USPGA Championship – Dustin Johnson and Bunkergate

Whistling Straits is full of bunkers, 967 as per Golf Digests count, yet many have tried to count the bunkers, many gave up, and no two counts have ever been the same. So defining a bunker/hazard on this crazed course isnt easy.

Dustin Johnson felt the full impact of the subjective definition of a bunker/hazard on the final hole at Whistling Straits during the PGA Championship. This is the shot that confronted Johnson after he had carved his drive right, into the gallery. An exposed dune, sand, grass trodden down by spectators. He played a solid recovery, eventually bogeying the hole to finish in a tie for the lead.



Rule officials however judged that he grounded his club in a hazard and incurred a two shot penalty knocking him out of the playoff. Johnson later said that he had no idea he was in a hazard. Which begs the question as to what is the difference between a sand trap, a waste bunker, exposed sand. This ‘hazard’ had people standing in it, the boundaries defining where it stops and the rough starts are subjective. Ive played lots of golf on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, and there are plenty of lies in sandy waste areas such as this that Ive never defined as a hazard.
Rulings are rulings though and Johnson handled himself professionally. An even bigger drama was avoided though, should Johnson had finished outright winner and celebrated the win only to be told he had been penalised would have been a lot worse!
This definition is always going to be subjective, did the fact that all eyes were on him on his 72nd hole of a Major mean he was overly officiated? I bet he wasnt the only player on the weekend to ground his club in a waste area. This ‘hazard’ may not have existed earlier in the week and was created by foot traffic of the huge galleries. Golf can be a frustrating sport, the rules are meant to make it fair and less frustrating, yet something as subjective as this that leaves a pro perplexed needs to be looked at further by the R&A

Wild weather at Flinders Golf Club

Played yesterday at Flinders Golf Club, perched on the Mornington Peninsula coast overlooking the ocean, the course is one of the original layouts on the Peninsula and provides spectacular coastal views. With work colleagues Emma and Nigel, and Em’s friend Danielle we joined Emma’s regular Christmas Golf Classic. The weather radar was ominous, a nasty front was approaching as we teed off.

Flinders is not a long course, but the layout is challenging when the wind blows, and the conditioning is excellent, fairways perfect and the greens fast. The stretch of holes from the 4th through to the 8th are excellent seaside holes with clifftop views out to sea. The storm hit us on the 5th green, driving rain and wind followed by the golfers worst nightmare, thunder and a flash of lightning. Carrying a bag full of steel and carbon fibre turns the golfer into a perfect lightning conductor! We sheltered the worst and then bravely continued on.
The quality of the golf was pretty impressive given the conditions, and proved that we were either hard core or just plain crazy, to play through the weather! Having not played Flinders before, was impressed with the course, the layout, the views and the condition. So spoilt for choice on the Mornington Peninsula!

Nige plays approach to the Coffin Hole, ominous sky!

Emma tees off on 5th, the storm approaches

Impressive views at Flinders - Hard core weather!

The ultimate US Masters golf experience (unless you qualify!)

Next weekend the golfing world turns to Augusta, Georgia and the US Masters.  The first Major of the year played on one of the world’s greatest and most exclusive courses places the Masters on top of many golfers ultimate experiences.  The best of the best will get the chance to walk the hallowed fairways, however for the mere mortals in Australia it involves early mornings watching the coverage on TV.  Big screens and high definition have improved the experience, but most dream of the chance to one day, walk the fairways as part of the gallery.


Corey McKernan once walked the hallowed greens of another sport playing 237 games as an elite ruckman in the Australian Football League for North Melbourne.  Corey was a dual premiership player and won best and fairest and all Australian awards.  Since retiring from professional football, Corey has developed his strong passion for sport into his dream job with the creation of Corey McKernan Ultimate Events.  Corey hosts sporting events to major events in Australia and throughout the world, and earlier this year hosted a tour group to the 2011 Super Bowl.
And for a lucky group of passionate golfers, Corey is hosting a tour to the US Masters this year which will also include rounds of golf at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.  I asked Corey a few questions about golf and his US Masters tour.

• Q: How does the Masters experience compare to other World sporting events?  How would you rank the Masters with Wimbledon, Monaco GP, Superbowl and AFL Grand Final? The biggest thing where it is totally unique to the other events mentioned, and most major sporting events, is that the US Masters has retained its sacred status, and is probably the same as it was back in 1932. There is no advertising signage around the course, no corporate hospitality marquees, it has not been modernised. Whilst other events such as Wimbledon regain tradition, they have made some changes in this degree, but the sacred nature of the US Masters makes it so special to attend.
• Q: How many golfers do you expect will travel on the tour this year? Because we want the tour to stay personal, and to be able to offer the best experiences and opportunities to all on the tour, we keep the numbers low. We are taking around 20 people with us this year, including taking Aussie Rules legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico. The tour get to play at Pebble Beach & Spyglass Hill, and even get to have a BBQ lunch with golfing stars John Daly and Jarrod Lyle on US Masters’ Eve.
• Q: What’s your favourite hole on the Augusta layout and where is the best vantage point to watch from the gallery? The great thing about Augusta National is that the numerous mounds make it one of the best, if not the best, viewing courses in the world. Behind the 12^th tee, looking over the Par Three, is indescribable until you see it for yourself. The 2^nd shot of the 15^th hole is up there, as is the 16^th tee. Overall, though, the panoramic view on the 13^th hole is probably my favourite. It’s immense, with a dog leg to the left of a Par 5, and if you stand on the right of the tee you have a brilliant view with a backdrop of 100 foot pine trees and azaleas, as well as Ray’s Creek. The view is breathtaking.
• Q: What’s your tip for the winner of the Masters this year, which Australian is most likely to break the drought? The same players tend to do well every year at the US Masters, making it unique as a golf tournament. Unless you have played well previously at Augusta, it is tough to be in contention, and some great players have not done well there, for example Robert Allenby. The likes of Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have a phenomenal record and you would expect them to be right amongst it. All past winners are a chance; Bernhard Langer had 8 years between his two US Masters wins, and was not in great form heading into the tournament in 1993, but his experience of taming the course helped him secure a great result. If you are looking at laying a bet, have a look at who has produced consistent, good scores over the past five years. Australian players find a lot of similarities between Augusta and Royal Melbourne, our guys love sandbelts, and it is amazing that we have never produced a winner. Geoff Ogilvy has played well here, but has not been able to sustain his form for a four round consistent performance. If he puts his whole game together, he could be right up there, as could Stuart Appleby.
• Q: Everyone I speak to says that Augusta is flattened by the TV screen, how would you describe the layout? Over the last 15-20 years, as television cameras have gone digital and coverage improved immensely, the gravity of the steep course has become slightly more evident when watching at home, but it still doesn’t do it justice.  You get such a greater appreciation how hilly it is, the back 9 especially, by being there at the course. The drop from the 10^th tee to the green is the same height as the Empire State Building! The slide on the 18^th is grossly underestimated as well. You hit up a very narrow chute; it would not be a hole you would want to hit when you are nervous. Many very good golfers have come a cropper on this hole, looking at 300 yards up hill and then trying to use a six iron to the green and aim for a par.
• Q: What is the Masters gallery like compared to an Australian PGA Tour gallery? The gallery at Augusta National know all of the rules in no uncertain terms! Etiquette standards are very high, and Augusta also has a unique rule which would surely never last anywhere else. If you arrive early in the morning and place your chair down in a premium spot, nobody can move or touch your chair for the rest of the day. It is very traditional in the gallery, and it is one of the most comfortable golf tournaments to be a part of the gallery. They don’t let too many people in either, and the view from the elevated mounds is fantastic.
• Q: If you could play only one golf course for the rest of your life, it would be? From a complete golf experience point of view, Melbourne’s own Capital Golf Course is great. You arrive, have a bite to eat, have a practice drive and putt, play 9 holes, have something else to eat, play 9 more holes, and then go back to the clubhouse again. They don’t let too many people play so you can enjoy a leisurely pace. In terms of the best course, I would take a mixture of St Andrews, Augusta National and Pebble Beach; the best six from each, definitely including the 18^th hole at Pebble Beach. At St Andrews, the road hole and the 18^th hole for sure. Playing at St Andrews for the first time, you are overcome by extreme emotion and the extremity of the occasion when you are on the 18^th.  Walking over the famed bridge, the sense of history is overwhelming; golf was invented there, it simply couldn’t get any better, and your mind cannot help but wonder the immense experience of playing there in a major with a packed gallery watching your every movement.

The  2011 Masters tour jetted off this weekend and included:

• One nights’ accommodation in San Francisco
• Two nights’ at the Spanish Inn at the Monterey Peninsula.
• Play four rounds of golf including the world famous Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach.
• Tickets to three days at The Masters, the Par Three Tournament plus the third and fourth Rounds.
• Internal transfers within United States
• Six night’s Accommodation Private House in Aiken ( 25 mins from Augusta).
• Private chef cooking our daily breakfast in Aiken.
• BBQ with a special golfing guests.
• A Callaway tour pack with travel bag, hat, shirts & golf balls.

Golf Course Review – Lost Farm Golf Course

Overview – Lost Farm Golf Course Lost Farm Golf course joins Barnbougle Dunes on the North-east coast of Tasmania to form one of the finest golfing complexes in Australia, and would rival many in the World.  The rolling dunes situated just out of Bridport, about an hours drive from Launceston, was transformed by property owner, Richard Sattler.  Barnbougle Dunes designed by Tom Doak already had a host of credentials, ranked 45th in the Worlds top courses.  The landscape was too good for just one course, so Lost Farm was designed by Bill Coore to make the most of the serious golfing assets.
Layout Lost Farm sits a short iron across a narrow inlet from Barnbougle Dunes, but the two courses have very distinct differences and layouts.  Lost Farm reaches further in behind the dunes than Barnbougle providing more variability with the seemingly ever present wind, and a mix of hole styles.  Lost Farm adds another quirk, playing as a Par 78 20 hole layout, with holes 13A and 18A two extra par 3′s.   As per Barnbougle, Lost Farm eases the golfer into the round with a simple opening hole, though the tempo lifts very quickly.  The fairways are generous, though need to be if the wind picks up, and the rough is the same ball eating seaside grasses and bushes as Barnbougle.  For such a young course (opened November 2010), the greens are good, the fairways excellent, and will only improve.  No motorised carts, and walk does take you up and over a number of big dunes, again carry your bag if you can.
Favourite Holes
Fifth Hole – Par 4 400metres


The toughest hole on the course, and the most daunting tee shot.  A huge dune blocks most of the line of sight and depending on tee box, needs to be carried or faded around.  Once on the fairway, the approach shot is uphill to a huge green.
Eight Hole – Par 5 525 metres


An excellent links Par 5, the drive should be down the left side of the fairway to open up the gradually bending fairway.  Mounds and fairways traps need to be avoided to setup the approach shot to the green tucked into the side of a large dune, anything right is consumed by a huge waste bunker.
14th Hole Par 4 251 metres

A fantastic short par 4, once you have taken in the view, decision time.  Do you take the driver and attack the hole, a thin margin for error but risk rewarded, or layup with an iron and face a difficult short iron into the green. The huge dune on the right protects the tee from some of the wind, but the green is exposed.  Love this hole.
15th Hole – Par 3 164 metres

Picture postcard hole, the tee sits on top of a dune overlooking the green and the ocean.  On the huge dune to the left sit the impressive Lost Farm Spa and restaurant/bar.  Large bunkers gaurd the green which is fairly accomodating unless the wind picks up off the water, then this hole can get nasty.
 

The Word Lost Farm is good, very good.  The most common question is which course is best, Lost Farm or Barnbougle Dunes.  When Australian Golf Digest reviewed them in a head to head matchplay it was a tie, both courses are unique but I also cant seperate them.  Instead Ive put together a composite course of my best holes from both layouts.  Be sure to include both courses on your itinerary and pack extra golf balls.
Course details Lost Farm - Par 78 (20 holes) - 6,102 metres (Terra-Cotta) - Address: Near Bridport, 

Best 18 holes – Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm

The rolling sand dunes just out of Bridport on the North East coast of Tasmania were built for golf, thankfully Richard Sattler decided to do just that and hired Tom Doak and Bill Coore to turn the dunes into 38 holes of golfing heaven. Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm offer a world class golf experience, and having played the courses twice now, I still cant separate them when it comes to selecting a favorite layout.
So Ive designed a composite course of my favourite 18 holes from both courses.  The composite layout includes some of the classic short par 4s from both courses especially Lost Farm’s 14th and Barnbougle Dunes 4th, and the short par 3s that require pinpoint accuracy.  The composite course finishes with two tough par 4s, the dogleg 5th at Lost Farm and ends with the brute of a hole, the long 8th at Barnbougle Dunes.
Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm Composite Layout 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3,4   Out: 33 5, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4   In: 36

1. 3rd Lost Farm – Par 4, Wide fairway narrows to a green protected by sand and large dunes


2. 15th Barnbougle Dunes -Plenty of fairway to play with, dont be left of the green


7th Lost Farm - Tee shot must navigate the dune in the middle of the fairway


13A Lost Farm – Luckily Richard Sattler kept this sublime little par 3, best 13A hole ever!


 4th Lost Farm - Sitting on top of a dune, little more than 100metres, should be easy right?
 


 11th Lost Farm – Demanding tee shot needs to carry the ridge and avoid huge trap on the right.
7. 12th Barnbougle Dunes – Par 4, only 250metres, another short but subtle hole
8. 7th Barnbougle Dunes – Who said Par 3′s had to be long, very small green, big bunkers, tough into wind


 16th Lost Farm – Tee shot needs to be left side of fairway to provide angle into the protected green


10th Lost Farm – Par 5, drive threads a gully to a receptive fairway, tricky green


5th Barnbougle Dunes – Downhill par 3, huge bunkers protect an accommodating green


14th Lost Farm – Another cracking short par 4, layup or attack?


 15th Lost Farm - Par 3, Exposed tee provides no protection from the wind.  How about that view!


 17th Barnbougle Dunes – One of the toughest drives on the course, especially into the wind


 4th Barnbougle Dunes – Short par 4 tempts with a risk and reward drive, green well protected, Awesome hole


 8th Lost Farm – A great par 5, slight dogleg follows contours of a dune to the well protected green



5th Lost Farm – Massive dune obscures the tee shot, uphill second to huge green. Toughest hole at Lost Farm.

 8th Barnbougle Dunes – Very tough Par 4, multiple placement options from the tee sets up a huge uphill approach shot over bunkers and rough.  Toughest hole at Barnbougle Dunes.

Barnbougle – second time is even better

After playing Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm last November, I knew I needed to return. The two layouts located on the remote North East coast of Tasmania are something very special. So I joined my golfing mates Steve, Nigel and Kelvin on a two day golf trip, also playing for the illustrious Purple Jacket in the King Challenge.
Round 1 – Lost Farm
Early start and a short flight from Melbourne to Launceston, followed by a one hour drive got us to the first tee at Lost Farm at lunchtime. Weather was about as good as it gets in this part of the world, slight breeze and a few clouds. Kel had an additional handicap using a borrowed putter after realising that his putter was back in Canberra. I opened the scoring with a birdie, possibly peaking too early and after an early struggle to tune the putter, Kel found his range and racked up the points.



Lost Farm 4th Hole
Lost Farm is in sensational condition for a course so young, it can only improve over the next few years. After a great start, my game fell apart on the 9th and never recovered, meanwhile Kel and Nige were sinking some big putts and Steve found his game off the tee. The rough at Lost Farm is thick, impenetrable dune grasses and bushes, a wayward shot is almost certainly lost.



Steve tackles the rough on the 14th
The back nine is a long one with two extra holes (13A and 18A), and the scoring slowed as the swings got tired, and the lure of a cold Boags beckoned from the clubhouse. The climb from the 13th green to 13A tee is real mountain goat stuff, but is worth it to play the sublime 13Ath hole. Then the heartrate lifts again as the view down the short but testing 14th comes into view. Then the 15th adds yet another wow factor.



Lost Farm 15th
Sitting on the deck with a cleansing ale overlooking the front nine at Lost Farm, we reviewed the scorecards and the days play. Kel had the lead with 37pts, Nige 35 pts and Mike and Steve both carded 32pts.
Round 2 – Barnbougle Dunes
After staying the night in the nearby sleepy seaside town of Bridport, we teed up the following morning at Barnbougle Dunes. The more established course of the two, Barnbougle already has an impressive trophy cabinet of accolades and course rankings. And by the time you stand on the 4th tee, you already know why. The stretch from the 4th to the 8th is awesome golf, with the approach to the 8th green one of the toughest you can get. Kel was making it tough for any of us to catch him by playing some great golf, over the front nine and held the lead coming into the final nine holes.



Approach shot to the 8th green at Barnbougle Dunes
As if on queue, as we walked to the 10th tee the wind gusted up and started to really blow. Barnbougle was about to turn ugly. The large accomodating fairways started to narrow, and even putts had to allow for the wind. The masochistic golfer in me was thrilled, this is links golf, shots have to be adapted, margins are narrowed. The layout of Barnbougle meant that holes were either played with a huge tailwind, or back into the teeth of the gale. 12, 15,16,17,18 were all played straight into the wind, short holes got tough, tough holes got brutal.
The second trip to Barnbougle improves on the experience, the two courses are indeed gems, the remoteness and landscape adds to the mystique, the design and layout are exceptional. Words cant really explain how good this place is.



Barnbougle Dunes, 15th green
Kel handled the conditions the best, and finished with 30pts for a total of 67. Congrats to Kel on winning his second Purple Jacket and King Challenge. Nige finished second with 65 pts (35,30), an impressive effort, Mike third with 63 (32,31) and Steve fourth with 57 (32,25).
More pics from our Lost Farm and Barnbougle Dunes trip on Flickr


Kel & Steve, Mike and Nige

Twitter silence at the US Open golf

The US PGA Tour likes to control social media during events, including this weekends US Open.   Ben Everill, (@AussieUSPGAMole) a US based Australian AP golf writer is at Congressional this week to cover the Open and follow the progress of the Australians in the field.   As an accredited media, Ben can tweet within the confines of the media centre but is unable to take images/video or make social media comment whilst out on the course.    With the limited coverage of the Australians on the TV, Ben will be making regular sprints between the course and the media centre to tweet the latest action.  Be sure to follow Ben’s tweets.
Like most golf events around the world, mobile phones, and hence social media is essentially banned from the general public in the gallery.  The PGA Tours want to control the message, but they are missing out on a key element of social media, the live social conversation.  TV coverage is average, but the logistics of covering 18 holes of action at once is immense, however a twitter community made up of members of the gallery and media can cover the action and provide live updates.  The PGA Tour could leverage this conversation rather than ban it.  Tweeting during an Australian Rules football game is encouraged with specific #tags for every game, the conversation and comment range from strategy, encouragement, anger, humour and supporter rants, all adding to the atmosphere whether at the game or from afar.
Twitter has allowed the golfing public to find out more about the PGA players with many of the top players tweeting on a regular basis before and after rounds, and what they get up to in-between tournaments.  Whilst its unlikely we will see the players tweeting during a round, allowing social media from behind the ropes would only add to the social media conversation and experience.
Regardless, hope to see a tweet late on Sunday that reads something like “And with that putt on 18, another Aussie wins the US Open”

JBWere Australian Masters 2011 returns with World #1 golfer

After being knocked to the canvas by this summers scheduling of the Presidents Cup and Australian Open, the 2011 Australian Masters was close to disappearing altogether.  However event promoter IMG have confirmed that the Masters will go ahead  this year, to be held at the Victoria Golf Club on December 15th to 18th, the weekend before Christmas.
Being held at the same venue as last year has huge advantages in logistics and staging.  Being held a week before Christmas will have its share of issues.  It will be unlikely that any of the American players will be keen to return having been in the country the month before for Presidents Cup, however IMG can hopefully persuade a few of the Europeans to leave the chill of a Northern winter and spend Christmas with the family in sunny Melbourne.  A field including the likes of a Luke Donald, a Rory McIlroy, a Lee Westwood or a Graeme McDowell would be a seriously good Christmas present.
Update:  IMG and the Minister for Tourism have just announced that the Worlds Number One golfer will again be playing the Australian Masters.  Luke Donald will play the Victoria Golf Club along with the enigmatic and ever-tweeting Ian Poulter and defending champion Stuart Appleby.  A great way to lead into Christmas!

Great Scott, shame about the Caddy

Adam Scott congratulates Steve Williams on his win…. no wait, Adam Scott wins
Adam Scott played a virtually faultless final round of 65 to win the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone. Scott pocketed $1.3 million for the win and has jumped into the World Top 10 joining fellow Aussie Jason Day.   Scott’s form couldnt come at a better time with this weekends PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. Potential for some early mornings this weekend for Australians, hoping to watch Scott and Day competing for the final major of 2011.

Now this is the way to play your approach to the 72nd hole when leading the tournament.
Unfortunately a lot of the media attention was focused on caddy Steve Williams. Williams is still very bitter from his public break up with Tiger Woods, and in what is closer to Hollywood gossip than sport, Williams held his own press conference rating the win as his greatest career win as well as claiming he is a great frontrunner.   The comments were squarely aimed at Woods, bitter and uncalled for.  Now, professional caddies play a vital role in support, mentor, coach and strategist for golfers, and Williams is one of the best. But seriously, the best caddys are also seen and not heard.
Should Scott continue his current form and, fingers crossed, hold the PGA Championship trophy aloft this weekend, his caddy should receive earned respect and congratulations, but keep his mouth shut on the victory dias!

The fall and fall of Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods has now fallen outside the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings.   OK, its only just, he is currently ranked #51 but its the first time he has been outside the top 50 since October 13 1996.  And Woods is not in the form that would see him getting back into the Top 50 anytime soon.  Woods hasnt played since missing the cut in the USPGA, but returns to competitive action this week.
From a marketing perspective, its no surprise that Tiger Woods was selected as a Captains Pick in the US Presidents Cup team, because its certainly not on current form.  Players like Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker and Keegan Bradley are all ranked higher than Woods and have better form, yet were overlooked.
Woods will bring specatators to the course, and increase TV viewers, but do they want to see Woods knocked out of matches 6&5?  Hopefully this isnt the case, and something sparks the Tiger back to life.

Golf Road Test – iSwing Mobile App Review

With the recent launch of the iPhone 4S and the many other excellent mobile devices now available, golfers have a new secret weapon to help their game.  Sophisticated and practical mobile apps for golf including the Golfshot GPS App (reviewed here) can provide key information and game improvements.

iSwing  Golf  App Review The iSwing is one of a number of golf swing training apps that are now available for iPhone and Android.  I have tried a number of different swing apps and have found the iSwing app to be one of the best.    iSwing is available  for both the iPhone ($2.99) and Android ($3.40) devices.  The application is a simple yet effective golf swing recorder allowing video analysis of your swing by yourself or with a mate, or even better, with the local golf professional.   Each swing video is saved into a diary, and provides an option to review real time or frame by frame and aslo edit and email as a .mov file.  The app also allows key swing points and angles to be noted with a sketch pad option.



Road Test
The iSwing app is simple to use.  The big “Record” button opens a video screen that include guides to help setup the shot.  And importantly, if its just you on the driving range, a timer feature allows you to prop your phone up on the golf bag, hit record and then gives you enough time to get to the ball and setup before a “beep” indicates it has started recording.     Recorded video is then saved into the diary for instant review and comparison with previous swings.
A short note can be added to each of the swings, and any of the video’s can be instantly emailed.  A useful feature if you want to show your professional the swing, or give your friends a laugh!
For an extra couple of dollars, an upgrade is available that includes pro-swings to compare.  I have the Android version that includes Adam Scott’s text book swing using a driver, 7 iron, wedge and sandiron.  This also allows you to compare your swing to one of the best swings in the game.

 


The Word For a couple of dollars this is a very handy and recommended app for golfers of all levels. The iSwing provides a handy practice tool on the driving range to help with reviewing the golf swing and checking for problems, errors or lack of coordination!

Steve Williams is the Kardashian of Golf

Steve Williams is the Kim Kardashian of Golf, both have used the media to build a high profile that should never have existed.
A good Golf Caddy can be Sherpa, Mentor, Coach, Doctor and more to a professional golfer.  But the best caddy also keeps out of the media spotlight and lets the player go about their business.  Only a true golf tragic would be able to tell you who caddied for Nicklaus, Palmer or Watson.  And who is currently Tiger Woods caddy?
The caddy’s to the Worlds top players generally “turn up, keep up and shut up”.  Which brings us to Steve Williams, no doubt one of the best caddy’s and bag-man until recently to Tiger Woods.   Carrying Tiger’s clubs allowed Williams to become the highest paid “sportsman” in New Zealand.  However Williams wasn’t content with sitting in Tigers shadows and built up his own media profile.  This included quotes in media and public on other players such as Phil Mickelson.
His move away from Tiger was always going to happen, and he has definitely helped Adam Scotts game.  However he hasnt been content to carry Scotts clubs, and his mouth has put him onto the backpages of Newspapers, and the front pages of blogs.  He claimed he’d just had “the greatest week of my life” after Scott won recently, having caddied for Woods in many Majors, this was an open handed slap in Woods face.
And onto this weekend, when Williams referred to Woods as a “black a*hole” causing media hysterics on the eve of the biggest 3 weeks in Australian golf.  Many golfers past and present have called on Scott to dismiss Williams, to have the PGA ban him.  It looks like none of this will happen and the media will have a frenzy anytime Scott gets within 5 iron distance of Woods.
Ideally Williams keeps his mouth shut and allows Scott to play to his best ability

Australian Open Golf starts with the best field in decades

The early groups for the opening round of the Australian Open golf tournament are on the course, and already its a pretty impressive leaderboard.   Geoff Ogilvy leads from names including Bill Haas, Bubba Watson, David Toms and Dustin Johnston.  Plus the Presidents Cup captains Greg Norman and Freddie Couples.     Waiting in the Clubhouse are Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and Jason Day.
The Australian Open has a rich history of world class winners including Norman, Nicklaus, Player, Palmer, Snead and Watson.  In recent years, the Open has fielded the best Australians and one or two top Internationals, providing a great showcase for Australian golf but no real focus outside Australia.   Thanks to the Presidents Cup next week, this weeks field includes 8 of the top 20 players in the World, plus that Tiger guy, and an excellent supporting cast.   It is arguably the best field ever for an Australian Open and hopefully provides more of a spotlight on Australian golf to the world.
Looking forward to a great four days of golf, and it looks as though they will earn it today as Sydney throws some pretty harsh weather their way

Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, now we need a Kings Cup

The Presidents Cup 2011 has been run and won.  Team USA was as imposing on the course as it was on paper.  Despite playing on foreign soil, a local crowd and all the weather Melbourne could throw at them, the USA players held strong and reflected their dominance in the World rankings.  Team International were in no way disgraced, and a number of games could easily have swung the other way.
Despite the dominance of the USA in the Presidents Cup, the format is compelling, competitive and provides a whole new angle and venue to watch the best golfers in the world play team matchplay golf.  With the US also playing Europe in the Ryder Cup, which has been the scene of epic battles over the years, there is now a missing piece to the team matchplay puzzle.  A competition between Europe and the Internationals.
Lets give this mythical event a working title of the “Kings Cup”.  Such an event would be logistically tough to squeeze into the tight timelines of the professional golf calendars but let assume that all could be in one place at one time.
A fictitious Europe team based on current rankings would be as strong as the US with 9 players within the top 25 in the world, and the best 4 golfers!  Ive gone with Bjorn and Clarke for Captains picks.  The International team stays relatively unchanged but Ive swapped Senden and Oosthuizen for Els and Allenby, sorry Big Easy and Rob.    It offers some tantalising matchups and world class golf.

Course review: Kangaroo Valley Golf Course

Here is a golf resort without all the bells and whistles, and it's a refreshing change and one worthy of a visit.

Kangaroo Valley Golf Course had been on my list of golf courses to play for quite some time. It is one of the lesser known courses in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, but I've met many golfers who speak very highly of it.

The drive into the resort is a great one. You drive past the first tee, the fourth green nestled behind a pond and up past the clubhouse. It's a lush, evergreen sight and it was difficult to keep driving past many golf holes to reach our on-course accommodation, without getting out and playing a few shots.

The term "golf resort" usually conjures up images of valet parking, wealthy septuagenarians and uninteresting golf courses but Kangaroo Valley "Resort" couldn't be any different. This is a golf course with a caravan park feel, which is truly a compliment. No stuffiness, no long socks and some of the friendliest staff I've ever come across.

"You might want to play late tomorrow, it's going to be hot. Oh and I'd suggest taking a golf cart, it's a hilly golf course."

The bloke in the pro shop seemed to have underestimated my athleticism and perseverance in tough conditions. Not to mention my playing partner's too. He's a country lad at heart with a better beard than Lucas Glover's, and he's used to a long day in the sun. 

But how right he was. Kangaroo Valley is a very hilly golf course. In the heat, the valley can become stifling and I'd be surprised if anyone is not a little sore after walking all 18 holes of this golf course.

We decided upon the cart and started out down a couple of straightforward par-4's that give you a good taste of the undulation to come. It is around the 4th hole where I began to realise why the course is praised so much. Tee shot placement is vital to get a good shot at the green which is deceptively placed behind a pond that is difficult to spot from the fairway.

The eighth hole reminded me of a scene from those old impossible golf calendars, where artists draw greens and tees across impassable terrain. From the tee, we had to double check we were hitting in the right direction, let alone hitting it straight. You play around 200 metres to a smallish landing area across a large valley. Your second is again played across a valley to a largish green placed in the side of the hill.

The tricky approach to the undulating 8th at Kangaroo Valley.

The view from the back tee of the ninth hole is possibly one of the best in Australian golf. A long narrow fairway fits snugly between huge pines on either side. The view across the valley in all directions is a beautiful sight and is enough to forget about any potential double-bogey on its way. 

A mob of kangaroos had gathered to see my drive. It added to the vista for me and I was careful (and lucky) enough to play through without perturbing the troop. My country lad playing partner thought nothing of the gathering. Where he comes from, these guys are vermin and were doing nothing but getting in the way.

One of the best views in Australian golf.  The 9th tee at Kangaroo Valley .

The back nine is a great blend of holes that requires a full range of golf shots. It has some great short par-4's such as 11, 13 and 15 that keep you on your toes off the tee. Interleaved are some long holes back up the hill that need some solid tee shots to ensure par is not out of the question.

Now late in the afternoon, we traded in our cart to walk the final few holes so the pro-shop staff could go home. After only six holes we were exhausted. Our gait walking down eighteen was stooped and slow and was no reflection on the golf. Despite some good golf, the heat and hills had worn me down but I still couldn't get enough of the golf course.

Even the country lad was looking a little tired coming down the final hole. His look of contempt for the roos had been replaced by one that yearned for a beer. One I recognised only too well.

So many golf courses are boring or difficult for the high handicapper. So many offer so little choice off the tees you may as well pre-program your round before you play. This golf course is not like that.

Kangaroo Valley Golf Course is not in Australia's Top 100 golf courses and it doesn't have green coloured sand to replace your divots. But the place is perfect for a fun weekend away. It has great on course accommodation, an large outdoor chess set and a wonderfully hilly golf course that is as close to a hidden gem as I've ever played.