Golf Australia - January 2017, Australia Top 100 Courses
Golf Australia - January 2017, Australia Top 100 Courses
EXCLUSIVE R A N K I N G
U S T R A L I A' S
A
TOP-1OO PU B
L IC A C C E S S
w w w.gol f aus tr alia.c om. au
38 BEST BITS OF
GARY PLAYER NEW GOLF TECH KEEP UP & SHUT UP
WHY GOLF • GPS DEVICES INSIDE THE
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RIGHT NOW • SHOT-SAVING APPS APPRENTICE CADDIE
• RANGEFINDERS
SIGNATURE SHAPE
MEETS
EXPLOSIVE
PERFORMANCE.
CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTING PGA PROFESSIONALS Steve Aisbett,
Daniel Blackwell, Leon Faulkner, Brad Hughes,
Lorien Scott, Christian Small, Anthony Summers
PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images,
Matthew Harris/TGPL, Gary Lisbon
JANUARY #335
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
PH: (02) 9901 6142 [email protected]
29 RANKING: AUSTRALIA’S TOP-100
PUBLIC ACCESS COURSES
Our biennial ranking of the best 100 courses across the nation that
every golfer can play. A D V E R T I S I N G
HEAD OF SPORT
51 30 PREDICTIONS FOR 2017 Hamish Bayliss [email protected]
(02) 9901 6176; M: 0411 057 327
We look at who and what will make the headlines in world golf over
WA, VIC, SA, TAS AND MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING MANAGER
the next 12 months.
David Mullins [email protected]
M: 0412 327 886
60 THE MISUNDERSTOOD MAVERICK NSW, QLD, ACT ADVERTISING MANAGER
Bubba Watson is often portrayed as awkward and unlikeable, but Hugo Scotto [email protected]
that couldn’t be further from the warm, engaging and relaxed man M: 0424 184 505
S U B S C R I P T I O N S
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No South Pacific Island is nearer to Australia than New Caledonia. And a Dan Blackwell: Colour coded strategy
hot new course has given golfers even more reason to make the short Peter Shaw: Four steps to better wedge play
journey to the French territory.
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Stephen Pitt said. “We are excited by the opportunity to virtual golf competition.
BEACHSIDE
t: (02) 4455 1911
a: 72 Golf Avenue, Mollymook NSW 2539
HILLTOP
t: (02) 4455 2055
a: 2 Clifford Close, Mollymook NSW 2539
MOLLYMOOK www.mollymookgolf.com.au
GOLF CLUB
AROUND
THE BA RE M Y SOUL
TRAPS
ANDY SULLIVAN
What has been your closest brush with go back and make sure no-one invented What was your first job?
death? explosives. That would save a lot of lives. As I said earlier, I worked as a roofer when
When I was 17 I was working for a What was your nickname at school? I was 16 and 17. My mate at the golf club was
company that did roofing. Pretty boring. The same as it is now: doing it and asked if I wanted to come along
I managed to fall off a ladder. I went down “Sully.” It’s always been that. Even the and be his labourer. So I did. All I really did
about 20 feet or so and landed on a pile of teachers at school called me “Sully”. A few was lug tiles up and down that ladder I fell
underlay. of my good mates did call me “meatball” off. It was good fun until I did that.
I was lucky. I landed on the softest part of for a while. Because my head is really round
my body – my backside – so I didn’t break apparently. What is your favourite smell?
anything. But it could have been nasty. Lavender. I’ve always loved that smell. It
The more I think about it, the worse the Have you ever said “I love you” and not gets me. Whatever that means (laughs).
implications become. I never want to be any actually meant it?
closer to death than that. Yes. All the time (laughs). I’m joking. But What was your first car?
yes, I have said it and not meant it. And It was a Peugeot 206. My dad bought it
What was your earliest memory? that’s all I’m going to say on that subject. I’m for me. I think it cost about £3,000. Not long
Hang on. I’ll have to think about that. I not going to elaborate. No good will come after I got it I blew up the engine, which
can’t remember my earliest memory. Must of that! upset my dad no end. He got virtually none
be when I was about three years old. I of his investment back as it was a write-
remember my sister trapping my fingers off. I was 18 when I got it. And no, I can’t
in a deckchair. We were on holiday I think, remember the number plate.
and I can still recall how sore it was. But I’ve
forgiven her. Apart from your house, what has been your
most expensive purchase?
What is your most annoying trait? It has to be my car. I have a black Porsche
I have to be right. In every argument I like Carerra 4S. It cost £45,000 – and it’s the love
to be the smartest guy in the room. I always of my life (laughs). I shouldn’t have said that,
have to win, even when I have no right to should I?
do so. I’ll keep going until the other person
gives up too. You have to give up golf or sex. Which is it?
Golf. All day long. I enjoy the other far
Who do you most admire? more!
I could be really controversial and
just say Donald Trump. I really admire
him for his hairdo. Nah, I’m joking.
Although I do wish that I’ll have hair ‘I WANT TO
like his when I get to his age. I’m not
doing too well on that front.
LIVE FOREVER.
AND WITH THE
What scares you most? WAY MEDICAL
Death. I don’t think about it often, SCIENCE
or at least as little as possible. But
we’re all scared of that, aren’t we? I
IS GOING,
don’t want to die. I want to live forever. I THINK I CAN
And the way medical science is going I DO THAT!’
think I can do that (laughs).
We also provide a professional and personalised service for weddings, meetings, conventions, seminars
and conferences. Flexible food and beverage options are available to suit every taste and budget.
1. South African Branden Grace and Scot 2. Who did a young Richard Green defeat in 3. The inaugural Desert Classic was played on
Paul Lawrie have both won the Qatar a play-off to win the Dubai Desert Classic the European Tour in 1989. Peter O’Malley
Masters twice. Name the only other in 1997? was beaten in a play-off and another Aussie
player to have emulated that feat. finished fourth. Who was it?
4. In the 2012 Abu Dhabi Championship, 5. American Chris DiMarco is the oldest 6. At the 2014 Qatar Masters, England’s
Sergio Garcia and Jose Manuel Lara both ever winner (2006) of the Abu Dhabi Steve Webster made European Tour
made a hole-in-one on the 12th hole in Championship at 37 years and 152 days. history as the first player to ever start a
the first round. Who made an ace on the Who is the youngest player to win the tournament by doing what on his first
same hole in the final round? title? hole?
GOLF: THINKING
YOUR WAY TO
THE NEXT LEVEL
IMAGINE taking a year off to study the
game of golf from a new academic angle,
exploring hundreds of hours of footage and
photographs, all the wisdom of tournament
players, golf teachers and your own almost
40 years of tournament experience and
distilling it down into a clear and concise
step-by-step approach.
Imagine, too, if you found that the process
of dramatically improving your game truly was
“90 percent mental” as psychologists say,
and could be mastered predominantly off the
course. How quickly you could take your game
to the next level!
Well that is exactly what seasoned
tournament amateur Doug Hannaford did,
during a ‘sea change’ to Western Australia’s
Margaret River wine region.
The key to the simplicity of this book is
its opening chapter on how we learn most
efficiently and its logical sequencing of just 30
“objectives”, covering the most fundamental
points of the game in five key areas: ball
striking and the short game, developing
consistency, course design and how
understanding it will help your scoring, course
management and mental composure.
Hannaford is quick to point out that he did
not set out to write a technical manual, and
pays tribute to the industry professionals
whose wisdom he has distilled. In fact, he
wrote the book to cover his pet forte of
mental processes, strategy and composure
which dominate four of the five main chapters.
But there were some definite ball-striking
thoughts he felt he needed to cover, such
as two fundamentals of the grip which “80
percent of amateurs get wrong and yet they
are so critical to power and control”.
The basic tenet of Hannaford’s swing theory
is the importance of adopting a stance and
takeaway which most readily allows you to
return to the same address position at impact. To help you learn to develop effective
With that thought in mind, it is easy to HANNAFORD IS QUICK strategies, there is an extraordinary look at the
realise the importance of a square grip, a TO POINT OUT HE DID remarkable contribution of Old Tom Morris, and
stable lower body and maintaining the radius NOT SET OUT TO WRITE a tour of the works of the four key designers
of the left arm (as opposed to “keeping it of what is known as the Golden Era of course
straight” as so many writers describe it). This
A TECHNICAL MANUAL, design – from 1900 until the Great Depression
thought is backed up with photographs of AND PAYS TRIBUTE in 1929. This section is features images from
tournament players which make these things TO THE INDUSTRY some of the world’s leading photographers.
obvious in a way it has never seemed before.
Having dealt with the swing, short game
PROFESSIONALS
Golf: Think Your Way To Your Next Level
and ways to develop consistency, the book
WHOSE WISDOM HE by Doug Hannaford is available online at
moves on to discuss ‘Course Management’. HAS DISTILLED. www.golfingworld.org
The Creek Course designed by Cashmore in conjunction with 6 time major championship winner
Sir Nick Faldo, is a wonderful complement to The Beach Course. The Creek Course is regularly
compared to some of Melbournes best Sandbelt courses.
that everyone knew there was no meat in retired after 30 years in the job.
Australian sausages. KINGSTON HEATH Lunch at the Thai Country Club was a buffet
Kingston Heath showed flair during the SHOWED FLAIR stretching 50 metres and loaded with dozens
World Cup recently when it put the outline of
the trophy in the froth of cappuccinos served
DURING THE WORLD of hot and cold dishes. For good measure,
three uniformed chefs stood by to cook any
in the clubhouse. CUP RECENTLY WHEN additional requests.
According to my friend and editor of a rival IT PUT THE OUTLINE Summoning the courage to ask the
magazine, Mick Davis, the club used to serve
the best steak sandwich in Australia but it
OF THE TROPHY impressive maitre d’ in his immaculate Hugo
Boss suit what was the special occasion, I
is no longer on the menu. The same fate IN THE FROTH OF was informed: “There is no special occasion,
has befallen the MacKenzie burger at Royal CAPPUCCINOS... sir. This is the normal members’ lunch.”
Melbourne about which one wag said: “I bet If that is a bit rich for the blood, you might
he didn’t design it.” like to try the zucchini bread Winnie Palmer
My favourite memories of lunch at the golf used to make for Arnold (see the recipe left).
include Huntingdale in Melbourne and the Thai She shared her recipe in a book put out by
Country Club in Bangkok. a group of God fearing southern women in
The Friday media lunch during the Masters Augusta, Georgia, home of the US Masters.
in the time of tournament founder David I gave it to the Birdie Kitchen and they are
Inglis could not be faulted and invitations considering it, although they have knocked
were greatly anticipated. The credit goes to on the head Barbara Nicklaus’ crab casserole
executive chef George Skaliotis, a gold medal recipe on the grounds that crab is too
winner at the Culinary Olympics in Germany. expensive in Australia and if they put it into a
Sadly for members and guests, he has just pie, they’d have to charge $7.
DARING TO DREAM
Imagine, if you will, that we are going aim being to produce, over every 11-month course at Sawgrass. The tour will then spend
back in time to the very beginnings season, a variety of challenges for the best the next five weeks working northwards
of professional golf. As far as we players. Those courses will be set-up in ways through the eastern half of America/Canada.
are concerned, there are no major that will ask not only difficult and interesting From there, the tour will cross the Atlantic
championships and no tours; we are free and fun questions, but every question. for five weeks in Europe. In three of those
to do what is best for both the spectators One week, the rough will be long and thick weeks, links golf will be played, ending with
around the world and the players who will (but never around the greens). In the next, the third major, the Open Championship.
participate in whatever we come up with. long grass will be non-existent. Sometimes After that mouth-watering little scenario,
Let’s start with what we’re not going to do: the fairways will be wide; sometimes they it will be back across the pond for another
1. We’re not going to have a motley will be narrow. And the greens will be month, a run that will contain another
collection of separate and inevitably self- everything from really fast to really slow. former major, the USPGA Championship.
interested tours spread all across the globe. The bigger picture is that the ‘World The last of those four weeks will showcase
In our brave new world, everyone will work Tour’ will live up to its name, visiting every the US Open, the fourth and final major of
together for the common good. enclave of the game from the beginning the year.
2. We’re not going to have a series of of January to the end of November. There Following three more weeks in Europe,
self-important tour commissioners whose will be no professional golf in the month of the tour will spend the last ten weeks
sole aim in life is the accumulation of December. Both players and spectators need in Asia, a compelling mix of events in
money. We’re going to appoint a benevolent a break, if only to build anticipation for the countries like Japan, China, Thailand and
dictator, someone with only the best next round of events. India. And the climax to the season, the
interests of the game at heart. The season will start in the Middle East World Tour Championship, will be held
3. We’re not going to hold events on with a three-week run through Dubai, annually in the Middle East. In other words,
mediocre courses just because they are Qatar and Abu Dhabi. From there, the back where we started.
offering the most cash. Instead, we’re going following fortnight will be spent in South Imagine watching the very best golfers
to put the best players on the best courses. Africa, before three weeks in Australia. playing a game that asks them to display
Moving right along, here’s what we are One of those weeks will be spent at the a wide variety of skills rather than simply
going to do: southern hemisphere’s premier course, hitting the same high and straight shot
1. The new World Tour headquarters Royal Melbourne, where the first major that has sadly become the modern
will be in St. Andrews, the Home of Golf. championship of the season, the World norm. Imagine them playing courses
Where else? Match Play Championship, will take place. that encourage the shaping of shots
2. Every tour player will use persimmon- Next up, after a one-week stop in from left-to-right and right-to-left.
headed woods and balata balls so that the Hawaii, four weeks in western half of the Imagine them showing off their
Old Course at St. Andrews can again be United States. Although no longer a major dexterity and imagination
played as it was designed to be played. All championship, The Masters Tournament at inside 50-yards, rather than
the tees will be inside the boundary fences. Augusta National will then fill its traditional shuddering as they hack out
None of the bunkers will be surrounded by spot (not everything has to change). of yet another mindless
long grass. And those putting surfaces will After the Masters, a month will then be patch of long grass.
be cut so that, even in a stiffish breeze, they spent in the south-east of the US, climaxing Yes, yes. I know. It
remained playable. with the second major championship, the probably will never
3. Only the best courses will be used, the World Players Championship over the WPC happen – but it could.
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EXCLUSIVE RANKING
O
ne of the greatest assets golf has in course architect, Dr Alister MacKenzie, they 2015 RANK: N/R
this country is its accessibility for could use as a guide to appraise courses. Sandringham makes its debut in this ranking,
the masses. “A pleasurable course is synonymous with a which some on our panel believe is long
The latest Australian Golf Industry Council good one. No course can give lasting pleasure overdue. Laid across similar land to its
figures on participation rates reveal more than unless it is a good test of golf. I also submit that neighbour Royal Melbourne, Sandringham
two million Australians played at least one no course can be really first rate unless it appeals presents a terrific challenge for golfers of all
round of golf in the 12 months to July 2016. to all classes of players,” MacKenzie wrote. standards right in the heart of the Sandbelt.
The vast majority of those rounds were played With those words, our judges went forth and www.sandringhamgolfcourse.com.au
on public accessible courses. 189 courses received votes from our judges,
There are hundreds of quality public access which is the largest number of nominated 98. PALMER GOLD COAST GC
courses spread throughout the nation, which courses in the history of this ranking. Robina, Queensland
not only offer a terrific golf experience but are Here, we present the cream of the public 2015 RANK: 73
affordable and fun to play. access crop, with a selection of new, redesigned The course previously known as Robina Woods
At last count there are nearly 1,500 courses and returning courses making their way back remains a staple treat for any golfer visiting
spread in Australia with the vast majority of into the rank of centurions. the Gold Coast with its undulating fairways
those layouts open to visiting golfers – they are Chances are you won’t agree with our list, lined by seemingly endless stands of towering
public accessible. By our definition, a public and it is true that some very good courses have gum trees proving a point of difference with its
access course is one that sets aside tee-times narrowly missed out. But few could argue neighbours.
for visiting golfers for a minimum of four days against the fact, the layouts showcased here all www.palmergolf.com.au/goldcoast
a week. meet with MacKenzie’s benchmark of being
This biennial final ranking was compiled “pleasurable”. 97. CYPRESS LAKES G&CC
during the past two years since our last Enjoy your next round. Pokolbin, NSW
Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking was 2015 RANK: N/R
published. Golf Australia editors were joined 100. THE SANDHURST CLUB Two years ago Cypress Lakes received no
by a team of committed Golf Australia readers (North course) Sandhurst, Victoria votes from our judges assembled for the Public
who volunteered to present their opinions and 2015 RANK: 95 Access Courses ranking. But a huge investment
insights on courses played during their travels. Renovation work on the Peter Thomson and by the owner to restore the course to its former
This involved visiting courses, without notice, Ross Perrett-designed layout, particularly glory has seen it surge back into the top-100
and noting any changes to the design as well as the bunkering, has bedded in well. The after a six-year absence.
the presentation of the course. They all paid for conditioning has improved a lot in recent times. www.cypresslakes.com.au
their rounds of golf. www.sandhurst.com
Each judge was given a list of voting 96. RIVERSIDE OAKS
guidelines and our judging criteria as well as 99. SANDRINGHAM (Gangurru course) Cattai, NSW
an excerpt of words of wisdom from the great Cheltenham, Victoria 2015 RANK: 87
Riverside Oaks’ original course has dropped This Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett- itself on being the most accessible. The club
some spots in this ranking but that can be designed layout makes its debut in the ranking and course here exude an old-school charm.
attributed to many of the debutante courses after opening for play in 2014. The design team The Vern Morcom design is not overly long and
and the elevation of several redesigned layouts have managed to create a links-style layout out is full of tree-lined doglegs to pitched greens.
ahead of it. Course upgrades in recent years of grazing land in what is still predominantly www.rhgc.com.au
have matured nicely. a rural environment on the edge of a new
www.riversideoaks.com.au residential development. 89. DUNTRYLEAGUE GC
www.clubmandalay.com.au Orange, NSW
95. YERING MEADOWS GC 2015 RANK: N/R
(Homestead course) Yering, Victoria 92. BYRON BAY GC The golfing pride of Orange dropped out of
2015 RANK: 56 Byron Bay, NSW our ranking in 2015 but it has well and truly
Yering Meadows’ Homestead course, which 2015 RANK: 81 bounced back to reach its highest-ever mark in
takes in holes 1 to 9 and 19 to 27, continues The major redesign program undertaken here this biennial list. This has come on the back of
to be the pick of the three layouts among our during the past decade has matured really well its outstanding year-round presentation.
judges. The Homestead design is the most and is complimented by consistently good www.duntryleague.com.au
interesting of the three combinations but presentation. The opening four holes at Byron
conditioning continues to be a concern. are superb and worth the green fee alone. 88. COBRAM-BAROOGA GC
www.yeringmeadows.com.au www.byronbaygolfclub.com.au (Old course) Barooga, NSW
2015 RANK: 98
94. HORSHAM GC 91. COOLANGATTA & TWEED HEADS GC This ‘Old’ Murray River gem slipped to No.98
Horsham, Victoria (West course) Tweed Heads, NSW in 2015 with our judges noting the course had
2015 RANK: 47 2015 RANK: 87 lost some of its polish from years gone by.
Horsham GC has been going through a tough The well-manicured West course is one of the But renovation work and a higher standard
time since its clubhouse and course were best value golfing experiences to be had on the of presentation in recent times has not gone
devastated by bushfires in 2009. It won a class Gold Coast. Recent upgrades to the greens unnoticed.
action and was able to build a modern clubhouse and some bunkering have enhanced the www.cbgc.com.au
but its financial position more recently has been popular layout.
a concern. As a result, the condition of the layout www.cooltweedgolf.com.au 87. ALICE SPRINGS GC
is not what it was two years ago. Alice Springs, Northern Territory
www.horshamgolfclub.com.au 90. ROYAL HOBART GC 2015 RANK: 89
Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania Has only moved up two spots in the ranking
93. CLUB MANDALAY 2015 RANK: 82 but this climb in the rank will continue while
Beveridge, Victoria Of all the nation’s clubs that carry the the current program of course improvements
2015 RANK: N/R esteemed ‘Royal’ prefix, Royal Hobart prides continues. The greens are, once again,
outstanding and the presentation of the tees 83. NORTH LAKES RESORT GC
THE CRITERIA
and fairways will only get better … so will its North Lakes, Queensland
DESIGN (50%): When ranking a course judges
rank. 2015 RANK: 72
were instructed to ask the following questions to
www.alicespringsgolfclub.com.au Graham Marsh’s 6,455-metre design is a strong
themselves to determine where a course stands
test for the good amateur and professional. But
in the list.
86. OCEAN SHORES CC it doesn’t overawe part-timers or beginners
V Is there a good balance of par-3s, 4s and 5s? Is
Ocean Shores, Victoria playing from the forward tees because of
there good variety?
2015 RANK: 69 the wide fairways and large Tifeagle putting
V Is risk-and-reward a factor on many holes? Ocean Shores’ dip in the ranking here can really surfaces.
V How fair is the course for all players? be attributed to the improvement of several www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au
V Does the design offer a wide selection of other courses in this percentile of the rank
shots bringing any variation of wind direction rather than any drop off it has experienced. 82. GROWLING FROG
into play? The northern NSW course remains a fun and Yan Yean, Victoria
V How memorable are individual holes and the challenging layout for all golfers. 2015 RANK: 70
course as a whole? www.oceanshorescc.com.au Another of Graham Marsh’s solo designs, with
his trademark wide fairways, multiple tees and
CONDITION (40%): Things to consider include: 85. ALBANY GC large undulating greens. Laid in a wonderful
V The overall condition of playing surfaces. Take Albany, Western Australia rural setting north of Melbourne, Growling
into consideration elements out of control of 2015 RANK: 74 Frog’s drop here is the victim of the sharp rise
course staff like drought, bushfire and flood. Dominated by rolling fairways that cross of several courses ahead of it.
V Are the fairways cut to be well-defined from beautiful naturally-occurring sand dunes, www.growlingfromgolfcourse.com.au
semi-rough and rough? Albany is a terrific links layout on WA’s south
V Have the bunkers been well-presented? coast. In fact, some of the most natural links 81. MOLLYMOOK GC
holes in the country can be found here. (Hilltop course) Mollymook, NSW
VISUAL APPEAL (10%): In relation to public www.albanygolfclub.com.au 2015 RANK: 99
Mollymook is a bushland beauty with
access courses, visual appeal is an important
84. FLINDERS GC cathedral-like stands of gum trees lining nearly
factor in not only attracting golfers but also
Flinders, Victoria every fairway of the undulating layout. Its
getting those same golfers to play the course
2015 RANK: 85 big rise here comes on the back of its much-
again and again. Visual appeal makes up the
A favourite of regular golfers, and once-a improved conditioning and the fine result of a
remaining 20 percent. Things to consider include: -year holiday hackers alike, Flinders lies at recent bunker upgrade program.
V How aesthetically pleasing is the course to the southern-most tip of the Mornington www.mollymookgolf.com.au
look at? Peninsula. It’s been there for more than a
V Are there many holes that have the ‘wow’ century is exposed to the wind, making it a fun 80. BRIBIE ISLAND GC
factor? place to play anytime. Bribie Island, Queensland
V Does the course bIend well with its surrounds? www.flindersgolfclub.com.au 2015 RANK: N/R
Bribie Island’s original layout slipped out
79. MURWILLUMBAH GC
Murwillumbah, NSW
2015 RANK: 90
Murwillumbah made its debut in this rank in
2015 and continues to impress our judges. Our
judges singled out the setting, with views of
Mt Warning, the interesting and challenging
design as well as the high standard of its
playing surfaces as worthy of note.
www.murwillumbahgolfclub.com.au
70. BELMONT GC
Belmont, NSW
2015 RANK: 79
The rise of Belmont continues after it moved
up 10 spots in 2015 and now another nine
places in the past two years. Much of this
can be attributed to extensive redesign work
particularly on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes.
www.belmontgolf.com.au
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74
62. THE SANDHURST CLUB around it in the list. Judges like the layout The Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett-designed
(Champions course) Sandhurst, Victoria and conditioning, although some noted the Black Bull makes its debut in this ranking after
2015 RANK: 51 bunkering might soon need renovating. the full 18 holes opened for play in May 2015.
Sandhurst’s developer recently handed over www.palmergolf.com.au/seareef The layout covers superb rolling terrain and
the club to the members and during the its ‘Bull Ring’ holes are memorable for the
transition Programmed Turnpoint was hired 59. TASMANIA GC challenge they present.
to improve the playing surfaces and oversee Sorell, Tasmania www.blackbullgc.com.au
renovation of the bunkers. This can only help 2015 RANK: 55
both Sandhurst layouts rise in the ranking in Tasmania’s ranks as one of Al Howard’s finest 56. SECRET HARBOUR LINKS
two years time. designs. Set on the bluffs above Barilla Bay, Secret Harbour, Western Australia
www.sandhurst.com the views are terrific and the course enjoyable, 2015 RANK: 50
while the condition – right across the layout – Secret Harbour offers a traditional links course
61. PALM MEADOWS is consistently good. experience where the wind is a constant.
Carrara, Queensland www.tasmaniagolfclub.com.au Graham Marsh ensured this layout would be
2015 RANK: 65 fair and challenging for players of all abilities
Another course in this ranking that has 58. LINKS LADY BAY in all sorts of conditions.
improved its position for the second Normanville, South Australia www.secretsgolf.com.au
consecutive time. The iconic Gold Coast layout 2015 RANK: 43
continues its rise due to a higher standard of Located along the route of the coastal getaways 55. YARRAWONGA MULWALA GC RESORT
presentation, which includes remodeled and south of Adelaide, Links Lady Bay is one of the (Murray course) Mulwala, NSW
renovated bunkering throughout. standout courses of South Australia. Possesses 2015 RANK: 59
www.palmmeadows.com.au all qualities that live up to the name of links, The Murray course was inundated by
with firm and fast playing surfaces, wide floodwater earlier this year, but is slowly
60. PALMER SEA REEF fairways and variety in the routing. returning to top condition. Most of our
Port Douglas, Queensland www.linksladybay.com.au judges marked the Murray layout on its
2015 RANK: 39 pre-flood presentation and were enthused by
Not much has changed at Sea Reef since the 57. BLACK BULL GC the conditioning and the recent tweaks to
2015 edition of our ranking but there has Yarrawonga, Victoria the design.
been plenty of movement in the positons 2015 RANK: N/R www.yarragolf.com.au
54. WARRNAMBOOL GC
Warrnambool, Victoria
67
2015 RANK: 71
One of the biggest movers in this ranking
for 2017. The clearing of coastal scrub from
several front nine holes and the remodelling
of a few greens are just part of the overall
enhancement of a round at Warrnambool.
Several judges noted the course was in the best
shape that had ever seen it.
www.wgcinc.com.au
than it was prior to the 2015 ranking. Several platform to create some memorable holes. 46. FEDERAL GC
judges noted the greens were without fault. www.coastgolf.com.au Red Hill, ACT
www.palmercoolumresort.com.au 2015 RANK: 48
48. KOOINDAH WATERS RESORT Federal has cemented its place in the 40s
52. MURRAY DOWNS G&CC Wyong, NSW of this ranking after debuting at No.42 in
Swan Hill, Victoria 2015 RANK: 46 2013. The beautiful layout bounces back up
2015 RANK: 58 Raised out of an unremarkable site, designers two spots as a result of superb conditioning,
Murray Downs rises again in the ranking for Ross Watson and Craig Parry produced an with one judge noting the bentgrass greens
the second time in four years. But outstanding impressive-looking course with great strategic “arguably the best in Canberra.”
presentation across the layout, particularly the value. The conditioning rarely waivers away www.federalgolf.com.au
putting surfaces, has assured it remains the from its high standard.
No.1 course to be found along the Murray River. www.kooindahwatersgolf.com.au 45. SUN CITY CC
www.murraydownsresort.com.au Yanchep, Western Australia
47. RANFURLIE GC 2015 RANK: 75
51. JOONDALUP RESORT & CC Cranbourne, Victoria The most improved course of any layout that
(Dune/Lake course) Joondalup, 2015 RANK: 38 appeared in this ranking in 2015. The redesign
Western Australia Ranfurlie is a thought provoking design with by OCCM (Ogilvy, Clayton, Cocking and Mead)
2015 RANK: 49 wide fairways and angled greens. Its slight has further enhanced this superb course
The Dune and Lake layout is often overlooked drop in the ranking here comes on the back of during the past two years. With more holes
for mention when golfers talk of Joondalup, several judges feeling the conditioning didn’t coming into play during the past 18 months,
but it always offers a memorable experience compare with where it was prior to the 2015 Sun City has never been better.
with some visually exciting holes and first- ranking. www.suncitycountryclub.com.au
class playing surfaces. www.ranfurlie.com.au
www.joondalupresort.com.au
Springfield Drive, HOPE ISLAND, QLD 4212 • 07 5530 9033 or +61 5530 9033
www.linkshopeisland.com.au • [email protected]
44. SANCTUARY COVE
(Palms course), Sanctuary Cove,
Queensland
2015 RANK: 36
Nearly six years on from opening after a
massive redesign by Ross Watson, the Palms
course is proving more popular than ever. Its
dip in the rank here can really only attributed
to the movements and debutant courses above
it in the list. As one judge noted … the Palms
“has become a consistent mainstay of Gold
Coast golf.”
www.sanctuarycovegolfclub.com.au
43. KALGOORLIE GC
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
2015 RANK: 40
Rugged, sandy outback terrain are the
foundations of this well-manicured course,
which is home to the West Australian PGA
Championship. The Graham Marsh design
might be the longest in the nation from the tips,
but it remains playable to all from a variety of
forward tees.
www.ckb.wa.gov.au/Kalgoorlie-Golf-Course
42. CURLEWIS GC
Curlewis, Victoria
2015 RANK: 53
This Bellarine Peninsula layout continues
to rise in this rank, which goes hand in
hand with the subtle tweaking of its design,
the presentation and the overall golfing
experience. There are more alterations to
come, which the judges are really looking
forward to.
www.curlewisgolf.com.au
lf
Corporate Golf, Play & Stay and (08) 9400 8801
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2015
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Narooma’s oceanside location gives rise to
some memorable holes, but the dramatic
terrain of the inland holes is also home to
fantastic holes, which adds to the overall
quality. It’s not surprising to find this ‘country’
course so high in the ranking.
www.naroomagolf.com.au
27. LAKELANDS GC
and interesting green sites – but the overall The Quarry/Lake maintains its spot at No.32 Merrimac, Queensland
presentation is not up to the same standard as and as the second best of the Joondalup 2015 RANK: 24
glory years gone by. combinations. The Lake nine offers a The high-standard of presentation at
www.thevines.com.au slightly less dramatic, but no less enjoyable, Lakelands has been a trademark aspect of
complement to the Quarry nine. the layout since it opened 20 years ago, some
33. LONG REEF GC www.joondalupresort.com.au would say it’s the best on the Gold Coast. The
Collaroy, NSW Jack Nicklaus design is also challenging but
2015 RANK: 31 31. SANCTUARY LAKES CLUB fair for all players.
Located on a spectacular, sloping headland Point Cook, Victoria www.lakelandsgolfclub.com.au
with water views on three sides, the course 2015 RANK: 37
sweeps up and down the hill with wind The Greg Norman and Bob Harrison-designed 26. PACIFIC DUNES GC
dictating what you will shoot on the day. This layout made its debut in this list two years ago Medowie, NSW
is a solid test in a great location on well- not long after the members took control of the 2015 RANK: 27
manicured playing surfaces. club from the original developer. The course Inches up one spot on its 2015 rank. Our
www.longreefgolfclub.com.au has been on a steady climb of improvement judges really like the James Wilcher design,
ever since. particularly the variety of the two-shot
32. JOONDALUP RESORT & CC www.sanctuarylakesclub.com.au holes. The consistency of its well-manicured
(Quarry/Lake course) Joondalup, Western presentation was also noted by several judges.
Australia 30. THE GLADES www.pacificdunesgolf.com.au
2015 RANK: 32 Robina, Queensland
2015 RANK: 37 25. PORT FAIRY GL
There seems to be generous width with this Port Fairy, Victoria
THE NEXT 25 Greg Norman and Bob Harrison design but, 2015 RANK: 30
if you’re on the wrong side of the fairway, One of Australia’s few true links courses just
1. Bayview, NSW
approach shots can be really tough. A program keeps getting better, with additional bunkering
2. Bay Views, Victoria of bunker renovations have been completed and the remodeling of some greens making
3. Bermagui, NSW and will see the layout rise again. a round here memorable across all 18 holes,
4. Coffs Harbour, NSW www.glades.com.au rather than just the ocean side holes. The
5. Corowa GC (East course), NSW condition of the layout has also been ramped
6. Country Club Tasmania, Tasmania 29. NAROOMA GC up a notch.
7. Gardiners Run, Victoria Narooma, NSW www.portfairygolf.com.au
8. Gungahlin Lakes, ACT 2015 RANK: 28
9. Liverpool, NSW
10. Lonsdale, Victoria
11. Maroochy River, Queensland
12. Millicent, South Australia
13. Moss Vale, NSW
14. Mt Broughton G&CC, NSW
15. Mt Compass, South Australia
16. Pambula-Merimbula (Pambula course), NSW
17. Portarlington, Victoria
18. Rich River Resort (East), NSW
19. Shepparton, Victoria
20. Shelly Beach, NSW
21. The Ridge, NSW
22. Tocumwal (Presidents course), NSW
23. Ulverstone, Tasmania
24. Yamba, NSW
25. Yarra Bend, Victoria 35
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13. MOONAH LINKS 2015 RANK: 8 2013 to 2015 and climbing up one more spot
(Legends course) Fingal, Victoria The Dunes has suffered a similar fate to this year. Each voting judge came away from
2015 RANK: 15 Newcastle in dropping out of the top-10 but it Bonville wanting to return as soon as possible,
Golf is meant to be fun and the stunning does not reflect any change to the high quality enthused by the overall golfing experience.
dunescape, combined with a collection of well- of the layout but is the result of two newcomers www.bonvillegolf.com.au
designed and playable holes, make the Legends at the pointy end of the list. The Dunes remains
course very enjoyable. one of this country’s great golfing experiences. 8. THIRTEENTH BEACH
The Ross Perrett design, combined with www.thedunes.com.au (Beach course) Barwon Heads, Victoria
beautiful playing surfaces, make the Legends 2015 RANK: 6
course a mainstay within the top echelon of 10. JOONDALUP RESORT & CC The Beach course is 15 years young but it fits
public access courses in this country. (Quarry/Dune course) Joondalup, in so well with the surrounding dunes that
www.moonahlinks.com.au Western Australia it would be easy to assume it has been in the
2015 RANK: 5 ground for decades. This can be attributed
12. NEWCASTLE GC The Quarry/Dunes layout is one of Australia’s to Tony Cashmore’s terrific design, which
Stockton, NSW most dramatic inland layouts, with most of its is complemented by all-round first-class
2015 RANK: 9 holes being routed around, through or over an conditioning.
Newcastle has slipped out of the top-10 but abandoned limestone quarry. The course offers www.13thbeach.net
this can be attributed to other courses entering the ‘wow’ factor in spades from its creative
the rank in front of it. Newcastle remains one design to the consistently good presentation of 7. LINKS KENNEDY BAY
of the best presented and enjoyable courses to its playing surfaces. Port Kennedy, Western Australia
play in the country. It will be interesting to see www.joondalupresort.com.au 2015 RANK: 3
what effect some new holes will have on the With its undulating greens, penal pot bunkers
course when they are completed. 9. BONVILLE GOLF RESORT and the rippling fairways wedged between vast
www.newcastlegolf.com.au Bonville, NSW tracts of native vegetation, Kennedy Bay remains
2015 RANK: 10 among the elite courses in the country, and the
11. THE DUNES GL Bonville keeps inching its way north in this No.1 public access layout in Western Australia.
Rye, Victoria ranking, having moved up one spot from www.kennedybay.com.au
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5 6
W
e saw some extraordinary golf
in 2016. From the greatest
final round in a major at The
JORDAN SPIETH’S MASTERS PRESS
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brilliance of Ariya Jutanugarn in the
women’s game, it was a year to remember.
OLD WHEN HE WILL BE ASKED ABOUT
The crystal ball and tea leaves are out as we THE ‘MELTDOWN’...
look ahead to the rest of 2017, which promises
to be another great year. Will we see four first-
time winners again in the majors? Unlikely. and unlike his predecessors Matt Kuchar oversized cheque.
Will the Korean’s dominate women’s golf ?
More than likely.
and Brandt Snedeker, he doesn’t win the
tournament. 5 Jordan Spieth’s Masters press conference
will be two questions old when he will be
Here’s what we believe is in store in this
eagerly anticipated golfing year. 3 Jason Day makes his first appearance on
home soil in four years at the Australian
asked about the ‘meltdown’ that cost him the
green jacket in 2016.
11
18
13 Cameron Smith b
his first win on th
puts him in contention f
selection, adding to the r
Australians in the Intern
14 Su Oh will break
LPGA victory on
the Women’s Australian
Adelaide in front of a rec
17 Matt Fitzpatrick
European Tour w
including back-to-back D
Championship titles and
of Merit title and the firs
Luke Donald in 2011 to a
19 Applications for
Japanese media f
will double as they follow
Augusta in hope of anoth
20
20 Phil Mickelson w
the World Top-1
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BRENDAN JAMES
DAMIAN SHUTIE
JOHN HUGGAN
MIKE CLAYTON
TEA LEAVES
Masters winner Jordan Spieth Jordan Spieth Adam Scott Rickie Fowler
US Open winner Jason Day Henrik Stenson Dustin Johnson Jordan Spieth
Open Champion Adam Scott Dustin Johnson Henrik Stenson Henrik Stenson
US PGA winner Hideki Matsuyama Rory McIlroy Thomas Pieters Rory McIlroy
Global player to watch Thorbjorn Olesen Russell Knox John Rahm Rory McIlroy
South Korea’s Ha Na
Jang will back up her
Brooke Henderson.
A Korean; I forget which three win season on the
Dominant female player Another year older,
one
So Yeon Ryu
LPGA with four more in
another year wiser.
2017. Watch her climb the
rankings.
a directive to the
tournament set-up
announcing a PGA Tour
staff to cut down all
event to be staged in
thick rough, especially Fix the ball. He won’t
New PGA Tour Commish Jay around greens, which
Undoing just about
but it’s the easiest thing
Australia, paving the way
Monahan’s first order of will eradicate wedge
everything “achieved” by
he could do to make the
for an eventual three-
business should be…. chop-outs back to the
his predecessor.
tour more interesting.
week Down Under swing
on the world’s elite Tour.
fairway and every chip
We can wish, can’t we?
shot being played with a
lob wedge.
hole and I’d go one way round the house, then family time I first got on
the other way. Over trees, under trees, over “My dad was a ter tionwide Tour
the edge of my house. I began creating the golfer (laughs). H he Web.Com
feeling of hitting a shot and smiling because I no longer with us I’m from a small
got it to do what I dreamed.” I can say that now nd I don’t like
He shot in the 80 wds so I had
Bubba on… the importance of the grip a handful of time n how to deal
“The first thing my dad taught me when he I think. But golf i ving cameras
gave me that club was the grip. Even though about more than of me and how
he was no good at golf, he understood the winning a trophy erviews. When
2016* – Three (Brazil, China, Scotland) 2016* – Three (Abu Dhabi, Scotland, Singapore)
2015 – Seven (Bahamas, Canada, China x 2, 2015 – Four (Australia, Bahamas, China,
Japan, Scotland, Thailand) Scotland)
2014 – Four (China, England, Japan, 2014 – Four (Australia, China, England, Japan)
Thailand) 2013 – Four (China, Colombia, Panama,
2013 – Five (Canada, China, Malaysia, Scotland)
Scotland, Thailand) 2012 – None
2012 – Three (China, England, Thailand)
Bubba on… being competitors and Bubba on… cuts and consistency versus
friends winning
“As a Tour player, I want to beat everybody,
but I realise what’s most important. If Rory
“The world would think you’re a great golfer
if you win three times in a year but miss all
I’VE HAD BAD
beats me because he hit better shots than me, your other cuts. Our attention span is so PRESS, FOR SURE,
then I can’t be mad at him. I shake his hand short these days that you just look at what
and congratulate him. Am I not going to be happened last week or a player’s wins. Even BUT I WANT TO BE
friends with him because he beat me? No. I
can sit here and say McIlroy is better than me
I forget what I’ve done myself. Sometimes,
I’ll think I haven’t been playing well and
REMEMBERED AS A
so I shouldn’t talk to him, but we’re friends. then I’ll go, ‘Wait, I’ve won this year’. When GOOD GUY. I DON’T
We’re trying to be the best Bubba or Rory we
can be. There are going to be weeks
Rory missed a few cuts a couple of years ago,
everyone was questioning him. Then he wins
CARE IF I WAS CON-
I beat him… hopefully. You just think ‘I’m two majors and everyone’s calling him the SIDERED A GREAT
going to beat you next time.’ But we do it in a greatest.
friendly way. You’re going to go crazy if you “When I won the Masters in 2012, GOLFER.
don’t have any friends.” everyone was talking about it on Monday, but
Watson secured his first victory at the Adopted Caleb before Won his second Travelers Championship
Travelers Championship, lost to Martin Kaymer winning the Masters to go and Hero World Challenge in the
in a play-off at the US PGA Championship and 4th in the world rankings. Bahamas. ESPN poll revealed Watson
made his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor. His Made his second Ryder Cup as the pro fellow tour golfers would be
father Gerry died in October. appearance at Medinah. least prone to help in a fight.
T
he time-honoured maxim of ‘loopers’ who do it week in, week out. It’s than most pros. The host course, Stonecutters
caddieing reminds us there are a far more intricate job than it appears, Ridge in Sydney’s north-west, is my home
three basic tenets to the job: show even when the player calculates his own club and I have logged more than 200 rounds
up, keep up and shut up. After four days distances as Deyen did. there since the course opened in 2012.
carrying Victorian professional Deyen I ventured into the role hoping to be of The tee-to-green strategy of the layout is
Lawson’s bag at the New South Wales some assistance to a player who freely admits straightforward enough to decipher even
Open, I have a fresh admiration for the he’s more relaxed during tournament play in swirling winds, but it can be useful to
intimately know the terrain around the greens on his clubs are such that even a slightly
and to recognise how to approach certain pin overzealous replacement in the bag can put
positions. them out of kilter. No problem, I thought. Just
We met on the Monday practice round as I KEPT WANTING put the clubs back in gently. I did drop the
Deyen and Ben Clementson played 11 holes hybrid’s headcover at one point – ironically to
to reacquaint themselves with the layout. TO PUT HIS PUTTER jot down notes for this story – but fortunately
Deyen played the NSW Open the previous
year; Ben contested both previous editions at
BESIDE THE my ‘walk of shame’ was only a few paces
backwards. I also kept wanting to put his
Stonecutters (his claim to fame was holing WEDGES ... THAT’S putter back in the lower part of his bag beside
out for eagle at the long par-4 8th two days in
a row one year). On a warm, sunny spring day
WHERE I KEEP the wedges, simply because that’s where I
keep mine. But Deyen prefers his flatstick
we became accustomed to each other and the MINE. BUT DEYEN kept up alongside the woods.
golf course. I pointed out a few potentially The practice round was instructive. Deyen
tricky pin positions and the likely wind PREFERS HIS is a true feel player, so much so that he plays
directions as the pair played a casual match
that my player lost on the last green.
FLATSTICK KEPT without a glove, and when the opportunity
arises he likes to take on shots that others
Lawson, for those unfamiliar with him, UP ALONGSIDE THE might call high-risk. His relaxed manner and
is a 25-year-old from the Geelong area. In approach to golf had the happy side effect of
a terrific advertisement for the benefits WOODS. helping me relax in this unfamiliar role.
of a PGA traineeship, he completed his
in late 2015 before gaining a PGA Tour of SHOWTIME!
Australasia card by sharing 18th place at Practice ranges are fascinating places to
qualifying school. In 2016 he enjoyed a great liked straight away. He scoffed at my observe at professional tournaments. Who’s
year, finishing in the top-ten at the New decision to down a soft drink instead of a chatting? Who’s silent? Who’s merely
Zealand Open, WA PGA, NT PGA and South beer after Thursday’s first 18 and when I warming up? Who’s trying to reconstruct a
Pacific Open. Only three times did he miss did opt for the beer after Friday’s round, he swing minutes before their tee-time? On the
the cut and came into the NSW Open sitting uttered a derogatory remark about the one Thursday afternoon of the NSW Open, Deyen
tenth on the order of merit with $62,449 in I chose, which then became a running joke Lawson went to work, pitching and chipping,
prizemoney. between us. spending ample time around the short-game
Deyen’s nickname is ‘Digger’ or ‘Digs’, and The player gave this caddie only one area before hitting all the even-numbered
he doesn’t mind making a few sly digs, a trait I instruction of note. The wrap-style grips irons then a single hybrid shot and some
Discount
tee times @
twinwaters
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Keeping the grooves and clubs
clean for every shot is a big part
of the job.
is ‘away’ might be raking a bunker, in which business unless there’s a hold-up in play. takeaway was just how good these guys are (in
case the other caddies will step in and even The practice range is the real gold mine as case I’d needed any further convincing).
clean another player’s ball – but that’s the gentle and not-so-gentle jibes fly like divots.
‘rule’. I hit the caddie ‘trifecta’ on the 11th A comment Peter Lonard made to us on the TRYING TO FINISH THE JOB
green on Saturday when Deyen faced a long range on Sunday morning that cannot be After two days of ideal conditions – and
putt and needed the pin tended. But to avoid repeated here had me trying hard not to laugh scores to match – Saturday afternoon
my shadow and the flag’s shadow being a uncontrollably. turned hot and blustery. I’ve seen the strong
distraction, I would have had to put my feet Know this: the players do get angry but nor’wester plenty of times, and while it
right on playing partner Jake Higginbottom’s they are excellent at shaking it off. They makes Stonecutters’ par-5s play downwind,
line. So I edged close to his line but not on it to are brilliant at switching ‘on’ and ‘off ’ it toughens the par-3s and longer par-4s.
try to keep everyone happy. That sort of fancy between shots and at expelling any anger or Given it is almost always much stronger
footwork must go on all the time. disappointment but then getting on with it. I than a zephyr, the nor’wester is arguably the
There is also common-sense stuff you saw several truly horrible shots but on almost course’s toughest wind. The par-4 12th hole
figure out on the run. I’d never thought every occasion the damage was limited. On went from a 3-wood and gap wedge on Friday
about it before, but it just made sense to use the Saturday, Higginbottom half-shanked his to a driver and 5-iron on Saturday. However,
the towel to hold the heads of the irons and tee shot off the 5th into wetlands. He cursed, two holes later Deyen struck his best shot
wedges while walking to stop them rattling. naturally, but within 30 seconds there was a of the tournament. With the tees moved up
I’m certain I left the bag in the ‘wrong’ place broad grin on his face. Almost predictably, he at the 370-metre 14th to have it play about
a few times or breached some other minor somehow conjured a bogey from a position 310 metres, he rode the helping wind with a
etiquette points here and there just through the average golfer would make a double or pinpoint driver that scampered up the steep
sheer lack of experience, but I don’t think worse. A day earlier, Blizard found himself in tier in the green and settled three feet below
I committed a sin worse than my practice- a predicament in the water hazard beside the the hole for a tap-in eagle. It repaired the
round indiscretion with the headcover. 16th green, sitting no closer to the hole after damage of a double-bogey two holes earlier as
Standing so close to the players is a four swings than he was after one. Yet he, a third-round 70 left him tied for 16th.
fantastic place to hear the great banter that too, managed to limit the damage from there After sweating on it for most of the week,
goes on between them – when the time is – and to birdie the next hole. There were bad Deyen learned of his entry into the next
right. On the course, it’s pretty much all- shots, no question, but skill-wise, my overall week’s Australian Open overnight between
AFTER MORE
THAN FOUR LAPS
OF MY HOME
COURSE WITHOUT
STRIKING A SHOT,
I DID NOTICE
PERIPHERAL
FEATURES THAT I
HADN’T SPOTTED
BEFORE...
For more information on a golf trip to King Island staying at “Greenfields” email
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PLAY
PERSPE
G
ary Player was, in a sense, at home. age of 33 it’s regarded as freakish. In golf, you closing down because they’re not able to make
He was holding court in the lounge haven’t really reached your prime at 33, so it financially. Why? Because of the golf ball.
of his smart hotel near Wentworth there’s a vast difference. They’ve let the golf ball go 50 yards further
in Surrey and he was in his element. I saw an article in a UK national newspaper than when we played – now a pro goes to a
While tucking into afternoon tea – making claiming that Andy Murray is the greatest course and he hits a driver and 7-iron to a par 5
sure to remove the middle, doughy part of his sportsman Britain has ever produced. How can so the first thing the committee ask – and I’ve
sizeable scone – the Black Knight was putting that be? He’s won three Majors – Nick Faldo seen this happen a lot in South Africa – is shall
the world to rights. has won six! And let me tell you, when you win we make it longer? And I say you’re never going
The legendary South African has a view Wimbledon you’ve got to beat seven people – to see a pro here again in your life! So the pros
on everything, and when he talks, everybody when you win The Open you’ve got to beat 156. are not important at all and the members must
listens. His views are often forthright Also, at Wimbledon you’re playing in the same stop changing their courses and spending all
and controversial, but he talks from vast conditions – wind, cold or hot – it’s the same this money.
experience... and he talks a lot of sense. for everybody, whereas in The Open you might Another thing – and you in Britain probably
How can you ignore the thoughts of tee off in the morning and play in a howling can’t appreciate what I’m saying – we’re
somebody who has won nine Majors, more wind and shoot 76 and play better than the running out of water. The world is running out
than 167 professional tournaments, and is one man who shot 70 in the af i l f d b 2025 h world will
of only five players to achieve the Grand Slam weather. Even the textur short of water. Think
– and the only one to claim all of the senior changes between 7am a ike South Africa
Major Championships? Let me tell you, if Jack N r places just don’t
The answer is, you can’t… to beat seven people he w or precious little.
won 50 Majors! hey’re building these
GOLF IS GREAT BECAUSE... and making them
Firstly, it’s a great education. To travel, HOW I SEE THE FUT they’re running out
without question, is the best education a OF THE GAME ater. I don’t believe
TEXT & IMAGES: © BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA LIMITED
man can obtain and playing golf, especially For Tour players, the course should be
professionally, enables you to do that. Instead game has never been so wed to survive
of studying and learning about events, you’re healthy. For an ordinary ess they use refined
experiencing them, from everything from tournament now you wage water. Water for
politics to health and education and colleges, get a $1m first prize. golf course keeps
schools to cultures, to religions. It’s all Galleries are enormous, 000 people alive for
experiencing it instead of reading about it. TV coverage and media ar, so we can’t afford
The other reason golf is so great is longevity: massive. But the amateu t courses survive on
I won a tournament on the US Senior Tour at game has never been so water – we’ve got to
63 and you can’t do that in tennis or boxing or bad. It’s hurting. Round inue to use effluent
whatever. If you do that in tennis beyond the are down. Courses are r.
It’s mine
Player lifted the
Claret Jug in
1959, 1968 and
1974.
Big three
The game’s
icons, at
Augusta
National.
HOW I’D MAKE GOLF MORE POPULAR live in different times. When now. We spent time at tournaments staying
We’ve got to cut the ball back 50 yards for I was a young man, men worked and women with members in their homes. You wouldn’t
the pros and stop building longer and more didn’t. Now everybody works to make ends see that today. It’s a natural evolvement, but
difficult courses that the members can’t play. meet so we want more family time because our time with amateurs, members, and the man
What they do is they make the greens too a lot of people don’t see their children a lot in the street, was something I enjoyed that they
undulating, they put bunkers in front of the during the week. don’t have the luxury of doing today. From a
green… I saw this in Germany the other day money point of view, I’d love to be playing. You
with the ladies and elderly gents I was playing can be an ordinary player today and still make
with – not one out of 80 players could stop millions – in our time you had to be in the top
the ball on the green. Not one. You can’t build three to make millions.
courses with bunkers in front of the greens any HOGAN WENT TO
more. You can’t build any crazy, undulating
greens, which nearly all architects are
WAR FOR FIVE THE GREATEST I’VE EVER SEEN WAS…
Ben Hogan. The best tennis player who ever
currently doing. They’re nuts! YEARS, THEN HAD lived – Australian Rod Laver – wasn’t allowed
You’ve got to make courses playable and to play in a Major Championship for five years
enjoyable for the members. They have a A CAR ACCIDENT, in his prime because he was a professional,
perfect golf course, but next thing you know,
in they (architects) come, bring the sky in, put
SO FOR 32 MAJORS and it was only open for amateurs at that stage.
Golf-wise, Hogan went to war in his prime for
deep bunkers in front of the greens, create IN HIS PRIME HE five years, then had a car accident, so for 32
undulating greens. The usual result is that
the members hate it and they resign… in their
NEVER PLAYED. Majors in his prime he never played. But he
still won nine of them! That’s on an ‘if’ basis.
millions. Now the costs are up so the clubs levy BUT HE STILL WON But the greatest player who ever lived is Jack
their members, and members leave because Nicklaus. You’ve got to go by the record books.
they don’t want to be levied. NINE OF THEM! It’s like a business – don’t tell me how good
your business is if it’s got a bad bottom line.
I’D GET MORE YOUNGSTERS PLAYING The record books tell you who’s the best – and
BY… with 18 Majors, that person is Jack.
I was informed of a great idea in the US where, I WISH I COULD HAVE PLAYED
at 5pm, they have a shut down and just let the AGAINST… MY OWN GREATEST MOMENT…
kids go out and play golf. This can only do good, I’d love to be playing today. I’m not sorry Winning the Senior Grand Slam and being
giving the youngsters something to aspire to. I played when I played – to play against the the only man ever to do it. Nicklaus, Palmer,
I’ve just designed a 12-hole course in America, best the world has ever seen like Hogan, Snead, Trevino, Watson… they all tried and to achieve
and it’s so popular. You go there and within two Nelson, Locke, Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, that after 50 is tough, ‘though I was as fit at 50
hours you’re finished and spend the rest of the Casper, Floyd, Irwin – was a thrill for me. And as I was at 20!’ I’m not going to say I’m the only
day with the family or whatever. Remember we I enjoyed my time… maybe more than I would one, but I don’t know how many other athletes
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SHOOT
YOUR BEST
SCORE
Our tee-to-green guide will help improve each area of your game.
ONE OF the great things about golf is the sense of Sadly, those hopes are often dashed by the 2nd
TEXT & IMAGES: © BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA LIMITED
anticipation that accompanies every walk to the first tee. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Good scoring
tee. Will this be the day when everything falls into place is a product of good preparation and smart on-
– a round where every drive hits the fairway, every iron course thinking. Whether you’re a beginner, a mid-
shot flies crisply out of the centre of the clubface, every handicapper or a single-figure golfer, over the next five
lag putt rolls dead and every 4-footer dives straight into pages, we show you how to take a professional approach
the middle of the hole? to all of the key areas of the game.
1. FOCUS ON AIM AND ALIGNMENT 2. KEEP GRIP PRESSURE LIGHT 3. KEEP HEAD BEHIND THE BALL
Poor driver alignment can put you deep Nothing robs your drives of distance and accuracy Hitting too early with the shoulders will destroy your
in the trees or out-of-bounds. If you’re missing more than tension in your hands. Hold the club as timing. Watch any Tour pro and you’ll see their head
fairways, review your alignment. Simply setting up to lightly as you can without feeling that you’ll lose remains behind the ball at impact. Fire your trail
the ball better will improve your accuracy and power. control. You’ll hit it longer AND straighter. shoulder down and through the ball.
KEEP YOURSELF IN PLAY CUSTOM FIT YOUR DRIVER USE THE TEE BOX
BREAK
Dipping below 100 is about
BREAK
You need to drive well to
BREAK
Look at the shape of
staying in the hole. The extra play single-figure golf. the hole, where you want
5. PERFECT YOUR IRON POSTURE 6. AIM THE CLUB CAREFULLY 7. KEEP YOUR SWING COMPACT
Great iron play stems from being balanced and athletic Build good alignment into your pre-shot routine. Start Watch any of the world’s top players and you’ll notice
at address. Stand tall with your knees lightly flexed. by carefully aiming the face at your target, then build their backswings rarely go beyond parallel. If you
Keep your weight balanced between your heels and your stance around it. Poor aim causes more swing overswing, chances are you have to reroute the club
toes, and tilt from your hips not your waist. faults and offline shots than any other flaw. back onto the correct plane coming down.
BREAK
Avoid hitting difficult long
BREAK
Golf is a game of numbers.
BREAK
You’ll be amazed at how
irons into greens. Instead Know how far you hit close to the hole your ball
9. TAKE SLOPE INTO ACCOUNT 10. PLAY BALL IN MIDDLE OF STANCE 11. RELEASE THE RIGHT HAND
Even good golfers can be guilty of not reading chip shots We’re often told to play the ball back in the stance and The old wisdom of chipping was to keep the hands
carefully enough. The best chippers understand that set the weight on the front foot at address. All that does ahead of the ball at impact. Modern theory is to release
getting the ball rolling on the right line is the difference is bring the sharp leading edge into play. Instead, keep the right hand under the ball to use the bounce. Not to
between leaving a tap-in or a tricky 5-footer. your weight and the ball position centred. be confused with ‘flicking’ at the ball, however!
USE YOUR PUTTING STROKE LAND IT ON THE GREEN VARY YOUR TECHNIQUE
BREAK
Using your putting technique
BREAK
Always try to land chips on
BREAK
Develop a wide repertoire
for short-range chips will the green where you can of recovery shots. Switch
g
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13. SET YOUR LEFT SHOULDER LOW 14. KEEP THE CLUB ON PLANE 15. RELEASE DOWN INTO THE SAND
Rather than setting up to play a splash shot as you You may have been told in the past that you need to The sole on your sand wedge is designed to prevent
would a full approach from the fairway, set your left swing the club outside the line on the backswing and the leading edge from digging deeply into the sand.
shoulder lower. This helps you control the shot with cut across it at impact. No need. Simply keep the club Trust the club to do its job, release it confidently and
your body and prevents digging deep into the sand. on its regular neutral plane. keep the grooves facing the sky in the follow-through.
GET OUT FIRST TIME LEAVE A MAKEABLE PUTT MAKE SAND YOUR
BREAK
Too many rounds crash and
BREAK
As you develop, don’t let
BREAK
STRENGTH
burn in the sand. Develop bunker play become the Many single-figure golfers
17. READ PUTTS FROM BOTH SIDES 18. RELAX YOUR GRIP PRESSURE 19. GRIP POINTS AT STERNUM
You should always read a putt from behind the ball, but Nothing ruins your feel on long-range putts quicker The putting stroke is actually a very simple movement.
slope is often more visible when viewed from behind than a tight grip. On those important lag putts, you need There’s no need to get bogged down by complicated
the hole. You can do this quickly while your partners to be able to feel the weight of the putter head. On a theory. For a simple swing thought, simply keep the grip
are preparing so as not to hold up play. scale of 1-10, hold the club at a pressure of 2. pointing at your chest back and through.
BREAK
Good putting is all about
BREAK
You’ll face lots of long putts
BREAK
The difference between an
speed control. Spend time so your goal is to avoid 83 and a 79 is usually putting.
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I
LIKE T
Copy Jason Day to get up
and down more often
PHOTOGRAPHY BOB ATKINS
1 2
ROTATE AWAY Start with hands on opposite shoulders, forearms crossed. Now rotate WHOLE TRUNK TURNS Now turn through, keeping that pressure under the lead foot
your body away from the target. As you turn, ensure your weight remains under your constant. Feel your entire trunk rotating as one. This is a full-body swing, so if the
lead foot and there’s no lateral movement. chest is working so must the hips and legs.
3 4
T:3@=EFA*7;93F7 ;>>+GDD7K8ADF:7GE7A8F:7;DEGB7D4BD35F;57835;>;F;7E
R
CONNECTED MOTION To bring this same motion closer to swinging the club, grip the CORE CONTROL Keep that connection right through to the finish. Hit five balls like this
club in your gloved hand only. Place your other hand on your upper lead arm to help before repeating the drill by swinging with your trail arm only, your gloved hand on
connect your lead arm to your body. your trail arm. Finally, put both hands on the club and hit five more chips; you’ll feel
This encourages body rotation to move the club. your core controlling the motion.
COCK UNSURE
Collecting and releasing
wrist angles is a
mechanism for creating
speed, and sharp
acceleration in the club
makes control of distance
much harder.
MUTED WRISTS
A striking aspect of Day’s
chipping action is how
short the club travels in
AVOID A THUMBS-UP
relation to the strong body
Focus on the top of your gloved-hand wrist, just below the
turn. Much of this is down
base of the thumb. When you grip the club at set-up this zone
to keeping wrist action very
is almost flat; make some one-handed backswings, ensuring
quiet.
you don’t add any angle.
CHECK POINT
Swing back, using the
trunk rotation we learned in
Principle 2, till your hands
s reach hip height. Check
the clubhead is still slightly
lower than your hands at
this point.
/ rjbatt.com.au
Chip
Principle
Clubface loft remains constant
A wrist-free action helps you apply your intended loft to the ball,
#4 improving flight and distance control
LOFT CHECK
When you retain your
address position loft, the
club’s leading edge will
broadly match your spine
angle – on both sides of the
ball. Check this both back
and through (left).
LEVER INTACT
In Principle 1 we talked about the swing’s
lever of lead shoulder, gloved hand and
club. Quiet wrists keep their relationship
intact to the end.
LOCKED OUT
Watch for the trail arm remaining locked
and extended. It tends to hood the blade,
strengthening the face and sending the
ball out faster and lower.
FEEL THE
BREAK WITH
YOUR FEET
ONE WAY to trim a few shots off
every round and get you closer to
shooting in the 70s regularly is to
take the guess work out of the line
on two- and three-metre putts.
If you can hole more of these
length putts, you will go a long way to
not only breaking 80 but it will get
you closer to shooting in the low 70s.
The key is getting a better feel for
the break on a putt, especially if, at
first glance, it looks like there is little
to no break.
To get a handle on what break
there is, stand behind the ball and
close your eyes (pic 1). You should be
able to feel, through your feet, if
there is any sort of slope or break one
way or another.
Many people will have seen or
heard of the Aimpoint system of
green reading. The basis of that
system is to read the green with your
feet and give the break a rating or a
reading.
In this simplified way without rating
the slope, you can get an idea if there
is a break left or right and then allow
for that with your putt, giving you a
greater margin for error … and more
chance of holing the putt.
For example, with this putt I have
felt that there is some break from
left to right. In practice, place some
tees in front of the cup as I have
done here, leaving a narrower gap
for the breaking putt to roll through
(pics 2 & 3). This smaller target will
also assist you when you head out on
the course.
AAA-certified
PGA professional
CHRISTIAN SMALL
is the head teaching
professional
at The Lakes GC,
PHOTOS: BRENDAN JAMES X 3
WORLD’S
BEST
BUGGY FOR 15 YEARS
YOUTUBE
2 ‘CLICGEAR
CART 3.5+’
No.1 Buggy in Golf
03
STEPS
ON
COURSE TIP
Hit ‘green zone’
approach shots on your
first six holes of a round
to ensure you get your
scoring off to a
solid start.
FOUR STEPS TO
BETTER WEDGE PLAY
IMPROVING HOW you attack the ball with ground with the clubhead.
your wedges will allow you to gain better STEP 4: Turn through to the target keep the
consistency of strike with your wedges. clubface pointing skywards (pic 5).
Shallowing your attack angle is the key and, by
doing this, the distance you hit wedge shots – in
Certified Australian
fact all iron shots – will become more
PGA Professional
consistent. (Advanced
STEP 1: Align the ball forward in your stance Coaching) PETER
(ideally in line with your left ear, for right-handers) SHAW is the head
with neutral shaft lean (pics 1 & 2). professional at The
STEP 2: Swing the club back without much wrist Range Robina (Palmer Gold Coast).
You can book a lesson with Peter 3
hinge (pic 3).
on 0403 290 992 or email
STEP 3: Swing down to the ball on a shallower [email protected]
angle of act (pic 4) trying to simply skim the
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129.23
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The average amount of time hit a 7-iron –
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changes
single hole. dramatically
verage amount a golfer’s drives depending
hat actually find the fairway. on ability.
1,986,635
We looked at a snap
2
shot of nearly two
207.28 yard
million drives
measured by Game
Golf, and only
948,314 found the The average distance a golfer drives the golf ball, bu
29%
THE NUMBER OF
1.92
94% EXTRA FAIRWAYS A
5
HANDICAPPER CAN
EXPECT TO HIT
COMPARED
OF DRIVES MISS THE FAIRWAY ON THE RIGHT. The average number of TO A
27
putts amateur golfers
THIS DROPS TO 24% FOR SUB-5 take per hole.
HANDICAPPERS AND RISES TO 33% FOR 27+
HANDICAPPERS. HANDICAPPER
39%
of golfers using Game Golf are in the 10-18 handicap bracket, meaning it’s not just for
the very best players out there. 22% fall into the 5-9 handicap range, 17% into the 19-
ndicap range, 16% to the sub 5 category. 6% have a handicap of more than 27.
Younger golfers
24%
ofdrivesmissthe
fairwayontheleft.
Thisdropsto22%
forsub-5
handicappersand
19 are more
accurate with
their drivers
risesto than older ones. Game Golf
The average amount of putts a 25%for27+ says golfers under 19 hit
sub-5 handicapper takes per round. handicappers–
For a 10-18 handicapper that rises to fairways 55% of the time,
dispellingthe
34.56 and for 28+ handicappers it’s
myththatonlylow which is 7.7 fairways a
37.80. To put it into perspective the
best putters on tour average 27.61 handicappers round and 8% more than
putts per round. missdrivesleft. the average golfer.
Rangefinders
Lasers are ideal to
get more precise
distances
As good as GPS is, it doesn’t
give you exact yardages to the
pin. So unless you want to faff
Bushnell Tour V4 $459 SURESHOTLASER PINLOC Nikon Golf
about positioning a pin manually,
TEXT & IMAGES: © BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA LIMITED
putting green It’s been designed because Zen’s tour putting coach,
Nick Middleton, believed only one in 100 putts is
dead straight, so he questions why golfers practise
on a flat surface. Zen’s Green is 16ft in length and
It can simulate almost any putt in the offers up to 12% variation in rise and fall slopes. At
world, regardless of speed or slope the touch of a button you can practise breaking and
double-breaking putts until your hands bleed. You
even get to choose what speed the green runs at –
8.5, 10, 12.5 or a lightning 15 on the stimpmeter,
which is quicker than Augusta National!
Unless your name is Rory McIlroy or Jordan
Spieth, you probably won’t be investing in one for
your own personal pleasure as this tech isn’t cheap.
But when it comes to putting lessons – and buying
the perfect flat stick for your stroke – there couldn’t
be a better, more consistent surface to learn and
practise on.
Zen are currently programming the green to
recreate some of the toughest putts in world golf.
Replicating the hardest putts holed to win Majors,
sounds like a whole lot of fun for an evening of “this
to win The Masters” action. Contact Zen to find out
how you can get a lesson on one.
Parabolic putting
This clever gadget se
ball back
PuttOut Pressure Put
$35
www.puttout.golf Flap-tastic
It’s difficult to practise pressure putts
A hinged piece opens
put in the effort to hole 25 four-footers
or closes a ‘micro
feel the pressure build on the last few
target’ with which to
get a sore back picking the ball out of
practise pace putting.
was while attempting such a drill that
inventor decided something had to ch
hours analysing how golf balls drop in
product design expert Martin Riddifor
parabolic ramp – which could return
and take the strain out of bending ove
perfect solution. It didn’t take him lon
design would also filter and reject mi Clever design
If you want to work on pace there’s a
If a putt is off line, it rolls off the
into which putts will only drop if the s
side. If it’s accurate, the curved
on, which is really worthwhile as man
gadget sends it back so you don’t
trainers “catch” any speed of putt, w
need to bend over to pick it up.
replicated on the course.
Par 3 15th
R ONE ON T
UMBE H
DN ES
UN
KE SH
N IN
E
RA
O
AS
20 1 6
T
20 16
T
AS
O
RA
E
IN H N
NS KE
SU DN
HE UMB
ER ONE ON T
Want to save three shots ?
This gadget aims to transform your putting performance
ole More Putts $598
ww.holemoreputts.com
ting might look simple but if you’re not great at it,
actually one of the hardest areas of the game to
rove.
t accounts for 40% of the shots you play. Yet you
’t see anything like the measuring tech dedicated
t as you do to hitting drivers, even though you’ll
y ever hit 14 drives a round. You have to be pretty
dcore to spend hours on a putting green honing
r stroke, or spend £50 for a video putting lesson.
d that’s where the inventors of Hole More Putts
me in. They’ve seen a gap in the market for a device. If you average 35 putts a round, that’s shaving
ice that can analyse the putts you hit, and give three shots off your score, which is seriously
a ranking of how good they are with clear impressive, and in our experience easily comparable
ruction on how to improve them. to the benefits of a full club fitting.
The tablet measures your entire stroke and feeds Tech never comes cheap, and the Hole More Putts
ck on face angle, speed, impact point, attack tablet will set you back $445 – but we reckon that it’s
ngle and the path you’re hitting putts on – the five a great investment for a PGA club pro, who could use
ey elements the PGA recommends working on to it to fit putters and give lessons.
mprove putting performance. The inventors have If you need help now, though, download Ping’s free
sted the unit with stacks of golfers from tour pros iPing App, which turns your iPhone into a putting tool
lite amateurs and club golfers and they reckon on which measures your consistency to determine your
average golfers improve by 9% after using the putting handicap (www.ping.com/apps).
thefuture?
or your shoulders
he bags launched in January with an
ressive stand at the Orlando Golf Show, and we
kon it’s the coolest bag you’ll see this year.
They aren’t widely available in the USA yet, let
ne being anywhere close to hitting shops in
stralia, but trust us they’re a cracking idea,
A pocket bunker
wing how much tech can be Practise sand skills
eezed into something as
ple as a golf bag.
anywhere
The Pocket Bunker $24
www.pocketbunker.com
Tech doesn’t mean electronic. This is a
soft golf ball with alien-like legs which has
been specifically designed to replicate the
feel and sensation of playing out of a
bunker – but you don’t use it in sand.
Instead, it’s supposed to be hit from grass
or a mat at the driving range to let you
hone your bunker play from just about
anywhere. The protruding legs give you a
brilliant, visual idea of the amount of sand
that needs to be removed to hit the perfect
bunker shot on the golf course. Like all the
best ideas it’s really simple, but effective.
customisation.
C &p y
Ranked in Golf Australia Magazine’s Top 100 Public Access Courses
www.LEONGATHAGOLF.com.au
855 K [email protected]
Strength
in numbers
Visitors can invite
friends or strangers to
make up a sixball using
the digital
smartwatch.
A golfer’s
heaven
Every site will be equipped
with 18 simulators and 18
short game holes, plus a
restaurant, sports bar
and pro shop.
Ċŗ)1ŗ)ŗ*&3,-ŗ.,(-#.#)(ŗ.1(ŗ."ŗ
-#'/&.),-ŗ(ŗ�Ě*&3ŗ,Ď
Every visitor will be equipped with a
smartwatch to manage the entire game and
Whether competing in the weekly competitions, Three par 4’s, the first two with elevated tee and the
tournament golf, or that casual round, golfers have a newly third a dogleg right, laid out behind a tertiary dune
named challenge – “The Shipwreck Bend” system hiding the coast line that gives this part of
On approaching the 4th tee at Warrnambool Golf Course Victoria its name.
golfers are greeted by the rusty remains of a ships anchor and The sign above the anchor warns that “many a good round
a sign advising that they are entering the Shipwreck Bend. has run aground here”.
*Subject to availability
PRO SHOP
that e
along w
comprised
for 7-iron we
to provide cons
irons to wedges.
Rounding out the
Tour irons that offer Tou
shot-making. The Forged
technologies as the Forged
and head weight progression.
Cobra Golf’s offering also inclu y
ENHANCED JOY FOR YOUR FEET
wedges.
Featuring a completely reimagined ‘BioMorph’ exoskeleton RRP: : $199 each (Tour One Length irons a January 2017).
upper designed to mimic the ligaments of the foot, FootJoy’s Contact: For stockists or more details, phone 053 164 or visit www.
Hyperflex II delivers lightweight support, waterproof mesh cobragolf.com.au
upper, cushioning and enhanced flexibility to elevate your game
to its highest level.
“With the new Biomorph upper, our goal was to strike a
balance between structure and flexibility and deliver those
benefits in the exact locations they’re needed,” said Doug
Robinson, VP of Golf Footwear Worldwide. “We accomplished
this by studying the physiology of the human foot and building
an upper that worked in unison with the musculature and
tendons of the foot to give the golfer a shoe that will move
when they need it to and provide support when they need it.”
Since its inception, the Hyperflex family of golf shoes has
been worn by several of the world’s best players, including
reigning PGA Champion, Jimmy Walker.
RRP: $279.95 (with BOA); $249.95 (laces)
Contact: Visit the website footjoy.com.au
Vive La
Différence !
H
ere’s a riddle: how does an gradual transfer of power from France to New a Dye family design attached to the stunning
Australian get to France in as Caledonia over a 20-year period, pending the beachside Sheraton resort on the west coast,
little as two hours and without result of another referendum in 2018. about a 90-minute drive north of the airport.
leaving the southern hemisphere? Easy: The island might be in a state of political flux, The sprawling design belies its coastal location
by visiting New Caledonia. but that matters little to golfers, for whom with an arid, savannah-style design that uses
The closest of the South Pacific islands to New Caledonia’s proximity, perfect climate the surrounding scrub and bushland to line the
Australia is considered a special collectivity and proclivity for golf courses hold the spacious fairways rather than an abundance of
of France, although the Noumea Accord, greatest appeal. water. Likewise, the bunkering is not overdone
signed after a 1998 referendum, provides for a The new kid on the golf block is Golf de Déva, and the green contours represent a particularly
restrained Dye layout – there are no giant play touches the Pacific, a 180-metre par-3 the course. Our hosts said they provide one of
slopes nor railroad ties to be found. Yet Déva with the various shades of blue and turquoise the best views in New Caledonia, but I’ll have
owns a charm all of her own. acting as a backdrop to a sand-lined short hole. to take their word for it. Déva is not overly
The wind is ever-present and the layout The huge waste bunker stretching along the demanding when played from the appropriate
allows for it by giving golfers ample space left side of the green is always a factor, but just set of tees, thanks to its mostly generous
to navigate from almost every tee. Rarely is as likely to be a distraction for golfers is the fairways. Miss the short grass, however, and
the passage to the target dictated through a setting. The 18th betrays the open nature of the chances of locating your ball are minimal.
specific channel as instead the conditions and the previous driving holes by asking players The pro shop staff say four to five balls is about
player tendencies will provide the ideal path to thread their final blow with the big stick the average expenditure of ammunition for 18
towards the pin. It also features one of the best between two separate stands of fulsome holes. “Beat that and you’re definitely in front,”
practice facilities you’ll find at a resort course foliage. Don’t make the mistake this writer says Grégory, Déva’s assistant pro.
– a broad, spacious driving range with separate did of leaking one too far to the right, as the Remember to bring two things to Tina Golf
chipping and putting greens. sprawling fig trees sitting within a fairway Club: an attuned sense of depth perception
For 16 holes, Déva meanders across gently bunker block any attempt to reach the green and a good camera, because you’ll need both
undulating terrain, changing direction in regulation. The scorecard says No.18 is in abundance. The host venue of the South
regularly and sprinkling short par-4s utilising the third-toughest assignment at Deva, but I Pacific Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia
long, open greens among more protected challenge anyone to find a more difficult hole is short but tight in places, while striking
targets. The par-3 11th is a popular choice for on the course. approach shots close to the flag is difficult to do
a hole that’s emblematic of the entire layout Resort guests, fitness freaks and anyone on many occasions because of the uphill and
– that is until you reach its sister short hole who adores a good view can get a preview of downhill terrain. The course moves inland on
at the 17th. Here is the solitary moment when their round by scaling the hills to the east of the front nine, where many of the steep green
approaches reside, before meandering towards
Tina Golf Club covers some the oceanfront holes on the back. That’s where
dramatic terrain offering great the camera will come in handy.
views of the surrounding area.
Beginning as a pro-am in 2009, the
South Pacific Open joined the PGA Tour of
Australasia in 2011 and is now a favourite stop
among the players. “The hardest part was to
get the PGA to come to New Caledonia to begin
with. But once they were in Noumea and saw
the course, our facilities and how we run the
event, it was easy,” says tournament promoter
Patrick Koch. “The hospitality during the week
is an important part of the tournament; it helps
to build the friendship between the players and
New Caledonia. People in Noumea love this
tournament because it is unique for us. It is the
only time of the year that good players from
Australia and New Zealand come to play.
“For the players, it presents a good
VD Q VPR H FRP DX
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3
FACT FILE
AIRCALIN
The international airline of New Caledonia,
Aircalin, operates 12 flights per week non-stop
from Australia to Noumea. Flights take less than
three hours from Sydney, less than four hours
from Melbourne and two hours from Brisbane.
Sydney flights operate six times a week, while
the Brisbane and Melbourne flights depart
three times per week.
For reservations phone 1300 655 737 or visit
www.aircalin.com
Corporate Golf and Conferences
&RQWDFW0DULHOD.DO¿
F_PDULHODN#WZLQFUHHNVFRPDX
Weddings and Functions
Contact Lauren
Wilson +61 2 9670 8866 | [email protected]
CRUISING EUROPE
The first Australian privately chartered golf and from the Holy Roman Empire to World War II. Club Adamstal, set against the scenery of the
cruise along the River Danube is now being The bucolic Bavarian scenery on the outskirts Alpine foothills (pictured above).
offered for 2018. of town adds to the charm of the excellent On the river, the beautiful Avalon Panorama
Combine the enjoyment of playing highly- Golf Club am Habsberg course, which was features two full decks of suites with wall-to-
rated golf courses in Germany, Austria and designed by Graham Marsh. wall ‘Panoramic’ windows that transform the
Hungary with a five-star cruise on Europe’s Other rounds to be played during the cruise living space into a unique open-air balcony.
longest river. The journey – running for seven include the Beckenbauer course at Hartl Gliding down the Danube, the tour
days from July 10 to 17 in 2018 – begins in Golf Resort, designed by Bernhard Langer, achieves a perfect balance between delightful
Nuremberg, a city with a rich history dating in Passau, as well as Austria’s amazing Golf golf and illuminating cultural tours with stops
in Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Vienna and
Budapest.
The tour will be hosted by golfing tragic
Andrew Daddo, who hosts The Golf Show on
FoxSports.
The package being offered by The Golf
Touring Company starts from $7,495
per person and includes seven nights’
accommodation, all meals and drinks with
dinner, four rounds of golf in Germany, Austria
and Hungary as well as tips from the Australian
teaching professionals on board for the week.
All gratuities and port taxes included.
The Golf Touring Company can also organise
an extension tour to the Open Championship
in Scotland or Ireland.
For more information, visit www.
thegolftouringcompany.com.au or call (02)
8484 2059.
G O L F H O L I DAY S
VICTORIA VICTORIA
“Premier Golf Tours and JTB Travel provide you with this
Fully Escorted by an experienced Australian Tour Manager.
amazing golf and sightseeing tour of Japan. Hosted by
All inclusive package (not airfare). Entrance tickets to
former Japan Open Winner Paul Sheehan. Augusta National Golf Club accommod tion transfers and more
“Golf trip of a Lifetime” Established over 20 years ago we have been running US Masters tours every year since ‘97.
We have the experience and local knowledge to make your US Masters Tour unforgettable.
25th of July to the 4th of August 2017. Stay in a quality Hotel less than 1 mile from Augusta National with over 6 restaurants close
by. ATFS also provides you with official US masters gifts. ATFS plan, run and escort the tour
11day Golf and Sightseeing Tour of Japan. and do not just tag along with some US tour agent and we are a sports specialist Australian
Travel Agent so your money is protected with the Australian Travel Compensation Fund.
CONTACT
Steve Treisman 0412 974 840 Paul Sheehan 0419 408 321
PACKAGES ARE LIMITED SO IT IS BEST TO BOOK AS SOON
[email protected] AS YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE PART OF HISTORY.
www.premiergolftours.com AUSTRALIAN TOURS FOR SPORT
www.atfs.com.au
Tel: 1800 806 879
GOLF ACCESSORIES/SERVICES
GOLF ACCESSORIES/SERVICES
Dr Andrew McHardy PhD
Treating golfers for 18 years
Titleist Performace Institute
Level 2 Medical Certified www.golfready.com.au
36tee.com
YOUR COMPLETE VISUAL
SOLUTION. BOTH ONLINE
AND ON COURSE.
G O L F H O L I DAY S
Melbourne Sandbelt
Golf Accommodation Deal
T
H
E BUCKINGHAM P L E AS E C O N TACT
INTERNATIONAL DAV I D M UL L I N S
F O R YO UR G O L F HOLI DAY
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ADV E R TI S I N G N E E DS
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11
2 Royal Melbourne GC
BENTLEIGH 5
Call hotel
0412 327 886
3 Victoria GC
4 4 Sandringham GC
n ow to receive
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MOORABBIN 5 Yarra Yarra GC
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SANDRINGHAM
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G O L F H O L I DAY S / AC C E S S O R I E S
* Fully licensed restaurant and bar * 24 hrs room service and reception * Free parking
* Foxtel * Free WiFi * Outdoor pool * Rooms or apartments * Group bookings welcome
Australia’s Finest
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■ 6 nights accommodation
■ green fees on 5 golf courses. Includes GST
■ cooked or continental breakfast
■ also available The Rosebud House
from
$120.00 a night Victoria’s
Mornington
Peninsula
ROSEBUD MOTEL
1869 Point Nepean Road Rosebud West VIC 3941
T: 03 5985 2041 F: 03 5985 6626
E: [email protected] W: www.rosebudmotel.net.au
Price based on twin share Seasonal Adjustments Apply
Email: LQIR#PHOERXUQHJRO¿QJWRXUVFRPDX Ɣ Phone: +61 4 5522 1131 Contact: Mai Binrong M: +61 0433 254 734
www.melbournegolfingtours.com.au E:[email protected]
G O L F H O L I DAY S / AC C E S S O R I E S / S E R V I C E S
YOU R G O LF S ERVICE HOLE IN ONE PRIZE INDEMNITY INSURANCE FOR ALL BUDGETS.
EG: 60 ATTEMPTS, $10,000 PRIZE,
ADVER T IS ING NE ED S 138 METRES: PREMIUM $389
[email protected]
0412 327 886 02 9707 2272
www.ozprize.com.au
G O L F H O L I DAY S / AC C E S S O R I E S / S E R V I C E S
Call PATSI 0439 846 314 or email
patsi@golfinghomes.com.au
Specialising in:
Golf Course Real
Estate Buying,
Selling or Renting
• rated property only a short walk to
quirky cafes, beaches, unique shopping. AUSTRALIA WIDE
• Central to TheBellarines great golf courses +
wineries, farm gates, many other attractions.
• A range of accommodation - Studio,
1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom.
P 03 5254 1066 Barwon Heads VIC
www.seahavenvillage.com.au www.golfinghomes.com.au
Find-A-Ball AS SEEN
GOLF GLASSES ON TV
Find-a-Ball glasses are designed to block out the majority of light,
creating a clever way of locating your white or yellow balls easily.
The specially tinted, UV coated lenses filter out foliage and grass,
enabling the ball to stand out. This deluxe model comes with
adjustable arms, allowing them to be used with distance spectacles.
SEABOURN OCEANIA
Auckland to Sydney Around Ireland
January 2018 - 18 nights - 9 games June 2018 - 13 nights - 11 games
www.trendsettertravel.com.au/GC4 www.trendsettertravel.com.au/GC5
For complete itinerary (and other escorted golf cruise itineraries), refer to our web page
www.trendsettertravel.com.au under Golf Cruises or email
[email protected] / phone 02 9428 5900
WINNER’S CIRCLE
EQUIPMENT CHOICE
Callaway Great Big Bertha with 8˚ loft, fitted
DRIVER with Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 TS
X-Flex shaft.
Championship golf course, award-winning spa, first-class dining, luxury accommodation and
outstanding conference facilities, Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort,
has something for everyone.
Just a few minutes’ drive from bustling Noosa Heads, Noosa Springs is an oasis of relaxation and
style, set amid spectacular tropical woodlands on Queensland’s iconic Sunshine Coast.
Now offering brand new 4 & 5 bedroom luxuriously appointed homes overlooking the golf
course for short term stays.
What’s Includ
e Carry C ed
Protectiv
Cloth Le ase & Str
ns Clean ap
Quick Sta er
Long life rt Guide
Lithium
Battery
An essential
tool to improve
your game. Colours available:
MGIG_0618
INTELLIGENT
PULSE
www.sureshotgps.com