Issue 67 Inside Golf

AFTER THE FLOODS

Golf industry begins massive recovery

COURSE REVIEWs

Secret Harbour

INTERVIEWs

Tom Lewis: Europe’s amateur star

INSTRUCTION

Tips to cure your slice

FEATURE

Golf on the NSW South Coast

Q&A with

PETER SENIOR

Australia’s man of steel

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Every golfer has a unique swing and every golfer needs some element of customization with their equipment. A large percentage of players will make compensations to fit their equipment. This will dramatically reduce improvement and not allow the players to reach their full potential.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au .............................................................................................................................................................................................

insidethisissue

From the Editor’s desk A

U S T R A L I A

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www.insidegolf.com.au Editor: Richard Fellner P: 0407 000 440 richard@insidegolf.com.au Senior Writer: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Contributing Editors: Larry Canning, Mike Orloff, Rob Willis, Ross Perrett, Richard Nizielski, Greg Dowling, Kurt Stegbauer, Mark Victorsen, Jamie Glazier, Lee Harrington, Brent German, Jason Gruber, Scott Beaumont, David Williams Design & Layout: Nick Thorn National Sales & Marketing Director: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 | F: (07) 5535 4922 M: 0410 575 303 sam@insidegolf.com.au NSW Sales: Scott Barsby M: 0424 779 199 | E: scott@insidegolf.com.au Qld Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: dg.ross@live.com.au Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 | accounts@insidegolf.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919

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Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper and its management.

Cover photos © Anthony Powter It’s official: 37,100 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: April 10 - September10

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

The floods that ravaged our nation last month were a stark reminder of just how humbling Mother Nature can be. All of our usual day-to-day worries and concerns seem trivial when compared to the truly mammoth task that lay ahead for many.

But as all disasters tend to do, the floods also showed us the strength of the human resolve, and the banding together during the recovery and cleanup revealed just how strong we Aussies can be when we work together for a common goal.

The disaster comes at a particularly difficult time for the golf industry in general, which has been hit hard this summer by poor weather (leading to fewer rounds played), a

strong Aussie Dollar (leading to more online purchases vs locally) and other factors.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that, prior to the floods, some courses and retailers were suffering a massive 40 per cent drop in business compared to last year. The floods will put many businesses at further risk, while many courses may never be the same.

So what can we all do to help?

While the thought of golf may seem trivial at a time like this, helping out your local course will have a follow-on effect to the entire community. By donating a bit of time or money to your local club, you’ll not only be helping out the course itself, but also their employees (and their families), contractors, local businesses and even the course’s partners or product suppliers.

So, whether or not your local course has been directly affected by floods, why not ring up your local course/club and see how you can help. It may be as simple as dedicating a few hours to help clean up. Or maybe having a meal in their restaurant (if open). Or buying a dozen balls from the pro shop. Even from afar, making donations via one of the disaster relief funds can have a significant impact.

Remember: every little bit helps your course (and community) on the road to recovery.

Until next month,

38 Australian Open vs Presidents Cup 56 Will Olympic golf make the cut?

59 Travel: Great Ocean Road 60 Travel: New Caledonia 61 Are you Ready2Golf?

62 Charles Tarby to the fore

34 New products 49 PGA IGI 50 Golf tips 53 Inside your mind 54 Health & fitness 55 Junior golf 57 Golf Legends - Carnegie Clark 58 Architecture - Residential courses 63 Teeing off - Craig Bellamy 60 Last Word 61 The 19th hole 62 Golf Directory 64 Demo dates

Richard Fellner Editor

Contents OntheCover

12 After the floods - Golf industry begins massive recovery 18 Q & A with Peter Senior - Australia’s man of steel 36 Course Reviews: Secret Harbour 40 Golf on the NSW South Coast 46 Tom Lewis - Europe’s amateur star 52 Tips to cure your slice

Features

30 Refreshing Alison to be herself 32 The biomechanics of golf

Regulars

7 Chips & Shanks 16 Industry news 20 Events 25 Upcoming events 26 Results from around the world

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February 2011

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And the winner is…

TIME FOR EQUALITY

It’s time the sport of golf moved into the 21st century and recognise women as equals. Golf has always treated women players as inferior and only recently have we been allowed to become full members of golf clubs, having in the past been classified as “Associate Members”. There is still one major step to be taken for the recognition of women golfers’ rights and that is to abolish “Women’s Tees”, and allow all golfers to play the same course.

Imagine the outcry if women had to play tennis on a small “Ladies Court” with a lowered net or if women mountain climbers had “Little Mountains” reserved for ladies to climb. Or if the Olympicsized pool was considered too big for women’s swimming events. Women cricketers would be outraged if they had to play on a shortened pitch.

There seems to be no other sport that discriminates against women as golf does.

Golf in schools

Women golfers must unite and demand to be treated as equals and play the full length course. “Hope Morelength” via email Ed note: The only problem with your argument is that, by removing the ladies tees, you would also be removing the thoroughly enjoyable male sledging that comes when my mates’ duffed drives end up short of the infamous red markers.

In all seriousness, we have noticed that more and more courses are eschewing the traditional “Mens & Womens” tee monikers, and instead assigning themed names for the teeboxes.

Kalgoorlie GC, Hamilton Island GC and Barnbougle Dunes are good examples of this, with names like “Hoop Pine” and “Grass Tree” adorning their tee boxes.

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Letters of the month

Have you got something to say? Then tell us! Write to us via email at

Have you got something to say? Thenortell Write via Inside emailGolf, at ed@insidegolf.com.au mailus! a letter to: to Theus Editor, Nunawading, 3131.Inside Tell anGolf, interesting story or ed@insidegolf.com.auPO or Box mail360 a letter to: The Vic Editor, PO Box 360 something funny aboutstory golf and you could WIN a about golf Nunawading, Vic 3131.

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I write in relation to Daryl Miller’s letter (Inside Golf, December).

Surely I must be missing something. Daryl thinks that members of clubs who contribute thousands to the future capital expenditure programs of the Club (via entrance fees) or thousands to the increasing day-to-day operational costs of the Club should welcome him with open arms when he wishes to go and use their facilities which he contributes nothing more than a one-off green fee to.

Open days have become a necessity for many golf clubs due to significant cost increases in wages, water, electricity, food, chemicals, fertilisers, petrol, compliance costs with new OHS legislation, environmental management costs, land tax... and the list goes on.

With these increases, members have seen their membership costs increase (forcing many members out of clubs). For many of these semi-private clubs, welcoming nonmembers like Daryl have contributed to traffic on the course, decreased members’ ability to access their facility, increased round times and decreases in etiquette standards (dress code, rule infringements, etc) and quality of the course.

Families do have less and less free time and for some it is hard to justify the expense, but

at the end of the day it is your personal choice as to whether you wish to join a golf club and be part of that family or not. It is clearly not as simplistic as saying clubs need to “do themselves a favour by thinking outside the box when it comes to the type of membership programs they offer”. The problem with golf clubs today is that they try to be too many different things to too many people; and get caught in a spiral of discounting and compromising until they no longer have any joining fees for capital improvement projects and therefore struggle financially.

If you are looking for a club that offers a limited membership arrangement like Daryl is implying then there is one for you. However, don’t expect that Club to offer four hour rounds in pristine conditions with ongoing capital improvement projects. The reality is, that club will have a significant number of public players and generally more rounds than the facility can handle which will lead to lower standards and course quality, because in the marketplace today that is the only way that the club will survive.  Stewart Fenton Cheltenham, VIC

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My 10-year-old grandson recently said to me: “At school we can play cricket, rugby, tennis or soccer. We can swim, do athletics, go to the gym and row, but we can’t play golf.” I love taking him on my course and he just loves it. I organised a couple of clinics for him but that has to happen during school holidays. So golf in school: is it a possibility?

Love your magazine.  Dominique, via email

Opportunity lost

GOLF organisations pay public relations people millions across Australia annually, apparently for nothing.

A recent storm lightning tragedy on a golf course near Newcastle took a man’s life.

It was reported widely on television news services.

No golf spokesperson or officials went on the news to discuss the recommended action for people to take if on a golf course when such a storm threatens.

After all, the players are using metal sticks, pulling metal buggies or riding in a golf cart with their clubs exposed at the back.

Okay, so it is not the most positive subject, but golf could have shown its responsible concern for not just its own club members but also the thousands who only walk their fairways occasionally.

And guess what, news watchers may think about golf. Name withheld at writer’s request

Service no shoe-in

ON Christmas Eve, I ventured back into the retail golf world in my area in search of golf shoes.

Surprising is not the word for it.

My first foray was to a huge outlet manned at the cash register by two young males.

My partner and I and several other people wandered around failing to catch the attention of the employees.

Eventually I returned to the cash registers and one young man was enticed to accompany me to the shoes area. No sale.

Next stop was a signature sports store where a young lady rolled her eyes at our entrance and informed us the store did not stock golf shoes.

Next, another well-known large outlet where we found our own way to the sports shoe area.

Again we were ignored until we approached an employee who confessed to little knowledge of available stock. Trips in and out of the back room were followed by a public address call for assistance.

Was it me or Christmas or staff not on commission? Name and address supplied and withheld at writer’s request

Divot disaster

I am a member at Kingston Heath which hosted the 2011 British Open Australasian Final Qualification Event.

This morning I played a round of golf and was both astounded and appalled at the number of unrepaired divots on the fairways. Every fairway had deep and obvious divots. Golf is a game where ‘active ethics’ is a mantra and surely leaving the course as one has found it is part of those ethics. I doubt that the players would appreciate a return to unraked bunkers and the stymie rule. Tidying up a divot is a simple measure for the benefit of other players and to maintain the playing conditions and aesthetics of our courses. Our tournament players should be the leaders in this area. Alister Murray, via email

Keep up with us online!

Read the entire issue of Inside Golf online: www.insidegolf.com.au Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/insidegolf, keep up to the minute with our Twitter feed (@InsideGolf) or if you prefer - drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au AFTER THE FLOODS

Golf industry begins massive recovery

COURSE REVIEWS

Secret Harbour

FEATURE

INTERVIEWS

Tom Lewis: Europe’s amateur star

INSTRUCTION

Tips to cure your slice

Golf on the NSW South Coast

Q&A with

PETER SENIOR

Australia’s man of steel

From the Editor I’d like to welcome Jamie Glazier to the Inside Golf family. Jamie is a qualified peak performance and mental conditioning coach specialising in the fields of sport and poker. He is also the founder of Dare2Dream, and works with high-profile clients like Adam Bland, Steve Jones, Stacey Keating, Bryden Macpherson, and Poker’s own Joe Hachem. Jamie will be providing monthly instruction and tips surrounding the Mental Game which, as we all know, is paramount to success in golf. Welcome aboard Jamie!

Free 3-pack Fre Srixon S Sr ix ‘softffeel’ eel golf balls

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...............................................................................................................................................................................

League star shines at St Michael’s

Kel Nagle (centre) with Peter Thomson and Joe Steranka of the US PGA

Nagle celebrates 90th in style

Golfing legend Kel Nagle celebrated the biggest 90th birthday party in the history of Australian golf when more than 100 of his friends, family and fellow golf professionals enjoyed lunch at the Mona Vale Golf Club in Sydney’s north.

Organised by the PGA of Australia’s NSW/ACT division, Nagle was feted in person, by video and in writing by a ‘who’s who’ of world golf, including Peter Thomson, PGA of Australia Chairman Mark Gibson, US PGA CEO Joe Steranka and former Australian Open champ Bob Shearer. Jack Nicklaus sent a video message, while

Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Bruce Devlin, David Graham and Bruce Crampton were among those to send letters of congratulations.

Nagle was joined by two special guests in fellow PGA professionals Al Howard, who is 94, and 96-year-old Dan Cullen.

With 61 wins Nagle won more Australasian Tour events than any other player (Peter Thomson has 31 and Greg Norman 30). He scored a tournament victory every year from 1949 to 1975 and with the highlight being his triumph at the 1960 Centenary Open at St Andrews.

High profile NRL footballer Braith Anasta showed his talents extend further than the rugby league field with some solid form on the golf course during his Christmas break from pre-season training.

The Roosters forward, who has been spotted having lessons from highly regarded teaching pro Gary Barter at the Australian Golf Club, returned a stableford scratch score of 38, equating to a 2-under par round at the St Michaels course in Sydney.

Anasta’s name then appeared in the fine print in the results pages of the Sydney newspapers a week later when he backed that round up with a 1-under par score at St Mich’s, in an indication his previous effort was no fluke.

McKechnie sizzles at ‘The Jack’ Obviously inspired rather than intimidated by the celebrities in at t e n d a n c e , l o c a l - b oy L e i g h McKechnie fired rounds of 65-63 to finish at 15-under-par to win the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic at the Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.

It was an outstanding display from the 2009 NSW Open champ, who in winning ‘The Jack’ showed his liking for the courses of the Hunter Valley

chips&shanksNSW

region, with his NSW Open victory coming at the nearby Vintage course.

“It’s my fifth Jack Newton Classic and it great to win with the score that I made today,” said McKechnie.

Japanese Tour regular Brendan Jones finished in second position, six strokes shy of McKechnie, with James Nitties and Craig Parry finishing in a tie for third at 8-underpar. Ladies European Tour Player Nikki Garrett won the ladies event with a 6-under-par total.

In the celebrity field, actormusician Nick Ardle took the prize, edging out former Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels coach, Michael Hagan. Other celebrities in the field included actors Kyton Grantley and Steven Curry, Australian NRL player Kurt Gidley and channel nine personality John Blackman.

‘The Jack’, which has been in existence since 1979, raises money for the Diabetes Foundation and for Jack Newton Junior Golf.

Corporate sponsors of the event include Events New South Wales, A.H. Beard, Benedict Industries, Bluetongue, Cypress Lakes Resort, Erect Safe Scaffolding, L’Oreal, Schweppes and Emirates.

Golf Club in the final round to win the Jack Newton Junior Golf ’s Harvey Norman Week of Golf.

Freeman’s amazing last day score saw him leapfrog third day leader Jake Higginbottom and win the four-round prize with a 13-under par total. Higginbottom, who is a member at the Australian Golf Club, finished 9-under for the 72-holes.

In the girls event Claudia Lim held off a fast finishing Cathleen Santoso to take first place, while in the boys Sub Junior event, Fidel Concepcion of the Lynwood Golf Club led from start to finish to claim his second consecutive Har vey Norman Sub Junior Week of Golf. He finished the championship at 10-over par, three shots clear of Grant Booth from the Ashlar.

In the girls sub junior division 12-year-old Shelly Shin from Concord won by a convincing 12 shots on a total score of 20-over par for the four rounds.

Over 300 junior golfers contested the Harvey Norman Week of Golf at the Pennant Hills, Killara, Ashlar and Long Reef Golf Clubs.

Freeman fires at Harvey Norman Week of Golf Jarrod Freeman from Concord Golf Club shot a remarkable 9-under par 62 at the Pennant Hills

Rob Willis ed@insidegolf.com.au

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Chips&shanksQLD................................................................................................................................................................................. www.insidegolf.com.au Clubs feel the pinch

MANY Queensland golf clubs face a bleak couple of months after being hit by the devastating floods.

While some golf clubs are starting to get back to some semblance of normality, others are still counting the costs.

The impact on golf clubs, particularly bigger clubs, is going to be considerable.

It is not only the loss of competition fees, green fees and bar and catering income that hurts.

The constant rain causes a lot of disease in greens and fairways, washes out bunkers and generally magnifies maintenance problems and associated costs at a time when income streams have dried up.

The Wide Bay District Golf Association’s secretary Alan Aldridge said he doubted any of the district’s 20-member clubs has had decent trading in the past three months.

Car park members

Champion professional golfer Peter Senior with Ben Shand, who is receiving treatment at Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital

Senior a million dollar man AUSTRALIAN PGA champion Peter Senior might be the iron man of Australian golf, but there’s a softer side to the likable Queenslander – much softer.

For the past 15 years, Senior has devoted his time to raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation through the Peter Senior Charity ProAm at Hope Island on the Gold Coast.

And in that time Senior has helped raise more than $1m through his charity pro-am.

It all started in 1994 when Senior played in the inaugural Presidents Cup. “The first time I got involved was at the Presidents Cup,” Senior said.

“When I played in Europe I had to pick a charity so I picked one of the children’s

hospitals in London and when I came back and I played the second Presidents Cup in 1996.

“All the players got $25,000 or $30,000 and I had to name a charity in Australia so I did one for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and that’s how it started.

“I have been to the hospital quite a few times and I get to meet the kids and I tell you what – you really know how good you’ve got it when you see what these kids have got to go through.

“It’s real soul destroying. If anybody bitches and screams about how tough their life is they should spend half a day at the children’s hospital and they’ll never do it again.”

THE much-retired Oxley Golf Club general manager Don Gregory was famous for many things — not the least were his views on the game.

While general manager at Brisbane’s Pacific Golf Club he coined the phrase “car park members”.

“They drive into the car park, take the clubs out of the car and change their shoes at the boot.

“They go to the pro shop, pay the fees, play a round, return to the car park, put the clubs in the car, change the shoes and drive home.”

He was bemoaning the lack of use made of club bars and lounges etc, which many clubs upgraded after poker machines arrived.

Breathalysers didn’t help, either.

The last laugh

WITH one exception, the six new holes at the Hyatt Regency Coolum’s par-72 championship golf course were given the thumbs-up by most players in the Australian PGA Championship.

CONDOR SS SINGLE SEATER • • • •

The exception was the new par-3 sixth, surrounded by six bunkers, which many rejected as “too easy”.

Its 122-metres length, the critics said, made scoring par like dropping a shot.

One commentator was reported to have recommended “bulldozing it” and trying again.

The designer of the original course and of the replacement six holes, American Robert Trent-Jones Junior, noted the comment and sat back with a tolerant smile on his face, according to the Hyatt’s Director of Recreation Brett Braithwaite.

The smile was still there when Peter Senior sank the playoff putt that won him the 2010 title.

The reason: the “too easy” sixth played at an over-par average of 3.14 strokes.

Good advice

ROOKIE professional Alison Whitaker is always smiling – even when she’s engaged in a tough match.

That’s because she’s a glass half full person who always looks on the bright side of life.

Keep smiling is her motto.

“You are getting paid to do the thing you love so if you can’t put on a smile when you are doing it then you are making it harder than it is,” she said.

As a qualified psychologist, Whitaker is smart enough to know not every day’s a good day on the golf course.

“Golf has the ability to surprise you in the best and worst ways,” she said.

“I think believing in golf ’s ability to surprise you is sometimes part of the key to getting things back on track.

“You have to know there’s slumps and rises for everyone.

“But believing that the good things are going to start coming is so important for any kind of golfer whether they be an elite player or an amateur starting out.

“It’s important to keep believing in yourself.

“If you have missed 50 putts in a row you have to believe the next one is going to go in. That’s key to my mental game.”

Thieves hit vulnerable club TALK about being kicked when you are down.

Dalby Golf Club on the Darling Downs was seriously affected by the recent floods, but to add insult to injury thieves broke in and stole the club’s alcohol supply – not once, but three times.

The golf club’s secretary manager Leanne Toms said the club had not been able to trade since December 19, 2010.

“To add to our troubles, some mindless people have broken in to the club and stolen alcohol three times in three weeks,” Toms said.

“The golf course went under water on December 20, then again on December 29 and a third time on January 6.

“We did manage to clean up the course enough on January 2 to enable golf to be played on the 3rd, but unfortunately for the past 25 days the golf course has been under water or heavy rain.

“Some of the damage to our course includes a hole in our dam, pathways washed away, some up to two feet deep, the car park is completely ripped apart, greens dying due to the silt and water and much more.” 

Quote/Unquote

“We tournament golfers are much overrated. We get paid too much.”

– Tom Watson

David Newbery

david@insidegolf.com.au

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Yarra Bend welcomes BannLynch Golf Junior Program

Back to ‘Basics’ at Australasian Tour School Neven Basic cruised to victory at the 2010 PGA Tour of Australasia Final Stage qualifying at Melbourne’s Peninsula Country Club, and in the process set himself up an exciting year ahead.

The 32-year-old Basic shot rounds of 73-69-67-70 for a 9-under par total. He can now look forward to competing in the major Australasian Tour events on the OneAsia Tour, and after securing playing rights a couple of weeks prior, on the Japan Golf Tour.

“It’ll be nice to be able to sit down and plan a schedule for the year,” Basic said.

Basic came into the qualifying school in solid form, but it all came together for the New South Welshman in Melbourne, when after a steady start Basic dominated his rivals to finish in the top spot at the Tour School finals.

Victorian Paul Spargo capped off a consistent week in finishing in second position on 5-under par, followed by Daniel Beckman who was a shot further back and outright third.

T h is m o n t h , B a n n Ly n c h Golf launches a world’s “bestpractice” athletic and junior golf development program for children from as young as 5 years of age.

The Term-based program will be held at Yarra Bend Golf Course & Driving Range, offering a fully integrated approach to children learning and improving in golf.

The program will include fun games and activities that will underpin the sports science, so that the kids have maximum fun and enjoyment, with maximum output.

A parent information and grading session for Term 1 will take place on Sunday 6th Feb, with the program kicking off from Monday 7th Feb. Visit www.yarrabendgolf. com for more details or email juniorprogram@yarrabendgolf. com

Young Gun claims Nagle Plate While veteran Peter Senior was accepting the majority of the accolades for his PGA Championship victory in Coolum, one of the up-and-coming stars on the Australian golfing scene took out the Kel Nagle Plate as

chips&shanksVIC

the leading ‘rookie’ professional at the 2010 Australian PGA Championship.

Kieran Pratt, a 22-year-old Victorian, capped off an eventful first few weeks in the professional ranks in shooting rounds of 67-7673-68, for a 4-under par total, one shot better than fellow first-year pro Jordan Sherratt in winning the award named in honour of one of the legends of Australian golf.

Pratt came under the spotlight in early November when he was drawn to play with Tiger Woods in the third round of the Australian Masters, with his performance earning the former world number one’s tick of approval.

“He’s only 22 and just starting out, so it’s pretty cool to see,” Woods said after the round. “With the game that he’s got right now, he has an opportunity to make it on tour.”

Eastern GC hits stumbling block Eastern Golf Club has been forced to review its move from Doncaster to Yering after Victoria’s peak planning body recently blocked the club’s building plans.

In a 9-day hearing, The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) set aside Yarra Ranges Council’s decision to grant a permit for club’s new site at Yering,

citing a lack of evacuation routes during floods, the encroachment of a maintenance facility on the floodplain, and other minor issues.

“The board will review our position after further advice is received, however we do have the confidence of knowing what now remains to be completed should the club decide to pursue this application further,’’ Eastern’s General Manager Ben Telley said.

Mr Telley also noted that the Tribunal’s findings shed some positives on Eastern’s plans.

“The findings of the Tribunal include that the site as a golf course with a turf farm is appropriate; that all planning scheme requirements are met through the proposal; that environmental outcomes are acceptable and there are clear environmental benefits; that flora and fauna values would not be impacted and there is the potential to enhance these values and also that pesticide issues could have been addressed in a manner that is acceptable. These are the very issues that the few opponents to the project argued against, so in this respect there are many positives the Club can draw from the Tribunals decision as we look forward.”

Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

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9

February 2011

10 Chips&shanksSA&Wa.................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au Western Australia

South Australia

Smoke gets in your eyes... at Joondalup

Earl and Lee crowned SA Junior Amateur Champions

On February 27th, from 12.00pm– 3.00pm, legendary group The Platters will feature at a Sunday Lunch and Concert at Joondalup Resort. Ticket price is $95 per person includes a complimentary beverage upon arrival, delicious two course set menu lunch followed by all of your favourite hits from The Platters including ‘Only You’, ‘The Great Pretender’, ‘Smoke Gets in your Eyes’ and many more. For more information phone (08) 9400 8888 or visit www.joondalupresort.com.au

Smith, Combes to headline International Golf Challenge Sanctuary Golf Resort will be holding the 2011 Bunbury Honda Ladies International Golf Challenge on March 1. Last year’s inaugural event proved to be very successful, with Irish professional Rebecca Coakley shooting a course record 67 to win the event.

The day allows local business and golf enthusiasts to dine and play with one of the best European and Australian Lady professionals in a competitive but fun environment.

Onsite Golf school operator Shani Waugh coordinates the professional players and while still finalizing

Kristie Smith (Photo courtesy of Scott Miller - Duramed Futures Tour) attendees she has confirmed that Australian young guns Kristie Smith (Winner of 2 Tournaments in 2010 ) and Kate Combes (One of Australia’s most promising young players) will also be playing.

Though not yet confirmed it is also hoped that Australian legend Jan Stephenson may also be a starter.

For more information, visit www.sanctuaryresort.com.au, or phone (08) 9725 2999

Great Golf at Burswood Park Public Golf Course Burswood Park GC is offering a special rate for the month of February.

For just $41 per person, players get a full 18 holes of golf, plus shared golf cart. The offer is available Monday to Friday, until 28 February 2011 (except public holidays). Bookings open 7 days in advance of playing date. For more information: Phone (08) 9470 2992.

Sam Earl and Jenny Lee have been crowned 2011 Golf SA Junior Amateur champions after winning their respective finals at The Vines Golf Club of Reynella.

Local Vines member Earl defeated Jacin Cook (Tea Tree Gully) 7 & 5 while Lee (Glenelg) defeated Rachel Taylor (Mt Osmond) 4 & 3.

It was an excellent result for Earl, a 17-year-old Blackwood High School student, who finished 7th in stroke play qualifying earlier in the week.

On route to the final, Earl accounted for the top two Boy’s qualifiers in Cory Baker and Will Somerfield in his quarter final and semi final respectively.

The Girl’s Championship final proved to be a tight affair with Golf SA Junior Masters winner Jenny Lee holding a two-hole advantage over Rachel Taylor after the first 18 holes.

In a seesawing match, Lee extended her lead by a further shot at the 12th only for Taylor to win a hole back with an excellent birdie 4 on the par-5 14th. After both players had found the green on the par-3 14th, Taylor conceded the hole with an unfortunate three-putt and when she drove into the trees from the next tee

the contest was sealed in Lee’s favour.

For all results from the 2011 Golf SA Junior Amateur Championship, visit www.golfsa.com.au.

CORRECTION Ivo had more wins

IT seems we denied legendary golfer Ivo Whitton a couple of victories.

In the December 2010 issue we stated Whitton had won the Barwon Heads club championship four times.

According to family friend John Fawcett, Whitton won six club titles at Barwon Heads.

The golf club confirmed that he did win six championships in 1924, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1935 and 1936.

Australia’s greatest amateur won the Australian Open five times, but his fifth title was possibly his best.

He was in eighth place going into the final round and given little chance of winning, but he rallied and edged out Harry Williams and Jim Ferrier.

Playing in a gale, Whitton played some wonderful controlled golf.

Unfortunately, his wife was the only spectator following the great man that day.

Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

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G O L F • S A I L • D I V E • E X P L O R E • R E L A X • L I V E

February 2011

12 news............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ www.insidegolf.com.au

Water, water

everywhere

DavidNewbery

Baralaba Golf Club

CENTRAL Queensland golf clubs spared by the devastating floods have rallied to support neighbouring clubs hardest hit by the crisis.

And reports suggest some clubs have been hit hard.

Yeppoon Golf Club, which survived the big wet, has offered transferable memberships to affiliated golf club members of the worst-affected courses.

Members of some golf clubs had only recently paid their annual subscriptions and now find their golf courses under water.

Biloela Golf Club will also assist in the same way.

The offers, which have been approved by Golf Central Queensland and Golf Queensland, will be on a month-by-month basis.

According to early reports, it could be months before some golf courses are playable again.

Golf Central Queensland secretary Gurney Clamp said a number of the district’s golf courses were lucky enough to escape the wall of water.

“Rockhampton Golf Club is travelling okay and is presenting a composite course at the moment,” he said.

“However, the Capricorn Country Club, which is on the north side of Rocky, has been seriously affected.

“It’ll be months before the members are back on their course – if they are ever back.

“It has hit them pretty hard because they were affected by the floods last year and it doesn’t take much for water to go on to their course. It’s not looking good for them.”

Moura and Baralaba golf courses went under and Calliope Golf Club, near Gladstone, was playing its first competition since before December.

The Queensland Government had offered grant money of up to $20,000.

“That might help them out a bit but to repair a green is very expensive and when you have been under water for a long time you are looking at a big recovery cost,” Clamps said.

“They will have to redo a number of greens.”

Here’s is a brief report from some of Central Queensland’s golf clubs.

“There was about three metres of water over the golf course with water just entering the clubhouse,” said the golf club’s Jim Bourke.

“On a couple of holes, we could only see the flag flying just above the water level.”

Moura Golf Club

The golf club’s Daryl Myles said the golf course was totally under water.

“It’s been under water since December 28 and unplayable since mid-December,” he said.

“Water is just under the clubhouse.

“We will be doing work on the greens and tees to remove the mud from them soon as possible.”

MUDDY WATERS: Somewhere under the water lies Baralaba golf course … and maybe a few deadly snakes and crocodiles

Capricorn Country Golf Club

Biloela Golf Club

The Capricorn Country Club course was 90 per cent under water, according to Kay Donnollan.

“Things are not looking too good,” Donnollan said.

“Fortunately, the clubhouse was spared but the power was cut off for quite a while.”

Biloela Golf Club secretary Roy Gourley said there were no major issues with the golf course.

“The course is fine but the problem is keeping up with the grass growth.

“We have been in contact with affected clubs in our area and have made some playing arrangements with them.”

Miriam Vale Golf Club

Other courses, as reported by AGCSA (www.agcsa.com.au) were equally affected:

The golf club’s Pam Cawthray reported the golf course had recently reopened.

“It’s still very wet in places but our major flood damage is to our entrance road.

“We only have one way in and only recently upgraded parts of road and now almost back to square one.

“With no access road there are no players so it is vital to us that we can source funding to assist with the necessary repairs.”

Calliope Golf Club

Club president Ian Johnson said the golf course was still very wet in places and that water continued to affect a couple of holes.

The members haven’t been able to get on the golf course since November.

Indooroopilly Golf Club

Ninety-five percent of Indooroopilly’s West Course was affected by floodwaters with just one hole – the 6th on the Red Course – remaining dry. Located right on a bend of the Brisbane River, Indooroopilly’s lower West Course basically merged with the river as levels peaked. The higher East Course isn’t as badly affected, with five holes water logged.

Oxley Golf Club

Superintendent Shane McDonald swapped his work utility for a row boat as he surveyed the damaged floodwaters had caused at Oxley Golf Club. In the 19 years he has been at the club

McDonald says he has never seen anything like the floodwaters which inundated both the course and the surrounding suburbs. Fortunately for the club, all machinery was saved and flood levels peaked about a metre short of the maintenance shed and half a metre from the pump station.

“We rowed across the 1st and 10th greens yesterday,” says McDonald. “We’re pretty bad but certainly not as bad as some. About 35 per cent of the course was under. At the lowest point on the course the water level would have been about 4m. Several tees were also under, half the bunkers are trashed and there is rubbish all over the course like you wouldn’t believe – tyres, 44 gallon drums and even a 1000-litre fuel tank on the 6th fairway.”

Wolston Park Golf Club

As floodwaters had receded – only the 12th remained under – a three-inch layer of silt was spread across much of the course with a total of nine greens going under. Floodwaters reached the guttering of the course maintenance facility, but fortunately all major machinery items had been moved to a nearby hospital car park on the Tuesday. The clubhouse has suffered extensive structural damage.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

news 13

Golf Queensland and Golf Australia pledge support

An aerial shot of flooded Indooroopilly golf course near the Brisbane River

Brisbane & Jindalee Golf Clubs, St Lucia Golf Links, UQ grounds Reports indicate that Brisbane Golf Club has also been badly inundated. The nine-hole Jindalee Golf Club, downstream from McLeod Country Golf Club, has been completely swamped with all machinery lost. Similarly, the Brisbane City Council maintained St Lucia Golf Links which neighbours Indooroopilly has suffered major damage and loss of equipment, while the University of Queensland campus just downstream from St Lucia has also been hit hard.

No swimming at Carbrook

IT’S a well-known fact that sharks measuring up to three metres have been spotted in the dam at Carbrook Golf Club in Brisbane.

After Brisbane’s recent flood, it was thought the sharks may have been washed out of the dam, but the club’s general manager Scott Wagstaff says they are safe and sound.

The club has even advertised the message on the gigantic sign at the front entrance to the course: “Don’t worry, the sharks haven’t escaped!”

Flood Relief Charity Day Monday 14 February

Royal Melbourne Golf Club Composite Course The Melbourne Sandbelt Group of Clubs are pleased to invite players to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

This is the very first event held on the world renowned Composite Course in the Presidents Cup layout.

Format: Morning (7.30am) or Afternoon (1.00pm) Shotgun Starts Four-ball Better Ball Stableford (Golflink handicap required) Buffet lunch and beverages provided.

Wonderful Prizes on offer.

Entry Fee: $750 per pair Entry forms available at www.melbournesandbelt.com The draw will be available from 5 February, 2011.

For further information, contact Victoria Golf Club on (03) 9584 1733 or contact info@victoriagolf.com.au

The Queensland floods will cost the golf industry millions of dollars but Golf Queensland president Tom Crothers said clubs are resilient and they will recover.

“The full brunt of the floods won’t be clear until the waters recede but early indications show damage to club houses, machinery and courses is far beyond anything experienced before,” Mr Crothers said.

“We are yet to determine the full extent of damage but Golf Queensland is prepared to assist where possible in rebuilding and ensuring clubs get back up and recover.”

Mr Crothers said family wellbeing is an immediate priority but it will become important to provide people with a much needed avenue for releasing their stress by getting them back playing golf.

“We will be working with clubs, the Government and Golf Australia to ensure those affected are provided with all possible assistance through grants and other support programs,” Mr Crothers said.

“Many people will experience some tough times going forward as they begin repairing their homes and businesses and it will be important to keep their spirits up. One way we can help is to get people back playing golf and rebuilding their lives,” Mr Crothers said.

Clubs and districts are also encouraged to update Golf Queensland with their flood damage by completing a survey at Golf Queensland’s website.

In addition, Golf Australia has committed $50,000 to the Golf Industry Flood Disaster Relief Fund to assist flood victims.

Golf Australia Chairman Anne Lenagan said the golf community was renowned for its ability to care for others in times of crisis.

“Everyone recognises the severity of this natural disaster and we are all keen to support the flood victims. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those who have died and the thousands who have lost their homes,” Lenagan said.

“Just as in 2009 during the terrible fires in Victoria, we have received a number of calls in the last few days from people looking to get involved or help affected people and golf clubs in any way they can.”

Lenagan said there were a number of ways that people could get involved.

“Whether it’s as simple as asking for a donation from players at your club, offering $5 when they play on the weekend or running special fundraising days, every little bit will count towards the enormous recovery work that lies ahead for Queensland,” Lenagan said.

The Golf Industry Flood Disaster Relief Fund is a fund established and supported by the golf industry bodies and is being coordinated by Golf Australia.

In 2009 the Australian golf industry raised $675,000 for the victims of the Victorian Bushfires.

In addition, Golf Link has offered, at no cost, an opportunity for clubs to register a charity open day on their website to raise funds.

Interest clubs are invited to contact Jon Perkins at Golf Link at jonp@golflink.com.au

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February 2011

14 news............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ www.insidegolf.com.au

Big wet won’t stop Ottaways DavidNewbery BRUCE and Sandy Ottaway had it all worked out – work hard for a few more years and then sail off into the sunset.

But Mother Nature scuttled their plans when the disastrous Brisbane flood ripped through their golf supplies business at Rocklea.

The Ottaways, who own the wholesale business Aussie Junior Pro and Redback Sport, face hefty losses with the retail value of their damaged stock amounting to $800,000.

“We can’t really complain when you consider what happened,” Bruce said. “You just have to get back up and keep going.

“What’s the other option?

“It’s just a little road block that gets in the way and you get over it and keep going.

“There are other people in the area with businesses and they have just walked away with nothing.

“We are lucky we still have a business. We are back trading and we’ll be fully-stocked in a few weeks.”

Bruce was quick to assure his wife Sandy life would go on.

“Sandy was pretty upset about the whole thing when it happened and I said all it means is that we will have

Bruce and Sandy Ottaway begin the cleanup at their Rocklea warehouse to work a couple of years longer than we originally planned.

“Okay, we have lost all this money, but all it has done is extend our working life a bit more.

“If you spread out the loss over a number of years it’s not so bad.”

Aussie Junior Pro and Redback Sport lost half its stock when the water

rose as high as the mezzanine floor.

“We knew the flood was coming and moved some of the stock,” Bruce said.

“We didn’t think it would get up to our premises and we thought if it did it would only come in on the floor a little bit.

“So I lifted as much off the floor as I could and filled up the racking, but

I couldn’t get everything off the floor.

“So we lost everything on the floor, everything on the first level of racking and some of it on the next level of racking as well.”

The Ottaways moved their business from Sherwood to the area seven years ago.

“The place burnt down so we moved

here and now we have been flooded,” Bruce said.

He said he was getting mixed messages from his insurer.

“We have insurance for fire and damage, but not flood.

“It covers rainwater coming up from the street, but they won’t pay us out for that because it was a flood.”

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Four Aussies earn 2011 LET cards Four Australians have earned their full playing cards for the 2011 Ladies European Tour following a gruelling five-round final qualifying tournament at the La Manga Club in Southern Spain.

24-year-old Australian Amateur Champion Stacey Keating was the highest placed of the successful Aussies.

With rounds of 72-71-75-71-69, the Victorian finished in outright 4th place at 3-under-par.

Fellow Australian Danielle Bowers (WA) finished tied for 14th position whilst Rachel Bailey (NSW) and Kate Combes (Vic) shared 18th place after storming home with final rounds of 71 and 70, respectively to sneak in at +8.

“It’s a great feeling, especially after missing out last year,” Keating told Inside Golf.

“Now I can plan my whole year and I’m really excited!”

Going into the final round of an event can be a testing time for a golfer on the verge of securing a card. But for Keating, it was smooth sailing all the way.

“In the final stage I got off to a good start, and was in a good position all the way, so I guess it wasn’t too nerve wracking as I wasn’t exactly on the cut line, but you know it’s such a long week and anything can happen! “ she said.

“I was just trying not to think too far ahead, like not trying to think about

Stacey Keating the possibility of playing in Europe next season.”

Bowers was no doubt concerned after opening rounds of 74, 75 & 80 had her sitting in 42nd position and with a lot of ground to make up under mounting pressure. She bounced back in extraordinary style with rounds of 68 & 70, the equal 2nd best final 36hole score, to climb 28 places on the final leaderboard.

Heading into the fifth and final round, Bailey and Combes sat in 28th

and 33rd positions, respectively, and had a pressure-filled day ahead of them knowing that they required sub-par rounds to achieve their top-30 goal.

Both fired on the day with Combes posting a bogey-free round of 3-under and Bailey impressing with birdies at her final two holes for a 70.

Queenslander Bree Arthur will have only limited starts after finishing outside the top-30 cut-off list, after playoffs saw her finish in 41st place at +13.

news 15

Millar, Barnes and Kulacz book Open starts Matt Millar, Kurt Barnes and Rick Kulacz have qualified to play the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s after finishing at the top of the leaderboard at last month’s International Final Qualifying (IFQ) Australasia.

Millar finished as the clear leader after a gruelling 36 holes at Kingston Heath, the Canberran shooting a total of 10-under par to clinch his first start in a Major championship.

Barnes finished a shot back at 9-under par following 2 rounds, while the West Australian duo of Stephen Leaney and Rick Kulacz were forced into a playoff to decide the final Open spot after both finished at 8-under par. Kulacz prevailed on the second sudden death hole after Leaney missed a par putt.

For Millar, the result tops off an incredible week in which his wife gave birth to their second child, a little girl Charlotte.

“My wife gave birth on Wednesday so I haven’t had a chance to play much golf and practice so maybe that’s the secret for me,” said Millar.

For Barnes, the result confirms his second Open start in as many years, and the New South Welshman is determined to learn from the lessons of his 2010 experience.

Kurt Barnes “Kingston Heath has really suited my game over the last couple of years, I put in some hard work and it’s really paying off,” said Barnes.

The third of the qualifiers, Kulacz, said he was more than happy to take the result particularly as he hasn’t been playing his best golf of late.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be on the first tee of the playoff, but I have been battling hooks so I wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d hit it 70m left,” said Kulacz.

“My first Major- it’s going to be great.

An Australian has won there (Royal St George’s) before, so I’m really looking forward to what it’s all about.”

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February 2011

16 industrynews................................................................................................................................................................................................. www.insidegolf.com.au

PGA of Australia names new CEO

Last month, the Professional Golfers Association of Australia Limited (PGA) announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Brian Thorburn. Thorburn will take over the reins of the PGA from Max Garske, who retires in July 2011.

Thorburn has held executive positions for over twenty years in the banking sector with CitiBank, The State Bank of NSW and Westpac prior to moving into sports management in 1996. Before establishing 24/7 Sports, a sports marketing, promotions and events management company, he was the Commercial Director of the Australian Rugby Union.

“The Board is pleased to have been able to appoint Brian Thorburn at this time as he will enjoy the benefit of a significant transition period with the current CEO, Max Garske, who retires from the PGA after almost thirty years’ distinguished service,” PGA Chairman, Mark Gibson said.

At the ARU, Thorburn oversaw ten successive seasons of Super 12 and Tri Nations Rugby and was heavily involved in the staging of the Rugby World Cup in 2003. During his ten year ARU tenure, first as Head of Finance and Marketing, the organisation grew from turning over $21million to $79million. In 2004, he led the Australian negotiation of the South African, New Zealand

1. The logo The GMA logo is comprised of several elements, the stylised dimpled golf ball symbol, the wordmark, the name “Golf Management Australia” and the bars underlining which represents the colours of the states of Australia.

These elements have been specifically designed to work together.

They must always appear as this.

GMA

Golf Management Australia

All variants of the logo are available in 4 colour process in file formats: psd, eps, pdf etc… for both Mac & PC use.

Destroyed Mudgee Golf Clubhouse set for demolition

New PGA Chief Executive Officer Brian Thorburn and Australian Rugby sale of broadcasting rights to News Limited.

In making the announcement PGA Chairman Mark Gibson highlighted that, “the role of CEO of the PGA was critical for a sport and an organisation that has a great responsibility to show leadership. The PGA is in good shape and growing but our plans are ambitious.

“Australians are performing well on all tours across the world, 2011 sees the Presidents Cup

1. The logo The GMA logo is comprised of several elements, the stylised dimpled golf ball symbol, the wordmark, the name “Golf Management Australia” and the bars underlining which represents the colours of the states of Australia.

These elements have been specifically designed to work together.

They must always appear as this.

coming to Australia, our coaches are in demand, we now play a significant part on the OneAsia tour and September 2011 will see the commencement of a year of celebrations as the PGA’s Centenary Year.

“We thank Max for his years of service and contribution and we now look to Brian to lead the PGA over the coming years and to implement the new strategic plan set for the organisation by the Board.” he said.

Golf Management Australia

GMA

Golf Management Australia

GMA

Golf Management Australia

AGIC releases golf industry economic report THE Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) has released The Australian Golf Industry Economic Report: 2010. The report shows that the Australian golf industry continues to make a significant contribution to the Australian economy – some $2.9 billion – and creates full-time employment for over 23,000 people. The report, when compared with other Australian sports, indicates that the Australian golf industry is one of the biggest -- if not the biggest -- competitive participant sports within Australia based both on participation levels and also its economic contribution.

The independent report has been undertaken

by Ernst & Young on behalf of the AGIC and highlights the broad range and diversity of the golf industry and its importance as a key sector of the Australian economy. Not only does it cover the people, equipment and events traditionally associated with the sport of golf, but it also highlights other important economic aspects of the golf industry including golf course investment, the value of golf related to charity, construction and maintenance, golf-related real estate and the value of hospitality and tourism associated with golf. For more information go to www.agic.org.au

Glenn Howard wins inaugural GMA NSW Club Manager of the Year Award Glenn Howard, General Manager of Wyong Golf Club, has been awarded the 2010 Club Manager of the Year at the recent GMA NSW Awards Presentation.

Glenn has been General Manager at Wyong Golf Club for the past 10 years, and since his commencement he has achieved many goals and helped progress the Club enormously over this period.

In the past 3 years Glenn has instigated many new initiatives, resulting in annual average profits of $200K, and achieving a record profit of $276K in 2010.

Glenn was successful over five other nominees which included Michelle Vernon – Asquith Golf Club, Jason Russell – Nelson Bay Golf Club, Andrew Terry – New Brighton Golf Club, Paul Foulcher – Newcastle Golf Club, Brian Leggett – Warringah Golf Club.

All variants of the logo are available in 4 colour process in file formats: psd, eps, pdf etc… for both Mac & PC use.

GMA

MUDGEE Golf Club members and staff were devastated when they awoke on a few days prior to Christmas to the news that their clubhouse had been burned to the ground in an early morning fire.

Police and firefighters were called to the golf club shortly before 3am on Thursday December 23 and found the eastern end of the clubhouse well alight.

Six fire units and 25 men took two hours to bring the fire under control. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen area and had engulfed the clubhouse within 30 minutes of the arrival of firefighters and police. The building housing the proshop and old squash courts escaped the fire.

Club Vice President, Mr. Brian Insull said while the club could be rebuilt, the fire had destroyed memorabilia dating back to the early 1900s. “The real loss is the memories that have been lost inside that building.”

The burnt out Mudgee Golf Clubhouse will be demolished to make way for a new building at the site.

The General Manager, Phillip Small, says members and visitors have shown massive support since the blaze, filling tee off timesheets over the weekends.

The police investigation to determine the cause of the fire is continuing. Source: ABC News

Survival on horizon for Port Stephens golf course

New course about to set Sale DEVELOPERS Gippsland Links Pty Ltd and Sale Golf Club announced that construction of the first golf hole on their new golf and residential development in Longford, Victoria will start commencement this month, reports Gippsland Times.

Golf course architects Thomson Perrett have completed preliminary designs for the 17th hole which will be a long par three. Golf course construction company Turnpoint Pty Ltd will undertake construction of the new course with director Andrew Purchase having visited the site last month with Thomson Perrett chief executive Ross Perrett.

Mr. Perrett said he expected construction of the new hole to take about four months to complete.

“Well it’s another step, slowly but surely we are heading in the right direction with the development,’’ he said.

“It will probably take about a month to build it and probably another three months to grow it in.’’

Mr. Perrett said the 17th hole would be one of the most challenging holes to construct.

“This is probably the dullest piece of land on the whole project, so we have to manufacture something from nothing whereas most of the new land, it already looks like a golf course.’’

10 new holes will be constructed on the green fields site with the remaining eight to be constructed where the existing 18 are now. The project will also include 300 houses around the course and the Sale Golf Club clubrooms will also receive an upgrade.

HORIZONS Golf Resort in Port Stephens NSW will survive after Queenslander Brett Lawton agreed last month to pay about $4 million for the Salamander Bay centre. Mr Lawton owns golf courses in Queensland, including the Sandy Gallop Course in Ipswich, and will take the property out of the hands of liquidators following the demise of former owners Le Meilleur. The Korean construction company bought the resort course for $7 million in 2004 and went into voluntary administration in June 2010 with debts totalling more than $17 million. Unsecured creditors are owed $2.3 million, a Korean bank more than $12 million and Port Stephens Council more than $200,000 from the failed venture. "Mr Lawton said most jobs at Horizons would be preserved and all existing memberships would be honoured," liquidator Ken Whittingham from PKF Chartered Accountants said. "The Korean company is still at fault in the deed of company arrangement but there is a chance we can pay some superannuation and employee entitlements." The deal with Mr Lawton was secured after interest from several other parties, including a consortium of Horizons members. 

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au..........................................................................................

industrynews

Local golf veteran joins Pacific Harbour

NIPPON SHAFT quality that is out of this world

NIPPON SHAFT Harrington joins Golf Queensland team

QUEENSLAND’S Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club has announced former PGA professional and longtime Bribie resident Robbie Paul has been appointed as the new Group & Corporate Golf Sales Manager.

Catching the golfing bug at just 10 years old, Robbie has a long history in the golf industry, beginning as a junior champion and turning professional at only 21 before touring Australia and the globe as a teacher and player.

In his position as Sales Manager, Robbie will be working with the sales and marketing team bringing in new clients, increasing memberships as well as raising awareness and interest in the club’s events and facilities.

Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club general manager Damian Brown said he

is delighted to have someone with such broad golf experience joining the team.

“We are very excited to welcome such a talented professional with such a rich golfing background,” Mr Brown said.

“I have no doubt his experience, knowledge of the game and the golfing lifestyle will make him a huge asset to Pacific Harbour.

Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club was recently named the number one Queensland Public Access Golf Course again, and with Robbie’s appointment we believe we have added another strength to the club.”

Robbie has also been involved with the game from a corporate level, working as the company ambassador for Greg Norman’s ‘International Brands.’ 

GMA NSW Annual General Meeting TrevorHarrison

Executive Officer – GMA NSW At the GMA NSW Annual General Meeting the following members were elected to the GMA NSW Board unopposed: Paul Hinton Royal Sydney GC President, Brenden Ellam North Ryde GC Captain, David Burton New South Wales GC Treasurer, Stuart Fraser Castle Hill CC Director, Jason Seagg Roseville GC Director, Paul Paterson Oatlands GC Director, Michelle Vernon Asquith GC Director, Cameron Harvey Pennant Hills GC Director After lunch fifty players teed up for the GMA NSW Golf Championship and played for the JB Ferrier Cup. The winner

was Craig Ellis (Tuggerah Lakes/Shelly Beach) with a net 67. Gary Considine (Springwood CC) was runner up with net 68 on a count back from Derryn Weigand (Bankstown GC). In the non-managers field, Michael Williams (NSWGC) had a fine net 63 to defeat Bruce Bosworth (Newcastle GC) on a count back.

GMA NSW would like to thank the host manager, Doug Jones, his Board and all staff for hosting a great day at Camden Lakeside.

New Members We welcome the following new members who have joined GMA NSW Scott Ranse – Riverside Oaks Country Club–Ordinary Member Helen White – Royal Sydney GC– Provisional C Member

www.nipponshaft.com.au

GOLF Queensland has announced the appointment of Lee Harrington to the position of Development Officer. Harrington will assist Participation Development Manager Adrian Hewat in the game’s growth throughout the state including the promotion of the recently launched Golf Australia program, My Golf.

Harrington brings a wealth of experience to the role both as former physical education teacher and as a PGA golf professional, having taught and been involved in retail for the past 15 years in South East Queensland.

She will be instrumental in the development of the Junior Golf Queensland website. The website will provide juniors, parents and co-ordinators a ‘one stop shop’ for junior information and programs throughout the state, including local club clinics, MyGolf, Pump Golf, the Greg Norman Foundation and the Invincibles Tour. The role of increasing participation will include visiting clubs and schools in regional areas, conducting community coaching courses, involvement in the Student Golf Network, club, district and school visits as well as continuing to run the Women’s Golf Network.

Please congratulate the following General Managers appointments: Pine Rivers Golf Club (Qld): Trevor Jones Avondale Golf Club (NSW): Paul Paterson Mollymook Golf Club (NSW): John Holt Belmont Golf Club (NSW): Greg Pearce Kiama Golf Club (NSW): Craig Epton Liverpool Golf Club (NSW): Garry Weston Riversdale Golf Club (Vic): Christian Tanner Please send all new management postings to be included in a future issue.

Mike Orloff morloff@golfindustrycentral.com.au

www.golfindustrycentral.com.au

Email us with your address details for your free copy of the Nippon Shaft Catalogue

For more information contact: (02) 9680 2900 visit www.britint.com.au or email sales@britint.com.au

February 2011

18 coverstory............................................................................................................................................................................................................ www.insidegolf.com.au

Peter Senior Australia’s man of steel

DavidNewbery US President George W. Bush once called former Prime Minister John Howard “a man of steel”, but Australian golf ’s man of steel has to be Peter Senior.

Senior showed his mettle when he rallied to win his third Australian PGA Championship at age 51 – the oldest winner of the event. And he captured the Handa Australian Senior Open at Royal Perth.

In a professional career spanning more than three decades, Senior has won some 30 tournaments around the globe.

In 1989 alone, he won four times (NSW PGA, Australian PGA, Australian Open and the Johnnie Walker Classic), but, according to Senior, that year pales into insignificance compared to 2010.

In this forthright interview, Senior, who plays full-time on the US Champions Tour, reveals an appealing sense of humour as he talks about himself, his goals and his zest for life.

Congratulations on winning your third Australian PGA Championship.

It was a great way to cap the year off. The years are going now and I don’t get that many opportunities so you have to take them.

Did you give yourself a realistic chance of winning at Coolum?

We have got so many good players now and to

win, irrespective of where you play, you have to play extremely well. But I probably played my best golf at the Australian Open in Sydney.

From tee to green I played pretty good, but I didn’t hole anything all week and still finished reasonably well. I finished bogey, par, bogey to finish 20th so I could have done really, really well. I probably didn’t play as well at Coolum, but I putted better. That was the only difference.

What does winning a major Australian title at age 51 mean to you?

It’s not something I am going to yell and scream about. I don’t want to say I’m the oldest winner in Australia. I am just so happy I won the event.

It certainly put a few younger players with big egos in their place?

The good thing about it is it’s proved to quite a few guys that we are not done when we turn 50 years of age. I had a good talk to Peter Fowler afterwards and it looks like he is going to come over to America and have a shot at it as well. It’s just given guys a little bit of hope.

How did you celebrate the win?

Well, I don’t drink alcohol and neither does June. We had a family dinner and got a few friends over and we had a great time.

Once again John Daly was the big drawcard at the Australian Open and the Australian PGA. Is he still good for golf?

For me, he’s a great guy. If you really get to know him he is a sensational guy. It’s just a pity he does what he does. The only disappointing thing for me is the way that he just gives up. I don’t like that about any sportsperson if they just give up.

He’s got so much talent and he is a drawcard and we love seeing him down here.

Last year was an outstanding one for you.

How much satisfaction did you get from playing well on the US Champions Tour, winning the Australian Senior Open and the PGA? This is my first full year of golf in nine years and it’s done me the world of good. Nearly every year I play the Australian Tour and a couple of

smaller events. So, tournament-wise, I normally play about eight tournaments a year and that means I have spent a lot of time at home with my kids. Playing full time has hardened me up again.

Have you enjoyed it?

I had a ball in America. The best thing I did was taking June and my kids (Krystlle, Jasmine and Mitchell). My eldest had 10 months off work and I took the two younger kids out of school. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for me and good for the family so we just went over for a 10 month holiday. It was great and it was the best family bonding session we could have had.

Where did you base yourself in the US? We are in Orlando, Florida not far from Disneyland. The kids enjoyed that and we had a great time over there.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Did your results on the Champions Tour exceed your expectations?

My one and only goal I set myself was to finish in the top-30 on the money list so that I could go back and play again this year. The first year is very important. If I had not finished in the top30 it would have meant going back to qualify and it would have been hard. (Note: Senior finished 20th with earnings of $US821,000).

Would this rate as one of his best years on Tour considering where you’re now at with your career?

It’s been the most enjoyable year I’ve had. I can look back and even the tournaments I won in the late ’80s, and there were quite a few in a row, but this year topped any year I have ever had in my career. And that’s because I had my family there. I did well and I finished well. It was just a year that I can look back on and say, ‘gee, I had a good time’.

You have been a touring pro for 32 years, what keeps you going?

I enjoy life and I still feel I can contest in every tournament I play regardless of who’s in the field.

The fire is still there and I want to be competitive.

The moment I lose my competitiveness I won’t play the game. I’ll just play with my mates.

How old do you feel?

I feel no older than I look – 60. (Laughter).

How do you keep fit?

I hardly ever work out when I’m on tour because I just feel strange if I start doing it. When I come home I’ll have six weeks in the gym trying to lose a little weight and trying to get fitter for the beginning of the Champions Tour.

coverstory 19

a score together but there was no enjoyment in it. Gary Edwin came up to me after that tournament and said ‘well done, Pete’. I said ‘Gaz, I don’t feel very good about it’. We sat down for half an hour and he could understand what I was trying to say. Even though I won the tournament it was a fight. Funny enough Gary was at Hope Island as the pro and he took me down the back and said ‘this is how you used to swing it and he said this is what we are going to do and if you want to change it and want to do something about it and fix it, we’ll fix it’. I said it would be worth anything if you can just bring the enjoyment back again.

I tell you what, in six or eight months I was enjoying the game again and I have been with him since 1997. Gary is a great guy and I would stand up for him anywhere against anybody.

How does your game compare to 21 years ago when you were a prolific winner?

I am probably a more consistent ball-striker from tee to green now than I ever was. When I was younger I had my weeks and I did play some good tournaments but week in, week out I probably hit it better now that I did then.

You must be satisfied with your mental game at the moment?

That was one thing at the PGA at Coolum that I was happy about – the way I stood up and felt over the ball when I needed to do something. I could still key in and could still focus and do what I needed to do. That means more to a sportsperson than anything.

Your coach Gary Edwin says no-one loves the game more than you. Is that a fair comment?

I think about golf all the time – even at night. Sometimes I’ll be lying in bed with my wife and we’ll be watching TV and all of a sudden I’ll disappear for 10 minutes and I’ve got a club in my hand and I’m in front of the mirror in the bathroom thinking, ‘I need to get it there and then I need to get it there’ – so it’s just great.

Has there ever been a time in your career that you fell out of love with golf?

There’s only been one time and that was in 1997 when I actually contemplated giving the game away. I had just won the Canon Challenge at Terrey Hills. I played with Peter Lonard on the last day and I just lost the enjoyment for it (golf). Nearly every round I went out and it was just a fight. I didn’t know where the ball was going and somehow I was putting

You have got a break before returning to the US, what area of your game will you be working on with Gary?

We are going to do a lot of work on my short game before I go back because that’s the only area I have to improve. It’s just my chipping and my putting. If I can improve one shot a round it’s going to be good by the end of each week.

What goals have you set for 2011?

I definitely want to do a little better than I did in 2010. One of my goals is to win on the Champions Tour, but I’m definitely going to get fitter. The guys who played well last year are the guys who are the fittest as well. So I am going to drop a few kilos and work hard on everything this year to give myself the best possible chance.

February 2011

20 events.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Coolum lets amateurs ‘follow the PGA’ JamesShrimpton THE pro golfers and the crowds were all gone and the temporary stands were being dismantled the day after Peter Senior’s PGA playoff win over Geoff Ogilvy, but more intriguing action followed on the Hyatt Coolum course on the Sunshine Coast.

Amateurs from all grades who had watched the championship as spectators or on TV had been invited to experience the game as the pros play it – in competition, from the same back tees and with the same tricky pin placements.

An additional test was that the course was playing longer than usual after the rains that caused postponement of the final PGA holes until the Monday morning, and continued on afternoons all week.

The outstanding round among the amateurs of all grades who contested any of the four separate stableford events played from Tuesday to Friday came from Daniel McGraw, a scratch-marker from the Gailes club in southwest Brisbane.

Daniel, 23, recorded the four days’ only sub-par round off the stick with a one-under-par 71 for 37 stableford points on the second day.

Two-under-par early, he dropped a couple of shots later and was even par coming to the fearsome 18th, a 385-metre par-4 with water on the left which has proved perilous to many a pro.

Daniel struck a mighty drive which left him only a sand-wedge to the green – then made the putt for a birdie.

“It’s a lot different playing inside the ropes from watching it from outside,” said Daniel. “You get a different perspective.”

Daniel McGraw made Coolum look easy, even under the difficult PGA tournament conditions He was delighted with the experience and with his score.

Daniel, who works part-time at a driving range, played rugby league and soccer as a boy before taking up golf at 14.

Improving his game steadily, he played at Banora Point, Chambers Pines then Sanctuary Cove, where he has been coached by Ossie Moore.

At Gailes for six years, Daniel has twice been club champion, in 2008 and in 2010, when he also captained the Queensland Colts team.

His hope in 2011 is to make the state men’s team – and if he can maintain

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his progress, could consider trying late this year to qualify as a pro for the Australasian tour.

With a sensible attitude towards the future, Daniel’s philosophy is: “If I don’t give it a try, I’ll never know.”

Daniel’s role model is Tiger Woods (“at least ON the course”) and he has learned from watching Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy and other Australians by walking courses and on TV. Ossie Moore believes Daniel could make it as a pro.

“He has the potential,” he said. “His swing has improved, he’s level-headed LOCATION and comfortable about his game.”

Prizes for the “follow the PGA” events were a trophy and a $60 order on the pro-shop for first, $40 for second and $20 for third with $10 for nearestthe-pins.

The idea behind the tournament was to show regular golfers who might watch the pros on TV and wonder: “How would I have gone on that one?”–or even: “I could have done better than that.”

Head Coolum professional Peter Heiniger said it was rare for amateurs to experience pro tournament conditions since most big Australian tournaments DAY DATE were held on private courses suchTIME as

Royal Sydney and Royal Melbourne which were not open to the public.

The Hyatt’s Director of Recreation Brett Braithwaite pronounced it a success although the wet weather reduced the hoped-for numbers, and predicted it would be held again next year and could become annual.

He said the stableford scoring system rather than stroke-play was used for the same reason as for regular club events – picking up when unable to score a point sped up the game and it was easier for a player to recover after (say) a disastrous 10 on one hole.

Reactions from the participants, all of whom had to own an official handicap and Golf Link number, were enthusiastic.

“A fantastic idea,” said John Waugh, an 11-handicapper from Sydney’s Terrey Hills club, who won on the final day with 34 stableford points.

Other comments ranged from “terrific” to “nine out of 10 – it would have been ten except the ground was so soft.”

Daniel McGraw also placed third in the first day’s event with 31 points, seven behind the winner George Coudounaris from The Lakes club in Sydney who, playing off 30, went on to take the third day’s prize with 38 points on a reduced handicap of 27.

George was one of three family members who took part in the tournament; his father Eric (off 13) claimed second prize with 37 points on the third day and his brother Stephen won a nearest-the-pin prize.

Best round by an associate during the four days was by Fiona Shortis from Sydney’s Avondale club who–off the regular women’s red tees with a 19 handicap matched Daniel McGraw’s 37 points on the second day.

sanctuary cove (member only)

wednesday

22nd July

9.30am - 1.30pm

horton park

saturday

8th auGust

9:00am - 1:00pm

LOCATION

DAY

DATE

TIME

sanctuary cove (member only)

wednesday

22nd July

9.30am - 1.30pm

horton park

saturday

8th auGust

9:00am - 1:00pm

GET FIT TODAY Turn to page 68 for a complete list of fitting days this month

For more information please contact American Golf Supplies on 02 9524 8233or ping@americangolf.com.au or visit www.pinggolf.com

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It’s E-Z-GO for Rex

events 21

Senior wins…without hitting a shot DavidNewbery

RACV Royal Pines Resort’s senior manager golf, sport and leisure Gavin Kirkman (left) with challenge winners Greg Rix, Val Buckley, Rob Fussell and Nico Shutte from Augusta Golf Cars IF you want to win a prize then you’ve got to be in it to win it.

Rex Dengate made sure he was in it when he completed the entry form at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Challenge final and ended up the big winner.

Rex, who plays his golf at Horizons Golf Club in New South Wales, made the effort to fill in the entry form and won a RXV E-Z-GO Golf Cart for his trouble.

His name was the first pulled from the “hat” in the tournament’s lucky draw and he drove away with a brandnew golf cart from E-Z-GO. The tournament proper was played in three divisions – men’s division 1 (handicaps 0-11), men’s division 2 (handicaps (12-36) and ladies (open).

In the men’s division 1, local knowledge helped Greg Rix win the day.

Rex, who plays off a one handicap at Royal Pines Resort, returned a 69 off the stick for a nett 68.

The Glades Golf Club’s Bob Fussell, off 27, won the men’s division 2 title with 46 single stableford points.

In the ladies championship, Brookwater Golf Club’s Val Buckley was triumphant.

The 17 marker returned 39 single stableford points.

The challenge is a weekly competition played every Tuesday where all the winners are invited back to play in the final at Royal Pines Resort.

More than 75 players took part in the recent challenge final.

PETER Senior’s trophy cabinet is starting to get a little crowded after he picked up another trophy when he was presented with the Queensland PGA Championship cup.

The 51-year-old was awarded with the Charles Bonham Trophy two days after being presented the Joe Kirkwood Cup for winning the Australian PGA Championship.

And he picked up the Queensland PGA trophy without even hitting a drive or sinking a putt.

Confused?

Well, the championship was last played in November 2009 and when organisers were unable to find a suitable date in 2010 it was rescheduled to be played from February 24-27, 2011.

So, without an actual winner in 2010, it was decided the winner of the 2010 Australian PGA Championship at Coolum would also be given the title of Queensland PGA champion.

Senior was delighted to have his name etched on the prestigious trophy.

“You look at the names on this trophy from Greg Norman to Ian Baker-Finch – not to mention up-and-coming players like Steven Bowditch, who won last year and it’s not hard to see why this is the most sought-after trophy we have in Queensland,” said Senior, who won the title in 1987.

Queensland PGA tournament chairman Peter McWhinney presents Peter Senior with the Charles Bonham Trophy “To have my name back on here 24 years after my first Queensland PGA win is indescribable and, to be honest, if someone had told me a few years ago that it was possible I probably would have laughed at them.”

Queensland PGA tournament chairman and former Queensland PGA champion Peter McWhinney said Senior was a Queensland legend.

“I can’t think of another player throughout history that is more iconic in Queensland than Peter Senior,” he said.

“His bulldog-like competitive nature and his ability to get the job done down the stretch is something that the entire golfing public here in Queensland and, in fact, throughout Australia can appreciate.”

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February 2011

22 nationalevents........................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Holden Young Lions roars into its 12th year For 11 years now, Holden have been promoting the game of golf through their Holden Young Lions program.

It came about after a successful decade with the Holden Scramble, when Holden indicated their passion to get further involved in golf at all levels.

In conjunction with the PGA, the Holden Young Lions are a collection of PGA professionals around Australia that promote golf at both at the elite and grass roots level.

The first and major component of the Holden Young Lions program is the free coaching clinics that are provided by some of Australia’s best teaching PGA professionals to local golf communities and Holden Dealers across Australia. They provide free clinics at various Pro-Ams and Holden Scramble Local, Regional and Championship Finals as well as partaking in playing lessons for dealers and their customers.

The other side of the Holden Young Lions program are the PGA Tour professionals that promote the Holden brand all over the world through golf. The Holden Young Lions program has sponsored players such as Peter Lonard, Stephen Leaney, David Smail, John Senden, David Mackenzie and Cameron Percy who have all played on international tours in past years. More recently, the Holden Young Lions team now comprises of names such as Ashley Hall, Marcus Cain, Andrew Tschudin, and Mark Allan.

While the Coaching Young Lions are more focused on promoting golf and Holden at grass roots level, the Touring Holden Young

Australia’s best teaching PGA professionals provide free clinics at various Pro-Ams and Holden events Lions purpose is to expand the coverage of GM Holden at all Tour events. GM Holden aim to be represented at every event so the Holden brand will be synonymous with golf.

With GM Holden’s recent announcement continuing their support of the long-running Holden Scramble, Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux also confirmed Holden’s

commitment to the Young Lion program.

“The Holden Young Lion Coaching team will continue to travel the country providing assistance to golfers of all ages. It reinforces our commitment to teaching players of all ages and skill levels” said Devereux.

The Holden Young Lions have contributed a lot to golf in Australia over the past 11 years

and with the 20th anniversary of the Holden Scramble, 2011 looks to be Holden’s biggest year yet.

For more information on how you can be involved in a Holden Young Lion Coaching Clinic or Holden Scramble event, contact the PGA Events Division on (03) 8320 1999 or visit www.pga.org.au

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February 2011

24 events.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Phillip Island Linfox Pro-Am extravaganza One of Melbourne’s favourite regional courses is set to take centre stage this year, as the 2011 Phillip Island Linfox Pro-Am Extravaganza tees off from March 18.

The tournament will be a unique event on the Australian golfing calendar, with three consecutive days of Pro-Am golf involving lady professionals, senior professionals (Legends) and the touring professionals.

The event kicks off on Friday 18th March 2011 with the Ladies Pro-Am. A field of 20 female professionals and celebrities will tee off alongside amateur partners to compete for a healthy prize purse. Interest in the event from the female professionals has been great, with players such as Jan Stephenson and Nadina Light already indicating they would like to play.

“Our girls have shown a strong level of interest in helping to make this event happen and are looking forward to exploring Phillip Island,” said Paul Melville, Operations Manager of ALPG Tour.

“We hope this is the start of a long-running event that will grow bigger and bigger in the years to come and a long association with the club and the ALPG,” he added.

Saturday 19th March will see a field of 20 Legend golfers & celebrities pair up with the amateurs. Again strong support has been shown

by Legend golfers, while the PGA of Australia is also backing the event.

“The PGA is very excited by the brand-new concept that the Phillip Island Golf Club have developed,” says Nick Dastey, Southern Division Tournament Co-ordinator at the PGA. “To cover three different forms of professional golf with a Ladies, Legends and a regular Pro-Am in the one weekend is something that no other club in Australia has done before, and credit must be given to the club for developing a very exciting initiative. It will be a great weekend for all the players to bring down their families to what is a great venue and experience the many tourist attractions that the Island has to offer.”

The Order of Merit Pro-Am will take place on Sunday 20th March 2011, and it is expected that this field will include many of the top Von Nida Tour players. A range of celebrity players will also add a little more fun to the day. Previous

Fergus Cameron (Left), Managing Director of Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, tees it up with Phillip Island Golf Club Professional Marcus Liberman on the Grand Prix track at Phillip Island at the launch of the 2011 Linfox Pro Am winners of the event include Leighton Lyle, Heath D’Altera & Craig Scott.

Linfox and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit have come onboard as naming rights sponsor for the tournament, and the event is hoped to enhance the many and varied attractions that Phillip Island has to offer whilst also promoting the game of golf in South Gippsland.

“Linfox and the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit are proud to be involved in this event, and understand the importance of events like these to the local tourism industry & community of Phillip Island,” said Fergus Cameron, Managing Director of Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

“We are committed to developing professional tourism products like our Go Karts, Hot Laps and Guided Circuit Tours as well as our international and domestic motor racing events to continue to attract a wide market of people to Phillip Island. By supporting this ground-breaking ProAm, we are working collaboratively with other stakeholders like the Phillip Island Golf Club to achieve this goal.”

All players will be encouraged to take advantage of their time on the Island with special family tours being arranged to the various attractions

and special accommodation rates being offered

by Pro-Am partner the All Seasons Phillip Island Eco Resort, which is located only minutes from the golf course. This will mean professionals, celebrities and amateur players can all bring down their families for a weekend of entertainment.

“It is exciting for a small country golf club to be putting together what is anticipated to become one of country Victoria’s premium golfing events,” begins Scott McPherson, General Manager of Phillip Island Golf Club.

“To be able to offer families a chance to enjoy all the Island has to offer, rather than just be an event for golfers, is pleasing as we really want to encourage family participation in our sport,” he adds.

Long regarded as one of the finest layouts in regional Victoria, Phillip Island Golf Club is only a few minutes’ walk from central Cowes, and is within chipping distance of the beach. The 6003metre, par-72 championship golf course is a challenging layout that features Couch fairways, superbly manicured Bent greens, abundant wildlife and scenic views at every turn.

For visitors to the event, or for those with holiday homes in the area, the club is also

currently running a special membership offer.

With a variety of affordable membership options, a reduced entrance fee for new members, Handicap management, golf insurance and some great food & beverage discounts on offer, it represents great value (See the advertisement below.)

For further information on the event, sponsorship opportunities or new membership offers, contact Scott McPherson on (03) 5952 2141 / 0434 942 280 or the Club Professional, Marcus Liberman, on (03) 5952 1121. You can also email the Club at manager@phillipislandgolfclub.com.au

COURSE NOTES

Phillip Island Golf Club 34–44 Settlement Road, Cowes, Phillip Island, VIC 3922 Open 7 days per week Phone: Club house (03) 5952 2141 Golf Bookings (03) 5952 1121 www.phillipislandgolfclub.com.au (03) 5952 1121 / (03) 5952 2141

Holiday home on Phillip Island?

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Just over an hour away from the South Eastern suburbs is the picturesque Phillip Island Golf Club.

• 18 Hole Championship Standard Golf Course • Couch Fairways & Bent Grass Greens • AAA Golf Professional • Bar & Bistro • Affordable Membership Options • Full Membership – under $15 per week • Pay To Play Membership – under $8 per week • Reduced Entrance Fee • Handicap & Golf Insurance • Substantial Food & Beverage Discounts For further information on Membership please have a look at our website www.phillipislandgolfclub.com.au or call the Club on (03) 5952 1121 / (03) 5952 2141

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au.............................................................................................

eventresults

Amateurs made to feel like pros Amateur golfers who played on the SGA Tour in Victoria in 2010 were treated to a deluxe golfing experience when they played the final event of the year, The Tour Championship, at Kingston Heath Golf Club.

A field of 100 golfers took part, with the top 20 players in the Order of Merit competing for the exclusive Tour Championship. The rest of the field, which included celebrity guest Andy Lee from Hamish and Andy, played a single stableford competition on the course rated as the best in Australia.

Andy Lee and his mate Nick Fletcher had a great time golfing with Dave Farrelly and David Rushmore from Social Golf Australia, who operates the SGA Tour in Queensland.

After the round, Andy confessed that he and Hamish are ‘seeing other people’ at the moment and that means he is playing heaps of golf over the summer.

“We had a lot fun out there today, even though Hamish was not with us. He is a hoot on a golf course, but his swing isn’t quite as refined yet. Like a good marathon runner, he says he’s building up to the ultimate round which he plans to execute in the year 2033 – when they have robotic golf clubs

SGA Tour Ambassador Andy Lee with playing partners Nick Fletcher, Dave Farrelly and David Rushmore that do all the work for you. As this was a real tournament for golfers, I brought Nick along as his proxy. Nick is nearly as funny as Hamish, much better looking and can hit his driver about 240 metres further, which came in handy.”

Andy was not the only one who had a fun day, with most of the participants enjoying the perfect weather and superb layout. Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt was a guest at the presentation dinner and Anthony Murphy and Niall Shearer from Drummond Golf played in the event. Anthony said it was a great day all round.

“Niall and I both had a terrific time. We enjoyed our game with Richard Fellner from Inside Golf and Liam Anderson, who was the low marker in the field playing off plus two–he hits a mean ball! The event was great value, well organised and everyone really enjoyed themselves.”

When the results were in, SGA Tour player John Potter won The Tour Championship with 36 Stableford points on countback from Neil Hocking and took home a new set of FG Tour irons thanks to Wilson Staff.

For all the results and photos, go to sgatour.com.au

Appleby Junior Masters event draws record numbers Benalla golfer Jamie Stapleton has taken out the 2010 Stuart Appleby Murray River Junior Masters Golf Tournament in a thrilling finish.

At the conclusion of play after 72 holes of Tournament Play at Tocumwal Golf Club and Cobram Barooga Golf Club, 2 players Sean Ong (Kingswood Golf Club) and Jamie Stapleton (Benalla Golf Club), finished with combined totals of 291 (3 over par).

A playoff took place in front of a large crowd, the first hole at Cobram Barooga was halved in birdies with Stapleton birdieing the second playoff hole to win the 2010 Stuart Appleby Murray River Junior Masters in style.

Tournament Director Ashley Marshall said this year’s event was a record in player numbers with players travelling considerable distances across Australia. The event also had

an international flavour with 2 players from PNG participating.

For the second time, Reanna Matthews from Leongatha Golf Club won the girls section with a combined total of 292 (1-over-par), a tournament record. This was an outstanding achievement as Reanna played with the Boys in the final round and shot 1-under-par. Reanna’s winning margin was an impressive 28 shots over the rest of the girl’s field.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Counterstroke Golf Classic 2011 Your invitation to play golf and save lives.

Five days on the Mornington Peninsula’s most esteemed courses: Monday 21 Feb: Portsea Golf Club Tuesday 22 Feb: The National Golf Club Wednesday 23 Feb: The Dunes Golf Links Thursday 24 Feb: Sorrento Golf Club Friday 25 Feb: Flinders Golf Club The National Stroke Foundation is a non-profit organisation that relies on public funding and support to continue stroke research, education and awareness programs throughout Australia.

For entry forms or information contact: www.strokefoundation.com.au, or call 03 9670 1000

welcome party and a bag of goodies that will showcase the region’s attractions. www.golfmorningtonpeninsula.com.au

NLGolf Make-A-Wish®Australia Corporate Golf Day 18th March 2011 Robina Woods Golf Course Join a variety of Queensland’s finest businesses in one of the leading corporate golf events to support MakeA-Wish®Australia & Professional Golfer Nicky Litherland as he travels to the United States to further his professional golfing career on Tour.

Compete in a fun atmosphere and have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes in a four-ball Ambrose competition. Nicky will be on-course to meet and play shots with each group.

Cost: $800.00 per team of four (individuals are more than welcome, cost $220.00; you will be allocated a team).

Includes food & beverages on course, dinner & beverages, additional guests welcome to attend the dinner.

Individual hole sponsorship available at $1,000.00 (Which provides exclusive rights to set up a dynamic display of your product or marketing materials at a prime hole location.)

Numbers are limited.

Download registration form via www.nickylitherland.com, or email: litherlandgolf@gmail.com

Mornington Peninsula 54-hole Tournament May 3-5 Rosebud Park, The Dunes and Sorrento GC THE Mornington Peninsula will be on show to golfers across the country in May as the region prepares to host its second annual Mornington Peninsula 54-hole Tournament.

Golfers will play an individual Stableford event on each day of the 3-day tournament.

Courses include Rosebud Park, The Dunes and Sorrento Golf Club.

Entry to the Mornington Peninsula 54hole Tournament is $235 per person, and includes golf, three lunches, trophies, the

Yallourn Golf Club Open Days and Pro-Am Sunday 27th February Yallourn Golf Club The par-72 course at Yallourn Golf Club is one of the best in Gippsland (Vic).This year, the Yallourn Pro-am will be held on Sunday 27th February. It is sure to be a fun event for all. In addition, Yallourn also offers Open Day Competitions every Wednesday.

Contact manager Jason Johnson for further details (03) 5127 6962, or visit www.yallourngolfclub.com.au.

Magenta Challenge Every Sunday at Magenta Shores.

Magenta Shores, New South Wales’ Number 1 resort course is excited to announce the Magenta Challenge will now be played every Sunday in 2011.

If you have a registered handicap and would like to test your skills at their wonderful Ross Watson-designed golf course, please call the pro shop on 02 4352 8145 to make a booking. Times are available from 7am each Sunday. Format is individual Stableford, and the cost is only $99, which includes cart. www.magentagolf.com.au

February 2011

26 results............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Stats and scores around the world Nitties prevails in ‘epic’ battle with O’Malley James Nitties prevailed as the 2011 Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Champion after a tough day fighting it out with Peter O’Malley at the Sandhurst Club south-east of Melbourne.

Nitties finished the 54-hole tournament at 18-under par, one ahead of O’Malley at 17-under who played what Nitties described as ‘epic’ golf.

With a final round of three-under par, Nitties battled with O’Malley for much of the day with the lead changing on several occasions.

Playing alongside Nitties in the final group, O’Malley, who had a final round of 4-under par, led for most of the afternoon and looked good for the title until Nitties birdied the 17th.

2011 Cellarbrations Victorian PGA C’ship Leaderboard

Pos 1 2 3 4 T5 T5 T7 T7 T7 T7 T7

Name James Nitties Peter O’Malley Andrew Buckle Leigh McKechnie Damon Welsford Daniel Fox Alistair Presnell Terry Pilkadaris Anthony Brown Andre Stolz Bronson La’Cassie

Overall -18 -17 -13 -12 -11 -11 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10

Total 198 199 203 204 205 205 206 206 206 206 206

But it wasn’t until O’Malley’s second shot to the 18th missed the green to the right that the win looked a certainty for the Novocastrian.

“This is a great win and a great field – it’s the best Vic PGA field I’ve ever played in,” said Nitties “It’s good to come home and play well. To do well in any event is good, but at home it’s even better.”

AMATEUR EVENTS Paul Sheehan

AUSTRALASIAN TOUR

Victorian Open Golf C’ship – Leaderboard Pos Name Overall Total 1 Paul Sheehan -8 276 2 Matthew Griffin -6 278 3 Tony McNaughton -5 279 T4 Steven Jones -4 280 T4 Aaron Townsend -4 280 T6 James Nitties -1 283 T6 Adam Crawford -1 283 8 Kieran Pratt E 284 9 David Bransdon 1 285 T10 Rick Kulacz 2 286 T10 Brendan Smith 2 286 T10 Simon Furneaux 2 286

Paul Sheehan found himself back in the winner’s circle after claiming the 2011 Victorian Open at Spring Valley Golf Club.

In front of a large crowd, Sheehan shot a final day round of one-over par which, in the tough conditions, was enough to maintain his lead throughout the day.

Hitting only five greens in regulation throughout his round Sheehan credited his putter for his first win since 2006, which found the hole on a number of occasions from the far reaches of the greens.

“My putting and my chipping today was just unbelievable. Every hole I had to work for my pars and it was a real challenge,” said Sheehan.

“I’m rapt. I love coming to this tournament and it’s a great venue [Spring Valley]. I’ve finished second in the Vic Open before – I’ve had a lot of seconds- so it feels great. It’s a great way to start the year.”

Local crowd favourite Matthew Griffin finished in second place two shots back from Sheehan after

also shooting a round of one-over.

“It was close. At the start I played well early and then I just didn’t quite take advantage of opportunities,” said Griffin.

“The more you get in these positions the better you get at it. I had my chance today and it didn’t quite happen.”

Tony McNaughton finished in outright third at five-under while Steve Jones and Aaron Townsend tied for fourth at four-under.

EUROPEAN TOUR

US PGA TOUR

Louis Oosthuizen birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff to win the Africa Open in his native South Africa. Oosthuizen, who started the final round tied for the lead, converted a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force the playoff against Chris Wood and Manuel Quiros, who tied for regulation at 16-under 276.

The win was Oosthuizen’s first since capturing the British Open for his first major victory at St. Andrews in July.

At the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, Jonathan Byrd edged Robert Garrigus on the second extra playoff hole to claim the Tour’s first tournament of 2011. The win is the fifth and most significant of Byrd’s PGA TOUR career. The victory qualified him for this season’s Masters, U.S. Open and at least one World Golf Championship, as well as a trip to back to Kapalua’s Plantation Course next January to defend his title. He advanced to No. 58 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

MacManus ‘Masters’ stellar field

Young Queenslander Tarquin MacManus stormed home amid rough conditions to win the 2011 Australian Master of the Amateurs at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The 21-year-old from Cairns finished the four rounds with a 12-under-par total of 276, which was a record score for the 14 years of the event, pipping young Queenslander Jason Day’s top score of 281 in 2006.

Like Day, MacManus has been honing his golfing skills in the United States, taking part in the successful golfing program at the University of Arizona. His father, who introduced Tarquin to the game as a three-year-old was his caddie for the four days at Royal Melbourne and his mother followed them around the course.

“That made today’s win even more special,” MacManus said.

MacManus sealed the title with his last shot of the tournament, sinking a 20 metre putt from the edge of the green. His final round of 65 was the best round on a day which had gone from heavy rain and a four-hour delay to bright sunshine by the time his last putt dropped.

Ryan McCarthy (Tasmania), Ryan Fox (New Zealand) and Andrew Sullivan (England) all finished three shots behind the winner.

Final Placings 276 MacManus-QLD (74 67 70 65) 279 McCarthy-TAS (65 73 72 69) Fox-NZ (64 74 75 66) Sullivan-ENG (68 71 71 69) 281 Canter-ENG (73 71 68 69) 282 Campbell-NZ (68 74 69 71) 283 Richardson-TAS (69 72 71 71) 284 Holman-VIC (70 74 74 66) Wright-ENG (67 75 73 69)

Stats and recaps courtesy of Titleist and the PGA of Australia.

Tarquin MacManus

2011 PGA TOUR OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

Through: Sony Open in Hawaii Jan 16, 2011 RANK PLAYER

1 2 3 T4 T4 6 7 8 9 T10 T10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Lee Westwood Tiger Woods Martin Kaymer Graeme McDowell Phil Mickelson Steve Stricker Jim Furyk Paul Casey Luke Donald Ernie Els Ian Poulter Rory McIlroy Matt Kuchar Dustin Johnson Francesco Molinari Retief Goosen Robert Karlsson Louis Oosthuizen Edoardo Molinari Tim Clark Hunter Mahan Robert Allenby Charl Schwartzel Adam Scott Geoff Ogilvy

TOTAL COUNTRY POINTS

406.14 292.59 338.21 343.11 268.24 264.87 276.53 248.80 297.15 302.54 270.12 291.65 255.42 220.92 237.99 241.06 180.93 209.74 213.61 206.89 205.37 199.09 198.57 181.93 169.90

Eng USA Deu Nir USA USA USA Eng Eng Zaf Eng Nir USA USA Ita Zaf Swe Zaf Ita Zaf USA Aus Zaf Aus Aus

February 2011

28 events.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

JasonGruber You may not have heard of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship Australia, but you soon will.

You see, as we all become more time poor in our day-to-day lives, getting out to play a game of golf or even simply watching the game becomes very limited. But imagine rocking down to your local club on a Saturday afternoon to witness Australia’s biggest

hitters crushing it 330+ metres and to hear the music pumping and healthy sledges coming from the crowd.

Welcome to the sport of Long Drive Golf.

As Australian clubs struggle to draw new faces into their premises, clubs like Richmond (NSW), Ballarat (VIC) and Gold Creek Country Club (ACT) have embraced the sport of Long Drive Golf to attract new patrons to their club by hosting a round of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship

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Australia. These clubs feel that by hosting their own qualifying event that they are boosting their profile within their community and even more with the golfing community.

Every time a Long Drive event is run at these clubs, hundreds of spectators flock to see the flamboyant Longdrivers like Stephen “The Cougar” Kennedy, Andrew “Popeye” Brennan (who stands at 5’5 and crushes it 310m in the seniors) and the well-known

Classic Trojan...

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Mark “Shrek” Bylsma. Standing at 6’7 and coming in at a mere 160kgs, Shrek has been known to swing his driver at 150mph plus. That’s 30mph higher than Tiger or Bubba Watson.

We all know golf has struggled to attract the younger generations, as the X & Y generations don’t want to spend 4-5 hours walking around a golf course.

With Long Drive, they can come down and compete within the hour and be involved, maybe attracting him or her to stay longer and enjoy what the host club has to offer. As this sport grows, bigger companies like RE/MAX, Suzuki and Shark Golf see the advantages of being associated with this sport, as they know that newer customers will be attracted to their product.

So if you like to watch highly talented athletes push the limits of the human body, come on down to one of the scheduled events and see Australia’s best battle it out for a ticket to Las Vegas. Yes that’s right: the winner in the Open division will represent Australia at the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship in Las Vegas at the end of the year, where the world’s best will battle out for a $500,000 prize pool, just like 2010 RWLCA Open Mens Champion Brendon “Muscles” Moylan, pictured above.

Unlike any other major golf tour, anyone can have a crack on the day, a fantastic aspect of this growing sport is that there is no need to book in, nor pre qualify; just rock on down to your local hosting club pay your money, put your name on the list and it is as easy as that. With five divisions in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship Australia, there is a category to suit all golfers, and if you are keen to try it out or just want to come down and join the hundreds in the crowd, just log onto www.longdrive.com.au for all the dates and information.

The first event for 2011 is on the 26th February at Gold Creek Country Club in the ACT. See you on the Tee.

More than 98% of the worlds top golf courses use Trojan Batteries in their fleets.* Why? Trojan invented the golf car battery back in 1952 and has been making superior products ever since. Check under the seat of an electric golf car and you’re likely to see Trojan deep cycle batteries. *Based on listings of top golf courses in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and the US Open list of venues 1995-2010

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February 2011

30 womeningolf.................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Refreshing Alison to be herself DavidNewbery THE first thing you notice about rookie professional Alison Whitaker is not nervous tension but her good natured humour.

Whitaker’s an effervescent, fun-loving person with an infectious smile and a bubby personality.

She exudes energy and laughter is her constant companion.

When we caught up for a chat she was eating which, she says, is one of life’s little pleasures.

It’s what the former elite amateur, who spent four years at Duke University in North Carolina, enjoys doing when she’s not playing golf.

Her other favourite pastime is playing her guitar.

Whitaker, 25, has spent the past two months at home in Melbourne preparing for a return to the US where she has conditional status on the US LPGA Tour and a full playing card on the Futures Tour courtesy of finishing 22nd at qualifying school.

In 2005, Whitaker was a semi-finalist at the US Amateur and in 2006 she joined Duke University where she majored in psychology.

“I don’t know if I studied psychology or I was just a psycho,” Whitaker laughs.

“I enjoyed psychology – it’s good for life and I wish everyone could study it to get a better feel of understanding people in general.”

Back home in Melbourne, Whitaker has spent the past six weeks playing ALPG events and preparing for her rookie pro season in the US. “It’s an exciting time of my career and I am just rapt about that and can’t wait to get out there – I’m so excited,” she said.

Alison Whitaker plays good golf when she’s enjoying herself. Photo courtesy of Golf Australia “College really proved to be a good stepping stone for me.

“They really do prepare you for professional golf with the way you have to adapt your work ethic to make the most of your practice time every day because you have to do it around a full schedule of college classes.

“So you learn to be time efficient.”

Whitaker, who had a stellar amateur career which included winning the Victorian Amateur title and representing Australia, told Inside Golf she was ready for professional golf.

“I haven’t set any goals yet,” she said. “I am reluctant to do it because I generally play better

when I have nothing to lose.

“I have loosely set goals, but my aim is to make sure I enjoy it.

“It’s such an awesome opportunity for me and I don’t want to waste my time trying too hard because when you try too hard that’s when start playing bad.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ....................................................................................................................................................................................................

“I usually play my best golf when I am enjoying myself.

“I don’t enjoy playing good golf – I play good golf when I’m enjoying myself.

“Golf is an inverse game – it’s a horrible game but we all love it.”

Like most young golfers, Whitaker was introduced to the game by her parents, but it was Royal Melbourne club pro Bruce Green who took her game to another level.

“I was playing with my mum and my sister at Sandringham during the last Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne when Bruce and Bill Richardson (general manager) drove over and said, ‘show us what you’ve got, Al’.

“My voice has improved but some people, a.k.a. my sister, beg to differ.

“I also love cooking and eating so the food never goes to waste.

“I try to challenge myself to cook different cuisines like pastas, Spanish and Japanese food every now and then. I mix it up and try to do a world tour (of food).”

Whitaker grew up in a loving, tight-knit family unit that encouraged plenty of laughter.

“We are the type of people that get through life with a lot of laughter and when times are bad we all pull together.

“I am so spoilt with my family – there’s so much love and laughter, which is usually at each

It’s an exciting time of my career and I am just rapt about that and can’t wait to get out there – I’m so excited Impressed with her ability, Green offered to coach her.

“He coached me for the next four years and he was an amazing mentor who taught me how to love crowds.

“He used to make me hit balls in front of people all the time and put me under pressure. Now I’m benefiting from it because I love big events.”

Away from the rigours of pro golf, Whitaker enjoys cooking and playing her guitar.

In fact, she says her guitar, chef ’s knife and golf clubs are her most prized possessions.

“Those are the three things I always pack when I’m on tour,” she said.

“I love my music and taught myself to play guitar.

“I didn’t have much of a voice when I started, but I had an ear for it and that definitely helped.

others’ expense.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are not holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

“We are definitely getting into each other every now and then.

“My sister Lauren likes playing pranks on me like hiding things in my food and who knows what else.”

I ask if Americans get her Aussie sense of humour.

She laughs.

“My sense of humour gets lost on a lot of Americans. It took them a little while to work out I was joking the majority of the time.

“I am someone who gets a lot out of life and that’s the main thing I want to walk away from all the experiences saying, ‘I tried my best and I got the most out of it regardless of the outcome’.”

womeningolf 31

Rachel, Greg won’t give an inch DavidNewbery EVEN in retirement, Rachel Hetherington is still a force to be reckoned with – especially when it comes to a round of golf with husband and former Test cricketer Greg Ritchie.

They don’t often get the opportunity to play golf together due to work commitments, but when they do it’s a battle of epic proportions.

Still, you’d expect nothing less from two highly competitive, high profile sporting champions.

I ask Hetherington how serious these husband/ wife matches get.

“It’s very serious,” she said. “We are both very competitive and we usually have a bet and I don’t like losing and neither does he.

“He plays off a four handicap and is a really good player. That’s what bugs me because I have to play really well to beat him.

“I don’t want to work that hard when I play golf anymore.”

Hetherington said the pair was evenly matched on the golf course because they played off the same tees.

“I was ahead for a while, but Greg won the last couple of matches.

“He hits it a long way so off the same tees it’s a bit tough and I have got to scramble well, which is a good way to practice.”

Even though they play off the same tees, Hetherington has to give Ritchie a few shots.

“It’s pretty tough to give shots to a good player,” she said.

“I don’t agree with it because we have to play off the same tees.

“He gets a pretty good deal, but it is good fun.

Why am I wearing these pants?

Even when he played cricket he loved golf and almost always took his clubs on most tours.

“He loves golf far more than I do. Golf to Greg is what surfing is to me.”

In the lead-up to her retirement, Hetherington would grab her surfboard and hit the beach at every opportunity.

Unfortunately, a skateboarding accident left her with a broken ankle at the start of 2010 and surfing was off the agenda for a while.

The 38-year-old told Inside Golf she had no regrets about retiring from the US LPGA Tour.

“I am enjoying my golf far more now and I have enjoyed it far more in the last year, but I just don’t want to play competitively anymore.

“I guess that’s the unfairness of it.”

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February 2011

32 insidetechnology.............................................................................................................................................................................. www.insidegolf.com.au

The biomechanics of golf ScottBeaumont Biomechanics is the analysis of human motion using the principals of physics and physiology.

As we perform physical tasks as simple as walking or as complicated as the golf swing, muscles within the body create force and tension across joints in a coordinated fashion to produce the desired movement. Biomechanics allows us to measure and quantify that movement, providing an understanding of movement patterns and stress created at joints. Biomechanics ultimately allows us to increase performance while at the same time decrease injury potential.

Using Biomechanics technology and techniques in the golf swing, we gain a complete understanding of how the body creates clubhead speed. Maximum power is generated using a golf swing-specific factor called the Kinetic Link.

In the human body, the Kinetic Link is composed of physics and physiology. To illustrate this: the physics component can be represented by the action of snapping a whip. The arms start the action of the whip but then decelerate and stop, thereby “passing” the momentum on and creating enough acceleration (or speed) at the end of the whip to produce a snap!

The physiology component of the Kinetic Link can be represented by the action of a vertical jump. When jumping up from a standing position, the first movement is to “dip” down.

That action pre-loads muscles for the strongest contraction, propelling the body to maximum height.

The Kinetic Link in the golf swing is composed of four components and three links. The components are the hips, shoulders, arms and club shaft. The links are the musculature connection for each component.

As the golfer begins the backswing, the components rotate in a clockwise fashion around the spine. This then begins to lengthen the muscles and pre-loads the links. Before the club and shoulders reach maximum rotation on the backswing, the hips begin to transition; changing direction and rotating in an anti-clockwise acceleration towards impact with the ball. Note that this occurs while the shoulders, arms and club continue in their clockwise direction, thus creating muscular pre-load of the upper body.

The shoulders then begin their transition, changing direction (following the lead of the hips) in an anti-clockwise acceleration towards impact, while the arms and club are still in a clockwise direction pre-loading the upper body. Once preloaded, the arms change direction and accelerate toward impact. The same occurs between the arms and club pre-loading the muscles of the wrist and forearm, the arms and wrist accelerate into impact.

Once all of the components are accelerating in an anti-clockwise direction towards impact of the ball, the body uses both physics and physiology to most efficiently create clubhead speed. The hips are the first to reach maximum rotational speed. Like a whip, once a maximum speed is reached, the segment then decelerates, “passing” the momentum (speed) to the shoulder segment.

Both the passing of momentum and the stretch and shortening of the muscles between hips and

Great players like Greg Norman produce consistent swings every time; with their hips, shoulders, arms and clubshaft all firing at precisely the right time to produce maximum speed at impact. (© USGA/Fred Vuich) shoulders accelerate the shoulder segment to a maximum speed twice that of the hips.

The shoulders, having reached the maximum rotational speed, now decelerate and “pass” their momentum to the arms to a maximum speed twice that of the shoulders.

Finally, the arms — in the same manner as the hips and shoulders – decelerate, passing energy to the club, thereby doubling the momentum yet again. The club then uncocks and accelerates into impact with the ball with both maximum linear and angular speed, creating optimum speed and power at the point of impact.

Why is the Kinetic Link important?

If your body is consistently creating the same sequence to produce power, this increases your consistency of ball striking and accuracy. How does this help accuracy? If your body creates the same patterns every time, and the same power, it is much easier to square-up the face at impact, thus hitting the ball straight. In addition, if you’re producing

the same power every time, you’ll hit your full irons similar distance every time. This is why Greg Norman and other tour professionals are so effective; they produce the same power generation process and swing sequence every time. Scott Beaumont is from ZenoLink. ZenoLink is a diagnostic tool that used 3D motion analysis for coaches to be able to measure their athlete’s biomechanical breakdowns in their golf swing.

ZenoLink allows coaches to test students on the golf course, on the fairway or even indoors with no wires or sensors required. By measuring hip speed, arm speed, shoulder speed, club release speed and club linear speed, ZenoLink creates separate analyses of kinetic linking, stability, muscular loading and club dynamics; helping a coach or instructor identify functional movement discrepancies that rob the player of power, and to design a personalized Progressive Skills Training program that addresses problem areas.

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For early in the season, cool mornings or damp at dawn, when you need an extra layer without the extra bulk or weight, the Olie Superlite Pullover is the ultimate choice. This super lightweight ¼ zip pullover offers a Poly / Spandex blend that provides full freedom of movement and looks great.

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The Secret is out

Featuring a challenging layout, spectacular scenery and a sparkling new $2.5 million clubhouse renovation, the Graham Marsh-designed Secret Harbour Golf Links is an extremely popular course that caters to locals and visitors alike.

RichardFellner Located just outside of Mandurah, about 40 minutes’ drive from Perth, Secret Harbour Golf Links is one of those courses that falls into the “you could play it every day” category.

Designed by Graham Marsh (who has also crafted other excellent courses like Eynesbury, Twin Creeks, Growling Frog and the brand-new Kalgoorlie GC), Secret Harbour features wide and generous fairways, soft greens and some truly scenic holes. Rated among the Top 10 courses in WA, it’s a fantastic course for players of all levels, and it offers plenty of enjoyment and challenge along the way.

It also features some quirky local rules, as we discovered during our recent visit.

At the first tee, for example, I began my customary search for a sand bucket or divot filler – on the rare chance that I would be anywhere near the fairways that day. To my amazement, however, there were no buckets. This is due to the fact that, unlike most courses on the planet, Secret Harbour prefers that you NOT fill your fairway divots with sand. Instead, they ask that you simply repair it with a gentle tapping of the club, and let the grass grow back naturally.

(Evidently, the sand can wreak havoc with the mowers, plus it can be blown around with the regular course winds.)

While the immediate fear would be that the fairways would then look something like the road to Baghdad, I was amazed at how beautiful they actually were. In fact, they were as good as any fairways I’ve played in Australia. The quickgrowing grass tends to fill in the divots rather quickly on the course, so player repair isn’t really necessary.

Another unique point about Secret Harbour is that the bunkers are purposely not raked. If you get stuck into a bunker, you simply pick up your ball, wipe a nice lie in the sand, and place your ball. While this may bother the golf purist, this gives all players an equal chance, avoids those impossible “Footprint lies”, and eliminates the need for rakes and bunker maintenance. It also speeds up play a bit, especially for the higher handicapper who has enough trouble escaping the sand at the best of times. And let’s face it, it’s probably fairly close to the way golf was meant to be played anyway.

The rough is an absolute pleasure to play from (and I was in it often, so I know for certain).

Fluffy and lush, the ball sits up nicely, and gives

you many opportunities for those fun flop wedge shots or solid long iron approaches.

The rolling fairways play alongside natural sand dunes, and there are some nice views of the surrounding suburb and even some glimpses of the ocean. It has a very “coastal” feel to it, without the noisy seagulls or ocean mist.

There are many great holes at Secret Harbour, but as I am always a sucker for a par-3 over water, I rate the 179m 8th as a favourite. As close as you can get to an island green, this baby requires a solid tee shot if you want to get anywhere near the green. A marvellous hole.

The par-4 17th is also a cracker. Secret Harbour’s signature hole, this short but challenging hole features treacherous bunkers as well as a bit of water. With roughly 200 metres to the water

(depending on the tee marker) it is crucial that you play for position. The next shot is a knee trembler with the green sloping back to front. It’s important to keep the ball under the pin on your approach, because a downhill putt from the top of the green can roll into the water.

For the most part, the par-5’s are solid 3-shotters for the average players. Big hitters will be able to go for many of the greens in two, but will be in severe bunker/rough trouble if they miss. Risk-Reward is the name of the game, but you’d better have an impeccable short game to clean up your messes.

There are some really great holes at Secret Harbour. Best of all, though, is that every one of them is playable, fair and enjoyable. This fact makes it an ideal spot for corporate golf days and social events.

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

But don’t assume that it is an easy course.

On the contrary, it’s got plenty of challenge for even the country’s best players, and there are whispers that it may be hosting a top-tier event in the near future, most likely the WA PGA Championship.

The course has also recently made some important improvements, notably a course guide, yardage markers and other small upgrades that make a round even more enjoyable (sigh...

If only EVERY course in Australia did that!)

Of course, no review of Secret Harbour would be complete without mentioning the latest addition: their new $2.5 million dollar clubhouse renovation.

A stunning facility that can accommodate functions of nearly any size, the Secret Harbour clubhouse – namely their “The Secrets” restaurant – is sure to become one of WA’s more popular function venues.

Recently opened during last year’s RE/MAX Longdrive Championships WA event, the facility features new member locker rooms, professional kitchen, fully-licensed bar and a stunning new function room. The verandah overlooks the practice putting greens and driving range, providing a delightful alfresco setting for business meetings, social golf presentations/barbecues, or even large-scale events like weddings.

Not to be forgotten is the newly fitted-out Secret Harbour Golf Links Pro-Shop (open seven days a week from 6.30–7.30pm), offering a variety of brands such as Callaway, Ping, Titleist and Srixon. From apparel to shoes to balls and more, it’s a one-stop shop for all your gear. Plus, with a full selection of clubs, and a driving range on which to test them all, it’s an ideal opportunity to get fit for a set of

clubs 37

Course Notes Secret Harbour Golf Links Secret Harbour Blvd Secret Harbour WA 6173 Email: info@secretsgolf.com.au Web: www.secretsgolf.com.au Ph: (08) 9524 7133 Fax: (08) 9524 7134 Opening Times Pro Shop: 7 Days 6.30am–7.30pm Secrets Cafe Bar Breakfast Sat-Sun 8am–11am Lunch 7 days 11am–3pm Dinner Friday nights 6pm–9pm Peel Golf Academy (Craig and Jo Tapp) Ph: 0419 403 508 Event/venue enquiries Jacquie on (08) 9524 7133 Green Fees Adults 9/18 holes midweek: $25/$45 9/18 holes weekend: $27.50/$50 Juniors 9/18 holes midweek: $17.50/$22.50 9/18 holes weekend : $20/$25

sticks that match your specific game. Indeed, we’ve spoken at length about the importance of proper clubfitting, and Secret Harbour is a great location to get it done.

It’s also a cracker if you want top instruction, as Secret Harbour is also the home of the Peel Golf Academy. Led by award winning coach Craig “Tappy” Tap, the Peel Golf Academy offers lessons 7 days a week and boasts the largest junior golf program in Western Australia.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned ball-striker Craig and his team will guarantee improvement in your game. And they are super friendly too.

Overall, the recent upgrades and renovations at Secret Harbour have put it on par with the best courses/facilities in WA, and it really offers the “Total Package”. So do yourself a favour, and make it a point to check out Secret Harbour on your next visit to WA.

Hire Equipment Charges (Flat rate Mon-Sun, per person) Cart Hire 9/18 holes: $15/$25 Range Balls 150 balls: $20 100 balls: $16 70 balls: $13 50 balls: $8 Hire Clubs 9/18 holes: $20/25 Package prices available, see website

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Secret Harbour Golf Links, Secret Harbour Boulevard, Secret Harbour WA 6173

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February 2011

38 Feature............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Australian Open nabs coveted pre-Presidents Cup week RichardFellner Ending months of speculation surrounding the scheduling of Australia’s major tournaments in regards to The Presidents Cup, The Australian PGA announced that the 2011 Australian Open will be played from November 10 – 13 2011, while the Australian PGA Championship will be played from November 24-27 2011.

Thus, the schedule in November will be as follows: Nov 10-13: Australian Open (NSW) Nov 14-20: Presidents Cup (Vic) Nov 24-27: PGA Championship (QLD) The Australian Masters is tentatively scheduled for December 1 -4 2011, but this date is still to be confirmed.

On announcing the dates, the PGA’s CEO Max Garske said the decision was made in the best interest of both Australian golf and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“There were a number of factors that needed to be carefully considered in finalising the scheduling for 2011 including the timing of a number of international events, the availability of certain venues and the domestic schedule that best serves the Australian golfing public,” said Garske.

“With the focus of the golfing world set to be firmly on Melbourne come midNovember 2011, it is a given that the Presidents Cup will offer up a number of

benefits to events falling on either side.

So with these factors in mind we feel we have made the decision in the best interest of the game and we now look forward to what will be a great year for the Australian golf community.”

Golf Australia Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pitt said he was very pleased with the schedule.

“We are delighted that the Australian Open has been scheduled before the

2011 Presidents Cup. As some of the top players in the world visit our shores, golf will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. We look forward to welcoming any of the Presidents Cup players to compete in Sydney at the Australian Open.”

“Not only will the Open provide a magnificent opportunity for players to compete for one of the world’s oldest National Opens, it also gives these players

the opportunity to climb even higher on the world rankings through the double ranking points on offer to the champion.”

“We have consistently said that we wanted the best result for golf – the schedule that grows the game across the board and the Australian Open remains the most prestigious championship in Australian golf and will be an excellent lead-in event to the Presidents Cup.” IMG, which manages The JBWere Masters, has yet to make a formal statement regarding the decision. In a recent press release, IMG simply said “We thank you in advance for respecting our position and would also like to thank you all for your outstanding support of the 2009 and 2010 JBWere Masters.”

The decision will doubtless have been a major blow to IMG, as they believe that they deserve to have been awarded the coveted dates prior to The Presidents Cup – given their significant investment in time, effort and money to raise the profile of the Australian Masters in recent years.

It may also seem to be a minor blow for Victorian golf tourism in general, as the notion of a two-week JBWere Masters/ Presidents Cup double-header had been touted as a major potential drawcard for golfers across the globe. It was assumed (or hoped) that team members from the US and International teams would come en-masse to play at Kingston Heath were it scheduled for the week leading

into the Presidents Cup. The course was to be similar to Royal Melbourne and two weeks would give them a chance to acclimatise.

While the schedule has been set, it’s likely that the drama is far from over.

IMG’s silence on the matter speaks volumes, and it leads us to wonder what they may have up their sleeves.

Either way, it is certain to be an interesting year for Australian golf.

Presidents cup player tracker US Team Leaderboard Rank Player 1 Matt Kuchar 2 Steve Stricker 3 Jim Furyk 4 Dustin Johnson 5 Phil Mickelson 6 Heath Slocum 7 Jonathan Byrd 8 Tiger Woods 9 Hunter Mahan 10 Bill Haas

Points 7,274,677 7,181,785 6,563,422 5,433,366 5,285,977 4,185,227 4,129,992 4,114,765 4,051,612 3,881,224

International Team Leaderboard Rank Player Points 1 Ernie Els 302.54 2 Retief Goosen 241.06 3 Louis Oosthuizen 209.74 4 Tim Clark 206.89 5 Robert Allenby 199.09 6 Charl Schwartzel 198.57 7 Adam Scott 181.93 8 Geoff Ogilvy 169.90 9 Kyung-tae Kim 176.79 10 Ryo Ishikawa 172.99 YTD statistics through: Sony Open in Hawaii, Jan 16

“True Links Golf”

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

feature 39

Head to head: The Australian Open scheduling debate Did the PGA make the right call in scheduling the Australian Open before the Presidents Cup?

YES

NO

RobWillis I’ve got one simple statement to make. To IMG, to State Government officials in Victoria, to golf followers in Melbourne, and to those who thought the Australian Masters had the God-given right to be the lead-in event for the Presidents Cup in November - you weren’t getting all the players for two weeks anyway.

The decision surely was the right one, and certainly the only decision which could be made in best interests of golf in Australia.

As individual as the players are in their scheduling and commitments, getting them together for one week at the Presidents Cup is hard enough. Securing them all for two weeks is a pipedream.

As for “preparation in Sandbelt conditions”: the truth is these blokes are good enough to adjust from one type of golf course to the next. Some will be better at it than others, but isn’t that what becoming an elite player --capable of playing anywhere in the world-is all about?

Yes, Melbourne has the best golf courses in the country. Yes, they can stage a quality sporting event, and there is little doubt the Presidents Cup will be a fantastic week of golf. But if (and it is a big if ) a selection of Presidents Cup team members want to play the week prior, it wasn’t going to make any difference where the tournament was conducted.

And even if they were to come for a fortnight to Australian shores, why should Melbourne have the exclusive rights to the World’s best for two weeks in a row? Sydney and Queensland golf fans certainly deserve to see a Stricker, Mickelson, Furyk, Els,

Goosen or Oosthuizen.

Most of the Australians will come to The Australian Open and PGA Championship, and if conditions can be met and financial inducements included, International teammates and opponents from the US squad will join them.

The Singapore Open is the same week as the Open and they are certain to have fatter wallets than we do, and knowing the best 50-or-so in the world are in China the week before, they will bid heavily for a collection of superstars to attend their event. Should the schedule have come out differently, Singapore certainly wouldn’t have thrown the hands up and said, “for the benefit of the game of golf we will leave all Presidents Cup players alone and let them prepare in Melbourne.”

Then there are others still who will return to the US after a long and arduous season, recharge, pack some bags, pick up the family and get themselves organised for the Presidents Cup. Those falling into that bracket were never coming for the two weeks regardless.

The fact of the matter is Melbourne will have 24 of the world’s best golfers for one week during November and they should be justifiably excited about that.

Spread the love Melbourne. And if a sprinkling of Presidents Cup team members want to extend their Australian visit, let them come to Sydney and show another audience their considerable talents. 

RichardFellner Being an enthusiastic (nay, rabid) Melburnian, I will begin by removing my “Victorian Golf ” cap, and try to weigh in wearing my “Golf Purist” cap.

The PGA and Golf Australia say that their decision was made “for the good of Australian golf”. Spreading the love to all states this year certainly makes sense on the surface (below the surface, we’re sure there were plenty of politics and even a bit of chest-pounding at play, but we’ll leave that for another discussion.)

One of the forgotten issues here is the fact that the Australian Open – our National Championship – is currently not played ‘Nationally’. Many years ago, the decision was made to “lock in” the Open for an extended period in NSW. While it is beneficial for Sydney golf fans, I believe this was a mistake, as it is depriving the rest of the nation the opportunity to witness our National Championship.

The Australian Open was once considered the 5th Major. Back then, it travelled around the country to a variety of courses like Royal Adelaide, Kooyonga, Lake Karrinyup, etc. Heck, even Royal Hobart hosted the event in 1971 (won by Jack Nicklaus in a landslide).

When the event came to your state/course, it was “special”. It was something that only came around once in a while. Like today’s US Open and (British) Open Championships.

These days, our selection of top-quality courses is larger than ever. And while not all of them have ideal facilities for a major event, returning the Open

to a yearly or even biennial “Travelling show” would make the event “special” again. It would result in many economic benefits for each state, and boost interest in golf in those areas as well. Now THAT’s good for golf.

But I digress.

Let’s imagine, if you will, that the JB Were Masters or a “travelling” Australian Open was held in Melbourne this year. Any Sandbelt course would do. And while we’re at it, let’s also imagine that John Brumby was still the Premier of Victoria (and willing to put proper prizemoney toward the event). Now, if we slot the event before the Presidents Cup – and give it a proper winner’s cheque — we would have created a fortnightlong “Mega Event” that would surely have brought in extra corporate sponsors, more spectators and a level of excitement that would rarely have been seen in Australia. Imagine all of the mini clinics, celebrity appearances, Charity Skins Games or other private events that we could have created in Victoria (or even Tasmania) with these golf stars over the two weeks.

It’s the “whole is greater than the sum of the parts” effect. And while Victoria would have certainly seen the lion’s share of the tourism/hospitality spoils, the cumulative effect on Australian golf and Australian tourism could have been glorious.

At any rate, this is all moot, as the decision has been made. And when put in context of the recent flood devastation, it all seems minor by comparison.

One thing is certain: Australian golf fans are in for a spectacular summer in 2011. 

YOUR SAY What do you think about the scheduling?

Would you rather have the Australian Masters (in Melbourne) play host to the first tournament prior to The Presidents Cup? Or should the Australian Open be moved to Victoria? Share your thoughts via our website, or via email: ed@insidegolf.com.au

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40 feature............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au 1

2

Wollongong 3 4 5 N

7

6

8

Wollongong to the Sapphire Coast…

Nowra

9 Mollymook

10 Batemans Bay

Moruya

Narooma

Bega

11 12

Merimbula 14

1. Wollongong GC 2. Calderwood Valley GC 3. Port Kembla GC 4. Jamberoo GC 5. Gerringong GC 6. Nowra GC 7. Worrigee Links 8. Shoalhaven Heads GC 9. Mollymook GC 10. Catalina CC 11. Tura Beach CC 12. Pambula-Merimbula GC 13. Eden Gardens CC 14. Sapphire Coast Golf Schools

13 Eden

Southern charm

The Princes Highway stretching from Wollongong to the Sapphire Coast is arguably one of the best golf trails in the country.

Dotted between Wollongong and the New South Wales/ Victorian border are a diverse array of golf courses.

From seaside links to stunning parkland designs, this part of Australia is becoming increasingly popular with golfers from Melbourne,

Sydney and Canberra.

Finding a course along this stretch isn’t difficult.

You’ll rarely have to drive far to come across a gem of a layout.

When you find some time off the course, be sure to take in the region’s many attractions.

Great beaches and wineries make it an ideal destination for families and groups of golf mates.

So check out the courses on offer in the following pages to plan your next golf getaway to this stunning part of Australia.

ALBACORE RESORT Merimbula, Sapphire Coast NSW

Albacore offers spacious fully self contained apartments, all with wonderful water views & in-room spa. Lift to all floors, heated pool, BBQ, undercover security carpark and an easy walk to shops & restaurants. We can arrange group or individual packages to suit.

Enjoy Merimbula’s temperate climate

TURA BEACH COUNTRY CLUB Enjoy the spectacular ocean views from this magnificent Peter Thompson/ Mike Wolveridge designed Championship course which presents a great opportunity for golfers at all levels to challenge their game.

Tura Beach Golf Course has been rated No. 17 in NSW and listed by Weor can Golf Australia as “one the best courses you can play for $50 less”.

• Carts and buggies for hire • Fully equipped, well stocked Pro shop • Licensed Club • Seaview Bistro – open daily for lunch and dinner The Fairway, Tura Beach, NSW. Ph: (02) 6495 9002 Pro Shop (02) 6495 9068 www.clubsapphire.com.au

tailor any package to suit your group!

7 nights/5 rounds of golf February – April packages $625pp 2 share • $475pp 3 share $395pp 4 share Enquiries 02 6495 3187 | Freecall 1800 653 810 | Email info@albacore.com.au | Web www.albacore.com.au

MAGIC MERIMBULA NEW SUMMER GOLF PACKAGES

Staying at…

'voted best golf package in NSW'

• 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 fully cooked poolside breakfasts.

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This is the most popular package on the Sapphire Coast, it gets booked out early - don't miss out

688 881

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Cnr Dunns Rd & Princess Hwy, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

feature 41

Calderwood Valley, an ideal venue for the social golfer

Wollongong Golf Club

Wollongong has the lot

There aren’t too many golf clubs in Australia like Wollongong Golf Club.

That’s because they’ve got everything you need all in the one place.

The club boasts one of the region’s best golf courses and superb on-site accommodation.

And it’s not just amateur golfers who are raving about the course.

Golf pros also agree that it’s a superb course with wonderful facilities.

Wollongong Golf Club is ideally placed to cater for the visiting golf market.

And it certainly makes for a “must do” for any golfer looking to enjoy a short break.

The club caters for social groups and even has allocated tee times for non members on a Saturday.

Better still, you only have to contact the club and they’ll arrange a fully inclusive golf package that combines golf tee times and accommodation.

Wollongong Golf Club has a first class golf shop and a modern fleet of carts complete with the latest GPS technology.

To inquire about staying at Wollongong Golf Club phone (02) 4222 3111 or visit www.wollongonggolfclub.com.au

Calderwood Valley–the south coast’s friendliest golfing facility It’s little surprise that Calderwood Valley is so popular with social golfers. The course was built and designed for social groups and players. wh

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Calderwood Valley welcomes social group bookings. The weekday discount for groups of 12 or more players brings the green fees down to $16 each. Every group of 24 or more players receive a free shirt when mentioning Inside Golf.

They also have weekday discounts for senior card holders at $14 each.

Being a locally owned and operated business, Calderwood Valley take pride in their course and the service they provide. They love to have visiting golfers and they’ll treat you like the valued patrons you are.

Be sure to book ahead and speak with the friendly staff who are sure to make your next visit memorable.

(02) 4256 3055 www.calderwoodgolf.com.au

CLUBCATALINA COUNTRY CLUB

SH

ial

ers

With no need to work around competition days the course is theirs seven days a week.

Nestled in a picturesque valley 20 minutes south of Wollongong, the Ken McKay designed course offers a relaxed round. Each of the 18 holes has its unique features, combining clear creeks, native plant species, and stunning scenery.

The breathtaking surrounds feature the rugged Illawarra escarpment as a backdrop.

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

There are 18 beautiful holes, but the 6th is the usual favourite. It’s not the toughest hole but definitely the most picturesque.

And best of all, you don’t need to travel far when you’ve completed the game. The accommodation is right there–just a short stroll from the 18th green.

I

clu RT b to pla y

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Coachhouse Marina Resort

Calderwood Valley Woolongong’s superb public golfing facility

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

• Groups can take advantage of our large covered gazebo, and picnic area.

• The course is open for social golf every day of the year.

• Locally owned and operated • On course accommodation available 532 Calderwood Road, Albion Park NSW 2527 | ph: (02) 4256 3055

calderwoodgolf.com.au

4.5 star fully self contained villas Located opposite ClubCatalina Country Club

2 Night package incl:

• 2 nights accommodation • 2 x continental breakfast • 1 x 3 course evening meal at Café Catalina • 2 days golf (18 holes) at ClubCatalina • Cart included • All members entitlements.

• Stubby holder (conditions apply)

Package Price $410pp twin share

Home of the PGA National Futures Championship For information about problem gambling and help options, call Gambling Help 24/7 on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghangover.nsw.gov.au

154 Beach Road, Batemans Bay Ph: 4472 4022 clubcatalina.com.au

February 2011

42 feature............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au Great value at Pambula Merimbula The Pambula Merimbula Golf Club is one of the most popular and successful golf clubs and golfing destinations on the Far South Coast of New South Wales.

Located just a few minutes from the centre of town in Merimbula, the 27-hole golf facility is widely regarded by amateur and professional golfers alike. The Club hosts over 70,000 rounds of golf per year, with approximately 40,000 of these being visitors to the Far South Coast.

The club held the NSW PGA for several years, and continues to host a number of major amateur competitions. The club also hosts 2 major golfing tournaments each year: The Ace of Clubs is held in June and is played across 4 different courses on the Far South Coast, while the Week of Golf in October has been held for 30 years and is one of the largest amateur golfing events in Australia. It is widely regarded as one of the best tournaments for golfers in Australia with visitors from every state, and several contingents from overseas each year.

The event should be on every golfer’s calendar, with approximately 800 players playing a variety of competitions over 8 days in a tremendously friendly, carnival atmosphere.

The Pambula Merimbula course offers a good test for any standard of player. The facilities include 27 beautifully manicured golf holes cut through natural Australian bush land, with modern clubhouse facilities that provide commanding views over the course toward the pristine Merimbula Lakes and beautiful Merimbula township beyond. The natural environment boasts an abundance of native wildlife, and provides an outstanding golfing experience for everybody, including the relatively inexperienced. The course

Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, offering 27 holes and superb facilities

is a relatively easy walk, or motorised carts are available.

The Club’s Glasshouse Restaurant delivers some of the best food in the area, with seasonal menus and a great selection of local produce. The Clubhouse and restaurant are friendly, relaxing, warm and inviting and provide an experience above the rest for all visitors. The attractive menu and wine list add to patrons’ pleasure. Live entertainment is regularly available throughout the year.

Most visitors to Merimbula often stay a few nights to enjoy the course, so the club has a weekly green fee that offers exceptional value for money. Play and stay packages can also be arranged through the club directly.

To find out more, phone the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club on (02) 6495 6154 or visit www.merimbulagolf.com.au

Amazing views at The Tura Beach Country Club Club Sapphire Tura is referred to as “the club with the million dollar views”.

A marvelous setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean is why.

This superb 18-hole layout has a reputation of being ‘the golfers’ golf course’ and will in time become one of the great courses of New South Wales.

The course itself is tough but not unfair.

Large greens (some tiered) and stiff winds — a crucial factor on any seaside course — add to the difficulty.

It becomes obvious that designer Peter Thomson’s love of links type courses influenced many of the holes here.

If a real golfing challenge is what you want, look no further than Tura Beach.

Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge, one of Australia’s most respected golf course design partnerships, were given a magnificent piece of land with which to ply their trade.

The result of their labour was the Tura Beach Golf Course, a course of championship standard, measuring 6,018 metres, boasting a par of 73 against an Australian course rating of 72.

NEW SOUTH WALES

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m e r i m b u l a 5 nights 4 rounds of golf escape - $395 pp quad share

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. Packages tailored to suit at 5 beautiful Sapphire Coast courses in close proximity to Merimbula . Tariff includes: green fees, continental breakfast, discount vouchers and as new 3-bedroom 2-bathroom modern appointed villa with views of golf course and ocean located at the entrance to the Country Club 3-7 night For enquiries or bookings contact: packages T: 0450 040 010 (m) • E: thefairway@bigpond.com available

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Health & fitness Great Entertainment!

Attractive Play & Stay Packages available Arthur Kaine Dr, Merimbula 6495 6154 www.merimbulagolf.com.au

Buy or Sell Homes on Golf Courses golfinghomes.com.au W: www.golfinghomes.com.au E: caddy@golfinghomes.com.au P: 0439 846 314

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Each nine has its own special set of challenges, with stand out holes being the water carry par‑three fifth, the tricky par-three ninth and the water-protected par-five eleventh hole.

Club Sapphire Tura, through its parent body Club Sapphire Merimbula, also offers members and visitors the added facilities of magnificent bowling greens and two synthetic tennis courts.

Throw in the beach, located alongside the 4th fairway, and you have the ultimate holiday destination.

The club professional at Tura Beach is Scott Tasker who will be only too willing to offer assistance or advice to visitors and members alike.

Scott and his staff also provide information on a number of tournaments the club has to offer.

Club Sapphire Tura is located five kilometres north of Merimbula along Sapphire Coast Drive.

With an interest for everyone, the Club offers patrons facilities such as Keno, TAB, SKY Racing, regular live entertainment, a courtesy bus and a restaurant with “million dollar views” over the golf course to complement the best food and service in the region.

For more information call (02) 6495 9002 or visit www.clubsapphire.com.au

Catalina – a one stop golf destination Catalina Country Club is one golf course you just can’t ignore.

The 27-hole club is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most progressive.

That’s because it offers everything a five-star resort can but at a price which is affordable for everyone.

“Our biggest advantage here is that we have 27 holes which means we can cope with the large

feature 43

Sapphire Coast gem

With plenty of space, fresh air and freedom, Eden Gardens Country Club is one of the best kept golfing secrets in Australia.

Abundant wildlife, a quality collection of holes and one of the friendliest clubhouses between Melbourne and Sydney, it is an ideal spot for a south coast getaway.

Just three hours from Canberra, Eden is a popular holiday spot with tourists from that part of the world but daily flights into the nearby Merimbula Airport from both Sydney and Melbourne make it easily accessible from the major centres as well.

Eden is the southern getaway to the stunning Sapphire Coast and the picturesque Eden Gardens Country Club is a golf course that benefits from its location.

Amoung the club’s other facilities are two bowling greens, a relaxing beer garden and excellent Chinese bistro.

And with the Sapphire Coast Golf School on site, Eden Gardens really is a one stop golf and holiday destination.

For further information visit the website at www.edengardenscountryclub.com.au or phone (02) 6496 1126.

The Tura Beach Country Club, a Peter Thomson designed gem numbers of people who want to play the course,” club professional Nigel Wilson said.

“Even on Saturdays we have tee times available for social and group play.”

Wilson said there had been a lot of hard work done to make the club a destination in its own right.

Catalina Country Club is also moving to become one of the state’s top event driven destinations.

The club already plays host to the PGA Futures tournament, the national trainee title as well as the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation state age championship.

“We’ve got the perfect facility to host these events and the feedback we’ve had has been fantastic.

“The experience we get from hosting these events also makes us better at catering to large and small groups who visit here.”

Aside from golf, Bateman’s Bay is home to countless off course activities with stunning scenery and some of the best fishing in Australia.

There are “play and stay” packages at Catalina Country Club to suit all budgets.

For bookings phone (02) 4472 4022 or visit www.catalinacountryclub.com.au

School’s in at Sapphire Coast Golf School Is there anything worse than going away for a golf trip, or your on holidays, with the perfect opportunity to play golf every day and you find yourself struggling and not enjoying yourself?

If this has happened to you, then Sapphire Coast Golf School is the place to turn things around.

Run by AAA rated PGA Professionals Lisa Newling and Loraine Lambert, the school is located at the stunning Eden Gardens Country Club and offers the perfect way to combine golf tuition and a holiday.

SAPPHIRE COAST GOLF SCHOOL

Shhh…The secret is getting out about the most

reasonably priced, least crowded and arguably best course on the Sapphire Coast. Challenging, though not exhausting, come and see why our loyal players return year after year.

(Just try not to tell everyone – we dare you!)

- Superb 18 hole championship course available for competition & social play - Individual golf lessons - On-course golf tuition - Seniors, women and kids golf clinics - Golf swing video analysis - Half and full day golf programs - Stay, play and improve golf holiday packages - Golf for school groups and school holiday programs

Club Professional: Loraine Lambert Lisa Newling Loraine & Lisa are Accredited: - PGA Members (AAA Rated) - Australia Ladies Professional Golf Member - Qualified Titleist & Cobra golf club fitters - Level 1 TP1 Certified Golf Fitness Instructors

EDEN GARDENS COUNTRY CLUB 79 Princes Highway, Eden NSW 2551 Ph: (02) 6496 1126 Email: edenfrc@edenfishermens.com.au

Phone (02) 6496 1054 Loraine: 0423 149 012 Lisa: 0417 485 635

February 2011

44 feature............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Golfers improve their game at Eden Gardens Country Club under the watchful eye of professionals Lisa Newling and Loraine Lambert from the Sapphire Coast Golf School

Eden Gardens Country Club, the Augusta National of the Sapphire Coast with its beautiful surrounds

The schools are designed to cater for individuals or those who want to attend with a group of friends.

Eden Gardens Country Club is one of the Sapphire Coast’s real hidden gems, because of this it is a very friendly and relaxed environment to play golf.

You could easily spend a week in this part of the world, playing golf, bushwalking, whale watching, lazing on the beach and fishing.

The quality of the local seafood is excellent.

And that’s not surprising given Eden is

there isn’t an area of the game these two can’t assist with.

Over the past 18 months they’ve had a lot of success with golfers suffering the dreaded “yips”.

If you’re having problems with your putting and you have more than three putters in the garage, come and visit the Sapphire Coast Golf School, because they can help.

The great thing about the golf schools and instruction is there’s easy access to the golf course “We like to see you take the new techniques

well-known for its fresh fish, muscles and oysters.

There is plenty of accommodation in Eden from four-and-a-half-star motels to very modern caravan parks close to the Eden Gardens Country Club.

While there is no questioning the quality of the golf course, the tuition you will get from Lisa and Loraine while you’re at the school will make your playing experience more enjoyable.

Both Certified Club Fitters and Titleist Performance Institute Fitness Instructors,

you’ve learnt from the driving range to the golf course,” Lisa explained.

Lisa and Loraine can tailor a package to suit your needs.

Merimbula airport is nearby and is easily accessible from Sydney and Melbourne.

Canberra is just a three hour drive.

For more information on the instruction at Sapphire Coast Golf Schools and accommodation available please log on to the website at www.sapphirecoastgolfschool.com.au or phone Lisa or Loraine on (02) 6496 1054.

Package

Wollongong Golf Club

www.clubcaregolf.com.au Phone: 1300 882 183

‘Protecting the traditions of Australian golf’

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Wollongong Championship Links Course adjacent to the ocean Meals available at restaurant 1st class accommodation for 3 nights

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Walking distance to the CBD Full breakfast each morning Three full 18 rounds of golf at three of the Illawarra’s most challenging courses

Port Kembla Championship Course 10 mins drive South of Wollongong CBD Carts available Meals available

(Wollongong, Port Kembla and Shellharbour)

Golf Carts included

golfinghomes.com.au W: www.golfinghomes.com.au E: caddy@golfinghomes.com.au P: 0439 846 314

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One hour’s drive from Sydney Terms and Conditions Twin share - Breakfast inclusive Accommodation available: Wollongong – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Carts available at Port Kembla (by advance booking) Wollongong GC - Monday, Port Kembla - Tuesday, Shell Links - Wednesday

Shellharbour Links Course providing challenges 20 mins drive South of Wollongong CBD Meals available

For further enquiries please see our friendly reception staff or contact Wollongong on (02) 4222 3111

The Mornington Peninsula

Australia’s number one golf destination

54 hole To

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Rosebud Park Golf Course

Mornington Golf Club

Where the view is worth the drive

More than just a great golf course

Great course in excellent condition selected for May Tournament.

Golf. Functions. Corporate golf.

Enjoy great value accommodation and delicious dining, before playing a round on the 18-hole par 70 championship golf course.

(03) 5950 8000

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Eagle Ridge Golf Course

St Andrews Beach

Enjoy a great day out at Eagle Ridge Golf Course. The friendly staff will make you feel welcome and ensure you enjoy the great clubhouse facilities. Call Eagle Ridge today.

Golf Shop (03) 5975 4171 Clubhouse (03) 5975 2784 www.morningtongolf.com.au

For Bookings call

(03) 59812833 www.rosebudpark.com.au

RACV Cape Schanck Resort

Ranked #10 in Australia Open to the public 7 days a week. Very affordable prices. Ranked #10 in Australia by Golf Australia magazine 2010.

(03) 5988 6000

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February 2011

46 amateurs....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Tom Lewis Nothing short of stunning!

AnthonyPowter Tom Lewis continues to show why he is one of the world’s best amateurs.

At the Australian Open in Sydney, the 20-year-old Englishman collected the amateur medal for the championship.

The week before in the Hunter Valley he’d pushed European Tour journeyman Peter O’Malley to the wire at the NSW Open championship, eventually going out to O’Malley after the third play-off hole.

The Englishman returned to Australia in January to contest the Australian Master of the Amateurs at Royal

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Melbourne and featured strongly for another top-10 finish. Lewis in this second tour of duty will also play the Lake Macquarie Amateur and NSW Amateur Championship before returning home to England.

Those fortunate enough to see Lewis in action during the Australian

Your invitation to play golf and save lives Five day on the Mornington Peninsula’s most esteemed courses

and NSW Open back in December witnessed an evolving player with a game that has a powerful mix of raw talent balanced with maturity and poise well beyond his young years.

Australia has and continues to be kind for Lewis and he loves being part of our tour.

“There’s something about the way I play in Australia,” said Lewis regarding his maiden tour down under.

“It’s hard to come out here as you feel like you are intruding a little, yet everyone has been fantastic. I’ve been really pleased with the way that I’ve been playing. The golf courses have been wonderful and the crowds in all tournaments have been excellent towards me.”

Lewis’ performance at the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney was nothing short of impressive on his way to a tie for 12th, finishing at 7-under-par to collect the silver medal for top amateur over Ryan McCarthy.

“I was chuffed with what I finished on,” said Lewis.

“Hopefully, I can take forward some of the confidence with some of the performances that I’ve played here in Australia. I was pleased with how I played at The Vintage and then to play well in your national Open was another bonus.”

Lewis has plenty of game and isn’t afraid to show it. In fact it is scary to witness a young gun with such game so early in a career that’s sure to evolve onwards towards the professional ranks. A quick review of Lewis’ list of amateur achievements are testament to his prodigious talent and what’s likely to become of him.

In 2009 Lewis won the British Boys and English Boys amateur championships before reaching the quarter-finals of the Spanish amateur championship and was runner-up at the

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Welsh Open Amateur Championship in the same year.

Last year at the British Amateur Championship had Jin Jeong’s putter not been “red-hot” during their round of 16, where Jeong pipped Lewis with a 1-up win before going on to claim the title, another championship may have fallen Lewis’ way.

His biggest victory to date is certainly the British Boys title in 2009, yet his win at the Carris Trophy referred to as the English Boys amateur, was just as special. Lewis was also a member of England’s Eisenhower Trophy team in Argentina, finishing in a tie for 16th in the individual standings and in 2010 he finished 3rd on the English Golf Union Order of Merit.

Lewis sets high expectations upon himself and is a methodical worker with his game. It’s an approach that’s already delivered dividends and in any tournament Lewis competes, he’s a constant threat to the rest of the field. This we witnessed firsthand at the Master of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne where but for a disappointing final day which was played in atrocious conditions, Lewis proved his status within world amateur golf.

His consistency continues to improve, particularly when playing abroad in main amateur events. At the same time Lewis knows there remains the need for improvement in his game. Like many emerging players, he’s aware of the need to have a wellrounded game that can adjust to the

Everyone has been fantastic.

The golf courses have been wonderful and the crowds have been excellent towards me.

idiosyncratic nature of the world’s golf courses and the grind associated with travel.

“At times I continue to make too many mistakes out there,” says Lewis.

“There can be too many bogies, some doubles from nowhere. I need to touch up on a few things and removing these mistakes will be the thing that will win me events in the future.”

As 2011 unfolds Lewis will focus upon achieving results overseas. His main goal this year is to make the Great Britain & Ireland team for the Walker Cup. “Playing the Walker Cup is a huge goal for me,” says Lewis.

“At the same time I want to get myself into position to win more championships and feel what it is like

to put yourself under pressure. I’m usually pretty good in those situations and it’s been great to have been there a few times in Australia.”

Good players make their own chances and even greater players seize the opportunities that they create.

Lewis continues to create opportunities for himself when the glove is on.

You only had to hear the comments

amateurs 47 from many commentators so far this summer in Australia as Lewis pounded his drives around the back nine at The Lakes on a course he’d never seen before to realise Lewis is not your average player. At Royal Melbourne, a course that requires precision from the tee, Lewis impressed even the seasoned members with his play and respect for the course.

He will need time to settle into the game, but the bottom line is Lewis has stirred our curiosity.

Players of Lewis’ calibre are making us wonder what will come of them, even given the fickle nature of the game where emerging talents come and go like the seasons themselves.

You can think of countless names that were poised for grandeur at the same age Lewis is, only to vaporise from the scene and never return.

There’s no question that Lewis brings game and is sure to be around in the game for a while. He’s gifted, charming, engaging and fiercely competitive, a trait that will serve him well as he carves out his own niche on the world golfing stage in the coming years.

He’s been crowned by many in the UK as the next big thing. Although it is wise not to rush into conclusions of future stardom, Lewis’ efforts during the Australian summer so far have already been nothing short of stunning and it’s not over yet as he goes in pursuit of our main amateur titles down under.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

pgaigi 49

PGA IGI enrolments closing soon DavidNewbery THE importance of education has not been lost on Rachel Hetherington.

Hetherington had a stellar professional career winning more than $6m in prizemoney, but that’s hasn’t stopped her from further study.

Hetherington, who has retired from the US LPGA Tour, recently completed a bridging course to become a member of the PGA. The 38-year-old said anyone with ambitions of making golf a career should consider further education.

“I think education is incredibly important because only a small percentage of players are successful and can earn a good living playing golf,” she said.

“In Australia, we have golf management programs through the PGA International Golf Institute (IGI) and Griffith University.

“So, if you want to be in the golf industry, there are opportunities to be able to learn while you are learning the game of golf.”

The PGA IGI’s marketing and student recruitment coordinator Joshua Madden said the PGA IGI offered education through its combined curriculum of business courses and golf skills to prepare students for a career in the golf industry.

“Whether you are interested in a playing or coaching career or a career in administration (i.e. general management, golf operations), IGI

programs and courses will assist students in getting there,” he said.

“We prepare our graduates for a career in the business and management of golf as an industry.”

Owned by the PGA of Australia, the IGI has articulation and credit transfer agreements with multiple universities across Australia.

These links provide the opportunity to choose different career pathways within the golf industry and related business sectors.

“Our graduates have secured employment as general managers of golf clubs, golf administrators, head golf and teaching professionals, tournament directors, and sales representatives of leading golf club and apparel companies,” Madden said.

“Along with our partners, we offer a variety of programs and courses from a vocational education and training (VET) level, through to a Higher Education level.”

Core programs and courses, which are nationally accredited include: • A Diploma of Golf Management – 1 year; • A Diploma of Golf Management via distance learning; and • Elite Golf Program - Certificate III in Sport “Upon completion of the Diploma of Golf Management students have the option to complete a further two years at Griffith University to obtain a Bachelor of Business – Major in Sports Management,” Madden said.

Rachel Hetherington knows the value of education He said packaged offers were available.

“Students enrolled in the face-to-face delivery mode of the Diploma of Golf Management will have Platinum Membership at the Colonial and Robina Woods golf courses on Queensland’s Gold Coast,” Madden said.

“This membership provides students with playing access all year round.

“And students can expect to be coached by some of Australia’s most prestigious and awardwinning golf professionals while undertaking their studies at the IGI. For detailed information about our golf education programs visit our website at www.pgaigi.com or the careers section of the PGA website on www.pga.org.au

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February 2011

50 golftips............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ www.insidegolf.com.au

Reading slopes on greens

The ‘Key’ drill

Target line

C

Aiming point

Actual ball path

4 feet 30 feet

25 feet

20 feet

15 feet

B

10 feet A

A downhill putt will break more than an uphill putt, as gravity affects the ball earlier in the putt

BrentGerman Have you ever wondered why some putts turn or break more than others?

Here are a few quick tips to help you on your way to reading the greens better and improving your score.

Uphill versus Downhill Downhill Putts (Less speed equals more break) With less momentum on a downhill putt, gravity acts upon the ball sooner and forces the ball down the direction of the true downslope. On downhill putts, therefore, we need to allow for more break.

Uphill Putts (More speed equals less break) Uphill putts are a lot easier than downhill putts as they have less break.

This is because we are hitting an uphill putt much harder than a downhill putt,

Uphill putts break less when the ball is travelling faster, and then gradually break more as the ball slows down

and thereby eliminating the break in the early part of the putt.

The ball will take any break when it starts to “die” (i.e. loses speed). Gravity starts to take over and the ball will follow the true slope.

Side Slope Putts Putts hit across any side slope are generally uphill on the first part of the putt, and then downhill on the second part.

Once you have assessed whether the put is uphill or downhill (to help you determine the pace of the putt and initial starting line), then focus on the area around the hole where the ball will die. This will help you to gain an understanding of the direction of the true

downslope; as this is where the slope will have the greatest influence on your putt.

By building up a picture of the contours, you will build up a picture of the line and pace you will need to hit the ball on for it to go in the hole.

Summary If you practice reading putts and build it into your pre-shot routine and practice putting from different spots on the green on your home course, it will help you to assess the effects that different slopes and speeds have on your putts. Building up such experience will make you more decisive and improve your confidence and putting on the course and hopefully improve your score.

Brent German is an AAA Accredited PGA Golf Teaching Professional at Albert Park Driving Range in Melbourne. Visit www.BrentGermanGolf.com or call Brent on 0412 533 555 for more information. For online bookings visit: http://ignitegolf.com.au/brent_german

MikeBury You Need: 2 golf balls The Set Up: Place 8 tees in the following positions: • One level with the hole, 3 feet from the cup (A) • One 4 feet behind the cup (B) • One 5 feet level with the cup (C) • Five in a straight line at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 feet

The Drill

Start with the 3-foot putt. You must finish within the semi-circle twice to move on. If only one putt finishes within the semi-circle, stay on the same tee.

Next, move to the 4-foot and 5-foot

putts. You must make both twice to move to the 10-foot putt. The putts from 10 to 30 feet must finish between the cup and the 4-foot tee (B). If you are short or past the tee, you are outside the range. You must make both putts to move to the next tee, if you miss both you go back to the previous tee. If only one putt finishes within the semi-circle, stay on the same tee.

Mike Bury is an Australian PGA professional, living in Dallas Texas.

Mike’s proven coaching style has been extensively crafted through his exposure to some of the greatest teachers in the world including Dale Lynch, Steve Bann and Jim Mclean. www.mikebury.com

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...........................................................................................................................................................

oncourseinstruction 51

Pitching tips

LeeHarrington Many people attempt to pitch like they are taking a small version of their full swing. This is not correct and will lead to poor contact, distance control and directional issues.

The lofted pitch shot is played with a lot less moving parts than the full swing.

The main points to consider next time you practice are: Setup 1. Your weight starts and stays on the front leg during the entire shot.

2. The left hand is in a weaker position (left thumb pointing down shaft as shown) to stop the club head releasing and closing.

Tee off to success MarkVictorsen

3. Align body open to the target, clubhead remains pointing at the target. Ball position is inside left heel (which is where your body centre of gravity is situated through weight being forward in setup).

The Pitching Action 1. The Club path travels parallel to your body alignment, which is left of the target.

2. In the takeaway, check clubface at about hip height to make sure you have not shut the loft down (this will lead to shots going low and left).

3. In the downswing the club head trails the shaft, which comes by clearing the left hip as the first move back to the ball.

I managed to interview Steve Williams when Tiger Woods came to Australia in 2009 and Steve had some very interesting things to say about how Tiger plans his way around the course.

He said that Tiger plays the course the way the designer had intended. That is, if the hole requires a draw off the tee he hits a draw; if the hole needs a fade tee shot that’s what he tries to do.

To hit a draw/hook tee shot, tee the ball up higher than normal, play the ball more forward (i.e towards the target) and get the feeling that you are keeping the body well “behind the ball” through impact. This will allow the arms/clubface to cross over early through impact and produce hook or A good way to think of the finish your local professional will make draw spin. Remember to adjust your aim is to see if you can sit a glass on the putting all these angles into practice to allow the draw to finish at your target. a lot easier. clubface at the finish. This means To hit a fade/slice tee shot, tee the you have created the right angles ball much lower than normal (this to slide the clubface under the ball and achieve a soft high pitched shot. will force you to keep the face open) as the instinctive thing to do is add loft Short game skills can save you Proudly supporting the benefits of go and the open the clubface, creating the many shots so do not neglect this shot shape you need. Try to resist the part of your game when practicing.

Tel:rotation (07) 3252 8155 | Email: info@g Getting a short game lesson from of the arm/clubface through impact and remember to aim and allow for the fade. Lee is a PGA Member and is also the Development Officer at Golf Queensland.

Her passion for teaching and an eye for detail is recognised in her reputation as a leading female teacher in Australia. Lee’s experience in teaching provide Mark Victorsen is the Senior a basis for programs delivered The Golf School, a Queensland-based teaching Teacher at Pacific Golf Club facility. Lee teaches at both the Gold Coast Carrara and Oxley facility weekly.

Brisbane, and was QLD PGA www.thegolfschool.com.au. Email: admin@thegolfschool.com.au, or phone Teacher of the Year in 2008.

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February 2011

52 oncourseinstruction........................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Attention

1

2

all faders and slicers

KurtStegbauer Spending hours out on the teaching tee allows the coach to improve players faster. The best coaches use the least amount of words, yet bring forth the biggest amount of improvement.

I once heard how 80% of the world’s golfers are faders or slicers. Now, a lot of golfers don’t think they fade or slice, however they really do.

The best way to figure out if you are a fader or a slicer is to hit 20 golf balls with a 5-iron and write down what each shot does, I guarantee you that there will be a pattern to your 20 shots, and this will allow you to see what your shot pattern is.

A great drill to get a player hitting the ball straighter or even to understand how to hit a draw or hook is to have a player grab a tennis racquet and take a golf set up position. If you’ve played a couple of games of tennis then the concept should be fine. If you don’t have a tennis background, then you may need your local golf pro to assist.

The concept of hitting the ball with a draw or hook is very similar to hitting a topspin forehand, you will feel as though you are hitting the ball to the right and then have the ball curve back in. Looking at pictures 1 and 2 you can clearly see the correct images for a top spinner, these

then relate back to how you can hit a draw or hook shot.

Looking at pictures 3 and 4 will show you how these match up to a player who cut-spins the ball – an out-to-in shot that relates to hitting a slice or a fade.

In teaching students of all levels, I insist that — to be the player that you want to be — you need to be able to hit a ball deliberately with a fade or draw at will. Using the tennis racquet and adopting a hybrid tennis/golf swing will allow you to achieve shaping your golf shots at will.

And finally, a short story to finish with. A client of mine (we’ll call him “Fred”) has recently been on fire, dropping 8 shots from his handicap in a couple of months. I used the tennis racquet concept a couple of times with Fred during a lesson. Fred now has regular warm up sessions in his garage using the tennis racquet to get the feel of a top spin/draw shot. Fred now hits the ball further and straighter, partly by using this drill.

My suggestion is that if you are a fader or slicer, dig out the old tennis racquet and practice some top spinners to achieve a draw or hook shot. Kurt Stegbauer is the 2009 NSW PGA Coach of the Year, and is the Head Professional and Director of Coaching at The Ridge Golf Course and Driving Range. Ph 02 9541 4960 or visit www.theridgegolf.com.au

To hit a draw, imagine hitting a topspin forehand shot in tennis (i.e. in-to-out, with a roll)

3

4

Faders and slicers tend to hit shots similar to a cut-spin stroke in tennis (i.e. out-to-in)

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ..........................................................................................................................................................................................

The switch to

success

JamieGlazier

It has long been said that Tiger Woods is one of the most focused athletes the world has ever seen. I believe that there are few athletes that have the quality of focus that Tiger possesses, and he is obviously in a class above all amateur golfers that enjoy the challenges that the game of golf offers.

But what if I said that it wasn’t the quality of focus where Tiger stands heads and shoulders above his competitors; but rather it is his ability to switch his focus ON and OFF during the course of a round. This enables Tiger to have the same quality of focus for the last 6 holes of a round that he had in the first 6 holes.

During Tiger’s teen years, he learnt to be able to switch his focus ON and OFF for each shot, helping him stay in the present and give himself the best possible chance of hitting a great shot “right now”.

A lot of players believe that switching your focus ON is the most important aspect to achieving a consistent high level of focus. This couldn’t be further

from the truth. The switching OFF after each shot is the most important component to being able to store enough focus for the latter stages of a round so that you can eliminate those late round mistakes.

Tiger worked extensively with a Sports Psychologist in his teen years and one of the important mental game components that helped Tiger store this much needed focus, was to create what he called the “Ten Yard Line”.

The “Ten Yard Line” came from the National Football League (NFL) in the US, whereby there are incremental lines on field every 10 yards. When Tiger was on the course, for every shot he would visualize his golf ball in the middle of two Ten Yard Lines. When he walked over the first line heading toward the ball, this would be his mental trigger to switch ON for the shot he was about to play. Once he had finished his shot, he would cross the second Ten Yard Line, and this would be his mental trigger to switch his focus OFF and enjoy the time in between shots, not analyzing or worrying about the next shot until it was time to switch ON. This is where Tiger has an edge over the competition

insideyourmind 53

Switch off

Switch on

your ball

Using the Ten Yard Line method can help you control your focus while on the course (Photo by Andy Shaffer) in being able to sustain a high level of focus on the last 9 holes on Sunday as this is generally where his competitors begin to run out of that all-important focus energy.

If the gridiron image isn’t to your liking, there is an even easier trigger to help you switch your focus ON and OFF during the round.

The golf glove has been used as a trigger to help golfers all over the world switch on and off, as it is the one piece of equipment that a high percentage of golfers use for every shot. Another aspect to why the golf glove is a great trigger is that it uses 3 out of the 5 different sensory systems, which means it can be developed as an extremely powerful trigger: you SEE,

FEEL and HEAR the glove being put ON and also taken OFF. The next time you head out to the range or practice fairway, I want you to use your glove as a trigger to switch your focus ON and OFF for every shot.

A great exercise to help you achieve this is to pretend you are playing the first 6-9 holes of a course, changing clubs for each shot until you have reached the green, and then moving onto the next hole. This exercise will help you to create the golf glove as a specific

trigger to help you switch your focus ON and OFF for each shot, as well as helping you to better prepare for what you will experience in competition.

If you can train your mind to use the golf glove to be a trigger to switch your mind ON and OFF for each shot, you will begin to see the quality of your focus be sustained and available to you over the crucial finishing holes that seem to play an enormous role in whether your handicap drops, or your frustration levels rise!

Jamie Glazier is a qualified peak performance and mental conditioning coach specializing in the fields of sport and poker. His client list includes Joe Hachem, Adam Bland, Steve Jones, Michael Curtain, Steve Dartnall, Clint Rice, Stacey Keating and others. He is also the founder of Dare2Dream, which is dedicated to helping others achieve their dreams. Visit: www.dare2dream.com.au

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February 2011

54 fitness.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. www.insidegolf.com.au

Take your medicine (balls) RichardNizielski Last month I gave a rundown of the gym equipment I recommend to my clients if they are doing their golf fitness training at home.

Amongst the equipment listed, I mentioned medicine balls as part of a home gym set up.

Medicine balls — or medballs — have become increasingly popular with golf fitness training and can be used for a variety of exercises and drills.

Medballs come in a variety of sizes and constructions. The type I find particularly good are the rubber “live” medballs; live because they have air inside and rebound off a hard surface when thrown against it. That quality makes this type of medball great for throw and catch exercises and these types of exercises are great for increasing power in the golf swing.

Here are a several medball throwing exercises to help develop power in your swing.

Depending on your experience and strength, a medball of between 1-4 kg will be sufficient for the majority of the throw and catch exercises shown here. You can purchase a medball from most sports equipment stores or ask a physiotherapist clinic if they have can order one for you. If you still have no luck then feel free to email me and I will send you the details

1

2

3

4

of some suppliers I deal with.

The first two exercises require you to kneel, this will isolate the lower body, demanding the muscles of the mid-section to do the majority of the work in the throwing action. If kneeling is a problem, these exercises can be done from a seated position on a chair or bench.

1. Kneeling alternate side throws: In a kneeling position facing the wall, hold the ball with two hands on one side of your body. Rotate the waist as if making a back swing, Begin the throwing action releasing the ball at the wall in front of you. From the rebound, catch the ball on the opposite side of your body (like in a follow-through) and repeat the movement from the opposite side. Repeat for 10 repetitions.

2. Kneeling lateral throws: In a kneeling position hold the ball out in front of you and rotate from the waist into a backswing. Without hesitation move into the throwing action and release the ball so it hits the wall on your side. Catch the ball on its return and immediately go into the backswing again. Repeat the catch and throw action for 10 continuous repetitions. Repeat on the opposite side.

3. Lunge lateral throws: Assume a lunge position parallel to the wall.

Holding the medball in both hands rotate from the waist and move into a backswing. Begin the throwing action releasing the ball at the wall.

From the rebound, catch the ball and repeat the movement for 10 repetitions. Repeat the drill facing the opposite direction.

Taking a lunge position narrows the base from which you are performing the throwing action which challenges your balance and stability muscles.

Single leg exercises add another element to exercises including balance and add requirements of stabilisation and control.

4. Single leg lateral throws: In a golf posture stand on one leg holding the ball out in front of you. Rotate from the torso into the backswing. Throw the ball at the wall and from the rebound, catch the ball and return to the backswing position. Repeat for 10 repetitions continuously. Switch to the other foot to repeat the exercise once completed, face the opposite direction and repeat the repetitions on each foot.

These are just a few of the exercises I use with my clients to develop swing power.

As with all exercise, start easy while focusing on good form and control.

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.

Richard Nizielski from Golf Fit Solutions can be reached on 0438 027 768 or richardniz@gmail.com and richard@golffitsolutions.com

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Juniors 55

Playing with a future superstar of golf DavidWilliams In most PGA Pro-Ams, the amateurs stand in awe of the professionals they play with. But recently at the Howlong Pro-Am it was the exact opposite in my group.

The professional winner of the event, Raff Toporoso, shot a respectable 65 (-5). Yet, had he been playing Stableford off a scratch handicap, he would have been beaten by 10 year-old Hilary Wealperspeat.

The day started with a walk to the 15th tee (shotgun start), where my playing partners for the day were waiting for me, including Hilary — who was barely taller than her driver — and her mother Sari. After swapping cards and a quick chat we hit our opening shots of the day and set off.

Walking down the first fairway next to their cart, I found out Hilary was only 10 year old. I must admit to thinking that it could be a long day ahead. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I love coaching kids. They are the future members of our golf clubs and budding professionals. Most 10-year-olds, however, are usually just starting to learn the etiquette and how to play the game, so I thought it might make it a little difficult to concentrate.

How mistaken I was!

Young Hilary was playing with the grace and poise of a seasoned professional. She had a beautifully balanced and smooth swing that any golfer would be envious of. She rarely mishit a golf shot or left the fairway. Twice she hit

David Williams with Hilary and her mother Sari her ball into a greenside bunker and both times she got it out and onto the green within 15 feet from the hole.

After a couple of holes she had her first par of the day and, luckily for me, I had played a couple of good shots and managed to tie her score with a par of my own. I then thought of what my peers might say if I was beaten on a hole by a 10-year-old!

I was playing OK, even par after 8 holes, and we stood up on the fifth hole, a 120-metre par three. I hit a pitching wedge straight over the pin and finished about 4 feet past. Hilary teed up her ball and made another beautifully smooth and

balanced swing, sending the ball straight at the pin. The ball landed just short of the green and rolled up towards the pin, looking like it might go in. The ball finished within a foot of the hole and, to my dismay, there were a few spectators to witness my first defeat of the day from the amazingly talented Hilary. Her shot was good enough to win Nearest to the Pin for the day against the rest of the field; and her resulting birdie was good enough to beat my regulation par.

One of the spectators kindly reminded me that I was just beaten by a 10-year-old. All I could say was, “I tried my hardest”.

Hilary, off her 31 handicap, had 3 pars and a

birdie for the day. She finished with 42 Stableford points shooting a 95 off the stick. She had the best stableford score on the day and was only 8 shots behind the highest professional score. I ended up with 73 and managed to win last money on the day but I certainly got a lesson in golf.

Credit must go to Sari, Hilary’s mother, who coaches her daughter. Sari herself is an accomplished golfer off 4 so it’s not difficult to see where young Hilary gets her talent from. Hilary was an absolute delight to play with and watch, and far more mature than her age suggests.

After the round when I was having a bit of a chat with Hilary I asked her if she loved golf. While she said YES straight away it was the “BUT” that came after it that astonished me. Hilary’s reply was “Yes, BUT, I love school a little more.”

I predict that we will be hearing the name Hilary Wealperspeat sometime in the future. Whether it is for her golfing prowess, or her academic achievements, or something else in which she excels. Watch this space! David Williams is a AAA Rated PGA Professional at Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Links. He can be contacted on (03) 5945 9230, via mobile: 0422 276 142, or at www.willowgolf.com.au

CALLING ALL RISING STARS Do you know of a junior golfer “rising star” who shows promise in our great game? Email us and tell us all about it. ed@insidegolf.com.au

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February 2011

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Will Olympic golf make the cut?

DavidNewbery WORLD golf bosses have been putting their heads together over the past few years contemplating their triumphal return to the Olympics.

Their efforts were not without success and the ultimate reward.

After a 112-year absence the great game will once again grace the international Olympic stage in Brazil in 2016.

Millions of dollars worth of extremely expensive golf equipment emblazoned by the names of some of the game’s greatest players will be unloaded at Rio de Janeiro airport.

From there they will be ferried to the more expensive hotels and resorts.

The golf world’s top-60 players will walk the famous city’s fairways for a few weeks before sending the aforementioned expensive clubs back to the home of the professional circuits of America and Europe.

The administrative giants of the game will bask the reflected glory of the momentous occasion.

‘Getinthehole’ will continue to ring out annoyingly across the fairways as world golf settles back in its carefully upholstered televisioninspired routine.

Only the very foolhardy would dare ask what the renewed Olympic appearance will achieve for the overall game cross the world.

How many players from how many nations have shared the breathtaking opportunity to be on the same course, let alone the first tee, with world champions Woods, Mickelsen, Els et al?

If Olympic golf is to mean anything around the globe it has to embrace the concept of encouraging the widest possible participation.

No-one is suggesting simple ownership of a bag of clubs or a low handicap should be enough to guarantee a place in the field.

Nevertheless the world watched and cheered in awe as Equatorial Guinea’s Eric “the Eel” Moussambani almost drowned in an Olympic swimming race.

Every official games have standards for qualifying and the last thing golf needs is unknown players from who knows where mowing down spectators from the first tee.

But surely at the top is the International Golf Federation and the sport is played in places where the good players don’t play for millions every weekend.

Does that mean they should be ignored and treated as second-class citizens being unworthy of playing the game we all hold dear?

Golf and the Olympic Movement have five years to put in place some qualifying tournaments in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Golf in Bhutan and Nepal – yes they are countries – must be supported financially by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Both places have highly trained golfers of real ability whose chests would defy shirt makers to fit if they were even considered for a game outside their own backyards.

The revered Olympic Movement was the unfortunate victim of the world’s gold medal charge when the game went professional.

How many athletes have had to return their medals because the simple joy of competing on the world stage was lost in the insane pursuit of money and fame?

The IOC should be encouraged to determine the exact number of countries which could happily field a qualified team and then assess the best way to open the world stage to players whose only sin is the allconsuming desire to have a chance to compete.

Breaking new ground and moving forward shouldn’t be outside the Olympic charter and maybe the International Golf Federation should be encouraged to remove its comfortably opulent digit from its safe aperture and remove its shades as it gazes toward the future.

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golflegends 57

Carnegie Clark a true legend DavidNewbery THE legendary Norman von Nida may have been Australian golf ’s trail-blazer, but Scottish-born Carnegie Clark was considered to be the daddy of golf in Australia.

Born in 1881, Clark helped pioneer golf in this country and was instrumental in founding the PGA of Australia when he attended meetings and he served on the first committees.

He was the first to use and introduce the Vardon grip to Australia and play with the rubberbound golf ball.

Clark, the son of a fisherman (as well as the nephew to Andrew Carnegie of Carnegie Hall and US Steel fame; hence his unusual first name), was among the first group of professionals to make golf clubs, golf balls, give lessons to beginners and design golf courses.

And when he wasn’t doing all that he was winning golf tournaments including three Australian Open titles.

Clark was introduced to golf when he started caddying as a 13-year-old at Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland.

A year later he joined the shop of Bob Simpson, a renowned club-maker at Carnoustie.

He was taught the art of clubmaking and repairs during 12-hour shifts.

And before and after work he would practice his golf, sometimes finishing at 9.30 at night during the summer months.

When Clark turned 21 he decided to try his luck elsewhere and he was brought from Carnoustie to Sydney to work for one of city’s leading sports stores, Holdsworth Macpherson and Co. He was contracted to organise club-making and repairs, re-covering golf balls and give lessons.

Unfortunately, the golf section of the store failed to flourish and Clark left when his contract expired to become the first professional at Royal Sydney, where he remained for 27 years.

He manufactured his own brand of golf clubs in a Rose Bay factory, and while he gained a reputation as a teacher and clubmaker, he was also a top professional.

Carnegie Clark, the man who helped pioneer golf in Australia. Photo courtesy of Golf Australia A diminutive man, Clark played in a buttoned up jacket and tie and wore plus-fours.

And when he had a mashie-niblick in his hands he was deadly from 150 metres out. He could land the ball on the green with backspin most modern day plays would be proud of.

Clark won the Australian Open in 1906, 1910 and 1911, was runner-up in 1924 and finished third in 1905, 1907 and 1909.

Apparently the £10 he received for winning the 1906 Open helped pay for his wedding.

He also won the Australian PGA Championship in

1908 and a number of smaller events in New South Wales and Victoria.

But perhaps his greatest triumph was to win The Sun £500 tournament in 1924.

It was Australia’s first big-money event and he edged out his younger brother Walter in the final at Royal Sydney.

Clark received £195 and a £5 gold medal for the win.

He also held the course records at Ballarat (67), Concord (72), Royal Sydney (68), Metropolitan (67) and Elsternwick (65).

Clark was a golf course designer of some repute, having laid out many golf courses in New South Wales and Queensland over a long and distinguished career.

In fact, he designed his first golf course not long after arriving in Australia.

It was a nine-hole golf course for the Blue Mountains Golf Club, which is now known as Leura Golf Club.

It opened for played in November 1902.

After that he designed dozens of golf courses including the original Royal Sydney, Royal Queensland, Brisbane, Moore Park, Bowral, Coffs Harbour, Moss Vale, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Tamworth, Waratah, West Wyalong, Mittagong, Inverell and Walcha.

At Moore Park, Clark was approached by the Deputy Town Clerk of Sydney to inspect the site with a view to building a nine-hole course where the working man could play the game.

This was a passion for Clark and he later said: “All work done by me for Moore Park was free as it was my sincere wish that golf be given the chance it so richly deserved.”

The golf course opened in May 1913 and was soon attracting more than 1300 rounds per week.

Clark extended the course to 18 holes in 1922.

In 1904, Clark designed Moss Vale Golf Club’s new course and gave lessons while he was there for three shillings and sixpence.

He was an excellent tutor and loved teaching people to play golf.

The book Pro Golf Out of the Rough reveals Clark’s theory on teaching.

“Golf can be made the simplest game in the world and I do not agree that the average golfer needs to practice all the time to play a reasonable game.

“Once his swing is grooved, he will always be able to play a fairly good game.

“I have taught many people to become good golfers, and the old adage of ‘keep your eye on the ball’ was one that I soon learned had flaws.

“You can still move your head and keep your eye on the ball. So I told my pupils to play with the chin – concentrate on its position, and half your troubles are over.”

Clark died on February 3, 1959. He was 78.

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February 2011

58 insidearchitecture. ...................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Residential golf courses Living on a golf course is a dream for many golfers. Social researchers refer to this phenomenon as ‘lifestyle living’ where residents seek to live in a location that enhances their desired lifestyle, whether it be access to the beach, to their boat, to the golf course or a vibrant city life.

RossPerrett Golf residential developments are not new. They have been with us for decades, particularly in the United States where golf resorts and golf residential boomed for over 40 years only to come to a screaming halt over the past few years. One of the original golf residential communities was Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey in The United Kingdom. Built in the 1920’s it is now the home of The European PGA and famous golfers such as Sir Nick Faldo and Ernie Els. In Australia, the first golf residential projects were built by housebuilding giant A V Jennings at Turu Beach on the southern coast of NSW and at The Launceston Casino in Tasmania.

These were followed in the 1980’s by landmark projects such as Mike Gore’s bold Sanctuary Cove on The Gold Coast and Christopher Skase’s Mirage at Port Douglas. Both projects were pioneers in integrated residential development and set a new benchmark for development.

Sanctuary Cove was to become Australia’s largest brick paving project as all the roads were brick paved.

Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer designed the course and a concert by Frank Sinatra launched the project amid unprecedented hype. At Port Douglas, Skase used Thomson Wolveridge to design the course and transformed the sleepy seaside port by importing thousands of established palm trees and put Port Douglas and the Barrier Reef on the international tourist map. The rest is history as

other developers followed with major projects like The National Golf Club in Victoria, Palm Meadows and Hope Island in Queensland and Joondalup and The Vines in Western Australia.

The earlier projects generally had a resort component and were the forerunners to residential communities which are more the norm today. Golf community development has boomed around our capital cities with projects like Sanctuary Lakes, Sandhurst, The Heritage, Moonah Links and 13th Beach around Melbourne, Brookwater and North Lakes in Brisbane and Magenta Shores, Kerwinda Waters and Stone Cutters in Sydney. In the future, golf community development will more likely be in regional cities and the larger country towns where land availability and planning controls are more favourable. Many regional courses will secure a sustainable future by embracing associated residential development.

The majority of new golf course developments rely on associated residential development to fund the golf course, a fact that some golf purists find abhorrent. Golf Community development has also had its battles in the planning environment as some politicians have referred to golf developments as real estate by stealth.

Old hang ups that golf is an elitist game and bad for the environment still exist in government circles but are gradually being broken down by the excellence that the golf industry is promoting.

Other key considerations with integrated developments are safety, golf layout and housing design.

Technological advances in golf equipment have resulted in the golf ball travelling greater distances, which in turn demands more land for the course and greater setbacks for the housing.

Safety is essential for community living and whist the incidence of personal injury is very low, property damage is quite common, particularly adjacent to existing courses that predated the surrounding real estate. Whilst golf authorities and golf architects are reluctant to set arbitrary limits for setbacks they have generally increased in response to changes in technology and the trend towards a more litigious society. Whereas 20 years ago the Urban Land Institute of USA recommended 45 meters as a desirable setback for real estate boundaries from the centreline of the golf hole, most architects would now recommend 70 meters. Internal safety setbacks are generally 60 meters between centrelines.

The golf layout must respond to the land form and it is desirable for the residential land to sit above the golf

course. Golf holes are generally laid out in pairs to optimise the usage.

This improves the views, increases safety and allows the golf course to accommodate stormwater drainage.

As the majority of golfers are right handed and slice the ball, it is best to place the real estate on the left side of the hole.

Fundamental to living on a golf course is the ability to look over the golf course and enjoy a landscape managed by others. However, the golfers have no desire to look at the houses, so managing the interface between the golf course and the associated development is important.

By controlling the orientation of the houses and the design of the interface landscape it is possible to satisfy this potential conflict. It is interesting that only about 30% of those who live on golf courses actually play golf, the majority being attracted by the landscape setting. The interface is further improved by the use of design

guidelines that control both building design and the landscape character.

Design guidelines work best when they are not overly prescriptive but set principles that inspire creativity and design excellence.

Residential golf communities will remain popular in the short- to medium-term providing the current fall off in golf participation does not continue. Hopefully the standard of housing will improve to match the courses which are already of an international standard. Ross Perrett is Managing Director of Thomson Perrett Golf Course Architects, one of the world’s premier golf course design companies. Together with Australian legend Peter Thomson, Thomson Perrett has worked on over 250 projects around the globe. They can be contacted on +61 3 8698 8000, or via thomsonperrett.com.au.

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

insidetravel 59

Drive for show along the Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road is a great drive, literally and golfing wise.

Stretching from Torquay, near Geelong, the 300-kilometre ‘journey of a lifetime’ snakes past cliffs, waterfalls, rainforests – and a great array of golf courses, where you can drive (and chip and putt) in style.

On the Bellarine Peninsula at the mouth of its eponymous river, the first stop is Barwon Heads, just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

There’s something unique about this golf village by the sea with its enviable choice of nationally rated courses.

Nestled among the coastal dunes you will find Barwon Heads Golf Club. The magnificent clubhouse, listed by the National Trust and Heritage Victoria, is famed for its ambience and old world charm, causing some to dub it the ‘St Andrews of the Bellarine’. It is a clubhouse designed for all seasons – open fires and fine food and wine to match the quality of the fairways.

A few kilometres down the road you will discover Barwon Heads Golf Resort at 13th Beach. The resort offers two championship 18-hole courses. The Beach Course is a true links style course while the Creek Course was designed

by British golfing great Nick Faldo and is a parkland golfing experience.

The facility has a modern clubhouse, golf academy and driving range

The magnificent clubhouse of Barwon Heads Golf Club with stylish onsite, self-contained accommodation.

The Bellarine is also home to The Bellarine Taste Trail – a touring route of cellar doors, local providores, dining and accommodation experiences waiting for you.

Torquay is the next stop. Aside from its world renowned beaches, surf culture and retail therapy you will find The Sands, designed by Stuart Appleby.

The course staged its first official PGA tournament in January 2011, the Surf Coast Knockout. It features some very

challenging bunkers, natural hazards and a lakes system.

Anglesea’s golf course is renowned for its resident population of Eastern Grey kangaroos, making it a favourite with overseas visitors who want to combine a round a golf with seeing Australia’s national symbol.

All these great courses are merely the tip of the golfing iceberg along the Great Ocean Road.

There are also golf clubs located at Curlewis, Lonsdale, St Leonards, Portarlington, Lorne and Apollo Bay.

A nine-hole course overlooking the bay next to the local Fisherman’s CoOp, the Apollo Bay course is the only one in the world where you can buy a crayfish mid-round.

Whichever course you choose to experience, be sure to take a break and soak up the stunning natural environment of this part of the world.

You are absolutely spoilt for choice by beaches, waterfalls and by walks.

And if other family members want something else to do, well, the Great Ocean Road can accommodate them too.

How about slipping and sliding at Adventure Park on The Bellarine, Victoria’s first water theme park?

Or walking among the treetops at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, with their new Zipline experience for thrill seekers?

Whether you’re driving to see the sights, or driving for show, the Great Ocean Road is always at the fore when it comes to providing something for everyone.

Visit www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au for more information.

February 2011

60 insidetravel......................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Bienvenue en Nouvelle Caledonie!

Imagine playing an amazing round of golf in a tranquil and relaxing Polynesian atmosphere, with friendly people from all walks of life.

Since 2008, The Hyundai New Caledonia Seniors Open has offered all that and more; and it has developed a reputation for being one of the most enjoyable tournaments in the Pacific area.

This July (19-21), the event will return in full swing, as the La Ouenghi Golf Club hosts this enjoyable “Over 50s” tournament yet again. Over 100 senior golfers from Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and other Pacific areas will make the return trek to New Caledonia to take part in the tournament that offers a “good French atmosphere, good French food and great French beer!”

The event is an Open Tournament for all “Over 50s” Ladies and Men with official handicaps between 0-36. All divisions will play Gross and Nett Stableford each day, with aggregate scoring.

Of course, there will be the customary Nearest to the Pins on all par-3s each day, and prizes for the event total $6000.

And while many will be playing for the coveted Blue Hyundai Jacket, the goal for most will be to simply enjoy a great golfing holiday in a tropical island atmosphere. Seniors of all ages are welcome (just ask 94-year-old Wal Edwards of Sydney!) and there will be plenty of good food and drink on offer.

La Ouenghi Golf Club is 50 kms from Noumea, and just 15kms from the international airport.

Stay and Play packages are available via the La Ouenghi Resort (Early Birds only, as the 15 twinsharing bungalows are limited), or you can grab

Great food, drink and golf are par for the course for the Over 50s at The Hyundai New Caledonia Seniors Open other accommodation in Noumea, and make use of the handy shuttle to the golf course each day.

And if you’re looking for some non-golf activities to occupy your free time, there’s always the beach, restaurants and Casino nearby.

Managing the resort of La Ouenghi is Dino, an Italian who has lived in New Caledonia for 30 years. He’s “The Guy” when it comes to making

New Caledonia Seniors Open July 19 - 21 2011

Tournament open to all over 50s. Official handicap 0 to 36.

All divisions gross and nett, stableford.

Each day and aggregate scoring.

Nearest the pin competition on all par 3 holes each day.

Prize total AUD$6000 Accommodation Play and Stay in La Ouenghi Resort. Early birds only.

15 Bungalows, Twin sharing.

Play in La Ouenghi Stay in Noumea Close to beach, restaurants and casino Hyundai 2011 Seniors Open Entry Form Name: Home Club: Official Handicap as at May 31: Email address or Phone number: Special requirements: Walking or Driving Accomodation required: Y

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On Site Early Bird Only before May 01 Y

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In Noumea Le Lagon Hotel with day shuttle? Y

N

Email all entries to gg.osl@mls.nc Entries close June 01 2011

visitors feel welcome, and is a competent and friendly guide to the Senior players.

When the golf is over, and the dinner begins, so too begins the singing (we hear that the French and Australian national anthems are a popular fixture). The presentation on the final day features the traditional Polynesian singers with ukuleles and guitars, and of course, more singing.

The flight to Noumea is just under 3 hours from Australia, and flights depart daily from Sydney (three times a week from Brisbane).

So come and play The Hyundai New Caledonia Seniors Open at La Ouenghi Resort. It’s a great event for Seniors from all walks of life.

For information, fares and details contact Georges Guepy via email: gg.osl@mls.nc

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

people 61

Are you Ready2Golf?

RichardFellner In the 1880’s Mark Twain coined the famous phrase “the clothes make the man”. These days, a more apt quote could be “the clothes make the golfer,” as more and more professionals and amateurs alike are following the latest fashion trends on the golf course.

While the days of plus-fours may be long behind us (for now, anyway), the boring old collared golf shirt and shorts are now being reinvented by creative and talented designers with an eye for fashion and a hint of flair.

One such designer is Australia’s own Timothy Neate, who launched apparel brand Golf by Timothy Neate in 2007.

Recently rebranded as Ready2Golf by Timothy Neate, and managed under the expert guidance of retail experts Shane and Amanda Young, the brand has exploded onto the golfing scene, taking the helm as one of Australia’s premier luxury lifestyle golf brands.

Making use of luxurious fabrics and stylish cuts, the brand’s range allows golfers to look stylish both on and off the course.

“Golfers love the fabrics, unique designs and the fact that it is lifestyle wear,” Neate told Inside Golf.

“You can come off the golf course, go out for a meal wearing the same gear

Timothy Neate (in blue) with his team at the JBWere Masters merchandise tent and (inset) Collingwood premiership player Chris Dawes has cottoned-on to the Ready2Golf brand and still feel comfortable in it. Golfers also enjoy the fact that they can wear our pants to work.”

After trialling out the line at last month’s Surf Coast Knockout – where Ready2Golf was a brand sponsor— I must say that I would wholeheartedly agree. The slacks were comfortable, cool and certainly fashionable. (Unfortunately, they

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didn’t help my golf game, but at least I looked good while searching for my ball in the trees.) As I left the course (to drown my sorrows in a cool beverage), I felt confident that I was dressed well enough to attend even the most ritzy of events (assuming that they allowed spikes on the dancefloor, that is!)

Neate is no stranger to fashion trends. Prior to his foray into golf, he

and your operation to a new level.

designed ranges for Marks & Spencer, and worked with designers from Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and Burberry in Europe. So it’s safe to say he knows his stuff where fashion is concerned. He also spent two years living and designing in Japan and four years in Italy, France and England prior to launching his own clothing ranges which were sold in boutique

and department stores in Australia and internationally.

Demand for the Ready2Golf line has been nothing short of amazing.

After its humble beginnings in 2007, the line has quickly made its way to pro shops across the country, In April of last year the range was in 27 golf clubs across Vic, NSW and QLD. By October of the same year, the brand was delivered to 65 stores in every Australian state, and even made its way to New Zealand.

And that number is expected to grow even more in 2011. Following an impressive display in the merchandise tent at last year’s JBWere Masters, an increasing number of professionals like Aussie Alistair Presnell, celebrities like Collingwood’s Chris Dawes, and heaps of amateur golfers have all been cottoning-on to the brand, and demand continues to be strong.

So don’t be surprised if you see the Ready2Golf logo making inroads in more locations this year. It’s certain to be a hit. Even Mark Twain would have to agree.

For all sales and stockists, p l e a s e c o n t a c t J o n Pe r r e t t on 0402 852 637 or visit jon.perrett@bestingolfgroup.com Ready2Golf by Timothy Neate® is available from leading golf shops.

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February 2011

62 people.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Charles Tarbey to the fore DavidNewbery A NAME like Century 21, one’s likely to think, is more suitable for a cricket bat maker than a real estate company that sponsors golf.

Of course, we all know the brand is synonymous with real estate and, according to Century 21 chairman Charles Tarbey, “real estate is golf ”.

Tarbey says his company and golf are the perfect fit and that’s why he decided, albeit at the 11th hour, to sponsor the Australian Open.

“I was watching golf on television and Golf Australia’s Trevor Herden mentioned that they didn’t have a sponsor for the Australian Open,” he said.

Tarbey made a spur of the moment decision to support the Open and contacted Golf Australia.

It’s not Century 21’s first foray into golf sponsorship.

The company has been a supporter of smaller events for 15 years and Tarbey was ready to expand his sponsorship portfolio.

“So when the opportunity arose we moved quickly to become involved with what is one of golf’s most famous national Opens,” he added.

“We believe the sponsorship will deliver strong value for our company and brand.”

Century 21 chairman Charles Tarbey has thrown his weight behind the Australian Open

But getting instant recognition wasn’t a priority for Tarbey and his brand.

“We weren’t expecting people to ring us up and give us their house for sale,” Tarbey said.

“I think that the culture of golf interests me and the broad spectrum of people that play golf from kids all the way through to 90-year-olds.

“It’s an amazing sport that just crosses so many boundaries.

“You are supporting a game that so many generations of people play with each other too.”

Tarbey is, by his own admission, a workaholic who is always on the lookout for opportunities to expand his business interests.

I ask if he ever switches off from work.

“No, I love it too much. Real estate isn’t my only interest – there are other areas of business I have an interest in and I just enjoy working.

“It’s not about money – that’s not what motivates me.”

Tarbey’s interest in golf stretches to more than sponsorship. He owns Kangaroo Valley – an 18-hole Jack Newton-designed championship golf course he bought a decade ago.

Tarbey, who plays off a respectable 13 handicap, resides in the Blue Mountains and has lived in the same street for 32 years and the same house for 25 years.

He says he plays his golf at a small, country golf course that doesn’t have a hint of snobbishness.

“I play at a golf course up in the Blue Mountains that has got blue collar to white collar members and everyone plays the game together,” said Tarbey, who grew up in a Lebanese family in the country town of Crookwell in NSW. He attended bordering school at Goulburn in NSW where he showed a keen interest in sport and broke a number of Australian weightlifting records.

He toyed with the idea of becoming a musician, but his parents told him to find a real job and he started working for his sister at a property management firm while waiting for his HSC results.

“I came straight out of boarding school and went straight into real estate by default waiting for my HSC results, which I needn’t have waited for,” he joked.

Tarbey’s career has been somewhat of an adventure, driven by a desire to prove to himself that he could be successful.

“I got a good start with the right people and three years later I bought a house.

The market had gone well and I had enough money to open my own agency.

“That was in 1977 when I was 21 or 22 and I had five offices when I was in my mid-20s.”

Then Tarbey decided to create a franchise so he re-branded the five offices and started Combined Real Estate, which grew to 56 offices within 10 years.

“In 1995, the American parent

company came into Australia to resuscitate Century 21, which had got into trouble and so I secured the option to buy out the rights to Century 21 Australia.

“I used to live by the philosophy that anything is possible if you don’t know what you are doing,” he laughed.

“If I knew what I was doing I probably would have talked myself out of it.”

Tarbey has always had the ability to look ahead, but his doesn’t see himself as a visionary.

“I am really not sure I like the word visionary because I’m not sure I’m up to that level,” he offered.

“If you don’t have a look ahead and don’t think ahead and don’t mentally picture concepts that work you probably will never try anything.”

Tarbey is a highly successful businessman, but remains the same down-to-earth person who built an empire.

Century 21 has more than 400 offices in Australia and New Zealand.

So, what sort of a person is Charles Tarbey?

“I feel very comfortable about my position as an individual,” he said.

“There are no skeletons in the closet that I can find, which sounds a bit boring. But most importantly for me is I am a person that is respected by my children.”

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February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Teeing off with: Craig Bellamy GregDowling Melbourne Storm is putting plenty of energy into hitting the ground running next month when the NRL premiership season kicks off.

The club wants to leave the past behind, make up for lost time and provide its loyal band of supporters with plenty to cheer about.

Before Christmas and right throughout summer, players and coaching staff have been doing the hard yards in training to prepare for the challenges waiting ahead.They’ve all been working their butt off in weight sessions, running and fitness programs, skin-fold tests, wrestling matches, tackling practice, game plans and setpiece moves.

All these little parts add up to a great whole that glue together on the field in order for an elite NRL club to achieve the ultimate prize.

Apart from such dedication to the cause, several members of the inner-sanctum take time out to indulge a healthy passion for golf.

Team captain Cameron Smith is a devotee, while super coach Craig Bellamy tees it up when possible to fit in with his hectic schedule.

Craig grew up in the small town of Portland, near regional centres Lithgow and Bathurst in NSW. His first memories of golf were playing the local course with sand greens while using a borrowed set of clubs that included a couple with hickory shafts.

“I was about 12 when I had my first hit of golf,” he said.

Craig Bellamy tees it up for a big season ahead “I lived near the golf course and a couple of school mates talked me into having a go. And I’ve enjoyed the game ever since. It’s nice and relaxing but can be competitive at times. I find it a good way to spend an afternoon in the company of friends or good people.”

Craig enjoys social rounds of golf (he’s recently played at both Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast and Sanctuary Lakes in Melbourne’s west) during the off-season, along with taking part in charity and corporate days.

Storm captain and keen golfer Cameron Smith

takes the place-kicks at goal for his team and explains that most kickers flight the ball very similar to a draw shot in golf.

Cam is a left-footer, so his shots curve left-toright in flight.

“The principles are pretty much the same,” says the outstanding hooker, who can make the distance from half-way if required, a 55-metre carry over the cross-bar in reality.

“Judging the wind, aim, set-up and keeping the same routine are keys. The only real difference is that the footy is more affected by the wind.”

people 63

Calling all course reviewers Historically, golf course rankings have been written by golf pros, journalists, course architects and industry professionals. The ratings have been based on features like design, condition, length, number of hazards, etc, with sometimes a hint at the “Wow Factor”.

And while these rankings are a critical part of golf, it doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Isn’t a great golf experience more than just the sum of the parts? For the average punter, a great golf course may simply be one where he or she doesn’t lose a dozen balls in the round. Or perhaps one with wide fairways …or a friendly staff …or just amazing scenery.

So, Inside Golf has launched our new “Carpark to the 19th” course experience series: written BY punters, FOR punters. Measuring a golfer’s “Overall Experience” at a course, our Carpark series brings course reviews to those who know it best: everyday Australian golfers!

Our course reviews are performed via a course Scorecard, a 36-point checklist which asks golfers around Australia to award points based upon various features of a course. Points from the scorecards are tallied, and then combined with Inside Golf ’s internal ratings factors to derive an overall course rating.

Inside Golf will tabulate the overall results, and determine the “Golfers’ Choice” Award for Australia’s best golf courses. And our top reviewers will even collect some prizes along the way.

The Carpark to the 19th Course Experience Ratings program is open to all golfers.

Visit www.insidegolf.com.au to download a copy of the Course Scorecard, or to enter your ratings today.

February 2011

64 Lastword..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... www.insidegolf.com.au

Lonely pro seeks superstar for golf… etc LarryCanning I’m using The Last Word Column this month to come out and publicly declare my love for another man.

Yes my friends, I love Peter Senior.

There! I’ve said it!

Perhaps I should clarify a bit before my parents read this. I’m not talking a “Broke Back Mountain” kind of love (although I do look good in a cowboy hat). I’m talking “Bloke Love”...you know the stuff: Slap on the back-side…rub of the hair piece and some good old high-fiving or fist-bumping which you always pretend doesn’t hurt. (Imagine doing one of those with Steve “Blocker” Roach? Every time I shake his hand in the radio studio, my arm disappears up to the elbow! Blocky has hands like three kilos of bananas.)

Peter Senior epitomizes that old saying “If I was under fire in the trenches with someone...” well, actually I forget how that goes but you probably the get the gist. He has never had one ounce of “back off ” in him and despite reaching an age when most professional sportsmen are kicking back and telling young blokes how good they were, Peter continues on his merry way, beating kids half his age and twice his size. When you speak to him he sounds just like one of us normal people, but under that genuine, grounded and relaxed exterior there is an absolute furnace of competitiveness and resolve.

I love the way he walks... with confidence and purpose as if he was one of those 6-foot-5 Greco-Wrestlers making his way to the ring to pin some poor dude to the mat. He has a pre-shot routine that looks like he has no intention of hitting the ball anywhere but exactly where he is aiming; and nailing it as hard as he likes no matter what the situation. His golf swing is an extension of his waggle: simple, no frills and totally committed. You never see Pete ease up or steer a shot.

I guess what I’m saying is that this little Aussie Legend is everything I’m not.

Some of the Team Australia and Team USA players prepare to tee off

Wazza gets into the swing I played recently in the same Australian Senior Open as Pete (they even named the bloody tournament after him!) in Perth last November. Whilst I’m on that event, I’ll digress a bit: I had a profound and sobering moment with my son Heath, which my therapist has suggested I share with you.

If you are like me and spend a good part of each day making sure your sons don’t end up like you, then you can probably relate to this. Heath had flown over to caddy for me and was doing a great job when we arrived to our second-last hole in the first round.

This par-five has a row of four bunkers running diagonally short of the green.

As good caddies do, he was giving me the four different measurements to carry each one when I suddenly decided to pull the trigger while the wind had died for a moment. My TaylorMade Penta number 3 took off twenty metres to the right of my target and then started to slice while Heath was just coming to the end of his thesis.

“Two thirty eight to carry the third, two forty seven the fourth....(then he tacked on this little gem as he noticed how wide my ball was veering)...and eight and half kilometres to the Perth Airport”.

I was overcome with a Christmas buffet of emotions. Heath had become another

Canning Smart-ass just like his father.

To borrow a line from Harry Chapin’s famous hit song: “He’d grown up just like me... My boy was just like me...” Although I’ve tried to shield my sons from my family’s genetically degenerative condition “Chronic Smart-ass Syndrome”, I was just a little proud. I just hope it doesn’t take him as long to make a living out of it as it did me.

Anyway, back to the point. Pete went on to win the Championship, nabbing a victory from the next biggest thing to come out of Scotland since Mel Gibson,...

Sandy Lyle. Whilst I was proud of my man for winning that tournament from a field that included some very classy senior players, it wasn’t until a couple of months later that my feelings became deeper. The Australian PGA Championship at Coolum had some of the best young players in the world lining up to take the Kirkwood Cup but it was “My Pete” who stole the trophy and in the process, my heart.

If you’re reading this Pete, good luck for 2011. Give me a call when you’re in Sydney.

I know this little Italian Restaurant...and then maybe we could catch a movie.

There’s a good cowboy flick I’ve heard good things about...

Love, Larry

DavidNewbery

HE’S a self-confessed golf nut who doesn’t need an excuse to organise a game of golf or even a challenging event across state and territory borders.

Canberra’s Warren (Wazza) Gray is a passionate golfer who lives and breathes the game.

“I love playing golf and like organising all sorts of different events, which are mostly based on the social side of things,” Wazza told Inside Golf.

“I think the best thing we ever play for is a trophy and some small nearest the pin prizes, which I scrounge throughout the year.”

One of the challenges is a virtual ‘State-of-Origin’ event.

“A group of us here in Canberra challenge a group from the Bendigo region in central Victoria,” he said.

“The ACT plays in Canberra and, on the same day, the Victorians play down there.

“We compare scores over the internet and a winner is decided.

“Once a year, the two teams get together halfway between the two towns (Corowa or Thurgoona) and we play a match face-to-face.”

Wazza doesn’t stop there.

Other events he has organised include a “semi-regular” game for working golfers.

“We mostly play these during the summer months (daylight savings period) where we have a chicken run on Friday afternoons and the winner gets a frozen chook,” he said.

“We try to play all the different courses here in the ACT so there is no home advantage to any player all the time.

“Another event I managed to get off the ground a couple of years ago was a small Defence agency, where I work, which challenged the American Embassy.

“We call it the AUS-US Golf Down Under Challenge.

“Recently we played the second annual event and it was marked as a special occasion with the American Ambassador Jeffery Bleich attending.

“There were about 70 pairs of eyes watching the first group tee off and that made me nervous, but I felt a bit sorry for the Ambassador as he was invited to hit the first ball down the middle.

“We had a great day and the mighty Team Australia retained the trophy but, most importantly, the bragging rights over Team USA. “The Americans often come along to the other games I organise and run.”

February 2011 www.insidegolf.com.au .............................................................................................................................................................................................................

Oh deer, not a bear in sight

Leeanne Galtieri was on the lookout for a dangerous brown bear when she spotted an elk, which is one of the largest species of deer in the world.

DavidNewbery GOLFERS around the world often encounter “unusual” hazards in their travels.

In Australia, crocodiles have been seen lurking around water holes on golf courses, particularly in Far North Queensland.

Golfers who frequent Carbrook Golf Club in Brisbane have seen three-metre sharks in the golf course’s large dam.

Dangerous snakes can be another hazard for unsuspecting golfers.

Of course, Kangaroos on golf courses in Australia are passé.

In Africa, where I have played a lot of golf, crocodiles, baboons, giraffe, warthog and even leopard can all come into play.

In Canada, bears have been known to scare the

living daylights out of golfers.

Recently, Melbourne’s Vince and Leeanne Galtieri were playing golf at Jasper Golf Club in Canada when they were warned to watch out for a particular brown bear that had been wandered on to the golf course.

“We had been warned that a brown bear had been spotted on one of the tees the previous day and were reminded not to run if we spotted it during our round,” Vince said.

“Apparently, it would even outrun a golf cart – great when we were on foot.

“We didn’t see the bear, but we did spot an elk.

“I believe this is an elk rather than a moose, which we also spotted in the distance.”

The Melbourne couple didn’t want to lock horns with these animals and kept their distance.

the19thhole 65

4th Annual Kingswood Golf Club “Pink Lady Presentation Day”

At Melbourne’s Kingswood GC, the worst score on Sunday mornings earns the player a “Pink Lady” weekly award. At the end of each year, an annual Pink Lady award goes to the person that received the weekly award the most times.

It provides all those concerned with some light hearted banter and a strong community spirit to help others. All proceeds for the Pink Lady annual event go to the Breast Cancer Foundation, with proceeds to date totalling almost $4000.00

The quick nine quiz by David Newbery 1.

Who did Peter Senior defeat in a suddendeath playoff to win the Australian PGA Championship and become the oldest golfer to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup?

6.

Through the green, it is permissible to remove cut grass adhering to the ball – true or false?

7.

Where is home for Ladies European Tour 2010 Order of Merit winner Lee-Anne Pace?

2.

Which American golfer has the nickname the Walrus?

8.

3.

The 2011 Presidents Cup between the Americans and the Internationals will be played where?

Who said: “You can talk to a fade but a hook won’t listen – Bob Hope, Lee Trevino, John Daly or Jack Newton.”

9.

Who is Australian professional golfer Graham Marsh’s sporting brother?

4.

Who are the respective Presidents Cup captains?

5.

Which is the second oldest Open Championship on the European Tour after the British Open – Swiss, French, Spanish or German?

Answers at the bottom of the page

30 things that are true in golf Submitted by Wazza Gray

1. Don’t buy a putter or a Driver until you’ve had a chance to throw it.

2. Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

3. When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.

4. If you’re afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there.

5. The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

6. No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse.

7. The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all of your many other errors.

8. Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.

9. A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponents’ luck.

10. It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt. For a 10.

11. Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut.

12. It’s not a gimme if you’re still 5 feet away.

13. You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.

14. Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three.

15. When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.

16. Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.

17. If you want to hit a 7-iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard.

18. To calculate the speed of a player’s downswing, multiply the speed of his back-swing by his handicap; i.e., backswing 20kph, handicap 15, downswing = 300kph.

19. There are two things you can learn by stopping your backswing at the top and checking the position of your hands: how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.

20. Hazards attract; fairways repel. Keep this in mind 21. A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.

22. If there is a ball on the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is in the bunker. If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint 23. It’s easier to get up at 6:00am to play golf than at 10:00am to mow the lawn 24. Golf is the perfect thing to do on Sunday because you always end up having to pray a lot.

25. A good golf partner is one who’s always slightly worse than you are....that’s why I get so many calls to play with friends 26. If there’s a storm rolling in, you’ll be having the game of your life.

27. Golf balls are like eggs. They’re white. They’re sold by the dozen. And you need to buy fresh ones each week.

28. It’s amazing how a golfer who never helps out around the house will replace his divots, repair his ball marks, and rake his sand traps.

29. If your opponent has trouble remembering whether he shot a six or a seven, he probably shot an eight (or worse).

30. It takes longer to learn to be a good golfer than it does to become a brain surgeon. On the other hand, you don’t get to ride around on a cart, drink beer, eat hot dogs and fart if you are performing Brain Surgery.

ANSWERS: (1). Geoff Ogilvy; (2). Craig Stadler; (3). Royal Melbourne; (4). Fred Couples (Americans) and Greg Norman (Internationals); (5). The French Open; (6). False – anything adhering to the ball is not a loose impediment; (7).

South Africa; (8). Lee Trevino; (9). Rodney Marsh – the former Test cricketer.

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golfdirectory 67

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Location

Day

Date

New South Wales Gosford Golf Club* Friday February 04 Singleton Golf Club* Monday February 07 Merewether Golf Club* Thursday February 10 Toronto Country Club* Friday February 11 Newcastle Golf Club* Saturday February 12 Charlestown Golf Club* Thursday February 17 Waratah Golf Club* Friday February 18 Hawks Nest Golf Club* Saturday February 19 Kurri Golf Club* Tuesday February 22 Belmont Golf Club* Wednesday February 23 Maitland Golf Club Saturday February 26 Gosford Racecourse Golf DR* Friday March 04 Dural Golf Driving Range* Saturday March 05 Dural Golf Driving Range* Sunday March 06 Kincumber Golf Range* Monday March 07 Queensland Mr Tee’s Driving Range Thursday February 03 Lee & Pete’s Golf Friday February 04 The Big Easy Driving Range Thursday February 10 Victoria Park Golf Club Tuesday February 15 Golf Mania Driving Range Wednesday February 16 Oxley Golf Driving Range Wednesday February 16 Gold Coast Country Club Thursday February 17 Horton Park Golf Club Saturday February 19 Logan River Golf Range Thursday February 24 Palm Meadows Golf Range Friday February 25 Brisbane Golf Club Wednesday March 02 Mr Tee’s Driving Range Thursday March 03 Lee & Pete’s Golf Friday March 04 Victoria Morack Golf Course* Wednesday February 02 Warragul Golf Club* Friday February 04 Ranfurlie Golf Course* Saturday February 05 Drouin Golf Club* Wednesday February 09 Bairnsdale Golf Club* Thursday February 10 Goonawarra Golf Club* Saturday February 12 Kooringal Golf Club* Tuesday February 15 Peninsula Country Golf Club* Thursday February 17 Lonsdale Golf Club* Friday February 18 Thirteenth Beach Golf Links* Saturday February 19 Kingswood Golf Club* Wednesday February 23 Woodlands Golf Club* Saturday February 26

Time 9.30am - 12.30pm 12.30pm - 4pm 1.30pm - 4.30pm 2pm - 6pm 9am - 1pm 2pm - 5pm 1pm - 5pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 12pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 6pm - 8pm 6pm - 8pm 10am - 2pm 4pm - 7pm 3pm - 6pm 5.30pm - 7.30pm 5pm - 7.30pm 5.30pm - 7.30pm 4pm - 7pm 5pm - 7pm 9am - 1pm 4pm - 7pm 2pm - 5pm 10am - 2pm 4pm - 7pm 3pm - 6pm 4pm - 7pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 1pm - 5pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm

Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Location New South Wales Dural Driving Range(Drum N/Mead)* Monash Country Club* Royal Sydney Golf Club* Morriset Golf Club* Georges River Golf Club Concord Golf Club* The Australian Golf Club* The Ridge Driving Range St Michael’s Golf Club* Narrabeen Driving Range New South Wales Golf Club* Mollymook Golf Club* Eden Gardens Golf Club* Tura Beach Golf Club* Narooma Golf Club* Catalina Country Club* Hudson Park Driving Range Lynwood Golf Club* Olympic Park Driving Range Taree Golf Club* Kempsey Golf Club* Port Macquarie Driving Range* Oatlands Golf Club* Queenland Brisbane GC** Mullimbimby GC Yamba GC

Day

Date

Time

Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday

February 02 February 02 February 03 February 04 February 07 February 08 February 09 February 09 February 10 February 10 February 11 February 14 February 15 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 21 February 22 February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25 February 28

5 - 8pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 2pm 11am - 4pm 4 - 7pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 3pm 11am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 8am - 12pm 11am - 3pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 11am - 3pm 11am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 2 - 6pm

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

February 2 February 09 February 09

9am - 1pm 9:30 - 11:30am 2 - 5pm

Location

Day

Date

Time

Bonville GC Lismore GC Ballina GC Sanctuary Cove GC** Gold Coast CC Driving Range Burleigh GC House Of Golf @ Lakelands GC* Drummond Golf Underwood* Palm Meadows Driving Range Victoria Spring Valley Golf Club* Victoria Golf Club* Kew Golf Club* Patterson River Country Club* Kingston Heath Golf Club* Sandhurst Club* Riversdale Golf Club* Kingswood Golf Club* Sandringham Golf Range Peninsula Country Golf Club* Sunshine Golf Club* Woodlands Golf Club* Warragul Country Club* Country Club Driving Range* Tasmania Golf Club* Royal Hobart Golf Club* Drummond Golf Launceston* Seabrook Golf Club* South Australia Murray Bridge golf Club* Kingston Golf Club S.E Western Australia Golfbox East Perth* Golfbox East Perth* Golfbox East Perth* Drummond Golf Mandurah* Drummond Golf Mandurah* Drummond Golf Cannington*

Thursday Friday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Friday Wednesday Thursday Friday

February 10 February 11 February 12 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 23 February 24 February 25

1 - 5pm 2 - 5pm 2 - 5pm 7am - 12pm 4:30 - 7pm 2 - 5pm 9am - 1pm 3 - 6pm 1 - 5pm

Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Saturday Sunday

February 02 February 03 February 04 February 08 February 09 February 10 February 11 February 16 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 19 February 21 February 22 February 23 February 25 February 26 February 27

10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 5 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 3 - 6pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 3pm

Friday Sunday

February 04 February 27

1:30 - 4pm 2 - 4:30pm

Thursday Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Saturday

February 03 February 04 February 05 February 11 February 12 February 19

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Callaway RAZr power hours Location New South Wales The Ridge Driving Range Charlestown Golf Club Camden Lakeside Country Club Tura Beach Country Club Pambula Merimbula Golf Club Royal Canberra Golf Club Canberra International Golf Centre DR Queanbeyan Golf Club Federal Golf Club Gosford Golf Club Newcastle Practice Centre Maitland Golf Club Cumberland Golf Club Roseville Golf Club Queensland Horton Park Golf Club Sanctuary Cove Golf Club Gold Coast Country Club Southport Golf Club Palm Meadows Golf Club Victoria Flinders Golf Club MGA Drouin Golf Club Morack Park Driving Range Albert Park Driving Range Centenary Park Golf Club Sandringham Driving Range Yearing Meadows Golf Club Peninsula Country Club Mount Gambier Golf Club Horsham Golf Club Yarra Bend Driving Range Long Island Country Club

www.callawaygolf.com

Day

Date

Time

Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Wednesday Thursday

February 09 February 10 February 11 February 14 February 14 February 15 February 15 February 16 February 16 February 16 February 17 February 19 February 23 February 24

5 - 7pm 3 - 5pm 8am - 11.30am 8.30am - 11.30am 2 - 6pm 10.30am - 4pm 4.30 - 7.30pm 8.30am - 11.30am 1 - 5pm 10am - 1pm 2 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 1pm 10.30am - 1.30pm

Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday

February 09 February 16 February 17 February 24 February 25

11am - 1pm 10am - 2pm 6 - 8pm 10am - 1pm 3 - 6pm

Thursday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Saturday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday Thursday Saturday

February 03 February 04 February 09 February 10 February 10 February 12 February 16 February 16 February 17 February 19 February 20 February 24 February 26

10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 3 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 5 - 7.30pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 2pm

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. ‡ Callaway fitting day. Demo dates subject - change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW

North Coast Yamaha Coastal Golf Cars Port Macquarie Motor Cycles DTM Colemans Readfords Motor Cycles Thomas Lee Motor Cycles Saddler Motors Eurells Merimbula Mowers And Marine Droop & Elliott All Seasons Golf Cars

Bullinudgel Coff Harbour Port Macquarie Tammworth Newcastle Dubbo Moree Wagga Wagga Narrandera Merimbula Mulwala Rossmore

(02) 6680 3322 (02) 6651 6338 (02) 6583 6060 (02) 6762 2606 (02) 4957 5211 (02) 6882 2888 (02) 6752 3566 (02) 6921 7580 (02) 6959 2949 (02) 6495 4495 (03) 5744 3983 (02) 9606 5433

NSW ACT QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD

On Two Wheels Penrith Golf Cars Canberra Moto Sport Yamaha Peter Mowers And Chainsaws Ron Glass Marine Bunderburg Marine Land Maryborough Motor Cycles Drummond Golf North Coast Moto Sport Golf Car Parts & Repairs Superior Customs Carts Yamaha Golf Cars Brisbane

Penrith Canberra Townsville Cairns Bundaberg Bunderburg Maryborough Rockhampton Caloundra Brisbane Gold Coast Herston

(02) 4722 6222 (02) 6255 7810 (07) 4779 0165 (07) 4051 0022 (07) 4151 3764 (07) 4151 3764 (07) 4121 6630 (07) 4927 5200 (07) 5443 7800 (07) 3376 5491 (07) 5528 4244 (07) 3252 9891

VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC TAS SA SA WA NT

McGolf Pty Ltd Yamaha Golf Cars Melbourne Craigs Onsite Stihl Shop Mildura Drive The Course House Of Golf Wodonga Droop & Elliott David Cramp Metropolitan Machinery Pty Ltd Sa Golf Cars Yamaha Golf Cars WA City Tyre Service

Horsham GC Braeside Drioun Mildura Geelong Wodonga Mulwala Casino CC Cavan Evanston Park Welshpool Darwin

(03) 5382 3312 (03) 9587 5480 (03) 5625 4980 (03) 5022 2840 (03) 5248 3332 (03) 6056 2929 (03) 5744 3983 (08) 6335 5740 (08) 8349 5499 0418 821 487 (08) 9355 5935 (08) 8941 5388

September 2010

70 sectionheader............................................................................................................................................................................................. www.insidegolf.com.au

Play these wonderful courses in the Southern Highlands.

Just a one hour drive from Sydney.

Southern Highlands Golf Great Stay & Play packages available all year round!

Moss Vale Golf Club

Bowral Golf Club

Mount Broughton Golf & Country Club

Arthur Street, Moss Vale PGA Club Professional: Robert Marsh Pro Shop: (02) 4868 1503. Club: (02) 4868 1811 Email: info@mossvalegolfclub.com.au www.mossvalegolfclub.com.au

Cnr David St & Kangaloon Rd, Bowral Club: (02) 4861 1042 Pro Shop: (02) 4861 3218 Email: enquires@bowralgolfclub.com.au www.bowralgolfclub.com.au

Kater Road, Sutton Forest PGA Club Professional: Rob Kennedy Pro Shop: (02) 4868 3700 Email: manager@mtbroughton.com.au www.mtbroughton.com.au

Highlands Golf Club

Hume Highway, Mittagong PGA Club Professional: Lee Hunt Pro Shop: (02) 4871 3274. Club: (02) 4871 1995 Email: enquiries@highlandsgolf.com.au www.highlandsgolf.com.au

Southern Highlands Golf Tours For enquiries or to play all of these top courses phone (02) 4884 4306

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