Australian Senior Golfer

The 2011 Australian golf season will be one of the best ever with the Presidents Cup headlining a series of events that have attracted some of the biggest names in world golf.

As well as the cup there are eight PGA Tour of Australasia events and three PGA Legends Tour championships getting underway from late October.

To highlight what will be a massive summer season the PGA of Australia has launched a new campaign encouraging sports fans to ‘Play, Watch, Discover’ golf.

“Never before have we seen so many of the world’s best players in Australia and what’s more fans will get to see the likes of Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, Y E Yang, Luke Donald and Bubba Watson as well as our own top players contend for our Australian titles,” said PGA CEO Brian Thorburn.

The PGA Tour of Australasia’s 2011 schedule gets back underway from October 20 with the Brunel WA PGA Championship set to tee off at Novotel Vines Resort and Country Club in Perth.

The WA PGA starts two weeks of golf in the west with the John Hughes Geely Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship to be contested the following week at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.

The Tour then moves to the New South Wales South Coast for the NSW PGA Championship at Wollongong Golf Club from November 3-6.

The NSW PGA, last year won by Stephen Bowditch, is a precursor to the Emirates Australian Open the following week which will see the likes of Woods, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy contend for the Stonehaven Cup at the Lakes Golf Club.

The week of November 17 -20 will see the focus of world golf firmly on Australia with Greg Norman and Fred Couples set to lead their teams into battle for The Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

That same week the NSW Open Championship will be staged at a new venue, Newcastle Golf Club.

It will be followed by the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola to be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Coolum for the 10th consecutive season.

The action then crosses the ditch to Christchurch for the BMW NZ Open to take place at Clearwater Resort from December 1-4.

The final tournament of the 2011 PGA Tour of Australasia schedule will fittingly take place at Melbourne’s famed sandbelt.

The JBWere Masters to tee off at Victoria Golf Club from December 15-18, the winner of which will be granted an automatic exemption in to the 2012 WGC- Bridgestone Invitational.

It is also here that the 2011 Norman Von Nida Order of Merit medal will ultimately be decided.

In total 14 players from the World Top 20 are headed to Australia in the coming weeks, with 19 of the World Top 100 set to contest the PGA Tour of Australasia’s events outside The Presidents Cup.

The top 100 players confirmed for the PGA Tour of Australasia’s events include Luke Donald (1), Dustin Johnson (5), Jason Day (7), Adam Scott (8), Matt Kuchar (9), Nick Watney (11), Bubba Watson (16), Hunter Mahan (19), Ian Poulter (23), Darren Clarke (34), Geoff Ogilvy (37), Y E Yang (38), Matteo Manassero (43), Aaron Baddeley (49), Tiger Woods (52), John Senden (59), Robert Allenby (60), Richard Green (74) and Brendan Jones (92).

The PGA’s campaign includes a television commercial promoting the upcoming season named ‘Its golf season.’ It will be shown on Network 10 and selected regional markets.

You can view the PGA campaign and pre-register for a new related iphone application here.

The summer’s main Legends Tour events begin with the 2011 Fiducian Legends Australian PGA Senior Championship from October 27 to 29 at the Killara Golf Club in Sydney.

The Legends action will then move to Perth where an impressive international field will fight out the 2011 ISPS Handa Australian Senior Open at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 4-6 November.

The 2011 Australian Legends Tour Championship is then due to be held at the Byron Bay Golf Club from December 11 – 13.

ONE HUNDRED is usually a very unwelcome number in golf but that’s not the case for the PGA of Australia which today celebrates its centenary birthday.

Formed at Royal Sydney Golf Club on 19th September 1911, the PGA has grown from 15 Members to over 2500 today.

There are a number of special events and functions planned for the centenary year, including a PGA members day at Royal Sydney today.

Others can celebrate the birthday in a number of ways, including entering the trivia quiz to win a Sureshot GPS and other prizes or by visiting the PGA website and leaving a birthday message.

Amateur golfers who have themselves reached the magic 100 number recently – at least score-wise – might like to visit a local PGA pro for some solace and lessons.

We republish some of the birthday messages from some well-known names below and there are also some centenary related PGA links.

“Congratulations to the PGA of Australia on reaching its first century! Over the years, I have met many wonderful people through the PGA and some of my closest mates are members of the Association. I congratulate the whole organisation and everyone that it has represented over the past 100 years for making such an outstanding contribution to golf in Australia. This contribution speaks for itself but it has also played a significant role in the broader sports, leisure and corporate landscape of our country. Here’s to a double ton!” Ricky Ponting

“Congratulations on 100 years… unfortunately that number ‘100’ reminds me of a bad day or two in miserable stroke rounds…but not such a bad number for the PGA when it is your birthday. I so admire your members….you all make me strive (and struggle) to be a better golfer! Now at 100, you have inspired millions of Australians to play a great sport and play it well… Keep driving PGA!” Kerri-Anne Kennerley

“Congrats to the PGA of Australia for reaching 100. Although, considering we love golf, 100 is not really a number worth celebrating. I would have much preferred to send a congratulatory message for a 70 (two under the card). Well done all the same.” Andy Lee

“Golf is a game that is not only challenging but also rewarding. The challenge to beat your own best score , the reward is way to much to explain to anyone who has never played golf. Try it and you will find out what I mean. The PGA has helped the game grow in this country and not only introduced thousands and thousands of young people ( and old like me ) to the game but it has helped build the love of the game in many young Australians who have gone on to be world beaters . Thank you to the PGA of Australia on behalf of all Australians for helping give us so many champions to be proud of and to inspire us to get out and play the hardest most rewarding game ever. “ Jimmy Barnes

“Congratulations to the PGA reaching 100 years… such a great game that I have been a part of for many years. It is a great honour to have met and call friends some of their outstanding members, seeing this sport create many champions, I look forward to the fantastic Summer of Golf ahead.” Shane Warne

PGA of Australia Birthday Wishes, Trivia Competition

PGA of Australia Centenary

FOR the third year running the PGA Tour of Australasia is heading to Wollongong Golf Club for the 2011 NSW PGA Championship.

After a very successful two years, Wollongong Golf Club is delighted to again play host to the prestigious NSW PGA Championship.

“We’re very proud to be hosting the NSW PGA again this year,” said Geoff Jones, President of Wollongong Golf Club.

“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to create an event that can be enjoyed by players, officials and spectators alike.

“The course is also in great shape and we think this year’s event will be our best yet.”

While this may be the third time Wollongong has been involved with the Championship it will be the first time, since the 90’s, playing the event for one of Australia’s premiere and most loved golfers, Craig Parry.

A prolific winner on the world stage, Parry, has won events all over the world including in Japan, Europe, Canada, Asia and Australia but is yet to add the NSW PGA Championship to his list of titles.

“I have had a very fortunate career and have had the opportunity to play and win all over the world yet to be missing one of my home State titles is something I look forward to correcting this year,” said Parry.

“I am really looking forward to playing at the Wollongong Golf Club, I have heard great things from guys who have played in past years, and hopefully a big local crowd come out to support me.”

The PGA Tour of Australasia has enjoyed much success in Wollongong since 2009 and is again looking forward to a successful 2011 NSW PGA Championship.

“The Championship has been very successful since moving it to Wollongong, the course is immaculate, local support is always high and importantly the players all enjoy their time there,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“This year is set to be the biggest ever for golf and we are happy to be able to bring this excitement to regional areas of the country through our State Based Championships, we are looking forward to another great Championship at Wollongong.”

The event immediately precedes The Australian Open and Presidents Cup and will be played at Wollongong Golf Club from Thursday 3rd November to Sunday 6th November 2011.

The field will by vying for their share of the $120,000 prize purse.

TWENTY20 has done wonders for modern cricket and organisers are hoping for similar results when a radical new golfing format hits Australian television screens this Sunday.

The fourth day of the revolutionary Surf Coast Knockout will be screened live on Channel 10 and OneHD from midday with the final shortened matchplay rounds of the hybrid event screening in prime time.

With a knockout format and the final day matches reduced to six holes the stage will hopefully be set for some thrilling finishes.

Organisers and players are excited by the prospect, with 2010 Australian PGA Champion Peter Senior one of those taking part.

“It will be a great event and something I’m really looking forward to,” Senior said this week.

“I think it’s important that we are trying something different for our Tour and it will definitely be a new challenge for the players.”

Fellow competitor Stephen Leaney believes the concept could take golf to another level.

“Six holes will make each player take a more aggressive approach if they want to make it through to the next round – so there will be nothing boring about this format,” Leaney said.

Andre Stolz was also positive, saying: “This is something new and exciting and has got to be good for the game. Twenty20 has revitalised the game of cricket and the Surf Coast Knockout has the ability to do the same for golf.”

The Surf Coast Knockout will be played from January 20 – 23 at The Sands Torquay in Victoria.

The first three rounds will be played as qualifying stroke play with the top 32 competitors making it through to the Sunday matchplay.

On Sunday there will be 16 matches starting at 10 minute intervals. Each match will be played over 6 holes with the losing player eliminated.

The second round will be 8 matches (16 players) and so on till the final round when the first, second, third and fourth placings will be determined.

“What we are trying to do through the Surf Coast Knockout is attract a broader audience and create something that non-golfers and golfers can watch, understand and enjoy,” said Max Garske, CEO of the PGA of Australia.

“The final day format of the Surf Coast Knockout will be faster and will produce more immediate results which will translate into more entertaining viewing for both the audience on site and the television audience at home.”

The tournament will screen on Network 10 from12 midday to 5pm and on ONE from 12 midday to 7pm.

Entry to the course for spectators is free.

INTERNATIONALLY respected Australian golf coach Steve Bann has been named as the 2010 PGA Teacher of the Year.

Bann has been recognisied not just for his coaching of the likes of Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby and K.J. Choi, but for his continued and developing commitment to all levels of the game since becoming a PGA Member in 1983.

His work has included designing and implementing the Victorian Institute of Sport Golf Program of which he was also the head coach from 1991-1997.

“There are so many high calibre golf coaches amongst the PGA membership so to be selected is an honour,” Bann said this week.

“It is made particularly great by the fact that I have won this award based on the voting by my fellow members.”

Bann made special mention of his business partner Dale Lynch with whom he has worked with since the 1970’s and to the many other coaches that he has learnt from along the way.

“I’ve always found that by working with other golf coaches and sharing ideas, the cumulative knowledge is always far greater than trying to do things by yourself.”

“The opportunities that being a professional golf coach has given me have taken me far and wide and its something I’m very excited about and I really enjoy what I’m doing.”

Max Garske, CEO of the PGA, congratulated Bann on his achievement.

“Steve Bann is a credit to the PGA and his fellow members and a very deserving winner,” Garske said.

“Steve is a fine example of the high calibre of teaching professionals that we have amongst our membership, and he has contributed significantly to the reputation of Australian PGA Members the world over.”

The PGA Teacher of the Year is awarded the ‘Ross Herbert Award’ in memory of the late Ross Herbert who was the inaugural Head Coach of the AIS Golf program and a PGA member for 20 years.

HAVE you ever dreamt of becoming a tour professional? Thought you had missed the boat? Well think again. The E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour offers all golfers aged over 50 the chance to join in the glory and excitement of professional golf.

The E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour managed by the PGA of Australia for male golfers aged 50 plus, stages over 50 events throughout Australia and New Zealand annually with prize money totalling in excess of $1.2million dollars.

The E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour attracts some of Australia’s greatest golf legends including Michael Harwood, Rodger Davis and Wayne Grady. But what many may not know is that you don’t have to be one of the game’s greats to secure a place on the tour. The annual qualifying school is open to male golfers over 50 who have an official handicap of 3.4 or better.

Scheduled for January 2011, Qualifying School gives all eligible golfers the opportunity to win their tour card for the 2011 season. Qualification provides graduates access to play in E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour events including the Fiducian Legends PGA Senior Championship and the Handa Australian Senior Open, an event that  in 2010  will be co-sanctioned by the European Senior Tour.

“In many respects the PGA Legends Tour provides a second chance for elite golfers who have reached that magical age of 50,” said Sam Hartrick from the PGA of Australia.

But it’s not just about the elite competition as Hartrick explains.

“The Legends Tour has been better known for its relaxed and friendly environment, being on tour is an exciting life where players get to enjoy travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand playing on some of the best courses whilst also enjoying good company.”

Just like other main Tours, the Senior Tour movement has quickly become global with the European Senior Tour and the US Champions Tour fast becoming an aspiration for many a player who has achieved the age of 50 years.

Australian players enjoying success on the overseas tours include David Merriman, Peter Fowler and European Tour Rookie of the Year, Mike Harwood while Peter Senior and Graham Marsh continue to flourish on the US Champions Tour.

For those interested in joining the legends on the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour, Qualifying School will be held at Camden Lakeside Country Club in New South Wales from Monday 10-12 January 2011 and will be decided by 54-holes stroke play event.

For more information on the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour or Qualifying School, please visit the PGA website or contact Sam Hartrick from the PGA of Australia on +61 (3) 8320 1911. 

2011 PGA Legends Tour Qualifying School Entry Form PDF (374kbs)

2011 PGA Legends Tour Qualifying School Information PDF (57kbs)

THE PGA of Australia’s is looking for a new CEO after news long serving incumbent Max Garske will step down when his current contract expires in the middle of next year.

Garske announced his retirement yesterday after almost three decades of leadership and achievement in the golf industry.

The PGA will commence its search for a new CEO immediately and will begin the recruitment process in the next few weeks.

Garske can be credited with leading the PGA’s growth from a business generating just over $3 million in 1988 and a staff of seven, to one of the leading sports administrative bodies in the country with turnover of $40 million a year with approximately 60 staff.

He will leave behind a rich legacy of accomplishments in the golf industry, particularly in professional golf.

His major achievements include leading the move for the amalgamation of the two professional administrative bodies the PGA of Australia and the PGA TOUR of Australasia in 2007.

One initiative that may be his greatest personal legacy is the success of the Holden Scramble.

The club based Pro-Am tournament introduced by Garske in1992 is by far Australia’s most successful Amateur-Professional tournament with over 750,000 participants having played to date.

In 2011 the Holden Scramble will mark its twentieth consecutive year and this iconic event is a benchmark on sponsorship success as Holden’s longest running non-motorsport sponsorship.

The re-establishment of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum in Queensland is another highlight.

“It has been an exciting organisation to work for and I have enjoyed my time here immensely,” Garske said yesterday.

“Ultimately the true success of the organisation comes from the thousands of dedicated PGA Members who are actively helping to grow and service the sport passionately, not just within Australia, but worldwide.”

FORMER Tour professional and now well known television presenter Grant Dodd has been given the task of taking the game of golf to a wider audience.

It was announced today Dodd has been appointed as PGA of Australia ambassador for 12 months.

“Grant is universally known within the Australian golf community and is respected for both his achievements and his passion for our game,” said Max Garske, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia.

“Grant has worked continuously to promote Australian Golf and has much personal insight into how we as an Industry can go forward. For this reason Grant will be a great asset to the PGA as we endeavour to identify new and increased opportunities to promote both PGA members and the game of golf.”

Welcoming his appointment, Dodd said: “The PGA has a great vision for taking the game of golf forward in this country, a vision that it is being pursued in an innovative and proactive way and I look forward to playing a role in helping them to achieve their desired outcomes.”

In his role as an ambassador, Dodd will be available as a spokesperson for the PGA and will also be utilised to promote the PGA brand on key occasions throughout the year.

In a professional golf career between 1993 and 2004, Dodd played on the Australasian, Asian and European Tour’s.

During that time, he won the 1999 BTC Slovenian Open on the European Challenge Tour and also played in the 1997 and 1998 British Open’s, at Royal Troon and Royal Birkdale respectively.

In 2007 he became a member of the Network TEN golf broadcast team after working with FOX Sports in 2006.

He is co-host of the The Pro Shop on ONE HD, and commentates on ESPN Star and its affiliates around the world for ONE Asia broadcasts.

THE PGA of Australia today announced yet another twist for the Surf Coast Knockout that will see golfers from the Surf Coast region, including a 15-year old member of The Sands Torquay, line up for the innovative new event teeing off on January 20, 2011.

The PGA Tour of Australasia event will feature a final round limited format matchplay knockout with the later stages telecast on Sunday prime time television.

The PGA today issued a series of invitations to twelve local golf clubs who will each have the opportunity to qualify one player for the tournament.

As Simon Butterly, General Manager of the PGA’s Tournament Division explains:

“To claim a spot, the most recent Men’s Club Champion must compete against one of their club’s PGA Professionals in an 18 hole match play event at their home course before December 31st 2010. The winner of that match will gain automatic entry into the field for the Surf Coast Knockout to be held at The Sands Torquay from January 20th –23rd, 2011.”

The twelve clubs that have been issued invites are;

The Sands Torquay, Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads Golf Club, Torquay Golf Club, Anglesea Golf Club, Curlewis Golf Club, Lonsdale Golf Club, Clifton Springs Golf Club, Portarlington Golf Club Queenscliff Golf Club, East Geelong Golf Club and Moonah Links.

“With such a high standard of courses in the Surf Coast region it was difficult for us to select the clubs,” Butterly said, ”however we believe that this is a great start for this, the inaugural year of the Surf Coast Knockout, and we hope with continued community support we can build on this initiative in the years to come.”

In addition to the twelve invitations, the PGA has also issued an invitation to 15-year old amateur Ben Eccles, a member at The Sands Torquay who recently shot a new course record.

“It was only 6 weeks ago that Ben knocked it around The Sands Torquay in a new course record score of 63,” said Dean Newell, General Manager at The Sands Torquay.

“I am sure that it will give Darrell Brown our Teaching Professional at The Sands Torquay great pride to see one of his star pupils out there competing against some of the best Australian professionals.”

In a world first, the first three rounds of the Surf Coast Knockout will be contested under stroke play conditions, while the winner will ultimately be decided on Sunday by a reduced match play format.

The PGA’s broadcast partner Network 10 will broadcast the Surf Coast Classic on Sunday 23rd January live from 12.00pm – 5.00pm on Network 10, and from 12.00pm – 7.00pm on OneHD.