Category: Opinion

Practical — and sometimes controversial –opinions on the state of golf

It’s OK to admit you’re not OK

Finding the light amidst the clouds

What a Waste (Management)

Hi, Tech!

The Cup Runneth (and now it’s over)

Thanks for asking

Minjee Lee wins under lights in Dubai!
Australia’s Minjee Lee captured the OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic with a clutch birdie putt from 20ft at the first extra hole to beat France’s Celine Boutier in a thrilling shoot-out under the Middle Eastern moonlight. Following in the footsteps of previous champions including Annika Sorenstam, Lexi Thompson and Shanshan Feng, Lee came into the week […] […]
Vic Open cancelled for 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting border closures along with international travel restrictions have forced the cancellation of the Vic Open scheduled for February, 2021. This follows last week’s regretful cancellation of the summer’s other premier golf events — the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and the Women’s Australian Open. The three orga […]
Australia’s major golf events cancelled for 2020
Australia’s premiere golf events – the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Women’s Australian Open – have been cancelled for 2020 due to Covid-19. PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman, ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn and Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed all three of the 2020 season events, which were recently r […]
Study shows that golf improves muscle strength and balance
An international research study backed by The R&A has found new evidence to suggest golf can provide significant health benefits to older participants in the form of improved muscle strength and balance. Muscle strength and balance exercises form an important part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines to tackle physical inactiv […]
Golf Fore A Cause Partners with Lifeline Australia
Australian golf retailer Drummond Golf’s “Golf Fore a Cause” initiative has announced a partnership with Lifeline Australia, Australia’s largest suicide prevention service. Over the next three years, Golf Fore a Cause has pledged to donate $250,000 to Lifeline. The donation will provide much-needed support so Lifeline can continue to be there for the most vu […]
Australian golf ‘booming’ from Covid-19
Golf is experiencing a pandemic-inspired boom, a new report has confirmed. In its Australian Golf Rounds – Trends and Impacts of Covid-19 report, Golf Australia confirms that despite parts of Victorian golf being shuttered for extended periods of 2020, year-to-date rounds played nationally are down only 1 per cent by the end of August. If […]
Sports Happiness Index: Which Fans Are The Happiest? (Hint: it’s Golf!)
After CNBC reported that sports fans have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of loneliness and tend to be more satisfied with their life compared to those who aren’t interested in sports, analysts at Golfsupport were keen to uncover once and for all which fans are the happiest. Golfsupport surveyed 6,530 sports fans worldwide to […]
Australian PGA Championship postponed until February 2021
The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia has postponed the Australian PGA Championship to 18-21 February 2021. With a raft of strict control measures in place across most Australian states, the difficult decision to reschedule the tournament was made in hope restrictions will ease by early next year. It means fans will have the ability to see […]
International #ThankASuper Day
As a healthy outdoor activity that can adhere to social distancing requirements, golf has seen a worldwide resurgence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 23 September 2020, the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) in conjunction with other global superintendent and turf management organisations, is recognising those who help keep the game […]

It’s OK to admit you’re not OK
This is extremely difficult to say. In fact, it’s all but overwhelming, and one of the hardest admissions I’ve ever made. But it needs to be said. Over the last few months, I’ve not been “OK”. Not at all. COVID-19 has taken its toll. From the daily ritual of nervously flicking on the TV to […]
Finding the light amidst the clouds
It’s safe to say that 2020 is proving to be one of the most difficult years in living memory. As I write this (in mid-March), Covid-19 / Coronavirus is running rampant across the planet, with people either locked-down, quarantined or brawling in the aisles for bathroom tissue. This all followed the rampant bushfires and floods […]
What a Waste (Management)
Across the globe, a lot has been written and said about the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. Most notably, the discussion has centred around the topic of the Stadium Hole, which is a grandstand/corporate box that surrounds the par-3 16th hole of TPC Scottsdale, and is purpose-built to house and entertain tens of thousands […]
Hi, Tech!
Last month, I made the trek to Orlando, Florida, for the massive PGA Merchandise Show. Over four full days, I walked the “miles” of aisles, and sampled hundreds upon hundreds of products. One thing I noticed while touring this behemoth of a golf show, is that the level of innovation in the golf products industry […]
The Cup Runneth (and now it’s over)
Well, another Presidents Cup has been run and won…by the Americans. (Sigh) Immediately following the event, I, like most of Australia and the non-American-viewing-public, felt more than a bit flat. Not just because the International team lost what was shaping up to be a thrilling (and, let’s face it, a much-needed) victory throughout the week, […]
Thanks for asking
Many of you will recall that I wrote an article in the March issue about member/player surveys (“A Question Left Unasked”). In that column, I mentioned how surveys and feedback are the lifeblood of any business, especially those in the hospitality industry. Yet it’s almost unheard of in golf (which is a hospitality/entertainment business, in […]
Virtually (un)certain?
DURING last month’s GMA National Conference—where general managers and industry professionals met to discuss and address the many issues affecting golf clubs—I was fortunate to chat with dozens of delegates about a variety of issues plaguing their clubs. One such issue was the proliferation of “Virtual Clubs”—online-based or remotely-based groups that often […]
Fixing slow play
Nearly every day, I read or hear reports concerning slow play in golf. Having played the game for nearly 50 years, I can attest that slow play is indeed one of the most frustrating parts of the game. And over those years, I have discovered the many causes (and many solutions) to this bane of […]
Golfers (Still) Just Want Fun…Not Futility
Last month, Golf Australia released their annual National Golf Club Participation Report, which detailed the national trends on membership, competition rounds, general participation and specific program participation. The report, which is available online at https://bit.ly/2Hi6JSq, revealed that golf membership is continuing its steady decline on a national […]
Did you feel the (Port)Rush?
Last month’s Open Championship was an epic moment for professional golf, as we witnessed the return of Northern Ireland / Royal Portrush to the Open Rota, following a near 70-year absence. For those of you who could not watch the event (sadly, as with nearly all golf these days, it wasn’t on Free-to-Air, but that’s […]