Aussie Golfer's 2nd Birthday

To little fanfare, Aussie Golfer celebrated its 2nd birthday last week and I'd just like to take time out to thank all readers for your continued support and feedback. I started this little project as a fun outlet for my writing but it's evolved into something much bigger than I first envisaged.

There's been many good and bad appraisals’ of the website and I welcome more of them in order to steer this golfing ship in the right direction.

If anyone was thinking of sending Aussie Golfer a birthday present, passing on the website with a kind word to fellow Australian golfers would be much appreciated!

Cheyenne Woods - Tiger's Niece

Australian Golf talks politics

Claiming no other sport contributes as much to the Australian economy as golf, leading figures from the Australian Golf industry including five time Open winner, Peter Thomson went to Canberra this week to ensure politicians are aware of the impact of the game.

Following in the footsteps of Fred Couples and Greg Norman who lobbied US government on the impact of golf in the US economy last month, chairman of Australian Golf Industry Max Garske and Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt, took the game to the top.

They met with a whole range of Australian politicians including sports minister Kate Ellis discussing the environmental impact of golf courses in the Australian climate and innovations required to advance the game further.

According to Daniel Lewis' report in the SMH:

Australia boasts 1530 courses and about a million people play some 30 million rounds every year, but club membership is declining and the biggest group of golfers is aged between 55 and 64.

If correct, Victorian MP Richard Marles then rightly added: "I think we have got more golf courses per head of population than any other country in the world."

As an outside observer of the Australian Golf industry for some time now, I must say that the last year or so has seen some fantastic initiatives. The best I've seen. The industry does seem to be bringing the game out of the dark ages and pushing it in the right direction (There was talk of nine hole competitions and a review of the current handicap system which is exactly the sort of thing the game needs.).

The upcoming handicap changes, Tiger's Australian presence and this push into Australian politics bodes well for Australian Golf. What we need now is another major winner, a few professional's getting on board and for the golf industry to keep up the momentum.

Boors at Bethpage Black

Here's a different take on the recent action from Bethpage Black. Seems there were some literal and metaphorical wet blankets out at the US Open on the weekend.

TV commentators said the way to deal with the New York fans is to give them something. Show some emotion, give them a ball and win them over. That's called extortion. Whoever heard of paying hush money on a golf course? What's next, waking up with a horse's head in your bed? Why should anyone be nice to these boors?

My golf's better than my score! - Final Thoughts

I thought I'd better wrap this up. Thanks to everyone that's emailed and commented on what has turned out to be a fairly controversial topic.

The consensus seems to be that we'd all prefer a good score. We're mostly Machevellian golfers at heart, the ends justifies the means:

AD: "I've got no idea how I managed to do that, felt like I hit the ball terrible, I'll take the score but..."

Herb: "I've struck the ball well for a long time with no good scores, I say bring on the ugly low round."

Paul: "The card doesn't ask how, just how many!!!"

GolfSwingSimplified: "If I can't fantasize about "how good I REALLY am", then what's the point of playing?"

Some of us would rather stick to the idea of playing good golf rather than scoring well:

Geno: I'd rather play well than score well. Nothing is more frustrating than spraying it all over the place and not have a clue as how to get it back.

But I think Cal is getting close to the point here:

If you've hit the ball crap, but managed a reasonable score, doesn't that just mean you've scrambled your ar$e off around the course.

Long drives and close approach shots are such a feature of the modern game of golf that we tend to forget about our solid recovery shots, good chip shots and scrambling putts. In both professional and amateur golf, putts account for over a third of number of shots played on the golf course. If we include chip shots, bunker shots and any other shots within 50 metres of the green, we're talking about 50% of golf.

This is nothing profound and nothing that hasn't been said before, but it's an important point to be reminded of once again. It highlights a couple of things. The first is that it shows just how important a good short game is and requires just as much practice as the long game.

Secondly, if we say "I didn't hit the ball well but had a good score", we are usually referring to the long game: drives and iron shots. The fact we can still scratch out a good score is probably due to the fact the short game saved the day. Conversely, if we state "I hit the ball well, but couldn't score", will often mean we couldn't close it out around the short stuff.

It's the nature of the game and why we love it. It's full of power and finesse, but it's the power that gets all the attention much of the time. Get a good short game and on days when you hit the ball well, you'll also score well.

Related posts

1. My golf is better than my score!

2. My golf is better than my score! - More thoughts

3. My golf is better than my score! - Final thoughts

Fred Astaire: Dancing and Golf

Here's an old clip of Fred Astaire, dancing and playing golf - at the same time.

Golf Trivia Answers #7

1. What year did Europe replace Great Britain & Ireland to compete for the Ryder Cup?
   1979
   
   
2. True or False: In stroke play, if a competitor returns a card with the correct scores for each hole but the total is incorrect, he shall be disqualified.
   FALSE. The player is not responsible for the score total. The player only needs to ensure the hole-by-hole scores are correct. A golfer can return a score card without totalling up the score.
   
   
3. What's the minimum distance allowed between adjacent grooves on a golf club?
   The distance between edges of adjacent grooves must not be less than three
   times the width of the grooves, and not less than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm).
   
   
4. Aside from Tiger Woods, which four currently competing golfers have won the most majors? (Excluding golfers on the senior tours) Hint: All four golfers have won 3 majors.
   Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh have all won 3 majors each.
   
   
5. Who are the two people in the image below?
   Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and current Australian LGPA professional, Katherine Hull.
   

Wet Bunker Shots

This little tip from Ozzie Moore that appeared on The PGA Golf Show on FoxSports could serve everyone well over the winter months ahead. Either that or it may just be enough information to mess with our heads and ruin our bunker shots completely.

My golf's better than my score! - More thoughts

Following on from the discussion we had last week on Aussie Golfer concerning when your golf is actually better than your score.

Avid reader Aaron David, commented on the post and decided to throw his own question into the discussion. I think it's worth sharing once more:

If you feel you've hit the ball well but not scored well, do you feel better then if you hit the ball crap but managed a reasonable score?

It's an interesting question and I can't help but think I'd be happier with a better score from bad golf than thinking (even if not entirely true) that my golf game deserved a better score.

What do you think?

Related posts

1. My golf is better than my score!

2. My golf is better than my score! - More thoughts

3. My golf is better than my score! - Final thoughts

Tuesday Golf Trivia #7

Like a good boomerang, it's back - it's Tuesday Golf Trivia!

1. What year did Europe replace Great Britain & Ireland to compete for the Ryder Cup?
2. True or False: In stroke play, if a competitor returns a card with the correct scores for each hole but the total is incorrect, he shall be disqualified.
3. What's the minimum distance allowed between adjacent grooves on a golf club?
   
4. Aside from Tiger Woods, which four currently competing golfers have won the most majors? (Excluding golfers on the senior tours) Hint: All four golfers have won 3 majors.
5. Who are the two people in the image below?

Previous Golf Trivia Quizzes
Golf Trivia #1
Golf Trivia #2
Golf Trivia #3
Golf Trivia #4
Golf Trivia #5
Golf Trivia #6
Golf Course Quiz

Nine Aussies to tee up in US Open

The US Open begins this week at Bethpage Black Golf Course in New York. Nine Aussie golfer's qualified for the second major of 2009 and it feels a little like a changing of the guard for Australian golf.

Former champion Geoff Ogilvy is playing along with regular faces, Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby. It's the new faces of Australian golf that makes this US Open so interesting such as Matt Jones, James Nitties and Michael Sim all qualifying for the event.

Of all the Australians to tee it up on Thursday, arguably Robert Allenby, James Nitties and Michael Sim are in the best form. Allenby has been in good touch over the past few weeks on the PGA Tour and James Nitties has had a superb season after qualifying through Q-School.

It's Michael Sim (pictured) that has everyone talking this year, winning twice on the Nationwide Tour and is the leading money earner by a country mile. He had a great summer in Australia and he's wrapped up a permanent spot on the PGA Tour next year. One more Nationwide Tour win would see him gain immediate promotion. Keep an eye on Sim this week.

Australian's at the 2009 US Open
Steve Allan
Robert Allenby
Stuart Appleby
Matt Jones
James Nitties
Geoff Ogilvy
Rod Pampling
Adam Scott
Michael Sim

Photo courtesty of Getty Images

Brian Eno vs Tiger Woods

In response to the news that Melbourne had secured (for $3 million) the appearance of Tiger Woods to play in the 2009 Australian Masters earlier this year, New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees said:

"I'd much rather Brian Eno's work on display for the people of NSW for three weeks than Tiger Woods for three days''.

It sounded a little like saying "Well, I've got the latest edition of Boggle", to the kid down the street who has just got a new BMX.

Now, it's horses for courses and I know I'm preaching to the converted here. I've had a quick peek at the illumination and sound exhibits around Circular Quay and it looks pretty good and I love a good arts festival as much as the next person but let's see exactly what Premier Rees loves so much and put it up against what Tiger is capable of showing.

I've sandwiched some footage of Tiger Woods in action in between a report on the art installation from Eno and an old Roxy Music track. Make up your own minds.

If the President's Cup were played tomorrow...

We are four months away from The Presidents Cup which is being hosted by the Harding Park Golf course in San Francisco but if it were being played tomorrow, these would be the teams:

International	USA
Geoff Ogilvy	Tiger Woods
Vijay Singh	Phil Mickelson
Camilo Villegas	Steve Stricker
Ernie Els	Kenny Perry
Mike Weir	Sean O’Hair
Retief Goosen	Zach Johnson
Angel Cabrera	Jim Furyk
Tim Clark	Justin Leonard
Rory Sabbatini	Stewart Cink
Jeev M Singh	Anthony Kim

Captain’s Greg Norman and Fred Couples will also have two extra picks to add to each team. The International’s are dominated by South Africans with Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini in some good form.

What is missing from the International team is some little upstart who mouths off a bit too much to present the opposition supporters someone to hate and add a bit of spice to the event. I’m hoping Jason Day can win a few back-to-back tournaments, say something silly and fill that Sergio Garcia type role.

With President Obama being named honorary chairman of the 2009 Presidents Cup and the relatively poor form from some of the International team, Team USA will prove hard to beat.

Personalised Golf Clubs

Aussie Golfer stumbles across loads of interesting golf devices, websites and businesses. Obviously some are better than others. The decision to write about them or not rests on this question: "Blog or no blog, would I tell my golfing buddies about it?" If yes, you'll most probably see it on Aussie Golfer.

The latest, interactive offering from Australian golf company, Lind Golf is something I'd tell friends about. Australian owned Lind Golf have launched a new online service enabling golfers to not only customise their new set of golf clubs for better golf but also for appearance.

It's an easy step-by-step process where you can customise the length and make of your shafts, choose the grip type and colour or even add personalised logo's or artwork!

According to the website there are 50 million possibilities and the personalisation doesn't stop with clubs as you can also add your name to golf bags.

The big question: "What are Lind Golf clubs like to hit?" I'll try them shortly and let you know.

In the meantime, this looks very cool and as an Australian owned company trying to squeeze into the already competitive golf market, they look like they are on to a winner with this idea.

Related Article:
Lind Golf - The verdict

My golf's better than my score!

Peter Lonard's had a shocking year on the PGA Tour so far. He's game has gone the way of the world economy at the same time he's trying to get used to wearing contact lenses for the first time.

I was pleased to see him make this statement last week that myself and nearly every other golfer I know have said at some stage over the past year:

"I really feel that my game is not as bad as my scores are suggesting..."

We've all said it and I've heard it a lot lately (you know who you are!).

I often wonder if it's true or whether we're really just trying to kid ourselves into thinking we're better at the game than we think. Why else would we keep playing this silly game?

Keep up-to-date with the trials and tribulations of Peter Lonard at his official website.

The rest of you, keep telling me all about your trials and tribulations in person. It makes me feel a lot better about my game.

Related posts

1. My golf is better than my score!

2. My golf is better than my score! - More thoughts

3. My golf is better than my score! - Final thoughts

An Ode to Real Golfers

An Ode to Real Golfers

Real golfers clean grooves and know what GUR means
Real golfers have golf shoes and don't play in jeans

Real golfers don't hate courses just because they've played poor
Real golfers don't ask "Is this is a par 5 or 4?"

Real golfers play promptly and make measured "Fore!" calls
Real golfers love golf gear but not fluoro balls

Real golfers have pencils and gladly keep score
Real golfers never play in groups of five or more

Real golfers have an idea where their ball's to be found
Real golfers fix plugmarks and yearn for four hour rounds

Real golfers will walk and often dress like fools
Real golfers always know and play by the rules

by Michael Green
Aussie Golfer

with thanks to Piers Lewis, Chris Mercer, James Mercer

It’s hard to skin a Tiger

Big tip of the hat to Shane Bacon over at Fanhouse for this one. I just had to share this video with Aussie Golfer readers too.

There was some Skins game (remember those) played yesterday with Tiger and Jack (two one-name players) pairing up against Stewart Cink and Kenny Perry (two two-name players).

Tiger needed this putt at the last to tie the last skin and then they had a chip-off to decide who’s charity the skin would go to.

You know those little putting challenges you have late in the day on the practise green. Or those little chipping contests between mates with a beer down the beach? This Tiger guy would be an absolute pain in the arse to have around in those circumstances. If it wasn’t for tournament pairings, no one would play with him.

P.S. Maybe his opponents should sledge more?

Are tickets to see Tiger too expensive?

Since the announcement of tickets for the 2009 Australian Masters going on sale this week there's been plenty of price scrutiny going on.

Some early reports focused on limiting ticket sales to 20,000 each day and then a few reports mentioned the prices had gone up. Last year, the price of a ticket was $30. The price for this year's event is now, $44. A ticket for the final round on Sunday will set you back $49.

Is it really that expensive? The golf tournament is held once a year, you get at least six hours of entertainment and I've yet to mention Tiger Woods is playing.

Catching a game of footy at the MCG will set you back $43.50, a ticket to day one of last year's Boxing Day Test Match costs $51 and a seat at the singles finals at the Australian Open Tennis last January would have set you back $289.90!

Aussie Golfer can see that there may be an argument for paying Tiger the $3 million appearance fee but I cannot agree that $44 to see him play is expensive at all.

Networking on the golf course

Is there any other sport or activity that is more fun to do while doing business than golf? According to American movies, perhaps racquetball may be one. Some guy usually gets the ball in his family jewels but in general, it's usually golf. For this reason, I'm surprised the sort of business that Croweaters Steven Hamilton and Jon White have established hasn't emerged in Australia before.

I stumbled upon Fairway Networking while wondering why Wayne Carey and Mark Ricciuto were on the golf course together. A golf network of professionals from a whole range of different industries has been created which includes including top business people and sporting identities to form a huge number of potential business links - all interacting on the golf course.

I asked Steven just how this is different from regular corporate golf days?

They are traditionally industry driven but Fairway Networking events are open to all business types, so you will never know what new business opportunities may arise.

There's a whole load of events on the calendar at some not too shabby golf courses either. The next event is at the Grange Golf Club on June 29.

Currently the network has only begun in Adelaide but I can imagine it's only a matter of time before it goes nationwide.

Australian Masters tickets on sale Thursday

The 2009 Australian Masters is being held at the Kingston Heath Golf Club from 12 – 15 November and a media release issued today by announced tickets will go on sale this Thursday, June 4 at noon.

True to their word, organisers have ensured tickets to the event are affordable. Available through Ticketek, general admission to the tournament will be $44 per day with the final day priced at $49. Spectators can purchase a season pass for $169 to access the venue over six days. They’re looking at the future too with all children under 14 years of age getting in free with a paying ticket holder.There’s also an option to enjoy your golf in style in “The Bunker”.

Vice President, Director of Golf IMG Australia, David Rollo said tickets are available for all four tournament days plus the practice day on Tuesday and Pro-Am on Wednesday.

“The Victorian Government and the Australian Masters have worked together to establish a ticketing policy that will ensure the event is affordable and accessible to all.

“To ensure we provide the best experience for spectators we have capped general admission to 20,000 on each day so fans should purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment,” Mr Rollo said.

So if you’re keen to see Geoff Ogilvy, Paul Goydos, Mathew Goggin or Peter Senior play, get your tickets quick!

Oh, I think Tiger Woods is playing as well.

For full details on the pricing structure, see the Australian Masters Ticketek webpage.

May Recap

In case you missed them, here's a selection of some of the most popular Aussie Golfer posts from the month of May:

Baker-Finch and that tee shot: A look at Ian Baker-Finch's notoriously bad opening tee shot at the 1995 Open Championship.

Rules of Golf: Embedded Golf Ball: What is the ruling when you ball becomes embedded in it's own pitch mark on the fairway?

The Science of Happy Gilmore: Padraig Harrington tries out teeing off Happy Gilmore style with great results!

RIP Four Hour Round of Golf: Is the four hour round of golf a thing of the past?

Betting on Golf: The low incentives and ridiculous odds on offer if you're inclined to wager on the professionals.

Australian Handicapping changes: The system for handicapping amateur golfers in Australia will soon change.

Hawaiian Golf: A summary of a round the most amazing golf course Aussie Golfer has ever played.