Inside Golf’s Andrew Crockett loves his golf, chatting with celebrities and promoting all things to do with charitable causes and the many ways golf assists in raising awareness and much needed funds.
That being the case, this month he was in his element when grasping the chance to interview former Australian cricket captain and avid golfer Ricky Pointing.
Andrew covered Ponting’s introduction to the game, his time as a travelling cricketer and the golfing opportunities that provided, where ‘Punter’ has played since, while also touching on a couple of important topics, including the major renovations taking place at The Country Club in Launceston and Ricky’s work with the charitable foundation which carries his name.
Ricky Ponting, a cricketing legend and avid golfer.
As reported on in a previous edition of Inside Golf, The Country Club Launceston has some significant plans around upgrading not only the course but the entire facility, while The Ponting Foundation raises money for children and families battling childhood cancer.
“Golf’s been a huge part of my life, from those early days at Mowbray to playing courses around the world,” Ponting told Andrew. “I still can’t get enough of it and play every chance I get. It’s also been a great way to connect with people, whether through cricket tours or charity events. I’m excited about what’s happening with the Country Club in Launceston and can’t wait to see it become a top destination.”
Read more from Ponting on pages 20-21 of this edition of Inside Golf.
Young guns enter the pro ranks
SUNDAY at the Ford NSW Open might have been a day to forget, however in his pro debut Declan O’Donovan showed enough to indicate a big future lies ahead, as it does for fellow Sydneysider Adam Coull who was also impressive in his first outing as a professional.
The pair were partnered, alongside Ben Henkel, in the final group at The Vintage in the NSW Open and while it was the experienced Chris Wood who came out on top in a three-way playoff, at least for the first three days O’Donovan carried into the event the form which saw him win back-to-back NSW Amateur titles in being rated one of Australia’s most exciting prospects.
Adam Coull was impressive in finishing sixth at the NSW Open in his first tournament as a professional.
Perhaps less is known of Coull, a former club champion at The Lakes in Sydney who attended Midland College in Texas then the University of Memphis. Still in contention deep into the last day at The Vintage, Coull would eventually finish in a tie for sixth, just three shots shy of the playoff.
Harry Takis, one of O’Donovan’s teammates representing Australia in the recent Asia-Pacific championship, won’t be joining him as a professional just yet and will continue in the amateur ranks. Takis, who made the 36-hole cut in shooting 10-under to place 30th at the recent Singapore Open on the Asian Tour, returns to the San Diego State University to complete his Sophomore (second) season with the Aztecs.
An amateur standout, winning the NSW Amateur and Australian Medal in 1988, before going down in the final of the 1990 Australian Amateur Championship, Rob Willis turned professional in 1992, playing the Australasian and Asian Tours, with his highlight being his victory in the 1995 Dubai Creek Open and third placing at the European Tour's Dubai Dessert Classic. A former Editor of Golf Australia Magazine, Willis, who ventured away from golf for a period to be the media manager for the NRL's Cronulla Sharks, has been a contributor to PGA Australia's PGA Magazine for over a decade and for Inside Golf since its first edition back in 2005. 
