Mar 2023 - Issue 406

Golf Australia

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

Golf Australia2 min read
“Do You Have A Local Legend At Your Club … Tell Us About Them”
Every golf club has one. That one player who dominates the honour boards with multiple club championships, perhaps a hole-in-one (or two or more) and the occasional course record or mixed foursomes victory. These are the local legends who earn a sign
Golf Australia5 min read
Toowoomba Golf Club
When judges started submitting their lists in late 2022 for Golf Australia’s ranking of the nation’s Top-100 Public Access Courses, there was an unfamiliar presence among the courses gaining a foothold among the century-makers. After several close ca
Golf Australia3 min read
“… Selection Quandries Are As Simple Or As Complicated As You Want To Make Them.”
Greetings from Abu Dhabi. I’m here in the United Arab Emirates for two weeks, to cover the Abu Dhabi Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic. But before those, the DP World Tour (henceforth known as the European Tour in this column) held something
Golf Australia2 min read
Regional Nsw Wins Big Events
Regional New South Wales will host a jam-packed program of men’s and women’s golf events from 2024 to 2026. The new three-year initiative will see more than 50 events, including six regional Opens each for men and women, worth $50,000 per event. Priz
Golf Australia3 min read
Should Rangefinders Be Allowed On Tour?
Golf Australia Magazine Writer Rangefinders should be allowed on Tour as pace of play is becoming comical. Although the use of rangefinders won’t completely solve the problem, it’s a step in the right direction. The use of rangefinders on Tour has be
Golf Australia2 min read
The New Way To Watch Golf
There are about to be some words used that you might have heard of, some maybe not, and have no idea what they actually mean. However, if you are a lover of watching golf they might become very familiar in the near future. Viewing tournament golf in
Golf Australia2 min read
The Incredible Joe Kirkwood March 2, 1932
Joe Kirkwood was Australia’s first home-grown star who ventured overseas to make a living from the game of golf. Born in 1897, he grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches and was a fixture at Manly Golf Club, where he started hitting balls around the cou
Golf Australia5 min read
Dead Solid Perfect (1988)
There isn’t much escapism in stories about being poor and unknown, equally we can’t all relate to the gilded banality of life for the rich and famous. The interesting stuff is somewhere in between with the almost famous – the gifted underdog, trendin
Golf Australia1 min read
March 16, 1984
This is the day a 29-year-old Greg Norman announced his arrival on the PGA Tour with a hefty bang. Having already accumulated 30 titles worldwide, Norman headed for America and 1984 was his first full season as a PGA Tour player, having played well e
Golf Australia4 min read
“… The More You Allow Yourself To Miss, The More Difficult It Becomes To Miss.”
We’re all golfers. So, we all know that what goes on in our heads can have a huge influence on how well we play and hit the ball, both positive and negative. And, like all of us, I’ve been in both places mentally, which got me thinking. Here’s how it
Golf Australia1 min read
Callaway Paradym Drivers!
• 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 Ae
Golf Australia11 min read
Coming Of Age
Tahlia Kennedy and her younger sister Hannah love to dance. At 16 and 11, respectively, they’re encouraged to follow their passion to perform publicly. Proud mother Narelle is routinely among the crowd, as is wide-eyed father Brad, who marvels as mor
Golf Australia10 min read
The River King
You’ve heard the tales of the 1977 drawn VFL grand final; or the day Steve Waugh made his sensational last-ball century in the 2003 Ashes Test. You know that only so many people were at the MCG or SCG on those famous days, but that doesn’t stop thous
Golf Australia6 min read
Rogers That!
Situations of mistaken identity have often been the daily scourge or alternately, source of amusement, for twins throughout the ages. No more current example in golf is that of the uber-talented Hojgaard twins – Nicolai and Rasmus – from Denmark. The
Golf Australia2 min read
Where Should My Head Be At Impact?
This is what a great impact position looks like … it’s Karrie Webb in full flight, nailing a driver off the tee. The big takeaway from observing this image is the position of her head at impact. It’s perfect and is something many amateur golfers shou
Golf Australia10 min read
‘I Don’t Mind Being The Villain. I Have Thick Skin’
If Greg Norman is feeling the pressure as the face of LIV Golf, he doesn’t appear to be showing it. A broad grin has already formed less than 30 seconds into our Zoom call as he leans back to survey the view from LIV’s plush offices in West Palm Beac
Golf Australia1 min read
Your 2023 Total Game Improvement Plan
We understand that ultimately we all want to enjoy the game as much as possible. We also understand there are few more enjoyable experiences in golf than playing well. How good it would be to take your game to the next level in 2023. But where do you
Golf Australia2 min read
#1 Driving
Shot Scope identify a specific golfer most at risk here: a 12 to 21-handicapper who drives the ball between 240 and 270 yards. This golfer lacks some control and has the power to find the neighbouring field. They will drop on average four shots per r
Golf Australia2 min read
#2 Bunkers
One of the fastest ways to rack up a big number is to leave your ball in greenside sand; according to Shot Scope, 22 percent of golfers make this mistake. Your bunker technique need not be fancy but it does need to be effective … and one of the simpl
Golf Australia2 min read
#3 Putting
A careless three-putt is all it takes to turn an acceptable bogey into a card-scarring double … and this tends to be the result of not getting the first putt close enough. Shot Scope tell us a 14-handicapper makes 77 percent of four-footers but just
Golf Australia3 min read
#6 Basics
Grip, aim, posture, ball position. They are the foundation of every good golf swing … and if you want to play your best golf in 2023, you can’t afford to take your eye off them. Here are some simple checks you can perform regularly throughout the yea
Golf Australia3 min read
#4 Performance
If you’re tempted to set yourself some new year’s resolutions for 2023 that might improve your game, let me save you some time. Don’t bother. As gyms across the country will testify, a new ‘commitment’ based solely on an arbitrary square on the calen
Golf Australia2 min read
#5 Fitness
I’ve chosen this essential exercise because it directly addresses the two things golfers most often complain to me about … not hitting the ball far enough and battling a slice. Often, we can trace the technical causes of these issues to a physical li
Golf Australia1 min read
#7 Start Keeping Some Stats
OK, we understand some of you switch o_ at the mere mention of the word: you don’t play this game to crunch numbers, right? Fair enough. But with users of data capture systems such as Shot Scope reporting an average of just under three shots cut from
Golf Australia2 min read
#8 Practice
Whether we are working on long or short games, we can split practice into two categories: ▪ Training a new movement pattern or technique. ▪ Testing ourselves through some score/pressure-related challenge. If you want to become a better practiser, you
Golf Australia1 min read
#10 Six Great Habits To Get Into
We all gravitate to what we’re good at, what we enjoy. But if you’re serious about improving, make 2023 the year you work on your weaknesses rather than indulging your strengths. Most club golfers have some form of routine, but typically flit in and
Golf Australia1 min read
Chips Up When The Lie Is Down
The downhill chip shot from close to the putting surface strikes fear into the heart of more club golfers than any other greenside shot. Why? Simply, because the technique used by the majority of players to execute the shot is not right. Most club go
Golf Australia2 min read
#9 Strategy
Shot Scope data reveals that 72 percent of danger is at the front of the green – usually sand or water – with just 28 percent lurking behind. So missing long is typically significantly less of a problem than missing short. However, the data also show
Golf Australia2 min read
What All Great Putters Do
In case you haven’t noticed the results this year, Aaron Baddeley has been stringing some very good rounds together as he looks to break his seven-year win drought on the PGA Tour in 2023. Despite the lack of wins, ‘Badds’ is still regarded as one of
Golf Australia2 min read
Natadola Bay, Fiji
It is true most avid golfers will travel just about anywhere in search of a new golfing challenge. Since 2009, thousands of Australian golfers have made the short flight across the ocean to Fiji to test their skills against the best course in the Sou
Golf Australia1 min read
To The Manor Born
Have you ever fantasised about the day when you could wake up and wander outside to play your own golf course? Fantasise no more. Laid Back Manor offers luxurious cabin accommodation for two people located at the gateway to Tasmania’s beautiful Huon
Golf Australia5 min read
Shelly Beach golf Club
There is something about playing golf by the sea that really excites. The sound of the surf, the cooling breeze carrying the smell of the sea and the firm, running turf beneath your feet – all the ingredients for a round not easily forgotten. In Aust
Golf Australia2 min read
UPDATED, REFRESHED & DIVIDED
The premium golf ball market is now full of model names that are familiar, with each brand looking to improve performance with every new iteration while maintaining the elements that made the ball popular. Srixon are no different, although the brand
Golf Australia2 min read
LIGHTER TO GO LONGER & LAUNCH HIGHER
The recently released TSR range of drivers and fairway woods have proven exceptionally popular both on Tour and with amateur golfers around the world. And now the range is complete with the addition of the new TSR1 driver, fairway wood and hybrid. Li
Golf Australia2 min read
All About Carbon
TaylorMade took a bold step when unveiling last year’s Stealth drivers featuring a ‘60X Carbon Twist Face’ that replaced the traditional use of titanium. In 2023, the brand is doubling down on its use of carbon to offer greater forgiveness and distan
Golf Australia2 min read
Spin To Win
Versatility and spin are of the upmost importance around the greens, and few understand that better than Cleveland Golf which made its name in the wedge game. The brand’s latest wedge offering, RTX 6 ZipCore, is designed for high spin shots from any
Golf Australia2 min read
Tech Driven At The Core
Based on the rapid development of its drivers over recent years, Mizuno clearly aren’t satisfied being known as producers of some of the best irons in the game alone. Along with improvement in all categories across the board, the brand’s delivery of
Golf Australia2 min read
Callaway’s 2023 Golf Balls
Callaway continues to make a splash in the golf ball market, from its premium Chrome Soft range to its Supersoft that now stands as one of the most popular models in the market. In 2023, the brand has updated and added to its Supersoft and ERC Soft o
Golf Australia4 min read
2023 Titleist Pro V1 And Pro V1x
Cost: $84.95 (dozen). Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor FIRST IMPRESSIONS: There are few joys greater as a golf nerd than a white unmarked golf ball box. That means you are one of the first to receive a new product, and
Golf Australia3 min read
Gforce 7 Iron Nxt-gen
Cost: $180. Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The initial takeaway from a training aid is not generally an awe-inspiring experience. Instead, I prefer to see if a golfer can almost instantly recognise
Golf Australia6 min read
Tech Titans
Technology has become an enormous part of golf. From equipment to course maintenance, it plays an integral role in making golfers and playing surfaces better and elements like scoring simpler. Technology is also a market unto itself, with the followi
Golf Australia2 min read
“Those Who Watch Golf Will Ultimately Decide If Liv Golf Is A Success…”
At this moment in time golf is withstanding its greatest divide. The creation of LIV Golf, bans enforced by established Tours and numerous court cases on both sides of the Atlantic are now part of the everyday golf conversation. One that has never ha

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