pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz
Lydia: Would you (please) stay for the 2028 Olympics?
By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ
Last month would have to be one of the greatest in New Zealand golf history — and it was all down to Lydia Ko.
There were two momentous occasions with Ko winning the gold medal at the Olympics in France and a fortnight later taking out the Women’s Open in Scotland.
The latter win was was made all the more notable because it was held at St Andrews which is considered the home of golf and even Ko herself described it as a fairytale-like result.
Ko has been such a dominant force on the world golfing stage that probably all of us wondered what was going wrong when a year would go by without a win.
There was a time when Ko changed coaches and caddies
at what seemed like as often as changes of the weather but there is now no doubt she has clearly achieved golfing greatness.
Her win at the Olympics saw her gain entry to the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) hall of fame at the age of 27 which set a new benchmark.
There are now 35 members of the hall of fame and Ko is the youngest to be inducted under the current criteria after gaining the necessary 27 points.
Prior to March, 2022, induction criteria included the requirement that a player be active on the LPGA Tour for 10 years. Karrie Webb of Australia reached the 27-point threshold at age 25 with her victory at the 2000 US Women’s Open but did not reach the 10-year requirement until age 30 in 2005.
Ko has been setting records all
her golf career.
She is the youngest to attain the No 1 world ranking of either gender in professional golf. She did that in 2015 when aged 17 years and nine months.
In 2012 she became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour when she won the Canadian Open at the age of 15 years and four months. That record has since been beaten.
The Canadian Open is one of Ko’s favourites. She won the tournament again in 2013, while still an amateur, and racked up a third win in 2015.
Ko probably gained world attention when winning the New South Wales Open in 2012. She was aged 14 and at the time was the youngest person to win a professional golf tournament.
Ko’s win at St Andrews was her third in a major championship.
Her previous major win was eight years earlier in the 2016 Chevron Championship (then known as the ANA Inspiration) in California while her first came at the Evian Championship in France in 2015.
The list of Ko’s achievements just goes on and on. She has previously said she cannot imagine herself playing professionally beyond the age of 30 and it’s hard to argue with that even though we would like to see her continuing playing and winning beyond that mark.
Is there anything left for Ko to achieve? Probably not but one or two more majors would be nice.
The only thing I think of is that the 2028 Olympics are to be held at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. That would be a year after she has turned 30 but if she was still in form it would be a great venue to say goodbye.
Lydia Ko having greater appreciation of golf’s history at St Andrews
By Paul Gueorgieff, Golfer Pacific editor
Lydia Ko first played the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland in 2013 at the age of 16.
She did very well, winning the Smyth Salver for the second year in a row. The Smyth Salver goes to the top amateur at the Women’s Open and on this occasion Ko shared it with Georgia Hall.
Ko had won the same trophy the previous year at age 15 when the Women’s Open was held at Royal Liverpool in England. Another top effort.
But come last month Ko is back at St Andrews and this time she triumphs in the Women’s Open proper. Yet another top effort.
But this time Ko, at age 27, admits to a better understanding of the historical meaning of playing at what is known as the home of golf which was formed in 1754.
“I just loved being out there this week,’’ Ko said at her winning press conference.
“I had a lot of family members here with me. I played here when I was 16 in 2013.
“I don’t think I got to really enjoy and realise what an amazing place this is, and now that I’m a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I just got to realise what an historic and special place this golf course is, and it’s honestly been such a fairytale. I’m on cloud nine, really.’’
The win came just a fortnight after Ko won the gold medal at the Olympics in Paris.
“It’s been a crazy past few weeks,’’ continued Ko who had the forethought to mention global insurance business American International Group (AIG) which sponsors the Women’s Open.
“You know, something that was too good to be true happened, and I honestly didn’t think it could be any better and here I am as the AIG Women’s Open champion this week,’’ she said.
“Obviously that being here at the Old Course at St Andrews, it makes it so much more special.’’ Ko was in contention throughout the tournament
but it was only in the last few holes that she hit the lead.
One of her best shots was on the difficult par four 17th which measured just over 400 metres. She hit three wood for her second shot in windy and rainy conditions and finished on the right tier of the green and made a comfortable par.
Ko admitted it was turning point.
“I said what a time for it to -- what a time for us to play that 17th hole; and for both (playing partner) Alexa (Pano) and I to have parred that hole in those conditions, that was probably one of the best shots I’ve hit.
“On 15, I thinned my three wood into the green and hit into the bunker. So my biggest goal (on 17) is to make solid contact. And honestly it was so windy and rainy, I saw that the ball was heading towards the pin but I had no idea that it was on that second tier.”
Ko said she knew there was no chance of hitting through the back of the green.
“I could only hit one club. It was three wood or three wood. The back was completely out of play because I couldn’t reach it.
“So it’s nice to just be able
to make an aggressive swing at it … that’s probably one of the best, you know, punch shots or shots I’ve hit coming down the stretch.”
Ko went to the 18th tee in a three-way tie for the lead and felt she needed to make birdie to win.
“My goal was to make par on 17 and then make birdie on 18. I just wanted to make birdie on 18, period, this week.
“When I hit -- just before my second shot on 18, I realised that I was tied for the lead, and I knew I kind of felt like the girls coming in would also birdie the 18th.
“So I wanted to make sure that I birdied and just give myself a chance at it, no matter if I go in a playoff or end up not winning.
“I think that made me a little bit more focused on what was right in front of me instead of thinking, oh, am I going to win or not. I mean, it’s no lie that sometimes when you’re about to win, you start thinking about what you’re going to say in this speech and all that.
“But there was no time for that. I was just so focused on what was in front of me, and that just made it a little
ing to get out of that lull. I’ve been in both of those positions. And you know, I thought, you know what, I’m very fortunate to say that I am a major champion and a two-time major champion. I’ve got nothing to lose in that sense.’’
Ko said winning at the Olympics, which earned her entry into the LPGA’s hall of fame, was hard to fathom.
“It’s been crazy to get into the hall of fame by winning the gold. These are things that I could have never imagined because they were just too good to be true.
“To say, oh, like what are the odds that that’s going to happen at the Olympics, and then a couple weeks later I’m going to win the AIG Women’s Open, I would have thought somebody was like honestly messing with me. But here I am, and it’s just been unreal. I feel very fortunate.
easier.”
Ko achieved her goal. She put her approach shot to about six or so feet of the hole and made the putt.
The win was Ko’s third in a major championship — but more than eight years after the second.
Her two previous major wins were the 2015 Evian Championship in France and the 2016 Chevron Championship in the United States.
Ko admitted those wins had become a distant memory.
“I honestly -- like the only bit I remember of winning the Chevron Championship, the ANA at the time, was jumping into Poppy’s Pond and holding my nose going down because I didn’t want to get water up my nose. That’s about it. It feels like it was such a long time ago.
“I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs between 2015, 2016 to 2024. A lot of things have happened. When things are going well, it’s kind of hard to think about when you’re not playing well because all you’re really doing is just enjoying that moment.
“And on the other hand, when things aren’t going well, you feel like you’re never go-
“I don’t think there’s a word in the dictionary that can explain what just happened. But somebody put it into perspective before I won the gold. They said, try to think of like getting into the Hall of Fame as like a gas station on the way to my final destination and not like my final destination.”
Ko has previously said she would retire at age 30, but those thoughts are not being mentioned in more recent times and she said she was already looking forward to playing next year’s Women’s Open in Wales.
“I’m excited to go. We saw a preliminary schedule, and like I’m going to do this and do this. Hopefully my family can go with me there. But I think that it’s one of the coolest things is I’ve gotten a little older is I’ve been able to enjoy these places a little bit more. Whereas before, it was very hotel, golf course, hotel, golf course. But now going to some of these different restaurants and just taking all these views and the venue in a little bit better.
“So yeah, I’m excited to go to a new country that I’ve never been to, and it’s going to be pretty crazy to say that I’m going to be the defending champion there in Wales.”
Lydia Ko is all smiles as she poses with the Women’s Open trophy on the Swilcan Bridge. Photo credit: The R&A.
Women’s Open win vintage Ko — plus
By Neville Idour
Was this Lydia Ko’s greatest winning performance?
Certainly it is a question worth considering.
Why? Because of all the different factors in play at the Women’s Open at St Andrews in Scotland last month that she had to overcome to produce what was without doubt a vintage-plus performance.
For a start she had just scored what she felt was the most prestigious win of her career with Olympic gold in Paris a fortnight previous.
To go one better after that euphoria would take ice cold golf.
Then the conditions at St Andrews were brutal at times with the wind and bitter cold. To see Nelly Korda standing waiting on the tee on the final few holes with her beanie pulled completely over her face to her chin was hilarious.
Then consider the quality of all the leading players coming down the stretch. When did we last see the top six finishers in a men’s or women’s event all be either current or former world number one ranked players? This was golf at it’s best.
So what were Ko’s keys to produce this win?
First was her unmatched consistent play. Her scores of 71, 70, 71 and 69 were remarkable in the conditions.
There were key moments in her final round which produced the win. Standing on the 11th tee, the difficult par three she had bogeyed all three rounds, her goal was to score a par. Her shot to the green was good enough to achieve that.
Then on the long par five 14th hole she used driver for her second shot much to the amazement of the commentators. She nailed it to within chipping distance and made
a vital birdie.
The next key was her second shot to the roadhole 17th green leaving an easy two putt for par.
So to the 18th and her goal was a birdie to grab the solo lead. Mission accomplished, she had to wait and see if defending champion Lilia Vu could birdie 18 and force a playoff. From about 15 feet Vu left it short then missed the tiddler to hand Ko a two shot win.
The ultimate reason for Ko’s success was her accuracy and ability to keep mistakes to a minimum, unlike her nearest challengers. In fact it is fascinating to compare the top six players in finishing order, all number one ranked at some stage in their careers.
Ko gained 13 shots but only dropped six shots. Korda was 17 and 12. Vu was 15 and 10. Ji Shin was 15 and 10. Ruoning Yin was 16 and 11. Ariya Jutanugarn was 14 and 11.
Ko’s long and shorter putting were as good as ever and keep in mind she began the final round three shots behind leader Shin.
There was a lovely moment when she left the final green and Stacy Lewis was waiting for her and gave her a huge hug. The reason became obvious during Lydia’s wonderful acceptance speech. She referenced her first British Open at St Andrews as a 16 year old which Lewis won by two shots. Ko finished a creditable T42nd after scores of 69, 76, 75 and 74. Ko said: “I have always respected Stacy and looked up to her.”
These two huge wins have probably put Ko’s name on the 2024 Halberg Sportsperson of the year trophy. Surely this will be hard to beat.
With Ko now playing as well as ever it will be fascinating to see how she views her retirement plans now. Let’s face it, the women’s game will be all the poorer without Ko.
Next year’s Women’s Open to be held in Wales
The Women’s Open heads to Royal Porthcawl next year where it will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales. The dates for the championship are July 30-August 3.
A bumper crowd of 52,887 fans last month watched Lydia Ko carve her name into the history books by winning the Women’s Open by two shots at the Old Course in St Andrews in Scotland.
While the world’s best women’s golfers put on an incredible display of golf at the home of golf, entertainment off the course also delighted fans in the Festival Village as singer-songwriter Tom Grennan headlined a spectacular concert.
Spectators attending the championship also watched a screening of fans favourite, Happy Gilmore, in an open air cinema on the Friday night, as well as enjoying a variety of attractions such as golf lessons, lawn games, mini golf, shopping, bars, food trucks and live question and answer features with some of the biggest names in golf on the Sessions Stage.
Royal Porthcawl, a links course which borders the Bristol Channel, will be a fitting test with the changeable wind directions a constant challenge. It has previously hosted The Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup, featuring a young Tiger Woods, the Curtis Cup and on three occasions the Senior Open.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, commented: “The AIG Women’s Open is a world class championship which attracts the
best players in the world. We have enjoyed an incredibly successful week in St Andrews and we now turn our focus to Wales where we will play the championship at Royal Porthcawl for the first time.
“The famous Welsh links has a cherished history of hosting prestigious championships and the players will enjoy the challenge of competing for the AIG Women’s Open at another outstanding venue.
“It will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales and we hope to attract many Welsh sports fans, and those from further afield, to come and enjoy a true celebration of golf.”
The Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for the economy, Ken Skates, said: “We’ll look forward to providing an unforgettable welcome to players, fans and spectators when the AIG Women’s Open comes to Wales in 2025. Porthcawl is sure to provide a warm Welsh Croeso to this prestigious golfing major and offers a course that will provide a true test to the very best players in the world.”
Tickets for the AIG Women’s Open, including premium hospitality options, are now on sale at aigwomensopen.com and start from £20.
Children aged 16 years or under before the championship are admitted free of charge while spectators aged 24 years or under will be entitled to purchase youth (16-24 years) tickets which have a 50 percent discount.
Volunteering opportunities for the Championship are available. Those interested can register their interest via aigwomensopen.com.
The hat’s hard.
The decision isn’t.
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Olympic gold and hall of fame entry — just more greatness for Lydia Ko
By Paul Gueorgieff, Golfer Pacific editor
It was the crowning glory for Lydia Ko. Her win at the Olympics in France last month saw her become the first to win all three medals in Olympics’ golf and at the same time ascend to the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) hall of fame.
The LPGA hall of fame is especially noteworthy. The hall of fame represents the most accomplished and influential athletes in the history of women’s golf and she has achieved entry at the age of 27 — the youngest to do so, under the current criteria, of the now 35 members.
Prior to March, 2022, induction criteria included the requirement that
a player be active on the LPGA Tour for 10 years. Karrie Webb reached the 27-point threshold at age 25 with her victory at the 2000 US Women’s Open but did not reach the 10-year requirement until age 30 in 2005.
Ko fully understood the greatness of the combined feat of gold medal and hall of fame induction.
“For it to have happened here at the Olympics is just unreal,” Ko said.
“I do feel like I’m a mythical character in a story tale. It really couldn’t have gotten any better than I could have imagined, and I’ve had so many grateful things that happened in my career so far, and this really tops it.
I couldn’t have asked for anything more to be honest.”
Ko’s list of achievements is simply
amazing.
On the Olympic level there was silver at the Brazil games in 2016 and bronze at the Japan games in 2020 before last month’s gold.
On the LPGA Tour in the United States, the world’s richest golf circuit for women, she has won 20 times and earned nearly $US18 million.
Two of the wins were in major championships, they being the 2015 Evian Championship in France and the 2016 Chevron Championship in California.
Her first win on the LPGA Tour came as an amateur in the 2012 Canadian Open which saw her become the tour’s youngest winner. She was aged 15.
A points system determined Ko’s
hall of fame induction. She gained two points for each of her major championship wins and one point for each of her other 18 wins on the LPGA Tour.
She also picked up a further four points by twice winning both the Vare Trophy and LPGA Player of the Year in 2015 and 2022. The Vare Trophy is given to the player with the lowest scoring average at the end of a season.
That gave her a total of 26 points with the Olympics’ gold giving her the necessary 27 points to unlock the door to the hall of fame.
Away from the LPGA Tour, Ko has also won seven times on the Ladies’ European Tour, five wins on the Tour of Australasia and one win on the Ko-
Lydia Ko proudly poses with her gold medal and the New Zealand flag after winning the women’s golf competition at the Olympics in France last month. (Photo credit: Kevin C Cox/ Getty Images)
Gold medalist Lydia Ko (middle) at the medal ceremony along with silver medalist Esther Henseleit (Germany), left, and bronze medalist Janet Xiyu Lin (China) at the Olympics in France last month. (Photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
LYDIA KO’S PATH TO THE LPGA HALL OF FAME
rean LPGA Tour. She also partnered with Jason Day to win the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed-team unofficial event featuring PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars last December.
Ko’s win at the Olympics was achieved in her typical consistent style.
She had rounds of 72, 67 and 68 on the par 72 course at Le Golf National in Paris to go into the final round with a share of the lead at nine under par with Maja Stark of Sweden.
Stark fell out of contention early in the final round and while Ko bogeyed her first hole she later racked up three birdies to hold a five-shot lead early in the second nine.
But just as victory was looking inevitable, Ko bogeyed the par four 13th when her second shot went into the water and she made double bogey. Her lead was now down to just one.
Ko said she just tried to stay composed.
“I just said to myself that I’m going to keep focusing and focusing until the ball drops on the 18th hole because I’ve had so many interesting things that have happened in my ca -
reer that I wanted to focus until the very end, and then just say, okay, now it’s done,’” Ko said.
“It was unfortunate that it happened at that time but I knew that the 14th hole was a gettable par five.”
Ko only made par at 14 but she went to the par five last hole with the comfort of only requiring a par to take gold.
As it was, Ko made birdie to win the tournament by two shots at 10 under par from Esther Henseleit of Germany who had a great final round of six under par 66 and finish at eight under par.
The bronze medalist was Xiyu Lin of China at seven under par.
Ko said she appreciated the great support from the crowd.
“They were saying my name and whether I hit good shots or bad shots. They were with me the whole way.”
Ko said this would be her last Olympics’ appearance but would remain playing professionally for the meantime. She has previously said she would retire at age 30.
“It is a big decision but the golfing world will still see me for a while.”
Lydia Ko’s road to the LPGA hall of fame is shown below:-
Golf was Olympic gold
By Neville Idour
Who said sports like golf and tennis do not belong at the Olympics because they have their own major championships?
After seeing their contribution to
arguably the greatest Olympic event in my lifetime I say balderdash. From the emotional French classic by Celine Dion to the Tom Cruise finale these games had everything in a world racked by hateful warfare, division and poverty.
For two weeks the world could bask in watching the world’s best athletes producing mesmerising performances in their chosen events and then sharing the joy for each other whether they won or lost.
So often we saw emotion inducing genuine joy expressed amongst the athletes, many of whom are close friends. What a wonderful escape it was from the everyday political battles.
Lydia Ko tees off on the first hole during the Olympics women’s golf in Paris last month with a good crowd in attendances. (Photo credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler from the United States poses during the medal ceremony at Olympic men’s golf at Le Golf National in Paris last month. (Photo credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
One could only feel for and admire the Ukranian athletes who somehow could compete.
Who could not admire Novak Djokovic winning against all odds and rating his win as the highlight of his tennis career, then commending Carlos Alcaraz as the current best player. Right up there with that was the stunning and emotional career capping performance by New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko which catapulted her into the much desired LPGA’s hall of fame.
This was vintage Ko at her best, something that has been a little missing for some time. Apart from the double bogey on 13 in the final round her golf was imperious, especially when under pressure after that.
Twenty birdies and 10 dropped shots was the difference. Second placegetter dropped 14 shots, third placegetter dropped 12 shots. Interestingly Nelly Korda shot 19 birdies, just one less than Ko, but 11 bogeys, a triple and a quadruple left her finishing 22nd.
The men produced a classic final round thriller. Jon Rahm seemed to be cruising with a comfortable lead entering the final nine. However his game fell apart with 39 more shots while Scottie Scheffler played out of his skin with just 29 shots to win by one from Tommy Fleetwood who proba-
bly made a wrong club choice on 17 that proved costly.
Le Golf National proved to be the perfect venue for golf with its wonderful layout challenging all players to play accurately. There were so many vantage points for spectators and they came in throngs with every day of both events a sellout of 30,000.
It was sensible to limit the numbers and make the experience enjoyable for all. So the golf was definitely a gold medal winner in the scheme of things. So why do we say balderdash to the naysayers? It probably produced the most exciting concluding rounds of drama in 2024 to date.
Let the players speak and there are many. We will start from the top. The sight of both Scheffler and Ko on the podium in tears said it all and then seeing all three medal winners together arm in arm afterwards was something we never see at any other golf tournament. Scheffler agreed with runner-up Tommy Fleetwood about the merits of the 72 hole event which some have suggested should be changed from the usual format. Such one’s reasoning has been way off the mark.
Fleetwood said: “I think the best way to determine the best golfer of the week is the 72 hole format. The format is right
and most other sports would do the same.”
Scheffler said: “I think 72 hole strokeplay is the best way to crown a champion and best player.”
However, they would both be open to a mixed team event being added in 2028 in Los Angeles, which seems a possibility after a proposal was made to the International Olympic committee.
Added Fleetwood: “Yeah, I would love another event like that,” while Scheffler added “That would be fun and really special.”
Just imagine the possibilities. Scheffler and Korda, Ko and Ryan Fox, Justin Rose and Charley Hull, Rory McIlroy and Leona Maguire. Sounds good.
For Fleetwood his silver medal was a delight.
“I never dreamt or thought of myself as an Olympic medalist. Don’t think of myself as one just yet, but I am, so it’s pretty cool.”
McIlroy was in awe after the opening round. With no fans allowed at practice rounds it was quiet so the first round crowds were, in McIlroy’s words. “unbelievable and surprising. I thought it was an incredible atmosphere and environment to play in and I think every player had a blast.”
Ko said, after attending the third and fourth rounds of the men’s event: “When I was on the first few holes we heard these chants Victor, Victor (Perez). It was really cool and the really cool thing about this place is it’s such a big property that you don’t realise how many people are out there.”
Rahm was just as effusive.
“I have said it a million times and I will say it again. Two of the most meaningful weeks in my career are where we make no money, the Ryder Cup and this one.”
McIlroy echoed the same sentiments and no wonder Rahm looked so crestfallen and devoid of anger as his chances disappeared.
“I don’t remember the last time I felt like this,’’ Rahm said.
“I feel like I let myself down and the whole country of Spain. It’s a lot more painful than I would like. By losing I
have a much deeper appreciation of what this tournament means to me, than if I had won a medal. This one stings quite a bit.”
Nicolai Hojgaard said it was the “best tournament he has ever been involved in”, and he has played Ryder Cup.
Jason Day already has his eyes on representing Australia again in Los Angeles.
“It is amazing what sport can do to bring people together. It has brought out old feelings I still have deep down. Why we play golf and why we love it so much.”
Tom Kim was wiping away the tears in the scoring area after missing out on a medal, showing just what the Olympics meant to him.
As for the women Lilia Vu was asked how an Olympic gold medal would compare to a major win and she replied: “For me it would rank a little higher than a major for the fact you are playing for your country and it is more than golf.”
Australian Hannah Green came close to a medal after a poor first round and said: “When I left Tokyo I was thinking about Paris because I thought it was going to be a great venue, and it was. LA will definitely be on my radar, so I hope I can make it to Riviera Country Club for the next Olympics.”
For Minjee Lee there was disappointment in finishing in 22nd.
“I tried to post a score but made too many bogeys. Despite that I constantly receive messages of support wherever I am but I think the Olympics is extra special. People watching us from all over the world. The Olympics are a real celebration of the sport.”
We have seen how special golf is when results really matter, not money and the outcome is bigger than themselves. A medal at the Olympics carries meaning which will only grow with time given its global appeal and historical significance. The event certainly seems to be well established in the golf world now for both men and women.
Having to wait another four years for the next edition adds to the appeal, anticipation and intrigue.
Olympic gold adds to Scottie Scheffler’s outstanding year
By Paul Gueorgieff, editor Golfer Pacific
Acourse record, which included an amazing six under par 29 for his final nine holes, saw world No 1 Scottie Scheffler snatch the gold medal in the men’s golf at the Olympics.
Scheffler went into the final round at Le Golf National at Paris in France last month four shots behind the third round leaders Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm but came home like an express train to take the honours.
Scheffler’s cause was helped by Rahm racking up four bogeys and a double bogey on his back nine but there was no denying Scheffler was a worthy winner with his final round score of 62 being an outstand-
ing nine under par. Scheffler, 28, was in tears as the national anthem of the United States played at the medals’ ceremony.
“I would say first and foremost I’m proud of the country I’m from. I’m proud to be American,’’ Scheffler said at his press conference.
“I got emotional the other night watching the gold medal ceremony for the women’s gymnastics. I take tremendous pride in coming over here and representing my country.
“And yeah, same thing, like when you go to a sporting event, you hear everybody in the stands singing the national anthem, it’s a pretty special thing to be a part of, and I think that’s something we take tremendous pride in.
“It was just very emotional
being up there on stage there as the flag is being raised and sitting there singing the national anthem. Yes, that’s definitely one I’ll remember for a long time.”
The win continued a remarkable year for Scheffler. Prior to the Olympics he had won six times on the PGA Tour in the United States including The Masters in April which was his second win in that event in the last three years.
The Masters victory compared favourably with the Olympics win, Scheffler said.
“I remember after the Masters this year, I took a bathroom break but really I just wanted to be by myself for a minute. I cried pretty good after that one,’’ he said.
“I mean, it’s emotional sitting there on the podium and hear-
ing your national anthem, it really is. It’s been a long week. It’s been a challenging week. I played some great golf today, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal.
“There was a lot of talented guys in the field this week. These guys played tremendous golf and I think we should all be proud of the golf that we played this week.”
The golf was highly popular with crowds of about 20,000 on each of the four days of the tournament and Scheffler was impressed.
“I thought the crowds were great this week. I was pretty surprised the first day by just how big they were. It was great, you know, hearing the cheers.
“The way they supported the French players this week was pretty unbelievable. Some of the guys were talking about the French players, almost getting the Tiger (Woods) treatment out there, getting chants and cheering for them every hole.
“It was great to be part of this event.”
This was the third time golf had been at the Olympics after an absence of more than a 100 years and Scheffler said it definitely deserved it’s place.
“I think any time you can be part of the Olympics is really special and for golf to be on the Olympic stage is a tremendous amount of fun for us. I think after the first Olympics, I think it held pretty high place in our game and I think it still stands today.
“I think it’s truly special to be part of the Olympic Games and be here with some of the best athletes -- or the best athletes — in the world and to represent our country is extremely special. I’m definitely proud to be a part of it.”
Scheffler had rounds of 67, 69, 67 and 62 to finish at 19 under par.
Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier represented New Zealand at the games. Fox finished 35th with a four-round total of two under par while Hillier was 55th in a field of 60 at seven over par.
Riviera Country Club to host golf at 2028 Olympics
The Riviera Country Club, one of the regular stops on the PGA Tour, will host the golf tournaments at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the United States.
The announcement was made last month by the the International Golf Federation (IGF) alongside LA28.
IGF executive director Antony Scanlon said: “We are honoured to work alongside LA28 and the world-renowned Riv-
iera Country Club to host the golf competitions during the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“The Riviera Country Club will offer a prestigious and continuously challenging backdrop for golf’s most elite players, and we look forward to sharing one of the finest courses with our fans around the world,” added Scanlon.
Founded in 1926 by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, The Riviera Country Club
annually hosts The Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour.
Consistently ranked as one of the top-tier golf courses in the world, The Riviera Country Club has previously staged numerous first class events including the 1995 PGA Championship, 1998 US Senior Open and 2017 US Amateur.
It has also been confirmed as host to the 2026 US Women’s Open and the 2031 US Open.
Los Angeles will host the summer games for a third time (1932, 1984, 2028) as golf continues to build upon the success of the previous three Olympic golf competitions at Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo 2020 to Paris last month.
LA 2028 will mark the sixth occasion in which golf has been featured as an Olympic sport, and just the fourth time since 1904. The Opening Ceremony will be held on July 14, 2028.
Scottie Scheffler celebrates with a fist pump after making a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the Olympic men’s golf competition in France last month. (Photo credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler (middle) of the United States poses at the medal ceremony with silver medalist Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain), left, and bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) after the men’s strokeplay at the Olympics in France last month. (Photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Cambridge a good test of golf with variety
By Paul Gueorgieff
Excellent.
That was my summation of the course at the Cambridge Golf Club after a round there last month.
The course is a par 72 and measures 5808 metres off the blue tees and is therefore a tough test with a good spread of variety and many of the holes having greenside bunkers.
Some of the holes are well defined, such as the first with trees left and right of the fairway. There is no question where to aim.
Holes two and three are both par fives and the
fourth is another well defined hole with a valley-like fairway and trees left and right.
The eighth hole is a good par three with the green on a plateau and therefore requires an accurate tee shot otherwise you will run off the sides.
Moving onto the second nine and the course’s toughest hole is No 11, even though it carries a stroke rating of No 2 because the stroke ratings on the second nine are even numbers.
The 11th is a dogleg and the green cannot be seen from the tee. Because it measures 371 metres two very good shots would be required to reach the green but I would suggest that would be out of reach for many.
The shortest hole on the course is No 13. It only measures 94 metres but the green is surrounded by bunkers and one of my playing partners said a par three is an easy score but so is a double bogey five.
I played the course with Cambridge members Howard Lake, David Farquhar (who played the first nine only) and Greg Noice (who played the second nine) along with Andy Hamilton who is a fellow member from my Wellington club.
It was good to play with locals as they were able to give us insights to each of the holes and provided great company.
They said the course is sand-based and therefore irrigates well.
Said one: “We could get four inches of rain in the morning and still play in the afternoon.”
There was a good practice area near the first tee, although only irons could be used.
I paid a green fee of $50.
The club is thought to be the oldest in the Waikato.
The club’s website states: “A handful of golfing enthusiasts in the year 1900 arranged, after various meetings, to have the use of a property on the west side of Hamilton Road ... and they set about creating nine holes.
“The club was constituted in 1902. This was very early in New Zealand’s golf history when it is realised that the Auckland and Manawatu Golf Clubs had only started four or five years earlier. The original members comprised 28 women and 27 men.
“It is interesting that par was 46 for nine holes because some of the holes were so long that they deserved a par of six or seven.”
The fourth at Cambridge is another well defined hole and a must to be down the fairway off the tee.
The opening hole at the Cambridge Golf Club is very defined. Don’t go left.
A pool in front of the tee on the 10th hole at Cambridge with state highway one beyond the trees on the right-hand side.
The 13th hole at Cambridge. It is only 94 metres but is surrounded by bunkers. It could be an easy par three or an easy double bogey five.
The 11th green in front of the trees from half-way down the fairway. This is a difficult dogleg where the green cannot be seen from the tee.
The pace of play conundrum
By Neville Idour
You can hear the cries. “Hurry up”, “Get a move on”, “What are they doing?”, “Slow as a wet week”.
Maybe we have all said something similar ourselves. But what is slow play? How do you define it? After all, If there are two groups of four players followed by a threesome, then a couple of twos and this repeats what is the likely result?
Obviously the foursomes will dictate the pace of play. Obviously, too, the following groups should be quicker thus having to wait for the fours. This is when frustration can set in, especially if the fours do not let the others play through. Of course if there are mainly fours on the course it may be impractical for them all to let through several groups of twos.
So where does this leave the “you must keep up with the group in front at all times” mantra?
Probably in the rubbish tin because in the scenario aforementioned it is unrealistic in practice. Sure if it is a club day or tournament where all groups are fours you should for the most part keep up. Again there are occasions when poor
shots can slow a group from time to time and they lose ground. But this is not a crime as it can happen to all of us. It probably makes more sense to play with the thought “don’t hold up the following group.”
There are so many factors at play here. The golf club may not allow enough time for each tee time, trying to cram as many on the course as they can when it is busy. Seven or eight minute tee times are too short, leaving no room for the odd oncourse hiccups.
Then we have the scenario of a group of higher handicappers who shoot in the 90s or 100 plus followed by four who shoot in the 80s or less. Worst of all is just one group that is genuinely slow and pedantic. They can cause havoc with time as everyone following collapses like dominoes in a heap and frustration reaches boiling point.
Constantly seeing the group behind waiting creates stress and doesn’t contribute to one’s golf if feeling rushed to play every shot.
However, a foursome cannot expect to keep up with a twosome, but can play at a pace that is reasonable for them and
their skill level. Using sensible etiquette such as not leaving your clubs on the wrong side of the green. Not having an elaborate pre-shot routine like certain professionals who are notoriously slow. Think Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay or Brian Harman. Then there are those players who take forever to line up their putts.
The other relevant factor is for all to play ready golf as long as it does not interfere with their partners or competition rules. We should be preparing for our next shot as soon as we arrive at our ball. Kiwi Ryan Fox is the perfect professional example of that. On the green if you are first there and have time to putt first, putt. At least all players should be looking at their line et cetera while waiting to putt. Similarly on the tee do we really need the honour to be first. First ready should hit. At all times though we respect our fellow players and ready golf should not cross that line.
Can we just blame the golfers for lack of flow and constant slow play? Emphatically no. The golf club policies regarding course preparation along with design can be a huge factor. For example with design, if we were to compare courses like Kinloch and Jack’s Point with your average club course the off-fairway results can be significantly different along with the huge challenging bunkers. So the average player can expect to be slower on such courses. Then some courses maintenance as far as policies with the rough are concerned can contribute to lack of flow and pace of play.
There is nothing more frustrating than a club course that thinks it should have rough like the US Open has. Three inch rough just off fairway is ridiculous. A mate and I played a local course a couple of years ago and we both lost balls that we saw just roll into rough a foot off the fairway. We never found those balls in the three inch rough. Crazy and a waste
of time. Conversely four of us played The Hills last month and never lost a ball even though many balls found rough well off the fairways. It all made for an enjoyable round despite the poor shots.
Lee Trevino, a former legend had some pertinent thoughts about speeding up our play. He suggests courses should be shorter with fewer penal bunkers, which will be more fun and play will take less time. He advocates ready golf and an end to honours which he says is “the greatest of all time wasters.” Park your cart at the back of the green. Take fewer practice swings. One should be enough. Trevino added: “They waste time and are unnecessary and exhausting. You hit the ball 85 times and have 400 swings and knock yourself out.”
Stop marking your ball unnecessarily. “It is tremendously overdone.”
There are many professionals who mark their ball for a one foot or less putt then have to line the ball up with the mark on the ball. Why? Just putt out using the line on the putter. Trevino also thinks golfers take too many waggles. Think Brian Harman. “They waggle three, four or five times and you wonder is he ever going to hit it.”
He says no more television acting on the green. Copying some professionals taking several practice strokes is a waste of time. Similarly many average players waste too much time green reading. “Green reading is simple” according to Trevino. Maybe for us mere mortals we might dispute that. But surely it should not take more than 40 seconds for a difficult longer putt.
The bottom line is probably to develop and maintain a ready golf routine that allows us to play at a comfortable pace that does not feel rushed nor pedantic. Then we can all enjoy our round of golf without undue pressure or stress. Surely that is the desire of every golfer.
Omarama: A friendly club in central South Island
By Neville Idour
Omarama Golf Club is ideally situated in the centre of the South Island and is the perfect stopping place for a drive from Christchurch to Cromwell or Queenstown.
The club invites mobile home and campervan members to play a round then stay for a maximum of two nights. One full green fee must be paid and the vehicle must be self-contained certificated. Omarama is known as the place of light and visi-
tors pay $20 green fees. They are also welcome to join for club days or twilight and just pay the entry fee.
The seeds for a golf course were sown at a meeting on September 7, 1974, arranged by two keen local golfers Prue Aubrey and Ada Patterson. A committee was formed to investigate the possibilities. Several sites were looked at and the current site was the preferred option with access to water an important factor.
Warwick Smith, with committee input, designed
the nine-hole course and work commenced. In a novel move nine families each assumed responsibility for a hole and so materials, machinery and debentures were sought locally. Opening day was held on March 6, 1976.
Fund raising activity was prolific with raffles, housie, produce stalls, catering, balls and luncheons held. The first clubhouse, a small two-room hut, was purchased on February 20, 1976, for $500 in preparation for opening day. Occasional floods set back progress, however, work on an irrigation system began on January 30, 1977. Dick Wadell’s sheep were still grazing on the course.
Then the present clubhouse was purchased on April 28, 1977, for $7000. The old clubhouse was sold after a short lifespan at the club. Mrs A F T Munro gave the club a piano plus $200 to tune it later that year.
Holes were given names in February, 1978, such as Clay Cliffs, Flagstaff, Mt Benmore, Old Man and Twin Peaks. The first tractor was purchased on November 10, 1979, for $700.
The club is in good heart with various events held throughout the year. Annual subscriptions are a gift at $260. New members joining online pay only $200. Members can play for free at sister clubs Otematata, Kurow and Waimate and enjoy four free rounds a year at Ben Ohau.
As for the course, it is a typical New Zealand ninehole country layout. Not too challenging but of good length. Red tees are 5608 metres and the yellow are 5200 metres. Second time around the first six holes in particular have changes, some significant to provide variety for the 18-hole round. An example is the par four fifth becomes a par three 14th.
The course is a clever clover leaf design, so each three holes go past the clubhouse which is very convenient, especially on a hot summer day when a refreshment break is a necessity. At all times the Southern Alps provide a spectacular backdrop to enjoy, especially when the golf is not.
Comments from visitors give a good picture of what to expect.
“Nice nine hole course, well kept and grass isn’t too long.”
“Good nine hole course. Greens in good condition. Very friendly members who are obviously making improvements.”
“Good course, amazing people, great tournament.” There are many other activities to enjoy in the area. The Omarama Hot Tubs are a must. There is great fishing, water skiing, canoeing and swimming (in summer). So there we have it. Another of the nine holers to enjoy on a southern road trip.
Omarama golf course.
The clubhouse at Omarama Golf Club in central South Island. One of the stunning backdrops at Omarama.
TV coverage frustratingly uneven on PGA and DP World tours
DBy Neville Idour
oes anyone else get frustrated at times with the television coverage of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, or is it just me?
I suppose it depends to a degree on whether you have an interest in particular players and how they are scoring. Two recent tournaments were lacking in some areas of their presentation.
I decided to watch, or should I say fast forward at a reasonable speed, all 454 minutes of the final day’s coverage of the Wyndham Championship where Ryan Fox had missed the cut, not that we would have known from the first two days coverage.
What I found after over nine and a half hours coverage, yes nine and a half hours, shocked me in regard to keeping up with players’ scores.
For the first 116 minutes coverage we saw the top 10 six times and the top 20 once. The top 40 were shown for the first time after those 116 minutes.
At 186 minutes we were shown the top 30 for the first time, then at 300 minutes (yes five hours} we saw the top 40 for the second and last time. As well during this 338 minutes we were shown the top 10 another 11 times and the top 20 once. So overall in those 454 minutes we saw
the top 10, 17 times (once every 27 minutes}. The top 20 just three times. The top 30 once and the top 40 just twice. Not once did we see any scores outside the top 40 unless it was showing a higher scoring player having a shot.
It is no wonder the TV ratings are on a slide. Whatever happened to the occasional running scores along the bottom of the screen we used to see that ran through the scores of the whole field?
Of course the other annoying aspect of the PGA Tour coverage is during it’s local regular advertisement breaks we have to put up with the studio drone telling viewers every obvious movement of the ball. Watching the ads might be less painful. That is why I am so thankful to Sky TV because I rarely need to watch live as it happens. The record feature is a godsend so you can eliminate the boring bits.
As for the DP World tour coverage, at least for the most part, it runs the scores more often and show more scores, sometimes the whole field, especially on the weekend. However where it falls down is with the biased coverage at times. Often they rarely depart from it’s feature groups even when several players are not within a bulls roar of the leaders. We still see every shot. This often means when some non local Euro-
peans are in the top 10 they are rarely, if ever, shown.
For example in the recent Danish Open, New Zealander Sam Jones was in the top 10 for the first three rounds and early in the final round before fading. At times he was in the top five but I can only remember seeing him putt once and maybe hit one approach shot. He, along with one or two other leaders, was almost invisible. Yet we were subjected to regularly watching favoured player after player who was just making up the numbers far from the top 20 virtually play every shot.
Which brings me to an interesting piece of research of the TV coverage of the PGA, DP and LIV tours done by Barry Plummer of Golf Monthly. He came up with a clear winner. He used three areas of assessment. Number of shots shown, bonus content and overall viewing experience.
He admits to complaining about some coverage at times like many of us but was happy to give an unbiased assessment of what he found even though he had not been a LIV fan as such.
So the first consideration was number of shots shown per hour. It wasn’t a contest. LIV showed 120. PGA Tour 88. DP World Tour 85.
“The pace of LIV’s coverage was much more engaging, with nice variety of shots and players at a tempo which left you wanting more,” Plummer said.
PGA Tour felt slow with lots of dead time and fillers.
“The monotony of the PGA Tour coverage was better than the sleep inducing snore fest watching an hour of the DP World Tour.”
Of the 85 shots shown a staggering 56 were putts. One point to LIV.
Second the bonus content. The DP World Tour does this very well especially with the inside the ropes chats with players who express themselves openly. Thus adding some colour to an otherwise bland coverage. As mentioned earlier they do well mostly, showing a decent leaderboard.
LIV also do this well with player microphones allowing us to listen to conversa-
tions as they prepare for shots.
Plummer: “I love the breakaways as they whizz around the course to catch up on several shots we may have missed. Also we see plenty of different players and can follow the ever fluctuating leaderboard with clarity.”
The lengthy leaderboard is a constant eyecatcher. The PGA Tour got no positives here. Just the dreaded studio drone to turn viewers away gets a mention. One point to LIV and the DP World Tour.
Finally the overall experience. Plummer in summary said: “I can’t fault LIV. I like almost everything about their broadcast product. It is free to air on You Tube and their efforts to make it more enjoyable for the non traditional golf fans are to be applauded.”
The PGA Tour came second here mainly because the DP World Tour is a tough watch.
“If the PGA Tour could adopt more of LIV Golf’s pizzazz they have the players and events to make it a compelling watch.’’
Plummer said while PGA Tour Sundays are usually a must watch, he is in no rush to watch coverage on Thursday and Friday, whereas he would happily watch all three days of whatever LIV is offering.
No contest really. Three points to LIV, one for the DP World Tour and none for the PGA Tour. However he ranks the DP World Tour with the wooden spoon partly because the strength of the fields pale by comparison and they need to show more shot variety from more players.
So there we have it. Like it or hate it there is no denying LIV Golf has made TV coverage a much more compelling watch with many of it’s innovations and crisp commentary. Also for this scribe I feel the New Zealand Open is well served by the excellent coverage and commentary Sky Television provides with no doubt much less equipment and facilities than either the PGA or DP World Tours. Methinks Sky could teach them a thing or two.
News in brief
By Neville Idour
PGA Tour
Championship final format “silly”
That was the assessment of world No 1 Scottie Scheffler. The final will be finished by the time this is published and opinion on Scheffler’s statement will probably be varied.
Let’s face it the FedEx Cup is all about a money handout for the players so why bother with a contrived scoring system that supposedly gives all 30 players a chance of winning. Scheffler had a 10 shot start on the bottom few. In fact 25 of the players started six to 10 shots behind. Scheffler deserved an advantage having been the season long best player so why not let the points system continue. That still gives a fair advantage to the leading players.
Maybe to add some spice, double points for the final would keep the leaders on their toes and give some extra pressure for the final. Whatever the outcome, was it a must view for all four days or just an occasional check on scoring?
Ho Hum.
Jan Ebbinge off the US
Queenstown golfer 19-yearold Jan Ebbinge has fulfilled his dream with his recent move to Massachusetts in the United States for a four-year golf and academic scholarship at Amherst College. He will play for the men’s golf team and study mathematics.
He is a product of the
Wakatipu Junior Golf Club, now called Futures Wakatipu, which he joined as a 12-yearold. He loved the game and the learning environment of the club which provided competition and all the tools to produce fine young golfers. He has already had much experience nationally. He has also played in several Charles Tour events.
Robyn Boniface ends rep career
Long serving Southland golfer, 69-year-old Robyn Boniface, has brought her 52 year representative playing career to a close. She has played 27 Interprovincials and 16 Masters events and managed 14 Interprovincial teams.
She has also played for the New Zealand Seniors’ team on numerous occasions, most recently against Australia in February at Taupo and been captain four times.
Said Boniface: “I will miss it but I’m comfortable that the time is right. I’m certainly not retiring but I will play in events I want to when I want to without the pressure of all the practice.”
Highlights?
“Winning the Masters title five years in a row and the Australian Senior Championships.
TV ratings slump continues
The PGA Tour television ratings slump continues. The FedEx St Jude Championship, one of the end-of-season playoff elevated events, was down
a staggering over 30 perecent on 2023. This is despite plenty of drama down the final few holes before Hideki Matsuyama fought off Viktor Hovland to win his 10th title. The ratings drop was in comparison to the 2023 event won by one of the lesser lights Lucas Glover.
US PGA signalling future?
Eligibility for the PGA Championship includes a provision allowing invitations to players not otherwise exempt. Traditionally it has been used for players within the top 100 in the world rankings. This year it was used to invite some LIV players leading to a total of 16 LIV golfers making the field.
Seth Waugh the PGA chief executive said: “We have the most flexibility of any major. We can pick the best field in golf, and that’s never been more important than it is right now.”
So it appears that the PGA Championship is signalling its future as the first to create a pathway for LIV players. Clearly the PGA of America is weary of the division and wants to see a resolution to the impasse. This is a warning shot at the PGA Tour. Waugh added: “The division has an economic impact and the professional game isn’t healthy.”
The threat is clear. Sort it out or we will formally admit LIV members and then that will make a move to LIV more attractive. LIV status should not count against them if they qualify.
McDowell banned by LIV for
doping oversight
Graeme McDowell was banned for one tournament for violating LIV golf’s anti-doping policy thus missing the Greenbrier event. He had mistakenly used an over the counter medicated decongestant stick that included a banned substance.
He was fined $US125,000 as well as having to hand back the $128,000 he won at LIV golf Nashville. The team total for the week was disqualified with prizemoney and points readjusted. John Catlin replaced McDowell.
Shane Lowry: Olympics a career highlight
Irishman Shane Lowry, despite a mid-20s finish, insisted the Olympics was “one of the best weeks of my career. It was an amazing week for golf. Walking on to the first tee was incredible. It felt like one of the biggest tournaments in the world. It should be here to stay. For me personally it was some of the best 10 days of my career from carrying the flag for Ireland to playing for my country.”
Richard Bland slams strategic alliance
Richard Bland, the Englishman with two senior major triumphs in the bag, sounded off about the folly of the DP World Tour’s strategic alliance with the PGA Tour.
“I think getting into bed with the PGA Tour was completely
the wrong idea. That 10 player deal was all about how Monahan could get the best DP World Tour players competing on the PGA Tour. They don’t care about the DP World Tour. They never have.
“Anyone who knows anything about world golf knows that the DP World Tour made the wrong decision three or four years ago when they had the opportunity to go with the Saudis. I think most of the players have realised that.”
European Ryder Cup changes
New qualification procedures for the European Ryder Cup team are arguably another nail in the coffin for the DP World Tour and its players.
Performances in the four majors, PGA Tour signature events and the FedEx Cup playoffs carry the most weight in making the team. The European points list for the DP World Tour Race to Dubai rankings points will no longer count. Now there will be just one points list with the few DP World Tour Global Series events included carrying a fraction of the PGA Tour events and majors points.
Richard Bland summed it up.
“It’s just another nail in the coffin of the DP World Tour. I know the strength plays in the USA, but this is basically saying that no one playing full time on the DP World Tour can play in the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is now just a PGA Tour event. This is a sad day for the DP World Tour.”
THE GREAT EUROPEAN GOLF RIVER CRUISE
Our first Golf River Cruise sold out in weeks, so we have just released a second River Cruise for 2025, this time partnering with Viking. Join us on this exciting new tour as we witness centuries of history in the heart of Europe. The Great European Golf River Cruise will waltz you from Amsterdam down European waterways to the majestic city of Budapest, stopping off on the way to enjoy some European flavoured golf.
Phillis Meti: The Reigning World Long Drive Champion
In the world of golf, few can match the sheer power and precision of Phillis Meti, the current Women’s World Long Drive (WLD) champion. Known for her incredible distance off the tee and competitive spirit, Meti has captivated audiences and has continued to set new standards in the sport. Phillis Meti’s journey to becoming a world champion is as inspiring as it is impressive. With a background in both professional golf and sports coaching, Meti has combined her skills and experience to dominate in long drive competitions. Her dedication to sport and tireless work ethic have earned her accolades and respect from peers and fans alike. In addition to her achievements on the tee box, Meti is passionate about sharing her love for golf with others. Her commitment to inspiring the next generation of golfers is evident in her
involvement with various golf clinics and youth programs. Outside of her golfing career, Meti shares a number of interests that highlight her diverse personality. She enjoys spending time with family, being on the sea paddling competitively and traveling to new places, which adds a unique dimension to her life beyond the golf course. Meti’s bucket list includes visiting national parks and seeing the Northern lights, showcasing her adventurous spirit and dedication to exploring new experiences. As Phillis Meti continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Long Drive, her story remains a source of inspiration for golfers and sports enthusiasts around the globe. Stay tuned for more updates and follow Meti’s journey as she continues to make waves in the world of golf.
Spotlight on Phillis Meti: The Reigning World Long Drive Champion.
Getting Ready to TEE it up with the Local Champs
The impact of the nationwide lockdown is still being felt all around the New Zealand nation with the slow commitment of sponsors taking a toll on sport and events. With this in mind XDL Championships are about to make changes that will open the doors for all athletes to compete. Getting ready to make some more noise XDL and it’s business associates are DRIVING to make a difference. The month of September will announce the Aussie Long Ballers and New Zealand Long Blacks teams for a very special back to back - Trans Tasman Clash, set to take to the skies and the tarmac of Parakai Airport. The North Island Champs (NZ) is teeing up at Pupuke Golf Club in Auckland this October with the winners competing in the South Island Champs with the number-ones (North and South Island Champs) smashing it
out for New Zealand title. XDL is celebrating growing the sport of Long Drive and investing over 8 years into the sport with major announcements being made at the tee at the Nationals. For the first time in the global journey, XDL and the International Long Drive Federation will be making changes that will cement the sports future for all generations of Long Drivers, worldwide.
A focus of the Pacific will see the DRIVE to bring players to our shores in Australia, New Zealand and the Islands with the Pacific Rim Series destination set to be revealed later this year. Cool news for our local young aspiring drivers who will be taking to the tee with this November, so stayed tuned for all the announcements. NEW structure and planned events will benefit more players and open up opportunities never before offered. XDL is
gearing up for the biggest year in 2025 which include the construction of XDL Training Venues. Plans earlier this year were disrupted by an opportunity too good to say no to and as the saying goes, the wait will be worth it. The founder of XDL Olna Ford, is celebrating eight years of investing in the sport locally and globally, with thirty-eight events already hosted in eight countries. The biggest purse in Long Drive history has been paid out by Olna which has listed her name in the history books in sport worldwide. Olna is also founder and owner of both the Australian and New Zealand Teams (Aussie Long Ballers & New Zealand Blacks) who are at the heart of all activites. Both nations now recognised on the WORLD stage of sport for creating sports history in Long Drive under leadership of Olna and the XDL brand. Theres much for
Olna to be excited about including her 3rd International Business Award being revealed next month. The dedication and investment has been unwavering with her entrepreneurial and innovation skills now recognised. Olna has also been commended by delegates for taking herself frontline during the global pandemic a sliding doors moment that proved her commitment not only to sport, but also to her country.
Nick Hanna North Island & New Zealand Mens Open Champion 2023. Joel Taylor the South Island & New Zealand Masters Champion 2023.
Phillis Meti, XDL North, South and New Zealand Women’s Champion 2023.
XDL Founder & National Teams Owner - Olna Ford.
Onekakā Links Golf Club
AMAZING GOLFING EXPERIENCE AT ONEKAKĀ IN GOLDEN BAY
With stunning vistas and memorable golf and hospitality, it’s a day you won’t forget.
The Links Course is not long, but rarely conquered. It comprises one par 5, eight par 4 and nine par 3 holes, including two double greens and a triple green via major elevation changes, with ocean, ponds, cliffs, penal bunkering or roughs encircling the greens. The Mountain Course is a significantly more difficult challenge and not for the faint hearted. Visit www.onekakalinks.com for a course guide also incorporating drone footage of the course and testimonials of visiting players. We also have a Face-
book page which is regularly updated. The green fee of $75 per head for 18 holes for a minimum of four players covers:
* Exclusive use – no other players on the course that day
* Golf cart and electric trundlers, laser distance finder
* Provision of two free golf balls per player
* A course guide – the course designer and club champion
* Hosted free drinks and snacks after the round
Although a private course, it’s open to visitors 364 days a year. However, to enable hosting arrangements bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance to chris@widespread.co.nz
“Golden Bay is full of amazing things to see and I just discovered another. If you play golf, Onekakā Links is a must visit. I have played golf all around the world and Onekakā gave me more fun and challenging shots than most courses that have hosted major championships. Your host Chris Castle with great imagination has created a wonderful course on a spectacular property. Thank you Chris, for a day to remember.”
- Kindest Regards, Bill Mackenzie (PGA Professional, St. Andrews East Golf Club, Canada)
“Onekakā Links is one of the most special New Zealand golf experiences one could have - it really is a must play for anyone who loves dramatic golf and out
of the box thinking. You have three or four green-sites that would rival the very best in New Zealand. I will be sending more people your way for sure.
You really chose all the best green sites to maximize your property. Your green in the far coastal corner of the property does this so well. The triple green with the bunker and lower green level and water hazard. It is the interest you created that is so much fun. Onekakā can’t fit inside a box and it should not be contained by the world’s idea of a routing and par. It is just an awesome place to play golf.
You and Richard Barham have done such an amazing job with your property - really impressive stuff. If you ever end up doing that new green we discussed
drop a me line and I may try to volunteer some shovel time for you if the timing works!
Thank you again and it was so kind of you to host me there. “
- CJ Kreuscher, Director of Agronomy for Te Arai Links and the original Superintendent of Tara iti, who recently played both courses.
“Great day out at the Onekakā Links in Golden Bay. Stunning scenery. Some exciting holes and wonderful hospitality. It’s a very unique offering but lots of fun and risk and reward. Wonderful hospitality from President Chris Castle and Club Captain Linda Sanders. Highly recommended. “
- Barry Johnston, Wanaka
NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS
Auckland Golf win
Auckland team had impressive wins against a determined Wellington Golf Inc recently! Hard-fought matches in testing conditions to come away with the win after coming out of the first round
even. Auckland won this year’s Battle of the Bridge at Royal Auckland and Grange! Our men triumphed with an impressive 19.5 - 6.5 victory, and our women showcased their skills with an 8-4 win.
Waikato Golf
Womens Golf - 2024 Wills Cup Winners!
By Gaylene Bunn (WGA Women’s President)
This year’s host venue was Cambridge Golf Club. The weather, as expected for this time of year, was chilly but fortunately the conditions were favourable for play and carts. The first groups went off at 9am with the last off at 9:35. Playing for the Wills Cup this year were the teams from Walton (East Zone), Hamilton (West Zone), Kawhia/ Pirongia (South) & Tahuna (North Zone). Playing for the Jug Cup were Putaruru (East Zone), St. Alexander (South Zone),
Tieke (West Zone) & Waikare (North Zone). It was good to see some different teams participating and winning this year.
Winning the Wills Cup for 2024 was the team from Hamilton Golf Club taking 117 points from their matches against the other zones. Walton was the next best team with 109 points.
Winning the Jug Cup for 2024 was the team from Tieke Golf Estate taking an amazing 119 points, conceding just 97 points in their matches. 2nd Place team was Putaruru with 106 points.
AUCKLAND
WAIKATO
Pictured Above L-R: Peg Murphy (WGA Life Member) Gay Shirley, Jenny Potter, Ivy Kuo, Penny Dawson, Di Boot, Angela Curle, Marita Broadhurst, Gaylene Bunn (WGA Women’s President)
The Waimarino Handicap Pennants team were victorious recently beating a strong Levin side at the Rangitikei Golf Course.
Waimarino Handicap Pennants team Hawkestone Golf Club are the winners of the Glendinning Cup for 2024
Waimarino and Levin were tied 4.5
points each at the end of the match. James Turipa of Waimarino beating Levin’s Adam Simonson with a clutch putt on the 19th playoff hole to secure the clubs win and take home the 2024 pennant.
The long standing Glendinning Cup is competed for between all golf clubs within the Manawatu Wanganui District. Clubs are able to enter up to 2 teams and consist of 4 players in each who are either employed staff, board and committee members and volunteers. The format is combined Stableford.
Recently the Glendinning Cup was contested for at the Marton Golf Club and saw a 3 way tie countback with the Marton 2 team and the Feilding GC Board team both sharing 130 Stableford points, placing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Manawatu Wanganui’s Life Member Hugh Glendinning presented the trophy to Manawatu Wanganui’s new course rater and Hawkestone’s team member,
Dion Hawkins on behalf of the
stone Golf Club
Hawkestone 2:
Rex McDermott - 32
Gary Edwards - 25
Neville Skelton - 36
Norm Rackham - 37
Marton 2:
Bron Bielby - 34
Sarah McVerry - 27
Caroline Watson - 35
Don Clarke - 34
Feilding GC Board: Von Walker - 31
Heath Chittenden - 34
Peter Beauchamp - 29
Fiona Donald - 36
Hawke-
Hawarden Retain the Boyle Cup for 2024
Hawarden successfully retained the Boyle Cup for 2024 recently , defeating a gallant Waimakariri Gorge team of Janne Pottinger, Liz Steele, Mary Te Awa, Liz Scott and Wendy Mehrtens 3-2. (Liz and Wendy had wins for Waimak Gorge, while Erin Mulholland, Nicky Matthews and Jill Allan registered wins for Hawarden).
It was Hawarden’s final challenge for the season and they can now take a well earned break and proudly return the Boyle Cup to the clubs trophy cabinet until next year’s challengers are confirmed.
The Hawarden team of, from left Rose
Cassidy, Jill Allan, Michelle Fletcher, Erin Mulholland and Nicky Matthews (Absent: Nicola Lang, Avril Harrison and Judith Sowden) have won the following challenges in 2024 to retain the Boyle Cup:
* Defeating Russley 5-0
* Drawing with Hororata 2.5-2.5
* Defeating Rangiora 4-1
* Defeating Templeton 4.5-.5
* Defeating Hanmer Springs 4-1
* Defeating Waimakariri Gorge 3-2
In line with Boyle Cup Conditions of Play, Hawarden will call for new challenges from eligible Canterbury Clubs in the New Year.
Women’s National Club Teams’ Championship Results
Tbeen finalised and can be viewed.
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners
he Women’s National Club Teams’ Championship results for 2024 have
Clinton, Otago at 23 under par.
The Canterbury District Club Champions, Tai Tapu’s team of Liz Reed, Sun Han, Pearl Park and Adrienne Shadbolt finished in 8th equal place at 14 under par.
The 2024 Men’s Champions of Otago
The 2024 Men’s Champions of Otago was held in trying conditions played recently at Balclutha Golf Club.
St Clair Golf Club’s Jakob Bleach, Albie Reed and Mike Birnie came away with the best team gross stableford on 89 points. Bleach lead the way for the team with 35 points, followed by Birnie on 29 and Reed 25. Birnie was the only person in the field to shoot under his handicap, coming in with 37 stableford points.
North Otago’s Kris Rush, Ivan Johnston and Josh Dalziel lead the way in the stableford competition combining for a team total of 101 stableford points. Rush lead the way with 35 points, followed by Johnston and Dalziel on 33 points each. It was a good day out for North Otago as they also finished runner up in the gross stableford with 82 points..
Allan Grange finished runner up in the stableford with 98 points, followed by Cromwell, St Clair and Wanaka finishing in a tie for 3rd place on 94 points. Cromwell’s Troy Scott finished with the best gross stableford with 37 points.
Otago Golf Men’s Master Metro v Central
Metro, Central, Coast and Country
Most of Otago’s best Men, Master and Women players came together at Taieri Lakes Golf Course for their annual fixtures and players were greeted with cool condition at the lakes course.
Women’s
Coastal v Country
Yoonae Jeong helped lead the Country Women to a win over the Coastal team and turning last year’s result around, with wins from Helen Henshall, Belinda Scott, Nikkie Shaw and Raewyn Devlin to take a 5-3 lead into the afternoon foursome matches.
Three of the foursome matches went the distance with country winning two matches 1up and halving the other. Jeong and Amber Boyce made light work of Kim Fraser and Anahera Koni winning 6/5
Result Country 8.5 Coastal 3.5
Men’s Metro v Central
The selectors got what they wanted in the first fixture of the representative season with some great match up to test our top players. Central’s Ricky Kang showed why he is a top contender to play at high levels this year with a hard fought 1 up win over Jakob Bleach,
Tory Scott also played well to beat the evergreen Brandon Hodgson but with only a halve between Callum White and Lewis Harper for the Central team it meant that the Metro Team held a healthy lead going into the afternoon matches.
Kang again got it done with another hard match winning 1 up over Parker Aluesi, Hodgson turn it around with a solid 4/3 win over Jason Mann. Troy Scott and Ben Patston could not be separated but again, that was all that central could muster. Big wins from the experienced Duncan Croudis and Phil Bungard made it final.
Results Morning Metro 5.5 Central 2.5, Afternoon Metro 6 Central 2
Final Results Metro 11.5 Central 4.5
Men’s Master Metro
v Central
The Metro team was looking to avenge last year hiding and with names like McEwan, Giles, Kennelly, Andrews and Shaw in the side it would take a strong Central team to retain the trophy. The Central team was not short of names either with six from or current Otago master’s players. The morning matches Brent McEwan and Richard Andreson could not be spilt. Tony Giles went to the
last to get up over Murray Studholme, Simon Boland made easy work of Mike Bowman who was late call up for Andrew Hobbs who had to pull out due to a miss hap with a log of wood the night before but with only one more win from Johann Schutte the Central team had work to do in the afternoon.
Wins for Central from Boland over Ken Shaw, Graeme Barbara over Jason
Pegler, and Rodney Krahenbring big win over Giles set the stage for a fight back. But with 6/5 wins for McEwan and Brett Kennelly, Metro had one hand on the trophy. And when Metro’s Blair Liffiton walked off the final green with a win over Andreson, it was Metro’s
Results Morning Metro 5.5 Central 2.5, Afternoon 4-4
Final Result Metro 9.5 Central 6.5
Robyn Boniface’s Remarkable Golf Journey: Celebrating a 52 year career
As Robyn makes the momentous decision to end her representative golf career, it is a fitting occasion to celebrate her extraordinary achievements, cherished memories, and the indelible mark she has left on the golfing community in Southland and New Zealand over the past 52 years.
A Lifetime of Notable Achievements
Robyn’s journey in golf is marked by an impressive array of accomplishments. She has competed in 27 Interprovincials, 16 Masters, and has managed the Interprovincial Team for 14 years. Her dedication to Southland and New Zealand golf is evident in these numbers alone, but the true measure of her success lies in her victories and the honours she has earned.
Among her notable achievements are her contributions to reaching the semi-finals of the Interprovincials on two occasions, a significant feat for a team often
considered an underdog. In the Masters, her prowess shone through as she led her team to victory six times in seven years and clinched the individual title seven times. Robyn also captained her province multiple times, but perhaps her highest honour was captaining the New Zealand Seniors Team in the Trans Tasman Trophy on four occasions. Her success is not just limited to team events. Robyn has also won the Junior National (under 21s in her time), the New Zealand Amateur, and the New Zealand Seniors, completing a trifecta that few can boast of.
Cherished Memories and Highlights
When asked about the memories that stand out the most, Robyn reflects fondly on the friendships she has forged through team events. “The friendships, some lifelong, made through team events have been a true highlight,” she shares. These connections have enriched her journey
and added a deeply personal dimension to her professional achievements.
Reaching the semi-finals in the Interprovincials and winning the Masters multiple times are significant highlights, but it’s the honour of captaining her province and the national team that holds a special place in her heart. “It was an honour to captain my province on many occasions, but the highest privilege and honour came when asked to captain the N.Z. Seniors Team,” Robyn recounts. Her pride in these roles reflects her dedication to the sport and her team.
Passion for the Game and Future Plans
Robyn’s love for golf extends beyond her representative career. “Golf is a large part of my life obviously, and I intend to continue playing, mostly within my province,” she says. Her passion for the sport remains undiminished as she looks forward to participating in country club tournaments and supporting her local club where she volunteers many hours.
Looking ahead, Robyn aims to continue challenging herself, maintaining a low handicap, and perhaps even achieving
the milestone of “shooting her age.” Her enthusiasm for trying new things and practicing is a testament to her enduring commitment to the sport she loves.
A Legacy to Inspire
Robyn’s retirement from representative golf marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of golfers. Her journey from playing for New Zealand as a junior in the Trans Tasman to being selected as a senior some 40 years later exemplifies the longevity and passion that golf can inspire.
As Robyn transitions to this new chapter, her contributions to golf in Southland and New Zealand will be remembered with admiration and gratitude. Her story is a shining example of dedication, excellence, and the profound joy that comes from a lifelong love of the game.
In celebrating Robyn’s extraordinary career, we honour not just her achievements on the course, but also the spirit of camaraderie, leadership, and passion that she has brought to the sport. Here’s to Robyn – a true champion, both on and off the green.
