June 2021 - Issue #385

Golf Australia

Golf Australia - the only magazine devoted to Australian golfers, with 100% Australian content.

Golf Australia1 min readSports & Recreation
Golf Australia
EDITOR Brendan James bjames@golfaustralia.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Jimmy Emanuel WRITER Michael Jones ART DIRECTOR Allan Bender GRAPHIC DESIGN Oliver Barles ARCHITECTURE EDITOR Mike Clayton COLUMNIST-AT-LARGE John Huggan COLUMNIST Geoff Ogilvy CO
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
“The Pgl Hasn’t Gone Away And Has Actually Intensified Its Pursuit Of Players.”
Men’s professional golf is fast approaching a crossroads where the choice made by some of the game’s best and most popular players has the potential to tear Tour golf apart. At the time of going to press, the Premier Golf League (PGL) or Golf Super
Golf Australia5 min read
Mornington Golf Club Mornington Peninsula • Victoria
I have a confession to make. The first six or seven times I ventured to Victoria’s golf-rich Mornington Peninsula to play I didn’t even consider adding Mornington Golf Club to my itinerary. That would not be the case today. Of course, my failings ba
Golf Australia3 min read
“The PGA Tour Is An Egregious Example Of What Happens When Control Is Driven Solely By Money.”
The clue, as ever, is in the title. If sport at the professional level is to be truly “competitive” it must be open to all, or at least all of those armed with talent enough to reach for the stars. Any dilution of that absolute is to the detriment of
Golf Australia1 min readSports & Recreation
Fact File
LOCATION: Tallis Drive, Mornington, Victoria. CONTACT: (03) 5975 2784; (03) 5975 4171 (pro shop). WEBSITE: www.morningtongolf.com.au DESIGNERS: Vern Morcom, Sloan Morpeth and Gus Jackson (1950); Jack Watson (1967); Ben Davey and Darius OIiver (on
Golf Australia3 min read
Crazy For Hideki
The image of Shota Hayafuji – Hideki Matsuyama’s caddie at the Masters – removing his cap and bowing his head to Augusta National will be imprinted into the memories of golf fans for years to come. It was an extremely historic day for the sport, afte
Golf Australia3 min read
Birdies Or Bogies … What Entertains You?
Speaking at the annual Australian Golf Media dinner, Bob Shearer once said, “You don’t know pressure until you’ve had to bogey the last four holes to win the Australian Golf Writers Championship.” Bob knew something about pressure. He felt four days
Golf Australia3 min readSports & Recreation
Brutal Majors
Renowned hot head Tommy Bolt kept his cool as oppressive heat, high winds and tucked pins on hard greens took their toll on the field. In winning by four strokes, he never shot worse than 72 in finishing at three over, while no other player escaped w
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
Karrie Goes Back-to-back June 3, 2001
This month marks 20 years since Karrie Webb claimed consecutive US Women’s Open titles, after she defeated South Korean Se Ri Pak by an impressive eight shots at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. The then 26-year-old shot rounds of 70-65-69-69 to reac
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
Women Chasing History
Karrie Webb’s seven major titles places her among the greatest female golfers in history. American Patty Berg is the greatest female major winner with 15 championships, closely followed by Mickey Wright (13), Louise Suggs (11) with Babe Zaharias and
Golf Australia2 min read
Doing It For Jarrod
I had the privilege of meeting Jarrod Lyle only once. It happened briefly, but it was an encounter I will never forget. Standing outside the clubhouse of The Australian Golf Club during the Aussie Open in 2017, I was chatting with two established me
Golf Australia1 min read
Keeping Fun In The Game
I enjoyed Brendan James’ article in the May edition about looking for balls in the rough. I have to agree that searching for balls in the rough takes a lot of the fun out of golf, and it also slows the game down. This is a constant source of debate
Golf Australia1 min read
Heading To Tassie
I just finished booking my next golf holiday. I’m heading to Tasmania, having read Brendan James’ articles on the courses of northern Tassie and the new Bougle Run course. As for the short Bougle Run course, I’m just as excited about playing that as
Golf Australia1 min read
More Matches Please
Geoff Ogilvy’s column on match-play (GA, May 2021) was absolutely spot on. Match-play is the very essence of where the game began and it has endured all these years simply because it’s the most enjoyable form of the game. I’ve been lobbying my club
Golf Australia5 min read
“Not Many Work Harder On Their Games Than Hideki ... And He Does It Mostly By Himself”
This year’s Masters was a big deal in a couple of important ways. First of all, it was nice to see the year’s first (male) major back to being just that. And it was certainly a good thing for golf in general when Hideki Matsuyama, a player I have lon
Golf Australia12 min readSports & Recreation
Desperately SEEKING A MAJOR
Major championship golf in the men’s game was for so long dominated by players collecting stacks of the four biggest titles in the game. Of course, there were the one-off winners, the occasional bolter who claimed a major and disappeared into the co
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
Other Aussie Starters
AGE: 40 US OPEN APPEARANCES: 19 BEST FINISH: T4 (2015). WHY HE CAN WIN: The US Open has been Scott’s worst major over the course of his career. The Queenslander missing eight cuts and finishing in the top-10 just three times. However, Scott (pictu
Golf Australia2 min read
Tale Of Two Torreys
But how will the course differ from February to June and under the control of the USGA and senior managing director of championships John Bodenhamer? For one the weather will be markedly different. Rugged up players and the occasional fog are regular
Golf Australia5 min readSports & Recreation
OLYMPIC & KO(S)
More than five years have passed since an 18-year-old Lydia Ko leapt into Poppie’s Pond as the youngest two-time major champion in LPGA Tour history. It felt like the sky was the limit for the Korean-born Kiwi, who by 2016 had already won 12 LPGA To
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
Olympic Comes Full Circle
The Olympic Club has hosted 11 previous United States Golf Association (USGA) championships – including five US Opens and three US Amateurs – but it has never welcomed any of the women’s events. That was until now. The Californian club is gearing u
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
Aussies Heading To Olympic*
The 2019 Women’s PGA champion (pictured top) has only made two previous US Open starts, sharing 34th place in 2019 and 40th place last year. Green is in terrific form having recently finished runner-up in the Women’s World Golf Championship. The five
Golf Australia9 min read
The CHRYSALIS MOMENT
What do butterflies and women’s golf have in common? More than you might think. Beyond the simple superstition that a kiss from this ethereal creature to a golf ball is a sign of good luck, butterflies are generally symbolic of renewal, hope, enduran
Golf Australia10 min readGender Studies
WHERE Are The WOMEN?
That most golf designers, through the history of the profession, have been men isn’t wholly surprising. In the early part of the 20th century, when golf course architecture emerged, most members of most professions were men. Among the first women ev
Golf Australia2 min read
Golf Design’s Pioneering Women
Perhaps the first female golf course architect in the world, Dixon designed Springhaven Club in Philadelphia in 1904. She went on to serve as president of the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia until her death in 1916. Winner of more than 50 am
Golf Australia1 min read
Webb’s Eye For Design
For decades, Karrie Webb dominated the women’s game at the highest level. Having wound down her playing commitments, the World Golf Hall of Famer has ventured into the world of golf course design alongside the vastly experienced Ross Perrett. The p
Golf Australia7 min read
INSIDE the ATHENA
As a showcase of Australia’s emerging talent, ‘The Athena’ ticked all boxes. With a format previously unseen in the world of golf with an unapologetic aim of showcasing the emerging talent of Australian women’s golf, the inaugural staging of the WPG
Golf Australia2 min readSports & Recreation
PGA Launches Women’s Network
The Women’s Golf Network is a new series of events introduced by the WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA of Australia that aims to provide an inviting entry point for women to the game of golf. The Women’s Golf Network was launched at Melbourne’s Yarra
Golf Australia5 min readFashion
Reva
The Big Bertha REVA hybrid is built for women who want to unlock their inner distance with a total forgiveness package. This is Callaway’s easiest to launch women’s hybrid, with a larger head volume that’s designed to help you get rid of the big miss
Golf Australia3 min readSports & Recreation
Callaway Big Bertha Reva
Cost: $829.99 (driver); $499.99 (fairway); $419.99 (hybrid); $239.99 (per iron). Tested by: Ashley Carolan, Beginner Golfer. MODEL PLAYED: Callaway Big Bertha REVA driver with 12.5° loft, 3- & 5-wood, 4 hybrid and 5-iron to sand wedge, all fitted w
Golf Australia1 min read
A Callaway Big Bertha Reva Driver Worth $829.
The new Big Bertha REVA is the ultimate driver for women who want to unlock their inner distance. Callaway has taken all of the incredible technologies that make their Big Bertha Driver really long, straight and easy to hit, and then they’ve reworked
Golf Australia2 min read
Facts And Figures
LEFT-HANDED: The majority of the REVA range is available in left-handed models, including both driver lofts, the irons, 3-, 5- and 7-wood, as well as the 4, 5 and 6 hybrids. Meanwhile, a 9-wood and 7 and 8 hybrid are offered in right hand only. CALL
Golf Australia2 min read
Two-step Sand Play
From my perspective, bunker play probably gets less attention from amateur golfers than any other area of the game. It should therefore come as no surprise to find that it’s very often the area they find the most difficult. The ironic thing is that s
Golf Australia4 min read
9 Ways To Hit It Closer
If you are looking for a player from whom to learn how to hit good approach shots, Tommy Fleetwood is your man. In 2019-and 2020, he was ranked 3rd and 4th respectively on the European Tour in the Greens In Regulation performance category at 74 perce
Golf Australia2 min read
Five-minute Lesson
The 31-year-old US Ryder Cupper averages over 300 yards off the tee and is currently one of the world’s 10 longest drivers. We quizzed him about his technique. How do you like to distribute your weight at address and finish for maximum distance? I
Golf Australia2 min read
Get Ready For Better Iron Play
You’ve heard this from me more than once over the years, but I’ll say it again. You can’t hit solid golf shots without proper fundamentals. Your posture, ball position and alignment determine your swing shape, your swing path and the direction in whi
Golf Australia1 min read
Strategy
The 350-yard 3rd at Augusta is a great strategic par-4. What makes it so difficult is the shape of the green and the wind that circulates around the trees. You can hit almost the perfect shot onto the front edge and see it roll all the way down. It’s
Golf Australia1 min read
Learn From A Legend
If you release your forearms freely through impact – think Tiger Woods in his prime – you are obliged to maintain your spine angle, for if you stand up through impact the ball will start left, stay left and continue left! Powerful draw spin comes fro
Golf Australia1 min read
From Our Archive
Four years into a horrible form slump, Ian Baker-Finch allowed some of the world’s best coaches to critique his swing in Golf Australia magazine. “Swing-wise I’ve been really trying to work to make sure my body and my turn through the ball is nice a
Golf Australia2 min readPsychology
Take Control With Mantras
Neuroscientists estimate that we have around 50,000 thoughts a day. That means for the four hours you are out playing golf, your inner caddie will have talked to you over 10,000 times. This is helpful when you play well but when you don’t, it can fee
Golf Australia1 min read
The Proper Bunker Shot Release
Being tentative on shots from greenside bunkers simply won’t work. Creating clubhead speed is essential in getting your ball out of sand consistently. The faster the club travels at impact, the more spin is generated on the ball. This in turn allows
Golf Australia1 min readPsychology
Make Your Mantras Work
Identify when you have the tricky moments in a round. Which areas would benefit most from positive head chatter? Notice what self-talk you are already using in your head at those moments. You can jot down thoughts once you come off the course or even
Golf Australia1 min read
Your Chin: A Good Swing Guide
How do you know when you have completed your backswing? The answer is simple. When your left shoulder (for right-handers) is tucked directly beneath your chin. It’s OK for your chin and shoulder to touch, just as long as your chin is raised enough t
Golf Australia3 min read
Hideki Matsuyama
Prior to his Masters victory, Hideki Matsuyama was perhaps better known for the pause at the top of his backswing than the 14 victories he had accrued in Japan and on the PGA Tour in eight years as a professional. Two of those wins came in 2017, inc
Golf Australia1 min readSports & Recreation
What’s In Hideki’s Bag
DRIVER: Srixon ZX5 with 9.5° loft, fitted with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX shaft. 3-WOOD: TaylorMade SIM2 Titanium with 15° loft, with Graphite Design Tour AD TP 9 TX shaft. IRONS: TaylorMade SIM UDI (3-iron), with True Temper Elevate Tour X100
Golf Australia1 min readComputers
Fit For Purpose
Fitting a product to the needs and dimensions of each individual golfer is of the highest importance to ensure best performance. A dedicated golfer purchasing clubs without undergoing some sort of fit is almost unheard of in this day and age. And fo
Golf Australia2 min read
More Options, More Forgiveness
PING has been a leader in the putter space since Karsten Solheim was producing flatsticks in his garage. And the still family-run company continues to innovate, its 2021 putter series built for maximum moment of inertia (MOI) and minimum frustration.
Golf Australia1 min read
New Look, Same Performance
The hollow-body construction P• 790 irons from TaylorMade are popular for a reason. Utilising a suite of performance driven technologies, the irons also offer a better player preferred shape and feel. And now golfers wanting this combination of form
Golf Australia2 min read
Bigger And Better From Texas
The name Ben Hogan is synonymous with precision and performance thanks to The Hawk’s own game and subsequent foray into the equipment industry. Having undergone a number of iterations, the latest version of the Ben Hogan golf equipment company aims t
Golf Australia4 min read
Footjoy Hyperflex Golf Shoes
Cost: $279.95 (BOA); $249.95 (laced). Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Deputy Editor (GA Handicap 9.4) MODEL PLAYED: WRAPID, powered by BOA Fit System. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The unique and almost non-golf appearance of the HyperFlex shoes was
Golf Australia2 min read
Sandy Golf Links
Australians are well aware how lucky we are to have the Melbourne Sandbelt in our country. The perfect landscape has – for nearly 100 years now – collided with talented course architects to deliver some of the world’s most renowned golf courses, whet
Golf Australia1 min read
Northern Stars
Winter has well and truly arrived. And if you’re living in the southern states, you’re probably longing for those warm, dry days on the golf course. Thankfully, Reef n Beyond Guided Holidays can turn your dreams into reality with its North Queensland
Golf Australia2 min read
Australia’s Lost Courses
In November 2019, Lakewood Shores golf course – home to Binningup Golf Club – was listed in Golf Australia magazine as one of this country’s 60 best nine-hole courses. According to many of this magazine’s Top-100 Courses judges, Binningup was easily
Golf Australia1 min read
Eureka!
There’s no denying the Gold Coast its rightful place as one of Australia’s best tourist destinations, thanks to its spectacular beaches, exhilarating theme parks, pristine national parks and a smorgasbord of quality golf courses. Golf Tourism Austra
Golf Australia14 min read
Bella Vista
For so long the golf courses of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula have existed in the shadow cast by the amazing layouts of the Mornington Peninsula, which is just a 40-minute ferry ride across Port Phillip Bay. Chatting to some local Bellarine golfers
Golf Australia1 min read
Where To Stay
Seahaven Village is centrally located in Barwon Heads, just a stone’s throw away from shops, cafes and beaches. The village has a wide range of premium self-contained accommodation options including 14 apartments, cottages and suites located on-site
Golf Australia5 min read
Eastlake Golf Club sydney Eastern Suburbs • Nsw
Driving to the airport from Sydney’s CBD along the Eastern Distributor, it’s not hard to notice the roll out of one golf hole after another. You get a sneak peak of The Australian Golf Club. Then, within seconds, The Lakes Golf Club looms up on the l
Golf Australia1 min read
Where To Play
Green fees: $80 (weekdays); $90 (weekends) www.lonsdalelinks.com.au Green fees: $120 (weekdays); $160 (weekends). $80 (weekday, house guest); $105 (weekends, house guest). www.barwonheads.golf Green fees: $95 (weekdays); $115 (weekends). $130 (wee
Golf Australia1 min readSports & Recreation
Fact File
LOCATION: Gardeners Rd, Daceyville, NSW. CONTACT: (02) 8999 8422; (02) 9662 6453. WEBSITE: www.eastlakegolfclub.com.au DESIGNERS: Eric Apperly & Tom Howard (1932); Ross Watson (2012); in-house (ongoing). PLAYING SURFACES: Kikuyu (fairways, 14 ho
Golf Australia3 min read
Brendon Goddard
Brendon Goddard played 334 passionate games for St Kilda and Essendon in the AFL before retiring at the end of 2018. Now, Goddard, who was twice named an All-Australian, has been able to turn his attention to his other great passion: golf. How were
Golf Australia1 min read
Follow Our Podcast
Major champions, journeymen, caddies, course designers, administrators and a host of others share what golf means to them in The Thing About Golf – Golf Australia’s award-winning podcast hosted by Rod Morri and John Huggan. Recent episodes include R&
Golf Australia1 min readFashion
Modern Classics
The golf shoe market has evolved in significant ways over the years, companies like FootJoy adapting to the diverse requirements of golfers in style, function and fit. Despite the greater variety in athletic options, spikeless shoes and brands howeve
Golf Australia1 min readAutomotive
Facts And Figures
SUITABILITY: Across the three Epic models (including the lower spin, high MOI MAX LS) which can be adjusted from 8° to 14° and are offered in a range of shafts options, there is a driver to suit every golfer. AVAILABILITY: Both tested models are off
Golf Australia4 min readTechnology & Engineering
No More Guesswork
To improve upon its predecessor, the new Phantom 2 includes evolved GPS distances and convenience measures in a small and easier to read unit. New ‘GreenView’ distances allow for movable pin placements and more accurate distances, while ‘Dynamic Gree
Golf Australia3 min read
CALLAWAY EPIC SPEED & EPIC MAX DRIVERS
Cost: $879.99. Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Deputy Editor (GA Handicap 9.4) MODELS PLAYED: Callaway Epic Speed with 9° loft, fitted with Mitsubishi Chemical MMT 70 shaft and Callaway Epic MAX with 9° loft, with Project X HZRDUS Smoke iM
Golf Australia1 min read
North Island Stunners
The trans-Tasman travel bubble is allowing us Aussies to return to New Zealand and its world-class golf courses sooner than perhaps expected. Thank God. The North Island of New Zealand is known for its stunning coastline, delicious produce and natur

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