Inside Golf Issue 100

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Peering into the crystal (golf) ball Richard Fellner Group Editor richard@insidegolf.com.au @insidegolf

When I started as a humble contributor for this magazine back in 2006 (Issue 16 of Inside Social Golf ), I never dreamed that I would one day be sitting at the editor’s desk, publishing the 100th issue.

Looking back over the years (and flicking through past issues) I have many great memories connected to this publication. Watching (and helping) it grow into Australia’s Most Read Golf Magazine has been a true joy, and I look forward to helping it achieve even more in the future.

But just what is in store for golf over the next 100 issues of IG? What types of stories will dominate the headlines?

It seems fitting to peer into the crystal ball and see what will (maybe) happen before we reach issue 200. Here we go:

Drivers will disappear

When your driver isn’t behaving, the common fall-back is to go to your 3-wood off the tee. Why? Because it simply offers more control, and gives you a better chance of hitting a fairway.

These days, the modern fairway wood is also giving the driver a run for its money in distance. A recent demo of some new fairways from Callaway, for example, allowed me to hit shots almost as far as a driver, with much more control.

In the next 100 issues: As drivers continue to be designed with higher lofts (to gain more distance) the gap between driver and 3-wood will diminish. More manufacturers will introduce hybrid driver-fairway clubs like Callaway’s Phrankenwood, played

by Phil Mickelson. These clubs will be closer to a 2-wood, will be smaller, offer more control and still launch a ball a country mile.

One quarter of all middletier clubs in Australia will merge, shift or close Almost two years ago, we pondered whether Australia had too many golf courses. Many in the industry were quick to oppose our viewpoint, but as time

wore on, we’ve seen more and more course closures, mergers and sales.

In the next 100 issues: A monumental shift will affect in the way golf is played in Australia. Expect more middle- and lower-tier private clubs to open up their courses to the public, more clubs to merge with their neighbours, and more clubs to (sadly) close up shop. The clubs that will thrive will be the ones that listen to what today’s golfer wants, and proactively plan ahead (versus burying their heads in the sand.)

Tours to consolidate; World Tour launched

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In today’s economy there are just too many tours out there, all clamouring for a share of the limited sponsorship dollar. Small prize pools will fail to draw the top players (and therefore fail to draw the crowds), causing more events to be cancelled, and the smaller tours to struggle even further.

In the next 100 issues: Consolidation.

Asia will come into its own as a golf powerhouse, and the European Tour or PGA Tour will scramble to partner with them. Smaller tours will either consolidate (a la the OneAsia model) or will piggyback onto the larger tours/ Co-sanctioning.

A World Tour may also finally come to fruition, whereby the world’s best players travel the world in a coordinated schedule of major events that “follows the summer”; from the US, to Europe, then to Asia, Australia and even South Africa/South America.

Greg Norman was the first to suggest the idea of a World Tour back in the 1990’s. At the time, he was vilified by almost everyone around him-especially the powers-that-be on the PGA Tour. But with the World Golf Championships proving popular, as well as the potential economic benefits of a global market, the idea of a World Tour is getting more enticing every year.

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• T V g o l f c o v e r a g e w i l l d i e.

Broadcasters will discover (too late) that there are other golfers in

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See you on the fair ways (for Issue 200)! •

Richard Fellner–Group Editor

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the field besides Tiger Woods, and the golf viewers want to see other shots by other players. Instead, smaller, automated cameras (like the popular GoPro) will be installed throughout the course: on every hole, on caddies’ caps, on player bags, etc, and viewers will be able to choose (via an internet-enabled app on a computer or tablet) which shot or player they want to follow.

Tiger will have broken every record in golf, except the one that matters most: Jack’s.

A total of 112 young players will be referred to as “The next Tiger Woods.”

Par-5s will be changed to par-4s for many of the Tour events.

More courses will be designed in 6-hole configurations. This will allow time-poor players the chance to play 6, 12 or 18 holes as time dictates.

Equality: Red/ladies tees will be gone. Women can play from any tee they want, with Slope/handicaps adjusted accordingly. Men and women will play in combined comps, and women can play any day they want. Even the R&A will bow to global pressure and abolish “men-only” clubs.

The R&A will add 47 more rules to the Rule Book. Three will make sense.

The average handicap for amateur golfers will not change. Hey, golf is a tough game!

It’s official: 43,145 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: October 2012 – March 2013

Distributed to golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month

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Hend hot in Taiwan, Macau

Big-hitting Aussie wins world title

AUSTRALIA’S Scott Hend had a red-hot October, winning twice on the Asian Tour.

Early in the month, he gave a lesson on how to master treacherous conditions when he posted a two-over-par 74 to win the US$600,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Faced with the onslaught of Typhoon Fitow where torrential rain and gusty winds up to 88kph posed the greatest threat for players, Hend relied on his experience of playing in Scotland the previous week to capture his second victory of the year with a winning total of three-under 285.

Sam Cyr of the United States enjoyed his best result on the Asian Tour this season with a secondplaced finish after battling to a 77 (289 total) while Bangladesh’s Siddikur and Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij shared third place on matching 291 at the richest Asian Tour event to be staged in Chinese Taipei this season.

Unlike his previous wins, which were all comefrom-behind victories, there was no need for Hend to surmount a late challenge. Instead, it was Hend’s mental strength and Scottish experience that saw him preserving his lead and clinch a decisive four-shot victory from the front for the first time on the Asian Tour.

“It’s nice to win from the front instead of always coming from behind. To be able to win this tournament was always a tough mental challenge especially under those conditions we had this week,” said Hend, who took home the winner’s prize of US$120,000.

“I got my wish when I saw how windy it was out here. It worked to my favour as I played in Scotland last week and I was mentally prepared,”said Hend.

“I wanted the wind to blow but I didn’t want it to blow that hard. I thought if the wind blows,

In a first for Australian golf, Victorian golfer Stephen Kennedy has become the first Australian to be crowned Senior World Longdrive Champion.

Kennedy, aged 45, made the trek to Mesquite, Nevada, in September to take on the world’s best at the RE/MAX World Longdrive Championships.

As the current Australian senior longdrive champion, Kennedy went into the event with good form and continued with an impressive display of hitting during the early rounds.

“I felt pretty happy with my swing before I went over, but I knew I had to hit it well to progress through the tournament,” said Kennedy.

On his way to the finals, Kennedy knocked out some of the big names in the sport, including four former world champions.

“I was hitting the ball well in the early rounds and when I hit it 407 in the semi’s I thought I could win the whole thing,” Kennedy recalls.

With the support of fellow Australians competing at the world championship, Kennedy battled the nerves in the finals to win by an impressive 26 yards to become Australia’s first World Longdrive Champion. Shortly after the win a humble Kennedy said “It hasn’t sunk in yet. The support I have had during this journey has been awesome and I just hope this result helps boost the profile of longdrive in Australia.”

Kennedy along with other longdrive champions can be seen in action in the upcoming Australian Monsterball Championship which is being held in conjunction with the Australian PGA Championships on Nov 9th at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

For more information on Monsterball and the sport of longdrive in Australia visit www.monsterballgolf.com •

Scott Hend was red-hot in October with a pair of victories (Photos: David Paul Morris/Asian Tour) it’ll be hard for somebody to shoot in the low 60s and try to catch me. The only problem was for me not to shoot high 70s,” laughed Hend, who posted rounds of 69, 72, 70 and 74.

Two weeks later, Hend hit the jackpot for a third time this year as he cruised to a commanding three-stroke victory at the Venetian Macau Open.

With an overnight four-shot lead, the bighitting Hend comfortably held off the chasing pack at the Macau Golf and Country Club, closing with a four-under-par 67 for a 16-underpar 268 total.

India’s Anirban Lahiri matched the course record with a blistering nine-under-par 62 for second place while four-time Major champion Ernie Els of South Africa shared third with Elmer Salvador of the Philippines after a 67 and 66 respectively in the US$800,000 Asian Tour tournament.

Hend, who picked up the champion’s cheque of US$144,000, was delighted to extend his magical season after opening his week with a

dismal 74 and then going head-to-head with Els over three rounds.

“It’s important to win again this week, it feels good. Thursday was a difficult day, mentally and physically. Then on Friday and Saturday, I started holing putts which I haven’t done the whole year even when I won a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve holed my fair share this week,” said Hend, who averaged 26.5 putts for the tournament.

“Ernie is one of the best players in the world. I had my own goals and targets and I achieved my goal which was to stay patient, patient, patient.

In the first four holes, I didn’t make any birdies.

Ernie started to put some heat on me and all of a sudden, I hit a great shot on the fifth for birdie there. It was all about being patient.

“Three wins in a year is definitely the best golf of my career. Who knows what’s going to happen in the next few months. There are some big tournaments coming up and it’ll be nice to perform well in those and be competitive.

The year hasn’t finished yet,” added the Aussie, whose victory was his fifth on the Asian Tour. •

Come and watch some of the best golfers on one of NSW best golf courses

Nick O’Hern Peter O’Malley

Adam Crawford Defending Champion James Nitties

21-24 November, Castle Hill Country Club

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Course ratings released, debates begin Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

Last month, Golf Australia released the full list of Australian golf course ratings. The ratings, which are to be an integral part of the Slope and handicapping system, will not officially come into effect until January 23, 2014, when the new Golf Australia Handicapping System is fully launched.

The ratings are the culmination of a nationwide process that required every set of tees at every course in Australia to be rated via specific criteria, with a resulting Slope Rating falling between 55 (minimum) and 155 (maximum). A “neutral” Slope Rating is 113.

Topping the list in Australia, with a Slope Score of 148 are New South Wales’ Bonville International Golf Club and Victoria’s Heritage Golf & Country Club (Henley Course). They are closely followed by Eagle Ridge (Vic), Cypress Lakes (NSW) and The Vintage (NSW) on 147, with RACV Cape Schanck (Vic) another point back on 146.

Upon the releasing of the ratings last month, the debates between golfers hit a fever pitch. Clubhouse discussions joined online/social media debates as golfers questioned how some courses ranked so much higher in Slope than others. Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Composite), for example, has a Slope Rating of 128, while New South Wales, considered by some to be the toughest course in the country, comes in at 135.

While it is tempting to simply associate a high Slope score with high difficulty, it’s important to note that Slope does not truly measure the overall difficulty of a course or a set of tees. That statistic is better reflected by the Scratch Rating. In essence, the Scratch Rating is the number of strokes a Scratch marker (i.e. a player with a handicap of 0) is expected to have. The Slope Rating, however, indicates how much harder or easier the course will play for a player who is, say, a Bogey golfer.

With a slope score of 148, Bonville received one of Australia’s highest Slope Ratings in the newlyreleased list by Golf Australia To illustrate: imagine a golf course with hazards located in short landing areas— say, 180m from the tee. While a low marker could easily carry these hazards off the tee, it would be very difficult for a higher handicapper to play, as the hazards are in their landing area. This would contribute to a higher Slope Rating. Conversely, if a course has safe landing zones in the short areas, with the hazards further away at, say, 250m from the tee, the lower marker could find themselves in more trouble, whereas the higher marker would be able to more likely avoid the hazards. These are sometimes known as “Risk-Reward” holes/courses, and may typically have lower-than-average Slope Ratings.

Thus, Slope is an “equalising factor” for the handicap golfer. Slope adjusts a player’s handicap to the course they are playing. On a set of tees with a high Slope Rating, Slope will increase the difference between the handicap allowance of a high-marker and the handicap allowance of a low-marker. On a set of tees with a low Slope Rating, Slope will decrease this difference. This improves the portability of handicaps and creates a more level playing field for golfers who play away from their home course.

For more information about the differences between a Slope Rating and a Scratch Rating, or to view Slope and Scratch Ratings for your club, visit www.golf.org.au. •

Australia’s highest slope ratings (Men) (Selected courses)

NSW Bonville Cypress Lakes The Vintage Tura Beach Country Club Coffs Harbour East & Lakes Tasmania Royal Hobart King Island Victoria The Heritage (Henley) Eagle Ridge RACV Cape Schank Croydon Moonah Links Open WA Joondalup (Lake-Dune) Secret Harbour Bunbury Links Kennedy Bay Queensland Brookwater Pelican Waters Arundel Hills Lakelands Pacific Harbour NT Alice Springs Darwin Palmerston SA Links Lady Bay McCracken Glenelg Kooyonga

Tiger Black Black Blue

148 147 147 144 143

Blue Blue

133 132

Gold Black Black Black Black

148 147 146 144 144

Black Black Black Black

142 138 137 137

Black Black Black Black

144 140 139 138 138

Blue Blue Blue

123 123 123

Blue Blue Black Black

140 140 139 136

Adam Scott wins ‘The Don’ Brian Thorburn, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia, congratulated PGA Member Adam Scott on receiving The Don at last month’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame function.

Scott was unanimously voted by the selection committee as the 2013 winner of the prestigious award, which celebrates the athlete whose achievements have most inspired the nation in the preceding 12 months.

Since it was first awarded in 1998, Scott is the first golfer to claim The Don. “It’s been a history-making year for Adam Scott and on behalf of all our Members I congratulate him on this most recent achievement,” said Thorburn.

“Adam’s win at Augusta undoubtedly inspired a nation and has also provided our great game with many opportunities.”

Adam will return to Australia to contest the Australian PGA Championship, Talisker Masters, the ISPS HANDA World Cup and the Emirates Australian Open.

“It’s going to be a huge celebration for Australian golf,” said Thorburn.

“As a nation and also as an industry we’re all very proud of Adam’s achievements and we’re looking forward to giving him a champion’s welcome to the Gold Coast in a few weeks.”

In April this year Scott ended 77 years of Australian heartache at Augusta with his thrilling playoff win at the Masters.

“I am humbled and honoured to have won this award and join many great champions before me,” Scott said.

“I’d like to congratulate the other finalists on their achievements this year and I’d like to thank the Sport Australia Hall of Fame for this honour.”

Other finalists for The Don were rowing world champion Kim Crow, Test cricket captain Michael Clarke, wheelchair track and field athlete Kurt Fearnley, swimmer Cate Campbell, canoe world champion Jessica Fox and recent MotoGP retiree Casey Stoner.

Mark Taylor, Cathy Freeman, Pat Rafter and Cadel Evans are among the past recipients of The Don. •

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news

PGA trainee trounces field

Fujitsu ventures into women’s golf

PGA Trainee Professional Jack Wilson took out the WA Goldfields PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course last month, following a payoff with New Zealand’s Nick Gillespie.

After finishing level with Gillespie at 10-underpar, Wilson needed one playoff hole to take out the PGA Tour of Australasia event, going wire-to-wire to claim his first Professional title.

“It’s amazing, It’s a goal that I really wanted to achieve,” said Wilson who in taking out the tournament became the first ever Trainee to claim a PGA Tour of Australasia title.

“I always want to be the first to do things and hopefully this is just the start.”

Wilson led comfortably for most of the final round before double-bogeying the 15th hole in dramatic circumstances.

The 22-year-old from Melbourne’s Kingswood Golf Club quickly recovered, however, and is over the moon with the opportunities now afforded to him over the next 15 months.

“I’m so pumped to have the opportunity to play the Perth International, Australian PGA and Australian Open. I was looking for invites, but now there’s no need,” said Wilson who has earned exemption to the Tour for the remainder of 2013 and all of the 2014 season.

“The money is great, but it’s playing these events and having these opportunities that’s really huge for me.”

At the post-round presentation Wilson thanked his family, friends and sponsors and the town of Kalgoorlie for hosting the WA Goldfields PGA Championship.

Wilson praised the Graham Marsh-designed Kalgoorlie course and also congratulated the club on their junior program that saw so many up-and-coming golfers around on course

Fujitsu General (Aust) Pty Limited has come on board as the co-title sponsor of the Women’s NSW Open on the ALPG Tour.

The tournament, which will be known in 2014 as the Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open will once again be played at the “home” of the NSW Open, Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney.

Philip Perham, Deputy Managing Director at Fujitsu, expressed the company’s excitement about being part of women’s professional golf for the first time.

“We’re excited to be joining with Bing Lee, a long and valued partner of Fujitsu, in support of women’s golf here in NSW. Air conditioning and summer go hand in glove and from this perspective the timing of this event couldn’t be better for our company”.

“We’re excited to be on board and with the opportunities this association presents our brand.”

ALPG’s Executive Officer, Karen Lunn, praised Fujitsu for their support.

“The ALPG is absolutely delighted to welcome Fujitsu as co-title sponsor of the 2014 Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open.”

“This event has firmly established itself as NSW’s premier women’s professional golf tournament and having Fujitsu on board, a company that is renowned for its advanced technology and leading edge design and is trusted by thousands of Australians will only add to the credibility and future success of the event.”

“We look forward to the 2014 Fujitsu-Bing Lee NSW Women’s Open being the best yet!”

The tournament is being played from the 24 to 26 January and once again another high calibre field, including the likes of England’s Laura Davies and Melissa Reid, Australian Lindsey Wright, Swede Caroline Hedwall is expected. •

throughout the week.

The final leaderboard saw Wilson (72) and Gillespie (69) finish at 10-under-par, while Adam Bland (70) and James Nitties (70) finished a shot back at 9-under-par.

Jordan Sherratt (69) finished fifth at 7-under, while Max McCardle (72) and Scott Laycock (67) finished at 6-under.

See the final WA Goldfields PGA Championship

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The WA Goldfields PGA Championship was made possible thanks to the ongoing support of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Eventscorp and supporting partners the Department of Regional Development Royalties for Regions, the Department of Sport and Recreation Services, Prime Golf and the Goldfields Golf Club. •

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Jack Wilson has become the first ever Trainee to claim a PGA Tour of Australasia title

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news

Scotty nabs another blazer World Number 2 Adam Scott added another title to his resume (and another winner’s jacket to his closet), taking out the PGA Grand Slam of Golf last month.

Rallying from four shots back with 10 holes to play, Scott shot a course record (and bogey free) 7-under 64 to claim the title over the year’s Major Champions at Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda.

Scott finished at 8-under par for the tournament, two shots ahead of overnight leader US Open Champion Justin Rose.

“I’m thrilled to come out on top. It felt like a long round out there but I was happy with the score,” said Scott.

“Standing on the 11th tee, (it) didn’t look like a score like that was going to be possible, but I played very well and managed to slowly claw away at Justin.”

US PGA Champion Jason Dufner finished third at 3-under while Padraig Harrington, (in the field in place of Open Champion Phil Mickelson), shot rounds of 74 and 71 to finish at three-over par.

Adam Scott is resplendent in his new pink blazer (Photo courtesy of the PGA of America) With the victory, Scott claimed more than $600,000 as well as the Champion’s pink jacket, his third jacket in twelve months thanks to wins at April’s US Masters at Augusta and last November’s Talisker Masters in Australia.

Scott will now return to Australia to contest

the Australian PGA Championship presented

by Coca-Cola to be played in his home town of the Gold Coast.

Scott will then defend his Talisker Masters title before playing the World Cup of Golf and the Emirates Australian Open. •

Q-School Kiwi claims WA Open A dominant final round of 7-under 65 saw New Zealand’s Josh Geary claim the John Hughes Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship title by five shots over Victorian Kris Mueck.

“I set out there with high hopes and played great all day. I kept within myself and managed to finish it off quite nicely,” said Geary who finished with a tournament total of 15-under 273.

“I was pretty relaxed, I tried to stay calm and not let the outside influences affect what I was doing.”

“You always want to have the battle on the final day. But it’s nice to know I had it somewhat sown up if I played within myself.”

Geary’s first win on the PGA Tour of Australasia sees him join an impressive honour roll of past WA Open champions including Gary

Player, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Brett Rumford and Stephen Leaney.

“It has been six or seven years now that I have been trying for a win,” said Geary.

“The highest hurdle is the first one. Now I have broken through I should be good for the near future.”

With this win, Geary secured his Tour card for the remainder of this season and for 2014.

“This means a lot right now, especially with my status,” added Geary who attended the PGA Tour of Australasia qualifying school earlier this year.

“It is huge from my career point of view.”

Geary went into the event in good form, having won in his home country as well as finishing T20 at the WA Goldfields PGA Championship the previous week.

“I have been hitting it well and putting great.

My head is in a good place to I think I am ready

for another couple of wins.”

Overnight round-3 leader, 23-year-old Victorian Kris Mueck, says he is happy with his second place finish and is looking forward to the rest of the summer of golf.

“I was nervous early on and I am relieved to be finished. But I am really proud of my back nine,” said Mueck who birdied the last to take outright second.

“I was out here to win but Josh had 7-under.

He played unbelievable golf; he barely missed a shot which is a credit to him.”

Finishing at 9-under the card, Victorian Nathan Holman finished outright third in just his second professional tournament.

Rounding out the top-5 on 8-under 280 were Peter O’Malley (NSW), Kim Felton (WA) and Steve Jones (VIC).

Scores: www.pga.org.au/wa-open •

A Great (Flat) White, please GREG Norman and his company Great White Shark Enterprises, are teaming up with coffee distribution company Organo Gold to help boost awareness of the Organo products, reports golfbiz.net.

Under the agreement, Norman will serve as a global spokesperson for Organo Gold, and will endorse Organo Gold’s expanding distribution network and portfolio of products.

Norman first became involved with the company as a Distributor, which in turn provided the foundation that led to his further involvement with the multi-level marketing company.

“In very similar fashion to Organo Gold, Great White Shark Enterprises was built upon an entrepreneurial platform,” says Norman. “As part of my due diligence, I was amazed to see the opportunity that Organo Gold has afforded to so many people. Organo Gold has mastered the convergence of the right product with the optimal distribution system. I look forward to helping Organo Gold grow from strength to strength.”

Bernardo Chua, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Organo Gold, welcomed The Shark on board.

“Five years ago Organo Gold opened a new era in direct selling – a minority-owned and minority-operated global company that leverages the power of direct selling in the new global age of entrepreneurism,” said Chua.

“Today, our unique model has created one of the fastest growing companies in our industry, and our partnership with Greg Norman marks the start of the next wave of Organo Gold’s evolution by broadening our brand reach and expanding distribution channels.”

“Being true to his ‘all-in’ entrepreneurial philosophy, Greg signed up as an OG Distributor and completed our field training,” said Shane Morand, Co-Founder and Global Master Distributor at Organo Gold. “He quickly achieved leadership status and is leading the Distributor celebration of Organo Gold’s new retail referral program, the Coffee Connoisseur Club.”

More information: www.organogold.com •

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news

Bellarine Peninsula shines at Australian Masters Games G-Mac extends

with Srixon

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Geelong City Council says the city’s hosting of last month’s Australian Masters Games will bring the Bellarine Peninsula closer to parity with the Mornington Peninsula as a golf destination and have a flow-on effect for January’s Victorian Open at 13th Beach in Barwon Heads.

Council spokesperson Sharon Cockerell estimates the 50-sport competition brought in more than $10 million to the area with the week-long golf competition showcasing some of the region’s unheralded courses.

“We think that the golf courses in Geelong are one of Victoria’s best kept secrets. It certainly assists us to promote the diversity and the quality of courses,” Cockerell says.

More than 200 golfers battled it out in individual and team events at Curlewis, Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Lonsdale, Portarlington and 13th Beach.

The Council hopes it will boost attendances at January’s Victorian Open at 13th Beach beyond the record crowds that turned out for the course’s inaugural hosting earlier this year.

“The people that enjoyed playing on those courses and watching the golf competition, we hope a percentage of those will return and enjoy the Vic Open.

Golf Victoria CEO Simon Brookhouse says the Masters Games could end the days of the Bellarine Peninsula being overshadowed by the Mornington Peninsula as a golfing mecca.

“Barwon Heads, Thirteenth Beach, Torquay Sands, Curlewis...they’re all world-class golf courses. To have events like the Masters Games with everybody coming in from interstate, hopefully it can affect their tourism/golf

98-year-old Sylvia Begg was the oldest competitor at the Australian Masters Games. combination.”

Clifton Springs hosted 86 golfers for its leg of the Masters Games on October 10 with competitors coming from as far away as Western Australia and Adelaide.

Club Secretary Jackie Durbidge says the Games offer many older golfers the chance to get the competitive juices flowing without feeling the strain of open-aged tournament pressure.

“It’s just nice to have that age gap where you’re not competing against the younger upcoming competitors,” Durbidge says. “ When you’re young you have that competitive edge and then as you get older, you might lose that competitiveness. It brings it back again when you’ve got that age bracket that they’re catering for.”

The Games comprised 8,000 competitors across all sports with the two oldest entrants taking part in golf.

98-year-old Indented Head resident Sylvia Begg made her first appearance at the Games’ and was the event’s oldest competitor.

Mrs Begg, who’s been a member at Portarlington for close to 30 years, says her golfing days are far from over.

“I’ll be disappointed on the day I won’t be able to play, but I don’t feel it is anytime soon,” she says.

90-year-old Peter Cox from Como in Western Australia competed in his ninth Games and says without golf his participation in sport would be limited.

“I’ve been playing for 45 years and before that I played a lot of tennis. At the time I was an extremely bad asthmatic and had a bad attack on the tennis court, so I thought it was time to change sports,” Cox says.

The next Australian Masters Games is set for 2015 with Geelong tipped by some to make a fresh bid to host. •

Graeme McDowell has agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension with Srixon® to remain a member of their PGA TOUR staff.

McDowell, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open and 2013 RBC Heritage, is also a nine-time winner on the European Tour. McDowell will continue to play Cleveland® woods, Srixon® irons, Cleveland® wedges and Srixon® balls. He will wear a Srixon® hat and glove and carry a Srixon® bag.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Graeme has decided to remain a member of Srixon’s PGA Tour staff,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® - U.S.A. “Graeme is one of those unique individuals who brings so much to the game of golf. His passion for competition, combined with his love for the game and respect for the fans, has made him the type of ambassador that any company would be honoured to have on their staff.”

McDowell, also known as G-Mac, was a member of Team Europe during the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup, and was voted 2010 Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America and joint 2010 Player of the Year on the European Tour.

“I’m thrilled to remain a member of the Srixon and Cleveland Golf family, one I’ve been part of since my college days,” said McDowell. “I couldn’t be happier with my current bag and I’m playing some of the best golf of my career.

Much of that has to do with their exceptional equipment, coupled with the tremendous support they’ve continually given me.”

McDowell’s G-Mac Foundation works to support children’s medical research in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United States. For more information: www.graememcdowell.com •

The $1,000,000 Rush Golf Challenge Surges On! February 27 to March 2, 2014 Moonah Links and The Dunes on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula

Imagine yourself an amateur standing over a slick 6 foot million dollar putt, indescribable sensations are racking your body both physically and mentally. Your partner, perhaps your local club pro, is watching on in agonising suspense that they may be only seconds away from the ecstasy of receiving the biggest cheque of their professional career.

Come the afternoon of Sunday 2nd March next year this could become reality for participants in golf’s newest tournament when it reaches its’ climax at the Dunes on the Mornington Peninsula.

Amateurs for the first time can enter into “a total inside the ropes experience” taking their aspirations of participation in golf to new heights. Paired with a pro and in a best-ball format over a 72 holes of full tournament play, each team will compete for the major prize - $1,000,000.

The professional in the winning team will receive $500,000 the largest first prize in Australian golf, with $500,000 going to the charity nominated by the winning amateur. There is a further $300,000 for the professional purse along with a charity challenge that makes participating charities the big off course winners. Amateurs apart from bragging rights have not been forgotten and will be eligible for some great prizes to top off the complete experience.

Visit the website www.therushgolf.com.au for more information

Open to all golfers, amateur and professional, female, male, regular and senior tours and club pros, simply pay the entry fee – First In Best Dressed. Enter you own team or we will pair you with an ALPG professional. Join ALPG stars Stacey Keating, Whitney Hillier and a host of golfing celebrities.

Kerrie-Anne Kennerley will be the playing celebrity host for the social activities during the event showcased within the fabulous hospitality offerings of the Mornington Peninsula.

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

13

news

Juniors go for gold in Kalgoorlie The Goldfields Golf Club of KalgoorlieBoulder has successfully presented the second annual Smarter than Smoking– Goldfields Junior Desert Open. A field of 82 players representing 18 different golf clubs, many of whom travelled from Perth and from as far as Bunbury for the event, played 36 holes of stroke over the 9th and 10th of October.

Changing weather conditions during round one caught many players by surprise and scoring was affected. Round two was played in beautiful Goldfields spring sunshine and all players enjoyed the unique Graham Marshdesigned Kalgoorlie Golf Course which was presented in excellent condition.

Mt Lawley’s Hira Naveed took Championship honours in the Girls Gross division with scores of 81, 76 (157), while the Boys Gross title went to Liam Purslowe (The Vines CC) with scores of 76, 77 (153). Both players were worthy recipients of the Kalgoorlie Gold Nuggets on offer.

Georgia Shears (Joondalup CC) shot rounds of 77, 76 (153) to win the Nett Champion Girls division, while Kynan Holt (Goldfields GC) on 71, 71 (142) was the Nett Champion Boy. The Girls Gross Championship was the most hotly contested division over the two days. Naveed held a one shot advantage over Claudia Pisano (Mt Lawley GC) heading into the second round. The WA state representatives battled it out, both players carding 37’s on the front 9. Pisano birdied the 10th to take a stroke lead, only to have Naveed square up the round 2 scoring on the 11th. Pisano parred the 14th, taking a one-stroke advantage onto the 15th teebox. Naveed made par on the 476m par 5, 15th to again square the scoring. An

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Joshua Fewkes, winner of the Boys 14 & 15 div errant drive from Pisano then found the rich red desert sand, resulting in a triple bogey on 16, while a poor teeshot on the par-3, 17th saw Pisano record a double bogey and her chances of victory slipped away.

Along with Holt, another local to perform well was Joshua Fewkes, Boys 14 & 15 age group Gross winner. Fewkes played himself out of the Boys Gross Championship with a poor round one score of 91, but enjoyed the

better scoring conditions on day two, shooting a tournament equal low score of 76.

Other results: Boys 16 to 18 Gross: J Molony (Mt Lawley GC) 83, 77 (160), S Reeves (Joondalup CC) 83, 80 (163) Nett: J McSkimming (Melville Glades GC) 73, 76 (149), K Tenio (Mt Lawley GC) 84, 66 (150) Boys 14 & 15 Gross: Joshua Fewkes (Goldfields GC) 91, 76 (167), John Boulton (Lakelands CC) 94, 81 (175) Nett: Kynan Holt (Goldfields GC) 71, 71 (142), Brayden Blackham (Esperance GC) 78, 65 (143) Boys 13 & Under Gross: Hayden Hopewell (Royal Fremantle GC) 86, 82 (168), Tip Snowden (Lake Karrinyup CC) 85, 85 (170) Nett: Luan Wright (Gosnells GC) 74, 73 (147), Tom Botica (Joondalup CC) 80, 76 (156) C/B Girls 16 to 18 Gross: Rachita Vasandani (Lake Karrinyup CC) 88, 82 (170), Jackie Ray Lamb (Chequers GC) 93, 90 (183) Nett: Melanie Foster (Melville Glades GC) 87, 79 (166) Girls 14 & 15 Gross: Claudia Pisano (Mt Lawley GC) 82, 79 (161), Jessica Whitting (Royal Fremantle GC) 88, 84 (172) Nett: Georgia Shears (Joondalup CC) 77, 76 (153), Georgia Greenway (Joondalup CC) 84, 80 (164) Girls 13 & Under Gross: Alice Chang (Mt Lawley GC) 85, 83 (168), Allysha Ahnantakrishnan (Mt Lawley GC) 90, 91 (181) Nett: Abbie Teasdale (Melville Glades GC) 80, 79 (159), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Gosnells GC) 88, 75 (163) •

White hot Stacey wins Classic event

Stacey White (Pacific) has won the 2013 Katherine Hull Classic at the Sunshine Coast’s Horton Park Golf Club.

White started the day a single shot back from joint overnight leaders Rebecca Kay, Karis Davidson and Amy Walsh but was quickly in contention as the other players faltered. She was able to hold her nerve to post a final round score of two-under-par 71, This was good enough to join her second round score of 71 and her first round score 75 to finish 217 for the Championship.

White finished two shots clear of Gold Coast player Karis Davidson (Palmer Colonial) who finished with rounds of 70 (-3), 75 and 74, even par for the tournament.

Coolangatta-Tweed member Rebecca Kay was victorious in the 15 Years & Under Division.

Kay opened her tournament with a 74 (+1) but then returned a two-under-par round 71 in the second round; she closed her campaign with a 77 to finish 222.

Robyn Choi (Emerald Lakes) was the runnerup in the 15 Years & Under Division returning rounds of 81, 73 and 74–228.

In the Under 21 Years Division, Anna Stanton (Woodford) managed to edge out Beaudesert member Jaimee Dougan after returning rounds of 72, 73, and 77 for 222.

Dougan finished the tournament with scores of 75, 68 & 81 for 224. Dougan’s second round score of 68 (-5) was the tournaments’ best.

The Katherine Hull Classic will continue to be a prominent feature on the Golf Queensland calendar. Organisers wish to thank Katherine for her continued support of the event as well as to the course superintendent Pat Pauli and his team for presenting the Horton Park layout in such magnificent condition. •

industry

GMA launches Benchmarking Tool David Allen

GMA Executive Officer eo@gma.org.au

Golf Management Australia (GMA) is proud to launch Golf Club Benchmarking (golfclubbenchmarking.com.au). This benchmarking tool has been developed and adopted for the Australian market

by Club Benchmarking USA, an industry leader in the USA providing benchmarking information to over 3500 golf clubs. Golf Club Benchmarking enables clubs to assess their financial and operational performance across a wide range of club operational areas in minutes. With this online benchmarking tool, clubs will be able to benchmark their golf club against other golf clubs in Australia according to key metrics, such as revenue, subscription revenue, fee structures, operational costs and more.

More detailed comparisons can be made

by GMA members using industry filters including golf club type, club size, rounds played and location. In developing this tool, GMA has sought feedback from Golf Australia, State Golf Associations, the PGA of Australia and the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association to ensure that Club Benchmarking becomes the primary benchmarking tool for the Australian golf club industry.

Golf Australia has partnered with GMA on this project and this world leading benchmarking tool will provide its National census data moving forward.

The National Golf Census is an annual commitment by Golf Australia and

Ray Cronin from Club Benchmarking USA announces the GMA collaboration at the 2013 GMA National Conference in Sydney all golf industry stakeholders in order for the sport to monitor and plan the future development of the game around Australia.

GMA Golf Club Benchmarking will allow golf clubs to elevate fact over opinion with the major goal of the project being to develop healthier clubs, more empowered general managers and boards that are properly equipped to focus on strategic issues.

GMA Club Benchmarking is business intelligence developed specifically for the golf industry. GMA Golf Club Benchmarking will give Clubs 24/7 online access to credible “apples-toapples” data; key performance indicators and reports for every area of a golf club; and powerful filtering tools that let Clubs control the comparison sets. This tool will assist Clubs in their strategic planning, budgeting and analysis of their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities as part of their regular routine.

GMA Executive member and General Manager of Huntingdale Golf Club, Stewart Fenton, stated that “GMA Golf Club Benchmarking will give Boards and management the facts they need, when

they need them, so they can lead their clubs with confidence throughout this difficult time for the industry”.

GMA President and General Manager of Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Damon Lonnie added “GMA is delighted to have partnered with Club Benchmarking to launch the first comprehensive diagnostic benchmarking tool for golf clubs in Australia. The platform is the silver bullet that clubs were looking for in terms of information analysis, data sharing and diagnostic comparative reporting. This tool has replaced the plethora of independent, time consuming and haphazard surveys that most managers had been participating in for years.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said the benchmarking tool would be a key component of golf club operations in the future. “We understand the value of high-quality data to Australian golf clubs as they look at ways of improving their business efficiencies and they can compare themselves with best practice examples from across the industry,” Pitt said. “We’re confident golf clubs will see this as an important part of their strategic planning in the future.” •

Ted Coker honoured THE Club Managers’ Association of America (CMAA) rarely give out awards for services to the golf industry, but last month former Royal Queensland Golf Club general manager Ted Coker was recognised for his work.

Octogenarian Ted might have retired 20 years ago, but he still plays an important role in golf club management and his ongoing work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

At last month’s Golf Management Australia (GMA) conference in Sydney, Ted received a CMAA recognition award for services to the profession.

In fact, Ted is only the third recipient of the award and the first Australian to receive it.

Michael Leemhuis, past-president of the Club Managers’ Association of America, presented the award, which read.

“The Club Managers Association of America hereby expresses, on behalf of Professional Club Managers around the world, its sincere gratitude and

appreciation to Ted Coker for his outstanding support of the profession of club management and the mentoring of Club Management Professionals across the continent.

“The many contributions he has made to the professionalism of the Club Management Industry, and the dedication and leadership he has manifested, have been of such value and benefit to the Global Club Industry.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, that we hereby commend his outstanding commitment and service.”

Ted is extremely proud of his services to the golf industry and his work at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

“I have been retired for almost 20 years and four key staff members at Royal Queensland were all employed by me so I must have done something right,” Ted said.

Those four staff members are administration manager Marion Geddes, who Ted employed in 1977, acting general manager Russell Muir, bar

Ted Coker received a top honour from Michael Leemhuis at the Golf Management Australia conference in Sydney. manager Mark Trestrail and golf course manager Marcus Price.

Russell Muir worked at Royal Queensland between 1986-’90 before leaving to pursue other opportunities, however, he returned to the club in May 2007.

MEANWHILE, Golf Management Australia (GMA) awarded former Nudgee Golf Club general manager Max Mason with life membership.

In the association’s 64-year history, Max becomes only the fifth national life membership recipient and joins Long Reef Golf Club’s James Alderdice (1967), Ted Coker (1987), Doug Sanders (Kooyonga – 1991) and Alex Monteath (Lake Karrinyup – 1999). •

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

15

industry

Is the golf industry ‘ready to rumble’?

Mike Orloff

mike@golfindustrycentral.com.au

American Michael Buffer may be the greatest ring announcer for boxing and wrestling matches of all time. Early in his career Buffer made a brilliant business decision when he trademarked his famous phrase “Let’s get ready to rumblllllllle!” The video game company Midway reportedly paid Buffer $100 million to license the phrase and Michael earns a salary of $5 million every time he utters those 5 famous words.

This month, the phrase rings especially true for golf courses and the industry in general. Is the Australian golf industry “getting ready to rumble?” (or, in another non-licensed way of saying it, “are we ready to get moving and enjoy the action about to happen”?)

It’s November and the start of one of the best back-to-back weekly schedules of Australian PGA events that we have seen.

L a s t m o n t h’s I S P S H A N DA Pe r t h International ($2mil prize) has already warmed up the Australian golfing fraternity for a scorching month of golf—which is now!

Have you thought about how this added exposure will benefit your club or golf business?

Are you ready for the opportunity of the year to get current and new golfers to your facility?

Are you taking advantage of the additional exposure that is being generated into the households throughout the country, and to people that may have not had an interest in golf before.

The amount of publicity that is being generated in the lead-up and during the events is worth millions. Millions of dollars that each of the clubs don’t have to pay to receive the exposure.

The Australian golf industry gets the benefit of having some of the greatest golfers in the world adoring our beautiful country and soaking up the Aussie hospitality and scenery through the

three major metropolitan areas. The national and international TV cameras will be beaming Australian golf through to millions of viewers around the world. More importantly the cameras will be beaming shots of golf to the Australian viewers for the coming weeks.

The Australian events are fairly small in comparison to the major tours’ prize pools, but that is not an issue as we still have world-class players involved. We will have heaps of coverage!

The schedule is packed: Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola ($1.25million), Talisker Masters ($1million), 2013 ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf (a whopping $8million prize pool, with $7million going to the individuals) and the Emirates Australian Open ($1.25million). Sneaking in the middle of all this fanfare—and overshadowed by the World Cup—is the Gloria Jean’s NSW Open ($100k), hopefully with some support being given from the players not in the World Cup. Adam Scott will be making his grand homecoming to a hero’s welcome and deservedly so. He has pulled a nation together around golf – and we as a nation need to take advantage of the high profile as best as we can.

We don’t know what next year has in store for our players on the world stage so let’s not miss this opportunity on our own shores.

So what have you done at your course or business to capture some of this free publicity?

Have you looked at opportunities to market some “open days”, special events, or learning clinics in November? Have you pumped up your members to be extra excited at the course with special events and promotions happening all month? If we can get members to come to the club an extra few times this month, it will help grow the revenue very nicely.

People will have golf coming out of their eyeballs, so invite them to come participate in this great game of ours. It won’t be any easier to do than now.

Three ideas to get you started Organise your members to conduct a “Team with a player” event at your home course. Have them invite a friend, partner or someone that doesn’t really play golf and hold a 2 person Ambrose event. Also “blind draw” a PGA player’s

name out of a hat and use their score from the final round of one of our main events along with the team score from your members. It gets them engaged in watching the final round on TV at the club to see how they as a “team” stacked up to win the comp!

Run a special new membership promotion to your local community which invites them out for a trial package on playing the course, or to join as a member for a month. Reference the PGA event that is on at the time and be sure to give a deadline for when the offer will end.

Conduct a “new player” golf clinic including a few shortened holes on course, plus all finish in the clubhouse to watch the final round on TV. I hope you have a successful month and are able to leverage off the added (and much needed) exposure our game has received. • Mike Orloff specialises in providing golf operations and marketing solutions for all levels of golf facilities and businesses with the major outcomes being in growing revenue and the bottom-line for your facility. www.golfindustrycentral.com.au

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industry FROM THE CEO Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

While there are still a number of big weeks ahead of us, November brings to an end the 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit season. Over the next four weeks some of the world’s best players will visit Australian shores with the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the Talisker Masters, the Gloria Jean’s NSW Open, the ISPS HANDA World Cup and the Emirates Australian Open all to be contested this month. Please get out and support our home Tour–and of course welcome home our Masters Champion, Adam Scott.

November also sees the culmination of the

22nd season of the Holden Scramble. This year over 37,000 Australians took part in the Scramble with more than 460 local events run throughout 2013. The highly anticipated Holden Scramble Championship Final will tee off on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from 15–18 November where teams will be treated to four days of golf in full tournament conditions and social functions at the wonderful Twin Waters Golf Club and Novotel Twin Waters Resort. Teams will also have the opportunity to play alongside one of Australia’s leading Tour Professionals after they compete in the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. Best of luck to all this year’s qualifiers and thank you to everyone who continues to support the Holden Scramble year after year.

Last month the PGA announced plans to stage Fiji’s largest and most acclaimed sporting

event, the Fiji International. Confirmed for a five-year period with a minimum prize purse of US$1 million, the Fiji International will be played at the spectacular Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course in August 2014. Jointly sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, the Fiji International is one of the most exciting developments for Australian golf in recent years. It is also anticipated to deliver substantial economic and tourism benefits to the South Pacific nation and we look forward to working alongside the Government and people of Fiji.

Finally, a big congratulations to Inside Golf on this, their 100th edition. On behalf of the PGA and all our PGA Members around the country we sincerely thank you for your ongoing support at all levels of the game and look forward to the next 100 issues. •

enabled me to gain a unique insight to the world of professional golf from “outside the ropes”, and I am confident that from this experience I have the necessary knowledge and the tools to lead the ALPG into the future.

In 2014 the ALPG Tour will start with a series of pro-ams in January, which will lead us into our tournament schedule, where you will see us competing in Sydney, The Gold Coast, Melbourne and Christchurch, New Zealand.

We look forward to welcoming home all of our star players who have spent most of the year away from home competing on the various world stages. I know for myself it was so great

to be able to play at home in front of family and friends, and to have the gallery cheering you on was always a great feeling.

Nothing is better than holding that trophy up on home soil and I am very fortunate that one of my last tournament wins before my retirement from professional golf was at the 2012 ACTEWAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic with my sister Mardi as my caddy. Great memories!

I know all of our star players will be looking to impress during our 2014 season. The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club will attract many of the world’s top players, including of course our own Karrie Webb. Karrie continues to compete week in and out with the best players in the world and her dedication and commitment is inspiring considering how many years she has been at the top of the women’s game.

I look forward to everyone joining us in 2014. •

Karen Lunn

Executive Officer - ALPG

Firstly I would like to say how proud I am to be writing this piece as the Executive Director of the ALPG Tour. I have been a member of the ALPG Tour since I turned professional in 1985 and am extremely excited about this opportunity I have been given.

I have been very fortunate in my long career as a player to travel the world playing the game that I love, meeting amazing people and seeing such a magnitude of beautiful places. It was a very tough decision for me to retire from playing but now it is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life.

I feel that my ten years spent as the Chairperson of the Ladies European Tour has

Deck your balls with fun and folly this Christmas.

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

GQ board changes

PATRICK Twomey has joined the board of Golf Queensland following the resignation of independent director Graeme Mathers.

Golf Queensland chair Peter Castrisos said Twomey had a strong background in relationship management developed more recently in his role as general manager – client services at Independent Fund Administrators and Advisers.

“Patrick joins the Board as an independent director and will bring a wealth of financial and client services skills to the state association,” he said.

Royal Queensland’s Twomey cites his brother Matthew as the driving force behind his interest in the game.

“My junior skills were honed on the miniature nine-hole pitch-and-putt that my brother created on our parents’ acreage,” Twomey said.

“Golf is a passion of mine that has taken me all over the world playing at courses from England, Scotland, China, New Zealand, US, Fiji, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

“For me, playing golf has always been for the love of the game and the social enjoyment.”

Twomey holds a Diploma in Financial Services for both Superannuation and Financial Planning and is currently completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA).

He joins fellow board directors Peter Castrisos (chair), Carmel O’Keeffe, David Bell, David Brett, Judy Logan, Lorraine Matthews and Matthew Toomey. •

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manager profile

GM Rachel flies flag at Anglesea GC

Kangaroos are a major tourist attraction at Anglesea Golf Club, says general manager Rachel Kane.

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

ANGLESEA Golf Club general manager Rachel Kane lives in the heart of Geelong footy territory and many of the club’s members are Cats fans, but that hasn’t stopped her splashing Hawthorn memorabilia around her office following the Hawks grand final victory.

“You should see my office window, it has flags, posters and scarves in it,” she enthused.

A staunch Hawks and Melbourne Storm (NRL) fan, Kane, 44, has been at the helm of Anglesea Golf Club for five years after stints at Patterson River Country Club, Amstel and Ranfurlie golf clubs.

Aged 19, Kane joined Patterson River where she worked as a casual bar person, functions coordinator and office administrator.

She then moved Amstel Golf Club to work in administration before being promoted to assistant manager at Ranfurlie Golf Course when Amstel opened the new course and clubhouse across the road.

“I worked at Amstel for 12 years and during that time completed an advanced diploma in business and accounting, which has been invaluable in this industry,” she said.

Kane, who plays off a 24 handicap, loves her job and is well entrenched in the local community.

In many ways, the club is unique in that it gives up its course free to community groups including the Lions Club, Country Fire Authority, Surf Lifesaving Club and the footy club.

“For me, what stands out working in a small regional area is the community support all the sporting clubs give each other,” Kane said.

“We give the course free to a number

of clubs and two of those days are Saturdays, which is unprecedented.

“Everybody participates in their golf days to help raise money for the various sporting groups and charities.

“And when we run our pro-am, businesses in the area donate so we can raise money for the EJ Whitton Foundation (prostate cancer research and awareness).

“Because we give up our course, they are only too happy to contribute.”

Kane cites another example of community spirit following a fire that destroyed a storage facility at the back of the clubhouse, which stored chairs and tables.

“The football club approached us and said, ‘if you need chairs and tables, you can borrow them during the off-season’.

“The great thing about working in a small community is everybody pitches in – it’s a lovely experience.”

Like most clubs, Anglesea has to work hard to attract and retain members.

Unfortunately, Anglesea has a small population of around 2300, however, over summer and at Easter, holidaymakers and tourists pour in and the number swells to more than 10,000.

A large percentage of the club’s 1100 members (including social) are Melbourne-based, which is one of the reasons why membership numbers fluctuate.

“Last financial year we picked up 53 new members, but we lost a similar amount,” Kane sighed.

“So you are never really growing.

You think your membership drives are working well and then you look at what you lost during subscription period and discover you’ve lost the same number or more.”

Since her arrival at the club, Kane has introduced recognition awards for longserving members.

“We present bronze, silver and gold

bag tags to members with 30, 40 and 50 years’ membership,” she said. “And on their birthday, we present them with a cake and give them a bottle of wine as a thank you. “ There is a really good social atmosphere at the club. We have great staff and the members are always made to feel welcome.”

Kane is always seeking better ways to manage the club and recently attended the Golf Management Australia (GMA) conference in Sydney.

“One of the things I got out of the conference was the importance o f l e a d e r s h i p, t e a mwo r k a n d communication,” she said.

“There were many fine speakers, but Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith (VC Cross winner) got that message across best.”

Not only is Anglesea a popular golfing destination, it also attracts busloads of tourists courtesy of the 200-300 kangaroos that roam the fairways.

“Playing golf here is a quintessential Australian golfing experience because you are playing amongst the kangaroos,” Kane said.

“We try to be tourist friendly, but there is a fine line trying to look after tourists and be mindful of the golfers.

“We can’t have tourists walking all over the course so we are trying to develop a kangaroo viewing area specifically for tourists.”

Over the years, Anglesea Golf Club has attracted plenty of international media attention. In fact, National Geographic will make its third visit to the club later this year. “ This time they are doing a documentary on animals in urban areas,” Kane said.

“We have had the BBC and a number of other international film crews come and visit. It’s a good thing for us because it puts us on the map.” •

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

19

A U . O A K L E Y. C O M / T H E S U N I S T H E E N E M Y

THE SUN IS THE ENEMY

©2013 OA KL E Y, I NC.

Aussie Summer Spectacular summer of golf

Kicking off this month, our Australian Summer of Golf is shaping up to be a star-studded affair, with some of the world’s best golfers to grace our shores. Here is a rundown of the major events on offer.

Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola November 7-10 RACV Royal Pines Resort Defending Champion: Daniel Popovic Prize Money: $1,250,000 AMERICANS Brandt Snedeker and Rickie Fowler will join Australians Marc Leishman and Adam Scott to kick off the Summer of Golf at the Australian PGA Championship presented

by Coca-Cola.

The event, which this year moves to the Gold Coast following a long history at Coolum, is sure to give spectators a show to remember.

For Snedeker, it will be his first PGA Tour of Australasia event in six years.

“I’m excited. It’s a great place to play golf and one of the pretty spots in the world so I’m excited to get back down under. The people there are so welcoming, it’s fantastic, so it should be a

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

lot of fun,” said Snedeker.

The winner of four PGA TOUR titles in the last two years, Snedeker won twice in 2013 capturing the AT&T Pebble Beach National ProAm and the RBC Canadian Open. The 33-yearold finished fifth on the PGA TOUR money list with his 2013 earnings in excess of US$5 million.

24-year-old Fowler will play his only PGA Tour of Australasia tournament at RACV Royal Pines, returning to the Sunshine State for the first time since contesting the PGA’s flagship tournament in 2011.

“I love Australia. I’ve been there a handful of times and this will be my second professional event there. I haven’t found a part of Australia I haven’t liked yet,” said Fowler.

Known not only for his golf ability, Fowler is just as recognisable for his flamboyant style and love for all things ‘extreme’ and says he’s looking forward to exploring the Gold Coast during his Australian return.

“I love spending time at the beach. I wouldn’t mind getting out for some fishing, maybe some diving… who knows,” he said.

Aussie Marc Leishman will be chasing his first PGA Tour of Australasia win in five years.

“To win at home in my own country in one of the big events is definitely high on the list of things I want to achieve and hopefully I can get it done at the PGA,” said Leishman, whose last win on the PGA Tour of Australasia came at the 2008 Victorian PGA Championship.

“Scotty’s going to be back there too, so to have the Masters Champion playing in the event amongst other Tour players is great. It’s a strong field and a fun golf course. Everyone is excited about the new venue. Hopefully we see some big crowds out at Royal Pines,” he said.

GET AN ACE, WIN $100,000 This year, some big-dollar spice has been added to the event – not for the professionals, but for the crowd.

One hundred lucky spectators will get a chance to win $100,000 in the Hole-in-One Challenge. Simply register for the challenge on the final day of the tournament, and if your name is drawn, you’ll vie for the $100,000 by attempting to hole a 160-metre shot on a

specially-built green on the resort’s driving range.

The contest will be held after all players have teed off in the final round of the PGA. Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au. Children 16 years and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Discounts are also available for members of RACV and affiliated motoring clubs as well as for Gold Coast residents.

More: www.pgachampionship.com.au.

Talisker Masters November 14-17 The Royal Melbourne Golf Club Defending Champion: Adam Scott Prize Money: $1,000,000 (min) Six-time PGA TOUR winner Matt Kuchar will join defending champion Adam Scott to headline the Talisker Masters.

To be played at the spectacular Royal Melbourne Golf Club, this year’s Talisker Masters will kick off a two-week Melbourne bonanza of golf, and will surely energise Melbourne’s golf-hungry spectators with excitement and anticipation.

summer of golf ISPS HANDA WORLD CUP Final Field

Jason Day Kuchar returns to Melbourne with fond memories of the country and our top-notch golf.

“I have always enjoyed playing in Australia and especially on the Melbourne sandbelt,” said Kuchar. “The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is one of the world’s great courses and was a fantastic venue for The Presidents Cup 2011. I am really looking forward to playing the Talisker Masters and bringing my family to Melbourne in November,” he said.

The tournament will also mark Jarrod Lyle’s comeback to competitive play following an 18-month battle with leukaemia. Jarrod’s story is truly inspirational and after his diagnosis last year he received overwhelming support from his fellow players who wore the “Leuk the Duck” logo on their headwear during tournaments.

Vice President-Director of Golf, IMG Australia, David Rollo, said, “We are delighted to welcome two of the finest players in the world in Adam Scott and Matt Kuchar to play this year’s Talisker

Masters and equally we know Jarrod Lyle will receive a very warm welcome from his fellow players and golf fans in his return to competition.”

The Seven Network will broadcast live national coverage of the Talisker Masters on all four days from 12.30pm-5.30 pm. www.australianmasters.com.au.

ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf November 21-24 The Royal Melbourne Golf Club Defending Champions: USA Prize Money: US $8 million The eyes of the golfing world will be steadily fixed on Melbourne in November, as the top players from across the globe will contend at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.

Hometown favourites Adam Scott and Jason Day (aka the ‘super team’) will certainly draw the lion’s share of fans as they join the elite field of 60 players from around the world, including Matt 

Country Argentina Argentina Australia Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Canada Canada Chile Chile China China Denmark Denmark England England Fiji Finland Finland France France Germany Germany India India Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Japan Japan Mexico Netherlands Netherlands New Zealand New Zealand Norway Philippines Philippines Portugal Portugal Scotland Scotland South Africa South Africa South Korea South Korea Spain Spain Sweden Sweden Thailand Thailand United States United States Wales Wales Zimbabwe

Player OWGC Angel Cabrera 53 Emiliano Grillo 246 Adam Scott 2 Jason Day 16 Bernd Wiesberger 60 Mohd Rahman 290 Nicolas Colsaerts 51 Adilson da Silva 227 Brad Fritsch 344 David Hearn 127 Felipe Aguilar 139 Mark Tullo 347 WC Liang 162 Wu A-shun 245 Thorbjorn Olesen 49 Thomas Bjorn 46 Chris Wood 67 David Lynn 52 Vijay Singh 181 Mikko Korhonen 308 Roope Kakko 324 Victor Dubuisson 103 Gregory Bourdy 121 Marcel Siem 75 Maximilian Kieffer 292 Anirban Lahiri 191 Gaganjeet Bhullar 150 Graeme McDowell 11 Shane Lowry 84 Francesco Molinari 47 Matteo Manassero 31 Hideto Tanihara 174 Ryo Ishikawa 146 Jose de Jesu Rodriguez 394 Joost Luiten 55 Robert-Jan Derksen 332 Mike Hendry 196 Tim Wilkinson 317 Espen Kofstad 293 Angelo Que 276 Tony Lascuna 366 Philippe Lima 264 Ricardo Santos 192 Martin Laird 59 Stephen Gallacher 63 Branden Grace 36 Richard Sterne 38 K.J. Choi 113 Sang-Moon Bae 110 Miguel A. Jimenez 45 Rafael Cabrera Bello 108 Jonas Blixt 35 Peter Hanson 39 Kiradech Aphibarnrat 86 Thongchai Jaidee 58 Bill Haas 29 Matt Kuchar 8 Jamie Donaldson 43 Stuart Manley 365 Brendon de Jonge 62

Get a taste of Talisker While you are no doubt familiar with the Australian Masters, many of you may not be equally knowledgeable about the products of the naming rights sponsor, Talisker.

Sharing its Scottish origins with the game of golf itself, Talisker is a premium Single Malt Scotch Whisky made by the sea on the Isle of Skye, one of the most remote and beautiful landscapes in Scotland. It is this island that gives this remarkable and unique whisky its distinctive maritime character. For over 175 years, the power of the sea and the inherent rugged location give birth to a dram of complexity, nuance and strength.

Talisker whiskies have earned high acclaim over the years. The 10-, 18-, 25- and 30-year Taliskers have been awarded a variety of gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while the 18-year gained the highest accolade possible by winning the best single malt category at the World Whisky Awards in 2007. In

addition, Talisker Distiller’s Edition won Best Islands Single Malt at the 2013 World Whisky Awards.

Talisker whisky is famous for its complex taste, a unique fiery and peppery smoky flavour. It has been described as a rich dried fruit sweetness, clouds of smoke, strong barley-malt flavours and a peppery eruption at the back of the throat.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

21

summer of golf Kuchar and Bill Haas of the United States, South Africans Branden Grace and Richard Sterne, Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera. Also included in the field are worldwide top names like Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sweden’s Jonas Blixt and Peter Hanson, Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari of Italy, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Hideto Tanihara and South Korea’s Sang-Moon Bae and K.J. Choi.

The event boasts a US $8 million total purse and returns to an individual stroke-play competition for $7 million with a concurrent team competition (adding the total scores of the two man teams) for $1 million. In addition the ISPS HANDA World Cup will provide Official World Golf Ranking points.

“I am looking forward to playing the ISPS HANDA World Cup and representing Australia at Royal Melbourne with Jason,” said Scott. “It will be a great week for Australian golf where we will be playing a World Cup in Australia for the first time in 25 years!”

“I’m looking forward to getting back down to play at Royal Melbourne,” said Day. “It’s fun to play the World Cup with a guy that I’ve known since I was 15. It is an honour to represent Australia. Hopefully Scotty and I can get a victory.”

CEO of the PGA of Australia Brian Thorburn added: “Adam Scott and Jason Day partnering to represent our country is a coup for Australian sports fans and will ensure a successful event in Melbourne.

“With our two highest ranked players competing in the World Cup, Australia will have its best chance of claiming the coveted title and I wish them both the very best of luck,” Thorburn said.

First played in 1953, the World Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious global golf team events in the world. The 2013 World Cup will be

Angel Cabrera the 57th staging of this event, which has seen all of the greats of the game lift the prestigious trophy. Great names such as Snead, Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino, Faldo, Ballesteros, Langer, Woods, Els and Montgomerie have all been able to call themselves World Cup Champions.

The field represents 34 countries, 74 PGA TOUR victories, 31 European Tour champions, 11 players who have played in the Presidents Cup and seven players with Ryder Cup experience.

More: worldcup.pgatour.com. Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au.

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Emirates Australian Open November 28 – December 1 Royal Sydney Golf Club Defending Champion: Peter Senior Prize Money: $1,250,000 It will be a star-studded affair in Sydney, as a host of top players and former Open champions have confirmed their place at this year’s Emirates Australian Open.

Past winners Greg Chalmers, John Senden, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby and defending champion

Peter Senior will all be in the field vying for the Stonehaven Cup. Senior has enjoyed another successful season on the Champions Tour, recording eight Top 10 finishes while Ogilvy, the 2010 Australian Open champion and former U.S Open champion, recorded his best PGA TOUR result for the year at the Honda Classic in March where he finished runner-up.

Adam Scott and Jason Day will lead the strong Australian contingent on the Rose Bay layout with Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy heading the charge for the international players.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said: “It’s a very special year for Australian golf and it’s great to see Sydney host this world-class event. Visitors coming to the Australian Open Golf in Sydney are in for a real treat to indulge in their golfing passion.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said Australian players held a special place in their hearts for the championship and always returned to support the Emirates Australian Open. “ We’re really pleased to be able to showcase so many of the Australian players who already have their name on the Stonehaven Cup,” Pitt said.

“It’s also an exciting time for the next generation – players like Jason Day – who are bidding for their first Emirates Australian Open victory. We’re looking forward to a fantastic championship and have no doubt the crowds will be out in force to see worldclass golf.”

The Emirates Australian Open will be broadcast live on the Seven Network across all four days.

More information: www.golf.org.au. Tickets: www.ticketek.com or by calling 132 849. •

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summer of golf

ALPG fans set for a bumper new year

Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open

The ALPG season will include a series of proams before five major events in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand.

The major tournaments will tee off with the Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open from 24 to 26 January at the “home” of the NSW Open, Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney’s north west.

The tournament is known for thrilling finishes and with a high calibre field expected once again in 2014, it is sure to be another enthralling tournament.

Defending champion is Swede Caroline Hedwall. Everyone is hoping that she can once again grace the fairways at Oatlands, as she is one of the top players in the world.

In September, the talented player led the European Team to their first win on American soil in the Solheim Cup. Hedwall was the first player in the history of the event to play and win all five matches she took part in.

Next stop will be the ISPS Handa Women’s Zealand Open. It is the first of three cosanctioned events with the Ladies European Tour and will once again be held at Clearwater Golf course in Christchurch from 31 January to 2 February. This year the players will be vying for their share of 200,000 Euros, and it will be the first event on the 2014 Ladies European Tour calendar.

Defending champion is teenage sensation and World number 4 Lydia Ko. Once again, her presence will generate a huge amount of spectator and media interest in the event.

The tour then travels back across the Tasman and lands on the Gold Coast for the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters. The tournament is back to its more traditional four days and will be played from 6 to 9 February at the RACV Royal Pines Resort.

November 21 to 24 Castle Hill Country Club, Sydney, NSW Defending Champion: Adam Crawford Prize Money: $100,000 (min)

Karrie Webb will aim to win her ninth Volvik RACV Ladies Masters title (Photo: Scott Powick SMP Images)

This event is co-sanctioned with the LET as well. Tireless work by tournament owner Tuohy Associates has seen an increase in the purse from €200,000 to €250,000 ($380,000) which will certainly be welcomed by all.

Defending champion is the queen of Royal Pines Karrie Webb. She has won the event an equaling world record eight times.

The pinnacle of the ALPG season is once again the national open, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Contested February 13-16, The Open will once again be co-sanctioned with the LPGA and LET meaning the top players from

around the world will be once again coming to our country.

In 2014 the players will be teeing it up at The Victoria Golf Club and will be vying for their share of the US1.2 million on offer.

The final event, which will also be in Victoria, is the Oates Women’s Victorian Open.

The tournament will be played at the same time and at the same venue as the Men’s Victorian Open, for the third year in a row. It will once again be played at 13th Beach and local professional, Stacey Keating will be looking to defend her title.

The Open will be played from 20 to 23 February. •

Many of Australia’s leading professional golfers will perform in front of home crowds at the 2013 Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open. Spectators will enjoy the chance to watch some of these well-known names up close and experience tournament golf in their local community.

Organisers have been liaising with some of Australia’s leading players, including Nick O’Hern and Jin Jeong, to participate in the event which has seen many famous names engraved on the trophy – including Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Jack Newton, Greg Norman, Craig Parry and more recently, Peter O’Malley.

“To be able to bring a world-renowned golf championship to one of metropolitan Sydney’s major growth areas is a great opportunity for sport fans to be able to see tournament golf at its best,” said Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser.

“Not only are we expecting some exciting golf on the course, but we are providing a range of activities around the clubhouse including a children’s entertainment area, some promotional stalls including official event merchandise, gourmet food and on-course cafes where spectators will be able to relax and experience the first-class hospitality Castle Hill Country Club has to offer,” said Fraser.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees charity partner Challenge is also set to benefit with various fundraising activities set to take place across the event.

Challenge ambassador and PGA Tour player Jarrod Lyle will also be in attendance, which is sure to warm the hearts of not only those involved with the charity, but all those at tournament. www.nswopen.com. Spectator entry is FREE. •

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on tour

Meet ‘the Mechanic’ Miguel Ángel Jiménez brings his brand of ‘cool’ to the World Cup of Golf Paul Prendergast ed@insidegolf.com.au

The World Cup of Golf’s staging this November over the famed Composite Course at Royal Melbourne Golf Club will be a colourful affair, they always are.

Sixty players representing thirty different and culturally diverse nations will congregate from all corners of the globe for the 58th edition of the Cup, where the ‘defenders’ will be the United States after their victory in 2011 in Mission Hills, China.

The Cup took a sabbatical in 2012 but returns to Royal Melbourne for the first time since Australia’s bicentennial celebrations in 1988 where again, an American team of Ben Crenshaw and Mark McCumber were victorious.

The Cup has been won by nine different nations since 2002 and keen to extend that streak to a tenth will be one of the most colourful characters in golf at the moment – Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez – who will partner Rafa Cabera-Bello in Melbourne.

49 years young but with the vim and vigor of a man half his age, Jiménez has enjoyed a rich vein of form since returning from breaking his leg in a ski accident in the Swiss Alps last December - highlighted by a brush with glory at the Open Championship at Muirfield, where he was the halfway leader in what would have been the ultimate cult victory before

finishing tied for 13th.

Only his caddie at the time might remember a stretch of tournaments at the back end of 1992 that marked the first and last time Jiménez played tournament golf in Australia.

His Australian visit was just a few months after his first win in Europe and well before his trademark cigar, pony tail and Joie de vivre became world famous.

He may not have set the world on fire back then but Jiménez’ return to these parts will be greeted with great interest and curiosity by local fans, as he craves a World Cup win for Spain in the country who last won this event ‘in’ Spain in 1989.

Q. The World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne will be a long time between drinks for you in Australia?

A. It’s been over 20 years since I came to Australia, when I played three tournaments there in 1992.

I played two events in the Sydney area and one at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, so I am really looking forward very much to returning to Australia after such a long time away.

Q. You’ve played and won regularly in Asia – in Thailand, China and Hong Kong – but not been back to Australia until now. We feel like we’ve missed out a lot on seeing ‘the coolest man alive’ on our shores, as you were referred to at the Open Championship this year.

A. The only reason I haven’t been back to Australia is because of the distance and being able to fit an Australian tournament within my schedule.

I play about 30 tournaments each year, apart from this year when I broke my leg skiing and had five months of no events, and this

means so much travelling between Europe, Asia and the USA. I love playing all these tournaments but sometimes as a Member of the European Tour the flying becomes totally exhausting.

Q. Are you one of those players who attempts to find time to visit classic golf courses when you travel to an event, courses that are near the tournament venue that week?

A. It would be great to have the time to do this but sadly I never do, unless I am on holiday. I generally arrive at the tournament venue on the Monday, practice Tuesday and Wednesday on the golf course we will play

the tournament, and then Thursday we start the event.

In Melbourne, we will have even less time as we won’t arrive until Tuesday early morning as we are playing the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the week before.

Q. I know you’re a wine guy, as am I! Do you have particular favourites in your cellar; are you more partial to Spanish wines than international produce, for example?

A. I have some great wines in my collection and it’s true that the majority are Spanish. My favourites from Rioja are Roda 1 and I also love Cirsion, and from the Ribera del Duero,

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on tour I enjoy very much Vega Sicilia and Mauro.

But I am always very interested to try wine from other countries and I will look forward to trying some of the Australian wines when I am in Melbourne.

Q. Are you familiar with the Mornington Peninsula wine region that is just down the road from Royal Melbourne?

A. I look forward to trying some while I am in Melbourne!

Q. What’s been your most memorable wine experience in your travels to date, be it a trip spent in a particular region, a special bottle that blew your mind…?

A. A small group of golfers and friends were invited by the Arnault family during the week of the Open de France in July this year, to the Chateau Cheval Blanc in St Emilion in the Bordeaux region.

It was an incredible experience and we were so lucky to try some amazing wine during the trip.

Q. You held the lead at the Open Championship at Muirfield earlier this year and responded to a question about leading at age 49 with something like: “Why? I have not the right to do it? Only the young people can do it?”

Does that impassioned response suggest that as you approach 50 (in January 2014) that you’re not inclined just yet to throw in your lot with the so-called ‘fat bellies’ on the Champions and Euro Senior Tour?

A. As long as I am still competitive against the “young” guys then I will continue to play against them. I won the Hong Kong Open in November last year, then in December, I had five months off with my broken leg. It was so frustrating!

But I have had a pretty good year since then and I am higher in the World Rankings than after the win in Hong Kong, and I am playing really well at the moment.

“

I am not trying to be anything other than myself and to enjoy my life. I am who I am, and I know that I look different from some of the other guys, but that’s me!

“

So, to answer your question, I may play a few tournaments with the Seniors in 2014, but my priority will be to continue on the European Tour for the moment.

Q. You may not want to be so bold as to make public a goal like this but ‘Miguel Ángel Jiménez - oldest major champion in history’ has a great ring to it, doesn’t it? Tom Watson nearly achieved the feat a few years ago at 59 (The record is held

by Julius Boros at age 48).

A. Tom Watson is an incredible Champion

and a true gentleman. I would be delighted to be playing as well as he is at his age, he is really amazing.

Of course to win a Major Championship is a goal for me, even if it’s a Senior Major Championship, and I really believe I still have the game to do it, so why not?

Q. What about the Ryder Cup? Are you unwavering in a desire to make the team next year at Gleneagles, and beyond?

A. Totally! Being a part of four Ryder Cup Teams has been one of the highlights of my

career so far and especially on the winning teams!

It’s impossible to explain fully the emotion, passion, excitement and adrenaline that the event brings. I know from previous years how tough it is to qualify for the Team but if I can do it at Gleneagles and be the oldest player ever to play the Ryder Cup, I would be so proud and happy.

But I also know that I cannot think about it too much at the moment. I just have to play my best every week and if I qualify..... Fantastic!

Q. The tags: ‘The Coolest man alive’, ‘World’s Most Interesting Man’, even ‘Golf’s Pleasure King’ – are some of the monikers I’ve seen written about you just this year.

I guess they’re all a bit more grandiose and imaginative than ‘The Mechanic’, but does it amuse you when you read all this stuff?

A. I am not trying to be anything other than myself and to enjoy my life. I am who I am, and I know that I look different from some of the other guys, but that’s me!

Q. Amen to that! Back to the World Cup: was having the event at Royal Melbourne part of the attraction in returning to this country?

A. Yes, of course, to have the chance to play the World Cup on such a fantastic golf course is always going to be very exciting. But, for me the most important point is being able to play for my country of Spain.

I have lost count, but I think this will be my 14th time representing Spain at the World Cup. We finished 2nd in 2008 in China when I partnered Pablo Larrazabal and also in 2004 with Sergio Garcia, at the Real Club de Golf Sevilla in Spain.

I would be so incredibly proud to win the event for Spain. • Photos: USGA/John Mummert; PGA of America/ Montana Pritchard

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Jeong wins maiden title in Perth 23-year-old Jin Jeong took top honours at last month’s ISPS HANDA Perth International, surviving a sudden-death playoff against England’s Ross Fisher to record his first victory as a Professional.

Finishing regulation play tied with Fisher at 10-under 278, it took just one playoff hole for Jeong to claim victory, sinking a par putt for the title.

“I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” said the Korean-born Jeong, who is based in Melbourne.

“Playing with Ross Fisher in the playoff, it was unbelievable. He’s one of my heroes.”

Starting one shot off the lead and opening with a double-bogey on the tricky Lake Karrinyup Country Club layout, Jeong showed composure to fight his way back into contention, finishing the day with a three-under-par 69.

“I just tried to calm myself down and focus on what I could do from there. I think I did a pretty good job after that,” he said.

Jeong, who has featured on the European Challenge Tour this season, had recently progressed through the First Stage of The European Tour Qualifying School, but now earns a two-year exemption to The European Tour.

“I was going to go back to Q School Second Stage, but I guess I don’t have to anymore.”

“It means a lot. I was waiting for something like this for a long time. I was struggling quite a bit when I turned Pro. I learned a lot from that and it showed up today,” added Jeong.

West Australian Brody Ninyette and Tour rookie Dimitrios Papadatos finished as leading Australians, tied third with Englishman Danny Willett with scores of 8-under 280. www.pga.org.au/perth-international •

Golden year for Kiwi Cusdin Top Chinese

golfers head for the Hills

Jim Cusdin en route to winning the Queensland Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit.

AS the Queensland Sunshine Tour celebrates its 50th anniversary, Kiwi Jim Cusdin, too, is celebrating after taking out the tour’s Order of Merit.

The Waikato pro recorded two pro-am wins (Middlemount and Casino), but it was his consistency (18 top-10s finishes) that resulted in a 59-point victory over his nearest rival, magician and trick-shot artist Henry Epstein.

The victory is a confidence booster for Cusdin as he aims to win an Asian Tour card at qualifying school in January.

“I would like to thank all of the clubs that staged events on the Queensland Sunshine Tour and the amateurs who I played with.” Cusdin said.

“I know each and every one of them have contributed to this win in one way or another.

“It has been a tight battle with Henry Epstein this year and one I am far better from having.

The Order of Merit prize this year will go a long way to helping me secure my Asian Tour card in the coming months.”

This year the professionals contested 49 tournaments for more than $1.5 million in prizemoney – a record.

The tour also set a record with the largest

pro-am ever played in Australia – the $200,000 Jeep Pro-Am won by Kiwi Ryan Fox – the son of All Blacks legend Grant Fox. Over the year, players clocked up plenty of kilometres as they criss-crossed the state, Papua New Guinea and northern NSW. One of the Queensland Sunshine Tour’s highlights was a visit to PNG to contest two tournaments.

Professionals played for around $250,000 in prizemoney in PNG. “With the impact that golf is having in this country (PNG), the two tournaments look set to grow into the future,” said Justin Maker, tournament coordinator, PGA of Australia (Qld division).

The Queensland Sunshine Tour, which forms part of the Choice Hotels PGA Pro Am Series, will take two months’ break before returning for the $60,000 Bartons/BMD pro-am at the Wynnum Golf Club in December.

The priority for many of the professionals, including Cusdin and Epstein, are the PGA Tour of Australia events. Good performances at these events will go a long way to securing their Australasian and OneAsia Tour cards. •

THERE’S good news out of the Hills International Golf Academy at Jimboomba near Brisbane.

At least eight top Chinese golfers will contest the 54-hole Hills Australian Junior Open at Brookwater from January 7-9.

“The international event has world ranking status,” said Hills director of golf Tom Berndt.

“The Guangdong Golf Association and the Hainan Golf Association have agreed to send players, coaches and high ranking officials.

“Guangdong Golf Association is the strongest province in China. Guan Tianling, the Asian amateur champion and youngest competitor ever to play in the US Masters at 14, comes from that province.

“The Hainan Golf Association is the second strongest golfing province.”

Berndt said each association would send its four best players as well as a coach, manager and two high-ranking officials.

“It is a real coup for our tournament to have such high quality players from China competing and the Chinese are showing us respect by bringing their president.

“Golf Australia has recognised China is competing and are sending their best two players to compete as a show of respect to both the Chinese teams and to our tournament.

“It’s the first for Australia that teams from these provinces will have competed and it strengthens our ties with such a fledgling, but valuable golfing nation.”

Berndt said groups from Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore would contest the event.

“Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale will host a civic reception for all the international entrants.”

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Golf a lifesaver for Pam

The Grange has an ace up its sleeve

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Three months after undergoing keyhole surgery through her skull to treat Parkinson’s disease, Yackandandah Golf Club’s Pam Crosthwaite says without the game of golf she doesn’t know how she would have coped.

Mrs Crosthwaite has stunned golfers in northeastern Victoria with her continued play at tournaments around the region.

The 65-year-old says her husband of more than 40 years, Donald, and the game of golf have been constant pillars of support since she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2007.

“If I couldn’t play golf I would be very depressed,” Mrs Crosthwaite says.

“The exercise, I think that’s what kept me so fit, was the fact that I played golf. Even mixing with people and socialising. The biggest thing with people with Parkinson’s is they stay at home and they go backwards quick because they’re not socialising and not getting any exercise.”

Mrs Crosthwaite returned to the golf course in September after undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery on July 31. She was kept awake for the first part of the five-hour operation to allow surgeons to simultaneously test her reflexes while putting electrodes into her brain.

After testing, electrodes were placed down the inside of her neck and into a pacemaker battery on her collarbone.

“As soon as they put the electrodes in, the Parkinson’s stopped. It’s just amazing. I think the putting is better, I can line it up better,” she says.

Mrs Crosthwaite says her condition had been deteriorating prior to the operation but playing

Frances Boehm, Pam Crosthwaite, Gordon Nichols and Donald Crosthwaite on opening day in April. golf helped her develop a positive attitude.

“When I played golf, I forgot I had Parkinson’s.

Sometimes when I went to putt, I’d seize and hesitate but all the people I played with were lovely and they never complained and I never realised how bad the Parkinson’s was because you don’t stand in front of the mirror looking at yourself.

Mrs Crosthwaite’s form before her operation defied her condition. Just one week before the surgery she won the C-grade scratch at the Yackandandah Annual Tournament. She says her response to Parkinson’s should motivate others who are struggling to cope with the disease.

“I think it will inspire people to keep going and there are plenty of people who do keep playing golf with it.”

Mrs Crosthwaite learned to play golf as a teenager at junior clinics in Geelong and the coastal Victorian town of Anglesea. But when she was promoted to Director of Nursing at

Yackandandah’s nursing hospital in 1991, golf was put on hold. It then wasn’t until her diagnosis that she found herself playing golf regularly.

“Once I had to give up work, golf was my main outlet. We live on a dairy farm, 41 kilometres from Wodonga and I would have been very isolated. I worked in a hospital with 100 staff and suddenly I was at home on my own.”

Golf has also strengthened her bond with husband Don. Regular trips to their holiday home in the Victorian seaside town of Anglesea and several golf trips have kept the pair busy on the links. “He started playing golf again and it’s given us something we can do together and we’ve had some lovely weekends away playing golf with friends.”

Mrs Crosthwaite is now determined to chip away at her current handicap of 30. “I’d be happy just to be down in the 20s. I don’t think I’d ever get lower than 20.” •

The Grange Golf Club is offering a first in South Australia – win a year’s free membership at Grange.

Grange is playing host to a ‘Day on the Grange’ proudly sponsored by Solitaire Audi as part of Playgolf WEEK. Playgolf WEEK is an initiative of Golf Australia where their vision is to encourage more people to play golf, more often.

Grange’s special event will be held on Sunday 3rd November 2013 and will feature a Hole in One Competition where golfers will have the opportunity to win a year’s free membership valued at $10,000 (includes Entrance Fee and subscriptions for a year).

They are inviting people to visit between 1:00pm and 3:00pm to compete for this fantastic prize. Following this event golfers will also have the opportunity to play in a 9-Hole Competition on the brand new East Course redesigned by Greg Norman from 3:00pm.

“We believe this is the first time a free membership has been offered in South Australia and hope to see lots of current golfers and potential golfers come down and give it a go,” said Barry Linke, General Manager.

There will also be a sausage sizzle and drink specials on offer as well as dinner and live entertainment by Yass before the presentations.

People are encouraged to phone Grange to book their time for the Hole in One and 9 Hole Competition or for more information.

For more information, contact Nikki Pridham at The Grange Golf Club on 08 8355 7100. www.grangegolf.com.au •

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RAA draws a crowd in SA Win a trip to On a gorgeous day, 44 players took on the Berri Golf Course to contend the first of RAA’s 2013 Auto Club Golf Championship qualifying rounds. The club was thrilled with the turnout, and welcomed the chance to host an ACGC event for the second year in a row.

It was great to see players drive up from Adelaide that played in the events last year, including Gary Phillips and David Prill who won at Victor Harbor in the last series. On the day it was two Barmera members, Mike Rumball and Trevor Hansen, who took out the title and will be making their way to the Championship Final at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

The Tournament Directors are thrilled to see that people who played last year are planning ahead for the ACGC events in this series to maximize their chance of securing a spot in the Championship Final. With many people from Berri intending to tee up again at the RAA’s Port Augusta event in November, organizers are expecting a big field.

In other exciting ACGC news, the Royal Auto Club of Tasmania (RACT) are stepping up their series, expanding to five regional qualifying rounds and giving an extra pair from the ‘real

the 2014 US Masters

Register your pair in the 2013/14 Auto Club Golf Championship and you could find yourself at Augusta watching Adam Scott defend his title at the US Masters 2014. Each pair who records their details when registering goes in the draw to win a trip for two to the 2014 Masters valued at $15,000. Play at more than one ACGC event and increase your odds to see Adam defend his green jacket.

For more, visit: www.acgc.com.au. •

How do I enter? land down under’ an opportunity to be part of the Championship Final on the Gold Coast.

There are 70 events with 140 places available for the Championship Final in March 2014. ACGC are encouraging amateur golfers to make their state proud by representing their State Auto Club. Go to the website www.acgc.com.au and find an ACGC event near you. •

Suzuki take Albany by storm A local Suzuki dealer and his mate came out on top at the Albany Golf Club’s qualifying round for the 2013/14 Auto Club Golf Championship. A keen amateur golfer and RAC member he was thrilled to find out about the event through head office’s sponsorship of the Suzuki Hole in One and it wasn’t hard to find a mate keen to partner with him.

Russell Williams and Mike Crawshaw took out the title with a combined 74pts narrowly beating out the runners-up David Ash and Sean Milchson

on a count back.

There was more Suzuki excitement at the NRMA ACGC Shelly Beach qualifying round when there were reports of an ace being recorded.

Unfortunately for the lucky (but also unlucky) player who did land a Hole in One, it was not on the Suzuki NTP hole and thus missed out on the chance to win a brand-new Suzuki Kizashi, not to mention a trip to the Championship Final at RACV Royal Pines Resort. •

It is simple to enter your pair in one of the 70 regional qualifying events in The Auto Club Golf Championship. All you need is for one of your team of two to have a valid membership of their state Auto Club (RACV, NRMA, RACQ, RAC, RACT, RAA or AANT) and you can play in any of the 70 qualifying events spread around the country. Not only can you play in any of the events, you can enter as many times as you like to increase your odds of securing a place at the Championship Final being held at the sensational RACV Royal Pines resort on the Gold Coast next March.

To register, go to www.acgc.com.au and choose one of the many events still to come. It is only $30.00 per player to register for each event and with an immediate registration bonus of a dozen Taylor Made Burner golf balls, a fantastic Morambro Wines Gift Voucher, plus the chance to win a trip to RACV Royal Pines Resort and a bounty of other prizes on offer, you would be mad not to give it a go. •

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33

people

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARRY VIVIAN ...

Inaugural Australian Masters champion David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THE red-hot putter Kiwi Barry Vivian used to win the 1979 Australian Masters and the gold coat he received holds pride of place in the clubhouse at Huntingdale Golf Club.

“When I came back for the 20th anniversary of the Australian Masters in 1998, I brought the jacket and the winning putter with me and donated them to Huntingdale and they hung them in the clubhouse,” Barry said.

Today, the 63-year-old resides in the small town of Kinloch, which is on the most northerly bay of Lake Taupo in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island.

Unfortunately, back problems forced him to quit tournament golf, but he still plays the occasional social round.

“I would have kept playing, but my back packed it in and I can’t walk the courses anymore,”he said.

I caught up with Barry in the pro shop at the Kinloch Club, which boasts the magnificent Jack Nicklaus signature links-style course overlooking Lake Taupo.

I had just finished my round when club professional Tom Long called out, “David, I’d like you to meet someone special.”

At the time, Barry, who represented New Zealand at three World Cups, had his head buried in a copy of Inside Golf.

He greeted me with a warm smile and he told me how he upstaged Greg Norman, Kel Nagle, Rodger Davis, Wayne Grady, Bob Shearer, Ian Stanley et al to win the inaugural Australian Masters with a final round of 80 to go with earlier rounds of 67-69-73.

34

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

What was the catalyst to you winning the 1979 Australian Masters?

Well, for the first three days I putted as good as I have ever putted in my life. Putting was never my strength, but for some reason the putter worked. It didn’t matter if I missed the green, if I chipped it to six feet I made the putt.

What was the strength of your game?

I hit plenty of greens and even after I turned 50, I was hitting 14 or 15 greens a round.

You led by three going into the last round, shot 80 and still won?

It blew a gale on the last day so the scores weren’t brilliant, but I remember getting up-anddown on the last to beat Bob Shearer, who shot 78, by a shot. It was nice knowing I could make bogey up the last and win, but I nearly stuffed that up. I got it up-and-down on 17, a long par4, from just off the front left and on 18, I hit it in the front left trap and knocked the third shot a yard over the back. I chipped it back to about a metre and holed the putt to win.

Can you remember what the prizemoney was for winning?

The tournament purse was $30,000 and I think I received about $6000.

How many times did you come back and play the Masters?

I only played three times. I went back for the 20th anniversary in 1998 and missed the cut, but I hadn’t played in years. I think I shot 76, 73 or 74.

One of the Aussie boys congratulated me and I said, ‘what do you mean’? He said, ‘you haven’t played for that long and had two great rounds’.

Did you consider taking your game to Europe or the US? No, I played in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and around the islands for family reasons although

I did holiday in Europe in 1974 and played a handful of events. It took me 25 years to go back.

Was that to go to Q-School for the seniors’ tour?

Yes, I finished runner-up at Q-School in Spain, but I only played about 10 tournaments a year. I had a number of runner-up finishes and played until 2005 when my back packed it in.

You had a number of wins in Australia and NZ after you turned 50. What did you win?

In 2000, I won seven of the 11 tournaments I played in including the Australian PGA Seniors Championship and the New Zealand PGA Seniors.

Did you have much success outside of that?

I won the Fiji Open in ’76, the Pacific Harbour Open in ’77, ’78 and ’80. I won American Samoa in ’76 and the Tahiti Open in ’84.

How did you make ends meet outside of tournament golf?

After I did my traineeship at Hastings Golf Club in 1966, I worked as a club pro until 1974. I went back to work as a club pro from 1988 until 2000 in the Bay of Islands.

Who are some of the great players you played with?

I played with around a dozen major winners including Sam Snead, Greg Norman, Kel Nagle, Peter Thomson and David Graham and a few others.

What was it like teeing it up with Sam Snead?

That was a thrill. He came to New Zealand in 1978 and we played in Dunedin. I was in my late 20s and he was in his 60s, but he was still a great ball-striker. He was awesome.

How do you fill in your days now that you have retired?

I play the odd game of golf with the pro

at Kinloch. Basically, I have been doing some property development. It’s pretty hard when a golf pro retires after being in golf all your life.

You can’t go back into club work because all the young guys have the jobs.

The Australian Masters got off to a shaky start, but has developed into a top-class tournament. Did you think it would last?

Yes, because it’s a great tournament. Guys like founder David Inglis did a great job getting it upand-running. It’s been a wonderful tournament with some great players supporting it over the years.

Do you have any plans to visit Australia again soon?

I would love to go back when the Aussie Masters is at Huntingdale again – not as a player, but to watch the fine players the tournament attracts. The course is a lot different with all the changes so it would be interesting to see how the players play to today compared to when I won there. •

instruction

The forearms are the Quick tip: Practising key to good putting your distance putting Glenn Whittle

Brent Dale

glenn@whittlegolf.com (02) 9541 4960

During putting lessons, it is not uncommon for a client to make reference to their feet alignment during the lesson. Although I can appreciate and agree that the feet may influence other alignments such as your clubface etc, it is nowhere near as important as your forearms both at address and throughout the stroke.

First, though, we need to talk about the importance of both the length and the lie angle of the putter and the correct posture. If you do not assume the correct set-up and/or have the correct putter specs then it makes it difficult to align your right forearm and putter shaft from a down-the-line view and also both forearms in line with each other and parallel to the target line at address.

Once I work with a player for a period of time and show them how to consistently set up to the ball, it is always much easier for them to let their shoulders and putter do the work and stay on the correct path.

One thing I see over and over is golfers who buy a putter that looks and feels ok to them in

brent@brentdalegolf.com.au

the shop, only to find out when it is too late that they are adjusting to the putter rather than the putter being adjusted to match them.

Next month, we will address the issue of practicing quality not quantity so you can handle those dreaded pressure putts. •

The 2008 NSW PGA Teacher of the Year, Glenn Whittle is an AAA PGA Member and is also an official iseekgolf.com teaching Panelist.

Visit (www.sydneyputtingstudio.com) or www.whittlegolf.com

Here’s a quick tip to help you improve your speed control.

Start by placing a coin or tee down so you have a starting point.

Then pace out 10 feet from that coin (preferably on a side slope) and place a tee down, then place another four tees down 3 three feet apart (see photo ). You will have 5 tees in a straight line at 10ft, 13ft, 16ft, 19ft and 22ft.

Now grab five balls and putt the first ball to the first tee, then the second ball to the second tee and so on.

Take a notice of how far past and how far short your putts are at each length and try to improve on this.

This is a great little drill that can make use of the small amount of time people have to practice these days (much better than just walking around aimlessly on the putting green).

Things to remember when putting: Feel like your forearms are making the stroke and the wrists/hands are quiet.

Your hands should always stay quiet and in front of the putter head when making the stroke. Resist the urge to allow the wrists to break which will make the putter head rise off the ground and over take the hands. •

Brent Dale is an AAA Member of the Australian PGA, and Head professional at Liverpool golf club. Full Swing, Short Game and On Course Lessons available. Brent is also TPI Certified. www.brentdalegolf.com.au. brent@brentdalegolf.com.au 0402 038 227

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35

instruction

How a student changed the way I teach Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

Since I started writing monthly instruction articles for Inside Golf Magazine in August 2009, many students have asked me “What is the difference between what you are teaching now and ‘Traditional’ Golf Instruction”?

The difference is we achieve amazing results by pushing the club down into the ball rather than pulling the club down. Through educated hands we achieve this. Alignment golf is much superior to positional golf and is far more positive for the human brain and improves the mental ability of the golfer to get above being confused and hit that ball.

In 1992 I and a student of mine attended a clinic we held at Golf Park, Moorabbin with Dr Gary Wiren and the author of the PGA Teaching Manual of the PGA of America. Gary had been emcee at our first Australian PGA National Golf Coaching Summit in Sydney and came to Victoria to deliver clinics for our Victorian PGA Section.

The student returned for a follow-up session with me after the Dr Gary Wiren clinics and in that session confronted me with a statement that what I was teaching did not work. His argument was that if it did,

then many more students would lower their handicaps more quickly.

He offered to help me discover a “better way.”

Wh at we te a c h to d ay i s a product of the student’s challenge to question what we had been teaching and to look for better solutions for golfers wanting to play better golf.

around my right foot as axis and my left knee would point behind the ball and my left heel would come off the ground varying amounts. Balance, weight transfer, and body pivot were more variable and it was difficult to feel a stable base to hit from.

Croker Golf System/Key to Golf now: The left thigh would touch a vertical line outside the left heel at Address.

With this change in Address position, the pivot of the hips winds the legs in such a coiled and stable manner, the right knee can easily remain flexed and the left knee moves

Before Croker Golf System/Key to Golf: I set up less into my left side (a vertical from the left heel upward would find a gap between my left thigh and the vertical line). From this “Address Position” I would wind up

out towards the toes a limited and coiled amount with both feet flat and heavy in the backswing. This stable and centered pivoting action makes for a more consistent and compressed strike on the ball.

Drill: Purpose: To set up a stable and aligned base to hit from Training Emphasis:

Feel comfortable in an athletic and balanced stance; hands, arms and shoulders relaxed - Feet heavy in the ground and springy in the legs. Practice on the golf range or at home in the mirror and window reflections for feedback. Repeat steps 1 to 4 below about 60 times daily for one month.

Exercise: Stand erect with feet about shoulder width apart and turned out 15 to 20 degrees: Step 1 Bend at the hips (not waist) then Step 2 Unlock the knees, then Step 3 A) Slide the hips slightly left, B) Tilt backbone (not just shoulders) slightly right Step 4 Arms hang relaxed, hands mid body.

Also – be sure to watch my Doorway/Table Edge exercise which will groove in how the body pivot works in the backswing. http://vimeo.com/user14583831/ review/53642794/8de3bf9cdd For more detailed understanding of this lesson, please visit keytogolf.com.

Next Issue we will discuss the differences between “How to start the downswing” prior to 1992 and since. •

Peter Croker has been a PGA member since 1971 and has given lessons with his Croker Golf System to professionals including Vijay Singh, Arnold Palmer, Rocco Mediate, Fred Funk, Olin Browne, and Bob Charles. Based at the Golf Science Centre in Cheltenham, and the Mornington Peninsula, he delivers school instruction, individual lessons, and has an “Online Lesson Program.” http://keytogolf.com or phone 0415 292 549

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instruction

Wedge grind, bounce, rake and loft explained Lee Harrington (07) 5596 3373 www.thegolfschool.com.au

As a professional golfer I learned early in my tour playing days the benefits of understanding wedges and their proper use. This distance potentially holds the key for giving the most reduction in your score—therefore more amateurs should understand these principles and practice these variables.

Wedge choice Interaction between the clubhead’s sole and the grass/sand determines the choice of wedge and angle of attack preferred for a shot.

The softer and deeper the grass/sand, the greater the bounce degree and width of sole in the club to use for this shot. The harder and thinner the sand or groundcover, the lower the bounce degree and sole width that should be chosen.

The bounce is the angle that the tracking edge is below the leading edge on the sole in your club, therefore the trailing edge strikes first creating a sliding effect to keep club head accelerating. If the sand or ground is thin and/ or hard, that trailing edge will likely bounce off the surface instead of accelerating through, thus resulting in the leading edge catching the ball before the clubface (a skulled shot), causing the ball to rocket across the green at ankle height.

So if the ground or sand is hard and/or what we call a skinny lie, then the sharper or

Bare lie

Fluffy Lie

lesser bounce degree and narrower sole will enable the clubhead to cut the surface, not bounce off it.

line. This enables you to maintain acceleration through impact. You will then always accelerate the clubhead and lengthen the follow-through which creates better carry, consistency and spin on your wedges.

Path of Swing After club selection, path is then important.

The more the ball sits below the surface of the ground or sand, the more we have to excavate— therefore breaking your wrists more in the backswing. The more the ball is sitting up, the shallower the path can be. You can shallow your path out by rotating your shoulders more in the backswing without much wrist break.

This creates width in the swing which gives a shallow sweeping path. This shallow path helps to find the sweet spot on the face by improving the profile of the face at the ball.

Method The downswing or forward swing back to the ball in all shots with all wedges should be first dragged through by the left hip rotating back through the shot, so the clubhead trails the shaft

Good lie

Overview So both your technique and sole design of your wedges for different lies and conditions hold the key to scoring from close into the green and should be embraced no matter what level of golfer you are.

Some unique sole designs that can assist— and I find amazing in helping to solve common technique problems—are the Rake wedge from Point N Putt Golf here in Australia.

The Rake patented Design cuts through thick grass efficiently, cleanly combs through

bounce angle

bounce

sand with less digging and prevents the club from twisting or turning. However if you have normal wedges you should get a short game lesson from PGA short gamecoaches to fully understand the wedge techniques. •

Lee Harrington is a ALPG and PGA Member and is also the Development officer at Golf Queensland. Lee and husband Peter, also a leading PGA coach, have moved their business ‘The Golf School’ to Palm Meadows Driving Range. At this new facility they now offer world leading technology for teaching, fitting and training. Swingmodel, Foresight and Somax.

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37

mental game

Release the pressure, reduce the jitters Tiffany Mika

tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au

No matter how long you’ve played the game, you’ve likely encountered a situation or two which makes you nervous. We can refer to this as ‘Performance Pressure’.

This ‘Performance Pressure’ may have occured when you are ready to hit your tee shot on the first hole with a dozen people watching.

Maybe it occurs when you play with golfers better than you, or because you are new and daunted by the whole golf thing! Whatever the situation, one thing is certain: golfers will find themselves dealing with performance pressure sooner or later.

What is it about golf that gets us feeling this way in the first place? After all, whether you perform well or not, there are millions of people who won’t care. Not even the golfers you are playing with…they will be too concerned with their own performance.

Why the nerves?

I believe it can be due to an expectation of oneself. For example, you may have spent many an hour on the golf course, therefore there is an expectation that you should benefit. Then, when you don’t perform as expected you start

to get nervous and worried about your golf performance which then creates pressure. Before you know it, you are a nervous wreck.

When the nerves set in you fear failure and, with that in mind, your muscles tighten up and it is then difficult to perform on the course as expected. When the muscles are tight, it makes it harder to have the free-flowing swing and effective short game that is needed to score well.

Here are a few tips which will help you the next time you are getting ready to play your golf round.

1. PREPARE MENTALLY Prior to playing, picture how you want to play your next round. Create a blueprint in your mind detailing how you want to play each shot, not just leave it to chance as most golfers do.

Visualise yourself doing the following.

• Take your club out of your bag for your shot • Step on the Tee Box Area • Tee up your ball • Go through the pre-shot routine • Perform your shot, seeing yourself hit the ball down the middle of the fairway • Put your club away and then walk down to the ball then repeat the same visualization process for your shot from the fairway • Repeat until you are on the green, then visualise yourself performing your putting

routine and putting the ball into the hole.

Once you have played the first hole in your mind, then move onto the second hole and repeat.

2. CONSERVATIVE STRATEGY – CONFIDENT SWING The term ‘choke’ is applied to people who don’t perform well under pressure. The main reason people choke is simply because their thought processes become illogical. They start thinking negatively as if they have never hit a solid golf shot.

Before the round, go through your golf plan of how you want to play the course. Now the time is to trust and believe you can do it. If negative thoughts come to your mind, just acknowledge them and then release them. How? By refocusing on playing each shot, one shot at a time. Stay in the moment and play the shots you have confidence in performing.

3. LET GO OF THE HANDLEBARS When under pressure, you may hold the club tight like the handlebars of a bicycle in fear of falling off. When you feel this “whiteknuckle” pressure, just release the grip, give your hands a shake, then take a firm (not tight) grip.

You’ve got to let the club swing to be effective.

Holding on and trying to steer the ball down the fairway will produce less distance and less

The dreaded three-foot pressure putt Mat Howe

mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au

Do you get a bit nervy or choke on short putts?

If so, your answer lies in the next few paragraphs.

I will give you a simple tool which will make all the difference.

Let’s have a look at the dreaded scenario: It’s the last hole and you’ve got $10 riding on this slippery little 3 – 5 ft putt breaking slightly from left to right. Your hands are tense and a bit shaky.

You feel like the people around you are staring at you waiting for you to miss. You can’t seem to draw the putter back smoothly. When you do finally have a swipe at the ball the odds are it is such a bad stroke that you miss and then cop the abuse and laughter of your playing partners.

38

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

So why is it that we could get you out on the practice green and you could probably sink 7 out of 10 of these little suckers with no problems at all?

First of all, let’s get clear on what we are dealing with. It is your mind that needs a service here, not the technique. If you can do it in practice, then we know you can perform the stroke and it is not a technical fault.

To solve this mystery we need to shine some light on the subject. It is a fear of something that causes the problem. Get through the fear and you have destroyed the beast. Believe it or not, you can have fears lurking in the back of your head that you are not even aware of: they live in a place called your subconscious mind.

The most common fear in this situation is caused by your change in how you view what’s

happening. Just like when you put reading glasses on, the world looks different. Similarly, a three-foot putt can look completely different to your mind when your view of the situation changes.

The problem is, you view the putt as something really important in the pressure situation.

The simple solution: Next time you have a clutch putt and you notice yourself getting all tensed up about it, say to yourself: “This putt is so important, I could make it onto the US Tour if I sink this”. What this will do is bring the putt back into perspective in your subconscious mind and remind you that it really is just another putt. Yes, it is called reverse psychology and it does work.

You may need to do this consistently for about a month of golf. It depends on how deep your

Creating a “mental blueprint” prior to your round can help reduce pressure on your game. accuracy. You have to feel like you are ‘giving up control’ of the swing.

Giving up control gets progressively harder as the round progresses, as the tendency is to start counting your score, wondering if you are going to break your handicap today, etc.

Keep the game simple. Just stay focused on your pre-shot routine, trust and play within yourself and whatever you do, don’t count your score until the end of the game. • Tiffany Mika is the Golf Teaching Professional at Bayview Golf Club in Mona Vale. Contact her at tiffany@ theladygolfteacher.com.au. Start shaving strokes off your handicap today with the free instructional online lesson. Find out how at www.theladygolfteacher.com.au old dodgy putting mentality is.

If golf’s mostly in your head, why haven’t you had a proper golf mental coaching session? If you would like to do an individual mental golf assessment session you can contact me to find out some more information. Often coaching can help you apply the things you already know.

Mental coaching can be done over the phone so it may be applicable to you even if you live in another state. These sessions are $55 and places are limited to six per week. • Mat Howe is a Golf Mind Coach who has mentally coached golfers from the international professional playing standard through to beginners. He currently works with professionals, trainee professionals and amateurs throughout Australia. Mat is based in Wollongong on the South Coast of NSW and can be contacted on 0410 695 605 or email at mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au

fitness

Maintaining postural awareness

Improving my golf swing Erin Parish

Complete Golf Fitness System

Richard Nizielski richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

In my last article, I explained Upper Crossed Syndrome and Lower Crossed Syndrome and how to assess, in the address posture, the two syndromes.

The Upper Crossed Syndrome mainly affects thoracic extension and upper body mobility.

Often the thoracic extension can be improved through postural awareness and specific exercises.

Postural awareness, both in golf and in daily activities is important for maintaining optimal function.

Exercises which activate and strengthen shoulder blade (scapula) retraction as well as regular stretching of the muscles of the chest and the front of the shoulders (anterior deltoids), will help with alleviating the roundedness of the shoulders and developing better posture.

Maintaining the postural awareness can be difficult without constantly being reminded to keep the shoulders back and down.

It is all too easy to slump and round the shoulders while performing activities such as driving the car and working at the computer.

To help with developing better postural awareness, try this: Take two tennis balls and tape them together, so they end up looking like a peanut.

To help with postural awareness, when sitting at the computer or in the car, place the tennis balls either side of the spine just below the shoulder blades.

Lying thoracic extension and (inset) the taped tennis ball device.

Retract or drop the shoulder blades down and back and extend the spine.

This simple postural adjustment will help with activating the scapula depressor muscles and removing some of the roundness in the upper spine.

The two tennis balls can also be used to assist with thoracic extension.

Place the tennis balls on the floor. Lie on your back on the floor with the tennis balls positioned either side of the spine.

Start at the lower end of the thoracic spine (just above where the ribs join the spine) and relax, letting the spine extend.

Every few minutes, move the tennis balls up the spine by one or two vertebra and stay there for a few minutes.

To provide more extension, when lying in this position, place the arms in a raised position.

Using the two tennis balls is a passive (and cheap) way of assisting with postural awareness.

If you have thoracic stiffness, which is affecting your golf swing or any of your other daily activities for that matter, then it may require

more investigation.

In some cases, upper thoracic stiffness and posture problems may require therapeutic manipulation by an allied health professional.

There are a variety of methods and professionals which offer different methods, all of which can help.

Some of the choices include sports physiotherapists, masseurs and osteopaths.

It is best to speak with the allied health professionals first and decide just what is the best option for your particular case.

Happy Golfing • Richard Nizielski is a Brisbane-based golf fitness expert and the Director of Golf Fit Solutions. A three-time Olympian and medallist in the sport of short track speed skating, Richard is a qualified sports and personal trainer designing individual fitness and nutrition programs for both professional and amateur golfers here in Australia and overseas. www.golffitsolutions.com

Rainy Day Golf Accessories

Like all sports golf is part technical, part tactical, part mental and part physical. The proportion of these can vary enormously between individuals and while your golf coach may work on the first three, the physical element can sometimes be left behind. If you optimise the physical component the others can vastly be improved on.

The majority of players are limited by their ability to perform the physical, whether this is a lack of awareness or poor coordination/motor pattern, decreased range of movement, deficit in basic control of individual joints or body segments or decreased endurance, strength and power.

The solution to this can start with presenting to a physiotherapist. The first area to address that is fundamental to a successful golf swing is stability at the pelvis. Inability to stabilise and tilt or rotation the pelvis can lead to various swing faults such as loss of posture, early extension, sway or slide actions, and casting. This can also be due to a reduced thoracic/lumbar spine mobility, muscular or myofascial restrictions in the spinal muscles or reduced hip mobility.

A musculoskeletal golf screening can enable early identification of pathology or injury and establish a preventative programme of exercises to aide recovery. Identification of barriers that are limiting improvements in your performance and establishing individualised programmes that can facilitate the technical side of your game are some of the ways physiotherapy can help your golf game.

For more information, email: trish@ completegolffitness.com.au •

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Our Staff at KDV Sport Academy of Golf will take your game beyond your expectations with personalised programs, simplistic and measured tuition.

To achieve your potential we look at your game holistically taking into consideration your technical ability, mental ability and physical ability. These three key components make up you as a golfer and will allow you to perform at your peak performance.

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School ’ s in for the perfect swing

golf schools feature

Let’s be honest, we all need a little help from time to time. Whether your A-game just needs a few minor tweaks—or your B- C- and D-games require complete overhaul—help is just a phone call away.

In Australia, there are golf schools and academies from east to west and from north to south. Golf schools are popular with all levels of golfers because you can hone your skills under the strict supervision of some of the best teaching professionals. A golf school is the perfect environment to learn to drive the ball consistently well, play successful bunker shots, chip and putt. Hey, these expert teaching professionals will even teach you how to think your way around the course.

Like any service industry, there are various levels of service to suit all comers. Here is a guide to help you shop for the perfect swing.

KDV Sport Academy of Golf Gold Coast-based KDV Sport Academy of Golf is the ideal learning environment for all levels of golfers.

The objective of KDV Sport Academy of Golf is to create an environment where the students’ learning experience is precise, clear, and efficient.

The Academy is headed up by Director of Instruction Richard Woodhouse and Senior Instructor Joel Mercieca, both Australian AAA PGA Professionals, TrackMan Master Professionals, and TPI KVest 3D certified professionals.

The academy offers programs and packages for all golfers. Programs and clinics are available for the Beginner/New-to-Golf golfer; TPI Junior programs incorporating on-course competition; Club Level player programs and High performance programs covering technical, physical, psychological and tactical components of athlete development.

KDV Sport Academy of Golf With the integration of TPI 3D analysis and TrackMan ball flight and club data, Woodhouse and his team can identify and implement improvements that allow students to understand how a properly functioning body allows a player to swing a golf club in the most

Moss Vale Golf Club is a golfer’s paradise Summer Special

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efficient and simple way possible. They can also illustrate how physical limitations in a player’s body can adversely affect the golf swing and potentially lead to injury.

It is KDV Sport Academy of Golf’s mission to educate all golfers and industry professionals

on the body/swing connection via 3D and how this influences ball flight conditions.

The results of the players coming out of the Academy structure speak for themselves with Woodhouse having a stable of players winning on the Australian professional tour, national

2 Day Golf School at Moss Vale Golf Club Receive expert tuition from club professional Robert Kennedy in all facets of the game, while staying on course at the beautiful Dormie House.

Package Includes: • 3 Nights accommodation • Morning tea & Lunch on • 3 Buffet Breakfasts two days • 3 Dinners • Professional Tuition Dates: 5th, 6th & 7th February 2014 and 14th, 15th & 16th May 2014

Cost: $599 p/p twin share, $699 single

Bookings through Dormie House phone: (02) 4868 1800

*Group sizes are limited to 8 people

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

43

golf schools feature

Anne Rollo Golf amateur and club level ranks. The feedback from the students is nothing short of brilliant; the simplicity of the skill acquisition and motor pattern improvement is clear and well explained from highly qualified PGA golf professionals.

KDV Sport Academy of Golf hosts a fastexpanding and exciting junior golf development program; the juniors are trained in a fun, interactive learning environment where the focus is on building an athlete first and golfer second. With this approach the coaching staff develop the fundamental movement skills the juniors require for functional movement patterns, develop sports specific skills, teach golf-specific skills and most importantly, create a love for the game.

The Rachel Hetherington Golf Range KDV Sport Academy of Golf, a dedicated Fitting Centre within the Titleist Fitting Network specialises in working with you to build a set composition that precisely fits your game. They custom-fit all equipment and create a working relationship with their customer to ensure they can provide the best fit possible for their own game. The customer’s best interests are the number one priority for any Titleist / Scotty Cameron club purchase.

All Titleist fittings at KDV Sport Academy of Golf are conducted with Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf balls and the latest TrackMan launch monitor.

The Academy promises to give each golfer “the same experience a Tour player would have when being fit; it is a premium experience for every single customer.”

KDV Sport Academy of Golf Address Nerang-Broadbeach Road Carrara QLD 4211 www.kdvsport.com (07) 5596 0404 Richard Woodhouse: 0415 853 337.

Joel Mercieca: 0466 604 739.

Anne Rollo Golf Anne Rollo is one of Australia’s most successful golf coaches, running programs throughout the year at various venues.

A European Tour Tournament winner, Anne has over 30 years coaching experience. Her most popular school is her Full-Day Shortgame Intensive, run over 60 times a year at Terrey Hills Pitch and Putt and Muirfield Golf Club,

both in Sydney.

There is a maximum of four student per group, and the school includes lunch, tuition on bunkers, putting, chipping and pitching as well as an on-course session in the afternoon to put it all together.

Anne also runs four-day schools/getaways to Royal Pines on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Four days of tuition, video, on course, long game and short game plus a lot of socialising and fun thrown in for good measure. These are held in June, July and August each year.

Her Weekend Shortgame schools, held three times a year at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley are also a very popular option filling up every year.

Group size is limited to eight per group.

So if you would like logical, simple and

Golf for Boys & Girls aged 3 - 12 years First Swing a fun & active approach to learning golf, starting with the basics

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Contact Us! 0432 740 073 info@firstswing.com.au

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Come find us!

golf schools feature practical tips to take your game to the next level without all the complicated technique, visit fixmygolfswing.com.au for all the details and to book.

The Rachel Hetherington Golf Range The Rachel Hetherington Golf Range is one of the most relaxing and picturesque Golf Driving Ranges you’ll find. Located in the West Tweed community of Cobaki Lakes and only 15 minutes from Robina and 30 minutes from bustling Broadbeach, Rachel’s Golf Range caters for every golfer, from beginners to the more advanced. With four undercover hitting bays, over 100 metres of grassed teeing areas, two chipping greens and a putting green, all your practice needs are covered.

Rachel and her husband, former test cricketer Greg Ritchie, have played their respective sports on the best sporting grounds around the world, and both realise the need for quality practice facilities. They now provide golfers with the best putting, chipping and hitting facility in the Gold Coast and Northern NSW region.

Practice like you play with the highest-quality white Bridgestone Range Balls. The Range is now floodlit, which allows patrons to practice after work hours.

Where else do you have the opportunity to receive a lesson from a golf professional that has won 8 times on their respective Tour? Rachel is a member of the LPGA, ALPG and Australian PGA, and since receiving her accreditation from the PGA of Australia is available for private coaching 5 days a week. A number of lesson options are available, including 9-hole playing lessons, 30-minute or 60-minute private lessons, and group lessons for up to four people. And if you are looking for a quick fix, the “Free 10 Minute Swing Check” with each bucket purchased on a Wednesday morning 9-11 or Friday afternoon 4-6pm is just for you.

Alongside the private coaching options available Rachel’s and Greg’s passion is grassroots junior golf, and five Junior Golf Clinics per week are currently conducted for juniors from the ages of 6-16. Do you have a youngster keen to learn and play golf? Why not have your youngster begin with the best?

Many schools in the area are taking advantage of the great facilities at the range in offering their students golf as a sporting option. The size of the facility enables the teaching staff to cater for school groups of up to 60 students at a time. The Range is over 300 metres in length and 140 metres wide. There are no nets, just superb, uninterrupted country views.

Rachel Hetherington Golf Range 425 Piggabeen Road Cobaki Lakes NSW 2489 ph (07) 5590 7686 www.rhgolfrange.com.au

First Swing Australian children will be driving their way to a greener lifestyle thanks to First Swing.

First Swing is a grassroots golf company with a range of different programs teaching boys and girls aged 3 – 12 years, starting with the basics, using modified equipment to ensure an enjoyable learning experience.

Owner and Director, Jay Simpson, an Australian PGA Professional has taken into account how children were being taught, saying that many of the high-profile sports in Australia such as AFL, Tennis and Cricket had changed their game to encourage “new” participants.

“My goal is to transform the way kids look at golf by creating exciting programs they look forward to each week,” Simpson says.

The First Swing programs provide an overview of the game and how golf is played and teach the children basic skills all with a FUN and ACTIVE approach.

Centre of Excellence for Golf in Brisbane’s South-West

First Swing The benefit of First Swing is that they bring the programs to the venues. They run their programs mostly out of non-traditional venues such as the school oval, basketball and tennis courts or even in the school gymnasium.

“A golf swing isn’t a natural movement for everyone” says Simpson, “So taking our time with the children and teaching them the basic FUNdamentals is a First Swing priority”.

First Swing pride themselves on making a fun, safe, family-friendly active environment for all children, even encouraging mums and dads to be a part of their child’s experience by inviting parents to participate alongside their kids.

First Swing offer in-school, after school, weekend, kindergarten and school holiday

New Pro Shop 100 metres Alfresco of manicured undercover grass tees seating area

For more information on our Centre of Excellence for Golf or to find out how you can join us in building upon your child’s potential, please call 07 3814 8100 and speak with the Head of College.

Two Large Chipping Greens Practice Bunker, Quality Range Balls Putting Greens 7 Target Greens, Wide Variety of Distances

Kindergarten to Year 12

IAN Triggs has carved out quite a career for himself being coach to John Senden, Karrie Webb and others.

Now he is helping the next generation of young golfers as head coach at The Springfield Anglican College (TSAC). The College’s golf programme is run in partnership with the Greg

Now under lights

The College is co-educational from Kindergarten to Year Twelve and offers students a stimulating and innovative leaning environment aimed at developing all students’ individual potential.

www.tsac.qld.edu.au

The Springfield Anglican College

The Tweed’s Premier Practice Facility

Launched in 2013, the programme is run in partnership between The Springfield Anglican College and the Greg Norman designed Brookwater Golf and Country Club, with Ian Triggs as the Programme’s Head Coach and Michael Dalgleish as Director Athletic Development.

Their Future.

programs.

For more information about First Swing visit their website www.firstswing.com.au. If you would like to speak to someone about having our First Swing programs in or around your region please contact info@firstswing.com.au

> Corporate Clinics > BBQ Facilities > Junior Clinics > Private lessons from 8 time LPGA Champion Rachel Hetherington and AAA Rated PGA Professionals > Group Lessons

Ph 5590 7686 | 425 Piggabeen Road, Cobaki Lakes, NSW 2489 www.rhgolfrange.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

45

golf schools feature Moonah Links Golf Academy

The programme caters for three ability levels: beginner, junior/development and senior/elite.

The handicap limit for the junior/development level for boys is 24 or less and for girls 35 or less.

Those entering the senior/elite level must have a handicap of 10 or less.

For more information, contact TSAC’s Head of Sport and PE or the Head of College on (07) 3814 8100, email info@tsac.qld.edu.au or visit www.tsac.qld.edu.au.

Springfield Anglican College Norman-designed Brookwater Golf and Country Club in Brisbane’s west.

The College’s curriculum not only is based on the fundamentals of education, but ensures its students are exposed to the latest in technology and equipment.

The extracurricular sporting programme plays an integral role in the College’s holistic approach to learning and is an integral part of a student’s life at TSAC. Students have opportunities to develop their sporting potential through the elite sporting facilities and training.

Ian Triggs, along with director of athletic development Michael Dalgleish, have developed the programme to focus on the development of the golf swing, short game, putting and

tactical skills. With emphasis on a combination of technical, tactical, mental and physical aspects of player development, and allows students a flexible curriculum timetable.

As part of the programme, students will receive an annual junior membership at Brookwater Golf and Country Club and selected athletes may be eligible for the college scholarship programme.

Golf students who elect to participate in the Centre of Excellence will need to dedicate 10–12 hours (including four sessions of golf and two sessions of athletic development) in the senior/ elite programme and 5–6 hours (including two sessions of golf and one session of athletic development) in the junior/development programme.

Moonah Links Golf Academy Internationally regarded as one of the foremost elite training venues in world golf, the Moonah Links Golf Academy is the premier golf training facility in Australia. Located at Moonah Links Resort on Victoria’s acclaimed Mornington Peninsula, the facility has played host to Golf Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport elite player development programs.

The internationally-renowned Mornington Peninsula is arguably Australia’s leading golf tourism destination. World-class courses abound in this golfing mecca with the benchmark set by Moonah Links Resort.

Unsurpassed services, facilities & course conditions which ensure year-round playability have seen Moonah Links Resort play host to 5 major internationally telecast tournaments, the 2003 & 2005 Australian Open Golf Championship

and the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Moonah Classic – cementing the Resort’s profile on the world golf stage.

The Moonah Links Golf Academy features a full complement of teaching equipment and facilities, including an indoor hitting bay and video coaching room, full driving range with 3 separate tee areas, short game area complete with 3 bunkers, large undulating putting green, pitching tee of up to 80 meters, fairway bunker and driving tee. In addition, there is a fully-equipped gymnasium designed and developed to provide golf-specific programs, Lecture theatre, Physiotherapy treatment rooms, a varied and comprehensive range of food/beverage/catering options & packages and dormitory style accommodation facilities for up to 38 guests Moonah Links Golf Academy offers social groups an alternative, on-course accommodation option. Simple, comfortable, dormitory style accommodation with shared facilities from $75.00 per person per night.

For further information or to book contact Stephanie Doodson, Golf Events Manager at Moonah Links on (03) 5988 2000 or sdoodson@ moonahlinks.com.au.

Moonah Links Golf Academy Peter Thomson Drive, Fingal Vic 3939 www.moonahlinks.com.au •

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For further information contact:Stephanie Doodson, Golf Events Manager, Moonah Links Resort T: (03) 5988 2000 E: sdoodson@moonahlinks.com.au W: www.moonahlinks.com.au

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architecture

Golfing on

‘the edge’

With two new course developments steaming ahead, coastal golf is poised to be a winner for King Island

track. Having access to ‘the edge’ has always given King Islanders a livelihood to fall back on as other industries ebb and flow in response to climatic and market conditions.

The coast may also prove to be the inspiration for the emergence of a sustainable golf tourism industry, provided that the accessibility of the island is improved. The prospect of getting to ‘the edge’ will greatly assist with marketing and ensure exposure on magazine covers.

Furthermore playing on ‘the edge’ will add to the ‘pleasurable excitement’ of the golf experience. The addition of two courses at the same time is a challenging prospect and will require a level of cooperation between the projects to capitalise on the critical mass of golf tourism on offer. The projects have full support of the King Island Council and the community in general. Hopefully the adage “build it and they will come” will work for King Island.

The Cape Wickham course is located on the northeast tip of the island on a spectacular headland overlooking Victoria Cove and Australia’s largest lighthouse. It is being developed by Melbourne businessman Duncan Andrews who also owns the popular The Dunes course on the Mornington Peninsula as well as the 13th Beach courses at Barwon Heads on the Bellarine Peninsula. The course is being designed by Mike De Vries, a respected golf course architect from the USA, and is being built

by Mornington-based construction company Turnpoint Constructions. Andrews was invited to visit the site in 2012 and immediately realised the site was a special place for golf.

“It is the best golf course site I have ever seen on the planet...and I have seen plenty,” he said.

The course construction is well underway and boasts seven holes running along the coastline which are well balanced by the inland holes.

The Ocean Dunes Course is the brainchild of Graham Grant, formerly the long-term Course Superintendent at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne. Backed by a syndicate of Melbourne businessmen, the course is being built on equally spectacular coastal dunes that are quite intimate with the rocky coastline. The site is located in close proximity to the township of Currie and is conveniently located adjacent to the King Island Airport. Like De Vries, Grant has taken up residence on King Island to fine-tune his design and to oversee the construction together with Bernie Mc Mahon of Mc Mahon Constructions.

Again, there are numerous holes running along the coast that enjoy the steady sounds of the ocean and contrast to the inland holes that run through powerful dunes which overlook the coastline. The short 4th will be a highlight as it plays across a surging coastal gorge.

Both projects aspire to be rated amongst the world’s best which is most likely given the underlying terrain and all that a King Island experience will offer.

The people of King Island are a resilient bunch who have had to battle many obstacles over their 150-plus-year history. Recently the island’s largest employer, the abattoir, closed down and the locals remain split over plans to develop a large commercial wind farm. Many are looking to golf tourism to create more jobs and

ed@insidegolf.com.au

On mainland Australia there are very few golf holes that have been built on the coast due to the fact that most of our coastline is either National Park or Coastal Reserve. Restrictive planning controls make it impossible to get near ‘the edge’.

The 6th at New South Wales GC and the 3rd at Narooma GC are rare exceptions. This is a real pity as ‘the edge’ is always dynamic, interesting and makes for exciting and memorable golf. Golf began on the coast of Scotland over 500 years ago and golf courses have been responsible custodians of sensitive coastal ecosystems ever since. Fortunately this message has been finally understood and soon Australia’s stock of coastal holes will be bolstered by the addition of two new courses being built on the spectacular west coast of King Island, Tasmania.

King Island is a remote island located in Bass Strait with a population of about 1500. Whilst it boasts a humble but picturesque 9-hole links course, King Island is more famous for its produce, including cheese, beef, crayfish, abalone and other seafood. It’s also a great spot for ocean fishing and surfing. World champion surfer Kelly Slater has been a regular visitor to the island. Another industry that helps sustain the island is the harvesting of kelp from the rugged coastline. This requires direct vehicular access to ‘the edge’ to facilitate winching the kelp onto trucks from the rocks. When not being used for kelp the coastal track makes a popular walking

help stem the island’s declining population. The courses will be landmark projects built to world’s best practice and demonstrate to our planning authorities that golf can be sustainable on our coastline with positive ripple effects flowing to the local community in economic, social and environmental terms.

On a side note, Thomson Perrett would like to congratulate Inside Golf on their 100th issue.

May the good work continue for another 100!• Ross Perrett is Managing Director of Thomson Perrett Golf Course Architects, one of the world’s premier golf course design companies. Together with Australian legend Peter Thomson, Thomson Perrett has worked on over 250 projects around the globe. They can be contacted on +61 3 8698 8000, or via thomsonperrett.com.au

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www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

51

seniors

Tough conditions in South Australia

Kiwis too good at Sanctuary Cove

Australian Team: Ian McPherson, Roy Vandersluis, Robert Payne, Alan Bullas, Ross Bockman, Richard Greville, Denis Dale, Peter King, Stefan Albinski, David Limbach, Chris Coats (capt), Vince Clark, Tony Kennings (v-capt), Steve Gibson.

Captains Barry Hopkins (NZ) and Chris Coats (Australia)

The New Zealand Seniors team has defeated the Australian Seniors Team in the annual battle for the Sanctuary Cove Trophy. This year the event was again hosted by the Sanctuary Cove Golf Club with financial support from Mulpha Property Development. The Pines at Sanctuary Cove is one of Australia’s very best courses and once again it proved to be a perfect venue for this prestigious competition.

Played in the same format as the Ryder and President’s Cups the Sanctuary Cove Trophy is in its seventh year and with the scores standing at three wins each there was a lot to play for. Both teams had appointed non-playing captains with Chris Coats having the honour for the Aussies and Barry Shannon leading the Kiwis.

The competition started with morning Foursomes and the Kiwis edged ahead with 3½ points to the home side’s 2½. Only two players have appeared in every Sanctuary Cove Trophy match (Denis Dale for Australia and Rodney Barltrop for New Zealand) and they were drawn against each other. The Australian team of Dale and Peter King managed a hard fought win against Barltrop and his younger brother Michael.

outright winners from these eight matches were Richard Greville, who had an impressive 1 up victory against top rated New Zealander Andrew McKechnie, and Stefan Albinski who defeated the in-form Kiwi John Batley.

Other Australian winners in the individual matches were Ross Bockman (2&1 over Tony Treen) and Denis Dale (3&2 over Arthur Parkin) with halved matches going to Alan Bullas, Steve Gibson and David Limbach.

The Kiwis had finished with a total of 14½ points to the Australian’s 9½ points and with the victory they had taken the overall lead in the Sanctuary Cove Trophy with four wins in seven years. The 2014 competition will be played in New Zealand in February.

Bill Winslow (right) accepts the winner’s prize from host Tony Mazzone The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide has hosted a national ranking senior event every year since 2009 and with popular host Tony Mazzone again in charge a strong field of 60 seniors took part in the 2013 event.

The course was in wonderful condition with well grassed fairways and smooth greens but it was the wind that was to prove the main challenge for the players. The Grange West is always a stern test but the wind made it even tougher with the only player to handle the conditions being local member Bill Winslow with rounds of 77-75 = 152. This gave Winslow a commanding 9-stroke victory over Denis Dale (NSW 80-81=161) with five players finishing in a tie for third on 163 – David Cherry (SA), Greg Orvis (SA), Nigel Goodall (WA), Joe Scopacasa (SA) and Paul Harvey-Walker (NSW).

The 2014 Grange Seniors will again be played in September at the Grange but this time the

2013 Australian Senior Rankings

2013 Australian Senior Rankings OVER 65

The afternoon Fourball matches were vital and it was the New Zealanders who performed best, winning 4½ matches to 1½. A highlight for the Kiwis was the amazing display from their team of Tony Treen and John Batley – nine birdies in fourteen holes! The only outright winners for Australia was the team of Stefan Albinski and Richard Greville who played some excellent golf to edge out the top-rated New Zealand pairing of Michael Barltrop and Frank Borren on the last hole.

Now trailing by 8 matches to 4 and with just the 12 singles matches remaining it would need a major effort if Australia was to claim the trophy.

The Aussies started well and midway through the final nine an upset was possible with the Australians holding good leads in several matches and many others too close to call.

The trophy was very much in the balance and it appeared very likely to be decided by just one great shot or one missed put. It was so close that eventually eight of the twelve matches would be decided on the eighteenth green. Unfortunately for Australia it was the Kiwis who played the challenging final hole the best. Australia’s only

8

State

1

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

7

92.91

1

Vince Clark

NSW

7

69.76

95.27

3

Denis Dale

NSW

5

65.02

93.58

4

Bill Banks

ACT

3

49.43

5

Ian Read

QLD

5

38.20

State

1

Stefan Albinski

NSW

8

113.89

1

Denis Dale

NSW

7

97.31

3

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

7

4

Peter King

QLD

7

5

David Limbach

NSW

7

93.47

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Ave.

Events

Ave.

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

seniors new Greg Norman designed East Course will be the venue.

The following week the senior circuit moved to the Gawler Golf Club on the outskirts of Adelaide for the 2013 South Australian Senior Amateur Championship. For the first two days it appeared as if the players had taken the strong winds from The Grange with them and the testing conditions saw high scores recorded by many good players.

Fortunately the strong winds of the first two rounds had eased for the final round and the scoring reflected the easier conditions on the tree-lined Gawler course. After taking a onestroke lead into the final round Queenslander Peter King (80-76-78=234) proved too steady and his final round of 78 was enough to hold off the fast finish of South Australia’s number one senior, John Beaumont (79-83-74=236). Third place went to another local, Ken Brown (79-78-82=239).

Apart from Beaumont’s excellent closing round of 74 there were two more players who equalled this low score on the final day – NSW senior Stefan Albinski (85-81-74=240) and Victorian visitor Tony Hyde (85-81-74=240). They shared fourth place with South Australia’s Geoff Ashby (86-78-76=240).

Peter King has now won the State Senior Amateur Championship in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. Add in the 2011 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship and King has a record he can be very proud of.

More details on the above and all national events are on the AUSOOM website www.ausoom.com.

2013 Australian Senior Rankings HANDICAP Player

State

Events

Ave.

1

Graeme Altmann

VIC

7

79.63

1

Noel Mills

TAS

6

67.85

3

Stefan Albinski

NSW

5

64.35

4

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

4

55.07

5

Steve Gibson

NSW

4

53.82

Camden Seniors a great success

2013 winner Danny Acret (left) with 2012 winner Geoff Wright

The second running of the Camden Seniors was a great success with the field of 90 senior golfers enjoying the much improved course, a wonderful meal and excellent entertainment.

Add in lots of prizes and it is easy to see why this event is fast becoming one of the most popular on the NSW Senior Order of Merit calendar.

The winner was Penrith senior Danny Acret with a very good score of 73. This was the first win in a ranking event for Acret and he was very pleased with his breakthrough victory.

Acret defeated fellow Penrith member David Limbach (75) and Camden Valley member Alistair Daley (75).

The major handicap prize went to local member and club president Stephen Humphreys with a net score of 68, just a single stroke ahead of Mona Vale’s Rodney Rodwell. Generous

Coomealla attracts strong field The Coomealla Senior Amateur is one of the major events in the Victorian Senior Order of Merit competition. Played over 54 holes it always attracts a high quality field and 2013 was no exception.

The winner was Yarra Yarra senior Michael Jackson with rounds of 81-77-75=233. Jackson’s victory was quite a dramatic one. He approached the final hole with a one stroke lead but then proceeded to hole a greenside bunker shot to record a somewhat unlikely birdie and a two stroke win.

Second place went to John Keller (Hilltop GC 79-78-78=235 ). In some tough conditions Keller was the only senior to break 80 in every round. The Coomealla Senior Handicap section

was won by Ignatius Duivenvoorden (Yarram GC) after nett rounds of 69-73-69=211 with Paul Fink (Hidden Valley) in second place a further two strokes away.

Victory at Coomealla has seen Jackson increase his lead in the 2013 Order of Merit competition and he now leads Ray Walker by 173 points with another 123 points to John Keller.

Duivenvoorden’s win in the handicap section has also seen him increase his lead in the handicap competition and he holds a commanding lead over Freddy Barton (Eastwood) and Eddie Kloprogge (Creekside).

More details and full results are available on the Golf Victoria website: www.golfvic.org.au • Recaps by Denis Dale

scratch and handicap age division, nearest the pin and long drive prizes were also presented to cap off a great day at Camden.

Long Reef’s Ross Bockman continues to lead the 2013 NSW Senior Order of Merit competition ahead of Denis Dale (Twin Creeks) and Steve Gibson (St. Michael’s).

More details and full results are available on the Golf NSW website: www.golfnsw.org

2013 NSW Senior Order of Merit MEN Player

Club

Events

Best 14

1

Ross Bockman

Long Reef

22

1995

1

Denis Dale

Twin Creeks

21

1885

3

Steve Gibson

St Michael’s

23

1720

4

Greg Stanford

Mona Vale

18

1669

5

Vince Clark

The Lakes

19

1541

2013 VIC Senior Order of Merit MEN Player

Club

Events

1

Michael Jackson

Yarra Yarra

16

Best 8 1672

1

Ray Walker

Chirnside Park

10

11499

3

John Keller

Hilltop

12

1376

4

Alan Bullas

Commonwealth

14

1210

5

Guy Krall

Yarra Yarra

14

1154

2013 VIC Senior Order of Merit HANDICAP Player

Club

Events

1

I. Duivenvoorden

Yarram

20

1367

1

Freddy Barton

Chirnside Park

11

1148

3

Eddie Kloprogge

Creekside

11

1136

4

Graham Bone

Commonwealth

12

840

5

Adam Charleston

Lonsdale

12

799

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

Best 8

53

juniors

Get girls into golf, says ALPG chief David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

NEWLY appointed Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) executive director Karen Lunn says getting more girls playing golf has its challenges, but is a goal worth pursuing.

“It’s very difficult because there are so many other distractions for young girls,” said Lunn, the former Ladies European Tour (LET) chairman and winner of 17 professional tournaments.

“Girls don’t see golf as a really cool, trendy sport because there are so many rules they have to know and some ladies at golf clubs aren’t that supportive of them.

“The guys have groups that go off and play together, but for girls, unless they have friends who play, it’s tough to keep them involved.”

Still, the ALPG chief is determined to get more girls playing golf through the newly formed Next Generation Club.

The aim is to keep them in the game through its mentoring program.

“We are also hoping to work more with Golf Australia because they are working hard on a number of initiatives and we’d like to be involved as well,” Lunn added.

“They are the future of the game and we have to find ways to keep girls in golf.

“I am passionate about it and so is Karrie Webb and others who say, ‘what can we do to help’.”

While golf has relaxed its dress regulations and attitude, there are still too many youngsters slipping through the net courtesy of over-zealous committees and grumpy older members.

Of course, Lunn is right when she says some

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54

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

women on committees are unsupportive of juniors.

Many clubs still treat youngsters with suspicion and reprimand them at every turn for minor issues.

Mind you, it’s not only authoritarian committees at fault. Many older club members view kids a nuisance and growl at them at every opportunity.

Golf is supposed to be fun – not a boot camp.

If the old-fashioned, traditionalists can’t embrace and mentor young people, then get out of the way.

Perhaps older members would reconsider their views on juniors if clubs provided an incentive to those who mentor young golfers and assist at junior golf clinics and camps.

A 10-20 per cent discount on annual fees might be a starting point.

Imagine the satisfaction a veteran would get if his or her young protégé won a club competition or significantly reduced his or her handicap under their guidance.

Let’s get behind the push for more kids, particularly girls, playing our great game.

At many clubs like Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane, the professional staff, management and committee throw a net over as many youngsters as possible.

Kids come from far-and-wide because their parents know the club supports juniors.

As club professional Mark Victorsen says: “Kids are the future of the game and we view them as a 50-year proposition.” •

Lunn recalls mixed emotions in amateur golf KAREN Lunn, whom I first met in 1984 when she lifted the Queensland Amateur Championship trophy at Redcliffe Golf Club, recalls her amateur days were a combination of joy and disappointment.

She was a bashful 18-year-old with the world at her feet after also winning a number of other important events including the South Australian stroke play championship by “about 18 shots”.

At the time, shrewd observers of the game predicted Lunn would be a shoe-in for the Commonwealth team, but they were wrong.

“The Commonwealth team was announced just after that (SA stroke play) and I had beaten most of the players that ended up

in the team,” she said.

“That was really disappointing and I made the decision to turn professional.

“I don’t know if they didn’t pick me because I was shy and young, but my face didn’t fit the amateur scene and I wasn’t given the opportunities my golf deserved.

“They (selectors) said ‘you are not in team because you don’t have enough experience’.

“Well, how are you going to get experience if you are not picked in teams? That’s why I turned pro so young.”

Still, Lunn does acknowledge that there will always be disappointments when it comes to team selections.

“In the end it was probably the best thing

that happened to me because I was thinking about playing professionally,” she said.

“All I wanted to do was play golf at the elite level, but they weren’t giving me the opportunity and I felt I was pushed into the pro ranks.”

Thankfully, today’s golfing bodies have adopted the attitude “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough”.

Imagine if the world’s leading amateur, 16-year-old Kiwi Lydia Ko, was told, “sorry kid, you are too young and need more experience”.

That would be laughable especially when you consider she was a winner on the US LPGA Tour when she was 15.

juniors

Anthony rises from ‘swamp’ to win Gary Player Classic David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

GARY Player Classic winner Anthony Quayle was almost lost to the game before he even started.

Aged six, Anthony wrote a letter to his parents requesting a set of golf clubs for his upcoming seventh birthday.

“I was reluctant to buy him golf clubs because I thought golf would cost me too much money,” said non-golfer and proud dad Ben. “Then his mum decided to buy him a set of golf clubs and we have been paying for it ever since.

“Of course, now I think it’s been worth every cent.”

With his birthday wish granted, Anthony began honing his skills on a golf course built on a swamp.

“We lived in remote Northern Territory at a place called Gove,” Anthony said.

“There was only a nine-hole golf course that was built on a swamp and at the time we could only really play half the year.”

When Anthony’s game improved enough, he asked his parents to send him to the Hills International College at Jimboomba near Brisbane so he could further develop his craft.

There, he worked under the guidance of experienced golf coach Ken Berndt, whom he credits for his success and helping reduce his handicap to +5.

“I was eager to go Hills to try and improve my game and golf swing,” said Anthony, who graduated last year.

The move paid off when Anthony won the Nolan Henke Patty Berg Junior Masters in America last year.

“I won that tournament in a playoff so I was feeling those same nerves today, but I drew on that experience,” he said.

In the final round at the Gary Player Classic, Anthony needed nerves of steel and gritty determination as he chased down overnight leader Tim Hyland of Bonville, who had a threeshot advantage.

“I started the final round well and was a couple under through the first six or seven holes, but the wind picked up and the nerves started to kick in,” Anthony said.

“I dropped back with a few bogeys, but I battled away and tried to grind it out.

“Luckily I chipped in for an eagle on the last (72nd) which topped it off,” said the young man with an exquisite short game.

“My distance control has been good and I was getting the ball close to the hole from 100 metres in.

“Generally, putting is my strength but I struggled on the greens although the rest of my game was solid,” said Anthony, who captured the 18-20 years division.

He carded rounds of 69-71-72-71 for a 283 total to finish four shots ahead of Hyland with Simon Viitakangas a further shot back.

Anthony says he has set his sights on becoming a touring professional.

Well, if the Gary Player Classic honourboard is any guide, there is a good chance he will realise his dream.

Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Peter Senior, and Steven Bowditch are just some of the big name players who kicked on after winning the Gary Player Classic.

“I don’t have an exact time frame on when I will turn pro,” he said. “That will depend on my form and then I will make that decision.”

In his final year at Hills International, Anthony fielded a number of offers from US colleges, but declined all offers.

“I felt if I wanted to improve my golf I needed to stick with my coach Ken (Berndt),” said Anthony, who helps support himself by stacking shelves at Woolworths.

“I felt I could do just as well in Australia as I could over there so made the decision to stay here.”

Dad Ben told Inside Golf he was extremely proud of his son’s achievements.

“Anthony is very determined, loves to compete and has matured into a fine young man,” he said.

“He is always kind and thinks of other people’s feelings before his own. His mum and I couldn’t be any more proud of him. We have four children and they are all brilliant.” •

Anthony Quayle shows off the spoils of victory.

Gary Player Classic winners Josh Capes (most improved), Anthony Quayle, James Mackin (1617 years) and Jack Trent (15 and under).

FOOTNOTE: Nudgee Golf Club’s James Mackin captured the 16-17 years’ division and Jack Trent (Headland) the 15 and under division. Josh Capes of Emerald Lakes won the most improved player of the year trophy. In the previous 12 months, Josh lowered his handicap from 14 to 3 and cut a staggering 42 shots off his 2012 total. For a full list of results go to www.golfqueensland.org.au

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juniors

Bayview juniors rewrite history David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THERE is something refreshing about this photograph of Bayview Golf Club’s junior winning pennant team.

Can you see it?

No? Have a closer look.

Still don’t see it?

Well, the young person on the left is Tess Clarke, seen celebrating with her male teammates after the club’s junior pennant team captured the Sydney metropolitan pennant final recently.

Young Tess made history by becoming the first female in the 60-year history of the competition to be part of a winning team.

The result also had historians digging through the records books where they unearthed another historical feat.

The Bayview junior team, too, entered the record books when they became the first junior team from the northern beaches club to win the 60-year-old coveted trophy.

The talented young team overcame clubs from all over Sydney to meet Antill Park Golf Club in the final played at Pennant Hills Golf Club.

Bayview defeated Antill Park 5-1, but the hard-fought contest was a lot closer than the score-line suggests.

In a thrilling finish, the match see-sawed and was in the balance right up until the end with two matches decided on the 18th hole and another going down the 19th.

Bayview Golf Club captain Jarrad Fisher put up a brave fight to take his talented opponent, Blake Bolton, to the 16th hole only to lose 4/2.

All tied on the 18th, Jacob Schouw played his

THE A TEAM: The Bayview Golf Club junior pennant team created junior pennant history. tee shot long to the back of the sloping green and was faced with a 20-foot downhill snake of a putt to win.

He maintained his composure to sink an incredibly difficult birdie putt to win the match against Antill Park’s Josh Bolton.

In a tough match, Tom McGain played strongly against Antill Park’s Logan Whitelaw. The lead changed several times before Tom won 2/1.

Playing against Mitchell Jason, Bayview’s Patrick Wood was one-down on the par-3 18th tee and needed to produce something special.

He selected a five-wood and hit a magnificent shot close to win the hole to take the match to the 19th where he secured victory.

Two-down on the 16th tee, Bayview’s Ross Ingram faced a very difficult challenge against Marcus Berger, but he rallied to win the next three holes and clinch the match.

Tess Clarke put in another outstanding performance defeating Lucas O’Brien 3/2.

Bayview Golf Club should be proud of this talented team for their performance and amazing team spirit.

Mercedes-Benz Duntryleague Classic The Mercedes-Benz Duntryleague Classic is now in its fourth year and continues to grow into a popular golfing event.

Held during January each year on the magnificent Duntryleague golf course in Orange NSW, the event is a three-day stableford competition for any golfer with a Golf Link handicap.

Last year’s tournament winner, Betty Alexander from Manly Golf Club, will be back to defend her title, along with the winner of the inaugural event Margaret Bateman from Port Macquarie Golf Club and the 2012 winner, Duntryleague’s own Sandro Rosetto.

The major sponsor for the tournament is the Mercedes-Benz arm of local motor dealer West Orange Motors. Dealer Principal, Bob Craig, has been a great supporter of golf in Orange and in the community in general.

You don’t have to be a Mercedes-Benz owner to compete. But there will be a wide range of their cars on display and it is not difficult to go home with one.

One of the features of the tournament is the magnificent food and wine that is served during the tournament at the “Welcome Cocktail Party” on Saturday evening and the “Gala Dinner” to conclude the event on Tuesday evening.

Players come from all over NSW, Victoria and Queensland to experience the great food, wine, weather and golf.

Entry of $265 represents excellent value, as it includes your golf and food and drinks at the “Cocktail Party” and “Gala Dinner”. An early bird fee of $240 is available until 15th November, 2013.

The event runs 19–21 January 2014. For an entry form, visit www.duntryleague.com.au, or phone (02) 6362 3466. •

Queensland Boys’ & Girls’ Amateur Championship

9-11 December 2013 Indooroopilly Golf Club Entries close Friday 22 November 2013

Avoid disappointment and enter early! www.facebook.com/GolfQueensland

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www.golfqueensland.org.au T: (07) 3252 8155 56

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people

A quick 18 with

Ian Edwards What do you love about golf?

The walk, the friends, the competition, the fun, the travel opportunities and never knowing if you will play well.

What do you dislike about golf?

Nothing really, it’s one of the world’s great games.

What’s your handicap?

19. It has been 11, but working and travelling has made playing and practice infrequent.

Where are you a member?

Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne.

What has changed in the golfing industry from when you first started your business 20 years ago?

Golf retailing both on and off course has become a lot more professional and group dominated. Some of the retailers of 20 years ago are still in the industry and that is good to see. They have evolved to suit changing circumstances. Those that have not are no longer in golf.

Who is the greatest player you have watched?

It’s hard to go past Tiger Woods. He has been an inspiration to many and has encouraged a whole generation of people to take up golf.

What is the one golfing product you cannot be seen without?

My Sureshotgps. GPS for golf has given every golfer the opportunity to know the distance to the green without wasting time looking for a distance marker on a sprinkler head. It also adds to speed of play and not only is it an aid to golf, it adds to the enjoyment of the game. In 2007 we bought Sureshotgps (formerly known as T2Green) because I wanted to integrate the GPS into my MGI golf buggies so people could tell the distance as they walked along.

What golf advice would you give to a newcomer?

If you are not sure of a rule, ask your partner. If you make a mistake accept it quickly as well as the penalty and move on.

Leave any bad mood at home or in the car park. There is no place on the golf course for moody, unruly behaviour. Golf is a game of competitive friendship. To be humble along the way. Winning isn’t everything...enjoy the journey and game. The secret is to learn to correctly balance both.

What is it about golf that brings you back?

Friendship is the most important and underrated aspects of golf. Being a member of a golf club is very important--and not being a carpark member is part of etiquette. You can make

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Recently celebrating 20 years in business, Ian Edwards (Owner/ Director of MGI) shares his viewpoints on golf, business and how the two go hand in hand.

lifelong friends being a member. Hitting the best drive, a hole in one or just playing well is best shared with friends, doing it on your own is no fun at all. Having a bad day at golf is part of the game, but it is quickly forgotten over a drink with friends.

Were you interested in golf before you started your business?

I was interested in golf before beginning MGI, but I was not a member of a golf club. I played golf infrequently. I was much more a tennis player.

What came first, the passion of the game or the passion for the business?

Making the business successful was the first passion. Business was all consuming and it was only much later that the game itself could be elevated to the passion status.

What do you love most about your business?

This business has given me the opportunity to see my daughters, Miranda and Carrie most days of their lives. I am most fortunate to have them also as my friends. We work together, lunch together and often travel together. My daughters are also very good at business, they were born to it, it’s in their blood.

What are your five tips for success in business?

Hard/smart work, stay focused, never give in, recognise and take up an opportunity when it comes along and take the luck when it comes.

(Finish the sentence) Golf and Business go hand in hand... ...having both gives you the best life possible.

What is one personality trait that comes out of the office and is evident on the green?

To be successful in business takes an unrelenting competitiveness; using this trait successfully on the golf course is not easy. It comes back to understanding friendships and etiquette. For me friendships are more important, so with that much in mind, I hope I balance my competitiveness when I play golf.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome in business?

Business is never easy; every day there is some form of obstacle or challenge. Probably the biggest obstacle or challenge is believing in one’s self. You have to believe in what you do, never waiver.

Mistakes will happen, but having the confidence in one’s self is the most important attribute never to depart from. Otherwise do not own a business.

Golf is seen as a way of business networking and closing deals. How important is golf in this perspective?

You can learn a lot about someone in 4 plus hours of golf. But for me, the game itself is not as important in business as the membership of a golf club or any “good” club is. Networking in life is very important, and from club memberships comes friendships and contacts. At the same time golf in Australia is a very accessible product, much different from other countries. We are very fortunate and in turn golf does not rule business circles as much as I think it does in some other countries.

What is the top business lesson you can learn on the golf course?

To succeed is to stay focused. I have never played well when my mind has been elsewhere. Same in business, to succeed is to stay focused. •

people

The Inside Golf story … so far Just over eight years ago, Sam Arthur decided to launch a new golf magazine called Inside Social Golf (now Inside Golf). At the time, many golf industry aficionados believed it was a folly move, but Sam stuck to the task and today readers are flocking to pick up a copy of the 100th edition, writes DAVID NEWBERY PUBLISHER Sam Arthur, born and raised in Rod Pampling’s old stomping ground of Caboolture near Brisbane, started Inside Golf after walking away from a successful sales career.

In 2005, Sam believed there was a gap in the golf magazine arena and launched Inside Social Golf – a free magazine distributed to only NSW golf clubs and social clubs before going national.

While the magazine was popular, many in the golf industry saw it as a publication targeting social golfers rather than serious club golfers.

So, in early 2009, Sam dropped the word “Social”, hired a number of seasoned golf writers and a top team of sales reps and the results speak for themselves.

“At that time we were printing a 40-page magazine, but now we are averaging around 104 pages a month,” Sam said.

Mind you, it wasn’t easy starting a new golf magazine and taking on other well-established publications like The Golfer, which was the nation’s leading golf magazine distributed to golf clubs.

Still, Sam believed it was a gamble worth taking. With a dedicated team of expert golf writers and sales reps, Inside Golf gnawed away at the opposition – so much so that The Golfer is out of circulation.

“It was very tough getting started … a lot of sleepless nights, stressing about revenue and sales. I always wanted to work for myself as my parents did, so they were a great inspiration.

“My wife gave me incredible support from day one. Writing wasn’t my specialty so having a great friend in Bill Colhoun was invaluable.

The magazine wouldn’t be here without Bill who practically wrote Inside Social Golf each month for very little income when we started.

“I soon learned that good editorial content was crucial. Being in a position to put on a fulltime editor, Rod Morri, was fantastic; he took the publication to another level. Now Richard Fellner and David Newbery do an amazing job producing Inside Golf each month along with our regular contributors.

“Good content brings respect within an industry and more advertising soon follows.”

As Inside Golf established itself, circulation soared and things went from strength to strength.

“We (Inside Golf ) recognised what readers were looking for and provided it,” Sam said. “We needed some racier and more authoritative articles and that’s what we delivered.

“We give golfers Australia-wide the information they really need to know – what is really happening, or about to happen, in the golf world.”

Inside Golf publisher Sam Arthur shares a special moment with the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

What readers love about Inside Golf is they can read about Adam Scott winning a major championship on one page, turn over a page or two and read about a club golfer racking up 47 stableford points, or winning a club championship, celebrating 80 years playing golf or some other milestone.

No other publication even attempts to provide a service like that.

That’s why Inside Golf is the highest circulating and most widely read golf magazine in Australia with a CAB audited figure of 42,500 copies going to more than 400 golf clubs.

If there is a complaint, it’s from golf club managers who say: “Members are always

hounding the staff asking when the next issue will arrive.”

If other golf magazines are a few days’ late hitting newsagent shelves, no one turns a hair.

Right now Inside Golf is at the peak of its powers but Sam, the writers and sales executives aren’t resting on their laurels.

This month sees the launch of Inside Golf Travel. The inserted monthly travel guide should fill the needs of keen golfers interested in travelling to and finding out about interesting local and international destinations.

Golf magazines have changed over the past eight-and-a-half years and Sam recognises he has to change with the times.

“I think part of our popularity is we are not afraid of taking on the big issues golfers, golf clubs and the industry in general are concerned about.

We won’t hold back if we see administrators doing the wrong thing within the industry. It’s a patient business so timing has to be right.

“Golf is a great industry,” says Sam, “and I have so many great memories, too numerous to mention although meeting Jack Nicklaus face to face was special.

“The staff and I have played golf with some of the greats. We watched Greg Norman play in his prime and watched players like Adam Scott and Jason Day develop. They are just some of the highlights.

“I hope you, the readers, have enjoyed the journey so far and will continue to enjoy reading Inside Golf. Of course, your feedback about stories and potential stories is always welcome.”

Over the next 100 issues, Inside Golf will continue to aim high although we may slip in the occasional bogey.

See you on the tee … and at the 19th hole. •

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59

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Legends abound in Bump & Run book The Bump & Run golf book is launching at Royal Melbourne during the Australian Masters and the World Cup. The Author, Andrew Crockett, shares some lessons he has learned in his two-year research effort interviewing the legends of golf.

You’ve spent two years interviewing some of the greats of the game, what have you learned from them?

AC: I learned valuable lessons from each of them; I think Nicklaus saw the putt going in the hole before he would stroke it; Bill Dunk needed to get mad to play his best; Peter Thomson’s simplicity is contagious; Crampton is more of a clinical golfer, a technician; Gary Player’s determination rubs off and Nagle is all about this wonderful slow tempo.

One thing that jumps out at me is that they all have this unflappable nature about them.

Norman Von Nida is on record saying ‘you could blow a whistle while Thomson was playing and it wouldn’t bother him’ and perhaps Peter Thomson is the best example of this personality trait, but then again maybe Gary Player is. Not only did Player win all his majors on foreign soil, he also won big tournaments while suffering personal judgement from apartheid protestors.

I mean in Australia he literally had a police car driving behind him on the fairways at the Wills tournament in Sydney, police guards lining the fairways and arresting people throwing things.

So, these great golfers have this nature about them, things don’t bother them like they do us mere mortals. As an amateur we can go off our game if the group in front is a bit slow, we hit one bad shot or if a stormcloud rolls in. These great players were unflappable.

But of course it is more than that…you can’t become a great golfer just by having the right

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

temperament, the great players also have the natural hand eye skill and they worked very hard, incredibly hard at refining their skills to give them the golfing elixir…confidence.

What did the legends say in relation to practice?

AC: Can you imagine being so confident in a bunker that while coming down the stretch you would aim for a greenside bunker, feeling you were odds on to get it down in two…that you would rather have a bunker shot than a forty footer?

Gary Player was this sort of a bunker player and he learned it from Von Nida, but they both learned it from basically living in a bunker day and night, practising for hours on end. Von Nida came from the era before there really was money in the game, so he would gamble a lot to make his earnings.

He would bet that if you gave him ten shots from the bunker, he would hole at least three of them.

That was assuming he could place the ball in the bunker. Player was just as good and his bunker play won him many tournaments. Frank Phillips said to me ‘you have to have a bit of mongrel in you’ and that is something that really hit me. I mean you look at the sheer determination on their faces, the gritted teeth, they are willing that ball into the hole and almost making it defy gravity.

Building pressure while practicing is an important lesson I have learned. It is easy to stand on a range and mindlessly hit a pure shot, or hole a putt from 4 feet on the practice green, but it all changes under pressure. There are ways you can introduce pressure into your practicing you just have to think laterally about it.

Playing for money and betting... can you tell us more about what Norman Von Nida would do?

There were some great golfers in the 60s, how do you think the competition compared to today?

AC: They would all do it, but ‘the von’ was a gambler. He raised his money to go to Britain by playing exceptional golf for money in Australia, betting he could play certain shots and shoot low numbers. Again, learning how to handle pressure because in ‘the von’s’ instance he was betting the last dollar he had in his pocket.

This era, pre corporate sponsorship, exhibition matches were big business. Australian legend Joe Kirkwood made an entire career out of it, he became a trick shot master and would woo the crowds hitting mesmerizing trick shots, while his accomplice the swashbuckling Walter Hagen would swoon the ladies with his magnetic charm. They travelled the entire world together and had a very successful career, playing exhibitions in the 40s. Even in Thomson’s era, he got established financially playing exhibition matches with the South African master Bobby Locke. The public would pay good money to watch a match between Bobby Locke and Peter Thomson and it makes you wonder why that doesn’t happen now, but again, the answer is money. Rory and Tiger pocket millions for a walk around a Chinese golf course.

AC: Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Billy Casper, Jimmy Demaret, Roberto De Vicenzo….that is just a list off the top of my head, a lot of truly great players you had to beat to win a big tournament.

Kel Nagle twice shot 260 to win. Gary Player in 1965 shot 264 around Kooyonga to win the Australian Open. The competition was fierce.

You are launching your book at the Australian Masters and the World Cup at Royal Melbourne, what can patrons expect?

AC: I will be there for the whole two weeks, sat in a little 3 x 3 marquee in the tournament village. If you come to the tournament, please drop by at the end of the day. You won’t find the book in bookshops, it is only available at the Royal Melbourne tournaments and the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

Otherwise, order one at the website and it will be sent by courier on the week of December 2-6. I recently made a short video about the book you can watch on the website www.bumpandrun.com.au •

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New gear from Cleveland Golf

The Cleveland 588 Altitude driver’s advanced technology makes hitting longer, higher and straighter drives easier than ever before. Precision Weighting promotes the highest, straightest launch with higher MOI for more head stability through impact. Lightweight Ultralite Technology construction helps increase clubhead speed for more distance with the same swing effort. Enhanced variable face thickness technology creates the hottest flight on centre strikes and even faster ball speed on off-centre hits for maximum forgiveness.

Cleveland Smart Sole wedges remove stress from the short game. The two models – Smart Sole S and Smart Sole C – feature Cleveland Golf’s widest wedge sole, engineered to prevent excess digging in turf and sand for more solid contact and consistent club head speed from every lie around the green. The Smart Sole S features an optimal loft and shape to promote more solid contact and easier launch out of bunkers. The design of the Smart Sole C promotes proper shortgame technique, while encouraging crisper, more consistent greenside chips with easier control of launch and distance. Both wedges come in steel and graphite.

The four latest Classic Collection HB putters feature tour-proven designs in a sleek Black Pearl finish. A slightly deeper CNC milling pattern on the face promotes a softer feel at impact for more control, while a new and improved Winn grip offers soft texture and responsive feedback.

All products are now available for pre-booking and will be in stores on November 15, 2013. www.clevelandgolf.com

gear

PING S55 Irons

This tour-style blade iron with stronger lofts provides added distance with control while increasing workability for shaping shots. The 17-4 stainless steel heads feature a tungsten toe weight to enhance forgiveness, and a vertical stabilising bar for precise distance control. Lofts are strengthened to add distance. The low-profile custom tuning port (CTP) has changed from a thermoplastic urethane to a thermoplastic elastomer that absorbs vibrations, resulting in a softer feel at impact. The CTP is larger and sits deeper in the sole to optimise the CG for improving launch conditions. A thinner face helps increase ball speed for added distance.

Thin top lines, a compact head, simplified cavity and a brushed satin-chrome finish create a clean, confidence-inspiring design.

PING CFS steel shaft (control, feel, stability) comes as standard, offering a mid-high launch.

Available: November 1.

RRP: $180 per club w/steel shaft $210 per club w/graphite shaft

Mizuno MP-4 Irons

The MP-4 is the purest of forged muscle backs for shot-makers seeking the ultimate control over their ball flight. A longer, softer sense of impact results from Mizuno’s patented Grain Flow Forging process and bulging muscle design that extends higher up on the clubface. The muscle bulge is most prominent in the scoring irons and reduces down through to the slender long irons – where design emphasis is placed on creating a quick launch and steeper landing angle to knock down flags.

Bulging muscle design ensures thickness behind impact for solid feel. A thin top line and reduced offset helps manipulate ball flight, while a new profile for the 8-PW is more compact than previous MP irons. The irons are Grain Flow Forged from a single 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel billet for enhanced feel.

Available in mixed sets or with MP-H4 long iron alternative. www.mizuno.com.au

Mizuno JPX-EZ Forged Irons

The JPX EZ Forged delivers explosive distance, and the same effortless flight and tight dispersion of the JPX EZ series, but with the soft, solid feel of Mizuno’s exclusive Grain Flow Forging process.

Tech features: Grain Flow Forged from a single 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel billet for unmatched feel. Max undercut design (4-7) for a larger, high energy rebound area. Deep Centre of Gravity (COG) for effortless flight. Multi thickness face for maximum ball speed in a forged iron.

Harmonic Impact Technology (H.I.T): Feel and sound tuned through cavity frame design.

Available in mixed/combo sets or with JPX FLI-HI long iron alternatives. www.mizuno.com.au

Mizuno JPX-EZ Irons

Combining Mizuno’s HOT METAL face design and ultra-pocket cavity (4-7 iron) the JPX EZ irons fire higher and longer with a predictable, tight dispersion. The Harmonic Impact Technology (H.I.T) engineered cavity frame ensures that the JPX-EZ feels like every Mizuno iron should, but with added forgiveness.

Tech features: Max Pocket Cavity (4-7): Massive sweet area, tightest dispersion, and effortless launch characteristics. Deep pocket Cavity (8-PW): For increased accuracy and launch control. HOT METAL FACE: Thin multi thickness design for maximum COR to deliver long, consistent distance.

Available in mixed/combo sets or with JPX FLI-HI long iron replacements. www.mizuno.com.au

WIN! Callaway Apex Forged Irons Callaway Hyper-Lite 5 Stand Bag

The new Hyper-Lite 5 stand bag has enough pockets (9) to carry whatever you need.

Made of a lightweight material and coming in at less than 2 kilograms, it’s a breeze to carry. A four-point strap with single strap connections allows it to sit comfortably on your back, and the five-way divider top makes it easy to get clubs in and out.

The Hyper-Lite 5 also features a thermal lined water bottle pocket, an integrated umbrella sleeve and Callaway’s Xtra Traction Technology base system for added stability.

Coming in December RRP: $199 www.callawaygolf.com/au

The new Callaway Apex forged Irons were built to deliver the superb ball speed found in this year’s X Hot Irons, but in a forged design. An ultra-thin 455 Carpenter Steel Face Insert increases ball speeds 1-2 mph for more distance while the 1020 Forged Carbon Steel body delivers soft, responsive feel. Tungsten weighted inserts in the sole of the 3-, 4- and 5-irons sole of the long irons produce a lower centre of gravity for a higher launch angle, plus maximum forgiveness.

A new high-performance, widely spaced groove delivers more consistent spin from a variety of lies. Two premium shaft offerings in the standard setup complete the package.

Coming in December RRP: $1,299 (8-piece set) www.callawaygolf.com/au

PNP Golf RAKE Sand Wedge

Remember this name: Paul Donaghue. Who’s Paul Donaghue? He’s a passionate golfer and innovator, inventor of the PNP RAKE Sand Wedge, the most advanced sand wedge in golf. The RAKE Sand Wedge design simply does things other sand wedges can’t and can make you look better out of a bunker than you actually are. The RAKE’s patented Dual Bounce Rail Design has 26° of rail bounce and 10° of sole bounce and provides space for sand to flow through for effortless acceleration and stability enabling your bunker shots to pop out easier and more accurately.

RRP: $169 www.pnpgolf.com

Inside Golf and Parmaker are giving away a Parmaker Scout with battery and charger, delivered anywhere in Australia.

A $995 value!

The Parmaker Scout is the strongest and most reliable walker on the market.

Parmaker uses the latest materials and manufacturing techniques and all construction is carried out in their Mordialloc factory, making them resolutely ‘Australian-made’. Features include comfortable speed control, solid, rubber wheels, reliable front wheel suspension and a storage compartment.

The Scout also folds down easily for storage in the ‘boot’.

To enter, simply “Like our Facebook page” (www.facebook.com/insidegolf) or visit our website, www.insidegolf.com.au/competitions.

Good Luck!

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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gear

BOOK DVD The Living Room Series: Putting

This DVD from Anne Rollo Golf features 10 simple logical and practical tips you can use in the comfort of your own home. Includes: Putting stroke basics for a solid repeatable stroke that will never let you down under pressure; The secret techniques the pros use to consistently hole those tricky short putts; How a five-cent piece can almost instantly improve your putting; How to use a wall, a spare club and a mirror to hole more putts; Drills for good tempo in your stroke; Plus a bonus tip to overcome the yips.

Anne Rollo is a golf professional with 30 years’ experience and a European Tour tournament winner.

Suitable for all skill levels. A great golf Christmas present. $27.95 plus $2 P&P Visit fixmygolfswing.com.au, or email anne@fixmygolfswing.com.au

Golf Architecture: A Worldwide Perspective

The sixth volume of Golf Architecture: A Worldwide Perspective contains thirty-six absorbing and lavishly illustrated golf architecture-based essays. Five shorter picture essays add variety to the presentation. A smorgasbord of information has been compiled for the benefit of industry personnel, greens’ committees, students of golf course architecture and golf book collectors.

Paul Daley has gathered a contemporary, international assessment of the golf course architecture industry, through which its principles and practices are examined. To complement the technical, engineering and problem solvingbased essays, which transport readers squarely into the ‘cockpit’ of the design world, a balance of teasing, esoteric accounts are encountered.

Standard Edition: $70.00; Leatherbound Limited Edition: $250.00 (numbered 1–100) Contact Paul Daley on fswing@bigpond.net.au or phone 0408 195 760

PointNPutt SX1 Putter

PNP Golf, the new Australian club manufacturer, recently released the Point N Putt SX1 Putter, ideal for any golfer struggling with their putting. Putting alignment is the key to accuracy. This is where the Point N Putt Putter shines.

Simply point the Directional Pointer to your intended line and this automatically squares the face. Pointing is easier and more accurate than squaring for most golfers and recent SAM PuttLab studies revealed over half of the participants improved their alignment on average by 16.5%. The Point N Putt Putter has customisable head weight options and comes with a putter friendly grip.

RRP: $189 www.PNPGolf.com

HILLS AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR OPEN 54 hole stroke tournament for both boys and girls to be played at Brookwater Golf Club

7TH TO 9TH JANUARY 2014 Sponsored by

• Practice round - 6th January 2014 • WORLD RANKED JUNIOR EVENT Part of the Hills Asia Pacific Junior Tour • COST – ENTRY FEE $180 (includes practice round) • PACKAGE DEAL - $455 includes 4 nights accommodation at Hills, all meals, airport transfers and daily shuttle to and from the course • Entries close 31st December 2013 • Age categories are Boys and Girls under 21, under 18 and under 15 as of 1st January 2014

CONTACT ENQUIRIES - Tom Berndt 0401 694 EMAIL - Tom.Berndt@hills.qld.edu.au 64

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

051

gear

ELK GT LITHIUM Motorised Buggy

ELK GT LITHIUM Buggies are super light and reliable, delivering optimum on-course performance. The GT features an easy-to-use speed control, 3 pre-set distances and a powerful 200W motor that handles difficult courses with ease. ELK Golf Buggies use PowerOn Lithium Batteries (featherweight 2.25kg) and come complete with HD Charger. Folded, the Buggy weighs only 9.5kg and comes complete with seat, umbrella holder and sand bucket holder accessories at no extra charge. Both Buggy and Battery are backed by a 24-month Warranty and supported by a Nationwide Service Network.

To put it simply: they are light, reliable, compact and affordable.

RRP: $899 www.elkgolf.com

PowerOn Lithium Batteries for Motorised Golf Buggies

Thinking of replacing your Buggy’s battery? Lithium Batteries are proven to lighten your motorised buggy’s load dramatically and deliver unequalled power performance. The PowerOn Lithium range starts at only 2.25kg, around 20% of the weight of traditional buggy batteries. They have up to a five-time longer life span, charge in around one-third of the usual time and come complete with HD charger. PowerOn has models to suit the most popular buggies on Australian fairways, are backed with a 24-month warranty, nationwide service support and are ready to transform your golfing experience.

Available from leading Pro Shops in November.

RRP: Heavy Duty: $399 Super Heavy Duty: $499 www.powerongolf.com.au

SuperStroke Putter Grips

Any type of golfer, regardless of handicap, right-handed or left-handed, tall or short, amateur or professional can benefit from the SuperStroke putter grip. SuperStroke putter grips are designed to make any putter better.

Used by Tour player Jason Dufner, the Slim 3.0 is the most popular SuperStroke model on the PGA tour. Used in 8 worldwide victories in the past 12 months, the Slim 3.0 offers players of all levels the benefits of non-tapered lightweight technology.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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clubs

Annual golf day keeps Hepburn Springs in the black

Up and Adam in Vanuatu

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

One of country Victoria’s most picturesque golf clubs, Hepburn Springs, has revealed it may not have survived the last five years without its landmark spring fundraising event.

On October 25, the Club held its fifth annual Kings Cars Spa Country Ambrose golf day.

Since its inception in 2009, the event has raised $12,000-15,000 a year. Event organiser Patrick Baird suspects it has saved the club.

“I think the club would probably be in a fair bit of strife,” Baird says.

“Like any small country golf club, it’s getting tougher and tougher.

It’s probably in some regard the difference between the club being in the red and the club being in the black.

This year’s billing included guest appearances from 2001 Senior British Open Champion Ian Stanley, threetime Carlton AFL premiership player Mark McClure and 1980 Richmond premiership coach Tony Jewell.

At $145-a-head, competitors are treated to a gourmet brunch before hitting the course for the four-person Ambrose competition.

The Club’s facilities and amenities have enjoyed an immeasurable boost from the funds raised over the years.

Since the spring event’s inception, Hepburn Springs has successfully refurbished its kitchen and bar while its unique course, which features seven par threes, is now comprised mainly of couch fairways.

COLOUR MY WORLD: Tusker Vanuatu Open champion Adam Bland (centre) WITH Tusker CEO Luc Devillers (left) and tournament director Bryan Death (right).

Celebrity golfers Mark McClure, Tony Jewell and Ian Stanley at the recent Kings Cars Spa Country Ambrose golf day.

But perhaps the most important outlay has been the Club’s use of revenue to continually boost its golf cart stocks.

“Hepburn Springs Golf Club, it’s quite hilly so golf carts are really important to our income stream long-term.”

A driving force behind the event’s popularity has been its tradition of prominent guests speakers which have included Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson, Cressy golfer and two-time Ladies European Tour winner Stacey Keating and Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Scott McGrory.

“It’s a huge day for us locally and it really showcases our golf club up here,” Baird says.

The Club’s inspiration for the event came from a similar event held previously at Shepparton Golf Club.

“We really owe a lot to the Shepparton Golf Club who we borrowed the idea and the model from. They also send a team or two so they’re great supporters of it too.”

Baird is part of a Hepburn Springs committee, which for three month of each year, has been dedicated entirely to the running of the spring Ambrose fundraiser.

“There’s three or four of us who run this event who aren’t on the general committee. We have time restraints from running businesses and personally that’s how I do my bit for the club.”

With a wide range of sponsors driving the event each year, the Club has been able to run the day at very little cost.

Kings Cars, as naming rights sponsor, chips in $3,000 each year while a sizeable amount of alcohol is donated by local suppliers.

Baird says one of the main financial aims of the event is to attract money from outside the Club’s membership.

“We have a lot of volunteers on the day so a lot of club members chose not to play on the actual day but they run the barbeques and the drink stalls and the setting up and cleaning up.” •

SOUTH Australian professional Adam Bland won his first tournament in the South Pacific when he took out the Tusker Vanuatu Open … and he did it in style winning from go to woe.

Mind you, the left-hander had to work hard in the final round to withstand a serious charge from NSW/ ACT Piranha Order of Merit leader Neil Sarkies.

Bland, who held a two-shot lead going into the final round, won by one shot after rounds of 66-67-7074 for a 277 total (11-under par) at Port Vila Golf & Country Club.

Sarkies did throw a scare into the Bland camp on the final day when he eagled the par-5 fourth hole to take the lead, but Bland regrouped and was back on level terms after birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth holes.

Bland opened up a four-shot lead on the back nine, but Sarkies rallied with birdies on 16 and 17.

Despite bogeys at 17 and 18, Bland held on to edge out his nearest rival.

New Zealand’s Kieran Muir finished third.

It was Bland’s second win on the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series after winning the Rockhampton ProAm in August.

“I really opened the door at the end and Neil came back late to make it very close,” Bland said.

“It was such an up-and-down day for both of us and I think we both struggled to get anything going. In the end I was just happy to hold on for the win.”

It was Bland’s first visit to Vanuatu and it is one the 31-year-old won’t forget in a hurry.

“It’s been a fantastic week and I really couldn’t have asked for anything more. The tournament committee and all the supporters and volunteers make this such a great event.

“I would love to come back and defend my title as it’s not every day professional golf is this much fun.”

Defending champion Brad McIntosh finished 11th after a final round of 79.

Tusker has been the major naming rights sponsor for many years and Luc Devillers from Vanuatu Brewing Limited was delighted with the outcome.

“We are very happy with this year’s event and it’s great to have Vanuatu at the forefront of the golfing industry for the region,” he said.

“Tusker has a great relationship with golf and we hope to continue the partnership as it is a wonderful opportunity to have the amateurs competing with the professionals.” •

2013 Membership Christmas Special Moving to the gold Coast?

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Centrally located in Miami, Burleigh Golf Club, is a private members golf course. This is your invitation to enjoy a diverse selection of Membership Options.

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Burleigh Golf Club - Gold Coast - Australia - www.burleighgolfclub.com.au 66

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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clubs

It’s all quality at Eastwood

A short 40 minutes’ drive east of Melbourne, at the base of the Dandenong Ranges, The Eastwood Golf Club is raising the bar in terms of quality and enjoyment, as they continue to invest in their golf course to ensure the members have a top-notch course and great environment in which to play golf and socialize.

During his 18 months’ tenure, Course Superintendent Travis Scott has improved the maintenance methods and playing conditions of the course, resulting in pristine fairways all year long—with preferred lies only necessary for 4 weeks during winter. The rough has been cleaned up and maintained to allow players to more easily find and play their wayward golf balls. This not only increases enjoyment of a round, but also helps speed up play dramatically.

Many old weed trees and bushes have been removed, opening up beautiful vistas from tees and greens. Additional pathways and new drainage have improved accessibility in several areas, rendering the course playable under all conditions. More than 300 new trees have been planted to shade and beautify the course.

The introduction of Auto-Score has

streamlined the production of score cards, maintenance of handicaps and enables results to be announced much more quickly. The “rolling” results screen in the club rooms creates quite a bit of banter and interest among the members.

Professional Luke Young has been with the club for a little over 12 months and is working hard to build a good juniors group with coaching in schools and lesson programs.

Now in its fifth year the Eastwood Bendigo Community Bank Pro-am with $20,000 prizemoney, is scheduled for Wednesday December 4th, two weeks later than usual so as not to conflict with major events that are taking place in November. The pro-am dinner on the Tuesday night will feature Tommy Hafey and a Mystery funny man as guest speakers.

Eastwood has a fantastic social environment; the heritage clubhouse provides a warm and relaxing atmosphere for members and visitors during the many functions that take place. Many improvements have been made to the clubhouse, including an outdoor deck overlooking the picturesque course, as well as some internal renovations.

Every Friday night is a fun night with a special members’ draw taking place currently valued at $500. Every second Friday, entertainment is featured with “Me & Him” a two-piece band keeping the crowd entertained. The club’s caterers Rod and Amy supply quality, wellpriced meals to more than one hundred patrons.

At present Eastwood have a new “special” membership offer available with savings of up to $800. This will be of interest to green fee players interested in joining a friendly quality private club, and club golfers looking for a change. As always green fee players are welcome at Eastwood.

For further information please contact (03)9728 2944, e-mail: admin@eastwoodgolf. com.au, or visit www.eastwoodgolf.com.au •

Calderwood Valley Golf Course

Golfer’s Paradise

Social groups and all players welcome 7 days a week

golfers DeAls • $56 for 2 x 18 holes with a cart from Monday to Friday (12pm to 2pm) • School student rates available • Weekday senior rates available • 20% off green fees for each adult playing with a school student • Play free golf on your Birthday

sociAl groUP • Discounts for groups of 12 or more players on weekdays • All groups of 12 or more receive an 18 hole gift voucher • More Packages available for group 50 or more & 80 or more.

ContaCt us 532 Calderwood Rd, Albion Park 2527 Pro Shop: (02) 4256 3055 www.calderwoodgolf.com.au *Bookings required, conditions apply.

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Lakelands Pro-Am fun for all

The 2013 Westline Furniture International Lakelands Pro-Am was held last month at the beautiful Lakelands Country Club. This PGA Sanctioned event with $15 000 Pro Prize Purse and thousands of dollars of Amateur Prizes attracted a field of 144 golfers. The players were treated to lunch, on and off course hospitality, and, of course all the amateurs had the privilege of playing with a professional golfer. The event was an Individual stableford plus team event 4BBB with best two scores to count. Complimentary food and drinks was served at the conclusion of the PM round for all entrants and sponsors, and live music kept everyone entertained.

Despite the weather forecast for dire conditions, the weather on the day held, with only a sprinkling of rain in the afternoon.

This certainly did not deter the competition or fun on the day. The course was presented to an outstanding level by greens staff and the opening of the new putting/chipping green being the highlight for the greens staff.

According to participants it was an outstanding event, well organised, course outstanding and the event run well.

The winner of the team’s event included resident professional Tristan McCallum, who was also celebrating his 25th birthday, a nice way to cap off the day. He also finished well in the professional field. All the winners were grinners, with an exceptional prize table on offer. Major winners for the day included: Ladies – Leonie Green 33pts; Men–Jeff Pace on 36pts; Team Tristan McCallum, Tony Matta, Ray Sheen, Keith Bannear.

This event could not happen without the support of sponsors and the volunteers and the club and organisers are grateful for their contribution to the success of the day. •

clubs

Rod cock-a-hoop after win

Old mates Rod Dick (left) and Lyall Farrawell have been the talk of Mona Vale Golf Club with their recent efforts.

IT’S an event he reckons might easily have been named after him, but when Rod Dick won the Cock Of The Walk at Mona Vale it actually capped a life-long ambition.

The former A Reserve club champion at Mona Vale has been playing the best golf of his life.

“It had been quite a while since I’ve figured in one of the ‘majors’ here at Mona,” Dick explained.

“My last decent win at the club was in 2004 when I was A Reserve champion.

“I have been a member of this fabulous golf club for 30 years and have a lot of happy memories here.

“I was probably lucky to qualify, but then had some amazing matches, none more so than a bizarre win at the 19th hole over Barry Patterson.

“He holed a putt on 18th to get back to square.

“I then had to give him a shot going down the first hole in sudden-death.

“Believe it or not, I holed a two-footer for seven and he’s on the green for six a few feet away and three-putted. So, seven beats nine … with a shot.

“We were glad to finally finish that hole.

Who wouldn’t be with 16 shots between us.

“Then I beat Ian Pemberton 3/2 in the final,

which was my best effort.”

Rod explained the Cock Of The Walk was not an easy event to win at Mona Vale due to the diverse handicaps of the qualifiers.

“The Cock of the Walk evens everybody up with their handicaps,” he said.

“You have to be on your game because you know even the higher handicap players will make some pars.

“Mona Vale has improved so much, the condition of the course, everything. It’s just a great place to play golf.

“There’s a lot of good members here and they’re great fun to play with.”

Now a five-marker, Rod may be joking when he says a glass of Merlot is probably better than practice these days.

“Of course I’m joking,” he grins.

“Seriously, you stand on the 16th tee here – and also topping the rise on the 10th hole and there are no better places to see the ocean. It’s quite awe-inspiring really.”

Dick told Inside Golf he really wanted to dedicate the win to his beautiful partner Diarne, his son Daniel and a dearly-departed friend Don Gray.

“I just wanted to win a big one for them,” he said. “Now I can ride off into the sunset a happy man.” •

Golden Bear conqueror Lyall now an age-breaker YOU would think after beating Jack Nicklaus in his heyday that breaking your age would be “old hat” for Lyall Farrawell.

And while shooting a score of less than your years might be regarded as a bridge too far for the majority of golfers, it is becoming quite the norm for Lyall.

Actually the veteran Mona Vale Golf Club stalwart insists he isn’t making a habit of it, but is still loving the pats on the back that occur when it does happen.

In recent months, Lyall (pictured with Rod Dick in accompanying story) has broken or equalled his age at least five times.

And he puts those feats right up there alongside his three B grade club championship titles won at the age of 59, 60 and 61.

And aces?

“Sure, I aced the first at Avondale one day,” he grins.

“And I am proud to say it was a truly-hit shot that came off the bank and rolled down into the hole. That was a real thrill.”

In fact, the only thing that has eluded Lyall, so far, is a par round on the testing Mona Vale layout.

But he hasn’t given up hope, not yet anyway.

“You have to keep trying, plugging away, trying to improve,” he said.

“I was still playing off seven at 72 years of age, so I have certainly come close a few times.

“I do come down here to Mona Vale and practice on an afternoon and put my good golf down to good health, really.

“I also do a lot of stretching, so I am still able to turn my body around and through the ball.

“As you get older a lot of people find

themselves a bit too stiff to do that.

“I’ve been lucky.”

Lyall says one of his most treasured rounds was when he broke his age at Merimbula on the South Coast, shooting an impressive 82 off the stick.

“I also broke my age around my home course at Mona Vale,” he said.

“I’ve also won a four-ball knockout so it is nice to get your name on those gold letterboards.”

But what about that memorable win over the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus?

“Well, it was when Jack was at his peak and they had a competition to see if you could beat his nett score off your handicap when he was playing in the US Masters,” Lyall explained.

“I did on that particular day and was sent a certificate for it. So I guess you could say I beat the great Jack Nicklaus … sort of.”

Lyall still relishes his golf a few times a week at Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches.

“I have lost some distance, but I’m getting it around there alright,” he said.

“I can’t get home on 15 and 18 anymore.

They are both long par-4s, so I just have to chip and putt to make my par. Chipping and putting are definitely my forte now.

“I do know this course pretty well. I played inter-club golf competitions for Mona against Manly, Cromer and Wakehurst around here as well as at their courses.

“At one stage I had played 60 games in 11 years and won 48 of them. I guess that’s a record I was pretty darn proud of too.”

Lyall says he used to be a tennis player, until he fell in love with the game of golf.

These days his ambition remains to go out and play more good golf.

Lyall, that’s something we all wish for. •

Special recognition for 3 Forster-Tuncurry women THERE were huge celebrations at Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club on NSW’s mid-north coast when three members – Betty Harris, Vera Champion and Priscilla Jeffery – received recognition for long service and dedication to their beloved club.

The club presented Betty and Vera with a 50plus years’ service to the game of golf while Priscilla received life membership.

Priscilla, who joined the golf club as a 20-yearold in 1947, has been a full playing member for 66 years – the longest in the club.

Over the years, Priscilla, who has donated numerous trophies to the club, served on the ladies committee and held positions of vicepresident and house convener spanning a period of at least 20 years.

Priscilla has been the Ladies Club patron for the past six years.

Golf is not her only talent. She is a great cook and is always making pies and cakes for the club’s fundraising stalls or afternoon teas on special days.

On a recent Sally Whitehouse Memorial Day,

an event held to raise funds for the Great Lakes Hospice (Oncology), she arrived with eight delicious apple pies.

Priscilla is an inspiration to the members and she still enjoys taking part in competitions at both the Tuncurry and Forster courses and is certainly not a fair weather golfer.

Only recently, Priscilla won the Tuesday Division 2 Monthly Medal. In 2009, 2010 and 2012 she won the C Grade Foursomes Championship with Betty Harris.

That’s a great effort from two wonderful octogenarians.

It just goes to show what a wonderful game golf is when someone is still winning championships and monthly medals after 66 years.

Betty Harris started her golf at Canowindra Golf Club in 1957. Prior to joining the club, she used to hit a few balls in the paddock.

During her 27 years in Canowindra, Betty served on the committee, was president for many years, captain several years and was instrumental

Presentation of Life Membership to Priscilla Jeffery (centre) by Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club Lady President Verelle Miller (left) and Lady Captain Lynne Mackin (right)

Presentation to Betty Harris (centre left) & Vera Champion (centre right) by Forster-Tuncurry Lady President Verelle Miller (left) & Lady Captain Lynne Mackin (right)

in starting a junior program.

The juniors would arrive after school and Betty would help them with their golf and organise a competition recording scores and creating an interest in golf, which, for several, continues to this day.

In 1985, Betty moved to Forster, joined ForsterTuncurry Golf Club and still plays at least twice a week.

Betty and Priscilla are the club’s current Foursomes champions and over the years have won the Division 3 Foursomes Championship.

Betty, too, is a great cook and is always ready

to help with afternoon teas and at the barbeque.

Vera joined East Hills Golf Club in 1958 and later, in the 1960s, became a member of Bankstown Golf Club.

She took up the positions of captain, treasurer, general committee member and was a member of the pennant team.

In 1985, Vera moved to Forster and joined Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club where she was elected to the ladies committee and served for more than 20 years as president, captain, vice-captain and committee member.

She was also a member of the pennant team. • www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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clubs

There’s no stopping Yeppoon women

Where there’s a Wil, Arnold finds a way WIL Arnold held off strong challenges to win the 54-hole Horizons Members Club Championship recently.

Wil, who has been a member of the Salamander Bay at Port Stephens course since 2007, carded rounds of 77-83-78 for a 238 total to finish three shots clear of Gary O’Toole.

It was the 18-year-old’s first club championship win at Horizons.

Wil, who plays off a five handicap, won the junior championship at Penrith and Nelson Bay golf clubs earlier this year.

The right-hander possesses a fine short game and has ambitions of turning professional.

FOOTNOTE: Designed by Graham Marsh and Ross Watson, Horizons Golf Resort is a par 72,

Wil Arnold (left) with Horizons vice-captain and 2012 champion Neil Shute.

18-hole championship golf course. Surrounded by natural bushland, Horizons is one of the jewels in the crown of the popular resort area of Port Stephens. The course offers challenges and rewards for players of all standards.

US Amateur Girls Champion to play The Dunes Medal

FOUR IN A ROW: Yeppoon Golf Club’s winning pennant team.

CAN anyone stop a crack women’s pennant team from Yeppoon Golf Club in Central Queensland?

Apparently not.

Last month, the club’s pennant team travelled to Boyne Island Golf Club and won their fourth successive title.

The best four nett scores from each club counted on the day.

Yeppoon’s Glenda Graham returned the best nett score of 67 followed by Val McClelland (70), Janet Davies (71) and Lyn Goan (72), who tied with Hazel Coombes.

Their 280 aggregate nett score was good enough to raise the flag.

MEANWHILE, a large number of women from

CQ clubs took part in the 27-hole Pineapple Festival Foursomes played in two divisions at Yeppoon Golf Club.

Yeppoon’s Sarah Antcliff and Kathy Maxwell carded the best gross score of 89-40 for a 129 total to win by one shot from Boyne Island’s Shirley Clark and Yeppoon’s Sheryl Hocking.

Yeppoon’s Valda McClelland and Nadine Battilana returned gross scores of 94-42 for a 136 total to win their division by five shots from fellow club-mates Marilyn Burns and Sherrill Murphy.

Yeppoon’s Kerri and Lesley Anderson returned the best nett score of 108. In the second division, Yeppoon’s Elaine Stewart and Keri Wilson won with a nett score of 112.5.

The nation’s leading amateur golfers will head to The Dunes Golf Links this month for the 15th running of The Dunes Medal. The 72-hole Open Amateur event has grown in stature since its inception to be recognized as one of the marquee events in the country. The first round is played on Tuesday 26th November, with the final round held on Friday 29th November.

Draw cards at this year’s women’s event are current U.S. Girls Amateur Champion Minjee Lee from Western Australia and world-ranked No.2 amateur Su Hyun-Oh from Victoria.

Minjee became just the third Australian (Jan Stephenson and Karrie Webb) to win the prestigious championship and sits just behind Su in the world amateur rankings at No.3.

The men’s tournament will include a host of top Australasian amateurs looking to follow last year’s winner and current world No.5 Brady Watt to the title. Other notable past champions include Kieran Pratt (2009) and Jason Day (2005).

AFL legend Jason Akermanis will play the

event for the second time. Aker told Golf Operations Manager Tim Bateman “I am looking forward to the challenge of testing myself against Australia’s leading amateur golfers.”

Spectators are encouraged to come along and spot a future star or cheer on one of the many local hopes. Volunteers are also needed to help through the week, with The Dunes offering incentives to all who volunteer. Please call the pro-shop on (03) 5985 1334 for more details.

More information: www.thedunes.com.au, golf@thedunes.com.au. • Tournament Schedule: Monday 25th November – Practice round.

Tuesday 26th November – 18 holes, am & pm two-tee start.

Wednesday 27th November – 18 holes, am & pm two-tee start.

Thursday 28th November – 18 holes, am two-tee start.

Friday 29th November – Final Round 18 holes, am two-tee start.

Tuncurr y Course rate Australi d in a’s Top 100 Pu blic Acc Course ess s

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• Social golfers most welcome • Stay and play packages are available Ring the Club on 02 6554 6799 for your booking.

• All weather courses that test the abilities of all levels of golfers • Enjoy a drink at the club after the game overlooking the picturesque Pacific Ocean.

Forster Course Tuncurry Golf Course Strand Street, Forster Northern Parkway, Tuncurry (02) 6554 6167 (02) 6554 7622

www.forstertuncurrygolf.com.au

The home of Sarah Kemp 70

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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clubs

Digger wins Felix Parry Cup

Kevin “KR” Smith marched to victory at Mount Coolum

EX-SERVICEMAN Kevin Smith, affectionately known as KR, fired a 77 off the stick to win the Legacy Charity Golf Day’s Felix Parry Cup at Mount Coolum Golf Club recently.

More than 200 players entered the single stableford competition with Keith Ashton winning the Diggers Cup with a score of 40 points.

Organisers managed to raise $5500 with the funds equally donated to Legacy and the Cancer Unit of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

Mount Coolum golf operations manager Nathanial Fuller said 17 organisations and individuals were involved in the event.

“They provided prizes, monetary contributions or in-kind services,” Fuller said.

“The generosity of local golfing and sporting clubs, ex-service and returned services clubs and organisations, local businesses and individuals were tremendous.

“The day would not have been a success without their support.”

Zac Quirk the first

ZAC Quirk became the first person to hold both The Invincibles IGA Sunshine Coast Junior Masters Championship and Sunshine Coast Gold Cup of Cups Championship titles at the same time after winning the Junior Masters recently.

Zac – who carded rounds of 77-76-73-77 for a 303 total at Twin Waters, Pelican Waters, Peregian Springs and Noosa Springs golf clubs – edged out defending champion Kodie Koski and Mathew Samen-Curtis to win the Junior Masters in a four-hole playoff.

The win gives Zac, who plays out of the Mount Coolum Golf Club, an exemption to defend the title in 2014.

Sanctuary Cove’s Karis Davidson successfully defended her title with brilliant rounds of 72-7272-76 for a 292 total. Tory Edmistone finished runner-up.

Zac Quirk shows off the spoils of victory

Howeston long-drive record broken

Second team first

RECORDS are meant to be broken and Steven Bowditch’s long-drive record at Howeston Golf Course in Brisbane’s east wasn’t just broken – it was smashed.

At the 2004 Howeston pro-am, Bowditch launched his ball 341 metres – a record that stood for nine years.

This year, professional Nicholas Russell stepped up and smashed his drive into the next postcode.

The ball didn’t stop rolling until it reached the 359-metre mark – 18 metres ahead of Bowditch’s mark.

We’re not sure how much wind assistance Bowditch received in 2004, but it certainly helped Russell when he teed it up.

According to Howeston Golf Course matriarch Lynn Weston, “the wind got up to 30 knots”.

Still, that didn’t worry Russell, who happily

GOLF Central Queensland’s Yeppoon Golf Club set a new Robinson Cup record.

The club’s number two team of Trevor Renata (66), Bill Albertson (66), Jeff Shillam (69) and Brian Mossop (71) won the cup with a the best three nett scores to count an aggregate total of 201.

They edged out Yeppoon’s number one team of Peter Oates (67), Greg Allen (68), Terry Bulger (72) and Greg Dickinoski, who finished with a combined aggregate net score of 207.

It’s the first time one of the 27 clubs invited to compete in the annual event has won the trophy and the runners-up spot in the same year.

Blackwater’s Keiren Ferguson fired a 74 to win the individual gross and the nett went to Miriam Vale’s Ray Crawford, who carded a 63.

Rockhampton (218) won the Col Gill Shield from Emu Park (225).

pocketed the $300 prize. Kurt Carlson was second with a blow of 351m and Renton Ritchie was next on 348m.

Lynn’s husband and golf course super Bill still thinks Rod Pampling’s 301m long-drive victory in 1998 rivals anything that has followed it.

“Bill reckons Rod Pampling’s 301m drive should not be forgotten,” Lynn said. “That was played in very wet conditions and where the ball landed is where it stopped. There was definitely no run that day.”

Still, the big winner at this year’s pro-am was Chris Wood, who fired a 67 to bank the winner’s cheque.

“Heath Reed shot a 68 in the morning and we didn’t think it would be beaten when the wind got up, but Chris proved everyone wrong,” Lynn said.

Ironically, Wood learned to play his golf at Howeston Golf Course.

Growing up at nearby Wynnum, Wood’s father took him to Howeston for his first ever game.

The Westons were thrilled to hear that from Wood at the presentation ceremony.

“The Howeston pro-am has been around since 1980 and to reach 34 consecutive years is a tremendous achievement,” Wood said after his round.

“It (pro-am) has been a significant part of the Queensland Sunshine Tour for many years and is one reason why so many of our topline professionals continue to support the event.

“It is great to add my name to a piece of Howeston history and I look forward to returning to defend my title in 12 months’ time.”

New team, new experience THE last time we reported on McLeod Country Golf Club in Brisbane’s western suburbs the golf course was virtually under water.

That was after the January long weekend floods.

Since then, the club has recovered beautifully and has made a number of staff changes.

Just after the big wet, the club welcomed new general manager Matthew Simpson.

Matthew has more than 10 years’ experience in managing hotels and resorts and took on his first general management role at the age of 25.

In 2011, he was awarded the Young Achiever of the Year Award at the Queensland Tourism Awards, and on the same night took out “best new development award” for one of Graham “Skroo” and Jude Turner’s retreats, Spicers Balfour Hotel.

“Whilst new to the golf industry, there are similarities,” he said. “Rather than guests, there are members, rather than occupied rooms, we have course occupancy.”

Golf Management Australia (Queensland) was also quick to welcome Matthew.

“GMAQ, fellow club managers and McLeod members have been extremely welcoming and

supportive as I settled into the role,” he said.

“Whilst my golfing technique may be a little shabby, the club employed me for my business acumen and ability to develop close networks.

Relationships are key.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to practice my swing,” he said.

“We’re excited about the future of McLeod.

With a new team brings a whole new level of service. I am privileged to be working with such a passionate and committed team”.

Part of the“new team”is course superintendent Philip Boag, who is new to the role although he has been with the club since 2002.

“He has improved and maintained our course to a very high standard with many professionals commenting on the great playing conditions after the recent pro-am,” Matthew said.

The club’s assistant course superintendent Jake Freeman took out the Graduate of the Year Award for Queensland at the Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association awards in March.

“Our big focus this year is to work on refreshing the McLeod Country Golf Club brand.

“Golfers still perceive the club to be a women’s only club.

McLeod Country Golf Club general manager Matthew Simpson (right) and course superintendent Phil Boag.

“Whilst we are administered by women, we welcome both female and male members to the club. The club runs regular ‘fellow’ (men’s) competitions every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“Like many other clubs, we are focussed on delivering much more than golf.

“A strong focus of ours is to improve our service quality and remind the local community that you

don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy the facilities.”

Another newcomer to the club is head chef Peter Abbott, who joined the club in September.

“Peter will be working on improving the club’s dining facilities with a vision to delivering fresh, local produce at reasonable prices.

“We are also serious about our coffee,” said Matthew, after recently installing an espresso machine at the club’s halfway house. www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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Nudgee flag at full-mast – again David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

FOR Nudgee Golf Club, the only way is up.

At least, it is when it comes to the Brisbane District Golf Association (BDGA) pennant competition.

Last month Nudgee Golf Club completed an extraordinary feat when it clinched the overall Division 1 flag – a year after winning Division 2 and two years after taking out Division 3.

In the BDGA pennant competition, each division’s major pennant goes to the club with the best overall success of its Open, Junior and Masters (seniors) teams.

At the time of going to press, historians were combing the record books to establish if any club has ever won three divisions in successive years.

“It’s unprecedented,” Nudgee Golf Club’s general manager Aaron Muirhead said. “I don’t think winning three divisions in a row has been done before.”

It’s Nudgee’s first Division 1 pennant triumph.

“The pennant team has only lost four matches in the past three years,” Muirhead said.

“In division 3 in 2011, they lost one match to Brisbane – in 2012 in Division 1 lost two – one to Keperra and one to Gailes – and in Division 1 this year they lost one match to Royal Queensland at RQ’s home course.

“This was a fantastic win by the team and a wonderful achievement for Nudgee Golf Club.

“The form-reversal has come about due to a review of the group structure and by recognising the team dynamics needed to change after a less than impressive year in 2010.

CHAMPIONS: Nudgee Golf Club’s Open, Junior and Masters pennant squad.

“The club decided to treat the three separate parts of pennants (Juniors, Open and Masters) as one team and not individual teams.

“This structure and culture change has brought the playing team together and increased the passion to win.

“Since the change in structure, the support from other club members has been exceptional and provided even more encouragement for the players.

“It was a pleasure to witness the camaraderie of the team, caddies and supporters, which certainly made the win, and previous wins, even more significant.

“I congratulate all those who were involved including team and club captain Lindsay Rattray and team manager and club president Dr Robert Sang.”

There were a number of outstanding individual efforts from the players including James Macklin,

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Shane Ryan, Barry Quinn and, most importantly, the club’s number one player and current club champion Simon Tooman.

“These players led from the front, which resulted in a fantastic team win,”Muirhead added.

Nudgee’s Open team representatives: Simon Tooman, Dylan Brown, Steve Hunter, Scott Edmiston, David Schwartz, David Eley, Robbie Stevenson, Brendan Griffiths, Daniel Stringfellow, Tony O’Hara, Scott Payne, Gary Heslop, Robert Sang and Glen Sales.

Juniors: James Macklin, Dean Saxviks, Jack Trent, Kyle Testa, Shae Wools-Cobb, Connor Reeves and Ryan Swann.

Seniors: Mario LaChuisa, Stephen Rowley, Steve Toyne, Shane Ryan, John Costello, Bob Stevenson, Barry Quinn, Craig Philpot and Neil King.

Meanwhile, Keperra Country Golf Club cleaned up in Division 2 while Redcliffe and Ashgrove golf clubs dominated divisions 3 and 4 respectively. •

Members of Nudgee Golf Club celebrate another victory.

BDGA 2013 pennant winners Division 1 pennant – Nudgee Golf Club Open – Royal Queensland Golf Club Masters –Pacific Golf Club Juniors – Pacific Golf Club Division 2 pennant – Keperra Country Golf Club Open – Keperra Country Golf Club Masters – Keperra Country Golf Club Juniors – Indooroopilly Golf Club Division 3 pennant – Redcliffe Golf Club Open – Redcliffe Golf Club Masters – Virginia Golf Club Juniors – Redcliffe Golf Club Division 4 pennant – Ashgrove Golf Club Open – Ashgrove Golf Club Masters – Ashgrove Golf Club Juniors – Ashgrove Golf Club

events

Drive for show – putt for Mo A group of celebrity golfers is teeing up with a field of amateurs to Drive for Show – Putt for Mo and raise funds for a good cause. The annual SGA Tour Charity Golf Day, established by Social Golf Australia (SGA), is a fun way for golfers to support Movember. The event is being staged on the Old Course at the superb National Golf Club in Victoria on November 26.

Movember is a global movement founded in Australia that raises awareness and funds to support the two biggest health issues faced by men – prostate cancer and depression.

Movember assists men’s health by encouraging fellas to grow a Mo in November and sign up Mo-sponsors. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and their men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

The SGA Tour Charity Day is on Tuesday Movember 26 with a 9:00am shotgun start. A portion of the entry price will go to Movember and additional funds will be raised with the support of corporate sponsors, activities on the day and by encouraging golfers to register with, and participate in, Movember.

Inside Golf is happy to support Movember by publicising the day and we look forward to running a picture of a field of (mostly) moustachioed golfers teeing off for a good cause.

Cleanskin golfers are welcome, but Matthew Pitt from Social Golf Australia (SGA) is encouraging golfers to Mo-up for the day.

“We would like to see as many golfers as possible displaying their plumage. We certainly welcome women and juniors and we don’t expect them to muster a Mo, but we hope as many fellas as possible join the spirit of the day and get a bit

‘Mo Bro’ Matthew Pitt and Social Golf Australia Ambassador Andy Lee enjoy the SGA Tour Charity Day in 2012. furry for a good cause.”

Social Golf Australia runs an SGA Tour event series in five mainland capital cities and will be encouraging golfers around Australia to register with Movember. For the golfers playing the event, the entry price is discounted for those registered with Movember. There is an SGA Tour Charity Golf Day Team webpage on the Movember website where golfers can register for Movember. If golfers are already Mo-registered, they can simply join the SGA Tour Mo Team. Links to all the relevant pages appear on the Social Golf Australia website.

The day will offer a complete professional tournament experience with driving-range balls included, carts for all golfers, a shotgun start, a

single stableford event with over $1000 of prizes, celebrity golfers sharing the fun of the day and a presentation lunch after golf that will include some extra fund-raising activities. According to Pitt, the plan for the day is to have some fun fostering a Mo-fraternity on the golf course to help a good cause.

“Movember is a great community initiative and supporting prostate cancer research and beyondblue directly or indirectly benefits so many Australians. We founded this event in Victoria in 2012 and we had a great response. The event raised $4,500 in the first year and our plan is to build on that by developing this as a national initiative in 2013 and beyond. We operate events around Australia and we are looking at hosting an

SGA Tour Charity Day in every mainland capital each year to support Movember.”

“All of our events are official competition rounds with results entered on GOLF Link and all golfers are welcome. We decided to make the event a single stableford competition rather than an ambrose or team format. Golfers with handicaps can compete in the official comp and social players are also welcome to join in the fun of playing and can compete for all the novelty prizes.”

The event has been developed with the support of The National Golf Club and all entries are through The SGA Tour in Victoria. All golfers are welcome to enter, although it is anticipated that the event will book out. Entry is $190 per person or $170 for those who have registered with Movember (both men and women can register) and, according to Pitt, the celebrity participation will be a great drawcard.

“Kerry Armstrong and our SGA Ambassador Andy Lee were very generous with their time and support for the event last year. Andy has just had a shoulder operation so won’t be playing this year, but Kerry is returning to play and we have invited several celebrity golfers, including some Movember ambassadors, to join us at the event. We are greatly appreciative for the support from all our celebrity participants who are helping to promote the event and make it fun day for all involved.”

Inside Golf is a proud supporter of The SGA Tour and we look forward to reporting on the event and the competition results. For more information and entry details, go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au and click on the moustache or call SGA in Victoria directly on (03) 5433 3213 or Matthew Pitt on 0425 742 501. •

Upcoming Events DUNTRYLEAGUE ORANGE

HAHN GOLF OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP 9-10 NOVEMBER 2013

(Golf NSW Vardon Event & Senior Event in conjunction) These two days of golf are not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday Championship with individual daily events in conjunction. Test yourself against some of the best players in Australia. Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

Please contact the Golf Shop on 02 6362 4072 for further enquiries.

play & stay package from $99*

STEVE CONRAN JUNIOR TOURNAMENT 24 NOVEMBER 2013

A chance for up and coming juniors to experience one of Australia’s best regional courses. The Tournament is a must in every junior’s golfing calendar. Parents can relax and enjoy the hospitality and beauty of Duntryleague or take the opportunity to enjoy all that Orange has to offer. Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

MERCEDES BENZ DUNTRYLEAGUE CLASSIC 19-21 JANUARY 2014

Enjoy three rounds of golf on magnificent Duntryleague. This years event will run for three days of golf only, starting on the Saturday night with a registration and cocktail party.

Packages are available for the full event and an early bird special is also available.

Book early to avoid disappointment as this event fills quickly. Open to all male and female golfers with an official handicap.

For further details and entry forms for all the above events, please visit www.duntryleague.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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events

Mackay major winner at Women’s Country Meeting

Wakehurst wins Women’s Bronze Medallion Wakehurst Golf Club made it a back-toback affair, successfully defending the Bronze Medallion for 2013.

The event saw 58 clubs represented from both the metropolitan and country districts with a total of 232 players competing at both Wakehurst and Cabramatta Golf Clubs in September.

The winning team from Wakehurst included Lynette Brown (25), Monica Yuill (29), Anne Strange (25) and Momo Ono (23) with a score of 330 in the combined aggregate format. Runners-up were Belmont Golf Club represented by Janette Neal (23), Darlene Vanderkamp (23), Christine Devlin (23) and Annette Bray (25) with a score of 333.

Conditions proved very challenging at Wakehurst as it rained from early morning.

All players at Wakehurst were subject to these conditions as the rain poured throughout the day. The nett winner at Wakehurst was Sue Galton of Shelly Beach with a score of 80 while at Cabramatta Lucille Back of the Australian was the nett winner with a very impressive score of 69 which was won on a count back.

The Women’s Bronze Medallion is an 18-holes stroke handicap competition for teams of four players on handicaps from 23 to 32 with players participating having been selected by their respective home clubs.

For a full list of all results from the Women’s Golf NSW Bronze Medallion please visit www.golfnsw.org. •

Bisbys take out KENO NSW Mixed Fourball Championship State Final Wingham Golf Club’s Raymond and Beverley Bisby were the proud winners of the 2013 KENO NSW Mixed Fourball Championship State Final.

Played over 36-holes on Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 September at the magnificent Bonville Golf Resort, the pair had two fantastic rounds with scores of 48 and 40 points respectively. They blitzed the field, winning by a resounding six points.

Runners-up were David and Samantha Killen (Leeton Golf Club), who had 37 on day one, followed by 45 on day two for a total 82 points.

In third place and just a point further behind was Paul Fairbrother and Judy Watson (Dunheved Golf Club) with 39 and 42 for 81 points.

There was great spirit and camaraderie amongst all of the 80 state finalists, many of whom had travelled from far and wide, and were just looking forward to two days of golf on a spectacular golf course.

The Championship kicked off on 1 January 2013, with club qualifying rounds commencing around the state. This year there were 226 clubs that participated in this event, with 3,286 pairs competing at club level.

Winning teams at Club level then progressed to metropolitan and district play-offs, where the field was narrowed to 20 metropolitan and 20 country pairs to contest the State Final. The State Final is 36-hole stableford (two rounds of 18-holes).

“The pairs playing in the final of this tournament have had an amazing journey, from qualifiers at the start of the year, metro and district playoffs, to making it right through 74

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The 2013 Women’s Country Meeting was held over three days in September this year, Monday, 2nd at Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club, Tuesday, 3rd at Penrith Golf Club and Thursday, 6th at Lynwood Country Club. Jocelyn Mackay from Moss Vale won the major prize, the Mabel McKenzie Cup with a total of 165 off the stick.

An impressive score of 79 at Glenmore Heritage Valley in round one gave Jocelyn a five stroke lead. A score of 86 at Penrith on day 2 secured a five shot victory with a total of 165.

Division One 36-Hole Prize Winners Runner-up in the scratch, five strokes behind Jocelyn Mackay was Liz Smyth from Canberra Golf Club with 170. Overall Nett, Rose Payten Trophy Winner was Port Macquarie’s Christine Dickson with 155. Leanne Slater from Young Golf Club had a 158 to take 36-hole Nett Runner Up. Division Two 36-Hole Prize Winners Division Two’s Rose Payten Trophy was successfully defended by Muree’s Lorraine O’Connor with a total scratch score of 192, improving last year’s winning score by one stroke. Fellow clubmate Helen Ratley finished runner up in division 2 on 193.

The Una Clift Bowl was presented to Robin Searle of Maitland with a score of 154, on a countback from Belmont’s Gail Balcomb also on a score of 154.

Division Three 36-Hole Prize Winners The winner for Division Three’s Marie Chapman Trophy was Susan Reid from Leeton with a total score of 67 points, three points clear of runner-up Patricia Hill from Woolgoolga who had a score of 64 points. Third place was Robyn Greedy of Maitland who with 60 points on a count back.

Day 3–Foursomes The foursomes component of the event was played at Lynwood Country Club. Most of the competitors had not played at Lynwood previously and were very impressed with the condition and layout of the course on the day.

Jocelyn Mackay Weather conditions were ideal for golf with the sun shining from early morning. The course was challenging and enjoyable for all participants.

It was the Coolangatta Tweed Heads ladies Jodie Rockliff and Susan Reguson who had the best score of the day with 87 to take home the Vera Rankin Trophy. Jocelyn Mackay continued her winning form pairing up with a fellow club mate to finish runners-up in division 1 with a score of 91.

Division 1 nett went to Gillian Mowat and Jeanette Neal of Belmont with a score of 78.

Runner-up nett winners were Leanne Clark and Merryl Kyburz with a score of 78 ½.

Elizabeth Knowles of Coolangatta teamed up with Susanne Smith of Moree to win Division 2 scratch by 3 shots with a score of 100. Darlene Vanderkamp and Michelle James of Belmont were runners-up with a score of 103. The nett winners in Division 2 were Joanne Schultz and Moya O’Brien of Coffs Harbour with an impressive nett score of 75. They were five shots clear of nett runners-up, Cathy Beach of Warren and Patricia Hill of Woolgoolga. •

Top players to contest NSW Amateur Championships

Raymond and Beverly Bisby to the state final – it’s a real achievement”, remarked Graeme Phillipson, General Manager of Golf at Golf NSW. Activities kicked off on Tuesday 10th September with a welcome BBQ for the players before they took to the course on Wednesday and Thursday. The event concluded with a presentation dinner on Thursday night to reward players for their efforts and to provide a festive finale to a fantastic event.

The 2013 KENO NSW Mixed Fourball Championship dates are as follows: 1 Jan 2014 30 May 2014 11 July 2013 31 July 2013 9-12 Sept 2014

Club qualifying rounds commence Club qualifying rounds completed Metropolitan playoff conducted Country District playoffs completed State Final (Bonville Golf Resort)

All affiliated clubs will receive information on the 2014 event towards the end of the year. Information will also be available at www.golfnsw.org. •

A host of the world’s leading amateur golfers will contest the 2014 Men’s and Women’s NSW Amateur Championships, with players likely to be competing from England, New Zealand, The United States of America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland. This year will see Sydney’s Inner West play host to this prestigious event, with Castle Hill Country Club, Pennant Hills Golf Club and Concord Golf Club being utilized. The event is held over six days from Wednesday 29 January to Tuesday 4 February (no play on Saturday 1 February).

The Men’s NSW Amateur Championship is the oldest major event conducted by Golf NSW having first been played in 1898. The list of former winners contains a who’s who of NSW and Australian Golf greats including the likes of Bruce Devlin, Jack Newton, Tony Gresham, Brett Ogle, Peter O’Malley, Michael Campbell and Brendan Jones. It is the first men’s state Championship of the year, one of the major national amateur tournaments, and is a National and World Ranking Event.

The Women’s NSW Amateur Championship has been moved to this new date and should see an increased presence from overseas and interstate competitors who are also able

to participate in the Women’s NSW Open Championship the week before. Like the men, the Women’s Championship is steeped in tradition, having been first played in 1903 and the trophy bearing the names of Edwina Kennedy, Rachel Hetherington, Karrie Webb and Nikki Campbell.

“This championship attracts the best amateur golfers in the state, both young and old, plus leading golfers from other states and internationally. With the final two players having played six grueling days of golf, it really is a test of skill, mental strength, and endurance”, remarked Graeme Phillipson, General Manager – Golf, Golf NSW. “This year we will have the men and women competing at the same venues for the very first time and it promises to be a fantastic spectacle.

We are bound to see some great golf.”

Plenty of inter-state visitors are also in town for the event, with representatives from Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

Visitors have taken out both titles in recent years and the locals are determined to stop that trend. •

events

St. Michael’s take out Eric Apperly Shield Conducted annually from July to September, the Eric Apperly Shield competition is open to all Sydney Metropolitan Golf Clubs with their teams consisting of male members under the age of 24. This competition is also open to Country Golf Clubs who may qualify for the Finals through competing in their own or a neighbouring District Golf Association competition.

The Eric Apperly Shield format is a Contest between two Clubs consisting of Six (6) Individual Matches played over 18-holes of scratch match play. The Clubs participating in the Eric Apperly Shield are divided into Divisions with up to six (6) Clubs in each Division. Depending on the number of nominations the competition is played over four, five or six preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals.

The Eric Apperly Finals Series for 2013 shaped up to be a great contest between a variety of strong teams in the 39 team competition.

The sectional winners fought out the quarter and semi-finals with some matches going down to the wire but it was St. Michael’s and Avondale that emerged as the two finalists. It seems fitting that these two clubs make the Eric Apperly final due to the depth of their clubs being able to field two teams in the competition. Avondale had a slightly stronger preliminary season, winning all games and conceding only three individual points in the four matches they played in their division. St.

Bump & Run book to launch this month

Australian author Andrew Crockett is well known in the surfing industry for his awardwinning coffee table books, Switch-Foot and Switch-Foot II. He was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2006. Crockett, a 3 handicap golfer, has spent two years interviewing many of the elders and legends of golf.

“Having the experience of being able to interview some of my childhood heroes in Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Kel Nagle and even Jack Nicklaus...I feel very honoured and also excited to share my work over the last few years, with the golf community,” says Crockett.

With the assistance of Golf Australia, The Australian PGA, Inside Golf Magazine, The NSW State Library, The National Archives of Australia and some of the players’ personal photo collections, the book boasts over 200 vintage images dating as far back as the late 1800’s. Prolific Australian watercolour artist Robert A. Wade (OAM) has kindly added his unique eye for art along with several young artists including Jamie Kasdaglis who painted the cover in a vintage 1930s poster art style.

With a foreword by 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott, the book spans 246 pages, houses 11 chapters and over 50 contributors from around the world.

Crockett will be at Royal Melbourne Golf Course (in the tournament village) to launch the book during the Talisker Masters (Nov 14-17) and The World Cup (Nov 21-24). He will also be at The Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney (Nov 28 - Dec 1st).

For more on this book, see our expanded feature in this month’s Gear section. The book will only be available at the above tournaments and online at www.bumpandrun.com.au •

Concord Team captures Women’s Coronation Medal

Coronation medal winners Michael’s also won all their games but they lost a total of five points in the lead-up to the finals.

The final was played at Pennant Hills Golf Club, which is a great layout for an elite match play format. St. Michael’s came out firing from the bottom up with their 3 – 6 players all winning their matches. Jake Baker (St. Michael’s) had a convincing win over Isaac Noh (Avondale) 5&3, while Time Hyland (St. Michael’s) had a much closer fought match against Corey Wittenberg (Avondale) only beating him on the 18th 1-up.

Travis Smyth (St. Michael’s) also had a strong win over Alex Henderson (Avondale) 3&2.

Ryan Smith (Avondale) and Shaun Cameron (St. Michael’s) had a hotly contested match also going down 18 with Shaun being the victor 1-up. The top two positions were where Avondale held their strength with their number one player Matthew Wittenberg (Avondale) beating Ben Clementson (St. Michael’s) 5&3 and their number two player Harrison Endycott (Avondale) squaring with the experienced Zac Mullins (St. Michael’s). This gave St. Michael’s a thrilling 4.5 – 1.5 win over Avondale to crown their club 2013 Eric Apperly Shield Champions. •

Stephens, Foster joint winners at Lane Cove

The Women’s 2013 Coronation Medal was decided on Tuesday, 17 September at The Lakes and Ryde-Parramatta Golf Clubs. It was a very successful day for Concord Golf Club, who won the 2013 Coronation Medal and had the winners of the individual scratch and nett prizes at The Lakes Golf Club.

The Concord team of Shelly Shin, Carolynn Harkin, Rhonda Magner and Margaret Mitchell had a score of 313 and secured a five-shot victory. Oatlands Golf Club, represented by Janet Rentz, Sang Yoe, Debbie Jepson and Linda Gyzon were runners-up with a score of 318.

At the Lakes, Shelly Shin posted a scratch score of 76 while her teammate Carolyn Harkin had a nett 70 to win the scratch and nett prizes respectively.

At Ryde-Parramatta, Trenna-Ann Wall of New South Wales Golf Club won the nett prize with a score of 73 while Pamela Tsiamis of St. Michael’s had the best scratch score of the day with an 82.

For a full listing of results and other major prize winners from the 2013 Women’s Coronation Medal please visit www.golfnsw.org •

Free junior clinic with Rory McIlroy Adam Stephens (L) and Michael Foster (R), joint winners of the Lane Cove Country Club Charity Pro-Am, with coordinator Andy Moran.

The Lane Cove Country Club recently staged its 23rd annual Charity Golf Pro-Am under glorious blue skies and with the course in tip-top condition Professionals Adam Stephens (NSW) and Michael Foster (WA) were joint winners of the professional event, with a 3-under-par score of 61. The team event winners were Michael Foster (professional), Robert Hipsley, Peter Meggitt and Tony Luck. Mitch Brown (NSW) won the Porter’s shootout, while Lane Cove Country Club member Alasdair Caush achieved a rare hole-in-one at the 3rd hole.

The first Charity Pro-Am was held in 1991 with proceeds donated to the Sunshine Home.

From 1992 onwards Lane Cove & North Side Community Services has been the beneficiary of the proceeds. The Country Club and its sponsors are very proud of the support they

have provided to the Lane Cove Community with a total of $136,950 having been raised since the event started.

The sponsors of the Pro-Am were invited to play in the event and their businesses are promoted in the clubhouse and on the course on the day, and then throughout the year.

Lane Cove Country Club is very grateful to the sponsors for this year’s event and recognises them as valued supporters of the Lane Cove Community.

The Club has this one opportunity each year to have a group of visiting professional golfers on the course. It is an occasion for the Club to demonstrate its capacity to plan and implement a major golfing event to the professional golf community, to members, to sponsors and to the local community. •

Australian kids have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Rory McIlroy in person and participate in a free junior clinic. The clinic will be held on Wednesday 27th November at 2pm during the Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Hailing from Northern Ireland, 24 year old McIlroy is a two time major winner (2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship) and is currently ranked four th in the world after being as high as number one during 2012.

As well as the opportunity to learn from one of the game’s most exciting young players, each participant who registers for this clinic also receives one piece of Merchandise and a free season pass to the event (for the participant and their guardian).

Sign up quickly, as places per state are strictly limited. For more information on the clinic, visit www.golf.org.au • www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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events

Witting wins Japanese Blind Golf Open Championship Callaway, On Course In his first ever international blind golf tournament, Sean Witting from Wangaratta in Victoria won the 2013 Japanese Blind Golf Open Championship held at the Mishima GC recently. Sean, who is a B2 category golfer on a 22 handicap had a nett 73 on the par72 course in the first round and was 12 shots behind fellow Australian Gary Sargent (B2 handicap 28) who had a nett 61. In the final round Sean played inspiring golf with an 88 off the stick to produce a combined nett score of 139 to win by two stokes from Japanese golfer Toshio Karasawa. Sean also won trophies for the best B2 nett and gross scores.

Nine blind golfers from Australia competed in the event with Rick Krolik from Victoria being runnerup in the B3 category nett event, and Gary Sargent from New South Wales winning the longest drive trophy.

Sean currently holds not only the Japan title but also the Australian Open title which he won back in November 2012. He will defend his Australian Open title at Collier Park in WA later this year.

Sean was encouraged into blind golf purely by chance when another blind golfer overheard him enquiring at a golf club about selling his golf clubs following the reasonably rapid onset of vision impairment. Blind golf is now a significant part of Sean’s life.

A few days after returning from

team up for Movember

Wangaratta’s Sean Witting (left) with caddie Bobbie Broadhurst after winning the 2013 Japanese Blind Golf Open Championship Japan, Sean competed in the New South Wales Blind Golf Open Championship held at Barnwell Park GC and won the gross event with a two round score of 165. The Championship was won by Rod Mills from NSW with a nett score of 105 on a handicap of 30.

Blind golf has 3 sight categories; B1, B2 and B3 depending on the

player’s vision capabilities. B1 players are totally blind.

Anyone wishing to learn more about either playing blind golf or caddying for a blind golfer may contact Gary McInnes on 0417 055 731. They may also go to the Blind Golf Australia website www.blindgolf.com.au or see www.internationalblindgolf.com •

Callaway Golf South Pacific has partnered with the On Course golf group to launch the charitable ProMo campaign in an effort to raise funds for Movember, an Australian organisation that focuses on the prevention of prostate cancer and supports male mental health through beyondblue. “ We’re quite pleased to be partnering with our customers from the On Course group on this worthy project to raise funds for Movember,” said Leighton Richards, Managing Director of Callaway Golf South Pacific Asia and India. “We all know individuals affected by prostate cancer and it’s great to be able to do our small part in helping this cause.”

One aspect of the campaign involves the sale of Movember logoed Callaway golf balls at On Course retail shops throughout Australia. For every dozen logoed HEX Diablo Golf Balls sold at On Course retailers during the month of November, Callaway will donate $2 to Movember.

The On Course group is made up of PGA Professionals who operate golf shops at on-course locations throughout Australia. Callaway is one of the biggest manufacturers of premium golf equipment in the world, with regional offices in Melbourne.

Movember’s iconic mustache logo will be featured on the side of each HX Diablo Golf Ball and more than 75 On Course retailers are expected

to participate in the Movember campaign.

In addition to proceeds from golf ball sales being contributed to Movember, PGA Professionals and retail staff at On Course golf shops throughout the country will be growing mustaches and accepting donations from golf club members and guests who wish to donate in the name of their local pro.

Donations earned by each On Course member will go toward the same large pool of funds raised by the entire ProMo Campaign being led by Callaway and the On Course group. A number of On Course shops will also have Movember donation boxes on their shop counters or in clubhouses.

Gold coin donations to the ProMo campaign will also be welcomed at golf courses.

In Australia the vast majority of golfers are in the primary Movember target audience, men in the 50+ age bracket. Golfers who wish to support the effort can purchase the logoed Callaway golf balls at an On Course retailer or donate directly on the Movember website under the On Course/Callaway umbrella at http://moteam.co/promo.

The Callaway HEX Diablo golf ball is suitable for all levels of golfers. It is designed to promote lower driver spin for maximum ball speed off the tee, while still providing soft feel off the clubface on irons shots with improved accuracy. •

The SGA International PATTAYA, THAILAND • 8–15 MARCH 2014

The package includes: • Airfares and Departures taxes from most capital cities • 7 nights at the Sabai Resort Hotel with breakfasts • A caddie and golf cart at the four golf courses • Two dinner parties with soft drinks and beer included

• Welcome gifts and souvenirs

All golfers are welcome to join this luxury golfing experience on four of Thailand’s most superb golf courses:

• Personally hosted by Matthew Pitt from SGA

• Laem Chabang

Contact Matthew Pitt

• Siam CC Waterside Course

Social Golf Australia

• All private transfers from hotel to golf courses

• Siam CC Plantation Course

• Airport transfers in Thailand

• Siam CC Old Course

info@socialgolfcc.com.au Ph: (03) 5433 3213 / 0425 742 501

• All taxes and service charges

PRICE Twin Share $2395 or Single $2695

For more information go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au 76

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

www.thailandgolftours.com.au

E OS L S C 014 E I 2 R NT uary E W! Jan O 4 N K ay 2 O BO Frid

Cooling Products Xtreme will keep you cool all day!

“Simply wet and they stay cold for up to 6 hours!”

www.realxgear.com.au

For trade enquiries, contact jon@realxgear.com.au

calendar Handiskins

When: Various Where: Various Info: www.handiskins.com.au Handiskins the ultimate game of skins for club golfers.

Handiskins is a five-qualifying-round stableford competition.

A player’s best three rounds count towards their final score.

Players don’t have to play all five qualifying rounds if their scores are good enough.

The top four players with the best scores at the end of the qualifying rounds go into the ‘skins’ format final and have the opportunity to play for $1,200 in club or pro shop vouchers.

UPCOMING HANDISKINS EVENTS: Duntryleague Golf Club Final 3rd November 2013

November Tamborine Mountain Open

Where: Tamborine Mountain Golf Club When: November 6-8 Info: www.tamborinemountaingolfclub.com Single stableford event held over three days. Cost is $60 per person, includes 18 holes of golf on either qualifying day (Nov 6-7). Top 48 qualifiers gain free entry to Final on Nov 8. Entry also includes light meal, morning/Afternoon snacks. Motorised carts available for $20. Major prizes: $1000 hole in one on Wednesday and Thursday.

More information: (07) 5545 1788.

Federal Amateur Open

When: 8th – 10th November Where: Federal Golf Club, Canberra Info: www.fgc.com.au The event is a four round World Amateur Golf Ranking Tournament. Rounds 1 & 2 are played on the Friday and Saturday with a cut (60 players plus ties) before Rounds 3 & 4 are played on Sunday. Prizes are awarded for 1st – 5th, the Federal Medal (best four round score by an overseas player) and the Junior Medal (best four round score by a junior player under 18 years).

For further information, please contact Scott Elias, General Manager, on (02) 6281 1888.

Hahn Golf Open Amateur Championship When: 9-10 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

(Golf NSW Vardon Event & Senior Event in conjunction) These two days of golf are not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday Championship with individual daily events in conjunction. Test yourself against some of the best players in Australia.

Branxton Golf Club 4th Qualifying Round 9th November 2013 5th Qualifying Round 16th November 2013 Final 14th December 2013 The Links Shell Cove 3rd Qualifying Round 9th November 2013 4th Qualifying Round 16th November 2013 5th Qualifying Round 23rd November 2013 Final 30th November 2013 Wentworth Golf Club Orange 3rd Qualifying Round: Saturday 2nd November 2013 4th Qualifying Round: Saturday 9th November 2013 5th Qualifying Round: Saturday 7th December 2013 Final: Sunday 15th December 2013

Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion.

Please contact the Golf Shop on (02) 6362 4072 for further enquiries.

The Parkinson’s NSW Golf Classic 2013

Where: Monash Country Club When: Thursday 14th November Info: www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/events/pnsw-golf-classic Cromwell Property Group presents the 7th Anniversary Parkinson’s NSW Golf Classic. It’s a shotgun Ambrose start with all carts and the day’s events include free golf clinic, putting competition, chip the boat, NTP and LD and official dinner with great prizes and international guest speaker. Tickets are only $60 each. To register for the dinner please contact Karina Traill on 02 8875 8915 or karina@parkinsonsnsw.org.au

Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast Ladies Open Championship & Classic When: 15, 16 & 17 November (Open Championship), 16 & 17 November (Classic) Where: Headland Golf Club, Qld Info: www.headlandgolfclub.com.au Now in its 35th year, this prestigious Ladies championship is a Golf Australia and Golf Queensland ranked event for the Open Championship (handicap limit 9) conducted over three days on the beautiful Headland course on the slopes of Buderim, overlooking the sunshine coast. The fun weekend Classic (handicap limit 36) includes many great events and trophies including divisional, Junior, Mid & Senior Championships.

Plus team and club events and a Friday night shootout on the signature 18th hole. A great weekend away for ladies on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with recommended accommodation at Alexandria Apartments on the beach at Alexandra Headland.

More information at www.mitournament.com

Two events – one day PROSTON District Golf Club, located in the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District 300 kilometres northwest of Brisbane, is hosting its annual Smithfield Golf Day on Saturday, November 9.

Two events have been scheduled – a nine-hole individual stroke event and a nine-hole three-ball ambrose tournament.

The individual event, open to men and women, tees off at 8:30am (shotgun) followed by a barbeque lunch.

The ambrose event starts at 12:30pm (shotgun) followed by a barbeque dinner.

The cost is $15 for one event and one meal, however, for $20 you can play in both events and enjoy both meals.

Visitors are welcome. Golfers who don’t have a registered handicap will play off 17.

In the ambrose event, only one single figure marker per team is allowed and each team member must have three tee shots count.

For information call Rob on 0448 619 348 or email barb@feedlot.com/au •

Ranking event for women

THE 35th Sunshine Coast Ladies Open Amateur Championship, an Australian and Queensland ranking tournament, is at Headland Golf Club from November 15-17.

The 54-hole tournament is open to players on a handicap of nine or less.

The entry fee is $65.

The main event will be played in conjunction with the 36-hole Classic Tournament (November 16-17), which has a handicap limit of 36. The entry fee is $45.

In addition, a junior, mid and senior champion will be crowned after the 36-hole event.

The “gun” players can play a practice round from 7:45am on Thursday, November 14. There is a $10 fee and bookings are essential.

After the first round, there will be a happy hour and a shootout on the 18th.

Of course, there are plenty of prizes up for grabs in various gross and nett divisions.

For information, call (07) 5444 5800 ext #3 or enter online at www.headlandgolfclub.com.au •

Steve Conran Junior Tournament When: 24 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

A chance for up and coming juniors to experience one of Australia’s best regional courses. The Tournament is a must in every junior’s golfing calendar. Parents can relax and enjoy the hospitality and beauty of Duntryleague or take the opportunity to enjoy all that Orange has to offer.

A U S T R A L I A’ S M O S T R E A D G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Queensland PGA Sunshine Tour Proud Sponsors 78

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

calendar Rosnay Legends charity Pro-am Where: Auburn Golf Course When: Wednesday 27 November

Play alongside some of the greats of Australian Golf, including professionals who are currently competing on the Australasian, Asian, European Seniors Tours and the US Champions Tour. This year the event will again be opened to players who are members of social golf clubs (with a social club handicap) and golfers with an Australian Handicap (Golf link) who are not yet members of golf clubs.

The Golf Club are running a number of fundraising events prior to and on the day, with proceeds going to support MS Australia.

The Auburn City Council would also like to invite golfers to attend the opening of the new Auburn Golf Course. The course upgrades, jointly funded by the Auburn Council Council and the NSW Natural Heritage Trust have seen major changes to the back nine of the course. Several of the holes have been completely remodelled, with two new dams on the 10th and 11th holes and a complete redesign of fairways and tees. The renovations also included a major upgrade and replacement of the old fairway watering systems.

Australian golfing legends, Roger Davis, Mike Harwood, Mike Ferguson, Terry Price, David Merriman, Garry Merrick, Noel Ratcliffe, Randall Vines, John Clifford and Krishna Singh are just a few in a quality field of senior professionals.

The Pro Am has two Shot Gun starts at 8am and 1pm. The cost of the Pro Am is $75 per player, which includes Golf Shirt, gift bag, with a meal and beverage at the completion of the round.

For more information call: 02 9649 8429 or email: karen@rosnaygolfclub.com.au

Noosa Springs B & C Grade Championships When: 29th November – 1st December Where: Noosa Springs Info: golf@noosasprings.com.au

Now in its eighth successful year, the competition was designed by Noosa Springs to give golfers with higher handicaps a championship event to play.

The three-day competition will be played over 54 holes of Stableford play.

It’s open to all male amateur golfers with a handicap between 1136 and all female amateur golfers with a handicap between 18-45.

The entire field will contest all three rounds –18 holes each day –and the men’s and women’s winners for each B&C category will be the persons with the highest aggregate scores.

Registration is $299 which includes three rounds of championship golf, admission to the opening night cocktail party, presentation afternoon and a commemorative gift from Calvin Klein.

More information: www.noosasprings.com.au or (07) 5440 3333.

4th Annual ‘Team Chriso’ Cystic Fibrosis Charity Golf Day When: 29th November Where: Leonay Golf Club Info: www.facebook.com/teamchriso Help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited genetic disorder in which excessive mucus clogs the lungs and pancreas, causing respiratory and digestive problems. Children with CF develop bacteria that take over their lungs, and makes them work much harder to breathe. The 2010-2012 Charity Golf Days raised a total just under $55,000, which helped purchase much needed equipment for families battling CF. Organisers expect a massive turnout for this year’s event. Cost is $75 per person, and includes 18 holes of golf and Lunch. For more information, email teamchriso@yahoo.com or phone Rachel 0413 428 341 or Michael 0412 304 190

December Moorabbin Lions / The Royal Melbourne Charity Golf Day When: Friday 20th December Where: The Royal Melbourne Golf Club Info: www.moorabbin.lions.org.au/golf

The Lions Club of Moorabbin is holding their 38th annual charity golf day at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in support of PETER McCALLUM CANCER RESEARCH and Local Charities. The competitions will be played on the renowned West Course and is open to both women and men with separate events for players with GolfLink handicaps and non GolfLink players. With shotgun starts at 7.30am and 12.30pm, golfers will participate in nearest the pin, longest drive, straightest drive, ‘ play the pro’, putting and other fun-filled competitions.

The entry fee is $165 per player if paid before 15th November and $190 thereafter.

Following the golf will be the prize presentation and Charity Auction in the clubhouse, which will be open to family and friends.

Organizers are seeking Donations/Prizes for the Charity Auction.

For further information please contact Geoff Thomas on gelythomas@optusnet.com.au or (03) 9583 8523

2014 2014 Foundation Golf Day When: Monday, 6 January 2014 Where: Commonwealth Golf Club

Grab the opportunity to experience a game of golf at the fabulous Commonwealth Golf Club.

One of Melbourne’s renowned sandbelt clubs, Commonwealth is a recent host of the Women’s Australian Open in 2010 & 2011 and the Australian Amateur Championship in 2013.

Competition: stableford. Shot gun start at 8am & 1pm. $110 per player includes 18 holes of golf, range balls,push buggy hire, competition entry, prizes and catering.

All proceeds go to the Commonwealth Golf Club Foundation Entries close: Tuesday 31st December 2013.

The entry form can be found in this edition and represents great value for money.

Mercedes Benz Duntryleague Classic When: 19-21 January 2014 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This year’s event will run for three days of golf only, starting on the Saturday night with a registration and cocktail party.

Packages are available for the full event and an early bird special is also available. Book early to avoid disappointment as this event fills quickly. Open to all male and female golfers with an official handicap.

NSW Veterans Strokeplay Championships Where: Richmond, Penrith and Stonecutters Ridge When: 14-15 and 16 April 2014.

Info: Chris Evans, Secretary, WSRVGA on 0413 912 888

After 8 years at Bankstown and Liverpool, the 54-hole Championships are moving to Western Sydney in an attempt to include more country participants.

Richmond Golf Club is undergoing significant course renovations in preparation for the 2013 Australian Seniors PGA and the Veterans will be the big winners in 2014.

Penrith Golf Club has hosted many State Championships and is in excellent shape. Both Richmond and Penrith are great walking courses for the senior golfer.

The final 18 holes of the Veterans Championships will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Links, a brand-new Greg Norman resort course proving incredibly popular with all golfers.

Barnbougle Golf Challenge Where: Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm When: 18 - 24 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au

Play Australia’s top two public access courses this January at the Barnbougle Golf Challenge. Back by popular demand, the Barnbougle Golf Challenge will see you playing in teams of two in a combination of best ball, ambrose and aggregate events.

Staying at the stylishly appointed Lodge at Lost Farm, nestled

Golf NSW – November calendar of events Golf NSW Events Event Men’s NSW Country Championships & Inter-District Teams Championship Women’s Medal Play-off SILVER Men’s NSW Open PreQualifying Women’s Medal Play-off BRONZE Men’s NSW Open Pro Am Men’s NSW Open Women’s Medal Play-off GOLD NSW Women’s Fourball Team Classic - STATE FINAL Men’s Vardon Events Prince Henry Cup Pennant Hills Cup Men’s Federal Open (National Ranking) Duntryleague Cup Long Reef Medal Cromer Bowl Penrith Open Amateur Lake Illawarra Cup (Port Kembla Open)

Venue

Date(s)

Muswelbrook GC

2-3 Nov

Liverpool GC

6 Nov

St. Michael’s, Long Reef 18 Nov & Glenmore Heritage Eastlake GC

19 Nov

Castle Hill CC Castle Hill CC

20 Nov 21-24 Nov

Oatlands GC

22 Nov

Bonville Golf Resort

24-26 Nov

The Coast GC Pennant Hills GC

2 Nov 3 Nov

Federal GC (ACT)

8-10 Nov

Duntryleague GC Long Reef GC Cromer GC Penrith GC

9-11 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 23 Nov

Port Kembla GC

30 Nov

Women’s Jean Derrin / Senior Order of Merit Events ACT Seniors Championship Gold Creek, Gungahlin (National Order of Merit) Lakes & Federal GCs WOMEN Long Reef Salver Long Reef GC Men’s Senior Order of Merit Events Twin Creeks Seniors Twin Creeks GC ACT Seniors Championship Gold Creek, Gungahlin (National Order of Merit) - MEN Lakes & Federal GCs Long Reef Seniors Long Reef GC Cromer Seniors + SOOM Cromer GC Presentation

12-14 Nov 16 Nov 4 Nov 12-14 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

Senior amateur events Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 11-12 Nov 12-14

Twin Creeks Seniors (NSW) Virginia Seniors (QLD) Melbourne Seniors at Spring Valley & Woodlands (VIC) ACT Seniors Championship (Gold Creek, Gungahlin Lakes, Federal)* Nov 21-23 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championships – Danang, Vietnam Nov 25-26 Oxley Seniors (QLD) Nov 25 Long Reef Seniors (NSW) Nov 26 Cromer Seniors (NSW) Nov 31 – Dec 1 Moyne Senior Classic (VIC) Dec 5-6 Victorian Senior Teams Championship at Sorrento (VIC) * Part of the Australian Senior Ranking Competition

within the coastal dunes, this really is one golfing destination that cannot go unplayed. Everyone is in with a chance to go home with sensational prizes. All you need is a handicap, and then let the fun take care of itself.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681

Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship Where: Hobart When: 12 - 17 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au Join more than 400 golfers from all over Australia as well as international visitors in Hobart this January for the 14th annual Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship. So long as you are over 35 and have an official golf handicap, you can tee it up at the Masters.

One of the tournament’s great traditions is that the 15 age and handicap divisions guarantee you play with golfers your own age and standard. Royal Hobart and Tasmania golf clubs are the state’s premier private courses and host the four days of tournament golf. Nightly social events including welcome reception, 19th Hole overlooking the Hobart harbour and a glamorous presentation dinner are all included in this fantastic week of golf and social events.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681. www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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calendar

Happy Jock strikes it lucky Jock Lum from Gold Cross SGC in Victoria is known among his pals as a happy-go-lucky golfer. This unflappable character always has a smile on his face and loves travelling far and wide to play great golf courses. He is well-liked everywhere he goes for his easygoing style so he was a very popular winner when he struck it lucky at the 2013 Australian Social Golf Club Championships (ASGCC) and won a free golf trip to Thailand.

A member of Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club, Jock enjoys having a laugh with his mates from Gold Cross and each year a crew of them make the trip to play in the ASGCC on the Gold Coast. Every golfer in the field is entered in a draw to win a free golf trip to Thailand and compete in The SGA International the following year. Jock was keen but didn’t really rate his chances when the draw was made at the ASGCC presentation dinner.

“When my name was called out I nearly fell off my chair. They give out heaps of great prizes at the event and in all the years coming here I haven’t made many trips to the podium. This has bowled me over. Sincere thanks to Matt and Sally from SGA who run a great tournament every year. We all love coming to this event and I can’t wait to play in The SGA International in Thailand next March.”

Jock’s prize is valued at over $2500 and includes entry in the 2014 SGA International, airfares, seven nights’ accommodation at the Pattaya Sabai Resort, buffet breakfasts, four rounds of golf with cart and caddy, all transfers in Thailand, competitions, trophies and prizes.

In 2011, Social Golf Australia (SGA) partnered with Thailand Golf Tours (TGT) to establish an annual international amateur golf event. In 2014, the third SGA International will be held from March 8 – 15 in Pattaya, a beach resort south of Bangkok. The courses for the event include The Old Course, The Plantation Course and the new Waterside Course at Siam Country Club and the magnificent Laem Chabang International Country Club designed by Jack Nicklaus.

The ASGCC and the SGA International attract adventurous amateurs from around Australia who enjoy the experience of playing in a professional tournament atmosphere. According to Matthew Pitt from SGA, the free trip to Thailand has added a great deal of excitement to the ASGCC and Jock was a very popular winner.

“Entries in the ASGCC grew by 25% this year and the chance to win free entry in the SGA International has been a significant factor. It is the biggest prize we present and we were delighted it went to a quality person and gentleman golfer. Jock has played with us in the past in our Vic SGA Tour events, is a regular at the ASGCC and is great fella to enjoy a game of golf with.”

The SGA International is a 72-hole single stableford tournament with the four rounds spread over seven days. The event is a luxury

Where: Country Club Tasmania When: 29th November – 1st December Info: www.australianfatherandsongolf.com

Jock Lum is up for fun and lets his clothes and his clubs do the talking as he has a good time playing in an SGA Tour event. golf experience held on superb courses and all golfers have their own cart and caddie for each day of golf. The number of entries doubled in the second year and strong bookings already for 2014, Pitt expects the numbers to continue to grow.

“The key to the success for any golf event is having great people involved and in the first two years we had a large group of adventurous golfers in Thailand who were determined to have a good time. Many said it was the best golf trip they had ever been on and are planning to return. There is already a lot of interest in the 2014 SGA International and we are expecting a big field to join Jock and myself in Thailand next March.”

The 2014 ASGCC will be held on from August 24 to 28 with golfers playing at some of the best courses on the Gold Coast. The event features over $15,000 of prizes thanks to sponsors Mercure Gold Coast Resort, Thailand Golf Tours, Golf Clearance Outlet, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Heathcote Winery and Inside Golf.

Event information and ASGCC entry forms are available from Social Golf Australia’s website.

Bookings for the 2014 SGA International are open now with a range of package options available. To enter or for more information, go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au and click on the SGA International logo or contact Matthew Pitt from SGA directly on (03) 5433 3213 or 0425 742 501. Inside Golf is proud to support the SGA International and provide event coverage and results. •

Aussie junior smashes US rivals MELBOURNE’S Karl Vilips has won an elite junior tournament in the US. Playing in the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) Florida Junior event at Black Diamond Ranch, Karl easily took out the boys 14 years and under division after rounds of 70-76 for a 146 total.

He finished 20 shots clear of runner-up Brandon McBride (US) with Mexico’s Luis Sanchez next on 173.

In the first round, Karl played nearly flawless golf playing his last eight holes in three-under-par.

He got off to a slow start in the final round when he registered a quadruple-bogey on the third hole on the Quarry Course.

From that point on though, he was able to navigate the golf course in one-under par to finish with a four-over 76.

In that stretch, Karl made eight consecutive pars and dominated the 80

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

8th Annual Australian Father & Son Open Golf Championship

demanding quarry holes (Nos. 13-17) playing them in two-under par.

He credits his preparation on the greens as the key to his success in the Florida Junior.

“If I putted how I normally played, I would have missed a lot of short putts,” Karl said.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with my coach which has helped me.”

The Florida Junior featured elite junior golfers aged 9-19 representing 19 countries and 10 states competing for national recognition and IJGT merit points. • FOOTNOTE: The IJGT provides ELITE junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. The IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually and three international events.

Former Riversdale Golf Club member Karl Vilips credits attending clinics at Royal Melbourne for his success.

Is there a better way for a father and son to learn about life and each other than by playing a round of golf together?

The Championship is a 2 ball aggregate stableford which will be played over 36 holes. The best father and son team score over the two days will be crowned the ultimate winners of the Australian Father and Son Open Championship for 2013. Each winning player will receive a replica of the perpetual trophy. 2nd and 3rd place runners up will receive trophies.

The full entrance fee is $585pp, includes 3 night’s accommodation with breakfast and all other inclusions (such as golf, gala dinner, cocktail party etc.) Entry fee without accommodation is $195pp and does not include the Gala dinner. Cost to attend the Gala dinner is an additional $75pp.

For more information: contact Eric Roberts (03) 6394 4158, eric.roberts7@bigpond.com.

Men’s NSW Senior Foursomes Medal

The 2014 Men’s NSW Senior Foursomes Medal will be played at Kogarah Golf Club on Monday 14 January 2014.

The format is stroke play over one round of 18-holes Foursomes. The Men’s Senior Foursomes Medal is open to male amateurs whose individual handicap does not exceed 18 at the date of entry, and are 55 years of age or over (65 years of age or over for the over 65’s section) as at the first day of play.

This event will be held in conjunction with the Women’s Summer Foursomes, which in past years has proved very successful.

Entries for this event are now open. Online entries are $60 per pair or $70 per pair for all other forms of entry.

Prizes are awarded in both scratch and nett.

Entries close: Wednesday 18 December 2013 at 5.00pm.

Full event details are available at www.golfnsw.org •

Women’s Summer Foursomes

The 2014 Women’s Summer Foursomes is being held at Kogarah Golf Club on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 January 2014. The tournament is open to female amateurs whose individual handicap does not exceed 32 at the date of entry.

The format of day 1 is 18-hole Scratch Stroke Foursomes with the top four pairings qualifying for Match Play on Tuesday 15. The Semi Finals will be played on Tuesday morning with the two remaining pairings playing the final on Tuesday afternoon.

Traditionally the Summer Foursomes is a strongly contested event with teams being represented from around the state. Last year’s event was held at Cromer Golf Club.

For the third year running this event will be held in conjunction with the 2013 Men’s NSW Foursomes Medal.

This event will be played on Monday 14 January 2013.

Prizes awarded for the Summer Foursomes Tournament will be in three Divisions: • Match Play Winners–Trophies • Match Play Runners up • 18 Holes Nett Winners • 18 Holes Nett Runner up • 18 Holes Scratch Winners Entries are now open–$90 – Handicap Limit 32 individual.

To enter, or for more information visit www.golfnsw.org.

Entries close Wednesday 18 December at 5pm.

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the 19th hole

The return to mediocrity ed@insidegolf.com.au

I always bogey the first hole.

Well it feels like it anyway. It doesn’t seem like I walk to the second tee after a par very often.

No birdies, no pars, just bogeys. It irks me no end. But the reason for this is no mystery.

My pre-round routine consists throwing on my golf shoes, paying for the round, grabbing a drink (coffee if it’s morning) and I’m at the first tee with a good three or four minutes to get my putting stroke in order.

My lengthy putting practice session finishes with a couple of short putts just to hear the rattle of the ball in the hole to give me a little psychological confidence, I give it a few practice swings as I shoot the breeze with my partners on the tee and away we go.

It’s hardly surprising I make so few early pars given my extensive warm-up routine.

So it came as a complete shock when I made an opening hole birdie recently.

A pitch in from 25 metres was followed by a few pars and a greenside bunker shot rattled home several holes later. It was one of those rounds where I was scoring better than I was playing. No one says that, ever.

Upon walking off the 18th green I’d carded my best ever round of golf which was a surprise to say the least. Not to mention the fact I mentioned in this column several months ago that I’d begun to wonder if my previous best

ever golf score was as good as it gets. Clearly, it wasn’t.

For days afterwards, I was giddy at this “new achievement unlocked” until I read a chapter from Daniel Khaneman’s book “Thinking Fast and Slow”.

The book is an overview on human cognitive bias and our inability to overcome it, and it includes a chapter on a concept known as “regression to the mean”. It’s an enlightening, obvious and depressing concept. Especially depressing after you’ve just excelled at your

weekend hobby of choice.

Applied to golf, it says that if a golfer plays an extremely good (or extremely bad) round of golf, it will tend to be closer to his/her average score the following round. And it applies to professional golfers too.

We’ve all seen it before. The young, rookie golfer comes out in the opening round of a big tournament and shoots the lights out only to fall back to earth the next day. Or conversely, the tournament’s big name golfer shoots a disappointingly high score in the first round

READER LETTER:

My Friday the 13th freak round Steve Herzberg Inside Golf reader

Friday September 13th, 2013. I’ll never forget it. A 6.45am tee time in the Friday competition at Bonnie Doon. A chance for a quick 18 holes, a coffee and then back to work in the afternoon.

Quickly searching through my bag for a new ball to tee off with, I find one, right down at the bottom of my bag. A Srixon Z star, still in its box. He must have been hiding down there for almost a year. Now that I found him it would be rude to not let him come out to play today.

I teed off with no expectations, other than to enjoy the round and to accept whatever the Golfing Gods decided to offer me on this day.

A nice, smooth 3-wood found the fairway on the first. I was 145 meters out into a light southerly. I take a smooth 6-iron. Good contact, but it drifted into a green-side bunker. A clean bunker shot left me six feet above the hole with a tricky left-to-right putt. As luck would have it, my partner putts before me, on my line. He makes his putt and gives me a great read. I sink mine and I’m away with an opening par.

As the round started to unfold I noticed that my ball striking, with my irons in particular, was 82

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

unusually crisp. Seemed a bit odd. When you play off 16, you don’t expect to keep hitting the ball crisply.

After four holes I’m one over. Three pars and a bogie. A strong start. On the 5th, an uphill par-3 of 140 meters I drop-kick my tee shot and leave it 20 meters short in a bunker.

Again, like the first, I somehow manage to get up and down, drifting a 10-foot downhill putt in to the cup.

The next three holes are strong par-4s. This is where a round can start to unravel, quite quickly. I go bogie, double bogie, bogie and suddenly find myself at five over. I par the 9th to finish with 22 points for the front-9. A really good start.

The tenth is a classic short par-4, with a tight, narrow green. My hybrid off the tee finds trouble. I weigh up my options and sensibly, for once, decide to chip back on to the fairway. 70 meters out, downwind, I hit the crispest pitch shot I can remember in years. It runs up to five feet from the pin. The putt for par slips by and I tap in for a 5 to go to 6-over.

Another bogie on 11 and I’m 7 over and heading North. This round could easily disappear like so many others have beforehand.

I know at this stage in my golf career that you

must never fight the Golfing Gods. Only they have the power to decide what will happen to my ball after it leaves my club.

The final 7 holes were amazing. Three birdies, three pars and one bogie.

I finished with 25 points on the back-9. 47 points! 73 off the stick. I’ve only broken 80 once in a frustrating on-and-off 20-year golf career.

When I went in to the clubhouse for a coffee with my playing partners we briefly discussed what we had witnessed. One of them, a solid two-marker, said that I must have been in the zone. I hadn’t really considered it until then, but I think he was right. It really does exist.

It sounds clichéd, but I just kept going one shot at a time. I tried not to think about what might happen. Just got comfortable over each shot and let it happen.

For whatever reason on Sep 13, 2013 the Golfing Gods decided that I was in their good books. I was the chosen one. My Srixon ball was so well behaved. I’m tempted to give him a year off. He’s the only ball I have ever played with who has behaved himself for an entire round.

For all of you 16-plus markers out there, next time you tee it up, look up to the sky.

You might be the chosen one on that day. Just smile if you are and enjoy every minute of it. •

Michael Green is an avid golf fanatic, and the author/blogger of the Aussie Golfer blog (www.aussiegolfer.net) one of Australia’s most popular golf blogging sites. Follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/AussieGolfer) or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AussieGolfer

The quick nine quiz With David Newbery 1. How many tournaments did Tiger Woods win on the US PGA Tour in 2013?

2. How many players won more than $US1 million in prizemoney on the US PGA Tour in 2013 – 62, 72, 82 or 92?

3. Which American golfer finished seventh on the US PGA Tour’s money list, banked $US4.4m and failed to win a tournament – Keegan Bradley, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker or Dustin Johnson?

4. Through the green, is it permissible for a player to remove loose impediments from the area in which he is preparing to drop his ball?

5. Which golfer did the PGA of Australia fine for making derogatory remarks about Royal Melbourne in 1974 – Gary Player, Bob Shearer, Lee Trevino or Norman von Nida?

6. What honour did golfer Graham Marsh and his cricketing brother Rod receive in 1982?

7. Can you name the winners of this year’s four majors?

8. Tom Watson graduated from Stanford University with a degree in psychology – true or false?

9. How old is former world number one Laura Davies?

ANSWERS: (1). Five; (2). 82; (3). Steve Stricker; (4).

Yes; (5). Lee Trevino; (6). The MBE; (7). Adam Scott (Masters), Justin Rose (US Open), Phil Mickelson (Open) and Jason Dufner (US PGA); (8). True; (9). 50.

Michael Green

only to emerge as a contender thanks to a good second round.

Historically, this statistical concept of “regression to the mean” was once known as “reversion to mediocrity”, which is definitely more “glass half full” and makes my current aversion to golf a little more obvious.

I haven’t picked up a golf club since I walked off the golf course that day with a huge grin on my face.

“That’s what it’s all about”, someone uttered, followed by someone else yelling, “It doesn’t get any better than that!” Oh no, was that it?

Was that my best ever? Is there nothing not to look forward to?

If my extremely good score was quite literally extreme, then it’s clear where this is all heading; back to mediocrity.

In truth, I’ve struggled to find the time to play over the past few weeks but I’ve hardly been jumping out of my skin to get back on course.

It’s almost certainly going to be average and knowing this before I play is just mean.

But I’ve learned a couple of things from this extreme high and depressing low.

Stop reading books, it’ll mess with your golf game. And secondly, the next time I play an extremely bad game of golf, I’ll be walking off the golf course with a huge grin on my face, ‘cause I’ll know what will happen the next time I play. •

the 19th hole

Baba Booey, hooey!

Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

The Aussie Summer of Golf is now in full swing and I, for one, am excited! In fact I’m prepared to even say “Wow”. Actually, no I’m not. If the truth be known, I hate the term “Wow” mainly because it gets an absolute smashing on every American televised golf event I have watched for the past ten years.

Every time I take a rip at anything American, I leave myself vulnerable to some serious subediting by my long-suffering American ex-pat, friend and Editor of Inside Golf, Richard Fellner.

I really like Richard, who also answers to Rich, Dick, or Johnson, and I respect his patriotism for his country of birth but I reckon even he hates “Wow” and, for that matter, some of those loud American random rants which are yelled right after a player has hit a drive.

“Get in the hole!” and “You da Man” were the first to hit the airwaves back in the days when the only sound they had to compete with was a soft rubbery noise made by a small piece of persimmon tree meeting a balatacovered sphere.

The advent of 460 decibels of titanium travelling at 120 mph, making contact with

a substance called urethane which can’t be scuffed with a stump grinder, has now pushed our friends to find new, louder and just as witty-less aphorisms. “Mash Potatoes!” and “Baba Booey!” are the latest offerings I heard over this year’s American Majors.

Even though it usually occurs on a 600-metre par-five tee, I kind of see the point to “Get in the hole!” These obviously visually-impaired supporters may not be aware the player is probably going to need another couple of shots before he can reach the green and therefore be a contender for his nut to actually “Get in the Hole!” but it is meant to be encouraging. And I think “You da Man!” is something meaning “I would love to be like you because you’re really cool and should probably appear in the next Quentin Tarantino movie alongside Samuel L Jackson”.

“Mash Potatoes” just doesn’t have that same message of power, accuracy or, for that matter, cool-dudeness. Unless of course you’re in the audience at a Masterchef cook-off.

And what on this good Earth is Baba Booey?

According to “Urban Dictionary”, it was a nickname for Howard Stern show producer Gary Dell’Abate. And I quote “Gary Dell’Abate from Howard Stern show collected animation originals. Whilst on air one day, he mistakenly thought the cartoon character Baba Looey (Quick Draw McGraw’s sidekick), was actually Baba Booey. After the broadcast, Gary was heard to say ‘Well, I’m glad that joke’s over’.”

Little did he know. The name has stuck and apparently handed Stern a licence take the “Snakes Hiss” out of his colleague for the rest of his sad life as a radio producer. Stern, who sounds like he has the sense of humour of a serial killer, has added many variances such as “Tatatoothy” in reference to Dell’Abate’s abnormally large teeth, and “Mamamonkey” due to his vague resemblance to a primate.

I don’t know about you, but I reckon that makes about as much sense as having Ivan Milat driving the pennant team bus! I suppose it could work if you were watching John Daly play the 11th hole at The Lakes right after he’d been fitted with his new dentures. If he returns for another crack at the Australian Open, he might find some Golf Australia officials who would be more than happy help him remove

the old ones.

I’m going to put forward a couple of my own and as always I welcome your feedback.

What do you think? “Let one rip mate!”, or “Have a go, you Wuss!”, or “Stop perving at my wife Tiger!!”

I think this one has real merit: “Hit a Provisional!”

With the fantastic summer of Aussie golf now in full swing, I’m sure there will be a plethora of witty educated and proudly Australian sayings being bandied around the likes of Royal Pines, Royal Melbourne and Royal Sydney. If you need to run them by someone for fear of being royally removed from the course, just send an email to Richard, Rich, Dick or Johnson and he will be happy to sub-edit them for you. •

Full House of Aces for Hunter family The Hunter family of Eastwood Golf Club in Melbourne now hold a full deck of aces after Val Hunter matched the feat of her husband Alby, sons Craig and Glenn and grandson Josh in scoring a hole-in-one on their home course.

In August, Val holed a perfectly-struck wood on the 8th hole to squarely put to rest the bragging rights the men in her family had previously held.

“She had been under pressure from the rest of us to also get her name on the Hole-in-One honour board,” husband Alby laughs.

Alby used a six-iron to score his ace on Eastwood’s 14th hole in March 2001. Eldest son Craig was the first of the five family members to experience the thrill of a hole-in-one when he aced the 17th hole in December 1982. At that time, Eastwood’s nines were reversed and the hole was a shortened version of what is now the 8th hole on the course’s present layout.

After Alby, next to achieve the feat was grandson Josh, who aced the 2nd hole during the Club Championships in February 2009, when just a young teenager.

“Josh, Glenn and I were playing together that day,” Alby recalls.

“It was pretty incredible for young Josh to be the one to do it. Glenn has been one of Eastwood’s longest-serving pennant players and spent a year in the professional ranks, but hadn’t managed a hole-in-one himself at that stage.

Instead, he got to watch his son beat him to it.”

That missing achievement from Glenn’s

The Ace-high Hunter family (from l to r): Alby, Glenn, Val, Josh and Craig. golfing CV was rectified when he holed his tee shot on the 14th at Eastwood on Boxing Day last year.

All five members of the Hunter family have made an outstanding contribution to Eastwood Golf Club on and off the course. In aggregate, their combined membership tenures total almost 130 years.

As a 48-year member and past Chairman, Vice Chairman, Captain and Vice Captain,

Alby’s service has been recognised with Life Membership of the Club, whilst Craig has held the position of Treasurer since 2001.

Now aged 18, Josh is one of Eastwood’s most promising young players and an established member of the Club’s Junior Pennant team. He is currently off a handicap of 5, slightly higher than his father Glenn (3) and lower than his uncle Craig (8).

Both Alby and Val are rebounding from health

issues which have impacted on their games. In 2011, Alby endured major heart surgery with an aortic valve inserted and a bypass carried out, whilst Val has recovered from a recent hip replacement.

Having been a single figure handicapper for most of his life, Alby’s mark blew out to the mid teens following his return to golf after his surgery. He admits the recovery has been slow, but his mark has now lowered to 11 and is heading back down towards its customary level.

Val plays off 31 and says she had never envisaged achieving a hole-in-one.

“It’s alright for Alby and the boys. They are low handicappers and might expect that sort of thing,” she suggests.

The 8th hole at Eastwood is on a slope and the cup is not visible to the players from the tee. Walking up to the green, Val thought her ball must have run through the back.

“I used a small wood and it was one of the sweetest shots I have ever hit on that hole,” she comments.

“It was beautiful off the club and I knew the ball had to have landed on the green somewhere close to the pin. I went to the back of the green and the ball wasn’t there. The only other option had to be the hole and, sure enough, it was in there.”

All that awaits now is for the signwriter to add Val’s name to Eastwood’s Hole-in-One honour board alongside the four other members of her family to complete a remarkable story. • www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

83

the 19th hole

Gary Player still chipping in Buggy ends THE Gary Player Classic has been going for 42 years and the man the tournament was named after is still chipping in to make sure juniors play in a high-class tournament in three age divisions.

The Classic, which attracts an international field of more than 200 top-class juniors, has been played at Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane’s southeast for the past 40 years.

According to Golf Queensland officials, Gary Player still contributes financially to the highly successful tournament.

Others, too, like Bob Menzies from Adina Watches make a major contribution. In fact, Bob has been supporting the tournament for more than 25 years.

The winners and runners-up in each division (15 years and under, 16-17 years and 18-20 years) each receive a quality Adina watch.

For those six players, there definitely are no excuses to miss a tee time.

up in creek

MONEY GAME: Legendary South African Gary Player hams it up with Inside Golf journalist David Newbery.

Money found and lost FOR a couple of Golf Queensland rules officials on duty at the 42nd Gary Player Classic played at Brisbane’s Pacific Golf Club it was a case of now you see it, now you don’t.

The tournament’s volunteers spied a $5 note floating in a water hazard near the 16th green, but it was just out of their reach.

Not wanting to let an opportunity pass, onequick thinking official grabbed a stick and tried to fish out the “lost” note.

He wasn’t having much luck when a competitor from the tournament’s 15-16 years’ division arrived, grabbed his ball retriever and rescued the money and two virtually brandnew Pro V1 golf balls.

The kid was quick to pocket the money and golf balls and was on his way leaving the officials somewhat bewildered.

Still, they weren’t too unhappy to see the enterprising young lad pocket the cash.

Perhaps a more vindictive rules person might have penalised the young man for slow play, but not this pair.

Meanwhile, another former high-ranking Golf Queensland (GQ) official and now volunteer official / rules expert had more luck in the money stakes – albeit a few years ago.

In the lead-up to an important amateur event at Pacific Harbour Golf Club, he noticed a hazard wasn’t adequately marked.

He returned early the next morning and as he was about to hammer in the hazard stake, he noticed a $20 note at the exact spot he had visited a day earlier.

As they say, winners are grinners and losers can cry in their beer … or something like that.

A JUNIOR golfer contesting the Gary Player Classic could only watch in horror as his golf bag and buggy, which he thought he had parked securely near the 10th hole, raced 50 metres down a steep embankment and into the water.

A group of lads, who were playing on the adjoining fairway, watched the incident unfold and laughed their heads off.

A course official patrolling the area heard the laughter and boys shouting, “it’s going to go in – it’s going to go in”.

The official thought they were referring to an approach shot to the green, but he soon realised they were laughing at the runaway buggy.

The youngster in question noticed his buggy on the move, but he wasn’t quick enough to stop it finding the water and sinking to the bottom.

The official helped pull the submerged bag and buggy from its watery grave.

The young fellow was soon on his way – albeit with a very wet bag, clubs and a bruised ego.

Numbers add up at Yamba GC THERE’S good news out of Yamba Golf Club in northern New South Wales.

After the club’s recent $17,500 pro-am, major sponsor Crowe Horwath – who provide practical accounting, audit, tax, business and financial advice – agreed to a new five-year sponsorship agreement with the club’s pro-am and Yamba Open.

That’s music to the ears for the 55 professionals and 100 amateurs who took part in the pro-am, won by Sam Brazel.

Brazel carded rounds of 68-67 for a 135 total – nine-under-par. He finished three shots clear of Korean visiting professional Jun Seok Lee. Meanwhile, Duncan’s Carpet Cleaners sponsored a $1000 shootout on the 10th hole at the completion of the event and Sam Brazel added to his winnings with a great shot, which finished close to the flag.

The amateur shootout winner was local professional John Wright’s son, Mackenzie.

Congratulations!

Well done, Inside Golf, on your 100th Edition!

- From all of us at Golf NSW

Waugh makes move

Shani Waugh

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

AUSTRALIAN Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) president and golf coach Shani Waugh is on the move – albeit a short five-kilometre journey.

“I have decided to move my business from Sanctuary Resort to Bunbury Golf Club,” the West Coast Eagles fan told Inside Golf.

“I have been a member at Bunbury forever so it’s exciting to be back there.

“We haven’t had a professional at Bunbury in residence for 15 years.”

Waugh said Bunbury had developed a reputation as one of the best courses in the state.

“The West Australian professionals voted it the best tournament golf course in WA two years ago so it’s a great course and the facilities are pretty good,” she said.

“But it’s just trying to work out what its identity is at the moment.”

Aside from her ALPG role, Waugh spends most of her time looking after her young daughter and giving lessons.

“Until my daughter starts school, I can only be a teaching professional.”

Soccer + footy + golf = winner!

Last month, Callaway Golf lent its golf expertise to Etihad Stadium’s “A Night on the Green,” a function organised for the Melbourne stadium’s Medallion Club members and guests.

Callaway used the event to help launch its new Legacy Black collection of ultra-premium products, which hit select retailers this month.

With the empty stadium as a backdrop and the roof slightly open, guests had an opportunity to hit wedge shots along the boundary line and test the Legacy Black Driver

on launch monitors in Callaway’s portable hitting bays with their shot results displaying on the stadium scoreboards. After dinner, international and Melbourne Victory soccer star Harry Kewell, along with actor/model Scott McGregor, took aim at a pin 150 metres away from a Level 2 tee box built for the night.

Guests followed by taking part in a closest-tothe-pin contest from the same tee box, with the winner taking home a new set of Callaway Legacy Black clubs. •

the 19th hole

One direction for golf

Pro pops the question VICTORIAN professional Michael Moore had more than golf on his mind when he ventured to Vanuatu to contest the Tusker Vanuatu Open.

Moore, a consistent performer on the Australian Tour, had an ulterior motive when he invited his girlfriend to join him in Vanuatu.

It’s nerve-racking enough trying to eke out a living as a professional golfer, but Moore showed nerves of steel prior to teeing off in the event when he used a tropical island scene

hosted at One Direction and their friends were Two members of global pop sensation ship, last pion cham golf the Perth International Lake Karrinyup Country Club, home of concerts. month during a visit to Perth for two 18 holes right) and Niall Horan (far left) played from d (thir s Style y Harr ’s One Direction after they rted repo s ds and security staff and Style on the championship course with frien e. gam the played badly he still won came off the course that although he

Crossword 1

and have been seeking a property to renovate for some time. Interestingly the buyer’s family-owned timber business commenced in Queensland in the late 1800’s.

The vendors, retired church ministers Ken & Ruth Hill, have recently bought in the Scenic Rim and settled in September.

Cranbourne’s three aces in a day Cranbourne Golf Club’s challenging 163m signature hole was no match for three of the club’s members: Gary Keen, Sydney Kahn and Leo Lipp SATURDAY, September 21 was shaping up as just another competition day for the members of Victoria’s Cranbourne Golf Club – that was until an extraordinary triple-treat.

In the 190-strong field were Gary Keen, Sydney Kahn and Leo Lipp, who went on to defy the holein-one odds when they each scored an ace at the challenging 163m par-3 14th hole.

That’s right – three aces in one day at the same hole.

Starting on the 10th tee, Gary Keen, who plays off an 18 handicap, got the ball rolling when his perfectly-struck hybrid found the cup tucked tight behind the front bunker.

Cranbourne’s assistant manager Cameron Mott said the bunker “normally swallows everything that comes near it”.

About an hour later, Sydney Kahn, who plays off 16, landed his first hole-in-one after golfing for four decades.

Using his trusty five-iron, Syd’s ball was all over the flag, but when he arrived at the green he couldn’t find it.

He thought it was one of the two golf balls in the front bunker, but, no, it had settled at the bottom of the cup.

In the afternoon field, 15-marker Leo Lipp, too, used a five-iron to land his hole-in-one.

He immediately called his mate Syd, who thought he was “having a lend”.

Mott said the 14th was the club’s signature hole.

“It’s a long carry over a thick bracken plantation,” he said. “Mostly there are strong cross winds and the back-to-front sloping green is protected by four large bunkers.

“It’s a true test of golfing ability.

“It was an unbelievable day and one that would be a very rare occurrence at clubs around the world.

“With only 190 players in the field, it meant there was a hole-in-one for every 63 players.”

For the record, Gary Keen racked up 45 stableford points to win the competition.

FOOTNOTE: In 2012, Cranbourne was voted Golf Club of the Year – Clubs Victoria Awards for Excellence.

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‘Checkendon’ sold under the hammer Heritage-listed “Checkendon” (circa 1897), one of the oldest properties in the Brisbane inner city suburb of Chelmer (and Brisbane’s first golf clubhouse), sold under the hammer last month at the ‘Riverside Centre. The knock price was $615,000.

The buyers are from nearby Indooroopilly

and full moon over the ocean to propose to his long-time partner Kerry at nearby Hideaway Island.

“It was a wonderful moment and we really enjoyed our time in Vanuatu so I was very happy I decided on popping the question then and there,” he said.

For the record, Moore went on to finish in a tie for fourth and banked a cheque for more than $1800.

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1. Digits that represent a golfer’s score on each hole (7) 5. Map of a golf course, possibly (7) 9. Hit a golfball in (5) 10. Handicaps (9) 11 & 19-down Winner of the 2013 FedExCup (6,7) 12. Winner of the 2013 BMW Championship, Zach _______ (7) 14. Stymie (6) 16. Hazard (8) 18. Winner of the 2013 Cox Classic on the Web.com Tour, Bronson (2’6) 21. Muscle fibre, for example (6) 24. Mechanical devices for planting grass, say (7) 25. Adulation (6) 27. All-consuming (9) 28. Golf clubs (5) 30. Provide monetary support, as a sponsor would do (7) 31. Maintains a lead, but only just (5,2)

Answers: page 89

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1. Runaway winner of the 2013 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Seung-Yul ___ (3) 2. A confused, noisy conflict (5) 3. Recommend (a product) for money (7) 4. Single shot in golf (6) 5. Sedentary office work (4,3) 6. A swing and a miss with a club (3,4) 7. Backpacks (9) 8. The most prolific winner in the history of the European Seniors Tour, Carl _____ (5) 13 & 15-down Winner of The Open Championship in 2013 (4,9) 16. Number of shots needed to score an ace (3) 17. Not under or over par (4) 19. See 11-across 20. Motivate (7) 22. Nationality of European player Francesco Molinari (7) 23. American who finished tied-second at the 2013 TOUR Championship, Jordan _____(6) 24. Eat greedily (5) 26. Often elaborate golf-wear (5) 29. Source of radiation to be aware of on the golf course (3) www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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your say

Letter of the Month

Living the private life Re: “Is private to public change imminent?”

(Sept issue). All I can say is, let’s hope so!

I thought I’d share my experience from a recent weekend.

When the Cats were knocked out of the finals series, my interest in the Grand Final waned. A few of my mates were in the same boat. Saturday seemed a perfect opportunity to have a hit of golf, then a couple of beers to watch the footy in the afternoon. I’ve been living in Qld for 5 years, and only get home to Melbourne once every 3-4 months, so opportunities to get together with my mates and have a hit are few and far between. I was staying at my family’s place in Torquay, also where my best mate lives. We tried to book a round (called Tuesday morning to Saturday tee off ) for four at three different clubs in the area. All three clubs told us the Saturday was ‘members only’ and turned us away.

We would have each been happy to pay $60 for a round, probably buy a bag of balls each, buy a couple of rounds in the clubhouse, etc. So, maybe spend $100 each for the day.

I would like to be able to convey this message to the next Club member who cries foul at having to fund clubhouse upgrades/ repairs: Just imagine if the Club let my group on, and maybe 3 other groups for the day.

One ‘public’ group every two hours between 7am & 3pm. $1600. There’s a week’s wages for one or two full-time groundstaff. Would any members have been denied a game? I doubt they’d even know, unless they scour

the annual report and wonder where all the extra revenue came from.

My group are all in our late 20’s. We’re what I’d call “Bradmans” on a golf course. None of us have a handicap, but we’ll probably bowl around a course and hit between 90-105 on any given day. A few down the middle, most not. I replace my divots—all 2-3 of them as I’m rarely hitting off the short stuff.

This is just a small test case on this topic.

The area from Grovedale to Torquay is one of the fastest-growing demographics in Victoria.

In the near future, I’ll be relocating myself and my fiancée down there from QLD. In a few years we might have some young kids.

It’s where young families are going. By 2030, the projected number of children enrolled in schools in the region is expected to rise from 6000 to 18000. Young parents like myself won’t pay $800+ upfront for a membership for the 3-4 rounds we’ll play for the year.

For the record, we just didn’t play. Surely that’s the wrong message to come from the industry.

Damien Iannazzo

Men, and only men

The Cup runneth...and disappointeth

I am a female member at Redcliffe Golf Club.

Every Monday my husband and I look forward to playing in the vets comp. I am treated like one of the guys and we play in the comp.

Every so often North Brisbane vets come to our club and we play with them in their competition.

However once a year the Brisbane vets come to our course. This happened a few months ago. I rang them up to put down my husband and my name to play in the comp.

They accepted my husband but refused to let me play, as women do not play in their club.

I asked why, and was told it’s ‘men only’.

Surely in this day and age this should not be allowed? I told the gentleman I was talking to that this is the 21st century, not the 16th.

He was not amused with me and hung up.

Needless to say, neither my husband nor myself played.

Fiona Phillips, via email

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via email at ed@insidegolf.com.au or mail a letter to: The Editor, Inside Golf, PO Box 360 Nunawading, Vic 3131. Tell an interesting story or something funny about golf and you could WIN a prize like this month’s GolfBuddy Voice GPS unit!

While our Internationals were not completely flogged, the lack of experience and practice in this type of event is showing. Coming together every two years to compete against a seasoned US team, who are playing every year (Ryder Cup & Presidents Cup), our boys are not getting enough of this type of golf.

I would like to suggest during the alternate year to the Presidents Cup, when the Ryder Cup is played, the Internationals compete in a similar type of event. Selected teams of eligible players from Australia, Africa and New Zealand (AA & NZ) to compete against the best in Asia, like the Europeans and GB&I did with the Seve Trophy during the Presidents Cup. The Europeans have become ver y competitive in the Ryder Cup, even on US soil. I believe this experience gained from the Seve Trophy is the main reason for this.

Mike Knudsen, via email Editor’s note: We agree Mike. We have been making this point for a while, and have even called for an Australia vs South Africa type of competition. Watch this space!

Supers and The Augusta Effect I would like to congratulate you on your articles about course set up (The Augusta Effect, October, and Why does it have to be Super Tough, September). Not only do I support your views, but would add that after having been closely involved in the development of a leading sandbelt course some years ago, I remain concerned about the stress placed not only on course staff (who have an extraordinarily difficult task) but particularly on the health of the bent grass on our greens.

One only has to consider the effect of stress on the greens following the preparation and maintenance during a tournament, to be concerned about the possible detrimental effect of the ‘Augusta Effect’, in the long term.

I suspect that it is resulting in the earlier break down of condition of the bent grasses requiring more maintenance and replacement.

Ian L, via email Thank goodness someone has had the guts to say something about the egos of course superintendents and club committees. I have been playing golf in Melbourne and surrounds since 1974 and I have seen a marked change in the way courses have been built and established. The modern course is a member’s nightmare as the committees try and set them up as Augusta look-alikes. I am a member of a golf course in Melbourne and really it is a nightmare for the ordinary golfer to enjoy the round. There are many other courses set up the same way and it is no wonder member golfers are leaving clubs. It has not become an enjoyable experience to play especially as you get older and cannot hit the ball out of sight as you once did.

Also green fees are becoming more expensive to the cost of club members. We are still one of the places in the world for cheap golf but it is becoming more expensive and, once again, egos persist in their endeavours to see how high their course appears on the course rating list.

Congrats on a very good article.

John Stone, via email Fast greens, pure green fairways & tees and white bunker sand...we are bound to an extent by the PGA Tour and what golfers see on TV. “They have it, so why can’t we?” is the question I’ve been asked time and time again at board level. The truth is that the PGA tournament course has been primped and preened for months (or years, for major tournaments) to the level required. Budgets are increased, extra staff are brought in. Fertiliser applications are increased, turf heights are lowered, greens are topdressed more regularly, etc. The same course 6 months down the track then goes back to “reality” of how it looks normally.

Jack Leworthy, via our website I think most club golfers are high B-Grade and C-Grade players, not many A-grade players.

Yet committees tend to cater for the small minority of A-graders to give them a challenge.

Therefore the majority of the golfers end up playing a much more difficult course because of pin placements and green speeds, which is very difficult for these players. They then complain it is the green keeper’s fault.

A green keepers’ job is to keep the course in the best possible condition all year round… that is enough of a challenge for them.

TM, via email A course near me has lost 250 members recently. In a redesign, they made the course too tricky for older golfers. Now they are financially struggling. Larry Canning is right and, of course, industry people would not like the idea of being criticised.

Russell H, via email My course in Sydney was a beautiful old course, has been butchered by the course designers at the behest of Committee members who couldn’t “see” the plans. Greens that resemble roller coaster rides, wastelands that trap all but the best shots, because they are exactly where B and C graders hit the ball!

No more shade from trees, lots of rolling, narrow fairways that deposit balls in the rough. And the next three holes are being destroyed as we speak.

It is time for directors and committees to build courses for everyone, not just the best.

Rob Domabyl, via email Here at Bargara, the Super has made the course more playable by trimming our rows of she-oaks, and poisoning under all the treelines. Rough is non-existent after the first cut but you are left with shots played under trees off pine needles if you do stray from the fairways. Very rarely are balls lost unless hit into water hazards resulting in quicker play and less frustration. We recently hosted the Legends Pro-Am where Rodger Davis shot 68, 72--four under to win. Only two pros managed to break par for two rounds combined. The next weekend in the monthly medal off the same tees there were plenty of net 67, 68 and 69s from A, B and C graders as well as the women. It is a credit to our greens staff and committees when the visiting professionals comment on the great condition of the course and the playability of it and it is their ability that dictates their scores, not the difficulty of the course.

Geoff Peard, via email What is about clubs who attempt to make their course so difficult it becomes almost impossible to enjoy the game? Recently a group of us played a course on the South Coast, with the number one rated hole more than 400 metres uphill and into the wind. Two reasonable shots left me with a “bump and run” that I hit to within a metre of the flag.

Well, it WAS a metre away until the steep tier across the green, just one metre short of the flag, took over and sent my ball 15 metres from the hole. A “tap-in” par turned into a struggling six! And there were similar problems around the course that had more tricks than the Pommie magician Dynamo.

All eight of us agreed we would not venture back to that course during our seven-day stay in the area. And that’s the crunch, as Larry pointed out. Surely it is all about repeat customers if a golf club wants to be successful.

Make the course playable, and enjoyable.

We’re not playing the British Open.

Owen Dally, via email

All letters received by Inside Golf may be modified or edited for content or length. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Inside Golf.

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Issue 01 // Nov 2013

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December 2013 | INSIDE TRAVEL

1

FROM THE

Editor

COINCIDING with our landmark 100th issue of Inside Golf, we are proud to introduce the first issue of Inside Golf Travel; a magazine that we hope will soon match the immense success of Inside Golf and become one of Australia’s most read golf travel publications. Our love for travel is almost as great as our love of golf, so it is with great joy that we bring you a magazine that celebrates both!

From local world-class golfing journeys like those along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, to the exotic and exciting overseas destinations like China, Thailand and beyond, we aim to highlight the very best golf experiences available.

Best of all, just like Inside Golf, we want this to be YOUR magazine.

So drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au and tell us about the destinations and courses you’d like us to feature. Share your travel stories and tips. Send us photos of you and/or your family/friends playing some of your favourite golf courses of the world. We’ll gladly accept it all, and feature it in future issues.

See you on the fairways!

Richard Fellner - Group Editor Cover photo: Port Fairy Golf Club (Rob Blackburn/Tourism Victoria)

REVAMPED COURSE IN BALI SET TO RE-OPEN A REVAMPED Bali National Golf Club at Nusa Dua is set to re-open in December. Formerly known as Bali Golf and Country Club, the course was designed by Nelson Haworth and first opened in 1991.

Rated as one of the five best courses in Asia by Fortune Magazine, it closed for renovations in mid 2012.

The result of the work has completely reinvigorated the course, the layout of which remains essentially the same as the original design.

But its visual appeal and difficulty have been greatly enhanced with new bunkering, rolling greens and an island hole reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

Moreover, a new modern clubhouse has been added that overlooks the par-4 18th, a truly spectacular finishing hole that plays beside a lake, with an approach shot over water to the green.

Siam Country Club’s Plantation Course (pictured) will soon be joined by the new 18-hole Waterside course in February.

New courses to open in

THAILAND ALREADY a popular destination for Australian golfers, Thailand is set to become even more in-demand with the planned opening of new high-end layouts.

Siam Country Club (www.siamcountryclub.com) near Pattaya, which already has a 27-hole Plantation complex and 18-hole Old Course, will open the 18hole Waterside course in February next year.

Waterside will feature a large amount of water on a relatively flat piece of land next to the Plantation course and will have its own clubhouse and facilities.

Siam CC already hosts around 80,000 rounds a year and the addition of Waterside will raise this above 100,000. One policy change being introduced with the new course is that anyone wishing to play the gracious Old Course will have to first play Plantation and Waterside.

The trio of courses are two hours’ drive from

downtown Bangkok.

March will see the unveiling of Nikanti Golf Club, an ultra high-end course near Nakhon Pathom, 50 kilometres west of Bangkok.

Designed by Pirapon Numatra, Nikanti will be a serious contender for best new course in Asia in 2014.

Among features of the new course are an allinclusive rate (set to be about 6000 baht or $A200) that will include green fees, cart, caddie fee and a meal.

Nikanti’s logo is the Thai number 6 (a lucky number in Thailand), signifying the routing of the course in three groups of six holes.

Nikanti is well placed for visitors to Kanchanaburi, starting point of the infamous World War II Burma Railway. Nakhon Pathom is half-way to Kanchanburi, affording visitors the opportunity to play the new course and venture on to this important wartime site.•

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November 2013 2013 || INSIDE INSIDE GOLF GOLF TRAVEL TRAVEL November

3 3

NAROOMA GOLF CLUB a pleasure for all

stay and play at

JOONDALUP RESORT

N

estled in natural bushland, a short 25 minutes drive north of Perth City Centre, Joondalup Resort invites you to meet, dine, sleep and play in tranquil surrounds.

Few courses anywhere in the world offer the dramatic contrasts, the scenic beauty and the sheer golfing challenge of the 27hole championship course at Joondalup Resort. Designed by the internationally renowned Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course presents a tough, uncompromising layout, featuring great variation in setting and style.

This spectacular course sweeps across dense bushland, cuts through steep limestone quarries and skirts picturesque lakes, to present surprises and challenges at almost every turn. One minute you’re playing an approach shot beneath a 30-metre

limestone cliff, the next you’re adapting to the fresh ocean breeze on an undulating links-style fairway.

Experience all Joondalup Resort has to offer and take advantage of one of their Stay and Play Packages. Relax on your bedroom balcony or verandah, indulge with a full body massage, refresh in the lagoon style pool, unwind with a beverage and mouthwatering meal at their award-winning restaurant, and explore the Sunset Coast as well as shopping and entertainment precincts close by.

Special Offer: Inside Golf Readers receive 10% off all Stay and Play Packages.

Offer must be mentioned at time of booking, terms and conditions apply.

More information: www.joondalupresort.com.au

F

or golfers, no visit to the south coast of NSW is complete without playing a round at Narooma’s famous golf course. With its unique and stunning coastal setting the course is both a challenge for serious golfers and a pleasure to play for the not-so-serious.

The third Hole at Narooma has now been officially recognised as one of the country’s best with induction into the Australian Golf Digest Golf Holes Hall of Fame.

Perched atop cliffs jutting over the Pacific Ocean the Narooma Golf Club clubhouse features some of the most spectacular views in Australia.

The Narooma Golf Club has great stay and play packages available, which can be tailored to your individual needs including, accommodation, meals, golf, and a welcome pack.

The modern clubhouse has something for everyone, with non-smoking lounges, four fully-equipped bars plus their friendly and professional staff.

The golf club not only caters for the golfing enthusiast, but also boasts great food from Paul’s on the course, a familyfriendly atmosphere, and a unique and spectacular venue for your next conference, wedding or event.

Paul’s on the Course love to use as much fresh local ingredients they can source with a menu reflecting the abundance of delicious produce the coast has to offer. Their fresh local seafood, for which Narooma is famous, features prominently in the menu.

Please visit their website for more information: www.naroomagolfclub.com.au

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YERING GORGE COTTAGES tick all the boxes

L

ast month, Inside Golf dropped in to the marvelous and tranquil Yering Gorge Cottages, just 45 minutes from the Melbourne CBD. Owned and managed by The Eastern Golf Club, these luxury, self-contained, private spa cottages are located on a private nature reserve on the banks of the Yarra River, alongside the soon-to-be-built Greg Normandesigned golf course where The Eastern will make their planned move in early 2015.

We found the cottages to be extremely comfortable and relaxing, and contained everything you need for a weekend away or short escape. There are eight free-standing one-bedroom cottages (perfect for couples), two free-standing two-bedroom cottages (ideal for families), and two adjoining twobedroom cottages which can be booked

separately or together to create a fourbedroom complex. They feature full kitchens, modern bathrooms with Spa baths, AC/ Heating, gas barbecue, outdoor decks, broadband internet and all the modern conveniences.

Of course, the standout of the stay was walking along the tranquil banks of the Yarra, enjoying the company of the resident wombats, rosellas, rabbits and kangaroos.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the rare white kangaroo that calls the reserve home.

All in all, Yering Gorge Cottages ticks all the boxes for a relaxing getaway, or a homebase for a trip to the Yarra Valley, which is fast becoming a popular destination for both wine and golf enthusiasts. Highly recommended! www.yeringcottages.com.au, phone 03 9739 0110.

J

ohn Dunphy’s 9-day golf tour of Thailand is perfect for the passionate golfer.

Enjoy rounds of golf on four of Thailand’s most beautiful and spectacular golf courses and experience the tropical climate, mouth-watering food and friendly people in The Land of Smiles.

Thoroughly researched by your host, a lifelong golfer and experienced traveller, the destination and golf courses have been carefully selected to create a truly memorable holiday.

Majestic Creek is a 27-hole gem, lying in beautiful countryside just 25 minutes outside of the Royal town of Hua Hin. Recent renovations and re-laying of greens has transformed this sleeping giant into one of the best golfing experiences in this renowned golfing area.

Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence provides world-class golf courses, and boutique lifestyle and facilities to give you

the experience of a lifetime. Set amidst the pristine environment of magnificent green hills and beautiful lakes, the panoramic views are one of a kind.

Award-winning Banyan Golf Resort at Hua Hin is a world-class championship golf and dining facility that has been designed to be enjoyed by players at all levels. The unique contemporary Thai style designed clubhouse features luxurious changing rooms, exclusive club suite accommodation and wonderful dining experiences.

Finally, the Springfield Royal Country Club presents the golfer with 27 beautifully designed, landscaped holes. It is a true Jack Nicklaus masterpiece. A championship course with five sets of tees to play from, the course offers varying degrees of difficulty that accentuate the dramatic lush landscape.

It is one of the best courses you will ever play!

More information: johndunphy@y7mail.com, www.thailandgetawaygolftours.com.au

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Featuring stunning beaches, historic towns, awe-inspiring scenery and, of course, spectacular golf, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and Bellarine Peninsula combine into one of Australia’s most enjoyable ‘must-visit’ destinations for travellers and golf lovers alike.

RACV Torquay Resort

SOUTHERN

VICTORIA’S southern coast is one of Inside Golf ’s favourite destinations. Whether we’re there for an annual “Boys Weekend”, or just popping over for a leisurely golf retreat, the region encompassing Th e Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast always brings a smile to our faces. Great golf, jaw-dropping views and a vibe of pure

enjoyment all combine to make every trip a magical one.

This month, we explore this rugged and beautiful region from a golfer’s and traveller’s perspective. From Queenscliff to Portland and everywhere in between, here are the most popular and unique courses the region has to offer.

RACV TORQUAY RESORT LOCATED at 1 Great Ocean Road, RACV Torquay Resort sits at the start of Victoria’s premier tourist drive destination and is a leisurely 75 minutes’ drive from Melbourne.

Perched within the backdrop of the Torquay and Jan Juc beaches, the resort is set on an expansive golf course with

spectacular ocean views and beach access.

Opened in June 2013, the resort is an architectural delight, featuring rammed earth walls and gentle curves that mirror that of the landscape. Featuring 92 ocean or golf course view rooms and suites, Day spa with Turkish Hammam bathing area and a full Restaurant, Bistro and bar, the resort

Home of the 2014 13th Beach Golf Links 20-23 Feb 2014

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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | November 2013

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Lonsdale Golf Club

Barwon Heads Resort

BARWON HEADS GOLF CLUB NESTLED amongst the coastal dunes, and metres from the spectacular 13th Beach on Victoria’s renowned Surf Coast, the highlyranked Barwon Heads links course has been providing an enjoyable challenge for all golfers since the early 1900’s. Now, after significant improvements to the course, facilities and clubhouse, this club is a ‘mustgolf ’ destination.

Since its creation over a century ago, the Barwon Heads Golf Club has been considered among the finest in the country.

The course planning over this time has resisted change for the sake of change.

Rather, it has sought to preserve the brilliant natural contours of the landscape that shape the holes amid the sand dunes. This is one of the most alluring features of the course.

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Relatively new to the course is a topclass short game practice facility. It features various angles of greens, aprons and bunkers, replicating the natural contours found on the course. It’s the perfect place to warm up, practice or take a short game lesson. Bordering the practice facility is the redeveloped Par-3 course and resurfaced tennis courts.

The clubhouse has also seen significant improvement.

Visitors to Barwon Heads will be familiar with the Barwon Heads Golf Club and its iconic clubhouse. Many, however, will be unaware of the accommodation provided within. In fact, the golf club has provided accommodation since the clubhouse was opened in 1924.

Back then it was described as Australia’s

first country club on the nation’s first links course and the prestigious, membersonly clubhouse opened to a great deal of fanfare. This was despite the fact the original twenty bedrooms shared two bathrooms and only four showers. However, as a result of renovations and improvements made over the years, the Heritage Victoria listed clubhouse now has 19 rooms, all with their own ensuite. After a refurbishment completed late last year all rooms are modern with elegant furnishings.

It is not only members who will benefit from the refurbishment. Non-members who are green-fee paying individuals, couples or groups can stay in the newly refurbished rooms on a bed-and-breakfast or full board ‘stay-and-play’ package. The packages are particularly popular with

small groups who return to play golf year after year. These golfers comment on the level of accomplished service they receive in the clubhouse and the ambience of the surrounds.

The magnificent clubhouse is famed for its old-world charm. With stunning architecture and captivating views, it is a clubhouse designed for all seasons. House guests can enjoy the expansive balconies in summer or warm themselves after a Scottish linkslike experience before the luxurious open fires during the cooler months.

The club extends a warm welcome to golfers to stay in the house and experience all that the wonderful club has to offer, including over 100 years of golfing history.

For more information: www.bhgc.com.au

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Anglesea Golf Club

bARwon HeAds ResoRT AT 13TH beACH IdeaLLy located within the tranquil surrounds of 13th Beach Golf Links on the scenic Bellarine Peninsula, Barwon Heads Resort at 13th Beach is a modern accommodation and function venue, ideal for a family seaside holiday, stay and play golf package or as a venue for a stylish wedding or conference. accommodation comprises of 50 modern, self-contained 1 and 2 bedroom apartment offering all the comforts of home. Spacious bedrooms offer king, queen and/or single beds, crisp white sheets, wall mounted Lcd

tV and large bathrooms. an open plan, fully-equipped kitchenette and living area opens on to a large balcony/terrace with outdoor setting overlooking the courses and driving range. adjoining the accommodation is a modern, purpose-built function centre offering an onsite restaurant with natural light-filled rooms, bar with open fireplace and outdoor terrace. catering for groups of 10 to 120 people for a seated function or business meeting, to 220 for a cocktail event, Barwon Heads Resort provides a sophisticated venue for all events. a full range of aV equipment is available and

superb catering is supplied by passionate chefs using the finest produce of the Bellarine region.

Stay and Play Golf packages are available for the 13th Beach Golf Links offering two championship courses consistently ranked in the top 20 golf courses in australia. accommodation is just a short walk to a modern clubhouse with restaurant, bar and pro shop open daily. the 13th Beach Golf academy has two aaa rated PGa golf professionals, driving range and a golf fitting service.

If golf is not your game, enjoy a hit of tennis, a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or a workout in their gymnasium. 13th Beach is a 15-minute walk away, and the seaside villages of Barwon Heads and ocean Grove are only a few minutes’ drive away, with family-friendly beaches, cafes, restaurants, shopping, Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary, HMaS canberra dive site and the Lotus day Spa for pampering.

For more information, contact Reservations on: (03) 5254 1777, email info@barwonheadsresort.com.au, or visit www.barwonheadsresort.com.au

lonsdAle golf Club Located at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay (only 90 minutes from Melbourne, and 25 minutes from Geelong), Lonsdale Golf club is a highly regarded, 18-hole sandbelt golf course that can be played 12 months a year.

Measuring 5710m for men (Par 71) and

5172m for women (Par 72), the course continues to receive praise from visitors, golf professionals and their members. the course offers three practice areas which includes a driving range. the clubhouse features a welcoming atmosphere and excellent bar and dining facilities for before and after golf snacks, lunches and a la carte dining for members and visitors alike. the fully-stocked pro shop has been totally transformed in the past 3 years, and has been designed around custom fitting for drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, putters and golf balls. club professional Sean charleston (aaa PGa professional) has been at Lonsdale Golf club for nearly 3 years, developing teaching programs, custom fitting, retailing and golf days. the teaching programs have focused on juniors, women golfers and even pennant players. Sean also addresses golf fitness and the short game, and is available on a oneon-one basis to focus on your individual instruction needs.

Sean has a strong belief in custom fitting and that every club should be fitted to suit the individual’s needs. the pro shop carries a number of major brands that can fit your budget.

Golf days at the club have been well supported, with the club’s signature event (Lonsdale classic) in January, selling out within weeks of the entry forms being released. also in January is their Pro am.

Visitors are welcome to enter and play

...Play by the bay GOLFING MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE – No joining Fee 7 Day Membership $550 (Nov 2013 – Jun 2014) Weekday Membership $413 (Nov 2013 – Jun 2014) Summer Membership $495 (Oct 2013 – Mar 2014) SPECIAL GOLF Unlimited golf after 3pm only $18.00

For bookings and further information telephone the club

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18 HOLES OF GOLF only $30.00

Motorised golf carts and hire clubs are available.

FULLY LICENSED CLUBHOUSE Club Keno and TAB Bistro open 7 days a week for Lunch and Dinner with magnificent views and great food.

92-94 Clearwater Drive, Clifton Springs Email: csclubhouse@iprimus.com.au www.cliftonspringsgolfclub.com.au

Membership Enquiries: Bistro Bookings: Green Fee Bookings:

(03) 5251 3391 (03) 5251 2501 (03) 5253 1488

Port Fairy Golf Club

golf with a professional, or you can bring the family along to watch some of australia’s best professional golfers competing. Past professionals to play in the event have included craig Parry, ashley Hall, david McKenzie, terry Price, Mike clayton and Steve Jones. the club continues to provide a highclass sandbelt golf course, fully stocked pro shop, driving range and a clubhouse that can cater for all of your food and beverage requirements.

For more information, visit www.lonsdalegc.com.au

AngleseA golf Club tHe anglesea Golf course, situated on the Great ocean Road, is an undulating 6074m Par-73 layout set in natural bushland. a feature of the course is the number of elevated greens that require plenty of thought when selecting your club. adding to the mix are 42 “sandbelt style” bunkers

sprinkled throughout the course, eucalypt tree-lined fairways, and the ever-present resident population of around 300 eastern Grey Kangaroos. these features all combine to produce a stimulating round of golf. Plus, the wet winter has resulted in the anglesea Golf club emerging in terrific condition, so there has never been a better time to play the course. the clubhouse bar and bistro are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Memberships are available for 7-day, Junior and the 18-25yo categories , and social golfers/green-fee players are welcome every day. Green fees range from $30 (9 holes) to $50 (18 holes). Junior rates are $15/$25. club, pull buggy & motorised cart hire available.

For more information, phone: (03) 5263 1582, Golf Bookings: (03) 5263 1951, email: info@angleseagolfclub.com.au or visit www.angleseagolfclub.com.au

Thirteenth Beach Golf Links

PoRT fAiRy golf Club WINdING its way through unspoilt sand dunes, with spectacular views to be had at every turn, Port Fairy Golf club is a classic links-style course that is reminiscent of the great layouts found in Ireland. So if you’ve ever fancied playing a great Irish links course, but don’t have the money or time to get there, then Port Fairy is the perfect alternative.

Located 5km east of the historic Port Fairy township, the course is consistently ranked in the “50 Best Public access courses in australia” and in the “25 Best in Victoria.” course designer Mike clayton once rated it as “the best value golf in australia.” there are numerous highlights on this outstanding course. the 5th hole, a 448-metre par-5, is one of the most beautiful holes on the course with a lovely wide and undulating fairway that sweeps uphill and curves from left to right. Strategically-placed bunkers demand accuracy on the second shot before the approach to a fast back-to-front sloping

Clifton Springs Golf Club

green. the 8th is a stunning 122-metre downhill par-3 to a large rolling green that requires anything from a wedge to a 3-iron depending on the wind and skill of the golfer.

Holes 12 to 16 are agreed by many to be among the best stretch of golf holes in the country, with spectacular ocean views (providing frequent sightings of southern right whales during the winter and early spring) and some very challenging hole designs. the twelfth is a 470-metre par-5 along the ocean with fabulous views. the right hand side is all ooB, and treacherous swathes of marram grass await the wayward shot to the left. the 409-metre 14th plays straight at the ocean and is nearly impossible to reach in two into the wind, and extremely difficult to hold when played downwind. the course features a mixture of grasses and is immaculately conditioned. at 5887 metres it is not long by today’s standards but with the amount of wind it still tests

LONSDALE GOLF CLUB

A Highly Regarded 18 Hole Sandbelt Golf Course • Green Fee Players Welcome • Extensively stocked Pro Shop • Club Professional • On site Practice Driving Range & other practise facilities • Tee times need to be booked 69 Fellows Road, Point Lonsdale Phone (03) 5258 1523 www.lonsdalegc.com.au November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

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Curlewis Golf Club

Warrnambool Golf Club

the game of the most proficient golfers.

Picturesque and testing with spot-on playing conditions it is a game of golf not to be missed.

For more information, phone (03) 5568 2866, email: info@portfairygolf.com.au, or visit www.portfairygolf.com.au.

THiRTeenTH beACH golf links Located on the Bellarine Peninsula – just 15 minutes from torquay or Geelong-thirteenth Beach Golf Links features two spectacular 18-hole golf courses: the Beach course (designed by tony cashmore) and the creek course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo and tony cashmore). the Beach course, much of which winds through spectacular foreshore sand dunes, is true links style while the creek course is in a parkland setting, not unlike the courses on Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt. Both courses are built on sandbased sandstone structure, and the facility’s southern boundary abuts 2.1 km of the

famous 13th Beach surf beach. thirteenth Beach is the home of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Men’s and Women’s Victorian open, joining a long list of famous clubs on the Melbourne Sandbelt to have hosted this event. the Beach course is widely acclaimed as one of australia’s Best 20 courses. the key feature of the Beach course is its wonderful set of par-3s. Starting at the brutal 180m 3rd hole to the dainty yet sinister 113m 16th, the par-3s of the Beach course offer golfers of all levels a true test of their iron play. the 7th and 12th are spectacular holes, nestled in natural sand dunes. the creek course has continued to grow in stature since its opening in 2004. the course is characterised by gently undulating couch fairways, huge, deep bunkers filled with yellow sand, and firm true greens surrounded by interesting bumps, swales and hollows, all closely mown. there is also plenty of greenside

bunkering that helps form the slopes of the putting surfaces in the best traditions of Melbourne’s Sandbelt much admired

by Faldo. In addition, there is plenty of water on the course, with hazards on the 7th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes.

Both courses are irrigated with recycled water supplied by Barwon Water from its nearby Black Rock treatment plant. this allows them to be green and lush all year round.

Former Melbourne aFL champion and SeN footy commentator david Schwarz says: “Membership at thirteenth Beach is the best golfing investment I’ve ever made.

It’s simply awesome. I can’t stop raving about the place!” about 1000 members agree with him!

For more information: phone: (03) 5254 2922, email: info@13thbeach.net, or visit www.13thbeach.net

ClifTon sPRings golf Club ceNtRaLLy located a short 20-minute drive from either Geelong or the Queenscliff Sorrento ferry, clifton Springs Golf club offers a 5,783, 18-hole, par-71 championship layout with legend couch fairways and stunning bay views.

Following one of Victoria’s best winters on record, the golf course is currently in fantastic condition. their new signature 6th hole, which also incorporates two new dams that surround the 5th, 6th and 7th holes, have added a new dimension, and has already been referred to as the ‘Golden triangle’. the clubhouse with its bars, members’ lounge, bistro and entertainment area, is on the site of the old grand hotel and offers a welcoming atmosphere with magnificent views of Port Philip Bay and the you yang’s.

Meals are served 7 day a week with lunch from 12 noon until 2.00pm and dinner from 5.30pm until 8.00pm. the course is available for hire by social

“Play the course that shaped Marc Leishman’s game”

ANGLESEA GOLF CLUB Golflinks Road, Anglesea Vic 3230 Clubhouse 03 5263 1582 Pro Shop 03 5263 1951 Website www.angleseagolfclub.com.au Email info@angleseagolfclub.com.au

Green fees $50 for 18 holes $30 for 9 holes Social Golf Group bookings available 7 days Women’s competitions Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Junior green fees $25 for 18 holes $15 for 9 holes Men’s competitions Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday Annual Tournament held over 8 days every October Hardings Hardware $10,000 Pro Am held on March Labour Day long weekend 12

INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | November 2013

WARRNAMBOOL GOLF CLUB Pro Shop (03) 5562 8528 Admin (03) 5562 2108 golf@wgcinc.com.au

www.wgcinc.com.au

Deep Blue Hotel & Spa Warrnambool

groups and the individual golfers. If your social group booking is greater than 25 players, your group will receive a dozen golf balls to use as prizes with compliments of the Golf club 7-day membership is only $550 (Nov 2013June 2014). For a Weekday Membership, a membership is $413 (Nov 2013-June 2014) and their Summer membership (october to March) is $495. But we recommend you contact them to get current rates and prices.

For more information, contact the pro shop on 03 5253 1488, or visit www.cliftonspringsgolfclub.com.au

wARRnAmbool golf Club WaRRNaMBooL is a classically-designed course laid out between and over a massive tertiary dune system. the course offers a unique combination of exposed holes with elevated tees together with those carved into natural ti-tree-lined dunes.

Located within 2km of the regional city’s

cBd, it makes for an ideal destination for the dedicated golf tourist, social golfing groups or family holiday makers. the influence of the ever-present wind cannot be understated and really adds to the challenge of a layout that offers variety from one round to the next. It is perhaps this aspect which shaped the game of Warrnambool’s most famous golfing export, Marc Leishman, to the level of success he now enjoys. the course has received a good deal of attention over recent years and the installation of an integrated irrigation system, supplied with recycled water, has allowed the staff to present the course in immaculate condition. the trio of holes from the short par-4, 4th to the slight uphill dogleg 6th, are a highlight as are the 13th and 14th on the inward nine. a well-stocked Pro Shop enables club professional craig Bonney and his friendly staff to cater for all your equipment and

apparel needs.

For more information, phone the Pro shop on (03)5562 8528; club House (03) 5562 2108, email golf@wgcinc.com. au or visit www.wgcinc.com.au.

CuRlewis golf Club JUSt 10 minutes from Geelong, curlewis Golf club boasts a 6150 metre Par-72 course with naturally undulating fairways, large contoured greens and a challenge for the serious and social golfer. curlewis’s risk and reward design has recently been compared with Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt courses. the opening short par-5, and the following two short par-4’s would not be out of place on any of the best courses on the Melbourne Sandbelt and with the recent renovations to the par 3,17th and the finishing par-4,18th holes, the course is looking and playing better than ever. the course’s signature hole is the Par3, 139m 8th hole. this beauty features a

two-tiered, elevated green than can be tricky if you land the ball in the wrong area. It also has deep bunkers on the front, left and right of the green. If you miss the green, and also miss the bunkers, your ball will run anything up to 15 metres in the surrounding gulley leaving a very tricky chip for an up and down. the licensed clubhouse has a fullyserviced bar and can be hired for corporate and private functions, with the dining room comfortably seating up to 120 guests. the curlewis Staff are also available to provide information on the range of membership categories, including seven day membership, six-day memberships, Non Playing (Handicap) memberships and Junior/Student memberships. Green fees are $33 on weekdays and $38 on weekends, with further discounts for group golf bookings.

For more information, ring 03 5251 2534, or visit www.curlewisgolf.com.au.

PORTARLINGTON GOLF CLUB WWW.PORTARLINGTONGOLF.COM.AU

• Golf memberships - Nov 2013- June 2014 - 7 Day $606 - 6 Day $534 • Green fee players welcome • Clubhouse facilities - Award-winning bistro open 7 days - TAB - Keno

• Winner of the PGA Regional Pro-Am of the Year 2012-2013 • Winner of the PGA Regional Pro-Am Course of the Year 2011-2012 & 2012-2013 • Winner of the CCAV Regional Club of the Year 2013 •

130 Hood Road, Portarlington, Victoria | Clubhouse: (03) 5259 2492 | info@portarlingtongolf.com.au November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

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Sandcastles

Big 4 Beacon Resort

quAliTy suiTes deeP blue HoTel & sPA wARRnAmbool QUaLIty Suites deep Blue Hotel & Spa Warrnambool is perfectly positioned on a peninsula between Lady Bay and Stingray Bay. comprising 80 Guestrooms including four premium rooms with luxurious spa baths, there are also six two- or threebedroom fully self-contained penthouses. all accommodation features magnificent vistas, while the resort’s unique positioning on top of a natural mineral aquifer 800 meters underground provides geothermal room heating and supplies four mineralrich, private hot deepwater baths in the Bath House. other features offered by deep Blue Hotel Warrnambool include: individual balconies, air conditioning as well as ceiling fans, flat screen tV and cable, work desk, broadband and cd player. deep Water Baths & Spa includes a large indoor heated pool, an open geothermal mineral pool, four private hot mineral baths and adjoining day spa offering a range of specialty body

Shearwater House

treatments, signature facials, massages and beauty treatments, including spray tanning. www.qsdb.com.au.

16 Pertobe Road, Warrnambool VIc, 3280 (03) 5559 2005

For more information: www.beaconresort.com.au 78 Bellarine Highway, Queenscliff Victoria 3225. Phone (03) 5258 1133

big 4 beACon ResoRT

IMaGINe waking up to the sound of the ocean and knowing all you have to do that day is play 18 glorious holes of Golf at Port Fairy.

Hearn’s Port Fairy accommodation can bring that thought to life, catering for golfing groups large and small in stunning accommodations.

Sandcastles is one such property, sleeping 12 people, this ‘aspen inspired’ 6 bedroom, 3 bathroom property offers absolute beachfront views, so for those of your group who may prefer to relax in luxury and be in strolling distance to the heart of Port Fairy, rather than wandering the beautiful Port Fairy Golf Links, this property is ideal. affording the same luxurious feeling, Shearwater House also has 6 bedrooms, and

tHe shining light of the Bellarine Peninsula, this multi award-winning holiday destination is nestled between Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale. only 500 metres to the beach, complete with a waterfront promenade and amazing views. enjoy some of the amazing free activities including tennis, organised kids activities program daily, indoor playroom, the interactive NeoS 360 electronic action station and indoor pool and spa.

For those with a little more pampering in mind, visit the day spa, enjoy a winery tour on their bus or awake to an espresso coffee from the in-house coffee bar, the resort caters for all ages ... the perfect solution for your coastal getaway.

HeARn’s PoRT fAiRy ACCommodATion

has the added bonus of 6 ensuite bathrooms, perfect for the ladies getting ready for a meal out after a personal best game. Located right on the Moyne River, Shearwater House is a hop, skip and jump to all the wonderful restaurants Port Fairy has to offer.

Hearn’s Port Fairy accommodation in association with Port Fairy Golf Links and Warrnambool Golf club offer Stay and Play packages and discounts through the off season, making trips to Port Fairy the ideal weekend getaway.

If a romantic couples escape and golf for two is more to your liking, Hearn’s Port Fairy accommodation oversee the spectacular Hearn’s Beachside Villas, nestled in the sand dunes. available in one, two or three bedroom Villas, these architecturally designed, contemporary accommodations offer peace, privacy and complete beach frontage, just a 10-minute drive to town and the course.

Managing over 90 properties, Hearn’s Port Fairy accommodation will be sure to have a property to suit your needs. www.portfairyaccom.com.au •

Don’t miss the opportunity to play on two of the Top 100 Public Access Golf Courses in Australia!

Stay & Play Packages Available Big or Small Groups...we’ve got you covered!

Managing over 90 properties, Hearn’s Port Fairy Accommodation, will be sure to have a property to suit your needs.

Stay and Play Packages from $149 per person (quad share)

Call Karen or Emily to plan your next trip

AAA rated 4½ star accommodation Stylish 1 & 2 bedroom fully self-contained apartments Stay and Play Packages tailored to suit your group Situated on two of Australia’s highest rated golf courses, designed by Sir Nick Faldo & Tony Cashmore Restaurant with bar, lounge & open fireplace Outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, Day Spa, BBQ terrace and tennis courts

www.portfairyaccom.com.au

Shop 2/54 Sackville Street, Port Fairy VIC 3284

03 5568 3150

accommodation@hearns.com.au

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36 Fourteenth Road, Barwon Heads VIC 3227 Phone: (03) 5254 1777 | Fax (03) 5254 1666 Email: info@barwonheadsresort.com.au | Web: www.barwonheadsresort.com.au

Golf on the Murray:

TWICE THE FUN IN

TOCUMWAL A leisurely drive from Melbourne, Canberra or Adelaide brings you to Tocumwal – the ‘Playground of the Murray’, and some of the most enjoyable golf in country Australia.

Located on the mighty Murray River, Tocumwal Golf Club on the New South Wales

border offers not one, but two championship golf courses.

The golf club offers the highest level of service and quality in all aspects of the game from course conditioning to practice facilities and the clubhouse amenities.

With two established courses ranked in

the 2013 Top 100 Public Access Courses in Australia, Tocumwal offers an experience not to be missed. The Presidents Course, the older of the two, is heavily tree-lined with deeper bunkering while the Captains Course is lightly timbered, but more water comes into play.

The playing surfaces on both courses feature

superb couch grass fairways and slick, bent grass greens that are the envy of many. The easy-walking fairways are slightly undulating and both courses have some very pretty and challenging golf holes amidst an abundance of magnificent Australian flora and fauna.

The modern clubhouse features all of the dining and leisure facilities that you expect of a modern, friendly club. Choose to dinein or alfresco on the balcony, while enjoying the service of the attentive staff who strive to ensure your experience is unforgettable.

With floor to ceiling windows, the restaurant offers panoramic views over the golf course.

The restaurant is open from noon to 9pm and they have a wide variety of meals.

Tocumwal GC also has a fine selection of wines – many supplied by some of the local wineries.

There are also some outstanding golf packages on offer. Enjoy the convenience of one of the 70 rooms spilling onto the golf course, within a stroll of the clubhouse, or the suite of accommodation options nearby that make Tocumwal the ideal location for your next golf holiday or as a central point to explore the Murray River region.

In excess of 300 days of sunshine each year ensures an ideal climate for golf and for enjoying the region’s variety of attractions – including boutique wineries, historic sites and the unique, white sandy beaches of the Murray.

For more information call 1800 631 197 or visit www.tocumwalgolf.com.au

FINALISTS

WIN

A GOLF WEEKEND

Including accommodation, dining & golf

SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

STAY & PLAY GOLF PACKAGES from only $90 per person per night 12 MAGNIFICENT COURSES

ALBURY · YARRAWONGA-MULWALA · COBRAM-BAROOGA TOCUMWAL · ECHUCA-MOAMA · BARHAM · SWAN HILL

www.golfonthemurray.com.au November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

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Golf Travel Tips:

How to plan, play and pack Courtesy of Go Golfing Travel

P

Overpacking for your trip can lead to problems

lanning - if you want to play better golf, you get a lesson from a PGa professional. so it makes sense that when you are planning a golfing holiday that you enlist the help of a reputable golf tour operator. Brief the operator on what you are looking for and your budget. Compare itineraries and quotes. The purchasing power of bigger golf tour operators should save you money.

Travel insurance is a must for overseas trips and only book with a golf operator that is a licensed travel agency. That way you have financial protection and support if anything goes wrong. Once you have settled on your destination of choice, top operators will be able to provide you with advice on the best courses, lodgings, transfers, things to see and do. Be aware that many top private courses worldwide can only be played if booked through a preferred golf operator. advice on best times to travel with regard to climate, rain seasons, course renovations are just some of the added benefits of booking

with a tour operator. Good operators will be able to recommend tee times to avoid peak hour traffic and arrange transfers.

Playing – Download course maps for your GPs or pick up a course guide. When playing a course for the first time, don’t get too hung up on your score. Matchplay or stableford is a better scoring option. enjoy the course, your playing partners and if in asia, the luxury of playing with a caddy and customs like a post-round massage.

Packing – Resist the temptation to pack too much. you are likely to buy souvenirs from courses or markets, so save room.

Clothing that can be layered—and a rain suit—is best if the weather is unpredictable.

Check your airline baggage allowance. With most airlines, pre-booking extra baggage is significantly cheaper than paying at the check-in counter. Use your maximum carryon allowance. not all baggage handlers will care as much for your clubs as you do, so protect your clubheads by packing clothes or other support in the top of your bag. •

Where is the happiest place on earth?

DisneylanD, step aside. a new destination has been branded by consumers as the Happiest Place in The World. according to a WinGallup Global Barometer of Happiness, Fiji has taken the top spot in the Happiness stakes. Building on this achievement, Tourism Fiji recently launched a new campaign to highlight everything that Fiji has to offer.

“When you think about it, the whole world is continually looking for happiness,” explains Rick Hamilton, CeO of Tourism Fiji.

“But actually, it’s Fijians, the people who are trying the least, who have it the most.”

“We wanted to demonstrate why Fiji is the happiest place in the world and ultimately to show how this happiness can be transferred to our visitors.”

The campaign ‘Fiji – where happiness finds you’ aims to represent the essence of Fiji – the people’s spirit and friendliness, the place and the experiences.

“Fiji offers an idyllic environment and diversity of experiences and this gives it a unique identity,” Mr Hamilton added.

“The locals make our visitors smile and feel happy and we also wanted to demonstrate the culture and choices offered on our group of serene and relaxing tropical islands.”

BRAND NEW LUXURY ACCOMODATION Riverside Oaks Golf Resort has just opened 36 brand new luxury resort accommodation rooms which also includes 6 executive suites.

When you book on our Stay & Play Package you will be able to enjoy a complimentary 9 holes of golf on the evening of your arrival, a relaxing nights’ accommodation, full buffet breakfast the next morning and finished off with 18 holes of golf all for two. In addition, Riverside Oaks Golf Resort will be opening an additional 18 hole championship golf course in early 2014, making Riverside Oaks the only 36 hole golf facility in the region and the ultimate golfing destination.

Inside Golf Magazine reader special Stay & Play for 2 people, twin share for JUST $249 (normally $450), includes accommodation, breakfast and 18 holes of golf with shared cart. Available Sunday-Thursday until 20th December 2013.

For more information contact our team on (02) 4560 3200 16

INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | November 2013

Hainan on the golf radar

Four-ball fun at

Playing in front of a gallery of kangaroos is part of the Sanctuary Cove golfing experience.

W

hile golf is inherently an individual sport, there’s something special about teaming up with your spouse, best mate or another member in four-ball competitions.

The notion of cheering on your playing partner—praying for their success after you have dunked your ball in the hazard— rather than the traditional good-humored banter and sledging, has ensured fourball tournaments are ensconced in club fixture books.

Trading off the popularity of four-ball events, Go Golfing’s annual 4 Ball Challenge on the Gold Coast attracts golfers from around Australia and overseas. After 10 years at Radisson Resort, Sanctuary Cove will host an upgraded event program in 2014.

The integrated resort community

Sanctuary Cove of Sanctuary Cove oozes class with its million-dollar mansions, marina village complete with restaurants and fashion boutiques and recreation club. Participants will enjoy the luxuries of the five-star InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and play two rounds on each of Sanctuary Cove’s courses, The Pines and The Palms.

Go Golfing’s tournament director Peter McCarthy is delighted to be able to give golfers the chance to play The Pines, a private, members-only course. “Many golfers travel to the Gold Coast but few would have played The Pines. Ross Watson re-designed The Palms a couple of years ago, ensuring Sanctuary Cove’s standing as Australia’s best golf resort.”

US Masters champion Adam Scott honed his skills at Sanctuary Cove and rates The Pines among his favourite courses.

There’s an abundance of native flora and fauna and playing in front of a gallery of kangaroos is part of the Sanctuary Cove golfing experience.

Played as a team of two, the Sanctuary Cove 4 Ball Challenge has an exciting competition format with ambrose, best ball and aggregate competitions. A modern fleet of carts fitted with the latest GPS complements the golfing experience.

Away from the courses there are nightly social events headlined by a poolside welcome reception and a gala presentation dinner. This week-long tournament experience, inclusive of accommodation, golf, entertainment events, gift pack and more is sensational value starting at just $1699.

For more information visit www. gogolfing.net.au or call 07 5536 8681. •

YoU may not have heard of the island of Hainan, south of the Chinese mainland, which is about the same size as Belgium and, for China at least, is relatively unpopulated at eight million.

With its semi-tropical climate and some 35 golf courses, Hainan is starting to emerge as a serious golf destination. What also makes it especially appealing for Australians and countries that have strong trading links with China is that visitors can get a visa on arrival if Hainan is their entry point into China. There is no need to apply in advance, and visitors may travel freely elsewhere in China.

Mission Hills has 10 courses near the capital of Haikou, on the north coast. And there are other excellent courses on the island, especially in the south near the southern city of Sanya.

Some exciting new golf courses are planned or are already being built on Hainan. Put it on your visit list, but perhaps not at the height of summer (July/August) when it can be very hot.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal months for golfing enjoyment, and be sure to sample the local Hainanese cuisine.

Mission Hills Haikou will host the International Association of Golf Tourism operators (IAGTo) Asia convention next March, only the third time the event has been held in Asia. This will bring golf tour operators from all over the world, which is bound to result in an emphasis on Hainan as a golf tourism destination.

November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

17

Thailand A snapshot of

The Andaman Coast

T

hailand, with its rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes of great natural beauty, is a land of dazzling variety.

From the ruins of ancient cities to the bright lights of skyscrapers of the dynamic capital Bangkok, from the forests and mountains of the north, to the shimmering white beaches and sparkling waters of the

south, Thailand is a kaleidoscope of sights and scenes which have firmly stamped the gentle Kingdom as the finest holiday destination in Asia.

There’s everything from soft adventure and heart-stopping thrills to a lazy life at splendid, world-class resorts or magnificent 5-star city hotels.

Ultimately, however, it is the people who

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define the Kingdom of Thailand where genuine hospitality is a time-honoured tradition, ensuring a warm welcome and smiling service.

For a bird’s-eye overview of Thailand, it is best to separate the country into Central Thailand, the North, Northeast, East Coast and the South.

Central Thailand includes bustling

Bangkok with a population variously estimated between eight and ten million which, despite its popular image of a thoroughly modern metropolis, is still a city of temples and palaces, golden spires and orange tiered roofs, of saffron-robed monks and serene Buddha images.

The other central regions, all within a day’s sightseeing from Bangkok, are Ayutthaya, founded in the 14th century and today preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site; Kanchanaburi, nestling in the shadow of spectacular mountain scenery abutting Myanmar, and site of the infamous Death Railway and the Bridge over the River Kwai; Prachaup Khiri Khan, better known as Thailand’s oldest seaside vacation centre of Hua Hin; and Petchaburi, south of Hua Hin, with the beach resort of Cha-am as its focus.

The North embraces the charming city of Chiang Mai, “The Rose of the North”, a

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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | November 2013

treasure trove of temples and traditional handicrafts 700 kilometres north of Bangkok; tiny, remote Mae Hong Son, to the west, cradled in mist-shrouded mountains, a region of wild hill country and sweeping valleys; Lampang, a cultural hub since the 7th century; the relaxed provincial capital of Chiang Rai, east of Chiang Mai and springboard to Chiang Saen and the infamous Golden Triangle where the confluence of Mekong and Ruak Rivers form the border between Thailand, Myanmar and Loas; and Sukhothai, the Thai nation’s first capital, founded in the 13th century and site of the magnificent Wat Mahathat.

The Northeast is centred on Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat) and gateway to I-san, a vast rural area and the least changed part of Thailand. Other places of interest are Udon Thani, a busy communications and transport hub where excavation has yielded evidence of a 4000-year-old civilisation; Khon Kaen, renowned for its hand-woven silk; Nong Khai which is linked to neighbouring Laos by the Friendship Bridge; Surin, famous for its Elephant Round-up (every November); Ubon Ratchathani, largest of the north eastern provinces bordering both Laos and Cambodia and noted for its Candle Festival.

The East Coast region is the large sweep of coastline from the tourist playground of Pattaya to the frontier town of Trat which borders Cambodia and is becoming known as the gateway to the island of Chang, just

eight kilometres off the coast which forms part of the 52-island archipelago of Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park.

The South is Thailand’s jewel in the sun, stretching from Chumphon, through Phuket, arguably South East Asia’s most popular tourist island, to Phang-nga and its bay of towering awesome limestone islands, to Krabi and its stunning white sand beaches and clear water on the Andaman Sea. Ko Samui, which shares the international tourist popularity stakes with Phuket, has its own place in the Gulf of Thailand just north east of Surat Thani.

In its publication 20 Things to do in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand lists The Grand Palace in Bangkok; Khaosan Road Bangkok (crossroads of the world for backpackers); Chatuchak Weekend Market (Bangkok); Khon and Hun Lakhon Lek (performances of Thai classical dance and the tradition Thai puppetry); Pak Khlong Talad flower market and Yaowarat, which is Bangkok’s China Town with gold shops and markets; Floating markets; Gulf of Thailand ( a string of popular islands); the pastoral town of Pai in Mae Hong Son; Muay Thai (kick- boxing, Thai-style); Biking in the World Heritage sites; Elephant trekking; abseiling in Khao Yai National Park; Diving at Similan and Surin islands off Thailand’s west coast; the Andaman Coast (Krabi, Phuket and Phang-nga Bay); Meditation (many retreats and temples throughout the country); Beauty Spas and Thai Massage;

Black Mountain Golf Course

Thai cooking (schools and restaurants); the Songkran and Loy Krathong Festivals and Rail travel (throughout Thailand and south to Singapore on the Eastern and Oriental Express).

Of course, it is also known for its Golf.

The Kingdom is renowned as Asia’s most popular golfing destination. Golf has been played for almost a century with games recorded at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club as early as 1905.

By 2014 Thailand will rival Spain as the world’s most popular golf tourism destination. In 2012 Thailand had 22 million tourists, with golfers making up 750,000.

It is foreseeable that number will top one million in 2014.

Thailand boasts more than 250 golf courses, including some of the most feted resort and tournament tracks on the continent, including Banyan Golf Club, Black Mountain Golf Club, Siam Country Club and Majestic Creek Country Club. And this is just to name a few of the premium options in the area. Their quality and premier facilities is a testament to hosting major Thai golf tournaments including Thai Open and Honda LPGA. Their unique designs, well crafted bunkers and stunning backdrops will be a long-lasting memory of your Thai golf experience.

For more information, visit www.tourismthailand.org •

November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

19

China’s

love affair with golf

By Paul Myers

Spring City Lake Course

I

t was only a matter of time before China’s latter-day flirtation with the game of golf blossomed into a full-blown romance.

Less than 30 years after China’s first course opened – at Zhongshan near Macau – after the Cultural Revolution, the Middle Kingdom’s love affair with golf is thriving like nowhere else.

Not just because of the number of Chinese playing the game, estimated at two million

or about five percent of the world’s 50 million avid golfers. Nor because of the number of courses, said to be between 500 and 700, depending on which estimate you believe.

And it’s certainly not because Chinese golfers are at the top of the professional game. Although China has a few wellperformed tour pros and some highly talented young players, a Chinese golfer winning the Masters or British Open could

be 20 years away or more.

But this hasn’t stopped China climbing on the golf bandwagon by sponsoring events such as the HSBC World Championships, the World Cup (this year being played at Royal Melbourne) and celebrity matches like the Tiger versus Rory challenge held in late October at Mission Hills Haikou.

Golf in China is all about status, privilege, business connections and ego. Belonging

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to a name club, kitting up like a pro and being able to play to a moderate standard elevates you in the eyes of your peers and those with whom you’d like to become a peer. It enables you to connect socially and in business in a way that’s not possible anywhere else.

You only have to flick through one of some 40 golf magazines in China – packed with advertisements for the latest equipment, golf fashion, luxury cars and accessories – to get the idea.

Or, better still, visit the bag drop area at Mission Hills’ 12-course complex near Shenzhen. Each morning, a steady stream of well-attired local Guangdong business types and golf-mad Hong Kong entrepreneurs arrive at the entrance of the huge clubhouse.

Inside they can (and often do) pay $US30,000 for a set of hand-made Honma clubs, the Japanese manufacturer regarded as the world’s best that is now owned by Chinese investors, or a Lamborghini watch for anything up to $US100,000 or the latest branded equipment and clothing from the US, Japan and Europe at prices far higher than elsewhere.

Wherever it is played, golf is an aspirational game, but nowhere like China.

“With the rise of middle class affluence, golf is becoming popular and desirable,”says Australian designer Harley Kruse, who was the lead architect on the Greg Norman course at Mission Hills’ 12-course complex near Shenzhen. “There looks like being

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another 10 to 15 years of steady development ahead in China,” he predicts. “The growth of participation seems to be exceeding the supply of courses. In particular, tourismdesignated areas such as Hainan [island] and Yunnan [province] are seeing huge growth in the number of golf courses being built.”

Now involved in two projects of his own in China, Kruse says despite stricter controls on golf course development imposed by Beijing in the past two years, there is no sign of a let-up, even in central and northern China where snowy winters close courses for up to four months of the year.

Contrast this with western countries, where the number of new courses being built has slowed to a crawl and is now regularly exceeded by closures. In America, which has 14,000 courses and 25 million golfers, several hundred courses close each year and only a handful of new layouts are being built.

It’s the same in Japan, where a golf boom in the 1980s ballooned the number of courses to 2500 – second only to the US – and where an estimated nine million people still play golf. Today, many clubs that once commanded huge entrance fees have closed or have been opened to the public. Green fees at courses on Hokkaido are among the lowest in Asia.

Accordia, Japan’s largest golf management company with 122 courses in its portfolio, set up and subsequently sold by US investment banking company Goldman Sachs, is currently being targeted for takeover by a

Stoneforest International Country Club smaller competitor, signaling the declining state of the Japanese golf sector.

In most other developed countries, like Australia, people who can afford to belong to a golf club are finding time and cost pressures cutting their participation in the game. Most Australian golf clubs that had

long waiting lists in the 1980s and 90s— when Greg Norman was at the top of his game—are now trying to find new ways to attract members.

It’s the same in the United Kingdom, Europe and America. But not so in China, where today’s estimated two million golfers

(some say three million, others as many as five million) will surge to 20 million in the next decade, according to Mission Hills chairman, Dr Ken Chu. Having taken over the top position at the world’s biggest golf club – with 22 courses at Shenzhen near Hong Kong and at Haikou

November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

21

on the island of Hainan – following the death in early 2011 of his pioneering father, the 40-year-old has embarked on a development program of astonishing proportions.

By the time all current and announced projects at Haikou are completed in late 2014 or early 2015, Ken Chu predicts the resort complex will welcome 15 million “spenders” a year.

But only a small percentage will play golf.

The rest, attracted by three international hotels, a movie theme town, restaurant and entertainment complex, shopping precinct with 300 brand name stores, ice-skating and tenpin bowling facilities, will complement Asia’s largest mineral springs and spa complex completed last year as well as a fantasy golf course now under construction.

It prompts the obvious question: is this the future of golf?

“We want to popularise the game of golf, while at the same time introducing women and children to our resort who may or may not want to play,” Ken Chu explains.

“We are creating a destination where four generations of a family can all find something they can do and enjoy. If it introduces some to golf, that will be an added bonus.”

Even for a company that has spent some $US4 billion on its golf and associated resort infrastructure so far, it is an ambitious move.

But the justification for the projects – that will include Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton and Hard Rock hotels and joint ventures with Hong Kong based restaurant/entertainment

developer Lan Kwai Fong and Chinese movie director Feng Xiaogang – is compelling.

Hainan, China’s so-called “Hawaii of the East”, has been designated a special tourism destination by the government in Beijing. The island’s 30 million annual visitors in 2012 – most from mainland China – is expected to reach 50 million within two years.

Current visa exemptions, which allow stays of up to 15 days on Hainan and entry to other parts of China if Hainan is the original point of entry, add to the attraction of visiting the island.

Hainan’s main local competitor for golf tourism, the south-western city of Kunming in Yunnan province, is also forging ahead with new golf-related developments.

Already boasting a dozen top courses, the offering will double in the next two years as layouts designed (among others) by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson come on stream.

Here, in the so-called Land of Eternal Spring, a reference to Kunming’s mild yearround climate, are culture, food, history and scenery to match some remarkably good golf. A group of courses, headed by Spring City with two courses rated the second and fifth best in China, have come together to form a destination marketing program www. golf-kunming.com “As more people get to know about Kunming’s golf attractions, we are sure they will come and once they do, they’ll want to come back,”says the group’s co-ordinator, Elvin Chua.

A water park at Mission Hills Haikou Spring City, which is currently upgrading its clubhouse and associated facilities, and Stoneforest International Country Club, a 54hole complex of which 36 holes are open to the public, offer standards of golf rarely seen in Asia and comparable with the best in the west.

Another 36-hole facility, Skyait Golf Resort, two hours north of Kunming, and Honghe Spring Golf Club, some 110km east, are also members of the Kunming Golf Group along with Brilliant Resort & Spa, a zen-like retreat on the shore of Lake Yangzonghai.

So good is the climate and environment for golf in Yunnan province that even Mission

Hills has its finger on Kunming’s golf pulse.

A new golf course management arm of the company has been established to extend Mission Hills’ brand to Kunming and to the central city of Chonqing, where the company will manage – rather than develop or own – multiple new courses. It has also signalled interest in taking over existing courses and injecting the Mission Hills’ successful formula.

Will such arrangements ex tend internationally? “Possibly,”is all Ken Chu will say for now. But watch this space, for what is happening in golf development in China today will inevitably have an impact on the world golf stage in the future. •

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Amazing golf courses in spectacular settings.

If you’re looking for value-for-money golfing experiences, you can’t go past Thailand. First rate courses and facilities, along with unmatched service and hospitality, make Thailand a golfer’s dream. Some might say it is the best place for a golfing holiday anywhere on the planet. From Bangkok to Hua Hin, Pattaya to Chang Mai, there are generous numbers of public courses of a high international standard just waiting to be played every day of the week. But we all know that a golfing vacation is not just about golf. Luckily, the off-thecourse action in Thailand – the beaches, the nightlife, the food, the culture – is well worth swinging into as well.

Tourism Authority of Thailand, Level 20, 56 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000, +61 2 9247 7549

www.tourismthailand.org/au

demo dates Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Location

Day

Callaway Date

New South Wales Moss Vale Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 01 Monday November 04 Oatlands Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 06 Bonnie Doon Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 07 Royal Sydney Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 08 Campbelltown Golf Club ◊ * Thornleigh Golf Centre ⁰ Saturday November 09 Monday November 11 Marrickville Golf Club ◊ * Tueesday November 12 Pennant Hills Golf Club ◊ * Castle Hill Country Club ⁰ Wednesday November 13 Thursday November 14 Toronto Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 16 Muswellbrook Golf Club ◊ * Saturday November 16 Belmont Golf Club ◊ * Monday November 18 Cabramatta Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 19 Pymble Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 20 New South Wales Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 21 St Michaels Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 22 Mona Vale Golf Club ◊ * Monday November 26 Duntry League Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 26 Bathurst Driving Range ◊ * Wednesday November 27 Mudgee Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 28 Dubbo Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 29 Wentworth Golf Club ◊ * Queensland Friday November 01 Victoria Park Golf Complex ◊ * Tuesday November 05 Victoria Park Golf Complex ◊ * Wednesday November 06 Caloundra Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 12 Caloundra Golf Club ◊ * Bribie Island Golf Course ⁰ Wednesday November 13 Thursday November 14 Peregian Springs Golf Course ◊ * Thursday November 14 Noosa Springs Golf Course ◊ * Lismore Golf Club ⁰ Friday November 15 Friday November 15 Nudgee Golf Course ◊ * Thursday November 21 Royal Queensland Golf Club ◊ * ** Friday November 22 Tweed Heads Golf Club ◊ * Drummond Maroochydore ⁰ Tuesday November 26 Big Easy Driving Range ⁰ Thursday November 28 Thursday November 28 Coffs Harbour Golf Club ◊ * Palm Meadows Driving Range ⁰ Friday November 29 Victoria Friday November 01 National Golf Club ◊ * Saturday November 02 Patterson River Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 06 Yarra Yarra Golf Club ◊ * Melbourne Golf Academy ⁰ Wednesday November 06 Thursday November 07 House of Golf - Mildura ◊ * Friday November 08 The Sands Torquay ◊ * Saturday November 09 House of Golf - Long Island ◊ * Monday November 11 Medway Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 12 Phillip Island Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 13 Spring Valley Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 14 Sandhurst Club ◊ * Yarra Bend Driving Range ⁰ Thursday November 14 Friday November 16 Riversdale Golf Club ◊ * Saturday November 16 Barwon Heads Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 19 Kooringal Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 20 Kew Golf Club ◊ * Sandringham Driving Range ⁰ Wednesday November 20 Thursday November 21 Peninsula Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 22 Settlers Run Golf and Country Club ◊ * Saturday November 23 Ranfurlie Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday November 26 House of Golf - Ringwood ◊ * Wednesday November 27 Eastwood Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday November 27 Morack Golf Driving Range ◊ * Thursday November 28 Mornington Golf Club ◊ * South Australia Thursday November 14 The Vines of Reynella ◊ * Saturday November 23 The Grange Golf Club ◊ * Western Australia November 01 Sanctuary Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 03 Lake Karrinyup Golf Club ◊ * Sunday November 07 Secret Harbour Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 08 Hillview Public Golf Course ◊ * Friday November 14 Geraldton Golf Club ◊ * Thursday November 16 Spalding Park Golf Club ◊ * Friday November 22 Lakelands Golf Club ◊ * Friday Wembley Golf Course ⁰ Wednesday November 27 Northern Territory November 09 Alice Springs Golf Club ◊ * Saturday November 10 Flight Path Driving Range ◊ * Sunday

Time 10am - 3pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 2pm 12 - 5pm 10am - 4pm 2 - 6pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 1pm 1 - 5pm 1 - 6pm 9am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 1pm 9am - 1pm 10am - 2pm 8am - 1pm 1 - 6pm 12 - 6pm 1 - 6pm 11am - 4pm 9am - 1pm 1 - 5pm 5.30 - 7.30pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 6pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 12pm 2 - 6pm 3 - 5pm 1 - 4pm 1 - 5pm 3 - 5pm 9am - 12pm 5 - 7pm 9am - 1pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 4 - 8pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 1pm 9am - 4pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 4pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 5 - 7.30pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 4pm 4 - 6pm 10am - 2pm 11am - 4pm 9am - 12pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 10am - 4pm 8.30am - 12.30pm 12 - 4pm 5 - 8pm 10am - 2pm 2 - 5pm

www.callawaygolf.com

Location

Day

Demo DAYS New South Wales Moore Park Driving Range Queensland Caboolture Golf Club Victoria Park Golf Complex Parkwood International Golf Indooroopilly Golf Club Big Easy Driving Range Carseldine South Australia Drummond Golf Driving Range fitting days Victoria / Tasmania 13th Beach Golf Links * House of Golf Sunraysia Driving Range * Murray Downs Golf & Country Club * Sandringham Driving Range * New South Wales Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club * Cammeray Golf Course * Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club * Canterbury Golf Course * Links @ Shell Cove Golf Course * Pymble Golf Club (members only) *

Mizuno Location

Date

Time

Thursday

November 21

4.30 - 7.30pm

Friday Tuesday Thursday Wednesday Thursday

November 01 November 05 November 14 November 27 November 28

1 - 5pm 6.30 - 8.30pm 5 - 8pm 11am - 1pm 6 - 8.30pm

Thursday

November 21

4 - 7pm

Saturday Thursday Friday Wednesday

November 02 November 07 November 08 November 20

10am - 2pm 4 - 8pm 11am - 3pm 4 - 7pm

Friday Monday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday

November 01 November 04 November 06 November 07 November 28 November 29

11 - 4pm 12 - 4pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm

mizuno.com.au

Day

Date

Time

New South Wales Helensburgh Driving Range* Monday November 04 11am - 3pm Drummond Golf - Dee Why* Wednesday November 06 4 - 7pm Fox Hills G. C.* Thursday November 07 12 - 4pm Cumberland C. C.* ** Thursday November 07 1 - 5pm Pymble G. C.* ** Friday November 08 1 - 5pm Thornleigh Golf Centre - Golf Expo* Saturday November 09 10am - 4pm Cromer G.C* ** Tuessday November 12 1 - 5pm Queanbeyan G.C* Wednesday November 13 1 - 5pm Belconnen G.C* Thursday November 14 12 - 4pm Federal Golf Club* ** Friday November 15 10am - 2pm Belmont G.C* Saturday November 16 9am - 1pm Manly G.C* ** Wednesday November 20 8am - 12pm Drummond Golf - Casula* Thursday November 21 4 - 7pm Camden Lakeside G. C.* Friday November 22 11am - 3pm Pete’s Golf Connection - ACT* Saturday November 23 11am - 4pm Pete’s Golf Connection - 12 Hour Golf Sale* Sunday November 24 11am - 4pm Moore Park G. C.* Tuesday November 26 4 - 7pm Bonville G. C.* Wednesday November 27 11am - 3pm Coffs Harbour Driving - HOG* Wednesday November 27 4 - 7pm Coffs Harbour G. C.* Thursday November 28 10am - 5pm Tamworth G. C.* Friday November 29 9am - 1pm Queensland Southport G. C.* Friday November 01 12 - 4pm Gripped On Golf Friday November 01 2 - 6pm Toowoomba G. C. Saturday November 02 9am - 12pm Brisbane G. C.* ** Wednesday November 06 10am - 1pm Calliope Country Club Saturday November 09 11am - 4pm Victoria park Golf Complex * Tuesday November 12 5.30 - 7.30pm Headland Golf Club* Wednesday November 13 11am - 3pm Parkwood G. C.* Thursday November 14 4 - 6.30pm Warwick G. C. Friday November 15 10am - 1pm Horton park Golf Club* Friday November 15 10am - 2pm Emerald Lakes Driving Range* Wednesday November 20 2 - 4.30pm Bargara Golf Club* Thursday November 21 11am - 3pm House Golf Hervey bay Friday November 22 10am - 4pm Noosa Springs* Tuesday November 26 9am - 12pm Indooroopilly Golf Club* ** Wednesday November 27 10am - 1pm Mt Coolum* Thursday November 28 12 - 4pm Golf Gurus Big Easy Driving Range Thursday November 28 5.30 - 7.30pm Bribie Island Friday November 29 10am - 2pm Palm Meadows G. C. Friday November 29 2 - 4.30pm South Australia Drummond Golf Driving Range Wednesday November 06 4 - 7pm Tea Tree Gully G. C. Wednesday November 20 10am - 2pm Victoria House of Golf - Mildura Thursday November 07 4 - 8pm Beaconhills G. C. Wednesday November 13 3 - 7pm Yarra Bend G. C. Thursday November 14 5 - 8pm Metropolitan G. C.** Saturday November 16 10am - 2pm Sandringham Driving Range Wednesday November 20 5 - 7.30pm Peninsula G. C. Thursday November 21 10am - 2pm Morack G. C. Thursday November 21 4 - 7pm Sorrento G. C. Saturday November 23 10am - 2pm Western Australia Fremantle G. C.* Friday November 01 12 - 5pm Marangaroo G. C. Saturday November 02 10am - 2pm Gosnells G. C. Thursday November 07 10am - 2pm Mandurah C. C. Wednesday November 13 10am - 2pm Carramar G. C. Saturday November 23 10am - 2pm

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. °Ping Demo day. ◊ Ping Fitting.

Demo dates subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

87

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pp $208 From share n twi week mid

Golf & Accommodation from only $70 per day

Three Day / Two Night Golf Package Includes: Unlimited golf, two nights accommodation, breakfast each morning, 2 x evening meals (vouchers up to the value of $20)

9 16 Golf courses including Horizons, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Muree, Tanilba, Cypress Lakes, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage, by boat to Hawks Nest & others

• Fully Irrigated Greens & Fairways • Full Bar & Bistro Facilities • Abundant Wildlife including Kangaroos

9 Play any day & with any number of people 9 Golf & accommodation from a choice of motels, hotels, units & resorts

www.facebook.com/golfpsgh

www.benallagolfclub.com.au (03) 5762 1920 | benagolf @bigpond.net.au

T: 02 4984 9618 | M: 0428 820 477 | info@psgh.com.au | www.psgh.com.au

Yamba Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship golf course, located right in the heart of Yamba.

• 18 hole golf course • Fully stocked ProShop • Tuition for all ages available • Motorised cart hire • In club dining at Fairways Bistro • Function room for weddings, special occasions or conferences • Live entertainment and activities throughout the week • Courtesy bus • Open 7 days a week • Stay and Play Packages available

We look forward to welcoming you soon! www.thegripmaster.com

River Street, Yamba NSW | Ph (02) 6646 2104 | www.yambagolf.com.au

Golf PackaGes

“On COurse at Duntryleague”

“Rowan Cottage” is your ideal golfing destination located next door to the famous Duntryleague Guest House, approximately 3 ½ hour’s drive from Sydney.

Rowan Cottages is located only minutes to town in a quiet street where all Orange has to offer is at your fingertips.

Bookings and enquires call

Ocean Shores Motel (02) 6680 2222 www.oceanshoresmotel.com.au info@oceanshoresmotel.com.au Ph (02) 6680 2222 Fax (02) 6680 2018

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Let us tailor your “Stay & Play Package” on Orange’s 3 Golf Courses: • Duntryleague • Wentworth Golf Club • Orange Ex-Services Country Club

packages starting from

$177pp

includes 2 nights and 3 days of golf on all 3 courses

Contact John on 0417 651 084 or Maureen 0417 651 005 Phone: (02) 6362 9146 • Email: rowancottage@live.com.au

www.rowancottage.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory

Stay and Play from $525 per person (quad share)*

Includes: • 5 nights accommodation in a 2 bedroom garden view apartment • Breakfast included • 3 rounds of golf (Noosa Springs, Tewantin/Noosa and Peregian Springs golf courses) *conditions apply

Motel Mulwala Golfing Mecca on the Murray 3.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation Pool, Austar with 25 channels, walk to pubs, clubs & restaurants We tailor golf packages to suit your needs, or try one of our standard packages conditions apply

$95pp twin share 1 nights accommodation, golf and Cooked Breakfast

$460pp twin share 5 nights accommodation, 4 days golf, 5 Cooked Breakfast & BBQ provisions for 1 night.

Group Bookings of 6 rooms or over, further discounts apply

Contact Nick or Soph to discuss your next golf trip Ph: (03) 5743 2555 Email: enquiry@paradisepalmsmulwala.com 121 Melbourne Street Mulwala NSW 2647

p: (07) 5449 7966 | e: holiday@munnabeach.com.au | www.munnabeach.com.au

www.paradisepalmsmulwala.com.au

LADIES MEMBERSHIP OPEN

No Nomination Fee (Save $440)

Ladies Competitions every Saturday from 9am till 11am and Tuesday from 8am till 9am.

Friday and Sunday Open Medley Competitions.

Subscription year is 1st October till 30th September.

36 Hole Club including 3 practise putting greens, 100m pitching green with bunkers, 250m driving range and fully licensed 1 level air conditioned clubhouse

Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated 1207 Nudgee Road NUDGEE QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 7744 Email: golf@nudgeegolf.com.au www.nudgeegolf.com.au

Crossword Answers N U M B O E H O L E E H E N P H A M P I I L A C A K S E E D C L O B S E F O F I N A

E R S D I A G N T E I D R E S T R I O O K S R I K J O H N S E O O E R O B S T A N S S I E T I S T N S T E R S P R A I N P I L S S I V E I R O R T A N C E H A N G

R U C K S A C K S

A M A T S O O N

L E V U E N S E H O N S E U S O N For advertising call 1300 465 300

Phone: 1800 159 942 sales@rikshagolf.com.au www.rikshagolf.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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golf directory

THINK…

Gifts, Pri z

For ladies golf accessories

Play anytime - No waiting Howeston Golf Course

es or

YOUR TREAT

Enquiries welcome $

BUY online, mail, phone

www.

highteeladies.com.au

16 Weekdays

20 Weekends & Public Holidays *

$

100A Creek Road, Birkdale, Qld | Phone (07) 3207-2452

Ph: 0419 501229

*prices include GST

Established 1972 • Full length 27-hole course • Excellent greens • Professional tuition available • Clubs for hire • Open seven days - BYO • Electric golf carts available

Inside Golf Digital Now available on iPads and iPhones!

›› Hole Out

Spectacular

Sapphire Coast Merimbula Mike McGuire & Yumi Yoshida

Great Golf Packages

$455

P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

ION EDIT IssueA94 CI L May 2013 ISSUE 100 SPE

www.insidegolf.com.au

4 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

FROM

3 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day FROM

02 6495 2366 0437 801 270 info@pacificheights.com.au www.pacificheights.com.au

A PARMAKER M A SCOUT G A ZBUGGY INE WIN!

AUSTRALIA’S MOST READ GOLF MAGAZINE AUSTRALIA’S MOST READ GOLF

InsideGolf www.insidegolf.com.au

LET US QUOTE YOUR OWN PACKAGE 4 NIGHTS ACCOM. 5 NIGHTS ACCOM.

1-7 Oceanview Ave, Merimbula NSW P: M: E: W:

•All golf courses within 20 minute drive •Heated year round pool •Free BBQ area •500m walk to restaurants •FSC Apartments & Munn Tower House •Sensational views of Village, Lake & Ocean

Get Australia’s most regularly read monthly golf publication directly on your iPad or iPhone. Packed with our award-winning content, Inside Golf Digital includes bonus videos, photo galleries, links, interactive elements and more! All in an easy-to-read digital format, delivered directly to your device.

Available in iTunes, the App Store or via the Apple Newsstand.

$525

The BIG Travel issue!

AROUND THE LINKS

MASTER SENSATION!

SCHOOL’S IN

MEET ‘THE MECHANIC’

AUSTRALIA’S BEST GOLF ACADEMIES

WE CHAT WITH MIGUEL ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ

ADAM SCOTT BREAKS THE MASTERS DUCK TO

NEW! GOLF TRAVEL LIFTOUT: GOLF GREAT OCEAN ROAD & BELLARINE PENINSULA. PLUS: THAILAND AND CHINA WINON VICTORIA’S AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GREEN JACKET

REWARDING YOU WITH THE ULTIMATE GOLF EXPERIENCE

GOLF COURSE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS

RENOVATIONSPECIAL

$99

FOR 18 HOLES OF GOLF INCLUDING GOLF CART HIRE AND SLEEVE OF CALLAWAY BALLS.

http://bit.ly/HSdId8

PLUS INSIDE GOLF READERS WILL RECEIVE A BUCKET OF 40 DRIVING RANGE BALLS. *Offer must be mentioned at time of booking.

Valid until 30 November 2013, terms and conditions apply.

COUNTRY CLUB BOULEVARD, CONNOLLY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6027 | T: 08 9400 8811 | E: proshop@joondalupresort.com.au

Conditions apply

www.joondalupresort.com.au

InsideGolf

Pambula Merimbula GC • Eden Gardens GC • Bega Country Club • Tura Beach Country Club

Clearwater Noosa

We chat with teenage sensation Su Hyun Oh, former Test cricketer Graeme Hick, and senior champion Michael Jackson

SUMMER SPECTACULAR WE PREVIEW THE AUSSIE SUMMER OF GOLF IT’S THE LIT TLE THINGS

P/P Twin Share

TOP TIPS

9 ways to improve your game on the golf course Distance or direction: which is more important in putting?

The 100m Par-3 game to breaking 90

Your complete guide to Australia’s greatest golf getaways

Only $0.99 per issue.

Or get a full 12-month subscription for only $5.49 Never miss another issue.

Check out Inside Golf Digital today!

Golf Tour to Hua Hin, Thailand Departing 1st March 2014 for 8 days / 7 nights

InclusIons Airfares ex Australia / 7 nights with breakfast / 2 Group dinners / 4 rounds of golf with caddy and cart Airport & Golf course transfers / Welcome souvenir bag / Daily and overall prizes PrIcInG 4*Banyan Resort, 1 bedroom private villa Price per golfer, twin sharing $2750, *Other hotels by request

Contact Paul Gover 0419 264 800 p.gover@thailandgolftours.com.au Your choice of resort and club courses.

• Noosa Springs • Twin Waters • Club Pelican • Coolum Golf & Spa • Mt Coolum • Tewantin Noosa • Horton Park • Headland • Caloundra • Peregian Springs Some conditions apply

www.thailandgolftours.com.au

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November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory

“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag” • clanging clubs • damaged irons • worn graphite shafts • frustration finding the right iron *

Play & Stay for $120 Package includes: • 2 games of golf • Meal • 1 night accommodation with continental breakfast

bersh em fro m

ips

M

*

$220

A

va

ila ble *Conditions apply

Casino Golf Club - West St, Casino NSW 2470 P: (02) 6662 1259 | E: admin@casinogolfclub.com.au

www.casinogolfclub.com.au

• Play to your handicap or better and receive a dozen Pro-V’s • Challenge Winner (best nett score) wins a shirt, a Blue Marker Challenge ball marker and a dozen Pro-V’s • Best nett score by a visitor wins a dozen Pro-V’s • 6 NTP’s - win 3 Pro-V’s each • Break 80 nett and win a Pro-V

Patented Softgrip Technology From the inventors oF the CaddyraCk

GET ORGANISED WITH

1300 738 557 • www.kahmagolf.com

$30 VISITORS

PLAYED LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

All packages are available for stays at either www.thebreakers.com.au or www.paradiseisles.com.au

Aquarius R

E

S

O

R

MAGIC MERIMBULA This is the most popular package on the Sapphire Coast, it gets booked out early - don't miss out

T

• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort.

• 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied).

• 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

Packages starting from:

• Free use of resort facilities, indoor gas heated pool, sauna & spa, full size tennis court, BBQ area and outdoor pool.

• Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share *Conditions apply

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Crn Dunns Lane & Arthur Kaine Drv, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

www.insidegolf.com.au | November 2013

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golf directory

Golf Cart Slowing Down?

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

Need new batteries?

Don’t replace them… Restore them with the Battery Reviver.

The Battery Reviver can bring old batteries back to life by sending a high frequency pulse through the batteries dissolving the sulphate build up and turning the sulphur crystals back into sulphuric acid. The Battery Reviver is powered by your golf cart batteries and it can be left connected permanently to increase the life of your batteries by up to three times, or used occasionally to restore them.

30 DaY

For more information, pricing and to order Phone 1300 852 433 or visit our website www.batteryreviver.com.au

SatISfaCtIoN GUaraNtEE or YoUr MoNEY BaCK.

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

• • • •

Timeless Tuesday - Unlimited* Golf for ONLY $25 Golf Equipment for Hire & Sale Fully Licensed Clubhouse Social Clubs & Corporate Days

Visitors pay only $25 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

More social playing times now on a Monday & Thursday

start of our membership year, so why not consider membership at the beerwah Golf club

Biondi Crescent, Beerwah admin@beerwahgolfclub.com.au www.beerwahgolfclub.com.au

Ph: (07) 5494 0630 Golf Shop (07) 5494 6611

HUNTER VALLEY GOLF GETAWAYS Golf & AccommodAtion pAckAGes from Just $65pp Including • 18 Holes of Golf • Accommodation • Sleeps up to 40 people

Great traditional Country Style • Singles to Large Group Accommodation • Fantastic Location for Wineries/Golf Courses • Local Access to Stonebridge GC, The Vintage, Cypress Lakes G&CC and Hunter Valley G&CC

Live entertainment thurs - sat nights • The Award Winning Kurrajong Restaurant • Great Pub-Style Atmosphere • TAB • KENO

Ph: (02) 4990 1002 234 Wollombi Road, Cessnock, NSW 2325 cessnockhotel@outlook.com

Offered by LEMON TREE

PASSAGE MOTEL

This Excellent Package includes

A family run business for 18 years Best Service & Best Value Guaranteed

• Twin share accommodation & cooked breakfast at Lemon Tree Passage Motel (3½ Star) • 18 Holes of golf (at the course of your choice) • $20 dinner voucher at a local restaurant • Non golfing partners catered for • Special arrangements/prices for groups • All golfers staying multiple nights during the week, pay only $50 for accomodation (twin share) including cooked breakfast

www.lemontreepassagemotel.com.au

Tel: 0061 35873 4477 Fax: 0061 35873 4511 Golf Course Rd, Barooga NSW Contact michael@murrayrivergolf.com.au or visit our website

www.murrayrivergolf.com.au 92

November 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

The New SRIXON Z-STAR Series delivers greater advances in spin control and softness while improving the flight characteristics that have won high acclaim. Newly developed Spin-Skin Technology enables players to hit short approach shots with plenty of backspin. Newly developed dimples reduce air resistance for improved flight performance, resulting in a strong, longcarrying trajectory that can conquer even strong headwinds and delivers greater flight distances.

Keegan Bradley PGA Champion

Graeme “G-Mac� McDowell US Open Champion

PLAY A BETTER BALL. Z STAR IS THE ANSWER.

The real question is Z STAR or Z STAR XV?

Find out how you can play the new Srixon Z Star for FREE at www.playabetterball.com.au.

Quality

used Golf Cars

ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO GOLF CLUBS

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH 269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 6 Days penrith_golf@iprimus.com.au

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted $7 NSW, $9 VIC & QLD, $10 SA, TAS, NT & WA Postage and handling any quantity.

Callaway Hex Chrome Balls

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 6 Days

TaylorMade Burner balls

Urethane cover 3 piece Low compression

Great for golf ball competitions Bulk qty 144 balls ($14 a doz) Individually boxed

SAVE $10

$27

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN Callaway Deluxe Golf Towel

Distance ball with great feel

$29

$20

$168

doz

TaylorMade Penta TP5 Balls

Srixon Q Star Balls

5 piece urethane cover

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

$18

$49

22º loft Regular graphite Number 4 Replaces 3 iron

$189

$129

Includes cover

TaylorMade RBZ Irons 8 irons 4-SW Matching Regular Flex Steel shafts Right and left hand

$31

Doz

TaylorMade RBZ Rescue Hybrid

$799

$490

$419

Easy to use irons

Callaway Tour Umbrella

$69

68” Large Fibreglass shaft Dual canopy Automatic pop-up

$44

Includes cover

Callaway Staff Tour Bag Pro Style 10” large diameter

SAVE $100

$249

Srixon AD333 Balls

$192 for 144 balls Individually boxed

$16

dozen

Wilson Staff Irons Di9 Model 4 - Pitching wedge Uniflex only Right hand

$209

SAVE $400

7 irons

OPTIMA Ball Sale TS+ Green box or TS Tour Gold box Individually boxed

$35

$20

dozen

Right hand Regular Flex only One loft only 8º up to 12º

$156

$279

Includes cover & wrench

144 balls ($13/dozen) Individually boxed

Nike Covert 3 Fairway

Callaway Hex Black Tour Balls

Metalwood Regular, stiff or extra stiff flexes 15º loft Includes Cover

Urethane cover 4 piece Tour ball

$45

$239

$159 $33 Soft Feel with distance Individually boxed 144 balls - $240

$20

Regular or stiff 17º loft Replaces 2 iron or 5 wood Includes Cover doz

Srixon Z-Star Yellow Balls ½ PRICE

$24

$229

$149

SRIXON ALL WEATHER GLOVES

Urethane cover 3 Piece Tour Quality ball

SL (Seniors) Yellow Model Also Available

doz

Nike Covert 2 Hybrid

Callaway HX Diablo Balls

Great for ball comps Distance and control

$149

TaylorMade R1 Driver

Distance ball with great feel Great for ball competitions Bulk Qty

19º Regular 15º Stiff 19º & 15º Ladies Right hand only

doz

TaylorMade RBZ Graphite Irons 4-SW 8 irons Long Distance irons Regular flex Graphite Shafts Right Hand

TaylorMade RBZ Fairway

Includes cover

Srixon Distance Balls $672

Black or Blue Large (76cmx51cm)

doz

Mens Left or Right White or Black Mens - S, M, ML, L, XL Ladies - S, M, L

5 FOR

$45

INC. POSTAGE ANYWHERE IN AUST

#BRINGIT