Inside Golf April 2014

Australia’s

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InsideGolf Issue 105 April 2014

www.insidegolf.com.au

WIN!

An autographed Rickie Fowler Cobra Puma Driver

THE STATE OF AUSSIE GOLF

We put Golf Australia under the microscope

US Masters preview:

m going for the green! m Can Australia go ‘back to back’ at Augusta?

A ROYAL RENO Graham Marsh’s master plan for Royal Pines

DRIVING DESIGN

We chat with Callaway’s

Roger Cleveland

THE COAST WITH THE MOST

Great golf in Australia’s East

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

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HILE our award-winning Page 5 column has, over the years, become known for its hard-hitting, insightful (and often controversial) views on all things golf, we’ve decided to switch things up a little this month.

Now, before you develop withdrawal symptoms as you pine away for our usual Starter’s Box fare, fear not. This month’s column—where we go head-to-head with Australian Golf’s governing body—was so indepth, controversial and fiery that it took a massive five pages to cover. So just turn to page 14 to get your monthly Starter’s Box fix.

While we never fear of being critical of things that require change, this month we are aiming the crosshairs in a different direction, putting ourselves smack-dab in the firing range. That’s right, we’re giving you, our loyal readers, the opportunity to share your criticisms (and good points, too, we hope) about Inside Golf.

Our continuing goal at Inside Golf is to create Australia’s best golf publication. And

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NEWS The latest golf buzz INDUSTRY The inner-workings of golf GOLF AUSTRALIA Your Voice is loud and clear ON TOUR Touring pros and Aussie legends.

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BUSINESS Growing the game AMATEURS ACGC news PEOPLE Inspirational individuals WOMEN News and Interviews TOUR TALK with Steven Jeffress NEW GEAR The latest and greatest gear FEATURE Great golf in the East JUNIOR NEWS Tomorrow’s stars today INSTRUCTION Top tips to play better SENIOR AMATEURS Results and events STATE GOLF Golf NSW and Golf Qld CALENDAR Results, news and tournaments 19TH HOLE The best parts of golf YOUR VOICE Your letters and comments DEMO DATES Test-drive the latest gear GOLF DIRECTORY Great deals around Australia

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www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

5

PLANNING YOUR NEXT GOLF EVENT?

news

As good as it gets, says Senden Sr David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

JOHN Senden gave his father Gerry “the best birthday present ever” when he won the Valspar Championship in Florida.

“My birthday was on the 11th of March and I told John he could win the tournament for my birthday,” Gerry Senden, 74, told Inside Golf.

“Then I spoke to him straight after he won and said, ‘you have given me the biggest birthday present ever’.

“It was lovely to see him win again, but it was nerve-racking. We were on the edge of our seats as we watched the final holes.

“After John chipped in on the 16th for a birdie and then birdied the par-3 17th I thought he might win it, but we were worried about Kevin Na.” For Senden, it’s been a seven-year wait for his second victory on the US PGA Tour after winning the John Deere Classic in 2006.

Still, Gerry never doubted his son’s ability and had faith he could win again.

“It been a long wait,” he said. “John has always hung-in and tried to win tournaments, but hasn’t quite got there.

“I think the turnaround has been his putting,” Gerry said. “He has been knocking in a few more putts.

“I think they (John, coach Ian Triggs and caddie Josh) have finally worked out a way to get the

ball in the hole.

“John has always been a good ball-striker. He doesn’t get into too much trouble off the tee and hits a lot of greens in regulation.

“It’s just been his putting at crucial moments that have been costly.”

Fame and fortune hasn’t come easily to Senden, but over the past 13 years he has carved out a niche for himself as one of the most consistent ball-strikers on the PGA Tour.

Courtesy of his latest win, Senden moved to 10th on the putting strokes gained statistics, 30th in greens hit in regulation and 43rd in driving accuracy.

So, is that good enough to win the US Masters?

Dad Gerry thinks it might be.

“He really likes the Augusta National golf course,” Gerry said.

“There are a lot of tough holes there, but he played well there last year.

“I think he has a good chance and he’s going there with confidence.

“John’s wife Jackie said John played flawless golf in the third round when he fired a 64 on a difficult course to put himself in contention. So he likes a challenging course.”

Senden, the 2006 Australian Open champion, admitted he enjoyed the tough Copperhead layout at the Innisbrook Resort.

“I love the difficulty of the golf course and the way the wind blows,” said Senden, who has twice finished runner-up there.

BACK IN BLACK: John Senden is all smiles in the winner’s circle (Photo courtesy of PGA of Australia/ Sam Greenwood)

“The scoring always stays under double figures here and I knew if I stayed in the moment I would give it a shake.”

Senden finished with rounds of 72-71-64-70 for a 277 total and banked $A1.1m to take his career earnings to more than $A19m.

“It’s nice to be back in the winner’s circle again and I’m excited about playing in the Masters again,” Senden said.

“Augusta (National) is all about the greens and the severe contouring so getting a feel for uphill and downhill putts is crucial. If you are going to miss the greens, missing them in certain spots is important.

“Augusta certainly tests every part of your game.

That’s why it’s a major.”

Last year Senden battled through a wrist and rib injury he sustained while warming up in the

locker room, but it seems he is back to full fitness.

Let’s just hope the congratulatory bear hug delivered by coach Ian Triggs after his latest victory hasn’t aggravated the rib.

Player and coach share a special bond and have virtually been “best mates” ever since Senden broke Trigg’s car headlight playing backyard cricket in the 1990s.

“We went up to Caloundra for a holiday and Triggsy was next door,” Gerry explained.

“We were playing cricket and Triggsy car was in the backyard when John smacked the ball and broke his headlight.

“Anyway, Triggsy came down and said, ‘don’t worry about it’.

“At the time he was the head pro at Keperra and invited John to play golf there and later offered him a traineeship. They have been friends ever since.” •

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

news

The Von Bronze unveiled IT says much about the late, great Norman von Nida when legends of the game willingly contribute to ensure the legendary Australian is immortalised.

Von Nida was honoured at Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane last month when the Von Bronze was unveiled as a permanent reminder of his contribution to the game.

Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Sir Nick Faldo and Wayne Grady helped sponsor the Von Bronze project.

These men had enormous respect for the “little master”, who was the trailblazer for many Australian golfers who followed him overseas.

Thomson, Player and Nicklaus called the Von a friend and penned forewords in his book simply titled The Von (with Ben Robertson).

and, without looking at the ball, tell you where it went and why.

“Of course, we always kidded him that he simply couldn’t see the ball, which reminds me of one of my favourite stories.

“We invited Norman to join us for dinner one evening at our home in Muirfield Village and he drove over in a golf cart.

“It had gotten dark by the time he was leaving so I asked, ‘do you want someone to take you home’? ‘Nah’, he assured me, ‘I’ll be fine’.

“Not more than 10 seconds after he left the house we heard a loud crash. The Von had run head on into the first tree in his path. Pure feistiness.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Norman.”

Gary Player first met the Von in the 1950s.

“I wish I had known Norman in his younger days, to see him when he played some of his best golf,” wrote Nicklaus, who first met the Von at the Australian Open in 1962.

“Norman was an enthusiast with a great sense of humour and boundless energy,” Player wrote.

“I did, however, follow his career enough to know that his understanding of the game and his ability to teach it were talents shared by few people in this world.

“He became a close friend and adviser, which was enormously helpful to me as a rookie on tour.

“In the late 1980s and early 1990s, we were fortunate to have Norman join us as a guest instructor at Muirfield Village. Our members admired him as a teacher.

“When my wife Vivienne and I visited Australia we stayed with Norman and his wife Elva.

“As a teacher, the Von always had an uncanny ability to simply watch you swing

“We shared many happy occasions and I will always be grateful to Norman for his advice and kindness.

The Von Bronze statue was unveiled at Nudgee Golf Club.

“Norman was one of the first great Australian golfers and was an excellent role model for many young Aussies who would follow through the years.”

Thomson wrote: “He (von Nida) inflamed my small passion (for the game), igniting it into a raging fire.

“He will be remembered, hopefully, as a pathfinder of the Australian golfer who followed him to Europe and the USA, me included.”

Dignitaries from Nudgee Golf Club, Royal Queensland, Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia attended the unveiling of the Von Bronze.

The bronze statue was unveiled by von Nida’s daughter Kerrie Easdown, Andrew Mullins, the grandson of the man who first discovered and introduced the Von to golf at Nudgee, Tom Mullins, and the presidents of Nudgee and Royal Queensland.

“It was wonderful to see the club members, sponsors and staff embrace this project,” said Nudgee Golf Club general manager Aaron Muirhead.

“Club members and visitors will certainly appreciate this feature of one of its past members and an Australian sporting great well into the future.”

Norman Von Nida passed away in May 2007, aged 93. •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

7

news

Renovations boost Warragul’s members, revenues Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Warragul Country Club says it’s close to peak membership as its $10 million renovation nears completion. The west Gippsland club currently has more than 750 golf members and club general manager Michael Smairl says weekend fields are approaching capacity.

“Our golf membership’s almost reaching its peak as far as member numbers on a Saturday so we are encouraging six-day members to fill up Sundays more. Saturday is reaching peak fields,” Smairl says. “We’re up to somewhere between 200 and 220 on a Saturday, which is good for an 18-hole course.”

The club has already completed its first stage of renovations, which included a 180-seat restaurant and the new Warragul Reception and Conference Centre. The second stage of the club’s renovation is tipped to finish in October. It will feature a new public bar, 120-seat members lounge, outdoor area with a capacity of 200, a TAB, café, new gaming room as well as upgrades to the club’s offices, reception and entry.

Once completed, the renovations will have been spread over two years and Smairl – who has been the club’s general manager for more than eight years – admits club revenue has continued to increase, despite the interruption to members.

“The new restaurant’s up about 50 per cent already and the new function centre’s a new

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

A new restaurant and conference centre are just the beginning of a massive renovation project at Warragul Country Club business but it’s going really, really well. We’ve had lots of weddings and business meetings.

There’s noise occasionally from the builders, there’s cranes, but we have had good support from the builders and they’ve basically stopped the noise between 12 o’clock and two o’clock, before lunch and after lunch, to allow us to keep the customers happy.”

The club has also spent a large amount on its golf services. “We’ve built a $350,000 maintenance shed, replaced all of the machinery with new, taken over the pro shop, hired two PGA pros, bought hire carts, $100,000 worth of stock in the pro shop, so the golf business is going really well,” Smairl says.

Warragul currently has 78 staff and the club estimates it will employ 100 people by the end of the year.

No changes have been made to the layout of

Warragul’s 18-hole course but significant money has also been spent on its upkeep.

“We’ve line-planted basically every fairway, we’ve done a few greens, bunkers, tees but the maintenance standard, the money we’ve spent on it and the increased staffing has made the difference,” Smairl says. “It’s in fantastic condition all year round. It’s one of the courses that does really well over winter. That’s probably our strength in the region.”

The club has indicated it will continue to invest in its golf course and as it works towards the end of a ‘five-year plan’.

“The sheer scale of the clubhouse building will be something to behold later this year.

We look forward to the Grand Opening of the new modern clubhouse and starting work on the approved 24-room motel complex on site,” Smairl says. •

Alloy Silverstein to sponsor five Aussies US-BASED accounting and advisory firm Alloy Silverstein has announced it has signed a branding agreement with five Australian golf professionals.

PGA Tour professional Bronson La’Cassie, who finished the 2013 Web. Com Tour season T36th to earn his 2014 PGA Tour Card, is continuing his branding agreement with Alloy Silverstein for the second consecutive year. A Brisbane native, La’Cassie has over seven years of professional golf experience, including a first-place finish at last year’s Cox Classic.

“It has been exciting watching Bronson strive to achieve his career goals and to stand beside him as his advisor for taxes, business planning, and financial decisions,” says managing partner Ren Cicalese.

Under the terms of his agreement, La’Cassie will wear the Alloy Silverstein logo on his apparel and act as a brand ambassador for the firm.

In addition, the firm signed branding agreements with five PGA Web.Com Tour professionals including four Australians: Steve Allan, a Melbourne native and current Scottsdale, AZ resident; Adam Crawford, of Brisbane; Ashley Hall, of Melbourne; Cameron Percy, a Chelsea native and current resident of Raleigh, NC; and Bhavik Patel, a Fresno State University alum of Bakersfield, CA. The 2014 season marks the third year of Alloy’s relationship with Percy, the second for Allan, Crawford, and Hall, and the first for Patel. These players have worked hard and are striving to achieve their career goals.

news Tee it up at the Mornington Peninsula Golf Classic Now in its fifth year, the Mornington Peninsula Golf Classic is one of the most popular annual golf events in the Melbourne area, representing world-class golf with all the excitement and fun that only the Mornington Peninsula can offer.

The event has become one of the “Must Play” tournaments on the Victorian golf calendar, and this year will be no exception, with a line-up of courses that will be sure to attract players from far and wide.

This year will see players experience tournament play on four exceptional Mornington Peninsula courses: Portsea, The National, The Dunes and Flinders. There are also two optional golf days at Sorrento and Mornington golf clubs. Three of the Tournament courses are among the Top 40 in Australia and all six are among Inside Golf’s favourites in the area.

The event dates have been moved to 5-10 October this year, allowing for the potential of warmer weather as well as longer days courtesy of Daylight Saving. The Online Entry Price of $495 includes Welcome Party at Sorrento Golf Club, four days of golf (morning and afternoon fields), carts at The National and The Dunes, lunches, Presentation Dinner at the National Golf Club, daily and overall prizes as well as a show bag. Partner’s tickets are also available as well as optional golf and social extras (at additional costs).

This is surely going to be a sell-out tournament, so register early.

More information: www.golfmorningtonpeninsula.com.au, email info@golfmorningtonpeninsula. com.au or phone Val Mackintosh, Tournament Coordinator on 0409 112 070.

Study: rangefinders speed up golf

A recent study has found that laser rangefinders can shave up to 30 minutes off a round of golf for mid- to high-index players.

The study, conducted by California-based National University Golf Academy and Bushnell Golf, measured the speed of play of students with handicaps ranging from six to 18. Tested over two days at Santaluz Club in San Diego, California, golfers played one round with a laser rangefinder and a second round without any electronic measuring devices. With the use of a Bushnell Golf Laser Rangefinder, the 6-13 index players finished their round in four hours and 15 minutes, an improvement of nearly 30 minutes when playing without a laser rangefinder.

The 14-18 index players saw a 17-minute improvement finishing in four hours and sixteen minutes.

“Pace of play is at the forefront of so many discussions when it comes to the game of

golf,” said Ted Norby, Director of Instruction at National University Golf Academy. “Using a product like the Bushnell Laser Rangefinders allowed mid-level handicap players to make a decision on club selection and yardage much quicker, leading to a faster place of play.”

The improvement in pace of play is likely a major reason why, in January, the R&A announced that Distance Measuring Devices will be allowed in all R&A amateur competitions in 2014, including the British Amateur Championship.

Bushnell, the No. 1 choice of professional golfers, offers a full selection of rangefinders that continue to change and improve the way golfers assess distances, ultimately improving performance.

A video of the study is available at: http://bushnellgolf.com/media/video.cfm.

More information: www.bushnellgolf.com, www.nugolfacademy.org •

Stoney Creek 3ball Golf Classic heads west The popular Stoney Creek 3ball Golf Classic has gone coast to coast, adding dates at courses in Western Australia to complement their growing NSW calendar.

While many events have been contested in both states, there are still plenty of events to be played. In NSW, there are events scheduled at Gosford Golf Club, Singleton Golf Club, Eden Gardens Country Club, Worrigee Links and Vincentia Golf Club. WA clubs include Bunbury Golf Club, Gosnells Golf Club, The Cut, Mosman Park Golf Club, Hartfield, Araluen and Dunsborough.

Clubs and courses are jumping on board to this exciting event at a quick pace—and other states are soon to follow—so check the website for new dates and courses.

The format of the three-person team event combines Ambrose, Stableford and aggregate. Like in Ambrose, all three players tee off on a hole, and then the team selects one ball to play from. Once a tee shot is chosen, the format shifts to single stableford, as each team member plays out their own ball from that position until it is holed. This keeps all three players involved for the entire 18 holes. To make things even more interesting, the scoring system is determined by which of the three players’ tee shot is taken.

To be eligible to play in a Stoney Creek 3ball Golf Classic Event near you, every member of your team must be a member of a recognised Australian Golf Club and have a current Australian golf handicap and Golflink number.

To find out more about the competition or to book a place in an event, visit www.stoneycreekgolf.com.au

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9

news Mizuno offers ‘Satisfaction Guarantee’ Following record sales of their new irons, Mizuno Corporation has raised the bar even higher, with the news that it is offering its customers a ‘Satisfaction Guarantee’ on the gear.

Customers that aren’t completely satisfied with the purchase of qualifying Mizuno irons after six weeks following date of purchase, can return their clubs in exchange for a full refund.

The Japanese brand, which counts former world number one-ranked golfers, Luke Donald and Stacy Lewis amongst its ambassadors, also revealed a 20% increase in year on year sales of its custom fit clubs.

Chris Jacobsen, Sales & Marketing Manager at Mizuno Corporation Australia, commented,“Mizuno has had a phenomenal year in terms of sales of its new range of products, both among the trade and in custom fit sales, which displays consumer confidence in the performance of the brand.

“Mizuno has absolute trust in its Swing DNA custom fit process, and in the quality and craftsmanship of its golf products, particularly its current iron range which is why we are guaranteeing total satisfaction or your money back.”

To qualify for a refund you must have purchased a set of MP-4, MP-64, MP-54, MPH4, JPX825 Pro, JPX825, JPX EZ or JPX EZ Forged Mizuno Golf Clubs as recommended by the Swing DNA fitting software and only available at a participating On Course authorised fitting centre between 1 April 2014 and 30 June 2014. The set must consist of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 irons. The offer is limited to one claim per household.

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Future stars to contest Subaru State Championships

New changes bring a new Scramble With the introduction of a new handicapping system in Australia, the Holden Scramble continues to evolve, further strengthening its position as the number one Pro-Amateur team’s event in Australia.

Golf Australia has introduced the Slope System to handicapping, which has modified the way an amateur calculates their handicap on a daily basis. Due to these new changes, the Holden Scramble has evolved accordingly and incorporated Australia’s new handicapping system to make for a new and exciting Holden Scramble season. The updated Holden Scramble Rules, Policies and Eligibility can now be found on the Holden Scramble website.

As with every year, the fantastic prizes provided from Callaway Golf are a major factor to the Holden Scramble’s success and players this year can look forward to getting their hands on some new and exciting product. This year each player will receive six brand-new Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls as well as a voucher booklet of exclusive offers from Holden Scrambles partners, GM Holden, Golf Australia Magazine, Delta Airlines, Sunshine Coast Destination

and Novotel Twin Waters/Twin Waters Golf Club. Callaway Golf are also providing a new selection of prizes for competitors, including a prize table of Callaway Cart Bags, Umbrellas and Player Towels.

The Holden Scramble season is set to get underway with Blackwater Golf Club in Queensland and Pinjarra Golf Club in Western Australia starting the season off, with the rest of Australia to follow suit as early autumn weather makes for perfect golfing conditions.

With over 350 Local events around Australia already confirmed, 2014 is on track to becoming the Holden Scramble’s best year yet! To find your local Holden Scramble, visit the Holden Scramble Website.

The PGA of Australia wish all teams the best of luck in the 2014 Holden Scramble with many birdies, high fives and laughter hopefully leading your team to the Championship Final.

For more details on the Holden Scramble, visit www.holdenscramble.com.au or contact the PGA Events Division on 03 8320 1999 or at holdenscramble@pga.org.au.

Three hundred junior golfers will converge on the Illawarra District in July for the 2014 Subaru State Championships.

This annual event is a four-day stroke play event where golfers under 18 years of age compete to be crowned NSW State Junior Boy or Girl Champion.

Other titles up for grabs include: Country Junior Championships, Inter-District Teams Championships and JNJG State Age Championships. Players also come from Interstate and Overseas to take part in the event.

The event will be held 1st-4th July at Wollongong Golf Club and The Links Shell Cove. All players play four rounds, however there is a cut after 36 holes. Entries are open to all JNJG Tour Members, Interstate and Overseas players (handicap restrictions apply.)

Run in conjunction with the Subaru State Championships is the inaugural Jack Newton Junior Golf “Junior-AM”. Developed to raise funds for junior golf for the host region of the Championship, the Junior-Am is an opportunity for you to have a game of golf with some of the best junior golfers in NSW. The Junior-AM also gives juniors a taste of the responsibilities of an elite or professional player. The event will be held on Monday 30th June at The Grange Golf Club in NSW. For more information on how to get involved in the 2014 Jack Newton Junior Golf Junior-AM contact: Tanya Kirby (JNJG Territory Manager) on 0411 645 699 or tanya@jnjg.com.au. Or visit the website: www.jnjg.com.au.

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industry

Marsh begins his master plan Bruce Young ed@insidegolf.com.au

When the tournament marshals surrounding the 18th green on the final day of the recent Volvik RACV Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast raised their “Quiet Please” signs for silence as Cheyenne Woods completed her significant victory in the event, it might well be the last time in the immediate future that silence will reign over the now iconic Gold Coast golfing facility.

Over the next 21 or so months, the 25-year-old layout, in the middle of the delicate Merrimac floodplain, will undergo a major facelift as it seeks to become the permanent and recognised home of championship golf in Queensland.

Some might say it already is, given that it currently hosts the second-most prestigious events in Australian women’s and men’s professional golf, the Ladies Masters and the Australian PGA Championship.

In order to secure the future of those events at the venue, however, the relatively benign tournament layout of RACV Royal Pines needed strengthening and so early in 2013 RACV sought expressions of interest from credentialed golf course architectural firms.

A longer list was shortened to two with the Gold Coast-based Graham Marsh Golf Design and the Melbourne-based Thomson Perrett asked to present to a panel consisting of RACV and Industry representatives.

The Thomson Perrett bid also included Karrie Webb, an eighttime winner of the Australian Ladies Masters and some felt that having two of Australia’s greatest ever golfers in that pitch might just sway the result.

Graham Marsh however is a fine player himself with more than 60 victories world-wide including an Australian PGA Championship which of course will become the flagship event at Royal Pines in the foreseeable future.

With Marsh’s office being based in nearby Robina and having had considerable experience in the very region where Royal Pines is located, along with his very significant design record, the Marsh organisation eventually won the role.

Hole # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out

Par 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 5 36

Black 400 180 562 408 169 346 405 308 496 3274

Blue 368 153 536 379 158 311 379 289 475 3048

White 329 140 527 369 145 300 367 274 463 2914

Yellow 318 132 498 344 123 259 334 253 453 2714

Red 287 113 488 304 98 250 324 240 425 2529

Hole # 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Out

Par 4 4 5 4 3 5 3 4 4 36 36

Black 357 414 513 411 212 517 172 410 419 3425 3274

Blue 344 399 492 377 193 487 136 350 409 3187 3048

White 290 365 473 357 181 455 116 319 389 2945 2914

Yellow 287 354 446 353 150 445 105 306 370 2816 2714

Red 263 320 436 312 113 424 92 279 332 2571 2529

Total

72

6699

6235

5859

5530

5100

Royal Pines Golf Course Masterplan.dgn 10/02/2014 11:48:33 AM

RACV Royal Pines is undergoing a major facelift to become a stronger and more exciting tournament layout “When you have a clean canvas and are not dealing with many of the sort of issues you face in floodplain projects in Queensland and the restricted time periods for construction involved at Royal Pines then it is fair to say there would be many less constraints but that is not to say a very successful result can’t be achieved,” he says.

Winning the right to re-design the layout and successfully implementing that design are two very different things and even the very experienced Marsh knows that what lies ahead presents him and his team one of their most demanding examinations for a number of reasons.

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for Royal Pines The short windows of time available to get this project out of the ground, as well as the delicate nature of the floodplain site where any major changes to the waterways are all but out of the question, are perhaps the two main issues that Marsh will have to address in the design and implementation process.

Those time constraints include having the initial nine holes reconstructed and re-grassed in the period between mid February and the staging of the PGA Championship likely in early December of 2014 and the process repeated again for the second nine in 2015.

To help overcome the shortage of time, every piece of grass replaced on the site will be done so by solid turfing (sodding) rather than the more traditional method and considerably less expensive method of stolinising (sprigging) used when time is not the issue it is at Royal Pines.

The routing will remain pretty much as it is and Marsh explains why.

“The biggest problem in creating a significant routing change is the cost of moving waterways so, other than in one instance, we are not planning on doing that. The reason for that is the cost verses the budget, the approval processes which would become necessary, the potential for acid sulphate soils in lake disruption and very importantly the potential time delays,” he says.

“I have to say there is currently an extremely good mix of holes dating back to the original designer. He got a number of things right in terms of the corridors and the length he built into the golf course. I think we will gradually build the golf course up to somewhere over 7,300 yards in the old terms (6640 metres). Where it lacks as a test for the very good player right now however is that he or she is allowed to get away with wayward shots.

“The overall plan, therefore, will be to get the better players to focus on getting their drives into the right position or zones to take advantage of the golf hole irrespective of its length. So rather than just smashing it from the tee and going and finding it they a will be forced to control the ball from the tee.

“Every green complex, their surrounds and the landing areas from the tee are to be re-contoured at this stage. The desire of the client, the PGA and certainly ours is to redo all greens complexes

and also the landing areas on the longer holes to be re-shaped with the fairway bunkering restored to the point it will be in play for the better players.”

Royal Pines has suffered from the fact that its bunkering essentially penalizes the average to poor golfer rather than the elite and Marsh is determined to address that issue.

“The actual area of the bunkering at present is something like 2.2 hectares and in our plans we are hoping to reduce that threefold to around 0.7. Rest assured, however, our aim is to not make the course easier but rather to provide significantly more effective bunkering which will test all level of players.”

Marsh is reluctant to nominate feature holes but he is determined to make the finishing stretch of holes one that will fully test players at the elite level and create a talking point for events such as the PGA and the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters.

“The current 16th is one hole we can turn into a water hole.

At present the lake there does nothing and because it is isolated we can move the lake forward without impacting on adjoining waterways and bring water right up to the front of the green. I feel that a good water hole is important in a finishing stretch of holes and really feel we can do something very special with the 16th.”

The current 17th will be lengthened with the new tee sitting behind the 16th green. At present this is essentially a short par four but Marsh’s plans appear to turn this hole in a potential danger hole.

The 18th is already one of the stronger holes on the golf course but Marsh’s plans include its lengthening, the inclusion of more penalising bunkering in the landing area from the tee and the re-alignment, re-contouring and re-bunkering of the green to place further emphasis on placement from the tee.

Those holes will come in the second phase beginning in February of 2015.

While Marsh feels it important to strengthen the finishing stretch his plans across the site will add a new dimension to a layout that is essentially tired.

One hole Marsh feels will likely become a real talking point is the par-four 8th hole. The new plan will turn the hole into a reachable par-four bringing the green forward and close to the

Graham Marsh (Photo: USGA)

water to create temptation and danger. Risk reward if you prefer the more recognised terminology.

“In recent times I have tried to introduce at least one driveable par four on my projects as I personally believe such a hole on any golf course of any nature gives people an enormous amount of joy to play.

“And that is not only for the guy who can drive the hole and make eagle or perhaps even a one but for the guy who can plot his way up the golf hole and perhaps make his one birdie in a round. It has, therefore, enormous benefits in terms of its appeal and flexibility on a golf course and I also feel that is going to be an exciting thing for people to watch.

“It would also, by bringing the green forward and closer to the water, provide opportunity to open and build up areas behind the green, creating a stadium effect for great viewing. The hole therefore represents a great opportunity.”

Marsh has been involved in the design of numerous projects worldwide including those in the USA, Asia, Australasia, Europe and even in Morroco where he is now working on a project with Vijay Singh.

He is responsible for courses in Australia such as The Vines Resort, Terrey Hills, Twin Creeks, Growing Frog, Eynesbury, Kalgoorlie, Secret Harbour amongst others. Many have hosted high end tournaments and given Marsh a lot of satisfaction in the process.

Should this project at Royal Pines come together in the manner he intends, however, it may be that the creation of a new look RACV Royal Pines will give him the most satisfaction.

Holes 1 - 9 of the current tournament layout are those being redone in the first phase. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

13

industry

Readers’ rumbles about Golf Australia Your voices have been heard, loud and clear. Armed with a laundry list of your concerns about golf in this country, we sat down with Golf Australia to get their responses on the Handicap System, Slope, social golf, TV coverage, growing the game and more.

Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

Apart from his “Victory Tour” of Australia this past summer, many readers believe that too little was done by Golf Australia to publicise Adam Scott’s US Masters triumph.

GOLF AUSTRALIA’S recent rollout of the Slope System—the final piece (maybe) of the revised Handicap System in Australia—has stirred more than a bit of debate lately.

Our “Your Voice” mailbox is overflowing with comments on the subject. Letter upon letter of angry diatribe has rolled in—from golfers of all skill levels, from social golfer to club golfer, male to female, from every nook and cranny of the country.

But many of you didn’t stop with just the handicap project. Some went on to rant about the other projects/initiatives launched by Golf Australia and the various “powers that be” in the golf industry.

“Why are Golf Australia spending all this time and money on new handicaps, new websites, elite golfers, etc?” you’ve asked. “Why can’t they focus on basic, real-life things like a national standard for colour-coded flags (Red: Front, White: Middle, Blue: Back), or getting more golf on TV, etc.”

After poring over all of the correspondence, it

became clear that there is a lot of anger about Australian Golf’s governing body.

So we sat down with Stephen Pitt, CEO of Golf Australia, and aired out your “dirty laundry” about Australian golf’s governing body’s performance.

New Handicap System and Slope

Your Voice: “Did we REALLY need a new handicap system? It wasn’t broken, so why try to fix it?”

The Vibe: My inbox is overflowing with letters from readers lamenting the new handicap system.

The majority of these readers are crying foul, stating that they couldn’t play to their handicap before the switch, and they are having an even harder time playing to it now.

I won’t go in to the For/Against arguments of the switchover, as both sides have been debated ad nauseam for years now. I will say, however, that I generally subscribe to the theory that “just because it’s from America doesn’t make it better,” (and I’m a Yankee ex-pat, in case you forgot).

To be fair, most of you are more irked with the WAY that the system was rolled out. Instead of rushing to get the system rolled out piecemeal, you believe it would have been better if Golf Australia had first done the course re-ratings

and Slope stuff behind the scenes, and THEN roll out the new calculations, etc. As it was, the phased rollouts of the calculation methods (and tweaks, etc) simply confused most golfers, and by the time Slope was finally rolled out, many of you were beyond the breaking point.

But as you say, did we really need the change?

Golf Australia’s response: “The weaknesses of the old system were that CCR didn’t work well for a number of areas, like smaller fields--which impacted country golf clubs and women’s fields, etc, so we had a situation where these fields weren’t playing under CCR, and we had two different systems in place. The other major issue with the old system was that it wasn’t flexible enough for older golfers, and it tended to come down too quickly for the higher markers; If you had a few good rounds you’d come down significantly, but if you reverted to your old ways, you’d struggle to get back out to a level that matched your playing ability.

“Yes, the old system could have been tweaked and changed, but the decision was made to explore a new system. Originally GA was going to adopt the US system in total. Along the way the decision was made that the US System didn’t function well in Australian conditions— we had to take a more sophisticated approach

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industry and build a system that could handle our heavy focus on competitions. We developed our own daily scratch rating which is far more sophisticated than CCR—taking into account the field size, handicap breakdown and gender of the field, the type of competition, etc. The downside is that golfers probably don’t understand the ins and outs of exactly how it’s calculated but the end product is that it produces a far more robust outcome than what CCR did.

“It’s been a long journey and I understand that for some golfers there’s been frustration, and there are certainly some things that would be done differently, along the way— the phasing of things I believe caused some problems for us—but we do have a system now that is fairer in the main part. And I think there are some countries around the world that look at what we’ve done and consider this a world’s best system. I suspect that if there’s ever a ‘world system’, that the Australian System will be one that’s used for that process.”

Slope System

Your Voice: “Why all the fuss with ‘portability’ when most of us only ever play the same course/club!”

The Vibe: A lot of you have lashed out at the Slope System and course ratings, arguing that it was a waste of time for the majority of club golfers.

I personally believe that portability of handicaps is a good thing for golf.

I’ve played enough to know that an 18-handicapper from a tough course can trounce a 10-handicapper from an easy course.

So the Slope System in theory is a good thing. However, the calculations used (as well as the new course ratings) may need some further tweaks. I’ve been told quietly that there are a few courses which have been given incorrect ratings/slope scores, so in time, this may normalise.

This also doesn’t address the fact that the Slope Ratings and USGA Course Ratings systems are (in my opinion) perhaps a bit too reflective of the American Style of course design (where distance is everything, greens are softer, etc). Australian courses are a different prospect than those overseas, so just because a hole doesn’t have, say, a bunker at “200 yards” down the fairway doesn’t mean it’s going to be a snack for a bogey golfer.

That all said, the main purpose of Slope is to make handicaps more portable from one course to another. And while this may not affect the majority of weekly club golfers out there, it will certainly change things for your Annual Golfing Weekend, Interclub matches, Corporate Days and Pro-Ams, not to mention Social Golfers.

But did we really need to re-rate courses for Slope?

Golf Australia’s Response: “It’s important to note that Course Ratings would have needed to be done anyway, as they hadn’t been done in quite a while. And the American system

of ratings was more effective than what we had done before.

“One of the positive things going through this process is that we understand the handicapping and course rating system far better than we did before. We’ve had some of the best statisticians in Australia working for us through the process and their input has been tremendous. One of the things we’ve talked about is using scores in GolfLink to give you a better understanding of course ratings. So that’s something that might eventuate—by looking at scores at courses and then comparing them to visitors’ scores, you start to get some quantifiable data on course ratings, so it may be that we use that process down the track to audit the Course ratings. One of the strengths of our GolfLink system is we’ve got so much data—over and above what they have, say, in the US.”

terms of GA’s vision, we’re here to grow the number of rounds being played, and the number of golfers we have in this country. We’ve got some challenges in that area, the “Lack of Time” issue is one that we haven’t successfully solved as a sport, and until we’ve got some shorter and innovative product offerings, that will present a hurdle for us. And making it easier for people to get into golf. We need to activate current golfers to share the game, and that’s something we will be driving through a campaign later this year, a“Share the Game”campaign where golfers are encouraged to bring people into the game. It’s how most of us got started in golf—usually by a friend or family member who made the decision ‘I’m going to share the game of golf with you, and help someone I care about have a better life’. If we all take that task to hand, the game will be far better off. “

Getting more people playing more golf

Your Voice: “Social golfers get [too much/not enough] attention.”

The Vibe: This is a contentious subject in my inbox. Most Club Golfers argue that Social Golf is a problem. Conversely, most Social Golfers argue that Club Golfers’ old-school mentality is a problem.

Modern golfers prefer the freedom of playing multiple courses, at times/days that are convenient, without a large initiation fee. This trend began in the US a while ago, and has slowly migrated to our shores.

Golf Australia is/was acutely aware of this, and one of their more forwardthinking moves in recent memory was the launching (as the AGU) of the Golf Access Australia (GAA) program in 2004, which aimed to allow golfers to get handicaps without joining a club and thereby participate more fully in golf competitions. This was envisioned as a pathway to get more golfers to eventually join a club.

The system gave rise to many new social clubs, handicap providers and the like. And for all intents and purposes, it did exactly what it intended, as more social players came out of their lounge rooms to play golf.

Many Club Golfers, however, complained about the GAA system, as they saw it as a threat to club golf. But the safeguards put in place by the AGU prevented club golfers from making the switch, so the predicted “mass exodus” of club golfers never eventuated.

On the contrary, the “Club Gateway” theory appeared to be very successful.

According to Matthew Pitt, founder of national GAA Provider Bushranger Golf, between 20 to 25 per cent of golfers who had GAA handicaps with Bushranger Golf eventually transitioned to traditional clubs and memberships. So the model was working.

But last year, GAA was quietly dismantled. Social Golfers were forced to go elsewhere for their handicaps, whether to a group like the VGL, a membership/club like RACV Golf, a country/affiliate membership or, if they

Your Voice: “Numbers are declining, memberships are dwindling. Whatever GA is doing, it’s not working!”

The Vibe: The goal of our governing bodies is to raise the level of participation in the game, and get more people to play more golf.

But is that really happening?

According to the 2012 National Golf Census, since 2000, the number of golf members in Australia has been slowly declining at an average of 1.48% per year. This equates to a decrease of 80,236 playing members.

Golf participation is on the decline in many countries, not just in Australia.

But, critically, this doesn’t necessarily mean that fewer people are playing golf, just that they aren’t playing as much Club Golf. While there are no firm stats/surveys on exactly how many nonclub golfers are hitting the links, there is anecdotal evidence that Social Golf is undergoing a surge in the country, as groups like Social Golf Australia continue to see increases in membership. So there may just be a shift in the way people are playing their golf.

So what is Golf Australia doing to address this?

Golf Australia’s Response: “If we look at the UK, over the last five years they’ve had a decline in club membership over 5 per cent per annum, which is quite frightening. When we look at Golf England and the other federations there, they are the best in the world in terms of their club development programs. Their resources are better, their tools for clubs are better, but they’ve still got this decline, which confirms to me this is about product offering. It’s about creating a place where people want to be, where they want to play, where they feel comfortable, and feel comfortable bringing their family and friends. That’s the challenge for golf clubs.

“For GA, there are four key priorities for game development: Juniors, women, social golfers and club development. In

Social Golfers /GAA

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

15

industry

Many readers believe that junior golf isn’t getting enough attention in this country just wanted a casual handicap, a group like the Crown Lager Social Golf Club.

Golf Australia’s Response: “Golf Access was good in theory, but it never quite worked, so the numbers weren’t particularly big. That area is still being addressed, I think we need to have a simple product that people and social clubs can tap into that has the impact of making social golfers more engaged with the game, and hopefully transferring them into more substantial relationships with clubs. That said, we have another vehicle on the horizon which we think will be a much better vehicle for social golf.

“Social golfers offer a big opportunity for golf in Australia. Club membership has declined at a continuous level, over a decade, yet we’ve seen participation stay steady, which means we’ve got more social golfers than we used to. People aren’t necessarily following up that membership option. If we look at younger generations, they are probably less open to the membership model—and the commitment that membership involves—than the generations that went before them.

“It’s about the product offering to younger players, and how we connect with them. We’ve seen clubs move from revenue models that

were dominated by membership/member revenue to more of a combination of member revenue/user pay. And that will continue. The challenge isn’t just about membership—it’s also about increasing revenue for golf clubs, which means we need to connect with the social golfer audience, and then convert them into members. In some cases that will be possible and in others—the 30-year-old parent who’s got three kids and working 60 hours a week— golf club membership is not at the top of their priority list. It’s more about keeping a connection with those people and making sure they stay connected to the game, and eventually create a flow to club membership.

Juniors and Women golfers

Your Voice: “Juniors and women don’t get enough attention or encouragement.”

The Vibe: Juniors and women are the two segments of our sport with the most potential to grow the game. As women make up only about 22% of the current membership, and juniors a meagre 4%, there is a huge opportunity to quickly grow the game by targeting these two segments.

Golf Australia’s latest campaign to boost

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Elite golfers vs the rest of us

Your Voice: “Why all the fuss over all these elite golfers?

Why isn’t there more done for Joe 20-marker?”

The Vibe: It goes without saying that our elite amateur golfers represent Australia’s future golfing stars.

Young players like Brady Watt, Nathan Holman and Stacey Keating will doubtless become the Adam Scotts, Jason Days and Karrie Webbs of the future.

Some of our young stars are already grabbing the spotlight. Recently, Amateur Minjee Lee won the Vic Open and was in the hunt for both the

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women’s numbers is a step in the right direction.

And with a rejuvenation of the Women’s Australian Open and other events, women’s golf appears to be on the rise. But we hope to see some significant follow-up in the future. With the appointment of TV Personality/avid golfer KerriAnne Kennerley on the board of Golf Australia, we hope to see more good things down the road.

Juniors are in a similar situation, although the readers aren’t as happy with the progress.

The MyGolf program has been launched with a lot of fanfare. Yet, as the father of two schoolaged children I have yet to see one flyer, notice or even a mention in the school newsletter about any sort of golf program. Instead, we are bombarded with cricket, footy, tennis, athletics, swimming and even baseball! And a small, informal survey of other parents at other schools reveals the same.

Growing up in the US, I was lucky enough to be able to get a junior golf pass for $50, which gave me unlimited golf for an entire season at a couple local courses. That, combined with the school sports teams, local junior league, city, zone and state championships kept me enthralled with golf every year. Yet there is little of that sort of thing here.

The State Associations, as well as the dedication

of organisations like Jack Newton Junior Golf (etc) are working very hard in this respect. But the overall “mood” of readers indicates that much more needs to be done.

Golf Australia’s Response: “I genuinely believe that juniors are the future of the game. Not just as future members, but they are also an avenue to get parents into golf.

I recently read some stats from the UK, in the “committed group of golfers” –who play more frequently, club members, etc—their kids play a high percentage of the time. And when you look at barriers into golf—family, time, etc—getting more juniors into the game is a great way to get more adults into the game.

“The positive thing for MyGolf is that it has formally become a joint venture between GA and the PGA. The PGA have been terrific in terms of wanting to be involved. It’s key to get Pros activated behind these programs. We’re never going to be able to match Cricket and the AFL in terms of development around the country—we don’t have their revenues—but we do have 2000 people [PGA Pros] who make a living teaching golf and have a strong interest in seeing the game grow. If we can really activate that resource it puts us in a much better position.

Our challenge is to get from 5000 kids to up to around 30,000 kids in three or four years. There are some clubs that are doing it really well, and we need to use them to share information for other clubs and promote these clubs as hubs for kids. Not every club is going to be proactive with juniors, but the ones that do the right thing and run a strong program, we’ve got to make sure that we push new golfers into those clubs. “

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industry Women’s Australian Open and Australian Ladies Masters titles. Additionally, this past summer, young Nathan Holman found himself leading the Australian Masters at one point with Adam Scott.

Many of you are convinced that far too much time and money is put towards these young players, with little onus on them giving anything back (apart from a moral obligation, etc). And many of the players DO give their time to junior clinics, etc. But business is business, and it has been suggested by readers that a HECS-type scheme (or something similar) should be implemented.

Golf Australia’s Response: “The fact is, the bulk of the money for High Performance comes from government, sponsorship or private benefactors, not the general revenue of GA. The goal of the High Performance Program is to produce Major Champions, Olympic Champions, and top-10 players, because they are the ones who drive the sport. The role models in golf often have an outcome on participation. Greg Norman certainly had that massive impact. Scotty is having an impact as well. Rounds are generally up about 4 per cent this year.

Our challenge is the sports that have the massive profile—AFL, NRL, etc— are generating really big dollars— especially broadcast revenues—from their events. The broadcast revenues from even the Australian Open Tennis are massive. In golf, the US Open and the Open Championship both deliver big dividends to their organisations. The USGA, for example, is funded purely out of revenues from the US Open. For us, our championships don’t produce those sorts of revenues. We run a good event, but until we can get bigger broadcast revenues, that’s a challenge.”

The Australian Open, Prizemoney and Tour sanctioning

Your Voice: “Why does The Australian Open have to be in Sydney every year?”

The Vibe: Arguably the premier event in Australian golf, the Australian Open has a long and treasured history in world golf. Once known as the “Unofficial Fifth Major”, it was akin to a travelling show.

Much like The Open and the US Open Championships are today. A different course each year, on a rotational basis.

Golf fans in Adelaide, Tasmania, Perth, etc, all got a chance to witness the best golfers take on the best courses our nation has to offer. There was an influx of tourism to a new location and a sense of mystery surrounding a course that may be in the spotlight again after years of hiding in the shadows.

These days, however, The Australian Open is “locked” into Sydney. Following an agreement in 2006, our National Championship was no-longer played nationally, but instead relegated to a single market.

The agreement was championed by (then) Open chairman Paul McNamee and (then) CEO Tony Hallam, who

believed that “locking an event into a single marketplace” gives golf an “opportunity to grow the event with a sustainable economic model.”

Some in the industry believe that the current setup of our major tournaments is beneficial for all: i.e., the Australian Masters in Victoria, The Australian Open in Sydney, The PGA Championship on the Gold Coast, the Perth International in WA, etc. It’s a safe and simple arrangement. But when it comes to our National Championship, trying to attract the very best golfers in the world, shouldn’t we be playing it on our very best golf courses, in different states, and exposing championship golf to golfers around the country?

Golf Australia’s Response: “We’ve seen tournaments start to be located in certain regions for a certain period of time. The reality is that it’s become difficult to move tournaments around because they’ve developed strong relationships with state governments who’ve invested a fair degree of money into those events.

It would be great to think in the future that ‘yes, we can see the Australian Open at different venues around the country’, but our first challenge is to make sure that it’s financially strong— and that’s probably a little way off at the present time.”

Your Voice: “ W hy d o we h a ve s o m a ny tournaments in Australia...wouldn’t it be better for sponsors, players, etc to have just ONE huge tournament, with a bigger Prize Purse, that is cosanctioned by a major tour?”

Golf Australia’s Response: “It’s a really interesting discussion, and I’ve heard both sides of it. If you went back in the day, in the men’s side we had about 13 events, so it’s actually collapsed down to about four major events at the moment. Having multiple tournaments has its advantages as well. You can get players who aren’t just coming to Australia for one event.

It also gives you a bit more content for TV, and that’s one thing we are trying to do is have some synergies across the tournaments. That said, we think the Australian Open has the potential to really grow organically. And the tournament owners are working more closely together than they ever have before, which is a positive step.

“Prizemoney and sanctioning is another interesting discussion. The Australian Open is part of OneAsia, and we believe that OneAsia provides a strong platform for our players on the world stage. Being part of the PGA Tour, conversely, wouldn’t guarantee you’ll get Tiger or Phil or all those guys anyway. Nor would a larger purse, necessarily. We saw that with the World Cup. The prizemoney was $7 million, and the two American players were Matt Kuchar and Kevin Streelman.

Extremely large prizemoney doesn’t guarantee the very best players will come. They don’t want to fly all this way for one tournament, and scheduling is a major obstacle.”

TV Coverage (or lack thereof)

Your Voice: “Golf TV coverage on Free To Air is nearly nonexistent.”

The Vibe: I receive heaps of mail regarding the lack of golf coverage on Free To Air television. Though we were all lucky enough to witness Adam Scott’s victory at the US Masters, most other events are limited to pay-TV. While those of us with Foxtel were engrossed by the excitement of the recent Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Adam Scott’s nailbiting final round the Open Championship, the vast majority of the Australian golf-loving public were treated to a gripping episode of “The Bold and The Beautiful”, “Good Chef, Bad Chef” or “The Shire” Currently there are only three golf events listed under the Australian Government’s anti-siphoning list: The Australian Open, Australian Masters and the US Masters. So the FTA networks get first dibs on broadcasting those events (or not). Foxtel gets their pick of the rest.

A disturbing story in The Australian, however, reports that Foxtel will likely be pushing to have The US Masters removed from that list, in addition to many other big events like Wimbledon, US Open Tennis, Ashes Cricket in England, etc.

I won’t go into the intricacies of the challenging nature of television partnerships, Government lobbying and money, etc., but TV is arguably the most powerful medium for inspiring the casual golfer to hit the links. So shouldn’t golf’s governing body be doing everything in its power to get MORE golf on TV? Costs and logistics aside, surely SOMETHING can (and should) be done.

Golf Australia’s Response: “There are some things that GA and also the PGA and IMG as tournament owners can do, and there are other tournaments that sit outside our arena.

In terms of FTA coverage, the tournament owners have worked really hard and put in significant money to make sure their tournaments are on FTA. For the international tournaments, I think there’s a perception that the anti-siphoning list fixes everything, and if you’re on the list you’ll be on FTA, but that’s just not the case. Those international tournaments are owned by external parties and we don’t have control over the decisions they make.

“We’ve talked to various parties, particularly the R&A about the desire to see the Open Championship on FTA, and they are very aware of that position, but the R&A are running a commercial event, and they have to make decisions that help the event to grow and prosper.

One of the things the R&A have done extremely well is put money back into other regions around the world and they have invested considerable money back into Australia; with MyGolf, with clubs that were impacted by bushfires, floods and a whole number of things.

Part of the reason they are able to do that is because the Open Championship generates a return for them, and TV Broadcast rights are a major part of that. www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

17

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The Australian Open, many readers believe, shouldn’t be stuck in Sydney, but should instead be like the US Open or Open Championship, played at our very best courses across the nation.

We’d love to see more golf on FTA. In terms of what we can control, we’ve been successful in that, but in terms of international events, there are some things that fall outside of GA.”

Commercials and Publicity

Your Voice: “Why wasn’t more done to celebrate Adam Scott’s big win?”

The Vibe: Adam Scott’s victory at the US Masters was one of the greatest golfing moments in Australian history. Golfers of all ages were inspired by this magical moment, and many of them rushed out to the course in the hopes of emulating their new hero. Competition rounds increased, junior golf clinics were filling up, and tee-sheets were brimming.

Later, Adam came out to Australia for the Summer of Golf, and the masses went out to watch “Our Adam”. It was a summer to remember,

and golf was a big winner.

However, after all that, there appears to have been hardly a peep in regards to promotion or follow-up. In fact, even during the summer, there was only one quick TV/Web commercial with Adam quietly encouraging us to get out there and play.

A similar situation occurred with the recent Presidents Cup and World Cup events. Some of the best golfers in the world graced our shores to inspire a generation of golfers, yet there was little follow-up to build on that momentum.

Australian golf missed the boat back then, so we hope it isn’t the same this time.

The stone, it would seem, is gathering moss.

Golf Australia’s Response: “I understand the perception that we didn’t quite capitalise on Scotty’s win. But in reality we did everything we could financially. The week after he won, we were in discussions with Adam’s people about how we could capitalise

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on his win for the betterment of Australian golf.

Adam was fantastic and was generous with his time and support. We also worked with the State Associations, PGA and others to create the biggest pool we could. We did newspaper, radio, TV. We tried to concentrate it on him coming back to Australia for the summer season. We will go again and we are in frequent contact with his father and manager about various things and they have also been very helpful. But we just have to focus our resources. The amount of money you spend for TV, for us it’s impossible to get the same sort of ad coverage as an AFL or NRL. We don’t have several million dollars sitting around ready for something like this. Our real challenge is to get the most of the money that we invest into golf. It may not have looked like Golf Australia promoted the heck out of this, but in terms of the resources available, we were delighted with the publicity that golf got over that period.”

Your Voice: “Why doesn’t Golf Australia merge with the State bodies to create one unified body?”

The Vibe: In a nutshell, Golf Australia is responsible for helping develop the strategy and programs for golf, and then the State bodies are responsible for delivery. While there is a common goal and some solid communication, there are some areas where it could be improved.

Many believe that Golf Australia should amalgamate with the state bodies, much in the same way that the AGU and WGA amalgamated, as well as the New Zealand PGA and Golf New Zealand, etc. The cost savings would be significant, and the unified body would represent a much stronger selling proposition for sponsors.”

Golf Australia’s Response: “We have done quite a bit of work on this already and have had some positive discussions with the State Associations about how we could collectively improve the structure and delivery of golf in Australia. I think all of the bodies have approached that with a focus on doing the best thing for the game of golf. The process will continue and there will be some important meetings later this year.” •

What’s next?

All of the above points are open for further discussion. Inside Golf is calling on comments from the entire golfing community regarding the points raised here. What are your thoughts? Email us at ed@insidegolf.com.au, or post a comment on this story via our website: www.insidegolf.com.au

from the ceo

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Brian Thorburn CEO - PGA of Australia www.pga.org.au

It’s been another successful month for the Australian golf industry with many PGA Professionals reporting strong trends at a grass roots level. On many fronts Australian golf is still benefiting from an overwhelmingly successful summer and at an organisational level we’re working hard to progress initiatives to capitalise on this momentum. Collaboration with other industry groups and bodies especially Golf Australia and GMA, will be key to this success and already there are numerous projects underway that represent an important step forward for Australian golf.

Stephen Pitt CEO - Golf Australia www.golf.org.au

Last summer illustrated the impact our High Performance Program is having on Australian golf with Minjee Lee’s fantastic performances across multiple women’s tournaments culminating in her win at the Oates Victorian Open.

We also witnessed rookie pro Nathan Holman’s display at the Talisker Masters and Emirates Australian Open and the headlines for rising star Ryan Ruffels and U.S Amateur runner-up OIiver Goss.

Inevitably Adam Scott’s victory at Augusta National a year ago also had media and golf fans around the country asking who was coming next. Who is the next big talent coming through the ranks? Who will follow in Adam’s footsteps?

Sometimes we’re also asked how the elite amateurs and rookie professionals that we work with, will contribute to the overall growth in Australian golf. The

Karen Lunn

Executive Officer - ALPG www.alpg.com.au

As the curtain falls on one of the most drama-filled and entertaining ALPG seasons in recent memory, it would be very hard to go past Minjee Lee’s emergence as the new superstar of the Women’s game in Australia, or the maiden professional victory of Cheyenne Woods at the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters as the standout stories of the 2014 ALPG Tour.

However few could argue that the highlight of our summer of golf was Karrie Webb’s dramatic come-from-behind win at the ISPS Handa Womens Australian Open. It is easy to run out of superlatives when describing Karrie’s golf at times and her final round 68 in very tough, windy conditions must surely rate right up there as one of her best. I have been

The last month has also coincided with the state-based awards dinners being staged around the country. This is a significant annual opportunity for our Members to come together with other industry representatives and celebrate the achievements of individuals and clubs over the last 12 months. Congratulations to all this year’s award winners and nominees for their contribution to our sport.

On the tournament front, the PGA Tour of Australasia has just wrapped up a four-week swing of events across Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand.

Congratulations must go to each of the clubs and organisations involved with staging these events, as well as to the winning Professionals Gareth Paddison (Lexus of Blackburn Victorian PGA Championship), Anthony Summers (Coca-Cola QLD PGA Championship),

Matthew Griffin (Oates Vic Open) and Dimi Papadatos (New Zealand Open.)

With our Tour now taking a five month break, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our Tournament Members the very best as they now head overseas to compete on international circuits. We’ll certainly be watching your progress with keen interest and look forward to seeing you all back in Australia towards the end of the year.

The PGA Tour of Australasia will resume in August with the inaugural staging of the Fiji International which is shaping up to be a huge success following confirmation that Fiji’s greatest ever sportsman Vijay Singh will headline the US$1 million tournament. We look forward to sharing developments on this and many other events with you in the coming months. •

answer to this in part explains why we invest into high performance golf.

Having Major or Olympic champions and highly successful international players has a long term impact on Australian golf and we have seen that very clearly in years gone by. Roles models on golf have an important and measureable impact on the overall health of the game. Apart from what they do in terms of driving grassroots participation, successful Australian players also drive sponsorship, government funding and wider investment opportunities.

Although the link may not always seem that obvious, high performance, in the sport of golf at least, is a good investment back into the growth of the sport. We are fortunate that most of the investment that is made comes via government, corporate and private support rather than Golf Australia’s general revenue.

The junior player inspired by Adam Scott or Karrie Webb makes a journey from the very earliest starting points - through local clubs and communities - through to state, national and international levels if they choose to do so.

All these stepping stones play an important role in shaping our young players’ futures and the path begins with initial participation in the game.

The process of long-term development now begins at a much younger age to ensure players are better exposed to the skills and resources needed to not only be a professional golfer but to have success at the national and international professional level.

Few of these results occur overnight and of all the players who go through our program, some will succeed on the world stage and some will not. We certainly work with them all to help achieve their goals as golfers and as people.

By doing this, we are putting the building blocks in place now so that we have Australian male and female golfers to cheer on in the future and so we can identify, develop and support our emerging talent.

As last summer in particular proved, the results of this program directly contribute to the future exposure, growth and success of Australian golf on many levels. •

fortunate enough to witness many of Karrie’s wins firsthand and it would be very easy to forget that this was her 52nd career victory such was her delight at collecting the Patricia Bridges Australian Open trophy for the 5th time. Karrie is such a great supporter of the ALPG and of golf in Australia and we are extremely fortunate that every year she comes home and supports our major events.

Women’s golf in Australia has been waiting for someone to come along and step into Karrie’s very big shoes and may have finally found the heir apparent in the talented 17 year-old West Australian Minjee Lee. Lee started the 2014 ALPG season in style at the Bing Lee Fujitsu NSW Open shooting a final round 66 to finish in a tie for 5th place. She went from strength to strength contending at both the Volvik RACV Masters finishing 2nd, and at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, where she was tied for the lead going into the final round but succumbed to the

pressure and finished down the field with a final round 78. This was hardly surprising considering the pressure on such young shoulders and competing against the best the world has to offer.

Next stop was down to the magnificent 13th Beach Links for the Oates Victorian Open. As Minjee headed into the last round with a 3-shot lead many were wondering if the experience of the past few weeks being in contention would stand her in good stead or if the disappointment of not winning would play on her mind. Her class shone through and she shot a very impressive final round 68 to win her first professional victory by 6 shots.

It will be great to watch Minjee’s development as she prepares to enter the professional ranks I would like to offer a huge thank you to all of the ALPG’s sponsors partners and of course our fans for making the 2013/14 ALPG Tour one of the best ever. • www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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club news

Club trials one-tee policy David Newbery

Results of the One-Tee Start Survey

david@insidegolf.com.au

(Percentage (%) based on the 115 completed surveys returned) THE results of a survey asking members if they preferred a one-tee start or a two-tee start at Cairns Golf Club in Tropical North Queensland makes for interesting reading.

Club president Nerida Wilson said the one-tee trial was “met with mixed reaction”.

“We trialled a one-tee start in 2013 to assess the impacts and benefits on our members and revenue,” she said.

“However, it became evident in a short period of time there were immediate financial gains when the course opened to social play after the field on a Saturday.

“Social players pay full green fees and tend towards motorised cart hire, which significantly increases Saturday revenue.

“Our junior programme has enjoyed unprecedented growth under our new club professional Darren Golder (increasing from 12 to 94 juniors in 12 months).

“Although it’s not the primary motivation for a one-tee start, it will provide an opportunity for juniors to follow the Saturday field if they are ready to take the next step to 18-hole competition, but not yet ready to join the senior ranks.

“Implementation of a one-tee start involves members as part of the

Cairns Golf Club

solution to our challenging financial position.

“We hope that with member understanding we can strike a balance between maintaining the social fabric of Saturday member competition and reaping the rewards of social and junior play.”

After analysing the financial data from the trial and the survey results, Ms Wilson said the board of directors voted unanimously at the February board meeting to start a one-tee trial for all Saturday member competitions and revert to a two-tee start during

the middle months when member golf demand is at its peak and the days are shortest. “ The one-tee start trial was controversial and I accept the jury is still out for some members on this matter,” she said.

“However we, as a board, are considering all options that contribute to the financial health of our club.

“We intend to carefully monitor both the tangible and intangible outcomes of a one-tee start this year and work with members in order to achieve the best overall outcome for our club.”

Q1. Under two-tee starts would you describe yourself as a: Morning: 58%; Afternoon: 33%; Either: 9%.

Q2. Under a one-tee start your preference for playing times are: 7-9am 55%; 9-11am 14%; 11am-1pm 31%.

Q3. Under the one tee start have you had difficulty in getting your preferred tee time: Yes 38%; Sometimes 31%; No 31%.

Q4. Would you say the effect of the one-tee start on your golf: Enhanced 7%; Detracted 26%; No Change 67%.

Q5. Would you say the effect of the one-tee start on your socialising after golf: Enhanced 8%; Detracted 33%; No Change 59%.

Q6. Would you say the effect of the one-tee start on your time management: Enhanced 11%; Detracted 37%; No Change 52%.

Q7. Under the one-tee start, do you think longer playing times in the afternoon were caused by: Accumulation of slow play 56%; On course drinking by afternoon players 25%; Excessive mid-game time spent in bar 37%; Lack of availability of carts 4%; Other 6%.

Q8. Do you support for Saturdays: Medley 37%; Ladies fixed block time 33%; Both 30%.

Q9. If there was a one-tee start should social play on Saturday be available: After competition 62%; Before competition 2%; Both 36%.

Q10. Would your priority for supporting social play on the golf course on Saturday be: Offsetting increases in your costs 38%; Not affecting your playing conditions 62%.

Q11. Which factor would most influence your decision for re-joining in 2014?

Measured increase in costs 27%; One-tee start 10%; Neither 63%. •

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ON TOUR WITH:

Nathan Holman Having secured his Asian Tour card in his first attempt at the Qualifying School in Thailand, young Aussie Nathan Holman talks about the challenges he faces moving forward.

What made you want to play on the Asian Tour?

I’ve had some great experiences playing in Asia and I know there are a lot of great tournaments out here. I’ve got a few friends in Asia as well and that kind of brought me here.

How do you feel now that you’ve secured your Tour card for 2014?

It’s amazing that I’ve gotten my Tour card now. I feel good that I got through this as there’s no other tournament that is more pressurepacked than this! I worked hard before coming into this and I’m glad it paid off. The Asian Tour definitely knows how to run golf tournaments!

Everything is so well-organised and I’m really pleased with it.

When did you start to play golf and what sparked your interest?

My grandfather got me started playing golf when I was probably four or five years old.

I’ve been playing junior golf since I was about

eight years old. I went on to play in college and in university and all the way until I turned professional last October. I’ve always got the drive to play professionally so playing on the Asian Tour would definitely be a good start for me.

What made you want to turn professional?

I grew up watching golf on television and my grandparents always wanted me to be like one of those guys out there. I love the game and playing professional golf was my goal since a long time ago.

What would you be if you weren’t a professional golfer?

Honestly, I have no idea. It is my dream to play professional golf and I really haven’t thought of what else I would be if I’m not a professional golfer.

How long did it take you to reach a singlefigure handicap?

I reached single handicap when I was about

14 years old. It took me about six to seven years.

What are your goals in golf?

I would definitely like to get into top ten in the world. Being the world number one would be an approachable goal but I would like to do it step-by-step.

What keeps you on top of your game?

I have a very loving girlfriend (laughs) and a very supportive family. They push me every day and ensure that I can be the best that I can be.

What do you think will be the most difficult part of being a rookie on the Asian Tour?

The travelling part. I travelled a lot more than I used to. There’s going to be some adaptations to the time-change and coping with the language barriers and food. It will take some time to get used to the different cultures here and knowing the people and golf courses in Asia as well.

When you are not playing golf, what will you be doing?

I would probably be snow-boarding or

wake-boarding. I love board sports! Otherwise, I would love to be home during my off-time.

There’s so much to do back home like fishing or hanging out with my family and friends from college who are very supportive of me.

How do you prepare before a round?

I do a lot of stretching and I make sure I had a good sleep the night before. I try to get some refreshments before I get out there just to keep my energy up.

Who is your inspiration in golf?

Bob Guilder, who played on the PGA Tour before, has given me a lot of encouragement and advice in my golf game. He is my source of inspiration and I look up to him as a great mentor.

What is your number one distraction when you’re out on the course?

Probably when I get a little bit ahead of myself and walk too fast. I have the tendency to take it all fast out there so I always have to check on myself and ensure that I keep my tempo slow.

How would you celebrate if you win a tournament?

I would want my family, my coaches, my girlfriend and people close to me to be there to share my joy and celebrate the occasion with me. •

Nathan Holman

Country: Australia Date of Birth: April 19, 1991 Residence: Melbourne Turned Pro: 2013 Amateur wins: (5) Mandurah Open Amateur 2012, Riversdale Cup 2011, Victorian Amateur 2011, Master of the Amateurs 2012, Southern Open 2011

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cover story

Can we go ‘back to back’ at Augusta?

Never before has the Australian golfing public’s expectation of success at the US Masters been so high…and with good reason.

Henry Peters ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

D

efending champion Adam Scott headlines Australia’s quintet of starters for the 2014 Masters – joined by Jason Day, Marc Leishman, John Senden and 19-year-old West Australian Oliver Goss, who qualified off the back of his runner-up finish at last year’s US Amateur Championship.

Scott’s win last year and the top-four finishes of Day and Leishman could pin unnecessary hopes on our star golfers but there’s no reason why similar heroics can’t again play out at Augusta.

The weight of expectation on Scott will be huge. The 33-year-old is not only dealing with the intense pressure that comes with being Australia’s only winner of the famed green jacket, he’s got the world number one ranking to think about. He’s risen to number two but, naturally, our sporting public wants more from the Queenslander. It wants him to

breeze past Tiger Woods and become our first number one since Greg Norman. It also wants him to add to his major count this year at Augusta. That’s a lot easier said than done. In fact, Scott’s form to date in 2014 suggests that he may not be our great white hope.

He started this year well with a pair of top tens in Hawaii in January and then took a sixweek break. His return at last month’s Honda Classic yielded a 12th place finish and he followed that with a tie for 25th at the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship at Doral – a week in which he could have snatched the number one ranking from Woods with a victory.

His limited schedule is all about peaking for the majors but so far it has netted mediocre tour results. That alone isn’t cause for major concern but the potential distraction of the number one ranking probably won’t help.

However, Scott admitted at Doral that getting to number one could be used as motivation.

“It’s impossible not to think about it,” Scott said on the eve of the Cadillac Championship.

But he’s had plenty of time to get his game right since them and, despite any drop off in form, Scott can reasonably expect to win any major he tees it up in.

The same goes for Day who, for several reasons, can lay claim to being the pick of the Australian hopefuls.

Firstly, he has already won one of the biggest events of 2014 – the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship.

Defending champion Adam Scott has a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders Secondly, the 26-year-old’s thirst for major victory has reached a tipping point.

He’s compiled three runner-up finishes at majors and looked poised for victory at last year’s Masters when he led by two shots with three holes to play, only to record consecutive bogeys and finish in outright third.

Finally, Day’s game is perfectly suited to the Masters. He has enough power to overwhelm Augusta’s par-fives, he can hit the ball as high as almost anyone and his work from around the greens is tailor-made for the extreme slopes of Augusta’s greens.

Assuming he recovers from the thumb injury that forced him to withdraw from both Bay Hill and the Cadillac Championship, expect him to be in one of the finals groups come Sunday.

Leishman’s form has fallen away since his strong opening to 2014. He came fifth at the Sony Open in Hawaii and tied second at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines but

hasn’t factored since. But the 30-year-old isn’t without hope at Augusta based on his bold run last year.

John Senden’s win at last month’s Valspar Championship ended the Queenslander’s eight-year run without victory in the US, bought him a place at this month’s US Masters and has him primed as arguably Australia’s most in-form contender heading to Augusta.

For Goss, making the cut would be mission accomplished.

Australia’s top-ranked amateur can take great belief from the efforts of Chinese phenom Guan Tianlang, who made the cut at last year‘s Masters as a 14-year-old.

Goss will turn 20 on the Saturday of this year’s Masters and what a birthday present it would be if he finds himself with a round three tee time.

But the world’s best will be out to thwart any Aussie charge.

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Obey Augusta’s rules, or else

By David Newbery AT Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the US Masters, everyone has to abide by the club’s rules – even the players and commentators.

With a World Cup of Golf title under his belt, Jason Day will be looking to prove he can continue to win against the world’s best

Some of the rules at Augusta National include: no running at any time; no walking barefoot, no matter how many blisters you have; no phones, cameras or electronic devices; no wearing your cap backwards (sorry Rickie Fowler) and no lying on the grass.

Anyone caught lying down for a rest is told to sit up straight.

And caddies must wear white jump suits.

In 1966, commentator Jack Whitaker received his marching orders after referring to the Masters galleries as a “mob scene”.

Gary McCord, too, was removed from his Augusta National broadcasting duties in 1994 after he said the greens were smothered with “bikini wax”.

Marc Leishman will aim to improve on his bold run at last year’s US Masters

The late Norman von Nida, in his book titled The Von, tells an interesting story about a player who disregarded one of Augusta National’s strict rules.

“I was playing a practice round with Frank ‘Muscles’ Stranahan, the son of a millionaire,” Norman wrote.

“One of the rules was that a player could not play more than one ball during practice on the course.

“However, during our practice round Frank was sometimes hitting two balls. He hit two balls to the third green and on the fifth did it again.

C

M

Australia’s top-ranked amateur Oliver Goss will be hoping to show the world what he’s made of

“I didn’t say anything to him the first time, but on the second occasion I thought he might not have heard about the rule. ‘You can’t do that, Frank. You’ll be disqualified if you do.’

Y

CM

“Frank simply laughed it off and said I was being paranoid.

MY

“When we got to the seventh hole, Frank was approached by a Pinkerton guard and told he was wanted in the clubhouse by Clifford Roberts (Augusta National chairman).

CY

CMY

K

“Frank, still as confident as ever, left with the guard but never returned to finish his round.

“In fact, he didn’t even play in the Masters tournament.

Following his victory at the Valspar Championship last month, John Senden will look to take his winning form to Augusta If his injured back heals in time, Tiger Woods will again be favourite but the basis for his favouritism at majors becomes more and more dubious with each one he doesn’t win. His last major victory was almost six years ago at the 2008 US Open and he’ll need to conquer his demons if he is to win that elusive 15th major.

There is a host of younger, in-form Americans desperate to make a mark. Take Jimmy Walker, who has three wins this PGA Tour season, and 23-year-old Patrick Reed, who has won twice in 2014. Neither has figured in majors but both have a wave of confidence on their side.

Dustin Johnson and former Masters champions Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson have also made hot starts to the year and should factor.

The European contingent is perhaps not as strong as in recent years with several English stars sliding down the world rankings but the likes of Swede Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and, of course, Rory McIlroy loom large.

Regardless of who takes the Green Jacket, the 2014 US Masters promises to be as exciting as ever. •

“Just as I had forewarned, he was suspended for breaking the tournament’s rules.

“The Masters is a special tournament where tradition and rules must be adhered at all times.

“No one is above the rules at the Masters which is why it is one of the best tournaments in the world.”

Still, Stranahan, who won two British Amateur titles and numerous US amateur titles, did play in the Masters 12 times and once finished in a tie for second while still in the amateur ranks.

The American finished second behind Bobby Locke in the 1952 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes, but he was unpopular with British caddies used to having their advice heeded.

Once Stranahan sent a British caddie ahead to give him the line for a blind shot to the green.

But the disgruntled caddie gave him a line to thick gorse.

When Stranahan arrived the caddie showed him his ball and said: ‘Well, sir, if you think you know so much about it, let’s see you get out of that,’ and departed the golf course.

In the US, Stranahan won a string of amateur events including the North and South three times, the Western four times, the Tam O’Shanter World Amateur consecutively from 1848 to 1953 and the Canadian Amateur in 1947-’48.

Many aficionados considered he was past his best when he turned professional in 1954.

He won six US PGA Tour titles – four as an amateur and two as a professional.

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

25

on tour

New Zealand Open: a professional’s view Leigh Deagan

@deags_84

F

rom 27th February to 2nd March the New Zealand Open was held at the prestigious Hills Golf Club combined with Millbrook Resort. It was a milestone year for the event as the pros were able to join with amateurs to play a team’s tournament within the main stroke play competition.

This format allowed a handful of celebrities including Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting, American dance star Chris Judd and former New Zealand cricket captain Steven Fleming to combine with amateurs from all over the world who were willing to pay the $10,000 entry fee to compete alongside the best professionals in the Australasian region.

The $850,000NZD prize purse attracted a very strong field of players from all over the globe and headlining the tournament was American Rocco Mediate, we all know Rocco from the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines where Tiger defeated him on one leg on the Monday by forcing a playoff with that famous putt on the 72nd hole.

There was a small Japanese contingent led by multiple winner Toshinori Muto. Also in the field was big hitting Scott Hend, coming off a very successful year on the Asian Tour and Michael Hendry the back-to-back NZ PGA champion ‘2012/13’. Other notables included Michael Sim, Matthew Griffin, Nathan Holman, Craig Parry, Peter O’Malley and Daniel Popovic.

Dimitrios Papadatos New Zealand’s weather showed its teeth at the New Zealand Open (photo courtesy Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.co.nz) The popular dynamics of playing the championship over two courses always challenges the pros regardless of the weather conditions.

The Hill’s Golf Club, owned by New Zealand’s famous jeweler Sir Michael Hill, is always presented in immaculate condition and is one of my favorite courses worldwide.

The Millbrook Resort Course was also in outstanding condition and is made up of two different nines. The front nine being the older style resort course with wider landing areas and flatter greens, whereas the recently redesigned back nine by New Zealand

golf professional Greg Turner presented a few more challenges featuring extremely long holes, undulating fairways and greens demanding respect and correct angle of approach from the fairway.

The weather conditions throughout the week proved to be very testing, we saw some icy sleet, combined with high arctic winds, rain and lots of sunshine. Both courses withstood all the elements and created the perfect setting for a young champion Dimitrios Papadatos to launch his career and place his name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy next to golf’s elite. Past champions including Peter Thomson, Michael Campbell, Ian Baker-Finch and Corey Pavin.

Dimitrios or “Dimi” as his friends call him and the 2013 Club Car Rookie of the Year fired off rounds of 68, 69, 67, 66 for a total of 18-under-par to claim the title over experienced New Zealander Mark Brown by four shots.

It was the New South Welshman’s maiden title on the PGA of Australia Tour. The win will gain him three tournament exemptions on the Japan Tour as well securing his Asian Tour card for the 2014 season two weeks prior to the event. I think Dimitrios has a very bright future and will be the one to watch in the 2014 summer of golf. • Leigh Deagan is a PGA/OneAsia Tour member from Melbourne.

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business

We chat with Roger Cleveland Garrett Johnston ed@insidegolf.com.au

He loves Australian golf, just helped to launch the new Big Bertha, and has been a staple of the golf industry for over 25 years.

Roger Cleveland recently sat down with Inside Golf to discuss his club designs with industry super-power Callaway.

The Big Bertha is back. What prompted that?

Well, we have two new Big Berthas: the Big Bertha Driver, which features adjustable perimeter weighting; and the Big Bertha Alpha, which features our new adjustable Gravity Core technology. Both also have adjustable hosels. We brought back the Big Bertha name because we really did something that hadn’t been done before in golf with the Alpha, making it worthy of the Bertha name.

The Alpha is the first time that anybody has designed a club that addresses spin without changing loft or the vertical CG (center of gravity) element in the club. I actually did this in the muscle-back irons as well—addressed vertical CG on the vertical axis, where you move weight up and down the clubhead to facilitate a certain type of ball flight.

What do you feel is critical about the Bertha for the everyman golfer?

We have such flexibility in the drivers to fit them for every golfer. With the Big Bertha we have a weight that moves around the perimeter of the club. Therefore, the moment of inertia (resistance to twisting on off-centre hits) is much greater. So you’re going to get greater stability with that club.

Both the Big Bertha and the Big Bertha Alpha have four different loft settings, which can be adjusted via the hosel. For instance, with the 9.5 degree clubhead, players can adjust one or two degrees up in loft, or one degree down from the standard stated loft.

What makes the Big Bertha Alpha Driver so groundbreaking is its Gravity Core technology, which allows adjustment to the vertical centre of gravity. That means players can change

spin independent of loft for the first time. So depending on your attack angle, you can see a variance anywhere between 250 and 400 rpms without changing loft. So if you play Royal Melbourne and typically struggle to hit the ball under the wind, you can adjust the gravity core to place the weight in the low position, which will reduce your spin. That’s the key to being able to fit the driver for any playing conditions. The gravity core, along with the along with adjustability of the hosel, give us incredible flexibility in fitting the Alpha driver.

What else is vital about the Big Bertha Alpha?

The Alpha is a little bit smaller but a little bit deeper. It’s deeper because we wanted a longer distance for when you move weight up and down. If you have a bigger distance, it has more effect when moving the weight. We deepened that and it’s a beautiful driver.

How proud are you of your wedge work?

What I’m most proud of is that they are being well received, not only in the marketplace but also on Tour and that’s nice. It’s a nice vote of confidence for the design and feel, and the whole presentation.

How would you describe your design philosophy?

We’re always looking for improvement and pushing that. If there’s any one design philosophy it’s always trying to innovate and make a club for the category of golfer that we’re looking to design to. We try to bring as much innovation as we can to that category and ability. We have four different irons, there’s four different price points. I want the club to look as good as it possibly can and be as appealing and easy to hit. I want to constantly strive to have that result in the design, that’s the philosophy, simple as that.

How much is aesthetics factored in to your design?

It’s huge. It’s got to be appealing to look at and exciting to own. I want to be proud of my club. It’s a little bit of a status symbol. Not only that, but you want it to perform like crazy. You want to beat your partner’s brains out on a Saturday. And a Sunday warrior on the Tour has to like it as well. So it’s very important and

we take a lot of pride in it.

What do you make of Australia and its golf?

Australia to me has the best golf courses in the world. Especially in the Sandbelt area.

Kingston Heath is one of my favorites. I haven’t played a lot but I’ve played Kingston and Royal Melbourne. I enjoyed Australia as a whole, a great country and a great golfer’s country.

With some of the firm conditions that face Australian golfers how do you think your wedges will consistently respond to the terrain?

They’re going to create a lot of spin and control with that groove and with the sole, there are a lot of firm conditions in Australia. And these Mack Daddy 2 Wedges are very good for those conditions. You don’t want to have a lot of bounce, you’re not going to hit down under the ball with the leading edge. With firm conditions you have two wedges out of the three in the loft category that have 10 degrees of bounce, which is perfect for conditions like that.

What’s your general thought on spin with the driver?

There is a certain window of spin that I think you need. To me optimal spin is 1,900 to 2,500 rpm with certain launch conditions but if you get below that you start to not be able to control the golf ball. You could maybe hit it further if you get to 1,100 rpms but you’re not going to be able to control it. We investigated reducing spin with a higher loft, but players want to be able to control the ball and see a nice ball flight. So there’s an optimal spin that we try to shoot for and still maintain that controlled flight.

Talk about your hybrids, the X2 Hot and X2 Hot Pro. We have two different hybrids. A pro version, which is a little bit smaller (X2 Hot Pro) and a little less offset, and the bigger version (X2 Hot), which doesn’t have much offset either. We use the same Hyper Speed Face Cup technology found in our fairway woods in both hybrids models, so they are very long. They sound great and ball speeds are amazing. The new shape, designed with feedback from tour pros, creates confidence over the ball.

How vital is a good sound coming from your clubs?

You want the club to sound strong and you want to have a great, pleasing sound. That’s one of the things we spend a great deal of time on in player testing our products with R&D. There is a pleasing sound and there isn’t.

There are some clubs out there that sound like a tin can and we don’t want that (laughs). It’s still one of the critical factors that good players pay attention to when testing clubs.

Talk about this year’s irons, quite a variety with the X2?

Our new family is called X2 Hot. Within that, we have the X2 Hot Irons and X2 Hot Pro Irons.

The X2 Hot is designed for higher handicap players looking for great ball speeds and forgiveness. The X2 Hot Pro is a bit more traditional with a little smaller head for a better player. The new Apex Iron is forged, with a Carpenter 455 Steel face, the same material we use in the X2 Hot iron faces that provides great ball speed with a feel of a forging. It’s marvelous. The new Apex Pro Iron has a little smaller head and gives some forgiveness, but it’s aimed at more accomplished player. It has a beautiful shape, it feels great, and a lot of players are now using it.

How do you want to be remembered?

I haven’t really thought about my legacy yet. •

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

business

Members: grow up and face the reality Mike Orloff Golf Industry Central mike@golfindustrycentral.com.au

L

et’s face it; the new target demographic that many clubs are after now is the “middle somethings” that have young kids (i.e. Family market). Yet the product that many clubs typically have on offer is for the “old somethings” that don’t want to change!

This is seen in an old clubhouse, no kids’ area, and an unwelcoming membership to any newcomers even though the newcomers are the potential saviours for the club.

I see it time and time again – a club says they want and need the juniors, younger people and new members, yet they don’t make the necessary big changes to attract them. They talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

Walk into many clubs nowadays and you still see some old codgers (and new codgers) sitting at the end of the bar, in the same actual seats they have been sitting in for the past 20 years, as they would never allow them to be changed, as that is the way it’s always been.

They sit there drinking a few drops talking

30

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

about how great it was in the old days. How they used to have full comps and a bank account to match.

Fast-forward a few decades and now the same, but older codgers with even older chairs and clubhouse are saying “Oh my God did you hear that the beer prices are going up 10 cents! How dare they, don’t they know we built this club and owe us?!”

They are also asking “where is everyone, they must not be doing their job... Do you remember when…? Oh the good ole’ days.”

I SAY, GET OVER IT!!!

Times have changed and times are getting tougher. Many of the club’s bad decisions were made from previous Boards and stubborn members, with a current Board now trying to deal with the aftermath and hopefully not making the same mistakes.

We live in a different world and the bigger strategies and, more importantly, the club culture needs to change.

The old codgers are hitting the twilight age and don’t usually worry too much about what the club will need to do in the next generation of trying to exist. They actually don’t want change as it will ultimately have the most impact on “their” membership and

For many club members, it’s time to get up off the barstool, make some changes and hold your club accountable. “their” access to course. They don’t want annual dues to go up each year, even though the club is barely making ends meet, and the club’s main asset – the golf course is slowing deteriorating. Stop being so selfish and stand up and do what is right for the next generation of the club.

We read the numerous reports and stories that “we as an industry” must change to promote getting more women, juniors and families. As well as that the national bodies “must do more”, to get people in the game and what they are doing “isn’t working” etc.

So many bloody opinions but in the end these members don’t have any of their own skin in the game. “They” as Board Members can sometimes make knee-jerk and politicised decision on behalf of the club,

stuff the place up, and then can walk away at any time. Why aren’t these Board members held more accountable? There are some government legislative changes underway in NSW to improve on this and hopefully it will then happen in the rest of the country.

I say get off your bums; it’s up to you to make the change and hold your club accountable, the future depends on it! • 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

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business

Qld golf’s night of nights David Newbery

2013 Queensland Golf Industry Award winners

david@insidegolf.com.au

H

ARD-WORKING Horton Park Golf Club head professional Sean Seymore was last month named the Queensland PGA’s club professional of the year at the annual Queensland Golf Industry Awards on the Gold Coast.

Seymore took out the award at Jupiters Casino where more than 450 guests enjoyed a lavish evening.

The evening recognised the achievements of those from the Queensland Division of the PGA of Australia, Golf Managers’ Association Queensland (GMAQ), Golf Queensland as well as the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of Queensland (GCSAQ).

Recognised by his peers, Seymore has been an instrumental part of Horton Park’s pending transition to their new location in addition to the continued growth of his Sunshine Coast Golf Academy and highly regarded Swing Technology Centre.

“I am proud to call Horton Park my home,” he said.

“Despite challenges over the last 12 months with our course relocation, we are now in a great position and I am looking forward to being a big part of Horton Park’s future for many years to come.

“I certainly don’t do my job for the accolades though I am very honoured to be receiving this award given the strength of the nominees and the fact that other PGA professionals are obviously doing a great job in their respective clubs.”

Carbrook Golf Club’s Scott Wagstaff was named GMAQ Manager of the Year after having to deal with a range of challenges following southeast Queensland’s devastating floods.

Wagstaff has kept the facility in a stable financial position as well as exceeding the expectations of his club members.

Nudgee Golf Club took out the Golf Club of the Year Award, which was accepted by the club’s general manger Aaron Muirhead.

One of the most anticipated awards of the night was the

Chairman PGA (Qld Division) Darren Richards presents Sean Seymore with his award. recognition of Greg Norman Golf Foundation CEO Rae Clarke, who was awarded the Services to Golf Award.

A highlight of the evening was the graduation of 22 PGA trainees to full PGA membership.

Michelle Perecic (Southport Golf Club) talked about the sense of achievement she felt after graduating.

“We have all got different stories to tell about our PGA traineeships and all have had times where the light at the end of the tunnel felt very small though now we have graduated, it makes it all worth it.”

FOOTNOTE: An Adam Scott signed US Masters flag was snapped up for $1400 at a silent auction. Meanwhile, Ron Gould was announced as the winner of a Ford Fiesta Ambiente valued at more than $19,000 in the 10-club “join a club” promotion.

Ron had his named drawn from a barrel after joining Redland Bay Golf Club.

2013 Qld Golf Industry Supplier of the Year Award: Acushnet 2013 Qld Golf Industry Services to Golf Award: Rae Clarke 2013 Qld Golf Industry Junior Golf Program of the Year: Redland Bay Golf Club 2013 GMAQ Club of the Year Award: Nudgee Golf Club 2013 GMAQ Manager of the Year Award: Scott Wagstaff 2013 Golf Print Qld PGA Tournament of the Year: Jeep Pro-Am 2013 Club Super Volunteer of the Year: Joan Harvey 2013 Qld PGA Metropolitan Tournament of the Year: Bartons Bayside/ BMD Wynnum Pro-Am 2013 Qld PGA Regional Tournament of the Year: Pat O’Driscoll Real Estate Tropical Auto Group Golf Classic 2013 Qld PGA Trainee of the Year: Rick Coleman 2013 Qld PGA Trainee Order of Merit Winner: Rick Coleman 2013 Qld Sunshine Tour Order of Merit Winner: Jim Cusdin 2013 Robbie Bennetts Enterprises QLD Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year: Mathew Perry 2013 Qld PGA Club Professional of the Year: Sean Seymore 2013 Qld PGA Teaching Professional of the Year: Richard Woodhouse 2013 Toro Superintendents Apprentice of the Year Award: Simon Winzar 2013 Superintendents Industry Recognition Award: Ross Sarow 2013 Bayer Superintendents Environment Award: Darren Allan 2013 Nuturf Assistant Recognition Award: Adam Mills 2013 KC Turf / Jacobsen Technician Award: Phil Newton 2013 Chesterfield/John Deere Superintendents Achievement Award: Shaun Cross 2013 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year: Taylor Macdonald 2013 Female Amateur Golfer of the Year: Ashley Ona 2013 Junior Female Amateur Golfer of the Year: Amy Walsh 2013 Junior Male Amateur Golfer of the Year: Jack Sullivan 2013 PGA IGI Excellence in Golf Education Award: Bach “Cloud” Nguyen •

The Peregian Springs Golf Club “The Signature” Golf Event Play in the Yalumba “The Signature” Golf Event on Wednesday May 14th at the Peregian Springs Golf Club prior to the Noosa Food and Wine Show beginning on May 15th.

Entry Fee is $85 for Visitors Inc: 18 Holes Stableford Competition with a Golf Cart.

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Win Magnums of Yalumba “The Signature” plus other great wine prizes on offer for both divisions including NTP and Long Drive.

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Light Lunch and Wine Included.

Location: Peregian Springs Golf Club, Peregian Springs.

10 Mins from Hastings St, Noosa.

Entry Form available on-line.

Hire Clubs are available from the golf shop

www.peregianspringsgolfclub.com.au

07 5471 5471 32

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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club developments

If you build it...

The new Mandalay Golf Club

I

t’s been a busy few months for many golf clubs around the country, with renovations, redevelopments and upgrades all in full swing.

A few kilometres away, Chirnside Park’s new course, Gardiners Run, is putting the final touches on its new course, set to open next month.

In February, the first pallet of turf was installed on The Eastern Golf Club’s new site at Yering, in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley. Eastern Golf Club Life Member Les Smith, who proudly celebrated his 99th birthday recently, was onsite to lay the first section of Grand Prix Couch sod on the 16th fairway. Over the following weeks, construction worked at a feverish pace, with many holes taking shape.

“The new home of Chirnside Park Golf at Gardiners Run is due to open in May,” said Terry Hawking of Gardiners Run. “The Pacific Coast Design course is an aesthetically stimulating yet highly playable layout, sure to impress golfers of all ages and abilities. We will feature attractive membership options and green fee access available 7 days a week.”

“I’m proud to announce that construction has started on my newest golf course design,” announced course designer Greg Norman.

“My goal is to improve upon the rich tradition and heritage of a golf club with origins dating back to 1896, by creating a golf course that we hope will one day rank as one of the top golf courses in Australia. In this day and age when most golf courses are built in conjunction with a residential development or a resort, this project is very unique as we will have one and only one focus, golf. “

(See more on Gardiner’s Run in this month’s “Great Golf” feature.)

North of Melbourne, in Beveridge, the new Mandalay Golf Club has completed construction of its 18-hole course, which is now open in “preview mode” while full facilities are being developed.

Inside Golf was privileged to play a round at this spectacular Thomson-Perrett design, and we were very impressed with the stunning views, true greens and challenging layout.

It’s very similar in feel to courses like Moonah

995

$

Links,, with strategically-placed bunkers, penal rough and the need for intelligent club selection off the tee. Once the course settles in, we believe it will become one of Australia’s most highly-regarded courses.

Much farther north, in NSW, one of Australia’s oldest clubs, the Wollongong Golf Club, is gearing up for this month’s opening of several new holes, following redesign work over the summer months.

The key features of the work are an extension of the opening par-five where a new undulating green has been created. The uphill par-four 7th has had the existing green complex set atop a dune redesigned with new bunkering added; and the adjacent short par-three 17th has a new green, reshaped bunkers and new chipping areas.

Teeing areas at the par-five 18th have been extended and new fairway bunkers added.

Finally earthworks have started at Bonnie Doon Golf Club in Sydney as the club goes about minor changes to the 13th, 14th and 15th holes.

Construction is in full swing for The Eastern Golf Club: (L to R) Ryan Van Der Veen - Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Benjamin Telley – Eastern Golf Club General Manager, Les Smith - Life Member, Jim Norfolk - McMahons Construction

Course architect Mike Cocking will make changes to the large area of bunkers between the 13th and 14th holes and to the mounds on the right-hand side of the 15th hole.

Essentially, the changes are designed to improve the playability and management of the rough in these areas.

A club spokesperson said while work is being done, the 15th will be shortened, but will remain a par-5. For most golfers it will be reachable in two shots, thus a highhandicapper with two shots on the hole could eagle it and walk off with six stableford points.

The club says any six-pointer “photographed” will be rewarded with a bottle of wine and have their name published in the club’s newsletter, Doon Despatch. •

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RACQ member wins ACGC US Masters prize R

ACQ Member Chris O’Brien received the phone call of a lifetime last month when the team from ACGC HQ called to notify him that he was the very lucky winner of the 2013 Auto Club Golf Championship US Masters Draw.

“We had to double check he was still on the line, due

to the deafening silence whilst he processed the news”, said Event Director Taren Hocking.

Luckily for Chris he had met the criteria and adjudicators of the draw gave the thumbs up to the lad from up north, who with his playing partner from the ACGC North Lakes event will soon be making their way to Augusta to see Adam Scott defend his green jacket.

The boys have won a sensational trip for two to Atlanta, USA including two of the golfing world’s “golden” tickets, entry to the 2014 US

Masters at Augusta Golf Club. This special draw was exclusive to the 2013/14 entrants of the Auto Club Golf Championship.

“In addition to the incredible Championship Final trip going to each of our regional winning pairs, this draw was our way of giving every entrant an equal chance to win something really special,” Tournament Director, John Harriss said. “The ACGC tournament is all about creating fantastic opportunities for the amateur golfers and Auto Club Members of Australia, there is really nothing else like it.”

Amateur golfers face off in Australia’s most prestigious pairs event On March 26th the state Auto Clubs of Australia (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA, RACT & AANT) welcomed a full field of Amateur Golfers to compete in 2013/14 Auto Club Golf Championship Final at Queensland’s home of Championship Golf RACV Royal Pines Resort.

For winning one of the nearly 70 qualifying rounds put on around Australia by the state Auto Clubs, the finalists received travel, accommodation and golf costs for

the three days of the ACGC Championship Final. Players were put to the test competing in true championship conditions at RACV Royal Pines, which proudly hosts both the Australian PGA Championship ­- played in November; and the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters­- played in January at Royal Pines for the 25th consecutive year.

“We are so thrilled to be welcoming a full field of amateur golfers from around Australia to compete in the second annual ACGC

Championship Final,” Tournament Director, John Harriss said.

“The competition this year has been first class and so are the facilities. This really is such a fantastic event for amateur golfers in Australia. An event which simply would not be possible without the support of the Australian Auto Clubs and major sponsors Thrifty, Suzuki and Club Assist. It is just brilliant to see such great brands getting behind amateur golf in this country”.

While the winners were not yet known at press time, Inside Golf will offer a full report next month of the 2013/14 Auto Club Golf Championship Final.

The next round of the Auto Club Golf Championship will be kicking off again in May 2014 and we hear there are big things in store!

More information: www.acgc.com.au, info@acgc.com.au, 08 8239 0666.

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High-flying Peter Hines gets life David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

RETIRED PGA staffer Peter Hines is flying again.

A week after his services to the PGA were recognised with honorary life membership Peter has his head in the clouds – literally.

“Flying has always been my second love and tomorrow morning I’ll be up in the clouds for a couple of hours,” Peter enthused.

“I have an ex-Navy friend who owns a rebuilt Cessna 175 and he’s keen to have me fly with him.”

Long before he joined the PGA, the 72-yearold developed a love for aviation while working for Shell Aviation in Papua New Guinea.

“Aviation has been a great love ever since I worked in PNG where I was in control of all things aviation including quality fuel control and equipment,” he said.

Peter spent seven years in PNG working and playing and coaching rugby.

In fact, he is one of only two life members of PNG Rugby Union.

“I was coaching and playing rugby and during that time borrowed a tractor and equipment to

build two new grounds – one was for the 1968 Pacific Games,” he said.

“I put a lot of time into that and that’s why I was given life membership.”

Born in Yorkshire, England in 1941, Peter was nine years old when he lost his father.

“My father never recovered from the war (WWII) and died on Christmas Day 1950,” Peter said.

“Life in the early 1950s without a father was very tough. There weren’t many luxuries, but I was lucky after leaving school early to be taken in by a farming family with four sons.

“I went to school with the youngest boy and I became the fifth son, but there was no real future for me in the business.”

Peter arrived Down Under on March 12, 1964, but didn’t begin his association with golf until the early 1980s.

At the time, he was Sydney Airport duty manager and played golf at Federal Golf Club on Fridays.

“Terry O’Donohue was the pro at Federal and he asked me to give him a hand running the PGA

WORK AND PLAY: Peter Hines formed a close working relationship with Greg Norman.

Championship,” Peter said. “I told him I didn’t know anything about running a tournament and he said we’d learn together.

“We had a great association and took it to Monash in 1984 and the following year to Castle Hill. Then we picked up the ultimate event – the opening of Sanctuary Cove and we did the Palm Meadows Cup for two years.”

Then Geoff Scott, who was PGA chairman, approached Peter about a permanent PGA position.

“He (Scott) said we don’t have a manager for NSW PGA, but at the time I was enjoying my job as duty manager at Sydney Airport with TAA. “Towards the end of the six-month pilots’

strike he asked me again and I was there in a flash.”

One of Peter’s tasks was to grow the NSW pro-am circuit, which was lagging behind some other states.

“At the time, I think the annual purse for proams in NSW was $330,000 and within 18 months we had it up to $1.3m,” he said.

“Looking back, I am very proud of my work there and setting up the Holden Scramble (modelled on the Oldsmobile Scramble in the US) that former CEO Max Garske introduced.

“And I was involved in the first PGA member deal with Coca-Cola in March 1991.

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

people “It meant the club pros got a better deal, price-wise, and the NSW PGA benefitted as well. It grew that quickly that they decided to take it national.”

Peter spent 12 years as boss of NSW PGA before switching to tournament management.

“I became head of tournament operations setting up the state championships, opens and the PGA. “After all the years of team-work with the PGA staff, I’d like to wish them all the very best in the future,” he said.

Greg Norman, too, recognised Peter’s skills and assisted Monique Thompson (Great White Shark Enterprises) to run the Qantas VIP golf days in Sydney and Melbourne.

“It’s nice to get a respectful nod from Greg,” he said. “We don’t often chat, but he always recognises that I’m there.”

In fact, the Shark penned a letter to Peter congratulating him on his life membership award.

“Congratulations on your retirement and being inducted as an honorary life member of the PGA of Australia,” Norman wrote.

“This is a distinguishing honour that is reserved for those few individuals that have spent a lifetime helping to promote and grow the game of golf in Australia.”

Over the years, Peter has developed friendships with many players, but few have been as special as his friendship with former Open champion Kel Nagle.

“I popped in and saw him with my award the other day and I think we both cried,” Peter revealed. “I often see him on a Friday or Saturday and we talk golf and horseracing.

“We don’t bet, but we see if we can pick a winner between us.

“He is a wonderful man and having lost my dad early I looked upon Kel as my unofficial adopted dad. He is one of the nicest people you would meet in any walk-of-life.”

FOUR PETERS: Peter Hines (third from left) poses with good friend Peter Senior, Peter Lonard and Peter O’Malley.

Peter counts Peter Senior among his friends and regularly exchanges emails with the US Champions Tour player.

“Peter (Senior), Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady remember what I did for them (upgrades and use of VIP facilities) when I was airport manager at Sydney,” he said.

Peter has watched a plethora of world-class players up close, but rates Sir Nick Faldo the best he has seen.

“I had the joy of watching Jack Nicklaus from close up and the great Arnold Palmer when we opened Sanctuary Cove, but overall Nick Faldo was something special.

“I have always been a fan, especially after he changed his game.

“I think he was maligned by the press, but he is showing his true side and his humour through commentating.”

And Greg Norman?

“Well, Greg was hot stuff, wasn’t he?”

While Peter has rubbed shoulders with some of the best players in the world, he is quick to acknowledge the work done by golf course superintendents.

“I have great admiration for the many golf course superintendents I have worked with over the years,” he said.

“They are a very special group of people who get little or no praise for what they do.”

Peter lists the Open Championship as his favourite tournament. In fact, he has attended

six Opens and caddied in two.

“I caddied for John Clifford twice, but sadly he missed the cut in both,” he said.

A keen observer of the Rules of Golf, Peter has accepted an invitation to attend the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales in July.

“I went over as rules observer assistant last year and the R&A boys were telling me how wonderful Royal Porthcawl is.

“I have an invite to a wedding in first week of July so I am going to marry the two together.”

When he’s not taking to the air, Peter plans to work on reducing his handicap.

“I currently play off 12 at Penrith and my goal is to get back to single figures,” said Peter, who once played off six at St Michael’s. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

39

women

Tour life beckons for Elissa Chris West Guest contributor

Competing in a male-dominated environment, Melbourne-based trainee professional Elissa Orr has been commanding attention through a sustained run of impressive tournament results.

Elissa has just completed the second year of her three-year traineeship and continues to outperform the vast majority of her male rivals.

She was rated Victoria’s number two trainee across all comers in 2012 and managed to secure fourth position on the 2013 rankings despite playing in fewer events.

According to Elissa, she receives a mixed reaction from her male counterparts on the trainee circuit.

“The guys are generally supportive, but they don’t really like it when I beat them,” she says.

And beat them she does. Elissa has already become accustomed to tasting success, having won five trainee events over the past two years in Victoria and Tasmania.

The highly promising 22-year-old was one of only three female trainees competing on the circuit in 2013.

“We generally play off the ladies’ plates which works out to around eighty per cent of the course.

At pro-am events that I play, I tee off on some of the men’s tees,” she explains.

Elissa was raised in country Victoria in the small town of Koondrook near the Murray River and was encouraged to take up golf by her

grandfather at a young age. She started playing at nine and soon joined the nearby Barham Golf Club across the New South Wales border where she was introduced to her first coach, former touring professional Rob McNaughton, who continues to be an important mentor to Elissa in her golf education.

In 2007, Elissa accepted an invitation to attend the Victorian Institute of Sport in Melbourne, where she gained the benefit of working with coaches Darren Cole and Marty Joyce.

Whilst in Melbourne, Elissa joined Commonwealth Golf Club and was playing Senior Pennant at the age of sixteen. She won Commonwealth’s club championship and became a member of the Victorian state amateur team. In 2010 she was Women’s Golf Victoria Champion of Champions.

Despite her talent, it was not until four years ago that Elissa was certain that she wanted a career in golf.

After finishing at the VIS, she returned home to Koondrook for six months in mid 2011 and stopped playing regularly as her mind wrestled with the decision of what direction to take.

“I was working as a barista in a cafe but in truth I was thinking about golf most of the time,” Elissa recalls. “The turning point came when the phone rang in the cafe one day and I answered it as the Barham Golf Club. I knew right there and then that a professional golfer was what I really wanted to be.”

Rather than choosing to go straight to tour school, Elissa elected to undertake a traineeship.

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“The trainee pathway will make me a fully accredited professional and will give me something to fall back on if I don’t happen to make it on the tour,” she explains.

In 2012, Elissa successfully applied for a traineeship position at Eastwood Golf Club in Melbourne, where she has been reunited with head professional Luke Young who she previously worked alongside during a period at Yarrambat Park Golf Course.

Developing a friendship and association with Eastwood members Phil and Leanne Fleming has led to Elissa gaining corporate sponsorships from Fleming Doors & Security Screens and INVISIGARD. Another Eastwood member Anne Holmes has provided accommodation in her home and has become Elissa’s regular caddy.

“The support I have received from these people in particular and everyone at Eastwood from the staff to the members has been incredible,” she comments.

The welcome financial assistance of sponsors and the stability in her life has given Elissa the confidence to set her sights on completing her traineeship before embarking on a full time career on tour.

Having gained her ALPG tour card in 2012, Elissa has already competed in a small number of prominent women’s tournaments in Victoria and interstate. She plans to play in selected events in

Australasian during 2014 before chasing further ambitions as a touring professional in 2015.

“My goal is to play in Europe,” she says. “I have considered trying through the European tour school, but at the moment my preferred pathway is to play on the Asian tour first.”

Elissa is under no illusions about the task ahead when she has to play for her living from 2015.

“It’s very daunting. I am sure the first few years are going to be very hard, financially and emotionally, especially with travelling overseas and living the life of a touring golfer for forty six weeks a year,” she suggests.

Amongst the key strengths to her game, Elissa nominates her long irons and woods. “I can hit it a long way and try to use that to my advantage,” she says.

She has also been encouraged by the initial results of recent coaching tuition from Matt Clevendon from Kingston Heath.

Having watched Elissa from close quarters, Eastwood professional Luke Young is confident that she possesses the attributes to succeed on tour.

“Elissa’s length is a great asset and she has the ability to hit the ball however she wants to hit it in getting it from A to B. She’s already achieved a lot as a trainee, but in the end it will all come down to how much she believes in herself and how much she wants it.” •

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tour talk

On Tour, sometimes it’s elemental Steven Jeffress ed@insidegolf.com.au

2014 kicked off with the Victorian PGA Championship at the Heritage Country Club but the year unfortunately got off to a slow start. I arrived on the Tuesday and had two practice rounds with my travelling mates Neil Sarkies, Peter Welden and Ed Stedman. After taking the cash off the boys I felt ready to go but a 2-over 74 in round 1 had me a little back in the pack. I made five birdies, but some basic mistakes meant I made quite a few soft bogeys. I got off to a good start the second day, being 2-under for the day after 11 holes, though two 3-putt bogeys coming in meant that I had the nervous wait before getting the news that I had missed the cut by a shot. I stayed with the President of the golf club Kevin Rose, who looked after me like a king. Something that I certainly don’t take for granted is the great people you meet along the way and the friendships you build with playing partners and billets throughout your time playing Pro-Ams and on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The second week was the Coca-Cola QLD PGA Championship in Toowoomba where the course was in awesome condition and it was a course that I have had some great results on previously including winning the City Golf Club Pro Am in 2006 and 2007. 2-under par 68 was a solid way to start the tournament, though just like the week prior, I felt like I still left a couple out there.

The second day was one of those days that we all have.

I felt like my arms and hands were not attached to my body. During my swing, there were body parts flying everywhere! I shot 72, 2-over par and missed the cut by a couple. It was just one of those days that you struggle physically and mentally and no matter whether you are working in retail, construction or professional golf, you will always have one of those days and the key is to recover as quickly as you can. A BBQ and a few beers with my mates to take my mind off it was the best way I know how!

I went straight back to the practice fairway the next day with a really productive practice session at Southport Golf Club. There isn’t much time to get the body and mind back in shape given the Victorian Open at 13th Beach the following week so this practice session was about refocusing on the goals and reminding myself how I am going to achieve them.

I arrived in Melbourne on the Tuesday and given the tournament is played across both the Beach and Creek courses, I played both on this day to get a feel for Victorian golf courses again. It felt a bit strange going from Victoria, to Queensland then back to Victoria three weeks in a row, though given both courses are very challenging layouts and are always in pristine condition, it would be a matter of being able to adapt as soon as possible.

Even considering I played the British Open last year, the first day of the Victorian Open was easily the windiest day that I have played in for a very long time. I am guessing the wind would have been blowing at about 50 or 60 km/per hour, so it was a day of survival.

An even-par 72 left me in great position given I played in the strongest of the conditions, though with an AM start in round two I felt like I had done a good job of holding on. It was calmer the next morning, but there was still a one to two-club wind blowing. I played average. Drove it in the rough leaving myself some difficult angles in and when I gave myself opportunities, I didn’t really grab them signing for a 2-over 74, which had me a couple of shots inside the cut line. Yeh!! I was going to make some money!

It had been a while, the Australian Open was my last

cheque and despite a nice year in 2013 no one can really afford to go almost 3 months without getting paid.

I had to grind on Saturday, birdying the last hole for a 2-under-par 70, which had me running 13th going into the last day. After three weeks on the road I was finally feeling the club head better and more importantly my bad shots were leaving me in far better positions.

It was a slow start on Sunday, 2-over through 4 holes was not the start I was looking for when trying to make a charge. Walking off the 5th tee I remembered a feel I was working on earlier in the week, so I went with it. Suddenly, my shots were coming out great and I made a birdie on 18 to shoot 3 under par 69 which put me in 6th spot.

I would like to thank Rex and Lizzy Keogh, members at 13th Beach for putting me up for the week. Rex was trying to convince me of a rule that should be in the rule book. It is called the rule of misadventure. Basically you get to rehit without penalty if the player when either preparing to or making a shot or putt is momentarily interfered with or affected physically or psychologically by some mysterious, suspicious, unexplained or nefarious circumstancewhether attributable to man, nature or God, causing him to make a incorrect shot. But apparently this rule does not exist in the Northern Hemisphere where natural forces differ. Rex we will need to discuss this further!

The last week of my 4-week schedule was the New Zealand Open in beautiful Queenstown. I had my best European Tour Finish here in 2008 so I was looking forward to continuing the feeling I had on the weekend prior.

A 1-under-par round had me set to make a charge the second day, but I wasn’t ready for what Queenstown was going to throw at us. The course is at the bottom of the Remarkables Mountain Range. At the start of the day there was no snow on them. At 1pm there was! It was freezing and blowing at 40 km/per hour. I couldn’t feel my hands. I limped home for a 73, which had me at even par after two rounds. Though I had some time to work on my putting that afternoon, my caddy had taken my clubs home, so I sat there in the cold instead! (Thanks again Lloydy!) There were calmer conditions on Saturday, and I played solid for a 3-under par 69, which had me at tied 32nd going into round 4. We were greeted with windy conditions the last day and I once again played great from tee to green but couldn’t convert on the greens. I shot 2-under 70 and finished tied 20th. It was a nice way to finish the stretch of events and more importantly, it was a solid start on the 2014 Australasian Order of Merit.

The job now is assessing my game through my stats and see where I can improve before I head to Japan. I have just started to use www.shotstohole.com which is awesome. It shows all your stats in detail and is a must if you really want to see what is happening in your game. Picking up 1 or 2 shots can make a massive difference to my paycheques at the end of the year. • www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

41

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A localised, high frequency face treatment provides increased groove durability for longer spin retention over the life of the wedge.

SRP $479.00 rid themselves of technical thoughts and produce a stroke with a natural flowing arc.

Four models with different size and neck configurations allow players to choose their preferred appearance and toe flow. www.Titleist.com.au

Walkinshaw 360 Swivel Buggy The Walkinshaw 360 Swivel buggy is quite possibly the easiest buggy to push, ever! Incorporating a unique swivel front wheel that follows the direction that you want to go, there’s no more lifting required to change direction. 11.5” tri mag wheels make provide and easy roll while the lightweight twin aluminium frame provides great stability. The 360 Swivel also folds in seconds with the push of a single button.

Available in a range of colours – Black/Lime, Black/Red, Black/Orange, Black/White, White/ Lime, White/Orange and Charcoal/Black www.wsports.com.au

RRP $299.00

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

SRP $179.00

Vokey SM5 wedges are available in 21 different loft/bounce/grind combinations, six tour-inspired sole grinds, and in three new finishes – Tour Chrome, Gold Nickel and Raw Black. www.Titleist.com.au

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Fairway Woods & Hybrids Coupled with Nike’s iconic High-Speed Cavity Back technology for longer and straighter shots, Nike engineers lowered the centre of gravity to promote a higher launch angle with reduced spin, which produces a significant improvement in distance.

Nike Golf re-engineered the Fly-Brace design within the cavity back, redistributing material from the centre of the club toward the heel and toe for increased stability. The Fly-Brace technology stiffens the chassis to focus flexing toward the variable thickness NexCOR face. The result is a faster, hotter face with higher ball speed.

The VRS Covert 2.0 Tour fairway woods and 2.0 hybrids feature Nike’s FlexLoft technology, a simple pull, turn, pushand-tighten adjustment system that allows golfers to choose their loft and face angle independently of each other, providing more range and versatility in the bag.

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Fairway Woods Specifications: 3W: 15° (RH/LH – R/S only), 5W: 19° (RH); (Tour): 3W: 13°-17° (RH), 5W: 17°-21° (RH RRP: $289.99. ($349.99 Tour) Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Hybrids Specifications: 2H: 17° (RH), 3H: 20° (RH/ LH), 4H: 23° (RH), 5H: 26° (RH). TOUR: 3H: 17°-21° (RH), 5H: 21°-25° (RH) RRP: $259.99 ($329.99 Tour) www.nikegolf.com

new gear

Tank Versa Putter The new Tank Versa Putters from Odyssey marry the Tour proven counterbalance design features of the Tank line with the Company’s breakthrough Versa high contrast alignment system, which highlights the proper face angle at address, through the stroke and at impact. The Tank design relies on specifically weighted components with a Tour preferred balance point for a higher MOI and greater stability through impact. Stability weighting and a heavier head (400g) and shaft (150g) quiet the hands during the stroke to provide consistent control and keep the wrists from breaking down. Versa’s black and white contrast allows the golfer’s eyes to key in on linear designs on the putter to accentuate the face angle and improve concentration.

Available in the following head shapes: 2-Ball, #1 and #7 www.odysseygolf.com

New Callaway Apparel Chev Panel This short sleeved, high-quality polo features a two-button collar with coloured chest blocking over a white panel, adding a splash of styling to the front of the shirt.

The Quick dry material performs in any conditions, and UV Protection keeps your skin safe in the sun.

RRP: $69

Chev Tech II Pants

RRP $279.99

This technically engineered trouser is made for comfort and optimum performance in a featherweight fabric. It features a mechanical stretch at the back of each leg. The pants are made from UVprotection, moisture-wicking fabric to help keep you fresh and dry as you play.

RRP: $79

Odyssey Versa Jailbird Odyssey has taken the next step in high contrast alignment with its new Double Versa Technology to highlight the proper face angle at address, through the stroke and at impact. This additional technology to the black and white contrast allows the golfer’s eyes to key in on the putter’s linear designs even further to accentuate the face angle and improve concentration. The high MOI shape of the Jailbird model makes the club resistant to twisting at impact for a clean putting stroke. A new and improved version of the #1 insert on Tour is highly engineered for more consistent sound, feel and performance across the striking surface. www.odysseygolf.com

Technical Waterproof Jacket This technically advanced 2.5-layer fully waterproof jacket comes with a threeyear guarantee. It’s designed specifically for golf in an extremely breathable and waterproof fabric that is also quiet to play in. Key design features include: ball cleaner, card pocket at the back of the garment, draw cord and anti slip drop tail design to protect your lower back from the elements through the swing.

RRP: $229

Knit Stripe Sweater This stylish, classy pullover sweater features stripes across the chest and back.

The 1⁄4 zip top and elastic wrists and waistband allow you to keep warm on those breezy, winter days.

RRP: $89 WOMEN’S

Flare Polo

Odyssey Havok Putter This ultra high MOI putter is an extension to Odyssey ever-popular White Hot Pro lineup, providing more forgiveness. It also features a new version of the White Hot insert—the #1 insert on Tour—which has been highly engineered for more consistent sound, feel and performance across the striking surface. Through a high tech, laser milling cutting process, Odyssey engineers were able to achieve tighter tolerances on a urethane insert than ever before, ensuring the performance that elite players demand. The lower CG creates forward roll and helps improve distance control and accuracy, while the EyeFit fitting system helps golfers select the model that best fits their stroke. www.odysseygolf.com

This contemporary short sleeve, striped ladies polo features a contrast, self-fabric collar with a three-button placket. A contrasting, non-matching shoulder and side panels provides added styling.

RRP: $79

Zeta Long Sleeve Polo This stylish, long sleeve, colour-blocked polo shirt features hidden snaps on the placket so you can adjust to fit for your own comfort. The Callaway chevron logo sits on the back, beneath the yoke.

RRP: $79

Sylvia Track Jacket With its strikingly sporty, colour block design, this lightweight, fleece-lined track jacket will keep you wonderfully warm, and with serious style. Features contrast full-zip front, a mock neck and attractive contrast colour panels on the arms, back and pockets.

RRP: $99

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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new gear

NEW > GEAR KAKADU Golf Glove Renowned for their lightweight strength, the KAKADU Australia 100% Kangaroo Leather golf glove offers that competitive grip advantage we all look for in our game. The unique cross grain construction of kangaroo leather allows it to be manufactured thinner than conventional glove leather, which makes a glove that will not tear and has exceptional grip and feel. Customers will testify that they get at least four times more wear from the KAKADU kangaroo leather golf glove with 3X more grip in dry conditions, and 5X more grip in wet conditions.

Available in sizes from XXS to XXL, right or left hand, black or white.

Gloves can be personalised with company or social club logos on the clasp, to give a unique gift for your clients or members. www.kakadugolfglove.com

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Adams Golf Pro Adams Golf Hybrid XTD Irons The dominant hybrid brand on the PGA TOUR and other global professional circuits, Adams has meshed the best elements from its award-winning portfolio into one design – the Pro Hybrid. This model is projected to be the No. 1 Hybrid model on the PGA TOUR in 2014. Rather than a ‘mini-fairway wood,’ it will play as a true transitional club between the iron and metalwood.

Featuring patented high MOI upside-down head shaping, the Pro Hybrid follows a blueprint that has proven to make consistent contact easier for golfers of all skill levels.

In tandem with patented Velocity Slot Technology on the crown and CutThru Slot technology on the sole, an ultrathin face adds forgiveness and flexion making it effortless to catapult the ball online towards its intended target. www.adamsgolf.com

RRP $269.00

The XTD series houses the company’s thinnest cast-iron face to date, promoting maximum deflection and ball speed. Adams remains committed to finding greater distance through technical advances, while retaining proven design characteristics, such as a 28° loft on a 6-iron. Club engineering promotes ideal launch angles throughout the set, with explosive height off of the face, penetrating ball flight and more preferable descent in attacking the pin.

An industry-first cross-cavity technology help keep errant-struck shots on their proper path. Constructed for players of all skill levels, XTD irons boast a centre of gravity (CG) moved off the face to generate gear effect similar to a hybrid. The result is corrective spin to straighten offcentre hits. www.adamsgolf.com

RRP $749.00 (4-PW)

gear

WE TRIED IT! > Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

ShotsToHole.com Last month, we introduced you to ShotsToHole.com, a web-based data collection tool that allows golfers and coaches to measure and analyse over 70 golf stats, set and track goals, monitor progress and more.

ShotsToHole.com has been adopted by many Tour players, including PGA TOUR pro Patrick Reed—who, having worked on specific skill sets to improve aspects of his game uncovered by the system—has notched up two victories already this year.

But this system is not limited to just the professionals—it’s beneficial to golfers of all levels, as I found out in my own test drive last month.

Now, the vast majority of golfers focus on simple stats like Greens In Regulation, Fairways hit, Putts, sand Shots, etc. But those stats don’t often tell the whole story. You could have 38 putts and be putting well, or you could have 27 putts and putt poorly. You could hit more fairways, but be on the wrong sides, with poor angles to the green. You could be hitting heaps of GIR, but are you leaving yourself with makeable birdie putts or nasty three-putt-territory monsters?

When you start thinking about it, tracking stats the “old” way just doesn’t make sense.

I put shotstohole.com to the test, and was amazed by the results I saw. (Note: I only had time to enter four rounds for this test, versus the recommended 10 for a more accurate measurement.)

Prior to my rounds, I printed out the Shot Template Scoresheets from the website (in a social or practice round, you could simply enter the data via your mobile phone). With each shot, I simply noted the lie, distance to target, and the result (i.e. short, left, long, etc). There are heaps of other statistics that you could choose to enter (shot difficulty, club selection, break, etc), but I kept it simple to start.

After the rounds, I hopped online, and entered the data into the website tool, which only takes about 10 minutes to do. The entry is quick, simple and very intuitive.

Then, working with a coach (in this case, I worked with Stuart Leong, developer of the system), we began to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of my game, based on the stats thus far.

Using the Benchmark tool, we compared my stats to A) Players of a similar handicap, and B) Players of a target/aspirational handicap (i.e. five shots better). The system crunched the numbers and showed me exactly which 46

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

areas of my game were better/worse than both groups, and thus which skills I should aim to improve.

One of the areas of my game that needs work, for example, is from 20-40m from the hole. Currently, my approaches from this distance average about 8.1m from the flag. Using the ‘What If Analysis” tool, we determined that if I could to get the ball to around 5m (i.e. similar to players at my aspirational handicap), I will shave 0.7 of a stroke per round. Similarly, by improving my dispersion of 0-10m shots by just 60cm, I would shave 0.8 of a stroke.

Most importantly, however, is putting.

The stats show I am rock solid from most distances like 3-5 feet (of which I sink 86%, compared to, say, an elite amateur which drains about 70%. From inside 3 feet, however I currently hole 91% of putts. Not terrible, but if I could hole 97% of these putts I would save a full shot. Holing 100% of my putts inside 3 feet will shave a huge 1.5 strokes off my score.

Those three stats above will lower my score by three full shots. And when you look at some other Ad Hoc stats/goals—like reducing Wasted/dead tee shots (i.e. into the trees), scoring better on par-4s, etc—I will shave an amazing 5-7 shots off my handicap.

After the initial analysis, Stuart set some “Goals” in the system for me, and discussed some practice drills/exercises to help me achieve those goals.

Overall, Shotstohole.com is a fascinating and impressive system that will appeal to anyone looking to improve their game.

More information: www.shotstohole.com

PNP RAKE Wedges We all know the importance of a solid short game in golf, as it is generally responsible for more than half of all the shots you record in a round. So gaining confidence around the greens is paramount to helping shave shots off your scorecard.

For many golfers, sand shots and chips/ pitches are among the most difficult short game shots to master. And many times, this can be solely due to the type of club you are using, whether you have too much (or too little) bounce on your club, etc.

The new PNP RAKE Sand and Lob Wedges, from PNP Golf, help take the mystery out of the short game, with clubs that are designed specifically to help you get the ball up in a controlled and powerful manner.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice the RAKE wedges’ Dual Bounce Rail Design—a unique sole that has a series of ridges and channels cut through it. The channels allow grass and sand to flow through, while the ridges act as a type of stabiliser for the club; like fins on a surfboard they reduce twisting and turning while improving control. The 56° RAKE Sand Wedge that we tested features 26° of entry rail bounce and 10° of sole bounce. This gives you more power and control in the rough, helping you execute a better shot and maintain clubhead speed. We found it to be extremely helpful to pop the ball out of all types of sand that we tested, from fluffy/dry to heavy/

wet, and the slightly-heavy feel of the club promoted a slower, controlled tempo. From other lies, we found club equally superb, with the grooves providing ample spin and control.

The 60° RAKE Lob Wedge we tested (15° of rail bounce and O° of sole bounce) was stellar.

The slightly shallower bounce configuration, and the on-set leading edge really allows a sharp angle of attack for a variety of lies tight/skinny, hard pan, etc. We were even able to open up the club and give it a few high Flop Shots from the thicker grass.

Overall, the RAKE wedges performed admirably in our testing, and we recommend that you check them out if you need some help around the greens. They currently retail for $169, come with a 30-day money back guarantee and conform to USGA rules. www.pnpgolf.com

Cobra BiO CELL Driver The Cobra BiO CELL Driver is becoming one of the most talked about products on the course these days. Like their vibrant and exciting staff TOUR player, Rickie Fowler, the BiO CELL Driver features technology that provides extreme distance off the tee, a huge sweet spot for more forgiveness on off-centre hits, customisable loft settings to maximise performance under any course conditions, and a collection of bold, vibrant colours that make a real statement in your bag.

We took the Cobra BiO CELL Driver out for a Test Drive last month, and we now know why Rickie is always smiling.

The first thing we noticed is the long, sleek, wing-like shape of the clubhead, which felt great at address. The balance and weight felt just right in our hands, which gives that little boost of confidence that is so very important off the tee.

We also noticed how simple and quick it is to change the loft settings. With a simple twist of the tool prior to your round, you can choose up to eight different loft settings. This helps you to optimise the driver to match the conditions of the day, or to just get that extra distance on those longer par-4s or par-5’s.

A Cobra Bio Cell Driver, signed

by Rickie Fowler Inside Golf and Cobra Puma are giving away a Cobra BiO CELL Driver, signed by Rickie Fowler, to one lucky reader. (Right-handed only, Shaft: stiff or regular flex.)

To enter the giveaway, visit www.insidegolf.com.au/competitions

Using a launch monitor, we hit plenty of shots at each loft setting: 9.0°, 9.5°, 9.5°D, 10.5°, 10.5°D, 11.5°, 11.5°D and 12.0°. And we noticed a significant difference in ball flight with each setting.

So whether you want to hit it low and under the wind, or smack it high and let it fly, the options are there. And with a slight draw bias on some of the settings, you can get those long, beautiful draws that run forever. Importantly, we were very pleased that, despite the loft changes, the face was always square at impact. This is due to Cobra’s SmartPad Technology, and we reckon it is a real winner.

The sound at impact was a satisfying and soothing “Crack”, which is a far cry from the dull “Thud” or tinny “Tink” from some other drivers.

And the large sweet spot was extremely forgiving on our less-than-stellar swings.

Overall, we were extremely impressed with the BiO CELL Driver. Available at an RRP of $379, it comes in the following colours: Blue Aster, Barbados Red, Vibrant orange, Silver and Black. www.cobragolf.com.au/bio-cell-driver

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feature

Great golf in

Australia’s east

While much has been written about the top-tier, private courses and clubs in Australia’s east, there are many spectacular, highly-underrated public courses which have remained in the shadows of their more famous neighbours. These “unsung heroes” represent fantastic golf and great value for money. This month, we showcase some of our favourite public access courses in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

St Andrews Beach St Andrews Beach One of Australia’s very best golf courses welcomes public players 7 days a week.

Ranked #10 in Australia by Golf Australia Magazine 2014, St Andrews Beach is Victoria’s highest-ranked public access course.

World-renowned architect Tom Doak (designer of Barnbougle Dunes, Cape Kidnappers and

others) recently said St Andrews Beach is one of his very best courses. “...if I could have any one of my courses right out the back door of my house, it might be my first choice”. Doak’s design philosophies ensure all 18 holes are of the highest quality rather than one or two feature holes. St Andrews Beach certainly reflects this and always provides an enjoyable challenge regardless of

happiness is . . .

how many times you play it.

Easily accessible via Peninsula Link, just over one hour from Melbourne, this must-play course on the famous Mornington Peninsula certainly offers the best value for a course of such high quality.

The course is impeccably presented all year round and a large fleet of motorised carts are available.

Regular competition rounds are available for golfers with a handicap (every Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays and other peak days).

St Andrews Beach now offers self-contained on site accommodation for groups visiting this iconic golf region.

More information: 03 5988 6000, or www.standrewsbeachgolf.com.au

10% OFF

THE ALREADY DISCOUNTED ONLINE RATES!

OFFER VALID UNTIL 18/05/14

Bridgeport Drive, North Lakes QLD 07 3480 9200

Use promo code “INSIDE” when booking golf online www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

51

feature Mt Broughton Golf & Country Club

Mt Broughton Golf & Country Club Mt Broughton Golf and Country Club is a course that was designed and developed in 1991 deep in the heart of the Southern Highlands which opened in November 1994 and rapidly gained a reputation as one of the country’s top 100 golf courses.

The Course was designed by Championship golfers Frank Phillips & Bill Dunk who between them have over 123 professional golf wins worldwide. What these men have created is a golf course that is not only tough and challenging for golfers of all levels but bringing back its natural and true roots of golf as if to say the golf course had been here for 100 years.

Mount Broughton is a naturally beautiful

course and is reputedly one of the longest courses in Australia. From the championship tees the course has a rating of 75. Sweeping rye grasses and the course’s natural waterways, lush greens and undulating fairways, creates an incredible vista. Abundant wildlife inhabits the course adding to the magnificent atmosphere. The clubhouse itself is a pictureperfect tribute to the course’s Scottish heritage and the second floor balcony provides the ideal vantage point from which to absorb the views and watch the players complete their round.

Less than 90 minutes from Sydney’s CBD, the course has become popular with golfers of all levels for its alluring surroundings and challenging fairways. Peppers Manor House

is set on a picturesque Southern Highlands estate, conveniently located next door to Mt Broughton. Allowing you to indulge in life and leisure at a grand country house exuding old world country charm. The unique and intimate retreat boasts exceptional accommodation and facilities. The rooms/suites have stunning views of the peaceful and tranquil surrounds.

More information: www.mtbroughton. com.au

City Golf Club Take a trip up the mountain and enjoy what the award-winning City Golf Club has to offer.

Located in the Garden City of Toowomba on the edge of the CBD and claiming the Best

Golf Club in Queensland award for the last two years, this facility has more to offer than just a great golf course. Visitors can enjoy first class 4.5 star City Golf Club Motel accommodation overlooking the course, with your choice of room service breakfast, available seven days a week, or a splendid breakfast at the nearby City Golf Club overlooking the fairways. If golf is not your thing, then take a refreshing dip in the lap pool or feel the energy levels return in the outdoor spa. There’s a guest BBQ under the pool gazebo to make the most of the great outdoors, or even better why not tantalise your taste buds at the City Golf Club bistro and café 19.

Heading to the club for drinks? Let the motel courtesy bus take you to the club to enjoy a cold

y e l l a V a Yarr Yering Meadows Golf Club offers a world class 27 championship hole layout which is currently ranked within Australia’s Top 100 courses.

Full range of facilities that you would expect to see at a leading course, fantastic relaxing home style clubhouse which has 180 degrees views of the Ranges & Terrace Café.

Social golfers welcome so come and experience golf in the heart of the Yarra Ranges on one of Australia’s top courses, bookings essential.

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

feature Horsham Golf Club

City Golf Club

beer at the Reitano’s sports bar overlooking the championship 18th Green, or try your luck on one of the 200 gaming machines.

Boasting lush kikuyu fairways and carpetlike bent grass greens which members are accustomed to all year round, the City Golf Club’s incredible 18-hole golf course is sure to test your skills. Hosting the prestigious QLD PGA Championship since 2009 and various state and national amateur championships, the City Golf Club is sure to surprise newcomers.

Challenge yourself on this championship golf course and enjoy the panoramic views from atop the 18th Hole overlooking the clubhouse.

Do yourself a favour, grab a group of friends and be prepared for a great golfing and social atmosphere. The reward at the end will be an experience like no other.

More information: (07) 46 369000 or www.citygolf.com.au

Horsham Golf Club

North Lakes Resort Golf Club

Ranked the number 30 Public Access Course in Australia in the 2014 Golf Course Guide, Horsham Golf Club is a hidden gem. The course is a tree-lined, gently undulating layout set on an ideal sandbelt. The course features three waters hazards and is heavily bunkered which creates a fun challenge for golfers. The quality of the course is also demonstrated by the fact that it was voted Vic PGA Course of the year four times. Having lost its old clubhouse in bushfires, a brand-new multi-million dollar clubhouse and function centre was opened in September 2013. The new clubhouse looks sensational and makes the visit to Horsham Golf Club all that much more memorable. Green fees are just $35 per player or $25 for 9 holes and $20 all day Sunday. Carts are available.

More information: 03 5382 3312 or visit www.horshamgolfclub.com

Arguably one of Queensland’s best championship public golf courses, North Lakes Resort Golf Club is without doubt one of the most beautiful places to play golf in Brisbane.

The challenging 18-hole course is a real credit to its creator, touring professional Graham Marsh. Opening in 2002, North Lakes has received wide acclaim over the past decade for the quality and conditioning of the playing surface and its facilities. The perennially popular golf course features a Marsh masterstroke…

Australia’s first TifEagle greens, which ensure the most consistent putting surface.

North Lakes Resort Golf Club is convenient located just 35 minutes due north of Brisbane’s CBD, and is open to the public seven days a week. The golf club offers not just the stunning course but golf instruction, an excellent driving range and practice facilities. Its contemporary

Clubhouse will impress and delight your taste buds with a delicious selection of dishes available for breakfast lunch or dinner at the clubs restaurant Lomandra’s.

Proving North Lakes is more than just a golf course, it has perfected the art of mixing business with pleasure with the corporate packages on offer and regularly plays host to annual charity golf days and business events. North Lakes goes above and beyond expectations to deliver a fun and professional day for clients to network, raise money and have a great day!

The immaculate grounds at North Lakes also make the perfect backdrop for wedding photos with brides and grooms sharing their nuptials overlooking the lush fairway and green on the 9th. A selection of perfectly trimmed reception rooms are available to cater for any size wedding.

Whether you are a casual golf visitor, member,

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

53

feature

Mona Vale Golf Club

golfer’s regular play list To book and experience golf in the foot of the Yarra Ranges, call 03 9738 9000.

Mona Vale Golf Club Yering Golf Club

corporate client, bride & groom or dinner guest North Lakes has it all!

Green Fees are $99 for 18 holes including electric cart.

Play a round at North Lakes Resort Golf Club and enjoy a FURTHER 10% DISCOUNT off their already discounted rates when you book online!

Use promo code “INSIDE” at checkout when booking online at www.northlakesgolfclub. com.au

Valid until May 18th, 2014.

More information: 07 3480 9200 or www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au

Yering Golf Club One of Victoria’s best kept secrets, Yering Meadows golf course is nestled at the foot of the Yarra Ranges. The Ross Watson designed 27-hole Championship course is ranked within Australia’s Top 100 courses. Every hole has vistas of the

ranges and not only offers some of Victoria’s best golf but also some of the best views.

Social golfers are most welcome. After a round you can enjoy the great facilities in the home style club house, stay for a meal or simply relax and enjoy the views which are visible from any vantage point.

Challenging, picturesque, and only 45 minutes from Melbourne, Yering Meadows is a course that, once played, is added to the social

Calderwood Valley Golf Course

RATED as one of the top-50 public access courses in Australia there is a lot to like about this unique layout. Located in the heart of the Northern Beaches, in the middle of a crescent between Mona Vale Head to the north and Turimetta Head to the south, the spectacular coastal vista dominates the view.

This Par-72 (Rating 73) championship golf course is both beautiful and challenging.

Whether it be the deceptive par-3’s, hard to reach par-4’s or the picturesque par-5’s, you can be sure that you are in for a tough test, and that’s before the wind starts to blow. With true rolling greens and beautifully striped fairways, it’s no wonder Mona Vale is among the most highly frequented courses in Sydney and host

Friendliest Course on the Coast • All groups of 12 or more players receive an 18 hole gift voucher • Packages available for groups of 50 or more Social groups and players are welcome every day of the week • Play free golf on your Birthday • TERRIFIC TUESDAYS - ONLY $15 • New fleet of 20 carts - bookings recommended • $56 for 1 golf cart and 2x18 holes from Monday to Friday (12pm to 2pm) • Seniors, uni and TAFE discount rates available on weekdays Visit our new website for more information and special offers

532 Calderwood Rd, Albion Park 2527 Pro Shop: (02) 4256 3055 www.calderwoodgolf.com.au *Bookings required, conditions apply.

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feature

North Lakes Resort Golf Club

of numerous prestigious championships.

Set high on a hill overlooking the Pacific ocean, you begin your round by teeing off down towards flatter ground where you will remain until your climb up to the tenth brings you back to the clubhouse.

The first ten holes have a parkland setting, winding away from the sea with the lush fairways lined heavily by trees of many varieties.

Holes 11-18 take on a distinctly ‘links’ feel: more open, fewer trees, closer to the ocean, far more susceptible to the nor-easterly ocean breeze that blows most often. On calm days holes can play easier but when the wind comes...good luck!

There is a wide variety of playing options for the social golfer, with some of the best value for money greens fees available in metropolitan Sydney.

Public access is available seven days a week with an open medley competition held each Tuesday. The Clubhouse views are simply

outstanding and the perfect place to reminisce on your round with a hot or cold beverage whilst overlooking the course and ocean.

Lunch is available daily with the popular function room having won multiple awards.

Membership has just recently reopened and is one of the most sought after in Sydney’s north.

You can now book for your next game at Mona Vale online via the club’s website.

More information: www.mvgc.com.au

RACV Cape Schanck Resort Located at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula with majestic views over Bass Strait, RACV Cape Schanck Resort, is perfectly positioned for a weekend getaway or longer.

The Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed 18- hole golf course is continually ranked in Australia’s top 100 public courses, and features huge greens, open bunkers, tree lined fairways and spectacular ocean views on eleven holes.

The resort provides a wide range of accommodation options. There are 48 contemporary Ocean View and Premium Ocean View rooms providing breathtaking views over Bass Strait, along with a further 4 two-bedroom Premium Executive Suites. There are also 11 stylish two- and three-bedroom Villas nestled amongst the golf course, providing private and self-contained accommodation for families and groups.

Pure golfing excellence Simply a great golf course

Motorised carts available

Now Victoria’s highest ranked public access course

Luxurious, self contained accommodation

Stay & Play at St Andrews Beach St Andrews Beach Golf Course on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula continues to inspire golfers from around Australia and the world! This classic Tom Doak design is easily accessible, just over an hour from Melbourne via Peninsula Link. St Andrews Beach is now offering luxurious self-contained, on-site accommodation, as well as a large fleet of motorised carts for hire, group catering packages and food & beverage options. Make a round at the stunning St Andrews Beach Golf

www.standrewsbeachgolf.com.au

Course an essential part of your next visit to the marvellous Mornington Peninsula.

Sandy Road, Rye, Victoria 3941 | PH: 03 5988 6000

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feature course, in the bar, gaming lounge or partaking of fine food from the Bistro any time spent at Portarlington is a most enjoyable experience.

Voted the PGA Best Regional Pro-Am Course 2012 & 2013 and PGA Best Regional Pro-Am 2013, the course is in top condition at any time of the year and beckons golfers to walk and marvel at the lushness. They are challenged to conquer some holes that can make you smile, or conversely, vow to return and tidy up any mistakes that it cares to tempt the errant golfer.

With improvements constantly implemented, from one visit to the next, the course can change often, however one constant is the care and professional attention the course is given by its ground staff.

The Carnival of Golf, staged annually in August/September, is a must for any golfer, no matter what level. Over $10,000 in prizes awaits winners in many different events. Early entry is most advisable as events fill very quickly, such is the known success of this week of golf.

Great value golf memberships are also now available for anyone wishing to join the Club.

Do yourself a favour, make a booking for a round at Portarlington and see for yourself what all the hype is about, you won’t be disappointed.

More info: www.portarlingtongolf.com.au

RACV Torquay Resort

Calderwood Valley Golf Course The Restaurant, with panoramic views of the golf course, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A seasonal a la carte menu showcases the fresh regional produce.

Chef Andreas Koker, who has travelled the world refining his culinary skills, believes “food must be fresh, clean and taste as good as it looks” and he’s true to his word. The wine and beer lists are impressive, with 14 local wineries represented.

If you want to grab a quick cafe-style meal or

a drink after a round, the Golfers Lounge is the place to go. There’s also plenty to do onsite, with a recreation room, tennis courts, gym, horizon edge heated pool, sauna and a spa. So when you need a few days’ break, book yourself into RACV Cape Schanck Resort. From there, you’ll be able to savour the fabulous Mornington Peninsula.

More information, 03 5950 8100 or www.racv.com.au/resorts

ALL SOCIAL PLAYERS ARE WELCOME AT

MONA VALE GOLF CLUB

WITH A FORMAT TO FIT ALL

Portarlington ANY trip to the Bellarine Peninsula would not be complete without a visit to one of the premier golf courses in the district. Open for green fees, Portarlington is known as the Friendliest Club in Australia; guests are warmly welcomed, members are aware of the great facilities they have, and enjoy sharing them with visitors.

Whether it’s the moment guests enter the Pro Shop to be greeted by Club Professional Matt Milne and his knowledgeable staff, or out on the

NESTLED in a picturesque valley only 50 minutes drive from southern Sydney, designed by golf course architect Ken McKay, it’s little surprise that Calderwood Valley Golf Course is so popular with all levels of golfers.

The course is always immaculately presented with well-contoured fairways and true greens.

Each of the 18 holes has its unique features, combining clear creeks, native plant species, wildlife and stunning scenery. The breathtaking surrounds feature the rugged Illawarra escarpment as a backdrop.

Calderwood Valley welcomes social players

UNIQUE

OPPORTUNITY The championship club of the Southern Highlands,

Mt Broughton Golf & Country Club.

● Book social play online at www.mvgc.com.au ● Play 18 holes for as little as $25 seven days a week ● Free weekly junior clinics from age 4-18 years ● Par 72 championship golf course ● Open competition all day Tuesday ● Special playing packages Mondays and Tuesdays ● Modern clubhouse with commanding ocean views

Mona Vale Golf Club Golf Avenue, Mona Vale NSW 2103 Ph: (02) 9999 4266 • www.mvgc.com.au 56

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

$200 for a 3 month TRIAL MEMBERSHIP, April – June 2014.

Tel (02) 4868 3200 mtbroughton.com.au

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Calderwood Valley Golf Course

and group bookings. All groups of 12 or more players receive an 18-hole gift voucher to use as prizes. There are great packages available for groups of 50 or more players. With no need to work around competition days the course is available for social play seven days a week.

There is also a new fleet of 20 carts available, bookings are recommended.

With the completion of some great upgrades on the course including stunning feature

bunkers, new plantations and tee levelling, Calderwood Valley is sure to make your next round more appealing interesting and challenging. Being a locally operated business, the team take pride in their course and the service they provide. They love to have visiting golfers and they’ll treat you like the valued patron you are.

Prices at Calderwood are very affordable: ‘Terrific Tuesdays’ are just $15 all day; Mon-Fri

Golf Packages

pe

r

Not available during competition or Saturday play or Sunday before 12pm and Peak Periods

r

on

$1 pe

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rs • Twin Share Accommodation • Continental Breakfast on • 18 holes golf • Two Course Dinner • Twin Share electric cart hire Packages designed to suit individual needs Under New Management

Bookings and enquiries call Ocean Shores Motel (02) 6680 2222

Blue Marker Challenge • Play to your handicap or better and receive a dozen Pro-V’s • Challenge Winner (best nett score) wins a shirt, a Blue Marker Challenge ball marker and a dozen Pro-V’s • Best nett score by a visitor or wins a dozen Pro-V’s • 6 NTP’s - win 3 Pro-V’s each • Break 80 nett and win a Pro-V Carts available for hire all bookings through the Pro Shop (02) 6680 1008

PLAYED LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH Are you up to the challenge?

www.oceanshorescc.com.au Orana Rd, Ocean Shores NSW Ph (02) 6680 1008 Fax (02) 6680 1721

$30 VISITORS

www.oceanshoresmotel.com.au info@oceanshoresmotel.com.au Ph (02) 6680 2222 Fax (02) 6680 2018

Only 30 minutes South of Coolangatta and 15 minutes North of Byron Bay 58

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

LOCATED in a remote seaside setting, Ocean

9

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pe

Ocean Shores Country Club

$4

pe

• 18 hole championship course with enormous greens • Twin Share electric cart hire Great Course Great Deal • Lunch

Play & Stay Packages

12-2 pm you pay only $56 for two players for 18 holes with a cart. Weekday discounts available: groups of 12 or more $18; Uni/ TAFE students and Seniors are just $16.

Calderwood offers some fabulous deals.

Visit their website for more information: www.calderwoodgolf.com.au

Merewether Golf Club 40 King Street Adamstown NSW 2289 Ph – 02 4963 1128 Fax – 02 4963 6441 Email – mgc@merewethergolf.com.au Web – www.merewethergolf.com.au

Pro ShoP

Professional – Peter Johnston Ph – 02 4963 1869 Email – pjohnston@merewethergolf.com.au

SPeCialS

Monday & Tuesday – 18 holes of golf + motorised cart for 2 people $40 each Social & Corporate golf – discounted group rates available starting from 10+ players Combined Golf & Catering packages available for group bookings Exciting and affordable new membership categories available now for Youth (18-23 years) and Young Adult (24-29 years) Pro Rata membership rates available all year round for all categories

Shores Country Club is one of Australia’s hidden gems.

This magnificent championship course is rated as one of the best courses on the northern rivers in NSW and consistently ranked amongst the country’s top public access layouts.

Designed by Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge in 1972, the golf course has many unique features, including some of the largest greens of any golf course in Australia. The total area of all 18 greens is 13,000 square metres with the fifth green alone taking up 1100 square metres.

The 18-hole championship layout comprises six par-3s, six par-4s and six par-5s with the longest stretching to 556 metres.

The lush fairways and pristine greens set against a background of bushland and sparkling lakes makes it one of the most spectacular golf courses in Australia.

Visitors are welcome to play in Club competitions and for social golfers, golf packages, which include motorised carts, 18 holes of golf and lunch at only $49/person are available most days.

In 1980, the Blue Marker Challenge was introduced to challenge golfers and with the course set up for tournament play it was a true test of character. The Blue Marker Challenge continues and is played on the last Friday of every month. Heaps of prizes are available. If you are up for a challenge, contact the Pro Shop 02 6680 1008 to book in for the next “Bluey.”

If you’re looking for a longer stay, check out their play and stay packages with the Ocean Shores Motel. Conveniently located adjacent to the 4th hole and only a few minutes’ drive to the Club, Ocean Shores Motel specialises in value for money Stay & Play Golf Packages and will tailor a package to your needs.

The Pro Shop handles all golf bookings and enquiries and stocks the latest design equipment, sportswear, hire clubs and operates a fleet of motorised hire carts for

feature your convenience.

Ocean Shores is located just north of Brunswick Heads, 30 minutes south of Coolangatta and 15 minutes north of Byron Bay. More information: (02) 6680-1009 or visit www.oceanshorescc.com.au

Kingston Links Golf Course

RACV Royal Pines Resort Smart, contemporary and with spectacular views, RACV Royal Pines Resort is set on 100 hectares between the white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast and the lush beauty of the hinterland rainforests. It’s the Gold Coast’s only 27-hole composite golf course and stateof-the-art driving range. And as host of the Australian Ladies Masters and the new home of the Australian PGA you too can play where the champions play, as the resort and course are open to the public.

The resort’s eight restaurants and bars, serving contemporary cuisine from around the world, are high quality and the facilities have proven they can accommodate the PGA and other major events while not taking away from people enjoying weekends away or holidays at the resort.

An innovative $10million new day spa is soon to launch in mid-2014. The state-of-the-art One Spa complex has been designed to create an intimate and tranquil environment to provide pampering, and enhance wellbeing. The resort has 331 accommodation rooms, spa suites and executive rooms all with expansive views of the hinterland, tropical pool, Gold Coast skyline or the golf course.

Family friendly, the resort has a large pool with slippery slide, an adventure playground with a giant jumping pillow, tennis courts and a range of other activities including a Segway Tour, Ozbobble or Laser Clay Shooting. It’s the perfect excuse to getaway.

More information: 1800 886 880 or www.racv.com.au/resorts

RACV Torquay Resort Located at 1 Great Ocean Road, RACV Torquay Resort sits at the start of Victoria’s premier tourist drive destination and is a leisurely 75 minutes’ drive from Melbourne.

Perched within the backdrop of the Torquay and Jan Juc beaches, the resort is set on an expansive golf course with spectacular ocean views and beach access.

Opened in June 2013, the resort is an architectural delight, featuring rammed earth

walls and gentle curves that mirror that of the landscape. Featuring 92 ocean or golf course view rooms and suites, day spa with Turkish Hammam bathing area and a full Restaurant, Bistro and bar, the resort has everything for your quick getaway or golfing adventure. For the non-golfers in your group, there are two multipurpose flood-lit tennis courts, a 25m heated indoor pool, gym, spa and sauna. There is even a children’s playground and jumping pillow for the kids.

The fully-irrigated 18-hole par-71 golf course is a true test of golf, and features wide-open couch fairways, undulating greens, fescue rough, wetlands and ocean views. This traditional linksstyle golf course has recently been extensively redeveloped by Ogilvy Clayton, a Melbourne design team headed by former US open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton, winner of multiple Australian and overseas tournaments.

The course is suitable for all levels, and there’s

Home of the 2014

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Ocean Shores Country Club

Portarlington

a new practice area including practice bunkers.

Hire equipment is available including a brandnew fleet of electric carts.

Neat dress code is required and bookings essential.

Following your round, relax with a postgame drink on the terrace of the new Sports Lounge - White’s Paddock, or just enjoy some of the other amenities that this spectacular resort has to offer.

More information: (03) 5261 1677 or visit www.racv.com.au/resorts

Kingston Links Golf Course Widely regarded as the number one public access course in metropolitan Melbourne, Kingston Links is known as “The People’s Course” as it maintains its reputation as an enjoyable course for golfers of all standards and abilities.

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Located in Rowville, just 25 minutes from the heart of the city via the Monash or Eastlink Freeways, Kingston Links is easily accessible and provides a complete golfing experience.

There are very few golf courses that offer a dedicated driving range, golf course, gymnasium and function rooms all at the one location.

Kingston Links is a 175 acre site of undulating fairways of 100% Santa Ana couch grass and pure bent grass greens, which are maintained to the highest standards throughout the whole year, allowing play all year round. This prestigious 6178m, par-72 championship course layout was influenced by the great links courses of Scotland and Ireland. It has gained a reputation for being a very challenging, yet fair course.

A mixture of rolling mounds and natural

waterways combined with panoramic views over the Dandenong ranges makes an interesting and picturesque golf experience.

The course’s signature hole is the 165-metre third hole. Overlooking the great lake, with a backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges, this challenging hole offers a severe sloping green and intimidating water hazard. How will you go?

Its naturally impressive undercover 40-Bay flood lit driving range has been specifically designed with target greens and bunkers to provide real life course experience. There is also a designated practice area for short game, bunker play and putting. Additionally there is a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art learning and improvement centre, manned by fulltime PGA professionals, 7 days a week, which caters to golfers of all ages and abilities who are looking to improve their game. Its junior

golf development and school term and holiday programs are excellently implemented by a resident PGA professional.

For more information: www.kingstonlinks. com.au

Gardiners Run Golf Course Located just a short 35-minute drive East of the Melbourne CBD, Gardiners Run Golf Course provides golfers of all abilities with an aesthetically stimulating yet highly playable layout, sure to impress golfers of all ages and abilities.

On the doorstep to all the globally renowned Yarra Valley has to offer, Gardiners Run Golf Course has been architecturally crafted by Pacific Coast Design, taking full advantage of the gentle sloping contours of the countryside site terrain, to masterfully execute a golf course

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GET FITTED FOR A NEW SET OF MIZUNO IRONS

Custom fit only Offer valid across all Mizuno iron models Purchases must be made between 1st April and 30th June, 2014. *at participating stores only

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Gardiners Run Golf Course

Strathfield Golf Club

Strathfield Golf Club

that features golfing holes of individuality and character. Playing from manicured Santa Ana couch tees and fairways to their sublime and generously proportioned bent grass greens, Gardiners Run Golf Course will ensure you are afforded a golfing experience to savour.

Warm up prior to your round with their state-of-the-art, world-class practice facilities or take a lesson from their AAA rated PGA golf professional. Featuring a 90m wide mixed use

(couch and synthetic) tee on their 250m long driving range, a short game pitching green and challenging yet sizeable putting green, Gardiners Run Golf Course’s facilities will ensure the needs of every golfer, of any ability, are provided for.

A central hub to all your needs, return after your round to enjoy a refreshment or dining experience on the alfresco deck, overlooking the signature 18th hole green. Surrounded

by over 180 degrees of water, a calming vista in great viewing proximity to round out your Gardiners Run Golf Course experience.

Their golf membership options are the most affordable in the region allowing golfers to enjoy Gardiners Run Golf Course all year round for less than the price of a coffee per day.

More information: www.gardinersrun.com. au (03) 9739 7522.

Strathfield Golf Club, now 83 years old, is ideally situated in the heart of Sydney, only a few kilometres from the Sydney Olympic Centre.

An easy walking but demanding course (slope rating 139) means you need to be able to drive it straight to play to your handicap. The Cooks River meanders through the course adding to the attraction of the layout and comes into play on several holes.

The course is in fabulous condition and is beautifully presented. Recently added cart paths have ‘weatherproofed’ the course and new, larger new tees have been built on many holes.

The clubhouse has recently been refurbished and a new caterer appointed. The club is now able to offer both eastern and western-style menus and bistro food with a large function centre which can seat 250 patrons.

ExclusivE 2 Night Play & stay sPEcial Includes • 2 nights accommodation • 2 rounds of golf • 2 x shared cart hire • 2 x $20 club vouchers

$255pp

The perfect golfing destination Famous Championship golf course, 36 brand new accommodation suites and choice of two restaurants including the new “Bungool” fine dining experience.

Plus, opening soon, brand new “Bungool” championship golf course.

(twin share)

Minimum group of 4 people. Available Sunday-Thursday.

Subject to availability, bookings essential. Valid Until July 31st 2014.

Extra night available at $120 per person.

City Golf Club Toowoomba’s Multi Award Winning Venue. Home of the QLD PGA Championships – come and play the layout, On site Pro Shop, Courtesy coach transfers, Free WiFi throughout venue, Function centre, Kids Club, Keno Lounge, TAB, 200 machine gaming room, Selections restaurant, Wok in the city, Noodle bar, Café 19, Free live entertainment and much more!

City Golf Motel ‘Where City Style Meets Country Hospitality’ ~ Personalised ‘Play & Stay’ and Corporate Packages, www.citygolf.com.au 254 South Street Toowoomba (07) 4636 9070 golf@citygolf.com.au

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www.riversideoaks.com.au New Unlimited Access Platinum Memberships Available from just

$2100 pa

Ladies, Junior and Family memberships also available - No joining fee

For more information contact our team on (02) 4560 3200 74 O’Briens Rd, Cattai, NSW, 2756 info@riversideoaks.com.au

Inside Golf Magazine Readers Special APril Golf SPeciAl Golf and lunch JUST $79 Available Mon-fri during the month of April (excludes public holidays)

18 hole of golf with shared motorised cart plus a gourmet Riverside Oaks Burger & beer (or soft drink) for lunch

CORPORATE , SOCIAL & COMPETITION GOLF Accommodation - Weddings - Conferences Functions - Celebrations

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Merewether Golf Club

The course’s signature hole is the par-4, 404m 4th, with the Cooks River running along the entire left-hand side of the fairway, bunkers left and right short of the green requiring a long second shot to carry the bunkers and onto the green. A par on this hole is a very good score.

Membership is open with no waiting list and you can join in a category with seven-day playing rights with a subscription from only $1300. As a bonus, if you join in any category during April you will have 15 months’ playing rights for the price of only 12 months. New members will also receive a free golf lesson from AAA accredited golf pro Mark Reeve in addition to two complimentary visitor guest vouchers. A new category is now open allowing 35 midweek games for only $900 p.a. A 30% discount applies to any second or subsequent member of a household joining the club.

Visitors are welcome and special “twilight “green fees apply after 2pm.

More info: www.strathfieldgolf.com.au; Office: (02) 9642 0326, Pro Shop (02) 9642 8642

Merewether Golf Club Merewether Golf Club was established in 1933 and is located in the heart of Newcastle, 10 minutes from the city centre and beaches, 10 minutes from Charlestown and less than

FIND OUT WHY KINGSTON LINKS IN ROWVILLE IS KNOWN AS “THE PEOPLE’S COURSE”

60 minutes from the Hunter Valley’s worldrenowned vineyards and beautiful Port Stephens.

The picturesque, 18-hole course is nestled amongst abundant flora and fauna. The eucalypt tree-lined fairways and formidable water hazards ensure an enjoyable and rewarding challenge.

The club’s signature hole is the 15th, a long uphill 373 metre par-4 with a slight dogleg left. The tee

shot must be right of centre as anything going left will make it impossible to reach the green in two. The second shot is to a wide but narrow green and is guarded on the right with a deep bunker. Add one to two clubs for your second shot, being long is better than being short!

Their friendly and experienced team can cater for your next corporate, charity or social group golf day.

Their Pro Shop, led by professional Peter

Now AvAilAble • New 2014/2015 Memberships Categories at Amazingly Reduced Prices • MIDWEEK GOLF - Monday to Friday now $35 for 18 Holes • Junior Coaching - Clinics & Programs Located just twenty five minutes from the heart of the city via the Monash or East link freeways, Kingston Links Golf Course is easily accessible and provides a complete golfing experience.

There are few golf courses that offer so much at the one location.

ALSO NOW OPEN KINGSTON LINKS DRIVING RANGE & IMPROVEMENT CENTRE

Now with its newly opened naturally impressive, 40 Bay Flood Lit Driving Range…it has been totally redesigned with target greens and bunkers, with a fantastic short game practice area. Together with an excellent improvement & learning centre fitted with fabulous golfing technology and PGA Professionals catering for the needs of golfers of all ages & abilities.

Come and improve your game at Kingston Links!

www.kingstonlinks.com • 14 Corporate Avenue, Rowville • T. 9764 4520

K I NG S TON LINKS MELBOURNE

AUSTRALIA

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Thirteenth Beach Golf Links

Johnston, caters for all golfers with a great range of clothing and equipment, lessons, advice and equipment repairs.

Visit their bar and bistro and be treated to great food, friendly staff, a relaxed atmosphere and affordable prices.

The club’s function venue is one of Newcastle’s best locations with views over the course and to the city - weddings, parties, conferences, seminars, corporate events and fundraising

dinners can all be individually designed to suit your needs. Visitors and social players are always most welcome at Merewether Golf Club.

More information: www.merewethergolf. com.au.

Thirteenth Beach Golf Links Located on the Bellarine Peninsula – just 15 minutes from Torquay or Geelong-- Thirteenth

Beach Golf Links features two spectacular 18hole golf courses: the Beach Course (designed

by Tony Cashmore) and the Creek Course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo and Tony Cashmore).

The Beach Course, much of which winds through spectacular foreshore sand dunes, is true links style while the Creek Course is in a parkland setting, not unlike the courses on Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt. Both courses are built on sandbased sandstone structure, and the facility’s

PORTARLINGTON GOLF CLUB PGA REGIONAL PRO-AM COURSE OF THE YEAR 2012 & 2013 PGA REGIONAL PRO-AM OF THE YEAR 2013

GREAT VALUE GOLFING MEMBERSHIPS VISITORS WELCOME

A hidden gem worth visiting! rAnked number 30th Public Access course in AustrAliA green fees: $35.00 -18 holes $25.00 - 9 holes $20 anytime on sundays

130 Hood Road, Portarlington, Victoria Clubhouse: (03) 5259 2492 info@portarlingtongolf.com.au

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

www.horshamgolfclub.com Fully attended pro shop with lessons available only 3.5 hours from Central melbourne

southern boundary abuts 2.1 km of the famous 13th Beach surf beach.

Thirteenth Beach is the home of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Men’s and Women’s Victorian Open, joining a long list of famous clubs on the Melbourne Sandbelt to have hosted this event.

The Beach Course is widely acclaimed as one of Australia’s Best 20 courses. The key feature of the Beach Course is its wonderful set of par-3s.

Starting at the brutal 180m 3rd hole to the dainty yet sinister 113m 16th, the par-3s of the Beach Course offer golfers of all levels a true test of their iron play. The 7th and 12th are spectacular holes, nestled in natural sand dunes.

The Creek Course has continued to grow in stature since its opening in 2004. The course is characterised by gently undulating couch fairways, huge, deep bunkers filled with yellow sand, and firm true greens surrounded by interesting bumps, swales and hollows, all closely mown. There is also plenty of greenside bunkering that helps form the slopes of the putting surfaces in the best traditions of Melbourne’s Sandbelt much admired by Faldo. In addition, there is plenty of water on the course, with hazards on the 7th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes.

Both courses are irrigated with recycled water supplied by Barwon Water from its nearby Black Rock treatment plant. This allows them to be green and lush all year round.

Former Melbourne AFL champion and SEN footy commentator David Schwarz says: “Membership at Thirteenth Beach is the best golfing investment I’ve ever made. It’s simply awesome. I can’t stop raving about the place!”

About 1000 members agree with him!

For more information: phone: (03) 5254 2922, email: info@13thbeach.net, or visit www.13thbeach.net

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Riverside Oaks Resort

Riverside Oaks Resort

RACV Royal Pines Resort

Riverside Oaks Resort is set amongst 570 acres of pristine Australian bushland overlooking the magnificent Hawkesbury River.

Only a short drive from Sydney, Riverside Oaks embodies a unique wilderness experience.

Riverside Oaks Resort will soon be home to Sydney’s only 36-hole championship golf resort. The new “Bungool” course designed by the internationally-renowned Bob Harrison is a true “risk and reward” course as it ebbs and flows following the magnificent Hawkesbury River, promising an exceptional challenge for even the most seasoned and skilful golfers.

The resort looks forward to welcoming you to experience the first 9 holes of the Bungool course this month, and again when they open the entire course later this year.

The existing course now being renamed

“Gangurru” will also be enjoying a new lease on life with a complete refurbishment of its bunkers being undertaken this winter.

Riverside is known for its golf but the whole family will feel at home with the resort, enjoy one of their stunning villas as the family explores the amazing sites and surrounds the Hawkesbury has to offer, or enjoy the tranquil quiet curled up with a good book. Take time out to discover the club house cafe, with the best yet to come. The resort will be opening their signature “Bungool” restaurant, together with 36 stunning new lodge rooms. This, together with their professional and friendly service Riverside Oaks promises a memorable experience for golfers, families, couples and groups.

More information: www.riversideoaks. com.au.

LOOKING FOR A GOLF CLUB TO JOIN? JOIN IN MAY AND RECEIVE 14 MONTHS MEMBERSHIP FOR THE PRICE OF 12

• • • •

You can join and play 7 days per week from as little as $1300 per annum* Special 30% discount membership available to two members of the same household.

First member pays full category price additional family member living at the same address will receive a 30% discount on the full subscription.

New members who join before May 31 2014 will also receive a FREE Golf Lesson and 2 complimentary visitor vouchers. *(A house account applies) NEW Limited 35 game category only $900pa* Special family price for second member only $650pa

• • • • •

JOIN IN APRIL AND RECEIVE 15 MONTHS MEMBERSHIP FOR THE PRICE OF 12

STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB

• • •

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

www.strathfieldgolf.com

84 CENTENARY DRIVE, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135 • OFFICE : 9642 0326 • PRO SHOP: 9642 8642 • EMAIL: office@strathfieldgolf.com.au 66

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

juniors

What do the kids want?

Lee Harrington

ALPG & PGA Member, Development Officer for Golf Queensland lee@golfqueensland.org.au

Junior sport participation is a very competitive market for all sports at the moment. Sports which have seen increased participation numbers over the years have been successful in attracting juniors to their game because they have evolved and adapted new coaching practices which engage students in a gamesbased format.

As a golf coach and working closely within junior golf, I am realising that golf also needs to make some necessary changes in the way we deliver golf coaching to juniors, especially if we are going to keep them engaged in the game for life.

Over the next five months I will cover a series on junior golf instruction and a direction I believe we need to consider in order to start creating change within our sport. This includes looking at more inclusive and learning opportunities which present fun, excitement and challenges for our juniors.

To begin, golf professionals, community coaches, junior coordinators or parents need to include the following when creating and implementing a junior program: • Fun • Involve friends • Have excitement and enjoyment • Involve physical activity and challenges • Involve improvement

MyGolf Skills camp at Capricorn Resort in 2013 This month, we start with FUN. 1. Fun The MYGolf National Junior program aims to provide kids from the age of 5-12 years with a positive introduction to golf in structured games and skills activities, which will encourage them to be active for life. While the national skills is a great basic for skill testing there needs to be a fun coaching philosophy leading into these skills challenges.

This can be achieved through utilising the Playing for Life philosophy for the delivery of all games and activities in learning. This

philosophy is adopted by the Active After School Communities program in which golf can learn a lot by including the direction in games-based learning environments.

Playing for life creates a fun and inclusive environment for the learning of golf movement and then skills. This approach ensures all abilities are engaged in golf activities and the juniors have a positive and successful experience.

To make golf fun for juniors the playing for life approach is underpinned by the following principles: The game is the focus – The coach enables

players to develop golf skills and management of their own skills through playing fun games.

Golf is a target sport so games for warm up such as bullseye and Kolap are target-specific games involving a team environment for fun. Each warm up session is planned with a particular MYGolf Skill in mind – RIP it, Roll it, or CHIP it.

Moving into the skill component the Coach acts a facilitator – Rather than direct players how to perform skills, the coach acts as a facilitator and sets challenges for the players to find solutions through games. Chip and Catch, AFL Golf and Over the Bridge are all games that involve golf skill development, however the fun element of the game exists throughout the session.

Juniors are continually asked to challenge the boundaries of the game to a new level, to keep them engaged and also keep them having fun.

This environment of Change It involves simple variations to the skills and the games to create a fun, safe, inclusive and challenging experience, while meeting the skill objectives of golf.

If anyone is interested I can provide more information on golf games for life. In addition each state body runs Community Golf 1 Coaching Courses, which are a way of gaining an accreditation to assist your local club with their junior programs. • Lee and husband Peter are both PGA members and run The Golf School coaching and fitting centre located on the Gold Coast, at Palm Meadows Driving Range www.thegolfschool.com.au lee@golfqueensland.org.au, 0413 163 312

Noosa Valley Golf & Country Club Tuncurr y Course rate Australi d in a’s Top 100 Pu blic Acc Course ess s

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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 www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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PGA clubfitting

Clubfitting: Why you may never buy off the rack again!

We take an in-depth look at the growing popularity of clubfitting, and examine the benefits of getting a set of clubs precisely suited to your game, whether you’re a low, middle or high handicapper.

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

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lubfitting and golf instruction technology has come a long way over the years. What was once the domain of elite touring professionals has slowly trickled down to the masses, allowing golfers of all levels to benefit from sports science’s most exciting breakthroughs.

With the aid of launch monitors, video cameras, advanced computer programs and motion capture technology, you can now see—in minute detail—exactly what is happening during every microsecond of your swing. From things like swing path to clubhead speed to impact angle and swing “efficiency”, new golf clubfitting technology can uncover the nuances of a swing that could not be caught by the naked eye. And while all this information may be a bit much to wrap your head around, when placed in the hands of an experienced PGA teaching professional, it can have an amazing impact on your game.

Even just getting a single club properly fitted to your game – like a driver, fairway wood or wedge—can make a massive difference in your score. Especially if the gear that you are currently using isn’t properly suited to your own game and/or swing.

Perhaps your shafts are too stiff, or the lie on your irons isn’t upright enough, or you have a specific gap in your wedge or hybrid distances, or your grips might even need a double-wrap of tape underneath. Each one of these things can shave strokes off your score.

Clubfitting technology has come so far that you can even make sure that the brand and model of golf ball you use is suited for your particular game.

And let’s not forget the most important club in the bag: the putter.

For many golfers, buying a putter is often done “off the rack”, or based on the advice/ success of a mate, often with little or no real fitting or practice. The putter may work for a while, then somehow lose its magic – later being relegated to the closet with a dozen other has-beens.

Matching a putter to your stroke requires careful examination. An ill-suited putter can actually reduce your chances of sinking 68

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

putts, especially if it is the wrong type for your swing. A trained PGA Professional can immediately determine whether you need a face-balanced, heel-toe weighted, or toeweighted putter, the proper head weight, shaft balance, grip size and even overall length of the putter. If any one of those is off (or incorrectly modified), it can affect the putter’s success.

So it’s a foregone conclusion that we should all be using equipment that has been correctly fitted for our game, rather than just grabbing a set off the rack or purchasing a set online.

Using “stock standard” clubs off the rack is like everyone buying size-9 shoes -- you’d be lucky to get ones that actually fit. (And as for buying clubs online...well, if you haven’t been burned by a counterfeit or dodgy set of knock-offs yet, it will just be a matter of time before your wallet gets cleaned.)

“Regardless of your gender, age or skill, having fitted clubs can help make golf easier and more enjoyable,” explains Sean Kirschenberg, PGA Professional and CEO of Global Sports International.

“The benefits in having a fitting session, with a fitting system offering comprehensive fitting options, can be significant to all golfers, regardless of golfing ability. Also, the great news is that ladies and teenagers, for example, can now experience a comprehensive fitting process, by trying several different shaft flexes, lengths, lofts and lie angles.”

As many of my long-time readers will know, I personally have been through a number of clubfittings, and I have learned a tremendous amount about my game during each session, and my game has gotten progressively better as a result. Working with PGA Professionals, I’ve changed putterhead types (the mallet was ill-suited to my stroke style), ball brands, driver shaft flexes and a number of weight/

loft adjustments to really dial-in my game.

In truth, I would never, EVER buy a club off the rack again. And nor should you.

And if you’re wondering if getting fitted should be done before or after any major swing changes, then rest assured that your PGA Pro can help you out with that as well. Modern equipment can really make up for a lot of the common swing faults or weaknesses that affect today’s golfers. You might find that you need a lesson or two in combination with a clubfitting. Just ask your local PGA pro!

So where can you go to get fitted?

If you’re ready to take the next step in your game, and get fitted for a set of clubs, then look no further than your club’s PGA professional. At the end of the day, few people know your game better than your local PGA pro, so he or she can definitely get you prepared for a quality fitting. They can objectively determine which brand of clubs can best suit your game, and can help you make the right decisions to improve your game.

In addition—and this is a critical point—a PGA Professional has the knowledge and experience to understand how a club can affect your golf swing. From different swing weights, to shaft flexes and everything in between, the club itself can actually affect your golf swing.

“It’s important to understand and respect that golf equipment design affects a golfer’s motion,” explains Kirschenberg. “PGA Professionals fully understand the important relationship between the golf swing and the golf club, and this understanding can create some great opportunities for game improvement for all golfers.”

Best of all, you will have the confidence of knowing that your Pro is committed to making sure that you are completely happy with your new set. After all, it’s their job to help you get better at golf. And they will see your face each week as you come in after your regular comp or social round—so they will aim to make sure it’s a smiling face, not a frowning one!

In addition, your PGA Professional also has exclusive access to a brand-new club range that could be just the ticket for your game: The PGA Club range. PGA Clubs are a new licensed product range designed specifically for beginner to immediate Australian golfers.

Sold only by eligible PGA professionals, PGA Clubs come with a highly advanced and specialised fitting system that caters for male, female and teenage golfers. • For more information about clubfitting, see your local PGA Professional, or visit www.findapgapro.com.au to find a qualified PGA Professional in your local area.

instruction

It’s time to take control of your golf Tiffany Mika

tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au

Have you ever had days when you played golf and everything went right? I’m sure you’ve had days when you’ve felt as though everything went wrong as well, no matter how hard you tried.

Why is it that some days you can play so well, almost effortlessly, and then other days perform so dreadfully you swear it’s you last round of golf ever!

How would you like to discover a key in performing better on the golf course rather than playing well by accident?

Poor golf performance is not just related to poor technique. If we take it deeper, it is the lack of understanding of our thoughts and emotions performing on and off the golf course.

I often hear comments like ‘I always hit the ball in the water on this hole’ or ‘I always stuff up the second shot’. So if you are saying it, you are thinking it. Therefore you are having an emotional reaction to what you are saying. So of course you are going to make a mistake. You are telling yourself that this error will happen because you are pre-planning it mentally, so when you are about to perform the shot you will most likely ‘stuff it up’!

Have you ever heard someone say ‘I hit the ball perfectly on the range, but I can’t do it on the golf course’?

I’ll tell you a secret: you can practice on the range all you want, but if you don’t start working on controlling your thoughts and emotions

The “Grip Focus” tip will help you to be in control of your thoughts and emotions on the course.

you will continue to struggle on the golf course.

The fact is we are not just physical bodies, we are influenced by our thoughts and emotions.

Yet most club golfers will only work on the physical part of their game and not even go near the mental side. They don’t think they need it because they don’t want to be a professional golfer.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional golfer or a C-grade player, you still want to walk off the golf course feeling as though you’ve given it your best. It is a mixture of physical and mental.

Look back at your golf rounds and think about a game where you performed poorly. What was a reason or reasons why you performed

badly? Let’s leave technique out of it. Was it poor concentration, lack of focus, lack of motivation, tired, nervous, self doubt? Most of these will inhibit your golf performance. I How much time have you spent on mental training this week? Most of my new clients would say ‘none. ‘ I have a few who know how to get focused during the round, because we’ve worked on it in a lesson, but may not spend extra time outside comp time working on it. They may have had a bit of practice at the range, but that’s the extent of it. Everyone knows how golf can have you floating above the clouds with ecstasy when you play great and then in the depths of despair when you play poorly. Yet many won’t do anything about it.

Here is the key to performing better on the

course: train your mind and emotions equally as well as you train your technique. So when you are practicing you can do it all, not just the technique.

The average golfer doesn’t think they need to work on their mental skills for golf...mostly because it is new. Some people fear something new, as it takes you out of your comfort zone. In order to improve and take it to the next level, you need to get out of your comfort zone. It’s always good to do this. It’s how you grow!

Don’t hold yourself back from improving. Take the step to begin to improve your thoughts and emotions. It will take your golf to a whole new level.

The next time you are out playing on the course and you can feel your thoughts and emotions getting the better of you: here’s a tip to bring your concentration back to the present moment. It’s something very simple but it will be a start.

1. Focus all of your attention on your grip on golf club. Take note of the colour of the grip, the wear, the size. Feel it in your hands. You want complete focus on the grip.

2. Start taking slow, deep breaths so that you can relax yourself and release any anxiety.

3. Then visualize yourself performing the swing that you want to produce.

This will help you refocus on the task at hand.

Remember you want to be in control of your thoughts and emotions when you play so you can perform and produce your best golf. • Tiffany Mika is the Golf Teaching Professional at Bayview Golf Club in Mona Vale. Contact her on 0412 313 473, email tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au www.theladygolfteacher.com.au

Balance, rhythm and tempo Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

I’ve just returned from a six-week “Teaching Tour” of the USA where I had an opportunity to share our “Key to Golf Online Program” (keytogolf.com) with many first-class golf instructors.

When asked what they considered the most important fundamental, there was agreement that while there are many different ways to swing the club effectively, all great golfers maintain consistent Balance, Rhythm and Tempo.

This month, we are going to address the first of these three most important fundamentals to all golf swings – BALANCE. BALANCE: a state of equilibrium In the golf swing it is desirable to maintain a state of balance from start to finish in the golf swing and this ability is a “learned process.”This means that we can always increase our ability to have a harmonious and “in balance” swing while taking the stance.

The stance is the first place where an awareness of balance can be started. Start in a balanced and erect stance, with the club fully

gripped and left arm extended, right arm bent – clubshaft horizontal and opposite your belt buckle. Next bend from the hips and balance weight equally between both feet and above the arches in the feet. Feel springy in the legs, heavy in the feet, and relaxed from the waist up.

Once you have established a balanced and relaxed address position, it’s time to make some practice swings with your attention on maintaining balance from start to finish. You can test how fast you can swing while maintaining balance throughout the whole motion, especially through impact and into the finish.

Quite often it is harder to maintain balance when hitting a driver but for control and power to be optimum, balance is the key. Emotional Balance is also important and Tim Kremer shared the following thoughts with my son, Ben, when Ben wanted to maintain calmness when on the tee with the driver in hand.

Tim was instructing Ben to swing his Driver as he would swing a wedge. Shifting back and forth between Driver and wedge on the range will soon have you using the wedge swing while hitting your driver – watch how the ball flies!

This simple image and feeling produced an instant calmness and balance in Ben’s swing with the driver and greater accuracy and distance came through almost instantly.

VIDEOS

Golfers who have Balance, Rhythm and Tempo well oiled in their games: Peter Thomson http://youtu.be/pM2BKFSw_Ko Ben Hogan http://youtu.be/nWLLPKiSMRk Sam Snead http://youtu.be/eng1a9AXxs4 Gene Littler http://youtu.be/18i5BoFlPFs Tony Lema http://youtu.be/kY6uAvCzAhw John Senden http://youtu.be/cWemvbKnYNw Ernie Els http://youtu.be/d5l7zW1cEbU

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 on the Mornington Peninsula, he delivers school instruction, individual lessons, and has an Online Lesson Program. www.keytofgolf.com. Phone: 0415 292 549

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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instruction

Don’t let age shorten your shots David Merriman ed@insidegolf.com.au

Have you ever noticed that the older we get the less flexible we become? Taking a lid off a jam jar, for example, requires more than a little effort because our strength has lessened. On the golf course this translates into a loss of power in your swing and shorter, inconsistent shots.

Why is it so? Well, our body tries to compensate for loss of flexibility and strength by turning too fast out of the shot. This stops us from releasing our hands, leaving our clubface open and decreasing our club head speed. We end up with a slice or pull.

A little stretching will help with our flexibility but I also know two great exercises that will help regain some of that striking distance.

Firstly, you need to find a nice straight wall, preferably outside. Take a 7 or 8-iron and set up with your back about 30cm away from the wall.

Use an old club in case you hit the wall. Now practice your swing. Start slowly with a threequarter swing. At the same time as your hands reach just above waist level on your back swing they should be hinging with a mirror image of this action on your follow through. You should be able to swing without touching the wall both on your back swing and follow through. As you gain confidence, build up to a full swing making sure your hands are over your right shoulder on your back swing and your left shoulder on your follow-through. The opposite applies for

left-handed players. This will help to develop your swing path down the target line and produce good solid contact with the ball. If a full back swing is no longer in your repertoire, just go to where you feel comfortable. No shortcuts on this one—make sure you are only 30 cm away from that wall and not a metre!

Okay, so you have perfected the first exercise.

Let’s take it to the range. Grab a sand iron and some balls. Preferably a sand iron with at least a D8 swing weight or a sand iron that is slightly heavier than normal. Swing the sand iron as if

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David Merriman is an Australian PGA Tour Player and Teaching Professional at Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast. Contact him on 0412 44 22 05.

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Plenty of practice will mean waiting on the tee until the group in front are at least 300 metres down the fairway before you can hit off!

For a better understanding of these exercises contact your local PGA member or book a lesson with me at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. •

Make your Mark

Sandy has coached Robert Allenby and Y.E Yang and currently coaches Jarrod Lyle Players of all skill level welcome. Non Members of Commonwealth Golf Club welcome.

you have that “wall” behind you. The shorter club (sand iron) and the weight in the head will encourage the hands to release through the ball giving you more club head speed. Now try hitting some balls. Concentrate on keeping your swing free flowing and hold your finish to help create balance.

Tip: If you take your wedge and swing it with only your right hand half way back and half way through you will notice that the right hand releases completely at the bottom of the arc of the swing. This is the feeling we are trying to achieve.

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mind and body

Explosive power through fitness training

Lunge Lateral Throw A

Richard Nizielski richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

Most golfers I work and speak with would generally like to hit the ball further.

Aside from improving technique and having a solid understanding of the golf swing, having the capability to contract and coordinate the muscles involved in the golf swing will greatly improve anyone’s ability to hit the ball further.

If the club head can be moved through its pathway faster and still in control by the player, there will be more energy transferred from the player to the golf club and ultimately to the ball.

The greater the energy transfer, the greater the distance of ball flight.

For that to happen, the golfer must produce more power.

Lunge Lateral Throw B

Side Step Throw, A and B

Side Step Throw, A and B

Power, in the case of swinging a golf club, is best described in the equation: Force x Distance / Time In the full swing, the distance the head of the club will travel will be pretty constant.

However, if the golfer can increase the amount of force generated in the same amount of time and distance, as before, then the power will increase.

So, strength training alone can increase explosive power?

Yes, strength training will positively affect the top half of the power equation, or the peak force production.

However, when initial inertia is overcome, less force and more speed is required to continue the movement and heavy strength training becomes less suitable.

In general, a good base of strength training is a prerequisite for power training, but there are a few exercises that can be incorporated into your fitness training, to help stimulate explosive power.

Medicine ball throws not only help with power, they can be helpful with balance and coordination also.

Here are two examples.

Generally, a rubber or live medicine ball (as they are sometimes called) are better for throwing exercises.

If possible, find a wall which you can throw at and catch the ball when it comes back to you.

• Side Step Throw Stand side-on to the direction you are throwing the ball, leaving enough room for a stepping action and the throw (see photo A).

Hold the ball in two hands, in front of you.

Take a side step towards the wall, winding up the body as you do so. As you land on the other foot, throw the ball as hard as you can at the wall. Catch it on the rebound (you may like to balance on one foot for an extra challenge).

Repeat for 8 to 10 times and then switch to the other side.

• Lunge Lateral Throw Stand side-on to the wall, in a lunge position,

with the leg closest to the wall forward (see photo A).

Hold the ball out in front of you with two hands, wind the torso into a “back swing” position and then throw the ball at the wall as hard as you can, whilst maintaining balance.

Catch the ball on the rebound. You may either reset to throw the ball again or immediately take the arms into the “back swing” and repeat the throwing action without stopping.

Repeat for 8 to 10 times and then switch to the other side.

Happy golfing.

of things that are causing the damage round after round. Sometimes it’s really clear to what the problem is but other times in golf it can be like unlocking a puzzle trying to figure out what is going on. In summary, the root of the problem can be how you are assessing what is going on.

The clear steps to follow to pull yourself out of this pickle of a situation are: A) Figure out the main weaknesses, B) Work on them, C) Measure them, D) Test them, E) Stick to the plan.

The above formula will make sense to most of you but the area where it starts to not work is where you have some heated emotion that comes into things. Before you even start to do the above steps I suggest you check in with yourself after the round and if you have a lot of pent up emotion you may need to get this out of your system by either relaxing, going for some exercise or sleeping it off. Try not to get into the habit of drinking your troubles away as we all know where this leads to!

Here are a few tips on working through the A to E steps. When working out your weaknesses try to see a pattern that has happened over your last 3 games not just the last one which is fresh in your mind. As you get to work on the problem areas make sure you keep some quality concentration so you don’t get sloppy and slip into bad habits. A good way to do this is to write down your progress as you practice. At the end of your practice session give yourself a little test under pressure to see how well you are doing.

Lastly, changes can take time. Relax and let the

good stuff come your way. If you panic you may stuff the whole process up.

There can be massive amounts of satisfaction to be gained from taking a really weak area of your game and turning it into something outstanding. It’s a good thing to keep this in mind as you start to see little improvements and reward yourself along the way. There is a reason why the world’s top tennis players give a fist clench and some internal words of encouragement as they play a good point. It keeps the motivation humming along.

The main lesson to grasp is that poor performances can be seen in two main ways.

On one hand, the performance can be seen as a disappointment and that you are on the road to failure. On the other hand, it can be seen as a chance to take yourself to a new place with your game by learning some important information for what you need to work on. •

How to successfully deal with poor golf performances Mathew Howe

mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au

We all know that in order to succeed at anything long-term in life or golf we must go through a series of events that will not work out. Most people call these failures. Sometimes a golfer is so disgusted with ongoing bad performances that they will finish a round hang up their clubs in the garage as if to teach them a lesson not to misbehave ever again! I am going to assume that most people can find a way to get over a single bad round without too much hassle. This article will focus on what to do when the bad rounds start stacking up one after the other.

It’s always good to have a clear understanding of the root of the problem. Playing constantly good golf can be a moving target due to changes in our minds, bodies and the golf course each time we go out to play. It can actually be a number

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

Mat Howe is a Golf Mind Coach with a degree in Sport Psychology and has mentally coached and caddied for golfers from the international professional playing standard through to beginners.

If you have never had a mental coaching lesson before you may find it more practical and helpful than what you had first imagined. Coaching can be done over the phone and clients range from 14 – 80 years old. Introduction sessions are $55 and last for around 30 minutes. mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au, 0410 695 605

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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events

Golf In Victoria is open for business Victorian Open Australia’s leading regional golf tournament.

And it is certainly that.

Every team needs a networking guru and a person with a passion for making great events memorable. Former club director, John Taylor, is that man. His ability to create an entertainment hub around the eighteenth green and to build the tournament’s atmosphere is an important role and one he is supremely suited to. The design and positioning of the hub means that three tees and two greens can be viewed and remain within a short walk. Food and beverage can make an important contribution to an event’s profitability and JT must be recognised for his role in this area.

And you can bet next year he will lift the stakes to a newer and bolder level.

Andrew Dowling ed@insidegolf.com.au

There is a notion that golf in Australia needs re-energising. The statistics back up that notion and the ever-shrinking tournament schedule supports this theory too. But there is hope. And the hope can only come from those who aspire to rebuild the game and to make tournament golf exciting, entertaining and one important cog in the machinery that will reshape interest and participation in the game.

And Golf Victoria and the Victorian Open Golf Championship are leading the way.

On day one of the Victorian Open there was a real buzz emanating from Thirteenth Beach Golf Links. Like many Australian golf events, the Victorian Open Golf Championship’s uncertain history had been revived off the back of a successful venture to amalgamate the men’s and women’s events and for twelve months the members and the Geelong local golf community anxiously held their collective breaths in the hope that the hype that accompanied the 2013 Victorian Golf Open could be repeated.

By Sunday lunchtime the buzz had become a roar.

With more than 3,000 golf fans surrounding the eighteenth green and another 4,000 following international golfers, including England’s Laura Davies, European Tour member, Richard Green and One Asia Order of merit winner, Matt Griffin, the parlous state of Australian golf’s heart was beating like a drum.

And much of the credit needs to be attributed to Golf Victoria and their CEO, Simon Brookhouse, Thirteenth Beach General Manger, Anthony Masters and the visionary CEO of the major sponsor, E.D Oates, David Birch.

For more than a decade or even longer, members of the PGA Tour and the ALPG have yearned for a return to the halcyon days of Australian golf when the annual tournament calendar boasted up to twenty prestigious events and enough prize money to support a vibrant local tour. And with the Victorian Open’s success we have been given hope that the dream may again in fact become a reality.

And this event has set a new benchmark that the PGA Tour of Australia cannot ignore. And their collective membership will now demand that they present a tournament calendar that boasts events that can rival the 2014 Victorian Open.

To resuscitate the game at this level requires the right mix of people all supporting a common theme which is to symbiotically build golf tournaments that attract sponsors who really understand the opportunity to invest in the game, a venue managed by people who are prepared to support the sponsors and the tournament and of course players who provide the entertainment and support for the event at all levels.

And this is why the Victorian Open Golf Championship is a one of the top golf events in Australia.

The Sponsor

When E.D Oates CEO, David Birch was first approached to sponsor this event he was impressed with the vision that Golf Victoria sold him. And when the management and board of Thirteenth Beach Golf Links supported the vision, 72

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The roar

The crowds flocked to Thirteenth Beach for the recent Oates Vic Open, giving players, sponsors and organisers a huge ‘thumbs up’ for the event.

Birch quickly realised he had an opportunity that was going to bring his company’s name, brand and products to the attention of a new audience.

Initially, Mr Birch wanted little more than to plant his flag in the ground. Whilst the ground was very new and the risk was a considerable investment in dollar terms and a shift in his firms marketing and advertising strategy, he could see an opportunity to proudly introduce the golfing world to Oates cleaning products.

With fifty feet of B- Double truck greeting players, officials and spectators into the course every day, the company’s unforgettable slogan; “Oates Cleans Best”, was highly visible. Add the novel use of broom heads on the tees as markers that reminded players and spectators alike that Oates makes brooms and they come in a variety of colours. In fact, Oates politely and effectively grabbed your eye as you drove into the venue, walked around the course and lunched in the club house.

David Birch’s requirements as the naming rights sponsor have been surpassed by both Thirteenth Beach and Golf Victoria. He is delighted with their professional support and is adamant that 2015 will be just as bright.

The Players

Laura Davies is a four -time major winner and has won more than eighty titles world-wide. And the crowds in Australian have adopted her as one their own. During the fourth round with her driver misbehaving, she landed in two fairway bunkers and played mighty recovery shots. The first shot was sheer class but the second shot was a 167m, five iron to twenty feet from a cavernous trap on the sixteenth hole.

The crowd roared their approval and Laura humbly and politely acknowledged them. That you can watch her play from such close proximity makes the experience all the more powerful. And Laura was simply magnificent.

Her presence will inspire young women to play our game and that David Birch chose her as his pro-am partner is a glowing endorsement of what she meant to the event.

Add European Tour winner Richard Green, eventual winner Matt Griffin and a host of internationally-based ALPG women golfers such

as Sarah Jane Smith, Sarah Kemp and Stacey Keating, and you have a very deep and classy field.

And this brings people through the gate And many more young aspiring champions of the men’s and women’s game make this event a priority at the start of the year. And they want more events of this magnitude in Australia.

One young tyro eagerly shared his frustration at the PGA Tour which he believes is not doing enough to support tournament golf in this country. And soon the flood gates opened and the men and women were asking why other states couldn’t put on an event to match this one.

But they lavished praise on the venue, the concept of men and women playing together and a sponsor who this year raised the prize money to $150,000. And they even suggested that men and women could play in the same groups on the last day to give the crowds an even greater golfing spectacle.

They deserve a local tour and the Victorian Open Championship is the proof in their eyes that with the right people in the right places it is highly achievable.

The Venue

Tournament golf needs to be played at venues that support the needs of the event, the sponsors and the players who are the vital ingredient. With the club house open to all visitors of the Open, the Thirteenth Beach Golf Links is the perfect host club. The General Manager, Anthony Masters (with tremendous support from Thirteenth Beach Chairman Ian Wheatley) has a vision for building the club’s membership and for promoting the venue to the golfing public and with more than 20,000 visitors over the four days of the event we can safely say he has achieved his mission.

Masters’ determination to support the major sponsor and a host of smaller, yet important investors speaks volumes for his determination to make this event highly sustainable and an important part of the PGA Tour. The formula for his success is built around ensuring the courses are well prepared in advance, the members play a vital role in supporting the event at a number of levels and they are catered for throughout the event. It is a juggling act that requires all stakeholders remain committed to making the

As I entered the course on Sunday afternoon the roar from around the ninth green signalled that the promised crowds had arrived with the good weather. And then another roar rolled towards me from the back nine and yet another from the stands around the eighteenth green.

The spectator numbers required to generate those roars meant that the sponsors, players and officials would have smiles on their collective faces.

This is what tournament players love. They are part athlete, part entertainer and full throttle golfers who thrive on being appreciated for demonstrating their full range of skills.

When Brett Drewitt’s long approach settled just metres from the flag on the eighteenth green the crowd responded with a roar that shook the foundations of the course. That he missed the eagle putt did not diminish his performance one bit in the eyes of this golf crowd. They will remember his shot and his reaction to their roar for years to come.

And he will be back to play again next year.

Minjee Lee has the golfing world at her feet.

She plays like a veteran and at 17 years old can defend her title for many years. She summed up the players’ feelings by thanking everyone in attendance and promised to make this event a priority in 2015.

That’s what champions do. And we are delighted she calls Australia home and her first victory was the Victorian Open.

The last word

The last word belongs to David Birch. His determination to support this event has ensured that for the next two years the event will grow and that is a very important for Australian golf.

And of course every sponsor wants to see a thrilling event played in front of large galleries at a venue where their products are continually on display.

Birch has confirmed that Oates is committed to this event for the next two years. And he is confident that his investment has already lifted consumers’ awareness of E.D. Oates and what they do. And moreover he is delighted with the support that he has received from Golf Victoria and Thirteenth Beach.

AS I left the course on Sunday evening I stopped near the front gate and looked over fairways and the shadows that were forming on them, and in my rear vision mirror fifty feet of B- Double truck told me that Oates Cleans Best.

And I reckon golf is all the better for it. •

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seniors

Kiwis senior team too good in Sanctuary Cove Trophy Denis Dale

ed@insidegolf.com.au

T

he New Zealand Seniors team has defeated the Australian Seniors Team in the 2014 battle for the Sanctuary Cove Trophy. This year the event was played in New Zealand at the Muriwai Golf Club near Auckland. Muriwai is a very good links style course that presented both teams with challenging golf and mild to windy conditions.

Played in the same format as the Ryder and Presidents Cups, the Sanctuary Cove Trophy was in its eighth year and with the Kiwis having won four of the previous seven the Aussie players were keen to even up the tally.

Once again both teams had appointed nonplaying captains with ex-player Chris Coats leading the Australians and Ian Jackson the Kiwis.

The competition started with Day 1 morning Foursomes and the Aussies were determined to start well. Playing some excellent golf they finished the morning session with a good lead of 4½ matches to 1½.

Australia’s best foursomes result came from the pairing of Richard Greville and Ross Bockman who defeated their opponents 4&2.

Newcomer to the Australian team Sal Ballard paired with good friend David Limbach to edge out their New Zealand rivals with victory on the final hole.

Stefan Albinski and Greg Stanford led at the halfway mark in their match but a strong New Zealand finish saw them finish all square after eighteen. Playing in his eighth Sanctuary Cove series Denis Dale paired with the experienced Queenslander Peter King and they won a close match when they birdied the seventeenth hole.

After a break for lunch the afternoon Fourball matches began with Australia looking to extend their lead and the New Zealanders keen to narrow the gap. As always the games were keenly contested with several very close results but this time the New Zealand team finished ahead winning four of the fourball matches to the Australians’ two.

The Aussie fourball pairing of Roy Vandersluis and Alan Bullas recorded a 2&1 fourball victory to follow their morning foursomes win making them the only Australians to win both matches on the opening day and two points for their Australian team. NSW pair Richard Greville and Ross Bockman halved their afternoon fourball match to follow their morning victory and a valuable contribution of 1½ points. Denis Dale & Peter King also finished square in their afternoon match for a daily total of 1½ points.

With the 12 individual matches remaining and a narrow one-point lead the Australian team was optimistic of an overall victory as they prepared for Day 2. Captain Chris Coats and vice-captain Tony Kennings had 74

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

2014 Australian Senior Team: Greg McKay, Ross Bockman, Ian McPherson, Tony Kennings (v-capt), David Limbach, Stefan Albinski, Sal Ballard, Denis Dale, Alan Bullas, Peter King, Greg Stanford, Roy Vandersluis, Richard Greville, Chris Coats (capt). prepared the team well and all players began playing high-quality golf. After each game had completed the opening six holes there was very little between the two teams with the margin no more than one hole. It looked like another close battle.

However, the next six holes were a very different story with the strong New Zealand team rising to a new level. With birdies and eagles the story of their day, after the six middle holes were complete the Kiwi team had opened a commanding lead that would prove impossible to catch. The final result in the individual games was nine points to the New Zealand team and three points to the Australians.

NSW senior Richard Greville completed a very successful year with his individual victory and an overall total of 2½ points from a possible three.Although Roy Vandersluis and Alan Bullas lost their individual games both ended with two points each and could be pleased with their series efforts. West Australian Ian McPherson was another individual winner with a good 2-up victory over leading Kiwi Frank Borren.

The Kiwis had finished with a total of 14½ points to the Australian’s 9½ points to exactly match the result from 2013. The Australians had tried hard but were beaten by a better team on the final day. They will now have to wait until 2015 when the series will return to the Sanctuary Cove Golf Club in Queensland.

More information on past and upcoming national ranking events and full ranking tables available on the AUSOOM website www.ausoom.com

Four events completed in 2014 Senior Ranking Competition The 2014 Australian Senior Ranking competition is well underway with four of the sixteen events to be held in the new ranking year now complete.

The first event was the ACT Senior Amateur Championship where three golfers finished in a tie before NSW senior Vince Clark (The Lakes) was awarded the first prize on a countback. Others to finish on the same total were Denis Dale (76-76-72) and Greg McKay (75-74-75). Clark fired a great final round of one under par 71 to follow rounds of 73 and 80 for a 54-hole total of 224.

The next event on the 2014 Australian Senior Ranking calendar was the second playing of the Royal Melbourne Senior Classic. Played over 54 holes on the East, West and Composite courses once again this was a wonderful tournament. After opening with rounds of 81 and 77 ACT senior Bill Banks was seven strokes behind but produced a great closing round of 75.

With the overnight leader Michael Barltrop (NZ) struggling on the final nine Banks eventually defeated NSW senior Sal Ballard (81-79-75) by two strokes. Ballard had also come from well behind after 36 holes.

Victorian Ian Frost (80-77-79) and NSW’s Paul Maslen (79-77-80) shared third place.

The 2014 Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championship was played at Mowbray Golf Club in February and Stefan Albinski repeated his 2013 title with another convincing display that included two rounds under par. With scores of 70-7570 on the par 71 course and a total of 215 Albinski was a two stroke winner from local player Michael Leedham (70-74-75).

Albinski and Leedham have now won nine of the last ten Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championships with only Victorian Ross Percy breaking their dominance with his victory in 2011.

2014 Australian Senior Rankings Player

State Events Ave. NSW

7

103.71

2 Stefan Albinski NSW

8

102.01

3 David Limbach NSW

7

99.09

NSW

7

98.50

5 Roy Vandersluis NSW

7

95.88

1 Paul Maslen

4 Denis Dale

Queensland senior Sam Christie won the 2014 NSW Senior Championship at Tuncurry Golf Club after a three-man playoff that included defending champion Bill Banks (ACT) and NSW player Greg McKay. More details available in the NSW state report.

When the ranking points had been allocated for the NSW Seniors there was a new leader on the Australian Senior Ranking System with NSW senior Paul Maslen taking over the top position for the first time. Maslen replaced previous leader Stefan Albinski and now leads by just a single point. NSW seniors continue to dominate the rankings table and currently hold the top five places.

More information on past and upcoming national ranking events and full ranking tables available on the AUSOOM website www.ausoom.com

seniors

Dramatic finish in 2014 NSW Senior Championship In a very exciting finish Queenslander Sam Christie (80-76-74=230) won the 2014 NSW Senior Amateur Championship at Tuncurry Golf Club. Christie defeated ACT senior and defending champion Bill Banks (74-8274=230) and NSW senior Greg McKay (78-7676=230) in a playoff. Just one stroke outside the playoff was a group of five golfers in what was definitely the closest finish seen in a major senior amateur event.

Christie won the playoff holing an 8-metre birdie putt on the first extra hole after wonderful chips from both Banks and McKay had run over the hole giving both easy pars.

A large crowd could only gasp and then applaud as Christie’s lingering putt took the one extra turn it needed to fall in the hole and allow him to raise his arms in triumph.

The five golfers finishing just one stroke away and eventually in a five-way tie for fourth place were Peter Chatillon, Tony Kennings, Brian Sams, Terry Davis and David Limbach.

All had gone so close to winning the NSW Senior Championship. There were 20 golfers within six strokes of the winning score.

“I’m thrilled to win this State Championship event” remarked Christie in his acceptance speech, especially considering the quality

Queensland Senior Order of Merit begins Following a successful introduction in 2013 Golf Queensland is continuing with the Queensland Senior Order of Merit competition again this year. In a slightly amended 2014 competition there will be forty events with senior men and women to count their best 8 results throughout the year.

Trophies will be awarded to the leading seniors in the open scratch section, a handicap section and an over 65 years section for both senior men and women.

There were three events in January and February with some of the results shown below.

Palmer Colonial Seniors – 18 holes Scratch: Chris Gray (Coffs Harbour), Lindsay Brown (Keperra), Mario La Chiusa (Nudgee) 76 Over 65: Ian Read (Indooroopilly) 77 Women: Josie Ryan (Headland) 82

Wynnum Seniors – 18 holes Scratch: Steve Toyne (Nudgee) 69 Handicap: David Golding (Redcliffe) 78 Women: Lyn Barwick Wynnum) 87

Bribie Island Seniors – 18 holes Scratch: Steve Rowley (Nudgee), Phil Towle (Coolangatta) 75 Handicap: Ken Beckett (Virginia) 38 pts Women: Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) 77 More information available on the Golf Queensland web site www.golfqueensland.org.au

of players that were out there today. Any one of us could have won it today, and I just feel very privileged to have done so.” Christie was generous in his praise of the Tuncurry course and the marvellous organisation of all involved.

Among many hard luck stories perhaps Neil Shute, the 36-hole leader, had the most reason to feel unhappy and unlucky. Playing very well and still holding the championship lead Shute teed off from the wrong markers on the fifteenth unaware the tee had been moved back for the final round. The double bogey that followed and the obvious unsettling impact of this mistake saw him bogey the final three holes and miss the play off by just two strokes.

Once again this year there will be more than 40 events in the NSW Senior Order of Merit competition with scores from the best 14 events to count. There is also a season-long competition for Over 65 Years seniors.

Progress points on the NSW Senior Order of Merit table are first released soon after the playing of the NSW Senior Amateur Championship. This points table and additional information on all events is now available on the Golf NSW website www.golfnsw.org .

Greg McKay, Bill Banks, Sam Christie.

New names on top in Victorian Doug Bachli The 2014 competition for Victoria’s senior amateur golfers and the coveted Doug Bachli Trophy is well underway with six of the 31 events now completed.

The 2014 Doug Bachli has many new names at the top of the leaderboard with quite a few of the previous year’s leaders currently well down the list. However, with points from the player’s best fifteen performances to count there is still a long way to go in the 2014 race to claim the trophy.

COMING SENIOR AMATEUR EVENTS April 7

Southport Seniors QLD

April 8-10 * The National Senior Masters VIC April 11-13

Laidley Seniors QLD

The current leader is Rossdale golfer Tony Hyde with 934 points. Hyde has played in all 9 events so far and he holds a narrow lead over fellow Rossdale member Ken O’Brien who has played in seven events. Kingston Heath senior Gordon Claney is currently in third place.

April 13

Jubilee Cup at Bowral NSW

April15-16

Warrnambool Seniors VIC

Thirteenth Beach senior Barry Tippett had a tournament to remember in the 36-hole 2014 Lonsdale Senior. Tippett outclassed the field to fire two fantastic rounds of 70 and 66 (a 6-under-par total) for one of the best performances by a senior golfer in any level of senior golf in recent years.

April 20

Royal Sydney Seniors NSW

April 21

Bonnie Doon Seniors NSW

Coming hot on the heels of Barry Tippett’s excellent scores at Lonsdale, Gary Easte won the Cranbourne Senior by ten shots with a masterful display. In near perfect weather conditions over the two days and with the course set up for good scoring, he played brilliantly to record rounds of 68 and 70, or 6-under-par for the 36 holes.

April 28-30 * Sydney Senior Classic (The Lakes, The Australian and Avondale GCs) May 5-8 Cobram-Barooga Seniors VIC May 5

Penrith Seniors NSW

May 7 Manildra Sand Greens Championship (NSW)

2014 Victorian Senior Order of Merit Player

Club

Events

Best 15

May 8-9

3

Tony Hyde

Rossdale

9

934

May 8-9 Horton Park Ladies Seniors QLD

2

Ken O’Brien

Rossdale

7

880

May 12

Indooroopilly Seniors QLD

5

Gordon Claney

Kingston Heath

3

660

May 13

Strathfield Seniors NSW

4

Barry Tippett

Thirteenth Beach

4

625

May 19

Wollongong Seniors NSW

May 23

Mt Coolum Seniors (QLD)

5

Andrew Hansen

Eastern

6

559

May 24-25

Gippsland Seniors VIC

May 14

Mona Vale Seniors NSW

May 27

Mandurah Seniors WA

The rest of the Cranbourne field could only watch and marvel at the level of golf Easte produced. His score could have been even better if not for a slightly disappointing finish over the closing holes. At one point Easte was an amazing 10 under the card through 31 holes.

The Yarra Courses Senior Amateur is an 18-hole event rotated annually amongst the different golf courses in and around the Yarra area. Green Acres Golf Club hosted this year and the 2014 champion was Eastern’s Andrew Hansen who defeated Rossdale’s Tony Hyde on a countback after both carded 73 off the stick.

Further information on the Doug Bachli Order of Merit is available on the Golf Victoria website www.golfvic.org.au.

Orange Seniors (NSW)

May 13 Burleigh Heads Seniors (QLD) May 29-June 1 * Northern Territory Seniors at Palmerston GC May 30 Pelican Waters Seniors QLD * Part of the Australian Senior Ranking System

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

75

golf nsw

Teaching the teachers at Queanbeyan There was a group of twelve very enthusiastic teachers, some of whom had not played golf at all before. Having golf experience is not a requirement to participate in the course, and after the course non-golfers are able to hit the ball quite well.

In March, Queanbeyan Golf Club hosted a school teacher golf-training day. Jack Newton Junior Golf provided the equipment and staff, and they used the practice facilities and clubhouse for their activities.

The schools represented were Trinity Christian School, Covenant Christian School, Canberra Girls Grammar School, Monash Primary School, Holy Spirit Primary School, Stromlo High School, St. Clare’s College, Queanbeyan East Public School and Jerrabomberra Public School.

All these schools either have existing golf programs in their schools or intend to run

GOLF NSW – APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS Golf NSW Events Start Date

End Date

Event

07-Apr-14

09-Apr-14

Women’s NSW Senior Amateur Championship

13-Apr-14

13-Apr-14

Men’s & Women’s NSW Foursomes Championship

Venue Bermagui GC Stonecutters Ridge GC

Men’s Vardon Events Start Date

End Date

Event

05-Apr-14

05-Apr-14

Asquith Cup

06-Apr-14

06-Apr-14

Magenta Shores Open Amateur

13-Apr-14

13-Apr-14

Jubilee Cup

19-Apr-14

20-Apr-14

Tamworth Golf Club Easter Cup

19-Apr-14

20-Apr-14

Macquarie Cup

Dubbo GC

21-Apr-14

21-Apr-14

Toukley Cup

Toukley GC

Asquith GC Magenta Shores GC Bowral GC Tamworth GC

Start Date

End Date

07-Apr-14

09-Apr-14

Women’s NSW Senior Amateur Championship

Event

Bermagui GC

17-Apr-14

17-Apr-14

Bankstown Salver

Bankstown GC

Venue

Men’s Senior Order of Merit Events Start Date

End Date

13-Apr-14

13-Apr-14

20-Apr-14

20-Apr-14

21-Apr-14

21-Apr-14

Jubilee Cup Seniors Royal Sydney Senior Invitational (top 40 2013 NSW SOOM) Bonnie Doon Seniors (Stableford)

Event

28-Apr-14

28-Apr-14

The Lakes GC Seniors (NSW Senior Classic)

The Lakes GC

29-Apr-14

29-Apr-14

Australian GC Seniors (NSW Senior Classic)

The Australian GC

30-Apr-14

30-Apr-14

Avondale GC Seniors (NSW Senior Classic)

Avondale GC

Royal Sydney GC Bonnie Doon GC

Start Date

End Date

Event

Venue

04-Apr-14

04-Apr-14

Golf NSW Metropolitan Grade Competition - Round 7

Various

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

The 2014 NSW Men’s State Team was announced during the presentation at the Monash Masters Tournament on 15th March. The team will contest the 2014 Australian Men’s Interstate Teams Matches at Federal Golf Club, ACT from April 29 - May 2.

Congratulations to the following members on their selection:

Golf provides many varied games and activities for children and teachers at school and complements any school sports program. Schools have ordered their golf kits and it won’t be too long before they are doing their own golf programs in class.

Dale Brandt-Richards (Mona Vale)

JNJG acknowledges the enthusiasm and commitment of the teachers and the generosity of Queanbeyan Golf Club in allowing the use of their facilities.

Zach Mullins (St. Michaels)

For more information about how to host a teacher training day visit: www.jnjg.com.au

Cameron Davis (Monash) Jarrod Freeman (Cumberland) Ricky Kato (The Australian) Troy Moses (Bonnie Doon) Brayden Peterson (Monash) Jordan Zunic (Bonnie Doon) Coach - Dean Kinney Manager - Les Browne

2014 NSW State Boys’ and Girls’ Teams Announced Golf NSW is pleased to announce the 2014 Boys’ and Girls’ State Teams. The teams of six players each will represent Golf NSW at the National Championships in the 2014 Australian Boys and Girls Interstate Teams Matches in Victoria in April.

In the lead-up to the Interstate Teams Matches, the players will also compete in the Australian Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championship.

Venue Bowral GC

Pennants / Grade

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

After the formalities of learning how to hit the ball was successfully completed, they engaged in building their own golf course on the practice range and played the holes.

This proved to be a popular and competitive activity before lunch.

Venue

Women’s Jean Derrin / Senior Order of Merit Events

76

programs in 2014. Golf is an ideal sport to promote in school as it is something different, can be played as an individual or team pursuit, and you don’t necessarily have to be physically gifted to achieve results.

Golf NSW announces 2014 Men’s State Team

Four Development Players have also been selected to travel with each of the New South Wales Teams and compete in the Australian Amateur Championships.

National-NSW Coach Dean Kinney said, “The players were selected on current form, and what’s come before us is a very talented squad. I look forward to working with both the girls’ and the boys’ teams.”

Congratulations to the following players on their selection:

2014 NSW State Girls’ Team

2014 NSW State Boys’ Team

Isabella Chan (Captain) (Pennant Hills) Doey Choi (Concord) Antonia Gonzales (Concord) Jessica Lasky (AGC) Shelly Shin (Concord) Celina Yuan (The Australian) Development Squad Amy Chu (Bonnie Doon) Stephanie Hall (St. Michael’s) Chloe Thornton (Queanbeyan) Pamela Tsiamis (St. Michael’s) Team Manager Vicki Stride

Grant Booth (Captain) (The Australian) Harrison Endycott (Avondale) Daniel Gale (Fox Hills) Isaac Noh (Avondale ) Blake Windred (Monash) Kevin Yuan (The Australian) Development Squad: Jason Hong (Concord) Daniel Kolar (St. Michaels) Jay McKenzie (Ballina) Joseph Trinder (Cootamundra)

golf qld

Golf Queensland announces 2014 QAS Squad

Isuzu Queensland Open back this August

QAS Squad Member Gennai Goodwin Four new faces will join the elite Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Golf Program in 2014, joining five players from last year.

Jack Sullivan (Palmer Gold Coast), Cory Crawford (Sanctuary Cove), Blake Proverbs (Royal Queensland) and Amy Walsh (Emerald Lakes) will join Taylor Macdonald (Redcliffe), Aaron Wilkin (Wynnum), Jake McLeod (Royal Queensland), Jaimee Dougan (Beaudesert) and Gennai Goodwin (Indooroopilly) to make up this year’s squad.

The squad is chosen by using a selection criteria that includes national and international tournament performances as well as commitment to training and fitness.

Golf Queensland Head Coach Tony Meyer said the QAS Squad forms the pinnacle of the Golf Queensland High Performance Program.

“There is no doubt that all players selected this year for QAS have earned their spots on the squad,” Mr Meyer said.

“They will have the opportunity to work with some of the best golf-specific service providers in the country which will enable them to reach their full potential.”

Three members of the squad have represented Australia in tournaments during the past year.

Aaron Wilkin and Taylor Macdonald were

successful at the recent Nomura Cup in Thailand and Amy Walsh competed in the Callaway World Junior Championships.

After his exceptional year, Taylor Macdonald was also named as a member of the 2014 Golf Australia National Squad.

Jack Sullivan won the NSW Junior Boys Amateur and the Greg Norman Junior Masters and Blake Proverbs was ranked number one on the Golf Australia Boys’ rankings in 2013.

The 2014 QAS Squad is proudly supported by Srixon and Fayde Apparel.

The Queensland Academy of Sport Golf Program is conducted with the assistance of the Queensland Government and forms the pinnacle of the Golf Queensland High Performance Program.

The QAS Golf Program, which commenced in July 2001, is designed to assist Queensland’s most talented amateur players in reaching their full potential within the amateur golf ranks.

QAS scholarship holders have access to worldclass coaching and support services including sport science, strength and conditioning, medical, career and education in addition to financial support for competition and training costs, depending on the level of their scholarship. www.golfqueensland.org.au •

2013 Isuzu Queensland Open winner Nick Cullen Golf Queensland recently announced the Isuzu Queensland Open would return to the Brookwater Golf and Country Club from 28 31 August 2014.

Chair of Golf Queensland, Peter Castrisos, said the Championship was successfully reinstated onto the PGA Tour of Australasia in 2013.

“We are now looking forward to capitalise on this success and grow the championship further on and off the course,” Mr Castrisos said.

“The Championship attracted higher than anticipated entries with 320 golfers vying for a spot in the field of only 120.

“We are proud of the results in 2013 which included working with the PGA, Brookwater Golf and Country Club and over 50 volunteers to deliver the Championship that attracted over 5,000 spectators.”

Mr Castrisos said the event proved it could gain significant media exposure for not only golf but for the Ipswich region.

“A key priority was working with children in the local region to introduce them to golf. We achieved this by engaging with 1,000 children through schools and other activities and intend to grow this further in 2014,” he said.

The 2014 Isuzu Queensland Open forms part of the PGA Tour of Australasia and will carry Official World Golf Ranking points.

The Isuzu Queensland Open is open to amateur golfers and PGA professionals to play in a 72-hole championship event.

Golfers including Norman Von Nida, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior and Stuart Appleby, who was an amateur when he won in 1991, have their names etched on the TB Hunter Cup. •

Queensland Men’s Sand Greens Championship 6-8 June 2014 Hughenden Golf Club Entries close 5pm Wednesday 21 May 2014 Avoid disappointment and enter early!

Proudly sponsored by www.facebook.com/GolfQueensland

@GolfQueensland

www.golfqueensland.org.au T: (07) 3252 8155 www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

77

calendar

2014

APRIL

US Masters Breakfast @ MGA

When: Monday 14 April, 2014 Where: Melbourne Golf Academy

Join the team at Melbourne Golf Academy for a delicious cooked buffet breakfast, and watch Aussie Adam Scott defend his US Masters title live on their big screen TVs. PGA Professional Vaughan Somers will host a putting competition at the conclusion of the Masters telecast. The winner will receive a 1000 ball card (valued at $110) and the runner-up a 500 ball card (valued at $60).

SCHEDULE: 6.00am Guests arrive, 6.30am Buffet breakfast served ,9.30am Putting competition (on completion of telecast), 10.00am Event concludes.

Bookings are limited. Cost is $25pp and includes breakfast, tea/coffee and putting competition.

Why not book a table for a group of friends? 9 max per table for only $200.

Melbourne Golf Academy is located at 385 Centre Dandenong Road, Heatherton, Vic. 03 9558 3477, www.mgagolf.com.au.

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.

Australian Men’s Interstate Teams Matches Where: Federal Golf Club When: April 29th - May 2nd Info: ph: (02) 6281 1888, www.fgc.com.au

“The Australian Men’s Interstate Teams Matches are Australia’s most prestigious Amateur Team Golf Championships. Each State is represented by eight players who contest singles match play in a round robin format, concluding with a Final.

The first Australian Men’s Team Championship was played in 1894 between NSW and Victoria. The second Championship was played between Victoria and South Australia, while the 1906 Championship was played between Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. It was not until 1946 that all states contested the event.

2014

MAY

2014 Mallacoota Team Challenge

When: Sat 24th & Sun 25th May Where: The Mallacoota Golf Club (East Gippsland VIC) Golfers with an official GA handicap are invited to form a two-man team and enter their Mallacoota Men’s Open Team Challenge.

Played over 2 days, the Mallacoota Challenge is a 2 Ball Aggregate team event featuring a modified points scoring system where in normal stroke play, 5 points are awarded for an Eagle, 4 points for a Birdie, 3 points for a Par, 2 points for a Bogie, 1 point for a Dbl Bogie, and 0 points for a triple Bogie or worse. The player’s total points for the round are then added to his official GA handicap. This total is then added to his partner’s points total to give the pairing their team aggregate points score.

2014 Women’s Autumn Meeting The first week in May will see the ACT host the popular Women’s Autumn Meeting from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 May at Federal, Yowani, Gold Creek, Queanbeyan, Gungahlin Lakes, Belconnen and Murrimbidgee Golf Clubs.

The Women’s Autumn Meeting is the second of three Golf NSW Women’s Meetings held each year with entries from all around the state. These events present an opportunity for competitors to enjoy some excellent golf courses and experience the hospitality the ACT has to offer. The Summer Meeting is held in the Southern Highlands and the Mountain Meeting is held in the Blue Mountains.

The Mallacoota Challenge however incorporates a unique handicap adjustment rule which will apply on Day 2 depending on individual scores from the previous day.

Prizes (with a value of $2500) will be awarded to the 2Ball tournament Winners; Runners-Up; 3rd Place; Daily individual winners; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Overall individual winners 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

(One major prize limit). Plus NTP’s etc. There will be some complimentary refreshments and a closing BBQ. A WOMEN’s event played under the same format, in conjunction with but separate to the Men’s Open Challenge will again be held on the Sunday only.

For enquiries and further details, contact: Alf Bowerman, PH: 0416-006706 03 51580250, Email: alyah2000@gmail.com or atbow@bigpond.com

2014 BER M E V O N

Special Olympics 54 hole Tag Team Golf tournament When: 17th November 2014 Where: Riverside Oaks Golf Resort

Tee off for charity, and help athletes with an intellectual disability. Each team of 2 plays Ambrose for 18 holes, then one player plays the next 9 holes as stroke, then players change for the following 9 holes. Lunch will be served during the two 9-hole stroke play. The final 18 holes will see both players again play Ambrose and partnered with another team of 2 to play 4 ball Ambrose.

Registration is a non-refundable $300.00pp deposit and fundraise a minimum of $1200.00pp. Includes breakfast, snacks and drinks on course, sit down dinner and plenty of prizes.

Every player will receive a players gift pack from Srixon valued at approx $150.00, including one dozen Srixon Golf Balls.

For more information about sponsorship or to register, contact David Streichler on 0428 038 311 or email davids@specialolympics.com.au

score over 36 holes in Division 1. The winner of the Seat of Government Cup was Moss Vale’s Brenda Campbell.

What makes these events unique is that they are open to all handicap levels and the array of prizes facilitates all handicap ranges.

The Autumn Meeting is a four-day event which begins with a 36-hole scratch event. Day three is an 18-hole foursomes event, followed by a four person team event on day four.

The draw is semi seeded for days one and two, with players nominating their playing partners on days three and four.

Players compete for the ACT Championship Cup and The Seat of Government Cup. In 2013 Paige Stubbs from Pennant Hills GC won the ACT Championship Cup for the best scratch

The annual presentation dinner takes place at Yowani Country Club on Tuesday 6 May which includes the presentation of prizes for the first two days of the event. This is enjoyed by all in attendance and is a highlight of the event.

Golf NSW is committed to promoting and encouraging the game of golf and believe this tournament is a great way for all women golfers to compete at all levels.

Entries close on Friday 11 April.

For further information about the 2014 Women’s Autumn Meeting contact Fiona Carroll at Golf NSW on 9505 9105 or email fiona.carroll@golfnsw.org •

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

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calendar

Players flocking to Tri-State Masters 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: Woolooware Golf Club Harnleigh Avenue, Woolooware NSW 2230 Final 12th April 2014 Wodonga Golf Club 10 Clubhouse Place, Wodonga VIC 3690 3rd Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 4th Qualifying Round 26th April 2014 5th Qualifying Round 24th May 2014 Final 1st June 2014 Mildura Golf Resort’s outstanding fairways and beautifully treed backdrops a major attraction of the Tri-State Masters.

Australia’s most unique event for regular club golfers is on track to be another success despite the passing of its founder last year.

Within weeks of entry forms being released for the Shane Doherty Tri-State Masters, more than half of the available spaces in the week-long tournament based around Mildura in north-western Victoria, already have been filled.

Now in its 22nd year, the Tri-State Masters is continuing to attract ‘first timers’ to the event as well as return appearances from stalwarts.

Tournament Director, Kym Doherty who along with other family members assisted husband Shane to conduct the event for more than 5,500 golfers over the past two decades said: “A significant number of new entrants confirms that the attraction of a professionally run event for amateur golfers, that puts the emphasis on a holiday coupled with local tourism experiences, creating new friendships, and visiting a region for the first time, is continuing to grow.”

“In such emotional times, it was one thing for players to state on-going support for the event, but with Shane now gone and the loss of him as a tourism attraction in his own right, it was another thing for players to actually step up to the tee a year later.”

The Tri-State Masters is an event for A, B and C grade club golfers which will be conducted from May 18 to May 23.

It was conceived as a 54-hole stableford event with one round in Mildura Victoria, another just over the Murray River border in New South Wales and a third in the Riverland region of South Australia.

In recent years, the event has been streamlined to provide a more easily accessed series of rounds providing a diversity of golfing experiences in and around Mildura and its cross-river neighbouring course of Coomealla.

Three stableford competition rounds will be supported by a further two social rounds giving players the option of playing in only the tournament rounds, or others as well.

“Once again we have received strong support from major tourism entities in promoting the event as not just a golf tournament, but an insight into some of Sunraysia’s key attractions such as superb food, excellent wines, oasis-like location and most importantly, an escape destination from the southern cold.”

The event this year has been renamed the Shane Doherty Memorial Tri-State Masters, to honour Shane who lost a battle with cancer in the middle of last year.

“At last year’s event when Shane made it known that he was living on borrowed time and probably wouldn’t survive to this year’s event, there was a massive out-pouring of support for the event to continue.

The Shane Doherty Tri-State Masters will be restricted to 256 players again this year – further details are available from the event’s web site at www.sunraysiagolftours.com.au, or contact Kym Doherty 0408 310 532

Morning and afternoon sessions will be played and optional social events have been organised for every evening of the event.

Mudgee to host NSW Championships The 2014 Men’s and Women’s NSW Mid Amateur Championships are being held at Mudgee Golf Club Sunday 18 May to Tuesday 20 May 2014. Mudgee will be a great venue for the event with a great course on offer and the township of Mudgee will be a perfect setting for the Mid Amateur contestants.

The Men’s event is a 54-hole event with 18-holes being played each day for the three days. The Women’s event is a 36-hole event with 18-holes per day being played on Sunday and Monday. This is open to any male or female amateur, between the ages of 30 and 54 and has a handicap below 9.4 for men and below 18.4 for women.

The Championship will be hotly contested, with a contingent of the best in the state turning out this year to play. In 2013 there was some great scoring with Matthew Gaffney of Shelly Beach taking out the Men’s Championship by a mere shot from Logan Toms, while Gemma Dooley took out her third Mid Amateur Championship by four shots from Melissa Beavis and Jan Crichton.

There are a number of prizes awarded for the Championships, including scratch and nett winners.

Entries for this event will be open shortly. To enter, or for more information, log onto www.golfnsw.org •

Balgowlah Golf Club 506 Sydney Road, Balgowlah NSW 2093 5th Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 Final 4th May 2014 Orange Ex-Services Country Club 231-243 Anson Street, Orange NSW 2800 3rd Qualifying Round 5th April 2014 4th Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 5th Qualifying Round 14th June 2014 Final 22nd June 2014 Wakehurst Golf Club Upper Clontarf Street, Seaforth NSW 2092 3rd Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 4th Qualifying Round 26th April 2014 5th Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 Final 24th May 2014 Devilbend Golf Club Loders Road, Moorooduc VIC 3933 1st Qualifying Round 5th April 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 3rd May 2014 4th Qualifying Round 17th May 2014 5th Qualifying Round 24th May 2014 Final 31st May 2014 Branxton Golf Club 25 Cessnock Road, Branxton NSW 2335 1st Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 26th April 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 4th Qualifying Round 17th May 2014 5th Qualifying Round 24th May 2014 Final 31st May 2014 Penrith Golf Club 1939 The Northern Road, Penrith NSW 2750 1st Qualifying Round 26th April 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 3rd May 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 4th Qualifying Round 17th May 2014 5th Qualifying Round 24th May 2014 Final 31st May 2014 Parkes Golf Club London Road, Parkes NSW 2870 1st Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 24th May 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 28th June 2014 4th Qualifying Round 12th July 2014 5th Qualifying Round 9th August 2014 Final 31st August 2014 www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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the 19th hole

Larry’s Major predictions Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

T

he Majors are all but upon us I thought I’d put together my predictions of what we Aussie golf fans have to look forward to over the next few months. Obviously, last year was dominated by one, Adam Scott.

At this point maybe I should point out my respect… err, adoration... um, probably better put as my weird obsession with the level of perfection Adam Scott possesses. To the point where I fully expect to answer the door one day soon, to find a restraining order being served to me by Steve Williams.

I reckon Adam Scott is the absolute consummate Professional Golfer and borders on the world’s most flawless human! It’s like the God in charge of designing people was sitting in the locker room after birdying the last for 43 points and decided to celebrate his best round in years by creating something special. He combined, Ralph Lauren, Sam Snead, Brad Pitt and then threw in a pinch of Mahatma Gandhi and in July 1980 out popped Adam Scott.

I first realised my fixation with the 33-yearold had become excessive when I found myself recently introducing my three sons as Scotty,

Adam and Augusta. It didn’t seem to be a huge problem for the oldest two but I could tell Augusta found it a little embarrassing. It became obvious I had a real problem when one day, I called to my dog “Titleist” and thankfully this was rightly pointed out to me by my wife, Magnolia-Drive.

Anywhoo… I can see Adam again screaming “C’mon Aussie!” as he repeats his 2013 feat on the 72nd green edging out Tiger Woods by a shot. And doing it all while wearing the green jacket. The Augusta National Committee are so impressed they make Scotty their new Chairman and his first item on the agenda is have all stolen green jackets returned to their rightful owners. Larry Mize had to be tracked down by Greg Norman’s bodyguard, but he was finally found in a Mexico McDonalds hoeing into a Big Miguel Burger with his evil colleague, Bob Tway.

The US Open is taken out by Jason Day who has finished runner-up in this event twice in the last three years. Jase immediately announces his beautiful wife Ellie is expecting their second child.

A sister to their son Dash, they couple decide to name their daughter Dot. The British Open is played in terrible conditions at Royal Liverpool and as you’d expect, the leader’s board is full to the brim with tough Aussies who play in this crap every week back home. By Sunday Arvo, there’s a

four-way tie at the top, Marc Leishman, Jason Day, Adam Scott and one of my best mates Ian “Monty” Lamont.

Monty once came down the NSW Southern Highlands to have a hit with me in the middle of winter. It actually snowed on the 5th hole that day… I’m pretty sure it was also snowing on some of the other holes but we happened to be on the fifth when it dumped. The other three players in the group, Mick, Wrighty and I all agreed we should be in the clubhouse playing Euchre but Monty was 1 under and wanted to go on. With sleet building up on his glasses Monty finished up collapsing on the back nine along with Wrighty… who actually did collapse. For his commitment that day I reckon he deserves a mention in a Major.

Leishman birdies three of the four playoff holes to win but Monty keeps playing on as he is again 1 under.

The US PGA Championship has been a happy hunting ground for Aussies and 2014 is no exception. One of Australia’s most unsung heroes, John Senden finally works out the way to convert his magnificent golf swing into Major success. Sendo wins by 7 shots from… Well it doesn’t matter when you win by that much.

There it is for 2014 Majors my loyal readers….

Scotty, Jase, Leish and Sendo….. with a special mention to Monty! •

Age-breaker Allen duelled with stars David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

FOR Allen Alderton, breaking his age is old hat.

The 81-year-old Burleigh Golf Club member has done it more than 30 times, but who’s counting.

South African-born Allen currently plays off an 11 handicap, but in his younger days played off a one handicap at Royal Durban Golf Club and at Crown Mines Golf Club in Johannesburg where he won the club championship four times.

“In 1961, I became the first player to win the 36-hole championship with sub-par golf,” said Allen, who migrated to Australia in 2002.

“When I was younger, I played interstate golf for Natal and I also played in the South African Open and the Transvaal Open.”

And Allen used to rub shoulders with South Africa’s golfing royalty – Gary Player and Bobby Locke, who between them won 13 majors.

“I grew up with Gary Player,” he said. “We lived about 400 metres apart and knocked around together.

“He lived across the road from Turffontein Golf Club in Johannesburg and when the greenkeeper wasn’t looking we’d hop over the fence and play a few holes.

“Even then, as a 14-year-old, Gary could whack the golf ball. He was a chubby little guy – not like he is now and when he played the tour.

“He’s has been a great golfer and a great ambassador for the sport.”

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April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

at Crown Mines Golf Club on a Wednesday afternoon.

“That was only after his accident,” Allen said.

In 1960, a train hit Locke’s car, which left him with head and facial injuries.

“Bobby was great fun and told wonderful stories,” Allen said. “He wrote a book and they asked him to do a sequel, but after his accident his memory wasn’t the best.

“He couldn’t remember things and hardly remembered names so he called everybody ‘Master’.

“But he was a great character and I enjoyed playing with him.”

Despite the accident, Locke, who won the Open Championship in 1949-’50-’52-’57, continued to play good golf.

“One day we played at Crown Mines golf course, which was a par-74 (37-37) and he played the first nine in 37 (even-par) and came home in 29,” Allen said. “So despite the accident, he was still impressive.”

Allen, too, has been impressive breaking his age regularly, winning club and veterans’ competitions. He even has a best score of 71 off the stick at his beloved Burleigh Golf Club.

“I’m a member of the Gold Coast vets and have won a few of their competitions,” he said.

“A year ago, I won at Robina Woods (now Palmer Gold Coast) when I shot a 72 gross off a 10 handicap. That gave me 46 stableford points.”

Like Gary Player, Allen has been a fitness fanatic most of his life.

“I have always kept fit,” he said. “I have done a lot of marathon running in my time.

“In South Africa, I competed in the Comrades Marathon, which is around 90 kilometres. I did that 13 times.”

The marathon, the world’s oldest ultra-marathon, is run between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

“I still jog three or four times a week just to keep going and I push my golf cart around Burleigh,” said Allen, who plays three times a week.

“I don’t practice like I used. Today it’s more about having fun than anything else.

“We have a bet for a Keno ticket and have a few beers afterwards and that’s what it’s all about.

“I enjoy my golf. At 81, you are just happy to be out there above the grass,” laughed Allen, who also has had three holes-in-one. • Allen Alderton (right) and Gary Player “knocked around” together in their teens. INSET: Allen and granddaughter Bergen.

I NCLUDI NG GS T - EXCLU DI N G D ELI VERY & FITTING

the 19th hole

Masters Monday memories ed@insidegolf.com.au @AussieGolfer

I

t is now almost a year since Adam Scott broke one of the biggest curses in Australian sport. The date April 14, 2013 will forever be etched into Australian sporting history as the day Scotty became the first Australian to win the illustrious green jacket.

Technically, most Australians watched the event unfold on Monday the 15th of April and for many of us it became an impromptu public holiday.

We spent the morning glued to the TV, on the couch or in the office. Some of us ‘watched’ the event unfold on the internet, on the phone or via Twitter.

It wasn’t just Australian golf fans that spent a large part of the morning glued to the television either. In a sign that this was no ordinary feat, many Australians were talking about Adam Scott’s heroics at Augusta National as the news was splashed across the front pages of our national newspapers.

I feel privileged to have spent the morning among 80 or so other golfers over breakfast at a golf club. We were well into our third coffees when the nail biting began and after a couple of hours of excruciating edginess, the room erupted with cheers, applause, high-fives and hugs that you’d normally be reluctant to give a total stranger.

Perhaps my favourite aspect of Scotty’s victory has come when I’ve asked other golf fans about how they spent that historic Masters morning. The passion that comes with hearing someone recall the heartbreaking, nail-biting, room-pacing, phonetexting anxiety is a pleasure to hear, and I’ve heard some great and hilarious stories.

If it takes a grown man to admit to shedding a few tears, then we had plenty of them watching Adam Scott win at Augusta. Most people I’ve asked have admitted to getting a little teary as the putt rolled in on 18, followed by the final putt on the second playoff hole.

A single-friend of mine spent the morning shaking like a leaf at the prospect of Adam Scott winning, while simultaneously exchanging text messages with girlfriends across the world who also wanted Scott to win, albeit for slightly different reasons.

Not all golf fans were afforded the luxury of being home though.

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Most Australians were obliged to go to work that morning and I’ve heard great stories of office bound golf fans listening to the radio, glued to the internet or sipping coffee in front of the lunch room TV – torn by the desire to educate work colleagues on the drama unfolding before them and to tell them all to keep quiet.

Along with the British Open, the Masters is compulsory TV viewing for most golfers and one of my golfing buddies was distressed at being away on business that weekend.

Forced to fly to Adelaide from Darwin before Scotty teed off he arrived at his first stopover in Brisbane to see Scotty playing the 9th hole and looking the goods.

Assuming the tournament was over when he finally arrived in Adelaide and frantically checking the phone for scores, he noticed a large group of people were gathered around the TV at the bar. Needless to say, once the tournament finished, a whole bunch of strangers got much closer to one another with many sticking around for a few early morning beers.

My favourite story though came from a doctor at a major hospital. After a frustrating drive to work when the live radio stream of The Masters kept dropping out, he arrived to find patients still had the nerve to fall ill during a potentially history making moment.

Accepting his responsibilities, he attended to his patients but a short time later one of them looked all but cured as he went back into the waiting room. Here was a sick patiently miraculously jumping up and down for joy as Scotty rolled in the final putt.

In the seconds that followed, there was a breach of the doctor and patient relationship, both shedding a tear in front of concerned staff and other patients. Not exactly professional and normal behaviour you might say, but this wasn’t exactly a normal situation.

If anything it was a clear example of the sporting placebo effect on display, and sign of how sport can truly give us all a boost on a Monday morning.

Here’s hoping for a similar result at The Masters in 2014 – if you’re feeling a little sick, it could be the perfect pick-me-up.

ANSWERS: (1). Three (2004-’06-’10); (2). Mark O’Meara; (3). Gene Sarazen; (4). It crosses Rae’s Creek taking golfers to the 12th green; (5). Oliver Goss; (6). By invitation only; (7). Gary Player in 1961; (8). Three – Horton Smith (1934), Gene Sarazen (1935) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979); (9). Jason Day.

Michael Green

The quick nine “Masters” quiz

By David Newbery How many times has Phil Mickelson won the US Masters?

Can you name the Australian amateur who will debut at the 2014 US Masters?

Who, at 41, became the oldest US Masters first-time winner in 1998?

How does one become a member of Augusta National Golf Club?

The bridge crossing a small body of water fronting the 15th green at Augusta National was named after which famous player – Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen or Jack Nicklaus?

Who became the first international winner of the US Masters?

Ben Hogan, too, has a bridge named after him at Augusta National. Does it cross Rae’s Creek taking golfers to the 12th green or cross Rae’s Creek taking golfers from the 13th tee to the 13th fairway?

How many players have won the US Masters on debut?

Adam Scott defeated Angel Cabrera in a playoff to win the 2013 US Masters. Who finished outright third?

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chips and shanks

Old duo’s amazing pair of aces a hole-in-one world record claim

Mickelson not the first WE all know Phil Mickelson was the low amateur in the 1991 US Masters, but the three-time Masters champion was not the first left-handed amateur to play in the tournament.

That distinction belongs to Gene Ferrell, who qualified for the 1965 Masters when he reached the semi-final of the US Amateur.

“It was the thrill of my life,” Ferrell said. “I got to meet Bobby Jones, which was like meeting Babe Ruth. I couldn’t breathe the whole week.”

Back in the 1960s, Ferrell was one of the few left-handers playing the game.

“I don’t get much of a gallery, but I drag a lot of freaks around with me,” he joked in 1971.

“The galleries are pretty confused about

me. They see a left-hander hit a good shot into the green and they don’t know whether to applaud or look sick.”

Still, Ferrell credits New Zealand lefthander and 1963 Open Championship winner Bob Charles with help in his career.

“It’s a matter of equipment,” Ferrell said.

“Unless Charles came along, you just couldn’t get left-handed clubs.

“The pros would try to turn a left-hander around so they could sell him clubs.

“It’s not the same now. Left-handed equipment isn’t so hard to get and you’re seeing a lot more left-handed players.”

Three lefties have won the US Masters – Canadian Mike Weir (2003) Mickelson (20042006-2010) and Bubba Watson (2012).

Historic chapel for coast club IT’S a romantic gesture for those considering saying “I do” at a golf club.

In a move to bolster its wedding sector, Palmer Gold Coast Golf Course (formerly Robina Woods) recently acquired the historic St Andrew’s Chapel.

WHEN long-time 20-plus handicap clubmates Fred Dennis and Charles McNamee teed off last month in their usual mid-week comp at Castlecove Country Club on Sydney’s lower North Shore, they never dreamed of making world golf history.

McNamee, who is 84, and Dennis, 73, amazingly scored a hole-in-one each to win the fourball aggregate stableford event with a tally of 76 points.

And a search of hole-in-one web sites on the internet by Inside Golf indicates that never have two players in Australia (and maybe even the world) each scored an ace in combining to win a teams event.

The comprehensive US website www.nationalholeinoneregistry.com calculates the odds of one player having two holes-in-one in a round at 67 million to one but there is no estimate on two team-mates scoring the dual feat.

McNamee sent the pair’s winning hopes soaring when he scored a “one for five points” with a three-wood on the testing uphill 153m ninth hole. It was his sixth career ace – all being scored at Castlecove where he has been a member for about 20 years.

None of the group saw the ball – which flew straight at the flag -- drop in the cup as the tiered green is well above the tee but, after a brief search they found it in the hole on the top tier.

The cheque’s not in the mail IN 1970, Doug Sanders was confused after being presented with a cheque for $26,000 for winning the Bahama Islands Open on the US PGA Tour.

“They gave me this big heavy cardboard thing, about a foot high and two feet long, with palm trees drawn on it and all,” said Sanders, who was known as a stylish, flamboyant dresser on the golf course, which earned him the moniker “Peacock”.

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Built in 1883 from pit-sawn timber, the chapel still maintains its historic period charm and can host 65-seated guests in airconditioned comfort.

It has standing room for another 20.

PAIR OF ACES: Fred Dennis (left) and Charles McNamee put Castlecove in the hole-in-one record books Two holes later Dennis got in on the act to land his second career hole-in-one (the previous was in Queensland years earlier) and he witnessed it happen. He was delighted to see his perfectly-aimed wedge shot lob on the green and roll in at the 111m downhill 11th hole.

Their 10 points tally for just two holes may have lifted them to the winning aggregate teams score but they missed out on individual wins with McNamee, playing off 21, being beaten on a countback with 39 points in B Grade and Dennis, off 20, scoring 37 points.

“It’s a stunning chapel in a beautiful setting,” said Palmer Leisure managing director Angie Ison.

“The purchase of St Andrew’s Chapel is a great acquisition for us and means we can offer this great wedding ceremony venue to

SEVEN-TIME Australian Open champion Gary Player misses Australia.

“When we played together he was very complimentary about my game and I thought about turning professional, but at the time there wasn’t the money in golf.”

How do we know?

Well, he recently penned a letter to legendary Australian amateur Jack Rayner expressing the words, “I miss Australia”.

“I took it (cheque) back to Houston, left it around the house for a while and thought I’d have it framed.

Jack was going through his scrapbook and came across cuttings of the exhibition match.

“He said, ‘I’ll only give you $26,000 for it’.”

For the record, Sanders won 20 US PGA Tour events and finished runner-up in the Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship.

“With our range of Gold Coast wedding venues we are now in a great position to offer many options and a complete wedding service to any couple looking to tie the knot in the future,” she said.

Jack, who is 83, said he didn’t expect to hear from Player.

Player, a nine-time major winner, also sent Jack a signed photograph, which he plans to frame and give to his children.

“So I took this big thing down to the bank and asked the man if it was any good.

our clients whenever they wish to hold their big day.

Player misses Australia

However the unique feat of Charles and Fred teaming up for an ace apiece will be remembered by Castlecove’s small, but keen, membership – the ace-duo each left a $50 note on the bar for everyone to toast their rare achievement.

“I kept expecting to get the regular cheque in the mail, but it never came.

The historic chapel at Palmer Gold Coast Golf Course.

“It was very nice to hear from Gary after so many years,” Jack said.

Jack, the 1955 Australian Amateur champion, first encountered Player during an exhibition match in Brisbane in the mid-1950s.

So he wrote to the South African to remind him of his first encounter Down Under.

Player returned serve: “Dear Jack, what a pleasant surprise hearing from you,” Player, 78, wrote. “These memories mean so much to me.

“Jack, I still average 70 (off the stick) and I am still involved in many business activities. I miss Australia. Take care, Jack.”

After winning a gold medal in the recent Masters Games, Therese Pierce from Lonsdale Golf Club in Victoria, has now qualified to play in the Australian team at the World Deaf Golf Championships to be held in Michigan, USA this July! Good Onya Therese!

chips and shanks

Now that’s a long drive BOB Platt, president of Golf North Queensland, knows a long drive and it’s not 300 metres off the tee.

No, Bob’s long drives stretch thousands of kilometres from his home base of Proserpine north to Bowen, Ayr and Ingham, south to Sarina and out west to Mount Isa. A trip to Mount Isa via Bowen, Ayr and Charters Towers is more than 1100 – one-way.

Mind you, if Bob has to duck down to Sarina Golf Club on business it’s only a 320-kilometre round trip.

“In March, I had a four-hour drive out to Charters Towers to do a community coaching course, which went from 8.30am to 4.30pm,” he told Inside Golf.

“Then I stayed out there on Saturday night with friends and came home Sunday.

That’s the weekend gone.”

“When we were doing the unification, I left here on Friday afternoon and drove to Townsville (270kms – 3 hours) to pick up Golf Queensland’s Barry Sheppard from the airport.

“On Saturday morning we drove out to Richmond, played nine holes and had a meeting with the North West District that night.

“We had another inspection on Sunday morning, went back to Hughenden to look at the golf course, back to Torrens Creek to look at golf course there and called into to Charters Towers for lunch.

“Then I dropped Barry off at the airport, drove back to Proserpine and was back at work at eight o’clock on Monday morning.

“I had done 1700 kilometres over the weekend.”

Now that’s a long drive.

Of course you do. He’s the man who famously played 10 rounds of golf (180 holes) in 24 hours at Victoria Park Golf Club in Brisbane in 2011.

Josh raised $5000 for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

Well, Josh, a PGA of Australia member, now has teamed up with the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG).

Well, sort of.

Josh and golf enthusiast Brendon Forster developed a new golf app that has caught the attention of ALPG officials.

According to ALPG executive director Karen Lunn, the Get Real Golf Stats (GRGS)

FORMER Open champion Ian Baker-Finch is a giant in many ways.

Not only is he “looked up to” for his Open Championship win in 1991 and his excellent television commentary but most people have to gaze skywards when chatting with him.

The man stretches to 1.93m (6’4” in the old language) and towers over most.

Peter Hines, who retired from the PGA recently, tells a nice story about IBF while in Japan.

The Olivier Breaud International Golf Course in Atimaono will host PGA professionals from around the world.

NSW (PGA) tournament coordinator Darren Baynes said prizemoney has been set at €80,000 ($A122,000).

“Plans are in place to ensure the championship (June 4-8) will be the biggest yet and will involve a 72-hole stroke play championship followed by a pro-am,” he said.

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“Situated in one of the most exotic and scenic locations on the planet make it one of the premiere tournament’s with a holiday feel in all of professional golf.

“The golf course and pro-am is featured on Lonely Planet and is regarded as one of the top three major events in the country along with the Tahiti Pro World Surfing Event.”

Accommodation packages are available to all players and their guests. For further event information or additional travel details, please contact Anna Booth (02) 8001-4002 at the NSW/ACT PGA office.

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Bob Platt … known for his long drives.

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app provides unique benefits for ALPG members and its organisation.

“The recently released GRGS app is a fantastic innovation which will be of huge benefit to all who use it,” she said.

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Marris said it was his vision to find greater opportunities for Australians to pursue a career in golf both locally and internationally.

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“It offers ALPG members an opportunity to contribute to the promotion and growth of the game of golf in Australia while enhancing and supporting their own careers as a player or coach.”

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You can check out the app at www.getrealgolfstats.com

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“My wife Shuri and I were travelling on a crowded train in Tokyo with Ian (Baker-Finch) and the late Roger Mackay,” he said.

“The train was full of school kids and they were fascinated with Ian Baker-Finch’s height.

“They were amazed and amused that he could not only hang on to the straps high above their heads, but he could also reach the bars that the straps were attached to.

“When they got off the train one jumped back on and gave IBF four lollies for us to share.

That was just so special.”

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“Our partnership with the ALPG is the first step to realising that vision,” he said.

Always an innovative company, Callaway “took golf to the people” last month, showcasing their latest gear in the Medallion Club at Etihad Stadium during a pair of Round 1 AFL games.

Fans of Collingwood/Fremantle and North Melbourne/Essendon were able to check out the latest Big Bertha drivers, Callaway irons and Odyssey putters, and were even treated to a special putting competition at halftime.

And while we’re not sure of the merits of giving Collingwood fans a potential weapon to swing when their team is losing (we’re kidding, of course!), one thing is certain, everyone had a blast!

A tall IBF story

The 2014 Tahiti International Golf Open, sanctioned by the NSW/ACT PGA Division, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in style in June.

Crossword >

New golf app a hit with ALPG REMEMBER Josh Marris?

Tahiti event to celebrate milestone

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ACROSS

DOWN

1 Criticised heavily; hit hard (7) 5 British winner of the 1970 US Open, Tony _______ (7) 9 Is coming first in a tournament (5) 10 Wrongly estimated (9) 11 American 5-time winner of the British Open Championship (3,6) 12 First part of a golf hole (3) 14 Canadian golfer who tied for second at the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open (6) 16 Native flora perhaps seen on an Australian golf course (6) 17 “Fore”, for example (3) 19 Runner-up at the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic, Emiliano ______ (6) 20 Clever, talented (6) 22 Give it one’s best shot (3) 23 Swedish winner of The Evian Championship in 2013, Suzann _________ (9) 26 Special advantage (9) 27 Wear away (5) 28 Winner of the 2014 Joburg Open, George _______ (7) 29 Disputes (7)

1 Absence of company (8) 2 Warning signal (5) 3 In error (10) 4 End; failure (6) 5 Aussie winner of the 2014 WGCAccenture Match Play Championship (5,3) 6 A driver, for example (4) 7 Electrical discharge sure to cause a stop in play (9) 8 Move slightly (5) 13 Winner of the 2014 Women’s Australian Open (6,4) 15 1987 US Masters champion who chipped in to beat Greg Norman in a play-off (5,4) 17 Finish (8) 18 Low trajectory shots that run on, popularised by Tiger Woods (8) 21 Be present at a tournament, say (6) 22 Talking point (5) 24 Winner of the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open, _____ Stallings (5) 25 Lady golfer who has played on four Solheim Cup teams, Laura ____ (4) Answers: page 77 www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

85

your voice

A mixed (golf) blessing It’s heartening to hear a man speak and write so positively about women golfers.

I’m retired and play golf four times a week.

Fortunately we have two 18-hole courses at our club. On Saturdays, the men have one course designated as “Men only”, so we women can only play on the alternate course—although the men can play on it if they prefer not to go in the main competition.

That works fairly well except that, although very few men will agree, women are quicker players than the men, so it gets a bit of a pain if there’s a group of men ahead of a ladies group. If they look back, they think, ‘it’s only women, I’m not hurrying for them.’

I personally have ‘blazed a trail’ in the Friday competition. Some six years ago it was announced at the end of the ladies Tuesday competition that we were welcome to play on Fridays, which with Mondays had always been referred to as the Veterans. It was made up mostly of weekday male members who preferred the more laid-back golf than the midweek competition. As the name suggests, they are mostly the older players and very set in their ways.

When it came to the end of each financial year, a few resigned their membership as they were getting too old, so the Club was encouraging women to play too.

Some of the older men went to the 9-hole membership which suited them better.

Letter of the Month

As I couldn’t play on the Thursdays (which is the other weekday when there’s a ladies competition), I decided to start putting my name down on Fridays. Well, did that cause a stir! I had players walk off when they saw me on the tee. Others moved their names and played at a different time. So you could say I didn’t feel wanted. Luckily, there were some very nice men who said, ‘come and join us’, so I hung in there, with my late husband’s encouragement, and the men who had been so supportive. I’m accepted now and since I started, there are a few ladies who play now and then.

They had some strange reasons for not wanting me around, namely, ‘you can’t tell a joke’, ‘you can’t swear’ and ‘you can’t go and have a pee in the trees!’ I’ve also been asked, ‘what are you doing here, you should be home doing the ironing!’ As I mentioned previously, they were the older men who as you suggested, don’t like change, but the younger ones who play occasionally are more accepting of women golfers.

That’s just a little insight into the resistance I’ve met when joining the men, but I love the game and will keep on playing for as long as I’m able.

Bobbie Ball, via email

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!

Black and White Custodians of (and Red all over) the game Recently, my neighbour was lamenting the fact that he had played in the monthly Medal/stroke competition. He was really disappointed that, at a 22 handicap, playing off the “Blacks” there were five fairways that he was unable to reach.

This, of course, hindered his scoring opportunities and lessened his enjoyment to the point where he will no longer enter monthly medal.

I realise that the result is for the best player on that day but I would dispute that it is even.

A number of holes at most courses would require a drive of, say, 180 meters to get to the fairway.

On medal day off the back markers this can increase to over 200 meters which for a lot of C grade, and some B grade, and older players is just not achievable.

Is there a way that there could be two tee markers, say, Blacks for A grade and Whites for B and C grade?

Or could the medal be split along normal competition lines?

I know that this would not be suitable to a lot of low handicappers but surely it would take away what is a massive penalty to higher handicap players.

Paul A’Bell, via email

For me, all articles presented in Inside Golf are varied and interesting in content but I felt the need to respond for the first time to “We are all custodians of the game” (February Issue).

Thank you Robbie O’Donnell and Matthew Pitt for the research and more importantly the message that your story portrayed.

We all know that our game of golf is so unique in many ways. We are offered a vast array of drills, tips, skill practices and even psychological awareness and improvement is becoming an increasingly important factor in the pursuit of better performance.

This article, however, impresses on us the importance of example. How we play the game is not really reflected on the score we put on the card or how much improvement we have developed in our skills and handicap reduction. The responsible interpretation of rules and the constant demonstration of etiquette are obvious ways of being responsible in playing the game each week but it goes a lot further in the manner, attitude and respect that we show when we are on the course. When you think about it, isn’t it worth considering just how important this should be on a broader scale when we look at society in general today.

Once again, thank you for a solid, thoughtprovoking article.

Ian Gunn, via email

Reader Opinion: Money in golf Peter J King The golf industry needs to take a long look at itself.

The exorbitant money being paid to the professional golf players is far over the top especially at the winning end. To pay a golfer well in excess of a million dollars for winning a four-day event is smacking the face of the average golfer. It is the average golfer that supports and provides the funds for manufactures to promote their goods and services to the public.

With more than 70% of golf clubs both in Australia and the US experiencing financial difficulties and many just holding on to survive would it not be more sensible to share this money around to save the clubs and promote membership that inevitably produces the capital for the consumerism the manufactures require.

Recently a winner in America won $1.5 million. If the prize pool has reached that level to pay out these large sums then surely 10% could be siphoned away for the industry. There would be hundreds of regional golf clubs that would benefit from a bonus to their capital.

I am not suggesting that these professional golfers who are great entertainers should not be paid a reasonable fee for plying their trade. But surely most of the modern-day 86

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

professionals would agree that they’re earning way beyond their wildest dreams.

I know the sources that are making the money from golf would suggest it’s star quality that sells and not the average golfer.

BUT where do the star and the money come from. It all starts at the club level.

Grandparents, Parents, children and the many golfers supporting and encouraging the game need a little payback by way of support to their local club.

I know if manufactures were to have promotional functions and present a cheque to a club it would be far more appreciated than giving another $100,000 to the winner of a PGA event.

Virtually all-professional golfers get started at a club level. Learning to hone their skills while utilising the facilities of the club. Most clubs provide practice areas that include bunkers, putting greens and chipping areas.

Check out golf clubs at school holiday times and see the amount of young hopefuls all trying to be the next big name in golf.

My point is if not for these local clubs, golf would not prosper and eventually no one would make money from it.

The promoters of the major professional golf events obtain their funds from the profits made by golf supply companies and the media through distribution rights. These

funds need to be distributed to support the game that they make their money out of.

The media also should support the grass roots of the game as the next Tiger Woods or Adam Scott will more than likely come from a country or urban golf club.

Golf, unlike most other sports, demands large sums of capital to maintain the course and premises that is required to play and support this ancient game. The high cost of labour, agricultural products, machinery and water are just a few of the burgeoning expenses experienced by all clubs.

Very few golf clubs make large profits, the balancing of the overheads and the fees able to be charged are difficult in these times of declining memberships. There have been a lot of articles written of late about the struggling golf industry. Memberships at clubs are falling, Social golf is making inroads into the traditional club golf memberships and the attraction for the younger players is a balancing act with the amount of time they can spare for a game as it takes usually more than four hours.

Golf Clubs, especially those in country areas, are going to need to change the way they operate or look for support from the industry to stay afloat.

The industry through the governing bodies should develop the structures that are

required to collect a small percentage or a set fee of the tournament takings for golf club advancement.

It is going to be a very sad day if we lose established country and urban clubs that have been operating for many years because of a slump that is happening within the industry. Like most things golf will have its cycles but with the enormous costs of establishing or reestablishing a course it will only get harder to put these structures back. •

demo dates Callaway

Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com

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Location Demo Day New South Wales Canterbury Golf Course Royal Sydney Golf Club ** Newcastle Golf Club Liverpool Golf Club Thornleigh Golf Centre Drummond Casula Twin Creeks Golf & Country Club Drummond Northmead Sharks Driving Range Dave’s Golf Shop Morisset Moore Park Driving Range Nelson Bay Golf Club Pittwater Golf Centre Northbridge Golf Club Queensland Victoria Park Golf Complex Bargara Golf Club * House of Golf Hervey Bay Horton Park Golf Club Southport Golf Club Indooroopilly Golf Club Victoria / Tasmania MGA Driving Range The Heritage Golf and Country Club Royal Melbourne Sandringham Driving Range Sandringham Driving Range Western Australia Secret Harbour Golf Links Cottesloe Golf Club Wembley Golf Complex Royal Perth Golf Club Maylands Golf Course Carramar Golf Course Collier Park Golf Course Wanneroo Golf Club South Australia Kooyonga Golf Club

Day

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Thursday Monday Thursday Thursday Friday Thursday Tuesday Thursday Thursday

April 01 April 02 April 02 April 03 April 03 April 03 April 07 April 10 April 10 April 11 April 17 April 22 April 24 April 24

9am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 7 - 11am 9am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 4 - 7pm 7am - 12pm 4 - 7pm 4 - 7.30pm 1 - 4pm 4.30 - 7.30pm 10am - 4pm 4 - 7pm 8am - 1pm

Tuesday Thursday Friday Friday Thursday Wednesday

April 04 April 05 April 07 April 07 April 08 April 12

6.30 - 8.30pm 1 - 5pm 3 - 6pm 2 - 5pm 8am - 12pm 9.30 - 1pm

Wednesday Saturday Thursday Wednesday Wednesday

April 02 April 05 April 10 April 16 April 16

4 - 7pm 8am - 12.30pm 11am - 2pm 4.30 - 7.30pm 5 - 7.30pm

Tuesday Thursday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

April 08 April 10 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 14 April 15 April 16

9am - 3pm 9am - 2pm 5 - 8pm 9am - 3pm 8am - 11pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm

Wednesday

April 02

11.30am - 2pm

fitting days New South Wales Canterbury Golf Course * Tuesday Royal Sydney Golf ** * Wednesday Thursday Moore Park Driving Range * Nelson Bay Golf Club * Tuesday Mona Vale Golf Club * Wednesday Northbridge Golf Club * Thursday Pennant Hills Golf Club ** * Wednesday Lynwood Country Club * Friday Queensland Wynnum Golf Club * Thursday South Australia Wednesday Drummond Golf West Beach Driving Range * House Of Golf Sunraisier Driving Range Mildura * Thursday Victoria/Tasmania House of Golf Ringwood * Thursday Patterson River Golf Club * Friday Beacon Hills Golf Club * Saturday Western Australia Tuesday Secret Harbour Golf Links * Cottesloe Golf Club * Thursday Wembley Golf Complex * Thursday Royal Perth Golf Club * Friday Maylands Golf Course * Saturday Carramar Golf Course * Monday Collier Park Golf Course * Tuesday Wanneroo Golf Club * Wednesday

Location New South Wales Killara Golf Club ◊ * Castle Hill Country Club ◊ * The Ridge Driving Range ° Elanora Country Club ◊ * Mona Vale ◊ * Terrey Hills Country Club ◊ * Illawarra Golf Complex ◊ * Nelson Bay Golf Club ◊ * Taree Golf Club ◊ * Kew Country Club ◊ * Port MacQuarie Driving Range ◊ * Cabramatta Golf Club ◊ * Highlands Golf Club ◊ * Manly Golf Club ◊ * Cumberland Country Club ◊ * Bayview Golf Club ◊ * The Australian Golf Club ◊ * Moore Park Driving Range ◊ * Avondale Golf Club ◊ * Thornleigh Golf Centre ◊ * Queensland Wantima Country Club ◊ * Drummond Underwood ◊ * House of Golf Hervey Bay ° Victoria Park Golf Complex ◊ * Sanctuary Cove ◊ * Horton Park Golf Club ° Parkwood International ° Palm Meadows Driving Range ° Victoria Flinders Golf Club ◊ * Melbourne Golf Academy ° ◊ House of Golf - Mildura ◊ * Metropolitan Golf Club ** Clifton Springs Golf Club - HOG Geelong ◊ * Gisborne Golf Club ◊ * Royal Melbourne Golf Club ** Yarra Bend Golf Driving Range ° ◊ Mornington Golf Club ◊ * Portsea Golf Club ◊ * Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club ◊ * Sandringham Golf Driving Range ° ◊ Barwon Heads Golf Club ◊ * Kew Golf Club ◊ * South Australia Drummond Golf - West Beach ° Kooyonga Golf Club ° ** Tea Tree Gully Golf Club ◊ * Vines of Reynella Golf Club ◊ * Port Lincoln Golf Club ◊ *

Mizuno Location

April 01 April 02 April 17 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 24 April 14

9am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 4.30 - 7.30pm 10am - 4pm 8am - 1pm 8am - 1pm 12- 5pm 8am - 2pm

April 24

2.30 - 5.30pm

April 02 April 03

4.30 - 7.30pm 5.30 - 8.30pm

April 03 April 11 April 12

11am - 5pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 1pm

April 08 April 10 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 14 April 15 April 16

9am - 3pm 9am - 2pm 5 - 8pm 9am - 3pm 8am - 11am 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm

Day

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday

April 01 April 02 April 02 April 03 April 03 April 05 April 07 April 08 April 09 April 10 April 11 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 22 April 23 April 23 April 24 April 24

8am - 1pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 3pm 8am - 1pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 9am - 3pm 1 - 5pm 11am - 4pm 8am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 3pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 8am - 1pm 5 - 8pm

Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Thursday Friday Thursday Friday

April 02 April 03 April 04 April 08 April 10 April 11 April 17 April 25

2 - 5pm 2 - 5pm 12 - 5pm 5.30 - 7.30pm 2 - 5pm 2 - 5pm 4 - 7pm 1 - 5pm

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Saturday Monday

April 01 April 02 April 03 April 04 April 05 April 09 April 10 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 15 April 16 April 26 April 28

10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 3.30 - 8pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 3 - 7pm 11am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 3pm 3 - 6pm 2 - 6pm 5 - 7.30pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm

Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Wednesday Thursday

April 02 April 09 April 10 April 16 April 26

4 - 7pm 10am - 1.30pm 10am - 1pm 3 - 5.30pm 9am - 3pm

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Day

Date

Time

New South Wales Mona Vale G. C. * Wednesday April 02 8 - 11Am Maitland G. C. * Thursday April 03 1 - 4Pm Newcastle G. C. * ** Friday April 04 11Am - 3Pm Thornleigh G. C. * Tuesday April 08 4 - 7Pm Manly G. C. * ** Wednesday April 09 8 - 11Am Drummond Golf - Northmead * Thursday April 17 4 - 7Pm Drummond Golf - Casula * Thursday April 24 4 - 7Pm Moore Park G. C. * Tuesday April 29 4 - 7Pm Queensland Victoria Park G. C. * Tuesday April 08 5 - 7.30Pm Parkwood G. C. * Thursday April 17 4 - 7Pm Mt. Warren Park G. C. * Friday April 04 3 - 5Pm Palm Meadows G. C. Friday April 25 1 - 4.30Pm Tewantin Noosa G. C. * Tuesday April 01 9.30Am - 1Pm Royal Queensland G. C. Wednesday April 02 10Am - 1Pm House Of Golf Hervey Bay Friday April 04 10Am - 4Pm House Of Golf Hervey Bay Saturday April 05 9Am - 12Pm Victoria Mga Driving Range Wednesday April 02 4 - 7Pm Royal Melbourne G. C. * ** Thursday April 10 11Am - 3Pm House Of Golf Ringwood * Thursday April 17 10Am - 5Pm Morack G. C. * Tuesday April 29 3 - 6Pm South Australia Drummond Golf - West Beach Wednesday April 02 4 - 7Pm Victor Harbor G. C. Thursday April 24 12 - 4Pm The Grange G. C. Friday April 11 10Am - 2Pm Kooyonga G. C. Wednesday April 23 11Am - 2.30Pm Western Australia Whaleback Golf Course Wednesday April 02 4 - 8Pm Maylands Golf Course Saturday April 12 7 - 11Am Wanneroo Golf Club Wednesday April 16 10Am - 2Pm Melville Glades Golf Club Saturday April 19 10Am - 2Pm Royal Perth Golf Club Wednesday April 23 10Am - 2Pm

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. °Ping Demo day. ◊ Ping Fitting.

Demo dates subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

87

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Crossword Answers S O L I T U D E T O P I C

L A M M E L I E A D S R T O MW A T K E L A E T A N G R I L L R Y R Y M D R I V I L Z A O E T Z E

D J E A M I S I O S O N E D A C R Y O M A P E T L T E G E T N E D

Rule 5 Golfballs

A C K L I N L I U J U D G E D B H G T E E K N C A C I A R N S B R I G H T I I T E R S E N W C G E R O D E B T R E B A T E S

The Golfer’s Best Online Source for Premium Recycled Golf Balls

SavinG GOlfeRS MOney!

BUY ONLINE: www.rule5golfballs.com.au 5 Great reasons to order your Golf balls now!

FREE postage for orders over $30 (code: insidegolf)

Why Pay Full Price for your Golf Balls!

For advertising call 1300 465 300

1. We help Golfers SAVE money (usually more than ½ retail prices).

2. Safe, secure ordering from our online golf store.

3. We have a huge range of quality used golf ball with all your favorite brands and models ready to ship.

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5. We offer a 100% Quality Guarantee.

1/73 West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads rule5golfballs@bigpond.com (07) 5520 3633 www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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golf directory

Offered by LEMON TREE PASSAGE MOTEL This Excellent Package includes • Twin share accommodation & cooked breakfast at Lemon Tree Passage Motel (3½ Star) • 18 Holes of golf (at the course of your choice) • $20 dinner voucher at a local restaurant • Non golfing partners catered for • Special arrangements/prices for groups • All golfers staying multiple nights during the week, pay only $50 for accomodation (twin share) including cooked breakfast

Play anytime - No waiting Howeston Golf Course Enquiries welcome $

16 Weekdays

20 Weekends & Public Holidays *

$

100A Creek Road, Birkdale, Qld | Phone (07) 3207-2452

www.lemontreepassagemotel.com.au

*prices include GST

Established 1972 • Full length 27-hole course • Excellent greens • Professional tuition available • Clubs for hire • Open seven days - BYO • Electric golf carts available

“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag” • clanging clubs • damaged irons • worn graphite shafts • frustration finding the right iron

IS YOUR GOLF CART SLOWING DOWN? OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCREASE THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERIES?

Need new batteries?

Don’t replace them, restore them with the Battery Reviver > Cleans the damaging sulphure build up on the lead plates. > Restores the voltage of the batteries. > Restores the sulphuric acid strength. > Restores the performance of the batteries.

Want to triple the life of your good batteries?

Increase the life of your batteries by up to three times by eliminating the main reasons the batteries fail, SULPHATION. If you eliminate the main reason your batteries fail, it must 30 DAY increase the life of SATISFACTION your batteries.

Patented Softgrip Technology From the inventors oF the CaddyraCk

GUARANTEE OR YOUR MONEY BACK

For more information, pricing and to order Phone 1300 852 433 or visit our website

GET ORGANISED WITH

1300 738 557 • www.kahmagolf.com

Aquarius E

S

O

R

MAGIC MERIMBULA This is the most popular package on the Sapphire Coast, it gets booked out early - don't miss out

T

• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort.

• 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

*

Packages starting from:

• Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

90

April 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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$220 va

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• Free use of resort facilities, indoor gas heated pool, sauna & spa, full size tennis court, BBQ area and outdoor pool.

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share

Package includes: • 2 games of golf • Meal • 1 night accommodation with continental breakfast

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ips

• 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied).

Play & Stay for $120

*

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www.batteryreviver.com.au

Patent # 7374839

ila ble *Conditions apply

*Conditions apply

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Crn Dunns Lane & Arthur Kaine Drv, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au

Casino Golf Club - West St, Casino NSW 2470 P: (02) 6662 1259 | E: admin@casinogolfclub.com.au

www.casinogolfclub.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory Nudgee Golf Club

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

BLACK TEE CHALLENGE 3rd Friday of each month “Bay Golf Day”

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

Members & Bay Golf Memberships $15 Visitors $25

• • • •

Timeless Tuesday - Unlimited* Golf for ONLY $25 Golf Equipment for Hire & Sale Fully Licensed Clubhouse Social Clubs & Corporate Days

Visitors pay only $25 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

More social playing times now on a Monday & Thursday

start of our membership year, so why not consider membership at the beerwah Golf club

Includes competition fee and after golf platter for 4 Phone: (07) 3267 7744

Biondi Crescent, Beerwah admin@beerwahgolfclub.com.au www.beerwahgolfclub.com.au

Ph: (07) 5494 0630 Golf Shop (07) 5494 6611

HUNTER VALLEY GOLF GETAWAYS Golf & AccommodAtion pAckAGes from Just $65pp Including • 18 Holes of Golf • Accommodation • Sleeps up to 40 people

Great traditional Country Style • Singles to Large Group Accommodation • Fantastic Location for Wineries/Golf Courses • Local Access to Stonebridge GC, The Vintage, Cypress Lakes G&CC and Hunter Valley G&CC

Live entertainment thurs - sat nights • The Award Winning Kurrajong Restaurant • Great Pub-Style Atmosphere • TAB • KENO

Ph: (02) 4990 1002 234 Wollombi Road, Cessnock, NSW 2325 cessnockhotel@outlook.com

A family run business for 18 years Best Service & Best Value Guaranteed

Ph (03) 5873 4477 Fax (03) 5873 4511

Golf Course Rd, Barooga NSW Contact michael@murrayrivergolf.com.au or visit our website

www.murrayrivergolf.com.au All packages are available for stays at either www.thebreakers.com.au or www.paradiseisles.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

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For advertising call 1300 465 300

www.insidegolf.com.au | April 2014

92

GOLF BALL SALE!

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH 269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 6 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.

5 piece urethane balls

$45

$29 43g Miyazaki shaft Regular flex 10.5º Loft Stiff flex 7.5º Loft

Great for golf ball competitions Bulk qty 144 balls ($15 a doz) Individually boxed

$149

Doz

Callaway Hex Balls

3 piece ball Long and soft 3 piece quality $168 for 144 Individually boxed

Urethane cover tour quality ball

½ PRICE!

$14

Doz

5 FOR

$45

Face balanced Right or Left hand 35” Standard length Includes cover

$299

$149

INC. POSTAGE ANYWHERE IN AUST

Cleveland CG-16 Tour Irons

Eagles & Birdies Muirfield Bag 3.2kg 14 Full length dividers Cooler pocket Putter holder Blue/Red or Blue/White

$149

$299

Callaway Deluxe Golf Towel

Srixon Soft Feel Ball Sale Individually boxed balls

Black or Blue Large (76cmx51cm)

$18 $20 $29

Mens or Ladies Soft Feel 144 Balls for $216

per dozen

$799

$490

Srixon Distance Balls

Callaway Warbird Plus Balls

$15

Seniors Flex Right Ladies Flex Right Mens Flex Left Fully adjustable top quality driver Includes cover & wrench

$59

$20 Dozen Balls Individually boxed

dozen

Callaway HX Diablo

Optima TS+

Cleveland Fairway Sale SAVE $150

$239

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

$89ea $99ea $79ea $89ea $59ea $79ea

TaylorMade Yellow Burner Balls TaylorMade RBZ left hand driver

$156

144 balls ($13/dozen) Individually boxed

$139

Individually boxed $180 for 144 balls

10.5º Loft Regular flex Graphite shaft LEFT HAND ONLY

Distance ball with great feel Great for ball competitions Bulk Qty

$135

Includes cover

TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Seniors Flex 19º (3) Hybrid MacGregor Forged (soft feel) 52º Loft Gap Wedge

TaylorMade RBZ Graphite Irons TaylorMade R1 Driver 4-SW 8 irons Long Distance irons Regular flex Graphite Shafts Right Hand

19º (5) Regular 15º (3) Stiff 19º & 15º Ladies Right hand only

Late specials

6 Irons 5 - PW Dynamic Gold Regular R300 Right hand Black Pearl finish

$249

$26/doz $29/doz $32/doz

Chrome (3 piece) Chrome + (4 piece) Black Tour (5 piece)

TaylorMade RBZ Fairway

SRIXON ALL WEATHER GLOVES TaylorMade Spider S Putter Mens Left or Right White or Black Mens - S, M, ML, L, XL Ladies - S, M, L

Distance ball with great feel

$18 $180 TopFlite Gamer V2

½ PRICE

Includes cover

TaylorMade Burner balls

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

doz

Cleveland Classic Driver

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 6 Days

Srixon Q Star Balls

TaylorMade Lethal Balls

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN

Maxfli Tempo White Balls $10/Dozen

$10

Doz

Includes Cover

$239

$129

“ ANY LIE.

ANYTIME.“

Hitting a fairway off the tee is easy. Getting there in two is the hard part.

With Tight Lies I’m confident I can get there out of any lie.

#OwnTheSecondShot

THE NEW TIGHT LIES Easy to hit out of any lie just like the original, but now twice as hot for added distance from anywhere. © 2014 Adams Golf. #1 Hybrid on Tour claim based on 2013 usage on the PGA, Champions, and Web.com Tours, as reported by the Darrell Survey Co.