MacDonald Cup
20 Jun
Westport
03 572 2575
Westport Women’s Tournament
21 Jun
Wairau Valley
03 572 2575
Clubs of Marlborough
21 Jun
Awatere
03 570 5399
Marlborough Vets
24 Jun
Tasman
03 526 6819
Fruitgrowers Tournament
25 Jun
Totaradale
03 541 8030
DOD
CANTERBURY 17 Jun
Hawarden
03 314 4490
Women’s Open
19 Jun
Greendale
03 325 4128
Women’s Teams Stableford
19 Jun
Rangiora
03 313 6666
Friday Tournament
24 Jun
Cheviot
021 137 0188
Men’s Midweek Open Tournament
OTAGO-SOUTHLAND OTAGO/SOUTHLAND NOTICEBOARD Aorangi
HAWKE’S BAY
11 Jun
HAWKE’S BAY NOTICEBOARD 13 Jun
Mahia
06 838 7066
Ladies Open 27 Hole Foursomes
24 Jun
Poverty Bay
06 867 4402 ext1
OPSM 27 Hole Ladies Foursomes
MANAWATU-WHANGANUI NOTICEBOARD 16 Aug
Foxton
06 363 8160
West Coast Men’s Foursomes 27 Hole
20 Aug
Pahiatua
pahiatuagolf club@gmail. com
American Foursomes Women
WELLINGTON
03 431 3800
Women’s Teams
18 Jun
Temuka
03 615 9666
Men’s 2BBB
Mayfield
03 303 6342
Women’s Teams
22 Jun
Ashburton
03 308 6371
Women’s Tournament
25 Jun
F airlie Golf Club
021 363 956
Stylemaster Tournament (Women)
14 Jun
Otago
03 467 2096
Mid Winter Cup
1 Jul
Clinton
culbysc@gmail. com
Mid-Week Men’s & Women’s Tournament
22-23 Aug
Lake Dunstan
03 449 2729
Open Tournament
7 Jun
Dipton
03 248 5051
Open Stroke
18 Jun
Queen’s Park
03 218 8371
Ladies Mid Winter Ambrose
26 Jun
Hedgehope
03 216 8387
3 Person Ambrose
Otago
Southland
WELLINGTON NOTICEBOARD
June 2020
Lower Waitaki
19 Jun
MANAWATU-WHANGANUI
Carterton
WGI U19 36 Hole Strokeplay
CANTERBURY NOTICEBOARD
WAIKATO NOTICEBOARD
5 Jul
04 528 6900
TASMAN
WAIKATO
9 Hole Open Day
14 Jun
14 Jul
06 379 8457
Wairarapa Men’s Foursomes
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June 2020
WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ
POST COVID PLANS WILL SEE THE COVIC SHIELD STILL PLAYED FOR IN 2020 After much thought, revolved around protecting the lives of our Counties-Manukau veteran golfers, some who are now living their seventh and eight decades, COVIC golf will now recommence in late June with a brand new events calendar. In announcing this welcome news, the
2020 Convenor, Mr Tim Howard of the Waiuku Golf Club, stated that, “Besides protecting the players’ lives, our second concern was to ensure that all member clubs would still benefit from hosting at least one round, as is intended annually. “It was therefore important to delay our season recommencement, until a time when the current social distancing regulations will most likely have been relaxed, and yet early enough to still cater
for our full season,” said Mr Howard. With 22nd June now the latest date set by government for making their expected decision to move out of Level 2, COVIC have confidently rescheduled their first post-COVID event and the second round for the 2020 season, to the first day after the announcement, Tuesday 23rd June at the Awhitu Golf Club. The below proposed new events calendar remains subject to any changes that
the hosting clubs may deem necessary, and the possibility of winter weather postponements. All five Shield qualifying and five Shield Finals rounds will still be played, and the season will once again conclude with the annual COVIC Champs at Waiuku in mid-November. “In effect the usual three week gap between our events has now been shortened to two weeks. The only annual event dropped from the calendar is the midwinter Ambrose event known as the Jackson Jones Justice Cup. This will be next be played for in 2021.” Should your club be interested in playing COVIC golf, contact Tim Howard on 021 155 4113.
$25 WINTER GREEN FEE SPECIAL
Play the country course next to the city! Just 25 minutes from CBD and 15 minutes from Porirua and Lower and Upper Hutt. “Cafe and Golf” Flighty’s Café now open
WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ
June 2020
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Your Local PGA Professional is ready to get your golf game back to full swing! We at the NZPGA know your golf has had a mandatory layoff.
WANT TO PLAY BETTER GOLF?
Many golf clubs have a Pro-shop and a Professional available to help. PGA Professionals are also available through the numerous golf driving range facilities throughout New Zealand. The cost of a session can vary depending on location and the experience of the professional. Group coaching can cost as little as $10 per session and is a great way to meet golfers at the same level as you. Long term coaching (not lessons!) can be a game changer to the enjoyment that you can experience through the game. Only PGA Professionals have received the training necessary to improve your game – make sure you look for the PGA logo or ensure that the Professional you see is a member of the PGA of New Zealand.
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June 2020 www.pga.org.nz/find-a-pga-pro
WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ