CELEBRITY SWINGER: Ricky Ponting
Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is a passionate and highly skilled golfer.
Ricky Ponting, a legend of Australian cricket, carries a second sporting passion every bit as fierce as his love for the game that made him famous – golf.
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Ponting’s golfing journey began at Mowbray Golf Club, where at just eight years of age he followed his father onto the fairways. Those early rounds lit a spark that became a lifelong obsession, with school holidays spent competing with his brother and sharpening the competitive instincts that would later define his cricketing career.
Today, Ponting is a proud member at Peninsula Kingswood in Melbourne, where his two-handicap and tally of seven hole-in-ones speak to his natural ability. His sporting travels have taken him to some of the world’s most revered layouts, from Pine Valley to Shinnecock Hills and the historic links of Prestwick, blending his global sporting profile with a deep appreciation for golf’s most storied venues.
Even at the height of his cricketing career, when captaining Australia, Ponting always made room for golf. Rounds with fellow cricketers such as Mark Waugh, Greg Blewett and Glenn Maxwell became treasured escapes, proof that the pull of the game never wavered.
Now, as ambassador for the newly revitalised Championship Course at Launceston’s Country Club, Ponting is championing Tasmanian golf on the national stage. And through the Ricky Ponting Foundation, he harnesses the sport’s unifying power to raise vital funds for childhood cancer research, blending his competitive drive with heartfelt philanthropy.
Ponting’s story is not just that of a cricketing great who plays golf. It is the story of a true devotee of the game, one who approaches every swing, every round, and every course with the same passion and precision that defined his career in the ‘baggy green’.
Ponting with Country Club Tasmania’s head of golf Bryce Gorham.
CROCKETT: Ricky, can you tell us about your earliest memories of golf and how you got started with the game?
Ricky Ponting: My first memories of golf go back to my dad, who was a very good player when he was younger. He started a traineeship in Launceston, but that didn’t finish because I came along, and I think the guy he was working with passed away. Dad used to take every second Friday off work to play golf with his mates, and I’d often get those days off school. I’d walk around with him and his mates at Mowbray Golf Club in Launceston, just watching them play. My brother and sister have both played interstate golf as members there, too.
When did you really catch the golf bug, and how did it become a bigger part of your life?
It was probably in my early teens during summer school holidays. My parents both worked, so they’d drop my brother and I at the golf course at eight in the morning and pick us up at five in the afternoon. We’d spend the whole day there, having chipping or putting comps or playing hole after hole. That’s when it really took hold. My brother, who’s three years younger, was also a very good player, and we had a lot of fun with competitions and games together. That’s where the love for golf really started to grow.
Did you manage to play much golf while you were captain of the Australian cricket team, or was it tough to find time?
No, we played a lot, though it depended on the tours. Early in my career, like my first Test tour to the Caribbean in 1995 or the Ashes tour in 1997, we had more time to play. In the UK, for example, we were there for about four months, playing county teams as well, so there was a fair bit of downtime for golf between cricket games. Back then, guys like Mark Taylor, David Boon, and Mark Waugh loved a game, so we played quite a bit. Tours have become more compacted now with tighter schedules, but even the current team…guys like David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Glenn Maxwell…love to get out and play. Golf’s still a big part of an international cricketer’s touring life.
Which Australian cricketers are the most fun to play golf with?
Glenn Maxwell is probably the lowest handicapper in the current group, so he’s great to play with. I used to play a lot with Greg Blewett—we’re great mates and similar-level golfers, so we’ve had some cracking matches over the years. More recently, Steve Smith has caught the golf bug big time and is super passionate about it, which makes him fun to play with.
Can you name some of the best golf courses you’ve played around the world?
Living in Melbourne, I’m a member at Peninsula Kingswood, which is as good a golfing experience as you’ll find anywhere, with its two courses and top facilities. Internationally, I’ve played some beauties like Portrush in Ireland and a few in Scotland, like Kingsbarns and Prestwick, which have hosted about 50 British Opens. Last year, I did a 15-day golf trip to the US, playing 14 days at courses like Pine Valley, Shinnecock Hills, Friar’s Head, and Merion. Those were incredible experiences.
What’s your current handicap, and have you added to your seven hole-in-ones since we last spoke in 2014?
My current GA handicap is two. I haven’t added to the seven hole-in-ones, unfortunately. I’ve been away working for six months straight in India, the US, and the UK, so I haven’t played much competitive golf recently. Now that I’m back, I’m keen to get into some competitions at Peninsula Kingswood or Metro and try to get that handicap down a bit.
Have you played the original layout of the Championship Course at Launceston, and what’s the land like in that area?
Yeah, I played it a lot growing up in Launceston. It was part of the golfing road trip around the north of Tasmania, along with Mowbray, Riverside, and the Country Club. The area has some great courses, and I spent a lot of time at the Country Club, especially since moving away from Tasmania. The land there is fantastic for golf, and the renovations I saw in March blew me away. They’re doing everything to the highest spec, with no detail overlooked.
Can you tell us about the renovations at the Country Club in Launceston and what’s been done so far?
The renovations are incredible. They’ve redone the holes closest to the clubhouse and hotel first, and the quality is top-notch—immaculate greens, pure white bunker sand, and the contrast with the fescue is stunning. They’ve also added a state-of-the-art 28-bay driving range, which had already seen over 300,000 balls hit in its first two weeks. There’s a cool mini-golf putt-putt green, too, creating a great environment for younger people and families. They’ve redone lakes, bridges, streams, and creeks, and it’s shaping up to be a world-class golfing experience.
Has the Federal Group invested in the hotel and casino areas as well, or is the focus mainly on the golf course?
The golf course is the priority right now, along with the driving range and mini-golf facilities. Down the track, they’ll invest in the hotel and casino areas, but the focus is on making the golf course and overall experience as high-quality as possible. They’re aiming to make it a destination that rivals places like Barnbougle for international tourists.
Through his Ricky Ponting Foundation, Ricky and his wife Brianna do outstanding work in raising money and supporting children and families battling childhood cancer.
Do you think the revamped Country Club course will attract more golfers to stay in Launceston instead of heading straight to Barnbougle?
Absolutely. When I was there two weeks ago, I met some guys picking up their clubs at the airport, heading to Barnbougle. I told them, ‘in 12 months, you’ll be coming to the Country Club first.’ The vision is to make it a must-play destination, and with the care they’re putting into it, it won’t take long for that to catch on.
Are there plans for a big launch event, like a charity golf day, at the Country Club in summer 2026?
Yeah, they’ve got lots of great ideas. The course is still called the Championship Golf Course, and there’s a big vision to host major events there. With my contacts and corporate support, I’m involved to help promote it and ensure it’s a top-tier golfing experience. A charity golf day or big event is definitely on the cards to showcase the course.
Can you tell us about the Ricky Ponting Foundation and how golf plays a role in it?
The foundation, run by my wife Brianna and me for about 15 or 16 years, raises money for children and families battling childhood cancer. It’s going strong, though the charity dollar is harder to come by these days. We’ve become more Tasmania-centric in the last five years, raising and injecting funds back into Tasmania. We have a fundraising Big Bash League game each year, like the Hurricanes vs. Brisbane Heat at Launceston Arena this year, which supports medical services for kids with cancer in Tasmania. Golf has been a big part of our fundraising, with many golf days in Melbourne and beyond where proceeds go to the foundation.
