Golf Australia May 2015

In the past two years I’ve been lucky enough to be in Augusta for the tournament but I really enjoyed getting back into the habit of setting the alarm and desperately waiting to see the leaderboard for the first time in the telecast. This year I had the added joy of sharing the lounge with my eight-year-old son, Jackson. He was not interested in the slightest three years ago.That is no longer the case. He ventured out of bed in time to see Jordan Spieth making a birdie on the 9th hole of his third round.While Jack is still getting his head around the difference between bogies and birdies, he already has an eye for talent. After giving him a brief bio on Spieth, he fired back with “he’s pretty…

Change has remained a constant and close companion for Bonnie Doon Golf Club.The fluid layout that shares what little sandy soil Sydney has available for golf is entering the latter stages of an extensive redesign. The 118-year-old club is reworking what is its third different site. Bonnie Doon began as a 12-hole layout in the suburb of Tempe in the late 1890s before transitioning after a decade to an 18-hole course at nearby Arncliffe.That second home proved prescient in the club’s history. Firstly, the course was established on a grazing property with the name Bonnie Doon, which members voted to retain as the club’s new title (it was previously known as Marrickville Golf Club, not to be confused with the current club of the same name along the Cooks River).…

THE COURSE LOCATION: Banks Ave, Pagewood.The club is a 15-minute drive south of the Sydney CBD via either Anzac Parade or Southern Cross Drive. CONTACT: (02) 9349 2101. WEBSITE: www.bdgc.com.au DESIGNER: Lance Giddings & Eric Apperly (1937); Prosper Ellis (1951); Ross Watson (1995 to 2003); Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead (2011 and ongoing). SLOPE RATINGS: Men: 134/128/119; women: 132/128. PLAYING SURFACES: MacKenzie Bentgrass (greens), Windsor Green couch (tees, fairways and surrounds), Creeping, Sheeps and Chewings fescue blend (rough and bunker lips/surrounds). COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Justin Bradbury. PGA PROFESSIONAL: Blake Ballinger. THE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS: Membership is currently open, with discounted joining fees and annual subscriptions for prospective members younger than 40. Contact the club for full details. RECIPROCAL CLUBS: Federal (ACT); Brisbane, Peregian Springs, Sanctuary Cove (Qld); Glenelg (SA);Tasmania (Tas); Kew, Riversdale,Thirteenth…

WALKING past the range or the practice green at a tournament,it isn’t often I stop for more than a second or two but there are exceptions. If Rory Mcllroy is hitting balls – especially with his driver – I’ll take a few minutes to enjoy his swing. He is so impressive with the longer clubs in the bag. His shots make “that noise”, the distinctive crunch that confirms proper contact between club and ball. When I was a kid growing up in Melbourne I attended maybe 25 events in which Greg Norman played. In probably 10 of those he was still using wooden woods. I would sit at the back of the range and watch him hit. No one else’s shots sounded like his.They were just different. If I close…

IT is arguably the most challenging, high profile golf course development ever but the course that will host golf’s return to the Olympics in Rio next year is all but finished. The yet to be named layout, designed by Gil Hanse and Amy Alcott, has been the subject of legal disputes for the past few years and there were serious doubts that the course would be ready in time for the Games in August 2016. But these images prove work on the venue is well advanced. “Everyone who has been following the story knows the project went on a bit longer than we anticipated so to now have the design complete and turned over for growing is a huge hurdle we’ve negotiated,” Hanse told Reuters. “It’s also very timely because…

MARCH PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION We had plenty of witty entries to our photo of Robert Allenby looking like he is seeking divine intervention. The best entry according to our judges came from Ashley Hansen of Denmark, Western Australia, with:“Allenby hires tallest man in the world to be his caddy,‘7-iron please Tiny’!” Congratulations Ashley, you win a pair of adidas Tour 360X shoes worth $149. ANZ STADIUM MEMBERSHIP WINNER All subscribers to Golf Australia magazine were entered into a draw to win an ANZ Stadium membership for them and a friend valued at $3,980.The winner was John Air of Thirroul, NSW. golf Australia We’re on Facebook. Like us and get news updates and the chance to win prizes at www.facebook.com/ golfaustralia Follow Golf Australia on Twitter @GolfAustMag www.golfaustralia.com.au…