Golfer Pacific NZ – February 2024

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Richard Squire – A caddie’s life

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EDITORIAL

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

Why aren’t stroke indexes a true reflection of the difficulty of each hole?

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By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

troke indexes are supposed to be an indication of the difficulty of each hole at a golf course.

But they are not.

For example all clubs around the world are encouraged to make the stroke index even numbers for one nine and odd numbers for the other nine. It is therefore highly unlikely the stroke indexes are a true reflection of the difficulty of each hole.

But it doesn’t end there.

Clubs around the world are also encouraged to break down the course into groups of three holes so there is a mixture of a low index, a mid-range index and a high index in each of three holes.

For example holes 1-3 should be a mix of low, mid and high stroke indexes, the same for holes 4-6, the same for holes 7-9 and so on.

But it doesn’t end there.

Clubs around the world are also encouraged to not allow the stroke one hole to be at, or near, the end of a round.

This is to avoid a situation where, for example, there is only one shot difference between two players and the match was concluded before that shot

could be used.

I’m not sure if I agree with all these manipulations.

Let’s take an extreme example where the easiest hole is hole No 1 and each hole thereafter progressively gets harder through to hole No 18 which is the hardest and therefore carries the number one stroke index.

Remember this is an extreme example.

Let’s say player A is on a nine handicap and player B is on an 18 handicap. In other words, player A gives player B nine shots.

So that would mean, in our imaginary 18 holes, player B receives no shots over the first nine holes which carry stroke indexes of 18 down to 10.

Player A would par all of the first nine holes and player B would bogey each of them, according to their handicaps.

No shots were conceded by player A and player A would therefore be nine up through the first nine holes. But remember this is an extreme example which produces an extreme result.

The second nine holes, in our extreme example, carry indexes of nine through to one. That would mean both players would bogey every hole, according to

their handicaps.

Player B would receive a shot on each of them and therefore player B would win the last nine holes and, guess what, the match would be all square after 18 holes.

Remember this is an extreme example.

I know what you are going to say. Player A would never recover from being nine down through nine holes.

That is almost certainly correct but at the same it is highly unlikely player A would be nine down because we hardly ever, if never, play exactly to our handicap, as according to the stroke index.

Remember this is an extreme example which produces an extreme result. But also remember this extreme example produces a final result of all square.

Let’s look at this matter in another way. Let’s say player A is on a 17 handicap and player B is on an 18 handicap. In other words player A will concede one shot to player B and that will be on hole number 18 which carries the stroke one index in our extreme example.

So how would this match go?

Remembering that hole No 1 is the stroke 18 hole, player A would win the first hole because he scored a par and player B

scored a bogey, according to the stroke index. Player B did not receive a shot.

If both players continued to play exactly to their handicap for the next 16 holes, which is highly unlikely, player A would be one up going to the last hole.

Remember that hole No 18 is the stroke one hole. If both players played to their handicap, both would score a bogey, but player B would win the hole because he received a shot.

Guess what? The match ends up all square.

Remember all these examples rely on both players playing exactly to their handicaps for 18 holes which, I would suggest, never happen.

I am now of the thinking that I would rather the stroke index truly reflect the difficulty of each hole rather than a manipulation that is supposed to keep a matchplay event even.

So be it if the hardest hole on the course is hole No 1 or hole No 18 or anywhere in between.

So be it if the easiest hole on the course is hole No 1 or hole No 18 or anywhere in between.

Let the stroke index truly reflect the difficulty of each hole.

NEW ZEALAND EDITORIAL Paul Gueorgieff pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz Ph: 64 4 565 0385 Mob: 64 27 227 1038 SOUTH ISLAND EDITORIAL Neville Idour 0274771423 pmidour@hotmail.co.nz SALES & CLUB PACKAGE GOLF TRAILS & NOTICEBOARDS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 7 5504 6334 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 LAYOUT & DESIGN layout.golferpacificnz@gmail.com PUBLISHER Golfer Pacific NZ LTD PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand ACCOUNTS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com SUBSCRIPTION $60.00 per annum including GST smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 5575 7444 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 NEW ZEALAND MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand COVER PHOTO: Richard Squire who works as a caddy at Te Arai Links in Northland.

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Richard Squire who works as a caddy at Te Arai Links in Northland.

By Neville Idour

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ichard Squire, a former professional golfer, was our caddie for a round at Te Arai Links’ North course, and a fun time it was. He was a fund of knowledge about the area of Te Arai Links and it’s Maori history. Importantly his guidance round the course and especially on the greens was spot on.

However we wanted to learn more about this interesting character so a chat in the 19th after our round was a no brainer.

We asked him where it all began?

“I grew up in the Hawke’s Bay in an area called Onga Onga where there is a nine hole golf course,’’ Squire said.

“I started off playing left-handed because dad was a left-hander. But when I started playing cricket dad saw I could hit it twice as far right-handed. So it was then when I was 12 or 13 that I started getting into golf and playing a lot more.

“Onga Onga was a small club back then with about 60 or 70 members.

As the years went by we were good enough to win the major Hawke’s Bay competition for all clubs in 1996 when

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our membership was about 90. That was a big deal against the big clubs like Hastings, Napier, Wainui and Flaxmere.

We won it again in 2012 when I came back and played for them. My parents still live in Onga Onga.

“From there I went to Hastings Golf Club and did an apprenticeship with the greenkeeper. It was great caring for the course and for practising as the course was immaculate.

“It was at that point I got down to a scratch handicap and started playing age group for Hawke’s Bay at the age of 16. I played my first Interprovincials in 1998 and through until 2004. I was in the New Zealand academy squad and played for New Zealand but was a bit old and was dropped as New Zealand Golf wanted to put money into younger 16 or 17-year-old guys which I understood was fair enough.

“So I turned professional and played better. I played in Europe and did well on the Euro Pro Tour. Then I played on the Challenge Tour and played a lot with (fellow New Zealander) Gareth Paddison.”

“It was a great era with (Michael) Campbell, (Phil) Tataurangi, (Stephen) Scahill and co, plus Michael Hendry was just coming through the ranks at that time. While I wasn’t on the main tour I was doing well enough to keep my head above water. The hard thing is to earn an affordable lifestyle which I was able to do.”

Any wins to talk about?

“I didn’t win on the Challenge Tour but had a few wins on the Euro Pro Tour. My sponsor wanted me to go to the USA. So I spent a year there but found it pretty tough. It was so different and lonely. Whereas in America they are pretty much all Americans and it can be lonely for an outsider, in Europe it is international and the camaraderie is completely different.

“It is no wonder Europe does so well in the Ryder Cup because they are a group of internationals travelling and playing tournaments together whereas in America they are individuals travelling to play tournaments. A completely different scenario.”

Squire came home and caddied at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay but had an injury playing cricket. He then

caddied at Bandon Dunes in Oregon on the western coast of the United States where the links courses are in the true spirit of Scotland’s ancient links.

“That was awesome and I found that caddying was way more fun than playing professional golf. No more 70 hours on the range and you could help other people play golf which was cool,” Squire continued.

“I spent four years at Bandon Dunes. I would go there for six months each year.

Back then there were just three courses, now there are six. It was basically built in the middle of nowhere which is happening in New Zealand now.

“They built hotels and accommodation and made people come and play and stay on site. So there is an amazing culture of a public course. It is not a members’ club. Anyone can play and stay. People turn up with a wonderful attitude and just want to have fun and it flows over to the caddies who want to have fun as well. They are the best boys trips you can imagine. In the middle of nowhere playing with friends on some of the best courses in the world.

It doesn’t get any better.

“So that is how it is developing here with Te Arai Links.”

This writer can only heartily agree that Te Arai Links is already one of the world’s very best golf destinations and as it continues the development of facilities, that rating can only rise.

“After the four years the housing crisis started in America and I was really unsure about what I would do so I came back to Wellington and lived there while a member at Miramar Golf Club.

“I played in multiple Duncan Cup (the top interclub competition in Wellington) winning teams for them.”

Squire didn’t quite fit the mould for Wellington representative selection so would play for Hawke’s Bay and Onga Onga where he was more than welcome playing with many of the same mates he played with 20 years earlier.

“Nothing changes in Onga Onga,” Squire said with much laughter.

He lived in Wellington for four years while playing for Hawke’s Bay and met his wife Kalisi there.

“We shifted to Brisbane. I got a director of golf job running Pacific Golf Club.

February 2024

We had 1200 members and I did that for four years. It was busy and stressful handling around 180 players every day.

It wore me out a bit then I heard about Tara Iti. “I saw articles and stuff and was already thinking of coming back and caddying at the New Zealand Open. So I did and saw the caddy master at Tara Iti who had previously caddied for me on tour. So we had a good chat and I said I was interested in having a couple of weeks at Tara Iti to see what it was like. He said perfect come on up. So I did and Barrack Obama was playing. I met Ric Kayne and some of the members. I thought this is something I want to be part of.

“That is where I am now. I was assistant caddy master at Tara Iti for three years. I trained a lot of caddies as well.

However, when Te Arai opened I was always keen to work publicly as my background has always been at public golf rather than private clubs. So I was thinking I would caddy at Te Arai as I enjoy caddying for membership golfers. But I still caddy at Tara Iti for some of my regulars. I know when they are coming so I caddy for them there as well as here at Te Arai.”

He is trying to keep his commitments under control with two youngsters and a third on the way. His wife Kalisi is not a golfer.

“Here at Te Arai we know when I am working up to two weeks in advance rather than the night before and Kalisi appreciates that. So it is interesting times.”

So what lies ahead for Squire?

“More of this. I really enjoy hanging out with golfers and helping them. I am not playing much golf. I play a minimal amount, when my wife will let me as I have to do my bit with the children.

“I probably have a swing every couple of months. I haven’t lost my game.

I played for Northland last year. I’m 43 years old so I could be playing masters’ golf. If my schedule works I will try and play three or four tournaments a year and then hopefully be picked to play the Interprovincials. I would love to continue to play the Interprovincials and Masters if life will let me.”

On that note we thank Squire and wish him happy caddying.

GOLF NEWS

Richard Squire: A caddie’s life

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Lydia Ko’s 20th win on the LPGA Tour in 11 years GOLF NEWS 4

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ydia Ko won for the 20th time on the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour when taking out the Tournament of Champions in Florida in the United States last month.

Ko, 26, became the seventh person to win 20 times on the LPGA Tour before the age of 27.

The star New Zealand golfer has been on the LPGA Tour for 11 years with her first success coming at the age of 15 in the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open while still an amateur. Her second LPGA Tour win was in the same event the following year, again still an amateur.

Ko is now one win away from entering the exclusive LPGA Tour hall of fame but she remains proud of the fact that she has won 20 times on the LPGA. “I think whenever the announcer on the tee says, Lydia Ko, 19-time winner on the LPGA, I’m like, whoa, I won 19 times. That’s really cool,” Ko said.

“To have the first number change, that’s awesome. To be part of the small group that has won more than 20 times, to be in that 20 club is really cool.”

Ko wondered if chasing the hall of fame honour put pressure on her game last year when she was without

Lydia Ko poses with the trophy after winning the Tournament of Champions at her home course of Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. It was her 20th win on the LPGA Tour in 11 years. Photo credit Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

a win on the LPGA Tour, although she did win a tournament in Saudi Arabia, which, with a purse of $US5 million, was worth more than most LPGA Tour events.

“Last year, I was chasing the hall of fame,’’ Ko continued.

“I felt like I could have, with the way I

was playing in 2022, I could back it up with another great year. Look where it put me.”

Ko said she would trying to avoid thinking too much about the hall of fame.

“I’m not going to think about it much.

I just got to strive to be the best golfer I

February 2024

can. If my career leads me to becoming a hall of famer, that’s awesome. I’m just a South Korean-born Kiwi playing this game of golf, and who knew I would be standing here and have played in the Olympics and have won on our tour?”

Ko has bronze and silver medals in two appearances at the Olympic Games and is looking forward to the Paris games in July-August.

While last month’s win was technically her first on the LPGA Tour in 14 months it was actually her second win in a row after winning the Grant Thornton Invitational in partnership with Jason Day of Australia. That was a mixed doubles’ event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.

Lake Nona, the venue of the Tournament of Champions, is Ko’s home course. She would be driven to the course by her mother in a golf cart.

Ko scored a 14 under par to win by two shots from Alexa Pano but Ko remained in control throughout the final round, which was played amid unseasonably cool temperatures that dipped into single figures celsius.

Ko, bogey-free in her second and third rounds, birdied four of her first 15 holes in the final round against a single bogey to leave her pursuers battling for second most of the day.

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Three of New Zealand’s best to play the New Zealand Open

Steven Alker (left), Daniel Hillier (middle) and Ben Campbell have all confirmed they will play in the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown. The tournament starts at the end of this month. Photo credit: Photosport.nz.

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teven Alker, Daniel Hillier and Ben Campbell have been confirmed to play in the New Zealand Open while Ryan Fox remains a possibility.

The New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, will be held at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown from February 29-March 3.

Alker, from Hamilton, has lived in the United States for about 20 years and has really made his mark since joining the PGA Tour Champions which is for professional golfers aged 50 or more.

Alker won the PGA Tour Champions’ season-long Charles Schwab Cup in 2022 and finished second last year. He has won seven times on the tour.

Alker has played numerous

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New Zealand Opens without victory and he said the tournament remains an important target.

“The reception and support the fans gave me when I played at Millbrook last year was unreal,’’ Alker recalled.

“It was quite unexpected, and really amazing to have so much support, something I won’t forget.”

“It’s the one tournament we (New Zealanders) all want to win. Of course there are the majors and the big titles internationally, but there’s something special about having your name on your national title. It’s one of my goals for 2024.”

Hillier, from Wellington, has just completed his first year on

the DP World Tour, racking up four top 10 finishes including a memorable win at the British Masters at The Belfry in England.

He finished 30th on the overall DP World Tour order of merit for 2023 and earned the prestigious Challenge Tour graduate of the year crown.

“I’m really looking forward to coming home and seeing not only the family, but some friendly faces in the crowd,’’ Hillier said.

“It’s quite a buzz when you rock up to the first tee and recognise all of the home support.

“The New Zealand Open is always a great event in Queenstown and I know there are lots of talented Kiwi golfers trying

February 2024

to get their hands on the title.

Hopefully I can peak at the right time.”

Campbell, formerly from the Wairarapa but now a Queenstown resident, posted his maiden win on the Asian Tour when taking out the Hong Kong Open last November.

New Zealand Open tournament director Michael Glading said Campbell would make for a great local attraction.

“We’re thrilled to have Ben return to Queenstown,’’ Glading said.

“He’s always been a great supporter of the tournament and we were delighted to see him pick up a well-deserved victory at the Hong Kong Open.

NEWS

“Ben has always had the goods to make it on the world stage, and we’re now seeing the fruits of his labour. He finished runner-up at the 2023 New Zealand Open and let’s not forget his fantastic performance leading into the play-off back in 2017 when Michael Hendry won.”

Campbell, speaking about his love affair with the New Zealand Open, has always wanted to have his name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy. Having come close twice, he’s hoping its third time lucky.

“Since I started playing golf and made it my career, I’ve always had the goal of winning the New Zealand Open,’’ Campbell said.

“To have my name alongside some of the greats of golf in this country would be the highlight of my career.

“I got close in 2017 and again last year, so here’s hoping I can lift the trophy in March.”

Fox, meanwhile, is still finalising his 2024 playing schedule, which means his entry cannot be confirmed at this time.

“This year is my big chance in terms of attempting to retain my PGA Tour card, and that could compromise my ability to play in this year’s New Zealand Open,” Fox said.

“Notwithstanding this, I will do all that I can to play in the New Zealand Open, as it is one of my favourite tournaments of the year.

“I admire how the organisers have grown such a quality event on our own shores.”

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Ash Barty heads New Zealand Open ambassador lineup GOLF NEWS

Former top Australian tennis player Ash Barty who played in the Icons Golf Series in New Jersey, the United States, in 2022. She will be among the ambassador lineup at the New Zealand Open which begins at the end of the month. Photo credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images.

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ormer world tennis No 1 Ash Barty headlines the ambassador lineup for the 103rd New Zealand Open, from February 29-March 3, at Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown, near Queenstown.

Barty, who attended the New Zealand Open last year as a spectator, is a three-time grand slam singles’ champion with an impressive competitive streak.

She played on the world’s stage across her 12-year professional tennis career in which she was ranked world singles No 1 for 121 weeks overall.

Barty is also a very accomplished golfer who plays off a four handicap. In 2022 she played in the Icons Golf Series in New Jersey in the United States alongside other international sporting icons like American

swimming legend Michael Phelps, English footballer Harry Kane and former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting.

“The New Zealand Open is a fantastic event and I really enjoyed my time there last year supporting our friend (Australian golfer) Louis Dobbelaar,” said Barty.

“New Zealand is a beautiful country and somewhere I always love to visit.

“Having the opportunity to play in the pro-am event is something I’m excited about, though I definitely need to start practising! Golf has always been a passion of mine, I feel fortunate to be able to play in events like the New Zealand Open and experience an incredible course like Millbrook.

“I imagine that first tee shot in front of everyone will be quite nerve-wracking, but once the first ball hits the fairway, hopefully things should settle down.

My aim is to go out there and enjoy every minute of it and hopefully make the weekend pro-am cut.”

Joining Barty in the ambassador line up is Australian media personality Andy Lee. He is one half of the Hamish & Andy duo, Australia’s highest-rating and most popular radio presenters.

Lee is a well-known comedian, television and radio host, musician and children’s writer and is also pretty handy with his golf clubs holding a six handicap at his home course of Peninsula Kingswood in Melbourne.

A self-confessed golf tragic, Lee is also an ambassador for Social Golf Australia where he helps host events for amateur players across the country.

“Yeah, I would say I’m pretty hooked on golf,’’ Lee said.

“I started playing when I was at university and just

never stopped. I even put a simulator into my house, so maybe the right phrase is obsessed. But I just love the game for what it gives you, and takes from you, physically and mentally.

“I’m really looking forward to the New Zealand Open. It’s my first time playing in a national open like this, so it’s going to be quite an experience.

“Playing alongside the pros in such an important tournament for them and their careers is not something many people get to do, so I feel very privileged to have this opportunity.”

Tournament chairman John Hart was excited to welcome Barty and Lee to the New Zealand Open and was looking forward to seeing them tee it up alongside the pros.

“We’re delighted to have Ash and Andy join us this year as part of our ambassador line up,’’ Hart said.

“Both will bring lots of excitement and enthusiasm to the tournament and I have no doubt they will add to the quality on and off the course.

“Our fantastic group of returning ambassadors do such a great job helping with all our events and functions that run alongside the tournament. Without their support we wouldn’t be able to provide the high level of spectator and guest experience we’re well known for.”

Barty and Lee will tee it up alongside former New Zealand representatives Jeff Wilson (rugby and cricket), Sean Fitzpatrick (rugby), Israel Dagg (rugby), Stephen Fleming (cricket), Ella Gunson (hockey) as well as international rally driver Hayden Paddon, former Australian Cricket captain Ricky Ponting and former England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham.

New Zealand Open prize purse hits $2 million

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purse for the New Zealand Open,’’ Hart said last month.

“This only happens through the ongoing support of our fantastic sponsorship family. Without their support the tournament would not be in the position we are today.

“We have always aimed to ensure the balance between the New Zealand Open being a financially attractive tournament across our three tour partners, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour, whilst

also maintaining and securing the longterm future for the event.”

As part of this the New Zealand Open is also adopting a relatively new concept in the world of professional golf, ensuring that every professional that competes in the tournament, and doesn’t make the cut, will take away at least $1000 to help support their travel and other related costs in attending.

Hart added: “We love the idea of supporting the professionals as much as we can, which is why we believe that

ensuring that the players who miss the cut are not left solely to bear the ever increasing costs of travel that they face.

“From the conversations we have had with some of the regular players at the New Zealand Open, this is a welcome addition, and one many players hope other tournaments across the world will adopt.”

The 103rd New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, will take place at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown from February 29-March 3.

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he purse for the New Zealand Open which begins at the end of the month has been increased to $2 million.

That’s an increase of 21 percent on last year’s purse of $1.65 million.

New Zealand Open chairman John Hart was thankful to the new and current sponsors of the tournament whose support have allowed the tournament to reach this significant milestone.

“We are delighted to be able to announce today another increase in the

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GOLF NEWS

Steven Alker’s eighth win on the PGA Tour Champions W here the hell have you been all this time?”

That was the question raised by television commentator Lanny Wadkins after Steven Alker of New Zealand won for the eighth time on the PGA Tour Champions last month.

Alker’s victory came in Hawaii which was the first tournament of the year for players aged at least 50.

Alker, 52, equalled the tournament’s record score of 25 under par set by Loren Roberts in 2006. It was also Alker’s second win in a row on the PGA Tour Champions, having won the tour’s final event last year.

Alker has been a revelation since joining the PGA Tour Champions, winning the season-long competition in 2022 and finishing second last year.

Earlier in his career he missed 21 cuts in 21 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour a little more than a decade ago (2010) and never made an impact on the PGA Tour, failing to record a top 10 finish.

In the final round of the Hawaiian event, Alker did not miss a single green in regulation. His ball-striking was clinical and he won with a new set of irons.

He made seven birdies and an eagle.

After the win Alker was asked exactly when he became so comfortable playing against a roster of major winners and Hall of Famers on the PGA Tour Champions.

“I’m trying not to get comfortable, to be honest,” Alker said with a smile.

“Especially with the company we’re

Steven Alker with another trophy. This time it is after his win in the Mitsubish Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Photo credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

keeping (alluding to third-placed Steve Stricker and the long-hitting runner-up Harrison Frazar, with whom he played on the last day of the tournament).

“I try not to get comfortable. To answer your question though ... when you get that second win, it’s okay, I can do this, and try to keep going from there.”

Alker began the final round leading Stricker and Frazar by two. Alker just kept charging in the final round, leaving no openings. He did come close one time, but he recovered and would

not be caught afterward to take home a first prize of $US340,000 which is about $NZ556,00.

Alker made the most of a massive break on the 556-yard, par five seventh hole, where he pushed a second shot from 218 yards with “a scrappy four iron” that caromed twice off a cart path, then bounded toward jagged lava rocks right of the green. Bernhard Langer once made a 10 on the hole, so it can happen.

But it was almost as if the lava rocks

spit out Alker’s ball, and it bounded across the green before stopping just short of the left fringe, some 40 feet from the flagstick.

The fortuitous break was magnified when Alker stepped up and ran in the monstrous putt for eagle.

“Obviously I got a little bit lucky,” said Alker, who was blocked from seeing the bouncing ball after he struck it.

“Someone said it came off the lava rocks, or something happened up there. I didn’t see it. I hit a scrappy four iron and it ended up nice, and I made the putt.

“That was a big swing there. And I hit a beautiful shot into eight (a 204yard par three, where Alker hit it to six feet) and made that one. I felt good after that. I hit some good tee shots from then on, and got into more of a groove.”

Did he ever. Stricker knew he had a tall task ahead of him trying to chase down Alker, who these days is swinging the club beautifully and making very few unforced errors.

Stricker said: “I would have needed something pretty special to catch Steve today.

“He played great and the one shot that he missed, hit off a cart path, hit in the rocks and to make an eagle, that’s a three-shot swing right there. Then he just capitalised on it, right? You get a bounce like that, and capitalise like that, it’s kind of your day.”

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8

February 2024

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Kazuma Kobori’s first win as a professional golfer

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t was Kazuma Kobori’s second win on the PGA Tour of Australasia but this time there was an improvement in the bank balance.

The second win for the New Zealand golfer came in the Webex Players’ Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club on the Victoria-New South Wales border last month.

Kobori’s first win on the PGA Tour of Australasia came as an amateur in the 2019 New Zealand PGA Championship at Pegasus in Canterbury. Kobori was aged 17 at the time.

Kobori, 22, banked $A45,000 for his win at Cobram-Barooga after turning professional last November.

He was a three-shot leader after round three at Cobram Barooga and never looked like relinquishing the lead in the final round to move up to seventh on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s order of merit.

The win took him to fourth among those to have played the minimum four events required to be eligible for the order of merit and now has one of the three DP World Tour cards in his sights.

“I might just be outside top 10 but definitely a step in the right direction,” Kobori told PGA Tour of Australia writer Tony Webeck prior to the order of merit update.

“Really just want to get that top three for the DP World Tour card and hopefully get rookie of the year as well.

“That’s one of my goals at the start of the season, even though I started later than the other guys.”

The Cobram-Barooga tournament was a mixed event with Kobori’s older sister Momoka Kobori finishing third.

They were actually paired together in the third round.

The Koboris are emerging as one of the best broth-

Kazuma Kobori with his trophy after winning his first tournament as a professional at the Cobram-Barooga Golf Club on the Victoria-New South Wales border last month. Photo credit: PGA of Australia.

er-sister acts in golf and while Momoka Kobori found her best golf for some time it was, in one sense, bittersweet, as reported by Martin Blake for PGA Tour of Australia.

“I nearly got there,” said the 24-year-old Momoka Kabori said.

“I was chasing (him), yeah. It’s quite funny. Third round we were paired together and walking up to the tee I said it doesn’t even feel like a tournament. It was like we were having a practice round together.

NEWS

“I was happy for him. It was cool to be able to be there and see his first win (as a professional). Looking at it from my point of view playing that week, I know there was shots that I dropped throughout the week, but I played well the week and I’m glad for him.”

The Koboris, born in Japan and emigrants to New Zealand when they were infants, are close. They travelled together to Cobram-Barooga and and again the following week for another Challenger Tour of Australasia tournament on the Mornington Peninsula.

Momoka Kobori said playing a mixed event was good for her game.

“From my perspective, there’s a lot to be learned from watching the guys play,” she said.

“And hopefully it’s vice-versa as well. I’ve learned a lot from watching the top guys play. It’s been good for my development.”

Kobori was coming off a difficult first year on the road on the Ladies’ European Tour (LET).

She finished 96th on the money list, lost her playing rights momentarily, and then went back to qualifying school and re-earned her place on the LET for 2024.

“It was rough, actually, from a golf perspective, a bit of a struggle getting the results that I wanted,” she said.

“Which meant I had to go to Q school. It was a year full of experiences, I think. There are a lot of learnings along the way being my rookie year.”

“I learned a lot about the courses we’re playing, what suits me and what doesn’t, what kind of routine works for me, a lot of that. I don’t want to be repeating the same things that I did last year so there are things that have to be picked up on.”

Kobori equals feat of Adam Scott with successive wins on Challenger Tour

By Martin Blake for the PGA Tour of Australia

K

azuma Kobori followed in the footsteps of top Australian golfer Adam Scott when he won for the second time in two weeks on the Webex Players’ Series in Victoria last month.

The emerging star New Zealand golfer’s second win came at the Rosebud Country Club on the Mornington peninsula a week after he had won on the same series at Cobram Barooga on the Victoria-New South Wales border.

The feat of successive wins on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia had not previously been achieved since Scott in 2013. Scott, these days, is a long-established player on the PGA Tour in the United States.

Kobori’s two wins have come from just eight starts since turning professional in November of last year. Each of the wins were worth $A45,000.

The 22-year-old from Rangiora in Canterbury jumped to second in the tour’s order of merit, giving himself a strong chance of earning a DP World Tour card for next season.

Kobori finished at 18-under par to win by one shot from Malaysian women golfer Ashley Lau with another shot to veteran Mathew Goggin in third.

“They always say the first win’s hard,

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

Kazuma Kobori with his second trophy as a professional golfer. Photo credit: PGA of Australia.

and I’ll tell you what, I can speak about it now that the second one’s just as hard,” Kobori said after the win.

“But I’m glad to get the job done.”

It was Goggin who presented the biggest challenge for the Kiwi for most of the final day, playing in the same group.

From the first hole, when Kobori three-putted to give the Tasmanian a share of the lead, to the very last, it was

a dogfight.

Ultimately the New Zealander led by a shot from Goggin when they reached the 18th tee, a shortish par four, and Goggin hit a nice approach to 25 feet, pin high. Once Kabori dumped his second shot into the right greenside trap, it was game on.

But Kobori hit a decent bunker shot to just beyond the hole, and Goggin ran

February 2024

his birdie putt – potentially for the win – six feet by.

Now it came down to Kobori’s par putt, which was for the outright win. It rolled in dead centre, much like a lot of important putts that have fallen for him this past two weeks.

“I was very nervous as you probably saw,” Kobori said.

“A few tips that my coach gave me just came back to me. I just took my time, and then the putt wasn’t difficult.

It was dead straight. I had it there, and I knew it was going to drop.”

Kobori has had an amazing past 12 months, winning the Australian Amateur, the World Amateur with New Zealand, the Australian tour school, and now two tournaments as a pro.

Emigrating from Japan to New Zealand as an infant, it was his elder sister Momoka who he followed into the sport and fittingly it was his touring professional sibling who greeted him with a hug soon after the last putt dropped at Rosebud.

Lau played in the second-last group and appeared to be out of the running until she started rolling in birdies on the back nine. At the 18th, she had a 60-footer up the hill that could potentially have put her in a playoff, and it sat on the lip of the hole.

9

Kyle Maihi and Te Rongopai Clay win Maori National titles for the third time

GOLF NEWS 10

K

yle Maihi and Te Rongopai Clay won their third Maori national titles at the New Zealand Maori Nationals in Wellington last month.

Maihi earned a place in the New Zealand Open field again and Clay won both the strokeplay and matchplay titles.

More than 300 golfers contested the 86th staging of the event which was held at Shandon in Lower Hutt and Te Marua in Upper Hutt after previously being held in Taupo for several years.

In the main men’s and women’s draws, two rounds of strokeplay determined who made the top 16 men and top eight women who made the matchplay.

Francis Lockwood took out the men’s strokeplay with an exceptional 63 and 75 to lock up the top seed in the matchplay, while Te Rongopai Clay qualified first in the women’s strokeplay, beating the defending champion Hunter Edwards in a playoff after shooting 77 and 73.

Maihi, the men’s defending champion, qualified as the second seed and beat Patrick Werahiko in the round of 16, Richard Apanui in the quarter-finals and a strong performance in the semi-final to see off Keanu Howe.

Maihi faced Maori golf stalwart Marcus Lloyd in the final, who has supported the event for many years. Maihi jumped out to an early lead and iced the tournament with an eagle on the par five 15th, winning 5 & 3 to earn a start in the New Zealand Open for the second year in a row.

He said it was hard to describe the winning feelings.

“It feels really special to win [my third title in a row],’’ Maihi said. ``I really enjoyed myself out there, and now I get to go to the New Zealand Open again and experience that again; I now know what I need to do to perform a bit better.

“Representing Maori Golf at the New Zealand Open is really special. I’m look-

Franics Lockwood (left), Te Rongopai Clay and Kylie Maihi with their trophies after winning at the Maori Nationals in Wellington last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

ing forward to representing our people with pride again – I felt like I did that last year, so I’m going to continue that.”

Maihi said the Maori National Championship is his favourite event, and it’s a privilege to win.

“There is no other event like this. Everyone is so supportive even though

the stakes are high. It’s all about bringing people up, and after the golf, it’s all about the people. The people make this event so special.”

In the women’s matchplay, Clay beat Candis Brunning and Deanna Matthews on her way to another New Zealand Maori National Championship

February 2024

final, where she would play Stevee Biddle-Tai, who had an impressive victory over the defending champion in the other semi.

Clay, from the Titahi Bay Golf Cub in Wellington, was too strong in the final, winning 5 & 3 after jumping out to a lead midway through her round and never looked back.

Clay said winning her third title was special, especially as it was her first as a mother.

“The main difference is having my two kids,’’ Clay said.

“I didn’t think I would play golf at a competitive level like this, so it’s special to be at home in Wellington and win in front of lots of whanau and friends. It’s my favourite tournament.”

She said controlling her ball in challenging blustery conditions was the secret to getting over the line for the third time following her wins in 2011 and 2016.

“It was a great match – a tight one! I knew that would be the case after seeing Stevee’s play yesterday.

“I wasn’t as wayward as I was yesterday. I kept the ball in play, which was the main thing. The holes that I got up on were the ones where she hit it in a bit of trouble, and I was able to keep my ball safe. I also putted a lot better than yesterday – it still wasn’t great, but I holed some nice putts that kept me in there as well.”

Like Maihi, she also said the Maori Golf Championships is her favourite event that she can’t miss.

“It’s always been my favourite event – not because of the golf, but because of the people. Everyone here is so supportive, and I’ve made lifelong friends through the tournament. I grew up playing this tournament, and it was always the one this I looked forward to after Christmas.”

The 87th instalment of the Maori Golf National tournament will return back to Taupo in 2025.

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February 2024

11

North Island Age Group champions crowned GOLF NEWS

B

rodie Ferguson, Han Kyeol Chung, Seunggu Kang and Sarah Li started the new year emphatically by taking out their respective North Island Age Group titles at Taupo Golf Club last month.

The North Island Age Group teed off Golf New Zealand’s competitive golf season, with 149 youngsters flocking to Taupo to get their hands on some silverware and start their 2024 seasons with a bang.

Taupo Golf Club presented a tough challenge in searing heat over the three days, reflected in the scoring, with only three players finishing under par for the tournament.

Taranaki’s’s Brodie Ferguson triumphed in the under-19 boys’ division, coming from behind to win by four shots following a scintillating final round. He began the third and final round four shots behind Shinju Aoki following a 74 and 75 but carded an impressive six-under-66 to storm

ahead with a one under par total.

Ferguson said he was pleased with how he played on the final day.

“It feels surreal to be honest,’’ Ferguson said.

“Starting the day, I wasn’t thinking about it too much. I just tried to go out there and play some good golf and see where that put me. I’m obviously over the moon to get the job done.”

His game needed some fine-tuning before the last round. Following round two, he spent some time on the range working on his ball striking in an effort the special something he needed to claim a come-from-behind victory.

He found what he needed thanks to some helpful advice from a friend and a tough mental game.

“Mentally, I hung really tough all week,’’ Ferguson added.

“I was on the range after my round yesterday, and I was battling with my ball striking a little bit. A friend of mine, Nathan, helped me out with a little

swing tip, which came in clutch today.”

He made eight birdies and a couple of bogeys in his impressive final round.

Din Morrell (Putaruru), Nathan Clark (Tauranga), and Shinju Aoki (North Shore) finished equal second.

In the under-19 girls’ division, Han Kyeol Chung (Formosa Auckland) won by a remarkable five strokes following rounds of 71, 73, and 72 to finish five under par.

Although she won comfortably, she needed to overcome some adversity in the final round after going out of the first nine hole in four over. She was up to the challenge, coming home in five under following three birdies and an eagle.

“It’s very exciting. I’m really honoured to win,’’ Chung said.

“I drove the ball really well – I hit lots of fairways all week. I also putted the ball really nicely.”

Ha Young Park (Whitford Park) and Rebekah Blackwell-Chin (Remuera) fin-

ished equal second.

Meanwhile, Seunggu Kang (Paeroa) finished atop the under-16 boys’ section at five under par, winning by a sizeable eight shots over Ricky Kang (Takapuna).

Kang had scores of 67, 72, and 72 to dominate his section.

“I’m very happy to win,’’ Kang said.

“I played really well, especially in round two. I drove the ball really well and was mentally very strong. I’m proud of how I managed my game.”

“I really enjoyed the course. It set up well for me and was in great condition.”

Sarah Li (Pupuke) won the under-16 girls’ division by one shot at seven over par.

She carded rounds of 76, 76, and 74 to finish ahead of Queenie Lang (Maungakiekie), who finished second, with Juwon Kim (Pupuke) finishing a further shot back in third.

Seunggu Kang from the Paeroa Golf Club in the Waikato. Kang won the under-16 division of the North Island Age Group Championships in Taupo last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Auckland golfer Han Kyeoi Chung. She easily won the women’s under-19 division of the North Island Age Group Championships in Taupo last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Sarah Li from the Pupuke Golf Club in Auckland. She won the women’s under-16 division of the North Island Age Group Championships in Taupo last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand

Brodie Ferguson from Taranaki following his win in the under-19 division of the North Island Age Group Championships in Taupo last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Moore wins South Island Strokeplay

By Neville Idour

C

Cooper Moore with his trophy after winning the South Island Strokeplay Championship at the Otago Golf Club last month.

12

ooper Moore added another two titles to his resume at the Otago Golf Club last month.

The Otago strokeplay and South Island championships were combined and Moore played steady golf for a one shot victory over Otago’s Jacob Bellamy.

Paired with last year’s champion Ben Patston, Moore was typically very tidy from tee to green which was the case through all three rounds.

The highlights were in the second round when his putting produced his best round of 68 and in the final round when he hit 17 out of 18 greens in regulation.

Starting the final round with a one shot lead, Moore birdied one, five and eight, stretching his lead to two over Bellany.

However, a three putt bogey on 11 cut the lead to one, but pars on the next four holes restored the lead to two shots.

The 16th, which had troubled Cooper

each round, saw him in trouble again as he pulled his tee shot into the left hazard.

The resulting bogey cut the lead to one.

He played smart golf on the 17th for an easy par, hit a great drive on 18 leaving

him 126 metres to the green. He missed a tricky downhill putt for par and settled for bogey leaving Bellamy a six foot putt for birdie to force a play off. The putt slid past leaving Moore the winner.

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February 2024

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Two more Kiwi golfers win a shot at flying off to The Open Championship in Scotland

A

couple of casual nine-hole games of mid-week golf with friends has earned two Kiwi golfers a shot at flying off to Scotland to play in a world invitational golf tournament leading into the famed The Open Championship.

Karalyn Johnstone, who plays at Waimairi Beach Golf Club in Canterbury, and Ike Oh, who plays at Waitemata Golf Club in Auckland, were randomly selected as the third monthly winners in a ninehole promotion being run by Golf New Zealand.

The highly patronised event, called Make Time Play 9, runs throughout summer, and encourages golfers of all ages and skill levels across the country to participate in a shorter format of the game.

Golfers go in the prize draw by simply submitting their nine-hole score card.

For winning the January monthly draw, Ike and Karalyn won return airfares and accommodation to Queenstown to compete in the Make Time Play 9 Final Event – being held in March in conjunction with the New Zealand Open golf championship.

Karalyn and Ike, who both play off 23 handicaps, will join eight other winners

Ike Oh, from the Waitemata Golf in Auckland, who is in the running for a trip to Scotland for The Open Championship. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Karalyn Johnstone from the Waimairi Golf Club in Canterbury. She was one of two winners in the January draw for a trip to Scotland for The Open Championship. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

from around New Zealand to tee up for nine holes at Millbrook Golf Club – with the two best players going on to repre-

sent New Zealand at The R&A 9-Hole Challenge on the eve of the 152nd Open Championship being played at the Royal

NEWS

Troon Golf Club in Scotland in July. The world final will feature 42 nine-hole players from 22 countries.

Golf New Zealand golf development general manager Thiem Nguyen said the Make Time Play 9 initiative truly was a money can’t buy experience for every Kiwi golfer enjoying nine-holes over the coming months.

“For two lucky amateur Kiwi golfers who play the sport for the pure love of it, they will have the opportunity to play on the same golf course as Rory Mcllroy, Ryan Fox, and the best professional golfers in the world in conjunction with the Open Championship,” said Nguyen.

“I know that Karalyn and Ike, along with the other qualifying finalists, will be excited about the Queenstown experience, and will practicing incredibly hard over the coming weeks and months to sharpen up their games – with an eye to securing that elusive spot to play in the world finals.

“The last draw to qualify for the Queenstown play off is being made in the middle February, so there is still time for everyone to play a quick nine holes and be in the chance to win a spot.”

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February 2024

13

Life on tour with Amelia Garvey

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS 14

A

melia Garvey’s quest for an LPGA Tour card came up just short by a few dollars or a couple of shots in 2023.

This was the Canterbury golfer’s second year competing on the second-tier Epson Tour, from which the top 25 ranked players gain their cards for the LPGA. A chance meeting with her and close friend and fellow Epson Tour player Jenny Rosenberg following a round at Millbrook near Queenstown gave this Golfer Pacific writer the perfect opportunity to host them for a round at The Hills after their practice session there the following day.

The weather was perfect and it was great to get up close and personal with Garvey and Rosenberg and enjoy watching them in action.

Garvey, renowned for her length off the tee, certainly showed that ability and accuracy but it was noticeable that Rosenberg lost little by comparison. Garvey is a pleasure to watch as there is nothing pedantic or lengthy about her pre shot routine. Just set up and deliver. Rosenberg was also an easy watch. Garvey’s putting was also very impressive and accurate. Again no lengthy dithering over her putts.

Following our round it was great sit down with both players and get the lowdown of life on tour.

We first spoke with Garvey and asked her to talk about the travel and difficulties on tour in the United States.

“This was my second year on tour and I learned a lot from my first year which is always hard … learning how to travel and manage your time,’’ Garvey said.

“I definitely enjoyed 2023 a lot more. I had a full time caddie with me which was really nice. It made things a little easier in terms of managing practice rounds, using course notes and of, obviously, not having to carry my own bag as well. That has probably been the biggest change I have had this year.”

How did she get on covering the cost of a caddie?

“My caddie Jamie Tipper is my cousin. He was a head professional at a golf course in England. I was born in Manchester in England and moved to New Zealand when I was

five years old. All my extended family are still in England so he was a teaching professional at a course in Manchester and had been doing it for over 10 years. He caddied for me in all my big events as an amateur, also at Q school when I first turned professional and we are a good team.

“I played my first year as a rookie and I saw him again and he said I am willing to do it if you are. So I said it would be a great investment to have you out there with me. It is like family rates I guess so it is not as expensive as a normal tour caddie would be. So it has been an investment for both of us.

“It has been great having someone like my older brother to travel with. We have done a lot of big road trips together, sharing the driving in my vehicle.”

What was your vehicle?

“It was a little run down Ford Focus. We clocked up a lot of miles. I had it since my third year of college so he (the car) did well to get through the year. So I got rid of him at my last event in Florida. He was costing me too much in repairs with over 160,000 miles (256,000 kms) on the clock.”

What’s with the he, for a car, we asked.

“His name is Fergus the Ford (much laughter). It was time to go and we had a little send off at the end of the year for him.

But it has been really good having Jamie on my bag helping me stick to the game plan and he is going to be on my bag next year as well.

“He is also my short game and putting coach. Having him with me has definitely helped me mentally and it is less lonely out there. Our relationship has grown a lot in this last year which is really good. He also coaches a few girls on the Ladies’ European Tour as well, so he has a lot of knowledge.”

So how does he coach others when the Epson Tour is season long?

“We do have weeks off and if he has time he will go back to Europe sometimes. But he figures it out and does video calls with his girls.”

We then ask what the courses are like on the Epson Tour?

“I don’t think they are yet up to LPGA standard. We do play some great courses but also some where you can’t play your normal game because of the layouts. However the

Epson Tour has come such a long way in the last four or five years. The purses are increasing every year. I think some for 2024 are double what they were two years ago.

“I don’t think people realise how good the girls on the Epson Tour are. It is not a mini tour. You have to play so well to finish inside that top 10 at the end of the year. (They automatically get their LPGA Tour cards).

“It is a great tour which is growing. It is tough as the money isn’t great if you are not finishing inside the top 10. You are probably only breaking even for your weekly expenses if you finish inside the top 20. So it is an investment at the end of the day, hopefully a short term one. I do have the confidence that I will make it, given the people I have around me and the knowledge I have gained. In 2023 it was just two shots over six rounds at Q school that was the difference.”

Is course management the key we ask?

“We have looked at how we have done this year and how we are going to play courses where I may have to hit irons off tees and can’t take advantage of my length. How do we attack them as there is no point finishing 60th, just making the cut, although you still have to play well to make it. To make progress, top five or top 10 is required. We have looked at the scoring averages and over the three rounds 17 to 19 under par scores are winning.

“So I need to go into tournaments with the mindset that I need to be making six birdies a round. Am I going to do that playing defensively? Probably not. However, with hazards around greens on par fives we can’t risk going for the green in two shots at times.”

How about accommodation on your travels?

“Jamie and I have been renting (online accommodation) Airbnb’s all year. We get a two bedroom place or a three bedroom and share with some other girls as well, maybe even get a bigger house. It is not cheap.”

With Jamie included, Garvey said the weekly expenses are between $US1500 and $US2000. Add to that the $US400 entry fee for each tournament. That means a top 20 finish or thereabouts to cover costs.

February 2024

Amelia Garvey.

So what is it like with the other players?

“I love it. The girls are great.

We are all out there trying to do the same thing. We are all excited for girls that get the job done and are able to move on to the LPGA Tour. We all have the same goal to make it.”

Tell us about your friendship with New Yorker Jenny Rosenberg “We became friends towards the end of the year. I have known her about six months but we got really close. She is a girl I could be friends with outside of golf as well. We are very similar. She wasn’t doing much in the off season and has always wanted to travel here and there. So I said come over to New Zealand and we will play some golf and I will show you round a little bit.”

Which is exactly what they have done.

“We have been sharing Airbnb’s on tour and Jamie is coaching her a little bit as well.

So it all fits in and when I am in America and have an off week I can always say where are you and we can practice together.

It is really nice to have someone you can practice with or forget about golf and have a nice time so it has been great

to bring her here to play Millbrook, Jack’s Point and The Hills. She loved today’s round and it was good that The Hills were happy for us to come and practice.”

Garvey enjoyed being Rosenberg’s tour guide and after Queenstown it was to include Clearwater and Terrace Downs in Canterbury then to the far north and the fabulous Te Arai Links in Northland.

Finally we ask what the goals for 2024 are.

“I want to win an event. I’m over not winning. Top 10 at year’s end. Play in a fourth US Open would be nice.”

That is quite a bucket list but after getting up close and personal with the delightful Garvey one can only wish her all the best for 2024 and to achieve her heart’s desires.

Her hard work deserves payback and it couldn’t happen to a nicer young lady.

Garvey’s 2024 year began at the Webex Players Series in Victoria in late January. The Victorian Open from February 1-4 and the Webex Series in Sydney from February 8-11 follow. She will then have a break until the Epson Tour kicks off with the TPS in Florida on March 4.

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Rosenberg loved her time in New Zealand

By Neville Idour

E

pson Tour player Jennifer Rosenberg, and close friend of Canterbury golfer Amelia Garvey, has thoroughly enjoyed her first visit to New Zealand.

Following our round with her and Garvey at The Hills last month it was time for a chat about how her visit unfolded.

First up we find out this 24-year-old is from Long Island, New York. She went to college at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“I did a fifth year at UNC (University of

Jenny Rosenberg from the United States. She came to New Zealand for a visit with Canterbury golfer Amelia Garvey.

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North Carolina) at Charlotte. I played a total of five years in college and studied.

I turned professional in 2022 and had my first year on the Epson Tour in 2023.”

So when did she start playing golf?

“My dad and grandpa put a plastic club in my hand when I was four years old. Thankfully I had some hand eye coordination and played a lot of sports growing up, such as big into tennis and basketball. I ended up choosing golf to play in college. I think I chose the right sport as it is great for networking and is a sport you can play all your life.”

She then talked about her amateur golf.

“I played a bunch of stuff. The Long Island and New York State Opens in 2019.

This was in my second year at college.

It was when I went to college that I became serious about golf. I didn’t practice that much before college. But once I got to college I began to love it because of the team aspect. I never had that before.

I only got that in other sports.

“I realised that other girls are with me and I am enjoying my time and I ended up getting a lot better in my four years.”

During our round at The Hills, Rosenberg and Garvey were having their own little match but you would never have known it. They are so supportive of each other’s good play and this seems to be a common factor on their tour. So nice to see.

What effect did covid have on your golf?

“It took a lot of my college experience away at Tulane. I got hit the worst in my year because I am one year older than Amelia. Our season got cut short so I didn’t technically play the full four years of normal college golf because I was affected so much and we had to leave school early. It carried on online and it was tough to figure out the golf situation, but we managed.”

So what studies were you doing?

“I majored in psychology with a minor in business. Then I got a graduate degree at UNC Charlotte in North Carolina in entrepreneurship and innovation. So I think I have things well covered and they all work very well together.”

At this point we suggest she is a bright one and she responded (much laughter) rather well.

“If you put your head down and work you can do it. I’m a personable girl and I think that my background in psychology and business helps me in golf and also in life.”

Any players you look up to?

“Yeah, I look up to Nelly Korda. She is young and has an amazing swing and I have always admired her. I think that women’s golf is a lot more relatable than men’s golf so I think it would be unrealistic for me to compare my game to a male.

Although I do enjoy watching men play.”

Favourite courses?

“I love courses in New York such as Shinnecock. I have been lucky enough to experience golf in New Zealand and I

February 2024

NEWS

have absolutely loved The Hills. Just loved this course and it is not something I am very used to. Nothing can beat the views here and it has been quite an experience.

I’m excited to play more courses here.”

And she would.

We concluded with Rosenberg saying how much she enjoyed and appreciated her round with us at The Hills. It was certainly a pleasure and privilege to watch this personable young golfer display her talents.

Amelia Garvey (left) and American professional golfer Jenny Rosenberg.

15

GOLF NEWS 16

Substantial cash prize pool for inaugural artificial turf putting competition

N

ew Zealand’s most lucrative golf putting tournament – being played on the country’s only full-size landscaped artificial turf putting course – is set to attract some of the country’s top amateur golfers, thanks to a large cash prize pool.

The New Zealand Putting Masters (NZPM) tournament is being held over 54 holes at the purpose-built Smallgusta putting golf course in Tauranga over the weekend of April 5-7, with a maximum of 432 players competing.

It has been scheduled to be one week before the Augusta National Masters in the United States, and between the Easter break and term one school holidays.

A first prize of $4000 is on offer to the tournament winner while the second placegetter will nab $1850 and third place $750. Negotiations are currently underway to have the final round of the tournament live-stream broadcast.

The competition format will comprise two days of qualifying – with the field being sliced to 108 players for the second round, and then a further cut of 54 players qualifying for the final day’s putting over the par 35 course which features bunkers, rock hazards on the edge of the fairways, angled sloping greens and deceptive breaks to truly test golfers’ skill in the game.

NZPM director Dave Agnew said that while the cornerstone of the tournament’s format was very much founded on the social element of golf and encouraging groups of friends/family to enter, the tournament would be conducted under a competitive format – with official scorers recording players’ strokes on all

holes to enable live website scoring and broadcast graphics.

“It’s definitely going to be a fun, festival atmosphere –- we will have our garden bar open throughout with music and an MC (master of ceremonies) for the final day,’’ Agnew said.

“We’re fortunate to have a beautiful large lawn space with grandstand views of the course so fans will be able to get very up close and personal with players as they make their way through the final holes on the course.

“New Zealand has had several mini-putt championships before – played on the stereotypical crazy golf novelty style courses that people would recognise – but nothing at this level, and certainly nothing with this much prizemoney on offer. We aren’t far behind the prize pool of 5000 euros (about $NZ9000) at the World Champs.”

“The Smallgusta hole format and course design is to encourage real golf course strategy where play is aimed at replicating the roll and speed of a grass putting green, rather than the likes of hitting your ball

through a windmill or a clown’s mouth. Risk-reward is at the heart of the design and course management is really crucial to score low.”

Agnew also said that despite the challenging layout, Smallgusta was the ultimate leveller and strongly encouraged amateur female players to sign up.

“There’s no advantage at all being a male at Smallgusta – I would go as far to say many boyfriends and husbands leave Smallgusta vanquished by their partners – it’s an absolute leveller and many women have vowed to take up golf,” Agnew said.

Smallgusta – located on the hillside outskirts of Tauranga – opened in September last year, and in addition to the landscaped golf course, features a thermal hot pool complex and licensed food and beverage hospitality amenity, both of which will be incorporated into the party atmosphere of the NZPM golfing tournament.

Entries for the NZPM opened at the beginning of the month, and Agnew said interest had already been strong with top New Zealand’s mini-putt golfers James McCarthy, Matt Ansley, and Cam Couper booking accommodation in anticipation.

The trio will be using the NZPM event as part of their warm-up schedule before heading off to the World Adventure Golf Tour Final in the Czech Republic in April in a global competition dominated by northern European nations.

Registrations for the NZPM in Tauranga is open to all amateur golfers aged 13 years and older on February 1 and can be completed in store or online at https://www.smallgusta.co.nz/nzpm24. Entry fee is $60 per person.

One of the holes at the Smallgusta golf putting course in Tauranga.

Another hole at Smallgusta.

The second hole at Smallgusta which is a par four.

February 2024

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17

GOLF NEWS

Motor home golf tournament quadruples in size in just three years A provincial golf tournament open exclusively to the highly mobile owners and occupants of motor homes and camper vans has grown in popularity by 400 percent in just three years – placing it squarely on the must do map for free-spirited golfers driving around the country.

A trio of South Canterbury golf clubs held their first New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) golf tournament in 2022 – attracting 24 players who turned up in their convoy of mobile dwellings. The three-day tournament is held on consecutive days at Geraldine Golf Club, Temuka Golf Club and Pleasant Point Golf Club.

The championship, called the South Island Motor Caravan Golf Tournament, doubled in size in 2023 – signing up 50 players, as well a sponsor. Now this year’s tournament, taking place this month, is set to feature some 100 golfers taking to the greens and fairways. As part of the tournament’s registration criteria, all players must be members of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association.

Geraldine Golf Club general manager and event founder/organiser, Chris Phillips, said that establishing and growing the NZMCA tournament had delivered a regular mini tourism-boom for not only the three participating golf clubs, but also the wider South Canterbury region.

“The motorhome tournament slots in perfectly with the clubs’ regular weekly event calendars and therefore creates minimal disruption to memberships,’’ Phillips said.

“However, having some 100 guests at the clubs on a day when they would expect to welcome in maybe 30 or 40 players has a positive impact on not only the green fees’ budget, but also bar and kitchen revenues.

“We’ve found previously that motor home owners, when staying overnight in an urban location, tend to pack up and be on their way relatively early too – so again, most members wouldn’t even know they had been on the course the day before.”

A motor home golfer practices his putting.

Throughout the tournament, motor home owners base their vehicle at the Geraldine Golf Club, and then are transported by coach daily to the two other courses, before playing the final day’s 18-holes at Geraldine.

Entry into the competition is $195 – with each of the clubs receiving a budget of $20 per player for food, while also retaining any bar takings. The three clubs do not charge green fees for players in the tournament.

The event’s growing popularity has seen Geral-

dine Golf Club negotiate with an adjoining farmland owner to utilise spare paddocks as over-flow parking for the flotilla of self-contained residential vehicles during their stay in the locale.

Golf New Zealand district golf development office Tom Wilson applauded the clubs’ revenue-generating initiative, and said the concept could easily be replicated throughout New Zealand.

Said Wilson: “I can certainly see the concept working in many of New Zealand’s provinces with say three clubs collaboratively joining together to have motorhome and campervan players rotating from course to course over a relatively short travelling distance.’’

The Geraldine/Temuka/Pleasant Point golf tournament comes as the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association is communicating with golf clubs throughout New Zealand asking if they would like to offer overnight parking to members as a way of generating additional revenue.

Operating since 1991 under the marketing moniker of Park over Property (POP), the NZMCA’s free-tojoin accommodation programme showcases some 2200 locations nationwide where members can park up and, pertinently for golf clubs, visit club rooms for a meal or beverage, and of course hit their fairways for a round of golf.

Geraldine Golf Club has been part of the POP scheme for several years now, and manager Chris Phillips said the initiative generated $1000 of income last year - charging NZMCA members $10 a night for the duration of their stay in the club’s car park. That charge is waived if motorhome members pay green fees for a round at the club. The NZMCA has more than 117,000 members driving some 54,000 vehicles all over New Zealand.

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association club manager Gillian Rutherford said golf clubs could individually structure service charges within the POP scheme – such as offering discounts for green fees, or offsetting overnight stay rates into either green fees or food and beverage spend.

Top class line-up for LPGA Tour event in Singapore T he world’s top four ranked players will headline the Women’s World Championship in Singapore this month.

Lilia Vu, Yin Ruoning, Celine Boutier and Minjee Lee have all confirmed their participation in the LPGA Tour event to be held at the Sentosa Golf Club from February 29-March 3.

American world number one Vu will be looking to build on her breakout 2023 season which saw her win the first and last major championships of the year by adding the Women’s World Championship title to her resume.

Vu said: “Playing in Asia was really where I started to build my confidence and see success on the course last year.

I arrived in Singapore right after winning my first LPGA title and, although it was my first time playing there, I felt really comfortable and loved the atmosphere and the course at Sentosa.

“I finished top 15 in my debut and this year my goal is to be holding the trophy

18

on Sunday afternoon.”

China’s Yin and France’s Boutier shot up the rankings after securing their first major titles at the Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship respectively. Australian Lee, a two-time major winner, finished her year strongly, winning two of the final four events of the season.

Yin said: “I can’t wait to make my debut at the HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) Women’s World Championship as it is one of the biggest events in Asia. Lots of the players call it Asia’s major and tell me it’s their favourite week of the year. I can’t wait to get there and experience it for myself.

“Having benefited so much from the CGA-HSBC China junior golf programme growing up, I think HSBC’s involvement as the title sponsor makes it even more important for me to play my best as I want to make them proud and to thank them for everything they have done to help me on my path to being a professional golfer

and reaching world number one.”

Joining the top four for the 72-hole stroke play tournament on the Tanjong

February 2024

Course at Sentosa will be Korean Ko Jinyoung, two-time major champion, and defending champion at Sentosa.

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Golf club raffle offers a trip to The Masters as first prize A

An example of how the Whangamata golf course floods.

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provincial New Zealand golf club seeking to raise funds to rebuild its on-course flood-protection infrastructure has taken the meat pack raffle concept to a whole new international level — ending up with a prize at one of the sport’s pinnacle events.

While many New Zealand golf club raffles offer up tempting prizes such as golf bags, bottles of wine, golf trundlers, and food hampers, Whangamata Golf Club in the Coromandel is running a raffle with the top lure of a luxury travel package to watch the famed Masters championship at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in the United States.

Raffle tickets cost $100 each and numbers are limited to 2500 tickets, with anyone able to buy into the lottery regardless of whether they play golf or not.

Proceeds from the fund-raising initiative will go specifically towards building the club’s physical resilience to floods emanating from the numerous creeks and streams which meander between its 18-holes known as the Titoki course.

Even during normal flow periods, the Wentworth River and its tributary creeks create water hazards alongside 15 of the club’s low-lying holes. Bridges – many of which were close to the end of their life expectancy and were severely damaged by previous flooding – crisscross over from several of the course’s adjoining fairways.

This is the second time Whangamata Golf Club has run such a high-end prize raffle – with the first sweepstake last year exceeding expectations, and enabling the club to begin rebuilding course amenities which were ravaged after torrential storms in 2022, and culminating in 2023’s Cyclone Gabrielle inundation. This includes drainage on Titoki’s sister ninehole community orientated Williamson course in central Whangamata.

Whangamata Golf Club manager James Beston said the club had adopted the inspirational think big New Zealand mantra in offering up a $50,000 raffle prize which

February 2024

NEWS

would be the dream trip for most Kiwi golfers. The raffle is licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Beston said that while the golf club could budget for standard course general operations, landscaping and maintenance – such as tree plantings, vegetation control, and regularly replacing sand in the bunkers – the on-going damage inflicted by consecutive so-called one in a hundred-year floods had stretched the club’s finances.

“We looked at how many club scrambles and weekend event raffles we’d have to run to raise the equivalent as The Masters lottery, and it simply was huge.

Years worth of effort. So the club’s management decided let’s do one thing big, and do it well,” Beston said.

“We dipped our toe into the water, literally, for the first raffle last year and sold all but 10 of the 1000 of tickets – thanks to some great marketing assistance from Golf New Zealand. We were buoyed by that response, so the decision was made to do it all again.

“While all golfers, both male and female, are obviously the key target market for ticket sales, who would turn down the opportunity to accompany their other half to North America for a holiday and to share in the excitement of attending one of the world’s most famous sporting events steeped in history and tradition.”

Whangamata Golf Club has a $500,000 flood resilience reparation budget over the next five years with expenditure being equally split between drainage construction and bridge installation in a phased programme.

The Whangamata Golf Club raffle prize comprises a pair of tickets to watch two days of The Masters in April, 2025, accommodation, and enough to pay for premium economy airfares. Ticket sales went live in January, and can be made through the club’s dedicated e-commerce website www.wgcmasters.net, with the supervised prize draw being made on April 18.

19

Three Asian tournaments confirmed as qualifiers for The Open GOLF NEWS 20

W

orld golf governing body The R&A has confirmed three events in Asia which will offer opportunities to qualify for The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in Scotland in July.

They will be the Malaysian Open from February 15-

18, the Mizuno Open in Japan from May 23-26 and the Korea Open from June 20-23.

Three places will be available in both the Malaysian Open and Mizuno Open and two places in the Korea Open.

The Open Championship is to be held from July 1821.

The Open Qualifying Series will offer the following qualification places in The 152nd Open:

DATE

EVENT

South Africa

23-26 Nov 2023

Joburg Open Houghton, Johannesburg

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut

Australia

30 Nov-3 Dec 2023

ISPS HANDA Australian Open The Lakes & The Australian, Sydney

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut

Malaysia

15-18 February 2024

The IRS Prima Malaysian Open The Mines, Kuala Lumpur

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut

USA

7-10 March 2024

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Bay Hill, Florida

1 place to the leading player, not already exempt as of the closing date, who makes the cut

Japan

23-26 May 2024

Mizuno Open JFE Setonaikai, Okayama

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt as of the closing date, who make the cut

Canada

30 May-2 June 2024

RBC Canadian Open Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Toronto

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut

USA

6–9 June 2024

The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday Muirfield Village, Ohio

1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut

Korea

20-23 June 2024

KOLON Korea Open Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan

2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut

Netherlands

20-23 June 2024

KLM Open The International, Amsterdam

2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut

Regional Qualifying

24 June 2024

Various

Italy

27 June-30 June 2024

Italian Open Adriatic Golf Club, Cervia

2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut

Final Qualifying

2 July 2024

Burnham & Berrow Dundonald Links Royal Cinque Ports West Lancashire

Minimum of 16 places

USA

4-7 July 2024

John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Illinois

2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut

Scotland

11-14 July 2024

Genesis Scottish Open The Renaissance Club, East Lothian

3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut

February 2024

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Martin Slumbers to step down from The R&A by the end of the year

M

artin Slumbers, chief executive world golf governing body The R&A and secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland, is to step down by the end of 2024 after what will be nine years in the role.

Slumbers, 63, brought his extensive global business experience and a passion for golf to the organisation. He has led The R&A as the global governing body of golf around the world (outside the United States and Mexico) and as secretary of the iconic golf club, which dates from 1754, he has supported it’s committees in serving it’s international membership.

He will oversee The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the return of the Women’s Open to St Andrews and the 43rd Curtis Cup match at Sunningdale before relinquishing his role by the end of the year.

Niall Farquharson, chairman of The R&A said, “In Martin, we have been fortunate to have a chief executive who has steered the organisation through a period of growth and enhanced the profile and reputation of our sport to make it more accessible, appealing and inclusive.

“Through his stature and influence in the world of golf and sport more widely and in growing the proceeds of The Open to invest back into the game, he has been true to The R&A’s purpose of golf thriving 50 years from now and has shown transformational leadership. He speaks often of reflecting history in a modern way and that will be his legacy to The R&A and to the club.”

Slumbers said: “It has been a privilege

to serve golf at the highest level. It is a role that I have been proud to carry out on behalf of The R&A’s employees, the members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and all our global partners.

“In any career, there is a time to allow the next generation to have it’s turn. I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that The R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents.”

During his tenure, Slumbers has led a modernisation of The R&A’s activities, which included the merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union and its subsequent integration to enable The R&A to represent golf for men, women, boys and girls at the elite level.

In 2018, as part of his strategic approach to The R&A’s activities, its first “playbook’’ was developed, explaining the purpose of the modern R&A which read: “To make golf open, accessible and inclusive and ensure it is thriving 50 years from now.’’

This level of clarity has led The R&A to double its financial commitment to golf, with greater emphasis on women and girls; establish a strategic business-driven approach to golf development and proactively seek to improve the perception of golf as good for you, good for society and good for the environment.

He had oversight of the 2019 modernisation of the rules of golf, the roll-out of the world handicap system in 2020 and the distance insights’ process, the outcome of which was announced in December 2023. He has served on the boards of

NEWS

Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of world golf governing body The R&A, is to stand down by the end of the year. Photo credit: The R&A.

the official world golf ranking, the International Golf Federation and the Ladies’ European Tour (LET).

A paradigm shift in the approach to the commercial affairs of The R&A, primarily at The Open, and the level of expertise in the executive team has enabled The R&A to substantially increase it’s investment into amateur golf around the world and, with partners, has enabled the Women’s Open to grow into a world class championship.

Last year, Slumbers delivered a fouryear project to create the ground-breaking new golf facility, Golf It!, in Glasgow.

This family-centred facility based in the community creates an opportunity for

more people to enjoy the unbound joy of golf and for members of the local community to gain work, volunteering and training opportunities.

Last year also saw the launch of the G4D Open for the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities and in 2024 a new Africa Amateur Championship will join elite amateur events in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. These include the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship and the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship, both introduced by Slumbers.

An executive search firm has been appointed to assist in the search for his successor.

DP World Tour strengthens ties with China

T

he DP World Tour and China Golf Association (CGA) have announced a partnership which expands the pathway for China Tour players onto the DP World Tour and confirms the co-sanctioning of tournaments until at least 2025.

The formalisation of the long-term association between the two organisations will provide the leading player on the CGA-sanctioned China Tour with an exemption on the DP World Tour for the following season.

In addition, the next player from the China Tour’s order of merit, who is not otherwise exempt, will earn an exemption on the Challenge Tour for the following season, while the leading entrant to the DP World Tour’s qualifying school will be exempt into final stage, with further exemptions for the second to fourth placed entrants into second stage.

As part of the DP World Tour’s commitment to supporting professional golf in China, the co-sanctioned China Open will return to the season-long Race to Dubai in 2024 after an absence of four seasons, with this year’s tournament taking place

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at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen from May 2-5.

Two Challenge Tour events will also take place in each of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with the Hainan Open (October 10-13) and Hangzhou Open (October 17-20) already announced as part of the Challenge Tour’s 2024 season-long Road to Mallorca last month.

The DP World Tour’s chief tournament business officer Mark Casey said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our longterm partnership with the China Golf Association through this strategic partnership.

“As well as reaffirming our commitment to tournament golf in China, the various pathways included as part of this agreement will allow more access for Chinese players to compete on the international stage. This will enable more talented Chinese players to follow in the footsteps of players such as Wu Ashun and Li Haotong, both of whom are multiple winners on the DP World Tour.”

Tian Xiaojun, deputy vice chairman of the China Golf Association, said: “The Eu-

ropean Tour Group was one of the earliest international Tour organisations to collaborate with the CGA. Over the years, the two parties have maintained a close connection and established a profound friendship, and the upcoming strate-

Hole 9 Lakeside

gic partnership agreement brings such friendship to a whole new level.

“CGA and the China Tour is embracing global golf with an open attitude, and welcoming players from all over the world to witness the transition.”

South Head Golf Club has a diverse and colourful membership. Its strength lies in the pride and belief that members play on one of the finest country golf courses in the North Harbour and Auckland regions, as confirmed by the many articles and photos in books and publications about New Zealand’s best golf courses and golf holes, which often feature our signature 9th and 10th holes.

Hole 10 Eagles Nest

1640 South Head Road, South Head, Helensville | hello@southheadgolf.co.nz | 09 420 2838

February 2024

21

"XDL’s Event Tees Off Successfully with Pharmagenics Partnership for Golfer's Joint Health"

Why choose Rapidjoint® Rapidjoint® is the ultimate formula for joint & mobility support meticulously crafted by a team of experienced pharmacists.

In the lush greens of New Zealand's North Island, the Xtreme Drivers League recently concluded its highly anticipated “North Island Championship” event with resounding success. Adding a unique touch to the event, XDL's founder and owner, Olna Ford, has once again demonstrated her commitment to player health and well-being through a groundbreaking partnership with Pharmagenics, a leading joint supplement brand tailored for golfers.

Since its inception in 2016, XDL has emerged as a trailblazer in the world of golf, organising over 30 events across eight countries and forming two national teams. Olna Ford's dedication to nurturing the sport and its players has driven the league's remarkable growth and success.

Olna Ford's commitment to her team goes beyond the fairways and greens.

Recognising the physical demands that golf places on athletes, particularly the stress on joints, Ford has taken a proactive step in safeguarding her players' health. The partnership with Pharmagenics aims to provide XDL golfers & New Zealand Long Blacks with cutting-edge joint supplements specifically formulated to address the unique challenges posed by the sport.

Our advanced technology enables the creation of small, easy-to-swallow softgel capsules containing a high concentration of New Zealand Green-lipped mussels, antioxidants, and other joint-supporting ingredients.

Our unique high-purity extraction of New Zealand Green-Lippped Mussel, “CO2 Supercritical Extraction”, preserves bioactivity and removes chemical solvents and metallic contaminants.

Rapidjoint® is proudly 100% developed and formulated in New Zealand.

A multi-beneficial formula supporting heart, brain, and skin health in an easy 1-a-day formula.

Pharmagenics, known for its innovative approach to joint health, has developed a product tailored to the needs of golfers. Golf places a considerable strain on joints, particularly on the hips, knees, and wrists. The joint supplement provided by Pharmagenics is designed to support and enhance the flexibility and durability of these critical joints, enabling players to perform at their peak while minimising the risk of injuries.

In discussing the partnership with Pharmagenics, Olna Ford emphasised the importance of providing a conducive environment for players to thrive. “XDL is not just a sport; it's a lifestyle, and our Xtreme Drivers are our family," she said. "Partnering with Pharmagenics is a natural extension of our commitment to their health and longevity in the game. We want our drivers to enjoy the sport for years to come."

As XDL continues to make strides in the world of golf, the league's emphasis on player well-being sets it apart. The partnership with Pharmagenics is a testament to Olna Ford's vision for a holistic approach to the sport, ensuring that XDL remains at the forefront of golf innovation and player care.

With RapidJoint®, you can break through barriers, shatter your records, and send the ball soaring like never before.

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Cutting-edge technology

W H AT ’ S N E W 24

PING G430 MAX 10K driver sets new MOI and forgiveness standards PING continues that never-ending pursuit with today’s introduction of the G430 MAX 10K driver, its highest MOI, most forgiving and straightest driver to date.

The G430 MAX 10K driver is available for custom fittings and pre-order at authorized PING golf shops around the world now.

“Our new G430 MAX 10K joins the G430 driver family and earns the distinction of being the most forgiving driver we’ve ever engineered,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President. “The ‘10K’ in the name refers to its record-setting combined MOI that exceeds 10,000 g-cm². It’s a great addition to our G430 driver line, giving golfers another custom-fitting option loaded with innovations. It has a lot of the proven performance of the G430 MAX driver, but differs in several ways from a design standpoint, including a fixed backweight, larger head profile, and a Carbonfly Wrap crown – each contributing to the new level of forgiveness.”

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch people hit the G430 MAX 10K. Everyone comments how straight it is, which ultimately leads to more distance for the golfer,” Solheim said. “It fits a wide range of golfers, from players who rely heavily on forgiveness for more distance and accuracy off the tee all the way to tour pros, who are seeing lower spin and increased ball speed as the result of swinging more aggressively, knowing the forgiveness will help them find more fairways. We’re excited to add the MAX 10K to our driver mix.

We encourage golfers to experience a PING driver custom fitting and compare their launch-monitor results to help find the G430 driver that best fits

their game. Whether it’s the new MAX 10K, the MAX, the LST or SFT, we’re confident there’s a PING G430 driver for every golfer.”

COMBINED MOI EXCEEDS 10,000 G-CM²

The fixed tungsten backweight in the multi-material 460cc head contributes to the record-setting MOI as it drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimize the center of gravity position, lowering spin and ensuring ball-speed preservation across the clubface for added distance. The heavier backweight (28g) is in part achieved by weight savings of 5g from the Carbonfly Wrap crown (13g installed) to create a powerful combination of accuracy and distance to meet the performance needs of all golfers.

PING’s biggest head profile to date maximizes the USGA-allowable heeltoe and front-back dimensions to extend the perimeter weighting, adding to the forgiveness while staying within the 460cc volume limit. The larger, confidence-inspiring head helps square the golfer to the target and produces a less muted and slightly louder sound than the G430 MAX to give golfers a sense of even more powerful, satisfying tee shots.

THINNER, FORGIVING FACE DESIGN

PING engineers advanced the face technology of the G430 driver family by thinning the forged T9S+ titanium face of the G430 MAX 10K. The shallow face height and variable face thickness (VFT) are optimized for more flexing to ensure faster ball speeds. Spinsistency, a variable face curvature innovation, delivers consistent spin across the entire face, helping preserve ball

speed on mis-hits for more distance and accuracy.

G430 MAX 10K HL (HIGH LAUNCH)

The lighter overall weight of the G430 MAX 10K HL driver offers all the technology and performance of the standard version, including the record-setting MOI, for slower-swingspeed golfers who don’t generate sufficient clubhead speed and ball velocity from traditionally weighted clubs. Custom engineered and custom built at 46” with a lighter backweight (19g), ultra-light shafts (PING Alta Quick 35/45) and grip (Lamkin UTx Lite, 41g), the result is a lower overall system weight so golfers can swing faster and generate more ball speed for higher-launching, longer-carrying and straighter tee shots. Available in 9.0°, 10.5°, and 12.0° lofts.

G430 MAX 10K DRIVER SPECIFICATIONS Head volume: 460cc

February 2024

Head weight: 206g Lofts: 9.0°, 10.5°, 12.0° (adjustable +- 1.5°) Swingweight: D3 Std. length: 45 3/4” (Alta CB Black 55); 45 1/4” (PING Tour 2.0 Chrome/Black and optional stock); 46” (Alta Quick 35/45 for HL build) Stock shafts: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) Black 55 (SR, R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45 (HL build only) Optional stock shafts: PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65 (R, S, X), PING Tour 2.0 Black 65 (S, X), Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 60 (S, X), PRJX HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 50 (5.5, 6.0), PRJX HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5) Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16”, Red -1/32”, Aqua -1/64”, White-Std, Gold +1/32”, Orange +1/16”) Stock grip HL: Lamkin UTx Lite (Aqua -1/64”, White-Std, Gold +1/32”) Get Custom fitted today. For your nearest Ping Dealer contact Sports Network Ltd 0508 776 786.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

February 2024

25

Ping-Tour-winning Blueprint “S” and “T” models forged-iron category W H AT ’ S N E W

spin. A high-density toe screw and shaft tip weight allow for swingweight fine-tuning.

“The Blueprint S is going to be a pleasant surprise for a lot of golfers who might not think they are good enough to play them,” Solheim said.

“Its design speaks to the lower handicap, but its technology broadens its appeal to the player who is looking for a forged, blade-style iron that’s a little easier to hit but still delivers the look and feel expected in a blade.”

AN INDUSTRY FIRST

A

long-time leader in iron innovation and performance, today PING introduced the Blueprint S and Blueprint T, two new forged iron models engineered and custom built for golfers seeking to improve their games through tour-proven technology.

The Blueprint S and Blueprint T are available for custom fittings and pre-order at authorized PING golf shops around the world beginning today.

“Our two Blueprint irons represent a new strategy for us in the forged-iron category,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President. “With the forged and forgiving cavity-back design of the “S” and the traditional muscle-back shape of the “T”, we’re targeting a wider range of golfers who prefer tour-style forged irons. The Blueprint name is a signal to skilled golfers looking for control, precision and feel from their irons. As the name implies, no details have been overlooked in the development of the new irons. Both models are engineered and manufactured to exacting standards and deliver the performance expected in a PING iron.”

26

“We’ve already seen multiple tour wins with the Blueprint S, including by PING Pro Sahith Theegala, who earned his first PGA Tour title last fall in his first tournament with the new irons,” said Solheim. “Louis Oosthuizen won back-to-back weeks with a combo set of the Blueprint S and T irons, an approach we planned for by matching the lofts of each set, allowing golfers to blend their preferred models within our precision-iron line. The tour adoption is growing almost daily as we begin the new tour season.”

BLUEPRINT S OVERVIEW

Developed following extensive testing with top PING professionals, the Blueprint S delivers score-lowering performance in a forged cavity-back design. Much of the design influence can be attributed to PING’s long line of tour-proven “S” series irons.

The compact shape fits the discerning eye with a thin top line and minimal offset. The forged 8620 carbon steel head boasts a clean cavity design, distinguished by an eye-catching textured pattern and hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish. The grooves are precision milled for optimal launch and

A patented construction technology called “Precision Pocket Forging” in the Blueprint S allows for a pocket to be forged into the cavity of the 3, 4 and 5 irons. The pocket saves 10 grams of weight, which is re-allocated to increase the MOI and optimize the center of gravity position for more distance and trajectory control. An elastomer insert is concealed in the pocket of the 3-5 irons ensuring the solid feel and sound expected in a forged players iron.

“The ability to design a pocket into a forged iron in this way is an industry first,” said Solheim. “It’s a brilliant collaboration between PING engineers and our supplier who thankfully accepted the challenge, and we developed a solution to a never-before solved problem. Until now, this level of long-iron forgiveness and the forging process have been mutually exclusive.

We’re excited to bring this score-lowering technology to golfers.”

BLUEPRINT T OVERVIEW

For the highly skilled golfer who relies on workability and prefers the size and look of a muscle back, the Blueprint T is engineered as a single-piece, 8620 carbon steel forging that puts a premium on trajectory control and superb feel. Its muscle-back design concentrates mass through the impact zone to ensure a pleasing sound and feel with the workability to take on any shot.

A shorter heel-face height allows the

February 2024

hosel transition to blend smoothly into the top rail, creating a clean, distraction-free appearance at address. The narrow soles enable consistent turf interaction from all conditions. Precision-milled grooves ensure the preferred launch and spin for players who rely on pinpoint control. A high-density toe screw and shaft tip weight provide precise swingweight control and a slight boost in MOI. “Traditionally, an iron like the Blueprint T relies as much on the skill level of the player as it does on the technology,” Solheim said. “We understand that, but we’re always looking for ways to improve every iron we design. In the Blueprint T, every detail is extremely precise and calculated to ensure the performance demanded from a forged blade. It’s a true shot-maker’s iron crafted with precision, for precision.”

The Blueprint T lofts match the Blueprint S and i230 irons to allow golfers to create blended sets within PING’s precision iron offerings. The standard length of the Blueprint T 3-9 irons is ¼” shorter than Blueprint S to promote a lower ball flight.

BLUEPRINT S & BLUEPRINT T IRON SPECIFICATIONS

Available: 3-9, PW Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec Blueprint S stock shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), PING Alta CB Black graphite (SR, R, S) Blueprint T stock shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100) Optional stock shafts: PING AWT (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 105 (R, S, X), Elevate MPH 95 (R, S), UST Recoil Dart 65 (A), 75 (R, S)* Stock Grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16”, Red -1/32”, Aqua -1/64”, White-Std, Gold +1/32”, Orange +1/16”) Get Custom fitted today. For your nearest Ping Dealer contact Sports Network Ltd 0508 776 786.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

W H AT ’ S N E W

Callaway A1 Paradym Face - drivers, fairway woods

WHAT IS AI SMART FACE?

The all-new Ai Smart Face optimises performance using swing dynamics from thousands of real golfers. These swing dynamics, or Swing Code, consist of swing speed, club delivery, and face orientation just prior to impact. This promotes optimal launch conditions and tight downrange dispersion, creating multiple sweet spots across the face.

PARADYM AI SMOKE DRIVERS

With Ai Smart Face technology, micro deflections are activated upon impact helping to optimise launch and spin on off-center shots. The result is sweet spots not just in the center, but all over the face. The 360° Carbon Chassis has been refined to promote increased weight distribution. By adding an internal titanium support structure, the Carbon Chassis is now 15% lighter. This mass has been

redistributed into the head to improve launch conditions and add forgiveness.

Four models are available: Ai Smoke MAX, MAX D, Triple Diamond, and MAX Fast

PARADYM AI SMOKE FAIRWAY WOODS

Every Ai Smart Face is designed to optimise launch and spin, creating sweet spots across the face. Their Carbon Chassis has been refined to promote enhanced weight redistribution. 24g of total weight has been repositioned throughout the head. 12g is placed low-forward to enhance launch and spin, and 12g rearward for increased forgiveness. And by incorporating a tungsten speed cartridge, we can push the center of gravity (CG) low and forward. The result is optimal launch and spin to promote maximum distance. Four models are available: Ai Smoke MAX, MAX D, Triple Diamond, and MAX Fast.

PARADYM AI SMOKE HYBRIDS

MAUNGAKIEKIE - AUCKLAND’S MOST WELCOMING GOLF CLUB! Maungakiekie has the grace that only a mature golf course can offer — well contoured fairways and greens and an abundance of native trees attracting a wide variety of colourful bird life. No wonder the Clubhouse overlooks some of the most stunning views in Auckland across the course to the Waitakere Ranges and the Manukau Harbour Headland, all within 15 minutes’ drive from both Auckland International Airport and Auckland CBD. Recent course redevelopments devised by renown American course architect Dave Harmon (Kauri Cliffs) have given Maungakiekie a number of new

fairways, greens and challenges to test and delight both the casual golfer and low-handicapper.

In addition to the course itself, the Club boasts multiple practice areas: putting green, indoor driving nets and Albatross golf simulator, indoor putting and chipping green, chipping green, practice bunkers, and short game range. Maungakiekie operates a fully stocked Golf Shop, 7-day Cafe, and full bar facilities. The Club hosts and welcomes Corporate and Charity Golf Days, with the catering and function facilities being ideal for dinners, meetings, conferences, weddings and private functions.

The Ai Smart Face promotes maximum distance with tight dispersion into the green. These hybrids feature a shallower profile to promote a high, easy launch while the Tungsten Speed Cartridge provides exceptional distance. Additionally, a more pronounced sole camber offers

enhanced turf interaction, ensuring precise, clean contact. Three models are available: Ai Smoke MAX, MAX HL, and MAX Fast

CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE IRONS

Paradym Ai Smoke Irons represent a total revolution in iron performance from the industry-first Ai Smart Face. Traditionally, longer club lengths promote increased swing speed and more distance, but at the cost of control. Through the innovative Ai process, golfers can experience the distance benefits of ¼” longer clubs in the mid and long irons while maintaining tight dispersion into the green.

Modern shaping and hollow-body construction melds form and function, delivering a seamless blend of modern sophistication and innovation. The new, modern shape consists of longer blade lengths, thinner toplines, and optimized sole widths to create a forgiving, yet streamlined look at address. An all-new Dynamic Sole Design features a pre-worn leading edge with variable bounce that cuts through the turf with extreme efficiency.

Three models are available: Ai Smoke MAX, MAX HL, and MAX Fast

5 Anita Avenue, Mount Roskill, Auckland 1041 | (09) 621 0090

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

February 2024

27

Onekakā Links Golf Club AN AMAZING GOLFING EXPERIENCE AT ONEKAKĀ IN GOLDEN BAY

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 With stunning vistas and memorable holes for a minimum of four players golf and hospitality, it’s a day you won’t covers: forget. * Exclusive use – no other players on The Links Course is not long, but the course that day rarely conquered. It comprises one * Golf cart and electric trundlers, laser par 5, eight par 4 and nine par 3 holes, distance finder including two double greens and a tri- * A course guide – the course designer ple green via major elevation changes, and club champion with ocean, ponds, cliffs, penal bun- * Hosted free drinks and snacks after kering or roughs encircling the greens. the round The Mountain Course is a significantly Although a private course, it’s open Žƌ ƚǁŽ ŶŝŐŚƚƐͿ more difficult challenge and not for the to visitors 364 days a year. However, y toZŽŽŵ ZĂƚĞƐ ;ŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ƐƚĂLJ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ ŶŝŐŚƚƐͿ Novem�er faint hearted.

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If you play golf, of run ����ofper night and ����� for two days� Onekakā Links is a that would rival the very best in New Zealand. I will be time for you if the timing works! have the must visit. I have played golf all around the world and sending more people your way for sure.

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February 2024

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February 2024

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GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

WAIKATO WAIKATO GOLFERS AT THE 2024 NEW ZEALAND MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

The NZ Mid-Amateur Championship was played at St. Andrews Golf Club in Hamilton on 12th - 14th January. Fabulous weather and outstanding course conditions set the scene.

Jill Morgan from Cambridge Golf Club managed to fight it out and win the Gross section with a winning score of 237 to win by 1 shot over Angela Gerken, Timaru Golf Club.

The Men’s Gross section win from St.

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Andrews, Bryce Taylor with a score of 215, one shot clear of Brent Curnow from the Mt. Maunganui Golf Club.

Another 5 Waikato players finishing in the top 10 on the Women’s Gross section leaderboard. Sian Stevenson(Tirau) 4th , Robyn Pellow and Alison Glover (Ngaruawahia ) 5th equal, Julie Gee (Tieke) and Chloe Choe (St. Andrews) in 8th place.

Sian Stevenson (Tirau) took out the Women’s Nett competition with scores of 68-74-71=213, and Moira Keyte (Cambridge ) winning the Women’s Stableford competition with a score of 102, 2 shots clear over Alison Glover (Ngaruawahia).

February 2024

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TARANAKI TARANAKI AND NORTH ISLAND STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

Emma Zheng and Jordan Woodall re-

cently won their respective Taranaki and North Island Strokeplay Championship titles.

Emma carded 67 in the final round making 6 birdies to make her equal leader with Juwon Kim. Zheng then went onto

to win the title after a nail-biting play off which took 3 holes.

Woodall was 3 shots ahead of Kaitake’s Brodie Ferguson. Woodall had a solid back 9 making birdies on holes 14, 15 and 18 to finish 2 under for the day.

The Course for Everyone

Pay $1050 to play golf through to 28 February 2025 WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

February 2024

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MANAWATU-WHANGANUI FIVE DEDICATED KIWI GOLFERS HAVE PLAYED 151 HOLES OF GOLF IN ONE DAY - ALL IN THE NAME OF CHARITY

We are Family team of brothers Rodney Donaldson, Jack Donaldson, Ryan

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Donaldson, and Sheldon van de Worp, and Ryan Balsley, managed the feat at the Castlecliff Golf Club in Whanganui as part of the Cancer Society’s the Longest Day Challenge.

So far, they have raised more than $8,500 for the Cancer Society’s Whanganui-Rangitikei-Waimarino branch. Rod-

ney Donaldson, the Castlecliff Golf Club’s professional, said play got underway at about 5.20am on December 28.

“The Longest Day is a national campaign to play 72-holes in a day, but we decided to step it up a bit more than that.

We finished at 8.30pm so it was around 15-hours. Surprisingly, we were still having good scores on the eighth round,” he said.

“I don’t think I swore at all. In fairness, it wasn’t really about the score, it was just about finishing. There were a couple of club members who said it couldn’t be done so we had to prove them wrong.”

No one managed a hole-in-one on the day but there were three eagles and plenty of birdies. The day was tough mentally and physically, with the golfers walking 74 kilometres – some 95,000 steps - to complete the holes, Donaldson said.

“I don’t think we’ll be beating that record anytime soon.”

In 2019, Donaldson and his brothers Jack and Ryan braved wet weather and completed 101 holes to raise money for a defibrillator at the Castlecliff club.

“This is the third time I’ve managed 100 holes in a day,” he said.

“My partner said 102 holes would have sufficed this time but no, we went for the 150. We ended up doing an extra hole just for fun. We’ll recover in a week though.

“Before Christmas, we set ourselves a goal of raising $5,000 and I didn’t think we’d get to that, but now we’ve done it

February 2024

and people saw what we were putting ourselves through, some more money got thrown our way.”

Donaldson said the team’s effort could be a Whanganui record but it was “not even close” to national or international honours.

“Jamie Reid from Taranaki, the world speed golf champion, has done 230-something holes in a day. It got dark just after 9pm so technically, we could have carried on for another 40 minutes or so, but I think 151 holes was enough for us.”

Fellow club members kept them hydrated throughout the day at Castlecliff Golf Club, he said. The four golfers walked the whole way, while volunteers carried their clubs in carts.

“People were holding the flags for us and looking for golf balls - doing anything they could to help. We had a support crew and it was much needed. To have them come and support us was just amazing.”

Donaldson said outside of a few blisters on his feet, he finished relatively unscathed.

Donations to the We are Family team can still be made via longestday.org.nz/t/ we-are-family Meanwhile in the Waikato, Hamilton golfers Marcel Rumney, Alex Chaloner, Bradley McMahon, and Cameron Jackways – playing under the team name Just Tap It In – raised $1,321 for the Cancer Society ‘s Longest Day Challenge playing back-to-back rounds for 10-hours at Ngaruawahia Golf Club.

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February 2024

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RESULTS FROM RANGITIKEI GOLF CLUB

Wednesday 10th January - Comp, Stableford: Joe Ferrier 39pts, Ron Harris & Willie Doughty 37pts, Kelvin Burt, Dan Scotson,

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Ross Greener, Garry Edwards, Steve Ryan & Virginia Ryan 36pts, Joe Yorke, Linda McAlister, Lynne McDonald, & Russell Jones 35pts, Ian Harvey, Chris Duffy & Geoff Ingram 34pts.

Twos: Garry Edwards, 3rd, Lynne McDonald & Ron Harris - 5th.

Lucky Draw: Karen Yorke Saturday 13th December - Comp Summer Stableford: Michelle Mossop 43pts, Karen Yorke & Joe Ferrier 39pts, Julian Elliott 38pts, Geoff Ingram 37pts, Martin Field 36pts, Ron Harris & Bronwyn Ewens 35pts.

Twos: Greg Baker - 3rd.

Closest to Pin on 3rd: Greg Baker Wednesday 3rd January - Competition Stableford: Virginia Ryan 41pts, Michelle 39pts, Ron Harris 38pts, Bob Pittaway 37pts, Nic Field, Linda McAlister, Tim Wales, Neil Atkins & Clive Robinson 36pts, Joe Yorke, Martin Field, Fay Rowe, Lynne McDonald & Steve Ryan 35pts, Alan Wix, Cynthia Luckham, Dan Scotson & William Doughty 34pts, Geoff Ingram, Stella Berendt & Pat McCarthy 33pts, Stew de Burgh & Roy Brider 32pts.

Twos: Virginia Ryan & Phil Engelbrecht -

February 2024

3rd, Joe Yorke & Faye Rowe - 12th Lucky Draw: Daryl Baird Saturday 6th January - Competition Medal: Waitatapia Cup for 65yrs & Over Winner: John Luckham net 71.

Joe Ferrier net 71, Stella Berendt, Dan Scotson & Clive Robinson net 72, Julian Elliott, Stew de Burgh & Kelvin Burt net 73, Phil Wood nett 74, Lynne McDonald, Karen Yorke & Geoff Ingram net 75.

Twos: Phil Wood - 3rd, Geoff Ingram - 5th.

Closest to the Pins - 3rd: Phil Wood 12th: Bruce Kinloch

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February 2024

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WELLINGTON BOULCOTTS FARM HERITAGE GOLF CLUB

The Winners of the 36H New World Hutt City Open played recently.

Jonno Cane (2nd hole playoff) and Mary Speir.

CANTERBURY HORORATA CANTERBURY CENTRAL MASTERS CHAMPIONS

The Final of the Canterbury Central Masters Interclub Competition was played at Ellesmere recently with the course in great order.

The Masters interclub season had to be extended just over a month due to some postponements as a result of poor weather, however the weather gods certainly turned on a great day yesterday for the Final.

It was the two zone runners-up from pool play that made it to the final with Hororata Black facing Lincoln North. As expected it was a tight match with only one point separating the teams at the completion of the singles match play with Hororata ahead 3.5-2.5, and they extended their advantage after the results of the four ball best ball winning the Final 6-3.

For Hororata, Shane Prendergast, Steve

Stewart and James Perkins had individual wins while Andrew Kenworthy halved his match with J B Thompson. Chris Stewart and Jason Cust both had wins for Lincoln North.

The winning Hororata Black team are pictured, from left Steve Stewart, Gary Woolf, Tony Edwards, Shane Prendergast, James Perkins and Andrew Kenworthy.

Phil Bungard (Island Park Golf Club) has etched his name into the Vardon Trophy for the second time in three years. After finishing as the leading Otago player in the 2023 Golf Otago Order of Merit. Bungard played in 10 of the 12 Otago Order of Merit events throughout the year, recording an impressive three wins and five top 5 finishes. Bungard started the year off well, winning the Southland Strokeplay with a total score of five under through three rounds at Invercargill Golf Club. The following week he finished in a tie for 2nd place at the Otago Strokeplay with a score of level par. His quality golf only continued as he won the Taieri Classic with a score of one under, and successfully defended his title at the Dunedin Strokeplay, held at St Clair Golf Club, finishing at one over.

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND BUNGARD TAKES OUT 2023 GOLF OTAGO ORDER OF MERIT

Coming through the winter season Bungard continued to show this wasn’t just temporary form. Bungard finished runner up in both the Roxburgh Open and Chisholm links Open, and 4th in the Wanaka Open. A top 5 finish at the Lakes District Championship in Arrowtown put Bungard out of reach and would cement his name on the Vardon Trophy for 2023.

Through his strong performances year-round, Bungard was name in the Otago South Island Interprovincial team, where he won four out of four games at No. 5. Bungard was also selected to represent Otago at the New Zealand Interprovincial held at Paraparaumu and Waikane Golf Clubs in December, where he won an impressive 6 out of 6 games for Otago.

Final top 10 Order of Merit standings for 2023: Phil Bungard Parker Aluesi Callum Judkins Ben Patston Ryan Bellamy

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February 2024

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