We are in the midst of our interclub season in Wellington which means the matchplay format of the game is to the fore.
And when it comes to matchplay I get tired of hearing one particular tactic that is often applied.
The tactic is that while you are early in the round of a game, you give your opposition a putt that might normally be considered outside the gimme range.
The theory is that because it is early in the round there is less pressure and the opposition will probably sink the putt.
Then when it comes to a similar putt later in the round, the opposition is awaiting the words “that’s good’’ but nothing is said.
The theory of the tactic is that
the opposition is suddenly under pressure and misses the putt.
I understand the theory but the problem with this tactic is that imagine what it would mean for the game if you had not given that early putt and the opposition missed. That would be a win you would not otherwise have got.
The result of matchplay is determined by who wins more holes than they lose. If you win four holes and lose three holes, you win one up.
It is not determined by whether you won those holes early in the round or late in the round.
If you win four holes early in the round and lose three holes late in the round, you still win one up.
In a recent interclub match of my own, my playing partner asked if I was giving my oppo-
sition a putt which would have been about three feet.
I said no.
Guess what?
He missed the putt to allow me a half instead of a loss.
It proved crucial. I went to the last hole with a one up lead instead of being all square.
The one up lead allowed me some comfort in that I only needed a half to win the match.
My opposition was the one under pressure because he needed to win the hole to square the match.
The trouble with golf is we all read the game backwards. If we miss a putt on the last to lose the game, we blame that putt. But if we miss a putt on the first hole to lose the hole we only count that as going one down. If we go on to lose the match one
down, the missed putt on the first hole is hardly considered.
Before we started our interclub competition in late January our teams had a practise round a week or so beforehand.
On the first hole my opposition said that’s good for a putt of about three feet. I scolded him and said don’t you ever give putts like that when it comes to interclub competition.
He then trotted out the theory of giving early putts.
I then trotted out my theory that a win early in the round is worth the same as a win late in the round.
If you win more holes than you lose, you win the match. It doesn’t matter where in the match they happened.
My theory for matchplay golf is give them nothing.
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Like it or hate it, LIV Golf is probably the best thing to happen for golf since the PGA Tour was formed in 1968 when the Tournament Players Division broke away from the United States PGA. Sound familiar? But that is another story.
It is more than likely New Zealand’s Danny Lee would agree with those sentiments. His move to LIV Golf has produced immediate dividends, playing-wise and financially. After a creditable mid-table effort in the first 2023 event at Mayakoba in Mexico, his remarkable come from behind win in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States was as euphoric as any tour win in recent times.
Funnily enough when this writer learned that Lee had gone to LIV, my hunch was it was the best move for him to make although I hardly expected such immediate proof. I am not ashamed to admit I watched the 30 minute highlights package of the final round and his outstanding press conference afterwards. It was time well spent. His winning putt and cry of joy will be remembered by those who saw it for many moons. His fellow players were clearly delighted for him.
The shots and putts shown that he made revealed a different player to the one on the PGA Tour. His drives were long, his irons accurate and his putting, now with a long putter, was deadly. Lee began the final round four shots off the pace but the much better credentialled first two round leaders Marc Leishman, Charles Howell and Louis Oosthuizen were left behind not to mention Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and so many other top players.
Lee had battled on the PGA Tour for 11 seasons with one win, earning $US15 million but was never able to fulfil his potential. He thought winning was now beyond him after a poor opening round at the Genesis Invita-
tional in California in February, his last PGA Tour event.
After his win Lee said: “This win means a lot. I haven’t won since 2015
and I felt like winning wasn’t my thing. But today changed that and it is good to see I’m still capable of playing some good golf.”
So what got him to LIV? There were no $millions to entice him.
His 10 year friendship with Kevin Na, the captain of the Iron Heads team, was the key.
Na called Lee and said: “come play with my team.”
Lee had reservations about LIV Golf.
“Na told me if I missed this opportunity I would kick myself. I was a little scared not knowing what it is all about so I asked Kevin if it was the right decision. If you aren’t over here playing it’s hard to understand what LIV is like. But I do know I have not heard a single complaint from a LIV player so far. “
Lee said it was the team aspect that actually got him over the line.
“It was a life changing decision. I thought the environment and team aspect would be great for me. Kevin is like a mentor. He is one of the nicest guys. When I struggle with my game or my life I go and ask his advice. I was falling apart the last couple of years with my injuries.”
He has battled with chronic back and wrist injuries. But now in better shape Lee said: “I have been working so hard practising more than ever, playing and talking together. I just love the team aspect. It is great mentally because I don’t want to let anyone down. I can’t give up on a shot as the team is watching.”
Lee said of his win: “I wasn’t looking at the individual score all day. I was only asking how the team was doing. That is the reason why Kevin called. That is why I wanted to come over here to win as a team.”
His team, which also includes Sihwan Kim and Scott Vincent, finished third and shared $US500,000. Lee’s win was worth $US4.125 million, about similar to what the PGA Tour is now offering in many events.
Maybe it would not surprise if Lee makes a long overdue return to New Zealand for the 2024 New Zealand Open.
What an absorbing final day unfolded at the New Zealand Open, sponsored by Sky TV, at the award-winning Millbrook Resort at Arrowtown, near Queenstown, last month.
It produced some stunning golf and in the end a decisive and deserving winner in Brendan Jones from Australia when a multi-player playoff looked likely.
But it was only in the last three holes that the likely winner emerged from the bunch of 11 players within one shot.
The first two rounds were dominated by Christopher Wood (Australia) whose stunning first round Remarkables course record 61 left him with a four shot lead over Kiwis Steven Alker and Kit Bittle among a group of six players on 65. New Zealand amateur Kazuma Kobori was on 66.
Wood said it was: “A very special round” being his lowest in a tournament and his chip in for eagle on the par five 10th hole was a standout.
Wood stayed ahead after a second round 69. However, Australian Shae Wools-Cob fired a 64 on the Coronet course to trail by one shot on 11 under par. Veteran Australian Scott Hend also shot 64 to be third on 10 under while Kobori stayed in the mix with a 67 to be at nine under.
The Australian presence would assert itself on the third day with Shae Wools-Cob having a six under round to lead by two shots on 17 under. A burst of five consecutive birdies from the fifth hole separated him from the field. Wood was second on 15 under.
The most significant move came from ultimate winner Jones with a superb 62 to move within four shots of the lead. Kobori continued to play consistent golf to be second after 16 holes. However, errors in his course management led to an untimely double bogey on the par five 17th. He bounced back to birdie the 18th to be in seventh place.
Surprise overnight leader Shae Wools-Cobb found his first experience leading into a final round very difficult early on. A dreadful start saw him bogey the first hole then double bogey two and four to fall four behind leader Christopher Wood. He would eventually finish at 10 under par and in 26th position. Wood plugged away to finish tied 6th on 14 under.
Harry Hillier, from New Zealand, began the day at five under well off the lead but led the local charge with a superb eight under par round of 63 to end his tournament on 13 under and 12th position. John Lyras, from Australia, would end up equal second, struggled in the third round and began the final day at eight under. But he would have a seven under par round to be in
the clubhouse and tied for the lead on -15 and watch the last few holes unfold.
Gareth Paddison was the best of the other New Zealanders early on and after 17 bogey free holes had picked up five birdies to move to 11 under. Sadly the island 18th green for the second time eluded him and he found the water leading to another double bogey. Those costly four dropped shots on the one hole spoiled an otherwise good tournament and highlighted how tough the game can be.
Champions PGA Tour star Steven Alker had an uneventful final round. Bogey free with two birdies he finished tied 30th on -9.
Brendan Jones was looking likely with two early birdies and was one from the lead after nine holes. John Lyras was also making a move to -14 after 16 holes. Tomoyo Ikemura (Japan) sank a long putt to eagle the par five 10th and tie the lead with Wood, fellow Japan player Terumichi Kakazu and Queenstown’s Ben Campbell who was on a hot streak.
Campbell’s front nine had just the lone birdie to be on 11 under par with no inkling of what was to come. He eagled 10, a par five, with a 45 foot putt which ignited the gallery. A par on 11 was followed by excellent birdie putts on 12 and 13. Meanwhile Wood would drop out of the lead after missing a two foot par putt on 10. Campbell narrowly missed his birdie on 14 then gave himself all sorts of problems on the 160 metre par three with a wayward
tee shot left in the rough. His low chip had far too much on it and went off the green and the double bogey stung as he dropped back to -13.
He would bounce back with a two foot birdie putt on the driveable par four 14th. Another short birdie putt on the 17th gave him a share of the lead again but a birdie on 18 seemed to be a minimum requirement. It was not to be. However, after calm reflection it had been a fine effort after all the injury woes and surgeries of the last year. The tied second finish no doubt will have given him more confidence as he returns to the Asian Tour.
Michael Hendry (sixth) and Daniel Hillier (12th) were adding a greater Kiwi presence on -14 after 13 holes. Hillier had birdied four of his first five holes on the second nine, sinking some nice putts. Hendry would finish on that score while Hillier inexplicably missed a two footer par putt on 16 to finish -13. Kazuma Kobori, the leading Kiwi starting the day, bogeyed his first two holes, battled back with three birdies then another bogey on 13 left him where he started on 12 under par. Luke Toomey was another Kiwi making a move with a four under round to finish on -12 and finish 17th.
Korean Jaewong Eom had joined the leaders on -15 after 14 holes. Birdies on 9, 10, 12 and 14 had lit up his round. At this stage four players were tied on -15 with another six breathing down their necks on 14 under. Eom would finish on -15 and a share of second place.
Kazuma Kobori (who finished sixth) was fighting back with five birdies by the time he reached the par five 17th on -14. Par was the best he could do on the last two holes. It had been a fine effort from the talented amateur and his progress will be watched closely. A professional career is surely on the horizon.
Brendan Jones had stolen the solo lead with a birdie on the par five 14th, then stiffed his tee shot on the drop down par three 15th to a foot to extend the lead to two shots. On the par five 17th his second shot to the green got lucky. It went right towards the hazard and bunker, hit the slope and bounced into the bunker rather than the water. A bunker shot to two feet and another birdie effectively shut the gate on closest rivals. A comfortable par on 18 sealed the deal to end what had been one of the great New Zealand Opens.
Jones was a little emotional afterwards. “I have supported this event for many years and didn’t think I would win it but it is all a bit unbelievable. I looked at the leaderboard on the par three 18th and thought I might only need a six to win. I didn’t want that though.”
It was a popular win for the Aussie Japan Tour stalwart who took home the winner’s purse of $297,000.
The weather was kind and large numbers rolled up to give the event a festive feel and great atmosphere. Can’t wait for 2024.
Brendan Jones, 48, was a delight to listen to after his three shot maiden Australasian Tour win at the New Zealand Open.
This after just making the cut on the cutline at the final hole in the second round and being four shots from the lead going into the final round. He was quite emotional after his win. After all, despite a career with an impressive 18 professional wins, it was four years since his last win.
“This was just incredible. I have been supporting this event for many years and have said to myself as long as my bum points to the ground I’ll never win it,’’ Jones said.
“But I’ve won it and played some pretty awesome golf for an old guy. It’s a dream come true. I don’t know what to think.”
A Canberra lad, he took two years away from golf during covid-19 and was not sure what to expect when he resumed his usual schedule.
“It is a weird feeling at my age to come back and expect to win a tournament so soon.’’
He missed many cuts last year and was thinking of throwing in the towel for a while. However his coach, Australian legend Alex Mercer, came to the rescue.
“I spent a couple of hours with Alex Mercer the greatest human that I know which changed my outlook so much. Without thinking he is doing much he is doing everything. All of a sudden I was positive again and more relaxed. He told me I had nothing to prove to anybody and just go out and play.
“I found something at the end of last year. Then I took a couple of months off and took my kids to the USA and when I came back my swing
felt fantastic. I had fun at the end of last year.
“I don’t love golf and that is the big thing. When I am playing bad I really dislike it, but getting in contention again at the end of last year it opened the door a little bit for me to think that maybe I could still play. This year I have been playing great.
“My practice round here, I felt I was playing really well, but when you think like that the expectations are there. So I had to ground my backside off in the first two rounds because I didn’t have my good stuff.
“However in the third round it was pretty special, there was no stress at all, made some good putts and hit some great shots and took that momentum into today.
“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. I played about a thousand rounds. But I have been playing long enough to know what it takes to win. The second shot on 15 was probably the best three wood I have ever hit in my life. Looking back to the 18th in the second round I two putted from 60 feet to make the cut on the line. Without that I wouldn’t be here.”
So what did it mean to win here?
“It means everything to win my first Australasian title here as I love this event more than anything.
“I haven’t played the Australian Open for years because it clashes with the big ones in Japan. I pencil this one in at the start of every year. I came over here one year when I was injured and didn’t play but I just love being here and the New Zealand friends that I have and it makes me happy just to be here.”
Are any of your family here or have you spoken with them?
“My boys don’t follow golf but they know I am in New Zealand and may or may not have heard I have won. They are 15 and 11.”
There were several people celebrating when it was over?
“Twelve of my friends from Canberra are here on a week long golfing trip. They flew in early afternoon and came straight here. The way they were yelling out I felt I was in America where they like to hear their own voice.
“But it was nice to know I had that support and also from my New Zealand friends. It was also fantastic to do it in front of my golfing peers like Brad Kennedy, Andrew Evans and Mike Hendry who hung around. It was nice of them and it means a lot.”
Did you have a wine or two last night before the final round?
“Yes, I have matured a bit and know I can have some beer and wine and know I will wake up feeling okay. I can promise you I won’t feel okay tomorrow.”
On that note Jones departed and went to spend some time sharing the joy with the 400-plus tournament volunteers where a good time was had by all.
We love having groups come and play our course and offer a discount for 12 players or more. Give us a call to enquire about bringing your golfing buddies, or a ladies golf group, to Ohope Beach Golf Links ... and think about combining it with a round at one of our neighbours; Whakatane, Opotiki, Kawerau or Te Teko.
New Zealand Open tournament director Michael Glading was happy to frankly share his thoughts with Golfer Pacific two weeks after the dust had settled. We asked him his overall assessment of the event.
“After what was a three-year gap it probably surpassed our hopes,’’ Glading began.
“We were obviously concerned that we may have lost some momentum because of that gap but I think the results showed that we probably didn’t which is very pleasing and reassuring.”
Were there any areas of improvement you can see with the separation of the new nine holes in an elevated setting making spectator access for the less able difficult?
“I think that is a fair question. While the new holes look fantastic on television and we wouldn’t want to lose that, the reality is that by using the en-
tire Coronet course everything got very spread out.
“We had excellent crowds but because they were so spread out you didn’t quite get those same feelings that we have had in other years when it was running more around the Champions’ Lounge. It is certainly a factor we will definitely have to consider but I wouldn’t want to lose any of those beautiful TV pictures.” Would some kind of shuttle system to get people up to hole six be the answer to getting much bigger numbers up to holes six to 13?
Glading’s response was: “I think you are right. Access is difficult and is always going to be difficult because it is a steep climb and decline. The first two days are always going to be spread out with two courses in use so I am not too worried about them but I do think that having the finale where people are a bit closer to the central hub makes for a better spectator experience.”
Perhaps partner with a skifield to put a gondala in? Much laughter was the response. So what were the highlights for Glading?
“For me personally it was very much about Brendan (Jones) winning. Also about having Ben Campbell, Daniel Hillier, Michael Hendry, Harry Hillier and Kazuma Kobori involved at the pointy end. So we had a good Kiwi contingent. I sort of stepped back on the final day and looked at the leaderboard and we had very good representation of the tournament with Australians, Kiwis, Koreans, Japanese in the mix. It really showcased what the tournament is really about which is very much a Pan Asian, Australasian event.
“I have been good friends with Brendan Jones for over 10 years so to have my best friend in terms of golf professionals win the tournament was exciting. He is a great guy. Whenever I go up to Japan I always have dinner with him. He
has been incredibly helpful to the tournament. In terms of Japan relationships he has been a really key driver. Before I go to Japan I contact him and say who do you think I should be aiming for and he gives me names. So behind the scenes he has been very supportive. He has only missed one year with injury but still came over and watched it.”
Any thoughts looking ahead to 2024?
“We are getting results back from our surveys and generally speaking the satisfaction levels are very high. In time we would still like to have three courses for the event. We would love to have a three course model which has to be our next step. We would take The Hills or Jack’s Point in a heartbeat. For our growth we need to have three courses.
“At the moment our field is at the maximum size. Our first tee time is 7.30am and our last is 2pm so that is not ideal.’’
Time will tell to see when
and if the three course model is achieved but it would undoubtedly be a fillip not only for the tournament but for the Queenstown and Arrowtown areas.
The ambassadors have also played a big part.
“We managed to get a female this year in Ella Gunson who was fantastic.”
Gunson told a spectator, she chatted with, that her short game wasn’t too good. She was in a bunker on the 18th and Brendan McCullum had said to her he would skull a beer if she got up and down. She played out nicely and sank the seven foot putt. Enough said.
Were you pleased with the spectator numbers?
“While we don’t have those I think the numbers were great even on the Thursday.”
Given the overall success of the 2023 New Zealand Open, the 2024 version is sure to build on that.
We chatted to Brian Howie, the director of operations at Millbrook, after the successful New Zealand Open had concluded last month. He gave us an insight into the wheels and cogs of the running of the event.
We asked him about the set up and his involvement in the event.
“We have a license agreement with Golf New Zealand for five years,’’ Howie began to explain.
“This was the first year of that five year agreement that actually started in 2022 but because of covid we were not able to have the New Zealand Open that year. So we have Millbrook Tournaments Ltd, a Millbrook company and John Hart is chairman and Michael Glading is tournament director.
“Then we have a New Zealand Open organising committee comprised of John Hart as chairman, Dean Murphy of Golf New Zealand, Michael Glading, Greg Turner, Mel Gimblett and myself. When the tournament comes to Millbrook a lot of Millbrook people are involved in the operations in terms of accommodation and food and beverage although some of the latter is contracted out. So there are a lot of moving parts with who is involved and how it all comes together.”
Being the first year all four rounds having been held at Millbrook we asked Howie what his thoughts were.
“I have been delighted we have been able to get the tournament back. It has been a frustrating period since 2020 so it has been almost three years since it was last held. Even though preparations were made each year, the will it or won’t it happen, then having to make a call to can it were difficult.”
“Overall the feedback has been terrific. People just love being here, and back playing. I feel there is a sense of pride we were able to do it on both Millbrook courses and the amount of work the greenkeeping staff put in to make sure both courses were in top condition has been terrific. Of course all of it was coinciding with Millbrook’s 30th anniversary as well.”
Were there any challenges to be overcome with the new Coronet nine being elevated with a long walk up to it?
“That is an interesting point. We will always look at learnings for next year. From a players’ point of view it is not an issue. Maybe from a spectators point of view we will talk to the team and see if next year we can put more transport on from the village centre out to that area between Coronet
five going up to Coronet six. Then go further up the hill and do some shuttle points up there. So I think we can look at some things like that to make it more accessible.”
However, overall it has been a very successful event and Howie said over the following weeks the team would do a review and look at things they might change for 2024.
“There will certainly be things we can learn from and correct for next year.”
There is no doubt the spectators who came along enjoyed the whole environment as well as the golf. Unfortunately there were no crowd numbers available but on the weekend the carparks were full to overflowing so numbers were clearly in line with or exceeded expectations.
One of the big plusses that added to spectator enjoyment was the lack of roped fairways which allowed people to follow groups easily and get closer to the action. Howie concluded: “For next year we have got now a group of players who are all desperate to come back. That is the feedback we have had. So we will look forward to going again next year.”
His open and frank comments are much appreciated and show the event is in good hands.
By Neville IdourGratitude and appreciation are always welcome and not more so than at the New Zealand Open Golf. The success of the event depends on all those hundreds of people involved in the running of it, most of whom are volunteers.
Ben Taylor, who co-ordinated all 400 plus volunteers, was always in control and looked after the volunteers admirably. He was also thrilled to receive a message from Jamie Arnold, a player in the tournament. We are happy to share it with readers.
“Dear volunteers, “I am writing to thank each and every one of you for your time and effort into making this year’s NZ Open such an incredible success. There are many events we get to play as professionals all over the world, and the NZ Open is a very special and unique event.
“I know many of you travel from all over the country to support the event and take time away from your own
families. There are many early alarms for the week. From shuttle drivers to walking scorers, the list goes on.
“I want to personally thank each and every one of you for making our experience so wonderful. You are the unsung heroes of the week. I hope you all enjoyed your time and have a few stories to tell your friends back home. The NZ Open is in great hands I look forward to seeing you all back in 2024.
“Kind regards, Jamie Arnold.”
Arnold finished 64th. Born and raised in Sydney, the 39-year-old now lives near Atlanta, the capital of US state Georgia, with his wife Kim and son Luke. He has played over 100 Korn Ferry Tour events in recent years. He won the 2019 Tahiti International Open.
As a volunteer for many years, I can certainly assure readers it is one the most enjoyable experiences and Ben Taylor says over 200 people have already applied for the 2024 New Zealand Open.
The world is open to travellers again and we would love you to join us in re-discovering these magnificent countries and their golf courses! From Australia, onto Europe, Hawaii, Vietnam & Cambodia and then South Africa, experience the cultures and traditions, the landscapes and cities. Return to NZ enriched and rewarded by your encounters.
Our Winter golf holiday packages in Queensland are now available for booking, so if you want to relax in some winter warmth next July/August, make sure you don’t miss out and head over to our website where you will find all the information.
Our fully hosted packages ensure you have a hasslefree, fun and relaxed time when travelling with us. You’ll find all the details of all these and other tours on our website, including convenient online booking.
Popular Sky TV sports presenter Laura McGoldrick was a regular presence at the New Zealand Open with her after-round interviews for Sky TV which was the tournament’s presenting sponsor.
It was nice to catch up with her for a chat about her life.
“I’m a good Canterbury girl, you could tell (much laughter), born and raised in Christchurch,’’ McGoldrick told Golfer Pacific.
“I have always had involvement in sport whether playing it myself, not particularly well to a high level or following it. My brothers played sport and my dad used to run Jade Stadium while my mother is a sports’ player agent. So we have always been around sports from growing up.
“Cricket was particularly popular in our household. Always loved it. I sort of fell into the TV side of it. I was hosting a kids TV show and I interviewed Shane Bond. Someone from Sky Sport saw it and rang Shane Bond and asked who is that girl. He said it’s my manager’s daughter. Do you want her phone number?
“So it started from there. I never saw myself doing this but loving sport it has been easy to talk about it. I’m pretty lucky, there’s no doubt about it. So now I cover (rugby) league, Super Rugby and have been doing golf for a long time which I love. I still love my cricket and have just come back from working on the Women’s World Cup in South Africa. That was an awesome experience.”
So how did McGoldrick actually get into TV?
“When I came out of school I
went to drama school because I wanted to be an actress. A friend of mine was auditioning for a kids sports show called Push Play. The job was hosting it and a good way to learn about being in front of the camera so I auditioned and got the job.”
She was a 20-year-old at the time.
“So I started on that and everything sort of flowed on from there.
“I got involved in radio as well and have an afternoon entertainment music show Monday to Friday from 3pm till 7pm called Hits Drive. I’m still that drama girl at heart singing and dancing … my poor husband.”
What sports did McGoldrick play?
“Tennis was my sport, not to a very high level but I really liked it. I tried cricket but
wasn’t very good.”
What about golf?
“Yes I play golf and I love my golf. My daughter is five and we have just started playing together. She comes with me to the driving range and has her own clubs now. We take our golf seriously and are the epitome of all the gear, no idea. I am a member at Remuera (in Auckland).”
So the Canterbury girl lives in Auckland now?
“Yes, terrible isn’t it? Auckland has become home now but Christchurch will always have a special place in my heart.”
So what is your handicap?
“Don’t want to talk about it. I’m working on it. I’ll be playing in the New Zealand Open in a couple of years once I figure out this game (more laughs).’’
McGoldrick’s sense of humour is ever present.
How often do you play golf?
“I try to play at least once a month. It is not a lot because I just don’t have the time. But a lot of my girlfriends have started getting into it as well so we try to nip off for about nine holes in the morning before my radio show.
“It is good for your mental health being outside as well, unless there is a bad hole (laughs again). I try and play a full round at least once a month plus a couple of nine holes when I can, and I love the driving range because I can do it with my daughter.
“I have got a setup where you can order some chippies and have a pizza while you are hitting some balls. We love doing that and I have a son who is two and likes hitting things, bats, clubs, whatever he can find, so it’s good fun.”
Any courses you have played you want to mention?
“My favourite in the last
couple of years is Arrowtown. I think it is beautiful. I have played in Christchurch and am very fortunate to have played Tara Iti thanks to a girlfriend who is a member.”
So what lies ahead for Laura McGoldrick?
“I have just started hosting a new TV show called The Women’s Game. It features females in New Zealand and their sporting activities. This week I have Susie Bates so it is pretty cool being able to highlight some of our female athletes.”
Looking further ahead?
“My ultimate goal is when I retire to travel the world playing beautiful golf courses. That’s my game plan and why I am working so hard now.” Do I need to mention more laughter?
On that note we end what was a most enjoyable chat.
Footnote. Laura insisted I be in the accompanying photo with her despite my protestations.
Louis Dobbelaar’s love affair with New Zealand continued with his maiden professional victory at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Gulf Harbour Country Club in Auckland. His first professional victory is even more special with his father flying over from Queensland to caddy for him in the final round. His father was also on the bag for his New Zealand Amateur win in 2016.
After consistent rounds of 66, 67, and 66 on the first three days, the 21-year-old began the final round one shot ahead of Kiwi Sung Jin Yeo at 17 under par.
The pair were locked in a twohorse race during the fourth round with Dobbelaar getting over the line by three shots following another clinical round of 69 to finish 20-under and win by three.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Queenslander,
who relinquished his lead early after a double bogey at the third. It was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar opening nine that included five birdies, meaning he’d make the turn in a couple under and tied with Yeo.
The pair both birdied No 10 before Dobbelaar seized control after a Yeo bogey and a double bogeys at 11 and 12. Solid pars coming home with a bogey thrown in the mix at 13 was good enough for the Queenslander to hoist his first professional victory in the same country he hoisted his first significant amateur title.
Dobbelaar says the latest victory would probably take a while to sink in.
“It’s pretty surreal. It was an awesome week and a really special place to do it; I’m stoked to get my first win here,’’ Dobbelaar said.
“I don’t think it will sink in for
a while, but I’m pretty stoked. I’m happy that dad could see me win this one. I don’t know what to say; I’m just bloody stoked.”
The victory capped off an incredible stretch of golf where Dobbelaar went 52 holes without a bogey, which he said was a record for him.
There is clearly something in the New Zealand air that brings the best out of Dobbelaar. He has strong Kiwi connections with family living in Wellington and said he felt just as comfortable this side of the Tasman as he does at home.
“The best part is it’s so familiar to an Aussie feel and I have a lot of family out here, which is nice. There is something about catching up with everyone and I love playing golf out here.”
Japan’s Ren Yonezawa (67 in the final round), two-time former champion Michael Hendry (63) and New South Welshman
Justin Warren (64) did their best to apply Sunday pressure but were never closer than five strokes from the lead.
Yonezawa finished outright
ker shot was eight feet short. Shin missed and Kobori holed hers to ensure a playoff.
So to the ninth hole, a par three, where Shin almost holed her tee shot which would have been in harmony with the wild back nine. Kobori was short of the green and chipped to six feet. Shin’s makeable birdie putt missed and raced four feet past. Kobori again showed her mature temperament by holing her knee knocker. Shin then saw her putt lip out leaving Kobori a not unexpected yet astonishing winner.
Kobori said: “Those (last two putts) were huge. They were both huge but that putt on the last, knowing what was on the line, to stay in with a chance, was especially so. As we got towards the end it was the adrenaline that helped. I’m sure it will sink in at some stage. Really happy I could pull it off.”
By Neville IdourCanterbury profession-
al Momoka Kobori has continued her rise on the world golf scene with a stunning sudden-death playoff win at the Women’s New South Wales Open at Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club, about 300km north of Sydney.
A clutch par putt on the final hole of regulation play and another on the first playoff hole secured her victory after rounds of 70, 70 and 71. Interestingly, she is following in the footsteps of Lydia Ko who won this tournament in 2012 at the age of 14. Kobori, who is 24 years old, said: “It’s awesome to win the same
event as her as I am trying to follow in her footsteps. I am very happy about that.’’
It was certainly a dramatic final day. Kobori was paired with amateurs Claire Shin and Sarah Hammett in the final group and took off with birdies on holes two, three and four to lead by four shots. However, rather than a procession to a comfortable victory for her, there would be a wild chain of events, especially on the back nine where the lead changed hands several times.
Ranked world No 208, Kobori bogeyed the sixth hole and a birdie to Shin reduced Kobori’s lead to two. At the 10th Shin eagled the par five
from eight feet while Kobori made birdie and the lead was one. Bogeys by both players on the 11th, while Hammett birdied, then eagled the par five 15th from 25 feet, saw all three players tied on eight under par for the tournament.
Then Hammett took the lead on the 16th, a par three, with a birdie from 10 feet as light rain was falling and darkness began. More drama would follow. Hammett messed up 17 with a chip shot from one side of the green racing over the other side, leading to a double bogey.
Then on the 18th, amazingly Kobori’s ball rolled off the tee just before she made contact
resulting in a second shot from the right rough. She found the bunker left of the green while Shin had a 10 foot birdie putt for the win after Kobori’s bun-
There were several Kiwis in the field. Best of the rest was amateur Vivian Lu who finished an impressive fifth with rounds of 74, 71 and 71. Hanee Song tied 7th while Wenyung Keh finished tied 18th.
Postscript: As a result of Kobori’s win her world ranking has shot up from 208 to 179.
Sir Bob Charles was happy to share his thoughts on the Christchurch Golf Club’s 150th anniversary celebrations with Golfer Pacific.
The club, which is the second oldest in New Zealand, was founded in 1873 two years after the Otago Golf Club in Dunedin and Charles is the club patron.
Charles said: “There were three days of events, with golf on Friday and Saturday, then culminating in the big celebration dinner at the Christchurch Convention Centre. Greg Turner was the guest speaker at the dinner which was compered by broadcaster Peter Williams.
Did Charles play golf?
“Yes I played on Saturday. I now play with a four handicap and I shot 76 with 36 stableford points so played to my handicap.
“I was disappointed on the 11th, one of the two new
holes, where I hit a very nice drive, then hit a poor second shot left of the green which deserved to be penalised, but I lost the ball and didn’t finish the hole.
“Overall it was a successful celebration. I remember being here for the 125th anniversary, but I don’t think I’ll be here for any more,’’ he added with a laugh.
Charles, 87, has been playing at Christchurch Golf Club since he was 17. So what does he think of the two new holes?
“They are now totally in character with the absence of trees and restoring the course to its links character.
“The 11th green is difficult to get your shot close to the hole while the eighth green hasn’t changed. A new bunker has been put in while the hill which was a feature of the eighth hole has been removed.
“Shorter hitters off the tee used to be faced with a blind second shot as they couldn’t reach the plateau to
see the green. So it is now a much easier hole. Overall it is good the two new holes are now in keeping with the rest of the links style course.”
The club, which currently has 630 members, has undergone significant changes over the years. Since the 2011 earthquake destroyed so much, the course has been redesigned and restored to the original links style with the removal of trees. The new clubhouse is a huge asset with its spacious modern design and facilities.
The clubhouse is privileged to have a special room named after Bob Charles containing memorabilia of his wonderful career. Charles is still an active member and continues to comfortably beat his age.
Many people still remember the club hosting the Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur Teams’ Championships in 1990 where a young Phil Mickelson began to make his mark.
When it comes to golf in Victoria most minds turn to Melbourne’s sandbelt region.
The sandbelt region is in Melbourne’s south east and some of the top courses there include the likes of Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Victoria Golf Club, Kingston Heath Golf Club, Huntingdale Golf Club and Metropolitan Golf Club.
There is a multitude of others as well. I remember playing at Southern Golf Club a few years ago and we were staying only a 20-minute drive away.
But when I turned on my global positioning system (GPS) device to show the 10 nearest golf courses, Southern didn’t appear because there were at least 10 others that were closer.
On a recent trip to Victoria we didn’t go to the sandbelt area. Instead we headed to Geelong which is the second biggest city in Victoria with a population of more than 250,000.
Geelong is more than an hour’s drive from Melbourne and about the same travelling time by train from the central city’s Southern Cross station.
The main course we played was the Curlewis Golf Club, just out of Geelong.
It was a fabulous establishment.
Notice I used the word establishment, not golf course. That’s because it is more than a golf course.
golfing events.
While I was there it appeared locals were using the restaurant for functions or special dining occasions.
The menu was that of a top class restaurant and there was a matching wine list, aided by the fact that the Sharps own a handful of nearby wineries.
The cafe/bar area was where smaller meals were served and where golfers enjoyed a drink after their rounds.
The fairways were reasonably generous for most holes but if you did stray into the rough, the grass was often long enough to make it difficult to find the ball.
There were bunkers all over the place. Most holes had both fairway bunkers — or sand waste areas — and greenside bunkers. The bunkers were large and deep and added to the test of the course.
Avoiding the bunkers was imperative but that is easier said than done.
I find it hard to pick a signature hole as there were many good holes. But simply for the exercise I will choose two — numbers 17 and 18.
One
This course is on the Bellarine Peninsula, is about a 20-minute drive from Curlewis and in recent years has become the venue for the Victoria Open.
New Zealander golfer Michael Hendry won at 13th Beach in February while Ryan Fox finished second to West Australian Min Woo Lee in 2020.
Thirteenth Beach comprises two courses — the beach course and the creek course.
The beach course is used for the final two rounds of the Victoria Open but we played the creek course.
Once again it was immaculate couch grass fairways, large undulating greens and daunting bunkers both on the fairway and guarding the greens.
Because we were first-timers at 13th Beach we sometimes became confused at where the next tee was and one occasion we were not sure which green to aim for. A map of the course on the scorecard would have helped and some better signage when exiting a green.
We played the blue tees at 13th Beach because we entered the day’s local competition and it carried a slope rating of 138 for men.
One
the impressive clubhouse at Curlewis Golf Club near Geelong in Victoria.
This is mainly due to local woman Lyndsay Sharp. She has obviously spent millions of dollars upgrading the course and building a new clubhouse and accommodation units along with a nearby modern driving range.
The driving range is a 20-minute walk from the golf course. It has about 20 bays all with prime ball tracing technology and excellent dining facilities.
Looking out from the balcony of one of the accommodation units at Curlewis Golf Club. Towards the left is the ninth green.
The accommodation units are beside the clubhouse and are next to the first tee and 18th green. They are hotel-like rooms with no cooking facilities.
They are obviously encouraging visitors to have breakfast in the clubhouse as there is not even a toaster in the rooms but we mainly got by with cereals for breakfast and other food purchased at a nearby supermarket.
So what about the golf course?
Top class.
The fairways are couch grass where the golf ball sits up perfectly and the greens are immaculate.
The 17th is a par three of 130 metres but the green is perched on a rise which is heavily guarded by two large bunkers. You either have to carry the green on the full or trust to luck to run the ball up between the two bunkers.
I need to declare a conflict of interest. It was the 17th hole that I won a nearest-the-pin prize in the tournament I was playing. I hit it to six feet but missed the putt.
The 18th is a par four of only 275 metres but makes for a good closing hole.
The surface of the green can’t be seen from the fairway as it is about 10 metres high and it has two large bunkers covering all of the front of green. Longer hitters probably only need a wedge for the second shot but precision is required because of the slopes of the green.
We played one other course during our seven-day stay. That was Clifton Springs which is best known for its 180 degree panoramic view of Port Phillip Bay.
Clifton Springs is not in the same class as Curlewis and 13th Beach but remains a good course. We found the greens very difficult to read and that sentiment was echoed when we enquired with locals who have played the course.
The green fee at Clifton Springs was about $50 at the weekend while it was $A115 for the creek course at 13th Beach during the week. We paid a tournament fee to play at Curlewis but I have read the green fee is about $A80.
The clubhouse at Curlewis contains a large restaurant, a cafe/bar area and a golf shop. The restaurant is not just for
We were at Curlewis for a week and I noticed that the greens, which were large and undulating, were cut with a hand motor mower during the week and a ride-on mower at the weekend.
The slope rating from the white tees at Curlewis was 128 for men and 133 for women.
We played four times at Curlewis but during a rest day of the tournament we headed out to 13th Beach Golf Links.
Michael Hendry has failed to make the cut in two previous starts in The Open Championship but he will get a third chance at this year’s event in England.
The New Zealand golfer gained a start in the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23 when finishing second in an Asian Tour event in Hong Kong last month.
The first four players in the World City Championship at the Hong Kong Golf Club gained exemption for The Open.
Hendry finished second with a score of 12 under par in a tournament that was reduced to 54 holes because of wet weather. He was two shots behind
the winner.
Hendry’s two previous starts in The Open were in 2017 and 2018 and on both occasions he was well off the pace after two rounds.
Hendry has been playing well this year. He won the Victoria Open at the 13th Beach Golf Links near Geelong in February.
Last month he was sixth in the New Zealand Open at 14-under par for the tournament – four shots back from Australian winner Brendan Jones.
The following week, Hendry tied for fourth at the New Zealand PGA Championship in Auckland, finishing at 13-under par.
It’s been a tough six months for the Whangamata Golf Club in the Coromandel following several adverse weather events which severely impacted on the course infrastructure.
And while the course and its members are on the road to recovery, there is still much repair work to be done.
A series of fund-raising events has already raised more than $150,000, but the club and its members are not stopping there – with details released of its next venture entitled Wild Women’s Weekend.
The event is now in its sixth year, and is being held the weekend after Mother’s Day, from May 19 – 21.
This year Wild Womens Weekend features New Zealand music legend Annie Crummer as its headline act performing at Whangamata Golf Club’s stylish Titoki clubrooms.
On the Saturday afternoon of Wild
The spectacular St Clair Golf Club is nestled on the cliffs above Dunedin’s beautiful St Clair Beach. The course offers world class views of the Pacific Ocean, its beaches and the beautiful city of Dunedin often regarded as the Edinburgh of the south. Host to numerous International and National Events come and play one of the most challenging club courses in New Zealand where International golfing stars like Sir Bob Charles, Seve Ballesteros, Johnny Miller and many more have graced our fairways.
admin@stclairgolf.co.nz
Women’s Weekend, the Whangamata Golf Club is also hosting, in association with She Loves Golf, an event called Wild Wacky Golf at its nearby nine-hole Williamson course.
Wild Wacky Golf is a fun Ambrose tournament with women dressing up and teeing off after a cocktail or two. For many women golfers this is their first time playing on a golf course.
In addition to golf, the Wild Women’s Weekend festival also includes other activities such as art, cooking, kayaking, and yoga. Tickets to the Annie Crummer show include dinner, guests’ first drink, and transport from town.
Click here for more information about Wild Women’s Weekend featuring Wild Wacky Golf and the Annie Crummer show being held at Whangamata Golf Club: www.wildwomensweekend.co.nz
Cromwell Golf Club manager Dean Gerling outlines the rise in popularity of women’s golf at the Central Otago 18-hole venue
In early 2022, the Cromwell Golf Club set about trying to encourage more women to play golf. New member Kirsten Ad-
ams provided the impetus to set things in motion.
With support from her employer, winery Nockies Pallete as initial sponsor, and under the convenor of the membership sub-committee, Joy McDonald, the new female golfers were encouraged, challenged and sup-
ported by the club. The purpose was to encourage more women to play golf, ensuring fun was had, and friendships were developed.
As the women made their way around the course, they were accompanied by established members, either walking or playing with them -- sometimes with the newer golfers using the more seasoned golfers’ clubs.
This burgeoning activity grew into what was called the Spring Fling from October to December 2022, with the golfers creating their own teams and heading onto the course for five to six holes.
In the clubhouse, stories were told of great feats on the course, with the organisers using the opportunity to develop golfing knowledge amongst the new golfers. Spring Fling turned into the Summer Series from January to March 2023 with some of the ladies extending their playing to nine holes.
More and more have turned up, with teams of varying ability
and even more variable names, such as Whackers and Hackers, Can’t Drive, Swinging Sheilas, Whose Your Caddy, Shankapotamuses, and I like Big Putts. More than 50 ladies now enjoy the weekly activity on the Cromwell Golf Course. Some have taken the next
step and joined the club -- accessing competitions and events throughout the club. It has been a resounding success and a great way to enjoy the longer evenings in Central Otago. To finish off the Summer Series, the Cromwell ladies are heading to Tarras Golf soon.
The R&A and Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) have announced that the sixth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be played on the Waterside Course at Thailand’s Siam Country Club.
The WAAP returns to Siam Country Club from February 1-4, 2024 following a successful championship in 2022 where a dramatic final round produced a memorable win for Chinese Taipei’s Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan.
The 17-year-old made six birdies over the last 11 holes to emerge victorious over local favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap who has since turned professional and recorded a runner-up finish in her first LPGA event – the LPGA Thailand, hosted by Siam Country Club on the Old Course, Pattaya, last month.
The WAAP aims to inspire future gen-
erations of women golfers and provides the champion with a launch-pad into international golf through exemptions into multiple women’s major championships and other elite amateur championships.
The winner will be invited to compete in three major championships – the Women’s Open, Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship.
In addition, they’ll be invited to the Hana Financial Group Championship, Australian Open, the 121st Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive at The R&A, said: “Last year, Siam Country Club was a wonderful venue for the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship and we are delighted to be returning there in 2024.
“The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific
championship is at the pinnacle of the women’s amateur game in the region and we take it to world-class championship venues such as Siam Country Club.
“We have created a platform for the very best women’s players in Asia-Pacific to show us just how good they are and give them the opportunity if they win to play on the very best professional stages around the world. I look forward to seeing who seizes that opportunity next year.”
APGC chairman Taimur Hassan Amin acknowledged Thailand’s strong connection with WAAP since the inaugural championship was won by Thai star Atthaya Thitikul in 2018.
He said: “Players and officials will, I’m sure, be thrilled to be able to head back to Siam Country Club and the Land of Smiles next year for what promises to be
another memorable championship.
“To be the first club to host the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship on two occasions is not only testament to the calibre of Siam Country Club’s beautiful and challenging Waterside Course, but also is a reflection of the efforts of Dr Phornthep Phornprapha and his team in promoting and developing golf.”
The Waterside Course was opened in 2014, can play up to 7,400 yards, and is designed around the unique waterways and gentle topography of what is now a 63-hole complex belonging to the Siam Motors Group, approximately 130 kilometres south-east of Bangkok.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a route for Asia’s elite female amateurs to the international stage.
Thomas Pieters’ move to LIV Golf caught many by surprise but he was more than happy to talk frankly about the reasons to Golf Monthly and some of his comments were eye opening.
He made it clear he was happy to trade a legacy in golf for the money offered and the happiness it would provide for his family was more important to him than golf.
He also said any criticism he gets is unfair and somewhat hypocritical given how many businesses and companies (involved in the world’s golf tours) are backed by Saudi money.
His most telling insight was when he said life on the PGA Tour was a lonely existence and not one he would miss.
“I played one year on the PGA Tour, did not like it, got very homesick and very lonely so for me that was it. Tick the box and move on. Then LIV came along at the right time. Everyone I talked to said how good it was.”
He also said that being part of Bubba Watson’s team is already better and more sociable than the PGA Tour. Going out a couple of times a week for dinner with the team was something teammate Harold Varner said “we never did this on the PGA Tour and that is a little sad.’’
Pieters added: “I have done 10 years on the road chasing my dreams but I’m not McIlroy or Woods and that’s okay. It’s golf, not life and death. I’m just here to play golf. I just want to be happy.”
Momoka Kobori has made an encouraging start on the Ladies’ European Tour and had some nice thoughts to share recently.
“The past seven weeks have been full of learnings and great experiences both on and off the golf course as we completed the (South) African swing,” Kobori said.
“From playing golf with zebras and giraffes in Kenya, having to compete
without our clubs in Morocco, going on a four day safari in South Africa and competing in our first Aramco Team Series event in Singapore. My first stretch on the Ladies’ European Tour has been so full of learnings and new experiences.
“Looking back on these weeks, I feel so fortunate to have an opportunity to play golf, meet so many amazing people and visit so many places that I otherwise may never have had the chance to visit.”
She mentions Simon Preece, her caddie and manager and appreciates so much his constant support and advice when she needs it.
It should not be a surprise that several LIV players who tried to enter the World Golf Championships Matchplay at Austin Country Club in Texas were denied entry by the PGA Tour. It was open to the world’s top 64 players on the official world golf rankings’ list plus any who replace those who pull out.
This year nine LIV players qualified for the event which is under the auspices of the International Federation of PGA Tours. But here was the irony. Because the PGA Tour was the host it could reject their entries under the rules which allow the host to override any qualification.
Such decisions will no doubt add more conjecture and intrigue to the US Masters from April 7-10.
Justin Thomas was a surprise absentee from the WGC Matchplay Championship last month. His reason was simply he doesn’t like Austin Country Club.
“I really love Innsbrook golf course where I feel I can win. But I don’t feel that way about Austin. I’ve played it six times and badly in five of them.”
No doubt Thomas will be pleased this year’s event was the last.
Many people are wondering how the LIV players will be received when they
join their PGA Tour counterparts at the dinner and on the tee at the US Masters.
Tiger Woods did nothing to promote peace saying he didn’t know what the reaction was going to be. At least Scottie Scheffler could see a funny side to it joking that Bubba Watson would have a separate table just for him.
When Sergio Garcia was asked if it was going to be awkward he had the perfect response. “I don’t know. You should ask whoever is going to feel awkward.”
He then added: “I’m going to feel fine. I don’t have a problem with anyone. I’m going to enjoy it and I hope the rest do the same.”
Bubba Watson is looking forward to the champions’ dinner and reuniting with his former PGA Tour colleagues. He believes the atmosphere will be friendly amongst the past champions.
“I think it will be great. I still talk to the guys and staff on the PGA Tour,” Watson said.
Watson, who is a fussy eater, has given host Scotty Scheffler’s menu a big thumbs up and admits he usually eats beforehand, maybe a couple of burritos because he doesn’t know what is on the menu. But not this time.
“I can’t wait. It will be fun.”
No doubt there will be some care about the table settings given certain players’ (insert Fred Couples calling former close friend Phil Mickelson a nutbag and Garcia a clown) outspoken comments. Maybe Couples should have a separate table.
There has been speculation that Brooks Koepka is having buyer’s remorse over his move to LIV. All fired up because of his fall outside the top 100 in the world golf rankings and a missed cut and 46th in two Asian Tour events.
“I don’t care,’’ Koepka said.
“They can think whatever they like. When you have been coping with injuries you can lose a lot of confidence.”
Along with his mental struggles he has been coping with managing his
dislocated kneecap and damaged ligaments from two years ago.
The claims about buyer’s remorse are described as excretia. Koepka says he is now where he wants to be and “feels as good as before” saying he can now do the things he could in 2019. His form at the Masters will reveal all.
Speaking at the PGA Tour champions’ dinner before the Hoag Classic, Fred Couples launched a stinging attack on LIV players. Former friend Phil Mickelson was labelled a nutbag but then said he still likes him. He then called all the rest “like Sergio Garcia” clowns. He takes particular exception to the comments about the PGA Tour made by any player who went to LIV although he says he has no problem with LIV.
He even mocked Cameron Smith “the guy who won the Players and the Open last year” for saying he would have more time for things he enjoys. Couples obviously didn’t think to ask Smith if that in fact was the case — and if it was, which it clearly is, maybe say nothing. The more Couples says the more he appears to reveal the real Freddie Couples. He had more to say but enough is enough.
Tiger Woods and live in girlfriend of five years, now ex girlfriend, Erica Herman are in a court battle over her being locked out and the non-disclosure agreement signed.
Woods claims she was only a guest invited to stay with him and there had been no oral or written tenancy agreement with her and no deal that allowed her to share his home in Florida with him.
Apparently Woods told Herman that the relationship was ending and she was no longer welcome in the residence.
Herman says Woods tricked her into packing her bags for a holiday, then locked her out. After five years together for the couple a judge will have a picnic sorting out whether she was a guest or something more.
The fourth hole, a par 3, may only be 126 metres but it requires considerable accuracy. With the tee set on the rock well above the smallish green, there is trouble long, short and left. Long will bring in the ‘pin-ball’ effect of the rocks at the back, short will have your ball running down the hill and left flirts with out-of-bounds.
Feelings about this year’s Players’ Championship have been mixed with the quality of the field no longer containing all of the world’s best players.
Without the big name LIV players, plus Jon Rahm out with illness and Rory McIlroy missing the cut, it felt like just another PGA Tour event although the venue still retains its appeal.
With the new “designated events” on the calendar it will be no different to any of them if that. The big winners in all of these shenanigans are the four major championships. These are now the only time we will see the world’s best in action in one event. Given LIV players have had no ranking points for a year this year could be the last time we the best together in the same event.
The US Masters from April 7-10 may well be the most eagerly anticipated major in years. Let’s face it. To be a major it needs to have a field including all of the best players.
Was this one of the most dramatic meltdowns or was it?
American Taylor Montgomery was sitting tied for fourth on the 15th tee in the final round at the Players’ Championship looking at a paycheck of more than $US1 million. Four holes and an hour later he had
finished 44th and took home $US75,000. It was a brutal watch as he first bogeyed the tough 15th hole but still was looking at a $1million payout. The par five 16th saw him by the green in three with a 30 foot birdie putt. Disaster as he four putted for a double bogey. If that wasn’t enough, the infamous 17th island green would provide even more agony. He found the water twice and nearly a third time before signing for a triple bogey. Thankfully he made par on the 18th, the most difficult hole. Ouch.
Keely Levins interviewed Paula Creamer for Australian Golf Digest about her time playing while pregnant last year, after she gave birth to her first child in January. Creamer had some advice about her experience that may help other women to enjoy their golf while pregnant.
Creamer had to handle symptoms on course and adjust her game to fit the changes to her body. She outlined several key points which we briefly relate.
* Don’t be afraid to take a cart to combat a drop in energy.
* Your swing is going to change because of the bigger midsection.
* As your game changes so should your strategy. You may lose length so concentrate on accuracy.
* Pay attention to your setup. Pay spe-
cial attention to your balance.
* Get your snacks lined up. Hydration is the key. Enough water, electrolytes, fruits, protein bars.
* Trust what your body is telling you. Learn your limits and listen to your body.
LIV Golf was happy with the 3.2 million viewers for the launch of its TV deal at Mayakoba in Mexico where Charles Howell III won. The viewing figures apparently compared favourably with other sports such as the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Australian Men’s Open tennis final.
LIV’s chief media officer said: “Our first weekend of live coverage for the 2023 LIV Golf season exceeded expectations.
The president of the CW Network added: “We are really encouraged by the dramatic viewership increases we saw. It is very competitive with other longstanding sports leagues.”
Some might have said hallelujah when Rory McIlroy explained (did he have to?) how LIV has benefitted everyone who plays elite professional golf. He admitted LIV has made the professional game better (read more money) for everyone who plays it whether it be LIV or not.
“I think when you have been the biggest
golf league in the biggest world market for 60 years there is not a lot of incentive to innovate,’’ McIlroy said.
“This has caused a ton of innovation at the PGA Tour, and what was quite an antiquated system is being revamped (read copy LIV ) to try to mirror where we’re at in the world in the 21st century with the media landscape.” Not sure what that bit means.
“So yeah, you know, LIV coming along, it’s definitely had a massive impact on the game, but I think everyone who’s a professional golfer is going to benefit from it going forward.”
What a huge turnaround after months of LIV bashing. Amazing what the PGA Tour unlocking its money war chest can do. Interestingly not all of McIlroy’s fellow elite and not so elite professionals agree with his last comments. But that is another story we may look at in the months ahead.
LIV golf trying to buy the game — Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods will love to play in the seniors — and he’ll use a cart
Jordan Spieth admits PGA Tour changes wouldn’t have happened without LIV
LIV Adelaide event already a sellout
Want to play St Andrews’ Old Course?
Start planning now to a 2025 tee time Scotland named best golf destination in the world
The Hikurangi Golf Course is a well maintained 18-hole course of 5246m par 70 with two par 5s and four par 3s and with some very interesting and challenging holes. The greens are irrigated with defined fairways bordered by light controlled rough. The course is elevated with rolling contours offering outstanding 360° scenic views to distant ranges. Situated only 10 minutes’ drive north of Whangarei City, Hikurangi Golf Club enjoys a warm and friendly country atmosphere where visitors are always welcome and the tee is readily available with little or no waiting time (bookings not required). Golf carts are available for hire but bookings are essential for these. Club days are Wednesdays and Sundays. Tee off is usually about 9am and visitors are welcome to join in our daily haggles. The clubhouse is open on these days and light refreshments and golf requirements are available. Green fees are $30 per round. Full membership is $450 per person with summer and mid-week subs available.
Abusy year of championships lies ahead as the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) makes up for lost time with events in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Spain.
“This is a very big year for our championships because it’s a catch-up year really after three long years of covid delays,” said John Hopkins, chairman of the APGC’s championship committee.
Hopkins, from Perth, is bullish about the APGC’s expanded calendar of events for 2023 which includes the launch of the APGC Mid-Amateur championships, scheduled for Malaysia’s Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in early June.
“This year we’re inaugurating a Mid-Amateur Championship for both men and women. It’s for those in the region that are aged between 25 to 54 and are perhaps past their golfing prime, but not at senior level. We’re creating playing opportunities for them,” said Hopkins, who has served on the APGC board since late 2017.
Also to look forward to is the resumption of the Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy. The Ryder Cup-style match play events, which pit the leading players from the Asia-Pacific against their counterparts from the European Golf Association, will be held at Spain’s La Manga Club in the first week of August.
Hopkins said: “They were last held five years ago in Qatar. That’s the impact that Covid had. We were meant to have these championships in 2020.
“It’s a very big event. We were reflecting on some
of the players that have played in the past – we’ve had Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm on one side and Hideki Matsuyama and Cam Smith on the other.
“When I first got involved in that in 1998, Justin Rose was part of the European team and Geoff Ogilvy was part of the Asia-Pacific team. So, it’s got a very rich tradition, even though it was only established in 1998.”
The Patsy Hankins Trophy was inaugurated in 2016 with the Asia-Pacific triumphant on the two occasions it’s been held. Major champions Yuka Saso and Patty Tavatanakit along with Atthaya Thitikul, winner of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) who rose to number one in the women’s world golf ranking last year, were all part of the 2018 team.
Hopkins, who was present at the APGC board meeting held during the sixth edition of the WAAP in Singapore last month, also highlighted the return of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) to Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the first time since 2014. The event is scheduled for the final week of October.
“We’ll be playing the Composite Course again – one of the best courses in the world. Royal Melbourne is delighted to be holding the AAC again. I was there the week before last and played the West Course and it’s in fantastic condition,” said Hopkins, chair of Golf Australia from 2011 to 2019 and an advisory member of The R&A rules and amateur status committees from 1996 to 2008.
“I know the members of Augusta National are very
keen to come back down to Australia as, I’m sure, are members of The R&A. And, of course, the players will be overjoyed to play a course of that quality. It’s rare for them to be able to play a top-five course in the world.”
The year of APGC tournaments will be concluded with the APGC Senior Championships for men and women in November.
Hopkins said: “It’s exciting times for the APGC. We’ve grown enormously since the days when we just had the Nomura Cup every couple of years.
“It’s great to be involved in developing the game in our own way through championships around the Asia-Pacific region.”
April 22-24: The Royal Junior Tournament, The Royal Golf Club, Japan
May 15-18: Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championships, Orchard Golf & Country Club, Philippines
June: APGC Mid-Amateur Championship, Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Malaysia (dates TBC)
August 3-5: Bonallack Trophy, La Manga Club, Spain
August 3-5: Patsy Hankins Trophy, La Manga Club, Spain
October 26-29: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia
November: Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Senior Championships (dates and venue TBC)
Golf participation in Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) returned to growth in 2022 and remains considerably above pre-covid 19 pandemic levels, according to new figures.
Research led by world golf governing body The R&A, together with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf, highlights how the sport continued to prosper thanks to participation initiatives and increased awareness of the mental and physical health benefits that golf provides.
New data shows that 5.6 million oncourse adult golfers – the second-highest number since monitoring began over 30 years ago – enjoyed playing on full-length courses (nine or 18 holes) in Great Britain and Ireland last year.
Participation rose by 265,000 to surpass the total of 5.3 million in 2021 and is now only slightly below the record of 5.7 million on-course adult golfers in 2020,
when golf enjoyed significant growth during the pandemic due to its ability to be played safely outdoors and boost the health and well-being of participants.
The latest data shows that participation in Great Britain and Ireland also sits well above the rates in the years prior to covid 19, given the 3.7 million on-course adult golfers in 2019. It means there were over 50 percent more on-course adult golfers in 2022 than pre-pandemic levels.
As national federations also work hard to encourage more women and girls into the sport, 20 percent of adult golfers on full-length courses in Great Britain and Ireland were female in 2022 compared to 15 percent in 2019.
Phil Anderton, chief development officer at The R&A, said: “It is very positive to see the number of on-course adult golfers grow in Great Britain and Ireland last year. The sport remains very popular on full-length courses
as large numbers of lapsed or non-golfers who took up the sport during the pandemic continue to enjoy playing.
“The growth has been aided by the important work of golf bodies to drive participation initiatives and increase awareness of the benefits of the sport for physical and mental health, including our pilot health campaign in Wales last year.
“There remains significant interest in golf and while we recognise that there are economic challenges due to cost of living pressures, it is important for everyone involved to do their best to keep existing golfers in the sport.”
In Great Britain, the average rounds played were also six percent up on 2021 and 2022 was 24 percent up on pre-covid 19 in 2019. Rounds played per month for the full 12 months was the highest in 2022 of the last 10 years.
• WE GO ONE ON ONE WITH SIR BOB CHARLES ON ALL THINGS GOLF
• THE 2023 HICKORY OPEN — SIR BOB CHARLES TELLS THE STORY
• NZ OPEN GOLF AMBASSADOR STEPHEN FLEMING OPENS UP
• WE TALK TO MICHAEL GOLDSTEIN ABOUT HIS NZ OPEN INVOLVEMENT
Sporting Insights has published a report on the attitudes of 21,000 golfers across 13 countries towards the current state of the professional game.
Titled The Future of Professional Golf the report covered a variety of topics related to the professional game, including levels of interest in attending golf events and watching golf on television, attitudes towards women’s and mixed golf, views on players, sponsors, the emergence of LIV Golf and the reaction of the existing professional tours, format preferences and media coverage.
“The future of professional golf is exciting, but not necessarily assured,” said Richard Payne, director of Sporting Insights.
“On the one hand, golf has an almost unprecedented chance to grow. Record numbers of people are playing worldwide. Articulate, highly marketable and, above all, highly talented young stars are showcasing their talents in more countries than ever, while record purses are testament to the commercial interest in the sport.
“Innovations like Netflix’s Full Swing and CBS’s mid-round mic-ups promise to give golfers closer insight into their favourite players and intro-
duce non-golfers to some of the engaging personalities in the game.
“However, there is also unprecedented discord in the professional game. TV ratings are not what they once were – thanks in part to the fracturing of sports broadcast rights and the proliferation in entertainment choices offered by streaming.
“Alongside long-running imbalances between men’s and women’s tours, the emergence of LIV Golf and the maelstrom of rumour, argument, and legal action that have ensued have raised new questions.
“As our new global study into the future of professional golf shows, those questions are not always easy to answer, but they are fundamental. They are fundamental if golf as a sport is to paint itself in the best possible light, if it is to avoid getting bogged down by the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities rather than the opposite.
“There is broad agreement across the world in our study that LIV is providing a disruptive force. There’s much less agreement about whether that is a good thing, with a number of striking regional and demographic differences heaving into view.
“Other insights are slightly more clear cut. There is a broad appetite for more variation in play formats, for more matchplay, more team golf, and more mixed events – although again the scale of that interest does vary by country.
“It is not just women the research confirms who are interested in women’s and mixed golf. Tournaments like the Scandinavian Mixed and the newly announced QBE shootout are no doubt an important part of golf’s present and future.
“There are other questions that still need to be tackled. The data suggests there is appetite for a settlement between the tours, but what shape should that settlement take? How many golfers would like this to be an equitable sentiment and how many would like to see LIV and its Saudi backers shown no quarter in any talks.
“Once again, that will likely depend on the region – sportswashing is a major dialogue in the western world in golf and other sports – as attitudes to football club ownership continue to illuminate. But it is less of a topic of conversation in Asian markets.
“Another question that golf will have to tackle is how actively it promotes the
money involved. There is more than a hint in the data that promoting the now hugely lucrative sums involved at the very top of the game might not necessarily be a positive for all groups. Does golf risk seeming out of touch and making its players look greedy if it goes too far down this route?
“What is certain is that tours, players, agencies, and the brands who sponsor the sport need to be up to date on the global and local sentiment surrounding professional golf.
“Only by understanding that in as much detail as possible can they take the right decisions to overcome some of the barriers and protect and enhance their reputations.”
Sporting Insights’ The Future of Professional Golf study is available now as an interactive dashboard. Interested parties can purchase data on a single market or compare multiple selected markets. Results can be split by age, gender, play frequency and market –delivering specific granular insight for the markets that matter to different businesses.
Sporting Insights was formerly known as Sports Marketing Surveys. For more details, visit www. sportinginsights.com.
Playing 18 holes of golf on foot may have the edge on a hike through the countryside, according to the latest scientific research.
A study has found that the sport is more beneficial than Nordic walking, which uses upper body power and walking poles to provide extra exertion.
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland analysed data for 16 men and nine women who were golfers, healthy and aged 65 and over.
The team looked at three aerobic exercises – an 18hole round of golf, 3.7 miles of Nordic walking, and a 3.7-mile regular walk – and measured the effects on blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids (such as cholesterol).
The results, published online in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, showed that all three types of aerobic exercise improved cardio-vascular health in older adults, including by lowering blood pressure.
However, the study suggested it was golf that seemed to have the biggest effect on blood fats and the metabolism of glucose, which keeps blood sugar levels stable.
The researchers said: “Despite the lower exercise intensity of golf, the longer duration and higher energy expenditure appeared to have a more positive effect on lipid profile and glucose metabolism compared with Nordic walking and walking.”
other birdies and no blemishes as she was in imperious form, beating off competition from two of the world’s best in Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang to lift the trophy.
Ko had an excellent final day firing a 66, including seven birdies, but left herself too much to do, while Kang was left to rue a costly bogey on 13 which stalled her momentum, and neither could match the brilliance of Roussin at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
my boyfriend on the bag.
“I didn’t realize I was making that many birdies. It was just happening. I had in my mind the phrase that my coach said before the round, like don’t get frustrated if you don’t make every single putt.
“I think it was key today to be patient and just wait for them to drop. I was really focused on that and focusing on laughing and having fun with my boyfriend.
“Then I talked with many different people and we were just like, stay in the bubble and do you, be you. Don’t pay attention to what people think. Just, yeah, do your own thing.”
The Solheim Cup returns in September at Finca Cortesin and Roussin will hope that history will repeat itself and she will get one over Kang again, if she is to play.
Young French star Pauline Roussin shot an outstanding 64, including five birdies in six holes around the turn, to claim a second Ladies European Tour title at the Aramco Team Series presented by Public Investment Fund – Singapore.
The 22-year-old’s round featured three
The Aramco Team Series ambassador, whose only previous Ladies European Tour win came at the Didriksons Skafto Open in 2021, was delighted to clinch a victory so early in her 2023 season as she looks to compete on both the LET and LPGA once again.
She said: “It was pretty special! I think I was in a different zone than what I have been in before. Today was more chill, really having fun and spending time with
“I only realized what was really happening on the 18th tee box. We were waiting and I was like, oh, my gosh!”
It’s no mean feat to see off two of the game’s best ever players in Ko and Kang and Roussin was aware of their position in the standings.
“I definitely saw them, and I knew they were there. I think the fact that I know what they’re capable of, and mainly because I’ve been playing around them for the last year, it allowed me to like just be aware of it,” she added.
The 22-year-old has the competition firmly in her sights and commented: “It’s in my mind for sure. What I like to say is it’s here, I know it’s here, and it’s just going to be a reward for all the hard work that’s been happening during the year.
“It’s not like I’m going to put pressure on myself by thinking about it, but I’m just going to use it as a big motivation towards every single tournament. It’s just going to stay just on the side of my mind.”
The Aramco Team Series will head for West Palm Beach in Florida next with the tournament taking place on 19-21 May.
His stunning victory in the World City Championship, Taichi Kho delivered arguably the finest moment in Hong Kong golfing history. With a closing even-par 70 over the Hong Kong Golf Club’s famed Composite Course at
Fanling, the 22-year-old rookie pro secured a two-shot triumph in the US$1 million Asian Tour event that was shortened to 54 holes due to inclement weather.
It was the first victory by a Hong Kong male on one of the
world’s recognised professional Tours and came during a week in which he was appointed as an Ambassador for the Hong Kong Golf Club, one of the region’s most revered venues and a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
As well as earning himself a cheque for US$180,000, the victory has secured Kho a starting spot in the 151st Open Championship, to be held at Royal Liverpool in July, and a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour.
starts in three major championships – the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship – as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 120th Women’s Amateur Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) later this month.
Korea’s Yeji Park (70), Japan’s Yuna Araki (72), the second-highest ranked player in the championship at number five, New Zealand’s Fiona Xu (71) and Sophie Han (71) of Hong Kong, China, were tied for the third place at six-under-par 282.
Galitsky was imperious throughout the championship, but her crowning moment was truly the 18th hole, where she smashed a 375-yard drive down the fairway slope and needed only a 7-iron second shot into the par5 hole, which left her a comfortable two-putt for birdie.
Thailand’s Eila Galitsky won the fifth Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship in commanding fashion, becoming the second player from her country to triumph in the region’s pre-eminent amateur championship.
Galitsky, who holds dual nationality of Thailand and Canada, shot a four-under-par 68 in the final round at Singapore Island Country Club, giving her a four-day aggregate of 14-under-par 274 and a five-shot win over Korea’s Minsol Kim (70). The 16-year-old follows in the footsteps of Atthaya Thitikul, who won the inaugural championship in 2018 in Singapore and rose to number one in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings last year.
Galitsky, 193rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR) coming into the week, closed with three birdies in her last four holes. The result was never in doubt as she remained rock-solid throughout the day. She made the turn at one-under-par with a birdie on the 6th hole. Her only dropped shot came when she shockingly missed a one-footer par putt on the 14th hole, but then bounced back in incredible fashion with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
Kim, ranked number 14 in the world, was bidding to become the first player from Korea to win the WAAP title. However, despite giving herself several birdie opportunities, her putter remained stone cold.
As the 2023 WAAP champion, Galitsky earns dream
The Thai star was ahead by four going into the back nine of the championship Sunday. And it would have taken some massive blunder to deny her the ultimate honour, considering that she was six-under par for the back nine in her previous three rounds.
“I never thought about winning until I made that first putt on the 18th hole. I was very nervous going into the final round. I did not sleep well and woke up at 4:30am,” said the Galitsky, who revealed a text message from compatriot Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, who finished runner-up the last two years and is now playing on the LPGA, helped her relax and be better prepared for the final round.
“I did not expect this to happen at the beginning of the week. I played my first practice round here and lost five balls that day. At that point, I was thinking making the cut would be a good result.
“Honestly, I set a goal for myself today. I was going to play five-under par. I was one short of it. The reason I was aiming for five-under-par was because my four-day record was 14-under-par. I was just trying to break that record today.”
Galitsky looks forward to enjoying the rewards of her win, especially a chance to play the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath (10-13 August).
“Honestly, I am just trying to enjoy every single moment of it. What an opportunity I’ve got. I just need to
try to savour every moment,” said Galitsky.
“I am looking forward to playing the AIG Women’s Open, as I feel like it is ‘the’ championship for women’s golf. Honestly, any major would be great, but I just really like that one.”
Kim finally made a putt and a birdie on the 16th hole, and followed it up with another on the 17th. She was three ahead of the pack in third place at the stage and tried to set up an eagle on the 18th hole in the hope of putting some pressure on the leader. However, her second shot rolled through the green and into the water hazard.
After making a par, the Korean said: “I am happy about finishing second, but I am slightly disappointed as well. I thought my long game was pretty good, but after the first two days, I just could not make any putts.
“This is just the beginning of the year, and my shortterm goal is to be a winner of any international tournaments I will be participating in. That’s my goal.”
Chinese Taipei’s Ting-Hsuan Huang (70), winner of the championship last year, finished in solo ninth place in her title defence, while Japan’s Rin Yoshida, the highest-ranked player in the field at number four, shot a three-over-par 75 to be tied for 28th place at five-over-par 293.
Yujie Liu, the 12-year-old from China who was the youngest participant in the championship, closed with a 76 to finish in tied 32nd place at six-over total.
Phone: 06 758 2574 | fitzroygolfclub@xtra.co.nz
Xtreme Drivers League is about to go NEXT level as conversations for the 1st in the WORLD competition grid being planned for New Zealand and it’s second being announced for Australia. The now famous New Zealand Long Blacks and Aussie Long Ballers were formed in 2017 by founder and owner Olna Ford who is the brain child behind the sports products and services that are about to be known by global media, and essentially will be the foundation to grow the sport and it’s business globally. The XDL Virtual Grid is ready and is set to hit the shores of NZ and AU in late April, conversations are heightening to landmark sports history with the first turf being excavated for XDL International Competi-
tion in the land down under. This will mean a number of things for both countries; increased tourism, a playing field for all Long Drive and XDL Athletes, increase to the economies via business plans that are soon to be announced by XDL and of course another first in sports history. XDL is at the helm of Long Drive professional sport and with it’s international federation associates from grassroots level, 2023 is set to be the year of true growth in reflection of hard work over the years.
The XDL Competition Grid will be a big job for one excavation group and Olna Ford is proud to appoint local business Exact Earthmoving for the task. If it’s anything to do with earthmoving or civil, Exact Earthmoving has got you covered. Experts in all things to do with clearing a professional grid for our sport and other business activities where the turf beneath us is KEY to our success. Over the next few months conversations, plans, designs and costings for this project are set to skyrocket as XDL has just signed an international media deal that has brighten this sports future. It’s been a tough, lengthy task (off the tee) to position a NEW sport especially with the backlash of a global pandemic and then multiple natural disasters here in NZ. Olna and her brands have proven to be XTREME on all levels and XDL is known to
be the game-changer for the most powerful, fastest and of course longest drivers on the planet. Getting ready to dig deep with Exact Earthmoving and clear the GRID for XDL.
The XDL official season is about to tee off this April 1st with our first club event in South Taranki at the Hawera Golf Club. The xtreme weather patterns (flash floods and cyclone Gabrielle) pushing events forward here in NZ, so our players are hyped and set to turn up the heat on the tee. It’s been a tough time organising sponsors with all the recent devastation, so we are thinking outside the grid to gain sponsors we know make sense and equally gain revenues from our collaboration. Making sure we
support local companies and their products as we drive our NEW business plans forward. With XDL players enduring the fierce heat during competition, sunblock and zinc came to mind and with that said our players can expect a reminder in their players pack this season as XDL has partnered with SOL to help protect our athletes from the sun-rays even on a cloudy day. Lets introduce our official sunscreen partner SOL making a difference on and off the tee..
Love being outdoors? that’s great! so do we, thats why we have created NZ made ocean safe Mineral Sunscreen ethically and sustainably to meet AS/ NZ 2604:2021. Providing UVA and UVB Broad Spectrum protection for you and the Family. Now you can spend more time doing what you love, and less time worrying about the risks of our sun. Created in plastic free packaging and aimed to refill, the planet will also thank you.
Zealand and are currently working on prototypes to launch refill station systems! Watch this space.
XDL is a huge supporter of NZ & AU made products and look forward to growing our sport with locals this season. For more information on our events go to www.xdlworldwide.com.
XDL is excited to be planning a 3 year growth plan with the mission to get XDL software trailers on the road in every region by end of 2023 season. The first XDL software trailer is sold and will be on road with our first media promotions. XDL high-performance training zones are part of NEW conversations“. Our athletes haven’t had their own environments to train and compete, XDL is about to change this”, says Olna Ford, founder and owner of the New Zealand Long Blacks and XDL sports League. Olna will be working with experts in sports flooring and has appointed New Zealand owned and operated Action Floors to get the ball rolling. As a former ul-
tra-endurance performance athlete, Olna understands the importance of the ground beneath a training athlete and with indoor zones we can control the performance impacts more easily. Action Floors has all the answers to our fundamental questions to design and lay the best flooring for XDL athletes to train on. The sport of fastest, longest and most powerful hitters acquires most of it skills and fitness off the tee.. the gym specific training is important to our world record breakers. Olna is familiar with this type of training facility and her experience comes from selling 13 fitness studios for Contours in Australia and was part of the project management team overseeing the build from the ground up.
given away some amazing trips and prizes to keep athletes engaged with the sport. XDL is looking forward to bringing PLR back to the players circle in 2023 with plans to establish XDL training and competition zones. One can say that the sport of big hitters is growing in many ways beyond the tee.
taking this sport to the next level with the demand for this sport increasing. The image below is one of the many speciality floors insulated by Action Floors.
Players Locker Room established in 2017 was formed to bring together players from around the world in one space. Owned by Olna Ford (PLR) has
XDL high-performance sport is excited to be partnering with Action Floors in the design phase of all training environments. XDL Software trailers are also set to have performance flooring due to the incredible pressure exerted by athletes in every drive. The uniform look provides a sound reassurance that we are taking science into all our developing areas of business. XDL is
Action Floors products & services:
* Supply and install PU Synthetic and Sprung timber floors
* Sanding and Polyurethaning timber sports floors
* Court marking for sports floors
* Maintenance of sports floors
Visit our partner at www.actionfloors.co.nz.
‘LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH’ MIDWEEK OPENS
EVENT CALENDAR
29th March 2023
19th April (3rd Wed)
31st May
28th June
26th July - Mid Winter
30th August
27th September
25th October
29th Nov Xmas Open
27th Dec NYear Pairs
31st January 2024
28th February
Proudly Sponsored by:
HUNTLY
HUNTLY GOLF CLUB Inc.
“Fun Friendly & Affordable Midweek Open Golf!”
• 10am MULTI TEE SHOT GUN STARTS SO PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 9.45am
“Fun Friendly & Affordable Midweek Open Golf!”
• 10am MULTI TEE SHOT GUN STARTS SO PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 9.45am
• MEMBERS, GUESTS & VISITORS ALL WELCOME Men White Tees Women Yellow
• PRIZE TABLE Two divisions (Men and Women) with prize table divided proportionally based on the number men and women entries. If less than four women entered only one division will apply. Affiliated with Handicap entries only.
• MEMBERS, GUESTS & VISITORS ALL WELCOME Men White Tees Women Yellow
• PRIZE TABLE Two divisions (Men and Women) with prize table divided proportionally based on the number men and women entries. If less than four women entered only one division will apply. Affiliated with Handicap entries only.
Jackpot sponsoredHoleby:
Jackpot sponsoredHoleby: SMITHS
SMITHS GOLF Hamilton NZ
•$20 ENTRY for GROSS and NET SCRAMBLE PRIZES and TWO’S
•$10 JACKPOT 14th River Hole Challenge - hold the green in two
•$20 ENTRY for GROSS and NET SCRAMBLE PRIZES and TWO’S
•$10 JACKPOT 14th River Hole Challenge - hold the green in two
•HIRE CARTS & CLUBS SUBJECT PRIOR BOOKING AND AVAILABILITY
•HIRE CARTS & CLUBS SUBJECT PRIOR BOOKING AND AVAILABILITY
540 Te Ohaki Rd RD1 Huntly 3771 between Rangiriri & Huntly Bridges
07 828 8305 huntlygolf@xtra.co.nz 027 311 0256 www.huntlygolf.co.nz
540 Te Ohaki Rd RD1 Huntly 3771 between Rangiriri & Huntly Bridges 07 828 8305 huntlygolf@xtra.co.nz 027 311 0256 www.huntlygolf.co.nz
NELSON GOLF CLUB’S 18 hole championship links course is adjacent to the district’s airport and the picturesque waters of Tasman Bay. This beautiful seaside links course has reputedly the ‘best’ greens in the country. Nelson golf links is only ten minutes from the centre of downtown Nelson and virtually next door to beautiful Tahunanui Beach and associated accommodation.
Nelson enjoys one of the most favourable climates in New Zealand with high sunshine hours which helps to explain why Nelson is a popular golfing destination. Come and play this challenging links course year round. www.nelsongolf.co.nz
Welcome to Greenacres Golf Club, where playing golf is a “fun” experience to be enjoyed.
This beautifully-maintained 18-hole layout, rated one of the top 40 courses in New Zealand, is conveniently located on the outskirts of Richmond, just a short drive from Nelson Airport.
Set on an island, the club offers magnificent scenery
and tranquil surroundings. The course is renowned as one of the best all-weather courses in the region and tests players of all abilities, young or old, high or low handicaps.
While this course is considered one of the most challenging in the top of the South Island it is a popular course for all playing levels. The scenic yet challenging links style layout of the course in a tree lined parkland setting, is a pleasure to enjoy.
Greenacres has everything a good (and growing) golf club should have – a great course and facilities, and fabulous people that are friendly and welcoming and want you to be part of the club, even if just for one day We look forward to seeing you soon.
www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz
MOTUEKA GOLF CLUB, voted the 2018 NZ Golf Club of the Year, prides itself on running a friendly and welcoming club. The course is relatively flat and has a park like atmosphere with the fairways lined by mature trees. In addition to our beautifully maintained course we
are fortunate that it is alive with abundant and varied birdlife. The course has been modified and improved over recent years. The trees have been trimmed and our fairways have been widened which has made the course more “Golfer Friendly”. The fairways are well watered and beautifully grassed and our greens are consistent and true. For those players who played last year you will find our greens are in even better condition this year!
At 5800m off the White Tees the course rewards accuracy and correct club selection. Golfers of all abilities will welcome the challenge and if you play to your handicap on your first visit you should be well satisfied. You will be in the minority!
The course sits on the east side of Motueka and provides some stunning views of Tasman Bay. With an increasing membership and glowing reports from both local and overseas visiting players, Motueka’s reputation continues to grow as one of the best country courses in New Zealand. We look forward to again hosting new and returning players to the Nelson Festival of Golf. www.moteukagolf.co.nz
A true links experience situated in the delightful region of sunny Nelson. A wonderful golf course, good enough to be chosen for the 2014 NZ Amateur Championships... high praise indeed. Golfers of all abilities will find a round at Nelson very rewarding enjoying simply stunning views. There is a vibrant social side to the club making new members and casual players feel welcome to enjoy camaraderie both on and off the course. There is a full bar and catering facilities, also open to non members. There
are great deals available on green fees and a wide range of memberships – contact the staff at the Nelson Golf club, who will be only too delighted to explain all the options available. Call 03-548-5029 or email nelson@golf.co.nz
Check out our website www.nelsongolf.co.nz and see what you’re missing. The site offers photos of the course plus other club informationhighlighting the Nelson Festival of Golf.
Check it out on www.nelsongolf. co.nz/festivalofgolf
www.nelsongolf.co.nz
REMUERA GC WIN BISSETT SHEILD
The Bissett Shield team were at Maungakiekie recently. Remuera had beaten Windross Farm 5.5-2.5 in the morning semi-final, and then in a very tense final they beat RAGGC 5-3.
Their season - unbeaten! The wider squad of players this year was - Robby Turnbull, Matthew Cormack, Ryan Xie, Brad Winger, Daniel Freeman, Scott Thrupp, Rakesh Patel, Jaime Lansi, Thai Leng, Nathan Smith and Nelson Parlato.
2023 - BOP GOLF
The Fairview Futures Open was held recently and was the third round of the Top of the Harbour Tour 2023!
Division One:
- Stableford Winner: Sean Lee (Omanu Golf Club)
- Boys Gross Winner: Kevin Bang (Futures Geyserland)
- Girls Gross Winner: Stevee Biddle-Tai (Opotiki Golf Club)
9 Holes:
- Stableford Winner: Ashton Russell (Futures Waikato)
Wednesday 8th March - Competition
Stableford:
Pat Pearce 42pts, Karen Yorke 38pts, Alan Wix 37pts, Stella Berendt 35pts, Bryan Northcott, Clive Robinson & Alison Brown 34pts, Neil Atkins 33pts, Richard Norton, Willie Dougherty, Lynne McDonald, Pat McCarthy, Bob Wilson & Edith Leary 32pts.
Twos:
Pat Pearce - 3rd, Geoff Ingram - 5th &
Pat McCarthy - 16th.
Lucky Draw: Geoff Ingram.
Saturday 11th March - Competition - Par.
Seniors:
Tim Wales +2, Nic Field +1, Geoff Ingram, Ron Harris & Pete Masters sq, Karen Yorke, Sean Khov, Marty Field & Kelvin Burt -1.
Juniors:
Wendal Masters +4, Stew de Burgh, Varina Mitchell & Stella Berendt +1, Joe Ferrier sq, Neville Berendt -1, Michelle Mossop, Kevin Taylor & Dan Scotson -2.
Twos: Kelvin Burt - 3rd.
Nearest Pin on 12th: Marty Field
Lucky Draw: Kenny Boyle
Wednesday 15th March - Competition Stableford:
Willie Dougherty 41pts, Wallace Miller 40pts, Noel Crocker 39pts, Lynne Mc-
Donald, Richard Norton, Pat McCarthy & Joe Ferrier 37pts, Geoff Ingram 36pts, Garry Edwards 35pts, Judy MacPherson, Clive Robinson & Ken Bayne 34pts, Jason
Bowles 33pts.
Twos:
Willie Dougherty 12th & Judy MacPherson 16th.
Best Stableford on 12, 13 & 14 is Willie Doughty & Garry Edwards 8pts.
Lucky Draw: Julian Elliott
Saturday 18th March - Competition
Stableford:
Seniors:
Kelvin Burt & Jill Hall 35pts, Marty Field
34pts, Geoff Ingram & Wallace Miller
33pts, Charlie Herbert, Ron Harris, Tamati Anaru, Pete Masters & Ben Potaka
32pts.
Juniors: Hunter Herbert 44pts, Jacob Monaghan
41pts, Bronwyn Ewens 38pts, Liz Kinloch,& Stew de Burgh 36pts, Bruce Kinloch & Dan Simon 35pts, Noel Crocker 33pts, Joe Yorke & Kevin Taylor 32pts.
Twos:
Richard Holden - 3rd, Marty Field 5th, & Jason Harris 3rd & 5th.
Closest to Pin on 3rd; Wallace Miller, 5th; Ron Harris, 16th; Ben Potaka, and 12th [new tee boxes for this hole]
Senior Men: Peter MacCallum
Junior Men: Bill Ward
Ladies: Liz Kinloch
Lucky Draw: Stella Berendt
30 Teams took part in a fun Ambrose to raise money for ‘Golfing for Gabrielle’ last month. Here’s the winning team of
Mat, Matthew, Mike and Schalk with an impressive 57.8. Well done team.
And to all those who donated and supported this worthy cause, over $3200 was raised!
The 65 par, 18 hole course, with 8 par 3’s challenges established golfers whilst providing fun and enjoyment for beginners and social groups. Our course is an easy 3 hours walking if time is a factor.
In the heart of the Waikato it’s only a short drive in any direction to Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Taupo, Hamilton, Tauranga or even Mt Ruapehu. Cart hire available ($40). 33
Use our club house for your next sale, conference or seminar combined with a round of golf and an evening barbecue. A great venue for social clubs, inter-branch events and get-togethers.
The annual Allan Scott Family Wines women’s golf tournament is back in full swing after a covid-enforced hiatus in 2022.
For three days around 170 female golfers from across New Zealand took part in what organisers described as “a very successful tournament with great weather and a full field”.
On Monday, a stableford competition
was played. Winner of division one, (players from 0-20 handicaps) was Marlborough local Lizzie Turnbull, with 43 points. Second was Liz Fox from Royal Auckland and Grange (40) with Greenacres’ golfer Angela Beard (40) third. Division two (21-27) was taken out by Rangiora’s Ann Perkins with 42 points, from Royal Wellington player Cis McGechan (41) and Rakaia’s Sandra Quinn (41). In division three (28-54) Marlborough player Mary Skilton prevailed with 46 points, followed by Juliet McLeod from Mayfield (44) and Marion Elliott from Miramar (42).
Tuesday saw a four-ball, best-ball teams competition contested by 86 teams. Competition was close with some good scoring. Winners were Joy Harding and Judy Jones from Tai Tapu and Picton with 52 points, followed by Wendy Hancock and Niki Marshall from Golden Downs on 50, then Angela Beard and Di Lofthouse from Nelson who scored 49.
The final event, on Wednesday, was a gross competition played across three divisions. The senior gross title was won by Titirangi’s Linda Nightingale, with 78, followed by Fleur Reynolds, from Murawai, with 82 who claimed second place on countback from Rarangi’s Andrea Thomas.
The intermediate title was decided by a chip and putt contest after eventual winner Diana Clark, from Greenacres, and Rarangi’s Anne Newman were tied on 89. Third was Bronwyn Fletcher from Royal Auckland Grange on 90.
June Paterson from Royal Wellington claimed the junior gross title, scoring 98, with Pauline McLafferty (Omaha Beach) second on 101 followed by Mary Skilton from Marlborough on 102.
The Aorangi Association 9 hole tournament was held at Gleniti Golf club on Friday 17 March in changeable weather conditions. The field played 2BBB nett competition with prizes being given out to the best team scores.
Trophy winners from left: Carol Frewen (Gleniti), Andre Van Rooyen( Ashburton), Diane Brophy (Pleasant Point), Sue Reddington (Gleniti), Judith Tutton (Gleniti) Absent Heather King.
Results:
2BBB winners: Diane Brophy and Alycene Cournane Nett 28 (Pleasant Point), 2nd Sue Reddington & Gail Harris Nett 30 (Gleniti) 3rd on countback Judith Tutton & Wendy Burgess Nett 31 (Gleniti), 4th Barbara Crotty & Jill Duncan Nett 31 (Temuka), 5th Colleen Morton & Avis O’Donoghue 32 (Waimate), 6th on countback, Val Biggs (Pleasant Point) & Kate Trelore 32, 7th Eleanor Wilson & Joan Inglis 32 (Gleniti).
Trophies
Women: Best Gross over the field, Judith Tutton (Gleniti) 45, Grade 1 Best Nett, Carol Frewen (Gleniti) nett 33, Grade 2 Best Nett, Diane Brophy (Pleasant Point) nett 28, Best Nett 70 years and over (Euny Peg Tray), Sue Reddington (Gleniti) and Heather King (Gleniti) nett 34, Men: Best Nett (Lesley Dobbs Tankard), Andre Van Rooyen (Ashburton) nett 37 Nearest Pins:
Grade 1 2nd shot (No 7), Natasha Brown (Timaru)
Grade 2 (No 2) Maureen Malcolm (Lower Waitaki)
Men (No 2) Andre Van Rooyen (Ashburton)
After a great 2 days of golf Tinawld winners are 2023 Anzco Foods 3500 winners. Winning pairs of the 3500 trophiesmixed/ women Leen Bell & Bob MacGregor.
Men - Dave Cockburn & Tim Johnson.
Alycene Cournane and Diane Brophy (Pleasant Point)
DOUBLE WIDE
ONE THREE T
SEVEN TWELVE
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