We’ve heard of “nearest point of relief”, but this is a bit wacky. In the quarterfinals of the Volvo World Match Play event in Bulgaria, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts hit a wayward tee shot that flew over a toilet block, into a red-staked hazard. In determining the drop location from the hazard, the rules official determined that the nearest point of relief was actually INSIDE the toilet block. After taking the drop (which rolled under the basin), Colsaerts was then given further  ”relief” from the toilet, and proceeded to drop in a grassy spot short of the block, before chipping onto the green.

Of course, this has already begun to spark all sorts of toilet humour, including “he’s feeling flushed”,  ”his game has gone in the toilet”, “hitting a $#!^ shot” and the like. Here is the video for your viewing enjoyment.

(If video doesn’t load, hit “refresh”)

GOLF AUSTRALIA has announced that the handicap anchor will rise from four strokes to five strokes this month.

In a letter to clubs last month, Golf Australia Chairman John Hopkins outlined the reason for the change, noting the ‘seasonality’ of handicaps .

“Under our current handicap system, handicaps in Australia are notably seasonal. On average, they increase in winter and then decrease in summer. In general this is caused not by a change in player ability but instead by changed weather impacting on course difficulty. (Note: The degree of seasonality does vary from club to club and from state to state (i.e., Queensland winters are considerably different to Tasmanian and Victorian winters.))

“When handicaps become seasonal, inequity is introduced when players travel from one region to play in a region with different weather patterns. This is because the players with seasonally increased handicaps gain an unfair advantage.

“Being mindful that the GA Handicap System does not contain DSR just yet, GA believes that as we head  into winter, the increase of the Anchor from 4 strokes to 5 strokes will result in a more desirable proportion of golfers across Australia being Anchored than would otherwise occur. GA also believes that a 1-stroke increase in the Anchor will not compromise the primary objective of this important regulation. (Note: In accordance with standard practice across all components of the GA Handicap System, GA will continue to monitor the efficiency of the Anchor in the short and mid-term.)”

The new 5-stroke Anchor Regulation will take effect on Tuesday 14 May. GOLF Link will re-calculate the handicaps of all Anchored players at that time.

For the full announcement, visit www.golfaustralia.org.au.

The 2013 Masters will go down in Australian golf folklore as probably one of the most exciting, nerve-wracking, fist-pumping , heart-thumping, take-your-breath-away, get-the-monkey-off-our-backs  golf tournaments in the history of our sport.

For the rest of the world, however, it may be more remembered for a pair of incidents that may have irreparably changed the game.

But first, let’s celebrate The Good: The Green Jacket is finally ours! Mere words cannot express what this means to Australian golf. The decades of hope and heartbreak, faith and failure, dreams and despair cannot truly convey the deep-seated emotions that have rocked Aussie golf fans for as long as we can remember. It’s almost as if we’ve been holding our collective breath for decades, and can finally exhale in a blue-faced, light-headed euphoria.

And let’s not forget how good this is for Adam Scott himself. It wasn’t that long ago that his game was in shambles. Many an eyebrow was raised when Greg Norman named him as a captain’s pick for the 2009 Presidents Cup. This leap of faith resulted in a resurgence by young Scotty, who promptly clawed his way back to the top. Following a heartbreaking loss at The Open Championship last year, Scotty bounced straight back again at The Masters. This sort of redemption can only awaken a deeper hunger inside him. Yes, he IS that good. Yes, he CAN win more majors. And yes—whether he likes it or not–he is now THE face of Australian Golf – he is supplanting his childhood hero Norman; he is now an idol that the fresh-faced junior golfers will aspire to. His name will forever be etched in Australian golfers’ minds.

Indeed, Adam Scott’s victory at Augusta is exactly what Australian Golf needs, at exactly the right moment.

But therein lies the challenge to the Australian Golf Industry. We MUST build upon this. And it MUST happen right away.  We failed to build on the momentum from the recent Presidents Cup (in fact, the following months/years were some of our poorest ever for golf) so there is no better time to go “over the top” and get the sport of golf into the minds of potential golfers everywhere.

Of course, with The Good comes The Bad.

I’m referring, of course, to the two “rules” incidents that happened early in the tournament. Namely, the “Slow Play” ruling against 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, and the “Dropgate” ruling surrounding Tiger Woods.

Earlier this year, the USGA was very clear that they would be targeting slow play. Like the highway roadside signs that say “This week, Police are targeting: Drink Driving” the USGA appear to have an agenda to speed up the game, in the hopes that this will result in more people playing golf, etc.

If this is indeed the case, then they have demonstrated their intentions loud and clear. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of Tianlang, whose brilliant play could have been one of the best stories to come out of The Masters. Instead, it made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

I’m not alone in my belief that the USGA and R&A are slightly misguided in their priorities. Slow play and broomstick putters aside, we must at some point address the “elephant in the room”: the golf ball. It goes too far.  It’s causing billions of dollars in lengthening/renovations to great courses, thus making courses harder to play (and longer to complete a round).  It’s making the game about Driver-Wedge versus Driver-Long iron.

If the USGA wants to really combat slow play, then they need to work with TV broadcasters to stop showing every pre-shot routine by the professionals. These mind-numbingly slow moments are now being emulated by everyday hacks, beginners and juniors. While Tiger is debating whether or not to scratch himself, there are, believe it or not, dozens of other players out there actually swinging a club!

Speaking of Tiger and TV, let’s move on to The Ugly.

By now, you’ve heard (too much) about the “Dropgate” saga, where Tiger made an illegal drop, which was flagged by a TV viewer, causing a “no infraction” ruling, which was then adjusted after Tiger  admitted that he took the drop a few yards further back…it’s a madhouse.

Firstly: Tiger broke the rules. Plain and simple. He made an illegal drop to gain an advantage on his approach shot. And yes, he was given a two-stroke penalty. AFTER he signed his scorecard. Normally this is a DQ. Would ANY other player be given the same slap-on-the-wrist treatment? Probably not. Would most professionals immediately withdraw themselves? I reckon they would. For Tiger to play on (claiming that he was simply abiding by the decision) was, in my opinion, an absolute travesty.

Golf is a game built on integrity. It is assumed that a golfer will do the right thing; to call a penalty on him/herself; to know and abide by the rules without exception, despite the stakes or importance of the tournament.

Unfortunately, golf is also a game ruled by politics and TV ratings. So was there more to Tiger’s “Non-DQ” than just a simple ruling? Maybe. TV Ratings aside, if Tiger isn’t in The Masters, then it really isn’t The Masters these days, is it? But that doesn’t make the situation right.

Secondly, just when did it become acceptable in ANY sport for the TV viewers (maybe we call them the “Fourth Umpire”?) to ring in and discuss rules infractions with the event’s officials? Can you imagine how this would be viewed in AFL, Rugby League, Cricket, or any other sport? Could John Q Couchpotato simply call Billy Bowden on his mobile phone during the Ashes and inform him that the England batsman is using an illegal bat? Preposterous.

Not only is the Fourth Umpire a blight on the sport of golf, it is also completely biased against the most popular or successful players. In any given tournament, for example, TV viewers could see almost EVERY shot that Tiger Woods will make.  Every practice swing, club change, pre-shot routine, etc. Same goes with whomever is leading the tournament on any given round. Meanwhile, there are 90 other players out there who don’t get a single second of coverage. So there are likely dozens of miniscule rules infractions in any given tournament that could go unnoticed.

In this case, if we want to keep golf fair to everyone, the “Powers that be” must draw the line, and maintain a “closed loop” regarding the rules and TV viewers.

Thankfully, the right man won the event this year. Our man. Our Adam.  And that, for me, is good enough. For now.

Limited Edition Masters Collage

Celebrate Adam Scott’s historic Masters victory at Augusta!

This limited edition (ten pieces) official 2013 Masters Flag collage is matted and framed as shown, with three images, and an informative plaque, to an approximate overall size of  76x86x5 cm.  Each piece is custom made and displayed on fabric.

Inside Golf is giving away one of these historic pieces ($495 value). Simply like our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/insidegolf) or enter below:

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Andrew Tschudin showcases Toowoomba and City Golf Club

Mars Climate Orbiter (Photo: NASA)

One of the most common flaws in any business or organisation (or, according to my wife, a marriage!) is a failure to communicate.
Get it right, and you’ll reap the rewards. Get it wrong, however, and you’ll be in the doghouse.

History is rife with examples of poor communication.

One that quickly springs to mind is NASA’s famed $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft which, in 1999, met a disastrous end as it smashed into the red planet following a nine-month voyage. The problem: engineers from Lockheed Martin sent raw ‘course correction’ data (based on Imperial units) to engineers at NASA (who had blindly assumed the numbers had been sent in Metric). Over that nine-month voyage, if even one person simply made a short phone call just to say “Hi” and confirm the numbers, a disaster could have been averted.

Back here on Earth, I receive stories from club golfers (and committee members) who often feel out of the loop when it comes to communications from their club.
Whether it is due to the club’s apathy, lack of communication skills or simply the desire to keep things “under wraps”, there appears to be a growing problem whereby club members are simply not receiving information that is important to them. From simple matters like a change of hours at the Bistro, to a more serious situation like changing personnel, budgetary issues or course closures/relocation, members have a right to be informed.

And according to readers, the communication problem isn’t confined to just clubs. Our governing bodies and associations are equally culpable. Over the years, I’ve fielded heaps of emails/calls from readers on topics like the national handicap system revamp/rollout (with “ambiguous dates on deliverables”), national course re-ratings/slope system (“very little communication at all”), the “silent” dismantling of Golf Access, etc.

To be fair, in some cases, information HAS been communicated from, say, the Associations to the key contacts at clubs, but the clubs have failed to pass the information on to members. Golf Australia, the state bodies (like Golf NSW, Golf Victoria, etc) and other associations generally send out regular communications, emails and newsletters that are packed with the latest news. And it is the responsibility of each club to pass this information on to the members (and not simply assume that the members will read it on their own).

In some instances, a club may defend their lack of communication with “No news is good news” or “Well, there just wasn’t anything new to say.” The problem here is that there is ALWAYS something to say.

Remember: every time you communicate with members – no matter what you say — you have an opportunity to improve the relationship. And building on that relationship is critical if you want to keep them as a member.

Even if you say “Regarding [project x]: there has been no further progress, but we are looking into…[etc]” you will get a much better reaction from members than simply staying silent. Silence, on the other hand, can breed suspicion, generate rumours and create an overall feeling of discontent by members.
If we draw some parallels with “Business/Customer Communication” we can shed further light on this.

For example, if you look at committee members as your “partners”, then the fallout of poor communication can be things like lower efficiency, unclear goals, poor leadership, lower morale, decreased innovation, increased misunderstandings and lack of trust. These are not good traits/results for a committee.
Likewise, poor communication to your everyday members (i.e. your “customers”) can result in poor retention, customer confusion, decreased customer life cycle, customer anger and long-term increased costs.

(Does any of this sound familiar in your club?)

Now, I’m not saying that clubs need to start disclosing confidential information. But when it comes to anything that has been communicated by the governing bodies/associations which is intended for distribution to club members—or for anything club-related that could have an impact on even the smallest number of club members –then clubs MUST do the right thing and pass it on, no matter how mundane it may seem, or how overloaded the key contact’s workload might be.
More importantly, remember that it is always better to “overcommunicate”. Studies have shown that, for a message to “stick” it must be heard/seen multiple times.

You can’t expect to send out one message and have everyone read/understand it the first time. Or the second/third time. Repetition is key.

Clubs have many communication tools available these days. From email, to newsletters, to notice boards, to flyers, Twitter, Facebook, websites… the list goes on. Use them all. There is simply no excuse to not take five minutes and connect with your people with a short note to say “Hi, here’s a bit of news.”

It’s not rocket science (as NASA found out).

Inside Golf was the only Australian golf publication at this year’s PGA Merchandise show in Orlando, Florida. Over the coming months, we’ll show some of the coolest products we saw. Here are some of the early standouts.

Odyssey Versa

Alignment for putting is critical – being just one degree offline can mean the difference between a drained putt or a dreaded lip-out.  The new Odyssey Versa putter features a High Contrast Alignment system that helps solve alignment problems. The black and white contrast on the putterhead accentuates the face angle at address, through the stroke and at impact. It almost feels like having a T-Square ruler on your putter – ensuring you have a full 90-degree, perpendicular alignment.

The Versa line of putters also debuts an improved White Hot® insert. The new insert has a very soft feel, and extremely quiet sound at impact – probably the softest and most quiet impact for any putter we’ve ever tested. It was so soft and quiet, in fact, that our actual putts felt a lot like we were just making practice swings (you almost don’t hear the impact), which helped our overall consistency.  The Versa  is available in mallets and blades, with a variety of styles/models.  RRP: $219. www.odysseygolf.com/Versa.

adizero Tour

Another critical part of golf (which is often overlooked) is your connection to the ground. A stable base translates to better consistency and power. And a light, comfortable shoe goes a long way to providing stability and decreasing fatigue. The new adizero Tour golf shoe from adidas Golf is 38% lighter than the TOUR360 ATV and is specially-designed with ultra-light materials to deliver tour-proven performance without sacrificing stability.

We found the adizero Tour to be extremely light and comfortable, and true to the promise that “it’s like wearing nothing at all”. The shoes made our walking easier, which doubtless translated to more energy throughout the round.  We breezed through the 18 holes and, believe it or not, we almost forgot to take them off when we got into the car (They were THAT comfortable). RRP: $199. www.taylormadegolf.com.au/adidasgolf.

golfknickers.com

Next up: clothing. Now, let’s face it, nothing makes a statement on the course quite like a pair of plus-fours and the associated historical garb. And until recently, traditional golf attire has been hard to find in Australia.

So we’ve been rapt to discover GolfKnickers.com, the world leader in traditional golf apparel. Created and designed by an Italian tailor who has been in the clothing game for decades, they specialise in an expansive line of men’s and ladies’ plus-fours or golf knickers.  The company has a full line of matching argyle socks, caps, shirts, bow ties, and sweater vests — delivering a complete outfit.

In preparation for my annual “Boys Golf Weekend” last month, I decided to deck myself out in a traditional outfit.  So I hopped on to golfknickers.com and placed my order. As far as online ordering systems, golfknickers.com does everything right.  The sizes are easy to determine, there are large photos of every item, and the “shopping cart” system is easy and quick. After a few clicks, my order was placed, and I got an instant email confirmation of my order (nice!).  One week later (very quick, from the US), my package arrived. The items were individually wrapped in a professional manner, and were exactly as described. Top marks.

And guess which golfer won ‘best dressed’ for the weekend? (It was a landslide!)

588 RTX Wedge

Finally this month, we tested out the new Cleveland 588 RTX Wedge. Sleek and streamlined, these wedges deliver the goods when it comes to short-game scoring. The Rotex Face is Cleveland Golf’s most advanced spin technology ever, and we certainly see why. We tested a 54-degree in the Black Pearl finish (also available in Satin Chrome) and saw plenty of our shots stop on a dime. The wedge became our go-to club for the few rounds that we tested it, and it did not disappoint. This wedge is suitable for players of all abilities.

For a fun video featuring a ‘Spin off” by top Srixon/Cleveland players with this new wedge, visit: http://bcove.me/phwsytg7

Available in a variety of loft/bounce combinations. RRP $139.00 www.clevelandgolf.com

WIN! A Cleveland 588 RTX wedge

(Click for terms and conditions. Good luck!)

This competition is closed. The winners are:

Peter Boardman (Qld)

Graham Thompson (Tas)

Dan Besley (Vic)

John Bowring (NSW)

Andrew McAulay (NSW)

The revised Eastern Masterplan

The Board and members of The Eastern Golf Club have cause for celebration, as their planned relocation has overcome the final hurdle, clearing way to begin construction of their proposed 27-hole multi-million-dollar Greg Norman-designed facility in Melbourne’s Yarra Ranges.

Following two years of challenges from developers, council and environmental organisations, the club has announced that the proposed site in Yering had been approved for development, following a successful Planning Scheme Amendment.

In essence, the zoning of the Yering land was changed from ‘Green Wedge’ to ‘Special Use’, thereby eliminating the need for a planning permit to develop the site as per the club’s masterplan. This outcome drastically reduced the time, hassles and — most importantly — the costs which would have been incurred by the club had there been further challenges or obstacles resulting from the hearing.

The amendment was approved by Planning Minister Matthew Guy just days prior to a scheduled VCAT hearing on the relocation. With the amendment’s approval, however, the VCAT hearing was rendered mostly unnecessary, other than to recognise the amendment itself.

“We can finally move forward with certainty,” said Club Captain/Board Chairman Peter Dane in a letter to Members. “This is a significant achievement that has involved a lot of work for a lot of people. I thank all members for their patience and understanding through what became a long, drawn out process.”

The first steps for the club’s relocation will be to finalise the land contracts regarding their new/proposed site in Yering, as well as with Mirvac, who purchased the club’s current Doncaster property for an estimated $100 million.

If all contracts are signed, and all the other paperwork/requirements are achieved without incident, the club could break ground on the new property within a matter of months, perhaps as early as June.

The new R1™ continues TaylorMade’s mastery of adjustable drivers by offering the greatest range of adjustability of any driver in the brand’s history. R1 gives the golfer 12 loft-sleeve settings and 7 face-angle positions, as well as two movable shot-shape weights. R1 also allows loft and face angle to be adjusted independently of each other – a critical benefit. The R1’s three adjustability technologies allow it to be tuned 168 different ways to specifically fit a player’s swing to optimize distance and accuracy. Its “Loft-Sleeve Technology” offers a 12-loft sleeve settings to deliver a 4°-range of lofts, meaning the golfer can play anywhere from a 8° to 12° driver.

RRP: $499

www.taylormadegolf.com.au

Peter Senior with son Mitchell (Photo courtesy of Bruce Young)

53-year-old Peter Senior proved once again that age is no barrier to success, capturing the Emirates Australian Open amidst fading light and extreme conditions.

With an even-par 72 in the windy and wild final round at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, Senior became the oldest golfer to lift the Stonehaven Cup, surpassing the legendary Peter Thomson who won at the age of 43 in 1972. Senior’s rounds of 75, 68, 69 and 72 saw him finish at four-under-par and claim his second Australian Open–some 23 years after his first Stonehaven Cup in 1989. He earned $225,000 for the victory.

Senior, who only missed three fairways the entire week (a staggering statistic), dedicated his victory to his son (and caddy), Mitchell.

“We’ve been close over in America. We’ve lost three play-offs and come pretty close in a few other events. Just once I would like to say, ‘well done mate, we’ve done it’.”

Senior, who plays primarily on the U.S. Champions Tour, did not expect to be winning an event like this at his age.

“I’m getting a bit long in the tooth now. I really thought these days were over. Golf is such a funny game. One minute you think you are down and the next minute you are up.”

Senior was quick to point out that, despite the victory, he still has his feet firmly on the ground.

“If the conditions were good, the really good players would have shone this week. These are the conditions I thrive in where I just battle it out. Justin Rose and the other guys are great players. Not for one moment do I think I am as good as those guys.

“Winning golf tournaments, you need to have a good week at the right time. I’ve had a good week where I got it done,” he said.

Conditions in the tournament’s final round took centre stage throughout the day, as gale-force winds forced a three-hour suspension of the tournament. With winds clocking 80kph—knocking over a TV tower alongside the 18^th green—player and spectator safety was the chief concern for tournament organisers.  In addition, the wind was playing havoc on the already difficult golf course.

“It was one of the toughest days I have seen on a golf course,” said Senior

“When the conditions are that tough, I feel that half the guys are out of the competition because they think it is going to be too difficult.”

Following resumption of play at 2:50pm, the main worry centred around the amount of daylight remaining: as the final groups had yet to begin their final round, many had expected the tournament to be forced into a Monday morning finish.  In the end, however, all groups managed to finish their round, with the final pairings playing under a floodlit 18^th green.

Australia’s Brendan Jones was one of the few players to mount a serious charge on the Sunday, and his one-under-par 71–one of only six scores under par for the day—was good enough to capture solo second.  Cameron Percy was a stroke further behind, followed by Kim Felton and Kieran Pratt.

John Senden, who took an overnight lead into the final round for a second year in a row, found it hard going on Sunday, dropping two shots on the first hole and finishing with an 82. Playing partner Justin Rose, the world number four and top-ranked player in the field, saw his chances slip away with two bogeys in the last three holes, finishing with a final round of 76.

63-year-old American Tom Watson – one of the big drawcards for the tournament –shot a 69 for the round of the day on what is likely to be his last tournament in Australia. Unfortunately, Watson’s week was a rollercoaster affair, with scores of 78, 68, 78, 69 effectively eliminating any chance of victory.

Surprisingly, a pair of other notable names made their way onto the leaderboard over the week, with Stuart Appleby finishing a respectable T7, while Tasmanian Mat Goggin – who had just returned from the US following a disappointing miss at the PGA Tour Q-School–ended T14 with pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott.

For the final Emirates Australian Open leaderboard please click here.

GolfBuddy Platinum

Inside Golf and GolfBuddy are giving away a GolfBuddy Platinum to one lucky reader.

The GolfBuddy Platinum features 40,000 course storage capability, target customisation technology, statistics analysis module, and digital scorecard all packed in a water and shock-resistant case. GolfBuddy Platinum is a full-featured rangefinder, making it the most powerful golf GPS device on the market today.

With its unique automatic course and hole recognition feature, GolfBuddy Platinum will automatically know which course and hole you are playing. Courses from around the world are preloaded with no annual or activation fees. Just turn it on and play!

TO ENTER

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS: Thomas Donald

Full terms and conditions here

Anchoring a putter to your body would become illegal under new Rule 14-1b

The ongoing controversy surrounding the use of broomstick and belly putters via an ‘Anchored’ stroke took a dramatic turn recently, as golf’s governing bodies announced changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club against the body.

On November 30^th, the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA) proposed a new rule, Rule 14-1b, which would prohibit “strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club.”

In essence, the proposed rule prohibits players from creating a “third point of contact” with the club (the hands are the first two points). Thus, it will be illegal to anchor the club against any part of the body, like a player’s chin (in the case of a broomstick putter) or the belly (for belly putters) etc.

The proposed rule does NOT, however, ban the equipment itself. This is an important distinction. Broomstick and belly putters can still be manufactured, sold and used by any player, provided that the player does not anchor it during a stroke.  This will come as a relief to some players who—like Masters Champion Angel Cabrera – have used long putters without anchoring them against the body.

In proposing the new Rule, The R&A and the USGA concluded that the long-term interests of the game would be served by confirming a stroke as the swinging of the entire club at the ball.

“Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “The player’s challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club.”

The anchoring stroke – once seen as a last-ditch effort to cure the yips or revitalise an ailing or aging body – has almost become commonplace over the last few years, with an increasing number of professionals turning to the long/belly putter (and thereby inspiring a generation of amateurs, hackers and even juniors to adopt them.)

Between 2011/2012 three of five major golf championships were won by players using a long putter. This led many in the industry to speculate on whether anchoring gives golfers an unfair advantage, as it creates a more stable stroke by eliminating nervous hand movements, etc. Others voiced their concerns that the stroke was outside the traditions of the game itself, a point which was noted by the R&A.

“Anchored strokes have become the preferred option for a growing number of players and this has caused us to review these strokes and their impact on the game,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A. “Our concern is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional putting strokes which are integral to the longstanding character of the sport.”

It should be noted that the rule, which would not come into effect until January 1, 2016, is not officially set in stone. The R&A and the USGA have stated that they will first consider any comments and suggestions from throughout the golf community.

“We believe we have considered this issue from every angle but given the wide ranging interest in this subject we would like to give stakeholders in the game the opportunity to put forward any new matters for consideration,” said Dawson.

Following the announcement, the wider golf community was vocal about the proposal, with opinions spewing forth across social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and forums, as well as across mainstream media.

In addition, the various industry organisations offered their opinions on the matter. The PGA of America was the first off the block, urging the R&A and USGA to reconsider the proposal.

“The PGA has long supported the USGA in its role of establishing the Rules of Golf governing play and equipment,” said PGA president Ted Bishop. “We have tremendous respect for the USGA in regard to their critical role in writing and interpreting the Rules of Golf.  As our mission is to grow the game, on behalf of our 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals, we are asking them to seriously consider the impact this proposed ban may have on people’s enjoyment of the game and the overall growth of the game.”

The PGA Tour, which represents America’s touring professionals, will doubtless have the loudest voice in the matter, but they have remained tight-lipped for the time being, opting to wait until they get feedback from players during the annual player meeting this month.

“As with any rule change, we will go through our normal process of evaluating the potential impact this will have to all our constituents. It will be discussed at our next annual player meeting on January 22 in San Diego, and it is anticipated that it will be reviewed by our Policy Board during its March meeting. During this review process, we will provide periodic updates to our stakeholders.”

Some of the players have already offered their opinions, with both sides of the argument equally represented.

“I’m sure the USGA and R&A have thought about this a great deal,” said Jack Nicklaus. “I would listen to what they have to say, and what they want to do is only in the best interest of the game. … (Players) will get used to it and they’ll get over it.”

Davis Love III offered a differing viewpoint: “I think this proposal will create more division and controversy than impact scoring and be a distraction to the pro game, which is in a great place, and take some fun away from the amateurs. So if it’s not a positive to grow the game, and in a bad economy for any business, why now?”

Despite the relatively low number of women professionals who use an anchoring stroke, the LPGA issued a statement of their own regarding the announcement:

“We certainly respect golf’s governing bodies and their longstanding desire to protect and promote the best interests of the game. The proposed new Rule is not yet final and the LPGA will wait with interest while the USGA and R&A consider further comments and suggestions from the golf community. In the meantime, we will continue to discuss this proposed change with our players and provide our input and thoughts directly to the USGA and R&A.”

Golf equipment manufacturers will also be affected by the ruling, as it would be likely to lead to fewer sales of longer putters. But some companies are being proactive – like leading putter manufacturer Odyssey:

“Odyssey has long held the belief that confidence with the putter is good for the game, particularly regarding player retention and growth potential. But one of the beauties of putting is that there are so many ways to do it. Notwithstanding the final ruling in 2013, it is Odyssey’s pledge to ensure golfers have the same level of confidence when they line up a putt with one of our products – regardless of the putting technique. We have anticipated this proposal for some time now and have been busy exploring several alternative options.”

A final decision on the proposed Rule change is expected in early 2013. For more information about the proposed Rule, as well as additional information including videos and images of strokes that would be allowed or prohibited by the proposed changes to Rule 14-1, visit  www.RandA.org/anchoring or www.usga.org/anchoring.

MORE INFORMATION

14-1b Anchoring the Club

(The proposed change would re-label current Rule 14-1 as Rule 14-1a, and establish Rule 14-1b as described below) :

In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of an “anchor point”.

Note 1:  The club is anchored “directly” when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2:  An “anchor point” exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.

Download the infographic on the permitted and prohibited putting methods: Anchoring-the-Club—Understanding-Rule-14-1b

Looking back on the 12th hole from the elevated 13th tee at Marysville

Driving down the main street of the tiny Victorian town of Marysville is a slightly surreal experience these days, not for what you see (for the view is truly beautiful), but rather for what you DON’T see.

For a town that lost nearly all of its buildings to the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, one would expect to see charred trees, blackened bushes or frames of burned-down buildings.

But you’d be hard-pressed to see any of that now.

Mother Nature certainly has done her part to replace most of the burned areas with lush, beautiful greenery. In fact, much of the surrounding area in town has recovered to a point where you’d hardly notice there had been a bushfire at all.

The locals, too, are doing their part. Homes are slowly being re-built; grand, new buildings are sprouting up in town and scenic areas like Steavenson Falls are now fitted with new facilities and lights.

Like a phoenix from the ashes, Marysville is being reborn. But the one thing you DON’T see – the one glaring thing missing–is the tourists (well, that and a local pub, but I digress.)

The lack of summer tourists is a shame, as Marysville and the surrounding area has so much to offer. Being less than two hours from Melbourne, it is an ideal distance for a short break or weekend away, and there is heaps to do.

I had the pleasure to drop in last month for the Marysville Sparkling Wine Festival—a week-long event celebrating the amazing food, wine and activities of the area. Featuring a Business Breakfast, Golf Day, Gala Dinner and more, it is a fantastic event that sits nicely among a growing stable of great events and festivals beginning to emerge in the area.

Of course, I wasn’t just there for the food and wine: I was keen to tee off at the golf day at the Marysville Community Golf and Bowls Club, which I have been anxious to explore for some time.

Despite losing 17 greens during the bushfire, the golf course at Marysville is now in amazing condition. I don’t say that lightly. I reckon the greens at Marysville are currently some of the best of any country course in Victoria. They roll true, are well manicured, and have benefitted greatly from an extremely wet winter, which has made them (and the rest of the course) lush and green. Of course, the great condition is also due to the hard-working greenskeeper Rob Christie, who–with the help of a dedicated group of members–has done some amazing work.

The course is a pleasure to play – even in the rain that plagued us during my visit. With plenty of dog-legs, club-grabbing rough, changes in elevation and the ever-present river guarding key areas of the course, there are some real challenges to be had. I really loved this course, and I will be sure to make it a regular stop in my future travels.

There is also some amazing scenery. Looking around from the elevated 13^th tee offers some spectacular views of the lush surrounds – which are once again beginning to teem with wildlife.

The club recently embarked on a funding project to redesign some of the holes, upgrade the clubhouse and improve various aspects of the club. So it will certainly be going from strength to strength in the coming years.

Of course, there are also heaps of other things to do in the area. Hiking, biking and bushwalking are popular around areas like Steavenson Falls or the spectacular Lake Mountain Alpine Resort; while anglers will enjoy dropping a line in the river to try and hook one of the many juicy trout that swim throughout. But there is heaps more.

When planning a trip to Marysville, securing accommodation should be your very first task, as the number of places to stay is currently a bit limited (but that will soon change with the recently-announced $28 Million Hotel and Conference Centre to begin construction next year, which will include a 100-room four-star hotel, conferencing facilities and accommodation for around 300 people.)

While many current visitors opt for one of the popular B&B’s, I was fortunate to stay at the Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park – which features quaint and clean cabins, and sits right on the river. Perfect for a group of golf buddies on an “annual golf weekend”, the cabins have WiFi, big screen TVs, kitchens and clean and comfortable beds. Families will also enjoy the park, as the kids will find plenty to do in the playground or on the “Jumping Pillow”.

So do yourself a favour and give Marysville a look these days. You won’t be disappointed.

Links:

www.marysville-golf-bowls.com.au
www.marysvilletourism.com
www.lakemountainresort.com.au

It’s a question I’ve been pondering for years: how far does a golfer walk during a standard round of 18 holes?

Sure, you could simply take the yardage on the scorecard, and then add “a little extra”, but when you think about it, there is much, much more walking done by the average golfer.

Prior to the round, you have things like walking from the carpark to the proshop, wandering through the clubhouse, walking to the practice tee, walking around the putting green, etc.

Once you tee off, the real walking begins. But aside from the Tee-to-Green scorecard length, there are many additional distances you may cover: 18 return trips between your buggy and the tee box, and 18 more to/from the greens.  Land in a bunker and you will find yourself walking to a rake, playing the shot, backtracking your way out as you rake, etc.

As you approach a green, many players will circle the green to determine the break for a putt. Miss a putt (or three), and you will walk even more.  Then there are things like walking from the green to the next tee. Or walking from the 9^th green to the clubhouse for a coffee or restroom break.

And then there is the biggie: what if you or your playing partner(s) lose a ball (or a dozen) during the round? Depending on your particular “search pattern”, you may walk back and forth across a 30m stretch of area many times.

It all adds up.

So just how much does an average golfer walk in a round? And how do we measure it? With the recent boom in smartphone/GPS technology, the question can now be answered.

Borrowing some inspiration from my wife (a walking enthusiast who measures her distances walked via an app on her iPhone) I installed and trialled various iPhone apps to measure the distance I and a few playing partners walked on the course. The apps – Map My Walk, RunKeeper, etc – are designed for walkers/joggers to set and measure their fitness goals. Utilising GPS technology, the apps continuously track an athlete’s speed, distance, changes in elevation, etc, and then plot the route on a map.

So, iPhone in pocket, I set about to see just how many metres the average golfer covered.

Note that this was by no means a scientific test. With only a handful of rounds played (using a Low Handicapper, Mid Handicapper and High Handicapper as guinea pigs) the statistical results are by no means comprehensive. Also, we only tested on one course, The Eastern Golf Club in Melbourne, which lists a distance of 5711m on the card. Not long by modern standards, but a solid middle-ground distance.

Our results were astounding.  During a standard 18-hole round (measuring the distance walked from the first tee through to the 18^th green) each golfer in our test walked around 8.5km. When we added the off-course measurements (Carpark, clubhouse, practice area) the total was closer to a whopping 9.5km!

No wonder we are so tired after a round!

While that was far longer than any of us had predicted, it was also surprising to note that the difference between the three handicap types was negligible.

The hackers and middle handicappers, as expected, rarely walked down the middle of each fairway; instead playing what many of us call “Army Golf” (left, right, left, right). They also tended to cover extra distance to/from neighbouring fairways, hazard areas and the trees, etc. The average on-course total for this group was 8.8km.

The low handicappers, on the other hand, walked basically down the middle of the fairways, but covered more distance circling the greens (to determined the line/break).  They also helped the others to find lost balls, and of course, they still had the same buggy-green-teebox  return trips. In all, their distance averaged 8.3km, only about 500m less than the High Handicapper.

On a side note, the app indicated that I burned around 1000 calories during each of my rounds. This is based solely on the walking aspect–according to my height/weight, etc, and changes in elevation of around 150m of climb. It does not take into account things like the actual golf swing, practice swings or pushing the buggy. (Nor does it account for some of our other strenuous activities like club throwing, swearing and other actions that doubtless burn extra calories!)

As mentioned, this was not a scientific test, but it certainly shed new light on the fitness benefits of golf.  In a world where obesity is a growing problem (no pun intended), it proves that hitting the links can actually be good for you!

Help us expand this study!

Naturally, every golf course, golfer and specific round is going to be different on any day of the week.  The variations are endless.

That’s why we are looking for 1000 Australian golfers to help us expand this research and create what may be a World’s First smartphone study into the distance walked during a round of golf.  All you need is a smartphone (like an iPhone/Android, etc) and one of the popular fitness Apps (like Map My Run, RunKeeper, etc).

To participate:

• Download a GPS tracking app for your iPhone/Android/GPS unit.
• You will need to walk a round of 18 holes (No riding in a cart!)
• Activate your GPS app when you are in the carpark prior to your round (be sure to set your phone on “silent” and also disable any audio updates from your app– lest your partners wonder why your bum is speaking!).
• IMPORTANT: Keep it in your pocket for the round (don’t leave it in your buggy, as that will not accurately measure the distance you walk)
• Be sure to turn it off when you return to your car. Then enter the data via the form below:

ENTER YOUR RESULTS:

Click here to enter your results

Putt for Mo - a charity day for Movember

SGA Tour Ambassador Andy Lee from Hamish & Andy will tee it up alongside a group of celebrity golfers and amateur players in the first SGA Tour Charity Golf Day to support Movember. Played at the Old Course at The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula, the “Drive For Show, Putt For Mo” event is sure to be a hit with golfers.

While “cleanskin” golfers are welcome, Matthew Pitt from Social Golf Australia encourages golfers to Mo-up for the day.

“We would like to see as many golfers as possible displaying their plumage. We certainly welcome women and juniors and we don’t expect them to muster a Mo, but we hope as many fellas as possible join the spirit of the day and get a little bit hirsute for a good cause.”

Movember is a global movement founded in Melbourne that raises awareness and funds to support the two biggest health issues men face – prostate cancer and depression. Movember assists men’s health by encouraging fellas to grow a Mo in November and sign up Mo-sponsors. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and their men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

The SGA Tour Charity Day is on Tuesday Movember 27 with a 9:00am shotgun start and aims to raise funds and awareness for Movember. A portion of the entry price will go to Movember and additional funds will be raised with the support of corporate sponsors, activities on the day and by encouraging golfers to register with and participate in Movember. Inside Golf is happy to support Movember by publicising the day and we look forward to running a picture of a field of (mostly) mustachioed golfers teeing off for a good cause.

Social Golf Australia runs an SGA Tour event series in all the mainland capital cities and will be encouraging golfers around Australia to register with Movember. There is an SGA Tour Charity Golf Day Team webpage on the Movember website where golfers can register for Movember. If golfers are already Mo-registered, they can simply join the SGA Tour Mo Team. Links to all the relevant pages appear on the Social Golf Australia website.

The day will offer a complete professional tournament experience with driving range balls included, carts for all golfers, a shotgun start, a single stableford event with over $1000 of prizes, celebrity golfers sharing the fun of the day and a presentation lunch after golf that will include some extra fund-raising activities. According to Pitt, the plan for the day is to have some fun fostering a Mo-fraternity on the golf course to help a good cause.

“Movember is a great community initiative and supporting prostate cancer research and beyondblue directly or indirectly benefits most Australians. We have developed our first Charity Golf Day in Victoria this year and we have had a great response already. Our plan is to develop this as a national initiative in 2013 and beyond. We operate events around Australia and we are looking at hosting an SGA Tour Charity Day in each mainland capital in November 2013 to support Movember.”

“All of our events are official competition rounds with results entered on GOLF Link and all golfers are welcome. We decided to incorporate the event on our regular SGA Tour schedule and make it a single stableford event rather than an ambrose or team format. Golfers with handicaps can play in the official single stableford comp and social players are also welcome to join in the fun of playing and can compete for all the novelty prizes.”

The event has been developed with the support of the National Golf Club and all entries are through The SGA Tour in Victoria. All golfers are welcome to enter, although it is anticipated that the event will book out early. Entry is $190 per person or $170 for those who have registered with Movember (both men and women can register) and, according to Pitt, the celebrity participation will be a great drawcard.

“We are delighted that our ambassador Andy Lee is assisting the event by playing on the day and inviting some celebrity golfing pals to join in the fun of the event. Andy is a quality person and we are greatly appreciative of all his support, both for our charity day and for golf in general. Movember will also have celebrity ambassadors who are keen golfers and we have invited them to join us on the day.”

Inside Golf is a proud supporter of The SGA Tour and we look forward to reporting on the event and the competition results. For more information and entry details, go to www.socialgolfaustralia.com.au or call SGA in Victoria directly on (03) 5433 3213 or Matthew Pitt on 0425 742 501. For more information on Movember: www.movember.com

I received a phone call the other day from a very frustrated junior golfer.

“Why do members hate us juniors so much?” he asked.

I was taken aback for a moment, as I pondered this rather unexpected question.

It turns out that the club where he recently took up a junior membership had begun restricting the availability of tee times for juniors, making it extremely difficult for him and other junior members to get on the course, especially on weekends.  When he did get on the course, many of the older members would turn up their noses to the juniors, or roll their eyes at the group, etc.  In general, he told me, it wasn’t a very welcoming atmosphere.

“We just want to learn the game, and have fun,” he said. “It’s not like we are making trouble, or anything. We play by the rules, repair our divots and wave people through. But they [older members] still frown at us.”

That same week, I was playing golf at a public course with a mate of mine, when we came across a lone woman golfer sitting at a teebox, waiting to hit. There was a bit of a backup ahead, as a few groups in front of us (all men, by the way) were all playing extremely slowly.

She immediately suggested that my partner and I play through. When I offered that we might as well join up and play together, she smiled politely but declined.  “I’m just getting into the game,” she said in a rather embarrassed tone. “I just joined at [a private club] and I need to get better before I play with anyone. I don’t want to make anyone upset.” (Her swing, I discovered later, was FAR better than any of the players in front of us. She was also a very quick and capable player.)

Is this really happening? In this day and age? Are club members still so entrenched in old-fashioned ideals that we don’t welcome anyone and everyone keen to take up this fantastic game of ours? Are we really alienating women and junior golfers?

Let me make one thing abundantly clear: Women and junior golfers are THE future of golf. Plain and simple. Without them, a club simply cannot survive in the modern world.

As the product of an extremely supportive American-based junior golf program, I am continually puzzled (and disgusted at times) about the lack of real support that many Australian golfers afford to today’s young players. Sure, many club websites and brochures claim to welcome juniors with open arms, but when it comes right down to it, it is the members themselves who are responsible to roll out the welcome mat.

With a strong junior membership or contingent, a club can look forward to decades of revenues, income and future membership numbers.  Likewise, women represent the fastest-growing segment in golf. You’ll see more and more products and services (and clubs) targeting women and junior golfers in the near future. There is a reason why: they are the future.

Junior golf in Australia has endured its share of ups and downs. Years ago, Greg Norman captured the hearts and dreams of Australia’s juniors, catapulting golf to the top-of-mind for many of our youngsters.  The rise in interest – combined with strong support by clubs — led to players like Adam Scott, Jason Day and Aaron Baddeley climbing up the ranks to take the world stage. Not coincidentally, club membership following that time was strong and healthy.

But then junior golf faltered for a while. Increased competition from other sports like Cricket, AFL, Tennis and Swimming–in addition to things like video games and other “cool” activities– have led to a gentle decline in junior participation numbers.  And, not coincidentally, club numbers (in general) have also followed that decline.

Yes, there have been other factors at play. But at the end of the day, juniors and women golfers are a critical part of golf, and they need to be welcomed to the course with wide open arms.

So the next time you see a junior or woman (or any beginner, for that matter) teeing off in front of you, remember that he or she may be the next Adam Scott or Karrie Webb– and that they hold the key to the future health of your club, and of Australian golf in general.

Adam Scott and Steve Williams

What is it with the media these days?

Following Adam Scott’s unfortunate performance at The Open Championship, words like “Choke” and “Collapse” rushed to the fore throughout the media, with overdramatic journalists dredging up stories about Greg Norman’s 1996 Masters, or Jean Van de Veld’s 1999 Open Championship, or the other “greatest chokes in history” yarns.

Soon after, Australia’s Olympic team suffered a similar fate, walking away from London with a bounty of silver medals along with an equal number of “Disappointing” headlines about their performance.

“Disappointing”. Seriously?

Let’s put something into perspective: There are an estimated 7 Billion people on this planet (with a capital B). Out of those 7,000,000,000 individuals, only a small number have the talent, opportunity, means and drive to succeed at the elite level of sport. Of that small percentage, only tiny fraction could qualify for their sport’s “pinnacle events”, and an even smaller fraction of that could go on to the semi-finals and/or finals.  At that level, the difference between first and second (or even first and fiftieth) is often minimal.

In many countries across the world, seeing an athlete on the podium is cause for celebration or a ticker-tape parade. But here in Oz, things are a bit different. For the Olympics, the media came down exceptionally hard on our athletes, criticising things like their desire, their training, the Australian Olympic Committee, sports funding and anything else they could think of.

As a sports-loving nation, we have become accustomed to winning. Whether it’s Olympic swimming, World Cricket, PGA TOUR Golf or any number of other world-class sports, we love to win. And when we don’t win, the media has become accustomed to labelling the teams/athletes as disappointments or flat-out failures.   It’s a shame.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that athletes in all sports strive to be the very best, and for some, second place is like “kissing your sister”.  But when did coming in second warrant being labelled a “failure” by the media?

Coming in second is part of any competition. Jack Nicklaus, for example, is celebrated for his record 18 major victories, yet few people know that he also owns the record for runner-up finishes in majors (19).

History remembers the winners, while the media generally ignores the runners-up. While Rory McIlroy charged to victory at The PGA Championship, can anyone really remember who came in second? (David Lynn, by the way, who nearly stepped on an alligator during the event, and has a heartwarming backstory to his own career). And while Adam Scott “collapsed” at the Open, the REAL story (which was largely ignored) was the fact that a beleaguered Ernie Els overcame a six-stroke deficit and battled his way to the top after most of the world’s media had previously written him off as “past his prime”. Heck, Ernie wasn’t even invited to The Masters this year, despite being one of history’s best golfers!

Certainly, Adam’s slip on the final four holes was worthy of a story. But unlike many of my media colleagues, I don’t label it as a choke. Let’s face it, the course was difficult. I mean REALLY difficult. Among the leaders on the final day, players like Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker all shot over par. Sure, Adam DID bogey the last four holes, but remember that out of 83 players in the final round, there were a total of only eight birdies on holes 15 and on 17 (four on each).  And a lot of “Bogeys/Others”. In my opinion Adam only really made one mistake during that four-hole span: hitting 3-wood off the tee on 18 instead of the iron which he had used for the three previous days. And for that, I reckon a lot of the blame should be on the shoulders of caddie Steve Williams.

Like our Olympic athletes, Adam didn’t choke. Collectively, they just got beaten. And we–as comedian Arj Barker once said—need to “get a deck of cards, and deal with it.”

So the next time one of our athletes walks away from an event having secured “Second Place”, let’s not be disappointed that they weren’t as good as the one person who beat them, rather let’s celebrate the fact that they beat the other 6,999,999,998 people on the planet.

A golf fan at Norfolk Island

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I disembarked my Air New Zealand flight and took my first step on Norfolk Island. To be honest, I knew almost nothing about the island, apart from the fact that 1) it had a golf course, and 2) there was some connection to the HMS Bounty story.

I was visiting Norfolk to play in the annual Hardys Wines Pro-Am Golf Classic, a four-day tournament that is extremely popular with many Aussies (you need to book WELL in advance to secure a spot). “Even if there’s nothing else to do,” I thought, “at least I’ll get in some golf.”

As I was about to find out, Norfolk has much more than just golf. HEAPS more, in fact.

A world away from the hustle and bustle of Australia, a visit to Norfolk Island is like stepping back in time. A journey to the quintessential ‘Small Town Australia’ and the simple, honest and organic way of life.  Cows and chooks freely roam the island, everyone knows everyone else, doors are left unlocked, and the overall vibe is relaxed and carefree.

Some 1400km due east of the Australian Coast (a short two-hour+ flight from Sydney or Brisbane Airports, depending on the winds), Norfolk Island is a subtropical, peaceful and scenic outcrop that owes much of its current standing to its historic past.

A view of Norfolk Island from Mt Pitt

THE HISTORY

Originally settled by Polynesians, Norfolk Island was colonised by Britain in 1788, where it served as a penal colony for the “worst of the worst” criminals until 1794, when it was abandoned. In 1856, the island was re-settled by the famed mutineers of the HMS Bounty, who migrated from the overcrowded Pitcairn Islands.

Today, the descendants of the Bounty still make up the majority of the population – the phone book is filled with surnames like Christian, Adams, McCoy and Quintal. (Interestingly, the phone book also has a lookup by people’s nicknames — because what small town doesn’t have its share of people like “Spud”, “Diesel”, “Umi” or even “Farmer Teddy”?)

There are also Pacific Islanders, Aussies and New Zealanders on the island, creating a mini “melting pot” of heritages.  And while English is the main language, there is also the indigenous “Norfuk” language, which is a curious blend of olde English and Tahitian.

The residents of the island wear many “hats”, and it is not uncommon to see familiar faces everywhere. The town pastor is also a bartender at the local pub; your waitress at dinner may also help check your bags at the airport the next day; even the local pig farmer might be the star of the evening’s theatre show.

In its tight-knit community, the unofficial hobby on the island is waving while driving. A short trip to the market might see you “Flash the Norfolk Wave” 20 or 30 times to other drivers! By the time I left Norfolk, waving had become an engrained habit (which, upon my return to Melbourne, generated the odd stare from motorists. Oops.)

One of the most amazing aspects of Norfolk Island is the freshness of the food. Very little food is imported, so most items are grown or raised locally. A BLT sandwich at a local cafe, for example, would use bacon from Farmer Lou’s down the street, Lettuce and Tomato from the cafe’s veggie patch out back (or from the Saturday Growers Market), and the bread would have been freshly baked on-site at the cafe that morning. This is the way dining was meant to be!

The fishing is also spectacular on Norfolk. The lack of commercial trawling means that the local waters are teeming with fish, including bonito, trumpeter (red throated emperor), tuna, snapper, rock cod and heaps of other creatures like crayfish and the like. This is great from not only a sportfishing perspective, but also from a fine dining experience, as your evening’s “Fish Special” at the restaurant was likely caught that very day. Amazing!

An old boat near the shore at Norfolk Island

THE SIGHTS

There is simply so much to do on Norfolk, it makes your head spin. And its close proximity to the mainland makes it an ideal destination for a short break for couples, families or groups.

My adventure started with a trek to the highest points on the island: Mt Pitt and Mt Bates. From these vantage points you can see the entire island, which measures just 8km long by 5km wide. A short 20-minute hike between the two peaks gives you the chance to see much of the native flora and fauna, as well as some historical artefacts, including various items left over from WWII, when Norfolk served as a key airbase. We were fortunate to get a tour from Rick Kleiner (owner of Rick’s Personal Island Tours). Rick is extremely knowledgeable and affable, and he is “The Guy” when you want to know something about Norfolk.

The island enjoys a very consistent and mild climate, with temperatures ranging between 24-28 degrees in the summer, and around 19-21 degrees in the winter. This makes it perfect for things like snorkelling (especially in the safe and secluded Emily Bay), windsurfing, hiking, bike riding, bushwalking, fishing and even whale watching. You could explore the historic ruins of the Kingston penal colony (with its dark and bone-chilling past), step foot on oldest cricket pitch in southern hemisphere, enjoy a stroll in the botanic gardens, or treat the kids to a round of mini golf (complete with “Haunted House” hole that the kids will want to play over and over.)

Another must-see is the Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama, an amazing 360-degree hand-painted depiction of the HMS Bounty, its crew, the mutiny and their travels to Norfolk via Pitcairn.

If that isn’t enough, why not try some spectacular wines at the Two Chimneys Winery, which is a great location for couples or groups. The winery is operated by Rod and Noelene Buffet –a delightful couple who also run “By the Bay”, a top-quality guest house featuring spectacular views and amenities.  (Tip: be sure to try one of Noelene’s  famous “platters” which features a mouth-watering array of nibbles, cheeses, spreads and surprises!)

Two Chimneys Winery

Accommodation is plentiful on the Island, with a full-range of options to suit every budget, from “no-frills” hotel rooms to a full “five-start luxury stay”. Like many of the golfers in the tournament, we stayed at the Governor’s Lodge Resort Hotel, which feature comfortable and clean Bungalows, complete with sitting room, kitchen and separate bedroom.

Dining on the island is a real treat. Our top pick is Norfolk Blue, a steakhouse that offers the full “paddock to the plate” experience. It features a rare breed of “blue” cattle (bred and raised on site) that is not unlike Wagyu/Kobe beef: super tender and amazingly delicious.  It was one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten. Other great restaurants we sampled include Hilli Restaurant and Wine Bar (fantastic fish!), Bailey’s (at Governor’s Lodge) and Chom Cha Ba (amazing “fusion” of Eastern cuisines). Another highly recommended option (which we were unable to sample) is Dino’s – the locals swear by it! There are heaps of great cafes as well, like the Golden Orb Bookshop cafe, Olive, Tempo… really, though, you can’t go wrong.

THE GOLF

Norfolk Island Golf Course

Of course, we were here for the golf. And we weren’t disappointed.

Located within a World Heritage site, the Norfolk Island Golf Course is technically Australia’s oldest existing golf course on its original site.  In 2010, The Golf Society of Australia concluded that the course (originally named “Point Hunter Golf Course”) was built by convicts in 1843, and has not moved from the original site.  Thus, it outdates the Ratho Links in Bothwell–which historians claim may not have seen golf until 1860—and New South Wales Golf Club, which moved from its original site Grose Farm/Victoria Park to the current site at La Perouse.

In addition, Norfolk Island GC also technically qualifies for “Royal” status, as Queen Elizabeth visited Norfolk Island in 1974 and oversaw the construction of the clubhouse renovation.

The 7th Tee at Norfolk Island Golf Club

Norfolk Island GC has been described as the world’s “Hardest ‘easy’ 9-hole golf course”. I certainly agree. It could also be the best 9-hole course you will ever play.

Upon first glance at the relatively flat parkland layout – set uniquely in a links-style environment—one could easily become overconfident and assume that it would be a walk in the park. A few holes later, however, with a handful of bogeys on the card, you may need to reassess the situation.

The real “teeth” of the course are found in both the smallish greens and the thick Kikuyu rough. The greens are tiny and generally well-protected by bunkers. They are a pleasure to putt on, but are deceptively difficult to read for pace and break.  The rough that borders the fairways is equally tough, giving you either a flyer lie or a “grab the club right out of your hands” scenario. Indeed, hitting the fairways is critical on this course.

The 4th Tee at Norfolk Island Golf Club

The signature hole is the par-3 4^th/13^th, a great little 120m/145m hole that plays along the ocean. The tiny green is tucked into a massive rock face, providing a very difficult target. Depending on the severity of the wind, you could hit anything from wedge to hybrid (or more) on this hole. The “bailout” area to the left is a safe option, but gives you a very difficult “up and down” for par.  Just thinking about the hole can give you the yips. (Side Note: In my opinion, if the green and tee area were swapped – and you teed off from the top of the cliff-face– this could be one of (if not THE) most spectacular Par-3s in Australia, hands down.)

Another great hole is the par-5 5^th/14^th. When played into the wind, it is a solid three shotter. Featuring a massive mound splitting the hole, OOB along the entire right side (including a cemetery), an elevated green and thick rough everywhere, it can make or break a round.

The 5th Tee at Norfolk Island Golf Club

Overall, Norfolk Island Golf Course was a real pleasure to play. Despite four full rounds there, we never tired of the course—which was in spectacular condition, thanks to the stellar efforts of Superintendent Grant Newman.   We highly recommend you check it out when you have a chance.

(SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY BELOW)

GETTING THERE

Before booking any trip to Norfolk, contact The Travel Centre on Norfolk Island. General Manager Rebecca Christian (yep, a descendant of Fletcher Christian) can arrange absolutely anything and everything for your journey. A true one-stop-shop service! www.travelcentre.nf; phone: Int +(6723) 22502; Email: rebecca@travelcentre.nlk.nf.

 

Air New Zealand is the exclusive carrier to Norfolk Island. They currently offer flights to Norfolk from Sydney and Brisbane.

 

Things to know:

Though part of the Commonwealth of Australia ($AUD is the main currency), Norfolk is also self-governing territory, so you will need a passport. You’ll also pass through the International terminal and customs upon return.

Mobile phone coverage is charged at international rates, so be sure to either get an international SIM or adjust your mobile phone’s data roaming. WiFi is available at selected locations.

Duty-free alcohol is available on the island, and you can get an extra 30% discount when you show your return Airline boarding pass.

PHOTO GALLERY (Picasa Gallery – you may need to hit refresh to view the galleries)

Norfolk Island Golf Course

Norfolk Island photos

A player fitting at the TaylorMade Performance Lab

Inside Golf recently invited some Melbourne golfers to take part in the TaylorMade R11s Driver Challenge.  Held at the impressive TaylorMade Performance Lab at the Melbourne Golf Academy, the golfers were put through a complete fitting and testing experience to determine their ideal driver specs, and see how their current drivers matched up to the new TaylorMade R11S.

We’ve written at length about how important clubfitting is, especially with your driver. These days, a properly-fitted driver which is tuned to your swing can not only improve accuracy, but also net you more distance off the tee.

These sentiments rang true in the Challenge, which uncovered some amazing results.

First up in the TMPL was Darren Walton, 49. Darren is a 13-handicapper who plays weekly at Ringwood GC.

Here are the “Before and After” stats from the fitting:

Clubfitter’s Comments:

“Darren’s current driver was not too bad for him. We saw some pretty good numbers but knew that we could improve with the new R11S with its extra adjustability and other slight improvements. The one main issue that kept popping up was that his clubface kept staying open, producing a fading and slightly weak ball flight.

“With the extra adjustably and efficiencies of the new R11S we knew we were in for some really good improvements.  Darren needed help getting the face squarer to help produce a more penetrating and straighter ball flight. We set the R11S to the Draw weighting position and also closed the face angle as much as possible. We immediately saw a much straighter ball flight but lost a bit of launch, so we utilised our FCT setting to increase the loft of this driver to 10.5°. This increased his distance by some 18m with a much stronger ball flight, a lot less side spin so the ball was going straighter and also an overall shot dispersion that was less than his current driver.”

Comments from Darren:
“The technology used in the fitting process is very impressive, the amount of data is staggering and an eye opener on how well (or not) you are swinging and hitting the ball!   The comparison between my old driver, the new driver and then a variation of the new driver all on the one screen was impressive to see and be able to analyse the potential improvements from new clubs.

“The technology is great for club selection but also as a teaching aid.  I would not be surprised to see Golf Pros using this to teach people in the future.  If you are thinking of new clubs, or thinking of Taylor Made, then I would not hesitate on suggesting that you visit the TMPL.”

Next off the ranks was Graeme Herft, 45. Graeme plays off an 8.8 handicap at Patterson River. His stats:

Clubfitter’s Comments:

“Graeme’s current driver was a little inconsistent for him. The 9.5° was a little too low and Graeme was recreating loft in his golf swing — leading to a bit of inconsistency, as his face was staying a little bit open on average.

“With the R11S, we put him into a 10.5° head to help him stay down and move more dynamically through the ball. We utilised the adjustability of the R11S by closing the face and also setting it to Draw weighting, resulting in a much stronger and more consistent flight, keeping Graeme more balanced throughout his swing. We gained 27m in flight, tightened up his dispersion and created a much more penetrating flight.”

Graeme’s comments:

“I have previously been fitted for irons, but never for a driver. It was a very challenging and unique experience. The testing facility was extremely hi -tech and very impressive, as was the data that was provided.

“The entire setup was very unique, especially the way the sensors were attached and the graphics of my swing were displayed.  It was the first time I had actually seen where my impact on the ball and clubhead were.

“What I found the most beneficial was that in the beginning there was no emphasis put on the actual “outcome” of the ball flight. All the data collated at the start was basically about the swing path, speed, ball trajectory at impact, etc. It was only after all of this was recorded and a driver was fitted to me did we look at the outcome of the swing and the ball flight.

“The R11s was not only pleasing to the eye, it also felt very comfortable and to a certain degree “soft” in my hands. When asked to revert back to my original driver, I didn’t feel as comfortable or as confident as I did with the R11S.

“The R11S may never get me down to a scratch marker but I am sure it would help me drop that 2 or 3 shots I need to reach a handicap of 5. Either way I am positive such a club would make my round more enjoyable and those tee shots a little less daunting.”

Last up was Gary North, a 56-year-old 14 handicapper who plays at Eastwood.

His stats:

Clubfitter’s Comments:

Gary’s current driver was not too bad for him, however the feedback from Gary was that he lacked “feel” and control on the course and really had to work hard to get the ball in the air.

When fitting Gary in the TMPL we were able to see that he majorly de-lofted his driver, turning a 9.5deg driver into as low as 3deg and therefore was struggling to launch the ball.  The R11S that we fitted Gary with had an affective loft of 12deg after we used the FCT setting to increase loft. This did not increase Gary’s launch but what it did do was make Gary’s action more efficient by allowing him to release the club as opposed to trying to hit the ball up in the air. We then closed the face of the driver and set the Moveable Weights to Draw, which gave us a straighter, more consistent flight. We also placed a mid-size grip on Gary’s driver to give him even more control.

Comments from Gary:

Darryn made the understanding of the whole process clear and straight forward. I have been to other club fitting Demos but the TaylorMade Performance Lab was by far the most informative and helpful in the understanding of my swing though the data that is picked up via the fitted sensors. Darryn was able to explain how the club–though the adjustment in shaft and head–will improve my golf which, with a few tries with different set ups, was found and the result showed up straight away on the screens. With the new setup  I was able to hit the ball smoother, straighter and with feeling. I would highly recommend the Taylor Made system for golf club fitting for all grades of golfer.

TaylorMade ATV Wedge

The TaylorMade Golf ATV (All-Terrain Versatility) wedge has quickly made its way into the bags of many Tour professionals this year.

Every curve, angle and edge of the ATV Wedge serves a purpose in elevating the club’s versatility. Relief at the toe, heel and trailing edge reduces resistance and significantly changes how the sole reacts with turf and sand, depending on how the club is positioned at address and how much the face is opened.  Other highlights of the ATV wedge include a new groove design, as well as micro-textured flat areas between the grooves of the ATV wedge clubface.

Watch a Video about this amazing wedge: TaylorMade ATV

RH Lofts: (50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58, 60°) ( 64° custom order);  LH Lofts (52°, 56°, 60°) (54°, 58° custom order)  with a non-glare, white IP finish.

www.taylormadegolf.com

RRP: $130

WIN

Inside Golf and TaylorMade are giving away an ATV Wedge to one lucky Inside Golf reader. Simply “Like” this post on our Facebook Page or enter below. (Click for terms and conditions. Good luck!)

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. The winner is:  WAL SIMMONS from Greta NSW