Golfer Pacific NZ – May 2022

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An inglorious end to a sublime Masters’ performance PAGE 3 INSIDE // GOLD COAST AND SUNSHINE COAST GOLF // BEST IN MEN’S GOLF SHIRTS

EDITORIAL Where is the Super Golf League headed?

NEW ZEALAND EDITORIAL Paul Gueorgieff pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz Ph: 64 4 565 0385 Mob: 64 27 227 1038

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

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By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

hat is the future of the Super Golf League — or should that be the LIV Golf Invitational Series?

I’m not even sure what the proper name of the league or series is and it is much more difficult to predict where it will land on the world golf landscape.

At the time of writing it was not clear who had put up their hands to play but some names mentioned in the news media included Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Louis Oosthuizen.

But mentioned does not mean signed up. That’s because participation in the series could see players refused entry to the world’s two biggest golf circuits, the PGA Tour in the United States and the DP World Tour (former European Tour).

PGA Tour chief executive Jay Monahan, however, is now thought to be likely to grant permission for players to take part in the opening event of the series because the tournament is technically not part of a new tour at this stage.

But that’s not the case for DP World Tour boss Keith Pelley who is said to be taking a more hardline approach.

Monahan and Kelly had previously warned players they risked lifetime bans from the tours and the Ryder Cup if they signed up to the breakaway venture. Pelley last month claimed the European circuit’s future would be placed in jeopardy as a result of the new league.

The first event of the series is just a couple of weeks away. It will be held at the Centurion Club in England from June 11-13 and will carry a purse of $US20 million which immediately makes it the

richest tournament in the world.

Not bad for an opener.

A further seven tournaments have been scheduled culminating with a $US50 million event in Florida in the United States in October.

That figure of $US50 million was not an error.

All eight tournaments are team events with four players in a team.

The field for each tournament is limited to 12 teams (48 players), there is just three rounds and there is no cut.

It is believed the opening event in England is oversubscribed with around 70 applicants which means LIV chief executive Greg Norman may have some tough calls to make when it comes to who is in and who is not.

Money for the series comes from Saudi Arabia which in itself has provided some controversy but the main question for me is how

SOUTH ISLAND EDITORIAL Neville Idour 0274771423 pmidour@hotmail.co.nz

hard a line will the bosses of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour take on those who participate?

Money is the big attraction. Besides the mammoth purses on offer, players are said to also being offered huge financial incentives simply to compete.

It is difficult to understand just how this series will take off, partly because of the team aspect of the tournaments and the likelihood none of the world’s elite players will participate. Time will tell.

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 COVER PHOTO: Scottie Scheffler, in his green jacket, is all smiles with the trophy following his three stroke victory in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, last month. Photo credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Greg Norman, chief executive of LIV Golf Investments.

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May 2022

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By Golfer Pacific editor, Paul Gueorgieff

I

t’s the last hole of the tournament.

The first putt goes five feet past the hole.

The second putt goes five feet past.

The third putt goes three feet past.

The fourth putt, thankfully, goes in.

Or should that be distressingly?

This is one of the world’s greatest tournaments, the Masters. And in this case this is what happened last month to tournament leader Scottie Scheffler.

Leaders of the Masters don’t usually have much leeway and a four-putt at the last would often equate to one of golf’s great meltdowns.

But because Scheffler had been so dominant he could afford an inglorious four-putt on the 72nd hole. He actually could have six-putted, a la Danny Lee, and still been victorious.

(Danny Lee of New Zealand infamously six-putted the 18th hole at the 2020 United States Open).

When Scheffler’s third putt slipped by, he put a hand over his face in embarrassment and giggled to himself.

Scheffler later admitted: “I’ll give myself a free pass for that one.”

The 25-year-old American earned use of the free pass because he had played so well earlier.

He went into the final round with a three-shot lead. The lead had dwindled to one after two holes with Australian playing partner Cameron Smith making an early charge.

But the hopes of Smith were sunk when his tee shot on No 12 went into the water.

“Just a really bad swing at the wrong time,” Smith would later say.

And as Smith’s challenge subsided another emerged in the form of Rory McIlroy, who, a few holes ahead, was burning up the Augusta National course.

McIlroy ended with an eight-under par 64 which equalled the best final round in The Masters. It ended with McIlroy holing his bunker shot on the 18th for a birdie, which had the crowd roaring.

McIlory said the good weather

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Scottie Scheffler chooses his club for his second shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2002 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club last month. Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images.

helped his cause.

“I feel like we haven’t had a lot of days this year [weather-wise] where you actually can get after the golf course, and today we had a day when you could get after it, ” McIlroy said.

But in the end it wasn’t enough to reel in Scheffler and afterwards McIlroy summed up Scheffler’s brilliant play.

“Hats off to him,” McIlroy said.

“He’s sort of been head and shoulders above everyone else this week.”

Scheffler finished with a score of 10 under par while three shots back on seven under was McIlroy. There was another two shots to Smith and Shane Lowry on five under par to be equal third.

Scheffler’s win added to an amazing eight weeks. It was his fourth win in six starts during which time his world

May 2022

ranking rose from No 15 to No 1.

The first win came in the $US8.2 million Phoenix Open in Arizona on February 13, which was Scheffler’s first win on the PGA Tour. Scheffler won in a playoff with Patrick Cantlay.

Three weeks later he won the $US12 million Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida and another three weeks afterwards he won the $US12 million World Golf Championships Matchplay in Texas to attain his No 1 world ranking.

Scheffler admitted after The Masters that the mounting success was getting to him by the morning of the last round.

“You know, last night was pretty easy,” he said before quickly adding: “This morning was a totally different story.

“I cried like a baby this morning. I was so stressed out. I didn’t know what to do.

“I was sitting there telling (my wife) Meredith I don’t think I’m ready for this.

I’m not ready. I don’t feel like I’m ready for this kind of stuff. And I just felt overwhelmed. She told me, who are you to say that you are not ready?”

One of the defining moments of Scheffler’s final round came on the third hole despite a wayward tee shot which saw his ball land behind a scoreboard, in the straw and near the folding chair of a spectator.

Scheffler whacked it out to where it clunked in front of the green, 30 metres from the cup. From there, he chipped on and watched it race, spin and then bang into the flagstick and dunk into the hole for a birdie and retain his three-shot lead.

“I chipped it so good this week,” Scheffler said.

At the champion’s press conference Scheffler added: “I never expected to be sitting where I am now.

“You don’t expect things to come to you in this life. You just do the best you can with the hand you’re dealt.

“I never really thought I was that good at golf, so I just kept practicing and kept working hard, and that’s just what I’m going to keep doing.”

GOLF NEWS

An inglorious end to a sublime Masters’ performance

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Kobori becomes another amateur to win on the Charles Tour GOLF NEWS

K

azuma Kobori joined an illustrious group of a handful of amateurs to win on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour when taking out the Autex Muriwai Open in Auckland by four shots.

Kobori had his work cut out for him at the start of the final day, with around 15 players within four shots of his lead. He had carded rounds of 66, 75, and 69 to be six under par.

The 20-year-old Rangiora Golf Club member began the final round with a bogey at the first hole to give his oneshot lead away immediately.

But he steadied himself with four pars in a row before nailing a birdie at the par five sixth hole to get back into a share of the lead with Harry Bateman.

The 2019 New Zealand PGA Championship winner then rattled off birdies at the seventh and ninth to go out in two under par and set up a blockbuster final nine holes with Bateman, who had moved equal with Kobori once again.

Kobori remained steady in the windy conditions making birdies at the 14th and 16th holes to take complete control of the tournament. He then parred his final two holes to shoot a final round of 68 and capture the first Charles Tour event of his career.

He said it was great to get back into the winners’ circle again.

“It feels pretty surreal right now. I haven’t won a big event in such a long time,’’ Kobori said.

“The NZPGA Championship in 2019 was the last one I won, but that was at my home club.

“To win against a bunch of elite players feels fantastic.”

His victory on the Charles Tour has been a long time coming. Kobori is a perennial contender on the tour and has played in Charles Tour events since he was a teenager.

Kobori said he had learned a lot from all the professionals he had played with on tour, which helped him get over the line on this occasion.

“I started playing the Charles Tour when I was about 16 years old, which is four years ago now.

“Playing on the tour with players that have a lot of experience like the ones here this week is great as I can learn lots from them whilst competing.

“After the second day, where the weather was horrific, most of the names that were up near the top of the leaderboard were professionals, and to learn and rub shoulders with them has certainly helped me progress a bit

North Canterbury golfer Kazuma Kobori is all smiles after his win in the Muriwai Open in Auckland last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

quicker.”

Kobori said he wanted to soak up the victory before focussing on his preparation for a trip to the United States, where he will be competing internationally for the first time in a while.

“It was a perfect week. I couldn’t have drawn it up any better.

“Coming into the week, I thought I

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might have a chance as I was playing quite well, but it doesn’t matter how well you’ve been playing before the week, you still have to go and hit the shots, and I’m glad I did.”

Kobori finished at 10 under, four shots ahead of Harry Bateman in second place. Luke Toomey was third, a further shot back.

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Steve Alker’s second win on the PGA Tour Champions

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Steven Alker of New Zealand celebrates after making a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round en route to winning the Rapiscan Systems Classic at Grand Bear Golf Club in Mississippi last month. Photo credit: Mike Mulholland/Getty Image.

teve Alker is not only racking up the wins on the PGA Tour Champions in the United States but he is also doing so in record style.

The New Zealander posted his second win on the world’s richest circuit for golfers aged 50 and older when taking out the $US1.6 million Rapiscan Systems Classic in Mississippi last month. The winner’s purse was $US240,000.

Alker’s total of 18 under par was a record at the event, which moved to Grand Bear Golf Club this year after 10 editions at Fallen Oak. On the second of the three-day tournament he shot a course record 62 to take the lead and followed it up on the final day by playing near-flawless golf to cruise home by six strokes.

Bob Estes, searching for his first victory on the PGA Tour Champions at age 56, pulled even with Alker three times on the front nine.

But he fell off the pace with a bogey at

NEWS

the par four eighth hole and couldn’t keep up when Alker ripped three straight birdies to start the back nine.

Alker went without a bogey for his final 40 holes.

Alker’s first win on the PGA Tour Champions came in the $US2 million TimberTech Championship at Florida in November when he ended a seven-year winning drought.

Alker first joined the PGA Tour Champions last year when he finished seventh at the Boeing Classic last US summer after getting into the tournament on a Monday qualifier shortly after turning 50.

He finished with nine top 10s in 10 starts to end the season, including his win at Florida, and up to his latest win had placed in the top 20 in all four starts this year.

Alker’s explanation of his latest win was simple. “(My game) was there,” Alker said. “I didn’t quite have it the first day but just kind of freed it up and let it go.”

Queen Sirikit Cup team named T he team to represent New Zealand at the 42nd Queen Sirikit Cup in Singapore this month has been named.

Familiar faces of Fiona Xu (Titirangi) and Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange) will be joined

by Eunseo Choi (Takapuna) who is wearing the New Zealand fern for the first time.

The trio have been in electrifying form of late.

Xu became the first New Zealander to win the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship since her idol Lydia Ko, going wire-to-wire to win by three shots at 11-under par around Cranbourne Golf Club. She also recorded two runner-up finishes prior to the Australian Women’s

Amateur at the Riversdale Cup and the Rene Erichsen Salver.

Her Auckland teammate Vivian Lu has also been in some formidable form, recently defending her New Zealand Women’s Strokeplay title and becoming the first person in 27-years to do so.

Meanwhile, Eunseo Choi has been given the call up following her run of good form. The North Harbour number one has played her way into the side courtesy of victories at the Danny Lee Springfield Open, North Island Age Groups, Lydia Ko Age Groups, and a second-place at the New Zealand Strokeplay.

Golf New Zealand high performance manager Gregg Thorpe

said it was exciting to be able to send a team away to represent New Zealand once again.

“It’s great to have international play back on the schedule,’’ Thorpe said.

“The players have been so patient, and working hard at home, but there is no substitute for the competition and experience of playing against your international peers.”

The Queen Sirikit Cup is a 15-nation event that is played over three rounds. The top two of three scores after each day count toward the team score.

Korea is the defending champions of the event which was last played in 2019.

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Picton Golf Club — a nine hole gem GOLF NEWS The opening hole at Picton Golf Club to a raised green.

By Neville Idour

A

visit to Picton last month included a most enjoyable round at Picton Golf Club, yet another gem that probably flies under the radar somewhat. It is picturesque with many visual delights.

Graham Couldrey, one of the more senior members, spoke with great enthusiasm about Picton Golf Club. We asked him what were the best things about the club.

“I think its position in terms of Picton is a big plus,’’ Couldrey said.

“On state highway one and close but not too close to Picton (about 5kms and immediately next to SH1) which gives us plenty of green fee players popping in and a good income from them.”

How about course maintenance? When my wife and I played it was in lovely, well kept condition and the plantings and garden areas were a feature.

“The course is maintained by volunteers apart from two part-time greenkeepers who are not golfers. The man mows the fairways and rough while the lady mows the greens. The coring and sanding is all done by volunteers. The women volunteers do the gardens.”

The club has a new greenkeepers’ shed which re-

placed the old draughty one which has made a huge difference for the volunteers to work in. The club has its own machinery, much of it new and it is maintained by members. There are two other sheds to house the 12 members’ carts. Interestingly the next door neighbour has six carts and golf clubs which can be hired. He has lived there a long time and is happy helping out the club.”

The clubhouse used to be where the practice putting green is which is near the current clubhouse. It has all the facilities to cater very well for a country club.

Current membership is 140 men and 40 women.

However, the club does not have many younger members.

“A lot of the younger players who come from Picton to play will move away for better opportunities,’’ Couldrey said.

“We have quite a few players from out of town who join for the low cost $400 subscription because it gives them the opportunity to play anywhere in New Zealand at affiliated player rates. The upside is many of them will holiday in Picton and play as well.” So it is a win-win situation.

As for the course it is a very pleasant, not too taxing a walk. The white tees play 5356 metres and the ladies play 5087m. The first hole, at 320m, is no pushover with a dogleg left over a creek 80 metres out and up to an elevated green.

The second 150-metre par three requires an accurate shot to a drop down green. A par five follows with a dogleg left, requiring good positioning for the second shot. Each hole has its own character and greenside bunkers need to be avoided on holes six to nine.

A feature is how the tee positions for holes 10-18 on the second time around for the most completely change the way the nine holes are played. The holelengths differ and even the par rating may change.

Sight lines may also mean a re-thinking of how you approach tee shots.

For example No 3 goes from a par five at 431m to a par four at 342m as hole 12.

Hole seven is a 445m par four while it becomes a 400m par four as hole 16. Hole eight, a 200m par three, becomes a 278m par four for hole 17. Finally hole nine, a lengthy 377m par four, becomes a 441m par five finishing hole.

Hole five, the most elevated on the course, is called The Butts because it was a shooting range prior to the Second World War. This hole also provides an excellent vantage point to view the course.

Hole one is also a feature with its hole in the hillside that is actually a cave. Couldrey said: “People like to think it is a goldmine which it isn’t. It is actually where ammunition was stored during the war.”

The eighth hole at Picton, a par three.

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The club has an interesting history, although sadly I was unable to find a nicely chronicled outline. So I will briefly relate what I did find from two sources — a recollection of memories by John Upson and the Picton Gazette’s 100th birthday feature of May 23, 2007.

The club was established in 1907 but unfortunately the precise origins of the original nine holes are shrouded in the mists of time. It is not known who designed and built it and it ceased to exist from 1961.

However it served the club well for over 50 years and in itself was remarkably quaint and quirky. It would never have been acceptable in today’s world.

Two questions used to crop up.

“Is it true that golfers used to play their drives across the highway” and “are there actually six holes on the clubhouse side of the highway.”

The answer was yes. Hole two was a 426 yards par five and the advice was “Keep your head down because you have to drive across the highway.”

Back in 1955 it was Highshore Road not highway No 49 but there was still traffic and it was the job of the others in your group to warn if there was a car coming.

Fast forward to hole five a 155 yards par three. It was death or glory hitting across the road to a nicely built up green. It was less than 100 yards to carry the road. They were quieter times on the road but there were still many close calls.

Fred Purcell, who hailed from the north of England, was appointed golf professional in 1953 and appropriately in the mid-fifties there were increasing calls for a new and modernised golf course. So in 1956 this truly remarkable person applied his prodigious talents and energy to designing and constructing the new nine which he achieved for the most part single-handedly.

One member remembered Purcell constructing the new greens with their contours and the bunkering with a shovel and tractor. For the really heavy work he was ably assisted by Bill Drew. Unbelievable when you consider his various tasks. From dawn to dusk he ran the pro shop, repaired clubs, maintained the golf course and gave lessons. When he found time, which was rarely, Purcell was a wonderful player who would regularly shoot two or three under par.

The year of 1961 heralded the opening of this brand new nine hole course thanks to the dedication and herculean efforts of their late and beloved golf pro Fred Purcell. Despite the 1990s popularity of golf and thoughts of another nine holes, the costs were too great so the club settled for nine new tees to produce 18 holes and therefore Purcell’s legacy deservedly remains today for all to enjoy.

Yes, Picton Golf Club is a 9-18 holer but is one you should not miss if you are in the area. At just $20 to play it is a steal.

The clubhouse of the Picton Golf Club.

May 2022

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Holidays and golf the perfect mix

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS 8

M

y wife and I enjoyed a recent 12-night holiday in the South Island broken into four three night segments. Yet again it produced the ideal mix of holiday and golf.

However our itinerary easily allowed for it to be fully a golfing holiday.

The first stop was Hanmer Springs after a 490km drive from Dunedin which is not as daunting as it sounds if you share the driving after a 9am start.

We were in Hanmer by 4.30pm after a relaxing drive.

We were able to play the Hanmer golf course which we had not done for a few years and noticed they had reversed the two nines to enable a better finishing arrangement in front of the clubhouse.

The course is a very pleasant and easy walk and you can read the results of a chat with the office and events’ manager Karen de Latour in next month’s issue of this magazine. Being able to enjoy the wonderful Heritage Forest walk and the famous Thermal Pool complex completed a pleasant three days.

Then it was time to head for Nelson

an extremely scenic and pleasant drive of about 300kms via the Lewis Pass, Springs Junction and Murchison.

You could easily break the journey to sample the pretty and relaxing flat nine hole course of the Murchison Golf Club which has a nice variety of trees and is situated two kilometres north of Murchison. At just $15 for nine or 18 holes it is great value and stretches only 5196 metres from the white tees and 4884m from the yellow tees.

From here on state highway six it is not too far to the delightful Golden Downs course, another country nine-holer.

Reviewers rate it five stars and as a hidden gem. It now features New Zealand’s longest golf hole, a par five at 659 metres from the black tees. The course is quite long and challenging with three par threes, three par fours and three par fives stretching to 5752m from the white tees and 5020m from the yellow.

The outstanding scenery and peace and quiet will add to the golf experience. It’s a steal at $10 for a round.

While we did not play golf in Nelson there is a wealth of quality 18- and nine-hole courses to play in the area.

For us it was friends and family time

May 2022

there.

It was then time to head for Picton and rounds at Rarangi and Picton.

However the weather only allowed for one round. After checking both with bad weather being a possible factor we chose the nine-hole Picton course which was an excellent decision. It gave us the option of nine or 18 holes if the weather spoiled things. You can read about the club’s history and our enjoyable and rewarding afternoon on page six of this magazine.

The Rarangi course is long at 5904m from the white tees but not so intimidating at 5338m from the yellow tees.

This influenced our decision in favour of Picton although next time we will take an opportunity to play it.

Christchurch was our final stop and as we were staying in Kaiapoi it was logical to play the Kaiapoi course. It is a well run club with excellent facilities and a nicely kept course although the first cut of rough can be a real challenge in places as it can swallow even the slightest of fairway shots. It is also wise to avoid the bunkers.

While it is relatively short at 5113m from the white tees do not be fooled as some of the fairways are not wide and

poorly positioned drives can negate a second shot to a short par four as this writer and his partner found. The par threes all present challenges of either length, accuracy to avoid bunkers or the shape of the greens. Green fees here represent excellent value at $25 for affiliated golfers.

Kaiapoi is a most attractive town with its river bisecting it and a night or two there would be a good base as the fine Pegasus course which hosted the New Zealand Women’s Open in the early 2000s is only a few kilometres away.

We have previously played most Christchurch courses which offer a wealth of variety and a comfortable, mainly flat terrain.

It was then time to head back to Dunedin and of course had this been simply a 12 night golf holiday we could have played one or two of the many excellent courses on the way home. We now look forward to almost a month driving to the far north in May and playing many courses on our journey including Kauri Cliffs. There will certainly be some stories to be told about clubs in the North Island.

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All Abilities Championship to Aucklander J

ayden Baek hit some of the shots of his life to become the first winner of the New Zealand All Abilities Championship which was held at Muriwai Golf Club in Auckland.

The 18-year-old Redwood Park, in Auckland, member was tied for the lead going into the second and final day with Jason Eade of Wellington after an opening round of 82. The pair sat two shots ahead of Steve Ryan.

Players came prepared for the wind and rain as the forecast looked completely different to the opening round.

Baek started his day with bogeys at the first and third to sit a shot clear of Eade early in the final day. However, a new contender in Steve Ryan (Wattle Downs in Auckland) emerged as he played his opening three holes in even-par to be tied with Baek.

The trio would continue to trade blows on the front nine, with Baek and Ryan poking their noses one shot in front of Eade with nine holes to play.

They often say the back nine is where the tournament starts on the final day, which proved to be accurate once again.

Baek took the ascendency by a shot after 14 holes over his playing partner Ryan. He was also tasked with holding off another competitor in Mitchell Brown, who staged a late charge for the title. He sat a further shot back of Ryan.

The closing holes would be tense as the three went toe-to-toe over the remaining four holes. Baek and Ryan were equal standing on the tournament’s final hole, with Brown in the clubhouse a shot further back.

Both Baek and Ryan piped their drives down the middle and both were left with short irons into the tricky 18th green.

Baek proceeded to hit one of the shots of his young golfing career, hitting his approach to six feet to apply the pressure on Ryan.

Unfortunately, Ryan hit his second in the bunker, leaving Baek two putts to win

the title.

Baek used his two putts to par the 18th, sign for a second round of 88, and victory.

“I hit a couple of really nice shots on the 18th. I was just trying my best,’’ Baek said afterwards.

“I was aiming for a birdie, but it was great to make a par and win on the last hole.

“I was very nervous out there and, now, I’m really tired. I’m very excited to be given the medal for first place.”

Mitchell Brown finished a shot behind in second, with Guy Harrison and Steve Ryan sharing third place.

Eade didn’t go home empty-handed as he took out the net competition.

The event also saw the launch of Golf New Zealand’s disability action plan which provides the strategic direction for the golf sector to lead systemic change, to ensure disabled people have more choice, improved access, and positive experiences when learning, playing, or competing in golf.

NEWS

Jayden Baek, winner of the inaugural All Abilities Championship at Muriwai in Auckland last month.

Asian Tour event won by 15-year-old from Thailand R atchanon Chantananuwat created history when he won the $US750,000 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup to become the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major tours.

The 15-year-old amateur from Thailand fired a closing seven-under-par 65 to finish on 20 under and beat Korean Kim Joo-hyung by two shots at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course in Thailand.

At 15 years and 37 days old, Ratchanon, nicknamed TK, improved upon the previous best youngest winner mark set by Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who was 15 years and eight months when he won the Japan Tour’s 2007 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup. On the Asian Tour, Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil had been the previous youngest champion, having claimed the 2005 Double A International Open when he was 17 years and five days.

In one of the most captivating and historic finishes to an Asian Tour event, a host of players were in contention on the back nine.

But Ratchanon, playing in the penultimate group, made the decisive move when he birdied 14 and 15, for a three-shot lead over the chasing pack.

His cause was also helped when Kim, playing two groups ahead, found water on 17 and made bogey. That

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appeared to hand victory to Ratchanon but Kim sensationally holed a 15-footer for eagle on the par-five 18th to get to 18-under and give the young Thai golfer a oneshot lead playing the last.

Once again showing maturity beyond his years, Ratchanon split the fairway with his drive, laid up safely short and holed a birdie putt from 12 feet.

“I am very excited, but I felt a lot of pressure,” said Ratchanon.

“To be honest, I got pretty lucky. I hit two or three terrible drives. I saw that [Kim eagled 10] and was not surprised. He pulls off that stuff all the time. It put pressure on me but I tried not to look at it too much. I definitely have a lot of people to thank.”

The rising star, who studies at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, has no plans to turn professional immediately and will compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam.

“This has been my plan all along. I enjoy going to college and learning everything. I have talked to a lot of players, and they have all said go to college,” said Ratchanon, the fifth amateur to win on the Asian Tour and the first since 2009.

Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, had the consolation of receiving the $US135,000 winner’s cheque.

May 2022

Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand who, at the age of 15, became the youngest male player to win on one of the game’s major tours when winning on the Asian Tour last month.

Said Kim: “I made a careless mistake on 17 but recovered well with the eagle. But let’s face it, TK deserves this. There is no stopping him. But this week has given me a lot of confidence for the season ahead.”

The US$750,000 tournament marked the first time the Asian Tour has staged a mixed event, as it was jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.

9

Our annual guide to the best in men’s shirts for the golf course it comes to comfort, mobility, sweat-wicking and UV (ultraviolet) protection.

Whether one’s preference for golf tops are collarless, zip up, button-down, longsleeve, camp-style or the traditional polo, the good news is that there are first rate apparel companies that will cater to your wardrobe needs. Camp style is a loose, straight-cut, woven, short-sleeved button-front shirt or blouse with a simple placket front opening and a “camp collar” -- a one-piece collar (no band collar) that can be worn open.

There are brands such as Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck. St Croix, Bugatchi and

Jos A Bank among others that have the reputation for producing not only high-quality polos for the links, but also button-down shirts for the office as well as casual styles for any occasion.

Still others, like FootJoy, Under Armour and Travis Mathew (Cuater) are known for fabulous footwear out on the course, but at the same time, they also produce top level golf shirts as well.

However, one thing they all have in common is a constant drive to provide the optimum top for golfers.

And for our readers, we wanted to find out from the experts what is trending.

When it comes to fab-

rics, perhaps no one is more steeped in that aspect of the apparel world than Bernhard Brenner. Over 60 years ago, he came to America as a young, inspired and talented knitting engineer from Europe and built a global reputation for quality through his St Croix Collection apparel line.

Said Brenner: Cotton, microfiber, cashmere or wool are popular. At St Croix we use a unique fabric blend with microfiber on the inside for durability, stitch stability and to absorb moisture for ultimate comfort.”

In reference to the material that make them up, sustainability is an increasingly important factor in the manufac-

ture of shirts.

Kenny Haisfield, founder of a new and emerging clothing boutique line, Kenny Flowers (and their recently launched golf brand, Kenny Flowers Country Club) said: “Comfortable, moisture-wicking, (and) recycled fabrics to lessen impact on the environment.”

Regardless of fabric and being good for the environment, with the price of quality shirts a factor, multi-functionality comes into play, so garment companies are looking to meet the challenge of creating the shirt that looks and feels good on and off the course.

Haisfield continued: “It is very important that our shirt

Bright, bold, and silky smooth, it is no wonder that the Leafy Oasis Camp shirt is one of Tommy Bahama’s best sellers. Featuring a coastal collar and chest pocket, this 100 percent silk shirt offers the look and feel of luxury.

The Playoff Polo 2.0 Heather is the second generation of one of UA’s most popular polos ever. Soft anti-pick, anti-pill fabric is extremely breathable and lightweight, it’s even stretchier, faster-drying, and more comfortable than the original.

There’s a reason you see this on courses everywhere.

Built for an ultra-comfortable fit and feel, while giving you the sweat-wicking, heat-battling, performance benefits you expect from UA, this Performance Blocked Polo comes in all the classic colors. The UPF 40 protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays and the soft anti-pick, anti-pill fabric has a textured snag-free finish.

Called Nature’s Finest, this latest style from Travis Mathew features an all-over print with multi-colour graphics on their new performance Eco fabrication. Made of 62 percent repreve recycled polyester, 31 percent pima cotton, 7 percent spandex you’ll stand out and feel comfortable doing it on and off the course wearing the finest.

The Zinna from Travis Mathew is a polo that the popular apparel company promotes as embodying effortless, versatile style with attention to detail and sophisticated simplicity constructed with elevated fabrics that look, feel, and perform better than your average shirt.

Available in many shades.

Stylish, comfortable and loaded with performance features, this camp shirt from Coolibar will be a versatile part of your wardrobe. Using 3Ddri fabric: Moisture wicking in small 3D grid pattern, lightweight and breathable, no need for sunscreen, at least where this camp shirt covers your skin, as they have you protected at UPF 50+. It features side seam vents, a button-down front, coconut buttons and a convenient front pocket for your shades when the sun sets.

Teaming up with legendary golf coach David Leadbetter, Coolibar presents the erodym long sleeve golf polo. Terrific coverage, as you’ll be adding extra sun protection to your golf game. Lightweight and quick-dry, this long sleeve golf polo will keep you comfortable on the course with its breathable active athlon™ fabric, featuring cooltect technology to wick away moisture for a cooler performance.

Footjoy’s painted floral lisle self collar is a high-performance garment that will carry you through round after round in comfort and style.

With its double-stitched seams and exclusive ProDry fabrication which provides superior moisture control that quickly wicks away moisture, you may very well end up collecting all six colours.

The ProDry performance thermal base layer from Footjoy is a non-restricting constructed shirt that fits closely to the skin to help regulate body temperature without interfering with the golf swing. And who couldn’t use a shirt that makes every day playable. Double stitched seams offer added durability. And the crew neck construction is specifically designed with the golfer in mind as the collar offers added comfort with any range of motion.

The classic banded bottom cotton and microfiber polo from the St Croix Collection is handcrafted in America of the finest quality yarns and fabrics in the world. The drape of fabric insures it will not cling to the body and has a banded hem and cuffs. The collar features knit-in collar-stays so the tips never curl and is designed to ensure a perfect look.

Easy-to-care-for, the 75 percent cotton and 25 percent microfiber shirt is treated with silpure antimicrobial wet-wash for fresh, odour-free wear.

Available in over a dozen colors.

By Randy O Williams in the United States

GOLF NEWS 10

F

ashion and individual style have long played a key role in the game of golf and never has this been truer than today.

Players at both the amateur and professional levels are becoming increasingly conscious of their clothing and footwear. And it is the shirt that is playing a central role.

Not only are shirts representative of personal tastes through designs, colours and patterns, but they make a big difference in performance. Regardless of one’s playing handicap, no one wants to fall short when

May 2022

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serves multiple functions because that makes it even more valuable and impressive to the customer.

“For a brand like ours, we’re all about embracing the feeling of vacation every day -- whether you’re at home working, golfing with friends, or on a trip.

“I love wearing these shirts golfing, but I also enjoy wearing them on travel days and around the house. We could call these work-from-home shirts if we wanted to because they brighten your mood, make you feel incredibly comfortable and are a hit in Zoom meetings as well.”

Being comfortable, wherever you are, certainly includes ease of movement.

Back to Brenner: “Stretch is

a trending technical component. Having stretch in a shirt ensures maximum comfort and mobility while wearing it, whether you are wearing it golfing or leisurely.

“The St Croix shirts are knit with natural stretch and enhanced with natural fibers, as well as lycra and elastane. Our unique fabric blends are very moisture wicking, which drastically enhances comfort, whenever you are wearing the shirt.

“Another key factor for a shirt, to look good on and off the course, is a collar that stays in place. Our patented knit-in no-roll collar prevents the collar from curling up or under, even after many plays of golf.”

If it serves them well while golfing and provides the added bonus of looking good for their activities off the course, most players are willing to pay more for that multi-functionality. So, with a willingness to expand their budget, how do they determine the quality of the prospective shirt they are considering purchasing?

Haisfield: “There are so many companies faking a quality product out there.

“You really have to look and see who is going above and beyond. Anyone can email a factory online and make golf shirt to sell.

“But who is putting in the care and attention to detail to solve problems, be better than what’s out there, come up with

unique prints and keeps the end consumer in mind?

“Whenever we come up with a new design or product, it’s not to make a quick buck -- it’s to create a high quality product that we know our customer will thrive in, whatever they’re up to. Premium products are premium because they were designed with the end customer in mind, not just how they look, but how they feel as well.”

Again, we are back to feel.

Looking good, feeling good.

Fortunately, there are labels (see photo layout) that produce natty clothes for golfers to blend their on-course looks with their off-course style.

This Omni-Wick Range polo from Columbia Golf features proprietary performance technology that pulls moisture away from the body and enables perspiration to evaporate quickly, keeping you dry and comfortable. The fabric is 100 percent stretch space dyed polyester and features a sewn-on collar with a contrasting colour that adds to the polished look of the garment.

Available in 11 colours.

As its name implies, Loudmouth produces some very colorful garments. This bright red Flamingo Island Performance Shirt is comprised of 100 percent super-slinky four-way stretch Poly and is wrinkle free.

The Orvis Signature Polo is filled with updated performance-enhancing technical features. Chemical-free fize treatment permanently enhances the fabric with odour elimination, 50+ UV refraction, faster drying, and greater cooling power. Cool piqué fabric is knit in organic Peruvian cotton and offers underarm gussets that allow extra freedom of movement. There’s also a utility loop on the chest which is perfect for sunglasses.

A cutting-edge designer label that is really making a name for itself in golf. You’ll feel on holiday no matter where you’re at with this silk shirt (hand-cut in Bali) from Kenny Flowers. Breezy as the island where this shirt was made, smooth as a flight in business class, The Bali Hai tropical silk shirt has arrived. Get in touch with paradise every time you put on this vintage tropical print.

This Fairway Fiesta Polo from Kenny Flowers presents a spicy, colorful design. Buttery-soft, four-way stretch eco-friendly fabric (80 percent recycled polyester, 20 percent spandex), it is UPF 50+, anti-odour, moisture wicking, and wrinkle resistant. It also has The Original KF Tee Holder (patent pending) and Coconuttons - Coconut Buttons.

The Forge Polo from Cutter & Buck has you covered in more ways than one. It will literally stretch out on the course and well within your budget because it is exceptionally versatile. It’s designed to be your favourite super soft men’s short sleeve polo shirt for golf, the clubhouse, the office, travel, work from home, or wherever adventure takes you. And it comes in over a dozen colours.

The Advantage is all yours when you add this dynamic Tri-Blend Space Dye Men’s Polo from Cutter & Buck to your wardrobe. High quality patterned tri-blend jersey combines super soft cotton with DryTec polyester and spandex to achieve incredible comfort, moisture wicking to keep you cool, and stretch to look great for years. And you have more than 16 colours to chose from.

The iconic Pike Double Dot Polo is engineered with stretch for exceptional versatility, that looks sharp on its own, under a sport coat, or quarter zip. Super smooth with stretch, refined and lasting, the Pike Double Dot print fabric blends the best DryTec polyester with spandex to give you a sophisticated and sporty look.

Jos A. Bank’s Reserve Collection Traditional Fit Short Sleeve Pima Cotton Polo is a golfer’s go-to favorite because it not only feels super comfortable in thick and soft Pima cotton, it also travels well. Easy to care for, it is available in over a dozen colours.

The Stretch Oxford Stripe Men’s Long Sleeve Dress Shirt should be an essential part of your wardrobe.

Once again Cutter & Buck has designed a shirt that is engineered for exceptional versatility. Made from a textured cotton blend stretch fabric, it has a wrinkle-resistant finish.

Offering a stretch fabric, it is super comfortable, with crispness, and it’ll look great right out of the dryer.

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May 2022

Stylish and soft to the touch, the new Paradiso Cove Polo from Tommy Bahamawill allow you to drive from the first tee and take you all the way to the 18th hole without breaking a sweat. With fabric that includes tencel™ modal fibres made from a renewable, sustainable source of raw material, it is easy to care for and comes in a half-dozen colours. You’ll find yourself collecting all six.

11

Saudi golf league takers

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS

I

t is hard to know how to react to a headline that said “Saudi Golf League gets first Major Signing.”

Yes, a PGA Tour player by the name of Robert Garrigus. Who? I hear you say.

He has been, at best, a journeyman on the PGA Tour for more than a decade. He has one win in 2010 and has 33 top 10s in 362 starts with 212 cuts made.

His best finishes this season are 16th, 36th and 46th. He currently ranks 202 in the Fedex Cup and has a world ranking of 1053.

But get this. New Zealander’s world rankings are Ryan Fox 116, Daniel Hillier 231, Danny Lee 281, Ben Campbell 422, Josh Geary 571, Michael Hendry 750, Nick Voke 877.

So we can see it is all about opportunity and getting onto the main tours.

This is not to discredit Garrigus as he is one of the huge number of very mod-

estly successful professional golfers worldwide. The bottom line is he has won almost $US15 million in his career and that is not to be sneezed at.

Following that announcement Golf Digest has reported that 15 of the top 100 world-ranked players have signed up for the first event. These are rumoured to include Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Kevin Na although Na said: “I have not signed anything”. Adam Scott has also said the schedule appeals to him.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was pointed when saying if you want to play “walk out the door now.”

DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley asked players to stay loyal rather than jeopardise the future of the DP World Tour which has several “heritage events”.

The Liv Golf Invitational Series will involve seven regular events with a season ending Team Championship Tournament. The regular events will have three rounds with no cut and 48

players. With prizemoney of a staggering $US25 million for each regular event and $US50 million for the final and limited numbers in the fields it will not surprise if a number of players, particularly journeymen or those past their best, look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to bank a significant retirement fund and some.

Adding more intrigue is the news that Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey is set to host the third event while the opening event is at the Centurion Club in London which is probably causing indigestion at world golf governing body The R&A. The final event, called the Team Championship, is mooted to be held at Trump’s Doral Course in Miami. If this is true it seems certain there will be no chance of The Open Championship returning to Turnberry which Trump has owned since 2014.

As for chief executive Greg Norman’s involvement with this series he recently said he wanted to play his last tour-

nament at the 150th Open and had filled out his entry form. He thought he would get in as a two-time winner despite being 67 years old, seven years outside the exemption age and not having won in the last 10 years. Fat chance.

The R&A in a statement said: “We have no plans for any additional exemptions.”

You could be forgiven for wondering if his involvement with the Saudi Tour had anything to do with that blunt decision. After all, who can forget Tom Watson all but winning having been given an exemption despite being well over age.

So Norman’s only way in is through the qualifying process. Doesn’t look likely, he not having played a ranking points round of golf since 2012.

Norman is adamant the LIV Golf Series will go ahead and hopes someone ranking about 350 in the world has a win and it changes his life. That is looking a possibility. Enough said.

Do you know what sustainable practices are happening at your golf course?

G

olf clubs have an opportunity to educate golfers about the sustainable practices they are using into their day-to-day operations.

That is one of the early conclusions from a new multi-market study on golf sustainability

by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS).

The research in the United Kingdom shows, for example, that over half of golfers are unsure whether their home course uses natural pest controls and fertilisers instead of chemical solutions.

Irrigation practices are anoth-

12

er area where almost a third of golfers in the UK are uncertain of their club’s efforts. With results in other markets to follow, it raises the question of how awareness and attitudes differ between countries.

“Now is the moment for golf clubs to shout from the rooftops about what they are doing to secure the future of the game and the planet,” said Richard Payne, director at Sports Marketing Surveys.

“We know many clubs are doing a lot of good work on their environmental footprints behind the scenes, and, with UK

golfers expecting sustainability to become a more and more important focus in the next decade, this is the time for courses to make sure they are ahead of the curve in making their point.”

With the UK findings also identifying a lack of (at least perceived) solar energy usage at golf courses, SMS is also calling for the industry to come together to develop solutions fast in this area.

“Visible changes like these cultivate a sense that we are all in this together and can be a spur to encourage golfers to boost

May 2022

sustainability efforts in their everyday lives,” Payne said.

In the words of the guardians of the game, The R&A, golf course sustainability means: ‘Optimising the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management.’

As courses move towards that ideal, golf may begin to see a move away from perfectly manicured and extensively watered properties and towards wilder looking, but still high quality playing surfaces.

Though the level of change achievable will vary course by course, factors including water management, fertilisation, aeration, top dressing and mowing are all rife with opportunities for improvements in sustainability.

According to The R&A, selecting the right grass can reduce resource inputs by 50 percent or more.

Sustainability is also among the concerns informing The R&A’s distance insights consultation, a long-running focus that has benefitted from golfer research by SMS.

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Team tournament with a $US50 million prize pool

T

rump National Doral Miami in Florida will host the LIV Golf Invitational Series’ season-ending Team Championship which carries mammoth prizemoney of $US50 million.

Trump National Doral Miami, commonly known as the Blue Monster, will stage the seeded four-day, fourround, matchplay knock-out event featuring 12 teams from October 27-30.

The first-place team will walk away with $US16 million, followed by $US10 million for second, and $US8 million for third with each player on the team receiving a 25 percent cut of earnings. The Team Championship is the eighth and final event on the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series’ schedule.

LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman said: “There

could not be a more perfect location to host our biggest event of the year at a course with such a long history with professional golfers, and we are excited to add another piece of history to this famed destination.

“I am very much looking forward to October to watch these teams go head-to-head to compete for the largest prize purse in tournament history. As we continue to select locations for our events in world class cities, we knew Miami had to be included in the rota, and the Blue Monster is a fan favourite and a perfect place to end our inaugural season.”

Remastered by Gil Hanse in 2014, the famed Blue Monster is one of the legendary courses in the United States having hosted professional elite events for 55 years. Stretching over 7600 yards, the course features

NEWS

a series of strategically placed deep bunkers, long flowing fairways, interesting undulating greens, deep Bermuda rough and a challenging assortment of water hazards – all of which combine for a course that requires both length and finesse to score well. The famous 18th hole is traditionally ranked as one of the most difficult by touring professionals.

Team golf has proven it has the ability to produce many of the game’s most exciting moments, and it is at the heart of LIV Golf’s structure. Each field is comprised of 48 players on 12 four-man teams and a truly global field with golfers invited from all tours around the world to test the new format. Each event will have teams comprised of different players determined by a draft the week of the event.

From war-torn Ukraine to the Leadbetter academy

By Neville Idour

A

remarkable story has emerged from the Russian genocide in Ukraine which starkly illustrates everything that is worst about humanity and what is best. Mark down the name of 15-year-old Ukrainian Mykhailo “Misha” Golod.

Golod landed with his mother Vita at Orlando airport in Florida on March 11.

From there he was transported to David Leadbetter’s golf academy at Champions Gate Resort.

But let us rewind to Ukraine and the horror of his life there prior to departure.

His story emerged after an interview with Jim Sciutto of the United States-based news broadcaster CNN which has many reporters in the war zones braving the ever present life threatening bombardment.

After the invasion began Golod and his family bunkered down in Kyiv hoping it would be short-lived. Golod told CNN that after almost two weeks the bombs were in their town so they had to leave although his parents would go back for his grandparents. Golod said “It felt like 50 explosions a day.”

His plight was circulated on the internet following his interview on CNN, another one in Golf Digest and a report in US News Center, which highlighted the

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family’s critical situation. This is where golf came in.

There are fewer than 4000 golfers in Ukraine and few courses. There will be fewer now and Golod’s home course was taken over by the Russian military for a base. Golod is one of the best young Ukrainian golfers.

Last year he was the first Ukrainian golfer to play in the US Junior Amateur in North Carolina. It was the visa he needed for that event which allowed him re-entry to the USA. So how did this come about?

The Golf Digest interview led to the golf community coming to the party in support of the youngster. Jim Nugent, a board member of the American Junior Golf Association, read the story and it “played on his soul”.

So he called Leadbetter who said “Let’s get him out of Ukraine and he can join my academy in Orlando. I will get him into school and he can begin a new life. All he wants to do is play golf.”

Leadbetter emailed the youngster and began planning Golod’s journey out of Ukraine.

Nugent arranged financial support from the United States Golf Association, the Country Club of North Carolina and started a fundraising internet page which raised $US35,000 in quick time which meant the world to Golod. A great example of a golfing community that cares.

So the journey began. The 8000km and 54-hour journey began in a car, crossing the border into Hungary for a flight from Budapest to London before catching a flight to Orlando. Leadbetter and his academy provided his accommodation and he spent the first few days acclimatising and arranging necessities for living in another country.

Unfortunately his mother, after helping him settle in, would return to Ukraine a few days later to be with his dad Oleg who had to remain under martial law because he is of fighting age (between 18 and 60).

Although Golod thinks his mother and grandparents will eventually travel to the US he has no idea when he will next see his father. He is grateful to feel safe but is devastated about his family in Ukraine.

He is thankful they all have access to internet, food and water so he can still have contact with them.

Golod condemned the Russian invasion after his arrival. “People should know the truth because of all the fake news out there. The whole country is being destroyed by Putin and it should not be happening in the middle of Europe.”

Living with Leadbetter’s support he will finish high school by virtual classes with his school in Ukraine then go to college in the US. The nice thing is every effort is being made to make his life in the US as

May 2022

enjoyable as possible.

Within three days of his arrival he was at TPC Sawgrass for the final day of The Players’ Championship where he met PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and some of golf’s best players.

The PGA had read Golod’s story and organised his trip and even allowed him to walk with some groups inside the ropes.

Golod said “It was the best day of my life.”

To cap it all off he got to play the course with a loaned set of clubs as his had not yet arrived.

As for his golf Leadbetter is impressed.

Having seen him swing he said: “This kid has real potential”.

Leadbetter thinks he has the skill to earn a financial scholarship for a US college. He played many events in 2021 and early 2022 in junior and some senior events in Ukraine and several other countries and recorded four wins and several top 10s.

Golod said: “I’m very thankful for everyone who has contributed to me being here and it is great that I can continue to pursue my academic and athletic goals.”

However the bottom line remains. It is not easy and very stressful having his whole family in war ravaged Ukraine. We can only wish him well and hope he is reunited with them soon.

13

Asian Tour event in England next month GOLF NEWS

T

he International Series has announced a new date and venue for International Series England which will now be staged at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort – one of the great golfing venues in the north of England.

The $US2 million tournament, the ninth event on the Asian Tour schedule and the second International Series event, will be played at the famous venue from June 2-5, paving the way for the Asian Tour to break new ground and sanction an event in the United Kingdom for the first time.

The International Series England was originally slated to be played at the Centurion Club during the second week of June, but it was moved one week earlier to accommodate the LIV Golf Invitational at Centurion. Importantly, the re-scheduling will give competitors the chance to qualify for what will likely be the most lucrative event of their careers.

The exemptions will be: * The top-three players from the cumulative International Series rankings, through Thailand and England, will gain starts at the LIV Golf Invitational * The top-two finishers in the International Series England not otherwise exempt will also play their way into the mega event * The top player on the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the time, along with the top two players from the 2020-21 final Order of Merit will also gain berths “This is a giant step forward for the Asian Tour and we are fortunate that the organisers have been able to accommodate the change in plans,” said Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive of the Asian Tour.

“The new date allows us to provide even greater rewards for the competitors. They are not only playing for the Asian

Tour order of merit, but they will now also able to play their way into a series of ultra-lucrative events throughout the year.

“The Asian Tour is currently enjoying a remarkable period of growth and as a consequence we are able to give our members the opportunity to travel and play in new parts of the world. And, of course, to be able to visit an area which such great golfing heritage is of special significance and meaning.”

Slaley Hall is located in the Northumberland countryside and is a short drive from Newcastle. Often described at the Augusta of the north, the club boasts two courses: The Hunting and The Priestman. The venue hosted a European Tour event, The Great North Open, from 1996 to 2002 with Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen all enjoying a victory there.

“Having the opportunity

METHVEN Westward Way

to be part of this innovative event is exceptionally exciting for The QHotels Collection,” said Keith Pickard, golf, health club and spa director for The QHotels Collection.

“We have a wealth of experience in hosting tournaments and are delighted that Slaley Hall has been chosen as the official host venue. We have been very privileged to host some of the world’s top stars over the years and we are looking forward to welcoming the new generation of golf talent to Slaley Hall,” he added.

The second half of the year will see International Series stops in Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia before heading to the Middle East and then culminating in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The International Series – new top-tier tournaments integrated with the Asian Tour schedule – was launched this year and will see 10 events played each year for the next

Exclusive Methven Golf Course Sections

decade.

“We are already breaking boundaries with The International Series as we make our second stop of the season in the UK – a first for the Asian Tour. It was our mission from the outset to grow the game globally, and I am proud to deliver on our promise,” said Greg Norman, chief executive of LIV Golf Investments.

“The opportunity and pathways that this presents for players on the Asian Tour – both from a financial and playing perspective – cannot be understated. I will be anxiously following along to see who will get the life changing invite into the LIV Golf event the following week,” added Norman.

LIV Golf Investments was formed with the purpose of holistically improving the health of professional golf on a truly global scale to help unlock the sports’ untapped worldwide potential.

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Brisbane tournament to open DP World Tour

By Neville Idour

G O L F T R AV E L

S

ignificant news for the Australasian Tour is that the 2022 Australian PGA Championship will be the opening event of the DP World Tour (the European Tour) for the 2022-23 season.

The event will again be played at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane from November 24-27 following

N

ot such good news for Australian and New Zealand professional golfers is that the 2022 Queensland Open will not be held this year.

The current home of the event is Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast but unfortunately with the venue and course undergoing a major re-development it simply would not be ready to hold this year’s event.

So the focus of Golf Australia will be

merchandise, great food and public bars.

Doesn’t that bring back memories of the early days of the New Zealand Open at The Hills and the extensive attractions of every kind on Main Street which occupied the driving range. No doubt many New Zealand golf fans will put the dates for Brisbane in their diaries for what should be a cracker.

on the 2023 event when the redevelopment will be complete.

Alternative venues were considered.

However, it was not feasible because of existing partnerships.

Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said: “We love

Pelican Waters as the venue and its owners have been so supportive. We are excited to see what the re-development brings and it makes sense to showcase the new venue at its best early in 2023.”

Golf continues to thrive in Great Britain

ew figures reveal golf participation in Great Britain and Ireland in 2021 remained strongly above pre-covid-19 pandemic levels.

Research led by The R&A together with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf demonstrates how the sport is still thriving despite competing leisure activities becoming available again.

Two new participation reports show that 5.3 million on course adult golfers – the second-highest number since monitoring began over 30 years ago – enjoyed playing on full length courses (nine or 18 holes) in Great Britain and Ireland in 2021. This includes a marginal increase in Ireland and a slight reduction in Great Britain.

Golf enjoyed a significant boom during the pandemic due to its ability to be played safely and proven benefits in boosting mental and physical health. The latest data shows that participation in golf is still well above the rates in the years prior to covid-19.

In Great Britain, the number of on-course adults began to gradually increase before covid-19, rising from 2.5 million in 2017 to three million in 2019, before surging to a peak of 5.2 million in 2020. The latest figures show that 4.8 million golfers played in 2021.

With less restrictions on play in 2021, the new figures also reveal that avid golfers more than doubled, there was an increase in female golfers and the use of driving

16

Cup and the richest prize pool on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Of course this is great news for both Australian and New Zealand professionals and we can expect to see many of them vying for spots in the field.

There will be a strong fan focus with a range of experiences and precincts for golf fans, families and partygoers.

This will include the TaylorMade party hole, a resident DJ, hospitality suites,

Queensland Open called off because of re-development

By Neville Idour

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the very successful event of last year.

That event was won by local player Jed Morgan, by a record 11 shots.

Morgan added his name to the list of former winners including Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and Cameron Smith.

The $A2 million prizemoney is expected to draw a strong international field to compete for the Joe Kirkwood

ranges and par three courses remained high.

Phil Anderton, chief development officer at The R&A, said: “It is extremely positive that the number of on course adult golfers remained so strong in Great Britain and Ireland last year.

“The vast majority of lapsed or non-golfers who took up golf during the pandemic have continued to play, with the sport remaining very popular in the use of full length courses, driving ranges and alternative golf venues in particular.

“Golfers are enjoying positive experiences of the sport, supported by a wide range of participation initiatives and communication around the benefits of the sport for physical and mental health. It is important to maintain this momentum and ensure golfers enjoy the sport at all levels.”

Both reports were produced by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS).

Key highlights from the 2021 Great Britain golf participation report: * At 4.8 million, total adult golfers on a full-length course (nine or 18 holes) remains considerably above the three million in 2019 pre-pandemic level, albeit down from 5.2 million in 2020 * Female golfer full course users increased to 34% of golfers (1.4 million to 1.6 million)

May 2022

* Avid golfers (who played more than 52 times) more than doubled from 149,000 to 339,000 * Over 3.5 million people used a driving range – the second highest figure of the last 20 years * Par-three course users rose from 27,000 to 41,000, similar to the figures between 2012-2016 * The average age of golfers was 41, the same as in 2020 * 15% of the population tried or started golf again in any on or off-course format because of the pandemic (in 2020 or 2021) Key highlights from the 2021 Ireland golf participation report: * Total adult golfers on a full-length course (nine or 18 hole) marginally increased from 540,000 to 543,000 * Female golfer full course users increased to 21% of golfers (70,000 to 111,000) * Core golfers (regular golfers who played 12-51 times and avid golfers who played more than 52 times) rose from 161,000 to 201,000 * 18 percent of the population tried or started golf again in any on or off-course format because of the pandemic (in 2020 or 2021), rising to 29 percent of those aged 15-24 The new participation data builds on recent SMS research which highlighted that golf rounds played rose for a fourth consecutive year in Great Britain in 2021.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

Arrangements secured for future US Opens at Pebble Beach G O L F T R AV E L

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uilding upon a nearly century-long relationship, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Pebble Beach in California have forged a landmark partnership that seeks to benefit the game of golf for generations to come.

As part of the announcement, Pebble Beach Golf Links will host four future US Opens (2027, 2032, 2037 and 2044) as well as four future US Women’s Opens, including its first one next year (2023, 2035, 2040 and 2048).

These additional championships fulfil a common goal to ensure that both men and women have the opportunity to compete at the highest level on this iconic course. In addition, for the first time, the US Senior Open and US Senior Women’s Open will be staged back-to-back at the same location in 2030, with the resort’s Spyglass Hill

Golf Course serving as the host site.

USGA chief executive Mike Whan said: “This relationship with Pebble Beach, long considered a national treasure, is a historic step forward for golf.

“In addition to elevating our Open championships, the USGA and Pebble Beach are committed to working together to ensure a more diverse, welcoming and accessible game. We couldn’t be more thankful for their collaboration and like-minded vision.”

David Stivers, chief executive, Pebble Beach Company, said: “We are honoured to deepen our long-standing partnership with the USGA, which will benefit the game of golf for years to come.

“We are proud that Pebble Beach Golf Links was the first public golf course to host a US Open in 1972, and that golfers around the world have the opportunity

US Opens through the years at Pebble Beach have matched the dramatic setting. In 1972, Jack Nicklaus hit the flagstick with a one-iron shot on number 17 to ensure victory; in 1982, Tom Watson denied Nicklaus a record-breaking fifth title with his pitch-in birdie on the same hole; in 1992, veteran Tom Kite rode a pitch-in birdie on number seven to a wind-buffeted win; in 2000, Tiger Woods authored the most dominant victory in Major-championship history in the 100th US Open; in 2010, Graeme McDowell outlasted a trio of Major champions, including Woods; and in 2019, Gary Woodland’s heroic three-wood second shot on number 14 helped him hold off Brooks Koepka’s bid for a third consecutive US Open title. The 2019 championship marked Pebble Beach’s 100th anniversary.

to play Pebble Beach and walk in the footsteps of champions. This partnership ensures that the legacy of championship golf on this historic course will continue long into the future and leave a lasting impact on the game.”

The long-term nature of the championship agreement allows the USGA and Pebble Beach Resorts to invest and collaborate in new and innovative ways to enhance the player, fan, partner and media experience.

The relationship between the USGA and Pebble Beach began in 1929 with the 33rd US Amateur Championship, and the resort has played host to 13 USGA championships during its first 100 years of existence, including six US Opens, five US Amateurs and two US Women’s Amateurs, with another 10 championships to come over the next 25 years.

A believe or not from Donald Trump

By Neville Idour

O

ne of those believe it or not Donald Trump episodes has emerged recently from the United States.

A photo of Trump showed him with Ernie Els, Ken Duke, Gene Sauers and Mike Goodes following a hole-in-one he claimed to have scored on his course in West Palm Beach in Florida.

18

He actually issued a release confirming it happened on the 181-yard seventh hole saying it was 100 percent true and that “these great tour players saw it before I did.”

He then claimed their swings were no better than his and because he is a very modest person wouldn’t say who won because he would be accused of bragging and he doesn’t like braggers.

However Trump stretches the feat by seven times in an interview with Piers Morgan who upset Trump initially with some historical disparaging comments made in the past.

This angered Trump who became menacing, according to Morgan who cunningly saved the interview saying “I would love to talk about your recent hole-in-one, as Ernie Els was raving about it.”

May 2022

That was like offering a child a big ice cream as Morgan asked if it was Trump’s first ace.

“No, I’ve had seven.”

Although thinking it implausible, Morgan was not going to question it given the atmosphere and simply congratulated the modest Trump on his “amazing achievement.” I guess all that is left is to wonder is if it is a “believe it or not” story.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

May 2022

19

Taking to the tee with the New Zealand Long Blacks G OL LOFN GE VDE RN ITV E

I

aking to the Tee with the New Zealand Long Blacks Nelson Golf Club welcomed the New Zealand Long Blacks and XDL competitors to the annual XDL South Island Championship over the weekend. Last year’s long lockdown in Auckland postponed the event from taking place so the 2021 title was held on Sunday 10th April just in time for the NEW season to start.

The Club has been working with our National Team of big drivers since 2020 just before the global pandemic hit.

The New Zealand Long Blacks owner Olna Ford has shown her commitment to the club through investing as Major Sponsor to the Nelson Pro Am since

2020 and looks to continue building her relationship with Nelson making this the destination of one of her biggest XDL events. The IGANZ North vs South Island Championship has been a feature on the sporting calendar since 2017 and marks history for the sport of Long Drive and with the New Zealand Long Blacks. The North Island Champion Sam Jones took to the tee vs South Island Champion Grieg Mooney, for the New Zealand title 2021, with a fierce playoff. IGANZ Golden Cap, Sam Jones took out the New Horizon XDL New Zealand Championship 2021 title driving a giant 318 metres against South Island Champion Mr Grieg Mooney, who drove 313 metres. Sam Jones is known as the 1st New Zealand Long Black and the 1st IGANZ Long Drive Champion 2017. The Masters division win went to New Zealand Long Blacks Captain and current North Island Champion, Paul

West who automatically named the New Horizon XDL (Masters) New Zealand Championship 2021 after winning the South Island title with a 304 metre drive against runner up Ben Crawford.

Phillis Meti, current North Island XDL Champion and Captain of the New Zealand Long Blacks (Women’s team) automatically took the New Horizon XDL (Women’s) New Zealand 2021 title after winning the South Island XDL Champs.

Phillis received a Queen’s Honour on February 17th and the New Zealand Long Blacks were nominated for a Halberg (team of the year) seen in media last December, so the team are making waves for the sport both Nationally and Internationally. IGANZ Xtreme Drivers League is set to bring more attention to the sport with a bigger National XDL Championship planned in 2022. The help of local sponsors will certainly get the ball rolling and with pandemic

restrictions lifting the players are eager to get into the swing of the 2022 season, starting this Easter weekend.

South Island XDL Championship 2021 Results; Men’s Open - Greig Mooney - Winner Nick Hanna - 2nd Sam Jones - 3rd Sam Jones - New Zealand XDL Men’s Open Champion 2021 Masters - Paul West - Winner Ben Crawford 2nd Ewen Milne - 3rd Paul West - New Zealand XDL Masters Champion 2021 Women’s - Phillis Meti -Winner Susan Rooney - 2nd Lily Broadbridge - 3rd Phillis Meti - New Zealand XDL Women’s Champion 2021 New Horizon XDL New Zealand Champion (Playoff) Sam Jones (North Island XDL Champion 2021 vs Grieg Mooney (South Island XDL Champion 2021) Winner and New Horizon 2021 New Zealand Champion - Sam Jones (318 meters)

North Island Champion and 2021 New Zealand XDL Champion Sam Jones with Phillis Meti MNZM

Paul West North, South and New Zealand XDL Champion 2021 + Captain of New Zealand Long Blacks

Phillis Meti (MNZM) New Zealand Women’s XDL Champion 2021 + New Zealand Long Blacks (Women’s Captain)

South Island Champion 2021 and New Zealand Long Black - Mr Grieg Mooney

T

A Good Friday for Long Drive

t was a real treat for the large crowd gathered at Walton Golf Club over Easter to witness the monster shots driven down the first fairway at the Inaugural Waikato Long Drive Championships.

The calm and sunny autumn conditions on the afternoon of the competition were perfect for the 40 contestants lining up to hit a winning drive. They were up against leading athletes in the sport of Long Drive and special guest participants, three times Long Drive World Champion Phillis Meti, NZ Long Drive Team Captain Paul West and members of the NZ Long Blacks team and Xtreme Drivers League, Alex Lunn and Greig Mooney.

The qualifying format for the Long Drive competition saw two entrants at a time tee up and hit six Volvik balls as far as possible within the allotted time of two minutes. For the drive to be counted, the ball must reach and run inside the grid, which was laid out 150 metres

from the tee. Then top ranked players within the division faced off with another set of shots.

A feature of this sport is the high pace intensity of the contest. It is a thrill for spectators and challengers alike to see the power and distance generated by the explosive speed of the club.

There were several outstanding shots launched onto the grid by many of the participants and congratulations were extended to all who took part, as they entertained and enthralled the gallery. Phillis Meti and Paul West were fine examples of this. Meti had a longest drive of 314 metres but was not up to her World Record breaking distance of 377 metres that she hit in April 2019 in Arizona.

Winner of the Women’s Open Division was Futures Waikato member Ing Iadpluem with 278 metres and runner-up was Kate Davidson from Walton with 228 metres. Winner of the Men’s Masters division was Ron Daley Jnr with 294

metres and runner-up David Sills with 282 metres.

In Men’s Open Division, Erroll Martinez-Sweeney from Walton made it into the quarter-finals with a credible 325 metre drive. Chris Charlton from Hamilton St Andrews made it through to the semi-finals with consistent 341 metre drives but failed to maintain this in the semi-final. The eventual winner was Greig Mooney with a best drive in the final round of 347 metres, although he had shot the longest drive of the competition in the semis with 351 metres. Runner-up was Alex Lunn from Morrinsville with a 334 metre drive in the final round.

Walton Golf Club are the first to host a Championship under the National Sports Organisation umbrella as Long Drive was officially recognised as a New Zealand sport in 2021 and look forward to seeing the regional Waikato winners making their mark at the 2022 NZ Long Drive Championships.

Women’s Winner Ing Iadpluem launching the winning shot.

World Champion Phillis Meti lines up in the qualifying round against Ryan Courtney.

First to tee up for the afternoon Alex Wood from Ngahinapouri and Taylor Hori from Taupo.

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GOLD COAST AND SUNSHINE COAST F E AT U R E

Tourism bodies state Kiwis preferred 4-5 of Australian destinations are in Queensland, including Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Book today with our specialist and trusted golf travel companies.

GOLF ENCOUNTERS – GOLD COAST AND SUNSHINE COAST HOLIDAYS AUSTRALIA IS OPEN!

Golf Encounters are really excited that they can host their golfing holidays in Queensland this year after a two year break! They have already seen increasing numbers of people wanting to travel overseas again, whether it be to visit family and friends, or just to have a long awaited holiday in warmer climes. And with the borders now open for good again, it gives us all the chance to escape from the New Zealand winter and enjoy the warmth of the Queensland sun.

Golf Encounters has a selection of 8, 14 or 28 night Queensland golfing holidays for you to choose from. They offer a choice of an 8 or 14 night golf holiday to Coolangatta in the last half of July, followed by a 14 night golf holiday on the Sunshine Coast in early August. For those

who want to escape for a month, a combined package of staying in both centres is also offered. These fully hosted packages ensure you have a hassle-free and relaxed time, staying in 1 or 2 bedroom self-catering accommodation based in Coolangatta or Mooloolaba. There are restaurants right outside your accommodation or full facilities in your apartment for those who wish to dine in. There are golf courses aplenty in these parts of Queensland and all of a great standard.

With 7 rounds over two weeks with never more than two rounds played on consecutive days, these holidays will allow you to enjoy a holiday, your golf and in the warmth of the winter Queensland climate.

For those who would prefer to stay nearer to home or wait until next year before travelling overseas, Golf Encoun-

ters is continuing to offer their Golf Getaways around New Zealand this Spring.

They will be visiting Canterbury and Nelson, along with a Marquee Course Getaway, covering both the North & South Island’s top courses. Getaways are normally based in a central hotel, include breakfast each day and include a day off from golfing mid-week so that you can explore the local area and visit attractions. These Getaways run consecutively in November, so clients have the opportunity to join more than one Getaway if they are looking for a longer break.

Whether you are ready to travel to Australia or to enjoy more golf in New Zealand, Golf Encounters has a great selection of fully hosted golfing holidays just for you – just go to www.golfencounters. co.nz for more information and book now!

Peter And Marion Cox - Golf Encounters

NOOSA SPRINGS – WHERE KIWIS COME TO PLAY

There’s a reason it’s called the Sunshine Coast.

The Queensland tourism region, with 300 days of sunshine each year and a superb coastline on which to enjoy them, has become a second home for thousands of Kiwi visitors.

About 70,000 New Zealanders visit the Sunshine Coast each year – many of them attracted by the direct Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Maroochydore that operate between July and October.

And, while they come for the weather, events and attractions, restaurants

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and shops, the laid back lifestyle and the friendly welcome, an increasing number of Kiwis are lured by the quality and accessibility of the Coast’s golf courses.

Golf tourism is one of the region’s fastest-growing sectors.

And the best of the courses is Noosa Springs, set amidst the stunning bushland of the Noosa hinterland, only five minutes from Noosa Heads.

Noosa Springs’ 18-hole championship layout, lush and green with manicured fairways and true greens, features consistently on the list of Australia’s top 100

golf courses and was built to be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities.

It is a joy to play – and, because of its network of cart paths, it can be played even on those rare days that rain does fall.

Hamish Robertson, a Kiwi who for years carved out a living playing golf on the Australian and New Zealand tours, loves it so much he landed a job at Noosa Springs as a teaching professional.

Noosa Springs is more than just a great golf course. Its attractions include a world class spa, tennis courts, a wellstocked golf shop, superb restaurant and bar overlooking the course, and a fitness centre.

There’s a range of superb apartment-style accommodation, befitting a resort that last year was named a finalist in the Queensland Hotels Association excellence awards.

The golf shop has become such a draw for fashion conscious golfers that women – and more than a few men – save up

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each year to splurge on the shop’s exclusive apparel and accessories during their Noosa Springs visit.

There’s so much to do at Noosa Springs that you never have to leave the property.

But if you do, Hastings St – one of the world’s most recognisable shopping strips – is just a short drive from the resort. So is Noosa’s famous surf beach, and the pristine Noosa national park, with its convenient walking paths and superb scenery.

Nearby, the world renowned Eumundi markets attract thousands of visitors each Wednesday and Saturday, and Steve Irwin’s famous Australia Zoo is just down the road at Beerwah.

All this less than four hours from Auckland. No wonder more Kiwis visit the Sunshine Coast each year than from any other nation. » www.noosasprings.com.au

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AUSTRALIA IS OPEN!

QUEENSLAND GOLF HOLIDAY

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JULY / AUG 2022

Now that the borders with Australia are open, the way is clear to escape the New Zealand winter for the warmer climes of Queensland.

We have 8, 14 & 28 night golf holiday options all lined up and ready for you to book. We also have a 6 night

COOLANGATTA GOLF HOLIDAY

Golf Retreat based at Noosa Springs Resort for you to hone your golfing skills.

JULY 2022

With our safe travel policy giving you confidence to travel again, there’s no reason why you can’t join us.

Our fully hosted packages ensure you have a hasslefree, fun and relaxed time when travelling with us.

You’ll find all the details on our website, including convenient online booking!

FREEPHONE NZ

SUNSHINE COAST GOLF HOLIDAY

0800 377 479 OR VISIT GOLFENCOUNTERS.CO.NZ

AUGUST 2022

FREEPHONE AUS

1800 377 479

GOLF RETREAT

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.

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AUGUST 2022

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F E AT U R E

SUNSHINE&GOLFING

The naturally refreshing SUNSHINE COAST, where you will experience a laid-back lifestyle centred around pristine beaches, freshwater rivers and lakes, subtropical forests and warm sunshine.

From the naturally stylish Noosa, to the family fun of Coolum, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Caloundra, to the cool and creative hinterland villages of Maleny, Montville and Mapleton.

Any destination you choose for your Sunshine Coast holiday will fill your body, mind and soul with an enduring sense of warmth. And the Golf is great too! So take your clubs and escape the Winter Blues.

PELICAN WATERS GOLF CLUB NOOSA’S ONLY NATURE RESERVE WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE ATTACHED The Noosa region, with its beautiful beaches, lush green hinterland, stunning coastal national park, pristine river, cosmopolitan lifestyle and lively calendar of events is one of the most popular beachside holiday locations in Australia.

Located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa is surrounded by ocean, lakes, river, national parks and a lush hinterland. But it’s more than just another beachside holiday spot. What makes Noosa special is its laidback atmosphere and year-round warm and sunny climate, combined with award-winning restaurants and cafes, a great choice of accommodation and a diverse range of activities and adventures for everyone.

There is also a busy calendar of events that celebrate the best in surfing, food, sports, music, theatre, creativity and more. Noosa offers a diverse and wonderful experience for everyone who visits.

The region is renowned for its award-winning restaurants and cafes, with an abundance of fresh, local and delectable produce prepared by dedicated and experienced chefs. From casual, alfresco dining and first-class restaurants to pubs and cafes, and produce markets, a culinary experience is guaranteed on any visit.

If you love nature and the outdoors, Noosa is a perfect destination with unspoilt beaches, stunning national parks, excellent fishing and trails that traverse the hinterland and are suitable for walking, horse-riding and mountain biking.

Indulge in diving, surfing, stand-up pad-

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dle boarding, golf, fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, kite-surfing and more.

For those wanting a more relaxed and chilled-out experience Noosa is also home to many superb day spas and health retreats.

Nestled in this paradise you’ll find picturesque Noosa Golf Club. Enjoy the beauty of this 18-hole championship course in a natural parkland setting with an abundance of local wildlife at your side. Families of kangaroos laze in the sun and koalas can be spotted snoozing in the trees. Unlike players, the koalas actually like being in the trees! The course is said to be very forgiving with 6000+ metres of easy walking and wide fairways. Still, it’s no pushover and can be a challenge to golfers of all levels.

After playing 18, the perfect place for relaxing with friends is at the clubhouse.

The 19th hole offers a fine bistro and relaxing deck to take in the superb view over the ninth and 18th holes.

Noosa Golf Club celebrates the camaraderie of golf with the best value green fees, membership and hire charges on the Sunshine Coast. Golfing great or just a beginner, we warmly welcome you to our club.

Noosa is just 1½ hours from Brisbane’s international and domestic airports, or just 30 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport which has daily flights from Australian capital cities and direct flights from New Zealand.

For further information visit www.noosagolf.com.au and for accommodation www.visitnoosa.com.au

Located just one hour north of Brisbane in the stunning surrounds of Golden Beach, it was the first Greg Norman-designed course on the Sunshine Coast.

Open to the public and designed to rank among the premier courses (ranked No.1 on the Sunshine Coast and No.16 in the top 100 public access courses in Australia, according to Golf Australia Magazine), this spectacular 18-hole, 6359m championship course fittingly boasts one of the finest clubhouses and practice facilities in Australia. Pelican Waters features an impressive driving range, practice putting and chipping greens, and a well equipped shop. Find out more at: » www.pelicangolf.com.au

HEADLAND GOLF CLUB

line, and within easy reach of Brisbane, Headland provides exceptional golf and hospitality experiences to members and visitors alike. With its rolling and treelined fairways and pure greens, the historic par-72 championship course offers a layout to challenge the best of players, while providing a fair and invigorating test for golfers of all abilities. It is this combination of challenge and enjoyment that makes Headland a top-rated golf course and must-do for visiting golfers.

The traditional clubhouse experience is equally as memorable, with popular restaurant Vista@Headland offering excellent food and stunning views in a relaxed dining experience. Open for lunch 7 days a week, and Friday night’s for a special a-la-carte menu, you can enjoy a great day out at Headland Golf Club. The idyllic location also provides the perfect setting for a wedding or function. For more information or to make a booking please call +617 5444 5800 or email golf@headlandgolfclub.com.au. » www.headlandgolfclub.com.au

TWIN WATERS GOLF CLUB The course is internationally recognised as one of the top six resort courses in Australia and members naturally consider it the best on the Sunshine Coast.

The 18-hole, par 72 championship course was designed by five-times British Open champion Peter Thomson and partner Mike Wolveridge.

The stunning setting and challenging layout combine to produce an enjoyable game of golf for all players. Visit their website for full details: » www.twinwatersgolfclub.com.au

Located in the heart of Queensland’s magnificent Sunshine Coast, Headland Golf Club is the region’s premier golf club and home to an outstanding 18-hole championship course. Beautifully positioned on the hills of Buderim, overlooking the spectacular Sunshine Coast coast-

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ABOVE PAR GOLF TOURS

F E AT U R E

ABOVE PAR GOLF TOURS, one of the region’s leading tour operators, is owned by a fellow Kiwi, Mike Cox. The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are undoubtedly the favourite winter golf destinations for Kiwis, and having spent 20 years in the depths of Southland, Mike can fully understand why.

“Our aim is to simplify your holiday by taking over all of the accommodation, golf and transport bookings on your behalf, and at the same time using our bulk buying power to provide the package cheaper than you can do it yourself – a classic win-win situation,’’ he said.

“Packages are tailormade for your individual requirements with a large selection of accommodation and courses available to suit any budget.’’

The company offers outstanding value packages for small and large groups, and provides a comprehensive website with slideshows of all golf courses.

The website also has a unique online quote system which means you can go on-line 24 hours a day, seven days a week and construct your own dream holiday from a wide range of accommodation, resort courses, hire cars or daily transfers.

Once the selections are made, a no-obligation quote is immediately emailed, saving hours of time and money contacting Australia.

Mike’s sales staff then work on a oneto-one basis with you to ensure a truly memorable holiday for all.

For full information visit: » www.abovepargolf.com.au or call Mike on 0061 7 5522 9055

PERIGIAN GOLF COURSE AND DRIVING RANGE Peregian Golf Course and Driving Range: a premier pay-to-play golf venue on the Sunshine Coast.

Located just 7 minutes north of Coolum and 12 minutes south of Noosa, the Peregian Golf Course is a highly ranked park-land style golf course open to the public 7 days a week. We have relaxed dress regulations to ensure that all golfers and visitors are made to feel welcome

at the course and driving range. Families and juniors are encouraged to enjoy the wonderful facilities including the Par Bar where you can relax and watch the sports channels provided.

Whether you’re a keen golfer, casual golfer or not even a golfer at all, have a browse through our website and see what your piece of Peregian will be.

» www.peregiangolf.com.au

PACIFIC HARBOUR GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Conveniently located in the Moreton Bay region between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, is the home of Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club at Bribie Island. Surrounded by pristine national parks, and inhabited by plenty of local wildlife, this course is one that you’ll want to add to your bucket list!

Operating since 2006 and open to the public, we offer social play 7 days a week and visitors are welcome to play in our competitions. The course boasts lush green fairways, responsive fast paced greens, challenging par-3s, lengthy par4s and some rewarding par-5s for golfers of all levels. With an aquatic driving range, chipping area, practice green and spectacular views of natural surrounds, this course is a must-see destination. You will not regret coming out and testing your golfing skills on this beautiful hidden treasure!

Not only does the club boast a stunning course, the beautiful clubhouse was designed so that it appears to be floating, offering a scenic view over the course from The Deck Bistro, with lunch available 7 days a week from 11am and dinner Friday and Saturday evenings. » www.pacificharbourgolf.com.au

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Create Your Own Dream Holiday Online GOLD COAST • SUNSHINE COAST

LINKS HOPE ISLAND | SANCTUARY COVE | LAKELANDS | BROOKWATER | GLADES | PALMER COOLUM | NOOSA SPRINGS | TWIN WATERS | PELICAN WATERS AND MANY MORE

INSTANT ONLINE QUOTES 24/7 Let us arrange all your discounted accommodation, golf and transport needs

For INSTANT QUOTES & unbeatable deals visit www.abovepargolf.com.au

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M a y 2 0 2 2• Email: michael@abovepargolf.com.au 27 Tel: +61 7 5522 9055

GOLD COAST GOLFING

It’s time to escape the cold weather and take a trip abroad to Australia’s sunshine state! With plenty of courses on offer, a Gold Coast golfing holiday might just be your perfect paradise.

F E AT U R E commencing their back nine on the challenging 10th tee with water all up the left hand side of the fairway.

Neat dress code is required at all times with strictly no denim or cargo pants permitted, collared shirt and enclosed footwear is a must while on course.

For more information please contact us on: proshop@lakelandsgolfclub.com. au or call 011 61 7 5510 6507

LAKELANDS GOLF CLUB » Travel Info: From Broadbeach 10 minutes » From Surfers Paradise 15 minutes » Website www.lakelandsgolfclub.com.au

SITUATED in the heart of the Gold Coast, Lakelands Golf Club is Jack Nicklaus’ first signature course designed in Australia. Lakelands Golf Club combines the traditions of Golf and Hospitality by providing its members, guests and visitors with the environment, facilities and services that satisfy their Golf, social and business needs and interests. Opened on 17th February 1997, Lakelands Golf Club had gained a reputation for “The Best Serving the Best” providing standards and facilities second to none on the Gold Coast. Multiple tee positions make the course user friendly and yet challenging, whatever the standard of golf you play.

Nicklaus has used bunkering extensively in his strategic design and water features on many of the course’s 18 holes.

With tee times available to the public every day at Lakelands Golf Club, it is a must to play this golf course which has all of the tell tale signs you would expect of Jack Nicklaus designed Golf Course which is situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, less than 10 minutes from Broadbeach and 15 minutes from Surfers Paradise.

Lakelands also has full locker room facilities, Golf Shop, Signature Restaurant and Bar, a full length driving range, PGA certified coaches available each day, along with all the other facilities you would expect a facility of this reputation to have.

Whether you are here for a trip away with good friends, or on a holiday, Lakelands Golf Club is a course you must visit for a game on our beautifully presented course, making sure to enjoy a drink on the deck while overlooking those behind finishing out on the 18th green, or

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LINKS HOPE ISLAND GOLF COURSE » Holes: 18 Par: 72 Metres: 6,457 » Designer: Peter Thomson » Ranking: 6th best Public Access Course in Australia 2005 (#6 in 2004) » Course Facilities: Practice Range, Putting Green, Club hire Locker Room, On Course refreshments, Golf Academy » Travel Info: From Brisbane 50mins » From Broadbeach 35mins » From Surfers Paradise 30mins » Website: www.hir.com.au

LINKS HOPE ISLAND is a gem of an 18 hole traditional “links” style championship course, designed by five times British Open champion Peter Thomson and reminiscent of the great courses of Britain and Ireland. Challenging, yet very approachable, the two nines unfold with beauty and intrigue ensuring those that appreciate golf presented at its best leave with an unforgettable experience and a strong desire to return again and again. Forget about trying to play Links Hope Island like all the standard format resort courses, this one deserves special skill and attention. Bump and run golf is a great challenge for those not accustomed to it, and we guarantee you will come away with renewed admiration for how the poms play their golf. A fantastic opportunity to sample good old fashioned British links golf without the 20 hour plane ride! Don’t miss it.

Links Hope Island, the Gold Coast’s

No.1 Golf Course*, is perfectly located, central to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We invite you to experience our championship golf course and first class clubhouse facilities.

Contact Links Hope Island for bookings or further information on: Golf I Membership Options I Events I Weddings I Links Restaurant Phone 07 5530 9000 or email events@linkshopeisland.com.au With its 5-Star clubhouse and practice facilities and consistent rankings as one of Australia’s top ten resort courses, Links Hope Island is the ultimate destination for corporate and social golf, functions, glamorous events or weddings.

There are also a variety of membership options available from full membership, to corporate or 5 day options. Contact us today to find out more.

residential development. A natural water-course featuring lakes, ponds, creeks and native wildlife completes a rare golf course environment.

The front nine holes are particularly striking as the trees envelope you as you move around, and the final two holes are a great way to finish the round.

Consistently ranked in the top resort courses in the country, the service before and after you play is superb, and we feel certain you will enjoy your day.

PALMER COLONIAL GOLF COURSE

PALMER GOLD COAST GOLF COURSE (FORMERLY ROBINA WOODS) » Holes: 18 Par: 71 Metres: 6,078 » Designer: Graham Marsh & Ross Watson » Course Facilities: Practice Range, Club Hire, Locker » Room, Bar, Restaurant, On Course Refreshments, Golf Academy » Travel Info: From Brisbane 60mins » From Broadbeach 10mins » From Surfers Paradise 15mins » Website: www.palmergoldcoast.com.au

CARVED out of 65 hectares of native woodlands, with fairways lined by towering gum trees, this unique layout is unlike any other resort course on the Gold Coast. Palmer Gold Coast (formerly Robina Woods) possesses maturity well beyond its years, and has developed a reputation as one of Queensland’s best-loved resort courses. The rolling fairways, manicured greens, and towering eucalyptus trees are strikingly beautiful and blend harmoniously with the surrounding

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» Holes: 18 Par: 72 Metres: 6,424 » Designer: Mitsuaki Kobyashi » Course Facilities: Practice Range, Putting Green, Club » hire, Locker Room, On Course Refreshments, Restaurant » Travel Info: From Brisbane 60mins » From Broadbeach 10mins » From Surfers Paradise 15mins » Website: www.palmercolonial.com.au

A FARMLAND once home to cows, weeds and bush has been transformed into a beautifully groomed course with lush fairways and meticulously manicured greens. The championship resort layout meanders its way through 39 hectares of towering eucalyptus, picturesque lakes and serene waterways.

Flowering native and exotic trees and plants abound, while ornate bridges cross watercourses in which luxuriant lilies jostle for space The distinguishing feature of the course is the clubhouse, with its Colonial Queenslander design.

You feel like you have drifted back in time as you sit down to that first thirst quenching drink on the wide, breeze-catching Queenslander verandahs which surround the building and offer panoramic views over the golf course and Gold Coast hinterland. Palmer Colonial is well worth the visit, and great value for money. >>

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F E AT U R E

PARADISE GOLF TOURS

P SANCTUARY COVE –THE PALMS » » » » » » »

Holes: 18 Par: 70 Metres: 5,904 Designer: Ross Watson Travel Info: From Brisbane 55mins From Broadbeach 35mins From Surfers Paradise 30mins Website: www.sanctuarycovegolfclub. com.au

THE Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove is another masterpiece from renowned Golf Course architect Ross Watson. With gently undulating fairways dissecting critically placed bunkers, it offers a wonderful challenge for all golfers.

With a par of 70, it has a mixture of long and shorter holes, with some par 3 holes that are sure to attract critical acclaim. Visually it has that links style appeal, and the more golfers play it they will appreciate its strategic qualities. A great golfing experience!

lometres of golf cart paths around the fairways. Palm Meadows has a fleet of 72 Club Car Electric Golf Carts with wet weather covers.

The challenging 350 hectare course was designed by leading Australian golfer Graham Marsh. Par 72 measures 6319 metres off the championship tees.

Water comes into play on 14 holes and there are 82 sand bunkers.

The first hole is recognised as one of the world’s most challenging opening holes. Water runs the length of the hole on the left and the world famous Bamboo Curtain forms a barrier to the right.

Palm Meadows’ signature hole is the world famous 18th; it measures 523 metres from the championship tees.

Players accept the challenge and decide how much of the right dogleg they want to cut off. American Golf Digest rated Palm Meadows 18th in the world’s top 500 golf holes.

Palm Meadows Golf Course is a public course with limited memberships.

All golfers may enjoy the facilities of the course, clubhouse and Lakeview Restaurant.

ARADISE GOLF TOURS is the longest-established specialist Golf Tour company on the Gold Coast (since 1989), which means that you are dealing with a very reputable and experienced company.

Over the years, Paradise Golf Tours has built excellent relationships with the Gold Coast’s premier resort courses and this means they can usually secure your preferred tee-time on all courses, on any day.

Because of their buying power, they have access to significant discounts at a huge choice of accommodation venues as well as all golf courses – discounts which are passed on to their clients ensuring that Paradise Golf Tours provides excellent value with lower prices than can be obtained by going direct.

Let Paradise Golf Tours organise your

next group trip to the Gold Coast and you too could be playing on exclusive and private renowned courses such as Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove Pines, Sanctuary Cove Palms, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Lakelands, the Greg Norman-designed Glades or Brookwater, the home of the Australian PGA – Royal Pines, Arundel Hills and many others too.

With a modern fleet of buses to provide transfers throughout your stay and a myriad of choices for accommodation, it’s no wonder they say: “We’ll cross all the tee’s for you !”

Begin your trip planning right now by going to: www.paradisegolftours.com.au and click on the red “GET A QUOTE” button, or email them at : info@paradisegolftours.com.au or just call on 0402 049 868 right now – it’s really that easy to organise a golf trip for any number of golfers from 2 to 100 or more.

PALM MEADOWS GOLF COURSE » Par: 72 Metres: 6319 » Travel Info: From Broadbeach 5 minutes » From Surfers Paradise 10 muntes » 18 Holes Par 72 measures 6319 metres » Designer Greg Norman » Website: www.palmmeadows.com.au/

PALM MEADOWS Golf Course at Carrara on the Gold Coast is centrally located within 10 minutes drive of Surfers Paradise and five minutes from Broadbeach. Palm Meadows welcomes golfers of all standards. There are no reserved tee times and patrons may utilise all facilities including the clubhouse, function rooms and Lakeview Restaurant.

The all weather golf course has 11 ki-

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THE GLADES GOLF COURSE » par 72, 7264 metre » Website: www.glades.com.au

THE GLADES GOLF CLUB boasts the reputation as one of Australia’s most prestigious resort golf courses and is located right here on the Gold Coast. Designed by champion Australian golfing icon, Greg Norman, the course is typical of his trademark aggressive layouts offering golfers a challenging round of golf within visually stunning surrounds.

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GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND WHANGAROA GOLF CLUB - NEWS AND RESULTS

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The Course for Everyone

Pay $795 to play golf through to 28 February 2023

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May 2022

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WAIKATO 2022 WAIKATO HANDICAP STROKEPLAY WINNERS - HAURAKI

The new 2022 Waikato Handicap Strokeplay winners from Hauraki Golf Club. Played recently - Team members: Jon Stammers, Bryce O’Keefe, Martin Mikaere, Siosaia Pomana.

Hauraki took the victory on a very hot day at Waikare Golf Club.

WAIKATO WIN THE 2022 NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL WOMEN’S MASTER’S

being Jill Morgan with 132 points, Pellow with 128, Archer 122 and Stevenson with 116. Team points a total of 383.

HAWKE’S BAY HAWKES BAY GOLF CLUB BUSINESS WINNERS

Congratulations to the NW Flaxmere 2022/1 Business House winners, DNT Contractors who held out the reining champs, Team Pete Scott recently.

Hawkes Bay Golf Club thanked the sponsor, New World Flaxmere, Chris Hart. The continued support from this great sponsor is greatly appreciated by the club.

Waikato Win the 2022 New Zealand National Women’s Master’s For the forth time in the history of this event the Russell Grace Trophy returns to the Waikato. The team of four, Jill Morgan, Robyn Pellow, Michelle Archer and Sian Stevenson have won the 30th Women’s Masters!

The event played recently.

The Waikato team players all contributed in some round with the top scorer

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MANAWATU-WHANGANUI SHAND SALVER COMES DOWN TO THE LAST GAME, WHILE ONE TEAM RUNS AWAY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT QUADRANGULAR

Summer hung on for another day at Marton Golf Club with temperatures topping out at 27 degrees, some of the golf on the course matched the temperature.

The event played recently.

The Wellington Development teams eased away to win the Quadrangular. in the morning against Hawkes Bay, they won 7 1/2 - 2 1/2 and 9 - 1 in the afternoon round against Manawatu Wanganui. The team went through the event undefeated. Taranaki finished runner up.

Taranaki put themselves in a prime po-

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sition to win the Shand Salver defeated defending champions Manawatu Wanganui 3 -1 in the morning round, while the Hawkes Bay and Wellington match finished all square. That put Taranaki on 4 points with Hawkes Bay the only team able to catch them on two points, and both teams playing each other in the afternoon. Hawkes Bay was not going to go down easily and going to the last remaining match had sown up the two points for winning the tie and also pulled level on total matches. The last match tipped Taranaki’s way for them to win the Shand Salver by half a match.

Many of the player’s focus now moves to the Manawatu Wanganui Age Group Championships starting on Thursday morning at Rangitikei Golf Club.

Shand Salver Quad

Manawatu Wanganyui vs Taranaki (Manawatu Wanagnui names first) Fred McVerry lost to James Smithson 5/4 Sera Raj lost to Brodie Ferguson 7/6 Denzil Viper-Tatana defeated Liam Harvey 5/4 Remy Early lost to Jac Van Prehen 4/3 Wellington vs Hawkes Bay (Wellington names first) Jamie Frew defeated Jared Lines 5/4 Dominic Hazeldine defeated Sach Pickering 7/5 Alec Prentice lost to Reuben Harris 3/2 Harry Ward lost to Zack Swanwick 3/2 Wellington v Manawatu Wanganui (Wellington names first) Jamie Frew defeated Fred McVerrt 1 Up Dominic Hazeldine defeated Sera Raj 6/4

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Alec Prentice defeated Denzil Viper-Tatana 2/1 Harry Ward defeated Remy Early 4/3 Hawkes Bay vs Taranaki (Hawkes Bay names first) Jared Lines defeated James Smithson 1 Up Sacha Pickering halved with Brodie Ferguson Reuben Harris lost to Liam Harvey 1 Down Zack Swanwick defeated Jack Van Prehn 4/3 Final Standings 1. Taranaki 2. Hawkes Bay 3. Wellington 4. Manawatu Wanganui Development Quadrangular Manawatu Wanganui vs Taranaki

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(Manawatu Wanganui names first) Zara Lynch defeated Daylen McArthur 3/2 Ryan Block lost to Olly Campbell 4/2 Theo Santos lost to Jackson Moorhead 5/3 Tori Maraku lost to Jamie Anderson 2/1 Ryan Bremner defeated Brayden Hills 3/2 Jack Clarke halved with Harlum Crean-Wilson Liam Bremner defeated Harrison downs 2/1 Diego Rosson halved with Alex Brooke Bradley Morgan lost to Dillin Plimmer 5/4 Jerome Robinson lost to Kingston Taylor-Voyle 6/5 Wellington vs Hawkes bay (Wellington names first)

Toaiva Faafia defeated Leo Huata 2 up Sam Jiang lost to Sean hartley 7/6 Hugo Sidford halved with Kaden Diehl John Son defeated William Rowlings 7/6 Victoria Faafia defeated Millie Adsett 5/4 Teisa Mania-Vaka defeated Emmanuel Uili-Vassili 8/7 Sissy Pelayo defeated Blair Hastie 4/2 Caleb Tiatua defeated George Bidwell 3/2 Lane Jiang defeated Saul Barker 4/3 Riley Moy lost to Cordell Henare 2/1 Wellington vs Manawatu Wanganui (Wellington names first) Toaiva Faafia defeated Zara Lynch 4/3 Sam Jiang defeated Ryan Block 2 Up Hugo Sidford defeated Theo Santos 4/2 John Son defeated Tori Maraku 5/4 Victoria Faafia defeated Ryan Bremner

2 Up Teisa Mania-Vaka defeated Jack Clarke 4/3 Sissy Pelayo lost to Liam Bremner 2/1 Caleb Tiatua defeated Diego Rosson 4/3 Lane Jiang defeated Bradley Morgan 5/4 Riley Moy defeated Jerome Robinson 5/4 Hawkes Bay vs Taranaki (Hawkes Bay names first) Leo Huata lost to Daylen McArthur 2/1 Sean Hartley lost to Olly Campbell 8/7 Kaden Diehl lost to Jackson Moorhead 2/1 William Rowlings defeated Jamie Anderson 5/4 Millie Adsett halved with Brayden Hills Emmanuel Uili-Vassili lost to Harlum

Crean-Wilson 8/7 Blair Hastie lost to Harrison Downs 2 Down George Bidwell lost to Alex Brooke 5/4 Saul Baker lost to Dillin Plimmer 2/1 Cordell Henare lost to Kingston Taylor-Voyle 1 Down Final Standings 1. Wellington 2. Taranaki 3. Hawkes Bay 4. Manawatu Wanganui

WELLINGTON TITAHI BAY GOLF CLUB - THE WHITIREIA POU WHENUA WINNERS

Titahi Bay Golf Club -the Whitireia Pou Whenua winners: Te Rongopai Clay with a gross 74, and John Sadlier, gross 73. Ka tino pai korua!

CANTERBURY

04 563 8558 | office@manorparkgolf.co.nz | manorpark.golf.co.nz

WAIMAIRI BEACH METRO A & B CHAMPIONS

It was great day out for Waimairi Beach Golf Club at Coringa Golf Club where the Metro A and B Finals were played in fine conditions and the course in great order.

The event was player earlier in April.

In a first for the Waimairi Beach Golf Club both their Metro A and B teams won their respective Finals. In Metro A Waimairi Beach’s team (pictured above) of Steve Priest, Grant Bunting, Uinisoni Saafi, Gary Eyre, Craig Prior, Craig Allsopp, Dave Smith and Lloyd Dungey defeated McLeans Island 5-3.

In the Metro B Final between Waimairi Beach and Russley, the teams finished 4-4 at the end of 18 Holes before Waimairi Beach’s No.1 Keith Stewart won on the first play-off hole to make it a rare double for the club. The team of Keith, Jason O’Donoghue, Sam Purvis, Dylan Meta, Noel Stewart, Phil Mountford, Warren Benseman and Ray Jack are pictured left.

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Both finals were closely fought battles with four matches in Metro A and three matches in the Metro B Finals decided on the final hole.

TEMPLETON GO BACK-TO-BACK IN PRESIDENTS INTERCLUB

Sunday 3 April saw all 14 Presidents teams competing at Clearwater Golf Club. Overcast conditions at first turned into a great day for golf. With four clubs in contention for the Presidents Cup, the play turned out to be as bright as the conditions.

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The day started with both Templeton and Russley on the same match points in the lead. On tiebreak, half a game advantage, had Templeton in first. Close behind these two were Waitikiri and Clearwater.

The key matches were Templeton vs Coringa, Russley vs Clearwater and Waitikiri vs Bottle Lake. There were tense individual games with the results often settled on the very last green. Team Managers stressing over each shot. Drama saw close, but friendly competition.

Waitikiri vs Bottle Lake came down to the last putt on the last green giving Waitikiri a 5-3 win over their neighbours.

Russley vs Clearwater also was settled on the 18th sharing a draw, but a close win

by Templeton 4.5-3.5 over Coringa meant Templeton held on to win the competition overall.

Champions of the Presidents Competition Templeton - 20pts, 61 games (also last year’s Champions) Runner-Up Waitikiri - 19pts, 62 games Third Russley - 19pts, 60 games

KAITUNA HOLD “NIGHT FLYER” TWILIGHT TOURNAMENT

By club members Ian Harvey and Peter Miller

Brent Davies, Waitikiri (pictured left with Clearwater’s Norm Bland) took out the MVP award with his match winning putt to give his team the win over Bottle Lake. Congratulations to Brent for a great season long performance, with 10 wins from 13 matches.

Thanks to Aiden and the Clearwater team for ensuring that all of the visitors had a great day.

Thanks to all the clubs and players who took part, provided their courses and supported those players across this season. The sprit in which all players and clubs took part, regardless of results, win or lose, is what our sport is all about. To quote one of my golf mentors: “Golf is more than Golf”.

May 2022

Kaituna Golf Club held a unique golf tournament on Friday 1 April using “night flyer” glowing golf balls.

With daylight saving ending, and darkness descending early, nine holes were played from 5pm followed by supper. By then it was dark enough to have a par-3 men’s and women’s “champagne” shootout using “Night Flyer” golf balls. The flag and edge of the greens were identified by special glow sticks, and the tee box lit up with a car’s lights.

Hitting the “night flyer” golf balls was a unique experience for all, and lots of fun was had as the balls flew through the air like tracer bullets. Nobody made par on the 145m (men’s) or 125m (women’s) hole, but winners were found using handicap ratings and/or a countback to the nine hole twilight competition.

The club is now contemplating a nine hole mid-winter “Night Flyer” evening tournament, and, with the popularity of the twilight games, a once a month 3pm nine hole round, teeing off at 3pm.

Points to note - the balls are lit by striking them firmly by hand on the club face. They then remain glowing for ten minutes. The balls can be seen from over 200m and are readily located in the rough, as they produce an observable halo (especially amongst the tussocks at Kaituna). Every time the ball is struck, it re-sets the time for another ten minutes.

As this was the first attempt at such a competition, there were a few refinements that could be made, such as all competitors using head lamps and reflective tape being applied to the base of the flag sticks.

Check out the balls at www.nightflyer. com

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OTAGO/SOUTHLAND SEB KYLE AND NONA NOVACEK WERE THE WINNERS OF THE OTAGO AGE GROUP CHAMPS HELD AT TAIERI LAKES

By Mahal Pearce Seb Kyle and Noah Novacek were the winners of the Otago Age Group Champs held at Taieri Lakes recently.

Players battled heavy rain late in there rounds to make things interesting.

In the U19 Section Seb Kyle held his game together best with a round of 74 to win over Lewis Harper 78, Baxter Meder 3rd with 79.

Meder was pipped on count back by Isaac Hobbs for the Nett.

Central Otago’s Noah Novacek had to dig deep to win the U16 section with round of 76, prevailing by 2 over Dunedin’s Kairangi Koni 78.

Anahera Koni had to best round in the U13 section with a pleasing round of 81 and 34 points But not quite enough to win the section, that went to young Cory Holland from Clinton GC with 37 points on count back from Wanaka’s Raphael Anderson great effort considering they may have never played in rain like that.

GOLF SOUTHLAND WOMEN’S SENIOR TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Group winners of the Cullen Cup from the left, Nikki Hume (Winton), Ann Carran (Gore) and Monica Hansen (Wanaka) all finished on a Nett 6.

1st Monica Hansen 69 2nd Judy Lloyd 76 3rd Sharon Irwin 4th Nola Hardy 79 Stableford 1st Tina Van Engelen 37 2nd Dot Walker 33 3rd Verra Kerr 29 4th Sylvia McLeod 28 Longest Putt Silver – Beth Lindsay Bronze 1 – Lenore Harvey Bronze 2 – Tina Van Engelen Twos – Lynley Burgess Trophies Riversdale Cup 60+ Stableford Monica Handen 39 60+ Net Cup Ann Carran 69 Mary Webb Cup 70+ Stableford Tina Van Engelen 37 Mc Clean Salver 70+ Nett Lynley Burgess 71 Rae Wilson Trophy 80+ Nett Nola Hardy 79 Cullen Cup (Best nett over field) Nikki Hume, Ann Carran, Monica Hansen

1st Division (Silver) Nett 1st Nikki Hume 69 2nd Sandra Speden 72 3rd Robyn Boniface 75 4th Lorraine Froger c-b79 Stableford 1st Lynley Burgess 37 2nd Pam McLeod 33 3rd Sheree Hemi 32 4th Hoana Ayto 29 2nd Division Bronze 2 Nett 1st Ann Carran 69 2nd Lenore Harvey 69 3rd Lindsay Stephenson 75 4th Paddy Craig 79 5th Prescilla Riddall 80 c-b Stableford 1st Sharon Withers 34 2nd Joanne Purdue 33 3rd Julieanne Mexted 31 4th Sharon Faul 31 5th Wendy Wahren 29 Division 3 Bronze 2 Nett

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KAWERAU GOLF & SQUASH CLUB

54-Hole Men’s Open

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