Inside Golf 99

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Issue 99 October 2013

RISING STAR* Bronson La’Cassie makes his move

TOP TIPS Are dirty grips costing you distance?

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The Augusta Effect Richard Fellner Group Editor richard@insidegolf.com.au

@insidegolf

IN September’s “Last Word” column, our own Larry Canning penned a light-hearted piece about how course Superintendents are making their courses harder and harder, and how this potentially makes golf less enjoyable for the masses, thus hurting the overall goal of getting more people into the game.

While plenty of golfers from across Australia wrote in to support Larry’s viewpoint—claiming that golf is hard enough without tricked-up greens and nasty pin placements—an equal number of industry professionals complained that the viewpoint was completely out of bounds, and that Larry was off his nut.

While the last bit isn’t in question (Larry wouldn’t be Larry if he ‘had a full set of clubs in his bag’!) the fact is that he may have been a bit erroneous in blaming the Supers for our collective misery. In truth, it’s not generally the hard-working Supers who are the culprits here, but more likely it’s due to committees or other groups who may have a misguided desire to make their courses as difficult as the ones seen on American golf telecasts. It’s what some in the industry call the “Augusta Effect”.

It’s not an uncommon occurrence: golfers see the mega-manicured, shockingly beautiful Augusta National Golf Course on TV during The Masters, the ultra-thick rough at the US Open, or the super-slick greens at the Open Championship and they begin to dream about their local track being equally as challenging and exciting.

The dream spreads like a virus to other players in the Club, and eventually a Committee (or whomever makes the set-up decisions at the Club) will get a glimmer in their collective eye, and try and make their greens as slippery and hard as an ice rink, the pins tucked into crazy corners, and the rough as thick as a Chef’s Salad.

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www.insidegolf.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 Editor: Richard Fellner P: 0407 000 440 richard@insidegolf.com.au Senior Writer: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Design & Layout: Nick Thorn, Stacey Fortescue, Rhys Martin

A tricked-up course is fine and well for professionals who hit 70% of the Fairways and Greens during a round.

But what about the average club player who struggles to golf his/her ball in any pre-determined direction at the best of times? And what about the course staff that endure increased pressures to maintain such high standards?

For example: during a recent round at a local course, I and my playing partners found ourselves searching tirelessly for a handful of drives that had barely trickled off the fairway into the first cut. You read that right – the grass was so long in the FIRST cut that it all but buried the ball. Now, I’m not complaining about long rough (for that is often a main defence for a course), but my point is that we wasted around 15 minutes that day looking for balls that— had the grass been trimmed just a few millimetres shorter—should have been spotted straight away. A few millimetres wouldn’t make much difference to the difficulty of the shots, but would have definitely sped up our round.

At another course I played recently, the greens were so fast that they were borderline unplayable. A gentle tap on a one-metre downhill putt would slip by the hole, roll 15 metres, run off the front of green and drop into a bunker, effectively prolonging the playing of that hole considerably.

With factors like this, it’s no wonder why the game is taking longer and longer for us average golfers to play.

So if the USGA really aims to combat slow play, perhaps they should lead

by example and not glorify the wristbreaking rough or snooker-table greens? If they did that, then maybe the TV Media would follow suit, and so on down the line. And closer to home, we can all do our part. If you think the members and committee at your club is suffering from The Augusta Effect, then let them know.

And if your club has some creative and successful ways to approach a course set-up, then let Inside Golf know. I’d be happy to share your ideas with our readers.

Case in point: The Eastern Golf Club in Melbourne, for example, has a simple, golfer-friendly mandate when it comes to pin placements: “Rotate pins from Front, Middle, Back, and place in a location that is as easy as possible for the member to play.” How simple (and friendly) is that?

If more clubs followed this example (and I should point out that there are many out there that do), our rounds would be quicker, we’d have a few extra golf balls in our bags, and we’d all have time for a cuppa or a beer in the clubhouse after our round (and maybe invite the Super to join us!)

See you on the fairways •

Contributors:

Advertising Sales: Lisa Coleman E: lisa@insidegolf.com.au | M:0406 031 344

Larry Canning, Mike Orloff, Denis Dale, Peter Croker, Brian Thorburn, Michael Green, Richard Nizielski, Henry Peters, Stephen Pitt, Steven Jeffress, Tony Durkin, Tiffany Mika, Brent German, Mat Howe, David Williams, Paul Prendergast

National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 | F: (07) 5535 4922 M: 0410 575 303 | E: sam@insidegolf.com.au QLD Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: dg.ross@live.com.au NSW/ACT Sales: Scott Barsby M: 0424 779 199 | E: scott@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS/SA Sales: Jon Perrett M: 0402 852 637 E: jon.perrett@bestingolfgroup.com

Richard Fellner - Group Editor

National Agency Sales (non golf) Marc Wilson | M: 0419 107 143 Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au

It’s official: 43,145 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: October 2012 – March 2013

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

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

5

PLANNING YOUR NEXT GOLF EVENT?

news

Day, Fowler, Leishman head Down Under Next month’s Australian Summer of Golf is shaping up to be a star-studded affair, with Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Marc Leishman all confirming they will be playing on our shores.

Fowler and Leishman will join World Number 2 Adam Scott at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, to be played at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast from November 7-10.

Leishman, who will be competing at this month’s Presidents Cup, confirmed he’ll be chasing his first PGA Tour of Australasia win in five years.

“I’ve won on the Web.com Tour and the PGA TOUR now but to win at home in my own country in one of the big events is definitely high on the list of things I want to achieve and hopefully I can get it done at the PGA,” said Leishman, whose last win on the PGA Tour of Australasia came at the 2008 Victorian PGA Championship.

“Scotty’s going to be back there too, so to have the Masters Champion playing in the event amongst other Tour players is great. It’s a strong field and a fun golf course. I think it’s going to make for a really fun tournament.

Everyone is excited about the new venue.

Hopefully we see some big crowds out at Royal Pines,” he said.

Brian Thorburn Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia, said the field is shaping up well for the tournament’s highly anticipated first year on the Gold Coast.

“At only 29 Marc has been one of our most consistent players throughout 2013 and we’re delighted he’ll be playing his first event back home at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola,” Thorburn said.

24-year-old Fowler will play his only PGA Tour of Australasia tournament at RACV Royal Pines, returning to the Sunshine State for the first time since contesting the PGA’s flagship tournament in 2011.

“I love Australia. I’ve been there a handful of times and this will be my second professional event there. I haven’t found a part of Australia I haven’t liked yet,” said Fowler, who finished

Rickie Fowler tied for 14th on his last visit to the PGA. Known not only for his golf ability, the current World Number 34 is just as recognisable for his flamboyant style and love for all things ‘extreme’ and says he’s looking forward to exploring the Gold Coast during his Australian return.

“I haven’t been to the Gold Coast but I’m definitely looking forward to it. The Australian PGA is a great event and I hope to do a bit of sightseeing as well.”

“I love spending time at the beach. I wouldn’t mind getting out for some fishing, maybe some diving… who knows.”

Thorburn said the PGA didn’t need to think twice in inviting Rickie back to Australia.

“Rickie is a huge hit with the crowds wherever he goes and he made plenty of new fans on his last trip to Queensland,” he said.

“With the Championship now based on the Gold Coast, we had absolutely no hesitation in inviting Rickie back, and we’re looking forward to showing him the Gold Coast’s renowned lifestyle.”

Later that month, from 28 November – 1 December, Jason Day will make his return to Sydney for the 2013 Emirates Australian Open at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

The 25 year-old Queenslander has enjoyed a successful year on the PGA TOUR, finishing in a tie for second at the U.S Open in June and third at the U.S Masters in April.

Leading Amateur - Ryan Ruffels & Winner - Nick Cullen

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Sydney for the Emirates Australian Open in November,” Day said.

“The Open has always had a special place in the hearts of Australian players and I’ll be ready to do battle with all the other guys at Royal Sydney and hopefully win my first Stonehaven Cup.” Day joins Adam Scott and Northern Ireland’s two-time Major winner Rory McIlroy in the growing field.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said he was delighted to see Day return to Australia.

“Jason has been right in contention at recent Major Championships – particularly at The Masters and U.S Open and we’re thrilled that he will be back in Sydney to contest the Open,” Pitt said.

“Together with Masters champion Adam Scott, we’ve got Australia’s two hottest golfers ready to go head-to head with two-time Major champion Rory McIlroy for what will be a big week of golf in Sydney.”

Thorburn echoed Pitt’s sentiments, adding: “Jason has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA TOUR this season and we’re looking forward to welcoming him to Royal Sydney. His inclusion alongside Adam and Rory ensures this year’s Emirates Australian Open is a not to be missed event.”

Tickets: www.ticketek.com or by calling 132 849. •

Grace, Johnson, Casey join Perth International field South Africa’s Branden Grace will be playing in this month’s Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, joining defending champion Bo Van Pelt, American Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey from England and Australia’s leading amateur golfer, local hero Brady Watt.

“I have heard some great things about the golf course at Lake Karrinyup Country Club and it will be an important week for me leading into the final series of the 2013 Race to Dubai,” Grace said.

Vice President and Director of Golf for IMG in Australia, David Rollo, said the player line up was presenting an exciting mix of talented youth and experience.

“Branden has had an incredible couple of years, capped off with his recently-announced debut in the International team for The Presidents Cup 2013. He is one of the really exciting talents in world golf.

“It was terrific to see Paul return to the winner’s circle this year at the Irish Open in June and we are delighted to welcome him back to Western Australia.

“Dustin is one of the great athletes in golf and one of the most exciting players in the game. Fans will really enjoy watching him play and be in awe of his driving.

“We are also delighted to be able to provide an opportunity for Brady to play an international Tour event in his home state. He has had an exceptional year being co-medallist at the US Amateur before reaching the semi-finals. He is a name to remember.

The Perth International in its second year is owned and promoted by IMG. It is supported by the Western Australian Government, through Eventscorp.

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au. •

news

McDowell, HANDA to boost World Cup of Golf THE eyes of the golfing world will descend upon Australia next month, as the best players from over 30 countries will travel to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club to contest the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, November 21-24.

American Matt Kuchar, Italian Matteo Manassero and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee were some of the early stars to commit to the event, all hoping to bring glory to their respective countries during the 57th edition of the twoperson teams event.

Last month, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell threw his hat into the ring, setting his sights on becoming Ireland’s first winner of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf since 1997.

The current World Number 11 came agonisingly close to winning the event in 2009, when he and playing partner Rory McIlroy finished joint runners-up with Sweden behind Italy’s victorious Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco.

Ireland’s last World Cup win came at Kiawah Island in 1997, when Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley joined forces to see off the Scottish pairing of Colin Montgomerie and Raymond Russell. The only other time Ireland has triumphed at the World Cup of Golf was in 1958, through Harry Bradshaw and Christy O’Connor.

McDowell, who will be making his third appearance in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, said: “I’ve won three times this year so it has to go down as a great season, and it’d be great to round it off by playing well at the World Cup of Golf. I’ve played the World Cup a few times in the past, and always really enjoyed it.

The format has changed slightly this year, but it still retains that team element.

“I’ve been to Melbourne many times before and the courses there have some of the greatest greens and the best bunkers on the planet, so Royal Melbourne is going to be a great venue for the event. It’s definitely my kind of golf course.

The wind blows quite hard and the course has a real linksy feel to it. It’s one of the finest links courses in the world, so I’m really looking forward to being part of the World Cup again.”

The event received a major boost last month

Graeme McDowell (Getty) when it was announced that International Sports Promotion Society, ISPS, would be the new title sponsor.

“ISPS is delighted to become title sponsor of this exciting major global event,” said ISPS’ Founder and Chairman Dr. Haruhisa Handa.

“At ISPS we believe in the ‘Power of Sport’, its unique ability to create hope; to break down educational and cultural barriers; and to inspire people in a way that very little else does. For this reason, ISPS has a long history of supporting golf globally with a specific commitment to raising the profile of blind and disabled golf.”

Dr. Handa established the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998 and through ISPS recently initiated the ISPS HANDA PGA Academy Programme in the UK, which delivered more than 1,000 lessons from PGA professionals to blind and disabled golfers in 2012.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher congratulated organisers of the World Cup of Golf for securing ISPS HANDA as its major sponsor for this year’s event.

“The 2013 World Cup of Golf is estimated to create between $25 million to $30 million in economic benefit to Victoria and will attract up to 9,000 interstate and international visitors,” Ms. Asher said.

On behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia recognised the association of ISPS HANDA, a company that has a strong history of supporting golf in Australia and globally.

“I would like to thank Dr Handa and ISPS HANDA for their generous support of golf not only in Australia but around the World,” said Mr Thorburn. “A fitting partnership, the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will unite golf globally and we are looking forward to welcoming the international golf community to Melbourne.”

The tournament was founded by the International Golf Association in association with industrialist John Jay Hopkins for the purpose of promoting international goodwill through golf. It began in 1953 as the Canada Cup and was renamed World Cup in 1967.

The World Cup of Golf is a two-person team event, with players selected on the basis of the Official World Golf Ranking. The event has seen all of the greats of the game lift the prestigious trophy, including names such as Snead, Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino, Faldo, Ballesteros, Langer, Woods, Els and Montgomerie.

Tickets to witness the world-class event are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.com.au. •

Numbers boosted by competition growth An increase in the number of competition events has helped fuel an increase in the number of competition rounds of golf played in August and through the winter months according to new data released by the Australian Golf Industry Council.

The number of rounds played in August increased by 6.7% nationally on August 2012 figures to more than 1.13 million rounds.

The strongest state gains were recorded in Victoria and New South Wales with the number of rounds played up 10.2% and 8.4% respectively on 2012 numbers.

There were slightly softer results in the non-eastern seaboard states which brought the national result back a few percentage points while the Northern Territory recorded a positive result.

With the winter months collectively delivering an increase of 5.8%, on a Year-to-Date basis, the national market is trending up 5.7% on the same eight months last year.

Event data from Golf Link showed that total competition events were up some 4% over the winter period of 2012, with the number of Stableford events, the most regularly played competition event type, increasing by 6%.

Golf Australia CEO and AGIC Chairman Stephen Pitt said more event opportunities had spurred on golfers during the cooler months.

“These are positive results coming out of the winter period as we move into spring and some warmer weather,” Pitt said.

“There’s every reason to anticipate that these figures will continue to trend positively as we move into the warmer months and get closer to the domestic tournament season when people are even more tempted to get out on course.”

The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) was established in late 2006 to provide a forum to help unite the industry on agreed industry wide initiatives. •

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news

Carlson has 500,000 reasons to smile Kurt Carlson has claimed the inaugural bmag Week of Golf Series, earning a massive 500,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

Firing a four-under-par round of 68 at the Norris Motor Group Royal Queensland Cup last month, Carlson not only earned co-victor honours for the Cup alongside Rika Batibasaga, but the score was also enough to get Carlson over the line for the bmag Week of Golf Series.

Carlson displayed poise throughout the five rounds played over some of Brisbane’s premier golf courses to finish on an aggregate total of 15 under par and a one shot victory over Michael Wright.

“The timing of the win couldn’t be better as I am currently contesting qualifying school in Japan and the 500,000 frequent flyer points will certainly assist me not only if I gain my full playing rights up there but also all my domestic flights in Australia.

There is no doubt that this prize means the world to me and the bmag Week of Golf will certainly assist me with my dream of playing internationally,” Carlson said.

The QLD Sunshine Tour forms part of the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series which comprises of 200 events Australia wide and the PGA is proud to have the City of Mackay Open as part to the Tour’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Played across more than 170 golf courses around Australia the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series plays an important part in the development of Australia’s Professional Golfers whilst also growing the game at a grass roots level by engaging an estimated 48,000 amateur golfers each year. •

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Fox trumps stars at Jeep

Ryan Fox Ryan Fox has claimed the biggest win of his short professional career, taking out the 2013 Jeep Pro-Am with a birdie on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff.

After closing with a seven-under-par 65 to post a 15-under-par total as clubhouse leader, Fox had to wait to see if the score would be good enough for victory. Unfortunately for Fox, it wasn’t quite enough, as a three-way playoff was required when Gareth Paddison and Anthony Brown joined Fox at 15-underpar at the completion of 72 holes.

With a good crowd surrounding the eighteenth green the three players went back to the tee and when all three professionals found the fairway it was still anyone’s to win.

Unfortunately for Paddison an errant second shot found the back bunker and while he played a great bunker shot, he still had an eight-foot putt for par. Both Brown and Fox found the green in regulation and when Brown’s lengthy birdie attempt came up short, it would be Fox with the chance to close it out. Fox made the most of his chance and when the ball disappeared into the cup, Fox was crowned the champion.

“I really can’t believe it” a pumped-up Fox said moments after the winning putt dropped. “This is no doubt the biggest win of my career and to do it by beating such a quality field really

does help with my confidence heading into the Australasian summer.”

“Jeep have really been great supporters of golf on many levels over the past two years and although I may not be heading to any overseas qualifying school this year, the win here will certainly assist me financially—but more importantly mentally—as I try and secure my Australasian and One Asia tour card over the coming months,” said Fox. Overnight leader Steve Leaney finished with a one-over par 73 in the final round to finish in a share of fourth with Matthew Millar, two shots outside the playoff. Matthew Stieger charged home with a six-under-par 66 to finish in 6th, while joint round one leader Matthew Griffin finished a further shot behind in outright seventh.

In the amateur section Joe Hassarati overcame a five-point deficit in the final round to take out the overall amateur championship with 154 points. Hassarati defeated Mark Yaxley by seven points with Mike Dobbins a further two points behind in third. In the fourball event, Ian Matheson and Glenn Joyner combined well throughout the week to win by three shots after finishing with a nett score of 247. Gareth Paddison and Joe Hassarati finished in second, while a further three teams finished in a tie for third with 253. •

adidas Golf expands online offerings adidas Golf products will now be even more accessible to consumers with more products now available on the adidas eCommerce site.

The new golf range, which now incorporates between 40 and 50 products, including golf apparel, footwear and accessories has been expanded since it was first launched in May to keep up with the increasing demand for adidas Golf products online.

Based on the adidas global model, the eCommerce site is being managed in Australia by adidas and regularly updated with seasonally relevant product available locally.

Managing Director of TaylorMade adidas Golf Pacific, Troy Swainston, said golf was the third most popular search term on the adidas site and the demand for golf products through eCommerce will continue to grow as consumers opt for more convenient methods of purchasing. So it only made sense for adidas golf products & golf accessories to be available on the site. “adidas Golf products will now be more accessible than ever before and we’ll see an increase in consumers visiting our website because they can learn more about our innovation and technology and then click through to the adidas ecommerce site,” said Swainston.

Visit www.adidasgolf.com.au for more product information. Shop at www.adidas.com.au/golf •

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news

Pro career beckons Holman

Victorian Nathan Holman is about to embark on the next chapter of his burgeoning career, confirming he will turn Professional this month.

22-year-old Holman will play his first tournament as a Professional at the WA Goldfields PGA Championship to be played at Kalgoorlie Golf Course from 3-6 October.

Currently ranked as Australia’s No. 2 amateur and No. 25 in the world, Holman said the decision to turn Pro came relatively easy.

“I waited last year to prepare for the Professional ranks and just tried to play as many events as I could,” s a i d t h e Wo o d l a n d s G o l f C l u b member who counts the Master of the Amateurs, Riversdale Cup and the Victorian Amateur amongst his victories to date.

“I wanted to finish off the US summer as an Amateur then I had plans to turn Pro as soon as I was done with that trip.

I got an exemption for the WA PGA so I’m taking the opportunity to play it as my first event.”

Having played regularly on the PGA Tour of Australasia for the last 12 months, Holman is no stranger to the Tour.

In January this year he shot an opening round of 66 to lead the Victorian PGA Championship by two heading into the second round, eventually finishing inside the top 20. In the following weeks Holman continued to impress at the Heritage Classic and Victorian Open finishing tied for fifth and tied for second respectively.

“I feel like it’s going to be quite a comfortable change because of the opportunities that I had to play in Professional events last year. It just shows that I can play, that I can match it with the rest of them and that’s made the decision very easy.” •

Felton dominates the amateur circuit Jarryd Felton was leaving all in his wake last month, securing back-to-back wins on the WA Amateur circuit.

At the City of Perth Championships, held September 7-8 at Royal Perth, Felton beat Daniel Hoeve, 2&1, in the matchplay format.

The event featured some of Australia’s top Amateurs, including World Number 6 amateur Brady Watt.

The following week, Felton nabbed a two-shot victory in the Steelscene Mandurah Amateur, which was unfortunately shortened due to poor weather in Round Four.

Despite the shortened format, no-one could suggest that Felton’s victory in a field that boasted eight of Australia’s top 20 amateur golfers was anything but a worthy one. In a tournament where weather took centre stage, Felton handled the difficult conditions masterfully, shooting 71, 71, 73 to lead wire-towire and take the championship by two shots over Aaron Wilkin and Nathan Waters of New South Wales.

Felton was cruising when play was called off on the 5th tee; a drive down the middle was immediately followed by him being informed that he was the Mandurah Amateur Champion.

“Yeah it felt strange. I hit my tee shot on the par-5 on the fifth hole and I was told ‘we’re pulling play’. I thought I would have to come back in a few hours to finish off but then he said ‘Congratulations, you’re the champion’!”

The highlight of Felton’s weekend was an eagle on the 11th in Round Three that catapulted him to the outright lead with a twoshot buffer. Felton had pushed his lead out to three shots to sit at 2-under par into Round Four when play was cancelled with rain and wind in excess of 130km/h forecast.

Ranked in the four-hundreds at the start of September, Felton moved to 227 after his backto-back victories. Felton’s first National Amateur championship could also have big implications in helping him move into the higher tiers of the

Jarryd Felton WA High Performance Program where increased funding and career development are available.

Felton has long been touted as the next big thing in WA golf and his two recent victories will certainly give some weight to the hype around the 18-year old from Gosnells Golf Club.

“It’s good to finally live up to expectations, last week gave me a lot of confidence and it was good to bring that through to this weekend,” he said.

With his victory, Felton joins previous champions such as 2006 US Open Winner Geoff Ogilvy, Brett Rumford, and Jarrod Moseley and will be looking to taking his run of form to Mount Lawley Golf Club where he will take on some of the nation’s best professionals at the Nexus Risk Services John Hughes WA Open Championship this month.

In the teams event, Western Australia and New South Wales have shared the spoils of the Interstate Teams competition, tied on 447 strokes each with Queensland taking third place with 448 strokes. •

New junior program at Nudgee College Nudgee College has a long-standing reputation for its sporting facilities and achievements. A brand-new golf program for juniors was launched on 25 August at the college. There are a team of coaches and so far numbers have been up to 90 juniors. The program is free for kids and is designed to introduce families into the game and provide a pathway for learning and playing golf.

Manager Andy Lowen is amazed at the response from the local community.

“It’s good to see the interest is still out there especially from both girls and boys,” he says.

The sessions include coaching, activities, rules and playing on the course. There will be plenty of fun comps with prizes and trophies and achievable goals for structured progress.

Parents are encouraged to come along and be part of the program.

There is a full 9-hole course at Nudgee College with a licensed bar and café facilities in the clubhouse. The course is open for public play as well as memberships and is free for Nudgee students. For further information call (07) 3865 0595 or go to www.nudgee.com/golfclub •

Major change to golf schedule for the Olympics The US PGA confirmed last month that they will move their 2016 PGA Championship forward to July to accommodate the Rio Olympic games.

The Rio Olympics will take place in August, traditionally the month when the year’s final major is played, forcing a schedule change.

The British Open is also likely to be held earlier than normal in 2016 to accommodate the scheduling changes.

There is also a Ryder Cup to be played in 2016 although no dates have yet been set for that event. •

Australia’s largest range of junior golf products now available on line.

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www.younggun.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

9

news

New season structure for PGA Tour

Oates to sponsor Vic Open Golf Victoria has announced a threeyear naming rights sponsorship with Australian professional cleaning and household products giant Oates. The agreement will see the historic Victorian Open tournament be referred to as the “Oates Vic Open” for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 events.

The deal gives the Oates Vic Open a major boost, which will be hosted for the second year at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links. Earlier this year, the tournament experienced its most successful event in twenty years with record spectator numbers and world class fields of male and female players.

“To have Oates come on board as our naming rights sponsor of the Oates Vic Open is a tremendous result for the event and puts us in a strong position to continue to grow,” said Golf Victoria Chief Executive Office, Simon Brookhouse.

“We were delighted with the outcome of 2013 and the support the Greater Geelong region threw behind the event, as well as the strong contingency of Melbournians who made the trip down.

With the support of Oates, we look forward to making 2014 an even better experience for the players, spectators, sponsors, volunteers and media,” said Brookhouse.

2013 was the first year that the tournament’s unique format was implemented fully into an event with both the men and women playing 72 holes at the same venue, and both genders playing concurrently on the same course in rounds three and four.

The innovative combined format of the event is unique to professional golf on the world stage.

The Oates Vic Open will be played from 20-23 February. •

THIS SPRING DOUBLE YOUR

The PGA Tour has announced the full schedule for the 2013-2014 season, which for the first time moves to a wraparound schedule bridging two calendar years.

2013-14 PGA Tour schedule DATE Oct. 7-13 Oct. 14-20 Oct. 21-27 Oct. 28-Nov. 3

Peter O’Malley with the NSW Open Trophy

NSW Open Golf Championship on track to success With just weeks until the 2013 Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open is played at Castle Hill Country Club, Golf NSW is delighted that all aspects of planning for the championship are well on track.

Many of Australia’s leading professional golfers will return from their various overseas commitments in readiness to perform in front of home crowds. Spectators attending the Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open will enjoy the chance to watch some of these well-known names up close and experience tournament golf in their local community.

Whilst the final player field is not yet known, organisers have been liaising with some of Australia’s leading players and several overseas players, to participate in the event which has seen many famous names engraved on the trophy – amongst them Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Jack Newton, Greg Norman, Craig Parry and more recently, Peter O’Malley.

“To be able to bring a world-renowned golf championship to one of metropolitan Sydney’s major growth areas is a great opportunity for sport fans to be able to see tournament golf at its best,” commented Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser. “We have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support including many locally Hills-based businesses, as well as the wonderful involvement and assistance provided by the

Hills Shire Council, who have all recognised the opportunity such an event presents through forming an association with the event,” he added.

“Not only are we expecting some exciting golf on the course, but we are providing a range of activities around the clubhouse including a children’s entertainment area, some promotional stalls including official event merchandise, gourmet food and oncourse cafes where spectators will be able to relax and experience the first-class hospitality Castle Hill Country Club has to offer. There are still some fantastic opportunities for corporate partners to access unique benefits such as ProAm spots which may include playing with one of the marquee players, signage on course, VIP hospitality and more,” said Fraser.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees charity partner Challenge is also set to benefit with various fundraising activities set to take place across the event.

Challenge ambassador and PGA Tour player Jarrod Lyle will also be in attendance, which is sure to warm the hearts of not only those involved with the charity, but all those at tournament.

The 2013 Gloria Jean’s Coffees NSW Open will be held at Castle Hill Country Club from 21 to 24 November. Go to www.nswopen.com for more information. Spectator entry is FREE. •

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A happy 100 for Queenscliff GC

Kingswood, Peninsula merger moves ahead Members of Melbourne’s Kingswood Golf Club have voted in favour of a proposed merger with The Peninsula Country Golf Club in Frankston.

At an EGM last month to consider the resolution, the members voted 63% in favour of the merger, which will see Kingswood’s current site in the Melbourne suburb of Dingley Village eventually sold off and rezoned as residential, and the membership moved to the 36-hole facility at Peninsula. The transition would take place over a period of three to five years.

The merger follows similar moves by other clubs recently, as Melbourne’s private golf club industry faces an uncertain future amid dwindling memberships and a growing Social Golf/Pay-for-play trend. Kingswood, which has called Dingley Village home since 1937, has seen playing numbers drop from 1000 to 800 in the past three years.

“The privilege of being a member is sort of gone now,” said Kingswood General Manager Heath Wilson in the weeks prior to the vote. “Golfers just want to pay for play. The projection is in the next five to six years we (will) lose 110 members a year and replace them with 50 or 60. That can’t be sustained. When you lose 10 per cent per year, you can’t keep your fees down, they can only go up.”

A merger would advance Peninsula’s reputation as one of Melbourne’s premier private clubs, and with the influx of Kingswood members, plus a bulging bank account from the sale of the Dingley property, the membership could end up having a “Super Club” underpinned by a financial security that few clubs enjoy. •

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Queenscliff Golf Club on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula will join an elite group of Australian golf clubs this month when it reaches its 100th anniversary.

Officially formed at a meeting at the Queenscliff Bowling Club on October 18, 1913, the club will celebrate its centenary with a Gala Dinner Dance at the town’s Monahan Centre on Friday October 18.

“It’s incredible when you consider there’s clubs in Geelong that have closed down that are never going to get to their 100 years,” former Queenscliff President Glenda Werrett says.

“We have a great core of people here who work hard to ensure the club is here after 100 years and make sure that it will be here in another 100 years.”

This month’s Gala event shapes up as the biggest event in the club’s decorated history.

“We’re hoping for hundreds of people. It’s celebrating that we’ve been here for 100 years out on Swan Island. We think it’s golf’s island home, that’s our motto,” Ms Werrett says.

The centenary celebrations continue on October 19 with an Ambrose competition and a golf demonstration from Colac native and touring professional Vicky Thomas.

The weekend winds down on October 20 with entertainment and drinks at the Golf Club.

Queenscliff’s golfing history extends prior to 1913 when army workers from the Department of Defence played golf on the island but it wasn’t until that year the Golf Club was formed.

Players at the Queenscliff Golf Club in the 1930’s Today, Queenscliff continues to lease the golf course’s land from the Department of Defence.

“The Army was part of the instigation of getting the Club up and running. We’ve coexisted with the Department of Defence for 100 years,” Ms Werrett says.

The onset of World War One in 1914 effectively put the Club on hold until after the conflict ended in 1918.

Since then, change has been constant yet gradual with the course converting from nine to 18 holes while its fauna has also evolved.

“We now have kangaroos on the island, which weren’t there 100 years ago. Five of them were brought over about 20 years ago,” Ms Werrett says.

One aspect of the Club that remains unchanged is the unique and exciting

experience of entering the Club from the mainland.

“If people want to come over, you go through a security gate because it’s all part of the army base,” Ms Werrett says.

“You have to stop at the gate and they take your name and address. You can’t just come and visit it. You need to be coming to the golf club or the army base. It’s got a bit of mystery about it.”

Not noted for its consistent weather conditions, Werrett says golfers at Queenscliff can expect to experience the four seasons in one round of play.

“You can be playing in sunshine on the course here and there’ll be a rainstorm in Swan Bay. You can actually see the rain hitting the water but you’re standing in sunshine. It’s quite amazing at times.” •

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Ace-high feat for blind golfer Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Southern Golf Club member Jeff Ellis has only ten per cent of his vision but achieved a feat that will elude many golfers when he had a holein-one at his home club recently. The 66-yearold, legally blind golfer made the first ace of his life with a six-iron at Southern’s 130-metre parthree 12th hole.

Ellis and his three playing partners didn’t realise he had aced the uphill par-three until they reached the three-tiered green. “It was quite a thrill really,” Ellis says.

“I have a voice GPS and when I press it, it tells me how far it is to the middle of the green. When I hit it, they said ‘it’s going towards the green’ and it landed on the green and they weren’t too sure for a start. We couldn’t see it and thought it’s probably in the hole… and it was!”

Ellis plays with a caddie or has his playing partners watch his ball whenever he tees it up.

Playing alongside him was fellow member Brian Leeming, who occasionally caddies for Ellis and volunteers as a caddie at Blind Golf Victoria’s events.

“I’m partially blind but I know where bunkers are, where hazards are and where to avoid after being here a number of years,” Ellis says.

“I pick out a spot to aim for on every hole and try and go for that particular spot. I can never see the pin unless I’m about 100 metres away or less so I just go for the bulk of the green and then worry about putting.”

Ellis’wife Maureen often caddies for him during Blind Golf Victoria’s competitions but Ellis had

Jeff Ellis with caddie Brian Leeming to go it alone as he conquered Southern’s 12th.

“The people in my group, they don’t caddy as such, they just watch the ball for me.”

The 26-handicapper has been as low as a 22-marker in what has been a decorated playing career.

The ace earned Ellis a free drink in the clubhouse, a club trophy and a permanent place on Southern’s hole-in-one board, but it’s not the greatest achievement of his golfing life.

That accolade is reserved for his win at the 2004 Victorian Open for the Blind at Rosebud Country Club.

“It’s up there pretty high but winning the Victorian Open for the Blind was a big achievement because there was 61 players in the field for the two days.”

Ellis, through his involvement with the association Blind Golf Victoria, continues to promote golf as an outlet for blind golfers to become more self-sufficient.

“It gives you independence going around on the golf course because you’re not walking

into hazards or people and you can be quite independent walking around on your own and not relying on everybody all the time and to feel normal.”

“We do require a caddy to play the game but if someone’s playing golf and their eyesight does diminish, they can still play golf by joining a blind golf association and can socialise as well.”

And how’s this for a twist in the tale. Caddy/ Playing Partner Brian and his wife Gwen, who are regular caddies for various blind golfers participating in events conducted by Blind Golf Victoria, have between them racked up 4 holes in one; all of them at Southern. Brian got one on the 141m 16th back in 2010. Gwen has 3; the 16th in 1999, the 139m 6th in 2002 and the 16th again in 2012. On the day Gwen had her last hole in one a chap in the same group had a hole in one on the 12th.

For information about blind golf in Australia or abroad, visit the Blind Golf Australia website at www.blindgolf.com.au or www.internationalblindgolf.com •

Rocco’s 22-under too good ROCCO Mediate gave US Champions Tour fans what they wanted – plenty of birdies and eagles.

Playing in the Shaw Charity Classic, the 50-year-old knocked in 17 birdies and four eagles in the 54-hole tournament, which he won.

He fired rounds of 64-64-63 to finish at 22-under par – seven shots clear of runner-up Tom Byrum with Aussie Peter Senior in a tie for 19th.

Mediate joined the Champions Tour this year and has made 17 cuts from 17 appearances.

This victory was his second for the year.

Fans will remember his narrow playoff loss to Tiger Woods at the 2008 US Open … Tiger’s last major victory.

Mediate looked like winning his first major until Tiger holed a tricky 12-footer on the 72nd hole to force a playoff.

In the playoff, Mediate and Woods returned 71s with the latter winning on the first extra hole. •

Keep up with us online!

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

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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industry

GMA conference a resounding success It came as no surprise to organisers of the 36th Biennial Golf Management Australia (GMA) conference that they sold out quicker than a Bruce Springsteen concert.

The conference brought together the managers of 230 golf clubs and organisations from around Australia, USA, New Zealand and Malaysia.

There were the heavy hitters from the blue chip clubs like Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Royal Sydney and Lake Karrinyup, to those who operated small council golf complexes in remote country towns.

But size doesn’t matter, and there is definitely no pecking order among GMA members.

The atmosphere is collegiate and convivial as delegates confront the many challenges facing the game including dwindling membership numbers and declining revenue.

A raft of speakers delivered engaging and entertaining presentations on a wide range of issues from customer service to benchmarking and strategic planning.

The conference opened with Jim James, Senior Director of Club and Hospitality Operations at Augusta National, who spoke on driving excellence and ended with Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith, who held the auditorium spellbound as he told his very personal story.

In between, delegates were swept up by the enthusiasm of Gregg Patterson, general manager of The Beach Club, Los Angeles; charmed by advertising guru Todd Sampson; amused by

14

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Benjamin Roberts-Smith at last month’s GMA conference customer relations expert, Martin Grunstein; enthralled by a panel of Aussie golf legends Peter Thomson, Jack Newton, Craig Parry and Brett Ogle; and much more.

Delegates ended up with writer’s cramp as they took copious notes during all sessions. They all acclaimed this year’s conference the ‘best ever.’

Greg Chapple, GM at Kingston Heath said “It was fantastic, our best ever and very professionally done. It targeted the areas in which managers were deficient like strategic planning and taking on some of the challenges that affect us at our clubs.”

Barbara Kelly (Chirnside Park Country Club) added: “The whole conference was great... very informative. Strategies for growth and retention of membership are keys for us as we re-develop our course.”

GMA executive officer, David Allen said he was pleased with the outcome of the conference. “I think we achieved what we set out to do,” he said. “All our speakers were well-received. I think we did our homework and delivered what our members were looking for.”

Planning has already started for the next conference in two years time. •

Sandringham GC offered for lease SANDRINGHAM Golf Course at Cheltenham in Melbourne is being offered for lease by the Bayside City Council.

Expressions of interest for the 20-year lease of the 18-hole golf course, which has operated as a public course since 1964, close at 2pm on October 4.

Situated in the heart of Melbourne’s sandbelt, the course operates all year round and features a lake and 30 bunkers.

A major $840,000 investment in stormwater harvesting and reuse, undertaken at Sandringham Golf Course last year, improved the condition of the greens and the fairways as well as the visual appearance of the course in the drier summer periods.

The new har vesting process is supplying water at, or cheaper than, the current cost of drinking water, and the scheme is now harvesting 34 mega litres – replacing 10 mega litres of drinking water and 24 mega litres of water from other sources.

Royal Melbourne Golf Club currently leases the golf course.

The expressions of Interest documentation is available on council’s e-tendering website www.tenderlink. com/bayside. Enquiries should be directed to leasing coordinator Sally Naughton on (03) 9599 4444.

The Bayside City Council is not bound to accept the lowest or any EOI submission. •

industry

GM Steve’s been there, done that David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THE man who once worked for entrepreneur Christopher Skase in the show-biz days of television has spent the past three years at the helm of the Toowoomba Golf Club at Middle Ridge.

“The golf club offered me the general manager’s job in 2010 and I have been here even since,” Owen said.

Prior to that, the Toowoombaborn 54-year-old spent more than 30 years working in other fields around Australia and ended up operating his own business at Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains.

But in 2010 the popular Darling Downs golf club lured him “home”.

He tells me his family has had a long association with the popular club.

His father Doug, a 50-year member, signed him up as a junior in the 1970s and his great uncle, Tom Roberts, was the club’s honorary secretary manager from 1939-’41 and returned after World War II as secretary manager until his death in 1959.

“I am both proud and honoured to have the opportunity to continue the family association with Queensland’s second oldest golf club,” he said.

Owen’s previous brush with golf club administration was as president of Thredbo Golf Club (2005-’09).

He started his working life in hospitality and, after being introduced to the sales and marketing elements of tourism and hospitality, changed career paths to focus on the sale of intangible goods and services.

Toowoomba Golf Club boss Steve Owen relaxes after a hard day at the office. television broadcasting. I was heavily existing retired member is no longer playing once a week. involved with media sales for TEN Network aligned stations across “They are playing two and three Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South times a week.

Australia.

“Golf Australia has admitted “In 1990, I left the television industry memberships are in decline yet and opened my own advertising and numbers of rounds are increasing. That marketing agency in Toowoomba to puts pressure on generating greater take advantage of the new media revenue streams to afford course placement opportunities that were maintenance.

“That’s the reason why golf clubs are created due to the introduction of new becoming more reliant upon the selling commercial television signals available of their facilities to the general public to advertisers.

“In 1994, I sold the agency and for wedding receptions, seminars, moved to Sydney in an effort to get in conferences and functions.” on the ground floor of the new media Since arriving at the club, Owen – the internet. has instigated a number of positive “My focus was again the sale and changes including the reopening of marketing of intangible product as the the restaurant seven days and five internet was in its infancy. nights a week.

The club assigned course designed Richard Chamberlain to create a course improvement plan and the golf management services have been outsourced to club pro Paul Habgood.

“The long-term vision for the club,” says Owen, “is to build on the club’s “After 10 years I had created two outstanding reputation and strive to different internet-based businesses become the most valued and desired with my then business partners and golf and social club membership in decided to get out of Sydney. We our area. relocated to Thredbo where my wife “We have exceptional clubhouse and I created Gourmet 42 – Thredbo’s facilities filled with genuine members, who truly understand the spirit and the first dedicated espresso & chocolate value of camaraderie within the club. bar.”

Owen, who plays off a 14 handicap, “Our members enjoy exceptional says the greatest challenge facing clubs ‘by-name’ service and the networking today is attracting new members. opportunities are exceptional.

“We will continue to attract juniors as “The modern culture and social they are the members of the future and structure has changed so much since the halcyon days of the 1970-’90s,” I see enormous potential for greater he said. participation by women in our club.”

“The pressures of life demand both Owen’s vast experience in sales and parents contribute financially in order marketing of intangibles has equipped to attempt to generate surplus income him well for his role at the club. to spend on family.

“I am a people person with a strong “In fact, golf club membership is seen sales career,” he says. “If you understand as a luxury to the modern family – one people and their needs, you will be that even if affordable is often bypassed successful.” purposely due to time-poor constrains And he always has his father’s good associated with the modern family. advice to fall back on.

“My father always told me to manage “And all club managers are also the business as if it were your own.” • struggling with the fact that the

The industry in those days was still a little bit show-biz orientated “In 1982, I worked with Broadcom Australia, a Sydney-based company owned by The Linter Group,” he said. “I assisted in pioneering the sale of recorded music to retailers as foreground music as opposed to background music or elevator music.

“My career then focused on the sale of media air-time with Network TEN in Brisbane. At the time, the station was referred to as TV-0 and was owned by Christopher Skase.

“This was to become the area of sales and marketing that I enjoyed most.

“The industry in those days was still a little bit show-biz orientated, however, this was to change in the late ’80s and early ’90s when the government aggregated the industry and sold licenses into each regional market Australia-wide to introduce competition and programming choices to the general population of those regional areas.

“Until that time, all regional operators had a monopoly on their markets for

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

15

industry

Clubs ‘All a Twitter’ promoting membership specials A new initiative from Golf Australia is helping golf clubs discover the power of Social Media in driving new memberships.

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Social media may be the reason why people are burying their faces in their mobile phones rather than engaging in normal face-to-face interaction, but it is serving a purpose for Australia’s more progressive golf clubs.

As we become desensitized to club mergers, receiverships and closures, only recently are clubs cottoning on to the free advertising and promotional benefits of websites and mobile phone applications like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Cranbourne Golf Club in Melbourne’s southeast is one of several Victorian clubs taking advantage of Twitter as a tool for attracting new members.

Through its Twitter account, @CranbourneGC, in conjunction with Golf Australia’s new #TimeToSign initiative via Twitter, Cranbourne is putting its brand out there for free.

Using the Twitter hashtag #TimeToSign, Golf Australia is encouraging golf clubs to post their membership offers on Twitter, which are then also published on golf.org.au.

Cranbourne Golf Club Assistant General Manager Cameron Mott says clubs that ignore the power of social media are risking a slow death.

“If you’re following 15 Melbourne golf clubs (on Twitter) and you go to find another one and there’s no trace of it, that club’s probably going to lose a fair bit of ground in your eyes, particularly if you’ve heard rumours about it disbanding or merging, you might see that as a death row as such,” Mott says.

Twitter, which offers users real-time information as well as photo and video updates on anything and everything, generates

excitement for Cranbourne and its members according to Mott. “(Social media) is all live and real-time so it creates a bit of a pulse for the club. The followers see that there’s things happening, there’s excitement, there’s energy and there’s a living, breathing, ongoing pulse underwriting the club.”

Cranbourne is one of a growing number of clubs offering heavily discounted fees for under-40 golfers.

He says that younger demographic is now turning to social media for news updates rather than more traditional media outlets such as newspapers, television and radio.

Mott also credits his club’s young management team for recognising the capabilities of Twitter while some private clubs choose to avoid having a social media presence.

“There’s a few that excel at it, there’s others that dabble in it and some that just don’t go anywhere near it. For us, we’re quite progressive and want to use all the tools at our fingertips.”

“Twitter is treated more like a newsfeed where people will follow business and clubs and things of interest to themselves. They might see Cranbourne Golf Club and think ‘yes, that’s of interest to me’, or ‘I’m considering joining a club’.”

Eastern Golf Club Operations Manager Peter Vlahandreas says he’s been using social media to promote club events since 2007.

He says it’s the best way to leave a lasting impression on non-golfers.

“We didn’t just want to promote golf so we learnt to provide a whole range of other services for getting non-golfers into a golf club,” Vlahandreas says.

“We did a kids cooking academy and then there’s obviously functions, weddings and events as well. Those people get their information a lot differently to the traditional golfer so we needed (Twitter) to get there.”

Eastern’s discounted six-month and two-year introductory memberships can be seen on its Twitter page, @EasternGolfClub.

Setting up a Twitter account for your club is very easy, and with the #TimeToSign campaign gaining momentum, clubs have no excuse to ignore the huge potential of driving new memberships.

“What we were looking for was something that was free and relatively easy for clubs to set up to promote their membership offers to a large audience of over 3 million people,” Golf Australia Digital Director John Sutherland said.

“Our #TimeToSign campaign is designed to give clubs an incentive to join Twitter and promote their membership opportunities to new golfers. There has arguably not been a better time for the social golfer to become a club member with a range of incentives on offer. To engage the wider community, though, clubs need to be talking to the regular social media consumers who represent potential new members.

“In addition to coordinating the platform, Golf Australia is happy to provide any assistance to clubs in setting up their accounts,” Sutherland said.

#TimeToSign clubs on Twitter Ballina Golf Club @ballinagolfclub BonnieDoon GC @bonniedoongc Cranbourne Golf Club @CranbourneGC Dunalley Golf Club @DunalleyGC Eastern Golf Club @EasternGolfClub Gawler Golf Club @GawlerGolfClub Glenmore Golf @GlenmoreGC Hawks Nest Golf Club @HawksNest_Golf Heidelberg Golf Club @HeidelbergGolf Keperra Golf @KeperraGolf Lakelands Country Cl @LakelandsGolf Links Shell Cove @LinksShellCove Moss Vale Golf Club @MossValeGC Northern Golf Club @GolfNorthern Oatlands Golf Club @OatlandsGC Ryde-Parramatta Golf @RydeParraGC 13th Beach Golf @13thBeachgolf Virginia Golf Club @VirginiaGClub Wanneroo Golf @WannerooGolfer Waverley Golf Club @waverleygolf Yarrambat Park GC @Yarrambatparkgc More information: www.golf.org.au, or search Twitter hashtag #TimeToSign (and while you’re at it, follow us: @InsideGolf ) •

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industry FROM THE CEO

Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

L ast m o n t h I h a d t h e opportunity to present to the country’s Golf Club Managers at the 2013 Golf Management Australia National Conference.

Appropriately themed ‘Bridging the Gap’ the conference was an important opportunity for the PGA to promote and pursue greater industry collaboration whilst also sharing our vision for the game.

While there are cer tainly challenges to all sectors within our industry one thing is for certain: not one organisation can overcome these challenges alone. By pursuing opportunities such as this conference, the PGA is committed to exploring more unilateral approaches to ensure the growth of the game. I sincerely thank both the GMA and the individual Club Managers for welcoming the PGA at their conference and look forward to working more closely with you all into the future.

On the education front the PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) was recently recognised by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training in

its annual Awards of Excellence.

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by individuals and organisations in private education and training in the tertiary sector, as well as outstanding industry initiatives.

A wholly owned subsidiary of the PGA, PGA IGI offers education through its combined curriculum of golf and business courses as well as practical golf skills to prepare students for a career in the golf industry. We’re very proud of this latest achievement and I congratulate everyone involved, including the many PGA Professionals who are integral to the delivery of PGA IGI’s programs.

Preparations are well underway to welcome Adam Scott home for his first tournament in Australia at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. To be played from November 7-10 the PGA has a week of celebrations planned at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast and we’re excited about the opportunity to celebrate our most recent Major champion.

The PGA is one of six PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments to be played before the end of the year and I hope all golf fans get out and support our home grown Professionals where you can. •

Stephen Pitt CEO – Golf Australia

After a very successful tournament in Canberra in February, we recently announced that the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will return to Melbourne in 2014 when the championship is held at the Victoria Golf Club on Melbourne’s renowned Sandbelt from 13-16 February.

The very first edition of the tournament was held at Victoria Golf Club in 1974 and it’s nearly 40 years since the championship was hosted there.

The championship has experienced exceptional growth in recent years, particularly in its international profile as a major women’s sporting event in the AsiaPacific region. The championship consistently brings the highest number of top-20 ranked golfers in the world to Australia each year through our successful partnerships with LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and the local ALPG Tour.

A fundamental par t of this excellent period for Australia’s National Championship has been the support and enthusiasm from our title sponsor International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) through Dr Haruhisa Handa.

D r H a n d a ’s u n w a v e r i n g commitment to see golf included in Paralympic schedule is something Golf Australia fully supports and we are honoured that he sees the ISPS

Handa Women’s Australian Open as a key opportunity to highlight his work in this area.

Together with World Number 6 Karrie Webb and defending champion Jiyai Shin, we’ll be in a position to confirm more of the world’s top 10 players coming to Melbourne in the months ahead for what will be a terrific week of summer golf in Melbourne.

In game development news, Golf Australia and the Australian Sports Commission recently embarked on a research project to develop a new innovative golf program/initiative to attract female participants into the game.

Participation in Australian golf

is moving towards greater casual play with the number of registered members at golf clubs in Australia slowly declining since 2000.

Female representation in Australian golf accounts for approximately 20% of the total participants in the game and there is an opportunity for golf to address this under-representation in the sport and increase overall participation.

As part of this research project, Golf Australia ran a national competition to ask the community for their ideas on female participation initiatives and I’m pleased to say we had hundreds of entries from across Australia.

Keep a look out for more on this topic in the months to come. •

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

industry

Timing is right for Lunn, ALPG The ALPG’s path during Lunn’s tenure will not be a brand-new one – just a broader one.

She is a progressive thinker who plans to build on the accomplishments of her predecessor Warren Sevil.

“Having been chairman of the LET for 10 years I have a good handle of the business side of a tour,” she said.

“I have some ideas and will work closely with the board because it’s important that I continue the good work they have done.”

One issue Lunn plans to tap into is social media.

“In business you have to move with the times,” she said. “We have to understand the importance of social media and I think that is something we haven’t utilised as well as we needed to.

“We have to maximise the use of our players and get the benefits out of them when they are in Australia.

“You have to look at the big picture and find ways of maximising revenue, giving value to promoters and sponsors and players.”

Lunn’s crusade is to consolidate the local tour, grow the prize purses, better showcase the ALPG’s strengths to its fans and provide fans with greater entertainment value.

“It’s early days in the job, but we need to explore other relationships,” Lunn said.

“If we are going to have more events we have to involve other tours – that’s a no-brainer.

“Exploring relationships with emerging tours like the Chinese LPGA and Asian Ladies Golf Tour is a possibility. Golf is booming is Asia and it is an Olympic sport so we need to maximise that.

“There is a lot of funding going into golf in other countries and hopefully here as well. We have to get other tours involved because we don’t have enough players to do it on our own.

“We already have a long standing relationship with the LET through co-sanctioned events.

“The Women’s Australian Open is a great event and we want to grow the other events.”

In Europe, Lunn was involved in some major LET negotiations including the Solheim Cup and she managed to negotiate a number of her own deals.

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

NEW Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) boss Karen Lunn loves to punt on the gee-gees and enjoys a wager with friends on the golf course, but she won’t gamble on the ALPG’s future.

Lunn, who started work in mid-September, is described as hands-on, effective and wellorganised.

She is characterised as someone who knows the inner workings of the ALPG Tour as well as anyone.

“I have been a member of the tour since 1985 so I know how the tour operates,” she said.

The 47-year-old wasn’t exactly groomed for the role, but she was the best candidate from a field of 66, according to ALPG president Shani Waugh.

“Karen’s strengths are as a player and administrator,” Waugh said.

“She was a Ladies European Tour board member for 14 years and president for nine or 10 of those years so she understands how things should work and has the conviction and confidence to stand up for what she believes in.

“Karen is a sensible person and not someone who is going to come up with wacky ideas.

“She will come in and provide exactly what we need – a sensible approach to the job and the organisation. She understands our core businesses and will stick to them rather than create something out of left field.

“Karen also understands the importance of grassroots development, something we are passionate about.”

Until a month ago, Lunn was competing on the LET. I ask Lunn how long it took her to decide to apply for the job.

“When the position was announced I did give it some thought, but it was my friends who said I should apply,” she told Inside Golf.

“It all happened so quickly and the timing was perfect because I wanted to finish playing on my terms.”

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“I don’t profess to be a sales person, but I have some experience from working with the LET. “If you understand and believe in your product you can sell anything.

“Women’s golf is a great product. The players are fantastic on pro-am day compared to some other tours because we are very accessible to the media and fans.

“We have a lot to offer promoters and sponsors whether it’s through television, new media and social media. If we are asking more of them, we have to give more.”

Expanding the ALPG’s Next Generation Club is also something Lunn is passionate about.

“All the tour players are passionate about growing the game and getting more girls playing golf and keeping them playing golf,” she said.

“We hope to work more with Golf Australia, who are working hard on a number of initiatives

and we’d like to be involved.”

In her downtime, Sydney-born Lunn enjoys watching sport and “having a bet”.

“When I was growing up my grandfather was a bookmaker and my dad owned trotters so it’s in my blood,” Lunn said.

“In Sydney, we’d go to trots meetings somewhere different every day.

“It’s not that I like betting, I just loving watching the trots and the thoroughbreds.”

Of course, having a wager with her friends on the golf course is also in her DNA. “We always play for something in practice rounds,” Lunn said. “It’s the Australian way.

“That reminds me, I still owe Stephanie Na and Sarah King some money from a practice round at the European Masters.

“I am sure they will be knocking on my door soon.” •

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TAKING A PUNT: Karen Lunn has some ideas planned for the ALPG Tour.

KENNEDY BAY

SH

A R AN

A

A CH Y T A N RE RY D E F E DIF EV

Born: Sydney 21-3-1966 Height: 168cm Hobbies: Music, reading, cooking, all sports, football, punting and cricket.

Turned pro: 1985 Pro career wins: 17 Amateur highlights: NSW Junior champion 1982; Australian Schoolgirl champion 1982; Queensland champion, Victoria Matchplay champion, Queensland Junior champion, Australian Strokeplay champion 1984.

Pro highlights: 1986 Borlange Open; 1988 Godiva European Masters; 1990 BMW European Masters; 1992 Slovenian Open; 1993 Women’s British Open and KRP World Classic; 1997 Amex Tour Player’s Classic and French Open; 2009 Ladies Italian Open; 2010 Portugal Ladies Open, 2012 Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.

Other victories: 1988 Thailand Open; 1990 Daikyo Challenge (Australia) and 1992 Malaysian Open.

ALPG victories: 4.

The Links

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Karen Lunn Profile

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Proudly managed by:

Email info@kennedybay.com.au • www.kennedybay.com.au • Tel 08 9524 5991 www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

19

on tour

The Presidents Cup – A to Z The Presidents Cup might not match the drama and excitement of the Ryder Cup, but it has had its thrills and spills including a controversial sacking, writes DAVID NEWBERY

A

is for African domination. Six African players – five from South Africa (Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Brandon Grace and Richard Sterne) and one Zimbabwean (Brendon de Jonge) – make up the International team. is for bottom line. The bottom line is the Americans have the edge with six top-10 players to the Internationals’one (Scott), and nine top-25 players to the Internationals’ five. is for captains. Fred Couples will lead the Americans with assistants Jay Haas and Davis Love III while Nick Price will captain the Internationals with the help of assistants Shigeki Maruyama, Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone. is for debutants. This year 11 players make their debut – four for the US (Brandt Snedeker, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley and Jordan Spieth) and seven Internationals (Louis Oosthuizen, Hideki Matsuyama, Branden Grace, Graham DeLaet, Richard Sterne, Brendon de Jonge and Marc Leishman).

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E

is for Ernie Els. The South African, who made his Cup debut in 1996, is the Internationals’ most experienced player. Els, who revels in matchplay golf, has mostly been the Internationals’ go-to man and has accumulated 18 points in seven appearances. is for format. The format consists of 12 players per side, a non-playing captain and assistants. All 12 players must play foursome and fourball matches on Thursday and Friday (six matches per session) and each player must play a one-on-one singles match on Sunday. is for gamesmanship. There’s no place for gamesmanship in golf although matchplay team events are the exception. Each player will look to unsettle their opponent early and in tightly-fought matches, a “gimme” is no guarantee. is for Haas. The 2013 Presidents Cup is a family affair with American father and son Jay and Bill Haas in the team as assistant captain and player respectively.

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is for irritant. Those annoying people who continually yell out “get in the hole” when a player tees off on a long hole.

Give it a break, folks. Another thing – no more “you da man”. is for Japan. Japan’s Hideki Matusyama will hope to feed off fellow countryman and assistant captain Shigeki Maruyama – the smiling assassin at Royal Melbourne in 1998. Maruyama won all his matches and was hailed a hero. is for Korea. The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, located in Incheon, Korea will host the Presidents Cup when the event makes its first trip to Asia in 2015. is for lost. The Internationals have lost seven of the nine Presidents Cup contests. Their only win was at Royal Melbourne in 1998 with 2003 declared a tie at Fancourt in South Africa. is for matchplay pairings.

With six different nationalities (Aussies, South Africans, a Canadian, an Argentinean and a Japanese player) in his

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team, International team captain Nick Price will have sleepless nights trying to find the right pairings for the critical foursomes and fourball matches. Mostly, these matches are the difference between winning and losing. is for Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus is the only US team captain to suffer a loss in Presidents Cup history. The world’s greatest golfer has captained the US four times for one loss (at Royal Melbourne), a tie and two wins. is for oldest. At 46, American Steve Stricker is the oldest competitor this year. It will be Stricker’s fifth appearance in Presidents Cup tournaments. is for perfect. Four players have perfect records at the Presidents Cup. In 1996, Mark O’Meara won all five matches.

Shigeki Maruyama did it in 1998 at Royal Melbourne and Americans Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk achieved the feat in 2009 and 2011 respectively. is for quality. On paper, the US team looks too strong for the

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is for whodunit. In 1996, Australian David Graham was controversially dumped as International team captain. To this day no one knows who led the revolt or why there was a revolt in the first place. is for x-factor. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama could be the X-factor after good results in this year’s majors. The 21-yearold finished in a tie for sixth at the Open Championship, T10 at the US Open and T19 at the US PGA. is for youngest. At 20, American Jordan Spieth will be the youngest competitor at the Cup. With one win and two seconds, Spieth has banked more than $3m this year. Perhaps Couples used his wild-card pick to give the kid experience for next year’s Ryder Cup. is for Zimbabwe. Captain Nick Price, assistants Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty and wildcard selection Brendon de Jonge hail from the troubled southern African country of Zimbabwe. Price, a former world number one, played for the Internationals in five Presidents Cups while McNulty and Johnstone have won 59 and 25 pro events respectively.

THE TEAMS US

INTERNATIONALS

X

Internationals. Still, the Internationals won’t mind being the underdogs and will be confident of springing a surprise. is for record appearances.

American left-hander Phil Mickelson will make a record 10th appearance at the Cup – two more than veteran Ernie Els. is for showdown. Will the two hottest players, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods, face off in the singles? That would be a match made in heaven especially as Scott has set his sights on Tiger’s number one ranking. is for tied. In 2003, the Presidents Cup finished in a tie (17-17) in South Africa and captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player agreed, after some debate, to share the

R S T

spoils when darkness fell and interrupted the playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. is for unlucky. American Jim Furyk, who was undefeated in 2011, didn’t receive a captain’s pick despite being third in line after the top-10 automatically qualified.

Instead, captain Couples went for rookie Jordan Spieth – nine spots below Furyk (who went on to shoot a magical 59 the following week!) is for venue. It’s hard to deny the Americans have a massive advantage at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. If you take Ernie Els out of the mix, captain Nick Price’s 11 other players have combined to play Muirfield Village 37 times with just three top10s and 10 missed cuts.

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Rank

Player

Rank

Player

1

Tiger Woods

1

Adam Scott

2

Brandt Snedeker

2

Jason Day

3

Phil Mickelson

3

Charl Schwartzel

4

Matt Kuchar

4

Ernie Els

5

Jason Dufner

5

Louis Oosthuizen

6

Keegan Bradley

6

Hideki Matsuyama

7

Steve Stricker

7

Branden Grace

8

Bill Haas

8

Graham DeLaet

9

Hunter Mahan

9

Richard Sterne

10

Zach Johnson

10

Angel Cabrera

11

Webb Simpson

11

Brendon de Jonge

12

Jordan Spieth

12

Marc Leishman

The Presidents Cup will take place October 1-6.

More information: www.presidentscup.com

‘The Fanatics’ are ready to prowl at Muirfield Village Paul Prendergast ed@insidegolf.com.au

Internationals captain Nick Price had one less issue to concern himself with as the final weeks of preparation for the 2013 Presidents Cup matches ticked down. Playing far from home, Price was assured that that his underdog International team would have support on the ground in droves.

Back in Australia, Dave McLatchey from The Fanatics supporter group confirmed that a group of long-term Fanatics were bound for the Presidents Cup matches, guaranteeing to bring their time-honoured brand of respectful ‘lunacy’ to the fairways of Muirfield Village.

“There are around twenty of us coming together from Australia, a few expats from New York and some living in London, including a few South African boys who are Fanatics-regulars,” McLatchey said.

The colourful throng of (mostly) Aussies who have morphed from a small band of supporters of the Australian Davis Cup tennis team to a well organised, global ‘flash mob’, were a huge hit at the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Their presence added to the atmosphere in spades with their support best described as ‘English football’ in style.

Like all great English football crowds, the Fanatics embrace the gift of song laced with good-natured humour as the basis of their tribal support. Most important was that while clearly in the camp of The Internationals, the Fanatics were highly respectful of the game and its traditions which in turn, enamoured them to players and officials from both teams.

They more often than not were ‘heard’ before they were ‘seen’ during the group’s inaugural Presidents Cup appearance at Royal Melbourne.

With a song sheet in one hand and inevitably a thirst-quenching beverage in the other, they traipsed from match to match through the tea tree thicket, singing and plotting their next chorus depending on the players that came into view.

The Fanatics were a hit at Royal Melbourne (Image courtesy: Mark Wilson) When the group emerged at any point on the course, the attention of spectators and players from both sides were drawn to their comical appearance of emblazoned yellow cricket shirts, emerald green berets and green and gold argyle long socks. Many of the group wore logoed sweatbands and the wearing of shorts seemed to be a pre-requisite, in spite of the chilly wind and rain that lashed the course on the Friday.

It was clear they drew strength and perhaps warmth from safety in numbers, which ‘IS’ a clear pre-requisite for Fanatics at the Presidents Cup. “There’s no picking and choosing your preferred holes or matches as individuals, the deal is we hunt as a pack the whole time,” McClatchey explains.

The focus of their attention was shared equally with the American players who very quickly warmed to the Australian humour and vernacular, despite a lot of it needing to be explained to a number of them.

It’s not often we see Tiger Woods in any event, let alone a prestigious event like the Presidents Cup, doubled over laughing in the middle of the fairway despite the struggle with his game he was enduring at the time, although his resurgence in form can be traced back to the two weeks he spent in Australia.

Woods even high-fived and posed for pictures with the Fanatics afterwards which was almost unprecedented behaviour from the cautious world number one. The normally stoic PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was another who could barely contain himself over the weekend with the Fanatics sending up everyone, and everything, in sight.

However, it was the Internationals and the Australians on the team who revelled in the ‘hometown’ support.

“Love the Tash”, was the call from one of the more masculine looking men in the group to Geoff Ogilvy during an earlier match. At the time, Ogilvy was well advanced in his bid to grow a moustache in support of the annual ‘Movember’ charity event in Australia, but not even the thick ‘Tash’ he was sporting could hide his delight.

2011 captains Greg Norman and Fred Couples allowed themselves to be caught up in the merriment, particularly around the 1st tee each day where the throng of Fanatics were at their largest and loudest. Both captains responded positively and their boisterous participation was greeted with loud cheers and the broader approval of the galleries who were equally swept up in the atmosphere.

Around the first tee and for much of the final

day singles matches, Norman wore a Fanatics beret constantly and his light hearted approach might have helped relax and inspire his players to an early charge, before the U.S. team eventually sealed the Cup with Woods’ defeat of Aaron Baddeley on the 15th hole.

Between the final teams being announced and the flight to Dublin, Ohio, time was spent dedicating team songs for the players and while many will be backing up from 2011, several rookies on both teams - ‘fresh meat’ for The Fanatics – will have us wondering what McLatchey & Co. will come up with.

“I’ll probably make a few up on the plane over!”

McLatchey laughed.

Anticipation for the Cup matches themselves may be high but the attention new PGA champion Jason Dufner will attract from The Fanatics may be worth the price of admission alone. Dufner is a fairly regular visitor to Australia so may have some inkling of what to expect, however these guys are experts in their field and could be the first to truly break the Ohio-born Dufner’s impenetrable exterior by forcing a smile, or perhaps more.

So too, Couples’ birthday on the opening day of play will most surely be greeted by one of the more raucous ‘Happy Birthday’ celebrations he’s experienced in his 54 years. “Freddie will be so up for that, he had a great time with us in 2011,” McLatchey said.

“It’s sure to be a blast.” McLatchey said, “We’ve got the full support of Nick Price and the PGA Tour are right behind us. Being an ‘away’ fixture this time, it’ll be brilliant mixing it up with the locals. Nothing beats ‘playing away’, we’re going to cause quite a stir in a good way.

“I’ll be taking a few spare shirts over if any of the locals want to join us in the shenanigans.”

Presuming the Internationals can conjure up something of a miracle at a venue that has been witness to its share of upsets (Remembering the Europeans at the 1987 Ryder Cup), we may look back and credit the Fanatics with having played a large part in an historic victory.

We’ll certainly be wearing a broad grin at their antics if they do. • www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

21

on tour

‘Pro’ caddie a priority for Smith David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

FORMER top Australian amateur Cameron Smith is “more than good enough” to make it in the hurly-burly world of professional golf, but first he needs to attend to managing his affairs, says his coach Grant Field.

“Cameron has to learn how to manage a lot of things himself that he previously didn’t have to worry about,” said Field, the 2012 Queensland teaching professional of the year.

“Playing golf professionally is a whole new ball game and a new challenge for him.”

As an elite amateur, Smith had the luxury of having his scheduling, accommodation, travel and all other matters taken care of.

Field said it was imperative his young protégé find employment (a tour to play on) and employ a permanent “professional” caddie.

“Finding the right caddie is hugely important,” Field said.

“He had Luke Humphries, who is a good player, on the bag at the Queensland Open, but Luke may or may not be the right option because he still wants to play.

“Until Cameron gets full-time employment it is hard for somebody to commit to the role.

“A good caddie can be worth a lot of money to a player so it’s hugely important to find the right person to do the job and that is what we will look for.

“It can also be financially rewarding for the right caddie.

“Whoever gets the job is going to have to take a punt on whether Cameron is going to be successful.”

Cameron Smith in action at the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Field said professionalism was one of the key ingredients to being a good caddie.

“You can have someone carry your bag, but at the end of the day you need a lot more than that.

“A caddie needs to be 100 per cent professional and 100 per cent committed to the player.

“It’s all those one percenters that need to be taken care of.

“If you look at a guy like Steve Williams (Adam Scott’s caddie), he will get a yardage chart but he will check everything himself. He will do extra work.

“If you watch him on the course, he is not chatting to the other players and caddies. He is there working. He is doing what he’s paid to do.”

While many players require their bag toter to “turn up, keep up and shut up”, Smith encourages interaction between player and caddie.

Oftentimes he will call on a caddie’s knowledge and advice, whether it is reading

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

putts, club selection and course management issues.

“Knowing Cameron, he likes that feedback,” Field said. “If you get the right person you can have trust in them.”

Field said he believed Smith, the Australian amateur champion, would receive invitations to play in the Australian Open and the Australia PGA Championship.

“After that, we don’t know where Cameron will play next year, but he will be going to the US to try and qualify for the Web.com Tour,” he said.

“It’s possibly the hardest tour in the world to qualify for because you have guys coming back from the PGA Tour, guys on the Web.com Tour and guys trying to get on the tour.

“If everything goes to plan that is where he’ll be next year, but if it doesn’t it’s just a matter of time and it will happen at some stage.

“I think Cameron is more than good enough, but we have to be patient.” •

Vale Dave Thomas

FORMER Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas has died at his home in Spain.

The Welshman, who competed in four Ryder Cup tournaments, was 79.

Arthritis ended his playing career prematurely and he immersed himself in his other abiding passion of course design.

He helped design The Belfry’s signature Brabazon course and with Peter Alliss designed the wonderful parkland test at Wishaw.

Thomas twice finished runner-up at the Open Championship: first in 1958 when he lost a 36-hole playoff to five-time champion Peter Thomson at Royal Lytham and then in 1966 when he finished tied with Doug Sanders one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus.

He also performed well at the 1967 Ryder Cup picking up 2½ points when he partnered Tony Jacklin in the fourballs and foursomes matches. •

Matthew’s a talent worth watching

MATTHEW Samen-Curtis from the Headland Golf Club on the Queensland Sunshine Coast is making every post a winner.

Last month, the youngster won both the junior club championship and the men’s club championship.

And he did it in style carding rounds of 75-6971-70 for a 285 total to finish five shots clear of runner-up Adam Rydwanski in the men’s title.

But wait, there’s more.

He also has added the Horton Park club championship, the junior championship and the matchplay championship to his resume.

Matthew spent three years in the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Junior Scholarship squad up until 2012.

It seems that paid off as he is now producing the scores to match his great potential. •

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on tour

From ducks to birdies and eagles David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

BRONSON La’Cassie pulled the right rein when he quit a promising junior rugby league career, says proud dad Colin La’Cassie.

Had the 30-year-old stuck with rugby league, he would be considering retirement.

Instead, Bronson is preparing to play on the $160m US PGA Tour after finishing inside the top-25 on the second-tier Web.com Tour.

He finished sixth with more than $275,000 in earnings.

“Bronson was a bloody good rugby league player,” Colin said. “He played hooker for Souths Acacia Ridge and could have gone on to become a very good player.”

Growing up in Brisbane’s southwest, Bronson tried every sport available to him including cricket, soccer, rugby league, swimming, golf and a few others.

“He loved playing rugby league, soccer and cricket, but in cricket he couldn’t bat to save himself,” Colin laughed.

“He couldn’t bowl, but he was a great fielder who could catch and peg the stumps. Players on opposing teams would shout ‘don’t hit it near that redheaded kid’.

“Once the cricket coach put him in as opening batsman and Bronson was rapt. He couldn’t take the smile off his face and commented ‘Don Bradman has nothing on me’.”

Colin watched his son walk out to bat and before he could take his seat, Bronson was on

his way back to the pavilion.

“I didn’t even get to see him bat, but Bronson had a grin from ear to ear,” he said.

“I think he managed to get one run in the season, but it never worried him.”

As for golf, well, Bronson virtually discovered the sport by accident.

Dad Colin, footy coach Brad and Bronson were driving past Algester golf course when Colin turned to Brad and asked if he had played golf.

The answer was “no” so Colin turned the car around and they teed it up for the first time.

The pair hired clubs, bought a dozen secondhand golf balls and asked the pro to keep an eye on five-year-old Bronson.

The pro turned out to be former Queensland Open champion Jack Brown.

“When we got back Jack had Bronson on the putting green and was showing him how to play golf,” Colin recalled. “Bronson got on really well with Jack.

“One morning Brad and I went to golf early and when we got there the pro said I was wanted on the phone.

“It was my wife Sandra and she said ‘someone wants to talk to you’.

“It was Bronson, who was very upset because we had left him behind so we had to go back and get him.

“Jack took Bronson under his wing and offered to give him free lessons, but when he was 10 he wanted to play rugby league.

“So from the age of 10 to 14 he did and when he turned 14 we had a big decision to make because Bronson needed braces for his teeth.

MOVING ON: Bronson La’Cassie is preparing to take on the world’s best players in 2014.

“He said ‘let me play out the season and then I’ll go back to golf’.”

Colin took him to Gailes Golf Club where Jim Barden was the head professional.

“I said to Jim, ‘Bronson will be off single figures

by Christmas’,” Colin said.

“Jokingly, Jim said ‘no way’ so I said ‘I’ll bet you $100’.

“It was August and by Christmas Bronson was playing off single figures and 14 months later he was off +2. He won a club championship and was picked in the state side.”

Bronson attended Kelvin Grove State College honing his skills under the guidance of Ian Triggs and it wasn’t long before US college scouts approached the La’Cassie family about a possible move to a US college.

“Bronson was 17 and I wanted him to gain more life experience first.

“He played amateur golf until he was 20 and in August 2003 we sent him on his way to the University of Minnesota where he did a degree in business and marketing.”

Bronson, who won the Web.com Tour’s Cox Classic last month and banked $160,000, told

Inside Golf he felt comfortable about his chances on the US PGA Tour.

“I feel confident and don’t think there is much difference between the tours. Maybe the courses will be a little different, but it’s tough to win anywhere.

“Winning on the Web.com Tour helps and has given me the confidence to take my game to the next level.”

Colin believes his son’s laidback attitude has helped more than hindered his career.

“Bronson doesn’t worry about too many things,” Colin said. “His attitude is, ‘if you are going to worry about a shot you have stuffed up you may as well not play’.”

Bronson has delayed his return to Australia to contest the Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings in the hope of improving his US PGA Tour status.

“Originally, I was coming home in early October, but now there are four tour events so I won’t be back until late November.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have status in Australia anymore but I’m hoping to get a start in the Australian Open.” •

The $1,000,000 Rush Golf Challenge Surges On! February 27 to March 2, 2014 Moonah Links and The Dunes on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula

Imagine yourself an amateur standing over a slick 6 foot million dollar putt, indescribable sensations are racking your body both physically and mentally. Your partner, perhaps your local club pro, is watching on in agonising suspense that they may be only seconds away from the ecstasy of receiving the biggest cheque of their professional career.

Come the afternoon of Sunday 2nd March next year this could become reality for participants in golf’s newest tournament when it reaches its’ climax at the Dunes on the Mornington Peninsula.

Amateurs for the first time can enter into “a total inside the ropes experience” taking their aspirations of participation in golf to new heights. Paired with a pro and in a best-ball format over a 72 holes of full tournament play, each team will compete for the major prize - $1,000,000.

The professional in the winning team will receive $500,000 the largest first prize in Australian golf, with $500,000 going to the charity nominated by the winning amateur. There is a further $300,000 for the professional purse along with a charity challenge that makes participating charities the big off course winners. Amateurs apart from bragging rights have not been forgotten and will be eligible for some great prizes to top off the complete experience.

Visit the website www.therushgolf.com.au for more information 24

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Open to all golfers, amateur and professional, female, male, regular and senior tours and club pros, simply pay the entry fee – First In Best Dressed. Enter you own team or we will pair you with an ALPG professional. Join ALPG stars Stacey Keating, Whitney Hillier and a host of golfing celebrities.

Kerrie-Anne Kennerley will be the playing celebrity host for the social activities during the event showcased within the fabulous hospitality offerings of the Mornington Peninsula.

on tour

A happy 21st for Hi-Lite The Hi-Lite Pro-Am has been an instrumental part of the QLD Sunshine Tour since its first instalment way back in 1994 and in 2013, the tournament will stage its 21st event.

The tournament has seen some household Queensland names lift the trophy including Terry Price (’96), Shane Tait (’97), Scott Hend (’98), Adam Crawford (’99) and Ryan Haller (’03 & ’05), not to mention more recent winner in US Nationwide professional Ashley Hall (’07).

Since its inception, professionals have played for more than $1,250,000 in prizemoney and as two-time winner Ryan Haller explains, it has certainly played a big part in allowing players to take their game to the world stage.

“I have been lucky enough to win the tournament twice, once when the prizemoney was an amazing $150,000 and given it helped me to travel to overseas tour schools over the coming years, I am forever indebted to the Hi-Lite Pro- Am.” Tournament Promoter John Ryan who also coordinates other large tournaments such as the Australian 4-Ball Pro-Am Championship and the Jeep Pro-Am, reflected on the last 20 years.

“When we started running these tournaments, it was all about giving our guests a chance to play with some of Australia’s leading professionals. Though after I got to know the professionals personally, it became more about helping them achieve their dreams.

“I remember John Senden coming up to me at Coolum a couple of years ago and he asked me if I was still running the Hi-Lite Pro-Am and after I answered yes, he continued to tell me how much the event had helped him all those years ago. That’s why I love running this tournament.”

Over the years the Gold Coast-based tournament has been staged at a number

Two-time Hi-Lite Pro-Am winner Ryan Haller of courses including Links Hope Island, Palm Meadows, The Glades and Palmer Colonial and Palmer Gold Coast. One venue, however, has been involved in all previous stagings of the Hi-Lite Pro-Am: the home of the Australian PGA Championship, RACV Royal Pines Resort.

David Hogben, Manager of Golf, Sport & Leisure at RACV Royal Pines Resort, is proud to have had a strong relationship with the tournament and the history in which it has created.

“The Hi-Lite Pro-Am is a key tournament on our events calendar and we are looking forward to celebrating this milestone year with John Ryan and his valued sponsors.”

The Hi-Lite Pro-Am will be staged at both RACV Royal Pines Resort and Palmer Gold Coast from 4-5 October with $50,000 on offer for the professionals. With the assistance of the sponsors the Hi-Lite Pro-Am will be looking to add to the more than $1,000,000 for raised for local charities. •

Rankin chases Coca Cola prize Brett Rankin has taken the outright lead through 12 holes in the Coca Cola Challenge—a unique event which records the score of one ‘Coca Cola Challenge Hole’ at selected Pro-Ams. Playing at the Maryborough Golf Club, Rankin birdied the challenging par-3 ninth hole, followed by an albatross the following day on the par-5 10th, rocketing up the leaderboard for both the Pro-Am and the Coca Cola Challenge itself.

“To be truthful I hadn’t started the Coca Cola Challenge very well, bogeying the first hole at Rockhampton so I wasn’t really concentrating on it too much. Though after my albatross, it has certainly caught my eye and I am now looking forward to the pressure of leading during the last month of the tour,” said Rankin.

The winner of the Coca Cola Challenge will win a $5,000 contribution to funding the cost of attending an International Tour Qualifying School of their choice.

The 2013 Coca Cola Challenge will conclude at the season’s final event at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on 8th October. For more information: www.pga.org.au • LEADERBOARD Position 1st 2nd T 3rd T 3rd T 3rd T 3rd T 7th T 7th T 7th T 7th T 7th T 7th T 7th

Player Brett Rankin Samuel Brazel Benjamin Bloomfield Chris Gaunt Gavin Flint Matthew Ballard Brock Sampson Craig Hamilton Hamish Robertson Jared Pender Paul Donahoo Paul Hayden Richard Wright

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on tour

Hamilton Island awaits pros and amateurs

Kiwi leads Rookie of the Year New Zealander Mathew Perry has taken the slimmest of leads over Lincoln Tighe in the Platinum Partner Program Rookie of the Year Award. Perry, who had no exemption status at the start of the year, is looking forward to a strong finish to sneak into the top 20 on the QLD Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and thus providing him with full exemption for 2014.

“It isn’t something that I am focusing on too much as I am just trying to take it event by event. I know that I can’t control what Lincoln does but I do know that if I can continue my solid form I won’t be too far away come the end of the season” said Perry.

Leading by just one point from Coca Cola Morobe Open winner Lincoln Tighe, it now seems to be a two-horse race with more than 30 points separating second from third with just 15 events to go. After the Victoria Park Pro-Am the leaderboard for the Platinum Partner Program Rookie of the Year Award looks like this: Pos 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Player Mathew Perry Lincoln Tighe Dimitrios Papadatos Jonathon Holder Craig Hamilton

State NZ NSW NSW QLD NZ

Hamilton Island Golf Club is in perfect condition in preparation for both the PGA Professionals Championship National Final and inaugural Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship. With qualifying for the PGA Professionals Championship now complete, 50 PGA Professionals from around the country will be looking to represent their state vying for the lion’s share of $50,000 in prizemoney.

The tournament to be played from 14-18 October, 2013 will also see the professionals chasing two lucrative positions in the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca Cola at RACV Royal Pines Resort later this year with the leading two professionals at Hamilton Island booking their position in the prestigious field.

Tournament Director Broc Greenhalgh said the PGA are looking forward to providing this exclusive opportunity.

“The PGA Professionals Championship field is made up of Head Professionals, Teaching Professionals, Directors of Golf and alike and therefore it is a great opportunity for two of our PGA members at the coal face of the golf industry to be given a chance to mix it with the world’s best.”

For the first time, the Hamilton Island Amateur

Pts 125 124 93 88 82

The Platinum Partner Program is a business partnership between Robbie Bennetts Enterprises and technology company onPlatinum with each company bringing immense knowledge, skills and experience in their respective fields of financial services and technology Program.

For more info head to www.pga.org.au •

Golf Championship will be run alongside the professional event and after recently going up to Hamilton Island to have a look at how preparations were coming, Greenhalgh is confident it will quickly become one of the leading amateur events in the country.

“Hamilton Island is a great golfing destination. It essentially has everything from a championship golf course to first class service, not to mention the ability to mix a tournament with a great holiday all in the one week.

“The team at Hamilton Island have done a magnificent job in preparing the course, softening the challenging layout in areas to ensure all levels of golfers enjoy the experience and with some fantastic prizes on offer, I have no doubt that the event will see significant demand over the coming years.”

There is a limited field of 50 amateurs in the Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship and with only a small number of positions left, time is running out for those wishing to experience the destination that is Hamilton Island.

For more details head to their website: www.hamiltonisland.com.au/amateurchamps or call 03 8320 1983. •

Congratulations to the following players who have qualified for the PGA Professionals Championship National Final: Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Player Andrew Crumpton Ken Druce Nathan Goodchild Ben Hamilton Colin Hunt Peter Jones Glenn Kelly Robert Kennedy Nathan King Duane Kirwan Josh Lane Chris Miller David Paddison Matt Parsons Sam Phillips Davyd Reeves Bryan Roach Westley Rudel Graeme Stockley Ross Strachan David Delahunty Craig Goodall Shayne Hayman Dion Hayne Allen Hill Chris Hollingsworth Jeffrey Hoy In Jun Lee Murray Lott Tim Lynch Graham Sheppard Dave Simpson Gareth Small David Galloway Simon Pope Cody Sherratt Darren Spencer Dominic Azzopardi Roland Baglin Ben Bunny Gavin Campbell Sean Charleston Nick Dastey Travis Harrison Craig McLean David Stein Tim Wise Paul Wright Tony Howell Craig Tapp

State NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD SA SA SA TAS VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC WA WA

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on tour

with Steven Jeffress

Going big in Japan Steven Jeffress ed@insidegolf.com.au

Back in May, I entered the Japanese Tour School after my win in the 2012 Jeep Tour Final provided me with an all-expenses trip. The qualifying event is held over 4 stages, though due to my status I am exempt from stage 1, and therefore I headed over for stage 2 on 7th September.

After landing in Tokyo following the nine-hour flight, Jeff Lloyd (my caddy) and I checked into a hotel in Narita for the night. Eager to check the Rugby League scores, I went to get my computer bag only to find that it wasn’t there.

After thinking about it for the best part of an hour, I realised I had left it at Gold Coast airport.

Not a great start to a week that could determine my 2014 season. For those of you who’ve been to Japan, you would know that there are no English channels on TV so your computer is your only source of communication with the outside world. I blamed it on the security check at the airport but in actual fact it was my fault for leaving it at one of the counters.

Sunday morning we picked up a hire car and drove up to Itsuura Teien Country Club in Fukushima. Three hours and $50 in tolls later, we arrived (which meant that we’d been travelling for more than 24 hours). There were no practice rounds available that day, which is often the case, so I spent some time on the practice putting green and stretching for the best part of a couple of hours knowing it takes the body a little more time these days to loosen

up after the long plane trips. Especially when you are in row 64, just across from the toilets!

On Monday morning I had a practice round at 9:20am. The course was a typical Japanese course with sloping greens and thick rough.

There was a little out of bounds but not as much as I have seen on other courses you play on the Japan Tour. I have played courses up there where it seems like every hole has OOB on each side.

Tournament time came and my opening rounds of 71 and 72 to be one under par were a real grind. I didn’t play well and had to fight for every shot, which happens in golf sometimes – not dissimilar to any other line of work I guess.

Unfortunately you can’t pick when you want to play well. But at the halfway stage, I was running 23rd and with 35 spots up for grabs, it was very bunched around my score.

I woke up before the 3rd round feeling a million dollars. I wish I could have said the same for my caddy Jeff, though. I hear my name called out about 6:30am that morning from the hotel hallway. I open the door to see Jeff sitting on the floor in front of the lift holding his head.

He had been downstairs to get a coffee and on the way up in the lift, he felt a little faint. By the time he got to my floor, he had passed out and head-butted the lift door. A couple of Japanese businessmen helped him out into the hallway.

(After making sure he was ok, I joked I should check the lift door, ‘cause he is not a small bloke and he certainly has a hard head!)

Anyway, to his credit he battled on, and he was certainly switched on as I shot 68 and moved up to 8th position. The great thing about

Chase the Sun

Steven Jeffress (right) with his caddy Jeff Lloyd. the day is I now know what I can buy Jeff for Christmas: a helmet!

Friday morning before the last round we had an earthquake at 4:50am. Being 8 floors up in the hotel it’s always an interesting experience.

For around an hour after that there were little aftershocks which made it very hard to sleep, maybe not the best preparation before the last round of a Tour School.

I found myself in the 2nd last group for the final round. I played pretty average compared to the day before, though chipped and putted great. After 25 putts, I signed for a two-underpar round of 70, and 7-under-par for the week, I finished in 10th spot. A solid week though more importantly it means I successfully got through to the 3rd stage.

It is hard to realise how important playing well in the early stages are but if I can paint the picture in saying that if I just scrape through in

this stage and therefore don’t get my pick of venue in the next stage, I would have to miss the Perth International or the Australian Masters.

Missing out on tournaments is not nice, though to miss out on $3 Million in prizemoney would have been disappointing. With this being said my 10th place finish means I got my first choice, thus I won’t miss any tournament back here in Australia, and will be playing at the end of October at Sunnyfield Golf Club in Ibaraki, only around a hour from Narita Airport.

So now for the preparations, not only the 3rd stage of Japanese Tour School but also the upcoming Australian Summer. From the end of October I don’t have a week off until mid/ late December. Although I’m doing something I love for a living and not ‘digging holes’ I will certainly be working my bum off as I am eager to give myself another crack at the Japanese Tour in 2014. •

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

ezgo legends tour

Merriman wins T2Green Series David Merriman has dominated the QLD events to win the T2Green Wealth Solutions Series which has been part of the QLD Swing of the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour.

Throughout the series of events, the T2Green Series required the professionals to record their best fifteen scores relative to par across the nineteen rounds. Merriman was no doubt a standout, only carding four rounds over par the entire series. Merriman picks up a bonus of $5000 after having an unbelievable total of 20-under-par across his best fifteen rounds. Merriman recorded wins at the QLD Senior PGA along with the Dalby Legends Pro Am and in a show of consistency, only finished outside the top ten once.

“It’s been a great series with so many courses hosting us this year. In looking back at the scores this year they were some of the lowest in recent years and therefore to come out on top of the series, is personally very rewarding” said Merriman. “We are very lucky to have some of the best players to come out of Australia playing the Legends Tour at the moment and we just hope we have left our mark on the golfing community along the way” Runner up in the series was Rodger Davis who has also had a successful QLD Swing.

With a win at the Bargara Legends Pro Am in addition to an amazing four runner-up finishes, Davis still shows he is a strong contender amongst the senior ranks. Davis collects a $1,000 bonus for his achievement.

T2Green Wealth Solutions have begun their support of the QLD Swing of the E-ZGO PGA Legends Tour enthusiastic about the prospect of supporting the growing number of events. Managing Director and passionate

David Merriman with Rob Bruhl & Glen Murray golfer Rob Bruhl showed his committed by travelling to and playing in all 14 events on the schedule in a hope to gain better insight of how he can help grow the tour. ”Personally I am exhausted and did not realise how tiring golf can be for our touring professionals,” he says.

“T2Green has had an excellent response both from the players and amateurs that play in these events and we look forward to welcoming many new members to our brand over the next 12 months.”

The QLD tournaments finished up at the Amalgamated Carbrook Legends Pro-Am where Merriman was presented with the winner’s cheque by PGA QLD Division Committee Chairman Darren Richards. The Legends Tour players will next travel to the Westin Fiji Legends Golf Classic at Natadola Bay. For the full 2013 E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour schedule visit www.pga.org.au/ pgalegendstour For more details about T2Green Wealth Solutions visit www.t2greenws.com.au •

Top seniors chase $75,000 purse Anticipation is at a fever pitch as Australia’s top seniors prepare to vie for a $75,000 prizepurse at the Australian PGA Seniors Championship, to be held at Richmond Golf Club from Thursday, 31 October to Sunday, 3 November. “ The Australian PGA Seniors Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the Legends Tour calendar and I am sure I speak for all the players when I say it’s also one of their favourite tournaments of the year,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia.

Being played at the Richmond Golf Club for the first time in the Championship’s 27 year history, the club is looking forward to welcoming some of Australia’s best over 50’s tournament Professionals to their course.

“Staging such a prestigious event is not only a boost for Richmond Golf Club but for the entire Hawkesbury Region,” said Kimberley Talbot, CEO of Richmond Golf Club.

“The event will highlight the wonderful experiences the region has to offer, from great golf courses to delightful wineries and stunning Hawkesbury River adventures.”

“Through tournaments the PGA aims to expose sports fans to Professional golf and this tournament will certainly do that,” added Thorburn.

The honour roll of the Australian PGA Seniors Championship reads like a who’s who of golf with those to have taken out the title including Peter Senior, Peter Fowler and Mike Harwood. www.richmondgolfclub.com.au •

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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women

NZ event to inspire young stars New Zealand Professional Women Golfers (NZPWG) is hoping to inspire more players like Lydia Ko with the announcement of a lucrative new Tour event.

The fifth Anita Boon Pro-Am will this year be co-sanctioned with the Australia Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Tour and carry a lucrative $35,000 prize purse for the 36-hole event.

With continued support from the major sponsors KFC and Coca-Cola, the Tournament will again be hosted at the North Shore Golf Club on 31 October and 1 November.

It will be an official ALPG Order of Merit event that offers aspiring professionals an opportunity to earn points to better their chances to play in the major summer events in Australia.

It is the second ALPG Tour event in New Zealand alongside the New Zealand Women’s Open.

Tournament organisers hope the upgraded pro-am will attract top level professionals from Australia and accordingly offer a real incentive for both New Zealand women professionals and also aspiring amateurs.

“Lydia Ko got her first opportunity to shine at the New Zealand Women’s Open which is also an ALPG Tour event,” said NZPWG spokesperson Stephanie Alderlieste. “She grabbed that opportunity, was motivated by playing against world class professionals and has blossomed.

“Our aim has always been to provide opportunities for aspiring female professionals and young amateurs to take that first step.

Lydia has shown the way and we hope this tournament will provide a stepping stone for the next Lydia Ko and others to follow in her footsteps.”

The ALPG signalled support for the new Order

The NZPWG is hoping to discover the country’s next young rising stars - like the phenomenal Lydia Ko - via a new tour event of Merit tournament in New Zealand.

“We are delighted that the NZPWG have been successful in gaining the necessary sponsorship to enable the 2013 Anita Boon pro-am to become a part of the official ALPG 2013-14 schedule,” said Karen Lunn, the new Executive Director of the ALPG. “The pro-am will showcase the best of New Zealand’s golfing talent. The event will provide an exciting mix of the who’s who of NZ women’s golf alongside the future stars of the game.

Anita was an inspiration to many of us and we are so excited that we can honour her memory in this way.”

The event will be played as an open ProAm event over the two days with one female professional with three amateurs. The amateur

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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www.mcleodgolf.com.au 32

TIGHTER fairways, more bunkers and less sand.

These are just some of redesign plans for RACV Royal Pines Resort, home to the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Ladies Masters, over the next two-and-a-half years.

Currently, there is more than two hectares of bunkers on the Gold Coast golf course.

The resort’s general manager John Morris said the $5 million Graham Marshredesign plan would see up to 50 per cent of bunkering disappear.

“The end result will be more bunkers, but most will be smaller than the existing ones,” he said.

“A lot of the sand around the course is not actually in play for most golfers.

“Some bunkers will disappear and others will be adjusted to make them more strategic.

“That could mean reducing them in size, moving them tighter to the putting surfaces or putting them in play off the tee.

“At the end of the day, the course will be more interesting and definitely more exciting.”

However, players competing in this November’s Australian PGA Championship will not experience the new sand set-up.

Work on the bunkering will not start until after the Australian Ladies Masters in February 2014.

But the fairways will be tightened with many holes lengthened, which will make at least seven holes more difficult. •

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field is mixed with men and women able to enter for either or both days. Commercial organisations and individuals are invited to enter the strictly limited number of spots in the field.

The event was established in 2009 as the first all women’s pro-am in this country in memory of former New Zealand representative Anita Boon who passed away from ovarian cancer.

The tournament, promoted by the New Zealand Professional Women’s Golf, includes a range of female professionals and former Tour players, club professionals and teachers as well as amateurs.

The tournament will also raise funds for NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, which was Boon’s chosen charity.

Details: www.nzpwg.com •

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amateurs

Ryan chases dad’s aces Tony Durkin ed@insidegolf.com.au

He may well have chosen a different sport to his famous tennis dad, but that doesn’t mean 15-year-old Ryan Ruffels isn’t just as keen on scoring aces.

For Ruffels—the leading amateur in the Isuzu Queensland Open—his aces are much less prevalent. But while his dad Ray knocked them down with monotonous regularity as he climbed to a world ranking high of 26 back in the 70s, Ryan has already scored three in a burgeoning career spanning just five years.

“I suppose the only similarity between an ace in tennis and an ace in golf is that both are clean, precise shots,” said Ryan who once had visions of following his dad in to the tennis world.

“Mum and dad just wanted me to play sport, and tennis was the obvious first choice. But I played soccer too, and golf.”

Golf, however, took on a different perspective when Ryan was 11. Former US Masters and British Open champion Mark O’Meara, who lived on the same Florida estate as the Ruffels family, handed down a golf club that his son had outgrown.

Prior to that Ryan had considered golf a sport for old people, and thought it was boring. Now, playing off plus 5, the lowest handicapped member at Victoria Golf Club realises how wrong he was back then.

A professional golf career beckons, but the path to that goal is somewhat uncertain. It is, says Ryan, very much dependant on his school grades.

“I have had offers to go to college in the US

after I finish school, or I could stay here and take a path through the Victorian Institute of Sport,” he said.

“I’m uncertain which option I will take, and I’m not worrying too much about it at the moment.

I have two more years at school and hopefully by then the picture will be a little clearer.”

Ryan finished a credible equal 19th in the

Queensland Open in August – just his second tournament alongside the pros - with a fiveover total of 293.

It was an eye-catching performance in a field that included some household Australian golf names - troupers such as Peter O’Malley, David McKenzie, Scott Laycock, Andre Stolz, Matt Millar and Marcus Cain. And he beat some of the country’s finest young professionals including Cameron Smith, Rika Batibasaga and Jake Higginbottom.

Impressive also was the list of names he left in his wake in becoming the leading amateur.

Taylor MacDonald, Kevin Marques, Cameron Davis, Lucas Herbert and Cory Crawford, all very much his senior, fell to the Year 10 student at Brighton’s Haileybury College.

“The course was brutal,” he says of the Greg Norman-designed Brookwater, west of Brisbane.

“It is one of the toughest and most challenging courses I have ever played. Anything hit off line there is a guaranteed bogey.”

The Brookwater result was just another forward step in what has been a landmark year for young Ruffels. Earlier he became the youngest-ever member of the Victorian amateur team, winning three of his five matches, and was also tied for 15th in the US amateur championships and seventh in the Callaway world juniors in the 15-18 category.

And feeling comfortable playing against the best, he hopes to qualify for the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne in November. But despite these lofty achievements and heady ambitions, this very mature young man has his feet firmly planted.

“As my dad says, it’s about how good you get, not how good you have been,” he rationalises. •

Cullen victorious at Qld Open South Australian Nick Cullen fired a final-round 6-under 69 to claim the Isuzu Queensland Open at Brookwater Golf and Country Club. Cullen, who started the day with a one-shot lead thanks to a course record round of 65 on the Saturday, outlasted a quality field to claim his first victory on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“I felt really good, I had been playing well and my swing feels good. I just hung in there, went through my routine shot by shot and tried to stay in the moment – it worked out well,” said Cullen.

Cullen’s tournament total of 9-under 279 was five shots clear of his nearest competitor, none other than three-time European Tour winner Peter O’Malley, who finished at 4-under the card.

Despite the runner-up finish, O’Malley was happy to be in the mix on Sunday.

“I just made a few too many mistakes on the back nine; I made all my birdies on the front nine this week but it was great to be in contention and back playing golf,” said O’Malley.

“Nick played fantastic golf, he went out and just did everything right so full credit to him.”

Victorian PGA Champion David McKenzie finished outright third on 2-under 286, thanks to a 4-under 68 in the final round. Finishing as the leading amateur was 15 year-old Victorian Ryan Ruffels with a tournament total of 5-over 293. •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

33

IT ONLY TAKES 2 TO BE AUSTRALIA’S

BEST AMATEUR GOLF PAIR 70 Events, 140 Finalists

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auto club golf championship

‘Cheers’ to The Auto Club Golf Championship See Scott The Auto Club Golf Championship is giving amateur golfers another reason to raise their glasses in celebration, with awardwinning Morambro Creek Wines (www.morambrocreek.com.au) coming on board as the official wine partner of the tournament. Since 1851 five generations of the Bryson family have been involved in agriculture.

Their vineyards at Padthaway are planted on some of the world’s oldest mineral rich soils and in the most temperate of maritime climates.

Players lucky enough to make it to the Championship Final will be enjoying these exceptional handcrafted wines at the official welcome reception and gala presentation dinner. But don’t despair if you don’t qualify as

defend his title in 2014

Morambro Creek Winery

every participant in the Auto Club Golf Championship will receive an exclusive discount voucher, saving over $50.00 on their sensationally rated mixed dozen. With an immediate registration bonus of a

dozen Taylor Made Burner golf balls, a fantastic Morambro Gift Voucher, plus the chance to win a trip to RACV Royal Pines Resort and a bounty of other prizes on offer, you’re mad not to give it a go.

Register your pair in the 2013 Auto Club Golf Championship and you could be in Augusta watching Adam Scott defend his title at the US Masters in 2014. Each pair who records their details when registering goes in the draw to win a trip for two to the 2014 Masters valued at $15,000.

Play at more than one ACGC event and increase your odds to see Adam defend his green jacket.

For more information including event dates in your region and to register your pair visit: www.acgc.com.au

AANT launch ACGC up north The AANT were thrilled to officially launch their first Auto Club Golf Championship in the Northern Territory on the 29th September at Darwin Golf Club. Bob Bradley, AANT President said “The AANT is excited for the ACGC events to be coming to Darwin and Alice Springs for the first time in 2013. Our club members will look forward to participating in this national event and representing the Northern Territory at the finals next year.”

Golfers up north will have their second chance to qualify at the Alice

Darwin Golf Club

Springs Golf Club event scheduled for the 13th of October.

In other news ACGC and the RACQ would like to thank Greg Ferry, General Manager of Half Moon Bay Golf Club for coming to the rescue

taking over the Cairns qualifying event on 2nd of October originally scheduled for Paradise Palms which sadly was no longer able to host an event.

“We were committed to not let

down the players in North Queensland who embraced the event in 2012. So were so thrilled to hear back straight away from Greg saying his team at Half Moon Bay would be pleased to host the event,” said John Harris, Tournament Director.

There are 70 events with 140 places available for the Championship Final in March 2014. ACGC are encouraging amateur golfers to make their state proud by representing their State Auto Club. Go to the website www.acgc.com.au and find an ACGC event near you.

Upcoming ACGC Events EVENT DATE Half Moon Bay 2/10/13 Pacific 4/10/13 Alice Springs Golf Club 13/10/13 Yamba 13/10/13 The Glades 17/10/13 Kalgoorlie 17/10/13 Royal Fremantle 25/10/13 Kingston Beach 25/10/13 Kooringal 1/11/13 Sandhurst 3/11/13 Tewantin Noosa 3/11/13 Long Island 4/11/13 Sanctuary Lakes 4/11/13 Mornington 8/11/13 Port Augusta 9/11/13 Fairfield Golf Club 10/11/13 RACV Torquay 10/11/13 Rockhampton 10/11/13 Kingston Links 16/11/13 Victor Harbor 17/11/13 Ulverstone 17/11/13 Toowoomba City 22/11/13 Narandera 23/11/13 Cobram Barooga 23/11/13 North Adelaide 24/11/13 Launceston GC 24/11/13 Cronulla 25/11/13 Logan City 30/11/13 West Lakes 1/12/13 Greens Beach 1/12/13 North Lakes 1/12/13 Eden Golf Club 1/12/13 Lakes Entrance 1/12/13 Bathurst 8/12/13 Leongatha 8/12/13 Royal Hobart 8/12/13 Queenspark 8/12/13 RACV Royal Pines 11/12/13 Rosebud 12/12/13 Cardinia Beacon Hills 14/12/13

WIN A TRIP TO THE US MASTERS Every player has a chance to win a trip to the 2014 US Masters at Augusta.

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Visit www.acgc.com.au for more details

EvEry PlayEr who EntErs thE auto Club Golf ChamPionshiP has a ChanCE to win. Terms and conditions apply:- refer www.acgc.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

35

celebrity swinger

A quick 18 with...

Bulls coach Stuart Law David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

FORMER Australian Test and one -day international cricketer Stuart Law scored a win on the golf course recently.

Playing in the Queensland Bulls Masters golf day at Indooroopilly, Law, wife Deb, former state cricketer and QCC director Scott Prestwidge and Paul Reis took out the 4-ball ambrose event.

As a cricketer, the former Bulls skipper was a stylish right-hand batsman, who led Queensland to its maiden Sheffield Shield triumph in 199495 and captained the team to another four Shield titles.

After he finished his career in England with 79 first-class centuries, he coached both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Law, 44, played one Test scoring 54 not out against Sri Lanka and played 54 one-day internationals.

Inside Golf caught up with the new Queensland Bulls coach at Indooroopilly Golf Club where he talked about his golf, cricket and Australia’s chances against England in the upcoming Summer Ashes series.

How often do you play golf?

Not as often as I’d like. My wife (Deb) is a good golfer so I play golf with her quite a bit.

Are you a member of a golf club?

No. What’s your handicap?

I have never had an official handicap. As a sportsman they say you should be off no more

than 18 so I hang around that.

If you weren’t a professional cricketer, what would you have done?

When I was a five-year-old my grandfather (Alfred) took me out the back of my mum and dad’s house and put a tennis racket on one wall and a cricket bat on the other wall and said ‘you choose one and I will teach you how to play it’.

I chose the cricket bat, but I could have been a tennis player because he was a good tennis player and would have taught me how to play the game.

What the best golf course you have played?

Hope Island is one of my favourites. I haven’t played too many better than Hope Island.

What’s the toughest course you have played?

Let’s be honest, they are all tough. I have played golf in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and they are tough courses mainly because of the extreme heat and the conditions. Pacific Harbour at Bribie Island is tough when the wind blows.

Is there a golf course you’d like to play?

I’d like to play St Andrews because I have played cricket at the home of cricket (Lords) so it would be nice to play golf at the home of golf.

Of the cricketers who play golf, who is the best golfer?

Ricky Ponting – by a country mile.

And the worst?

There is a long list of players. There are quite a few of us who keep smacking it over cover.

Funniest thing you’ve seen a teammate do on a golf course?

Years ago I saw Brett Henschell (former Qld

fly direct to AustrAliA’s No.1 Public Access Golf course

bArNbouGle duNes

player) trying to save his golf ball from going into the water at Hyatt Coolum. He ran across to pick up his ball and ended up in the drink on the 18th. That was funny.

If you could choose to be another sportsperson, who would it be?

Andre Agassi.

What is your favourite pastime when you’re not working?

I love spending time at the beach.

When you played cricket for Australia, which team did you have the most satisfaction beating?

All of them. You can’t pick and choose just one.

Who was the best bowler you ever faced?

Outside of Australia, it would have to be Curtly Ambrose (West Indian). He wasn’t much fun to face.

What are your predictions for the upcoming Ashes series?

There were signs Australia was starting to work a few things out against the Englishmen.

I’d like to think we can win it, but I don’t think it

will be 5-0 as Glenn McGrath has predicted. It will be close, but I think we will come up with the goods, 2-1.

What were your career highlights?

Playing for Australia and captaining the first Queensland Sheffield Shield winning team.

Were you disappointed to have played just one Test, especially after scoring 54 not out?

I was disappointed, but you have to understand there were some legends playing at the time. I was lucky enough to play in that side. You could say I could have played more (Tests) but on the other hand, there were some very good players around at that time that didn’t play Test cricket for Australia – guys like Jamie Siddons and Jamie Cox. Martin Love (five Tests) was another, who could have played more. If we had that sort of depth now it would be awesome.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Ian Botham said to me “life is not a dress rehearsal – go out and live it”. •

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

ezgo legends tour

For Hugh, it’s all a bit of horseplay Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

The name Hugh Dolan may not strike fear into the hearts of some Australian golfers but when it comes to his colleagues on the E-Z-GO Australian PGA Legends Tour, Hugh commands great deal of respect. Mainly because (to borrow an American golfing cliché), Hugh can really golf his ball!

This five-and-a-half-foot dynamo has been belting up blokes twice his size for a few years now and has absolutely no intention of being intimidated by any of the big names. He’s played the European, Asian and now Australian PGA Senior Tours, competed in British Senior Opens alongside Jack Nicklaus and regularly beats the likes of Rodger Davis, Wayne Grady and Mike Harwood and all with an absolute minimum of fuss. This former Taswegian also tells a great yarn, particularly after a couple of red wines. I recently opened a beautiful bottle of Vintage Penfolds Lip Loosener and Hughey didn’t disappoint.

Larry – “Hugh, like most of us middleaged golf pro’s you probably had something resembling a normal life before golf?”

Hugh – “Actually, when I was 12 years old, I could sing a bit. I entered a big Eisteddfod in the Blue Mountains and won!”

Larry – “Wow! What did you sing?

After a slight hesitation and another sip of red, Hugh replied “The Muffin Man”

Sadly for Hugh, there were another 12 people in the room including six middle-aged golf pros, who were all now jumping over each other to take the wee wee out of our fallen hero.

He needed a quick deflection so I asked him if he’d played any other sports.

Hugh – “Just after I became a golf pro, I met this bloke who had some pacers and he needed someone to ride them. I had a crack and went OK. Soon after, I actually won a race I was literally off and running. My first dabble in the big stuff came not long after when I was on a two-year-old called Winmack at Penrith Raceway and I was in the lead coming into the straight. I could hear this horse come up behind me and I turned to see it was being driven by one of the biggest names in the game at the time. Just as he got in front of us, my horse decided he wasn’t interested in second and decided to go. My colleague yelled out ‘Pull your horse up!’.

As I was a sensible and considerate young man, I responded with ‘Get out of the bloody way!’. The next thing I know this bloke has gone Bang! Right on my horse’s snout with his whip. My horse went straight down, I yelled @#%& I’m going to die...I flew up out of my seat. Somehow I managed to get back in the gig and pull my horse’s head up and we were both saved.”

Larry – “What was your first reaction when the race was over?”

Hugh – “@#%& this... Now where did I put my golf clubs?”

Hugh Dolan (centre) with Mike Clayton and Mike Harwood.

Larry – “You were the Club Professional at a couple of very prestigious clubs.”

Hugh – “Yes I was the Professional at Royal Hobart and then Brisbane Golf Club for a number of years.”

Larry – “I imagine you would have come across some high rollers and VIP’s during that time.... Any troublesome ones?”

Hugh - “I met some great people but yes, there were a couple that were hard work. This one bloke named Sam from Royal Hobart was a good bloke but... I think, because he owned pubs he didn’t seem to trust anyone. One day he walked into the shop and told me his Golden Ram 4-iron had been stolen from his bag. It was pretty obvious no-one would walk past his set, leave his expensive putter, driver or for that matter, the entire set, and just choose his 4-iron to steal, but he was insistent. He’d obviously left it on the course or shared a golf cart with someone recently. Anyway, he told me to order another with exactly the same specs.

I knew his original one would turn up soon, so I pretended to order the new one, explaining

it had to come from the States and would take time. Sure enough two weeks later, in strolls a friendly bloke holding a Golden Ram 4-iron in his hand saying he found it near the 14th tee and had forgotten to bring it in.

“I handed it to Sam the next day, telling him it had been found on the course. He looked me straight in the eye and said ‘Isn’t that amazing.

That mongrel knocked it off then lost it out on the course!’

I could go on with more of my little mate’s stories but this month’s issue of Inside Golf would read more like “50 Shades of Hugh”.

In fact, all the lads on the E-Z-GO Legends PGA Tour have a yarn or three to share—from being nearly catapulted from a harness at Harold Park to rolling a V8 Super Car eight times during the Bathurst 1000. You can also ask what it’s like to win an Australian Open or come within one shot of winning the British Open.

Why don’t you take a squizz on the PGA website and check out where the boys are playing next? www.pga.org.au/pgalegendstour •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

37

instruction

Are your golf grips costing you distance?

David Williams david@willowgolf.com.au 0422 276 142

One of the more common mistakes that amateur golfers make is ignoring the condition of their clubs’ grips. Grips in poor condition will often cause a golfer to hold the club tighter to stop it slipping or moving.

This will create tension in the arms, which will reduce the effectiveness of the golfer’s levers in their swing and therefore reduce clubhead speed (and distance.)

Grips in proper condition, however, will allow a golfer to relax their arms and thereby cock and uncock the wrists more effectively during the swing. This improves clubhead speed and distance.

Grips are made primarily from rubber, but also have additives combined in the manufacturing process that makes them slightly porous. Every time you play, the grips collect dust, dirt, sweat and moisture from your hands or inside the golf bag, which is worked into the grip with each swing. Once embedded into the grip, it will start to set, which causes the grip to become hard, shiny and slippery.

The “Before and After” photo compares an old grip (before washing) and a new grip. The old grip has gone hard, shiny and slippery. You can see clearly in the ‘after’ picture that the old grip has lost its shine and been somewhat restored to a soft and tacky surface.

If your grips get to this state then you should definitely wash them. Washing the grips with a firm bristle scrubbing brush and warm soapy water is the best way to rejuvenate them.

Scrubbing the grip vigorously for a couple of minutes should see the water start to turn black. Rub them dry with an old towel then check to see if they feel softer and tackier.

Washing your grips every two to three months will prolong their life. As a last resort, you can also use some fine grade sandpaper to roughen the surface of the grip.

If the rejuvenation process fails to make the grips softer and tacky, the grips should then be replaced. If you are replacing your grips, it is also worth being fitted for the correct size grip. It is a fairly simple process of taking your grip (glove on if you wear one) then taking your bottom hand off the club and checking to see how close your fingers are to your palm of your top hand. They should be barely touching your palm. If your finger tips are dug into your palm the grip is too small. Conve rsely, if there is too much gap then the grip is too big.

Grips are your only contact with the club. A rejuvenated or new grip will make the club feel new again and restore your confidence in the club.

Have you checked your grips lately? •

BEFORE

AFTER

An old grip before and after washing, compared to a new grip

David Williams is an AAA Rated PGA Professional at Cardinia Beaconhills G o l f Li n k s . He i s a l s o a Ma s t e r Instructor of Medicus Golf Institute. www.willowgolf.com.au

Upcoming Events DUNTRYLEAGUE ORANGE

CITY OF ORANGE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP - 5-7 OCT 2013

Enjoy a long weekend of golf in NSW’s premier food and wine district and play on each of Orange’s magnificent golf courses. Duntryleague Golf Club, Orange Ex-Services Country Club and Wentworth Golf Club.

Played over three days and three courses and with $6,000 worth of prizes to be won, this is a championship event not to miss. www.golforange.com.au

ANNUAL VETERANS’ TOURNAMENT - 8-10 OCT 2013

This longstanding and popular Tournament includes three days of golf and a Presentation dinner on the Wednesday night. Numbers are limited to 216 players.

Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

Further information is available from our Tournament DirectorIBeryl PearceI0428622300Ibeejaber@gmail.com

Fingers just touching palm indicate correct grip size

Queensland Golf School of Excellence Senior, Development and Junior Squad enrolments Years 4 – 12

ENROLL NOW FO ING

R 2014

Squ appoiand trials by tment o Trials nly to be c ompl

LADIES’ OPEN TOURNAMENT - 28 OCT to 1 NOV 2013

Coaching and instruction by leading professionals

HAHN GOLF OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - 9-10 NOV 2013

· Indooroopilly GC Golf Coaches – Lee Eagleton, Garry Calder, Craig Parker, Bronwyn Russell (all AAA rating coaches) · BioMechanics and Physiotherapy – Michael and Joanne Dalgleish · Fitness Coaching – Brad Pillett-Hughes · Nutrition- EatSmart – Lauren Nugent · Sports Psychology – Mental Notes Consulting – Matt Ahlberg · Cert III in Fitness – College of Health and Fitness – Tony Attridge

The Ladies’ Open Tournament is a much anticipated Tournament on the Duntryleague calendar. The Tournament will include golfing events each day and some great social events as well. Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

Further information is available from our Ladies CaptainIPat BradfordI0263618002Ijohnpatbradford@y7mail.com.

(Golf NSW Vardon Event & Senior Event in conjunction) These two days of golf are not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday Championship with individual daily events in conjunction. Test yourself against some of the best players in Australia. Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

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STEVE CONRAN JUNIOR TOURNAMENT - 24 NOV 2013

A chance for up and coming juniors to experience one of Australia’s best regional courses. The Tournament is a must in every junior’s golfing calendar. Parents can relax and enjoy the hospitality and beauty of Duntryleague or take the opportunity to enjoy all that Orange has to offer. Accommodation on site in our famous 14 room mansion.

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For more information please contact Hayley Wilkinson on 0417 725 917 or email hwilk44@eq.edu.au, including name, age, handicap, golf club and phone number.

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instruction

Developing a solid pre-shot routine Tiffany Mika

tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au

Developing consistency in golf isn’t easy. It’s especially difficult for golfers whose practice time is limited by their work and/or their families. But there are some things that these golfers can do to help themselves develop consistency, even when they’re unable to get to a range or golf course. One is practicing their pre-shot routine.

Unfortunately, many golfers don’t have a pre-shot routine. If they do have a routine, they don’t always use it. And when they use it, it’s disorganized. Their method of ball alignment is haphazard, they spend too much time over the ball and a lot of the time they line up off-target, among other things. If they are interrupted, they look up to see what caused the noise—then hit away as if nothing happened. What routine they had was not utilized to its potential due to a disruption.

Using a pre-shot routine is essential, whether on the tee, along the fairway, in the bunker, in a hazard, just off the green or putting on the green. It encourages consistency and it assists you making the transition to the right frame of mind. It also helps you focus on the job at hand.

In short, a good pre-shot routine prepares you both physically and mentally for a shot.

Of course, everyone’s routine will differ to a degree, but most will be pretty consistent in terms of their key components. If you’re striving for a lower golf handicap, work these components into your routine:

A solid pre-shot routine is key to consistent play (Photo: Dave Warwick of SGA Tour Australia prepares to stripe one down the middle.)

• First, stand a few metres behind the ball facing the target. While behind the ball, pick out a target, and picture in your mind where you want the ball to go… then take a deep breath.

• Whilst you are a few metres behind the ball, take a nice slow swing to create the swing you want to create when you are standing over the ball.

• Next, walk to the ball, taking a nice, deep, slow breath.

• Place the clubhead behind the ball so that it looks squarely at the target. Adjust your body so that it is parallel to target line.

• Once you’re set up, look at the target, relax your arms and your hands.

• Have a cue phrase that triggers your golf swing such as “back and through”— something simple that encourages your

rhythm and is only ONE swing thought!

• And then finally, execute your golf swing.

Swing smoothly and easily.

That’s it. Use this routine as a guide to developing your own or adapt it as you see fit.

Work on the routine until you have something you’re comfortable with, and then use it. If you watch professional golfers you’ll see that they all have a slightly different pre-shot routine, but they all have one and they all use it time and time again.

There’s nothing mysterious about a good pre-shout routine. In fact, it’s rather simple.

Each component is designed to help you with the mechanical or the mental phase of the swing. And some of these components can be modified to suit your needs, so you have your own version.

What’s critical, though, is that you use the same routine every time you take a shot. Repetition develops consistency, and consistency lowers golf handicaps. If something interrupts your shot, step away from the ball and start the routine all over again. Doing this assures you that you are focused on hitting the ball.

Repeat this routine on the practice range, on the golf course, in the practice nets or at home, with and without a ball. Practise it until it becomes instinctive. If you make adjustments, practise the new routine until the adjustment becomes instinctive. Use the routine once you have done your technical practice, when you begin aiming at targets. This helps you train your mind and prepares you for when you are on the golf course. When you are practising you should be practising with purpose. Therefore practise technique first and ensure that you’re hitting the ball the way you want and create the feel you want for your swing. Once you accomplish this, start incorporating your preshot routine into your practice and aiming at targets so that you can make the transition onto the golf course…which is what most golfers struggle with.

Next time you go to the range to practise, begin to work on your pre-shot routine. Then use it when you’re on the course. You might be surprised just how much a good pre-shot routine helps your golf handicap. • Tiffany Mika is the Golf Teaching Professional at Bayview Golf Club in Mona vale. Tiffany has a Free Online Putting Program where you can learn how to Putt in your home. tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au or www.theladygolfteacher.com.au

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instruction VIDEO LESSON - BUILDING ACCURACY SERIES:

Law #5 – The Law of Overlearning Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

In this lesson on building accuracy over both swing technique and ball control, we need to re-visit the first four Lessons before we can begin confidently overlearning them to make them automatic.

It is only when you can stop “thinking” and start playing by “feel” that your golf game will reach the level you aspire to. You literally need to “play golf out of your mind” to hit accurate golf shots on a regular basis.

Law 1: the Law of Technique Here we need to build accuracy in the release area with: • The club shaft moving into a straight line with the left arm (for right handed golfers) through the “impact zone” and into followthrough.

• The club head travelling on the right path.

• The clubface leading edge at impact separation being at right angles to the target line The “Key to Golf – Chipping Module” delivers these abilities to all golfers willing to start the journey.

Law 2: The Law of Repetition Here we need to repeat an action that hits the target many times in a row. As a novice this can seem a daunting task but if you apply a gradient approach and have as your goal a large target at a short distance, you reduce the stress and increase the chances of hitting your target time after time.

Repetition is essential for information processing during Short-Term Memory and Long-Term Memory Stages. Without adequate repetition, information is forgotten and too much thinking takes over. Procedural Memory— where information is stored in terms of motor movements and include conditioned responses such as swinging a golf club—take many repetitions starting with very short shots and building.

Law 3 – The Law of Target The Law of Target states that by hitting a specific target we develop stimulus discrimination via contiguous (Connecting without a break) reinforcement.

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

The importance of hitting an actual target when practicing relates to our need for feedback. Feedback needs to be frequent and immediate, as it: 1. Builds a strong association between our motor action and hitting our target.

2. Provides us with the knowledge that we have performed our task correctly.

3. Reinforces the likelihood that we will perform the correct action in future by acting as a reward KEY POINT: only repetitions that actually hit your target help to develop accuracy!

Therefore training needs to be much more specific to its target in order for you to meet the requirements of the Law of Target. Simply swinging way and hitting one ball after the other may give you a beautiful swing, but will do little for your accuracy. Therefore, only repetitions which actually hit your target count as productive repetitions because they provide us with feedback as to whether we have performed the skill correctly. It is only these repetitions that actually improve our accuracy.

in mind that mastery here is built on the first three laws – technique as set out in keytogolf. com, sufficient repetition to develop procedural memory and hitting your target to help stimulus discrimination. There are no shortcuts to building a secure foundation in your skill, so it is important to exercise patience during your skill development. We can all achieve fantastic abilities to play and enjoy this game of a lifetime when we step on to this Path using the laws of Accuracy.

Law 4 – The Law of Shaping

Law 5–The Law of Overlearning

(Graduate through successive approximations until final target is achieved). In building your skills as a golfer this “baby steps” approach needs to be applied to building both technique first through swing technique drills from putt to chip to pitch to full swing as well as hitting the ball’s target at progressively longer distances to progressively smaller targets. Hence in the “Key to Golf” Program we have the Modules to learn in a sequence that allows such a progression.

KEY POINT: Shaping involves reaching your final target by mastering incremental stages or successive approximations, one step at a time. Keeping in mind the law of Shaping, it would make more sense to work on the short game first. Only after a player has mastered their short game will they have the foundation to slowly increase their skill to a longer game.

Otherwise, errors in accuracy that may seem small and insignificant in your short game are likely to be amplified when you attempt to hit the ball farther.

KEY POINT: Shaping requires patience!

SUMMARY: Although all golfers are eager to develop their long game and hit long drives, the laws of shaping suggest that you are better off mastering shorter distances first and gradually progress to hitting targets longer distances away. However, please keep

Overlearning is the gateway to autonomous skill development. Complying with the first four laws of accuracy ensures that you will develop a high level of skill in your golf. However, performing the task is still very much a conscious process. That is, it requires a great deal of concentration and awareness in relation to technique, aiming at and hitting your target. In addition, this heightened level of awareness makes you more sensitive to physiological and emotional changes within yourself and pressures in your environment. In a nutshell, this precarious state of being makes you vulnerable to “Performance Anxiety” and is therefore not a very reliable condition to produce accuracy under pressure situations.

Although learning correct technique is essential in the early stage of skill acquisition, a good golfer can only become a great golfer by passing the ‘over-conscious’ stages.

Stages of learning and developing a complex motor skill.

In learning a motor skill we typically go through three stages in development before we have successfully mastered that skill and it becomes second nature.

Cognitive Stage:–During this stage we form a mental picture of the overall skill and become aware of the steps involved in the skill. Having a good coach take you through the technical sequence helps you become aware of the key steps in performing your correct swing technique.

Associative Stage:–This is the practice stage during which you begin to trial performing the correct stroke and make small adjustments in order to achieve this perfect stroke. The Law of Repetition is used here and much learning takes place. You are still required to concentrate on performing the task to avoid mis-hitting the ball and missing the target.

Autonomous Stage:–This is the stage where what you have learned has become automatic and feels as though it is second nature. The skill becomes a habit. In fact the skill is not only mastered, it is learned beyond the mastery achieved through the earlier stages.

The way we progress from the Associative to the Autonomous Stage is through“Overlearning.”

In practical terms, this means that we need to spend a bit of time during our training routine repeating (revising) tasks at skill levels we have already mastered KEY POINT: Overlearning is the key method to ensure that our skill reaches the Autonomous Stage and begins to feel “second nature.”

Practising through the boredom barrier is necessary here as it sends our skill and accuracy deep into our brain and we then can play “out of our mind” and the “Performance Anxiety’ melts away.

Great Golf is easy (done with ease) and by applying the Law of Overlearning you will gain a level of play that you truly enjoy. •

Peter Croker has been a PGA member since 1971 and has given lessons with his Croker Golf System to professionals including Vijay Singh, Arnold Palmer, Rocco Mediate, Fred Funk, Olin Browne, and Bob Charles. Based at the Golf Science Centre in Cheltenham, and the Mornington Peninsula, he delivers school instruction, individual lessons, and has an “Online Lesson Program.” www.crokergolfsystem.com/Academy/view-your-swing.html

mental game

Losing breeds a Major winner

Nike Golf signs Dave Stockton

Photo courtesy of the USGA

Dave Stockton, one of the hottest short-game instructors in the sport of golf, has signed with Nike Golf to assist in product development and design, specifically in the realm of putters.

Stockton, who currently resides in Redlands, California, brings his elite knowledge and signature status as one of the legendary putting gurus in the golf industry to his new role with the brand.

A Two-time PGA Championship winner and top putting instructor, Stockton has coached some of the sport’s top athletes, including Nike Golf’s very own Rory McIlroy and Suzann Pettersen.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of what I believe is one of the most innovative brands in sports,” said Stockton. “I look forward to sharing my putter insights with Nike engineers so they can continue to create amazing product that help golfers putt better.”

Stockton currently runs a golf instruction program, Stockton Golf, with his two sons, Ron and Dave, Jr. His book, “Unconscious Putting,” quickly became a best-seller after its release in 2011.

The University of Southern California graduate made his professional golf debut in 1964, capturing 11 PGA Tour titles over the course of his career — including two PGA Championships — and 14 Champions Tour victories.

Stockton also won three Ryder Cup matches with the U.S. team in 1971, 1977 and 1991. •

Brent German ed@insidegolf.com.au

I love nothing better than watching the last round of a Major Golf Championship; especially the exciting last 9 holes on a Sunday afternoon.

The final round of the PGA Championship proved no exception for USA’s Jason Dufner. I saw him play at Kingston Heath (the year Tiger won the Australian Masters). I really enjoyed Jason’s excellent ball-striking, mannerisms and inner calmness. He graced the world-class sandbelt fairways and was nonchalant in his demeanor.

I remember when Keegan Bradley (Dufner’s close friend on tour) beat Jason to claim the 2011 US PGA Championship. The putter that year really let Jason down, but this year it was his best friend. In his post-round conference he mentioned that he felt that when he next had a chance in a Major, experiencing that previous loss made him more competitive, comfortable and calm for this victory. He felt confident that he could win this time and was super aggressive with his game plan all week. He was hitting the ball like a heat-seeking missile; it was great to watch him in full flight. I guess you may have heard that the best form of defense is a goof offense (which was his game plan for the week).

He hit 80% of Greens in Regulation this week (10% above the benchmark for a winner on tour). As he showed on the Sunday, he claimed victory with his mental game plan and his moreaggressive-than-normal putting stroke.

They say you must always lose before you can win. I can vouch for that. I remember back to 1999 when I was leading the Cobram-Barooga Golf Club championship in my amateur days.

I was so nervous going into that final round that I could hardly breathe. On the 3rd hole of the day with my trusty sand iron from 60 metres, the pressure of the moment failed me.

On the same swing I had a double-hit (i.e. Hit the ball twice in one motion) and this counted as two strokes. This led to a double bogey and I never recovered. The loss did more for me than I thought at the time. The following year at Tocumwal, I was so much more determined from this bad experience that in the final round I had my best ever score in the rain to claim victory.

Watching the final round of the PGA was a totally different story for Dufner. He peppered the flag all day and hit some career-changing irons to tap-in-birdie distance. His experience of losing in 2011 held him in great stead this time around.

At the presentation, the commentator asked what was different this year, and Dufner’s answer was “confidence”; He went out there in a positive state of mind and went out to win. This leads me to believe that back in 2011 he didn’t believe in himself as much, and played it too safe when he had a four-shot lead with a few holes to go.

This year he grabbed the bull by the horns for his first Major. Well played Jason!

So next time you get a chance to win your first event, whether it is a Saturday competition, your club championship or holing a long putt on the last hole to win the money off your mates, just know that losing can actually do more good than harm.

Happy Golfing. • Brent German is an AAA Accredited Coach at Albert Park Driving Range in Melbourne CBD, and coaches people of all ages and abilities. Check out FREE golf tips at www.BrentGermanGolf.com or download his FREE APP for Golf Tips on iTunes or Android.

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43

mental game

Shape up mentally for your golf Mat Howe

ed@insidegolf.com.au

We so often hear about how important it is to be a mental champion in golf. Go down to your local course and any number of players will tell you that it’s a game played between the ears. This month’s article will show you what can be done to take your golfing attitude to the next level.

The following is taken from an interview with Geoff Ogilvy after his US Open win back in 2006. It is one of my favourite messages to what standards we need to have when playing the great game.

Q. Talk about your mental process and how it’s improved over the years. Can you pinpoint why and what happened to help you in that process?

GEOFF OGILVY: “There was not like a lightbulb, it wasn’t like an epiphany or anything. It was just a gradual realisation that for the most part the best players out here are the best because they’re the best up here [in the mind]. It’s just the maturing process. If you’re at 18, you don’t want to hear that; you just want to hear you’ve got to hit the ball good and then it’ll take care of itself. “[There are times when] you kind of selfdestruct and you get down on yourself. Then you play with guys and see it from another perspective: you see another guy self-destruct and kind of get in his own way. The longer you play, you get older and wiser and smarter and start realising that it’s not very constructive to have anything but an exemplary attitude.

“Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world because he’s got the best brain. He hits the ball well, but there’s plenty of guys that hit the ball well. But he’s got the best brain. He’s probably got the second-best brain in history next to Jack. Nicklaus’ was obviously the best because his brain was the best, no doubt.

“You just slowly come across the realisation that you’d better be smarter about it.”

Geoff talks about a ‘gradual realisation’. Why is it normally a gradual realisation to mental mastery in golf?

Stop looking for the quick fix! Without clearing this up in your mind you have signed yourself into a contract of continual haphazard progress and large doses of frustration. Mental development is a skill development process similar to your technical development. The big difference is that mental gains are not as visual as your swing. The mental improvement process is a bit trickier to monitor than looking at before and after swings on a video.

What are ways that people get in their own way?

Some people get down on themselves too much, some people get too excited over a good result and don’t calm down by the next shot,

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others try too hard when they get it going well, others get afraid to make a mistake when things are tight, others convince themselves that bad things always happen to them after a bad shot, others like to pretend they don’t care about things when they stuff up. And sometimes we do a bit of them all.

How can you work hard on something that you don’t know how to work at?

I find the biggest problem for golfers that are trying to step it up mentally is that they don’t know what it is they need to be working on.

They might have a general strong willpower mindset in day-to-day life but when they get to the golf course a lot of them don’t know what to apply that strong will to. They think that they need to ‘will’ the ball into the hole so they try harder. That doesn’t work so they try

even harder which leads to a lot of frustration.

So what can you do to shape up mentally for golf?

1. How do you tune up your car? Sure, you can do this yourself but in my experience I have found the mind a little more complex than cars.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. I feel I understand my mind really well but still gain great results from discussions with a business coach on a frequent basis as to how to get the best out of my mind.

2. Once you know what you need to do, do it. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the other demands of life. Plan your mental golfing changes in your game and get stuck into it. Now is the time to apply that great willpower of yours.

3. Have a scoreboard. Keep track of your mental progress. I do this for my long-term clients by giving them a weekly accountability system and a progress report scoreboard.

Quick Tip: Developing a better attitude for your next game: • For those of you that still want that quick fix. Here it is: Go through your round at the end of your next comp and figure out what your worst decision of the day was and how you could have done things differently. Make a pact with yourself to learn from this mistake.

If you would like to do an individual mental golf assessment session you can contact me to find out some more information. Often coaching can help you apply the things you already know.

Mental coaching can be done over the phone so it may be applicable to you even if you live in another state. These sessions are $55 and places are limited to six per week. • Mat Howe is a Golf Mind Coach who has mentally coached golfers from the international professional playing standard through to beginners. He currently works with professionals, trainee professionals and amateurs throughout Australia. Mat is based in Wollongong on the South Coast of NSW and can be contacted on 0410 695 605 or email at mindyourgolf@yahoo.com.au.

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fitness

Proper posture for better golf Richard Nizielski richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

Poor posture at address can have a compounding affect on the efficiency and quality of the golf swing.

Two very common posture faults are C-posture and S-posture.

C-posture is associated with the shoulders forward and an excessive rounded spine from the shoulders, down to the tailbone.

S-posture is caused by too much arch in the lower spine and excessive forward tilt of the pelvis.

While a misunderstanding of correct position at address can be the cause of the posture problems, it is more likely a result of muscular imbalances and joint mobility problems.

So it is safe to say, without the correct physical training, little if anything is going to change. It’s just not going to happen!

For both of the posture problems there are identifiable muscular imbalances called Crossed Syndromes (Upper and Lower) due to the muscles on one side of the body being weak and the other corresponding side of the body being tight and restricted.

To find out which of these posture faults you may have, ask someone to take a photograph of you, from a down the line position (looking in the direction the ball will travel when hit) when you are at address.

Once you have this photograph, draw a line

C-posture (left) and S-posture (right) can cause muscular imbalances called Cross Syndromes. from the base of the spine up to the back of your neck.

If there is a distinct amount of your back above the line you have drawn, then you have a predominantly C-posture characteristic.

If there is daylight between the line at the lower spine area, from the tailbone, then there is a S-posture characteristic to the address position.

You should now have a clearer indication of which posture you have. A C-posture position relates strongly to the Upper Crossed Syndrome and the S-posture relates strongly to the Lower Crossed Syndrome.

For the weakened muscles it is important to strengthen these through some sort of resistance training.

For the Upper Crossed Syndrome players it is important to strengthen the muscles of the

upper back, particularly those between the shoulder blades.

This will help with retracting the shoulders and lessening the rounded posture in the shoulders.

Conversely, stretching the tight muscles is important to developing better posture.

For the Upper Crossed Syndrome, the chest muscles are often tight, so stretching in this area is important.

For the Lower Crossed Syndrome, the weak muscles include the Gluteus muscles and the abdominal muscles.

As such, doing exercises which will strengthen and stabilize these areas is advisable.

Tight areas in the Lower Crossed Syndrome include the hip flexors and the lower back extensor muscles, so stretching for these areas will help with increasing mobility and developing

better posture.

Improving the balance of strength and flexibility throughout your body can really help with improving your golf swing. However more importantly, it can help with avoiding injuries and maintaining your health.

Happy Golfing! • Richard Nizielski is a Brisbane-based golf fitness expert and the Director of Golf Fit Solutions. A three-time Olympian and medallist in the sport of short track speed skating, richard is a qualified sports and personal trainer designing individual fitness and nutrition programs for both professional and amateur golfers here in Australia and overseas. www.golffitsolutions.com

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juniors

By jingo, Dingo kids on course

Students from Dingo State Primary School THE students of Dingo State Primary School, 760 kilometres northwest of Brisbane and 150kms west of Rockhampton, are taking their golf games to the next level.

Recently the students moved from the comfort of the playground, where they have been honing their skills under the guidance of Greg Norman Junior Golf Foundation professional coach Doug Gardner, to the Dingo Golf Course.

With the support of school principal Troy Sanson, Gardner has, for the past seven years, taught golf on the school’s oval.

The students hadn’t faced the challenges a golf course can offer – like hitting over water and putting on sawdust greens kangaroos normally frequent.

Central Golf Queensland’s Gurney Clamp said there were plenty of highlights including “great drives, iron shots and putts”.

“The water level in the dam rose considerably during the morning, but fortunately we had plenty of golf balls,” he joked.

“This exercise has taught the Dingo students many life skills including discipline, etiquette, commitment and concentration while at the same time providing them with opportunity to learn a life-long sport.”

The golf course remained closed for a number of years, but due to the local community’s renewed interest in the game, it has reopened.

The nine-hole golf course, with its unique sawdust greens, is located inside the Dingo racetrack. •

Junior golf hub Golf Queensland has called on the golfing community to boost their promotion of junior activities.

Participation development manager Adrian Hewat said Golf Queensland was dedicated to providing a coordinated approach to junior development and participation in the state.

“Usually the internet is the first point of contact someone makes when searching for information about a program,” Hewat said. “We developed the Junior Golf Queensland (JGQ) website to provide junior golfers with one portal to help with the initial engagement.

JGQ offers parents, junior coordinators, teachers and children access to information relating to golf events, clinics and importantly other golfing opportunities within their communities.

“I encourage all districts, clubs, facilities and organisations to send through the information to Golf Queensland to help gather a wide range of information that will assist in the development and establishment of better and stronger junior golf programs.”

Hewat said working together in a collaborative

Junior programs like MyGolf are helping boost junior participation manner with junior golf and programs such as MYGolf will also help promote and strengthen junior participation.

For more about junior golf in Queensland visit www.juniorgolfqueensland.org.au To ensure your organisation is listed on the Junior Golf Queensland website please send your material to info@juniorgolfqueensland.org.au •

Dylan wins Pampling Junior AT 14, Dylan Gardiner is starting to turn heads on the golf course.

Gardiner, a two-time Kilcoy Golf Club junior champion, recently fired a 69 off the stick (oneunder-par) to win the Rodney Pampling Junior Classic at Cooroy Golf Club on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The event, an open and closed Greg Norman Junior Classic qualifier, attracted juniors (boys and girls) from the district’s 34 clubs.

Dylan birdied the last hole to edge out Mt

Coolum’s Zachary Quirk, who finished in front of Kodi Koshi.

In the girls’ open, Caloundra’s Aneka Park shot a 78 to win by three shots from Shania HerzogSmith of Peregian Springs.

The event attracted a quality field with 14 golfers on handicaps of three or better.

Meanwhile, Dylan Gardiner completed the double a week later when he won the 36-hole Woodford Cup. He returned par figures. •

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47

seniors

Kiwi wins 2013 Australian Senior Amateur Championship Denis Dale

ed@insidegolf.com.au

Kiwi visitor Murray Martin recorded a commanding victory in the 2013 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship held at Royal Queensland Golf Club. On a challenging golf course and in strong winds each day Martin’s scores of 74-74-74=222 saw him finish 6 strokes ahead of fellow Kiwi Frank Borren (76-76-76=228) and the defending 2012 champion Queenslander Sam Christie (78-79-71=228).

Teeing off for the final round Martin led by four strokes but the day was not as easy as the final score might suggest. With nine holes remaining NSW senior Paul Maslen had played exceptional golf to be two-under-par and had joined Martin in the lead. Borren was still close by, and the leaders were unaware of Christie’s final round of one-under par 71 to be in the clubhouse and a definite chance.

Like champions often do, Martin then lifted his game and played almost flawless golf to surge clear again. Playing in the final group, Borren and Maslen continued to challenge but had no answer for the high-quality strokemaking and precise putting that Martin produced on every hole. Martin had led after every round and was a well-deserved and popular winner.

In winning Martin became one of only three golfers to have won both the Australian and New Zealand Senior Amateur Championships. He joins Rodney Barltrop (NZ) and Stefan Albinski (Aus) as the only senior golfers who have achieved

A TRIPLE DOUBLE: Stefan Albinski, Rodney Barltrop and Murray Martin, the only senior golfers who have won both a NZ and Australian Senior Amateur title. this unique double.

Martin said he was delighted with the victory.

“It’s great to put my name under senior greats including Rodney Barltrop and Stefan Albinski,” Martin said.

“It’s been great to come over and play with my Australian mates and wonderful to have my family here to see me sink the last putt to win the championship.”

Kiwi Michael Leitch finished in a tie for fourth with Concord member Paul Maslen. For the host club, Michael Maher was the best placed in a tie for 8th.

Every year a Senior Interstate Teams Championship is played in conjunction with the national amateur title. Four-man teams represent each state with the best three scores each day to count. This year the NSW team of Stefan Albinski, Ross Bockman, Denis Dale and Robert Payne were too strong, with a fourteen stroke margin over the Queensland team to reclaim the interstate title they had last won in 2011.

Age division medals were won by New

Zealand’s Michael Leitch (Over 60 yrs), NSW senior Roy Vandersluis (Over 65 yrs) and the ageless NSW senior Jack Parker (Over 70 yrs).

The 2014 Australian Senior Amateur championship will be held in Perth at the same time of the year.

The first Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship was first played in 1981 and is contested over 54-holes Stroke Play.

Players must be 55 years and over to be eligible for the Championship.

Details on all senior national events and full ranking tables are available on the AUSOOM website www.ausoom.com. •

2013 Australian Senior Rankings

UPCOMING SENIOR AMATEUR EVENTS Sept 30-Oct 1 Northern GC Seniors (VIC) Oct 4 Liverpool Seniors (NSW) Oct 4 Gordonvale Seniors (QLD) Oct 10-11 Hidden Valley Seniors (VIC) Oct 10 Windsor Seniors (NSW) Oct 14 Belmont Seniors (NSW) Oct 15 Charlestown Seniors (NSW) Oct 16 Waratah Seniors (NSW) Oct 20-21 Warwick Seniors (QLD) Oct 21-23 *Victorian Senior Amateur at

Rosebud GC (VIC) Oct 23-24 Toowoomba Seniors (QLD) Oct 25 Toowoomba City Seniors (QLD) Oct 28-30 *Australian Senior Match Play at

Thirteenth Beach GC Nov 4 Twin Creeks Seniors (NSW) Nov 11 Virginia Seniors (QLD) Nov 11-12 Melbourne Seniors at Spring

Valley & Woodlands (VIC) Nov 12-14 *ACT Seniors Championship

(Gold Creek, Gungahlin Lakes, Federal) Nov 25-26 Oxley Seniors (QLD) Nov 25 Long Reef Seniors (NSW) Nov 26 Cromer Seniors (NSW) Nov 31-Dec 1 Moyne Senior Classic (VIC) Dec 5-6 Victorian Senior Teams

Championship at Sorrento (VIC) *Part of the Australian Senior Ranking System

2013 Australian Senior Rankings HANDICAP

Player

State

Events

Ave.

Player

State

Events

Best 5

1

Stefan Albinski

NSW

7

118.25

1

Denis Dale

NSW

7

104.17

1

Graeme Altmann

VIC

5

67.66

1

Noel Mills

TAS

5

3

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

7

65.90

95.27

3

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

4

4

David Limbach

NSW

55.07

7

93.47

4

Steve Gibson

NSW

4

5

Richard Greville

NSW

53.82

8

83.32

5

Stefan Albinski

NSW

4

53.50

Federal Junior Clinics Federal Golf Club will be conducting junior clinics during the three days of the Federal Amateur Open tournament - Friday 8th Sunday 10th November - 2pm-3pm.

Michael Clough ~ Jason Pavese ~ Matt Elliott

Federal Amateur Open When:

reSULtS 13th Sept ‘13 Winner - Graeme Staff

Runner Up - Allan Weise Next Best - Jacob Clarke Best Gross - Nathan Baker

N.T.P 3rd - Graham Cameron N.T.P 6th - Paul Brown N.T.P 12th - Aron Mason Approach 11th - Nathan Baker Approach 17th - Nathan Baker

48

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

8th-10th November

Where:

Canberra

Info:

www.fgc.com.au

The Federal Amateur Open is held annually at Federal Golf Club in the second week of November.

The event is a four round World Amateur Golf Ranking Tournament. Rounds 1 & 2 are played on the Friday and Saturday with a cut (60 players plus ties) before Rounds 3 & 4 are played on Sunday. Prizes are awarded for 1st – 5th, the Federal Medal (best four round score by an overseas player) and the Junior Medal (best four round score by a junior player under 18 years). Past players have included Marc Leishman, Nick Flanagan and Jason Day from Australia and international players Matthew Baldwin and Victor Dubuisson.

For further information, please contact Scott Elias, General Manager, on (02) 6281 1888.

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seniors

NSW

QUEENSLAND

VICTORIA

In the men’s section of the 2013 Queensland Senior Order of Merit, it looks like Windaroo Lakes senior Trevor Box has the title wrapped up.

Box has the amazing record of winning seven of the last nine events. He has finished the runner-up in the two he didn’t win. With a points total of 1780 he now leads from Headland senior Brian Kesby who was the player who relegated Box to second place on two occasions. Kesby has certainly enjoyed the inaugural Queensland Senior Order of Merit competition travelling up the coast of Queensland and playing in 23 of the 28 events held so far.

Like Trevor Box in the men, Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) is now dominating the Women’s Senior Order of Merit competition. She has recorded ten victories from her eleven starts and has a points total of 1720 to lead Josie Ryan (Headland) on 1460. Close up in third place is Rosie Glasson (Twin Waters) on 1365.

Roberta Henry from the Nudgee club leads the Women’s Over 65 competition from Ann McCleery (Maryborough).

RECENT RESULTS Rockhampton Seniors Men Scratch: Brian Kesby (Headland) 150 Runner Up: Trevor Box (Windaroo) 151 Women: Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) 162 Capricorn Resort Seniors Men Scratch Trevor Box (Windaroo) 156 Runner Up: David Couper (Headland) 160* Women: Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) 158 Yeppoon Seniors Men Scratch Trevor Box (Windaroo) 149 Runner Up: Brian Kesby (Headland) 156 Women: Wendy O’Connell (Wantima) 156 Capricorn Country Club Seniors Men Scratch Brian Kesby (Headland) Runner Up: Trevor Box (Windaroo) Nudgee Masters Men Scratch Neil King (Nudgee) 74-74=148 Runner Up: Steve Hartley (Gailes) 75-74=149 Women Josie Ryan (Headland) 97-76=163 More information: www.golfqueensland.org.au .

The Victorian Senior Order of Merit for the Doug Bachli Trophy is played on many great courses across Victoria but for many the highlight of the year is Sandbelt Week. This year, in the space of one week, senior golfers played on five of the best courses in Australia.

Yarra Yarra Seniors The players were presented with challenging scoring conditions as they faced early showers and wind gusts of almost 70km/h on the tree lined layout. As many of the field struggled, it was Ian Frost from Bendigo who posted a stellar round of 74 to narrowly defeat Yarra Yarra’s Colin Goon by two strokes and claim the 8th annual Ray Barned trophy.

Kingston Heath Seniors 97 players contested in windy but milder conditions compared to Yarra Yarra. Kingston Heath member Alex Cairncross showed off his familiarity on home soil, carding a fantastic score of 72 off the stick to take out the gross title by 3 shots from Woodlands member Michael Doutch.

Victoria Seniors Overcoming sporadic showers and cold gusty winds Alan Buckley carded an impressive fiveover par 77 to claim victory. The Commonwealth member defeated Victoria GC local Kevin Skehan by two shots and was the only player to better his handicap. This was Buckley’s first ever victory since starting his senior career in 2005.

Royal Melbourne Seniors A capacity field of 100 players took to the challenging West Course at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Wind gusts intensified as the day progressed to near unplayable conditions, making putting extremely difficult on Royal’s glass-like undulating greens.

David McDonald from Sandhurst was seemingly unfazed by the conditions, going out in 38 on the front 9 before finishing on 81 and a tie with Gary Easte (Spring Valley). McDonald won the title on a countback.

Metropolitan Plate Michael Jackson from Yarra Yarra battled through more wet and windy weather to produce a phenomenal back nine of one under par en route to a round of 73 (+1). Andrew Hansen (Eastern) was second with a score of 77. Jackson won the Doug Bachli Senior Order of Merit in 2009 and although now over 70 is the current leader in the 2013 competition.

A special mention for Barry Miles (Sanctuary Cove) who blitzed the handicap competition with a nett score of 66.

More information: www.golfvic.org.au..

Tough conditions for Sandbelt Week

Order of Merit wrapped up

Newcastle GC hosts state’s best seniors There was a close finish for the inaugural playing of the Newcastle GC Senior Amateur, very appropriately sponsored by local company The Cove Village who provide exclusive lifestyle living for the over 55’s in the Hunter region.

The Newcastle course is definitely one of Australia’s best and regularly appears close to the top in Best Australian Golf Course lists. For the Senior Amateur the course was presented in excellent condition with a setup that allowed the field of 100 of NSW’s best seniors to really enjoy the challenge.

At the end of a warm winter’s day there was a four-way tie on four over par scores of 76 - Dale Tapper (Bayview), Steve Gibson (St Michael’s), Greg Stanford (Mona Vale) and Andrew Hamilton (Maitland). Tapper’s great closing nine of twounder-par 34 gave him the title on a countback.

Wyong senior Paul Day was the winner of the Over 65 division with a round of 81.

With 10 events remaining in the 2013 NSW Senior Order of Merit competition Long Reef

senior Ross Bockman holds on to his lead over previous winner Denis Dale (Twin Creeks).

Bockman has played consistently well all year recording four wins and twelve ”Top 5” finishes and holds the lead with 1995 points from his best fourteen events. Dale has recorded six wins and with 1880 points trails Bockman by 115 points.

Steve Gibson (St Michael’s), Greg Stanford (Mona Vale), Vince Clark (The Lakes) and Dale Tapper (Bayview) are currently locked in a battle for the third place medal. It is likely that all the major places will be determined in November when the 54-hole ACT Senior Championship is played at Gold Creek, Gungahlin Lakes and Federal golf clubs. The ACT Seniors is worth 400 points to the winner.

The Over 65s Order of Merit competition has settled into a two way battle between Denis Dale and Vince Clark with Paul Day (Wyong) moving into a clear third.

More information: www.golfnsw.org.

2013 NSW Senior Order of Merit

2013 QLD Senior Order of Merit MEN

Player

Club

Events

Best 8

1

Ross Bockman

Long Reef

21

1995

2

Denis Dale

Twin Creeks

20

3

Steve Gibson

St Michael’s

4

Greg Stanford

5

Vince Clark

2013 QLD Senior Order of Merit WOMEN

Player

Club

Events

Best 8

Player

Club

Events

Best 8

1

Trevor Box

Windaroo Lakes

20

1780

1

Wendy O’Connell

North Lakes

11

1720

1880

1

Brian Kesby

Headland

24

1495

2

Josie Ryan

Headland

11

1460

22

1695

3

Ian Read

Indooroopilly

9

1360

3

Rosie Glasson

Twin Waters

11

1365

Mona Vale

18

1669

4

Neil King

Nudgee

16

1250

4

Annie Llewelyn

Twin Waters

17

1145

The Lakes

19

1541

5

Dave Morrison

Coolangatta

13

1155

5

Roberta Henry

Nudgee

12

1115

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Cement your place in the game HAVE you ever wondered if golf could be your vehicle to travel the world?

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Offering education in areas of golf operations and club management, the PGA IGI curriculum of business courses combined with golf skills prepares students for a career in the golf industry.

Golf can now become your avenue into university.

Through the IGI, you can keep developing your game and earn the kind of golf-specific qualifications that employers are looking for.

Owned by the Professional Golfers’Association (PGA) of Australia, the PGA IGI has an articulation agreement with Griffith University, which provides students with options to choose different career pathways.

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The PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) was recently recognised by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training in its annual Awards for Excellence in Adelaide.

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by individuals and organisations in private education and training in the tertiary sector, as well as outstanding industry initiatives. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the PGA, the PGA IGI offers education through its combined curriculum of golf and business courses as well as practical golf skills to prepare students for a career in the golf industry. PGA IGI was recognised as an outstanding applicant in the International Education Provider of the Year category and received a very rare Encouragement Award.

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people

Beryl an ‘angel’ for Port Fairy GC Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Beryl Duncan’s tireless efforts have helped boost her club’s ladies membership numbers dramatically

VICTORIA’S Port Fairy Golf Club says without the efforts of one of its members, Beryl Duncan, its future would not be so secure.

For 14 years, Mrs Duncan has volunteered to host Tuesday clinics, all in the name of attracting new women to the club and now she has an award to show for it.

Recently presented with a Sports Achievement Award from the Australian Government for Outstanding Contribution By An Individual, Mrs Duncan is thought to have single-handedly boosted the club’s ladies membership by close to 50.

“I’ve really enjoyed what I’m doing for the Port Fairy Golf Club, getting ladies into golf. “ Mrs Duncan says.

With the help of local professionals, Mrs Duncan runs beginners through the ins and outs of golf’s etiquette and rules in the hope they will take up the game at Port Fairy.

Under the unofficial title of ‘ ladies promotions officer,’ Mrs Duncan has won the highest praise from the Club’s Manager Fred Chatfield.

He says Mrs Duncan’s work on a Tuesday boosts field sizes throughout the week.

“About 60 ladies go out on a Thursday and if it wasn’t for Beryl, we’d probably only have about 20 go out,” Chatfield says.

“What she’s done for the women’s side of the Golf Club is phenomenal.

The 22-handicapper’s own introduction to playing gave her the inspiration to encourage others.

“I didn’t find it was an easy game to get into so the ladies that have come through my clinic really

appreciate what I’m doing.”

Club Secretary Annette Learmonth nominated Mrs Duncan for the Sports Achievement Award and says she’s driven growth in the game right across South-West Victoria.

“She encourages the ladies to take the next step and join the ladies Thursday competition, visit other clubs, play in district events and is always available to travel with them or partner them,” Ms Learmonth says.

The unwitting financial contribution the 68-year-old has made to Port Fairy’s bottom line is equally appreciated.

“It’s about $530 for a full membership and she’s got 50 ladies currently paying that who probably wouldn’t have started without her,” Chatfield says.

Port Fairy currently has about 530 members with close to 10 per cent owing their participation to Mrs Duncan.

Mrs Duncan’s unpaid role has also saved Port Fairy from employing a paid administrator.

“They’re the lifeblood of all clubs. To have somebody take on an unpaid role like that is immeasurable,” Chatfield says.

Mrs Duncan joined Port Fairy in 1987. Along the way she’s served on the Club’s Committee, Match Committee, been a regular pennant player and held the position of Ladies Treasurer in 1992.

Several of Mrs Duncan’s pupils have also taken up positions on the Club’s committees.

As for the future, her quest to boost the Club’s membership is far from over.

“At the moment there are five or six coming along that I’m sure if we nurture them enough, they’ll become members. I’m happy to continue unless the golf club finds that I’m not doing what they’re expecting.” •

The $1,000,000 Rush Golf Challenge surges on Imagine standing over a million-dollar putt, the mental and physical pressure racking your body while your partner, perhaps your club pro, watches on in suspense.

In March 2014, this could become reality for participants in golf’s newest tournament, The Rush Golf Challenge.

For the first time, Amateurs can enter into “a total inside the ropes experience” taking their aspirations of participation in golf to new heights. Paired with a pro and in a bestball format over 72 holes, each team will compete for the major prize - $1,000,000. The professional in the winning team will receive $500,000 — the largest first prize in Australian golf — with $500,000 going to the charity nominated by the winning amateur. There is a further $300,000 for the professional purse along with a charity challenge. Amateurs will be eligible for some great prizes to top off the complete experience.

Professionals from all circles, female, male, regular and seniors tours as well as club pros are eligible to compete. There are no qualifying conditions, simply pay the entry fee – First In Best Dressed. Amateurs can team up with their own pro or be matched with a member of the ALPG, who will be conducting the tournament inside the ropes.

Aussie Stacey Keating has announced her intention to play and the ALPG anticipate the tournament will be well supported by leading international pros staying on after the Australian Women’s and Victorian Open.

The Rush Golf Challenge will be played at Moonah Links and The Dunes on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula from February 27 to March 2, 2014. www.therushgolf.com.au •

Queensland Boys’ & Girls’ Amateur Championship

9-11 December 2013 Indooroopilly Golf Club Entries close Friday 22 November 2013

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Golf marketing, the easy way Mike Orloff

mike@golfindustrycentral.com.au

I have always been a bit of a“compartmentaliser” (if that is even a word?) when it comes to planning and managing time and duties in my career or personal life. It’s so much easier for me to look and evaluate things if they actually have a specific place to fit. Basically it helps organise my brain when I have a jumbled mess in front of me.

The golf marketing process does not have to be a daunting task as many clubs could follow this same simple process when formulating their club’s marketing plan. The planning process in many cases doesn’t have to be a major undertaking, though having thorough research and financial forecasting is essential for bigger strategic initiatives.

I take a very simple approach and break my membership marketing strategies into three distinct areas – Attract, Engage, and Retain.

All are interrelated and dependent on the other being successful and they tend to feed off themselves in many ways.

Attract, Engage, and Retain is a simple way to “compartmentalise” and clearly look at the best strategies to grow your club membership, or a client base of any kind. We all know we need to attract new players/members and retain them longer, but we don’t seem to fully understand the “engagement” process well enough at the moment.

At last month’s Golf Management Australia

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conference, the theme was Bridging the Gap, which the speakers covered in a variety of topics.

Get to know your members, take care of the details, and make them feel a sense of belonging i.e. “engagement” were all common themes discussed during the conference. It’s a real new hospitality approach to our business in Australia and I believe is the one major missing part to the equation at the moment. Engagement is the bridge needed to cross the gap we need to fill in our club’s membership marketing.

Society is tired of being sold and promoted to. Telemarketers, advertisers and canvassers continue to encroach on our personal space and eat up valuable time. Time that we all have less of at the moment. We must now have a two-way dialogue and provide relevant information on a more personal level. Build trust with a reputable brand and you will have a loyal client forever.

Break that trust and it will disappear quickly. Be sure to listen to the ever-changing wants and needs and adjust your offerings accordingly.

Social Media has taken over as the way we must start communicating with our members and potential members on all types of platforms.

Now, before we get started in writing a very simple marketing plan, be sure not to get stuck in the minor details when trying this process out.

It’s best to get your crazy thoughts open and free-flowing and initially just get all the ideas down on a piece of paper. Don’t worry about where the pieces fit, how you’re going to do them, or costs etc. Just get some free-flowing thinking going, and then come back later and start the compartmentalising process.

1, 2, 3 golf marketing plan

Step 1 – Brainstorming Sit down somewhere that you will not be interrupted by phone calls, members or staff.

If you can have a few people be part of your “think tank” you will create even greater ideas.

(Optional: Have a couple wines/beers to loosen everyone up before starting!) Ask everyone to have a think of all the different ways that you could grow your membership if budget was not an obstacle. We tend to limit our thinking by budget—in this process, take budget out altogether.

Start talking about the various segments of your operation, the various revenue drivers, and ways to grow the membership as a whole. Keep digging for all the crazy and normal ideas, all ideas are good—don’t discount anything. One idea may lead to another and a fantastic hybrid “cracker of an idea” may appear.

Step 2 – Compartmentalise and prioritise After you have made a full list of ideas, you will need to put each of them under one (or more) of the headings Attract, Engage, Retain.

Once under each list you can then start the

rationalisation of each idea and set them into sub categories of Yes, No, Maybe.

The priority ideas will be the ones you marked as “Yes” and will be your starting point for writing your one-page marketing plan.

Step 3 – Implementation Now that you have your marketing ideas all sorted, you need to set some S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals for each. Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time-based, and don’t forget Evaluate, and Re-Evaluate!

Without taking this final step seriously you are bound to have unsuccessful campaigns.

Good luck with the marketing plan and remember to keep it simple and have fun doing it! •

Mike Orloff specialises in providing golf operations and marketing solutions for all levels of golf facilities and businesses with the major outcomes being in growing revenue and the bottom-line for your facility. www.golfindustrycentral.com.au

technology

For Mizuno, clubfitting is in their DNA Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

CLUBFITTING technology has grown leaps and bounds over the last decade. With high-tech computers, sophisticated launch monitors and vast arrays of sensors, cameras, gadgets and gizmos, clubfitters are digging deeper into a golfer’s swing than ever before.

The technology of clubfitting has come so far, in fact, that clubfitters are able to delve into the basic genetic makeup of your swing—a process that Mizuno calls your “Swing DNA”.

At a recent visit to the Mizuno SwingDNA Fitting Centre in Melbourne, we got a firsthand look at the amazing technology behind their Swing DNA process.

It’s been said that most golfers likely have the wrong shafts for their swing. Indeed, the shaft is probably one of the most ignored elements by the average golfer. But matching the right shaft to your swing is critical for every shot, as a shaft’s characteristics will affect distance, control, ball flight, trajectory and feel.

So it’s no wonder why a fitting at Mizuno starts with an analysis of the right shaft for your game. Using a handy gadget called the Mizuno Shaft Optimiser, the system measures five critical aspects of your swing: Clubhead Speed (How fast the club head and shaft are moving), Tempo: (How quickly you transition from your backswing to your downswing), Shaft Toe Down (How far the shaft bends in a downward direction during your downswing), Shaft Kick Angle (How far the shaft bends forward during your downswing) and Release

The Mizuno SwingDNA Fitting Centre in Melbourne. [Inset]: The high-tech Mizuno Shaft Optimizer Factor (How and when the club head and shaft are released during the downswing.)

The data from the Optimiser feeds into a sophisticated computer, which crunches the numbers and recommends a selection of shafts for more precise testing.

In the past, shaft options rarely went beyond the basic choices, i.e. Ladies, Soft/ Senior, Regular or Stiff. If your ideal shaft flex was, say, in-between stiff and regular, your fitter might either put you into a stiff shaft (forcing you to really hit it properly), or into a Regular shaft (and make sure that you don’t overextend yourself ).

These days, however, you can get exactly the right flex for your specific swing. Mizuno’s

system features over 50 different shafts, with varying weights, kickpoints and other characteristics to match your swing’s specific “Bending Profile”, thus ensuring you get the maximum ball speed, flight, etc. So whether you need a light 95g with a high kickpoint, or a heavy 130g with a low kickpoint, the system will give you options.

After further in-depth swing testing with your selected shaft and clubhead combinations (combined with measurements like Length, Lie Angle, Grip, etc), the computer then displays a potential set makeup, which gives the fitter and golfer the options to add/subtract hybrids, wedges, etc, in order to suit their swing, the gaps in their game,

and even the courses they play (i.e. playing the tight lies around Mornington Peninsula courses, for example, would require wedges with lower bounce, etc.)

Importantly, the entire system is Gender/ Ability Neutral, meaning that the clubs are designed based on the golfer’s swing statistics, not whether they are male/female, beginner/ advanced, etc. So at the end of the day, you get a set that matches your abilities. Simple.

Once the specs are fine-tuned, and the golfer is happy with the configuration, the data is sent to production, and the assembly of the clubs begins. Again, we went behind the scenes to check it out.

Attention to detail is the common theme at every level of production in the Mizuno facility, as each club is assembled and tested by hand to ensure that the set is exactly configured to the fitted specifications. Each club goes through a process of 10 procedures, with each step requiring strict quality control.

A grip, for example, can dramatically affect the swing weight and overall balance of the club, so it is put on well before the swing weights, and so on. The process culminates in a final QC to ensure each club is exactly to the original fitted spec.

All up, it takes about three days to get the average set built and configured. This is remarkable considering the care and detail that goes into these sets, and is a testament to the hard-working Mizuno team, which produces thousands of custom sets every year from their Melbourne HQ. So if you’re keen for a new set of clubs, be sure to check in at Mizuno. Quality is in their DNA. www.mizuno.com.au/golf •

LOOKING FOR A GOLF CLUB TO JOIN?

You can join and play 7 days per week from as little as $835 until June 30 2014* Special full play membership available to two members of the same household.

First member pays full playing category price additional family member living at the same address will receive a $600 discount on the full playing subscription.

New members who join before October 31 2013 will also receive a FREE Golf Lesson and 2 complimentary visitor vouchers. *(A bar levy applies) • • • •

Group 1 top class club Situated in the heart of Sydney Easy walking course-carts and buggies available Competitions daily - Men’s and ladies competitions every day • Open days for members and guests Mondays and Fridays • Excellent dining / bistro/clubhouse recently refurbished

• Excellent practice facilities • Junior/cadet programme • Free Golf lesson + 2 complimentary guest vouchers for new members • Direct Debit/quarterly/half yearly subscription payment options • AAA accredited PGA professional Mark Reeve available for golf lessons • 3 month membership for overseas guests

STRATHFIELD GOLF CLUB www.strathfieldgolf.com 84 CENTENARY DRIVE, STRATHFIELD NSW 2135 OFFICE : 9642 0326 • PRO SHOP: 9642 8642 • EMAIL: office@strathfieldgolf.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

59

gear

Saving time and money with E-Z-GO RXV As we strive to reduce costs both at home and in our businesses, more of us are turning to energyefficient products. We insulate our homes to save energy; install fluorescent lighting and skylights to keep costs down; and have even started using efficient landscaping to save on consumption.

It is no wonder that the efficient use of energy has become one of the most important factors in golf and utility vehicle manufacture over recent years.

Not only has focus shifted to carts that are more environmentally friendly, but to carts that are effective in keeping costs low.

The E-Z- GO RXV has changed the way we think about efficiency, whether it be cost efficiency or energy efficiency. With an AC motor and industry unique features, the RXV has time and time again proven its effectiveness in keeping costs down.

From Golf Courses to Nurseries and even industrial sites, the RXV has shown that its industry-leading technology is a point of difference.

Toowoomba-based company Withcott Seedlings – a major commercial supplier of vegetable seedlings to the East coast of Australia – recently took delivery of a fleet of E-Z-GO RXV’s to help lower labour costs.

The company estimates that the time saved by using the RXV’s will equate to $500,000 in just 12 months.

As a horticultural company – there was a focus on using energy efficient vehicles that would not impact their local eco-system.

Matthew Harth, HR manager for the company said that he needed to find better labour productivity in terms of cost utilisation.

Mr Harth said “We decided that the most

Parts shopping online is “E-Z”

The E-Z- GO RXV

efficient way would be to get a fleet of E-ZGO carts, so that we could transport our staff around our site.”

The cost efficiency benefits of the E-Z-GO RXV don’t stop there.

Award winning golf course Port Macquarie Golf Club also recently joined a long list of RXV users when they replaced their fleet of Petrol vehicles in favour of the energy efficient electric RXV’s.

Caleb Rose, General Manager of the course said that he is impressed by the RXV’s performance.

“We are particularly impressed with the efficiency costing; as they cost only a fraction of what our previous fleet of petrol carts cost to run.

They are also cheaper than other electric carts.”

But it is not only energy efficiency that is saving money on courses; safety features like the automatic parking brake have also reduced the number of damage claims on the vehicles.

For more information on how an E-Z-GO vehicle can help save you energy – contact Augusta Golf Cars on: Brisbane: 07 3807 8895, Sydney: 02 8064 9950, Melbourne: 03 9558 1211 or visit www.ezgo.com.au •

FREE CALLAWAY DIABLO GOLF BALL OFFER FOR $65 MIDWEEK & $75 ON WEEKENDS PLAY 18 HOLES WITH CART HIRE AND RECEIVE A DOZEN NEW GOLF BALLS

Online shopping is nothing new these days, so when it comes to purchasing goods online, the ease of the transaction from start to finish is one of the most important factors.

Shopezgo.com.au, the online store for all genuine E-Z-GO parts and accessories in Australia, is a prime example of innovation in an online retail environment.

The website—which is owned and operated by Augusta Golf Cars, the master distributor for E-Z-GO, Cushman and Bad Boy Buggies in Australia and the Pacific Islands – makes the online shopping experience quick and easy.

Shopezgo.com.au features a tool called “My Vehicle”which makes finding the correct part for your specific vehicle simple. This site also enables owners to determine specific information on their cart, such as model and year of manufacture.

Click the “My Vehicle” tab and enter the serial number of your vehicle (if you don’t know the serial number simply follow the prompts). You’ll then get a list of parts and accessories relevant to your model and year vehicle. Once you are satisfied with your shopping cart selections –enter your details via the secure checkout facility and let Augusta Golf Cars do the rest.

With the ease of shopping, a quick turnaround and the potential savings of shopping online – there is little reason not to purchase through this online store – and for a limited time Shopezgo.com.au are offering free delivery on all purchases over $200 in value (NB: excludes the shipment of Batteries.)

More information: www.shopezgo.com.au

WE CAN CATER FOR ALL YOUR GOLFING NEEDS ENJOY A ROUND, BECOME A MEMBER OR LET US HOST YOUR CORPORATE GOLF EVENT IN 2013 TO BOOK OR FOR MORE INFORMATION

Phone 02 4991 4777; or email huntervalleygolf@ihg.com Conditions: Offer valid until 31 October 2013.

Present this ad at the Pro Shop prior to tee off.

Any voucher presented after play will not be honoured.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, 430 Wine Country Drive, Lovedale, NSW 2321 Phone 02 4991 4777 • huntervalleygolfcc.com.au 60

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

gear

NEW GEAR

Mizuno JPX Series wedges

With Mizuno’s most aggressive Quad Cut Grooves and Milled face, these wedges will stop the ball dead in its tracks.

Designed to flow from any JPX iron set, the JPX Series wedges combine a generoussized face with a wide, smooth sole with subtle relief in the toe and heel for maximum

versatility. Mizuno’s loft-specific groove design maximizes spin characteristics by featuring a different groove shape and size depending on loft, while the thick, solid profile is precisely engineered for a satisfyingly solid feel at impact. www.mizuno.com.au

Mizuno JPX FLI-HI Long Iron Replacement With a wood-type hybrid profile, the JPX FliHi is designed to create an effortless launch and steep landing angles on long approaches and demanding tee shots.

The new Fli-Hi features a ‘face forward’ profile that allows the leading edge to glide

under the ball – enabling clean contact and effortless launch. The JPX Fl-Hi is designed to flow into a traditional iron set, and distances are engineered to effortlessly match a solid strike with the long iron it replaces. www.mizuno.com.au

Ghost Tour Series putters

TaylorMade Golf introduces an entirely new collection of Ghost Tour Series putters with the release of seven Tour-proven shapes – each one engineered to deliver great feel, alignment aid and a smooth, accurate roll.

The Ghost Tour Series lineup, already in play on tours worldwide, consists of three blade-style putters (Daytona 12, Daytona 62 and Sebring 62) and four mallets (Maranello 81, Fontana 72, Monte Carlo 12 and Corza 72). The Ghost Tour Series was created to appeal to golfers who prefer traditional putter shapes and weighting – a group that accounts for at least half of all players.

Available in lengths of 33”, 34” and 35.

RRP: $199 www.taylormadegolf.com

Scorewrite Golf Pen

Book review

This unique golf pen is an Aussie invention.

Similar to an ordinary pen, this pen features a special rounded tip and an erasable ink, while the colourful and bright design is very visible and add colours to your day!

The pen fits perfectly inside a golf wallet, comes with a Pen Holder (optional) and can be attached to golf buggies and on the steering wheel of all golf carts.

Changing from the old-fashioned pencil to this new and exciting golf pen will be hard for some, but it’s worth giving it a go!

Available at Drummond Golf and selected Pro Shops.

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Thomson: A Life in Golf

IT might not sound the most exciting title for a book, but A Life in Golf is the appropriate description for legendary golfer Peter Thomson’s latest book.

A Life in Golf (Inspirations and Insights from Australia’s Greatest Golfer) gives an insight into the great man’s golfing life – from Melbourne to St Andrews and beyond.

The five-time Open champion turned pro in 1947 and since then has immersed himself in the game – studying, playing, teaching, commentating, writing and, of course, golf course design.

Thommo, you could say, has been there and done that and most of his knowledge

and experience is documented in the book penned with writer, author and social golfer Steve Perkin.

Geoff Ogilvy, who wrote the foreword, believes Thomson is Australia’s greatest golfer and says so in the book.

Former Australian cricket captain Richie Benaud, too, is a Thommo fan.

“There are no superfluous sentences between the covers of this book. Instead, with Peter’s usual economy of words and outstanding knowledge of golf, there are insights and lessons for the benefit of all golfers,” he wrote.

In the book, Thomson provides fascinating insights into some of the world’s greatest players.

You’ll discover the weaknesses of Tiger Woods and Greg Norman and the genius of Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus along with the brilliance of Bobby Locke, Norman von Nida, Vijay Singh, Robert Allenby, John Daly and Annika Sorenstam.

Thomson sheds new light on his career and golfing techniques.

You will learn putting secrets, understand why analysing your golf swing may not get you anywhere, how to play in the wind and other important tips.

He even touches on his role as non-playing captain of the International team at the Presidents Cup. Published by the Slattery Media Group, A Life in Golf is now on sale.

Tech TEE ON

gear

THE

Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

Determining distances on a course can be one of the most important activities in golf. But it can also be the most frustrating, time-consuming and mind-bending lesson in futility. While sprinkler heads, course guides and yardage markers can

GPS UNITS

be helpful (when available), they don’t often tell the whole story. What if you are just trying to carry a fairway bunker? Or lay up short of a lake?

Or play an approach from the wrong fairway?

Without an accurate distance, you’re just playing a guessing game. And if you’re not 100 per cent confident with your club selection, the uncertainty in your mind can often translate in to an uncommitted swing, resulting in a poor golf shot.

Distance-measuring devices like GPS units and laser rangefinders are a perfect solution. With a click of a button, you gain absolute confidence of your exact distances; taking the guesswork out of the equation and allowing you to focus solely on your swing (or simply concentrate on the other 1000 swing thoughts bouncing around in your head).

And yes, they are legal. Approved for use in 2008 by the USGA and the R&A (change in Rule

14-3b), distance-measuring devices can be used on the course, provided that your club/committee allows it (check with your Club Captain for more on this).

Best of all, they can speed up play immensely.

In fact, that’s the reason why they were invented!

So let’s look at the newest and most advanced units on the course today!

Bushnell Neo X GPS watch

Bushnell’s Neo X is the lightest and thinnest Golf GPS Watch in the world. It features a long battery life, with a three-round capacity—and comes preloaded with over 30,000 courses. No downloads or membership fees ever.

SmartRound score improving features include auto course recognition; pre-loaded hazards; shot distance calculator and round odometer. Additional features: simple to use operation; stopwatch, timer, tee time start & auto GPS off; posi-lock clip for easy charge or course updates.

Legal for tournament play. www.championsports.com.au

Bushnell neo+

Pre-loaded with over 33,000+ golf courses, the neo+ provides quick, accurate distance to the front, centre and back of the green, as well as key hazards. No membership fee is required. The neo+ is ready to use right out of the box.

So simple to use that after the neo+ has found your course, you can literally play an entire round without ever touching another button. Includes Shot distance calculator, easy to use interface, low button press. Available in black or white. 1-Year warranty. Up to 16 hours of battery life. www.championsports.com.au

gps|systems

GPS solutions for your business GPS Systems International Pty Ltd has developed unique GPS asset management technology for commercial fleets which has immediate application in the golf industry:

• Golf Pilot, for use with golf cart fleets • • Golf Ranger, for controlling the pace of play of walking golfers •

• Golf Trakker, for monitoring mowers and other mobile equipment • used for golf course maintenance

The next generation of cloud-based GPS technologies takes a smarter, affordable and more connected approach to the way a golf club can monitor, communicate with and manage its golf carts, players and other equipment which are valuable assets, while, at the same time, enhancing the enjoyment of the game of golf for players.

info@gpssystemsinternational.com

www.gpssystemsinternational.com

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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gear Sonocaddie V500

The Sonocaddie V500 comes preloaded with over 1400 Australian hand-mapped courses in 3D, showing course hazards, targets and their relative position on the hole, using a bright sunlight viewable touchscreen. As you move to your ball, your position is shown and the distance to each critical target is continually updated in real time.

The digital scorecard automatically calculates the total score, while the unit presents a summary of your round to analyse statistics and the score with a calculated rational and percentage.

The only GPS to offer an additional feature of satellite imagery and video flyovers free, and is used as reference to design and build the Sonocaddie 3D course graphics.

Sonocaddie has a simple and easy user interface and all Australian units come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. No registration is required for the Sonocaddie V350Plus and V500 units, they are both preloaded and ready to go straight out of the box. There are no fees or downloading required. www.sonocaddie.com.au Phone: 07 3491 3363 / 0414 741 514

Sureshotgps Micro 300X

The Sureshotgps Micro 300X provides accurate, easy to read distances to the most important position on the course, the green. The GPS device is preloaded with thousands of courses sporting slim-line casing and simple navigation menus.

You will be able to measure individual shot distances, keep track of scores with the scorecard and enjoy the convenience of automatic course recognition. The Micro 300X displays the closest five courses to your location and you will be able to breeze through your round with automatic hole advance so you can focus on your game.

RRP $199 Visit www.sureshotgps.com or call 1300 644 523 for stockists

www.sportgps.com.au

Sureshotgps SS9500x

Use the colourful 3” transflective screen to view detailed preloaded aerial images so you can play with confidence by following your position on the course and see the challenges that lie ahead. The SS9500x allows you to play in any weather and see the screen clearly with the transflective, sunlight readable screen and water-resistant cover.

Get to know the distance quickly with accurate readings to all hazards and the front, centre and back of the greens. Zoom in and out for extra accuracy and create your own point-topoint measurements for the optimum distance information.

With a faster GPS processer than ever before, the unit includes full touch screen including a stylus for pin point precision and handy in-built scorecard.

The SS9500x lasts up to 36 holes between charges and will automatically recognise the hole and course when you step on to play anywhere in Australia.

Receive free access to the Sureshotgps worldwide course database to take your golfing abroad.

RRP: $399 Visit www.sureshotgps.com or call 1300 644 523 for stockists

Sureshotgps Micro 700X

When knowing the distance to every major point on the course matters, the Sureshotgps Micro 700X delivers with unsurpassed accuracy and detail. Hazard distances are displayed with colourful icons and you can even track your scoring with the advanced scorecard along the way. No tricky data to analyse, no cryptic GPS information to decipher. Simple layouts, colourful screens with large font make using the Micro 700X a pleasure.

RRP $269 Visit www.sureshotgps.com or call 1300 644 523 for stockists

ALL THE TOP BRANDS ALL IN ONE PLACE

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

NEW! LASER

Our first ever laser DMD. For fast, easy accuracy.

- 6 x magnification - 3 operating modes (Scan, Flag and Normal) - Weighs just 200 grams - Distances available in metres or yards - Accurate to +/- 1 yard - Eyepiece focus - 7 degree Field of View

NEW! WATCH

The dedicated golf GPS watch. Accuracy & style.

- Moveable Pin Placement - Distances to hazards - Over 36,500 worldwide courses preloaded - 50-day watch charge - Scorecard, shot distance measurement - GPS tracking feature - Dynamic Green View

ACCURACY IS EVERYTHING

GolfBuddy makes supremely accurate GPS devices exclusively for golfers no-one else.

Our Dynamic Green technology has been developed to always give distances to the front middle and back of the green directly from the golfer’s angle of approach. Not all GPS brands offer this important technology.

We also walk courses to create ground-verified maps that ensure total accuracy. Not all GPS brands do this.

So in a game where even inches matter, it makes sense to trust the brand that goes the extra mile to be the most accurate.

VT3

Voice+

Platinum

www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

gear

GolfBuddy Voice+

GolfBuddy WT3 GPS Watch

GolfBuddy Platinum

The GolfBuddy Platinum features 40,000 course storage capability, target customisation technology, statistics analysis module, and digital scorecard all packed in a water and shock-resistant case. GolfBuddy Platinum is a full-featured rangefinder, making it one of the most powerful golf GPS devices on the market today.

With its unique automatic course and hole recognition feature, GolfBuddy Platinum will automatically know which course and hole you are playing. Courses from around the world are preloaded with no annual or activation fees. Just turn it on and play!

RRP: $449.95 includes two free accessories www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

GolfBuddy’s WT3 Watch features Moveable Pin Technology to give the golfer precise information to exact hole positions; showing distances to all hazards on a course; and preloaded global courses which are verified on-foot for unparalleled accuracy. Add in Dynamic Green View, course maps which are free forever without the need to take out expensive annual subscription plans - and the capacity to be worn as a watch on a 50day battery charge - then the GolfBuddy WT3 offers the pinnacle in dual watch/GPS functionality. And as with all GolfBuddy products, there are no annual membership fees and no hidden costs to download courses. The WT3 is ready to go right out of the box with access to over 1,100 courses in Australia and over 36,500 globally in more than 130 countries.

RRP $249.95 www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

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GolfBuddy VT3

The world’s first talking touch screen golf GPS. The GolfBuddy VT3 rangefinder combines high-quality audio and TouchSwipe screen functionality to offer a user-friendly and intuitive experience.

Golfers can use the LCD display screen to navigate the distances to the green on over 36,500 courses worldwide - all at the touch of a finger! Weighing in at just 27 grams (including battery) , the GolfBuddy VT3 can be worn in many different ways - on the wrist, attached to a free retractable cord, or clipped to a hat, belt, shirt pocket or golf bag.

Its 10 hour re-chargeable lithium battery also enhances the golfing experience, giving players two full rounds of use on a single charge. The VT3 is ready to go right out of the box with access to over 1,000 courses in Australia and over 36,500 globally, in over 130 countries.

RRP $299.95 www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

Building on the technological innovation of the original GolfBuddy Voice product – the world’s first talking golf GPS rangefinder - the Voice+ is now even easier to use. With Dynamic Green technology, Voice+ tells you the distance to the front, centre and back of the green which is all visible simultaneously on the main screen.

Measuring just 43mm x 43mm x 11mm , the Voice+ can be worn on a cap, belt and with the bonus wristband thrown in at no extra cost, can be worn like a watch – it also tells the time via a digital clock. Built with a re-chargeable lithium battery, the Voice+ will go for up to 11 hours on a single charge ensuring the Voice+ lasts for two rounds of golf.

Pre-loaded with 36,000+ golf courses, the Voice+ is also multilingual featuring 10 different languages and is integrated with GolfBuddy’s Auto Course & Hole recognition technology – which means the Voice+ recognises where a golfer is playing, what hole they are on, and how far from the green they are from the golfer’s own angle of approach. This improvement allows golfers to quickly access distances visually or through its audio talking functionality.

RRP $219.95 www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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gear

LASER RANGEFINDERS

Golf Pilot GolfBuddy Laser Rangefinder

Weighing just 200 grams, this new GolfBuddy Laser is compact, light and powerful, and packed with features to help golfers get the ultimate in on-course yardage accuracy.

Features include Accuracy: +/- 1m, Yards or metres display, Water and dust resistant (IPX4 structure design) , up to 5,000 scans battery life, 6x magnification, Diopter adjustment (eyepiece focus adjustment), Suitable for glasses wearers , 7 degree field of view and a 23mm objective lens.

The GolfBuddy Laser is also equipped with three operational modes. ‘Scan’ provides a continuous 10-second display of all objects located; ‘Flag’ homes in on the pin and factors out background noise from trees etc, to give precise readings; and ‘Normal’ provides a single distance to any chosen target from flag to dogleg point or hazard edge.

RRP $349.95 www.gpsgolfbuddy.com.au

Condor Golf LD-1000 Laser Rangefinder

Extremely compact at 107 x 73 x 40mm, the LD-1000 Laser Rangefinder easily fits in your pocket. The unit features a 6x magnification, and a maximum distance up to one kilometre for solid objects (300m for flagsticks). The Pinfinder function automatically locks in the distance to the nearest object (the flagtick), displays in metres or yards while also features standard scan and point and press functions. The unit is Waterproof (up to standard IPX4), very robust, and comes with a hard carry case, lithium-ion CR2 battery.

Available from mid November.

RRP: $179.00 including postage to any location in Australia. www.condorgolf.com.au Tel: (03) 9763 2225

Target Caddie 400M

Using high function optics and intelligent software, the Target Caddie 400M™ isolates the closest target among multiple objects and dials in so you can be confident you’re on the right target every time.

Using 6X magnification the laser locks onto the target at the speed of light producing extreme accuracy +/just one meter.Your distance control, club selection and game can now benefit from these features in an ultra compact, light, ergonomically designed case which fits comfortably in your hand, powered by a long life Lithium battery.

RRP: $229.95 www.golfworks.com.au

GPS Systems International Pty Ltd has developed unique GPS asset management technology for commercial fleets which has immediate application in the golf industry. Among these are Golf Pilot (Pictured), for use with golf cart fleets; Golf Ranger for controlling the pace of play of walking golfers; and Golf Trakker, for monitoring mowers and other mobile equipment used for golf course maintenance.

In place at clubs including Kingswood GC (Vic), NSW GC (NSW), Links Hope Island GC (Qld) and Wembley GC (WA), the next generation of cloud-based GPS technologies takes a smarter and more connected approach to the way a golf club can monitor, communicate with and manage its golf carts, players and other equipment which are valuable assets, while enhancing the enjoyment of the game of golf for players. info@gpssystemsinternational.com www.gpssystemsinternational.com

PROVEN #1 LASER RANGEFINDER IN GOLF

USED BY OVER 90% OF USPGA TOUR PROFESSIONALS Bushnell Golf Distributors, Champion Sports: sales@championsports.com.au

WWW.CHAMPIONSPORTS.COM.AU

Rickie Fowler - Professional Golfer

BUSHNELL TOUR V3 WITH JOLT www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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gear

Bushnell Tour V3

With its new ergonomic design and its award-winning PinSeeker with JOLT Technology, the Tour V3 sets the standard for being the complete laser rangefinder package - design, performance and feel.

JOLT Technology eliminates all doubt by delivering short vibrating bursts to reinforce the laser has locked onto the flag. Features include: Accuracy within 1-yard, Range: 5 yards - 1,000 yards (300+ yards to a flag), 5x Magnification, Ergonomic design, 3-Volt Battery and Premium Carry Case included.

Rainproof Construction. 2 Year Warranty. www.championsports.com.au

Bushnell Medalist

With its sleek horizontal profile the Medalist is about two things: lower scores and PinSeeker Technology. Quick and natural to the eye, the Medalist acquires flags tucked in the deepest corners of the green despite background clutter that befuddles lesser rangefinders.

Features include: PinSeeker Technology to zero in on the flag, +/- 1 yard accuracy, Range: 5 - 1000 yards/meters (300 yards to a flag), 4x magnification (objects appear 4x closer), Rainproof construction, 9-volt battery and carry case included, 2 Year warranty. www.championsports.com.au

Bushnell Z6

Instantly acquire flags up to 450 yards away with the extreme speed and incredible range of the Tour Z6. Vivid Display Technology™ ensures accurate target acquisition by shutting out background hazards and isolating your target, and dramatically improves the display for rapid, positive target identification in all lighting conditions. Includes PinSeeker Technology to zero-in on the flag (up to 1/2 yard accuracy), total range of 5 yards-1,300 yards, 6x Magnification, Waterproof (IPX7) and RainGuard HD lens coating. 3-Volt Battery and Premium Carry Case are also included. 2 Year Warranty. www.championsports.com.au

Bushnell Hybrid Laser & GPS The world’s first Laser Rangefinder and GPS in one. Combining laser accuracy with GPS convenience, it’s just the game-changer you need. It features the PinSeeker Technology used by more than 90% of PGA professionals, with +/-1-yard accuracy, 5x magnification and distance to front, centre and back of green.

Plus, the GPS function offers 33,000+ golf courses, Auto Hole Advance, Auto Course Recognition and with free registration and free new golf course downloads. www.championsports.com.au

Looking to buy a Golf GPS or Laser? SportGPS has them all.

At SportGPS (www.sportgps.com.au) you’ll find all the top brands in one convenient location. Australia’s only store dedicated to Sport and Golf GPS technology, you’ll be sure to find the right product to suit your needs and budget.

SportGPS is your Australian Online store who is determined to deliver superior customer service and support while offering you the latest range of devices available from the leading manufactures in Golf GPS and

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Laser technologies.

SportGPS are Authorized Australian Dealers for Sonocaddie, Bushnell, Garmin, Sureshot and many more. Offering its customers extremely competitive pricing with Express Overnight shipping, you can be sure you’ll not only get the best possible price for your Golf GPS, but delivery in most cases the very next day. All the more reason to buy online rather than waiting in line!

As an Australian company with established relationships with brands and manufacturers,

rest assured knowing that all your purchases come with 100% Australian Warranty, Service and Support.

SportGPS has grown rapidly and now serves in excess of 8000 shoppers per month. These numbers are set to grow exponentially as new product ranges are added and word continues to spread throughout Australia of the products, support and service received from SportGPS and their staff.

SportGPS plans to begin 2014 with the launch

of new products ranges to their store.

Expect to see Popular items such as Sports Action Cameras, Car Blackboxes and the expansion of the Sports and Fitness GPS range to give you even more products to choose from. www.sportgps.com.au mark@sportgps.com.au Special Inside Golf Reader Promotion: Save a further $10 when you use COUPON CODE : SK2013

fashion feature

Fashion Fairways

From the early days of the plus-fours and ruffled cravats, to today’s bright colours and plaid ensembles, golf and fashion have long been intertwined.

Looking good both on and off the course is becoming easier and easier these days, with a massive variety of styles on offer. Here are some of Australia’s top products, services and shops to help you get your wardrobe looking top notch!

on the

Ready2Golf

Inspired by the famous pocket of golf courses below the city of Melbourne, ‘Sandbelt’ is the fresh look summer range from Ready2Golf. Introducing a spectrum of colour that will brighten the fairways, Ready2Golf has reinvented the everyday golf pant and made it a staple for every golfer’s wardrobe.

Australian owned and designed, Ready2Golf is the brand that truly embodies the golfer lifestyle, with perfectly styled apparel for both on and off the golf course. Classic styling with a contemporary edge, Ready2Golf apparel has established itself as a product unlike the usual sports brands, attracting the attention of up and coming greats such as Western Australia’s Brady Watt (Pictured left).

Stocked in leading Drummond stores and premier golf clubs across Australia including Royal Melbourne and Royal Sydney, Ready2Golf will give your game the extra edge this summer. www.facebook.com/ready2golf

For ladies golf accessories

GolfKnickers.com

GolfKnickers.com is the world leader in traditional golf apparel. Created and designed by an Italian tailor who has been in the clothing game for decades, they specialise in an expansive line of men’s and ladies’ plus-fours or golf knickers.

The company has a full line of matching socks, caps, shirts, bow ties, and sweater vests -- delivering a complete outfit. They also offer one of the largest selections of argyle socks.

After being in the business of outfitting the classiest of golfers for over ten years, GolfKnickers.com has built up the largest selection of golf knickers available. With over twenty different colours, thirty-four plaid patterns, and six unique lines of knickers, there is always something for everyone.

They ship to Australia daily and everything online is in stock and ready to ship (even large quantities). www.GolfKnickers.com

SA N PA d AR eSTe T

Have you got protection icerays arm sleeves

LIST LF SPECIA LADIES GO —Oct 28th

ay k Ribbon D Support Pin Warriving NO k c to s r e NEW Summ ll, Evertan and more Be Glove It, K Style uality and Q r, u lo o C Visit us for

The certified, high quality 50+ UV protection material is a blend of spandex and tactel. With its moisture wicking content it is comfy and cooling to the skin and provides full arm protection from those harmful UV Rays during all outdoor sports and recreation.

New Product!! 50+ uv Protective HaNdcovers Available in singles or pairs.

Check our website for further details

For further product information and Australian and New Zealand Stockists call 0429 690 662 or go to BUY online, mail, phone 70

highteeladies.com.au

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Ph: 0419 501229

fashion feature

Sporte Leisure 2013/14 range

Niblick DALBY Men’s Crossover Shoe

Celebrating their 22nd Year, Sporte Leisure have combined the latest style trends with performance properties to make the Summer 2013 range for women a must-have for the summer months. Designed in Australia for Australian conditions there is a strong technical emphasis of moisture wicking, UV protection and Anti-microbial properties in both tops and bottoms.

RRP: polos from $49.95, RRP shorts from $69.95.

For stockists contact Sporte Leisure 02 96935777 www.sporte-leisure.com.au

The Dalby model shoe is styled as a modern casual walker with a grass sport rubber sole.

New SHEILD system Microfibre is an ultralightweight material designed to shield your feet from the weather while giving superior breathability. This revolutionary material is easy to clean and super soft for comfort and durability. Heavily padded tongue collar and double insole makes this shoe comfortable for all occasions. The rubber grass sport sole is perfect on hard or soft surfaces and especially good on grass for that quick nine holes at the end of the day. Available in Australian wide fit and carries a 6 month waterproof warranty.

Available in White / Lime and Black / Yellow from sizes 7 to 11 & 12.

RRP $89.95 For your nearest Stockist please contact Sporte Leisure 02 9693 5777 www.niblick.com.au

Susan Lawrence Golf & Resort This exclusive collection is designed for real ladies in true sizes 8 – 20. Susan understands the need for an individual look, and manufactures a limited number, ensuring as close to a one-off collection as possible.

Spring 2013 Collection introduces a wide colour palette in easy care fabrics with new colours and prints throughout the season. Suggested colour stories have been put together and you are invited to design your own style.

With 19 years’ experience, Susan offers an exclusive and elegant style along with a very personal and old-fashioned service. Susan strongly supports Australian-made and continues to offer collections proudly designed and manufactured in Australia.

Whether it is for a round of golf, a resort lifestyle or an additional piece for your travelling wardrobe – the style is elegant and timeless. www.susanlawrencegolfandresort.com.au

Greg Norman Fashion Range

The new Greg Norman Summer 2013 collection for women combines the latest seasonal trends with advanced golf wear technology and design. Constructed from high quality playdry performance fabrics, the fashion range’s seasonal colours make this the ultimate collection for on and off the course.

RRP: from $79.95.

For your nearest Greg Norman stockist please contact Sporte Leisure 02 9693 5777 www.sporte-leisure.com.au

Are you Ready for a long hot summer?

Ready2Golf introduce new colours to give you an edge on and off the course this season.

New range in stores October 2013

w www.r2golf.com www.facebook.com/ready2golf #Ready2GolfReady4Summer

@ready2golf www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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fashion feature

High Tee Ladies IceRays

IceRays were the first to introduce to the Australian Market genuine 50+ UV protective high quality arm sleeves as tested by ARPANSA. After many years of research and testing different materials and styles the team at IceRays came up with the best quality sleeves available.

Apart from UV protection the important IceRays design criteria is quality, cooling and comfort. Key design differences from other inferior sleeves are they won’t slip down and there are no seams to indent the wearer’s arms. No cheap hat elastic cuffs or sticky tight elastic bands at the top.

IceRays arm sleeves are available in 9 colours to match all your golf attire. Please check out their website to find stockists, or order online at www.icerays.com.au Phone 0429 690 662.

Lifegear Sports Eyewear

This collection of stylish and practical sports eyewear includes both polarised and polycarbonate lenses with full UVA and UVB protection. Scratch and impact resistant lenses and a Lifetime Frame warranty make this eyewear collection a trusted and reliable brand.

Each of the ten styles is available in two colour options, and there is a broad range of designs to suit every sportsperson.

They feature flexible, soft nose pads and temple tips to increase comfort.

Make your choice from sleek frames or full coverage frames for optimum protection from the elements.

RRP: $49.95 www.redbacksports.com.au

High Tee Ladies specialises in quality, fashionable Ladies golf accessories. You will find everything from dressy club covers, Swarovski crystal ball markers and a great range of shoe and carry bags, to gloves, socks and visors...all that little bit different to the average golf store offering.

This is one store you must visit whether you’re looking for your everyday golf needs or something new. You’ll also find some great ideas for gifts and tournament prizes. The best part is that you can do it anytime, without leaving home and it will be delivered quickly to your door.

New summer stock is arriving now, including best selling Glove It (orangeade bling visor pictured) and K-Bell sock ranges.

Visit www.highteeladies.com.au to see beautiful accessories and purchase through their online store, mail or phone order (0419 501 229)

Port Stephens Golfing Holidays Golf & Accommodation from only $70 per day 9 16 Golf courses including Horizons, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Muree, Tanilba, Cypress Lakes, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage, by boat to Hawks Nest & others 9 Play any day & with any number of people 9 Golf & accommodation from a choice of motels, hotels, units & resorts 9 Celebrate the launch of our NEW website at www.psgh.com.au. Book before the end of August to win a complementary Port Stephens gift pack on arrival M: 0428 820 477 | info@psgh.com.au | www.facebook.com/psgh

SUSAN LAWRENCE Ladies Designer Golf, Travel & Resortwear * Sizes 8 – 20 * Australian Made * Call for Showroom Times

@ 20 Tralee Avenue, Killarney Heights NSW (10 mins. from Chatswood)

Tel: (02) 9452 6046 Mob: 0423 924 273

available on-line:

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

fashion feature

FJ Sport

The shoe of choice for 2013 US Masters winner Adam Scott, FJ Sport combines a feature-laden outsole with an unashamedly youthful upper pattern. FJ Sport offers new levels of Sports Performance. A forefoot FlexZone and substantial in-shoe cushioning provide outstanding comfort levels.

Lightweight and stable whilst providing a

Sports look for the younger golfer, this new shoe ticks the box for a growing number of golfing fashionistas. Boasting a variety of stylish colour combinations FJ Sport will help you look good with every shot.

Currently available in four different colours RRP: $179.95/$199.95 with BOA. www.footjoy.com.au

FJ Spring Performance Apparel

FootJoy introduces the Spring 2013 collection of FJ Apparel. With three all-new contemporary colour collections, the spring line includes exciting performance pieces for all style preferences and playing conditions.

The design focus for FJ performance apparel is on one sport - golf, which is FootJoy’s sole passion. The Spring colour stories will feature both lisle and traditional pique shirts. www.footjoy.com.au

TaylorMade adidas Golf

TaylorMade adidas Golf has unveiled their latest new range of revolutionary clothing that is set to dramatically increase comfort of players out on the golf course. The S/S13 range that hit stores last month, incorporates intelligent ClimaCool, ClimaLite, and ClimaProof technology into the lightweight, weather resistant fabrics. Using 100%

CoolMax Active Fabric, the range features highly breathable gear that transfers moisture away from the skin for quick evaporation, ensuring that players can focus on their game without having to worry about comfort! www.adidasgolf.com.au

...

P I GR

ff o d n on a se r u o c f l o g e th

Jump straight out of the car onto the course for that quick nine holes at the end of the day. The design of the NIBLICK CROSSOVER grass sport sole has excellent grip driving off the tee, but is perfect on hard or soft surfaces. Three shoe designs from only $79.95 RRP.

As comfortable as a for stockist information t: 02 9693 5777

www.niblick.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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travel

Easy to ‘sea’ your luxury golfing dream Terre Blanche Golf Club in Cannes

When it comes to ‘yachting’ versus ‘cruising’, size really does matter. Yachts can access small bays, idyllic harbours and ports that are completely off limits to the average cruise ships. And when you combine this fact with the opportunity to play golf at some of the most spectacular courses in the Mediterranean or the Orient’s best golf courses, you can begin to see how a yachting golf adventure really is a dream holiday.

SeaDream Yacht Club offers one of the finest “boutique” cruise products around. With only 112 guests being pampered by an awardwinning crew of 95, the level of attention and service paid to guests make it feel as if you are on your own private yacht, experiencing the ultimate in luxury, privacy and indulgence.

Golfing in the Mediterranean Yachting and golfing in the Mediterranean is best May through October. It is then that you

can enjoy the long days of sunshine, bustling sidewalk cafes for people watching and warm waters for swimming from the yacht’s marina.

Combine the spectacular cliff-top setting of Corsican Bonifacio and the famous Sperone course with the Pevero Links Course on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda or the Terre Blanche Golf Club in Cannes – and you have one of the world’s top-level golf destinations.

Golfing in Asia Asia is awash with history, diverse in traditions, religions and climate. In Asia you’ll find busy commercial centers sitting cozily beside the serenity of temple life. The gentle buzz of the rainforest within touching distance of lazy, white sandy beaches.

And yes – amazing golf. Currently there are over 6,000 golf courses in Asia and SeaDream has selected several of the Orient’s best golf courses.

The concierge onboard is happy to arrange your tee times, round trip transfers and a shared golf cart. The fees associated with the golf packages are not included in your voyage pricing. Golf club rental, shoes, gloves and balls may be arranged with the courses and the concierge.

Why SeaDream?

Travelling with SeaDream allows you to be as active or as relaxed as you like. By day, attire is casual while by evening it is resort casual. Most mornings you wake in a new port or in some idyllic setting. Try one of SeaDream’s organised “land excursions” or the night life of a new destination before taking off to the next port.

Everything on your SeaDream holiday is included: freshly prepared meals, wine with lunch and dinner, open bar with selected premium brands, 24-hour in-suite dining,

gratuities, water sport equipment and bicycles.

You’ll also enjoy ocean view staterooms, a spa with 8 massage therapists, sauna, exercise room, beauty salon, casino, piano bar, library, large pool deck, Jacuzzi, boutique, 30-Course golf simulator, Top of the Yacht Bar with 360 degree views, even a big screen under the stars and much more.

You can even enjoy a water-level marina where you can take any of the ship’s water equipment such as kayaks, sailboards, floating trampoline, jets skis, snorkelling equipment, wake boards and water skis or just go for a swim.

The travel consultants at Aurora have experienced all that SeaDream has to offer so they can help you design the perfect trip. www.auroratravel.com.au •

2014 Players Championship With Richard Mercer 1 - 12 May 2014 Orlando to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Be there to see Tiger Woods defend his epic win at the 2014 The Players Championship!

Included:  VIP all access Hospitality House tickets to all four rounds of The Players Championship, featuring the top 120 golf professionals in the world;  Four nights at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Lodge and Club (home of the Bay Hill Championship);  World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala;  Five rounds of golf (including two rounds at Bay Hill);  Transportation from Orlando, Florida to Jacksonville, Florida  Eleven nights’ premium accommodation at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Lodge, the World Golf Hall of Fame and One Ocean Resort and Spa $8,500 per person (twin share)

www.richardmercergolf.com

web: www.richardmercergolf.com | email: rs.mercer@gmail.com | phone: 0429 001 611 address: The Vintage, Vintage Drive Rothbury 2320

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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golf travel See our photo galleries of Barnbougle Dunes, Lost Farm and King Island on our website: www.insidegolf.com.au

The ultimate Tassie and King Island Golf Adventure Tackle Tasmania’s Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm golf courses -- among the best layouts in the world

Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

IMAGINE your dream golfing trip: You rock up to the airport, find a quick (and free) carpark, bypass all the check-in/baggage/security queues, and make your way straight to your own personally-chartered, executive-style aircraft. Buckled in to your comfy leather seat by the window, you are whisked into the sky.

A quick 45 minutes later, you land on a private airstrip which is just metres from one of the world’s best golf courses. You casually hop on to a special golf cart and are driven to the clubhouse…where your clubs, tee time and overnight accommodation are all arranged for you. After a coffee and/or a quick warm-up on

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the range - you are soon playing 18 of the most spectacular golf holes ever designed.

All this in the same amount of time that it would take a normal commercial flight to just get off the ground.

It’s the sort of “Rock Star” treatment that’s usually enjoyed by the ultra-wealthy or PGA TOUR pros. But now, it’s available to everyday golfers. And once you try it out, you may never want to go back to commercial air travel again.

It’s made possible by Air Adventure Australia – a charter aviation company out of Melbourne.

A family-owned and operated business, Air Adventure specialise in high-end air safaris to the Australian outback, Cape York, the Kimberley, Lake Eyre and Kangaroo Island, as well as golf-specific adventures to Tasmania and King Island.

We recently flew Air Adventure’s Barnbougle Dunes/King Island adventure tour, and we can honestly say that it was a first-class experience all the way. Owner/Operator John Dyer has put together a package that is more than just golf – it’s an all-out experience.

After your short flight from the mainland aboard your 10-seat Cessna Conquest II, your first day of the three-day tour includes 18 holes at the spectacular Barnbougle Dunes, rated Australia’s Number 1 public access golf course.

This links-style course is an absolute must-play on any golfers’ bucket list, and features sweeping views, a variety of challenges for golfers of all levels and plenty of risk-reward options.

Barnbougle Dunes is a true golfer’s golf course. It’s for the traditionalists who adore rugged, raw, “knock-down,

Air Adventure Australia’s 10-seat Cessna Conquest II is the ultimate in comfort and style. bump-and-run-the-way-the-game-was-meantto-be-played” golf. It’s a humbling, awe-inspiring course that demands accuracy, exceptional course management skills, and a smidgen of good-old-fashioned risk-taking “guts”.

Golf purists will revel in Barnbougle’s simple, non-commercial splendour, and the absence of the modern-era “just make it long” mentality.

Golf tragics will become mesmerised with the sheer work-of-art beauty of each hole, and the Zen-like feel of the course itself.

Following your round, you’ll retire to the comfort and tranquillity of your Ocean View suite at the Lost Farm Lodge, which features all the amenities and style of a world-class resort.

Over the next two nights, you can indulge in the top-quality, locally-sourced food at the restaurant; relax in the tranquil oasis of the Spa, or simply catch up with your partners for a beverage at the fully-equipped Sports Bar. At Lost Farm Lodge, it’s high-quality all the way.

The next day is back to the golf, with 18 holes at Lost Farm, the younger “sister course” to Barnbougle Dunes. While just as picturesque, Lost Farm offers a distinctly different golfing experience to its older sister; wide-open, more forgiving fairways, less undulations around the greens, and more options for the higher

golf travel

The private airstrip at Barnbougle Dunes is only a lob wedge away from the course itself.

handicapper to golf their way around the course without losing a bagful of balls.

Mind you, this is not an easy course by any stretch. It will still bring you to your knees if you aren’t careful. The ball-grabbing marram grass and cavernous bunkers are but a few of the hazards you’ll experience along the way. And if the course itself isn’t enough of a challenge, there are also the thieving crows to contend with, as they will occasionally snatch golf balls from the fairway—sometimes thwarting the rare perfect drive! These balls usually end up in the crows’ secret stash (which then somehow magically make their way to the pro shop’s bulk ball bin for resale! Conspiracy theorists unite!)

Lost Farm features a unique 20-hole layout, with a pair of extra par-3s for those wishing to squeeze in every bit of golf they can muster.

The holes—13a and 18a—are both short but extremely difficult, and definitely worth having a go. Besides, it gives you two extra chances for a hole-in-one!

Both Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm are walking-only courses (a motorised cart can be arranged in advance, but you will need to be driven around by a staff member/guide). The Lost Farm is a bit flatter than Barnbougle Dunes,

but both are equally walkable, especially with the great Big Wheel pull buggies on offer from the pro shop.

Day Three begins with an early breakfast, and a farewell to Barnbougle (but if you get up early enough, you may even be able to sneak in a cheeky few holes before the flight.)

Back on board the Cessna, you make a quick 30-minute island-hop to the picturesque King Island, famous for its world-class cheeses and produce. And with two brand-new 18-hole golf courses currently undergoing construction, King Island is shaping up to be one of Australia’s next “go-to” golfing destinations.

Once on King island, you’ll get the unique chance to visit the King Island Dairy, where you’ll taste a huge selection from their vast array of mouth-watering cheeses, and get the opportunity to stock up on these delights at highly-discounted “cellar door” prices.

You’ll also make your way to King Island Golf Course, a challenging and picturesque 9-hole beauty that will challenge every part of your game. Situated smack dab on the rugged and beautiful coastline, KIGC has some of the most beautiful golf holes in Australia, including the 150m par-3 third hole, which is a tricky and

The beautiful and rugged King Island Golf Club is a challenging course that will test every part of your game

demanding downhill beauty that is framed by the crashing surf beyond. When the wind is up, driver may not be enough here!

The par-4 fifth hole is also a beauty; a dogleg left around a small bay that gives the bigger hitters the option of cutting the corner—if they dare!

For the uninitiated, playing KIGC can be a bit confusing. Many of the tee shots are blind, and a few of the greens are not necessarily where you may expect. There are also some alternate tee boxes and greens throughout, so be sure to get clear directions from a member prior to playing (especially on the first). But it is a very enjoyable course, and requires pinpoint accuracy for most of your tee shots. A vastly different round of golf than anything you may have ever played, it is one to tick off your bucket list.

Following your round, you’ll hop back onto your Cessna which, like all chartered air adventures, is patiently waiting for you— thereby alleviating the usual stress of missed flights, etc. A quick 30 minutes later, and you’re off the plane, bags in hand, happy and stressfree from your Tassie adventure. Now THAT’S the way to travel!

Air Adventure Australia’s Barnbougle

packages are very affordable. The cost for the three-day Tasmania/KI tour is $1790 per person (twin share) which includes return airfare from Essendon Airport (with free car parking), premium accommodation, full breakfast both days, 36 holes of golf at Barnbougle Dunes/ Lost Farm, 9 holes at King Island and buggy/bag hire (if necessary), and all on-ground transfers, including King Island Dairy.

All up, it represents great value.

Most importantly, you will save HOURS of travel time versus a commercial flight. Consider this: my last commercial flight from Melbourne to Barnbougle chewed up a massive 6 hours (with parking, checking in, oversize bag check, security, waiting to board, 60-minute flight, baggage collection in Launceston, sorting the rental car and then the 90-minute drive from Launceston to Barnbougle Dunes, sorting my clubs, etc.)

Flying via Air Adventure Australia, however, and it was only two hours from takeoff to tee-off.

That’s a savings of four hours. That’s a full round of golf.

I’m sold!

For more information, phone 1800 033 160 or visit www.airadventure.com.au •

N E W ! Erasable Golf Pen Write, erase, re-Write • Easy to correct the score on scorecard using the unique eraser • Fun, bright & colourful looking pen • Available PLAIN or PERSONALISED

Now available at Drummond Golf stores & selected Pro Shops

For all enquiries call 0423 455 793 or email sales@scorewritegolfpen.com www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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travel

Golf on the Murray:

Cobram Barooga puts out welcome mat

Cobram Barooga Golf Club BAROOGA, a small town situated on the Murray River, has long been one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations … and for good reason. The town is the ideal getaway and the perfect place to base yourself when visiting the area.

One of the attractions for golfers is the Cobram Barooga Golf Club, which offers two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses.

The Old Course is not long by modern standards, however the clever design and narrow tree-lined fairways with huge river gums provide a good test to any player. The West Course has wider fairways, more slopes and larger greens, and is slightly longer than the Old Course.

After your game, enjoy the hospitality of the spacious clubhouse with light lunches and snacks, Sports TAB, Keno or just relax in the outdoor area overlooking the fairways. And if you’re looking for some fun in the evenings, then you’ll enjoy the live entertainment on Friday and Saturday Nights.

Club Bistro is open every evening to spoil you for choice of delicious fare that is extremely kind on your budget. The club also has a Health and Fitness centre with ultra modern gymnasium, 25-metre climate controlled pool, sauna, spa and aerobics room.

If you’re looking for more distractions, the Sporties Bowls Club has two state-of-the-art synthetic greens available for your use.

Accommodation choices at Barooga are plentiful. Personalised Golf and Holiday Packages can be arranged, and there are seven motels in Barooga – all within easy walking distance of the Golf Club, Sports Club, hotels and restaurants.

And if you are too tired to walk, you can always take the courtesy bus, which operates 7 days a week.

After a round golfers can enjoy the famous Murray River where you can fish, ski or just relax near the water. The area has plenty of other attractions including wineries, art and craft galleries, museums, farms, parks and gardens, markets and retail facilities.

Enquiries: 1800 062 334, admin@sporties. com.au, www.cbgc.com.au. •

PGA launches Fiji International

The PGA of Australia has announced plans to stage Fiji’s largest and most acclaimed sporting event, the Fiji International, starting in 2014.

Confirmed for a five-year period with a guaranteed minimum prizepurse of US$1 million, the Fiji International will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.

The tournament will be managed by the PGA in conjunction with Sports & Entertainment Limited (SEL), and will be co-sanctioned by OneAsia.

“The Fiji International will showcase Fiji as a world-class golf and tourist destination and we’re proud to be involved with this promising project,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia.

The inaugural event is planned for August 2014, but will likely move to a later position from 2015 to more closely align with the PGA Tour of Australasia’s existing major events.

“Our vision is to see the Fiji International grow to be one of the most sought-after trophies within the region bringing some of the world’s best players to Natadola Bay,” said Thorburn The event is the third new PGA Tour of Australasia tournament launched in as many years on the growing regional schedule. The PGA Tour of Australasia now spans across Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji, whilst OneAsia’s events are played in China, Thailand and Korea.

Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course was officially opened for play in June 2009 with the staging of the Fijian Open, won by then Rookie Professional Victorian Matthew Griffin. The course is renowned for its sparkling backdrop of coral reefs and the Pacific Ocean that line 15 out of the 18 championship holes. •

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

travel

China - a ‘bucket list’ destination for golfers Seasoned traveller, budding photographer and keen golfer Tom Arnautovic from Western Australia recently returned from a hosted golf tour to China with Gold Coast-based tour company Go Golfing and his opening line to Inside Golf read, “If you haven’t visited China, put it on your Bucket List.”

Tom and partner Glenda joined 35 golfers from all over Australia on an 18-day tour to China, staying 7 nights at Mission Hills, the world’s biggest golf club, followed by 10 days taking in China’s iconic sights, attractions and culture.

The tour started in Hong Kong where the group took a one-hour coach transfer across the China border to Mission Hills. Boasting 12 courses designed by golfing luminaries after which the courses are named, luxury hotels and an expansive leisure and entertainment precinct, Mission Hills has been purpose-built to attract keen golfers.

“Our six round Mission Hills golfing indulgence saw us play the Els, Duval, Annika, VJ Singh, Norman & Olazabal courses,”Tom says.

“Spectacular yet challenging, these courses are characterised by mountainous terrain, hundreds of bunkers and many creeks, ravines and much jungle grass. Playing in carts, the knowledgeable and attentive caddies made the courses more playable. I often lamented not being able to follow their instructions. Mission Hills is reason enough for golfers to travel to China.

“Following this golfing indulgence, our clubs were transferred to Hong Kong and we enjoyed 10 days touring China, starting in Shanghai.

The quaint Chinese Gardens and a canal cruise through an old water town, like a small Venice, were memorable highlights.

“A short flight to Yichang in central China saw

us board a brand-new luxury ship for a fourday Yangtze River cruise. We walked historic 400-year-old village and tribal areas of the river people, their stories truly inspiring.

“We disembarked in Chongqing City where our main excursion was to see the Pandas at the zoo and a tour of an original China town with market stalls selling all types of fare and ‘delicacies’.

“Xian City, home to the famous Terracotta

Warriors, was bewildering as we took sight of these 2000-year-old statues.

“I was expecting to be overwhelmed by Beijing’s pollution, however we were pleasantly greeted with sunshine, blue sky and minimal smog. Tiananmen Square, with Chairman Mao’s photo still overlooking the square, the Forbidden City with its traditional Chinese buildings, bridges and moats, Summer Palace and Great Wall were great experiences and

excellent camera fodder.

“The final night of this Go Golfing tour was celebrated at a Peking Duck restaurant, where the chefs served the meal at our tables and this traditional fare was superb.”

Go Golfing is Australia’s biggest organiser of events and tours for club golfers and host annual tours to more than 20 countries including China. For more information visit www.gogolfing.net.au or call 07 5536 3280. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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events

Caboolture’s big step forward

Father, daughter create history

AFTER a five-year absence, Caboolture Golf Club near Brisbane made a welcome return to the Queensland Sunshine Tour’s pro-am circuit when it held a successful pro-am last month.

The only person missing from the strong field of professionals was Rod Pampling, who honed his craft at Caboolture before taking his game to the US PGA Tour.

Pro-am organisers, head professional Aaron Cox and assistant professional Tom Parchimowicz, said they were delighted with the turnout of players.

More than 250 players (116 in the morning and 136 in the afternoon) contested the event.

S event y-five professionals competed for the $15,500 prize pool.

Cox personally thanked major sponsor Dennis Eagle and more than 30 supporting sponsors.

Playing in favourable morning conditions, Tony Carolyn and Chris Gaunt registered four-under par 67s, which no one was able to match or better in the afternoon.

Still, Ryan Haller, Matthew Guyatt and Pampling Plate winner Tim Hart managed three-under par 68s.

For the record, the leading scores among the amateurs were Keith Trenerry, Maihi Tana and Kevin Britten for the men and Jessika Knight, Lesley Foran and Elizabeth Gassner for the ladies.

“Many of the 32 sponsors were Caboolture Golf Club members,” said club spokesperson Peter Halpin. “They

HISTORY was created at Wanneroo Golf Club (38 kilometres north of Perth) when father and daughter Paul and Kirsten Rudgeley won the club’s 36-hole Mixed Foursomes Championship last month.

Wanneroo Golf Club captain Dave Hicks said it was the first time in the club’s history a father and daughter combination had won the honourboard event.

Paul, who plays off a two handicap, and 12-year-old Kirsten, a 15 marker, carded a 36-hole gross score of 153 (nett 144) ahead of husband and wife Mark and Terri Davis (158 gross and 148 nett).

It’s not the first time Paul and Kirsten have combined to win a club event.

“It’s the first time we have won the foursomes, but we won a twoball ambrose a while back,” Paul said.

The duo certainly made up for last year’s debacle when one horror hole relegated them to second place.

“We should have won the Mixed Foursomes last year,” Paul said. “We had a nine on the par-4 17th and lost it by a shot.”

This year the pair relied on keeping the ball on the fairways.

“Kirsten just hits it down the middle, putts well and that’s about it,” said Paul, who possessed a good short game.

“She is good at driving it straight and putting, but she is very small so distance is a real problem at the moment.

Aaron Cox (Caboolture’s head pro), Pat Cook (events manager for Dennis Eagle), Lauren Lobegeier (Caboolture Golf Club acting manager) and Tom Parchimowicz (Caboolture’s assistant pro) at the start of the day’s play. have had a close association with the club over many years. “ The spirit and camaraderie enjoyed by participants at the post pro-am dinner was memorable for all concerned. “ The success of the pro-am followed a significant increase in patronage of the course this year by members and visitors alike, but particularly by the number of visitors that have increased by more than 30 per cent on last year’s levels.”

Halpin said the golf club continued

to go from strength to strength.

“The course is in excellent condition and membership is increasing at a pleasing rate,” he said. “Ordinary membership for 2013/14, which starts on October 1, has been set at $795.

“There is presently no nomination fee and judging from the favourable comments from professionals and club members, the club offers great value for money.”

For membership enquiries, call (07) 5495-1033 or email accounts@ caboolturegolf.com.au •

Father and daughter Paul and Kirsten Rudgeley.

“But once distance comes, we will see her handicap come down.”

Paul put a club in Kirsten’s hands when she was just two years old and she’s been playing golf ever since.

Wanneroo Golf Club captain Dave Hicks said Paul has been a club member for seven years.

“Paul joined initially followed by his son Ben, 16 then Kirsten and hopefully the mum Donna will get the golf bug as well,” he said. •

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ALL THIS FOR $6400 (Land Package) Please call Clare at Back Track Adventures (07) 3850 7600 for flight options August 30, 2014 departure also available 80

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

In essence we have 21 days in Italy with daily breakfast and three course dinner.

We travel in a luxury 60 seat coach.

Week 1 Florence, Lucca, San Gimignano, Clinque Terre, Portovenere Week 2 Milano, Lake Maggoire, Stresa, Ascona, Lago, D’orta, Lugano, Siena Week 3 Montefalco, Assisi, Spello, Cortona, Gubbio, Toldi

events

T.B. Hunter Cup’s local connection BRISBANE’S famous golfing family, Paul and Pam Arnott and sons Luke and Tom, are closely related to the man the T.B. Hunter Cup was named after.

Thomas Brown Hunter was Pam Arnott’s grandfather – the man who initiated the foundation of the Queensland Golf Association in 1914.

He was the association’s first honorar y secretar y and was recognised by having the trophy (T.B. Hunter Cup) named after him following his contribution to the administration and development of golf in Queensland.

The Arnott family have been involved in golf in Queensland for more than 40 years.

Paul, sons Luke and Tom are professionals and Pam was the inaugural Greg Norman Golf Foundation CEO. Presented to the Queensland Open winner, the T.B. Hunter Cup has had some handy golfers win it over the decades including Norman von Nida, Jim Ferrier, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, Peter Senior, David Graham, Stuart Appleby and this year’s winner Nick Cullen.

The first Queensland Open was contested in 1925.

Quote of the Qld Open THERE were plenty of colourful quotes during and after the Isuzu Queensland Open at Brookwater, but perhaps the quote of the week came from a 12-yearold.

When a golf writer asked Louis Dobbelaar, who caddied for South Australian professional Tom Bond in the final round, what he had learnt from the caddying experience he had to think about it and then said, “don’t hit it in the bushes”.

A great answer considering only four players finished the tournament under par.

The youngster would know as he is a member at Brookwater and plays off a five handicap. That’s right, five.

Young Louis, who resembled a mini Rickie Fowler, might be knee high to a grasshopper but he is a terrific young golfer.

Louis impressed Bond, who was one of the tournament’s early leaders. Despite carding a final round 78, Bond only had kind words for his caddie saying, “Louis did an excellent job on the bag”.

Bond, who fired rounds of 67-80-73-78 for a 298 total, finished in a tie for 43rd.

While on the subject of quotes, pro Matthew Giles remained positive despite carding a 21-over par 93 in the first round of the Queensland Open.

As he was preparing for round two, a journalist asked, “what happened yesterday”?

“I went okay,” Giles replied. “I parred the last three holes.”

To his credit, Giles did the honourable thing and fronted up on day two.

Caddie and gun golfer Louis Dobbelaar poses with professional Tom Bond at the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Some players might have feigned injury and headed for the hills, but not Giles who took his medicine.

He would have considered his second round score of 90 a positive simply because it was three better than round one.

Things didn’t improve for Giles when he was disqualified from the $200,000 Jeep Pro-Am at Royal Pines Resort.

Apparently, Giles made the mistake of using a rangefinder to measure slopes.

Rangefinders to measure distance to pins were allowed during the pro-am, but not those that measure slopes.

He carded an 81. •

POM out on his own SPEAKING of caddies, one of Australia’s best, Peter O’Malley, was without a caddie during the second round of the Isuzu Queensland Open.

POM arrived for his afternoon tee time and made a beeline for the golf buggies.

“I haven’t got a caddie today,” he quipped as he placed his bag on a buggy.

He didn’t like the feel of it and switched to another, which wasn’t to his liking. He tried a third, but it had a wobbly wheel.

“Gee, I’m not going too well here am I?” he said.

Finally, he picked a good one and raced off to fire a one-under par 71.

O’Malley eventually finished runner-up in the tournament after duelling winner Nick Cullen on the final day.

What a champion.

Meanwhile, West Australian Daniel Fox went from the doghouse to the penthouse in one hole.

During the third round, Fox registered a nine on the 551m par-5 fourth hole. With smoke coming out of his ears, he stepped up to the 167m par-3 fifth tee and knocked his ball into the cup for a rare hole-in-one.

That put a smile on his dial.

Mayor missing in action DURING the Isuzu Queensland Open pro-am, passionate Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale went missing in action … albeit only for a few holes.

The popular mayor was called away mid-round to do a media interview, but he made quick work of that and rejoined his playing partners a few holes later.

Mayor Pisasale, who loves his golf, is a big supporter of the Queensland Open being in his neck-of-the-woods.

“Let’s make the Isuzu Queensland Open bigger and better next year,” said the man who only took up playing the game three years ago.

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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events

All hands on deck at Keperra Bowl David Newbery

‘Act your age’, doc tells Col

david@insidegolf.com.au

FRESH from a month-long holiday to the US and Canada, Keperra Country Golf Club stalwart Col Landsberg is busy rounding up volunteers to play an important role at the prestigious Keperra Bowl from October 15-18.

It takes a bevy of eager volunteers to organise an event the size of the Bowl – Queensland’s only national selection trial event.

“Volunteers are critical to the success of the event,” Col, 72, said. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers, we couldn’t run a tournament as big as the Bowl.

“Some of the duties the volunteers perform include organising the practice balls on the range, working as ball spotters and filling in divots,” Col said.

“Everything has to go like clockwork because there are 156 players in the field for the first two days.”

Throughout the week, Col is “taxi driver” to the interstate players ferrying them by bus to and from the course.

“On the final day (Friday) we take the Keperra Bowl to the engravers and as soon as we know who has won, I jump into a car and pick up the trophy,” he said.

“Golf Queensland also has volunteers working as rules officials, time keepers, etc,” he said.

Keperra Golf and Country Club volunteer Col Landsberg.

“I enjoy doing it because it gives me an opportunity to give back to the club.”

The internationally-recognised Keperra Bowl is open to male golfers on a handicap of 4.4 or less.

It attracts the cream of the amateur crop and this month gun West Australian and US Amateur finalist Oliver Goss is expected play alongside fellow West Australia Brady Watt, who reached the US amateur semi-final.

Watt won the Keperra Bowl last year.

Other leading players expected to line up include Queenslanders Taylor MacDonald, Kevin Marques, Jake McLeod and Simon Vitakangas.

They can expect stiff competition

from players like Ryan Ruffels (Vic), Lucas Herbert (Vic) and Cameron Davis (NSW).

Ruffels, the son of former tennis champion Ray Ruffels, was the leading amateur at the Queensland Open finishing in a tie for 19th.

Past winners of the Keperra Bowl are Marc Leishman, Andrew Dodt, Daniel Nisbet, Jake Higginbottom and Matt Griffin.

“Jason Day and former gun amateur Cameron Smith tried but never won it,” Col said.

“Most of the winners have gone on and won a 72-hole professional tournament so the Bowl is a good stepping-stone to the pro ranks.” •

KEPERRA CGC volunteer Col Landsberg grew up in country Queensland and only moved to Brisbane to pursue a cricket career.

“I was never a golfer,” said Col, who won the club championship in 1982. “I came to Brisbane to play cricket.

“I went straight from the back blocks of Eidsvold, Gayndah and Mundubbera to play first grade for Balmoral-Wynnum.

“I batted first drop (number three) for them and in those days the Test players used to play club cricket.”

Col played against some of Australia’s best cricketers including Peter Burge, Ken “Slasher” McKay, Wally Grout, S a m Tr i m b l e a n d Pe t e r Allen.

“You’d have “Slasher McKay” bowling at you from one end and Wally Grout chewing your ear behind the stumps,” the 72-year-old laughed.

Still, golf became his calling and he won club championships at Keperra and Gayndah.

“I was playing off two when I

won the club championship at Keperra,” he said.

“I worked for the state government until the mid1990s when I got cancer and left the government. After about a year, I worked at Golf World for a while.

“On April 1, 2000, Keperra’s manager at the time, Brett Kerr, asked me to come and work at the club. I started part-time work in the golf shop and was full-time from 2005.

“I was organising corporate golf days, marketed the Keperra Bowl and hosting special events.”

Col retired from the role two years ago.

Due to his illness, Col played little golf and only last year bought a new set of clubs in the hopes of playing regularly.

“I hadn’t played in about 13 years,” he said. “I went out and the second game I dislocated my hip.

“Lately, I have played a couple of times, but I will never be able to do the things I did previously.

“As my doctor said, ‘act your age – you’re 72, not 22’.” •

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The home of Sarah Kemp 82

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

events

Aisle walk awaits champion King David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

Defending champion Nathan King

RYDE-PARRAMATTA Golf Club professional Nathan King will have more than golf on his mind when he defends the $50,000 PGA Professional Championship at Hamilton Island Golf Club from October 14-17.

That’s because King has an even more important event highlighted on his calendar – a walk down the aisle to marry his beautiful bride Kate.

“It’s going to be a busy few weeks,” the 28-year-old said.

“I’ll go to Hamilton Island to play the tournament, but as soon as it’s over I’ll race back to Sydney because the following weekend I get married.

“It’s going to be pretty rushed, just as it was last year.

“Last year I didn’t have time for an extended stay on the island, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The views from the golf course over the islands are incredibly picturesque.”

King and his bride Kate will honeymoon in Hawaii.

But before that, King is focussing on defending his title.

For the past two months, he has been honing his skills on the range and playing regularly in club competitions.

“I have been practising and playing a bit

more with the members in the competitions here (Ryde-Parramatta),” he said.

“My focus is to try and get club on ball a lot more often during the week.”

And when the tournament starts, King will again rely on his strengths – accuracy off the tee and putting.

These are the two key ingredients needed to succeed on the challenging Hamilton Island layout, according to King.

“Hamilton Island is the hardest golf course I have ever played,” King revealed.

“You don’t necessarily have to take driver off every tee. You have to think your way around the course and be strategic.

“If you can keep it in play and put yourself in a good position to attack the green you can shoot a pretty decent score.

“As long as you are in play and have a shot to the green you will be fine.

“Last year it was blowing a gale and the scores weren’t that good. Some of the players lost quite a few golf balls during the week.

“I only lost two (golf balls), which I was happy with considering how many the other guys lost.”

King said he was looking forward to returning to Hamilton Island.

“I was impressed with the whole set-up and I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the proam with my amateur pro-am partners,” he said.

“And the functions and the hospitality throughout the week were awesome.” •

Trentham worth a look

The Trentham Golf Club is a picturesque 18hole course located in the Hepburn Shire approximately 100km North-West by road from Melbourne in Victoria.

The club’s major attraction is its presentation to all golfers including green fee players who flock to the course. It is so popular that many Sundays are fully booked and some social groups book up to 12 months in advance.

For competitive golfers Competition Days are Wednesday (women), Thursdays and Saturdays (men and women) and no start times are required.

Recent improvements have included new fully sponsored signage throughout the course which has given the course a very professional outlook.

Major upcoming events are their Annual Tournament from 22 October to 27 October followed by the Trentham Plate on the 16 November.

For more information, please go to the www.trenthamgolf.com.au for further information and entry forms.

New members are always welcome, all information and application forms are also available from the website. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

83

calendar

October

Australian Rotary Health Charity Golf Day Where: Royal Melbourne Golf Club When: Monday 7 October

The cost for a four-ball Ambrose is $295 per player and includes lunch, 18 holes and an evening meal. All profits go to Australian Rotary Health Research Grants. Enquiries to Terry Davies 0412 229 994 or Australian Rotary Health 02 8837 1900 (ask for Terry or Jenny).

Queensland Amputee Golf Association Charity Golf Day When: Friday 11th October 2013 Where: Emerald Lakes Golf Club, Gold Coast.

The Queensland Amputee Golf Association is holding its annual Golf Charity Day at Emerald Lakes Golf Club followed by a Presentation dinner and Charity Auction.

Organisers are seeking Charitable Donations/Prizes for the Charity Auction. All money raised helps further the expansion of amputee golfing clinics and tournaments throughout Queensland.

For more information: Scott Smith, Vice-President, QAGA, scott@qaga.org.au, 0407 972 008, www.qaga.org.au

City of Orange Golf Championship When: 5-7 October 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

Enjoy a long weekend of golf in NSW’s premier food and wine district and play on each of Orange’s magnificent golf courses.

Duntryleague Golf Club, Orange Ex-Services Country Club and Wentworth Golf Club.

Played over three days and three courses and with $6,000 worth of prizes to be won, this is a championship event not to miss. Further information is available from Golf Orange Website www.golforange.com.au

Annual Veterans’ Tournament When: 8-10 October 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This longstanding and popular Tournament includes three days of golf and a Presentation dinner on the Wednesday night. Numbers are limited to 216 players. Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion. Further information is available from Tournament Director Beryl Pearce, 0428 622 300, beejaber@gmail.com.

South Pacific Ladies Open Classic Where: Surfers Paradise Golf Club When: 14 to 16 October Info: www.surfersparadisegolfclub.com.au

Note date change above. Hosted by Surfers Paradise Golf Club for the past 40 years, the event includes a Sunday (14 Oct) mixed foursomes to give the entrants a chance to play the course and for the sponsors to meet the players and organisers.

Monday to Wednesday will see the 54-hole competition played with three divisions. In Division 1 the young amateurs will vie for prizes and national ranking. Division 2 will welcome the ladies up to 54 years. The seniors, over 55 will vie for the Division 3 prizes and prestige. The competition will, in 2013, be played off the “Red Tees” which is a change from the previously required “Blue Tee” start. The event has National & state ranking for ladies and attracts the top level of amateur lady golfers.

2013 Women’s Mountain Meeting

When: Monday 14 to Thursday 17 October Where: Katoomba, Blackheath, Leura and Wentworth Falls Golf Clubs Info: www.golfnsw.org

84

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

8th Annual Australian Father & Son Open Golf Championship Where: Country Club Tasmania When: 29th November – 1st December Info: www.australianfatherandsongolf.com Is there a better way for a father and son to learn about life and each other than by playing a round of golf together?

The Championship is a 2 ball aggregate stableford which will be played over 36 holes. The best father and son team score over the two days will be crowned the

The 2013 Women’s Mountain Meeting is one of the longest running and most popular tournaments on the Golf NSW women’s calendar.

The format begins on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 with 36-hole stroke play for Divisions one and two with 36-hole stableford for Division 3. On Wednesday 16 the Foursomes are held in two divisions and on the final day, Thursday 17, a four person Teams V Par Event completes the tournament. Players can nominate to play in all four days of play or play in individual days of their choice. Golf NSW is happy to assist competitors to find a partner for the foursomes or complete a team of four for the Teams event.

Entries are One Day - $45 one day ($35 online). $80 two days ($70 online), $115 three days ($105 online) or $120 four days ($110 online).

Entries close: Friday 27 September 2013 at 5.00pm. For further information regarding this event please contact Christy Collier on christy.collier@golfnsw.org or (02) 9505 9105.

2013 Men’s NSW Sand Greens Championship When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October Where: Barraba Golf Club Info: www.golfnsw.org The 2013 Men’s NSW Sand Greens Championship, incorporating the 2013 NSW Junior Boy’s Sand Greens Championship and the 2013 NSW Sand Greens Teams Event, is open to male amateur golfers with a handicap of 27.4 or under, and will be played over two rounds of 18-holes.

The Championship includes the popular team’s event whereby teams of three compete, with the two best nett scores each day counting towards the team total.

Online entry is just $70, while all other forms of entry are $80. Entries close: Friday 4 October at 5.00pm For further information regarding this event please contact Christy Collier on christy.collier@golfnsw.org or (02) 9505 9105.

2013 Women’s NSW Sand Greens Championship When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October Where: Hay Golf Club Info: www.golfnsw.org The 2013 Women’s NSW Sand Greens Championship is open to female amateur golfers with a handicap, and will be played over 36-holes stroke play in two or three divisions (depending on entries). Prizes are awarded for: DIVISION 1 - NSWLGU Sand Greens Championship Salver – 36-hole scratch DIVISION 2 - NSWLGU Bronze Salver – 36-hole scratch DIVISION 3 - Bronze Bowl – 36-hole scratch (if player numbers allow) TEAMS EVENTS - RLGA Jug – 36-hole nett teams Over the field - SWLGA Bowl – 36-hole scratch teams The Women’s RLGA Jug (handicap teams event) and Women’s SLWGA Bowl (scratch teams event) are played concurrently with the Championship.

Entries are $40 per player. Scratch and nett teams are $5 per team. Entries close: Friday 4 October at 5.00pm.

For further information regarding this event please contact Judy Ferguson, Secretary RLGA on 02 6926 2698 or secretary@riverinalga.com.au

ultimate winners of the Australian Father and Son Open Championship for 2013. Each winning player will receive a replica of the perpetual trophy. 2nd and 3rd place runners up will receive trophies.

The full entrance fee is $585pp, includes 3 night’s accommodation with breakfast and all other inclusions (such as golf, gala dinner, cocktail party etc.) Entry fee without accommodation is $195pp and does not include the Gala dinner. Cost to attend the Gala dinner is an additional $75pp.

For more information: contact Eric Roberts (03) 6394 4158, eric.roberts7@bigpond.com.

Mitsubishi World Masters Golf Championship Where: Gold Coast When: 20-26 October 2013 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au Now in its 18th year, golfers from all over Australia and overseas are drawn to Queensland’s Gold Coast for a great value week of golf, fun and entertainment. So long as you are over 35 and have an official golf handicap, you can tee it up at the Masters. There are 18 tournament divisions based on age and handicap. Playing with golfers your own age and standard and compete for more than $120,000 in prizes and lucky draws. The Mitsubishi Masters will see you play at the Gold Coast’s world class resort courses including Arundel Hills Country Club, Glades, Lakelands and RACV Royal Pines. Much more than a golf tournament, there are lively social and entertainment events every night including a welcome dinner, 19th Hole rooftop poolside setting at the 5 star Sofitel Hotel in the heart of Broadbeach, a decadent St Hallett winemaker dinner, themed parties, casino show and a day at the races make for a fun filled week. Celebrations culminate with a glamorous presentation dinner at Jupiters.

More information at w w w.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681.

Junior Golf Expo

When: Sunday 27th October Time: 1pm - 4pm Where: Oxley Golf Club, 290 Boundary Rd Oxley QLD 4075 Cost: FREE • • • •

Kids Jumping Castle Free Sausage Sizzle Prizes & Giveaways Professional Golf Clinics including Lessons on chipping, putting, irons and woods • Clinics presentation by “AAA” rated PGA Members & Accredited Community Coaches • Junior Membership Promotions • Junior Golf Equipment Specials Activities & Timing of Events 01:00pm-01:10pm OGC Safety Introduction 01:10pm-01:30pm Welcome to the Day Introduction & Basic Starters Clinic 01:30pm-02:00pm Short Game Clinic 02:00pm-02:45pm First Swing Presentation & Clinic 03:00pm-03:45pm Chipping & Long Drive Competitions 03:45pm-04:00pm Membership Promotions and Expo Day Golf Equipment Specials For more information, please contact the office on (07) 3379 6322, email@oxleygolfclub.com.au

Ladies’ Open Tournament

When: 28 October to 1 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au The Ladies’ Open Tournament is a much anticipated Tournament on the Duntryleague calendar. The Tournament will include golfing events each day and some great social events as well.

calendar Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion.

Further information is available from our Ladies Captain Pat Bradford: (02) 6361 8002, johnpatbradford@y7mail.com.

November Tamborine Mountain Open

Where: Tamborine Mountain Golf Club When: November 6-8 Info: www.tamborinemountaingolfclub.com Single stableford event held over three days. Cost is $60 per person, includes 18 holes of golf on either qualifying day (Nov 6-7). Top 48 qualifiers gain free entry to Final on Nov 8. Entry also includes light meal, morning/Afternoon snacks. Motorised carts available for $20. Major prizes: $1000 hole in one on Wednesday and Thursday.

More information: (07) 5545 1788.

Federal Amateur Open

Handiskins

When: Various Where: Various Info: www.handiskins.com.au Handiskins the ultimate game of skins for club golfers.

Handiskins is a five-qualifying-round stableford competition.

A player’s best three rounds count towards their final score.

Players don’t have to play all five qualifying rounds if their scores are good enough.

The top four players with the best scores at the end of the qualifying rounds go into the ‘skins’ format final and have the opportunity to play for $1,200 in club or pro shop vouchers.

UPCOMING HANDISKINS EVENTS: Griffith Golf Club Final 20th October 2013

When: 8th – 10th November Where: Federal Golf Club, Canberra Info: www.fgc.com.au

Alexandria Apartments on the beach at Alexandra Headland.

More information at www.mitournament.com

The event is a four round World Amateur Golf Ranking Tournament. Rounds 1 & 2 are played on the Friday and Saturday with a cut (60 players plus ties) before Rounds 3 & 4 are played on Sunday. Prizes are awarded for 1st – 5th, the Federal Medal (best four round score by an overseas player) and the Junior Medal (best four round score by a junior player under 18 years).

For further information, please contact Scott Elias, General Manager, on (02) 6281 1888.

When: 24 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

Hahn Golf Open Amateur Championship

Steve Conran Junior Tournament

A chance for up and coming juniors to experience one of Australia’s best regional courses. The Tournament is a must in every junior’s golfing calendar. Parents can relax and enjoy the hospitality and beauty of Duntryleague or take the opportunity to enjoy all that Orange has to offer.

When: 9-10 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

Rosnay Legends charity Pro-am

(Golf NSW Vardon Event & Senior Event in conjunction) These two days of golf are not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday Championship with individual daily events in conjunction. Test yourself against some of the best players in Australia.

Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion.

Please contact the Golf Shop on (02) 6362 4072 for further enquiries.

Play alongside some of the greats of Australian Golf, including professionals who are currently competing on the Australasian, Asian, European Seniors Tours and the US Champions Tour. This year the event will again be opened to players who are members of social golf clubs (with a social club handicap) and golfers with an Australian Handicap (Golf link) who are not yet members of golf clubs.

The Golf Club are running a number of fundraising events prior to and on the day, with proceeds going to support MS Australia.

The Auburn City Council would also like to invite golfers to attend the opening of the new Auburn Golf Course. The course upgrades, jointly funded by the Auburn Council Council and the NSW Natural Heritage Trust have seen major changes to the back nine of the course. Several of the holes have been completely remodelled, with two new dams on the 10th and 11th holes and a complete redesign of fairways and tees. The renovations also included a major upgrade and replacement of the old fairway watering systems.

Australian golfing legends, Roger Davis, Mike Harwood, Mike Ferguson, Terry Price, David Merriman, Garry Merrick, Noel Ratcliffe, Randall Vines, John Clifford and Krishna Singh are just a few in a quality field of senior professionals.

The Pro Am has two Shot Gun starts at 8am and 1pm. The cost of the Pro Am is $75 per player, which includes Golf Shirt, gift bag, with a meal and beverage at the completion of the round.

For more information call: 02 9649 8429 or email: karen@rosnaygolfclub.com.au

The Parkinson’s NSW Golf Classic 2013

Where: Monash Country Club When: Thursday 14th November Info: www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/events/pnsw-golf-classic Cromwell Property Group presents the 7th Anniversary Parkinson’s NSW Golf Classic. It’s a shotgun Ambrose start with all carts and the day’s events include free golf clinic, putting competition, chip the boat, NTP and LD and official dinner with great prizes and international guest speaker. Tickets are only $60 each. To register for the dinner please contact Karina Traill on 02 8875 8915 or karina@parkinsonsnsw.org.au

Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast Ladies Open Championship & Classic When: 15, 16 & 17 November (Open Championship), 16 & 17 November (Classic) Where: Headland Golf Club, Qld Info: www.headlandgolfclub.com.au Now in its 35th year, this prestigious Ladies championship is a Golf Australia and Golf Queensland ranked event for the Open Championship (handicap limit 9) conducted over three days on the beautiful Headland course on the slopes of Buderim, overlooking the sunshine coast. The fun weekend Classic (handicap limit 36) includes many great events and trophies including divisional, Junior, Mid & Senior Championships.

Plus team and club events and a Friday night shootout on the signature 18th hole. A great weekend away for ladies on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with recommended accommodation at

Where: Auburn Golf Course When: Wednesday 27 November

Noosa Springs B & C Grade Championships When: 29th November – 1st December Where: Noosa Springs Info: golf@noosasprings.com.au

Now in its eighth successful year, the competition was designed by Noosa Springs to give golfers with higher handicaps a championship event to play.

The three-day competition will be played over 54 holes of Stableford play.

Moss Vale Golf Club Final 6th October 2013 Charlestown Golf Club Final 12th October 2013 Duntryleague Golf Club Final 3rd November 2013 Branxton Golf Club 4th Qualifying Round 9th November 2013 5th Qualifying Round 16th November 2013 Final 14th December 2013 The Links Shell Cove 1st Qualifying Round 19th October 2013 2nd Qualifying Round 26th October 2013 3rd Qualifying Round 9th November 2013 4th Qualifying Round 16th November 2013 5th Qualifying Round 23rd November 2013 Final 30th November 2013

QLD Sunshine Tour Schedule OCTOBER Day(s) Date(s) Tues 1st Wed 2nd Fri-Sat 4th-5th Tues 8th DECEMBER Mon 3rd Fri 13th

Event Howeston Pro Am Wantima Pro Am Hi Lite Pro Am Sanctuary Cove Pro Am

Prize $11,000 $10,000 $50,000 $10,000

Wynnum Pro Am Oxley Pro Am

$60,000 $10,000

QLD Sunshine Tour Order of Merit following the Victoria Park Pro Am Pos Player

State Pts Rds

1 Jim Cusdin (NZL)

NZL 244 55

2 Henry Epstein (AUS)

QLD 233 59

3 Matthew Ballard (AUS)

QLD 198 43

4 Marcus Cain (AUS)

QLD 196 41

5 Pieter Zwart (NZL)

NZL 187 38

6 Tony Carolan (AUS)

QLD 175 46

7 Brett Rankin (AUS)

QLD 171 40

8 Samuel Eaves (AUS)

QLD 168 38

=9 Gavin Flint (AUS)

QLD 167 38

=9 Steven Jeffress (AUS)

QLD 167 33

11 Samuel Brazel (AUS)

NSW 163 28

12 Kurt Carlson (AUS)

QLD 162 40

13 Paul Donahoo (AUS)

QLD 160 30

14 Christopher Wood (AUS)

QLD 155 41

15 Jared Pender (NZL)

NZL 152 30

16 Heath Reed (AUS)

QLD 148 29

17 Benjamin Bloomfield (AUS)

QLD 140 34

18 Michael Wright (AUS)

QLD 138 28

19 Aaron Pike (AUS)

QLD 137 32

20 Sven Puymbroeck (NZL)

NZL 136 38

It’s open to all male amateur golfers with a handicap between 11-36 and all female amateur golfers with a handicap between 18-45.

The entire field will contest all three rounds –18 holes each day –and the men’s and women’s winners for each B&C category will be the persons with the highest aggregate scores.

Registration is $299 which includes three rounds of championship golf, admission to the opening night cocktail party, presentation afternoon and a commemorative gift from Calvin Klein.

More information: www.noosasprings.com.au or (07) 5440 3333. www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

85

calendar 4th Annual ‘Team Chriso’ Cystic Fibrosis Charity Golf Day When: 29th November Where: Leonay Golf Club Info: www.facebook.com/teamchriso Help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited genetic disorder in which excessive mucus clogs the lungs and pancreas, causing respiratory and digestive problems.

Children with CF develop bacteria that take over their lungs, and makes them work much harder to breathe. The 20102012 Charity Golf Days raised a total just under $55,000, which helped purchase much needed equipment for families battling CF. Organisers expect a massive turnout for this year’s event. Cost is $75 per person, and includes 18 holes of golf and Lunch. For more information, email teamchriso@yahoo.com or phone Rachel 0413 428 341 or Michael 0412 304 190

2014 Mercedes Benz Duntryleague Classic When: 19-21 January 2014 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This year’s event will run for three days of golf only, starting on the Saturday night with a registration and cocktail party.Packages are available for the full event and an early bird special is also available.

Book early to avoid disappointment as this event fills quickly. Open to all male and female golfers with an official handicap.

NSW Veterans Strokeplay Championships Where: Richmond, Penrith and Stonecutters Ridge When: 14-15 and 16 April 2014.

Info: Chris Evans, Secretary, WSRVGA on 0413 912 888

After 8 years at Bankstown and Liverpool, the 54-hole Championships are moving to Western Sydney in an attempt to include more country participants.

Richmond Golf Club is undergoing significant course renovations in preparation for the 2013 Australian Seniors PGA and the Veterans will be the big winners in 2014.

Penrith Golf Club has hosted many State Championships and is in excellent shape. Both Richmond and Penrith are great walking courses for the senior golfer.

The final 18 holes of the Veterans Championships will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Links, a brand-new Greg Norman resort course proving incredibly popular with all golfers.

Barnbougle Golf Challenge Where: Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm When: 18 - 24 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au

Play Australia’s top two public access courses this January

Vets saddle up for Tenterfield THE New South Wales Veterans Golf Association has called its October Veterans Week of Golf “Creating another Tenterfield legend”.

The fun-filled week of golf will be played at Tenterfield Golf Club from October 7-11.

The week kicks off with a single stableford event on Monday, October 7, followed by another single stableford event on October 9.

On Wednesday, October 9, a nine-hole two-person ambrose has been scheduled. The mixed 4BBB tournament will be

played on October 10-11 with non-4BBB players playing single stableford events.

The mixed 4BBB stroke event is the NSW Veteran Golfers’ Association Mixed 4BBB Championship.

The vets have organised a dinner for Tuesday, October 8 and again for Friday, October 11.

All entrants must be members of a state veterans’ body. The maximum handicap for men is 36 and 45 for women.

For more information, call Bill Eastgate on 0407-439-865 or email eastgatewr1@bigpond .com •

Play golf, $12 – see sharks, priceless LADIES, if you haven’t encountered real sharks on a golf course then perhaps it time you made your way to Carbrook Golf Club in Brisbane’s east.

On Tuesday, October 22, the club will host the Ladies Carbrook Cup open day.

The single stroke event tees off at 8:30am (shotgun start) and includes a wonderful complimentary morning tea from 7:30am.

The event, played in three divisions, offers great prizes, nearest the pins, straightest drive and a generous ball rundown courtesy of sponsor Metropolitan Funerals.

“One of the highlights will be the huge raffle with many great prizes so even if your game is a little off on the day you can still be a winner,” general manager Scott Wagstaff said.

at the Barnbougle Golf Challenge. Back by popular demand, the Barnbougle Golf Challenge will see you playing in teams of two in a combination of best ball, ambrose and aggregate events. Staying at the stylishly appointed Lodge at Lost Farm, nestled within the coastal dunes, this really is one golfing destination that cannot go unplayed. Everyone is in with a chance to go home with sensational prizes.

All you need is a handicap, and then let the fun take care of itself.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681

Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship Where: Hobart When: 12 - 17 January 2014 Info: info@gogolfing.net.au Join more than 400 golfers from all over Australia as well as international visitors in Hobart this January for the 14th annual Wrest Point International Masters Golf Championship.

So long as you are over 35 and have an official golf handicap, you can tee it up at the Masters.

“The course is in excellent condition after having held the club’s Legends Pro-Am and will be a real treat for those that haven’t played the course before or for a while.

“The golf course continues to grow in stature especially after hosting its first national event last year – the Australian Girls’ Amateur Championship.”

The entry fee is $12 – that’s right, $12.

“The great news is that iGolf members are also welcome,” Wagstaff said.

“After your game, be treated to a great meal from the club’s new chef who has impressed everyone with her great food.

“Haven’t see our sharks yet?” Wagstaff teased. “Well you might see them on October 22, but only if you are at Carbrook.”

For bookings phone the club on (07) 3287 6499. •

One of the tournament’s great traditions is that the 15 age and handicap divisions guarantee you play with golfers your own age and standard. Royal Hobart and Tasmania golf clubs are the state’s premier private courses and host the four days of tournament golf. Nightly social events including welcome reception, 19th Hole overlooking the Hobart harbour and a glamorous presentation dinner are all included in this fantastic week of golf and social events.

More information at www.gogolfing.net.au or (07) 5536 8681.

Keep up with us online!

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

A U S T R A L I A’ S M O S T R E A D G O L F M A G A Z I N E

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

events

Mona Vale seizes Masters Pennant title Mona Vale seized the Masters Pennant title after defeating Castle Hill in the finals held at Lynwood Country Club last month. The victorious 2013 Mona Vale team comprised Stefan Albinski (Captain), Trevor Beale, Scott Beverley, Rod Dick, Dave Edwards, Phil Jones, John Karren, Mike Radford, Greg Stanford, Steve Whitmore and Graeme Wooster.

The Castle Hill team members comprised David Andrews (Captain), Greg Bezuidenhout, Bob Bowen, Steve Conley, John Dakin, Greg Imber, Len Maguccio, Rob Pedersen, Garry Power and Lindsay Verdon.

Ray Calnan reported on behalf of The Masters Pennant Committee that both Mona Vale and Castle Hill found the course in great shape for this time of year, but as the wind got stronger later in the day it became quite a challenge to handle the hard and fast greens.

The Castle Hill team who qualified for the finals in three of the last four years and won in 2010 were keen to improve on that record.

However, the Mona Vale team, who last played in a final in 1986, had other ideas and managed to develop an early lead after the first nine holes and went on to win the game by 5 matches to 2.

Close to one hundred teams competed in twenty-four divisions in the 2013 Masters Pennant. The twenty-four divisional winners were then seeded for the finals series. The field narrowed down to sixteen following the play-offs.

The finals series produced surprising results.

Last year’s winner Monash and runners up Oatlands were eliminated, and clubs who had not progressed as far, or who never made the final series were in the mix.

In the play-offs, defending champions Monash defeated Wollongong to make the final

sixteen. Ryde Parramatta conquered Monash, only to be knocked out by Castle Hill in the quarter finals. Castle Hill had a comfortable win against Muree in the semi-finals to progress to the Final.

Mona Vale defeated Wyong to make the final sixteen. The team powered through to knock out the previous year’s runner up Oatlands and continued to blitz their opponents St Michaels, Carnarvon and Castle Hill to earn the top prize.

Chairman of Golf NSW, Chris Allen, presented the 2013 Pennant to Mona Vale Director and team member John Karren. John stated “the Mona Vale players are delighted to have won the club’s first pennant since 1969... which will

be displayed in a prominent position in the clubhouse”.

Chris also expressed continuing support for The Masters Pennant from Golf NSW for 2014, which was well received by those in attendance.

Bruce Nairn OAM, also from Golf NSW, presented the Masters Pennant Perpetual Trophy to the team Captain Stefan Albinski, who congratulated Castle Hill on their achievement in reaching the final. Bruce also complimented The Masters Pennant Committee on the successful running of the 2013 competition.

Masters President Ray Calnan presented the ecstatic Mona Vale players with their individual winning trophies, and a miniature of the main

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pennant. The Castle Hill players were presented with their individual runners up trophies.

Captain of the Castle Hill team David Andrews congratulated Mona Vale “on their very fine win!”

The Masters Pennant Committee agreed that it can only be good for Senior Golf as more teams become competitive. This year was no exception, with quite a number of new clubs coming to the fore in the round robin divisional play.

Another successful year will be completed with The Masters Pennant Stroke Championship to be held on Friday 25th 2013 October at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club.

For more information and to view full results visit: www.masterspennant.com.au •

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87

events

Dramatic chip-in wins ASGCC at Palm Meadows The 2013 Australian Social Golf Club Championships (ASGCC) reached a thrilling climax when Laurence Wilson from The Baysiders Social Golf Club clinched the tournament and a national title for his team with a dramatic chip-in for birdie on the 72nd hole of the tournament.

The final round was played at the foundation course, Palm Meadows Golf Course on the Gold Coast where the 18th hole is rated as one of the top 500 golf holes in the world. The hole was the often the scene of gripping drama at The Palm Meadows Cup, Australia’s richest professional golf tournament in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The tradition of dramatic finishes continued this year at the ASGCC. The format for the event is stableford aggregate with the best three scores counting as the team score each day. This meant that as he stood on the par-5 18th tee, Laurence knew his team was in contention, but he did not know the exact score. As it happened, with two handicap shots on the hole, a six for three points would force a tie.

He played three great shots to avoid all the water but missed the green in regulation and needed an up-and-down to clinch the win with a large gallery surrounding the final green.

A retiring golfer who does not seek out the limelight, Laurence was a little anxious before the event that his lack of experience may be a hindrance to his team. Needless to say he is unaccustomed to playing in front of big crowds, but he brought the house down when he played the shot of his golfing life and chipped in for birdie to wrap up the tournament for his team.

The Baysiders was the best represented club in 2013 with four teams turning out (Baysiders A, B, C & D). Only Nunawading SGC and Sunraysia SGC have been represented at all nine years of the tournament with Noel Tuck (Nunawading) and Paul White (Sunraysia) the only players to have attended every event. The Baysiders and Gold Cross SGC bring multiple teams each year and have had representatives at the event every year since 2006.

Golfers from across Australia celebrate the 2013 ASGCC After seven years of dedication when The Baysiders hardly made a dint on the leader board, the floodgates have opened with two consecutive wins by different teams representing the club. As it happened, Laurence’s shot vaulted his team past another team of his club-mates so they took the top two places on the podium. Club impresario Greg Chad says they are extremely proud that a Baysiders team won the title for a second time.

“Our club has had a very strong connection with this tournament for many years“, says Chad. “Our members look forward to coming here every August to compete and meet golfers from around Australia. The tournament is very well run and always a lot of fun thanks to the great people who participate. We are sincerely delighted and humbled that the Baysiders have won the honour of being Australian Social Golf Club Champions for the second time.”

The 2013 ASGCC was staged on the Gold Coast from August 25 to 29 as a 72-hole amateur stableford tournament with 100 golfers from around Australia coming together for a week of great golf and fun. The event featured superb Gold Coast weather and rounds at Palm Meadows, Lakelands and The Glades.

Although it is a championship for social golf clubs, every competitor at the event had an official handicap and the majority of participants are golf club members. The event is played according to the rules of golf with an emphasis on enjoying the fun and sportsmanship of competition golf with respect to the rules, traditions and spirit of the game.

When all the scores were in, it was Bruce Cox, Vic Manitta, Laurence Wilson and Rod Donnelly from the Baysiders B Team who scored a total of 407 to win the title of 2013 Champion Australian Social Golf Club by just two points.

Bruce Cowan, Greg Chad, Phil Durrington and Max Lamb from Baysiders D were second with 405 while Paul White, Clinton Mayes, Dennis Williams and Andrew Stewart from Sunraysia A were third with 393.

In A Grade, Clinton Mayes from Sunraysia (VIC) won with an impressive 147 points after a brilliant final round. In B Grade, Brian Chappel from Gold Cross (VIC) took the chocolates with a total of 141 points. In C Grade, Vic Manitta from The Baysiders (NSW) had a very consistent tournament to win with 143 points. In D Grade, Winston Doyle from The NADS All Stars had a couple of great rounds that were enough for him

to hold on for the win with a total of 140 points.

The other big winner at the Championships was the very popular Jock Lum from the famous Gold Cross SGC. Jock took home the biggest prize of the event when he won the raffle for a free ticket (inc airfares) to The SGA International thanks to the generous sponsorship from Thailand Golf Tours. The total value of the prize was over $2400 and the 2014 SGA International will be played from March 8 -15 in Pattaya, Thailand.

Tournament host Social Golf Australia extends congratulations to all the golfers who shared in the $15,000 prize pool at the event made possible through the generous support of event sponsors Thailand Golf Tours, the Mercure Gold Coast Resort, Golf Clearance Outlet, Gifte gift cards, Srixon, Cleveland Golf and Heathcote Winery.

Inside Golf is a proud partner of tournament host Social Golf Australia (SGA) and we provide coverage of the ASGCC and results from The SGA Tour events they host in each of the mainland capital cities. For 2013 ASGCC results, links to photo galleries and information on entering the 2014 SGA International and/or the ASGCC, go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au •

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the 19th hole

Where is golf going?

The quick nine quiz

Michael Green

ed@insidegolf.com.au @AussieGolfer

1. Which golfer had back problems after being struck by lightning?

He told me that for a good portion of the 30 years he had been a member, he would play two rounds of golf a week and head to the club for dinner and drinks every Friday evening.

A shoulder injury almost two years ago had meant his playing days weren’t as frequent as they used to be and were mainly confined to the summer months when the shoulder was warmer and less restricted.

So he had been reconsidering his membership options – paying a sizeable annual fee without playing much golf is a poor investment in anyone’s language.

Furthermore, his son was in a similar quandary, albeit for different reasons.

An integral member of the club’s successful A-grade pennant team, his son is now studying and doesn’t have as much time for golf. No longer paying reduced rates as a junior he simply cannot justify paying the annual fees, with golf less of a priority.

This must ring true for many golfers, especially senior and junior golfers.

I’ve met many people - often while travelling - who gave up the game as they approached the expensive junior to full-membership barrier.

Studies and career get in the way, and spending the holidays playing four rounds a week is no longer an option.

It may be tempting to think that senior members can afford the annual membership fees, but for many golfers this simply isn’t the case for many retirees.

While it is true that the expenditure of a golf club does not change with the needs of the individual members, surely golf clubs are keen to keep their members, in all their forms, but especially those that have been at the club for many years; often the heart and soul of a golf club.

Inside Golf has addressed this point of club memberships on previous occasions and there is no simple answer. But it is clear that golf clubs need to get a little more creative with their membership options in order to keep golfers in the clubhouse.

I hardly touched my golf bag during the 10 years following high school. As an adult golfer with a student’s bank balance, it quickly became obvious that being a member of the golf club - my second home since the age of 11 - was no longer an option.

The days at the club with the regular foursome was soon replaced by full-time study, parttime work and parties. The clubs never left the back shed.

These days my golf bag and I can’t wait to get on a plane or jump in a taxi. At the very least they’re a conversation starter. • Michael Green is an avid golf fanatic, and the author/ blogger of the Aussie Golfer blog (www.aussiegolfer. net) one of Australia’s most popular golf blogging sites.

Follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/AussieGolfer) or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AussieGolfer

2. A loose impediment lying out of bounds interferes with a player’s stance. May the player remove the impediment?

3. Who said: “The biggest problem we have in golf is course conditions.” Was it Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Greg Norman or Bill Clinton?

4. Which country will host the 2015 Presidents Cup? 5. In which country will you find Royal Country Down Golf Club?

6. The first Presidents Cup was played in 1994. Who was the US team’s captain – Arnold Palmer, Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson?

7. Can you name the year when Jack Nicklaus became known as the “Player of the Century”? Clue: It was either – 1988, 1990, 1996 or 1999.

8. What nationality is Presidents Cup International team player Graham DeLaet?

9. Who is the new executive officer of the Australian Ladies Professional Golf – Warren Sevil, Mardi Lunn, Jan Stephenson or Karen Lunn?

ANSWERS: (1). Lee Trevino; (2). Yes (Rule 23–1/9); (3). Seve Ballesteros; (4). Korea; (5).

Northern Ireland; (6). Hale Irwin; (7). 1988; (8). Canadian; (9). Karen Lunn.

The helpful taxi driver insisted on helping me load the golf clubs into the cab, so I wasn’t surprised when he brought the conversation around to golf.

“Where you planning on playing?” he asked.

And we were off. I regretted the short cab ride now. It was immediately obvious the driver could talk about golf for hours. My kind of cabbie.

If there is even a hint of hope I may get to play golf when I travel, I take my golf clubs. An interstate function, a drive down the coast or a family holiday up the coast, the golf clubs will come with me.

However they don’t always get put to use.

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve taken the golf clubs to simply bring them straight back without opening a zipper or unsheathing the driver. While wary of extra baggage surcharges, I’ve taken return flights without getting near a golf course with the extra exertion being nothing more than an exercise in club carrying through airport terminals.

It has an upside though.

The mere glimpse of golf clubs in a caravan park, hotel or airport has set off conversations with people who would normally have walked on by.

And so as I chatted golf, golf and more golf to the taxi driver I felt like taking the clubs on this trip had already paid off, whether I play golf or not.

His level of enthusiasm for the game was on par with the best I’ve seen but his current displeasure with his golf club took me by surprise.

With David Newbery

ABOVE ALL ELSE, MEADOW SPRINGS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB OFFERS “GOLF AS NATURE INTENDED” Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, the course presents a highly regarded test for players of all levels, but is also renowned for its playability. Just thirty minutes south of Perth, near the coastal resort town of Mandurah, the Meadow Springs golf course promises a unique experience through open bushland.

The course winds its way through undulating terrain, the layout dictated by the natural features of the land.

Towering 200-year-old Tuart trees line generous fairways and subtly rolling greens that are equal to the best in Australia. Few holes run parallel and all are surrounded by bushland.

Golf as nature intended Course design by Robert Trent Jones Jnr

Other players on the course are often out of view, enhancing the sensation that you are alone in the wilderness. Finally, thanks to its excellent drainage, Meadow Springs is one of the best all-weather courses in the country.

• Pro-rata memberships available all year round • Official Club competitions every Wed, Sat and Sun • Please enquire about other membership privileges • Membership enquiries to members@msgcc.com.au Meadow Springs Drive, PO Box 657, Mandurah, WA 6210 | Tel 08 9581 6002 Bookings 08 9581 6360 | Email golf@msgcc.com.au

www.msgcc.com.au *For a limited time

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October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

the 19th hole

A ‘Super’ response Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

Last month I vented my frustration towards the people who just don’t get the importance of flag placements. I’d just finished another Pro-Am where, despite the course being in immaculate shape and the weather perfect, some of the flag placements were seeing blokes putting clean off of greens resulting in bad scores by both the Am’s and the Pro’s.

That night, I found myself trying to explain to a disillusioned sponsor how well we E-Z-GO Legends Tour Players can actually still play despite the scores being some of the worst of the year.

The problem with my article was that I aimed my vexation straight at Course Superintendents….and the boys weren’t shy in responding! I received a Bunker-full of emails ranging from their disappointment that I’d let the team down to having my next prostate exam done with a flagstick.

Whilst I still believe we have a huge problem with the people who completely miss the point of pin placements and are undoing some of the great work being done all over the country to keep the game alive, I clearly got it wrong discriminating against my (maybe ‘former’) mates, the Course Supers.

The common theme in the feedback I received was that the Supers have other people in positions of authority placing the orders. Probably best I don’t say who (If my

computer cops one more negative email it’ll burst into tears.)

Hopefully, raising the issue might see the people responsible think twice before they decide to put a downer on what should be a good day.

Coincidently, I was driving a cart past a green keeper who was raking up some corings the other day and decided to stop and have a quick chat. I didn’t have anything important to say, I just wanted to know whether he would talk to me or attempt to run me over with his John Deere Gator SLX 2000. To my delight, he did actually engage in something of a conversation even to the point where he used my name (well, “Mate” was pretty close).

As we were discussing the size of the tines a loud “Fore!” came from back down the fairway.

The course was closed but as always, a golfer can slip past the Pro-Shop Security Net and sneak onto the course for a bit of sly practice.

This bloke must have been 230 metres away but was polite enough to warn us of impending danger. We both acknowledged his concern and watched as he ripped his fairway wood shot straight into the lip of the fairway bunker some 20 feet in front of him. My new friend and I carried on talking while the golfer hacked his nut out of the trap and went back to the bag for another weapon of mass destruction in an attempt to regain some credibility with his gallery of two. Another flurry of wasted motion ensued and a divot about the size of a Grand Angus burger was dislodged from the pristine fairway and landed just past where the ball had dribbled to.

By this stage the poor golfer was totally humiliated and my new friend and I had realized we could have discussed and resolved

the theory of relativity before our old mate could propel his ball with enough force to place us in danger. We lost interest and carried on chatting. Suddenly another shout of “Fore!” but this time with a blood-curdling scream suggesting the same golfer had either just stood on a tiger snake or we were actually in real danger.

The green keeper and I chose the latter, resulting in me going into fetal position and my mate diving to the right, rake still in hand and commando rolling right over his perfect pile of corings. I fully expected him to jump

straight to his feet, suddenly have boot polish smeared all over his face and say something like “Light em up!”

Instead, we both dusted ourselves off and laughed…. not as much as the golfer, mind you, who was in an uncontrollable state of hysterics and now clearly over his embarrassment.

In an unexpected way, I might just have reconnected with an Australian Course Super and maybe my life could return to normal…..

I’ll just wait until that set of Gang Mowers, which has been parked outside my house for a fortnight, leaves before I test my theory. •

THE LANDMARK NELSON BAY $200 per person $150 per person

Nelson Bay

$310 per person $265 per person

res@landmarknelsonbay.com.au groups@landmarknelsonbay.com.au www.landmarknelsonbay.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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chips and shanks

Rebecca puts celebrations on hold

Clubhouse up for grabs SHE is starting to look her age, but if you fancy living in Brisbane Golf Club’s first ever clubhouse you had better act quickly because the “old girl” goes under the hammer on October 4.

Heritage-listed “Checkendon” has a unique history (circa 1897) and is one of the oldest properties in the beautiful leafy suburb of Chelmer.

The golf club, the third oldest in Queensland, was largely founded by the Reverend George Frodsham, who later became Bishop of North Queensland.

Officially opened in 1897 by club president and colonel governor Lord Lamington, the home served as the clubhouse until 1903.

That’s when Brisbane Golf Club moved to its new premises at Yeerongpilly and the clubhouse

was sold as a dwelling.

The highset timber dwelling, which needs attention, has four bedrooms, a study and two bathrooms.

Mind you, it’s still liveable in its current condition and the design and character makes the home rather unique.

Some of the features include VJ walls, French doors, original timber arches, polished wide timber floorboards and beautiful wide verandas on three sides of both levels.

The property also includes an in-ground swimming pool and stunning trees including jacaranda, flame, leopard, poinciana and even a large macadamia.

If you want the keys to the front door, call Barry Quinn on 0409 828 342. •

THERE were no wild celebrations for Aussie Rebecca Artis (nee Flood) after she won the Ladies European Tour’s Helsingborg Open in Sweden last month.

“I haven’t had the chance to celebrate yet because the win earned me a spot in the Evian Championship, which was played a week after my win,” she said.

“But I’m sure when I get home to my family in Australia at the end of the year I will celebrate with them.”

Another thing Artis won’t do is go on a spending spree after banking $54,000.

“I don’t have anything in mind at the moment,” the 24-year-old said.

“My husband (Geoff ) seems to think I have everything a woman possibly needs.”

Artis, who hails from Coonabarabran in NSW, said she was delighted to get her first win in Europe.

“It’s a nice feeling to have the pressure of getting your first tour win off your back,” she said. “I’m still speechless really and find it hard to believe.

“I set two major goals at the start of this year – to win on the Ladies European Tour and to be inside the top-175 in the Women’s World Rankings.

Rebecca Artis shows off the Helsingb org Open trophy – Photo courtesy Ladies European Tour.

“To achieve them in the same week is an absolute highlight,” said Artis, who jumped to number 146 in the world.

“The feeling of all the hard work has paid off. It’s a great feeling when you set goals and achieve them.”

The victory gives Artis a two-year exemption on the LET and automatic entry into the 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open. •

Missed it by that much

Keperra Bowl reaches the masses THE prestigious Keperra Bowl has a massive reach, according to the man responsible for organising the tournament’s volunteers.

“Between 500,000 and one million people are made aware of the Keperra Bowl each year,” Col Landsberg told Inside Golf.

“Our marketing goes to every golf club in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

“That is why the tournament is such a success.

“And the event has an economic impact on the area as people have to travel here (Brisbane),

use the available accommodation, go to restaurants and do all those things.

“The tournament is an imposition on the members, but they know the value it brings to the club and the area.”

Landsberg said the event’s marketing attracted new members to Keperra Country Golf Club’s 27-hole golf course. • FOOTNOTE: Keperra is the home club of touring professional John Senden.

NO BULL: Queensland Bulls cricket coach Stuart Law smashes his ball down the middle of the fairway.

Oberon celebrates its sesquicentennial The town of Oberon in the Central Tablelands of NSW celebrated its 150th birthday in July.

As part of this celebration the town held a Heritage Street Parade down the main street.

Many community groups and town businesses entered the parade with floats decorated to show the history of their organisation. Oberon Golf Club decorated a float to represent the unique characteristics of Oberon Golf Club 92

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

with kangaroos, Lake Oberon and many trees represented. Organisers of the float borrowed some heritage golf clothes and clubs from the Sydney Golf Museum and these were a feature of the float along with some live Heritage golfers.

The main street of Oberon was lined with crowds of spectators, including the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir, to cheer on the very colourful parade. •

FORMER Australian Test medium-fast seam bowler and national selector Andy Bichel couldn’t believe he didn’t hit the stumps.

Playing in the Queensland Bulls Masters golf day at Indooroopilly Golf Club in Brisbane, the 43-year-old had the chance to take one stroke off his team’s golf score by hitting the stumps on a shortened synthetic pitch beside the third tee.

Bichel charged in and let fly with a beauty, but the ball just missed the intended target.

Had there been another coat of varnish on the stumps, he would have been successful.

“I can’t believe I missed,” said Bichel, who played 19 Tests and 67 one-day internationals for Australia. “The ball was on target, but actually swung late.”

Not to worry, two of his teammates were successful and the team deducted two strokes from their final score.

Meanwhile, new Bulls cricket coach Stuart Law showed he has lost none of his ability with the bat.

Asked, to “tee off” with a cricket bat, Law smacked his golf ball straight down the middle of the first fairway.

Most players tried to hit the ball for “six”, but not Law. In true cricket fashion, he kept it low and watched the ball roll, and roll, and roll.

Still, Law came up short of Jimmy Maher’s hefty blow.

Law and his team (Deb Law, former state cricketer and director QCC and Paul Reis) took out the 4-ball ambrose event.

There were a number of other novelty events on the fun-filled day attended by former cricketing greats Law, Bichael, Ian Healy, Greg Ritchie, Jimmy Maher, Nathan Hauritz, Phil Carlson, Glen Trimble, Graeme Hick (England/Zimbabwe) and others.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Cricketers’ Club Golf Club is looking for members.

The club offers 130 golf competitions per annum at 34 southeast Queensland golf courses. For more information, call (07) 3896 4533. •

chips and shanks

Rules out of Africa SPORTS reporters in Ghana recently attended a seminar on the theoretical aspect of golf to ensure accurate reporting of tournaments.

THE Ghana Golf Association’s (GGA) Michael Aggrey, a golf expert and vice-president of the GGA, explained the sport’s terminologies to the media.

He told the gathered reporters a club was the instrument used to strike a golf ball … not a stick as had been reported.

He explained how different clubs were used for different shots.

So far, so good.

The journos were all ears when told the driver was club used to hit the ball long and the putter used for short distances.

But wait, there’s more.

The golf official added golfers could play nine or 18 holes.

He explained nine holes was a “misnomer”, which could be rectified with a golfer putting the ball in a hole twice to make up for the 18 holes.

Then he got on to handicapping and we are not sure how many reporters dozed off.

“Handicapping represented the number of times a golfer is allowed to hit the ball on a course,” was his explanation. “The best golfer is determined by the less handicaps he plays.

“A beginner is allowed about 28 handicaps (good for betting games I guess), while a professional is allowed 0-7 handicaps.”

According to the Daily Graphic’s Kwame Larweh, the sports reporters were advised to take notes of the terminologies and apply them in their reporting.

Aggrey said golf was a game for the masses – not just the wealthy.

“Everyone can play golf,” he said.

Meanwhile, GGA president, Dr Felix K. Frempong, pointed out the healthy benefits associated with the game.

“The health benefits”, he said, “include regular long distance walks on the course.”

For the record, there are 20 golf courses and 2900 registered golfers in Ghana. The country’s population is 24,000,000. •

A new definition of moving day While moving the tee markers around the teebox is certainly one way to adjust the length of a par-3 at your local, the owners of one course in the US state of Idaho have taken course management to a whole new level. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, on the shores of the gorgeous Lake Coeur d’Alene, is home to the world’s first and only floating, movable island golf green.

Built on a barge platform that uses a series of cables and machine-operated gears, the par-3 14th hole can be shifted in or out each day with the simple flick of a switch by the course super. Thus, one day’s measurement might be a simple 100-yard pitch shot, while the next day could be a whopping 260-yard monster.

After teeing off, golfers are ferried to the green via “The Putter” water taxi, which is operated by a Coast Guard-certified captain.

Get a par or better, and you’ll even earn a certificate of achievement. But unless your

Inaugural Business Women’s Pennant Competition Women’s golf is not normally the domain of the Murray District Golf Association however the Committee saw the need to provide a competition for working women unable to compete in their usual Pennant Competition conducted mid week.

The MDGA was delighted with the enthusiastic response throughout the District and on Sunday 18th August the first round was contested at Thurgoona Country Club Resort with Commercial Albury triumphant over Corowa 2/1 and Culcairn and Howlong square.

Any women wanting to join in the fun should contact their MDGA club or Tony Briers on 0431 770 803. •

A grand day out The boys from Gymea Hotel Social Golf Club decided to show their true colours during their recent golf day at Bowral Golf Club. The theme: “Plusfours”. On arrival, they were greeted by golf pro Stewart Denholm, who snapped this photo. Looking good, boys! •

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The 15,000 square-foot green is reported to be one of the most expensive greens ever built.

While a final cost has never been released, the owner admits that it was at least “three times the cost” of any green he has ever heard of.

Watch a video of this amazing hole at: http://youtu.be/Y7amdWpYSIk •

He won by HOW MANY?

At the recent club championships at The Links Kennedy Bay, scratch marker Robert Forsythe’s rounds of 73,70,71,76 may not seem remarkable, even when you consider that there was only one good day of weather (second round), and that they were playing from the Black Tees.

Nothing remarkable, indeed. Until you consider that his winning margin over the runner-up was an unfathomable 55 shots (WOW!), and his total of 290 is 16 shots lower than the previous low score for this event! His second round of 70 also set a new amateur course record as the course was recently re-rated. •

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ACROSS

1 Highest finishing Aussie at the 2013 Canadian Open, Aaron _________ (8) 5 Shots that veer badly from left to right (for a right-handed player) (6) 10 Exhausted; made purchases (5) 11 Freedom from having to qualify for a tournament (9) 12 Long-handled putter (10) 13 South African winner of the 2008 Italian Open, Hennie ____ (4) 15 Distance of a putt, maybe (6) 16 Player in front on the scoreboard (6) 17 Commercials (3) 19 Agreement (6) 21 To mention inappropriately or unnecessarily (4,2) 25 Makes an easy putt, ____ in (4) 26 Winner of the Australian Masters in November 2006 (6,4) 28 Pulled out (9) 29 Winner of the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, _____ Woods (5) 30 Stoppages caused by slow play (6) 31 Winner of two senior majors in 2010, ________ Langer (8)

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1 Match in which one plays against the better shot of two or three players (4,4) 2 Abate, like wind on a golf course (3,4) 3 Approximate calculation (10) 4 Golf tournaments (6) 6 Swimming exercise (4) 7 American lady winner of the 2013 Kingsmill Championship, _______ Kerr (7) 8 Australian, Peter, who won the 2012 Australian Open (6) 9 Writing implements carried by most golfers (7) 14 Irish winner of the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Padraig __________ (10) 17 Adapts to a new environment (7) 18 Turned up to play (8) 20 The major city of a state (7) 22 US state that hosted two Web.com tournaments in 2013 (7) 23 Be present at a tournament, say (6) 24 Heavy, often uninteresting, food (6) 27 Winner of the 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open, ____ Woodland (4) Answers: page 97 www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

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your voice

Letter of the Month Scooping up Scoopon deals Re: your articles about ‘Scoopon” and group buying sites: There is another side to the story, as those deals have allowed myself and my golf tragic playing mate to visit other courses in south east Queensland, rather than play at our home course of Caloundra.

In most, if not all, instances the host club have received additional revenue via the purchase of food, drink, pokie revenue, purchases through the pro shop and publicity via our relating the experience to our fellow members.

I have no hesitation in saying we would not have visited those clubs had the expenses of travelling to those clubs not been offset by the promotional offers provided.

Maybe golf course management need to look at revenue sources outside the fairways for alternative revenue sources Weddings or Themed restaurants, for example, to use their facilities during down times [nights]?

I agree all golf clubs should find ways of helping their existing customer base to stay loyal and become more involved. And they should realise women are the social organizers of most families and thus encourage the “fairer sex” to participate more.

But Scoopon, Golflink, Drummond Golf, (all promoters of golf deals) and the like also have a part to play in the rejuvenation of the industry.

George McCarthy, via email

(Thanks George. Yes, indeed, many clubs are pushing hard into the wedding and non-golf market. It is a very lucrative area for additional revenue. But not all clubs have the facilities, staff or money to do this successfully. Themed restaurants: great idea!

My point with Scoopon (etc) is that clubs get but a tiny slice of the overall revenue (and unless you each eat/drink as much as an entire Rugby team, and buy half of the proshop’s stock, you won’t likely help make up that shortfall into a net profit for the club).

Most clubs do a Scoopon deal because they hope that it will lead to future/repeat business or memberships at full price. However, the extremely low prices offered means that clubs are devaluing their products to a point where the average golfer will simply “follow the deal”, and become more loyal to Scoopon than to a club. In your own words, you said you couldn’t/ wouldn’t travel to that course without the deal.

I’m not against promoting the game. I’m just against bad business decisions. And despite my writing about Scoopon for nearly two years now, I have yet to hear from ANY club who has had overwhelming success with a Scoopon deal.)

YOUR VOICE Have you got something to say? Then tell us! Write to us

via email at ed@insidegolf.com.au or mail a letter to: The Editor, Inside Golf, PO Box 360 Nunawading, Vic 3131. Tell an interesting story or something funny about golf and you could WIN a prize like this month’s GolfBuddy Voice GPS unit!

More anti-social views I refer to Brian Oats’ letter (September) regarding social clubs’ conduct at golf clubs.

My club in Sydney has seen in the last couple of years members resigning from our club and joining a club on the NSW/Victorian border for a price that can never be matched at any club in Sydney.

These people then continue to play at our club and have no intention on playing on their new home course. They are still expecting the same services provided by their former Sydney club but are not prepared to make a contribution to the costs of providing these services other than through the competition fees. Accordingly, the budget at my club (to meet costs such as maintaining the course, clubhouse etc) is shrinking each year and I fear that some clubs may close down as a result.

Being a member of a golf club is not only about the golf. Yes I enjoy the competitions and testing

Eastern a gem Your article on The Eastern Golf Club (September) sure brought back memories.

When completing my HSC at Greythorn High in 1969, my geography teacher, Bob Buller - who was Captain at Eastern - invited a bunch of us to become student provisional members. Maybe a dozen or so joined, and so began our love of the game. When Uni fees and commitments became too much, some of us dropped out.

I moved to the Gold Coast in ‘87 and joined Burleigh Golf Club. However, when returning 94

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

myself against the course with the constant target of improving my handicap. However, I believe a major part of being a member of a club is the people you meet, the friends you make, the good times and bad times, it is great that you have your mates there to support you. A golf club is the conduit for all of this.

I also believe that if people are struggling and have been-long time members, then most clubs will try and assist by offering variations in payments.

There used to be an issue in the ‘90s where people were joining rural clubs and then playing on their local course. However there was a condition that you had to play at your home club a minimum of 5 times a year. I believe that pressure should be placed on all clubs offering these cheap memberships to include a similar condition in their remote memberships.

Cristiane Jones, via email

to Melbourne for the footy or to visit family as I do a few times a year, I often get up to the old club with my brother Paul, who’s been a member there for the past twenty-odd years.

It’s amazing to note that a few of the old school crew are still members! It demonstrates the value of introducing youth to the game - future membership is the outcome.

The move to Yering will be a big change, and the loss of that suburban green space a great pity, but at least the club itself will continue.

Alan Turpie, via email

Wandering and wondering Michael Green (August issue) told of a few of the problems that we can experience when holidaying in foreign lands with our golf clubs as extra baggage.

My frustrations when golfing in the UK are slightly different. Where the Poms are concerned, snobbery comes to the fore.

We have a close friend from the county of Essex who until his serious stroke three years ago was a regular visitor to our home here in Redland Bay. A 10 marker at his home club in England we toured a large slice of the Eastern side of Australia with clubs at the ready.

At home here in the Bay, Pat was always welcome in our weekly competitions. When we travelled I would contact the nearest club and enquire as to the availability of tee off spot in their weekly comps.

As visitors we were always welcomed with great cordiality. On completion of the game my score card was always sent through to Redland Bay for the handicapper to check out.

Pat took his cards back to his home club in UK but they refused to recognize them for handicapping purposes.

Mackay tops them all

I read with interest the article about Karrie Webb (September). I had the pleasure of caddying for an Institute of sport lass at Metropolitan, and Karrie was in the group as mentor. She has an awesome golf swing, and it was a pleasure to hear her coaching the youngsters.

However, although I think she is far and away the best golfer to come from Australia, as far as the greatest female sportsperson, I would plump for a lady who has never got the recognition she deserved, and that is Heather Mackay. Only beaten twice in her whole career, and could only get competitive matches by playing against males!

If you say greatest sportsperson of either gender, then surely Walter Lindrum would have to be number one, after all they had to change the rules of the sport to try and keep him “under control”. Followed by Don Bradman, and Karrie.

John Cobb, via email

Sly veterans

Last year I joined the veterans comp. I am only 57. I thought I was going to clean up and win every week. I am still looking for my first win. Those crafty old buggers, who I aim to emulate, are just too good. Saying that, though, I thoroughly enjoy my Thursdays when I can make it at Randwick Golf Club. It’s well-run and the blokes are all gentlemen. The end of season feed wasn’t bad either. Thanks to all those old buggers—of which I am one.

Lea Pustetto, via email

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When visiting the UK, no such reciprocal playing in club comps was made available. At one club I was informed that our handicaps and playing methods were not compatible.

Even at Pat’s home club I was not allowed to fill a vacant spot in a club comp. I have played many courses in the UK as a social player and was amazed at the snobbery from club officials.

Ireland was a lot more relaxed but again Australian Handicaps were not accepted.

On one occasion I wrote to Pat’s home club Forrester Park asking why his competition cards from Australian clubs were not accepted. I received no reply from the club but got a sternly-worded letter from a British golfing body demanding to know why I had dared to question the club’s rules.

Reading between the lines it was obvious that I was considered an upstart from the Colonies.

Re: the cost of golfing in foreign lands. Except for Scotland, I soon learnt that as a pensioner I would have never been able to play my favourite sport if I was a resident in UK. Mind you I don’t think I would last long at any club there due to my Aussie laid-back attitude to the game.

Derek Cotton, via email

Super tough I read with interest the “Last Word” article written by Larry Canning in the September edition. While I read it as a light-hearted piece, many of the hardworking Superintendents around the country have seen it as an attack on their professionalism and reputation.

While all involved in the industry want to see more people playing the game; one would argue if making the course easier would greatly assist this cause; I believe there are far greater issues at play than course playability.

Having said that, a course should be set up fairly which at times is very subjective given the skill level range of players that play the course over the period of the day.

Regarding the subject of pin placement, most Clubs would have a policy regarding course set up and all staff should adhere to the policy.

Interestingly one of the greatest issues we get from our members are the comments they receive when they have had little input into course set-up. This is very evident when an outside organisation want some ownership of course set up for their particular event.

During my time as a Golf Course Superintendent the maintenance team devoted a great deal of time and planning to course set up. This was seen as a priority to ensure that all players had an enjoyable experience; I imagine this would still be a major consideration for all course staff.

I appreciate Mr Canning is entitled to his opinion but perhaps he should look at the issues from all sides?

Peter Frewin, GM, AGCSA, via email

demo dates Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Location New South Wales Canterbury Golf Club* Ballina GC ◊ * Queanbeyan Golf Club* Canberra Int Driving Range* Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club* Gold Creek Golf Club (Drum Fsychwick) ⁰ Illawarra Golf Complex* Monash Country Club* Narrabeen Driving Range ⁰ New South Wales Golf Club* Randwick Golf Club* Kurri Kurri Golf Club* Charlestown Golf Club* Cumberland Golf Club* Highlands Golf Club* Eden Gardens Golf Club* Tura Beach Country Club* Narooma Golf Club* Mourya Golf Club* Mollymook Golf Club* Georges River Golf Club* Bayview Golf Club* Manly Golf Club* Thornleigh Golf Centre* Queensland Victoria Park Golf Complex ◊ * Indooroopilly Golf Club ** Brisbane Golf Club ** Bryron Bay GC ⁰ Nanango Golf Club ⁰ Headland Golf Club ◊ * Caloundra Golf Club ◊ * Horton Park Golf Club ⁰ Parkwood International ⁰ Twin Waters Golf Club ◊ * Yamba Golf Club ◊ * Mr Tees Driving Range ⁰ Palm Meadows Driving Range ⁰ Cappys Driving Ramge ⁰ Cappys Driving Ramge ⁰ Drummond Underwood ◊ * Victoria Yarra Yarra Golf Club* Melbourne Golf Academy ⁰ Warrnambool Golf Club* Yarra Bend Golf Driving Range ⁰ Commonwealth Golf Club* Kingswood Golf Club* Sandringham Golf Range ⁰ Victoria Golf Club* Green Acres Golf Club* Sorrento Golf Club* House of Golf Ringwood* Kingston Heath Golf Club* Horsham Golf Club* Ballarat Golf Club* South Australia Mount Gambier Golf Club* Glenelg Golf Club* Blackwood Golf Club* Royal Adelaide Golf Club* Mount Barker Golf Club* McCracken Golf Club* Victor Harbour Golf Club* Royal Adelaide Golf Club* Flagstaff Hill Golf Club* Gawler Golf Club* Grange Golf Club* Western Australia Melville Galdes Golf Club* Hillview Golf Club* Royal Fremantle Golf Club* Golf Box Booragoon* Golf Box Booragoon* Golf Box Booragoon*

Day

Callaway Date

Time

Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

October 01 October 01 October 02 October 02 October 03 October 04 October 08 October 09 October 10 October 11 October 14 October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 24 October 25 October 28 October 29 October 30 October 31

10am - 3pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 2pm 4 - 8pm 1 - 8pm 12 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 9am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 11am - 4pm 1pm - 5pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 5pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 2pm 8am - 12pm 2 - 5pm 9am - 1pm 2 - 5pm 10am - 3pm 8am - 1pm 4 - 7pm

Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Friday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Sunday Tuesday Friday Friday Friday Friday Thursday

October 01 October 02 October 02 October 04 October 07 October 08 October 08 October 09 October 10 October 13 October 15 October 18 October 25 October 25 October 25 October 31

5 - 7pm 10am - 1pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 8am - 12pm 1 - 5pm 10.30am - 1pm 9am - 12pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 2 - 5pm 1 - 5pm 12 - 5pm 9am - 12pm 1 - 5pm

Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

October 02 October 02 October 03 October 10 October 15 October 16 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 25

10am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 11am - 3pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 5 - 7pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 10am - 2pm 12 - 6pm 12 - 5pm

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

October 04 October 05 October 06 October 07 October 07 October 08 October 08 October 09 October 10 October 11 October 12

9.30am - 2pm 9am - 3pm 9.30am - 3.30pm 8.30am - 12pm 1.30am - 5.30pm 9am - 12pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 5pm 9am - 5.30pm 9am - 12.30pm 9am - 3pm

Saturday Friday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Friday

October 12 October 18 October 19 October 23 October 24 October 25

10am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 10am - 2pm 1 - 5pm 1 - 5pm 9am - 1pm

www.callawaygolf.com

Location

Day

Short Game / FT Optiforce Demo DAYS New South Wales Thornleigh Golf Centre † Belmont Golf Club ∏ Belmont Golf Club † Morisset Golf Club † Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club † Gold Creek Country Club ∏ Gold Creek Country Club √ Beverley Park Golf Club ‡ Magenta Shores Golf Club † Concord Golf Club ** Queensland Victoria Golf Club ∏ Indooroopilly Golf Club ∏ Club Banora ∏ Horton Park Golf Club ∏ Parkwood International Golf Course ∏ Twin Waters Golf Club ∏ Victoria / Tasmania Melbourne Golf Academy ∏ Growling Frog ∏ Rossdale Golf Club ∏ South Australia Drummond Golf Driving Range ∏ Short Game / FT Optiforce fitting days Victoria / Tasmania Victoria Golf Club * Northern Golf Club * Green Acres Golf Club ** Morack Public Golf Course * Patterson River Country Club * Sandringham Driving Range * Kooringal Golf Club * Barwon Heads Golf Club * New South Wales Queanbeyan Golf Club * Royal Canberra Golf Club Belconnen Golf Club * Gungahlin Lakes Golf Course * Bayview Golf Club * Long Reef Golf Club ∑ Toronto Golf Club Bathurst Golf Club ≠ Monash Country Club ** Newcastle Golf Club ** Queensland Wynnum Golf Club *

Mizuno Location

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Friday Wednesday Wednesday Monday

October 01 October 02 October 02 October 03 October 03 October 04 October 04 October 09 October 16 October 28

4 - 7pm 8 - 11am 11am - 1ppm 7 - 9am 1 - 5pm 12 - 5pm 12 - 5pm 9am - 12pm 8 - 10am 8 - 2pm

Tuesday Wednesday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Sunday

October 01 October 02 October 05 October 09 October 10 October 13

5.30 - 7.30pm 10am - 12.30pm 8.30am - 12.30pm 11.30am - 2pm 5 - 8pm 10am - 1pm

Wednesday Saturday Saturday

October 02 October 05 October 12

4 - 7pm 10.30am - 1.30pm 9.30 - 10.30am

Wednesday

October 02

3 - 6pm

Thursday Friday Thursday Thursday Friday Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday

October 03 October 04 October 10 October 10 October 11 October 16 October 29 October 30

10am - 1pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 10am - 3pm 4 - 7pm 12.30 - 5pm 10am - 2pm

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday

October 01 October 02 October 03 October 03 October 08 October 09 October 10 October 11 October 15 October 16

1 - 5pm 9am - 1pm 8 - 11am 1 - 5pm 11.30am - 3.30pm 9.30am - 2.30pm 1 - 5pm 3 - 7pm 1 - 4pm 9am - 1pm

Thursday

October 17

3.30 - 5.30pm

mizuno.com.au

Day

Date

Time

New South Wales Ballina G. C.* Wednesday October 02 10am - 1pm Cromer G. C.* ** Thursday October 03 10am - 2pm Gold Creek - Drummond Golf - Fyshwick* Friday October 04 4 - 7pm Thornleigh G. C.* Tuesday October 08 4 - 7pm Royal Sydney G. C.* ** Wednesday October 09 11am - 3pm The Ridge G. C.* Wednesday October 16 4 - 7pm Drummond Golf - North Mead* Thursday October 17 4 - 7pm Liverpool G. C.* Thursday October 24 9am - 1pm Drummond Golf - Casula* ** Thursday October 24 4 - 7pm The Lakes G. C.* ** Friday October 25 12 - 4pm Belmont G. C.* Saturday October 26 9am - 1pm Moore Park G. C.* Tuesday October 29 4 - 7pm Royal Canberra G. C.* ** Wednesday October 30 10am - 2pm Murrumbidgee G. C.* Thursday October 31 11am - 3pm Queensland Indooroopilly G. C.* Wednesday October 02 10am - 1pm Mt Coolum G. C.* Wednesday October 09 1pm - 4pm Royal Queensland G. C.* ** Thursday October 10 12 - 4pm Caloundra G. C.* Tuesday October 22 12 - 4pm Mooranbah G. C.* Friday & Saturday October 25 & 26 12 - 5pm Victoria Park G. C.* Tuesday October 08 5.30 - 7.30pm Parkwood G. C.* Thursday October 10 4 - 6.30pm Palm Meadows G. C. Friday October 25 2 - 4.30pm Burleigh G. C.* Friday October 18 2 - 4.30pm Surfers Paradise G. C.* Thursday October 03 10am - 2pm Jindalee G. C.* Wednesday October 23 3 - 5pm Dalby G. C.* Tuesday October 22 9am - 3pm South Australia Drummond Golf Driving Range Wednesday October 02 4 - 7pm Mount Lofty G. C. Wednesday October 30 3 - 6pm Victoria Kingston Heath G. C.* ** Wednesday October 02 10am - 2pm Yarra Bend Driving Range Thursday October 10 5 - 8pm Sandringham Driving Range Wednesday October 16 5 - 7.30pm Woodlands G. C.* ** Monday October 21 10am - 2pm Tasmania Olverston G. C.* Tuesday October 22 10am - 3pm Tasmania G. C.* ** Wednesday October 23 10am - 4pm Kingston Beach G. C.* Thursday October 24 10am - 4pm Launceston G. C.* Monday October 28 10am - 3pm Western Australia Hartfield C. C.* Thursday October 03 7am - 12pm Melville Glades G. C. Saturday October 12 10am - 2pm Sea View G. C.* Friday October 18 1 - 5pm Wembley G. C. Wednesday October 23 4 - 8pm Maylands G. C. Saturday October 26 9am - 1pm

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. °Ping Demo day. ◊ Ping Fitting. † Callaway Shortgame Demo day. ‡ Callaway Shortgame/ FT Optiforce Demo day. ∏ Callaway FT Optiforce Demo day. ∑ Fitting & Callaway Brand day. √ Callaway Industry Demo Day & Fitting Event. ≠ Fitting & V8 Supercars Event. Demo dates subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

95

golf directory Join us for Fit For Golf classes at our brand new Surry Hills studio

BA NK STOWN GOL F CLUB

MEMBERSHIPS NOW OPEN

These classes have been specially designed to target the muscles and joints relevant to the golf swing Our classes are designed to improve: - Physical conditioning - Help to protect your spine - Add longevity in the sport - Increase length of all your strokes - Play pain free golf  Golf Screening  Golf Physiotherapy  Golf Massage  Golf Pilates  Golf Yoga www.completegolffitness.com.au

When: Monday and Thursday Time: Class starting soon - 6.30pm for one hour CosT: $20.00 per person (Block of 10 classes 175.00) WhaT To bring: Yoga mat, comfortable clothes and a bottle of water Where: 596 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney

New Sunday/Public holiday memberships only $1220, great value. Only $23.50 per week, competition fees only $6, pay by the month plans available.

Class size limited to 10 pax.

Phone (02) 9773 0628 Enquiries: info@bankstowngolf.com.au

Yamba Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship golf course, located right in the heart of Yamba.

• 18 hole golf course • Fully stocked ProShop • Tuition for all ages available • Motorised cart hire • In club dining at Fairways Bistro • Function room for weddings, special occasions or conferences • Live entertainment and activities throughout the week • Courtesy bus • Open 7 days a week • Stay and Play Packages available

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

River Street, Yamba NSW | Ph (02) 6646 2104 | www.yambagolf.com.au

Specialising in the best ‘Australia Wide ’ Play & Stay Golf Packages

Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast • Hunter Valley • Port Stephens • Mornington Peninsular • Tasmania • Cairns/Port Douglas • The Entrance • WA Golf • Barnbougle • Lost Farm • Saphire Coast • Murray River

Quality accommodation, confirmed tee times, your choice of resort or local courses Every detail professionally arranged, leaving you nothing to do but arrive and have the time of your life!

We will tailor your package to suit any holiday plans or budget

Ph: (07) 3200 6557 M: 0418 713 620 F: (07) 3200 5731 sharon@uchoosegolf.com.au www.uchoosegolf.com.au 96

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Three Day / Two Night Golf Package Includes: Unlimited golf, two nights accommodation, breakfast each morning, 2 x evening meals (vouchers up to the value of $20) • Fully Irrigated Greens & Fairways • Full Bar & Bistro Facilities • Abundant Wildlife including Kangaroos

www.benallagolfclub.com.au (03) 5762 1920 | benagolf @bigpond.net.au

Golf PackaGes

“On COurse at Duntryleague”

“Rowan Cottage” is your ideal golfing destination located next door to the famous Duntryleague Guest House, approximately 3 ½ hour’s drive from Sydney.

Rowan Cottages is located only minutes to town in a quiet street where all Orange has to offer is at your fingertips.

Let us tailor your “Stay & Play Package” on Orange’s 3 Golf Courses: • Duntryleague • Wentworth Golf Club • Orange Ex-Services Country Club

packages starting from

$177pp

includes 2 nights and 3 days of golf on all 3 courses

Contact John on 0417 651 084 or Maureen 0417 651 005 Phone: (02) 6362 9146 • Email: rowancottage@live.com.au

Professionally planned and tailored golf escapes for your enjoyment Packages available

Benalla Golf Club

pp $208 From share twin eek w mid

www.rowancottage.com.au

Inside Golf Digital Now available on iPads and iPhones!

Get Australia’s most regularly read monthly golf publication directly on your iPad or iPhone. Packed with our award-winning content, Inside Golf Digital includes bonus videos, photo galleries, links, interactive elements and more! All in an easy-to-read digital format, delivered directly to your device.

Available in iTunes, the App Store or via the Apple Newsstand.

AUSTRALIA’S

MOST

READ

GOLF

MAGAZINE

InsideGolf Issue 94 May 2013

www.insidegolf.com.au

The BIG Travel issue!

TOP TIPS

9 ways to improve your game on the golf course Distance or direction: which is more important in putting?

The 100m Par-3 game to breaking 90

Your complete guide to Australia’s greatest golf getaways

AROUND THE LINKS

MASTER SENSATION!

We chat with teenage sensation Su Hyun Oh, former Test cricketer Graeme Hick, and senior champion Michael Jackson

ADAM SCOTT BREAKS THE MASTERS DUCK TO WIN AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GREEN JACKET

Only $0.99 per issue.

Or get a full 12-month subscription for only $5.49 Never miss another issue.

Check out Inside Golf Digital today!

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InsideGolf For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

golf directory

Stay and Play from $525 per person (quad share)*

Includes: • 5 nights accommodation in a 2 bedroom garden view apartment • Breakfast included • 3 rounds of golf (Noosa Springs, Tewantin/Noosa and Peregian Springs golf courses) *conditions apply

Motel Mulwala Golfing Mecca on the Murray 3.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation Pool, Austar with 25 channels, walk to pubs, clubs & restaurants We tailor golf packages to suit your needs, or try one of our standard packages conditions apply

$95pp twin share 1 nights accommodation, golf and Cooked Breakfast

$460pp twin share 5 nights accommodation, 4 days golf, 5 Cooked Breakfast & BBQ provisions for 1 night.

Group Bookings of 6 rooms or over, further discounts apply

Contact Nick or Soph to discuss your next golf trip Ph: (03) 5743 2555 Email: enquiry@paradisepalmsmulwala.com 121 Melbourne Street Mulwala NSW 2647

p: (07) 5449 7966 | e: holiday@munnabeach.com.au | www.munnabeach.com.au

www.paradisepalmsmulwala.com.au

LADIES MEMBERSHIP OPEN

No Nomination Fee (Save $440)

Ladies Competitions every Saturday from 9am till 11am and Tuesday from 8am till 9am.

Friday and Sunday Open Medley Competitions.

Subscription year is 1st October till 30th September.

36 Hole Club including 3 practise putting greens, 100m pitching green with bunkers, 250m driving range and fully licensed 1 level air conditioned clubhouse

Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated

DATES SUNDAY 20th OCTOBER 2pm - approx. 5pm SUNDAY 27th OCTOBER 2pm - approx. 5pm SUNDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2pm - approx. 5pm

1207 Nudgee Road NUDGEE QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 7744 Email: golf@nudgeegolf.com.au www.nudgeegolf.com.au

Crossword Answers B E S T B A L L A T T E N D

A D I P E D R O W E N A C A A P I X T A E L

D E S N T I O M A G T I C O N S G R A R A Y

L E V E N S T S H A R D J J U S C T S S

Y

P X E N I C I L D S S S T O E D G B E

S L A M P S K H E A R D R I I N G T O R N

I C R T I S O T I D E A G E R O R I G I H A

E S E O N I T O R R A U P P S E A E R E R D For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

Phone: 1800 159 942 sales@rikshagolf.com.au www.rikshagolf.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

97

golf directory

Port Stephens Golfing Holidays

Play anytime - No waiting Howeston Golf Course

Golf & Accommodation from only $70 per day

9 Play any day & with any number of people

Enquiries welcome

9 Golf & accommodation from a choice of motels, hotels, units & resorts $

www.facebook.com/golfpsgh

T: 02 4984 9618 | M: 0428 820 477 | info@psgh.com.au | www.psgh.com.au

16 Weekdays

20 Weekends & Public Holidays *

$

100A Creek Road, Birkdale, Qld | Phone (07) 3207-2452

*prices include GST

Established 1972 • Full length 27-hole course • Excellent greens • Professional tuition available • Clubs for hire • Open seven days - BYO • Electric golf carts available

9 16 Golf courses including Horizons, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Muree, Tanilba, Cypress Lakes, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage, by boat to Hawks Nest & others

Shop 2/54 Sackville Street Port Fairy VIC 3284 03 5568 3150 accommodation@hearns.com.au

Are you attending the Shipwreck Coast Golf Classic?

Hearn’s in association with the Port Fairy & Warrnambool Golf Clubs have a deal for you!

›› Hole Out

Spectacular

Sapphire Coast Merimbula Mike McGuire & Yumi Yoshida

Great Golf Packages

LET US QUOTE YOUR OWN PACKAGE 4 NIGHTS ACCOM. 5 NIGHTS ACCOM. 3 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

$455 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

Book a 3 or 4 night stay in one of our properties between 8-11 November 2013 & save up to a 30% on your stay View the specials page on our website

www.portfairyaccom.com.au Quote promo code: GOLF on your booking *conditions apply

4 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

FROM

02 6495 2366 0437 801 270 info@pacificheights.com.au www.pacificheights.com.au

FROM

1-7 Oceanview Ave, Merimbula NSW P: M: E: W:

•All golf courses within 20 minute drive •Heated year round pool •Free BBQ area •500m walk to restaurants •FSC Apartments & Munn Tower House •Sensational views of Village, Lake & Ocean

$525 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

Pambula Merimbula GC • Eden Gardens GC • Bega Country Club • Tura Beach Country Club

Clearwater Noosa

Golf Tour to Hua Hin, Thailand Departing 1st March 2014 for 8 days / 7 nights

InclusIons Airfares ex Australia / 7 nights with breakfast / 2 Group dinners / 4 rounds of golf with caddy and cart Airport & Golf course transfers / Welcome souvenir bag / Daily and overall prizes PrIcInG 4*Banyan Resort, 1 bedroom private villa Price per golfer, twin sharing $2750, *Other hotels by request

Contact Paul Gover 0419 264 800 p.gover@thailandgolftours.com.au Your choice of resort and club courses.

• Noosa Springs • Twin Waters • Club Pelican • Coolum Golf & Spa • Mt Coolum • Tewantin Noosa • Horton Park • Headland • Caloundra • Peregian Springs Some conditions apply

www.thailandgolftours.com.au

98

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

golf directory

“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag” • clanging clubs • damaged irons • worn graphite shafts • frustration finding the right iron Patented Softgrip Technology

*

Play & Stay for $120 Package includes: • 2 games of golf • Meal • 1 night accommodation with continental breakfast

bersh em fro m

ips

M

*

$220

A

va

ila ble

From the inventors of the Caddyrack

GET ORGANISED WITH

*Conditions apply

Casino Golf Club - West St, Casino NSW 2470 P: (02) 6662 1259 | E: admin@casinogolfclub.com.au

www.casinogolfclub.com.au

1300 738 557

www.kahmagolf.com

Bookings and enquires call

Ocean Shores Motel (02) 6680 2222 www.oceanshoresmotel.com.au info@oceanshoresmotel.com.au Ph (02) 6680 2222 Fax (02) 6680 2018

All packages are available for stays at either www.thebreakers.com.au or www.paradiseisles.com.au

Aquarius R

E

S

O

R

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

T

• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort.

• 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied).

• 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

Packages starting from:

• Free use of resort facilities, indoor gas heated pool, sauna & spa, full size tennis court, BBQ area and outdoor pool.

• Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share *Conditions apply

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Crn Dunns Lane & Arthur Kaine Drv, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

www.insidegolf.com.au | October 2013

99

golf directory

Golf Cart Slowing Down?

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

Need new batteries?

Don’t replace them… Restore them with the Battery Reviver.

The Battery Reviver can bring old batteries back to life by sending a high frequency pulse through the batteries dissolving the sulphate build up and turning the sulphur crystals back into sulphuric acid. The Battery Reviver is powered by your golf cart batteries and it can be left connected permanently to increase the life of your batteries by up to three times, or used occasionally to restore them.

30 DaY

For more information, pricing and to order Phone 1300 852 433 or visit our website www.batteryreviver.com.au

SatISfaCtIoN GUaraNtEE or YoUr MoNEY BaCK.

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

• • • •

Timeless Tuesday - Unlimited* Golf for ONLY $25 Golf Equipment for Hire & Sale Fully Licensed Clubhouse Social Clubs & Corporate Days

Visitors pay only $25 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

More social playing times now on a Monday & Thursday

start of our membership year, so why not consider membership at the beerwah Golf club

Biondi Crescent, Beerwah admin@beerwahgolfclub.com.au www.beerwahgolfclub.com.au

Ph: (07) 5494 0630 Golf Shop (07) 5494 6611

HUNTER VALLEY GOLF GETAWAYS Golf & AccommodAtion pAckAGes from Just $65pp Including • 18 Holes of Golf • Accommodation • Sleeps up to 40 people

Great traditional Country Style • Singles to Large Group Accommodation • Fantastic Location for Wineries/Golf Courses • Local Access to Stonebridge GC, The Vintage, Cypress Lakes G&CC and Hunter Valley G&CC

Live entertainment thurs - sat nights • The Award Winning Kurrajong Restaurant • Great Pub-Style Atmosphere • TAB • KENO

Ph: (02) 4990 1002 234 Wollombi Road, Cessnock, NSW 2325 cessnockhotel@outlook.com

A family run business for 18 years Best Service & Best Value Guaranteed

Tel: 0061 35873 4477 Fax: 0061 35873 4511

www.lemontreepassagemotel.com.au

Golf Course Rd, Barooga NSW Contact michael@murrayrivergolf.com.au or visit our website

www.murrayrivergolf.com.au 100

October 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

The New SRIXON Z-STAR Series delivers greater advances in spin control and softness while improving the flight characteristics that have won high acclaim. Newly developed Spin-Skin Technology enables players to hit short approach shots with plenty of backspin. Newly developed dimples reduce air resistance for improved flight performance, resulting in a strong, longcarrying trajectory that can conquer even strong headwinds and delivers greater flight distances.

Keegan Bradley PGA Champion

Graeme “G-Mac� McDowell US Open Champion

PLAY A BETTER BALL. Z STAR IS THE ANSWER.

The real question is Z STAR or Z STAR XV?

Find out how you can play the new Srixon Z Star for FREE at www.playabetterball.com.au.

Quality

used Golf Cars

ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO GOLF CLUBS

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH 269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 6 Days penrith_golf@iprimus.com.au

$799

Srixon Q Star Balls

TopFlite Gamer V2

TS+ Green box or TS Tour Gold box Individually boxed

3 piece ball Long and soft 3 piece quality $168 for 144 Individually boxed

$35

$20

$18

FL Men’s & ladies 3, 5, 7 DST Launcher Men’s regular & stiff 3 + 5 Doz

TaylorMade RBZ Driver

SAVE $60

$190

$14

$89

Callaway Masters Tour Bag 10” Large US PGA also available Limited Edition

$289

Individually boxed balls

Soft Feel with distance Individually boxed 144 balls - $240

$20

Wide, easy fitting Breathable White only Tech response 4.0 Not waterproof doz

Callaway Hex Black Tour Balls Urethane cover 4 piece Tour ball

$45

Eagles & Birdies Cypress Point bag

doz

SRIXON ALL WEATHER GLOVES

6 Irons 5 - PW Dynamic Gold Regular R300 Right hand Black Pearl finish

$299

5 FOR

SAVE$60

$199

TaylorMade XD balls Great for golf ball competitions Bulk qty 144 balls ($14 a doz) Individually boxed

$45

Distance ball with great feel

$33 Callaway Tour Umbrella

$69

68” Large Fibreglass shaft Dual canopy Automatic pop-up

$44

Includes cover

Regular or Seniors Graphite Shafts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, pitching & sand wedges

$45 $168

$156

144 balls ($13/dozen) Individually boxed

Cleveland Divided Golf Bag 14 Top Dividers Cooler Pocket Putter Holder Green, Yellow or Gold

$109

$79

Callaway Staff Tour Bag Pro Style 10” large diameter

SAVE $100

$249

Cleveland Hybrid Iron 588 Altitude

INC. POSTAGE ANYWHERE IN AUST

Great for ball competitions Bulk Qty

per dozen

Cleveland CG-16 Tour Irons

$48 SAVE$40

US Sizes: 9, 9.5, 10, 10..5 ONLY

14 Full length dividers Magnetic pockets Cooler pocket Lots of colours

Distance ball with great feel

$18

Mens or Ladies Soft Feel 144 Balls for $216

Adidas summer lightweight shoe TaylorMade 5 piece Tour Balls

Callaway HX Diablo Balls

Srixon Distance Balls

Doz

Srixon Soft Feel Ball Sale

½ PRICE

Includes cover

Includes cover

Mens Left or Right White or Black Mens - S, M, ML, L, XL Ladies - S, M, L

½ PRICE!

dozen

Cleveland Fairway Sale

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

$33

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 6 Days

OPTIMA Ball Sale

$490

10.5º Regular 9.5º Stiff 12º Ladies

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted $7 NSW, $9 VIC & QLD, $10 SA, TAS, NT & WA Postage and handling any quantity.

TaylorMade RBZ Graphite Irons 4-SW 8 irons Long Distance irons Regular flex Graphite Shafts Right Hand

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN

$89 each

Callaway Warbird Plus Balls Individually boxed $180 for 144 balls

$15

dozen

#BRINGIT