Issue 216 // OCTOBER 2023 www.insidEgOlf.COm.au ausTRalia’s M o s t - R e a d gOlf magazinE FAIRWAY FASHION THE LATEST GOLFING FASHION CELEBRITY SWINGER CRICKETER GREG RITCHIE RESORT OF THE MONTH MOONAH LINKS GOLF RESORT CLUB OF THE MONTH RICHMOND GOLF CLUB DO GOLF SIDE BETS LEAD TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR? LIFESTYLE LIVING GOLF COURSE LIVING BEST OF BOTH WORLDS TRAVEL ADVENTURES BRISBANE IS MORE THAN A GOLFING DESTINATION NEWS • OPINION • HOLIDAYS • LIFESTYLE • GEAR • TRAVEL • INDUSTRY AUSTRALIAN GOLF FANS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A MOUTH-WATERING GOLF FEAST THIS SUMMER AUSSIE GOLF SET TO SIZZLE NOW SELLING ECHUCA MOAMA An exciting new residential development in the heart of Rich River Golf Club: • Located at Twenty Four Lane, Moama, NSW • Limited golf frontage blocks remaining • Blocks starting from $270,000 • Town services including Natural Gas • Enjoy lifestyle benefits of Rich River Golf Club facilities • On-site Golf, Lawn Bowls, Croquet and Tennis GET IN TOUCH Stephen Morgan 0419 388 802 stephen.morgan@raywhite.com Ray White Echuca MORE INFO
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October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 Less impressive at the tour-ending Fed-Ex Cup was the performance of Taylor Moore, who hacked around in 33 more shots than Hovland. Okay, the American had a mediocre week by his standards, but he still banked US$500,000 (A$780,000). Just one Australian, Jason Day, made it to the Fed-Ex Cup’s final showdown where the top 30 player played for squillions of dollars. Day finished 30 shots behind Hovland and pocketed more than A$800,000. Speaking of huge amounts of cash up for grabs, it is quite astounding to note that Englishman Tyrrell Hatton collected more than A$13m without winning an event on the PGA Tour in 2022-23. And no fewer than 124 players earned more than US1m (A$1.5m), including Aussies Jason Day (US$6.9m), Cam Davis (US$4m), Adam Scott (US$3m), Min Woo Lee (US$2.4m), Aaron Baddeley (US$1.2m) and Lucas Herbert (just over US$1m). American Scottie Scheffler finished on top of the pile with more than US$21m, around $33m in our money, courtesy of two PGA Tour victories and 17 top-10s in 2022-23. And remember, most of these golfers are playing between 18 and 22 tournaments a year. Nice work if you can get it. So much money for so little THE amount of money dished out to players who signed up to play the LIV Golf League last year is best summed up by paraphrasing former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill: never has so much been given to so many for so little. The PGA Tour, too, is a happy (monetary) hunting ground for the professional elite. Let’s for a moment put aside Viktor Hovland, who pocketed that ludicrous US$18 million (A$28,257,460) bonus for winning the FedEx Cup. The very best of luck to him, but I was bewildered to hear a number of my fellow coffin-dodgers at my local 19th hole ask: “Who is this guy”? Well, Hovland is a Norwegian who had a stellar amateur career, winning the Norwegian Amateur Championship as a 16-year-old – five years after first picking up a golf club. While playing college golf at Oklahoma State University he won the 2018 US Amateur Championship, becoming the first Norwegian to do so, and earning invitations to the 2019 Masters, US Open and Open Championship. Oh, and he played in the 2018 Australian Open, where he finished tied 13th behind Mexico’s Abraham Ancer at The Lakes Golf Club. He was the low amateur at the 2019 Masters, finishing three-under-par in 32nd place and rose to No.1 in the World Amateur Rankings. He turned pro in 2019 and has had 10 professional wins – six on the PGA Tour. And he’s ranked No.4 in the official world rankings. I’m sure some of the older golfers in my circle must spend a lot of time living under a rock because if the names on the leaderboard aren’t Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Jason Day or Cameron Smith they scratch their heads in puzzlement … like a small child with nits. At least the younger generation I golf with, like my 32-yearold twin sons, are more attentive and take great interest in following the likes of Hovland, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler et al. Mind you, the boys do question the distribution of wealth and express concern for those professionals at the south end of a horse walking north. You know, the players with +6 and +7 handicaps who struggle to make a living. But I digress. Putting aside Hovland’s Fed-Ex windfall, his official earnings on the PGA Tour this past season amounted to another US$14 million (A$21.9m). Add that to his Fed-Ex Cup money from heaven and it works out to be more than A$50m. PUBLISHER: Sam Arthur | sam@insidegolf.com.au Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 EDITORIAL: Editor: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Journalist: Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS Journalist: Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au QLD Journalist: Peter Owen peter.owen@outlook.com.au Design & Layout: Stacey Broomhead, Rob Kirk CONTRIBUTORS: Larry Canning, Rob Willis,Tony Webeck, John Riley, Karen Lunn, Michael Cooney, Andrew Crockett SALES: National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 M: 0410 575 303 | E: sam@insidegolf.com.au Northen NSW/QLD/NT Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 | E: david.ross@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Corp Sales: David Andrews M: 0404 871 479 | E: david.andrews@insidegolf.com.au Sydney/NSW Sales: Michael Hamilton M: 0423 455 572 | E: michael.hamilton@insidegolf.com.au NSW Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter Valley Sales: Wendy Wilkinson M: 0414 905 232 | E: wendy@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS Sales: Marc Wilson M: 0419 107 143 | E: marc@insidegolf.com.au WA Sales: Gary Powell M: 0439 350 363 | E: gary@insidegolf.com.au SA Sales: Brett Crosby M: 0403 323 198 | E: brett@insidegolf.com.au ACCOUNTS: Sheridan Murphy M: 1300 465 300 | E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Distributed to over 400 golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month It’s official: 38,230 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: October 2022 to March 2023 AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF MAGAZINE www.insidegolf.com.au Cover photos: Royal and Ancient PGA of Australia Get in touch If you have an opinion on this or any other topic in the magazine, send your letter to the editor to david@insidegolf.com.au and you’ll be in the running to win a gripping prize. Inside Golf publishes opinion from a wide range of perspectives in the hope of promoting constructive debate about consequential questions. That’s not too shabby for someone who celebrated his 26th birthday only last month. So, he’s not exactly on the breadline courtesy of being a gun player of the highest calibre. That he managed to win a king’s ransom over a period of only three weeks clearly shows a weakness in the way the points are accumulated. The son of an engineer, Hovland is a sort of smiling assassin – seemingly always cheerful and why not now that he is rather wealthy by Norwegian and Australian standards. David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au “That he (Hovland) managed to win a king’s ransom over a period of only three weeks clearly shows a weakness in the way the points are accumulated.” www.linkshopeisland.com.au
October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 6 SOUTHERN Golf Club’s favourite son, the late Bob Shearer, will be honoured with a statue at the club. The statue will be the work of renowned Melbourne artist, Louis Laumen, who crafted the exquisite tribute to five-time Open champion, the late Peter Thomson, at Victoria Golf Club. Southern Golf Club’s general manager Brad Robb said a number of artists tended for the work. “But the level of detail in the Peter Thomson statue was so good we could not go past Louis Laumen to do the statue of Bob,” he said. The Shearer statue is expected to be completed and unveiled by March next year. It is believed to be just the fourth golf stature commissioned in Australia. Thomson also has a statue honouring him at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula while US golf legend Arnold Palmer has one at Sanctuary Cove in Queensland. The Shearer statue will be taken from a great picture of him taken during his 1982 PGA Tour victory in the Talahassee Open. It will be positioned outside the Southern clubhouse looking down the first fairway. “We believe it is only the fourth golf related statue in Australia,” Robb said. The feedback from Southern members and the wider golf family to the building of the statue to honour Shearer has been overwhelming. Robert Allan “Bob” Shearer OAM died at the age of 74 in January 2022. Having joined Southern Golf Club in 1961 as a 13-year-old, he soon showed his talents and developed his skill to become one of Australia’s best known and successful international golfers of that era. He was extremely popular with golf galleries all around the country. “Bob always claimed and committed to being a member of Southern Golf Club no matter where he was in the world. He loved the club’s atmosphere, and his friendships abounded at Southern,” president Peter Anderson said. IN THIS ISSUE PRO NEWS 7 GOLF DIRECTORY 76 72 74 19TH HOLE DEMO DAYS BUNKER-TOBUNKER 33 CELEBRITY SWINGER 36 LIFESTYLE CLUB NEWS EVENTS 52 38 70 INDUSTRY NEWS 24 LETTERS 34 TRAVEL 62 CLUB NEWS NEW PRODUCTS 54 Bob Shearer to be honoured with a statue “Bob’s commitment to the club has been reflected in many ways, through his course design, life membership, financial commitment and personal dealings with so many members and non-members who have all identified Bob with Southern Golf Club. He is a true champion of Southern Golf Club.” The club’s board voted unanimously to commission the statue of Shearer. “As you know, the club meant everything to Bob and when he was at the peak of his powers in the late 1970s and early ’80’s, the financial commitment, exposure and marketing that Bob gave Southern, at a time when the club was at its lowest, potentially saved the club from folding. This is our opportunity to recognise the benefits and value we now enjoy and remember Bob’s significant role for the generations that will follow,” Anderson said. Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au The late Bob Shearer in his playing days. His memory will live on at Southern Golf Club. ROBERT ALAN SHEARER PROFILE Born 25-5-1948 – died 9-1-2002 Turned professional: 1971 Professional wins: 27 Tours played: PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour, PGA Tour, European Senior Tour Number of wins by tour: PGA Tour 1 European Tour 2 PGA of Aust: 18 European Senior 4 Other 2 Best results in major: Masters T35 US PGA T26 US Open T16 The Open T7 Achievements and awards: PGA of Australasia OOM winner 1974, 1977, 1981, 1982 Visit adventures.allianceairlines.com.au Email adventures@allianceairlines.com.au Phone 0400 788 398 DIRECT BRISBANE to KING ISLAND FLIGHTS “BOARD IN BRISBANE, STEP OFF IN TASMANIA’S GOLFING WONDERLAND” • 3 Rounds x Cape Wickham/Ocean Dunes • Alliance Airlines flights + transfers • Top Accommodation • Crayfish welcome dinner • Hosted great 3-day packages NOVeMBer 11-12 aNd deceMBer 10-11 $3,399 per persON twiN share
October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 Australia’s summer of golf set to sizzle AUSTRALIAN professional golf is midway through its entrée ahead of two mouth-watering main courses – the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open (men’s, women’s and all abilities). Ahead of the two main men’s tournaments, PGA Tour of Australasia players will continue to sharpen their games at the Queensland PGA Championship (Nudgee GC), Gippsland Super 6 (Warragul CC) and the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links. Then all focus will be on the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Of course, all the usual suspects will be there trying to get a slice of the $2m prize purse including Cam Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert et al. But Cameron Smith is the logical choice to win his second successive Australian PGA title at RQ from November 23-26. All signs point his way. The 30-year-old has already won the championship three times (2017, 2018 and 2022). And last year he won his first major – The Open – when ranked No.2 in the world which eliminated him from the ‘best players never to have a major on their resume’ list. He also has a good track record playing the LIV Golf League with three victories including two this year. Yes, logic suggests Smith will be the people’s choice to lift the Kirkwood Cup for a fourth time. Still, Smith will have to bring his A game as he’ll have Scott (the 2013 champion), Min Woo, Herbert and others breathing down his mullet. And don’t forget Jed Morgan, the 2021 champion who scored a runaway victory on his home track of Royal Queensland. He has been playing nice golf on the LIV Golf tour. More big-name players like Cam Davis and Marc Leishman are expected to add their names to the list before entries close. Then there are a number of young guns who could spoil the party. Some of the hungry energetic young golfers include David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Aaron Wilkin, who won the BRG Open Championship in Vietnam, Louis Dobbelaar, Deyen Lawson, Daniel Gale, Haydn Barron, Maverick Antcliff, Lawry Flynn, Lachlan Barker, David Micheluzzi, Blake Proverbs and Brett Coletta. When the last putt drops at RQ all eyes will turn to Sydney’s The Lakes and The Australian as joint hosts of the AUSTRALIAN OPEN (men’s women’s and all abilities). To be played from November 30 to December 3, the men’s and women’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open carries a combined prize purse of $3.4m with the men’s event sanctioned by the DP World Tour. Australia’s No.1 player, Cameron Smith, will be there and so will Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert and Aaron Baddeley. Remember Badds.com? The two-time champion is making an emotional homecoming after seven years to have another tilt at the title. He will arrive confident after pocketing more than $1.8m on the US PGA Tour in the 2022-23 season. It’s too early to say if the tall (1.97m) Polish player, Adrian Meronk, will defend his title. At this stage, it appears the main focus will be on Cam Smith, who will try to win his national Open for the first time. “Cam Smith is one of the biggest drawcards in world golf and I’m sure Australian golf fans are as delighted as we are that we will see him at both the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship this year,” said Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland. “His quest for the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney will be a highlight of the summer of sport.” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman is also excited: “With Cam locked in for both fields, the Australian PGA and Australian Open will be must-see events.” In the early stages of his professional career, Smith lost a playoff to American Jordan Spieth at the 2016 Australian Open at Royal Sydney. The following year, he was fourth behind Cam Davis at The Australian. The Women’s Australian Open has been a happy hunting ground for international players. In the past 10 Open’s only one Australian, Karrie Webb, has lifted the trophy. That was in 2014. Last year, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai won the title and at press time she had not entered to defend her title. Other international winners were American sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda in 2012 and 2019 respectively. Kiwi Lydia Ko won in 2015 and Japan’s Haru Nomura was successful a year later. Korean players Jiyai Shin, Ha Na Jang, Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park won the women’s Open in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2020 respectively. Still, Aussies including Minjee Lee, Hannah Green (both yet to enter), Steph Kyriacou et al will make their presence felt. Whatever happens, it’s going to be an Australian summer sizzler. Don’t miss it. Cameron Smith is expected to light up golf in Australia later this year. – Photo: Golf Australia. DistributeD by golf imports | 03 5277 3977
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Not even an 11 could halt Maddison’s progress NOT even a horrible 11 midway through her second round could faze champion WA amateur Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, who recovered to survive the first stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. Indeed Hinson-Tolchard, Australia’s topranked female amateur and the darling of the US collegiate circuit, led a group of five Australians – three professionals and two amateurs – into the second stage of qualifying, to be played in late October in Florida. Ranked 36th best amateur in the world, Hinson-Tolchard was cruising at six-underpar when she came to the tricky 12th hole at Mission Hills’ Arnold Palmer course in Rancho Mirage, California – a short par-4 with water left and right and a double-tiered green. After walking off with an 11 – five strokes worse than for any of the other 71 holes she played that week – Hinson-Tolchard proceeded to birdie three of the final six holes to shoot an incredible par round of 72. Her 72-hole total of five-under-par 283 placed her 33rd of the 95 women who qualified for the second stage at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Florida and almost certainly assured her of status on the secondary Epson Tour next year – even if she goes no further. But Hinson-Tolchard’s sights are set high. Her outstanding results at college level in the US are writing her into the record books. Earlier this year she won the individual title and led Oklahoma State University to the Big 12 Women’s Championship, a performance which earned her a spot in the International women’s team which played the United States for the Arnold Palmer Cup at Pennsylvania’s Laurel Valley Golf Club in June. She was the first player from her college to record 50 par-or-better rounds during their career and was named All-American for the past two seasons. She also played in this year’s US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. Hinson-Tolchard was the 2018 Australian Girls’ Amateur champion, and earlier this year won a Karrie Webb Scholarship, which included spending time with Australia’s finestever female golfer, and attending the Women’s PGA Championship. – PETER OWEN Harrison joins pro ranks HE hit a shot at the hallowed Home of Golf that reverberated around the world. Yet Sydney’s Harrison Crowe will be hoping to be remembered for a lot more than that one shot, at St Andrews, after making the momentous decision to turn pro. Video of Crowe hitting a shot, while standing on the footpath outside St Andrews’ famous Dunvegan Hotel, just up the road from The Old Course, went viral when he landed an iron shot on the 18th green, to the roars of an adoring crowd. He has possibly hit a lot better iron shots than that over the course of the past year, but that shot has still been rated by many as one of the golf shots of the year. Now the 22-year-old from St Michael’s GC will take his game further to the world, deciding to capitalise on a PGA Tour of Australasia exemption that he received from winning the 2022 NSW Open at Concord. That exemption expires at the end of the 20232024 season, prompting Crowe to join the pro ranks and deciding his first official start as a pro would be the WA Open at Joondalup CC in Perth this month. “To have the goals that I want to achieve, I need to be playing a full season,” said Crowe. “If I was to wait any longer and miss those additional events, I could be starting behind Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au the eight-ball with regards to the Order of Merit. “I think I’m more than mentally ready to make that jump.” Many people thought Crowe would turn pro following the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand last October. Yet a victory, sealed with an up-and-down on the 72nd hole, opened the doors to major championship starts at both the US Masters and The Open Championship. “I think the decision would have been made a lot earlier if I didn’t make that up-and-down,” said Crowe. “The perks of playing two majors are pretty cool but regardless of the two majors, the extra experience that I got and continuously learning really opened my eyes. “The people that I got to meet, the people that I got to play with and the advice I was given is pretty priceless.” Harrison Crowe shows off the NSW Open trophy. ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT www.teedupgolftours.com info@teed-up.com 02 8458 9000 TO BOOK EASILY ONLINE GO TO OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US PLAY 7 BRITISH OPEN COURSES INCLUDING THE OLD COURSE ALSO NOW SELLING 2024 US MASTERS, 2024 CANADA AND 2024 SUPER BOWL GOLF TOURS 6TH - 19TH JULY, 2024 13 Nights Luxury Accommodation • 10 Rounds of Golf with carts Additional Inclusions: • All Transfers will be in a luxury air-conditioned coach • Welcome Dinner and Drinks • Clubhouse lunches on four days in St Andrews • Dinner at Old Course /Rusacks Hotel • Presentation Dinner and Drinks • Breakfast Daily • Souvenir Photo Book • Gifts & Prizes • Hosted by Teed Up’s PGA Golf Professional and co-founder Mike Mosher October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 9
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October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 11 JOSH Greer was just 14 years of age when he got his first taste of life as a professional golfer. A member of the Golf WA State junior squad, Greer got through pre-qualifying for the 2015 WA Open at Royal Fremantle Golf Club and arrived for his practice round fully aware of what was waiting for him: Free golf balls. “What I was looking forward to most was getting balls from Matt from Titleist,” Greer, now 22, recalls ahead of this month’s WA Open (October 5-8) at his home club, Joondalup Resort. By Tony Webeck “I knew we got two dozen golf balls and a couple of gloves, so I was looking forward to that.” That week the amateurs who stood out were Min Woo Lee and Curtis Luck, adding to the history of young players who put their names forward at Western Australia’s state open. Victorian pair Zach Murray and David Micheluzzi finished 1-2 at Mount Lawley Golf Club in 2018 and then in a 2020 field limited by COVID-19 travel restrictions, Hayden Hopewell triumphed at his home course of Royal Fremantle. The WA quartet of Greer, Hopewell, Connor McKinney and Adam Brady have all turned professional since last year’s championship won by Deyen Lawson at The Western Australian Golf Club and are learning what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Hopewell made the cut in his pro debut at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship last November and a week later was playing a practice round at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open with good mate Min Woo Lee, Minjee Lee and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott. It was an immediate reminder that the intensity had been taken up a notch. “That’s probably the most nervous I’ve been, playing a practice round with Adam Scott,” Hopewell concedes of their round at Victoria Golf Club. “He drew a crowd just for a practice round so that was interesting, too. “It was good to have Min there, one of my good mates, and Ritchie (Smith, Hopewell’s coach) and the family and just tried to go about things as normal.” Hopewell is one of a number of outstanding amateurs who have won PGA Tour of Australasia events prior to turning professional. Like Luck (2016 WA Open), Murray (2018 WA Open), Travis Smyth (2017 NT PGA) and Harrison Crowe (2022 NSW Open), Hopewell’s victory solidified his status as a pro in waiting, runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2021 adding valuable experience. “You don’t really think of it at the time, but winning a pro event as an amateur or even just contending is important in building that belief that you are good enough,” Hopewell adds. “You can see that your best can compete with the pros so I’m very grateful for the opportunities that I was given by Golf WA to play the WA Open. “It was beneficial in developing not only my game but the mindset I needed before turning pro.” Hopewell missed the cut in his first appearance at the WA Open as a 16-year-old in 2018 but returned a year later to play his way into the final group with Michael Sim at Cottesloe Golf Club. Sim would prevail by one stroke that day, Hopewell grateful to have his best mate on the bag to stay at ease. “I was definitely nervous because it was the first time I’d been in that situation, playing in the last group of a pro event,” Hopewell said. “I had my best mate on the bag which helped. We were playing a fair bit of Fortnite at that stage so we spent a lot of time talking about gaming as we were going around.” Greer would finish tied for 12th when Hopewell triumphed at his home club 12 months later but drew confidence from his performance at Royal Perth Golf Club in 2017. Although he shot a Sunday 69 to climb into a tie for 34th, being level with Luck and just one back of six-time DP World Tour winner Brett Rumford after the second round reinforced that at 16 years of age, Greer was on the right path. “I looked up to them growing up and I was the same score as them after the first two or three rounds,” Greer remembers. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to play with any of them back then but I just remember looking at that and thinking it was pretty cool.” With Crowe announcing in early September that the WA Open will be his first event as a professional, the Aussie summer of golf promises to be a showcase of the next generation of young players ready to take the world by storm. Josh Greer … got an early taste of professional golf. Hayden Hopewell … hoping to triumph again. Rookies ready to cash in at WA Open Sporting Greats & Wellness Voyage *Guest speakers are confirmed to date, but may change at Cunard’s discretion due to unforeseen circumstances. All event details published are subject to change. ~ Some experiences are not included in the cruise fare. Experiences must be booked, spaces are strictly limited and additional charges apply. Charges will be made in USD and bookings must be made via My Cunard. To be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions at www.cunard.com/en-au/legal which passengers will be bound by. Carnival plc trading as Cunard ABN 23 107 998 443 Sydney roundtrip | 7 nights | 13 – 20 Feb 2024 Are you a sporting fan and do you enjoy getting pampered? This voyage has it all. Meet some of Australia’s sporting greats. Be inspired by their courage as they share their enthusiasm of the sports they love and receive useful tips on how to improve your golf game from Karrie. 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October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 How a young star turned his life around and cashed in on his talent AT 3AM on the morning that he would play for his golfing future in a Q-School qualifier at Lakelands on the Gold Coast, Jack Wright was hunched over a table in The Star Casino, nursing a beer and praying that the card he’d just drawn would fill an inside straight. Unsurprisingly, when he did make it to the course later that morning, he didn’t play particularly well, missing the cut at the first stage of 2021 qualifying, and delaying the start of a professional golf career that now promises great things. Wright says the story about his night at the casino is well known, and he tells it as an example of how far he’s come, how much he’s changed, in his quest to become a successful touring professional. “I was an idiot,” Wright, 26, concedes. “I loved golf, and I knew that I had a talent for it, but I just didn’t take it seriously. I knew I wanted a future in golf, but didn’t care too much and I wasn’t really dedicated.” That all changed when Wright was playing and practicing on the Gold Coast last year with successful professionals like Michael Sim, and realised that he was capable of competing at a similar level. Realising he’d have more opportunities to play competitively as an associate, he made a lastminute decision to apply to head professional Jared Love to become a trainee and began life as a first-year associate at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads late last year. He works 20 to 30 hours a week in the pro shop, loves the job and the people he works By Peter Owen with, and spends the rest of the week playing and practicing. He’s impressed everybody with his work ethic and attention to detail. Associates, or trainees as most members know them, are required to complete a threeyear apprenticeship, learning all aspects of life as a club pro and undertaking extensive study. They’re also required to maintain a high standard of play, tested most Mondays against their peers in a series of pro-am tournaments. Wright played his first MPP (Membership Pathway Program) event on January 23 at Maroochy River – a PGA Employer/Employee Challenge – shooting two-under-par 70 to finish tied for third. That was the beginning of a campaign virtually unmatched in PGA history. Wright has since won an unprecedented seven events on the Queensland MPP schedule. He’s twice ventured interstate – for a fourth placing in the 72-hole Victorian PGA Associate Championship at Tocumwal in May, and a win in the NSW/ACT Associate Championship at Tura Beach in late August. In all he’s finished top 10 in 21 of the 24 events he’s played, and has an unbeatable lead in the Queensland Associate annual Order of Merit. His outstanding play has seen him recognised by the Australian PGA as one of the country’s top five associates, a status allowing him to play in pro-am events across the country, as well as Tier 2 tournaments, which include all the state PGA championships. He played in the Northern Territory PGA in August, shooting rounds of 70, 70, 71 and 70 to finish 25th, and is looking forward to testing his game against all-comers in the Queensland PGA at Nudgee in November. Wright was introduced to golf as a youngster in Bairnsdale, where his dad John was the club pro. He gained his first handicap at the age of nine and showed outstanding potential from an early age. He moved with the family to Yamba in NSW, when his dad became head pro there. “I just about grew up in the pro shop,” he said. “I was answering the phone when I was about 10 and I was always around golfers.” His younger brother Mackenzie is a professional golfer and his father is a teaching professional at Maroochy River on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. “My dad’s been the only coach I’ve ever had and I get up to the Sunshine Coast about once a month. Nobody knows my swing like he does,” Wright said. “We make a good team.” Proud dad John said: “When he hits a ball it makes a sound you don’t hear from other players, but Jack was slow to mature as a golfer. He wasn’t ready until this year.” He’s ready now, all right, and says he’s supremely confident in his game, happy in his job, enjoying everything about being a professional golfer, and well aware that success in his field is never easy. He plans to complete his traineeship at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads, play as much golf as he can and, hopefully, become a successful tournament player. “But if that doesn’t work out I’ll be happy enough joining my brother and my dad as a PGA member,” he said. Jack Wright celebrates his victory at the recent NSW Associates Championship at Tura Beach. 1800 630 343 Email: sales@travelrite.com.au • www.travelrite.com.au 2 to 11 August 2024 Great value golf tour to St. Andrews, Scotland with a chance of playing the Old Course. Stay in St. Andrews and play as many times as you like on the Links Courses – New, Jubilee, Castle, Eden, Strathyrum and Balgove throughout the trip. 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October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 Great Scot Sam Torrance talks all things golf SAM Torrance was a prolific player throughout the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s winning 46 professional tournaments including the 1980 Australian PGA Championship at Royal Melbourne. He represented Scotland and Europe with distinction. Torrance represented Scotland at the World Cup 11 times and the Alfred Dunhill Cup on nine occasions. After his insights into the Ryder Cup last month, the 70-year-old legend sat down with AceOdds (aceodds.com) to talk about his life as a professional and all things golf. Sam, what inspired you to become a professional golfer? My dad, really. When I was five, we moved to Manchester. He was the pro and greenkeeper at Rossendale Golf Club and that’s where I started my golf. When I was between 8 or 9, I shot 39 on the nine-hole course and I came in and I told him. I thought he was going to knock my head off. He said, “I told you never to bloody lie to me.” I said, “Dad, honestly, I did!” He dragged me to the first tee and said, “let’s go”. And I did it again and I guess that’s when I found my teacher for the next 50 years. That’s what inspired me … and the love of the game. Who were your biggest influences in golf? Well, my dad would be definitely my biggest influence. I played Seve [Ballesteros] in the Hennessy Cognac Cup, which became the Seve Trophy, in the years after we played it. It was actually at The Belfry. We were one down with two to play. On the par-5 17 he’s just short of the green. I’m just right of the green. He chips up stone dead. And I dunk my chip right in front of me and then I chipped it in for the half. So, I was one down, one to play. We’re all over the place marching over to the 18th. I’ve teed up the ball, had a wee few swiggles at the ball and I’m noticing around me there are no feet there. So, I think, ‘What the hell is going on?’ And I look up and there’s not a soul there. I’d gone to the ninth tee and Seve and all the others were on the 18th. I managed to win the last hole and finish all square. And then in 1980, I played the Australian PGA and I think I played with [Greg] Norman in the third round and Seve in the last round. Cut a long story short, I won it. When I came off the last green, Seve put his arm around me. He looked me in the eyes and said, “hey, San” – he always called me San. He says, “you’re very tough to beat, eh?”. And for a legend like that, to say that to me meant a huge amount. Seve was a huge influence. And who was your toughest opponent on the European Tour? Myself. [laughs]. I think Seve [Ballesteros]. Seve was extraordinary – he had such an aura about him. He was the king. I can tell you a funny story about him. As I said, I played in eight Ryder Cups and I think in seven of them the big five were in the team. [Bernhard] Langer, [Sandy] Lyle, [Nick] Faldo and [Ian] Woosnam and the King: Seve. And the big bonus of that was in the team room, you could ask them anything about golf – anything about your swing, their swing, how to play certain shots. They would help you because they would do anything to win the Ryder Cup. And the story I’m going to tell you about is my second Ryder Cup in ’83 at West Palm Beach. They have this thick rough round the greens which we didn’t really have in Europe. I didn’t play a lot in America so I was not that great out of it. So, I asked Seve, please can you help me with this rough round of greens? He says, “Si, no problem. Come on.” So, he takes me down to the range and he was there with me for at least an hour and he was magnificent – couldn’t have been more helpful. And of course, the Ryder Cup finishes, we ended up losing by a point. We all promised each other we’d come back in ’85 and win it, which we did. But when we came back, I think the second tour we played might have been Spain, not sure. But I was down on the range in this thick rough still trying to get this chipping right and who walks past but King Seve. I said, “Please Seve, por favor, just one minute, come and have a look at it.” And he looked down at me with this beautiful big smile on his face. He said, ‘Hey, San, f… off. I’ll see you in two years!” [Laughs]. Which was brilliant. How do you think the game of golf has changed since you started playing professionally? Distance, probably. These guys are now hitting the seven-iron 195. When we played a par-4 of 420-430 yards, it was virtually two woods. Now they’re driving it 350 yards and wedges 100/130/140 maybe. So, a huge difference there. But it’s down to fitness, it’s down to a lot of things. It’s certainly down to the golf club and the ball. Everything put together has just improved greatly. What do you think separates the great golfers from the good ones? Between the ears – no question. I was fortunate enough to play with Tom Watson a number of times. Great man. And I think it was Birkdale we were playing and I asked him, “You’ve won everything in golf, what motivates you?” And he says, “At a young age I learned how to win.” I didn’t really understand it at the time, but I now know exactly what he meant. And winning is what it’s all about. These guys have won 80 tournaments. Seve, Sam Sneed, [Jack] Nicklaus, [Tiger] Woods. It’s just something that they love doing … and that’s what it’s all about, really. And that comes from good thinking … from not doing the wrong thing at the right time or doing the right thing when things are in a bad position or whatever. Just don’t do the stupid thing, do the right thing. And the greats of the game seem to be able to do that time after time. And how would a golfer ever, say, get to the level of someone like Tiger Woods? Well, that’s what you dream for and that’s what you work for. Everyone will have an idol. Jack Nicklaus was mine. I once said to him, ‘Jack, do you mind if I give you a compliment?’ And he knew that I was a wee bit of a reprobate and he says, ‘yeah, go on.’ And I say, ‘in the 400 majors I won in my dreams, you were the runner-up every time.’ What is your favourite club in your bag and why? Driver. I was a very good driver of the ball. And when you hit a good drive, you’re just setting yourself up. You’re in the mayor’s office in your second shot and maybe eight times out of 10. They always used to say, “you drive for show and you putt for dough.” I think it may have changed now. The driver in your hand, especially the distance they hit it now, is a huge weapon. What advice would you give to young golfers trying to make it in the game? To work hard, obviously, but to enjoy it. You’re in for a wonderful life. If you can make the grade to travel the world, play golf and get paid for it, it’s extraordinary. Try and get one coach and stick to that. Those are the criteria. Work hard and enjoy would be the two bits of advice I give to them.
October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 Aaron Baddeley AARON Baddeley was the boy wonder of the late 1990s early 2000s. A winner of the Australian Open as a teenage amateur in 1999, he backed it up a year later claiming consecutive Stonehaven Cups and collecting a cheque to go with it the second time around after turning professional in early November 2000. He would win again on local shores the following year, beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff at the Greg Norman Holden International – a joint Australasian and European Tour event played at The Lakes in Sydney. All this before his 21st birthday. Badds.com, as he became known, was almost front and centre during the internet boom as well. He would pack his bags and head off to the US soon after, touted as the next big thing and with the golfing world at his feet. A playoff loss in 2003 to Ernie Els at the Sony Open in Hawaii appeared to be the kick start he was looking for. Baddeley pocketed just shy of US$1m that first full year in the US, however from there it has been a rollercoaster ride with the highs of four US Tour wins, a best year of 10th on the money list in 2007, coupled with a few seasons of struggle. But through it all he has endured, kept smiling, and kept having children – six of them, in fact, with wife Richelle. Is he somewhat disappointed not to have climbed golf’s highest mountains, captured the most prestigious trophies and fulfilled the potential he, and everybody else, thought he possessed? Maybe, but with a strong religious faith, a supporting wife and his growing family by By Rob Willis Ben Swaffield WHERE ARE THEY NOW? his side, the 42-year-old is doing just fine and looking forward to what lies ahead. In case you are wondering, the former child prodigy is based in Scottsdale, Arizona and is loving life. “Golfing wise, I feel like I’ve underachieved, definitely, to what I expected, the goals I’ve set,” Baddeley said via a zoom media conference call ahead of the recent Fortinet Championship – his 500th US PGA Tour event. “But life wise, I think I’ve exceeded all my expectations with my family, my wife, my kids. I couldn’t be more at peace and joyful off the golf course. “And I feel I’ve got my best years ahead of me. I love the game of golf. I never really lost the passion for it. Even at 42, I feel like it’s never difficult for me to go and practice and to grind and to get better. “The body feels good, I’m not battling any injuries, not battling any issues and I can still put in the work, put in the time to get better,” Baddeley added. As for his milestone tournament on the US Tour, Baddeley became just the sixth Australian to achieve the 500-event mark. “I can’t say I ever thought about getting to this number but once you’re here, it’s pretty cool to reflect back to my first ever (tournament) in 2000 at the Honda Classic at Herron Bay,” said Baddeley, who was born in the US. Following the Fortinet, Baddeley had three more US Fall (autumn) schedule events penciled in, before he was planning to head to Sydney in December to try to put his name on the Australian Open trophy for a third time. It would be his first tournament at home since 2016. “Last year my daughter was performing at Times Square the same week (as the Australian Open), a once in a lifetime for her. I wasn’t going to miss that,” he said. “But I’m excited to get back. It’s nice that it’s in December, past some of the fall (autumn) events here.” Working with a new coach in New Jersey instructor, Mike Adams, Baddeley confesses he has simplified his swing, resulting in a renewed confidence. He still possesses a short game and putting stroke that is the envy of his peers and a third national Open title certainly wouldn’t be out of the question. With four wins abroad, another four at home and more than $US23 million earned in those 500 tournaments to date, he might not think he got where he wanted his career to go, but by anyone’s standards it’s been quite a journey so far, with all indications that there could be plenty more to come. FLASHBACK: A young Aaron Baddeley shows of the Stonehaven Cup he won twice. Ben on track in US FORMER Yeppoon Golf Club (Central Queensland) junior Ben Swaffield recently returned home to apply for an extension on his visa to allow him to continue his position at Preston Trail Golf Club in the US where he works as an assistant professional. On his return to the US, he competed in the 36-hole National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championships which he won by two shots courtesy of carding consistent rounds of 69-69 – 138. He pocketed $1500 for his first professional win. Following his victory, Swaffield is keen to continue his professional education. “I am looking forward to finishing off my PGA education under the leadership of Cameron Doan, the PGA director of golf at Preston Trail Golf Club,” he said. https://www.parmaker.com
A round of golf is the perfect way for you to escape the urban jungle and entertain your prospects and clients. Building and maintaining solid relationships are important for any business. Set amongst a beautiful bushland environment, hosting your next event at Queensland’s premier golf course is a great way to show your clients, prospects, and staff how much you value them. There are a number of unique options to choose from that will make sure your day is as memorable and successful as it can be. For more information phone 07 3814 5500 email events@brookwatergolf.com or visit our website All packages include the following: • Pre and post event management • Registration set up • 18 hole green fee • Motorised golf carts • Scoring solutions for your golf game • Pre event or post event food and beverage • Pre golf briefing Additional Options (Available on request) • Professional MC • Golf professionals to play with your group • Accommodation – Quest Appartment Hotel • Photographer / Videographer • Logoed apparel / Trophies & prizes • Oncourse signage set up • On course food and beverage and more 1 Tournament Drive, Brookwater 4300 I www.brookwatergolf.com.au Disclaimer: Package inclusions and options may be subject to change without notice. Please contact Brookwater Golf & Country Club to confirm package details. Updated as of August 2023. CORPORATE GOLF AT BROOKWATER
October 2023 www.insidegolf.com.au ON TOUR 17 ONE of the most successful, and important, initiatives in Australian golf in recent times has been the introduction of The R&A Women in Golf Charter. It’s part of Australian golf’s broader approach to have more Australians, particularly women and girls, playing more golf in all its forms, and for those golfers to have welcoming and engaging golf experiences. Launched in Australia in late 2021, the R&A Women in Golf Charter requires clubs and facilities who commit to the charter to provide an inclusive environment for all golfers. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the perception in Australia that golf is largely a sport for rich, old, white men – often referred to as pale, male and stale. Currently, there are 67 clubs across Australia already committed to the Charter with a further 21 clubs awaiting board endorsement and 241 expressions of interest, this program will be a game changer for our sport, with the path being paved for more women and girls to be involved in golf. Fortunately, there are clubs, facilities, and members all across the country right now who have begun their own paths to changing our game, resulting in more women and girls being empowered to go play. So, I guess many of you may be wondering, what exactly is The R&A and what is The R&A Women in Golf Charter? Firstly, The R&A is the international governing body of golf, and they are fierce advocates for inclusivity in golf and for growing the game. The R&A is dedicated to ensuring we have a thriving sport for all on a global scale, and has a deep-seated passion for ensuring golf’s on-going health. This commitment, on the back of a mountain of research on the health of the game worldwide, led to the development and implementation of the Charter – specifically designed to encourage more women and girls to go play and also eventually enjoy successful careers in the sport both on and off the fairways. At the Charter’s launch, Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, spoke of the pressing need for change. “The Charter is a strong statement of intent from the golf industry that it has to change and a commitment on behalf of all of us to take measures designed to achieve positive change for women, girls and families. This is crucial to growing participation in the sport in the years ahead.” Like The R&A, we see the huge opportunity that exists within all forms of golf to attract more women, girls, and families to the game and grow the sustainability and future of the sport. We know that in order to do this, we must work together as golfers, members, clubs, facilities, and staff. We must acknowledge the work that has been done for us get to this point, while also understanding that an enormous amount of work is still to be done. • Commit national federations and organisations to support measures targeted at increasing the participation of women, girls, and families in golf; • Call on signatories to take positive action to support the recruitment, retention, and progression of women working at all levels of the sport; • Set individual targets for national federations for participation and membership and annual reporting of progress; and • Develop an inclusive environment for women and girls with golf. As part of Australian Golf’s commitment to The R&A Charter, we are encouraging all Australian clubs and facilities to become signatories and publicly commit to improving the sport for women and girls. You don’t have to look far to see that the demand for golf is already increasing for women and girls across the country, with the biggest appetite being for off-course golf facilities such as driving ranges, mini golf and simulators. Of the 1.2 million off-course golfers across the country, 516,000 are women so the message is clear; women and girls want to give golf a go and they want to do it in a safe, fun and engaging environment. We know that the landscape of golf will continue to change and evolve so we need your help to elevate the game to new heights, attract a broader audience, and recognise the power and passion of women. We’d love to see even more Australian clubs be part of the change and be part of the revolution in a sport that is helping more Australians to go play. If your club isn’t already a signatory to The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, first ask why not and please get the ball rolling. Call for clubs to join R&A’s Women in Golf Charter Karen Lunn CEO – WPGA So, how do we do this, and how does The R&A Charter help us do this? The Charter is specifically designed to: • Strengthen the focus on gender balance and provide a united position in the golf industry; “You don’t have to look far to see that the demand for golf is already increasing for women and girls across the country, with the biggest appetite being for off-course golf facilities such as driving ranges, mini golf and simulators.” Murrumbidgee Country Club women celebrate becoming the first club in the ACT to become a Charter signatory. For any stockists interested please contact State Manager Dean Woods: dean_woods@debortoli.com.au 0438 089 775 | 07 3287 2500 on the De Bortoli Online Shop (Excludes Gift Vouchers) Enter discount code “insidegolf” at checkout. 10% DISCOUNT Scan here to receive a De Bortoli is a proud partner of GMA
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