Golf Australia January 2016

THE Emirates Australian Open provided another exciting finish with Matt Jones claiming the trophy and realising a childhood dream. Outside the ropes there was also growing excitement at the possibility that, sooner rather than later, our national championship will join the Australian PGA Championship and Perth International as part of the European Tour schedule. Chatting to various players, who currently play in irregular OneAsia tournaments, they have their fingers crossed the Open follows suit as it will give them another opportunity to grab a playing card on one of the world’s two main Tours while playing in front of home crowds. At a press conference during the Australian Open, Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt was reluctant to openly commit to OneAsia “for the next four or five years” saying the…

Most golfers from outside the South Australian capital think they know all that Adelaide has to offer on the golf front because they’ve seen a couple of courses on television or know these clubs have hosted elite events. Mention that Glenelg Golf Club sits firmly among the ‘Big Four’ Adelaide clubs and in response you often receive quizzical looks with raised eyebrows. While Royal Adelaide, Kooyonga and the twin Grange layouts might receive more attention, the quiet achiever of the group is Glenelg, which has undergone several gradual refinements in recent years after a major transformation either side of the change in millennium. In short, it most definitely belongs in the top echelon of Adelaide golf and is part of the conversation about underrated courses on a national scope. Glenelg…

JORDAN Spieth is one of the best putters in the world. He misses putts like all of us but he has developed a system to help him put under pressure … and the proof that it works is in his results. “This year was fantastic for putting in big stages and I really found a couple of ways to cope mentally with the added pressure,” the World No.1 said,“especially on shorter putts and putts that I have to have a tendency, whether to leave the face open or what not and I did part of that by looking at the hole, I did part of it by lining the ball up, it just depended on where it was. “I just kind of discovered these techniques on what I felt worked…

WHEN you’re the World No.1 golfer you get asked to do a lot of things in the name of publicity for a golf tournament.This past year,Jordan Spieth has hit golf balls off a building and donned Chinese traditional clothing while beating a drum among other things. At the Emirates Australian Open, he was teamed with cricket legend Shane Warne in the pro-am and was introduced to some of the intricacies of cricket. While best known for his bowling feats,‘Warnie’ was quick to demonstrate how to bat. When urged to have a swing, Spieth grabbed the willow and gripped it like a golf club.The swing was also reminiscent of his golf swing. Warne, a Twitter fanatic, tweeted after their round:“It’s the start of a new bromance. I follow him on Twitter.…

NOVEMBER PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION We had some funny entries to our photo of Chris Doak hitting out of the Swilcan Burn at St Andrews with some dirty effects.The best entry according to our judges came from Ian Kennedy of Rosebery,NSW,with:“Here stands Chris Doak, in Swilcan Burn playing a stroke, without wearing a protective cloak … poor bloke.” Congratulations Ian, you win a pair of adidas Tour 360X shoes worth $149. NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY New and renewing subscribers to Golf Australia in November were entered into a draw to win one of four Eagles & Birdies golf bags.The four winners randomly drawn were: Amanda Burfit of Forresters Beach, NSW; Shane Coutts of Katherine, NT; Paul Egan of Glenroy, NSW and Allan Stephen, of Highland Park, Qld. 0golf Australia We’re on Facebook. Like…

FORMER European Challenge Tour player Romain Bechu is making a name as one of the world’s best trick shot artists. Here, he’s seemingly got a golf ball on a string. What is your caption to go with this photo? Submit your caption, on the entry form found on our website (not in the comment box), for the accompanying photo and the best entry judged by Golf Australia editors, will win a pair of 2015 adidas Tour 360X shoes, worth $149. The new Tour 360X shoes continue the evolution of the Tour 360 family. With its tour proven performance and stability unquestioned, the new model features increased cushioning and comfort. For more information visit the website www.adidasgolf.com  or call 1800 700 011 TO ENTER: Visit www.golfaustralia.com.au and click on…