ELVIS ENCORE WILL IT BE AN NEWS • GEAR • OPINION • TRAVEL • LIFESTYLE • HOLIDAYS • INDUSTRY AUSTRALIA’S M O S T - R E A D GOLF MAGAZINE EQUIPMENT WE TRIED IT > CALLAWAY OPUS SP WEDGES TRAVEL > QLD’S WIDE BAY > GOLF CRUISING > SOUTH AFRICA > SCOTLAND >THAILAND > BALI THE BMW GOLF CUP THE WORLD’S BIGGEST AMATEUR EVENT OPINION THE RYDER CUP OUTSTANDING OR OVER THE TOP? CLUB OF THE MONTH WARRAGUL COUNTRY CLUB AUSTRALIAN OPEN >RORY HOOKED >QUALITY FIELD, WORLD CLASS COURSE >GARY PLAYER, A SEVEN-TIME CHAMP INSIDE GOLF’S TOP 100 REVEALED AUSTRALIA’S BEST PUBLIC GOLF EXPERIENCES TOP 100 AUSTRALIA’S BEST PUBLIC GOLF EXPERIENCES AS VOTED BY INSIDE GOLF READERS 2026 INSIDE GOLF WWW.INSIDEGOLF.COM.AU ISSUE 241 // NOVEMBER 2025 AT THE BMW AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP?
UPCOMING SCHEDULE FULL SCHEDULE AND BROADCAST INFORMATION QUEENSLAND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 20 – 23 November 2025 Nudgee GC - Kurrai Course AUSTRALIAN OPEN 4 – 7 December 2025 Royal Melbourne Golf Club BMW AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 27 – 30 November 2025 Royal Queensland Golf Club FORD NSW OPEN 13 – 16 November, 2025 The Vintage Golf Course
THE ULTIMATE DRIVE ON COURSE AND BEYOND. Golf demands focus, precision, and mastery, qualities that have defined BMW for generations. For over three decades, BMW has been at the heart of world golf, from the BMW Golf Cup, the world’s largest amateur tournament, to the sport’s most prestigious professional stages across Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia. In 2025, Sanctuary Cove will host the BMW Golf Cup National Final, bringing together Australia and New Zealand’s finest players in a celebration of the game. Every drive, every putt, every moment on the course mirrors the precision, performance, and craftsmanship that define BMW. Here, golf and BMW unite, where mastery meets luxury, and the ultimate golf experience begins with BMW. Experience the game. Experience BMW. Contact your local BMW dealership to discover how you can be part of the BMW Golf Cup experience. Find your local BMW dealership. THE BMW GOLF CUP.
November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 All set for an exciting summer – with or without them! I’M still on the fence when it comes to LIV. It features quality players, is no doubt a great spectacle for those on site and at the event in person, but it still hasn’t convinced me, or the vast majority of golf followers, that it is a worthwhile television product. LIV is still relatively new, and it looks like it is going nowhere, so time will tell if it continues to build, grow and attract global TV interest. However, credit where it is due, what LIV does manage to achieve is to get a handful of the world’s elite out of their comfort zone (translation: the PGA TOUR) and to compete in events staged all around the world. Growing the game? Maybe. Taking a collection of worldclass professionals to places they otherwise wouldn’t go, and to perform for audiences who otherwise wouldn’t see them play? Definitely. Let’s leave the big-name Europeans out of this for now but excluding when the Presidents Cup is held on our shores, the PGA TOUR’s highest profile players such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele or Justin Thomas aren’t heading here anytime soon, especially either side of Christmas during a southern hemisphere summer when our biggest tournaments are scheduled. If not playing in the rich getting richer limited field stuff, be it Tiger’s World Challenge or the father-son event in Florida, the Americans on the PGA TOUR all have their feet up and the clubs resting, getting ready for Hawaii in January or the west coast swing after that. Similarly, other than when the travelling LIV roadshow heads to Adelaide each year, the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson or Brooks, have no interest in playing golf in Australia. This year, and with all respect to Ryggs Johnston, the surprise Australian Open winner from 12 months ago who will likely return to defend his title, the Americans will again stay away. But all that said, let’s not dwell on what we don’t have and look at what we do. Kudos to Australian golf’s powers that be, and to those from abroad who will head to the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open, with two outstanding fields assembled. Rory McIlroy, after talking the talk and saying he wanted to play more away from the US and to contest national Open’s, 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: Rob Willis | rob@insidegolf.com.au Editor-At-Large: 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 CONTRIBUTORS: Larry Canning, Tony Webeck, Michael Cooney, Andrew Crockett www.insidegolf.com.au 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 VIC/TAS/SA 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 ACCOUNTS: Sheridan Murphy M: 1300 465 300 | E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au Distributed to over 450 golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month. Combined print and online national monthly readership over 210,000. AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF MAGAZINE Cover photo: Elvis Smylie - courtesy Golf Australia. is also walking the walk. He played in India in October, and it has been well documented he will be the star attraction at the Australian Open in December. Both this year and next. Whatever the reason, whether it be to try to elevate their world rankings or to pad out their schedule due to the limited number of LIV events each year, maybe they just like coming here, a strong list of South American’s have committed to play. Niemann and Ancer have enjoyed success here before, Australian Open champions in 2023 and 2018 respectively, while Ortiz and Munoz, winners in the US and this year on LIV, will join them, and with our two major tournaments being DP World Tour sanctioned, a contingent of European Tour young guns looking to make their mark, also adds to the depth of talent on show. Then there is Ryan Fox, twice a winner in the US in 2025, and with a total of 19 victories worldwide, the stocky Kiwi is all class, while to have all our leading Australian players, (minus Jason Day), in Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and emerging talent and defending PGA champion Elvis Smylie on deck, makes for an exciting few weeks of golf. Let the American’s stay home, we’ll be fine without them! The top 100 IT was an ambitious project, and with plenty of help from our readers, we managed to get there, producing a top 100 public access golf course list we think highlights the very best experiences on offer, while recognising the many and varied courses doing a great job in servicing and providing enjoyment to the thousands of golfers around the country. Luckily, we had plenty of help compiling the list, while I’d love to try, it’s impossible to travel around and play all the courses worthy of consideration, however certainly towards the top we believe we’ve got it right, with Barnbougle, both Dunes and Lost Farm, standout performers when it comes to delivering a memorable golfing experience. And with a bit of planning, those two courses, like all on our list, are open and available to visiting and green-fee paying golfers. Outside of that, maybe for the top few spots as well, no doubt there will be some conjecture and debate, as opinions vary depending on a range of factors. So, you may have already participated in our survey in assisting us to come up with the top 100 list, but either way let us know what you think. Check out our ranking of Australia’s Top 100 Public Golf Experiences on page 32 of this issue. Have we got it right? Get in touch If you have an opinion on this or any other topic in the magazine, send your letter to the editor to rob@insidegolf.com.au and you’ll be in the running to win a dozen Bridgestone balls. st/1.3 11.5” st/1.2 10.5” putter Grips 2x major winner bryson dechambeau
team, while Maas, with a 22-under par total for the 72-hole event, was 10 shots better than O’Donovan who was outright second. Dowling was tied 20th in the individual standings, Takis 28th. November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 SOUTH Australian Wade Ormsby secured his first win in two years and a fifth Asian Tour title with a victory at the Jakarta International Championship. Looking set to start the final round with a one-stroke edge before incurring a one-shot penalty, after his ball accidently moved at address on the fourth hole in the third round, the 45-year-old teed off on Sunday level with Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar. With a number of players in contention throughout the final day, it would come down to the 72nd hole, Ormsby making a clutch par putt from eight feet to finish level with Vincent at 12-under par, forcing the pair to return to the 18th tee for a playoff. When his opponent hit his second shot into the water, Ormsby’s regulation par was enough for him to claim victory. “It’s a special one for me this one,” said Ormsby, whose last win came at the International Series Thailand in 2023. “Haven’t been playing my best golf, had a few months off and worked hard the last week. “I flew up and saw my coach, Grant Field, so a massive thank you to him. “Thanks to all my family obviously. Lost my dad two years ago, so this one is for him,” Ormsby added, referencing his late INSIDE NEWS European’s too good at the Ryder Cup FOR two days it was a European whitewash as they dominated the foursomes and fourball matches, until a spirited team USA resurgence almost resulted in the most amazing comeback in Ryder Cup history. In the end it was a 15-13 win for the European’s who defended the cup won in Rome two years prior, making it two-for-two for captain Luke Donald, the Englishman who also enjoyed a perfect four-for-four record as a playing member of team Europe. Taking a commanding 11 ½ - 4 ½ lead into the last day singles, the Americans made the European’s work for every point, the Ryder Cup eventually coming down to the Shane Lowry v Russell Henley match, with the Irishman’s final hole birdie, for a halved result, the deciding point. Aside from the spectacular golf, there was also controversy, sections of the New York crowd verbally abused almost anyone not dressed in red, white and blue, while a player-caddy-assistant coach altercation during the Saturday fourballs threatened to get out of hand. The result in favour of Europe made it seven wins in the last nine Ryder Cup’s dating back to 2010, and with most of the squad likely to be available to return will head into the next contest in Ireland in 2027 as warm favourites. NOTE: For more on the Ryder Cup, our panel of writers have had their say in ‘Bunker to Bunker’ on page 46 of this edition, while columnist Larry Canning questions where to now, for the once revered team’s competition. INSIDE NEWS IN THIS ISSUE AMATEUR GOLF 24 IG TOP 100 COURSES 32 BUNKER-TOBUNKER CLUB NEWS TRAVEL 46 34 50 PRO NEWS 7 INDUSTRY NEWS 27 CLUB OF THE MONTH 48 LETTERS 47 News, views and observations from around the golfing world With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au NEW GEAR 60 WIDE BAY FEATURE 55 Wade Ormsby secured his fifth Asian Tour title, and his first win in two years with a victory at the Jakarta International Championship. 64 63 INSTRUCTION EVENTS NEW GEAR - WE TRIED IT 61 DEMO DAYS 65 19TH HOLE 66 TIGER Woods has undergone a seventh back surgery, this time to replace a disk problem causing pain and mobility issues. Through his social media channels Woods announced the surgery, which took place in New York, however it was unclear how long he would be sidelined and if he was going to try to play in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas or in the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. Both tournaments are in December. Woods hasn’t played since a playoff loss in the PNC Championship last year. It was his second surgery of the year, with Woods rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March, and it was his second back surgery in the last 13 months. Since being involved in a serious car crash in February 2021, shattering his right leg and ankle, Woods has played only 15 times in the last four years, four of those coming at the PNC Championship where uses a cart for the 36hole event. Woods turns 50 on December 30, with speculation, health permitting, that he may consider competing on the Champions Tour in 2026. Tiger tamed by seventh back surgery Irishman Shane Lowry’s birdie on the 18th hole clinched the Ryder Cup for team Europe. Ormsby an International Series winner Australia second at the Eisenhower Cup WHILE South Africa was dominant in winning their first World Amateur Teams Championship, the Australian trio of Harry Takis, Declan O’Donovan and Billy Dowling managed a more than commendable second place finish at the event played at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. It was the second time in succession that Australia has earned the silver medal, coming on the back of a runner-up finish to the USA in Abu Dhabi in 2023, however on this occasion it was the South African’s creating history by claiming their first Eisenhower Cup trophy. Led by a standout performance by individual medallist Christiaan Maas, the South African’s finished eight strokes clear of the Aussie father Peter, a South Australian golfing industry icon. Ormsby moved to third on The International Series Rankings race, behind Vincent and fellow Australian Lucas Herbert, with four events left to decide who earns a coveted LIV Golf League spot. Herbert is obviously firmly entrenched as a member of LIV after a strong year on Tour as a part of the Ripper GC team in 2025. International Series events in Manila and Hong Kong were set to follow, before the Moutai Singapore Open in early November. Inside Golf is a media partner of the Singapore Open, to be played at the Singapore Island Country Club from November 6. Declan O’Donovan led the way for the second placed Australians at the Eisenhower Cup. GOLF DIRECTORY 68 A timeline for a return to golf for Tiger Woods is unknown after recent back surgery.
PRO NEWS 7 November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au FOR those without a ticket, don’t wait too much longer or you will miss out, with the 2025 Australian Open shaping as the most eagerly anticipated since the days Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player ruled the world’s fairways and greens, or to a time when a ‘Shark’ was golf’s biggest fish. Home grown talent and winners of significant championships both on Australian shores and around the world in Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman, Cam Davis and Lucas Herbert will be there. So too, previous winners of the Australian Open Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer, LIV Tour members Carlos Ortiz and Sebastian Munoz, young guns Elvis Smylie and Karl Vilips, along with Kiwi Ryan Fox. Add to those names a long list of hungry locals looking to make their mark and to use the Australian Open as a springboard to big events and opportunities abroad. And of course, the star attraction is reigning Masters champ Rory McIlroy, announced by CEO of Golf Australia James Sutherland back in May, signed and sealed not long after the Irishman had won his fifth major championship, while also becoming just the sixth man to capture golf’s Grand Slam. “Rory McIlroy, one of the best to ever play our game, playing on the world-renowned Melbourne Sandbelt, is a mouth-watering proposition for golf fans,” Sutherland said. The #1 hybrid grip with a larger lower hand. SOFT RUBBER COMPOUND LARGER LOWER HAND > AVAILABLE IN 14 COLOURS ‘Major’ opportunities on offer to 2025 Aussie Open champ “We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction.” And elevate the status they certainly have, the challengers for the Stonehaven Cup are lining up, the field arguably the deepest since Greg Norman and his considerable personality and immense ability attracted world class performers armed with a goal to take him down in his own backyard. While McIlroy may have been the first to commit, player announcements have continued at a rapid rate, the most recent addition to the field PGA TOUR rookie Vilips, fresh off a winning season where he took out the Puerto Rico Open with a tournament record 26-underpar total in just his third start on the world’s toughest tour. “Being back at home, with an awesome field, on one of the best golf courses in the world, and big crowds is going to be awesome,” Vilips said. “I loved last years’ experience at Kingston Heath and Victoria, and I imagine this year’s Open is going to take it up a couple of levels.” All that without mentioning perhaps the biggest star of all, a Royal Melbourne composite course which will host the Australian Open for a 16th time, but its first since 1991. The Australian Open tees off from December 4-7. Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer, just some of the stars on show at Royal Melbourne at the 2025 Australian Open. The challengers for the Stonehaven Cup lining up 2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN ROYAL MELBOURNE GOLF CLUB DECEMBER 4-7 WHILE the first-place prizemoney of more than $400,000 and adding their name to the Stonehaven Cup alongside many greats of Australian and international golf is a considerable attraction, there are also some ‘major’ opportunities awaiting the winner of the 2025 Australian Open. Augusta National, working in partnership with the R&A, have announced that the winners of selected national championships, the Australian Open being one of them, will earn exemptions into the US Masters and the Open Championship. “Today’s announcement strengthens our organisations collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships,” Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters, Fred Ridley, stated. “We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.” American Chris Gotterup, the 2025 Scottish Open champion, has booked his place at Augusta in April, so too Englishman Marco Penge who prevailed in a playoff at the recent Spanish Open. Also set to take advantage of the new exemption category will be the 2025 Japan and Hong Kong Open champions, along with the 2026 South African Open victor when that event is contested next February-March. Rory McIlroy won’t need the exemption should he win a second Australian Open title, with the Masters champ locked in at both Augusta and Birkdale in 2026, however for many of those not otherwise qualified, it will be a nice bonus should they come out on top at Royal Melbourne.
November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 8 Elvis returns to RQ after a stellar European season WHEN Elvis Smylie scored his breakthrough victory in the Western Australian Open just over a year ago, his immediate goal was modest enough – to finish in the top three on the Aussie circuit and earn status on the DP World Tour. That objective was achieved just a few weeks later when the Gold Coast leftie outgunned Cameron Smith to record a stunning upset in the BMW Australian PGA Championship. He’ll soon be back to defend his title at Royal Queensland, this time with all the confidence of an established international player and with far loftier ambitions on his mind – primarily, to win his way onto the lucrative US PGA Tour. And he’s so close. The top 10 golfers at the conclusion of the Race to Dubai – the DP World Tour’s Order of Merit – who aren’t already members of the US PGA Tour will earn a card to play on the world’s biggest stage. “I was looking at the Race To Dubai standings the other day,” Smylie said. “It had that PGA symbol next to my name, which is really cool to see. “It’s given me the green light that it’s in sight and it’s very motivating to know that it’s within reach, though there’s a lot of good golf to be played, and I’m not getting ahead of myself.” That’s been 23-year-old Smylie’s approach throughout the year – to prepare meticulously for each event, accept the outcome whatever it may be, learn from the experience and become a better player, and person, in the process. It has been a fabulously successful year for Smylie, beginning with his win in the BMW Australian PGA, an event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, which brought with it By Peter Owen BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP membership of the circuit formerly known as the European Tour. He’s won about $1.7 million and performed consistently well – tied fifth in the 2024 Australian Open, 14th in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, 15th in the China Open, 16th in the Hainan Classic, sixth in the Danish Open, and an agonisingly close second to American Michael Kim in September’s French Open. Typically, Smylie made no excuses for that cruel defeat. “I left everything out there,” he said. “I had a bogey-free final round of sixunder. If you’d told me I’d shoot that at the start of play I’d have taken it. I played great; didn’t put a foot wrong. It just wasn’t meant to be.” Nor was he surprised at his performance. “I was really determined that week to take the next step and really contend,” he said. “I feel I belong out there and my game is certainly good enough to win. It’s nice to take that next step. I came close to winning and I know my best golf is just around the corner.” Smylie described his first year on tour as ‘an eye-opener.’ “I never knew what the experience was going to be like,” he said. “You try to prepare mentally and physically for each event, but you can’t really plan for everything – nobody tells you about being in China and having to use Google Translate. “Or what you do when you get really bad sinus and an ear infection and have to check yourself into an Austrian hospital, as I did a couple of months ago. I’ve got so many travel stories I could write a book about it.” Smylie says the experiences have made him tougher and stronger. “I think that’s the beauty of professional golf,” he said. “It’s not easy and it’s not going to be smooth sailing all the way. There are bumps in the road. It’s how you handle it that’s important. You come out the other side all the better for it – become a better person.” Smylie says he’s lucky to have good friends with whom to share the journey, and he lists fellow Australian professionals David Micheluzzi, Jason Scrivener, and Kiwis Daniel Hillier and Kazuma Kobori. “If you didn’t have people to hang out with and travel with it would be a lot lonelier than people think it is,” he said. “When you’re away from home and family it definitely helps a lot.” Smylie played the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in early October before returning briefly to Australia for a short break, then returned to the DP World Tour in South Korea in the last week of October. His sights are now on the season-ending Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship this month – events which will determine the winner of the Race To Dubai and decide the 10 newcomers to the US PGA Tour. He’s looking forward to returning to Royal Queensland later this month and competing in a tournament he describes as being very special. “Winning last year, in front of my home Queensland crowd and battling down the stretch with Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman – that was rent-free in my mind, and something I always come back to. “I have an awesome opportunity to compete in two great tournaments on two great courses, in front of great Aussie crowds – it’s a special way to end the year.” Smylie plans to play in the Cathedral Invitational outside Melbourne before a month’s break. He’ll begin his 2026 campaign in midJanuary – either at the Dubai Desert Classic or in Hawaii, if that card on the US PGA Tour heads his way. His goals for next year? To play in as many major championships as he can, perhaps be selected in the International team for the President’s Cup, and to put himself into a position to win many more tournaments. International stars Queensland bound JOAQUIN Niemann headlines the latest batch of players to be confirmed starters for the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Niemann, the 2023 Australian Open champion and a seven-time winner on LIV since joining the breakaway tour, will be joined by three internationally acclaimed players in Carlos Ortiz, Sebastián Muñoz, and Josele Ballester. Ortiz, from Mexico, and Munoz, from Colombia, are previous winners on the PGA TOUR, and current teammates of Niemann’s on Torque GC team on the LIV Golf Tour, where both have celebrated individual tournament victories and team success. With International Series victories in Oman and Macau in the past 18 months, Ortiz was the first Mexican-born player in 42 years to win on the PGA TOUR when he claimed the 2020 Houston Open. He also had his best finish in a major championship when he tied for fourth at this year’s US Open at Oakmont. Fellow LIV Tour member Muñoz claimed his PGA TOUR title at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2019, before beating Jon Rahm in playoff in August to win LIV Golf Indianapolis. As for Spaniard Ballester, the 2024 US Amateur champion is considered one of the best young prospects in world golf. The 22-year-old Ballester finished in a tie for second in just his fifth LIV start, losing in a playoff in Chicago in August. Their involvement will add considerable strength a stellar field for the November 27-30 event, joining the likes of Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, Marc Leishman, 2018 Australian Open winner Abraham Ancer and defending PGA champion Elvis Smylie. Mexican Carlos Ortiz will tee it up at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. Elvis Smylie will be the defending champion at the 2025 BMW PGA Championship.
November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 9 MIKE Harwood says winning the Australian PGA, famously stopping Greg Norman’s winning run of nine events, was a huge part of his career. “It always will be, as I’m sure it will be the same for the person who wins (the 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Royal Queensland) later this month,” Harwood said. “It will play a big role in setting up someone’s career and perhaps launch them onto the international stage. “But I don’t think our young guys in Australia are committed enough to getting onto overseas tours. I think they’ve given up and just don’t have the $20,000 to go overseas and get on the US Tour. “That’s where Australian sponsors have got it wrong. They only want to know you once you have made it and while you are playing well. In the US, sponsors are queuing up to help young players as they come out of college. “Golf is a big enough roller coaster without having financial uncertainty to cope with as well,” Harwood added. Harwood, now 67, is excited about the game on the world stage. He was immersed in the Ryder Cup and loves Rory McIlroy. He doesn’t enjoy the crowds, and he won’t be at Royal Melbourne but will be riveted to the television to watch Rory at the Australian Open. “I’ll see more on TV I reckon. The crowds will be that big you’ll need a milk crate to stand on the catch a glimpse of Rory. BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au “He totally has the wow factor like Norman. His ball striking is unique. “Look at when he’s playing in America, they come from everywhere because of the talent he’s got like Greg and Seve Ballesteros. The fans know Rory is something special and they want to watch him,” Harwood said. The game has come a long way, he says, from the day he pocketed $36,000 for winning the Australian PGA Championship at Castle Hill in 1986. “I was playing pretty well. But on the 54th hole on Saturday, I missed an 18-inch uphill putt.” He walked off the course and said to his late parents, Geoff and Audrey, “I am totally exhausted.” On the way home to his folks’ place at Currajong they stopped at the Richmond Hotel. “The pub was as rough as guts, but I had 10 beers, went home and slept like a baby. I came out the next day and shot 64.” “I was always a grinder,” Harwood says, hastening to add he was never in the Shark’s class. He says the same of his runner-up finish to his great friend Ian Baker-Finch at Royal Birkdale in The Open in 1991. “Finchy shot 29 on the front nine on the final day. That put him about six in front. I was never going to catch him although I did get within one on the 17th hole.” A former Australian PGA champion, Mike Harwood was also runner-up to Ian Baker Finch at the Open Championship in 1991. His other big career victory was the British PGA at Wentworth in 1990 holding out reigning US Masters champion Nick Faldo. Harwood made a good living from the game in Europe and played about a dozen British Opens but only a handful of US Opens and PGAs. “I was proud of my record in the Open, only missing a few cuts, but majors were so bloody hard to get into.” In the twilight of his career Harwood, with his wife Donna as caddy, played seniors in Europe “until Covid killed that off.” “But it was a great way to have a world tour with Donna. You are paying your way and seeing the world from a different perspective. The first time I was there it was all golf, golf, golf. It was great to be able to do it together.” These days, he plays regularly at Southern Golf Club where he is helping to manage the club’s pennant teams. He also “still knocks it around in a few proams,” although he’s sidelined after breaking his ankle after innocuously tripping on a footpath going for a leisurely walk after a pro-am round in Kiama. “I can’t complain though,” he says. “Golf and life have been very, very good to me.” Mike Harwood took down Greg Norman to win the Australian PGA Championship in 1986. The man who speared a ‘Shark’ to win the Australian PGA
November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 Her job was then to restore the Australian Open to the great fan and player experience it once was… “like the Ryder Cup.” The men have landed on their feet at RM and Kingston Heath. “We have been blessed that Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath have said they will host the next two years,” she said. “I cannot tell you how generous they have been. They did not need to do it. They have strong membership and visitor rounds income. But they said they wanted to give something back to the game.” The golf industry and indeed many RM members, had expressed their concerns about the green surrounds at RM. However, while stressing she is “no agronomist” Beggs is confident RM will be in pristine condition by the time the first tee shot is hit on December 4. “I know one thing,” she said. “Richard Forsyth has a worldwide reputation as a course superintendent, and he will make sure the course is ready.” Let the tournament begin. Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au RORY McIlroy was hooked on playing this year’s Australian Open as soon as he heard it was being played at Royal Melbourne, according to the tournament director, Antonia Beggs. “As soon as we knew we had Royal Melbourne locked in, I shot a text off to Rory’s team, not really expecting a reply.” Beggs was delighted with the tone and speed of the response. “Rory respects the long history of the event, the past winners like Player, Nicklaus, Norman, Thomson, and the fact that it’s a national open. He likes to play countries’ open championships.” She cites the fact that McIlroy is heading for the Indian Open – a relatively obscure event on the world golf calendar. McIlroy, a past winner of the Australian Open, is aware of the reputation of the Melbourne sandbelt courses. Quite simply he is taken with the idea of winning an Australian Open at Royal Melbourne and repeating the dose at Kingston Heath next year. Beggs has a close relationship with McIlroy’s team. For 16 years she worked for the European Tour (now DP World Tour), where she held the positions of staging director of the Ryder Cup; tournament director of the Irish Open; and head of commercial partnerships. She was privileged to be inside the European team’s room at Medinah when Jose Maria Olazabal reduced everyone to tears with his now famous and moving tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros. “Europe was never going to lose after that,” she said. Beggs had always wanted to work on an Australian tournament, but red tape prevented then PGA boss Andrew Langford- Jones from being able to get her to Australia. So, when the opportunity to work for Cricket Australia arose, she took it and came here for four years with her Irish husband Ivan – “not a very Irish name,” she admits with a chuckle - and two young daughters Georgie then 8 and Isla who was 5. But once back in their home in Sussex the family pined for Australia and the friends they had made there. So when a global search company rang her to say Golf Australia was looking for someone to beef up the player and fan experience around the Australian Open, she jumped at the opportunity. Beggs went through a rigorous interview process because GA boss James Sutherland – the man who for many years ran Australian cricket – was copping a bit of flak for the number of his cricket proteges turning up in golf. “The move has been fantastic. We are loving it. The girls (now 17 and 14) are living the dream. They have gone from boarding school in England where they had lessons on Saturday, to Firbank Grammar where they finish at 3.30 and are having Yuchi by 4pm in Church Street (Brighton). And Ivan, being Irish, loves being in a country where everyone barracks against England,” she said with a laugh. After overseeing the last of the men’s and women’s combined opens and with the help of the Victorian and South Australian governments, she has managed the harmonious separation of the two events. The women’s Open will miss its 2025 iteration but will be played in March where it fits in with the LPGA tour’s Asian swing. Rory hooked! Antonia gets her man Antonia Beggs, tournament director for the Australian Open, played a major role in attracting Rory McIlory to Royal Melbourne. Rory McIlory, is set to be the star attraction for the next two Australian Opens. Championship Golf on the Gold Coast With 3 par-72 combination layouts, including a championship golf course, a visit to RACV Royal Pines Resort guarantees a memorable round of golf. Book a tee time online racv.com.au/royalpinesgolf
BRING OUT THE PLAYER IN YOU. A high-launching, players-style design that combines shot-making precision with score-saving forgiveness. Engineered for the best players in the world. Custom fit and custom built for you. Lower CG for increased ball speed and higher launch. Sized and shaped for trajectory control. Game-improvement forgiveness; softer feel, pleasing sound. DISTANCE & CONTROL PLAYER PREFERRED FORGIVENESS WITH FEEL GET FIT. GET OPTIMIZED. © PING 2025 ping@americangolf.com.au
November 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 Ernie a ‘Champion’ on and off the course WITH 80 worldwide tournament victories to his credit, four major championships and a career matched only by a handful of superstars, you’d think Ernie Els would be satisfied. But, no, the former world No 1 continues to play golf at a high level on the PGA Tour Champions, where already this year he’s recorded a win, three seconds and 11 top 10 finishes – good enough to see him sitting third (as of Oct 20) on the Charles Schwab Cup money list. Now 55, and blessed with one of the world’s most fluid, graceful swings, South African Els is on target to finish in the top 10 of seasonlong standings for the fourth straight year. “Golf is what I’ve known since I’ve been a seven-year-old boy,” says Els. “And golf, as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be playing.” Els first came to international prominence in 1984 when he won the Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 13-14 category, relegating a young Phil Mickelson to second place. His professional career, which began in 1989 at the age of 19, is extraordinary. Within two years he had won nine tournaments, including the South African Open, PGA and Masters championships, and was ready to launch an international career that would see him criss-cross the globe countless times over the next four decades. He’s won professional tournaments in the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, the Caribbean, and more than 20 in South Africa. His victories include two US Opens, two Open Championships and the World Match Play Championship seven times. Els played in eight Presidents Cups, five World Cups, eight Alfred Dunhill Cups, and has been inducted into both the World Golf Hall of Fame and the South African Golf Hall of Fame. But, as magnificent as those performances may be, it’s Els’ activities away from the tournament scene that are truly the measure of the man. By Peter Owen Indeed, when you consider the extent of his business and charitable interests across the world, you wonder how he finds time to even play the game, let alone at such an elite level. His business empire covers golf course design, hospitality, sports management, wine-making, pet products and a company making and selling a range of traditional Biltong snacks, while his charitable interests include the Els for Autism Foundation and the Ernie Els Foundation, which provides educational assistance and golfing opportunities to young South Africans. Though each business and charity is run by an expert team of employees, Els takes a remarkably hands-on approach, constantly visiting his operations, injecting ideas and setting priorities. His influence is everywhere. Els launched Ernie Els Design in 2000, a fullservice golf course design company, which now has offices in Florida, South Africa, Malaysia and Dubai. It is responsible for signature courses throughout the world, many having already hosted PGA Tour, DP World Tour, PGA Champions Tour and Asian Tour events. In the space of a month earlier this year, Els visited three new Ernie Els Design courses – the Els Club Vilamoura in Portugal, Zimbali Lakes in South Africa and Oleada Golf Links on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, scheduled to open next year. He explained his inspiration for golf course design: “Playing around the world these past 35 years, on golf courses of all different types and in every possible kind of landscape, you develop almost a sixth sense for the little details, the shot values and design touches, which come together in your own designs. “It’s a balance, because you want golfers of all standards to enjoy a golf course. I like to give golfers the opportunity to put the ball in play, so the fairways are generous. “The second shots, I like to start playing with you a bit, greens at angles and so forth. I like a certain style of bunker. Golf course design is like your signature; it’s a personal thing.” One of his finest achievements as a designer is the Els Club Dubai, which opened for play in 2008 and blends a classic UK links course with a stunning desert landscape. It was recognised as the Best Golf Course in Dubai last year in the World Golf Awards. Perhaps Els’ greatest passion is the Els for Autism Foundation, established in 2009 by Els and his wife Liezl. Their son Ben, now 22, was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. Soon after, the Els family moved to South Florida permanently with the sole purpose of helping Ben. They wanted to be close to the coast so they settled in Juno Beach. Each morning, when Els is not competing, he takes Ben for a walk on the beach. The foundation offers in-person programs and services at the Els Centre of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida, a world-class 26-acre campus where children and adults with autism can access education, therapy and support in one place. In August work began on a specialised recreation complex which will include a gymnasium, therapeutic area, splash pad and competition pool – the first complex of its kind in the US. “This new centre is going to be very special for our students to explore,” Els said. ”It will be something for them to learn about, something to help them in their everyday life. “We have big dreams,” he says. “This is a passion of ours, a family passion. So this thing is where we spend a lot of energy on.” Els’ other major philanthropic project is the Ernie Els Foundation, established in 1999 to identify and assist young South Africans from families of limited resources and deliver educational assistance and golfing opportunities. Among its former members are Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Christian Bezuidenhout and Branden Grace. Els is also kept busy by his commitment to Ernie Els Wines, a winery he established in 1999 in the Golden Triangle of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town in South Africa. Since then the business has grown into a successful enterprise with a magnificent portfolio of South African red wines, with Els very much involved in the tasting process. Ernie showing off the Claret Jug, was twice a winner of the Open Championship. Ernie Els is still a competitive force on the PGA TOUR Champions. GET FIT. GET OPTIMIZED. ping@americangolf.com.au OUR BEST BRINGS OUT YOURS.
Golf course maintenance made easy With Husqvarna autonomous mowers, specifically optimised for fairways and rough, greenkeepers will be able to experience an easier workday. Our comprehensive range of robotic mowers – Husqvarna CEORA®, Husqvarna Automower® 535 AWD EPOS®, and the new Husqvarna Automower® 580L EPOS® – will help you free up time to focus on the details. AUTONOMOUS GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE BY HUSQVARNA A lineup ready for your course NEW LEARN MORE
December 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 Gary Player – a champion of Australian golf’s glory days Gary Player “WE all used to go to the Slazenger factory and have lunch, work on our golf clubs. They had an old Scot there called ‘Sandy’ and he used to work on our clubs. Noel Morris, the head of Slazenger’s, would be inviting all the best players from around the world to come out and play. I mean, golf was humming in Australia. It was a special time.” Was 1956 the first year you came to Australia to play golf, and was it Norman Von Nida that encouraged that visit? “Yes, it was. Norman was a wonderful ambassador for Australian golf. I remember after I won in England as a young man, Norman came up to me and said, ‘You’re going to be a world champion, I’d like you to come play in the Australian Open.’ His encouragement meant the world to me at the time on so many levels. My career was really just starting and to have an accomplished professional say that to me reaffirmed my commitment to becoming a global champion.” In Florida during September, Gary Player was already celebrating his 90th birthday (officially November 1st) with his characteristic zest. With the Australian Open returning to Royal Melbourne after 30 years, the seven-time champion recalled Australia’s golfing glory days of the 1960s and 70s, while remembering some of our greatest players. Andrew Crockett spoke with Player about a range of topics, with his voice brimming with excitement and nostalgia, while demonstrating his deep love for his time Down Under. You won three times during your first Australia visit in 1956, and a further three times in 1957 including the Australian PGA title beating Peter Thomson 2 up at Huntingdale. Can you share a few memories of this great man? “One of the greatest matches I ever played was the Australian Open at Huntingdale against Peter. We were neck-and-neck for 36 holes, and I don’t remember either of us hitting a bad shot. Peter was the straightest hitter I ever saw, along with Calvin Peete and Ben Hogan. We played many fine matches, and while I often had the better of him, I had the deepest admiration for his skill and character.” Shooting two rounds of 62 in the 1965 Australian Open at Kooyonga for the first of your seven titles, and still the scoring record at 264 (28-under par), what equipment were you using and how far were you hitting it? “I used Slazenger clubs and the Slazenger B-51 ball. With those clubs, I hit my driver about 265 yards, today they’d probably go about 50 yards farther, plus-minus. A 7-iron for me was 150 yards, while now the same club goes 175. Different era, same challenge. Your score of 264, one wonders if it will ever be beaten…28 under par? “All records eventually fall. But if I’m not mistaken, that may still stand as one of the longest-lasting scoring records in championship golf. Not on the PGA TOUR but perhaps for a national open.” For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Australian Open returns to Royal Melbourne in December. You won there convincingly in 1963. Can you recall that week and your first impression of the course? “I’ll never forget Royal Melbourne, it’s one of the greatest golf courses in the world. In 1963 I won by seven shots, and that victory helped me enormously. I’d just come off playing the World Cup in Paris, and I remember Jack, Arnold and myself had to make a tough decision because there was a heavy fog delaying our flight. We were told that arrival would be about three hours before our tee time. They said no thanks, but I didn’t want to miss it, especially since I won the year prior. It was hectic travel but quite common in those days. I flew from Paris to New York to San Francisco to Hawaii to Fiji to Sydney before arriving in Melbourne right at three hours to spare. Ate a sandwich on the drive in and went straight to the first tee without ever seeing the course. Winning after that might be my greatest accomplishment in professional golf given the circumstance. “I went on a similar trip a few years earlier and doing so enabled me to win the Ampol Tournament, which gave me the means to get married. Perhaps that is the most important win of my professional career as Vivienne and I started our lives together as husband and wife shortly after.” Is it true you found a putter in Japan in a second-hand shop and won several majors with it? “That’s true. I found a putter in Japan for about $10 at a sporting goods store when I was there walking around the city with Arnold Palmer. I went on to win the entire Grand Slam with that putter and used to joke that I could have sold it for millions! A funny story, a journalist asked Gary Player after claiming his seventh Australian Open title.
December 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 Player was a fan of Australian golf, and Australian golfers. Pictured with Kel Nagle. me a similar question about that putter after I won the Grand Slam, and I replied, ‘If I had to choose between my wife and my putter, well, I’d miss her.’ I came home that night and found my putter wrapped in a negligee with a note attached from Vivienne. She jumped out from behind the curtain, and we had a good laugh.” Would you agree that Norman Von Nida was the greatest bunker player you ever saw, and that he motivated you to become so strong from the sand? “Yes, Norman was a genius out of bunkers. We used to play for a pound a shot. I learned so much from watching his skill. He had a profound influence on me.” You lost the Australian Open to Frank ‘Chops’ Phillips by one shot in 1957. Can you share a few words about him and Ossie Pickworth? “Ossie was a tough competitor, very difficult to beat. Frank Phillips was a tremendously talented player, and one of the few times I truly lost my temper was against him. I had a big lead with six holes to go and let it slip. I went back to my hotel, threw my golf bag against the bed, and shocked my wife. I don’t think she’d ever seen me that angry.” Aside from the Wills Masters and your wedding, what other memories of Australia stand out, and how important was Slazenger to your success down under? “Slazenger was integral. I used to visit their factory, work on my clubs, and felt a special connection to the brand. Beyond equipment, I travelled the entire country, almost every year. Visiting Australia became a joy of my life. The love I received from the Australian people still makes me emotional today.” Graham Marsh talks about your exceptional grit on the greens. Aside from practice, any tips on developing that mental toughness? “That’s very kind of Graham, he was a fine golfer and a good friend. Mental toughness comes from work, discipline and a refusal to give in. You’ve got to believe in yourself, no matter the situation. Players today have all the talent in the world but need to work on their mind. Same for young, aspiring golfers. It’s the key to becoming a champion.” When I think of a World Tour for golf, I think of you, Peter Thomson, and Bobby Locke. What role did Locke play in inspiring you both? “Peter and I had immense admiration for Bobby Locke. He took us both under his wing and wanted us to be successful. America has never given him the credit he deserves. He should be in the top 50 players of all time, without question. As a putter, I would even give Bobby the edge over Tiger Woods. But the greens each played on were so different, it’s hard to give one a true edge. Bobby was more of a jab putter, which was necessary given the greens were much slower in his time. He was extraordinary.” Yourself, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus have done so much for golf and for charity. Can you list a few causes close to your heart? “Our Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation remains my greatest passion. The funds we raise in South Africa support the Blair Athol School, but we’ve also raised money for many other causes worldwide. I have great respect for what Jack and Barbara Nicklaus have done for children. Jack once said that together, with Arnold as well, we’ve raised more than $600 million for charities over our lifetimes. That’s one of golf’s finest legacies.” South African Gary Player will celebrate his 90th birthday on November 1.
Golf holidays... reimagined At Imagine Cruising, we understand that booking a golfing holiday can feel overwhelming with endless options that often follow the same hotel-centric formula. Our approach is different. We understand the passion for golf and the desire to explore the world — which is why we’ve curated a distinctive collection that reimagines the traditional golf getaway. Our experiences go beyond the greens, combining rounds on world-renowned courses with extraordinary travel moments — from iconic rail journeys to guided tours of some of the world’s most remarkable natural and man-made wonders. This is golf, reimagined. TO BOOK CALL (03) 9115 7155 IMAGINECRUISING.COM.AU Terms and Conditions apply, for full details please visit imaginecruising.com.au. All prices shown in AUS Dollars. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing and include flights from Sydney (regional flights available at a supplement). Credit cards charged at 1%, if paying by AMEX a charge of 2.5% will be added. ABN number 48614987718. Prices are correct at the time of print and are subject to change. Offer applies to new bookings only. Holiday duration includes overnight flights when applicable and is subject to change. PLAY 3 CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES PLAY 4 AWARD-WINNING COURSES PLAY 4 OF AFRICA’S TOP COURSES
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc1MjU0