Inside Golf Issue 101 December 2013

Australia’s

Most

Read

Golf

M aga z i n e

InsideGolf Issue 101 December 2013 // www.insidegolf.com.au

t n a Iw ! n i w To r o i n e S r e Pestfor the podium in 2014 aim

Are ‘Superclubs’ the way forward for golf?

CLUB OF THE MONTH:

The new-look Bayview Golf Club

What’s in ?

Santa’s bag

FLATSTICK FIXEs

How to control the speed of your putts

p This year’s to golf gifts

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Are ‘Superclubs’ the way forward?

FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIPS (Value for money)

membership, twilight memberships, 3-day memberships or anything that will help add money into the coffers.

These clubs realise that today’s households are stretched by both time and budgets. They days of a father spending an entire Saturday at the club are long gone. Instead, a quick-9 on a Thursday morning before work (or at twilight after work) is becoming more popular. So why not cater to this?

Juniors, women and beginner memberships are also in need of an overhaul.

At the recent “The Match” at Mission Hills in China, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy praised the initiative to offer year-round free golf for under-16 players on two courses at Mission Hills Haikou.

“The fact you have two golf courses where kids that are 16-and-under can play for free … that’s how it should be around the world. We’re trying to include more people into the game of golf. It’s definitely a model that people should be looking at,” Woods said.

“I wish that when I was growing up we had places where we could play golf for free,” said McIlroy. “It doesn’t happen very often. To make golf more accessible is just phenomenal. It’s absolutely incredible, the growth of golf here.”

Other ideas like “Team Golf” (see article this month) are adding even more to the landscape. A little creative thinking at your club could do wonders.

So while you may not need to become a full-fledged “Superclub” to power through the “Kryptonite” of 21st century golf landscape, it certainly couldn’t hurt to have Clark Kent waiting at a booth nearby, otherwise your club could become a Fortress of Solitude.

See you on the fairways. •

Another area which is proving to be a barrier for many golfers is the rigid 56- 7-day membership model.

Forward-thinking clubs like Bayview and Rosnay (see articles in this month’s ‘Clubs’ section) are cottoning on to the idea of flexibility in their offerings, with ideas like a Flexi-golf

Richard Fellner–Group Editor

Richard Fellner Group Editor richard@insidegolf.com.au @insidegolf

With the recent announcement of the merger between Kingswood and Peninsula golf clubs—two of Melbourne’s prominent Sandbelt facilities—more clubs across the country are discovering that they are not immune to the issues and obstacles threatening golf in Australia.

Mergers and amalgamation are part of any business in any economy, so why would your golf club be any different?

The merged Peninsula Kingswood club represents what many are calling a “Superclub”, featuring plenty of members, plenty of money (soon) in the bank and a pair of great golf courses on offer, not to mention a high-quality clubhouse and other facilities.

When you consider everything this “Superclub” can offer to both current and potential members, you begin to realise that it may represent exactly what Australian Club Golf needs to sway the burgeoning Social Golf market into their ranks.

If you’ve been paying attention to this column over the years, you’ll know that today’s golfer wants (apart from fun and camaraderie) two basic things: 1) a variety of courses and 2) value for money.

A “Superclub” would seem to fit the bill for many golfers. A pair (or trio) of good courses for one membership fee can be very appealing. So don’t be surprised if, over the next few years, a handful of similar “Superclub” announcements grab the spotlight.

If your club isn’t in the position for a major merger, there are still a couple things you CAN do to create your own version of a “Superclub.”

RECIPROCALS (Variety) One area which I reckon is vastly underutilised (and under-promoted)

IN THIS ISSUE:

in Australian golf is reciprocal playing rights.

Chances are your club has established reciprocal rights with a handful of interstate/regional clubs. Your club may even have an agreement in place with a neighbouring course to allow the occasional reciprocal round, usually for a fee (as is the case with Melbourne’s Sandbelt and Yarra River clubs.)

But I don’t reckon this goes far enough.

Imagine the allure to a prospective member if you could offer, say, a trio of great courses with open playing rights, in the same general area, for one annual membership fee. The courses wouldn’t have to be next door to each other: in Melbourne, for example, you could get one course on the Mornington Peninsula, one course in the Sandbelt/ City area, and one course in the eastern suburbs. What a variety that would be, all within 90 minutes of each other.

Some club members will immediately dismiss this idea—thinking it is too hard to manage timesheets, constitutional stuff, member egos or any number of other “excuses”. But as my parents always told me: “If you want something badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen.”

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U S T R A L I A

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www.insidegolf.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 Editor: Richard Fellner P: 0407 000 440 richard@insidegolf.com.au Senior Writer: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Design & Layout: Nick Thorn, Stacey Fortescue, Rhys Martin Contributors: Larry Canning, Mike Orloff, Denis Dale, Peter Croker, Brian Thorburn, Michael Green, Richard Nizielski, Henry Peters, Stephen Pitt, Glenn Whittle, Karen Lunn, Steven Jeffress, Brian O’Hare, Garrett Johnston, Rob Willis, Andrew Crockett, Graham Percy National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 | F: (07) 5535 4922 M: 0410 575 303 | E: sam@insidegolf.com.au QLD Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: dg.ross@live.com.au NSW/ACT Sales: Scott Barsby M: 0424 779 199 | E: scott@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS/SA Sales: Jon Perrett M: 0402 852 637 E: jon.perrett@bestingolfgroup.com Advertising Sales: Lisa Coleman E: lisa@insidegolf.com.au | M:0406 031 344 National Agency Sales (non golf) Marc Wilson | M: 0419 107 143 Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Cover photo: Jason O’Brien 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

Scott the Homecoming King Adam Scott’s “Homecoming Tour” of Australia hit a fever pitch last month, with back-to-back victories at the Australian PGA Championship and the Talisker Masters.

Playing in front of huge crowds, Scott gave a Master Class on ballstriking, scoring and patience, as he outshined quality fields in both events.

At the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, played at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, Scott fired a finalround 4-under to finish with a tournament total of 14-under 270, trouncing another crowd favourite, American Rickie Fowler by four shots.

For Scott, the victory completed a career “Aussie Triple Crown”, adding to his previous victories at the Australian Open (2009) and Australian Masters (2012).

“It feels amazing to be able to kind of tick the boxes down here in Australia now,” said Scott.

“I’m really proud, the PGA means a lot to me and my family and I think this is an incredible win,” said Scott, whose father Phil is a PGA Professional.

“The PGA has been so involved in my family for a really long time, and it being the one I hadn’t won down here I really wanted it bad.

“It’s a special win to me, I felt an incredible support from the crowd, it was nice seeing them getting so excited for me to get a win.”

Runner-up Fowler helped create an exciting final day’s play coming within a shot of the lead at one point.

“It’s nice to get a good runner-up finish here.

I was looking forward to giving Adam a little bit more of a challenge. It’s a little tough to catch a guy when he’s making an eagle and a couple of birdies.” said Fowler.

“I definitely enjoyed my time on the Gold Coast and I’m looking forward to getting

back down to Australia hopefully next year.

We loved it,” added Fowler who made the trip with his family.

WA Goldfields PGA Champion and Third Year Trainee Jack Wilson finished in outright third on 8-under the card, claiming the Kel Nagle Plate in the process.

“Winning was always the thing from start to finish that I wanted to do. I knew I was in a good position when I got off to a good start,” said Wilson.

The following week, Scott turned his attention to the Talisker Masters, hosted at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. With a gold jacket already in his wardrobe from the previous year, Scott was attempting to become the first player since Greg Norman to successfully defend the Australian Masters title.

With a field that included top world players like Matt Kuchar, Vijay Singh, Marc Leishman and Geoff Ogilvy—as well as crowd favourite Jarrod Lyle who made his emotional return to golf following his battle with Leukemia—Scott had his work cut out if he were to add another jacket to his collection.

Starting the final day four shots clear of the pack, Scott saw his lead slowly evaporate as Kuchar (playing two groups ahead) sank birdie after birdie around the composite layout, and shot up the leaderboard. Scott, meanwhile, was struggling to stay at even par for his round.

A playoff loomed as the pair were tied on 14-under the card with just a few holes to play.

But an untimely double-bogey by Kuchar on the tricky 18th hole sealed the American’s fate.

With a regulation par on the last, Scott finished with a tournament total of 14-under 270, capturing the title, and sealing the first back-to-back victory week of his career.

“I think it’s very hard to win two tournaments full stop, let alone back to back, so I’m quite pleased with myself this week,” said Scott.

“Sometimes you win a little bit ugly. All the good stuff I had done in the first three rounds counted for a lot, even though it wasn’t the prettiest golf today.”

Finishing outright third on 10-under the card was Vijay Singh with South Australian Nick Cullen a further shot back in outright fourth. www.pga.org.au • RAC2496

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news

The Hunter Team - Will Barnett, Tom Bateman, Hayden Gulliver, Joshua Knott, Dylan Perry and Nathan Waters.

Perry, Hunter win NSW Country Championship Dylan Perry had much to smile about recently, as he took top honours in the 2013 NSW Country Championship.

Perry held off the nerves in the second round to secure this most important victory. Dylan plays his golf at The Vintage in the Hunter Valley and at Long Reef in Sydney.

Perry won by three strokes to Wollongong’s Justin Craig, who had rounds of 69 and 70 to finish at four under par. In third place was Daniel Davies, a further two strokes behind.

In the teams event, Hunter River DGA won for a second year in a row from the Illawarra and Northern Rivers Districts.

For more information and results visit: www.golfnsw.org •

Keep up with us online!

Catch the latest golf news online: www.insidegolf.com.au. Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidegolf, keep up to the minute with our Twitter feed (@InsideGolf ). Feedback? Drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au

Ashley Ona makes pro switch

Rankin heads overseas thanks to Coca-Cola

Recent Queensland Women’s Amateur champion, Ashley Ona has confirmed she has moved into the professional ranks.

The 21-year-old Queenslander has enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, highlighted by winning her first professional tournament in 2011 at the Royal Canberra Ladies Classic.

Ona has represented Queensland for five consecutive years in the Interstate Team Matches (Girls’ and Women’s) and is a Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) scholarship holder. She has also represented Australia on numerous occasions.

“I knew I wanted to turn pro by the end of the year, so I talked to my coach Tony Meyer and we came to an agreement to finish off my amateur career at the Queensland Amateur Championship. Now I have my name on the trophy and I was able to finish on a high,” Ms Ona said.

“I’d like to thank ever yone at Golf Queensland for the ongoing support they have given me over the years and the QAS for their help in recent years. I’d also like to thank Tony Meyer and Matt Alhburg for believing in me and my family who have been there from day one.”

Golf Queensland’s Golf Operations Manager, Luke Bates said he was very excited for Ashley.

“In addition to Ashley’s fantastic results throughout her time in the amateur ranks, she has been a great ambassador when representing her State,” Mr Bates said.

“She has a great work ethic both on and off the course and I am sure she will be well rewarded for the hard work put in.

“Golf Queensland’s High Performance Programs aim to develop player’s abilities by providing a pathway to transition to the next level and it is always great to see players

Throughout the 2013 QLD Sunshine Tour Season, all Pro-Ams which are staged at courses which are exclusive stockist of Coca-Cola products, one hole has been selected as the official ‘Coca-Cola Challenge Hole’ with each professional’s score on this hole being recorded.

After making a remarkable run through the middle part of the Coca-Cola Challenge schedule, which saw him record three birdies and an albatross in succession, Brett Rankin has taken out the prestigious award. Rankin found himself in a tie for the lead with Gavin Flint with just two holes to play though a birdie on the par 5 13th hole at the Wantima Pro Am gave him a one-shot advantage going to the final round at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club. When both Rankin and Flint both made pars on the par 4 11th hole on The Palms layout the prize was Rankin’s, winning by just one shot.

Rankin wins $5,000 thanks to Coca-Cola to go towards funding an International Qualifying School and he is extremely happy, given he had made some difficult decisions relating to playing the required amount of rounds.

“Originally I was planning on playing the WA PGA Championship and WA Open instead of playing the last few events on our QLD Sunshine Tour Schedule though if I did, I wouldn’t have played enough rounds to qualify for the CocaCola Challenge” said Rankin.

“It was a difficult decision at the time though now I look back it was a good choice and one I hope I can take advantage of when I head overseas to Asian Q School in January.” •

Ashley Ona moving on into the professional ranks.

“We wish Ashley all the best in her future, and we will be following her progress closely in the coming years.”

Ona travelled to New Zealand in October and played her first event as a professional at the Anita Boon Pro Am. She is headed to the LET Q-School in Morocco at the end of November.

Ona is a member of Gailes Golf Club. •

Coca-Cola Challenge final standings: Pos 1st 2nd T 3rd T 3rd

Player Brett Rankin Gavin Flint Brock Sampson Matthew Ballard

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Join a club The Shark is coming … to the Yarra Valley and win a car TEN southeast Queensland golf clubs have joined forces to launch a unique golf membership promotion – arguably the first of its kind in Australia.

Keperra, Carbrook, McLeod, Nudgee, Oxley, Pacific, Redcliffe, Redland Bay, Virginia and Wynnum are the golf clubs involved in the promotion that will give all new members who join a participating golf club in a qualifying category the opportunity to win a Ford Fiesta Ambiente valued at more than $19,000.

In addition, weekly golf prizes are up for grabs bringing the total prize value to in excess of $25,000.

The campaign has been established with the aim of driving membership at the participating clubs in addressing the decline in membership numbers that the golf industry (or if you prefer: golf clubs across Australia) have experienced in recent times.

The concept is the brainchild of Nudgee Golf Club general manager Aaron Muirhead.

“I approached nine other golf clubs and they didn’t hesitate jumping aboard,” he said.

“I emailed the idea to those clubs and within 15 minutes I had responses back saying ‘count us in’. They all thought it was no-brainer.

“This really is just a pilot and if it works the way I think it will, I’ll look at expanding it in Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

“In 2015, we will look at doing something bigger and better.”

The promotion is being funded equally by participating golf clubs with a contribution from Golf Queensland.

Full details of the promotion are available on the campaign website www.joinagolfclubandwin.com.au •

The spectacular new site for The Eastern Golf Club Golfers beware: The Shark is coming! That’s the rallying cry of The Eastern Golf Club’s newly-launched campaign surrounding last month’s successful commencement of their new multi-million-dollar golf course and clubhouse facility.

Since June 2008—when Members voted to sell the Doncaster site and move to the Yarra Valley—the Club has been carefully navigating the planning process, with final approvals received in February this year.

The revered Australian icon of golf, Greg Norman, has now commenced building 27 holes of pure golf at the gateway to the world-recognised Yarra Valley, all part of The Eastern Golf Club’s new home to be.

Inside Golf was the first golf publication to visit the new site, and we are pleased to report that the proposed layout should provide some truly spectacular golf. With amazing panoramic views, and gently sloping terrain, the potential is there for an amazing facility, and is reminiscent of the highly-regarded Napa Valley wine

and golf region of California. And with the luxurious self-contained Yering Gorge Cottages on-site, golfers and visitors are in for a treat.

There have been many golf courses built over the last 15-20 years throughout Australia, yet most have revolved around residential developments. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as golfers still get great golf courses to play. But what often happens in such developments is that the best land for a golf course routing is also the best land for the residential estates; and we all know what pays the bills in those cases.

Not in Eastern’s case, however, as it’s all about the golf design.

“This 27-hole project is really unique as golf is the only focus,” Norman told Inside Golf. ”It’s rare in this day and age that we get a project that does not have a residential or resort component. This golf-only focus has given us the opportunity to create something really special on this property that offers beautiful vistas of the Yarra River and the surrounding mountain range. Our

goal is to create a golf course that will one day be ranked as one of the top golf courses in Australia.”

So it’s no wonder why Norman recently rated this golf course routing/design as the No. 1 among his 36-odd projects in planning or construction around the world.

The Eastern Golf Club General Manager, Benjamin Telley told Inside Golf: “With 27 holes of golf, a 9-hole par-3 course, gymnasium, tennis courts, golf academy and driving bays, adults and kids games rooms, we intend on offering unparalleled value for money in the golf membership market and the financial security of the Club allows us to do so.

“We will have a strong focus on family-friendly facilities and have some exciting announcements coming up, including on membership. There will be a great opportunity for those that want to get in early,” he says.

With an expected opening date in 2015, those interested can visit www.sharkiscoming.com.au. •

Burrows wins Blind Golf Championship Doug Burrows from Western Australia won the 2013 Blind Golf Australian Open Championship played at Collier Park Golf Club in Perth in October. Doug, who is a B3 player on a handicap of 35, with his caddie Chris Roberts, had a combined net score of 124 for the two-day event on the par 72 Pines-Island course. Runnerup was the ever popular Suzie Westwood (B2 – 54 handicap) also from WA with a combined net score of 130.

Twenty-two players from Australia and one international visitor participated in the event.

The inaugural Western Australian Masters was played at Collier Park GC as a stableford event on the Monday prior to the Open Championship. It was won by one of the most popular golfers from Japan, Takakazu Takahashi, scoring 41 points with his caddie Shiro Yamazaki.

Takahashi is a B2 golfer on a handicap of 45.

Blind golf has three sight categories; B1, B2 and B3 depending on how much sight a player has. 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 blindgolf.com.au or see internationalblindgolf.com •

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news

Taking it to the streets

Golf SA’s Playgolf WEEK brought golf to the streets of Adelaide. (Photos courtesy of Urban Golf Australia)

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Golf has gone off the fairways and onto the streets of Adelaide in one of Golf SA’s biggestever drives to promote the sport. Golf SA held its first-ever Playgolf WEEK in November with ‘Urban Golf’ featuring as a major highlight.

Adelaide’s CBD was given a facelift with a sevenhole golf course breathing new life into the laneways of the University of South Australia City West Campus.

“We’re bringing the golf course into the city so we designed a seven-hole course which (took) about 20 to 25 minutes to complete around the uni,” Golf SA’s Christian Puccini says. Four ‘pitch ‘n putt’ style holes sat side-by-side in one of the university’s major laneways while an extra three holes transformed nearby North Terrace.

Synthetic mats and greens gave students and passersby a chance to try their hand at golf in an exercise geared largely towards beginners and first-timers.

“It’s normal golf clubs with specially designed

street balls, which are a little bit lighter than golf balls. It’s just trying something different and having a bit of fun and getting clubs in people’s hands,” Puccini says. In November 2012, Golf SA held its first-ever Golf Month – an event aimed purely at raising golf’s profile in South Australia.

Playgolf WEEK attempted to build on Golf Month’s legacy in just one week as opposed to more than four weeks and Golf SA was chosen to run the pilot program.

“Golf Australia, with the good work that Adam Scott has been doing lately, thought that it would be an opportune time to run something similar but a week of golf,” Puccini says. “(In 2012) we offered free clinics where we were based in North Adelaide. There was 16 nights, we held 16 clinics.”

Playgolf WEEK featured 40 clubs – 18 in Adelaide and 22 in regional South Australia – from Mount Gambier in the east to Port Lincoln in the west.

“To consolidate into a week is probably resource-wise a lot easier for all of the clubs especially with course-time. One week of golf beginning at daylight saving is a great time to get out there.”

South Australia has 26,000 golf club members,

slightly down on figures a decade ago when the state boasted in excess of 30,000 members. That number is still a small fraction of those in the more heavily populated states of Victoria and New South Wales. But Puccini says events like Playgolf WEEK will bridge the gap.

“This is really also to get the beginner into the game of golf. We know that these things are sometimes a long-term campaign. If we get more younger people into the game, enjoying the game, trying for the first time, it’s going to naturally increase membership numbers in the coming years.”

Throughout Playgolf WEEK, a television commercial featuring Masters Champion Adam Scott was aired on Network Ten. While Scott didn’t appear in person at Playgolf WEEK, the current Australian Boys’ Amateur Champion did.

18-year-old Grange Golf Club member Anthony Murdaca helped launch the event and Puccini says he could soon inspire the next generation of South Australians golfers.

“He’s an upcoming SA player. He was involved in our launch night. If he can do some good things in the coming years, hopefully he can be a local player that the SA kids can look up to.” •

Courses up for grabs

WITH Christmas fast approaching, perhaps you would like to splash out and buy yourself a golf course?

There are two courses for sale on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The agent for one of the properties, a par3 course, was reluctant to provide Inside Golf with additional details, but did reveal when pressed offers over $3m for the nine-hole, par3 golf course on 30 acres would be considered.

“I might have a number of interested parties,” the agent said. “I will talk to the owner and call you with more details.

We are still waiting for a call.

Meanwhile, not far from the “secret” course is another nine-hole, par-3 golf course for sale.

This one comes with a four-bedroom home, tennis courses, a pool, sheds, a creek and a “six figure income”.

The golf course is on 19 acres, has a golf shop and licensed café.

The area is known as “The Stables”. •

One buck-shot penalty A GOLFER in America got more than he bargained for after hitting his golf ball over a fence and into someone’s property.

Playing the 16th hole at Lakeridge Golf Club in Nevada, the man was unable to locate his golf ball and was preparing to drop another when the homeowner turned up carrying a shotgun.

What upset the homeowner was the golf ball smashed through a window and landed in the house.

So he shot the wayward golfer, who was rushed to hospital with injuries to his arms and legs.

The golfer will recover, but the 50-something homeowner entered a plea to battery with a deadly weapon.

The upshot (pardon the pun) is he faces a potential 10 years in prison and a $US10,000 fine.

He will be sentenced later this month. •

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news

Third course on horizon for Peninsula Kingswood?

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Despite rumour and speculation to the contrary, newly-created Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club in Melbourne’s east says it has no immediate plans to involve neighbouring Long Island Country Club as part of a further merger, but indicates that adding a third course may be in the cards in the next ten years.

Kingswood’s General Manager Heath Wilson says the prospect of forming a 54hole ‘superclub’ with Long Island has not been discussed, but concedes that several clubs are angling to become part of Peninsula Kingswood – a club that secured its future in September when the members of both Peninsula and Kingswood voted to merge.

“Several clubs have contacted us,” Wilson says. “But it’s hard enough merging two clubs at the moment, let alone three.”

For the immediate future the merged club will primarily be attending to the task at hand, according to Gary Richardson, General Manager of Peninsula Country Golf Club.

“Our current focus is delivering the vision the founding members voted for,” Richardson says.

But with further consolidation and closures of golf clubs predicted in the future, many believe a third course is a logical and beneficial addition to Peninsula Kingswood in the next decade.

“We definitely will be looking to add to our offers to members in the coming years,” Wilson admits.

Several Melbourne golf clubs are looking to stem membership decline with cheaper fees and reduced waiting lists.

Keysborough and Rossdale – both closer

Peninsula GC (photo: David Scaletti/Visions of Victoria)

to Peninsula Kingswood’s Frankston site than Kingswood – have investigated the possibility of merging with each other and shape up as potential candidates to join Peninsula Kingswood.

Woodlands Golf Club – after a failed bid earlier this year to raise its membership fees in search of extra club funds – also looms as a possible addition to Peninsula Kingswood.

“It depends how bad the golfing landscape is in five or 10 years,” Wilson says.

“If it’s what everyone’s predicting, there might be a lot of courses struggling for members or sustainability, especially down Peninsula’s way,” Wilson says.

Meanwhile, Peninsula Kingswood has earmarked plans to stage either the Australian Open or Australian Masters within 10 years.

“We know it’s going to take a little bit of time to spend some money on the courses and the clubhouse but we really hope within 10 years

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that we’ll be hosting either the Masters or the Open,” Wilson says.

The budget for course works at the club’s 36hole Frankston site is set to increase by almost 30 per cent in 2014 – growing from close to $1.9 million to around $2.5 million.

Wilson says extra spending will ready the Frankston courses for a major professional event.

“The two courses at Peninsula, they’ve just been so under-budgeted for so many years, they haven’t been able to do things. That’s going to bring the course on in leaps and bounds in the next five to 10 years.”

“We’re slowly going to start looking at a master plan of the course and what holes need some work. The water projects can start straight away. We’re spending about $3.8 million on a new water project.”

Peninsula Kingswood completed one of the final steps in its merger on October 29 with

members voting overwhelmingly in favour of the club’s new name and constitution.

More than 93 per cent of Kingswood’s members voted for the new club to be named Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club.

Members have been enjoying playing privileges at both the sites for several months and it’s anticipated Peninsula Kingswood’s new board will become active this month.

“A lot of people who were against the merge have come to the acceptance that it’s happening. People have just moved on and they’re just enjoying their golf, playing three courses.”

Wilson says unrest among a very small portion of members at Kingswood still remains.

“A lot of the Dingley residents are kicking their heels up at the moment but a lot of them aren’t members. I totally understand residents and people who live around the course, why they didn’t want it to happen.” •

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news

A family affair at Holden Scramble final

Australia marches to victory in Thailand

The 2013 Holden Scramble season had its fair share of good stories this year, but for one team in particular the year was extra special.

Led by PGA Professional Jason Shine, the Binningup Golf Club team from WA featured a strong family connection, with father Rob Miguel and his three sons, Jaysen, Brad and Riley Miguel all battling to become the first team from Western Australia to win the mixed completion since its inception in 1992.

Binningup led from start to finish with impressive scores of 51.4 and 53.4 (104.8) after the first two rounds;1.4 shots clear of RACV Royal Pines Resort.

When inclement weather forced the cancellation of the final round, Binningup was awarded the 2013 Holden Scramble Championship.

The matriarch of the team, Rob, said he was extremely proud to break the duck for Western Australia and join Mosman Park Golf Club who won the Women’s Holden Scramble in 2010 as the only successful teams from the West.

“I’m thrilled. Our Sponsor, Bunbury Holden, have sponsored probably 160 events in the 22 years of the Scramble and I’ve played in every one so to get here and win is just fantastic.”

“I’m a bit emotional as well. To do this with my three boys and Jason (Shine), who I’ve known since he was a little tacker means a lot. We all get on so well and we’re very proud to be bringing the trophy back to Western Australia.”

Australia successfully defended their title at the Men’s Asia-Pacific Teams Championship at Santiburi Country Club in Thailand last month.

The Australians posted a final round 201 for a total of 828, producing the best team score of the championship and cruising to a nine-stroke victory to beat Korea in second place. Hosts Thailand finished in third place with China in fourth place.

Sharing the lead overnight, the Australians hit the right gear in the final round with all players finishing under par for the day. New South Welshman Cameron Davis fired his best round of the championship with a 6-under par 66 while Victorian Geoff Drakeford finished with a 5-under par 67. Queenslander Taylor MacDonald shot a 4-under par 68 while Queenslander Aaron Wilkin shot a 3-under par 69.

It was Australia’s tenth victory at the championship since it was first held in 1963.

The Men’s Asia-Pacific Teams Championship (also known as the Nomura Cup) is a biennial competition rotated among the Asia-Pacific region.

Conducted by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, each team consists of four male players, contesting 18 holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72hole) total is the team’s score for the championship. •

Shine, who also wor ks for Bunbury Holden also mirrored Rob’s sentiments.

“Winning was great, but it this is particularly special because of the team aspect. You don’t get to play in team events in golf very often and we just came here to have fun and enjoy ourselves so to play good golf was just the icing on the cake.”

In the Women’s Holden Scramble, Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club in Victoria took the prize in the Championship Final. With a lightning hot round of 51.2 on the first day, they were then able to consolidate with a second round score of 57.2 giving them a winning score of 108.4, 6.2 shots clear of the runners-up from The Vines Golf and Country Club in WA.

For the top- ranked team following the 2013 Championship Final, the trip of a lifetime does not stop at Twin Waters. Binningup Golf Club will be joined by two additional PGA Club Professionals making up part of the squad of that will compete against China in the Champions Tour.

The Champions Tour will consist of a “home and away” style match, with all players representing the Holden

Scramble in a two-day tournament on home soil in March next year, followed by an away match to take place in China in early May. The Holden Scramble managed by the PGA of Australia and sponsored

by GM Holden Ltd. It is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (destination management organisation) and the Sunshine Coast Council. •

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Club Binningup GC

Professional Jason Shine

Tour Pro R1 Net Jason Norris 58 Andrew Tschudin 58 Lee Hunt Scott Laycock 64 Travis Merritt Michael Wright 57 John Collins Ashley Hall 61 Scott Roworth Marcus Cain 60 Adrian Boyle Dimi Papadatos 61 Brent Barlow David Bransdon 64 Matthew Dent Terry Pilkadaris 61 Luke Veith Clint Rice 63 Gary Burmester Anthony Summers 61 Matt Docking Chris Gaunt 58

RACV Royal Pines Resort Corey Taylor

Bankstown GC Cootamundra GC Mackay GC Tamworth GC Northbridge GC Mowbray GC Blackwood GC Melton Valley GC Mt Warren Park GC Murrumbidgee CC

R2 Net Total (G) Total (N) 53.4 118 104.8 54.1 118.0 106.2 52.7 127 106.4 55.4 118 106.8 54.9 123 108.8 55.1 121 109.2 55.5 123 110 52.7 123 110.4 55.8 123 110.6 55.1 125 111.2 55.6 121 112.2 59.2 122 112.4

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news

Ocean Dunes aims for 2014/15 opening Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

The golf course designer behind one of King Island’s two spectacular golf course developments says his course is still at least 12 months away from opening for play.

King Island Ocean Dunes’ designer Graeme Grant says progress at the coastal links course has been hampered by the harsh conditions of the 2013 winter.

“November, December [2014] is what we’re aiming for but that might blow out to January, February [2015],” Grant says.

“If this next winter is as harsh as what this winter was then it might slow us down a bit.

The winter made it difficult to get grass up but not impossible.”

But Grant – who is also managing the site’s turf – says the testing conditions have ensured there won’t be course closures once the site is opened.

“We can see where the problems are while we’re building it, which is an advantage. If this winter had come a few months after we opened and we find that we’ve got problems out there that we didn’t know about, we’d have to probably close holes down and fix it but we know where the problems are now. We’ve had the worst of it.”

Graeme and fellow directors including Colac businessman Andrew Mitchell and course builder Bernie McMahon are seeking more than $7 million in investment for Ocean Dunes.

An information night was held at Victoria Golf Club last month in a bid to generate further interest from potential stakeholders.

“I’m confident that the project will be

Ocean Dunes’ designer Graeme Grant with the planned signature 125 metre par-3 4th behind him successful, the golf course will be an attractive place to play at and the business will be successful. Whether or not we can attract investment, is all about how well we can sell it. We’ve had a good reaction so far.”

Grant – who has more than 40 years’ experience in the golf course design industry – remains adamant the Ocean Dunes site is among the very best in the world.

“There’s no doubt about that. This has got some very spectacular ocean holes and then you go inland to the dunes and then we’ve got a creek that runs through the course so we’ve got quite a lot of variety and I think it matches up with anything that I’ve seen. I don’t want to say that it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread but it’s as good as anything that you’ll get.”

Four holes at Ocean Dunes – the first, second, the anticipated signature par-three fourth and 18th – have been shaped.

Grant says he will wait until those holes have been fully irrigated before beginning the shaping of any other holes.

“We don’t want to be opening up any more and exposing it to the wind. We’ll get those four holes bedded down with grass and then continue with the construction of a few more.”

The directors have budgeted for 300 days of playability per year at Ocean Dunes, which is exposed to the high winds of Bass Strait.

Grant says any concerns that those playability estimates are too optimistic should be allayed by the nine-hole course that already exists at Currie, which is the main township on King Island.

“Obviously there are some days when you can’t play golf on links golf courses. We’ve seen that happen in tournaments at St Andrews where they’ve closed things down because of wind. That’s just part of links golf. But I know the Currie course, [its] members play every Saturday rain, hail or shine so we’re pretty confident that’s going to happen where we are.”

The course is set to rival nearby King Island layout Cape Wickham, which is anticipated to open for play before Ocean Dunes.

Grant says the courses will make King Island – only a 50-minute flight from Moorabbin Airport – a viable alternative to Tasmania’s Barnbougle Dunes for green fee players.

“I asked people in Melbourne what they thought of two golf courses on King Island and everybody said that it will make it more of a destination. So we see it as an advantage to have two really good golf courses down there.” •

Wooster and Jordan win midamateur titles Queenslander Damien Jordan shot a tournament-best 2-under par 70 in the final round to win the Australian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship by seven strokes at Moonah Links Golf Club.

Jordan finished with rounds of 73-70 to win his first Australian Mid-Amateur title.

Victorian Richard Macafee finished in second place with South Australian Jason Cocks in a stroke further back in third place.

Wests Tigers NRL player Braith Anasta finished in 24th place with rounds of 77-86.

For the women, Victorian Sue Wooster won her third Australian Women’s Mid-Amateur title by one stroke after a final round 85 at Moonah Links Golf Club.

Wooster finished with 80-85 (165) to hold off a strong finish from Queenslander Katrina Jones in second place. Victorian Kerry Henningsen was three strokes further back in third place.

The first round was abandoned on the Wednesday due to poor weather.

The Australian Men’s and Women’s Mid Amateur Championships have been played since 2007 and are for players aged 30–54 years. •

Keep up with us online!

Catch the latest golf news online: www.insidegolf.com.au. Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidegolf, keep up to the minute with our Twitter feed (@InsideGolf ). Feedback? Drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au

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industry

From shot-stopper to goal-getter

david@insidegolf.com.au

AS a champion hockey goalkeeper and someone who organised and ran coaching clinics up-and-down the eastern seaboard of Australia, Michelle Vernon knows a thing or two about managing people.

Now the general manager at Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, Michelle has only ever had two careers – hockey and the golf industry.

“I represented New South Wales and coached and while I was doing that I did a business masters degree and got a job as assistant manager at Gordon Golf Club,” she said. “That was my first real job, I suppose.

“I loved the golf industry and decided I wanted to make a career of it. Since then I have been a club manager.”

Michelle spent three years learning the ropes at Gordon before taking on the manager’s role at Putney Tennyson Bowling and Community Club.

She left Putney Tennyson, joined Glenmore Country Club and later worked as general manager at Bexley, Dunheved and Asquith golf clubs.

“Then I decided I needed a sea change and came down to Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, which was a fantastic move,” said Michelle, who has been at the helm for 18 months.

“I only have a two-minute drive to work. Being a country coastal town the people are fantastic and the town is great.”

Michelle is well aware of the socalled laid-back attitude of the coastal town, but she is determined not to let things slide at the golf club under her watch.

She says her smartest financial decision was to increase the club’s golf

course insurance.

“Just before I started, I reviewed the insurance paperwork and we increased our course insurance from $50,000 to $250,000,” she revealed.

“That night, and the next day, a storm event occurred and damaged all our bunkers and we claimed the entire $250,000 to get new bunkers.”

Michelle, who describes her management style as “inclusive”, says there aren’t too many downsides to her job although she dislikes having to follow up when staff fail to act on matters of importance.

“

25-marker said.

Mind you, she did win the Billie Friedlander Perpetual Trophy for the best women’s stableford score at the Golf Management Australia conference in Sydney recently.

Following the highly successful GMA conference, Michelle submitted a 10page report to the club’s board.

“The board was delighted with the report and they will give it to the committee as a blueprint to move the club forward,” she said.

“Pambula Merimbula is a traditional golf club, but it also a tourist Mecca.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with golf clubs, but we need to listen to the public

“That is the worst job any manager can do,” she said. “If something has to be done, then it must be done.”

What are some of the issues facing modern-day golf clubs?

“Well, we need to listen,” she said.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with the golf clubs, but we need to listen to what the population want and Golf Australia needs to listen to the golf clubs more.”

Pambula Merimbula Golf Club has a staff of between 40 and 60 depending on the time of the year and 3500 mostly social members.

The picturesque layout caters for some 50,000 rounds of golf annually.

Michelle does play golf, but she refused to “take the game seriously”.

“If I decided to take the game seriously, I would really take it seriously and that would mean I would be on the course rather than in the office,” the

“

David Newbery

“We get 30,000 Victorians visiting every January so we make sure we provide a good hospitality venue and a good, homely, down-to-earth atmosphere for the tourists to enjoy.

“We can seat 800 people and we have floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking over the golf course and main lake in Merimbula. Thousands of kangaroos roam the golf course, which even attract overseas tourists.

“On any given night in Pambula, you can see kangaroos on front lawns.

“Recently we had 700 golfers from all over Australia attend our week of golf and they loved it.

“We have a glorious 27-hole golf course that would easily be the envy of any metropolitan golf course. You can pretty much always get a game here,” said Michelle, who has started playing hockey again and enjoys partaking in a number of water sports. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

15

industry FROM THE CEO

recently confirmed that the concept will be rolled out nationally next year with a bumper week of golf activities held around the country from 17-23 November 2014.

The pilot week in South Australia has proved there is strong support from golf clubs and a healthy public appetite for a week of golf in metropolitan and regional centres.

The next phase of this project will be moving it to a national platform. It is not only important in our national promotion of golf but it showcases golf clubs and facilities which use the week to market their services to newer players. I encourage all clubs to make a note in their 2014 calendars.

The Adelaide golf clubs strongly supported the program and we’ve heard positive feedback from the clubs who have all reported increased activity over the week.

Simon Norris, Golf Operations Manager of Links Lady Bay Golf Club told us the club had established a new junior program out of the interest generated during the week.

“We have the birth of a new Links Lady Bay Junior Club with our professional Sarah coaching each Friday afternoon. We signed up new adult members and now have a base group of kids who are keen to get into the sport.”

All golf clubs will receive more information and PlayGolf WEEK registration details in the new year. •

our home-grown trophies. The crowds on course at each of the tournaments have been outstanding and on behalf of all the players I thank you for your overwhelming support.

At the time of writing the Australian PGA Championship presented by CocaCola just concluded for the very first time on Queensland’s Gold Coast at RACV Royal Pines Resort. 12 months in the making the tournament was incredibly successful at its new home, with overwhelming support received from the fans, sponsors and of course the players – in particular our champion Adam Scott. We’ve now embarked on a new era for the Australian PGA Championship – an era that will ensure the tournament is not only the players’ favourite Tour destination, but also the fans’.

I’d also like to specifically acknowledge all the volunteers who help to grow our game each year. From volunteering at our tournaments to assisting at a club or grass roots level, volunteers are more than ever an essential part of our game.

To all of those of you who have given up your time throughout 2013, thank you for helping us ensure our game is loved and played by so many Australians of all walks of life.

Next year already holds such great promise for the Australian Golf Industry and I hope that as a community we can continue to come together to ensure some innovative and successful outcomes for all of us who love the game so much.

Have a safe and happy holiday period. See you in 2014. •

Stephen Pitt CEO – Golf Australia

Christmas might be just around the corner but it feels like we’ve been celebrating for a month since Adam Scott returned to Australia. At the time of writing, Adam had just capped a superb victory at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola to kick start a wonderful month of celebrations for our Masters champion.

As you read this, the Emirates Australian Open will have just concluded with a field including Adam, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Greg Chalmers and many more vying for the Stonehaven Cup. It was great to see huge galleries across the major tournaments and to see so much passion for Australian golf – it’s infectious.

We’re ready to build on that excitement and we’re looking to work with clubs to do that in their local communities.

Following the success of the inaugural PlayGolf WEEK in South Australia, Golf Australia

Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

As we come to the close of yet another golfing season, I’d like to acknowledge all those within the Australian golf community who have contributed to yet another successful year for our sport. From the grass roots level through to the top echelons of the Professional game 2013 has provided many highs for Australian golf, and as a community we should all be very proud.

Over the last few months the PGA Tour of Australasia season has drawn to a stunning conclusion for the year with all of our top players returning home to compete for

Karen Lunn

Executive Officer - ALPG

I have been in my new position as ALPG Executive Director for a couple of months now, and I feel that am settling into the role well. For someone who has spent their entire life involved in Women’s Golf, it is not that difficult to get me motivated or excited about the upcoming ALPG season.

As a player you would spend all year away from home and listen to the home players being cheered every week at their local tournament, whether it be the US Open, French Open or the Finnish Open you always had a little thought that ‘I can’t wait until I get home and feel that support again’!

I don’t think that golf fans appreciate how difficult it is for our players being away from home, sometimes for up to a year at a time chasing their dream on the respective Ladies tours around the world.

Very few of the ALPG players have much, if any, sponsorship so they are funding their “adventure” out of their own pocket most of the time. That does create an enormous amount of pressure to perform at any opportunity you get, some players thrive on that, most unfortunately do not.

Golf Australia provide financial support for a select group of our young players through their “Rookie Programme” which is a huge help to our talented young athletes.

This provides them with the opportunity to be able to concentrate on performing and improving without the financial pressures or constraints that they would otherwise have. Stacey Keating has reaped the benefits of this programme with her success over the past 18 months, winning twice on the LET in 2012, and winning the Victorian Open and the ALPG Tour Money List and Order of Merit for the 2012/13 season.

Rebecca Artis also had her breakthrough this year on the LET with an impressive win at the Helsingborg Open against a top class field, while Whitney Hillier took out the Club Car Jan Stephenson ALPG Rookie of the Year award followed up with a solid first season on the LET. So much to look forward to in 2014, I hope you will join us! •

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industry news

Tharle new Director Orange you glad you use Bushnell, Rickie? Waanders honoured Bushnell Golf, makers of the number one with Life Membership at Golf NSW Laser Rangefinder on the PGA Tour for more

New Golf NSW Director Andrew Tharle Golf NSW last month welcomed Andrew Tharle as its new Board Member. Andrew has been a member of Royal Canberra Golf Club for 26 years. During that time he served on the Board and as Vice-Captain. He also spent a number of years on the Finance and Match Committees. This was a critical period for the Club as it was rebuilding its clubhouse and building an additional nine holes.

Andrew is passionate about junior and regional golf development, and is an active participant in the junior mentor program. This is displayed through his attendance at regional golf events where possible, including sand greens events.

He has spent twenty years in public service in a range of management and executive positions with a focus on financial management.

He is currently the Head of the Finance and Commercial Services area at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Golf NSW Board thanked retiring Director and Chairman of Finance John Waanders for his role on the Board and awarded him with a Life Membership. John has been a stalwart of golf in the Newcastle Region, serving in numerous roles. He has been involved with the state body for over a decade, served as a Board and Council Member on the Men’s Association before being elected to the Board of Golf NSW in 2010.

The nine Directors who form the 2013-2014 Golf NSW Board are Chris Allen (Pennant Hills), Sue Fabian (Pennant Hills), Frank Gal (Richmond), Alan Harrison (Federal), Jean Moran (Shelly Beach), Lynne Ritchie (Lithgow), John Robinson (Elanora & The Australian), Andrew Tharle (Royal Canberra) and Darrell Watts (Murwillumbah). •

than a decade, recently announced a two-year sponsorship extension with one of the most dynamic young players in professional golf, PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler.

“We’re delighted to continue our relationship with Rickie as he works toward his goal of winning a Major Championship,” said Phil Gyori, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Bushnell. “Rickie has been a great representative of the Bushnell brand, showcasing precision shots and accuracy week in and week out. He has accomplished great things in just a few short years on Tour, and we know that he’s going to continue to be successful for years to come.”

Fowler and his caddy Joe Skovron helped develop the Bushnell Rangefinder Pro 1M. While preparing for tournaments during practice rounds, Fowler uses the Pro 1M as well as the new Tour V3 featuring new JOLT technology .

“I use a Bushnell laser rangefinder to prepare for every tournament, and my Bushnell has helped me prepare for some of the toughest tests in golf,” said Fowler.

“People call my game aggressive. But it’s just the confidence that comes from preparation.

Bushnell is indispensable in that regard. I’m thrilled to extend this relationship, and I look forward to continuing to use the best laser rangefinder in golf.”

Fowler claimed his first tournament win as a professional, the Kolon Korea Open on the OneAsia Tour, rolling to a six-stroke win at Woo Jeong Hills CC in October 2011. He captured his first PGA Tour victory in May 2012 in dramatic style, carding a birdie on the first extra hole to defeat Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points at the Wells Fargo Championship for his first TOUR win.

Bushnell is used by 91% of PGA Tour Players and offers a full range of rangefinders, which continue to change and improve the way golfers assess distances, ultimately improving performance. •

Female captain a first at Moss Vale Robyn John made history in September by becoming the first female Captain at Moss Vale Golf Club in its 100+ year history.

“This will be something new to the Club, and so far the men have been very positive about my appointment,” Robyn said.

Robyn joined Moss Vale in 1994 having never previously played golf. It didn’t take her long to become involved in the Club. She has been a member of the Ladies Committee for seventeen years. Her roles on the Committee included Handicap Manager, Vice-Captain,

Captain, President and Captain again until 2013. Robyn also served on the Board for four years as a Member on the Greens, Pro-Am and Match Committees.

Her involvement with golf administration expanded to the District. She was the Tournament Director and President of the Central Southern District Golf Association (CSGA) for seven years. During that time, she also held positions as the District Councillor for Women’s Golf NSW and sat on the Match Committee for close to five years. •

Changes planned for Royal Fremantle Western Australia’s oldest 18-hole golf course is set to undergo a series of design changes starting next year.

The Royal Fremantle Golf Club has appointed Richard Chamberlain Golf Design to design and administer adjustments of the golf course as a result of a planned road widening of the adjacent Leach Highway.

The alterations to the golf course, which obtained its “Royal” status in 1930, will be the most significant since the 1960’s when the Club

gifted the area of land (which then included the 16th and 17th holes) to the Fremantle City Council to develop a 9-hole public course.

Whilst the reduction in land size of the golf course will provide a short-term hindrance to the club and its members, it views this project as an opportunity to re-create some exciting, strategic golf holes.

Construction of the revised golf holes is anticipated to commence in 2014 with the road resumption works earmarked for early 2015. •

John Waanders with Chris Allen Golf NSW bestowed its highest award to outgoing Director John Waanders with Life Membership at its Annual General Meeting. The award of Life Membership is one of the most prestigious awards that an organisation can present to a member. The Board may award Life Membership to a person who has at any time been a member of the Council or the Board, or who has given outstanding service to golf in the State or any part of the State. There are currently only nineteen Life Members including John.

John has been a stalwart of golf in the Newcastle Region, serving on Committee at his beloved Muree Golf Club and in various roles in the Newcastle District Golf Association where he is currently President. He was awarded Life Membership at both the Muree Golf Club (1991) and in his District (2009).

John was elected to the Council of New South Wales Golf Association (following in the footsteps of his father-in-law Lionel Clark who went on to become President). He served as Councillor on the Men’s Association from 2003 to 2004 when he was elected to the Board and filled the role of Treasurer from 2007 to 2010.

Following the amalgamation in 2010, he was elected to the Board of Golf NSW and served as the Chairman of Finance for the first and third years on this Board. •

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junior news

Golf is all in the family at Sandhurst Club Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

It is generally agreed that one of the best ways to improve the current status of golf in Australia is to boost participation by juniors, women and families in general. In fact, the majority of forward-thinking clubs these days are making it a priority to encourage a family-friendly atmosphere as it can ensure the longterm viability of their club.

One such club which appears to be headed in the right direction is Sandhurst Club, in Melbourne’s southeast. Their recently-launched family-friendly initiatives are raising the bar in this arena, and the club is poised to capitalise on this largely untapped market.

In an effort to provide kids with a chance to go out on the golf course, Sandhurst Club has launched biweekly family nights throughout the summer months. Every second Wednesday evening, the club sets aside 9 holes on one of their two courses for “family play”. While all regular course rules apply, the pace is kid-friendly and the goal is to simply encourage the enjoyment of golf. The price is affordable and welcoming to all participants.

“We want to get people onto the golf course who would not necessarily be exposed to it otherwise,” says Natalia Peterson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sandhurst Club. “If the

bi-weekly program is a success, we will expand it and make it more frequent.”

Sandhurst Club currently has a very strong junior program in place, buoyed by a junior tiered membership structure. Juniors start off at a “Junior Eagle” level, and as their skills develop, progress into club membership as “Sub-Junior” members.

“The Sub-Junior Membership is the natural progressive step once our Junior Eagle golfers reach a gold skill level,” says Golf Membership Services Manager Christian Hamilton. “This membership type allows juniors to gain course access to work on their

course play with the end goal being to move into full junior membership and obtaining a handicap.”

It’s been well documented that the modern family has a variety of options for their free time—with other sports and activities all vying for attention—so just getting these people onto the property can be a real challenge at times.

Sandhurst Club is addressing this challenge by offering a variety of family-friendly activities on their property, in an attempt to help kids and their parents become more familiar with the club, and thus visit more often. Some of the recent summer activities include a

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Kids Christmas Party, Australia Day fireworks, twilight outdoor cinema on the driving range, family dance nights and even a “wild animal interaction” show.

“We hold family nights with dinner and entertainment every 6-8 weeks,” says Peterson. “We keep prices reasonable and we sell out every single event.”

The current facilities at Sandhurst Club are the model of any modernday club, with gymnasium, tennis, swimming pool, restaurant and more. But as today’s family unit is ever-changing, with a multitude of interests, Sandhurst Club has even more on the horizon.

“We are currently building an area called ‘Central Core’ which will have a daycare centre, floodlit tennis courts, an oval, piazza, outdoor barbecue area, wedding ceremony site and multifunction space, so that will drive kids’ participation with the club.”

In addition to the family-friendly initiatives, Sandhurst Club is also making the course more available to locals and residents via their recently-launched 3-month “twilight membership” which allows unlimited play after 3pm SundayFriday for just $500. During the warm summer months, with plenty of daylight available, this type of option is sure to be a hit for golfers of all ages.

More: www.sandhurst.com, phone: (03) 8787 7011 or email: club@sandhurst.com •

Senior to play Africa’s major PETER Senior is like the Energiser Bunny … he keeps going and going.

You would think the 54-year-old would want a break after playing 25 tournaments on the US Champions Tour this year.

Not Peter.

He came home to play in the Australian PGA, Australian Masters and the Australian Open.

Time for a rest, Peter?

No, he’s off to South Africa to play in the $US6.5m Nedbank Challenge – Africa’s major.

Senior’s decision to play in South Africa surprised coach Gary Edwin.

“He (Senior) has played a lot of golf this year and I don’t think he will go to South Africa,” Edwin told Inside Golf.

Well, he is going and will join 30 of the world’s top golfers including Ernie Els, playing his 17th Nedbank Challenge, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Henrik Stenson and others.

Senior never missed a cut on the Champions Tour in 2013.

He had nine top-10 results and 19 top-25s and banked more than $1,150,000m.

In the 32-year history of the Nedbank Challenge, Robert Allenby is the only Australian to win it – in 2009. •

junior news

Team golf to attract more kids David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

IT might just be the answer golfing bodies and golf clubs have been searching for in the fight to grow the game of golf.

Junior League Golf (JLG), a new team format designed to attract kids to the game, is the latest junior sport craze to hit America.

The fresh, new concept features team jerseys with names and numbers on the back and allows for player substitutions.

Parents and professional stars are raving about JLG because of the camaraderie and fun aspect.

Former US PGA champion and US team captain at the 2012 Ryder Cup Davis Love III is hooked and so is Australia’s former favourite darling of the fairways Rachel Hetherington.

In the US, around 20,000 kids have already signed up to play in a team environment.

Bob Longmire, the youth baseball, basketball, American football and tennis skills program founder, came up with the concept and pitched it the PGA of America.

They liked the idea so much they adopted it.

Davis Love III believes JLG will attract more kids to golf and, more importantly, keep them in the game.

“We are losing kids to team sports,” he said. “They (kids) don’t play golf because they are not on a team.

“I think this is a great idea, they get to go play golf and it’s not quite as individualistic and it teaches them a lot about the game.”

Australia recently dipped its toe in the water when PGA professional Grant Garrison launched a pilot program on the Gold Coast with positive results.

The format features teams of 10 players, who play a two-ball ambrose (matchplay) over nine holes with points awarded after each three holes.

“Whoever is ahead after three holes wins a flag, then they play another three holes and another three,” he said.

Garrison believes JLG is the answer to footy, soccer and other sports that monopolise playing fields across the country.

Each team has a PGA professional as captain and parents are involved as team managers, scorers, spotters and spectators.

Like Love III, former LPGA star Rachel Hetherington believes the concept is a winner.

“For me, Junior League Golf is fantastic … a real eye-opener,” said Hetherington, who runs the Rachel Hetherington Golf Range with husband Greg Ritchie.

“This is one initiative that triggers a passion for golf in a young person.

“Kids love being part of a team, having teammates and being out there with their friends. The focus is about having fun and helping your teammates.”

HIGH FIVE: Grant Garrison with the Gold Coast Country Club team.

Hetherington was one of the first professionals to enter a team.

“My team of juniors at the golf range absolutely love it,” she said.

“The great thing is we play a two-ball ambrose and we can sub a player in or out. The subs help rake bunkers, help line up putts and help with course strategy so they always feel part of the team.”

Hetherington’s team bonded well thanks to one parent who organised a team bus (donated by the local dealership Victory Ford).

“We presented them with their team shirts and drove to the golf course as a team, which was really cool,” she said.

“Kids don’t get the opportunity to play other golf courses so they have great fun playing other courses and meeting other children.

said he had discussed the program with PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka.

“The concept is fantastic,” Thorburn said. “It makes golf a team sport at a junior level and binds kids together. “ There are some compelling attributes that it’s played in a season, in bite-size period of weeks.

“I understand the pilot on the Gold Coast was very successful. I haven’t seen the details yet and how it will roll out in the future, but there are encouraging signs.

“We are going to look at it closely to see how it might fit into the framework of junior golf we operate in – in conjunction with Golf Australia.”

Garrison said the club professionals he presented the idea to were quick to endorse it.

I think Junior League Golf is the most exciting thing I have ever seen in my life – Former Test cricketer Greg Ritchie “Three of our juniors had their first chip-in at the tournament, which was cool.

“They are now hooked on golf and love it.”

And so is former Test cricketer Greg Ritchie.

“I think Junior League Golf is the most exciting thing I have ever seen in my life,” he told Inside Golf.

More than 20 countries want to jump aboard the JLG juggernaut including Canada and New Zealand.

“Canada is going to use it as its official grassroots level golf program to attract more kids to the game,” Garrison said.

“New Zealand has said it will be beneficial and want to get it started.”

Garrison said Golf Australia, administrators of the MyGolf program, and the PGA of Australia had shown interest in the concept.

“We are hoping the PGA will adopt the program.”

PGA of Australia CEO Brian Thorburn

“I presented it to seven professionals and they all said, ‘I’m in’,” he said.

“The program grows from the grassroots because it’s kids talking to other kids and encouraging them to join their team.

“All the kids that played in the pilot program can’t wait to start again and invite their friends along.

Said one enthusiastic youngster: “This (JLG) is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Early next year, Garrison will explore of possibility of getting 20 southeast Queensland clubs involved.

“The pros believe it’s good for business because the teams bring their parents and siblings,” he said. “Most of them said they could fill two teams.

“There can be 60 additional people at the club buying food and drinks so the managers love it. Two club managers even announced it to their members so they could come and watch the action.”

It seems everyone is a winner when it comes to Junior League Golf. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

21

tour talk

with Steven Jeffress

Early success back home Steven Jeffress ed@insidegolf.com.au

It’s been a busy summer, with three weeks in WA and then a week in Japan for the third stage of Japanese Tour School, where I played solidly with rounds of 68, 72, 70 and 70 for a total of 8-under, finishing 20th. More importantly, with 28 positions available, I was successful in making it through to the Final stage, which is being played just out of Osaka this month.

Back in Oz, I began gearing up for one of our biggest events of the summer, the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. When this event was announced, I thought about sending Mr Palmer at Coolum a thank-you letter, as the Royal Pines course is only a 10-minute drive from my house and is also a course that I play plenty of golf at with my sponsor Robbie Bennetts. I loved going to Coolum but never had a lot of success there so the change of venue was music to my ears.

The week was a little busy as my good friend and previous caddy Robyn broke her foot on the Sunday prior; so the first three days included a couple of practice rounds and driving her to and from doctors and specialists. The practice rounds were easy compared to some other courses because I had played there so many

times and therefore I really didn’t need to do much on the greens. The only things that I had to take note of were the seven new tees they added, which changed the course massively!

I was off at 11:30am on the first day and after a slow start of even for the front-9, I managed four birdies and one bogey around the back-9 for a 3-under round of 68. I had a few nerves, as you have in every event, but I felt at home. With a late start the first day comes early start the second round, a 6:30am tee time. Normally the early times are harder to warm up for but not on the sunny Gold Coast. Due to the warm weather, the old body gets moving a little easier. I played nicely, finishing with another 68 to sit at 6-under after the first two rounds and it was great to start so well in this event, as I have a lot of friends around the Gold Coast area that came out to support me.

I was paired with Nathan Green for the third round, which was nice as I have known him since our amateur days. I played pretty solid but dropped shots at the 15th and 16th, though a birdie at 17 left me with an even-par round of 71. It nearly turned out to be a dream Sunday, not only being in contention on the weekend, but if I had holed my 10ft putt on the last hole, I would have been paired with Adam Scott in the last group – it wasn’t to be, though, and the promoters got their perfect final pair of Fowler and Scott.

Steven Jeffress at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines (Photo: Jason O’Brien) As it turned out I played with a good friend Marc Leishman. I hit a great second shot into the first but it took a big bounce over the back into a bad lie. I duffed my chip and three putts later I made a double bogey–not the way I had envisaged starting. I turned the front in 2-over, and was even for the back-9 before getting a terrible bounce hard right on the 13th hole, which caused my ball to reach the hazard. After just walking off the tee, the officials sounded the siren for a storm warning which caused a two-hour delay. Not a nice feeling to be walking off the golf course knowing my next move will be taking a penalty drop. After having to go and warm up again, we restarted play, and I

made double bogey. A birdie on the 15 and some solid shots coming in had me sign for a 74 and a T14 finish.

I was a little disappointed with the finish as I felt that I had a great opportunity to not only win a great cheque, but maybe put some pressure on Adam and contend for the title. But after reflecting about the tournament, I thought it was a great effort and if someone had said I would have finished 14th at the start of the week, I wouldn’t have been too far away from accepting it. I would like to thank everyone who came out and gave me support. Even the guys who gave me the “Queenslander” chant on the third day, even though I’m from NSW! •

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Big trophy for Purchase Brian O’Hare ed@insidegolf.com.au

PGA journeyman Darryl Purchase wasn’t immediately accepting his sudden elevation in status after winning his first big tournament in 30 years of trying.

Purchase was just coming to terms with the fact he would be getting his name on a trophy featuring a number of golfing luminaires, headed by the great Lee Trevino, and the rest of it hadn’t quite sunk in.

Purchase had just shot a 3-under 67 in brutally gusting winds that saw most of a field containing some of Australia’s golfing greats going backwards.

The New South Welshman had started the day in the third-last threesome, with the winner expected to come from the final grouping of overnight leader Kym Olsen and close chasers Michael Clayton and David Merriman.

Olsen, who has been the star of the Legends Tour since his highly successful rookie season last year, looked to have the tournament in the bag, particularly when he birdied the 17th to return to 1-over, only for everyone present to learn that Purchase had just birdied the last to finish on even.

Olsen needed a birdie on the last to force a playoff but a slightly wayward tee shot and a large tree ended his chances of yet another senior tour victory.

For Purchase, the moment couldn’t have been sweeter. His even finish after 54 holes gave him a two-stroke victory over Olsen, with Merriman (72) and Russell Swanson (72) tied third on 3-over.

24

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Darryl Purchase’s career gamble paid off last month, taking the 2013 Australian Senior PGA Championship

“I’m over the moon,” a delighted Purchase said.

“Thirty years to get a title, it’s a long time and now I’ve got one.”

Purchase said he had “played a bit of tour stuff in the 80’s and early 90’s”, winning a number of pro-ams and some NSW Order of Merit events, but nothing major.

“I have always wanted my name on a trophy with some iconic names on it because I love the history of the game. To have my name on there is really special,” he said.

Purchase until recently had worked for the PGA as a tour coordinator before taking a big career gamble.

“I turned 50 in March this year,” he said. “I’ve always been a golf tragic and love to play the

game, so I decided to give that away and have a crack at playing the senior tour. I was lucky enough to pick up a part-time job casual at Bowral Golf Club and they have let me come and go as I please which is fantastic.”

A bent wedge and a friendly tree help secure an unlikely win Purchase started his final round five behind Olsen but still had his sights set on an unlikely win.

“I was talking to Bruce, my caddy, and we said 66 would probably be a great score and would probably go close. We knew the wind was going to get up so anything under par would be good.”

“I was fairly pedestrian on the front nine, I birdied the first and bogied the ninth so I turned square.”

“I made a great birdie on the 12th, the par three and another on the 13th. They were straight back into the wind so I was pretty happy with those.”

Probably the turning point of the tournament came on 17 where his drive ended up behind a tree.

“I had a full swing but no follow-through. I tried to punch my wedge and hook it around the tree and I bent my wedge … which won’t matter much now.”

He got up and down for an important par.

“I got a bit lucky on the last. I tried to hit a three wood which I thought was the best club to get down here and get close and I blocked it a little right and it clipped a tree and went back into the fairway, so that was a good break. I hit my sand iron to about 18 inches for the birdie.” Purchase at that stage still wasn’t sure how he was fairing against Olsen.

“I didn’t really have a clue. Julia my partner was telling me at different times that I was even with him, then I was one in front. I felt I needed to make birdie up the last to have any kind of chance. I even thought the three would only just get me into a playoff.”

“Unfortunately for Kym he looked like he got unlucky on the last and ended up the backside of a tree.”

Purchase said he just felt “nervous” when he realised he had won.

“I was really nervous. I have been nervous most of the afternoon but I’m sort of relaxed now so it’s good.”

Getting his name on that trophy with the likes of Trevino, Senior, Fowler, Dunk, Harwood, Merriman and Gale was even better. •

Brian O’Hare is the founder and editor of Australian Senior Golfer, an online magazine providing news, information, entertainment and resources for golfers aged 45 plus. www.australianseniorgolfer.com.au

cover story the much longer Ogilvy had to scale it back with less club. He would win the playoff to add a second Aussie PGA to his tally after capturing the 2003 version.

But it is his triumphs in his national open that make Senior most proud, particularly the 2012 edition.

“It’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever won,” Senior said. “It’s just so funny how it works out.

You don’t expect to win in that sort of company.

We had a lot of good players, but I think the conditions made it more favorable for me.”

Those conditions included severe wind that, early on that Sunday, were strong enough to knock down some of the tournament’s scaffolding.

Nonetheless, Senior beat the likes of Justin Rose that day, and overcame a three-shot deficit to 54-hole leader John Senden to ultimately lift the Stonehaven Cup. “Anytime you win your National Open you’ve got to be pretty happy,” said the four-time Order of Merit winner.

Senior still driven to win

Australian Golf

Aussie stalwart Peter Senior has come agonisingly close to his maiden win on the Champions Tour - a situation that he aims to correct in 2014 (Photo: Jason O’Brien)

Garrett Johnston

garrett@garrettjohnstonproductions.com @johnstongarrett

Peter Senior is as competitive now as ever.

The 2012 Emirates Australian Open champion counts that victory as the best of his career as he continues to toil on the US Champions Tour in

search of his first win against the other secondwinders over fifty.

Senior resides stateside from February to November with his family in Orlando, Florida and greatly enjoys coming back to play in the major events on the Australian calendar as well as golfing in his beloved sandbelt region.

But winning is still what drives this 54-yearold journeyman. And a win on the Champions

Tour has thus far proven most elusive.

The 31-time winner worldwide has collected a fair amount of his recent wins against golf’s younger brigades.

His 2010 Australian PGA came about after a unique playoff against 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. Senior believes that playoff on the 18th hole favoured his ability to be aggressive off the tee with a full throttled driver, whereas

Senior enjoys playing in the Sandbelt region.

Chief among his top three courses in Australia is Kingston Heath, followed closely by Royal Melbourne and Metropolitan.

He enjoys the faster greens of Royal Melbourne and says he always seems to putt them well.

But length, in Senior’s mind, is becoming an issue with even some of Australia’s best venues.

“The only thing that matters now is the length,” Senior says. “(Courses) are not as strong. The young guys hit it so far that a lot of the bunkers we put in years ago are obsolete to them.”

Even moving the tees back, to Senior, is still not enough to balance the issue especially for the amateur golfers.

“They’ve moved the tees back to bring (the bunkers) back into play and for the average player they are a bit more difficult,” Senior says.

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cover story “But the only way to stop these young guys is to narrow the fairways and increase the rough size.”

Doing so would put more of a premium on hitting the fairways. Senior says the long-hitters don’t get penalised in over half of the venues they play each year because of the trouble they carry.

“The shorter hitter normally has got to thread their way through the bunkers, a 20-yard gap, where the bigger hitters have 50 yards because they can carry the bunkers,” Senior explains. “If the bombers are hitting into a narrow gap like that, let them hit their 330-yard drives into 25 yards and see how they go. There’s a lot to it.”

There are a number of young Australians that impress Senior presently, many of them are bombers including US Masters champion Adam Scott and three-time major runner-up Jason Day. But there is one young golfer that Senior is very impressed with, the young Lydia Ko of New Zealand. The sixteen-year-old turned pro in October and through Senior’s glasses is doing the right thing in moving to the play for pay ranks.

“I think she’s obviously got a massive future,” Senior said of the precocious Kiwi. “It’s something special. You’re going to see this every now and again. We saw it with Tiger. So you’re always going to get these people who are just a cut above the rest.”

US Champions Tour

Senior has just finished his fourth season on the US Champions Tour.

Although he has played consistently thus far, including nine top ten’s in 2013, his inability to win has been frustrating for him to deal with.

“I didn’t play well in 2013,” Senior said. “My game has not been as sharp. I haven’t putted as well (as previous years) and it all adds up to not as good a year.”

However he is happy to be back next year after making the final 30 field at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in San Francisco,

California in November.

In 94 starts on the Champions Tour Senior has made three playoffs but has yet to get the proverbial monkey off his back with a win. It’s a point of frustration for the man who has captured two Australian PGAs and the Aussie Open during the same stretch of four years.

“I’m just disappointed that I haven’t won,” Senior said. “I love it here (on Tour), the golf is great, the guys are great, the Tour’s fantastic; I just haven’t won.”

The 2014 Champions Tour schedule begins in Hawaii at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on January 18. For Senior, the goals are straightforward.

“The only goal I’ve got next year is I want to win,” Senior said. “We’ve got a few more players coming out; Davis Love (’97 US PGA champion), Woody Austin is coming out. So we are adding good players all the time, so it’s getting harder and harder to win.”

In watching fellow Champions Tour members, particularly the most successful ones, Senior gleans much from the way they limit their mistakes when the inescapable misses come around.

“It’s not how many birdies you make, it’s how many bogeys you don’t make,” Senior said.

He points to stalwart players like two-time US Masters champion Bernhard Langer and 2013 Charles Schwab Cup champion Kenny Perry as competitors who do well to scramble and limit the damage when they stray off the fairways and greens.

Senior is always looking to improve, and he points foremost to his play around the greens for taking such steps.

“I think you’ve got to work hard at your short game,” Senior said. “That’s where it’s all won or lost.”

He often points to such short game wizards as Phil Mickelson as the case in point for how much that philosophy pays off.

The quintessential family man, Senior took a break from golf to spend time with his children.

Now he considers himself lucky to have his son Mitchell on the bag full time.

Family

Senior enjoys spending time with his family.

Residing in Orlando during their nine-month stay in the US for his Champions Tour season provides a unique opportunity for Senior with his son Mitchell, 19, on his bag as full-time caddie.

Although Senior does joke that the youngster might get sick of his father spending so much time together with him.

On the Champions Tour, however, it is not rare to see kin looping for the players. Jay Don Blake and Fred Funk are among a number of others that include the family in the business trips.

Senior and his wife June’s other two children Krystalle, 24, and Jasmine, 21, take turns visiting their parents and brother throughout the year.

He enjoys taking them to scenic places in and around the States including a Christmas trip to in Banff, Alberta, which is one of the most iconic, awe-inspiring mountain towns in Canada.

Senior was adamant when he took a break from playing competitive golf from age fortytwo to forty-eight that he didn’t want to miss his three kids growing up.

Some of his peers and older mates in competitive golf told him that they regretted making that mistake with their children.

“A man needs to be a father,” Senior said.

With Mitchell a major part of this Champions Tour chapter in his life, and the daughters visiting Orlando as often as they can, Senior seems to be taking that sentiment to heart. •

Garrett Johnston is a member of Golf Writers Association of America, American correspondent for various international golf magazines including New Zealand Golf Magazine, HK Golfer, and Today’s Golfer UK.

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Exciting summer of women’s pro golf ahead ALPG’S Executive Director Karen Lunn was very pleased when she announced the full 2014 ALPG Tour schedule in early November.

Lunn has been extremely busy since taking up her new role in September, with one of her priorities getting the schedule set for 2014. The 2014 tour will once again tee off with players competing in a series of pro-ams, followed by three co-sanctioned events and finishing up with the Oates Vic Open.

Lunn said of the schedule: “We are delighted to have Yamba Golf Club come on board as a new pro-am venue, and are excited to welcome back Moss Vale Golf Club and Castle Hill Country Club to our schedule.

For our 2014 tour we are thrilled to welcome a range of new partners to the ALPG including Fujitsu, Renault, Oates and BWAC. “I would sincerely like to thank Dr Handa and everyone at ISPS Handa for their continued support of the ALPG Tour, particularly as title sponsors of both the ISPS Women’s Australian Open and the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open. We also thrilled to welcome back Volvik and RACV as the title sponsors of the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters. Without the support of our sponsors, these events wouldn’t exist or continue to grow.”

The ALPG tour tees off with a new event, the BWAC Regional Employment and Community Services ALPG Pro-am at Yamba Golf Club on January 7th. From there the players will head to the Southern Highlands to compete in the Inghams Antill Park Ladies Pro-am on January 10th. Staying in the area, the tour’s next stop is the Moss Vale Golf Club Ladies Classic to be played over two days, January13-14.

The players will then have a couple of days off to recharge and prepare for the Mount Broughton Ladies Classic to be held January 17th and 18th. The tour then makes a welcome return to Castle Hill Country Club in Sydney

www.mizuno.com.au/golf 28

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

2013 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters Champ – Karrie Webb (Scott Powick, SMP Images) for The Renault Ladies Pro-am, which will be contested on Monday the 20th of January.

The first of the tour’s major events, the Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open will be held from January 24-26 at the home of the event, Oatlands Golf Club in north-west Sydney.

Players will then head across the Tasman for the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open at Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch. This event is once again co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET) and will be played from January 31st to February 2nd. This event will generate considerable interest with recently turned professional Lydia Ko defending her national title, this time as a professional.

The tour then returns to the magnificent

Gold Coast for the 25th staging of the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters from February 6-9.

This is a co-sanctioned event with the LET and players will be vying for their share of the Euro 250,000 on offer.

The second-last stop is the pinnacle of the ALPG season, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, played this year at The Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne. The event is once again tri-sanctioned with the LPGA and LET and therefore the top players from around the globe will be coming to town. The Open is on from 13-16 February, with a purse of US1.2million.

The tour concludes with the Oates Victorian Open at the picturesque 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads, from 20-23 February. •

Sisters of Swing to return to Gold Coast The “Sisters of Swing” will return to the Gold Coast for the 25th Annual Volvik RACV Ladies Masters at the RACV Royal Pines Resort February 6-9.

The event will revert to a 72-hole tournament with increased prize money.

Defending Champion Karrie Webb is likely to go head-to-head against New Zealand’s teenage sensation Lydia Ko and a world-class field of players from over twenty countries.

“It’s only fitting that the Australian Ladies Masters returns to RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast for its 25th Anniversary celebrations,” said Karen Lunn, Executive Director of the ALPG. “The event has been the highlight of the ALPG Tour calendar since its inception in 1990 and it has grown into one of the most significant women’s sporting events in Australia. On behalf of the ALPG and our co-sanction partner the Ladies European Tour, we would sincerely like to thank our co-title sponsors Volvik and RACV together with Tourism and Events Queensland and also our other event partners for ensuring the future of this important event on our schedule.”

Mr Kyung Ahn Moon, Chairman of Volvik, said he was happy to continue to co-sponsor with RACV the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters.

“It is my pleasure to return to the beautiful RACV Royal Pines Resort next February and join in the tournament’s 25th year celebrations. I personally hope that Volvik will be a memorable brand not only for Australian golfers but also in every other country the international television reaches.

Mr Colin Jordan, RACV Managing Director & CEO, said that RACV was also delighted to co-sponsor this prestigious women’s event.

“As the ‘home of championship golf’ in Queensland, RACV Royal Pines is looking forward to hosting the event and welcoming the world’s leading players, their families and large crowds,” he said. www.ladiesmasters.com

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seniors

It’s a wrap for 2013

Victorian Senior and Australian Matchplay end the year

Denis Dale

ed@insidegolf.com.au

The end of October marked the end of the 2013 Australian Senior Ranking competition conducted by Golf Australia for Australia’s leading senior amateur golfers.

The 2013 winner was New South Wales senior Stefan Albinski who reclaimed the title he lost last year to Queenslander Peter King. Albinski had another consistent year winning the Roy Vandersluis – 2013 Tasmanian Seniors for the third Top ranked Over 65 senior time and the West Australian amateur golfer seniors for the fifth consecutive year. He also had three other top-five placings.

Albinski was a member of the Australian team that won the 2012 Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Teams championship in Hong Kong and was also a member of the Australian team that played New Zealand in the annual Sanctuary Cove Trophy match.

Second place went to NSW senior Denis Dale who had a chance to claim the title in the final event of the year. Dale needed to win the Australian Senior Matchplay title but was defeated in the final by West Australian Ian McPherson. His second place in that championship gave him a total of four second place finishes for the year. Dale won the individual title at the 2012 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championships in Hong Kong, was a member of the winning Australian team and represented Australia again in the Sanctuary Cove Trophy.

Third place went to NSW senior Roy Vandersluis who just edged out fellow NSW senior David Limbach. Vandersluis won the prestigious National Masters, represented in both the AsiaPacific team and the Sanctuary Cove team and was consistent all year with four top ten placings.

The winner of the 2013 Australian Senior Over 65 Competition was NSW senior Roy Vandersluis who held the top position all year. Among the year’s highlights for Vandersluis was winning the Over 65 medal at the 2013 British Senior Amateur Championship. Second place went to Denis Dale, who turned 65 after the opening event of the year, with third place going to last year’s winner Vince Clark, also from NSW. 2013 saw the second playing of the Australian Senior Handicap Competition. This event provides an opportunity for all players regardless of their handicap to compete in a season long national competition. This handicap competition uses the best five net results from events played in conjunction with state and secondary level stroke play titles.

The winner of the Senior Handicap Championship for 2013 was Victorian Graeme Altmann. In a close battle Altmann moved past the early leader, Tasmanian Noel Mills, towards the end of the season and then held on well to claim his title. Third place went to Stefan Albinski just ahead of Victorian Alan Bullas.

Denis Dale (runner up), Ian McPherson (champion) and Alan Bullas (third) in the 2013 Australian Senior Amateur Matchplay Championship The final two events of the 2013 Australian Senior Amateur golfing calendar were the Victorian Senior Amateur played at Rosebud Golf Club and the Australian Senior Matchplay Championship played at Thirteenth Beach Golf Club.

Chris Tatt from Buninyong was a commanding winner of the Victorian title leading all the way with rounds of 72-71-75 = 218.

Tatt had previously won the title in 2009 and he impressed all with the high quality of his game. This victory adds to a long list of accomplishments on Tatt’s golfing resume. He has represented both Victoria and Australia in state and national teams, is a 13time Buninyong Club Champion and 4-time Victorian Country Champion.

Runner-up was Bendigo member Ian Frost (75-74-72=221) competing in his first Australian Senior Ranking event. A win is not far away for this talented senior.

The “hard luck” story belonged to NSW senior Sal Ballard who had played a great final round to finish in a tie for second place.

After submitting his card Ballard realised he had made an error on the card and reported it to the scorers. He was subsequently disqualified for an incorrect card.

Gary House of Sanctuary Lakes took home the nett title, playing steady golf over the three-days for a nett total of 210. House was three shots clear of nett runner-up Adam Charleston from Lonsdale.

West Australian Ian McPherson recorded his first major senior title with victory in the 2013 Australian Senior Amateur Matchplay Championship at Thirteenth Beach Golf Club. In a tense battle McPherson edged out the 2008 winner Denis Dale winning 1 up after eighteen holes. In the playoff for third place Victorian Alan Bullas defeated NSW senior Sal Ballard, also on the final hole.

The final was a typical hard-fought senior match play game with McPherson taking an early lead before Dale took over with a birdie on the tenth. McPherson bounced right back with a tapin birdie on eleven and then the two players settled in to a battle over the closing holes. It was McPherson who rallied the best and claimed the title by holing a difficult two metre putt on the eighteenth green.

McPherson has travelled extensively in the past few years to compete at the highest level in senior amateur golf. He was justifiably rewarded with selection in the 2013 Australian team that played New Zealand in September. This victory now makes him a certain selection for the 2014 Australian Team in Auckland and he looks set to maintain his high ranking for many seasons ahead. •

2013 Season Summary

Australian Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Murray Martin (NZ) Runners Up: Sam Christie (QLD), Frank Borren (NZ) Australian Senior Matchplay Championship Winner: Ian McPherson (WA) Runner Up: Denis Dale (NSW) Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Stefan Albinski (NSW) Runners Up: David Limbach (NSW), Vince Clark (NSW) NSW Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Bill Banks (ACT) Runner Up: Stefan Albinski (NSW) West Australian Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Stefan Albinski (NSW) Runner Up: Ian McPherson (WA) Northern Territory Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Tom Harold (NT) Runner Up: Neil Faulks (TAS) Queensland Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Alan Bullas (VIC) Runner Up: Brad Oliver (QLD) South Australian Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Peter King (QLD) Runner Up: John Beaumont (SA) Victorian Senior Amateur Championship Winner: Chris Tatt (VIC) Runner Up: Ian Frost (VIC) Royal Melbourne Senior Classic Winner: Rick Oliver (NSW) Runner Up: Denis Dale (NSW) Lake Karrinyup Senior Amateur Winner: Graham Bowen (WA) Runner Up: Bob Gamsby (WA) The National Masters Winner: Roy Vandersluis (NSW) Runner Up: Edward Pawlik (VIC) NSW Senior Classic Winner: David Limbach (NSW) Runner Up: Paul Maslen (NSW) Golf Coast Senior Amateur Winner: Trevor Box (QLD) Runners Up: Denis Dale (NSW), Brian Sams (NSW) The Grange Senior Open Winner: Bill Winslow (SA) Runner Up: Denis Dale (NSW) 2013 Australian Asia Pacific Team Stefan Albinski, Denis Dale, Roy Vandersluis Peter King, David Limbach, Richard Greville 2013 Australian Sanctuary Cove Trophy Stefan Albinski, Richard Greville, Steve Gibson, Ross Bockman, Roy Vandersluis, Ian McPherson, Robert Payne, Vince Clark, Denis Dale, Alan Bullas, Peter King, Dave Limbach, Chris Coats (capt) NZ defeated Australia 14.5 to 9.5 2013 Australian Senior Team vs Australian Defence Forces Greg Stanford, David Edwards, David Taylor, Robert Burford, David McDonald, Chris Gordon, Greg Welsh - Mike Peeck, Russell Rogers, John Wheeler, Keith Thornley, Adrian Barr (capt) ADFGA defeated the GA Seniors 14 - 10 More: www.ausoom.com

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RAC strikes gold at Kalgoorlie

In a first for the RAC members in Western Australia, one of the ACGC qualifying regional events was held at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, home of The Goldfields Golf Club.

It was fantastic to be able to host one of the events at Kalgoorlie, designed by the critically-acclaimed Graham Marsh as it is one of the most challenging courses and tipped to be among the World’s top 10 desert courses. Event organisers were so thrilled with the reception of the inaugural event at Goldfields that they have already listed the 2014 event in their calendar.

“It’s such a great opportunity for golfers living in the city, country and regional areas to celebrate this world class golf course and of course participate in an exciting National Amateur Pairs competition – if not for the fantastic prizes, then for the experience!” says John Harriss, Tournament Director.

All in the name of charity

Rockhampton Golf Club ran their firstever RACQ Auto Club Golf Championship event in the name of their local charity, the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue.

The Rockhampton Golf Club donated $10 for every player that entered the RACQ Rockhampton ACGC event. A total of $840 was raised for the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue - a great result!

Max McDonald from Rockhampton also arranged to have the Helicopter team at the Golf Club for the day, which was fantastic for the event, their members and the community. The RACQ Capricorn Rescue team is a community-based, nonprofit charity whose search and rescue efforts continue to help save lives within the Central Queensland region.

Inspiring win at AANT inaugural event

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Register your pair!

Mandy Vandenberg with her Hummer Golf buggy.

Strong, blustery winds and warm, sunny weather dominated the Alice Springs Golf Course, but it did not deter the 40 pairs who assembled for the inaugural 2013 AANT Auto Club Golf Championship (ACGC) qualifying round held in the region. Alice Springs Golf Club were thrilled with the turnout and have already added an ACGC event to their 2014 event calendar.

The highlight of the event was in the winning pair, Mandy and Steve Vandenberg. Mandy, a horse rider in her youth, had suffered a serious back injury while out riding. Another fall in later years resulted in chronic back pain and extremely limited mobility.

“I went from working as a carer for kids with special needs to needing a carer myself,” says Mandy.

Five and a half years ago, after not being able to stand, lift her leg or walk without aid, Mandy underwent spinal surgery to correct the five crushed vertebrae impacting on her life and

mobility. Previously, Mandy was an avid netball player and runner but with her injuries and limited mobility, intensive recreational activities were out of the question. It wasn’t until two years ago that she gave in to her son’s constant encouragement to come out to the golf course where he worked, and have a go. It was there that she discovered that she had quite a gift.

Having never played a game of golf before, Mandy didn’t understand the fuss when she scored a par on a par-3 – clearly indicating that she had an eye for the game.

“I had no idea what I had done, my husband was just cheering, when he finally explained it to me, I was pretty excited and felt encouraged to keep playing!”

While Mandy has not regained complete feeling in her right leg or lower back, she hasn’t let it stop her from improving her game, going out to the course five or six times a week, competing in and winning several golfing competitions. Aided by her Hummer Golf buggy

The Auto Club Golf Championship is open to all amateur golfers age 16+, with at least one player having a valid Auto Club Membership. Represent your Auto Club in 2013 and you could also make your state proud at the Championship Final. For more information including event dates in your region and to register your pair, visit: www.acgc.com.au

– a purchase to offset her husband’s ‘mid-life’ motorbike buy, Mandy and Steve were not expecting to take out the title at the AANT 2013 Auto Club Championship Qualifying round.

“We just came out to have some fun – hit the ball, we weren’t expecting to win at all! My husband is a golf tragic, so he’s pretty ecstatic to be able to play the course at the Gold Coast.”

An exceptional, inspiring game played by both Mandy and Steve, and organisers look forward to seeing them both – and perhaps the buggy at the 2013 Championship Final held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort. •

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33

instruction

Video lesson:

How a student changed the way I teach – Part 2 action down and out in the direction of the golf ball the actual release of the angle of the clubshaft to the lead arm occurs later towards the bottom of the downswing. The faster the “uncocking action” towards the ball, the later into the downswing, the wrist release occurs.

By watching the following videos, you will gain greater clarity as to how to drill this downswing action into your swing for control, power, and consistency.

VIDEO LINKS: http://bit.ly/HEvCWJ http://bit.ly/1gxYrTK

Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

In this month’s issue I would like to share the difference between how we believe the transition between backswing and downswing should occur now versus how we believed the transition between backswing and downswing happened prior to 1992.

It seems such a long time ago that this was my belief, but prior to mid-1992 I was teaching that to start the downswing you initially transferred the weight from your back foot back to the front foot by driving the legs and sliding the hips, and then turning the hips once the front foot was planted on the ground. This lower body action then “pulled” the club – handle first – down towards the “release” area. Rhythm and Tempo were most important to help maintain balance and the following timing of the release.

Over these past 20 + years, we have crystallized our thinking and with our “new” thoughts the downswing has much more clarity on A) Direction of Hit. B) Where and how to start the release of the clubhead. C) What causes the lower body to start its advanced forward rotation while the club, hands, arms, and shoulders are still completing the backswing “coiling” motion?

Also we have come to understand the cause of weight shift in the swing and how

34

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The downswing

The downswing - Wrists uncock right from top

to maintain balance throughout the swing.

As a major benefit besides a much simpler action, there is much less requirement to try to time the swing.

The building of an effective transition from backswing to downswing has several steps that when drilled in and understood will make your shots have more power and control on a consistent basis.

lead arm (left arm for a right handed golfer).

When you do this in slow motion as a drill you want to have the wrists “uncocking” right from the top as the arms move down towards the ball. As you add speed to this “uncocking”

How to start the downswing Once we have made an effective backswing where we have turned as if in a barrel and wind up behind the ball, the start of the downswing has the wrists“uncocking – thumbs down”so that as the arms swing down in a direction toward the ball, the clubshaft moves into line with the

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.” www.crokergolfsystem.com/Academy/ view-your-swing.html

The keytogolf.com Program Lesson 7 with a full complement of videos and test questions will deliver a thorough understanding of this area of the swing and more. As a Christmas Special from Croker Academy of Golf and for the full month of December Key to Golf is offering the complete Module on Full Golf Swing Downswing for $1.

Please visit keytogolf.com and sign-up under the “Silver Program” for “Module 7 – Full Golf Swing Downswing” using the referral code – ktginsidegolf Using this referral code will give you a $19 discount. This is a great “Christmas Gift of Golf” for family and friends. http://keytogolf.com/Full-Swing-Downswing

instruction

Control the speed of your putts

Blu-tack drill

Balance stroke drill

Tempo drill

BLU-TACK DRILL Glenn Whittle glenn@whittlegolf.com (02) 9541 4960

Are you one of the many golfers who have difficulty controlling the distance of your putts? It is one of the most common concerns people talk to me about when they visit me at The Sydney Putting Studio.

Basically they are getting the read and line generally OK but then either waste shots, lose confidence, get frustrated or all three due to their lack of ability to finish the ball just past the hole.

My favourite drills to assist my clients with distance control are:

Place a small piece of Blu-tack on both the toe and heel of the putter face as shown. This will encourage you to strike the ball in the centre of the putter face each time, and when you hit the ball off the toe or heel you will know because the ball will skew off line.

long a swing on backswing and suddenly stop after impact.

Make yourself a “ruler” with a line in the centre, and write number one to five from the centre to the end on each side of the line as shown. Now practice balancing the length of your stroke, for example from 1 to 1 or 3 to 3 etc

BALANCE STROKE DRILL

TEMPO DRILL

This drill ensures that the length of the stroke in both backswing and follow-through are the same length. It is not uncommon to see club level golfers either use a short backswing and feel like they have to over-accelerate the clubhead on the through-swing or make too

Place a dollar coin on the top or back of your putter as shown. Now practice making your normal putting stroke and notice whether the coin falls off. Ideally the tempo of your stroke would be slightly slower and the coin would stay on the putter head. •

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

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Golf recruitment business launches in Australasia Golf Industry Central has officially launched its specialist golf recruitment arm, Golf Recruitment Central, expanding its current recruitment services to claim the title of the only full recruitment company t h at s p e c i a l i s e s i n t h e Au s t ra l a s i a n golf industry.

Golf Industry Central was established in 2008 by Operations and Marketing Specialist Mike Orloff with the initial purpose of connecting all parts of the industry with news, jobs and golf related information. It then launched Golf Marketing Central in April 2013, assisting the industry with golf specific marketing.

Golf Recruitment Central is now available to assist both clients and candidates with a variety of support and marketing services.

“Some clients simply need to promote their vacancy and others need assistance compiling an effective job advertisement, short listing applicants, or conducting final interviews and background checks,” says Mike Orloff.

“We are also contacted by candidates looking to get into the golf industry, those who want help writing their CV, or help building their personal brand. We also offer a candidate mentoring program to help candidates progress through their chosen professional path.”

Golf Recruitment Central will leverage off Golf Industry Central’s network of industry contacts through the region to help facilitate finding not the ‘best candidate’ but the ‘right candidate’ for roles in the industry.

Visit www.GolfRecruitmentCentral.com.au for more information or contact Mike Orloff, at recruitment@GolfIndustryCentral.com.au m: 0415 682 259 •

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35

pga igi

Ready to study, work and play David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

WHEN Ashleigh Blacksell and Cloud Nguyen were offered the opportunity to study for a Diploma of Golf Management through the PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI), they grabbed it with both hands.

Why wouldn’t they?

It’s the gateway to working in the golf industry.

Last month Ashleigh and Cloud received their diplomas along with 30 fellow students.

For 17-year-old Cloud, it’s the first step towards a career in the golf industry in Australia or Vietnam.

In 2014, the Vietnamese student will attend Griffith University to study hospitality management.

Meanwhile, Ashleigh has completed her diploma and a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Sports Management.

Now the 20-year-old, who works at Sanctuary Cove and plays off a handicap of three, is preparing to enter her Professional Year (PY).

“I want to do my PY traineeship so that I can become a full member of the PGA of Australia,” she said.

Cloud, too, has ambitions of becoming a professional golfer, but his first priority is to finish his university degree.

“My goal is to be a professional golfer,” he said. “I have only been playing golf for two years and have reduced my handicap to nine thanks to the excellent coaches at PGA IGI. “Of course, I first must finish university, which will allow me to work in hotel management or

The PGA IGI class of 2013 celebrate their graduation at Sanctuary Cove. at a golf club.”

Ashleigh and Cloud can’t speak highly enough of the PGA IGI program.

Both said they would recommend the program to anyone contemplating working in the golf industry.

“If you have a passion for golf, I would recommend doing the PGA IGI course and the uni degree,” Ashleigh said.

“It’s definitely a good thing to do if you want to work in the golf industry.

“The course provided me with a lot of knowledge about the golf industry.

“The great thing about the PGA IGI program is you hear first-hand from people who work in the industry like managers, professionals, greenkeepers and others.

“You don’t know or understand it until you hear it from the experts in their field.

“With all the different subjects you learn

a lot – even about the rules of golf and time management. It’s great.”

Cloud was equally impressed with the program.

“Overall, it (PGA IGI) is a great course,” said Cloud, who holds down two part-time jobs at a café and a fast-food outlet.

“The lectures are well-delivered and the environment and the friendliness of the lecturers is very good.

“It’s been a great experience to complete the program. The other good thing about the program is you make a lot of new friends.”

Ashleigh was extremely impressed with the PGA IGI lecturers and coaches saying they were “a good bunch of people”.

“They are your mentors, but they are also your friends,” she said. “They are always there to help you when you need it.” •

PGA IGI graduates Ashleigh Blacksell (top) and Cloud Nguyen (bottom) pose with PGA of Australia chairman Mark Gibson (left) and CEO Brian Thorburn.

FOOTNOTE: PGA IGI students graduate with Australia’s only Diploma of Golf Management from PGA IGI and a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Sports Management from Griffith University.

For more information about the PGA International Golf Institute programs and how they are delivered, telephone (07) 5657-6116 or go to the website www.pgaigi.com

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people

US teen takes on 150 Aussies David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

IN an elite field of more than 150 Australian state and territory golfers on handicaps of four or less one name, or rather a country’s flag, stood out like a sore thumb.

Beside David Snyder’s name on the leaderboard at the Keperra Bowl was the flag of the United States of America.

Who was this lone American and why had he flown across the world to play in one of Australia’s top amateur tournaments?

I was intrigued to find out more about a young man who started the tournament as a 15-yearold and putted out on the 72nd hole, aged 16.

David, who plays off +5 and hails from Texas, fired rounds of 73-69-69-72 (five-under par) to finish ninth behind eventual winner and Australian representative Taylor Macdonald.

That’s not bad for someone who was actually enjoying a holiday Down Under and was competition “rusty”.

“This is actually my second visit to Australia,” David said. “We came over here as a family when I was 11 and this time I came with my mom (Patty) to explore the country some more.

“We heard about the Keperra Bowl and decided to enter. The standard of the competition is great and there are a lot of great players here.

“That’s why we chose to play because it is a nice tournament and I thought playing in a four-day event would be a lot of fun and it was.

“I hadn’t played a tournament in a while so I was a little rusty, but I was happy to finish fiveunder par over four days,” said David, who has an exquisite short game.

David, who first picked up a club aged four,

David Snyder poses on the 17th hole at Keperra Country Golf Club. INSET: David and his mom Patty. was keen to retrace his footsteps on a number of Mornington Peninsula courses and to see more of the country.

“I really enjoyed playing Moonah Links and the National on our first trip and played those courses again and also St Andrews Beach, which I actually liked even more,” he said.

“I didn’t remember much from my first visit and wanted to see more of the country. Last time

we visited Melbourne and this time Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

“It was nice to see the different cities,” said David, who is home-schooled.

“The Skydeck in Melbourne was great. Being so high up (297m) was cool and seeing Sydney and the Opera House and Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast was nice.”

David has ambitions of playing on the US PGA

Tour and going on results to date just might realise his dream.

Currently, he plays on the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT).

In the past two years, he has finished runnerup in the tour’s National Championship in the boys’ 16-19 division.

Last year he won three FCWT events in Arizona and was awarded FCWT First Team All American and named Player of the Year for his outstanding play.

Earlier this year, David captured the 72-hole US Teen World Championship (boys’ 15-18 division) at Pinehurst. He also won the 13 years’ division in 2011.

He finished fourth at the prestigious Western Amateur and reached the matchplay quarterfinals.

That’s not all.

He won a local qualifier for the US Open, went on to tie for third in the sectionals and became a first alternate for the US Open at Merion Golf Club.

“While David was not called on to play, he was given privileges to attend, practice and had full privileges as a player to hospitality and practice facilities at Merion,” said proud mom Patty.

“He was ready to play if someone had cancelled.”

David said he was looking forward to a third trip Down Under to see more of the country and contest a few more tournaments.

“We will be back and perhaps David will be accepted into some tournaments again in the future,” Patty said. “We were looking at coming back in January.

“It depends on our ability to come back again that soon, but it might be worth it because we had a wonderful time.” •

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Green army invades PGA Championship David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

IT took an army of more than 300 volunteers to control the large galleries at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

Dressed in green to match champion Adam Scott’s Augusta green jacket, the green army (men, women and teenagers) took over every tee block, fairway and green, but they weren’t planning a military coup.

Each volunteer took their assignment seriously and some even went the extra mile like one young lad, a scoreboard carrier, who stopped to rake a bunker after a player’s caddie “forgot”.

That’s the commitment Marie McGuinness, the “general” in charge of the green army, has drilled into her troops.

Still, she says it’s a challenge organising such a large body of volunteers.

“I liken it to a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces,” she said. “I have to get the right pieces to fit in the right places.

“I work very hard doing that by getting to know all the volunteers personally.

“When they come in here I know their names although this year I have had a few new ones, which have stumped me.

“If a person is not fitted to a job, I can usually find something for them to do.”

Marie, who started as a volunteer at the Australian Ladies Masters more than 20 years ago, has been volunteers’ recruitment chief at the Ladies Masters for the past 15 years.

“I started as a volunteer working as a marshal and scorer-walker 23 or 24 years ago. So, I have

Left: A volunteer rakes a bunker. Inset: Australian PGA Championship volunteers’ recruitment chief Marie McGuinness. Right: Volunteers do their best to keep the fans outside the ropes. done my apprenticeship,” she laughed.

When the Australian PGA Championship moved from Coolum to RACV Royal Pines, Marie was given the task of recruiting the volunteers.

“I recruit them, place them and make sure they are doing their job.

“I have had people come from all over the place – America, New Zealand and I have a fellow coming from the Netherlands to work at the Ladies Masters.

“The volunteers come from all over Australia and are the most fabulous volunteers you would ever want.

“They take time off work to come here, pay their own accommodation and they do this for

nothing. They are amazing.”

During the Australian PGA Championship Marie, who plays off a 24 handicap at Banora Point Golf Club, puts in long days to ensure the operation runs like clockwork.

“We get here at 4:30am and don’t leave until 6 or 7pm, but the last couple of nights we haven’t left until 9pm,” she said.

“We have to wait to see how many players make the cut and for the draw to come out.

“Then we make a list of the walker-scorers and grade them so the best go with the best players.

“That takes time and then we have to ring them all to let them know what time they are required at the course.”

Marie said the majority of volunteers are marshals.

“Sometimes I hear people say, ‘I am just a marshal’. I say, ‘no, you are not just a marshal because without the marshals there is no tournament’.

“Every job is equally important.”

Marie also has to be prepared for “no-show” volunteers.

“Some people don’t turn up and don’t let us know and that’s frustrating, but we have people on standby,” she said.

For Marie and her loyal army of volunteers, it all starts again at the Australian Ladies Masters in February. •

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people

It’s nice to be back Rob Willis

ed@insidegolf.com.au

Upon turning 50, just about anybody who ever played golf at a decent level thinks they can make a living on the senior tour. In November of 2012 I resisted the temptation.

I had a day job—a busy and reasonably enjoyable one at that—was content being home for dinner pretty much every night and was more than realistic about how challenging it would be to compete and play golf as a professional again.

“Happy” might not be the right word, but I was comfortable in golfing retirement, with my 11-12 years on tour providing a measure of accomplishment and leaving me with some wonderful memories.

But you turn 50 and, as is the way of the golfing world, with that milestone comes an opportunity to start over.

I’ll admit as the year rolled on I took a little more notice of the major championships as the big guns traded blows and at the same time kept a keen eye on the PGA Australia website and checked out the Legends Pro-Am results.

The longer you’re retired, the better you were. And as time wore on the desire to return to playing golf semi-seriously gradually grew.

After a decade away from golf, going from having a club in my hands every day and playing five to six times a week, to getting out on the course less than that in a year, I’d become a long way removed from the game that once upon a time dominated my life.

The ‘professional golfer turning 50’ mid-life crisis was kicking in, the little voices in my head were intensifying and as you do, I reasoned it couldn’t be that hard to again find whatever it was I once had.

After hanging them up some 10 years ago, the bug was coming back.

Unfortunately just when I thought I’d be able to spend the odd afternoon, morning or weekend working slowly towards a return, my employer the NRL Sharks were hit with the ASADA stick.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave or at the South Pole with no communications, you probably know what that means.

And being media manager at the Sharks my phone rang often, the media scrutiny was all consuming and my work hours multiplied tenfold. Golf again had to wait.

If looking for a positive from a negative situation, putting a comeback on hold did give me a chance to map out some sort of plan for how it was all going to work if the opportunity to play some golf again was to some day come along.

I figured getting the 50-year-old body in some sort of shape was the first requirement, finding a set of clubs manufactured sometime after the turn of the century was number two, and actually playing golf with a card in my pocket— not nine holes with my son or an Ambrose at a charity day, actually playing a round of golf where you had to write down the number of shots and then add them up and be accountable for a score at the end—was three.

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A week or so of practice was followed by a midweek club competition round at Beverly Park Golf Club and 30 stableford points later I realized it was going to be harder than I thought.

From there I threw myself in the deep end with a couple of pro-ams in Victoria, at The National and the Dunes, which both certainly presented a challenge, but most importantly I was back on the horse.

They even gave me a prizemoney cheque after each of the pro-ams, albeit small ones, which was very encouraging.

I’m still a long way from taking on Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas and Kenny Perry on the US Champions Tour, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Whether the journey takes me to the US Senior Open, to a few Australian Legends Proams around town, to a Saturday medal or midweek comp at a local course, or if it merely rekindles my enjoyment of the game, remains to be seen.

But I do have the putter back out in the lounge room working on the stroke, I’m thinking about playing golf tomorrow, the next day and then the next week as well, so it’s just nice to be back. •

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The first one wasn’t that hard, if an NRL club has anything going for it there is access to training and gym equipment.

That regimen began a few months ago and while not quite ready for the Hawaii Ironman or the Mr Universe competition, I was confident I was in good enough condition to cope with a round of golf or a practice session or two.

A trip to Drummond Golf was next... and what an eye opener it was!

The drivers have continued to get bigger and these days you can adjust the heads with a little tool if you don’t love your shot shape. There were multiple sets of irons and wedges which all looked great, but a bit the same, however.

After a long time away from the game a trip to a golf equipment store probably raised more questions than it answered.

That being the case I dropped in on my old mates at American Golf, distributors of PING, and after talking about what I previously played with, before going through their hi-tech and very impressive club fit system, I left with a set of G25 irons I was confident I could play with and a G25 driver I was certain could deliver me an extra 20-metres off the tee.

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Callaway Apex Pro Irons RAKE Lob Wedge

The new RAKE Lob Wedge from PNP Golf features a patented Dual Bounce Rail Design which combs through thick grass, giving you more power and control in the rough.

By design the grass actually braces the club, keeping it on the correct path reducing twisting and turning. This helps you to execute a better shot and maintain valuable club head speed. The On-Set Leading Edge encourages a sharp angle of attack and provides crisp contact from tight lies. In addition, the undercut cavity provides added forgiveness on off-centre hits. Conforms to USGA rules. 30 day money back guarantee.

RRP: $169 FREE SHIPPING in Australia with coupon code INSIDEGOLF through 12/31/2013. www.pnpgolf.com.au

This single-piece, 1020 forged Carbon Steel iron has a dampening triangle behind the face that helps deliver a soft, responsive feel. The ultra-thin face has more flex in it to provide distance, while Tungsten weighted inserts in the long irons (2, 3, 4, and 5) increase the forgiveness and deliver tour type launch condition. High performance wide grooves deliver more control and consistent spin out of a variety of playing conditions. A new premium shaft offering from KBS—which was designed specifically for Phil Mickelson and is an exclusive in-line offering to Callaway—maximizes energy transfer for a smoother feel and faster ball speeds. It also helps deliver mid-launch, penetrating trajectories.

RRP: $1,299.99 Steel set (8-piece) $1,599.99 graphite set (8-piece) www.callawaygolf.com/au

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Cobra Baffler XL Tight Lies Fairway Woods

Adams Golf is bringing back the legendary fairway wood that put the company on the map in the mid-1990s. The new and improved Tight Lies features many of the same design elements that made the original a success, plus the new, award-winning Velocity Slot Technology that makes the face twice as hot.

The unique tri-sole design, which made the original version playable from any lie, will again be a difference maker for golfers playing the new Tight Lies. This sole design reduces turf interaction to increase performance from the fairway, rough, sand and even tight or bare lies.

The Men’s Tight Lies model is available in two lofts, 16° and 19° right hand only.

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XXIO8 series

The XXIO series, a popular favourite among a wide range of golfers, has been number one in annual sales for 14 consecutive years in Japan since it first debuted in 2000.

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Odyssey White Hot Pro Women’s Putters

The White Hot Pro Women’s line is specifically designed for women with the most consistent, best-feeling insert Odyssey has ever created. It starts with the new and improved White Hot Pro insert, which provides more consistent sound, feel and performance across the striking surface. The women’s White Hot Pro also features softer aesthetics and ideal head weights to give women golfers everything they need to drain more putts. Odyssey engineered the White Hot Pro Women’s line specifically for women, with heavier heads that enhance feel and control, and a brushed steel finish that creates a great look at address. The ladies’ line is available in the #1, V-Line and 2-Ball shapes—all tour-proven designs from the number one putter brand on major tours around the world.

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Baffler XL Driver

The Cobra Baffler XL Driver’s offset design allows the golfer more time to square the face at impact for higher, straighter, more draw-biased shots. The oversize face with E9TM Face Technology creates a larger “trampoline” across the face with significant face area above the CG for high launch and low spin drives. Weight is positioned low and back in the head to deliver high MOI/ Forgiveness for more distance and directional control on off-centre hits.

The XL Fairway and Hybrid feature low cg and shallow face design, giving your shots a high trajectory with lower spin for easy distance from any lie. Oversized rails provide smooth turf interaction through less surface drag on the sole and leading edge for consistently higher launch and longer distance from all lies.

The XL Irons provide easy distance and consistent, higher ball flight for the aspiring golfer. Oversized rails are engineered

Baffler Hybrid

IZZO Putt-Easy Baffler Irons to deliver improved turf interaction for consistent distance from anywhere on the golf course. A larger Sweet Zone for faster ball speeds and higher MOI provides greater distance and forgiveness across the club face.

RRP: Baffler XL Driver: $279 Baffler XL Fairway: $199 Baffler XL Hybrid: $179 Baffler XL Irons: Steel $75, Graphite: $90

The latest training aid from IZZO Golf, The Putt-Easy helps develop a smooth, consistent putting stroke for ALL putting styles including Big Arc, Small Arc and Straight Back/Through. Great for imparting top spin and getting the ball rolling forward quickly and helps promote impact with the ball slightly on the upswing. The IZZO PuttEasy is easy to set up and take down and an essential tool for anyone wanting to improve their putting technique.

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47

Christmas Gifts

section header

Whether they’ve been naughty or nice, Have a hook or a slice, Or simply can’t get off the tee, Every golf lover will always be keen, For a great golf gift under the tree!

Here are some of our favourite picks this year!

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Bollé Bolt

Bushnell Neo X GPS watch

Bushnell’s Neo X is the lightest and thinnest Golf GPS Watch in the world. It features a long battery life, with a three-round capacity—and comes preloaded with over 30,000 courses. No downloads or membership fees ever.

SmartRound score improving features include auto course recognition; pre-loaded hazards; shot distance calculator and round odometer.

Additional features: simple to use operation; stopwatch, timer, tee time start & auto GPS off; posi-lock clip for easy charge or course updates.

Legal for tournament play. www.championsports.com.au

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The Bollé Bolt features their exclusive Photochromic V3 Golf lens. This optically superior B-Clear trivex lens adapts to changing light conditions on the course. The finely-tuned brown lens colour highlights subtleties, and the hydrophobic outside and anti-fog inside coatings keep your view moisture free. Bolt also features greater lens coverage and a smoother eye shape in a super lightweight, flexible and durable nylon frame.

Bolt’s frame is complemented with a hydrophilic Thermogrip adjustable nose piece and Thermogrip temple inserts. Creating perfect and secure fit, no matter how intense the competition becomes.

RRP: $200 Stockist Enquiries: 08 8239 1122 1300 138 098 www.Bolle.com.au

GolfKnickers.com is the world leader in traditional golf apparel. Created and designed by an Italian tailor who has been in the clothing game for decades, they specialise in an expansive line of men’s and ladies’ plus-fours or golf knickers.

The company has a full line of matching socks, caps, shirts, bow ties, and sweater vests -- delivering a complete outfit. They also offer one of the largest selections of argyle socks.

After being in the business of outfitting the classiest of golfers for over ten years, GolfKnickers.com has built up the largest selection of golf knickers available. With over twenty different colours, thirty-four plaid patterns, and six unique lines of knickers, there is always something for everyone.

They ship to Australia daily and everything online is in stock and ready to ship (even large quantities). www.GolfKnickers.com

GolfBuddy WT3 GPS Watch

GolfBuddy’s WT3 Watch features Moveable Pin Technology to give the golfer precise information to exact hole positions; showing distances to all hazards on a course; and preloaded global courses which are verified on-foot for unparalleled accuracy. Add in Dynamic Green View, course maps which are free forever without the need to take out expensive annual subscription plans - and the capacity to be worn as a watch on a 50-day battery charge - then the GolfBuddy WT3 offers the pinnacle in dual watch/GPS functionality.

And as with all GolfBuddy products, there are no annual membership fees and no hidden costs to download courses. The WT3 is ready to go right out of the box with access to over 1,100 courses in Australia and over 36,500 globally in more than 130 countries.

RRP $249.95 www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

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for golf lovers Diamontees EZ-1 Putter by BoomGolf

The face-balanced EZ-1 basically sets itself up in the optimum position on every putt. Each time you grip it your hands are automatically in the optimum position to promote an ‘on plane’ stroke, the shaft angle and face angle are in an ideal position at address and impact, while your eyes are equally well positioned over your ball. The EZ-1’s flat sole is its ‘user manual.’It’s this feature that consistently gets the putter, and as a result your hands, in the optimum position to utilize its superb balance.

Every EZ-1 putter feels‘right,’when it’s in the correct set up position, and wrong when it’s not.

Every time you pull the trigger with the EZ-1, you do so knowing you have the best possible chance of starting your putt on your intended line. The EZ-1 is‘Hyper’face-balanced (by hand) with perfect parallax aim, and features a built-in ‘user manual’.

RRP: $189 Inside Golf special offer: $99 (Save $90) www.BoomGolf.com/ig1.htm

Power Cage Concourse Golf Buggy

Design Award-winning Concourse is the world’s most compact buggy. Lightweight and slimline, Concourse partners perfectly with your golf bag.

The simple one-touch operation to open and close means Concourse saves golfers valuable space and time on and off the course. Concourse straps to your existing golf bag or connects seamlessly to Concourse Golf Bags – the choice is yours. The removable wheels come with a wheel bag for keeping the car clean. Concourse stows neatly into the boot of small cars and into the back of drive carts.

RRP: $289 / Concourse Golf Buggy & Bag from $479. Free shipping across Australia.

1300 650 059 www.concoursegolf.com info@concoursegolf.com

The perfect Christmas gift for the keenest of golfers.

Power Cage is the ultimate hitting cage. Light, strong and durable, you can assemble Power Cage in minutes without the need for tools.

The Power Cage is 3m high x 3m wide x 3m deep.

This cage is setting a new standard in the industry and is the answer for golfers who can’t always make it onto the course.

There are two different practice mats available: The Links mat, which creates a true fairway lie; and the True Strike Single hitting mat--that has a shock-absorbing gel insert that feels and reacts like a natural fairway. Use a Driver on the fairway section and a wood or an iron on the specially designed Gel Base area. It really is an all-rounders mat. Package offer with Mat: $1895 (Plus: The True Strike Single mat will be supplied with a free ball tray). www.davidgolf.com.au

designed to be played all the way to the hole

Proudly Australian owned and manufactured, Diamontees began in 2010 with a dream of finding suitable, stylish and comfortable golf shirts for fuller-figured women who care how they look both on and off the golf course.

Regular customers love Diamontees’side panelling and tummy-hiding prints (subtle or bold) which can be paired with many different coloured pants or skirts.

The primary choice of fabric is polyester/spandex, which is cool to wear and allows stretch for easymovement. Almost as important, the shirts are machine-washable, quick-drying and require minimal (if any) ironing – this makes them ideal for travelling!

A perfect gift for the lady golfers in your family!

Sizes: 14-26.

RRP: $79 Christmas Special: $69 (free postage over $100 orders) Visit www.diamontees.com to view the range and buy online, or call 0423 596 591 (Susan) or 0403 409 406 (Robin).

What people are saying Links Magazine PGA show 2013

The Pill™ is a putting aid that will only roll when struck with a square face. This modified golf ball is designed to give you immediate feedback on the quality of your putting stroke.

If hit improperly the ball will either lean to one side and roll off line, or tumble wildly.

Proshops & Retailers

editors pick at PGA Show 2013

My Golf Spy If the way youputt is makingyou sick

“Why didn’t I think of that?”

Some of the best training aids require no explanation... I

Myrtle Beach Golf ’s

Products Single Pill

Golf Digest

Warm up bag 3 Pills

Personalised

Professionals & Teachers

Try it around the green with your pitching wedge and watch it roll if hit correctly or drop it in the bunker and try hitting it out of the sand.

peter@thepillgolf.com.au | +61 (0) 408 330 800 | www.thepillgolf.com.au

PillTM ... one of the coolest products at the PGA show... it’s a unique and worthwhile practice tool.

It can also be used on the course or in the house... this is a must have.”

2nd Swing

Best moments of the PGA - Its a simple yet powerful training tool you can use in your living room or on the practice green - at the show, we watched it being putt through an8 foot break and if your strokes is true itwill remain upright which is stocking in our retail locations soon.

Mike Oliver (Store Manager)

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

49

Christmas Gifts

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ELK Motorised GT LITHIUM Buggy

ELK GT LITHIUM Buggies are Super light and Super reliable delivering optimum 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 & 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.

Simply they are Light, Reliable, Compact and a great gift idea.

RRP: $899 (plus freight in some locations) ( 03) 59735598 www.elkgolf.com info@elkgolf.com

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Golfmotion Personalised Golf Ball Printing

Golfmotion offers personalised golf balls, tees and ball markers with no minimum order, setup fees or colour fees. They will print any text or logo of your choice on any golf ball. They stock all major brands and their delivery time is under 5 days.

You can use their automated online wizard at www.golfmotion.com.au by clicking on “Personalised Golf Balls”.

Their service is perfect for personal, corporate and promotional golf purposes. Additionally they supply all kinds of branded corporate golf merchandise for corporate golf days.

1300 678 123 www.golfmotion.com.au

GolfCraft Target Caddie 400M Laser Range Finder

Using high function optics and intelligent software, the Target Caddie 400M™ isolates the closest target among multiple objects and dials in so you can be confident you’re on the right target every time. Using 6X magnification the laser locks onto the target at the speed of light producing extreme accuracy +/- just one meter.

Your distance control, club selection and game can now benefit from these features in an ultra compact, light, ergonomically designed case which fits comfortably in your hand, powered by a long life Lithium battery. The Target Caddie 400M is available exclusively at Drummond Golf stores.

(03) 9587 3104 www.golfworks.com.au info@golfworks.com.au

6202 OCG 125X135 NOV DEC AD FA.indd 2

Hole in One Flag

Do you remember the feeling of that first Hole in One? Ten years or ten days ago, it is something to be remembered forever.

A permanent reminder of this marvellous event comes in the form of a Professional flag (460x330mm) printed with club logo and your details.

A great gift idea for someone you know who has had the pleasure of achieving a Hole in One. Your order will be shipped anywhere in Australia, within 7 days.

RRP: $65 DELIVERED Special deals available for Golf Clubs. *Frame not included (02) 9837 7747 www.holeinoneflag.com info@hannprint.com

24/10/13 10:50 AM

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for golf lovers Caddyrack Pro

Kahma Golf has redefined golf bag function and design with Soft Grip technology, which not only organises a full set of irons, but also protects them.

The heads of conventional irons automatically make gentle 3-point contact in soft, uniquely shaped partitions, restraining them in every direction except removal. The shafts of the irons make no contact with either the golf bag or other clubs, making the system especially suitable for graphite shafted irons. Kahma Golf has integrated this Softgrip Technology into specially-designed range of Kahma Golf Bags to take full advantage of the technology. The softgrip racks are also available for purchase separately. The NEW 2014 C20 Golf Bag now includes magnetic cooler pocket cover, integrated umbrella holder and putter tube for easy access. The 2014 range includes a removable front panel that can be embroidered so you can now personalise your Kahma Golf bag.

RRP: $289 1300 738 557 www.kahmagolf.com kent@kahmagolf.com

The Parmaker Scout

The Parmaker Scout is the strongest and most reliable walker on the market, and right now you can get a $100 rebate if you trade-in an old buggy. Parmaker use the latest materials and manufacturing techniques, and all construction is carried out by Parmaker, making them resolutely ‘Australian-made’. Popular features include speed control, solid rubber wheels, reliable front wheel suspension and a storage compartment. The Scout also disassembles easily for storage in the ‘boot’. So give the gift of easier golf this Christmas with a Parmaker Scout. Visit parmaker.com today.

RRP: From $695 (Parmaker Scout with $100 trade-in rebate, and without battery or charger) (03) 9580 7166 www.parmaker.com sales@parmaker.com

MySunscreen Remover

The Pill from Distinctive Golf

Showering alone isn’t enough to remove sunscreen after golf. MySunscreen Remover gets the sunscreen, dirt, sweat and oils out of your skin leaving you feeling cleaner and fresher. You will see the results and feel the difference. It’s great for men and women, and the ideal Christmas gift for the golfer who has it all.

Available on-line or from leading pro shops and golf outlets.

RRP from: $24.95 Buy online and use Coupon Code: INGOLF1 for Free Shipping. www.mysunscreenremover.com.au 0421 250 700 info@mysunscreenremover.com.au

The Pill™ is arguably the best putting training aid on the market and the only putting aid designed to be played all the way to the hole. It is designed to give you immediate feedback on the quality of your stroke. Voted Editors pick at the recent PGA show 2013, The Pill™ will make you a better more consistent putter.

Buy The Pill™ as a single unit or in a 3 pack with warm up bag or loose in any quantity. Great for teaching Pros.

Try it with your pitching wedge, or drop it in the bunker and try hitting it out of the sand.

RRP: Starting from $16.97 0408 330 800 www.distinctivegolf.com.au peter@distinctivegolf.com.au

QUICK CHRISTMAS AND MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE IT ALL

from

Gorilla Floor Mat $88 Club Car E-Z Go Yamaha Drive

2 Tone Vinyl $167 Seat Cover Set All Makes and Models

All Cart Parts

Parts and accessories for all makes of golf carts

Unit 2/16 Ereton Drive, Labrador QLD 4215 PHONE: 07 5537 5033 MOBILE: 0414 375 027 E: allcartparts1@optusnet.com.au from

$66

from40

$158

Dash Trays and Dashes - Woodgrain, Carbon Fibre and Titanium Finish all Makes and Models

from

50 Golf Bag 247 Cover Fold Out $ Black, Forest Green, Navy, Burgundy, Cocao, Red, Wheat

DISTRIBUTING AUSTRALIA WIDE

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

51

Christmas Gifts section header

DVD How to practise your putting at home

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.

Suitable for all skill levels. A great golf Christmas present.

RRP: $27.95 plus $2 P&P www.fixmygolfswing.com.au anne@fixmygolfswing.com.au

for golf lovers

RealXGear Xtreme Cooling Products

RealXGear’s range of Xtreme Cooling Products will save you from the heat this summer! Simply by wetting their products, they go cold and stay cold – the RealXGear cooling towels and collars will stay cold for up to 6 hours. To reactivate, run them under the tap again. No refrigeration is needed. They can be kept in your golf bag after use ready to keep you cool again on your next round. And they are machine washable.

The RealXGear range includes cooling towels, collars, visors and hats. At an affordable price, they are a must to keep you cool on the golf course this summer and a perfect stocking filler for Christmas. Available at all good golf shops.

RRP: From $24.95 www.realxgear.com.au jon@realxgear.com.au

RAKE Wedges, PNP Putter

The New RAKE Sand and Lob Wedges, along with the Point N Putt putter are unlike any clubs in golf. The RAKE Wedges have a patented Dual Bounce Rail Design which effortlessly combs through thick grass and sand making the clubs “shot savers” from anywhere inside 90 metres.

The Point N Putt putter targets those who struggle with putting alignment and has been proven to improve the alignment of a majority of golfers by SAM PuttLab, golf’s authority on putter testing. All 3 clubs conform to USGA rules and produce results around and on the green that other clubs can’t. All PNP Golf clubs come with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Stocks are limited so order yours online today.

RRP: Point N Putt SX1 Putter $189.00 RAKE Sand/Lob Wedge $169.00 FREE SHIPPING in Australia with coupon code INSIDEGOLF through 12/31/13. www.pnpgolf.com.au

That’s My Ball

Axign Golf Orthotics

Looking to improve your game or ease your pain?

Here is the perfect gift.

Axign Biomechanical Golf Orthotics gives golfers a solid foundation for the entire body through stabilising the foot and ankle, which follows through to the knees, hips and back. During midstance, they help the foot to regain arch structure and engage a more natural and powerful toe position to assist in hip rotation and shoulder swing toward the ball’s target.

Sizes range from US M8-13, W5-10. Available in Comfort, Control & Slimline.

Available at golforthotics.com.au RRP: $69.95 Use Discount Code: XMAS20 when checking out to get a 20% discount off your order!

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Every golfer should put an identification mark on their golf ball in accordance with the Rules of Golf.

That’s My Ball offers golfers quick and easy ball identification tools. Their ID stamps are highly durable and much neater than trying to freehand on the golf ball. Also, direct from the USA, they now have the Tin Cup – a stainless steel stencil. Tin Cups are perfect for golfers who would like a larger and/or multi-coloured motif on their golf ball.

Give a purposeful and long lasting gift this Christmas and present a friend or family member with an ID stamp or Tin Cup. RRP: ID stamp stock designs from $14.95 + postage Tin Cup stock designs: $26.95 + postage.

1300 445 054 www.thatsmyball.com.au

Reload Golf Apparel

Designed by a golf lover wanting to stand out from the crowd, Reload Golf clothing comes with a difference as it is designed to suit your own requirements. Creating individually designed men’s and women’s clothing, Reload Golf do all colours, all sizes, any design and all logos. The shirts are made from lightweight, breathable material and are designed specifically for you.

Perfect to help an individual or social/corporate group stand out on course.

RRP: From $40 03 97758658 www.reloadgolf.com hawkes12@bigpond.com

The Marquee ‘Bad Boy’ Resort Golf Car

2014 GRASSHOPPER SE

Introducing the 2014 GRASSHOPPER SE. The perfect Single seat Golf Cart with lights blinkers and horn. Featuring 36 Volt Power and a huge range. This is an opportunity to purchase a 2014 buggy at 2013 prices.

RRP: $3995.

Delivery arranged anywhere in Australia.

HIGHLAND GOLF CARS 1300 90 60 80

One of the most advanced resort/golf cars ever built, the Marquee ‘Bad Boy’ is jam-packed with quality options that come standard. It’s everything the Bad Boy Golfer needs with its stylish new aesthetics matched by its high quality components and features, including 48V/3.7Kw motor, two-way rack and pinion steering, 95km range, foldable windscreen, reversing and side mirrors as standard, full drive and tail lights, indicators and reversing beeper, moulded cup holders and in-built golf tray and storage, divot sand filler, club cleaner and ball washer, standing platform on rear and more.

Three-year warranty.

RRP: $8,540 (07) 5585 0988 www.marqueegroup.com.au info@marqueegroup.com.au

Shop in store or online at

drummondgolf.com

XMAS CATALOGUE OUT NOW

GOLFING

GIFTS GALORE! CAN'T DECIDE? GIVE A DRUMMOND GOLF GIFT CARD

Buy online now!

Brett Ogle

gear

Packer, Player and the ‘fifth major’ This month, we share more excerpts from the recently-launched golf book Bump & Run: at the feet of the masters.

Andrew Crockett ed@insidegolf.com.au

The Australian Open has a rich history. Beginning in Sydney at The Australian Golf Club (1904) as ‘The Australasian Open’ it now stands as one of the oldest National opens in the world of golf.

Grand Slam golf champion, Gary Player, is the most prolific winner of the Australian Open tournament with seven victories.

The great Jack Nicklaus won the tournament six times, Australians Greg Norman and Ivo Whitton (Amateur) won the tournament five times. The illustrious list of champions also includes major golf champions Gene Sarazen, Jim Ferrier, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Bill Rogers, David Graham, Mark Calcavecchia, Steve Elkington, Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott.

The 1960s and 1970s were the ‘golden era’ of professional golf in Australia, attracting the biggest names from around the world to come and win the Australian Open. In 1971 Nicklaus shot 19-underpar at Royal Hobart to beat a stellar field by eight shots and during his victory speech he referred to the Australian Open as ‘the fifth Major’.

Australia was one of the premiere golf manufacturing countries in the 1960s with companies like PGF, East Bros and Slazenger making the best golf clubs on Earth. We made our own golf balls as well. It made financial sense for the big companies to pay their stars like Nicklaus, Player and Palmer to come to Australia and fine-tune the equipment. While the best golfers on Earth were in Australia promoting the brands they would also play the big tournaments, The Australian Open being the most coveted.

There were other big money tournaments like the Wills Masters, Ampol and McWilliams wines tournaments that in the 60s had a bigger first prize than the British Open. Golf was humming in Australia. Kerry Packer entered the fray in the 70s, and thanks to him, Australia had the best television coverage of pro golf in the world.

From the days when Ivo Whitton won five times to the historic battles between Jim Ferrier and Ossie Pickworth, to Thomson toppling the Americans it seemed the Australian Open had a continual rise in the arena of world golf…but then what happened?

In 2013 the tournament struggles to keep up with prizemoney for National Opens in non-golfing nations like Turkey ($7 million in 2013).

How did it all change so much?

I spent a couple of years asking all sorts of people their opinions and the conclusions are quite intriguing. The Australian Open can climb back to where it belongs. With all those names on the trophy,

Seven-time Australian Open Champion Gary Player at the 1974 Australian Open, Lake Karrinyup CC - Perth. (Photo courtesy of Black Knight International archives) one would hope that all we need to do is put up the adequate prizemoney and the rest will take care of itself.

Here are just a few of the many viewpoints from some of the greats of the game.

“Well, back in the 1960s and ’70s, I came to Australia almost every year, and I not only enjoyed the trip because I loved the country, but I enjoyed my ability to play well down there. I had a great relationship with Slazenger. I think Slazenger was very important to bringing Gary Player and me to Australia. I think they were very important to the growth of the game in Australia, particularly Noel Morris who ran Slazenger at the time. He was a very forwardthinking, aggressive gentleman who I happened to like very much. He also did a good job in those years with the company. We looked at the Australian Open as being the fifth Major at that time.

Unfortunately, with what’s happened with the global landscape in golf, countries with the population of Australia have a hard time competing on the world tournament stage. Australia, however, still produces a number of wonderfully talented golfers, including this year’s Masters Tournament winner Adam Scott, and a tremendous number of good athletes continue to represent their country well.’

Jack Nicklaus (1964, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978 Australian Open champion).

“Ah look, that whole Packer affair … I played a practice round with Jack Nicklaus and I talked to him about appearance money and all the rest of it. At that time the Australian Open was probably the equivalent of the third or fourth biggest tournament in America.

Kerry Packer was putting up the dough. Jack said he thought the

Australian Open should be able to stand up on its own two feet as one of the biggest tournaments in the world, one that the best players in the world want to win. Jack actually went back after that practice round and gave his appearance money back saying he wanted it added to the prize money. Tournament director Tony Charlton said, “You can’t do that.” Jack said, “I’m doing it and I want it to go into the prizemoney pool.” And so it was …” Jack Newton (1979 Australian Open champion).

“The worst thing to ever happen to Australian golf … I think the AGU did themselves a dis-service when they got offside with Kerry Packer in regards to the Australian Open. The way Kerry had the tournament run, by bringing out players like Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and the best players in the world and also put up the money for the tournament and televise every hole … with a camera on every hole it was the best televised tournament in the world. It also had the best television commentary in the world. For the AGU to get offside with somebody who was so involved and interested in promoting Australia, through the game of golf and the way he did it … was just absolutely unreal.” Norman Von Nida (1950, 1952 & 1953 Australian Open champion). •

Bump & Run: At the feet of the Masters

Australian author Andrew Crockett, a 3 handicap golfer, has spent two years interviewing many of the elders and legends of golf. With the assistance of Golf Australia, The Australian PGA, Inside Golf, The NSW State Library, The National Archives of Australia and 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.

RRP: $50 www.bumpandrun.com.au

WHAT ’S YOUR COLOUR CODE? Demo the new Ping G20 range in your area, and get

GET FIT TODAY

Turn to page 79 for a complete list of fitting days this month For more information please contact American Golf Supplies on 02 9524 8233or ping@americangolf.com.au or visit www.pinggolf.com 54

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

gear

Yamaha’s new FI cart injects a “gamechanging” boost YAMAHA looks set to seriously rev up the golf cart market in Australia with a “worldwide industry game changer” in its exclusively radical new model – the FI, boasting a world-first electronic fuel injection motor.

At two golf industry launches at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney and at Moonah Links in Melbourne, Yamaha Motor Australia showed how important it viewed the local release of the FI model by having several of its leading executives from Japan in attendance, including Mr Issac Otani, the Managing Director Yamaha Motor Australia, Mr Suzuki, the President Yamaha Power Products Division and Mr Murai Yasuhiro, the head of Marketing and Export division.

And following the release of the FI in the USA December late last year Yamaha flew in one of its top American district managers in Brooks West from Nashville, Tennessee, to Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney to tell of the hugely successful US campaign.

Not only is Yamaha boasting that the FI has roared ahead of its rivals and is winning the technology race with its quick-start, smoother, quieter, more powerful and more fuel-efficient performance it also declares that the FI is the “greenest petrol cart available”.

And Yamaha is so confident that the FI is an industry“game changer”it openly is accepting the challenge of getting new and existing customers to replace their existing electric-powered fleets

with the FI. And there are many who are making the switch to petrol.

Wayne Trefoni, Yamaha’s National Sales Manager Golf Cars, is enthusiastic about the many attributes the FI model offers, which he believes make it better or match electric carts in performance, fuel efficiency, noise abatement and even being environmentally as friendly.

“The FI is a brilliant performer in every aspect.

It has been measured as providing 35.8 miles per gallon against 29.2 for E-Z-Go and 29.9 for Club Car,” Trefoni said.

“And with no choke required to start the cart you get a no-hesitation smooth and quiet takeoff equivalent to an electric model.

“The FI is climate friendly having the smallest carbon footprint of any petrol cart and, in fact, it emits only 3 per cent more carbon dioxide than an electric cart if you consider all electric generated sources.

“But when it comes to lowering operational costs and making valuable savings we believe the FI model truly is on its own. For instance it will do more than 30 to 35 rounds per tank of fuel, meaning there is no doubt about it being capable of multi-rounds per corporate day, sometimes a worry on battery-tired electric models.

“There also are savings in converting from electric to the FI by way of less storage costs, no battery charging duties or problems with lightning strikes and batteries deteriorating.

The new Yamaha FI cart.

INSET: Yamaha’s Wayne Trefoni and Brooks West “Since the global financial crisis, all of the industry has become more costs conscious and we believe the FI offers many opportunities to save operators money.”

Trefoni said that the FI model has proved a hit with golf-course operators in just the few months since fleet stock had become available with The Vines in Perth signing up for 75 units, Secret Harbour in Western Australia for 20, Richmond Golf Club, in Western Sydney, snapping up 30 of the new model any many more looking at the change.

Mr Suzuki said the FI model, which had taken Yamaha three years to develop, would provide a new era for golf carts and he was delighted that more than 7000 units had been sold in the US since its release. Yamaha is the only golf cart manufacturer to build its own engines.

West reported that in America there has been

a growing swing from electric carts to petrol in recent years and that the arrival of the Yamaha FI had increased that trend. He said since 2010 about 160 operators had converted from electricto-petrol with more than 50 FI conversions up until September this year following its wider availability.

“The FI model clearly has been a game changer already in the US and I believe that the more efficient and greener fuel-injected carts will become the standard equipment of the industry in the future,” he said “No wonder one of Yamaha’s major competitors is working on a fuel-injection model now and is rushing to have it out next year.”

The company’s current worldwide marketing message is that “Yamaha revs your heart” and with the FI model it seems it could really rev up the Australian golf cart industry. •

LOOKING FOR A GOLF CLUB TO JOIN?

You can join and play 7 days per week from as little as $725 until June 30 2014* New members who join before December 31 2013 will also receive a FREE Golf Lesson and 2 complimentary visitor vouchers. *(A bar levy applies) • • • •

Group 1 top class club Situated in the heart of Sydney Easy walking course-carts and buggies available Competitions daily - Men’s and ladies competitions every day • Open days for members and guests Mondays and Fridays • Excellent dining / bistro/clubhouse recently refurbished

• Excellent practice facilities • Junior/cadet programme • Free Golf lesson + 2 complimentary guest vouchers for new members • Direct Debit/quarterly/half yearly subscription payment options • AAA accredited PGA professional Mark Reeve available for golf lessons • 3 month membership for overseas guests

STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB www.strathfieldgolf.com 84 CENTENARY DRIVE, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135 OFFICE : 9642 0326 • PRO SHOP: 9642 8642 • EMAIL: office@strathfieldgolf.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

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business

Urban Golf: Where east meets west Mike Orloff

Golf Industry Central mike@golfindustrycentral.com.au

When I was a kid, I vividly remember cutting a little hole in the backyard, sinking a coffee tin down along the ground with a little homemade flag and chipping some balls toward it.

When I was a teenager I had an old club and ball that, when I got bored, I’d hit it down the beach toward a tree, rock or other target during holiday periods. It would be hundreds of metres away but I fondly remember hitting and then trying to find the ball before hitting again. Score didn’t really matter, having fun did.

Eventually a family friend invited me out for a game at a local 9-hole council course, as we had been on family holiday and nothing to do between surfing sessions. I asked him “golf? are you joking?” he said: “We can have a few beers while we played”. “OK”, I said and off we went. I was then hooked.

I hate to say I was the guy that you did not want on your golf course. I had no clue on rules, etiquette or really how to play the game. I grew up in a metropolitan area and never saw a golf course till my first time on this course.

It wasn’t until I had played the game for a couple years that my older brother said he would pay for some golf lessons at the local range as he thought I actually had a decent swing. He would know as he just finished his first six lessons! Me, take an actual lesson with a PGA Pro and with other people watching?

What was he thinking?

Fast-forward 30 years and I’ve just recently come back from providing a golf membership presentation to the Asian Pacific Golf Summit in Indonesia to hundreds of decision makers.

In the past few years I have also presented and facilitated at various events throughout Australia and New Zealand. Who would have ever thought?

Last month, Golf Australia announced a joint venture to support Urban Golf Australia to assist them in growing its number of participants throughout Australia.

Most of you out in Clubland are probably saying “What was Golf Australia thinking?”

With the emergence of a number of new recreational pursuits that are now available

to Australians, Golf Australia has identified the need to develop and support innovative formats of the game that connect with future golfers.

Cameron Wade, Golf Australia’s Director of Golf Development said, “We think it is very important to support new innovative initiatives that grows participation and breaks down the barriers to the sport. Urban golf provides opportunities to engage with new participation segments and also to change some of the negative perceptions of the game.”

Urban golf in Australia began as an evolution of beach golf in the small coastal town of Sawtell in New South Wales. At the

same time, people were taking golf clubs to the streets around the world and discovering the fun of urban golfing. From France to the streets of New York and Germany, more and more people are playing urban golf. There are no rules; all you need is a club and a ball.

Well done to Golf Australia for having the foresight and courage to really think outside the box on this one.

There are many pathways to this great game of ours – don’t discount any form of golf as a way to attract new players to the traditional form of the game and eventually to Clubland.

It’s a game smothered with so many rules that we all feel we need to follow, but many rules that become obstacles to a new person trying the game.

Urban Golf is seen in some corners as the “extreme side” of the game, though in my view it’s nothing further from the truth. In fact, many of the PGA events have a promo day in the local city where they show the essence of the sport by using pros to hit shots through city streets or beaches.

Urban Golf is like the East meeting the West for the first time, the two distant lands of “tradition” and “non-tradition” finally connecting. Hopefully this continues to grow as great fun way for new people to get introduced to the game. You never know, they may end up playing golf for a lifetime. • Golf Industry Central assists golf facilities and companies in Australia, New Zealand, and SE Asia to improve their operational performance/profitability through the use of better marketing. www.golfindustrycentral.com.au +61 415 682 259

Not a member yet?

Join Now. It’s FREE! www.juniorgolfqueensland.org.au

resULTs 8th nov 2013 Winner - Joe Davis

We look forward to seeing you soon at Junior Golf Queensland

Runner Up - Dean Rule Next Best - Paul Cornhill N.T.P 3rd - R. Meallod N.T.P 6th - A. Miller N.T.P 12th - A. Miller Approach 11th - D. Moss Approach 17th - P. Brown

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Everyone’s a Champion

clubs

Club of the month:

Membership offers abound at new-look Bayview Golf Club

The clubhouse at Bayview Golf Club

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

facilities translate to Bayview Golf Club being able to claim that it currently is offering Sydney’s best-value top quality golf experience and several unique membership options?

To start, golfers can apply for a seven-day fullplaying membership (which provides unlimited playing rights) for an annual subscription of $2295. There is currently no waiting list or joining fee.

But Bayview’s innovative plans to attract more members are not solely based on this excellent value offer, in fact they are also very flexible.

With five other full Golf Australia handicap nojoining fee options, Bayview can boast that it has a membership for any type of golfer.

“

membership. With no playing restrictions and a low-introductory rate of $395, it’s a great option to test the course and clubhouse this summer.

There also are discounted membership offers for younger golfers and a dedicated program which helps to introduce beginner lady golfers to the game in a fun and supportive environment.

Bayview is a genuine golf club whose members are enthusiastic in promoting the game with member competitions -- for men and women -- five-days a week. The club stages two PGA of Australia pro-ams – the $7500 Blackmores Trainees event and the upcoming $10,000 Col Crawford BMW Legends event.

I think in these times for golf clubs, running the operational parts of the business and getting the social side right with Members has to sit on top of a much stronger financial discipline than what was needed in the past. Golf clubs need to be built on a foundation of resiliency - Marten Touw

There are five-day (play any day except weekends for $1965) and three-day (Monday, Tuesday and Friday for $1380) options (particularly suited to retirees), plus a welldesigned offer of three levels of Flexi-golf membership. Flexi-golf, not available at many other clubs, is aimed at the casual competition player or social golfer looking for occasional rounds. As the name suggests, Flexi-golf allows you to buy credits which are exchanged for social or competition play seven days a week.

Another winning Bayview promotion is a two-month trial membership, for golfers who still are undecided about committing to a full

“

BAYVIEW, a picturesque private golf club on Sydney’s famous Northern Beaches strip, can lay claim to offering Sydney’s best-value, top quality membership packages and is an ideal candidate to tee off the first of Inside Golf’s Club of the Month features.

The immaculate palm-tree-studded par 70, 5581m layout for many years has been recognised as one of the most challenging, yet most playable, courses in NSW, but since the inception of an adjacent first-class real estate redevelopment and on-going land sales, the 90-year-old Bayview has been transformed into a modern and stylish golf club.

The jewel in the crown of the new Bayview is the $7.2 million clubhouse (completed in February 2009) which boasts several luxury features mostly only available at lavish golf resorts or at just a handful of Australia’s most exclusive and expensive clubs.

On arrival to the easily accessed car park you soon come across the large bag-drop area near a pathway which provides direct access to the pro-shop/starter and on to a large putting green with a warm-up practice range adjacent.

The clubhouse is surrounded by 146 parking spaces, with110 of them underground, offering protection for your car from extremely hot or wet weather and obvious convenience for arrivals and departures.

The multi-level clubhouse can cater for social functions of up to 200 people and with its modern furnishings, facilities and wide veranda overlooking the golf course, it has made Bayview Golf Club a popular weddings and parties venue. A charming unique feature, in front of the clubhouse, is two almost life-size elephant sculptures in a pool just beyond the practice putting green.

So how do the stunning clubhouse and

Bayview has a long and proud history of hosting top-level corporate days for a wide range of clients. One of the key corporate partnerships for the club is with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. They host their annual golf day at Bayview in January where members of the public have the chance to play golf alongside their favourite NRL players.

Matthew Fox, the Business Development Manager at the Sea Eagles, says: “The team at Bayview are exceptional to deal with and we enjoy entertaining some of our key corporate partners at their venue. Golfing and sponsorship options currently are on sale for

our Golf Day at Bayview in January which we are very excited about. A number of Sea Eagles enjoy a day on the golf course and love having the opportunity to play at Bayview due to our partnership.”

But all of the action is not restricted to the golf course and the always abuzz clubhouse offers members and guests regular social events, members’ nights and get-togethers to celebrate everything and anything. It’s truly a close and inclusive membership base, with visitors from all over Sydney welcomed into the large and stylish clubhouse with open arms.

All of this widespread success and enthusiasm doesn’t just happen without positive management.

The hands-on administration of Bayview Golf Club is headed up by Marten Touw, who is acting as the interim General Manager. He is a former high profile Commonwealth Bank and Westpac treasury officer who was appointed to his position in October.

Despite not having worked in the golf clubs industry, Touw believes that this will not be an impediment. He says his background is “revenue creation and hard-core finance” and he sees his position at Bayview drawing on that experience.

“While I have played a lot of golf for a long time I have not been involved in golf club management,” he told Inside Golf.

“I think in these times for golf clubs, running the operational parts of the business and getting the social side right with Members has to sit on top of a much stronger financial discipline than what was needed in the past. Golf clubs need to be built on a foundation of resiliency” “At Bayview we currently have the opportunity to sell a little bit of excess land which is not going to affect the golf experience. So we will maintain par, maintain yardage and we’ll improve the

clubs

The first green at Bayview Golf Club

[From left to right] Rod Brown, Neil Rolfe, Marten Touw.

amount of cash that we actually have on hand.”

“So if it rains for two months and fewer people play golf we at least have an inbuilt financial resiliency by having a sort-of trust fund to weather the storm. We really have a great opportunity here.

“You have to get some cash in the bank and you have to have a cash reserve to survive the ebb and flow of the weather that dramatically can affect golf.”

Touw, a super-keen golfer who lives at Bayview, is a classic example of someone who not only enjoys his work but works at something he enjoys.

He came to be appointed in October after joining Bayview recently as a member. This came about when he saw a roadside advertisement

promoting memberships while driving past on his way to play at his then home club.

“The cost to play Bayview was less than I would spend on hitting practice balls at the driving range so I thought that this would be more or less a place to practice,’’ he said.

“But when I arrived here I found that the thing that separates this club from many others is that when you join you get brought into the social fabric of the club and I found a fabulous social cohesion with people coming here to play golf with their mates. The social demographic at Bayview is very broad and that appeals to me.

“Bayview just has a tremendous community spirit and we’re going to continue to share it! Golf club membership is getting tougher but we have a credible response. We have a

good membership, a great clubhouse and a challenging layout.”

When it comes to the over-riding essence of a golf club – playing the game and enjoying the experience—Bayview Members are in excellent hands in the pro shop, with a team of professionals available to help in every aspect.

Bayview has the advantage of combining the experience of two AAA rated PGA of Australia members in Rod Brown and Neil Rolfe offering a well-stocked pro-shop and providing extensive services and attending to all golf operations.

Brown with 29 years experience in the pro shop at Bayview, knows all there is to know about tackling and enjoying the challenging layout. Rolfe, who Brown brought on board as a partner two and a half years ago, is across all

of the latest golf innovations and operations and together they have proved a winning team.

Importantly Brown and Rolfe are supported by two female professionals in Australian Ladies Professional Golf member Tiffany Mika, who is well-known for her informative coaching articles in Inside Golf, and Jenny Schulenburg, the PGA Trainee Professional, who also capably assists the Bayview members.

Overall Bayview’s membership options are impressive from many aspects and given the growing lure of retirement to the Northern Beaches region of Sydney and the promising recent resurgence in golf’s playing numbers, it should prove particularly popular.

More info: www.bayviewgolfclub.com.au, phone: 02 9999 3786. •

7 DAY FULL PLAYING MEMBERSHIP

3 DAY MEMBERSHIP (MON, TUES, FRI)

2 MONTH TRIAL MEMBERSHIP

5 DAY MID WEEK MEMBERSHIP

FLEXI MEMBERSHIPS

TWILIGHT GOLF $25 after 3pm

$2,295

$1,965

(02) 9999 3786 1825 Mona Vale Rd, NSW 2103

$1,380

from

$615

$395

www.bayviewgolfclub.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

59

clubs

Rosnay Golf Club offers Virginia the home of stars new membership options

Auburn Golf Course, home to Rosnay Golf Club Rosnay Golf Club is taking steps to combat the dwindling numbers in golf club membership.

Situated at Auburn Golf Course—which has just undergone major renovations and is now regarded as one of the best Public Golf Courses in Sydney—Rosnay realises that many golfers are time poor, are shift workers or can’t see value for money in when they can play. Rosnay also understand that many golfers want to obtain/ retain an official Golf Australia handicap at an attractive price.

As a result, Rosnay have developed a variety of classes of membership to satisfy the modern Club golfer’s needs.

The first offer is priced at a reasonable $275, and gives the golfer 20 competition games (comp fees apply). This fee includes all Golf NSW and Golf Australia affiliation fees (if you want to play more than 20 games, then the offer can be adjusted.)

Another option is the “Buy One New Full Membership ($499 p.a., with no joining fee) and get one New Full Membership at HALF price. This offer is ideal for a husband and wife or best mates that can’t bear to play without

each other. If a couple join, then Rosnay will let their children play for free.

Ladies are welcome to play in all competition events, with mixed events very popular at the Club. Half Yearly rates are only $290. It is less for Pensioner Members.

Junior Membership is an area of concern for most Golf Clubs. In an effort to entice more junior players, Rosnay have reduced fees for Juniors to $30. An introduction to Golf for Juniors is conducted by Club Members.

Rosnay is fast approaching its 50th year and has always been known for its friendliness. The Clubhouse at Auburn Golf Club is welcoming and has all the facilities that you would expect.

An alfresco deck overlooking the course is complemented by a highly regarded Bistro, TAB, ATM and some of the best beer in Sydney.

Rosnay is a popular venue for Corporate Days at a very competitive price and they have free room hire for that special occasion.

For more information visit the Rosnay Golf Club website: www.rosnaygolfclub.com.au, phone: 02 9649 8429, or contact via email at: golf@rosnaygolfclub.com.au •

Upcoming Events DUNTRYLEAGUE ORANGE

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

SUPER SUNDAY PACKAGE - FROM $133

• 1 night’s accommodation staying at historic Duntryleague Mansion (Sunday) • 2 rounds of golf at Duntryleague’s Championship 18 Hole Golf Course • Shared Golf Cart • 1 Full Breakfast

GOLF ORANGE - 3 COURSE GOLF PACKAGE - FROM $202

• 2 night’s accommodation staying at historic Duntryleague Mansion (Sunday - Thursday) • 1 round of golf at Duntryleague’s Championship 18 Hole Golf Course • 1 round of golf at Wentworth Golf Club • 1 round of golf at Orange Ex-Service’s Country Club • 2 Days Full Breakfast

WEEKEND WONDER PACKAGE - FROM $292

• 2 night’s accommodation staying at historic Duntryleague Mansion (Friday & Saturday) • 2 rounds of golf at Duntryleague’s Championship 18 Hole Golf Course • Shared Golf Cart • 2 Days Full Breakfast • 2 Night’s Evening Meals (Main & Dessert)

2 NIGHT MID-WEEK PACKAGE - FROM $197

• 2 night’s accommodation staying at historic Duntryleague Mansion (Sunday - Thursday) • 2 Days Unlimited golf at Duntryleague‘s Championship 18 Hole Golf Course • Shared Golf Cart • 2 Days Full Breakfast

5 NIGHT MID-WEEK PACKAGE - FROM $495

• 5 night’s accommodation staying at historic Duntryleague Mansion (Sunday - Thursday • 5 Days Unlimited golf at Duntryleague ‘s Championship 18 Hole Golf Course • Shared Golf Cart • 5 Days Full Breakfast

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The 14th Hole at Virginia Golf Club There is not another club in Australia, or the world, that produces champions like Virginia Golf Club.

The likes of Greg Norman and Wayne Grady, both major champions, as well as Australian amateur champions Jack Rayner and Andrew Buckle, make up a long list of champions who began their illustrious golfing career at VGC. The challenging combination of sweeping fairways, snaking creeks, undulating greens and 56 bunkers contributed to the success of these champions - and is enjoyed by the members day after day, as are the greens that are consistently rated as the best in Brisbane.

Membership is not just about the beautiful

golf course. Members also enjoy the services of the relaxed and sociable Clubhouse, and staff that take pride in remembering all names and faces.

Virginia Golf Club, in conjunction with Golf Queensland, is participating in a current promotion, offering the chance to win a car when you join the Club. Current club members who introduce a new member will also receive an entry. Virginia Golf Club is adding further incentive – join before January 31st and the joining fees will be waived – this is a saving of $700!

For more visit: www.virginiagolf.com.au, or phone: 07 3267 6333. •

Custom Logo and Personalised Golf Balls

Minimum order size 1 dozen No setup fees

Personalised Golf Balls Create your own personalised golf balls in minutes. Express service.

1 dozen minimum.

Single and double sided printing No colour limitations Express delivery within 72 hours

A L L M A J O R B R A N D S S TO C K E D A N D AVA I L A B L E

clubs

Mac attack at Keperra Bowl Joondalup resort matches the best in the city

KEPERRA Bowl winner Taylor Macdonald was a little hard on himself after finishing 19-under par – nine shots ahead of his nearest rival.

“I really wanted to finish 20-under par,” said Macdonald, who carded four rounds in the 60s – 66-65-69-69 for a 269 total.

Queensland Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Damien Jordan of Coolangatta-Tweed finished in outright second on 278 with Yarra Yarra’s Andrew Schonewille a further shot back.

Macdonald, a Queensland Academy of Sport and national squad member, did reach 22-under with six holes to play and was on target to finish at 20 or 21-under but bogeys at 13, 16 and 17 cruelled his chances.

“My driving and my iron play were u n b e l i e v a b l y g o o d t h i s we e k ,” s a i d Macdonald, whose next assignment was the Asia-Pacific Masters in China. “If you hit it on the green at Keperra there are plenty of birdie chances to go low.”

Macdonald, who plays off +5 and is no stranger to the winner’s circle, registered 24 birdies and three eagles.

“My biggest wins are probably the Victorian Amateur and the Gary Player Classic and now the Keperra Bowl,” he said.

The 21-year-old was thrilled his mum Brenda was there to witness his runaway victory.

“When I come back from the Asia-Pacific Masters in China I will have a nice holiday with my mum.”

Macdonald, who is coached by Golf Queensland head coach Tony Meyer, possesses a good all-round game and has ambitions of turning professional.

“I will probably turn pro at end of next

Taylor Macdonald celebrates his Keperra Bowl win with mum Brenda. year,” he said. “Next year I want to have a big year in the US to get more experience.”

In his short golf career, Macdonald twice has shot 61 – 10-under par – at his home club.

For a full list of scores, visit the Golf Qld website www.golfqueensland.org.au •

Tuncurr y Course rate Australi d in a’s Top 100 Pu blic Acc Course ess s

JOONDALUP Resort’s new $12m Lakeview Ballroom – a stunning 450-seat function room with exceptional exterior and interior qualities is ready to show off its beauty.

Designed by Christou, the high-tech purposebuilt function venue features a 6-metre high, 23-metre wide frameless glass window overlooking the Resort’s world renowned 27 hole golf course.

“It adds a unique dimension to those extra special events in our northern suburbs,” said CEO Wayne Carroll. “And it introduces a new era to conferencing and entertainment in the region.”

Set in the beautiful, natural surroundings of the award-winning Resort, just 25 minutes from the Perth city centre, the new Lakeview Ballroom offers the perfect alternative to traditional CBD venues.

Christou has extended the strong and bold architecture of the existing Resort, with its superb range of on-site facilities and accommodation, to complement the

landscaped limestone quarry in a truly marvellous natural environment.

Four motorised screens, up to 6-metres wide, engage the Lakeview Ballroom guests while an internal glass-framed atrium provides an abundance of natural light enriching the spectacular sweeping vistas over the golf course.

At the touch of a button integrated LED colour-change lighting systems can dramatically enhance the walls and high ceiling, subtly transforming the mood and atmosphere of the vast interior space.

Joondalup’s Quarry course, recognised as one of the most stunning nine holes of golf in WA, now has its new function venue which promises to do the same for the meetings and events industry.

The Lakeview Ballroom is much more than a dinner venue for 450. It adds further charm and glamour to the Resort’s existing Poolside Marquee, Boardrooms, Grand Ballroom and additional indoor/outdoor function spaces. •

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 Where else can you get the choice of 2 beautiful courses?

Nowhere else but the Forster Tuncurry golf courses on the majestic mid north coast – less than 3 hours drive from Hornsby.

• 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 62

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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

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clubs

Antill Park a gem for all The Southern Highlands, just over an hour southwest of Sydney, is known for its quant picturesque towns such as Moss Vale, Bowral, Mittagong, Picton and some very good golf courses.

One golf course that people may not be familiar with is the Antill Park Country Golf Club.

Antill Park Country Golf Club is located in the fabulous rural township of Picton and is only 80kms southwest of Sydney. When you drive into the Country Club you get a feel like you have driven into a unique place. Situated on the southern slopes of the Razorback Mountains, the vista is amazing.

When you step onto the first tee, you are presented with a beautiful 18-hole course which contains a challenging par-70 layout for men and 71 for women, including many picturesque holes flanked by water hazards.

In 2012 the Golf Club decided to organise a women’s Pro-Am in the hope of attracting wellknown Australian and International players to the area.

“Antill Park was aware other golf clubs in the area held Women’s pro-ams and the quality of players was fantastic,” explains Larry Lipscombe, Tournament Director.

“Two nearby clubs, Mount Broughton and Moss Vale had previously held Women’s Pro-Ams and by all accounts they were very successful. When the Antill Park Golf Club committee decided to go ahead with the 2013 Ingham Antill Park Ladies Pro-Am in January, we thought if we could attract about 30 women professionals that would be great.

We ended up having close to 70 professionals teeing up on the day!

“The added bonus was having International players such as Laura Davies, Caroline Hedwall

The 4th hole at Antill Park Country Golf Club and Beth Allen teeing up alongside Australian players Sarah Jane Smith, Nikki Garrett and Sarah Kemp.”

“Antill Park is a small golf club and having a pro-am with the calibre of players we had in January created much interest and awareness for Women’s golf. It also gave Antill Park Golf Club the opportunity to showcase the course’s challenging Par-71 layout and the club’s historic clubhouse to many people that had not visited the area.”

Ingham was the major sponsor of the ProAm in 2013, and have agreed to be the naming sponsor in next year’s event.

The Ingham Antill Park Pro-Am will be held on Friday January 10th 2014. With a prize

pool of $25,000 for a one-day event, the club anticipates another strong field.

Antill Park will again have the popular ‘closest to the pin shoot out’. This event will be held in the afternoon on Thursday 9th January. Geoff Eagles from Elders Real Estate in Picton will donate $1000 towards the event.

If you get the opportunity to stay and play some golf in the Southern Highlands, make sure you include Antill Park Country Golf Club on your itinerary.

Members competitions are held every Saturday, Monday and Thursday. A Sunday competition is held on the first Sunday in each month. For further information go to www.antillpark.com.au. •

Trentham tournament a huge success The weather remained fine, numbers were up and the course was in great condition for the 2013 Trentham Open Tournament last month.

The tournament kicked off on the Tuesday when 44 players competed for the Women’s Open over 18 holes. Sari Saly (Kilmore) won the scratch trophy with a round of 79, and the Harry Barton trophy for best nett was won by Lorraine Robb (Romsey) with a score of 101-32-69.

On the Wednesday, 90 golfers played in cool conditions. Jan Baczynski and Marg Brierley (Trentham) won the Women’s 4BBB with 42 Stableford points while David Langley and Jim Dickson (Trentham) won the Men’s event with 45 points.

Friday’s Ambrose field of 27 teams (108 players) saw cool and fine conditions. B Lockman, C Lingard, T Lambert and K Lambert (Lancefield/Kilmore) won the scratch with 57 while the handicap went to S Rajki, S Milton, B Jenner and J Krunic (Hepburn Springs) with 55¼.

The mixed scratch was won by C Hanson, D Lobb, A Hackett and D Hackett (Lancefield) with 68 while a local team of Bob Sullivan, Tom Mossop, Eileen Dutton and Ruth Duffy won the handicap with 58 3/8.

96 players competed in Saturday’s mixed American Foursomes. Graeme and Judy Marshall (Midlands) dominated the scratch with 72, while Mick Kaufman and Veronica Maher (Trentham) took out the handicap with 66¾. G and B Richards (Werribee Park) won the men’s scratch with 75 and the handicap went to Dan and Dave Nugent 64 3/8. (Trentham) In the Men’s Open, The George O’Hehir Cup for best Scratch score was won by Garry Sluce of Maryborough with two fine rounds of 7170-141. The Max O’Halloran Cup for best nett score was won by local member Mick Kaufman with 66-68-134. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

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golf lifestyle

Shore to succeed Graham Percy ed@insidegolf.com.au

After recently completing its $40 million acquisition at Magenta Shores – NSW’s premier private residential and golfing community— Rich Sea International has defied property trends by selling down the majority of their existing property. They have now launched a limited release 19 lot offering. These sundrenched allotments all have captivating views over the commanding links golf course.

When asked about the demand for property at Magenta Shores, Development Manager Paul Seisums said “It’s the age-old adage regarding the rules of property investment. Rule one is location, rule two is location and rule three is location. There are few, if any, residential golfing communities that border a saltwater tidal lake system, National Park and a 2.3 km beach front.”

I have to agree. The location is heavenly and the short 60-minute drive from Sydney further supports this.

Golfing/lifestyle communities attract an array of investor types and purchaser demographics.

And why wouldn’t they? Living in the secure confines of Magenta Shores offers unrivaled luxury with the largest hotel group in the world, Accor. Magenta Shores with its gymnasium, bars, Country Club, tennis courts, pools, steam room, day spa, cycling, fishing, surfing and bush walking, truly offers both the discerning golfer and non-golfer alike, a lifestyle choice difficult

Location, location, location: With captivating views and magnificent golf on offer, Magenta Shores is a truly unique golf lifestyle community. to match. Gazing over one of Australia’s top private golf courses from your home certainly adds to the appeal.

Rich Sea International’s current release offers the astute purchaser flexibility never before entertained at Magenta Shores. Purchase an existing home or purchase land and customize your property through their preferred architects or simply choose a house and land package, the choice is all yours. Land starts from just $399,000 and this gives you a golf-front home with the most exquisite outlook of green hues that leaves the admirer lost for words.

Apart from land, there are four main styles of existing residences at Magenta Shores. The two-bedroom villas which can be leased back to the Quay West letting pool or permanently

let or owner-occupied start at $399,000. Fourbedroom terraces are great value starting at $699,000. Three and four-bedroom, on course golf houses start from $735,000. At the upper end are the huge two and threestorey, four-bedroom Beach houses starting at $1,490,000.

So what does a ‘Day in your Life’ at Magenta entail? Perhaps an early morning stroll along the deserted beach whilst the sun breaks the horizon, keep an eye out for the Humpback whales of which I saw many! Pop in to the hotel for an espresso coffee and wander home for breakfast. Warm up on the driving range and head out with the lucky few for a round on the award-winning golf course. Did I mention the word ‘private’? In fact, the only opportunity

to join the exclusive Magenta Golf Club is by purchasing property.

After golf, enjoy a soothing massage at Vie day spa, a steam room experience or a dip in one of three pools. Getting hungry? Then have a casual lunch on the deck overlooking the first or dine in the award-winning Barrett’s restaurant.

“I have never seen so many smiling faces walking the streets, and once I moved into the estate, it became more than apparent as to why,” laughs Paul. “Residents at Magenta are just living a holiday, 365 days a year.”

As I left the estate and peered into my rear vision mirror, I couldn’t help but grin. I now know what all the smiles are about!

For more information visit the Magenta Shores website: www.magenta-shores.com.au •

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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events

Play and party with the pros

Golfers can win a chance to play a round with Karrie Webb (Photo: Scott Powick, SMP images)

Imagine sharing 18 holes with some of the world’s top women professionals— whether it’s Australia’s most successful golfer Karrie Webb, English legend Laura Davies or any number of top women players like Katherine Hull and Kristie Smith.

For golfers who take part in next year’s Gold Coast Challenge (2-5 February, 2014), this dream could become reality.

Open to male and female club golfers, The Gold Coast Challenge is an exclusive event limited to just 100 golfers. Entrants will play two rounds on The Pines and The Palms courses at Sanctuary Cove, and will then join the cream of the crop of women’s professional golf for a glamorous presentation dinner under the stars.

The top three in each handicap division—24 players in total—will be awarded a start in the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters Pro-Am the following day at Royal Pines. Winners will get to choose the pro they partner with in the Pro-Am. Staying at the five-star InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, there’s an optional practice round before a welcome reception poolside. Sanctuary Cove is “home” to Australia’s own Adam Scott, and it is where Australia’s first US Masters Champion honed his skills. Few golfers would have played The Pines, an exclusive, private course famous for hosting the world’s richest Skins events with Norman, Nicklaus, Palmer

and Player back in the 1980’s.

The Palms was recently re-designed

by Ross Watson and boasts some fantastic risk and reward holes. Both courses are presented in magnificent condition year-round and the putting surfaces rival Melbourne’s sandbelt courses.

Hosted by Go Golfing, Australia’s leading organiser of events and tours for club golfers, this event will have all the trappings of a professional tournament. The tournament package includes three nights at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, one round at The Palms, one round at The Pines including cart with GPS, golf lunches after each round, welcome reception including canapés & beverages, gala presentation dinner, 3 course menu and beverages, live entertainment, with top female professionals as special guests, souvenir Calvin Klein ‘Ladies Masters’ golf shirt, a Season Pass to the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters (6-9 Feb, Gold Coast), golf transfers and a dozen Volvik golf balls.

In addition, winners of the event get to to play in the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters Pro-Am OR play one round at Links Hope Island including cart with GPS. Package price is from $1,195 per person twin share.

Contact Go Golfing on 07 5536 8681 or visit www.gogolfing.net.au to secure your start in the Gold Coast Challenge in association with the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters. •

New qualifying series introduced for The Open A new international qualifying series featuring the Emirates Australian Open is being introduced for The Open Championship which takes place at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) from 13-20 July, 2014.

The Open Qualifying Series will comprise 14 events in nine countries on five continents and will offer players the opportunity to qualify for golf’s oldest Major Championship at prestigious events on the PGA Tour, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

The Qualifying Series commenced with the Emirates Australian Open.

Nine qualifying places will be available on both the PGA and European Tours. Players will be able to qualify on the PGA Tour at each of the AT&T National, The Greenbrier Classic and the John Deere Classic. In Europe, players will be able to qualify at the Irish Open, the Alstom Open de France and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open prior to The Open.

Qualifying places will also be available at the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour, The Open Qualifying Series – Thailand and the Joburg Open in South Africa.

The Open Qualifying Series will replace International Final Qualifying (IFQ) which involved 36-hole qualifying events in Australasia, Asia, Africa, America and Europe.

Final Qualifying for The Open Championship has also been changed for 2014. Final Qualifying will continue to offer three places at each of four events in the UK but for the first time next year they will be played at four venues covering Scotland and the North-west, Central and Southcoast regions of England to provide a more accessible route into The Open for competitors qualifying from the 13 Regional Qualifying events The venues are: Gailes Links, Hillside, Woburn and Royal Cinque Ports. TheOpen.com •

Party and Play with the Pros Including Karrie Webb, Laura Davies, Katherine Hull and Kristie Smith

GOLD COAST GOLF CHALLENGE 2-5 February 2014

In association with Volvik RACV Ladies Masters

Katherine Hull – Former Ladies Masters Champion

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Freecall 1300 55 28 55 or +61 7 5536 8681 Email info@gogolfing.net.au | LIKE US

Open to male and female club golfers in A, B and C grades

events

A master thrill for Quill

RESULTS: Mitsubishi World Masters Golf Championship (20-26 October 2013, Gold Coast) DIVISION

GROSS

STABLEFORD WINNER

(4 round total) Ladies 35-

Alexandra

Cecily Atkinson (Half

55 A Grade

Belonogoff

Moon Bay,QLD) 135pts

(Pacific,QLD) 324 gross Ladies 35-

Gai Palmer (Shelly

55 B Grade

Beach,NSW) 137pts Vanetha Lam

Ladies 56-

Diane Wolfe

65 A Grade

(Wodonga CC,VIC) (Rosnay,NSW) 136pts 351 gross

Ladies 56-

Leanne Skalski

65 B Grade

Major Prize Draw winner Geoff Quill with his new Mitsubishi Mirage Sugar Valley’s Geoff Quill has a brand-new way to “Drive for Show” around his club, having won a Mitsubishi Mirage as the major prize draw in October’s Mitsubishi World Masters Golf Championship on the Gold Coast.

Geoff was among the 700 participants that came from across Australia and from as far afield as Russia, UK and Asia to join the 18th annual Mitsubishi Masters, which is billed as Australia’s biggest and richest amateur tournament for club golfers.

One of the event’s great traditions is the major prize draw during the final night gala presentation dinner. This year there were 10 prizes with a total value of $50,000, including a Mitsubishi Mirage as the top prize. Ten entrants are drawn to come on stage, with a secondary draw then awarding a prize to each of the ten finalists.

With the first eight prizes awarded, it came down to Geoff and first-time entrant Allan Meehan from Kurri, NSW to see who would win the car. When Allan’s name was drawn out for second prize, a $6,000 golfing holiday to

Thailand, Geoff knew he had won the car.

“My golf was average so I didn’t expect to win anything. I still can’t believe I won the car,” he said.

The Mitsubishi Masters is open to all male and female golfers aged 35 and over. Competition is played in age and handicap divisions with organisers pairing you with golfers your own age and standard.

The private Arundel Hills Country Club, The Glades, Lakelands and RACV Royal Pines Resort hosted the four-round Championship. All golfers play a 72-hole stableford event with ‘A’ graders also competing for the best gross.

Away from the courses the Mitsubishi Masters is renowned for its nightly social and entertainment events. Comedy ventriloquist Darren Carr enraptured the crowd at the welcome dinner. The Sofitel’s rooftop pool, with expansive views of the ocean and hinterland, hosted nightly 19th Hole festivities. A river cruise, fashion parade, Mt Tamborine day tour, winemaker dinner and race day were offered as part of the event program. •

(Pacific,QLD) 138pts

Ladies 66+

Jennifer Brooks

Helen Nolan

A Grade

(Latrobe,VIC) 364

(Commercial

gross

Albury,NSW) 136pts

Ladies 66+

Di Griffiths

B Grade

(Pukekohe,NZ) 142pts

Men 35-55

Peter Gardiner

Artie Moussa

A Grade

(Muree,NSW) 317

(Kogarah,NSW) 133pts

gross Men 35-55

Jamie Kennedy

B rade

(Parramatta,NSW) 149pts

Men 35-55

Jason Moore (Palm

C Grade

Meadows,QLD) 139pts

Men 56-65

Garry Richards

Michael Dunn (Logan

A Grade

(Toowoomba,

CC,QLD) 151pts

QLD) 324 gross Men 56-65 B

Henry Soroka (Pacific

Grade

Harbour,QLD) 146pts

Men 56-65 C

John O’Shannessey

Grade

(Riverside,TAS) 147pts

Men 66+ A John Cunningham Ron Balhorn (Box Hill,VIC) Grade

(Gainsborough,

145pts

QLD) 333 gross Men 66+ B

Sergio Varricchio (WA

Grade

GC,WA) 139pts c/b

Men 66+ C

Michael King (The

Grade

Grange,NSW) 150pts

PRIZE DRAW WINNERS Cancer Council

1st David Solomon (Brisbane GC, QLD) – 2014 Mitsubishi Masters tournament package 2nd Mark Whiley (Maryborough, VIC) – iPhone 5 3rd Amrit Prasad (Wantima, QLD) – GoPro HD Hero2 Mitsubishi Masters has raised $195,000 for Cancer Council Australia

Major Prize Draw

1st Geoff Quill (Sugar Valley, NSW) Mitsubishi Mirage 2nd Allan Meehan (Kurri, NSW) – Thailand World Masters Holiday Package 3rd Murray Hatchard (Burnham, NZ) – Adventure World Gift Voucher 4th Lyle Reynolds (Geeveston, TAS) – Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa, Vietnam 5th Helen Nolan (Commercial Albury, NSW) – Noosa Springs Holiday Package 6th Jim Burke (Box Hill, VIC) – Paradise Palms Resort Holiday Package 7th Mark Watler (Sussex Inlet, NSW) – The Vintage Holiday Package 8th Peter Ward (Thaxted Park, SA) – Palmer Coolum Resort Golf Membership 9th Oliver Poate (Bayview, NSW) – Parkview Melbourne Golf Package 10th Lee Whitchurch (Beacon Hills, VIC) – Free entry into Wrest Point Masters Visit www.gogolfing.net.au” www.gogolfing.net.au to view Championship results, photos and to find out more about next year’s event which runs 19-25 October 2014. Or, for More information: info@gogolfing.net.au, phone: 07 5536 8681

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

67

events

Josie triumphs after horror start David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

AUSTRALIAN women’s senior amateur champion Josie Ryan doesn’t hesitate when asked if she prefers playing stroke or matchplay golf.

“Oh, I definitely prefer matchplay,” said Josie, who plays off a five handicap at Headland Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast.

Josie captured her second national senior title at Tanunda Pines Golf Club in South Australia’s Barossa Valley last month, but not before a horror start to the qualifying (stroke play) rounds.

“In the initial stroke round I had an 87, which included an 11 on a par-4,” Josie lamented.

“The golf course rough is oat grass and just eats your ball. I hit

Josie Ryan shows off the spoils of victory.

- Photo courtesy Golf Australia.

a tree and landed in the rough and I tried three times to get out before taking an unplayable.

“I could have taken the unplayable in the beginning, but I had a bit of a brain snap.”

Still, Josie survived to qualify ninth for the matchplay section. That’s when the qualifiers really get down to business.

Once blessed with a good short game, Josie is again starting to find her range after an eye operation a few years ago.

“I used to be a good chipper and putter and then I had an eye operation which changed things, but in last few months my putting has returned,” she said.

In the first round, she accounted for the ACT’s Pauline Jeffery 6/5 and ran into number one qualifier Robyn Puckett in the quarter-final.

“I putted strongly and hit the ball solidly in the match against Robyn,” she said.

“She didn’t make the putts and I did. Robyn is a beautiful player and I consider myself lucky to beat her.”

In the semi-final, Josie defeated NSW’s Jill Blenkey 2-up and took on fellow Queensland Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) in the final.

“Wendy and I have had a lot of consistent matches at the Queensland titles over the last few years,” she added.

“It was a great match against Wendy. She knocked out some great players (Glenys Ferguson WA, Robyn Boniface NZ and Jacqui Morgan NSW) to reach the final.”

This time Josie managed to edge out her close rival 3/2.

“I have been consistently working on trying to perfect my game over the last few months not that you would know from my stroke rounds,” Josie laughed.

For Josie, it’s been 10 years between drinks

at the national titles.

“I won it in 2003 when Golf Australia set the senior age at 50,” she said. “Five years later they change the age of entry to 55.

“I made the final at Commonwealth three years ago and lost to Robyn (Puckett) and made the semis on a couple of other occasions.”

I ask Josie how she celebrated her second Australian women’s senior amateur championship.

“Sadly, I lost an aunt in Ireland so I had a few drinks in her memory. And I have a brother in Adelaide and we managed to celebrate a lot.”

Josie said her husband and number one supporter Ron drove her to the tournament.

While other husbands were caddying for their wives, Ron received a leave pass to visit the Barossa Valley wineries.

“He was my number one supporter when I finished the game and happy to cheer me on,” said Josie, a former school psychologist and current Golf Queensland selector.

“He probably had a good time enjoying the wineries rather than stressing himself caddying for me.”

Meanwhile, Anne-Alletson-Brown won her third consecutive super veterans title when she defeated Faye Payne of Caloundra.

Three down after nine holes, Anne rallied to win on the first extra hole.

In the 1970s, Anne represented Australia at the Queen Sirikit Cup and finished runner-up in the Hong Kong amateur championship.

Other winners: Linda Urquhart (NSW), New Age Veterans Flight champion; Nicky Moon (ACT), Veterans Flight champion, Lu Proud (Tas), Super Veterans Flight champion and Anne Alletson-Brown (Qld) Super Veterans Plus Flight champion. •

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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calendar

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

January 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.

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.

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 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

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.

April 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.

Golf NSW – December Calendar of Events Men’s Vardon Events EVENT Carnarvon Cup Ryde-Parramatta Cup

VENUE Carnarvon GC Ryde-Parramatta GC

DATE(S) 7 Dec 14 Dec

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

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:

Branxton Golf Club Final 14th December 2013 Wentworth Golf Club Orange 5th Qualifying Round: Saturday 7th December 2013 Final: Sunday 15th December 2013 Shelly Beach Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round: Sunday 12th January 2014 2nd Qualifying Round: Sunday 2nd February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round: Sunday 9th February 2014 4th Qualifying Round: Sunday 16th February 2014 5th Qualifying Round: Sunday 23rd February 2014 Final: Sunday 2nd March 2014 Massey Park Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round: Saturday 1st February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round: Saturday 8th February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round: Saturday 15th February 2014 4th Qualifying Round: Saturday 22nd February 2014 5th Qualifying Round: Saturday 1st March 2014 Final: Saturday 8th March 2014 Balgowlah Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round: Saturday 15th February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round: Saturday 22nd February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round: Saturday 8th March 2014 4th Qualifying Round: Saturday 22nd March 2014 5th Qualifying Round: Saturday 12th April 2014 Final: Sunday 4th May 2014

2014 ALPG Tour Schedule Date 7 Jan, 2014

Event

BWAC Regional Employment and Community Services ALPG Pro-Am

Ingham Antill Park Pro-Am 13-14 Jan, 2014 Moss Vale Classic 17-18 Jan, 2014 Mount Broughton Classic 20 Jan, 2014 Renault Ladies Pro-Am Bing Lee Fujitsu General 24-26 Jan, 2014 Women’s NSW Open ISPS Handa New Zealand 31 Jan-2 Feb 2014 Women’s Open Volvik RACV Ladies 6-9 Feb, 2014 Masters ISPS Handa Women’s 13-16 Feb, 2014 Australian Open 10 Jan, 2014

20-23 Feb, 2014

Course

Purse

Yamba GC

$20,000

Antill Park CGC

$25,000

Moss Vale GC $30,000 Mt Broughton GC $35,000 Castle Hill GC $25,000 Oatlands GC

$100,000 min

Clearwater GC

€200,000

RACV Royal Pines Resort

€250,000

Victoria GC

USD1,200,000

13th Beach Oates Women’s Vic Open Golf Links

$150,000 min

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 70

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

calendar

Cream of crop for Lake Macquarie

The 16th hole at Lake Macquarie FOR more than 50 years the best amateur golfers have lined-up to play in the Lake Macquarie International Amateur Championship including major winners Mark O’Meara, Steve Elkington and Vijay Singh – albeit before they turned professional.

A number of other big names have walked in their footsteps including Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Jack Newton (1969 winner), Rodger Davis (1973 winner), Peter O’Malley (1986 winner), Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy (1997 winner), Stuart Appleby, Jarrod Lyle (2003-4 winner) Mark Leishman (2005 winner) and Jason Day who is currently joint course record holder.

This year will be no different when the cream of the crop from Australia, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, Canada, France, USA and New Zealand contest the 72-hole championship at Belmont Golf Club from January 23-26.

Pre-qualifying is on January 21.

The handicap limit is five and the field will be limited to a maximum of 168.

But before the International men’s event gets underway, there are three other important events on the calendar.

The 72-hole Lake Macquarie Women’s Amateur Championship will be played at Belmont from January 7-10.

The Belmont 36-hole Men’s Senior Championship, a Golf NSW senior order of merit event, will be played on January 7-8 and the 36-hole Lake Macquarie Amateur Foursomes is on January 19.

“Over the years, the club has continued to make improvements to the golf course and in the future we will look to establish new holes on the northern end of the course along the beach,’ Belmont Golf Club general manager Greg Pearce said.

He said the changes included lengthening the challenging 16th hole, which is now the club’s new signature hole.

“The new 16th green is an absolute classic … it’s unbelievable.

“There are strategically-placed fairway bunkers left and right and the third shot is to an elevated green 40 metres from the Pacific Ocean with subtle slopes and protected by bunkers left and right.

“We got rid of the four bunkers down the left and put in three strategically placed bunkers which are all very visible from the tee.

“They are the same shape as the bunkers around the green, which are also visible.

“We lengthened it by putting the tee 60m back into the sand dunes. It’s gone from 430 to 500m off the white tees.

“Into a southerly it’ll be interesting to see the how big hitters go.”

Belmont has four challenging par-3s including the 155m fifth, which was re-designed by Jack Newton.

“With deep bunkers short right and long left, it requires good club selection to an elevated green,” Pearce said. “Because of its shape, the hole offers some challenging pin positions.”

The 401m par-4 15th was considered the signature hole.

Running parallel with the Pacific Ocean, it demands a near perfect tee shot because there’s danger in the form of bush on the left and right. The fast green is protected by two bunkers left and requires care to study the subtle slopes.

“If watching this year’s Open Championship whets your appetite for links golf, make a bee-line for Belmont Golf Club, which is located 90 minutes north of Sydney between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean,” Pearce said.

More: call Belmont GC on (02) 4945 4348. •

Professionals eye Wynnum prize The Bartons Bayside/BMD Pro-am will continue to set the benchmark for one day Pro-ams in Australia, with the $60,000 event to be staged on December 3rd at the Wynnum Golf Club.

The pro-am will again play host to some of Australia’s greatest golfers, both past and present, with former US PGA Champion Wayne Grady lining up against the younger brigade, including web.com tour regulars Ashley Hall and Brisbane’s Adam Crawford.

The Bartons Bayside/BMD Pro-am was first played in 1979, with Australian stalwart Peter Senior taking out the $1,500 event. With the event now celebrating its 34th edition, professionals have played for over $720,000 in prizemoney over this time, which has gone a long way to assisting many professionals to forge an international career.

Broc Greenhalgh, Executive Officer for the PGA of Australia Queensland Division, is proud to have a close partnership with the pro-am and is looking forward to the future of the event.

“The Bartons Bayside/BMD Pro-am has been a significant event on the Queensland Sunshine Tour for many years. The Queensland Sunshine Tour and its professionals rely on tournaments like this to forge a career in professional golf and we take our hat off to people like Doug Barton and Mick Power for giving our professionals an opportunity for almost 35 years,” Greenhalgh said.

Professionals have not only been the beneficiary of the Bartons

2012 champions Peter Shaw and Aaron Cox Bayside/BMD Pro-am in recent years, with the pro-am also raising valuable money for the Greg Norman Golf Foundation. The charity has been a major component of the pro-am, which assists with the development of junior golfers around Queensland.

The Bartons Bayside/BMD Pro Am will kick start the 2013/14 Queensland Sunshine Tour Order of Merit season, with professionals looking to start the season with a win before the Christmas break.

The QLD Sunshine Tour forms part of the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series which comprises 200 events Australia wide. •

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.

QLD Sunshine Tour Final Order of Merit Pos 1 2 3 4 =5 =5 7 8 9 10 11 12 =13 =13 15 16 =17 =17 19 20

Player Jim Cusdin (NZL) Henry Epstein (AUS) Brett Rankin (AUS) Samuel Eaves (AUS) Matthew Ballard (AUS) Paul Donahoo (AUS) Gavin Flint (AUS) Heath Reed (AUS) Samuel Brazel (AUS) Kurt Carlson (AUS) Marcus Cain (AUS) Christopher Wood (AUS) Aaron Pike (AUS) Steven Jeffress (AUS) Pieter Zwart (NZL) Jun Seok Lee (KOR) Tony Carolan (AUS) Benjamin Bloomfield (AUS) Michael Wright (AUS) Paul Hayden (AUS)

State NZL QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD NSW QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD NZL KOR QLD QLD QLD QLD

Pts 322 263 232 224 219 219 214 212 211 204 201 200 191 191 189 185 175 175 163 160

Rds 72 70 52 52 50 45 51 40 34 48 43 49 42 38 39 38 46 44 31 46

For all QLD Sunshine Tour events on the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series head to www.pga.org.au www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

71

events

Club golfer set to play 500th course David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

A BRISBANE club golfer is fast closing in on playing his 500th golf course.

John Sellwood, a member at Keperra Country Golf Club in Brisbane, has played 470 golf courses in more than 20 countries including 220 in Australia.

He believes he will sign off on “Project 500” towards the end of 2014, but insists he will continue travelling and playing unfamiliar layouts.

Australia aside, John has played golf in America, Austria, Canada, China, England, Fiji, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

While most journeys have been wonderful experiences, there have been a few hair-raising moments.

The 78-year-old has witnessed gun and knife fights, escaped the fangs of a deadly rattlesnake and recovered after falling unconscious in the Middle East while golfing alone.

“I was playing at Lae Golf Club in PNG when shots were fired on the course,” John recalled. “I said, ‘I’m out of here’, but the guy I was playing with said, ‘don’t worry, just keep playing’.”

And then there was the confrontation with a rattlesnake.

“I was playing at Boulders Golf Club in Arizona. I sliced my ball on a par-3, which landed near an oasis where there was some water and high grass.

“I was two metres from my ball when a

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

rattlesnake as big as my wrist coiled up and was ready to strike.

“Well, I couldn’t get out of there quick enough.

Even with spikes on, I couldn’t get traction. The bloke I was playing with just laughed.”

Then there was the time he passed out while golfing in the Middle East.

“I was playing alone at Saadiyat Beach golf course in 40 degrees,” John explained.

“Between the first and 14th hole I drank six bottles of water and was feeling alright.

“The next thing I remember was two Americans stand over me pouring water over my face and saying, ‘are you alright’.

“Dehydration had got to me and over I went.

They took me to a medical centre and put me on a saline drip for five hours. When they took me to the medical centre, the temperature was 46.1 degrees and 89 per cent humidity.

No wonder I passed out.

“The moral of the story is in hot, humid conditions don’t just drink water … add electrolytes.”

Despite a few hiccups, John has ploughed on and in his travels has played some of the best courses and a few “ordinary tracks”.

He lists Greg Norman as his favourite course designer followed by Gary Player although the Gary Player-designed Ria Bintan course on Bintan Island near Singapore is his favourite while Ireland is his favourite destination.

“The golf courses in Ireland and Northern Ireland are better than the Scottish courses and certainly better than the English courses in my opinion,” said John, who has played 19 Irish courses and 21 in both England and Scotland.

John judges golf courses by first appearances, staff efficiency and dress code, the clubhouse facilities, the pro shop (and staff ) and the

John Sellwood is getting close to completing Project 500. condition and playability of the course.

“Ria Bintan is a really good course; when you arrive you see big open doors and breezes off the ocean that go through the clubhouse,” he said.

“The condition and playability is important.

“When you play the course, there is a bailout area on every hole. If you can’t get over a hazard you can bail to the left or right and still have an opportunity to make par.

“The beauty of Ria Bintan is the par-3s where the ocean laps giant boulders that surround greens. It’s fantastic and then there is the jungle and the monkeys.”

Another favourite is the Greg Normandesigned Earth Course in Dubai.

“They have six tee blocks and on the scorecard is a breakdown of handicaps suggesting what colour tee to play off,” John said.

“What impressed me was if you are a scratch golfer and play off the black tees the fairway

bunkers come into play and if you are off a 20 handicap hitting from three tees forward, they are also in play.”

Ireland might be John’s favourite destination, but Canada takes the prize for scenery.

Canada is just sensational for scenery,” said John, who has played 10 courses there. “You almost forget you are playing golf because of the scenery.

“The Costa del Sol in southern Spain is great for golf.

“America has great courses and is a great place to play and the people were great in the times I was there.”

I ask John what was his most expensive round of golf.

“At Valderrama (Spain) I paid $A500,” said John in hushed tones not wanting his wife Brenda to overhear.

“Well, I was there and I was never going back to Spain so I paid it.

“I have covered as much of the long distance travel as I can,” he said.

“What I am going to concentrate on is near distances like Spring City in Kunming Province in China and Chiang Mai in Thailand which will include Blue Canyon and Red Mountain courses.

“I have only played 11 courses in New Zealand so I want to play Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs and Wairakei.

“It’s going to happen and it looks as if Cape Kidnappers will be the 500th course I play. That will be special.”

In Australia, he plans to visit the Hunter Valley region and revisit South Australia.

“I have never played in the Hunter Valley and have only played three courses in South Australia,” said John, who plays off 19, but has been as low as three. •

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the 19th hole

A Christmas Golf Carol ed@insidegolf.com.au

@AussieGolfer

His golf game was dead: to begin with. There was no doubt about that. His playing partners had all shook their heads more often than usual in what was now known as his burial round of golf.

Scrooge dug divots the size of small graves and entered wasteland parts of the golf course that no one had yet given names to. His golf game was as dead as a doornail.

He flung his score card at the pro shop staff, “Bah!” said Scrooge, “Humbug!”

They watched ol’ Scrooge tramp towards the car; grasping at sticks trying to escape the bag as he flung them into the boot before speeding off. Some claimed they saw the bag of bent shafts dumped by the side of the road and others said they’d seen Scrooge flogging off golf balls at the pawn shop.

It wasn’t far from the truth. Scrooge had lost the will for golf that day and had resolved to purge all thought and tackle of the wicked game.

He put his golf clubs up on eBay and finally felt cleansed of the fairways when he shoved a brick into the empty golf bag and threw it into the hazard next to the sixth green later that day.

That night, Scrooge resisted the urge to switch over to the dulcet sounds of a Saturday evening of European Tour golf and instead fell asleep watching the home and garden channel.

Scrooge drifted off and dreamed of a time of rickety buggies, short clubs and Dunlop 65 golf balls.

His junior golf days were full of late evening rounds with his father, home-made halfway

noticed at first, entranced by the future golf game playing out before him. He could not see the children’s’ faces but their voices grew louder.

Soon he struggled to hear the commentary and when their shadowy figures moved between him and the screen, he could no longer see the TV at all.

“Out of the way! Out of the way!” Scrooge screamed. The screen went blank and the children vanished.

The screen flashed on again and he saw himself pushing a trolley around with his wife and kids, through the eyes of a CCTV camera.

Different shops, different weekends flashed in front of his eyes. His gait became more languid and insipid with each frame. It was hideous.

He was clearly seeing himself spending every future Saturday in the shopping mall.

He woke in a cold sweat, jumped out of bed,

It’s raining aces THREE veteran golfers from three different golf clubs shared a similar story at one club on the same day.

Ray Clark (Croydon Golf Club), Geoff Thomas (Drouin Golf and Country Club) and Gary Cornish (Box Hill Golf Club) each scored a hole-in-one at Pambula Merimbula Golf Club during the Sapphire Week of Golf recently.

“Ordinarily, one hole-in-one in a day is a magnificent feat,” said Pambula Merimbula Golf Club general manager Michelle Vernon.

“But players and officials were bowled over when news came in that three players all achieved an ace on the same day.”

In fact, the Week of Golf produced four holesin-one when Pambula Merimbula Golf Club’s Neville Bridge, 63, scored his first hole-in-one at the 11th hole using his trusty six-iron.

The 139-metre par-3 11th hole proved to be a pushover that week with both Ray and Geoff acing the hole while Gary aced the 22nd hole.

Ray, who is 66 years old and plays off 16, used a five-iron at the 11th while 65-year-old Geoff (18 handicap) used a 3-hybrid.

At the 132m par-3 22nd hole, nine-marker Gary, 70, used a five-iron.

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

rushed to the laptop and took his golf clubs off eBay. He phoned Rob to find out where he was and apologise for his behaviour that day.

His wife told him that Rob had been home all night and to stop calling at this time of the night.

The night had rattled Scrooge out of his selfpity and had no further nightmares like those.

He lived out a happy golfing life; often playing 18 holes without scoring, laughed with playing partners after a poor drive and smiled each time he passed the shopping mall on the way to golf. • 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. Who won the Joe Kirkwood Cup in 2013?

2. Who finished in outright third place at the Australian PGA Championship – Cameron Percy, Jason Norris, Jack Wilson or Rickie Fowler?

3. Can you name the golf course architect assigned to redesign RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast?

4. Is wood, which has been manufactured into planks an obstruction?

5. How do you qualify for the Bobby Jones Classic in the US? 6. What nationality is Nicolas Colsaerts?

7. Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy played 16 events on the US PGA Tour in 2013. Who won the most prizemoney – Poulter or McIlroy?

TOP SHOTS: Ray Clark, Gary Cornish and Geoff Thomas receive their hole-in-one trophies from sponsors Sharon and Laurie (left and right) from Discovery Park.

Club professional Glenn Warne said these feats are mostly “unheard of anywhere”.

More than 140 golf clubs were represented at the Week of golf and no one could remember this happening previously.

“The Sapphire Coast Week of Golf is in its 33rd year and is one of the country’s biggest weeks

of golf,” Michelle Vernon said.

“In its heyday, it attracted 1200 players to the lovely resort tourist town of Merimbula.”

The four “hot shots” were kicking themselves at not scoring a hole-in-one on the fourth hole or 27th hole as Bega Valley Motors had a car up for grabs. •

8. Who said: “Luckily I still enjoy practising, which some people don’t.” – Bernhard Langer, Peter Senior, Gary Player or Greg Norman?

9. What was par for the Royal Pines layout at the Australian PGA Championship?

ANSWERS: (1). Adam Scott (Australian PGA champion); (2). Jack Wilson; (3). Graham Marsh; (4). Yes; (5). You must be called Bobby Jones; (6).

Belgian; (7). McIlroy with $US1,802,443 to Poulter’s $US1,723,463; (8). Bernhard Langer; (9). 71.

Michael Green

sandwiches and satisfying three-putt triple bogeys at the goat track down the road. Before each hole a young Scrooge would wash the ball then tee it up the persimmon woods that each had their own distinct marks and scratches.

The game was fresh, trouble-free with very few missed putts to recall. Keeping score seemed at odds with the pleasure of simply playing the game.

Scrooge abruptly awoke to the sound of his mobile phone ringing. He answered to the sound of loud music and poker machines, and a familiar voice called him by name.

“Scrooge! We’re at the pub! We’ve got a pass out for the night!” yelled Rob Ratchit, his Saturday playing partner of nearly 10 years.

“Come in, mate!’’ cried Rob before the phone went dead.

He could imagine the boys scoffing down chicken schnitzels and guzzling down ale recollecting their rounds shot-by-shot – with perhaps special emphasis on his odious, stingy display.

“Let’s drink for Scrooge,’’ Rob would say, “But not for his golf game!” The other lads would roar with laughter.

With more than just a tinge of fear of missing out, Scrooge redialled the number only to get the answering machine of the pro shop.

Confused and yawning, Scrooge retired to bed and was soon in the throes of a nightmare.

The snores of Scrooge carried him to a dark room with a large TV screen on one wall. A shadowy figure inserted a DVD and the final moments from the 2014 Open Championship sprung to life. “Wait, this hasn’t been played yet!” Scrooge mused.

He was entranced as he watched Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman locked in battle on the final hole.

Three small children then began playing in the corner of the dark room. Scrooge barely

the 19th hole

The Larrys for 2013 Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the game’s pinnacle of awards, “The Larrys”. These puppies are handed out every December to ….. aaah…. well, anyone I want, really.

This year’s awards are a mixture of some old traditional, almost iconic, categories and some brand-newies which I thought were relevant to the constantly changing landscape (I read the last part of that sentence in someone else’s article a while ago and have been dying to use it.)

My first category goes to the bloke with the biggest show of “Man Emotion” for 2013. The favourite for this award and multiple winner has always been Steve Stricker who seems to be a little confused about when to cry and when not to. Every time Stricker wins another cheque with more zeroes on it than a remake of Pearl Harbor, he bursts into tears. Now I can’t speak through experience but if someone was handing me a wad of cash I couldn’t fit in a 10inch Titleist Staff bag, the last thing I would do would be to cry. Laugh out loud, perhaps, or maybe temporally lose control of my bladder, but cry? Definitely not.

The Larry for “Man Emotion” this year goes to every bloke in Jarrod Lyle’s gallery when he struck that first tee shot in the Aussie Masters, including me. When the big guy walked onto the tee to a rousing and generous applause and started to show his emotion, about 30 blokes

standing behind the ropes all started sniffing simultaneously. I was going OK but when Jarrod’s young daughter yelled “Daddy” and he walked over and gave her a hug, my bottom lip was quivering like a witchetty grub in a birds nest.

One of my favourite “Larrys” is awarded each year to the person with the funkiest name and in 2013 we have some absolute rippers – Its always handy to have a name that suits your line of work, like my local butcher John Gristle and the security guard at my favourite pub, Hugh Junit. So I guess it makes perfect sense to be playing the European Senior Tour with a name like Andrew Oldcorn. Other notables are Marvin Udaman who plays on the Asian PGA Tour, Kim Bi-o, (my lord.. Kim-Bi-o) and Yu Gyoung Soon (yep… soon as I’ve finished this column). Canadian star, Ryan Yip (hope he can chip) is another nomination as well as David Horsey who has successfully made the move from adult movies to the European Tour.

Austrian Florian Praegnant will probably have to leave the circuit soon to raise the family and South African Johan Neude just can’t seem find a tour anywhere that will allow him to play. It was a tough choice but The Larry for the funkiest name for 2013 goes to American LPGA player, Robin Hood. Poor girl just couldn’t keep her ball out of the forest and had to retire, choosing to give all her prize money to the poor.

The “Larry” for the best commentator for 2013 was a battle between two of my faves, Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne “Radar” Riley. Radar has that rare ability to get you and himself, excited about anything from a shallow divot to a 6-inch tier in a green. I never realized just how passionate a man can be when he describes a

The “Larry” award for Man Emotion goes to every bloke in Jarrod Lyle’s gallery. If you didn’t shed a tear, then you probably weren’t paying attention. fairway bunker until I heard Wayne talk about the 17th at Royal Pines! That trap holds a special place in my heart now!

Ian Baker-Great-Bloke -Finch, was obviously struggling with his emotions when calling the action from Augusta in April. Despite his voice getting a little shaky he came out with the quote of the year just after Adam Scott made the winning putt: “From down under, to the top of the world”. This gives Finchy the edge over Radar and he is now the recipient of his first “Larry”.

As my wife Sandra has been in love with Ian for 30 years, she has kindly offered to personally present the award along with anything else he might desire. Come to think of it, I think I’m in love with Finchy as well.

The next “Larry” goes to the bloke who I most want to be. And the nominations are – Adam Scott. And the winner is… Adam Scott.

Good luck in your various Christmas Cheer Comps and may Santa bring you a new set of Titleist AP1s.

Merry Christmas •

Keep up with us online!

Catch the latest golf news online: www.insidegolf.com.au. Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidegolf, keep up to the minute with our Twitter feed (@InsideGolf ). Feedback? Drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au

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your voice

Letter of the Month I am the proud owner of an older golf cart that I purchased about 12 months ago. While I try to use it wherever I can, I continually run into arguments with golf clubs over the use of private carts on their courses. I appreciate that the pro shops have carts for hire on most courses in Australia today, and that it is a source of income. However, when the carts need to be replaced by new ones for whatever reason, where do the older carts go to? Do pro shops think that someone sprinkles fairy dust on them and they simply disappear?

Well, we all know that this is not the case. It is people like myself that purchase these secondhand carts. My cart—as well as those of my colleagues—are fully insured, so the club has no liability. Some clubs even have the hide to charge for using your own cart!

If I have to play at any of these clubs and I am not allowed to use my own cart, I definitely do not hire one of theirs. If I can get out of playing the course, I do so and that club has just lost

my business and that of my playing partners (which would in most cases include the hire of one cart for two players). I play regularly 3/4 times a week. If these clubs can afford to lose that sort of income they must be doing a lot better than they lead us to believe. And bear in mind I am only one of many in this situation.

I do not know what the percentages of clubs are for and against use but surely it is time for a rethink on this matter by those clubs that I believe have their heads stuck firmly in the bunker.

Kevin Plaisted, via email

Spare some change?

the hole, thus creating a mound around the hole. I used to volunteer at a course where we had to stand on a plate around the hole being made, and TWIST the core out of the hole, thus keeping the area around the hole its original shape.

JJ, via email

In the letters page of the October issue, an email from Rob Domabyl caught my eye. Rob was complaining at the so-called transformation of his course located in Sydney’s east. Rob described it as “a once beautiful old course”, which it was.

Having played Rob’s course a couple of times recently, I won’t be rushing back. The sections of the course that have been “Redesigned “ bear no resemblance to the previous layout and I can only share Rob’s bewilderment and his fear of what is to come. His concerns are shared by many members of my acquaintance but it seems that the club’s Board is committed to proceed with the complete transformation.

What a shame .

I had the privilege of serving fifteen years as CEO of my club and in my time, there was some “tweaking “ done by renowned golf course architect, Ross Watson. Ross did nothing drastic but what he did was create a golf course that was pleasant to play for all classes of golfer. The course was beautifully maintained by an enthusiastic staff led firstly

by Garry Smith and later by David Scaife who was largely responsible for the construction of Camden, a very good Peter Thomson design at Narellan.

Noel Simmons

Pull the pin Larry Canning has a point about pin placements. An old greenkeeper friend of mine (now departed), insisted that the course should always be set up with 6 pins at the front of the green, 6 in the middle, and 6 at the back (or 6 easy, 6 medium, 6 hard). This should be the case regardless of the competition, or the make-up of the field. He also indicated that he never put a pin close to the front corners of the green because the playing traffic would be concentrated in that area and wear that part of the green very quickly, thus damaging the putting surface, making it difficult for players, and giving him a maintenance headache.

My biggest gripe is the lack of attention given to cutting the hole on the green. I have seen too many course staff pulling the core out of 78

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

YOUR VOICE Have you got something to say? Then tell us! Write to us

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!

How to scoop up Scoopon This is a positive response to your reply to George McCarthy’s email (October issue). I have been pushing revenue streams to golf clubs who have facilities but some are simply too lazy or staff unskilled to push or drive these. Scoopon/Great Rounds deals etc. are great if you want repeat business but most clubs I have spoken to do not even build an email database from these promotions. Those that do, though, do not know how to send an email to promote their club and special offers effectively. Golf Clubs are still expecting golfers to return as they would have 10+ years ago. In today’s society you have to constantly promote your club and offer great customer service and follow up, something which is sadly lacking in this industry!

Andrew Small, via email Ah, the Scoopon saga continues. The club devalues its product in the hope of attracting repeat business; the club gets only a fraction of the deal price while the tight-arse clientele follows the Scoopon deal somewhere else, unless the club retains the contact details of their new customers and sends out their own deals. A couple of savvy clubs I’ve played at through Scoopon have done just this, inviting me back to play with their own discount rates at off peak times. Maybe this devalues their product, but this time at least they get 100% of the deal price. Maybe I’m a tight-arse because I won’t pay $100 for a round, but I will pay $5060 and I will take a day off work and travel 1-2 hours to play a good course and make a day of it with some mates, and we will spend something in the spike bar. I’m never going to join a club that’s 1-2 hours drive away, but I will go back there once or twice a year. The result?

Extra revenue at off peak times for the club.

Lachlan McKinnon, via email

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ACROSS

1 Australian who founded a Junior Golf Foundation in 1986 (4,6) 6 Skilful (4) 10 Decisive; very important (7) 11 Hesitates; staggers (7) 12 Style of coffee (5) 13 Proper behaviour on the golf course (9) 14 The Great White Shark (6) 16 Australian who was a 2013 President’s Cup captain’s pick (8) 19 Boundary marker on a sports field (8) 20 Be a caddie, for example (6) 23 Protest (9) 25 Achieve success (2,3) 26 Perhaps a dog seen at St Andrews? (7) 27 Spectators (7) 28 Manipulates (4) 29 Winner of the 2006 Australian Open, a consistent performer on the PGA Tour (4,6) Answers: page 81

So-so Social golf So Damien Iannazzo (November issue) doesn’t want to outlay any money on a membership but thinks it is OK for him and his mates to hack their way around on the most important day of the week for a Club Member just because he has $100.00 he wants to spend. What if he and his mates take 5+ hours to get around and hold up the rest of the field, or worse for Damien: the “one group every two hours” has already been filled and there still isn’t a place for him and his important mates?

Damien should join a Social Club, get a Golflink Handicap and play where they play, mostly on a Sunday. As an alternative, there all sorts of memberships that don’t cost $800+ and sometimes when there is room on the sheet they are allowed a bit extra and play on a Saturday.

down

1 Winner of The Open Championship in 1969, Tony _______ (7) 2 Responded in kind (9) 3 Sound nullified by marshals (5) 4 Winner of the 2013 Frys.com Open, Jimmy ______ (6) 5 Person at long odds to win a tournament (8) 7 Highest placed Australian in the 2013 Race To Dubai, _____ Rumford (5) 8 Oriental (7) 9 Petitions (8) 15 Distribute according to a plan (8) 17 Famous Scottish golf course (9) 18 Villain; baddie (8) 19 Company willing to back a golf tournament (7) 21 Retires (5,2) 22 Not level (6) 24 Winner of the 2013 Perth International, Jin _____ (5) 25 Birdies that may be a nuisance on a golf course (5)

I’m surprised IG didn’t suggest some of these options for Damien.

Reg Alderson, via email Editor’s note: Thanks Reg. While we have written extensively about Social Golf groups, the main point of the letter (and the takeaway that many clubs should heed) is this: as the Social Golf market continues to grow—while membership numbers continue to shrink—clubs that want to survive (and thrive) in the current environment should simply open their minds to letting social golfers play (in some capacity). Your suggestion of pushing golfers away from club play, and thus joining the ranks of social golf groups would only exacerbate the problem that many clubs face. For more on this, read “The private to public conversion…is it imminent?” on our website.

demo dates Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Location

Day

Callaway Date

Time

www.callawaygolf.com

Location

New South Wales

Demo DAYS

Illawarra Golf Complex ◊ *

Monday

December 02

10am - 2pm

New South Wales

Concord Golf Club ◊ *

Tuesday

December 03

1 - 5pm

Royal Canberra Golf Club ◊ *

Wednesday

December 04

9am - 2pm

Killara Golf Club ◊ *

Thursday

December 06

8am - 1pm

The Lakes Golf Club ◊ *

Friday

December 06

9am - 3pm

Day

Moore Park Driving Range

Date

Time

Thursday

December 19

4:30 -7pm

Victoria Park Golf Complex

Tuesday

December 03

5:30pm -7:30pm

Brisbane Golf Club

Wednesday

December 04

11am - 3:00pm

Horton Park Golf Club

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December 05

5 -7:30pm

Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club

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December 05

11am - 3:00pm

Queensland

Elanora Country Club ◊ *

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December 10

9am - 2pm

Lismore Golf Club

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December 06

1 - 4:30pm

The Australian Golf Club ◊ *

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December 11

9am - 2pm

Parkwood International Golf Club

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December 12

5 -8:00pm

South Australia Wednesday

December 04

3 - 6pm

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December 04

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Royal Melbourne Golf Club*

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December 05

10am - 3pm

Cumberland Country Club ◊ *

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December 12

12 - 5pm

The Coast Golf Club ◊ *

Friday

December 13

2 - 6pm

Liverpool Golf Club ◊ *

Monday

December 16

9am - 1pm

Monash Country Club ◊ *

Wednesday

December 18

9am - 1pm

fitting days

Avondale Golf Club ◊ *

Thursday

December 19

8am - 1pm

Victoria / Tasmania

New Brighton Golf Club ◊ *

Friday

December 20

11am - 3pm

Drummond Golf Driving Range Victoria / Tasmania Melbourne Golf Academy

Royal Melbourne Golf Club*

Saturday

December 07

10am - 3pm

Queensland

Sandringham Driving Range*

Wednesday

December 13

4 -7pm

Victoria Park Golf Complex ◊ *

Tuesday

December 02

5.30 - 7.30pm

New South Wales

Brisbane Golf Club ◊ *

Wednesday

December 04

10am - 2pm

Tuesday

December 03

12 - 4pm

Virginia Golf Club ⁰

Friday

December 06

2 - 5pm

Horton Park ⁰

Wednesday

December 11

3 - 5pm

Drummond Underwood ◊ *

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December 12

3 - 5pm

Parkwood ⁰

Thursday

December 12

3 - 6pm

Palm Meadows ⁰

Friday

December 13

1 - 5pm

Victoria

Maitland GC*

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Day

Date

Time

New South Wales Thornleigh Golf Centre *

Tuesday

December 03

4 - 7pm

Royal Canberra G.C * **

Wednesday

December 04

10am - 2pm

Drummond Golf - North Mead *

Thursday

December 05

4 - 7pm

Ballina G. C. * **

Wednesday

December 11

10am - 1pm

Warragul Country Club ◊ *

Tuesday

December 03

12 - 4pm

Heidelberg Golf Club ◊ *

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December 04

9am - 1pm

The Ridge G.C *

Wednesday

December 11

4 - 7pm

Melbourne Golf Academy ⁰ ◊

Wednesday

December 04

4 - 7pm

Bathurst Driving Range

Tuesday

November 26

12 - 5pm

Royal Melbourne Golf Club **

Thursday

December 06

9am - 4pm

Queensland

Ballarat Golf Club ◊ *

Friday

December 06

12 - 6pm

Surfers Paradise G. C. *

Thursday

December 05

2 - 4.30pm

Royal Melbourne Golf Club **

Saturday

December 07

9am - 4pm

Oxley G. C. *

Friday

December 08

10am - 1pm

Kew Golf Club **

Monday

December 09

10am - 2pm

Victoria Park Golf Complex *

Tuesday

December 10

5.30 - 7.30pm

Gisborne Golf Club ◊ *

Tuesday

December 10

2 - 6pm

Parkwood International G. C.

Thursday

December 12

4 - 6.30pm

Whittlesea Golf Club ◊ *

Wednesday

December 11

11am - 6pm

Golf Factory Outlet GFO *

Thursday

December 19

4 - 6pm

Victoria Golf Club **

Thursday

December 12

10am - 2pm

Yarra Bend Driving Range ⁰ ◊

Thursday

December 12

Green Acres Golf Club ◊ *

Friday

National Golf Club ◊ *

Victoria Melbourne Golf Academy

Wednesday

December 04

4 - 7pm

4 - 7pm

Royal Melbourne G. C. * **

Thursday

December 05

10am - 2pm

December 13

12 - 6pm

Royal Melbourne G. C. * **

Saturday

December 07

10am - 3pm

Saturday

December 14

10am - 4pm

Kingston Heath G. C. * **

Wednesday

December 11

10am - 2pm

Sandringham Driving Range ⁰ ◊

Wednesday

December 18

5 - 7pm

Yarra Bend Driving Range

Thursday

December 12

5 - 8pm

Flinders Golf Club ◊ *

Thursday

December 19

9am - 2pm

Neanger Park G. C

Friday

December 13

1 - 4pm

Sandringham Driving Range

Wednesday

December 18

5 - 7.30pm

Lakelands G. C.

Wednesday

December 04

10am - 2pm

Lake Karinyup C. C. **

Sunday

December 08

10am - 2pm

Wembley G. C.

Wednesday

December 11

4 - 8pm

10am - 4pm

Geraldton G. C.

Saturday

December 14

10am - 2pm

12 - 4pm

Mt. Lawley G. C. * **

Wednesday

December 18

9am - 1pm

South Australia Drummond Golf - West Beach

Wednesday

December 04

4 - 7pm

Royal Adelaide Golf Club

Saturday

December 07

10am - 1.30pm

Western Australia Lakelands Golf Club ◊ *

Wednesday

December 04

December 13 Maylands Golf Club ◊ * Friday

Western Australia

* 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 | December 2013

79

golf directory The complete golf fitness system Now offers

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“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag”

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Rowan Cottages is located only minutes to town in a quiet street where all Orange has to offer is at your fingertips.

Let us tailor your “Stay & Play Package” on Orange’s 3 Golf Courses: • Duntryleague • Wentworth Golf Club • Orange Ex-Services Country Club

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www.rowancottage.com.au 80

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory

Stay and Play from $525 per person (quad share)*

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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

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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

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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 J A C K L I N

A C O R U N A T E O R E S I D P O B J N E S C O O N R I G

K N E W T O A C I A L S K T E E T R M A N L L A E L I N E O T E C T I O A H T T I E E R S J O H

O U T S I D E R

N E Q I A

R E Q U E S T S

U N G E E V I E E S N S E

A B L E R A T E R S T T E T T E R H M A N U S I S T R U O F A R I N W E R S L I N D E N For advertising call 1300 465 300

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www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

81

golf directory

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December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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golf directory

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www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

83

golf directory

Golf Cart Slowing Down?

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www.murrayrivergolf.com.au 84

December 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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Green RXV Ute. Batteries less than 12 months old. Runs Great.

2006 Club car with 2013 Batteries.

Has Bag Holder and Tinted Windshield.

3200

3500

$

1900

$

$

VICTORIA

PH (03) 9558 1211

YAMAHA G22

2005 model, Well Serviced and Good Condition incl New Batteries.

CLUB CAR

YAMAHA G29

Precedent 2005 model.

As is.

2004 model in Good Condition incl New Batteries.

View our full range of quality used vehicles @ www.ezgo.com.au/used-cars QLD (07) 3807 8895 NSW/ACT (02) 8064 9950 WA (08) 9244 1727 SA (08) 8352 6622

VIC (03) 9558 1211 TAS (03) 6248 1481 NT (08) 8946 4480 Fiji (+679) 670 0955

SUMMER SALE!

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH 269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 7 Days penrith_golf@iprimus.com.au

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted $7 NSW, $9 VIC & QLD, $10 SA, TAS, NT & WA Postage and handling any quantity.

Tour Quality Balls | 4-piece urethane cover

$29

SAVE $50

$79

doz

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 7 Days

Callaway Tour (i)Z and (i)S Balls Cleveland 588 Forged Wedges Forged & Soft feel Right and left Lob, Sand, Gap and Pitching wedges

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN Eagles & Birdies Cypress Point bag 14 Full length dividers Magnetic pockets Cooler pocket Lots of colours

SAVE$60

$199

Nike Covert VRS Irons

TaylorMade R11 Left hand Irons TaylorMade RBZ Graphite Irons

8 Irons 4-PW + Gap wedge Dynalite 90 Regular or Stiff shafts

8 Irons 4-SW Regular or Stiff KBS shafts

$799

$499

Game improvement

Cleveland Hybrid

$390

Left hand only

Srixon Carry Bag

5 = 24º Loft 4 = 21º Loft Men’s right hand Regular flex Graphite only Includes cover Offset = Anti-slice

SAVE $30

$49

$29

2 DOZEN FOR

$799

Callaway CXR Power Srixon AD333 TaylorMade Burner Precept Laddie TopFlite Gamer v2 Callaway Warbird TaylorMade XD

Legs pop out Rainhood 2.8kg Dual Strap Black only

4-SW 8 irons Long Distance irons Regular flex Graphite Shafts Right Hand

OPTIMA Ball Christmas Sale

$149

Cleveland Fairway Sale

Cleveland Premium 14 Way Bag Black/Blue only 2012 Model

FL Men’s Regular 5 or 7 Classic XL 15.5 3 wood FL Ladies 3, 5 or 7 DST Launcher Right hand CG Black Left hand FL Men’s Left hand

$159

$99

Black or Blue Large (76cmx51cm)

10.5º Regular 9.5º Stiff 12º Ladies

Di9 Model 4 - Pitching wedge Uniflex only Right hand

$20

$249

Easy to use irons

SAVE $60

US Sizes: 9, 9.5, 10, 10..5 ONLY

SAVE $400

7 irons

Includes cover

$672

$419

Cleveland Classic Driver

Nike Covert 3 Fairway

43g Miyazaki shaft Regular flex 10.5º Loft Stiff flex 7.5º Loft

Metalwood Regular, stiff or extra stiff flexes 15º loft Includes Cover

Includes cover

½ PRICE

$149

$48 SAVE$40

$239

$159

Cleveland CG-16 Tour Irons

Adidas summer lightweight shoe Srixon Q Star Balls Wide, easy fitting Breathable White only Tech response 4.0 Not waterproof

$89ea $99ea $79ea $89ea $59ea $79ea

$189 $209

Left Hand 10.5º Regular

TaylorMade RBZ Irons 8 irons 4-SW Matching Regular Flex Steel shafts Right and left hand

$47

incl postage anywhere in Australia

Wilson Staff Irons

$29

2 Dozen for

$79

TaylorMade RBZ Driver

SAVE $100

$490

TS+ Green box or Tour soft Seamless

Callaway Deluxe Callaway Staff Tour Bag Pro Style Golf Towel 10” large diameter

$799

6 Irons 5 - PW Dynamic Gold Regular R300 Right hand Black Pearl finish

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

$18 $299 Doz