pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz
How did that ball get in my pocket?
By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ
Unbelievable.
That’s the only word to describe what happened to me on the golf course last month.
No it wasn’t a hole in one, nor was it a hole in two on a par five. It was more miraculous than either of those.
I was playing at my home club of Manor Park in Wellington and we were on the sixth tee waiting to play our shots.
The green of the fifth hole, which is a par three, is relatively close to the sixth tee and while we were waiting to play our shots there was a cry of fore came from the fifth tee.
We all went into a protection mode. I turned my back and bent my head down to hopefully avoid any injury from the errant shot.
We heard the ball hit the ground hard near us but when I turned around to see where the ball had finished, I couldn’t see it.
It was a cold morning and I had my hand in my right trouser pocket and when I pulled my hand out there was a ball in it.
That’s not my ball, I thought.
I asked my two playing partners where the errant tee shot had gone. No idea, they said.
I then showed them the ball in my hand and said surely this can’t be it?
There was a bemused look
on the faces of the other two. Where did you get the ball from, they asked.
I replied that I think the ball from the fifth tee may have gone into my pocket. I didn’t notice the ball until I took my hand out of my pocket. Somehow there was a ball in my hand.
Surely not, can’t be, impossible, we started thinking.
I placed the ball on the ground near the mark where it had first hit the ground and waited for the following group to approach us.
I wasn’t going to believe what we thought had happened until we checked with the person who had hit the ball.
As the following group approached, one of them started
walking towards us looking for his ball.
What kind of your ball were you playing, I asked. A Titleist 3 he replied.
Well, I said, here it is and you are not going to believe what happened.
When we explained the ball had bounced into my pocket there was an expression of disbelief on the player’s face. You have to be joking, I could imagine him thinking.
The area where the ball landed was very wet and probably softened the bounce of the ball which is probably why I didn’t feel the ball enter my pocket.
Yes, unbelievable.
Ryan Fox earns more than $5 million in two months
By Paul Gueorgieff Editor Golfer Pacific NZ
May and June have been two months to remember for Ryan Fox.
The New Zealand golfer racked up two wins on the PGA Tour and three top 30s in those two months.
With them have come some very handsome payouts.
The wins came in the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina in May and the Canadian Open in Ontario in June.
First prize in the Myrtle Beach Classic was $US720,000 and the winner’s purse in the Canadian Open was $US1,764,000.
Add in $US115,000 for 28th in the
PGA Championship in North Carolina, $US250,000 for 20th in The Memorial in Ohio and $US245,257 for 19th in the US Open in Pennsylvania.
That adds up to $US3,095,743. Convert that to New Zealand dollars and it comes to just over $5.1 million.
The money is obviously very nice but Fox would say the main reason for his purple patch of form was security.
Each of the wins guaranteed him starts on the PGA Tour through to the end of 2027 and Fox had previously said that security was the main factor in his mind.
Fox’s win in the Canadian Open came in a dramatic four-hole playoff in which he would later say he hit the shot of his life.
That came on the fourth playoff hole when he striped a three wood from 259 yards (236 metres) on the water-guarded 18th hole to within seven feet of the hole for an eagle putt.
Fox’s opponent Sam Burns of the United States was also on the green for two on the par five but he three-putted and Fox was left the luxury of two putts for victory which he achieved in slightly anti-dramatic circumstances.
Fox has often previously been referred to as the son of All Blacks legend Grant Fox but he has now firmly established himself as a golfer — a two-time PGA Tour winner.
He has always wanted to be a sportsman given his family background but golf wasn’t his first choice — or even
his second choice.
Fox didn’t pursue golf seriously until he was in his late teens. He said that at 18, he rarely broke 80 aside from at his home course, an age when most of his peers were onward to college golf in the United States and quickly developing a pro-ready skill set.
As a child, he was mostly focused on rugby and cricket, which was understandable considering his family’s pedigree in the sporting world. His dad Grant Fox is one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen who holds the record for most points scored in a rugby World Cup tournament. His grand father Merv Wallace (who passed away in 2008) was an accomplished New Zealand cricketer and test match captain.
Grant Fox spent ample time caddying for his son in his early days as a competitive golfer, helping the younger Fox fine-tune his mental game and preparation techniques.
There are plenty of differences between high-level rugby and golf, of course, but there are several similarities, too. From his dad, Fox learned to focus on perfecting the small things (as much as possible), visualising a target and staying true to a consistent work ethic.
After his victory in Canada, Fox spoke of his dad’s belief that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
“He would always drill into me, if you work hard, no matter what happens, you can always be satisfied with the result,” Fox said.
“Whether you make it or not, whether you succeed or not, you can always look back with your head held high.
“Dad made sure I understood that concept pretty early. I always wanted to be a sportsman growing up. Rugby and cricket were my two main sports, and golf came in a little bit later, but I always kept the same theory, or tried to use the same theory all the way through.”
Footnote: Fox earned another $US252,562 ($NZ426,000) when finishing 17th in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut later in June.
Ryan Fox gives a fist pump after holing the winning putt on the fourth playoff hole of the Canadian Open at Caledon in Ontario last month. Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images.
By Neville Idour
WFinal three holes a key for Fox
hen the dust settled after the Canadian Open it was good to ponder the excellence of Ryan Fox and where he perhaps gained the edge.
It was illuminating to find out that the final three hole stretch of holes 16, 17 and 18 was cumulatively the longest on the PGA Tour since 2003 at 1623 yards (1484 metres).
By Neville Idour
ANos 16 and 17 are par fours and at over 500 yards demanded an accurate drive otherwise it was layup time. The 18th was nearer 600 yards and an accurate drive gave the possibility of reaching the green in two as Fox did on the fourth and what became the final playoff hole. Various players were stung on this stretch, but not Fox who recorded just one bogey on No 17 in the second round over the four rounds.
In fact, Fox birdied the 18th every day and was four under par overall on the 16-18 stretch over the four days. No one in the top 12 finishers bettered Fox. Only the eighth and 10th placed players matched him. Runner-up Sam Burns was three under par. Manassero and Ben An, who finished three shots behind Fox, were especially found wanting on those three holes being one over par overall, five shots worse than Fox.
Ryan Fox — the perfect golfer
s the saying goes “there is no such thing as perfect.”
While that may be true in the finite sense of the word I am sure there are some diamond jewellery makers who would disagree. But I digress. I pen these words just a few hours after New Zealand’s golf star Ryan Fox clinched a mesmerising and memorable second PGA Tour title in just a month.
What really struck me watching his play in the final round of the Canadian Open was the man himself and his mantle on the golf course — as if I didn’t already know.
But this day simply put the exclamation mark on his example for all to see. A youngster taking up the game could not find a better role model than
Ryan Fox. He surely must fill we Kiwi golf fans with immense pride.
He is no charismatic Bryson DeChambeau with millions of fans and probably the number one golf influencer on the planet. But in a different way Fox is garnering a huge following and if he can continue to cement his position in the upper reaches of the game’s rankings he will be one of the most popular and supported players, not only on the PGA Tour but worldwide.
He seemed to have the most support during the playoff with Sam Burns of the United States. Canadians probably feel more kinship with New Zealand than the USA these days.
Like DeChambeau he is an excitement machine when he launches into a shot. He had fired the longest drive in
the final round of the Canadian Open. To see him paired with DeChambeau in a major championship would be a mouth watering prospect.
There were so many players in with a chance of victory in the final round that Fox’s emergence into the playoff was nigh on remarkable — and what a playoff.
His play on the last few holes and then into the playoff produced theatre that was enthralling, exciting, excruciating, agonising and any other adjectives you can think of for four tries at the 18th, a great finishing hole. To think it could have been all over the first time when Fox’s lengthy putt missed by a whisker.
Anyway back to the thoughts of the perfect golfer. What is there to like about Ryan Fox, the person and golfer? Everything would be the simple answer.
He always portrays an image of a humble, likeable, no nonsense nice guy. The commentators on both the PGA and DP World tours love him. One said at the Canadian Open: “I love his pace of play” during the playoff. That was never more obvious during the playoff, not that Burns was particularly slow to play. But compared to Fox he was.
I cannot remember ever seeing Fox have a temper moment or whack a club in frustration, or use foul language to vent his feelings. He shows remarkable control of his emotions at all times and has a temperament that is perfect for golf. His humble responses in the after playoff interview were quite disarming and engaging. We can only wish Fox – the perfect golfer — all the success he deserves.
J J Spaun emerges victorious from a wild Sunday at the US Open
By David Shefter, senior staff writer for the United States Golf Association
All week at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, J J Spaun wielded his trusty putter like a magic wand.
It started on the Thursday with the only bogey-free round (66) of the United States Open, and 72 hours later he closed one of the wildest Sundays in the 125 editions of the championship with an improbable, cross-country birdie putt on the 72nd green.
The 34-year-old southern Californian, with just one PGA Tour victory to his name, punctuated the life-changing moment of his 14-year professional career by rolling in a 65-foot putt to edge Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre by two strokes. Spaun, whose first names are John Michael junior, posted a final-round, two over par 72 for a 72hole total of one under 279. He was the lone competitor to finish in red figures. MacIntyre, the owner of five professional titles, including the 2024 Canadian Open and the 2024 Scottish Open, was the only player among the final 17 pairings to better par with a two under par 68 and a 72-hole score of 271. He also became the third left-hander to finish as a runner-up – joining Phil Mickelson (2006) and Brian Harman (2017) – in the only major championship to not have a southpaw winner.
“As bad as things were going, I just still tried to just commit to every shot,” said Spaun. “I tried to continue to dig deep. I’ve been doing it my whole life.
“I think that’s been the biggest difference this year – being able to do that. Fortunately, I dug very deep on the back nine, and things went my way, and here we are with the trophy.”
Every Sunday at a US Open brings an enormous amount of pressure, whether it’s physical or mental. Add Oakmont, one of the most challenging venues in all of golf, to the equation and that factor only intensifies.
Additionally, Mother Nature decided
to add a wrinkle to the festivities. As if the venerable western Pennsylvania layout hosting its record 10th US Open hadn’t received enough precipitation already – 13 inches over the last month – a late-afternoon storm dumped even more water on the course, causing a 96-minute weather delay and forcing the competitors to make additional adjustments.
It threw virtually everyone in contention for a loop. Sam Burns, the 36 and 54-hole leader, was seemingly in control when the 28-year-old Louisianan made his first birdie of the day, an 11-footer on the par four 10th to go two clear of Australian Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, who at 44 was vying to become the second-oldest champion in US Open history. Oakmont sent both spiralling in the wrong direction as Burns played his final seven holes in six over par for a final round 78 and a share of seventh with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and 2021 US Open champion Jon Rahm at four over 284.
Scott couldn’t repeat his brilliance of the first three days, when he was the only player in the field to not record an over-par round. He carded a final-round 79 and tied for 12th at six over 286.
Said Burns: “The conditions were extremely difficult. I didn’t have my best stuff today.”
Added Scott: “Look, it just wasn’t easy out there. All things being equal, it’s Sunday of the US Open, one of the hardest setups, and the conditions were the hardest of the week. Thank God it wasn’t like this all week.”
Spaun also seemed destined for a similar fate, especially after starting the final round with five consecutive fives that included a couple of bad breaks, most notably hitting the flagstick with his approach on the par four second hole, leading to a bogey. He posted a front-nine 40 and sat four strokes behind Burns.
Only MacIntyre, a 28-year-old who
began the day seven strokes behind Burns, made a Sunday charge, bolstered by an eagle at the par five fourth. But despite playing his final 10 holes in three under par, he came up two strokes short.
“Almost got there, but not quite,” said MacIntyre, who started the day with bogeys at one and three. “I always thought I could really challenge, even going into today, but obviously the start wasn’t a help.”
As so many chasers unraveled, a group that included Viktor Hovland (73—282, third), Tyrrell Hatton (72— 283, tied fourth), Cameron Young (70—283, tied fourth) and Carlos Ortiz (73—283, tied fourth), Spaun managed to steady the ship through all of the turbulence. His lone bogey during a highly intense back nine came after he hit a wayward drive at the 503-yard, par four 15th, the statistically toughest hole on Sunday (averaging a score of 4.58). But the man who was No. 2 in strokes gained-putting and 12th in putts per green (1.82) registered birdies on Nos 12 (41 feet), 14 (22 feet), 17 (two putts from 22 feet) and the closer on 18.
Spaun’s final putt of the championship was reminiscent of the one Larry Nelson converted to beat defending champion Tom Watson on Oakmont’s 16th hole in 1983 (a year when the championship also was affected by weather). Spaun finished the week converting a total of 401.5 feet of putts, the most by anyone in the championship.
“That was unbelievable,” said Hovland, who played alongside Spaun. “After his start, it just looked like he was out of it immediately. Everyone came back to the pack. I wasn’t expecting that really. I thought I had to shoot maybe three under par today to have a good chance, but obviously the conditions got really, really tough, and this golf course is just a beast.
“To watch him (Spaun) hole the putt on 12 down the hill there was unre-
al. And then he makes another one on 14 that was straight down the hill. And then the one on 18, it’s just absolutely filthy there.”
Last year Spaun, who missed the cut in his only other US Open start in 2021 at Torrey Pines not far from where he attended college, was contemplating quitting the game. His lone PGA Tour victory had come in the 2022 Texas Open, but he wasn’t progressing the way he liked.
Spaun started 2025 with a tie for third at the Sony Open in Hawaii and then tied for second at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches before losing a Monday, three-hole aggregate playoff to world No 2 Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship, a loss that nonetheless boosted his confidence. He later tied for sixth at last month’s Charles Schwab Challenge, vaulting him up to No 25 in the world rankings.
Notables
* The tees on the par three eighth hole were moved back on Sunday, making the longest par three in US Open history to measure 301 yards (275 metres).
* J.J. Spaun is the third player to finish either first or second at The Players Championship and then win the US Open that year, joining Tiger Woods (finished second at the 2000 Players and won US Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach) and Martin Kaymer (won the 2014 Players and claimed the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in wire-to-wire fashion).
“It was a very touching moment to see my [two] girls there [on 18]. My oldest daughter was at the Valero when I won [in 2022], and she was about the same age as my youngest daughter now. It was so cool to just have my whole family there on Father’s Day. It’s just incredible. I have no words to describe the moment and them being able to see me as the winner.” — Spaun
J J Spaun celebrates with the trophy after winning the 125th US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania last month. Photo credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images.
John Spaun celebrates with caddie Mark Carens after holing a mammoth putt on the 18th green to win the US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania last month. Photo credit: Warren Little/Getty Images.
US Open: The good, the bad and the ugly NEWS
By Neville Idour
Clint Eastwood may not have been a legendary golfer, but his famous movie title The Good, The Bad and The Ugly seems appropriate for the 2025 US Open played at the notorious Oakmont course.
Obviously the pulsating final nine holes with as many as five players tied for the lead at one stage and seven players with a chance of victory was the highlight of four days of frustration and drama for players and spectators.
As events unfolded the letters AI (artificial intelligence) said about the difficulty of Oakmont would ring true.
“Ah, Oakmont -- a sadist’s playground cloaked in manicured civility … upon which men’s hopes are exquisitely dismantled. One is invited to suffer, exquisitely, methodically, until the last putt becomes a confession of impotence whispered to the green. At Oakmont the US Open is not won. It is endured. Survived. No champion emerges unscathed – only bloodied artisans of restraint, whose agony has been refined into triumph, one punishing inch at a time. Oakmont does not test a man. It unveils him.”
And so it proved, especially when John
Michael Spaun seemed to have killed his chances after starting the final round with five bogeys in the first six holes for a first nine score of 40, leaving him four behind leader Sam Burns.
However, four birdies in the final seven holes including the final cross country 65 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole while Burns was six over par on the last seven holes, saw Spaun finish the only player under par.
After a superb final round 68 Scottish left-hander Robert MacIntyre was sitting in the clubhouse watching the action on televison with a first major title a possibility. He was the only player in the final 17 pairings to better par. As Spaun’s putt rolled in MacIntyre broke into enthusiastic applause with a big smile. It was emotional to watch and spoke volumes for the Scotsman who finished two shots behind in second place.
The officials probably fired the worst bogey when deciding there would be no free drops despite the wet fairways and mud balls, especially after the final round downpour and 96 minute delay. This would have huge repercussions for Burns on the 15th fairway in that final round. It was nothing short of carnage as
one player after another fell away on the final few holes. Duffed chips, hacking out of deep juicy rough and water balls flying through the greens lacking grip for spin made for television drama. No one could guess who would win.
Burns’ drive on the difficult 15th was a good one but sat in a low spot. Burns was tied for the lead and with the ground squishy he asked an official if he could take relief from what he claimed was casual water. His practice swings brought up a shower of water. No was the answer and a second official said likewise. With any chance of a birdie gone Burns set up and not surprisingly his five iron brought up a shower of water and immediately spiralled left into thick rough. The result was a double bogey and his chances all but gone.
It was brutal to watch, but Burns, fresh from a playoff loss to Ryan Fox in the Canadian Open, displayed sportsmanship to garner nothing but admiration. No moans and no grizzles.
“I took practice swings and water splashed every time. Called a rules official. They disagreed. In the end it’s not up to me, it’s up to the rules official. I locked in on the shot but it got away from me. Golf’s a hard game, especially on this golf course. At the end of the day I can hold my head high.”
All kudos to Burns.
Adam Scott of Australia was sitting second in the hunt for a second major championship title but from the 14th he went bogey, bogey, double bogey. Chance gone.
Carlos Ortiz and Tyrell Hatton also shared the lead in the last few holes before falling away. Kiwi Ryan Fox further enhanced his mana with consistent play to finish 19th and have one of the best final rounds at 69, one of only seven under par rounds. His ongoing impeccable behaviour quite frankly puts several stars to shame.
There were too many bad and ugly incidents at Oakmont. Shane Lowry managed a frustrated expletive rant. Rory
McIlroy starred with a spectacular spontaneous left hand backhand with his driver, after a tee shot he didn’t like, which struck the marker spot on, totally destroying it, following which he launched his driver down the fairway on the 17th. One of the worst was Wyndham Clark’s smashing in the front of two lockers in the historic locker room after missing the cut by one shot thanks to a final hole bogey. This was merely a follow up to him hurling a club into an advertising hoarding at the PGA Championship in May. Perhaps he needs a rest from golf.
It was also surprising — or was it — to see Scottie Scheffler, the always seeming to be cool customer, doubling his divot with a violent strike with his iron after a shot he didn’t like. Also after his second round 71 he returned to the driving range with swing coach Randy Smith. What surprised fans was seeing Scheffler looking frustrated as he gestured animatedly down the range, hat askew, before stepping out of the box to cool down. The video of the incident is quite revealing. His caddie Ted Scott’s silent distant stare screams “Mum and dad are having a barney and I’m staying well clear.”
It was disappointment for Phil Mickelson and fans when he was sitting on four over par with four holes to go, level with Scheffler and Rahm and well inside the cut. But double bogeys on 15 and 17 saw him miss the cut and walk away from probably his last US Open. For LIV golfers the news was good with four of their 12 players finishing in the top 12.
It was also noticeable that the LIV players appeared to escape any of the bad and the ugly. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton who sometimes can be a little reactive maintained good decorum. It was pleasant to watch Bryson DeChambeau along with Rahm manage wry smiles after some wayward shots. Through all the drama and angst the even keel J J Spaun was able to maintain throughout the four rounds was the difference that enabled him to claim his greatest victory, a US Open title.
Accuracy trumped distance at US Open
By Neville Idour
If ever we needed proof of the importance of accurate tee shots, the 2025 US Open at the Oakmont monster gave it to us in spades.
At 7372 yards (6740 metres) it included a 300 yard (274 metres) par three and while not the longest course overall it is still one of the longest. With the challenging setup it is one of the most demanding tests in major champion-
ships — and so it proved. With that length you would think it would suit the Bryson DeChambeau’s, Rory McIlroy’s, Dustin Johnson’s. Not so.
DeChambeau and Johnson both missed the cut, while McIlroy just sneaked in with two late birdies. Of the top 20 longest drivers of the ball who made the cut, just seven finished in the top 20. The fourth longest Cameron Young did best in a tie for fourth along
with 10th longest Ben Griffin. McIlroy, the longest from the tee by nine yards at 330.3 yards, finished tied 19th. By contrast winner J J Spaun averaged just 299.8 yards, 34th longest.
Second placegetter Robert MacIntyre really emphasised the importance of accuracy. Of the 66 players who made the cut he ranked 63rd for length with 289.6 yards. Third placegetter Viktor Hovland ranked 15th. The second longest from the tee was Chris
Gotterup (who?) at 321.4 yards well clear of Jhonattan Vegas at 315.8 yards. Of course this scenario might not always play out on regular PGA Tour events as not all courses will penalise the fairway misses like Oakmont with its brutal long rough. So the moral of the story for we weekend warriors is don’t be obsessed with whacking the cover off the ball to hopefully get a few more metres because it ain’t no good if they put us in the rough. Period.
Who is going to tell players they have obligations?
By Neville Idour
United States Open hangover — self entitled brats need to grow up.
There. I’ve said it. Hopefully no one is offended.
But let’s face it. When a bunch of multi-millionaire professional golfers climb on their high horses and think they are bigger and more important than the game they play and can do what they like or not do what they should do, then the game has sunk to a place to be ashamed of.
Distasteful behaviour involving club throwing, destructive actions on the tee, to the course, in the locker room, foul language from players who should know better and attitudes to the press all bring the game down to gutter level — and this was all at the US Open.
Why, what is going on? What is getting into their self entitled minds?
They are playing for unheard of sums of money. They are pandered to like royalty, yet petulance has never been so rife. They seem to expect the red carpet to be rolled out both on and off course at all times. Well the US Open is not and never has been like that on course. It is a true test of every facet of a player’s ability. With a winners’ purse of $US4.3 mIllion that is how it should be.
Some players such as 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick said the setup at Oakmont was unfair. Diddums. Go cry into your $US27.5m winnings. There has never been a better time financially to be a professional golfer, but you wouldn’t know it. Even Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schaufele voiced their displeasure with fairway rulings. Sam Burns showed them how to behave and he had a relevant gripe with
his winning position jeopardised, but sucked it up and played the shot.
As for the ongoing saga with news media and whether to talk to them or not, it has reached farcical proportions with several players adopting an arrogant selfish position. Setting the lead for the last few months has been Rory McIlroy. After skipping media for six successive major rounds after winning the Masters he finally fronted up after his US Open second round of 74. The exchange was anything but cordial as he said: “I feel like I have earned the right to do whatever I want. I skipped you guys at Augusta on Thursday, so yeah, I’ve done it before. I’m just doing it a little more often. It’s a nice luxury to have.”
It is sad to see his relationship with the news media looking fractious as he has always maintained a good open relationship with them and vice versa. Unfortunately he needs to realise that whatever he feels he must fulfil his duties towards the news media like it or not, given his position and mana in the game.
Then we have the now not so genial Shane Lowry who skipped the news media after his loss to Sepp Straka at the Truist Championship saying “players should not have to do media straight after their rounds.” Joining the fray was Collin Morikawa after a disappointing final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational saying a week later before The Players: “I don’t owe anyone anything.”
They are all setting such a poor example on and off course with apparent impunity. So it will not surprise to see other players follow their example. Worse still if youngsters today get influenced and become tomorrow’s spoilt brats.
Thankfully we can not imagine Bryson DeChambeau, John Rahm, Scheffler, Phil Mickelson, Cam
Smith, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and so many others behaving in similar ways on course or with the news media. The media is a conduit between the players and the fans.
If the players don’t speak to the media the fans lose out. If the media stop attending because the players are unlikely to speak, the fans lose out and start losing interest. If so, the sponsors will lose interest, sponsorship money will decrease and so will prizemoney. It is a vicious circle.
McIlroy needs to hit rewind. As the biggest star on the PGA Tour and along with DeChambeau in the game itself, you speak to the media otherwise you are ignorant. Too many players today are putting themselves first and almost above the game.
One commentator said: “They are all overpaid, coddled, self absorbed, condescending and spoiled. They play a game. They don’t save lives like ambulance responders or surgeons, or protect people like the police or military. Money reveals who people are and it isn’t pretty. Money doesn’t equate to being a successful human.”
It is high time players were penalised as the rules allow for the aforementioned indiscretions. Strict enforcement is the only answer.
We will let Irish icon Paul McGinley have the last say.
“I think the mistake lies not with those who don’t talk to the media, but with golf. Why isn’t golf mandating that guys must talk to the media. They are playing for ridiculous prizemoney. Good, bad or indifferent they’ve got to give a little back for the good of the game and tournament.’’
Five great short par threes in New Zealand
By Peter Thornton
There’s nothing quite like the challenge of a short par three. Some of the best and most wellknown holes on the world stage are short but complicated challenges.
The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon in Scotland is perhaps the best example. It only measures 112 metres but caused all sorts of problems at last year’s Open Championship.
Of course, there is the 12th at Augusta National in the United States. It only measures 140 metres but it’s a narrow landing area with any shots that are short of the dance floor hitting the bank and finding the water. It has been the spot of many Masters meltdowns over the years.
There is the iconic seventh at Pebble Beach in the US. The hole is only 97 metres from the back tees and can be an easy wedge one day or a five iron on another day. It’s the most idyllic location for a golf hole.
Any chat about classic par threes isn’t complete without mentioning the 17th at Sawgrass in Florida. This is probably the most famous par three in the world. Hitting to the island green on the 71st hole with the tournament on the line is no easy feat.
But what about back here in New Zealand? We take a tour of some of our favourite short holes around Aotearoa.
1. Jack’s Point, Queenstown – No. 7
Jack’s Point is a golf course that everyone has to experience at least once. The John Darby designed course sits on the edge of Lake Whakatipu, with The Remarkables as a backdrop, and it’s an incredible layout. Towards the end of the front nine is one of their signature holes. Standing on seventh tee you have an uninterrupted panoramic view of Lake Whakatipu. It is only 128 metres from the white tees and it plays shorter than that as it drops aways significantly. Many players go long here, but if you hit the green you have a good chance for par on a green that slopes from back to front. It’s a memorable hole.
2. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, Wellington – No 5
Probably the most iconic par three in New Zealand. Paraparaumu Beach is an 12-time host of the New Zealand Open, and this hole would wreak havoc during those tournaments with our very best. Just ask Frank Nobilo. The New Zealand great was in contention to win the 1989 New Zealand Open at the spiritual home of golf when a triple bogey six put paid to his chances. I know how he feels. The fifth is a masterful design. It is only 145 metres, but it can play very differently depending on the wind conditions. It’s a huge relief to see your ball land on the green here. A good miss is short, in front of the green. If you hit it left into the gulley, you are left with a diabolical chip that will give you nightmares for months to come. A fantastic hole that has humbled the very best.
3. Tairua Golf and Country Club, Coromandel –No 4
This is a hidden gem. The Tairua Golf and Country Club is tucked away just outside of this sleepy Coromandel town. It is a popular spot in summertime. One of the best holes arrives early in your round. The fourth at Tairua is only 130 metres but there is a large tree that guards the front right of the green and there is a small pond to the left. From an elevated tee, it is a welcomed sight seeing a nine-iron fly high in the air and land safely on the green. The green is surrounded by native bush and it’s a lovely spot to try and make par or better. Tairua is a country course that is full of character and charm, summed up by this little par three.
4. Ngamotu Links, New Plymouth – No 14
golf course and therefore at the mercy of the wind direction.
This hole is notorious. It measures 120 metres from the back tees and the best players in the country who play Ngamotu on the Charles Tour will tell you that it can be anything from a nine iron to a fiveiron depending on the wind conditions. A decade ago
Grant Moorhead hit a three iron to this hole in the Taranaki Open. It is right on the western-most point of the course and the view is stunning down the coast towards New Plymouth. There is a big bunker protecting the front of the green and when the wind is up, a par here is a brilliant score. It’s one of the iconic holes on a club course in New Zealand and after every Taranaki Open, you can guarantee that the 14th will be a talking point. It never plays the same four days in a row.
5. Bay of Islands Golf Club, Kerikeri – No 13
The Drop Hole at the Bay of Islands Golf Club in Kerikeri. It is only 110 metres from the white tees but the green is flanked by bunkers and there is water to the right
One of the most memorable holes on a Northland golf trip. The Bay of Islands Golf Club in the heart of Kerikeri is a real adventure of doglegs and undulation changes. But this course is famous for the 13th, known as the Drop Hole. It is only 110 metres from the white tees but the green is flanked by bunkers and there is water to the right. Such is the dramatic drop in elevation you only need to half hit a wedge to make the green. It’s a great hole that has played an influential role in deciding many matchplay contests and one of many highlights on this layout.
A special mention of the Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland. It’s the only Alister MacKenzie designed course with four incredible par threes that each face a different point on the compass. Probably most iconic of them all is the seventh with a three-tier green in front of the clubhouse. It’s a tough hole.
Other notable mentions: 6th, 90 Mile Beach Links, Ahipara, 10th Lakes Resort, 11th Ohope Beach, 12th Tauranga Golf Club, 12th at Taihape, 6th Karori Golf Club, 16 Paraparaumu Beach, 8th Royal Wellington, 10th at Terrace Downs in Canterbury, 10th Queenstown Golf Club, 7th Otago Golf Club and 4th Invercargill Golf Club.
Footnote: I haven’t played them, but I am told there are two stunning short par threes on the South Course at Te Arai Links (5 and 17) and the 17th at Tara Iti Golf Club is also a great hole.
The fifth hole at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, north of Wellington.
The 14th hole at the New Plymouth Golf Club which at the western most point on the
Mike Hadley tells it like it is for Christchurch Golf Club NEWS
By Neville Idour
Arecent visit to the iconic and much revered, and for good reason, Christchurch Golf Club at Shirley Links proved to be most rewarding.
We were welcomed warmly by general manager Mike Hadley, who happily gave us a full and wide ranging update on happenings at the club, especially since the almost complete rebirth of the golf course and facilities since the earthquakes of 2011.
Firstly, though, we asked Hadley about his own background and lead in to his current position.
“I have a marketing background. I was born in Christchurch. I have worked in Wellington and I was New Zealand manager for Adidas when I lived in Auckland. I had a tertiary education business with franchises throughout New Zealand.
“I have been a member of this club for 25 plus years. I had the opportunity to become temporary manager for a while. It then became permanent and I have been here now for seven years. So I kind of found myself by accident in this role.”
Hadley then explained some of the changes at the golf course.
“We have done a lot of things I’m proud of. We have redeveloped two holes. The trees were a big issue. We sold some land for a housing subdivision. That money
has enabled us to completely develop our implement shed and new pathways. Most of our energy has gone into the course. One of the things that comes out all the time is our members say the course comes first, second and third. So our real focus is making sure we have the best course.”
He seems to enjoy his role we suggest.
“It is challenging. The major challenge is not actually managing the golf, but the business of golf. The challenge is 600 or 700 different members. We don’t try to keep them happy. What we try to do is explain to the members what we are trying to do. We have a strategic plan but our members have very strong opinions about what they think the golf should look like and the experience. So we have to manage those interactions with our members.
“Sixty percent of our members are baby boomers so the average age is 62, which is similar nationwide. Aged between 71 and 79 represents 30 percent of our membership. So the big news for us is what are we going to do about membership?
“So we are now moving towards a much greater reliance on green fee income. The younger guys are not necessarily interested in being a member. There are something like 32 courses in Canterbury. On a Sunday they can get up, see who has the best price and play with their mates.
“So golf clubs are no longer about competitions. Championships are no longer a big deal. People come to play with their friends or group not with someone they don’t know — play different courses with their friends. So the membership model is going to come under pressure.”
Hadley then suggests bowling clubs are exactly the same.
“On a Saturday some bowling clubs are closed for members because they run corporate tournaments on Saturday for working people. Young people who pay a fee then go to the bar and spend on food and refreshments. So it is more profitable to have non members playing on a Saturday. Imagine if I told our members they can’t play on Saturday.”
I suggest there would be a riot. Hadley agreed.
“So we have introduced dynamic pricing for off peak times. For example on a Monday which would normally be very quiet we have a $49 green fee and it isn’t quiet now.”
The significant green fee income is then augmented by the 19th hole clubhouse spending. Golf is an expensive business for clubs. Hadley says even with men’s subscriptions of $3500 they have to augment them in various ways.
“Our costs have gone up enormously. A lot of our members travel so they know what good looks like. People come here, they want good but aren’t prepared to pay for it. Go to Australia and at Royal Queensland the subs are $A6000. So you have to pay for what you want, but you don’t want to pay for it.
“The only way for us to overcome that is to have more green fee players, so what we are doing and it is controversial, is off peak pricing. For example before 8.30am or after 1.30pm are off peak times and will offer off peak prices. We had a group of 50 people from Opunake (in Taranaki) turn up in a bus on a Monday to pay their $49. They loved it and spent up at the bar afterwards.”
We then turn attention to the member experience. Members are effectively a
stakeholder, they own the club.
Hadley continues “Some members think they are a customer in that they turn up, we provide a service and they go home. They don’t do any volunteer work. It’s I pay you, I want this, I’m your customer. My view is, no you’re not, you are a member. What we do here is, what’s good for the golf club will be good for the members, not the other way round. If we focus on doing what members want, the golf club will decline. They will all want something different and beyond the club’s means. But if we do what is right for the golf club then the members will benefit.
“People get confused about the difference from being a customer or a member. If you are a customer you ask for things. My answer is don’t ask. We will provide you a product based on what we can afford to provide and that is what you get. We will provide for everybody, not individuals.”
What is very clear is Hadley and his team are doing just that and doing it very well. There is no question that taking the course back to its roots as a links course has been a revelation and the addition of the state of the art clubhouse, complete with the Sir Bob Charles galleries, places the club in the top echelon in New Zealand.
Christchurch Golf Club general manager Mike Hadley.
New chief executive for PGA Tour appointed
Brian Rolapp has been appointed chief executive of the PGA Tour.
Rolapp, who will officially take up his role later this northern hemisphere summer, joins the PGA Tour after spending more than two decades with the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, where he helped reshape how fans experience live sports and most recently served as the league’s chief media and business officer.
Rolapp will serve as the chief executive of PGA Tour Incorporated and PGA Tour Enterprises, while the PGA Tour management team will report to Rolapp and he will report to both boards of directors.
“I’m honoured to join the PGA Tour at such a pivotal time,” said Rolapp.
“The PGA Tour represents the highest level of competition, integrity and global opportunity in the game of golf and I believe deeply in the tour’s mission and its potential to grow even stronger. I’m ready to get to work alongside our players, partners and leadership team to build lasting value and deliver an even
more dynamic future for the sport and our fans.”
After an extensive recruitment process, the PGA Tour chief executive search committee – consisting of Arthur Blank, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Jay Monahan, Joe Gorder and Sam Kennedy – unanimously recommended Rolapp for the role.
Having formed the search committee to find his successor, current chief executive and commissioner Monahan will transition his day-to-day responsibilities to the new chief executive and increasingly focus on his role as a member of the PGA Tour policy board and the PGA Tour enterprises board through to the end of 2026.
Said Monahan: “A year ago, I informed our boards that upon completing a decade as commissioner, I would step down from my role at the end of 2026.
“Since then, we’ve worked together to identify a leader who can build on our momentum and develop a process that ensures a smooth transition. We’ve found exactly the right leader in Brian Rolapp and I’m excited to support him as he transitions from the
NFL into his new role leading the PGA Tour.
“Brian is the perfect choice for the next chapter of the PGA Tour. His arrival strengthens our leadership team and reflects our shared commitment to the tour’s continued evolution. With Brian’s expertise and vision, and the trust we’ve established with our players and fans, I’m more confident than ever in the future we’re building.”
Rolapp added: “Commissioner Monahan is an incredible leader and it has been a pleasure getting to know him throughout the interview process. I greatly appreciate his commitment to making me successful in the role and look forward to working with him in partnership throughout this transition.”
Woods said: “Brian’s appointment is a win for players and fans. He has a clear respect for the game and our players and brings a fresh perspective from his experience in the NFL. I’m excited about what’s ahead – and confident that with Brian’s leadership, we’ll continue to grow the Tour in ways that benefit everyone who loves this sport.”
Sky television extends its partnership with the PGA Tour
Sky has announced a multiyear partnership renewal to broadcast the PGA Tour in New Zealand, securing Sky’s position as the long-standing home of world class golf for Kiwi fans.
The exclusive broadcast agreement, which runs from
the 2026 season, includes rights to the full PGA Tour schedule. It also covers the prestigious Presidents Cup in 2026, 2028 and 2030, as well as events from PGA Tour Champions, the Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour Challenge Tour event highlights.
Adam Crothers, head of sport partnerships at Sky says: “We know how passionate our customers are about golf and we’re proud to continue delivering the very best from the PGA Tour. With Kiwi favourite Ryan Fox continuing to shine on the global stage —
including his recent PGA Tour victories — it’s an incredibly exciting time for New Zealand golf fans.”
“The extension of our long-running partnership with the PGA Tour is another example of how we’re investing in season-long content that our customers love tuning into.”
This announcement further strengthens Sky’s premium golf offering, which also includes all the major championships, the Ryder Cup, LPGA and the DP World Tour (European Tour).
Reactionary Monahan to go — finally NEWS
By Neville Idour
It is hard to imagine too many players or fans shedding a tear at the news Jay Monahan is going to relinquish his role as PGA Tour commissioner at the end of this year — except maybe a few PGA Tour players who have enjoyed the protection of their “patch’’ from the LIV contingent.
Scottie Scheffler has been quite happy with the situation. Unfortunately Monahan’s tenure will likely be remembered as reactionary rather than pro active. Many of his moves have been to follow LIV’s lead.
Monahan will be replaced by the National Football League’s chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp. However that will not be the end of Monahan’s, at times, negative influence. He will apparently “increasingly focus on his role as a member of the PGA Tour policy board and the PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of 2026.” One would wonder what kind of level of remuneration he would drop to from the $US20 million he currently earns overall.
More than one correspondent has suggested in the past he should not be leading the PGA Tour for various reasons. The most glaring are he has been a poor communicator, regularly botching press
conferences and probably worst of all totally mishandling the LIV situation.
He would not take calls from the former LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman and did not keep his players happy enough to remain. Had he just picked up the phone all the angst since then would probably have been avoided. For a chief executive his decisions were bizarre, baffling and just plain spineless. Then he made the “framework agreement’’ with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the backers of the LIV Golf, behind his players backs after saying “have you ever had to apologise for being a member of the PGA Tour.”
Three years on, where are we? He still hasn’t completed a deal which certain big name players, including the aforementioned Scheffler may not even want. The best players are still not all together in the same place. That could have been avoided, but Monahan has spent so much of his tenure being reactionary instead of pro active. He has defended a product that was becoming achaic until he had no choice but to change things. LIV’s arrival has seen much change to copy and combat its influence.
He has been responsible for the PGA Tour losing its overall shape and quality with it now basically a two tier tour. The
so-called signature events has created a haves and have nots and robbed the tour of those occasional shock victories from a player from nowhere. Introducing signature events, the player impact programme (a money handout) and TGL (simulated indoor golf) was just money squandered. The money could have been better spent elsewhere especially with PGA Tour card numbers being reduced from 125 to 100. Maybe they only want to look after the top 10 percent, not the other 90 percent.
Most of Monahan’s reactionary decisions have been to combat LIV and involved money. There is little doubt had he taken the call from LIV the huge increases in PGA Tour prizemoney would not have been needed nor the silly player impact programme which almost defies belief. So the $US20 million man has probably cost the tour many times his salary.
Former PGA Tour player Andrew Landry, now on the Korn Ferry Tour, does not like where the tour is headed. “Hey they’re going from 125 to 70 in signature events. Now they’re thinking about going to 50. What are you doing? It’s already hard enough for guys to make it out here. He’s just focussed on the top. I get it, they make the tour. But we’re all on the PGA Tour. We’re all really good at golf. At any
moment that 125th guy can go and win as the depth of the fields are so strong now.”
So what legacy will Monahan leave? That he did more poor things than good? When we look at the good they mostly involve reactionary money handouts. He also negotiated a lucrative television contract along with salvaging some corporate sponsorships. A big one was securing the $US1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group. However this is not to say someone else would not have done it better.
The new leadership needs to make a difference in some areas. They should ensure the TV presentations improve on the present stale state. LIV shows many more shots. Either do a deal with LIV or not. Ditch the two tier approach to the tour. Let’s have one compact quality schedule.
We will let Golf Monthly writers give their assessments of Monahan’s tenure. Their ratings were. An exceedingly generous B+, then some more realistic ones C, C-, C. Let’s hope the new $US20 million man Rolapp really earns his keep and proves pro active and a good communicator.
Australian PGA Championship up to $A2.5 million
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia will offer $A7 million in prizemoney across 10 events for the first half of a bumper 2025-26 season.
The two Australian major championships, the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open, will both offer substantially increased prize purses this season, reflecting the growth and increased interest in both tournaments, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
The Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30 will offer $A2.5 million, the most in the event’s 121-year history, an increase of $500,000 on 2024.
Meanwhile, the Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 4-7, where grand slam winner Rory McIlroy will be the headline act, will offer a minimum of $A2 million in prizemoney.
Outstanding golf courses making a re-appearance on the tour schedule is another highlight for the first half of the season.
There’s a return to the Mt Lawley Golf Club for the Western Australia Open for the first time since 2018 on October 16-19, the Perth club to showcase its acclaimed re-designed layout
which opened for play in late 2023.
The New South Wales Open is back at the Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Golf Club from November 14-17. Set in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, The Vintage hosted the open for four consecutive years from 2007 to 2010.
The ground-breaking Webex Players Series, featuring its format of men and women on the same course, vying for the same title, will have one event prior to the New Year with Willunga Golf Club in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia once again the venue for the Players’ Series South Australia.
Another four Players’ Series events will come in early 2026, including the second year of the Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee at Royal Fremantle Golf Club in January.
Owned and operated by the PGA of Australia, the Tour will continue through to March when the order of merit champion will be crowned.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said the first half of the 2025-26 season would be crucial for the professionals looking to follow the pathway available from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia to the DP World Tour and eventually the PGA Tour.
“The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season is all about the chase and we’re delighted our professionals will be chasing record prizemoney across the first half of the season,” he said.
“They’ll also be chasing titles, exemptions and opportunities to compete internationally.
“There is so much on the line for our players as they try to follow the pathway that has been created all the way to the PGA Tour.
“We saw what was possible with Elvis Smylie winning twice on our tour last year and going on to win the order of merit, earn his DP World Tour card and starts in two majors. Careers can be changed in just a few months.”
PGA of Australia general manager of tournaments Nick Dastey said: “We’re excited with what’s to come in the first half of the 2025/26 season with our best professionals visiting Papua New Guinea plus six of Australia’s states and territories.
“Once again, the Tour will be in both major metropolitan and regional areas with each event having its own unique flavour and the chance to see our game’s best up close.’’
2025
August 14-17: PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, $A225,000.
August 28-31: Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf Course, $A200,000.
September 27-28: World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong Community Club $A140,000 (Non-order of merit).
October 9-12: CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, $A250,000.
October 16-19: Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at Mt Lawley Golf Club, $A200,000.
October 23-26: Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett at Willunga Golf Course, $A200,000.
November 13-16: Ford NSW Open at The Vintage Golf Club, $A800,000 minimum.
November 20-23: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club, $A250,000.
November 27-30: BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club, $A2,500,000.
December 4-7: Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, $A2,000,000 minimum.
December 11-14: Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort, $A250,000.
News in brief NEWS
By Neville Idour
Global major would boost golf’s appeal
Three majors gone in 10 weeks and the fourth, The Open Championship, just a few weeks later from July 17-20. All four done and dusted in 16 weeks. Why? Seems odd that the four highlights of the golf schedule should be condensed into such a short time span.
Even more so when The PGA Championship, which followed the hugely successful Masters, proved to be in the eyes of some, one of, if not the worst, major in memory. No disrespect to Scottie Scheffler, but the television ratings definitely backed up that opinion. The PGA Championship is the weakest of the four majors so it may be time for a major shift. The contrast between Quail Hollow for The PGA Championship and Oakmont for the US Open was like chalk and cheese.
One suggestion has been that golf needs a global major. In other words let’s make it a non USA-based event, and many fans when surveyed agreed. It could be played at a rota of the worlds’ best courses in various countries. Think Royal Melbourne, Leopard Creek (South Africa), England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada. The possibilities are endless. This would surely grow the global audience.
Increasing the spread of the four majors from March/April to September would sustain interest and anticipation for much longer.
Charlie Woods’ final round blowout
Tiger Woods’ son Charlie had one to forget at Florida’s 108th Amateur Championship in Palm Beach Gardens. He made the cut at two over par and six shots behind the leaders for the third round. A five over par third round left him on seven over par starting the final round. No one expected what would unfold.
Starting on the 10th hole he shot double bogey, par, double bogey. Then came a five hole stretch with three pars and two birdies. From then on it was not good with a triple bogey, a double and three more bogeys, to finish 18 over par.
Amberley’s frustrations continue
Amberley golfers would like the Hurunui District Council to stop procrastinating and get on with building a new access road to their course.
Their main access was lost because of coastal erosion at the southern end of Golf Links Road. This writer well remembers having to park and walk a considerable distance over rough ground to access the course some months ago.
A recent tournament had to be cancelled and during King’s Birthday weekend several visitors’ vehicles became stuck in mud and had to be rescued. Currently you can only access the course by four wheel drive or a long walk on foot. Not ideal.
The saga has been going on for two years with the club continually asking the council to take action. The club has offered to make land available for a suitable road although it would affect parking.
Ben Campbell sets LIV record
Queenstown professional Ben Campbell set a best ever record in the LIV Virginia event. He shot rounds of 72, 73 and 62. His 62 included 11 birdies and two bogeys. It was from hole 13 through to the first hole that he set the best ever consecutive run of seven birdies.
Fox in elite company
Ryan Fox has joined Sir Bob Charles as the only Kiwis to have multiple wins on the PGA Tour. Charles had five wins plus a win in The Open Championship. Fox now has two wins at Myrtle Beach and the Canadian Open. Seven other Kiwis have won once.
Mickelson’s grand slam hopes gone?
At 55 years of age Phil Mickelson may have played his last US Open and that would end his chances of completing the grand slam. This was the final year of his exemptions into the event. Of course his record at the US Open includes an amazing six seconds, surely some kind of record.
Asked about his playing plans for the next five years he said: “I don’t know the answer to that. My desire, energy and excitement is focussed on my LIV HyFlyers team and spending time with the guys. I want this team to succeed. If I find I’m not helping or holding them back, it will be time for me to move on and get someone else in to help them win and succeed.”
Jack is not a fan
Jack Nicklaus is not a fan of the walk and talk interviews the PGA Tour has introduced, copying the DP World Tour. He said: “I can’t stand it. You talk to a guy who has hit the edge of the rough, with a difficult shot to play and totally take his mind off what he is doing. It would not have been tolerated in the Ben Hogan era. You probably would be missing some teeth.”
Rick Shiels joins LIV
Rick Shiels, golf’s biggest YouTuber with over 2.9 million subscribers, has shocked the YouTube golf world, announcing he had signed a deal with LIV Golf as an official ambassador and content creator. Three months in “It’s been a wild ride already, really fun,” he said. “I’ve already filmed with the likes of Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Joaquin Niemann. It’s crazy. My time with the players has been incredible.”
Not surprisingly there has been backlash with a number of subscribers lost and negative comments. However, he was ready for the backlash and spent an afternoon writing down every possible negative comment someone might leave, the day before the announcement. Then if anyone could do worse he would applaud them. He knew how the players had copped it so was ready. One thing he didn’t expect was how many people thought he was really anti LIV.
Deleting social media from his phone and working with a sports psychologist has helped him ignore the “haters”. He said his move had been in the pipeline since LIV’s beginning when they wanted to put it on his YouTube channel. So he has always had dialogue with them.
Probably the most telling response
Shiels makes is: “When you look at the world and all the trouble that’s happening, you think, how am I getting negativity for making some fun YouTube videos. It’s crazy really.”
McIlroy adopts conciliatory stance
Rory McIlroy has taken an opposite stance to those people who maintain that LIV players should be punished if they play on the PGA Tour. He has softened his stance in the interests of a unified sport. “Obviously I’ve changed my tune, because I see that having diminished PGA and LIV tours is bad for both parties. It would be much better being together and moving forward together for the good of the game.
“Life is about choices. Guys chose to go and play LIV, guys chose to stay with the PGA Tour. If people still have eligibility and want to come back and play or try to, let them. I think it is hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be punishment.”
Fleetwood needs a mental change
Popular Englishman Tommy Fleetwood needs a change of mental direction after his crushing loss to Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship in the United States, according to commentator Wayne Riley. Three shots clear with three holes to go he looked home and hosed. But oh no. Two bogeys from Fleetwood and two birdies from Bradley saw a monumental four shot swing and not even a playoff needed. This would be Fleetwood’s 42nd top 10 finish on the PGA Tour without a victory, the most without a win of any player ever. He does have seven DP World Tour wins. Riley wonders if he needs someone to take him in another mental direction. With these unbelievable finishes it doesn’t seem to click when it needs to.
Riley believes Fleetwood may have the best golf swing in the world and expects it will just be a matter of time before he makes a big breakthrough on the PGA Tour — and if it does the floodgates will open.
Asia-Pacific’s first mid-amateur to be held next month in Indonesia
The inaugural Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Mid-Amateur Championship will tee-off in August.
The first edition of the 54-hole men’s event will be held at the Graham Marsh-designed Gading Raya Golf Club on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta from August 12-14.
APGC chairman Taimur Hassan Amin said: “We’re excited to confirm that the Mid-Amateur Championships will be staged at Gading Raya Golf Club in August.
“We look forward to welcoming players from many of our member coun-
ties to enjoy the competition, make new friends from within our region and enjoy the championship atmosphere.
“Our thanks go to the Indonesia Golf Association for their assistance and support in staging the Mid-Amateur Championship.”
Japto S Soerjosoemarno, chairman of the Indonesia Golf Association, said: “We are dedicated to providing all necessary support to ensure a successful championship and we look forward to welcoming all participants to Indonesia.”
The inaugural Mid-Amateur Championship will be staged in four age divi-
sions – Group A (ages 25 to 29); Group B (ages 30 to 37), Group C (ages 38 to 46) and Group D (aged 47 and above) – and is open to men who have amateur status in accordance with the current amateur status rules of R&A Rules Limited.
Bones Floro, chairman of the APGC’s championship committee, said: “Initially the APGC Mid-Amateur Championship will feature four divisions of 30 players each. It is the intention to extend and expand the event in the future to include ladies’ divisions.”
Located in the heart of Gading Serpong, Tangerang, Gading Raya Golf
Club is a 45-minute drive from Jakarta and easily accessible by way of the Jakarta outer ring toll road. It’s just 10 minutes from Tangerang toll gate and 20 minutes from Serpong toll gate.
Among notable previous tournaments staged at Gading Raya Golf Club were the Southeast Asian Amateur Team Championship for the Putra Cup in 2017 and the 34th Indonesia Ladies Amateur Open and 25th Indonesia Men’s Amateur Open in 2019.
*For entry details, please contact the Indonesia Golf Association at secretariat@pbpgl.org
Female golf numbers continue to surge in the United States
Golf has a new face, and it’s younger, more diverse, and increasingly female.
Women and girls have quietly become the driving force behind golf’s post-pandemic resurgence in the United States, accounting for 60 percent of growth in oncourse participation since 2019, according to research conducted by the National Golf Foundation (NGF) of the United States.
This surge has pushed the female golfer count to a record 7.9 million – shattering the previous high of 7.1 million set in 2006, before the so-called Great Recession disproportionately dev-
astated women’s participation in the sport (female participation declined 28 percent from 2007 to 2011, compared to a nine percent drop among male golfers).
The turnaround has been striking. A decade and a half ago, women represented just one-infive golfers. Today, they account for 28 percent. They’re also now a third of all golf participants when factoring off-course engagement like Topgolf, simulators and driving ranges. What makes the growth particularly significant is its youthful energy. More than half of net
participation gains among women have come from those aged under 30, and just under half of all women playing traditional golf are now under 35 – compared to roughly one in three male golfers.
The average female on-course golfer is four years younger than her male counterpart. This generational shift is bringing new energy and expectations throughout the industry.
Equally encouraging is the cultural shift that’s taking hold. Nearly three-quarters of male core golfers report either playing more with women or seeing
more mixed groups on courses, while the majority of both male and female golfers believe increasing women’s involvement will be vital to the game’s future health.
Some have questioned the legitimacy of these trends and the growth that’s been reported in women’s participation, but NGF research shows four out of five core golfers have witnessed the increase first-hand at their courses.
“This isn’t just a statistic – it’s a measurable transformation happening nationwide,” said a spokesperson for the NGF.
Bradley’s Ryder Cup dilemma
Despite the momentum, though, significant hurdles persist. Female golfers continue to lapse at higher rates than their male counterparts, and the conversion rate from beginner to committed golfer for women is less than half that of men. Perhaps most telling is the loyalty disconnect within the industry. Very few of the female core golfers in the NGF’s research suggest feeling recognised by the golf brands and businesses they patronise – a gap that represents both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses willing to adapt.
By Neville Idour
Keegan Bradley’s win at the Travelers Championship in the United States last month has presented him with an intriguing Ryder Cup dilemma. It raises more than one question regarding his appointment as Ryder Cup captain a year ago.
Firstly, why select a player who was currently competitive and fully committed to the PGA Tour a whole year beforehand. This scenario was always a possibility having won seven times on the tour at that stage. There were any number of worthy contenders for the position that would have avoided this situation.
Now Bradley has a world ranking of seven so it is a no brainer he should be playing in the team. Bradley said he would not have considered playing a year ago but admits now the story has changed.
“This definitely opens the door to play, although I don’t know whether to or not. I will look at what’s best for the team,” Bradley said.
If Bradley was to pick himself there are doubts about whether he should have a dual role as playing captain, step down or delegate a de facto captain. Who would that be?
Wayne Riley said in his Sky Sports column that a year ago people thought Europe would get hammered at
Bethpage in New York, but not now. In fact he reckons Europe captain Luke Donald must be laughing his head off.
So what does Bradley do? Should he ask the team I’m going to play, but do you want me as a playing captain? It would be a huge ask to do both in such a big, all consuming event. Imagine if the US are behind on the Sunday. Would the demanding New Yorkers vent their displeasure? The Europeans would be lapping it up.
How will Bradley win in this situation? He could be on a hiding to nothing. So without a tee shot being hit it is already advantage Europe. Fans can’t wait for the drama to unfold.
By Neville Idour
Sad but true. Despite his number one world ranking and often imperious consistency, Scottie Scheffler fails to excite with his self absorbed personality on course and no acknowledgement or interaction with fans. Oblivious to his surroundings he seems to guarantee poor television ratings.
Ratings for the majors this year are
Scheffler a ratings turnoff
an eye opener. Dominant, almost in Tiger Woods fashion, Scheffler’s major triumph in the PGA Championship drew minimal viewers compared to Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph.
McIlroy’s Masters drew an average 12.7 million viewers on American broadcaster CBS while it reached an astonishing peak of 19.5 million for Sunday’s final round, the most watched golf telecast on any network in the past seven years.
Even J J Spaun’s US Open victory left Scheffler’s PGA Championship win in the dust. It averaged 5.4 million with a peak of nine million. Meanwhile Scheffler’s win drew just 4.76 million during the closing stages at Quail Hollow in North Carolina. This ended a disappointing week reflecting the lows of the previous three days. Round one averaged a paltry 955.000 viewers, round two 1.3 million and round three 3.11 mil -
lion, all well down on the previous years figures.
Earlier in the year Stewart Cink told American sports magazine Sports Illustrated that he was pessimistic about Scheffler’s effect as a ratings driver.
“We have a dominant player who is incredible but people are not turning on the TV like they used to with Tiger. That’s just the difference in personalities. Nothing against Scottie.”
The huge impact St Andrews has on tourism in Scotland
The economic impact of visitors travelling to St Andrews to play at the what is known as the home of golf is equivalent to the country hosting three Open Championships every year, according to new research.
Visitors and their families who come to play on the seven courses in St Andrews is worth £317 million (more than $NZ700 million) annually in total economic impact to Scotland. This supports 4300 full time jobs in the country, underlining that St Andrews Links is one of Scotland’s major tourism assets.
The detailed research – conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University – calculated the amount visitors spent directly on golf in St Andrews as well as on hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and local travel providers.
St Andrews Links, which manages seven courses including the Old, New, Jubilee and Castle courses, welcomes an average of 2000 playing visitors every week, the report found.
Around 72 percent of those visitors came from overseas, with the United States (40 percent) and Canada (6 percent) being the key markets. A further 28 percent of visits were from the United Kingdom, with the remaining 26 percent coming from elsewhere.
The report also highlighted just how positively visitors viewed their spend. Some 84 percent said they were likely or very likely to return in the future, highlighting the unique nature of a St Andrews trip and the world class levels of service delivery. It was recently announced that the Old Course would host the
155th Open in 2027.
Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “This is the first such study looking solely at the impact of golf in St Andrews on the town and the wider Scottish economy.
“It clearly shows the massive impact on the town and that our visitors are delivering a boost to communities across Scotland each and every year. This impact has probably been under-valued in the past.
“The unique place that St Andrews holds as the lifeblood and source of the sport means that both golfers and non-golfers want to come here and experience this place for themselves. But this only works if we continue to invest in our facilities and in ensuring we strive for excellence in customer experience. The combination is what makes St Andrews Links stand out.”
St Andrews Links Trust is a charity and all of its revenue is reinvested into the sport, facilities and in community initiatives across the region.
In St Andrews itself, for every pound that passes through the tills of St Andrews Links from visitors, an additional £3.43 is generated for other businesses in the town.
The Scottish government’s business minister Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland has a proud reputation as the birthplace of the game and St Andrews is home to many links courses, not least the Old Course, which are the envy of the world.
“This report hits home the scale of the benefits we all reap from the trust’s courses, alongside the broader impact of golf tourism, which boosts the economy
by £300 million every year and supports around 5000 jobs.
“I commend the Trust for all it does to sustain and grow the game and I’m looking forward to the return of The Open to St Andrews in 2027, which, backed by Scottish government funding, will further increase our standing as a first-class host of major events.”
Of the 283,000 rounds played on the seven St Andrews Links courses in 2023, 152,000 (54 percent) were played by visitors to St Andrews.
More than half of visitors combined their St Andrews Links trip with a visit to another iconic layout in Scotland. The most popular were Kingsbarns (29 percent), followed by Carnoustie (25 percent), Dumbarnie (15 percent) and Crail (14 percent). This finding demonstrates how visits to St Andrews Links courses are a catalyst for further tourism activity in Scotland.
Vicki Miller, chief executive of VisitScotland, added: “This comprehensive study showcases the important role golf plays in Scotland’s visitor economy, with St Andrews standing at the heart of this as a globally recognised asset.
“Scotland continues to be the destination of choice for golfers worldwide, and beyond the course, our renowned hospitality, culture and heritage offer a truly distinctive and enriching experience for all who visit. We welcome this research, which reinforces Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.”
Golf trips a big part of travel and tourism NEWS
Whether it be buddy trips, couples’ weekends, short getaways or destination golf experiences, more than 12 million Americans have travelled to play golf each year since 2022, up from an estimated 8.2 million in 2018.
According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF) in the United States, this appetite not only highlights golf’s popularity, but mirrors a broader societal trend toward experiential pursuits. And it’s being driven especially by the allure of aspirational courses and bucket-list destinations.
Over the past five years, more than 40 percent of new golf course openings in America have had resort ties or can be considered destination locations where golf is the prime focus.
The former category includes recent debuts at high profile resorts like Bandon Dunes in Oregon (Shorty’s), Streamsong in Florida (The Chain), Sand Valley in Wisconsin (Sedge Valley) and Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, while the latter category encompasses private or public getaway destinations such as Broomsedge, Old Barnwell and The Tree Farm in South Carolina, or GreyBull and Landmand in Nebraska.
More than 1250 golf facilities in the US overall have a resort component. And thousands more are sojourn-worthy destinations that are helping fuel what is the second-largest contributor to the US golf economy: travel & tourism.
As the broader travel industry appears to be experiencing some cooling – reports from major financial institutions
and airlines suggest tourism is “tapping the brakes’’ – NGF research suggests more moderate impacts within the golf sector.
Golf retailers report that sales of travel bags remain strong, and NGF surveys show only a slight decline in the percentage of golfers making overnight golf trips. (41 per cent of core golfers indicate they travelled for business or leisure with an overnight stay to a destination where they played at least one round of golf, compared to 43 per cent in 2024).
What’s particularly significant about golf travel statistics is what the NGF considers the “travel window” effect.
The NGF found that 50-60 per cent of a travelling golfer’s yearly spending occurs within the expanded trip timeline: planning and preparation, the destination ex-
perience itself, and the weeks following their return. It’s during these windows when golfers are at their most engaged, enthusiastic and inclined towards purchases.
This creates a unique opening for golf businesses at all levels – from equipment manufacturers to local pro shops, instructors and, of course, the destinations themselves.
Said a NGF spokesperson: “The golf traveller, with heightened anticipation before, peak enjoyment during, and deeper appreciation after their trip, represents perhaps the most valuable business opportunity in the entire golf economy, offering windows of engagement where meaningful interactions can establish stronger customer relationships.”
Amateur becomes youngest three-time winner on China tour
China’s top female amateur Zhou Shiyuan became the youngest to win three times on the China Ladies’ Professional Golf Tour when she carded a final round four-under-par 68 to win the Zhu Chun Straits Cup Women’s Open last month.
Starting the last day with a one-stroke lead at Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club, the Chongqing teenager, 43rd in the world amateur golf rankings, closed with a bogey-free round to finish on 10-under 206.
She was aged 15 years, five months and 14 days old and broke the previous record set by Yin Xiaowen who was 16 years, five months and 15 days old when she won the Wuhuanxing Women’s Challenge in 2021.
Said Zhou: “Many people have congratulated me, saying that winning three times is incredible and that I have a bright future. But I feel like I’m
still the same person. Nothing has changed.
“Even though I broke Yin Xiaowen’s record I don’t think much of it. Yin is an outstanding player who’s already competing on the US LPGA. Though I don’t know her well, I respect her greatly.”
Zhou, who is considering turning pro at the end of the year, added after the win: “I felt tense throughout. My form in the first half of the year wasn’t great, especially in handling small details. The pressure was real in this event because the Thai players were chasing me hard.
“I’ll assess my form first (before turning pro). I hope to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur again. This year’s tournament left me with regrets. I missed the cut. Next time, I want to make it to the weekend and compete alongside the world’s top amateurs. I want to learn from them.”
China amateur Zhou Shiyuan who last month became the youngest three-time winner on the China Lades’ Professional Golf Tour at the age of 15 years and five months. Photo credit: Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.
LONG DRIVE
Xtreme Drivers League Announces Blockbuster Season Ahead
— Regional Championships, National Finals, and Trans Tasman Clash Set To Ignite New Zealand
XDL to Crown National Champion and Launch New Era in Lead-up to 10-Year Anniversary
The Xtreme Drivers League (XDL) has officially locked in its most electrifying season to date, with Regional Championships set to take place in Christchurch, Auckland, Northland, and across both the North and South Islands — all leading to the highly anticipated crowning of the New Zealand Champion. XDL has been challenged
by a strain from lack of sponsorships so founder Olna Ford has been in overdrive with business developments. A major breakthrough is about to happen for XDL and with a 12th International Business Award recently won, there’s a success DRIVEN thirst to prove why the vision for the sport has been worth every accolade and struggle.
This year’s season is building toward a powerful crescendo with the Trans Tasman Clash, a three-day sporting spectacle that will see the Aussie Long Ballers take on the New Zealand Long
Blacks. The event will span three iconic venues and feature a unique twist: teams will represent the Past, Present, and Future of the sport, honouring XDL’s journey while spotlighting its next generation of talent. With last season’s champions still preparing to represent New Zealand on the world stage in the upcoming International Championships this September and November, the domestic build-up brings a new level of prestige and purpose to the XDL calendar.
The season finale will also mark a defining moment in XDL history. On November 2nd, during the third and final day of the Trans Tasman Clash, XDL will officially unveil its “4 Pillars” Global Launch, an international expansion initiative that will reshape the way the sport is played, promoted, and powered worldwide. In a fitting tribute to a decade of innovation, inclusion, and intensity, a special announcement will be made on that same day to celebrate XDL’s 10-Year Anniversary in 2026 — a moment that promises to honour the
league’s bold past and its unstoppable future.
As XDL continues to drive luxury on and off the tee, fans, partners, and new markets are gearing up to be part of a sporting movement unlike anything else.
Get ready, New Zealand. XDL Season is here — and it’s about to hit top gear. Registrations open up for Regionals and National events on July 20th. Go to www.xdlworldwide.com
#GolfJustGotLoud!
Onekakā Links Golf Club
Amazing golfing experience at Onekakā in Golden Bay
With stunning vistas and memorable golf and hospitality, it’s a day you won’t forget.
The Links Course is not long, but rarely conquered. It comprises one par 5, eight par 4 and nine par 3 holes, including two double greens and a triple green via major elevation changes, with ocean, ponds, cliffs, penal bunkering or roughs encircling the greens. The Mountain Course is a significantly more difficult challenge and not for the faint hearted. Visit www.onekakalinks.com for a course guide also incorporating drone footage of the course and testimonials of visiting players. We also have a Face-
book page which is regularly updated. The green fee of $75 per head for 18 holes for a minimum of four players covers:
* Exclusive use – no other players on the course that day
* Golf cart and electric trundlers, laser distance finder
* Provision of two free golf balls per player
* A course guide – the course designer and club champion
* Hosted free drinks and snacks after the round
Although a private course, it’s open to visitors 364 days a year. However, to enable hosting arrangements bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance to chris@widespread.co.nz
“Golden Bay is full of amazing things to see and I just discovered another. If you play golf, Onekakā Links is a must visit. I have played golf all around the world and Onekakā gave me more fun and challenging shots than most courses that have hosted major championships. Your host Chris Castle with great imagination has created a wonderful course on a spectacular property. Thank you Chris, for a day to remember.”
- Kindest Regards, Bill Mackenzie (PGA Professional, St. Andrews East Golf Club, Canada)
“Onekakā Links is one of the most special New Zealand golf experiences one could have - it really is a must play for anyone who loves dramatic golf and out
of the box thinking. You have three or four green-sites that would rival the very best in New Zealand. I will be sending more people your way for sure.
You really chose all the best green sites to maximize your property. Your green in the far coastal corner of the property does this so well. The triple green with the bunker and lower green level and water hazard. It is the interest you created that is so much fun. Onekakā can’t fit inside a box and it should not be contained by the world’s idea of a routing and par. It is just an awesome place to play golf.
You and Richard Barham have done such an amazing job with your property - really impressive stuff. If you ever end up doing that new green we discussed
drop a me line and I may try to volunteer some shovel time for you if the timing works!
Thank you again and it was so kind of you to host me there. “
- CJ Kreuscher, Director of Agronomy for Te Arai Links and the original Superintendent of Tara iti, who recently played both courses.
“Great day out at the Onekakā Links in Golden Bay. Stunning scenery. Some exciting holes and wonderful hospitality. It’s a very unique offering but lots of fun and risk and reward. Wonderful hospitality from President Chris Castle and Club Captain Linda Sanders. Highly recommended. “
- Barry Johnston, Wanaka
NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS
Northland Golf Men’s Pennants Finals Battle of the Bridge –Auckland Winners
Men’s Pennants Finals played recently at Waitangi Golf Club Paihia.
Bay Of Islands Golf Club, claiming the 36-Hole Pennants title for the fifth consecutive year, overcoming a strong challenge from Northland Golf Club in the final!
THikurangi Golf Club, who came out on top against Waiotira Golf Club to secure the 18-Hole Pennants title.
hat’s a wrap on the 2025 Battle of the Bridge played at Huapai Golf club recently— Auckland came out strong across all divisions, taking the overall win in both the Men’s and Women’s competitions: Overall Results:
Men – Auckland won 15.5–10.5
2025 Men’s Handicap Matchplay Pennants Grand Final Hawkes Bay Golf Club
Stewart Alexander Golf Club were the recent winners of 2025 Men’s Handicap Matchplay Pennants Grand Final against Paeroa Golf Club, held at Putaruru Golf Club.
Players were met with a chilly but calm morning, setting the stage for a closely contested final. Paeroa took an early 2–1 lead following the morning foursomes. With Stephen Morrison securing the first singles match against Grant Hawkes, Paeroa extended their lead to 3–1. How-
ever, Stewart Alexander’s middle order surged ahead, winning the next four matches to swing the momentum and bring the score to 5–3.
Despite a strong finish from Paeroa’s John Dustow—who won the top-seed match—it wasn’t quite enough, and Stewart Alexander claimed a hard-fought 5–4 win. Several of the final matches came down to the closing holes, highlighting the competitive spirit and quality of both teams.
Hawkes Bay Golf Club’s 2025 Ngatarawa Trophy sponsored by Mr Nelson Wong was played recently.
A marvellous eagle on the 18th by Luke Herrick has snatched a 1up win for him and reliable partner Curtis Huata.
Hamish Waldin and Jimmy Wilsonboth teams having leads at certain times throughout.
Luke Herrick and Curtis Huata pictured.
The plate of the Ngatarawa was secured by 89 yr old Robert Buckley and 78 yr old Dennis Owen, they were able to track down last years champions 3/2
The club would love to thank Nelson Wong for his continued support of this championship and also all of the players - look forward to 2026.
Pictured (L–R): Grant Hawkes, Brent Worthington, Denny Nunn, Austin Hati, Shaun Collett & Shane Thompson.
Taranaki Golf Association
Te Ngutu Futures event was played recently. Max Van Beers and Divan Denton both shot impressive rounds of 69 in very wintery conditions.
Max was steady all the way, carding 12 pars and 4 birdies — a rock-solid round!
Divan turned up the heat on the back 9, going 4 under, including a hole-out eagle on 10!
Oliva Symes fired an impressive 74
Manawatu Whanganui Golf
PENNANTS CHAMPIONS A
Congratulations to the 2025 MWGA Pennants Champions who played the pennants finals at the Waimarino Golf Course. It was a spectacular day under the Ruapehu mountain. The course was in great condition with little to no wind and fast greens.
2025 Champions
36 Hole Champions - Foxton GC
36 Hole Runners up - Feilding
GC
A Grade ChampionsManawatu GC
A Grade Runners up - Palmerston North GC
B Grade ChampionsManawatu GC
B Grade Runners up - Buckley GC
C Grade Champions - Feilding GC
C Grade Runners upManawatu GC
D Grade Champions -
off the stick, securing the nett title with a 70. He’s been playing some outstanding golf lately, showing real form on the course.
Leading Gross Scores
69 – Max and Divan
72 – Jackson Moorhead
74 – Oliva Symes
76 – Oliver Winstanley
77 – Harry Mattson
80 – Ethan Hollard
D Grade Runners up - Feilding GC
E Grade Champions - Hawkestone GC
E Grade Runners up - Levin GC
Women’s Championship Champions - Feilding GC (White) Women’s Championship Runners up - Feilding GC (Black)
Women’s Weekend Pennant Champions - Wanganui GC
Women’s Weekend Pennant Runners up - Feilding GC (Black)
Leading Nett Scores
70 – Oliva Symes
71 – Eden Visagie
71 – Krishnav Chand
71 – Ethan Hollard
72 – Dylan Smith
75 – Emilee Venables-Zhou
75 – Finn Langman
76 – Lukie Rowson
76 – Calen Parsons
Manawatu GC
Wellington Golf
After a postponement, the reschedule day produced a typical, sunny crisp Wairarapa winters day as the Mar-
tinborough Golf Club hosted the midweek Pennants field day. Congratulations to Miramar Golf Club winner of the teams trophy
and the Masterton Golf Club pair of Sereanna and Shona who were the top score.
Boulcotts Farm Heritage Golf Club’s
Scargill Make it Three-in-a-Row
The Final round of North Canterbury Women’s Interclub was played at Culverden recently in cool, wintery conditions.
Pennants teams.
Scargill who had a handy lead on the field going into the final round put the issue beyond doubt defeating Boyle Cup holders Hawarden 3.5-.5 to make it three consecutive titles and four titles in the past five years.
The Scargill team from left is Janet Mur-
ray, Marianne McLean, Emma MacFarlane and Caroline Murray. They won this year’s competition comfortably with a 7 point margin from Hanmer Springs who just pipped Hawarden for second by half a point with a win in the final round.
In other final round matches Amberley defeated Cheviot 2.5-1.5 and Hanmer Springs beat Amuri 2.5-1.5.
Theresa Scholey won the Lady Meech trophy for player of the year across all 19
Canterbury Golf Redmayne and Bell go back-to-back and a new women’s pair claim top spot
Played in idyllic conditions at the stunning Terrace Downs Golf Resort, the 2025 edition of the Canterbury 4BBB championship played recently. In a scene that showcased winter golf at its peak which resulted in an initial lengthy frost delay, the players enjoyed spectacular snow-capped mountain views as they tested themselves on the alpine champi-
onship course.
With the added incentives of NTP’s on the iconic 10th and 16th holes alongside the longest drive prizes on hole 13 to compliment the Gross and Net prizes, plenty was up for grabs.
In the men’s competition, as expected there were several pairs that were pushing for the title throughout. However, it
was the 2024 Champions pairing of Alfie Bell and Mitchell Redmayne who impressively defended their title combining to record a 7-under total of 65. The pair started solidly collecting birdies at holes 2, 3, and 5 to sit at 3-under at the turn and capitalized on that solid start to secure additional birdies at holes 12 & 15 plus an eagle on hole 14 to finish the
back 9 at 4-under. A blemish-free round with the pair complimenting each other well.
Behind the leaders, there was then a further 5 pairs who finished at 4-under.
The best of those on countback was the pairing of Leon Yee and Nelson Gaw, with Yee doing a lot of the heavy lifting shooting a personal 1-under round of 71. Also
Mitchell Redmayne
at 4-under were the pairs of Shunsuke Nakamura/Yusuke Nakamura, Glenn Coughlan/Cam Finlayson, Yuki Miya/ Cooper Moore, and Jordon Latter/Patrick Werahiko with a further 7 pairs tied at 3-under.
The best individual round posted by a men’s player was the 3-under round of 69 by Uny Shao with the longest drive going to Cam Grant and the NTP to Blair Franklin with his effort on hole 10.
In the women’s field, as billed in the preview it felt like any number of the
pairs had the ability to win it, and coming into the final few groups that looked the case. With just one group left to finish, there was a total of 4 pairs sitting tied for first at 1-over, but that tie was finally split as the final pair of Zaria Bourne and Lannie Inoue came in with a combined round of 3-under 69 to claim top spot. After a slow start with the pair leading off with a bogey on 1, Inoue and Bourne started to pull things back with birdies at 4 and 8 before a bogey on 9 to finish the front 9 square. This was followed by
a confident finish with birdies at 12, 13, and 15 on the back giving them their -3 total.
The chase pack and those tied a 1-over contained the pairs of Junie Chang/Eva Yin, Rachel Eder/Lexi Thomson-Hall, Nutcha Sirawattanakul/Shontalia William, and Alice Fry/Vanessa Lim. The best individual performance was the par 72 round by Lannie Inoue who also collected the Longest Drive prize. The NTP was awarded to Jessie Mercer with her shot on hole 16.
10th Tee
Lannie Inoue
Vanessa Lim on Hole 16.
Canterbury Men’s Champion of Champions Tai Tapu make it Quintuple Titles
The Canterbury Men’s Champion of Champions Tournament was played at Bottle Lake Golf Club recently in cold, wintery conditions, fortunately with the rain not setting in until the players had just finished. The course was in great order considering the recent weather, with Andrew and the greens staff to be commended, especially for their efforts on the greens before play commenced.
A field of 75 players from 25 Canterbury Clubs braved the conditions, which was a credit to them and their clubs.
The Team Gross Stableford Competition was taken out by the Ellesmere team (Pictured above) of Mike Berry, James Geddes and Bill Marshall (absent) with 79 points.
The Team Net Stableford Competition was won by Coringa’s Gil McKinnon, Matt Vieceli and David Kim with 93 points.
Individual Gross Stableford Champions were:
Senior – Yuki Miya (Russley) 36 points
Yuki Miya – Senior Gross Stableford Champion
Intermediate – Erik Jorgensen (Templeton) 26 points
Junior – David Kim (Coringa) 26 points
Individual Net Stableford Champions were:
Senior – Chadol Han (Waimairi Beach) 34 points on countback from Russell Fildes (Bottle Lake)
Intermediate – Chris Stewart (Lincoln) 32 points on countback from Ron Marshall (Waimairi Beach)
Junior – Chris Laws (Bottle Lake) 35 points
Tai Tapu made it five consecutive Patterson Cup titles at Burnham recently when they defeated Weedons Black 5.5-3.5 in the Final.
Weedons Black were out to spoil Tai Tapu’s party and would have been quietly confident after being the only team to lower Tai Tapu’s colours in round-robin play.
However, the current Champions had designs on their fifth title in-a-row and turned the tables on Weedons to take the title.
Yuki Miya – Senior Gross Stableford Champion
The successful Tai Tapu side from left, Ben Harding, Scott Ward, Ricky Hetherington, Murray Chapman, Sam Desmond & Dave Crosbie.
Southland Golf
omen’s Weekday Pennants The winners were Greenacres Country Club played recently at Win-
ton Golf Club . Hoana Ayto for winning the Glenn Spiers Cup for best individual Stableford with an impressive 40 points.
National Teams was played recently at the Greenacres Country Club. Congratulations to the winners Waikaka Golf Club
with a nett score combined of 131. 2nd place was Tuatapere on 138 and Lumsden in 3rd on 140.
