Inside Golf January 2015

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InsideGolf Issue 114 January 2015

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BACK ON TRACK

HE’LL BE

Jarrod Lyle “refreshed” and ready to return

CLUB OF THE MONTH 

Stuart Appleby discusses his ups and downs on Tour

The fabulous Flinders Golf Club

GOLF TRAVEL

Golf in New Zealand, Dubai and more!

TIPS

Tackling ‘Trouble Shots’: The low punch

Preview

SENIOR MOMENTS

PGA Legends analyse the modern game

The RACV Ladies Masters

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starters box

A short solution to the big problem Richard Fellner Group Editor richard@insidegolf.com.au @insidegolf

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s the editor of a major golf magazine, I am often asked about my favourite golf courses in the world. While the discussion invariably includes the most famous courses on the planet, to this day one of my all-time-favourite layouts is a relatively obscure, short course that I played during my youth.

As I look back, some of my fondest memories as a young golfer were on nine-hole and par-3 courses. On many of these “short” courses, you don’t need a full bag of clubs, attire is not a concern, there is no pressure to be “good” and you can get through a round quickly. They are a fun and simple way to go out and have a quick hit – or simply be introduced to the game.

Fun, simple and quick. Three words that golf industry “experts” are currently focussing on as we attempt to lure and retain more participants into this great (albeit struggling) game of ours.

Perhaps this is what Australian golf needs. Why not migrate from the same-old “18-hole championship” layouts (Australia already has too many of those) and instead, move towards the development of more high-quality nine-hole and par-3 facilities?

IN THIS ISSUE:

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NEWS INDUSTRY GENERAL MANAGERS YOUNG GUNS COVER STORY ON TOUR MANAGERS GENERAL CLUBS ON TOUR CLUB THE MONTH TOUROF TALK legends CLUBS AMATEURS CLUB OF THE MONTH

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Short courses like the 9-hole layout at Norfolk Island may be one solution to golf’s current woes

Short courses like a nine-hole or par3 layout take a fraction of the land size and cost much less in maintenance than a traditional 18-hole layout.

They are also a good solution to the challenge of many larger courses/clubs who are currently struggling to survive.

Why not sell half (or more) of your land, build a challenging short course on the rest, and open it up to all comers?

More clubs have cottoned on to the idea. The Eastern Golf Club in Melbourne, for example, had the foresight to include a 9-hole Par-3 course into their larger 27-hole design which is currently being built in the Yarra Valley. Bendigo’s Quarry Hill (page 12) also has a par-3 course in the works. These par-3 courses will open the door for a variety of new golfers to enter into the game, from beginners, to juniors, to even just the time-strapped golfer who wants to play a few holes before or after work.

Now, for the traditionalists out there who are starting to “um and ah”, keep in mind that a short course does NOT need to translate into “easy”. On the contrary, there is an opportunity to develop challenging, world-class nine-

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PEOPLE AMATEURS rules PEOPLE NEW NEW GEAR GEAR INSTRUCTION WE TRIED IT RANGE OF THE MONTH CHRISTMAS GEAR JUNIORS INSTRUCTION EVENTS JUNIORS SENIOR EVENTSAMATEURS CALENDAR STATE GOLF 19TH HOLE SENIOR AMATEURS YOUR VOICE CALENDAR

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hole layouts that could be the envy of the industry. Think Twenty/20 cricket: world-class experience, extremely interesting and fun, in a shorter amount of time.

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The recent launch of the new ninehole layout at Geelong Golf Club (see story on page 11) is a great example of a club that has responded to a changing industry, and is capitalising on an opportunity in the market. They will likely garner a loyal following of all levels of golfer in their community, from experienced players to beginners and juniors.

GOLD G

With a par of only 58, the course (Incline Village Mountain, by Robert Trent Jones Jr) is a challenging layout containing mostly par-3s—with a couple par-4s thrown in. The magical thing about this course is that it is no picnic. Indeed, for an “executive” course, it has plenty of bite. Every hole has a massive challenge; whether you’re playing to an elevated green over a massive bunker, or teeing off from an extreme height to a smallish green surrounded by scrub, water, etc. The course demands respect, but rewards you with memories at every turn. It embodies everything that I love about golf.

From

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Norfolk Island, for example, has a cracker of a 9-hole layout. Considered by some to be the “Toughest Easy course” anywhere, their nine holes are all challenging, fun and picturesque.

And you can’t help but want to play the course over and over. It’s the same with other short courses like Melbourne’s The Dunes’“Cups” course, or Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road, etc.

As always, I’ll open this up to discussion. What are your thoughts on short courses? Are they a viable alternative to the standard 18-holes?

Can they revitalise a struggling industry? Which are your favourite short courses in Australia?

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Richard Fellner–Group Editor Richard is the Group Editor of Inside Golf and Inside Golf Travel. Winner of multiple Australian Golf Media Awards—including “Best Column” in 2011-2012—Richard is a true golf tragic, having played the game for over 40 years (but has never gotten any better.) He can be reached at: ed@insidegolf.com.au.

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Some black-out dates may apply. Valid for tee times after 2pm. Offer valid until 28 February 2015. † Golf Digest Magazine - 2013 Australia’s Top 100 Courses.

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“It was an epic day, I honestly didn’t think I’d be sitting here at this point today with the quality of the guys leading the tournament and doing well,” said Chalmers.

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The trio headed down the 18th hole three times before South Australian Ormsby dropped out of the race.

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It took another four holes before Chalmers emerged victorious with a par over Scott who made bogey.

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The key for Chalmers in the playoff was not to panic.

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New Zealand Sales: Daniel Sim M: 0439 856 752 | E: daniel@insidegolf.com.au Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Cover Photo: Courtesy of Callaway Golf It’s official: 42,265 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: April 2014 - September 2014

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Jordan Spieth wowed the crowds in Sydney

Spieth spectacular in Sydney

J

ordan Spieth amazed his Australian audience with a command performance at the Emirates Australian Open, smashing the course record at The Australian with a closing 63, finishing six shots ahead of Queenslander Rod Pampling, and leaving world No.1 Rory McIlroy and No.3 Adam Scott in his wake.

His amazing round in tough, windy conditions was hailed as one of the greatest in the long history of Australian tournament golf. Spieth himself said it was the best round he had ever played, and he promised to defend his title in 2015.

The 21-year-old Texan started the final day in a tie for the lead and made four birdies in the first seven holes. McIlroy could not make ground; nor could Scott. Spieth looked like he was playing a different golf course.

Scott carded an even-par 71 to finish fifth, and he was impressed with Spieth’s ability to score in tricky winds. “Yes it is surprising but we’re talking about one of the best players in the world and when things go your way, there’s almost no limit to what guys can shoot,’’ Scott said.

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Greg Chalmers won the Australian PGA Championship in dramatic fashion after a seven-hole playoff at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.

Starting the day seven shots off the lead Chalmers fired a final round 8-under 64 to end regulation play tied for the lead with Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby on 11-under 277.

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“I hit it off line, I don’t panic. I’m going to hit it off line, I did it all week and I did it sometimes today, but I have a short game that I hold in pretty decent regard,” he said.

“I thought just keep making someone win it and today it turns out that a mistake was made and I’m on the trophy.”

With his win Chalmers also sealed the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit earning him starts in the World Golf Championship – Cadillac Championship, Nedbank Golf Challenge and The Open Championship.

The timing couldn’t be better with Chalmers having only conditional status on the PGA TOUR for 2015.

“I lost my status in the States this year, I don’t have full status next year so I think winning the Order of Merit in Australia helps me,” added Chalmers.

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Tighe takes NSW PGA New South Welshman Lincoln Tighe reigned victorious at the Nanshan NSW PGA Championship at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort.

Starting the final day five shots off the lead, Tighe fired an impressive 7-under 64 for a tournament total of 19-under 265 to claim his first title on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Tighe hovered around the lead all day until a birdie on the 17th saw him sit atop the leaderboard with one hole to play.

“I was hitting it unreal, stumping everything to inside 10 feet, I let a few slide, but it was good to knock that one in on 17 that was a real turning point.”

A nervous wait ensued as Tighe watched Scott Arnold miss a two-metre birdie putt which would have seen the pair in a playoff.

“I was big time nervous; it’s the first time I have been in this situation. I was sweating out there on the range, I had to put some music on to calm me down,” said Tighe.

“I am a very proud New South Wales boy and it’s good to win the NSW PGA.” With this win Tighe earns AUS$16,500, Official World Rankings Points and most importantly his PGA Tour of Australasia card until 2016.

“This is huge for me, I was actually going back to first stage Tour School,” said Tighe.

“I didn’t want to go back for the fourth year in a row, its heart attack central out there.”

Scott Arnold finished outright second on 18-under the card with Kristopher Mueck and leading amateur Troy Moses four shots back tied third.

Aussie quintet qualify for The Open FIVE Australians made the most of the Open Qualifying Series last month, earning spots in the 144th Open at St Andrews from 12-19 July.

Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford and Greg Chalmers grabbed the first three spots via solid finishes at the Emirates Australian Open, while Marcus Fraser and Scott Hend punched their tickets to Scotland at the Thailand Golf Championship.

Pampling finished on a seven-under-par total of 277 in second place, behind winner Jordan Spieth. The 45-yearold Queenslander has made seven appearances in The Open with his best finish being tied 27th at Royal Troon in 2004 and again at Carnoustie in 2007.

“It’s fantastic to qualify. I have been there a few times so I am really looking forward to having that experience and getting out there. I love links and I am definitely looking forward to it,” said Pampling.

37-year-old Rumford birdied the final hole to finish with a one-under-par round of 70. The five-time winner on the European Tour, who hails from Perth, finished tied 16th in The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2006 and will make his fifth appearance.

“It’s of huge significance that it’s at St Andrews. I know St Andrews well through the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but obviously an Open there is a little bit different,” he said.

Chalmers finished with a level par round of 71. The 41-yearold will make his third appearance at The Open. His best finish was tied 45th at Royal Lytham in 2012.

“I’m really excited for me and my family,” Chalmers said. “I will take everybody over to go to St Andrews. I’m really proud of myself and very pleased to earn this spot in The Open.”

A missed putt on the 72nd hole in Thailand cost Fraser a chance at a playoff against winner Lee Westwood, but a T2 finish earned his Open berth, joining Hend, who finished fifth.

St Andrews holds special memories for the duo, as the 2005 staging of the Open there marked Fraser’s first Major, and the first (and only) Open to date for Hend.

Greg Chalmers, Brett Rumford and Rod Pampling.

(Courtesy of The R&A)

Lee captures card at LPGA Q-School WA’s Minjee Lee has secured her “full” card for the 2015 LPGA season, via five rounds of solid golf at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida in December.

With rounds of 72, 71, 68, 66 and 73 at LPGA International, Hills and Jones courses, the talented 18-year-old from Perth finished atop the leaderboard at 10-under-par, along with American amateur Alison Lee. The players who finished 1st to 20th at the end of the 90hole tournament received a “full” card (Category 12), while players who finished 21st to 45th received a “conditional” card (Category 17). NSW’s Emma de Groot finished tied 35th at even-par and will be teeing it up on the LPGA in 2015 after playing on the Symetra Tour for the last few years.

It was heartbreak for Perth golfer, Jayde Panos, who finished one shot outside the top 45, she finished tied for 46th at two-over-par. Panos, along with Victorian Su Oh, who finished tied 70th, to have status on the 2015 Symetra Tour.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

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Teaching teachers to teach golf

T

he PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, Golf Victoria and School Sport Victoria, have provided approximately 100 Victorian teachers the opportunity to undertake professional development in golf.

Club Car / Ingersoll-Rand has confirmed its continued support of Australian Ladies Professional Golf through renewal of sponsorship of the 2015 ALPG Tour Club Car Series.

Held at Oakleigh South Primary School in November, the Golf Teacher Professional Development (PD) morning was designed for teachers who are both golfers and non-golfers, offering practical sessions on simple strategies for introducing basic golf skills into schools.

The Series, which commences in Yamba on the 9 January offers an attractive bonus pool of $15,000 to be distributed among the leading players at the conclusion of the six nominated events. To be eligible, players must be members of the ALPG and play a minimum of four events.

“Participation is key to the future sustainability of golf and this day provides an avenue for introducing the MyGolf junior program into more schools,” said Brian Thorburn, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA.

For the first time, ALPG International members will be eligible.

Stephen Pitt, Chief Executive Officer of Golf Australia added, “Through the MyGolf program, both Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia are looking to grow the game in schools and clubs across Australia. This professional development session allows us to spread the message that golf is a game for all and a game for life.”

Through a variety of activities, which can be set up in school grounds, the interactive morning also outlined the application of the MyGolf Schools Program which is currently undergoing a review to improve alignment to the Australian School Curriculum.

With the PGA and Golf Australia recently announcing a joint venture to develop MyGolf as the national junior golf program, the training day highlights the very essence of the new look national program.

“For our teachers to have the opportunity to be trained by PGA professionals in delivering a unified program that has been developed

The ALPG Tour has confirmed the participation of many top players including defending Club Car Series winner Sarah Kemp, former Series winner Stacey Keating, England’s Laura Davies, France’s Joanna Klatten and Australians Rebecca Artis, Emma de Groot, Whitney Hillier and Bree Arthur. Rachel Hetherington, who retired from competitive golf in 2010 after a stellar career, will also take part. by both the national amateur and professional bodies is a great opportunity,” said Nick Mooney, Strategic Manager School Sport Victoria.

“The direction it is heading in alignment to the Australian School Curriculum provides a clear structure and sound foundation for golf to become a regular at more schools throughout Victoria, which in turn benefits our schools by providing more variety.

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Club Car Series returns

“The School Sport Victoria Golf Subcommittee has been integral in bringing all groups together to drive this and a variety of other school golf initiatives.”

Provided free of charge to teachers, attendees also received a school golf kit, and then enjoyed an afternoon at the 2014 Australian Masters running concurrently next door at The Metropolitan Golf Club. •

The Club Car Series includes: BWAC Employment and Community Services Yamba GC Pro-am (9 January), McLeod ALPG Pro-am (12 & 13 January), Moss Vale GC Ladies Classic (22 & 23 January), Renault Ladies Pro-am (29 January), Oates Victorian Open (5 to 8 February) and Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open (6 to 8 March).

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Qantas Golf Club tees off Qantas Golf Club Course list

D

ecember marked the official launch of Qantas Golf Club, a new online club designed to provide Qantas Frequent Flyers with the ability to earn Qantas Points for booking tee times, access to exclusive golf events, tournaments and a range of golf holiday packages.

Qantas Frequent Flyers can join Qantas Golf Club for free or subscribe to a Premium membership at an annual cost of $249 to unlock additional benefits including a larger range of golf courses and the ability to obtain an official Golf Australia handicap.

Qantas Golf Club Premium membership will also provide members with access to private golf courses normally limited to individual club members and guests.

Members will earn 1 point per dollar spend on qantasgolfclub.com, Premium members will earn 3 Qantas Points on all eligible spend.

Golf legend and Qantas Ambassador Greg Norman said “Any initiative that gives people more opportunity to play golf is a winner in my book. The members of Qantas Golf Club can play a variety of courses, which helps improve your game. It’s a great boost for golf.”

Qantas Loyalty CEO Lesley Grant said the pre-registration response has been very positive.

“Almost 40,000 Qantas Frequent Flyers registered their interest in joining Qantas Golf

Club ahead of the official launch.”

“This reflects the passion for golf our members have and shows how keen they are to earn Qantas Points playing the game they love,” she said.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said Qantas Golf Club delivers an exciting program to engage the 800,000 social golfers in Australia.

“Bolstering the engagement levels of social golfers in Australia is a key part of our strategy focused on increasing golf club membership. We know the Qantas Golf Club will have a positive effect on the participating clubs through increased foot traffic, rounds played, marketing and future membership opportunities.” he said.

Qantas Golf Club members will be able to go online to book tee times and earn Qantas Points for a round of golf at over 45 Australian golf courses, with Premium members able to access over 65. The courses available will continue to grow over the coming months.

Qantas Golf Club is the latest in a number of innovations launched recently by Qantas Loyalty, including Qantas Cash the award winning prepaid travel card, Aquire the new loyalty program for small and medium enterprises, and Qantas epiQure the community for Qantas Frequent Flyers with an interest in food and wine. Join the Qantas Golf Club at www.qantasgolfclub.com. •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

9

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The Lakes chips in for cancer M

EMBERS of The Lakes Golf Club, one of Australia’s most prestigious and progressive private clubs, have raised $112,403 for The Nelune Foundation whose aim is to “help patients fight cancer with dignity”.

Golf clubs to benefit IN an effort to support the sustainability and health of golf clubs Golf Queensland has appointed a new team member.

The club’s board and members donated the championship golf course where 136 golfers participated and teed off in the inaugural Lakes Members’ Charity Golf Day.

David Webber joined Golf Queensland late last year in the newly created role as club support and development manager.

Funds raised for Nelune will assist in delivering equipment and services for the Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.

Webber has previous experience in golf development and business administration including spending a number of years working within England Golf’s Club Support and Development team.

Co-Founder of The Nelune Foundation Nelune Rajapakse OAM was delighted with the event’s success.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity displayed by the people at The Lakes Golf Club,” Nelune said.

Golf Queensland CEO Lindsay Ellis said he believed golf clubs would benefit greatly from Webber’s skills.

“To have raised over $100,000 to help build The Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre is an achievement for which the members and their friends should be very proud.”

“David previously worked at the peak body for men’s and women’s golf in England for five years in a role similar to the position at Golf Queensland,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring Queensland golf club administrators are equipped with the tools to help make a sustainable business.

The Lakes Golf Club president Michael Joseph explained the key objectives in running the event.

“It was the members and the board’s intention to do three things – make a significant financial contribution to the local community as befitting a leading Australian golf club; create an event that we can be proud of and have the men and women of The Lakes working together on a major project, he said.

“This is just one step towards helping more people access golf around the state.”

CHEQUE IT OUT: Pictured from left to right Vivienne Freeman (Women’s Captain), Nelune Rajapakse (Co-founder NELUNE Foundation), Julia Bowen (Head of The Lakes working group), Anna Guillan (Co-founder NELUNE Foundation) and Professor Robyn Ward AM (Prince of Wales Hospital).

As part of the role, Webber will promote the Club Support Resource portal developed by Golf Australia in collaboration with key industry bodies.

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City GC extends sponsorship

C

ITY Golf Club at Toowoomba in Queensland has come to the party once again.

Located at Toowoomba in Queensland, the club has extended its Queensland Men’s Sand Green Championship and Queensland Men’s Country Week Championship sponsorship through to 2016.

Golf Queensland CEO Lindsay Ellis said he was thrilled City Golf Club had re-signed as a sponsor.

“City Golf Club has provided sponsorship for these two tournaments since 2011 which have been some of the highest participated championships on the Golf Queensland calendar,” he said.

“The new agreement highlights the club’s high level of support for regional golf and Golf Queensland is very appreciative of their continued support.”

City Golf Club president Ed Britnell said he was looking forward to working with Golf Queensland going forward.

“City Golf Club is once again delighted to continue its association with such time honoured events on the Queensland golfing calendar,” he said.

“We are both privileged and honoured to be in a position to be able to support the game of golf in a wider community.

“We trust that these championships will once again be most successful and enable many golfers in Queensland to be able to participate and enjoy the game and camaraderie.”

City Golf Club’s challenging 18-hole course is the host of the Coca Cola Queensland PGA Championship.

The Queensland Men’s Sand Green Championship will be at Barcaldine Golf Club from June 5-7 while the Queensland Men’s Country Week Championship will be at Indooroopilly, Redcliffe, Nudgee and Virginia golf clubs from August 10-14.

New 9 for Geelong A nine-hole boutique golf course in Geelong, which attracted over 1100 golfers in just a week during a charity preview, was officially opened in November.

The new Graeme Papworth-designed golf course, the centrepiece of the Geelong Golf Club Residential Estate, just two kilometres from the CBD of Geelong on Ballarat Road, will be open to both members and green fee players.

Geelong Golf Club Manager, Paul Christie said, the golf course was in pristine condition for the opening. The new course has attracted considerable interest from people wanting to play nine holes of quality golf, which could fit into an hour and a half time schedule.

To celebrate, we have limited edition individual golf memberships available with special benefits!

“During the charity preview program we had people turning up at 6.30am for a golf game before work, and after 4.00 pm to take advantage of daylight saving.”

Mr Christie said the design and nature of the golf course provides an enjoyable golfing experience for players at all levels and local golfers have already started to join the new golf club.

MEET THE

PRO

The first 100 new members to purchase a 25th Anniversary Golf Membership will receive: Geelong Golf Club Manager Paul Christie gives local Geelong resident Paula Kontel some putting tips at the official opening of the course

‘Shep’ goes full circle

PROFESSIONAL golfer Graham Sheppard is back where he started.

Late last year, the man affectionately known as Shep landed the head professional’s job at Yeppoon Golf Club in Central Queensland.

In 1992, Shep was a junior at Capricorn Country Club before moving to Rockhampton Golf Club (1994-96).

Then he moved to Yeppoon Golf Club as a trainee professional under

the guidance of Murray Hodge before transferring to Oxley Golf Club in Brisbane and finally to Banora Golf Club in northern NSW where he completed his apprenticeship in 2001.

A year later, he was the Queensland PGA’s rookie of the year.

In 2005, Shep headed for the US and played on the Gateway Tour.

He attempted to qualify for the rich US PGA Tour, but dropped out after

the second stage of qualifying.

While in the US, Shep and a few mates hired a car to travel to the tournaments, but it almost ended in disaster.

Leaving a golf club car park, Shep drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with another vehicle.

That’s when he decided to return to Australia and to play Australasian Tour events.

After a stint organising corporate events, Shep took on the role of golf operations manager at Mercure Capricorn Resort at Yeppoon.

» $250 food & beverage voucher to use at the resort » 5 overnight stays in the hotel » 25 complimentary buggy vouchers » PLUS 25% off their first year golf fees All our members also enjoy the unlimited access to 36 magnificent holes, equal playing rights for all members, exclusive resort discounts, private club house, swimming pool, gym, tennis & squash courts plus much more!

View all the benefits of becoming a member at The Vines Resort & Country Club – www.vines.com.au Phone the Vines Resort & Country Club membership office during business hours on (08) 9297 0701 or email memberships@vines.com.au

Now he is back where he started his traineeship.

He says he is looking forward to assisting the management committee in increasing membership and ensuring new and current members leave the course with an experience of wanting to return for another round.

Growing junior golf and corporate golf is another priority. www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

11

*Terms & conditions apply. Special offer inclusions and price valid for the first 100 members only.

news

Quarry Hill quashes residential threat Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Q

uarry Hill Golf Club in Bendigo says it has overcome the threat of becoming a residential development and can move ahead with plans to convert its 18-hole sand greens course into an 18-hole par-three course with grass greens.

The club – which is on crown land – had been identified by City of Greater Bendigo planners as an area for a potential housing development.

“We’ve since had wins with council regarding the strategy report and with councillors support, it’s now been taken off the residential strategy of council,” club treasurer Sandra Davey said. “Two senior council officials in the planning department have even said the land is not required for future development.”

In early 2014, the club secured a 21-year lease from the City of Greater Bendigo for its clubhouse while the course was only granted a nine-year lease.

Davey said creating an 18-hole par-three course might not be possible unless the course is also granted a 21-year lease.

“To redevelop the course, we’ll need a feasibility study done on it and also to attract funding. If you’re given nine years, it’s not a lot of time to secure that development, whereas a 21-year (lease) has a future involved and would be more likely to perhaps happen.”

Kyabram Parkland Golf Club – a par-three course about 100 kilometres northeast of Bendigo – has been the basis for Quarry’s Hill research into becoming a shorter course.

12

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Juniors and time-poor golfers are the target of Quarry Hill’s proposed 18-hole par-3 course Davey admitted the ageing population of club members and the need to cater to timepoor golfers is behind the plans for a parthree course.

“Our course is quite hilly and is getting harder to play. It’s a market where people don’t have four or five hours to play a traditional 18 holes. It’s an attraction for junior golf to develop and we also see the par-three as a tourist market. We would also consider grass greens as well to make play move quite quickly. We’ve kept sand greens only due to viability and financial sustainability of the club.”

Davey conceded the Bendigo area is not viewed as a major golf destination and that Quarry Hill needs to differentiate itself from others courses in the region.

“All the golf courses are the same, there’s no on-course accommodation at any of them

and we’re in the heart of Bendigo, so we’re in a real box seat.”

The club is also exploring the possibility of incorporating other sporting facilities into its plans.

“It’s a perfect opportunity for bike paths to link the CBD and Spring Gully,” Davey pointed out. “It would be lovely to put some little units around it so people can actually stay, have a game of golf and still enjoy Bendigo, that tourist market. It is an opportunity for council to work with us to develop this to something really special.”

Sir John Quick – a long-time Federal Member of Parliament for Bendigo and leading delegate in Australia’s federation movement, founded Quarry Hill in 1924.

“The visionary that (Quick) was, we’d like to keep his vision moving forward to have this area for the people of Bendigo,” Davey wished. •

Cowdrey takes up golf at Grange The Grange Golf Club has welcomed Australia’s most successful Paralympian, Matt Cowdrey as its newest member.

Cowdrey, 25, is the holder of numerous swimming world records and has won thirteen Paralympic gold medals and twenty three Paralympic medals in total.

Cowdrey was born with part of his arm missing due to a congenital amputation and has now decided to take up the game of golf.

On joining Grange, Matt stated “Unfortunately I haven’t had too much of an opportunity to play much golf given training, University commitments etc, but as uni is winding up for me I now have the time to play some rounds with the boys and have really enjoyed the courses at Grange.”

Cowdrey started swimming at the age of five. He broke his first Australian open record at 11, and set his first world record at 13. In 2004, he was named the Young Paralympian of the Year, while Swimming Australia named him their Swimmer of the Year with a Disability for four years in a row (2004 to 2007).

General Manager, Barry Linke stated that “Matt is a fantastic example of someone that has overcome adversity and is willing to give everything a go and we are so glad to have Matt on board at Grange.”

Matt’s near-term challenge is improving his handicap of 33. Based on his determination and “never give in” attitude, this should be a lock. www.grangegolf.com.au

news

Palm Meadows on way to China

O

N a rain soaked afternoon the team from Palm Meadows Golf Club, on Queensland’s Gold Coast took out the 2014 Holden Scramble Championship Final.

The team consisting of Stephen Morgan, Andrew Brown, Stephen Hogg, Matthew Kilborn, and PGA professional Matthew Kiernan teamed up with Touring professional Clint Rice on the final day of play.

Unfortunately their round was brought to an abrupt end, with play first being suspended and then later cancelled for the final day of the Mixed Competition, requiring the result being based on the 36-hole totals.

Palm Meadows set up their championship with a blistering first round score of net 48.9, which proved pivotal to taking an early buffer over the chasing pack.

Going into the final round, Palm Meadows held a slender lead of 1.2 shots over fellow Queenslanders Biggenden Golf Club with El Arish Golf Club in the state’s north rounding out the top three.

“It’s so exciting for us to come out on top at the Championship Final” said team captain Matthew Keirnan.

“It’s a shame that we weren’t able to get back out there and complete our round as we felt we were gaining momentum though we’ve had a great time on the Sunshine Coast over the past few days and have really enjoyed the entire event.

“We would have liked to win outright following the 54-hole championship, however sometimes getting off to a flying start puts you in good stead if something like this arises.”

In a better turn of events, the Women’s Holden Scramble was able to finish their rounds with the weather being kinder to the ladies.

In a closely fought battle the team from Katanning in Western Australia won the Women’s Holden Scramble Championship Final by 2.9 shots from Barossa Valley Golf Club (SA).

This was the first year that six women’s teams were represented at the championship final and it provided much heated competition.

This was a come-from-behind victory for the girls from Katanning, and the addition of eighttime LPGA Tour winner Rachel Hetherington on the day provided them with the winning edge.

“The experience of playing with a touring pro who has won events all around the world has been a real highlight” said PGA professional and Katanning team captain Tristan McCallum.

“The girls have had one of the best golfing experiences of their lives.”

For the top ranked team following the 2014 championship final, the trip of a lifetime does not stop at Twin Waters.

Seven additional PGA club professionals will join Palm Meadows Golf Club making a squad of 12 that will compete against China in the Champions Tour Events in 2015.

“The trip to China has given the boys a few sleepless nights leading up to this, it’s such a good opportunity to see a different part of the world, all while doing what we love, playing golf,” said Kilborn.

The Champions Tour will consist of a “home and away” style competition, with all 12 players representing the Holden Scramble in a two-day tournament on home soil followed by an away match in early 2015. •

Sports memorabilia for fundraisers, charity days If you need support with fundraising for your club, charity or even your local school, it is now possible to access sports memorabilia easily and at no cost. With a national footprint, Memorabilia Warehouse have a huge range of sporting and entertainment memorabilia which they make available to clubs and fundraisers on a consignment basis. Prior to fundraising events, event organisers select from their huge range of memorabilia items that they think will be popular with the event’s attendees. Memorabilia Warehouse then set a reserve price for the items and all profit over the reserve price is kept by the club or charity. If the product doesn’t sell, the product can simply be returned. Memorabilia can be provided for dinner functions, charity nights, raffles, sports dinner nights, golf days, trivia nights, club functions, schools and corporate events. If you are hosting an event this year, be sure to contact the team at Memorabilia Warehouse because there is nothing to lose, just funds to be raised. Email info@ memorabiliawarehouse.com.au or call 03 9568 0125 www.memorabiliawarehouse. com.au

Drive further, for less Play the newly redesigned course at Royal Pines Resort, the home of Championship Golf. 12 months of unlimited golf and cart hire, now only $2,775* or just $53.37* per week, for auto club members.

*Total cost is $2,775 for an annual subscription, of which $53.37 per week applies for the annual subscription only. Auto club (includes RACQ, NRMA, and RACV and all affiliated Australian clubs) member price quoted. Non member pricing available. See racv.com.au/ resorts for more detail. Price valid until 30 June 2015. Tee times subject to availability.

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

13

from the ceo

ALPG season bigger and better in 2015 The 2015 ALPG season gets underway on the 9th January at the magnificent Yamba Golf Club on the mid north coast of NSW, with the BWAC Regional Employment and Community Services ALPG Pro-am.

Karen Lunn

Executive Director – ALPG

T

he 2015 ALPG season will be showcasing some of the best female golfers in the world when they travel to our shores and vie for their share $2.46 million in prizemoney on offer.

The ALPG is delighted with our Tour schedule, which our will see our members and players from across the globe compete for increased prizemoney in 2015. I would sincerely like to thank all of our sponsors and partners for their continued support of the ALPG, in particular to Dr Haruda Handa for his support of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open and the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Women’s Open; RACV for their increased level of support for the RACV Ladies Masters; Oates and Golf Victoria for their great work in securing additional government support for the Oates Victorian Open which will enable a significant increase in the prizemoney on offer to both the women and men, and Bing Lee and Golf NSW for their support in enabling the purse for the Bing Lee Fujitsu NSW Open to increase from $100,000 to $125,000 in 2015.

2014 has been an extremely exciting and successful year for Women’s Golf across the globe. I am confident that combined with our ALPG Pro-ams, our Tour schedule will attract quality players from all around the world to our shores, and give the Australian public a great opportunity to witness the quality of our women players and overseas visitors.

From Yamba the tour will head to a new event, the McLeod ALPG Pro-am at the McLeod Country Golf Club in Queensland.

The event in McLeod is a two day event being played on the 12th and 13th January 2015.

From Queensland, the tour travels to the beautiful Southern Highlands outside of Sydney, where the next stop is the Moss Vale Classic, scheduled in for the 22nd and 23rd of January.

The players will then take a week off to enjoy the Australia Day weekend festivities before they surface again for the Renault Pro-am at the stunning Castle Hill Country Club in northwest Sydney on the 29th January.

The Oates Victorian Open, which for the past two years was the last major event on the ALPG schedule, will now be the first event in 2015. It will be played from the 5th to 8th February and once again will be held at the magnificent 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads. The success of the tournament and recent support from both sides of government in Victoria has seen a substantial increase in the prizemoney for both the men and the women from $150,000 in 2014 to around $260,000 in 2015.

After the Victorian Open, we head to the sunshine of The Gold Coast for the first of the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned events, the RACV Ladies Masters. The event once

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again returns to the RACV Royal Pines Resort and the tournament will be played from the 12th-15th February. Cheyenne Woods returns to the venue which saw her capture her first major professional victory, and will be attempting to defend her title on the revamped Graham Marsh designed layout.

We then head back to Victoria for the pinnacle of our season the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open which is being played at the magnificent composite course at Royal Melbourne. This event will once again be co-sanctioned with the LET and LPGA, assuring a world-class field once again.

Karrie Webb, a member at Royal Melbourne will be attempting to defend the title she won in dramatic fashion at Victoria golf club in 2014. The purse in 2015 will be US$1.2m.

The ALPG will then head across the Tasman to for the LET co-sanctioned ISPS Handa New Zealand’s Women’s Open at Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch from the 26 February to 1 March. The tour then comes to an end back in Sydney at the Bing Lee / Fujitsu General Women’s NSW Open where the players will play for an increased purse of $125,000. Once again the Bing Lee / Fujitsu General Women’s NSW Open is being at the Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney from the 6th to 8th March. Spectators should remember that entry is free and it is the last chance to see the ladies play before they head back overseas for the year. • Follow the ALPG Tour at www.alpg.com.au and on Twitter @ALPGtour

from the ceo

Open draws global praise ratings around Australia – remarkable given their surge in 2013 with that thrilling finale.

Stephen Pitt

The Emirates Australian open reached almost 2.7 viewers across the four days with a peak of more than one million for the final round.

CEO – Golf Australia

I

t’s amazing, even to those who’ve seen a lot of them decided, how often the chase for the Stonehaven Cup generates amazing storylines.

And while many were looking for Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy to fight out a second consecutive Emirates Australian Open title, we crowned another world-class player in Jordan Spieth.

Spieth climbed from 14th to 11th in the world rankings after a final round that some experts ranked among the greatest seen in Australian tournament history.

His spectacular course-record 63 was not only a round for the ages, but the interest it generated continued to elevate the Emirates Australian Open around the country and on the global stage.

Spieth was a credit to the family he holds so dear. He was genial, articulate and the huge crowds warmed to a man who − it’s not hard to foresee − should go on to something very special as his career unfolds.

And his enthusiasm for being in our country and The Australian Golf Club itself were yet another great advertisement as the tournament

Dominant free-to-air metro market shares were recorded each day and the four day average of 25.3% made it the most-watched program in its timeslot.

grows in stature.

It was also encouraging to see the battle for the Open Championship slots to play at St Andrew’s next year with Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford and Greg Chalmers off to Scotland.

The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series has already proven a great fit with our Open and yet another way we’re taking Aussie golf to the world.

On that front, we successfully introduced Australian Open Radio that enabled fans around the course to stay up to date with all that was going on around the course.

It also streamed live on our official App and on the website, with people around the world reporting to us that they were sensing the atmosphere in our unique broadcast.

Channel 7 reported an increase in

Anecdotal reports from Golf Channel viewers overseas lavished praise on the course and its presentation, while Spieth’s run again generated significant interest in the United States.

The Australian Golf Club was, indeed, a spectacular host. It’s the 18th time the club has hosted the Emirates Australian Open and staff and management took great pride in presenting all facilities in top-notch condition.

The course, in tournament mode for the first time since the latest Jack Nicklaus redesign, was in fantastic condition and proved a tough but fair test – exactly what we want for the national championship.

All in all, we were delighted with the week.

It’s exciting to see the progress made in recent seasons and we are confident we’ll continue to expand on that momentum in years to come.

Looking back...and ahead Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

T

he Australian PGA Championship was an exciting end to the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia season.

Our strong field of domestic and international talent delivered a week of outstanding competition for fans, while pleasing crowd numbers continued to show the popularity of the tournament after moving to its new home at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.

An event of this stature would never be achievable without the support of our partners. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast Tourism, RACV Royal Pines Resort, RACV, Emirates, Coca-Cola Amatil, and all our other event partners as well as our broadcast partner Channel 7. Likewise, to all PGA staff, officials, media representatives and volunteers

who worked tirelessly to produce and promote this world class event. The Australian PGA Championship would not be possible without our golf fans and I thank you for supporting Australia’s oldest Professional Tournament.

The end of 2014 also saw a successful finish to the 23rd year of the Holden Scramble. With the support of GM Holden, the PGA was able to expand the State Final series of the Women’s Holden Scramble into Tasmania and South Australia, as a result of increased female participation. The Women’s Holden Scramble forms part of the overall Holden Scramble event and since its introduction in 2005 has seen over 10,000 women hit the fairways; offering a fantastic opportunity for female golfers across Australia to participate in the Holden Scramble.

Over 450 local Holden Scramble events are held each year at golf clubs all over Australia. To participate in the 2015 Holden Scramble, please visit the Holden Scramble website www. holdenscramble.com.au for all event information.

As we move into the 2015 PGA

Tour of Australasia season I’m pleased to confirm dates for the 2015 Fiji International. Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course will host the Tournament for a second time on the 15 – 18 October; offering one of the most spectacular backdrops ever seen in tournament golf. Feedback from this year’s tournament was hugely positive and I encourage you to keep an eye on the Fiji International website www.fijiinternational.com for player announcements, travel and ticketing information for this unique event.

Finally, 2015 will see 100 trainees embark on their career in golf through the PGA Academy. Since its inception, the PGA Academy has been producing PGA Professionals who have gone on to forge successful careers in both Vocational and Tournament areas. The PGA continues to offer traineeships, tertiary education and performance coaching to PGA Members, Tour Professionals and the public, both domestic and international. For more information on our education and training offerings, please visit www.pga.org. au/education. www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

15

industry news

North Ryde’s $2.4m course splashout a winner Bill Colhoun ed@insidegolf.com.au

A

BOLD, but well-researched decision four years ago by directors of Sydney’s North Ryde Golf Club to radically tackle the club’s financially draining water problem has paid off.

The launch of its inspiring, new-look course this month, celebrates that now momentous decision and the culmination of a two-part, $2.4 million major course works project.

Faced with the ongoing challenges of a parched, old-fashioned golf course, sustained by water at a cost of more than $100,000 annually, and a solid, but dormant, membership base, the board literally dived in with plans for an effective solution.

The plan was to capture and utilise rainfall for as much irrigation purposes as possible.

Once almost complete self-sufficiency for water use is achieved, funds previously budgeted to the expense of water will go towards continuous course improvement.

Refreshing outlook: North Ryde’s spectacular new water fountain as a win, win, win, win for the 64-year-old club: • The annual water bill will be reduced from $140,000 in 2013 to virtually nil in 2015;

Now the board anticipates a spike in activity from public players, corporate golf and more members to secure the club’s future, while reducing the impact on the environment by better water usage.

• It now has a refreshed course, with four new holes boasting large impressive greens;

Today the club, located about 10km northwest of the Sydney CBD, is truly flushed with the success of its “Dams Project” with 26,000 litres retained in three large on-course dams, complemented by two ponds. The course has been rejuvenated by some clever reworking of the layout at the hands of Golf

By Design’s James Wilcher.

• The proud North Ryde membership is already increasing, hopefully soon to the club’s glory days (not so long ago), of having a waiting list to become a golfing member.

Despite some initial, stern resistance from many of its (approximately) 1000 playing members, the board sought expert advice on how to reduce its water costs and, with no room for a massive dam, the brilliant system of connected, low-level water retention dams and ponds was developed.

General Manager of North Ryde Golf Club, Anthony Dignan, sees the final overall result

• The visually spectacular water fountain display offers a superb day and night backdrop for weddings and other functions;

While the two-stage renovation and water resource innovations took 12 months— spanning two calendar years—the natural rainwater filling of the dams was dramatic and exciting.

In just three days in August last year, the 26,0000 litre capacity of the dams almost was reached --surprising many of the critics of the scheme who predicted that the plan’s “ambitious specifications” meant the “dams would never be filled”.

The raw statistics of the course – following the opening of the new-look first, fourth,

ninth and 17th holes– means the layout now measures 5223m while retaining its original par of 69.

The formerly old-fashioned tight treelined course which had many small greens now has a more inviting open modern look with some of the new greens measuring 460 square metres.

And with the changes has come a more dynamic outlook for golfers with eight holes—the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 17th offering the challenge of avoiding close proximity to water on each hole. In the old layout, three holes – the fourth, fifth and seventh – involved playing over water.

And just as the abundance of water has seen the blossoming of many aspects of the re-design so has it attracted many compliments from people with a long connection with the club.

62

“Firstly what we tried to do at North Ryde was satisfy the need to wean ourselves off Sydney water and then reuse the water we captured so that the course could be pretty much self-sufficient in all but the driest times.

“Also the old course had a lot of little ponds that would cut across the middle of fairways often making it very difficult for older members. Where we have located the new ponds golfers can avoid them by playing alongside so there are no more forced watercarry shots.

“I believe that golf courses can best be judged by the fact that golfers enjoy them and keep coming back to play and I hope that is the reaction to North Ryde.” •

“In all the years I have been here I never thought I would see it looking so good. I’m

$

Architect, James Wilcher is justifiably chuffed with the finished project, saying:

“By and large I think the membership will enjoy the challenge of their new layout and the club will have a better course to help attract new members and trade days.

Head Pro Marty Lyne, 32 years a PGA professional at North Ryde, says he hardly can believe the transformation.

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industry news

Record numbers for Schweppes ‘Tee It Up’ program

SCHWEPPES RISING STAR: Georgia Garner-Dart Standout performer at the Schweppes WA Super Clinic Age? 11 Handicap? 11 Home Club? Lake Karrinyup Country Club, it is a great club and I have made some amazing friends there.

Started playing golf at what age? I started playing golf at 3 and joined Lake Karrinyup when I was 6.

Lowest gross score? 83 at the Vines Resort Perth WA at 10 years of age.

2014 was a banner year for The Schweppes “Tee It Up” Program, with events hosted in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. It was wonderful to see the scope and participation of junior golf across the country rocket to new levels, with record numbers of children taking part in the state “Super Clinics” in 2014.

Your Coach? My coach is David Milne, I am now in my 5th year with David, he is very patient with me and very kind.

The standout for the state-based “Super Clinics” was Western Australia, with nearly 100 junior golfers between 6-12 years old turning out at Joondalup Resort to take part in a fantastic golf clinic hosted by a trio of golf Professionals from David Milne Golf.

The final Schweppes “Master Classes”—hosted at the Perth International and Australian Masters—saw the lucky winners of the state “Super Clinics” enjoy an “inside the ropes” experience with Schweppes Ambassador Craig Parry. They were able to walk the fairways and see what it takes to be a professional out on the tour. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience was finished, it was off to a closed golf clinic on the driving range with Craig and other professionals showing the children tips and tricks and an array of shotmaking that left most of the children (and Parents…) with their mouths wide open!

Plans are already underway to ensure that the Schweppes “Tee It Up” program in 2015 continues to push the barriers and provides a pathway for children across Australia to showcase their talents and learn from the professionals. •

What is the driving force to your game? My family and close friends. Dad spends so much time with me and Mum is great because she lets us do this. My little brother Jack, he’s 7, practices with me twice a week.

Do you have a Nick-name? Lots, but my favourite is “Sticks”. Dad calls me this because he says I am always collecting bits of stick and leaving them in my golf bag.

How often do you practise? I currently practice Tuesday and Thursday for 5 hours a day. I have coaching with David on Saturday and play 18 holes on Sunday. I intend to increase this next year to 5 days.

Your biggest win to date? I have won lots of competitions at Lake Karrinyup and recently won my age division at the Vines Resort with an 83 gross.

What’s your game plan for the near term? To get my handicap down to 7 before I am 12 years old, work hard at my game and do all the stuff 11-year-old kids do.

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STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB www.strathfieldgolf.com 84 CENTENARY DRIVE, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135 OFFICE : 9642 0326 • PRO SHOP: 9642 8642 • EMAIL: office@strathfieldgolf.com.au 18

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

What part of your game do you want to improve?

I guess everything, even knowing the rules better is something I need to improve at.

Most memorable golfing moment? Just after my 10th birthday on Lake Karrinyup’s North course, at the 14th I got a hole in one with a 5-iron.

Who is your favourite golfer? Severiano Ballesteros is my favourite golfer. Dad has shown me all his videos he is awesome. My favourite female golfer is Jayde Panos, she has just turned professional and is coming home soon to Perth, I can’t wait to see her.

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industry news

Victorian Labor pledges $10m to the ‘Home of Golf’

T

“Streamlined decisions will help us minimise duplication of resources and take the game to the next level around Australia and provide significant community benefit.”

he proposed national “Home of Golf” project, which would see the head offices of PGA of Australia, Golf Australia and Golf Victoria under one roof, received a boost prior to the November election, with Labor leader Daniel Andrews promising $10million for the project under a Labor Government.

The benefit of the proposed facility has the potential to extend across a diverse section of the community.

The golf driving range and short course practice area will be utilised for new programs and activities that are designed to encourage inclusion across all sectors of the Australian community including socially and economically disadvantaged, women, Indigenous Australians and the multicultural sector.

The National Home of Golf and Centre of Excellence Project is a “world first” development that, for the first time in golf’s history, will bring together the Australian golf industry.

This project will help grow the game and ensure it has a long-term sustainable future through development of world standard educational, training, research and administration facilities developed in partnership with all levels of government.

“This is great news for golf, particularly for Victoria with our state known for having some of the world’s best courses,” Golf Victoria Chief Executive Officer Simon Brookhouse said.

The proposed development would also include a Museum and Hall of Fame, another first for the sport within Australia.

It is estimated that $32million in funding is required for the project, which could be located in Elsternwick Park.

“It’s a great opportunity for golfers to have a home of golf for the first time in the sport’s history. Melbourne has the reputation of being the sporting capital of the world and we look forward to this new world-class facility further enhancing the reputation.”

“Having all the different bodies under one roof [and] giving them the best facilities, that’s how we will create the best players and the best prospects for the future,” said Andrews.

“Whether it’s elite players representing our state and the nation, growing the game and giving our kids a taste of this unique sport, or creating jobs through the golf industry [or] the tourism and visitor economy, the Home of Golf is a really important part of that.”

The announcement earlier last year by the CEO’s of all three organisations of the intended project demonstrates a positive direction for the golf industry, which has traditionally been

Peter O’Malley, Stephen Pitt and Brian Thorburn at Parliament House during last year’s announcement of the Home of Golf project. fragmented in its governance.

“Golf as a business contributes billions to the economy, and it is our duty to ensure we implement strategies for this to grow well into the future.” said Brian Thorburn, PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer.

“The impact of golf in the community is significant; from grassroots to Professional level as a sport and from club level to golf tourism as a business. To achieve the growth we all strive for we must work more

collaboratively as an industry and the national ‘Home of Golf’ is a significant step towards this.”

All parties acknowledge the Labor Party’s commitment to golf and with the sport returning to the Olympics in 2016, Golf Australia Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pitt said it was an opportune time to plan for a bold future.

“The ‘Home of Golf’ would allow some of the sport’s key decision makers to accelerate golf’s promotion and development,” Pitt said.

“In my opinion this is a quantum step in the direction of unifying the sport essentially bringing the amateur and professional games closer together. Such a decision will lead to greater collaboration between all the relevant golfing bodies and ultimately help to grow our great game.”

This project contributes to the key Australian Government objective of working in partnership with the state government, the ASC and key national sporting organisations to develop, implement and promote policies and strategies to support participation, achievement and integrity in Australian sport.

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

19

general managers

WE CHAT WITH > Bill Colhoun ed@insidegolf.com.au

D

AVID Scott is a shining example of the emerging new age of PGA golf club professionals in the Australian golf industry.

Scott, the Deputy General Manager of Riverside Oaks – one of Australia’s biggest and leading golf resort-residential-playing complexes—is a graduate of the PGA’s International Golf Institute and the follow-on PGA club Traineeship.

In less than a decade he has become a key executive for Nanshan, one of China’s biggest and most successful golf development companies and recently told Inside Golf of his interesting career journey.

You began your career in the golf industry as a PGA-trained professional. Where did you train and when did you start?

I completed a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Sports Management, through the PGA International Golf Institute program. I then undertook my PY year for PGA Traineeship under Head Professional Jamie Brew at Burleigh Golf Club on the Gold Coast. My first head professional role was as Director of Golf at Riverside Oaks after spending a few years playing tournament golf.

Do you see many advantages in having been trained as a PGA professional before assuming a golf industry management role?

It has given me a greater, more intimate knowledge of the golf industry from all aspects and this has certainly helped me in understanding the needs and wants of public golfers and members as well as best practices for operating a golf course. My PGA background has seen me visit numerous golf

20

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

David Scott, Deputy General Manager at Riverside Oaks

courses and resorts throughout the world, building my knowledge and experiences which hopefully I can use and pass on in my role here at Riverside Oaks. My PGA membership also has allowed me to build a great network of industry colleagues and organisational contacts.

Tell us about being involved with such a successful golf company as Nanshan?

I have been fortunate to visit Nanshan in China to see their operations (they operate 14 golf courses) and to help with the staging of the Nanshan China Masters. Nanshan’s standing in the golf industry is very high and continues to grow. Nanshan is very closely linked to the China Golf Association and has the CGA Training centre situated at one of their properties. Nanshan is also the leader in golf education and training in China and is also expanding the education pathways and training here in Australia through Riverside Oaks.

How big an influence do you see Nanshan and other parts of the Chinese golf industry having on Australian golf?

Nanshan and China are already having a large influence on the Australian golf landscape through the purchase and running of many golf courses, many of which may not have survived without their financial help.

The link between golf in China and Australia is only going to grow with programs and partnerships established with the PGA of Australia as well as those being established by other parties such as Nanshan Group.

How much money has Nanshan spent in expanding and improving Riverside Oaks since it took over I think in 2009?

Many millions. They have built a brand new 18-hole championship golf course (Bungool), renovated and upgraded the original course (including bunkers, tees and greens), opened a new restaurant/function centre, updated the clubhouse, built 36 new resort rooms, housing estate, bought a new fleet of carts and golf course maintenance machinery.

Riverside Oaks once had one of the largest handicap/club memberships. What is its current standing?

We still have a large membership base.

We continue to offer the pay-as-you-play membership but we have also expanded our membership options to include more traditional annual subscription categories such as seven-day, five-day, junior etc.

How many staff does Riverside Oaks employ to keep Sydney’s only 36-hole golf complex operating at full capacity?

We currently have 70+ staff, being a mix of permanent and casual across all departments. This is needed due to the large number of weddings, functions and hotel guests that visit the property each year.

Approximately how many rounds are played at Riverside Oaks each year?

About 35,000. Given the warm reception Bungool has received, we expect about 45,000+ next year.

120+ golf carts which have Visage GPS units on each.

Riverside Oaks apparently is ClubCar’s biggest customer, how many carts in your fleet?

We are proud of our close relationship with Golf Cart Group and to be their biggest customer of ClubCar golf carts. We have

What is the most satisfying aspect of your role at Riverside Oaks?

That we have slowly been able to turn Riverside Oaks back into one of the top golf resorts in Australia and that it continues to improve all the time. •

young guns

‘Little Rickie’ a rising star DIALED IN WEIGHTING THAT DIALS UP

DISTANCE

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

B

risbane young ace Louis Dobbelaar is barely a teenager but has already got the attention of Cobra Puma Golf’s worldbeater Rickie Fowler and the brand’s global heads as the 13-year-old continues his sharp rise into junior golf’s world elite. Dobbelaar, who lives and plays at the Greg Normandesigned Brookwater Golf & Country Club, was runner-up at the 2014 US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst No. 8, finishing at one under par after 54 holes.

He also won the 2013 Queensland Primary Schools golf championship by 18 shots as an 11-year-old. Fowler is closely following Louis’ progress.

“Rickie is his hero,” admits Dobbelaar’s mum Allison. “People used to always say ‘it’s little Rickie’. I think he’s got his own style now but obviously because he never wears anything except Cobra Puma, people naturally think there’s a Rickie thing going on. But he just loves the product, wears it well and is a huge fan.”

Louis – whose official home club is Royal Queensland – first got the attention of Cobra Puma Golf about four years ago.

“The relationship’s just blossomed from our desire to have Louis as a part of our brand,” reveals Cobra Puma Golf’s head of Australasia Christian Pegrum.

“We’ll help him out with discounts and, every now and again, we’ll send some product for him to have a go and try and use. He keeps such a level head and enjoyment about what he does and that really has strong synergy with our brand. He also has a

real love and passion for Cobra Puma Golf. He loves the outfits, he loves the gear and, more than anything, he loves Rickie Fowler.”

Louis’ links with Cobra Puma Golf grew stronger in January 2013 when he dropped into the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida and had the chance to mingle with the brand’s global heads and impress them with his ball-striking on the range.

At last year’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast, Fowler invited Louis out to dinner along with his family and the Cobra Puma Golf crew and the pair now stays in contact via social media and mobile phone.

extensive online journals where he can report his results.

“It’s more just a scrap book,” Allison states. “We’ve started travelling around and the kids want to keep in touch and people started to want to follow him.”

Louis has also gotten to know fellow Queenslander and Asian Tour star Cameron Smith. The pair are both coached by Grant Field and played nine holes together shortly before Smith turned pro in 2013. One thing Smith and Dobbelaar have in common is a desire to follow in the footsteps of statesmen Greg Norman and Adam Scott. •

“The fact that he will occasionally like his pictures on Instagram is enough of a motivation for Louis,” says Allison. “To have someone like that taking an interest, I think is beyond any young golfer’s wildest dreams.

Someone like him, who’s on the brink of massive things, but still takes time to like a picture or respond to a text, it’s massive.”

A two-handicapper, Dobbelaar aims to be a scratch player by early 2015.

On his radar this year will be the San Diego Junior Masters, IMG Academy Junior World Championships in California and the US Kids Golf Teen World Championship at Pinehurst No. 9, where Allison’s cousin is a local pro.

“It’s not always about the tournament, it’s about catching up with family who are in the business over there,” says Allison.

Louis is already a member of Golf Queensland’s junior state squad and is garnering a strong social media following. His Facebook page, ‘Louis Dobbelaar’, and Instagram profile ‘@louis_dobbelaar’ – have become

GAME CHANGED

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

21

COBRAGOLF.COM.AU

industry

Golf administrators gaze into their crystal balls David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

G

OLF in Australia has made giant strides in the past year.

Certainly, Australia’s men and women professional golfers have walked tall across all continents.

Last year, more than 20 Aussies won tournaments around the world and this year again will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best on the acknowledged tough test – the US PGA Tour.

Australia’s women are almost equally prominent and have practitioners matching the best in the US, Europe and Asia.

The strength of amateur golf in this country was highlighted when the Australian women’s team took out the World Cup and a number of leading young amateurs acquitted themselves well in the Australian Masters and Australian Open.

What we see is positive trends around rounds of golf being up and the membership decline flattening out. From our perspective, that is a major priority.

On the events front, we will have a fantastic Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in February and another great Australian Open in November 2015.

From a high performance perspective, we see our young players coming through and continuing to see success.

There will be some players with bright futures turn professional and I see more young players coming through the system. And I see our top players picking up a major or two.

Karen Lunn – Executive Director Australian Ladies Professional Golf

It reminds us of a story of a swimming duck – calm on the surface but paddling like hell underneath.

The ALPG have a number of things going on like growing the Next Generation Club, which is an initiative aimed towards supporting female amateur golfers that aspire to be or are considering a career as a professional golfer or within in the golf industry. The club provides education, advice, guidance and mentoring offered through the knowledge and experience of ALPG and its members.

Paddling to help Australia’s stars shine on the world stage are the almost countless administrators whose job is to keep the engine room humming efficiently.

Then we have the national clinics, which will roll out over Australia this year. The plan is to have 10 of those national clinics help get more women playing and enjoying the game.

Those administrators – national, state, district and club – usually only achieve prominence when a piston goes through the block in that engine room.

Then there is the influence of Asia to the golf industry in Australia. I think Asia is going to become more important to us as we move forward.

To kick off the year, Inside Golf asked some of those, largely behind-the-scenes, workers to gaze into their crystal balls and set the scene for golf in Australia in 2015.

With golf booming in South Korea I think China and Thailand are going to be what South Korea are now.

Here are the hopes and dreams of some of the people club golfers rarely ever see.

Stephen Pitt – CEO, Golf Australia For Golf Australia, the priorities will be bedding down the things we are doing in clubsupport areas – the portal we launched last year and see that get more traction and more clubs involved. We’ll be promoting the benchmarking through GMA (Golf Management Australia) and collecting more data.

We have exciting rookies Minjee Lee and Su Oh now on the scene and I see them doing well in the years ahead.

Damon Lonnie – GMA president and Lake Karrinyup CC GM In 2015, Golf Management Australia will continue to implement its new strategic plan incorporating a number of key focus areas.

These focus areas include: doing our part to facilitate the unification of the

various golf industry bodies; raising the profile of GMA by leading the way by providing management tools such as GMA benchmarking; growing GMA membership and assisting club managers and senior club staff with professional development through coordinated industry education programs.

These include the PGA IGI advanced diploma, online resources and the biennial GMA conference to be held on the Gold Coast next year.

Golf clubs play a crucial role in their respective communities and we see GMA playing an important role in assisting clubs to overcome many of the challenges currently faced across Australia to ensure sustainability.

I see great opportunities for clubs to engage with families by providing different services and entertainment (not all golf related) to make local golf clubs the venue of choice for families.

A strong focus on growing women’s membership is another opportunity.

Clubs need to become more progressive and innovative to remain relevant. If these items are addressed, I see no reason why clubs can’t prosper and retain, and even grow, membership in 2015.

Brian Thorburn – CEO, PGA of Australia There’ll be a continuation of our investment in our programs. You’ll see some new initiatives being rolled out centred around

technology and ways of working smarter.

We are going to be developing more tools and marketing of our PGA professionals because in many ways they are the fabric of club land.

They are often the first person to arrive and the last person to leave. They are the people who can help golfers play better golf and hopefully that results in them playing more often.

There will be a whole range of initiatives to try to provide our members and the industry with better services and products and tools.

From a tournament perspective, we want to expand the number of events. I think you’ll see more innovation around the PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines.

Historically, it’s been the season-ending players’ championship with family fun and so on. We have plans to build on that with new concepts – kids theme parks, trade consumer expos and the like.

We want to increase the number of Holden Scramble events and we have a shorter-form event under development, which we are going to be piloting.

We also want to make the pro-am circuit more viable.

We are working on ways of making the state-based championships, the PGAs and Opens, more sustainable and working on getting them more television exposure. •

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on tour

Stepping stones to success Stuart Appleby discusses his amateur golf days, playing at Kingston Heath, his close call at the Barclays, and consistency on Tour.

The Australian Junior was obviously up against all the top juniors at the time.

Garrett Johnston

@johnstongarrett

W

hat’s a favorite memory in your formative years playing golf in Australia?

I didn’t start playing the game until I was 14. So there really wasn’t much time for me before that to 18. My biggest achievement as an amateur would have been winning the Australian Junior, which was great. The Victorian Amateur was one of my major highlights, at one of the best courses in the world—Kingston Heath.

That was really it. I wasn’t playing any professional tournaments at that stage, competing with the pros.

I would say I had a reasonable amateur career but not star-studded by any means.

But they would have been the premiere tournaments to win.

You mentioned Kingston Heath, how much do you enjoy that course?

Well I think because I won the Victorian Amateur there I just have a soft spot for it. It really has some great greens, great fairways, and really some of the best bunkering design that you’re ever likely to see.

Talk about your progression from amateur into the professional game. Was there an ‘aha moment’ with the game?

All my junior years and young years I go right back to when I was a kid. It feels like yesterday playing chicken runs for nine holes on a summer afternoon after school as a 15 year-old, playing with my dad. Those years at times feel a long time ago but other times those memories just feel so fresh. I felt so close. But that’s over 25 years ago now.

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/OneAsia)

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on tour I think obviously there was a lot more maturing I had to do in my game in those years. Obviously playing at an elite level of golf in Australia was a very good stepping stone to what was ahead. I never really played elite level golf as an amateur worldwide. So I spent a lot of my time from my late teens to my early twenties developing that maturity. In 1994 I played as a pro on this Foundation Tour which would have been the Web.com Tour.

It’s grown now but it was only just starting then. I won most of the events on their schedule. That gave me a great development of confidence to go to the US Tour. I went to the US tour school in 1994. Then graduated, eventually got through to the Web. com in 1995. So that was a maturing of my game in the 20s.

Meeting my current coach Steven Bann as a 17-year-old was truly a decisive, ‘aha moment’ in improving my game. I went from being a parttime-coached student in my early years, and then meeting Steve when I was 17 and getting into the junior state series that was one of the lower ranked players in the series when I was about 17. He really played a big role those two years either side of twenty. Maturing as an amateur golfer and developing the skills to be able to compete to get to the world stage in my early twenties. To get to the US and eventually mature my game here.

You were the 36-hole leader at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. How do you look back on that event?

That was an amazing event. Not much for me. I didn’t play well on the weekend at all unfortunately. But that was one Open that will go down as one of the classics of all time. I think it already is now because of what Tiger and Rocco did.

You had a terrific run and almost won the 2014 Barclays, how do you view that experience?

I think it’s great. I’ve really got to use that as a stepping stone, build on that to see if I can get something going and have a Sunday like I had there.

But that was very good. It was very encouraging. There’s never bad timing for those sorts of performances. Getting in those types of positions and dealing with all the things that come with trying to win a golf tournament was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed the challenge.

I think I controlled what I could control. So that was a good step for me. I think I can use that and nurture that a bit more in my mind and replay it. I made a lot of putts and you don’t always make the putts.

I’m out there trying to do the same thing as everybody else. And we all know you that you get runs of putts and often times you don’t but I got things going when I needed to and I felt good about it so that was really nice.

Despite struggling since his last PGA Tour victory (The Greenbrier Classic in 2010, where he shot his magical ‘59’) Appleby has remained resilient and patient.

(Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR) Had doubts crept in over these past four plus years since your last US Tour win at The Greenbrier in 2010?

I’ve certainly had doubts about my future in this game, wondering whether it’s worth it. Wondering where was the old guy? Getting all those things -- whatever I used to do, how do you get them all back?

My back hasn’t been crash hot. And I’ve lost some swing capabilities in length and strength and other things.

But the game just keeps giving you opportunities. It keeps giving you the smallest signals and the smallest signs. And being tuned into knowing those things and working with them or being unbelievably patient or just keeping that pilot light alive. I can do this. That’s why anybody can win out of anywhere out of one week.

But you have to be unbelievably resilient in this game because it will completely make you doubt yourself.

What’s it like adjusting your goals as you get older on the Tour?

With a growing family, my priorities have changed. I love this sport, I want to play well. I practice as hard as the next guy. But the sport doesn’t taste the same as what it used to, as it did as a 25 or 35-year-old. Every ten years life is not the same. And that’s good or bad. Whatever you want to make out of it. I know I’m a veteran on the Tour. Senior Tour is just down

the road. I don’t feel like that guy. But that’s what it is.

What does consistency look like to you right now at age 43?

I’d love to play 15 events a year and have 10 top-10s. Consistency for me would just be more, let’s say I play four weeks in a row, I make a cut four weeks in a row, and maybe I have four weeks inside the top-25. That would be consistent for me. I’m not the flushest ball-striker there is, and I don’t hit it miles, and I don’t hit it straight all the time. When I do play well I tend to putt well. That’s something I haven’t done well for a long time. It was nice that week (at Barclays) to feel the ball rolling. I think I had 23, 24 putts on Sunday. So if you’re going to pick one part of your game you want to be consistent, putting would be the run.

Putting will outrun anything else in your game, hands down. It will recover an average round, it will dominate a beautiful round. You’re not going to hit every shot to inside 10 feet, very rarely.

If I was trying to be more consistent I’d love to be consistently a good putter.

I’m a decent putter now. • Garrett Johnston is a golf journalist based in California. He covers the game on an international level for Inside Golf, New Zealand Golf Magazine, Today’s Golfer UK, and Golf World UK. www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

25

on tour

Lyle ‘refreshed’ and ready to return to the Tour

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J

arrod Lyle is confident that his golf game is still good enough to match it with the world’s best as his bid to regain a full-time US PGA Tour card continues its momentum.

The Victorian is heading back to America this month feeling refreshed and revived after a couple of months at home with his first tournament the Humana Challenge in California.

Some solid finishes back in October and a rerank has given Lyle spots in tournaments he previously wasn’t qualified for and the 33-year-old is keen to make the most of those opportunities and continue his return to big tournament golf after overcoming cancer for the second time.

Using his medical exemption, Lyle has 20 tournaments to earn enough money to retain his PGA Tour card.

“Everything’s good with my health,” Lyle said. “Nothing’s hurting any more. It’s nice to be fitter, and healthier.”

After recovering from a second bout of intensive treatment for leukemia, Lyle travelled to America to resume his career late last year and finished tied for 11th in his first start on the Web.Com Tour and his first tournament in the US for 29 months.

Jarrod Lyle with a support crew of friends and family at the recent BetEasy Australian Masters That came at the Midwest Classic, where he shot four rounds in the 60’s and his hole-out for an eagle from the 18th fairway on the Friday earned the coveted No.1 `Play of the Day’ from ESPN’s SportsCenter.

After a series of missed cuts, Lyle teed it up in the Frys.com Open on the PGA Tour – after getting a spot in the field through Monday qualifying and finished a creditable tied for 31st.

A week later he pocketed another cheque at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open – after an opening round of 66 – by finishing in a tie for 42nd.

Lyle said he was encouraged by those results and said he and his family – wife Briony and daughter Lusi – are keen to return to the US and get stuck into the next block of tournaments on the 2015 schedule.

“To go over there and play as well as I did in those two PGA events definitely answered a lot of question I had about my golf game and whether I’d be competitive enough,” Lyle said. “(I showed to myself that) I was still able to compete against the best players in the world.

“Obviously I didn’t finish as high as I would have liked to, but to go out and make two cuts and show myself that there’s still good golf left

in my game, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Lyle was delighted to have been able to tee up late last year in Australia’s “big three tournaments” – the Masters, Open and PGA – for the first time since 2011.

A two-time winner on the Web. Com Tour, Lyle is thankful for the overwhelming amount of support he’s received during his treatment and is now concentrating on what lies ahead in his future rather than reflecting on the journey he’s been through.

“That (family) side of my life is where it needs to be and the golfing side is pretty close to where it needs to be, too,” Lyle said.

onsor of Proud Sp

“I have had a bit of a journey as a human, now it’s time to put all that behind me and get on with golf and do what I do best.’”

Lyle, who has five top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour with a best of T4 at the 2012 Northern Trust Open, is keeping his goals simple for the year ahead.

“I’ve got one goal this year and that’s to keep my job,” Lyle declared.

“I’ve got to play as well as I can in the tournaments I get to play in. If you play better, it takes care of everything else.” • www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

27

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on tour

Woods returns to defend title David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

N

EXT month there will be an American named Woods playing on Queensland’s Gold Coast, but not the one you expected.

It’s Cheyenne Woods, Tiger’s niece, who will return to Australia to defend her RACV Ladies Masters title from February 12-15.

The effervescent Ms Woods from Phoenix, Arizona, who last year edged out Australian sensation Minjee Lee, said she was looking forward to defending her title.

“I am excited about returning to the Gold Coast,” the 24-year-old said.

“The reception I received from the Australian fans last year is in my memory forever.

“This will be the first time I return to a tournament as the defending champion so it will be a totally new experience for me, but I’m looking forward it.”

First played in 1990, the RACV Ladies Masters, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG), truly is an international event with players from eight countries winning the sought-after championship.

Of course, the undisputed queen of Australian golf, Karrie Webb, leads the charge with eight wins.

The popular Queenslander last year was attempting to create history by winning a ninth title, which no player, male or female, has done.

Webb currently shares the record with seven-time major winner Sam Snead.

Ironically, Webb also has won seven majors.

Unfortunately, Webb’s quest for a recordbreaking ninth title evaporated when disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Who knows, perhaps Webb will return this year and sign off with a win and a

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

history-making ninth title although US LPGA scheduling may mean she will miss the event.

Other Aussies to lift the prestigious Ladies Masters trophy are Jane Crafter in 1992-1996 and Katherine Kirk (nee Hull) in 2009.

Players from the USA (Woods and Jane Geddes), the Netherlands (Christel Boeljon), Taiwan (Yani Tseng), England (Laura Davies and Lisa Hall), South Korea (Amy Yang), Sweden (Annika Sorenstam) and Canada (Gail Graham) have also tasted victory.

For the umpteenth time fans will have the pleasure of following crowd favourite Dame Laura Davies.

Dame Laura, an honorary member of the ALPG Tour, returns to the Gold Coast as a three-time Ladies Masters champion.

Of course, the big-hitting Brit will be hoping that a return to one of her favourite venues will inspire a fourth title.

Davies is still a force on the Ladies European Tour and proved it late last year when finishing a credible third in the Helsingborg Open in Sweden.

Tournament chairman Bob Tuohy said the 26th staging of the event was also about the “young and the new” players.

“We are going to have a great field of new talent playing this year,” said Tuohy, who has dedicated almost a third of his life to ensure Australia has a top-class women’s tournament.

“Many of the top players from South Korea, China and other Asian countries are likely to play.

“Former champions Yani Tseng and Amy Yang are possibilities and South African LeeAnne Pace is almost a certain starter.”

In 2010, Pace won five LET events, the Order of Merit and named player of the year.

Last year she won the South African Women’s Open (LET) and the Blue Ray on the US PLGA Tour.

It will be interesting to see how the players tackle the new-look Graham Marsh-designed front nine holes, which is vastly different to the old layout.

Cheyenne Woods shows off the spoils of victory after last year’s RACV Ladies Masters triumph.

It will also be a new experience for spectators with better viewing vantage points around the new layout.

The new front nine certainly has Australian Ladies’ Professional Golf (ALPG) executive director Karen Lunn excited.

“RACV Royal Pines Resort has over the years established itself as a world-class facility and tournament venue and the recent upgrades to both the resort and the golf course will only add to the prestige of the event,” she said.

Tickets for the RACV Ladies Masters are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.au with children under-16 free if accompanied by an adult.

Members of RACV, RACQ, NRMA, RAASA, RACWA, RACT, RANT and NZAA will receive free entry plus one guest by presenting their membership card at the entrance gate.

FOOTNOTE: The 2015 RACV Ladies Masters will be broadcast nationally by ABC Sport on Saturday and Sunday, February 14-15 and live to Sky New Zealand and J Golf Korea with a total global household reach in excess of 145,000,000. •

ADIES MASTERS L PAST WINNERS 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

Cheyenne Woods Karrie Webb Christel Boeljon Yani Tseng Karrie Webb Katherine Hull Lisa Hall Karrie Webb Amy Yang Karrie Webb Annika Sorenstam Laura Davies Annika Sorenstam Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Karrie Webb Gail Graham Jane Crafter Annika Sorenstam Laura Davies Laura Davies Jane Crafter Jane Geddes Jane Geddes

United States Australia Netherlands Taiwan Australia Australia England Australia South Korea Australia Sweden England Sweden Australia Australia Australia Australia Canada Australia Sweden England England Australia United States United States

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clubs

18 for 12 at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads

O

ne of the most picturesque golf courses in one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations recently announced a membership special that may be too good to pass up.

The Oates Victorian Open, to be played from 5-8 February at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, is fast becoming a highlight of the Australian golfing calendar.

The tournament’s unique format of simultaneously staging the men’s and women’s championships on the same courses has proven to be popular with golfers and fans, and represents a remarkable point of difference among golf tournaments.

For a limited time, you can become a member of Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club and get 18 months membership for the price of 12 at 2014 prices.

Inside a stunning dedicated nature reserve lie two spectacular 18-hole courses, the River Course and the West Course, in one magnificent location offering golfers some great golfing challenges.

This membership deal is only available to new men’s and ladies members and offers discounted rates available for the following categories; full membership $1420, six day

$1300 (Sun-Fri) and five day $1225 (Excludes Wednesday and Saturday).

Terms and conditions apply. Membership must be paid in full. No payment plan available.

Next time you’re near the border, take a

break and go check it out for yourself, and see why golfers regard the courses and the venue as one of the best on the Gold Coast/ Northern NSW border.

For more information contact Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club on 07 5524 5545. •

Drive a bargain with Vines golf membership and first opened for members to play in 1989 on 27 holes. When stage one was opened, the Club boasted 90 members.

Today the number totals 1200 members, with reciprocal agreements with over 35 Clubs in Australian and worldwide including the prestigious Mission Hills.

Some twenty original foundation Members, who joined in 1989 are still playing the courses, and John Hogan and Harvey Deegan commented that “The 25 years has passed too quickly.”

S

eptember marked a quarter of a century of golf and relaxation in the Swan Valley near Perth for the iconic The Vines Resort and Country Club.

food & beverage voucher to use at the resort, five overnight stays in the hotel, 25 complimentary buggy vouchers and get 25% off their first year golf fees. (NB: Terms and conditions apply.)

To celebrate, the club is offering 100 Limited Edition individual golf memberships. New Members who purchase a 25th Anniversary Membership for the discounted entry fee of $3,500, will pay only $2500 to join the prestigious WA Club.

All golf Members also enjoy unlimited access to 36 magnificent holes, equal playing rights for all members, exclusive Resort discounts, a private Club House, a swimming pool, gym, tennis & squash courts plus much more.

The 100 Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Golf Memberships will receive a $250

The golf courses were designed by Course architects Graham Marsh and Ross Watson

Entries Close April 17th 2015 Tournament Director: Kym Doherty | Phone: 0408 310 532 Email: golf@sunraysiagolftours.com.au | www.sunraysiagolftours.com.au 30

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

On the tee: Oates

The Vines Resort boasts one of the richest international tournament histories in Australia, hosting the Heineken Classic 1993 – 2001, Johnnie Walker Classic 2006 & 2009 and the Lexus Cup 2007, and many international golf stars such as Norman, Els, Scott and Stadler.

For more information on becoming a member at The Vines Resort & Country Club, visit www.vines.com.au, or contact The Vines Resort & Country Club membership office during business hours on (08) 9297 0701 or phone 0406 047 895 or email memberships@vines.com.au •

Similar to the tournament in characterising differentiation from the norm is the event’s title sponsor, Oates, an Australian company supplying professional quality cleaning products for the home and industry for over 80 years.

In July 2005, E.D. Oates was acquired

by GUD holdings Limited. As the owner of a number of other iconic Australian companies, including Sunbeam, Davey, Ryco Filters, Wesfil and Lock Focus, GUD holdings offers Oates a strong commitment to brand development and to the future growth in professional cleaning & household products across Australia and New Zealand.

The Oates range is currently comprised of over 1300 products with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, product development and quick and easy, effective cleaning.

Oates continues to grow through complementary acquisitions and by launching new products, many of which are designed in Australia. In June 2010, Oates acquired the chemical product range and branding of Research Products, Citrus Resources and Dry Fusion. The range includes hard floor, carpet and upholstery cleaners, disinfectants and bleaches, glass and automotive cleaners, laundry and fabric care, dishwashing detergents, hand washes, deodorises and other speciality cleaners.

The formulations are developed to be more effective and more environmentally responsible, and to eliminate hazardous components. The health and safety of staff, the end user and the impact of products on the environment will not be compromised.

REVOLUTIONARY NEW MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM

MOUNT BROUGHTON GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB P I H S R E MEMBOM fR

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Y” A L P U O Y S “PAY A dES fREE INcLU ON LESS

• Every $ = 1 Credit Point • Access to 8 reciprocal clubs • Every package includes an official AGU handicap • Total Flexibility - Membership of a Championship course • FREE use of the driving range facilities

How it works: The more you choose to pay, the more points you can purchase. If you run out of points you can “top up” your package.

Any leftover points can be used the next year (one year roll over only) How you can use your points: There are two categories, peak and peaceful: Weekends (peak) = 50 pts.

Mid-week (peaceful) 25 pts.

Calculate how many games you want to play annually to assess the number of points best suited to your membership package.

For more details phone Davyd Reeves on 02 4868 3200 Mt Broughton Golf and Country Club, Kater Road, Sutton Forest NSW 2577. manager@mtbroughton.com.au | www.mtbroughton.com.au

clubs

Golf-specific pilates boosting health; green fees Prem, who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, broke her back in a snowboarding accident later that year, which forced her to retire from the sport.

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

A

“The best thing about Steph being an exOlympian is she incorporates a lot of the mental side of it, dealing with pressure,” Harrison admitted. “The putting week, she incorporates a lot more of that. How do they deal with the pressure of standing on the first tee with 20 other ladies watching them?”

golf-specific ladies pilates program being run with the help of an exOlympian at Brighton Public Golf Course is not only being credited with boosting green fees but also has the attention of one of Australia’s most esteemed private golf clubs.

Harrison said many club golfers don’t have enough core strength to get into the best positions at different points in the golf swing.

Brighton professional Travis Harrison began running six-week pilates courses in 2013 with former Olympic snowboarder Steph Prem (nee Hickey).

“We spent some time together developing a program to make sure all the pilates exercises complemented the golf swing,” Harrison said. “A lot of rotation, stability and balance exercises, which pilates does anyway, and making it exactly golf specific.”

Former Olympic snowboarder Steph Prem leads a pilates class at Brighton Public Golf Course

The six-week program is already being considered for possible implementation by Huntingdale Golf Club on the Melbourne sandbelt.

full swing, third week putting, fourth week bunkers, fifth week on course and the last week we do a completely individualised plan.”

Brighton’s first program in 2013 attracted 24 ladies.

The pilates course covers a different aspect of golf each week along with pilates exercises to help women improve the technique of their golf swings.

Participants are then invited to take up a follow-on course, which looks at fewer exercises and in greater detail.

“When we’re talking putting, a lot more stability, when we’re talking full swing, a lot more power and strength,” Harrison said. “First week we do chipping, second week we do

“We had four classes of six (to start).

Fourteen of those continued into a follow-on series and then each new series, we have a

new six to 12 ladies come through,” Harrison revealed.

The advent of pilates has also resulted in added revenue at Brighton.

“It definitely has got the ladies who play once a week to be here two to three times a week,” Harrison said. “It’s definitely helped increase total rounds. Definitely more green fees, more shop sales and just the interest in the game increases and might lead to extra club sales as well.”

“I have a lot of times where I’m getting people to make the golf swing and they’ve got to rotate around one leg and they’re just not stable and balanced through their core. I do a little exercise of getting people to stand on one leg and see if they can rotate around that one leg without losing balance and a lot of people struggle to even stand on one leg and rotate without their hips sliding. A lot of the pilates exercises are about that balance and stability and engaging the core. The steps are about building the core, I’m about getting them in the right position so they can use that strength.”

Harrison said he is open to creating a pilates course including men but conceded women feel more comfortable in a female-only class.

“It is something that we’re considering doing for the males. Males tend to want to be more at the gym rather than pilates.” •

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clubs

CLUB OF THE MONTH >

Flinders Golf Club Richard Fellner

The infamous par-4 Coffin hole at Flinders Golf Club, one of the most memorable holes in Australia (Photos by Gary Lisbon)

richard@insidegolf.com.au

J

ust a short drive to the east side of the famed Mornington Peninsula is the lovely and picturesque Flinders Golf Club, an 18-hole seaside beauty built along an amazing stretch of land overlooking Bass Strait.

While I’ve played heaps of golf on the Peninsula, Flinders has always held a special place in my heart. Though it may seem a bit detached from the other well-known Mornington courses on the Port Phillip Bay side, in reality it’s only 15 minutes away from the Cape Schanck area, so it is well within reach for a social group weekend or casual round.

And boy, is it fun. In my opinion, Flinders is one of the most underrated courses on the Peninsula.

But don’t just take my word for it. The great Golf Architect Dr Alister MacKenzie was so impressed with the course during a visit in 1926 that he was quoted as saying that Flinders was “equalled by only one other natural course, which is in California.” (He was referring to the famed Pebble Beach) Founded in 1903, Flinders Golf Club is the oldest golf course in Victoria that still exists at its original site. And while it isn’t long by any stretch (5,277m with a par of 69), it still has plenty of bite, and is absolute proof that a great and challenging golf course is not dictated by excessive length.

“It is enjoyable no matter the conditions,” says Flinders Golf Club Professional Gavin Coyle. “It’s not like going to a 450-metre par-four into the wind and the tour guys are hitting drivers and a three-wood to the green. Even on a windy day, because it’s a short course, you can still enjoy yourself.”

A handful of the par-4’s at Flinders are easily drivable (if you hit it straight), yet if you are even slightly off-line you can forget about par, as you’ll be contending with deep bunkers, tall trees and any number of ballgrabbing shrubs or hazards.

34

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

memorable holes on the Mornington Peninsula.

fairway (and is known for grabbing balls on a regular basis).

If you haven’t played Flinders in a while, you’ll really love the par-4 11th, ‘Fairy Dell’, which has been completely overhauled in recent years. Formerly a short, downhill dogleg-left par-four framed by houses to the left, the green was moved 100 metres to the right, which transformed the hole into a short dogleg-right and protected the nearby homes from any stray tee shots. In addition, the huge Cyprus Trees that backed this green have been removed and the view now opens up to the ocean and across to both French and Phillip Islands.

Soon, you’ll arrive at the famed par-4 fourth, the club’s signature hole known as The Coffin.

“You’ve got two ravines,” explains Coyle. “I can get to the green in normal conditions.

The risk is, if I don’t quite carry the 230-metre carry, I’m in the second coffin and can’t guarantee a good lie. What’s worse is if I land on the green and the ball doesn’t stay on the green. If I’m over the back, I need a short game like Phil Mickelson to get the ball on the green. It’s a sloping green so there’s danger lurking all around it. The first time I played it, I five-putted it. For the average handicapper, you’ve also got a ravine, which is about 150 metres off the tee. Calm conditions, most people can carry it but if you’re into the wind, you’ve got that dilemma to lay up short.”

Another short hole at 263 metres, this beauty is precarious. Originally a par-3, it was redesigned into a par-4 by MacKenzie in 1926, who moved the green back and behind the aptly-named “Purgatory Ravine”, thus creating a true risk-reward scenario, and transforming it into one of the most

If you somehow manage to survive The Coffin with your game (and nerves) intact, you will be rewarded with a bit of a respite, starting at the 5th (Beach Hole). It is here that you can finally open up the shoulders off the tee and give it a whack. But beware that the Ocean borders the left-hand side of the

Despite the length, Flinders proves to be a championship test for all levels, especially when the wind is up. The fairways are well shaped to test driving accuracy and the greens have slopes and enough speed to test your putting skills.

The first hole sets the scene for your round.

Though short at a mere 244m, the hole easily punishes the wayward drive. Longer hitters are thus forced to make a risk-reward decision right off the bat: start cautiously with an iron or rescue from the tee (with a short chip shot to follow), or be bold with a driver (and risk the potential punishment from missing the green).

“We won an award from the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association for ‘excellence in golf course management’. It’s a good golf hole now, much better than the old 11th. It was a kind of blind lucky dip shot over the slope, down the left-hand side,” says Coyle.

In truth, all the holes on the course are special. Each with its own unique character and challenge.

clubs

Alister’s Aussie gem?

If the myths are true, Flinders Golf Club may very well be the first-ever Alister MacKenzie-designed course in the world.

MacKenzie’s inaugural design at the No. 1 Course at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen, Scotland circa 1905.

Flinders – which was re-modeled by Dr MacKenzie in 1926 according to documentary evidence – was founded in 1903. Several members suspect that MacKenzie visited the Mornington Peninsula course in 1902 and laid out plans for the design.

“There’s also some shipping records and some more verbal evidence that a taxi driver, Tom Delaney, picked up a MacKenzie in 1902. There’s more evidence now than there was some time ago.”

Evidence of any 1902 visit from the famous Scottish golf course designer remains purely hearsay, but the debate has gathered momentum in recent times.

“The official MacKenzie chronology has a large gap in 1902 so it’s possible that he was in Australia or in Victoria,” says Flinders Golf Club manager Tim Reynolds.

But the real test at Flinders is on and around the splendid greens – which are always in fantastic condition. Ultra slick, deceptive, undulating and creatively contoured, these greens roll extremely true, yet the breaks and pace can be almost impossible to read correctly. Thus, your approach shots have added importance at Flinders. Whenever possible, aim for the low side of the greens to ensure you have an uphill putt.

Overall, Flinders is a fantastic, fun and challenging course. And the members and staff are all top-notch, friendly and

welcoming. Perfect for social groups or a casual day of golf, Flinders is a great venue that doesn’t disappoint.

According to The Dr Alister MacKenzie Chronology (17th revision in 2013), it is thought MacKenzie walked the existing four holes at Flinders in 1902 with the Club’s founder – David Maxwell – and member Alexander Lucas.

COURSE NOTES Flinders Golf Club Bass Street, Flinders, VIC 3929 Pro Shop (03) 5989 0312 www.flindersgolfclub.com.au Driving time from Melbourne: Approx 1.5 hours

If the trip to Flinders in 1902 could be proven, it would pre-date what is believed to be

The Flinders Golf Club “Flinders is one of those unique coastal courses…….not quite links…..neither is it woodland or marsh, that perches high on the cliff top, making it a distant cousin of Pebble Beach and a relative of Murfield....

The Flinders golf course is friendly yet full of surprises and intrigue. Bring all your clubs because you are going to need them and a good understanding of what Golf is all about.”

Peter Thomson OBE

It is believed MacKenzie was related to Maxwell and that formed the basis for his visit in 1926 – the year he was commissioned to design Royal Melbourne’s West Course. That same year, MacKenzie proposed a redesign of various holes at Flinders itself, leading to, among other things, the eventual change of the course’s current 4th hole—The Coffin.

Flinders GC formed a Heritage Committee to investigate the possibility of the rumoured 1902 visit from MacKenzie – who is responsible for several of the world’s great courses including Augusta National Golf Club and Cypress Point Club in California.

Reynolds says Flinders life member Eric Lucas – who recently passed away and is the grandson of Alexander Lucas – could recall conversations with his grandfather about MacKenzie making an appearance at Flinders in 1902.

“Eric certainly heard from his grandfather that MacKenzie visited in 1902. If it was ever proven that we were the first course that he had laid out, it would have very significant connotations but whether that’s the case, it’s very much open for debate and further research.”

Green fees: Weekend $49 Midweek $35 Exceptional Corporate Golf and Social Group packages are now available.

Book online and receive a further $5 discount www.flindersgolfclub.com.au Proshop: (03) 5989 0583 www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

35

senior tour

Legends discuss the modern game Inside Golf discusses the ups and downs of modern golf with three of golf’s legends: Fuzzy Zoeller, Hale Irwin and Nick Price

What do you make of the money in the game today compared to your prime?

a share. Apparently if you’re a top-ten finisher then you’re a great player. But a top ten does not make you a great player. Wins make you great. Money might make you a good player.

Today’s game it will make you a lot of money.

How will it affect the years to come?

Fuzzy Zoeller: Is there an end to it? I don’t know. We keep saying yes and they keep increasing it. Isn’t that amazing? When I won at the Masters I won about $50,000. What are they making now, about $1.6 million? Wow, that’s beautiful, and for the same amount of time. I don’t know. I really can’t say anything. I’m not jealous. I’ve had a great life, if I had to do it over again I’d do the same thing. I’d play golf.

But guys who come out here have huge Tiger-era money earnings, but they maybe haven’t won anything. So the dilemma we face is how are we going to equalize those that have played and won tournaments versus those that would traditionally use money as a barometer as who’s exempt and who’s not. They’re going to grab a stack of money, but does that make him better than the guys who have won the tournaments?

By Garrett Johnston @johnstongarrett

I would try to be the best at what we do.

Hale Irwin: Just looking at the AT&T Pebble Beach event, when I won in 1981 I won $72,000 for first prize. Last year’s winner won $1.14 million. I’m not belittling those guys the money because that’s the nature of the beast, but money seems to be the barometer now by which people are defined as great or not. Not what have you won, was it a quality win, or was it money. Now everybody behind that player, his entourage, caddie, nanny get

36

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

One of the things that I’m afraid of is that players won’t want to play anymore. Are they financially content or are they saying that they’re tired of sitting on their rocking chair and want to compete again? If you’re a quality player you will want to compete.

Nick Price: I think it’s gone global, that’s the big thing. I think a lot of the sponsors today, especially the World Golf Championships, they look at it from a global perspective. If you’ve got Mastercard or American Express,

or you’ve got Toyota or Lexus, these are global companies that appeal to however many million people in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Africa, Australasia and the Pacific.

So that’s what’s happened with the game and that’s why I think there’s so much money in it now.

I think the advent of satellite TV changed our world and made Hale Irwin (Photo: USGA)

Fuzzy Zoeller (Photo: USGA)

senior tour it so much smaller. And with the internet it’s even smaller still. And I think it’s been great for the game, definitely.

People will always say that ‘There’s too much money that the guys don’t really need to win.’ But I say the guys who want to win are going to. It doesn’t matter whether they’re making 800,000 or 8 million. The players that want to win will do it, trust me.

That’s something that has to come from a person’s heart. It’s nothing that you can teach anyone. It’s not something you can advise. It’s from the heart.

What do you make of golf played for leisure?

Fuzzy Zoeller: I think what’s hurt the game is it takes too damn long. Everybody’s got an ego, everybody needs to play the back tees. Give me a break! Find a tee and move up. Leave your ego in the carpark with your dirty old shoes and go out there and enjoy the game. But everybody wants to go from the back tees. Places where they shouldn’t be. And some of these courses are just too damn hard for them. Pick a course that you can play and enjoy. Again, they want to play it one time. And that’s all they get, a onetime fling. They say I can’t play that. It’s too hard.

Hale Irwin: I think some of the lack of play is the nature of the beast with the economy. I think golf was riding the great wave, then it got expensive. They are constantly charging $100,000 for people to join clubs. We didn’t encourage younger players to join. We didn’t price it accessibly enough. I think we haven’t done a good job in marketing. Organizations like the first tee are turning kids into better citizens through golf and that’s what I’ve always tried to do.

Get the kids on the golf course, get them somewhere golfing and they’ll learn who and what they are. And they’ll integrate better with society. They’ll be more responsible and they’ll be more accountable. What they’ve done, it’s not what the team has done but them. And they’ll be proud of that.

I think we’re all on a learning curve. I think golf, while it’s still popular, is not as popular with the masses as it once was. I think we’ll get through it but we’re not going to quite Nick Price (Photo: USGA)

• • • • • • •

have the numbers, maybe still the quality, but not the fringe numbers that we once did.

But we do have to look at different ways to get people out. Whether it’s nine holes or 12 holes. I’ve advocated for many years that we should have 12-hole golf courses instead of 18. It’s much quicker. The front six and the back six. Play a 3-hole swing this way and a 3-hole swing back so you can have 3 and 3 and 3 and 3. So you can play 3 holes if you want and you’re back at the clubhouse.

We have to do those kinds of things and it may well be that the future of golf may be to take clubs that are in some financial problems and go back in and redo it to make it friendlier to the people we need on the golf course. So our next generation will understand what golf can do for them as citizens not necessarily as golfers.

Nick Price: Sometimes I think we get away from a repeatable swing too much and we try and overcomplicate what is generally a pretty simple thing. You’re going to tell any of these kids who ask “How do I become better?” Well, drive it well, hit the green, and make your putts. If you don’t, make sure you can get it up and down.

I see people pacing and standing and doing all of these funny things which is fine, if that works, but it makes it harder to replicate if it’s too complicated. So the simpler you can keep it the easier it is to repeat.

What is your perspective on today’s equipment?

Nick Price: Metal woods have made the game a lot easier off the tee. I think the wooden driver was a huge thing to upgrade from. It was tough to drive in the older days Fuzzy Zoeller: They need to calm the golf ball down. It’s like a rocket now. It doesn’t move, it just goes. And these kids are just taking advantage of it. And when I say it goes, it goes.

There were more shots back in my day. More shot-making back then than you have now.

It’s all because of the equipment. You could maneuver the golf ball. Now with those clubs that we used to use if you didn’t hit her dead square it didn’t go anywhere. It looked like a one-legged duck out there with a broken wing trying to fly into a 40-mile-per-hour gale.

It is what it is. It’s time, it’s technology. Kids have got more talent now. They’re being taught better at younger ages. There’s a lot of positives.

But I think if they slowed the golf ball down, which they’ve done before, they can do it again. That would help.

Hale Irwin: I think in today’s game in particular the guys hit the ball so far that it’s almost trickery now. The equipment has gotten by everyone now. Those that are running the game right now, the manufacturers and Tours, have let the equipment start dictating what is happening in our game rather than learning to play shots. Now you just learn to hit the ball as hard as you can. That doesn’t promote talent, it promotes distance. Americans, we are all about big things, everything has to be big, it has to be a long drive, it can’t be a quality golf shot. People don’t understand that because you can’t take this golf ball and manoeuvre it the way you used to so it’s made to just be whacked and hit hard.

So those of us who’ve learned to play manipulatively have a harder time than those who are just kind of bangers. I wish we could just ratchet back the equipment, still let the manufactures do their thing but take the golf ball and put a little more curve in it so you can actually play shots again. That would change the complexity of how a US Open for instance would be set up. Instead of just being brutally long with 240, 250, 260-yard par 3’s you could maybe take a 140-yard par 3 and make a classy shot out of it. •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

37

amateurs

ACGC

Have some fun with ACGC this summer There is plenty of fun to be had on the greens this summer with ACGC, with 26 events to be held through January to March 2015 you and your playing partner could still snag one of the prized trips to the Championship Final at stunning RACV Royal Pines Resort this May. There have been many highlights in the series so far from record fields at Half Moon Bay and Logan City hosted by the RACQ in Queensland, to fierce competition and simply great golf at Hillview Golf Club for the RAC in Western Australia who have now completed their series, along with RACT in Tasmania and AANT in Northern Territory.

Double aces for RAA For the first time in ACGC history there have been two Suzuki aces, each scoring a hole in one at their ACGC qualifying events. Incredibly both feats were recorded in South Australia at events presented by the RAA. The first recipient was Tom Hicks from Thaxted Park Golf Club (reported in last month’s Inside Golf.) The most recent addition to the Suzuki ACE hall of fame is Harry Bryce from McLaren Vale Golf Club. Harry hit a hole-in-one on the nominated Suzuki Hole. Playing off a handicap of 13, Harry is no stranger to an ace; it was his fourth hole-in-one and the second he’s made at McLaren Vale Golf Club. Harry is a premium RAA member and was overjoyed at the thought of going to Queensland to be a part of the first annual ACGC Suzuki Lucky Key Draw.

Both ACGC and the team from Suzuki Australia are thrilled to have two aces so early in the competition and look forward to welcoming them both to the Championship Final at Queensland’s home of Championship Golf, RACV Royal Pines Resort, where one of the pair will leave with the keys to a brand new Suzuki S-cross.

You still have some fantastic opportunities to play in the ACGC this summer with qualifying events being hosted by NRMA, RACV, RACQ & RAA. Many of the participating ACGC golf clubs make the most of the warmer weather at this time of year. Members at Magenta Shores are gearing up for their annual Australia Day ACGC this month where players come with the green and gold flying to vie for the honor of representing their club at the Championship Final.

UPCOMING ACGC EVENTS

ACGC participants having a ball at North Adelaide Golf Club

The team from ACGC has been travelling the country far and wide to bring Auto Club Golf Championship qualifying events to golfers across Australia during the 2014/15 series.

“The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to throw the clubs in the boot and hit the road to play in one of the many regional events being held around the country, in fact with player numbers in the city venues at a record high in this series, pairs have better odds of taking out the honors at

one of the smaller country venues,” said Assistant tournament Director Hayley Hunt.

So make sure your Auto Club membership is up to date, grab a playing partner and have yourself a golfing road trip with the ACGC this summer.

To find event dates, locations and to register your pair visit: www.acgc.com.au •

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people

‘Cougar’ Dot says life’s for living Read Inside Golf to take a golf cart at any of our games, preferring to walk the course.

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

“

I

“We have recently nicknamed her the ‘Cougar’ given her liking for chatting up some recent new younger male arrivals to our club.”

t’s not golf that makes you old – it’s giving up golf that makes you old.”

“Anyone older wouldn’t be able to keep up with me,” she joked.

“I get on well with younger men because I’m outgoing and cheeky.

INSPIRATIONAL: Perth golfer Dorothy Crackel, 86, can’t get enough of life.

“A week later I had 40 points at Mt Lawley Golf Club, then 37 and 38 points in the last few weeks,” she said. “Mind you, I have had some pretty rotten games as well.”

I have to make up with my chipping and putting,” said Dot, who has scored two holesin-one.

Dot, who plays off a 30 handicap, also represents her club in metropolitan pennant.

“I got my first (ace) at Mt Lawley in 1987 and about five years ago my second at Hamersley.

“I play in a league of also rans, who can’t get into the top league,” she said.

“I was playing matchplay against the captain. I had honour, aced the hole and turned to the captain, hands on hips, and said ‘beat that’,” she laughed.

In 2012, Dot was West Perth Golf Club’s player of the year courtesy of winning more matches than anyone else at the club.

Accuracy and a good short game keeps Dot in the swing.

“I can’t hit the ball as far as I used to so

“I enjoy matchplay because you concentrate more, but the best thing about golf is the camaraderie and the challenge.

“I have made wonderful friends through the years.”

West Perth club captain Paul White said Dot was an inspirational person.

“Dot is quite a remarkable woman,” he said.

“She is as sharp as a tack, very fit and refuses

“I recently met a very nice gentleman who is much younger than me. He is quite taken with me, but we are just good friends.

“I also enjoy having a few drinks and a couple of bets,” said Dot, a qualified dressmaker who tailors her own golf outfits and always turns out immaculately dressed.

“I have made my own clothes since I was nine years old and other people’s clothes for 70 years,” she said.

Ever the optimist, Dot recently splashed out on a new lithium battery for her buggy which she hopes will last at least four or five years.

“I thought if it lasts four years it would be good and then I realised I will be 90 in four years,” she said.

“When I was 85 I thought ‘well, I’m just over 80’. Now I’m 86 and I’m thinking about being 90.

“But I’m still not going to change my way of thinking about life and the way I live it. Life is for living.”

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“After my husband Ron died, I thought about meeting a nice young man of about 70. I was 80 at the time.

Dot, a member of Mt Lawley Golf Club and West Perth Golf Club (a mixed social club), plays golf up to four times a week and enjoys socialising with her golfing friends.

“I also won my section of the club championships at Mt Lawley.”

Aus trA liA ’s

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“Yes, it’s true,” she laughed. “They have given me the name Cougar.

The octogenarian has as much energy as the Energizer Bunny and does not intend to slow down any time soon.

“I also play senior pennant and was part of the winning team last year. I win more pennant games than I lose.

Insid

I ask Dot about her new moniker.

So says Perth’s Dorothy Crackel, who is 86 years young and living life to the max.

Recently Dot attracted plenty of attention when she romped home with 45 points in a West Perth Golf Club competition.

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Roberts clan flying the flag

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“As a parent, I found the golf club was such a wonderful place for the four of us to go and play as a family.

HEN it comes to pennant golf, the Roberts family from Keperra Country Golf Club in Brisbane is

unique.

“We connected – especially through the teenage years when things can be a bit tense.”

Peter Roberts, wife Kym and their sons David and Alexander have represented the club at pennant.

“My father lived at Sanctuary Cove and was a member of the club so the boys would go down there on school holidays and play golf.”

They are arguably the only golfing family to represent a metropolitan golf club at pennant.

Through the years, there were plenty of family golf challenges.

Peter first played pennant for Keperra more than 30 years ago and continues to play masters pennant while David played junior pennant and Alexander was in the club’s pennant squad in 2013.

“Kym and I would take on the boys and most of the time we would win because the boys ended up fighting,” he laughed.

The final piece in the jigsaw was when Kym started playing pennant for the club.

With David and Alexander interstate, it’s been left to Peter and Kym to fly the pennant flag.

“I’m sure we are the first husband and wife to play pennant at Keperra,” said Peter,” the club’s former president (2005-’08).

The happy couple often play golf together with never a hint of an argument over a missed putt or poor drive.

“David and Alexander now live in Melbourne, but Kym and I played for the club last year.”

Kym, who only took up golf five years ago, plays off 18 and this year won five of her six matches while seven-marker Peter won three, halved one and lost two masters pennant matches.

“Matchplay is my forte,” Peter said. “You can blow out a few holes and it doesn’t matter.”

Kym, too, enjoys the competitive nature of matchplay.

“I like competing directly against somebody else,” she said. “I am competitive by nature because I have played sport all my life.”

Peter, who joined the club in 1979, has won a number of honourboard events while Kym

RARE FEAT: Peter and Kym Roberts are claiming a pennant first. is still searching for her first title.

And when it comes to holes-in-one, Peter, due to longevity in the game, has bragging rights.

“I’ve had four or five,” he said.

Mind you, Kym recently joined the exclusive club when she achieved her first ace.

“Recently we were on holiday in Europe and we were staying in Sicily,” Peter explained.

“We played golf at Il Picchiolo Golf Club in the foothills of Mt Etna and got to the third hole where Kym had her first hole-in-one.

“Kym’s ace came from a perfect shot – two

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bounces and in the hole. There was no luck involved in it.”

According to Kym, the excitement only lasted two weeks.

“Two weeks later Peter had another holein-one on the sixth hole at Keperra,” she said.

“I was still dining out on my hole-in-one and suddenly my moment of glory disappeared.

“Good on you, Pete,” she said in jest.

“We never argue, but we do ride in separate carts,” Peter said.

“We won the Mixed Foursomes Championship (nett) in Kym’s first year at golf.”

Kym said she enjoyed playing alongside her husband.

“A lot of women don’t like playing with their husbands, but I enjoy it because Peter is the most supportive and encouraging person on the golf course,” she said.

It’s a worn out phrase, but “families that play together stay together” has worked for the Roberts family.

“He is a great teacher as well. He has the ability to see what you are doing wrong and give one or two important tips. Whether you choose to listen or not is up to you.

“When the boys were living at home we played golf together,” Kym said.

“He’s very good and a lot of girls at the club say the same thing about him.” •

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What’s the Rule?

Playing from hazards Frank Gal

Chairman of Rules Committee Golf NSW

A

hazard as defined in the Rules as any bunker or water hazard.

When your ball lies in a hazard, you may play the ball from the hazard rather than take relief under the Rules.

If you choose to play from a hazard you should be aware of the provisions of Rule 134, which outlines what can and can’t be done when the ball lies in a hazard.

You must not: (a) test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard, (The rules makers clarified this issue in Decision 13-4/0.5 which advises that the term covers all actions by which a player could gain more information about the hazard than could be gained from taking the stance for the stroke to be made, bearing in mind that a certain amount of digging in with the feet in the sand or soil is permitted when taking the stance for a stroke.) (b) touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with your hand or a club, or (c) touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

However, the Rules are not so strict as to penalise you if you fall and accidentally touch the ground in the hazard. There are several further exceptions to Rule 13-4. You would not be penalised for touching the ground in a hazard or water in a water hazard if this occurred: • i n removing an obstruction, • in measuring, or • i n marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule.

There is also no penalty if you place your clubs in a hazard.

Another exception allows you to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time provided this is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done to improve any of the following with respect to your next stroke: • the position or lie of your ball, • the area of your intended stance or swing, • the line of play, or • t he area in which you are to drop or place a ball.

The exception goes on to say that if the ball is outside the hazard after the stroke, you may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction. This means that if, say, a ball is played from a bunker and it comes to rest out of bounds, you may smooth footprints or take a few practice swings in

the bunker, even at the place where you must drop a ball under stroke and distance.

A further exception introduced in 2012 provides that, if you play from a hazard and your ball comes to rest in another hazard, you are free to test the condition of the hazard from which your stroke was made.

Finally, the note on page 66 of the Rule Book clarifies that at any time you may touch with a club or otherwise (even with your hands):

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This last item confirms that it is not necessary to avoid touching long grass in a water hazard with your club before making a stroke.

However, your club must not be rested on the grass. In other words, the grass must not be allowed to support the weight of the club.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

47

new gear

WE TRIED IT!>

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Cobra FLY-Z Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

W

hile the traditional definition of the word “Fly” usually relates to “moving or being hurled quickly through the air”, if you ask today’s teenagers to define it you’d likely get a response similar to “Way cool” or “ultra-stylish”. They may even bust out with an example like, “Mate, that videogame is so FLY!” The team at Cobra Puma—long known for their ultra-cool and stylish gear and attitude—has successfully combined both definitions in their sleek, new line of golf clubs, The FLY-Z. Inside Golf took Cobra’s new FLY-Z drivers out to the range last month, and put them to the test.

First off was The FLY-Z, which features an oversized, forgiving shape and a high MOI (for stability on off-centre hits). Stylish and sleek, this driver had a great feel at address, and a very satisfying “Click” at contact. True to the marketing claims, off-centre hits still managed to find their way down the middle, and when hit “on the screws” produced some monster drives. Highly recommended!

The GolfDays.com.au system is a web-based golf day management system that takes the hassle, effort and mistakes out of planning and managing golf days, while also adding fun and memories for players.

An extremely exciting club that must be seen (and hit) to be believed.

The FLY-Z & FLY-Z+ line of clubs are available in five colors (Orange, Blue, Red, Black and White) and features an adjustable hosel with eight loft settings.

Last up was the FLY-Z XL, a non-adjustable, offset, draw-biased driver. This club ticks all the boxes for higher handicappers, seniors, ladies, beginners or those of us looking for maximum forgiveness off the tee. The offset head helps eliminate slices, and produces a high, drawing trajectory. Very easy to hit, and a lot of fun to play with.

So do these drivers make the grade? All we can say is: “Wow, these clubs are SOOO FLY!”

Next, we teed up the FLY-Z+, which features a 15-gram weight chip in the sole that can be positioned differently to create different shot types. By putting the weight chip toward the front/face of the sole, the club’s centre of gravity shifts, helping you produce a low-spin, flatter trajectory that bores through the sky and rolls forever. By “Flipping” the chip toward the back, however, the drives fly higher with more carry and slightly more spin.

This club definitely has the “wow” factor, and will surely send ripples through the industry for its innovation. Cobra’s “Flip it and Rip it” mantra is true to the mark, as we could really see a significant difference in ball flights—we were amazed at how a tiny 15-gram weight chip can make such a huge difference.

Fly-Z XL

Fly-Z

At a few recent Corporate golf days, we’ve noticed an exciting product that is changing the way golf days are managed.

Fly-Z+

For the event manager, the system does just about EVERYTHING. Prior to the day, it helps manage personalised invitations, RSVPs, communication with players, etc. On the day, it does the hard yards like generating player lists and reports, event day registration, printing of name tags, bag tags, group cards, scorecard stickers and more. After the event, it even helps you automate post-game emails/results. It’s a real workhorse.

The players/guests don’t see any of this behind-the-scenes action (nor should they, as they are there to have fun!).

What they DO see, however, is the ON THE COURSE action, courtesy of the snazzy mobile scoring/online leaderboard.

Ideal for Corporate, Fundraising, Member Association and School golf days, the system works on all mobile operating systems, and since it is web-based, there is no app to download. Each hole, a player enters their score, and their place on the leaderboard is automatically updated in real time. Players can also view hole playing tips, sponsor logos, etc, as they play each hole. To add suspense, the leaderboard is automatically disabled after 14 holes.

Developed by GOLFSelect—a leader in the golf event management field for over 15 years—the system is guaranteed to make your golf day organisation easy. Highly recommended.

NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST HARMFUL UV RAYS WHEN YOU PLAY GOLF? But hate sticky sunscreen or hot long sleeves?

TRY ICERAYS ARMSLEEVES They are cool to wear while being fully UV protective to 50+ and comfortable with no seams or tight bands.

They are the only sleeves tested by the government body ARPANSA to be 50+

Just $29.95 including P&P

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS More and more of the pro’s on the tours are wearing them now and Anne Rollo from Anne Rollo Golf schools has been wearing them for over 2 years and loves them... ”I recommend them to all my students, I don’t have to wear sunscreen on my arms anymore and they are surprisingly cool on the skin, I love them”

Go to www.icerays.com.au to order and have yours to wear in a few days. Or call Linz on 0434 246 549 or email enquiries@icerays.com.au to order yours now.

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

>NEWGEAR We highlight the latest products to hit the market Big Bertha Alpha 815 Fairway Woods

Perfect Socks Perfect Socks was started in 2011 by Sherrill Sibun, a life-long golfer who represented New Zealand in 1959.

Frustrated at not being able to buy woollen golf socks that would withstand 18 holes and keep her feet comfortable, she decided to make her own.

Designed with a compact head shape that better players will prefer, the Big Bertha Alpha 815 Fairway Woods adjust for the ball flight you want to play, from a low spin club off the tee to a high launch club with more forgiveness. A forged Hyper Speed Face Cup creates ball speed at every impact location on the face, especially on low misses.

Golfers can move the adjustable weights (3g and 30g) to achieve the ball flight they want—lower spin when the weight is in the forward position, and more forgiveness with a higher launch when the weight is back. Callaway’s OptiFit Adjustability offers eight-way adjustability of the loft and lie angle.

Stock Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 665 Lofts available: 14, 16 and 18 (RH only)

RRP $379.99 AUD

Big Bertha Alpha 815 Hybrids Engineered to deliver a more penetrating trajectory, enhanced ball speed and adjustability in a complete distance hybrid for better players, Callaway’s new Big Bertha Alpha 815 Hybrid has been designed with a compact head shape that has limited offset. The compact shape and rounded half pear toe profile provide a look that many better players prefer. To control the trajectory and provide a more penetrating ball flight with less spin, Callaway engineers used an Internal Standing Wave and sole weighting that move the center of gravity (CG) low and forward.

A forged Hyper Speed Face Cup delivers high speed at every impact location for greater overall distance. The Big Bertha Alpha 815 Hybrids also feature Callaway’s OptiFit Adjustability, which offers an eight-way adjustability for loft and lie angle.

Shaft Options: Fujikura Speeder 865 Lofts: 2H (18 degrees), 3H (20 degrees), and 4H (23 degrees) in RH and LH. (Loft can be adjusted down 1 degree and up 2 degrees)

RRP $339.99 AUD

Pro Tee E•L•K Golf brings you the Pro Tee. This brand-new product uses the latest in advanced tee design to help put you in the number one position from the tee.

Providing the ultimate launch set-up with a wide head to support the ball in all conditions.

RRP Easily inserted into hard $4.95 for a ground, the Pro Tee uses pack of 3 hi-tech polymer to protect your clubface upon impact. www.elkgolf.com

First they had to find the perfect yarn to use. It is a mixture of 70% Merino wool and 30% Cashmere. This provides all the benefits of a natural fibre that wicks away the moisture from the foot. The cashmere means the sock is super soft and most importantly, comfortable to wear.

The design of the socks includes the latest fine toe seam, arch support, cushioned sole and reinforced heel and toe. www.perfectsocks.co.nz

E.L.K GT Lithium Golf Buggy The E.L.K GT Lithium weighs in at a feather-weight 9.5kgs, using a ‘Power-On’ lithium battery pack weighing 2.25kgs, with a ‘Super-fast’ charge which uses less energy. The frame is made from aircraft-grade aluminium and easily folds to fit in the boot of small and compact cars. Simple to operate with three distance control settings, the buggy comes complete with lithium battery and charger, seat, umbrella holder and sand bucket holder, all at no additional cost. www.elkgolf.com

FREE E.L.K golf bag for a limited time, with every buggy purchased

new gear

A ‘super’ product for Steve The golf ball of powerful Australian professional Steve Jones wasn’t hard to spot during the current Aussie summer of golf, with the 30-year-old putting a That’s My Ball golf ball ID stamp in play.

At the BetEasy Australian Masters in Melbourne, Jones was unveiled as an ambassador for That’s My Ball — a sixyear-old company that gives golfers the chance to leave a unique permanent marking on their golf ball to avoid the dreaded two-shot penalty for playing the wrong ball.

The Victorian, like countless club golfers around the country, learned the hard way that playing the wrong ball can spoil your scorecard and even cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars if you’re a professional competing for glory on tour.

“It happened to me when I was an amateur on one of those courses where the holes go up and back,” Jones admitted. “My ball was in the same tree-line as my playing partner and I just hit it without thinking about it because it wasn’t marked.”

The Gold Coast-based professional has also seen it happen on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“It happened to a guy I played with at the Queensland PGA a couple of years ago,” Jones remembered. “He hit his drive a bit past mine and because I was hitting it a bit further than him all day, he hit the first ball and it ended up being my ball. We both had similar markings and it was a bit confusing and he got a two-shot penalty.”

As an ambassador for That’s My Ball, Jones is almost certain to avoid a repeat of his misfortune.

Jones has chosen to stamp a Superman logo on his ball — a move that he hopes will inspire him to his first win as a professional.

“I’m trying to get a bit of confidence up and I thought, ‘what better way than to get a Superman logo on my ball?’ Most people use a similar ball so nobody wants to get theirs mixed up and we usually hit the ball in similar spots too. It’s important to know which one is yours and especially if you play courses with rough, you’ve got to be able to identify it easily. The products give you something unique to be able to do that.”

That’s My Ball offers golfers a range of products including more than 100 golf ball ID stamps, custom ID stamps, stencils, ink vials and ink pads for marking your ball.

More information: www.thatsmyball.com.au

Follow us ONLINE at the PGA Show!

Inside Golf is heading to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida! We’ll be testing out the latest and greatest golf clubs, investigating the hottest gear, gadgets and inventions to hit the market, and chatting with the industry’s most interesting people from the top manufacturers.

We’ll be sharing all of our adventures online via Twitter, Facebook and our website. So join us at www.insidegolf.com.au between January 20-23 and catch the buzz from the US!

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

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instruction

Tackling ‘trouble shots’: The low punch Randall Hollands Smith randall@rhgolfrange.com.au

W

hen playing golf with our clients we often see a part of the game that almost all of our playing partners could improve in order to reduce their overall golf scores. The area to which we are referring is the way in which you recover after hitting a poor or indifferent golf shot.

This area of playing and learning golf is called trouble shots.

There are many forms of recovery or trouble shots but the one that we would like to cover is the technique on how to play a low punch shot. You need to learn this technique to play this type of golf shot for a few different reasons. These could be if you need to play a lower shot into the wind to control the ball’s flight, or to play a recovery shot from out under a tree back onto the fairway.

The technique for playing this type of shot is quite straightforward and with a little practice at the driving range, it will not be long until you playing shots like the pros.

Address position In this picture you can see that in order to play a shot out from under the tree, Rachel needs to make a few changes to her address position in order to produce a lower flight. Firstly she must select a club with 1-2 clubs less loft. Next is to position the golf ball 2-4 inches further back in her stance. Rachel will also try and feel as if she places more weight on the left side of her stance. This assists her in creating a slightly steeper angle of attack therefore producing a lower ball flight. By placing the ball further back in her stance and having more weight on the left side at address also helps Rachel to position her hands in front of the ball, once again de-lofting the golf club.

Backswing In this picture you can see that at the top of Rachel’s backswing she has done a few things differently than she would have if she were trying to hit a normal golf shot.

She has not transferred her weight into her right side as she would normally do but tried to keep as much weight on her left side to help create a steeper angle of attack and therefore a lower ball flight.

Also, she is shortening her swing to about ¾ length. Because Rachel has a less lofted golf club her distance will not be affected for using a shorter golf swing.

Follow-through In this picture you can see that Rachel’s follow-through is considerably different to that of a normal full swing. Things to note here are the way in which Rachel has kept her body weight forward of centre from the beginning of the shot right through to the end. Note also the way that she has tried to keep the golf club pointing down to the ground into her follow-through rather than allowing it to swing up over her shoulder. This abbreviated finish position allows her to produce a much lower ball flight therefore keeping the ball under the tree branches.

Randall is an Instructor at the Rachel Hetherington Golf Range, 425 Piggabeen Road, Cobaki Lakes, 2486, and is available for lessons specialising in video analysis and launch monitor.

Please contact Randall on 04 0838 1924, or the Golf Range on 07 5590 7686 or email randall@rhgolfrange.com.au for further information. www.rhgolfrange.com.au

As I said before, the technique for this shot is not all that difficult to learn, although to play the shot with some degree of confidence you will need to practice this at the driving range first.

Demo the new Ping G30 range in your area, and get a perfect custom fit with your size and your colour.

Get fit today Turn to page 79 for a complete list of fitting days this month

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

instruction

Improving your golf just by finding the right coach Brent Dale brent@brentdalegolf.com.au

A

fter attending my fourth PGA coaching summit back in September and watching all the speakers share their knowledge, I realised that the stockstandard golf teacher who just stands on the lesson tee telling you to fix a problem is slowly getting phased out.

A lot of good golf coaches these days have holistic approaches to coaching and don’t just look at the swing fault as being a problem.

Perhaps your current teacher is trying to fix a swing fault that is virtually impossible to fix due to a body ailment.

If you really want to improve your golf you have to come to the realization that just having one 30-minute lesson isn’t going to get the job done.

The first step is making a list of available coaches in your area or an area you are willing to travel to and then pick up the phone and give them a call and ask some questions about their coaching and what they have to offer.

When picking a coach, he or she should be able to provide or have access to a support network around them to help you reach your goals.

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

“I went in for a routine skin check and the following day I got the call to return to Brisbane immediately for the removal of the melanoma,” Meyer said.

“A few days later I was back in for reconstructive surgery including 60 stitches and two skin grafts.”

The coach should also have the ability to conduct these lesson types: •D riving Range • S hort Game •P utting •O n Course

When I was sitting and listening to the seminars I realised this is something I have been doing for a long while now and it made me feel great about my coaching.

I believe in learning a new movement, practicing on the range and then testing on the course under pressure (after practice)

HERE’S a scary thought – one in two Queenslanders will develop cancer in their lifetime.

That’s a statistic close to Golf Queensland’s head coach Tony Meyer, who recently had a scare with confirmation he had a stage one melanoma.

This should include: •G olf-Specific Physio •M ental Coach •P ersonal Trainer •P ractice plans • Video Analysis •G roup training sessions to help monitor progress • L esson packages

Try and find a coach that conducts weekly tune-up sessions or group sessions, they might cost you $20 or so for an hour group session.

But it’s a great way to check in with the coach on how your swing change is progressing.

Coach’s cancer scare

The scenario could have been worse when work commitments meant Meyer had to reschedule his original skin check appointment.

Remembering that purposeful practice makes perfect! Don’t just turn up and hit a few balls or have a few putts. Turn up to the course with a plan and know exactly what you need to be doing to achieve your goals There are a large number of PGA members who would be able to fulfil your needs .

I hope that these tips will help shave a few shots off your game!

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

“I missed the booking while away on business and then the clinic was fully booked for three months,” he said.

“Luckily they had a cancellation and I got checked when I did. It could have progressed to a stage two in the time I was waiting.

“I’ve always been really proactive in making sure the athletes wear sunscreen, bucket hats and re-apply sunscreen. The importance of reapplying is vital throughout the day particularly when you are out on the golf course.

“My best advice to everyone, not just golfers, is to get your skin checked regularly. If I didn’t get it early the prognosis could have been dire.”

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Scan to watch the MGIâ&#x201E;˘ Quad Series in action

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THE POWER OF 4

instruction

VIDEO LESSON >

Lesson # 8:

Direction of hit, part 2 – ‘a to b’ 3) From the top of the backswing, uncock the wrists so that the clubshaft moves fully into line with the left arm as the hands, arms, and clubhead move down towards the golf ball. As the clubshaft moves fully into line with the left arm and the arms hit up against the body, the left wrist and clubface rotate towards the ball. This uncocking action and left wrist rotation create an uncocking and locking-in feel of clubshaft to the arms. The body remains fully turned away from the target in this part of the exercise.

Peter Croker www.keytofgolf.com

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ver the years, YouTube has added much to the confusion that golfers face when deciding what is needed to be done to deliver a consistent solid hit of the golf ball so that it can fly directly to its intended target.

This month’s lesson is designed to clear away much of the thinking and places your attention on “Enjoying the Hit!”

4) Without a club, freeze the body at the top of the backswing position and do not allow your body to move at all through this part. Hands open and palms facing each other, uncock your hands directly down at the ball: slowly to start with, building up to faster and faster – where you feel the blood rushing to your finger tips – uncock your hands “under” from the top and allow them to uncock “over” at the bottom (hands fully uncock with thumbs pointing at the ball) Drill this in until it becomes natural and the thumbs point easily and automatically at the ball.

Golf is a “Two Target Game!” When we want to be in control of the golf ball’s intended target, we need to control the clubhead’s downswing path to the ball.

“A” is the top of the backswing, “B” is the ball, and “T” is the ball’s target. So we fire the clubhead “A to B” to see the ball go from “B to T.” This lesson brings focus to what needs to happen most when playing the game of golf.

That lesson is to “ENJOY THE HIT!” with the simple intention of “throwing the clubhead directly down and out through the ball – “A to B.” There are six parts to this exercise:

5) As in 4) above with your body frozen in position, but after impact, allow the momentum of your hands to release your body up to a fully balanced finish. Drill this in up to a full power swing where consistent balance is easy to achieve. Note how the release at the bottom with the hands triggers the body release to an easy balanced “over the front foot” finish.

1) Holding the club at the top of the backswing position, uncock the wrists so that the clubshaft will move into line with the left arm – the clubhead and clubshaft move under the right forearm from the start of the downswing.

2) Holding the club at the top of the backswing – uncock so that the clubhead and clubshaft move out and over the right forearm – the clubshaft will move out of line with the left arm when the downswing is started in this way.

6) Take some full practice swings with a club, retaining the feeling you developed in 5) and then hit some balls retaining that same “feeling” as well.

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Downswing Start Drill: http://vimeo.com/user14583831/ review/53815612/035afddc41 Downswing A to B Drill: http://vimeo.com/user14583831/ review/53806715/7e3a1185fc Educating hands and arms drill: http://vimeo.com/user14583831/ review/53806718/bb977a7424

• Listed in the Rolex top 1000 courses in the world 2011 • Consistently ranked in the top 20 courses in Australia (Australian Golf Digest) • No 4 Public Access course in Australia (Golf Australia Magazine 2013) • Range of membership packages available • Driving range open to public • Fully Licensed Club House DON’T DELAY - WHY NOT JOIN TODAY? For more information call (08) 9524 5991 or visit our website

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VIDEO DRILLS

Peter Croker has been a PGA Member since 1971. He has given lessons using the Key to Golf Program to many students from beginners to Major Championship winners including Arnold Palmer, Vijay Singh, Rocco Mediate, Fred Funk, Bob Charles, and Olin Brown. You can sign up for a Free Webinar on “How to make Golf Simple to Learn”, book an internet or individual lesson or test drive a Module from www.keytogolf.com. Phone: 0415 292 549 or email: crokergolfsystem@gmail to book a School or lesson.

KENNEDY BAY

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Your training emphasis for this exercise is exactness in execution - this is not a sloppy exercise. Drill in your hands and arms daily as in part 4 – 6 of the exercise doing at least 60 repetitions a day and pay exact attention to where the hands and arms are at any given point in the drill as described in the pictures and videos. When practicing at the golf range do steps 1 – 3, repeat 3 – 5 times and then hit the ball without thinking and gaining feedback.

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Email info@kennedybay.com.au • www.kennedybay.com.au • Tel 08 9524 5991 54

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

fitness

What’s your hydration plan?

Pre-loading by drinking a sufficient amount of fluids before activity, will help maintain hydration levels.

Richard Nizielski

A simple and practical pre-exercise hyperhydration protocol can be undertaken by:

richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

• Consuming 500 mL of water the evening before

W

e’re all aware of the benefits a fitness program can have when aiming to improve our golf game and our health.

• Consuming another 500 mL when waking up in the morning • 20 minutes before the round drink an additional 400-600 mL of water.

But as we come into summer, other areas of our health also require attention.

One area is maintaining adequate levels of hydration.

“

Being dehydrated, by even a small amount, will result in an immediate uphill battle to performance capabilities.

When already dehydrated it’s nearly impossible to rehydrate completely without stopping and allowing the body time to absorb the fluids.

Here are a few facts: • A loss of just 2% of the body’s optimal fluid levels is considered dehydration.

This can cause an increase in perceived effort and a significant reduction in physical performance • A fluid loss of 3 to 4% of body weight, increases core temperature, heart rate and perceived effort, while reducing, aerobic capacity as well as impairing reaction time and concentration Because even a small loss of fluids can be destructive to performance, it should be monitored and corrected immediately, especially in the summer months.

One way to know if hydration levels are adequate is by the colour of your urine.

Generally, the darker the colour, the lower the hydration level.

It’s recommended a drink containing electrolytes will help with the replenishment of lost minerals and fluids, in the right amount.

“

A colour which resembles that of straw, indicates an adequate level of hydration.

If you have lost weight then it’s more than likely you have lost fluids.

Although it should be noted, certain medications and nutritional supplements can also affect the colour.

Strenuous activity and working in a hot environment will further increase sweat rates and loss of body salts.

The amount of fluids required for each person and situation will vary, depending on genetics, body size, level of fitness, the environment and the exercise intensity.

As such, the amount of fluid replaced will need to be increased as well as the type of fluid.

Having a good hydration plan is vital for maintaining performance and health.

An easy way to assess if the fluid intake is adequate is to take a body mass measure before and immediately after a training session or playing a round of golf and then calculate the difference.

InsideGolf

As mentioned, starting out dehydrated diminishes the ability to perform at the highest level possible.

When already dehydrated it’s nearly impossible to rehydrate completely without stopping and allowing the body time to absorb the fluids.

There are many different commercially available electrolyte drinks that are suitable for hydration, trying a few of them will let you know which one suits you best.

Whether you’re training for fitness, competing or you just want to feel at your best, a good understanding of hydration requirements will help with getting the best out your body and game.

If you’re interested in getting more training and fitness tips, then take a look at the other articles and videos at golffitsolutions.com •

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

Howlong Country Golf Club

One of the finest courses on the Murray is also the BEST VALUE CLUB in the country.

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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Golf Club Drive, Howlong, NSW 2643 T: 02 6026 5321 E: enquiries@howlonggolf.com.au www.howlonggolf.com.au

mental game

How to be relaxed and comfortable over the ball to get to work on the situation. Start doing specific training in this area (yoga, meditation, tai chi, breathing control, etc).

You can’t expect to just go and out next game and be relaxed if you haven’t done anything about it. Knowledge is a good start, application of knowledge is where you will find the results you desire.

Mathew Howe

mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au

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Next, turn up to a practice session with a goal to not concern yourself with where the ball goes; instead, be focused on allowing everything to feel loose and fluid over each shot. Give yourself a score on this after each shot. Study and emulate players like Ernie Els or Fred Couples for their loose, fluid swings.

or so many golfers everything looks so good and comfortable in their preparation to a shot then just as they are about to swing it’s like someone hits the tension button. After a while of this happening, players can get a feeling of dread in their stomach as they are approaching the next shot. Here are some reasons why this happens and some simple steps you can take to get back on the right track.

What can you do in your next game?

(You don’t want to think of too much so pick one of the following to focus on.)

Why do golfers tense up over the ball?

One of the most common causes is that we are worried about stuffing up. Most people want to play better and have a sense that they can do better.

• Have a simple and decisive mindset to feel relaxed and comfortable over the ball. Make sure you clear your mind of everything before each shot and focus on one thing only.

Most people have heard of the ego part of our mind. Think of it as the little kid still inside of you that throws tantrums.

Normally we have at least 2 or 3 people watching us hit when we are in a game. For some people it’s really important that others see them as successful and competent. This can cause problems when over the ball with focus distraction and too much intensity.

• Let go of the desire to do well; have a chat with yourself before you go out to play and say, “it’s actually ok to stuff up today, I am going to let myself throw caution to the wind and really experiment with my game and mindset”.

• If you are worried about what others are thinking of you, remind yourself that everyone gets a bit this way at times.

Each time you feel a little self conscious just make sure you let those thoughts go and focus on what you need to do next.

Often I see people trying too hard and being confused about what it means to use their will power in the right direction. In a sport like running it’s a simpler job, you just push when things are getting hard. In golf, you have to be more selective of when to push and when to retreat.

I am guessing that a lot of you have heard of the term “paralysis by analysis”? If you work your mind into a frenzy of thoughts before hitting a shot you will no doubt throw out a tense swipe at the ball instead a rhythmic graceful movement. It’s common to feel this way just after a lesson.

I am not surprised to find a lot of us humans are becoming so wound up now in the world and its daily demands/ activities that we have actually forgotten how to relax and feel aware of our bodies. So imagine now a wound up person in life that goes for their weekend game of golf carrying all that stored tension from the week with them. It’s actually going to be a pretty tough task to feel good over the ball with all that gunk in your mind.

What does being relaxed and comfortable over a shot really mean?

It means that you are looking forward to the challenge of the shot. You have very little concern about the consequences

Players like “The Big Easy” Ernie Els stay comfortable and easy over the ball. You can too. of what happens if you stuff up. You know what you need to do and you see the task as something that’s relatively easy for you to complete.

Being relaxed and comfortable is different to being confident over the ball but for most golfers with anxiety/ tension problems over the ball they need to prove they can do this stage for a while before moving through to the confidence level.

What can you do in training away from the course?

You could practice a routine that allows you to build a pathway in your mind and muscles that creates automatic relaxation as you approach the ball and complete your swing.

If you rarely feel relaxed and comfortable in life then it’s time

• Come up with a preshot routine that you have written out and that has 5-10 steps. Practice it until you are really happy and comfortable with each step. Become a drill sergeant and drill that routine in!

• Perspective – When some people have had a real life shaking situation, they view golf in a new frame of mind. They feel very free over the ball and relate to golf as an experience that they are lucky to be a part of. Is there something that you could relate to that allows you to view golf in this new light? •

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. Mat is based in Wollongong on the South Coast of NSW and can be contacted on 0410 695 605 or email at mindyourgolf@ yahoo.com.au Visit: www.mathowemindgolf.weebly.com

MoSS Vale Golf club iS a Golfer’S paraDiSe

2 Day Golf School at MoSS Vale Golf club

Summer Golf Package

Receive expert tuition from club professional Robert Kennedy in all facets of the game, while staying on course at the beautiful Dormie House.

$225 per night for 2 people includes daily: 4 course dinner, breakfast, Accommodation, 18 holes*

Package Includes: • 3 Nights accommodation • 3 Dinners • Professional Tuition

*Offer based on 2 persons per room in a standard room. Minimum 2 night stay, mid-week only.

Valid 1st December to 28th February. Not valid 24th December 2014 to 3rd January 2015.

Dates: 11th-14th February 2015, 13th-16th May 2015, 9th-12th September 2015.

For bookings at these exclusive rates quote Inside Golf

Ph: (02) 4868 1800

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www.dormiehouse.com.au

• 3 Buffet Breakfasts • Morning tea & Lunch on two days

Cost: $599 p/p twin share, $699 single Bookings through Dormie House phone: (02) 4868 1800

*Group sizes are limited to 8 people

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

57

driving range

of the month

Driving Range of the Month>

Golf Central C

elebrating its first birthday, Golf Central at Brisbane Airport has quickly become the perfect place to practice for golfers of all skill levels.

A world-class facility, Golf Central is the jewel in the crown of the burgeoning Brisbane Airport development and conveniently located alongside the Novotel Brisbane Airport and DFO shopping centre.

The brainchild behind Golf Central is PGA Professional and Managing Director of Avid Sports Management, James Cooper.

The development of Golf Central has been supported by an eclectic group of Queensland businesspeople, some of whom are keen golfers, while others are simply astute investors.

Golf Central is an amazing facility and is certainly a welcome addition to the South East Queensland golfing landscape. Walking in the front door, you instantly feel relaxed and inspired all in the same breath. The perfectly manicured lawns remind you of the finest five-star championship golf course you will play, while the vibrant bar and café would comfortably take its place in the trendy James Street precinct.

“Delivering beautifully groomed lawns and championship quality playing surfaces is an important component of what we want our guests to enjoy. To achieve this we have had some terrific support from Tinamba Turf to select the perfect turf species and Toro to ensure we have the right equipment to maintain it perfectly,” says Cooper.

Course Superintendent Ray Lawrence is very proud of Golf Central and is particularly excited about getting his Sea Shore Paspalum greens to run at 10 feet on the stimpmeter. Pretty impressive for a golf driving range!

For golfers, Golf Central is heaven. The 29 undercover bays and 20 grass tees lead onto the 300 metre fairway that is maintained 58

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

to perfection and the 13 target greens are lush and inviting. The design of the fairway allows players to hit a variety of golf shots to sharpen their game ranging from short irons through to the longest of drivers. The only person believed to have reached the end of the fairway is Australian Long Drive champion Brendan Moylan using his extra long, extra stiff 6-degree driver.

The short game facilities at Golf Central are second to none, and are what you would expect at a TPC Golf Course in the United States. The unique Scoring Centre opened in December and offers players the ability to play nearly every shot imaginable from inside 100 metres. The Champions Green has been purposely designed with little undulation allowing players to hone their putting from within 6 feet and to work on technique.

The much larger Players Green has the undulations to keep those friendly putting competitions interesting while testing your line and length with the short stick.

The Scoring Fairway is as spectacular as it is clever in its design. The perfectly-striped teeing ground offers up 11 strategically placed targets requiring perfectly-weighted pitch shots ranging for 25m out to 95m.

“Growing up I spent many hours pitching golf balls into an upside-down, open umbrella. The targets on the Scoring Fairway have been designed to provide players with a similar sense and the ability to practice hitting their 25m to 95m shots the perfect distance. We are all learning more and more how important distance control is from under 100 metre and this is the perfect place to get that control,” Cooper says.

For those wanting to improve their game, the Golf Excellence Centre boasts an impressive stable of golf coaches including Murray Lott, Troy Kennedy, Peter Claughton and Leah Hart. More recently Darren Weatherall (an Inside Golf instruction columnist) has joined the team.

“We are very fortunate to have such a great team of coaches at Golf Central. Murray has an impressive reputation as an elite coach and his short game master classes have been particularly popular. Junior specialist Peter Claughton continues to introduce new juniors to the game as he crafts tomorrow’s champions,” says Cooper.

Claughton has a pretty good track record. As the head coach at The Kooralbyn International School his student roll was world class and included the likes of Masters Champion Adam Scott and US PGA Tour winner Jason Day. Today he can be found teaching the fundamentals of the game to kids from local schools.

The final piece of the puzzle required to lower your handicap is the ability to have

that perfect set of golf clubs expertly fitted.

The Golf Central coaches are well skilled in fitting equipment and regular demo and fitting sessions with leading brands such as Titliest, Callaway, PING and Cleveland are readily on offer.

The TaylorMade Performance Lab is one of the key attractions at Golf Central and has attracted players from Cairns in the North through to Sydney in the south. The Lab is one of only two in the Southern hemisphere and offers an unequalled club fitting experience with access to technology, typically reserved for tour players.

Golf Central calls itself a golf entertainment complex, and from all accounts, they have appeared to hit the mark. It is refreshing to see so many young kids enjoying golf on

driving range of the month the Mini Golf Course with their friends and family. During a recent visit, a young boy, Michael from Clayfield, was having the time of his life with his friends as they celebrated his ninth birthday, complete with hot dogs, chocolate crackles and a green birthday cake.

FACT FILE Golf Central BNE is centrally positioned within the Skygate precinct of Brisbane Airport, easily located next to the Novotel Brisbane Airport and DFO Shopping Complex’s. The Centre’s ample space and atmosphere overlooking the Brisbane Airport and CBD skylines provide the perfect location to host functions, parties and celebrations.

Linda Parish, Golf Central’s hospitality manager said that the facility has hosted over 500 birthday parties since it opened and was a very popular venue for Christmas celebrations during December.

“We have even hosted a wedding, hens parties and a christening,” Parish says.

HOURS:

Mon-Thurs: 7am-10pm Fri/Sat/Sun: 7am-11pm

The early success of Golf Central is unsurprising, as Cooper is no stranger to turning a vision into reality. His impressive CV includes Hyatt Coolum in its heyday, as well as the opening and operation of a number of championship golf courses such as Moonah Links and The Dunes while he was with IMG. In 2004, Cooper founded Avid Sports and in addition to Golf Central he been instrumental in developing, opening and operating Natadola Bay in Fiji, the home of the Fiji International, as well as the Thomson Perrett-designed Mandalay Golf Course in Melbourne’s North. Most recently, Cooper has been working hand-in-hand with Qantas and Golf Australia to develop and launch the Qantas Golf Club.

It is fair to say that the second-generation PGA Professional is passionate about golf and strongly driven to offer different forms of the game he loves while creating successful businesses. Golf Central and the Qantas Golf Club are perfect examples of his innovative approach to getting more people playing golf.

Golf Central is certainly the perfect place to practice, to play and to relax. Next time you are in the neighbourhood, be sure to stop in and have a hit.

PRICING:

TaylorMade Performance Lab at Golf Central Only the second of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the state of the art TaylorMade Performance Lab at Golf Central provides access to a fitting system that until now has been reserved for only the best Tour players in the World.

Utilising motion capture technology, the same technology used to make today’s video games and movies, reflective markers are placed on strategic points of the golfer’s body as well as the shaft and head of the fitting club to capture a number of swings with the driver, iron wedge and putter. Six specially-designed high-speed cameras detect the reflectors and display a 3D computer animated image of the golfer viewable from every angle, allowing the certified TaylorMade club fitting professional to make accurate club and ball recommendations.

Large Bucket (100 balls): $16.50 Medium Bucket (60 balls): $10.00 Small Bucket (40 balls): $7.00

RANGE PASSES:

A Golf Central range pass is the perfect way to save when practicing and is a great gift.

5 Buckets (500 balls): $65.00 10 Buckets (1,000 balls): $120.00 20 Buckets (2,000 balls): $200.00 50 Buckets (5,000 balls): $450.00

RENTAL CLUBS:

Two hour customised club fittings at the TaylorMade Performance Lab cost $150.

Bookings can be made online by visiting www.taylormadeperformancelab.com.au Following the swing analysis and club recommendations made in the TaylorMade Performance Lab, your new TaylorMade clubs can be ordered at the Golf Central Golf Shop, or via your referring Club Professional.

A range of golf clubs are available for rent and include men’s, ladies and juniors in both right and left handed.

Driver: $5.00 per club Iron: $2.00 per club Kids Club: $2.00 per club

LOCATION:

40 The Circuit, Skygate.

Brisbane Airport QLD 4008 t: + 61 (7) 3087 7800 f: + 61 (7) 3009 9903 e: info@golfcentralbne.com.au www.golfcentralbne.com.au

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT... ...and we have the perfect place to practice!

Practice every shot imaginable at Golf Central’s world class golf facilities.

• 29 undercover bays

• Scoring Centre now open:

• Chipping and putting greens

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Champions putting green

• 20 grass tees for Players Club Members

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Chipping green with bunker

• PGA Professionals available daily

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100 metre pitching centre

40 The Circuit, Skygate Brisbane Airport QLD 4008 T (+61 7) 3087 7800 E info@golfcentralbne.com.au W golfcentralbne.com.au

OPEN Mon-Thurs: 7am-10pm Fri/Sat/Sun: 7am-11pm

SPECIAL RANGE PASS OFFER – PRESENT YOUR CURRENT GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIP CARD AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT*.

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G O L F D R I V I N G R A N G E • M I N I G O L F • C L U B F I T T I N G • C O A C H I N G • B A R & C A F E • PA R T I E S & G R O U P S • C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

59

junior golf

Ponting lines up young Jasper David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

J

UNIOR golfer Jasper Horton has created history by becoming the youngest player to win the men’s club championship at Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne.

In an extraordinary year, the 16-year-old also won the junior club championship.

That’s remarkable considering Commonwealth has players of the calibre of Lucas Herbert, who has been rubbing shoulders with the professionals at the Australian Masters and Australian Open.

The club has a prestigious honour roll of past club champions including Jarrod Lyle and Kieran Pratt.

Jasper’s golfing prowess has also attracted the attention of Ricky Ponting.

The former Test captain is a director of NSR Group – a talent-scouting company that helps find places for junior athletes in the American college system.

Ponting, a +1 marker, has played alongside the teenager and has pencilled him in for a golf scholarship in the US in 2017.

Jasper currently plays off a three handicap and has his sights set on playing golf at the highest level.

His uncle, Scott Horton, told Inside Golf his nephew’s goal was to keep improving over the next two years before accepting a golf scholarship.

“He would love to one day be a successful touring golf professional,” he said.

EXPLOSIVE: Jasper Horton blasts from a sand trap.

CUP TIME: Jasper Horton is all smiles as he receives Commonwealth’s club championship perpetual Trophy from pennant manager and mentor Max Scales.

Jasper’s proud father John said his son lived and breathed golf.

champion and scratch marker Jordan Lett in the second round.

He attends Rowville Sports Academy’s dedicated golf program.

“Jasper played some amazing golf to beat him 3/1,” John said. “He just goes out and shoots lots of birdies.”

The Horton family live beside Commonwealth’s practice fairway and that allows Jasper to spend countless hours there honing his skills.

He first picked up a golf club aged two, joined the golf club’s junior development program when he was eight and when he turned 12 he joined the golf club.

It wasn’t long before he was representing the club in pennant and was the youngest member of the club’s colts pennant team, which won the pennant flag last year.

“Jasper won seven of his eight matches,” said dad John.

In the men’s club championship, Jasper qualified fourth, won his first round match 4/3 and then came up against former club

In the 36-hole matchplay final, Jasper took on experienced campaigner Richard Cahill.

“Jasper was three-down after 10 holes and turned four-up after 18 with an amazing display of golf,” John said. “He eagled the parfive 13th and had birdies all over the place to win seven of next eight holes.

“He birdied the 19th to go five-up, but Richard came back to reduce the deficit to one.

“In the morning, his drive on the 13th landed on the sixth fairway and he had to hit a five-iron over trees, which landed four-feet from the pin for a tap-in eagle.

“In the afternoon, he pulled his tee shot at the same hole and had to punch one low. The

$35 60

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

OPEN GREEN FEE

ball finished up near the fifth green and he played a flop shot, which finished two-feet from the pin to win the hole.

“It was a gutsy, determined effort,” John said.

“Jasper averages around 270m off the tee and his accuracy is unbelievable, especially with that length.

“Sandy Jamieson, the coach at Commonwealth, said there are a lot of things he can teach kids, but Jasper has something he can’t teach – and that is 300-plus yard drives.

“I took him to Callaway to do a club-fit and his ball-striking numbers compare with some of their leading pros.”

For the record, Jasper shares his birthday (February 10) with his swing coach and former Aussie Masters champion Brad Hughes and golfing great Greg Norman. •

junior golf

MyGolf gains traction across Australia

J

unior golfers across Australia are flocking to the new and improved MyGolf program.

More than 250 centres have registered across the country and, with 1000 participants since the refreshed MyGolf was relaunched in July, the program has gained significant traction, with Term 1 2015 set to be huge as many new clubs and public courses launch.

In the past 18 months, Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia have worked together to redevelop MyGolf with several important and exciting changes including a new curriculum, upgraded registration process, improved financial model and website with online payment options.

The MyGolf team has focused on recruiting clubs and public courses across the country and has continued to add additional functionality to the MyGolf website to ensure that MyGolf deliverers and participants have a seamless and user-friendly experience.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said there had already been a fantastic take-up of the revised program from clubs, public courses, PGA members and GA community coaches across the country.

“We are really happy with how the MyGolf program has been rolled out,” Mr Pitt said.

“The feedback we have received from industry stakeholders has been fantastic and we know that the long-term benefits of this program are critical to the growth of the golfing industry across Australia.”

PGA CEO Brian Thorburn was equally excited about the way the revised program had been so widely taken to heart.

“The reaction of clubs and public courses, large and small, has been fantastic so far,” Mr Thorburn said.

“To see that nearly 80% of MyGolf centres across the country are being run by PGA Professionals is tremendously pleasing and a strong endorsement that the MyGolf program is Australian golf’s national junior program.”

Junior golfers represent approximately five per cent of club members nationally and, in the past year, more than 15,000 boys and girls have participated in junior golf programs throughout Australia.

The MyGolf program has also had a visible presence at all tournaments across the summer of golf, with activities at the ISPS Handa Perth International, BetEasy Masters, Emirates Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship.

Channel 7, the official broadcaster of Australian golf, has also come on board, promoting the program to ensure viewers are exposed to Australian golf’s official junior program.

Victoria’s Sandhurst Golf Club leads the way with 40 participants in Term 4 in its MyGolf Program, but there has been widespread take-up around the country, with registered programs in each state and territory.

Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia continue to work to implement two other critical MyGolf objectives: an updated MyGolf Schools resource for teachers across the country; and an updated Community Golf accreditation program to ensure that teachers, community coaches and volunteers are able to access coaching programs regardless of location.

Both of these important new initiatives are scheduled for roll-out in early 2015.

These components of the MyGolf program are vital to ensure the ongoing success of MyGolf by setting up official Club and School links to identify a clear pathway for juniors from the schoolyard to the MyGolf program run at the local club or facility.

It is critical these links are established to ensure a clear next step for the 141,000 juniors who participate in a golf program in schools nationally.

GA and the PGA are working closely with state associations and junior foundations to create clear links between golf skills learnt in the schoolyard and the transition to maintaining their relationship with a golf club or facility.

MyGolf Fast Facts Levels •R ookie: Try Golf (5 – 7 years old) • S tar: Learn the Skill (8 – 10years old) •M aster: Prepare to Play (11 – 12 years old)

The MyGolf program has gained a tremendous geographical footprint across the country since July.

How to register As a MyGolf Centre: Visit the coordinators section of www.mygolf.org.au, select your facility and submit your details. You will then receive a username and password you can use to log in to the MyGolf website to activate your program, allowing the public to register and pay for your program online.

As a Participant: Visit www.mygolf.org.au and enter your postcode to search for your nearest MyGolf centre. You can then select your preferred centre, register and pay online.

Contact Ph: (03) 9656 5000 Email: mygolf@golf.org.au Web: www.mygolf.org.au

MyGolf gives juniors an experience of a lifetime Throughout the summer of golf, juniors registered in the MyGolf program have been given unprecedented access to some of Australia’s best Tour Professionals.

It started in the West, with an exclusive shot demonstration and clinic at the ISPS HANDA Perth International, featuring Tour Professionals Oliver Goss and Nathan Holman.

The next event was held at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne to coincide with the Australian Masters, where Anthony Murdaca and Todd Sinnott gave an insight to what life was like as some of the best amateurs in the world and their journey to turning Professional and forging a career on the tour.

At the Emirates Australian Open in Sydney, Oliver Goss returned with amateurs

Zach Murray and Taylor Macdonald, to show off their skills to their young fans, but it didn’t end there for MyGolfers in NSW. MyGolf was able to offer 40 lucky juniors from MyGolf Centre, The Sutherland Shire Golf Academy, a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet 2013 US Masters Champion and former world number one, Adam Scott, and ask him as many questions as he could handle.

The final money-can’t-buy experiences of the summer concluded at the Australian PGA Championship, where juniors registered in the MyGolf program got to greet Tour Professionals on the first tee of the third round and receive an exclusive behind the scenes tour of a Professional Tournament.

Program Philosophies Behind MyGolf are four general philosophies that can be used to improve junior performance and take juniors to a level where they are prepared to play on course: simplicity, repetition, games for learning and fun.

Registration Pack • Drawstring Backpack •7 Iron •M yGolf Cap •M yGolf PVC Ball

MyGolfers on the 1st Tee at The Australian GC prior to the Emirates Australian Open www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

61

social clubs

Matraville SGC oldest – maybe David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

W

ELL, it did not take long for Sydney’s Matraville Social Golf Club to respond to suggestions the NRMA Social Golf Club is arguably Australia’s oldest social golf club.

When it comes to social golf club longevity, the 55-year-old NRMA SGC is young compared to Matraville SGC. The club’s treasurer Stan Waller told Inside Golf Matraville SGC formed in April 1934 and celebrated its 80th anniversary last year.

“In 1934, there were two social golf clubs around here – a crowd from Botany and a Matraville crowd,” said Stan, who will clock up 50 years’ membership in 2015.

“Botany formed in March 1934 and we formed in April and both applied for a golf club licence and Botany got it.

“I’m only 80 years old so I wasn’t there but I was told the old judge at the licensing court said Matraville put up a very good case but gave the licence to Botany.

“So, Botany is the affiliated golf club and Matraville the social golf club.”

Most of Matraville SGC members are also members of Botany Golf Club.

The club has 40 dedicated members of all ages – teens to octogenarians.

Matraville Social Golf Club members line up at Botany Golf Club. a BMX bike or a set of golf clubs and he picked the clubs and is now the club professional at Botany.”

one to seven will receive three shots back.

For the record, the social club has its fair share of single figure markers and only one C grader.

“I remember one guy had his handicap cut by seven shots many years ago and I lost seven, but over four weeks.”

So, Matraville members are not a bunch of hackers?

Matraville SGC has an annual gala day and a presentation night to allow members and their partners to kick up their heels.

“No, no, no,” Stan said. “We have one bloke off a one handicap and should be off scratch.

“We have three and four markers and a number of other single figure golfers.

One of our golfers, Alan Squair, who has passed on, had two holes-in-one on one day and 13 all up,” said Stan, who has three under his belt.

“We play at Botany every Sunday at first light and if anyone wants to play should turn up at 5.30.

According to Stan, the social club’s handicapper Ray Russell doesn’t miss a trick although the club is currently reviewing its handicapping system.

“We have a 14-year-old member and when my son Scott was 13 he played,” Stan said.

“We are pretty savage on winners,” Stan laughed.

“When he turned 13, I asked him if he wanted

Under the review, players on handicaps from

“We are doing it because the winning scores are around 34,” he said.

“At the gala day we spend $7500 and at the presentation night we spend $4500,” Stan said.

“We have a 100-Club where we each put in $2 a week and at the end of the year we draw three prizes – $2000, $500 and $500.

“What’s left over, we spend.

“It’s a good system and we have a good time doing it.

“The thing about being a member of Matraville Social Golf Club is if you can’t take a shellacking and a bit of friendly banter you don’t stay a member for long,” Stan laughed.

“We like to enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun.”

Points system for Race to Dubai The 2015 Race to Dubai, which began last month with the Nedbank Golf Challenge and culminates in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai from November 1922, will operate on a points system for the duration of its 47 tournaments.

Continuing until the Hong Kong Open, which brings the regular season to a close on October 25, 2015, every euro earned by a player competing in a European Tour event will be converted to a Race to Dubai point.

Therefore, whilst a player’s official winnings in euros will still be recorded in his career record, The Race to Dubai Rankings will be purely points based from this season onwards.

After the Hong Kong Open, the Final Series – which will again comprise four tournaments, each worth a total of ten million Race to Dubai points – will get underway with the BMW Masters.

On completion of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the number one player in The Race to Dubai Rankings will be the winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of the European Tour, said: “We believe that changing to a points system will help simplify and indeed enhance the narrative structure of The Race to Dubai, and particularly the Final Series which will again carry a combined 40 million points, with 1,666,600 points on offer to the winner of each event.

“The conversion to a points system will complement an exciting and robust schedule in 2015, which will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including the addition of five new events.”

Traditional Golf Package

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

golf business

Sporty’s Golf – a point of difference I F you haven’t heard, Sporty’s Golf Warehouse, located in the Sporty’s Warehouse building in Strathaird Road Bundall on the Gold Coast, is under new management.

has a large range of putters, drivers, fairways clubs, hybrids, irons and wedges.

“We stock a comprehensive range of Cleveland/Srixon products including the famous Cleveland wedges as well as an entry level barrel of wedges at $49.99,” Wilson said.

Sporty’s Warehouse is Australia’s largest sports store with all the departments in the building independently owned and managed.

Sporty’s Golf Warehouse also stock most of the leading golf ball brands.

Last June, Peter Ferguson purchased the business, formerly known as Just Golf, which had traded in the Sporty’s Warehouse location for over 23 years. With an eye to make a unique golf business, Ferguson virtually put a broom through the old business, turning it into a must-visit golf shop inside the sports store.

It offers the golfing public something completely different to the current golf stores on the Gold Coast.

Ferguson, a member at Southport Golf Club, said he had not only poured a large amount of new stock into Sporty’s Golf Warehouse, but had injected plenty of enthusiasm.

That has given the business a point of difference.

Department manager Frank Wilson said Sporty’s Golf Warehouse now offered quantity, quality and affordable prices.

“Since Peter took over he has injected a large amount stock and new brands not seen on the Gold Coast before into the business,” he said.

“The business has had a major facelift – both in product offerings and physical changes.

“The store looks and feels different from the old business because of Peter’s enthusiasm and dedication. It’s exciting to see this transformation, which is good for the

“Our prices are competitive,” Wilson said.

“We are currently offering a special on Wilson 15-ball pack for under $10.”

Customers have a choice of the top brands footwear from Niblick, Ashworth, Nike or Adidas golf shoes.

consumer looking for a point of difference.”

second to none in women’s clothing.

Sporty’s Golf Warehouse sell affordable golf equipment to all types of golfers, including women, juniors and seniors.

In men’s clothing Sporty’s Golf stock everything from the basics to the top fashion brands from the world tours.

“When the customer comes in they have a tremendous selection to pick from in clubs, bags, buggies, apparel, shoes, balls and gloves,” Wilson said.

They stock the popular brands like Nike, Adidas, Greg Norman and Sporte Leisure with a great range of USA and Asia brands like Ogio and Crestlink. “Consumers tell us we have a better selection of clothing than anyone does.

The business offers most of the well-known brands including Nike, TaylorMade, McGregor, Mizuno, Srixon, Cleveland, PGF, Adidas, Tommy Armour, Wilson and Nickent.

“When it comes to apparel, consumers tell us we have the best selection of clothing found on the Coast, catering for entry level to high level and exclusive range as well,” Ferguson said.

This includes select ranges from Susan Lawrence Golf and Resort Wear, Cutter & Buck (Annika), Nike, Nivo and Adidas which are

Wilson added. “We have a huge range of product that hasn’t been seen before and have seen a rapid increase in our customer base and in the number of new people coming in. We invite people to come in and see all the new offerings.”

Sporty’s Golf have packages (full set of clubs, bag and putter) starting at $269 for beginners right up to $1300 for the experienced player.

That’s not all – Sporty’s Golf Warehouse

“Having been in the golf industry for over 25 years and co-worker, Sydney professional Max Hawkins, for well over 40 years, we are the experts in hardware and apparel,” Wilson said.

He guaranteed a friendly shopping environment and service from the staff who can offer the best advice and the best price on the Gold Coast.

“The feedback we receive is that we give a better customer experience than any other golf shop,” he said.

“We listen to what the customer wants and needs then we go above and beyond to make sure they are getting the right product at the right price.

“So do yourself a favour the next time you’re in the area to pop in and have a look around this great golf shop in Australia’s largest sports store.”

Open seven days a week, Sporty’s Golf Warehouse is located in the Sporty’s Warehouse Building at 32 Strathaird Road, Bundall Gold Coast. Telephone (07) 55316511. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

63

events

Super stars chip in for ailing mate

Professional Chris McCourt (second from right) with mate John Senden, Gerry Senden, Arthur Laundy and club junior Xenny Rains.

B

Some of the memorabilia up for grabs on the day.

RISBANE professional Chris McCourt at first was reluctant to have a golf day to raise much-needed funds for his fight against a grade 2 cancerous brain tumour.

signed memorabilia.

when we were 11 years old.

McIlroy was extremely generous sending a beautifully framed piece containing four signed flags from his four major victories.

“John is a great guy and has never changed – he’s just got better and better.”

But his big mate John Senden convinced him it was the right thing to do and the event (golf, auction, raffle and sportsmen’s lunch) went ahead at Keperra Country Golf Club.

McCourt said he was overwhelmed by the occasion.

Senden, Rod Pampling and Adam Crawford were three touring stars who took time out of their business summer schedule to ensure the day was a success.

Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Nicolas Colsaerts, Jason Day and others sent

“I just can’t explain how much this means to me,” said McCourt, who hit tee shots for each group on the par-3 17th hole.

“I really didn’t expect this. John (Senden) asked me if it would be alright if we put on a golf day.

“At first, I thought ‘no’ and then I agreed to it. John and I have been good mates for a long time. We started playing golf together

World Class Golf in the Outback

Keperra CGC general manager Gavin Lawrence said the day was extremely successful.

“It was a fabulous celebration with all the day’s goals and objectives achieved,” he said.

“Chris was touched by people’s generosity and participation in the day.

“From a health and well-being perspective, it was great for Chris – a great shot in the arm for him.”

Due to his illness, McCourt has been unable

to play golf regularly although he says he would like to start playing again.

A regular winner on the Troppo Tour, McCourt is also a skilled club-maker.

“When I first got my launch monitor I had it set up in the front yard at my house at Ferny Grove,” he said.

“Jason Day came over and was hitting golf balls at my place.

“He was 16 when his coach brought him over and I readjusted all his lie angles on his irons”.

McCourt also crafted Senden’s clubs when he first went on tour to Europe and the US.

For a truly unique outback golf experience, come and play the awardwinning Graham Marsh designed championship course. Situated in the heart of the West Australian Goldfields, the Kalgoorlie Golf Course is rated amongst the best public access courses in the country.

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WA fAci Region A lit y of t l golf he y eAR 64

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

events

Extravaganza a hit at Phillip Island

New dates for Fiji International The PGA of Australia together with the Fijian Government announced the second Fiji International golf tournament will be held from 15 – 18 October 2015.

In making the announcement alongside the Fijian Attorney General and Minister for Finance, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum and the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya, Brian Thorburn CEO of the PGA of Australia said the October date provides significantly increased benefits for all stakeholders.

A group of energetic golfers celebrate during the Ladies Pro-Am at Phillip Island Golf Club.

W

hile the nation’s eyes were firmly fixed on Sydney for the Emirates Australian Open, a large contingent of top male and female players were battling for their own glory at one of Victoria’s best country golf clubs. The Phillip Island Golf Club, located southeast of Melbourne, successfully staged one of golf’s more unique events, the Judith Wright Stockdale Leggo Pro-Am Extravaganza, which brings together amateurs, touring professionals, legend professionals and lady professionals in one fantastic event.

Once again, sponsorship for the Pro-Am was overwhelming and greatly appreciated by the Phillip Island Golf Club. The enormous contribution from Judith Wright Stockdale & Leggo, the Naming Rights Sponsor assisted greatly with getting this event concept off the ground, and their contribution is greatly

appreciated by the golf club and wider community.

The Cocktail Party kicked off the Pro-Am on Friday night with the event sponsors and guests coming along for a fun and relaxed evening.

The first event started on the Sunday with the Touring, Legend Professionals, and the amateurs who all had a great day with perfect weather conditions. Professional Ben Ford’s score of 69, three under-par, won the open event and David Good won the Legends event on a score of 73, one over par.

Amateur’s winners over the two days: Sunday’s Men’s winner: Edward Chan. 41 Stableford points Sunday’s Ladies winner: Nola Crothers. 38 Stableford Points Sponsors winner: Michael Coghlan. 37 Stableford points Team winners: 53 points: Raff Toperoso, Peter Toperoso, Ian Viney & Edward Chan Monday’s Winners : Ladies Team, 52 points, Christie Walker (Pro), Lorraine Hammond, Liz O’Neil, Vickie Roff-Smith & Wendy Hopkins

Jessica Dengate took out the Ladies Pro-Am on the Monday, shooting a one under par Round of 72.

Men’s Team, 52 points: Belinda Diamond (Pro), John Gill, John Savas, Reg Browne & Laurie Petrusch.

All golf professionals were extremely impressed by the whole event concept and congratulated the club on their ‘unique’ format.

The event is sure to be a “must play” event on the 2015 schedule for all professionals and amateurs! •

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“In addition, the 2015 Fiji International will be held the week after The Presidents Cup in Korea, where 24 of the world’s top ranked players will be competing, and we will endeavour to have one or two of them playing in Fiji.”

The later date will also allow for a larger field size due to extended daylight hours, with the PGA Tour of Australasia already liaising with OneAsia Tour to extend the field.

“An increase in daylight means we have the opportunity to explore a larger field size which could see wide ranging benefits across a number of areas.” added Thorburn.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

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golf nsw

Brown takes the spoils at Mazda NSW Open

By Dave Tease

Tour for almost ten years, was immensely relieved with his breakthrough win.

I

t took a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole, followed by a dramatic two-hole playoff before Victorian professional Anthony Brown sealed victory in the 2014 Mazda NSW Open at the Greg Norman designed Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club on Sunday, 16th November.

“It’s just a relief. I’m sure it will sink in later, but at the moment it’s a huge relief,” Brown said.

US Amateur champion Korean Gunn Yang, invited by Golf NSW to compete in the Open, finished as the leading amateur in fourth place at twelve under.

On a day that threw everything at the field from a solid downpour in the morning, to fierce, gusty winds throughout the afternoon, it was Brown, starting three shots behind the leaders, who maintained control of his game over the closing holes to card a final round three-under par 69.

“I could feel that the wind was building, and it was predicted to be really strong. So I knew if I just hung around and slipped a few birdies in, it wasn’t going to take an unbelievable round to win.....it would take just a good solid round,” Brown said.

A large gallery followed the duel in the final group between NSW James Nitties and Kiwi Josh Geary, who swapped positions at the top of the leaderboard on the final day.

However it was Brown playing in the next to last group who quietly went about bagging birdies on all three of the back nine par five holes, with only a solitary bogey on the 16th hole blemishing his finish.

Prior to his victory, Brown’s best place finish was as runner-up in the 2012 Australian PGA Championship.

During the first round, Brown had a hole in one on the par three 6th hole. “It was a good start to the week and an even better finish,” Brown said.

As the final round got underway, it was looking like it would be a two-way fight for the title. By the start of the back nine however, it was Nitties who looked comfortable as he made birdie on the par

2014 Women’s NSW Bowl & Goodwill Plate decided

Gunn made plenty of fans during the week with his laid back demeanour, even using a local junior as his caddy. His great play, game and attitude even impressed playing partner for the first three rounds, PGA Tour legend Peter Lonard.

Recently crowned Queensland Amateur Champion Travis Smyth of St. Michael’s Golf Club, finished in a very creditable tied 9th place.

five 10th to get to 16 under-par and a twoshot lead.

First round sensation amateur Justin Warren, in his first major tournament, stayed close to the leaders on the weekend to finish four under equal 27th.

However it was quickly erased on the par three 11th hole which was straight into the teeth of the westerly wind, when Nitties missed the green short and left.

Two more bogeys on the ensuing holes, also into the wind, left him two behind Geary with very few holes left.

Geary though, also struggled with the wind.

He held on to the lead until a crucial threeputt on the par-three 16th hole, and then after a prodigious drive downwind on the 18th hole, he made birdie to secure his place in the playoff.

Brown and Geary headed back to the 18th for the playoff and both birdied, to again head back the 18th tee. This time Brown prevailed with another birdie after showing great touch from a greenside bunker. Geary could only watch his birdie attempt slip by the hole.

Brown, a member of the Australasian PGA

In many golf fans’ minds, the biggest winner was the Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club. The quality of the course, the facilities and the enthusiasm of the volunteers and members of Stonecutters Ridge helped a great tournament become even better.

Perfectly presented, it is hard to believe that the Greg Norman course is only two years old. It is a credit to the greens staff on how well it was presented every day for the tournament.

The 2014 Mazda NSW Open championship was a wonderful success—great crowds over the weekend, an immaculate golf course set for championship play, and a worthy winner in Anthony Brown.

The Mazda NSW Open forms an integral part of the Australasian PGA Tour schedule. •

The Women’s NSW Bowl is a special annual competition, to support the Women’s NSW Open. The Competition is a 4BBB Stableford event for mid-week and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current Australian or overseas equivalent handicap.

Congratulations to Carol Michilis and Narelle Kindler of Newcastle GC who are the winners of the 2014 NSW Bowl.

They had a fantastic score of 55 points and have earned a place in the 2015 Women’s NSW Open Pro-Am. The Women’s Goodwill Plate is a special annual competition to raise funds for donation to a Charity recommended by the Board of Golf NSW. The Competition is an 18-hole stroke handicap event for mid-week and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current Australian or overseas equivalent handicap.

The winner of the Goodwill plate is Natalie McDonnell (22) of Bonnie Doon GC with a score of 62 nett, totalling 9-under, winning on a countback.

For further details of this event go to www.golfnsw.org or contact Nicole Bessant on (02) 9505 9105 or nicole. bessant@golfnsw.org.

Congratulations to the latest St Hallett Wines Hole-in-One Achievers: Joe Bondin, Travis Brown, Peter Cahill, Trevor Cheetham, John Clarkson, David Creese, Michael Dunn, Patricia Elliott, Robert English, Denis Fitzgerald, Brian Kendrick, Lynette McMurray, Gordon Millar, Cheree Mills, Sean Moylan, John Parnham, William Penticost, Tony Pham, Brad Simpson, and Gary Todhunter.

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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veterans

Ciezki celebrates veteran hat-trick three I think. To win more than three at any given time would be …. gee, I really can’t imagine it.”

Brian O’Hare

brian@australianseniorgolfer.com.au

W

INNING a national championship three times in succession is no easy feat and Victorian golfer John Ciezki certainly found that to be the case at the recent Australian Veteran Golfers Union National Championships in WA. Winning the previous championships in Victoria and Canberra were a breeze for Ciezki compared to the extra pressure of making it the first ever veteran hat-trick.

Ciezki began the 54-hole championship quite well and had a healthy lead after the first round at the Capel Golf Club.

His second round at the Sanctuary Golf Resort was “steady” and he began the third and final round at the top-rated Bunbury Golf Club with a seemingly comfortable eight-shot lead over fellow Victorian Ken McNamara.

Ciezki, who hadn’t been happy with his driving all week, promptly put his opening tee shot way left into the trees. The resulting double-bogey got the nerves jingling.

After the fifth hole the Buninyong Golf Club member had dropped three more shots and the chasing pack was closing in.

“It was very tough,” the 62 year-old said. “I was going out of my bloody mind.”

Cieski had turned up at his first championship on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in 2012 as a last-minute replacement, mostly looking for a week off

work, a few beers and a good time. He was surprised to win and thought maybe he could have a crack at a follow-up victory in Canberra.

Fortunately he had the assistance and wise counsel of a not-so-experienced caddie (but very experienced Ciezki handler) in wife Annette.

He got a bit more serious, did a bit more practice, and worked on his swing.

“It was interesting,” Annette admitted.

“He had to settle down a bit, he was pretty nervous to start with and Ken pushed him pretty hard. So he just had to stop and think and play the course and not anyone else. Just play like Pennants … every shot counts and every hole counts.”

He was delighted to successfully defend the title and with those two victories under the belt the dream became to be the first ever to win the national vets championship three times. The 54-hole strokeplay championship is an annual event for over 55’s that rotates around the states and territories.

The year-long anticipation of the third championship no doubt put the stress levels up a bit and the situation wasn’t helped when he suffered some back issues then an inner-ear imbalance that put him out of action for a couple of months.

“I came into this tournament underdone by a long way, underdone badly,” Cieski said.

With friends, family and fellow club members at home wanting him to win, the pressure was really on.

“The double-bogey on the first hole really threw me sideways a bit, I didn’t expect that,” he said.

A crucial putt for birdie on the tenth was a big turning point and Ciezki regained his momentum and ended up reclaiming his eight-stroke lead by the close. McNamara, from The National Golf Club, was runner-up and Brendan Curtin from the Joondalup CC in WA third.

“I give credit to the people who played against me because they really pushed the living daylights out of me,” Cieski said.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely there will be an attempt at a fourth straight title when the championship rolls on to Darwin in August 2015 due to family work commitments.

“It’s sad; it’s the end of the run. It is a great thing to win. It’s a mammoth thing to win

The 2014 version of the event, conducted in the south west of WA for the first time, was a huge success. The week-long event, played in three grades at the three courses previously mentioned plus Busselton Golf Club, attracted some 384 golfers and 90 nonplaying partners from around the country.

Ladies played a Stableford competition at the four courses.

A gala presentation dinner was held after the final round on Friday evening at the Sanctuary Golf Resort, with some 500 participants and guests enjoying some fine food, some of the renowned local wines, entertainment and a night of prizegiving.

Three long years of work by Tournament Director Mike Elliott and the committee from the Country Veteran Golfers Association of WA showed in an event that went off without a hitch.

It was a massive credit to Mike, his wife Penny - who was responsible for much of the decoration of a new extension at the Santuary Resort used for the first time for the Presentation dinner – the committee, the many volunteers and all those who took part.

Major sponsors included Regis Aged Care, Remax Lighthouse Realty, the South West Development Commission, Sanctuary Golf Resort and Apia. • Brian O’Hare is the founder and editor of Australian Senior Golfer, an online magazine providing news, information, entertainment and resources for golfers aged 45 plus. www.australianseniorgolfer.com.au

PRESCARE QUEENSLAND SENIOR ORDER OF MERIT Open to all men and women golfers over the age of 55 years Scratch and nett divisions for all events and order of merit Over 65 years section Play a few or play them all!

Go to www.golfqueensland.org.au for event details and to register. upcoming events WHEN WHERE Monday 19 January Palmer Colonial Golf Course Monday 9 February Wynnum Golf Club Friday 20 February Bribie Island Golf Club Thursday 19 March Redcliffe Golf Club Thursday 17 April Carbrook Golf Club Friday 24-26 April Laidley Golf Club

www.facebook.com/GolfQueensland

ENTRIES CLOSE Thursday 15 January 2015 Thursday 5 February 2015 Tuesday 17 February 2015 Monday 16 March 2015 Monday 13 April 2015 Tuesday 21 April 2015

@GolfQueensland

www.golfqueensland.org.au | T: (07) 3252 8155 www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

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seniors

Australia champions in 2014 Asia Pacific Denis Dale

ed@insidegolf.com.au

T

eam Australia won the 2014 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur championship played at the Discovery Bay Golf Course in Hong Kong. There were twelve countries competing in the team’s championship where six players represent each country with the best four scores counting each day.

The event featured a strong field of over 100 competitors from Asia Pacific countries and others including the UK and Canada.

The Australian team started brilliantly with their best four scores on day one totalling even par. This gave them an eleven-stroke lead over the New Zealand team—which stretched to twelve strokes after the second round. The final day was full of excitement with the New Zealand team mounting a late charge that saw them draw level with just a few holes remaining. The Aussies rallied and eventually recorded a two-stroke win over the gallant Kiwis.

There is always friendly rivalry between these two countries and the Australians

have now taken back the title won by New Zealand in Vietnam in 2013. Australia has a very good record in this championship with recent team wins in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. They have also performed well in the individual Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship with title wins to Stefan Albinski (2008, 2009), Peter King (2011) and Denis Dale (2012).

The 2014 individual championship was won by Japan’s Shingo Matsumoto who defeated Andrew McKechnie (New Zealand) in a playoff that stretched to the sixth extra hole, when McKechnie bogied. Victorian Gordon Claney was the leading Australian player missing the playoff by just a single stroke.

The two standout rounds of the tournament came from Australian team members. In round one Claney opened with a very impressive two-under-par 69 and in the second round Stefan Albinski went one better with a great round of threeunder-par 68. The Discovery Bay course is a championship course and these rounds were marvellous achievements from Australia’s two leading senior golfers.

Australia – 2014 Asia Pacific Senior Champions in Hong Kong (l. to r. holding trophies) Roy Vandersluis, Vince Clark, Paul Maslen, Denis Dale, Stefan Albinski, Gordon Claney Australian team member Vince Clark won the Over 65 stroke event and was the runner-up in the overall handicap event.

Australian Peter McGregor has been a regular competitor in the Asia-Pacific championship for many years and was the runaway winner

of the Over 70 Division. Legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev opened with rounds of 73 and 72 to be one from the lead and in the final group before slipping back with a final round of 80.

More: www.ausoom.com

State Senior Orders of Merit finalised for 2014

T

he South Australian Senior Order of Merit is in its early days and in 2014 consisted of eight events played on many of the state’s best courses. The competition was supported by Haselgrove Wines. Tea Tree Gully senior Norm Cordina also showed his support for the year-long competition by playing in all the events with his best results being seconds at Thaxted Park, Flagstaff Hill and Grange East. His consistency gave him a total of 616 points and the Order of Merit title from Steve Ross (South Lakes) and Phillip Smith (Tea Tree Gully).

The 2014 South Australian Over 65 trophy went to Kooyonga “super senior” Tony Timmins who played in seven events and totalled 363 points. Timmins was the winner at Mt Osmond and finished second at Tea Tree Gully. Victor Harbour’s Peter Bywaters finished second in the Over 65 competition just ahead of Greg Harrison (Thaxted Park).

Another major competition for South Australia’s senior golfers is the Senior

The final was played at Kooyonga on an overcast and windy afternoon. The Thaxted team were very competitive and it was not until well into the back nine that Tea Tree Gully would finally get four matches in to claim yet another title.

This now makes it eight victories in a row for the Tea Tree Gully side since the pennant commenced in 2007. South Australian Senior Order of Merit winner Norm Cordina played at one or two throughout the season and was undefeated in all nine matches.

The final day format saw teams other than the two finalists play a team Stableford event before the season ending presentation dinner. This “plate” event was won by newcomers to the pennant this year, The Grange Golf Club.

South Australian Senior Pennant Winners - Tea Tree Gully Golf Club Pennant competition. This competition has grown from its early days in 2007 to now include 16 clubs stretching from Gawler through Adelaide to Victor Harbor.

After seven qualifying rounds and the semi-final the teams facing off were Thaxted Park and Tea Tree Gully with the latter warm favourites after an undefeated season.

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Continued sponsorship from Paradise Mazda and new clubs The Grange, Glenelg, Victor Harbor and Penfield made the 2014 season the best ever.

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seniors

New South Wales The 2014 NSW Order of Merit competition counted each player’s best fourteen scores from a possible 41 events held at metropolitan, regional and country golf clubs across the state.

The 2014 medal went to Twin Creek’s golfer Denis Dale who has now won this title eight times in the nine year history of the NSW Senior Order of Merit competition. Stefan Albinski relegated Dale to second place in 2008.

QUEENSLAND The Queensland Senior Order of Merit is in its second year and in 2014 benefited from generous sponsorship from PresCare. With more than 30 events through southern Queensland the competition was very successful and all the players look forward to another great year in 2015.

The overall men’s scratch winner was Nudgee player Steve Toyne playing his first year in the senior ranks. Toyne played 14 events and his 6 victories included the 54-hole Gold Coast Senior Classic that is also an Australian Senior Order of Merit event. The runner-up was the 2013 Order of Merit champion Trevor Box who played in 10 events for one win but his consistent play saw him total 1390 points.

Nudgee’s Mario La Chiusa was third with 1235 points.

Trevor Box was the winner of the Over 65 Senior Order of Merit ahead of Dave Morrison from Coolangatta Tweed Heads and Indooroopilly’s Ian Read.

NSW Senior Order of Merit winners – Denis Dale and Greg Stanford In a very consistent year Dale had 5 wins, 6 seconds and 14 top 5 finishes. He was justifiably proud of his eighth Order of Merit title when he collected his medal in the season ending presentation dinner at Cromer Golf Club.

Second place went to Greg Stanford (Mona Vale) who narrowly defeated David Limbach (Penrith) in a battle that came down to the very last event of the year. Stanford had the honour of winning the most events during the year with seven that included a marvellous mid-year “hot streak” that saw him win 5 times in 9 starts. Limbach had one win but the always consistent player had numerous top five finishes in another very good season. Stanford and Limbach also travelled to New Zealand to represent Australia in the annual “Ryder Cup” challenge against the Kiwis.

The Over 65 year’s competition was won by the 66 year old Twin Creek’s golfer Denis Dale. Second place went to Bexley 69 year old Tom Yates who had an excellent year highlighted by his outright victory in The Lakes Senior Medal where he defeated a top class field. Third place went to Paul Day from Kooindah Waters who won two early season events but then missed most of the latter half of the year due to an injury.

Special mention goes to two senior stalwarts who journeyed across the state to play in Senior Order of Merit events from Mollymook in the south, Orange in the west and Ocean Shores in the north. Pennant Hills senior Geoff Lumsden and Cabramatta’s Chris Collins both totalled 38 events and are hoping to do even better in 2015. They shared the 2015 Iron Man Trophy.

More: www.golfnsw.org

Queensland also conducts a year-long Women’s Senior Order of Merit competition and the winner was the defending champion Wendy O’Connell from the North Lakes club. In another strong performance O’Donnell won 6 events from her 10 starts for a total of 1710 points. Not too far away was Headland’s Josie Ryan who also played in 10 events and recorded 5 wins. Rosie Glasson from Twin Waters was third.

More: www.golfqueensland.org.au

Queensland Senior Order of Merit winner – Steve Toyne

The Victorian Senior Order of Merit is played for the Doug Bachli medal and each senior player counts their best 12 results from a possible 31 events played across Victoria during the year.

The winner of the 2014 Senior Order of Merit was Kingston Heath golfer Gordon Claney. In a wonderful season Claney won or shared first place on eight occasions.

Bendigo senior Ian Frost won four times and was a consistent high finisher in most of his tournaments. His victory in the 54hole Coomealla Senior Championship, where he finished with rounds of 72-71, was his most impressive victory.

Not too far away in third place was Barry Tippett from the Thirteenth Beach club. Tippett won the prestigious National Senior Masters at the three majestic courses that comprise The National Golf Club on the Mornington peninsula, Tippett also played successfully on the national scene with a victory in The Grange Seniors in Adelaide and a runner up finish in the 2014 Australian Senior Matchplay Championship at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, Queensland.

Special mention must go to Rossdale senior Tony Hyde who played in every Victorian Senior Order of Merit event bar one– a lot of travel, a lot of golf but a lot of new golfing friends. Well done Tony and congratulations on your strong support of senior golf in Victoria and Australia.

The 2012 Victorian Handicap Senior Order of Merit for the Paul Lulofs Trophy went to Yarram senior Ignatius Duivenvoorden who has now won this year-long handicap competition for four successive years. Quite an extraordinary achievement and it is hard to imagine it could ever be beaten (unless he beats it himself next year).

Duivenvoorden played in 27 events throughout the year and capped his year with victory in the handicap section of the 2014 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship. He finished the year with a total of 2190 points and a comfortable margin over Pakenham senior John Hoare who did well in his 17 events for 1710 points. Third place went to Rossdale senior Ken O’Brien who played in 15 events and totalled 1392 points.

More: www.golfvic.org.au

Western Australia The West Australian Senior Order of Merit is a new competition providing high level golf for the state’s leading senior amateur golfers. In 2014 the year-long event consisted of five events and resulted in a very close competition.

The winner was Joondalup senior Ian McPherson who has been one of the state’s best senior golfers for several years.

McPherson totalled 220 points with his best finish being runner-up in the 2014 West Australian Senior Amateur Championship when he lost in a playoff to Stefan Albinski.

Wanneroo senior Harry Crosby finished second in the Order of Merit just a point ahead of Trevor Hughes from the Hartfield club.

Current plans are for the 2015 competition to have at least eight events with new events including the Royal Perth, Melville Glades and Cottesloe clubs.

More: www.golfwa.org.au

NSW Senior Order of Merit Iron Men – Geoff Lumsden and Chris Collins

VICTORIA

West Australian Senior Order of Merit winner Ian McPherson

Victorian Senior Order of Merit winner – Gordon Claney

COMING SENIOR EVENTS January 7 NSW Senior Foursomes (Belmont) January 8 Belmont Seniors (NSW) January 12 Forster-Tuncurry Seniors (NSW) January 12 Keysborough Seniors (VIC) January 19-21 * Royal Melbourne Senior Classic January 19 Palmer Colonial Seniors (QLD) January 27 The Coast Seniors (NSW) January 28 St Michael’s Seniors (NSW) Feb 2 Yarra Courses Senior- Latrobe GC (VIC) Feb 3 Wollongong Seniors (NSW) Feb 9-10 Surf Coast Seniors - The Sands GC (VIC) Feb 9 Wynnum Seniors (QLD) Feb 11-13 * Tasmanian Senior Amateur – Mowbray GC Feb 12-13 Lonsdale Seniors (VIC) Kooringal Seniors (VIC) Feb 17-18 Feb 20 Bribie Island Seniors (QLD) Feb 23 Concord Seniors (NSW) *Australian Senior Ranking System event www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

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calendar

CALENDAR > January

Commonwealth Golf Club Open Day WHEN: Monday 12th January 2015

An opportunity for golfers with a Golf Australia handicap to experience a championship Sandbelt golf course. Great prizes to be won in this Stableford competition. Shotgun start at 8am & 1pm $110 per player includes 18 holes of golf, range balls, push buggy hire, competition entry, prizes and catering.

All proceeds go to the Commonwealth Golf Club Foundation. Entries close: Monday 5th January 2015.

Ph: 03 9575 0444. Enquiries to: jane@commonwealthgolf.com.au

For players who do not qualify in the Senior Championship Match Play, there is also match play broken down by age category: Age 55 to 59 - four to qualify for match play Age 60 to 64 - four to qualify for match play Age 65 to 69 - four to qualify for match play Age 70 plus - four to qualify for match play

For all those who do not qualify for any of the match play components, an 18-hole stableford event will be held in the morning on the final day.

The format is as follows: Monday 23 March: 18-holes stroke Tuesday 24 March: 18-holes stroke Wednesday 25 March:

MARCH 2015 Men’s NSW Senior Championship WHEN: 3-5 March WHERE: Orange, NSW

Held across two of the region’s premier golfing venues, Duntryleague Golf Club and Orange Ex-Services Country Golf Club, the championship promises to boast one of largest and most competitive fields in recent history. With so much to do and such a great location this event is shaping up to be a must on the seniors calendar, especially for those who often travel with wives and partners. A social dinner function will be held on Tuesday 3 March at Orange Ex-Services Club, available for all participants and guests.

The Championship is open to male amateurs who are 55 years of age or over as at the first day of play, whose handicap does not exceed 15.4 strokes at the date of entry. As this year’s event will be played across two venues, the field capacity has doubled and those who have been balloted out in past years on handicap are likely to receive a start in this prestigious event.

The Championship will be stroke play over three rounds of 18-holes (54-holes): Round 1 – Tuesday, 3 March 2014 Round 2 – Wednesday, 4 March 2014 Round 3 – Thursday, 5 March 2014 A seeded draw will be completed for Round 3 for the leading players. Those who fail to make the cut will compete in a new 18-hole stableford competition.

The event will see a host of recognized golfers competing, including Stephan Albinski, Denis Dale and Bill Banks.

However for every serious competitor, there will be a handful of participants out to enjoy the few days of golf with their mates.

There are a number of prizes awarded for the Championship, including: NSW Seniors Championship (Overall winner) Division 1 (55-60 years), Division 2 (60--64 years), Division 3 (65-70 years) Division 4 (70 years and over) NSW Seniors Country Champion Entries are now open at www.golfnsw.org

2015 Women’s NSW Senior Championship WHEN: 23-25 March WHERE: Duntryleague Golf Club, Orange, NSW

The state’s best women senior amateur golfers will battle it out at the premier event on the NSW Seniors Amateur Golf Calendar. The 2015 NSW Women’s Senior Championship will be played over 36 holes qualifying rounds, with the four best scratch scores to qualify for the Senior Amateur Championship Match play.

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

AM - Semi Finals Match Play (Championship, 55-59, 60-64, 6569, 70+) 18-holes stableford (for those not participating in Match Play) PM - Finals Match Play (Championship, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+) The event will see a host of recognized golfers competing.

However for every serious competitor, there will be a handful of participants out to enjoy the few days of golf. All women senior golfers from around the State are encouraged to get a group together, travel to Orange, and participate.

The Championship is open to female amateurs who are 55 years of age or over as at the first day of play, whose handicap does not exceed 28 strokes at the date of entry. The event is also part of the Women’s NSW Senior Order of Merit.

Entries are now open - $80 via hard copy, or $70 online.

To enter log onto www.golfnsw.org. Entries close Friday 6 March 2015.

2015 Nsw Veterans Strokeplay Championships

WHERE: Richmond, Glenmore Heritage Valley and Stonecutters Ridge WHEN: 30-31 March and 1 April 2015 INFO: Chris Evans, Secretary, WSRVGA on 0413912888 After a highly successful move to Western Sydney in 2014, the 2015 State Championships, now a SOOM-Golf NSW approved event, is expected to attract a strong field of seasoned performers as well as top local talent.

Richmond Golf Club, the oldest golf club in NSW still on its current site, has just hosted a second Australian Seniors PGA with veteran Kiwi Simon Owen the 2014 winner from Mike Harwood. The course has tight fairways, pure greens and is in fantastic condition. The Veterans will be the big beneficiaries in 2015.

Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club, nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains in the magnificent Mulgoa Valley, boasts a demanding championship layout. Its 136 slope rating (white tees) will test the hardiest of amateur golfers.

The final 18 holes will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Links, a new Greg Norman resort course. Stonecutters successfully hosted the recent 2014 NSW Open won by Victorian Anthony Brown. A classic links layout with wide open fairways, big bunkers and bigger sloping greens, plus a modern clubhouse with great cuisine, Stonecutters is the ideal venue to decide a major championship event.

With significant sponsorship from the property developer, Australand Pty Ltd and Warren Saunders Insurance Brokers, the entry fee remains at just $99 for the three days of golf competition and this includes a luncheon on the final day at Stonecutters prior to the presentation of trophies.

Entries close Monday, 16 March 2015.

APRIL

Chase the Sun along the Nullarbor Links WHEN: April 11-17, 2015

The World’s Longest Golf Course, the Nullarbor Links is again hosting their annual Chasing the Sun Golf Festival. Traversing The Nullarbor Plain, this unique 18-hole par-72 golf course spans 1,365 kilometres with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the Eyre Highway. Each hole includes a synthetic green, tee and rugged outback-style natural terrain fairway.

Total cost of the tournament and entertainment: $325 including GST for members of Nullarbor Links. $365 including GST for non members.

Non golfers pay $205 including GST. Further Information: Alf Caputo: Mob: 0407 990 049, Email: alfiecap@bigpond.net.au Web: www.nullarborlinks.com

GOLF NSW JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS Golf NSW Events Start Date

End Date

07-Jan-15

07-Jan-15

12-Jan-15

13-Jan-15

28-Jan-15

30-Jan-15

28-Jan-15

30-Jan-15

Event Men’s NSW Senior Foursomes Medal Women's Summer Foursomes Men’s NSW Medal & Amateur Championship Women’s NSW 72hole Stroke Play Championship & Amateur Championship

Venue Belmont GC Cronulla GC Monash CC, Killara GC & Avondale GC Monash CC & Killara GC and Avondale GC

Men’s Vardon Events Start Date

End Date

Event

10-Jan-15

10-Jan-15

North Ryde Amateur

11-Jan-15

11-Jan-15

11-Jan-15

11-Jan-15

14-Jan-15

17-Jan-15

18-Jan-15

18-Jan-15

The Great Lakes Open Men's Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship Qualifying Men's Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship South Coast Amateur

Venue North Ryde GC Forster Tuncurry GC Belmont GC

Belmont GC Wollongong GC

Women’s Jean Derrin / Senior Order of Merit Events Start Date

End Date

04-Jan-15

07-Jan-15

11-Jan-15

11-Jan-15

Event Women's Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship Concord Cup

Venue Belmont GC Concord GC

Men’s Senior Order of Merit Events Start Date

End Date

07-Jan-15

07-Jan-15

08-Jan-15

09-Jan-15

12-Jan-15

12-Jan-15

28-Jan-15 27-Jan-15

28-Jan-15 27-Jan-15

Event

Venue

Men's NSW Senior Belmont GC Foursomes Medal Belmont Seniors Belmont GC Forster-Tuncurry ForsterSeniors Tuncurry GC St. Michael's Seniors St. Michael's GC The Coast Seniors The Coast GC

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

calendar

ONGOING EVENTS

Open to all Clubs in NSW, these competitions are conducted in three stages: Stage 1: Club Stage 2: District & Metropolitan play-offs Stage 3: State Final 2015 NSW Men’s Fourball Championship dates 1 January 2015

Club qualifying rounds commence

30 June 2015

Club qualifying rounds to be completed

7 August 2015

Metropolitan playoff conducted

31 August 2015

Country District playoffs to be completed

6-9 October 2015

State Final (Bonville Golf Resort)

2015 Women’s Goodwill Plate The Women’s Goodwill Plate is a special annual competition to raise funds for donation to a Charity recommended by the Board of Golf NSW. The Competition is an 18-hole stroke handicap event for mid-week and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current handicap. It is to be played between 1 January 2015 and 30 September 2015. Entry fees and results must be submitted to Golf NSW no later than 7 October 2015. The State Winner will be determined by the number of strokes. The nett result is under the AWCR of the course on the day of play.

2015 NSW Women’s Fourball Championship dates:

2015 NSW Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Fourball Championship The NSW Men’s Fourball Championship commenced in 1993 to provide a State event for every club golfer, regardless of their level of ability. This year, it once again provides entrants with the opportunity to make it to the State Final at the magnificent Bonville Golf Resort. Those who have previously competed at the State Final can attest that it is indeed a memorable experience. During 2014, 8,012 pairs from 206 clubs across the State competed for a chance to participate in the State Final.

The NSW Women’s Fourball Championship will commence this year to provide a State event for every club golfer, regardless of their level of ability. The exciting aspect of this event is the sheer volume of entrants that participate at Club level which is eventually whittled down to 30 pairs for the State Final. In 2014 there were 3,644 pairs from 233 clubs across the State who competed for a chance to participate in the State Final.

KENO has been a long-time supporter of Golf NSW and in 2001 they became the major sponsor of the NSW Mixed Fourball Championship. During 2014, 3,307 pairs from 214 clubs across the State competed for a chance to participate in the State Final at the magnificent Bonville Golf Resort….it is a hotly contested ticket on the Golf NSW calendar!

1 January 2015

Club qualifying rounds commence

31 July 2015

Club qualifying rounds to be completed

9 October 2015

Metropolitan playoff conducted

24 October 2015

Country District playoffs to be completed

24-27 November 2015

State Final (Bonville Golf Resort)

2015 KENO NSW Mixed Fourball Championship: 1 January 2015

Club qualifying rounds commence

31 May 2015

Club qualifying rounds to be completed

3 July 2015

Metropolitan playoff conducted

31 July 2015

Country District playoffs to be completed

8-11 September 2015

State Final (Bonville Golf Resort)

Clubs wishing to participate simply need to register their details at www.golfnsw.org and schedule a club qualifying round.

2015 Women’s NSW Bowl The Women’s NSW Bowl is a special annual competition, to support the Women’s NSW Open. The Competition is a 4BBB Stableford event for mid-week and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current handicap.

It is played at Club level between 1 January 2014 and 30 September 2015. Entry fees and results must be submitted to Golf NSW no later than 7 October 2015.

The Overall Winners will be rewarded with a trip to the Women’s NSW Open including a place in the Pro-Am.

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: Shelly Beach Golf Club Shelly Beach Road, Shelly Beach NSW 2261 1st Qualifying Round 18th January 2015 2nd Qualifying Round 1st February 2015 3rd Qualifying Round 8th February 2015 4th Qualifying Round 15th February 2015 5th Qualifying Round 22nd February 2015 Final 1st March 2015 Maitland Golf Club 2 Tenambit Street, East Maitland NSW 2323 1st Qualifying Round 31st January 2015 2nd Qualifying Round 14th February 2015 3rd Qualifying Round 21st February 2015 4th Qualifying Round 28th February 2015 5th Qualifying Round 14th March 2015 Final 21st March 2015

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

71

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the 19th hole

Five reasons why golf is easier for the pros Michael Green

@AussieGolfer

Grandstands, signage and all those free drops There are places I hit the ball on the golf course that weren’t designed to be played from. In fact, they are exactly the sort of places where grandstands, corporate tents or toilet blocks would be constructed for professional golf tournaments. Had I been playing on the professional golf tours, I would have been allowed a free drop. Occasionally I would be directed towards a designated drop zone with an easy pitch on to the green.

But confined to the world of hacking, amateur golf, I have to play these shots as they lie. From deep rough, behind trees and from places few humans have ever stepped foot before.

Course condition Professional golfers get it good. The golf courses they play may be long, but they are impeccable. Lush fairways, perfect greens and bunkers full of hand-picked grains of sand these golfers have no idea what we have to put up with.

with David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

Can you imagine their reaction if the tees weren’t quite level? Or there is a temporary green on the 7th? Sure, they can make great putts on the slopes of Augusta National, but can they make a putt across a nasty break when the greens have just been cored?

Clubs These guys play with the best golf clubs with the best shafts and the best grips. They’re all personally fitted for them and any problems can be quickly solved in the nearby tour van.

The world of dirty grooves, slippery grips and golf bags full of old chocolate bar wrappers that we occupy is a foreign place to the pros.

Galleries Granted, it’s a small percentage of professional golfers who play in front of big crowds, but those that do often use them to their advantage. Arnold Palmer was considered a golfing god in his prime and had a fervent, raucous bunch of followers known as “Arnie’s Army”.

It’s no secret that Palmer got a few lucky ‘bounces’ off some of his adoring soldiers that put him in a much better position than he otherwise would have been.

was unbeatable but these are just examples of when the galleries were knowing participants.

Many golfers have been positively (and negatively) affected by a bounce off a member of the gallery. It’s surprising that more golf fans haven’t been hurt by wayward golf balls.

Greg Chalmers benefitted greatly from a poor tee shot at the 2014 Australian Open. He sliced a tee shot that bounced off a golf fan only to roll to a foot from the hole. The resulting birdie put him clear at the top of the leaderboard.

No lost balls By and large, the pros don’t lose golf balls.

Primarily because they are so good at golf, but also because the galleries help them find it.

There has been the odd lost ball when it comes to major tournament golf. Tiger Woods lost his opening drive at The Open in 2003 and Gary Evans lost his ball at The Open Championship on the 71st hole in 2003 but it’d be nice to have an extra 50 people looking for your golf ball each time you played it into the scrub. •

It’s rumoured that Tiger Woods was also the beneficiary from a foot wedge or two when he

Calderwood Valley Golf Course

Michael Green is an avid golf fanatic, and the author/ blogger of the Aussie Golfer blog (www.aussiegolfer. net) one of Australia’s most popular golf blogging sites.

Follow him on Twitter (@AussieGolfer) or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AussieGolfer

1. Who finished runner-up to American Jordan Spieth at the Australian Open? (2 pts) 2. Following the Australian Open, three Australians qualified for the Open Championship at St Andrews in July. Who are they? (1 point for each player named) 3. Which Brisbane golf club lies under the Gateway Bridge – Indooroopilly, Pacific, Royal Queensland or Brisbane GC? (2 pts) 4. Which Australian golfer tied for first place at the final stage of US LPGA Tour qualifying at Daytona Beach, Florida? (2 pts) 5. A player who started a round with 14 clubs lost his putter. May he replace it during the round? (2 pts) 6. What did Frenchman Alexander Levy do after recording a 10 on the ninth hole during the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City – laugh, abuse his caddie or throw his putter in the water? (2 pts) 7. What are the names of the two golf courses Greg Norman designed at Jumeirah Estate in Dubai? One hosted the DP World Tour Championship late last year. (3 pts) 8. What nationality is European Tour player Marcel Siem? (2 pts) 9. Tiger Woods is currently ranked 24th in the world. What was his ranking on January 1, 2014? (2 pts) ANSWERS: (1). Rod Pampling; (2). Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford and Greg Chalmers; (3). Royal Queensland; (4).

Minjee Lee; (5). No. A lost club is not one which has become unfit for play; (6). Laugh; (7). Earth and Fire; (8).

German; (9). World number 1.

Aside from skill, flexibility and talent - there are other aspects about the world of big-time professional golf that makes the game much easier for them than it is for us hackers.

THERE are 20 stableford points up for grabs on the front nine.

How many can you get?

The quick nine quiz

S

ummer in Australia brings with it the big three Australian tournaments. The Australian Open, the Australian Masters and the Australian PGA Championship were a nice reminder how just how different their golf game is from mine - and perhaps yours.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

73

the 19th hole

The 2014 Larry Awards have done a wonderful job with some other stuff but his misguided stance on banning long putters for the average punter has done more damage to the game than anything John Daly has ever worn or consumed. When US PGA President Ted Bishop, was attempting to explain how many punters will be forced away from the game they love and that the US PGA were just trying to look after the best interests of golf, Dawson responded with this little ripper – “That’s our job, not yours.”

Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

G

ood evening and welcome to….(slight pause to get everyone excited)…

The Larry Awards for 2014! This year’s awards will again see passion, emotion, disappointment and unbridled elation… and that’s just coming from my editor when I get this in on time. (The “Disappointment” will come when he reads it.)

Whilst theses nominations were in with a shot, “The Larry” goes to US PGA Tour Player Patrick Reed. Amongst other things like shushing the fans at the Ryder Cup or forcing CBS commentator, Frank Nobilo to apologise for Reed’s language while live on air, it was Precious Pat’s new formula for the World Rankings that gets him over the line.

My first award is for a professional golfer in a leading role in something very bizarre during the year of 2014.

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal was just minding his own business walking down the 5th fairway during the Maybank Malaysian Masters when he was suddenly attacked by a swarm of very angry hornets.

“They were three times the size of bees,” Larrazabal said. “They were huge and like 30 or 40 of them started to attack me big time. I didn’t know what to do. My caddie told me to run, so I start running like a crazy guy.”

I can really relate to this. I once let it slip to my mother in law, her daughter and I might have had “relations” before we got married. I thought I was pretty quick, but for a middleaged woman wearing an apron, she was bloody fast!

Having played all around the world I can imagine Rory McIlroy would understand how Fescue, Blue Couch, Kakuyu or Zoysia (sounds like the name of Vladimir Putin’s dog), grass’ influence the flight of his pill. Based on what I

saw at the Australian Golf Club I reckon it’s fair to say he hasn’t come across biodegradable mesh matting placed down to protect some thoughtfully planted native Australian plants.

After taking a full blooded “Rory Rip” at his agate during the third round of the Australian Open, all the world number one managed to do was shift it 1 inch vertically downwards.

Rors had no choice but to fold back the mesh, find his naughty sphere and take it two club lengths to the left for punishment.

That said, the “Larry” for bizarre-ness goes to Natalie Gulbis for just making another regular, yet near physically impossible golf swing. Nat is often referred to as the most beautiful woman professional playing the game but that motion looks like she lost her contact lens during her backswing

and is desperately trying to find it on her downswing.

My next award is given to the least professional behaviour by a professional during 2014.

Nominations are – Phil Mickelson for his public drubbing of Tom Watson’s Ryder captaincy while sitting right there next to him in a media conference. Hey Philby, you do realise Tom Watson is not only an absolute legend of the game but he is also one of the nicest blokes ever to hit a golf ball? Could you ever imagine him doing that to you? In Australia, we take a bloke aside and talk to him one on one. Then we take it outside and try and belt the living daylights out of each other.

R&A Chief Executive, Peter Dawson might

Golf and Game Tour 2015 September 17th – October 3rd 2015

74

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Finally “The Larry” for the golfer I love the most for 2014. I know I might be seen as being unfaithful to Adam Scott whom I adored for the 2013… but that’s what happens when you just go and get married without any thought of how it’s going to affect your closest friends…. Jordan Spieth would have to be one of the most engaging and unaffected superstars I’ve met, so Jordan…. This one’s for you.

Happy New Year, Golf Nuts! •

African Adventures THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLF AND GAME SPECIALISTS

THE TOUR (excerpt) Australian golfing legend Bob Stanton and wife Lucy specialise in South African golf tours and after sold out 2013 and 2014 tours are pleased to present this 2015 tour for a small group of 12 couples / 24 guests.

After winning a second event in America, Pat announced he was one of the top five players in the world. Aaaah Pat, there is actually a formula already and it’s based on how you perform in other countries and things called “Majors”. That’s why you have players like Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia in there. You are, however, in the top 5 for wankers.

•

•

• • • •

1 Night D’Oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg and welcome cocktail party.

3 Nights at both &Beyond Phinda and &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp – 12 Game drives.

2 Nights at Fairmont Zimbali Resort.

3 Nights at Fancourt Resort.

4 Nights at the Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town.

5 Games of golf at Zimbali, Fancourt – Links and Montagu, Pezula and Pearl Valley.

16 NIGHTS / 17 DAyS ALL INCLUSIVE

A$ 12,260 per person sharing ex Johannesburg Single Supplement on request.

BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION Lucy: 0411 592 300 | Bob: 0411 706 840 lucy@lucystanton.com.au www.lucystanton.com.au/2015

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the 19th hole

Riverside Oaks raises funds for Special Olympics S

pecial Olympics Australia held the ultimate golf challenge in November at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort where 32 players in teams of two set out playing three different formats commencing at 7am and finishing at sunset. This interesting challenge tested not only the golfers’ stamina but physical endurance with the first 18 holes being played as a two-ball Ambrose, followed by 9 holes of stroke for each player (totals added together) and finally teams of two were randomly drawn together for four-ball Ambrose to finish the 54-hole challenge.

The day commenced with the typical BBQ golfers breakfast accompanied by doughnuts and danishes provided by the local bakery along with fresh fruit. David Barker (NSW/ ACT Executive Officer – PGA) welcomed the players and spoke about the support each of them provided just by playing in the day and raising funds through their fundraising page that was set up when they registered. Each

player also received an individually signed acknowledgement letter thanking them for showing their support and signed by Adam Scott.

Sponsors played a significant part in ensuring the day was a success, with Srixon donating golfer gift bags and many of the major prizes on the day for each of the three formats. Drummond Golf again showed their support to Special Olympics as they have supported the golf days for the past two years with generous prize allocations along with Bolle / Bushnell, RoyalandAwesome, Adam Scott Foundation, Timex and Golf Australia.

Drinks on the day were spread out through the course as Schweppes provided Gatorade and water in their large drinks carts along with Nudie providing Juice to ensure that the players and volunteers were very well hydrated with the temperature hitting the mid 30’s during the middle of the day.

The day finished with a three-course dinner with emcee Luke Elvy hosting the evening and interviewing Steve Robson (Gold Medalist- Special Olympics Summer Games in 2011) and introducing the Special Olympic Dance Group who performed several dance routines to entertain the guest during dinner.

David Streichler (National sponsorship Manager) expressed his thanks to the players and each of the sponsors because without their generous support then this unique event would not have been as successful and certainly not have raised in excess of $22,000.

What the players and officials are dreaming Brian Eagle and David Newbery gaze into their crystal balls for a tongue-in-cheek look at what some of our top golfers and others are hoping for in 2015.

Adam Scott: To win a second major and return to the world number one ranking.

Rory McIlroy: A US Masters victory to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as winners of all four majors.

Tiger Woods: A return to fitness, a clear mind, major number 15 and definitely no one-on-one interviews with Sports Illustrated senior writer Dan Jenkins.

Dan Jenkins: A one-on-one Q&A interview, on or off the record, with Tiger. Ah, maybe not!

Sergio Garcia: The self-belief and confidence he can get the monkey-off-his-back and win his first major and that no one picks up his ball in the rough when he’s in contention.

Phil Mickelson: A few tips on what not to say at media conferences.

Bubba Watson: Another US Masters win and more 388-metre drives.

John Senden: Another good year, slightly better than 2014, and selection in the International Team for the Presidents Cup.

John Daly: To win more than $US500,000 this season – something he hasn’t done since 2005.

Rod Pampling and Robert Allenby: A bit more luck and more invitations to US PGA Tour events.

Miguel Angel Jimenez: More victories on the Champions and European tours along with fat cigars and quality Spanish red wine.

Bernhard Langer: To continue where he left off in 2014 with five victories – six would be nice in 2015.

Colin Montgomerie: To break his record of 308 consecutive holes without a three-putt on the Champions Tour.

Peter Senior: A win on the Champions Tour to rid the tag as the player to have won the most career money without a victory ($US4,867,528) in five years.

Gary Player: The chance to design and build his first golf course in Australia – a place where he won seven Aussie Opens. He’s built one in virtually every other golfing nation so why not here?

Karrie Webb: Another major, a return to the top-5 in the world rankings and not be reminded she is 40 years old.

Marc Leishman: More of the same and a second win on the US PGA Tour.

Lydia Ko: To jump two places to number one in the world and not to lose her lucky ball marker on the green.

Nick Price: An International Team victory at this year’s Presidents Cup.

Minjee Lee: An LPGA Tour card and at least one tour victory.

Jarrod Lyle: A super healthy year and to earn $332,640 in 20 tournament to retain his US PGA Tour playing privileges.

PGA of Australia: A Home of Golf in Melbourne for all golfing bodies to share and work together.

Jason Day: No recurring hand injuries and a first major – any of the four will do.

Golf Australia: Same as the PGA and a spike in memberships, especially women and juniors.

Brendan Jones: An injury-free year and a return to form on the Japan Tour.

ALPG: More Australians competing on the US LPGA Tour and winning on the Ladies European Tour.

Cameron Smith: A US PGA Tour card and more time to cruise around in his latest acquisition – a silver Subaru WRX STI. 76

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Australian golf clubs: More members and social players on the fairways.

Aussie golf fans: More than 20 Aussie victories worldwide and to see the likes of Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day play more tournaments in Australia next summer.

England fans: A brighter year and a victory or two each for Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. Failing that, at least one Test

win in the Ashes Series. Okay, a drawn match will suffice.

South African fans: More commitment from talented Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and a kick in the pants for the pair delivered by the Big Easy, Ernie Els.

Steady ‘Danish’ pro cashes in

By David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

HE never came close to winning a tournament, but Danish touring professional Nemme Penge had a successful season on the lucrative European Tour.

On tour, the aging, well-dressed Dane is known as “Old Man Par” simply because he plays par golf and nothing else.

He never shoots in the low- to mid60s and you’ll never see him finish a tournament under par.

Old Man Par picked up another sizable cheque for €29,450 ($42,113) at the BMW PGA Championship, €24,300 ($34,750) at the Open de Espana and €20,000 ($28,600) at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

In these events, he finished 38th, 12th and 47th respectively.

Satisfied with his season, Old Man Par made the Perth International his final tournament of the season.

He made the cut and banked a cheque for €4164 ($5950).

Nemme Penge just plods along on the European Tour travelling from country-tocountry playing even-par golf and for some reason you can’t wipe the smile off his face.

With all the other smaller cheques, Old Man Par finished inside the top-90 on the European Tour money list – well inside the top-115 who keep their cards for next season.

This past European Tour season, I kept a diary on Nemme Penge and discovered he played 37 tournaments and made the cut in 27.

Not bad for a player who never has an eagle, birdie, bogey or worse – just boring old pars.

Old Man Par didn’t qualify to play in the majors in the US and didn’t make it into the World Golf Championship tournaments, but he did get into the Open Championship and the rich BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and picked up a cheque in both tournaments.

So, if you are a young guy starting out on next season’s European Tour just emulate the steady Dane and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.

His earnings for the season were more than €305,000 ($436,000).

His best for the season was an eighth place at the Alstom Open de France where he banked €75,000 ($107,250).

FOOTNOTE: Nemme Penge is a fictitious character. Translated from Danish to English, Nemme Penge means Easy Money.

Had a “real” touring pro played nothing but par golf he would have earned the money listed in the story. Nice work if you can achieve it.

the 19th hole

PGA ‘royalty’ honour Dan Cullen at his 100th qualify for the British Open. He also was a Director and Chairman of the PGA of Australia.

Cullen can lay claim to being the world’s oldest active golf pro, still occasionally swinging a club and imparting his wisdom at Cullen’s Driving Range, which he set up at Little Bay, near St Michaels Golf Club, about 50 years ago.

For his service as a British Air Force bomber pilot in Europe during World War II, Cullen was honoured with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Among his distinguished golf-playing achievements was representing Australia against the USA, winning successive Western Australia Opens in 1937 and 38, beating South African great Bobby Locke in a challenge exhibition and in 1978 at age 64 becoming the oldest player to

Inside Golf’s exclusive picture from the lunch – organised by the PGA of Australia shows 10 of the 33 PGA Life Members and an Honorary Life Member who were able to attend.

Crossword > 1

By Bill Colhoun

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Cullen was awarded special presentations by the PGA of Australia and the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland to honour his standing as the longest serving member of both organisations. He has been a member of the PGA in Australia for 82 years and for more than 50 years in Europe.

Ace a highlight at Tamborine Mountain Open Jumping, shouting and punching the air, visiting Pine Rivers player James Bath shattered the tranquil atmosphere of Tamborine Mountain Golf Club when he sank a hole-in-one at its recent 2014 open championship.

His view that the course had been wonderfully prepared - especially the immaculate greens - was shared by popular sports commentator and host of the awards ceremony, Peter Meares, who also took part as a player.

Using his seven-iron on hole 14, James landed his ball on the green and it gently, slowly, found its way

The bourgeoning Tamborine Mountain Club played host to 66 competitors during the open, including players from 11 visiting golf clubs. Its plan to target offmountain golfers has been a great success and establishes the event on the Australian golfing calendar.

His team of four players and their wives had arrived on the Mountain three days earlier and rented a golf estate holiday home. The team played on both qualifying days, as their partners travelled around the Scenic Rim visiting wineries and markets and taking in a couple of national park walks.

“I loved the course. It’s second to none,” said James.

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ed@insidegolf.com.au

record roll-up of 10 PGA Life Members, representing more than 600 years of service to Australian professional golf, attended a lunch to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dan Cullen,DFC, at the NSW Golf Club in Sydney in November.

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James’ hole-in-one was equally matched by the eventual Open winner, local golfer Peter Morris, with a score of 43 stableford points.

At the awards ceremony, Ray White principal Rod Stehr said plans for a bigger 2015 Open were already under way and details would be announced shortly.

Rod Stehr (centre) congratulates a delighted hole-in-one winner James Bath at the awards ceremony which was hosted by Peter Meares (right).

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ACROSS

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1 Winner of the 2014 Australian Masters (4,6) 6 Golf pants, ___ fours (4) 10 Eighth Greek letter (5) 11 Growth once featured by Craig Stadler and Corey Pavin (9) 12 Nationality of Laetitia Beck who made her professional debut at the 2014 Women’s British Open (7) 13 Accumulates (7) 14 Tendon (5) 16 Hit the ball further, perhaps (8) 19 Handicap (8) 20 Styles (5) 23 Australian player who finished in the 2014 Web.com Tour’s top 50, _______ Percy (7) 25 Kiwi winner of the 2014 CME Group Tour Championship (5,2) 27 Course at which Greg Norman won The Open for the first time (9) 28 Winner of the 2011 Canadian Open, Sean _____ (5) 29 The time of an event (4) 30 Aussie winner of the 2014 Valspar Championship (4,6)

DOWN

1 Australian, James, who tied for second at the 2014 Australian Masters (7) 2 Areas of open space (9) 3 Winner of the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic, Ben _____ (5) 4 Clear and bright (6) 5 Displaying culture, taste, and knowledge (8) 7 Amateur who qualified for the Australian Open at the last minute, _____ Herbert (5) 8 Winner of the 2014 DP World Tour Championship, Henrik _______ (7) 9 How most golfers want to hit the ball off the tee (8) 15 Clothing collection perhaps supplied by a golfer’s sponsor (8) 17 Hit-or-miss (9) 18 Sequence of events (8) 19 Repeated from memory (7) 21 Perhaps a pouch worn while playing a round in Scotland? (7) 22 Keep going after finishing a round? (4,2) 24 Golf ranking: Order Of _____ (5) 26 Hit a ball off the tee (5) Answers: page 81 www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2015

77

your voice

A love/hate relationship Is there a hole where your experiences aren’t typical? Think about it. Perhaps it’s one where you can never manage the dogleg—ending up in the rough every time. Or one where, despite your handicap of eighteen, you always get down in par or better. Maybe bizarre things happen on your special hole – one day you whack a beautiful drive off the tee but you just roll the wrists a little too much and it hooks around and smacks into a gum tree. With the sound of a rifle’s crack it ricochets back past you to finish twenty metres behind the tee in a shocking lie...perhaps steep downhill on a loose dirt bank?

My father had such a hole. It was the ninth at Oxley, a course laid out in Brisbane’s west beside the original main road to Ipswich.

The hole is a short, 129m par-3. Its green is elevated and well protected by bunkers.

In Dad’s day there was a deep-lipped one right at the green’s front. These features of the hole were important factors in his interesting relationship with it.

His first notable experience involved the green’s elevation. It was the cause of two breaks. First there was the physical break.

One Saturday afternoon he stood at the edge of the drop contemplating his putt’s line when cries of “fore”, “look out!” and “duck!!” disturbed his concentration. Dad

took a fateful step back and tumbled down the slope, a fall which left him in severe pain from a broken ankle. The second break was an enforced absence from his beloved ancient Scottish game. No golf for eight weeks.

Letter of the Month

That short 129m distance and golf’s spirit of random chance combined to enhance my father’s score there a few years later. His ball hit the green and bounced straight towards the pin then disappeared.

Was it hidden by a fold in the surface, had it rolled off the back into a bunker? Such things had happened before. There was another possibility and once on the green he discovered the best answer to the disappearance. An ace on the hole where he’d broken his ankle! He must have felt that justice had been done. He came home jubilant and tipsy. Mum’s interests included gardening – but not with a sand wedge. Golf was a mystery to her and she didn’t understand a hole-inone’s significance. Her response to the news was a puzzled question. “Is that good or bad?”

Some question.

Not so long after that Dad’s tee shot landed in the deep bunker at the front. He’d got out of it cheaply on previous occasions but this time was different. His first attempt just failed

to clear the lip. The ball fell back into the sand not far below. For once he threw aside his usual caution and behaved like Kevin Costner’s Tin Cup character in the much later movie. He was determined not to chip safely out the back but to succeed in going over the lip. Eleven shots later he just made it onto the green. It took him only one longish putt to finish, a testament to his single-mindedness . It was pride that had kept him going. That pride endured. He always regarded his laborious, frustrating fourteen more favourably than the hole-inone. Don’t look for rationality – this story is about golf. I raise my tumbler of Dalwhinnie to it.

Footnote Dad, Eric Doherty, was an Oxley Golf Club Committee member and B Grade Champion before his early death in 1961 at the age of 48.

Ian Doherty

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!

Take two and call the Doc I read with interest about Max Gee breaking his age in golf (November issue).

My husband, Kevin (Doc) White, playing at Long Island GC, recently shot 76 (43 points) off a handicap of 11 to win the day, and beat his age by two. He is 78 and has been a member for 50 years.

If that wasn’t enough, the following day, he teamed with local member Ray Sill in the Auto Club Golf Championship to shoot 37 and 38 points for a combined total of 75 points to win the event by 5 shots – and win a trip to Queensland to play in the finals.

M White

Sweep the broomstick I am a great admirer of Adam Scott and the way he conducts himself … but something happened on the Sunday at The Australian Open that highlights the need for a rule change.

Adam took a penalty drop into light rough.

Still about 260 metres from the green, he used his long putter to measure the drop location.

Surely this is not in the spirit of the game and this rule never intended such an occurrence.

When this rule was first introduced even drivers were not much longer than long irons.

I firmly believe the R&A should change the rule to read that the player must measure the distance with the club he or she intends to use to play the next shot.

David Worley

No membership required

Brisbane inner-city golf courses

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18 holes Pay and play

St Lucia Golf Links (07) 3403 2556 Victoria Park Golf Complex (07) 3252 9891 www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 78

January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

demo dates

Demo Days: The right and wrong way to evaluate gear

G

oing to a Demo Day is one of the best ways to test the latest gear available.

In addition to getting a feel for newest sticks on the market, you can get expert technical advice from the person conducting the demo day, and even compare side-byside how your current clubs performs against recommended clubs.

But just rocking up and banging out balls willy nilly is not necessarily the best way to evaluate the effectiveness of a golf club. In fact, there are many common mistakes that most golfers make when approaching a demo day.

The first mistake is usually upon arrival, where most golfers – in their excitement to hit the newest Big Dog — forget to warm up first with some iron shots.

“On most occasions golfers go straight for the driver and start hitting. This can leave them with negative thoughts because they haven’t warmed up,” says Matt Tudor, PGA Professional and Technical Rep/Tour support for Callaway Golf South Pacific.

“In addition, golfers usually judge distance with clubs they are trying at Demo Days, but this is generally a false indication as most ranges used limited flight balls that don’t go as far,” he adds.

Another common mistake is choosing the

PING Location

wrong equipment to demo. With so many models and brands to choose from, golfers sometimes just grab the one that “looks” the best. But this can lead to disappointment.

“Hitting ball after ball using the wrong club is one of the most common mistakes golfers make,” Tudor explains. “The golfer needs to be educated by an expert on what specification golf club best suits them, and then demo that specific club,” he adds.

This sentiment is echoed by Adam Nance, the PING PGA Tour / Technical Rep in NSW. Nance has seen many golfers approach a Demo Day with the wrong mindset.

“Golfers need to ask what they should be using. A lot of times golfers come to a demo day, and they have already done the research on the internet and they presume they need a particular club, but in a lot of the cases they need a completely different club,” Nance explains.

“Because they have been using a certain driver in the past – say 9-degrees—a golfer expects that they want to be hitting the same 9-degree loft again,” Nance says.

“A lot of people presume that to get more distance they need a lower loft, but 99 percent of the time they need to go to MORE loft. And as the clubheads have gotten bigger in the drivers over the years, we’ve had to

introduce more loft to get the ball into the air. So they have been using an older driver, say 400cc’s, now all the drivers are made at 460cc’s, and they need to gather more loft,” he adds.

Beyond the driver, choosing the right iron sets or combinations is also important.

“Getting the right loft, shaft and lie angle is critical in irons, as is getting the right iron set combination,” Nance says.

“Should you hit a 4-iron or 4-iron hybrid?

The ladies, for example, as their clubhead speed slows, they basically hit those clubs the same distance. By asking the technical expert at the Demo Day, they can discover which club fills the correct ‘gap’ in their distances, and thus is best for their game,” he says.

Matching a specific shaft to a club is also an

area that is fraught with danger “People presume that the standard shafts aren’t as good as the aftermarket shafts, but at PING they are probably better, because they have been designed for the actual golf club,” Nance explains.

“I’ve see people with a G5 driver with an Aldila NV shaft in it. They presume that because they’ve been comfortable with that shaft in that model before, that it’s going to be good with a new head, but it’s completely different. It reacts differently. The shafts that we put in are specially designed for that head.

In 99 percent of the cases, they are probably the best shaft for that club. A lot of people get wrapped up assuming a $1000 retail shaft will be better than a standard shaft. But it’s not really true in many cases.” •

What about Fitting Days?

While Demo Days are certainly useful for the majority of golfers, manufacturers like PING, Callaway and Titleist are beginning to focus more on Fitting Days. This is a more in- depth process as technical representatives use a launch monitor to best help you choose the right club for you. Fitting days are usually run

by appointment only, can take around 20-60 minutes, and you get the full attention from the fitter.

For a full listing of Demo Days and Fitting days, visit www.insidegolf.com.au/demodays-australia

Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Day Date Time

New South Wales Camden Lakeside Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday January 06 Golf Paradise Driving Range ° Tuesday January 06 Castle Hill Country Club ◊ * Wednesday January 07 The Ridge Driving Range ° Wednesday January 07 Merewether Golf Club ◊ * Thursday January 08 Belmont Golf Club ◊ * Friday January 09 Illawarra Golf Complex ◊ * Tuesday January 13 Bonnie Doon Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday January 14 Toronto Golf Club ◊ * Thursday January 15 Waratah Golf Club ◊ * Friday January 16 Pambula Merimbula Golf Club ◊ * Monday January 19 Eden Gardens Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday January 20 Tura Beach Country Club ◊ * Wednesday January 21 Narooma Golf Club ◊ * Thursday January 22 Moruya Golf Club ◊ * Thursday January 22 Mollymook Golf Club ◊ * Friday January 23 Pymble Golf Club ◊ * Tuesday January 27 New South Wales Golf Club ◊ * Wednesday January 28 Moore Park Driving Range ◊ * Wednesday January 28 Liverpool Golf Club ◊ * Thursday January 29 Thornleigh Golf Centre ◊ * Thursday January 29 Elanora Country Club ◊ * Friday January 30 Queensland Palm Meadows Driving Range ° Friday January 30 Victoria Sorrento Golf Club ◊ ** Wednesday January 07 Yarra Bend Golf Driving Range ° ◊ * Thursday January 08 Lonsdale Golf Club ◊ * Friday January 09 Barwon Heads Golf Club ◊ * Saturday January 10 National Golf Club ◊ ** Saturday January 17 Sandringham Driving Range ° ◊ * Wednesday January 21

9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 3pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 3pm 11am - 5pm 8am - 12pm 2 - 5pm 9am - 2pm 10am - 3pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 3pm

More DEMO Dates coming in our fEbruary issue

1 - 5pm 1 - 5pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 3pm 5 - 7.30pm

* 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 | January 2015

79

golf directory

Wine and Golf Weekend

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Stay at picturesque Greentrees Guest House located on the Doorstep of Wentworth Golf Club and Duntryleague Golf Club, close to our premier wineries and restaurants.

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There is nothing like golfing in the high country of Orange only 3 hours drive from Sydney.

Orange has three wonderful courses where visitors are most welcome. All courses are minutes from Melview Greens which is a chip away from Wentworth Golf Course and owned by a keen golfing family. All apartments are fully appointed with undercover parking at the door.

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Benalla Golf Club

Three Day / Two Night Golf Package Includes: Unlimited golf, two nights accommodation, breakfast each morning, 2 x evening meals (vouchers up to the value of $20) • Fully Irrigated Greens & Fairways • Full Bar & Bistro Facilities • Abundant Wildlife including Kangaroos

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MELVIEW GREENS

Phone 02 6362 0955 Studio & Family Apartments, Ploughmans Lane Orange NSW 2800 www.melviewgreens.com.au

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Your choice of resort and club courses.

• Noosa Springs • Twin Waters • Club Pelican • Coolum Golf & Spa • Mt Coolum • Noosa Golf Club • Horton Park • Headland • Caloundra • Peregian Springs Some conditions apply

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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Crossword Answers N I T T I E S

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golf directory

Aquarius R

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MAGIC MERIMBULA This is the most popular package on the Sapphire Coast, it gets booked out early - don't miss out

Play • Horizons • Kooindah Waters (Wyong) • Pacific Dunes • Cypress Lakes • Nelson Bay • Tanilba Bay • Hawks Nest • The Vintage

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• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort.

• 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied).

• 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

Packages starting from:

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• Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share

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Other packages alsO available

• 3 Games Golf - Horizons, Nelson Bay and Tanilba Bay • 3 x $20 Dinner Vouchers • 3 Cooked Breakfasts • 3 Nights Accomodation (twin share) • Total Cost per person $300 (Arriving Sunday, Monday or Tuesday)

www.lemontreemotel.com.au

*Conditions apply

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January 2015 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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golf directory

Play anytime - No waiting

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Mornington Peninsula *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

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Nudgee Golf Club

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

BLACK TEE CHALLENGE

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

3rd Friday of each month “Bay Golf Day”

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 • No JoiNiNg Fees

Visitors pay only $25 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

More social playing times now on a Monday & Thursday

Includes competition fee and after golf platter for 4 Phone: (07) 3267 7744

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Central to all Murray Courses • Self-serve, eat as much as you like, Buffet Continental Breakfast • Club evening dinner vouchers • Group organisers free of charge (groups of 12 or more) • Unlimited golf each day (conditions apply at some clubs) • Non golfers deduct $30 per day • Single Supplement $20 extra per day • Upgrade to Spa Room or cooked breakfast only $7.50 per person per day!

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TaylorMade Tour Golf Bag Charcoal/Red 9.5” standard

$139 $150 SAVE $50

$150

$100

Left Hand Only Odyssey XG 2.0 Putter Model

$59

$15

Nike Covert 2.0 Driver

Cleveland Hybrid Adidas Lightweight Waterproof Iron 588 Altitude 2 Years Waterproof

Cleveland Deluxe 14 Way Bag Horizontal and vertical full length dividers Putter holder Cooler pocket Black, Blue, Red, Green & Charcoal

Adjustable

SAVE $30 Navy or Black

$369

$239

Right hand only

Distance ball with great feel

$10

$149

$109

$79

(Tour Authentic)

Adjustable driver

TaylorMade Burner Balls

Maxfli Tempo White balls $10/ Dozen

$299

Individually boxed

Project X Stiff Shafts Including Covers

TaylorMade Yellow Burner Balls

Doz

$20 Dozen Balls

Callaway X Hot Pro 18º Hybrid $79 ea 15º or 13.5º 3 Fairway $129 ea 9.5º Adjustable Driver $179 ea

Great for ball competitions Bulk Qty

$30

Callaway X Hot Caps

Lob, Sand, Gap and Pitching Black Pearl or Satin

TaylorMade Spider S Putter

22° loft Regualr graphite Number 4 Replaces 3 iron Includes cover

$189

$49

Including covers

Cleveland 588 RTX Wedges

TaylorMade Lethal Balls

38 compression for moderate swing speeds Individually boxed

$799

$399

$199

Callaway Super Soft Balls

Callaway Graphite Irons x8 Regular Flex 4 to sand iron Right hand only Easy use model Game improvement

SAVE $100

(Classic Anser shape)

HALF PRICE!

Includes cover

Includes cover & wrench

Callaway Set & Bag Package Callaway X-Hot 7 Irons 2 Hybrids Rescues 1 Fairway Metalwood 1 Titanium Driver 1 14-way Bag Various Bag Colours

$1199 SAVE $300

$899 Includes covers (4)

TopFlite Gamer V2 Srixon Z-Star or 3 piece ball Srixon Z-Star XV Long and soft HALF 3 piece quality PRICE! $144 for 144 Individually boxed balls

$12

$26

Doz

CURRENT MODEL

Not individually boxed DZ

URETHANE COVER TOUR BALL

Callaway Hex Balls Urethane cover tour quality ball

Chrome (3 piece) $25/doz Chrome + (4 piece) $25/doz Black Tour (5 piece) $29/doz