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 EDITOR
Brendan James bjames@golfaustralia.com.au
DEPUTY EDITOR & GOLF AUSTRALIA EXPRESS EDITOR
Damian Shutie dshutie@golfaustralia.com.au
WRITERS Jimmy Emanuel, Michael Jones
ART DIRECTOR Allan Bender
GRAPHIC DESIGN Oliver Barles
COLUMNIST-AT-LARGE John Huggan
COLUMNISTS Mike Clayton, Andrew Daddo,
40 Brendan Moloney, Geoff Ogilvy
TOUR PROFESSIONAL Adam Scott
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Matt Cleary,
Mike Cocking, Dale Concannon,

CONTENTS
Andrew Marshall, Rod Morri, Rick Weber
CONTRIBUTING PGA PROFESSIONALS Steve Aisbett,
Daniel Blackwell, Leon Faulkner, Brad Hughes,
Lorien Scott, Christian Small, Anthony Summers
PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images,
DECEMBER #346 Matthew Harris/TGPL, Gary Lisbon
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
40 PARALLEL LIVES PH: (02) 9901 6142 golf@golfaustralia.com.au
Most observers expect the Australian PGA to be a showdown
between Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia. Rod Morri looks at the
similarities and differences between the two Masters Champions.
A D V E R T I S I N G
56 CATHEDRAL LODGE: HEAVEN SENT HEAD OF SPORT – SALES
Damian Shutie travels to Greg Norman’s newest creation, Cathedral Adam Jackson ajackson@nextmedia.com.au
PH: (02) 9901 6109; M: 0431 212 504
Lodge, which looks set to rival Ellerston as Australia’s most
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4 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

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ODYSSEYGOLF.COM.AU
 10

CONTENTS DECEMBER #346

F E AT U R E S 128 CORNISH PARS & PASTIES

32 2017: THE YEAR IN PICTURES
From Sergio Garcia winning at Augusta to Jordan Spieth conquering
Royal Birkdale, this was a year to remember. Here are some of the best
images from the world of golf in 2017.
T R AV E L & C O U R S E S
10 COURSE REVIEW: MOONAH LINKS
Moonah Links has reclaimed some of its reputation as one of the best
presented golf complexes in the country, writes Brendan James.
122 CAPITAL GAINS
Voted the third best place in the world to visit in 2018, Canberra is
a destination on the rise. But how is the golf? Brendan James
checked it out.
Cornwall is England’s ‘holiday’ county offering some glorious golf as a
counter-attraction to the beaches, quaint fishing villages, great food and
ancient monuments, writes Andrew Marshall.
134 CLUB OF THE MONTH:
WINDSOR COUNTRY GOLF CLUB
This north-western Sydney club continues to offer enjoyable rounds
despite regular battering from Mother Nature, writes Michael Jones.
INSTRUCTION
48 SWING SEQUENCE – SERGIO GARCIA
The Masters Champion is one of the best ball-strikers in the game.
Here’s what you can learn from his swing, which has become the envy

8 TEEING OFF: BRENDAN JAMES EQUIPMENT

14 HUGGAN’S ALLEY:
97 THE 2018 WISH LIST
JOHH HUGGAN
Our 2018 Wish List contains the latest and greatest
17 AROUND THE TRAPS products from the biggest names in golf, each
28 IN MY OPINION: GEOFF OGILVY looking for a place under your Christmas tree.
54 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER:
WIN A PREMIUM EUROPEAN CRUISE 118 PLAYING WITH … PAIN POD 3
WORTH UP TO $21,980. PERSONAL PHYSICAL USHNELL
THERAPY DEVICE ER WATCH
138 GETAWAYS: GOLF TRAVEL
Is a niggling pain getting in the way of your game? The Excel does exactly as it should, displaying clear
146 GOLF IS GOOD: The Pain Pod is fast becoming the solution for a and precise distances in the most convenient
ANDREW DADDO growing list of golfers, including Brendan James. location possible, writes Jimmy Emanuel.

6 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 TEEING
OFF BY B R E N DA N JA M E S | G O L F AU S T R A L I A E D I TO R

…SO LET’S DANCE

IT’S not often that a press release hits the highlights, news and entertainment in anyone who picks up a golf club and,
inbox that makes me shake my head and addition to Greg Norman golf tips, dynamic ultimately, falls in love with the game does
smile. But it happened recently, thanks to yardage information, and more. so, because it’s fun?
the Shark. The Shark Experience is set to preview After reading the above quote from the
The Greg Norman Company (GN) and at the 2018 PGA Show in Florida and it is Shark I couldn’t help but picture the great
Verizon have announced ‘Shark Experience’. expected to be rolled out man doing his best Al
What is Shark Experience? According to the across the United States Czervik impersonation. If
release, it is “an innovative and disruptive throughout 2018.
... I THOUGHT I have lost you with the
new golf technology that enhances the on- “The golf industry has THE FUN BIT reference … Al is the fast-
course experience.” been starved for real CAME FROM talking, multi-millionaire
Club Car is teaming with GPSi, a golf innovation that encourages property developer played
GPS technology company, Verizon and The real change for real
PLAYING GOLF. by Rodney Dangerfield
Greg Norman Company to bring streaming growth and we believe ISN’T THAT WHY in the classic movie
music and TV, among other things, onto Shark Experience is the ANYONE WHO Caddyshack. In one scene,
the golf course for you to enjoy during answer,” Norman said. he disrupts the group in
your round. Or, as the press release says, “This solution enhances
PICKS UP A front during a round by
“deliver unprecedented connectivity, the golfer experience and GOLF CLUB AND, playing loud music from a
content and customisation to the course is customisable to each ULTIMATELY, radio built into his golf bag
through a connected golf car experience.” individual’s preference – and his playing group starts
Using 4G and network technology, whether you are a Baby
FALLS IN LOVE dancing in the middle of
connected Club Car golf carts will include Boomer, Millennial or Gen WITH THE GAME the fairway.
a high-definition touchscreen display Z, Shark Experience has DOES SO … Have we moved one step
with built-in speakers and Bluetooth something to keep you closer to life imitating ‘art’
connectivity. Golfers will enjoy curated entertained, connected and having fun.” on the golf course?
content from Verizon including streaming Sorry Greg, but I thought the fun bit What the hell, let’s dance! Take it away Al
music via Slacker Radio, live sports and came from playing golf. Isn’t that why ….err, sorry, Greg.

PHOTO: YOUTUBE

8 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

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 COURSE REVIEW

Moonah
Links   
 ŗ Ċ ŗ   

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDAN JAMES

10 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

A
tick over 20 years ago, five-time
Open Champion and prolific course
designer Peter Thomson stood on a
sand dune overlooking a vast area of grazing
land on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. He
liked what he saw.
He would later proclaim the site as the
“some of the finest golfing land to be found
in Australia.”
Along with design partners Mike Wolveridge
and Ross Perrett, Thomson was commissioned
by the developers, Golf Australia Holdings, and
the then named Australian Golf Union to create
the first of two planned courses for Moonah
Links. Also included on the masterplan for the
196-hectare property in the golf-rich Cups
region were a state-of-the-art teaching and
practice facilities as well as a resort and
residential development.
By the time the Open Course was finished
in 2001, the Australian Golf Union had
changed its name to Golf Australia and Moonah
Links was quickly named “The Home of
Australian Golf.”
In its first handful of years after opening,
Moonah Links gained a new owner in developer
Paddy Handbury and hosted two Australian
Open Championships across the layout
Thomson would later refer to as a “leviathan”
and, indeed, at 6,783 metres from the
championship markers it can be a monster.
Designed specifically to test the game’s best
players contesting our national championship,
the Open course was originally lambasted by
some as being too hard for the average player.
However, if the course is played from the
correct tees to suit a player’s ability, the Open
course is an enjoyable excursion across some of
the best golfing land to be found in the country.
The course has been routed over, through and
around rolling sand dunes that undoubtedly
took Mother Nature hundreds, if not, thousands
of years to create.
For the average golfer, the Open course
provides a stiff, but fair, challenge. It also gives
them the chance to follow in the footsteps of
some great current Australian players like
Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby, Peter Lonard,
Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby – an
opportunity that is difficult to come by given
the Open has traditionally been played on
private courses like Royal Melbourne, Royal
Sydney or The Australian.
The peninsula is prone to being buffeted by
strong winds and the Open course really bares
its teeth on such days. But the strength of the
challenge here is the enjoyable aspect of any
round across the Open course’s fairways. You
know if you can play to your handicap here you
have indeed played well.
There are more than 80 bunkers scattered
across the landscape but arguably the toughest
hole on the course has no sand at all. From the
tips, the par-4 6th measures 403 metres and
follows a valley between dunes left and right as
it gradually rises to the green. On a calm day the
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 11

6th green is a strong drive and a long- or
mid-iron away but as the hole runs in a
south-westerly direction, into the prevailing
wind, it becomes a real brute when there is any
hint of a breeze. During the final round of the
2005 Australian Open, few players could reach
the green here but Rod Pampling was
successful hitting two full-blooded drivers into
the middle of the putting surface.
Conversely, the closing hole – a 582-metre
par-5 – is a minefield of bunkers. There are 11
cavernous sandy pits strategically placed in the
fairway between the tee and green. The fairway
has also been crafted so that the contouring
actually feeds rolling balls towards some of the
bunkers so players must hit well clear of them
Deep, ominous fairway
bunkering is a feature of
Moonah Links’ Open course.
12 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
to stay on the short grass.
The finishing touches were still being made
to the Open Course in 2000 when a parade of
course designers visited the site to look at the
adjoining land earmarked for Moonah Links’
second course.
The design firms of Greg Norman, Nick
Faldo, Ben Crenshaw and Englishman Donald
Steele all pitched for the job alongside
Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett but it was
TWP that was chosen to create what we know
today as the Legends Course.
The Legends, the first Australian design of
Ross Perrett, opened for play three years after
the adjoining Open layout, and within a year it
had cemented a place among the cream of
The 174-metre 5th is the
toughest and arguably best
of the Open Course par-3s.
Australian public access courses.
Perrett’s successfully fulfilled the brief to
design a course that would complement the
brutish Open layout.
Although the 1st tee of the Legends course is
no more than a 7-iron shot from the 18th green
of the Open course, it heads out across a vastly
different landscape.
The Legends opens with a series of parkland-
style holes that rise and fall through valleys and
in between long and dense stretches of ancient
Moonah trees. The high ground off to the sides
of these fairways has largely been filled with
houses overlooking the course.
The course then takes on a new complexion
as the Moonah trees thin out and wild, rugged
VERY LITTLE
EARTH WAS
MOVED IN THE
CREATION OF THE
LEGENDS COURSE,
WHICH GIVES THE
IMPRESSION IT
HAS BEEN HERE
FOR DECADES.

bunkering, high sand dunes alongside gently
rolling fairways give rise to a links-style course.
Very little earth was moved in the creation of
the Legends course, which gives the impression
it has been here for decades. Perrett did a
wonderful job in routing the course to follow
the roll of the land, sticking to the low ground
wherever possible, while the aforementioned
bunkering is not only visually intimidating but
it adds to the visual appeal of the layout.
An interesting feature of the course is its
celebration of past Australian Open champions.
Each hole has been named after a winner of the
championship, with the likes of Tom Watson
(3rd hole), Greg Norman (4th), Arnold Palmer
(6th) Jack Nicklaus (7th) and Gary Player (9th)
all represented.
One of the most enjoyable attributes of the
Legends course is the variety of holes and
strategies required to play them well. The
par-5s are all different and each demands a
different approach depending on the wind
strength and direction as well as the boldness of
your play. This can be best seen on the
495-metre par-5 9th hole where the shortest
line to the green is down the right half of the
fairway but this route is also the most
treacherous. Eight bunkers line the right edge
of the fairway, which follows a valley between
rows of mounds to reach the green set in an
amphitheatre created by high, deep grass-
covered dunes. With the prevailing wind
pushing in from the right, the 9th calls for smart
play not brute strength to better par.
One of the best short par-4s on the peninsula
follows at the 272-metre 11th. Named after the
great South African golfer Bobby Locke, the
11th is reachable from the tee for long hitters
The reachable par-5 opening hole on the
Legends Course (above). High dunes bound most
holes on the back nine of the Legends Course.
but the wind conditions must be conducive.
Any hint of a southerly breeze will certainly be
tempting enough to take the driver here but
there are four penal bunkers to clear with the
shot to reach the sanctuary of the green. With a
wide fairway lying to the left of the sand traps,
the conservative play is a long iron from the
tee and a short iron approach to set up a
birdie opportunity.
Handbury sold Moonah Links to a private
Chinese developer for a reported $18 million in
2015. Since then, the standard of presentation
on the Legends and Open courses has improved
to a level rivalling what it was when Moonah
Links gained a reputation for having some of
the best playing surfaces in the country.
FACT FILE
THE COURSE
LOCATION: Peter Thomson Drive, Fingal,
Victoria.
CONTACT: (03) 5988 2047 (pro shop);
(03) 5988 2000 (resort).
WEBSITE: www.moonahlinks.com.au
DESIGNERS: Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge
and Ross Perrett (Open Course 2001); Ross
Perrett (Legends Course 2004).
PLAYING SURFACES: Bentgrass (greens); Santa
Ana couch (fairways, tees).
COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Kyle Wilson.
PGA PROs: There is a group of resident teaching
professionals available upon booking for
onsite lessons.
GREEN FEES: June to September, $75 (18 holes),
$130 (all day play); March to May and October
$85 (18 holes), $150 (all day play); November to
February; $95 (18 holes), $180 (all day play).
THE CLUB
MEMBERSHIPS: Moonah Links offers unlimited
playing rights on both courses through its Silver
Medallion program. There is no upfront purchase
and the annual subscription is $3,019 for a two-
year term (non-transferable). Check the website
for further entitlements.
ACCOMMODATION: Moonah Links has an
Academy Stay and Play package for groups
of 12 or more golfers. Prices start from
$165 per person, which includes overnight
accommodation in the academy, a round of golf
including motorised cart and a slab of beer
on arrival.
For couples or a few mates, there is the
charm and peaceful ambience of the Peppers
Moonah Links Resort, which is a pitching wedge
from both courses. Moonah rooms, one bedroom
suites and Open rooms feature stylish décor with
a natural palette and modern appliances with
golf course outlooks.
For more information visit the website
www.peppers.com.au/moonah
The short par-4 named after
Bobby Locke is a Temptation
for longer hitters.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 13
 HUGGAN’S
ALLEY BY J O H N H U G G A N | G O L F AU S T R A L I A C O LUMNI S T AT L A R G E

TIS THE SEASON … FA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LA

THE annual season of giving and goodwill To Jason Day – A reminder Dobereiner once wrote: “Get on with it
is almost upon us. And, being a generous That he is allowed to play at home in Australia you plonkers.”
soul, I thought it appropriate to distribute more than once every five years or so.
a few appropriately-placed Christmas To Rory McIlroy – An injury-free 2018
presents around the world of golf and To Keegan want to see an event where – all
golfers. Ho. Ho. Ho. Bradley – A spitto m at the top of their games – we
The former USPG he Northern Irishman going head-
To America’s PGA Tour – An champion is far from ad-to-head-to-head with the likes of
“anti-dull” injection alone – yes, you, Johnson, Thomas and Spieth.
Honestly, no group of administrators across Justin Thomas – in ing.
the globe are more in need of a good shake his propensity
than Commissioner Jay Monahan and his band for on-course ubba
of blue-blazered cohorts. Po-faced, the lot of expectoration. tson – A
them. Most of the players aren’t much better. But getting him mpass, an
Apparently, everything on our planet’s biggest to stop this most tlas &
and most lucrative circuit must be taken oh-so disgusting of guide book
seriously. It’s a law. Or at least a decree. habits would at leas He was
The erudite and witty Nicolas Colsaerts sums represent a start. amously
it all up pretty well. gnorant
“The PGA Tour is an odd place,” says the To the R&A and th all things
Belgian. “When I played there it was doing my USGA – Bigger balls nch –where
head in. I just couldn’t handle being over there Both literally and metaphorically. nce took
all the time. By 7.30 every night I was back in of “that big
my room having eaten. I grew up in the centre To the PGA of America – A new venue ffel), rode
of a major European capital, surrounded by the 2024 Ryder Cup matches u i l at some
culture. So staying in a hotel in the middle of Bethpage Black? In New York? In front archway” (Arc de Triomphe) and stayed in a
Ohio is just too shallow for me.” of those crowds? Are beautiful hotel “next to a castle” (Versailles).
u kidding me? Golf’s Barring some timely advice, next up is surely
king bomb. a flight to the Far East rather than the Middle
for an event in Dubai.
o the Old Course at
t. Andrews – Another To Nick Faldo – The ability to speak in
000-yards complete sentences
Length hasn’t proved to And let’s drop the “Sir” nonsense.
e the biggest defence in
he war against modern To Lexi Thompson – A book, “How to Mark
echnol
t’s se xi: put it back in
he gam
best co
a cours s – Captaincy
10,000- ternational
shall w t the next
very si ents Cup
be wh ll else fails, the
sanity man can scare
the R& ose annoyingly
alented
To Tiger Woods – A new body To Bernhard Langer and Sco mericans with
He keeps saying he will return to former McCarron – Videos of their e threat of
glories, of which there were many. But Anchors away. sical violence.
his back is shot. So is his knee. And let’s
not get into what goes on inside his head. To the Australian Open – A lfers
Replacement parts are required if we are date on the European Tour where – A return
again to witness the best of the man who Better weather. A stronger, notion that golf,
once played the best. one befitting the stature and l est, is an art –
of the event. It makes sense. cience
To Adam Scott – A reliable putting stroke es, most of
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES X 4.

This is as much for me as for the former To Jordan Spieth and man make the
Masters champion. Not sure I can take much other slow coaches – A kic wing twice in a
more of watching him miss from inside five the backside way.
feet for birdie. As the late, great Peter

14 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

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 PLAYING RIGHTS
APPLICATIONS INVITED
7 Day, 5 Day, PayPlay and Junior Categories
Application forms available
upon request from:
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or +61 8 8556 8022

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OCEAN DUNES FOR SALE
King Island’s Ocean Dunes golf course has
been listed for sale.
The Graeme Grant-designed layout
opened for play in late 2016 and within a
few months it was rated the No.4 Public
Access Course in Australia.
Colliers International and Comac Retail
Property Group have been engaged by
the current owners to sell the course and
clubhouse as well as the licenced King
Island Hotel in the main street of
nearby Currie.
Ocean Dunes currently has planning
approval for the development of 21 motel
suites and 80 holiday accommodation
units, while there is enough land adjacent
to the property for a second golf course.
“The property provides a unique
opportunity for a purchaser to acquire
one of Australia’s top public courses with
AROUND
OPENING SHOT
THE
TRAPS
further development potential to truly
capitalise on the increasing popularity of
King Island as a golfing destination,” a
statement on the Colliers website reads.
“Ocean Dunes provides the true stay and
play potential given the existing planning
approval, proximity to the airport and food
and beverage offerings.”
Expressions of interest need to be
registered by December 6.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 17
 AROUND
THE 19TH HOLE A ND YOUR SAY
We’re on Facebook. Like us and get news updates and the
chance to win prizes at www.facebook.com/golfaustralia
TRAPS

TAKE IT EASY, TIGER

IT’S hard to imagine what could possibly irritate a
man who’s accumulated 14 major titles and spent
a total of 683 weeks as the World’s No.1 ranked
player. Then again, it’s hard to imagine what life
must be like for Tiger Woods.
The 41-year-old is set to make yet another
comeback to professional golf. But before he does
that, he has one, seemingly amusing, complaint he
wants heard.
“I can’t believe how far I’m hitting the golf ball,”
Woods said. “I’m back to hitting it my full numbers
and not really trying to do that.”
With no niggling injuries to worry about, it
might sound as though the game has – once again
– become too easy for Tiger. But to put that into
context, he has simply joined the ever-growing
list of people who have become disenchanted by
modern equipment and balls. And, more to the
point, what they’re doing to golf courses.
“We need to do something about the golf ball,”
Woods said. “If the game keeps progressing the
way it is with technology, I think the 8,000-yard
golf course is not too far away. And that’s pretty
scary because we don’t have enough property to
start designing those types of golf courses.”
Jack Nicklaus shares those sentiments – and
helped to get the ball rolling, so to speak, at the
2016 US Masters.
“I think with the length the guys hit today … I tell
you, the simplest solution is to change the frigging
golf ball,” Nicklaus said. “Augusta National is about
the only golf course in the world that financially
can afford to make the changes that they have to
make to keep up with the golf ball.”
The modern golf ball is fast becoming one of the
most intriguing issues to ever face our great game.
It will inevitably be addressed by the powers that
be – and the USGA has already floated the idea of
variable distance balls.
So before anything changes in that regard,
surely we should all just take a breath, sit back, and
enjoy the fact that one of the greatest players of all
time is returning, healthy as ever.
Finally, it seems, golf enthusiasts will be able to
resume watching as Woods attempts to hunt down
Nicklaus and his 18 majors. There are no excuses
anymore. He has no injuries to blame. And now he
has acknowledged the benefits of today’s golf ball.
Go get ‘em, Tiger.
– Michael Jones

18 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 Want to get something off your chest? Let us know your opinion via e-mail to:
Follow Golf Australia on golf@golfaustralia.com.au or send your letter to: Letters to the Editor, Golf
Twitter @GolfAustMag Australia magazine, Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards NSW 2065.

LETTER OF THE MONTH

DON’T COPY THE RYDER CUP
I read Geoff Ogilvy’s article (The Presidents
Cup Is Not a Lost Cause, GA November)
with interest.
“... the President’s Cup is essentially the
same as the Ryder Cup,” Geoff wrote. In my
opinion therein lies the problem.
Our team, The Internationals, does not
play foursomes or fourball each year as the
Americans do. Our situation is compounded
by some language communication problems
especially in foursomes. I feel that there is
little doubt that the television interest is at its
peak for the individual matches.
A change of format that results in day one
being singles matches, day two fourball in
the morning and foursomes in the afternoon
and on day three a second round of singles
matches again to complete the matches.
Invariably we dig a hole for ourselves on day
one. We have proven to be competitive in
singles matches.
I think a case could be made for this format
both in competitiveness and higher TV ratings.
We don’t have to be a mirror image of the
Ryder Cup.
Darrell Arnett
via e-mail

OUR ‘LETTER OF THE MONTH’ WINNER RECEIVES A PAIR OF

OES, WORTH $180.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES X 2

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 19

 AROUND
THE COMPE TITIONS & WINNERS
TRAPS

SPOT THE BALL balanced performance for a wider range

J.J SPAUN is in a bit of trouble here. Where
could his ball be?
All you have to do is correctly identify
where his ball is hidden on the grid, using
the letters and numbers (eg. A4, B2 etc).
Answer correctly and you could win
two dozen Mizuno JPX-S golf balls. The
new JPX-S is a soft compression edition
of Mizuno’s three piece ball – producing a
of swing speeds, which also boasts
Mizuno’s Dimple-Cluster design for
improved aerodynamics.
TO ENTER: Select your grid reference
and then go to our website,
www.golfaustralia.com.au, to submit
your answer. The winner and the correct
answer will be published in the February
2018 issue of Golf Australia magazine.

A
B
C
D
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

OCTOBER SPOT THE BALL

WINNER & ANSWER

Our October ‘Spot The Ball’ competition generated plenty of

entries taking a stab at the location of Branden Grace’s ball.
The grid reference was H 21 and the first correct entry
drawn was from Lachy McDonald, of Blairgowrie,
Victoria. Congratulations!
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES X 2

COBRA F-MAX GOLF GEAR WINNER

Congratulations to Colin Atkinson of Mandurah, who
subscribed to Golf Australia and won a set of Cobra F-Max
woods and irons worth $2,500.

20 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

LUXURY ESCORTED GOLF CRUISE
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 AROUND
THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
TRAPS

“THE GOLF COURSE DOESN’T

JUSTIN ROSE KNOW I’M 37 AND I’VE BEEN A
PRO FOR A BUNCH OF TIME AND
TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN CHAMPION THE HIGHEST-RANKED PLAYER
IN THE FIELD. THE GOLF COURSE
WINNING SCORE:
18 under par, 266.
DOESN’T CARE ABOUT ANY OF
DEFEATED: Nicolas Colsaerts and
THAT STUFF.”
Dylan Frittelli by one shot. – JUSTIN ROSE
DEFINING MOMENTS: Fresh off
victory at the WGC-HSBC
Champions, Rose begun the final day
two shots in arrears of leaders Shane
Lowry and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The Englishman reached the par-4 9th at one-under-par for the
day before a stunning approach to tap-in range secured birdie
and a share of the lead with three others.
Rose’s back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 broke the deadlock
and put him in sole possession of the lead heading to the
penultimate hole. Where playing partner Colsaerts made his
third birdie in a row to join Rose at 17-under and set up a
thrilling finish.
Playing in the group ahead, Frittelli holed a birdie putt at the
last to sign for a final round 64 and 17 under par total.
Both Rose and Colsaerts hit their approaches to within 10-feet
at the difficult par-4 18th hole. With the Belgian playing first and
missing his chance. Leaving the door ajar for Rose, whose birdie
putt found the bottom of the hole to secure his second win in as
many weeks.
WITH THIS VICTORY… :
t Rose’s back-to-back wins are the 9th and 10th European Tour
titles of his career to go along with four additional PGA Tour
wins and an Olympic Gold medal.
t The 37-year-old set up a thrilling finale to the season long
Race to Dubai. Closing Tommy Fleetwood’s once seemingly
unreachable lead to just 134,838 points.
t The 2013 US Open winner’s victory in Turkey was his 11th
top-10 finish of 2017 around the world and solidified his No.6
ranking on the Official World Golf Rankings.

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PUTTER TaylorMade TP Red Ardmore 2 (double-bend hosel).

BALL TaylorMade TP5.

22 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 

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 AROUND
THE E XOTIC DE S TIN ATIONS
TRAPS

Nick Faldo’s Laguna Lang Co (top)

and Greg Norman’s Da Nang
course offer great views and golf.

The tour, which has been restricted to a

VIETNAM ON SHOW maximum of 20 people, has been designed
with couples, single golfers and friends
VIETNAM has emerged in recent years as course in North Vietnam – Montgomerie Links, wanting to travel together in mind and is priced
one of the hottest golfing destinations on the Nick Faldo-designed Laguna Lang Co and from $4,370 per person twin share.
the planet. Ba Na Hills Golf Club, which was voted the For full details on the 2018 North and Central
Golf travel specialists, Golf Journeys, World’s Best New Golf Club in 2016. There is Vietnam Tour visit https://www.golfjourneys.
recently launched a new 2018 escorted tour also a round at the beautiful Greg Norman- com.au/north-and-central-vietnam-2018/
to North and Central Vietnam, which will offer created Da Nang Golf Club. or call 1300 873 211
rounds at six of Asia’s best golf courses.
The 11-day tour also features five star
accommodation throughout and time off the
course in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An.
“Vietnam is a really hot destination for golf
right now. It is a great time to visit and play
some of the best golf courses found anywhere
in Asia,” Golf Journeys managing director, Jake
Hower, said.
“From previous personal visits, Hanoi, Ha
Long Bay and Hoi An are standout destinations
in Vietnam. We’ve designed a tour that spends
extended periods of time in the best locations,
giving participants the chance to immerse
themselves in Vietnamese culture and play
the best golf courses, without having to
spend hours every day on the road travelling
between destinations.”
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED X 2

The tour will take in rounds at Van Tri Golf

Club, Kings’ Island Golf Club – the most scenic

24 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 SEE FOR YOURSELF
2018 Ryder Cup
Tour on sale now
- at Le Golf
National, Paris

Includes Ryder Cup 5-day Combo package

and Grand Northern France Golf Tour
Contact denise@parnz.co.nz for more details

ENTER ON LINE
www.parnz.co.nz
Phone 09 486 1077 or Australia Toll Free +1800 018 575
 AROUND
THE BOOKS FOR SUMM
TRAPS
HOLIDAY
READING
Looking for a book to give the golfer in
your family this Christmas? Here’s
what we’re reading.
A SHORT HISTORY OF GOLF
The severest criticism that can be made of
Sydney writer Matt Cleary’s new book, A Short
History of Golf, is that the title is misleading.
At 270 pages and upwards of 150,000
words, it is far from short. However, given its
scope – he says 800 years – it is brief, concise
and to the point. It is also a great rarity in 21st
century sports publishing because it has
no illustrations.
That he can inform, entertain, amuse and
occasionally astound us in an endless sea
of grey type is a remarkable achievement.
Combining the skills of a professional writer
and the passion of a keen amateur golfer who
shot 81 off the stick on the Old Course at St
Andrews, he presents in a matter of fact way
both the big picture and marvellous glimpses
behind the scenes.
He breathes life into history by interviewing
many of the protagonists and perceptively
quoting so many others that the list of
attributions at the rear of the book stretches to
21 pages.
Something that writers and waiters have
in common is that you don’t notice the good
ones. Cleary keeps out of the way and the
stories flow, often in directions you don’t
expect: “I love to sweat and heave and breathe
and hurt and burn and get dirty,” he quotes
26 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
one femme fatale. “There’s something good
about getting all dirty and grimy and nasty
and then showering; you feel twice as clean.”
If you haven’t already guessed, this was Jan
Stephenson in the August 1983 issue of
Playboy magazine when she posed naked in a
bathtub of golf balls.
More edifying but equally unexpected is
the poignant story of Lewie Chitengwa, the
17-year-old Zimbabwean, who beat Tiger
Woods in the 1992 World Junior Championship
in Miami.
“A year later Chitengwa turned up at East
London Golf Club to contest the South African
Amateur Championship. At the front gate,
he was told caddies had to enter through the
back. He insisted he was a player. He was told
to take the back entrance regardless. After he’d
beaten Rory Sabbatini en route to becoming
the first black man to win the South African
Amateur title, he politely shook hands with
the man who’d barred him, and thanked him
for the hospitality. Apartheid had only been
abolished a year earlier.”
Chitengwa went to college in America,
got his card on the Buy.Com Tour and died of
meningitis aged just 26.
Among the interviewees adding substance
to the narrative is Frank Williams, former
manager of Greg Norman. Williams liked a
punt and had Norman, who contributed the
foreword to the book, going for $140,000
when he took a six-shot lead into the final
round of the 1996 US Masters. Johann Rupert,
a South African billionaire who has owned
Dunhill and Cartier, offered Williams, $100,000
for the bet on the Saturday night. Williams
said: “You’ve got to be joking. It’s a six-shot
lead.” He has no regrets, adding “if Greg had
ever found out I’d sold the ticket, he’d never
forgive me.”
After the five-shot loss to Nick Faldo,
Williams recalls: “He comes on to the plane
and we’re all in tears, we’re all devastated. He
says: ‘I don’t understand you people. I get paid
a lot of money to hit a little white ball from A
to B better than anybody else. I’ve got millions
of dollars, I own this plane, I’ve got an ocean-
going boat that is second to none, I’ve got two
helicopters, I’ve got a home in Florida you’d
die for and I’ve got no education. What are you
 THE SPIRIT OF GOLF
By Richard Allen
This updated edition of The
Spirit of Golf and How It Applies To
Life draws on various anecdotes
from golfing history, recent and
otherwise, that add to the spirit of
the game. In his introduction, Allen
nails it – “…golf breeds friendship.
Golfers are not bonded together,
they are welded.”
This is a terrific read that can be
revisited time and time again.
RRP: $24.99. (hardcover)

all crying for?’ He said, ‘I’ll tell you what we’re

going to do. We’re going to stay on this plane
until we’ve drunk it dry’. We used to carry a
lot of booze. We took off, landed at West Palm
Beach, taxied into the hangar and sat on the
GOLF RESORTS OF THE
plane for four hours until every drop of booze
WORLD
had gone. He was fantastic! And I know it was
By Daniel Fallon
probably one of the biggest disappointments
From Turtle Bay on Oahu’s
of his life but he handled it so well, cheered
famous North Shore to the once
everybody up.”
royal estate of Vidago Palace Hotel
Most students of the game’s history keep an
near Portugal’s famous port-making
eye out for the best shot ever. There’ll never be
Douro Valley region, Golf Resorts
consensus but American Doug Sanders, who
of the World is a fascinating guide
missed a short putt to lose the 1970 British
to the most outstanding golf
Open at St Andrews, has a good contender.
courses and resorts that are open
As a teenager playing a money match at
to the public.
his hometown of Cedartown in Georgia he
With a mix of history, course
watched a man called Dallas Weaver hit his ball
architecture, tips on how to play
behind a tree. Sanders and his fellow players
each course, fine dining and luxury
assumed Weaver was gone. “There were
features, the reviews combine to
tracks running by our course and just then
provide a comprehensive guide
a freight train came through,” said Sanders.
to the world’s best luxury
“Dallas Weaver turned sideways, took some
golf destinations.
kind of low iron and banked a ball off the side
RRP: $24.40
of a freight car and almost onto the green. That
was 50 years ago and I’ve never seen anyone
top that shot.”
Space does not permit the account of Sam
Snead playing with President Eisenhower,
who had a nuclear bomb-proof bunker built in
the basement of the Greenbrier club in West
Virginia; Ben Hogan on his lack of humour;
HOW TO CADDIE ON TOUR
Norman von Nida taking Peter Thomson to the
By Mick Tarel
barber and Augusta National chief Cliff Roberts
Thinking of being a professional
ordering Ben Crenshaw to get a haircut; or
tour caddie? There may be
Arnold’s Palmer’s wife, Winnie, saying how she
more than one way to earn your
kept him grounded by making him take out the
credential to caddie on tour, but
garbage after he won.
before you hang that badge around
- Brendan Moloney
your neck you have to pay some
RRP: $29.99. dues. Tarel offers an insight to the
A Short History of Golf, by Matt Cleary, lessons he learned as a caddie
New Holland Publishers. Available from at PGA and LPGA Tour events.
good bookstores or online at Top read!
www.newhollandpublishers.com RRP: $29.99

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 27

 IN MY
OPINION E XC LU S I V E BY G E O F F O G I LV Y | G O L F AU S T R A L I A C O LUMNI S T
A NEW TAKE ON THE DISTANCE DEBATE
THE clue is in the title. I’m a professional
golfer. That’s what I do for a living. So,
logically, it follows that – whether I want to
or not – I am going to work on my game in
ways that are going to maximise my ability
to make money. And, to a large extent, what
dictates the content of those practices and
preparations are the playing fields on which
I do my job.
As a group, we pros have to be adaptable.
We have to adjust our games each week so
that, by the time we reach the final round on
Sunday, we are more suited to the prevailing
conditions than when we arrived. Our swings
and strategies must evolve into what will help
us shoot lower scores. That is an undeniable
aspect of tour life.
Which brings me to distance, ever-longer
courses being perhaps the most noticeable
aspect of the game at the top level. It is easy
to “blame” the equipment manufacturers – and
28 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
many do – for what many see as excessive
yardage. But there is another side to that
debate. Those same ball and club makers, after
all, give us what we ask for. We want the stuff
that is going to best get us round the sorts of
courses we see almost every week.
Here’s the thing though. Modern Tour
courses definitely tend to advantage – some
say disproportionately – the guy who can hit
the ball really high and a long way through
the air. The weekly challenge is primarily
presented by length. The first thing we hear
about any Tour course is how long it is. This
year’s US Open at Erin Hills was a perfect
example. All of which plays into the notion that
pure distance is the most important aspect of
the game. But that, by itself, is a shallow way
to challenge pro golfers.
Right now, Tour courses are generally quite
soft and quite narrow. So the game – quite
naturally – is dominated by “long, high and
straight.” Most weeks there is no big edge
given to the player whose strength is shaping
shots both ways. When the ball doesn’t do
much after it lands, the flight it takes en route
is less important than it would be if the turf
were firmer. On, say, a fast-running links the
amount of spin on the ball matters so
much more.
What got me thinking about all this were the
really low scores guys were shooting during
the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St.
Andrews. In October, the Old Course is softer
than in summer, so on a calm day when the
pins are not tucked the game’s most famous
venue can be overwhelmed. But here’s another
thing. If we played there every week we would
all gradually morph back – both in terms of our
games and equipment – into forms that would
maximise our chances at St. Andrews.
Yes, the golfer who can only hit a fade can
play the Old Course. But he isn’t going to
Ross Fisher’s 61 at St
Andrews has reignited
the distance debate.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES X 2.

shoot 61 unless he can move the ball from
left-to-right and right-to-left. So, over time, on a
course that demands so much subtlety, he will
try to add that to his game. Because that will
be to his advantage.
Over time too, he will be hitting the ball
lower. He won’t bother about how far he hits
his drives. He won’t be trying to find extra
yardage, because that wouldn’t significantly
affect his scores. Instead, he will evolve into a
more rounded golfer with a game best suited
to the challenges presented by the Old Course.
So, if you are concerned about the way
professional golf is going in terms of how far
we hit our tee-shots – the so-called ‘bomb and
gouge’ mentality – the solution is simple. Let’s
“bump” the game back in a direction more
people will enjoy. Let’s forget the current norm
and set-up courses in different ways.
Changing things shouldn’t be too difficult.
Think of it this way. If we played the
treacherous and fascinating short par-4 10th
hole at Riviera in Los Angeles 72 times in a row
for five consecutive years, we would all end
up using a ball that spins a lot. Then we would
work on hitting 3-irons off the tee. We would
work on our 70-yard wedge shots. And we
would work on our short games. Because that
is what would maximise our chances of victory.
Yes, that is an extreme example. But if all
18-holes followed the same sort of principles,
we would have par-3s, par-4s and par-5s where
position and shot-shape rather than distance
were the priorities. All of which sounds a lot
like the challenges presented at St. Andrews,
or Augusta National, or Royal Melbourne. And a
lot like the game I would rather be playing.
This sort of debate also provokes much
passion from many course architects. They see
strategic design as the best
way of keeping golf in check. “IN THE
They are the wise old uncles
looking over our shoulders.
PURSUIT OF
They want courses that LENGTH WE
encourage the sort of game HAVE LEFT
golf could be rather than the
game it has become – at least
SOME OF THE
at the top level. BEST PARTS OF
Again, think of it this way. GOLF BEHIND,
What we are doing right now is
chasing big biceps in the gym
AND THIS
rather than a more rounded “all- OBSESSION
body” fitness. Yes, distance is WITH POINTING
fun. Yes, it’s cool. But it is only
part of a bigger picture. In the
BLAME
pursuit of length we have left SOLELY AT THE
some of the best parts of golf EQUIPMENT IS
behind, and this obsession with
pointing blame solely at the
GETTING OLD.”
equipment is getting old. All the manufacturers
are doing is providing the products their
customers want. If there wasn’t that demand,
the clubs and balls would not be selling.
So the argument that all of the above is the
“fault” of the manufacturers is flawed. The blame
lies more with the average player – mostly those
The first thing we
learned about US
Open venue Erin Hills
was how long it was.
in America. Generally speaking, they have
never taken the time to learn golf properly.
They are intoxicated by distance and have lost
sight of the rest of the game. All of which is a
relatively recent phenomenon. When I was a
kid, no one was walking around talking about
distance. It wasn’t that big a
deal. But today’s golfer seems
to be a different animal.
The bottom line?
“Bifurcating” the rules so that
pros and amateurs are playing
with different balls and clubs
won’t be enough. That would
be a temporary fix – unless
the courses also change. If
they don’t, the top players will
simply find a way to get back
to where we are now. In about
50 years’ time we would be
facing the same issues.
Besides, it is 100 percent
possible to shape the direction
of golf through our courses.
The best of those have always
presented us with the most
options. So the most successful players are
those with the most variety in their games. It is
no coincidence that Seve Ballesteros – perhaps
the most creative player in the history of the
game – is the only man who has ever won
tournaments at Royal Melbourne, St. Andrews
and Augusta National.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2016 29
NEW FORD FLEET
GOLF CART
The fleet golf cart market has seen many brands come and go. But for
the last decade or so the Australian fleet golf cart market has been
dominated by a small number of manufacturers.
Only available to bona fide golf course fleet operators, the new Officially
licensed FORD fleet golf cart is about to change the Australian fleet golf cart
landscape forever.
Designed and built from the ground up as a no-nonsense fleet hire cart,
the FORD fleet golf cart has all of the features today’s golf course operators
and indeed golfers have come to expect in a hire cart.
The brushless maintenance free high torque AC motor provides a smooth
responsive drive, while coil over front suspension combined with rack and
pinion steering ensures car-like handling even on rough terrain.
Fitted with the industry’s best Trojan batteries the 48 volt system is fed
water through an easy to use single point watering system.
BUILT IN BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
Gone are the days of having to take carts back to a cart shed to charge
the batteries. The new FORD fleet golf cart has onboard fully integrated
smart charger technology. Simply plug the cart directly in to any 10amp
domestic power outlet. In the cart shed, in the staging area or wherever
there’s the opportunity.
Quoted weekly rental rates can work out to thousands of dollars less than
competitor brands over the course of a 3 or 4 year rental agreement.
WARRANTY
Protected by the industry’s most comprehensive 4 year or 27,000
energy unit bumper to bumper warranty. Contact Golf Cart Group for full
warranty details.
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
A new level of professionalism not previously available in the Australian
fleet golf cart industry.
One of the most vexing issues a golf course or fleet manager can have to
deal with is having a cart down after an accident or mechanical failure and not
be able to get hold of the dealer or have to wait days for a service van. FORD
fleet golf carts are supported by a national service agreement with Komatsu
Forklifts Australia. When a fleet is provided to a course the nearest service
tech and van is allocated to that course. Service techs are trained on FORD
fleet golf carts and service vans carry service parts. The focus is on the
fastest possible turn around.

STRONGEST STEEL CHASSIS

The hot dipped galvanised steel chassis with 15 year warranty provides a
ridged frame to carry the easy to replace body skins.

FUTURE PROOF
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 From Sergio breaking through
to win his first major in 18
years of trying, to Spieth
moving one step closer to a
career Grand Slam, 2017 was
full of memorable stories.
Here we look back through
the lens of the Getty Images
photographers, who were there
to capture the moment.

SPIETH’S JUG
THERE were plenty of anxious
moments for Jordan Spieth down the
stretch at The Open Championship.
It will be a tournament forever
remembered as the “Practice Range
Open” due to the American’s escape
after a wayward tee shot on the 13th
hole and subsequent comeback to
defeat Matt Kuchar and claim the title.
PHOTOS: Matthew Lewis (left);
Warren Little (main).

32 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 33
 SOLHEIM STAYS
TEAM USA won the 2017 Solheim
Cup for a second year running, as
they refused to let the Europeans
create history by not letting their
five point lead slip during the final
day singles.
Wins from Paula Creamer, Cristie
Kerr, Lizette Salas, Gerina Piller, and
Danielle Kang were enough to see
the Americans home 16.5 to 11.5.
Then it was party time for the
US and back to the drawing
board for the Annika
Sorenstam-led Europeans.
PHOTOS: Stuart Franklin (left);
Harry How (right).

34 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 KOEPKA’S OPEN
BROOKS Koepka blasted his way to
victory at the US Open Championship,
making a mockery of the incredibly long
Erin Hills layout with drives consistently
travelling more than 340 yards.
PHOTO: David Cannon.

seve-inspired sergio
IT was 18 years in the making but Sergio
Garcia finally broke through for his first major
win at The Masters. With the green jacket on
and the trophy in his hand he turned to the
heavens to thank his idol, the late Seve
Ballesteros, who would have turned 60 on
that day.
PHOTOS: Harry How (top); Andrew
Redington (main).

FUNKY WALKER
JIMMY Walker isn’t showing off
some new dance move he
picked up in the off-season ...
he just wants his wedge
approach to sit down.
PHOTO: Sam Greenwood.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 35

 GIDDY UP
THIS might just be the golf
photo of the year. The reaction
of Jordan Spieth and caddie
Michael Greller to the holed
bunker shot to win the Travelers
Championship is priceless.
PHOTO: Maddie Meyer.

SCOTT GAME
THE first round of The Open was tough going for most players,
but Scott Hend was able to make light work of this bunker shot
late in the day.
PHOTO: Stuart Franklin.

THOMAS CAN DO ANYTHING

BELGIAN Thomas Pieters can hit drives over 320 yards and
make sliding downhill six-footers without batting an eyelid.
And, apparently, he was able to walk on water at the Portugal
Masters ... well not quite.
PHOTO: Warren Little.

36 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 NOSEY BUSINESS
PLAYER reactions under pressure
are great fodder for photographers.
Here, Lexi Thompson is in tears after
being penalised at the ANA
Inspiration, while Jordan Spieth has
missed a vital putt. Get that head
in the hands.
PHOTOS: Richard Heathcote (left);
Robert Laberge (Thompson).

JUSTIN TIME
HOW cool must it be to kiss a
trophy that is almost twice the
size of your head?
Of course, Justin Thomas got
that opportunity when he won
his first major title at the PGA
Championship.
PHOTO: Stuart Franklin.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 37

 THE CITY THAT
NEVER SLEEPS
COMMITTED to the cause of
trying to beat the Americans at The
Presidents Cup, is Adam Scott.
It’s pre-dawn and Scott is
chipping on the practice range at
Liberty National with a wonderful
view of New York City behind him.
PHOTO: Chris Condon.

ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN

THE Americans again celebrated a Presidents Cup victory and
they came prepared.
Knowing they couldn’t lose on the final day, there was a serious
supply of champagne and cigars at the ready for the winning putt.
Oh, and Donald Trump turned up.
PHOTOS: Elsa (left); Sam Greenwood (below).

38 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 TIGER TALES
TIGER Woods was charged with DUI when he was
found slumped behind the wheel of his car.
Not sure what was more embarrassing though ...
the mug shot or the rock star arrival at court.
PHOTO: Carline Jean (right).

GONNA NEED A
BIGGER CABINET
JUSTIN Thomas had already finished his PGA Tour
season but he just kept collecting trophies.
The PGA Champion was named the PGA Tour
Player of the Year and collected the Arnold Palmer
Trophy and Jack Nicklaus Trophy as well. The great
Golden Bear was on hand to present the trophies,
which are destined for the pool room.
PHOTOS: Stan Badz.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 39

 PREVIEW

will be a showdown between Adam Scott and Sergio

Garcia, a mouth-watering prospect that golf fans should
be cheering for, too.
WORDS ROD MORRI PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

40 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 41
 PREVIEW
B
orn six months apart and destined
to be among the best ball-strikers
of their generation, it’s no surprise
the careers of Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia
have dovetailed in their almost 20 years
as professionals.
The many similarities are striking though their
differences, too, are stark. In results, not much
separates them. In personality and approach to
the game, however, it would be hard to imagine
two more disparate characters.
Garcia is the mercurial and highly-strung
prodigy with a flair for the dramatic and a
tendency towards over exuberance when things
go well - and petulance when they don’t. Scott is
the quintessential buttoned down professional,
cool in all circumstances and boasting a highlight
reel of just one emotional outburst – when
his birdie putt fell on the 72nd hole at the
2013 Masters.
42 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
Both have suffered highly publicised slumps,
Scott in 2009 when he missed 10 cuts in 19 starts
and Garcia the following year with just one top-10
in 15 events.
Both have a consuming passion away from the
course, Scott for surfing and Garcia for soccer.
Both have won one major, The Masters, despite
most pundits predicting multiple Grand Slam
wins for each.
Both have won The Players Championship,
Scott in 2004 and Garcia four years later, and both
have multiple victories on the game’s two biggest
stages in Europe and the US.
Away from the course, however, their resumes
are polar opposites. From the moment he burst
onto the scene at the 1999 PGA at Medinah,
Garcia has been a lightning rod for publicity.
On the up side was his memorable, bounding,
scissor-kick after an extraordinary sliced 6-iron
off a tree root at the 16th hole on Sunday at
Sergio Garcia is eight months
removed from the highlight of
his career, and he’s still smiling.
that tournament.
On the down side have been countless displays
of temper, churlishness and sullen comments to
the media in the wake of various disappointments.
Conversely, Scott and controversy have rarely
been seen in the same room, let alone shared
space in the same sentence.
The closest Australia’s first Masters winner
has come to a negative headline was when Dawn
Fraser took him to task on Facebook for skipping
the Olympics.
The incident did little to tarnish Scott’s
reputation, however, as even those who didn’t
agree with his position admired his honesty and
courage in standing by his convictions.
There is, of course, no one formula for success
in golf and both Garcia and Scott have enjoyed
great success in the game, Scott with 13 US PGA
Tour titles to Garcia’s 10 while Garcia has 12
European Tour trophies to Scott’s seven.
Adam Scott
could turn his
year into a
good year by
ending it with
a win at Royal
Pines.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 43

 LEISHMAN LEADS DEEP
PREVIEW
FIELD OF PURSUERS
It might feel like the Adam and Sergio show
but there are 154 other golfers in the field at
RACV Royal Pines and more than a handful
of them are capable of stealing the show
from the two Masters champions.
Leading the charge to unseat the major
winning pair will be Marc Leishman, who won
twice on the PGA Tour and had a further five
top-10 finishes this year to elevate his world
ranking to a career-high No.13.
The Victorian is also the overwhelming
favourite to win the Greg Norman Medal,
awarded on the eve of the Championship.
“To be considered for the Greg Norman
Medal is a great honour, particularly given the
depth of talent in the Australian golf industry.
2017 has been an exceptional year for myself
and my family,” Leishman said.
“I always like coming home to play and
teeing it up at the Australian PGA Championship
was particularly important to me this year so I
can attend the Awards evening and thank the
Australian golf fans for all their support this year.
“I have always enjoyed coming to the
Gold Coast, it’s a fun tournament in a fun
location, I am sure this year will be another
excellent week.”
Adding to the depth of talent in this year’s
field will be 2014 winner Greg Chalmers as well
as Australia’s most recent PGA Tour success
story, Cameron Smith.
From the international ranks three-time PGA
Tour winner Jonas Blixt of Sweden and rising
Interestingly, the similarities for the pair go
right back to their beginnings in the game with
both being the sons of golf professionals.
Garcia’s father Victor remains his only coach
while Scott’s father, Phil, stepped back from that
role while Adam was still at college in the US.
Garcia and Scott senior both taught their
offspring the fundamentals of the game at an early
age and it is no accident that their progeny are
among the most respected ball-strikers of the past
two decades.
Despite those beginnings, watching Scott and
Garcia swing the club reminds one of the age-old
comparison between chalk and cheese.
Garcia’s buggy whip action is as distinctive
in its own way as the move of Jim Furyk while
Scott’s motion is a thing of such technical and
rhythmic beauty it is the envy of even his peers.
The results are often the same, however, both
regularly sit inside the top handful of players
in the Strokes Gained stats categories for their
driving and iron play.
It is this aspect of the game that will draw
discerning golf fans to RACV Royal Pines
44 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
American star Talor Gooch are both making
the journey.
Blixt partnered Smith to a sensational victory
at the PGA Tour’s only teams event, The Zurich
Classic in April, and while attracting little fanfare
he will be among the players to watch.
Gooch is a golfer you likely haven’t heard of
yet but all indications are that will change.
The 25-year-old is a full member of the 2018
PGA Tour after earning his card through the
secondary circuit in 2017, a process you simply
can’t fluke your way through.
Among the Australians looking for success
in 2017 is 2015 Australian Open winner Matt
Jones, who is also back on the PGA Tour after
enduring a couple of difficult seasons.
The Sydney native played his way back to the
top tier with a top five finish in the last event of
the Web.com Tour Finals and a second win on
home soil will be high on his to do list.
Also returning home from a successful US
campaign is Cameron Smith, a contender at
Royal Pines in the past and one of Australia’s
most promising young players.
Now a PGA Tour winner, Smith’s game
continues to go from strength to strength as
evidenced by his start to the 2018 PGA
Tour season.
Two top five finishes in back to back weeks
in Malaysia and Korea suggest this could be a
breakout year for Smith, who was T5 here in
2015 and T15 last year.
After a close call at the Australian Open at
Resort from November 30 to December 3 – the
opportunity to see two of the very best up close an
irresistible attraction.
Should the head-to-head Sunday showdown
that organisers, fans and the protagonists
themselves will be hoping for eventuate it is Scott
who will have the slight edge.
The only previous time the two clashed directly
on a Sunday it was Scott who prevailed.
The pair shared the lead – and a four-shot
buffer on the field – through 54 holes of the
2016 Honda Classic in Florida and on a brutally
difficult PGA National layout Scott’s even par
Sunday was enough to get the job done.
Garcia would like nothing more than to square
the ledger at Royal Pines, particularly with Scott
playing just a 10-minute drive from his Gold Coast
home at Sanctuary Cove.
In the pecking order of world golf the
Australian PGA doesn’t carry the stature of the
game’s biggest events but for both Scott and
Garcia it will be an important week, particularly
if they can get themselves to the pointy end of the
leaderboard come Sunday.
Royal Sydney, Smith will be
keen to get his hands on some
local silverware and as a proud
Queenslander the Australian
PGA would be a good place to
do it.
While the focus will be on the
young guns this year, there are
a couple of veterans in the field
capable of causing an upset.
Chalmers wasn’t at the top of
anybody’s betting sheet when he
fired a final round 63 in 2014 then
took down Scott in an epic seven-
hole play-off.
While rarely in the headlines,
Chalmers has been one of
the game’s quiet achievers
on home soil and already has
two Joe Kirkwood trophies
to go along with two
Australia Open titles.
Also in the veteran
category is Rod Pampling,
a PGA trained professional
and surprise winner on the
American circuit this time
last year.
He quietly finished T15 at
Royal Pines in 2016, and while
his odds will rightly be quite
long, it would be a mistake to
dismiss his chances completely.
Both 37 and still at the height of their powers
Garcia and Scott are, however, acutely aware that
their window of opportunity on the world stage
is closing.
Father time is yet to be beaten and in a game
that increasingly rewards power over precision
the chance to be competitive much beyond 40
is decreasing.
While both are still capable of keeping up
physically, it is nerve under the pressure of a close
Sunday tussle that sorts winners from the rest
and that is an aspect of the game that can’t be
replicated in practise.
In that sense, the opportunity to ‘go at it’ on the
Gold Coast will be an important indicator for both
players heading to the 2018 season.
After a pedestrian 2017 Scott will be looking for
a spark heading into the New Year and a win on
home soil – over the reigning Masters champion
no less – would be something positive to relish
over the Christmas break.
Conversely, Garcia’s season started on a
high with a win in Dubai and reached fever
pitch with his playoff win over Justin Rose at
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 PREVIEW

TALE OF
THE TAPE
Australia BIRTHPLACE Spain

16/7/1980 Birth date 9/1/1980

2000 Turned Pro 1999

Plus 3 Last Handicap Plus 5

13 PGA Tour wins 10

7 European Tour wins 12

1 (2013 Masters) Majors 1 (2017 Masters)

1 (2013) Australian PGA wins 0 (debut)

Augusta National. eventual winner Harold Varner III.

Victory at Royal Pines would put a nice bow
on a career year and send Garcia to the holiday
season knowing that with nothing to prove, he
can freewheel in 2018.
There is, of course, a lot of golf to be played
before either Garcia or Scott will be giving
any thought to the position of the other on the
leaderboard but as the standouts in the field it
would be somewhat of a surprise if both weren’t
in the mix come Sunday.
Scott has an imposing record in the event
since it moved from the Sunshine Coast in 2013,
outlasting Rickie Fowler that year during his
triumphant ‘Green Jacket’ tour of the country.
He was part of the narrative again the
following year when an epic seven-hole play-off
broke out between him, Wade Ormsby and
eventual champion Greg Chalmers.
He skipped the tournament in 2015 but was
back again last year to finish third, his final day
67 a gallant effort but ultimately two shots shy of
Familiarity with the course will undoubtedly
give Scott some advantage over Garcia but at
the top levels of the game the effects of previous SHOULD THE
experience can sometimes be negligible. HEAD-TO-HEAD
At the time of writing the world rankings say
only 10 players on the planet are better than SUNDAY SHOWDOWN
Garcia and he will figure out the nuances THAT ORGANISERS,
of the Graham Marsh redesigned layout
quickly enough.
FANS AND THE
Certainly, posting a win on Australian soil PROTAGONISTS
would be sweet revenge for Garcia after a
controversial close call at the 2001 Greg Norman
THEMSELVES WILL
Holden International at The Lakes. BE HOPING FOR
He was penalised two strokes for taking an
incorrect drop on the 1st hole of the third round
EVENTUATE IT IS
that year and eventually finished regulation SCOTT WHO WILL
play tied with Aaron Baddeley. The Australian
prevailed with a birdie at the first extra hole.
HAVE THE
What a thrill it would be for all involved if a SLIGHT EDGE.
similar situation, minus the controversy, were to
play out at Royal Pines.

46 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 VISIT
UNDERPAR.COM.AU
VARNER LOOKING TO IMPRESS AGAIN TO SEE ALL THE
COLOURS
Not all professional golfers understand the reality that their job is
actually part of the entertainment industry.
Defending Australia PGA champion Harold Varner III, however, is
among those who get it.
For the past two years the American has been a welcome visitor
to these shores, popular with fans and local media alike thanks to

WORLD’S
his good humour and engaging personality.

BEST
Daily accounts of trips to Jupiters Casino during his visit in 2016
endeared him to local press looking for something different to write
about but it has been on the course where Varner has been
most impressive.
Just the second African American to play the PGA Tour, Varner
grew up in North Carolina where a $100 membership at a local
public course got him started in the game.
He spent all day every day of his summer school holidays at the
course and over time developed enough game to earn a scholarship
to East Carolina University.
While he doesn’t have the physical presence of a Dustin Johnson
or Brooks Koepka, distance off the tee is one of his strengths and
BUGGY FOR 15 YEARS
in the Graham Marsh redesigned Royal Pines layout he appears to
have found a course that fits his eye.
In two appearances on the Gold Coast his worst finish is
second, an enviable record and one that will no doubt fill him with
confidence as he arrives to defend his only professional title to date.
In his first visit in 2015 he was part of a three-way playoff with
Dylan Frittelli and eventual champion Nathan Holman while last
year an impressive final round 65 saw him to a two-shot victory over
Andrew Dodt.
But there is also a serious side to Varner who is acutely aware
that as a black man he is visibly different to almost all his peers on
the US circuit. YOUTUBE
In August this year the 27-year-old wrote a compelling and well ‘CLICGEAR
thought out piece for the website The Player’s Tribune, where CART 3.5+’
athletes tell their own stories in their own words.
He addressed the race issue and how it was a constant in No.1 Buggy in Golf
America while suggesting that he felt it was less so here
in Australia.
“They (Australian media) saw me as the goofy dude who worked
his ass off to win one of their most prestigious tournaments,”
he wrote, “not someone who could be used to create a
race discussion.”
Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why Varner has
played so well here but irrespective of the reason, the smart money
says he will be part of the discussion come Sunday at Royal Pines.

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 I O
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golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 49

 Garcia’s relaxed set-up – with arms hanging loose,
1 gently flexed knees and slight bend forward at the
waist – allows his swing to flow so freely. His
right shoulder is ideally about 10˚ lower than his
left shoulder.
CREATING HIS SIGNATURE MOVE
The most discussed aspects of Sergio
Garcia’s swing are his grip and re-grip
waggle and the amount of clubhead lag he
creates in the downswing.
The Spaniard has received some criticism
for his waggle over the years (mainly for the
number of times he does it standing over the
ball). But there is a point to it. He believes it is
better to be moving before you swing rather
50 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
The takeaway is driven by turning his shoulders. His
2 hands are quiet and the club has moved away from
the ball low and just inside the imaginary target line
running through the ball.
than standing still because it encourages a
smoother swing.
This smoothness combines with a wide
reaching takeaway to help create his signature
clubhead lag on the downswing.
Garcia stretches both arms as far as he can
in the early stages of the backswing, while
making very little wrist hinge. This creates a
really wide swing arc with the clubhead about
With his hands now at hip height, his legs are only
3 now getting involved in the swing with the left knee
moving slightly toward the centre of his stance as
his weight transfers into his right side. Look how far
back that clubhead is!
as far away from the centre of his torso as he
could possibly get.
When he drops his hands to start his
downswing, the arc changes from being
wide to narrow. This switch in transition
gives him his great clubhead lag and
generates a swing speed that often tops 120
miles an hour.
 With his right arm starting to fold, the wrists are
4 also starting to hinge. Sergio’s left shoulder is
already tucked under his chin as his shoulders
5 he reaches the top of the backswing and he’s fully
reach a 90˚ turn. Note his head has rotated slightly,
dispelling the myth you need to keep your head still
in the golf swing.
Sergio’s left knee is almost back behind the ball as
loaded over his right leg. The angle of his left wrist
is ideally the same as the clubface, while his left
arm is also on the same plane as his shoulders.
T’S IN THE BAG
been some minor changes to Sergio’s
ing the Masters and leaving the
Made. He says he will be testing
New Year.
17 M2, 9.5˚ loft, with
e Silver Dual core TiNi
de 2017 M1, 15˚ and
The drop! Note the position of his hands in picture 5
6 compared with picture 6. He drops his hands down
below the level of the top of his head as he makes
the transition into the downswing. This coincides
with his left hip starting to turn and his left knee
pushing forward toward the target.
19˚ loft, with Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Silver
Dual core TiNi 80TX shafts.
IRONS: TaylorMade P-750 Tour proto (3-iron to
pitching wedge), with Nippon N.S Pro Modus3
Tour 130X shafts.
WEDGES: TaylorMade Tour Preferred EF 52˚,
Callaway Mack Daddy 58˚ loft, both with Nippon
N.S Pro Modus3 Tour 130X shafts.
PUTTER: Odyssey Toulon Design Atlanta prototype.
BALL: TaylorMade TP5
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 51
 This is Ben Hogan-esque. His right elbow is tucked
7 in closed to his right hip and the clubhead is really
working up some speed. It almost looks like he’s
swinging a fishing rod … look at that flex. Garcia
says he feels like is left arm is attached to his chest
at this point of the downswing.
SERGIO’S LAG
Over the two decades since Sergio Garcia
started grabbing headlines as the ‘next big
thing’ in golf, his swing has be likened to that of
the late Ben Hogan – one of the greatest
ball-strikers the game has ever seen.
Much of this discussion centred around the
common thread between the swing of Hogan
and Garcia, which is the incredible clubhead
lag both players created in transition and
52 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
Sergio’s hips have cleared out of the way and
8 his weight is moving into his left side. He has
maintained good body angles, with his upper spine
tilted away from the target. The clubhead is still
lagging behind his hands, which are almost in line
with the ball.
maintained swinging into impact.
What is lag? Clubhead lag in the downswing
is the angle created between your left forearm/
wrist (for right-handers) and the shaft of the
club. Ideally, you want this angle to be acute.
Maintain that acute angle as long as possible
into the downswing and it generates great
swing speed as the clubhead races to catches
the hands at impact.
The clubhead catches up with his hands right on
9 impact, unleashing maximum power as a result of
the great clubhead speed the lag created. Note how
the clubhead stays directly in front of his turning
body heading into the follow-through.
While Sergio’s lag has always been a
trademark of his swing, he did make some
changes to his swing nearly 15 years ago to
decrease the amount of clubhead lag. If
clubhead lag is good, why change?
Under pressure, Garcia found that the
clubhead would lag too far behind his body and
would result in shots blocked to the right or
massive hooks.
 Of particular note here is the vertical position of
10 the clubface. Garcia likes the feeling of letting
the club go at this point. Note his right wrist is
11
flat, while he has a slight bend in his left wrist as
he ‘chases’ the ball toward the target.
Garcia’s head starts turning as he catches a first
glimpse of his shot. His shoulders are continuing
to turn through to the finish.
12
A beautiful balanced finish every amateur golfer
should try and emulate. You don’t have to copy
his flexible, athletic position but swinging with the
thought of easily holding your finish for several
seconds will help you hit better shots.

SERGIO GARCIA’S 2017 NUMBERS

TOURNAMENT STARTS: 22. ACCURACY): 105 (10th).
TOP-10S: 5. TOP-25S: 10 GREENS IN REGULATION: 69.92% (8th).
BEST FINISHES: Win, Masters SCORING AVERAGE: 69.596 (9th).
Tournament, Dubai Desert Classic (Euro), STROKES GAINED OFF-THE-TEE:
Andalucia Masters (Euro). .738 (5th).
DRIVING DISTANCE: 301.9 yards (30th). STROKES GAINED TEE-TO-GREEN:
TOTAL DRIVING (DISTANCE + 1.215 avg (12th).
 Subscribe
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 CATHEDR A L LODGE:

The par-4 16th is

undoubtedly one of
the finest two-shotters
on the course.

56 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 Ellerston look out – there’s a new Victorian course about to take the “most
exclusive” title out of NSW. Cathedral Lodge officially opened last month, and
Golf Australia was there to revel in the glory of this uber-expensive Greg Norman
designed layout he calls his best design yet. Trust a Queenslander to stir up the
Victorian-NSW rivalry…
WORDS DAMIAN SHUTIE

F
ROM an architectural perspective,
many old churches around the world
are lauded for their beauty. But
there’s a new ‘Cathedral’ in town that will
have golf lovers crying ‘holy moly’ more than
any other.
Forget Notre Dame, Saint Basil’s or St. Paul’s,
Cathedral Lodge – an 18-hole Greg Norman
designed stunner – is more beautiful than all of
them combined. At least to any serious golfer.
Situated at Thornton, about 130km north-east
of Melbourne, Cathedral Lodge is a welcome
addition to a region that was savaged by the 2009
Black Saturday bushfires.
Officially opened in October by Norman,
owners David and Sonya Evans and Victorian
premier Daniel Andrews, Cathedral Lodge is
Victoria’s answer to NSW’s Ellerston. Only,
unlike the track Kerry Packer commissioned
Norman to design, Cathedral Lodge has a greater
focus on enjoyment rather than sheer brutality.
And more than one set of tees.
That’s not to say Cathedral Lodge is a pushover
by any means. Dense shrub, natural changes in

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 57

 elevation and creeks and hollows are all there
to keep your concentration sharp, and offer a
suitable challenge across the fascinating layout.
Inspired by a 1997 trip to the Masters in
Augusta, Evans – a former Essendon Football
Club chairman and son of former AFL chairman
Ron Evans – dreamt of one day turning the large
plot of Australian countryside he bought 14 years
ago into a golf haven to rival the world’s best
private courses, like Augusta National.
But it wasn’t until a 2012 meeting with Norman
at the family property near Lake Eildon that his
dream started to gain serious momentum
towards reality.
The Shark says he fell in love with the place
from the outset, with the natural landscape and
rolling hills overlooked by the Cathedral Range
in the distance lending itself naturally to a
spectacular golf course.
“This here is such a unique site and I am going
to say with all sincerity that Australians don’t
realise how lucky they have got it,” Norman said.
“People travel all over the world thinking they
are going to see better sights, but you only have
58 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
to travel an hour and a half out of Melbourne and
you have this.”
The members and invited guests-only club is
certainly at the exclusive end of the scale, with
a $50,000 entrance investment and annual fees
around the $10,000 mark. What members get for
that outlay is a course to rival some of the greats.
In fact, according to Norman, Cathedral Lodge
could be “the best” of his 103 courses designed
around the world.
That’s a pretty big claim considering the
aforementioned Ellerston, as well as Doonbeg,
Trump National and a host of other highly-ranked
gems bearing the Shark’s iconic signature. It’s
clear Norman’s fondness for his country of birth
resonates in that bold statement. At the opening
of the course he spoke glowingly of Australia’s
native flora and fauna found so abundantly at and
around Cathedral Lodge, just as a brazen cockatoo
in a gum overlooking the 3rd hole continually
interrupted him, as if to hammer home the point.
“Cathedral Lodge is very special to me as there
is nothing else like it in Australia, or the world for
that matter,” Norman said.
From a layout perspective, the course has few
challengers, with four par-5s and five par-3s
scattered among the 18 holes. One of the fine
achievements Norman has managed here is
to seamlessly intermingle holes bearing the
hallmark of links, tree-lined, country and tropical
courses. It is a blend hardly – if ever – seen. In
theory, it shouldn’t work, but at Cathedral Lodge,
it just does. Magnificently.
Being such a new course, the fairways still need
some time to grow in for the full aesthetics to be
realised, but from a playability point of view they
are superb, and Cathedral also has some of the
finest greens in the nation – they’re mostly large,
slick, pure and not overly penal yet with subtle
breaks to test you just enough.
The exception to that rule would have to be
the short par-4 5th, which plays directly uphill
in a narrow basin surrounded by native gums
towards a postage stamp-sized green. It’s an
incredibly charismatic hole that tempts you with
a driveable green, yet severely punishes even
slightly wayward tee shots. The green is small,
but if you can reach it from the tee, you’ll have a
 The view back
down the 12th
fairway at dawn.

THIS HERE IS SUCH A UNIQUE

SITE AND I AM GOING TO SAY WITH ALL
SINCERITY THAT AUSTRALIANS DON’T
REALISE HOW LUCKY THEY HAVE GOT IT.
– GREG NORMAN

The downhill
view to the
17th green
with the 13th
green in the
background.

genuine chance at eagle with a relatively straight

putt. What a hole. (Just don’t walk it unless you’re
preparing to tackle Everest sometime soon.)
With stage one of Evans’ dream now complete,
the investment banker says he could not be more
pleased with the result. But that doesn’t mean he’s
done with big ideas for his golfing oasis, revealing
hopes of one day staging an Australian major at
the venue. And that, according to Norman, is not
out of the question: “If David wanted to have a
PGA Tour event here, it wouldn’t be hard at all,”
Norman said.
Logistical issues – including the remote
location and capacity of local accommodation –
has many admirers of the setup doubting whether
that notion will ever eventuate. Yet with the
uber-exclusive nature of the course, and a truly
inspired design philosophy, it wouldn’t be difficult
to imagine golf fans in their droves taking the
opportunity for a road trip to set foot on – and be
welcomed at – an otherwise inaccessible layout
for a major Australian tournament. Time will tell. Large hay bales
One talking point for Cathedral Lodge will lie beside the
certainly be the 6th and 7th holes, a par-5 and superb 11th hole.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 59


par-4 respectively that intersect heavily. There’s
little doubt this will either be heralded as design
genius, or denounced as a major flaw in the layout.
Players will either love or hate the fact those
approaching the 6th green need to give way to
players on the 7th tee, with the fairway shared
between the two groups.
Both would be strong standalone holes,
especially the 7th, a hooping right-to-left dogleg
that requires two cracking shots just to reach
the green in regulation. That said, the delay in
play is not likely to be a big deal for most golfers
considering the course is unlikely to have heavy
traffic. First world problems, huh?
In line with Norman’s design philosophy, there
is no ‘signature hole’ as such, although it’s difficult
not to fall in love with the closing stretch of four
holes at Cathedral Lodge.
The 15th is such a loveable, short par-3.
Teeing off under a canopy of native greenery, the
CATHEDRAL
LODGE IS VERY
SPECIAL TO ME AS
THERE IS NOTHING
ELSE LIKE IT IN
AUSTRALIA, OR THE
WORLD FOR THAT
MATTER.
– GREG NORMAN
60 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
hole plays downhill to an elongated green with
cavernous, rocky trouble left and is sheltered by
a large sloping mound to the right. It is sure to
become a favourite with regulars.
You then start heading back towards the
clubhouse alongside the road into Cathedral
Lodge, via the par-4 16th, which is undoubtedly
one of the finer short two-shotters on the course.
The par-3 17th, which plays downhill to a
one-sided green with views of the 14th tee and
13th green in the background, has to be the
most visually-inspiring point on the course.
Quintessentially Australian, it’s one of those
holes that just reminds you why you play
this game.
The final hole is a long, tough par-5 flanked
by waist-high rough along a rocky left side, with
‘Ron’s Creek’ – a poetic tribute to Evans’ late
father – bordering the right of the fairway. It
turns and cuts across the fairway – reminiscent
Greg Norman fell in love
with the typically Australian
bushland setting for the course.
Sun rise breaks over the par-5
18th hole featuring Ron’s Creek.
of the Swilcan Burn at St Andrews – roughly
200 metres from home and settles just short of
the left side of the green. The significance of the
creek and its familial meaning to Evans can be
heard in his voice, which crackles slightly as he
describes how it majestically flows down into the
mighty Goulburn River. Its symbolism is not lost
on members.
Ron’s Creek complements a stunning finishing
hole looking up to the country homestead-
inspired clubhouse, and it’s a sight that clearly
pleases the younger Evans, as it will most golfers
who experience it.
That family-forward sentiment is the ethos of
the club, with members encouraged to bring along
their families to the club and create a legacy of
their own for “generations to come”. No wonder
Norman described Cathedral Lodge at its opening
as a “benchmark” for future courses.
You can take those wise words as gospel.
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are
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 T
AN ED!
Am I good
Should I chip enough to
with the f lag use blades?
in
or out?
What should
What’s the order at the
I
fastest way to halfway
fix my slice? house?

How often How do I stop

should I play being the
to
my handicap in
? shortest hitter
my group?

Can I really What do

tell my wife match
that golf is indexes
making me really mean?
fitter?
Golf is a perplexing, frustrating, mesmerising game that often raises
more questions than it answers. We assembled an expert panel,
including top teachers, gear gurus, fitness experts, mental coaches and
nutritionists, to answer your most vexing questions
WORDS MICHAEL CATLING, SIMON DADDOW, STUART HOOD
PICTURES HOWARD BOYLAN, ANGUS MURRAY, BOB ATKINS, GETTY IMAGES

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 63

 How can I
improve my
consistency?
We can all hit good shots; it’s
hitting them regularly that
matters. How do you achieve that?
David Leadbetter knows

L
egendary coach David Leadbetter says he hasn’t come
across the perfect swing yet, and doesn’t think he ever
will. “If we were all built the same, maybe you could find
the perfect swing,” he explains. “As it is, everyone is different and
we all have our own little idiosyncrasies and tendencies. The goal
should always be to find the best swing which works for you.” To
do that, Leadbetter believes the key is to forget one of golf’s biggest
misnomers. “Because we all hold the club with our hands and
arms, everybody assumes that’s what controls the swing,” says
the former coach of Nick Faldo and Nick Price. “Yes, your hands
are important, but the power and energy comes from your body.
One of my favourite expressions in golf instruction is that the dog
(the body) has to wag the tail (the hands, arms and club); the tail
does not wag the dog. To get everything working in the correct
manner, you need to break the swing down into three aspects. The
first component is the way you set up to the ball. That includes
your grip, posture, ball position and alignment. The second
component is the sequence of motion and how the body would
move if you didn’t have any arms. And the third component is the
synchronisation between the hands, arms and body. If you can nail
these basics, it will be far easier to hit the ball consistently. Here’s
how you do it...

64 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

MY FAVOURITE POSTURE DRILL

To achieve a relaxed yet athletic posture, you
need to set your upper and lower body at the
correct angle. Start by holding the club up in
front of you so the shaft points straight up.
Keeping the legs straight, bend forward from
the hips until you feel a tightening in the back
of your hamstrings and calves (1). With the
arms hanging naturally, soften the knees and
lower the club until the sole rests on the ground
(2). You should be in a position where the
lower back is straight, the shoulder blades are
back and the chin is sitting up slightly (3). The
latter will give the shoulders some freedom to
travel under the chin, rather than creating a
locked position which rounds the shoulders and
creates tension.
To ensure you’re standing the correct
distance away from the ball, check that your
elbows are slightly bowed and the upper arms
are lightly resting either side of your pecs.
If there’s no connection, you’re standing too far
from the ball. If your elbows rest on your chest,
you’re standing too close.

3
1 2
TEXT & IMAGES: © BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA LIMITED

TOP TIP

The biggest lesson for the average golfer
is to keep things simple. One of the
greatest teachers ever was John Jacobs
(right) and he was very simple in his
approach. And he got instant results with
the average golfer. There is a danger
with all the information and resources on
YouTube that the golf swing can become
really confusing. It’s the old paralysis
by analysis syndrome. Golfers these
days have less time to play, less time to
practise and yet they are actually making
things much more complicate
Unless you can dedicate your
understanding the complexitie
technical aspects, you are jus
your head full of facts and the
which will leave you worse of

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 65

 MY NO.1 PIVOT DRILL
How the body pivots is the lifeblood of your
swing. It is the engine and the power source, so
it’s essential that you train your body how to coil
and uncoil correctly.
Start by positioning your body in an athletic
posture and then give yourself a hug by grabbing
your obliques (1). Once set, use your core to wind
up into the top of your backswing position, letting
the left side move down and the right shoulder tilt
upwards (2). Just before you reach a fully-coiled
positioned, try to maximise the torque and power
stored by transitioning into the downswing while
the upper body is still going back.
Let the knees and hips initiate the movement
towards the target before unwinding the rest of
the body (3). Complete the motion by stretching
the left side upwards and posing with the chest
pointing towards the target (4).
To load into your right side with a full body
rotation, the upper back should be facing the
target with pressure wound in your right heel. If
you are very tight or lacking in flexibility, you can
raise your left heel very slightly to accommodate
this movement.

1 2 3
TOP TIP

good pre-shot underappreciate that having a set routine pro-am, day one of an event or the closing
me people like to is part of the golf swing. If you look at the stages of a Major. That’s the thing they rely
es or walk into the pros, they all have a definitive routine. You on when they are under pressure to help
g the shot. But to may not see it on TV, but the time it takes activate the mind and body and produce a
ou need to practise them to hit a shot is almost identical every consistent swing.

66 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

MY NO.1 SYNCHRONISATION DRILL

The essence to any good swing is
synchronisation, which refers to getting the
outside of the clubhead and the inside of the
body working in tandem. Most amateur golfers
do the opposite, let their hands and arms dictate
the pivot and yank the club back on an inside
plane too early.
As a result, they get stuck behind and tend to
loop the club to the outside on the downswing,
which can lead to pulls, slices and a loss of
power. To keep your swing on plane and ‘in
sync’, the clubhead needs to stay outside the
line of the hands all the way to the top of the
backswing. Here’s how.

STEP 1
Don’t be tempted to rotate
the forearm or open the
clubface. The takeaway
starts by engaging the core TOP TIP
muscles of your abdominal
and pushing the club back Contrary to popular belief, practice
slightly inside the target doesn’t make perfect. It makes
line. To do this, the left arm permanent. So, you need to make
moves across the bottom of sure you are doing the right things;
the chest, but the left wrist not just hitting ball after ball on
remains in a cupped position range. You’ve got to practise
– as it was at address. purpose. Hitting from different
es or even going out for nine
holes on your own and playing
with two balls is a great way to
tice. If your short on time, try
to ncorporate a playing philosophy
into your range sessions. In other
words, spend 15 minutes of your
time playing the course on the
range. I see so many players who
struggle to take their ‘range game’
onto the first tee, so this will make
the transition so much easier.

STEP 2
Keeping the right arm STEP 3
above the left arm, let the
wrists hinge at just past the As you swing to the
midway point so the shaft is top, focus on keeping
almost matching your spine the left arm connected
angle. This beyond vertical to the chest to achieve
position going back will a short and compact
shorten the club’s journey to motion. This will help
the top and encourage the to maximise coil and
club to fall and shallow onto prevent the swing from
the correct plane. falling out of sync.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 67

 Is the short game really more
important than the long game?
Sky Sports pundit and PGA Tour coach
Denis Pugh will tell you that you drive
for show, and putt for peanuts. We’ve
always been of the persuasion that
amateur golfers prefer to steer clear
of the short game in favour of bashing
drives at the range. Only now there is
evidence that vindicates us doing so.
Shotlink stats from 2016 reveal that
half of the PGA Tour’s top 10 money
earners per event had a negative
strokes gained/putting. In other words,
the likes of Rory, Sergio and Stenson
actually lost strokes to the rest of
the field on the green. Instead, they
had their tee-to-green game to thank
for cashing big cheques. Columbia
professor Mark Broadie points out
that the top 10 gained, on average,
0.75 strokes on the rest of the field per
round from driving alone. That figure
fell to 0.62 strokes from approach
shots compared to just 0.15 from
putting and 0.26 from chipping and
pitching. Of course, that’s not to say a
solid short game won’t save your bacon
if you start playing army golf. Just ask
Jason Day. But maybe it is worthwhile
spending an extra five minutes on the
driving range to fine tune your swing…

Money per event, 2016 PGA Tour Strokes gained per round by shot category
Rank Player $000 per event Drives Approach shots Short game Putting
1 Dustin Johnson 426 1.23 0.54 0.17 0.38
2 Jason Day 402 0.37 0.46 0.48 1.20
3 Adam Scott 324 0.69 1.57 0.20 -0.11
4 Rory McIlroy 322 1.39 0.56 0.32 -0.15
5 Jordan Spieth 264 0.54 0.24 0.40 0.83
6 Henrik Stenson 243 0.69 1.17 -0.03 -0.35
7 Sergio Garcia 216 0.87 0.45 0.17 -0.34
8 Patrick Reed 203 0.30 0.17 0.57 0.33
9 Russell Knox 195 0.25 0.54 0.11 -0.01
10 Bubba Watson 184 1.16 0.45 0.18 -0.30

Can you still play well

We’ve all been there. The banging headache; the Hardly a recipe for go ys Leaton. “If, on
bleary eyes; and the unmistakable nausea that “Essentially, being a calm and focused
only comes from ordering that greasy kebab in exaggerates your em n hijack your logical
the early hours. It always seems like a cocktail means you cannot th ss and obstruct your
for disaster when you’ve got to negotiate adds Leaton. “And e make sensible
that tight opening tee shot just a few hours starts with a thoug hoices.”
later. And now, there’s evidence from Keele your golf game. other words,
University to prove it. Nevertheless, one reacts
Research looking into the effects of alcohol know someone w ently. But if you are
on cognitive functioning shows that a hangover by having a tipple ng a hangover, don’t
reduces information-processing efficiency and or during a roun ct to play anywhere
increases response caution. And that’s not all. alcohol ever hel your best golf. “The
CREDIT: WWW.GOLFERWITHIN.COM

Roseanna Leaton, golf mind coach, says that as relaxed game of toms simply do not
well as feeling tired and below par, too much “If you are th ou to do so,” warns
alcohol can “impair coordination, increase your worries too mu Better get the
heart rate and trigger hormones which induce one or two pint fter your round has
tension, jerky movements and rushed tempo”. may allow you e say.

68 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia


Should I tee up
a wedge on a par 3?
You know all that stuff about it being
better to hit your short irons off the
ground on par 3s because the ground is
where you practise hitting them from?
Well, Dave Pelz isn’t buying any of it.
“Every blade of grass that comes between
the ball and the clubhead reduces the
amount of backspin you are able
the ball,” reveals th
“I don’t w
How can I tell if my grooves are
worn out?
“Watch for fliers,” says Scott Manwaring,
Callaway’s Director of R&D, Irons and
Hybrids. “Fliers are the best read since it
removes the variability of the green and
landing conditions. If you start to notice
the ball is flying higher and longer, it could
be a sign that the grooves are going.” It
could also be an indicator that they need
a good clean. Just don’t be tempted to
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
the best, most in control shot possible,
and the way to do this is by teeing the
ball up a little to ensure I get a nice, clean
contact on the sweetspot of the club.”
Please note: the key in the previous
quote w tee the ball
too high
e height is
he grass,”
invest in one of those groove sharpening
tools. “The negatives far outweigh the
positives,” warns Manwaring. “Firstly, it
could cause the iron to prematurely rust,
albeit this is dependent on the finish and
metal type. Secondly, the tolerances on
the USGA protocol are extremely tight
and overuse could make the scorelines
you record illegal.”
Match indexes... what
the hell do they mean?
Angry golfers take heed. The match index is not
designed to penalise you, even though it may feel that
way when you’re giving away a shot on a 150-yard par
3 in matchplay. Contrary to popular belief, the match
index is not determined on hole difficulty, but on
ensuring an equal distribution of strokes are given/
received in a match play competition. 
How are match indexes allocated?
Strokes must be evenly spread at all handicap
differences over the 18 holes. It is recommended
that the odd-numbered holes are assigned to the
more difficult of the two nines (usually the longest).
Match index one and two are typically placed close
to the centre of each nine, with none of the first eight
strokes allocated to the first or last hole (or the 9th or
10th at clubs where competitive matches may start
and finish). This avoids a player receiving an undue
advantage on the 19th hole should a match continue
to sudden death. As a general rule, match indices 9, 10,
11 and 12 should be assigned to holes 1, 9, 10 and 18.
Ok, so what about the difficulty of the holes?
Subject to the above, the match index is sequenced to
reflect holes of varying playing difficulty rather than
hole length or the difficulty to obtain par. For example,
index one could be a par 5, index two a dog-leg par
4, index three a long par 3 and so on. There is no
recommended order for this selection; the objective
is simply to provide equal opportunities for all
handicaps. A long par-4 may be considered a difficult
par for a single-figure golfer, but a relatively easy
bogey for a high handicapper.
Anything else I should know?
In the interests of fairness, the first six strokes are
not allocated to adjacent holes. Match index 7 to 10
are also assigned so that a player receiving 10 strokes
does not receive shots on three consecutive holes.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 69
 How do I hit
the ball further?
The best answer to this is to hit the ball better.
Even with today’s forgiving drivers, a strike just
half an inch from the sweetspot costs the average
hitter around 10 metres of distance. I’ll show you
70 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
how to improve your strike here, but of course
the sexier answer here is faster clubhead speed.
You’ll also learn an unsexy way to speed up
your strike.
Tight margins
Weak strikes – from the toe and heel – crop up when
we move outside our swing boundaries. To illustrate
what I mean by that, I have one cane against my
glutes and the other under my eyes. As long as I
rotate within those, I’ll find the middle of the face.
Centre of
excellence
The fastest way to add
10 metres to your drives
is to bring your strike just
a cm or so closer to the
sweetspot. The closer to
the centre of the face you
hit it, the better the energy
transfer from club to ball.
Contained movement
If you don’t have canes, visualise those boundaries
at address. Criss-cross your arms and make a back/
through pivot. Picture your glutes on the rear cane
and the your eyes over the front one till after impact.
You should feel better-balanced. Repeat it with the
club and you’ll find the centre more often.
 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Rough it to build speed

Never mind launch monitors or $600
drivers – if you want more clubhead
speed, find a juicy patch of rough. Spend
just five minutes in here, swinging through
the long grass, and believe me, you’ll know
about it.

Why oh why can I

never take my
range game to the
course?
The ultimate reason
you fail to replicate
your range form on the
course is because the
two environments are
fundamentally different.
Karl Morris
Show of strength Performance That means work on the
Of course be a little careful; Coach. Visit former rarely prepares
themindfactor.net you for the latter.
the really thick stuff can
snag the club and hurt
your wrists. But the right Ċ )& #- ." /&.#'. ,()' !'ą 3.
thickness provides the we practise it in a linear fashion. There
perfect resistance to help #- &13- ().", && 1#.#(!ą -) .",
you build up your hitting are no real consequences. On the course
#.ē-  )(Ě-"). &ą ( .". ,.- (
muscles. Make it a regular
uncomfortable tension range work can’t
part of your practice and
train you for.
you’ll be rewarded with a
more powerful strike, and
Ċ )& #- ( #(.,0& -*),.ą *,.#- #( 
those extra yards you crave.
non-interval way. Hitting ball after ball
( "&* 3)/ .,#(  *"3-#& ')0ą /.
mentally it has nothing in common with
course golf.

Ċ #." &0&ą *, . &#- ( ." 1#-.

#,13 3)/ē&& -ą ,(! !)& #- -#,Ą
It’s like a football team dribbling
round cones – poor preparation for
avoiding that 6ft 4in centre-back. As a
)(-+/(ą ." )/,- &- ",
and intimidating.

The only way to beat this syndrome is to

get out on the course more. It’s a different
(0#,)('(.ą ( )( 3)/ ( .)
acclimatise to. But be prepared to accept
that what you see on the range won’t come
out in the context of the course straight
13Ą #% (3 &#'.#-#(!ą #. .%-  #.
of time.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 71

 Which irons suit my game?
To find out, we asked TaylorMade’s Tomo
Bystedt, who designs irons for everyone
from 28 handicappers to Rory McIlroy...
TAYLORMADE M CGB
DESIGN: The CGBs have
been specifically designed for
average-to-slower swing speeds,
so lighter swing weights and
shafts help optimise launch,
peak height and carry distance
for golfers who want to enjoy
themselves on the course.
The heads are larger, the top
edges and soles are wider and
there’s low and deep tungsten
weighting as well as vertical face
slots and a speed pocket sole.
These have the most offset of all
TaylorMade’s irons.
TOMO SAYS: These are for
players looking for distance,
height and forgiveness
throughout the set, especially
those with mid-to-slow swing
speeds, providing long, straight
and high shots with every club.
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: One-piece cast
450 stainless steel Loft: 29.5°
Offset: 4.7mm.
HANDICAP
15+
72 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
TAYLORMADE M2
DESIGN: Jam-packed with
game-improving tech. A fluted
hosel and 360° undercut top
edge remove inefficient mass,
while a shallower head profile,
wider sole and bigger cavity
increase off-centre forgiveness.
The lofts are strong compared
to TaylorMade’s other irons, but
because there’s so much mass
positioned to boost playability,
they launch higher and spin less,
which equates to extra distance
and improved stopping power.
TOMO SAYS: The M2 is the
ultimate all-rounder. This
iron has incredible speed and
forgiveness in the long and
mid irons while providing a
nice level of workability and
precision in the shorter irons.
Our most popular iron overall,
the M2 will suit golfers of most
handicap levels from 10 up.
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: One-piece cast
450 stainless steel Loft: 28.5°
Offset: 4.2mm.
HANDICAP
10+
TAYLORMADE M1
DESIGN: Boasts similar levels
of distance and forgiveness
as the M2, but is wrapped in a
more compact head. Less offset,
thinner top edges and shorter
blade lengths are all features
which attract the eye of a better
player. By combining a speed
pocket sole with vertical face
slots you get great levels of ball
speed retention even when shots
are hit off centre. The 95g shaft
weight is significantly lighter
than tour level irons.
TOMO SAYS: If you’re looking
for M2-type performance, but
have always craved something
a little more compact and
workable, then the M1 is your
iron. The M1’s thinner sole and
reduced offset vs M2 provides
more shot shaping for a player in
the 5-15 handicap range.
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: One-piece cast
450 stainless steel Loft: 30.5°
Offset: 2.9mm.
HAND
TAYLORMADE P790
DESIGN: Better player irons
in the past have generally had
weaker lofts, but the P790 is still
a distance iron. A speed pocket
in the sole increases face flex
at impact to improve ball speed
protection. A similar look to
TaylorMade’s forged tour irons
mean the 790 is ideal for golfers
who put a premium on looks
and feel, but also want a decent
degree of forgiveness, too.
TOMO SAYS: The P790 is your
ultimate cross-over iron. For the
first time, there is an iron that
combines a true players’ iron
look and feel with the ‘at-the-
limit’ speed and distance of
an M-iron. P790 will appeal to
golfers in the low-single digit
handicaps all the way up to 12 or
even a 15 handicap.
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: 4140 forged
carbon steel face / 8620 cast
body Loft: 30.5° Offset: 2.7mm.
5

TAYLORMADE P770
DESIGN: A multi-material
forged tour iron for skilled
golfers. 70g of tungsten in the
3-7 irons along with a slightly
bigger head (than the P750)
increase MOI and forgiveness.
Progressive offset means a little
extra help flighting longer irons
(hence why you’ll find some in
tour bags) combined with the
same levels of control as a blade
in the shorter irons.
TOMO SAYS: For good ball-
strikers, not many irons will
offer the feel and consistency of
the P770. Head shaping is driven
by low offset and a shorter
blade length, but the moderate
top-line hints at the forgiveness
inherent in the 70g tungsten
sole. This iron is a favourite
with sub-10-handicap skilled
amateurs, club pros and Tour
players alike.
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: Forged 1025
carbon steel
Loft: 33° Offset: 2.4mm.
HANDICAP
SUB
8
HANDICAP
SUB
12
TAYLORMADE P750
TOUR PROTO
DESIGN: A 75mm blade length
is 15mm smaller than the P770,
with a thinner top line, minimal
hosel offset for a blade-like
appearance and a narrower
sole and tighter leading edge
for improved turf interaction.
A CNC-milled face and grooves
mean maximum precision and a
low MOI allows the top players
to shape shots. The heads are
forged.
TOMO SAYS: These are
designed for very skilled golfers
and offer the ultimate blend of
workability, feel and control.
The compact blade design with
minimal offset makes it our
most preferred iron among TM
tour pros. Sergio, Jon Rahm,
Jason Day and many others play
it and it was the No.1 iron at The
Open and US PGA.  Construction: Forged one-
7-IRON SPECS:
Construction: Forged 1025
carbon steel
Loft: 34° Offset: 2.2mm.
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
TAYLORMADE P730
DESIGN: Forget forgiveness,
there simply isn’t any! Players
choosing this iron want to shape
shots at will, and forgiveness
tech just gets in the way. The
head is slightly smaller than the
P750, there’s fractionally less
offset and the 7-iron has 6.5°
more loft than the M2, which
for many golfers would be a club
and a half more into a green.
TOMO SAYS: Only the best
ball-strikers need apply, even
if you’re a Tour player. The
P730 was designed to exacting
requirements of the very best
players in the world – DJ, Rory
and Justin Rose. It offers a very
short blade length in
a clean and precisely
engineered shape to
execute shots with the ultimate
in precision and finesse. 
7-IRON SPECS:
piece 1025 carbon steel Loft:
35° Offset 1.7mm.
HANDICAP
SUB
2
SO WHICH SUITS
YOU?
TaylorMade’s 2018 iron line-up
is echoed by many brands,
catering for everyone from
slower-swinging amateurs to
hard-hitting Tour players. The
trick to finding your perfect
set is being honest about
your own ability. Only 10%
of TaylorMade’s Tour staff
play the P730 blade (Rory and
DJ included) because it’s so
unforgiving. In reality, club
golfers shouldn’t be looking
further up the scale than the
P790s, and the majority need
look no further than M2. A
fitting with a PGA pro will help
you decide.
HANDICAP
SUB
0
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 73
 DISCOVER THE FEELING
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AND SWING WITH IT

The TPro guides your arms and body to the right posture so you
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“I use the TPro to train my body and
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guides me into the right position and
I just repeat the movement I want to
make, it’s really simple”
Cameron Smith
Australian Professional Golfer - PGA Tour
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 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

When should I
switch to stiff shafts?
“The basic answer is that a change in clubhead speed of approximately
10 to 15mph is the equivalent to one full flex in difference,” reveals
golf equipment expert Tom Wishon. But before you decide this has
happened and buy the first stiff shaft that appears on a Google search,
Wishon implores that you read the following. “One thing you need to
understand before you even contemplate swapping shafts is that
there is no set standard for how stiff any of the letter flexes
on shafts are,” he says. “This means one brand’s stiff
shafts could have the same or even more flex than
another company’s regular flex. The only true
way to find out which shaft is right for you
is to work with a professional custom
fitter who has a wide depth of
knowledge and experience.”

Should I putt
left-hand low
like Jordan
Spieth?
If you are happy with your putting
prowess, then there is absolutely no
reason to mess around with your grip. If
you aren’t, then putting guru Dave Pelz
believes there are three advantages
and one disadvantage to trying
Jordan Spieth’s left hand below
right grip (for right-handers).
“The first advantage to
left hand below right is your
shoulders tend to be parallel to
the ground and this gives
you a much smoother
and more circular arc at
the bottom of your putting stroke,”
reveals Pelz.
“With a traditional right hand low putting
stroke, you are constantly fighting to control
the arc, but with left hand low you just
swing your shoulders and your arms and
putter become one pendulum motion.
“The second advantage is that it’s also
far easier to put a good follow-through on
a putt, and the third advantage concerns
dominant hands. Around 85 per cent
of right-handed golfers are right-hand
dominant. This means they write with their
right hand and they often attempt to take
over golf shots with their right hand. This
can be a big issue if you are putting with
a traditional right hand low grip, as it can
cause your right wrist to break down and
your putts to miss to the left. But it is not an
issue with the left hand low stroke, because
your right hand is a submissive position that
takes away all its power.”
But is their a disadvantage to swapping?
“A lot of players lose their touch when they
switch,” reveals Pelz. “It is a brain thing.
Your mechanics can be the best in the world,
but if you are not hitting the ball at the right
speed, then it is not going to go in. And if the
ball is not going in, then you should not stick
with a left hand low grip.”
Should I really
ditch long irons
in favour of
hybrids?
Once upon a time, using hybrids was seen as
a sign of weakness. Now, Tour pros are using
them, and so should you. “Even a golfer who
plays off five or six would be better off using
hybrids that are made to iron length instead
of any type of iron,” reveals equipment expert
Tom Wishon. “This is primarily due to two
reasons. First, the centre of gravity is further
back from the face and lower down in hybrids,
making them easier to get into the air. Second,
hybrid shafts tend to be more flexible than
iron shafts and this allows players to generate
a slightly higher flight.” The only time Wishon
would suggest doing otherwise is if you played
most of your golf on a links course. “If you are
playing somewhere where the wind blows
consistently, it would be wise to put your
hybrids in the cupboard and use long irons to
keep the ball lower,” he states.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 75

 How do I stop slicing it?
Strip the slice back to its bare
bones and you will arrive at the
angle of the clubface at impact.
Never mind everything else;
if your clubface is wide open
to the path of the club, you’ll
create slice spin.
So the ultimate slice cure
must confront and banish this
open face. Here’s how.

‘T’ swings
To convert that discus
image into action, put
down the club for a
moment and spread
both arms out to form
a ‘T’. Turn to the top.
Place your attention on
your trail hand, and feel
its palm facing back
away from the target at
Think ‘discus’
the top.
To train a release of the club that doesn’t
leave the face wide open, picture
a discus thrower. At the point of
release (above), their hand is over
the top of the discus with the palm facing
downwards. In that slicing release, the
forearm works the opposite way, turning
the palm to face the sky.

Palm faces down

Now turn through, keeping
you arms spread. Again,
focus on your trail palm.
Feel it rotate so it faces
the ground right through
the hitting area – just like a
discus thrower’s would be.
Do this slowly at first to get
used to the forearm rotation
that causes the palm to face
down. Then move up
to full speed.

76 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia


Trail-hand only swings
Once you’ve got used to the feeling of the
trail forearm rotating over to turn the palm
down, take your driver and grip it in your
trail hand only. Swing back and make the
same move through impact. Note how, when
you do this, the clubface – mirroring your
trail palm – also starts to look at the ground.
Ahead of the curve
Don’t be surprised to hit
pull hooks at first; but the
important thing to look for is
the ball curving the other way.
Once you have that, you can
start to work on moderating
that rotation, as well as path,
to create a powerful and
controlled draw.
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Introduce the ball
If you can’t stop the ball
slicing, this is the one key
move you need to make.
Work on it until it becomes
instinctive. Then add your
lead hand and repeat,
before ultimately adding
the ball.
How do I stop
messing up the
first hole?
We all want to
get off to a good
start, and fear the
consequences of
a bad one. That
creates pressure.
The way to deal
Karl Morris with pressure is
Performance through routine.
Coach. Visit
themindfactor.net Routine creates
familiarity, and
familiarity allows your brain to
settle. Bring these three elements
into your pre-round preparation
and you’ll give yourself your best
possible chance of a solid start to
your round.
Arrive in your
1 best frame of mind
Pay attention to the 60 minutes
before you tee off. If you’re late,
rushing around, driving fast to
the course, you’ll release cortisol
– the stress hormone – into your
bloodstream; and it will still be
there as you tee off. If you can
instead keep your pre-round
activity steady, calm and under
control, you’ll feel much more
relaxed when you get to the course.
Make a
2 commitment
Before you get out of the car, ask
yourself one simple question:
“What am I committed to
today?” It could be something
technical, like moving in balance,
or something more mental, like
accepting the result of the shot.
This type of commitment helps you
align and focus your mind, gives
you something to achieve, and
helps you feel ready to play.
Leave on a
3 good note
Many club golfers spend their
last minutes before tee-off hitting
short putts. It’s what I call lose-lose
practice; every putt you hole is only
what you should do, and every one
you miss sows doubt. Instead, putt
a single ball to a tee from short
range for five minutes. If you miss it,
you’ll feel the ball would have gone
in a hole, if you hit it, it boosts your
confidence, and either way it makes
the hole look like a bucket on the
first green.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 77
 How should I
video my swing
correctly?
If you are serious about improving your golf game,
chances are you may want to video your swing to
spot any faults or to upload it to your coach.
Taking a video of your swing has never been
easier but the most important aspect of shooting
the video is positioning the camera, phone or
tablet correctly.
To get a front on view of your swing to check
things like set-up, ball position and weight
transfer, you need to ensure the camera lens
is parallel to your target line. Lay a club on the
ground across your toe line and match the camera
up to the direction of the shaft. Also, if you can,
have the camera positioned at the same height as
your hands at set-up.
To shoot a video down the target line – to check
things like swing plane and how the clubface is
working during the swing – the camera again,
needs to be at hand height and positioned directly
behind the club across your toe line.
Lastly, for both front on and behind videos,
make sure the camera is far enough away to
capture the whole club during the swing.

What should I order at the halfway house?

Your biggest worry shouldn’t be whether to pair which will prevent you from getting a source of glucose and fructose – two major
your bacon and egg roll with tomato or barbeque sugar crash. sources of fuel for the brain. Benefits
sauce, but whether you should be eating one Ċ ,/#. A banana or apple is packed full of include improved mental alertness and
at all. Sports Nutritionist Matt Lovell believes simple sugars which provide an immediate concentration and reduced fatigue.
there is nothing wrong with a treat, as long as
they don’t become the norm. “Snacks like bacon
rolls, pasties, sausage rolls and confectionery
are what I call five per cent foods,” explains ROLL
REVERSAL
Lovell, whose clients include Premier league It tastes great,
sides Swansea City FC and Bournemouth FC. but won’t help
“If you eat these foods more than five per cent of your golf.
the time, I do believe they will cause you harm
because they contain high levels of sodium,
sugar and bad fats. Often, they are made using
hydrogenated and vegetable oils which not only
raises cholesterol, but also increases levels of
inflammation. In other words, it will make you
feel bloated and uncomfortable, which could
then hinder your ability to make a full rotation
in the golf swing.” Instead, Lovell recommends
giving the halfway house a miss and stockpiling
your bag with these portable, healthy snacks.

Ċ )'' !,()& ,- Minus the

added preservatives and refined sugar,
they are much healthier than shop-bought
confectionery and will also save you a load
of cash.
Ċ /.- If you combine healthy fats with carbs,
you get something called a parachute effect,

78 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia


Should my swing look textbook?
So tell me, who has the best swing in golf ? I
suspect right now your mind’s eye is probably
focusing on Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Louis
Oosthuizen, Rory perhaps.
I further suspect it hasn’t alighted on
Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Zach – or
even Dustin – Johnson. Yet all eight
have won Majors.
When we consider golf swings, we
unconsciously conflate ‘best’ with ‘best-looking’.
Workmanlike actions need not apply, however
effective they are. For many of us, a great swing
and a pretty swing are one and the same thing.
In an increasingly visual world where we are
naturally drawn to aesthetics – face, body, car,
house – this is probably inevitable. Yet it can
have dire consequences for your game – and
here’s why.
In your golf lessons, practice and approach,
its important to differentiate between style and
skill. You can prioritise either, but not both.
Working on your style could well make your
swing look better, but it won’t necessarily make
you play better. That’s OK if you’re not too
bothered about what numbers you’re writing
down on the scorecard, or where the ball is going;
if you simply want the golfer on the next fairway
to look across at you and conclude that you can
play a bit, by all means pursue that stylish action.
But the facts are that there are plenty of great-
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
looking swings that produce dreadful golf. And
indeed vice versa.
By contrast, improving your skill without
reference to the look of how you’re doing it will
make you play better.
The image below shows three top golfers –
Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson.
You could not have three more different looking
backswings, and none of them look especially
graceful. Yet each one of those golfers has
developed the ability to put the ball on the
clubface with accuracy and relative consistency.
That, in a nutshell, is skill. And perhaps, when
we appraise golf swings, this should carry a little
more weight than how the club points down the
target line with geometric precision at the top.
In terms of your performance and progress
as a golfer, there are three big problems with
chasing style:
Ċ We all have our own, individual swing
signatures based on our instincts, physiologies
and a host of other personal traits. When you
prioritise style you are effectively copying
someone else, which prohibits you from using
all those natural attributes. You are moving
away from your own, best golf swing.
Ċ Skill acquisition owes much to your
awareness of where the club is, and how you are
applying it to the ball. If you are telling yourself
a story of where you want the club to be, it’s
harder to be aware of where the club is.
Ċ In developing awareness and skill you need
to feel wrong positions to feel the right ones.
For example, sending the ball right and left are
key stepping stones to learning to hit it straight.
Try to get the club in the perfect position all
the time and you are denying yourself that
important learning experience.
This is why, if you are serious about
improving, I’d urge you to focus less on how
your swing looks and more on how it works. A
great start is that most fundamental of golfing
skills, finding the middle of the clubface. Spend
your next three practice sessions working on
nothing more than improving your awareness of
where the strike is on the face. Try to hit 10 shots
out of the heel, and then 10 out of the toe. Your
ability to control strike point is the acquisition
of skill. Achieve that and, believe me, that
centred strike takes care of itself. But above all,
make a commitment to becoming less precious
about the way your swing looks. The world’s
professional tours are proof of the value of
pursuing skill within your own swing signature.
And if you still feel the need to find some
aesthetic virtue in your game, why not focus
on the flight of the ball? After all, the soft fade
Johnson hits – from an ugly shut face and bowed
left wrist at the top – is undeniably a thing of
beauty, and down to nothing but his skill.
Karl Morris
Performance
Coach. Visit
themindfactor.net
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 79
 Should I switch
PING SIGMA G KINLOCH C
FROM $320
www.americangolf.com.au
Loft: 3° Weight: 365g Toe hang:

to a putter with
Face balanced
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
The Sigma series features true roll
grooves, which now covers the
entire face with variable widths to

a centre shaft?
Centre-shafted putters have been part of the
game for as long as most of us can remember.
Back in the ’60s and ’70s, you were almost
the odd one out if you didn’t own an old-
school ‘bullseye’ or ‘golden goose’ putter.
But since Ping introduced the revolutionary
Anser model, many golfers have made the
switch to face or heel-balanced putters and
ditched centre-shafted blades for good. Only
a handful of models are now available from
the game’s biggest brands, and that’s despite
Payne Stewart and Zach Johnson winning
multiple Majors with one in the bag. But
while their popularity may be dwindling, we
reckon many amateurs could benefit from a
putter which looks very simple to set up and
use. To put our theory to the test, we spoke
to three leading designers and put four
centre-shafted models head to head to weigh
up the pros and cons.
deliver improved speed control
when you hit putts off centre. The
aluminium face insert is backed by
elastomer to deliver a softer feel
and consistent ball speed.
VERDICT: Could you wish for a
simpler looking putter? A toe and
heel weighted blade with a single
sightline focuses attention right on
the back of the ball and the perfect
impact location. The slight wing-
shaping gives the impression of
being forgiving and stable like an
MOI putter, which is completely
unexpected in a blade. The flat-
fronted Ping PP60 grip and
aluminium face insert feel fantastic
and thanks to the face grooves pace
control is really consistent,
especially when putting on
lightning fast greens.

WILSON STAFF INFINITE

SOUTH SIDE $149.95
www.wilson.com
Loft: 3° Weight: 365g
Toe hang: Face-balanced
YOU NEED TO KNOW: It’s the putter
used by Padraig Harrington.The grip
weighs in at 104g, which moves the
putter’s balance point closer to the
hands, creating a higher moment of
inertia and more stable putting stroke.
The club face is double CNC milled
which Wilson say imparts consistent
roll and distance control.
VERDICT: A simple yet unoffensive
mallet, with more sightlines than you
can shake a stick at. We really like the
white line along the back of the top
edge, which highlights brilliantly if
you’re square to your target line (or
not).The South Side is a great
introduction to centre-shafted putters,
not to mention counter balancing and
oversized putter grips, which feels like
a hell of a lot of product for $149.95.
The milled face doesn’t have a soft
insert so the strike point is firm and
decisive which we reckon is perfect
for year-round golf.

80 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

ODYSSEY O-WORKS BETTINARDI

R-LINE FROM $349.99 STUDIO STOCK #28 $589 Who uses centre
www.odysseygolf.com.au www.championsports.com.au
Loft: 3° Weight: 350g Toe hang: Loft: 3° Weight: 358g shafts on tour... and
Face balanced Toe hang: Slight how they compare
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: All
mid-sized mallet with a high of Bettinardi’s putters are CNC to the very best
contrast Versa alignment system to milled in the USA. The #28 is crafted putters
help you aim more accurately. A from mild carbon steel to deliver
micro-hinge thermoplastic and premium and precise feel and
stainless steel face insert lifts putts feedback. A F.I.T grooved face LUKE
into a smoother roll with more top removes 55 percent of material DONALD
spin. A new red sightline helps you from the hitting surface, giving the Odyssey Works
set up square to the target. softest feel of all Bettinardi ranges. Versa #7
VERDICT: O-Works burst onto the VERDICT: Bettinardi has carved 0.734 strokes
scene this year and we’re big fans out a lofty position at the top end of gained against
of the roll and feel tech which is putter manufacturing thanks mainly the field
housed inside the insert. Odyssey to working with the best materials, (ranked 4th)
has obviously done its homework as well as CNC milling every one of
on how the microhinges interact its designs in the US. The #28 has a
with the ball at impact. Some critics super-premium feel and is perfect PADRAIG
say the feel is too muted, but we for blade fans who have a straight HARRINGTON
think it’s spot on, and it performed back-and-through stroke. Somehow Wilson Staff
brilliantly in our skid and roll test this putter fosters the feeling of Infinite South
earlier in the year. The Versa simply stroking the ball with the Side
cosmetics are a major help in back of the left hand which 0.525 strokes
setting up square and keeping the generates a very pure roll. The gained against the
blade aligned during the stroke, traditional pistol-shaped grip is a field (ranked 11th)
particularly if you draw a red line lovely change from the oversized
on your ball to line up with the models used on many putters.
red sightline. ZACH
JOHNSON
SeeMore
FGP
0.370 strokes
gained against
the field
(ranked 36th)

ERNIE
ELS
Bloodline
Golf R1 – J
0.357 strokes
gained against
the field
(ranked 42nd)

JASON
DUFNER
Scotty Cameron
Futura 5M
0.108 strokes
gained against
the field
(ranked 86th)

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 81

 ‘I absolutely love a centre-shafted putter’
Three putting gurus discuss the merits of centre-shafted putters

er, al VP of
Found i Princip r,
rd ne ering,
Bettina s De sig
ey Engine g
putter Odyss Pin

BOB BETTINARDI AUSTIE ROLLINSON PAUL WOOD

Why are there so few
centre-shafted models
available today?
I don’t see why tre-shafted putters were the From our experience, centre-shafted
there are not face-balanced putters. The old putters are preferred by only five to
more centre- seye style putters were set up 10 per cent of players. The other 90
shafted putters way. The advent of double-bend per cent tend to show a strong dislike
on any of the me ft) mallet putters and crank-neck for centre-shaft designs. Our fitting
ladies’ or seniors des have become much more process demonstrates players with
I absolutely love opular these days so there’s not a straight back and through stroke
shafted putter; I lot of consumer demand for are likely to do well with them, since
for about three y entre-shafted putters. they’re face balanced.

What are the main They promote an ey’re close to being face balanced, The face-balanced nature performs
benefits? – almost like a p ch helps players who have their eyes well for players with very little
because there’s n the ball and like a more straight opening and closing of the face. The
think about insi and through stroke. Centre-shafted shaft inserting directly behind the
the path. I believ ers also set up well for players with face gives an unobstructed view of the
simplicity of the utral hand location. For players who whole face for players who respond
and the confiden t like setting up to the ball with their well to that kind of alignment.
‘point and shoot nds pressed forward, they will help
is the main draw aintain the correct loft at impact.

Are there any I don’t see any drawbacks, no. I
drawbacks? would say, however, that for the type
of stroke centre-shafted putters
promote, you need to make sure your
model is either face balanced (face
points to the sky when balanced on
your finger) or just a slight toe down.
If you like to have your hands forward at
address and have a lot of forward press,
you may not have enough dynamic loft
at impact. This may cause golfers to
drive the ball into the ground and make
it bounce during the skid phase. The
other drawback would be for golfers who
like to set up with their eyes inside the
ball and have lots of arc in their stroke.
They’re not well suited to players
with significant arcs in their putting
stroke. The shaft inserting right into
the middle of the head often obscures
the central alignment line which the
majority of players use for setting up
square to their target.

Is there any difference in
MOI (forgiveness)
between a centre-
shafted model and a heel
shaft in the same
design?
No, the MOI for the same model in A putter’s MOI is determine can’t make
either a heel or centre shaft would be the overall head shape. The er with the
the same. Just remember you can get dramatic effect moving the hafted one. For
higher (wide body) and lower (blade) from the heel to the centre. a Kinloch and
MOI centre-shafted putters. n the Sigma G
I is comparable
etween both
models.

Are miss-hits more
exaggerated using a
centre-shafted model?
I don’t believe so. I actually think the
opposite. It would be easier to keep a
miss-hit putt on line with a centre-
shafted putter due to the placement of
the shaft being closer to the sweet spot.
In our testing, we’ve not seen golfers
being less accurate using centre-
shafted putters versus a heel-shafted
head of the same model.
here is evidence that inserting the
shaft into the heel side of the putter
adds some stability on off-centre hits.
But as long as the putter has a suitably
high MOI, it’s not a great concern.

Are centre shafted
putters simpler to use?
Or are they simply less
forgiving?
I think they are simpler to use. I use
one! They’re not less forgiving. It’s
just another option we provide to
the many different types of strokes
golfers make. A putter i th t thi g d I thi k using a centre-
personal club in th
and you reall
fall in love
look in ord
make mor
Players I’ve seen using a centre-
shafted putter extremely effectively
have very simple pendulum strokes
with very little wrist movement. In
e very simple to
es take practice.
I don’t think they’re simpler to use
or fundamentally less forgiving; they
just provide a very unique look. If the
appearance can help you to start putts
on your intended target line better,
great. But I would recommend staying
away from them if you have a lot of
rotation in your putting stroke.

82 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Is a 3-wood How do I get over

more terrible shots?
accurate Consistency has always been held as one

than a of the key goals of golfing performance.

But have you ever really asked yourself
what consistency really means? I think
driver off most of us would have a vague notion of
hitting a higher proportion of good shots
the tee? Karl Morris
and ruling out that card-ruining hook or
slice. But the fact is that no golfer is truly
Performance consistent. However good you think
Coach. Visit
Yes, it is. But that doesn’t necessarily you are, you will never be able to rule
themindfactor.net
mean it is the right play. “When choosing out that horror shot. Golf doesn’t work
between a driver and a 3-wood, you need that way, and as humans neither do we. For a more useful
to trade off the benefits of distance relationship with consistency, adopt these two principles:
and accuracy,” reveals leading
golf statistician Professor Mark Be consistent where you can be
Broadie (everyshotcounts. Your pre-shot preparation – and your reaction to the
com). “If you are playing a shot – are two areas where consistency is achievable.
par-4 or par-5 where the Regular preparation lets you go into the shot in a frame
penalty for missing the of mind that is familiar and confidence-inducing, while
fairway is not too great, then committing to accept the result of the shot you hit will
being longer is better than help you go into the next one in your best possible frame
being shorter, so driver always of mind.
tends to be the better choice.
But if you are playing a par-4 or a Change your relationship to inconsistency
par-5, where gaining 20 metres with Accept bad shots as part of the game and they will have
the driver brings deep rough, a bunker, less effect on you and your performance. Chase consistent
trees or another hazard into play, then results and you will forever be burdened with the
being on the fairway is far better than being off disappointment of unmet expectations.
it, so a 3-wood would make sense.”

Playing lesson or range lesson – what’s better?

It’s got to be the range, as you always hit
it much better on there, right? Wrong.
“Everyone says they hit it great on the range,
but that’s because there is no consequence
to hitting a poor shot,” says Pete Cowen,
Henrik Stenson’s coach. “On the course, it
is a different story and this is why I believe
playing lessons are the best way to highlight
your flaws and work out how good you could
be. To really make the most of a playing
lesson, ask your professional to caddie for you
while you do the two-ball drill for nine holes.
This format sees you take two shots off the tee
and take your best one; two second shots and
take the best one; and so on. The idea behind
this is not simply to practice the same shot
twice; it is to see how well you could score if
you actually focused properly on each shot. In
my experience, a good golfer can shoot five or
six under for nine holes and a 15-handicapper
can easily play to four or five over, which is
great because it both gives you a taste of what
you can do if you really focus and gives you
something to aim for the next time you play in
a bounce game or competition.”

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 83

 How can I
We’ve all experienced the
phenomenon of missing a short
putt, rolling it back and tapping
it in the second time. We can
also knock them in one-handed

stop missing when we’re having a knockabout.

That suggests the problem with
short putts is more mental than
technical. So here are two ways

short putts?
you can grow your confidence.

1 MAKE THE PUTT SHORTER

The unconfident club golfer takes a short putt and represents it in his mind as
longer than it is. That makes it seem harder, which further hinders belief. But
you can reverse this by making the putt seem shorter than it is.

Freer stroke
Having pictured the putt from halfway along its
journey, step into the putt. Trace your eyes to that
midpoint and note how much easier it feels to send
the ball to it. You know that once you hit that point
the ball is just going to roll out into the hole. So go
ahead and hit the putt. You’ll feel a freer stroke, and
Halve the putt see a better result.
Create a 4ft putt. Stick a
tee peg behind the hole to
help your focus. Instead
of looking at the putt from
behind the ball, step halfway
between ball and hole and
make your practice swings
from here. You know you
can hole that two-footer!
Don’t touch the line though!
It’s a two-shot penalty.

Achievable goal
The putt you face is only
a small extension of that
shorter putt. All you have
to do is send the ball over
the spot you’re making this
practice stroke from. When
you split a short putt into
two even smaller sections
like this, the putt seems
much more holeable.

84 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

2 MAKE THE
PUTT HARDER Narrow your strike
point
When your task is harder on the practice When a short putt is missed, you
green, the putt seems easier on the can almost always trace it back
course. Here are two ways to do it. to a poor strike; toe and heel
contact twist the face open and
closed. By placing elastic bands
around the putterhead – just
wider than the ball – you force
yourself to strike from the centre.
A sweeter strike means sharper
holing-out.

Narrow your target

Stick two tees in front of the
hole, just wide enough for the
ball to pass between them.
See how many three-footers
in a row you can hole with
this smaller target. Register a
personal best, then try to beat
it. This drill makes the hole
look bigger on the course,
boosting your confidence
and helping you make a more
assured stroke.

Why have I been stuck at the same handicap for years?

It’s one of the commonest groans I hear
– the golfer who feels doomed to exist
at a set level of competence, from the
22-handicapper to the pro who can’t
break through on Tour. Typically, golfers
who complain about being stuck at a
Karl Morris level of competence are also stuck in a
Performance
Coach. Visit rut. They play the same courses, with the
themindfactor.net same people. At an unconscious level,
that environment is exerting an influence
on you; you’ll tend to make the same
mistakes at the same holes and fall into
your friends’ expectations of you. In short,
whatever you’ve been thinking about and
working on, you revert to your default
level. The best advice for this golfer is to
make changes. Play new courses. Change
who you play with; look for better golfers
than you because their own expectations
and performance will influence you, too.
Above all, note that if you want significant
improvement you have to do something
significantly different. Your handicap is a
print-out of your habits, not just the scores
you shoot. If you are not prepared to do
anything different in the way you play or
practise, be prepared to stay at your level.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 85

 1,300
Can golf 11,589
Average number of steps walked by

really make spectators at the 2016 Paul Lawrie Match

Play at Archerfield Links, East Lothian.

you fitter? walked is the

alent of
Let’s not kid ourselves. Few golfers have
Calories expended when ridin ing 40
ever walked off the 18th hole on the brink of
exhaustion. Granted, missing a three footer
a golf cart for 18 holes. es mowing
for par might take the breath away, but that n.

30%
owes more to mental rather than physical

4%
torture. The good news for us all is that where
there’s pain, there’s also plenty to gain. The
Department of Health recommends that we
undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate are 14 percent
intensity exercise per week. And luckily for us, Golfers who play the game ikely to report
just one round of golf meets that quota with regularly are 30 percent al good health
flying colours. Maybe that explains why 18 n non-golfers.
less likely to experience
CREDIT: WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION; GOLF & HEALTH PROJECT; UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH; SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

holes sometimes feels like a marathon…

coronary disease or

2,00
ge heart rate
develop dementia. ) during the
arry condition
8-hole round.

18
Calories drops to 88 if
re in a cart.
expended while
walking 18 hole
and carrying a
standbag. Holes played while
carrying a bag or
1,500
Calories expended while walking
40%

Lower mortality rate using a buggy is 18 holes and pulling a buggy.

equivalent to a
10% or 30%
of golfers versus
non-golfers, which four-mile run, a
corresponds to a
five-mile walk or Blood glucose levels can fall by up
approximately two to 10% for the middle-aged and
five-year increase in
hours of moderate 30% for the elderly players
life expectancy. singles tennis. after an 18-hole round.

What’s the best

pre-round practice drill?
“If you are flexible enough to do it, then the wide stance drill is
very, very good because it gets every muscle in your body working
I replace my grips?
for golf,” says top Tour coach Pete Cowen. “Start by getting your
feet as wide as you can without hurting your adductor muscles
and bend forwards from the hip bone. Next, lower your sternum
and your arms, so your quad muscles are activated, and use your
right shoulder to try and throw your right arm up into your top
s every muscle in your body
rking straight away. From
ere, turn your right shoulder
uscle and right hand back
own as you would in your
downswing. Once you have
set this move in motion, your
right knee will go under your
right hip, your right ankle will
push off and you will stretch to
finish a bit like Greg Norman
id in his prime.
How often should
“At the start of every season,” says Craig
Watson from Golf Pride. “After that point,
they start getting shinier and firmer due
to sweat and oils, the weather and where
you keep them.” To prolong their life,
Watson recommends scrubbing your
grips once a month with a nailbrush
and some soapy water. “Pat them dry,
rather than rub them, to keep that
tacky texture, and then store them
at room temperature (ideally in
the house) rather than the car or
garage. Your partner may not
appreciate it, but your golf
game certainly will!

How do I pick my optimum ball?
Golf equipment is approached differently
by every player. Be they price driven or
influenced by performance alone. This
is often most prevalent in picking a golf
ball. The one piece of equipment used for
every shot.
Titleist believe using the right golf ball is
the key to improving and achieving lower
scores. The company encourages on course
fittings and uses its Tour-validated ‘Green-
to-Tee’ approach to ensure players use the
correct ball from the company’s range.
Following the below step-by step approach.
Step 1: Assessment and Selection.
Assessment of a golfer’s game,
performance objectives, and personal
preferences.
Step 2: On Course Evaluation.
An evaluation of all shots on the golf
course, especially shots into and around
the green.
Step 3: Play Your New Ball.
Commit to playing the golf ball fitted.
Using the same model golf ball on every
shot of every round eliminates performance
variation, builds confidence and consistency.
Here are some of the common questions
Titleist receive from golfers trying to find
their ideal ball.
Can all golfers benefit from golf
ball fitting?
Every golfer, regardless of ability, age and
gender can benefit from going through a golf
ball fitting.
Am I good enough to play Pro V1 or
Pro V1x?
Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are designed
for all golfers, not just highly skilled players.
In fact, a less skilled golfer can benefit even
more than a highly skilled golfer when using
a Pro V1 or Pro V1x. Why? Pro V1 and
Pro V1x provide the very best
performance for any golfer
when they hit a shot
well, but what
is often
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
overlooked is the forgiveness of Pro V1 and
Pro V1x.
If Pro V1 and Pro V1x can benefit all
golfers, why does Titleist make other
golf balls?
While all golfers want performance,
individual preferences can also influence the
golf ball selection process for some golfers.
TO PLAY
YOUR BEST, THE
GOLF BALL MUST
PERFORM FOR
ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT
SHOTS.
Feel, colour, price, appearance and durability
are all examples of player preferences.
Which Titleist golf ball model is best
for my swing speed?
Many golfers are mistakenly led to believe
that they should be fit for a golf ball based
solely on their driver swing speed. This is
a flawed approach. The truth is that every
golfer has many different swing speeds, not
just one. Golfers utilize a wide range of
swing speeds to execute the vast array
of shots that are required in
every round. To play your
best, the golf ball
must perform
for all of
these different shots.
Which Titleist golf ball is the longest?
All Titleist golf balls are designed and
manufactured to be exceptionally long off the
tee, with all models measuring within 4-6
yards of each other. Simply put, there is
no significant distance advantage to be
gained when selecting one Titleist model
over another.
Should I be playing a low compression
golf ball?
A common misconception among golfers
when selecting a golf ball is that they should
match a ball’s compression to their swing
speed, believing that they will get added
distance or better performance from the low
compression golf ball. Golfers compress the
golf ball on every shot at every speed, and the
difference in golf ball compression is minimal
at widely varied swing speeds.
So what exactly is compression
and why should golfers care about it?
Compression is solely a test of the relative
softness of a golf ball. If a golfer has a feel
preference for a softer feeling golf ball, they
may prefer to play a lower compression
golf ball.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 87
 How can I get out
of bunkers first
time, every time?
Many club golfers struggle in sand
because they complicate things.
Aim, ball position and the release
of the club all switch in a quest
for a different action deemed
necessary to get out. In fact, the
best way to guarantee getting out is
to keep things simple and familiar.
That’s why I suggest you follow an
approach with a working title of
‘shoulder-fat-shoulder’.

Fix your entry

point
At address, hover the
club where you want it
to enter the sand – this
should be an inch or two
behind the ball. Keep
your eyes focused on that
entry point, not the ball.

Keep it square
If getting out is your sole objective,
forget everything you’ve been told
about opening your stance and cutting
across the ball and go back to square.
That means clubface aiming at the
target and feet, hips and shoulders
parallel left (right-handers). Play the
ball just forward of centre.

88 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Simply duff the shot!

We are all too familiar with the
concept of catching the ball
heavy from the fairway. But in
the sand, this becomes the ideal
contact. To get out first time,
simply think in terms of catching
a normal shot fat.

Commit to the hit

Using your shoulder-to-
shoulder guide, simply Swing length:
swing normally. Keep your shoulder-to-shoulder
focus on applying the club Use your shoulders to guide the extent
to that entry spot behind of your action: swing back
the ball. As long as you until your gloved hand is at the
commit to the strike and same height of your lead shoulder, and
follow through, the ball will try to match the position on
always come out. the way through.

Controlled force
This simple reference gives you enough
power to get the club through the sand,
but also keeps your action compact and
stable, helping you control the club’s
entry point into the sand.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 89

 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

How big is the sweet

spot of your irons?
Mizuno Mizuno
MP-18 JPX900
HOT METAL

An iron’s actual sweet spot, like any club, is no
bigger than a pinhead. It’s the point on the club
where, when you hit a golf ball, the centre of gravity
is moving directly towards the centre of the gravity
of the golf ball. Strike a ball from this point with a
square club face and swing path
and the resulting shot is straight with
maximum distance.
So why do we say hitting such an infinitely small
dot is “sweet”? It’s because when the two centre of
gravities (club and ball) collide, you get maximum
energy transfer, hence the term “sweet spot”. Miss
this pin prick of a point though, and the club head
twists at impact, losing energy.
Golf club designers and engineers know that
by scooping weight out of the back of an iron and
placing it around the edges, any twisting at impact
can be greatly reduced.
So while better player blades are wafer thin, game-
improvement models have cavity backs, wide soles
and thick top edges. This strategically positioned
mass stabilises the head when shots are hit away
from the centre of gravity, meaning less lost energy.
With that cleared up, how does the sweet
spot size differ between a blade and a game-
improvement iron?
David Llewellyn, Director of R&D at Mizuno,
reckons shots need to come from the area of a 5
cent piece on their new MP-18 irons, which are
designed for top ball strikers. That area increases
to the size of a 10 cent piece on the game-improving
JPX900 Hot Metal. In essence, game-improving
tech delivers twice as much forgiveness. No matter
what the design, though, shots lose about 10
percent distance for a one-inch off-centre strike...
for many of us that’s 15 yards with a 7-iron!

What should a Should I chip with

proper divot look like? the pin in or out?
From “like a dollar bill” to “perfectly square”, we have heard any
number of theories about the picture-perfect divot. But as it turns out,
it’s not something any of us should be losing any sleep over. “Any good
coach will tell you that the look of the divot has no impact on the shot
because it happens after the ball has been struck,” laughs Pete Cowen.
“If pushed, I’d tell you that I’d like it to be shallow and pointing slightly
to the left of the target because of the swing’s natural arc. But since no-
one is trying to hit the ground before the ball, it really has no effect.”

We’ve all done it. You find a good lie around the green, so you puff your chest
out like you’re Ian Poulter, take a couple of practice swings and tell your
playing partner to “just take the flag out”. It is a bold move, and according to
NASA scientist turned short game guru, Dave Pelz, it is also the wrong one.
“If you are chipping from just off the green, you really want to leave the pin
in,” reveals the man who honed Phil Mickelson’s wedge play. “I’ve tested
both methods and my research revealed that, because a collision with the pin
absorbs some of the ball’s energy, you make 35 per cent more chip shots if you
leave the pin in. The only exceptions to this rule are when the pin is moving in
the wind or leaning towards you due to the cup being damaged.”

90 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 Daylight
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EXCELLENT FEEL & DURABILTY. (03) 5664 3314
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www.SnellGolfAustralia.com.au (100 minutes from Melbourne,10 minutes from Inverloch)
 How do I choose a new driver?
If you’re in the market for
a new big stick, this handy
guide is a good place to start
With dozens of new drivers on the market it’s difficult
to know where to start if you want a new one. To help
narrow down your choice we recommend to start
by looking at your swing speed and realising which
design traits might aid your game. If you don’t know
your swing speed, ask a friendly fitter at a demo day if
you can get on his launch monitor (Trackman says the
average clubhead speed of a 15 handicapper is about
93mph; the PGA Tour average is about 113mph; Dustin
Johnson’s is 121). We’ve picked our favourite 2017
drivers based on six swing speeds, from slow to fast, to
give you a starting point. But it goes without saying that
our recommendations should always be accompanied
by a proper fitting session.
SWING SPEED
110-120mph
Very few club golfers crank out anything
like this amount of speed and if you do
you probably won’t need buying advice
from us. But if you simply have to have a
pro model driver we’ve got you covered.
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 165-180mph
Launch angle: 11-12°
Backspin: 2250-2500 rpm
Total distance: 280 metres
IS THERE A PRO MODEL?
Cobra F7+
Rickie Fowler’s weapon of choice,
the head has a slight fade bias
compared to the standard F7.
TaylorMade M1 440
For those who don’t love a 460cc
head; just remember that even the
pros are switching to bigger
heads nowadays for their
increased forgiveness.
Srixon Z565
In the hands of our big-hitting
test pro this was one of the most
powerful drivers we’ve hit this
year. The smaller head means
you need to be accurate
and consistent.
92 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
I WANT TO DIAL IN A
SPECIFIC SHOT SHAPE
Mizuno JPX 900
The ultimate tinkerer’s driver. Its face
angle prop even lets you choose how
it sits at address.
TaylorMade M1
M1 is distance with adjustability,
whereas M2 is more forgiving. The
shot bias weight weighs more than
the trajectory weight; switch them to
have more of an effect on trajectory.
Callaway GBB Epic
Whether your game needs a draw,
fade or neutral weight set-up, the
Epic’s 17g sliding back weight puts
you in a position to hit the shot shape
you desire.
SWING SPEED
100-110 mph
Congratulations, you’re well above
average when it comes to swing speed.
There’s a good chance at this pace
you’ll want to look hard at shaft options,
adjustability and lofts in order to gain yards.
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 150-165mph
Launch angle: 12-13°
Backspin: 2500-2750 rpm
Total distance: 251 metres
GIVE ME DISTANCE
Ping G400
Better aerodynamics, a hotte
face (on off-centre hits) and
massive MOI make the G400
the best at creating and pro
ball speed.
Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero
Jailbreak tech comes into its own
at higher club speeds (as the
R&A test for face springiness is at
relatively low speed) hence why it
would be a top choice at this speed.
TaylorMade M2
As far as distance with forgiveness
and playability goes (and when you
factor in price) you’ll struggle to
beat the M2 across the board.
GIVE ME DISTANC
Callaway GBB Epic
At this speed you’re
erring towards fast, so
consider the Fujikura P
Aldila Rogue shafts. If
need the shot bias we
it inline with your typ
location to add spee
Ping G400
Of Pings two stock shafts the
slightly heavier and lower launching
profile of the Tour 65 is well suited
to swing speeds in this range.
TaylorMade M2
At this speed there might be a shaft
better suited to your game than the
M2’s standard Fujikura Pro.
SWING SPEED
90-100mph
The average club golfer’s driver swing
speed is around 90mph; if you’re anywhere
close you’re still in the target market for
most golf brands. Meaning you have the
most buying options to weigh up...
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 135-150mph
Launch angle: 13-14°
Backspin: 2500-2750rpm
Total distance: 223 metres
I NEED A LOWER SPIN
Ping G400 LS Tec
By moving the tungsten sole
weight forwards, spin is cut by
about 300rpm, which for high spin
players can add lots of yards.
Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero
Switch the 12g sole weight into the
forward port and watch the spin
tumble. It was our longest driver
of 2017.

IS THERE A BUDGET
OPTION
Cobra F7
Yard for yard the best value
driver of 2017. Movab ights
can be set to increas
launch, lower spin or
help you hit a draw.
Callaway XR16
Designed to deliver
combination of spe
forgiveness, the X
an aerodynamic h
designed with the assistance
of Boeing, ‘Speed Step’ and
increased MOI.
SWING SPEED
85-90mph
You’re in the “average” target golfer
bracket so there’s a good chance you’ll
be suited to standard stock shafts and
average lofts (10° / 11° / 12°) as they’re
designed for swings just like yours.
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 127-135mph
Launch angle: 14-15°
Backspin: 2500-2750rpm
Total distance: 211 metres
GIVE ME DISTANCE
Ping G400
At this swing speed you’ll probably
want to consider the lighter, counter-
weighted Alta 55 shaft; it
add club and ball speed a
well as carry distance.
TaylorMade M2
How TaylorMade’s engi
made the head bigger –
increasing forgiveness
pushing the sole into t
seriously clever.
Callaway GBB Epic
Look at the lighter Project X HZRDUS
(58g) shaft to launch shots a little
higher, or the Fujikura Pro (66g) to cut
spin and lower launch.
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
GIVE ME DISTANCE
Cleveland Launcher HB
Everything about the Lau
is designed to be light,
explosive and long. A
higher balance point
shaft increases speed.
Srixon Z765
A big, forgiving and sur
powerful driver, from w
pretty unassuming club on the
surface.
Titleist 917D3
The 440cc pear shape might be
better suited to higher speeds but
the combination of workability,
adjustability and lower launch and
spin than the D2 equals distance.
SWING SPEED
80-85mph
Counter-weighted (also called
counter-balanced) shafts are a
revelation at this speed range. They move
mass towards the hands so you swing at
the same pace but the club travels quicker.
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 120-127mph
Launch angle: 14-15°
Backspin: 2750-3000rpm
Total distance: 204 metres
HELP ME HIT THE FAIRWAY
Callaway Big Bertha Fusion
Lots of carbon in the head means
tons of weight is positioned to keep
you on the straight and narrow.
It’s super powerful, too.
Ping G400
An MOI over the 9000 mark means
the G400 protects ball speed on
off-centre hits and helps you find the
fairway more often.
Titleist 917D2
Titleist’s highest launching and
most forgiving driver incorporates
SureFit CG and a SureFit hosel to
allow players to dial in their driver for
optimum consistency.
HELP I’VE GOT A SLICE
Ping G400 SF Tec
The beauty of the SF-Tec is
it that doesn’t sit closed at
address, which has put many
golfers off draw-biased
drivers before.
Cobra F-Max
A lightweight 50g shaft,
offset hosel and draw biased
weighting help launch drives
higher, longer and straighter.
TaylorMade M2 D-Type
Rory McIlroy’s driver, but for
slicers or heel strikers. It’s
powerful and forgiving and it
has lighter and higher launching
shaft (than the standard M2).
SWING SPEED
75-80mph
Slower swinging golfers need more
help launching shots into the air. Think
about higher lofts, lighter shafts, and if
you’re fighting a slice an offset hosel or
draw-biased heads can work wonders.
If you swing at this speed your
optimum driver numbers would be…
Ball speed: 112-120mph
Launch angle: 14-16°
Backspin: 2750-3000rpm
Total distance: 180 metres
GIVE ME DISTANCE
Titleist 917D2
Offered in lofts up to 12˚, the D2
launches higher and spins more
than Titleist’s D3, to stay in the
air longer at slower speeds. With
a range of shaft options and the
ability to change the loft, lie and CG
the D2 adjusts to you.
Wilson Staff D300
Probably the lightest driver on the
market, every component has been
on a strict diet so you swing the
D300 quicker.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 93
 YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

How do I really compare?

What’s the best part of your game? You might
knock it past your partners on a regular basis,
or be deadly from six feet... but how do you
know whether you’re better or worse than
players of a similar handicap? Thanks to shot-
tracking gadget Game Golf, which now has
more than 1.7 million rounds of golf tracked
on its system, we can reveal exactly how
YOUR game compares to that of thousands of
other golfers within the same handicap range.
Game Golf calls them “benchmarks”, and it
means you can find out your strengths and
weaknesses against thousands of other golfer
Why is it useful? Well, if you’re well below
average when it comes to putting, sand saves
hitting greens, you can do something about it. used to be below average from inside 100 yards,
You can spend more time practising the things but, according to coach Claude Harmon, he’s
you now know you should improve. That’s “worked his butt off ” with a launch monitor to
exactly what the world’s best players do, using hone his wedge game and climb to the top of
stats to shape their practice. Dustin Johnson the world rankings.

How many putts should I

really take on each hole?
Getting up and Scratch 1.6 putts per green
down from sand 5 handicap 1.72 putts per green
Scratch 63% 10 handicap 1.87 putts per green
5 handicap 57% 15 handicap 1.93 putts per green
10 handicap 24% 20 handicap 2.01 putts per green
15 handicap 17% 28 handicap 2.13 putts per green
20 handicap 9%
28 handicap 3%

Hitting the green

in regulation
Getting up
Scratch 69%
and down
Scratch 59% 5 handicap 62%

5 handicap 44% 10 handicap 41%

10 handicap 22% 15 handicap 31%

15 handicap 15% 20 handicap 23%

20 handicap 10% 28 handicap 14%

28 handicap 5%

Finding the fairway

with a driver
Scratch 56%
(average distance 229 metres)

5 handicap 53%
(average distance 228 metres)

10 handicap 48%
(average distance 203 metres)

15 handicap 45%
(average distance 190 metres)

20 handicap 43%
(average distance 179 metres)

28 handicap 41%
(average distance 156 metres)

94 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 King Island EAT ESCAPE
A GRSecluded Luxury
Discovery Tours at Porky Beach Retreat
Specialising in personalised bus tours to suit your needs and interests.
Jim and Sharon Benn offer you: 1 Personalised interest tours of King Island
1 Golf Tours and Transfers 1 Sight seeing, bird watching, shipwreck tours.
Fully catered tours (1 to 4 days) using King Island produce.

Buses for small to large groups.

Drivers with local knowledge.
ENQUIRE NOW - FREE QUOTE
M: 0429 709 864
P: (03) 6462 1938
E: jimbenn53@hotmail.com
Please mark enquiries - Bus Tour

Need Accommodation? Henry’s Hidaway and The Croft

cater for up to eight guests, are side by side and just a short stroll
from central Currie. An ideal choice. Enquiries: see above. Located ideally between Cape Wickham & Ocean Dunes
www.kingislandescapes.com.au | 0417 580 550
www.kingislandbustours.com.au

L icensed venue, able to cater for all

occasions.
Visitors are extremely welcome and
encouraged to use the clubs facilities,
and take advantage of the warm country
atmosphere.

C l u b
The bistro offers a very attractive menu

Th e K i n g I s l a n d with local choice cuts and seafood,

combined with a windswept roaring
forties flavour.
The large function room has the
capacity to seat 150 plus for any special
occasions.
Other features include:
8 NETHERBY ROAD,
CURRIE, KING ISLAND


)
!

#"

T: 03 6462 1124
F: 03 6462 1306
E: admin@kiclub.com.au
)
(



)
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+


)
! #
&"
Please feel free to come and mingle with
the locals at this very friendly club.
New golf book about
life on the Tour
Do yourself a favour!

Just in time for

Christmas!
Grab this fun read
for the Golf lover
you know.
Foreword by
Greg Norman
The College Recruit finds Australian golfers U.S college offers
and scholarships, assists in SAT preparation, organizes
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Availabl you.

at all maj e If you are in year 11 or 12, please contact us now to make sure
book stor or \RX GR QRW PLVV WKLV DPD]LQJ RSSRUWXQLW\
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www.DavidKight.com

King Island
Golf & Bowling Club Inc
The golf course was established in 1932. Located in Owen
Smith Drive, Currie - a five minute walk to King Island’s CBD.
Green fees - $30 for nine holes - $40 for 18 holes - includes
buggy hire. Tee times can be booked via our website.
Golfers with a GA handicap are welcome to join the member’s
competition held each Saturday - hit off at 11am.

st 9 h oler?
Is this Australia’s bege
The annual King Island Open Golf Championship (36 holes) is
held during the first weekend in November.

You be the jud !!! Full bar facilities are available during Clubhouse opening hours
and our on site Chinese restaurant is open 6 days per week.

Visit us at www.golfkingisland.com | e: kingislandgolfbowling@gmail.com | p: (03) 6462 1126

 The golf equipment landscape
is ever changing and even with
the withdrawal and sale of some
companies it remains a highly
competitive business fuelled
by performance.

2018
Our 2018 Wish List contains
the latest and greatest products
from the biggest names in golf
that wouldn’t look out of place
under a Christmas tree or as a gift
from you-to-you to celebrate the
summer of golf. There’s even a

WISH LIST
very special sneak peek into what’s
coming our way in 2018.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 97

 2018
WISH LIST

D.N.A. HELIX
D.N.A. Helix – the latest performance footwear that is
simply put: Wrapped in Innovation. Featuring the most
comprehensive benefit package in FJ’s line, Helix is all
about combining comfort features with an entirely new
stability chassis specifically engineered from feedback
given by the world’s best players.
SRP: $339.95 with BOA; $299.95 with lace.

FREESTYLE 2.0 SUPERLITES XP

Engineered to deliver an incredibly SuperLites XP are the perfect summer
flexible and comfortable ride for those shoe, light, flexible and offer protection
players seeking the best-in-class from morning dew and unexpected rain.
mobility footwear. FreeStyle 2.0 men’s SRP: $169.95.
golf shoes ensures tremendous traction
and ground contact while allowing your
feet to roll through your shot.
SRP: $279.95 with BOA; $249.95
with lace.

CONTOURFIT
Experience ultimate comfort with
ContourFit golf shoes for men!
The lightweight cushioned fit-
bed provides extreme underfoot
comfort and heel support. The
fit-bed ensures a comfortable
underfoot environment by
dampening shock while walking.
SRP: $229.95 with BOA; $199.95
with lace.

98 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 2018
WISH LIST

PRO/SL
Pro/SL men’s golf shoes provide superior feel with ‘Fine
Tuned Foam’ (FTF) for supple cushioning and a perimeter
weighted outsole design for superior stability. Currently
the hottest shoe on professional Tours, Pro/SL is the
performance spikeless shoe in FootJoy’s range.
SRP: $279.95 with BOA; $249.95 with lace.

PROFLEX
ProFLEX golf gloves feature the finest
hand crafted leather, engineered to stay
softer longer and provide exceptional
moisture resistance. Golf’s No.1
combination glove offers breathable
‘PowerNet’ mesh across the knuckles
and along the fingers, so you can count
on a consistent precision fit each time
you put it in play!
SRP: $34.95.

world combines revolutionary
performance with maximum
durability along with a consistent,
soft feel. Features ‘Taction2’
advanced performance leather to
increase the feel, durability and
flexibility in key stress areas.
SRP: $22.95.
TROPICOOL
TropiCool golf gloves bring an entirely
new “Comfort Level” to enhance
your golf game. Feel the advanced
performance of TropiCool in hot or
humid conditions.
SRP: $27.95.

www.footjoy.com.au
PHONE: 1800 660 535

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 99

 2018
WISH LIST
FJ PERFORMANCE SHIRTS
Easy care fabrics with moisture wicking
and odour resistant treatment. Available
in both athletic and traditional fits.
SRP: From $69.95.
100 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
LIGHTWEIGHT TECH
SHORTS
This performance fabric offers
extreme comfort and allows
complete range of motion during
the golf swing. Slim fit.
SRP: $109.95.
BRAMPTON ISLAND COLLECTION
Features FJ performance fabrics.
SRP:$99.95. Available while stocks last.
FJ BELTS
With FootJoy golf belts, you can
complement apparel with ease and
ensure that you’re dressed your best on
the golf course.
SRP: From $89.95.
 2018
WISH LIST

WOMEN’S FJ LEISURE
Features a Duramax outsole, a soft rubber
compound which provides flexibility and comfort.
The ‘BreathEasy’ engineered mesh offers
lightweight comfort and durability. FJ Leisure golf
shoes are a perfect blend of lightweight comfort
and athletic styling.
SRP: $169.95.

WOMEN’S GOLFLEISURE WOMEN’S CONTOURFLX WOMEN’S SPORT SL

From the clubhouse to the golf
course, FootJoy introduces a variety
of women’s golf shirts, sun shirts
and bottoms to suit your style and
maximise your comfort.
ContourFLX golf gloves are
handcrafted with premium
‘CabrettaSof’ leather and
technically-advanced combination
construction for optimum feel,
comfortable fit, lightweight
breathability and flexibility.
SRP: $29.95.
FJ golf shoes engineered specifically for
women, lightweight & breathable yet
waterproof and fiercely performance-
based. FJ Sport SL golf shoes for
women, a category of athletic-inspired
shoes for women seeking footwear that
will perform on course and will hook up
with their sporty outfits.
SRP: $279.95 with BOA; $249.95
with lace.

www.footjoy.com.au
PHONE: 1800 660 535

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 101

 EPIC DRIVE
Epic’s power i
on innovative
‘Jailbreak’ te
fundamenta
the head an
impact to
distance.
of a met
face – e
impact
they in
Jailbr
relati
to promote
much larger area of th
RRP: $729.99.

CHROME SOFT AND CHROME SOFT X

Callaway’s revolutionary Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X have changed
golfers’ expectations for how a Tour ball should feel and perform. The
‘Dual SoftFast’ core has completely redefined golf ball performance by
simultaneously elevating speed and feel for an unbeatable combination of
distance, feel and control.
RRP: $59.99 (dozen).

102 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 LON P
polis i
tter d
ulon,
ustry
g car
s long
n cars
w both
mance
mater
o em
s ‘Dee
ttern t
t soun
SUPERSOFT as well as pro
hat do you get when you combine Callaway’s forward roll
west compression golf ball ever with a soft cover at impact.
d i ’ face RRP: $649.99

APEX MB IRONS
The pros know exactly what they
d
want from the precision and
performance in their irons, and the
company relied heavily on their
input in developing the new Apex
Muscleback irons.
Callaway advanced its CG
positioning process for aggressively
flighted shots with pinpoint control
and exceptional spin. This premium
forged design comes in a chrome
finish, with a thinner topline, and
the smallest blade that Callaway
has to offer.
RRP: $224.99 per iron.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 103

 2018
WISH LIST
SILENCER BAGS
The Silencer bags are Ogio’s most
popular cart and stand bags. Both include
technology that clicks in and grips your
golf clubs in individual slots to eliminate
contact and make for a quiet carrying
experience. Engineered specially for a
stand and carry golf bag, your clubs won’t
move no matter how much you do.
RRP: $379.99 (Cart); $349.99 (Stand).
MAJESTIC CART BAG
Show off your sophisticated taste and
golf game in style when you take the
Majestic golf cart bag out on the course.
Designed with classic lines and touches
of the Ogio flair, this women’s golf bag
is ideal for golfers who enjoy fashion
and function. Seven zippered pockets
provide plenty of space for all your gear,
and the trademarked ‘Zipperless’ ball
pocket features spring technology so
you can reach in quickly and easily. The
fleece lined valuable pocket protects
your sensitive stuff, while the pen
sleeve and divot tool sleeve keeps these
small items from getting lost.
Every club has a home in the 10-inch,
15-way cart top with a putter pit that is
constructed to fit even oversized grips.
Securely strap to the cart through the
cart strap channels, or carry comfortably
with the deluxe padded shoulder strap.
Elegant and sleek, the Majestic cart bag
lets you show off your style without
sacrificing functionality.
RRP: $299.99.
104 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
PRESS CART BAG
Step onto the course with the Press
golf cart bag, and enjoy streamlined
organization that keeps you focused
on your swing. This golf bag keeps
things simple, the 8-way top with
full-length dividers provides plenty of
space for all your clubs. Integrated
lift and trunk handles allow you
to move this bag to and from the
course with ease.
This practical yet sleek design is ideal
for golfers who prefer minimalist
style. And with tons of storage space
this golf bag offers great functionality.
Eight accessory pockets allow you to
organize your gear as you see fit, and
an additional fleece-lined valuables
pocket protects everything from your
phone to your watch.
You don’t have to haul a flashy bag to
show off your Ogio edge. Sleek and
durable, the Press golf cart bag is
classically designed with organization
and style in mind.
RRP: $199.99
 CIRRUS STAND BAG
The Cirrus golf stand bag is
the company’s lightest weig
stand bag, yet is loaded wit
lots of pockets to store you
prized treasures. It’s so ligh
you may think that your club
are carrying themselves.
RRP: $269.99.

MUTANT TRAVEL COVE

An unnatural, awesome
creation of monstrous
proportion, the Ogio Mutan
travel bag is the alpha male
of all golf travel bags. Know
to swallow golf bags whole
the cavernous padded main
compartment keeps your
clubs safe and protected.
RRP: $319.99.

www.ogiogolf.com.au
PHONE: 1800 217 777

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 105

 R
Cobra s first fully machined driver face utilizes a unique multi-
directional CNC milling pattern that delivers the highest level
of precision for superior performance. Compared to traditional
hand polished drivers, CNC milling allowed Cobra engineers to
achieve precise face thickness and tighter tolerances resulting in
improved bulge-and-roll curvatures with a 3 percent thinner and
10 percent lighter face for maximum ball speed, distance and
accuracy across the face.
The KING F8 and F8+ (along with Cobra’s entire F8 family), b
Cobra Connect Powered by Arccos, the award winning conn
golf system.
The KING F8 driver features an oversized address profile that
increases moment of inertia (MOI) and provides more distance,
forgiveness and speed on off-centre hits. An adjustable weight
system offers two centre of gravity (CG) settings: one in the back
for a higher ball flight and one in the heel providing additional
draw bias.
Cobra’s ‘360 Aero’ technology incorporates aerodynamic trips
strategically positioned around the perimeter of the face to
improve drag reduction through the downswing. Cobra engineers
utilized a polymer material on the trips placed on the crown for
better CG positioning and higher MOI. An ultralight, 5-ply carb n
fibre crown saves weight to move the CG lower and dee
higher trajectories and increased forgiveness. A ligh
1- titanium body and forged face spares weight
‘E9’ technology, a variable thickness face d
pattern ‘Sweet Zone’, creates more h
the centre of the face.

mployin utting-
dge 360 A n, and Cobra
onnect Pow airways are Cobra’s
stest, most
he KING F8 an provide a choice between
aximum launch s in the F8, or tour preferred
ping with maxi kability and precision in the F8+.
KING F8 fairway ncorporates an improved Baffler Dual Rail
with tighter-spaced rails with CG centred between them,
twisting and resulting in a higher amount of clubhead
ined upon turf contact.
‘Rail Heights’ dependent on club loft, provide
f interaction for sweeping or steeper attack angles.
ro technology incorporates lightweight aero trips
tioned around the perimeter of the face to
ction.
ure a larger address profile that increases
e and forgiveness on mis-hits and a
ers CG for improved launch and speed.
eight helps promote a towering,
variety of turf conditions. For the first
ays feature an ultralight 5-ply carbon
ly 13-grams, to move the CG even
mance technologies, a forged 475
asts patented E9 technology.

106 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 2018
WISH LIST

8 & F8 ONE IRONS

ING F8 irons push the boundaries of innovation
se of electronically enabled grips, allowing golfers
erformance like never before with Cobra Connect
os. Thanks to game-changing ‘Techflo’ construction,
ected set of irons equip golfers with a perfect
peed, and feel, while Cobra Connect proves

and KING F8 One Length irons feature an all-new

ell face technology that boasts a 20 percent thinner forged
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Zone construction promotes faster ball speeds across a wider area
of the face. Both models feature carbon feel technology inserts that
are strategically-positioned to deliver soft yet solid feel throughout
the set. Carbon construction medallions dampen vibrations.
Cobra’s patented Tecflo construction delivers tailored performance
throu varying cavity constructions to optimize the trajectory of
each nally, ‘Progressive Spin’ technology improves
gro h CNC milling, delivering optimum spin and
tra 4 7 irons reduce spin for maximum
di pin for improved control
increase spin.

KING F8 &
The KING F8 a utilize Cobra’s
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technology to pro eed, forgiveness and versatility.
Like the F8 fairway taller and tighter-spaced rails on the
F8 and F8 One hybrids provide more leading-edge bounce,
to help the club stay lower to the ground for more consistent
launch from a variety of lies.
The Aero trips on the crown made of lightweight polymer
ensure optimized aerodynamic performance while
maintaining a lower CG for faster clubhead speed. A sleeker
clubhead design features a lowered skirt and a shorter,
skinnier hosel for an extremely low CG, while a fixed weight
positioned low and back results in a high, towering ball flight.
The F8 One Length Hybrid delivers ultimate consistency and COBRA CONNECT
simplicity allowing golf to utilize one setup and swing from Welcome to the first fully conne
their hybrids to their wedges. To achieve optimum F8+ line up featuring Cobra Connect Pow
performance at 7-iro wing weight, the F8 Combining state-of-the-art golf club engineering w
One hybrid feature d heavier head performance tracking, each Cobra Connect club comes sta
weight. A larger i G to be with an Arccos sensor embedded in the grip. This allows users to
moved lower an track and analyse their performance with each club and across all
game aspects. System features include:
t

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Powered by Arccos system will now be extended throughout the
entire F8 family. Consumers who purchase any seven-piece iron set
will receive seven additional Arccos 360 screw-in sensors for the
rest of their set, ensuring a fully connected experience.

EXCLUSIVE
om.au
SNEAK PEAK –
164
AVAILABLE 2018

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 107

 2018
WISH LIST

MGI ZIP X1
With a smooth and quiet ride, the
revolutionary ZIP X1 will do all the work
for you, so that you can concentrate on
your game. Signature features include
the whisper quiet 230 watt motor,
variable speed control and fully foldable
rear 4th wheel for added stability. With a
newly engineered ‘zip fold’, the X1 is 12
percent lighter and 25 percent smaller
than the previous model, allowing for
absolute space saving.
Not all motorized buggies are the
same and with the MGI ZIP X1, you’re
amongst the best equipment in
the game.
RRP: $1,049.

108 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 2018
WISH LIST

SURESHOTGPS AIR 3
Loaded with features, our latest GPS innovation will exceed your expectations.
Experience more course detail and have greater customisation with the
Sureshotgps Air 3. View and control how you play golf with a display that captures
course satellite views with aerial angle adjustment.
Minimalistic yet bold in design, the slim line casing of the Air 3 is light, yet fitted
with a large screen and generous font sizes. Use the touch screen to select your
favourite course, keep score to inspire personal growth, and measure your longest
drive. The Air 3 features Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to access satellite images
and download new courses and updates anywhere.
Whether you’re playing socially or in a championship a good game will become an
elite game.
RRP: $349.

SURESHOT LASER PINLOC 5000 IP

The Sureshot Laser Pinloc 5000 IP is packed with intel
software with the addition of ‘pulse’ technology, ensur
is played with trust and confidence. Using pin point pre
accuracy, simply hold down the trigger to scan your te
Once locked into your desired target, a game-boosting
can be felt.
Weighing only 173 grams, the lightweight Sureshot La
5000 IP is designed to fit snug in your hand for comfor
you can focus on your best game. Make better decisio
greater accuracy thanks to the Sureshot Laser Pinloc 5
RRP: $299.

SURESHOTGPS WATCH +
Know the distance and enhance how you play golf with the comfortable,
lightweight and water-resistant Watch Plus. Bring convenience and a heightened
experience to your game, simply by the touch of your wrist. The Watch Plus
features over 35,000 pre-loaded maps with hazards on a large sunlight-friendly
screen to ensure you never second guess the distance.
The Watch Plus is not only aware of the game in front of you with its golf mode,
but also monitors your health and tracks your fitness with its built in sports mode,
which includes a detailed heart rate monitor and precise fitness tracker.
Knowing the time and distance has never looked so good.
RRP: $249.

www.sureshotgps.com
www.mgigolf.com
PHONE: (03) 8872 6700

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 109

 T

a
an
RR

downward ball strikers. The first Wave sole

in a driver also allows the ST180 to contract
and expand on impact – increasing energy CLK
imparted to the ball. With a new forged With a
SP700 Ti face the ST180 accelerates b tan
speeds noticeably past is pred g speed players h
“The spin rate and ball r distance span at the
caught everyb all play our CLKs a little
so fast re a 3 or 4 or mid an
M a at way to m

: 16˚, 19˚, 22˚ an

WEDGES
size, rounded profile, Grain Flow
in Hiroshima, Japan for the
e in short game performance. In the
lofts, weight shifted up the blade is
in a thicker, bevelled topline.
Mizuno’s most loft specific wedge
y aspect (sole grind, profile, top line
oove depth) from the 46˚ pitching
replacement to the 62˚ lob wedge.
18 is thicker higher into the
which evens out the spin rates on
on mis-hits,” Mizuno Senior Club
er Chris Voshall said.
249 per club (RH and LH)

110 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 2018
WISH LIST

craftsmen,
to the IRONS TO TOUCH
past. A shorter
op line and YOUR SOUL
arp, compact
Refined by master craftsmen in Yoro Japan
master
their skills on – the MP-18s are inspired by every great
s. player to pure a Mizuno iron since 1933.
the balance The master mould of every head checked
e MP-18’s. and adapted to the satisfaction of the most
greater input experienced clubmakers – including the
en in that the legendary Turbo. Three models ‘Grain Flow
ades that made Forged’ in Hiroshima Japan designed to mix
ct, this is just and match within a custom set. To find the
said.
artist in every player.
nly).

MP-18 MMC FLI-HI

The finishing touch to an MP-18 set – the
long iron replacement now used by every
P-18 MMC Mizuno Tour player. A higher flying option w
ee-year project led by Yoro master steeper landing angles, engineered
men to develop a highly stable, profile acceptable to Yoro
g multi-metal construction iron – The sleek new profi
tisfied their aesthetic demands maraging
address. Even with both lightweight int
titanium and heavier tungsten parts
sealed within its 1025E mild carbon
steel head, the MP-18 MMC maintains
a similar ‘Tour ready’ profile and
the MP-18 SC.
“The MP-18 MM
material M

a
R

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 111

 18
H LIST

AZ-E
g’s patented ‘True Roll Face’
ace engineered with an innovative
soles of high-performance
e offers significant improvements
utting performance.
isfying sound comes from
elastomer and fully machined
r the entire face. With improved
iveness, golfers will make more
any distance.

anatomical last which was

scanning more than 2,500
ot’s natural motion and brings
ed feel while offering extreme
s Biom Hybrid becoming the
he golf market.
The shoes are weather resistant, with naturally soft, breathable
and strong yak leather uppers, which have been treated with
‘Hydromax’ and an anti-stain formula for superb protection.
Constructed from a highly durable wear-resistant material the

www.americangolf.com.au
PHONE: (02) 9524 8233

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 113

 CLEVELAND LAUNCHER H B DRIVER
The new Launcher HB driver includes an ultra-lightweight
hosel that optimises weighting for higher, longer and
straighter drives. The new ‘HiBore Crown’ promotes
higher ball speed through the crown flexing at impact
and a desirable high launch, low spin trajectory from a
lower centre of gravity. Unique ‘Flex-Fins’ compress at
impact transferring more energy back to the ball for longer
distances, especially on heel and toe impacts. These
features combine to produce exceptional speed, distance
and control to help you Launch It.
RRP: $399.95.

ines
and Cup
peeds across the
wn also promotes
ht by lowering the
crown. Don’t just

114 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 2018
WISH LIST

Q STAR
The newly redesigned Q-Star golf ball h
landed and is ideal for golfers who
balanced performance from a
two-piece ball offering Th
the same premium
in Srixon’s high
offers the
incr

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER
The new Launcher CBX
explosive distanc
consistent tr
get you
on

CLEVELA
This is the ne
Cleveland Laun
high strength st
hybrid-like constru
Hollow construction
ribs provides drastica
than typical cavity ba
Crown features low, dee
easy to hit, high ball fligh
features hybrid-like long iro
like short irons.
RRP: $139.95 per iron (steel);
iron (graphite).

www.srixon.com.au
www.clevelandgolf.com.au

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 115

 2018
WISH LIST

RYOMA MAXIMA TYPE-V DRIVER

The new Ryoma Maxima is one of the best drivers for amateurs.
Rather than focusing on the maximum distance from one shot in
a single game, Ryoma focuses on improving both the distance
and direction for each time you’re on the tee. The full titanium
body, including the crown, improves distance by letting the entire
body function as a spring. It works like suspension, correcting
your direction on mishits d with Ryoma’s original uni-flex
shaft, you’re guarante rpm backspin with a high
trajectory ball flight
RRP: $1900 (Ry Fire Express shaft).
www.ryoma

With the new launch o lly

signed a sponsorship de sional
and is ready to hit the PGA 68 series is
equipped with a full DAT55 ti d to reduce an
rage of 800rpm resulting in trating ball flight.
Heads are offered in three differe zes 460cc, 440cc and
420cc for the Tour. The solid dry sou omes from the geometric
deep face and represents the brand and spirit of the master club
designer Nobumasa’s philosophy towards golf.
P: $1290 (Fire Express shaft); $1090 (TourAD shaft).
dogolf.com

ABOUT MTG
MTG was founded in 2015
MTG ITOBOR yuki Takai, also known
WEDGE r master grinder
pan. With
etal

.
it.

www.golfmateebisu.com
PHONE: (02) 8065 0051
Golf Mate Ebisu is the sole distributor for
Ryoma, Baldo and MTG.

116 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

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 P L AY I N G W I T H . . .
PAIN POD 3 PERSONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY DEVICE
Cost: $479. Tested by: Brendan James, Golf Australia Editor (GA Handicap 8.8)
HOW IT PERFORMED: If you
have been playing golf for a
long time like me, chances are
you have a niggly pain that
plays up from time-to-time. It
might be a lower back, a hip
or a knee that seems to flare
up and can keep you off the course.
I’ve played less golf this year than at any time
in the past 37 years as a result of chronic plantar
fasciitis in both feet. The injury is to the plantar
fascia, which is a ligament connecting your heel
bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your
foot and if you strain your plantar fascia, it gets
weak, swollen, and irritated (inflamed). Then
your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when
you stand or walk.
Most people recover from plantar fasciitis
with a little rest, putting arch supports in their
shoes as well as stretching the affected foot.
WHAT THE
COMPANY SAYS….
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is the use of
electric impulses to stimulate muscles to contract.
This is the process by which the PainPod
BioTechnology combines frequency treatment
formulations with a range of advanced waveforms
THE VERDICT: I can’t speak more highly of the Pain Pod 3 and thoroughly recommend it to any golfer ...
118 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
But it doesn’t work for everyone, myself
included.
So when the opportunity arose to test the
Pain Pod 3, my hopes rose that a morning
where I could jump out of bed, let my feet hit
the floor and not experience any pain, was not
far away. Better still, could the Pain Pod 3 get
me back on the golf course?
The Pain Pod 3 is, essentially, a portable
version of the electrotherapy units that are used
by physiotherapists to reduce pain and speed up
the healing process.
The Pain Pod unit fits in the palm of your hand
and has a rechargeable battery. You connect the
wires to the unit and snap on the two electrodes
(there is a selection of electrodes of differing
sizes included in the box) to the end of the wires.
The electrode pads are sticky, so they adhere
to your skin. Once the electrodes are attached
and the unit is turned on, a mild electric current
to mimic the body’s natural contractions, passing
gentle bio-pulses through the body tissues
and muscle groups, stimulating blood-flow and
improving circulation, speeding the body’s natural
healing or conditioning process.
Australians are saying goodbye to pain once
and for all with PainPod, a 3-in-1 medical device
that can moderate and manage pain levels,
accelerate recovery and improve performance.
is sent to the skin via the electrode.
There are 12 therapy modes on the Pain Pod
3, each offering a different electric pulse. I tried
three or four different modes before I found the
one that I thought provided the best result.
Using the timer, I connected the Pain Pod 3
for 30 minutes each time I used it. During the
course of the half hour there were times where
I could feel my feet were getting used to the
pulse so I increased its intensity, which you can
control with the buttons on the front of the unit.
After just three 30-minute sessions daily I
found the pain in my feet was starting to
subside. As I write this, and three weeks after
starting with the Pain Pod, I am pain free and
will be back on the golf course next week.
I can’t speak more highly of the Pain Pod 3
and thoroughly recommend it to any golfer who
just wants to get rid of that irritating pain that
restricts you from playing the game we all love.
PainPod provides a pain and drug-free solution
for everything from a sore back to chronic pain
to sport rehabilitation. This personal physical
therapy device is user friendly, non-invasive and
wearable to seamlessly fit peoples’ lifestyle.
PainPod is suitable and safe to use for the
whole family.
For more information about the Pain Pod, visit
www.thepainpod.com
 Visiting Geelong &
KINGS COVE CLUB the Bellarine?
Play Geelong
Golf Club


9 holes in 90 minutes


3 sets of tees
Ted Parslow designed Gippsland’s own resort-style golf course

9 holes only $20
which is right on the doorstep of Kings Cove.

Perfect for social groups
A challenging Par 72 course with 9 holes, but with clever use of tees, 
Great practice facilies
offers players an 18 Tee layout in excess of 6000 metres. Stunning greens, 
Carts available
wide, generous and well-maintained fairways ensure an enjoyable day’s “Our primary objective
golf. Green fee players are always welcome and we have a fully stocked Pro was to plan a good golf
Shop, plus electric golf carts to make your golf day a truly memorable one.
course that would offer an
enjoyable challenge to all
standards of golf.”
 
  
 


 

KINGS COVE CLUB Metung Vic 3904

P: 03 5156 2927 F: 03 5156 2924
E: manager@kingscoveclub.com.au t: (03) 4210 1010
W: www.kingscoveclub.com.au www.geelonggolf.com.au

COOL CLUBS
A U S T R A L I A

Play better
golf
That’s what we promise.
That’s what we deliver.
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building and repairs.

Locations:
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Book online: www.coolclubsoz.com.au/book-online.html

w: www.coolclubsoz.com.au Fb: www.facebook.com/CoolClubsOz
 P L AY I N G W I T H . . .
BUSHNELL EXCEL GPS
RANGEFINDER WATCH
Cost: $329. Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel,
Golf Australia Writer (GA Handicap 9.4)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The
Excel possesses a simple yet
stylish design that fits
comfortably on the wrist and
the display uses nice big
numbers that are easily read
in any light.
I was instantly impressed by the push of one
button producing up to four hazard distances.
Although the 21 varied hazard codes, LFWC
(Left Fairway Water Carry) for example, had me
consulting the product manual regularly during
my early rounds.
HOW IT PERFORMED: Having used Bushnell
products for many years, I had high hopes for
the Excel and as expected the watch performed
its core functions superbly. The distances were
accurate when checked with a laser and the
easy-to-read screen located right on my wrist
noticeably sped up the process of selecting a
club when compared to finding a sprinkler with
a distance marking.
The first use of any GPS product is always
one that is best approached with spare time and
giving the Excel extra time to locate the
necessary satellites, about five-10 minutes,
before my first game and using the watch’s
Bluetooth capability to sync with my iPhone
definitely improved my experience.
Apart from allowing you to set-up your
preferences and keep score, the Bushnell app
offers aerial views of each hole, giving a more
detailed look than the distances the watch
provides, improving the overall performance of
the Excel.
Outside of the primary function of providing
THE SPECS
MODELS: The Excel is available in black,
charcoal and white.
COMPANY SAYS: The Excel, Bushnell’s most
advanced GPS watch, has been redesigned
to meet the ever-changing needs of golfers
wanting wrist-mounted devices and comes
pre-loaded with more than 35,000 courses. In
addition, it’s equipped with Bluetooth capabilities
allowing the golfer to use the Bushnell Golf App
to get course updates without needing to sync
with a computer and receive call, messaging
THE VERDICT: …the Excel does exactly as it should, displaying clear and precise distances in the most convenient location possible.
120 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
distances to the front, middle and back
of the green, as well as hazards, the
Excel’s added features combined to
deliver an improved overall function.
The auto-hole advance worked
every time without fail, and scrolling
between holes is simple, while the
phone alerts on screen are extremely
handy. Whether you are trying to
formulate a post-golf plan or sneak
in a few holes before being
summoned elsewhere.
Again with the simple touch of a
button, the Excel offers shot tracking
which helps to gauge shot distances and
calibrate your yardages. Something I
found particularly useful when testing an
comparing multiple new clubs.
The watch itself never once noticeably
interfered with or hindered my swing an
offers a comfortable fit, albeit getting a little
sweaty underneath in hot conditions.
The added benefit of a pedometer was a nice
touch to once again prove golf’s fitness benefits
to the doubters and the running round t
interesting if nothing else.
All in all, the Excel does exactly as it
should, displaying clear and precise
distances in the most convenient
location possible. And although it
doesn’t offer maps of the hole on the
watch face, it shouldn’t really be a
problem when playing your regular
haunt. While the addition of Bushnell’s
app and its maps solves the problem
when playing somewhere new.
and calendar notifications on
your watch.
The Excel is an easy-to-use wrist-
worn GPS rangefinder with instant
yardage measurements in a simple,
fashion-forward design and with no
membership fees.
The Excel has industry-leading battery
life – lasting three plus rounds before
needing a charge.
For more information on the Excel and to
see the family of Bushnell rangefinders vis
www.bushnellgolf.com.au
 BELCONNEN MAGPIES
G O L F C L U B
Belconnen Magpies Golf Club is a challenging
18 hole course with stunning views across the
Murrumbidgee Valley to the Brindabellas.

Stockdill Drive, Holt, ACT 2615 | t: (02) 6254 2922 | Pro Shop: (02) 62546740
e: golfclub@belconnenmagpies.com.au | w: www.belconnenmagpies.com.au

 6--
),:; (=(03()3, 9(;,
Book online and use the code
“GOLF”

‹ 3\_\Y`  ILKYVVT HUK  ILKYVVT  IH[OYVVT HWHY[TLU[Z ¶ ZSLLW \W [V  ‹ Free undercover parking
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e: YLZLY]H[PVUZ'WHJPÄJZ\P[LZJHUILYYHJVTH\ I t: (02) 6262 6266
^^^WHJPÄJZ\P[LZJHUILYYHJVTH\
122 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
 Canberra is a travel destination on the rise according to Lonely Planet, with
cultural attractions leading the way. But how does the golf rate? We checked it out.
W
ho would have thought it?
Canberra is the third best city in
the world to visit.
No you definitely read that correctly, no need to
rub your eyes.
The traveller’s bible, Lonely Planet, listed
Canberra No.3 in its recently released Best in
Travel 2018 list. Incredibly, that’s the highest
position any Australian city has ever placed in the
13 years of the awards.
“Criminally overlooked Canberra packs a big
punch for such a small city. National treasures are
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDAN JAMES
found round almost every corner and exciting new
boutique precincts have emerged, bulging with
gastronomic highlights and cultural must-dos.”
That’s what Lonely Planet said.
I can’t disagree with any of that, but what
the esteemed publication failed to mention is
Canberra is also a terrific destination for the
travelling golfer.
And topping the list of ‘must-play’ courses
for any golfer heading to the capital should be
the Royal Canberra Golf Club and its recently
redesigned Westbourne Course.
Ogilvy Clayton Cocking and Mead (OCCM)
began construction to redesign the course in 2014
and the ‘new’ layout was officially opened earlier
this year.
The changes made at Royal Canberra, in many
ways, have been dramatic but to this writer
they have significantly improved the golfing
experience. Gone are many of the trees that
seemed to encroach on the playing lines of nearly
every hole, which not only narrowed the fairways
but made it difficult to grow quality turf across
the property.
The redesigned Royal Canberra
features brilliant holes like the
strategically wide par-4 14th.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 123
 A round at Federal feels like
you could be a thousand miles
away from the city.

Fairways have been widened as much as The course has improved markedly in recent Top-100 Courses and was listed earlier this year
possible, while bunkers have been rebuilt and years on the back of securing a regular supply of at No.48 by Golf Australia in the nation’s Top-100
greens re-shaped to match the natural contours water. Several irrigation dams were constructed, Public Access Courses.
of the terrain. The putting surfaces now look while all its fairways were converted to the Royal Canberra and Federal can both be
more like they belong on the Melbourne Sandbelt hardier Santa Ana couch grass. Easier access to found south of Lake Burley Griffin and the main
than on the rolling topography beside Lake water and the need for less, has seen the level of hub of the city, but there are more courses to be
Burley Griffin. presentation reach a consistently high standard discovered on the north side.
For years many likened the heavily tree-lined throughout the year, which is certainly what you Magpies Belconnen Golf Club lies in the
Royal Canberra to Augusta National, but it had would expect from a layout ranked in Australia’s rolling hills of West Canberra in the suburb of
become far too narrow between tee and green, and
devoid of any great strategy, to live up to such a The final approach to
comparison. It’s only now – after all the changes Belconnen’s first of two par-5s
to close the front nine.
made by OCCM to incorporate strategic design –
that Royal Canberra can accurately be described
as bearing a similarity to the home of the
US Masters.
Royal Canberra’s closest golfing neighbour is
The Federal Golf Club, which is an easy eight-
minute drive away at Red Hill and within walking
distance of the back door of Parliament House.
The par-72 lies on the edge of the Red Hill
Nature Reserve and winds across the foothills
of the lookout of the same name. Mature native
gums, banksias and dozens of other floral
varieties line the fairways and provide the feel
of being in the middle of nowhere and then you
reach one of the high points on the course and
you are presented with a wonderful view of the
Brindabella Ranges in the distance.

124 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 Belconnen’s sweeping left-to-
right par-5 1st hole gets harder
the closer you get to the green.

Holt, about 20 minutes’ drive from the CBD. tough chip back to a green that slopes from back to find a position in the middle of the fairway.
Sitting in the clubhouse it’s easy to be impressed to front. Bunkers left and right of the putting surface are
by the view across the Murrumbidgee Valley to The 381-metre 11th is the hardest of this best avoided, as is the steep slope off the back
the Brindabella Ranges. threesome where there is pressure to hit two right of the green. Hit the wrong club on your
The course celebrated its 40th anniversary last quality shots in succession to make your par. The approach and you could end up deep in the trees
year, having been designed by its long-serving fairway rises slightly in front of the tee before without a shot here.
professional and PGA Life Member, the late cambering slightly right and downhill to leave a If you drop a shot at 11 you have a chance for
Neville Wilson. straight approach to the green in the distance. redemption at the short par-4 12th, where a good
There have been many alterations to Wilson’s Ideally, your drive should skirt the left rough drive through the narrow chute of trees will
original creation, with the most recent changes
– to the 2nd and 3rd holes to accommodate Gold Creek’s difficult par-4 10th
the construction of a neighbouring real estate hole certainly penalises the
mis-hit approach.
development – opening just a few months ago.
I can recall playing amateur events here in
the late ‘80s and it was a course that seemed to
always favour good iron players – an aspect of
playing here that hasn’t changed. You certainly
need favour accuracy over distance from the tee,
not just to avoid the heavily-treed rough on most
holes, but to give yourself the best possible chance
of hitting the relatively small greens.
For mine, the back nine features some of
Belconnen’s best holes and the trio of par-4s
straight after the turn have the potential to make
or break your round.
If you find the fairway on the 312-metre 10th,
the most difficult aspect of playing the hole
becomes judging the distance of the pitch shot.
Get it wrong and fly long of the green and it’s a

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 125

 A well-struck
approach
over water is
required to find
the 16th green
at Gungahlin
Lakes.
… WHAT THE ESTEEMED
PUBLICATION FAILED TO MENTION
IS CANBERRA IS ALSO A TERRIFIC
DESTINATION FOR THE
TRAVELLING GOLFER.
reward you with a pitch into a green that slopes
from back-to-front and allows you to really attack
the flag without fear of bounding long.
Apart from the design changes made over the
years, the conditioning of the Belconnen course
has improved significantly with the bentgrass
greens being a standout.
There must be something in the water in this
part of Canberra as all four courses I visited north
of Lake Burley Griffin – Belconnen, Gold Creek,
Gungahlin Lakes and Yowani – could proudly
boast excellent putting surfaces.
The Gold Creek Country Club is a
15-minute drive north and is the last course
built in Canberra, having opened 20 years after
Belconnen in 1996.
Designed by Bruce Devlin, the par-72 never
waivers from being well-presented and is
always challenging.
The fairways and Penncross bent greens are
top notch, if not better than they were a few years
after the course opened.
Wind is always a factor at Gold Creek. Its high
position in the hills of the nation’s capital ensures
the flags on this layout are never flaccid.
With the wind in mind, grit your teeth on the
tee of the par-4 10th if you are playing into the
prevailing headwind. At 408-metres, the 10th is
Gold Creek’s longest par-4 and ranks No.1 on the
card for good reason. A snaking creek borders
the left edge of the fairway before turning right
and cutting through the fairway just short of the
green. It flows into a lake, which guards the right
of the putting surface. Into the wind, many players
will need a long iron to reach the green and that
can conjure up plenty of trouble for a mis-hit that
lands short, left, right or long of the green.
126 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
Water is also a common feature of many holes
to be found at nearby Gungahlin Lakes Golf
Club, which opened a few months after
Gold Creek.
Where Gold Creek occupies rolling terrain
with several high points, Gungahlin Lakes covers
what was a floodplain and has been routed
around six irrigation lakes spread across the 70
hectare site. Not surprisingly Gungahlin Lakes is
fully self-sufficient for water, which is reflected
in its consistently good conditioning.
Gungahlin Lakes leaves its most memorable
holes until the back nine with the par-5 16th
being the best of the run back to the clubhouse.
The expansive fairway is easily found from the
tee, which leaves a second or third shot water
crossing to a two-tiered green.
Heading back toward the city, you will find
Yowani Country Club about 10 minutes’ drive
away on Northbourne Avenue – the main north-
south arterial into the city.
During the past six decades, Yowani has
developed into a fine inland course that can
easily be enjoyed by casual golfers and more
advanced players.
Originally designed by James Herd Scott – who
also consulted on the design of Royal Canberra
in its early years – Yowani was opened for play
in 1954 and is characterised by tightly tree-lined
fairways, receptive greens and strategically
placed bunkering.
Kel Nagle and Mike Cooper redesigned many
holes in 1978 but much of Herd Scott’s original
work remains today. From the back tees, Yowani
measures 6,300 metres which is a lengthy
excursion for a course of this vintage. This adds
to the challenge this pretty course offers.
W HE R E T O P L AY
ROYAL CANBERRA GC
Green fees: On application. Visitors require a
GolfLink number with valid handicap.
www.royalcanberra.com.au
THE FEDERAL GC
Green fees: $80 (18 holes)
www.federalgolf.com.au
MAGPIES BELCONNEN GC
Green fee: $25 (18 holes, weekdays);
$35 (weekends).
www.belconnenmagpies.com.au
GOLD CREEK GC
Green fee: $50 (18 holes, weekdays);
$60 (weekends).
www.goldcreekgc.org
GUNGAHLIN LAKES GC
Green fee: $29 (18 holes, weekdays);
$39 (weekends).
www.gungahlinlakes.com
YOWANI CC
Green fee: $42 (18 holes, Mon-Thurs);
$45 (Fri-Sun).
www.yowani.com.au
W HE R E T O S TAY
PACIFIC SUITES CANBERRA
Situated in the heart of Canberra City and the
precinct of Braddon, Pacific Suites Canberra
offers some of the capital’s largest one- and two-
bedroom apartments.
Its huge apartments are ideal for golfers with
great sharing options and loads of space for all
your gear. The one-bedroom apartments are
75m2, while the two-bedroom, two-bathroom
apartments range up to an impressive 128m2.
Guests can enjoy undercover car parking, free
Wifi and The Alley bar & grill.
Pacific Suites has a Stay & Play package offer
for golfers, with a 15 percent off the best available
price when booking direct through the website
www.pacificsuitescanberra.com.au using the
code “golf”.
 The Federal Golf Club

All of your preconceived ideas about Canberra

will be left at the front gate.
When planning your social group’s golf trip, a round at Canberra’s
Federal Golf Club is a must.

*For booking details e-mail operations@fgc.com.au or go to www.fgc.com.au

Follow us on
128 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
 Cornwall is England’s ‘holiday’ county offering some glorious golf as a counter-
attraction to the beaches, surfing, rugged cliffs, quaint fishing villages, great food
and ancient monuments.
WORDS ANDREW MARSHALL

A
strong sea breeze whips the
tangy scents of salt and seaweed
into our lungs as we loosen up
beside the 175-yard par-3 1st hole at
West Cornwall Golf Club, situated on the
southern shore of St Ives Bay.
A three-shot opening hole is remarkable
enough, but the tee’s close proximity to the
clubhouse, plus the striking backdrop of
St Uny Church and its graveyard beyond
the green, adds to the drama. It’s a nerve-
jangling start to our golf trip that embraces a
cluster of challenging links courses between
the picturesque harbour towns of St Ives
and Padstow along Cornwall’s spectacular
Atlantic coast.
West Cornwall Golf Club was established
in 1889 making it the oldest golf club in
Cornwall, and the course hasn’t changed
much since the heady days of the club’s most
famous member, Jim Barnes, who won the US
Open, US PGA and The Open Championship
between the years of 1916 and 1925.
What the early holes lack in length they

The acclaimed St Enodoc

Chruch course is ranked
the best course in Cornwall.

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 129


The infamous sandhill
bunker ‘Himalaya’ on the
par-4 6th hole at St Enodoc.
A train rattles past the 13th
green at West Cornwall GC
en route to St Ives.
more than make up for in character. The 2nd,
threading through the dunes is a beauty, while
on the 4th, a heavily faded second shot will
perish amongst the gravestones of St Uny
churchyard. Once you are out of ‘Calamity
Corner’ (play it and you’ll understand why),
where two par-3s and a short par-4 have
ruined many a scorecard, you will need a cool
head for the following 11 holes in the dunes.
South of St Ives near the milestone of
Land’s End, Cape Cornwall Golf & Leisure
has the distinction of having the ‘First and
Last 18-hole Golf Course in Britain.’ Although
it’s not a world-class track, it can be worth a
visit for its challenging holes and spectacular
coastal views, plus its close proximity to the
off-course attractions of the filming locations
130 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
The beautiful rolling terrain of
the West Cornwall layout.
Fresh made
Cornish pasties
are absolutely
delicious.
The amazing crumpled terrain of
St Enodoc’s closing hole.
of popular BBC series Poldark, sacred stone
circles, old tin mines and fabulous walks
along the coast including sections of the 630-
mile South West Coast Path.
AT ST. ENODOC
But we are heading north up the coast YOU CAN IMAGINE
towards Perranporth Golf Club, widely
regarded as one of the finest links in the south TAKING ON THE
of England.
The club saw its inception in 1927 in a
GAME IN ITS
blaze of glory with four greenkeepers, a full ANCIENT FORM,
professional, a steward and stewardess for
their fine clubhouse, and a course laid out by
LIKE THE
five-time Open champion James Braid, who SCOTTISH
also designed Turnberry and Gleneagles.
There are some fabulous views from high up FOREFATHERS ...
and several fascinating blind tee shots, and
Braid who loves hidden holes, has excelled

himself on these.
With an abundance of accommodation in
addition to traditional pubs and tearooms
for refreshments en route, driving along
Cornwall’s distinctive narrow lanes is
pure pleasure.
From Perranporth we took the scenic
B3276 coast road towards our base for the
next couple of days, the Cross House Hotel, a
charming Georgian house in Padstow.
“I take it you lads want the full English,”
says the landlady, the next morning, in an
accent as thick as Cornish clotted cream.
She appears several minutes later carrying
plates piled high with thick bacon, sausages,
tomatoes, eggs, toast and mushrooms and
places them on the table. “That should
The final
approach to the
par-5 16th hole
at St Enodoc.
keep you going for your eighteen holes at
St. Enodoc.”
Before our afternoon round, there’s the
opportunity to explore the picturesque fishing
village of Padstow. The sunny spring morning
is punctuated with the raucous cries of
seagulls as we stroll past shops selling beach
mats, postcards and buckets and spades.
Down at the harbour, colourfully-painted
trawlers come and go, as salty characters
unload their catch of crab and mackerel,
destined for Padstow’s fish and chip shops. If
you don’t fancy fish and chips, there’s always
that other local culinary delight – the
Cornish pasty.
We made our way to the Chough Bakery,
a small family-run craft bakery based at
Heading out to the
cliff’s edge of the
Perranporth course.
the quayside, which has been operating for
nearly 30 years. Their traditional pasties
have a filling of locally-sourced beef, potato,
onion and swede and are famous for their
extra dollop of ‘Cornishness’ in the form of
some clotted cream. We stock up on a bag
of their prize-winning pasties (they were
Cornish Pasty World Champions in 2016) and
negotiate the ultra-narrow lanes of the village
in our hire car towards St. Enodoc Golf Club
on the other side of the estuary.
Many golfers will have heard of St. Enodoc
Golf Club but not all will have made the
pilgrimage to this wonderful links, which often
appears in World Top-100 Course listings.
Another James Braid layout, St. Enodoc
founded in 1890 is by no means a long
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 131

course, as it measures just 6,557 yards from the
back tees – but its clever design dictates it will
not surrender to just a brash, powerful game.
At St. Enodoc you can imagine taking on
the game in its ancient form, like the Scottish
forefathers who strode the sheep-cropped turf
with a handful of hickory shafts, a pocketful of
gutta perchas and the fresh salty air whistling
past their faces.
Although there are many great holes at St.
Enodoc, the par-4 6th will literally stop you
in your tracks as you gaze in wonder at the
‘Himalaya’ bunker, which is believed to be the
largest sand-hill on any British course. It rises
80 feet above the fairway, totally eclipsing
your view of the green which lies 100
yards beyond.
Another terrific hole is the 168-yard 15th,
which signals the start of a strong finish. A
deep ravine lies between the tee and the green
on this beautiful downhill par-3, and anything
slightly mishit or under-clubbed is destined to
be in the bottom of it. The wonderful views of
the Camel Estuary from the tee as you prepare
to hit off is worth the green fee alone.
A stunning sun set over
the beautiful Trevose.
132 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
The oceanside 4th green at
Trevose Golf & Country Club.
The final course of our Cornish coast golf
quintet was Trevose Golf & Country Club
and its classic 18-hole championship course
laid out in 1925 by legendary designer Harry
Colt – the very man responsible for gems like
Royal Portrush, Sunningdale, Muirfield and
Pine Valley just to name a few.
Colt has left his trademark bunkering
on Trevose’s rolling wide fairways, with
a number of holes running alongside the
Atlantic breakers, which crash onto the
golden sands of Constantine Bay. One of the
standout holes is the par-5 5th, with the green
perched right on the coast with views up the
rocky coastline to the north.
After our round, we rested our pints of well-
earned Cornish Bitter on the wide arms of a
bench outside the clubhouse and surveyed the
scene. Keen golfers still out on the fairways
appeared as tiny coloured specks, as the late
afternoon sun cast long shadows across the
links land, defining every undulation, bump
and hollow.
We raised our glasses to a great trip and
seaside golf at its very best...
BREATHTAKING
MULLION
If you make it is far as Cornwall with your
golf clubs, you need to also sample one of
the county’s hidden golfing gems – Mullion
Golf Club.
Mullion, a 40-minute drive south east of St
Ives, is set on cliff tops of the Lizard Peninsula
and is the southernmost course in England.
Golf has been played across the picturesque
seaside slopes here since 1895 and very little
of the course has changed over the years. The
locals will tell you this is where authors Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and
A.A Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh) played all of their
golf in summer.
The stretch of holes from the 4th – with its
clifftop tee – through to the early offerings on
the back nine will last long in the memory.
This is not a championship course where
you will be stretched to reach the greens on
par-4s in two shots. This is a fun layout where
quirky, but natural and fun, holes have been
laid out across the sandy terrain. There are
dramatic elevation changes, which give rise to
some fun shots and memorable views, as
well as some blind shots.
:LQGVRU*ROI&OXE/LIHVW\OHPHPEHUVKLSLVMXVW
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RQ

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McQuade Ave, South Windsor 2756
P 024577 4390 W www.windsorgolfclub.com.au
 CLUB OF THE MONTH

Windsor
COUNTRY GOLF CLUB
     ŗ       ŗ Ċ ŗ    ŗ      ŗ 
  

134 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 Despite being ravaged by floods numerous times throughout its 54-year history,
Windsor Country Golf Club continues to rise from the depths and offers one of
north-western Sydney’s most enjoyable rounds.
WORDS MICHAEL JONES PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDAN JAMES

T
he key factors that go towards
making a golf course ‘good’ will vary
from person to person, but one of the
most common threads is likely to be its
ability to immerse a player. Whether that’s
through its design, its presentation, its
surroundings, or a combination of all three,
a good golf course should always have the
ability to capture your full attention.
I was eight and a half holes through my
round at Windsor Country Golf Club before I
lost focus of the task at hand. But that was in
no way the fault of the course. A large military
plane was flying low overhead on its way back
to the RAAF base in Richmond, which caused
a fat lizard to scamper over my foot as it ran to
safety. Once the excitement – and dare I say it,
fear – had subsided, I turned my attention
back to what had so far been a very enjoyable
golf course.
Situated an hours’ drive northwest of
Sydney’s CBD, Windsor opened its gates in
1963 and sits on an old dairy farm, just 15
kilometres from the base of the Blue
Mountains. And its story as a club is an
intriguing one.
Designed by Sydney course architect,
Prosper Ellis, the parkland course lies on
plains adjacent to the Hawkesbury River – so
it has always been prone to flooding. But over

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 135

 Windsor’s signature hole
– the par-5 8th hole – can
make or break your round.
the past three years, there have been six major
incidents where portions of the course were
submerged by more than five metres of water.
That, of course, has led to significant financial
strains through damage repairs and the loss of
green fee players.
But the club is a stubborn one. It has a
strong membership that regularly produces
full fields, and a development application for a
three-stage renovation to its clubhouse has
just been submitted.
The maintenance team, headed by course
superintendent Jeff McManus, has also
ensured the playing surfaces have been kept to
a high standard. This means the kikuyu
fairways are healthy and relatively lush, while
most of the bentgrass greens have been raised
to protect them from flooding and run at a
friendly speed.
136 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
After speaking with a number of Windsor’s
members, it became abundantly clear that the
club is extremely proud of its course. And so it
should be. The layout has been battered and
bruised by Mother Nature, but it continues to
re-emerge from the depths to challenge and
thrill its occupants. Two of its best holes come
in succession, and begin an enjoyable closing
stretch to the opening nine.
The par-3 7th measures 136 metres from
the back tees and plays over a picturesque
pond. It is one of the prettiest holes on the
entire course. Rickabys Creek runs along the
entire left flank, but will only catch the worst
of hooks or pulls, while a thin green is guarded
by a bunker that will leave a tricky scramble
for par.
Although Windsor only stretches to 5,886
metres from the tips, its tree-lined fairways
Like most of the par-3s at
Windsor, the 2nd hole features
water between tee and green.
protect it – for the most part – from the
bombers off the tee. The exception to that rule
comes in the form of the par-5 8th hole. Now’s
the time to bring out the big stick and take on a
lake that forces a 200-metre-plus carry.
Anything pulled or hooked will need a bathing
suit, while anything too far right will only
lengthen the 444-metre-long hole.
Most members will tell you the 8th is the
signature hole at Windsor. But they’ll also be
sure to mention the par-4 15th hole, which
starts an enjoyable closing quartet of holes.
The 378-metre two-shotter is completely
defenceless in the way of sand, and it offers a
generous fairway off the tee. The challenge
here comes during the approach into a
multi-tiered green. Anything slightly short
will roll back towards you, while anything on
the wrong level will leave a difficult putt. Take
THE LAYOUT HAS
BEEN BATTERED
AND BRUISED BY
MOTHER NATURE,
BUT IT CONTINUES
TO RE-EMERGE
FROM THE DEPTHS
TO CHALLENGE
AND THRILL ITS
OCCUPANTS.

your par and run.
Next comes the short par-4 16th, which
should offer some respite if you’ve been
carding some big numbers. The 294-metre
hole is thought to be the easiest test on the
course, and is reachable by the longest of
hitters by cutting the corner. But the
conservative – and perhaps smarter – play is
to take your 180-metre club and play a shot
down the middle of the fairway, leaving a short
approach into a flat green that’s protected by
bunkers left and right.
The final par-3 is also the penultimate hole
at Windsor. And while it is said to be an
underrated challenge, a lot of visitors will
think highly of it. An elevated railway line
overlooks a shallow but wide green – which
simply must be hit from 130 metres to avoid a
difficult chip. But, if you do miss, make sure
The short downhill par-4 16th
can be attacked from the tee but
be wary of the sand.
The diminutive
par-3 7th hole
is one of the
prettiest holes
on the course.
you come up short and left, away from the
front bunker.
Don’t get too cocky if you’ve put together a
solid score as you walk to the 18th tee. The final
hole is more than capable of ruining your
scorecard. And although it doesn’t stand out in
terms of its distance (351 metres), it plays uphill
towards the clubhouse and into the prevailing
wind. This means your approach shot will often
require more than a mid-iron into a green that
slopes steeply from back to front.
Windsor certainly goes a long way in terms
of its design, presentation and surroundings.
But what helped keep this writer so immersed
throughout the day was the club’s continuous
ability to bounce back from all the hardships it
has gone through. And although it would be a
fine course without its loyal members, it
certainly wouldn’t be quite as good.
FACT FILE
THE COURSE
LOCATION: McQuade Ave, South Windsor, New
South Wales, 2756.
CONTACT: (02) 4577 4390.
WEBSITE: www.windsorgolfclub.com.au
DESIGNERS: Prosper Ellis (1963).
COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Jeff McManus.
PGA PROFESSIONALS: Adam and Corrine
Kelleher.
SLOPE RATINGS: 128 (Men’s black tees), 127
(Men’s blue tees), 124 (Men’s white tees), 127
(Women’s red tees), 124 (Women’s yellow tees).
PLAYING SURFACES: Kikuyu (fairways),
Bentgrass (greens).
GREEN FEES: Weekdays: $22 (18 holes), $15 (9
holes). Weekend: $38 (18 holes), $20 (9 holes).
THE CLUB
MEMBERSHIPS: Windsor offers a wide range
of membership categories and joining fees are
currently being waived (conditions apply).
Full Memberships cost $1,200 and include Golf
NSW Affiliation, seven days of golf, voting rights,
no social green fees, access to all competitions
and a $170 bar account. Limited Memberships
cost $700 and provide the same entitlements as
Full Memberships but attract higher competition
fees and don’t allow access to championship
events or voting rights.
Associate (Female) Memberships cost $818.20
and provide six-day access to the course –
excluding Saturdays – and $80 bar credit. Post
Junior (18 to 24-years-old) Memberships are
$400 but don’t include voting rights.
Lifestyle Memberships cost $99 per year
and provide access to both open and closed
weekend club events. Pensioner, Junior and
Cadet Memberships are also available.
RECIPROCAL CLUBS: ACT (Gungahlin Lakes
GC); NSW (Forster-Tuncurry GC, Gulgong GC,
Maitland GC).
WEDDINGS & CORPORATE GOLF: Windsor
Country Golf Club provides the perfect outdoor
setting to celebrate your wedding day. The club’s
experienced staff prides itself on attention to
detail and offers a variety of packages to cater to
individual needs.
Windsor offers corporate golf days on
Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The club will
take care of everything from electric carts to
food, banners and signage. Packages start at $50
per person and include 18 holes of golf, breakfast
and a cooked lunch.
Email Adam from the Functions Team
(adam@windsorgolfclub.com.au) to start
organising your event.
golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 137
 G E T A W AY S

Follow in the footsteps of

champions at Royal Birkdale.

A TASTE OF ENGLISH ROYALTY

If you found yourself watching on with envy The tour goes from June 25 to July 5, 2019, are also city tours included, and others which
as the world’s best players traversed their way and packages include accommodation, daily can be organised. Prices start at $6,400 (per
around Royal Birkdale during this year’s Open breakfast, all ground transportation (where person, twin share).
Championship, here’s your chance to walk in specified), and welcome and farewell dinners. For more information, a full itinerary,
their footsteps. There will be plenty of free afternoons to and to book, call (02) 8484 2059 or visit
The Golf Touring Company has combined explore each destination at your will, but there www.thegolftouringcompany.com.au
with Richard Mercer – a member of the
Australian PGA for over 30 years – to give you
the opportunity to play some of England’s best
golf courses, including Royal Birkdale.
You’ll spend 10 nights in four-star central
accommodation and play five rounds of
championship golf alongside one of Australia’s
best coaches. Mercer is the director of the
Richard Mercer Golf Academy at The Vintage
Golf Club in the Hunter Valley, where he has
been nominated NSW PGA Instructor of the
Year three times.
The courses included throughout the trip
are: The Belfry (Brabazon Course), which has
hosted four Ryder Cups; Royal Birkdale, host
of 10 Open Championships and regularly
recognised as England’s best golf club;
Sunningdale GC (Old Course), which is one of
the country’s most visually pleasing courses;
and Hillside GC and Woburn GC (Dukes
Course), both highly-regarded golf courses.
There are also options to play Royal Lytham or Playing Sunningdale is one of the
great English golf experiences.
Southport & Ainsdale.

138 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia

 MASTERING PINEHURST
Most diehard golf fans tend to have one thing
at the very top of their bucket lists: Attend the
US Masters at Augusta National.
Well, now’s the time to seriously consider
clearing your schedule, because Teed Up
Golf Tours has put together a package that
will be hard to beat – especially since it
includes multiple rounds at the acclaimed
Pinehurst Resort.
The 11-day tour includes: Three nights’
accommodation at the Carolina Hotel,
with three rounds at the famous Pinehurst
No.2, No.4 and No.8. There’s tickets to the
US Masters for Tuesday’s practice rounds,
Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest, Friday’s second
round, and Sunday’s final round and
jacket presentation.
The Carriage Package starts at US$15,990
(per person twin share) and departs on March
30, 2018. Non-golfing packages are also
available for $14,500.
For more information, call (02) 8458 9000 or
visit www.teedupgolftours.com

ROSEBUD POSTCARDS
Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is one of the world’s
great golf destinations and the Rosebud Motel provides
convenient access to some of the best courses on offer.
Whether you feel like a game at The Dunes, St
Andrews Beach or Portsea Golf Club, the Rosebud
Motel can organise everything.
Golfers and their partners are currently enjoying
packages that include: six nights’ accommodation,
green fees on five golf courses, and cooked or
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES X 4; BRENDAN JAMES (THE DUNES)

continental breakfast daily.

Courses included are: Cape Schanck, Devil Bend,
Eagle Ridge, Flinders, Mornington, Portsea, Rosebud
Country Club, Rosebud Public, Sorrento, St Andrews
and The Dunes (pictured).
Moonah Links and The National are also available on
request for extra fees. Packages start from $120 per
person per night.
For more information, call (03) 5985 2041 or visit
www.rosebudmotel.net.au

golf australia | DECEMBER 2017 139

 TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL 0412 327 886

G O L F H O L I DAY S

VICTORIA VICTORIA

Golfers Resort GLENN MC CULLY

Yarrawonga Golf Schools
Luxury self contained accommodation 3 and 5 Day Schools
2-7 Day Golf Packages Group, Private & Beginner Formats
Summer and Winter specials from $525 pp. twin share
www.golfersresort.com.au www.golfersresort.com.au
info@golfersresort.com.au info@golfersresort.com.au
03 5744 1994 03 5744 1994
G O L F H O L I DAY S

THE 2018 US MASTERS ■■■■■■■

TOURNAMENT
APRIL
2018
■■■■■■■
South Coast
CHOOSE FROM SEVERAL PACKAGES
1 DAY TO 5 DAYS - FROM $A1,050 Golf Tours
With our all-inclusive packages, we take care of you from start
to finish. Let us create and deliver the very best golf experience
on the south coast of New South Wales.

Fully Escorted by an experienced Australian Tour Manager.

All inclusive package (not airfare). Entrance tickets to Make your golf experience
Augusta National Golf Club, accommodation, transfers, and more. to the New South Wales
Established over 21 years ago we have been running US Masters tours every year since 1997.
Sapphire Coast the ONLY
We have the experience and local knowledge to make your US Masters Tour unforgettable.
Stay in a quality Hotel less than 1 mile from Augusta National with over 6 restaurants close by. golf experience.
ATFS also provides you with official US masters gifts. ATFS plan, run and escort the tour 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.

P.O. Box 512 Merimbula NSW 2548

PACKAGES ARE LIMITED SO IT IS BEST TO BOOK AS SOON
AS YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE PART OF HISTORY. t: 0434 291 173 e: info@southcoastgolftours.com
AUSTRALIAN TOURS FOR SPORT www.southcoastgolftours.com
www.atfs.com.au
Tel: 1800 806 879

TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

 TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

G O L F H O L I DAY S / C OAC H I N G

DA

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&

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STAY at Loxton Hotel one of

SA’s great country pubs!

&
PLAY at Loxton,acclaimed as one
of SA’s best regional courses!

SYDNEY’S LEADING GOLF FACILITY!

G O L F H O L I DAY S / C OAC H I N G
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GOLF STAY & PLAY

Package includes: 2 nights stay at well appointed 4 star property including daily breakfast and
EXCLUSIVE complimentary upgrade offer* and an 18 hole round of golf including cart at Gerringong Golf Club.

2 Night Packages $349pp Twin Share

Midweek Specials of $329pp apply
To book call Platinum Travel on 1300 733 323
*subject to availability

THE COURSE BESIDE THE SEA

 ET P L AC E
MARK G O L F H O L I DAY S / AC C E S S O R I E S

Australia’s Finest
Sandbelt Courses
■ 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 • rated property only a short walk to
Mornington quirky cafes, beaches, unique shopping.

Peninsula
• Central to TheBellarines great golf courses +
wineries, farm gates, many other attractions.
• A range of accommodation - Studio, P 03 5254 1066 Barwon Heads VIC
1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom. www.seahavenvillage.com.au

Personally tailored packages on application.

G O L F H O L I DAY S / AC C E S S O R I E S

COURSES SELECTED FROM

Cape Schanck - Devil Bend - Eagle Ridge - Flinders
Mornington - Portsea - Rosebud Country Club
Rosebud Public - Sorrento - St Andrews - The Dunes

Extra Fee Applies For Moonah Links / The National

All within 25 kilometres. For further enquiries and bookings

ROSEBUD MOTEL
1869 Point Nepean Road Rosebud West VIC 3941
T: 03 5985 2041 F: 03 5985 6626
E: rosebudmotel@bigpond.com W: www.rosebudmotel.net.au
Price based on twin share Seasonal Adjustments Apply

From US$

Book early
packages
- Guaranteed Masters Badges - hotel -
& save
- merchandise - tour host -
2, 3 & 6 night options
Prices start from US$1,990

Tours
- Guaranteed Masters Badges - hotel -
- merchandise - tour host -
Play Torrey Pines, Aviara, FOREST HILLS & WOODSIDE
6 & 9 night options
prices start from US$6,290

Join over 70 Fanatic golf fans at the us masters!

www.thefanatics.com 1300 326 284 payment options available in aud or USD

prices twin share & valid at time of publication

TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

 TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

GOLF ACCESSORIES

FIND-A-BALL Practice for power and consistency

and enjoy the game again!
GOLF GLASSES
Find-a-Ball golf glasses have specially tinted, UV coated lenses which filter
out foliage and grass enabling white balls to stand out against trees grass
and fairways. $247IP.5PI0
NG
The glasses are designed to block out the majority of light creating a very FREE SH
clever way of locating your white or yellow balls easily. The balls appear
brighter in your vision thus making it easier to see your ball.
The benefits are fewer lost balls meaning fewer penalty strokes and less
frustration, better score, more enjoyment, and reduced time spent holding up
play looking for lost balls.
The Find-a-Ball golf glasses come
complete with moulded zip up carry
case that can clip onto your bag, and
also a cleaning cloth
They even come with adjustable side
Visit our
arms to allow you to use the Find-a-
Ball golf glasses over your prescription
online shop
distance glasses. today!

$29.50 * Displays club head acceleration and ball impact

GOLF ACCESSORIES
plus * Provides real-time audio feedback as you swing
Postage &
* Includes a benchmark library of your best swings
Handling

For more information or to order visit our website www.golfscene.com.au W W W. O N S O N G S W I N G . C O M

or call us on 1300 852433

“you give up
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right iron
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GET ORGANISED WITH Coupon Code: Send photos and details of interests eg. Golf
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or email: amoir@bigpond.net.au
1300 738 557 | www.kahmagolf.com More info at www.moir.com.au
 ET P L AC E
MARK
G O L F R E A L E S TAT E
G O L F R E A L E S TAT E

TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

 TO ADVERTISE IN GOLFER’S MARKETPLACE CALL DAVID MULLINS ON 0412 327 886

G O L F AC C E S S O R I E S / H O L I DAY S / S E R V I C E S

Call PATSI 0439 846 314 or email CLAREMONT GOLF CLUB

patsi@golfinghomes.com.au

Specialising in:
STAY & PL AY
You will be playing on this 18 hole golf course, surrounded by the
Derwent River, offering stunning views! For all details regarding the
Golf Course Real course and amenities on offer visit: www.claremontgolf.com.au
Estate Buying,
Selling or Renting
AUSTRALIA WIDE

www.golfinghomes.com.au

G O L F AC C E S S O R I E S / H O L I DAY S / S E R V I C E S
You will be staying in a beautifully
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the Cadbury’s Peninsula in Claremont,

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 GOLF
IS GOOD E XC LU S I V E BY A N D R E W DA D D O | G O L F AU S T R A L I A C O LUMNI S T
NEVER THROW A HIGH-FIVE WILLY NILLY
I’M low and he’s high. It’s a proper disaster,
like, practically castastrophic, but not quite
life threatening.
But then, it is a different type of life
threatening because it’s a humiliating and a
disaster and it’s with Greg Norman.
Have we talked about Greg before? Let’s just
say, I’m a fan. We’re not mates or anything like
that, but I dig him. As we all know, when there’s
someone you’re into, the absolute last thing you
want to do is make a tool of yourself in front of
them. That’s what was unfolding in front of me
in glorious live action – while being recorded in
technicolor for The Golf Show.
Oh, the pain!
The scene is the launch of a new course in
country Victoria called Cathedral Lodge. You may
have heard of it, it’s the brainchild of Melbourne
businessman David Evans. As the story goes,
at the age the rest of us were fantasising
over playing cricket for Australia, footy for the
Demons or dating Pamela Anderson in her
Baywatch one piece. David dreamt a bigger
dream, to grow up and build his own
golf course.
He must have dreamt it well. Because not far
from Eildon is his property with a spanking new
golf course, designed by my ‘new’ mate Greg
Norman: apparently it compares favourably with
Ellerston, but history will have to judge that one.
Befitting the launch of a dream, there was a
swanky opening for Cathedral Lodge. Heaps
of people were there, lots of media, and
celebs including Warnie, Punter and a bunch
146 DECEMBER 2017 | golf australia
of Essendon footballers. And designer, Greg
Norman, of course.
I was there to cover it for The Golf Show, and,
even better, we were given a hole to play and
film with Norman, David Evans and his lovely
wife. It was great.
One whole hole.
A short par 3. Did I need to use a tee for the
9 iron? No. Of course not, which was lucky,
because I couldn’t get the friggin’ ball to stay
on the tee. It’s as if the top of the tee was
flat, but the ball wouldn’t stay there. Like a
12-year-old I blamed the tee. “Don’t blame the
Goddammmmm tee!” laughed Greg.
“The tee? It’s not the tee!” chipped Warnie.
“You nervous, Daddo?” Thank you very much,
Shane. I thought. Everyone laughed. I died, then
threw the stupid plastic tee into the pristine
Australian bush and regretted it because like
a cigarette butt in a national park, it’d be
there forever.
When I finally brought the club down on the
ball the crowd laughed even harder. I say crowd,
it felt like a crowd. It might have been a dozen
people. Okay fine. The gaggle laughed for
good reason.
I was forced to reload, humiliatingly and try
again. “Gonna use a tee this time, Daddo?”
Shut up, Warnie. Shut up!
“This’ll be interesting,” was all G Norman, in
his fitted black pants below his staggeringly svelt
upper torso, had to say.
I swung the club as best as I could and
managed to connect the ball with the face of the
golf club, not the hosel. “Get in,” says Warnie.
Alas, it was not meant to be, but the second
shot was better than the first shot by a factor of
about twelve million.
Greg said something which I can’t recall but
have imagined lots of different things, gave me a
thumbs up and came toward me. I put my hand
out to meet his, but Greg’s hand was going up.
Even though it happened really, really quickly, it
took forever. It was obvious we were heading
for a Tiger and Stevie moment. Norman was
coming at me with a high five and I was down
low for an old school handshake.
Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus.
He’s a pro though, right? He’s been through
this shit a million times with Tony Navarro and
Bruce Edwards. Hell, he had Steve Williams on
his bag. I bet he’s resurrected high fives with
Presidents and Prime Ministers. So he alters his
trajectory and comes in lower, I readjust and
go higher.
Greg’s overcooked it, like that putt on 17 in
‘96 at the Masters. “You’re too low. You’re too
low,” I want to scream. I don’t have the skill set
to fix this, but then he’s back up and our hands
meet, but I’m still shaping up for a handshake.
He’s committed to the high five and we meet
somewhere in the middle.
I’m holding his hand, he’s slapping mine.
Somehow, in an awkward melody of horror, we
end up like a pair of middle aged, black rappers
going ‘yo!’ in an arm wrestling handshake.
Was it as bad as it seemed? Probably! You can
check it out on The Golf Show.
PHOTO: ANDREW DADDO
E X P E R I E N C E TH E BES T IN Q UEENS LAN D G O L F

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