Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Golf Australia

“...WHO SHOULD GOLF AUSTRALIA AND THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA HAVE ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SHOPPING LISTS?” WITH two of this country’s most prestigious golf events – the Emirates Australian Open and the Australian PGA – still six months away, it’s likely the drawcards for both championships have been signed. With contracts signed and appearance fees negotiated, organisers for both tournaments should (hopefully) start announcing their marquee players within the next month or so. It is also around this time of year that you hear the odd whisper around the traps about who will be coming and who won’t. Much of it you take with a grain of salt. At the time of writing, I was hearing Jordan Spieth was a good chance to come back to Sydney to defend his Open…

THERE IS, OF COURSE, ONLY ONE SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY AT CLUB LEVEL. LET’S GET RIGHT BACK TO BASICS. BAN YARDAGES ALTOGETHER. TAKE AWAY THOSE SILLY 150-YARD MARKERS. LOOK, I get it. At the elite level, golf is a lucrative business. Players are out there competing for millions of whatever currency you care to mention. So they should be careful; they should take a little time to consider; they should have their little routines before every shot.We all understand that aspect of the professional game. But news that, as part of recently announced proposals regarding possible changes to the Rules of Golf, the PGATour is going to begin testing distance-measuring devices (DMDs) on the Web.com Tour, Mackenzie Tour and PGATour Latinoamérica later this year is nothing more than surrender in the war…

KUCHAR’S SLIP-UP I read with interest about the class Matt Kuchar displayed by signing his hole-in-one golf ball on the 16th hole during the final round of the Masters, before handing it to a young lad in the gallery. It was a great display of kindness. However, I was in the grandstand on 15 when Kuchar attempted to get on the green in two, and he pushed it right. His ball hit a lady flush on the shoulder, and then rolled into the water. Kuchar did not acknowledge her, didn’t go and see if she was alright and continued play as if nothing had happened. I understand people run the risk when seated so close to the playing area, however common courtesy is still alive in society. Being there, I…

“…WE BOTH PLAYED OUT OF OUR SKIN. IT WAS REALLY GOOD.”– CAMERON SMITH WINNING SCORE: 27 under par, 261 (won in a playoff) DEFEATED: The Australian (Smith) and Swede (Blixt) beat Americans Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown on the fourth hole of sudden death. Kisner chipped in for eagle in near darkness at the 72nd hole on Sunday to force the Monday playoff to decide the first staging of the new two-man team format. SMITH’S EQUIPMENT CHOICE: DRIVER Titleist 917D3 with 10.5° loft, fitted with UST Mamiya Elements Chrome Prototype PT6F5 shaft. 3-WOOD Titleist 917F2 with 16.5° loft, fitted with UST Mamiya Elements Chrome Prototype PT8F5 shaft. IRONS Titleist 716 T-MB (3-9), fitted with Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage 100HY TX shaft (3-iron) and KBS Prototype shafts (4-9). WEDGES Titleist Vokey…

THE pretty little country town of Maldon in central Victoria is famous as the home of writer Henry Handel Richardson and Bill Woodfull, captain of the Australian cricket team in the infamous “Bodyline” series of 1932-33. On July 23 it will celebrate another noted inhabitant, Walter Travis, with a golf tournament where a small group of his admirers will dress up in period costume and play with hickory shafted clubs. The fourth of 11 children, Travis was born in Maldon in 1862 and died in America 90 years ago on July 31, 1927. In his adopted home he was for a time regarded as one of the best golfers in the world, and he followed his playing career by establishing and editing the American Golfer magazine and designing more than…

Only one World No.1 – Tiger Woods – has won the US Open in the past 13 years, and nobody has won back-to-back titles since Curtis Strange. So, who has the form and the game required to deny Dustin Johnson from winning his second major? RORY MCILROY won the US Open in 2011 at Congressional and set the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record – 16-under, 268. The Northern Irishman is a statistician’s dream, and is hard to look past. He’s the longest off the tee, has the lowest scoring average of 68.87, and is second on Tour for strokes gained approaching the green. He also sits inside the top-10 for scrambling. McIlroy’s biggest downfall, however, is well-documented and sees him outside the top-100 for strokes gained putting. JORDAN SPIETH won in…

I first started playing around 2000. I was at the Golden Door Health Farm, and golf was a way of getting out of there! I went down for a clinic at Sanctuary Cove, learned how to swing a club. And I just started connecting, a couple came off the middle and it was such a great feeling. Great fun. And I came away from that thinking, ‘This is something I can take up with my mates, instead of lunch or drinks’. I didn’t know then that the 19th hole is as important as any of them! Golf seemed so foreign; it looked so difficult. But I decided that I was going to bring it into my life. I joined St Michael’s in Sydney which was a lovely experience because the…

EVERY putt is a straight putt! On face value, this seems like a silly statement to make. But it isn’t when you consider this. Every breaking putt has an apex point where the slope and gravity take over and the ball will move left or right … hopefully towards the hole. The key to holing breaking putts is to hit a straight putt at the apex point. Using two clubs or alignment sticks, lay one club pointing at the hole and another aimed at the apex point (pic 1) – the point where you believe you will need to aim your straight putt and, if struck at the right speed, will then break into the hole. Here, I have placed a tee on the ideal line that will see a…

1. HIT A PENETRATING DRIVE OFF THE TEE When you’re playing in a head or side wind the quality of your strike is even more important than launching the ball lower and with less spin. A well-struck shot has a more penetrative trajectory through the wind than a lower flight that you don’t catch as well. Swinging harder simply increases your chances of an off-centre hit and adds spin to the ball, both of which contribute to a weak, errant flight. Make a smooth swing for a sweet strike and less spin. Master the stinger Play the ball just forward of middle in your stance so the clubhead is travelling parallel to the ground at impact and slightly to the left of target. This should produce that low stinger flight…

While Australians are fortunate to have a suitable climate for year- round golf, the varied extremes of playing in the hot summer and the wet and cold winter requires golfers to be prepared for any weather. While some are fair weather players, the majority of golfers, especially the true diehards and travelling golfers, will brave whatever Mother Nature has to offer to spend a few hours on the course, hoping despite the conditions, that it might prove to be the day of their greatest golfing success. Here is a collection of the latest cold and wet weather clothing, including innovative layer pieces, to help keep the winter wind and rain from affecting your game. PING ANDERS JACKET Made from 100 percent Polyester and fully seam-sealed, the Anders Jacket is a…

MODELS PLAYED: KING Forged ONE Length (4-GW), with KBS Tour FLT Stiff shafts. KING F7 ONE Length (4-GW), with True Temper KING F7 Stiff shafts. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Aside from the obvious fact that all the shafts were the same length, the head sizes and shapes stood out on first look. Both models are appealing shapes and are also offered by Cobra in variable length for good reason. The Forged are a clean, good looking shape, with a noticeably low amount of offset. The F7 are larger in size and inspire confidence without looking overly bulky behind the ball. At address I can generally tell what iron I am holding without looking at the number stamped on the bottom, with the Cobra One length irons this proved almost impossible. Taking the…

SPOT THE BALL WHERE could LexiThompson’s ball be in this photo? All you have to do is correctly identify where her ball is hidden on the grid, using the letters and numbers (eg. A4, B2 etc). Answer correctly and you could win a dozen Mizuno JPX-S golf balls.The new JPX-S is a soft compression edition of Mizuno’s three piece ball – producing a balanced performance for a wider range of swing speeds, which also boasts Mizuno’s Dimple-Cluster design for improved aerodynamics. TO ENTER: Select your grid reference and then go to, www.golfaustralia.com.au, to submit your answer.The winner and the correct answer will be published in the August issue of Golf Australia magazine. APRIL SPOT THE BALL WINNER & ANSWER WE had some very keen observers for this competition with a…

THE RULES SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE GAME. WHY WAIT FOUR YEARS TO ADMIT SOMETHING NEEDS FIXING? AS the first major of every new season, the ANA Inspiration is always a big event on the LPGATour. It is the female equivalent of the Masters, in that it is always played on the same course. All of which is why I have always enjoyed watching on television, as I did again earlier this year. Like everyone else, I was really impressed by the play of LexiThompson, who held the lead midway through the final round. Or at least we all thought she did. But when rules officials appeared on the course, everything changed. A television viewer –not me, I hasten to add – had called in to…

“UNLIKE CHAMBERS BAY HOWEVER, THE GREENS ARE BENTGRASS SO THEY ARE MORE TRADITIONAL AND MORE LIKE PLAYERS WILL BE USED TO IN TERMS OF HOW BALLS WILL REACT. – COMPETITION DIRECTOR JOHN MORRISSET” This year’s United States Open Championship will again provide another contrast to the time honoured, traditional venues of US Opens past when the United States Golf Association (USGA) hosts its blue riband event at the largely unknown (to the outside world) Erin Hills course in rural Wisconsin. America’s 30th state is no stranger to major championship golf in the modern era with three PGA Championships staged at Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan, in 2004, 2010 and most recently in 2015, when Australian Jason Day held off the mighty challenge of Jordan Spieth to capture…

1. ALWAYS WARM UP BEFORE YOUR ROUND Never go straight to the tee and swing full out with a driver on a cold day. That’s the recipe for at best a poor performance and at worst an injury that could stop you playing golf for a period of time. Get your muscles warm by stretching lightly and then swinging gently with a wedge, working up to full swings. Even if you don’t have time for a proper range session this will at least get the blood flowing and the muscles fired up before you think about stepping foot on the 1st tee. 2. KNOW YOUR IRON YARDAGES It’s amazing how many amateurs don’t accurately know how far they carry their irons on average. This can cause trouble when it’s cold…

PING CLASSIC BEANIE Severe weather requires all over protection. Made from 100 percent acrylic fabric, this beanie will keep the heat in on even the harshest of winter days. RRP: $35 PING CART GLOVES Your hands are the only connection to your golf club and cold winter days can make them feel like they have been sitting in ice since your last shot. Keep your hands warm during your round with Ping’s cart mittens, which are both durable and warm. RRP: $49 (pair) FOOTJOY DRYJOYS TOUR BUCKET HAT Don’t leave any stone unturned in your wet weather preparation. This bucket hat lets you perform your best when the weather turns. SRP: $43.95 FOOTJOY DRYJOYS CART MITTS Keep your hands warm between shots with these Cart Mitts. Elastic cuffs and fleece…

THE COURSE LOCATION: Gowrie Drive, Red Hill, ACT. CONTACT: (02) 6281 1888. WEBSITE: www.federalgolf.com.au DESIGNERS: James H. Scott (1950); Prosper Ellis (1967); Course staff (ongoing). SLOPE RATINGS: 133 (Black men’s tees), 131 (Blue men’s tees), 127 (White men’s tees), 139 (red women’s championship) and 130 (Red women’s tees). PLAYING SURFACES: Santa Ana couch (fairways), bentgrass (greens). COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Mark Thomson. PGA PROFESSIONALS: Michael Clough, Jason Pavese, Damon Welsford. GREEN FEE: $80. Limited tee times available for public play seven days. Bookings are essential. THE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS: There are eight membership options available at Federal. The Classic Membership is the premier category designed for golfers who are passionate and committed to playing and practicing multiple times a week. Classic Members enjoy a range of benefits designed to enhance the overall…

SHELLS APARTMENTS, SORRENTO Shells Sorrento offers boutique accommodation in the main street of Sorrento. Set amongst the relaxed village atmosphere along the entertainment and boutique shopping precinct, Shells provides everything you may need in their fully self-contained apartments to make the most of your stay in Sorrento. An easy walk to both ocean and bay beaches, Shells is also within 20 minutes’ drive of 10 championship golf courses. For couples, families or groups, (golfers, weddings etc), Shells has one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available for a one night stay, weekends or longer holiday accommodation. Each apartment has a full kitchen, lounge and dining area, as well as reversed cycle air conditioning, private laundry, secure parking and a TV in each bedroom. Play and stay golf packages are available through Shells’…

THE COURSE LOCATION: Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, 4068. CONTACT: (07) 3721 2121 or (07) 3721 2122. WEBSITE: www.indooroopillygolf.com.au DESIGNERS: Al Howard & members (1964); Bob Green (1976); Ross Watson (1985, 2006 and ongoing). PLAYING SURFACES: Greenlees Park couch (fairways); Bermuda 328 (greens). COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Charlie Giffard. PGA PROFESSIONALS: Richard Harris, Craig Parker, Rod Hume. David Scott (Director of Golf). GREEN FEES: Indooroopilly welcomes visitors to play the 36-hole course from Sunday to Friday. The club offers six 18-hole combinations. $65 (18 holes Monday to Thursday), $75 (Friday and Sunday). Bookings can also be made online via the club’s website. THE CLUB MEMBERSHIPS: Applications for membership are welcomed. Categories of membership are based on playing rights and course access with generous discounts for younger members and the family of existing members.…

“THE MONSTROUS ERIN HILLS WILL PROVIDE JOHNSON WITH A SPECTACULAR STAGE AS HE ENTERS HIS FIRST MAJOR AS THE GAME’S PREMIER PLAYER.” A lot can change in three years. Dustin Johnson looked destined to a life full of sex, drugs and rocky rolls for a while there. Anyone following his career throughout the 2014 season could see how talented the athletic American was. It was clear as day. But he had severe problems between his ears and on the greens. The then 30-year-old ended the 2014 season ranked 82nd on Tour for strokes gained putting, and was predicted to become ‘the next Tiger Woods’ for all the wrong reasons. A report was released in August of that year claiming Johnson had failed three drug tests in five years, including two…

1. HIT HIGH DRIVES WITH MAXIMUM CARRY The ball isn’t going to bounce much when it’s wet – if at all – so the total length of your tee shots will be mostly carry. This means the ideal flight is a bit different to when you’re looking for the ultimate combination of carry and run on drier fairways. You need to launch the ball high (13°-17°) and with relatively little backspin (2,500-3000rpm) to carry it as far as you can. Tweak your set-up to encourage the upward attack angle that gets the ball flying high and carrying further. Drill Hit over the box Place a sleeve of balls just in front of the ball when you practise so you have to swing up through the ball – rather than down…

It is a rare sight these days to see a player on the course without their top hand encased in a glove. And for good reason. A glove is more than just a fashion accessory. It offers improved grip, protection of the hand and helps to manage the sweat and oils from a golfer’s hands that can wreak havoc with your grip. In bad weather, the right glove (or two) can really help your game. If your glove is old, stiff or crusty it might be time for a new one. A collection of some of the best gloves in golf are featured here, as well as some handy tips on picking the right size glove and how to prolong its life. PUMA SPORT PERFORMANCE PLAYER’S Strategically placed Lycra combines…

BY way of introduction, I’ve tried to figure how our game got its tendrils into me and weaseled away until I was under her spell. It all happened a long time ago, I know that, but it’s hard to peg the actual moment. Maybe there wasn’t one pivotal scene, a heroic shot on the last for someone to say, ‘that’ll bring you back.’ I think our affair was a slow burn, falling gently at first, but hard nonetheless. My grandparents are definitely in the credits. She was the Lady Captain at Metropolitan, he was theTreasurer. Pop would take us for games there before we knew it was anything but a golf course. There’s a pine on the right side of the 1st hole that was like a magnet to us…