PGA Australia Magazine - Centenary Edition

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PGA of Australia

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provides its members with the best support services available from the industry’s leading group.

• Aggregated buying power• Marketing & Advertising directed to your membership• In store operational support from experienced Operations Managers• In house IT technical support• In store Point of Sale materials• Head Office business support• Peer network support via business systems

If you are a PGA member who wants to be a part of the premier golf group in Australia and benefit from our position in the golf industry, then contact us for a confidential discussion.

Our congratulations go to all

of the past and present PGA

Professionals who are or have

been Members.

Michael AchurchStephen AertsAnthony AlbonMatthew AllanSimon AnglissDominic AzzopardiCraig BaldwinJoanne BannermanScott BarradellBrian BarughMark BathSean BathJason BenhamLes BennettAndrew BertramCol BicePeter BickleyColin BishopCraig BonneyGary BoobyPhil BoultonJeff BoyleCraig BrownGary Burmester David CardilloTony CavanaghMark ChalkerBrett ChappellDarren ChivasMartin ClementsMichael CloughJamie ClutterhamGlen CoghillRichard CooneyGavin CoyleTony CraswellTim CrosbiePhil CurdBill CussellTony Dall’OstoPaul DavisRuss DavisDavid DelahuntyIan DennyMatthew DentDon DixonGary DixonWayne DoddIan DodgshunMatthew DukeCraig DuncanMark EisenhuthCarl EvansRob FarleyBryan Ferguson

Danny FreylingDarren GolderSimon GoughSteve GrangeDarren GreenMark GriffinAdam GrimshawMatt HabgoodPaul HabgoodTim HaddonLee HarringtonPeter HarringtonPeter HarveyPaul HazlettJonathon HickmanChris HollidayJeff HollowayColin HolmesPeter HopkinsBarry HortonBrad HowarthCameron HowellPeter JaegerSteve JenkinsCameron JensenPaul JonesPeter JonesClarke JoyceMichael JustinGerard KellyGraeme Kelly Wayne KesbyTroy LaneKevin LawAdrian LawsonRon LeBrocqueScott LennoxJohn LewisSimon LinnaneSteve LipovasDennis LucyMichael MacGregorRichard MacleanRay McGlinnMatthew McGuireHoward McHutchisonAndrew McInnesMark McIntyreBrett McMartinRoss MetherellChris MillerMarke MillerSteve MontgomerieRoss MoodieKylie Moulds

Angela MurphyPhilip NanceMal NevilleLeigh NewmanDaniel NicholsKane NustelingRussell O’NeillPaul OrchardChris PannellWayne ParlatoPeter PearceStephen PepperSimon PurdieAaron RaysonRichard RhodesRob RichardsMal RobertsonWayne RogersGeoff RossJason RussellCameron ScottShanan ScottSean SeymourTim SilverScott SimonsGareth SmallBrian SmithDominic SmithDavid SnellingGreg SnellingPaul SpackmanJustin SpeiraniChris StaffMatthew StapletonGreg StewartStewart StirlingGraeme StockleyRoss StrachanDamian SwadlingMichael SwanScott TaskerJohn ToynePeter ToyneGraeme TrewJohn VictorsenMark VictorsenAndrew WeirNigel WilliamsBill WilsonMal WilsonDavid WrenJames WrightWarren YoungJohnathon Zirkler

Thank you all for building Australia’s

greatest PGA group.

Geoff ZarthGeneral [email protected] 8542 7777

Paul JamisonNational Operations [email protected] 8542 7777

Grant SwanFranchise Operations Manager NSW/[email protected] 770 588

Dean RattleOperations Manager Southern [email protected] 506 510

Golf congratulates the PGA and its members on

reaching its Centennial.

As the PGA of Australia reaches its 100 year milestone, we at are proud to have assisted our PGA members in the success of their careers for the past 25 years.

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Congratulating the PGA of Australia for 100 years of service to our golf industry

Contents

6 Issue 32. September – October 2011

Editor. Rob WillisP. 0414 814 202E. [email protected]

Senior Writer. David NewberyE. [email protected]

Contributing Editors.Mike OrloffRichard Fellner

Design & Layout.Nick Thorn

Creative Consultants. iMedia Corp

8 Clarke Coolum boundDarren Clarke, an extremely popular winner of the 2011 Open Championship, will headline a stellar field for the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca Cola

Official publicaitOn Of the pGa Of australia

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The Centenary AmbassadorsA collection of members who symbolise the past, the present and the future of the PGA will represent the association as Centenary Ambassadors

The Changing FaceThe PGA has undergone significant change, not just over the past 100 years, but also during more recent times

The PGA Championship – A pictorial historyUsing a series of photographs, the stories that make the PGA Championship Australia’s most sought after golfing title

Golf’s Don Bradman No Australian professional can match the great Kel Nagle when it comes to tournaments won and his amazing longevity in the game

To be a PGA memberPGA Magazine examines the values of PGA membership

Hamilton’s labour of loveChristian Hamilton, the professional at the Sandhurst Club, has embraced the Limbs 4 Life program with boundless enthusiasm

Making their mark in a foreign landAustralian PGA members are making their mark in the golfing industry not only on home soil, but all over the world

Cover story

National Sales & Marketing Director.Sam ArthurP. 1300 4653 00F. (07) 5535 4922M. 0410 575 303E. [email protected]

NSW Sales.Scott BarsbyM. 0424 779 199E. [email protected]

QLD Sales.David RossM. 0439 612 458E. [email protected]

VIC/TAS Sales.Jon PerrettM. 0402 852 637E: [email protected]

Accounts.Sheridan MurphyM. 0404 075 823E. [email protected]

Publisher.Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty LtdACN 113 836 301ABN 30 043 104 919PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220

speCial Centenary seCtion

Features

thisissue.

in

The first meeting of the PGA of Australia back on September 19, 1911

Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this magazine, its management or the PGA of Australia.

Titleist and FootJoy comprise the major golf brands of Acushnet Company. Titleist and FootJoy are trademarks owned by Acushnet Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Customer Service: 1800 660 535

Acushnet Australia congratulates the PGA of

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Cover story

8–––Issue 32. September – October 2011

NortherN IrelaNd’s Clarke, an extremely popular winner of The Open Championship, looks forward to the challenge of the Hyatt Regency Coolum course and to also enjoying the tropical climate of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

“I have heard great things about Queensland and the course at Coolum so I am looking forward to playing golf in more warm conditions than I am used to and also testing my game on a different style course to that of a links,” Clarke said. “My family also can’t wait to get to the Sunshine Coast.”

Clarke is appreciative of the fact no Irishman has ever won the event, realising he has his work cut out if he wants to add the PGA Championship title to his 20 career victories.

“Knowing that I could be the first Irishman to win the Australian PGA will be in the back of my mind when I come to play and I hope that I have plenty of fellow Irishman there to cheer me on,” Clarke said.

“Irish golfers are enjoying lots of success of late and hopefully I can continue this trend.

My game is in great shape and I look forward to capping off a great year in Australia.”

With Clarke joining Australian young gun Jason Day, one of world golf’s longest hitters in Bubba Watson and golfing legend Greg Norman, in the field at Coolum, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was one eagerly anticipating the tournament and what it might bring to the state of Queensland.

“This is shaping up to be the most impressive line-up of talent we’ve seen for the tournament,” Ms Bligh said. “To have a champion like Darren Clarke – in addition to recent confirmation of Greg Norman, Jason Day and Bubba Watson – really is a coup for Queensland.

“The PGA is a marquee event on Queensland’s dynamic and growing events calendar.”

Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, also looks forward to welcoming Clarke to Australian shores and is pleased the reigning Open champ will play a part in what is shaping as a bumper season for golf in Australia.

“With stellar fields for the Australian Open and PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s best here for The Presidents Cup and the PGA of Australia celebrating its Centenary in 2011 it’s a huge year for golf and I am very pleased that Darren Clarke is able to come and experience Australian golf at its finest,” Thorburn said.

The 2011 PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola will again be co-sanctioned by OneAsia, the Asia Pacific’s premier professional tournament destination for elite players.

Top players from all over the region are expected to head Down Under to go head-to-head with Australia’s stars.

The tournament will be showcased on OneAsia’s television platform across all four tournament days, broadcast to over 400 million homes in more than 40 countries.

The event will be broadcast domestically on Network Ten, as well as internationally on ESPN Star Sports, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International and Sky Sports NZ among others.

Open Champ ClarketO play at COOlumreCently CrOwned British Open Champ darren Clarke has agreed tO jOin the star-studded field at the pga ChampiOnship presented By COCa-COla, tO Be played at the hyatt regenCy COOlum frOm nOvemBer 24-27.

Cover Story

www.pgamagazine.com.au–––9

THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 24-27 NOVEMBER 2011 AT THE HYATT REGENCY COOLUM, SUNSHINE COAST - QLD

GREG NORMAN • JASON DAY • DARREN CLARKE • BUBBA WATSON

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lOCal BOys COming hOmeAdam Scott, Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley and John Senden recently confirmed they will join the impressive field of previously announced players for the 2011 PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

The announcement of their participation guarantees the event will now boast the best ever line-up of talent for the PGA Championship since it arrived on the Sunshine Coast back in 2002.

Australia’s highest ranked player Scott, with a recent World Golf Championship victory under his belt, heads to Coolum with great expectations.

“Winning at home in Queensland has always been on my list of things I want to achieve in my career and with the way I’m playing at the moment hopefully this could be my year for the PGA,” said Scott.

“It would be great to play well this year and win in Queensland.”

At the other end of the PGA Championship success spectrum, four-time winner Allenby looks forward to the opportunity to create some history and make it five at this year’s event.

“Five PGA’s would definitely be a nice achievement and to do so in such a big year for Australian golf would make it even sweeter,” Allenby said.

Of the other leading Australians Baddeley will play at Coolum for just the second time in his career, while Ogilvy is hoping to go one better after losing out to evergreen

Queenslander Peter Senior in a playoff last year.

It is expected that Senior, the oldest player to win the PGA Championship at age 51 last year, after an outstanding campaign on the US Champions Tour in 2011, would be back to defend his title.

Understandably, PGA CEO Brian Thorburn was excited about the line-up of stars set to descend on the Hyatt Coolum course in November. “We couldn’t be happier with the line-up for this year’s PGA Championship,” Thorburn said. “We are so pleased that all of our players want to be a part of such a huge year.”

Can Geoff Ogilvy go one better at the 2011 PGA

Championship after losing out in a playoff

last year?

Big-hitting American Bubba Watson will be a star attraction at

the 2011 PGA Championship

xxxxx


World beater!

WGC bridgestone champ adam Scott

AustrAliAn AdAm scott set up victory at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational with a superb opening 62 then gave his competitors no chance with a last day 65 in an outstanding performance at the Firestone Country Club.

The 31-year-old Scott returned an 18-under par tournament total, four better than joint runners-Luke Donald and Ricky Fowler, in recording his eighth US PGA Tour success and his 19th international victory.

The Queenslander showed a steely determination in the final round, with his par save on the 15th green going a long way towards securing the win.

“I played at a very high level today given the circumstances,” Scott said. “Not everything was perfect. I hit a few loose shots, but it was pretty sharp. And it was like we’re used to seeing Tiger close out tournaments. He gets in front and just won’t let anyone in. I think the putt on 15. That is certainly a putt that he makes when he’s in that position.”

Jason Day, in a continuation of his high level of play in 2011, finished with fellow young gun Ryo Ishikawa in a tie fifth on 13-under par for the week, with Day sensing something special from Scott before the final round had even begun.

“I walked on the range this morning, and he looked confident,” Day said. “I knew he was going to be tough to beat today.”

Scott’s win also gained considerable publicity due to his choice of caddy in Tiger Woods former bagman Steve Williams, with the outspoken Kiwi vocal about his split with the long time world number one and the satisfaction gained from his win alongside Scott.

“It was the most satisfying win I’ve ever had. There’s no two ways about it,” said Williams, who won 13 major championships with Woods and has in excess of 140 tournament titles as a caddy.

Just one week following his win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, Scott backed it up with solid four days of golf at the US PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

Scott ended the week seventh on 4-under par, four shots behind Americans Keegan Bradley and Jason Duffner who were forced into extra holes to decide a winner.

While he may not have been able to win on consecutive Sunday’s the performance further enhanced Scott’s reputation as a serious contender in the biggest tournaments on the golfing calendar.

“It’s easy to come in the week after and just play it around the golf course, but if you do that here, you’re probably going to be going home Friday afternoon. I worked really hard because I wanted to build on the good finish of last week,” Scott told pgatour.com.

The PGA Championship result and his Bridgestone cheque for US$1.4million saw Scott jump to number seven on the official world golf rankings. With his two strong outings the Queenslander also climbed into 13th on the FedEx Cup points list and to eighth on the US PGA Tour moneylist with total earnings in excess of US$3.2million.

At the time PGA magazine went to print, Scott had committed to play in the Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney and courtesy of his world ranking was set to be an automatic selection for the International Team at the President’s Cup.

news


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AustrAliAn Andre stolz secured his second victory of the season on OneAsia after coming out on top in an exciting head to head showdown with local hope Prayad Marksaeng at the US$1million Thailand Open.

Stolz, the winner of the season opening Indonesia PGA Championship back in March, fired a sizzling last day nine-under-par 63, for a 22-under par tournament total, in beating Marksaeng by two shots.

After starting the final round three behind Marksaeng the overnight leader, Stolz made nine birdies, including six on the front side at the Suwan Golf and Country Club course, to score a victory which at the beginning of the day may have seemed out of reach.

“I hit a lot of great shots early on and obviously Prayad and I were battling each other – it was great fun. I knew I had to get a fast start and he comes out making birdies as well,” Stolz said.

The win was the continuation of what is an outstanding comeback story for Stolz, who back in 2005 was resigned to walking away from competitive golf after struggling to overcome a nagging wrist injury. With the Thailand Open success Stolz now has two titles on OneAsia to add to wins on the US PGA, Nationwide and Japan Tours and his four victories on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Stolz now heads the OneAsia order of merit and with his confidence high looks for more of the same in the end of season tournaments back home.

“The way I am playing at the moment I feel I can win every event I play. I’ve only played badly on about five days in the last year,” he said. “I am pretty happy with my golf and my swing. I really got it clicking after my trip to America at the end of last year.

“Honestly it is good as I have ever played.” In collecting the US$180,000 winners’

cheque Stolz overtook Korean Kim Kyung-tae at the top of the OneAsia Order of Merit with total earnings of US$433,125.

Of the other Australians at the Thailand Open Brent McCullough enjoyed a solid week, with his 17-under par total seeing him finish in a tie for third on 17-under, while Jamie Arnold had his best result on OneAsia in winding up alone in sixth position two strokes further back.

Second win for Stolz in thailand

wily veteran the champ in indoneSiathAi veterAn thAworn wirAtchAnt, a multiple winner throughout the Asian region, made a scrambling par on the 18th hole at Damai Indah Golf - Pantai Indah Kapuk Course to claim his first OneAsia title at the US$1mill Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta.

The 44-year-old Wiratchant prevailed by one stroke from Indonesia’s rising star Rory Hie, defending champion Michael Hendry and Korean Choi Jin-ho.

Wiratchant, who collected a cheque for US$180,000, led by three at the start of the last day and in closing with a 73, for a 13-under par total, chalked up his second success in the Indonesian Open following on from his initial victory back in 2005.

Hendy had a chance to send the event into extra time however his long range

birdie putt on the 72nd hole failed to find the mark, while Hie bogeyed the 18th after finding a water hazard off the tee.

For Hie, it was the second time he had finished in the runners-up position at a OneAsia event, with the 22-year-old also falling just one stroke short at the Indonesia PGA Championship earlier this year.

The winner by seven shots at the same venue in 2010, New Zealander Hendy produced a fine defence of his title, while the unheralded Choi made birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to come close to snatching an unlikely win.

Perth Professional Kim Felton and Victorian Ashley Hall were the best of the Australians, three shots behind the winner in a tie for fifth. Mathew Griffin was a shot further back.

Thaworn Wiratchant

Thailand Open winner and

OneAsia order of merit leader

Andre Stolz

In case you mIssed It...


Peter Senior continued his push for a first US Champions Tour title in recording a second and third place finish during August. In his second season on the US over-50’s circuit, the Queenslander was tied for the lead with American John Huston at the 3M Championship entering the final day and despite shooting a 2-under 70, was passed by eventual winner Jay Haas. Senior finished on 14-under and tied with Tom Lehman and Kenny Perry.

Then just two weeks later Senior was again

knocking on the door, coming up just one shot short of Fred Couples and John Cook at the Senior Players Championship at the Westchester Country Club. Couples would go on to win the event with Senior outright third. The result marked the ninth time Senior had finished inside the top 10 of a Champions Tour event this year, with his earnings a healthy US$1,004,000 in 16 tournaments so far. He has already outdone his 2010 efforts where in 25 events played Senior enjoyed three top 10’s while banking US$821,000.

Senior So cloSe

Fowler ScoreS a top 10 at Senior BritiSh open

Peter Fowler’S excellent 2011 campaign continued with a strong performance at the Senior British Open.

Fowler, who was in contention after opening rounds of 71-68, eventually finished in a tie for seventh, six shots behind winner Russ Cochran. The Australian shot a 6-under par total at the Walton Heath course, earning €32,269.

As of mid August Fowler sat in second place, trailing only Ton Watson, on the European Senior Order with €198,854 in earnings.

the old Bull and young Buck claim major victorieS

while exPerienced iriShman Darren Clarke walked away with the spoils at the British Open and it was rookie Keegan Bradley, in his first ever outing in a major championship, who claimed victory at the US PGA Championship.

In The Open Championship, played in difficult weather conditions on a demanding Royal St Georges layout, Clarke’s 5-under par total was three shots better than runners-up Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, with Dane Thomas Bjorn on 1-under, the only other player better than par.

The Aussies never quite managed to mount a serious challenge, however lefty Richard Green performed creditably, his 72-hole total of 5-over par leaving him in a tie for 16th, Adam Scott was next best on 7-over in 25th, with Jason Day, 9-over par and tied 30th.

At the Atlanta Athletic Club a new golfing star was unearthed when Bradley, a 25-year-old American, won his first major championship in his first appearance in one of the ‘big four’ golf championships.

Bradley brushed a disastrous triple bogey on the 15th hole in the final round before beating Jason Duffner in a playoff at the US PGA. Duffner squandered a last round advantage with consecutive bogies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes.

In the three-hole playoff the belly putter-wielding Bradley birdied the 16th and from there two more pars were enough to claim the fourth and final major of 2011.

Of the Australian’s in the field, Scott continued his consistent form, finishing seventh on four-under and just four strokes from the leading pair.

STOP PRESS: nittieS a nationwide winnernewcaStle ProFeSSional James Nitties staked a claim for a return to the US PGA Tour in 2012 with an impressive victory at the Midwest Classic in Kansas on the US Nationwide Tour.

Nitties shot a 26-under par total in winning by five shots from fellow Aussie

Nick Flanagan and Swede Jonas Blixt, collecting a cheque for US$99,000.

The victory saw the 29-year-old Nitties move to 12th on the Nationwide Tour money list and into contention for a place in the top 25 at year’s end and therefore a promotion to the PGA Tour for 2012.

Peter Senior

Peter Fowler

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Industry news


Flight Centre limited has joined forces with the PGA as Official Travel Agency Partner of the PGA of Australia and, in particular, the two major events of the summer the Australian Open and the PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

PGA members, tournament players and consumers are all set to benefit from discounted golf related travel services under the new partnership.

“Our arrangement with Flight Centre provides benefits in a number of areas. Firstly, it provides discounted travel options to the players for whom travel is an everyday reality and secondly by providing great travel

options to golf fans for what is sure to be the biggest year of Australian golf on record,” said Brian Thorburn, PGA of Australia CEO.

As the Official Travel Agency of the PGA of Australia, Flight Centre will offer fans travel packages for the upcoming Australian Open and PGA Championship which are both set to feature some of the biggest names in world golf.

“Never before has there been so much

incentive to travel interstate to see not only our best golfers compete, but also the world’s best. Flight Centre will provide a number of affordable packages ensuring even more Australians will get the chance to be part of an extraordinary summer,” Thorburn added.

The packages will be supported by various Flight Centre promotions across its outlets and a digital activity encouraging Australian sports fans to make the most of the upcoming summer.For information on holiday packages to the Australian Open and PGA Championship, call Flight Centre on 1300 778 433 or visit www.flightcentre.com.au/golf

Flight Centre lands new golFing partnership

an eye on the prizedaniel Cromie, a AAA PGA Member, has had his eye on becoming a General Manager of a golf club for nearly ten years, recently making a significant step forward in achieving this lofty goal.

His Industry experience began by undertaking a three-year PGA of Australia Traineeship (2001-2003) at both the Huntingdale Golf Club and at Brighton Public Golf Course. Following his traineeship Daniel spent a couple of years developing his game playing professionally in a number of regions that included the Asian, New Zealand and the Australian tours.

In 2007 he began his operational experience as the Teaching Professional/Junior Development Manager at The Box Hill Golf Club in Melbourne and over the next two years had achieved great success increasing their junior memberships from five to 70.

In 2009 he was promoted to Assistant Golf Director/Corporate Golf Manager with a main focus on the day-to-day golf operations. During this time he was also undertaking a Diploma in Business

Management at Swinburne University, part-time in the evenings.

Daniel has now been appointed as Golf Operations Manager for The Green Acres Golf Club in Melbourne, which has put him much closer to achieving his goal of General Manager.

leading australian golF website iseekgolf.com has launched its new ‘Ask-a-Pro’ teaching panel, available for all their members to freely ask questions to the recently formed group of national and international PGA golf instructors.

The panel is made up of experts from all areas of the game such as coaching, full swing, short game and mental. Each of the pros will have their own designated discussion (thread) along with several group panel discussions also being available.

iseekgolf.com readers can now have easy access to the panel of experts. They can ask questions, submit their swing on video, take in their insights into teaching at the high performance level, while doing it all from the comfort from their home or office. For the the official Ask-a-Pro team of golf professionals and more information go to www.iseekgolf.com

world–Class instruCtors join iseekgolF.Com teaChing panel

Daniel Cromie

Industry news


uFl beComes the oFFiCial apparel partner oF oneasiauniting Future legends (uFl) was established by veteran Singapore-based apparel manufacturer Alpine Creations ‘to celebrate the journey of competitive amateur athletes who aspire to become tomorrow’s sports legends and to shape the future of the games they play’.

Ashok Mahtani, co-founder of UFL and Alpine Creations, has no doubts that today’s up-and-coming golfers are seeking to express themselves with apparel that is both distinctive and practical, hence the company’s tie-ups with both burgeoning OneAsia and the Faldo Series Asia (FSA), the region’s predominant elite platform for top amateurs.

“We are thrilled about the partnership between OneAsia and UFL, which allows us to expand our horizon in supporting budding golfers in Asia,” Mahtani expressed. “We are also excited about our plans for 2012, where a

Team UFL, comprising of five leading young OneAsia players, will be jointly created by both entities, to become brand ambassadors for UFL using the OneAsia platform.”

“Golf is a multi-billion dollar industry in Asia – estimated to be worth well over US$15 billion annually and employing over 300,000 people region-wide. The youth market in

Asia affords us the opportunity to grow our business while becoming part of golf’s ‘new history’,” Mahtani added.

Ben Sellenger, Chief Executive Officer of OneAsia, stated: “UFL have shown a true commitment to developing the future generation of Asian golfers, and there is a real alignment between our two organisations in not only the development and growth of golf in the region, but also a willingness to push established boundaries, and become distinctive in our own right.”

mike orloff, a pga member and golf operations specialist who runs the website www.golfindustrycentral.com.au, is a contributor to industry news

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News


South AfricA’S tim clArk, the 2008 Australian Open Champion, has been named a Captain’s Assistant for The Presidents Cup International Team.

Clark was selected by International Team Captain Greg Norman, who made the announcement during a private meeting of potential International Team Members prior to the start of the USPGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia.

“Tim brings a lot of Presidents Cup experience to the position, having been a member of three previous International Teams, including the one I captained in 2009, where he was an inspiration to all his fellow team members for his performance and incredible team spirit, which is so vital in seeking a victory,” said Norman.

Despite currently being in contention for a berth in the 2011 International Team, Clark is set to undergo elbow

surgery which would rule him out as a player in the event, however he was excited to accept the role proposed by Norman.

“It was a tough decision to accept that I wouldn’t be able to compete at Royal Melbourne later this year,” Clark said. “But my spirits took a turn for the best when Greg asked me to join him and Frank Nobilo as a Captain’s Assistant. If I can’t swing the club myself to help the International Team achieve a victory, I’ll certainly do all I can in the team room to help the rest of my fellow players.”

Clark made his Presidents Cup debut in 2003 and in three Presidents Cup appearances has compiled a 5-2-8 record.

Fred Couples, the captain of the US Team, will also have two assistants as he brings back Jay Haas and Michael Jordan from the victorious 2009 team.

Tim Clark Chosen as CapTain’s assisTanT

World ranking poinTs on offer for ausTralia

in A SignificAnt Step forwArd and positive boost for local events, the PGA Tour of Australasia’s state and regional based tournaments will be awarded World Ranking points, from January 1, 2012.

After sustained lobbying by the PGA Tour of Australasia, which first began at the US Masters in April, the Board of the Official World Golf Rankings formally accepted the proposal to have players compete for official rankings points at all events on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, reasoned the decision as recognition of the increasing quality of the events being played in Australia.

“This is a real win for our tournaments and most importantly our players for whom the PGA Tour of Australasia events act as a springboard to other international tours,” Thorburn said. “The awarding of points will now ensure these events have even greater relevance internationally and will attract even higher quality fields. While World Ranking points were already awarded to Australia’s flagship events such as the national Open, PGA and Masters, under the new arrangement tournaments such as the Victorian Open, NSW PGA Championship and Western Australian PGA Championship will also offer rankings points. The minimum points level will be set at 6 points for the winner of each State and Regional based

Championship. This puts these events on par with the Canadian Tour, OneAsia, the Tour de Las Americas and the Korean Tour. Ranking Points are awarded according to the players’ finishing positions and are also related to the strength of the field based on the number and ranking of the Top-200 world ranked players and the Top-30 of the home tour players in the respective tournaments.

The decision was ratified at the recent meeting of the Official World Golf Ranking Board at The Open Championship in Sandwich.

Tim Clark, a captain’s assistant for the International Team

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australian Open

WOOds, the Winner of 13 major championships and 83 tournaments worldwide, is slowly making a return to tournament golf after overcoming a series of injuries, with the announcement of his participation in the event to be held in Sydney in November, complementing the outstanding field which is set to battle for the much sought after Stonehaven Cup.

Brian Thorburn, PGA of Australia CEO, was thrilled to reveal that Woods would join the likes of Greg Norman, Fred Couples, world top-20 ranked American’s Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, as well as local hopes in defending Champion Geoff Ogilvy and Australia’s newest superstar Jason Day, at the Lakes Golf Club later this year.

“Tiger’s presence in Australia’s most prestigious tournament will further enhance what is certain to be a huge summer of Australian golf,” Thorburn said. “Tiger will be joined in Australia by the world’s best golfers and while we have already made plenty of player announcements we still intend to make more. “We know there are a lot of Presidents Cup players wanting to play in our PGA Tour of Australasia events and we expect there

will be plenty more announcements in the coming weeks.”

For Woods, who made his competitive comeback at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in early August, it will be only his second tournament appearance in Sydney. His past visit to the harbour city came back in 1996, when Greg Norman survived some atrocious conditions at the Australian Golf Club to claim the first place prize.

“I had a great time in 1996, Norman won that year,” Woods said during a press conference in Akron prior to the WGC event. “It was an eye-opening experience to play in Norman’s home country like that when he was really playing well at the time.”

While Woods produced a credible performance in 1996, finishing fifth, this time around he is coming down under with one intention, that being to win an event which has an impressive list of the world’s very best players, including Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Nagle and Thomson, as past champions.

“I’d love to get my name on the trophy,” Woods said. “The feel of it, with the history and the champions list is pretty remarkable, really.

“Back then the Australian Open was one of the biggest events in the world, very close to some of the major championships. So it sort of has a ton of history, and this year we’ve got just an amazing field, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Australian Open, which tees off on November 10, will be followed by the much-anticipated President’s Cup, with the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca Cola to be played at the Hyatt Coolum course the week after.

Throw in the Australian Masters in December, an event which features current world number one Luke Donald, and the hype around the sport of golf is set to reach some unprecedented levels.

“The PGA is expecting record crowds and record television audiences, in particular for the Australian Open and PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. It’s safe to say this summer will ensure Australian golf is on the world map and we are more than prepared to capitalise on this opportunity for the ongoing growth of the entire golf industry,” Thorburn said.

Tiger To Tee iT

up in Sydneyin anoTher booST To whaT waS already Shaping aS The moST exciTing auSTralian golfing Summer in recenT memory, comeS The newS ThaT Tiger woodS haS commiTTed To compeTe in The 2011 auSTralian open.

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Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Greg Norman, Dustin Johnson and Geoff Ogilvy

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In May this year, the PGA’s premier partner Coca-Cola Amatil joined forces with The Peninsula Country Golf Club as their exclusive non alcoholic beverage supplier. The new 5-year agreement will involve Peninsula pouring CCA products throughout the bar, Pro Shop and on-course. Further, the club will also be using CCA’s coffee, Grinders, in the clubhouse.

Travis Thompson, State Business Manager Vic CCA said, “It’s great for CCA to form such a long-term partnership with one of Victoria’s most prestigious clubs and especially one with such beautiful facilities. Already we have used their excellent facilities for two National conferences. We see ourselves as a “one-stop” beverage solution. The fact that The Peninsula Country Club is selling our non-alcoholic range and Grinders coffee demonstrates that CCA have a compelling offer to suit the golfing environment”

Gary Richardson, General Manager at The Peninsula Country Golf Club states, “That CCA covers such a wide number of categories including coffee, dealing with one company was a logical step and CCA a good fit. The changeover was seamless with postmix units, vending machines and fridges installed on the one day thereby causing minimal disruption to business. Having a dedicated golf team, with a business manager and golf specific representative, we have confidence that CCA can deliver positive outcomes for both our club and the industry as a whole”.

Gary Richardson - General Manager at The Peninsula Country Golf

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11_213 PGA TESTIMONIAL 1 1/09/11 11:48 AM


Q. Mark, you have been a proud PGA Member for over 30 years now,

what do you believe have been the biggest changes in the Association and also your career in this time?

A. There have been so many changes!! In playing I feel the

athleticism of the players now is amazing. Technology has the changed the design and performance of equipment which has lead to our Members changing the way we coach the game holistically. I also feel the education programs across all categories being coaching, golf operations and now management has enhanced our Memberships skills in whichever pathway of their career they choose.

Q. As a Vocational Member you commenced your Traineeship

in 1975 how has the program evolved over this time and where do you see its future heading?

A. The evolution of the Trainee Program has helped our Trainees

be well equipped to succeed in the ever changing market that golf is. The future of the program has to be about educating a good percentage of Trainees to become great Administrators as well as great Club Pro’s and Coaches. The number of Teaching and Club Pro positions available is not growing very rapidly due to a lack of new facility development. To assist our graduates work in their chosen profession

means we need to look at different employment opportunities for them. Keeping the Trainee Program in pace with the changing market is an important aspect the PGA regularly reviews and updates.

Q. What does the Board see as the vision for the game? How do you

plan on growing the game?

A. Our Board with its great diversity gives a very positive view for the

games future. We believe that as long as all PGA Members, both Touring and Vocational make continual improvement, then the game’s future in Australia is in a good position. Through our programs we want to grow the profile of our Members and ensure we are now educated in all areas of the golf industry. This will have the Association working collaboratively with other golfing bodies to grow participation which will lead to PGA Members growing their businesses and creating more jobs. We also believe there is a need for the PGA to get some of our good young developing players to the ‘Star Class’. From there it is the next step for them to join Cadel Evans in the inspirational HERO class.

Q. How do you view the game of golf fitting into the broader Australian

sporting landscape?

A. Golf has a vital role to play. It is a tremendous teacher of life skills

for our young people. It teaches honour,

respect, integrity, work ethic, patience, perseverance, planning, and information processing, emotional self control amongst others. I don’t know of any sport that better equips young people for the challenges ahead in all aspects of their life and careers. Golf is a unique game where Professionals can play with golfers of all standards in any environment being competition, business or social and this is why the 1.2million golfers who play the game really enjoy the sport. One of the key changes for the future is to ensure we have an “everyone is welcome” unified approach to playing the game whether you are a beginner, junior, woman or just social. This will ensure our sport will continue to grow as we know it is a game for life.

Q. As a young golfer who inspired you to become a Professional?

Once you completed your Traineeship who inspired you to become a coach?

A. There were really quite a few influences, Reg Want who was

the long time Professional at Coolangatta Tweed, he was the consummate Professional. Jack Nicklaus, I loved his hair cut as a young guy ( Joke!!) as well as the exciting way he played. “The Von” and Peter Thomson played a major role from an Australian perspective as they were pioneers of the game and placed Australia on the world stage. Another inspiration was my father Keith, who gave me a lot of

ASK THE PGA –

Mark Gibson

Mark Gibson is the ChairMan of the board of the PGa of australia. in this the Centenary year, Gibson looks baCk with Pride at his own Professional Career, while addressinG a nuMber of issues relevant to the PGa and the MeMbershiP as the orGanisation Moves forward into an exCitinG new era.

Q&A


the values I live by still to this day. In ’79, ’80, I worked for Charlie Earp who could inspire a pigeon to fight an eagle! He made me realise being a PGA Coach was not a lesser occupation to being a Tour Player. I worked with Ian Triggs and he again was an inspiration as a coach and as you can see to this day I have never ceased to stop learning.

Q. What are your expectations for this upcoming summer of golf for

the PGA Tour of Australasia events?

A. The upcoming summer season of golf provides us with many

opportunities at every level of the game. The schedule and professional talent comprising of our own and international visitors, is the best we have seen for many years. The media now have their interest stimulated by the influx of super stars. Our developing players have the opportunity to compete against the world’s best. They can see what their strengths and weaknesses are. That should offer confidence and desire to improve and become more competitive.

It is the opportunity for our developing players to showcase their game to the world’s media. A win for one of our future stars could well be the springboard they need to step up a level in confidence. As our players showcase the game we will be working behind the scenes to promote the PGA Members and game participation by encouraging the Australian public to take up golf and for those who play to play more regularly. The interest in the game offers us the opportunity to grow participation.

Q. This is the PGA’s Centenary year, how important is it to celebrate

this milestone? How do you believe we can leverage the Centenary to the benefit of the Association?

A. I think to know where you are going you need to know

where you have come from. We need to celebrate all our heroes that have been the PGA Members of the last 100 years. I am sure the 15 Pro’s who were the first PGA Members did not realise how important what they started would

become. Just as today we don’t fully realise what or where the PGA will be in the next 100 years. I am sure those 15 would be very happy with what the PGA is and stands for now. We need to celebrate their foresight. The Centenary celebrations allow us to recognise who we are, what we stand for and why our role and the Association is so important. The Membership are the ones who can do this and benefit from the increase in profile and recognition of the PGA Member that will come from the PGA’s Centenary. With the reward comes the responsibility to keep our association well represented and well respected. We now have a joint Board meeting scheduled with Golf Australia to look at working together to grow the game. Maybe in 100 years the game will be governed by one body, golfers in Australia will be celebrating the second PGA Centenary of that meeting as a key step like we are now celebrating that meeting at Royal Sydney, in 1911 !! Who knows, I only hope so.

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PGAMagazine_297x210mm_Sept/Oct11.indd 1 7/9/11 4:20:58 PM

Celebrating 100 years of golf in Australia

the history >> the traditions >> the future >> special member events


launch

australian golf royalty including

Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle, were

on hand on July 19 when the Chief

Executive Officer Brian Thorburn

officially launched the PGA’s Centenary

celebrations at the historic Mint

in Sydney.

Speaking to PGA members, media and

corporate guests, Thorburn released a

new PGA Centenary logo and announced

an exciting schedule of events and

programs to commemorate 100 years

of professional golf in Australia.

“Australian professional golf has an

incredible history and over the last

100 years we have produced some

of the greatest champions ever seen

on the international stage. But what’s

more our future is even brighter,” said

Thorburn. “This is shaping up to be

the biggest ever year for Australian

golf and will ensure the next century

begins on a high.”

With the Centenary celebrations set

to begin from September 19, the date

of the Association’s inauguration some

100 years ago, PGA Life Member Greg

Norman will fittingly take on the role

of the PGA’s Centenary Patron for the

next 12 months.

“It was with great honour that I

take on the role of the Patron for the

PGA of Australia’s Centenary year,”

Norman said via video link. “I look

forward to sharing such an historic

occasion with you all that will not

only celebrate the last 100 years,

but also launch our great game into

the future.”

The Centenary schedule will include

a host of events, some exclusively for

Members and others open to the public,

and a number of other initiatives

including a member recognition

Centenary awards program and the

establishment of a PGA Hall of Fame.

One of the main Centenary events

announced was a Gala Dinner to be

From one century to the next

the PGA celebrAtes 100 yeArs

Centenary Event Schedule19th July 2011 - Media Launch, The Mint, Sydney NSW

19th september 2011 - NSW Member Day, Royal Sydney Golf Course, NSW

6th october 2011 - Nagle Cup, The Australian Golf Club, Sydney NSW

4th november 2011 - West Australian Member Day, Royal Perth Golf Club, Perth WA

11th november 2011 - Gala Dinner, Town Hall, Sydney NSW

10 – 13th november 2011 - Australian Open, The Lakes Golf Course, Sydney NSW

14th november 2011 - Peter Thomson International, Sandhurst Club, Melbourne VIC

24 – 27th november 2011 - Australian PGA Championship, The Hyatt Regency, Coolum QLD

8th December 2011 - ACT Member Day, Royal Canberra Golf Club, Canberra ACT

11th December 2011 - Tasmania Member Day, Royal Hobart Golf Club, Hobart TAS

16th December 2011 - SA Member Day, Royal Adelaide Golf Club, Adelaide SA

30th January 2012 – Queensland Member Day, Royal Queensland Golf Club, Brisbane QLD

13th March 2012 – Victorian Member Day, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne VIC

held at Sydney Town Hall on Friday

11th November, the week of the

Australian Open.

The Centenary marks 100 years from

the time the PGA was officially formed

on September 19, 1911, following the

dissatisfaction of 15 professionals who

reportedly felt they were treated as

second rate citizens compared with

their amateur counterparts at the

Australian Open.

The founding Members of the PGA

in 1911 included R.S. (Dicks) Banks,

Rowley Banks, Charles W. Campbell,

E. (Ted) Cates, Carnegie Clark, Jack

Clark, Tom Daniels, Arthur W. East,

J. Victor East, Allan F. Maiden,

Frank T. O’Brien, Jack Patterson,

Fred Popplewell, Dan Soutar and

W.(Willie) Thomson.

Since the Centenary launch all

PGA Members have received an

information pack regarding the entire

Centenary program with details on

how to get involved. PGA Members

can also stay up to date with all

the latest Centenary information at

www.pga.org.au/centenary

Kel nagle (left) with Peter thomson

special collectors edition 29

welcoMe

The Patron’s addressthis is to be a remarkable year of

celebration for the PGA of Australia

and I am proud to have the honour

of Patron for such an historic event

within Australian golf.

The PGA has long been a supporter of

my career, since I was a PGA Trainee

working at the Royal Queensland golf

shop, until today through various

opportunities.

PGA Members are unique in statue

and the title is only given to experts in

our profession. We are one in the same

whether being a Tour Professional,

Teaching Professional, Club Professional

or Trainee; we each share the passion

for the great game of golf.

One of my greatest golfing

moments is still my first professional

tournament victory, in 1976 at the

West Lakes Classic. This was my first

accomplishment as a golfer and gave

me the confidence to achieve greater

things on the International stage.

The PGA is a fellowship that entrusts

the game of golf, through tradition,

loyalty and friendship. From the past,

present and future PGA Members are

responsible for where this tradition

began and where the future is headed.

As the game of golf continues to

evolve so too does professional golf

and there is much to look forward

to for both our current and future

Members. With the greats of the game

teaching the future through Vocational

members like Charlie Earp combined

with the ongoing success of our tour

stars including Jason Day and Adam

Scott, the future is bright.

This year is about celebrating not

only the Centenary of the PGA of

Australia but also this illustrious game

called golf. I look forward to sharing

this future with you all as we embark

on the next Century of the PGA.

From the Chairman – A Centenary welcomeon behalf of the boarD it is my great

honour to address you as Chairman of

the PGA on such an historic occasion

for our Association. 100 years

in the making, our Centenary is a

milestone of which we should all be

incredibly proud.

PGA Members are the living heritage

of Australian golf with our Association

producing some of the greatest coaches,

players and ambassadors the game has

ever seen. Through the Centenary we

will celebrate their achievements.

In addition to Greg our Centenary

Patron, I would like to thank and

congratulate our ten fellow Members

who have been selected to represent

us as Centenary Ambassadors.

Representing every corner of our

Membership our Ambassadors include

Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Bruce

Green, Charlie Earp, Col Swatton, Peter

Ormsby, Matt Jager, Mat Goggin, Lisa

Newling and our 2010 Trainee of the

Year Kevin Conlong. Congratulations

to you all for your appointment. I

know you are all true representatives

of the past, present and future of

our organisation.

Finally I would like to encourage

all our Members to become involved

with the Centenary program in the

coming months in any way you can. I

particularly encourage you to get along

to our Member Days which are taking

place in every state from September.

Each of us have stories from our

Association’s past that deserve telling

and through these Member Days I hope

we all gain a greater understanding

and appreciation of our heritage within

Australian golf.

This is our Centenary and our

Association – without your involvement

the occasion will not receive the

attention it deserves.

I hope to see you all in the coming

months. Happy Centenary to you all.

Greg NormanPGA of Australia Centenary Patron

Mark GibsonChairman PGA of Australia


Brian ThorburnCEO PGA of Australia

welcoMe

From the CEOon septeMber 19, 1911 the PGA of

Australia was born from the desire of

fifteen Professional Golfers who were

looking to advance their profession.

One hundred years later we now boast

a membership of over 2500 PGA

Professionals and continue to be one

of the most successful and respected

PGA’s the world over.

The PGA Centenary provides us all

with a great opportunity to consider

our past, but also to look to our future.

Evolving with each decade that has

passed, our Association is incredibly

diverse. From training and education

to membership services, tournaments,

events and grass roots development

programs, the PGA is a leader within

the Australian Golf Industry and will

continue to be into the future.

Our standing is implicit through the

partnerships we have formed along the

way with sponsors the likes of Coca-

Cola Amatil and Holden. By the virtue

of their support, the PGA continues to

evolve and our network of passionate

and dedicated Members continue to

receive the support necessary to grow

the Australian golf community one

golfer at a time.

In this our Centenary year I

encourage all Members to consider

the history that has brought us into

2011 and honour those past and

present Members who have enabled

you all to reach such heights. Some

such ‘trail blazers’ have passed while

others still stand amongst us, many of

whom will be honoured in our Awards

program this year. The awards will

be announced in the coming months

and I look forward to celebrating all

honourees as the year progresses.

I am incredibly proud to lead the PGA

during its Centenary celebrations and

I look forward to the next 12 months

as we embark on the PGA’s next 100

years. I hope to see many of you

at the upcoming Centenary functions

and events.

on behalf of the 27,000 men and

women Professionals of The PGA of

America, we congratulate The PGA

of Australia on the grand occasion

of your Centenary. For 100 years

your organization has served the

game well by promoting the sport

and elevating the vocation of the

golf professional.

Your membership has left an

indelible mark on the game and

business of golf that truly spans the

test of time. Past PGA of Australia

President Peter Thomson captured

a total of five Open Championships

and won our 1984 Senior PGA

Championship here in Palm Beach

Gardens. Two-time major and world

Number One Champion Greg Norman

has become an ambassador for the

game, while developing a global golf

business empire that revolutionized

course design and apparel. As well,

1991 Open Champion Ian Baker

Finch played in our first televised

Grand Slam of Golf and provides

expert analysis and commentary on

CBS Sports. And The PGA of America

proudly calls your Australian PGA

Tour Chairman Wayne Grady our

1990 PGA Champion where he bested

a strong field at Shoal Creek Golf

Club in Birmingham, Alabama.

Each of these men has spoken

proudly of the support they received

from their PGA and fellow Australian

professionals. Today we salute your

collective accomplishments.

Here’s three cheers for a century

very well done!

Allen Wronwoski (President) Joseph P. Steranka (CEO) PGA of America

IF DISTANCE MATTERS

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Centenary moments


The PGA ThrouGh The AGesThe PGA of Australia has a rich and colourful history, dating back to its inauguration in 1911. even before that the professional golfers of the time fought for their rights, with the formation of the PGA a significant milestone for golf in Australia. While the pages of PGA Magazine cannot do justice to even a small percentage of the people and happenings which shaped the game and also the PGA, a few snippets borrowed from the pages of the book The PGA of Australia, The First 100 Years, written by Jim Webster, details some of the significant events, while highlighting the high achievers. This, the Centenary Year of the PGA of Australia, has brought these noteworthy events and people sharply into focus, with the PGA celebrating their contribution to the current health and good standing of the organisation as it heads into a new century.

TAssie hosTs The PGAThe Australian PGA

Championship

was played in Tasmania for

the first time in 1948 at the

Kingston Beach course, with

Norman von Nida beating Eric

Cremin 2 and 1 in the final.

The Tasmanian section was

congratulated on the hospitality

shown to the members, who

were impressed the event showed

a profit for the association of

£44 15s 3d. This was one of

the earliest professional events to

show a profit.

GoinG ‘biG’ WiTh The GolF bAllThe subject of the larger American-

sized ball and its introduction

to all professional tournaments

reached a climax in 1978 when

the AGU had recommended the

State golf associations accept it as

the standard ball for use in State

Open championships. The PGA

elected to make the 1.68” ‘big-

ball’ compulsory for six-months

from July 31 to December 31 that

year. At the end of that period the

decision was made to continue with

its use for all future PGA events.

A Television FirsTThe Pelaco tournament, played on November 7-10, 1956 at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney had the distinction of becoming not only the first golf event, but the first live sporting telecast in Australia. Covered by TCN 9, the only downside was the fall off in crowds and a considerable loss in gate money. Bruce Crampton beat Gary Player to win the event.

reCord-breAkinG World CuP Win Good mates David Graham and Bruce Devlin scored what was perhaps the most emphatic World Cup win in Australia’s history when they won the 1970 staging of the event by 10 shots. Played at the Jockey Club in Buenos Aires in Argentina, the Aussies also shattered the team record with a score of 544 for the 72-hole competition, with Graham second to local Roberto de Vicenzo for individual honours.

WoMen MeMbers on

The AGendA

At a meeting

of delegates i

n 1971 presid

ent Peter

Thomson rais

ed the issue

of admitting w

omen

members to t

he associatio

n. In the pa

st, membersh

ip

had been exc

lusively male,

which accor

ded with

the rules. Th

e next year

the Ladies Pr

ofessional

Golf Associat

ion was form

ed and a cop

y of their

constitution r

eceived by th

e PGA. It wa

s resolved

that the LPGA

be recognise

d as a separ

ate body

and that it w

ould receive s

upport in an

y way

consistent wi

th the promot

ion of golf.

bACk Where iT

All beGAnIt was at a

meeting of 15 professional

golfers held in Carnegie

Clark’s workshop

on the grounds of Royal

Sydney Golf

Club on September 19, 1911

, that a

proposal to form a Profession

al Golfer’s

Association was carried un

animously.

Professionals competing at the

1911

Australian Open had bee

n dissatisfied

with their treatment at the to

urnament

and with the facilities pr

ovided. It

was then proposed at th

at meeting by

Carnegie Clark and secon

ded by RS

Banks, that Dan Souter b

e elected the

first Chairman of the Association, wi

th

the proposal carried unan

imously.

seCond in lineAffiliation with the

British PGA was

granted in March,

1912. The British

PGA was the first

body of its kind,

coming into being

in 1901, with the

Australian PGA next

in 1911, the New

Zealand PGA third in

1913 and the United

States PGA fourth

in 1916.

Centenary moments


ChAirMAn oF The boArdThe following is a complete list of the men to

hold the office of Chairmen (President) of the PGA

of Australia. In all 19 men performed the duties

of Chairmen, with Peter Thomson serving an

incredible 30 years in the role.

1911-1919 – Dan Souter1919-1920 – Allan Maiden1920-1928 – Fred Popplewell 1928-1929 – Dan Souter 1929-1930 – Tom Howard1931-1931 – Rufus Stewart1932-1933 – Arthur Le Fevre1933-1934 – Arthur East1934-1935 – Rufus Stewart1935-1936 – Arthur Le Fevre1936-1937 – Will Corry1937-1938 – Rufus Stewart1938-1939 – Jim Linquist 1939-1945 – World War II – No meetings1946-1949 – M. (Lou) Kelly1949-1952 – J. (Don) Spence 1952-1955 – M. (Lou) Kelly1955-1958 – Horace Henry Alfred ‘Ossie’ Pickworth 1958-1961 – Dan Cullen1961-1964 – Alex Mercer1964-1994 – Peter Thomson1994-2003 – Neville Wilson 2003-2007 – Geoff Scott2008 - Peter Senior2009 - Geoff Scott2010-2011 – Mark Gibson

The PGA CoMes ToGeTher In more recent times a significant

partnership was confirmed with the

amalgamation of the PGA of Australia

and its counterpart in control of

tournament golf, the PGA Tour of

Australasia. After much board room

discussion and work done by then

CEO Max Garske and his management

team, the Amalgamation was signed

off in 2007, with the two parties now

working under the same roof at the

Sandhurst Club and under the auspices

of the PGA of Australia

The FirsT APPrenTiCe J. Victor East became

Australia’s first apprentice golf

professional when he went to

work for James Scott at Royal

Sydney in 1899, aged 13. Four

years later when Scott died

while fishing at Bondi, East

was appointed professional at

the club and remained there

until 1904. East went on to

become the inaugural honorary

secretary of the PGA of

Australia in 1912-13.

inTerruPTed bY WArNo meetings of the PGA were convened during World War 1, with the first post-war meeting taking place in 1919. It was meant to be an informal meeting chaired by R.S Banks but the members present decided it should become the first annual general meeting of the PGA of Australia. An election was held and Allan F. Maiden was elected Chairman with J. Victor East appointed honorary secretary. Annual subs were set at five shillings (around 50c).

A suCCessFul

souTh AusTrAliAn

Rufus Stewar

t won the Au

stralian

Open in 1927

, the first So

uth

Australian to

do so. The

pro at

Kooyonga, Ste

wart was bea

ten by

just one shot

by Fred Pop

plewell

the following

year. He we

nt on to

win the PGA

Championsh

ip in 1929

and would la

ter serve thr

ee terms

as PGA Chair

man.

MovinG oFFiCeIn 1969 the PGA moved its

office from that of its former

part-time secretary to new

premises in Crows Nest in

Sydney, a building which had

been purchased by the PGA’s

trading company PGA Mutual

Ltd. The association’s activities

were therefore under the one

roof. After almost four decades

in Crows Nest, the offices then

moved south to Victoria and

to the Sandhurst Club on the

outskirts of Melbourne in 2006.

FlYinG The FlAGIn 1967 the PGA decided that it

should have a flag which could

be flown at golf clubs where PGA

events were being played. The design

was left to council and as a result

six were ordered bearing the PGA

insignia on a green background.

The AGu And un-endorsed Pros uPseT The PGA In 1932 the Australian Golf Union was approached

regarding its acceptance of professionals who

were not endorsed by the PGA, the amateur body

accepting any professionals for their open events if

their standard of play was considered good enough.

The decision displeased the PGA as any misdeeds

would be considered by the media and public to have

been committed by PGA Members. It was some years

before the AGU accepted the PGA’s conditions.


ThroughouT The PgA’s

Centenary year, the association

has several aims, all linked to

increasing opportunities for PGA

Members and the wider golfing

industry. The Centenary celebrations

have the common theme of looking to

enhance PGA brand awareness and to

introduce new people, from all ages

and backgrounds, to the game of golf.

Additionally, through the Centenary,

the PGA will seek to highlight the

contributions and achievements of PGA

Members from all over the country,

paying particular attention to the

PGA’s history, and just as importantly,

its future.

The PGA Ambassador program

will play a big role in achieving

this objective.

THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMWhile as patron Greg Norman will be

the face of the Centenary, it is the

Ambassadors who will help maintain

momentum within their respective

states and areas of expertise by

assisting with promotional efforts over

the next 12 months.

They represent different elements

of the PGA membership and will

take on some of the

responsibility of helping

the PGA to promote its

Centenary year and the

many activities associated

with it.

While the Centenary

program will incorporate

several member events,

the Ambassador program

ensures that PGA Members

remain at the forefront of

all Centenary promotions.

The PGA firmly believes the

Centenary Ambassadors are imperative

in providing the link between the

Centenary program and the membership

and to achieve that aim they will

represent their fellow members by

attending key events, including state

member days and corporate events,

they will participate in media and

promotional opportunities, in turn

assisting the PGA to achieve targets

through local and regional media and

help in disseminating key PGA and

Centenary messages.

The Ambassadors will also make

evident that the Centenary is not all

about the events and programs, but it

is about PGA Members, who are the

‘face’ of the Centenary campaign.

In selecting the Centenary

Ambassadors the PGA invited

nominations from each state division,

with the list then condensed to ensure

representation across all states,

membership categories and years of

service. The PGA Member Centenary

Committee provided feedback on all

nominations and came up with a

final list of 10 Ambassadors, PGA

Members who will carry the torch in

what is shaping as possibly the most

significant year for golf in Australia in

the games history.

The final Ambassador list, which

included legends of the game such

as Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle,

respected and revered Vocational

Members Bruce Green and Peter

Ormsby, PGA Members Charlie Earp

and Col Swatton who have earned their

reputations as leaders on the teaching

tee in, to the new breed and the

next generation in Matt Jager, Kevin

Conlong and Lisa Newling. Completing

the list is Mat Goggin, a highly

credentialed Tournament Professional

now giving back to the game through

his foundation in Tasmania.

In all, 10 outstanding choices as

Ambassadors who have all states,

territories and bases covered.

CEnTEnARy AMBASSADORS SPREAD THE PGA GOSPElTHEy REPRESEnT A CROSS-SECTiOn Of HiGH ACHiEvinG AnD DEDiCATED PGA PROfESSiOnAlS, wiTH THE CEnTEnARy AMBASSADORS SET TO ASSiST in RECOGniSinG THE HiSTORy AnD HiGHliGHTinG THE COnTRiBuTiOnS Of PGA MEMBERS fROM All CORnERS Of AuSTRAliA

Matt Groggin

Matt Jager

AmbAssAdors


PETER THOMSOnPGA life Member, viCPGA Member since: 1949One of the most recognisable and

renowned PGA Members, Peter

Thomson is unquestionably one of

Australia’s most successful professional

golfers. In addition to his on-course

prowess, Peter was the Associations

longest standing Chairman, holding the

position from 1962 to 1994, and even

today he commands the attention of

the media wherever the opportunity

presents.

As a PGA Ambassador, Thomson,

the winner of five British Open titles

and an inductee into the World Golf

Hall of Fame in 1988, will represent

Australia’s strong history in producing

major championship winners renowned

the world over.

KEl nAGlElife Member, nSwPGA Member since: 1946Kel Nagle, now 90 years of age,

remains one of the PGA of Australia’s

most revered members. The holder

of the record for winning the most

tournaments on the PGA Tour of

Australasia - a staggering 61 events

throughout his career, Nagle paved the

way for Australian professional golfers

on the world stage.

The winner of the 1960 Centenary

British Open and seven Australian

PGA Championships, like his good

friend Peter Thomson, Nagle was

inducted in the World Golf Hall of

Fame by the Veterans Committee

in 2007.

CHARliE EARPlife Member, QlDPGA Member since: 1954The long-time Club Professional at the

Royal Queensland Golf Club, Charlie

Earp has nurtured some of

the greatest golfing talent

the world has seen and he

has done so in an unassuming

way.

Having coached the likes of Greg

Norman, Wayne Grady, Ian Baker

Finch and Corinne Dibnah, Earp is

perhaps Australia’s most recognised

golf coach. At the same time as when

he has guided our most talented,

Charlie has dedicated even more time

to giving lessons and advice to junior

golfers and to club members during a

career spanning five decades.

Awarded Life Membership to the

Australian PGA in 1978, in 1993 Earp

was also given the Medal of the Order

of Australia for his services in golf

and in 2000 was presented with the

PGA Life Time Achievement Award

and is still currently the only Club

Professional to receive such an honour.

MATT JAGERTournament Professional, wAPGA Member since: 2010Having turned professional during the

2010 season following an outstanding

amateur career, one that included

wins in both the Australian and

New Zealand Amateur championships,

Matt Jager is now regarded as one

of Australia’s best up and coming

Tournament Professionals. At 22

Jager represents the future of the

PGA.

Throughout the Centenary Year

as a PGA Ambassador, Jager will

be a voice for our up and coming

Tournament Professionals.

MAT GOGGinTournament Professional, TASPGA Member since: 1995 One of the most talented players

to ever emerge from the state of

Tasmania, Mat Goggin is a high

achiever who continues to give back

to the game of golf through the Mat

Goggin Foundation.

Through his foundation Goggin helps

to develop young Tasmanian golfers

and as a part of his support in 2010

he launched a program to financially

support a Tasmanian PGA Trainee.

A worthy representative for the

Apple Isle, Goggin will certainly assist

in the promotion of the game of golf

during the PGA’s Centenary year.

KEvin COnlOnGAssistant Professional, viCPGA Member since: 2008A recent graduate of the PGA’s Trainee

program and a worthy winner of the

2010 PGA Trainee of the Year, Kevin

Conlong is now a full Member of the

PGA, working out of the Heritage

Country Club in Victoria as a Teaching

Professional.

With a Bachelor of Applied Science

in Sports Science, a Diploma in Sports

and Recreation and a Certificate III in

Fitness Instruction, Conlong represents

the young and highly ambitious

Vocational Members.

Conlong is humbled to be named

among some of Australia’s greatest

players as a Centenary Ambassador.

Kevin Conlong

Peter Thompson

AmbAssAdors


BRuCE GREEnHead Professional, viCPGA Member since: 1967The Head Professional at Royal

Melbourne, arguably Australia’s

most prestigious golf club, Bruce

Green represents the Australian Club

Professional who day in, day out,

services their local golf community.

A very well respected figure,

Bruce has built a reputation based

on improving the golf games and

the enjoyment of the sport for

men, women, seniors and juniors of

all abilities.

Green, who first gained the position

as professional at Royal Melbourne in

1978 and is still there some 32 years

later, puts his longevity down to a

successful partnership with fellow PGA

Member Richard Hatt.

In representing the state of Victoria

as well as PGA Vocational Members,

Bruce is grateful to the PGA for

giving him the ability to work for

the last 43 years doing what he

loves most.

PETER ORMSByHead Professional, SAPGA Member since: 1976The father of a European Tour player

Wade, Peter Ormsby is well respected

amongst his PGA Member peers and

also the wider Adelaide community

having experienced professional golf

at a variety of levels.

The current Head Professional

at the Adelaide Shores golf

facility, during a career which

has enveloped a number of

aspects of the golfing industry,

Ormsby has been a part of

manufacturing and developing

high level equipment, has been

heavily involved in retailing

as the owner-operator of

Australia’s biggest

golf store and has

been recognised with

the PGA Merchandiser

of the Year award.

Through his many

experiences Peter is firm

in the belief that if you “share the

passion” you have for the game of

golf, then golf will share a good life

with you.

liSA nEwlinGHead Professional, nSwPGA Member since: 1994Lisa Newling, an active member of the

Ladies Professional golf Association,

AAA rated PGA Member and now the

Head Professional at Eden Gardens

Country Club in NSW, will be the

female face of the PGA’s Centenary.

Having worked in the golf industry

for 15 years and recognising respected

PGA professionals Ross Herbert,

Charles Pettit and Vic Bennett

amongst her PGA mentors, Lisa will

appeal to the female demographic

showing that professional golf is not

just for the men.

Newling can honestly state that she

loves her job as a Head Professional

and is proud to have been selected

to represent the PGA of Australia as

an Ambassador for their Centenary

celebration.

COlin SwATTOnTeaching Professional, QlDPGA Member since: 1994Col Swatton is the long-time coach

of Australia’s most exciting young

golfer, Jason Day, having worked

with him since he was a young

child. Epitomising the desire of every

golf coach to develop a golfer from

an early age through to success on

the world stage, Col is more than

Jason’s coach – he is his mentor,

taking a holistic approach to the

modern game.

As a Centenary Ambassador, Col

will represent our many professionals,

both at home and abroad, who work

with our elite players.

lisa newling

Bruce Green

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QueenslanD-baseD Professionals

Charlie Earp, Gary Edwin and Len

Beck are peas in a pod yet they are

as different as chalk and cheese.

While Edwin’s main focus has been

teaching the game, Earp and Beck

zeroed in on providing good, old-

fashioned pro shop service although

Earp also forged a reputation as

Greg Norman’s coach.

Edwin is a highly respected and

sought-after golf coach who has

boasted a stable of players the

calibre of Peter Senior, Peter Lonard,

Rod Pampling and Gavin Coles.

Since joining the PGA, the trio

has racked up close to 150 years’

service and all agree education

and technology have been two of

the biggest developments in the

association’s 100-year history.

Earp, who joined the PGA in 1954,

is a traditionalist who often recites

important sections of the PGA’s

constitution.

“We (PGA Members) have an

obligation to promote and foster

the game as set down in the

constitution,” he says.

The PGA’s first constitution read:

• The objects of the Association

shall be to promote interest in

the name of golf;

• To protect the mutual interests of

its Members;

• To hold meetings and tournaments

periodically for the encouragement

of junior members;

• To act as an agency for assisting

any professional golfer or club-

maker to obtain employment; and

• To effect any other objects of a

like nature as may be determined

from time to time by the

Association.

Over the past 100 years, the PGA

has rarely, if ever, deviated from the

constitution and has made an important

contribution to the development of

golf in Australia.

While amateurs heavily outnumber

professionals in the game, it is the

professionals who have gained the

publicity and financial backing that

has built golf into a major sport.

But delve into history and you’ll

discover professionals haven’t always

been highly regarded. Around the

turn of the 20th century professionals

often received chilly receptions.

In fact, on September 18, 1911,

a day before the PGA of Australia

was formed, all but two professionals

contesting the Australian Open at

Royal Sydney agreed to withdraw from

the event because of poor treatment.

Banned from entering the clubhouse,

the pros were banished to a tent

and their amateur playing partners

had to smuggle out refreshments

for them.

Thankfully, things have changed for

the better and now professionals are

respected members of the community.

Mind you, their acceptance didn’t

evolve overnight.

When Earp joined the PGA he was

banned from entering the clubhouse.

“At Royal Queensland I was never

allowed in the clubhouse,” he said.

“In 1963, the club captain John Bell

changed that and I became the first

Club Pro in the Commonwealth to be

allowed in the clubhouse.

“We were playing golf and mixing

with doctors and lawyers and that’s

how we became more recognised.”

As the PGA oF AustrAliA celebrAtes its century, three lonG-servinG members reFlect on how the PGA hAs chAnGed And evolved over the yeArs, writes dAvid newbery

the chAnGinG FAce oF the PGA

“the coAchinG is GettinG better And better And we hAve A lot oF world-clAss coAches” – GAry edwin

feature

Edwin, who joined the PGA in 1964,

is on course and on message when

he says the role of the Club Pro has

changed significantly.

“When I started the pro was the guy

who did the repairs, helped clean the

clubs, served the members, pumped up

the tyres and played in the Wednesday

comp,” Earp said. “Now there are more

guys teaching than there are in club jobs.

“When I started teaching there

weren’t too many full-time coaches. I

think there was Alex and Dave Mercer

and Bill McWilliam, but they were still

Club Pros.

“If you did a survey today you would

probably find there are three times

as many professionals teaching and

working on ranges.”

Beck has tried to maintain the Club

Professional’s traditions while embracing

the modern era.

“Being a Club Pro today is a lot

harder than when I started in 1966,”

said Beck, who is Chairman of the PGA

(Qld). “There’s more competition in off-

course golf shops and people like to

shop around for product.

“When people buy a new car they

take it for a test drive, well, they are

now doing that with golf clubs. We

have got to buy the equipment – the

companies don’t give us demo clubs.

“And the internet is affecting on-

course and off-course shops and there

is nothing we can do about it. All we

can do is give good service, provide

club-fitting and keep the shop neat

and clean.

“When I was involved in the trainees

program I used to go to different golf

shops with the trainees and some of the

pro shops were quite untidy,” Beck said.

“Then you walk into an off-course golf

shop and it’s like walking into Myer.

“I think a lot of the smarter pros are

changing for the better. Our shop is air-

conditioned and we try to make people

feel more welcome.”

Unfortunately, one of the key issues

the PGA has had to deal with in recent

years has been the downgrading by

clubs of the traditional pro shop run

and controlled by a professional.

“The clubs want to take over the

running of the pro shops, but a lot

of places are swinging back the other

way,” Earp said.

Edwin agrees: “Today, a lot of clubs

don’t have Club Pros, they have pros

they pay but they don’t actually run

the shop,” the Glades-based Teaching

Pro said. “One of the hardest things

a modern Club Pro has to endure is

changing committees.

“I think a lot of their conditions have

been eroded by committees and that’s

always a problem. Sometimes you are

not sure of your tenure and it can be

tough times if someone comes in and

doesn’t want you there.”

Edwin believes the PGA should

consider capping the number of people

entering the profession.

“I think we are putting through

too many golf pros for the positions

available,” he said. “There are a lot of

golf pros who are not active and don’t

have jobs so that’s always a problem

as well.

“But the coaching is getting

better and better and we

have a lot of world-

class coaches.

Our reputation

for turning out

good players overseas

is quite good.”

Edwin says the game

is “where it should be”,

but he is concerned the

history is being lost on

the younger pros.

“In my day there was

a bit more history,” he

said. “Everyone knew

what was going on and

where they come from.

You talk to a lot of

the young players now

and they wouldn’t

have a clue who were

some of the better

players and who

pioneered the game,

but that’s just the

way it is. Progress is

progress, I guess.”

Edwin, Earp and Beck concur

equipment has popularised the game

and made it a lot easier to play,

particularly for amateurs.

“Equipment and exercise have

certainly changed the game,”

Edwin said.

“Gary Player was the only one that

used to exercise and now they all

do – even seniors.


“when i stArted the Pro wAs the Guy who did the rePAirs, helPed cleAn the clubs, served the members, PumPed uP the tyres And PlAyed in the wednesdAy comP” – chArlie eArP


feature

“Back then there weren’t any sports

psychologists, physios and nutritionists

so the game has basically evolved into

more industries.

“Technology has changed the game

and golf courses favour the bombers

more than the control players, but that’s

golf course design feature. They used

to design courses with lots of doglegs

where you couldn’t hit woods off the

tee, but now I think golf course design

has gone the route of building houses on

straight holes.

“You can fit more houses on straight

holes and that changed things a lot.”

While technological advances have

helped amateurs, the game is much

harder for Touring Professionals,

according to Edwin.

“The way I see it there is more

depth in the game, but it’s got to be

harder for players to make a living,”

he said. Unless you can shoot five-under

par every round you won’t be feeding

the family.”

Earp said he would like to see a

review on technology advancements.

“We need to steady up the golf ball

and need to put a stop to golf course

development because soon there won’t be

any room on the planet to put courses

because of the equipment.”

Still, Beck is excited about golf’s future

and believes the PGA will continue to

“grow and get stronger”.

“Golf is heading in the right direction

and with Jason Day and Adam Scott

going well it’s going to ensure the game

kicks on in Australia over the next

10 years.

“The volume of players we put through

at Redland Bay is amazing,” he said.

“On Wednesday we put through 282 in

our comp.”

So, who has made the biggest

contribution to the evolution of the PGA

in Australia?

“The PGA is a lot more professional now

thanks to the huge contributions made

by people like Peter Thomson, who was

Chairman for about 33 years,” Earp said.

“And Ossie Pickworth, Graham Marsh

and Colin de Groot put a tremendous

amount of work into the PGA.”

Earp, who was instrumental in

helping launch the Queensland

Sunshine Tour’s pro-am circuit all

those years ago, said the pro-ams

across Australia had also been an

important initiative and a major

step forward.

Beck agrees Thomson’s contribution

to the PGA was hugely significant.

“He really got the PGA going in the

right direction,” he said.

When Edwin reflects on the

contributions made by some of the

game’s pioneers he lists people like

Billy McWilliam, Billy Holder, Alex

Mercer and others.

“They contributed greatly to the

teaching side of the game,” he said.

“And, in my opinion, Max Garske

and Geoff Scott did the most getting

the PGA off the ground and building

it into a professional entity,” he said.

Ageless Charlie Earp is like the

Energizer bunny – he keeps going

and going and going. He says his

goal is to keep working, teaching and

promoting the game as set down in the

constitution and is doing that through

schools, clubs and organisation like

the Greg Norman Golf Foundation.

“I have had a great career, but

there is plenty of work still to do.

Over the years, doors have opened

for me and I have met so many

wonderful people.

“with JAson dAy And AdAm scott GoinG well it’s GoinG to ensure the GAme KicKs on in AustrAliA over the next 10 yeArs” – len becK

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australia has proDuceD many

world-renowned golfers in the past

100 years but none was more famous

internationally than our first professional

superstar – Joe Kirkwood.

Like Peter Thomson, Greg Norman,

Kel Nagle, Ian Baker-Finch and

David Graham he was a PGA-trained

Professional, but unlike them he never

won a world major championship.

Kirkwood did win 13 tournaments

in Australia, Britain and the US in

the 1920s and ’30s and was the

first Australian professional to travel

overseas and the world’s first global

celebrity in golf – on and off the course.

In the Roaring Twenties, as the

era was known, the craze to play

golf swept the globe, with everyone

from working men and women to

millionaires and royalty, wanting to

play. It was during this time that

Kirkwood became golf’s first showman.

As our most exciting young record-

breaking Australian Open Champion

at just 23 years of age and then

as a golf-shot showman, Kirkwood

played golf, taught, dined and was

the prized guest of British royalty, US

presidents, movie stars and Australian

prime ministers.

Among Kirkwood’s friends, admirers

and often his pupils were the King

and Queen of England, George VI and

his Queen Elisabeth, the Duke and

Duchess of Windsor, US Presidents

Dwight Eisenhower and Richard

Nixon, Australian Prime Minister

James Scullin, Indian rajahs, Middle

East sultans, millionaire businessmen

and stars of stage and screen Charlie

Chaplin, W.C. Fields and Harold Lloyd.

There were more famous golfers

in a golden era that produced such

giants of the game as Harry Vardon,

Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen and Gene

Sarazen but no-one could attract a

crowd like Joe Kirkwood, who could

command a fee of $500 a show.

Learning golf on a sheep farm in

the backblocks of South Australia, his

official golf career teed off at Manly

in Sydney where Kirkwood caddied

before gaining a PGA apprenticeship

to the famous Scottish pro Dan Soutar.

An indication of his brilliance was

that in 1918 at age 21 he held the

course records at Royal Sydney (69)

Royal Melbourne (70) Metropolitan in

Melbourne (66) and the course where

he was the Club Pro Riversdale (65),

with all of these remarkable scores

achieved with a bag of seven hickory-

shafted clubs.

In 1920, funded by his Riversdale

members, Kirkwood won the Australian

Open at The Australian Golf Club in

Sydney at his first attempt, shooting

a record score of 290.

He became the first player to break

300 in the 17-year history of the

Open (12 better than the previous

best) and this stood as the lowest

Open score for another 14 years.

Kirkwood also won the New Zealand

Open in the same year.

In 1921, buoyed by a public appeal

to fund his travels, he sailed for

Britain with Victor East, with the pair

credited as being the first Australians

professionals to play in Europe.

AustrAliA’s First GolFinG suPerstArJoe KirKwood

links of life: the biography detailing the life and times of Joe Kirkwood


people

In his biography, Links of Life,

Kirkwood tells of his rapid rise to fame

and his historic trip to Britain: “At that

time, like all youngsters I had an idol.

He was Harry Vardon of England; this

man was truly the greatest, for me he

was a god.

“He had won the British Open six

times as well as countless other honours

and anything I could get to read about

Vardon I scrambled for and pictures

and tips were like nectar to me.

“I moulded my game around Vardon’s,

trying to imitate his every movement

and studied all that I could of his

technique, his swing, his timing and

even his thinking.

Upon arrival in England Kirkwood

entered a tournament at Gleneagles,

Scotland, easily qualified for the 32-

man match play field and as fate

would have it, drew a then 51-year-

old Vardon in the first round.

Battling putting problems and

trailing the young Australian all day,

Vardon squared the match at the

18th, before Kirkwood would defeat

his rival on the 19th hole.

Vardon came up short in two

into the stiff breeze with a driver

and a brassie (a two wood); with

Kirkwood hitting a drive and a low

running long iron to about seven

metres, holing it for a birdie to

beat his idol.

“A bit surprised, Vardon turned

to me and grinning said: ‘Joe that

was very rude of you’. I was so

flabbergasted that I couldn’t even

talk,” Kirkwood wrote.

Kirkwood beat young English star

Arthur Travis in the afternoon at the

20th hole but eventually lost in the

final of the £1000 event.

“What an introduction to international

golf! I couldn’t believe that I’d succeeded

the first time I had played away from

my native country,” Kirkwood wrote in

his book.

“Surely it was a great day for

Australia and all those who had sent

me across the oceans and continents.”

Kirkwood would then finish a highly

creditable sixth in the British Open at

St Andrews, in a tie with US star

Walter Hagen, six shots behind the

winner, Scottish-born American Jock

Hutchinson.

During his career Kirkwood had

two more top-10 finishes at the Open,

finishing fourth in 1923 and third

in 1927.

He played his best golf in America

where in 1923 he won the Houston

Open, becoming the first Australian

to win on what was later to become

the US PGA Tour. In 1924 Kirkwood

was one of the top ranked golfers in

the US, scoring five victories, three of

which were consecutive.

But it was his career as a golf

entertainer that was to make Kirkwood

more famous than many of his major

championship winning peers.

In his book he wrote: “It was never

my intention to make exhibition (golf)

material the main breadwinner of my

life – it happened quite by accident.

“I had left Australia (in 1921)

for my first competition abroad and

travelled to Europe via the United

States. I had heard of Pinehurst

and planned to stop there for

some experience.

“To my surprise I received an

invitation to play in the North and

South Championship and I was drawn

against none other than Walter

Hagen. They teamed us together for

four rounds and even more incredible

was the fact that we finished on

identical scores.

“This elated

me tremendously for Walter was at

the height of his fame (Hagen overall

won 11 majors). We played on sand

greens, which was a first in my book

and set me back quite a bit, since

learning the speed of the new surface

took a special knack.”

Kirkwood, who had entertained

troops in Australia, wrote that after

the presentation at the North and South

Championship he was asked to put on

a golf shot show for wounded veteran

soldiers and on that day he and

JOE KIRKWOOD’S TOMBSTONEas a keen Geology student,

Joe Kirkwood’s tombstone was

a large boulder. It read: “Tell

your story of hard luck shots,

of each shot straight and true,

but when you are done, remember

son, that nobody cares but you.”

— Joe Kirkwood.


people

others realised the enormous

earning potential of golf – off

the course.

The show was a roaring

success with the troops, with

the then Mayor of New York

Jimmy Walker announcing to

the crowd: ‘Folks, this lad has

come a long way to entertain

you all and I think it is up to

us to show our appreciation.’

Organisers soon had everyone

show their appreciation

by throwing money onto

a blanket.

Kirkwood was astonished to

collect $770 which was more

than the winner had received

at what was one of America’s

most famous tournaments.

“Most important to me was

that in this group were all

the pros who had assembled for

the tournament. I felt it was quite

an honour that they had enjoyed

my country wit and antic shots,”

Kirkwood wrote.

“When Walter saw all that green

(including $50 notes) gathered after

one short ‘show’ he couldn’t wait to

come to my side and suggest getting

together. It was indeed the crossroads

of my life when ‘The Haig’ invited

me to team up for some exhibitions

following my trip to England.

“It was the real start of our

long friendship and the embryo of

our business relationship too. Little

did I know following that one

demonstration I would receive letter

and telegrams from all over America

inviting me to appear before golfing

groups and clubs. I was committed

to proceed to England but agreed

to return.”

Months later Kirkwood and Hagen

set up a show format, playing 36

holes against the local pros or

amateurs (18 in the morning and 18

in the afternoon before a one-hour

show by Kirkwood). They were well

paid and made a small fortune and

in their “first stint we played 105

exhibitions in 109 days”.

“At that time Walter and I struck

the most lucrative arrangement ever

made in golf – our travel expenses

were great – but admission charges

gave us a nice fee and we saw a

lot of the world meeting people from

every walk of life.”

In his biography, published three

years after he died, Kirkwood relates

dozens of amazing anecdotes as

he and ‘The Haig’ played golf and

entertained in all corners of the

world from the US and Europe to

South America, China, Japan, the

Middle East, Africa, Australia, India.

In his later years, Kirkwood retired

to the mountain resort community

of Stowe in Vermont, where he

was the local teaching pro at the

Stowe Country Club. The club has

held the Joe Kirkwood Memorial Golf

Tournament annually since 1967.

Kirkwood’s golf skills remained at a

high level for most of his life and

in 1948 at age 51, he and his son

Joe Jr. both made the cut at the

US Open, the first father and son

to do so.

One of Kirkwood’s most remarkable

feats was shooting a 10-under par

62 at the age of 63. Born April

3, 1897, Kirkwood died in 1970 in

Burlington, Vermont.

Kirkwood estimated that he played

more than 7,000 golf courses during

his career and he probably introduced

golf to more people than anyone in

the history of the game.

Little wonder that the PGA of

Australia, when approached by a

Mr Mitchell, an avid supporter of

Kirkwood, agreed to honour the winners

of the Australian PGA Championship

by presenting them with the Kirkwood

Cup, tradition which began in 1922

and continues today.

It is a historic memento for one

of the true trailblazers of golf and a

fitting accolade for our first golfing

superstar.

“i couldn’t believe thAt i’d succeeded the First time i hAd PlAyed AwAy From my nAtive country.”


norMan Von niDa was only 162cm

tall, weighed about 60kg and never

claimed one of the world’s major

titles, but few golfers had such a

strong and lasting impact on the

game in Australia.

It is generally acknowledged that

The Von, as he was known to anyone

who has had even a passing interest

in golf in the past 60 years, put

Australian professional golf on the

world map.

Joe Kirkwood, in the 1920s and 30s

may have boldly flown the Australian

flag in the US and Jim Ferrier may

have been the first Australian to win

a major at the 1947 US PGA, but The

Von made the golf world, especially in

Europe, really sit up and take notice

of Australian golfers.

The Von, like so many of his era,

was robbed of years of his career

by World War II, but made up for it

in 1947.

As he relates in his book The

Von, Stories and Suggestions from

Australian Golf’s Little Master, had

a magical 12 months in 1947 where

he won seven titles in Great Britain

and claimed the Vardon (lowest score

averages) Trophy. His seven victories

in a season is still a European

tour record.

It was not only his masterful play

which had the northern hemisphere

sit up and appreciate the Australian

golfer... The Von inspired, nay

organised, a string of Australian

professionals to test themselves

against the best by following him to

Britain and Europe.

Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle, two

of Australia’s most celebrated British

Open winners freely acknowledge that

The Von was instrumental in them

swinging onto the world stage.

Thomson in an eloquent speech on

receiving his Lifetime Achievement

Award from the PGA of Australia in

1999 – joining Von Nida and Nagle on

the prized honour roll – was lavish in

his praise of The Von’s influence on

the game in Australia.

“I followed the path-finding of

Norman Von Nida. Had he not been

the one to leave Australia and make

a living, or try to make a living, out

of playing golf tournaments then I

wouldn’t have gone after him and I

wonder where we would be today.

“He had to play matches against

people and exhibit himself. He first

of all had to create an image... and I

suppose he was the first golfer with

an image. And that was the black

sliGht in stAture, but A GolFinG GiAnt

normAn von nidA

“hAd he not been the one to leAve AustrAliA And mAKe A livinG... i wonder where we would be todAy.”


people

beret he wore... it was ingenious.

“So we followed him and even

my great pal Kel with whom I had

many adventures in the Canada Cup,

also acknowledges that he followed

Norman. So Norman Von Nida is

really the hero, and appropriately so.”

Throughout the modern era of

Australian golf there is hardly one of

our international stars who have not

at some stage received knowledgeable

swing or career guidance from The

Von, from fellow Australian Hall

of Fame golfers Thomson and Jan

Stephenson, through to Nagle, Bruce

Crampton, Bruce Devlin, Jack Newton,

David Graham, Greg Norman, Aaron

Baddeley and Adam Scott. Even Jack

Nicklaus sought The Von’s opinion on

his swing.

Von Nida, will certainly be

remembered for a remarkable and

extremely colourful career.

The Von, who was born in Sydney

but grew up in Brisbane, went on to

win more than 100 tournaments in

all parts of the world and became

Australia’s best-known golfer. He

dominated the Australian scene in

the 1940s and ‘50s winning three

Australian Open titles and four

Australian PGA championships, while

from 1946 to 1955 The Von won 16

tournaments in Britain in what was

a remarkable and extremely colourful

career.

A winner Around the world“the Von” starteD on his winning

ways when he captured the first of his

six Queensland Caddies Championships

at age 12. He went on to win four

Australian PGA Championships, in

1946, ’48, ’50 and ’51 and three

Australian Opens in 1950, ’52 and

’53. He was also the runner up in

the Australian Open on six occasions.

His first major win was the 1935

Queensland Open in which he beat

Jim Ferrier by a shot and his last

was at age 50 in the 1964 London

News Chronicle event. In an illustrious

career, The Von won more than 100

titles around the world. The PGA

of Australia and the PGA Tour of

Australasia honoured the diminutive

Queenslander in 2002 by naming their

secondary circuit The Von Nida Tour.

The PGA ChAmPionshiP of

Australia, an event which began in

1905, some six years before the

association was formed, has a list of

champions that represent a who’s,

who of Australian professional golf.

From the greats of the past,

including the PGA’s founding fathers

in Dan Souter and Carnegie Clark,

to those instrumental in taking the

Australian game to a world audience

in Norman Von Nida, a four time

winner, and Kel Nagle, a PGA

champion six times, to international

stars of the game in Gary Player,

Hale Irwin, Seve Ballesteros and

Sam Torrance.

Throw in those of the modern

era such as Robert Allenby, Peter

Lonard, Geoff Ogilvy and evergreen

Peter Senior, not to mention Greg

Norman and Peter Thomson, the two

men who inspire debate as to who

can lay claim to being Australia’s

best ever golfer, and the PGA

Championship boasts an honour role

that contains some of the finest

professionals to ever play the game.

From the archives of the PGA

comes a pictorial history, a sampling

of the champions past and present,

a collection of professionals who

can proudly claim a victory, for

some two or more, in Australia’s

longest running and most prestigious

professional golfing championship.

a pictorial historyThe Champions



AusTrAliAn PGA ChAmPionshiPs

CloCkwise from Top lefT: Dan souter, the first winner of the pGa Championship in 1905, backed up his success to also win in ’06, ’07 and in 1910, while his fellow founding father Carnegie Clark enjoyed three victories, in ’08, ’09 and in 1913.; ossie pickworth was a champion of the game following world war ii, winning the pGa in 1947, in 1953 and in 1955; peter senior, who will defend the title he won as a 51 year-old in 2010 is a three time winner, his first coming in 1989, 21 years before most recent success; roger mackay won the australian pGa at the lakes in 1987. sadly he passed away from cancer while still in his prime; new south welshman John sullivan upstaged the great norman Von nida in winning the pGa at the royal fremantle club in 1960; Bill Dunk, a man recognized for shooting perhaps more course records than any other australian golfer, won five pGa’s, his first in 1962 and his last in 1976; while eric Cremin can lay claim to two australian pGa titles, in 1937 then in the following year in 1938, but as a runner up seven times his legacy could have been even greater.


CloCkwise from Top lefT: mercurial spaniard seve Ballesteros, american hale irwin, receiving the trophy from then prime minister malcolm fraser and the great scot sam Torrance, were three of the more recognized international winners; scot andrew Coltart won twice, at the same venue the nsw Golf Club in 1994 and 1997; Jarrod moseley and peter lonard created history when declared joint winners in 2002, with lonard going on to win twice more, and on his own, in 2004 and 2007; robert allenby, a four-time pGa champion, is chasing down the record of six victories set by kel nagle; Col Johnston, a long time Club professional, was also a mighty player, twice winning the pGa Championship, in 1963, the last year it was decided by match play, then in 1964, when played as a 72-hole stroke play event; and ian Baker-finch, a playoff winner at the Concord Golf Club in 1993, added the kirkwood Cup to his major championship success at the 1991 British open.

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AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

MaJors

since the tiMe when the likes of

Joe kirkwood, norman Von nida

then kel nagle ventured oversees to

compete against the best golfers of

their eras, Australian Professionals

have always been competitive on the

world stage.

They have won all over the globe,

in Europe, the US, Japan and Asia,

with their performances testament

to the systems in place and the

PGA Teaching Professionals who

helped mould their games and guide

their fortunes.

But ultimately, the highest

achievers in the history of the game

are ranked by victories in the major

championships.

Led by peter thomson with five

British Open titles, a total of eight

Australian Professionals have claimed

14 major championship victories

between them. With Thomson’s five

wins just one shy of harry Vardon’s

record tally of six, it is the Victorian

who is justifiably rated by many as

Australia’s finest every golfer.

The champion on three successive

occasions in 1954, 1955 and 1956,

and then again in 1958, Thomson’s

greatest achievement may have

been repelling the challenge of Jack

nicklaus, arnold palmer and gary

player to win yet again in 1965.

Throughout the 1980’s and into

the ‘90’s greg norman carried not

only Australian, but some may say,

world golf, on his broad shoulders,

seemingly contending in almost every

major championship he contested.

History will however show a

number of near misses, including

playoff losses at the US PGA, US

Open and US Masters, but Norman

also managed two Open Championship

titles, the first in 1986 at Turnberry

and in 1993 when beating nick faldo

by two at Royal St Georges.

the mAJorsthe AustrAliAn winners

Born in Melbourne in 1956, David

graham had a penchant for practice,

with tales of his dedication and time

spent on the practice range legendary.

Graham’s ultimate payoff for all

the hard work came in 1979 when

he won the first of two majors,

beating ben crenshaw at the US PGA,

before following with a victory in the

1981 US Open, with his flawless ball

striking on the final day going down

in major championship folklore.

‘Big’ Jim ferrier became the

first Australian to win a major

championship when he triumphed at

the 1947 US PGA title at the Plum

Hollow course in Michigan. After a

remarkable recovery shot at the 35th

hole Ferrier would make the birdie

putt to beat American chick harbert

2 & 1 in the final.

Ferrier was an incredible 27-under

par for the 203 holes of match play

he contested during the week of

the event.

A prolific winner in Australia and

abroad, Kel Nagle’s crowing golfing

moment came when he won the

Centenary British Open Championship

at St Andrews in 1960, holding

off a fast finishing Palmer on the

final day.

Perhaps the most popular figure in

the history of Australian golf, Nagle,

now in his 90’s, is an ambassador

for the PGA of Australia’s Centenary

celebrations.

steve elkington left home as a

teenager to attend college in the US

and from almost that moment has

called Texas home, with the son of

a railway worker possessing a swing

envied by the majority of the golfing

world.

His sweet swing, coupled with some

dogged play down the stretch, saw

Elkington outlast colin Montgomerie

at Riviera in LA to win the 1995

US PGA.

Following in the footsteps of friend

and fellow Queenslander Norman, wayne

grady made a home on the US PGA

Tour with his career highlight an upset

victory over local hero fred couples in

the 1990 US PGA at the Shoal Creek

course in Birmingham, Alabama.

And with hopefully many more

to come from our talented band of

touring Professionals, Victorian geoff

ogilvy’s win at the 2006 US Open,

a tournament where he kept his

nerve when all other around him fell

apart, remains Australia’s last major

championship triumph.

wayne Grady, steve elkington and Greg norman at the 2000 Presidents cup



toM Moore

few people who have played

or followed Australian

professional golf will not

have heard of Tom Moore,

especially those in the west and

north western suburbs of Sydney.

A life member of the PGA of

Australia Moore was for more than

30 years the club professional

at the Muirfield Golf Club before

switching to run Auburn municipal

golf course Rosnay where he

served a similar term.

Rare in golf as a PGA club

professional who later was

invited to become the patron of

the club he served, a position

he currently holds at Muirfield,

Moore is a never-ending source

of not only golf knowledge but

also an unsurpassed expert on the

history of golf in Australia.

He is instrumental in the staging of

two of the most under-rated Australian

championships The Australian Public

Courses Championship and the

Australian Hickory Shaft Championship

at Auburn golf course and as a

devoted collector of all things golf

for most of his life in retirement

Moore initiated and established the

Golf Collectors Society of Australia,

(now expanded to be the Australian

Golf Heritage Society) a large group

of enthusiasts dedicated to furthering

the history of the great game.

The Golf Collectors Society has grown

in profile in recent years, regularly

staging hickory shaft tournaments

and exhibitions at a variety of clubs

celebrating their anniversaries.

Moore also established and operates

Sydney’s only golf museum above the

Golf Mart store at Granville in Sydney

(4 Parramatta Road), a museum

which contains many of Australia’s

– indeed the worlds–rarest golf items.

The Museum is officially open every

Sunday from 10am

until 4pm.

As a part of the PGA’s

Centenary celebrations, Moore has also

committed to display the museum’s

most significant historical items at the

NSW Open at the Newcastle Golf Club

in Stockton and also at the Australian

Open at the Lakes Golf Club.

He will also be influential in the

staging of two Centenary events, a

special exhibition at the museum,

to be launched on September 22

titled “100 Years of Professional

Golf” while on November 30 the

Australian Golf Heritage Society will

hold the Australian Hickory Shaft

Championships at the Carnarvon

course in Sydney.

Australian PGA member Perry

Somers, now stationed in Europe

and a winner of the World Hickory

Championship, has accepted an

invitation to compete in the

Australian event.

For more information visit the website

www.australiangolfheritage.org.au

tom mooreA livinG history oF the PGA

tom moore lending a helping hand during the centenary launch

centenAry GAlA dinnernot to be MisseD is the

Centenary Gala Dinner, a once in

a lifetime event showcasing the

best of Australian professional

golf over the past 100 years.

To be held at the Sydney Town

Hall on Friday, November 11,

which is during the week of the

Australian Open, the Centenary

Gala Dinner will attract some

of the finest Australian and

international players from the

past and present.

Expected to be present is a

list of golfing legends including

Centenary patron Greg Norman,

Ambassador Peter Thomson, US

President’s Cup captain Fred

Couples and Australian stars

Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day.

The evening will also feature

comedy duo Roy Slaven and

HG Nelson, who will bring their

unique insights and interviewing

style to a panel discussion with

the assembled golfing greats.

Tickets will be available to PGA

members at a member and member

guest rate, with the entry price to

include pre-dinner drinks, a three

course meal with beverages and

a commemorative Centenary gift.

For more information on the

Centenary Gala Dinner contact

PGA of Australia head office at

the Sandhurst Club.

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Mark gibson, the Chairman of the

PGA of Australia, has a simple message

for Professionals and Trainees looking

to advance their careers: “Stay as

current as you can, learn as much

as you can and never stop learning.”

There are no short cuts Gibson

tells young Professionals who seek

his advice.

“The golf industry demands PGA

Professionals are highly trained,” he

said. “That’s why the PGA education

program is under constant review

because of the changing needs of

the market.

“The training program the PGA

has had in the past had been world

standard, but if we keep doing what

we are doing it’s not going to remain

world standard.”

Education, he admits, is quite

different today compared to when

he completed his apprenticeship at

Coolangatta Tweed Heads under the

guidance of Reg Want.

“When I went through it was a

basic structure with a fairly strong

emphasis on the playing side,” Gibson

said. “There is less emphasis now

on the playing side and more on

business management.

“The Trainees do all the things

we did, but they are now doing a

lot more things like using computer

coaching. Ten years ago a Trainee

was doing one assignment in his third

year and today that Trainee is doing

20-plus assessments both practical

and written.”

Three long-serving PGA Members –

charlie earp, gary edwin and len

beck – agree that today’s graduates

have to be much more versatile.

“The education system today is

more academic and is designed that

way just in case Trainees decided they

don’t want to be a Tour Player,” said

Earp, who joined the PGA in 1954.

“When I started my boss taught

me club-making and when he

thought I was good enough he would

nominate me.

“I was lucky my boss (Reg Want)

was good for me, but a lot of the

young Trainees back then weren’t

being looked after.”

Until recently, long working

days were par for the course and

it wasn’t uncommon to work a

65-hour-plus week.

“When I first started I didn’t have

a day off for about four years,” Earp

said. “I wasn’t married and didn’t

have a family so I was at work all

the time, but I did take time off to

go to tournaments so I could pick the

brains of Gary Player, Peter Thomson

and those guys.

“Then I could pass the knowledge on

to the young people I was teaching.”

Gary Edwin, one of Australia’s

leading Teaching Pros, concurs.

“Getting a start in my day was

very different,” he said. “Things have

changed since then and they now

have to do a lot more academic work.

“I remember I had to do a playing

exam with Col Johnson, who was

words by: david newbery

toP mArKs For PGA educAtion

hard at work in carnegie clark’s workshop back in the early days of the PGA


eDucation

the Australian PGA champion. I was

pretty nervous and I went up to

Monash and birdied the first three

holes and he said ‘that’ll do’.

“The wages weren’t very good

and I think the conditions are a

lot better now and they don’t work

the long hours. When I started with

Mick Kelly at Roseville I think I had

maybe Friday afternoons off and we

worked the rest of the week.

“I’d like to see young Trainee pros

do a lot more teaching rather

than being in the shops so it

gives them some experience

when they get out.”

Another long-serving Club

Pro and PGA (Qld) Chairman,

Len Beck, is a huge fan of the

PGA’s education system.

“There’s more to it now than hitting

a golf ball,” said Beck, who did his

apprenticeship at Ryde Parramatta.

“When I did my apprenticeship you

just turned up to one of the pros and

he’d say ‘can you hit a ball’. Then

he’d ask you to hit a draw and a fade

and if you could he’d say ‘you’ll do’.

“The education part was simple

arithmetic. If you add up 3+2 and divide

something they would allow you in.”

Of course, Trainees still have to

clean golf carts, run clinics, teach

members, attend the pro shop, check

inventory, run tournaments and open

and close the shop.

It’s their job, their life and the very

definition of the existence. The pot of

gold at the end of the rainbow used to

be to become a head Professional with

their own staff.

Over the past decade, the PGA of

Australia’s increased attention to its

Trainee program has widened the

scope for job opportunities. However,

one hard fact remains constant: There

are more young men and women

getting into the business than there

are head Professional jobs available.

That’s why the PGA has been

persistent in its efforts to open up

more non-traditional opportunities

under the golf operations umbrella to

its members.

“The PGA is actually looking

at other career opportunities than

standing on the tee teaching or being

a Club Pro,” Gibson said. “We are

look at giving better education to PGA

Members so that they can go into golf

administration. We have PGA Members

in a lot of those roles now because

they have done the education and we

are looking to having it available for

our Trainees.”

Other employment opportunities

graduates can pursue include event

management and marketing roles.

Gibson’s vision is not confined

to Australia.

“The Australian PGA has an

opportunity to contribute to the

game of golf and grow the game,

not only in Australia, but in Asia,”

Gibson said.

“I am coaching a young guy, who

has done the PGA International

Golf Institute course and is now

doing his PY (12-month Professional

Year Program).

“His name is Duc Pham and he is

itching to go back to Vietnam because

he wants to grow the game there

and try and develop a PGA that is

modelled on ours for the benefit of all

golfers in Vietnam.

“His goal is to go back to Vietnam

and make a difference. “If I give the

kid the tools, and our

program is good enough that it does

that, then that’s a wonderful thing

for the game of golf.”

“we Are looK At GivinG better educAtion to PGA members so thAt they cAn Go into resort mAnAGement. we hAve PGA members in A lot oF those roles now becAuse they hAve done the educAtion And we Are looKinG At hAvinG it AvAilAble For our trAinees.” -mArK Gibson


kel nagle can stand proudly in the

company of Australia’s most revered

and famous sport history-makers,

Donald Bradman, Bart Cummings,

Walter Lindrum and Heather McKay,

because golf in this country never

again will see a player who has had

such an amazing career.

Just as Bradman, in cricket, Lindrum

in billiards and snooker, Cummings

horse racing, and McKay squash, set

career records never to be matched,

so has Nagle, who on December 21

last year celebrated his 90th birthday.

No golfer has come close to winning

as many Australian PGA titles and

tournaments as Nagle. It’s impossible

to imagine that there ever will be

a golfer to match Nagle’s amazing

career during which he:

• Won 61 tournaments in Australasia

– greg norman is next best

with 31.

• Won a record six Australian PGA

Championships –Robert Allenby has

won four.

• Won at least one 72-hole tournament

every year from 1949 to 1975 –

26 years straight.

• And Nagle’s 20-under-par score

to win the 1968 Australian PGA

Championship stood as a record for

38 years until Nick O’Hern shot a

22-under in 2006.

And yet Nagle’s amazing record was

amassed during a truncated career

where due to his service in World

War II he did not compete in his first

PGA event until age 26, playing in his

army uniform. Nagle then worked as

a Club Professional, before becoming a

fulltime Tournament Professional.

Winning his last tournament PGA

tour event at age 57, Nagle became

one of golf’s most famous players

when he upstaged American arnold

palmer in the 1960 British Open.

Palmer already that year having

won the US Masters and US Open, was

the hot favourite in the Centenary

Open at St Andrews and when the

US star returned a 68 in the final

round, many thought that the then

unheralded Nagle would be overrun.

However the Australian didn’t lose

his cool, showing his icy nerves when

he deliberately took his time lining up

a 3.5m putt for par on the difficult

17th Road Hole and so he could to

witness Palmer holing a birdie putt on

the last green.

Nagle then knew his then one-shot

lead would disappear if he made a

bogey but with a sharp rap of his

Acushnet Bullseye putter, made what

he later described as the “best putt

of his career”. He was then able to

stride to the last tee with a one-

shot buffer, needing just a par to win

the Open.

Soon after Nagle followed with what

he said was the “best nine iron of

his career” hitting his second shot to

a metre from the final hole, before

leaving his putt a few centimetres

short then tapping in for a 71 and

a 10-under par total–the lowest score

shot in the 17 Opens contested at St

Andrews before 1960.

It was fitting that Nagle borrowed

a jacket (he hadn’t thought he would

need one) for the trophy presentation

from his best mate peter thomson.

Just weeks earlier Thomson had

told Nagle that with a few course

management tips from him he had

a winning chance. And Thomson

apparently backed his judgment with

the bookies at 35 to 1, probably doing

almost as well financially as Nagle,

who won just £1250 for taking the

Open and the famed Claret Jug.

The Centenary Open win proved to

be only the mid-point of the quietly

spoken and humble Nagle’s amazing

career, but it gave it a turbo charge.

Having previously played in only

two Open championships without

challenging, in 1951 and 1955, after

Kel nAGle - GolF’s brAdmAn

“i never met Anybody in my liFe thAt didn’t reAlly liKe Kel nAGle.” - GAry PlAyer


people

his 1960 win Nagle went on to finish

in the top 10 at seven of the next nine

British Opens.

He also scored his second US Tour

win in the 1964 Canadian Open and

then was beaten in a playoff by gary

player for the 1965 US Open.

Player, renowned as a world class

straight shooter on and off the golf

course, said about Nagle: “I had the

privilege of playing in Australia 31

times and got to know Kel Nagle very

well indeed. I can honestly say I never

met anybody in my life that didn’t

really like Kel Nagle.”

Born in North Sydney in 1920,

Nagle’s family moved north to a

farm at Dorrigo where he and brother

Merv learned to hit a golf ball using

rudimentary sapling clubs.

On his return to Sydney Nagle was

taken on as a PGA apprentice by the

revered Pymble Golf Club Pro Tom

Popplewell. He was paid a pound ($2)

a week and was allowed one day off

a fortnight.

However World War II interrupted

and Nagle, who served in the Army,

had to wait until 1946 before he was

admitted as a Full Member of the

PGA of Australia. It wasn’t until 1949

that he won his first major title and

fittingly it was the PGA Championship

of Australia.

Nagle went on to win the PGA

Championship five more times and it

was his record-breaking sixth win in

1968 event at the Metropolitan Golf Club

in Melbourne that many say was the

finest of his career and one of the best

performances seen in this country against

probably the best field ever assembled.

Jack nicklaus — at the height of his

powers, having already won seven world

majors after five years as a pro – Arnold

Palmer, Gary Player and Australia’s best

in Peter Thomson, bruce Devlin and

billy Dunk were in the field.

Not only did Nagle, then aged 47,

humble Nicklaus, beating him by six

shots, but he set two PGA records

in achieving the feat. Nagle putted

brilliantly on the fast Metropolitan

greens and beat Palmer by 17 shots and

Player by 18. His Aussie mates fared

little better with Devlin 11 shots back,

Dunk, 14 behind and Thomson, suffering

hay fever, trailing home his friend by

22 shots.

The modest Nagle, in a classic

understatement, said after his victory:

“I haven’t been great shakes as a golfer

but I have been a reasonable player and

managed to win a few tournaments.”

The PGA was his fourth win that

year and he went on to win another 11

tournaments in Australia over the next

nine years.

And overseas he dominated the

senior ranks after turning 50 in 1970,

winning four British, US and World

Seniors titles.

Nagle’s final Australian PGA

tournament win fittingly was back

where it all began in WA. He won the

1977 WA PGA Championship at age 57

– 28 years after he won the Australian

PGA in Perth in 1949.

Kel and his late wife Jean had four

children, David, Colin, Lyn and Bruce.

Colin followed Kel into golf and became

a leading PGA Club Professional and

grandson Jake Nagle is also a Full

PGA Member.

Jake – in his 20s – it seems would

have plenty of time to improve

his game… the Nagle’s get better

with age.

the dAy the r&A cAme to KinG Kel’s courtin october 2008 Kel Nagle

had a surprise “royal” visit to

his North Balgowlah home, which

overlooks Sydney Harbour.

Peter Dawson, Secretary of the

Royal and Ancient Golf Club of

St Andrews, together with Mark

Lawrie, the Chief Executive of

Golf Argentina, made a special

trip to Sydney following the World

Amateur Team Championship in

Adelaide to pay their respects to

Kel, the winner of the Centenary

British Open at St Andrews

in 1960.

Kel in recent years had been

unable to accept many invitations

from the R&A Club to return to

St Andrews. Circulation problems

with his legs made it impossible

for him to undergo the journey.

However he has maintained

regular contact with Peter

Dawson and has donated to the

R&A his famous Bullseye putter,

with which he scored his amazing

upset win over US superstar

Arnold Palmer.

Kel nagle with Peter dawson


feature

Golf has a unique benefit of being the only sport where you can experience and compete with the leading players – in a pro-am. It is the forum for Professionals to join amateur golfers in a serious but enjoyable experience.

These events provide a service to the community and were developed to benefit PGA Members both Tour and Vocational. For Tour Professionals pro-am events provide an opportunity to develop their profile while also providing an opportunity to earn prize money. These events present a different opportunity to Vocational Members and host venues as the day allows them to generate income via sponsorship, entry fees and hospitality. Additionally Vocational Members also play in these events to maintain their competitive involvement with the game.

There are a number of good reasons to hold a pro-am and although not the definitive list, here are some reasons often noted by clubs.

Major FundraiserA well organised and properly budgeted

pro-am is a successful fundraiser for the club. Some smaller clubs depend on pro-am

generated income to provide a significant proportion of the club’s yearly revenue. Apart from increased trade, a properly budgeted tournament should also include a profit for the club’s time and effort. To get a strong response from the members and community it is a good idea to earmark the funds raised for particular projects or programs rather than sending revenue into general administration.

Alternatively a pro-am can be a successful fundraiser for a charity. There are some regulations relating to the conduct of major charity events for registered charities. Ensure that you liaise with the charity selected well in advance to ensure that all regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

MeMber involveMentThe opportunity to participate in a pro-

am, as part of the organising committee or as a participant, is a rare opportunity for most club members. Amateurs at all levels appreciate the opportunity to play with a Professional golfer. They are able to see how Professionals play their course and in the process get a valuable insight into their own approach. After the pro-am there is an

increased level of pride and interest in the game and club amongst the members.

A pro-am enables a club to build its profile which will hopefully lead to an increase in membership numbers, corporate groups and social rounds.

Course PresentationMany clubs view the pro-am as an

opportunity to present their course to the members, the public and the Professionals in its best condition. Courses that are presented in premium condition act as a marketing tool for the club in attracting players back to the course for future play.

suPPorting “the dreaM”The support that is given to up and

coming Professional Golfers through the pro-am circuit is invaluable. Many of the players on overseas tours learnt their craft over several years on the pro-am circuits of Australia.

Having a clear understanding of why you are holding a pro-am is essential to the overall success of the event. If you’re thinking of running a pro-am give your state PGA Office a phone call as they are happy to assist you throughout the process.

Staging a SucceSSful pro-am

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The information in this document is general in nature and does not consider any of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider obtaining advice from a licensed, financial product adviser and consider the appropriateness of this information, having regard to your particular investment needs, objectives and financial situation. You should obtain a copy of the HOSTPLUS Product Disclosure Statement and consider the information contained in the Statement before making any decision about whether to acquire an interest in HOSTPLUS. Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL No. 244392, RSEL No. L0000093, HOSTPLUS Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890, RSE No. R1000054. For further intormation on Chant West ratings visit http://www.hostplus.com.au/members/calculators/chant-west-disclaimer INH_0317_08/11_01

7

0317_PRESS_AD_PGA_SEPT11_133x200_FA.indd 1 26/08/11 3:41 PM

www.pgamagazine.com.au 65

sunshine coast

the invincibles

hyatt regency coolum

as the sunshine coast gears up to host the PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola in November, the game’s future champions are already on the greens for a tournament of a different kind – The Invincibles Sunshine Coast Junior Golfing Tour.

The Invincibles Tour is a regionally based golf tour and event schedule, dedicated to developing the next generation of golfers through regular weekend tournaments and a professional Junior Golfing Academy on the Sunshine Coast. The tour comprises of a variety of events at quality Sunshine Coast courses including national events such as Pump Shootouts, state tournaments through the Greg norman foundation and local junior classics.

While the tour was originally created to support the rising number of promising young players of the region, it now offers visiting juniors a chance to compete on the pristine courses of the Sunshine Coast while on holidays.

In line with the tour’s aim to make golf more accessible to young players, The Invincibles welcomes juniors of all ages and all levels, at less than the cost of typical green fees.

Under the guidance of Tour Director, Graeme Miller and Hyatt Regency Coolum PGA Teaching Professional, Peter Heiniger, more than 250 young players regularly compete and train with The Invincibles Tour throughout the year.

“The Sunshine Coast has the talent, the courses, the weather, and the coaching

facilities to produce great results,” said Heiniger. “We now want to support the next generation of players and provide a positive learning environment on the Sunshine Coast.

“And if the next Jason Day, adam scott or Karrie Webb comes out of the program then that will be a real bonus that all the Sunshine Coast can be proud of.”

Following a valuable sponsorship agreement with Hyatt Regency Coolum and Lend Lease and with the support of Patron, robert allenby, The Invincibles Tour is well on the way to achieving its goals.

Since its inception in 2003, the tour has regularly hosted players from Australia and New Zealand, with interest now growing from juniors in Great Britain, Korea, the US, Hong Kong and Japan.

Membership into The Invincibles Tour is $20 per year with competition fees averaging $12.50 including lunch. Visitors can register in advance on-line, enabling them to tee-off the

moment they arrive on the Sunshine Coast.And for juniors wishing to take their game

to the next level, The Invincibles also offers a dedicated Junior Golfing Academy, enabling young players to develop their skills with professional guidance and regular training.

The Junior Golfing Academy trains players from six to 20 years, in a development squad (six – 14 years) and a talent squad (up to 20 years) at the Hyatt Regency Coolum.

Much like The Invincibles Tour, The Junior Golfing Academy is attracting wide-spread interest from young players and their families seeking quality coaching.

Heiniger explains that several families have relocated to the Sunshine Coast to further develop their children’s game with The Junior Golfing Academy.

“Our history shows us we can develop leading players, just look at Steven Bowditch, Ian-Baker Finch and Katherine Hull. We want to develop those already in the game as well as attract new players to the game. Most of all we want them to have fun while they are playing,” Heiniger said.

To find out more or to register for The Invincibles visit www.theinvinciblestour.org. For more information on where to stay and play throughout Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, visit www.visitsunshinecoast.com.au


honesty, fair DealinGs, courtesy and sportsmanship are qualities that we would like to be known for and are the intrinsic measures that are the very fabric of what it means to be a PGA Member.

As we enter our centenary year as an organisation it is an opportune time to reflect with our members on what it means to be a PGA Member and to ensure that for the next 100 years that values and integrity those who have come before us continue on.

As a PGA Member there is a responsibility, not just as part of our regulations, to ensure that the positions that we hold in the golfing and wider community are seen to be beyond reproach. This is equally as important when we are interacting with fellow members.

It is a privilege to be a PGA Member and this should ensure that members treat each other with mutual respect that acknowledges the history of the Association and the effort that it has taken to achieve membership.

Have our standards started to slip? How is the modern Professional seen when compared to the professionals of yesteryear?

It is sometimes the simplest things that are easy to do but fall by the wayside. Whether it be making sure that the Head Professional is called when requesting a game of golf, returning a hire buggy to the Professional Shop at the end of a pro-am and thanking the host Professional, seeking approval to teach at another Professionals facility, not soliciting for business when at another facility or ensuring that we do not actively encroach on another members business by making a pitch for the job before it is advertised.

With the introduction of social media and electronic communication members need to ensure that when posting on Facebook or Twitter or sending an email that you take the time to contemplate what you are putting out for the world to read. With the

immediacy of modern communication once it is sent or posted it can’t be brought back which may lead to defamatory remarks being made to a wider audience.

There are many things that are done each day that determine how others view a PGA Member and how in turn the Association is viewed. By collectively considering what actions and pathways that we take in our career based on the founding traditions of honesty, fair dealings, courtesy and sportsmanship on and off the course we will ensure that the values and integrity that have been cornerstones of the success of the Associations first 100 years will see the Association grow in stature and respect in the coming 100 years.

To find out what it means to be a PGA Member we have asked a collection of our Members to tell us what it means to them to be a Professional Golfers Association of Australia Member – do you have the same feelings?

to be a pga MeMber“on becoming a member of the pga, each member SubmitS themSelveS to StandardS of behaviour and ethical conduct beyond thoSe required of ordinary golferS and memberS of the public. pga haS been the hallmark of honeSty, fair dealingS, courteSy and SportSmanShip and each member iS bound to honour and uphold that tradition at all timeS whether in buSineSS dealing, during competition, or off the golf courSe.” 6.1 (a) of the memberShip regulationS


membership

pGa maGazine quizzeD a collection of PGA members regarding their career history, who helped to guide them in their formative years, what being a Member of the PGA means to them and where they hope the PGA will be when it celebrates its 200th anniversary.

What does it Mean to be a Pga MeMber?“It is about having a passion for the game and that the satisfaction that I can work in the industry and being the expert that people come to influence those that start the game and to instil the direction to go.” Tony Craswell, Latrobe GC, Vic, Member since 1994

“It’s been a lifestyle because all I wanted to be was a golf Professional, the ability to live a dream. To provide a valued input to the golf industry.” Ken Dukes Lynwood CC, NSW, Member since 1979

“I consider being a Member of the PGA to be a privilege. Some of Australia’s greatest ever sports personalities have come from this organisation and to be a part of the same group of people is an honour. Being a Member of the PGA which is renowned for its professionalism and vast range of opportunities for its members excites me, especially at this point of my career.” Mark Ryan, Barwon Heads GC, Vic, Member since January 1, 2011

“To be a Member of the Australian PGA means that I am very well respected within the golfing community and abroad. For me the membership signifies that I am one of a group of people who enjoy striving to help others to enjoy themselves in the game of golf.” Nick White Tasmania GC, Member since 1997

“I am proud to be a Member of “our” association. And for me to be in the position that I am as Head Professional at Mackay Golf Club, I thank the PGA and those members before me that have shaped and driven the

PGA to be where it is today.” Jeff Reid, McKay GC, Qld, Member since 1998

did you have a Mentor that shaPed the Way you saW the Pga beFore you Were a MeMber? “From a playing perspective Greg Norman was my idol however as a junior it was the sheer knowledge of my local club pro that always impressed me. He was always up to date with the latest golf news and events, but not only that he was always willing to help out which made golf for me such an enjoyable experience.” Mark Ryan

“Before becoming a Member of the PGA I was a Member at Tasmania Golf Club and Doug Murray was the resident Professional. I always considered Doug to be an elite athlete who was willing to share his knowledge and help other golfers around him. While working as a Trainee Golf Professional, Doug helped me understand the true value of a PGA membership. Courtesy and respect to other members was always incredibly high of Doug’s agenda.” Nick White

“Barry Vasella, the Club Pro at Mackay from 1988-2001, taught me that it was a privilege and an honour to be a Member of the PGA, not just a right because you could play the game.” Jeff Reid

What values Would you like to see Carried ForWard as a Pga MeMber For the next 100 years?“As PGA Members we must never forget the influence we have on juniors and beginners. What we do impacts on the way they think.” Tony Craswell

“We need to be proud of being a PGA Member. The people coming through now need to look to return the PGA Member to the esteemed position that it was once held in. That will be done by ensuring that the values we put forward are ahead of the standards of the community.” Ken Dukes

“Respect, integrity and willingness to openly share knowledge to members of the Association benefiting the golfing community.” Nick White

pga memberS have their Say!

Join the

GREATS OF GOLF in 2011...

▼Applies to genuine quotes from airlines and Australian registered businesses and websites for travel that originates/departs from Australia. Quote must be in writing and must be presented to us prior to booking. Fare must be available and able to be booked by the general public when you bring it to us. Fares available due to membership of a group or corporate entity or subscription to a closed group are excluded. Must be for same dates and flight class. We will beat price by $1.00 and give you a $20 voucher.*Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Please ask us for further details or visit flightcentre.com.au/golf for latest package offers. Prices and taxes are correct as at 25 Aug 11 and are subject to change without notice. Prices stated are on sale until 31 Oct 11 unless sold out prior. Prices are per person and subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share unless otherwise stated. Car Hire: Insurance excesses and other charges may apply, price is per vehicle. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on the date of travel. Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies, government charges and other applicable fees. Airfare not included unless otherwise stated. Where airfare is included, additional taxes specific to your flight routing may apply and/or may not include checked luggage (which can incur additional charges). Domestic flight bookings may attract a booking fee of up to $19.95. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store. Advertised price includes any bonus nights. Minimum/maximum stay restrictions may apply. Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Flight Centre. Licence Numbers ACT 18800224, NSW 2TA2719, NT 008, QLD TAG262, SA TTA254, TAS TAS031, VIC 31089, WA 9TA 589. The individual players represented do not have any affiliation with Flight Centre Limited. FCBNM48543.

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Witness Australian golf’s shining stars Jason Day, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy together with home grown hero Greg Norman and hard-hitting American Bubba Watson at this year’s Australian Open and PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. Taking place in two of the most exciting destinations in our own backyard, revel in this outstanding summer of Australian golf with great value travel packages from Flight Centre. All prices include 4-day admission plus accommodation in Sydney or on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

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cca invitational

havinG staGeD four successful events and now with only three events to go, meaning three spots still remaining to represent their state at the National Final, the halfway mark of the 2011 Coca-Cola Invitational Series has been reached.

The first event of the series was staged at The Glades Golf Club in Queensland on a lovely sunny day, marking the perfect start for the 2011 series. Successful in becoming the first pair through to the National Final were PGA Professional Darren Richards from Indooroopilly Golf Club and Club Representative Jon Mathias.

Glenelg Golf Club hosted the second event of the season in South Australia and the challenging layout was no match for the winning pair. Steve Krause, Head Professional at The Vines of Reynella Golf Club and newly appointed Club Manager Neil McKenzie, fired the top score of the series to date with 46 points to be winners by three points.

The series then moved over to the west for the third event on a day which turned out to be the wettest August day Perth has seen in 8 years. Despite the weather the competitor’s spirits were not dampened as they took to the prestigious Royal Fremantle Golf Club course. In what can only be described as horrific conditions, 39 points proved to be enough for the pairing of Marangaroo Golf Club Professional Rob Farley and Club Representative Murray Sparks to cement a

halfway mark for coca-cola invitational SerieS in 2011

position at the National Final.The next stop was Melbourne’s famous

sandbelt and the Huntingdale Golf Club, the former host venue of the Australian Masters. With teams travelling from all over the state to be a part of the day, it was one of the Regional teams who would get over the line to take out the Victorian leg. PGA Professional Evan Droop and Club General Manager Rob Dick from the Yarrawonga & Border Golf Club secured their tickets to Hyatt Regency Coolum for the National Final.

With three events still to be staged the series will soon visit Gungahlin Lakes in the ACT, then Australia’s number one public golf course Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, before competitors contest at the largest event of the series at Pennant Hills Golf Club in Sydney.

Coca-Cola has generously provided a prize

purse for PGA Professionals to compete for at each State Qualifying event which has been extremely well received.

Each event also features a special guest speaker thanks to Coca-Cola’s fantastic relationships with other sporting codes. To date the competing PGA Professionals and Club Representatives have been privileged to hear from retired Rugby league star Chris ‘Choppy’ Close, Kevin Gordon from the Gold Coast Titans, Josh Fraser from the Gold Coast Suns, Patrick Dangerfield from the Adelaide Crows, Ross Glendinning from the West Coast Eagles and Brendan Goddard from the St Kilda Football Club.

Best of luck to all competitors in the remaining three State Qualifying events and a big congratulations to the qualifiers who will be hosted at the National Final from 26th November at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.

From left, Steve Krause, Neil McKenzie, Patrick Dangerfield and Luke Sampson

Huntingdale Golf Club, the host venue for the Victorian CCA Invitational


Words by rob Willis

a proGram Driven by a leading PGA Member which introduces amputees, both adults and children, to the game of golf, is looking to expand across the country.

Designed and run by Sandhurst Golf Club’s PGA Professional Christian Hamilton after having its origins with PGA Member Stuart Leong, the golfing component of Limbs 4 Life provides a sporting and social outlet for those who may not have thought it available or possible.

Looking to grow beyond Victoria and the Sandhurst Club, Limbs 4 Life is pushing full steam ahead, with the staging of regular clinics for adults and monthly events for children.

And as it has grown it has become something of a labour of love for Hamilton, and for Melissa Noonan, the Executive Officer of Limbs 4 Life, herself an amputee.

“It’s the biggest support network in Australia for amputees,” Hamilton explained. “Melissa saw the need as a bit of a vehicle to get people together and we try to add value to the program with the golf clinics we do. It’s just about participating and about getting out there.”

Hamilton teaches both the young and the not-so-young but it might just be coaching the kids where he gets his biggest satisfaction from.

“It’s the best time for me when I get to work with these kids – they’re incredible. They’re so up and spirited. They don’t see themselves as having a disability, they’ll throw themselves head first into having a go at it,” Hamilton said.

But as he relates, the Limbs 4 Life clinics are often about much more than just golf.

“A young girl from Tassie flew over for a clinic I had for kids. She had never even met another girl before with an arm amputation before she came to see us. So that was great for her to meet others of a similar age with amputations,” he added.

He doesn’t pick and choose which of the amputee golfers to coach, with some having played the game prior to accidents and others new to golf as they look to enjoy the health benefits and camaraderie the sport provides.

Teaching the amputee golfers is certainly a challenge for Hamilton, but it is one he embraces with a huge amount of enthusiasm.

“A lot of guys used to play golf but they’ve had an accident and thought they would just put the clubs away because they can’t do it anymore,” he began. “You have to be mindful of each individual. You have to adapt and to think outside the circle. It tests me as a coach but I also get a huge kick out of it.

“I get an enormous sense of gratitude from those who take part. And the

members at Sandhurst love it to. It is really well supported by the club.”

Amongst Hamilton’s favourite pupils is Alan, a man who endured a horrific car accident, losing both legs in the crash.

“Through Limbs 4 Life Melissa arranged some prosthetic legs for him but he still plays in the chair. So I put him in a lie and loft machine and made his clubs about 15 degrees flat so the toe wasn’t sticking up in the air, and while at first he was just happy to come for an hour and make contact a couple of times, now he comes and belts drivers past the 150 metre marker,” Hamilton said.

While he is quick to downplay his role, citing the fact he gets just as much enjoyment out of coaching the Limbs 4 Life golfers as they do from learning the game, Noonan was only too happy to heap praise on Hamilton for his efforts.

Noonan explained what started after a chance meeting with Leong, now of the PGA Learning Centre, has grown and prospered through the continued efforts of Hamilton.

“I ran into Stuart Leong at a Golf Australia function and we spoke about doing the clinics. From there he introduced

labour of love

“IT’S THE BEST TIME FOR ME WHEN I GET TO WORK WITH THESE KIDS – THEY’RE INCREDIBLE. THEY’RE SO UP AND SPIRITED.” - CHRISTIAN HAMILTON

HAMILtoN’S


limbs 4 life

me to Christian and the rest is history,” Noonan said. “Christian is absolutely amazing and I say that on so many different levels. He is very committed and can see what’s missing and adapt their golf swings around that.”

But for Noonan it’s not so much about the quality of golf shots they hit, with a long list of advantages to the program which far outweighs any pars or birdies.

“It’s all about the social inclusion and the interaction with the community. Plus the benefits and rehabilitation qualities are huge,” she said.

As Hamilton says; “They walk off the course and they’ve used almost every muscle in their body.”

But while the good work continues, Hamilton has a dream of expanding the program and is campaigning for Limbs 4 Life to grow even bigger and better and to be made available to amputees around the country. But to do that, the program needs PGA Member backing and sponsorship support.

“My biggest objective would be to get a good solid PGA Member in each state. We’ve got contacts in all the states, there are golf groups for amputees but the PGA could be a solid link to these programs,” Hamilton reasoned.

“Plus we would definitely be looking for something out there in the corporate world. I don’t charge, I’ve never charge a cent, but it does need funding.

“We could put together a mini satellite circuit of events and the funding would help with paying green fees and maybe cart fees, as most can’t walk the course, or even if we could get a partnership in place with an equipment company. A lot of those in the program, a lot of amputees, are on disability benefits and as we know equipment isn’t cheap.”

Any company or organisation who would like to assist is certainly encouraged to get on board with what is an amazing initiative and an extremely worthwhile cause. For more information call Melissa Noonan, Executive Officer at Limbs 4 Life, on 1300 782 231 or contact Christian Hamilton at the Sandhurst Club in Victoria.

“CHRISTIAN IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING... HE IS VERY COMMITTED AND CAN SEE WHAT’S MISSING AND ADAPT THEIR GOLF SWINGS AROUND THAT.”

Christian Hamilton with the Limbs 4 Life crew

Christian Hamilton shows the way to go at a Limbs 4 Life clinic

Alan has taken to the game of golf courtesy of the Limbs 4 life clinics


pGa iGi

What is the Pga’s international golF institute? (the basiCs)• The PGA IGI is a Registered Training

Organisation (RTO) which can deliver golf specific education to domestic and international students, people that work in the golf industry and PGA members.

What does the igi deliver?- to the golf industry

Core Programs and Courses which are nationally accredited include: • A Diploma of Golf Management – 1 year

(face to face delivery mode)• A Diploma of Golf Management via

distance learning (for people that work within the golf industry)

• Elite Golf Program - Certificate III in Sport. (for golfers looking for a Q school playing career outcome)

- to pGa members • A Diploma of Golf Management via

distance The subjects we offer include:• Introduction to the Golf Industry• Golf Operations• Golf Management• Golf Course Design and Maintenance• Golf Course Planning and Development.

Depending on the year you went through your Traineeship and or your experience within the golf industry PGA members can and should apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognition of Current Competency (RCC).

hoW does it helP Me as a Pga MeMber? • The Diploma gives you the skills to

cross over into the management side of the industry.

• The Diploma of Golf Management is nationally recognised

• Gives you PDP points to build upon your A, AA, or AAA rating.

• The curriculum and content of the Diploma is continually updated to ensure that the skills you learn are based on industry need and specifically the needs of a manager.

• The Diploma broadens the potential roles you can apply for within the industry. You will have the knowledge and skills to apply for roles such as:• General Manager• Director of Golf • Dual roles GM / Head Professional• Head Golf Professional• Golf Operations Manager• Golf Resort Manager• Golf Administrator

These roles build upon your previous training and demonstrate that you,

• have not stopped learning, • are prepared to upskill and • are training, studying and educating

yourself to execute your role.

In a competitive golf market this can be the next crucial step to moving into the management arena , securing your next job or securing your next long term contract.

added oPPortunityAs an added benefit (to you the Member) the PGA IGI also offers a payment incentive to keep talented students of the game in the game. In 2010 the IGI developed a referral program which pays PGA members a commission for referring students that enrol in our Diploma of Golf Management program.

The goal of this initiative is to keep talent within the industry instead of losing them to other education institutions. If they love the game then the Diploma of Golf Management with its pathway into university and potentially the PGA Traineeship program is a fantastic opportunity to earn the qualifications needed these days to build a successful career in the golf industry.

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When i Was younG my mum was always telling me to sit up straight, stand up straight, and above all, have good posture. It started to sound like a broken record after a while, but guess what, mum was right!

Posture is the platform that all movement starts from, whether it is walking, running or hitting a golf ball. Establishing good posture puts your spine in a position that reduces stress and the risk of injury. Good posture also puts all muscles of the body in a position that allows efficient movement patterns and improved performance.

Any movement that starts form a poor posture will require compensations to perform the movement. Compensations will make the movement less efficient and less repeatable, both of which will have a negative effect on performance. Poor posture will also place the body, and especially the spine, in positions of vulnerability that will increase the risk of injury. When I treat golfers with low back pain, establishing good postural habits is essential to reducing their symptoms. If I cannot achieve this, then most likely their back pain will continue.

It is therefore important for golfers to

develop good postural habits, not just when addressing the golf ball, but throughout the day. Developing good postural habits will then make it feel natural, rather than an effort, to adopt good posture on the golf course.

The following guidelines will help golfers with their posture, not just on the course but also in everyday life. By placing the body in good posture the golfer will be facilitating all muscles of the body, especially the core muscles, allowing these muscles to work effectively and producing efficient, safe, repeatable movement patterns.

continuing with a SerieS of articleS from golf Specific phySiotherapiSt and trainer matt green, pga magazine offerS a

few Simple meSSageS relating to poSture and how to help prevent injury to golferS while providing them with the opportunity to

better achieve their golfing goalS

it StartS with good PoSture!

the uPPer baCk and arMsEstablishing good posture through the upper body reduces stress through the neck and puts the shoulders in a position to move efficiently. Hunching forward through the upper body increases stress through the neck and the front of the shoulder joints, however squeezing the shoulder blades back as far as possible is also not the answer. This requires a lot of muscular effort which is exhausting. It also tends to lock the upper spine down and prevent movement, especially rotation. Ideally we should focus on a sense of width through our collar bones, as if we are opening through the front of the chest. This will engage the muscles that control our shoulder blades as well as position the neck properly.


fitness

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matt green is the director of high performance golf. he is available to pga members to conduct golfer screenings, club information nights, one-on-one training and conditioning sessions or to discuss all matters relating to golf fitness and physiotherapy. matt green can be contacted on 0409 014 967 or via email at [email protected]

the loWer baCk and legsCorrect posture through the lower body positions the core muscles so they can work effectively, as well as reducing load through the spine and allowing the hips to work correctly. We should focus here on standing with weight through the middle of our feet, knees soft and a sense of feeling tall. This should leave us with a small curve in the lower back, not an excessive arch or a flat lower back.

golF PostureStarting from the above mentioned positions, we should move into golf posture by bending at the hips. This sounds quite simple, but many golfers, both those with low back problems and those without, often have trouble with this. To allow this to happen, the golfer must maintain the small curve in the lower back, let their bottom move backwards slightly and move their chest forward. Once they have done this they

can then unlock their knees to adopt their posture. This allows the large hip muscles to control the spine angle and reduces much of the load through the back.

By following these postural guidelines, golfers should be in a position to move better as well as reduce their risk of injury.


With its increasinG popularity, it’s no surprise the Holden Scramble is being adopted by more clubs around the country with existing host venues continuing to support the cause while new courses are jumping on board.

And because of the universal appeal to players of all age, ability and backgrounds, 2011 has seen a particular increase in ‘Royal’ clubs around Australia, with seven of the eight revered golf clubs running events.

Some of the ‘royal family’ will be staging an event for the first time, while others are hosting events again after more than a decade of their members and guests enjoying everything the Holden Scramble has to offer.

Some of the Royal clubs, such as Royal Fremantle, are returning after a brief absence, while others are gearing up again after a long successful history of Holden Scrambles, with Royal Canberra, Royal Hobart and Royal Perth all having run local Holden Scramble events for at least 15 years.

Such is the acceptance, some stage two events each year.

With the popularity of the Holden Scramble still growing, this year has seen three new additions to the ‘Royal’ family, coming on board. Royal Melbourne, Royal Adelaide and Royal Queensland are making their Holden Scramble debut in 2011, and so far all have done so with roaring success.

Royal Melbourne kicked it all off as the host of the Holden Scramble 20th Anniversary launch event back in March. In recognition of this special milestone the Holden Scramble was lucky enough to have the opportunity to hold the season launch at Royal Melbourne, with the scramble taking to Royal Melbourne for the first time. A full field of members thoroughly enjoyed the unique event and were said to be already looking forward to next year.

The club members at Royal Queensland have also spoken with their feet, with a full field of 112 players taking part in

their maiden event in July. After initially expecting to attract the minimum field required of a local qualifying scramble of 48 players, the Royal Queensland Pro Shop was inundated with members registering groups and will now be represented by two teams in the Regional Finals in October.

There are only 62 golf clubs in the world that enjoy ‘royal’ patronage and of those, eight are in Australia, with the oldest being Royal Melbourne who were bestowed the honour back in 1895. Seven of those eight ‘royal’ venues now have conducted or will conduct local Holden Scrambles during 2011.

The Holden Scramble has, and will continue, to attract players of all age, ability and demographic due to the unique experience it provides to all types of players. The wide appeal is the reason the Holden Scramble has been so successful for 20 years and why it will continue to reign, both amongst ‘royalty’ and also with the general golfing community for many years to come.

2011

20TH ANNIVERSARY

royalty comeS to the

holden Scramble

royal Melbourne members helped launch the Holden Scramble in its 20th anniversary year


presiDents cup

President’s Cup captains Greg Norman and Fred Couples

in november The Presidents Cup will see 24 of the world’s best golfers stride the fairways of Royal Melbourne.

The second time Australia has hosted The Presidents Cup since its inception in 1994, Australia will be the first nation, outside of America, to stage the event twice.

With the teams starting to take shape, the signs are positive for Australia with Adam Scott and Jason Day likely to have played their way into the International Team. Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy sit just outside the top 10 but with their extensive knowledge and experience of the Melbourne Sandbelt they would appear to be standout candidates for Greg Norman’s Captain’s picks.

Fred Couples’ US team is

looking formidable as always with Steve Stricker heading a charge that includes Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney and Matt Kuchar. Couples will have a challenging time selecting his two captain’s picks as the talent sitting just outside the top 10 includes Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson and major winner Keegan Bradley. Tiger also lurking, is coming to Australia for the Open at the Lakes and has expressed that he is going to add some events to his schedule in the coming weeks leading up to the event.

Anticipation is high amongst Australian sporting fans all eager for the November 17-20 date to come around so they can be part of The Presidents Cup experience.

all the PreSIDeNtS menuNIque oPPortuNIty For PGA MeMberS a unique opportunity has been made available to PGA of Australia Members by the US TOUR to be involved with The Presidents Cup.

To create a complete golfing experience for fans an interactive area will be operated at the event. Australian PGA Professionals have been invited to staff, in a coaching capacity, the area throughout the event.

This once in a lifetime opportunity will be offered to around 20 PGA Members based on applications. Whilst this is a volunteer position substantial benefits are to be gained by these members who are selected for the weeklong event.

PGA Members selected will receive a week long ticket to the event, a Presidents Cup polo shirt, daily meals and on site car parking.

Coaches will be expected to do a five hour shift per day with

each day split into a morning and afternoon shift. One full day off will be given to each member.

This exceptional opportunity is available to all Vocational Members and Trainees, while Tour Members can only take part if they also hold current PGA of Australia coaching qualifications. If you are interested in applying for the position please email, [email protected], with your resume and cover letter as well as answers to the following questions:1. Why are you interested in

performing this coaching role at The Presidents Cup?

2. How are your skills and experience suited to this particular exercise?

Good luck with your applications and we look forward to seeing you at The Presidents Cup.


pGa

Golf bioDynamics inc. is a wholly Australian owned and managed company based in Miami at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa – home of the Blue Monster Golf Course and host to a USPGA Tour event each year.Founders Dr. Robert Neal and his wife and business partner, Karen Harrison, recently announced Australian PGA Professional Josh Longney as their new GBD Assistant Professional for 2012.

Each year since 2009, Golf BioDynamics, has provided a young Australian Teaching Professional the opportunity to work alongside them at Doral and not only become expert in the use of 3D technology in golf instruction, but also study the McLean system of coaching. Jim McLean, who regularly ranks in the US as one of the Top 5 Instructors, has “created the ideal learning environment for both students of the game and instructors wishing to hone their teaching skills,” says Neal.

It was a strategic alliance with McLean which began in 2003, that allowed Golf BioDynamics to establish their golf technology business in the US and assist Neal in developing a profile as one the best golf biomechanists in the world. His expertise in the use of 3D technology for golf swing analysis and teaching is now recognised internationally. And while it would have been an easy task to employ an American to take up the GBD Assistant Position, Rob is

adamant that it was always the plan to help young Australians.

It has been a good six months for Longney. From a position at NSW Golf Club earlier in 2011, he was awarded a summer internship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland and at the end of this year moves to Doral for 12-18 months with Golf BioDynamics.

Current GBD Assistant, Gavin Sutherland, formerly of The Vintage Golf Club and the Oaks Golf and Country Club in NSW says; “There is simply no chance I could have had this learning experience back in Australia and there really is nothing in the world like this facility, the number and quality of instructors, all of the latest technologies and ideas, and a constant desire to achieve more. From working with Tour Players, interacting with some of the world’s best golf instructors, attending the World Golf Fitness Summit, The PGA Merchandise Show and assisting both the German and Danish National Teams, the last 6 months has been hectic; and a life changing experience. I am incredibly grateful to Golf BioDynamics and wish Josh all the best for 2012.”

Sutherland will be returning to Australia in early 2012 and is considering taking his skill set to south-east Queensland to join forces with well-known golf physiotherapist Michael Dalgleish (The Golf Athlete).

longney winS gbd aSSiStant poSition for 2012

pga connectin July the pGa launched PGA Connect, the new national Member newsletter.

The idea behind PGA Connect was to create one newsletter for all PGA Members to replace the existing individual state newsletters. Each state now has its own section down the right hand side of PGA Connect.

The content in PGA Connect is designed to assist PGA Members in their business, advise of important upcoming dates and keep you informed on all things PGA.

It is hoped that PGA Connect will create an improved communication channel for Members so that they’re always up to date with the Association. To keep improving the newsletter we welcome Member feedback.

PGA Connect is published on the last Thursday of every month so keep an eye out.

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Junior Golf

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With recorD numbers of Shootouts locked in, this year is rapidly becoming Pump Golf’s biggest year yet.

2011 has seen nearly 60 Pump Shootouts run in the first half of the season, more than double the amount that had run by this time last year. With another 60 more Pump Shootouts already confirmed and at least another 50 golf clubs yet to lock in a date, a record 200 events in 2011 is not out of the question.

All net and scratch winners from each Shootout go into the draw to win a trip to the Pump Golf Junior Festival at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Here, 80 juniors aged between 12 and 16 will be treated to two rounds at Twin Waters Golf Club as well as numerous coaching clinics from some of Australia’s leading Tour Professionals, such as adam scott, stuart appleby and nick o’hern.

New South Wales has been the dominant force for the Pump Shootouts in the early

part of the season, but as the Nation warms into Spring, more and more Shootouts will continue to run across the country.

The first Pump Shootout at Hyatt Regency Coolum got the Pump Shootout season off to a good start, attracting nearly 40 juniors. From there the Pump Shootout has seen nearly another 60 events run across the country all with similar success.

A few of these successful events have been in South Australia, where Jan Douglass,

a passionate Junior Golf Coordinator has run Pump Shootouts at Adelaide Shores, Maitland and Port Lincoln Golf Clubs all averaging over 20 players at each event.

The Pump Shootout season concludes on October 9, so August and September are sure to be big months ahead for the Pump Shootout.

For more information or to register a Pump Shootout, contact the PGA Events Division on (03) 8320 1999 or at [email protected]

PumP golf’S biggeSt year yet


Women in Golf

in her seconD year of a PGA traineeship at Marangaroo Golf Club in WA, Nicole Montgomery represents something of a new order when it comes to women entering a PGA system which has predominantly been a male dominated domain.

A successful player in the amateur ranks, both in Australia and as a part of the US Collegiate scene, Montgomery weighed up her options, decided she wanted to pursue a career in golf and unlike the majority of her female counterparts, opted for a PGA Traineeship.

She isn’t the first to choose such a path and with traineeships for young women golfers now a definite option, she wont be the last.

Still not sure exactly where her golfing life is leading her and in her second year under PGA Member Rob Farley and Marangaroo, Montgomery is certainly using the traineeship in the right spirit, as she builds up her knowledge and experience while leaving all bases open for the future.

“While I like the idea of maybe one day owning my own shop I’m not closing the door on playing,” Montgomery said. “I’ve played as much as I could this year and played against the boys on the WA circuit. I am trying to experience everything possible with the traineeship.”

A talented youngster who was in the WA Golf state junior and senior squads, Montgomery then headed for the Pepperdine University in the US. “It wasn’t really for me,” she admitted, before she joined the ALPG about three or four years ago.

Pressures, financial and otherwise, got her thinking about a change of direction, with a few timely words of advice convincing Montgomery that the traineeship was perhaps the best option.

“I spoke to Emma Bennett before I decided to do it. She is from Victoria and we used to play against each other. She said she loved it,” Montgomery said. “It depends whether or not you’re good enough

to just go and play without any financial pressures. But if you want to give yourself a few more options, the traineeship can be the way to go.

“I didn’t have the finances to travel around and play, plus I wanted the coaching degree and thought I could get the whole package if I did the PGA traineeship. It’s full on, but is going really well.”

Montgomery and female colleague Jemma Partridge are the two women in the WA trainee system. Rather than being overwhelmed by the fact they are outnumbered by the males, Montgomery explains that they have been taken in by the boys as one of their own.

“We have been accepted very well, but WA is small in regards to the golfing community so we know them from amateur golf. Everyone knows each other over here in WA,” Montgomery added.

A young lady who at the moment might represent the exception rather than the rule when it comes to the percentages of males versus females working as PGA professionals or in the golfing industry, Nicole Montgomery may just be showing the way forward for many more who could follow.

nicole montgomery

montgomery fifth againSt the boySin a soliD performance Nicole Montgomery finished a creditable fifth in a field of 21 players at the WA/NT Trainee Championships played at the Royal Fremantle course.

Montgomery shot rounds of 74-74-76-76, for 72-hole total of 300, in what were described as trying conditions.

Runway winner of the event was Nedlands Year One trainee Gavin Reed who returned an impressive 5-under par score, nine shots better than runner-up Scott Hunter.

The WA PGA Trainee Championship, which offered a total prize purse of $12,000, was supported by Coca-Cola Amatil and Titleist Footjoy.

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‘gentleMan’ Merv Plays it CoolThe word that comes to mind when the topic is PGA Professional Merv Uhlman is “gentleman”.

Uhlman, who was the head pro at Oxley Golf Club in Brisbane for 47 years, recently pulled the pin on his long career.

An unassuming man, he is a person who prefers to fly under the radar, but as I discovered when I first met him in 1984, Uhlman has a great sense of humour and is someone who doesn’t suffer fools lightly as many unsuspecting golfers found out when entering his domain.

When I approached him for this story he was more interested in questioning me about my golf game and health – anything but talk about himself.

That’s the sort of bloke he is, but I wore him down. I guess that’s why he is, and will continue to be, such a popular figure around Oxley Golf Club.

Always welcoming, Merv is “old school”, which is a compliment – not a criticism.

I lost count of the number of times he invited me and other golf writers to Oxley for a game of golf.

“When are you coming out for a game?” he’d ask. “I’ve got a golf cart here with your name on it.”

Unfortunately, I seldom took up the offer, but when I did I always wrote about the experience which, in effect, was free publicity for the club.

Importantly, it was Merv’s way of promoting and marketing the golf club.

Three months into retirement, Uhlman’s feet have hardly touched the ground as he

divides his time between his “adorable” grandchildren and his aging father.

“My dad is 94 and has been in hospital,” he said. “He’s out now, in a home and that’s taken a bit of my time. Once things start to settle down, I will play a bit more golf with some of my mates from Oxley.”

The son of a barber, Uhlman served his apprenticeship under the guidance of Doug Katterns at Keperra Country Golf Club in the early 1960s. When he finished his traineeship he virtually walked straight into the job at Oxley.

Over the years, he has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats of the game including arnold palmer. In 1963, Palmer was brought to Australia to play an exhibition match at Royal Queensland Golf Club and Uhlman was there to caddie for the seven-time major winner.

bob charles, who was the British Open champion, charlie earp and Japan’s number one hideyo sugimoto joined Palmer at Royal Queensland.

“I remember he landed at Royal Queensland in a helicopter,” Merv recalled. “It was tremendous caddying for Palmer – he was a top bloke.”

In 1986, Palmer returned to play in the World Series Championship at Coolangatta Tweed Heads and Uhlman was on hand to organise a reunion. It was a huge success because everyone involved in the exhibition match 23 years earlier turned up.

One of his fondest memories was playing alongside and finishing third to two-time major winner David Graham at Mackay in North Queensland.

“I remember he finished eagle, eagle and the next day he started with an eagle,” Uhlman recalled. “We played 36 holes on the first day, 36 on the second day and when we finished at 4.30pm David went to the practice fairway and was still there when we went home.

“I saw him the next year at Surfers Paradise and he was there hammering balls again. It’s amazing how much practice he did, but it paid off.

celebrating a LIFetIMe in the gametWo lonG stanDinG and valued PGA members, in this the Centenary year of the PGA of Australia, are being recognised in pGa magazine for their outstanding contributions to the game and at their respective golf clubs.

merv uhlman, who recently retired after 47 years at the helm at the Oxley Golf Club in Brisbane, and ray Wilson, who is still opening the pro shop doors of a morning after 50 years at the Strathfield Golf Club in Sydney, are shining examples of PGA members loving

what they do and being appreciated for it.David newbery caught up with both

recently, with their stories an inspiration to those in the midst of, or looking forward to, long and illustrious careers in the golfing industry.

Merv uhlman (left) with Charlie earp


profile

“It was the same with Greg norman, Wayne Grady and those boys.”

In May, Uhlman closed the pro shop door at Oxley Golf Club for the last time. The golf club recognised his contribution to the game by putting on a luncheon, which was attended by family and friends. Even Greg Norman was there – albeit in spirit.

The Shark couldn’t attend the gathering, but he did send a congratulatory message, which was delivered by long-time coach and mentor Charlie Earp.

“Oxley has been a great club,” Uhlman said. “I have made a lot of friends and I leave with a lot of good memories.”

ray Wilson – 50 years on and going strongRay Wilson was a wide-eyed 15-year-old with stars in his eyes when he started work as a trainee professional at Strathfield Golf Club in Sydney.

That was half a century ago.Today the popular club professional is still

there serving the members and local golfing community with the same enthusiasm he started with in 1961.

Wilson is a larger-than-life character, a people person who likes nothing better than meeting and getting to know new people. In the past 50 years he has “met some interesting people” and mixed in circles few people get to experience.

Some of his career highlights include playing golf with former British Open champion roberto de vicenzo, dining with royalty and rubbing shoulders with Olympians and politicians.

In the 1980s and ’90s, Wilson enjoyed a stint in local government and rose to become Strathfield’s Deputy Mayor.

“I served two terms and I was the only independent to get elected without preferences,” Wilson said. “I would have been there a lot longer only the work load got too great.

“I did enjoy it and some of the members are at me to stand again even though I was an independent and not a political man. They even wanted me to stand for state and federal seats here.”

But Wilson dismissed that idea although he did take the suggestion as a compliment.

“I am not interested in that,” Ray said. “There’s enough involvement in what I do now without that.”

In 1988, Australia’s bicentennial year, Wilson was acting mayor and had to attend a number of important functions.

“It was one of the best six months of my life,” he recalled. “My wife and I went to so many functions and met so many interesting people. On Australia Day we sat opposite prince charles and lady Di at dinner. We had a really good time and I thought Charles and Diana were nice people.”

And during the 2000 Sydney Olympics plenty of high-profile athletes popped in to Strathfield for a game, much to Wilson’s delight.

Last year, the 65-year-old former Deputy Mayor and long-time Rotary member was honoured by the Strathfield community when named Citizen of the Year.

As a professional golfer, Ray was competitive and often mixed it with some of the game’s best players.

“In 1966, I played well in a four-rounder and ended up being paired with Roberto de Vicenzo in the final round,” Wilson recalled. “That night the members took up a collection in the bar for me so that I could play in tournaments. They collected enough money to send me to two Australian Opens – all expenses paid.

“As a young bloke, that stood out as a highlight because the members thought that much of me.

“When I was young I won heaps of pro-ams and I led the Wills Masters, which was bigger

than the tournaments today because we had the best players in the world come for that.

“For a club pro I thought I did pretty well in the tournaments including the Australian Opens, which I played for many years. During those tournaments I still had to come to work at 6 o’clock and leave at 11 o’clock to go and play.”

Unfortunately, Wilson had to quit major tournament golf when the yips got the better of him, but he continued to play pro-ams.

“In the 1980s, I won a pro-am at Cabramatta when I had something like a 62,” he recalled. “The club asked me to be guest of honour because I was the only one who had shot such a low round at the golf course.”

Wilson told PGA Magazine he has had a marvelous career and wouldn’t swap his job for anything, even when times were tough.

“I remember once we were closed for four months,” he recalled. “It’s not good when that happens because you have still got to keep your door open most of time. I used to spend lot of the days helping the greens staff get the course back together.”

Despite reaching retirement age, Wilson says he has no intentions of pulling the pin and sailing off into the sunset.

“I have no immediate plans to retire because my wife reckons I would go batty if I was home every day.

“Basically, I have been a club pro all my life and the thing I enjoy about my job is seeing and talking to people. I class every member of the club a friend and they know that. They know they can come to me with things and we can talk about it.”

ray Wilson


armeD With full member status of the PGA more and more Australians are now broadening their horizons, chancing their arms and exploring their opportunities overseas.

Such is the high esteem to which membership to the Australian PGA is held around the world, many are being accepted into prestigious postings abroad, enabling them to experience different countries and cultures, all while working within the global golfing industry.

Some are in the US, others Asia and Europe, with their respective roles many and varied. From Club Pros, to Directors of Golf, Teaching Professionals and aspiring Tournament Players, Australian PGA Members are making a mark.

Profiled in this edition of PGA Magazine are a trio of recent graduates of the of the PGA’s Trainee program, three young men who are enjoying the moment and forging reputations which will carry them into a successful future.

Corey haleRecognisable are those Australian Professionals in the spotlight while plying their trade on the US PGA or US Nationwide Tours, in Europe on OneAsia or in Japan.

Working their way towards achieving the status enjoyed by that elite group is a collection of PGA Professionals living the dream and competing in events where only family and friends regularly check the results.

Corey Hale, who completed a Traineeship between 2007 to 2009 at Belmont Golf Club near Newcastle under Kurt Linde and Graeme Stockley, is one of those currently flying under that proverbial radar.

Hale took the gamble to head to the US in February of 2011 and is competing on the Nga Hooters Professional golf tour, basing himself out of the Oak Tree Country Club in Oklahoma.

“The Hooters Tour is a mini tour designed for players to learn their trade,” Hale began. “It gives us a place to play, to experience tournament golf and to give players the opportunity to experience what the main tour player faces every week in the sense of travel, living in motels and out of suitcases, adjusting to new courses and new conditions every week.”

After considering his options, doing his research and figuring out how far his budget would stretch, Hale opted for the Hooters Tour.

“It seemed a good fit for me. I had been to the States before and I feel like I was most comfortable here. Along with the good tournament schedule, and knowing some people on the tour to travel with, the tour has two ranking schools each year,” he explained. “You can gain status through playing in those events or the tour gives out special exemptions each year. I was lucky to gain one of them giving me status for the 2011 year.”

After qualifying for the 2010 Australian PGA Championships through the Trainee system, Hale got an appetite for matching shots with some of the best players in the world and his move to the US was his way of satisfying his competitive hunger.

“I loved the experience and although I missed the cut by one shot it gave me confidence that maybe I could compete at that level. I decided that I wanted to try and play for a living, to bite the bullet and give it a shot,” Hale reasoned.

“That’s why the move to America was needed as the mini tours provide players with full time schedules to play and to learn how to play tournament golf before going to various tour schools. And although the entry fees are more expensive we play for at least $200,000 each week.

“I feel like my golf is moving in the right direction and I’m pleased I made this decision to come over here and I have had a lot of great support through family and friends, Belmont Golf Club and my coaches Kurt and Graeme.”

making their MArK in a foreign land

by rob Willis

corey hale


overseas members

While a playing career is Hale’s current focus, should he decide to head in another direction in the future, he is also appreciative of the fact that his full membership of the PGA leaves him well credentialed for a career in golf.

“I know that with my PGA qualifications I have many options for a career, weather that’s overseas or home in Australia,” Hale said.

sCott adlandHaving begun his golfing journey working under Colin Bishop at the Ashlar Golf Club in 2003, Scott Adland now finds himself living the dream at a five-star resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

Currently employed at The Legacy Golf Resort, a facility which tees off around 100,000 rounds a year and employs a staff of over 200, Adland assumes a variety of responsibilities and appears to be enjoying the opportunity to showcase his many talents.

“It’s a public facility that is the busiest in the valley and probably the best condition. I have really lucked out here,” said Adland, who has been stationed in Arizona since July 2010.

“I have several job descriptions. Tournament Coordinator, which is running all corporate golf outings of 16 or more players and Staff Instructor and Custom Club Fitter for the Legacy Academy.

“When I’m not coaching or running group events, I’m a Shop Manager, doing on average three shop shifts a week.”

Keen to live and work in the US, Adland, who gives credit for his career development

to coach and PGA Member Paul Hausman along with mentor Gary Barter, the Teaching Professional at the Australian golf Club, was persistent in his quest to find a suitable position.

“I wanted to relocate to Phoenix as I’d played here before in tournaments in 2008 and 2009. I sent my resume to over 100 courses and Legacy by chance had a position available. They hired me after a

telephone interview. It was total luck really,” he said.

“I just loved the golf and the weather (in Phoenix), but nothing will ever compare to Australia. I just wanted to live in America and the opportunities in the States for golf are far more advanced.”

While he has certainly landed on his feet, before arriving at his final destination Adland was forced to jump plenty of

hurdles to achieve his dream. Ultimately he found his PGA membership was his most valuable asset after he was forced to follow a complicated process to gain the necessary work permits. The eventual outcome however made it well worth the effort.

“I would not have been able to obtain my work visa without my Australian PGA Qualification. I had to get the US PGA to

“I JUST LOVED THE GOLF AND THE WEATHER (IN PHOENIx), BUT NOTHING WILL EVER COMPARE TO AUSTRALIA.” - SCOTT ADLAND


overseas members

write a letter of recommendation stating that the Australian PGA system is on par with theirs. But in my opinion the Australian PGA Traineeship is far more advanced and harder than that of the US,” Adland explained.

“The visa process was a head ache. It took around five months to get approved, but totally worth it.”

As for the present, Adland is content with his lot, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to home soil at some stage in the future.

“Right now I will be staying in the States indefinitely. I actually just got married and my wife is from the US, but she has expressed an interest in living in Australia and we will come back home at some stage,” Adland said.

As for some advice for those contemplating following in his footsteps, Adland has some educated words of wisdom.

“If anyone is interested in working overseas, make sure you plan accordingly with all the visa requirements and be patient, as this can be quite a drawn out process.”

jd CoulonCurrently living and working in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jean Daniel Coulon, ‘JD’ to those who know him, is another shining example of the Australian PGA Member making great strides in an unfamiliar environment.

A Victorian native who began his Traineeship at Moonah Links in 2005, before completing the academy program at Portsea Golf Club in 2007, Coulon took the bit between his teeth and headed off into the big wide world to expand his horizons.

“At the time it was all about my fiancée Emma and I trying new things and being spontaneous,” Coulon said. “We decided that we both wanted to experience life working in another country and embrace new cultures and lifestyles.

“I also knew it would be a good chance for me to develop my coaching skills and broaden my golfing knowledge.”

So it has been from those somewhat impulsive beginnings that Coulon has progressed to where he holds a position of prominence in a foreign land.

“I am working for The Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) as the Indonesian National Coach,” Coulon explained. “This involves

coaching the Indonesian National squad which consists of 20 players–12 males and 8 females, ranging from 16 to 38 years old, with my role training and mentoring the players, while coordinating their event schedules throughout South East Asia.

“I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, with the right knowledge and experience. As this was a new position I was able to assist in developing the role scope.

“The PGI was only interested in hiring an Australian PGA Member. They had done their research into other PGA training systems and they were most impressed with the Australian program,” he added.

Amongst his responsibilities Coulon oversees the technical and mental techniques of his squad members, along with their fitness and physiotherapy regimes.

“I also manage the scouting of new talent around Indonesia, helping with their development and I’m in the process of creating a training program which will assist the local Indonesian golf Professionals to gain better coaching knowledge,” he said.

Now a little over 12 months into his appointment, Coulon is forging an impressive reputation while operating at a number of different courses spread across the city.

“The facilities range from top class to goat tracks, but they are all consistently busy–due to over 10 million people living in Jakarta,” Coulon said. “The driving range where I predominately coach has a grass area and a less than average short game facility.

“I make do with what I have. My theory is,

if you can hit balls from these conditions, you can play off any lie.”

Coulon was also quick to praise his golfing mentors Aaron Kelly, Ross Moodie the head Professional at Portsea Golf Club and his brother David, but more significantly the PGA Australia system for providing him the tools to be able to carry out his roles and responsibilities to a high standard.

“The PGA Traineeship was one of the best decisions of my life. It has provided me with excellent career opportunities, a chance to meet amazing talented people and provided me with the knowledge to assist people with their golf game,” Coulon said.

But as much as he is enjoying his Indonesian experience, Coulon one day hopes to bring home some of the lessons learned during his Asian experience.

“I’m enjoying my time here and appreciating what Indonesia has to offer. Nevertheless, home is Melbourne and I will be back there in the next few years to further pursue my golfing career. But while I’m here, I am making the most of the opportunities,” he said.

And in a parting message, as tough as some days may be on foreign soil, Coulon recommended all PGA Members consider taking on something similar at some stage of their careers.

“Teaching within a different culture with a language barrier is sometimes difficult but in my opinion it is definitely an experience everyone must try. My clients appreciate what I do and I actually feel like I am making a difference,” Coulon said.

jd coulon (centre, sitting with white t-shirt) with his indonesian national squad

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the pGa member benefits portal has now been running for two months with many Members already experiencing some great products and savings.

While online retailing can never replace the high level of customer service experienced in the local Pro Shop it is convenient, for the purchase of some products. It allows us to easily find compare and purchase products meaning we don’t have to battle the crowds in the shopping centres. As we browse online it is always easy to think about how products can benefit us personally but it also important to think about how you can utilise these products and savings in your business.

Each month the PGA will email you with ten hot offers but this is just the tip of the iceberg; once you login to the PGA Member Benefits Portal you have access to thousands of products. Some of this months product offerings include;

The Gourmet Picnic Case is a luxurious hamper filled with a combination of wines and an array of delicious sweet and savoury treats all beautifully presented. The hamper can be the perfect gift to impress that special someone but it can also be beneficial for your business. It makes for an impressive prize for the monthly ladies competition, corporate golf day or raffle prize to raise money for the golf club. The ‘Everything but Flowers’ online shop in the PGA Member Benefits Portal has many other similar products that take the challenge out of finding and purchasing such rewards for your club members. While the Gourmet Picnic Case usually retails at $249 PGA Members can purchase for $205.

The Brother PT-2430PC Electronic Labeller is sure to have your Pro Shop organised in no time. Gone are the days of confusion in the stock room or missing equipment, with this easy to use labeller

even your mum will be impressed with your neat and tidy ways. Once the Pro Shop is in order take this labeller home and ensure the kitchen cupboards and kids school books are just as organised. Being a PGA Member will save you more than $40 on the Labeller as its recommended retail price is $149 however you can purchase for $106.

With school holidays fast approaching all parents are turning their thoughts to entertaining the kids. With parents juggling a busy work and home life the convenience of purchasing kids activities online is an attractive option. Via the PGA Member Benefits Portal you are able to purchase a Hoyts Super Saver Family Pass which means you can enjoy a family outing without blowing the budget. This family package includes two adult and two children movie tickets and you’ll save off regular box office admission prices. Usually you would pay $64

but if you purchase via the PGA Member Benefits portal you will pay just $44.

There are many more great savings to be made just for being a PGA Member so next time you are thinking of heading to the shopping centre have a look on your PGA Member Benefits Portal first.

Please note that at the time of product selection, we will work with the provider to always endeavour to try and offer a best in market price to Members. However, online retail is dynamic, forever changing and prices do change. In saying this if a product’s price is uncompetitive to those available in the market we will always endeavour to secure a better price.

If you have feedback on the PGA Member Benefits Portal please contact Gavin Kirkman, General Manager Member Services on (03) 8320 1911.

member benefitS portal


enjoy the SavingS

allianz – firSt choice inSurer of the pga the thirD aDDition to the revitalised PGA Member Benefits Program will see PGA Members save on their insurance thanks to Allianz, the first choice insurer of the PGA of Australia.

Allianz, one of Australia’s largest general insurers, are offering PGA Members up to 15% off insurance products including car, home, landlord and travel insurance.

But savings to the hip pocket are not the only benefit of Allianz, they have also made the complicated world of insurance quotes simple with a dedicated PGA Member

website and phone line. Via the Allianz PGA Member website,

www.pga.mybenefits.com.au, you are able to enter all your insurance particulars and receive a quote instantly. This allows you to research your insurance from the convenience of your home or office.

Alternatively for those who still appreciate personal customer service Allianz have a

dedicated phone team to assist you with your insurance.

The PGA has already received favourable feedback from Members who after comparing their current policies to that offered by Allianz were able to save substantially. Make your comparisons and see if you are able to save with the Allianz PGA Member Benefit.

With genuine savings to be made and the highest level of customer service to be experienced the PGA encourages you to support companies, such as Allianz, that support our Members.

Save time & money with flight centrethe pGa is pleaseD to announce the latest Member Benefit offering from our newest partner, Flight Centre Limited. As part of the PGA’s commitment to improving Member Benefits, the PGA has teamed up with Australia’s largest travel agency network to ensure you, the PGA Member, receive expert advice and the best rates on all your travel requirements.

PGA invites you to start saving on all your business and personal travel needs today with the following PGA Member Benefits: • 5% off accommodation bookings at

Quickbeds.com/pga. Owned and operated by Flight Centre Limited, Quickbeds.com offers PGA members a cheap and easy way to book accommodation online.

• Discounted booking fees with exclusive access to Flight Centre Limited’s Corporate Traveller travel management service.

• Save time when booking, changing and re-booking travel arrangements with Corporate Traveller – a one stop shop for all your travel bookings anywhere in the world.

• Receive personal service and assistance with 24/7 support from Corporate Traveller wherever you are in the world.

• Guaranteed best prices on airfares and hotels. If you happen to find a cheaper quote Corporate Traveller will beat it or you travel FREE.

• Tour Members will benefit from Flight Centre Limited’s purchasing power, with preferred accommodation options nearby tournament venues with the best available rates.

Through its partnership with the PGA, Flight Centre Limited is committed to offering PGA Members the best possible options on all travel-related requirements. With more than 2,000 shops and businesses globally through

its retail and corporate brands, Flight Centre Limited provides a complete travel service for leisure and business travellers in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Singapore and Dubai.

The PGA encourages all PGA Members to get on board with this latest Member Benefit.

To arrange your next travel requirements call Kate at Corporate Traveller on 1300 151 674.

The PGA welcomes any feedback or questions on this latest Member Benefit. Share your thoughts - contact Gavin Kirkman, General Manager of Member Services, on (03) 8320 1968 or email [email protected].

PRO GOLF EXPOSEDREPORT CARD: DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY HAS MERITIn May the PGA launched a viral marketing campaign for Mothers Day targeted toward women aged 18-30 years to change their perceptions of golf and PGA Members with the goal to encourage women to have a lesson.

The campaign achieved the desired outcome of securing non traditional golf media coverage thereby extending the reach of golf to a the new audience.

Pro Golf Exposed generated a huge volume of unexpected media cover-age totalling $250,000 of exposure. Ordinarily to secure this exposure for the sport we would have had to pay the same figure in advertising. In comparison the recent announcement of Darren Clarke playing the PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola received less coverage.

Securing golf media coverage is an ongoing challenge in a sport saturat-ed market. Campaigns such as Pro Golf Exposed help break through the clutter and gain the sport prominent position in major news publications.

• Reached 1.2 million people in a four

week period

• Media coverage increased by 210% in

May 2011 compared to April

• Media coverage accounted for 41% of

the PGA’s total media coverage for May

• More than 7,600 people visited the

campaign website

EXPOSURE


state neWs

victoria

viCtorian golF industry Celebrates legends oF the gaMeover 400 members of the Victorian golfing community gathered at the iconic MCG for the second annual Victorian Golf Industry Awards to celebrate the high achievers while revealing six inaugural Golf Hall of Fame inductees.

While the PGA of Australia was able to recognise the many significant achievements and contributions made to the golf industry, much of the interest surrounded the naming of the first six Hall of Fame Members, with the list a who’s who of Victorian golf.

Peter Thomson AO CBE, Jack Harris, Bob Shearer, Miss Burtta Cheney MBE, Ivo Whitton (deceased; represented by daughter Flo Grimwade) and Doug Bachli (deceased; represented by son Paul Bachli) were either in the room or represented by family members as their inductions were announced, with those on hand sharing the memorable experiences of their life in golf.

“The PGA of Australia are very proud to have established a Hall of Fame for Victoria with our industry partners in what is our Centenary Year but more importantly we are proud and honoured to have six fine men and women inducted that have paved the way in golf and helped make the game what it is today,” said Nick Thornton, PGA of Australia Southern Division Executive Officer.

On the night the PGA also recognised Michael Faraone as the CPM Bruce Green Club Professional of the Year and Darren Cole as the CPM Teaching Professional of the Year.

Kevin Conlong was awarded the PGA National Trainee of the Year and 25 of his fellow Trainees graduated to become Full Members of the PGA of Australia.

The PGA also recognised the significant contribution that its professionals and clubs make to the Victorian Pro Am Circuit, with the Eynesbury Blue Ribbon Foundation Masters named the Victorian Pro-Am of the Year with an open purse prize and in the category of best pro-am with a prize purse of $10,000–$20,000, the Southern Colour Long Island Pro-Am and the Bendigo & Community Bank Eastwood Pro-Am shared the honours as joint winners.

Victorian Regional Pro-Am of the Year, further than 75km from the CBD, was awarded to the innovative Phillip Island Golf Club Linfox Pro-Am Extravaganza, while Yarra Yarra Golf Club and Commercial Club Albury were recognised as the Victorian Pro-Am Course of the Year and Victorian Regional Pro-Am Course of the Year respectively.

Golf Victoria, Golf Management Victoria and the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA) were a part of the event, also recognising outstanding achievement in their respective fields.

CresWiCk the neW hoMe oF the viC Pga

the pGa tour of australasia is headed to the Ballarat region for the first time in its history with the Victorian PGA Championship to be contested at the Forest Resort Creswick.

To be played early in 2012 from February 13 – 19, taking the event to the Forest Resort for the next five years signals a huge coup for the region.

“The PGA is pleased to add Creswick to its growing list of tournament hosts and we look forward to what will be a fantastic Victorian PGA Championship come February,” said Brian Thorburn, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia. “Regional areas such as Ballarat are an important part of the PGA’s tournament strategy and with the support of the local community we look forward to ensuring this event is a huge success.”

Aaron Hipwell of Forest Resort Creswick, says the club is looking forward to showcasing its facilities to some of Australia’s top Professionals.

“Controllers of the resort Wellington Capital and the entire team at Forest Resort Creswick are honoured to have been entrusted with the Victorian PGA Championship for the next five years,” said Hipwell. “Not only is it exciting for the Forest Resort, this is also a fantastic coup for the Goldfields and Hepburn regions. Ultimately, the local economy will benefit from domestic and international professional golfers being exposed to the beauty and hospitality of this iconic part of Victoria.”

With this announcement the Victorian PGA Championship moves to regional Victoria for the first time in over 20 years, with Wayne Smith winning in Warrnambool in 1986 on the last occasion the event ventured away from the metropolitan area.

The Victorian PGA will offer a prize purse of $110,000 in 2012, with the winner to earn a start in the PGA Tour of Australasia’s biggest events including the Australian Open, PGA Championship, NZ Open and JBWere Masters. The champion will also be granted exemptions on OneAsia.

Former winner of the event include Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle and Stuart Appleby and more recently James Nitties (2011), Alistair Presnell (2010), Andre Stolz (2009) and Marc Leishman (2008).

the Hall of Fame inductees

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state neWs

Wa Pga tees oFF at the vinesthe laKes course at the Novotel Vines Resort and Country Club will be the venue for the 2011 Brunel WA PGA Championship which tees off on Thursday, October 20, with the event boasting a new charitable partner in ToyBox International and naming rights sponsor in Brunel.

ToyBox, a children’s charity dedicated to raising funds to assist Australia’s sick and disadvantaged children, purchases vital equipment and therapy for children in need, while also assisting the children to conquer the challenges they face, funding escapes which can be welcome distractions to make their journeys easier. In addition ToyBox fills essential grants that support families and allows them to be by their child’s side for comfort, while also funding necessary research.

On the Friday of championship week a Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Parade will be held, aimed at helping to raise funds for ToyBox, with all spectators asked to offer a gold coin donation to assist with what is an extremely worthwhile charity.

Also throwing its considerable support behind the 2011 WA PGA is the naming sponsor Brunel Energy, an organisation

weStern auStralia

the oldest and Finestthe John huGhes Geely/Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship will be contested at Royal Fremantle, one of the oldest and finest courses in Perth, in October 2011.

Featuring pristine Kikuyu fairways and deceptively quick bent grass greens, Royal Fremantle Golf Club, the home course of Australian Open champions Craig Parry and Greg Chalmers back in their junior days, shapes as the perfect venue for the prestigious event which has origins dating back some 90 years.

First played in 1921, the list of former champions reads as a who’s who of Australian golf, with the names of Kel Nagle, Eric Cremin, Ossie Pickworth, Gary Player, Graham Marsh, Terry Gale (five times), Greg Norman, Peter Jacobsen, Ian Stanley, Stephen Leaney (five times, once

as an amateur) and Kim Felton (three times) engraved on the much sought-after trophy, while Queenslander Brad Kennedy was successful in winning the WA Open 12 months ago.

In addition to receiving his share of the $110,000 prize money, the winner will be presented with the coveted Roy Paxton Bowl named after the late Roy Paxton, one of the state’s most distinguished administrators. The leading amateur will be the recipient of the Terry Gale Cup.

Golf WA is pleased to announce that the 2010 joint naming rights sponsors John Hughes Geely and Nexus Risk Services are again on board for the 2011 event.

The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to 30, with pre-event activities including junior clinics conducted by some of Australia’s leading professionals.

operating in all corners of the world, specialising in providing professional and technical personnel to clients throughout the energy sector. Brunel currently supplies over 4,000 highly skilled, dedicated employees to oil and gas projects operated by major global companies.

An integral part of the tournament will be the staging of a number of game development activities primarily targeted at juniors (on Monday and Tuesday). These clinics will give school children from the surrounding area an opportunity to meet some of Australia’s leading professionals and

experience a world class event.At the time PGA Magazine went to print,

entries for the tournament had just opened, however it is expected that local boy Jarrod Moseley, who won his first major event at the Vines in the 1999 Heineken Classic, will be returning to what is obviously a happy hunting ground. Victoria’s David Bransdon is the defending WA PGA champion.

Cellarbrations, Coca Cola Amatil and Channel 9 are amongst the other major sponsors of the championship and have a significant financial input into the event. The total prize purse is $110,000.

Logan is one of many children to benefit from a new practice MrI machine purchased by toybox


state neWs

Pga hat triCk For Wollongongfor the thirD year running the PGA Tour of Australasia is heading to the coastal centre of Wollongong Golf Club for the NSW PGA Championship.

With the event rated an outstanding success over the past two years, Wollongong Golf Club was more than pleased to again be playing host to the prestigious championship.

“We’re very proud to be hosting the NSW PGA again this year,” said Geoff Jones, President of Wollongong Golf Club. “We’ve worked hard over the last two years to create an event that can be enjoyed by players, officials and spectators alike.

“The course is also in great shape and we think this year’s event will be our best yet.”

And in a significant announcement, the field for the NSW PGA this year will include one of Australia’s leading professionals over the past two decades in Craig Parry.

A prolific winner around the world, winning events on the US PGA Tour, in Japan, Europe, Canada, Asia and Australia, Parry is keen to try to add the NSW PGA Championship to his impressive list of titles.

“I have had a very fortunate career and have had the opportunity to play and win all over the world yet to be missing one of my home State titles is something I look forward to correcting this year,” said Parry.

“I am really looking forward to playing at the Wollongong Golf Club, I have heard great things from guys who have played in past years, and hopefully a big local crowd come out to support me.”

The PGA Tour of Australasia speaks glowingly of the past two events held in Wollongong and is again looking forward to a successful 2011 tournament.

“The Championship has been very

successful since moving it to Wollongong, the course is immaculate, local support is always high and importantly the players all enjoy their time there,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The event is scheduled to immediately precede the Australian Open and President’s Cup and will be played from November 3 to November 6. The total prize purse will be $120,000.

new South waleS

nrl star to taCkle the FairWayssyDney rooster’s captain Braith Anasta has been confirmed as a starter in the upcoming NSW PGA Championship.

With his team missing the finals and his NRL season over, the former Australian and NSW representative has turned his attention to golf and will compete against some of Australia’s best professional golfers in Wollongong during the first week of November.

A scratch handicapper at the St Michaels course in Sydney, Anasta was looking forward to matching shots with the pros.

“I am really looking forward to this season of golf, even more so now that I will be competing

in the NSW PGA Championship,” Anasta said.“The NSW PGA is a very prestigious

tournament and so I am training hard at Wollongong Golf Club to ensure come November I am competitive against the Professionals.”

Anasta is sure to add a new dimension to the NSW PGA Championship where fans will be able to watch how the NRL star fares in his first professional golf tournament.

“We are very pleased to welcome Braith into the NSW PGA Championship as an amateur where I am sure both Braith and golf fans alike will enjoy the golfing action over the four days,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Craig Parry


state neWs

national eventS

South pacific

Club Pro Finalists ConFirMedthe fielD for the National PGA Professionals Championships, scheduled to be played from September 12-16 at the Sandhurst Club in Victoria, was decided after the state qualifying events at various venues around the country.

In NSW/ACT it was Federal Golf Club Professional Michael Clough leading the way, winning a playoff against Scott Martyn and Graeme Stockley to claim the state crown as well as the number one qualifying position.

The event, played at the demanding Magenta Shores course on the NSW Central Coast, attracted a field of 50 PGA Members, representing the largest field at any of the state events, with the leading trio returning scores of 2-over par 74.

In Victoria, Tony Page beat all comers with a 71 around the North course at Peninsula Golf Club, one shot better than

Lucien Tinkler and two in front of third place getter John Wade.

Over in Western Australia Damian Chatterley shot a 74 at Nedlands to edge out Lincoln Reemeyer by a stroke, while in

South Australia Simon Pope, Ian Devlin and Damian Swadling were the qualifiers, with Pope’s 74 at Blackwood leading the way.

Up in Queensland, seven players progressed to the National Final, led by Jason Beadman who recorded a 2-under par score of 70 at the Twin Waters Golf Club. Wayne Roston was second on level par, with a couple of well-known names in Shane Tait and Ossie Moore amongst those to qualify for Sandhurst.

In all a maximum field of 51 players will compete over 54 holes at the Sandhurst Club Champions course for the prestigious title, with the event offering a total prize purse of $50,000.

The leading two players also qualify for the 2011 Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola to be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum course.

Victorian Sean Crowe is the defending PGA Professionals champion.

earth shattering PerForManCe FroM gillesPienot even a 7.1 magnitude earthquake prior to the final round could unsettle Kiwi Nick Gillespie as he cruised to an eight shot win in the 2011 Tusker Vanuatu Golf Open.

With Rounds of 66-65-64-71, for a 22-under par total, Gillespie showed the field a clean pair of heels in what was a dominating performance.

The NSW pair of Brad McIntosh and Ed Stedman finished in a tie for second on tournament totals of 14-under par.

The 23-year old Gillespie, who turned professional less than 12 months ago, played near flawless golf, his only blemish in his first 66 holes of the tournament being a solitary double bogey.

“I played great and really enjoyed it, playing with Brad (McIntosh) and Ed (Stedman) really lifted me. Everything just worked this week.”

Gillespie who collected $9,092 for the

win, will now be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of the 2010 Vanuatu Open champion Andre Stolz who has gone on to record two victories on the OneAsia Tour.

The next event scheduled for the South

Pacific swing of tournaments was the $75,000 SIFA Samoa Open on the 21st to 24th of September, followed by the Tahiti International Golf Championship beginning October 10.

Sean Crowe (right) with Peter thomson

Nick Gillespie


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sPorte leisure 2011/12 range launChCelebrating their 20th Year, Sporte Leisure have combined the latest style trends with performance properties to make the summer 2011 range for men and women a must have for the summer months. Designed in Australia for Australian conditions there is a strong technical emphasis of moisture wicking, UV protection and Anti Microbial properties in both tops and bottoms. rrp polos from $39.95, rrp shorts from $49.95. More than 50 brand new styles are available in leading golf apparel stores NOW! For stockists contact Sporte Leisure 02 96935777 www.sporte-leisure.com.au


Gear

‘the Cant Miss’ This time last year PGA member David Capaldo agreed to go into the gyroscope business with friend Shane Verner and The Can’t Miss (TCM), a revolutionary putting trainer, was born. Since then the pair have had to navigate through a sea filled with sharks but the effort has all been worthwhile. They now have a manufacturing plant in England, with Capaldo and Verner selling The Can’t Miss into 19 countries. They also count Touring Pro’s on eight different Tours as customers. But perhaps their most satisfying moment came when America’s leading independent product reviewer -MyGolfSpy - proclaimed The Can’t Miss as the best putting training aid they have ever used. The glowing review did wonders for sales and even more importantly, it validated the hard work. They pair now have a crazy couple of months ahead they prepare to launch on network television in the USA, while in another amazing development TCM will be in every celebrity gift bag at the 2011 Emmy Awards. For those not familiar with The Can’t Miss; it is a revolutionary putting training aid that contains twin super-precision gyroscopes that when clipped to the putter spin at 15,000RPM and ensures the putter face is square to the putter path throughout the stroke. This enables golfers to experience what a pure, stable, repeatable putting stroke feels like. It is a boon to coaches, elite players and amateurs alike. Capaldo thanks PGA members who have supported TCM over the past year, while for those wishing to take part in the Pro Shop distribution program or to access a discount to try one for yourself, please contact them at www.thecantmiss.com or [email protected].

neW ground For CoMMerCial MoWersAustralia’s only four wheel steering commercial mower with a centrally mounted mowing deck, Toro’s new Groundmaster 360 Quad-Steer offers high levels of operator comfort, improved hillside stability and the ability to make incredibly tight turns without turf damage. Having four wheel steering means the inside and outside tyres pivot around a common point, enabling far sharper turns around objects. When combined with a rear end that follows within the width of the deck, it allows users to mow in and out of tight areas without damaging turf, equipment or property. The Groundmaster 360 Quad-Steer is available in three variants; a 2-wheel drive model, a 4-wheel drive model and a 4-wheel drive model with a permanent all season safety cab. Powered by a 36 HP Kubota four cylinder liquid cooled diesel engine, the 360 Quad-Steer provides users with a forward speed up to 23 km/h and a reverse speed of up to 13.7 km/h, while at the same time delivering economical fuel consumption of approximately 5.3 litres per hour or 2.7 litres per hectare depending on driving conditions. Established in Australia for over 40 years, Toro Australia supplies an extensive range of mowers and care equipment golf and turf, while it is also the largest single supplier of irrigation products in Australia. Visit www.toro.com.au to locate the nearest dealer.

shark Quik-Fold Mkii golF buggies The new generation Shark Qwik-Fold MK II buggies have arrived and are now available in totally new three wheel (SHK311) and four wheeled (SHK312) versions.The SHARK Qwik-Fold MKII buggies utilise a patented push button technology to fold or unfold in with one press. The elastic bag straps with their adjustable quick lock system also make it quicker and easier to attach or detach your bag.The three or four wheeled sturdy construction is easy to move around the course with its fully adjustable handle so your grip on the buggy is always at a comfortable height. The low profile wide tyre wheels are also fitted with precision bearings and now the front wheel (s) have independent suspension for a smooth ride. If you have to stop on a hill it has a push on, push off foot brake system to make sure it doesn’t get away.Add other features like the umbrella holder with its own storage clip, drink holder, and card holder with a built in storage compartment and you’re ready for the course.The Qwik-Fold MKII also comes in five stylish colours so there is one to match every bag. now from only $199. www.sharkgolf.com.au

PGA ACADEMY WISHES TO THANK ITS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

2011 Titleist FootJoy Performance Rankings As at 31/8/2011

At the conclusion of the playing year the top 10 trainees on the Titleist FootJoy Performance Rankings are eligible for full Titleist/ FootJoy product

agreements. All rankings are as at 31st August 2011

Rank Name State Adj. Ave Year1 Samuel Eaves QLD -2.00 3

2 Adrian Saltmarsh TAS -1.13 2

3 Paul Hayden QLD -0.86 3

4 Matt Stone QLD -0.80 3

5 Jack Wilson VIC -0.53 1

6 Quinton Howe VIC -0.39 2

7 Ackzel Donaldson WA -0.17 1

T8 Ben Ford VIC 0.25 1

T8 Vernon Sexton-Finck WA 0.25 2

10 John Corbett SA 0.41 2

11 Katelyn Must QLD 0.47 3

12 Chris Duke SA 0.61 2

13 Scott Smith QLD 0.63 3

T14 Scott Hunter WA 0.69 3

T14 Toby Wilcox VIC 0.69 2

16 Shane Butler VIC 0.70 3

17 Troy Murphy WA 0.71 1

18 David Abbott NSW 0.80 1

19 Clinton Lourens QLD 0.83 3

20 Benjamin Fletcher QLD 0.87 1

21 Christopher Thorn VIC 0.92 2

T22 Ethan Shanahan NSW 0.94 2

T22 Anthony Smith VIC 0.94 2

T24 Dakila Falcon NSW 1.13 1

T24 Brenton Haines WA 1.13 1

26 Adam Northey QLD 1.21 2

27 Drew McLellan QLD 1.25 3

28 Timothy Steele NSW 1.29 2

29 Alex Edge NSW 1.30 1

30 Gavin Reed WA 1.37 1

Rank Name State ClubYear 11 Dakila Falcon NSW Cumberland CGC

2 Richard Blake VIC Royal Melbourne GC

3 Blake Poulter NSW Port Macquarie GC

4 Benjamin Fletcher QLD Nudgee GC

5 Kerrod Gray WA Nedlands GC

6 Alex Edge NSW Castle Hill CC

7 Gavin Reed WA Nedlands GC

8 Christopher Ford NSW Kurri Kurri GC

T9 Roger Blaxland QLD Palm Meadows GC

T9 Arthur Kotsakis NSW Moore Park GC

Year 21 Earl McGlinn NSW Northbridge GC

2 John Hempstock QLD Pacific GC

3 Martin Ridgway QLD Calliope GC

4 Keiran Moran NSW Shelly Beach GC

5 Nicole Montgomery WA Marangaroo GC

6 Jane Evans QLD Rowes Bay GC

7 Darren Burger NSW Tamworth GC

8 Rebecca Blain NSW Antill Park GC

9 John Corbett SA Royal Adelaide GC

10 Matthew Buff VIC Croydon Golf Club at Yering Meadows

Year 31 Paul Hayden QLD Indooroopilly GC

2 Richard Chambers VIC Sandhurst Club

3 Christopher Coulter SA Flagstaff Hill GC

4 Corey Taylor QLD Royal Pines Resort

5 Adrian Wickstein SA Glenelg GC

6 Marcus Ryter NSW Branxton GC

7 Giovanni Demasi QLD Royal Pines Resort

8 Joseph Rickman QLD Mackay GC

9 Nathan Fairhall QLD Victoria Park Golf Complex

10 Jessica Bramble VIC Ballarat GC

2011 Titleist FootJoy Excellence in Education Awards as at 31/8/2011

At the conclusion of the playing year the Titleist FootJoy Excellence in Education awards are made available to the three leading trainees from

each year level and are determined by both academic and playing results.

PLATINUM

SILVERGOLD

PGA Australia Magazine - Centenary Edition

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Transcript of PGA Australia Magazine - Centenary Edition