Legends Tour player Larry Canning returned from the Jandowae Golf Club 300 kilometres west of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast mostly unscathed – but with a new perspective on that other tour. He reckons he wouldn’t swap the experience for quids.
By Larry Canning
AS I watched Patrick Reed hole out from 20 feet to claim the first US PGA Tour Event for 2015, I pondered for a moment…. (There’s probably some medication I could take for his)…. Is there that much difference between the tour he plays and the one I’m currently on?
There’s the odd discrepancy like the actual name of the two circuits. “Australian PGA Legends Tour” and “The PGA Tour”. Incidentally, that’s the name you give to your Professional golf circuit when you forget there are actually other PGA Tours around the globe. I wonder if it’s a case of cholesterol affecting that part of the brain that retains memories. The Yanks do love their big breakfasts, don’t they?
After all, every two years (about when the Ryder Cup is held) they are reminded with a fair amount of passion, there is at least one other PGA Tour …. it’s over in Europe.
Maybe the 5.7 million dollar purse the Hyundai Tournament of Champions carries could be a bit more “spondooly” as well but when you look at the parallels, it’s nothing short of amazing.
The Americans have their exotic locations, like the one used for this event named “The Plantation Course at Kapalua” which has the address: Plantation Course 2000 Plantation Club Drive Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 96761. We have our share of glamorous venues as well including one of my favourite destinations: Jandowae Golf Club, Jandowae Connection Road, Jinghi, QLD 4410.
The term “Plantation” suggests something grows there and is harvested. I don’t know what that is besides maybe lava but I do know the fertile soil of Jandowae makes it one of Queensland’s largest wheat growing areas. Unfortunately it also means other plants flourish including a medium sized cactus which stuck to my arse as I tried to punch a ball out of the rough on the 6th.
Let’s look at some of the players in both fields. In Kapalua they obviously had Patrick Reed, who’s now won four events over the last 12 months. We had Tim Elliot, who has won twice as many as that over the same period. They had guys who have performed really well in majors like Bubba Watson with two Masters…. We had Rodger Davis, runner up in two British Opens.
I haven’t had it confirmed but I have heard Kapalua Resort, located in Lahainia, on Hawaii’s popular island of Mauihas, has a yacht club… well you wouldn’t want to know it but so does Jandowae Golf Club, Jandowae Connection Road, Jinghi, QLD. They had an up to date leaderboard .… so did we.
The Hyundai Tournament of Champions had public facilities and a broad array of wildlife. No worries, Jandowae had all those covered as well. They have a par 73 which I reckon should be brought back to 72. Ernie Els once shot 31 under par around Kapalua Plantation course and it still stands as “THE PGA Tour” record. Although Jandowae is a par 72, I guarantee Ernie isn’t about to shoot 31 under around this layout!
When I think of it, it’s nothing short of bloody uncanny.
There is one major difference though. While the Professionals at the Tournament of Champions are entertaining the sponsors, attending cocktail evenings and listening to countless speeches by the major sponsor CEO’s, Resort Managers and diplomats, we are having a beer with the members and talking about absolutely anything we want!
The members at Jandowae are the friendliest group of people I’ve ever met. Every professional who plays in this event raves about the hospitality and the totally “Down to earth”, “Don’t take themselves too seriously”, nature of the local culture. There are some seriously wealthy people at that event each year and you would never know which ones they are.
Come to think of it…..Give me the Australian PGA Legends Jandowae Pro-Am any day mate!
