Inside Golf - September 2010

September 2010 www.insidegolf.com.au................................................................................................................................................................................. CHIPS&SHANKSQLD

7
Sign of the times

IT’S sad that Palm Meadows Golf Course on the Gold Coast has closed, but it’s even sadder that one of Australia’s best golf courses has been left to rot while another less-known golf course has been forced to close its doors.

Kooralbyn Resort, in the Gold Coast hinterland, folded two years ago and the last golf ball was hit in anger at Samford Valley Golf Club, near Brisbane, three months ago.

Keperra, Ashgrove and Wantima golf clubs benefited when Samford’s members joined those clubs.

The Desmond Muirhead-designed Kooralbyn, once rated one of Australia’s top- 50 courses, is dying a slow death.

Many years ago it was the venue for the popular Battle of the Media tournament, which has since dropped off the golfing calendar.

The Kooralbyn Hotel is in the hands of liquidators.;

Lee Harrington, Corinne Dibnah, Ann O’Neill and Carmen Savy.

The championship is open to all female golfers who hold a Golf Australia handicap or a handicap through the Queensland Women’s Golf Network.

Only women currently in paid employment can enter the Business Women’s Championship with all other players competing in the Open Challenge.

Division 1 players will play an 18- hole stroke event, while division 2 players play an 18-hole stableford event. The entry fee is $55 and includes a golf cart and registration pack.;

Quick round
Can you believe it?

WHO says you can’t play a round of golf in less than four hours?

Recently Adam Scott and American Rickie Fowler scooted around the golf course in three hours and 40 minutes.

No, it wasn’t a social round – it was during the $8.5m Bridgestone Invitational played at Firestone Country Club.;

Winners versus losers
King Louis a good bet

WHEN it comes to the Ryder Cup records, it’s hard to believe Jack Nicklaus, Ray Floyd and Mark O’Meara, on the American’s side, share the record for the most singles matchplay defeats.

The trio each lost four singles matches during their careers, but that pales into insignificance when you examine the opposition’s record.

Christy O’Connor Senior holds the overall record for most losses in singles matchplay.

He played 14 singles matches for the teams of Great Britain and Great Britain & Ireland and lost 10 of them.

Tony Jacklin wasn’t much better, losing eight out of 11 singles matches.;

THIS was unsolicited but we thought we’d share it with you. Winner says ‘let me do it for you’. Loser says ‘it’s not my job’. Winner says ‘it may be difficult but it is possible’. Loser says ‘it may be possible but it’s too difficult’. Winner sees a green near every sand trap. Loser sees two or three traps near every green.

ANYONE who did their homework on Louis Oosthuizen prior to the Open Championship might have put a few bob on the South African.

He entered the Open as a rank outsider, but the form book should have been thrown away because Oosthuizen grew up on a links-style course that is often savaged by Scotland-like weather.

Anyway, while Oosthuizen was doing the business in difficult playing conditions at St Andrews, I visited his home club of Mossel Bay where I discovered he once carded a 15-under-par 57.

The par- 72 links-style golf course stretches to 5940m and is famed for having a view of the Indian Ocean from every tee.

The views are spectacular, but it also means the golf course is open to the elements – particularly during winter when the weather conditions can be brutal.

Even in conditions that would keep penguins at home, Oosthuizen would venture out so that he could fine-tune his under-the-wind and bump-and-run shots.

I also found out Oosthuizen is attached to the magnificent Pinnacle Point course, which is also set high on the cliffs at Mossel Bay.

The resort’s general manager of golf operations Jason Totos invited me out for a game, but I declined because it was raining and the wind was howling.

It was bitterly cold so we chose the inviting comforts of the palatial clubhouse.

We drank hot coffee in front of the roaring fire and watched the Open on television where Oosthuizen was defying the odds.;

Business women
showdown

QUEENSLAND business women are being urged to dust off their golf clubs and enter the Queensland Business Women’s Championship and Open Challenge.

The event will be held at North Lakes Golf Club on Sunday, October 10.

Golf Queensland has a full weekend of activities planned including a two-hour clinic to be hosted by professionals

Quote/Unquote
“I never prayed that
I would make a putt.
I prayed that I would
react well if I missed.”
– Chi Chi Rodriguez

David Newbery

david@insidegolf.com.au

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