Innehållsförteckning för Oct 2022 - Issue 401 från Golf Australia

The worst kept secret in world golf was confirmed in late August when Cameron Smith was announced as one of six players heading to LIV Golf in the immediate aftermath of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs. Smith’s signature was believed to come at US$100 million (A$145 million) price tag for Greg Norman and his new circuit, while the cost to Smith is a suspension from the PGA Tour and his confirmed spot on the Presidents Cup team been taken away. Smith was joined by his closest friend on Tour Marc Leishman, fellow Presidents Cup automatic qualifier Joaquin Niemann, as well as Harold Varner III, CameronTringale and Anirban Lahiri. The six signings were unveiled in time for LIV’s event in Boston, and closely following the announcement Smith and Leishman would both…

Vote for your favourite Australian courses and, just for entering, you will go into the draw to be kitted out like a Callaway Golf staff professional with all new release custom-fitted Callaway Rogue ST MAX woods and irons, Jaws Raw wedges, Odyssey 2-ball Eleven putter and a Callaway bag. SCAN TO VOTE CALLAWAY’s supeR PRIZE PACKAGE • Callaway Rogue ST MAX Driver • Callaway Rogue ST MAX Fairway Wood • Callaway Rogue ST MAX Hybrid • Callaway Rogue ST MAX Irons (4-iron to pitching wedge) • Callaway Jaws Raw Wedges x 3 • Odyssey 2-Ball Eleven Putter • Callaway Org 14 Bag To submit your entry, visit our website www.golfaustralia.com.au/win…

While we have 14 golf clubs at our disposal, their influence on your score is far from even. Consider the most obvious example, the putter. Thirty-four jabs in a round of 85 would see the putter being used for 40 percent of all shots played! Meanwhile, the only time your 4-iron left your bag was to measure out a club length for a penalty drop. No wonder the putter makes it on to our list of golf’s Big Four to master … and the 4-iron doesn’t. But it’s not just frequency of use. We also need to take into account a club’s potential for punishing – or even rewarding – us. And thanks to performance tracking systems such as Shot Scope, whose wrist-worn devices have monitored more than 100 million…

The search to improve our golf game is a never ending one. There isn’t a golfer on the planet who doesn’t believe they can get just a little better and for some a whole lot more improvement is on offer. Although golfers share this optimism, the reality of time to practise is often our downfall. That is where SKLZ steps in to allow practice at home from the short game to the full swing. Offering a range of products to improve every aspect of your game, the brand creates products across a variety of sports with golf a standout area of its line up. Products such as the Impact Balls allow for a limited flight response to your swing and no risk of property damage, while the varied size Putt…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: What’s not to like about Vokey wedges? Any and every keen golfer knows the name, and the man behind them has made wedges for just about every modern-day star from Seve Ballesteros to Tiger Woods and Cam Smith, and the latest model oozes class and performance on first look. A classic look in the bag is complemented by a terrific appearance at address, exactly what you want in some of the most important clubs in the bag. Off the face, a soft but solid feel is partnered by plenty of spin, while the ball flight control was as good as it gets in the wedge game. Also tested as part of this story was Titleist’s new indoor wedge fitting system that allows the golfer and fitter to work through…

Open Champion Cameron Smith will return the Claret Jug and defend his title at Royal Liverpool next year. And you could be there, while also experiencing a wonderful cruise in between rounds of golf on some world-acclaimed links courses. Tour hosts, Perry Golf, has partnered with Azamara cruises to create a golfer’s dream package that will see guests sail from Dublin to Edinburgh over 12 nights from July 20, while playing an outstanding line up of six courses. Your biggest decision may well be whether to join the Walter Hagen flight, or the Bobby Jones flight. Whichever you select, you are assured of some memorable golf on some of the most renowned courses in the British Isles; Open Championship venues such as Prestwick, Royal Portrush and the Ailsa Course at…

There are only a few courses scattered across the globe that can rival New South Wales for presenting such an array of fascinating and spectacularly natural seaside holes. Laid out across sometimes dramatic undulating topography on the La Perouse peninsula – with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Botany Bay on another – New South Wales easily sits among the world’s best courses. It is a windswept links style course that offers a diverse range of challenges between first and last holes. The club’s official history book attributes the design of the outstanding course to Dr Alister MacKenzie – during his whirlwind Australian trip in 1926 – as well as Eric Apperly. But the reality is New South Wales was built by nature and enhanced for the playing of…

La Nina has wreaked havoc right along the east coast of Australia at different times during 2022. Record rainfalls leading to widespread flooding across a host of regions were encountered from as far afield as NSW’s south coast and Queensland’s Fraser Coast, as well as most places in between. Few, if any, east coast golf courses escaped the deluge with some being forced to close for weeks on end to allow floodwater to subside and clean-up work to take place. Even Bribie Island Golf Club – a 70-minute drive north of Brisbane’s CBD – unbelievably had to close as a river of floodwater cut through the course. I say “unbelievably” because this par-72 lies entirely on a seemingly endless profile of fine sand, which is not surprising given most of…

In 1913, unheralded 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet completed a remarkable U.S Open victory in a playoff against Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. As Bernard Darwin wrote in a contemporary report it was ‘…one David against two Goliaths’. But was it – as Disney claims – The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)? Or is this film’s title the most egregious case of false advertising since Lionel Hutz sued The Never-Ending Story (1984)? The Greatest Game Ever Played is based on the much-loved book of the same name by Mark Frost, who also wrote the screenplay. Frost’s trilogy of golf books The Match, The Grand Slam and The Greatest Game Ever Played are quintessential expressions of a sports writing genre that might be described as ‘biographic story telling through famous events.’ Frost’s…

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF FITTED IRONS from MIZUNO FULL SET OF 7 IRONS VALUED AT UP TO $2,443! EAGLE CLUB MEMBERS GET ALL THIS! • 24 issues of Golf Australia magazine• One dozen Callaway Supersoft golf balls• Golf Australia a golf shirt• Choose a DVDD - 8 golf titles to choose from• Entry in all chance to win competitionsions The Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball features Advanced HEX Aerodynamics, optimized for reduced drag, higher flight and longer carry distance. MIZUNO PRO The Mizuno Pro 221, 223 and 225 have been designed as elite player’s irons, but with a little rocket fuel added into the mix, they’re destined to make their own mark in iron history. Showcasing the recent feel orientated introductions of Grain Flow Forging HD and soft copper…

As true lovers of the game, we all carry golf with us wherever we go; but sometimes, keeping the fires burning becomes an increasingly frustrating pursuit. But, in this article, I want to share with you three ways you can do just that. Not only will they stoke your enthusiasm for the game; they also have the potential to make you a happier, better and more fulfilled golfer, better equipped to suck the marrow out of the game when you next get to play. Let’s take them in turn. 1. READ. There is some incredible golfing literature out there. Here are four books I heartily – and objectively – recommend: Extraordinary Golf by Fred Shoemaker. A genuinely ground-breaking work, this book goes beyond the superficial, technical layers of performance to…

DRILL #1 BACK, THROUGH Let’s start by reminding ourselves of the fundamental back/through, pendulum-like rhythm we need in our stroke. Set up two tee pegs around 12 inches apart. If you have a sectioned flagstick to hand, use that as a guide. Place the ball centrally between the pegs, and a little outside them. Use the pegs to mark even backswing and throughswing lengths. EVEN SCORE Don’t be deceived by the simplicity of this exercise. Learning to equalise back and throughswings is an important first step in avoiding a series of handsy putting no-nos, including snatching, flicking and deceleration. DRILL #2 APP-ROPRIATE RHYTHM For a second way to feel and train good rhythm, find a free metronome app on your smartphone. Set the phone in front of you. Let the…

Scotty Cameron putters are well established as some of the finest crafted and top performing options in the flatstick game. And when there is a limited release option it is always worth paying attention for the putter aficionados among us. The latest offering, Special Select Jet Set, is a four model line with a unique look and focus on the aesthetics and some slight variation on some of the best known shapes in golf. Comprised of the Newport, Newport Plus, Newport 2 and Newport 2 Plus, the new range features “custom graphics, a Tour Black finish with a dark, tonal colour scheme, a specialised Pistolini Plus grip, shaft band and headcover”. Milled from 303 stainless steel, the new models incorporate two custom sole weights for optimisation, while the two plus…

Tropical North Queensland is a special part of the world. There are the iconic landscapes featuring some of the planet’s oldest rainforest to the incredible kaleidoscope of colours to be found on the greatest reef on earth. In fact, this region is the only place in the world where two natural World Heritage areas lay side-by-side. While these and other amazing natural attractions are the stars of the tourism show, the tropical north is also a playground for wildlife watchers, foodies, market crawlers, cyclists, hikers and those just looking to relax in luxury surrounds. And, of course, there is plenty of good golf to be found between the picturesque township of Mossman in the north and the unofficial North Queensland capital, Townsville, to the south. My journey began by flying into…

Most golfers probably can’t remember what they shot last week, let alone the first time they ever played. But pick one of the 4,647 rounds of 18 holes Peter Bosworth has played in his lifetime and the 75-year-old can tell you what he scored on every hole, on what date, and what his handicap was at that time. He’s got records dating back to December 29, 1990 – his first-ever round – to prove it and has dozens of spreadsheets which occupy 16 ring binders in his study. As well as detailing the yardage and standard scratch score of every course he’s ever played, Bosworth has documented when each club was founded, who the architects were, how many times the course has been redesigned and by whom. He’s basically a…

YOU LACK FLEXIBILITY Many people underestimate exactly what the body needs to do when making a golf swing. You need to remain somewhat stable whilst trying to generate speed through a rod like object. The fact that your feet are planted to the ground means you need to move rapidly through your joints. The joints taking the most load in the body include your neck, shoulders, hips and back. When you lack flexibility in any of these joints you need to make unpredictable compensations. This unpredictability of movement isn’t welcomed by your lower back or your ball flight consistency. With the lumbar spine being in the middle of the body, it often takes the stress of poor movement patterns. Here’s a test for you. Can you perform a deep squat…

Long gone are the days when Mizuno irons in the bag signalled a top ball striker was making their way to the tee, the brand diversifying its offerings to cater to a wider variety of golfers with an exceptional range of products still maintaining the core reasons its irons were so popular. Feel has long been one of those reasons s and the latest JPX923 iron range required ed a specific focus on this but for a whole new reason. Incorporating a new material known as Nickel Chromoly, the JPX923 Hot Metal, JPX923 Hot Metal Pro and JPX923 Hot Metal HL gained so much additional ball speed that feel, as well as stopping power became an engineering focal point during the design. The new material is 35 percent stronger than…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Step into Playfair in Randwick, Sydney and you know you are among people who love the game of golf. The walls at the entry are plastered with classic golf images to your right, to your left is an array of modern and fresh golf clothing from innovative brands that will appeal to more than just the golf traditionalist. Then there are the facilities. Hitting bays fitted out withTrackman, cameras and more that allow golfers to practise, play, compete and learn from professionals that have been influenced by a coaching program instituted by top Aussie PGA coach Gary Barter. The feeling inside the facility is great. It is clearly focused on fun but with the shared focus of improving your game. Beyond the hitting bays where golfers can even…

Owned and operated by local golfers Paul and Maya Bridges, Port Douglas Golf Tours can organise your golfing holiday to Queensland’s tropical north. The company, with access to all the courses in the region, are the local golf tour specialists. All tours are personally tailored to your individual requirements and packages include airport and daily transfers, accommodation to suit your needs and all green fees, with motorised carts as required. They can also arrange golf only packages if required. For any non-golfers, there are any number of alternative day tours to the Great Barrier Reef, or a day in the Rainforest, to choose from. Port Douglas Golf Tour offer a choice of several high-quality accommodation options in Port Douglas. There are hotel style properties, fully serviced apartments with their own…

Pattaya Beach is one of Thailand’s most popular destinations. Great food, shopping, a wonderful beach and colourful nightlife attract throngs of tourists from around the world. Among them are the acclaimed Chee Chan Golf Resort, which lies at the foot of Buddha Mountain, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Laem Chabang International and the four Siam Country Club courses – Plantation (pictured), Waterside, Rolling Hills and the Old Course, which is the home of the Honda LPGA event. The Whitehouse Condotel – just 100 metres from Pattaya Beach – opened in 2006 and was designed to be the perfect place for golfers and non-golfers alike to relax. The management here are golf enthusiasts so they will have a great golfing experience during your stay. It is their vision to create a place for…