Table of contents for Mar 2025 - Issue 430 in Golf Australia

Two-time major champion Minjee Lee has joined the likes of Adam Scott, Akshay Bhatia and Will Zalatoris by adopting the broomstick putter for season 2025. The idea was first floated in October last year, Lee and coach Ritchie Smith spending the summer in Perth trialling an Odyssey Square to Square No.7 broomstick putter. Given how comfortable she was in using it almost instantly – including winning putting comps against younger brother Min Woo Lee during the Webex Players Series Perth tournament they hosted in January – it is a move they are now ready to put into tournament play. Acknowledging that Lee’s putting from inside four feet had become something of an Achilles heel the past two years, Smith said that a desire for more consistency is behind the switch.…

The recent news that Greg Norman is taking a step back from his high-profile role at LIV Golf had me thinking about the great man. Like just about every young Australian of my generation, the Great White Shark was my first golfing hero. He was incredible. He was “the man”. He was the best player in the world; at least I thought he was before I was even a teenager. More than Seve Ballesteros, the other great who vied for my affections, Greg displayed a greater level of consistency. Just about every week, it seemed he was on a leaderboard somewhere in the world – Japan, Europe, the States; it didn’t seem to matter. Even better than that, Greg was a winner, something he did everywhere – and by miles.…

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1. HISTORY OF AUGUSTA While it’s a stone fact that many of us would sell a body part and/or some part of our souls to play Augusta National even once, the club’s history of racism, elitism and corruption should grate, particularly upon we egalitarian types from the Great Southern Land. Consider: Dr Alister MacKenzie died at the age of 63 while begging for $500 of the $5000 he was owed for creating Augusta. With the world in the grip of Recession, the founding investor-members of Augusta, associates of the demonstrably racist Clifford Roberts - who said that players should be white, caddies black - were on a luxury train heading south from New York, enjoying the finest brandies and playing gin-rummy. The pricks. 2. SLOW PLAY Everybody hates slow play,…

Peter Dickson’s story draws from a decades-long annual competition played by a group of friends at Point Lonsdale at Victoria’s Lonsdale Links - fictionalised as Bay Heads Golf Club. Since the early 1990s, what began with eight mates competing for a green basketball jacket (pilfered from one player’s father) has evolved into an exclusive, invitation-only gathering of 30 golf lovers. This colourful tradition, complete with a tongue-in-cheek “Choker Chain” and the infamous “Brown Jacket” for last place, weaves humour and heart into the novel’s narrative. Described as a love letter to golf, the novel blends humour, mystery and unexpected twists while capturing the highs and lows of life on and off the course. Dickson’s unique voice, honed through his work as a documentary filmmaker, shines through, adding layers of authenticity…

Tiger or rabbit, we all have one thing in common: we have just accumulated a fresh 12 months of golfing experiences. Your golf may have been brilliant in 2024, or you may have stunk the place out for most of it. More likely you had a few poetic days woven into a more prosaic backdrop, but whatever your personal picture, you can use it to improve your play in 2025. How can you do this? By thinking of your last year of golf in terms of a relationship with the game. We are all accustomed to the concept of relationships: with our partner, our parents, our children, our boss or staff. We know these relationships have their ups and downs. We also habitually spend time considering the circumstances that see…

Here is an exercise I see being used all the time on tour … one that trains the three essentials of putting – a square face, a centred strike and a brushing attack angle – all at the same time. SET IT UP Find two tee pegs and a pencil. Frame the ball with the pegs and place the pencil behind it, as shown. If you are putting to a cup or tee peg, make sure the two tees are square to your target line. NOW, SIMPLY HIT PUTTS ■ Miss the pencil to promote that upward brush.■ Strike the pegs simultaneously to deliver a square face.■ Centre the sweetspot on the tee peg gate to find the middle of the face. Hit a series of putts like this, focusing…

Golfers in Perth don’t realise how lucky they are. Once you’ve tried your hand at the abundance of fabulous courses within the metropolitan area, you don’t have to travel far south to find another haven of golfing goodness. “Best-kept secret” and “hidden gem” are overused phrases in course reviews, but it’s hard to look beyond them when considering the outstanding golf options in Western Australia’s Peel region. Less than an hour south of the Perth CBD, the quality of course waiting to be discovered is a glorious prospect. One could fill an entire magazine getting carried away on the stunning and varied layouts Peel has to offer, but to my mind, none match the majestic Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club. I have been fortunate to play here numerous times…

New South Wales and Australian amateur golfing great Tony Gresham has died after a long illness, aged 84. The man affectionately known as “Gresh” was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a golfing legend whose talent and sportsmanship has left an indelible mark on Australian amateur golf. Born during the height of the Second World War, Gresham grew up in an era when playing golf for the love of the game defined the amateur spirit. His passion for golf began early, and he honed a swing so pure and a game so resilient, he became a force both in Australia and internationally. Gresham’s golfing achievements are the stuff of legend. From his home course at Pennant Hills Golf Club, where he dominated club championships, to his international exploits, the…

For the purist, nothing quite tugs on the heartstrings like reminiscing about the glory days of national Opens. Across the globe as a whole, the prestige of national championships has sadly dwindled unless there is a Claret Jug or U.S Open trophy on the line, but that certainly isn’t the case for the players who earn a tee-time at these iconic fixtures on the golfing calendar. For them, the desire to call yourself a national Open champion still burns strong. Some players who have held various national titles have a heartfelt love affair with their victories. These players have also been some of the most dominant around the globe at different periods, even reaching world No. 1. Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood both come to mind, always speaking about the…

When the WPGA Tour of Australia formally announced the staging of the Australian WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club’s The Palms course from March 6-9, the synergies and similarities between the two entities were immediately palpable. The former is being restored to the WPGA Tour schedule after a three-year absence, while the latter is undergoing a “restoration/renovation” of its own. In 2021, the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club unveiled a multi-million-dollar revamp of The Pines course to its members following 12 months of focused activity. From tee to green, not a single hole on the Arnold Palmer design was substantially altered, save for some minor bunker adjustments on the 17th hole, yet the scale of the work undertaken was still monumental. Replacing the original irrigation and…

At first glance, the short career of Nadene Gole in senior women’s amateur golf is, to put it mildly, remarkable. But it’s more than just the astonishing record that makes it so. It’s the stuff behind the scenes, not seen by many, that really tells the tale at its finest. As she heads into the 2025 season, that tale is set to add a new chapter. For the record, after a 20-year hiatus from the game she loved and played at modest professional level in Japan and Europe, during which she raised children, upskilled and entered different business areas with husband Sam, Nadene returned to amateur golf. Her intention was simply to play pennant for her home club, Victoria. Alerted in 2022 of a tour of a different kind, that…

KING ISLAND King Island, nestled in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia, is home to three extraordinary links golf courses – Ocean Dunes, Cape Wickham Golf Links and King Island Golf and Bowling Club. Each course offers its own unique blend of challenge, natural beauty and unforgettable golfing experiences. Ocean Dunes spans 290 acres of pristine coastal terrain, weaving through rolling dunes and offering dramatic ocean views from nearly every hole. This rugged links course rewards bold play, where heroic tee shots lead to easier approaches, but careful strategy is key to mastering its challenges. Smooth Bent grass greens provide subtle undulations, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Fine fescue tee blocks cater to players of all levels, while two signature par-three holes crossing the ocean steal the…

Nestled in the rolling hills of Wallan in Victoria, Hidden Valley Resort has long been a beloved destination for both locals and visitors. A place where leisure meets luxury, the resort boasts a championship golf course, elegant accommodations, a sparkling swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, tennis courts and a stylish restaurant offering fine dining. It all makes for a harmonious blend of recreation, relaxation and refined hospitality. Now, an exciting new chapter is unfolding for Hidden Valley as Golf Services Management (GSM) takes the helm to oversee its operations. The partnership between GSM and the resort’s owners, the esteemed Arcadia Group, began early December last year, marking a pivotal moment in the resort’s journey. Ian Denny, Director of Golf Services Management, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration. “We are delighted…

Two New South Wales golfers are the new adidas Australian Amateur champions after they completed dominant wins at Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne in January. Rachel Lee from the Avondale Golf Club claimed the women’s title by three shots over Queensland’s Sarah Hammett after being in control throughout the final round, while Jye Halls (NSW Golf Club) produced one of the rounds of the final day to secure a seven-shot margin in the men’s event. Originally from Mollymook on the NSW South Coast, Halls defied windy conditions to shoot a 6-under-par 67 to end the championship at 15-under, with Victorian Hamish Farquharson (Metropolitan) claiming second thanks to a closing 68. Although she battled to a final round of 4-over-par 77 to finish at 9-under, Lee emulated her Avondale clubmate Grace…

LUCAS HERBERT Pretty much every week he has spent down under this season, Ripper GC’s Herbert has looked in control. He won the NSW Open over his LIV skipper, Cam Smith. He contended at the Australian Open before a final-day 74 saw him finish in a tie for fifth. Herbert will come into the NZ Open fresh off an electric week at LIV Adelaide, where Ripper GC will look to go back-to-back in the team event. He will be fresh and have plenty of reps under his belt, and you could argue that if you put world rankings to one side, he is still the best player in the field. He is no stranger to playing in New Zealand either; he came extremely close to winning the title in 2020,…

1 THE MASTERS AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL Watching the players round the turn and head into Amen Corner on day four is like seeing Cox Plate runners bolting for the line at the 600m at Moonee Valley, and streaming down the short straight, straining, jockeying, fighting for position. Except at Augusta it’s much slower and with greater human emotion. Augusta is so good, it tells stories. The par-3s at 12 and 16, the par-5s at 13 and 15, things happen there. And the scoreboards boom or crash like a stock market. It’s opera; a theatre of dreams. It’s so good, you’ll wake up at 4am for … 2 MASTERS MONDAY At my golf club, as at so many others around the land, the final round of the Masters means waking in the early…

Henrik Stenson, a name synonymous with resilience, excellence and determination, has been a force to reckon with in the world of golf. As a former Open Champion, Stenson has thrilled fans with his precision, grace and ability to rise from adversity. In this excerpt from a candid interview between Stenson and The Thing About Golf podcast host John Huggan, the 48-year-old reflects on his remarkable journey, from his first swing on a Swedish golf course at the age of 11, to the challenges of overcoming a career-threatening slump. Known for his dry wit and unshakable focus, Stenson also shares insights into Sweden’s thriving golfing culture, the pivotal moments of his amateur and professional career and the perseverance that shaped his path. JOHN HUGGAN: Henrik Stenson, former Open champion: what was and…

American Patrick Cantlay is captured in action here during the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas late last year. Claire Elvidge, a Certified PGA Professional and Advanced-Level Coach at Wembley Golf Course in Western Australia, offers this valuable advice on his form. “This position just after impact can be quite confusing to the eye at first – it appears as though the clubface is open, and the ball is going to the right. In reality, this position demonstrates Cantlay’s left hip clearing through the follow-through and his open stance at address, both working in harmony to create an effective chip shot. “Most professionals adopt an open stance for short chip shots: for right-handed players, this means positioning the left foot slightly back from square. This setup…

In 1998, when the European Tour started measuring driving distances, the average drive was 268 yards. Today, you couldn’t make a living if you hit it that far … as I know from painful, personal experience. The huge growth in tee power on tour has coincided with performance-tracking data that proves a strong correlation between longer drives and lower scoring: basically, if you want to score lower, hit it further. You may not have the potential firepower of a DP World Tour professional, but even a 10-yard gain on your current average can yield massive scorecard benefits. Let’s examine three drills that can help. 1. SWEET STRIKING Tour pros don’t just have impressive speeds; they also find the centre of the face almost every time, meaning efficient energy transfer from…