There is a couple of letters to the editor in this month’s edition of Golfer Pacific (see pages 16-17) which basically argue for the introduction of shorter tees.
They say too many golf courses have tees that are positioned for the top player and the average player can’t cope with them.
My argument is if you consider one set of tees too long, don’t play them. Simple as that. Choose a shorter set of tees. Simple as that.
My club in Wellington has four sets of tees. They are not coloured the traditional blue, white and yellow.
Some years we ago we changed the colours to blue, terracotta, grey and more recently we introduced a green set of tees. There is also some red tees for the juniors.
The blue tees are our championship tees and we hardly ever use them, if at all. They are just too tough.
The terracotta tees are the
equivalent of white tees at most other golf clubs. They are the tees that are used for almost all men’s competitions.
The grey tees are the ladies’ tees but I am not allowed to describe them as that. When the yellow tees were changed to grey they were described as gender neutral.
But guess what tees the women use almost exclusively? — the grey tees, you know the ones that used to be yellow.
So the grey tees are not the ladies’ tees but guess which tees the ladies always use — the grey tees.
But oddly enough it is not only the ladies who use the grey tees. Our vets — sorry I am meant to call them mid-week seniors — always play the grey tees. That’s fine. That’s their choice.
Even more oddly is one of the best players in our club occasionally plays a round off the grey (that’s yellow) tees. Why? He said it is to sharpen up his short game. He needs to shoot eight under par to play to his handicap.
The green tees are hardly ever used by anyone. The course mea-
of Golfer Pacific NZ Limited, it resembles editorial matter.
sures 4500 metres off the green tees.
The green tees are the sort of tees our two letter-to-the-editor writers are arguing for. So why don’t people use the green tees?
I would suggest the answer is because the player’s handicap gets too low and the average player still can’t post a good score because they are only average players.
I am happy for any player to play off any tee. But when it comes to competitions all players should be off the same tees for even competition.
The holes from the terracotta tees at my club (which are the equivalent of white tees at other clubs) measure nearly 5900 metres in total and it is only par 71.
As far as I can ascertain it is the longest regular men’s members tees in the lower North Island even though it is only par 71.
But I am still happy to play them even though at this time of the year I cannot reach about four par fours in two shots.
But that’s okay as I have a hand-
icap. That means I only need to get onto the green in three shots, have two putts and I still get two stableford points.
That’s why we have handicaps. We don’t need to have six sets of tees to cater for six sets of players of six different capabilities.
Let’s look at an 18 handicapper. He or she doesn’t need to get on any green in regulation. Not one.
All he or she needs to do is get on the green in one more than regulation, have two putts and they will walk off the course with 36 stableford points. That’s always a good score.
I would like to see our club go back to blue, white and yellow tees. After all, that is an indication for visiting players of which tee to play from and what to expect.
At the moment visitors needs an explanation of what blue, terracotta, grey and green mean.
When you go to a golf course anywhere in the world and you see black, blue, white and yellow tees you have a good understanding of what they mean.
SALES & CLUB PACKAGE
GOLF TRAILS & NOTICEBOARDS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 7 5504 6334 Mob: 0061 433 163 043
LAYOUT & DESIGN layout.golferpacificnz@gmail.com
PUBLISHER Golfer Pacific NZ LTD PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand
ACCOUNTS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com
SUBSCRIPTION
$60.00 per annum including GST smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 5575 7444 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 NEW ZEALAND MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand
COVER PHOTO: Steven Alker poses with the trophy after winning the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club near Houston in Texas on April 30. Photo credit: Tim Heitman/Getty Images. COPYRIGHT All material published in Golfer Pacific NZ is subject to all forms of copyright. Contents of this newspaper cannot be reproduced in any way, shape, or form without the permission of the editor. Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of this newspaper, its management. New Zealand Golfer Pacific is published Golfer Pacific NZ Limited. The company’s registered office is unit 10/7 Aruma St Chevron Island QLD 4217.
1.5 If a proof is required prior to the publication, the advertisement must be a minimum size of 5cm x 1 column. One proof is provided for text corrections only; any additional layout revisions requested at the publication’s discretion and will incur a (non-commissionable) production fee. Advertisers will be charged for author’s text alterations required on third and subsequent proofs.
1.6 No responsibility is accepted for any error or omission of key numbers or telephoned alterations to copy.
1.7 No arrangements concerning an order can be recognised unless authorised or approved by Golfer Pacific NZ Limited in writing.
1.8 Requests for advertisements to be printed upside down or side-on or any particular arrangements of type or display are subject to rejections without notice.
1.9 All publishers’ conditions apply equally to all Golfer Pacific NZ Limited products, electronic or printed format.
1.10 Tear-sheets for advertisement publication verifi cation are available. Golfer Pacific NZ retains the right to publish advertiser and editorial content online using social media, the company and third party wesbites and our fortnightly email newsletter. Deadlines – The responsibility for supplying booked material by the required deadline lies with the advertiser/agency. Golfer Pacific NZ Limited accepts no responsibility for material not received by deadline and charges will apply.
Steven Alker’s grand form on the seniors’ tour in the United States has continued.
The New Zealand golfer last month racked up his sixth win on the PGA Tour Champions when he took out the Insperity Invitational near Houston in Texas.
The winner’s purse of $US405,000 took his earnings on the over 50-year-olds’ tour to $US5.5 million. That’s about $NZ8.7 million.
But money aside this was a momentous victory.
He was playing in memory of his former caddie Sam Workman, a Texan, who died of cancer in February at the age 55.
In addition Alker’s son Ben was on his bag for the first time and a number of Workman’s family and friends were in attendance at the Woodlands Country Club.
When Alker tapped in on the last hole for a fourshot victory he pointed towards the sky to acknowledge Workman and then turned towards the crowd that had come to support him.
“Obviously you see the emotion at 18 there,” Alker said afterwards.
Many of his supporters were dressed in the orange colours of Texan basketball team the Houston Astros of which Workman was a fan.
“I saw a sea of orange today and it just reminded me of Sam,’’ Alker added.
“I had my son on the bag. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Alker had won the same tournament last year and he became the first player since Bernhard Langer (2007-08) to repeat at the Insperity, though Langer did it at different venues. Both of Alker’s came at the Woodlands.
Alker had rounds of 66, 69 and 66 to finish at 15 under par.
“Just the whole week has been amazing, the support from everybody, and especially the orange brigade out there.
“Yeah, I couldn’t ask for more. It’s been fantastic.”
Alker, the defending Schwab Cup champion, positioned himself for the victory on the Saturday, when he was the only player in the field to shoot under 70. His three-under 69 in difficult conditions gave him a three-shot cushion that he maintained most of the final day.
Steve Stricker finished second and was complimentary of Alker.
“I played with him the first round. He played steady, putted it well, shot 6-under that first round,” Stricker said of Alker. “Then obviously yesterday was just a survival test weather-wise.
“But you know, it’s meant to be for him here really. His caddie passing a few months ago already, big Houston guy.
“I saw some Houston Astro Workman jerseys walking around the course today, saw some at breakfast this morning. It’s good that he’s going to win here. It’s kind of destiny, and it’s a feel-good story.”
Brooks Koepka left no one in any doubt that he is back — and how.
No final round gremlins this time, like at The Masters where he should have won.
“At the Masters I went out in the final round playing not to lose and that was a mistake,’’ Koepka said after his win in the PGA Championship in New York. “I will never do that again. Today I played positively to win.”
Koepka’s win has lifted his world ranking to 13th which is hardly a reflection of where it should be.
After his unspectacular first round 72 at Oak Hill, he trailed the leaders by five shots. A second round 66 saw him in position to challenge the leaders, now three behind.
Another 66 in round three, with again just one bogey, saw him grab the lead with his game looking rock solid.
The final round had its moments as Victor Hovland again challenged for his first major championship win staying for the most part within one or two shots of Koepka.
Despite four bogeys Koepka’s seven birdies always kept him in front. Hovland’s double bogey on 16 ended any doubts of a Koepka win but a clutch putt from six or so feet secured his tie
for second. Surely Hovland’s time will come.
Koepka received a warm response from the spectators, a relief after the insult on the second round first tee when paired with fellow LIV player Bryson De Chambeau which was a good watch (more on that elsewhere).
It was also noticeable that all of the dignitaries at the prizegiving were applauding and smiling heartily.
There were some wonderful moments and rounds on the final day. Scottie Scheffler, who was looking a likely winner on five under par after two rounds, killed his chances with a 73 third round. However that did not stop him storming home with 65 in the final round to grab a tie for second with Hovland. Australia’s two Camerons, Davis and Smith, matched that 65 with Davis finishing fourth and Smith ninth.
Let us not forget New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
He produced another consistent effort with scores of 68, 73, 71 and 71 to finish 23rd and prizemoney of $US165,000. In New Zealand dollars, that’s $264,000.
It was a shame Fox bogeyed his final hole. However he comfortably gained his PGA Tour card for this year.
For fellow New Zealander, Steven
Alker, it was chalk and cheese. His first round 80 was uncharacteristic. But his fine second round 72 gave the lie to the course being too tough for him as a first round 72 would have had him comfortably inside the cut.
The shot of the tournament came from 46-year-old California club professional Michael Block who was paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round. His tee shot on the par three 15th had to be seen to be believed.
Block himself was in disbelief as the crowd went wild. The ball spiralled high and dropped unerringly into the hole for a stunning ace.
His four rounds of 70, 70, 70 and 71 were quite remarkable. There were 10 bogeys and three double bogeys to counteract which he did time and again with many surprising up and downs with clutch putts from difficult positions.
None were more remarkable than in the final round on No 18. Submerged in long rough some 20 metres away, well below the green, for his third shot and needing to get up and down for a critical 15th place, it did not look good. But he calmly got the ball high to finish at least six feet from the cup and calmly sunk the putt to wild jubilation from the crowd. He had booked his place in next year’s PGA Championship at Val-
halla in Kentucky.
It was also pleasing to see Bryson DeChambeau back close to his best. Clearly his loss of significant weight has been a game changer as he now looks lean and mean. His pleasant demeanour was always evident displaying his enjoyment of being involved in another major. His four rounds of 66, 71, 70 and 70 for tied fourth were rock solid and kept him in the mix. His new world ranking of 90 pays him no compliments as does Dustin Johnson’s 82nd.
As for the LIV contingent it appeared to again add quality golf to the event with three in the top 10, five in the top 20 and 11 made the cut. Once again proving the LIV format has not diminished the quality of their golf, in fact in many cases some feel it has improved it. All the questions about LIV players being has-beens or losing their game or rusty appear to have been consigned firmly in the rubbish bin.
We can now look forward to the United States Open in Los Angeles from June 15-18 and The Open in England from July 20-23 and hope the fields will be no less in quality than the first two majors. The outdated and incomplete world rankings may well decide that.
A most unsavoury welcome greeted Brooks Koepka and fellow LIV player Bryson DeChambeau as they were introduced on the first tee for the third round of the PGA Championship in New York last month.
It was almost hard to believe. DeChambeau was first and his reception was very frosty to say the least. Koepka was also booed loudly as he prepared to play.
One Sky Sports commentator said it was completely uncalled for and a “most unsavoury two minutes. Two fine players and thoroughly decent men.”
Rich Beem, the 2002 PGA Championship winner, also on Sky Sports agreed saying they were booing because they were no longer on the PGA Tour. Yet they were both major champions who had done it their way. Social media was almost unanimously critical using words like classless and uncalled for. The success of both players was the best way to respond to the hoons.
The LIV players were not going to play the media’s games when asked about validation of LIV. That has been confirmed quite definitively and therefore rendered the media’s questioning irrelevant and the players showed that with their responses.
Koepka said: “It is huge for LIV but I am just happy to take this trophy home for the third time. It just validates it for myself.”
Cameron Smith simply said: “I gave up on that about six months ago. We haven’t forgotten how to play golf.” His ninth finish means he now has a top 10 finish in all four majors.
What the PGA results do validate is the majors’ decisions to allow LIV players to play in golf’s big four events. Greg Norman posted: “They belong on the competitive golf scene and in the Majors and golf knows that.”
If such players make the US team don’t be surprised if the DP World Tour boss Keith Pelley backtracks on his hardline and copies what the US does and LIV players are picked.
It looks more than likely after some of the performances. Europe’s side will likely have no LIV players but the US side may do especially after an exchange with captain Zach Johnson. Asked whether a LIV player can take one of the automatic positions Johnson responded: “Yeh. He’s (Koepka) on the team. He’s got direct ownership in that, absolutely.’’
If that is the case surely it opens up the possibility for the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.
Brooks Koepka has always exuded something of a tough guy image and enjoyed playing with the news media.
The exterior masked his real feelings inside. His injured right knee was the cause for his fears and insecurity. Multiple surgeries and the ongoing injury left him understandably constantly worried about his ability to play golf again.
At one stage he thought he could not compete with his fellow players regularly any more and his golf swing reflected that. He had morphed to more of a “stack and tilt’’ swing. That was because on the backswing it was necessary to shift most of the weight onto the trail leg. But when the knee was in a mess he was afraid to load his right side. This created other problems on the left side with compensating by reverse pivoting.
Now that he is back to physical health he has worked hard to overcome those problems. He now has the confidence to trust loading the right leg again. He said the breakthrough came in the off season. It surely has and he should be one to watch at the Opens.
Surely Michael Block was the feel good story of the PGA Championship. The 46-year-old had the time of his life and probably the tournament of his life. He won $US288,333 for his 15th placing, the best by a club pro since 1986 and an exemption into next year’s PGA Championship.
He bagged the first ace by a club pro since 1996 while playing with Rory McIlroy in the final round. He also received invitations to play in the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge plus the Canadian Open from June 8-11 in Toronto.
He is the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in California and this huge favourite with fans and media may take a while before returning to give golf lessons for $125 a pop. Yes, it is one of those stories that confirms the dreams of the everyday golfer can come true.
Nobody watching golf wants to be hit by an errant golf ball — unless you are well compensated and not injured. A spectator was watching a practice round at Oak Hill when he was struck on the calf by Joel Dahmen’s wayward tee shot.
Dahmen appeared shortly after and asked how much a beer cost. He then produced a crisp $100 bill, much better than the usual used glove or ball.
Dahmen said: “that’s your beers for today.” Dahmen, 35, is a survivor from testicular cancer and a PGA Tour winner.
While the fan had enough for five beers and some change it was meeting Dahmen that made his day. The fan said it was a pleasure to meet him and kept them talking for the rest of the day.
He shared a picture of his bruised leg on Twitter.
AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE
— BRILLIANT
Golf.com journalist Claire Rogers has posted a picture on Twitter that defies belief. Unsurprisingly it has garnered much attention as the image shows Jay Monahan, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Collin Morikawa walking together at the PGA Championship dinner. Looking closely it appears to be photoshopped with Collin Morikawa’s left hand holding a glass in front of Monahan’s arm even though he is clearly at least a metre behind Monahan.
Some of the comments on Twitter are hilarious. “Every person photoshopped.” “Collin looks like he’s on his 10th Vodka soda.” “Hang it in the Louvre.” “Worth a zillion words.” “Monahan within three feet of Mickelson, Not Likely.”
It is impossible to imagine Monahan would want to be anywhere near Mickelson. Unlike him however most players of so called rival tours are still friends and at The Masters and PGA dinners there were no hostilities.
Scottie Scheffler has leapfrogged Jon Rahm back into the number one world ranking but while laughing said, when questioned: “It is just an algorithm. While it is nice I don’t really care.” He made it clear he doesn’t play for a world ranking which in this case was no consolation.
“I just want to compete and I did well to hang in there and have a chance. Saturday’s 73 probably cost me. It is really hard to play four rounds under par at a major. Brooks played better this week so I tip my cap to him.“
It is hard to believe that the 2023 PGA Championship was the first major championship Sergio Garcia had missed in 24 years. He wasn’t keen to miss two in a row. He is now ranked a somewhat dubious 206th an age from automatic qualification.
He was in good touch in a strong field finishing at nine under par in a tie for fourth with a three foot birdie on the final hole avoiding a playoff to gain one of the eight places on offer. Former Ryder Cup teammate Graeme Mc Dowell at seven under par missed out on the playoff by one shot after dropping three shots over the last 11 holes.
Bryson DeChambeau looked a different person playing consistent golf always amongst the leaders at the PGA Championship. This was no miracle but the result of his complete change of approach regarding weight and diet after admitting his muscle building regime and complementary diet was a mistake.
After round one and sharing the lead he spoke about the changes.
“I began eating properly instead of stuff that inflames my body.”
He is allergic to most of the things he likes. Corn, wheat, gluten, dairy. He said he began taking them out of his diet last August and over time has lost the inflammation, a lot of fat and “slimmed down like crazy.” He lost 18 pounds in 24 days and said it was all water weight, not fat.
He also spoke of recovery from a hand injury which affected his swing which needed work as his hand healed.
“It is nice to come back and finally figure out what is going on.”
Along with that was the battle to return to form.
“I love golf and helping inspire kids to play golf and grow the game.” He admitted there were times during his recovery when he wondered if it was all worth it.
I think most people would agree the tours would be the poorer without the watchable, innovative DeChambeau.
Ryan Fox had every reason to be proud of his 23rd finish at the PGA Championship. After returning home for the birth of his second daughter Margot, he found it wasn’t all plain sailing especially being caught up in the drama of the floods in Auckland.
On top of that he caught pneumonia. “It wasn’t quite the ideal preparation for a major, but I was kind of hoping the fact I needed a break after a busy start to the year and then being mentally fresh would have been important this week,” Fox said.
He said pneumonia was almost a benefit in that he just got home and then had to relax. So the result after round one was “Coming in fresh this week has been pretty good so far.” So it would continue and he collected $US165,000 for his efforts and a world ranking of 41.
There was much discussion amongst players in the buildup to the PGA at Oak Hill about the daunting course setup. The redesign featured long rough, penal bunkers and fast greens. Many felt it compared to the most difficult US Open courses.
Several offered an opinion on how an 18 handicapper would fare. Not very successfully was the consensus. Billy Horschel thought a score over 150 would not surprise. “The rough is too thick. Maybe between 130 and 150. Horschel missed the cut on six over par.
Jordan Spieth thought breaking 100 for someone on single figures would be impressive. Spieth finished 29th on five over par. Belgian Thomas Detry thought an 18 handicapper wouldn’t break 120 and may not even finish some holes. Detry finished 40th on six over.
The farcical world golf rankings caused renowned United States magazine Sports Illustrated to come up with its own system of world rankings that takes into account all golfers on all tours, including LIV Golf. Commencing over five months ago, its system shows up the current anomaly caused by excluding LIV players. Some of the factors and calculations they use are:-
* All men’s tours receive points.
* At all no cut events the top 75 percent of finishers receive points.
* It uses the most recent 12 months of results instead of 24 months like the official world golf rankings.
* Most recent four months of results receive 100 percent of points, 5-8 months old receive 70 percent of eligible points, 9-12 months old receive 40 percent of points.
* It factors in strength of field and award bonuses for the majors similar to the OWGR.
Check out their week 21 rankings compiled after the PGA Championships. OWGR rankings are shown on the right.
New Zealand’s first golf course with totally artificial greens has officially opened for play.
Tapora Golf Club on the Kaipara Harbour north-west of Auckland has undergone a major redevelopment programme over the past four months – with the biggest improvement being the installation of totally artificial greens replacing what were the course’s traditional grassed putting strips.
The conversion to an all-weather playing amenity cost the club in the region of $500,000. However, the club calculates that the initial upfront outlay will eventually pay for itself over five years through savings associated with reduced greenkeeper’s wages and lower operating expenses for the likes of specialist green lawnmowers, turf maintenance machinery, grass fertiliser, weed control and irrigation.
The new artificial turf – comparable to sports surfaces already now widely used in New Zealand for hockey and soccer pitches – has an estimated life of up to 15 years if maintained carefully. With the underlying civil works and landscaping to establish the new greens undertaken as a one-off cost,
replacing the artificial greens at their end of their eventual best by date will be considerably cheaper.
Construction of the greens encompassed excavating nearly a metre of subsoil, which was then back filled with free-draining rocks, followed by a layer of smaller gravel, then topped off with sand – all of which was compacted with heavyweight rollers normally used for roading construction.
The new greens replicate holes golfers would expect to find on a typical course – with gentle undulations, some slopes, and in some cases two-tiered greens. Each hole features multiple pin placements which can be changed on a regular basis to ensure variety for players.
In conjunction with the new greens being installed, the club also took advantage of the temporary closure of the facility to lengthen its fairways and install new tee boxes – adding not only distance to some holes, but also creating multiple angles to its nine holes.
Club spokesman and one of the main people behind the course upgrade and overhaul, Greg Inger, said the club was excited about becoming the first golf-
ing amenity in New Zealand to bravely go where no other course in the country had ventured.
“The artificial turf which has been laid down is next generation in terms of the playing experience it offers players. We’re not talking about teeing up on mini-golf style carpet here, but a simulated artificial grass surface which plays just like a normal green … except that you won’t find pitch marks or annoying weed growth coming through,” Inger said.
“Golf as a sport is on a huge popularity wave at the moment, and in fact has been since early 2020 when covid-19 conditions meant people were looking for a recreational activity which could be played in lockdown conditions. While general society is now back to a degree of normality, the momentum for golf has continued on.
“As a result, most golf courses in and around Auckland are now heavily booked over weekends – with strong numbers of women, youngsters and families getting into the game. Tapora Golf Club is now aiming to be a genuine playing option for those struggling to find tee times in city courses – whether
they are looking to play a social round with friends, a competitive challenge on a full length course, or are looking for a golf course with classic Kiwi rural feel to it.
“We’re 100 kilometres from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, making the course an easily accessible option for a roadtrip day’s golfing, where tee times will be a lot easier to secure than in the city.
“We expect that the attraction of offering all-weather greens on a predominantly sand base soil structure – the only ones of their type in New Zealand – will really come to the fore over winter when rain impacts on the playing viability for many courses.”
Tapora Golf Club celebrated its official opening of the new greens facility with a well-patronised tournament last month, including members and guest players travelling from across Auckland and Northland to be part of the special occasion.
The 18-hole, par-72 course is open to the public for $25 a round, and is surrounded by farmland and avocado orchards, and has magnificent views over the Kaipara Harbour from the elevated holes in the middle of the course.
Lydia Ko will have New Zealand company at the United States Open next month as Cantabrian Amelia Garvey has qualified for the 78th edition to be played at the famous Pebble Beach links in California from July 6-9.
This will be Garvey’s third US Open having narrowly missed the cut previously. There were 2107 entries for this year’s event so qualifying was no cup of tea. Garvey has not played Pebble
Beach but has walked a few of the holes and is looking forward to the experience.
Garvey is still one of the longest strikers on the Epson Tour ranking 15th in distance last year. She has booked practice rounds with Ko and Lexi Thompson, one of the longest hitters, so is keen to see how she compares.
“It should be fun,” Garvey said.
The qualifier was played in Pittsburgh following her previous event in Kansas where she struck the ball well for a top 30 finish. Garvey and caddie Jamie
Tipper were then faced with a five hour drive to Oklahoma then two flights to Pittsburgh, finally arriving at lunchtime for a practice round.
Garvey was a little off the pace after a first round 73 which left her fourth two shots behind the leader. But looking to gain one of the two qualifying spots available, an outstanding second round 70, with three consecutive birdies on the back nine saw her into a four-person playoff which she won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
The course was a very tough and hilly one with thick rough and firm fast greens, very much akin to a US Open setup.
Garvey said: “It was brutal.”
Consequently she did make a few bogeys. However her swing was in good shape and she was striking the ball nicely. She was in position for birdies many times with her putts on line but on several occasions they came up short.
Tipper said: “It is a dream come true for us both to be at the US Open at one of the
world’s most iconic courses.” The celebrations were brief as they were faced with a 6am flight back to Oklahoma then a massive 18 hour drive to Orlando. Thankfully this was followed by a week off from the Epson Tour although a missed cut the following week wasn’t in the recipe. Despite that Garvey feels her game is better than some of her results have shown. Who said the life of a Pro golfer was easy? Garvey says “It is a matter of survival at times but I am loving it.”
Anew book has been released about Lydia Ko’s former coach Guy Wilson. The book’s foreword is written by former New Zealand prime minister Sir John Key, and here is an excerpt.
“Guy deserves the recognition he gets when it comes to teaching,’’ Key wrote.
“As talented as the likes of Lydia Ko undoubtedly is, it was through the years of their partnership combined with hard work and teaching that I believe allowed her to become the world champion she is …”
Guy Wilson was in the pro shop when Ko’s mother Tina asked him about giving her fiveyear-old daughter Lydia her first golf lesson. Lydia couldn’t even speak English and could barely see over the counter.
Guy agreed and over the next 11 years, he helped Ko develop one of the most envied swings in golf.
At the end of 2022, Lydia Ko was ranked the No 1 female golfer in the world for the second time in her record-breaking career.
And Guy continues creating stars. He coached Ruoning (Ronnie) Yin who recently won the LPGA Los Angeles Open Championship on April 2 and others currently playing at the highest level in golf.
Discover how he does it in this fascinating story about his style of coaching, guidance, attitude, humour, natural talent and amazing ability to teach and guide students on their way to being the best in the game.
Perhaps the subtitle of this book should read: “The genius behind Lydia Ko and more stars.”
There aren’t many books giving a real, full story on the ins and outs of golf instruction and coaching, especially one involving a superstar like Ko.
This is a must-read
for any golf instructor, sports enthusiast, golfer, or anyone who wants to learn more about how this amazing coach continues to create high-performing golfers playing at the highest level.
“What separates Guy from other coaches … is this: to look into the person’s eyes and start to understand and learn about the student. True golf coaching is far more about students who are human beings and inspiring them.” – Greg Thorpe, Golf New Zealand high performance manager.
“Guy gave Lydia incentives and she loved that. That was a win-win for both. But here’s the interesting thing as far as that philosophy goes. The only true way it will go well is to help others get what they want. Guy is a prime example of a person who has that philosophy. He genuine-
ly wants to see you succeed. When you were a kid did your grandma make something like a great cake that you and the rest absolutely loved? And obviously, grandma is not going to be around forever. So, what do you need? You need a recipe! Guy has the recipe to constantly make more cake.” – David Niethe, sports performance coach for world champions Israel Adesanya, Lydia Ko, and many more.
“Enjoyed it! I think anyone interested in Lydia’s career and interested in understanding the key issues relating to performance on the golf course, would enjoy reading this book. It flows well and plenty of factual information, and life experiences.” – Arnie Haydon. For bookstores ask for “Guy Wilson Creating Golf Excellence: The Genesis of Lydia Ko & More Stars”.
Thirty-two years ago, Jason Eade was preparing to represent New Zealand as a boxer at the Barcelona Olympics. But a motorbike crash changed the course of his life forever. The Wellingtonian has made a full recovery and is now a champion golfer. He is sharing his story of overcoming adversity to help others.
this one in his life.
“Being a national champion means more to me now that I’m getting a bit older and I’m still able to beat the young fellas,” says the 54-year-old.
“My drive is for the next generation to see someone like me with a disability. I’ve had my challenges, but I’ve also had some great experiences. I want them to see the opportunities and make the most out of life.”
Jason won the New Zealand Disability Golf Championship in 2022. He recently competed at the New Zealand All Abilities Championship and says it’s great to see a pathway for golfers with a disability.
“I love this event,” said Jason, who has played competitive golf all over the world.
“To play against other golfers who have a disability or special needs has been incredible.
Back in 1991, he was riding his motorbike near Kaiapoi, north of Canterbury. It was a cool, early autumn afternoon and the sun was low in the sky. He came around a corner and was blinded by sunstrike.
When his vision came clear, he was heading straight for a lamppost.
“I had to make a split-second decision and I used my boxing skills to duck,” he recalled.
“If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”
Jason hit the lamppost with incredible force. His left leg came off at the knee.
The 22-year-old was lying on the side of the road in a state of shock. A bystander made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
“They saved my life,” he said.
whole way with me,” he says. “They have supported me in every way, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The government agency has covered his medical costs, home modifications, car modifications, rehab, and transport, and provided a state-of-the-art prosthetic leg which helps him in his golf.
He tried wheelchair tennis and rugby but says: “I found it unusual taking my leg off and sitting in a wheelchair to play sport.”
He moved to Wellington in 1999 and attended a work ambrose golf tournament in 2007. It proved to be a turning point.
“I hit a couple of really good shots and thought to myself, I can do this,” he says. “I went away and taught myself how to play.”
won the New Zealand Disability Golf Championship.
By Peter ThorntonJason Eade is facing a downhill left-toright putt to win the championship. It’s a pressure moment, but truth be told the Wellington golfer has faced and overcome much tougher moments than
“I will support it for as long as I can. It has shown the wider community that there are so many more people who can play golf and that it is game for everyone.
“Of course, we all want to win and it’s a great battle. But on the 19th hole it is great to meet people and hear their story.”
Jason has a hell of a story to share himself.
The Cambridge Golf Club has a range of facilities for the use of members and their guests.
GOLF PRACTICE AREAS
Cambridge Golf Club has two dedicated practice areas. We have a driving range with target greens - buckets of balls may be purchased from the Pro Shop. The separate practice fairway includes a green with chipping and bunker practice areas.
BAR AND LOUNGE
The Club has a large lounge, suitable for functions and corporate entertainment and a fully stocked bar. Weather permitting, you can sit out on the balcony overlooking the 18th green. Resident caterers, Paynters Catering, provide a wide range of hot and cold food. The bar and catering facilities are open each day except Monday and Friday.
Twenty minutes later, Jason was on his way to Christchurch Hospital in an ambulance.
That night he was told by the doctors that they would remove his leg from above the knee because the crash had caused too much damage.
Jason had an amputated left leg, his right leg was badly broken, but he didn’t have any internal damage.
“I remember lying in the hospital bed and thinking, man I am lucky to be alive.”
Jason was a national rep in boxing and was preparing to compete at the 1992 Olympics.
“It was a big change in my life. At the time I was pretty despondent,” he says.
“I had no idea what life would hold for me. I had to learn what life was like with a physical disability. I had to start again.”
Jason had a long road to recovery, and he fully committed himself to his rehabilitation.
He learned how to walk again. And also had to overcome some mental battles.
Jason now plays off a 10 handicap at the Royal Wellington Golf Club. He plays both days every weekend.
His best score is an even par 72 at the Manor Park Golf Club where he was a member for many years and had a hole in one.
“I love golf because you will never master it. But that’s the same with life, isn’t it?”
Away from the course, Jason has worked at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington for 23 years.
He started as a porter and is now the chief concierge, managing a team of 12 people. He was recognised internationally, twice winning an HM Award for hotel and accommodation excellence.
“My desire is to be the best concierge team in New Zealand,” he says. “My young team are coming with me along the way.”
Jason says it was always important for him to work and be part of his community.
“The team here have been very supportive of me,” he says. “It’s a tough industry to work in with a disability. You are on your feet all day. But I never want to make excuses.”
GOLF CARTS
The Club has seven carts that can be rented through the Pro Shop. Visitors are welcome to bring their own carts onto the course but in wet conditions please check with the office prior to playing.
“I had concerns, [like] how are people going to perceive me? What are they going to think of me as a person with a disability?. As you get older, you realise that all of that stuff doesn’t matter.”
Jason said the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) had been at the heart of his recovery.
“ACC has been on the journey the
He has simple advice for others who have sustained a life-changing injury.
“You have a personal responsibility to yourself to keep living. You only get one shot at this thing called life and you have got to give it the best you can.
“When you get older like me, you don’t want to look back on lost years. You look back and you think, what a waste. Make the most of every day and enjoy it.”
112 Tirau Road, Cambridge |admin@cambridgegolf.co.nz |07 827 6381
Recent performances suggest the New Zealand Junior team of four boys and three girls to compete in Japan for the Junior Golf World Cup is well equipped to be a force to be reckoned with.
This is the first New Zealand team to go to the tournament since 2018 and will be held in Aichi, Japan. from June 20-23.
The teams, for under 19-year-olds, are packed with talent.
The boys are Cooper Moore (Clearwater, Christchurch), Robby Turnbull (Remuera, Auckland), Stephen Liu ( Royal Auckland), and Zack Swanwick (Napier).
Swanwick is only 17 but his recent win at the Aus-
tralian Junior Amateur Championships was a standout. Starting the final round with a three shot buffer he controlled the field winning by four shots. This earned him a start at the Australian Open for professional later in the year.
Moore won the under 16 New Zealand title and has just completed winning his third Waitikiri senior club title.
Liu graduated from Yale University in the United States after excellent golf results in 2022. A win, a second and two top 10s were no mean feat. Turnbull also has some solid performances in recent times.
The girls’ team is- Fiona Xu (Titirangi, Auckland), Eunsio Choi (Takapuna, Auckland) and Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland).
Xu’s results in 2022 and this year are impressive
with a win at the Australian Amateur in 2022 the best. This year she finished sixth.
Add to those efforts a third at the Asia-Pacific Amateur recently plus second in the Queen Sirikit Cup. Xu spearheaded New Zealand’s fifth placing at the Queen Sirikit Cup by finishing tied second on the individual table while Lu was 12th and Choi 32nd. Choi put in a sterling performance at the Australian Amateur, finishing second, so like the boys, the talent to compete is there.
National coach Jay Carter and talent development officer Liz McKinnon will travel with the team and McKinnon said: “We are looking forward to this opportunity for the players. This event provides a great test of golf against some of the world’s best young players. The Chukyo Club course will be challenging.’’
LIV Golf’s chief executive and commissioner Greg Norman has underlined the LIV Golf League’s commitment to Asia, describing the region as an “area of growth for generations to come’’.
Discussing LIV Golf’s strategic approach to the Asian market and its investment into the Asian Tour’s International Series, a schedule of marquee events which showcase the strength of the game in different markets around the world, Nor-
man was in typically bullish mood.
He said: “It was recognised very early on that the Asian market is a sleeping giant. We originally invested $US300 million into the Asian Tour for a specific reason. We know this is where the growth is going in the game of golf for generations to come.
“Our data point on that is the fact that 65 percent of all golf courses built in the world today are from the GCC (Cooper-
ation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) to the Asia-Pacific rim. It is a huge basin, and a huge opportunity going forward.
“This is just the start. I’ve been involved with golf here and I understand and follow this very, very closely because of my golf course design business. I recognise it.”
Norman, a two-time major championship winner and former world number one, added: “I have had a close affinity with Asia for a long, long period of time, both on and off the golf course and through my golf diplomacy, so I’m going to stay supremely focused on that region.
“Looking into the future and building into the future, Asia is going to be a dynamic place to be able to grow the game.”
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour chief executive and commissioner, said: “The International Series is an important milestone in the development of golf in the region, one which allows us to showcase the talent of the players and also underscore the incredible facilities and infrastructure in our key markets.
“The future for golf in Asia is bright and with the International Series now reaching different venues in new and established golfing markets, including the Middle East and Europe, golf enthusiasts
around the world can now witness the increasing strength of our tour and the ascendency of the game here in Asia.”
Asia also took centre stage last month with the staging of the LIV Golf Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club.
Thousands of golf fans from Singapore and the wider region flocked to the Sentosa Golf Club for LIV Golf Singapore, the fifth event of the inaugural 14-date season which also includes stops in Mexico, Australia, Spain, England, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
On the Serapong Course, Talor Gooch held off Sergio Garcia for a thrilling play-off victory, emerging triumphant from a field which included 13 major winners to secure his second individual title in two weeks and also claim a first ever team victory for the RangeGoats GC.
As well as showcasing the depth of talent around the globe and shining the spotlight on world class venues and championship-level courses in diverse markets such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Egypt, Morocco, Qatar and Oman in the Middle East, LIV Golf has offered a gateway to the big stage for players on the Asian Tour.
Atop tournament for amateur golfers aged 35-54 has been launched by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC).
The tournament for men and women will be staged concurrently over the Garden Course at Malaysia’s Glenmarie Golf & Country Club from June 13-16.
Taimur Hassan Amin, chairman of the APGC, said: “We’re excited to introduce the APGC Mid-Amateurs as this is probably the largest segment of players who play serious amateur golf but have limited opportunity to participate in competitive tournaments.
“Within this age bracket there are so many talented players – male and female – who enjoy the thrill of competition. With the APGC Mid-Amateur Championships we’ll be filling a gap and providing a platform for those who fall within this category to shine.
“It’s a welcome new addition to the APGC’s expanding portfolio of tournaments, creating a playing opportunity for those who are still playing their best golf but find it difficult to adjust to the ever-increasing number of junior players that now form most of the national teams.
“So, instead of them waiting for years to play in the APGC Seniors they now will have a serious championship to keep
their game sharp and remain in touch with their contemporaries.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming players from most of our member counties to enjoy the competition, make new friends from within our region and enjoy the championship atmosphere.
“Our thanks go to the Malaysian Golf Association for their assistance and support in staging the Mid-Amateur Championships and to Glenmarie Golf & Country Club for providing such outstanding facilities.”
The Mid-Amateur Championships are open to ladies and men who have Amateur Status in accordance with the current amateur status rules of R&A Rules Limited.
Ladies must have a handicap Index of 6.0 or less. Men must have handicap Index of 3.0 or less. The handicap used at the date of entry will be used for all purposes.
With the inauguration of the Mid-Amateur Championships, the APGC now has tournaments that cater to all age groups.
In addition to the APGC Junior Championships and APGC Senior Championships, the APGC partners with The R&A and Masters Tournament to stage the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and with The R&A to stage the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific.
Under the auspices of the APGC there are also Asia-Pacific team events for men (Nomura Cup, biennial) and women (Queen Sirikit Cup, annual).
In conjunction with the European Golf Association (EGA), the APGC also conducts the Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy, the latest iterations of which will take place from August 3-5 at the La Manga Club in Spain.
The Ryder Cup-style match play events
are fiercely contested between elite male and female amateurs from the APGC and EGA.
Located just 13 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, the doors of Glenmarie Golf & Country Club were officially opened to its patrons on January 29, 1994.
Over the ensuing 29 years, the club has hosted an array of tournaments, most notably the EurAsia Cup, a Ryder Cupstyle event between Europe and Asia.
Dustin Johnson returned to top form with his second LIV Golf victory in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States.
Following the hugely successful Adelaide event, the playoff in Tulsa was probably the perfect follow-up with three rounds of at times extraordinary golf. None more so than the third round when Cameron Smith shot 61 to make the playoff. This was matched by Harold Varner and also Branden Grace in the first round.
On the final day when play resumed on the most difficult par four 10th hole after a two hour weather delay, Johnson seemed to be in control with a three shot lead. A poor drive led to him finding the water left of the green with his second shot. A triple bogey left him a shot adrift of Grace. He birdied No 11 to level with Grace. Meanwhile Smith birdied his final hole to be the clubhouse leader at 17 under par.
Grace finished 17 under but Johnson needed birdie on his final hole to make the playoff. Faced with a 10 footer he calmly slotted it, then with a spectacular eagle on the first playoff hole, stole the win.
“Next time I’d like to win without a playoff. It would be a lot less stressful,” Johnson said after the win.
Burgeoning Aussie star Min Woo Lee is the first signing for the $A2 million Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane from November 23-26.
It is the first event on the 2024 DP World Tour calendar and is again expected to attract a world class field featuring Australia’s stars such as Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman and other up and coming stars.
Lee, 24, from Perth, has finished in the top five in the last two PGA Championships in the United States and was sixth at this year’s Players’ Championship. He now foots it with the world’s best on the DP and PGA Tours. This year’s event is expected to attract about 6000 visitors to Queensland.
Is this a sign of things to come?
It would appear to be, according to British newspaper The Guardian that Porsche has withdrawn its sponsorship which began in 2015, of the European Open in Hamburg in Germany. This was hardly surprising following the banning and sanctions, including cumulative fines imposed on LIV Golf, players meaning they would no longer feature in any more DP World Tour events.
Starting with the European Open, the fines against 26 players which are on a case by case basis, range from 25,000 to 100,000 pounds for each LIV or LIV
backed Asian Tour event they play up to a maximum of eight tournaments. It is no surprise that so many former European Tour stars have given up their memberships. As Henrik Stenson said: “They left me with no other choice than resignation.”
The sanctions on Paul Casey, who is sponsored by Porsche, and Martin Kaymer, one of Germany’s most accomplished players, has raised doubts over whether Porsche would continue backing the tournament. A spokesperson for Porsche said it was in discussions about the event’s future with the promoter and the tour.
United States magazine Golfweek has reported that AT&T, which sponsors both the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic and the Pebble Beach Classic, wish to withdraw it’s Byron Nelson Classic sponsorship from next year. It has been involved since 2015.
The most notable loss is the 42-year longest running continuous sponsorship deal on the PGA Tour. Honda and its Honda Classic had always been one of the tour’s most popular events drawing one of the best fields for many years. But no longer. In 2015 it was the third strongest field outside the major championships with 15 of the top 25 players on hand. Roll on to 2021 and just five top 50 players were there and two top 20. In 2022 it had 12 top 50 players.
The PGA Tour caused its demise when scheduling two elevated events immediately before it and two immediately following. Formerly one of the richest events on tour, this year’s final edition sported $US8 million against the $US20 million for the events either side of it. The reasons for change from Honda were diplomatic in corporate speak about changing strategies in marketing but one tour pro summed it up beautifully. “It is unfortunate to lose a loyal sponsor because of the decisions we made sandwiching them and not business struggles. It’s like you did us wrong, now we are gone. They are probably mad. I would be.”
Jason Day’s sensational final round 62 at the Byron Nelson Classic ensured his popular return to the winner’s circle after precisely five years at the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship. The gap was bridged by 105 starts marked by ongoing battles with injuries and illness and a drop in world rankings to 175th last September.
Several recent top 10 finishes this season have signalled his health recovery.
“I’ve had a lot of injuries with my back and at one point thought I might not be able to play again. Then it was a case of just trying to get through those two years where simply getting through a tournament was difficult “ said Day.
“So to be healthy and feeling good about my game and finally winning again, there is no better feeling.”
The other factor in his renaissance
is working with Chris Como since 2021 producing a swing to avoid his back issues and also his chipping. Como had come well recommended and Day found him to be the perfect mix.
Day’s mother Dening died from cancer a year ago so it was an emotional sight to see her name etched on his caddie’s bib during the week. As for his wife Ellie, Day said: “The amount of sacrifice she’s made for me and my career, I can’t thank her enough.”
It was certainly an inspirational and lovely sight to see her and their delightful four children there in support, especially the proudly pregnant Elle cradling the gorgeous youngest daughter in her arms.
Despite a few grumblers, the general manager at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide said there had been minimal damage to its courses. This was in response to claims from a few members that the event infrastructure and 77,000 spectators left a huge mess.
One member told the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper that “we will have a mess for six months then it is back again.”
The newspaper wrote that on social media along with comment that furious members said they don’t want it back again. So that was the bad news which unfortunately made headlines around the world despite the facts and stats which say otherwise.
A club survey showed 86 percent were satisfied or very satisfied with LIV Golf, seven percent were neutral and seven percent were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
General manager Barry Linke confirmed that within days both courses were back in play and the club was remedying the minimal damage caused by grandstands particularly around the stadium style par three.
“Members are enjoying excellent playing surfaces and the LIV event has not affected playing areas so we look forward to planning the next event. It was fantastic to see the world’s best players in action.”
Members only missed eight days of play and received free tickets to LIV Golf on four of those days as well as being able to play at other clubs during the whole of the eight days. But isn’t it always the way in these instances. There are always those vocal few, usually those members who have no interest in anything other than playing golf on their home course. Thankfully they are usually a very small minority as in this case.
Media personality Paige Spirinac is miffed at the way Brooks Koepka is often portrayed by some media and targeted by trolls with hate online. She feels it is unfair he is set up in a negative way. She has enjoyed the drama between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf but draws the line at Koepka’s treatment.
“I have always been a big Brooks’ fan
and I don’t think there are a lot of good clips of him.”
She said she has witnessed his good side seeing him fist bump and laughing as he goes snail butterfly which is the action of sea snail that swims like a butterfly.
On the range “he is a sweetheart”.
“He stops for kids more than anyone else. He smiles and jokes with everyone and people don’t see that side.’’ Spirinac would like the world to see that side.
Greg Norman revealed before the Adelaide event that LIV officials have a women’s series on the agenda. Norman said they regularly discus it internally. He said he has discussed the possibility with individual LPGA and Ladies European Tour players. “They love our product and ask how can we get involved. We would love to see a LIV ladies series.
He said a women’s league would be discussed once the 2023 season concluded. Golf Saudi is already heavily involved in women’s golf hosting six events on the Ladies’ European Tour (LET) called the Aramco Series, one of which is in the United States.
Almost all the top women have played in Saudi events. Lexi Thompson and the Korda sisters will be top targets. All are obviously non committal when asked.
However the interesting point is that unlike the men’s big tours the ladies chief executives will be only too happy to sit down with LIV and discuss any proposals. LPGA commissioner Mollie Samaan said she would listen to any pitch from LIV if it was lucrative and achieves it’s aim of promoting women’s golf.
Input would also be sought from players and sponsors. How refreshing to have a mature reasoned response unlike the childish throw the toys out of the cot snubs of Jay Monahan and Keith Pelley from the PGA and DP World tours.
Finally Rory McIlroy has seen the light it would appear. He has been a most vocal PGA Tour spokesman against LIV Golf but says he will draw the line under that in future. There have been concerns it has affected his game.
Faced with various questions by media ahead of the PGA Championship in the United States last month he gave two one-word answers to questions about the future and sidestepping the endless comments about LIV.
Billy Foster has spoken out with Irish gambling company Boyle Sports about the various resignations from the DP World Tour.
Foster, who caddies for Matthew Fitzpatrick, obviously has strong feelings about Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood
and Ian Poulter resigning and therefore effectively ending their association with the Ryder Cup and any chance of captaining Europe.
With all the cumulative fines DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has been handing out, which have reached the million pound mark in some cases, the players seem to have been left with no option. Foster, who has caddied for both Westwood and Garcia previously, said he was dismayed at the way ”the saga has unfolded. Personally speaking something needs to be worked out.”
He can understand both sides but still feels it is a “travesty” they will not be captains after what they have done for the European Tour over so many years. He concedes that some people say they made their choice but also feels you can’t blame them for their decision.
Foster concluded saying having grown up with these lads for up to 30 years and seen what they have done it is so sad.
A story by Rick Broadbent in British newspaper The Times recently suggested Tiger Woods is in denial after watching his forlorn and painful play in The Masters in the United States in April.
Woods made a record-equalling 23rd consecutive cut, a nebulous accolade in the scheme of things along with back to back double bogeys for the first time in his Masters’ career. Add to that being six over par through seven holes in the third round.
His fight against age and worse, his self inflicted injuries, shows no signs of ending. His right foot was the problem at The Masters and now it has been revealed he has undergone ankle surgery with no date for his recovery.
Yes, he has announced he will return to competitive play on a more limited schedule around the majors, his events including father and son, providing everything goes well with his recovery. Maybe Broadbent is right about denial. Time will tell.
True friends really stand by each other in loyalty through thick and thin as they say. Normally it should only take some
significant disloyalty or serious action to end a friendship. However that appears to not be the case when you play on the LIV Golf tour.
Bryson DeChambeau revealed his (so he thought) good friend and mentor Tiger Woods has cut him off. The pair used to play practice rounds together. DeChambeau said he has been a great friend. “I texted him on his birthday. It is what it is.”
The Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia friendship came to an abrupt end with McIlroy cutting Garcia off with caustic comments. This did no one any good and only inflamed the situation with Garcia responding that McIlroy was lacking maturity. McIlroy was groomsman at Garcia’s wedding but this obviously meant little to McIlroy.
Then we had the public termination by that pillar of decency Fred Couples of his great friendship with Phil Mickelson. However, these and a few less public ones, are the exception. DeChambeau says apart from Woods he gets along fine with other players. Bubba Watson said he gets on fine with his fellow players and has nothing against anyone. He feels the media stirs things up and makes it awkward.
United States’ Golf Association (USGA) chief executive Mike Whan copped a blast from Phil Mickelson over a cunning move that will exclude Talor Gooch from a deserved place at the US Open.
Criteria for the US Open has always been that those players who qualified for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship qualified for the following year’s US Open field.
However the USGA changed that to “those players who were qualified and eligible” in February 2023 for the end of season PGA Tour Championship. That of course ruled out any LIV golfers who qualified in 2022 but were then banned by the tour for joining LIV Golf. That ruled out Talor Gooch who played in The Masters, the PGA Championship and will also play in The Open in England.
Whan defended the move but that did not wash with Mickelson who stuck up
for Gooch’s unfair treatment. The only way Gooch can qualify is by being in the top 60 of the world rankings by the two cut off dates ending June 12th. He is currently just outside the top 60.
Phil Mickelson suggested earlier in 2022 that the PGA Tour had plenty of money at its disposal that could be offered to its players.
Tiger Woods strongly denied that the tour was flush with money. He said: “We (PGA Tour)” took out an enormous loan during the pandemic and the tour would only have lasted through one more year of the pandemic.”
That turned out to be a load of hogwash, according to the PGA Tour. It confirmed no loan was taken out. It used reserves and mitigating actions.
Mickelson revealed the bald available facts that are available to all. He said you can Google the figures in 2018 which show $US1.6 billion in stocks, $US700 million in cash and $US1.15 billion in non liquid assets. All from the non profit section.
The for-profit section has not been stated since 2012 but was more than the non profit section at the time. The recent actions of the PGA Tour in unlocking enormous millions to double and treble and more the prizemoney for so many of its events would tend to suggest Mickelson was on the money.
Despite various rumblings, LIV players did everything they could to honour and respect The Masters experience in April. There were no LIV logos or team logos worn by players despite warnings there would be.
Apparently the players in the field held a meeting beforehand and agreed not to wear LIV Golf logos out of respect for the tournament. Brooks Koepka sported the Nike logo. Despite media trying to stir him with questions about why he wasn’t wearing his team logo he simply said: “I have a team but I’m sponsored by Nike.”
That is the word according to three-
time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher. He feels the DP World Tour’s strategic alliance with the PGA Tour may lead to it being an upmarket Korn Ferry Tour which is the secondary golf circuit to the PGA Tour in the US. Gallacher made the remark to James Corrigan of British newspaper The Telegraph.
Gallacher, who was on the board of the former European Tour, said it always wanted to retain its independence and own decision making. However, it always found ways for its best players to play the PGA Tour through World Golf championships and the majors. But it was only the very top end able to do so. But with the top 10 each year certain to get PGA cards now, he fears they will just become an upmarket Korn Ferry Tour. That may even be a generous rating.
He has merely reiterated the words of Lee Westwood who has been saying for some time that the DP World Tour is now just a feeder for the PGA Tour. A recent regular DP World Tour event, the Saudal Open in Belgium, offered $US2 million prizemoney and probably supported the words of Gallacher and Westwood.
I may be open to a minor correction but it appears there were only two top 100 players in the field ranked 84 (finished third) and 87 (seventh}. The winner ranked 242nd, second ranked 161 and of the rest of the top 15 finishers only three ranked higher than 218. A majority in the field seemed to be in the 300, 400, 500 and much higher rankings.
Australia is like New Zealand enjoying the golf boom. Club membership in Australia is at 426,384 which is up 2.7 percent. Women and girls’ share is 79,704, up four percent.
Total participation numbers in Australia are 2.7 million which is made up of 800,000 just on course (not including driving ranges, mini golf centres and simulators). There was a total of 700,000 both on and off course and 1.2 million just off course.
A get into golf programme for adults grew by 65 percent with an 84 percent jump for females. The overall membership increases are the second largest since data collection began in 1970.
Michael Goldstein, well known for his involvement with the New Zealand Open since 2013, is a quite remarkable young man. Golfer Pacific was able to go behind the scenes with this self deprecating passionate globetrotting golf fan.
So where did it all begin?
“I was brought up in Christchurch. Played golf at Russley. Just for fun. I wasn’t very good. I didn’t play very much through university. I played other sports and then after university I was working as a lawyer and hated it. So one night, after a lot of drinks, my buddy and I decided to play golf every day for a year.
“So we drove around the world playing golf every day for a year.”
Where did the golf take him?
“We drove around New Zealand, then Aussie which got us through to May. Then we flew to the USA, bought a car and played every day. Next it was off to the UK and Ireland and more of the same. On the way back we went through the Middle East, then Aussie again and finally in New Zealand.”
You must have played many famous courses?
“We were very fortunate. We were writing a blog, so many people in the golfing world reached out and said come play golf with us. Meeting so many golfers, it was like an introduction to the game. I didn’t know a lot having played mainly the one golf course and occasionally with my mates.”
To do that you must have been a reasonably good golfer?
“Before we did that I played about six times a year and my handicap was about seven. So I learned a lot playing about a zillion shots and got a bit better. It was a good learning curve with different types of grasses and style of courses.
“I was 25 years old at the time and at the end of that I thought I might stay working in golf. So I went to China for a year and worked in the industry over there with golf architects and developers.
“I worked with Darius Oliver for the year and we were trying to get the Chinese to get their golf courses designed by good architects and show them what good golf was like. It was such a new sport and some of the courses being built were not as good as they might be.”
Goldstein’s next revelation beggars belief.
”Tom Doak built this amazing course in China but it never got opened. It was on an island in Haiko. There was a problem with the government permits and consenting. There was a team of people who worked there for up to two years. A pretty tough experience for them. While there was a lot of growth in golf there until 2012 it hasn’t been the same in the last decade.”
What do you think of Darius Oliver’s influence at The Hills?
“I really like The Farm par three course. It is one of the most natural golf experiences in the greater Queenstown region. It is just seamless between The
Hills and the natural contours. Arrowtown is a bit like that too.
“It was then in 2012 that John Hart and Michael Hill announced a new tournament as a pro-am. I read about it in the newspaper so wrote to them that day and said it was a great idea and I want to be a part of it.“
So what happened next?
“A week later I left China and was in Auckland working with them. It was the first week of January, 2012. I said I love golf, I like what you are doing. I think the tournament is a great way of rebuilding our New Zealand Open and also showcasing Queenstown. They took me on. I was learning, in fact to be honest we were all kind of learning.
“John and Michael had extensive backgrounds in sport, but as for running a golf tournament it was a bit of a whirlwind for the first year as it all came together in about four months.
“I tried my hardest to get them to sack me (joke) but they kept me on for the next year. I had so much fun that first year and didn’t take it too seriously. There were only about four or five of us trying to put on a golf tournament, host the sponsors and get all the players. Sponsors were turning up to do their thing so it was all quite new.”
Goldstein worked as contractor for the second year in 2013 and again in 2014. Then in 2015 he and partner Mel Gimblett set up a contract to bring all the event management services under one umbrella, known as The Clubhouse.
The first event under that umbrella was in 2016. However when covid hit, Goldstein said: “We changed our lifestyle and stopped the business and moved out of Auckland to Galloway near Alexandra. So the event is now run under Millbrook Tournaments which is great.”
While The Clubhouse is no longer the official event management organiser, Gimblett was still very much involved in the golf operations and the event experience. At this year’s event Goldstein was there in a supportive role not only for Gimblett but also the tournament.
How much golf are you playing now?
“Not a lot here in New Zealand. Maybe six times a year.”
Why? Is he not enjoying it enough?
“No. I love it. My hobby now is travelling to play golf. I try to travel twice a year to play the great golf courses of the world.”
Where have you played?
“Last year I went to Melbourne, then France, Holland and England. A couple of trips then come back to the real world where I don’t really play much.
“I’ve probably played about 70 of the top 100 courses in the world. I’ve played about 700 golf courses.” Which ones standout?
“The great courses are pretty special but St Andrews is my favourite. North Berwick would not be
far behind, Prestwick is another. I have been lucky to play the great courses in the USA which are pretty special too.
“In New Zealand it is Paraparaumu. I have also recently played Te Arai which was awesome and a nice walk. I’m a great fan of natural links courses with benefits of firm, fast fairways and natural rough which is my passion.”
So where has the focus been since closing The Clubhouse?
“I have been working in motorsport the last couple of years so that is why I haven’t been so involved with golf. I have been running the World Rally Championship event in Auckland. That has been most of my work but I do a bit of work with New Zealand Golf and work in the area of the tourism industry and also around facilities as well.”
In what way?
“Changes with golf courses, mergers or move some of their land. Such as Frankton (Queenstown) which I haven’t been involved with. There is going to be another traffic lane so NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) has acquired the necessary land. So there is an opportunity for golf to benefit from that rather than lose.
“Obviously the NZTA has to pay a lot of money for the land so everyone in the golf industry wants to see that money support Frankton Golf Club. That is a good example of opportunities that present themselves.”
Goldstein is now using his experience to be involved in the presentation of major events like the World Rally. He says he is getting older. He is 37.
Reflecting on his one year world trip playing golf he is happy to express his gratitude for the support he received in Australia.
“They were very supportive of us. Golfer Pacific really helped our trip. Australian Golf Digest also did. Back then the publicity kept us going because we were flying by the seat of our pants. We tried to fund ourselves by writing some articles every month for Australian Golf Digest and also some for Links Magazine in the USA. My buddy liked writing but financially it wasn’t the most successful strategy. We needed to be entrepreneurial to try and play every day because it was expensive travelling the whole time.”
Currently, Goldstein is a member at Royal Wellington and Omakau. Omakau is my local.
Omakau is an extremely good nine holer with oodles of character, variety and contours. We ended our time together chatting about golf courses in Christchurch and Dunedin. He felt Dunedin had all the variety that Christchurch somewhat lacked but was looking forward to seeing the completely revamped Shirley Links at the Christchurch Golf Club. Don’t be surprised if he is seen at the 2024 New Zealand Open reprising his short term role this year of assisting with hosting. If golf can be in the blood it certainly is with Michael Goldstein.
From Wellington to Tasmania, or further afield to Argentina - we have the golf getaway or tour for you! A golf getaway in Wellington will allow you to experience the best courses in the region; a golf tour in Tasmania lets you explore this island state of Australia; and a golf tour in Argentina will take you from Patagonia in the south to Salta in the north and Iguazu & Buenos Aires in between.
Our fully hosted packages ensure you have a hassle free, fun and relaxed time when travelling with us. You’ll find all the details of these and other tours on our website, including convenient online booking.
Argentina boasts the highest Andean peak (Aconcagua) and the world’s southernmost city (Ushuaia). Buenos Aires offers countless avenues to all night revelry, but beyond the city limits nature comes unabashed and boundless. The dry pastel hues of the northern desert erupt into the thunderous falls of Iguazu, the crisp skies of the Lakes region and the craggy, glacier-clad south. Once here, slow down and you will draw in all manner of encounters, including golf!
The world is now discovering that this island is truly one of the most engaging and authentic places in the world. The contrasts of the landscape are enthralling – mountain ranges, wild rivers, glaciated peaks and pristine beaches. And then there are the golf courses. Barnbougle hosts two truly links style golf courses that are ranked in the top 25 in the world, and you can play on them!
An American golf course architect describes his own earlier neanderthal design phase, when forward tees were placed 10-30 yds ahead of each other.
He explained the proportional theory of tee placement with the new wave of tees set by percentages forward of a base tee.
Greens are meant to be reached in regulation figures. Extra shots after the drive which are out of range of the green (called distance shots) aren’t fun and they slow play.
An ex-president of the ASGCA (United States Golf Architects’ Association ) wrote recently: “For design fairness tees should be set proportionately to each other, to provide the chance of using similar clubs for shots to the green for all players”.
Analysis of forward tee separations on many courses reveal consistent irregularities in comparison to the back/base tee.
Do you have regular over par scores on some holes in particular?
Highly likely this is because tee separations on those holes are well out of proportion compared to others. It is likely you are required to play longer approach shots on those holes.
Back tee players (if it is their correct tee), generally play much shorter irons to the green than forward tee players. This is quite unfair and should not be their prerogative by default.
Why play forward?
The great Byron Nelson would only tee off if he could reach the green in regulation.
“I never tee off unless I have a chance at birdie,” was his famous quote.
Which forward tee?
Driving distance determines this (2x9i ~ DD) The PGA Tour average is 260m.
1. Therefore the tee most suited to club pros and top amateurs (maybe 5-10 percent of members) would find a course length of 6000m (5800m-6100m) com-
fortable. Often called the blue tee, this becomes the base tee.
2. The second group comprising say 25 percent of men, have driving distances of around 240m (225m-250m). This is eight percent less than the blue tee average. Often this is the white course.
Where possible tees should be positioned eight percent forward of the blue tees on each hole and depending on the length of the blue course, should measure around 5500m (5600m-5300m). Forward Tee 1.
3. The third group, usually over 50 percent of men, have driving distances just below 200m, according to US statistics. This is 22 percent less than the 260m, and determines the best and fairest place for this set of tees on each hole — the green course. Forward Tee 2. This means the green course will measure approximately 4700m (4900m-4500m) being 22 percent less than the blue course.
Women’s tees
The LPGA Tour average driving distance is 225m.
1. That equates well with the white tees. FT 1. Most would be five handicappers or less.
2. Women with driving distances of 220m-180m use the non gender green tees. FT 2. Most would have 12 or less handicaps.
3. Women with a driving distance of 175m or less should be using the next tee forward, best set at 35 percent less than the blue tee ie 3900m (4200m or less) and is appropriate for most 13+ handicaps. This is logical because 35 percent of 260m (the base driving distance from which tees are set) is 170m.
Very few courses provide for a tee at this distance, yet most women and some men have this driving length or less, plus juniors and beginners.
Some major clubs do not provide all three options to the detriment of their members,
and some are not rated for both genders, often resulting in some 75 percent of members forced to play from unfair tees.
Some clubs provide four or more forward tees and mix the tees/courses which allows for greater choice but makes for disproportionate holes.
But placing forward tees at the three areas above is both adequate and user-friendly for players and more economical for maintenance purposes.
Proportional tees
Because courses are designed from the back tee forward, design features, hazards, doglegs, water/wetlands, streams and bunkers all come into play with that set of players in mind, including landing areas.
Unless forward tees are placed proportionately, and at correct separations, a whole range of difficulties can, and does, arise. See later examples.
The back tee golfer can drive clear of the most of the above, but on a regular basis the forward tee players discover their shots fall short, often gathered up by the very hazards they are meant to avoid.
Golden rule
Using the appropriate tees allows most players to play shots to the green using the same clubs as the back tee players.
Greens in regulation
On checking the first and second forward tees on many courses throughout New Zealand, almost all have over half which are too long.
In the introduction we saw that tees were often the same distance apart regardless of par. While this might be ok for par threes, it becomes increasingly inadequate as the hole length increases.
Perhaps this is why the par threes on most courses provide the most pars, but with strings of bogeys and doubles elsewhere. Par three tees should be placed at the shorter end of the proportional ranges stated lat-
er, where there are hazards to carry.
Conclusion
Forward tee players reach fewer greens in regulation on the par fours and fives. The issue for most, males and females, of all handicaps, is the same thing always. Many holes are too long; it sometimes takes extra shots to reach the greens. No golfer can combat excessive length.
Quotes
Jon Rahm: (after first practice round prior 2021 PGA): “I hope they bring the tees forward because I had to use a 5 iron on most of my approaches.”
And his playing partner Zach Johnston, not a long hitter: “I was pulling my head covers off for nearly all my shots to the greens.”
Golf commentators are forever featuring greens in regulations as the key to better results. Therefore it is logical that club golfers play forward so that every hole is reachable.
Not only reachable but reachable with the same clubs as the top players.
Golfers are renowned for spending time and money attempting to improve their games i.e. more greens in regulations, by having expensive golf lessons, buying up to date equipment, using only the latest golf balls.
But all forward players would lower their gross scores by more than the combined effect of all of the above if they played from the correct forward tees. Many have never thought in terms of greens in regulation because they seldom reach any but the short holes, but it is the key to lower scores. Have a competition with your partners; you’ll soon find out that the shorter approach shots you play, the more greens in regulation which equate to lower numbers.
The future
There is no excuse for the executive of golf clubs not to correct this anomaly once they realise that designers have
overlooked this very significant aspect, and in so doing enrich the enjoyment for many golfers who have been punished for too long.
It’s a matter of education to convince long standing members who have been indoctrinated over the years, that there is a better option, and not blindly accept the status quo.
Everyone wants a better scorecard
It is surprising to find smart business people and academics of both genders are not that smart on the golf course allowing masochism and/or peer pressure to override logic and common sense in their choice of tees totally unsuited to their ability.
Maybe a strong-willed individual can take the initiative and suggest moving forward especially if the tees are proportional and therefore more user-friendly. Committees need to publicise compulsive evidence to encourage the opportunity for lower gross scores and thus inherent increased satisfaction via starter room placards;
quotes from prominent members who have graduated; provide best greens in regulation prizes for scrambles; multi tee competitions. Why not allow all players in scrambles to choose their appropriate tee — gross scores can easily be adjusted by adding the chosen course rating to determine the corrected gross from which both nett and stableford scores can be calculated. Round times are reduced as a bonus. Flags denoting new proportional tees could be trialled on holes which failed the test (see later), perhaps with written feedback handed in when scorecards are submitted.
Word soon spreads when a golf course suddenly becomes simpler, quicker and a fairer than ever before.
Peter Worrall AucklandIread something the other day that was so simple and resonated with me.
Ladies’ tees.
What an outmoded thing they are. Ladies’ tees have got to go.
How chauvinistic/disrespectful and old-fashioned is it to suggest that women should have a tee of their own forward of the men. Plenty of women out there who can outgun most blokes. It’s like a ski field allocating a ladies’ slope and making it easier -- suggesting that the fairer sex needs this patronising sort of help.
I think a clever way of approaching it is to totally forget the old-fashioned blue/yellow/ red system and men’s and women’s cards.
Simply rename the tees A, B, C, D, E or Roman numerals or whatever (as progressive clubs
are doing). It would be great eventually if the new identification system of the tees became universal. But it’s not imperative as long as there is a selection and no ladies’ tees or vets’ tees or juniors’ tees.
You play off the tee that is appropriate for your driving distance/skill level. I personally think a key point is that when anyone plays golf they want the opportunity to land their good drives where the course architect designed them to land; to have an opportunity on a par five to either reach the designated layup zone or, if you’ve got the ability, have a go at reaching the green in two (if the hole allows such a risk/reward shot).
And a very important point is (provided we have played a good drive or in the case of par
five a good second) all golfers deserve the opportunity to play a shot into the green, the same as a top player would play. For example, if a top player is firing into the green with say an eight iron and it allows it to have sufficient height to hold the green that same opportunity should be afforded the higher handicapper.
The higher handicapper isn’t playing golf if he/she is approaching the hole in question (ie that the top players are sticking eight irons into) if they are coming in with a long iron or hybrid wood.
I want to be able to play golf when I go out onto a golf course. Not some sort of longrange hit-and-hope game where I haven’t got a chance in hell of reaching greens in regulation
or after a decent drive having to then play long irons or metal woods into greens that top player is hitting short irons into. Fair Is fair.
The game must be about enjoyment. Like any sport, if it’s too tough and steeped in archaic rules and protocol people will give up.
Golf should be a sport for the people. If people want to experience the longer tees, by all means play the longer tees some time. I’ll bet you’ll soon be back on the tees that allow you to play the course the way it’s designed to be played. Why? Because above all else we want to enjoy our sporting outings.
When I go snow skiing I don’t go on the black runs or the double diamond macho killer because it’s too tough and not
enjoyable. Besides I could kill myself.
Golf is no different. If I’m not capable, for whatever reason, of driving 250 metres plus why would I want to play off the macho killer back tees and not clear the lake. I mightn’t risk literally killing myself but I definitely kill off any chance whatsoever of playing the course the way it’s designed to be played and I’ll probably hate the round.
Stick me forward and give me a shot at the course and I’m a far happier camper. Less lost balls, faster round, more enjoyable therefore more fun. And I’ll keep coming back. Keep making me play off crazy tees and you’ll kill my spirit and I won’t be back.
Bryce Taylor AucklandCooper Moore completed a rare feat in winning the senior club championship at the Waitikiri Golf Club in Christchurch for the third time at the age of just 14.
While the statistic of three in succession may not be rare, to win it in fields including Canterbury representatives at the ages of 12, 13 and 14 is.
When he first won he was the youngest player to have won the trophy since its inception in 1939.
The championship began with two qualifying rounds where Moore shot 67 then a course record equaling 64 to be the top seed for the 16 player knockout matchplay.
He comfortably won his first two matches before being fully tested in the semi-final. Moore eventually prevailed 2 and 1 against Canterbury masters representative Brett Turner.
The final was a 36-hole affair and Moore’s opponent was Canterbury masters No 1 Woo Bong Kim.
A consistent first 18 holes saw Moore four up and four under par. In the afternoon they halved the first two holes before Moore had a great up and down to win the third hole.
Then a birdie on No 4 saw the lead jump out to six up. After that Moore played very smart golf con-
By Neville IdourMay 21 passed recently and rekindled memories of that golden day in 1993 when four New Zealand golfers won an event on their various world PGA golf tours. This writer can certainly not remember another day when
In just two crazy weeks American club pro Michael Block has experienced it all when it comes to playing the professional game.
His remarkably consistent four rounds and 15th place at the PGA Championship in New York was dream stuff. So teeing it up the following week at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas he would have been feeling great and full of optimism. After all, this field was weak compared to the PGA field.
Such are the vagaries of golf, his first round 81 brought him back to Earth with an unkindly thud. Two birdies were obliterated by seven bogeys and a soul destroying run of three successive double bogeys on the last three holes. Understandably he broke down in tears and
could not talk about it.
His much better second round 74 also included two birdies but two bogeys and two doubles saw him miss the cut in finishing last.
However, he was still a hit with the fans and simply could not believe the reception he received throughout his two rounds. A measure of the man was despite his disappointment he stayed after his second round for over two hours signing autographs and items for all the fans which was amazing.
Reflecting on an insane two weeks and the PGA he said he, his family, friends and fans, who came to watch, all had their return flights booked for the Saturday such were his modest expectations.
“Life changed a little bit since then and I have enjoyed every moment of it.”
So did we!!
Popular golfer Harold Varner III followed some good lead-up form with a fine win at the LIV Golf event in Washington.
centrating on good course management, playing for position to allow him to hit greens in regulation. This forced Kim to make birdies to win holes. The task was beyond him and Moore won 5 and 4 for a special win. His form certainly confirms his selection for the under-19 New Zealand team for the Junior World Cup in Japan from June 20-23.
May
we had four winners.
Two recent top 10s and a 29th at the PGA were an indicator of something to come, and so it proved. Starting the final round Mito Pereira held a one shot lead over Varner with Henrik Stenson and Kevin Na third on 137. Sebastion Munoz was on 138 and Branden Grace 139. Pereira lost the lead after bogeying his first two holes. It became a three-horse race with Varner and a strong finishing
Sir Bob Charles won the Bell Atlantic Classic on the then PGA Seniors’ Tour with an impressive three round score of 204, winning by one shot from putting guru Dave Stockton. That would have been something to watch as Charles lost nothing in the putting department.
Then we had Greg Turner on the European Tour also a one shot winner in the Italian Open with an outstanding 267 over four rounds. Jose Coceros (Argentina) was runner-up.
Grant Waite, now a renowned coach, scored a fine victory in the Kemper Open by a shot from Tom Kite with a cracking
Grace battling with Pereira for the win. Requiring a birdie on 18 to win he duly obliged for 12 under par. Grace was on 11 under par. Periera was third with 10 under and Munoz at eight under. It was another example of the unpredictability of golf in a talented field. The big names were unable to match the top four.
Bryson De Chambeau, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka were ninth on six under while Talor Gooch was 15th on four under. Danny Lee, after a top 10 first round, faded to finish 35th..
four round total of 269. He has been working with many fine golfers over the years including Charles Howell and Trevor Immelman. He is making a significant impact in the women’s game with Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Paula Creamer and New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey amongst those benefitting. We may look
more closely at Waite’s portfolio in a future issue. Finally, nearer to home, we had Grant Moorhead scoring 269 to win the Western Australian Open. If any readers can remember any similar golden days for New Zealand golf please send your thoughts to Golfer Pacific.
Golf course superintendents averaging more than $US100,000 annually, says report
American golf course superintendents and their teams are being recognised for the value they bring to their facilities and communities with salary increases outpacing the country’s average.
According to salary data from the latest biennial compensation and benefits’ report from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the average salary for superintendents has climbed to $US109,621 annually.
More than 3200 GCSAA-member superintendents responded to the survey (for a response rate of 40 percent), providing salary, budget, benefits, and staffing information.
Respondents to the 2023 report reported a $US109,621 average salary, which is an increase of 12.6 percent over the 2021 report. This compares to the national average of all private sector occupations increasing 10.1 per cent over the past two calendar years and
continues the trend of increases in every two-year period for superintendents since the GCSAA began tracking the data in 1993.
Superintendents’ salaries have risen more than 146 percent since that first report, when the average salary was $US44,500.
Assistant superintendents and golf course equipment managers saw even higher increases in their incomes since 2021. Average assistant salaries rose 15.3 percent to $US56,299, and equipment managers saw a 14.2 percent increase to $US60,584 from the average salary two years ago.
Certified Golf Course Superintendents (CGCS) saw their average salary rise to $US128,731 in 2023 or 16 percent higher than the survey’s average for a superintendent. CGCS is GCSAA’s highest level of certification recognising a superintendent’s education, experience, and service.
GCSAA chief executive Rhetts Evans said: “Superintendents and their teams bring the essential knowledge and expertise driving the enjoyment of the game of golf and providing environmental, economic and recreational benefits to their communities.
“The substantial rise in their salaries acknowledges golf course management teams for the highly skilled professionals that they are and the essential role they play in golf’s success.”
Another element of the report is the profile of GCSAA superintendents and their operations. The average age of a superintendent is 47.1 years, with 16.6 years in the profession.
The average number of years superintendents have spent in their current position decreased slightly to 10.3 years.
With a slow start to the season in the pacific, Long Drive events are underway globally and with XDL players traveling all around the world to compete.
Xtreme Drivers League is set to announce major developments in the sport that will see more club events rolling out throughout New Zealand and Australia. The Walton Golf Club recognised as the first official club qualifier back in 2020 with South Taranaki Club - Hawera getting on board as a regional club host. July is scheduled to reveal what’s in store for the sport with a 3 year growth plan that will see both Amatuer and Professional divisions grow. The New Zealand Long Blacks and Aussie Long Ballers will be at the forefront of promotions with NEW sponsors for the teams. The delays this year impacted from loss of major sponsorship which was due to the ongoing effects
from the pandemic and then most recently from the devastations from the floods in NZ.
The sport of Long Drive (amateur) and Xtreme Drivers League (professional) is providing a platform for golfers and non-golfers to travel the world with the sport that entertains and drives a thirst to hit long and fast. It ain’t golf and that’s the beauty of the club events as XDL provides promotion of golf and a platform for high-performance athletes that really just
With the excitement for the sport of Long and Fast hitters on the rise Xtreme Drivers League is planning to announce a 3 year growth plan this July for the 2024 season and beyond. The sport took a major blow when the pandemic hit and then again when Auckland went into a long 4 month lockdown. XDL HQ
want to hit the ball long. All club events from August 2023 listed get the opportunity to be part of the 3 year plan to grow our sport and essentially promote golf organically. The players will get opportunities to travel the world and be part of sport history with the upcoming announcements that landmark both New Zealand and Australia with the sport globally. For all updates and announcements go to www. xdlworldwide.com
is
based in Auckland so the lockdown in 2021 forced all major events into 2022 season and with the loss of major sponsorship. The founder Olna Ford, working frontline through the pandemic to support the sports financial needs. XDL is a National Sports Organisation recognised in 2020 as a high-performance sport. The year 2024 will be the official year of the NEW plan to rollout club events throughout every region of New Zealand and every state of Australia. The sport will get a boost with XDL Software about to hit the shores of the Pacific to grow participation and awareness of Long Drive (Amateur) and Xtreme Drivers League (Professional). Announcements this July will include business developments and international associates that will provide jobs for the sports industry.
With major events soon to be announced in the Pacific for the 2024 season the amount of activity with club events are key. XDL will be offering clubs support and this will be of benefit for the Golf industry as a whole. More jobs on the rise and more business in the community through NEW activities planned that have been
delayed due to floods in Auckland this year.
The sport of loud and elite athletes is set to entertain the crowds downunder and bring a host of opportunities to both nations as Xtreme Drivers League partners are gearing up to reveal what’s in store for the sport. Check out www.xdlworldwide.com this July and follow us at www.facebook.com/xtremedriversleague/
With stunning vistas and memorable golf and hospitality, it’s a day you won’t forget.
The Links Course is not long, but rarely conquered. It comprises one par 5, eight par 4 and nine par 3 holes, including two double greens and a triple green via major elevation changes, with ocean, ponds, cliffs, penal bunkering or roughs encircling the greens. The Mountain Course is a significantly more difficult challenge and not for the faint hearted.
Visit www.onekakalinks.com for a course guide also incorporating drone
footage of the course and testimonials of visiting players. We also have a Facebook page which is regularly updated. The green fee of $60 per head for 18 holes for a minimum of four players covers:
* Exclusive use – no other players on the course that day
* Golf cart and electric trundlers, laser distance finder
* A course guide – the course designer and club champion
* Hosted free drinks and snacks after the round
Although a private course, it’s open to visitors 364 days a year. However, to enable hosting arrangements bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance to chris@widespread.co.nz
“Golden Bay is full of amazing things to see and I just discovered another. If you play golf, Onekaka Links is a must visit. I have played golf all around the world and Onekaka gave me more fun and challenging shots than most courses that have hosted major championships. Your host Chris Castle with great imagination has created a wonderful course on a spectacular property. Thank you Chris, for a day to remember.”
- Kindest Regards, Bill Mackenzie (PGA Professional, St. Andrews East Golf Club, Canada)
“Onekaka Links is one of the most special New Zealand golf experiences one could have - it really is a must play for anyone who loves dramatic golf and out
of the box thinking. You have three or four green-sites that would rival the very best in New Zealand. I will be sending more people your way for sure.
You really chose all the best green sites to maximize your property. Your green in the far coastal corner of the property does this so well. The triple green with the bunker and lower green level and water hazard. It is the interest you created that is so much fun. Onekaka can’t fit inside a box and it should not be contained by the world’s idea of a routing and par. It is just an awesome place to play golf.
You and Richard Barham have done such an amazing job with your property - really impressive stuff. If you ever end up doing that new green we discussed
drop a me line and I may try to volunteer some shovel time for you if the timing works!
Thank you again and it was so kind of you to host me there. “
- CJ Kreuscher, Director of Agronomy for Te Arai Links and the original Superintendent of Tara iti, who recently played both courses.
“Great day out at the Onekaka Links in Golden Bay. Stunning scenery. Some exciting holes and wonderful hospitality. It’s a very unique offering but lots of fun and risk and reward. Wonderful hospitality from President Chris Castle and Club Captain Linda Sanders. Highly recommended. “
- Barry Johnston, Wanaka
all three courses were in terrific condition. The staff in the clubhouses made everyone feel welcome and the friendly atmosphere that has built up around the tournament was very much in place again.
The committee did a sterling job in keeping everything in order, and our Sponsors were again very supportive in their generosity providing a fantastic array of prizes for the players.
Major Sponsor Nelson Building Society have been a long supporter of our event and Kahurangi Wines were with us for the second year and have already confirmed their support for 2024.
The overall Champion was Ian Chaney from Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club, and Ian is the first multi winner of the event.
The results for all the other divisions are shown elsewhere in the report.
By Derek Drysdale, Tournament Director
The weather forecast for Nelson Region was looking rather wet for the week of this year’s Festival of Golf, and after the last 8 events being played in glorious weather the committee had our doubts that we would actually get the tournament completed.
However, in true Nelson fashion, the weather gods were on our side and although we did get wet for a few holes over the four rounds, we managed to complete the tournament and nobody drowned.
The players all enjoyed the week and
The Hidden Teams winners from the Monday competition were as follows:
Div A: Allan Robertson (Redwood Park), Greg Ryan (Takaka), Lee Sedgewick (Te Puke), Helen Turrell (Fairview)
Div B: Peter Harman (Greenacres), Mike Hawke (Bottle Lake), Pieter Hectors (Boulcott’s Farm), Karen Holden (Muriwai).
DIV C: Terry Senior (Boulcotts Farm), Mark Smith (Hawarden), Dean Spiers (Greenacres), Pauline Tolley (Omanu) Thank you to all or entrants, we enjoyed having you visit us and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.
NORTHLAND
NORTHLAND GOLF - WOMAN’S NATIONAL TEAMS DAY
The winner for the day was Ngunguru Golf Club with 137 played recently Waitangi Golf Club Paihia and the The Pro Shop Waitangi for hosting the woman’s national teams day.
The winner for the day was Ngunguru Golf Club with 137.
Played in some tough conditions. However, the winners for the day were Ngunguru Golf Club with 137.
2nd Wellsford Golf Club - NZ 141
3rd Waipu Golf Club 145
5th Waitangi Golf Club Paihia 146
5th Northland Golf Club 146
6th Bay of Islands Golf Club - Kerikeri
148
8th Northern Wairoa Golf Club 149
8th Whangaroa Golf Club 149
9th Mangawhai Golf Club 150
10th Sherwood Park Golf Club 156
NORTH HARBOUR
HARBOUR GOLF PENNANT RESULTS
North Shore Golf Club Woman’s Weekend team won the section one division played recently at Helensville Golf Club.
WAIKATO
WALTON TAKE OUT DIVISION 2 AND DIVISION 3 OF THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP PENNANTS
SERIES 2023
Tieke Golf Estate was the venue for the final round of the 2023 Women’s Championship Pennnants. The Walton 1 team, featuring in Division 2, were in a race against 2nd place finishers, Waitomo. Both teams finished with an impressive 8 out of 10 match points however
the Walton 1 girls tallied up a healthy 33 games points going in to the final round which meant Waitomo needed to win all 12 game points and hope that Walton 1 didn’t play as strongly as they had in prior rounds. This was not to be the case and Walton 1 wins Division 2!
The Walton 2 team seem to find an easier pace of play within their Division 3. 2nd place finishers, North Waikato 2, having no chance of winning as Walton 2 had a clear 2 match point lead going into the final round.
WINS THE 2023 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP PENNANTS SERIES
North Waikato Pic L-R: M. Archer, A. Shaw, J. Storey, C. Sattler & G Periam. Waikato Golf’s 2023 Women’s Championship Pennants winning mixed team, North Waikato. Members Jan Storey (Waiterimu) Alana Shaw (Waiterimu), Celeste Sattler (Piopio Aria) & Michelle Archer (Waikare) won their final round
against Cambridge taking 7 of the 12 games points to finish a clear 3 points in front of 2nd place team Hamilton 1. These ladies finshed with an impressive 4-1 record.
BAY OF PLENTY
OPOTIKI GOLF CLUB HAVE HAD A PENNANT SEASON TO REMEMBER Opotiki Golf Club have had a pennant season to remember, taking out both the Women’s Championship and Association
Pennant competitions for the first time in the club’s history.
place on Monday, 8 May, at Te Puke Golf Club. The 18-hole side finished in a tie with Hauraki on a 387 total, meaning a playoff was needed to separate the two clubs. Lenda Pimm prevailed, claiming Opotiki’s second women’s pennants title this year.
The 9-hole competition wasn’t as close as Paeroa won by 10 shots after some excellent scoring in challenging cool and wet conditions.
Twos: Alan Wix, Garry Edwards - 3rd, Joe Yorke - 12th, Geoff Ingram & Kelvin Burt - 16th.
Best Stableford on 16, 17 & 18 - Chris Duffy & Varina Mitchell 8pts.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Saturday 20th May - Comp Medal.
Seniors: Geoff Ingram nett 72, Pete Masters nett 73, Alan Wix & Sean Khov nett 74, Roger Perkins nett 75, & by lot Ron Harris nett 78.
Juniors:
Dan Scotson nett 69, Scott Ewens net 70, Anna Cullen nett 73, Wendal Masters nett 74, & Mathew Cullen nett 77.
Saturday 13th March - Comp PAR:
Seniors:
The team of Shaynee Biddle-Tai, Stevee Biddle-Tai, Waimanawa Robinson, Polly White, Sandra Tiopira, and Rita Maxwell Opotiki has only been a part of the Bay of Plenty women’s pennant competition for two years. The club’s future looks bright, with three juniors making up the top three positions in their Silver Championship team.
The team of Shaynee Biddle-Tai, Stevee Biddle-Tai, Waimanawa Robinson, Polly White, Sandra Tiopira, and Rita Maxwell showed that the sky is the limit for the young side as they’ve come together as a team, displaying incredible team spirit and club culture. They beat Omanu in their final on Sunday, 7 May, 6 – 3 after being up 3 – 0 after the morning’s foursomes.
The Association Pennant final took
18 Hole
1st Opotiki 387
2nd Hauraki 387
3rd Tairua 406
4th Omanu 411
5th Kinloch 414
9 Hole
1st Paeroa 104
2nd Rotorua 114
3rd = Tauranga & Mercury Bay 117
5th Whakatane 121
Kelvin Burt +2, Sean Khov +1, Liz Kinloch & Graeme Stephens -1, Alan Wix - 2, & Jill Hall -3.
Juniors:
Chris Duffy sq, Varina Mitchell & Cynthia Luckham -2, Richard Holden -4, Kevin Taylor -5, Tania Hurpur & Stew de Burgh -6.
Twos: Ken Boyle - 3rd.
Closest to Pin on 16th - Kelvin Burt.
Lucky Draw: Lynne McDonald
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Wednesday 17th May - Comp Stableford:
Varina Mitchell 38pts, Karen Yorke & Neville Berendt 36pts, Kelvin Burt 35pts, Joe Yorke 34pts, Lynne McDonald & Geoff Ingram 33pts, Dave Fitzpatrick, Wallace Miller, Edith Leary, Noel Crocker, Russell Kane, Alan Wix, & Dan Scotson.
Nearest the Pin on 12th: Graeme Stephens
Lucky Drawer: Stella Berendt.
Ryan Rooney and Emma Zheng emerged as the Manawatu Wanganui Stroke Play champions after a rain-affected weekend at Marton Golf Club.
Ryan Rooney.
Despite the final round being cancelled due to inclement weather, both players secured their victories through outstanding performances in the preceding rounds.
Ryan Rooney, the current number one for Manawatu Wanganui, dominated in an impressive display of golf in less-thanideal conditions. His rounds of 67 and 68, finishing eight-under-par, were good enough to secure a four-shot victory over his closest competitor, Taranaki’s Jack Van Prehn.
Rooney was shot behind the in-form Zack Swanwick after the opening round following a sizzling 66 from the Napier Golf Club member. Unfortunately, he fired 77 in the second round, dropping him into a share of fourth place behind Cooper Moore, who wrapped up third.
Emma Zheng delivered a solid performance in the women’s event, finishing with rounds of 71 and 69 to be four-under-par. Her steady and consistent play led her to claim the victory by a two-shot margin over Auckland’s Rianne Li, with BOP’s Hunter Edward’s and Manawatu Wanganui number one, Tara Raj, finishing in a share of third at one-under-par.
MANAWATU WANGANUI MONDAY
PENNANT FINAL
Marton hosted the final as scheduled at the beginning of the year and after the previous semi-final at Manawatu it was Rangatira Pink playing off against Marton.
The slightly different format of two divisions of six teams playing round robin followed by the addition of a cross over semi-final and then a final allowed for extra golf to be played by all teams.
with the greens running very true at a good speed.
In the Kaikoura Cup a change of format from previous years saw the number of clubs and players rise from 4 clubs and 24 players to 7 clubs, 9 teams and 36 players playing each week. After leading from week 1 and getting out to a 23 shot lead after 3 rounds Rangiora Green entered the last round with a 5 shot lead over Amberley. Amberley came home strong to end up winning the Kaikoura Cup by 9 shots from Rangiora Green who finished second with Amuri third.
Amberley also had the lead in Gardner
Cup leading into Sunday by 11 shots over Kaiapoi and increased the difference to 17 shots to take the Kaikoura / Gardner Cup double. Kaiapoi finished second and Pegasus White third.
The Individual Trophy Winners were:
Best Gross Senior - Will Bastings (Amuri)
Best Gross Master - Kevin Jones (Rangiora Green)
Best Gross Junior - Ed Dickinson (Rangiora Red)
Best Net Senior - Pete McAllister (Kaiapoi)
Best Net Masters - Pete McAllister
Best Net Junior - Ed Dickinson
There were some closely contested matches, but Marton came through 5 – 3 to win the Shield and Pennant for 2023.
The final rankings;
Marton, Rangatira Pink, Rangatira Blue, Manawatu, Feilding 2, Wanganui, Eketahuna, Pahiatua, Levin, Palmerston North, Castlecliff and Feilding 1.
The Kaikoura Cup / Gardner Cup Final Round and Templeton Cup Final were played recently.
Players made their way to Waimakariri Gorge and were meant with a cool, crisp day and a few drops of rain prior to tee off threatened, but nothing came of it. The course was beautifully presented
The Templeton Cup Final was an all Pegasus affair which went down to the wire with three matches decided on the final green. Pegasus Black registered the first point on the board thanks to a 7&6 win to Grant Townley over Royce Ellis. This was soon balanced with another 7&6 win to Mike Clapham over Jason Gwatkin in the battle of the #1 and team captains. The battle at #2 between 17yr old Tyler Gwatkin who started the year at #5 playing off a 18.7 now in to 8.5 and John Woods went down the last with Tyler winning 2 up. Cam Waghorn and Jamie Buchan also had a close match with Cam winning 2&1 to make it 2 all. At #5 Andy Jones had a 3&2 win over Blake Buchan to put Gold up 3 – 2, the battle of the #6’s had 14yr old Josh Gwatkin who started the year on a 28 handicap now into 15.8
playing against Tom Hobson, Tyler was 4 down with 7 to play but managed to take it down the last for Tom to make a good putt and take the win.
The Final of the Women’s Weekend Team Ball Interclub competition between Avondale and Russley was played at Bottle Lake recently in wintery weather and the autumn conditions making matches challenging for both players and rules officials.
It was the Russley team of, from left Di Stayt, Carolyn Bleach, Chris Erikson, Bridget Hoffman and Sandra Gover who upset the top seed and prevailed 4.5-1.5 over Avondale’s Jaimee Leach, Rhonda Hira, Pip Lloyd and Kara Campbell.
From left Di Stayt, Carolyn Bleach, Chris Erikson, Bridget Hoffman and Sandra Gover.
The Semi-Finals of the Women’s Weekend competition were also played at Bottle Lake yesterday with Pegasus Blue defeating McLeans Island 3-1 and Rangiora 1 defeating Clearwater 2.5-1.5 to set up the Final at Russley on 21 May.
The Final of the Women’s 18 Hole Silver Interclub competition was played at Harewood Golf Club recently in cool, misty conditions for the best part of the round with the course in great order.
It was always going to be a tight contest between the top seeds from round-robin play, only separated by 3.5 games over the 9 round competition. With Russley defeating Clearwater in round-robin play early in the competition, both teams would have had contrasting motivation leading into the final. As expected the result went down to the wire with all four matches going down the 18th before the result was decided on the last putt of the day, nerve racking for all concerned.
From left, Jo Carolan, Nicky Wright, Lynda Vieceli, Julie Battersby, Justine Sheppard, Anita Bateman, Liz Signal (Manager). Other absent squad members who also played during the season were Philippa Cooke, Deb Harvey and Virginia Faass.
It was the Clearwater team who managed to hold their nerve and get across the line to be crowned Silver Interclub Champions.
Location: 637Marshland Road, Ouruhia, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand
The Everglades Country Golf Club is a 9-Hole course established in 1967 and is located 20 minutes north of central Christchurch. The course is bordered by the Kaputone stream on two sides of the course and is a straightforward layout. The challenge is to negotiate the tree lined fairways and relatively small greens. The club operates a full winter and summer programme of competitive and social golf for both men and women. Playing groups are varied weekly to encourage getting to know fellow members in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. All club days are run as a shotgun start to allow for a collective finish after play.
Men’s NZSCR 63, Ladies NZSCR 67 New members welcome in the following categories:
Full, 9 Holes, Midweek, and Juniors membership.
There is also an Associate membership which provides players with a handicap. Associate members pay green fees. Club Days
Saturday club day Men & Ladies starting times as follows :
10.30 am – Putting competition option, all cards in by 10.45 am
11 am tee off Match of the Day
The course is closed on Saturdays to green fee players from 10.30pm to 3pm.
Tuesday Ladies 18 holes cards in by 9.30 am for 9.45 am tee off .
Tuesday ladies 9 holes cards in by 9.30 am tee off 10am.
The course is closed Tuesdays to green fee players from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Wednesday Men: 10.30 am putting competition option, all cards in by 10.45am, 11am tee off Match of the Day (course open to green fee players)
Twilight Golf: Thursday during daylight saving hours, tee off between 4pm to 5.15 pm visitors welcome.
Further details please contact Clubhouse (03) 3238641
Email: evergladescgc@xtra.co.nz
Postal Address: 142 Riverlea Estate Drive, Stewarts Gully 8083 Green fee players welcome. Green fees 9 holes $10.00 pay for 5 games get the 6th game free.
The Mataura Golf Club is celebrating two days of success at the local pennant finals held at Gore Golf Club recently.
Saturday saw the conclusion of the Men’s Vice President and Women’s Weekend Pennant finals held at Gore Golf Club. Heavy midweek rain across the district made going tough for the morning
semi-final matches.
With five teams represented across the finals, Mataura had high expectations of success, looking to secure at least one flag for 2023.
MLT Vice President Men’s Finals
Mataura had reason to be confident coming up against Greenacres in the first semi-final after heading into the weekend as the top seed after the round-robin. Greenacre’s top pairing of Matt Tautari and Ollie Piggott had other plans posting big wins for their team early, putting the pressure back on the Mataura tail to fire. Adam Newton (Mataura) was the next match finished, getting the top seeds on the scorecard, which left the tie evenly poised, with the remaining games all looking like going the distance.
Wins on the final holes for Wayne Hunt and Nathan Piggott and a half for Stu Coburn resulted in a comfortable win for Greenacres and a place in the afternoon final against the winner of the matches unfolding on the other side of the course.
Invercargill GC always held the upper
hand against Queens Park in the second semi-final. Chris McMillian, Murray Paterson, Dan O’Conner, and Tony Clay all posted early wins before Liam Balneaves finished the tie-off with a 3/2 win over Liam Hewitt. Park’s Daniel Kelliher picked up his side’s only win in what ended up being a one-sided encounter.
The afternoon final, a rematch of the final round-robin match that ended in a hard-fought draw between Invercargill and Greenacres, was set to be a battle of attrition as the drizzle continued to soften the course.
Invercargill came out from lunch with more than just food in their bellies, firing up to put their noses in front early. Liam Balneaves continued his top form, accounting for Matt Tautari 6/5 to complete his series with only one defeat against Tautari in the earlier rounds. Tony Clay and Murray Paterson then put one hand on the trophy for Invercargill with wins over Nathan Piggott and Stu Coburn, meaning the remaining three games all had to fall in Greenacre’s favour to force
a playoff. Chris McMillian (Invercargill) did enough to win 2/1 over Wayne Hunt to effectively end the tie and give Invercargill its first Vice President title in five years. Garry Tucker and teenager Ollie Piggott finished with wins for a gallant Greenacres side.
Mataura made amends for their semi-final defeat by beating Queens Park 5-1 in the playoff match to secure the third position.
It was a case of which, if any, Mataura team would make the final of the inaugural Women’s Weekend pennant semi-finals.
Mataura had two teams qualify for the semi-finals, a fantastic effort for the small eastern Southland club. Mataura 1 qualified top in their division and took on the Gilmour Rosebowl holders Waikaka in the first semi-final.
It was the Waikaka team that gained the early momentum with wins to Fayeanne Lamb and Deborah Aynsley-Hunt, putting all the pressure onto Mataura’s leading pair of Teena McColl and Raha Borlase to register victories to secure the finals spot on countback. Borlase obliged with a 4/3 win over Sharon Irwin, leaving it to the final match to decide the first finalist. The drama intensified as Janis Steel (Waikaka) and Teena McColl (Mataura) were all square playing the last hole, with McColl needing a win to secure her team’s progression to the final. Steel’s double bogey six allowed McColl to secure the victory with a bogey or better, which she duly accepted, advancing Mataura to the final.
The second semi-final between Invercargill and Mataura Mates was also a close-fought contest. Invercargill had led the way throughout the round-robin matches amassing the best record of all fifteen teams.
Mataura Mates earned their semi-final spot courtesy of the highest-finishing runner-up in pool play.
Invercargill number one Olivia Frost continued her fine form beating Matau-
ra’s Andrea Russell 5/3, getting the town team off to a great start. Sam Walker (Mataura) soon had the scores level with an equally impressive win over Janet Anderson. Val Ross (Mataura) was the next one to secure a 3/2 win leaving the tie on the line for Raewyn Hartley (Invercargill) and Annette Thompson (Mataura) to decide. Thompson secured the victory heading into their final hole 1UP, only requiring a half to advance her team to the final.
So it was down to Mataura Mates v Mataura 1 to decide the winners of the inaugural Womens Weekend Pennantsfor 2023.
Mataura Mates got off to a hot start, Christine Tamou and Nikki Clark avenging their morning defeats to post comfortable wins. Fading light then became an issue for the remaining matches, with Mataura Mates requiring an outright win to secure the banner, requiring at least one victory still out on the course. Raha Borlase was ahead early against Sam Walker, but a spirited fightback from Walker pushed the match to the wire, with Borlase eventually holding on for the win and her team’s prized victory.
Invercargill finished in third spot defeating Waikaka 2.5-1.5 in the playoff match.
MLT Men’s Handicap Pennants Final Sunday presented much better conditions for the fifteen teams battling it out for the MLT Handicap pennant finals, with cool temperatures and sunshine greeting the players at Gore Golf Club.
Heading to the finals, several teams staked claims for this year’s trophy. Defending Champions Dipton came to the finals after leading their division all Summer and were hoping to repeat their 2022 efforts in familiar surroundings. Riversdale, Mataura, and hosts Gore all had two teams in the final action increasing the odds of a local club lifting the flag for 2023.
As play got underway, it was soon apparent that this year’s final would come down to one or two individual performances. The soft fairways on the undulating course emphasized clean ball striking and accuracy off the tee, while the receptive green surfaces allowed all players to score low if they could find the smooth putting surfaces in regulation.
Doug Clark (Mataura) led the scoring with a nett 65, followed by teammate Adam Newton with a 66. These scores gave the Mataura Club a healthy lead in the best three of four aggregate scores. Host club Gore led by Kory Davis and Graham Waddall, both posting nett 70s, had them sitting in the clubhouse on a total of 215 after Paul Hurley added a counting score of 75.
Mataura, however, were not to be denied their second flag of the weekend when team captain John Dickie came in with a nett 76 to add to the team aggregate of 207, giving the small eastern club double the reason to celebrate a successful weekend at Gore Golf Club.
Geraldine has won the Aorangi National Teams district final which was played at Pleasant Point golf club on Friday 12th May.
Eleven clubs competed in the four ball best ball competition, with two pairs representing each club.
The Geraldine team of Denise Kenny and Raewyn Davies (net 68) and Joanne Gallichan and Jenny Kellahan (net 69) won with a combined four ball score of 137. They won on countback from Pleasant Points team of Rose Allison and Judy Hamer (net 66) and Angela Curry and Shelly Flintoft (71 net) also 137. 3rd Ashburton, Pauline Bell and Marilyn Walker (66), and Hilary Ward and Lynn Small (72),138. Gleniti, Jenny Austin and Nic O’Driscoll (69) and Carole Brand and Jan Gibbs (70),139. Methven, Robbie Maw and Sharon Burrell-Smith (72), and Heather Santy and Ruth Smith (68) 140. Fairlie, Marie Anderson and Lyn Dobson (69) and Denise Biggs and Shelley Dobson (71) 140
The annual clash between Aorangi and Otago was played recently at Waimate Golf Club.
Two divisions of teams competed when the Junior side, comprised of six players each, competed for the Piper Cup, whilst the Men’s Masters side, comprised of eight players, competed for the Taj Cup in 36 holes of action.
Proceedings kicked off at 9.30am with foursomes being played between the two formidable sides. The morning saw the foursomes shared between both the
Juniors and Men’s Masters sides, making the bookies’ job difficult in trying to predict a winner. For Otago, Ken Shaw/ Tayne Derriman and the pairing of Blair Bennett/Kevin Clark put the points on the board, whilst Aorangi’s aces Nigel Heney/ Dan Perham as well as the pairing of Stephen Waby/Andrew Peck registered the points for the men in green. The Juniors were just as tight with points shared at 1.5 each. For Otago Will Summersl/Maia Koni registered a win which was offset by a win to Aorangi’s Daniel Poulter/Lucas Histen. The final match between Kai Koni/Connor Howes and Mac Kelliher/ Seb McMillan finished in a halve and left a perfectly even setup heading into the afternoon singles.
Lunch was had and the competitors went back out shortly after to compete for singles results which would decide the day. For the juniors, Mac Kelliher, Seb McMillan and Lucas Histen all had wins for Aorangi whilst Lachlan Coutts, Will Summers and Maia Koni all had wins for Otago to level the ledger at 3 apiece for the singles and 4.5 apiece for the day. The juniors can be seen pictured below:
Aorangi men’s pennants was held recently at Gleniti Golf Club with both Holmes and Hayes Cups up for grabs. In the Holmes Cup, top-seeded Ashburton took on second-seeded Tinwald in a Mid-Canterbury duel. The match earlier in the year went the way of Ashburton and Tinwald was well aware of this heading into the day. A fast start was needed and that’s what Tinwald got, leading in three matches at the halfway point. Nigel Heney was the first to get points on the board after beating Jeff Hewitt on the 15th. Nigel and Dave King then polished off the fourball on the next and when Shane Moore won his match on the 17th, with the fourball, it was all done and dusted. Players finished out the remaining matches but the joy was apparent amongst the Tinwald team who waited seven years to lift the trophy again! Andrew Peck and Hamish Niles halved their match whilst Owen Miller got points on the board for Ashburton but ultimately Tinwald prevailed by a 7 - 3 margin.
DISTANCE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN
Wide Sole = Wildly Easy to Hit
Low CG -> Lots of Forgiveness
Big Bertha REVA is engineered with women in mind, featuring bespoke lofts, swingweights, shafts, and grips. These irons are designed to help female golfers launch it higher and easier with outstanding forgiveness and powerful distance.
46g of Tungsten to Optimise Your Launch
A.I. Designed Face for Optimal Speed
Extra Loft = Exceptional Launch
This is Not a Boys’ Club
