Inside Golf January 2014

A u s t r a l i a ’ s M o s t R e a d G o l f M aga z i n e

InsideGolf www.insidegolf.com.au

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Issue 102 January 2014

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This year, WE resolve to...

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

For many people around the world, New Year’s Resolutions are usually broken within days (if not minutes) of them being made. This is usually due to the fact that we either set too difficult a goal to achieve, or we don’t really commit to it in the first place.

However, this year will be different.

In 2014, I’m inviting you, the Australian Golfing Public, to join me in a simple “Group Resolution” to help grow the game of golf.

While golf’s governing bodies are all working behind the scenes to grow the game, the onus is really upon us, the large community of Australian golfers, to make it all happen. If we want golf to grow, we all need to do something about it.

That said, here are three “Resolutions” we can all make (and achieve) this year: Introduce at least two people to the game of golf (or: invite a golfer to a round at our clubs) It’s all but guaranteed that each of us has, among our vast communities/ networks, at least a few friends who would be keen to have a hit. Whether they’re from work, school or even in our neighbourhoods, we can all find someone to introduce to the game.

Alternately, this same pool of individuals could have heaps of closet “golf tragics” who, for some reason or another, haven’t found the opportunity to play the game lately.

So why not invite one or more of these people to your club for a hit? If you’re a bit more creative, maybe initiate a twilight/9-hole mini “Golf Day” among work colleagues or your mates? Or a simple hit at the range (maybe your club Pro could offer a group clinic). Anything to get people swinging a golf club.

Trust me, this is easier than you think, and it will pay huge dividends in the long run. So get out there and ask!

IN THIS ISSUE:

Do one thing to help promote junior golf at our clubs Juniors are the future of our clubs, plain and simple. And there has never been a better time to help get juniors into the game: Adam Scott is becoming an inspiration to a whole new generation of potential golfers out there, and they are chomping at the bit to follow in his footsteps. We just need to get them on to the course.

Golf is a very healthy endeavour (read our “How far do you walk when playing 18 holes” online series.) It is also a tremendous way to boost concentration and mental activity, while also encouraging honesty, integrity, discipline and a host of other great qualities. Best of all, it’s just plain fun.

If we can get the word out, on a grassroots level, about all the benefits of golf to the younger generation, we will help ensure the future of our sport.

So: what can YOU do to get juniors more involved at your course? Here are a few ideas: Take an active role at your club to get juniors involved. Volunteer some time to help promote a clinic. Help start a caddy program. Work with the Pro/Club to initiate a Junior Open Day. Get some local schools involved in a mini competition. Or simply invite a junior to play a round with you one day this year, and make them feel welcome! If all else fails, ask fellow players for their ideas.

Do one measurable thing to help combat slow play It’s generally accepted that slow play is killing golf. It is one of the barriers to getting new players into the game, and it is also a large culprit in driving some current players away.

There are many little things we can all do to combat this, and help dispel the public notion that “golf takes too long”.

At my club, for example, there is a hole that is adjacent to the driving range (which uses white balls). Many players’ wayward tee shots can end up near the range, and it can take quite a while to identify a played ball among the sea of white range balls. One simple solution: I tee off with a neon yellow ball for that

29 30 34 36 44 46 48 56

AMATEURS ACGC a hit in Toowoomba PEOPLE Inspirational individuals TOUR TALK Steven Jeffress on tour life

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COVER STORY Will 2014 be the Year of The Roo?

6 18 26

NEWS The latest golf buzz INDUSTRY The inner-workings of golf ON TOUR Touring pros & Aussie legends

JUNIOR NEWS Tomorrow’s stars today NEW GEAR The latest and greatest gear SENIOR AMATEURS Results and events INSTRUCTION Top tips to play better BUSINESS Golf sponsorship a “win-win”

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hole, just in case I hit it near the range.

Even if it saves five minutes of searching, it’s worth it. A few other players at the club are now doing the same. At every course in Australia, there are small things like this that we can all do to help speed up the game.

Other areas where we can help combat slow play: If players are constantly searching for balls in the rough at your course, encourage the club/committee to reduce the length of the rough a bit.

Finding a ball will be much quicker, while the penal aspect of the rough won’t be affected by that much.

Of course, all the old standbys are still helpful: Play ready golf when possible.

Plan your shot/putt BEFORE it’s your turn.

Place your buggy/cart at the exit of the green. Watch every shot until the ball stops rolling. Always play a provisional if there is even a slight chance of not finding a wayward drive. Keep up with the group in front of you. If sharing a cart, drop off one player at their ball, then take the cart to the next ball while the player plans their shot, etc. There are dozens of ways to speed up play.

Of course, there are heaps of things we can all do this year to give back to golf. But if we all team up together, and each achieve (at least) the three things outlined above, it will make a measurable difference. It all adds up. And golf will be the winner.

See you on the fairways. •

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YOUR SAY What will you do this year to help improve/grow the game of golf? Send us your ideas: ed@insidegolf.com.au. Or post a comment on this story on our website. You can even comment on our Facebook page.

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EVENTS Results, news and upcoming tournaments

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19TH HOLE The best parts of golf YOUR VOICE Your letters and comments Demo dates Test-drive the latest gear Golf directory Great deals around Australia

Golf Travel LIFT-OUT: Playing The Nullarbor Links, St Andrews, Asia and beyond!

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Final components of Handicap System to be implemented A

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www.insidegolf.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 Editor: Richard Fellner P: 0407 000 440 richard@insidegolf.com.au Senior Writer: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Design & Layout: Nick Thorn, Stacey Fortescue, Rhys Martin Contributors: Larry Canning, Mike Orloff, Denis Dale, Peter Croker, Brian Thorburn, Michael Green, Richard Nizielski, Henry Peters, Stephen Pitt, Steven Jeffress, Brian O’Hare, Tiffany Mika, Bret Kennedy, Mat Howe, Andrew Dowling, Richard Woodhouse, Nick Scheer, Matthew Pitt National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 | F: (07) 5535 4922 M: 0410 575 303 | E: sam@insidegolf.com.au QLD Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: dg.ross@live.com.au NSW/ACT Sales: Scott Barsby M: 0424 779 199 | E: scott@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS/SA Sales: Jon Perrett M: 0402 852 637 E: jon.perrett@bestingolfgroup.com Advertising Sales: Lisa Coleman E: lisa@insidegolf.com.au | M:0406 031 344 National Agency Sales (non golf) Marc Wilson | M: 0419 107 143 Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au It’s official: 42,945 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: April – September 2013

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

The final stages of the revised handicap system are due to be implemented this month, marking the completion of a two-year-long project to adopt a USGA-based handicapping process.

Between January 20-23, the GolfLink system will be taken offline in order to implement the changes. Here are the major reforms that will come into effect:

DSR (Daily Scratch Rating)

DSR (Daily Scratch Rating) will provide golfers with a rating that is a reflection of the conditions under which they played. This is required as the difficulty of a golf course can vary substantially from day to day (due to wind or weather, etc.)

Through GOLF Link, the DSR system will establish the field’s average net score, average handicap, the field size, the type of competition (Stableford, Par, or Stroke) and the gender of the competitors.

GOLF Link will then compare the actual average net score on the day with the average nett score GOLF Link expects for this precise field composition (based upon historical data within Golf Link).

SLOPE

Slope adjusts a player’s handicap according to the course they are playing by using that course’s Slope Rating. This simply increases the portability of handicaps for when you play a different course from your home club.

Under Slope, every set of tees on every golf course will have both a Scratch Rating and a Slope Rating. The maximum Slope Rating is 155 (difficult) and the minimum is 55 (not so difficult). The neutral Slope Rating is 113.

The Scratch Rating is the number of strokes a Scratch marker is expected to have. The Slope Rating indicates how much harder or easier the course will play for a player who is not a Scratch Marker.

Golf Australia have released a series of videos to help explain how the new slope system will operate.

SHA (Stableford Handicapping Adjustment) For handicapping, all Stroke or Par scores will be converted to Stableford scores. This conversion has no bearing on the competition outcome, but is solely to create consistency in handicapping. Thus, if the comp is Stroke, the Stroke score will be the Competition Score, while the converted Stableford Score will be for handicapping in GolfLink.

According to Golf Australia, the purpose of this regulation is to reduce the effect of high hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s potential ability.

Handicapping of Conforming Social Scores

The new handicap system will permit a social score to be used for handicapping but only if the following conditions are met: Firstly, the player’s home club must have chosen to allow the use of social scores; and secondly, the player must have nominated prior to starting a round that it is to count for handicap purposes.

Handicapping of Four-ball Scores The four-ball handicapping component will be very similar to the current method except for a small amount of fine-tuning. The new system will permit a club to choose not to handicap four-ball scores if they believe their circumstances do not support four-ball handicapping.

9-hole and Incomplete Scores

In an encouraging step for time-poor golfers (or simply those who prefer 9-hole rounds) the GA Handicap System will cater for 9-hole scores.

GOLF Link will store a player’s 9-hole score in the system, and will be automatically combined with their next 9-hole score to create a single 18-hole score. •

Video resources Golf Australia have released a series of videos to help explain how the new slope system will operate. Visit our website for more information.

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

news

Griffin captures OneAsia OOM, sets sights high for 2014 Two-time OneAsia winner Matthew Griffin has set his sights on new horizons after clinching the tour’s 2013 Order of Merit Title at the season-ending Emirates Australian Open.

The 30-year-old from Melbourne had led the money list since winning the weather-shortened SK Telecom Open on Korea’s Jeju Island in May and has been such a consistent performer that he hadn’t missed a cut on OneAsia all year.

Griffin earned U.S. $257,480.20 in 2013, beating fellow season tournament winners Ryu Hyunwoo ($207,990) and Choi Ho-sung ($198,615) into second and third respectively.

The title gives Griffin a three-year exemption to OneAsia’s lucrative million-dollar-minimum events including those co-sanctioned with the European and Japan Tours such as the Volvo China Open and Thailand Open.

“I always try to set myself goals and this year was to win the OneAsia Order of merit,” Griffin said at the Emirates Australian Open where he finished joint 24th after closing with a twounder-par 70.

“My main goal for 2014 is to try to do well in the (European and Japan Tour) co-sanctioned events and try to get some status there as well.”

Griffin’s OneAsia breakthrough came at the Charity High1 Resort Open in 2012 almost a year after his maiden professional victory in New Caledonia on the PGA Tour of

Australasia.

A natural “lefty” who plays righthanded, the Griffin joins an illustrious growing band of Order of Merit Title winners since OneAsia was founded in 2009.

Countryman Scott Strange won the inaugural title by capturing the Volvo China Open crown and finishing runner-up at the Australian PGA Championship presented by CocaCola. Strange was in the running for 2013 after strong performances at the Thailand Open and Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian PGA Championship, but had to settle for fourth with winnings of $189,232.

Andre Stolz, a past winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, the Japan Tour, the Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour) and the PGA Tour of Australasia, was crowned OneAsia Order of Merit

champion in 2011 after claiming the Indonesian PGA Championship and Thailand Open.

The Australian struggled with injuries on OneAsia in 2013, finishing 50th, but retains full status by virtue of his Order of Merit Title.

Having played with a niggling wrist injury for the latter part of 2013, Griffin now has a date booked with the

surgeon that he hopes won’t thwart his new ambition.

“I’ve got to have some minor (left) wrist surgery which will put me out for a couple of weeks but hopefully if I can get that out of the way I can have a good year,” he said.

“I had to limit my schedule a bit this year because of it. It really is just minor, but if I play too much golf it gets a bit sore and I’ve had to have some cortisone injections to get through to the end of the year.’

Griffin’s success has meant much more stability off the course too, and he has prudently invested his winnings.

“Yeah, I bought a house — the two wins on OneAsia really helped me get to that,” he said.

“I got a nice little townhouse in Highett (a suburb of Melbourne) about 20 minutes outside the centre of the city, right near Royal Melbourne (Golf Club). Great location. It’s a big thing in Australia to get your own house — they’re so expensive.

“I’ve still got the little thing of a mortgage to pay off though.” •

OneAsia 2013 OOM Final standings (Top-10) Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Name Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) Scott STRANGE (AUS) LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) Nick CULLEN (AUS) KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR) SONG Young-han (KOR) David McKENZIE (AUS) Rhein GIBSON (AUS)

Total (US$) 257,480.20 207,990.94 198,615.98 189,232.34 130,609.86 124,902.18 116,418.23 106,466.70 103,117.39 97,870.29

Played 7 5 4 6 3 8 5 5 7 5

Sudden-death playoff for NSW Sand Greens Championship Walcha’s Luke Brennan won the 2013 NSW Sand Greens Championship in a thrilling playoff against Tamworth’s Grahame York.

Luke got off to a hot start with an equal leading score of 69 in the first round with Barraba local Benjamin Koopman, but it was Grahame York who was able to come home with a strong second round of 70 to get himself into the playoff with Brennan. The playoff between York and Brennan left spectators on the edge of their seats when it took an eagle 2 at the 314m par 4 third play-off hole to decide the Championship, with Luke cracking a drive to within a metre of the hole.

2012 winner Nathan Mann finished one stroke further back after two even par rounds of 71.

In the Junior Championship, local Luke York won the event with fine rounds of 74 and 77.

In the nett event, Tanilba Bay’s Jeff Merlin had an amazing 58 on day 2 to take the event by a convincing three strokes to Emmaville’s John O’Brien and Holbrook’s Mark Winnett.

In the Teams event, it was the Tanilba Bay trio of Jeff Merlin, Bob Matheson and Ron Baldock who were the clear winners by 11 shots from the Holbrook team who posted a score of 408. •

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news

Chinese buy into Hope Island IT was love at first sight.

When Chinese businessman Feng Di spied Links Hope Island Golf Club he immediately made a play for the property.

Last month his company Golden Horse Nine Dragon Lake Holdings Limited acquired a hotel development site and majority shareholding of the golf club.

“I fell in love with the golf course when I first saw it and we know a good golf course when we see it,” he said of the Peter ThomsonMike Wolveridge-designed course.

The assets were purchased from Brisbanebased Consolidated Properties.

The prime waterfront hotel and villa development sites total 8162sqm and have approvals for up to 400 resort rooms and 29 permanent residences, situated adjacent to the golf course and private canals.

The hotel can integrate with the existing clubhouse, which has recently undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment.

The acquisition includes the balance 552 of 990 equity shares for $10m in the Links Hope Island golf course.

The first round of shares were sold individually to private members.

It’s not Golden Horse Nine Dragon Lake Holdings Limited’s first foray into the golf arena.

The company owns the 54-hole Dragon Lake Golf Resort in Guangzhou, China, host of the prestigious Royal Trophy played between teams representing Europe and Asia.

The company is also in the final stages of their proposed purchase of the Noosa Springs golf course on the Sunshine Coast.

Feng Di said he was excited about his company’s entry into the Australian golf

New Links Hope Island owner Feng Di (right) with Consolidated Properties executive chairman Don O’Rorke.

market.

He said an upmarket hotel would be built adjacent to the clubhouse.

“We plan to bring in guests from China,” he said. “We will have programs for them to play-and-stay.

“We think that when the Chinese people see how nice the Queensland climate is and how good the golf course is, they will flock here.

“At Dragon Lake we have a five-star hotel so we want to bring that experience here.

“It will be a first-class hotel that will benefit

Australians and the international market.”

Chinese tourists led an international revival on the Gold Coast in 2013 with close to $1 billion splashed out in the period.

Feng Di showed how serious he is about golf when he invested $7m to bring the Royal Trophy to his resort in China. Previously, the tournament was played in Thailand.

He hasn’t ruled out purchasing more Queensland golf courses in the future.

“We are definitely looking for further opportunities,” he said. •

Watt joins pro ranks Western Australian Brady Watt, one of the world’s elite amateur golfers, has turned professional.

The 23-year-old former Golf Australia National Squad member made his debut among the paid ranks at last month’s Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Spring Country Club.

“My dream as a young boy was to turn pro eventually and I am absolutely delighted that this day has arrived,” said Watt.

“I am following in some huge golfing footsteps and I just hope I can give Australia somebody else to be proud of. I would like to extend my thanks to Golf Australia and Golf WA who have provided significant support to me during my amateur career.”

Watt, who was the medallist at last year’s U.S Amateur, will make the transition to the professional ranks guided and helped by International Sports Management. Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, ISM’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Brady is not only an incredible young golfer, but also a great guy and to finish 14th at the Australian Open was very impressive. He is a very strong player and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Born in Perth, Watt enjoyed a glittering amateur career. Among its highlights was a debut semi-final placing at the U.S Amateur Championship in August.

Other notable performances included winning the Lake Macquarie Amateur in 2011 and Riversdale Cup and Australian Amateur Stroke Play in 2013.

Golf Australia High Performance Director Brad James said “Brady has had a terrific year and is ready for this move. Golf Australia will continue to work with Brady through our Rookie Professional program which is specifically designed to support players as they make this transition.” •

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New home, format for Vic PGA Forest Resort considers The Lexus of Blackburn Victorian PGA Championship has found a new home and format for its staging in 2014.

The Heritage Golf and Country Club is the proud new host of the event, which will be played from 6 -9 February.

Boasting two courses, the Jack Nicklaus-designed St John course and Tony Cashmore-designed Henley course, provides the opportunity for the tournament to be run in a pro-am style format for the first two rounds.

G o l f f a n s i n Au s t ra l i a w i l l have a dream “inside the ropes” opportunity to play alongside Tour professionals in full PGA Tour of Australasia conditions.

“We are honoured to have a tournament with such a rich history being played at The Heritage Golf and Country Club,” said Russ Powell, General Manager of the Heritage Golf and Country Club. “ We are ver y proud of our courses and there is no better way to experience them than in tournament condition with an experienced professional to guide you around the layout.”

But it’s not just the golf fans who will appreciate this experience, so too will the professionals who have all enjoyed playing the PGA Tour of Australasia’s NZ PGA Championship in a similar format the past two years.

“Playing in a pro-am format for the first two days always adds an interesting element to competing in a Tour event,” said David McKenzie, the 2013 Victorian PGA Champion.

“It’s nice to provide Australian golf fans with the same opportunity to experience golf in a different way to their social games or club comps.

Vic PGA future Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

2013 Victorian PGA Champion David McKenzie Everyone always has a great week at the NZ PGA so it should be a huge success here too.”

Aside from competing alongside some of Australia’s leading tour professionals the big bonus for amateurs is the prospect of playing the first private Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Australia. “ The course was in fantastic condition in January and I can’t wait to get back there for the Vic PGA,” said David Bransdon who won the Lexus of Blackburn Heritage Classic last year.

“It’s definitely a challenging course with firm and fast greens but is one of the best we play on Tour so I think the amateurs will really enjoy competing alongside us and learning how best to tackle the

track,” added Bransdon, who holds the course record at 8-under 64.

The Lexus of Blackburn Victorian PGA Championship will be played from the 6th – 9th February with amateurs able to play in a group with two Tour Professionals on the 6th and 7th February.

In addition to playing in the Victorian PGA Championship amateurs will receive a Heritage merchandise pack and corporate h o s p i t a l i t y. T h e r e a r e b o t h one-day and two-day options available valued at $195 and $350 respectively. For further information or to book your place in the Victorian PGA Championship please contact Brett McMartin at the Heritage Golf and Country Club on 03 9760 3334.•

The Novotel Forest Resort Creswick could decide as early as this month if it will see out the final two years of its five-year agreement to host the Victorian PGA Championship after it withdrew from staging this year’s event.

Fo r e s t R e s o r t h o s t e d t h e event in 2012 and 2013, and is contracted through 2016, but major management changes are said to have rendered it incapable of holding the $100,000 event for the third-year running.

“They’ve gone through a major management restructure and they’re assessing their capabilities to see if they’re able and want to take that forward for those two years,” PGA of Australia Southern Division Executive Officer David Tapping says.

Since the 2013 event, the resort has appointed a new General Manager, Jessie Sheehan, and has undergone a change in its golf operations department. In addition, it is now without Ballarat professional Ben Roberts who promoted the 2012 and 2013 events.

Tapping believes that Sheehan could have been overburdened if Creswick had decided not to defer from hosting the 2014 event.

“Jessie has taken over the management of the whole resort.

She’s just finding her feet and to take on running an event such as the [Victorian] PGA is a huge task and not something that they’re prepared to put upon her in her first few months of taking over,” adds Tapping.

The departure of Roberts was also considered a major influence in Forest Resort’s withdrawal from this month’s Victorian PGA. “Losing Ben to other ventures, they lost a significant amount of intellectual property and skill and that would have factored into their decision that they were unable to host the 2014 event,” Tapping says.

“Hosting a major event like this isn’t just a matter of chucking someone in. You need someone with the right networks, which Ben has in that region.”

According to Sheehan, the resort is currently considering their options for the future.

“The Forest Resort Creswick has enjoyed hosting the 2012 and 2013 Victorian PGA Championship, and is looking into the logistics and structure to host the event in 2015,” Sheehan told Inside Golf. “We appreciate the PGA’s patience in this time while we adjust our business structure and wish the Heritage every success in hosting the 2014 Victorian PGA Championship.”

Tapping believes that the loss of continuity with Creswick as the host venue is disappointing but hasn’t hurt the brand of the Victorian PGA, which was first played in 1924.

“The Victorian PGA is 90 years old and I think it’s a great event and I think it will continue to go from strength to strength.” •

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

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

9

news

Keysborough, Rossdale explore options

Blyth wins Blind Golf Victoria Doubles Cup

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Keysborough and Rossdale Golf Clubs in Melbourne’s south east are the latest clubs to take inspiration from the newly-formed Peninsula Kingswood and are considering the partial sale of land in a bid to secure their futures. The two clubs are currently looking at the findings of a joint study conducted by Jeff Blunden Advisory Services (JBAS) and Golf Victoria.

Neither club nor JBAS would comment on the nature of the study’s recommendations but Keysborough Golf Club Captain Roger Hopkinson says a merger between it and Rossdale remains a possibility. “There remains the potential for us to come together. We have some compatibilities but there’s some other things that we differ on. There’s a need to do something but for right now, discussions between us and Keysborough are off the table,” Hopkinson says.

Rossdale General Manager Tim Hanton and Hopkinson would not reveal why talks between the clubs have stalled. Meanwhile, Keysborough is considering the sale of land to the right of its 18th hole abutting Hutton Road. “Our 18th hole is very close to Hutton Road so we know we’ve got to realign that hole and that could release potentially quite a bit of land or for other usage (as) a practice ground. That will have to happen in the not too distant future.”

Hopkinson is hopeful Keysborough’s members will vote on a partial sale of the club’s land by mid-2014.

“My term of office finishes in May. I’m hoping before then. I became captain four years ago

David Blyth (R) and Gary McInnes with the Krolik Cup

Keysborough Golf Club and it’s been my sole objective. We’re keen to see an end to it and the club’s future financially secured.”

Hanton and Hopkinson agree their clubs can guarantee long-term success without either one moving. “There’s still the potential for our two clubs to work together without either club relocating,” Hopkinson says.

Hopkinson rejected speculation that Rossdale will be converted into a nine-hole course but admits shorter forms of the game are becoming more attractive for timepoor younger golfers. “(Jack) Nicklaus is pushing the shorter form of the game very strongly in the States and a shorter format of the game is very much on the cards, nine or 12 holes. Rossdale might choose to do that, they might not. In the future I think you might see a format at a course where

you’ve got three loops of six (holes) so you’ve got the option to play a quicker version of the game.”

Hanton says Rossdale, which currently has close to 900 members, would consider joining forces with nearby Peninsula Kingswood in the future. “We’ve got a decision from the board that we’d look at any opportunity that comes across our desk,” Hanton says.

Jeff Blunden warns that unless clubs consider following the lead of Peninsula Kingswood by asking their members to vote on major changes, financial ruin may be a long-term outcome.

“There’s probably always going to be a section of the membership that’s always prepared to go down with a sinking ship. The goal is to have enough people decide that this ship doesn’t have a future, we need to get on a better one,” Blunden says. •

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Australia’s highest-ranked blind golfer, David Blyth, has won the Blind Golf Victoria Doubles Cup for 2013 with his caddie and playing partner Gary McInnes. David, who is totally blind and on a handicap of 52, with Gary on 11, shot a gross 94 (net 62.5) in the foursomes event on the par 67 Malvern Valley course. They also won the event back in 2011. The Doubles Cup is a perpetual trophy kindly donated by blind golfer Rick Krolik and his wife Jennie.

David, with the help of his personal trainer Chris Harrison, had just recovered from a serious fall down an escalator at a shopping centre.

Chris and Gary will now work with David to prime his game for the International Blind Golf World Championships to be played at the Nelson Bay Golf Club in May 2014.

Blind golf has 3 sight categories; B1, B2 and B3 depending on how much sight a player has.

B1 players are totally blind.

Anyone wishing to learn more about either playing blind golf or caddying for a blind golfer may contact Gary McInnes on 0417 055 731.

They may also go to the Blind Golf Australia website www.blindgolf.com.au or see www.internationalblindgolf.com •

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Was Alister’s Aussie gem also his first?

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Victoria’s oldest golf club still at its original site – Flinders Golf Club – is determined to prove it is the first-ever Alister MacKenzie-designed course in the world.

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

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

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

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

If the trip to Flinders in 1902 could be proven, it would pre-date what is believed to be MacKenzie’s inaugural design at the No. 1 Course at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen, Scotland circa 1905.

“There’s also some shipping records and some more verbal evidence that a taxi driver, Tom Delaney, picked up a MacKenzie in 1902.

There’s more evidence now than there was some time ago.”

It is believed MacKenzie was related to

One of Australia’s most unique layouts, Flinders Golf Club in Victoria, may soon prove to be the first-ever design by famed golf architect Dr Alister MacKenzie (Photo: Gary Lisbon) Maxwell and that formed the basis for his visit in 1926 – the year he was commissioned to design Royal Melbourne’s West Course. That same year, MacKenzie proposed a redesign of various holes at Flinders itself, leading to, among other things, the eventual change of the course’s current 4th hole—The Coffin. Previously played as a short par-3 with the green nestled between two ravines, MacKenzie recommended lengthening the hole, and moving the green beyond the second ravine (“Purgatory”), thus creating a tricky par-4 that is one of the most memorable holes in Australia.

Flinders GC formed a Heritage Committee this year to investigate the possibility of the rumoured 1902 visit from MacKenzie – who is responsible for several of the world’s great

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courses including Augusta National Golf Club and Cypress Point Club in California.

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

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

Further speculation about the MacKenzie ‘myth’ and a visit from a five-time British Open Champion headlined a major milestone for the club on October 26 – its 110th anniversary.

5 1 2 3 4 5

Peter Thomson joined more than 140 members at the club’s birthday dinner.

The 84-year-old was friendly with Eric Lucas prior to his passing and has enjoyed a long relationship with Flinders dating back to 1946 when he played in the club’s Easter Tournament.

“We’ve always felt that Peter Thomson had some association with us,” Reynolds says.

“There was two major country events for amateurs in Victoria back then and one was the Portsea Summer Open and the other was the Flinders Easter Open.”

Thomson spoke at length about his victorious Presidents Cup captaincy at Royal Melbourne in 1998 and recounted anecdotes from his British Open wins. •

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11

news

Davies, Green back for 2014 Oates Vic Open Hua Hin to host Centara World Masters Two of the main drawcards from last year’s inaugural Victorian Open at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links will return once again for the 2014 event to be played 20-23 February. Former world number one Laura Davies will tee it up in the ALPG Tour women’s field whilst Richard Green from the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour will also return to the Bellarine Peninsula.

Davies, one of the world’s biggest names in the sport finished last year’s tournament in a tie for 7th at 13-under including a sensational opening round seven-under 67. With 85 worldwide career victories including four major titles to her name, the galleries flocked to get a glimpse of the iconic British player.

“I love the format,” said Davies. “It’s always nice to play alongside the men and last year we held our own as far as the galleries went. I loved both courses at Thirteenth, they were a good mix of wide open long hitting and then the tighter precision holes. It was in great shape.”

Davies has her sights set on challenging the defending champion and local girl from Cressy, Stacey Keating who like Davies was embraced by thousands of spectators that followed both golfers all week.

For Richard Green, a solid week at the Emirates Australian Open that included a second round six-under 66 and hole-in-one has boosted the 42 year old’s confidence. A regular feature on the European Tour, Green has carved out a successful career with six professional victories including the 2004 Australian Masters and 2004 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

Green finished in a tie for 14th at eight-under the card at last year’s Vic Open with rounds of 69, 74, 73 and a course record eight-under 64 in the final round.

“It’s nice to be back in contention again and playing some good golf and hitting some nice shots. I haven’t really hit the ball like this for a

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The format of Australia’s longest-running and most successful amateur golf tournament, the Mitsubishi World Masters, which has been held on the Gold Coast for the past 18 years, is being taken to Thailand from 2014.

Peter McCarthy, the principal of Go Golfing, who has conducted the week-long event for club golfers since its inception, has teamed up with Golfasian, a leading Bangkok-based inbound tour operator, and Centara Hotels and Resorts to create the Centara World Masters Golf Championship in Hua Hin, 200 kilometres south of Bangkok.

The Centara World Masters will be held at four leading courses – including two of Thailand’s best, Black Mountain and Banyan – from June 15 to 21, 2014. Open to golfers aged 35 and over, the fourround stableford tournament will be played in 15 age and handicap divisions ensuring golfers of a similar age and standard play together. Prizes valued at more than $30,000 will be given away

at the final night gala dinner.

“The Mitsubishi World Masters has been such a huge success we wanted to take the format overseas. Like the Gold Coast, Hua Hin is a perfect golf destination, with great courses, beaches and other attractions,” McCarthy said.

“People like these events because they are much more than golf tournaments,” McCarthy explains. “There are lively social and entertainment events every night. In Hua Hin, international acts will be a highlight at the welcome and farewell celebrations, while Thailand’s biggest 19th hole will move each night to stunning rooftop, beach, and poolside settings. A decadent farewell dinner will cap off the fun-filled week.”

Accommodation will be at the Centara Grand Beach Resort and Banyan Resort, Hua Hin. Pre and post golf tours in Thailand can also be booked. www.ThailandWorldMasters.com •

McLeod ladies prove age is no barrier Richard Green long time now. I’ve had an occasional good glimpse like when I had the 64 in the last round of the Vic Open, but being able to piece it all together and play consistent golf under pressure in difficult conditions is a nice feeling.

“I’ve said this before, it was the most fun we had on tour all year and to be at home and down that part of the world. Barwon Heads is a great destination and a very relaxing environment.

The golf course is a lot of fun to play, there were so many people out there watching and it had a really good atmosphere.”

More player announcements and news about the 2014 Oates Vic Open are still to come with stellar fields expected for both the men’s and women’s championships. •

The Senior Ladies club of McLeod Country Golf Club at Middle Park are celebrating the eve of their 20th year of operation.

Records show that since its inception membership of McLeod Senior Ladies club has risen from the initial group of 29 to over 190 in 2013. In 2014, they aim to exceed the 200 mark.

The success of the club can be attributed to the friendly supportive environment. No one is too old to start playing golf, and it is a great form of exercise, socialising and friendships, which are all good for healthy lives.

Many new golfers join the Senior Ladies club directly from McLeod’s Beginners Program.

Eligibility for membership to Senior Ladies is financial membership of McLeod Country Golf Club, aged over 55 with a current WGA handicap.

The age range of McLeod’s Senior Ladies club is

55 to over 90, with golf handicaps spanning from 4 – 45. Senior Ladies play on a Monday and fields are consistently around 100 players.

The purpose of the Senior Ladies Club is to uphold the tradition, etiquette, sportsmanship and companionship of the game. It is a wonderful club of women golfers who share the joys and frustration of golf, build exceptional friendships and give support that extends beyond the golf course.

McLeod encourages new golfers of all ages, young and old, male and female. Club Professional Richard Harris and his staff regularly run beginner clinics, and all equipment is provided. Players can then move on to the McLeod Beginners Program, where they play a 9-hole competition with others new to the game.

More: www.mcleodgolf.com.au •

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women

Can Webb create history?

The undisputed queen of Australian golf, Karrie Webb, will be trying to create history when she tees it up in the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters at RACV Royal Pines Resort in February.

No player, male or female, has won the same event nine times. The Queenslander, who has won the Ladies Masters an incredible eight times, currently shares the record with Sam Snead.

Webb has confirmed she will be back and will be gunning for her ninth title in an event that holds a special place in her heart.

“It’s the place where I made my first “big” cheque and I have played well there ever since. Also, I love that a huge chunk of my family and friends attend every year. It’s fun to play in front of them and every now and then win in front of them as well!” Webb said.

When queried on whether she was aware of Snead’s record going into the 2013 Ladies Masters, she responded, “Up until the night before the final round I wasn’t aware of Sam Snead’s record. Someone in the media pointed it out. So going into Sunday it gave me a little extra motivation to win so that I could tie it.”

In regards to records in general, the seven-time major champion said “It’s always special to equal or set records. It’s not something that I especially set out to do but it’s always an extra bonus for playing well. It’s great to be a part of golf history in that way.”

Her win at Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in February 2013 set up another good year for Webb, which saw her climb back into the top10 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

“I was happy with my year. Getting back in the winner’s circle was definitely a goal this

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Karrie Webb year and to do it three times around the world was great!”

“If I have any disappointments then I would say that I would have liked to finish the year off a little better. From the RICOH Women’s British Open on it wasn’t the greatest of golf.

Also on that note a little disappointed in my play in the majors.

“But overall a good year but room for improvement in 2014.”

Tournament Director, Bob Tuohy, is expecting another fantastic field, with a number of other top-10 players from the Rolex World Rankings expressing interest in playing along with the leading European Tour players.

The Ladies European Tour contingent is likely to include the likes of South African Lee-Anne Pace, France’s Gwladys Nocera and England’s young gun Charley Hull.

Once again, fans will have the pleasure of watching crowd favourite Laura Davies.

Davies, an honorary member of the ALPG Tour returns to our shores again and the three-time Ladies Masters champion will be hoping that a return to one of her favourite venues will inspire a return to her best form.

The tournament is back to a four day tournament again in 2014, thanks to the support of major sponsors Volvik and RACV and will be being played from 6 to 9 February at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

All auto club members (such as RACV in Victoria, or RACQ in Queensland) can receive two free entry tickets for each day of the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters, valued at up to $20 per person per day. To take up this offer, simply show your auto club membership card at the tournament gate.

Plus, experience all the live golfing action with a special member accommodation package* at RACV Royal Pines Resort, the home of championship golf. From only $175* per night, treat yourself to accommodation in a mountain view room, buffet breakfast for two and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine.

To book visit racv.com.au/resorts and quote promo code RLM14 • *Conditions apply. Price quoted is for auto club member price, and is valid for all affiliated Australian auto clubs. Valid from 5-12 February 2014 only.

25 years of hits 2013 203 Karrie Webb* (AUS) - RPR (par72) Christel Boeljon (NED) – RPR (par 2012 267 72) 2011 264 Yani Tseng (TAI) – RPR (par 72) 2010 262 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) 2009 272 Katherine Hull (AUS) - RPR 72 2008 203 Lisa Hall ** (ENG) - RPR (Par 72) 2007 269 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) Amy Yang # (A) (KOR) - RPR 2006 275 (Par 72) 2005 271 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) Annika Sorenstam (SWE) - RPR 2004 269 (Par 72) Laura Davies ** (ENG) - RPR 2003 203 (Par 72) Annika Sorenstam # (SWE) - RPR 2002 278 (Par 72) 2001 271 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) 2000 274 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) Karrie Webb ^ (AUS) - RPR 1999 262 (Par 72) 1998 272 Karrie Webb (AUS) - RPR (Par 72) 1997 273 Gail Graham (CAN) - RPR (Par 72) 1996 273 Jane Crafter (AUS) - RPR (Par 73) Annika Sorenstam (SWE) - RPR 1995 270 (Par 73) 1994 272 Laura Davies (ENG) - RPR (Par 73) Laura Davies * (ENG) - RPR 1993 211 (Par 73) Jane Crafter * (AUS) - RPR 1992 207 (Par 74) Jane Geddes * (USA) 1991 209 Palm Meadows Jane Geddes * (USA) 1990 209 Palm Meadows (A) Denotes amateur ** Tournament shortened to 54 holes * 54-hole tournament # Winner in playoff RPR - RACV Royal Pines Resort ^ Tournament record

from the ceo

Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

It goes without saying that the end of year PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments exceeded all expectations and position Australian golf well heading into a bigger and better 2014.

Across the board, crowd numbers and television ratings were up significantly compared to the year prior and certainly we have Adam Scott to thank for his part in this success. The success of the PGA Tour of Australasia events will benefit the entire Australian golf industry, not just at a Professional level.

It has helped to raise interest in our game, both in terms of participation and commercial interest, which will benefit each and every one of us

Stephen Pitt CEO – Golf Australia

As I think everyone will agree, we’ve probably just witnessed the most exciting season of men’s tournament golf in Australia for 15 years.

In truth, the build-up and the events themselves could not have gone to a better script. In every event, Australia’s Masters champion Adam Scott had a role to play. He held off Rickie Fowler in Queensland, Matt Kuchar in Melbourne, helped Australia to win the ISPS Handa World Cup with Jason Day and then took the country through a nail-biting finale at the Emirates Australian Open where Rory McIlroy recorded his first win for 2013 and in doing so ended Adam’s triple crown fairytale on the 18th green.

We congratulate Rory on a wonderful

Karen Lunn

Executive Director – ALPG

It is hard to believe that it is almost a year ago that we saw Karrie Webb winning her record-tying 8th Volvik RACV Ladies Masters title, and Stacey Keating picking up where she left off in Europe in 2012, sealing the ALPG Order of Merit with a very impressive victory close to home at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

Away from home it has been a mixed year for most of our ALPG players worldwide, once again Karrie has been the standout player amongst the ALPG members with three worldwide victories. You really have to take your hat off to Karrie, she has maintained such a high level of play over a career that spans 19 years. There are very few athletes that can boast both her achievements and longevity in their sport, and to be honest Karrie

working within the industry. The 2014 PGA Tour of Australasia season is now only a matter of weeks away with the Lexus of Blackburn Victorian PGA Championship set to be played at the Heritage Golf and Country Club from February 6-9.

It’s also an exciting time for the PGA on the education front. Firstly, January marks the launch of the PGA’s new Accreditation and Continuing Education (ACE) Program, our ongoing education program for qualified PGA Professionals. The new ACE Program is one of the most exciting vocationalspecific education programs in the global golf industry and we’re very proud of what it stands to deliver. As I’m sure all industry bodies would agree, ongoing education is fundamental to the growth of the industry and its associated professionals and the PGA is committed to ensuring our Members

remain amongst the most highly educated and skilled the world over.

In December the PGA was also pleased to usher in a new chapter for the PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) with the Gold Coast campus soon to be complemented by a new base in Manly in Sydney. In partnership with the International College of Management (ICMS), the new campus corresponds with increased program demand and will leverage ICMS’s ability to co-deliver additional pathway options into various degrees. The PGA IGI model of delivery will remain the same with PGA IGI providing its world class Diploma of Golf Management across the first year while ICMS will deliver its suite of degree options from its Manly campus. The first intake is likely to commence in May 2014 and we look forward to this exciting new chapter for golf education in Australia. •

win and, as much as we all wanted to see Adam clinch the triple crown to cap a career-defining year, it seemed fitting that the final outcome went all the way to the 18th green – some 288 holes after Adam first teed off on his return on the Gold Coast.

With all that in mind, Adam’s impact on Australian golf this year has been nothing short of profound.

The U.S Masters victory ignited a passion and an enthusiasm in people both inside golf and outside golf. It excited players, administrators, retailers, sponsors, broadcasters and many more.

You only had to look at the demographics of people walking through the gates of the major tournaments in Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney: men, women, families with children, husbands and wives, grandparents, teenagers and many, many more flooded through.

Journalist Nicole Jeffery likened it

in The Australian to the times when Sir Don Bradman would go into bat.

Word would get around that The Don was heading out into the middle and so the crowds would converge on SCG on any other ground around the country to watch history.

While Adam doesn’t yet hold the position in Australian sporting folklore that Bradman does, the parallels Nicole wrote of are there to be seen. When word gets around of when Adam is teeing off, you can see the crowds surge at the entry gates or move from elsewhere on the course to wherever Adam is.

He has that magnetic effect.

It would be remiss of me to finish this column without thanking Adam for everything he has done for Australian golf in 2013 – particularly at the major tournaments. He was exceedingly generous with his time while trying to focus on playing the events and for that we are very grateful. •

doesn’t get half the recognition she deserves when she comes back to play in Australia. Every year she continues to support the Australian Open and I think that she has only missed one Ladies Masters in almost twenty years.

Everyone involved in the women’s game in Australia owes Karrie Webb a huge debt of gratitude. I do suspect the one thing that helps keep Karrie motivated is the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Karrie is one of the biggest sports fans I know and I am sure that being part of an Australian Olympic team would be the tip of the iceberg for her. I can guarantee that she will be working her tail off to ensure that she gets to stand on the dais and collect her medal with Advance Australia Fair ringing in the background.

I had the honour of partnering Karrie representing Australia in the Nations Cup in Spain in 2010 and there were not two more disappointed golfers in the world when Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson eagled the last hole to get into a playoff with us which we

ended up losing at the 4th extra hole.

Watching Karrie at close quarters for four days gave me a great insight into what makes her tick, and even though we have been great mates for twenty years it was so much fun to watch how her intensity has not waivered through the years. She is such a tough competitor and doesn’t know how to give up!

It was also great to see Rebecca Artis break through for her first win on the LET winning the Gothenburg Masters in September. She defeated a worldclass field which included Solheim Cup heroine Caroline Hedwall, whom Artis went down the stretch head to head with and came out on top. This win was so much sweeter for “Floody” as it had only been a few weeks prior at the Prague Masters when in a position to win she had to withdraw going into the final round due to a troublesome lower back.

I hope that you will all come out and support Karrie, Rebecca and all of our other ALPG stars during our 2014 ALPG summer of golf. • www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

15

around the clubs

Kel Nagle honoured The Von bronze David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

Five-time Open champion Peter Thomson, two-time Australian Open champion Frank Phillips and David Mercer (PGA) on hand to induct Patron Kel Nagle into Ryde-Parramatta Wall of Fame.

“Mr Thomson shared a brief story of playing golf with Kel one time and after arriving at the course early in the morning was met by the club secretary.

“The secretary informed the pair the bar was closed and would open at 11am, however, he could get them as many drinks as they liked until it ‘opened’.”

The night celebrated all the major trophy winners for the past year culminating in the final presentation to women’s club champion Cheryl Fairclough and men’s club champion Colin McGowan. •

RYDE-PARRAMATTA Golf Club has a permanent reminder of Open Championship winner Kel Nagle on its Wall of Fame.

The golf club general manager Daniel Constable said the club honoured club patron Nagle, the centenary Open champion, at a special night late last year.

“President Kevin Burton hosted the induction and special guests Peter and Mary Thomson, David and Barbara Mercer and Frank Phillips were on hand to share their thoughts on Kel and to assist in the induction highlighting more than 80 professional victories worldwide,” he said.

Ipswich back and wine not! venue to become more of a community sports club.

“With our experience we can put a bit of expertise in here and get it running as a good club.

“We see Ipswich as a big part of our footprint for Sirromet.”

Ipswich’s popular mayor Paul Pisasale, a keen golfer, is pleased with the outcome.

Some years back he promised great things were on the way for the old club, which unfortunately fell over.

Still, he may yet be right. •

ONE of Queensland’s oldest golf clubs is back in business.

Ipswich Golf Club last year closed its doors after 116 years, but the club has been reborn thanks to Sirromet Wines chief Terry Morris.

A company associated with Sirromet Wines has bought the club.

It is another step in the foray into Ipswich for keen golfer Morris and fellow Gold Coast businessman Dean Merrell.

Merrell said he and Morris were excited about the potential of the club.

He believes there is an opportunity for the

The Links

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For a good cause

NUDGEE Golf Club is hosting a charity golf day to raise valuable funds to go towards children affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Phillipines.

The club’s general manager Aaron Muirhead said funds from the day would go to Save the Children Fund in the Philippines.

“The devastating typhoon has impacted on the lives of thousands of children and their families,” he said. “These children are in desperate need of support.”

The charity golf day is on Friday, January 17. The cost to play is $85 per person or $300 for a team of four.

What you get for your money is 18 holes in a golf cart, pre-game breakfast burger, post game drinks and buffet lunch and a gift bag.

Registration is at 7:30am with a shotgun start at 8:30am.

“We are also accepting prize donations and a monster raffle will be conducted to maximise the funds raised,” Muirhead said.

More: (07) 3267 7744. •

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

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CRICKET has The Don and golf is about to get The Von. Outside the Adelaide Oval is a bronze statue of cricketing great Don Bradman and now a bronze statue of the legendary Australian golfer Norman von Nida – albeit somewhat smaller – is set to be unveiled at Nudgee Golf Club to commemorate his achievements in golf.

Project organiser and Nudgee Golf Club stalwart John Hay, club professional John Downs and general manager Aaron Muirhead have worked tirelessly on the project.

Contributions from Golf Australia, Greg Norman, Charlie Earp, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and others will see the project come to fruition next month.

“Planned as a work of art, The Von Bronze, will be unique,” Hay said.

“It will feature a bronze action figure of Norman von Nida, the 1931 Nudgee Golf Club champion.

“His 92cm action figure will stand upon an 8cm polished, black granite base, atop an 80cm panelled and polished white American oak plinth.

“It will stand at the forefront of a 195cm x 168cm wall mounted, panoramic scene of Nudgee Golf Club (circa 1930). An extruded side panel will display sponsors’ names, historic images, tributes and career information.”

The Von’s association with Nudgee Golf Club dates back to 1931.

While practising for a bike race through farmlands at Nudgee, von Nida happened upon the golf club.

“I hadn’t seen Nudgee before and decided to take a closer look,” the late Von wrote in his 1999 memoir.

“It was a decision that changed my life forever.

I think there were some unique forces at work on that rainy day that made me cycle to Nudgee.”

The Von became a trailblazer for Australian golf. His deeds inspired Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle and others to travel and conquer the golfing world.

Had it not been for von Nida, Gary Player may never have visited Australia.

“I first met Norman von Nida in 1956 at Sunningdale,” Player said. “I had just won a tournament and he said, ‘son, you’re going to be a world champion. How would you like to visit Australia?’

“That was the start of my wonderful treks to Australia.

“He was a wonderful golfer and a good teacher. He was always giving. It was indicative of what the Von did. He was unbelievable.

“He was always helping people, giving them money, helping me and letting me stay at his house.

“When I went over there he was always asking, ‘anything I can do for you?’

“He helped to make everybody happy.

“I just love Norman von Nida. I cannot speak highly enough of this man.”

If you would like to sponsor the project, contact the club on (07) 3267 7744. •

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Email info@kennedybay.com.au • www.kennedybay.com.au • Tel 08 9524 5991 16

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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14 – 19 January 2014

ANTHONY MURDACA

www.australianamateur.com.au GolfAust

@GolfAust

The Grange Golf Club

Sizzling Summer Action Down Under

South Australia

industry news

Sandhurst appoints residents Rainy Day Accessories takeover board at historic meeting

Members of the old and new board. L to R: Mat Van Rensburg, Julian Murray (CEO), Stuart Hergt, Ken Roche, Kevin Greaves (Chairman), David Whiteman, Neville Burton and Steve Wolfe MELBOURNE’S Sandhurst Club has appointed a board for the first time in its history containing Directors who are members of the club. Club members appointed to the board were Kevin Greaves Chairman, Matt Van Rensburg and Neville Burton. Julian Murray, Sandhurst Club Manager for three years, has been appointed as CEO of Sandhurst.

“The transition to a resident-led board is a significant move as it provides the residents with

representation in relation to the management of their local environment and services including the two championship golf courses,”Greaves said.

“In many ways it makes Sandhurst a unique place to live and provides the opportunity for us to look forward in relation to building on a strong foundation to further develop a golfing centre of excellence with the potential to expand through a merger with a compatible golf club in the southeast of Melbourne,” he added. •

Brew joins PGA IGI team The PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) has appointed PGA Member Jamie Brew to the position of Golf Programs Manager at their Sanctuary Cove campus on the Gold Coast.

As the new Golf Programs Manager Jamie will oversee the operational management of PGA IGI’s golf programs, whilst experience and knowledge gained as a PGA Professional will also provide valuable input into golf-specific areas of the curriculum.

“Jamie is a passionate PGA Member and his credentials and education mean he is an ideal fit for the PGA IGI. In addition his experience in the golf industry and business spheres will be of great benefit to the students, PGA Members and golf industry professionals that access the PGA IGI’s educational services,” said Gavin Kirkman, General Manager of Member Services at the PGA of Australia, of which the PGA IGI is a wholly-owned subsidiary. •

AN award-winning automotive and marine upholstering company has purchased Rainy Day Golf Car Accessories and plans to use its innovative manufacturing systems and processes to enhance its golf accessories range.

Rae-Line, a market leader in soft trim manufacture of medium volume customised products for the trucking and boating industries, has an office/warehouse in Melbourne and due to expansion has opened an office/warehouse in southeast Queensland.

The company’s business development manager Christian Carthew said the additional site was at Yatala, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Rainy Day Golf Car Accessories will be under the umbrella of Rae-Line, which supplies some of the biggest names in the automotive, heavy transport and marine industries.

“We decided to put all the businesses in one brand-new factory at Yatala, which has allowed us to layout the product more professionally.

“And we have brought new technology to the site.”

“Rainy Day’s main product is the galvanised trailers for golf cars.

“The products revolve around the golf car – the trailer to carry them, sand buckets, eskies and clears and foldout covers to protect golf clubs from the weather.

“We cater for people who have their own golf car and want to trailer it from home to the golf course.

“We can fit clears and foldout covers to a customer’s golf car with the necessary modifications.

“The products are manufactured from quality materials under strict quality controls ensuring perfect fit to golf cars and other people carriers.”

The company also deals with golf clubs that have a fleet of golf carts.

Recently, Rae-Line also acquired the company that does the trimmings for Riviera Boats.

In the past nine years, Rae-Line has won Supplier of the Year for Kenworth trucks five times.

“Our goal is to bring some of our systems and processes to the other companies to make them strong and better,” Carthew said.

“We are implementing new systems, new machinery to our process to make the company bigger and better and welcome contact from the golfing public and potential customers.”

For more information, call (03) 97288300 or visit w w w.rae -line.com.au, www.canvasseatcovers.com.au, www.marinetechindustries.com.au, www.boxtrailersbrisbane.com.au •

Kinney joins Golf NSW as National Coach Dean Kinney commenced with Golf NSW in November as the new National Coach in NSW. He will be responsible for the state’s High Performance Program.

General Manager - Golf, Graeme Phillipson said, “I am really looking forward to working with Dean as I believe he will help us take the High Performance Program to new levels.”

Kinney has been coaching for 15 years.

He has a science degree in anatomy and physiology and is a qualified fitness and personal trainer. He is an AAA PGA of Australia professional and former member of the PGA Tour of Australasia. As a full time professional, his career highlight was being awarded the 2007 NSW/ACT Player of the Year. For the past five years he has been the Pennant Hills Golf Club Head Professional. •

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industry

Queensland braces for awards fever The Sunshine State’s ‘Night of Nights’—the Queensland Golf Industry Awards—is set to recognise those who have achieved greatness during 2013. Staged at Jupiters Gold Coast on March 18th, the evening brings together the entire industry with the PGA, Golf Queensland, Golf Management Australia (QLD Div) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association recognising the outstanding achievements over the past 12 months.

Nominations for the following awards are now available: • Volunteer of the Year • GMAQ Club of the Year • GMAQ Manager of the Year • Toro Golf Course Turf Apprentice of the Year • B a y e r S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s Environment Award • Superintendents Achievement Award • PGA Club Professional of the Year • PGA Teaching Professional of the Year • Queensland Golf Industry Supplier of the Year Award • Queensland Golf Industry Junior Program of the Year Award • Queensland Golf Industry Services Award Nominations close on the 31st January. To obtain more details or to nominate for any of the above awards, visit www.golfqueensland.org.au.

In addition to those above, the Queensland Golf Industry are also

• Female Amateur Golfer of the Year (Based on tournament results) • Superintendents I ndustr y Recognition Award (Selected via the GCSAQ committee) • QLD Sunshine Tour Order of Merit Winner (Based on tournament results) • Platinum Partner Program Rookie of the Year (Based on tournament results) • PGA Trainee Order of Merit Winner (Based on tournament results) • PGA Trainee of the Year (Based on tournament and academic results) • PGA (QLD Division) Legends Player of the Year (Based on tournament results) • Golf Print PGA Tournament of the Year (Selected via a panel of PGA Professionals) • PGA Metropolitan Tournament of the Year (Selected via a panel of PGA Professionals) • PGA Regional Tournament of the Year (Selected via a panel of PGA Professionals) • PGA IGI Excellence in Golf Education Award (Selected via a PGA IGI panel)

Gary Burmester, winner of the 2012 PGA Club Professional of the Year looking forward to crowning the winner of the following awards: • Junior Male Amateur Golfer of the Year (Based on tournament results)

• Junior Female Amateur Golfer of the Year (Based on tournament results) • Male Amateur Golfer of the Year (Based on tournament results)

$109.99

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The next wave of PGA Professionals will also be unveiled during the evening as it incorporates the graduating class of 2013 PGA Trainees.

Tickets for this gala event are available to the entire golfing community for $120pp or $105pp for partners and can be purchased at www.golfqueensland.org.au •

Norris loves Qld, but…

VICTORIAN Jason Norris must get nervous every time he crosses the border to play golf in Queensland.

Twice he has had near-death experiences while in the Sunshine State.

In 2007, he suffered horrific facial injuries when he fell off a bicycle at the Coolum Resort during the Australian PGA. The fall knocked out his teeth and pushed his nose back into his skull.

Doctors told him he was one centimetre from death.

It took him many months to recover.

In February last year, Norris was contesting the Queensland PGA at Toowoomba when he was rushed to hospital when diagnosed with viral meningitis.

“Meningitis is a very dangerous disease,” he said. “With bacterial meningitis if you don’t get onto it straight away, you can die but viral meningitis, it actually feels like you’re going to drop dead.

“It’s like someone’s just squeezing a vice tighter and tighter and you can’t get away from it no matter how many drugs you take.

“I spent a week in hospital and I felt like I was going to drop dead. I wanted to be dead at times, it was that bad.”

Still, Norris loves Queensland and intends to continue visiting the state.

“My wife said ‘you’re not allowed to go up there anymore, but I love Queensland,” he said. “It’s a fantastic place.” •

manager profile

Manager Marcus on Gardiners Run What’s in a name?

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

SIX weeks into his role as manager at the soonto-be-opened Gardiners Run golf course near Melbourne, Marcus Sullivan is chomping at the bit in anticipation of its opening in mid-April.

The 18-hole Gardiners Run golf course eventuated when a developer purchased the development rights to the Chirnside Park Country Club’s golf course.

“The members are elated and couldn’t be happier about the move to Gardiners Run, which is five minutes down the road in Lilydale,” Sullivan said.

“We have had a number of member trips to the new course to show them how things are progressing. They are busting to get out there.

“With Gardiners Run, we have a golf course that aesthetically looks challenging, but plays very fair and is easy to walk.”

It seems the decline in membership numbers around the country has not managed to dent this operation.

In recent months, the club has been inundated with inquires from potential new members.

“That’s because of the value proposition we have put in the marketplace.

“We are charging a reasonable $1200 a year for seven-day membership,” said Sullivan, who was born at Kempsey in NSW and worked in Queensland for the past 17 years.

Sullivan knows a thing or two about golf as he played professionally before quitting so he could focus on the administrative side of the game.

In 1998, he attended Griffith University on the Gold Coast where he graduated with a bachelor of business in resort management.

The soon-to-be-opened Gardiners Run near Melbourne is beginning to take shape. INSET: Marcus Sullivan

At the time, he still had ambitions of playing golf for a living and spent six months playing college golf at the University of Texas in El Paso before returning to Australia to complete his traineeship under the guidance of Gary Edwin, who was at Hope Island at the time (2000).

“Then I played professionally for a couple of years without too much success,” he said.

“That was when I took stock and realised it wasn’t for me, but it was my dream to do that so I’m glad I had a crack at it.”

Sullivan spent the next three years working at Emerald Lakes Golf Club.

“I was the corporate golf events and membership manager when I left to go to Colonial and Robina Woods, which is now Palmer Colonial and Palmer Gold Coast,” he said.

“I was there for six years and worked my way up to assistant general manager. Then I had an opportunity to take on a GMs role at Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club at Bribie Island

on the Sunshine Coast.

“I was there for two years before landing this job.”

Sullivan, who works closely with Chirnside Park Country Club general manager Barbara Kelly, describes his management style as “personable”.

“I’m firm but fair when it comes to staffing situations,” he said.

“I’m approachable and enjoy interaction with the staff, members and customers.

“Whilst we have a nice affordable product, we need to compete on service in a market where membership is on the decline.

“You can’t avoid that so we need to do the opposite to what the market is doing by creating a need for people to want to join the club.”

Sullivan, 36, is married and has two young daughters aged six and three.

When he isn’t working, he loves spending time with his family, playing touch football

IT took plenty of research and discussion to come up with the name Gardiners Run golf course.

Chirnside Park Country Club general manager Barbara Kelly told Inside Golf the club was trying to find a name that had some significance to the area.

“We did some digging through the archives and found that John Gardiner, who is the same Gardiner from Gardiners Creek had occupied about 15,000 acres of land in the Yarra Valley,” she explained.

“The land that the new golf course is on and our current site are both part of original Gardiners Run. “The original Chirnside Park Estate, where the current golf course is, was actually bought by John Gardiner’s cousin William Fletcher and the area was called Mooroolbark Park.”

According to the records, Irishman John Gardiner was one of the first white settlers of Melbourne and recognised the potential of the land in Hawthorn and the Yarra Valley. •

and cheering on his beloved Parramatta Eels in the NRL. Despite the Eels finishing with the wooden spoon for the past two years, Sullivan will continue to support the club.

“Surely, they can’t do any worse than the last two years,” he laughed. “We certainly don’t need a hat-trick of wooden spoons.”

Still, Sullivan reckons Gardiners Run golf course is a winner.

More: www.gardinersrun.com.au •

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

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veterans

Ciezki’s ‘secret’ pays off at AVGU Brian O’Hare ed@insidegolf.com.au

YOU meet a lot of great characters in golf and John Ciezki is one of them.

Ciezki is the man who turned up at the Australian Veteran Golfers Union (AVGU) National Championships in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in 2012 as a last-minute entrant just looking for a bit of a break from work.

The now 60 year-old Victorian golfer wasn’t looking for much more than a few beers and a good time with some mates.

The golf and the fact he would be playing three of Australia’s top courses in the weeklong event was just a plus.

When Ciezki, after spending a week competing with golfers from across the country, was crowned tournament champion he was beside himself with the unexpected joy of it all.

“Just awesome,” is how he detailed the experience.

Ciezki arrived at the 2013 AVGU National Championships in Canberra to defend his title in November and brought with him the same infectious, hearty laugh, the same joy of life, but he had a deep, dark secret – he’d been in training; practicing, tinkering with his swing, buying new equipment, God forbid, working on the mental aspects of golf.

He’d gone from exactly no preparation to almost a year of it. Everything for the title defence except – like most of the tour players

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January 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

of today – going to the gym.

“Bugger the gym,” he explained. “I do enough walking.”

After such a drastic change you’d expect golf to throw in a curve ball. You’d expect disappointment, but no, after fighting it out over 54 holes of stroke play in Canberra, Ciezki was again named the winner.

“I can’t believe I am standing here again this year saying the same thing except it is even more awesome,” Ciezki told the championship presentation dinner after his four-stroke victory.

“I didn’t expect last year to win and I didn’t know what to expect this year either. I have just been very honoured and lucky to be standing in front of all you all celebrating this fantastic event and this fantastic win.”

The AVGU National Championship is an

annual event for golfers aged 55 and over that rotates around the states and territories.

In 2013 some 300 men and lady golfers from across the country gathered in Canberra to contest the event on three of the region’s premier courses, Gungahlin Lakes, Yowani and Gold Creek.

Ciezki, from the Buninyong Golf Club near Ballarat, started the week as a five handicapper but ended on three.

In equal second place were Ron Hall (3 handicap) from Port Kembla Golf Club in NSW, Kevin O’Brien (5) from the Federal Golf Club and Thomas Harold (2) from Darwin.

“Last year it was crazy. This year it is just unbelievable,” Ciezki said. “I’m absolutely over the moon. I played miles better this year than last year. I’m glad all the things I tried to do over the year have come together virtually for this week.”

Ciezki seemed to have undergone something of a golfing enlightenment since winning in 2012.

“I had a lot of really bad rounds for half a year trying to get things right and it has all come together in the last month which was really good,” he said.

“So I am able to stand up on the tee and not worry or wonder where that ball is going to go, just stand up there and go ‘bang’ and there it goes.”

“I bought a new driver, tried a few shafts, tweaked my swing again for the 18th time, bought a new putter—that didn’t work too well today but mostly it did for the week—and basically got my body right. I saw a few blokes to get my body right so I didn’t have to carry bad backs and bad shoulders and a bad neck.”

Ciezki was certain of one thing, that he’ll be defending his title at the next championship in the South West region of Western Australia in November 2014.

“I have to defend it,” he said. “Two in a row, going for three, I don’t know if it has been done before, I’m going to have a crack at it.”

The golf swing won’t be changing though.

“I won’t be tweaking the swing again. No, the swing is good, leave the swing alone. The clubs are good, leave the clubs alone – maybe just work on my putting a little bit,” he laughed.

Tournament director Paul Gringas from the ACT Region Veteran Golfers Association was delighted with the success of the week and happy all the hard work put in by the many volunteers involved had paid off.

“It is worth all the effort, it always is,” Gringas said. “You meet some wonderful people, and it is played in such a good spirit, that was the thing.

It was wonderful to be out there spotting and seeing them enjoying it so much.”

The tournament moves to the beautiful Bunbury area in WA in November and tournament director Mike Elliott and his team have already demonstrated they are well on top of the planning and organisation of what should be a highly successful and innovative event.

One thing is certain; there’ll be lots of characters involved. As someone said at the event this year, when golfers get to 55, they always have a story to tell. • Brian O’Hare is the founder and editor of Australian Senior Golfer, an online magazine providing news, information, entertainment and resources for golfers aged 45 plus. www.australianseniorgolfer.com.au

cover story

Will 2014 be the Year of The Roo? While 2013 marked a banner year for our Aussie professionals on the various tours, 2014 presents an opportunity for even more success. Inside Golf’s Richard Fellner and David Newbery highlight some of the notable players to keep an eye on this year.

AUSTRALIAN golf fans had a lot to cheer about in 2013. With a Masters green jacket finally in our grasp, a World Cup title secured on home soil, a rare Triple Crown opportunity in the offering and multiple wins on the various tours around the globe, Aussie golfers were (finally) back in the headlines on a regular basis.

It brought back memories of the Golden Ages of Aussie golf, when names like Thomson and Norman helped inspire golfers both young and old to hit the links in an attempt to emulate their new golfing heroes.

Luckily for us, 2014 is looking to be even more exciting, as our top golfers are hitting some great form, while some young up-andcomers are proving that they have what it takes to compete on the world stage.

Here are just some of the golfers who could make headlines this year, from the established favourites to some of the debutants on tour.

Adam Scott: What more can be said about Australia’s highest-ranked golfer? Were it not for a single bad shot/bounce on the 72nd hole of the Australian Open, Scotty would have completed a remarkable Triple Crown and stamped his name on the most successful Aussie Summer of Golf in history. Scotty is without doubt the Golden Child of Aussie golf at the moment, and the exciting thing is that he seems to be just warming up. His game is nearly flawless, and (most importantly) his confidence is sky high. They say “success breeds success” so Scotty will be approaching the Majors this year with vigour, enthusiasm and maybe a hint of a “try and catch me” attitude.

Jason Day: Hot off his World Cup victory in Melbourne, Day will be firing on all cylinders this year. Last year he came agonisingly close at both the U.S. Open (T2) and The Masters (3rd), which was similar to his 2011 campaign (second place in both), so Day will be looking to get over the line in 2014. As his “New Father” duties will likely have settled a bit at home (his son, Dash, was born in 2012) Jason may finally have his Day this year.

Peter Senior: While he didn’t win on the Champions Tour in 2013, Senior’s name was always on the leaderboard, within striking distance of the top spot. The 31-time winner worldwide knows how to find the podium, and—as he told Inside Golf last month—his solitary goal for the year is to chalk up a “W”.

We feel that 2014 might be the year when he finally gets over the line, and if that happens early, expect the success to snowball throughout the year.

Stacey Keating: One of the nicest and most talented players around, Keating is another Aussie who knows how to win. A breakout 24

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

year in 2013 saw her win the back-to-back tournaments on the Ladies European Tour (LET) – the Tenerife Open de Espana Femenino and the Lacoste Ladies Open de France. She also won the Women’s Victorian Open against a strong field. Last month, Keating earned a “Conditional” card on the LPGA Tour courtesy of a high finish at Q School, so expect to see her name on even more leaderboards in 2014.

Karrie Webb: Arguably Australia’s most successful golfer of all time, this World Golf Hall of Famer has racked up 39 wins on the LPGA Tour, 55 professional wins and a record eight victories at the Ladies Masters (tying Sam Snead for most victories in a single tournament). Webb will be going for her ninth Ladies Masters title this year, and we reckon she’ll be in the running for more trophies this season.

Marc Leishman: With four top-10 finishes last year and eight finishes in the top-25, Leishman lurked on the leaderboards throughout the year.

His T4 finish at The Masters was his best for the year, closely followed by a T8 at The Players Championship. He has the skill to shoot the very low numbers, yet this was offset last year by the occasional blowout round. If he can string four good rounds together, he can definitely find himself on the podium on any given week.

Marcus Fraser: Another extremely welcoming and friendly individual, Fraser saw himself on the leaderboards throughout the year, but like Leishman, was plagued by the occasional blowout round. Leading after three rounds at The Italian Open, for example, Fraser scored a disappointing 74 on the Sunday (with three bogeys on the last four holes) to finish T8, three shots back. His best finish was T2 at the Ballantines Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Brett Rumford.

John Senden: Every year, we expect great things to come from this talented ballstriker. And every year, he seems to miss out by the slimmest of margins. Tee to green, he is as good as any player out there. But his putter has been the one missing piece of the overall puzzle. If Sendo can get his flatstick to cooperate in 2014, then he could (finally) have a banner year. Having earned a spot in The Open Championship courtesy of a solid finish at The Australian Open, we expect him to deliver when it counts.

Matt Jones: Here is a very good player who hasn’t won yet on the US PGA Tour but is grooming himself to get there. The 33-year-old is in the prime and form of his life and enjoyed career-best numbers in the FedEx Cup ranking (32) and finished 2013 47th on the money list with $US1.7m. A strong driver of the ball, he made 18 cuts from 24 starts. Aside from driving,

Jason Day and Adam Scott Jones, who finished in a tie for sixth at the Australian Open, has a solid all-round game.

Matt Griffin: Griffin was a member of the 2012 Golf Australia Rookie Squad. In 2013, the 30-year-old has added polish to his game winning the OneAsia Tour’s Order of Merit with $US257,480. The natural left-hander, who plays golf right-handed, rose to the top of the OOM after winning the SK Telecom Open, a co-sanctioned Korean Tour and OneAsia Tour event. That was the Melbourne native’s second victory on those tours after winning the Charity High 1 Open in 2012. His confidence is skyhigh, however, he will need to undergo minor surgery for a niggling wrist injury. He says his goal in 2014 is to do well in the European and Japan Tour co-sanctioned events in an effort to get status there. He is an excellent golfer, one of the rising stars of the game.

Aron Price: Price won the 2013 NSW Open with a 19-under par total, which didn’t really come as a surprise as he has US PGA Tour experience. The 31-year-old played on the secondary Web.com Tour in 2013 finishing 68th on the money list, which was mediocre by his standards. He joined the secondary tour in 2006 and in 2008 won the Livermore Wine Valley Country Championship, which helped him to finish 18th on the money list and win a ticket to the PGA Tour. The Sydneysider played college golf at Georgia Southern University. In 2004, he won the Rice Planters amateur and the Players amateur. Winning the NSW Open will give him the added confidence to establish himself as one of the leading players on the Web.com Tour. With confidence comes winning – watch out for him in 2014.

Nick Cullen: Cullen was a member of the 2012 Golf Australia Rookie Squad. Adelaide-born Cullen played the Canadian Tour in 2010 and the

Peter Senior PGA Tour of Australasia in 2011. He overcame a back injury in 2012, and won the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian Open on the OneAsia Tour and last year captured the Queensland Open, winning by five strokes. He played in the 2012 Open Championship, but missed the cut. A strong iron player, Cullen looks like he is winning the battle with the flat stick. He finished sixth on the OneAsia Tour money list and eighth on the PGA Tour of Australasia money list. Somewhat of a late bloomer, Cullen, 29, has learned to eliminate silly mistakes. If he can stay injuryfree, he could have a good year.

Ashley Hall: The 30-year-old had a strange year in 2013 narrowly missing automatic promotion to the PGA Tour after finishing 27th on the Web.com Tour. His inconsistency cost him (missed 15 cuts from 25 starts). Still, when he did make the cut he did well finishing the year with two back-to-back runner-up finishes. He finished in a tie for ninth at the Australian PGA behind Adam Scott and tied 10th at the Australian Open.

In 2012, the former Victorian PGA champion shot 71-75 at the Open Championship to miss the cut

cover story

Nathan Holman

Marc Leishman

by two shots. If the former mobile phone store worker, who stands at 6’4” (193cm), sorts out his driving accuracy will surely dial in a number of wins on the Web.com Tour.

after the pair played together at the Australian Masters. “Nathan is a really, really, really good player,” Scott said. “I was impressed with him.”

Holman was tied for the Masters lead at the halfway mark and was tied for second going into the last round before fading. He finished in a tied for 14th at the Australian PGA, 15th at the Masters and ninth at the Australian Open.

As an amateur, he was ranked 25th in the world and has an impressive amateur CV with victories at the Riversdale Cup, Victorian Amateur, Southern Open, Master of the Amateurs and the Mandurah Open. Inside Golf played a round with this young superstar recently, and we can attest to his amazing skills and temperament. He is a consistent, confident player, which will give him more chances at winning in the pro ranks.

Bryden Macpherson: Ian Baker-Finch has played a number of rounds in the US with Macpherson and likes what he sees. The 23-yearold has already played in two majors – the 2011 Open Championship and the 2012 US Masters.

Macpherson had a stellar amateur career winning the British and Australian amateur championships, the Dunes Medal and the Australian and New Zealand stroke play titles.

He enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2009 and was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year. A hard worker who keeps fit, Macpherson won an Open Championship spot courtesy of finishing tied fourth at the Australian Open.

Alistair Presnell: Presnell played on the US PGA Tour in 2003 and unfortunately lost his card so it’s back to the Web.com Tour. His biggest thrill was winning the 2009 Moonah Classic on the US PGA secondary tour. At 34, he is arguably entering the best years of his career.

Nathan Holman: At 22, Holman is the youngest of the group and only turned pro last year. Adam Scott summed up Holman best

Stacey Keating Bronson La’Cassie: At 30, La’Cassie earned his card to play on the US PGA Tour in 2014. He got there by finishing sixth on the Web.com Tour’s money list. A University of Minnesota graduate, La’Cassie said he felt comfortable about his chances in 2014. He is a laid-back character and is never rattled because his confidence is high. The key to his success on the main tour is consistency – something La’Cassie needs to find early.

Others on the radar include Tom Bond, Jason Scrivener, Jack Wilson, Matt Stieger, Cameron Smith, Matt Millar and recently-turned

professional Brady Watt. And of course, who could forget multiple winners like Brett Rumford and Scott Hend?

All these players have something in common and that’s a good head on their shoulders and the courage to take their game to the next level.

Some need to do it sooner rather than later as a number of promising amateurs are already making names for themselves playing in pro tournaments. – players like Ryan Ruffels, Oliver Goss, Taylor Macdonald and others.

With such a huge stable of players, Australia is certainly poised for success in 2014. Here’s hoping that we have another banner year for golf! •

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Aussies up and down in 2013

And the award goes to…

Inside Golf celebrates who made 2013 a year to remember Player of the year: Adam Scott edges out Phil Mickelson. Yes, we know Tiger won five US PGA Tour events, but Scott won the Masters, the Barclays, the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters. Phil won the Open Championship at Muirfield and the Phoenix Open and tied for second at the US Open, an event he should have won.

Show me the money: Henrik Stenson claimed a $US10 million bonus when he won the FedEx Cup. The super Swede also won twice on the tour and banked a further $US6.3m. We haven’t seen the best of Stenson, according to his coach Pete Cowen. Could be a major force in 2014.

Best non-winner: Steve Stricker, winless in the 13 events he contested on the US PGA Tour, kept his bank manager happy by banking more than $US4.4m. That’s an average of $US340,000 for every tournament he played.

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

FOR Australians playing on golf’s world stage, 2013 was a contrasting year when it comes to the world rankings.

The year started with three players inside the top-50 – Adam Scott (fifth), Jason Day (37th) and John Senden (38th).

By year’s end, US Masters champion Scott moved up to number two and Australia’s second best player Day jumped to 10th.

Unfortunately, Senden dropped out of the top-100 to 106th.

Australia had eight players in the top-100 in January 2013 and now only five have that honour – Scott, Day, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Brett Rumford.

Leishman moved up 18 places in 2013 to 69th, but Jones was the big mover climbing 368 places to finish the year in 91st position.

The other man heading in the right direction is Rumford, who won twice on the European Tour in 2013 and finished 80th after starting the year in 217th spot.

Former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy continued his slide, going from 51st at the beginning of the year to 118th.

Marcus Fraser dropped from 55th to 103rd while two-time Australian Open winner Aaron Baddeley went from 78th to 184th in the world.

Japan Tour player Brendan Jones dropped in the rankings from 73rd to 130th.

Former Australian PGA champion Greg Chalmers started the year in 64th position and closed out the year in 180th place.

Scott Hend kicked off 2013 in 262nd place and celebrated Christmas in 133th place courtesy of three victories on the Asian Tour.

Brad Kennedy, who plays the Japan Tour, dropped from 141st to 156th and Rod Pampling dropped 209 places to 425th.

The two As, Appleby and Allenby, had 26

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

contrasting years with Stuart Appleby jumping from 376th to 263th while Robert Allenby started the year in 197th place and ended it in 546th spot.

OneAsia Tour Order of Merit winner Matt Griffin moved up 195 places to 281st, Nick Cullen jumped from 287th to 256th, Steven Bowditch up from 616th to 339th and Mathew Goggin from 376th to 354th.

Good news for South Australian fans as Wade Ormsby climbed from 687th to 286th. Other big movers were Scott Strange going from 780th to 246th and Ashley Hall climbed 190 places to 355th.

A number of Australians ended the year on the greasy pole including Richard Green who went from 213rd to 347th, Kurt Barnes 171st to 445th, Cameron Percy 202nd to 311st, Nick O’Hern 257th to 401st, Scott Gardiner 306th to 323rd, Alistair Presnell 335th to 447th and Nathan Green 532nd to 616th.

2012 Australian PGA champion Daniel Popovic crashed to 516th in the world after starting the year in 358th place.

If you’re a Peter Lonard fan skip this sentence as he has dropped to number 854 in the world after starting the year in 683rd place.

One man who went nowhere in 2013 was 2012 New Zealand Open winner Jake Higginbottom. The 20-year-old started and finished the year in 360th position.

Bronson La’Cassie, who is on the US PGA Tour in 2014, rocketed up the ladder and finished the year in 343rd spot after starting the year 718th.

NSW Open winner Aron Price went from 684th to 481st and Jason Norris from 599th to 538th.

Two players off the radar at the start of the year were rookies Jack Wilson and Nathan Holman. Currently, they occupy 405th and 459th spots respectively.

Let’s hope we see more players heading north in the world rankings in 2014, but the big question is, can Adam Scott topple Tiger Woods and become world number one in 2014? •

Rookie of the year: American Jordan Spieth. The 20-year-old had nine top-10 finishes on the US PGA Tour including a win at the John Deere Classic. He finished 10th on the money list with more than $US3.8m. Debuted at the Presidents Cup and won two of his matches when paired with Steve Stricker.

Australian rookie of the year: Nathan Holman. The 22-year-old finished tied for 14th at the Australian PGA, 15th at the Masters and ninth at the Australian Open.

Leaving it late 1: Rory McIlroy winning the Australian Open. He not only waited until December to win his first tournament in 2013, but he left it until the 72nd hole to deny Adam Scott.

Leaving it late 2: Australian Bronson La’Cassie, who rallied late in the year on the Web.com Tour to win the Cox Classic and a card for the US PGA Tour.

I’m okay Jack: Little-known Victorian Jack Wilson won the WA Goldfields PGA Championship as a trainee and finished third behind Adam Scott at the Australian PGA. The 23-year-old certainly impressed Scott with his confidence and bold play.

“We might be looking at one of the next great players from Australia,” Scott said.

Q-School no-show: Australian amateur champion Cameron Smith left in limbo after missing his opening round tee time at the Web.com Tour School.

Pick me, pick me: Jim Furyk finds form in the lead-up to the Presidents Cup when he shoots a 59 at the BMW Championship, but American team captain Fred Couples decided not to pick him.

Biggest shock: Adam Scott not winning the Australian Open and with it the triple crown. A two-shot swing on the 72nd hole saw Rory McIlroy walk off with the Stonehaven Cup. Spanish trick shot: Sergio Garcia’s crazy shot from up a tree in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The Spaniard climbed the tree to hit his second shot backwards and with just one hand. It was the perfect recovery as the ball found the centre of the fairway.

Most improved: Aussie Rebecca Artis won the Helsingborg Open on the Ladies European Tour to move to 15th on the Order of Merit at the time of going to press.

Best senior player: American Kenny Perry edges German Bernhard Langer despite finishing second on the Champions Tour money list. Perry won three tournaments from 20 starts while Langer won two from 24 starts. Perry banked more than $US2.2m and Langer $US2.4m.

Best senior Aussie: Mr Consistency Peter Senior didn’t win on the Champions Tour, but still finished 13th on the money list with $1.15m. Senior played 25 tournaments and never missed a cut.

Best decision: New Zealand’s Lydia Ko made the right call when she decided to join the play-for-pay ranks. The 16-yearold won four professional tournaments while in the amateur ranks.

It takes courage: Former world number one David Duval continues to show courage and belief on the tour. In 2013, he played eight tournaments on the PGA Tour earning $US6210.

That’s $776 per tournament. John Daly, too, keeps plugging away. The two-time major winner played 12 PGA Tour events earning $US43,000 for his work.

An Open and Royal welcome: US-based Victorian Rhein Gibson, John Senden and up-and-comer Bryden Macpherson qualified for the Open Championship in 2014 courtesy of top finishes at the Australian Open. Under new rules, the top three placegetters at the Australian Open, who haven’t already been invited to play the Open at Royal Liverpool, qualify.

Senden finished third behind McIlroy and Scott and Gibson and Macpherson tied for fourth.

Tough at the top: Casey Wittenberg won the 2012 Web.com Tour’s OOM courtesy of two wins. In 2013, he played the PGA Tour only to finish outside the top-125 after 27 tournaments.

So it’s back to the secondary tour for the American. •

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RACV Royal Pines to host amateur final

RACV Royal Pines Resort, the home of championship golf in Queensland, is looking forward to hosting the winning pair from each of the 70 qualifying events across Australia in the final of the Auto Club Amateur Golf Championship.

The finalists receive travel, accommodation and golf costs for the three days from 26-29 March, 2014 to compete at RACV Royal Pines, which proudly hosted the Australian PGA Championship – in November, and is gearing up to host the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters – in February, to be played at Royal Pines for the

25th consecutive year. Both events attract the world’s best players who enjoy the excellent facilities and family-friendly environment at RACV Royal Pines.

RACV continues to invest in new and upgraded facilities at Royal Pines for the benefit of Auto club members and guests.

A brand new Day Spa was opened in December, work on a new state-of-the art gymnasium has commenced and the Conference and Event facilities are undergoing refurbishment. www.acgc.com.au •

RACQ Toowoomba delivers first Suzuki Ace

When 69 year-old RACQ Member Henry Thompson stepped on to the course for the RACQ Toowoomba Golf Club Auto Club Golf Championship qualifying round, he had no idea what was in store.

The 12 handicapper did not let the heavy rain during the first two hours of play hold him back. Henry scored a sensational Hole in One on the 8th hole. Amazingly for Henry, the 8th just happened to be the ‘Suzuki Kizashi Hole in One’ hole for the day.

Club and tournament officials were ecstatic to hear of the feat, the first for the 2014 series, but none more than Henry himself when he was told that he was the first Suzuki Ace in the 2014 ACGC Series.

“Am I the only one? Well I’ll be buggered! I’m glad I’m sitting down, that’s amazing,” he said.

With his lucky shot Henry has more than likely won himself the keys to a brand-new Suzuki Kizashi valued at over $40,000. At all of the ACGC qualifying rounds players have a chance to win the car by scoring a Hole in One. If only one person during the entire series manages the feat, then they will be the

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If a second or third Ace is scored during the qualifying rounds all of the Aces will win a trip to RACV Royal Pines Resort, where they will enjoy the full ACGC Championship Final hospitality and compete in a lucky draw decider for the vehicle. •

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A hit with amateur great Jack Rayner David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

BACK in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, exhibition golf matches were popular and one man amongst the action was former Australian amateur champion Jack Rayner.

Jack, who won the Australian amateur championship in 1955, recalls playing an exhibition match against Gary Player in the mid-1950s.

“I played Gary Player the first time he played an exhibition match in Australia,” he told Inside Golf.

“Gary and Trevor Wilkes played Alec Colledge, who was a Queensland champion, and I at Gailes Golf Club.

“It was the first time anyone had heard of Gary. Anyway, they beat us one-up although I had the same score as Gary – a 70 off the stick.”

In the other match, Bruce Crampton and Frank Phillps played Queensland’s Coogan brothers, Jack and Dick, who were gun amateurs at the time and played off about +4.

As one of Australia’s top amateurs, Rayner shared the fairways with a number of other big name players including another South African great Bobby Locke and legendary Aussies Norman von Nida and Kel Nagle.

“I played a practice round with Bobby Locke and the Von before the 1955 Australian Open at Gailes,” said the 83-year-old, who has broken his age numerous times.

Locke went on to win the Australian Open beating joint runners-up von Nida and Kel Nagle.

“Bobby and Gary were very complimentary about my game and I thought about turning professional, but at the time there wasn’t the

JACK THE FIRST: Jack Rayner poses at home beside a full-page article recognising his amazing feat in 1955. money and the interest in golf,” Jack said.

“Golf didn’t really take off until well after that.”

At the same time, Virginia Golf Club president Bob Wilson, too, encouraged Jack to consider a professional career.

“He put a proposal to me to take over the pro shop because Alex Gemmell was about to retire,” Jack said.

“I asked what the apprentice wages were and it was £4 and 4 shillings in the first year and £5/4 in the second year.

“I thought about it, but I had just got engaged and I was in the rag trade making about £26 and thought there was no way I could live on that.”

So, Jack, who was off +1, remained in the amateur ranks and played pennants for Virginia Golf Club for 35 years. He played off scratch or

better for more than 20 years.

Many years later, he came up against rising star Greg Norman.

“He was 17 years old and I was 42 when he beat me 3/2 over 36 holes,” said Jack, who became the first Queensland-born player to win the Australian amateur when he beat Sydney’s Barry Warren 4/2 at Royal Queensland.

Jack first became interested in golf while caddying to earn pocketmoney. His sporting ambitions were in cricket and he played for the Queensland schoolboys team as a spin bowler.

“I was a caddie from the age of 13 and joined the club in 1947,” he said. “I was 17 when I joined Virginia only because I couldn’t join before then.

“There was an old so-and-so who hated juniors and wouldn’t allow them in the club.

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“I won the RQ Cup in 1948 and the Indooroopilly Jug in 1985 when I was 55 years old, which was pretty good for an old bloke.

“So I had a good run between those years,” said Jack, who plays off 11 at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. “I also won the Queensland Close and the Brisbane amateur.”

Jack left the rag trade to work in the airline industry and represented Ansett in the World Airlines Championship.

“I played with Kel Nagle and Doug Bachli.

We had some great trips to Europe, the French Caribbean, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea.”

I ask Jack who was the best player he played against.

“Bobby Locke,” he said without hesitation.

“Gary (Player) was brilliant, but not the first time I played with him.

“Because he wasn’t a big man, he would almost throw himself off his feet on his follow through.

“The year we played at Gailes I remember he duffed three wedges from 130 yards. I couldn’t believe it because in those days I could play alright.

“The following year I went to watch him at Coolangatta Tweed Heads and the difference was unbelievable.

“He told me he had gone back to South Africa and practised eight hours a day – rain, hail or shine.

“He would put the ball within a metre or a couple of metres of the hole from any distance with the wedge.

“He was also a brilliant putter, bunker player and a super bloke.” • FOOTNOTE: Virginia Golf Club made Jack Rayner a life member after he won the Australian amateur.

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Golf music to Louis’ ears David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

SOUTH Australian champion golfer Louis Fuller is on the comeback trail.

After a five-year hiatus from the game that saw him represent Australia alongside Jason Day, Fuller this year dusted off the golf clubs and hit the fairways.

In 2005, he and Day helped Australia win the Clare Higson Trophy with a 12-6 win over New Zealand.

Fuller and Day were the only undefeated players in the event.

But the talented golfer and musician quit the game in 2007 citing fatigue.

“I had burnt myself out at a young age,” the 26-year-old said. “I was burning the candle at both ends working hard on my golf by day and playing music at entertainment venues at night.

“I was going backwards and needed a rest.

“So I went up to Broome (WA) and ended up skippering a pearling boat for 12 months.

“When I came back my music started to take off and I recorded a couple of albums called Living the Dream and Around the Next Corner.

“I took five years off golf and now I am ready to play again.

“Over the last 12 months I have been taking the game seriously and loving it.

“The results have been slower than expected, but I will keep working hard to achieve my goals.”

Fuller says he has set a number of short- and long-term goals.

“I would like to win the Australian amateur and the Australian Open and one day I want to play at Augusta,” he said.

“I have to keep those dreams alive because I know they are realistic. I just have to plod away at the little goals and they will turn into bigger ones.

“My other goal is to be a role model like Adam Scott and Jason Day. “I am a people person who loves entertaining and giving.

“I do that through my music and if I can do it through golf and people enjoy it then that would be a bonus.”

Fuller, originally from Streaky Bay on the west coast of South Australia, first picked up a guitar when he was six and started writing songs when he was nine – the same time he was introduced to golf.

“As soon as I hit a golf ball at the age of nine I fell in love with the game,” he said.

“We moved to Adelaide when I was 12 and that’s when I started taking golf seriously.

“I love the challenge because mentally it’s the toughest sport.

“It’s so rewarding when you get consistency and do well in a tournament,” said Fuller, who also won the Aaron Baddeley Junior and the World Junior (under-18).

“You appreciate people that do well because you know how hard it is.

“Everyone who plays golf goes through tough times, but it’s the people who persist, have the belief and patience who succeed.

“I have an opportunity to do it again so I’m going to have a crack at it and give it a good go.”

Fuller told Inside Golf his biggest supporter was his wife Kristen.

“Kristen is not a golfer, but she is so supportive and believes in me 100 per cent. She is amazing.

“If I didn’t have her support I wouldn’t be able

to chase my dream of becoming a professional golfer. It’s nice to have her by my side on this journey.”

Fuller recently travelled to Victoria to contest the Dunes Medal, a national trial event.

I ask the singer/song-writer/guitarist if he takes his guitar away with him.

“Yes,” he said. “I have been staying with a few of the other players and we end up strumming and singing every night.”

He’s even written a golf song, which is on his first album.

“The song is called Fade Away, which is about the highs and lows,” he said.

Fuller, who plays off scratch at Royal Adelaide, is back doing what he loves – playing golf and music.

“My golf is getting there and I’m plugging away with my music gigging every weekend.”

Currently, Fuller is entertaining music lovers at the Watermark Hotel in Adelaide, at weddings and private functions.

Perhaps one day he will make it to the US PGA

SING AND SWING: Musician and top golfer Louis Fuller has picked up the clubs again after break from the game.

Tour where he can play golf alongside Bubba Watson, Ricky Fowler et al by day and jam with them at night.

Now that would be living the dream. •

Jason Day born to be a star JASON Day was destined to be a world-class golfer, according to Louis Fuller.

The pair were good friends when they represented Australia against New Zealand in the Clare Higson Trophy – a junior event.

“Jason was number one in Australia at the time and I was number two or three,” recalled Fuller.

“But he played golf at another level compared to me and the other boys in the

team. He was phenomenal.

“We were both 16 at the time and I thought then that he would one day become the number one in the world.

“He had the maturity of a 30-year-old and the confidence of a 15-year-old.

“He had so much talent he could do anything.”

At the time of going to press, Day was ranked 11th in the world.

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

31

people

Scott’s got star power Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

It’s no secret that Adam Scott has emerged as arguably Australia’s biggest sporting star and the treatment he received during and after last month’s Australian Open at Royal Sydney did more than just confirm it.

I’m not talking about the 20,000 fans I waded through during the final round to catch a glimpse of the showdown between Scott and his charging playing partner Rory McIlroy.

Big crowds are a given when such a mouthwatering clash is at hand.

But what convinced me that Scott had reached sporting super stardom was a conspicuous sign on a parking space next to Royal Sydney’s front clubhouse entrance, which read ‘Adam Scott.’

My first thought was that it was a bit of a slap in the face of Peter Senior who was defending his national title from the year before.

Surely the defending champion is afforded a personalised parking space over a man that finished in a tie for 14th the same week?

Senior was perhaps already offended after he’d been shrunk and faded into the background of the tournament’s promotional banners – not to distract eyes from the blown-up trio of Scott, McIlroy and Jason Day. I pondered whether Scott’s parking spot was just Golf Australia giving him all the creature comforts necessary to boost his chances of capping the ‘triple crown’ of Australian golf – a feat only achieved by Robert Allenby in 2005.

Obviously it wasn’t enough.

A shock two-shot swing at the 72nd hole

allowed McIlroy to breeze past Scott and into the winner’s circle for the first time in 2013.

But a more plausible explanation for why Scott had a space to park his Mercedes is that he’s on the cusp of becoming the biggest name in Australian golf history and tournament organisers want to make sure he never considers not returning to play in Australia.

Some of you might say any suggestion Scott could become our greatest ever golfer is a slap in the face of Greg Norman, Karrie Webb and even Peter Thomson.

But the reality is that Scott has broken Australia’s US Masters duck, is closing in on Tiger Woods’ world number one ranking and

at the age of 33 is smack-bang in the middle of that early thirties bracket considered by many to be a golfer’s prime.

Scott can do no wrong and when he does, the Australian public will now accept it.

The Queenslander suffered countless misses with the putter on the Sunday at Royal Sydney, watched his four-shot lead fritter to one, chose to chip from behind the 72nd green when putter probably would have sufficed and went home without the Stonehaven Cup when the opposite outcome had seemed a foregone conclusion.

That series of events was arguably worse than his four straight finishing bogeys to relinquish the 2012 Open Championship.

Granted the latter was a major, there wasn’t nearly the same public castigation of Scott’s play in the harbour city as there was following his efforts at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

There were still the odd cries of ‘choke’ at water coolers around the country but we can excuse those less educated golf fans.

They didn’t realise Scott’s overzealous approach to Royal Sydney’s final green was precisely the type of aggressive play that had seen him shoot an opening round course-record 62 and build a commanding 54-hole lead.

Most fans are now cutting Scott some slack.

They understand he was probably exhausted from coming so close to the ultimate in Australian golf while simultaneously being at everyone’s beck and call as he paraded the green jacket and signed countless autographs for four arduous weeks.

His win at Augusta has done more than just feed the Australian public’s appetite for its own golfing star.

It’s educated us as well. •

Sarkies captures NSW OOM NEIL Sarkies has capped off a successful 2013 season by claiming the NSW/ ACT PGA Piranha Order of Merit.

The 44-year-old was the standout performer on the NSW/ACT Pro-Am circuit in a year highlighted by three victories.

The Sydney-based touring professional finished outside the top-20 only on five occasions and was frequently among the top finishers throughout the season.

Peter Welden finished runner-up to Sarkies in the Order of Merit standings.

“It was a solid year for me without any real flashes of brilliance,” Sarkies said.

“I guess my game has been sharp enough all year to keep me at the top and the form never really got away from me.”

After winning the SIFA Samoa Open, Welden came within whiskers of the lead, but the glimmer of hope was short lived as Sarkies began his incredible run of success.

Past winners of the illustrious award include Matt Millar and Martin Dive.

“It’s a true sign of consistency and a great feeling to know you have outlasted your opponents all year,” Millar said.

The 2013-14 Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am season is now underway following the John Newell Mazda Pymble Pro-Am and the E-Z-GO Bankstown Pro-Am. The NSW/ACT PGA Pro-Am series delivers events to every corner of the state along with events in Vanuatu, Samoa and Tahiti. For information on how to get your club involved in hosting a Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series Event, contact the NSW/ACT PGA Division. •

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tour talk

with Steven Jeffress

Grinding through the summer (Photo: Jason O’Brien)

Steven Jeffress ed@insidegolf.com.au

I write to you from Japan knowing that by the time this goes to print I will either have regained my Japanese Tour Card or will be using January to plan my year in Australia and on the OneAsia Tour.

After what was a great week at the Australian PGA Championship, I headed to Royal Melbourne for the Masters. I flew down early Monday morning so I could fit a practice round in as the last time I played here was in 2004. The course was great, with quick hard greens – there aren’t too many courses you jump out of bed to play, though Royal Melbourne is definitely one of them. The Melbourne weather didn’t let us down, 12 degrees, blowing and raining though after another practice round on Tuesday and a practice hit on Wednesday, I was ready to go.

The first round I shot 5-over, which was very disappointing as I had been playing well.

Due to my good finish at the PGA, I really thought that my good play would continue.

How wrong I was! After some grinding on the range after day 1, I had 2-under-par the second day to make the cut on the number at 3-over. A pair of 74’s left me at the tail end of the field, T54 which was disappointing but you have to shake it off and look forward to next week, the NSW Open at Castle Hill GC. We all know about Sydney traffic and the challenges with getting around. So I decided to fly back to the Gold Coast and drive down to Sydney in my own car, which certainly helps with having independence. Anyway, I played in the Pro-Am on Wednesday as my practice round, followed by a 1-over 73 on day one, a couple of shots outside the cut line.

Due to a large amount of rain, the course was soft, therefore the scores were low

which surprised me as Castle Hill is one of the toughest courses in Sydney. My tee time was 12:20pm on Friday but due to storms we didn’t get out on the course until 6.30am Saturday morning. I finished my 2nd round at 2-under-par 70 which had me at 1-under for the tournament, again making the cut on the number.

We didn’t get out for our 3rd round until 5.20pm that afternoon due to another rain delay, but we only managed to play 9 holes, which meant we were back at the course at 5:30am the next morning, for a 6:30am start.

The final two rounds of 71 and 72 left me at 2-under-par and a tie for 43rd. It was a long week with all the storm delays especially when on Saturday I hit my first warm up ball at 5.45am and my last shot at 7.45pm.

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Luckily I was staying with my sister Joanne, her partner Mark and her young boy Flynn, so it was great being able to see them for a somewhat relaxing week.

The following week was the Australian Open at Royal Sydney and arguably the pinnacle of the year. The Monday was my birthday, though there was no time for a relax day.

The course was in great condition, perfect fairways and the greens were running at a nice speed. After a couple of practice rounds and making plenty of notes on the course, I was ready to go when my Thursday afternoon tee time came around.

An opening round 75 once again left me outside the cut line with some work to do. 69 the second day had me at even par for the tournament and sitting in T39th position. A

third round of 75 pushed me back and after starting birdie, birdie in the last round, I signed for a 76, which left me at 7-over-par, in 59th position. Once again, very disappointing but it may have been a little fatigue, as this was my 8th tournament week in a row and not something I would have normally done. The crowd each of the past 4 weeks were amazing, though, and you can certainly feed off that energy. All of the players were talking about it getting back to the ‘Norman Days’ and we certainly have Adam Scott to thank for that.

From the 1st tee to the 18th green we are all competitors though we all know the game is bigger than any individual and promoting our sport in spectacles like at Royal Sydney is exactly what we are here to do!

I now have one more event to go – the Final Stage of Japanese Tour School. This stage consists of four rounds, a cut then two more rounds. So with practice rounds, I need to put 8 good rounds of golf together. I would like to be hitting the ball a little better, but unfortunately you can’t decide when you want to play well. Due to the amount of golf I have been playing, I am just going to have to make sure that my mind is in a good place and that I keep my eye on the prize, which is a top-30 finish. If I am successful in doing so it will give me full status next year in Japan, where I will get a chance to play 20 to 25 events for an average of $1.2 million a week.

I look forward to reporting in next month’s article some great results at the qualifying school and who knows, regular updates from Japan in 2014. • Editor’s note: At press time, Japan Tour School Qualifying had just finished, and we are happy to report that Steven finished 18th, joining Stephen Leaney (20th), Matthew Guyatt (22nd) and Adam Bland (30th) as the Aussies graduating to the Japan Tour this year. Well done, boys!

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juniors

Girls get a GIG in the ACT Since June 2013 Jack Newton Junior Golf, Federal Golf Club, and Woden Valley Football Club have partnered in the delivery of a ‘Girls in Golf’ Pilot Program.

Female representation in golf accounts for approximately 20% of the total participants in the game. The idea of developing a program to encourage girls to be involved in golf has been a priority for JNJG. The program endeavours to give girls the opportunity to learn and experience golf in a fun, social, non-confronting environment.

As well as girls’ participation in golf, the benefits include social development and personal development, leading to an increase in positive self-perception. All these factors are key objectives in encouraging young people to be more active, have a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing, now and into the future.

Golf may not be something the girls will continue with during their childhood and teenage years, however it is something they will be able to come back to later in life. There are many opportunities for girls to travel throughout Australia and overseas playing golf.

Earlier this year JNJG approached Federal Golf Club to host the pilot program and Woden Valley Football Club were offered the opportunity for their players to participate. Through the efforts of Peter Youill, Woden Valley Football Club, and Peter Gray, Junior Promotions Officer at Federal Golf Club, the GIG pilot was established and has continued with a regular and varied schedule.

Eight Division 1, U11 WVFC girls are engaged in the program that has seen them receive golf tuition and game play sessions over a 6-month period at Federal Golf Club.

The sessions occurred during the football

Beach party putting comp

Beach partygoers enjoy the atmosphere at Mount Coolum Golf Club on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

season, and the girls came to golf before playing soccer at 11.30am. The program has included 18 sessions of tuition, assessment and game play instructed by Jason Pavese, PGA Professional supported by Sue Harrison (JNJG) and Peter Gray, Federal Golf Club. The sessions varied from 1, 2 or 3 hours depending on the activity. All equipment was provided and now some girls have purchased their own.

As the program continued, the girls have progressed to hitting shots, chipping, putting, playing modified holes of golf, and finally now are playing on the course.

Jason Pavese and the professional staff at Federal have delivered a varied, interesting and fun golfing experience, the value of which is demonstrated by continued participation by the girls.

The pre-existing athletic ability of the girls and their ability to listen and execute has seen them progress quickly. They have completed two skills assessments in which their competitiveness shone through.

During the pilot the ACT School Girls Golf Team visited and played a few holes, socialised, offered tips and demonstrated for the younger golfers. After the golf they all retired to the clubhouse and shared drinks and muffins which proved to be a very popular activity.

This pilot has not only benefited the young participants, but also their parents, the club and the community, by building strong relationships between groups that may not have ordinarily crossed paths.

To get involved or develop a GIG, contact Jack Newton Junior Golf at www.jnjg.com.au” •

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AN impressive group of 44 golfers turned out at Mount Coolum Golf Club to take part in the club’s beach party social function.

As well as a beach atmosphere and the Blue Hawaiian cocktails, the main attraction was the Beach Putting Competition aptly named the Putting Pentathlon because it was themed around Olympic events – water jump/steeple chase, hockey, cross-country and the sprint.

The putting green surrounds turned into an amphitheatre of colour as the entrants and spectators alike cheered each other on and reveled in the celebrations.

Visitor Marshall Morrison won the Putting Pentathlon with a score of 15. He also scored the only ace of the night.

Jan Porter finished second with a score of 17 followed by Peter Richardson Dianne MacFarlane took out the Bradman Award with a score of 36.

Wayne Porter got into the spirit of the night dressing as a lifesaver. •

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juniors

Green Acres: building for the future MELBOURNE’S Green Acres Golf Club is poised to reap huge rewards in the near future, as it is embarking on a dedicated program to bring juniors into the game.

Following the opening of its state-ofthe-art clubhouse late last year—which has proven to be a hit among members, visitors and guests—Green Acres took the next step to ensure the long-term health of the club: forming a Junior Development Committee, with the major aim of providing continuous momentum for juniors via tuition and competitive events.

The first step in the program included the offering of regular tuition and clinics with Green Acres PGA Teaching Professional Andrew Kloprogge. This resulted in a healthy squad of 12 youngsters aged 11-17 years.

This was followed by a series of events to help the juniors experience the thrill of competition. The first of these was the Green Acres vs Kew Challenge Cup, which gave both teams the opportunity to play at competitive level. Fielding a team of six juniors, Green Acres was victorious.

The second event was the 2013 Green Acres Junior Masters. This event attracted a field of 61 junior golfers representing 27 Victorian Golf Clubs from around the Melbourne region.

The players were greeted by heavy winds buffeting the course throughout the day, yet the scores showed they were more than comfortable with the prevailing conditions.

“We were thrilled with the attendance and would hope to attract 100 competitors in next year’s event at such a wonderful course,” said Felicity Beaumont, Board Member and Chair of the Junior Development Committee.

Green Acres Juniors under tuition of Andrew Kloprogge The third event was the five-week-long Junior Pennant in October. Green Acres hosted three of the home-and-away series and had a squad of 10 youngsters.

While the Junior Development Program is still in its infancy, the program is already beginning to reap some significant benefits.

15-year-old Camberwell High student Tom Allan and his young brother Jack—both new members of the Green Acres Junior Development Squad—had only been playing golf competitively for a few months. It wasn’t long before Tom started notching some wins on the board, becoming the youngest and only junior qualifier in the Lexus Cup, which saw more than 73,000 golfers battle for a chance to play at Royal Melbourne the week before

the Talisker Masters.

Indeed, mixing it with the best at Royal Melbourne was a far cry from catching the tram to Wattle Park with dad’s old clubs! And all in just six months.

The boy’s father, Doug, has been a Green Acres member for 30 years so it was a big commitment but natural progression that his boys become members.

As such they have flourished with the support of members and staff and the tuition of Andrew Kloprogge and Andy Curtis, Golf Operations Manager.

“They have helped us learn things like how to develop a pre-shot routine, making intelligent on-course decisions and how to improve our short game,” Tom says.

Tom and Jack have both been selected for the Junior Pennant Team so all the practice and tuition is paying off.

The next priority for Green Acres is to extend the Junior Development program and take the game to school level, as the club is in very close proximity to many of their leading schools.

“Given my teaching background we will strive to make it a success and introduce new, young participants to this wonderful game,” Beaumont said.

With such a healthy backing of club members and the board, the junior program at Green Acres is certain to ensure a long and healthy future for the club itself.

More: www.greenacresgolf.com.au. or call 03 9859 1294. •

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Open Day Thursday 9 January 2014 Concord Golf Club has been selected to host the Match Play rounds for the Men’s & Women’s NSW Amateur Championships

TEE TIME CosT InClusIons

9am shotgun start

FoRMAT

We’ll be running an individual Stableford and scratch singles, with a 2BBB Stableford in conjunction. There will also be the usual array of nearest the pins and long drives up for grabs.

$125 per player The cost covers the green fee, competition fee for prizes and BBQ lunch

All bookings are to be made via the Golf Link website and the “Open Days” section Concord Golf Club | Tel: 02 9743 6111 | Fax: 02 9743 5808

www.concordgolfclub.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

37

juniors

Stars take aim at junior golf One is a former LPGA star. Another played Test cricket for Australia. Together they are a power couple helping to grow the game of golf from the grassroots, writes DAVID NEWBERY BUILD it and they will come.

That might well be the mantra for Rachel Hetherington and husband Greg Ritchie who are busy building a junior golf club in northern New South Wales.

The junior golf club, arguably the first of its type in Australia, is an ambitious project headed

by Ritchie, the former Australian Test cricketer.

A junior committee made up of kids will run the club with the support of Ritchie and some of the youngsters’ parents.

Ritchie unveiled his plans during the launch of Junior League Golf, a new teams’ competition designed to attract more kids to the game and the latest junior sport craze to hit America.

“Next door to the Rachel Hetherington Golf Range we have a lovely nine-hole golf course called Abbey Golf Club,” said Ritchie who, with Hetherington, operate the golf range at Cobaki Lakes in northern New South Wales.

“I said to Rachel ‘with your permission I’d love the opportunity to create a junior golf club’.

“I am a long way down the track with the junior golf club, which will have its own constitution.”

The Cobaki Lakes Golf Club will break from tradition and give over Saturdays to juniors.

Wayne Grady will be the club’s patron.

“Saturday afternoon will be explicitly for juniors,” Ritchie explained.

“We will have a timesheet so parents can go online or come down and book a time for their child.

“There will be a golf competition every Saturday afternoon for kids in our region. The membership fee will be $30 a quarter and the competition fee will be $2.

“They can come to the club because it’s their club and play seven days a week for a $2 green fee – unlimited golf.”

Ritchie said the Abbey golf course was the perfect venue for youngsters learning the game

understand them saying kids can tee off between 6am to 6.45.

“If we want kids to love golf they have to play on a course that is their size.

“They can come in and say I had 42 today when they know if dad has 42 it’s a good score.”

It’s obvious Hetherington, whose reputation as a skilled teaching professional is growing rapidly, and Ritchie are passionate about junior golf and growing the game.

In fact, it’s a long time since I have heard someone as passionate as Ritchie about junior golf.

“I had a good time playing cricket, but golf is my love, my passion,” Ritchie enthused.

“Rachel does a fantastic job coaching kids. You should see some of the golf swings on these kids.

“It blows me away how far some of the little kids, boys and girls, hit it. It’s brilliant to watch.” •

Did you know?

TEAMWORK: Rachel Hetherington and her team of promising junior golfers. INSET: Greg Ritchie and honing their skills.

“The golf course is short with three par-4s, the longest being 220 metres, which means they can reach it in regulation.

“The longest par-3 is 130 metres.

“When eight and nine-year olds play fulllength courses and get in bunkers and have five or six shots to get out, they lose interest in the game.

“They are playing 400m par-4s and returning scores of 80 or 90 for nine holes. They are becoming disillusioned – it’s just not right.

“So we have taken that into consideration and will have tees suitable for children.

“The golf course is fantastic in that it’s a miniature golf course with water hazards, bunkers and undulating greens, but everything is miniature.

“We are going to establish something that is going to be unique.

“Rachel and I are so committed because we have found a way to get kids back into golf.

“I think that’s important because going through the pathways of some (traditional) clubs is uninspiring.

“Members don’t want two hours blocked off on a Saturday morning for kids.

“They pay a lot to be members and I can

GREG Ritchie wanted to be a golfer first and a cricketer second.

“I wanted to be a golfer more than a cricketer, but dad wouldn’t let me leave school to pursue golf,” said Ritchie, who played 30 Tests and 44 One Day Internationals for Australia.

“The first time my dad took me to Middle Ridge Golf Club in Toowoomba was when I was 12 and all I wanted to do was play golf.

“I wanted to leave school in grade 10 to go and have a go at golf.

“I wanted to burn my cricket bat.”

Still, Ritchie is now living the dream – playing golf on a regular basis and helping grow the game from the grassroots.

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clubs

Golf lands at Brisbane Airport David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

It’s 10 o’clock in the morning and you are required to check out of your Brisbane accommodation, but your flight isn’t until 2pm.

You have four hours to kill and are at a loss as to how to while away the time.

You certainly don’t want to sit around the airport getting high on caffeine.

Instead, why not head for Golf Central BNE – a state-of-the-art golf entertainment complex right beside the airport.

It’s the latest addition to the growing list of new developments appearing in Skygate’s thriving business, food and retail community.

The $5 million complex features an expansive 50-bay undercover floodlit driving range, grass tee hitting zone, chipping and putting greens, TaylorMade Performance Lab (only the ninth in the world), coaching centre, pro shop and retail store, as well as a café and a fully-licensed bar.

James Cooper, whose company Avid Sports operates the facility, was quick to point out the facility was not just for the estimated 19 million people who annually pass through Brisbane Airport.

“The facility hasn’t been set up just for them but it is part of our market,” he said.

The range, which is 300 metres long and 130m wide, is an innovative design with multiple targets as well as the distinctive feature of split fairways at the 150m mark.

“This will replicate actual golf holes and provide players with a unique and memorable golfing experience,” Cooper said.

“People looking to learn the game or simply want to refine their skills will be well catered for.

“We have a purpose-built Golf Coaching Centre that will be manned by up to six PGA professionals all using the latest in technology to improve people’s golf games.

“The TaylorMade Performance Lab gives golfers of all levels the opportunity to have golf clubs perfectly fitted to suit their swing and physical capabilities,” he added.

“The state-of-the-art lab provides the public with access to a fitting system that has, until now, typically been reserved for the very best tour players in the world.”

The short-game zone offers golfers the opportunity to hone their short-game skills with targets ranging from 25 metres to 90 metres.

It also includes two putting greens and a separate chipping area that replicate all shots golfers may face on the course from low hanging lips to a steep face greenside lie.

At Golf Central BNE, families haven’t been forgotten.

There’s an aviation themed 18-hole mini golf

Better Than Par for the Course Sitting high on the hill, with spectacular views to the ocean overlooking Bonville International golf course, fantastic weather and only 10 minutes drive to the airport, this architecturally designed multi-level, 5 bedroom residence on 10 acres is waiting for you to come home.

• Formal lounge room, formal dining room or the informal family/lounge/dining area • Stainless steel appliances including a gas cook top, wall oven, range hood and dishwasher • Abundance of caesar stone bench space leading to two outdoor entertaining areas • Five generous sized bedrooms with three bathrooms • Ducted air conditioning throughout • Emphasis on the views, designed to catch both the sunrise and sunset • Three car lock-up garage and under house storage room • Benefits of the Golf Club membership and use of their tennis courts and pool

Please visit our website at www.reod.com.au and then call Peter Stone on 0413 111 621 to arrange an inspection.

course, which has been designed by Arizonabased mini golf experts Castle Golf.

“Our classic mini golf championship course has been designed with every level of player in mind and offers a range of holes that vary in difficulty and terrain,” Cooper said.

“Each player will begin their journey with a scorecard e-ticket and hole-by-hole travel through the 18 destinations that most frequently visit Queensland each year.”

The 90-seat bar and café, which overlooks the chipping green and mini golf course, is the ideal place for golfers to enjoy a refreshing beverage and meal. The gourmet cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven-days-aweek and is perfectly suited for a quick halfway bite or a decadent sit-down dinner.

Cooper says the facility caters for a variety of people including employees of the 420 businesses located in and around the airport, local residents, visitors and DFO shoppers.

Still, it’s the perfect venue for people running early for a flight or for those whose flight has been delayed.

“We have worked very hard to develop a

high-quality facility that will appeal to lots of people,” he said.

“We think the mini golf will be quite funky and kids will want to come and have their birthday parties here and it will appeal to the corporate sector looking for corporate days and product launches.

“I can envisage mums going shopping at DFO and dad going off to hit some range balls while the kids play mini golf.”

Centrally located within the Skygate precinct of Brisbane Airport next to the Novotel Brisbane Airport and DFO shopping complex, Golf Central BNE overlooks the Brisbane Airport and CBD skyline making it the perfect venue to host parties and other events.

And in an Australian first, the facility and 18hole mini golf course is disability friendly and accessible.

Golf Central BNE is open from 7am to 10pm on Mondays, 7am-11pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from 7am-10pm Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, telephone (07) 30877800 or go to www.golfcentralbne.com.au •

BELMONT GOLF CLUB Lake MaCqUarie Amateur Championship 23rd - 26th JanUarY Enter online at www.golfnsw.org • Constructed on pure sand, Belmont is the best “all weather” course in the area.

• Home of the world-ranked Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship. The annual amateur tournament internationally recognized by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews • PGA AAA rated Professional – lessons, clubs, buggies & carts, practice fairway, putting greens and warm-up nets available. Contact the Pro Shop for full details (02 4945 2058) • Monday and Friday Social Golf Special – 18 holes for two people in a cart - $100.

Bookings essential phone the Pro Shop • Corporate Golf – Large or small, packages tailored to suit your requirements.

• Weddings – Overlooking our picturesque links golf course.

Our function centre is the ideal location for your intimate wedding.

• Memberships open all categories. No joining fees, special rates for Intermediates and Juniors PGA AAA rated Professional - lessons, clubs, buggies and carts, practice fairway, putting greens and warm-up nets available. Contact the Pro Shop for full details (02) 4945 2058 801A Pacific Highway, Marks Point NSW 2280 Ph (02) 4945 4348

www.belmontgolf.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

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new gear

NEW GEAR

Callaway X2 HOT FAIRWAY WOODS

Callaway took the best selling fairway woods in the world in 2013 (the X Hot) and made them better. The face is the engine of the new X2 Hot Fairway Woods. The new Hyper Speed Cup face has a thinner, more robust 455 Carpenter Steel face cup design, which delivers faster ball speeds all over the face for longer, more consistent distance (X2 Hot is five yards longer than X Hot). An improvement was also made to the Internal Standing Wave, as weight was moved lower and forward to precisely position the centre of gravity for more consistent launch and spin as hits move away from the centre.

Available in mid-January.

RRP: $289.99 Available in 3-, 4-, 5-, 7-, 9- and 11-wood The “Deep” line of X Hot Fairway woods will be available in 2Deep, 3Deep and 5Deep (all in April) www.callawaygolf.com

Callaway X2 HOT DRIVER

The new X2 Hot Driver features a slightly darker colour and a new Hyperspeed Face and the Advanced OptiFit Hosel (the same one found on OptiForce driver) making it easy to adjust both loft and directional bias. The Callaway R&D team has optimized the face pattern in the X2 Hot to perform in places where higher handicappers most frequently miss the centre—low on the heel and high on the toe—making the face hotter in a greater overall area. The X2 Hot comes in three distinctly shaped clubheads, all of them 460cc. All three clubhead shapes are available in 9-, 10.5- and 13.5-degree heads and each can be adjusted one degree down and two degrees up. The Aldila Tour Green Shaft—a Tour-grade, aftermarket shaft that has an approximate after-market value of $299 in Australia—comes standard in the new X2 Hot Driver.

The X2 Hot Pro Driver is 440cc and comes in 8.5 degrees (plus adjustability) and has no crown graphics.

Available in mid-January.

RRP: $429.99 www.callawaygolf.com

Callaway X2 HOT HYBRID

The X2 Hot Hybrid line is a game-changer for Callaway in 2014, making a quantum leap forward in hybrid performance.

For the first time in a hybrid, Callaway engineers used the same Hyperspeed Face Cup found in the X2 Hot Fairway Woods and Driver. Using a 455 Carpenter Steel face allows the face to be thinner, lighter and more robust. The by-product of that is driver-like ball speed performance and better gains on off-centre hits, even low on the face. The X2 Hot Hybrids also have a redesigned, tour-inspired head shape with a deeper face that gives them a true hybrid look which may even appeal to traditionalists who’ve never before used hybrids.

Available in mid-January.

Standard - 3, 4, 5, 6 hybrids Pro - 16, 18, 20, 23 degrees RRP: $259.99 per club www.callawaygolf.com

New 2014 SuperStroke Flatso Putter Grips

Callaway X2 HOT IRONS

Even with the success of the X Hot Irons in 2013, Callaway engineers decided to redesign this line when they created the X2 Hot Irons. The 2014 version has a new shape with a visible Deep Central Undercut that increases the rate that the face flexes and rebounds, delivering increased distance. A stabilizing arch at the back of the clubhead stiffens the upper part of the face for more distance and also creates a great feel despite the ultra-thin face. Perimeter weighting increases the sweet spot, making the X2 Hot Irons easier to hit and more forgiving. In addition, the hottest spots on the X2 Hot Irons are low on the face, where most high handicap players make contact. All these features add up to this iron being five yards longer than its predecessor.

Available in mid-January.

RRP (8-piece set): $999.99 steel set; $1099.99 graphite set Offering 5-PW (3, 4, A, S, L available) www.callawaygolf.com 44

January 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Callaway X2 HOT PRO IRONS

The new X2 Hot Pro Irons feature a totally new shape from the 2012 X Hot Irons, with a thinner top line and a longer hosel. A thinner, hot face creates a larger sweet spot for increased ball speeds and more distance. More weight is positioned lower in the head for a solid, heavy feel and there is more offset in the long irons as the set progresses, making them easier to hit.

A central mass bar at the back of the irons keeps the centre of gravity low and delivers a more consistent sound and feel.

The stabilizing arch reinforces the ultra-thin face and creates exceptional feel even at high ball speeds.

Available in mid-January.

RRP (8-piece set): $1,099.99 steel (3-PW; A-wedge available) Also offering 4-PW set (3, A available) www.callawaygolf.com

SuperStroke Golf ’s NEW 2014 designed Flatso Putter Grip features parallel grip technology and a patent pending flat front which enhances shoulder rotation and inhibits wrist action promoting a more consistent putting stroke.

SuperStroke Grip features super lightweight, high tech PU materials along with Cross Traction technology providing improved feel and tackiness.

The innovative design allows for even pressure distribution in both hands and the new 2014 range will include the Flatso, Flatso Mid and Flatso Ultra, so there is a size to suit every player’s needs.

Available in early 2014 TigerShark Golf Australia: 0407 173 332

new gear

Cobra BiO CELL IRONS

Cobra BiO CELL DRIVER

Unmatched distance with unmatched personalisation. Easily tune your driver to maximise distance in 5 super fresh colours.

MyFly8 Technology features eight adjustable loft settings to maximize distance and manage trajectory for different weather and ground conditions. SmartPad Technology delivers a square face at address regardless of loft setting.

New BiO Cells combined with E9 Face technology removes weight from the crown and face and repositions it low and back to deliver higher MOI. This provides a larger effective Sweet Zone and delivers longer and straighter drives on offcentre hits.

RRP: $379

Cobra BiO CELL FAIRWAY

Easily maximize your distance from the fairway, the rough, and even the tee. MyFly8 Technology with SmartPad features eight adjustable loft settings to maximize distance, manage trajectory, and optimize yardage gaps. High Strength Face Insert: Forged thin, shallow high strength steel face inserts (Driver like construction) enables more face flex for faster ball speeds, longer distance, and higher trajectory. New BiO Cells combined with E9 Face technology removes more weight from the face and crown to reposition it low and back to deliver the best combination of a super low CG and high MOI. RRP: $249

Tungsten-Fueled Distance and Forgiveness. Long and midirons feature heavy tungsten in the heel and toe for more forgiveness. Short irons feature tungsten centred behind the hitting area for added distance and control. Perimeter Undercut: Largest unsupported face of any COBRA iron creates more face flex at impact for increased ball speed and extreme distance. Bio Cell and E9 Face Technology enables more discretionary weight movement that creates a low CG and high MOI which provides more distance and extreme forgiveness RRP: Steel $99, Graphite $119

New Short Game Gear by PNP Golf

TaylorMade JetSpeed Metalwoods

The JetSpeed metalwoods are a breakthrough line that includes the company’s first driver to feature Speed Pocket technology.

In addition, JetSpeed fairway woods and Rescue clubs combine an enhanced Speed Pocket, an extremely low-forward centre of gravity (CG) location and extremely light overall weight to promote faster swing speed, clubhead speed and ball speed for more distance.

The driver also incorporates TaylorMade’s Loft Sleeve Technology which allows golfers to easily adjust their loft +/- 1.5° to find their optimal launch conditions.

RRP: JetSpeed Driver: $389 per club. JetSpeed Fairway: $289 per club.

JetSpeed Rescue: $259 per club www.taylormadegolf.com.au

The RAKE SAND WEDGE’s patented dual bounce rails have 26° of rail bounce and 10° of sole bounce providing space for the sand to flow through for effortless acceleration and stability, enabling bunker shots to pop out easier and more accurately.

The RAKE LOB WEDGE has 15 of rail bounce and 0° of sole bounce to comb through thick rough as if you were hitting from the fairway.

The POINT N PUTT SX1 PUTTER targets golfers who struggle with putting alignment by making aiming easier, less stressful and more accurate. It was proven to improve the alignment of a majority of golfers by SAM PuttLab, golf’s authority on putter testing.

RRP: RAKE Sand/Lob Wedge: $169 Point N Putt SX1 Putter: $189 FREE SHIPPING in Australia with coupon code INSIDEGOLF www.pnpgolf.com/au

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

45

seniors

NATIONAL

NSW

Aussies fare well in 2013 Asia Pacific

A large contingent of Aussie golfers enjoyed the 2013 Asia Pacific Senior Championship in Vietnam

Denis Dale

ed@insidegolf.com.au

Despite losing the much prized Teams Championship to regular rivals New Zealand by a narrow three strokes, the official six-man Australian senior team still performed very well in the 2013 Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship held in late November at the Montgomerie Links GC in Danang, Vietnam.

This prestigious tournament is held every year for senior amateur golfers across the Asia Pacific region. Best performed of the Australians was Queenslander Peter King who had rounds of 74-76-69=219 on the testing par-72 layout.

His final-round 69 included seven birdies and

saw him finish in outright second place behind top quality English visitor John Ambridge who won with rounds of 72-73-70=215. King also won the 60+ Age Division trophy.

NSW senior Denis Dale (74-71-76=221) finished in third place in the overall individual championship and was the winner of the 65+ Age trophy. Another NSW senior, Jack Parker, was a very clear winner of the Over 70 division with rounds of 78-80-83=241 while yet another Aussie senior, Peter McGregor (76-78-81=235) with a handicap of 8, was the runner-up in the 54-hole Handicap Championship.

The championship was a great success and the 15 Australians who made the trip thoroughly enjoyed the event, the wonderful Montgomerie Links course and the hospitality

offered by all. With most then adding on a week or more for travelling around Vietnam it was a golfing holiday all will remember.

The 2014 Asia Pacific Senior Championship will be played at the Discovery Bay Golf Club in Hong Kong in late November. There is sure to be another strong contingent of Australian senior golfers and their partners making the trip so stay tuned for more information during 2014.

In the week prior to the Asia Pacific a very exciting finish took place in the 2013 ACT Senior Amateur Championship at Gold Creek, Gungahlin Lakes and Federal Golf Clubs. At the end of the 54-hole competition on the three courses there were three NSW senior golfers tied on totals of 224 - Vince Clark (73-80-71), Denis Dale (76-76-72) and Greg McKay (7574-75). Clark was awarded the major trophy on countback.

Clark’s final round at Federal was spectacular, starting with four birdies in the opening five holes. From there he held on well to finish with a one-under-par round of 71 that eventually gave him the title. This was a well-deserved win and the first Australian Senior Ranking title for the 67 year-old Clark after quite a few years of trying.

Denis Dale was awarded the second place prize with Greg McKay receiving the third prize.

These two seniors had played with Richard Greville in the final group and engaged in a tense battle all day unaware of the great round

by Clark a few groups ahead. Fourth place went to the always consistent Greville after rounds of 74-76-77=227 while Paul Maslen (83-7374=230) and Stefan Albinski (75-77-78=230) were a further three strokes away in a share of fifth place. www.ausoom.com

Bockman and Dale share Order of Merit The 2013 NSW Order of Merit competition counted each player’s best 14 scores from a possible 41 events held during the year. The 2013 competition finished in a dramatic tie between Twin Creek’s golfer Denis Dale and Long Reef senior Ross Bockman.

Bockman had held the top position for most of the year through strong performances that rewarded him with five wins and eight more Top-5 finishes from 27 starts. Dale had recorded six wins and nine more Top-5 placings before his joint victory in the 54-hole ACT Senior Amateur Championship gave him the exact number of points he needed to join Bockman in the lead.

With Dale not available for the final two events it was then all up to Bockman who needed a top two finish in either of these season-ending events to claim the title alone. When this did not happen both he and Dale had quite amazingly finished the season tied on 2200 points and became the first ever joint winners.

This was the first title win for Bockman while it was the seventh for Dale in the eight year history of the NSW Senior Order of Merit competition.

Third position went to The Lake’s senior Vince Clark who finished the year with some great golf including joint first place in the ACT Senior Amateur Championship before winning the title on a countback.

The Over 65 year’s competition was won by Denis Dale from Vince Clark. Third place went to Kooindah Waters senior Paul Day who recorded a good win in the Cumberland Seniors plus 9 Top 10 finishes. The Over 65 competition has become a very keenly contested event and as even more of the “young seniors” move past this age milestone a very strong competition is ensured for 2014. www.golfnsw.org.

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STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB www.strathfieldgolf.com 84 CENTENARY DRIVE, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135 OFFICE : 9642 0326 • PRO SHOP: 9642 8642 • EMAIL: office@strathfieldgolf.com.au 46

January 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

seniors

VICTORIA

Jackson wins second Bachli Trophy

Michael Jackson, winner of the 2013 Victorian Senior Order of Merit The Victorian Senior Order of Merit is played for the Doug Bachli medal and in 2013 each senior player counted his best 8 results from a possible 26 events played throughout the state.

The winner was Yarra Yarra member Michael Jackson who started the year

strongly and then played consistently well to hold the top position for the remainder of the year. Overall Jackson won five events from 19 starts: Keysborough, Cranbourne, Commonwealth, Metropolitan and Coomealla Seniors.. This is the second time the 71-year-old Jackson has won the Bachli trophy and the ageless champion will be a strong chance to win again in 2014.

Second place went to Kingston Heath member Gordon Claney who totalled 1623 points from only 8 events. Claney charged home with victory in the final two events of the year, the 36-hole Melbourne Senior Classic and the 36-hole Moyne Senior Classic. This strong finish saw Claney pass quite a few golfers to claim the runnerup position.

Third place went to the talented Chirnside senior Ray Walker who recorded three wins from just 11 starts – the Lonsdale Seniors, the Alpine Senior Masters and Cobram-Barooga Seniors.

Michael Jackson was also the winner of the Over 65 Doug Bachli Trophy - a competition he has now won five times.

Runner up was Pat Giles (Goonawarra) with third place going to Rossdale senior Tony Hyde. Graham Bone (Commonwealth) was the winner of the Over 65 Handicap Trophy.

The 2013 Victorian Handicap trophy once again went to Yarram senior Ignatius Duivenvoorden who made it three titles in a row having also won this handicap competition in 2011 and 2012.

Duivenvoorden had a comfortable margin over Eastwood’s Freddy Barton with Eddie Kloprogge from Creekside finishing in third place.

Golf Victoria has announced that the 2014 competition will see a significant change to the points system with results from the best 15 events counting towards the trophy. www.golfvic.org.au .

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Beaumont takes the top prize Mt Gambier’s John Beaumont has been the leading senior golfer in South Australia for quite a few years and has regularly represented Australia in major senior golf tournaments. Playing more at home this year he has now added the 2013 South Australian Senior Order of Merit title to his list of awards.

Beaumont played in six of the seven events with a win at Flagstaff Hill and second place in the South Australian

Senior Amateur Championship, his best results. With a total of 648 points he was a clear winner over Mount Osmond golfer John Hill.

Hill also played in six events recording a win at his home course in April and then playing consistently in all remaining events. His total of 483 points placed him ahead of Kooyonga’s Tony Timmins with a total of 425 points.

Timmins had three top ten finishes in

his six starts and was the leading Over 65 golfer ahead of Tony Hyde (Rossdale) and Chris Whitford (Glenelg).

This was the second year for the South Australian Senior Order of Merit competition and it is has grown in both the number of events and participants each year. www.golfsa.com.au

QUEENSLAND

Box wins inaugural Senior Order of Merit 2013 saw the introduction of an Order of Merit Competition for senior men and women throughout the state. In a very ambitious program Golf Queensland scheduled events ranging from Cairns in the north to Coolangatta-Tweed Heads in the south.

The inaugural winner was Windaroo Lakes’ senior Trevor Box who had an amazing record of 11 wins and 6 topthree places from his 24 starts. Box certainly enjoyed his golf as he took the opportunity to follow the circuit up and down the Queensland coast.

He was a deserved winner of the overall title with a victory in the 54hole Gold Coast Seniors Championship being the highlight of a memorable year.

Second place went to Headland golfer Brian Kesby who also won recognition for playing in the most events during the year (29). With seven victories Kesby claimed the silver medal ahead of Indooroopilly

Trevor Box and Brian Kesby receive their trophies from Golf Queensland Director, Carmel O’Keefe senior Ian Read who totalled 1435 points from just 11 starts that included three victories.

Queensland was the first state to organise a state-based Women’s Senior Order of Merit competition and in this inaugural year the competition was

very keen between the state’s best lady senior golfers.

The winner was North Lakes’ golfer Wendy O’Connell, who won 12 of her 14 starts to clearly claim the top prize.

Second place went to Josie Ryan from the Headland club with a total of six wins and five seconds from her 14 starts.

Third place went to Rosie Glasson from Twin Waters who had two wins and six second places from her 11 starts.

Golf Queensland also organised a season-long Handicap Competition for both men and women with the major prizes going to Brian Kesby and Josie Ryan.

Prizes for Over 65 Super Senior golfers were also awarded with the woman’s winner being Nudgee member Roberta Henry from Maryborough golfer Anne McCleery. The Super Senior Men’s prizes went to Indooroopilly’s Ian Read with Dave Morrison (Tweed Heads – Coolangatta) in second place. www.golfqueensland.org.au www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

47

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instruction

Video lesson:

How a student changed the way I teach – Part 3 All it takes to send you into a spin is one “Fundamental’ misunderstood and you will want to give up on your journey on “The Path to Better Golf.”

Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

STEP 3 A balance between theory and doing is also very important when it comes to being able to demonstrate correct technique. It is too easy to rush the learning process and try to move forward to a new “Fundamental” before the one you are on is easy to demonstrate. It was recently that I discovered that students need to drill-in “one hand chip shots” – both left and right-hand to discover the need for hips and hands to work together for a solid and consistent strike on the ball. Trying to hit “Chip” and “Pitch” with two hands on the club is much easier when the student understands and can demonstrate these shots “one hand only.”

IN this month’s issue I would like to share the differences between how we approach teaching a student today and what was the norm prior to 1992.

LESSON FORMAT Prior to 1992, lesson times were normally set at 30 minutes, with few lessons booked in at one hour or more. Clinics were for one hour and numbers of students ranged from eight and more per session Today I know that when a golfer wants to improve and they can see an organised path to follow; they see the need to have a coach oversee their training for more than 30 minutes.

Workshops of one to four hours are ideal for not only gaining the technical “know how” but also the valuable practical application to gain a feel for the swing from putt to chip, to pitch, to bunkers, to full swing.

Once a golfer has come to the realization that learning this game of a lifetime is best done with a Golf Coach at your side, consistent improvement is possible.

How I Teach Before 1992 and the advent of “PUSH” I would take each student as they came in for their 30-minute lesson and ask them what they wanted help with in their game. 90% plus would want a lesson on their full swing. I would proceed from there and go about handling their problem, with many balls being hit in the process. After all, the student wanted to “FIX” their slice/hook/putting/bunker play, etc and we both wanted to see the proof with ball flight.

Usually I could get the student hitting well on the lesson tee before the lesson ended.

48

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Today when the student is willing and wants long-term results combined with understandings, we set a plan to follow.

One of the amazing discoveries that I came across way back in 1992 was that there is a technology on “How to Learn” and “How to Teach” When I went to school I never came across the subject “How to learn” – possibly the most important subject that I should have taken and yet it was not readily available for me during my school days. Today the Khan Academy has much of the “How to Learn” principles woven into their thorough Online Primary and High School curriculums. (Google “Khan Academy” for more.)

Now with a deeper understanding on the process required for long-term results we can look at the simple steps needed to be taken.

STEP 1 Start with learning the Concepts behind hitting a golf ball in the air, straight and with power.

QUESTION: To hit the ball up into the air, should the clubhead be travelling through impact a) level to the ground b) on the upswing c) on the downswing?

Many golfers are unsure. Answer here: https://vimeo.com/53163889 When we have either a missing or wrong Concept, there is a major blockage in our longterm progress.

STEP 2 Understand the basic fundamentals through “action definitions” (see The Basic Fundamentals Defined at www.crokergolfsystem.com) If we have a word such as “Impact” with doubt as to what this means in golf, then we are more than likely to be weak in building a solid strike on the ball.

STEP 4 It is critical to a) have all the steps and b) not progressing to the next step until you can easily and correctly master the current step. Doing it easy is a major key for long-term results!

Prior to 1992 I had no appreciation of the process and the need to follow a thorough and logical path with correct drills at each step.

Happy Holidays and may 2014 be a great year for you on and off the golf course. • Test-drive Module 14 of the Key to Golf Quick Start Course and gain a real insight on how easy it is to improve your golf swing and game. Visit: https://keytogolf. com/Subscription. (Use the referral code “ktginside” to get a $19 discount.)

Peter Croker has been a PGA member since 1971 and has given lessons with his Croker Golf System to professionals including vijay Singh, Arnold Palmer, rocco Mediate, Fred Funk, Olin Browne, and Bob Charles. Based at the Golf Science Centre in Cheltenham, and the Mornington Peninsula, he delivers school instruction, individual lessons, and has an “Online Lesson Program.” www.crokergolfsystem.com/Academy/view-your-swing.html

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instruction

Why do friends tell each other not to have lessons?

Tiffany Mika

tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au

Recently, one of my newer clients returned to the game after a number of years off the golfing scene (due to work and family commitments).

She is back into the swing and enthusiastic to take on what golf can dish out to her.

She joined a golf club so she could practice, play competition and meet new people. She even mentioned to a member that she was going to sort out a golf teacher to help her get back on track and play consistent golf.

Now this is where I find it interesting…a woman who has had many years playing golf said to her: “don’t have too many lessons!”

This is not the first time I have heard this comment.

Golf is one of the most technically challenging sports, yet many people don’t think they need to take lessons for golf. Some golfers even believe that if you have lessons it can wreck your golf game.

I don’t think so!

Quite a number of golfers have taught themselves—and are very proud of the fact that they have never taken a lesson. Yet their golf game, their handicap and their consistency is very limited. If these golfers then

50

decided to take a few lessons, the teaching professional would suggest some changes to their technique to really benefit their game in the long term.

Unfortunately, the golfer who had the lesson may think that their swing or technique has been wrecked and now they can’t play. In their minds, it’s the teaching pro’s fault. But in reality, the golfer had developed a particular habit in their golf technique that was there for years, and the teaching pro simply corrected it. In correcting the technique, it becomes a new technique for the golfer, who therefore struggles with it. So the golfer then goes through an adjustment period.

The issue here is that most golfers don’t stick with the new technique taught; they don’t understand that it will take time to learn a new technique, so there will be some pain and frustration involved along the way. Of course, it will be frustrating to go from a particular technique that you have been performing for years to learning something new, so it is going to take some time.

I have had people come to me for an annual golf lesson and expect me to fix everything that they have developed in that past year. These golfers expect it to be changed within the hour and they then continue along their way (reinforcing the not-so-good habits).

They won’t go and work on it. They expect that I have waved a magic wand

January 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The benefits of a group lesson: • You share the lesson (and the cost) with others • You get to meet new people • You can have lessons with your friends • You are all working on the same technique together, can help and support each other

over them and that’s it, they are fixed forever or at least until the next year.

What we forget as adults is that we have to learn too! Just like the kids do.

Remember when you were growing up, you took lessons for music, sport, school, etc.? When we become adults we just expect to be able to do a sport or even a musical instrument correctly even though we have never taken a lesson, yet the expectation is there that we should be able to do it, because we are all grown up!

We have to go through the learning phase if we are approaching something new such as golf. We have to take lessons so that we know exactly what we have to do.

You don’t need aspirations to be a professional golfer to have lessons, but for enjoyment of your game and to be able to play the way you would like to play (i.e. consistently).

There are two options for lessons: private lessons and group lessons.

The benefits of a private lesson: • You have the teaching professional all to yourself • You can work on the parts of the game you feel are necessary • You have the teaching pro watching over you and assisting you in developing your technique 100% of the time • The lesson is geared all about assisting you to take your game to the next level

Research says that it takes anywhere from 21 to 28 days to form a habit. This is just forming the habit. So, if you are learning a particular technique, it is going to take you that period of time to form the new technique (it depends on how much time you are willing to give it.)

In order for that habit to be ingrained, research indicates that it takes 13 weeks. So, realistically, it is going to take about 90 days for that new technique that you have learned to be ingrained—that is if you work on it consistently and diligently.

So should you take lessons? Well, if you want to enjoy your golf, then the answer is: absolutely! •

Tiffany Mika is the Golf Teaching Professional at Bayview Golf Club in Mona Vale. Contact her at tiffany@ theladygolfteacher.com.au. Start shaving strokes off your handicap today with the free instructional online lesson. Find out how at www.theladygolfteacher.com.au

nutrition

Is a single type of food destroying your golf game?

Bret Kennedy ed@insidegolf.com.au

This month we’ll talk about nutrition, the nervous system and how sometimes the issues you have with regards to pain are not always physical, but can be the culmination of the things that you eat.

As a Metabolic Typing advisor, I look at the things your body runs well on, the things that make you optimally burn your food as “fuel”, and the rate at which you convert that fuel.

Let’s look specifically at how the food you eat affects your Autonomic Nervous System.

Effects on the Sympathetic Nervous System In times of hunting and gathering, there was a specific need for our bodies to shut down every Non-essential working bodily function in the event that your life was threatened or in danger.

This response is known today as the “Fight or Flight” response.

This is a Sympathetic Nervous System Response.

Why is this so important to us?

The picture with this article shows you how the SNS attaches to different organs. The green lines attaching themselves to the spine on the left are the nerves. These nerves then ‘innervate’ different organs of the body. As you can see there is a lot of innervation going on with a hierarchy.

How are these things important to our pain?

The SNS has the ability to “turn on” or “turn off” different organs in your body. The best example of this is the heart. You can see from the picture that there is a nerve running on the left-hand Sympathetic side to the heart, and also a purple nerve that runs on the right hand ParaSympathetic side. When the Sympathetic side stimulates the heart, the heart rate increases, which pumps more blood around our body at a faster rate, getting it ready to ‘fight or flee’.

If, on the other hand, the ParaSympathetic nervous system

stimulates the heart, the heart rate slows down, calming it and reducing its workload to be in a more restful and relaxed state.

The two nervous systems work synergistically with each other, to keep your body in a constant state of balance. If your food intake is contradicting what your body needs as a fuel mixture, then you could be shutting off your digestive system by allowing your body to continually think it is in a fight or flight situation, which increases the amount of stress hormones pumped through your body, and eventually your body decides that it can’t take the constant barrage of stressors and shuts down. This can be the in the form of a cold, chronic pain, inflammation, constipation and many more things.

From the picture you can also see that there is an innervation line from the lower back directly to the digestive system. If you look at the space of L1 L2, T10-T12 those innervations are directly related to function of the large intestine, the small intestine, the kidneys, the bladder and the genitalia. Now something to be very considerate of, your digestive system is the engine room for

breaking down most of the food and water that you consume.

It is in this system that nutrients are distributed into the body and corresponding areas necessary, or they are excreted when not absorbed. If this area is inflamed, the process of absorption is hindered, meaning you could be eating a relatively healthy diet but not getting all of the nutrients that are needed for a balanced, homeostatic body.

Here’s a great analogy of inflammation: If you had just hurt your wrist, and it had become swollen, or inflamed, would you then like it if someone place their hand around your wrist and squeezed? The answer would be no. That is exactly what is happening when you have an inflamed gut (intestinal tract) and you eat something that is going to inflame it even more.

Using an elimination diet, where you go back to bare minimum foods and live without Gluten, Dairy, Coffee etc, for 2-3 weeks, and then one at a time re-introduce certain foods, is a great way to see if your body is reacting to that food. You don’t have to have an allergy for a food to cause you major problems. You can have a slight intolerance to the food which is enough to set your gut into hyper drive, sending pain signals all over the place, and it is all just that one or two foods you are eating.

It’s important that we understand how our bodies function and that our current rate of evolution has not allowed us to adapt to even 1/4 of the new foods, additives and preservatives that we are constantly using in our diet.

The human genome changes .1% ever 10,000 years, and yet we have created thousands upon thousands of artificial, synthetic and un-natural food additives and processes. It is physically impossible for our bodies to cope and detoxify everything we are putting in.

If we take our diet back to primal beings, and eat right for our Metabolic Type, then our health will increase and our disease will decrease.

The choice is yours. • Bret Kennedy’s “Golf Fit Pro” helps golfers get their bodies fit and ready for a long life of playing golf. He can be contacted at bret@ functionfitpt.com, or via www.functionfitpt.com/golf-fit-pro

2014

www.insidegolf.com.au | December 2013

51

fitness

When a good belt is no good Richard Nizielski richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

Chances are, if you are using your local gym you will have seen someone in the gym wearing a lifting belt whilst working out.

Most of the time the belt is worn when squatting, dead lifting or in other exercises where a heavy weight is being lifted.

A lifting belt is worn to provide extra stabilisation to the abdominal wall, giving the area something to push against. This added security around the abdominal wall increases the anterior pressure and thus helps to stabilise the spine, creating a more rigid torso.

You might think “great, the more stability in the torso, the more I will be able to lift and the stronger I will become, right?”

So, is a lifting belt necessary?

Well, essentially no! And, in the long term, it may even be detrimental.

Constantly wearing a belt can cause decreased strength development in abdominal muscles.

Electromyographic research has found that there are lower levels of muscle activity in abdominal muscles when a belt is worn while lifting.

The muscles that would normally keep the abdomen stabilised are inhibited when a belt is used, which could result in weaker abdominal muscles in the long run.

Most bodybuilding or Olympic lifting experts agree that a lifting belt is only really necessary when lifting a weight 90% or more of your “one repetition maximum” (1RM).

But, let’s face it, to swing a golf club it is not necessary to have the strength of an Olympic weightlifter. Having good technique and working on areas where there are deficiencies is far more important than getting that personal best for the one rep maximum in the squat or the dead lift.

Golf fitness training should be holistic in that it develops the body’s strength, flexibility and stability in a manner which enhances the ability to perform the golf technique more efficiently.

So wouldn’t it be better to learn how to stabilise and increase control of the deep abdominals?

The deep abdominal muscles are the body’s own lifting belt. By learning to engage these muscles and understand how these muscles work to stabilise the torso, it will be far more beneficial to your golf fitness training, golf game and daily activities.

Core stability is not hard to learn. A good Pilates teacher can help you learn how to engage the lower abdominals. Many Sports Physiotherapists incorporate the use of the

ultrasound machine to help with understanding how to engage the deep abdominals.

Once you have the concepts of deep abdominal engagement, it can then be incorporated into the exercises you are doing in your golf fitness program.

I have also included a link to my YouTube video, which shows what neutral posture is and how to engage the deep abdominals. http://youtu.be/5USqizTE2Xw Using a lifting belt will allow you to lift heavier immediately, but overall if your intention is to be a better golf player, then take the time to develop the areas of the body which need improving and will help you in the future.

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

Eastern GC wins a trio of awards The 2013 Clubs Victoria Achievement Awards were held recently at the RACV City Club and it was a sensational night for The Eastern Golf Club team.

The club, which is no stranger to taking home the hardware at these events, took the top gongs for Excellence in Club Branding and Marketing; Outstanding recruitment processes, employee workplace and Club induction programs and ongoing commitment employee training for business and personal development; and Club-wide commitment to sustainability, environmental best practice and ‘green’ initiatives within the current Doncaster site and future Yering site.

“These awards are a testament to the ongoing excellence our team and the continued support of the Clubs Board of Directors and members. Our future is bright and our Club is humbled by the recognition we have received by our industry peers,” said Benjamin Telley, General Manager. •

Keep up with us online!

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

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mind

Getting your golfing goals in place for the New Year Mat Howe

ed@insidegolf.com.au

This article is dedicated to helping golfers of all levels get the best out their game for 2014. In order to do this you will need to examine a few things from what you did last year and put in a time investment of around 30 minutes to sort it all out. At the end of it all I suggest you should have a couple of sheets of paper with some great ideas that you can refer back to if you get lost on your golfing progress throughout 2014.

To help you understand the format a little better we will use an example golfer called Keith for the first section to give you an idea of some possible answers you may write.

Wise folk say that to get where you want to go you need to know where you have been. On your first bit of paper I suggest you assign the heading to 2013. Let’s go through 5 questions where you will find some keys that will lead to improved performances in the upcoming year.

Q1. Did I have any golfing goals at the start of the year? How close did I get to achieving them? (If you didn’t have any goals in place this year write in why that was the case.)

Golfer Keith: I didn’t really set any goals in 2013, I just kind of went with the flow and found I stayed about the same level most of the year except in winter I got a little worse.

Q2. What were the top 3 things that helped or prevented me from achieving my golfing goals in 2013?

Golfer Keith: 1) Lack of direction from the start, 2) Not enough time dedicated towards getting better, 3) Buying too many new drivers!

Q3. How well did I practise in 2013? (Sessions per week on average/quality/specific things accomplished?)

Focussing on mastering a single shot (like a low punch through a small target) can be a more measurable “New Year” goal that just whacking range balls with a driver.

Golfer Keith: I played about twice a week and did some practise probably only once a month! When I did practise I just went to the range and hit drivers at the guy driving the golf ball retriever.

Q4. What were the major learning breakthroughs I achieved last year?

Golfer Keith: 1) For the amount of time I put into golf I actually do want to get better. 2) Swinging harder doesn’t really help my game.

Q5. What are my top 3 golfing highlights of the year?

Golfer Keith: 1) Shooting 5 under my handicap one day. 2) Figuring out how to hit a nice draw more often than not. 3) Not throwing my golf clubs

in the creek.

Ok, so now we have a bit of a framework to launch into 2014. Using your mind properly means having a simple purposeful plan that you feel is doable yet challenging. So grab a new bit of paper and let’s get some solid thinking happening.

Q1. What are the main things I want to achieve this year with my golf?

Q2. How can I prevent the main obstacles from stopping me achieving my goals?

Q3. What can I do this year to take my practise and training to a whole new level?

Q4. How can I speed up my learning and development this year?

Q5. What system do I have in place to measure my progress as the year rolls along?

Put these valuable bits of paper up somewhere where you can see them each day. I suggest that each week you check in with yourself and see what you have been up to and find out whether you are still on track or have fallen off the focus boat!

Many golfers find goal achievement easier with someone else holding them accountable to what they want to do. You could also employ this tactic and hire a coach or a friend. I always like to include something that golfers can use in their next round of golf to help their mind game.

In relation to this month’s topic of goal setting you could aim to set a goal of hitting a certain amount of shots with a single focus. Very often when we are trying to do two things at once in golf we stuff up in a major way.

In the mental side of golf there are many different categories other than goal setting such as: - focus, confidence, trusting, persistence, desire, self-talk, belief, preparation, imagery, arousal control and finding the zone. I hope this has helped you get into a better frame of mind for your golf in 2014. •

Mat Howe is a Golf Mind Coach with a degree in Sport Psychology and has mentally coached golfers from the international professional playing standard through to beginners. If you have never had a mental coaching lesson before, you may find it more practical and helpful than what you had first imagined. Coaching can be done over the phone and clients range from 14 – 80 years old. Introduction sessions are $55 and last for around 30 minutes. Phone: 0410 695 605 mhmgolf@yahoo.com

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tournament preparation

Getting ‘tournament ready’ for the Golf Australia Interstate series Richard Woodhouse richard@kdvsport.com

Leading into the Golf Australia Interstate Series the emphasis on the athletes is to get into a “competitive ready” mind space.

The week at the Interstate series is not only physically demanding but also mentally challenging, dealing with the highs and lows that come with competitive golf.

When looking at a 12-month cycle we look to break the year into four distinct phases; Preparation phase, Pre – Competition phase, Competition phase and Transition (rest).

When in each of these different phases the type of practice will vary with the emphasis on achieving the goals set out in each phase.

In reference to the phase we are discussing here; Pre–Competition, we are looking for outcomes based around solid repetitive routines. In this phase we are conducting very limited technique work. The technique, physical and mental ground work has been completed in the preparation phase and now a system of maintaining high-quality practice and shot selection development is being worked on as the focal point of our training sessions.

Due to this we have to design training sessions to help the players into this mind set months out from the event itself. Benchmark testing in all areas of the game are carried out; utilising Golf Australia benchmarks where the coaching staff can see where the players fit in relation to other players across the country.

One of the benchmarks carried out is a TrackMan combine. The combine gets the players to hit an array of different shots to randomized distances where each shot is scored out of 100pts relative to the proximity of the target. We can see from these results where the player needs to focus on her development, possibly turning a weakness into a strength going into the series. We examine: • A TrackMan Combine score for every yardage • An aggregate TrackMan Combine score • A percentile ranking for each yardage– based on the selected peer group • The average distance from pin at every yardage • The average driver distance and accuracy The players at this level may still carry the amateur badge but the structure we provide

and expectation we look for is that of a professional level. The trainings will always begin and end with warm-ups and cool downs designed by GQ fitness staff in order for the players to be 100% ready for and recovered for their training sessions. Nutrition and hydration is of priority, if the players are fuelling their bodies with the appropriate food and hydration performance will be as its optimum.

The competitive aspect will flow through the session where drills are structured in a way where the player is always scoring and competing. From the player’s point of view, if the drill can be measured they can always strive for success. This success may simply be improving on the previous session, routines,

shot selection and decision-making are all aspects that are of immediate focus.

Unlike the majority of the tournaments during the year the Interstate series is conducted in a Match Play format where the teams play a round robin head-to-head style of golf. In the weeks leading up to it, we will have the team on course playing this format.

The mental approach to match play and the tactical decision-making on course can vary from the traditional stroke play event. The risk-reward decisions may be looked at in a different light if the match is in the balance, these crucial decisions are made easier once practiced. Practice and prepare in the correct way and success will follow. •

Richard Woodhouse is an AAA PGA Professional, TPI Level 3 and the Queensland Women’s Coach.

He can be contacted at KDV Sport Academy of Golf in Queensland. www.kdvsport.com. richard@kdvsport.com, 0415 85 3337

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55

business

For Oates, golf sponsorship is a win-win proposition Andrew Dowling

Peak Performance Golf Australia

As witnessed during our recent Aussie Summer of golf events, golf in Australia remains a sport capable of drawing large crowds. For business it is an enormous opportunity to align themselves with a healthy, high integrity sport that is viewed by millions around this country.

Golf Victoria has discovered an innovative format in their Victorian Open - where the men’s and women’s events are played simultaneously at the same venue on the same course. This has attracted a supporter in E. D. Oates Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s largest suppliers of household and commercial cleaning products.

The CEO of Oates, David Birch, is a golfer. But more than that his business ethos is based on curiosity and an open-minded attitude towards establishing new business opportunities.

Recently, David offered the following candid insights into why his company jumped at the opportunity to sponsor the Victoria Open and to plant their flag in the golf marketplace.

David as a golfer what was the stimulus to commercially align your company with the Victorian Open?

“Last year my immediate impression when I attended the Victorian Open was just how professionally the event was organised and the energy and atmosphere and so many people having an enjoyable time. I saw the potential but it wasn’t until a formal presentation came our way that I could see the fusion between our products, the golf product and the opportunity for sponsorship.”

What do you see as the immediate advantages in supporting this sport and this event?

Oates CEO David Birch with young Aussie sensations Su-Hyun Oh and Nathan Holman.

(Photo: Darren McNamara) “It’s all about increasing our brand equity and brand awareness. Golfers are consumers who for the better part are quite discerning in what they use and buy. We see it in the apparel and the clubs they use and buy. It’s the perfect mix for us. For six days people are going to see our products advertised in the clubhouse, on the course and the driving range. And when they see our products in the supermarket we know that they may well reconsider their next purchase to be an Oates product.”

What can golf really learn from the business sector post GFC with particular reference to surviving in difficult times and industry downturn?

“Be innovative. We would not have sponsored the old Victorian Open. At Oates we look

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to develop innovative products and have innovative methods of marketing them. Golf clubs need to see themselves as commercial ventures and their products need to be of the highest quality. Whether that be the state of the course, the level of service in the clubhouse and the pro shop or the quality of coaching available.

People want quality, and are aspirational in what they want or are striving for in life and leisure, and golf clubs should acknowledge and deliver this as part of their business model. And they need to cater for a variety of membership demographics and price points.”

Apart from greater consumer product awareness and sales, are there other advantages to supporting the Victorian Open?

“It’s a great networking opportunity. Business is about spreading your message into the hearts and minds of as many consumers and business partners as cost effectively and as expediently as you can. If we can develop a series of new networks and further consolidate existing ones for our business through golf then we have really succeeded with our relationship to this event.”

No doubt you will as an organisation measure the benefits against your financial outlay. What would you consider to be a reasonable return? How do you measure this return?

“We are looking to plant our flag in the ground in the first instance to make a statement to ourselves, our business partners, and the consumers. This is a critical achievement and should not be underestimated as a part of being successful in business. From there we can see and measure the change in our brand awareness through sales volume, new customers and, of course, newly-developed business networks.”

What advice would you give to other CEO’s/MD’s who are approached to sponsor or invest in golf tournaments?

“Have an open mind to the opportunity and then take the time to really understand the opportunity that is being presented to you.

Golf Victoria and Thirteenth Beach Golf Links have bent over backwards to accommodate our needs. Nothing is seen as too much trouble and the level and the quality of discussions has been very impressive.

“And being the naming rights sponsor is huge. Our name, logo and products will be introduced to a new audience for the next 36 months and that presents us with a tremendous opportunity to refine our marketing strategy.

It’s a win-win and in business that is the number one ingredient to be successful.” •

events

What makes a club champion?

Who is the golfer who won your club championship and what sets him apart from the rest?

Inside Golf’s David Newbery sought the answers from a long list of club champions.

Do you play for money?

20% 28% 32%

What is your handicap?

5% 15%

WHAT distances the club champions from the mid to high markers and wannabe champions?

Is winning in their DNA or do they just devote more time to practice and playing?

Is there a supportive network who shares the champion’s passion for the game or are they just better players?

Inside Golf recently conducted a survey of club champions to find out the answers to these and other important questions.

While the results do not fully represent every club champion in the nation, they offer a rare glimpse at an exclusive group.

Some of the findings include: • Success on the golf course mostly comes to those who take private lessons from a qualified PGA professional.

• The average age of the club champions surveyed is 25.7. The youngest player surveyed was 16 and the oldest 55. The average age they took up the game is 11. A number of players first picked up a club before the age of three while others only started playing in their 20s-30s.

• On average, the club champions played in their club championships three times before winning. For 10 per cent, winning came on the first attempt while 20 per cent won it on the second attempt and more than 25 per cent were successful on the third try.

• Defending the club championship is much more difficult at metropolitan clubs and far less so at regional clubs where there are fewer low markers. Still, 30 per cent have only won a club championship once. The average number of titles is 2.8.

• Of the golfers surveyed, 80 per cent said they had ambitions of joining the professional ranks.

• Many metropolitan-based club champions spend up to 30 hours practising each week while regional champions practice, on average, once a week. A majority – 80 per cent – play at least one competition a week.

• On the question of marriage, 30 per cent answers in the affirmative. Sixty per cent of

+4

+3

1 or +1 & higher ratch c s +2

Do you carry a hybrid?

70% yes 30% no

How good are the golfers you play with?

High handicappers (19 to 27)

How often do you practice and play?

Once a week

20%

Twice a week

Mid handicappers (10-18)

30%

60% yes 40% no

Low markers (+4 to 9)

50%

20%

10%

3-4 times a week

50%

Most days

20%

those surveyed were single and 10 per cent were in a steady relationship.

• Five per cent of club champions had a best score of 10-under par, 25 per cent (8-under), 25 per cent (6 or 7-under), 20 per cent (5-under) 15 per cent (3 or 4-under) and 10 per cent (1 or 2-under).

• Most club champions (70 per cent) work fullor part-time, 25 per cent are students and 5 per cent work solely on their game (unemployed).

• Surprisingly, 35 per cent of club champions surveyed said they prefer matchplay. The rest (65 per cent) went for stroke play.

If you think you have the mettle to win a club championship, remember, it’s not all beer and skittles.

Most club champions will tell you they are always under pressure to play well.

Oftentimes, jealousy is something club champions have to deal with and there is the pressure to defend the title. Most rivals want to knock a champion off his pedestal and it becomes difficult for a champion to get bets. Then there’s pressure placed on club champions to join ambrose teams or requests for coaching tips.

Most club champions avoid ambrose events preferring the challenge of a stroke round.

Other than that, many say there aren’t too many drawbacks to being club champion.

Still, our survey guineapigs had plenty of advice and tips to wannabe champions.

“Practice hard, play your game, keep calm and stay focussed because every shot counts,” said one champion.

Another said: Don’t stress about it, if it happens it happens.”

And another: “If you are playing a four-round championship, don’t take too many risks. Aim for consistency and dig deep when the going gets tough.”

“Practice, practice, practice and go out and enjoy it and make sure you have fun along the way,” said another champion. •

Phil too good for young guns David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

VETERAN golfer Phil Daley is driving the talented young golfers at Ballina Golf Club in northern New South Wales crazy.

The 61-year-old, who plays off scratch, recently sent a group of young golfers with stars in their eyes back to the practice fairway after elbowing them out of the way to win the club championship.

What baffles the young upstarts is Phil is old enough to be their grandfather and he never practises.

His secret to success is he routinely plays in the club’s Wednesday and Saturday competition and then puts his feet up.

You must be a very good golfer, I suggest.

“I have never said I was a good player, but I 58

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

am a good scorer,” Phil joked.

“These kids out-hit me in the final round of the club championship by about 120 metres on every hole, but I still got ’em so that was good.

“But the kids today are hard to beat because they hit the ball so far.”

Still, Phil, a humble and popular club member, relies on a steady tee-to-green game and is deadly from within 100 metres.

“I am accurate,” Phil said. “All my life I have never been a great accumulator of birdies although the other day I had eight birdies and an eagle, but that is unusual.

“I have lots of pars and it wears those young blokes down.”

Phil’s best score is nine-under-par and he has had one hole-in-one on Ballina’s tough par-3 ninth.

“I swing the club like Ted Ball and have a backswing about as long as his.

“I always said Ted and I could practice in a telephone box.”

It’s been a stellar year for injury-free Phil after a few lean years courtesy of niggling injuries.

“The last few years I played a bit injured and this year I have been injury-free and I reckon that has helped,” said Phil, who won the Ballina Cadet Championship in 1965 and ’66. “Physically, I am better than I have even been.”

Ballina born and bred, Phil left the coastal town 32 years ago to work in the big smoke, Sydney.

“I won championships at Eastlakes and Bonnie Doon, but I came back 10 years ago thinking I had left it 20 years too late to win the Ballina club championship,” said Phil, who is retired after working in sales and managing a pet food factory in Sydney.

“This year started when I went to Sydney and won the Vardon seniors event at Bonnie

NEVER TOO LATE: Phil Daley at his beloved Ballina Golf Club.

Doon and a week later I won the Southport seniors event.

“I also won the Ballina mixed foursomes by three shots, the seniors’ championship by 14 shots, the men’s foursomes by four shots and the men’s club championship by three shots.” •

events

Hunter and collector

River Murray Golf Muster: driving towards a cure Nick Scheer

ed@insidegolf.com.au

Calling all golfers: You have a unique opportunity to be part of the Inaugural River Murray Golf Muster and raise much needed funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.

The event will be held at the RACV Cobram Barooga Resort in Victoria, situated on the beautiful Murray River from 11-17 May 2014.

With an aim to raise in excess of $30,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation the event will welcome golf enthusiasts from around Australia who will converge on the magnificent Cobram Barooga region, playing golf on superb courses and enjoying five days of golf, fun and excitement. Built around some serious state rivalry this will be an annual event on the golf calendar that you will not want to miss.

All participants will receive two dozen golf balls and an official event golf bag tag. Also

up for grabs are four $250 Bridgestone Tyre vouchers for the winning team.

Two of the four rounds of the 2014 Muster will also include free entry into two Auto Club Golf Championship Events (www.acgc.com.au) with the bonus chance to win trips for two pairs to the 2015 ACGC Championship final at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Queensland, as well as a chance to win a sensational Suzuki Kizashi vehicle in the ‘Hole in One’ competition.

Entry is $1195.00 per person, and includes: • Six nights’ share accommodation (Based on four sharing in two-bedroom apartment).

• Daily continental breakfast pack.

• We l c o m e r e c e p t i o n d i n n e r w i t h entertainment.

• A total of four rounds of great golf including green fees, luncheon & happy hour.

• Entry into two rounds of the Auto Club Golf Championship. Two Muster pairs will win a trip to the Gold Coast final at RACV Royal Pines plus a chance to win a brand new Suzuki.

Both have conquered the sensational Ballina layout… can you?

For further details contact: Ballina Golf and Sports Club (02) 6686 2766 admin@ballinagolfclub.com.au

www.ballinagolfclub.com.au

• • • • •

Two dozen golf balls.

Your official Muster golf bag tag.

Best dressed team competition.

Dinner following each day of golf including beverages.

Free day on Wednesday with optional visit to Cobram Harness racing meeting.

Gala prize presentation dinner with fine wines and entertainment.

Return coach transfers to golf and dinner (included if required). $100 donation to the Leukaemia Foundation.

Nightly entry to the “Muster Mess” from 9pm, serving half price drinks. (Proceeds to Leukaemia Foundation).

So grab three of your mates, put the sticks in the car and hit the road for a great cause.

For more details on the event including how to enter please go to the website. www.championevents.com.au/rmgm or contact Alan Green by phone on 08 8239 0999 or at alang@championgroup.com.au •

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“Norman won here” “Senior won here”

• • • •

MateS RateS SuMMeR Special !!!

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RACV Cobram Barooga Resort will host the inaugural River Murray Golf Muster

FEW golfers reach club champion status, but 70-something Fay Hunter of Georges Hall now has the distinction of being the club champion of Bankstown Golf Club – twice.

She first won the title 13 years ago.

The Ladies Club Championship was held over three weeks, which meant the players experienced every weather condition imaginable.

“The first week we started in perfect weather then about halfway through the round it began to hail,” Fay explained.

“We were on the putting green, putting over pea-size drops of hail.

“The second round we played in a heat-wave and in the third round the weather conditions were very dry so it was like playing in the desert.”

Still, the golf course was in peak condition so there weren’t any complaints.

The 54-hole tournament was a closely fought affair with defending champion Liane Nowark putting in a strong showing.

Fay Hunter and Janice Hickey were tied after 54 holes forcing a playing, which Fay won on the first extra hole.

“Fay played some really solid golf and did what she needed to do to secure the championship,” Janice said. “Congratulations, it was definitely Fay’s day.”

After the presentations, the club’s lady members joined in to congratulate Fay with a customary afternoon tea and some celebratory drinks.

“I did it for the old chicks,” Fay told the gathering.

Ros Dickson and Trish Addington took out divisions 2 and 3 respectively.

Both came in with excellent scores over the three-round tournament.

Bankstown Golf Club welcomes new women members and offers a special beginner golf package. •

18 Holes Motorised Buggy Hire *$30 per person !!!

Conditions: Special price applies to groups of 2 only. Bookings essential to be made through the Pro Shop. Subject to availability. Not valid for competition play. Original voucher must be presented to receive special price. Vouchers valid from 1 December 2013 - 28 February 2014.

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www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

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events

Price is right at NSW Open

AD FR MI EE SS IO N

There was an air of excitement and expectation as the 2013 Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open returned to metropolitan Sydney for the first time in many years. After months of extremely dry conditions, Castle Hill Country Club had returned to all its splendour with the deluge at the start of tournament week. Unfortunately the weather would remain a talking point all week.

As the players rolled in on Thursday for round one so did the fog. As it settled in the valley, the start of play was delayed for an hour. Once underway the early groups found the soft greens and benign conditions to their liking.

Returning Web.com Tour player Aron Price, Queensland amateur Jack Sullivan and Victorian Michael Choi all fired 6-under par rounds of 66 to share the lead as the afternoon groups headed out. With the winds gaining strength later in the day the morning scores would not be bettered, but with 12 players within two shots of the lead, the leaderboard was looking crowded.

“We were lucky, we had great conditions and the greens were really good this morning,” said Price.

“Only on my last two or three holes did the wind get up above five or 10 kmh.”

Sullivan, who gained entry due to his win in the NSW Junior Boys Championship, added“I was very nervous on the first tee, but I had a good group, they were very talkative and calmed me down. I had a really good day. I’m very surprised, I was hoping to shoot around square but no bogeys helped today.”

Lightning storms dominated day two as multiple delays were forced due to the overhead conditions. With just eight groups managing to finish their second round and only six groups from the afternoon commencing their rounds, Saturday was going to be a long day. As it stood at the end of day two US-based players Ashley

Hall and James Nitties held the overnight lead at 9-under, with Nitties required to return in the morning to complete his 18th hole.

“I have to come back in the morning and hit two putts. I would be quite happy to walk off with a tap-in par,” said Nitties. “Birdie would always be nice but it’s very slow uphill so it’s going to feel like a 60 or 70-footer.”

Unfortunately, two putts became three and Nitties finished with a bogey.

With players returning at 6.30am on Saturday to re-commence round two it was Price who picked up where he left off on Thursday to regain the lead as he shot a second consecutive 66 to post 12-under. One shot behind Price was 2008 NSW Open champion Aaron Townsend, who fired a second round 65 to go with his opening round of 68.

The round of the day however went to South Australian professional Paul Spargo, who amassed 11 birdies on his way to a course record 9-under-par 63. “It went my way most of the day.

The conditions were still, which made scoring there for the taking,” said Spargo.

It wasn’t long after Spargo finished his round that lightning in the area caused round two to once again be suspended with five groups to complete their round. Upon the resumption and the final groups finishing round two, the cut was finally made at 2pm on Saturday afternoon with 62 professionals and seven amateurs making it through to the final rounds on 1-under or better.

Round three commenced at 2.45pm and with play again suspended due to fading light at 7.45pm, it was going to be another early start on Sunday.

Day four of the Championship started with the completion of round three, and as he had done all week Price found his name at the top of the leaderboard. PGA TOUR player Steven Bowditch

Aaron Price managed a third round 64 to join Price in the lead at 17-under, with the pair enjoying a sixshot buffer. New South Wales amateur and State representative Callan O’Reilly found himself in the chasing pack at 11-under courtesy of a third round 65. He would join Price and Bowditch in the final grouping on Sunday afternoon.

What promised to be an exciting duel in the final round ended as a tale of conflicting stories. Bowditch consistently found trouble as he could only manage a 76 to slide down the leaderboard. Adam Bland, Jack Wilson and Townsend all reached the clubhouse at 15-under as they shared second place.

Victorian amateur Ben Eccles fired 8 birdies and an eagle as he broke the course record set 24 hours earlier. His 10-under 62 saw him finish at that number and as runner-up amateur to O’Reilly who finished at 13-under.

The day, and the tournament, belonged to Price as he continued on his way with a closing 2-under 70 to take the title by four

shots. Remarkably, his first and only bogey for the tournament coming in the first round on Thursday morning.

“A couple of times when I did get in trouble I made some great pars like on the 10th.

Obviously I made four, if I had of made a five it could have spiralled into anything,” said Price.

“I didn’t have too many challenges, I saw Adam coming and Steve had his ups and downs so I was just trying to play my own game.”

“Playing in a tournament that I caddied in 19 years ago was pretty special. And to win it was even better. It was an awesome week and to have my dad as my caddy made it even more special,” added Price.

A proud New South Welshman, this was Price’s first professional victory on home soil and his first since winning on the Web.com Tour in 2008. Along with the winner’s cheque, the trophy and Official World Golf Ranking points for his win, Price also secured his spot in the Australian Open the following week. •

24 - 26 January 2014 at Oatlands Golf Club

#WomensNSWOpen 60

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

events

Golf shines at Queensland Sport Awards The Queensland golf industry enjoyed an exceptional night at the Queensland Sport Awards, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in December.

US Masters champion Adam Scott became the first golfer to win the Queensland Sports Star of the Year award.

Unfortunately, Scott was unable to attend the black tie function. Scott’s manager Justin Cohen accepted the award on his behalf.

Scott edged out a strong field of finalist including Gary Ablett (AFL), swimmer Cate Campbell, surfer Joel Parkinson, Sally Pearson (athletics), cricketers Ryan Harris and Jodie Fields, Australian netball captain Laura Geitz and rugby league’s Cooper Cronk.

Seventeen-year-old golfer Viraat Badhwar, a member of the Queensland team that won both the national senior and junior championships, won the Queensland Junior Sports Star of the Year award.

He had an impressive record as the number one-ranked junior golfer in Australia in 2012. Last year, he notched up an impressive victory in the Australian Master of the Amateurs, making history by becoming the tournament’s youngest winner.

He was awarded the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award, which is awarded to four of the top junior golfers from around the world.

Badhwar was unable to attend the glittering awards night as he is currently on a golf scholarship and studying for an engineering and business degree at Stanford University. His coach Garry Calder accepted the award.

To cap off a top night for golf, Alan Davies was named the Queensland Sport Volunteer of the Year winner.

Davies has been the driving force behind the introduction of the Queensland Senior Order of merit in Queensland in 2013.

Golf Queensland head coach Tony Meyer was in the running to pick up the Queensland

2013 Qld Men’s Inter-Association Teams Event

Alan Davies after winning Volunteer of the Year, pictured with Golf Queensland Chair Peter Castrisos

Viraat Badhwar Sport Coach of the Year award, but cricket’s Darren Lehmann took the prize after guiding the Queensland Bulls to success.

The Queensland men’s state team was nominated and the Isuzu Queensland Open was in the running for Sport Event of the Year.

“We are thrilled that golf has featured so heavily in the Queensland Sport Awards this year,” said Golf Queensland chair Peter Castrisos.

“Having six finalists was a remarkable accomplishment for Golf Queensland and we are very pleased that Alan, Viraat and Adam were able to win in their respective categories.

“All of our finalists were fantastic contenders in their categories and we are very proud of their achievements.”

A highlight of the night was Greg Chappell’s elevation to become the 13th Legend of Queensland Sport, recognised for his service to cricket in the state.

Greg Norman joined the Legends “club” in 2009. •

After three days of competitive golf, Sunshine Coast South Burnett and North West Districts emerged victorious in the Gross and Nett Championships respectively of the Men’s Inter Association at Carbrook Golf Club.

Sunday saw the first round as a Four-Ball Stroke where the best score out of the two teams’ scores counted towards their District’s total. The South West team of Josh Lambert and Phil Burns won on countback from Josh Kalms and Adam Rydwanski (SCSBDGA) after both finished with 6-under 64 rounds. FNQ stalwart Danny Bradley teamed with Michael Morgan to have the best Nett score of 61.

Day two had players combining for Foursomes with Kalms and Rydwanski going one better and winning the day with an even par round of 70.

Best Nett went to the North West team of Mike Ruri and Jim McGregor with 67.

With four teams within a handful of shots, the final day’s singles would be critical. The

Upcoming Qld Events

best three out of four scores count towards the District’s total so the pressure was on for team members to contribute. BDGA started well and looked like narrowing the gap to SCSBDGA with early rounds of 68 and 70 to Ashley Grosvenor and Mitchell Smith. When Adam Rydwanski and Mitchell Early signed for 69 apiece, the threeshot lead was maintained until the end, with David Grenfell and Joshua Kalms rounding out the winning team.

North West needed only to play within a few shots of their handicaps in the last round to wrap up the Nett Championship, and with no big moves from the chasing pack, the team of Rob Murphy, Ron Corstiaans, Mike Ruri and Jim McGregor held on for victory.

Carbrook Golf Club is to be congratulated for the hospitality shown to the players during the tournament as well as the fantastic condition in which the course was presented. www.golfqueensland.org.au •

Start Date Saturday 22 Mar Monday 31 Mar Sunday 6 Apr Sunday 6 Apr Monday 19 May Friday 6 Jun Sunday 15 Jun Saturday 28 Jun

Event Qld Indigenous Championship QldWomen’s Fourball Championship QldMen’s Foursomes Championship Qld Women’s Foursomes Championship Qld Women’s Country Week Qld Men’s Sand Greens Championship Qld Mixed Foursomes Championship Qld Women’s Sand Green Championship Qld Senior Women’s & Mid Amateur Sunday 13 Jul Championship Wednesday 16 Jul Qld Senior Men’s Amateur Championship Qld Men’s Country Week Stroke Play Monday 11 Aug Championship Qld Men’s Country Week Foursomes Thursday 14 Aug Championship

Venue Murgon GC Emerald Lakes GC Wynnum GC Wynnum GC Middle Ridge & City GC Hughenden GC McLeod GC Winton GC

Entries Open 27 Dec 2013 6 Jan 2014 12 Jan 2014 12 Jan 2014 24 Feb 2014 14 Mar 2014 23 Mar 2014 6 Apr 2014

Horton Park GC

15 Apr 2014

Carbrook GC Indooroopilly GC & Redcliffe GC

15 Apr 2014

Nudgee GC

19 May 2014

19 May 2014

Queensland Women’s Fourball Championship (Presidents Cup) Monday 31 March 2014 Emerald Lakes Golf Club Entries close Wednesday 19 March 2014

Avoid disappointment and enter early! www.facebook.com/GolfQueensland

@GolfQueensland

www.golfqueensland.org.au T: (07) 3252 8155 www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2013

61

calendar

January Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship Where: Hobart When: 12 - 17 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au Join more than 400 golfers from all over Australia as well as international visitors in Hobart this January for the 14th annual Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship. So long as you are over 35 and have an official golf handicap, you can tee it up at the Masters.

One of the tournament’s great traditions is that the 15 age and handicap divisions guarantee you play with golfers your own age and standard. Royal Hobart and Tasmania golf clubs are the state’s premier private courses and host the four days of tournament golf. Nightly social events including welcome reception, 19th Hole overlooking the Hobart harbour and a glamorous presentation dinner are all included in this fantastic week of golf and social events.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681.

Barnbougle Golf Challenge Where: Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm When: 18 - 24 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au

Play Australia’s top two public access courses this January at the Barnbougle Golf Challenge. Back by popular demand, the Barnbougle Golf Challenge will see you playing in teams of two in a combination of best ball, ambrose and aggregate events.

Staying at the stylishly appointed Lodge at Lost Farm, nestled within the coastal dunes, this really is one golfing destination that cannot go unplayed. Everyone is in with a chance to go home with sensational prizes. All you need is a handicap, and then let the fun take care of itself.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681

Mercedes Benz Duntryleague Classic When: 19-21 January 2014 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This year’s event will run for three days of golf only, starting on the Saturday night with a registration and cocktail party.

Packages are available for the full event and an early bird special is also available. Book early to avoid disappointment as this event fills quickly. Open to all male and female golfers with an official handicap.

March Women’s Summer Meeting

When: March 3-6, 2014 Where: Bowral, Highlands, Moss Vale and Mt Broughton Golf Clubs

Handiskins

When: Various Where: Various Info: www.handiskins.com.au Handiskins the ultimate game of skins for club golfers.

Handiskins is a five-qualifying-round stableford competition.

A player’s best three rounds count towards their final score.

Players don’t have to play all five qualifying rounds if their scores are good enough.

The top four players with the best scores at the end of the qualifying rounds go into the ‘skins’ format final and have the opportunity to play for $1,200 in club or pro shop vouchers.

UPCOMING HANDISKINS EVENTS: Shelly Beach Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round 12th January 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 9th February 2014 4th Qualifying Round 16th February 2014 5th Qualifying Round 23rd February 2014 Final 2nd February 2014 Massey Park Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round 1st February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 8th February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 15th February 2014 4th Qualifying Round 22nd February 2014 5th Qualifying Round 1st March 2014 Final 8th March 2014

The Women’s Summer Meeting is the first of the three Golf NSW Women’s Meetings held each year with entries from all around the state. These events present an opportunity for competitors to enjoy some excellent golfing courses and experience the hospitality the Southern Highlands has to offer. The Autumn Meeting is held in the ACT and the Mountain Meeting is held in the Blue Mountains. What makes these events unique is that they are open to all handicap levels and the array of prizes facilitates all handicap ranges.

The Summer Meeting is a four day event which begins with a 36-hole event scratch event. Day 3 is an 18-hole foursomes event, followed by a four person team event on Day 4. The draw is semi seeded for Days 1 and 2, with players nominating their playing partners on Days 3 and 4.

Golf NSW is committed to promoting and encouraging the game of golf and believe this tournament is a great way for all women golfers to compete at all levels.

Entries close Friday 14 February.

For further information: Fiona Carroll on 02 9505 9105 or fiona. carroll@golfnsw.org

Men’s NSW Sand Greens Championship When: March 8-9, 2014 Where: Manildra Golf Club.

The Men’s NSW Sand Greens Fourball Championship is open to male amateurs whose handicap does not exceed 36.4 strokes at

Woolooware Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round 8th February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 15th February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 15th March 2014 4th Qualifying Round 22nd March 2014 5th Qualifying Round 29th March 2014 Final 12th April 2014 Rosebud Country Club 1st Qualifying Round 15th February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 22nd February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 8th March 2014 4th Qualifying Round 15th March 2014 5th Qualifying Round 22nd March 2014 Final 29th March 2014 Balgowlah Golf Club 1st Qualifying Round 15th February 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 22nd February 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 8th March 2014 4th Qualifying Round 22nd March 2014 5th Qualifying Round 12th April 2014 Final 4th May 2014 Orange Ex-Services Country Club 1st Qualifying Round 15th March 2014 2nd Qualifying Round 29th March 2014 3rd Qualifying Round 5th April 2014 4th Qualifying Round 10th May 2014 5th Qualifying Round 14th June 2014 Final 22nd June 2014

the date of entry. The Championship is played over two rounds of 18-holes (36-holes), scratch fourball stableford. Handicap events, run in conjunction, are conducted as two 18-hole fourball stableford events using the stroke index of the club. The entire field contests both rounds.

Entries are available at www.golfnsw.org.

April NSW Veterans Strokeplay Championships Where: Richmond, Penrith and Stonecutters Ridge When: 14-15 and 16 April 2014.

Info: Chris Evans, Secretary, WSRVGA on 0413 912 888

After 8 years at Bankstown and Liverpool, the 54-hole Championships are moving to Western Sydney in an attempt to include more country participants.

Richmond Golf Club is undergoing significant course renovations in preparation for the 2013 Australian Seniors PGA and the Veterans will be the big winners in 2014.

Penrith Golf Club has hosted many State Championships and is in excellent shape. Both Richmond and Penrith are great walking courses for the senior golfer.

The final 18 holes of the Veterans Championships will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Links, a brand-new Greg Norman resort course proving incredibly popular with all golfers.

A U S T R A L I A’ S M O S T R E A D G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Queensland PGA Sunshine Tour Proud Sponsors 62

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

calendar

Don’t miss the NSW Fourball Championships The NSW Men’s and Mixed Fourball Championships commenced in 1993 to provide a State event for the average club golfer.

Today it provides entrants with the opportunity to make it to the State Final, played at the magnificent Bonville Golf Resort.

Two competitors play as partners, each playing their own ball. The best score of the two players is the score for the hole.

In the Men’s championship, each pair consists of two males who are members of the same golf club, being the club conducting the Stage 1 event and must remain financial members of that club for the duration of the competition. In the mixed competition, the rules are the same, but each pair consists of one male and one female who are members of the same golf club.

Open to all Clubs in NSW, the competition is conducted in three stages, conducted as Fourball Stableford with the stroke allocation in accordance with the clubs’ stroke index: Stage 1: Club A club qualifying round is conducted, usually in conjunction with a scheduled fourball event. The leading pair (metro) or leading three pairs (country), then progress to Stage 2.

Stage 2: District (District, Metropolitan play-offs) Play-offs are conducted in each of the 20 District Associations,

Men’s NSW Senior Championship The 2014 Men’s NSW Senior Championship will be held at Forster Tuncurry Golf Club on 4-6 March 2014.

The Championship is open to male amateurs who are 55 years of age or over as at the first day of play, whose handicap does not exceed 15.4 strokes at the date of entry.

The Championship will be stroke play over three rounds of 18-holes (54-holes), Tuesday-Thursday, March 4-6. A seeded draw will be completed for Round 3. The entire field will contest all three rounds.

The event will see a host of recognized golfers competing, including Stephan Albinski, Denis Dale and Bill Banks.

However for every serious competitor, there will be a handful of participants out to enjoy the few days of golf with their mates.

There are a number of prizes awarded for the Championship, including: NSW Seniors Championship (Overall winner), Division 1 (55-60 years), Division 2 (60-64 years), Division 3 (65-70 years), Division 4 (70 years and over) and NSW Seniors Country Champion.

Entries are now open at www.golfnsw.org •

Results: 2013 Women’s NSW Medal Playoffs Golf NSW conduct a year-long event called the Women’s Medal Competition, which is open to all clubs in NSW. Clubs conduct six stroke rounds in three divisions, the divisional winners determined by the lowest nett aggregate three scores at the end of the six specified rounds. The winner from each division is eligible to compete in the Gold (Div 1), Silver (Div 2) or Bronze (Div 3) Medal Playoffs.

The three Medal Playoffs for 2013 were conducted during November, with the first being the Silver Medal Play off at Liverpool Golf Club. The Metropolitan Silver Medal winner was Angela Haynes (25) from Bayview Golf Club with a score of 73 nett. With a score of 79 nett, The Country Silver Medal join winners were Carol Bailey (23) from The Grange Golf Club, Jennifer Walker (20) from Federal Golf Club and Denise Bott (23) from RMC Golf Club.

The Bronze Medal Playoff was then held at Eastlake Golf Club.

There were also joint winners in the Metropolitan Division with Susi Colussi (24) from Cumberland Country Club and Narelle Owen (41) from Woolooware Golf Club having a great score of 70 nett. Taking out the Country Bronze Medal was Rowena Meldrum (34) from Club Taree with a nett score of 73.

The Gold Medal Playoff was due to be held at Oatlands Golf Club in late November. This event had to be abandoned due to dangerous weather conditions and has been rescheduled for Friday, 10 January 2014. All eligible qualifiers from each club are encouraged to compete at the rescheduled event. •

as well as one metropolitan play-off. The winners of the 20 district play-offs and 20 pairs from the metropolitan play-off qualify to play in the State Final.

Stage 3: State Final The State Final is 36-hole stableford (two rounds of 18-holes), which is conducted over two days in mid-September each year.

In 2014 it will be held at Bonville Golf Resort.

Handicap Limit: 36 for men, 45 for women.

The 2014 NSW Men’s Fourball Championship dates: 1 January Club qualifying rounds commence 30 June Club qualifying rounds to be completed 8 August Metropolitan playoff conducted 31 August Country District playoffs to be completed 7-10 October State Final (Bonville Golf Resort) The 2014 KENO NSW Mixed Fourball Championship dates: 1 January Club qualifying rounds commence 30 May Club qualifying rounds to be completed 11 July Metropolitan playoff conducted 31 July Country District playoffs to be completed 9-12 September State Final (Bonville Golf Resort)

Clubs wishing to participate simply need to register their details at www.golfnsw.org and schedule a club qualifying round. •

Upcoming Senior Events Jan 7-8 Jan 13 Jan 14-15 Jan 20-22 Jan 20 Jan 27 Jan 29 Feb 3 Feb 3 Feb 4 Feb 10-11 Feb 10 Feb 12-14 Feb 13-15 Feb 13-14 Feb 17-18 Feb 17 Feb 28 Feb 28

NSW Belmont Seniors – 36 holes NSW Senior Foursomes – Kogarah GC VIC Kooringal Senior Amateur AUST Royal Melbourne Senior Classic QLD Palmer Colonial Seniors VIC Keysborough Seniors NSW St Michael’s Seniors VIC Yarra Courses Senior- Rosanna GC NSW Wollongong Seniors QLD Noosa Springs Seniors VIC Surf Coast Seniors - The Sands GC QLD Wynnum Seniors AUST Tasmanian Senior Amateur – Mowbray GC NZ Senior Amateur – Omaha GC, Auckland VIC Lonsdale Seniors Australia vs New Zealand – Muriwai GC, NZ NSW Concord Seniors QLD Bribie Island Seniors VIC Box Hill Seniors

Golf NSW – January calendar of events Golf NSW Events Date Event 13-14 Jan Women’s Summer Foursomes Men’s NSW Senior Foursomes 13 Jan Medal 24-26 Jan Women’s NSW Open Men’s NSW Medal Inc 29-31 Jan 2013 Club Champion of Champions Women’s NSW 72-hole Stroke Play Championship 29-31 Jan inc 2013 Club Champion of Champions Men’s Vardon Events 11 Jan - 11 Apr North Ryde Amateur 12 Jan

Tuncurry Amateur

18 Jan

South Coast Amateur Men’s Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship

23-26 Jan

Venue Kogarah GC Kogarah GC Oatlands GC Castle Hill GC & Pennant Hills GC Castle Hill GC & Pennant Hills GC

North Ryde GC Forster Tuncurry GC Wollongong GC Belmont GC

Women’s Jean Derrin / Senior Order of Merit Events Women’s Lake Macquarie 7-10 Jan Belmont GC Amateur Championship Men’s Senior Order of Merit Events 7-8 Jan Belmont Seniors Belmont GC Men’s NSW Senior Foursomes 13 Jan Kogarah GC Medal 29 Jan St. Michael’s Seniors St. Michael’s GC

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

Women’s NSW Bowl & Goodwill Plate When: Various Where: Various

The NSW Bowl and Goodwill Plate are annual competitions run at club level in NSW. Clubs nominate specific dates to play these events and the overall state winners are determined at the end of the year. Both events are open to all affiliated clubs in NSW and clubs can choose a suitable date between January and September to run each competition.

The Women’s NSW Bowl is a special annual competition to support the Women’s NSW Open. The Competition is a 4BBB Stableford event for mid-week and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current Australian or overseas equivalent handicap. It is played at Club level between 1 January 2014 and 30 September 2014. As well as a prize, the Overall Winners will be rewarded with a trip to the Women’s NSW Open in January 2015, including the opportunity to play with a well professional player in the Pro-Am. Entry for the NSW Bowl is just $5 per pair.

The Women’s Goodwill Plate is a special annual competition to raise funds for donation to a Charity recommended by the Board of Golf NSW. The chosen charities are Carer’s NSW and the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Research Institute. The Competition is an 18-hole stroke handicap event for midweek and weekend, open to female amateurs who hold a current Australian or overseas equivalent handicap. It is to be played between 1 January 2014 and 30 September 2014. The State Winner will be determined by the number of strokes (if any) the nett result is under the AWCR of the course on the day of play. The overall winner is determined

by Golf NSW and receives a prize in acknowledgement of the achievement.

Both events are hugely popular with over 3,000 players from 96 clubs competing in the NSW Bowl and 4,200 players from 103 clubs competing in the Goodwill Plate in 2013. www.golfnsw.org

Srixon Women’s Major Metropolitan Pennant When: Various Where: Various Golf NSW announced the addition of a Women’s Metropolitan Pennant Competition for 2014, to be played on Sunday in conjunction with the Men’s Metropolitan Pennant Competition.

The Srixon Women’s Major Metropolitan Pennant has been introduced to allow working women and school girls the opportunity to participate in a Pennant competition without having to take time off work or school. Srixon, who currently sponsor the Men’s Major Metropolitan Pennant, have come on board to sponsor the event.

Dates of play for 2014 have been scheduled, and can be found on the Golf NSW website (www.golfnsw.org).

The event is open to all Sydney Metropolitan Golf Clubs affiliated with Golf NSW. Each club may be represented by one team only. Matches will be played in three grades.

Major Pennant teams consist of five players.

The event is a contest between two Clubs. Matches are played over 18-holes of match play without the benefit of handicap. The Competition will be conducted in a home and away format in Divisions 1 & 2 and will be played at one venue per week in Division 3. Promotion and relegation between Divisions will occur, which will initially be determined by the handicaps of the likely participants. Players who participate in Major Pennant may not play in the NSW Women’s Grade Competition (see draft conditions for further details).

Caddies will not be required (i.e. caddies are allowed, but there is no obligation for a Club to provide a caddy for their players) and the Finals Day for both the Men’s and Women’s Pennant will be held at Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club on Sunday 30 March 2014.

For further information: Olivia Wilson on (02) 9505 9105 or olivia.wilson@golfnsw.org.

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

63

the 19th hole

Delving into the crystal golf ball ed@insidegolf.com.au

@AussieGolfer

As we nail the whacky golf courses calendar into the wall, clean the chocolate bar wrappers out of the golf bag and vow to spend more time at the driving range than the pub this year, let’s take a look at a few things to expect from the world of golf in 2014. After all, what would a New Year be without a few predictions?

Tiger Woods will win again in 2014, the first time since his US Open victory in 2008.

We’d like to think Adam Scott will win another major, too (perhaps even Jason Day will lift the hardware) but it appears Woods is through the ‘swing–troubled woods’ and another major championship beckons. Quite likely at the Masters in April.

New Zealand caddie Steve Williams will also secure his 15th major in 2014, his fourth at The Open Championship and his second at Royal Liverpool.

Matt Jones will win his first US PGA Tour event. After five top-10 finishes since July last year, he’ll notch up a victory in 2014 and he may surprise on the big stage at a couple of majors as well.

If you don’t know who Lydia Ko is then make sure you Google her name quickly. She will become the youngest ever major winner in 2014, possibly achieving the feat at the Kraft Nabisco Championship just a few weeks before her 17th birthday in April.

Ricky Ponting will get a start in a few ProAms and will play well enough to consider turning professional. The media will consider it for him even if he isn’t.

I’m predicting another major slow-play incident along the same lines as at The Masters in 2013. Teenage prodigy Guan Tianlang was penalised two-strokes for slow play in what was seen as a soft target for Augusta National rules officials. They may be looking for a higher profile slow-play target this year to show their teeth – they have plenty of options.

Tiger Woods will play even less golf in 2014, electing to watch the tournaments from the comfort of his lazy-boy with the TiVo remote in hand. Every shot from every golfer will be thoroughly examined to ensure every golfer is subject to the same sort of scrutiny he is

Michael Green is an avid golf fanatic, and the author/blogger of the Aussie Golfer blog (www.aussiegolfer.net) one of Australia’s most popular golf blogging sites. Follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/AussieGolfer) or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AussieGolfer

With David Newbery 1. Can you name one of the three players who qualified for the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool courtesy of finishing third and tied fourth at the Australian Open?

2. Who is Australia’s third highest ranked golfer behind Adam Scott and Jason Day – John Senden, Marc Leishman, Marcus Fraser or Geoff Ogilvy?

3. Which popular Spanish golfer won the 2013 Hong Kong Open?

4. The caddie of a player who is preparing to play a chip shot from off the putting green touches the green with a club to indicate the line of play. What is the ruling?

5. Can you solve the anagram, Rick wasn’t ET – to identify an American golfer? Clue: He won the 2009 Open Championship.

6. Tony Jacklin appeared seven times in the Ryder Cup for Great Britain but never finished on the winning team – true or false?

7. To whom is former LPGA Tour star Rachel Hetherington married?

8. Which Australian won the 2013 OneAsia Tour Order of Merit?

9. How many times has Karrie Webb won the Australian Ladies Masters?

ANSWERS: (1). John Senden, Bryden Macpherson and Rhein Gibson: (2). Marc Leishman; (3). Miguel Angel Jiménez; (4).

There is no penalty; (5). Stewart Cink; (6). True; (7). Greg Ritchie; (8). Matt Griffin; (9). Eight.

Michael Green

from armchair golf fans around the world.

Several golf clubs will continue to lure people to the club with offers of cheap beers, cheap steaks, promotions for Tuesday bingo and an ideal wedding venue. But will forget to organise a Masters Monday breakfast, 9-hole twilight competitions and combat slow-play during Saturday competitions.

Much to the chagrin of a vocal minority, the Slope system will finally be fully implemented by Golf Australia. By September, things will quieten down when most people realise it doesn’t affect their golf game in any way.

Consider ing how exceptional the course plays and how accessible it is to every golfer in the country, it stills baffles me when avid golfers are not aware of Barnbougle Dunes. This will change forever in 2014/15 as Tasmania assumes the role as the ultimate golf getaway destination in Australia as several more courses open including Ocean Dunes and Cape Wickham golf courses.

Golfers all over the world (including me) will continue to lament their string of bad luck on the greens without ever spending more than 5 minutes on the practice putting green prior to their tee time.

Happy New Year everyone. •

The quick nine quiz

The SGA International PATTAYA, THAILAND • 8–15 MARCH 2014

The package includes: • Airfares and Departures taxes from most capital cities • 7 nights at the Sabai Resort Hotel with breakfasts • A caddie and golf cart at the four golf courses • Two dinner parties with soft drinks and beer included

• Welcome gifts and souvenirs

All golfers are welcome to join this luxury golfing experience on four of Thailand’s most superb golf courses:

• Personally hosted by Matthew Pitt from SGA

• Laem Chabang

Contact Matthew Pitt

• Siam CC Waterside Course

Social Golf Australia

• All private transfers from hotel to golf courses

• Siam CC Plantation Course

• Airport transfers in Thailand

• Siam CC Old Course

info@socialgolfcc.com.au Ph: (03) 5433 3213 / 0425 742 501

• All taxes and service charges

PRICE Twin Share $2395 or Single $2695

For more information go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au 64

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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the 19th hole

What I would have liked for Christmas your backswing has the club reaching parallel to the ground, officials can fine you on the spot. That’s unless you can display a photo of your grandkids or written proof that you have accidently broken wind at least twice over the previous 24 hours.

The issue for me now is, my follow-through has maintained the same speed—which basically means I don’t hit the ball far enough to reach the trouble. And what’s more, everything hurts.

Finally I would really like to eat a breakfast which is dangerously high in carbohydrates, sugars, cholesterol, lipids (another word for fats, not a small reptile found under a pot plant) and sodium. I’ve been drinking my breakfast out of a shaker for the past couple of years. Yes, I’ve lost a bit of weight but sometimes I feel like I should be sitting at the kitchen table in a space suit!

I’m not complaining but in this day of family members pooling their resources for presents, I reckon mine could get together and come up with at least one of these presents come July (Although there could be a problem when my wife’s birthday comes around and we all have to put in to buy her Ian Baker-Finch.)

Have a Happy New Year and may all your presents in 2014 be perfect. •

Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

Christmas has passed for another year and while I received some wonderful presents from my gorgeous family, there were a couple of items I thought I would put on the order list for my birthday.

I’m a big fan of the new technology allowing us to alter the characteristics of our equipment.

A driver we can change the shaft, lie, loft... putters with adjustable weights, even wedges you can change the faces of. I’d like a shirt I could that could take 10 kilos off.

Here’s a thought. You know those “Stand Bags” -- golf bags with the stands coming out as you lean the bag down? I’d like pair of trousers that have the same capacity to spring two legs out of the back and hold me up when I’m entertaining potential sponsors or members of the board at my home club. I can keep standing at the bar pretending to be as “jober as a sudge” while my clients are falling all over the floor.

I’m not sure about you, but sometimes I hit a great shot and no-one really acknowledges it.

I often feel I am out there on my own. Maybe because I regularly hit shots from places where not many people actually want to go with me.

Particularly around spring when lots of wildlife are coming out of hibernation. I’d like a GPS unit that can talk to me. I know there are some that can tell me how far from the green I am but I’m talking about a unit which I can actually have a conversation with. I want a GPS that can be

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January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

my own personal mate.

A typical conversation with my new best friend could go along the lines of “You’ve got 115 to the front, 130 the flag into a slight breeze.

That would normally be a good 9-iron....but with your son’s 21st coming up, the car needing a new timing belt and the shock of your dog recently coming out of the closet, you have a lot on your mind mate... hit a knock-down 8.... luv ya bro”.

I would love a golf swing that doesn’t hurt me physically or financially. Through most of

my career, I’ve had a huge battle with overswinging. I would always take the club back too far then hit the hand brake about halfway back to the ball in a futile attempt to steer my nut away from anything that might cost me money. You know how Tiger Woods broke his leg hitting the ball too hard? Well I hurt my wrist, trying to slow the club down.

I’ve managed to shorten my backswing now by virtue of playing the senior tour. In fact, when you’re playing the Aussie Legends Circuit, if

Keep up with us online!

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

I N CLU D I N G G S T - E X C L U D I N G D E L I V E RY & F IT T IN G

What can you do for golf? the 19th hole - opinion

Matthew Pitt, founder of Social Golf Australia and Bushranger Golf, gives an industry insider’s perspective on current trends in the game and future directions for golf participation in Australia.

I have just spent the morning reading the letters to the editor in Inside Golf and the insightful and informative editorials by Richard Fellner published over the past few months. It has been quite a revelation to read a range of the views around the issues facing golf and the variety of causes and solutions proposed.

Many of us agree a central challenge to address is falling participation. The reasons for this are various and have been well documented to this point. In essence, golf has an aging demographic, is struggling to attract new players and is affected by changing lifestyle choices, time constraints (more people are time-poor) and greater competition for leisure time and expenditure.

Time is very significant. Consider the rise in popularity of T20 cricket versus ODIs. An ODI takes seven to eight hours and a T20 can be completed in three hours. T20 takes out the boring bits and crams the action into half the time. For some people the shorter version makes it is easier to get to the game or watch it on TV. This is not the fault of ODIs. The format itself is not flawed, it is simply that the game is adjusting to the demands of a changing market and society. Golf does not exist in a vacuum – we are facing similar challenges as cricket since the time it takes to play golf is significant.

Notwithstanding the issue of slow play (which is very real), when a golfer travels to and from the course, has a warm up, plays the round and enjoys a drink with friends afterwards, the time required is in the ODI ballpark, which is too much for some.

With fewer people playing and some people

playing less often, for the industry this means revenues are contracting. The pie is becoming smaller and there is less to share around among existing golf courses and clubs. With contracting demand and static (or growing) supply, the market is heading for an adjustment.

This is where golf is at now. For the game’s governing bodies, there is one key focus in tackling this – to grow the game and increase participation. This is what they are trying to do and if they succeed and more people play golf and existing golfers play more often, then the problems confronting many clubs will begin to be resolved.

However, the situation as it stands is that the total number of golfers is falling and has been for some time. In 2004, the number of club members was 500,000 and social golfers was 700,000. Today these figures are estimated at closer to 450,000 and 650,000. In a free market, the consequence is increased competition for a greater share of a contracting demographic.

The result as we go through this adjustment is reducing the supply and we are seeing course closures and mergers occurring now.

By way of example, not too long ago there were two free golf magazines in the Australian market – Inside Golf and The Golfer.

As expenditure in the industry contracted, competition for advertising dollars intensified to the point where one publication discontinued.

The same market forces and competition for a bigger piece of a contracting market are at play throughout the industry among golf clubs, courses, service providers, equipment manufacturers, online stores and retailers.

Mountain men too good THE Glasshouse Mountains senior golfers bonded together beautifully in 2013 to win the Jim Dalrymple Perpetual Trophy.

It was one of the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Golf Association’s highlights of the year.

Three zones that come under the association’s umbrella – Glasshouse Mountains, the Sunshine Coast and the South Burnett – squared off for the trophy.

In the early matches, Glasshouse contested a matchplay event against South Burnett at Woodford Golf Club in the inter zone championship and ran out winners 17/11.

Then Glasshouse took on the Sunshine Coast at Cooroy Golf Club with the former reversing the 2012 result with a 17.5/6.5 victory.

The final match for the trophy was a stableford event with teams of 20 from each zone.

The Glasshouse Mountains returned 491 points to win by a narrow margin over Sunshine Coast (490 points) and South Burnett (463).

“All senior events are played in the very best spirit and the results mean no more than bragging rights,” said SC&SBDGA secretary Terry Ward.

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January 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Retiring district president Jim Dalrymple (right) presents the Champions Zone Trophy to Glasshouse Mountains Seniors Zone president Greg Paul (centre) and district seniors chairman Ian Good.

“It’s far more important to the seniors to have a day out on the golf course with good friends.

“Cooroy Golf Club provided everything that was required in an expert manner from course presentation to excellent catering and bar service.” • FOOTNOTE: Thirty-four golf clubs and 10,000 golfers from the SC&SBDGA region contest 50 events each year.

In addition, as society is changing, so are the behaviours and expectations of new generations of golfers. If the majority of golfers in the past were content to play their home course almost exclusively, today many more golfers are interested in variety. They see great golf courses on TV and online and they want to play them. Would Barnbougle Dunes have been so rapidly acclaimed and patronised if it had opened 50 years ago?

The way some golfers are changing their behaviour and buying choices is not right or wrong. It just is. People change. Societies change.

Markets change. Shrinking participation is not what any of us who love the game want to see.

In the case of golf today, if the current trends continue, we are heading for more course closures and those that react to the changing environment will prosper and survive.

The best outcome would be a boom in golf and new players coming to the game. We are all hoping Adam Scott and Jason Day can both achieve sustained success. Not only will more people be drawn to the game by being inspired, but if both are ranked in the top 10 for years to come and they return to Australia every summer to play, they will drag the best players in the world along with them. Higher quality fields will mean bigger audiences, sponsors and prize money.

In the meantime, we are all confronted with a different reality. Predictably there are some people mired in the past or too stubborn or scared to confront the problem and work creatively to find solutions. The view held by some that golf clubs are undermined by social golfers is as astounding as it is uninformed.

If a golf club is to grow its membership it has three demographics to target: 1. members of other clubs, 2. people who play golf but are not a member of a club (social golfers) and 3. people who don’t play golf. It is worth keeping in mind that people in category three will probably become social golfers before becoming club members as it would be highly unusual for a person who cannot play golf to join a golf club before learning to play.

Obviously if clubs increase their membership by taking members from other clubs then it doesn’t solve any broader issues the game is facing. This is simply the process of competition playing out in the market that will result in course closures and mergers. In this case, the greatest threat to the viability of clubs is competition for members from other clubs, not social golfers.

Hence, the smart play for a club looking to increase membership, viability and sustainability without damaging other clubs, is to target the 650,000 or so people in Australia who already play golf and are not members of a club. If you accept this argument, then the clubs and club members disparaging and discriminating against social golfers are simply demonstrating their ignorance. They are the ones that will fall behind and disappear while their more flexible competitors (other golf clubs) prosper.

It is staggering to me to read some of the letters in this magazine from club members on this subject. Treating the social golf demographic as an enemy to be reviled and shunned is astonishing. I cannot think of any business that treats it’s most significant demographic of potential new customers in such a way. The tragedy is that the people taking this position are doing their clubs an enormous disservice. By being rude and unwelcoming to potential new members, they are hurting their club.

As a business owner, it is not a concern for me, as those people are driving new customers through our doors. We require that our golfers participating in our events are courteous, respectful and considerate. People who are rude, selfish and intolerant are not welcome.

The consequence is an extremely friendly, welcoming and courteous community among our participants. It is the key to our success and continuing strong growth.

However, as a golfer, it is tragic to see and hear selfish people damaging their clubs and our game. They are a destructive, negative influence and a blight on golf. Unfortunately, it would be naive to think that clubs are not competing with each other for members – they are. That this is the case only weakens the position of those discouraging new members from among the social golf market and increases the importance for clubs to court this demographic. What is required is for individuals to put their self interest aside to work positively and cooperatively for the benefit of their club and their game.

Raking a bunker and repairing a divot are small acts but they all add up and make a difference for everyone’s benefit in the long run.

Bringing a guest and a potential new member or introducing a junior to the game and making them feel welcome does not require a great deal of effort, but these small things all add up and can make a difference between the prosperity or the closure of a golf club. We are all in this together. To paraphrase JFK, in troubled times, ask not what golf can do for you, but what you can do for your game. •

the 19th hole

Toomey’s

Aussie Open

PPC Classic a hit for TaylorMade

Junior scores 53 points

walkathon

Rory McIlroy CLEARLY he loves his golf.

Golf Queensland board member and film critic Matthew Toomey must know every blade of grass at Royal Sydney golf course after spending five days there following his favourite golfers during the Australian Open.

Toomey, who plays off scratch at Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane, used a pedometer to measure how far he walked during the Australian Open.

For the record, he covered a distance of 88 kilometres.

“I walked 10 kilometres on Wednesday (pro-am day), 20kms on Thursday, 20kms on Friday, 22kms on Saturday and 16kms on Sunday,” Toomey told Inside Golf.

He even caught up with and had his photo taken with Australian Open champion Rory McIlroy.

Toomey played a round with McIlroy when the Ulsterman visited Australian in 2005.

McIlroy remembered the occasion and was happy to pose for a photo with a delighted Toomey.

“It took eight years, I finally got the chance to catch up with Rory McIlroy (again),” Toomey said.

“In November 2005, I played a practice round with 16-year-old Rory at Rosebud Golf Club in Melbourne before the prequalifying event for that year’s Australian Open.

“While I was impressed with his golfing prowess little did I know he would go on and become a world number 1 and a twotime major winner.

“I had the chance to speak with Rory at a cocktail function following the Australian Open and he remembered our game from eight years ago.

“I said something of the lines of ‘hey Rory, you probably won’t remember but I played with you and Oliver Fisher when you first came out to Australia to 2005’.

“Rory was quick to respond, not only recalling the round but also remembering the name of the course.

“It was a very cool moment – one that I won’t ever forget. Rory is a great guy, a terrific golfer and I’ll continue to follow his career with great interest.”

That must have made the long walk worthwhile. •

by Andrew Crockett ‘Tis the season to be jolly and what a jolly good day was put on by TaylorMade in their first ever ‘Pacific Players Club’ golf classic at Huntingdale Golf Club in the last week of November. The Pacific Players Club (PPC) is a member-driven club brought together by TaylorMade, where golfers subscribe online, for free, and are then privy to TaylorMade’s latest offerings. The ‘clubhouse pass’ affords a members-only access to the clubs website and notable discounts and incentives for members.

Not an ordinary corporate day, the PPC went that little bit further. Yes they had equipment to try out on the driving range, a welcoming gift bag with branded assortments and a sleeve of golf balls but then throw in a bit of short game golf instruction from Peter Hanson (Sweden) and the day felt like something a bit more special.

Melbourne served up its usual unpredictable

weather. We teed off at midday amid a northerly wind heatwave. By 3pm the south change had come through and we were reaching for warmer clothes. Huntingdale Golf Course was in beautiful condition and the grand new clubhouse is well under construction. European Tour regular Marcus Fraser, fresh off one of his most successful years, was the guest speaker at the dinner/presentation where third place won a $400 voucher. First place was a $1200 voucher (surely enough for a new set of sticks from the hosts). After a quick few words from Jason Day (via a pre recorded video cross) the organisers did a lucky draw for their platinum members, first prize 6 nights at Mission Hills in China, complete with a penthouse apartment and your own personal butler. That made the food taste even better for one lucky Pacific Players Club member.

More information on the TaylorMade PPC: www.taylormadegolf.com.au •

Your photos

ual Hotel Social Golf Club during their Ann It was smiles all around for the Gymea s on race the nded atte e Island on the Friday, Weekend Away. The group played Hop s: “Sore word own their In ay.

Sund Golf Club on the Saturday, and then tackled Burleigh and of ther t food, heaps of cold beer, great wea heads, happy winnings at the races, grea the ring wea elf it was Matt Larkin who found hims course Golf!!!”. When the dust settled, first time.

Club Champion’s “green jacket” for the

Daniel Stacey shot the lights out at his home club.

HE’S 15, plays off a 22 handicap and returned a score of 53 single stableford points.

Daniel Stacey has only been playing golf for 18 months, but that didn’t stop him setting a club single stableford record at Sanctuary Resort Golf Club in Western Australia.

For the record, he shot an 80 off the stick.

He had 24 points on the front nine and came home with a wet sail scoring 29 points, which included four three-pointers and two four-pointers.

Jennie Freeman, a club committee member, told Inside Golf Daniel had been attracting plenty of attention around the club.

No doubt, the club handicapper is one of those keen observers.

“He has had a good run of late as he also won the club’s D grade championship against the senior members,” Jennie said.

Daniel’s father Royce said his son was coached by former ALPG star Shani Waugh.

“I thought that if he is going to play golf then he has to learn to play properly,” he said.

“His distance off the tee is his greatest strength. For a 15-year-old he hits the ball about 250 to 260 metres.

“He just gets up and hits the ball down the middle. If you saw him play, you would think he was off single figures.

“In the last two months, he has improved out of sight and still has a lot of improvement in him.

“When his handicap gets to 18 or 15 he may come to a sudden halt and that’s why he needs to be coached by a professional so he can continue to improve.

“But he might get to 18 years old, start chasing girls and give golf away,” joked Royce, who plays off nine. “But as long as he comes back to golf, which he will because he loves sport.”

Royce said he wasn’t surprised with his son’s club record score.

“I just think he had a day out,” he said.

“Most golfers have a really good score at some stage after they start playing.” • www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

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your voice

Letter of the Month Augusta effect down under

In response to your article The Augusta Effect: I am a member at Monash and was head of a committee that brought in a master plan to redo the greens and holes.

Monash is renowned for its greens which are subtle slopes, fast with hidden breaks and nuances.

The overwhelming feedback from members was you can do anything but don’t mess with our greens. We do not want humps and bumps.

A plan was voted on by the members with this assurance. The club formed a construction committee but did not put any accountability around them or process on running a project.

The club was offered the services of a couple of professional project managers but refused as they thought it didn’t need them.

Well, to date, two greens have been constructed. Both have dead elephants buried in them with a normal putt breaking 2-3 ways, sometimes 4 or 5. Pretty diabolical, especially on a par-3 where if you are lucky to make the green, three-putts are common.

The new holes have had to be re-rated. The par-3 was rated 16 and now is rated 5. In the recent club championship qualifying, it played as index 2!

In the (cake) hole!

Is it just me, or are other golf fans getting really annoyed with the behaviour of some of the fans attending our tournaments?

Watching the great Australian events televised over the past month, I got sick of hearing cries of “Be the ball!” and “In the hole!” and other inane drivel, often before the ball had left the clubhead.

Watching the fantastic exponents of game, whether on the course or via TV, creates a sense of awe and expectation. The loud, crass, insensitive calls of these golf hooligans detract from the pleasure of the game. It would be far better if they kept their traps shut!

Alan Turpie, via email

Another one’s gone...

I live in South Guildford WA. Our local golf course (18 hole) was privately owned and now sold. The intention is to build over 600 homes.

The course is a very busy one and the nearest course is a while away and already at more than full capacity. The infrastructure just isn’t there to accommodate these homesites. Why do councils allow this to happen? Residents did not know and most still are unaware of what is happening to this piece of greenery. The last one to go was the Burswood course, now this. Wouldn’t you think the Shire would buy it and keep it as a golf course? The club is a very busy one, also has a driving range, cafe and function rooms. Shame on you planners at Swan Shire for allowing this to happen.

D Squire, via email

Spitting mad It’s about time the golfing authorities and governing bodies took a long hard look at the disgusting habit that seems to be gathering momentum amongst the elite golfers - spitting.

Every time we see the likes of Dustin Johnson, 70

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The other hole has been re-rated from 18 to 17 but in the club championship played as index 11. Some members had four and five putts on what was the easiest hole on the course.

It now takes around five hours in a Saturday stroke to complete a round with the hold ups on these new holes due to the greens.

A lot of members, myself included, are furious about these greens including past club champions and PGA professionals.

Another green has been built but we do not know if it’s like the others as it is not yet completed.

We have had no assurances from the club that we will not have any more greens with humps and bumps.

The way it is going with our rating we will have an Augusta, the toughest course around with most members leaving as they have no desire to play it.

Gail Hulme, via email

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via email at ed@insidegolf.com.au or mail a letter to: The Editor, Inside Golf, PO Box 360 Nunawading, Vic 3131. Tell an interesting story or something funny about golf and you could WIN a prize like this month’s GolfBuddy Voice GPS unit!

Tiger Woods, etc, they are consistently seen to be spitting at these prestigious events which is seen by the millions of TV viewers and those at the course.

It’s a disgusting habit that sets a bad example and certainly needs addressing by the governing bodies. So may I suggest that every time they are seen to be spitting, a fine is imposed of $1,000.00 on the culprit with further heavier fines if they persist.

I cannot recall the likes of Jack, Arnie, Greg etc, ever spitting in their heydays.

Terry Porter, via email

Proud Aussie I watched the four days of the Australian Open, like millions of others in Australia and around the world. It was one of the most memorable Opens for many years with the possibility of our Masters Champion, Adam Scott, achieving only the second Australian Triple Crown. Like other Australian supporters we all wanted Adam to win but his efforts fell oh so short of the finish line. My overwhelming disappointment was also turned to that of a very proud Australian.

My congratulations to Rory McIlroy, who went out and played to the highest level, and on the day was definitely the best player. Adam Scott would have wanted nothing less and of course his disappointment was ours, but Rory won the respect of everyone in his final speech to the spectators and viewers around the world. More so, I was proud to be an Australian that day, in which the spectators behaved and showed the respect of the 2013 Australian Open winner and the efforts of our 2013 Masters winner and other players. Australia was on the world stage that day, and we all should be so proud of our sportsmanship. This is why we are held in good stead around the world.

Dennis Sanders, via email

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YOUR VOICE Have you got something to say? Then tell us! Write to us

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29

ACROSS

1 Lacking depth (7) 5 State that hosted the 1990 US PGA, won

by Australia’s Wayne Grady (7) 9 Warning signal (5) 10 Golf resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland (9) 11 Non-member golfers (8) 12 Lizard that may be spotted on an Australian golf course (6) 13 Reckless; foolhardy (2-2-3) 14 Required (6) 16 Long flat runner (3) 17 High position or standing (6) 19 Greg Norman’s role at the 2011 Presidents Cup (7) 23 Runner-up at the 2013 Australian PGA, ______ Fowler (6) 25 Concentrating (8) 27 The eighteenth (usually) (5,4) 28 Track down (5) 29 Switched over to the Golf Channel (5,2) 30 Anywhere serving to foster or nourish new talent, ideas, etc (7) Answers: page 73

So-so social golfers So, Damien, (Living the Private Life, November issue) you were all put out because you could not get a game of golf on a Saturday.

Let me give you some facts regards getting a game at ANY golf club on a Saturday.

This Saturday our club will be fielding some 260 players in the regular comp. Groups of four players will tee off on both the 1st and 10th holes starting at 6.00 am in 6-min intervals.

This will go on until 8.00am, by which time all 18 holes will have two or three groups on them.

The afternoon session starts at 10.40 am and goes on until 12.30. Again the groups will tee off on 1st and 10th tees.

Now could you please explain to me just where in all that activity the Club Pro is going to fit in a group of four hackers?

You make a big deal about the fact that the club lost out on your estimated $200.

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1 Extremely hungry (7) 2 Australian who’s had a huge year in 2013 (4,5) 3 Restricted (7) 4 Describing a golf course with no ponds or lakes etc (9) 5 Off course (4) 6 System of golf play where a team’s best shot is the starting point for the team’s next shot (7) 7 Highest-finishing Aussie at the 2013 CIMB Classic, _____ Baddeley (5) 8 Nevertheless (6) 14 Winner of the 2006 Australian PGA (4,5) 15 Wipe out (9) 18 Rotated (7) 20 Runner-up at the 2013 WGC-HSBC Champions tournament, Ian _______ (7) 21 Compactly built; stocky (7) 22 Money made (6) 24 Big gun (5) 26 Consistent performer of the US PGA Tour, ____ Senden (4) At my club, entry fee will set you back $1000.

Green fees for the year $1,200. Competition fees $13. Most of us have at least one or two beers after a game plus food and pokies.

You will see that your $200 is a drop in the ocean.

I continually read in this and other golfing magazines that if we (established clubs) don’t change, we will perish. Bull dust!

I took up golf 30 years ago and was a member of a Social Club. I joined my present club 22 years ago. I am now retired and am able to let someone else take my Sat slot that I occupied when I was working. However if it ever came to pass that our management saw fit to disrupt a designated competition by slotting in a social group then that is the day that I and my fellow club members will quit and the club will miss out on more than $200.

Derek Cotton, via email

ISSUE 03 // JAN 2014

www.insidegolf.com.au

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Dragon flies in

NEW ZEALAND AIR New Zealand last month revealed Peter Jackson’s theatrical interpretation of the mythical Dragon Smaug, giving kiwis the first glimpse of the character from The Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug.

A Boeing 777-300 aircraft with the 54-metrelong dragon emblazoned on both sides was unveiled in Auckland prior to the movie’s release.

This is the second aircraft inspired by The Hobbit Trilogy in the Air New Zealand fleet. The first was unveiled in 2012 to coincide with the launch of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

“To see Smaug fly off the big screen and into the skies like this is pretty exciting. We’re proud to debut him here in New Zealand, where our team has worked so hard to bring him to life,” Jackson said.

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VIRGIN ATLANTIC AN ACE FOR GOLFERS AS any travelling golfer can attest, air travel can be difficult and costly, with some airlines charging huge fees to carry your gear. But in the UK at least, the trend is changing.

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Whether you’re a fan of cycling, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, golf or the like, the airline is allowing all customers up to 23kg additional luggage on top of the standard personal baggage allowance. This would allow golfers, for example, to travel with their clubs, their suitcase and their hand luggage at no extra cost.

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January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

3

The LONG Drive:

playing the Nullarbor

Links

By Tiffany Mika

L

ast month, my husband and I decided to drive from Sydney to Perth and play the Nullarbor Links along the way.

The 18-hole par-72 course is approximately 1,365km long, making it the World’s Longest Golf Course.

The course is set up along the Eyre Highway at each participating roadhouse.

In addition, you play a few holes at actual golf courses. The distance to each roadhouse varies so you could travel anything from 13km to 180km between holes.

And what an adventure it is!

Here is a journal of our “Round”: (Note: The holes are numbered from Kalgoorlie in WA to Ceduna in SA, but because we are driving west, I will be numbering them from where we started.)

DAY 1

Ceduna Golf Course Hole 1 – Oyster Beds – Par 5 - 485m Hole 2 – Denial Bay – Par 4 – 370m Teed off on the first hole straight down the middle of the fairway. The fairways are

made up of dried out grass and dirt, so there are no even lies.

Both fairways are pretty straight, so it really depends on how far you can hit the ball. You don’t need to tee up along the fairway here.

There are 150m distance posts so you get an idea how far you are from the green.

When you get to the green, it is made up of black sand, so you need to rake a smooth path for your ball to putt. You then hit the ball hard up the sand as the sand grabs the ball and doesn’t run much.

Back into the car for the 73km drive to the next hole.

Penong Roadhouse Hole 3 – Windmills – Par 4 – 260m We went to the roadhouse to get our scorecard stamped, then we turned right off the highway and drove to this hole.

You stand on a synthetic mat and attempt to hit the ball straight up the middle over the top of some trees, which are right down in the middle of the “fairway” about halfway

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to the green.

You have to tee up all the way along the hole to preserve the natural environment.

The green is synthetic grass, so best to let the ball run up onto the green as the ball will stop. (If you play onto the green, the ball just runs off.). They are great to putt on, though.

Nice and quick, and the ball keeps its line.

In the car, 78km to Nundroo.

Nundroo Roadhouse Hole 4 – Wombat Hole – Par 5 – 520 metres It was a bit tricky to work out where to hit the tee shot, so looking at the map at the side on the sign made it easier to work out.

The fairway does stand out as it is a bit of a brown tinge. There are two distinct trees on the right hand side which help. Plus there are white driving posts like on the road on either side of the fairway.

From the synthetic mat, you are teeing off blind even though you can see where the fairway is…you can’t see the hole as it

dog legs up and over the hill left.

For the second shot you really need someone at the top of the hill because you are flying blind…and what we learned after playing the second shot was that it was difficult to find the ball.

The green is synthetic so best to chip and run it onto the green. Putting is pretty straight forward, but on this green the hole is slightly raised so as the ball does approach the hole it may veer off.

From Nundroo to Nullarbor the drive is 145km Nullarbor Roadhouse Hole 5 – Dingo’s Den – Par5 – 538m When we arrived at the Nullarbor Roadhouse to fill up the car with petrol, before teeing off we went in to get our cards stamped…the guy at the counter mentioned that had been quite a number of western brown snakes seen out on that hole. It made me a little nervous, as I am not

fond of snakes .

On the info it said to beware of a crow who flies down and takes the balls. Today there was no crow, but I walked pretty quick between shots.

The tee is a synthetic grass mat, the hole doglegs to the right, so if you get a good tee shot down to the corner you can then play straight up the fairway to the green.

The fairway is about 20 metres wide so accuracy is a must, lest your ball finds the numerous bushes on either side of the fairway, plus the huge wombat holes (and the snakes!).

So we teed up all the way to the green as the fairways are dry with perhaps a bit of grass here and there. It took 3 driver shots and a pitch shot to get on the green for four…as there was a strong headwind we were playing into.

The green is tiered and the hole was at the back on the synthetic grass green. Was simply amazing to look out from the tee to

the green as there was just nothing but blue skies and flat terrain.

It was now onto the Border Village Roadhouse a 187km drive.

Border Village Roadhouse Hole 6 – Border Kangaroo – Par 3 – 160 metres This hole is right near the big roo just before the border into Western Australia.

So you can’t miss it!

The hole is a challenging one. We arrived later in the afternoon so the wind was blowing across the green to the left.

The fairway itself was quite narrow-- no more than 10 metres in width, with tall trees on both sides.

The plan here was to hit the ball over the trees on the right, about 10m to the right of the green and allow the wind to bring the ball back to the green. If you can’t hit the length just play the ball right up the middle.

The green was narrow and long. It had a

January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

5

slight downhill slope so if you are the back of the green be careful when putting as the ball takes off quickly with a slight tap.

Luckily for me I hit the ball right of the green, pin high and chipped it in for a birdie which was exciting after a bit of a drive at the end of the day.

From here it was just a short drive from Border Village to Eucla only 13km, where we stayed for the night.

DAY 2 Just past the Eucla Roadhouse and 5km up a dirt road, we arrived at first hole of the day, which also shares with the rifle range!

Eucla Roadhouse Hole 7: Nullarbor Nymph – Par 4 – 315m This hole is wide open, completely flat, and in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

This was quite deceiving, and looked a lot further than 315m. But once we played our tee shot and arrived at the ball we realized it wasn’t as far as we thought.

Once you have played your tee shot you jump back in the car and drive along the dirt road along the side of the fairway. Shots to the green are pretty straightforward here, and you don’t have too much blocking your shot into the green.

Just make sure you tee up along the fairway, the fairway is made up of tufts of grass lots of dirt and broken discs from the rifle range.

Another synthetic grass green. Again, keeps its line, so lots of fun to putt on.

Mundrabilla Roadhouse Hole 8: Watering Hole – Par 4 – 330m This hole is a dogleg left, so you can follow the dusty fairway or you can cut the corner.

There were a few emus wandering around on the fairway but disappeared when we were ready to tee off.

We cut the corner on this hole and had a 95m shot into the green. Again the green was synthetic grass, the pin was the middle

right of the green. There are white posts with red reflectors on them that show you the way along the fairway.

Fairways are mostly dirt and tufts of dry grass.

Madura Roadhouse Hole 9: Brumby’s Run – Par 3 – 125m You tee off on the green synthetic grass mat, uphill towards the hole (hint: use one extra club). There are some trees on either side but you do have a pretty straight shot to the green.

The green is tiered so best to hit the ball to the middle of the green and allow the ball to run to the flag which is positioned to the back of the green.

Great par 3 hole, great fun to play.

Cocklebiddy Roadhouse Hole 10: Eagles Nest – Par 4 – 347m There is a ladies tee on this hole…100 metres closer so it’s only 247m. Both of the

tees are on a synthetic green square mat.

From the tee it is pretty straight forward, you hit straight up the middle of the fairway then second shot onto the green. Sounds simple doesn’t it?

Except if you are my hubby, he likes a bit more adventure…he hit his shot into the scrub on the left, and encountered a brown snake! He thought he might prod it, just to check if it was dead. But through his better judgement he thought it was best to leave the ball and the snake where they are!

So if you hit it up the fairway you will be fine, the fairway is about 20 metres wide, so you will be fine. Synthetic grass green to finish off your putt.

Caiguna Roadhouse Hole 11: 90 Mile Straight – Par 4 – 310m Despite being near the 90 mile straight road, the golf hole is by no means straight (dogleg left). So you need to play the ball up the middle of the fairway, because you are

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6

INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | January 2014

really blind on the tee. Check out on the hole sign before you tee off and trust the sign.

There is a small bush right up the middle of the fairway, use that as your line as once you get past that you will see the green from there.

It’s about 100m shot from the corner.

It’s a tricky one, though, as there are quite a number of trees on each side of the dirt fairway, and you have a narrow space to get through.

Once you get to the green the pin is left middle on synthetic grass turf.

small scrub tree on the left. In-between it is a big red dot on a sign, once you spot that you can see the yellow flag just in front of it.

This is the most challenging hole thus far, no room for error…just hit it straight up over the trees straight and you will be fine.

Oh yeah, beware of the snakes…we haven’t encountered one on this hole but they do suggest keep your eyes peeled.

From here we drove to Fraser Range Sheep Station…it is another 90km drive in which we stayed for the night.

Balladonia Roadhouse Hole 12: Skylab – Par 3 – 175m Even though the sign explains why this hole is called Skylab, my interpretation is that you have to get the ball airborne, up over the trees and the scrub to get the ball down to the green.

The only way you can see the flag is between a large tree on the right and a

Fraser Range Station Hole 13: Sheep’s Back - Par 3 - 141m We started at 6.30am on this hole. A bit of a cool wind.

This hole is a straight hole, slight downhill shot, so my suggestion is chose a club one to two clubs shorter depending on the wind.

The ball does run a bit being downhill.

The synthetic grass green has a left-to-right

DAY 3

turn if you are at the front of the green.

Fantastic hole, though. You are playing in the middle of nowhere but for the odd kangaroo that hops past.

From here it was about a 90km drive onto Norseman.

Norseman Golf Club Hole 14: Ngadju - Par 5 - 463m This is at the golf club which is barren and sparse, just up towards the salt lakes (no water in the lakes, though).

I loved the hole. All you really need to do is play the ball up the right side of the fairway.

You will need three good shots to the green.

It does dogleg left, but once you get past the corner all you need to do is play to the middle of the synthetic grass green.

It is really a great golf hole, if they were able to grow grass it would be an incredible hole.

Hole 15: Golden Horse - Par 4 - 385m.

This hole takes you back the Norseman Golf Clubhouse.

Again you need to play your tee shot down the right-hand side of the fairway, as it has a sharp dogleg left to the synthetic grass green.

The green is really tucked away on the lefthand side of the fairway so is a real challenge.

Both theses holes were really great to play on, you had to be very strategic to where you played your shot. Both holes you need to play up the right side of the fairway to give yourself an opportunity to play at the green.

The other groovy thing here you can drive your car up the side of both fairways. Who needs a golf cart when you can use your car!

Next: on to Kambalda, approximately 130km.

Kambalda Golf Club Hole 16: Silver Lake - Par 4 - 392m You know that you are in the desert here.

We got here around 11.30am to play this hole...it was mighty hot. Make sure you put sunscreen on for this hole, you can burn within 5 minutes.

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January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

7

When we teed off, a few members had just come in, we now know why they were finishing up… it was so hot!!

This hole you play up the dirt (desert).

There are both men’s and ladies tees. Ladies tees are about 50m forward. You get a lot of run here. You need to play your tee shot up the right-hand side of the fairway, as it is a dogleg hole to the left.

You should be able to get around the 150m mark, then you have a clear shot to the green...well the dirt green. There are two dirt mounds just in front of the green, so if you can hit the ball in between these the ball should run up to the green.

Just make sure you take a towel with you for the sand scraper, as when you have the desert sun boiling down over the top it is a little hot to handle.

Back in the air conditioned car (with an

ice cold bottle of water) for our last 50km drive to Kalgoorlie.

Kalgoorlie Golf Club Loved coming into Kalgoorlie Golf Club, as it was exciting to finish the last two holes here. We played holes 1 & 2 here (our 17th and 18th of the Nullarbor Links Course.)

Hole17: CY O’Conor - Par 4 - 319m This is the first hole of the Kalgoorlie Golf Club. They have tees set up for men and women, plus a hole set up for the Nullarbor links which we played off the white markers.

This hole has grass (actual grass!) out in the desert. The fairway is lush and easy to play off, however if you hit your ball off the fairway then you have hit the hard dirt of the desert. And the desert is that red hard dirt, so a little challenging to hit off, but if you keep

your head down and focus you can play the shot that you want.

To play this hole hit your tee shot straight down the middle of this fairway, your second shot hit to the middle of the green. You do encounter bunkers on the left side of the green for the first time on the Nullarbor Links Course. However, you can play the ball up the right-hand side of the fairway keeping you clear of the bunkers so that you ball can run up onto the green.

Hole 18: Golden Mile - Par 5 - 450m This par-5 hole doglegs right. You will see two bunkers up the left-hand side of the fairway so you will need to line up to hit the ball to the right bunker down that left-hand side. You have many gum trees on your right with one huge tree on the corner so you will want to hit at that bunker.

However if you are a big hitter you can

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clear the trees and cut the corner.

Your second shot again play straight up the fairway and third shot onto the green.

And we’re done!

You can do the Nullarbor Links quite comfortably in three days. We took longer throughout the days as I was videoing and taking photos of each hole as I wanted to share the experience.

We felt as though we played a threeday tournament, but it is well worth the adventure. If you are used to grass on the fairways and greens, The Nullarbor Links course will be like nothing you have ever played before. It is a whole new experience.

For photos and videos from this trip, visit www.insidegolf.com.au. For more on the Nullarbor Links Golf Course, visit www.nullarborlinks.com. •

JOHN DUNPHY’S

Thailand Getaway Golf Tours iin association i ti with ith Asian A i Traveller T ll Pty Pt Ltd Lic Li No N 2TA4603

HUA HIN

Men’s Sept 2014 9 Day Golf Tour of Hua Hin Narooma on the NSW South Coast is an outstanding holiday destination in all seasons with local attractions including Montague Island, Gulaga, the Mill Bay Boardwalk, Australia Rock, the heritage villages of Central Tilba and the beautiful local beaches.

There are also so many activities to enjoy - from bushwalking, mountain biking to whale watching, kayaking, surfing and, of course, Narooma Golf Club.

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www.thailandgetawaygolftours.com.au 8

INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | January 2014

11th hole, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand

18th hole, Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort & Spa, Hua Hin, Thailand

ASIA

11th hole, Dalit Bay Golf Club, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

18 HOLES IN

16th hole Danang Golf Club, Danang, Vietnam

You don’t have to look far to find great golf holes in Asia.

Visually and technically, they’re among the best on the planet.

Here is a selection of 18 that will excite any golfer who steps on to the tee.

11th hole, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand This is a deceptive and tricky par-3 with water at the front and right. An extra club is always advisable as there is plenty of landing room at the back of a large green.

Play short right or left, where there is bush and rocks, and there is certain disaster. The pin is often placed at the front of the green, which induces short shots.

18th hole, Chiangmai Highlands Golf Resort & Spa, Hua Hin, Thailand The mid-length par-5 is one of the great finishing holes in Asia. A steep slope to a creek, about 60 yards in front of the elevated green, makes you think hard about your second or third shot. Long hitters can make the green in two, but it requires two very precise shots.

11th hole, Dalit Bay Golf Club, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia This par-3 is not a difficult hole, but causes more trouble than it should. Playing over the mouth of a river flowing into the South China Sea, it is well protected by bunkers and plays longer than it looks, especially from the back tee.

16th hole Danang Golf Club, Danang, Vietnam Undoubtedly the signature hole on the Greg Norman-designed layout, the hole

plays towards the Cham Islands to a frontsloping green that has enough undulations to make two putts more demanding than usual. Visually, this hole is a photo opportunity few visitors can pass up.

17th hole, Hanazono Golf Club, Niseko, Japan Another par-3 that is a real test for players of all levels. Surrounded by pines and ash trees, with a lake in front and bunkers back right, the hole plays 180 yards from the blue tees and requires a particularly good shot to hit the green. Many shots end short and right, suggesting an extra club is usually needed.

13th hole, Honghe Spring Golf Club, Mile, China This long par-5 with two doglegs plays to a well-protected green with great views to the lake and city of Mile in Yunnan province. Although a relatively flat hole on an otherwise highly undulating course, its mounded fairway and tight green make par a tough assignment in any conditions.

7th hole, Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, Hue, Vietnam Sir Nick Faldo used all his guile and the natural environment to create this great par-4 hole that plays across a creek from the tee, with a long natural fairway bunker down most of the right side. Fairway mounds

make for often tricky lies. The large green sits at a 45-degree angle to the fairway. A back right pin position is particularly tough.

17th hole, Hanazono Golf Club, Niseko, Japan

16th hole, Mission Hills China, Haikou, China – Blackstone Course This par-4 that plays towards the clubhouse and hotel is the first of three great finishing holes on a monster layout that hosted the Tiger vs Rory match in October and the World Cup in 2011. Playing over and beside lava rock, it requires a perfectly placed tee shot and approach to hit the green and shoot par.

15th hole Mission Hills China, Dongguan – Olazabal Course Jose Maria Olazabal was renowned as a great bunker player. He left no doubt about this when designing this sweeping par-5 hole. Playing to a wide fairway from the tee, the hole gets trickier with the second and third shots as it swings hard left, with water and bunkers protecting even slightly stray shots. A real beauty.

12th hole Montgomerie Links Vietnam, Danang, Vietnam A visually deceptive hole, this par-5 plays uphill towards the clubhouse and gives the appearance from the tee that there is no landing area for the second shot. In fact, there is ample room as you long as you don’t stray left or play short. The deep bunkers

13th hole, Honghe Spring Golf Club, Mile, China

7th hole, Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, Hue, Vietnam

January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

9

16th hole, Mission Hills China, Haikou, China – Blackstone Course

15th hole New Kuta Golf Club, Pecatu, Bali, Indonesia

15th hole Mission Hills China, Dongguan – Olazabal Course

12th hole Montgomerie Links Vietnam, Danang, Vietnam

on this hole make it imperative to play safe or be precise as you approach the green.

15th hole New Kuta Golf Club, Pecatu, Bali, Indonesia This short par-3 can be a monster in the wind. Although only 115 yards from the middle tees, its exposed green results in many shots straying right in the wind, requiring an often difficult uphill chip to the pin. The rest stop on the tee of this hole is one of the best positioned in Asia – a perfect place to contemplate the shot ahead.

7th hole Pan Pacific Nirwana Golf Club, Bali, Indonesia Undoubtedly, one of the great par-3s of Asia, this hole plays over a bay on the Indian Ocean to a fast sloping green. The Tanah Lot temple on the left provides a wonderful aura about this hole which – along with three other oceanside holes – brings golfers back to the course time and time again.

5th hole Siam Country Club, Pattaya, Thailand – Plantation Course 10th hole Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket, Thailand Built on top of a ridge, this par-4 swings to the left after the tee shot to a green nestled beside a lake and protected by bunkers on both sides. A very precise second shot is required on the 400-yard-plus hole that plays to a greater degree of difficulty than its Index 8 rating.

5th hole Siam Country Club, Pattaya, Thailand – Plantation Course A sea of bunkers awaits as you tee off on the steep par-5 hole that plays to an elevated green at the highest point of the course. You can choose a right or left option, the latter being most advisable because it reduces the slope for the second shot. A second set of bunkers can trap shorter second shots so it is important to hit long and left from the tee.

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10

INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | January 2014

Eagle hole, Sky Oasis Golf Resort, Kunming, China

10th hole Red Mountain Golf Club, Phuket, Thailand

Eagle hole, Sky Oasis Golf Resort, Kunming, China Although not officially part of the course at the 36-hole complex north of Kunming, the Eagle hole has attracted plenty of attention and comment. Designed by Cynthia Dye, the scalloped and eagle-beak bunkers create a visually stunning effect.

The elevated tee shot plays 140-145 yards to the green. The hole can be played by visitors for an extra fee.

9th hole Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, Kunming China – Lake Course This par-5 plays beside the lake at the lowest point of the remarkable Robert Trent-Jones layout. Autumn flowers add to the colour and appeal of the hole, with the green nestled right beside the lake.

7th hole, Stoneforest International Country Club, Kunming, China – A Course The fortress-like rocks behind the green on this downhill par-3 are a perfect backdrop for one of the most stunning holes on this remarkable golf course. The small pot

7th hole Pan Pacific Nirwana Golf Club, Bali, Indonesia

9th hole Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, Kunming China – Lake Course

7th hole, Stoneforest International Country Club, Kunming, China – A Course bunker in front of the green captures a disproportionately high number of tee shots.

Although not a difficult hole, it is one of the most spectacular in Asia.

6th hole Thai Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand Named as one of the best par-3 holes in Asia, the long sixth hole at Thai CC requires a hybrid or fairway wood for most players.

Consequently, the degree of error is large, causing many shots to finish short or in the water to the right of the green.

6th hole Thai Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand

January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

11

Playing the Old Course at

ST ANDREWS The Old Course at St Andrews is the most famous course in golf, yet it’s surprisingly easy to get on, as Matt Cleary discovers.

T

he Old Course at St Andrews is the world’s oldest and best links.

Considered the “Home of Golf”, it’s a melange of gorse and dunes and rolling fairways with bumps and burns and fiendish small-round pot-bunkers with steep, riveted faces.

Populating the place are squinting old Scots, marshals who sit on stick-seats in Tam o’Shanters smoking pipes and asking slow players to “hurry along”, rolling their “R”s like boulders tumbling down a hill. Indeed if the first-tee announcer called a two-ball of Roger Rasheed and Roger Rogerson it would sound like six minutes of thunder.

The town itself is a charming old joint of haunted houses and grey-stone blocks with that European oldness so different to the polished chrome in our sunny New World.

It’s quaint and good, and you’ll be inexorably drawn to buy tartan-themed merchandise.

My brother and I arrive on Good Friday and add our names to the ballot for a tee-time the next day. As you can imagine, it’s a pretty popular course, hosting 45,000 rounds each year - despite being closed on Sundays. The bloke in the starter’s box tells us that if we aren’t chosen in the ballot, then we should turn up early next day and wait for no-shows.

Needless to say, we aren’t hopeful.

We head to the Jigger Inn and drink pints of ale while talking golf with Antoinette from Ireland. She’s managed the pub for 20 years and chirruped away with every “name” in the game, taking the piss out of Tiger and Shark and the great Golden Bear.

And so we eat a delicious haddock chowder they call a “Cullen skink” – named because it was invented in Cullen, and skink is what they call chowder. We dip into it with warm black bread lathered with melted butter. We take our pints outside and sit on a fence by the Road Hole and watch approach shots. It’s sunny, cold, dry and crisp, an alfresco golf-drinking heaven.

And then we get the news: we’re on! Teeoff is 11:46 tomorrow. Happy days!

Next day, we’re up at 5am with excitement and jet-lag. We watch the sun creep over St Andrews and bathe the course in turquoise and promise. The course reveals its curves, bumps and burns (pronounced b’rr’ns) like a wise, noble, incredibly beautiful woman. We breakfast on black- and white-pudding and (tasty) haggis. There are pots of tea and smoky bacon and slabs of bread with butter. They know comfort food in this part of the world.

And then it’s on to the golf! After two hours warming up in the excellent Golf Practice Centre and standing around not knowing what to do with one’s hands, we meet our playing partners, Ben and John Hillard, a father-son duo from Melbourne.

Ben’s a greenkeeper here and plays for free, making him probably the luckiest backpacker in Britain.

And so we stand on the first tee of the Old Course, St Andrews and gaze down the fairway with slack-jawed awe. And we wonder: how on Earth did Ian Baker-Finch hook one out of bounds? You’d more likely crash into a tree on Lake Eyre.

Yet I’m shaking as I line up 3-wood and prepare to bomb away. Somehow I make sweet contact, knocking the ball out fairway right before Swilcan Burn.

I then nip my 9-iron off the cold, tight fescue-bent, the ball landing middle-green.

My putt from 25 feet slides across the billiardtable to tap-in distance, and I make a par on the first at the Old Course at St Andrews. And

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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | January 2014

this, at this stage in my life, is the greatest thing I have ever done.

A salty rain soon whips in and we’re into the wet gear. This is Scotland, and if you didn’t get rain you’d feel ripped off. The round progresses in a conga-line of highlights: The club-head of my hybrid machetes through long grass...Tim drives the ninth green...On a demented kidney-shaped green the size of Lichtenstein, Tim makes bogey with a 300foot three-putt that has to travel around a bunker.

On the eleventh, a brilliant par-3 with a green sloping back to front with several gradients, I find the longest, steepest putt I have ever faced. It’s like being in Row A at Suncorp and putting up to Row QQ. I smash the heck out of it and send the ball whistling up the slope, past the hole, between my caddy’s legs and over the back of the green.

I record double-bogey. Unlike Bobby Jones I do not tear up my card.

On the aptly-named “Long”, a 618-yard par-5, I hit two drivers under the salty wet

wind and end up in Hell Bunker, the trap Jack Nicklaus once couldn’t get out of until he’d had four shots. Me? Hell schmell, George Pell. I nip out a four-iron and end up with par. Happy days!

And then we come to the Road Hole.

The 17th at the Old Course is 495 yards and is golf’s oldest and best par-4. Known as the “Road Hole”, it is so flat-out gobdangling good that passers-by will stop and watch you play it. Whether you’re a PGA pro or a chopper from Charleville, you’ll be on the Road Hole and people will nudge each other and whisper “Look – he’s playing the Road Hole. Let’s watch.”

And so they watch. And you play your shot.

And if you hit a good one, they may applaud.

Why? Because it’s the Road Hole!

Your tee-shot must cut a corner off the Road Hole Hotel in order to find a thin bumpy fairway. The green is angular and raised and bordered by a famous bunker, aptly named “Road Hole Bunker” and an old stone wall called “old stone wall”.

Shaking (again) from mid-fairway, I somehow spank a 3-wood, finishing pinhigh just before the little round bunker that Costantino Rocca took three shots to get out of, gifting an Open play-off to John Daly in 1990. I roll my putt up the greenside bump and finish 12-feet from the flag. One putt and I’ll par the Road Hole. Come on, baby.

Please let me par the Road Hole. Please, baby, please…

I line it up. I stand over the ball. I pull the trigger, set the ball in motion. It tracks across the slight left-to-right break and starts to fall. Can we? Can we... par the road hole…?

Oh, momma. Yes. We. Can. And I am telling everybody.

But it gets better. On the tee at 18, Tim sends his drive into Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, and everyone laughs their head off. We take photos on Swilcan Bridge where Jack and Arnie and Old Tom Morris have stood and posed. “How good is this?” we beam.

And on the same closing hole that Seve Ballesteros sunk a 10-foot curler to record

12-under and win the ’84 Open, I smack a driver up the left, clear the Valley of Sin with an 8-iron that stiffs to 3-feet, walk (make that “float”) to the green, wave my tartan-themed visor at the busload of politely-applauding tourists, and putt out for a brilliant birdiethree. Oh, yeah baby. And that’s a nine-over 81. Rory McIlroy had an 81 in Round Two of The Open in 2010. Dear sweet Superman and Dennis Lillee, how I love this game.

As we do our “post-mortem” of the round back in the Jigger, my brother and I are in agreement: We have to come back. “We’ll bring the families. Tell them it’s a beach holiday,” he says somewhat evilly, pointing at the cold grey wet slab of sand, the wind flinging stinging needles like tiny hail. “I don’t care if we have to trick them. Actually, stuff it – we’ll just emigrate!” And we cackle like fiends.

You must play the Old Course. You must.

Buy a plane ticket, book accommodation and just play it. It is flat-out the greatest thing you will ever do in this sporting life.

CENTARA WORLD MASTERS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 15-21 June 2014 | Hua Hin, Thailand

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13

Golf on the Murray:

Albury Commercial Golf Resort

WITH a charming mix of country life and a modern city, Albury‘s Commercial Golf Resort offers visitors superb golf courses featuring wonderful greens that are regarded as the best in country NSW. Championship and casual golfers will be challenged along the picturesque treelined fairways and well-placed bunkers. The

panoramic views and immaculate courses will ensure all golfers have a great day on the greens.

The scenic Commercial Golf Resort is an 18-hole championship course of 5774m for the men and 5151m for the ladies.

Undulating in parts, golfers should not be fooled by its shorter length; it requires

pinpoint accuracy with its well-guarded treelined fairways and the greens are always a favourite with their quick pace and true roll.

Several feature holes, particularly the 3rd, provide a test for all golfers. While only measuring 355m, the 3rd is rated the most difficult on the course. It is a dogleg right

with large gum trees protecting the right side and a deep storm water drain crossing the fairway 30m short of the green which is long and narrow with bunkers both sides, requiring solid shot making and a deft putting touch.

Players of all levels will enjoy the challenge at the heart of their game.

Overlooking the illustrious course, diners can enjoy appetising modern-Australian cuisine on the cool and laid-back balcony as they keep an eye on the golfing competition.

With comfortable quality 3 1/2 star accommodation only 100m from the golf clubhouse in a quiet picturesque location, the resort features luxurious double, twin and family rooms. Catering for tourists, business clients, families and golfers, the rooms are modern and spacious with queen beds, reverse-cycle air conditioning, internet and stylish appointments and features.

Enjoy native bushland and panoramic views while having a BBQ in the landscaped grounds or take a dip in the large in-ground swimming pool as the water washes away your cares. Only minutes from the airport and railway there are great value golf and accommodation packages available to suit all tastes.

Albury Commercial Golf Resort Address: 530 North Street, Albury NSW 2640 Phone: 02 6057 2800 Fax: 02 6041 3468 Proshop: 02 6057 2801 Email: proshop@commclubalbury.com.au Website: www.commclubalbury.com.au •

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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | January 2014

Enjoy world-class golf via

‘BABY BOOMER’ TOURS

Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona, is one of the amazing golf courses on offer from EWT EVENTS Worldwide Travel (EWT) has released their 2014 and 2015 premium Platinum Escorted Golf Tours. In all, there are 5 high-end tours visiting some of the most exotic golf locations in the world.

The Hawaiian Islands tour departs 30th March to 13th April 2014 and visits Oahu, Maui, L’anai and Kauai. This is a world-class tour staying at the Westin Moana Surfrider in Waikiki, the Ritz Carlton Kapalua in Maui, the Four Seasons in Lanai and the Marriott Lagoons in Kauai with Ocean view rooms throughout. Golf includes; Ko’olina, Arnold Palmer at Turtle Bay, the Plantation and Bay courses at Kapalua, The Challenge at Manele Bay on Lanai, the Lagoons and Poipu on Kauai. The tour cost is $9,698 per person (but is virtually sold out.)

18-28 May sees a ten-night Bangkok and Hua Hin tour.

Hua Hin was recently voted best golf resort in Asia. This tour stays at the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok and the deluxe Hilton resort in Hua Hin. Golf includes the Alpine Club and Thai Country Clubs in Bangkok and Springfield, Majestic Creek, The Banyan Golf Club and Black Mountain in Hua Hin with breakfasts, transfers, golf and extras all for $3,798 per person twin share.

Next, the Platinum Experience heads for Scottsdale and Las Vegas, 11-22 October, staying at the luxurious Four Seasons at Troon North and the Four Seasons Las Vegas.

Golf includes the Monument and Pinnacle courses at Troon North, We Ko Pa Saguaro, TPC Stadium, Talking Stick North and Kierland courses in Scottsdale followed by Royal Links and the amazing Wolf Creek at Mesquite. This tour is on sale now for $7,998 per person twin share.

Moving into 2015 the Platinum Experience heads for Vietnam and Cambodia, 1-15 April, where guests will stay at the Park Hyatt Saigon, Vin Pearl Resort, the Fusion Maia in Hoi An, the Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi then in Cambodia at the Raffles Grand D’ Angkor. Golf on this tour includes; Vietnam Country Club, Vin Pearl, Montgomerie Links, Danang Golf Club (Greg Norman), Laguna Land Co (Nick Faldo), Kings Island in Hanoi plus Booyung and Angkor Golf resort in Siem Reap. In between it’s the fantastic sights and sounds of Indochina every step of the way. This trip of a lifetime is selling at just $3,798 per person.

Finishing off 2015 the Experience heads to the USA again for Seattle, the US Open, Whistling Straits and Chicago.

Accommodation is top notch with the Four Seasons Seattle, the American Club at Whistling Straits and the Ritz Carlton in Chicago. Golf courses include Washington National, Newcastle in Seattle then the Irish Course, River Course and Whistling Straits itself capping off an amazing tour where guests can visit the US Open and then play the 2015 PGA Tour course. This tour is selling now at $10,596 per person.

All Platinum Experience Tours are escorted by EWT Founders and owners Glenn and Gayle Hedley who play with the group throughout and share their experiences with the touring party. All internal flights and highlight meals are included. Non-golfers can also attend and green fees will be removed from the package with a replacement sightseeing concierge service.

Numbers are capped at 20 guests, 5 groups of four and are generally mixed couples with competitions, some group dinners, breakfast daily and all golf including range balls, merchandise and transport.

These “baby boomer tours” are absolutely first class and are GUARANTEED to depart giving comfort and security when booking. www.events.com.au, 1300 788 666 toll free AEST •

January 2014 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

15

November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL

3

demo dates Callaway

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Location

Day

Big Bertha & X2Hot Demo Day New South Wales Wagga Wagga Country Club Belmont Golf club Merewether Golf Club Drummond Golf Newcastle Avondale Golf Club Moore Park Driving Range Morisset Golf Club Waratah Golf Club Drummond Golf Fyshwick Canterbury Golf Course Canberra International Golf Centre Driving Range Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club Monash Country Club Drummond Golf Dee Why Golf Paradise Terrey Hills Sharks Driving Range Tewantin Noosa Golf Club The Ridge Golf Driving Range The Custom Golf Shop Queensland Coolangatta Tweed Heads Golf Club Indooroopilly Golf Club Mt Warren Park Golf Course Nudgee Golf Club Caloundra Golf Club Horton Park Golf Club Gympie Golf Club Southport Golf Club Surfers paradise Golf Club Golf Central Driving Range Palm Meadows Driving Range Victoria / Tasmania Sorento Golf Club Yering Golf Club Victoria Golf Club Metropolitan Golf Club The Peninsula Country Golf Club (Members Only) Kingston Heath Golf Club Long Island Country Club Western Australia Royal Perth Golf Club Wembley Golf Course Spalding Park Golf Club Geraldton Golf Club Collier Park Golf Course Wanneroo Golf Club Whaleback Golf Course fitting days New South Wales Nelson Bay Golf Club * ‡ Manly Golf Club (Members Only) * ‡ Cumberland Golf Club * ‡ Terry Hills Golf & Country Club (Members Only) * ‡ Maitland GC * ‡ Everglades Golf Club * ‡ Avondale Golf Club (Members Only) * ‡ Moore Park Driving Range * ‡ Pymble GC (Members Only) * Canterbury Golf Course * New South Wales Golf Club * Camden Golf Club * Links @ Shell Cove Golf Club * Tocumwal Golf Club * Royal Sydney Golf Club (members only) * Bexley Golf Club * Liverpool Golf Club * Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club * Victoria/Tasmania Flinders Golf Club * The National Golf Club * Sorrento Golf Club * Barwon Heads Golf Club * Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club * Portarlington Golf Club * Lonsdale Golf Club * Lonsdale Golf Club * Clifton Springs Golf Course * Mansfield Golf Club * Black Bull Golf Club * Riverside Golf and Tennis Centre Ascot Vale *

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

January 14 January 15 January 16 January 16 January 16 January 16 January 17 January 17 January 20 January 21 January 21 January 22 January 22 January 22 January 22 January 23 January 28 January 29 January 30

Friday Wednesday Friday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday

January 17 January 22 January 24 January 24 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 30 January 30 January 31 January 31

4 - 7pm 10am - 12pm 3 - 6pm 2 - 5pm 1.30 - 4.30pm 9.30 - 12pm 2 - 5pm 10am - 1pm 2pm - 6pm 2pm - 5pm 3 - 6pm

Friday Wednesday Thursday Friday Thursday Wednesday Thursday

January 10 January 15 January 16 January 17 January 23 January 29 January 30

1 - 5pm 11am - 1pm 10am - 1pm 11am - 1pm 11am - 1pm 11am - 1pm 11am - 1pm

Wednesday Saturday Monday Tuesday Friday Wednesday Wednesday

January 08 January 11 January 13 January 14 January 17 January 29 January 29

2 - 4pm 4 - 7pm 12 - 6pm 12 - 6pm 2 - 5pm 2 - 4pm 7 - 11pm

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

January 07 January 08 January 09 January 10 January 14 January 15 January 16 January 16 January 17 January 21 January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 31

3 - 5pm 3 - 5pm 3 - 5pm 5.30 - 7.30pm 8am - 12pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 11pm 3 - 5pm 4 - 6pm 12 - 3pm 4 - 6pm 10am - 12pm 9.30am - 12pm 1 - 3pm 4 - 6pm 5 - 8pm 9am - 12pm 4 - 6pm 4.30 - 7.30pm

10am - 3pm 8am - 2pm 12 - 6pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 9am - 2pm 8am - 12pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 3pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 2pm 7am - 12pm 10am - 3pm 8.30am - 1pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 2pm 10am - 3pm

Location

Day

New South Wales Illawarra Golf Complex ◊* Castle Hill Country Club ⁰ The Ridge Driving Range ⁰ Kurri Kurri Golf Club ◊* Warath Golf Club ◊* Georges River Golf Club ⁰ Bayview Golf Club ◊* New South Wales Golf Club ◊* Killara Golf Club ◊* Thornleigh Golf Centre ◊* Mona Vale Golf Club ◊* Maitland Golf Club ◊* Shortland Waters Golf Club ◊* Merewether Golf Club ◊* Port MacQuarie Driving Range ◊* Queensland Palm Meadows Driving Range ⁰ Victoria House of Golf - Long Island ◊* Yarra Bend Driving Range ⁰ Sorrento Golf Club ◊* National Golf Club ◊* Sandringham Driving Range ⁰ Portarlington Golf Club ◊* Lonsdale Golf Club ◊* Barwon Heads Golf Club ◊* Kooringal Golf Club ◊*

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

January 07 January 08 January 08 January 09 January 10 January 20 January 21 January 22 January 23 January 23 January 24 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 31

10am - 2pm 9am - 1pm 4 - 7pm 11am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 2 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 1pm 8am - 1pm 5 - 8pm 8am - 1pm 11am - 4pm 9am - 3pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 3pm

Friday

January 31

1 - 5pm

Thursday Thursday Friday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Tuesday

January 09 January 09 January 10 January 11 January 15 January 16 January 17 January 18 January 21

10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 5 - 7.30pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm

STEP UP To the Grain Forged Feel of MP-54 Grain Flow Forged at Mizuno’s exclusive foundry in Hiroshima, Japan - the new MP-54 with Step Muscle will awaken the shotmaker in you.

mizuno.com.au/golf

STEP UP

Thursday January 02 10am - 2pm Friday January 03 10am - 4pm Saturday January 04 1 - 6pm Wednesday January 08 8am - 2pm To the Grain Forged Feel MP-54 Thursday January 09 10amof - 2pm Friday January 17 9am - 12pm Grain Flow Forged at Mizuno’s exclusive foundry in Friday January 17 1.30 - 5.30pm Hiroshima, Japan - the new MP-54 with Step Muscle Friday will awaken theJanuary 17 in you. 2 - 5pm shotmaker Saturday January 18 10am - 2pm Wednesday January 22 11am - 3pm Friday January 24 10am - 2pm Thursday January 30 4 - 7pm

mizuno.com.au/golf

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. °Ping Demo day. ◊ Ping Fitting. ‡ Callaway X2Hot Fitting Day Demo dates subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

71

golf directory The complete golf fitness system Now offers

BA NK STOWN GOL F CLUB

MEMBERSHIPS NOW OPEN

“the Tpi golf screen”

This has been referred as one of the most valuable tools in your tool box.

We guarantee to improve your golf.  Golf Screening  Golf Physiotherapy  Golf Massage  Golf Pilates  Golf Yoga www.completegolffitness.com.au

New Sunday/Public holiday memberships only $1220, great value. Only $23.50 per week, competition fees only $6, pay by the month plans available.

To book your golf screen conTacT Trish on

0432 142 853

Phone (02) 9773 0628 Enquiries: info@bankstowngolf.com.au

www.completegolffitness.com.au

Port Stephens Golfing Holidays

Benalla Golf Club

pp $208 From share n twi week mid

Golf & Accommodation from only $70 per day

Three Day / Two Night Golf Package Includes: Unlimited golf, two nights accommodation, breakfast each morning, 2 x evening meals (vouchers up to the value of $20)

9 16 Golf courses including Horizons, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Muree, Tanilba, Cypress Lakes, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage, by boat to Hawks Nest & others

• Fully Irrigated Greens & Fairways • Full Bar & Bistro Facilities • Abundant Wildlife including Kangaroos

9 Play any day & with any number of people 9 Golf & accommodation from a choice of motels, hotels, units & resorts

www.facebook.com/golfpsgh

www.benallagolfclub.com.au (03) 5762 1920 | benagolf @bigpond.net.au

T: 02 4984 9618 | M: 0428 820 477 | info@psgh.com.au | www.psgh.com.au

“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag”

Yamba Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship golf course, located right in the heart of Yamba.

• clanging clubs • damaged irons • worn graphite shafts • frustration finding the right iron

• 18 hole golf course • Fully stocked ProShop • Tuition for all ages available • Motorised cart hire • In club dining at Fairways Bistro • Function room for weddings, special occasions or conferences • Live entertainment and activities throughout the week • Courtesy bus • Open 7 days a week • Stay and Play Packages available

Patented Softgrip Technology From the inventors oF the CaddyraCk

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

GET ORGANISED WITH

1300 738 557 • www.kahmagolf.com

River Street, Yamba NSW | Ph (02) 6646 2104 | www.yambagolf.com.au

Golf PackaGes • Play to your handicap or better and receive a dozen Pro-V’s • Challenge Winner (best nett score) wins a shirt, a Blue Marker Challenge ball marker and a dozen Pro-V’s • Best nett score by a visitor wins a dozen Pro-V’s • 6 NTP’s - win 3 Pro-V’s each • Break 80 nett and win a Pro-V

PLAYED LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

$30 VISITORS

“On COurse at Duntryleague”

“Rowan Cottage” is your ideal golfing destination located next door to the famous Duntryleague Guest House, approximately 3 ½ hour’s drive from Sydney.

Rowan Cottages is located only minutes to town in a quiet street where all Orange has to offer is at your fingertips.

Let us tailor your “Stay & Play Package” on Orange’s 3 Golf Courses: • Duntryleague • Wentworth Golf Club • Orange Ex-Services Country Club

packages starting from

$177pp

includes 2 nights and 3 days of golf on all 3 courses

Contact John on 0417 651 084 or Maureen 0417 651 005 Phone: (02) 6362 9146 • Email: rowancottage@live.com.au

www.rowancottage.com.au 72

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory

Stay and Play from $525 per person (quad share)*

Includes: • 5 nights accommodation in a 2 bedroom garden view apartment • Breakfast included • 3 rounds of golf (Noosa Springs, Tewantin/Noosa and Peregian Springs golf courses) *conditions apply

Motel Mulwala Golfing Mecca on the Murray 3.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation Pool, Austar with 25 channels, walk to pubs, clubs & restaurants We tailor golf packages to suit your needs, or try one of our standard packages conditions apply

$95pp twin share 1 nights accommodation, golf and Cooked Breakfast

$460pp twin share 5 nights accommodation, 4 days golf, 5 Cooked Breakfast & BBQ provisions for 1 night.

Group Bookings of 6 rooms or over, further discounts apply

Contact Nick or Soph to discuss your next golf trip Ph: (03) 5743 2555 Email: enquiry@paradisepalmsmulwala.com 121 Melbourne Street Mulwala NSW 2647

p: (07) 5449 7966 | e: holiday@munnabeach.com.au | www.munnabeach.com.au

www.paradisepalmsmulwala.com.au

LADIES MEMBERSHIP OPEN

No Nomination Fee (Save $440)

Ladies Competitions every Saturday from 9am till 11am and Tuesday from 8am till 9am.

Friday and Sunday Open Medley Competitions.

Subscription year is 1st October till 30th September.

36 Hole Club including 3 practise putting greens, 100m pitching green with bunkers, 250m driving range and fully licensed 1 level air conditioned clubhouse

Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated 1207 Nudgee Road NUDGEE QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 7744 Email: golf@nudgeegolf.com.au www.nudgeegolf.com.au

Crossword Answers S T A R V E D

H A D L A M I S C O O T S T

P R I C O A F I N I O T U N

L L O W A L A B I A W M R M T U R N B E I E Y R I T O R S G O A E L S R D I E N E E D S K I A T U S C A P T W K O K I E F O C U S R J H L A L H O L E T R E H R E E D I N N U R S

A M A A N R R Y O W N N A Y E D R A I N D U I N G C G A C E T T E R Y For advertising call 1300 465 300

Phone: 1800 159 942 sales@rikshagolf.com.au www.rikshagolf.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

73

golf directory FEEL CLEANER

LOOK CLEANER

Most effective way to remove sunscreen, dirt and oils

MySunscreen Remover ONLY $24.95

Available to leading golf shops or www.mysunscreenremover.com.au

Use Coupon Code* INGOLF1 for free shipping Valid until 31/3/14

›› Hole Out

Spectacular

Sapphire Coast Merimbula Mike McGuire & Yumi Yoshida

Great Golf Packages

LET US QUOTE YOUR OWN PACKAGE 4 NIGHTS ACCOM. 5 NIGHTS ACCOM. 3 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

$455 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

Buy online, mail, phone

4 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

FROM

02 6495 2366 0437 801 270 info@pacificheights.com.au www.pacificheights.com.au

FROM

1-7 Oceanview Ave, Merimbula NSW P: M: E: W:

•All golf courses within 20 minute drive •Heated year round pool •Free BBQ area •500m walk to restaurants •FSC Apartments & Munn Tower House •Sensational views of Village, Lake & Ocean

www.highteeladies.com.au Ph: 0419 501 229

$525 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

Pambula Merimbula GC • Eden Gardens GC • Bega Country Club • Tura Beach Country Club

Clearwater Noosa

Specialising in the best ‘Australia Wide ’ Play & Stay Golf Packages

Professionally planned and tailored golf escapes for your enjoyment Packages available Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast • Hunter Valley • Port Stephens • Mornington Peninsular • Tasmania • Cairns/Port Douglas • The Entrance • WA Golf • Barnbougle • Lost Farm • Saphire Coast • Murray River

Your choice of resort and club courses.

• Noosa Springs • Twin Waters • Club Pelican • Coolum Golf & Spa • Mt Coolum • Tewantin Noosa • Horton Park • Headland • Caloundra • Peregian Springs Some conditions apply

Quality accommodation, confirmed tee times, your choice of resort or local courses Every detail professionally arranged, leaving you nothing to do but arrive and have the time of your life!

We will tailor your package to suit any holiday plans or budget

Ph: (07) 3200 6557 M: 0418 713 620 F: (07) 3200 5731 sharon@uchoosegolf.com.au www.uchoosegolf.com.au 74

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

golf directory Gift Packs available Outlasts any Other glOve

*

Play & Stay for $120

(CSIRO tested and proven)

Package includes: • 2 games of golf • Meal • 1 night accommodation with continental breakfast

bersh em fro m

ips

M

*

$220

A

va

ila ble

$2495 +P&H

Play anytime - No waiting Howeston Golf Course

Established 1972 • Full length 27-hole course • Excellent greens • Professional tuition available • Clubs for hire • Open seven days - BYO • Electric golf carts available

Enquiries welcome $

16 Weekdays

20 Weekends & Public Holidays *

$

100A Creek Road, Birkdale, Qld | Phone (07) 3207-2452

*prices include GST

www.casinogolfclub.com.au

100% Kangaroo Premium Leather Competitive Grip Advantage Company logos available, ideal for golf days Available in left or right hand, sizes XXXS - XXXL • Your choice of black or white

Order online www.kakadugolfglove.com | Phone (07) 5450 7578

*Conditions apply

Casino Golf Club - West St, Casino NSW 2470 P: (02) 6662 1259 | E: admin@casinogolfclub.com.au

• • • •

The 17 City of Orange th

Veterans Golf Classic

Veterans Golf classic Played on the three Orange Golf Courses 54 Hole Tournament + 4BBB Event Scratch & Handicap & Daily Prizes Presentation Night Dinner Dance

Veterans Golf Classic MEn & LaDiES TOurnaMEnT 4 Days $120 | 3 Days $103 10th to 14th March 2014 Entries close 1st February 2014

For Entry Form & Conditions please contact: David Gunner: 6362 4125 | Email sleepyvalley@hotmail.com Peter Coleman: 6362 4086 | Email peter.coleman41@bigpond.com City of Orange Veterans Golf PO Box 9206 Orange 2800

Hosted: Under Auspices of the New South Wales Veteran Golfers Association Inc.

All packages are available for stays at either www.thebreakers.com.au or www.paradiseisles.com.au

Aquarius R

E

S

O

R

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

T

• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort.

• 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied).

• 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

Packages starting from:

• Free use of resort facilities, indoor gas heated pool, sauna & spa, full size tennis court, BBQ area and outdoor pool.

• Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share *Conditions apply

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Crn Dunns Lane & Arthur Kaine Drv, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

www.insidegolf.com.au | January 2014

75

golf directory

Golf Cart Slowing Down?

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

Need new batteries?

Don’t replace them… Restore them with the Battery Reviver.

The Battery Reviver can bring old batteries back to life by sending a high frequency pulse through the batteries dissolving the sulphate build up and turning the sulphur crystals back into sulphuric acid. The Battery Reviver is powered by your golf cart batteries and it can be left connected permanently to increase the life of your batteries by up to three times, or used occasionally to restore them.

30 DaY

For more information, pricing and to order Phone 1300 852 433 or visit our website www.batteryreviver.com.au

SatISfaCtIoN GUaraNtEE or YoUr MoNEY BaCK.

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

• • • •

Timeless Tuesday - Unlimited* Golf for ONLY $25 Golf Equipment for Hire & Sale Fully Licensed Clubhouse Social Clubs & Corporate Days

Visitors pay only $25 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

More social playing times now on a Monday & Thursday

start of our membership year, so why not consider membership at the beerwah Golf club

Biondi Crescent, Beerwah admin@beerwahgolfclub.com.au www.beerwahgolfclub.com.au

Ph: (07) 5494 0630 Golf Shop (07) 5494 6611

HUNTER VALLEY GOLF GETAWAYS Golf & AccommodAtion pAckAGes from Just $65pp Including • 18 Holes of Golf • Accommodation • Sleeps up to 40 people

Great traditional Country Style • Singles to Large Group Accommodation • Fantastic Location for Wineries/Golf Courses • Local Access to Stonebridge GC, The Vintage, Cypress Lakes G&CC and Hunter Valley G&CC

Live entertainment thurs - sat nights • The Award Winning Kurrajong Restaurant • Great Pub-Style Atmosphere • TAB • KENO

Ph: (02) 4990 1002 234 Wollombi Road, Cessnock, NSW 2325 cessnockhotel@outlook.com

Offered by LEMON TREE

PASSAGE MOTEL

A family run business for 18 years Best Service & Best Value Guaranteed

This Excellent Package includes • Twin share accommodation & cooked breakfast at Lemon Tree Passage Motel (3½ Star) • 18 Holes of golf (at the course of your choice) • $20 dinner voucher at a local restaurant • Non golfing partners catered for • Special arrangements/prices for groups • All golfers staying multiple nights during the week, pay only $50 for accomodation (twin share) including cooked breakfast

www.lemontreepassagemotel.com.au

(Between 9am - 9pm, 7 days) Ph 03 5873 4477 Fax 03 5873 4511

Golf Course Rd, Barooga NSW Contact michael@murrayrivergolf.com.au or visit our website

www.murrayrivergolf.com.au 76

January 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 465 300

McGill’s Transport Presents

Mt Broughton Ladies Classic Pro-am January 17th & 18th 2014

Australia’s Richest Ladies Pro-Am presented by

BONG BONG LANDSCAPE PTY LTD

COFFEE CULTURE BOWRAL

Golf Cars / Refreshers Shuttles Resort Vehicles / Utility Vehicles MAJOR BRANDS

E-Z-GO

BadBoy

Club Car

Yamaha

Cushman

WIDE RANGE OF

QUALITY

USED GOLF CARS

THIS MONTHS SPECIALS 4950

5950

3500

$

$

$

RXV 2 SEATER

RXV 2 SEATER

TXT 2 SEATER

Ivory 2009 Model with New Batteries. Includes Esky and sand bottles.

Red RXV with New Body, New Batteries, New Esky, New Bag Cover, Alloy Wheels and Flares.

2007 Almond TXT with New Batteries and Sand Bottles.

QUEENSLAND PH (07) 3807 8895

2750

$

4250

4950

$

$

NSW / ACT

PH (02) 8064 9950

CLUB CAR PRECEDENT 2006 White Precedent.

2010 Batteries and Split Windshield.

4900

$

RXV FREEDOM 2 SEATER 2009 Almond RXV. New Batteries, Split Windshield, Sand Bottles and Battery Filling System.

PETROL YAMAHA White 2011 Yamaha Petrol.

Fully Serviced. Split Windshield.

3500

2950

$

$

VICTORIA

PH (03) 9558 1211

RXV 2 SEATER

CLUB CAR PRECEDENT

CLUB CAR PRECEDENT

2009 Green RXV. New Batteries. Includes Rainbag Cover and Split Windshield.

2004 Club Car Precedent.

Rain Enclosure and Rain Bag Cover.

2005 Precedent.

2010 Batteries.

View our full range of quality used vehicles @ www.ezgo.com.au/used-cars QLD (07) 3807 8895 NSW/ACT (02) 8064 9950 WA (08) 9244 1727 SA (08) 8352 6622

VIC (03) 9558 1211 TAS (03) 6248 1481 NT (08) 8946 4480 Fiji (+679) 670 0955

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH

MAIL ORDER SALE!

269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 7 Days penrith_golf@iprimus.com.au

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted $7 NSW, $9 VIC & QLD, $10 SA, TAS, NT & WA Postage and handling any quantity.

Burner Irons + RBZ Hybrid TaylorMade Package

Callaway Graphite Set Bag + putter package 8 Graphite Irons 1 Hybrid Rescue 1 Graphite Driver 1 Graphite Fairway 1 Callaway Deluxe bag 1 Odyssey putter

7 Oversize head irons 5-Sand 1 Rescue Hybrid 4 Game improvement set

$899

Srixon Q Star Balls

$479

TaylorMade Burner balls

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

Great for golf ball competitions Bulk qty 144 balls ($15 a doz) Individually boxed

Distance ball with great feel

Doz

8 Irons 4-PW + Gap wedge Dynalite 90 Regular or Stiff shafts

$799

$499

SRIXON ALL WEATHER GLOVES Mens Left or Right White or Black Mens - S, M, ML, L, XL Ladies - S, M, L

5 FOR

Callaway Staff Tour Bag

Compact 8” diameter

SAVE $100

Pro Style 10” large diameter

Individually boxed

Black/Blue only 2012 Model

Cleveland Fairway Sale

22º loft Regular graphite Number 4 Replaces 3 iron Also available in Left Hand 19* #3 Regular Graphite Includes cover

$159

Tour Quality Balls | 4-piece urethane cover

$29

doz

Smoothy 3-Wheel Suspension buggy Seat Brake Black only

$229

19º Regular 15º Stiff 19º & 15º Ladies Right hand only

$149

Includes cover

TaylorMade 5 piece Tour Balls

Regular or Seniors Graphite Shafts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, pitching & sand wedges

$189

$119

Callaway Tour (i)Z and (i)S Balls Cleveland 588 Forged Wedges Forged & Soft feel Right and left Lob, Sand, Gap and Pitching wedges

$129

doz

doz

Cleveland Hybrid Iron 588 Altitude

TaylorMade RBZ Rescue Hybrid

$89ea $99ea $79ea $89ea $59ea $79ea

US Sizes: 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12

$249

$99

Optima TS+

$199

White or Black

$33 $31

Cleveland Premium 14 Way Bag

$20 Dozen Balls

FL Men’s Regular 5 or 7 Classic XL 15.5 3 wood FL Ladies 3, 5 or 7 DST Launcher Right hand CG Black Left hand FL Men’s Left hand

per dozen

TaylorMade R1 Staff Tour Bag

$45 $229

Callaway HX Diablo

$18

Mens or Ladies Soft Feel or AD333 144 Balls for $216

INC. POSTAGE ANYWHERE IN AUST

2 year waterproof BOA tightening system No traditional laces

TaylorMade RBZ Fairway

Srixon Ball Sale Individually boxed balls

Game improvement

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 7 Days

$189

$18 $180 Nike Covert VRS Irons

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

adidas BOA leather shoes

Lightweight steel shafts Regular Right hand only

Mens right only

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN

SAVE $50

$79

$89 each

Eagles & Birdies Cypress Point bag 14 Full length dividers Magnetic pockets Cooler pocket Lots of colours

SAVE$60

$199

TaylorMade RBZ Graphite Irons 4-SW 8 irons Long Distance irons Regular flex Graphite Shafts Right Hand

$799

$490