By Michael Davis
THERE’S nothing wrong with having a good dose of confidence in life as long as it’s not overbearing.
Looking back, Nick Bielawski, reckons he was well and truly punching above his weight when he put his hand up to be coach of the China Elite Program at Sandhurst Golf Club in Melbourne some years ago.
“It was a bit arrogant of me. I was working as a teaching professional at a public driving range part-owned by one of my early coaches, Rohan Dummett. I was way under-qualified for the job I was going for,” he says.
But the man who interviewed him at Sandhurst – teaching professional Stuart Leong – saw something in the confident young man in his mid-20s. Nick missed out on the main gig. But not long afterwards, Leong offered him a newly- created job as the elite program’s assistant.
As it turns out, Leong was a good judge. Bielawski took to the job like a duck to water and, now aged 41, is still at Sandhurst where he is coaching programs manager.
It’s a big job which involves not only overseeing the coaching and 24-hour virtual golf centre at Sandhurst but also keeping an eye on coaching and practice facilities at the new headquarters for Australian golf at Sandringham public course.
“That was a fantastic opportunity the club gave me to work with those 12 Chinese trainees all those years ago,” Nick recalls. “Four of them went on to play college golf in the US. And another, Yoyo Han, became the first female Chinese PGA of Australia professional and now still teaches at Yarra Bend.
“It was a very successful program. When they arrived here, the students barely spoke English. But they picked it up very quickly because they were also attending the Rowville Sports Academy for their schooling.”
For reasons unknown, the elite Chinese program did not continue but since 2015 Sandhurst has been the home of the PGA Performance Program – a 12-month course which prepares students – usually in their late teens and early 20’s – for the pursuit of a career in golf.
Since 2015, about 60 students have gone through the program. It used to be government funded but now costs each student $15,000.
“They have either saved it or their parents have paid. But the club members have been great over the years by taking students on homestay arrangements which helps offset the expense,” Nick says.
Sandhurst’s 36-hole layout was originally designed as the headquarters for the PGA in Melbourne. Renowned architects the late Peter Thomson, Ross Perrett and Mike Wolveridge created both courses.
It is surrounded by a housing estate of about 1000 homes all of which have been sold. Nick says the membership is strong and both courses and the clubhouse, restaurants and gymnasium have been warmly embraced by the membership.
“There is a great vibe among the membership and the courses are very good following substantial conditioning work which has been done on them over the last couple of years.”
The facility is also open to members of the public who can enjoy 18 holes for around $80. This seems very reasonable to play either of the very good golf courses which have retained all the characters of their original design.
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