GOLF WA: AROUND THE TRAPS (ISSUE 3)

GOLFWAONLINEAROUNDTHETRAPS WWW.GOLFWA.ORG.AU

FEATURING.....

ISSUE 3: OCTOBER 2012

SPECIAL EDITION PREVIEW WAOPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

AT THE 2011 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, MINJEE LEE BECAME THE YOUNGEST FEMALE TO CONTEST THE EVENT TAKING ON A FIELD OF 143 MEN. Lee failed to make the cut last year, but the 2012 US Girls’ Junior Champion will be back in action again this year and bringing with her more experience and determination.

CONTENTS 04 WORLD’S BEST TAKE ON LAKE KARRINYUP 06 LAKE KARRINYUP COUNTRY CLUB FEATURE 08 LOCAL FELTON CHASING FOURTH WA OPEN TITLE 10 INTERVIEW: KIM FELTON 12 BLIZARD SET ON DEFENDING WA OPEN TROPHY 14 WA OPEN PROFILES: KULACZ, LEANEY, RUMFORD AND STRANGE 16 WA OPEN HONOUR BOARD 16 VIDEO: ROYAL PERTH SIGNATURE HOLE 18 ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB FEATURE

“HOPEFULLY I CAN PLAY WELL AT THE PERTH INTERNATIONAL AND BRING SOME GOOD FORM TO ROYAL PERTH AND TRY TO DEFEND MY WA OPEN TITLE” - REIGNING WA OPEN CHAMPION ROHAN BLIZARD

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WORLD’S BEST TAKE ON.....

OCTOBER IS AN EXCITING MONTH IN WEST AUSTRALIAN GOLF AND THE SEASON IS HERE IN FULL FORCE. The month kicks off with the WA Goldfields PGA Championship at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course which was played October 11 to 14, and finishes with the John Hughes Geely/ Nexus Risk Services WA Open held October 25 to 28. In between those two events though will see some of the best players in the world take on Lake Karrinyup Country Club at what is Australia’s richest tournament, the ISPS HANDA Perth International, which has a purse US$2 million on offer.

The Perth International is being played over the 18th to 21st of October and is cosanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour. Spectators can expect to see the likes of current World Number 10 Jason Dufner, World Number 24 Bo Van Pelt and World Number 30 Charl Schwartzel chasing the top of the leaderboard.

Dufner was runner-up at the 2011 US PGA Championship and has enjoyed a stellar 2012 season with seven top-10 finishes, highlighted by wins at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and HP Byron Nelson Championship.

“I have a real affinity for Australia and have heard a lot of great things about Perth and Western Australia,” Said Dufner.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to play in Western Australia for the first time and hope the community will really support this 04

JASON DUFNER

new event.”

Van Pelt has enjoyed another terrific year recording 10 top 10 finishes highlighted by a second place finish behind Tiger Woods at the AT&T National in July. He won his first Tour event at the US Bank Championship in 2009 and last year won the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

“I have heard a lot of great things about Western Australia from the players over here and I’m looking forward to the trip. Perth worked out well with my schedule and the swing of events in Asia-Pacific,” Bo said.

Schwartzel has won seven times on The European Tour, including a 2011 victory at Augusta National, where he became the first player in history to birdie the final four holes to win the coveted Green Jacket.

“It has been a while since I was down under in Australia for a Tour Event,” Schwartzel said.

“I have always enjoyed the people and the culture there and the great sporting rivalry between our countries in cricket and rugby.

Hopefully I can continue the South African success at Lake Karrinyup”.

Announcing the US$2 million Perth International at the Eventscorp 2012 Calendar launch, Western Australian Tourism Minister Dr Kim Hames said the tournament would attract some of the world’s best golfers.

“Perth has a strong history of hosting successful international golf events, notably the Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic and the Lexus Cup, and this tournament will

BO VAN PELT

well and truly put the city back on the golfing map,” Dr Hames said.

“The Perth International is a joint initiative of Eventscorp and International Management Group (IMG) to bring another major international golf event to Perth.

“IMG will be the owner and promoter of the tournament, which will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. The European Tour is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golf players in world.

“We have a three-year agreement for this tournament with options to continue, and our goal is to develop the Perth International into a feature event in the Asia Pacific region that is anchored in Perth,” the Minister said.

“The PGA Tour of Australasia is delighted to add the Perth International to its 2012 schedule and look forward to welcoming the European Tour and its players back to Australia,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Perth has a proud history of staging world class golf tournaments and, following on from one of Australia’s most successful golf seasons ever, we look forward to working with the State Government and indeed all parties to grow this prestigious tournament over the next three years.”

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy for The

European Tour, said “We are delighted to welcome the Perth International onto our 2012 International Schedule. Returning to Australia, and the city of Perth in particular, will further enhance the global nature of The European Tour. We would like to thank the Western Australian Government for their valuable support and look forward to working with our partners at the PGA Tour of Australasia, Eventscorp and IMG to ensure a successful return to Australia for our Members. The Perth International Golf Championship, at the outstanding Lake Karrinyup Country Club, will be played in a key date towards the end of our 2012 Schedule, the remainder of which will be released in the coming weeks.”

Lake Karrinyup Country Club has a history of holding high-status international events including the Johnnie Walker Classics that saw South African superstars Ernie Els and Retief Goosen hoist the trophy in 2003 and 2002 respectively.

The winner of the Perth International will receive an exemption to the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions to be played in China two weeks after.

www.perthinternational.com

.....LAKE KARRINYUP

CHARL SCHWARTZEL

GENERAL MANAGER - DAMON LONNIE WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR LAKE KARRINYUP COUNTRY CLUB TO HOLD SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL EVENT AGAIN? The event is a wonderful opportunity to expose our course and club to a wider audience, reinforcing the high quality golf that we enjoy in the West. It creates an enormous sense of pride for members and staff alike.

WHY IS LAKE KARRINYUP THE PERFECT VENUE AND COURSE TO HOST THIS EVENT? The course lends itself to championship golf as it challenges all facets of the game. Recent alterations made under the supervision of course architect Mike Clayton have ensured the course is still a relevant tournament venue but still offers an enjoyable experience for golfers at all levels.

THE TYPE OF GOLF SPECTATORS CAN EXPECT TO SEE AND WHY IT MIGHT POSE SOME CHALLENGES TO THESE ELITE GOLFERS? The length of the course and generosity of the width of the fairways should not pose too much of an issue for the world’s best players. The main challenge to mastering the course will be successfully navigating your way around and on to the contouring firm and fast greens.

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LAKE KARRINYUP COUNTRY CLUB THE LAKE KARRINYUP COUNTRY CLUB IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER PRIVATE GOLF CLUB AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY RATED AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN GOLF COURSES IN AUSTRALIA. Founded in 1928 with a course layout designed by Alex Russell (1924 open champion of Australia), the business partner of legendary golf architect Dr Alister Mackenzie (designer of the US Masters Championship course at Augusta, Georgia), Lake Karrinyup has maintained a wonderful bush setting for golfers while providing a tranquil haven for an abundance of native flora and fauna.

Over 75 species of birds have been identified in the wetlands surrounding the large natural lake while kangaroos abound amid flowering large eucalyptus trees and colourful shrubs. Surprisingly, this undulating natural bushland course, which gives no hint of surrounding and sought after urban development, is less than 15 minutes from the state’s capital city of Perth and a couple of Tiger Woods’ drives from the famous white beaches of the west coast.

On the 16th February 2003, while Lake Karrinyup was in the midst of celebrating its 75th anniversary it was also playing host, for an unprecedented second successive year, to the Johnnie Walker Classic and many of the world’s best golfers. So successful for the players, the public and the organisers was the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic at Lake Karrinyup that the venue was not changed for the following year — the first time in the history of this prestigious international event that it remained in the same location for two successive years. For the record, in 2002 Retief Goosen won the Classic after only a handful of the world’s best could achieve a sub-par performance on this testing course. In 2003, while the course played a little easier and more players achieved sub-par rounds, Ernie Els dominated the field to add the Classic to his long list of international successes.

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Lake Karrinyup is a club of strong traditions and the lovely washed limestone and hardwood jarrah timber-lined walls of its magnificent clubhouse reflect the history of its many famous visitors. The first Australian Open to be held in Western Australia was held at Lake Karrinyup in 1952 and Norman Von Nida had to overcome a strong field that included old rivals such as Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle to become national champion. Over the ensuing years in which Lake Karrinyup hosted the Australian Open it has seen some of the world’s best golfers attempt to tame the tough course.

Some who did so and became Australian Open Champions included Bruce Devlin (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1968), and Gary Player (1974) who made Lake Karrinyup the home of his seventh Australian Open Championship.

In 1979, Perth celebrated its 150th anniversary since foundation and chose Karrinyup to celebrate the occasion by attracting one of the biggest international fields to the state. Young USA golfer Peter Jacobsen overcame a star studded field which included Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Bob Charles, Jerry Pate, Graham Marsh, David Graham, and Rodger Davis, to win by 5 shots. Having won the British Open and missing by one shot from winning the US Masters and the US Open in 1986, Greg Norman returned to Lake Karrinyup to win the 1986 Western Australian Open Championship — his 10th tournament victory of the year.

The Lake Karrinyup Country Club of today is one which constantly upgrades its demanding world class golf course and fine clubhouse facilities. It is an island of tranquillity and natural charm well hidden from any sign of the busy bustling urban landscape that surrounds it. Simply put, it is a wonderful place to play the constantly challenging, great game of golf.

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LOCAL FELTON CHASING FOURTH WA OPEN TITLE

THE 2012 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IS GOING TO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST FIELDS IT HAS SEEN IN RECENT TIMES. The WA Open has a rich history of producing some of Australia’s best up and coming winners with previous champions including Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Gary Player and Kel Nagle. This year with $110,000 on offer, the likes of Australian golf stars Scott Strange, Brett Rumford, Stephen Leaney, and Rick Kulacz will be taking on Royal Perth Golf Club from the 25th to 28th October.

Amongst the high profile stars, and undoubtedly one of the favourites heading into the event is local hero Kim Felton.

Felton is no stranger to the tournament with three WA Open titles already under his belt, taking out the Championship in 2002, 2003 and again in 2006.

Kim has an impressive history within West Australian golf having come through the ranks as a product of the WA high performance system, which all started with the Graham Marsh Junior Golf Foundation. He had an illustrious amateur career which included winning the Australian Amateur in 1997 and was the low individual at the 1998 Eisenhower Trophy. Felton also played on six West Australian State Teams, having won the Interstate Series on two occasions in 1997 and 1999.

Following a highly successful amateur career, Kim launched his professional career with instant success having multiple wins on 3 global tours throughout his career.

He turned professional in 1999 after being the Leading Amateur at the 1998 Australian Masters, playing mainly on the PGA Tour of Australasia and its developmental Tour, the Von Nida Tour. Kim won six events on the Von Nida Tour as well as three other Australian events. Felton also played on the Nationwide Tour from 2005 to 2008 where he won the 2005 Knoxville Open. In 2010, he won the Midea China Classic on the OneAsia Tour.

Kim has emerged as one of the most talented and recognised rising stars in Australian golf.

He is a tremendous ambassador for the sport both in Australia and internationally, and continues to pursue his personal goal of one day getting inside the world top 50 players.

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PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS Winner of 2012 Broome Furnishings Open Winner of 2011 Spalding Park Open T5th at 2011 Indonesia Open Winner of 2010 Midea China Classic Finished 6th (leading Australian) on 2010 OneAsia Tour Order of Merit Winner of 2010 Cottesloe Open Finished T8th at 2010 Handa Singapore Classic Winner of 5 events and 7 Top 10 finishes over 18 Pro-Am events in WA (2010) Winner of 2007 Victorian Open Winner of 2006 WA Open and Nedlands Masters Winner of 2005 Knoxville Open as a Rookie on the Nationwide Tour Winner of 2004 Queensland Masters Winner of 2004 Cairns Classic 3 Time Winner of WA PGA including consecutive years in 2002, 2003 and 2004 3 Time Winner of WA Open in 2002, 2003 and 2006 Winner of World Eisenhower Cup both Individual and Team Events in 1998 1997 Australian and Argentine Amateur champion

1999 Medallist State Amateur Championship 1999 Member of the Winning Australian Team – Four Nations Championship in Terrey Hills 1999 Australian Amateur – Lost second round to Mahal Pearce (NZ) 19th hole.

1999 Ericsson Australian Masters – Leading Amateur 1998 Holden Australian Open – Leading Amateur 1998 Ford Open Championship – Leading Amateur 1998 Member of Australian Team – Eisenhower Trophy in Chile (Australia 2nd) 1998 Leading Amateur in World Amateur Teams Trophy – Eisenhower Trophy.

1998 Medallist Australian Amateur Championship 1998 Medallist State Amateur Championship – Lost Semi Final to Scott Strange.

1998 Greg Norman International Leading Amateur 1998 Argentine Amateur Champion 1997 Member of Australian Team – Pacific Teams Championship in Japan 1997 Australian Amateur Champion 1997 Medallist State Amateur Championship 1996 Medallist State Amateur Championship 1995 Australian Amateur Championship – Lost quarter final to 1995 City of Perth Champion 1995 Junior Stroke Averages 71.50 – 1st WA State Senior Team 4 years (Captain 1997,1998) Member of 1992 Australian Under 18 Team

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AROUND THE TRAPS RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH KIM TO DISCUSS GOLF, LIFE AND HIS FUTURE IN THE SPORT.....

PRE-TOURNAMENT ROUTINE?

I normally get to the course about an hour before my tee time to stretch and warm up. This can vary when I’m playing in Asia as you’re restricted to the bus schedules and often have to arrive a lot earlier and sit around killing time for a while.

I try to eat something before my round (nothing specific) and have at least 1 or 2 coffee’s. Yes, I’m a total coffee addict! I prefer to snack around the course while I’m playing, as I often don’t feel like a big meal before I tee it up – especially if it’s an early morning tee time.

Once I’ve stretched (normally for 1020 minutes) I’ll go and putt for 10 minutes before hitting balls on the range. My range work during a tournament is really just to loosen up the body and get a feeling in my swing for the day. Once I’m warm and loose, I’ll head back to the putting green and putt until I’m due on the tee.

FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN GOLF COURSE?

Kingston Heath – I love the sandbelt courses and I think Kingston is the best one.

FAVOURITE INTERNATIONAL GOLF COURSE? St Andrew’s would have to be my absolute 10

favourite golf course in the world as it’s where golf began. I also really loved playing Irondequoit Country Club in Rochester, New York, which used to host the Xerox Classic on the Nationwide Tour (now the web.com Tour).

GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS/MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS?

My most memorable golfing moments naturally are when I’ve won golf tournaments. Winning the Eisenhower Individual as an amateur was probably my most memorable moment and experience as a young golfer then as a pro winning the Knoxville Open on the Nationwide Tour as a rookie in 2005.

In more recent years, winning the Midea China Classic on the OneAsia Tour in 2010 was great moment as I’d taken time away from golf to work on my game and it felt like the hard work paid off.

The biggest highlight of golf in general is being able to travel the world doing something you love and visiting places that you might not otherwise ever see – like where I am now in New Caledonia.

BIRTHDATE/BIRTHPLACE? 27 March 1975 – Perth, Australia

CHILDHOOD HERO? Greg Norman

WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM FOURSOME?

Norman, Albert Pujols (St Louis Cardinals baseballer) and Ben Hogan.

FAVOURITE SPORT OTHER THAN GOLF? Baseball

HOME CLUB?

I grew up playing at Wanneroo Golf Club but I now am a member at Nedlands Golf Club because it’s closer to home and easier for me to get to for practice etc….

FIRST STARTING PLAYING AT WHAT AGE? Eleven

HOURS A WEEK TRAINING/ PRACTICE?

It’s hard to quantify exactly how much training and practice I do in a week as it varies depending on how I’m feeling and what other things I have to do while I’m home. Generally on my weeks off I get up and go to the gym for a few hours in

the morning. I do mainly pilates and core strengthening exercises at the gym.

I’ve recently changed my practice regime to focus more on playing than grinding on the range so after the gym I’ll head out to a different golf course each day and try to play 18 holes with another pro or amateur looking for a serious round.

If there’s time in the afternoon I’ll often go home via Burswood (where I do my technical practice) and do some chipping and putting. I try to play at least 4 or 5 times a week on different courses then spend 1 day working on my technique and short game.

WHY YOU FIRST GOT INVOLVED IN GOLF?

I started playing golf because my parents played. My brother and I started together hitting balls then getting lessons from David Milne.

WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOU TO PLAY GOLF?

This may sound conceited but I’d have to say myself – because I fell in love with the sport.

WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO WHEN YOU RETIRE? I’m not really sure to be honest. I’d like to think I’ve got a lot of years left playing in

me but maybe when I do cut back or retire all together I’ll look after the kids (house husband) and Gem can keep working!

IF YOU WEREN’T A GOLFER WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? I’d love to be a professional baseballer playing in the USA.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR A BEGINNER OR UP AND COMER?

Don’t hit too many practice balls. Work on your 100m in and putting – that’s where it’s all at! Everyone who wins on the PGA Tour generally leads the putting stats not the driving stats. Whatever you put into your long game, do triple that on the putting green.

HOW YOU’VE DEALT WITH OVERCOMING INJURY THIS YEAR

I have always suffered from a tight lower back (as do most people) but the problem got progressively worse towards the end of 2011.

After many scans and consultations with various sports doctors, physio’s and surgeons, it was determined that I have a degenerative L4-5 disc that finally gave up leading in to the Australian Masters in November. I ended up having about 6 months off to rest the injury (as well as many cortisone injections) and thankfully I am now back swinging pain free.

I don’t like to draw attention to my back problem because everyone gets injured and everyone has their own problems that they have to face to keep playing. I do what I need to do for me (ie: pilates and core strengthening to look after my back) and others no doubt work hard on their injuries to keep their game in shape. In my opinion – it’s no excuse! I’m just happy to be able to keep playing and hopefully will for many

years to come.

HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING GEMMA LESSONS NOW THAT SHE HAS TAKEN UP GOLF?

Gem comes to the range with me on weekends when I’m home and I give her a few tips here and there but she’s still somewhat new to playing golf so it’s best for her to just keep it simple. Plus I always say I’m not a great coach – I know what I need to do but it’s hard to advise someone else on their swing.

I tell Gem what I said earlier that young up and coming golfers should do - practice putting and chipping more than anything, just focus on hitting the ball and have fun!

WHAT’S NEXT AND CAREER GOALS?

My most immediate goal is to have a great end to the 2012 season in Australia as I haven’t had one in a long time. I’ve got a few tournaments left on the OneAsia Tour as well as the Tier 1 and 2 Australian events so I’m really looking forward to finishing the year on a positive note.

My main goal for my game is to become a more consistent player – missing cut’s doesn’t pay for Gem’s jewellery!

Ultimately I’d like to think I can keep playing tournament golf and make it to the Senior’s Tour. I hope the OneAsia Tour continues to grow (as they’ve forecast) so I can keep playing relatively close to home while making a good living. My schedule on the OneAsia and PGA of Australasia tours allows me to travel up and back to Asia easily while being home enough to spend time with my family.

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BLIZARD SET ON DEFENDING OPEN TROPHY

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NEW SOUTH WELSHMAN ROHAN BLIZARD WILL TRAVEL BACK TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA WHERE HE WILL TRY TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND HIS JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WA OPEN TITLE. Last year, a five-under-par final round was enough for Blizard to claim his maiden professional tournament at the Royal Fremantle Golf Club.

The 2007 Australian Amateur champion fired rounds of 67-70-74-67 to be at tenunder-par and a two stroke win over Ashley Hall, David McKenzie and local Matt Jager.

With the victory, Blizard secured starts at the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship.

AROUND THE TRAPS WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH ROHAN TO DISCUSS LAST YEAR’S WA OPEN WIN, HIS EXPERIENCES AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, AND HIS FORM COMING INTO THIS YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIP. YOU WERE VERY CLOSE TO TAKING OUT THE 2010 WA OPEN AT WA GOLF CLUB FINISHING RUNNER UP AND FORCING BRAD KENNEDY MAKE AN UNBELIEVABLE EAGLE ON THE 18TH TO OUST YOU BY 1 SHOT. LAST YEAR YOU HAD REDEMPTION AND CLAIMED YOUR MAIDEN PROFESSIONAL TITLE BY TAKING OUT THE 2011 WA OPEN AT ROYAL FREMANTLE GOLF CLUB. IS THERE ANY ATTRIBUTING FACTOR AS TO WHY YOU PLAY SO WELL AT THIS EVENT? I have played well in the WA open the last two years because the two golf courses, WA Golf Club and Royal Fremantle have suited my game very well. Both had fast and firm

slopey greens which I seem to putt my best on, and both were reasonably short in length but tight off the tee. I’m not the longest of drivers but I am normally pretty straight.

Another reason why I play well in the WA Open might be because I am bringing a little momentum or confidence into the event from previous events as the WA Open is normally on after I have played 2 or 3 tournaments the last month and my game is feeling sharp and I’m ready to play well.

WITH THE WIN YOU SECURED STARTS AT THE EMIRATES AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP. DO YOU FEEL YOUR FORM CARRIED OVER INTO THOSE EVENTS? CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE EXPERIENCES OF PLAYING WITH SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE PLAYERS AT THOSE EVENTS? The win made me feel like I belonged out here on Tour and that my game when I play well is good enough to win. It felt that I had finally made the next step up after a successful amateur career.

The win taught me that you dont have to play perfect golf to win a golf tournament, that everyone is going to make mistakes but it’s the ones who react to the mistakes the right way and have the right attitude and belief in their ability to make up for the mistakes that normally end up finishing on top.

I witnessed this while playing with Adam Scott in the Australian Open that summer. It amazed me how he never reacted to his bad or poor shots and never let it affect him or the way he was going to play the next shot or hole. It seemed that he always had the belief and patience in himself that he was going to hit some great shots to make up for his bad ones. It was a great experience to see how one of the top golfers in the world conducted

himself and went about his business.

WHAT PART OF YOUR GAME HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THE MOST SINCE LAST YEAR’S WA OPEN? I’ve been working hard on my putting this year as I feel that it has been my weakest part of my game. I have been putting well for 2 or 3 rounds a tournament but the other 1 or 2 rounds have been very poor. I feel that if I can putt well for 4 rounds in a row I can win again.

WHY MIGHT YOU BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR’S WA OPEN AT ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB? I have played Royal Perth Golf Club before, but it was a long time ago. From memory it was a tight golf course off the tee with small greens which should suit my game.

Hopefully I can play well this week at the Nanshan China Masters (OneAsia Tour) and the following week at the Perth International and bring some good form to Royal Perth and try to defend my WA Open title.

WHAT’S NEXT? I am going to European Tour Qualify School (final stage) in Spain in November after the Australia Masters in Melbourne. Hopefully get my European Tour Card for next season, if not I will return to Australia and play the Australian Open and Australian PGA to end the year.

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WA OPEN PROFILES: KULACZ, LEANEY, RUMFORD AND STRANGE 14

RICK KULACZ AGE: 27 BORN: Perth, Western Australia CURRENT TOURS: PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian & European Tours

STEPHEN LEANEY AGE: 43 BORN: Busselton, Wester Australia CURRENT TOURS: PGA Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS 2007 Scratch Players Champion 2007 Australian Team, Nomura Cup (Asia Pacific) 2007 Australian Team, Four Nations Cup 2007 Australian Team, Tran Tasman Cup 2007 Australian Team,Mission Hills Tournament 2007 Winner South Australian Invitational 2006 Winner Dunes Medal 2006 Winner New South Wales Open 2006 Australian Team, Mission Hills Tournament 2006 Winner Federal Amateur 2005 Australian Team, Spirit International 2005 Winner South Australian Invitational 2005 Medallist State Amateur Championship 2003 Australian Team Member (Argentina) 2003 WA State Amateur Champion 2003 Australian Jr Team, Clare Higson Trophy 2003 City of Perth Champion 2003 WA State Junior Team Captain 2003 WA State Junior Champion 2003 WA Male Junior Golfer of the Year 2002 South Australian Junior Masters Champion 2002 Australian Jr Team, Clare Higson Trophy 2001 World Junior Foundations Champion, Mexico 2001 Australian Junior Amateur Champion 2001 Australian Junior Team, Clare Higson Trophy 2000 Youngest player in history to play Senior Interstate Series (age 15) 2000 WA Male Junior Golfer of the Year

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS 1992 Malaysian Amateur Champion 1992 Lake Macquarie Amateur Champion 1992 Australian Men’s Stroke Play Medallist 5 time Harcourts West Coast Open champion (amateur) Represented Australia at 1992 World Amateur Team Championships in Vancouver. (AUS finished T3)

ASIAN TOUR WINS 2008 Brunei Open 2009 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters OTHER PROFESSIONAL WINS 2006 New South Wales Open (as an amateur) 2012 Pat O’Driscoll Real Estate Tropical Auto Group Golf Classic

EUROPEAN TOUR WINS 1998 Moroccan Open 1998 TNT Dutch Open 2000 TNT Dutch Open 2002 Linde German Masters PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA WINS 1991 WA Open (as an amateur) 1994 WA Open 1995 Victorian Open 1997 Victorian Open 1997 WA Open 1997 Western Australian PGA Championship 1998 ANZ Players Championship OTHER PROFESSIONAL WINS 2002 WA Open 2004 WA Open PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS 2003 US Open Runner-Up

BRETT RUMFORD AGE: 35 BORN: Perth, Western Australia CURRENT TOUR: European Tour AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS 1999 ANZ PGA Tour Players Champion – 4th Playoff hole against Craig Spence 1999 Member of the Winning Australian Team – Asia Pacific Teams Championship 1999 Captain Winning State Team 1999 New Zealand Amateur Championship – Lost quarter final to Les Miller 1999 New Zealand Foursomes Joint Champion – Aaron Baddeley 1999 Member of the Winning Australian Team – Four Nations Championship at Terry Hills 1999 Club Champion – Royal Perth Golf Club 1998 Australian Amateur Champion 1998 State Amateur – Lost quarter final to Daniel Fox. 1998 City of Perth Winner 1998 Member of Australian Team – Eisenhower Trophy in Chile (Australia 2nd) 1998 Australian Team – Europe versus Asia Pacific Teams Match 1998 Club Champion – Royal Perth Golf Club 1997 Australian Team, Asia Pacific Teams Championship 1997 Australian Foursome Champion, S Strange 1997 Winner Paxton Averages 69.84 1996 Junior Stroke Average: 73.33 (Winner 17 – 18 years) EUROPEAN TOUR WINS 2003 Aa St Omer Open 2004 Nissan Irish Open 2007 Omega European Masters

SCOTT STRANGE AGE: 35 BORN: Perth, Western Australia CURRENT TOURS: PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian & European Tours AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS 2001 British Amateur – Quarter Finalist 2001 City of Perth Winner – Defeated David Kernohan 4 / 3 2000 City of Perth – Lost final to Dean Alaban 2000 New Zealand Amateur Foursome Champion with Andrew Webster 2000 Lake Macquarie Amateur Champion 1999 Member Winning Interstate Series Team 1999 State Amateur – Lost quarter final to Ryan Bulloch 1998 State Amateur Champion 1998 City of Perth – Lost quarter final to Brett Rumford EUROPEAN TOUR WINS 2008 Celtic Manor Wales Open 2009 Volvo China Open ASIAN TOUR WINS 2005 Myanmar Open 2006 Philippine Open OTHER PROFESSIONAL WINS 2002 Vanuatu Open 2003 Port Hedland Classic 2005 Vanuatu Open

PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA WINS 1999 ANZ Players Championship (as amateur) OTHER PROFESSIONAL WINS 2005 WA Open

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BUNKER BUSTER

HOLE #7 AT ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB WILL CHALLENGE THE BEST OF GOLFERS. WITH A TOTAL OF 14 BUNKERS WAITING FOR YOU, THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE LONGEST 487 METRE PAR 5’S YOU’LL EVER PLAY!

WA OPEN HONOUR BOARD

THE 2012 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WA OPEN HAS MANY PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS RETURNING TO RECLAIM BRAGGING RIGHTS SUCH AS ROHAN BLIZARD, KIM FELTON, STEPHEN LEANEY AND BRETT RUMFORD. 1921 R D Forbes 1922 R W Maunder 1923 E Cassidy 1924 E Cassidy 1925 E Cassidy 1926 E Cassidy 1927 E Cassidy 1928 T Cassidy 1929 T Cassidy 1930 H G Godden 1931 E Alberts 1932 E D Bisset 1933 T Cassidy 1934 C Snow 1935 H G Godden 1936 T Cassidy 1937 D Cullen 1938 D Cullen 1939 F Thompson 1940-45 Not Conducted 1946 K Pix 1947 L Nichols

1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

H (Ossie) Pickworth E Cremin K Nagle K Nagle K Nagle K Rogers E Cremin E Taylor G Player C W McPherson C W McPherson L Thomas R Tuohy D Bell T Osborn D Bell L Thomas L Thomas D Bell L Tidy G Marsh S Peach

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991

B Jones J Muller T Gale G Johnson R Metherell T Gale G Marsh M Ferguson W Galloway P Jacobsen T Gale G Carbon T Gale T Gale I Baker-Finch I Stanley G Norman G Taylor B Hughes R Metherell T Gale S Leaney

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

L Wastle G Moorhead S Leaney B Jackson B King S Leaney T Elliott B King P Sheehan K Felton S Leaney K Felton S Leaney B Rumford K Felton S Pope J Nitties M Curtain B Kennedy Rohan Blizard

WITH ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB HOSTING THE 2012 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, HEAD PROFESSIONAL BRAD LOGAN GIVES US SOME TIPS ON HOW TO ATTACK THEIR SIGNATURE 4TH HOLE, THE 291 METRE PAR 4.

TO WATCH THE VIDEO CLICK ON THE PHOTO BELOW:

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ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB

ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB HAS A STRONG HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1895, WHEN THE CLUB COMMENCED ON BURSWOOD ISLAND BEFORE MOVING TO WATTLE GROVE FARM, BELMONT IN 1900 AND THEN TO ITS CURRENT SITE IN 1908.

Royal Perth Golf Club is the oldest golf club in metropolitan Western Australia (WA) and was awarded its royal status in 1937.

In 1895 Burswood Island was rough farmland and accessible only by boat. It was this piece of land which two years earlier attracted three enthusiastic officials of the WA Houses of Parliament. These gentlemen had had some previous experience of the game of golf either interstate or overseas, where the sport was already better established.

One of the three had a boat, which they would use to go to the island on Sunday mornings to hit golf balls among the spreading cape weed and wire grass. Predictably, others joined the original three and the notion of forming a golf club grew quickly. In August 1895, 12 players met at the Government House ballroom to discuss the formation of a club and the acquisition of links.

As Royal Perth historian Jack Lee wrote: “They can truly be said to be the founders of golf in WA”. The club’s fortunes moved rapidly from that point. Before the year ended, a ninehole course - known as The Links - had been laid out at the eastern end of the island and opened in picnic fashion.

By October the following year eight competitions had been held. While records of those early days are sparse, it is clear that Burswood Island was to have limited appeal to the burgeoning club. Apart from the roughness and associated weed problems of the terrain and periodic river flooding, getting to and from the island in an old rowing barge was an energy-sapping means of transport before and after a game.

Just five years later, in 1900, a more suitable site was selected at Wattle Grove Farm, Belmont, and a nine-hole course established. Par figures for the nine totalled 48 and included one par-7 and four par-6s. As a matter of record, the first competition over 18 holes was won by G. Field who, on a handicap of three, came in with a nett 116. As with Burswood Island, the stay at Belmont was to be fairly short-lived.

Already by the third year members were complaining about

the location and the condition of the course and ultimately, lack of security of tenure tipped the balance in favour of searching for a new venue. On August 2, 1908, just 13 years after the club had been founded, the Governor of Western Australia, Sir Frederick Bedford, officially opened the new course on its present site.

It consisted of nine holes and large areas of sand, a sufficient hazard to make bunkers unnecessary and the use of red golf balls almost mandatory. The following year the Perth Ladies Club was formed. Some 50 associates, who played midweek, often had to share the fairway with a flock of wandering sheep acquired specially to keep the grass at reasonable height.

These “fairway mowers” were supposed to be yarded during the day but often wandered off when their young minder fell asleep. The first clubhouse was built in 1914, by which time the course had been extended to 18 holes. The clubhouse - a two-room shed with a verandah - was built on a half-acre of land which, unlike the course itself, was bought on a 99-year lease (and was subsequently bought outright by the club).

The actual course remains crown land vested in the City of South Perth which will come up for renewal in 2010. In 1914, the course was a par 77 (36 and 41) which included six par-5s and two par-6s.

Immediately after the war ended in November 1918, the club grew rapidly, with new membership boosted by the committee’s decision to reduce the entrance fee to one guinea. The club professional, Percy Maunder, returned from the war and was reappointed on a weekly retainer of one pound.

Flush with funds (with a credit balance of 700 pounds) the Club spent 300 pounds on clubhouse extensions. Royal Perth was not without its smaller problems, however. One was the habit of members pouring their own drinks and, without using the correct measure, erring on the generous side. The committee put a stop to this by buying 36 small decanters which contained the correct measure. The caretaker’s chickens created another.

The following year, 1937, was a memorable one. It was when the club was granted Royal Charter, an honour shared by only one other WA golf club - Royal Fremantle. The message proclaiming its new status was received from the Governor, Sir James Mitchell on behalf of King George VI. THE REAL story of Royal Perth Golf Club is, like all vintage

golf clubs, about people. There are players and there are characters and there are stories, which become legend. Royal Perth has had its share of them. It has had its champions, too, and is very proud of the calibre of young players who are today making a name for themselves at national level. But it is the many members past and present, with handicaps long and short, whose love of playing the game at Royal Perth has left the Club with an indelible spirit of good friendship and good sportsmanship.

Some golfers have practically made Royal Perth their home, playing there most days of the week; and there are those whose enduring relationship went to the grave with them, their ashes buried beneath the trees. In 1995 the 1,100 members of Royal Perth can look back on the Club’s past 100 years with pride and gratitude, knowing that the facilities they have today did not come easily but are, nevertheless, the legacy of those many people who once enjoyed the game as much as they do themselves.

A WORD FROM GENERAL MANAGER BRAD DAWSON

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

2011 Golf Club of the Year (WA Golf Industry Council) 2011 Best Golf Club (Clubs WA) 2011 Best Club Dining Large (Clubs WA)

ROYAL PERTH GOLF CLUB IS DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO HOST THE 2012 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES WEST AUSTRALIAN OPEN, THE STATES MOST PRESTIGIOUS PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT. The Committee, Members and staff look forward to welcoming all players and visitors to our wonderful golf club.

With a challenging Par 72 championship golf course, Royal Perth provides a great challenge to all golfing abilities. Our course is in pristine condition and will be a tough test for the players, with its narrow fairways and slick, small greens.

Under the auspice of Terry Gale the Club’s Course Consultant, the golf course has recently undergone some major changes which will provide a further challenge to competitors.

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T H A NK YO U TO AL L THE SP ONORS OF T HE 2012 JOHN HUGHES GEELY/NEXUS RISK SERVICES

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