Indholdsfortegnelse for Jun 2022 - Issue 397 i Golf Australia

It had long been rumoured that the men’s and women’s Australian Opens could follow the Vic Open example and combine at the same venue. The move confirmed recently, with the 2022 editions set to be played at Victoria and Kingston Heath Golf Clubs in December. When considering the success of the Vic Open, the brainchild of David Greenhill that has proven a leading example for other events around the world, the decision to do the same with our national Opens was hardly a stretch. And given the support of the Daniel Andrews led Victorian Government for that event, getting the same backing for the first combined national Opens to be played anywhere in the world was not a monumental task. To be played December 1-4, the week following the Australian…

Imagine Jaws (1975), but not set in the ocean – it’s on a golf course, and instead of a shark – there’s a killer lawnmower on the loose. Nobody asked for this and yet, in 1989 Troma Entertainment, the world’s leading purveyor of so-bad-its-good movies presented us with Blades, a schlocky, grindhouse parody of Steven Spielberg’s bitey blockbuster. The movie opens with some teenagers partying on the idyllic grounds of the Tall Grass Country Club. A lovestruck duo break off from the group for a roll in the fescue only to get chopped up in flagrante delicto. Upon discovering the victims’ gruesome remains, course owner Norman Osgood is quick with a smile and quick with a nose for bad publicity – the sort of bad publicity that comes from people…

Going to a tournament I’ve played in previously, then not playing, would normally be really frustrating for me. And annoying. At heart, I still feel like I’m a golfer. So, I’d rather be playing than watching. But the Masters is different. I was there this year as a spectator and it really was a treat to be at Augusta National. Exciting too. I’m lucky, of course. As a past major champion I get invited every year. And I really get looked after. My ticket also gave me a parking pass inside the grounds. So, I got to drive up Magnolia Lane every day, which is a bit special. It was no surprise that everyone staying in our rented house wanted to jump in the car with me each morning. My…

Not that a U.S. Open Championship needs the publicity but with all due respect to defending champion Jon Rahm and many other high-profile players in the field, the news that both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had quietly filed their entries ensured a full court press by way of attention would rain down on Boston’s historic The Country Club in Brookline from June 16-19. Woods’ astounding return to Augusta National in April – at perhaps the toughest walk in tournament golf for anyone ‘not’ in possession of a traumatically injured lower limb – resulted in a global frenzy of interest and intrigue, especially when we all dared to dream following his opening round 71. Whether either actually make it to the tee at Brookline will be confirmed closer to the…

‘Amateurs seem to be afraid of height, of hitting the ball up in the air. That’s pretty much the opposite of what we are trying to do’TOMMY FLEETWOOD ‘My approach to driving is based around quality of strike; hit it solid and you’ll always hit it a long way’DUSTIN JOHNSON ‘When I was young I was told to hit as hard as you can. I think that’s great advice for anybody starting out in the game. As my game has developed, my coach has helped me build my swing from the ground up, with more solid footwork and a stronger turn around my spine. It’s made me more compact and consistent’CHARLEY HULL YOUR COACH CHRIS RYAN Founder of the HIT Golf Academy. chrisryangolf.com Unless you’ve been living in a cave…

1 ADDRESS There is an old school look about Hovland’s address. Most modern players have a straight back with their butt sticking out. Not Viktor. His shoulders are slightly rounded which is a throwback to yesteryear and the likes of Jack Nicklaus. There is nothing forced about his set-up, it looks very natural and the club shaft is set on a good plane (note how the grip butt points to his belt buckle). 2 THE FIRST MOVE Hovland has the simplest of first moves away from the ball. The takeaway has not been manipulated by his hands. The first move is all about the turning of the shoulders. If Viktor stopped the swing here and turned to face the clubhead, the clubface would still be square as it was at…

Golf balls seem a fairly simple piece of the equipment puzzle, but like golfers, swings and everything else, there exists great variety. As the one piece of equipment you use for every shot, the ball could also be the most important bit of kit. We wade through what’s out there to help you find the best ball for your game and price point. BRIDGESTONE TOUR B What do Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau and Jason Day all have in common? They all play Bridgestone’s latest TOUR B golf balls. Designed to deliver unparalleled distance and greenside control, the new TOUR B range feature ‘REACTIV iQ’ covers utilising impact modifiers. REACTIV iQ is a smart cover technology that reacts to the force of impact for the needs of each shot, meaning no trade-off…

The majestic Murray River and its verdant banks beg for discovery by those who like their holidays to unfold the further they venture between country towns. A new discovery (and golf course) hides behind every bend of the big river. Off the course, whether your idea of the perfect holiday involves produce plucked fresh from the source, hikes through iconic national parks or floating down Australia’s most famous river, the Murray is as diverse in its visitor experiences as the flora and fauna you’ll encounter along the way. Discovering the Murray is as simple as pointing your car to one of its regions, and whether you base your adventure in its west, centre or east – or do the whole thing – you’ll find a wide range of things to…

I have no doubt the great Dr Alister MacKenzie would like the links at Albany Golf Club. Not only does it fit the accepted definition of a links course – a strip of gently undulating, sandy terrain linking the sea with farmland or a town – but it also meets many of the 13 principles of course design he championed. The course should be arranged in two loops of nine holes. Check. There should be a large proportion of good two-shot holes, two or three drive-and-pitch holes, and at least four one-shot holes. Check. The greens and fairways should be sufficiently undulating, but there should be no hill climbing. Check. Every hole should have a diffierent character. Check. There should be a minimum of blindness for the approach shots. Check.…

The Australian automotive industry consumes more than 196,000 tonnes of plastic a year, with just 3,800 tonnes being recovered for recycling. An Australian owned non-profit enterprise based in Sydney called Boxhead Plastics is doing its part to by turning waste plastic car bumper bars into useful and clever products, including golf tees. After working in an administration job for 15 years, Boxhead Plastics founder Bec Healy retrained as a polymer technician and pioneered an innovative process that successfully repurposes plastic waste car bumper bars into golf tees and coasters. “The Boxhead Naiteev golf tee is the only tee manufactured in Australia, which is recycled and recyclable,” Healy said. “Globally, 1.5 billion golf tees are sold every year with the vast majority manufactured from virgin plastics or forested trees. “Our innovative…

EAGLE CLUB MEMBERS GET ALL THIS! • 24 issues of Golf Australia magazine• One dozen Callaway Supersoft golf balls• Golf Australia golf shirt• Choose a DVD - 8 golf titles to choose from• Entry in all chance to win competitions The Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball features Advanced HEX Aerodynamics, optimized for reduced drag, higher flight and longer carry distance. This issue, both new and extending subscribers have a chance to win a set of ZX4 Irons from Srixon, valued at $1,609.56! The ZX4 Irons are a fully hollow set created to bring forgiveness to the Srixon iron line-up while maintaining the brand’s signature look and forged feel. The iron’s sharp address view and mid-sized profile give them a palatable shape, while their technologies produce exceptional performance. ZX4 Irons deliver an…

As the previous pages show, there is no shortage of golf balls to choose from, and a large number of manufacturers who create them. So why would a new model from a company like Srixon be noteworthy? Because the Z-STAR Diamond is reflective of something happening across the industry, where companies are adding extra layers to premium lines to diversify performance. And this one has proven an instant hit with big name players. The brand’s Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV are well established, used to win majors by Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama. The pair offering a softer ball with more greenside spin (Z-STAR) and firmer ball geared to distance (Z-STAR XV), yet Srixon’s engineers set out to create something that was the best of both worlds.…

THURGOONA COUNTRY CLUB RESORT The resort has 26 well-appointed resort suites to suit and is just a short stroll from the 1st tee as well as the recently renovated clubhouse and restaurant. There are also tennis courts, a pool and gym available. www.thurgoonaresort.com.au COMMERCIAL ALBURY GOLF MOTEL Located just 100 metres from the clubhouse, this resort offers four-star accommodation in luxurious double, twin and family units and there are views across the golf course. www.commercialclubalbury.com.au HOWLONG GOLF RESORT The four-star resort has luxury apartments and rooms and features a salt water pool, sauna, kid’s playground as well as a tennis court. And it is just a 50-metre stroll to the 1st tee. www.howlonggolf.com.au COROWA GOLF CLUB Corowa boasts a 35-room motel on site. Play and stay packages are available that…

Set at the foot of the spectacular Mt Coolum, the golf club of the same name is rated by locals as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most underrated layouts. While it’s similarly named golfing neighbour has grabbed plenty of attention over the years, those golfers who seek out and discover the delights of Mt Coolum won’t be disappointed. The course opened for play as a nine-holer in 1976 and was known as the Suncoast Beach Golf Club. A name change to Mt Coolum came in the mid-80s and a further nine holes were added and completed in 1992. With the course being built in two stages, there is a definite mix of tight tree-lined fairways and wider more generous landing zones. There is also an interesting blend of small subtle…

The Links Lady Bay is South Australia’s finest links course and was recently ranked No.70 in the Top-100 Courses in the nation. Top-100 Judge Craig Read said: “This is an exceptional layout and makes me pity we don’t have more courses in Australia from this talented design trio – Jack Newton, Graeme Grant and John Spencer.” Now imagine, if you will, waking up in the morning, throwing back the covers, opening the curtains and having a panoramic view over this wonderful links course. Well, you don’t need to imagine. You can enjoy an overnight stay in a luxurious King Spa Suite with a continental breakfast delivered to the room to enjoy the morning overlooking the course and Lady Bay. The play and stay package also includes an 18-hole round for…

Curtis Strange was brimming with confidence when he arrived in Brookline for the 1988 U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club. He had beaten Greg Norman in a play-off to win what is now known as the Houston Open to start the month of May. He closed out that month with another win, this time a two-stroke victory over Hale Irwin and David Frost at the Memorial. It took 90 holes, but he would leave Brookline with his third victory in five PGA Tour starts, his first major championship and set the platform for a unique place in the event’s history the following year. A third consecutive sub-par round saw Strange work his way to the top of the leaderboard through 54 holes, holding a one-stroke lead over reigning Open…

Moree has been blessed by Mother Nature. The small country town of less than 7,500 people is the hub of a fertile agricultural region producing wheat, cotton, olives, sheep and cattle. The largest pecan nut farm in the southern hemisphere is a 25-minute drive east of town. That’s on top of the ground. Under the ground, there is the Great Artesian Basin, the largest and deepest groundwater holding in the world. This warm mineral-rich water has led to Moree and its surrounds gaining popularity as Australia’s artesian spa capital. But as I recently discovered, this picturesque country town about 620km north of Sydney and 480km south west of Brisbane, has been doubly blessed by Mother Nature. And it comes in the form of the par-72 layout at Moree Golf Club.…

The Kirsten Rudgeley story has a beginning, but not an end. How could it? At 21, Australia’s highest ranked female amateur golfer is still on the threshold of a career that has already taken her from the golf courses of Western Australia to the tough links of Carnoustie and the fabled grounds of Augusta National. Yet there is more to come. Much more if you ask any member of her team. It’s a tight knit group, Team Kirsten, and one which believes completely that her dream of a career in the professional ranks is not just achievable but edging ever closer. This from Brett Rumford, himself a six-time winner on the European Tour and a confidante of Kirsten. “She’s got the goods. There’s a lot of people who are aware…

For the vast majority of golfers, statistically, the most important shot on most holes isn’t necessarily the tee shot or approach shot but the third shot. That might come as a bit of a surprise when all we seem to hear and talk about is distance, but the reality is that your third shot will, more often than not, be the one that can either make or break your score. This is where you can really make a difference to your scoring and enjoyment of the game but, it is sadly overlooked. Third shots can be crucial when it comes to the momentum of a round. They can either stop you dead in your tracks or allow you to keep a good round going. If you miss the fairway off…

It begins as a trickle in the Australian Alps and winds northwest forming the border between NSW and Victoria before flowing into South Australia then heading south and, ultimately, out to sea. The mighty Murray River – the third longest navigable waterway on earth – is Australia’s greatest river with a majesty that enthrals hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. This holiday-maker’s playground has an ideal year-round climate, incredible natural beauty, historical sites and has gained a reputation for great food and wine. There is also an abundance of riches for the travelling golfer with more than 20 courses to be enjoyed between Albury and Coomealla in what is now widely-regarded as Australia’s best-valued golf holiday region. ALBURY TO COROWA The challenging Thurgoona Country Club Resort, on the north-eastern…

1. THURGOONA COUNTRY CLUB RESORT Green fees: $32 (18 holes, weekdays), $36 (weekends). www.thurgoonaresort.com.au 2. COMMERCIAL ALBURY GOLF CLUB Green fee: $36 (18 holes, seven days). www.commercialclubalbury.com.au 3. WODONGA GOLF CLUB Green fee: $37 (18 holes, seven days). www.wodongagolf.com.au 4. HOWLONG GOLF RESORT Green fee: $34 (18 holes, weekdays), $38 (weekends). www.howlonggolf.com.au 5. COROWA GOLF CLUB Green fee: $42 (18 holes, weekdays), $45 (weekends). www.corowagolfclub.com.au 6. BLACK BULL GOLF CLUB Green fee: $60 (18 holes, seven days). www.silverwoodsyarrawonga.com.au 7. YARRAWONGA MULWALA GOLF CLUB RESORT Green fees: $60 (18 holes, seven days), $86 (all day rate), $230 (Mon-Fri unlimited golf). www.yarragolf.com.au 8. COBRAM-BAROOGA GOLF CLUB Green fee: $45 (18 holes, seven days). www.cbgc.com.au 9. TOCUMWAL GOLF & BOWLS CLUB Green fees: $55 (18 holes, seven days), $75 (36-hole day pass). www.clubtocumwal.com…

Fiji Golf Week 2022 is a friendly golf competition and opportunity to unwind, relax and enjoy ‘island life’—where time slows, the water is warm and palm trees sway in the gentle sea breeze. Fiji’s two best courses – Natadola Bay (pictured) and Denauru – will host a four-round tournament, where golfers of all abilities will play stableford in a friendly and fun competition from August 27 to September 3. Non-golfers are welcome too and there’s plenty of activities on offer. With daily prizes for individuals, teams and aggregate winners, you will enjoy the friendly camaraderie and a chance to test your skills against friends, family and other golfers from around the world. Come the final day of play, there will be one Fiji Golf Week Champion who will win a…

There was a time not that long ago when golfers could have been forgiven for thinking there was little chance of any new links courses being built around the Australian coastline. Then the post-2000 course building boom kicked in and world class links layouts opened for play in Tasmania (Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm) and Victoria (The National, Thirteenth Beach and Moonah Links). Western Australia’s offering came soon after, in 2005, with the launch of The Cut. Laid on and around sand dunes at Port Bouvard, just south of Mandurah and a leisurely 50-minute drive from Perth’s southern suburbs, The Cut is the centrepiece of a massive residential development wedged between the Indian Ocean and the picturesque Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary. In the late 1980’s, scientists discovered the Peel…