Golfer Pacific NZ – August 2022

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Cameron Smith’s brilliant final round secures victory at St Andrews

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EDITORIAL

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

What’s the best format for handicap matchplay?

W

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

hen we play handicap matchplay at our golf club we always make it that the lowest handicapper gives all the shots.

In other words if player A is on a 10 handicap and player B is on a 15 handicap, then player B receives five shots.

In this instance player B receives those five shots on holes with a stroke index of 1-5.

My question is why should those five shots be on the hardest holes of the golf course?

Let me simplify this further.

Let’s say player A is on a 14 handicap and player B is on 15.

In this instance player B receives just one shot and that will be on the stroke one hole.

My question is why should player A concede a shot on the supposedly hardest hole on the course. Both players are unlikely to par the hole but let’s say player A remarkably does par it.

But in this case he only gets a half because player B scored a bogey with a shot. Is that fair?

The answer to that question is that golf is not played over one hole. It is played over 18 holes and a lot can happen in that time.

But I come back to my question why do we play it that the lowest handicapper gives all the

shots?

When I have played in Australia with Australians they have always played best nett or best stableford which are basically the same.

Let me simplify this further.

Let’s say player A is on a 14 handicap and player B is on 15.

In this instance player A receives one shot on holes with a stroke rating of 1-14. Player B receives a shot on holes with a stroke rating of 1-15.

In this instance player B will receive his/her extra shot on the hole with a stroke rating of 15. Is that fair?

The answer to that question is golf is not played over one hole.

It is played over 18 holes and a lot can happen in that time.

I think, however, I am more at ease at conceding a shot on an easier hole rather than the course’s hardest hole.

But that used to be complicated in my case because the hardest-rated hole at my course used to be No 17. Imagine if you received just one shot from your opponent but you never got to use it because the match was over before reaching the 17th. Is that fair?

I once ran this situation past our former club professional and his stoic reply was you shouldn’t be more than one down coming to the 17th. Golf is not played over 18 holes when

you are three down with two to play.

The first nine holes at my golf course are all even numbered stroke holes. Consequently, the second nine holes are all odd-numbered stroke holes.

This is deliberate, not coincidental. It has become a common practice but is not universal.

I played at the Townsville Golf Club in Queensland last month and the holes were simply rated on how hard they were. As a consequence the holes with a stroke index of one, two and three were all on the back nine.

Golf New Zealand recommends the practice of even-numbered stroke holes for one nine and odd-numbered for the other nine.

Handicapping manager Phil Aickin said it is preferred that the first nine be odd-numbered stroke holes unless it is clear the second nine holes are harder.

Aickin also said stroke indexes should be spread evenly over the 18 holes but at the same time keeping mind that the lower stroke holes can be used before a match is over.

Aickin added that holes should be grouped into threes — holes 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 etc — when assessing stroke holes. Ideally the stroke one and two holes should in the middle triad of the front and back nines. But the complicating factor is that the

words ideally and logically rarely go together.

Another complicating factor is assessing the difficulty of a hole.

For example, the hardest hole for a scratch golfer might not be the hardest hole for an 18-handicapper.

Aickin said research had showed that the most equitable competition for players of all handicap ranges is when the lowest handicapper is giving the shots.

“It is proven by research that there are more halves in a match using this approach,’’ Aickin told Golfer Pacific.

I found that very interesting.

Given all that I am tempted we should try a change to best nett or best stableford at our club and as a consequence our stroke one hole could return to being No 17 (it was changed to three because it came late in the round).

Aickin added that stableford provides some fun options. One such option, when playing doubles, is the best stableford wins on the first six holes. For the second six holes you add you and your partner’s stableford together to decide the winner of each hole.

And for the final six holes you multiply each other’s scores to determine the winner for each hole.

NEW ZEALAND EDITORIAL Paul Gueorgieff pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz Ph: 64 4 565 0385 Mob: 64 27 227 1038 SOUTH ISLAND EDITORIAL Neville Idour 0274771423 pmidour@hotmail.co.nz 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: Brisbane golfer Cameron Smith the Claret Jug, the trophy awarded to the winner of The Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland last month. Photo credit: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

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August 2022

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By Golfer Pacific editor, Paul Gueorgieff

C

ameron Young from the United States shot a seven under par 65 in his final round, including an eagle two on the par four 18th.

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, played his final 18 holes without a bogey or a missed green.

Yet that was not good enough for either Young or McIlroy to fend off the amazing final round of Australian golfer Cameron Smith in the 150th edition of The Open Championship which was was held at the home of golf, St Andrews, in Scotland last month.

Smith, with Sam Pinfold of New Zealand as his caddie, reeled off a brilliant eight-under par 64 in his final round to win by one shot with a total of 20 under par for the tournament.

His namesake Cameron Young finished second at 19 under par while McIlroy was third at 18 under.

Smith, 28, who has become easily identifiable with his flowing mullet, became the fifth Australian to win The Open.

The previous four were Greg Norman (1986), Ian Baker Finch (1991), Kel Nagle (1960) and five-times champion Peter Thomson (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965). Nagle and Thomson are the only other Australians to have won The Open on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Smith’s four-round total of 20 under equalled Henrik Stenson’s 72-hole scoring record for The Open.

He started the final day four shots adrift of McIlroy and Viktor Hovland of Norway and it was hard to imagine he would overcome both.

It was still looking that way with Smith two under par through his opening nine holes.

And then it all happened. Smith reeled off birdies on the next five holes and finished off the round with a birdie on the 18th.

It was Smith’s putting that was the difference and afterwards he admitted so.

“The only difference today was the putts were dropping,’’ Smith told the news media.

“I spent a little bit of time on the green last night and just really wanted to see a few putts go in.’’

Smith said putting is not something he struggles with.

“I think for me, luckily, putting comes quite natural-

A fist pump from Cameron Smith after birding the 18th hole in the final round of The Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland last month. Photo credit: (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/ Getty Images).

ly. For me it’s just about basically getting back to the same set-up position.

“I practise with a mirror for probably about 20 minutes a day (when playing) and to be honest that’s about it.

“When I get out here at the start of the week, I start hitting some lag putts and just getting the speed right.”

The win was Smith’s third of the year and it took his world ranking from six to two. Scottie Scheffler from the United States remained at No 1.

The first of Smith’s wins this year came in Hawaii

when he set a PGA Tour record of 34 under par.

His second win this year came in the $US20 million Players’ Championship at Florida in March. That win was worth $US3.6 million to Smith while the winner’s purse for The Open was $US2.5 million.

Those wins gave Smith confidence he could win a major championship, which The Open is one of four.

“The Players at the start of the year, with the best field in golf, to go away with the win was a really big confidence booster,” Smith said.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be too long before I got one of these. I’ve knocked on the door maybe one too many times now. So it’s nice to get it done.”

St Andrews is one of the world’s great links’ courses and Smith said he was at ease with that type of course because of his Australian background.

“I love this type of golf,” he said.

“I think this type of golf suits a lot of Aussies, the firm and fast fairways.

“Having to hit away from pins is another one where Aussies are brought up doing that. I just felt really good with my game was at and how the course was set up.”

Smith said having to come from behind can help with the mindset.

“I just had to be patient. I felt good all day, and those putts just started going in on that back nine and just got a lot of momentum going.

“I sometimes think that being behind on certain golf courses and in certain situations is a good thing.

It’s very easy to get defensive out there and keep hitting it to 60, 70 feet. You can make pars all day, but you’re not going to make birdies. So it was a good thing that I was behind. My mindset would have been different coming in, especially on that back nine, if I had been ahead.”

One of Smith’s best holes was a par on the 17th hole, the fearsome Road Hole, It was there that Smith came closest to stumbling. A fine drive found the elusive fairway, but his approach came up short and left, which is just about the worst place a golfer can be. Playing relatively safe, Smith putted up and over the back of golf’s most-feared bunker to 12 feet from the flag. It was a very missable putt but miss it he did not. And that about summed up Smith’s day.

GOLF NEWS

Cameron Smith’s brilliant final round secures victory at St Andrews

Sam Pinfold at ease with Smith’s risky shot

I

t was not all plain sailing for Wellington caddie Sam Pinfold during his win with Cameron Smith in The Open in Scotland last month.

Smith scored a one over par 73 in his third round, which included a double bogey on the 13th hole when he attempted a high tariff shot.

Smith played his ball while standing in a bunker and the ball above his feet. The shot sailed into a gorse bush and he ended up with a six on a par four.

PGA Tour writer Ben Everill said Pinfold copped some flak about what happened and many suggested he should have called Smith off such a risky shot.

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Pinfold replied: “You don’t mess with a confident player with his skill level.”

Caddies generally earn 10 percent of the prizemoney when their player wins. In this case Smith’s win was probably worth about $400,000 to Pinfold.

Pinfold said Smith’s confidence level makes his job that much easier.

“I’m just so proud of him. His game plan was awesome; he was just really confident and he’s got so much belief it makes my job easy.

“I don’t have to think about a second option, it’s just what’s the best shot, what’s the best option, then point, shoot and go. He just has the balls and courage to stand up and do it.”

Cameron Smith and his Wellington caddie Sam Pinfold celebrate after Cameron birdied the 18th hole in the final round to virtually assure him of victory in 150th edition of The Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland last month. Photo credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images).

August 2022

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THE OPEN LEADERBOARD AND PRIZEMONEY

GOLF NEWS 4

POS 1 2 3 T4 T4 T6 T6 T8 T8 T8 T11 T11 T11 T11 T15 T15 T15 T15 T15 T15 T21 T21 T21 T21 T21 T21 T21 T28 T28 T28 T28 T28 T28 T34 T34 T34 T34 T34 T34 T34 T34 T42 T42 T42 T42 T42 T47 T47 T47 T47 T47 T47 T53 T53 T53 T53 T53 T53 T53 T53 T53 T62 T62 T62 T62 T62 T62 T68 T68 T68 T68 T72 T72 T74 T74 T76 T76 T76 T79 T79 T81 T81 83

COUNTRY Australia United States Northern Ireland England Norway United States United States United States United States United States Thailand Mexico South Africa England Australia United States Australia Italy Australia South Korea United States Australia United States Ireland United States England United States United States Canada United States United States South Africa Belgium Belgium Scotland United States England United States France Spain United States United States United States South Africa Poland United States South Africa United States England Japan South Korea Italy Chile England England Netherlands United States England Australia Australia Denmark United States Colombia England Ireland England United States Japan Spain England South Africa Scotland United States England Philippines United States Spain Cayman Islands England England England South Korea England

PLAYER SCORE Cameron Smith -20 Cameron Young -19 Rory McIlroy -18 Tommy Fleetwood -14 Viktor Hovland -14 Brian Harman -13 Dustin Johnson -13 Bryson DeChambeau -12 Jordan Spieth -12 Patrick Cantlay -12 Sadom Kaewkanjana -11 Abraham Ancer -11 Dean Burmester -11 Tyrrell Hatton -11 Lucas Herbert -10 Xander Schauffele -10 Anthony Quayle -10 Francesco Molinari -10 Adam Scott -10 Si Woo Kim -10 Billy Horschel -9 Min Woo Lee -9 Trey Mullinax -9 Shane Lowry -9 Kevin Kisner -9 Matt Fitzpatrick -9 Scottie Scheffler -9 Tony Finau -8 Corey Conners -8 Harold Varner III -8 Will Zalatoris -8 Dylan Frittelli -8 Thomas Pieters -8 Thomas Detry -7 Robert MacIntyre -7 Talor Gooch -7 Lee Westwood -7 Sahith Theegala -7 Victor Perez -7 Jon Rahm -7 Aaron Wise -7 Sam Burns -6 Jason Kokrak -6 Thriston Lawrence -6 Adrian Meronk -6 Chris Kirk -6 Garrick Higgo -5 Patrick Reed -5 Jordan Smith -5 Yuto Katsuragawa -5 Joohyung Kim -5 Filippo Celli (a) -5 Joaquin Niemann -4 Danny Willett -4 Robert Dinwiddie -4 Lars Van Meijel -4 Justin Thomas -4 Paul Casey -4 Jason Scrivener -4 Brad Kennedy -4 Nicolai Højgaard -4 Cameron Tringale -3 Sebastián Muñoz -3 John Parry -3 David Carey -3 Ian Poulter -3 Russell Henley -3 Hideki Matsuyama -2 Sergio Garcia -2 Richard Mansell -2 Christiaan Bezuidenhout -2 David Law -1 Kurt Kitayama -1 Marcus Armitage E Justin De Los Santos E Wyndham Clark +1 Adri Arnaus +1 Aaron Jarvis (a) +1 Laurie Canter +2 Barclay Brown (a) +2 Sam Bairstow (a) +4 Sungjae Im +4 Jamie Rutherford +8

R1 67 64 66 72 68 73 68 69 71 70 71 71 71 70 70 69 74 73 72 69 73 69 71 72 74 72 68 73 71 73 73 70 75 70 70 68 68 69 71 73 72 72 72 69 75 75 72 72 73 71 69 74 69 69 67 74 72 71 72 68 73 71 73 69 72 69 70 71 75 73 73 72 68 71 71 71 74 75 72 68 72 71 73

R2 64 69 68 69 66 68 67 74 69 67 67 68 73 66 68 70 69 71 65 69 69 69 73 68 70 66 68 71 71 67 67 71 67 69 74 69 71 68 69 67 67 69 70 71 68 68 69 68 71 68 71 67 74 73 77 70 70 72 71 72 67 71 71 74 67 72 72 72 66 71 71 69 73 72 73 73 70 69 70 70 72 73 70

R3 73 71 66 66 66 68 71 67 68 71 74 73 67 73 73 72 68 66 70 67 70 73 66 69 65 69 69 70 71 72 71 69 67 74 69 75 73 74 71 71 71 77 72 73 70 69 76 76 72 75 72 71 73 73 71 71 72 71 71 72 71 74 71 70 73 70 68 76 72 68 68 77 73 71 70 76 73 72 74 77 79 74 78

August 2022

R4 64 65 70 67 74 66 69 66 68 68 65 65 66 68 67 67 67 68 71 73 67 68 69 70 70 72 74 66 67 68 69 70 71 68 68 69 69 70 70 70 71 64 68 69 69 70 66 67 67 69 71 71 68 69 69 69 70 70 70 72 73 69 70 72 73 74 75 67 73 74 74 69 73 74 74 69 72 73 74 75 69 74 75

TOTAL EARNINGS (US DOLLARS) FEDEX PTS 268 $2,500,000 600 269 $1,455,000 330 270 $933,000 210 274 $654,000 135 274 $654,000 135 275 $469,500 105 275 $469,500 0 276 $325,667 88 276 $325,667 88 276 $325,667 88 277 $231,000 0 277 $231,000 70 277 $231,000 0 277 $231,000 70 278 $165,583 0 278 $165,583 56 278 $165,583 0 278 $165,583 56 278 $165,583 56 278 $165,583 56 279 $120,286 42 279 $120,286 0 279 $120,286 42 279 $120,286 42 279 $120,286 42 279 $120,286 42 279 $120,286 42 280 $90,917 30 280 $90,917 30 280 $90,917 30 280 $90,917 30 280 $90,917 30 280 $90,917 0 281 $68,906 0 281 $68,906 0 281 $68,906 20 281 $68,906 0 281 $68,906 20 281 $68,906 0 281 $68,906 20 281 $68,906 20 282 $51,000 13 282 $51,000 13 282 $51,000 0 282 $51,000 0 282 $51,000 13 283 $40,600 9 283 $40,600 0 283 $40,600 0 283 $40,600 0 283 $40,600 0 283 -- 0 284 $35,656 6 284 $35,656 6 284 $35,656 0 284 $35,656 0 284 $35,656 6 284 $35,656 6 284 $35,656 0 284 $35,656 0 284 $35,656 0 285 $33,625 4 285 $33,625 4 285 $33,625 0 285 $33,625 0 285 $33,625 4 285 $33,625 4 286 $32,525 3 286 $32,525 0 286 $32,525 0 286 $32,525 3 287 $32,013 0 287 $32,013 3 288 $31,763 0 288 $31,763 0 289 $31,513 2 289 $31,513 0 289 -- 0 290 $31,325 0 290 -- 0 292 -- 0 292 $31,200 2 296 $31,075 0

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August 2022

5

Tieke — superb links golf

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS

T

ieke Golf Estate is destined for great things and is already in the top echelon of New Zealand’s golf offering.

It has been born from the Waikato’s Lochiel and Narrows Golf Cubs. Lochiel was established in 1938 and was on the other side of the river from Narrows when they combined in 2014 to become Riverside Golf Club.

However, shortly after New Zealand Transport Agency designated an expressway would pass right through the Narrows course. The club agreed to sell which enabled the development of Tieke Golf Estate. In 2018 Brett Thomson and Phil Tataurangi were approached to design a new course. Their design proved to be ground breaking in more ways than one. It was centred on four specific pillars.

1. The removal of 1000 old trees, shrubs and bushes.

2. An enhancement of the natural riverbed landscape.

3. Exposing the sandy soils which had sat dormant beneath the turf for over 25,000 years.

4. A routing with flexibility, adaptability and variability like no other in New Zealand.

It is hard to fault the complete and

An aerial view of Tieke golf course.

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outstanding accomplishment of all the above in the finished masterpiece. The fine fescue and creeping bent grass was chosen for the putting surfaces because they complement the free draining soils and reward both a bump and run shot and a skilful lofted wedge shot. So the end result is a course and style of golf that mirrors a coastal links course despite being more than 50 kilometres from the nearest beach.

The visual appearance of the expansive sandy wastelands give a unique character to the course that is beautifully in tune with the history of the land. Tieke Golf Estate recognises and celebrates the history of the river, land and the peoples. The Tieke is a saddleback bird usually glossy back and can only fly short distances. The Tieke has a conservation status of at risk so Tieke Golf Estate is proud to support the continued preservation of Tieke through golf.

We played from the white tees at 5609 metres. The championship tees stretch to 6489 metres.

The first hole is a short par five with a spacious fairway to welcome players, however the green is fronted with a large bunker. A feature is there are no bunkers on the course.

All sand areas, whether bunkers or

not, are considered waste areas where you can therefore ground your club.

When we were there you could also place your ball in sandy areas because of the mix of small stones. This certainly helped with enjoyment. Whether this will always be the case director of golf Richard Ellis said time for the course to continue to mature will need to happen before that can be answered.

The third hole, although measuring 185 metres on the card, was only 145 metres for us. Distances can vary from day to day as the course is set in a way that it can be a different challenge every day. Waste bunkers left are to be avoided on the third.

The fourth is an attractive long par four of 404 metres with a generous fairway to offset the length a little. We were heading towards Mystery Creek which stands out at the southern end of the course.

The 357-metre fifth hole played to a slightly raised fairway then to an outstanding green with waste bunkers left.

With subtle difficulty, the slopes are gentle and very deceptive with a nice upslope right which allows you to work a ball from nicely on to the green. The overriding feeling after playing it was what a beautifully designed hole.

The sixth, a par five, says position A is

right of centre fairway to give the best shot to a large green with a restricted width entry. The seventh was a delightful par three of 137 metres with large bunkers fronting the left hand half of the green and a slope you can use to feed the ball onto the green depending on flag placement.

One of the features as we plotted our way round was the views of the course which could be described as flattish with a variety of undulations and raised tees. On any given hole, especially on raised ground, a number of holes could be seen which all added to the uniqueness of this inland links course.

The eighth at 502 metres was a challenge into the wind for a shorter hitter like myself. It has a reasonably generous fairway. From about 180 metres it provides a narrow entry with waste bunkers both sides.

The ninth is a pleasant par four which feeds down to the long green with wasteland around the back. Then we head to the 10th which is a somewhat special par four. We were privileged to play with one of the pro shop staff James Fellows-Ford, a scratch golfer who plays the Charles Tour and his mate Thomas.

James was a fund of knowledge and explained this hole could also be played

The clubhouse at Tieke Golf Estate.

August 2022

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Tieke golf course near Hamilton. Photo credit: Des Frith Photography.

from the clubhouse across water for a longer option. Our option had hazard left all the way to the green while right there were trees to swallow up a less than well thought out tee shot.

No 11 was a slight dogleg to a raised green full of interesting slopes and with very deep bunkers greenside (caught out the pro!) Another superb hole.

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The 12th, alongside the Waikato River, is a par five with greatly enhanced views thanks to the felling of many of the pine trees during construction. A beautiful little drop down very short par three was the challenge of the 13th — several birdie chances, none realised.

The 14th called for less than driver off the tee due to the 45 degree dogleg, how-

ever the bigger hitters can cut the corner to get close to the green. The 16th, a short par four, had a waste area on the right to avoid plus a mound of rough and a bunker 20 metres short of the green to catch the big hitters.

It would have been difficult to miss the wide fairway on the 17th, another par four. However 50 yards out from the

August 2022

green there is wasteland to avoid and a raised green necessitates a good shot to make for an easy par.

The par five 18th returns us to the clubhouse and welcome refreshments. It provides the coup de gras to a wonderful round of golf on a course destined for a top five ranking in New Zealand in this writer’s humble opinion.

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August 2022

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Phil Tataurangi and Tieke

By Neville Idour

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hil Tataurangi is Ssomething of an N icon, forgive the expression, on the O W New Zealand golf scene.

U N His brief covers the whole spectrum of DE RW at the “the greatest game”. From a player 1992 Eisenhower Trophy and PGAAYTour winner to golf course designer, Tataurangi is making an indelible mark on the sport in his home country.

His latest achievement, in partnership with Brett Thomson and their team at Mahi Tahi Golf Projects, is the breathtaking Tieke course at Tieke Golf Estate at Tamahere just south of Hamilton.

Therefore it was essential to get Tataurangi’s take on the project. He was more than happy to oblige.

How long were you involved on the project? ”We worked with the club on the design and through the construction for four years. Even though it was for a relatively short period of time, I felt connected to the ancestors of the place. I spent time with the Ngati Haua kaumatua (elders) to retrace and recapture the genealogy.”

Are Windross Farm (in Auckland) and nt Tieke the only two courses you have designed?

“Yes. I’m currently consulting to a handful of clubs around potential course renovation or redesign projects.”

How did your involvement in golf design come about? s “I’ve long had a passion for golf course design and architecture dating back to junior golf and amateur days. Playhas an my outstanding café/restaurant ing professional tournament golf didn’t outdoor bars, as well as a always expose me to the “best architecich boasts a wealth of facilities ture” per se as there are so many differludes ent a health studio, tennis influencing factors that determine g. se, andPGA anTour indoor pool venues. and spa “When TPC courses rt, fitness, and new socialising.

Thiswere is being built I enjoyed spending time with the arg at its best. chitects and the PGA Tour design personnel. I was able to learn and understand in thedifferent sunny aspects Bay of of Plenty, design, construction and agronomy not only asa it related to ing hub with supermarkets, but forofthe other 51 weeks of ibrary,tour andevents all levels schooling.

Club

the year.

“When I had spare time on the road, I sought out different courses to play or walk around and after my playing career I planned trips to revered layouts that I’ve studied by means of different architecture literature.’’

Your partnership with Brett Thomson?

What do you each contribute in designing a course and seeing it through to completion?

“Brett has nearly 25 years experience in the industry, mainly here in New Zealand, being involved in some of the country’s best recognised courses. His professional training and background is in landscape architecture and resort master planning.

He also has several different technology skills which help bring plans to life.

“I guess I’m a little more “on the ground” having spent most of my life playing the game. My lens is naturally influenced by the psychology as well as the physiology of the different people that play the game.

“Ultimately, all golfers have different physical skills, strengths and weaknesses. But we all play through our eyes and minds so continuing to ask different questions of the golfer, I believe makes the game interesting and fun.

“Together we bounce different concepts off each other not only from an aesthetic and playability point of view but also from a functional aspect of construction, maintenance and agronomy.”

When you received the approach was there any specific brief or were you given a blank canvas?

“At Tieke we were provided a brief by the board. Respectfully, there were many concepts that were either not appropriate or applicable to a member golf course in the Waikato on a site as special as the old Lochiel course.

“We worked with the board to help develop their understanding of the uniqueness of the land, the reasons behind the concepts we put forth and how some of the brief they gave us could be provided for in a slightly different way. Thankfully

they trusted us to bring our ideas to life.”

How did your vision view the challenge and evolve?

“The design most definitely evolved the more time we spent on the site, as trees came down and as dirt started to get moved. Largely, the look and feel of the course that’s been completed is not far off what we envisioned. As is often the case though, a few holes inevitably differ from how they were conceived on the plans in comparison with when they actually came to life on the ground.”

Any specific hurdles and challenges to overcome?

“Numerous. But that’s a given beforehand that not everything will go exactly to plan, so being nimble with the design and open to how that will need to be executed during construction is a large part of the fun. Some holes/features looked like they were nature’s gift. Others required some creative thinking, skilful shaping and generally making something from nothing. Hopefully, the golfers can’t tell which ones are which!”

What specific elements in regard to set up and playability did you want to achieve and were they fulfilled?

“Playability and pliability are a couple of our go to concepts. Playability for the handicap golfer is one of our core beliefs.

We don’t want our courses or renovation work to be boring or uninteresting but behind every design feature or decision in the field I will ask how will the 20 handicapper play this hole?

“An assumption is often made that the best holes are always the toughest.

I’d contend that’s not always so. Often the most fun holes to play, at least from my point of view, are the ones that offer multiple different strategies and present opportunities for all golfers to succeed … or at least be tempted into revealing the extent of their capabilities (that’s design speak for screwing it up when they thought they were going to be a star).

“From a pliability standpoint my experience has long been that the golf courses that are the most intriguing, change their

NEWS character from time to time. Sometimes the weather plays its part in that too. But with most rounds played by members or regulars, it’s a given that locals get to know their courses well. In some ways different holes can even become predictable. To get a bit of spice, often people play another course that presents different or unknown challenges.

“Although I wholeheartedly encourage people to do this, I’ve wondered why member courses don’t change things up from time to time – effectively offering multiple courses within one layout. Different routings, different par, different tee locations, different pin placements and even a different number of holes just for something different.

“So this was central to our thinking at Tieke. Although we spent a bit of time establishing the new or main routing we had the future of the game or the club in mind also. Essentially there are a number of holes that we designed to be played from different tees with par variability and the options to mix up the main routing so the order in which the holes are played is a little different.

“At the last count, collectively across the five sets of tees there were over 100 different routing combinations that could be played. It’s all there for the club to embrace as they see fit for different competitions, tournaments or member play in the future. And we hope they do.”

On that note we thank Phil for his time and look forward to his next project.

Phil Tataurangi at Tieke golf course near Hamilton.

and packages from $999,000, all y Club membership, these kages won’t last long so get in o our expert team today.

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August 2022

9

Richard Ellis driving Tieke Golf Estate

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS 10

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t was very rewarding to catch up with Richard Ellis who is the director of golf at the outstanding Tieke Golf Estate near Cambridge and Hamilton.

This new unique inland links course is turning heads in every way. It was good to chat about Ellis’ life in golf and to experience this new and exciting course.

Ellis, who is one of the most respected persons in Australasian golf, served as president of the New Zealand Professional Golfers’ Association (NZPGA) for 10 years and was a director of the PGA Tour of Australasia for 15 years.

He was awarded golf’s International Goodwill Ambassador trophy by the International Golf Association in 1998.

In addition, he was awarded life membership of the NZPGA for services to golf and is an honorary life member of the PGA of Australia. Ellis who has an impressive record of managing courses from their beginnings is relishing his role at Tieke.

So where did it all begin? An Australian, born in Brisbane, he first played golf as a 12-year-old at Caboolture Golf course on the Sunshine Coast, which is also where Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior and others started playing.

Ellis explains: “I didn’t play a lot of golf at that stage as I played cricket. Then we moved to Sydney when I was about 15. I have a brother and sister. My sister Bronwyn is married to Art Russell a US professional who used to come to New Zealand when the Nationwide Tour was here and she would caddy for him. In fact she was the first woman to caddy at the men’s US Open. She was also the head teaching professional at a country club in Colorado.

“I went to Pennant Hills High School (in Sydney) and was doing a lot of competitive swimming and I trained with Shane Gould. We were in the same training squad and would train at 5am five days a week for 90 minutes. Shane of course went on to win three gold

and two silver medals at the Olympic Games. Swimming in the final of the 100 metres for New South Wales at the Australian Championships was as good as I got.”

Then it was time to start playing competitive golf at Parklea Golf Club in Sydney and by the time Ellis was 16 he was on a one handicap.

“Then I did my golf apprenticeship starting in Sydney and then I moved to Brisbane and Redcliff Golf Club where I worked with Dennis Brosnan. Back in those days I grew up with Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior and Wayne Grady who was a junior member there. Wayne and I would play golf almost every other day and he went on to win the US PGA Championship.”

So did you know Greg Norman?

“Yes, I knew him well. In his younger days he was a surfer and was a storeman and packer at PGF Golf in Brisbane. So we would ring him and order clubs which he would pack and send to us. He was member at Royal Queensland so we would play golf together there. I played a lot of junior golf and won the Captain Cook Bi Centenary Australian Junior Championship in 1970 in Sydney. I also played for the New South Wales schoolboys’ team against the interstate teams.’’

Legendary Australian names such as Rodger Davis, Bob Shearer, Stuart Ginn, Ian Baker-Finch, Ian Stanley and Peter Senior were players Ellis was competing with or against.

“I turned professional at 18 years of age when I finished my apprenticeship at Redcliff and played some tournaments in Australia for a couple of years. On the main tour, New Zealand actually had more order of merit tournaments than Australia.

“Those were the days when guys like Seve Ballesteros, when he was 21, and good mate John Lister and others would play at St Clair (in Dunedin). There was the Otago Charity Classic and the Garden City Classic at Russley.

Richard Ellis

“I remember Tom Watson played there in 1977, I think. So there was a whole stack of us that moved and lived in Auckland, guys like Wayne MacIntosh and Geoff Smart. So I ended up staying in New Zealand and played a lot of pro-ams here. I used to play the Asian Tour quite a bit in those days and up through the Pacific Islands and Hawaii. I did that for about 15 years.”

During that time he won about 15 tournaments, mainly pro-ams, two in Fiji, in American Samoa, in Australia and several in New Zealand.

“In 1983 I was involved with golf courses and setting things up. I set up the first driving range in Auckland at Panmure and within 12 months the associated golf shop became New Zealand’s largest retailer of golf equipment. I was 28 when I left there and went to Tahiti for a year and helped set up golf and teaching golf.

“I came back and set up a golf shop in the middle of Auckland in High Street called Golf City. Then in 1986

August 2022

a partner and I had the lease to run Auckland’s busiest public golf course at Takapuna on the North Shore. We redeveloped it for the council and took a 30-year lease on it. We built the new clubhouse and driving range and redesigned the course. I was there for about seven years then we sold to some Koreans.”

In 1990 Ellis formed his Pacific Golf Management company while at Takapuna. This company does all his golf tours, pro-ams and overseas tours to Fiji , Asia, Australia, the South Pacific islands and Hawaii as well as events in New Zealand. Alongside this he was also instrumental in setting up the South Pacific Professional Golf Circuit with tournaments in Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Raratonga, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

“We still do two big events in Fiji, the Sheraton Golf Classic and the Fiji Legends which is part of the Australian PGA Tour.

“At that stage Gulf Harbour Country Club was being built. The Singaporean

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owner Mr Goh, who had huge freight and shipping companies, approached me. He had a 55-metre boat called White Rabbit parked at Gulf Harbour. It was like a mini ocean liner. So I agreed to set Gulf Harbour up and it opened in 1997. In reality this was New Zealand’s first true international golf resort. Then in 1998 we had the World Cup of Golf there. We did the organisation for what was the largest prizemoney event ever held in Australasia with $3 million. “ This writer well remembers the many big names at the exciting new course.

Sir Nick Faldo, John Daly who made an inglorious early exit, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Angel Cabrera and our own Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner were amongst the drawcards.

“I was originally on a two-year contract at Gulf Harbour but they asked me to stay and I ended up there for seven years until they sold it. At this point the guys who were building The Lakes Resort (near Pauanui) approached me so I went there to help them set it up in 2005.” Lakes Resort is an exclusive gated residential community around the International golf course.

“That was when my twins Michael and Sarah were born. They are now 17. My wife Cushla had worked at Gulf Harbour

with me and we were married in 1999.

But the last few years we have been concentrating more on the golf tours which was huge for us while we were living in Pauanui, rather than working on golf courses.

“Then the opportunity at Tieke came up. Phil Tataurangi rang me and asked me to come and have a look at the project. I did and said I liked it. They said they were looking for someone to run the golf operations so here I am.”

We asked if it took much thought to make the move?

“The children were at high school and it involved a lot of travelling. Sarah had won a scholarship in Auckland and was boarding while Michael was spending two hours on the bus each day for his schooling. Being their last year at school it made sense to make the move and we now live in Cambridge.”

So when did you start at Tieke?

“I arrived here in October 2021 and the course opened in December. When I arrived the course was still being finished and the clubhouse was in the throes of foundations being laid.

So how would you describe your feelings about your current situation?

“We are really happy here. We have 1000 members with a waiting list. We

have many of the best Waikato juniors here and we have Reon Sayer who used to work for me at Lakes Resort also working here running our golf academy. The academy part is currently being built and he is booked out two weeks in advance with lessons. He coaches Denzel Ieremia and a lot of the country’s top juniors.”

He has also previously been a head coach for many years at St Peters Golf Academy in Cambridge and for a year at the New Zealand Golf Academy in China.

Annual subscriptions are a very reasonable $1750 with a number of foundation members enjoying a significant discount that will continue with their membership.

The club also offers a very attractive corporate golf cart package for $5000. For that you get two memberships and signage on a golf cart. This has proven very popular with many takers.

Ellis continues: “The golf course is fantastic. Phil Tataurangi has done a great job. The fairways are quite generous. It is quite unique in that the wasteland and all the sand on the course is actually built on a riverbed. When they took out all the 800 trees, mostly rubbishy pine trees, they found all the sand and decided to use it as a feature. None of it is classed as

a bunker. We have 11 greenkeepers looking after the course.”

The magnificent, spacious state of the art clubhouse was designed by a member, Adam Taylor and Ellis feels there is nothing like it in New Zealand. As for tournaments Ellis would like to see a little more growing in of the South Island fescue-type grass which is slow growing before he feels it will be ready for the bigger tournaments he hopes to run.

The first will be the Brian Perry Classic in September with the first round at St Andrews and the second round at Tieke.

Jennian Homes, one of Tieke’s sponsors, is intending to run its Charles Tour end of year championship at Tieke each year.

The time spent with Ellis confirmed his standing as the consummate professional in every way. His talents have been utilised in almost every sphere of golf.

His tours and tournaments are always top class and his involvement in golf operations, management, setting up resort golf courses and consultancy are without peer in New Zealand.

From this writer’s experience it is easy to see why Richard Ellis seems to have found his happy place currently. The day we were there his wife Cushla was happily working in the golf shop to complete the ideal scenario.

LOW MAINTENANCE, SYNTHETIC TURF GOLF GREENS Contact Guy Reeves Mobile: 027 505 7004 Email: guy@ttgal.nz

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August 2022

11

Waimarino Golf Club an alpine pleasure GOLF NEWS Two large trees, nicknamed Twin Towers by our writer, by the 16th green at Waimarino.

By Neville Idour

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n our North Island road trip the prospect of a round of golf in alpine skiing country was an intriguing thought and with fine weather to greet us we could not pass up the opportunity.

Waimarino golf course is also known as the Ruapehu Golf Club or is it vice versa, and the course is set in a lovely environment. There is a wonderful variety of trees some of which are quite magnificent.

The club claims this is New Zealand’s second highest course at 580 metres above sea level so watch your ball fly longer in the heady atmosphere. For this modest golfer, sadly I didn’t notice it made much difference to my tee shots.

The Waimarino club has an interesting history having sprung from a joint venture of the Raetihi and Ruapehu Golf Clubs in the Ohakune and Rangatua areas in the middle of the North Island, southwest of Mount Ruapehu.

At the first meeting on March 26, 1926, it was decided to purchase land owned by the Waimarino Racing Club.

The initial course was 10 holes and the result of many hours of volunteer work.

The land was used by a local farmer for grazing but on competition days the cattle and horses were removed, although the sheep were allowed to stay.

The depression in the early 1930s affected development and membership declined. New holes were deferred.

By 1937 the club had recovered with membership at its best since 1927. On club days the course only just coped with the numbers playing.

World War II brought more difficulties and a large area of the course was leased to local market gardeners which helped with club expenses. Fees to members were lowered and prudent management allowed the club to survive.

In the late 1940s prosperity was again returning and plans to complete an 18-hole course were actioned. The club continued to flourish and in the 1960s a new clubhouse was built then extended in the 1970s to be what it is today.

The club was not afraid to invest in the course, hence all greens have irrigation, plus the club owns its machinery, has a golf cart shed and a greenkeepers’ workshop.

So to the course. Without being denigrating I guess you could describe the course as basic in terms of refinement of fairways. I was going to say rough and ready but that in no way takes away from the enjoyment of the course. It is actually the best course one should expect in such a harsh alpine situation and climate.

In fact some links courses offer similar fairway conditions. It would be impossible to provide plush green fairways. However the greens were another story and were in excellent condition thanks to the aforementioned irrigation and the fine work of the greenkeeper.

Therefore there is 15 centimetre placing which I felt because of the conditions could easily be increased to say 900 cm to the nearest point of grass

relief. This would not be unreasonable nor would it diminish the integrity of play. The other difficulty was finding some of the distance markers without walking over them. It would be an inexpensive investment to install clearly visible markers. Of course the other way is to place clearly marked stakes on either side of the fairway.

This would certainly add to the enjoyment as not everyone uses a measuring gadget. The simple fact is distances here can be deceptive with shots to the green being further than they appear.

One standout was the signage which was brilliant. When playing a course for the first time it is frustrating when finding the next tee becomes a project of its own. Waimarino left no doubt with a sign by each green pointing the way. Nothing flash is needed and here it was a piece of timber with directions carved into it. Perfect.

The course layout provides a good variety of challenges. There are several doglegs which require good placement with your tee shots. Inaccuracy will often bring trees into play. The long 506 metre par five second hole is an early

test.

The par three third has bunkers and a stream left, plus a macrocarpa tree right to swallow an inaccurate tee shot.

The fifth, a dogleg left, has trees and out of bounds left. The seventh a short par four should provide the easiest challenge. The ninth a short dogleg left 396 metre par five requires a tee shot to allow negotiation around trees to a narrow sloping green.

To the back nine, the 13th at 281 metres requires an accurate tee shot to negotiate the left dogleg. The long par five 478 metre 16th will test the shot choices and reveal two towering trees beside the green which I named Twin Towers.

The 17th is an attractive, shortish par three and the 18th is an excellent finishing hole. While not overlong at 393 metres there is water left to catch a hook and go too far right there are trees to block the green.

Definitely a most enjoyable experience that I heartily recommend. It is not every day you can play golf in alpine territory. At $30 affiliated and $35 non affiliated it is great value.

The closing hole at Waimarino with the clubhouse in the background.

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August 2022

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August 2022

13

LIV Golf confirms 2023 schedule

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS

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IV Golf has confirmed it will move from the current invitational series to a league schedule in 2023, a year earlier than planned.

The format for 2023 will comprise 14 events with 48 players. Each player will participate in all 14 events and also as part of the 12 four-man teams

which will be set for the whole season.

The vast majority of those spots will probably be filled by players with contracts to LIV Golf. According to Sports Illustrated’s sport news website si.com the bottom four finishers in 2023 will be relegated from the league.

Three of these spots will be filled

from a qualifying promotion tournament and the fourth by the winner of the money list for the LIV International Series which will be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and LIV Golf.

Some players and team captains may be exempt from relegation depending on their individual contract with LIV Golf. Other players outside the top 24 players at season’s end could lose their

spots should their team decide against renewing their deals. The intrigue continues and no doubt there will be more fine tuning to come.

LIV has scored a coup for its commentary team with David Feherty leaving the PGA Tour and joining. The popular Gary McCord, along with basketball star Charles Barkley, are also in discussions.

Nick Faldo hanging up the microphone S

Sir Nick Faldo who is retiring as a television golf commentator.

Photo credit: Andrew Redington/ Getty Images.

ix-time major championship winner Sir Nick Faldo has announced he is hanging up his microphone for good next month following an 18-year stint as a broadcaster for American radio and television network NBC and the Golf Channel.

The Englishman, who has been a prominent voice on television in the United States since 2006, has decided to step down from his commentating role after the Wyndham Championship next month – the same tournament where

he made his debut in the studio.

Faldo, who turned 65 last month, said he planned to spend more time on his golf course design business Faldo Design, the golf tournaments of Faldo Series and a new whisky project.

He has recently relocated to Montana in the United States, where he said he planned to spend more time with his wife Lindsay, and their dogs, and where he is currently building a farm.

Faldo said: “After much con-

sideration and discussions late last year with my business manager, and more privately with my wife, Lindsay, I decided to step down from Tower 18.

“It was a great run since October 2006, when I was privileged to become the lead golf analyst for (American radio and television network) CBS and to have the second best and highly coveted seat in golf, sitting next to Jim Nantz.

“The great run includes the fact that I have been on the road since I was 18 years old

and am turned 65 years old this July. That’s a long run of airports, hotel rooms and restaurant meals.

“Social media memes and TikTok now gives us 101 quotes of the Buddha such as the mistake you make is that you think you have time and other wisdoms of life, which is great advice to remind us all that we should not waste a moment of it and to spend more time with the people we love. Cheers and thank you for all the wonder years both on and off the course.”

ŌTAKI GOLF CLUB GRAY MEMORIAL 36 HOLE TOURNAMENT SATURDAY, AUGUST 20th 2022

• Male and Female Divisions: (divisions dependant on number of players) • Gross and Net prizes • Entry fee $60 (includes lunch) • Tee-off at 8.00am and 12.30pm • Golf Wellington Order of Merit Event • Registration through WGI website or Ōtaki Golf Club office: phone: 06 364-8260 or email office@otakigolfclub.co.nz

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August 2022

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

Eisenhower team for France named by Golf NZ

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event in April, the 2021 New Zealand Strokeplay, the 2021 South Island Strokeplay and three district titles.

He also recently finished in a tie for sixth at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup on the Japan Tour. His world ranking has also earned him an automatic spot in the United States Amateur in August.

Hydes has been one of the most consistent performers in recent years. In 2020 he won the Muriwai Open and the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

Hydes’ success has extended internationally, winning the 2021 Welsh Open Strokeplay, finishing third at the 2021 Brabazon Trophy, and finishing second at the 2022 Australian Amateur Championship.

Jones earned his place in the side following his outstanding form of late. In 2020 he won the New Zealand Amateur Championship and the North Island Strokeplay. This year, he’s won the New Zealand Strokeplay and three district titles.

The Eisenhower will be contested over 72-holes of strokeplay, with the best two of three individual scores counting toward the team score.

New Zealand has also recorded two runners-up finishes in the Eisenhower. They were in 1970 and 1990 and a third place finish in 1960.

olf New Zealand has named the New Zealand team to contest the 32nd World Amateur Teams’ Championship in France at the end of next month.

The three-person team is Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora, North Canterbury), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour, Auckland) and Sam Jones (Manaia, Taranaki).

The tournament, also known as the Eisenhower Trophy, will be played at the Le Golf National and Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Brèteche from August 31-September 3.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s Eisenhower Trophy triumph when Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Stephen Scahill, and Grant Moorhead won by three strokes over the United States in 1992.

The event was last played in 2018, with New Zealand finishing fourth. The 2020 event was cancelled due to covid-19.

Kobori, Hydes and Jones earned their places in the side courtesy of outstanding form over the past two years.

Kobori has risen to 47th in the world amateur rankings following a string of incredible results this year.

He won the Muriwai Open, his maiden Charles Tour

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NZ PGA and Golf NZ join forces

olf New Zealand and the Professional Golfers’ Association of New Zealand (PGA of New Zealand) have joined forces.

The agreement between golf’s national body and the PGA of New Zealand will see an enhanced and cohesive approach to the delivery of services throughout the country, said a press release.

The release added that together, the PGA of New Zealand and Golf New Zealand are focused on inspiring increased participation in golf through a range of initiatives, programmes, education, and support services. To enhance outcomes, the two organisations have agreed to unite under a one workforce model that will create greater efficiency and increased positive impacts for golf.

From the beginning of this month, Golf New Zealand will assume the oper-

NEWS

Single-use plastic water bottles in high demand at The Open

ational delivery functions of the PGA of New Zealand, reporting to it’s board under a wide-ranging services agreement.

The PGA of New Zealand workforce will become embedded into the wider Golf New Zealand team collectively focused on operating in the best interests of the game. The Golf New Zealand team will also provide a wide range of additional services such as financial management, marketing, communications, golf operations and general administration support for the PGA membership.

The PGA of New Zealand board remains in place to ensure the enduring enhancement of the PGA brand, history, equity, and legal structures. The PGA of New Zealand board will set and approve PGA of New Zealand specific strategies and programmes and ensure strategy delivery for its members.

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orld golf governing body The R&A continued its efforts to play a leading role in tackling single-use plastic bottles at The 150th Open at St Andrews in Scotland, with Bluewater hydration stations dispensing 76,869 litres of water during the event, equivalent to 153,738 plastic bottles of 500 ml in size.

“We want to thank The R&A, the organisers of The Open, for taking the lead in providing hydration solutions that end the need for an event to sell plastic bottles of water, and the fans who made the choice to support the planet by purchasing a sustainable Bluewater bottle to replace throwaway plastic bottles,” said Bluewater Founder and chief executive Bengt Rittri.

The 150th Open attracted around 290,000 fans whose hydration require-

ments were met despite the warmer-than-average weather conditions in Scotland.

A highlight was a 16-metre Bluewater ‘Wall of Water’ housing 12 in-line water dispensers and two 55-inch outdoor television screens broadcasting key content.

This one water station alone dispensed almost 20,000 litres of water, equal to 38,458 500 plastic water bottles of 500 ml in size.

“The Bluewater event hydration eco-system not only delivers really pure water free of all known contaminants but also completely and efficiently eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles of water. And the sale of Bluewater bottles help compensate any loss in revenue from selling those plastic bottles,” said Dave Noble, Bluewater’s director of events, PR and communication.

Come and enjoy our beautiful and highly regarded Tarrangower course, you will not be disappointed!

Group bookings welcome, please email taumarunuigolfclub@xtra.co.nz or call 07 896 7257 165 Golf Rd, Taumarunui www.taumarunuigolfclub.co.nz

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August 2022

15

GOLF NEWS

Short and affordable courses the key for golf’s growth, says R&A chief Martin Slumbers T he provision of short courses and accessible and affordable public facilities are critical for the continued growth of golf, according to The R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers.

Speaking at St Andrews during the 150th edition of The Open Championship, Slumbers said he believed golf would continue to thrive in the postcovid era and outlined three main areas in growing the game.

“Golf is in a really good place at the moment,’’ Slumbers said.

“We have benefited from the pandemic, in the very terrible couple of years the world has had.

“Golf is in a really good place. And I’m passionate about making sure that we capitalise on that really good space, keep driving it. There’s massive opportunities, particularly in India and China, for very large-scale growth in our sport.

“The best thing about covid being over for me is I can get back on the road and spend more time in Asia, and spend more time with the people who are driving this game in various countries.

“And we will do everything we can to ensure that we’re able to support both intellectually, with coaching and with money, all the countries around the

world that are affiliated to The R&A.” Asked specifically about the prospects for golf, Slumbers said: “Where do I think the growth of the game is? I think the growth of the game is driven by three things.

“One is perception, and primarily a perception that this is a game for the people and it’s a game that is good for your mental health and your physical health.

“Two is it’s about getting families to play golf. Many of you have watched over the last seven years what I’ve been driving from The R&A. If you look at it and put it all together into a puz-

zle, it’s about families. It’s about mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren all playing golf together. That’s the future.

“And thirdly, it’s about short-course facilities, public facilities, open to the public, relatively low cost, and introduce people to the game. Because all the research that we do shows that our problem is getting people to try out our sport often because of perception and often because of cost.

“But once they try it out, the hit rate on them staying with the game is huge.

Our problem is getting them through the door. And that’s the problem for golf.”

Asia-Pacific Amateur scheduled for October in Thailand

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he 13th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be held in Thailand in October.

The venue is the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi where the fourth edition of the tournament was held a decade ago in 2012. The dates are October 27-30.

Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur was established to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region. The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2023 Masters tournament in the United States and the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool in England, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in final qualifying for The Open.

Taimur Amin, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, Fred Ridley, chairman of the Masters tournament, and Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said in a joint statement: “We look forward to bringing the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship back to Amata Spring Country Club and gathering the region’s top players at this exceptional venue once again.

“This year will be a special opportunity to build on the growth we’ve seen in amateur golf over the last 10 years since the event was last held in Thailand. We are grateful to our hosts in the region as we work together to pro-

16

mote the game’s development and provide pathways for talented amateurs across the Asia-Pacific.”

Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and Cameron Smith, who won The Players’ Championship in March and is currently the fourth-ranked player in the world. Collectively, Asia-Pacific Amateur alumni have gone on to win 21 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date.

Andrew Yau, chairman of the board of directors of Amata Spring Country Club, said: “We are thrilled to once again host the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Amata Spring is excited to present a challenging test for the best amateur golfers across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Amata Spring Country Club was designed by Lee Schmidt and established in 2005. In addition to previously hosting the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2012, the course has provided the backdrop for prestigious events such as the LPGA Thailand, the Thailand Golf Championship and the Royal Trophy team event.

Guan Tianlang earned a historic victory at the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur over future PGA Tour winners C

August 2022

T Pan (runner-up), Matsuyama (fourth) and Smith (seventh) when he became the youngest player to win the tournament at 14 years old. He later became the youngest player to compete, and make the cut, at the Masters in 2013.

Rungsrid Luxsitanonda, president of the Thailand Golf Association, said: “Hosting the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is a unique opportunity to support the game of golf in Thailand as the talent in our country continues to grow.

“We are proud to invite the top amateurs from across the region back to Thailand and Amata Spring and look forward to another exciting edition of the AAC (Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship).”

Over the AAC’s 13-year history, the championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including future PGA Tour winners Matsuyama, Pan, Smith, Cameron Davis, Lucas Herbert, Si-Woo Kim, Satoshi Kodaira and Kyoung-Hoon Lee. The AAC field is comprised annually of the top male amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region representing the 42 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation affiliated organisations, including New Zealand.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

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August 2022

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Golf Matters conference ready to go

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS

T

he three-day Golf Matters New Zealand Conference and Expo kicks off on August 10 with eight further speakers added to the lineup announced in the July issue of this publication.

At this stage there are over 230 delegates from New Zealand and overseas who will attend at the new Christchurch Convention Centre.

The additional speakers include Mike Knell who is chief executive of the New Zealand Community Trust and is a passionate sports and community person with experience in various sports. He had 16 years in the New Zealand Fire Service. He has held a number of executive roles as well as several directorships.

Another extra speaker is Dr Brett Morris who has been involved in the international turf grass com-

munity for over 31 years. Half of that time has been spent as a course superintendent at public, private and resort courses in Australia, Fiji and Indonesia.

The other half has been spent in the university research and development and commercial sectors of the industry.

Further extra speakers are:Chris Gribben who is an agronomist with the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute, based in Christchurch.

He is the regional agronomist for the upper South Island and has 15 years experience in turf management and training. Likewise David Howard is also an agronomist at the NZ Sports Turf Institute which he joined in 1981. He provides agronomy services to various sports and schools throughout the lower South Island.

Will Bowden is an independent turf agronomist

based in New Zealand. He has over 30 years experience as a golf course superintendent, lecturer and consultant working in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In 2019 Bowden established NZ Turf Management Solutions.

Ben Gibson has worked with turf managers across Australia and New Zealand to create safer work environments. He is the author of People First: Building an Engaged Safety Culture through Effective Leadership.

Completing the lineup are Vanessa Baakman and Ramses Hunt from Saunders Robinson Brown Lawyers. Both are in the litigation team and are involved in employment law acting for employers and employees.

Clearly it is going to be three days packed with all aspects of the golf industry being scrutinised and on display for all attendees to enjoy and digest.

You would be silly not to, says caddie about LIV Golf

By Neville Idour

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n experienced and long serving caddie who is working on the DP World Tour reckons virtually every caddie on the tour would go to LIV Golf “in a heartbeat” if they had the op-

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portunity, according to a story in Golf Monthly.

He said any caddie that doesn’t want to has “something wrong with them.”

Wanting to remain anonymous, he revealed what he had heard from caddies working in the LIV series. Wherever in the

world a LIV caddie is, they get their air fares paid for in business class to wherever the LIV event is.

Then if they are chosen to be microphoned for any on course conversation they are paid $US1500 a day. Their hotels are paid for plus food. At the event they have food plus an open bar and players and caddies sit together. There is no segregation of them and us.

On the DP World Tour caddies do have their own lounge and free food but that is where it ends. No extras. The difference is like chalk and cheese.

As the anonymous caddie said: “Who doesn’t want to work for LIV? Who doesn’t want to work less and get paid a big load of money?”

The bagman for Branden Grace, who won at Portland in the United States, took home his 10 percent plus team winnings, a cool $US450,000.

“One week out there and you take home that much. Mind blowing,” the anonymous caddie said.

The caddie also thinks the decision by

August 2022

the DP World Tour to work with the PGA Tour is a bad idea. It will be depleted by its best players heading to the USA because the top 10 on the Race To Dubai will earn PGA Tour cards for the first time.

“The hypocrisy is mind blowing. The PGA Tour saying you are going to LIV for the money is rubbish as they have been depleting our tour for years.”

Now they have almost doubled their prizemoney the gap is now much wider.

“I don’t get how the PGA Tour are being such idiots. They’ve been the big dog for decades. Suddenly someone else comes along with a truck load of money and they don’t like it. Too bad. That’s business.”

The caddie concluded with references to DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and his PGA Tour counterpart Jay Monahan.

“Keith Pelley and Jay Monahan must be wetting their pants at the moment.”

Some will not agree with his comments but he surely leaves food for thought.

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New PING ChipR is part wedge, part putter and all performance W H AT ’ S N E W

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option from our engineers for golfers in search of game improvement and more enjoyment on the golf course.”

With the length of a putter (35”) and a loft closer to a 9-iron (38.5°), the ChipR is designed to be used on shots of 40 yards or less around the green with a putting-like stroke, resulting in bump-and-run style shots that ensure the distance control and consistency that lead to shorter putts.

“Applying a putting-style stroke takes a lot of the margin for error out of chip shots and is more comfortable for a lot of golfers,” Solheim said. “Knowing that, we’re building the ChipR at our standard putter length and lie angle to make setting up to the ball easier while providing the right amount of loft to get the ball in the air and eventually rolling closer to the hole. We recommend applying the same amount of force for a putt of the same distance. A lot of golfers will be amazed at how easy it is to use and more importantly, the number of strokes they’ll be saving.”

The ChipR’s compact size and shallow face combine with the cambered sole to optimize performance and provide versatility from the rough and fringe. The precision-milled MicroMax grooves deliver consistent and predict-

ast month PING announced the introduction of the ChipR, a fully engineered short-game solution that combines elements of a putter and wedge to help golfers improve performance around the greens.

The PING ChipR is available for custom fitting and pre-sell beginning today at authorized PING golf shops around the world.

The investment-cast, 431 stainless steel club is inspired by the PING Chipo, introduced by PING Founder Karsten Solheim in the late 1970s for golfers who lacked confidence with a traditional wedge and frequently struggled around the green.

“Golfers who fear chunking or blading their chip shots are really going to benefit from the new PING ChipR,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President. “We’ve learned a lot since my grandfather, Karsten Solheim, invented the Chipo, but his insights were spot on as always. Our research indicates 1/3 of golfers who tested the ChipR saw better results compared to a traditional wedge. We’ve engineered a lot of technology into the ChipR to help golfers avoid the poor chip shot and save strokes around the green.

It represents another score-lowering

able trajectories for improved control.

“We designed the ChipR to fit seamlessly into a golfer’s set,” Solheim said. “Whether they replace an existing wedge or another club in their bag, it’s a tremendous option to save strokes around the green. Just like all our clubs, it’s forgiving and can be custom fit and custom built to match the needs of the player. We’re excited to get it into golfers’ hands so they can share their results with us, and their playing partners can ask them how their short game got so good.”

PING CHIPR SPECIFICATIONS

Material/Manufacturing Process: Investment-cast 431 stainless steel head; multi-material cavity badge; tungsten toe/shaft weights; precision-milled Mi-

croMax face and grooves; hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish STD. LOFT/ BOUNCE: 38.50°/8° STD. LENGTH: 35” (available in custom lengths) STD. LIE: 70° (available in 10 PING color codes) STOCK SHAFTS: Steel: PING Z-Z115 wedge; Graphite: PING Alta CB Slate (R) STOCK GRIP: 360 Dyla-wedge Lite grip (3/4” longer than traditional grip) Get Custom fit today. For your nearest PING stockists contact Sports Network Ltd. Ph: 0508 776 786

SUMMER MEMBERSHIP – NOW OPEN! Judgeford Golf Club summer membership is now open Summer membership runs from 1 September 2022 to 31 March 2023 – that’s 7 months golf!

Summer membership is $560.00 payable now in full – details below BUT WAIT…………. THERE’S MORE! EARLY BIRD DEAL AVAILABLE!

Pay before

31 August 2022

The Course for Everyone

and it will only cost

$529.00!

This is a fantastic deal for 7 months of golf!

How do I accept this Exclusive Offer?

Pay cash at the shop or through internet banking to our Bank Account: 06-0513-0016489-00 (use ‘surname’ and ‘summer’ as reference).

Please note – we cannot accept credit card payment This offer is available now - so be in quick!

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the shop on 235-7633 (Press 1 for the shop)

328 Paremata Haywards Road State Highway 58 PORIRUA 5381

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Pay $580 to play golf through to 28 February 2023

 (04) 235 7633  judgeford@golf.co.nz  www.judgefordgolf.co.nz

August 2022

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August 2022

21

Teeing up with our International Associates LONG DRIVE

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ith boarders now open the excitement is rising for our players and our international associations are key for the continued growth of Long Drive and Xtreme Drivers League. IGANZ XDL is proud to collaborate with Asia Long Drive and Long Drivers of Japan to provide more opportunities for our players on the global stage. History made in

November 2018 when IGANZ landmarked the first long drive event at the famous Mission Hills China, Haikou Hainan Island (known as The Hawaii of China). Asia Long Drive now orgnaising events with Thailand up next this September. IGANZ XDL winners and qualifying players will get the chance to showcase their best drives in some of the most exotic places

on earth thanks to our friends of the sport.

Our Asian players are some of the most dedicated and competitive athletes in the world. They are incredible to watch and well respected in the sport. With players now eager to compete in Thailand, plans are already underway to ensure the best players from the pacific are at the tee this Sep-

tember. IGANZ XDL looks forward to opening up the international schedule for 2023. New Zealand was one of the last countries to open boarders this year so making international travel plans have been a task. IGANZ Pacific Rim Series will now include Asia Long Drive and Long Drivers of Japan, exciting times ahead for the sport and players.

Flashback to our first international open in China 2018

Emily Ashton: Cover girl and XDL businesswoman

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mily Ashton is helping drive business on and off the tee with IGANZ XDL. Based in Perth, Emily brings many talents to the sport and her dedication is organic. Emily is a great business woman and drives the grid with a fierce thirst for the win. With Australia and New Zealand’s borders being late to open from the pandemic lockdowns, all plans for Australia’s events have been pushed into 2023. The focus for Emily is on Thailand

22

in September, then the Trans Tasman Clash being held in December.

“Emily has supported myself and IGANZ from day one,” says CEO Olna Ford.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the women’s division grow and have great faith in Emily who is an asset to our sport,” says Olna.

Emily will be seen in a lot of the women’s media for IGANZ and XDL with the commercial mission to grow the sports and increase participation.

XDL Woman will have their own sponsors which will provide players individual opportunities for endorsements and sponsorships. Emily comes from a marketing background and is in tune with what’s required in the media world.

The sport of big hitters is still very male dominated so there’s a big motivation to fast track and increase participation from female competitors. XDL is awaiting the launch of software available from December, which is expected to be a tool to grow the game. Emily is the Cover Girl for XDL and has claimed her Aussie Long Ballers Jersey. Looking forward to the NEW chapter in 2023. Plans

are underway to overhaul the agency that will represent the players known to the sport since 2016 (Olna Inc) @ www. olnainc.com will be connecting with international agencies to add gateways for XDL champions for endorsement and commercial opportunities.

The sport of Long Drive (amateur) and

August 2022

Xtreme Drivers League (professional) is attracting golfers and non-golfers to the tee and with this the expectations that natural born drivers will be discovered in our national growth plans for events in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

For events & registrations and media go to www.iganz.co.nz.

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ith the pandemic still affecting most business sectors the sport of Long Drive and Xtreme Drivers League has been on a back footing dealing with two calendars of events (2021 in the 2022 season) After Auckland’s extremely long lockdown lasting nearly 4 months in 2021 the loss of sponsors were inevitable. With regional growth a focus for New Zealand Long Drive, the idea to seek sponsors local to

events is an obvious choice. The sport of big hitters is more expensive than the most sports given the entertainment aspect. With three major (2021) postponed events completed this calendar year New Zealand Long Drive is in full swing, turning up the HEAT with locals in sunny Nelson for the New HorizonSouth Island XDL Championship 2022.

Shining a light on local businesses who are supporting the growth of Long Drive

Captain of New Zealand Long Blacks Paul West & 2 x NZ Champion and New Zealand Long Black, Thomas Woods.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

and XDL events in their community.

Introducing Citi Heat and Cool, which is a family owned and operated business based in Nelson. The well respected business specialise in the full spectrum of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical,mechanical as well as repairs and services. Citi Heat and Cool believes air quality is something which cannot be compromised on and will go that extra mile to ensure yours is

always the best. Citi Heat and Cool are a Friendly, tight-knit team committed to growing with the ever-changing trends within the industry to ensure their skills are up to date and passed on to you when discussing your requirements.

New Zealand Long Drive are thankful for the amazing warmth received by Citi Heat and Cool family and look forward to having them on the tee this October 2nd to find the best in the South.

LONG DRIVE

Turning up the heat in sunny Nelson

Keeping the players cool on the TEE with local sponsors at the local PGA Pro Am.

August 2022

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F E AT U R E

Destination Queenstown THE GOLF MECCA GOLF COURSES IN QUEENSTOWN Queenstown is home to some of the most spectacular golf courses in New Zealand.

Several golf courses, all within a 25 minute drive, appeal to every level of golfer – whether it's the lush immaculately groomed greens of a resort course or a simple fairway with rugged mountain peaks as a backdrop.

The golf clubs and golf courses in Queenstown all offer spectacular scenery and varying par levels and difficulty.

There is a course whether you are a serious golfer or just starting out.

BOOKING A GOLF HOLIDAY TO QUEENSTOWN? We recommend: www.abovepargolf.com.au www.golfencounters.co.nz www.parnz.co.nz

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August 2022

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• Blue 6102m • White 5839m • Gold 5104m • Red 4100m EVER seen a post-card of Queenstown?

If so then it has probably been taken from the top of Skyline Gondola and has the Queenstown Golf Club in it!

This picturesque golf club offers not only stunning views of the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu but is an exciting and challenging golf experience. Located just 20 minutes from Queenstown, or 5 minutes by water taxi, this is one of New Zealand’s iconic golf clubs which is a ‘must play’ for all golfers visiting the region. The Course is surrounded by Lake Wakatipu and cradled by stunning mountain ranges so every tee and green has a view which makes it hard to keep your head down! Signature hole’s take on a whole new level at the Queenstown golf club especially the 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 14th and 17th which could be signature holes on any course.

With a proud and loyal membership,

Queenstown golf club has a long history and welcomes visitors yearround. Equipped with 40 modern motorised carts, a PGA Professional, Pro shop, 7 day a week Café specialising in home-made faire and fully licenced Bar ensures all your golfing needs are met and exceeded.

The signature hole and probably one of the more scenic photographs on a New Zealand golf course would be the par 4 5th that curves left around the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to an elevated green. Driving line is key as an over aggressive line combined with a miss-timed drive will see you ending up in the drink, however, the hole sets up for a right to left shaped drive which will carve yardage off your approach shot.

The facilities are excellent, carts and club hire available from the pro shop.

Green fees range from $50-100 depending on seasons. » www.queenstowngolf.co.nz » Email: proshop@queenstowngolf. co.nz » Phone: 03-442 9169

F E AT U R E

QUEENSTOWN GOLF CLUB (KELVIN HEIGHTS)

F E AT U R E

CROMWELL GOLF CLUB • Black 6462m • Blue 6234m • White 5844m • Yellow 5204m • Red 4468m THE Cromwell Golf Course is a sand based, links style course located further from the sea than any other in New Zealand. Its fairways follow the natural lie of the land and features a sandy, wasteland feel, rough with patches of marram grass and large undulating greens.

The course has 5 tee locations ranging from beginner to championship providing a real challenge for all levels of golfer and was rated inside the top 30 NZ courses in NZ Golf Magazine’s 2019 rankings. The Cromwell course hosts the New Zealand Open final qualifying event annually.

Course facilities include a full length driving range and large multi-tier putting and chipping green, on-site PGA Professional, fully stocked pro-shop along with electric cart, trundle, and club hire.

Situated on the 45th parallel, the inland location and surrounding mountains creates a microclimate nearing semi-arid. With less than 400mm (<15 inches) of evenly spread rain and 2200 hours of sunshine per year, golf can be played comfortably year-round with dry underfoot conditions. In winter a crisp white frost usually ensures a brilliantly sunny day in which to enjoy a round of golf on a course maintained to a consistently high standard.

The golf course is in the centre of the town, which in turn is surrounded by vine yards and orchards. This is the centre of the world renown Central Otago Pinot Noir producing locations of Bannockburn, Bendigo and Lowburn so wine tasting opportunities are numerous. The town is also located adjacent to Lake Dunstan and the junction of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers.

» www.cromwellgolf.co.nz » Cromwell 9310, New Zealand » Phone: 03 445 0165

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August 2022

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ARROWTOWN GOLF CLUB ARROWTOWN GOLF CLUB ARROWTOWN GOLF WN GOLF ARROWTOWN CLUB GOLF CLUB CLUB

F E AT U R E

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the golf shop with all your and afterwards, enjoy a refreshment in the Clubho Golf clubs, for shop hire. electric Our carts are and there trundlers to areand you available in forrequirements hire.

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or out on the taking one of most stunning vistas in the whole region. enjoy a refreshment in the Clubhouse the golf shop with all your requirements and afterwards, the golf enjoy with refreshment allon your inoftaking the Clubhouse and afterwards, or aout the deck indeck one of the in most stunning vistas in the whole region.

Offering localOffering lo or out onshop the deck taking inrequirements one the most stunning vistas in the the whole region.

Offering local

Central Otago beers andexcellent wines, with food from Clubhouse Kitchen, it’s the pe or outat on deck taking in one the most stunning on vistas the deck the taking whole inregion. one of Offering the most local stunning vistas infood theexcellent whole region.

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end of your trip and want to enjoy it all over again! end of your trip and want to enjoy it all over again! de to Golf Courses TheVol. Confidential 5 - Tom Doak Guide to Golf Courses Vol. 5 - Tom Doak Blue: 5598m White: 5362m Yellow: 5011m Red: 3490m 5598m White: 5362m Yellow: 5011m 3490m Blue: 5598mBlue: White: 5362m Yellow: 5011m Red: 3490mRed:

course Arrowtown Club is afairways little5362m masterpiece with fairways threaded “The course“The atGolf Arrowtown Golf isGolf a little masterpiece with fairways threaded “The course at Arrowtown Club at is a littleClub masterpiece with threaded Blue: 5598m White: Yellow: Blue: 5011m 5598m Red: White: 3490m5362m Yellow: 5011m Red: 3490m ★ www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz ★ www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz ★ www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz Club is a little “Themasterpiece course at Arrowtown with fairways Golf threaded Club is aorlittle masterpiece fairways threaded through tiny valleys, between or over with greens nestling snugly through tiny valleys, between boulders, orboulders, overwith gorges withgorges greens nestling snugly through tiny valleys, between boulders, over gorges with greens nestling snugly ★ www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz ★ www.arrowtowngolf.co.nz ★ 166 Centennial Ave, Arrowtown 9371 ★ 166 Centennial Ave, 9371 Arrowtown 9371 166 Centennial Ave, Arrowtown oulders, orthrough over gorges tiny valleys, with greens between nestling boulders, snugly or over gorges with greens nestling snugly into hillsides.” into hillsides.”into hillsides.” ★ 166 Centennial Ave, Arrowtown 9371 166 Centennial Ave, Arrowtown 9371 ★ Phone: 03-442-1719 ★ Phone: 03-442-1719 ★ Phone: 03-442-1719 into hillsides.” into hillsides.”

Ranked 7 of Best NZ Golf- May Courses - May 2021 of 50 Best NZ50Golf Courses 2021 Ranked 7 ofRanked 50 Best7NZ Golf Courses - May 2021 ★ Phone: 03-442-1719 ★ Phone: 03-442-1719 Best NZ Golf CoursesRanked - May 2021 7 of Top100GolfCourses.com 50 Best NZ Top100GolfCourses.com Golf Courses May 2021 Top100GolfCourses.com

100GolfCourses.com

Top100GolfCourses.com

MILLBROOK RESORT

Set in a natural alpine amphitheatre against the backdrop of the Remarkables Mountain Range this 27 hole golf course exploits the dramatic terrain and delivers world-class golf. Millbrook is simply an unforgettable Queenstown golfing experience.

This award winning golf course has also been voted Best Golf Hotel at the World Golf Awards and named Oceania’s Best Golf Hotel in New Zealand.

The course was originally designed by renowned professional and master golfer Sir Bob Charles, then renovated by Greg Turner in October 2010 with the addition of The Coronet Nine. Surely one of the most magical golfing venues in the world, Millbrook offers a 27-hole course brilliantly conceived and shaped from the rugged mountain landscape.

Millbrook is a breathtaking environment to tee off at with extraordinary photo opportunities at every turn. Our championship course offers three fabulous nine hole courses, each named after local prominent Queenstown landmarks- The Remarkables, The Arrow and The Coronet Nine.

» www.millbrook.co.nz/golf » Malaghans Road, Arrowtown » Tel: 0800 800 604

ALEXANDRA GOLF CLUB

• Blue 6000m • White 5718m • Ladies 5179m Alexandra lies in the beautiful Manuherikia valley at the confluence of the Manuherikia and Clutha rivers. Surrounded by the high mountain ranges of the Old Man, Dunstan and Hawkduns, and with the barren Knobby Range as its background, this is a special part of Central Otago featuring stunning scenery, great history as well as plenty of things to do for golfers and non golfers alike.

The pines bordering the golf course along State Highway 8 were originally planted to contain the desert sands that prevailed in the area. Most find it hard to imagine that today’s stunning golf course could be created from such beginnings. The course features a flat but undulating desert type terrain with fully irrigated fairways from tee to green. Narrow fairways mean accuracy is of prime importance if you are to avoid the desert remnants in the rough and the many trees lining the fairways.

Of interest, and one reason why golfers find their round at Alexandra appears to go so quickly, is the lack of continuous holes of same par value! Only twice in the 18 holes do you play consecutive holes of equal par!

With the high ranges viewable from most parts of the course golfers find this is a most scenic as well as challenging course.

At just over an hour drive from Queenstown and Wanaka the golf course and this unique area are well worth a visit. Come and see what we mean, phone SubPar golf shop at 03 448 8374 or email SubPar@xtra.co.nz to book a tee time now.

Green fees are $35 for NZ affiliated players with group discounts available. » www.alexandragolf.co.nz » State Highway 8, Alexandra 9340 » Tel/Fax: 03 448 8204

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August 2022

WANAKA GOLF CLUB

• Blue 5770m • White 5484m • Ladies 5029m A one hour scenic drive from Queenstown, the township of Wanaka is a stunning and tranquil holiday destination in the heart of the Queenstown Lakes region. Perched above the picturesque township is the lovely Wanaka golf club; the biggest club in the South Island with over 1070 members. Host to the NZ Mixed foursomes, the NZ Women’s and Men’s Seniors events. Wanaka Golf Club boasts a well maintained, charming and challenging layout, with magnificent views.

Measuring 5770m (blues) and 5484m (whites) the course isn’t long by modern standards, but careful course management and the ability to shape your shots is important if you want to score well. The small greens and natural contours of the land also present their own challenge, so playing safe to the middle of the greens is recommended. It’s also important to try and keep your eye on the ball, as the spectacular views across the town and lake to Mount Aspiring National Park are some of the best in New Zealand, and can certainly add an extra distraction to your game.

The two nines are very different. The front-nine, which was established in the 1930s, features an undulating layout with small greens nestled amongst the rolling terrain. The back nine, which was added across the road in 1967, is much longer and slightly flatter—but no less spectacular. The club continues to progress significantly with capital improvements and course upgrades, making it one of the most scenic and playable courses around.

The club features all the usual facilities you’d expect from a quality golf club, including club and cart hire, fully-stocked pro shop, recently upgraded practice range facility and a café and bar.

» www.wanakagolf.co.nz » Email: wanaka@golf.co.nz » Phone: +64 3 443 7888

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GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND WHANGAROA GOLF CLUB - NEWS AND RESULTS

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August 2022

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36’S WOMEN’S PENNANTS WAS PLAYED AT WAITANGI GOLF COURSE

The final round of the 36’s women’s pennants was played at Waitangi Golf Course recently , the winning team Sherwood Park with 50 points.

Team members: Mirian Corbett, Jenny

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Parkinson, Jeannie Allen, and Marie Walker, plus Linda Garner, In Hee Kim and Beryl MacLeod over the season.

The runners up were Waitangi with 33 points (one point more than Whangaroa) so very close on the day. Waitangi team members were: Merle Mounsey, Marilyn Atkinson, Cheryl Douglas, and Jan Williams.

KAITAIA ARE THE 18 HOLE WEEKEND PENNANTS WINNERS FOR 2022

August 2022

From left to right: Ellen Wright, Kerry Rolleston, Flo Smith, Lynn Masters.

Runners up were Ngunguru 1.

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Sunday, 3rd, July, 2022 was the final round for the Men’s Handicap Matchplay. Fighting it out this year over 36 Holes was Te Awamutu 1 vs. Cambridge 1. The morning foursomes rounds had Te Awamutu in the lead with 2 wins and 1 loss with the pairing of R. Wetere and A. Duncan winning comfortably 7/5 over J. Coster and B. Cave from Cambridge.

The afternoon rounds were slow going and saw the final match finishing just before dark. Overall Te Awamutu showed their determination taking out Cambridge with 5.5 games points out of 9.

WAIKATO

CANTERBURY

2022 HANDICAP MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONS - TE AWAMUTU 1 OVER CAMBRIDGE 1!

CANTERBURY NORTH VS MARLBOROUGH

The Annual Canterbury North vs Marlborough representative fixture was held at Kaikoura Golf Club recently.

The Senior Men (pictured right) defeated Marlborough 9-3, winning the morning foursomes 4-0 and the afternoon singles 5-3.

The Intermediate Men defeated Marlborough 7.5-4.5, winning 3.5-.5 in the foursomes and drew their singles 4-4.

An overall win to Canterbury North 16.5-7.5.

CANTERBURY GOLF -ASHBY BERGH TROPHY & MCGUIRE HENDON CUP

The Ashby Bergh Trophy and McGuire Hendon Cup matches were played at Lincoln Golf Club recently in cool, wintery conditions with the course in great order.

The Ashby Bergh Trophy match was between Tai Tapu (Canterbury Central Patterson Cup Winner) and Rangiora Green (Canterbury North Templeton Cup Winner) with the Tai Tapu team of, from left Jason Blair, Scott Ward, Henry Siave, Sean Spencer, Derek Watson and Rod Frewen defeating Rangiora’s Ross Campbell, Eric Crawford, Karl Rollinson, Jim Dwyer, Tony Burgess and Rob Duncan 3.5-2.5 and making it back-to-back victories in the competition for the Canterbury Central club.

The McGuire Hendon Cup match was between Ellesmere (Canterbury Central Patterson Cup Runner-up) and Waimakariri Gorge Black (Canterbury North Templeton Cup Runner-up). Waimakiriri Gorge’s, from left Neil Robertson, Dean Judson, Graeme Tallott, Dale Thompson, Lindsay Croy and Rodger Welsh defeated Ellesmere’s Russell Chapman, Aaron Chapman, James Brown, Jevin Nicholls, Geoff Wylie and Chris Bell 5-1, to also make it successive victories in the competition for the Canterbury North club.

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August 2022

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OTAGO/SOUTHLAND AORANGI WOMEN’S STYLEMASTER

Fourteen clubs competed in the Aorangi Women’s Stylemaster competition held at Temuka Golf Club on Thursday 23 June in very cold conditions. Two pairs from each club played a foursomes competition with the team with the best com-

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August 2022

bined net score winning the Stylemaster Tray. The Temuka and Mayfield teams both finished with net scores of 149, to hold the trophy jointly. Results: Stylemaster Tray Temuka: Frances Mulvey and Robyn Will (73), Jenny Bolitho and Brenda Davies (76 ) net 149 Mayfield: Sue Graham and Juliet McLeod (74), Christine Ross and Alison Vessey (75) net 149 Runners - up Pleasant Point: Ali Barrett and Angela Curry (71), Rose Allison and Joan Greer (79) net 150 Methven Jug: Best pair not in the winning team Ali Barrett and Angela Curry net 71 (Pleasant Point) Runners - up Bev Conlan and Di Cleveland, net 76 (North Otago), Marie Anderson and Lyn Dobson, net 76(Fairlie), Marilyn Duthie and Isabell Bond, net 76 (Lower Waitaki) Two’s: Susan Brown and Miriam Burnside (Timaru) Stylemaster Tray Front left (above): Juliet McLeod, Sue Graham, Alison Vessey, Christine Ross (Mayfield) Middle left: Frances Mulvey, Jenny Bolitho, Brenda Davies Back: Robyn Will (Temuka) Methven Jug From left: Angela Curry and Ali Barrett (Pleasant Point)

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August 2022

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