THEY’RE golf’s ultimate power couple.
The only problem is their unabashed love of sport actually keeps them off the golf course, rather than on it.
And despite golf being one of their great loves, life does come first. Oh, and cricket as well.
In case you’re still guessing, I am referring to a couple of the best cricketers not only in Australia, but the world – fast bowler Mitchell Starc and his wicketkeeper/wife Alyssa Healy.
Unfortunately, they don’t get that much time to actually play the game together thanks to cricket. In fact, Mitch has forsaken the chance to play IPL in India so he can have six weeks or so with his wife.
And that involves as many games as they can muster at either Long Reef or Terrey Hills Country Club on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
They have a great contest when they do get to share time on the golf course – Alyssa plays off 3.5 and Mitch is off seven.
“It usually comes down to who gets off the tee best on the day,” grins Mitch.
“We have some pretty good contests.
“I can’t hit it 290 metres like Glenn Maxwell but if I hit it straight, I guess I wouldn’t be that far behind him.”
Starc has no regrets he’s not getting a share of the big bucks in India.
“If you head there and take the money you don’t get a break, while my theory is to have a break and play more for Australia,” he said.
“I haven’t been watching those games that often; I’m not a good watcher of cricket. I prefer to watch footy or golf.”
Still earning plenty of plaudits for her match-winning innings in the World Cup One-Day final in New Zealand a few months ago, Alyssa is excited about what lies ahead for her career.
“I don’t think I’m letting any secrets out in telling you that a women’s IPL will hopefully be launched next March,” she said.
“But yes, that women’s World Cup final was a great day and it was pretty great having Mitch there too.
“We both watch a lot of women’s golf on TV and our older members here at Long Reef say they love watching it too because it is so much more relatable.
“It’s not like watching Rory [McIlroy] hit it a million miles – it’s good to watch and there are some great athletes in the women’s professional game as well.”
Both cricketers are Drummond Golf ambassadors and play regular competitions at their home clubs.
“The weather hasn’t been great lately but they’ve done a great job here at Long Reef,” said Alyssa.
“It’s just nice to be home and not on tour and these are the six weeks we get to spend some time together at home.
“Actually, just being at home is a holiday for us as we get to do normal stuff together.”
Normal stuff means playing a few competition matches or possibly trying to beat Mitchell’s brother Brandon, who is also a member at Long Reef.
“He got one up on us because he had a hole-in-one recently and neither of us have been lucky enough to do that yet,” said Mitch.
“I did hit three shots inside 70cms last Saturday but I didn’t even win a nearest the pin,” said Alyssa.
“I’m resigned to the fact I’ll never have one so when, or if, it does ever happen, I’ll be pretty excited.”
Mitch says the Aussie cricket team these days takes a golf simulator with them when they tour and his clubs would be on board as he was preparing to head to Sri Lanka for a Test series.
And Alyssa admitted one of the perks of the job was to not just travel the world but also getting to play some amazing golf courses.
She certainly earned that ‘down-time’ after scoring a record-breaking 170 to lead the Aussies to victory over England in New Zealand.
“That’s our leisure time and we played a heap of golf in New Zealand,” she said.
“We played a big chunk in Christchurch and Wellington and after the World Cup Mitch and I stayed and played some golf in Queenstown.
“I loved Jacks Point but I also really loved Terrace Downs too. The view was just stunning and nothing like I’d ever seen before.”
Despite representing Australia countless times, the couple agree on one thing: Taking the field for their country is a piece of cake compared to standing on the first tee and hitting that opening tee shot, be it in a pro-am before a packed gallery or before a few local members watching on with interest.
“Hands down, being on the first tee is a scarier experience,” says Alyssa.
“Just having the members behind you on the putting green watching is enough.
“In golf you are in complete control and its only you that is going to stuff up.
“It’s scary enough even without Karrie Webb or someone else watching you.”
Yet both cricketers can boast some pretty classy rounds since they became hooked on the game.
Mitch has fired a “75 or 76” around Long Reef and Alyssa has a par round to her credit on the tricky Northern Beaches layout.
“I have lipped out on the last hole for a one-under par round,” she grins.
“Long Reef is such an interesting layout: you see the openness of the course, but there are some tricky areas where you cannot afford to hit it.
“It’s always an interesting place to play.”
