GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

A Wrap-Up

Over the past six weeks, you have learned tips for taking the golf trip of your life Down Under to Melbourne, Australia, and the Sandbelt Courses.  You have read about four of the courses, but make no mistake, the others are just as enjoyable yet challenging, simple yet devilish.   These courses, ten of the finest Australia has to offer the world, are classics and provide a golf experience like no other. 

Remember, the key to all of this is planning.  Start early; as much as six months out is not too early.  Arrange for your golf, lodging and then flights.  Also, plan on giving yourself plenty of time – at least a couple of weeks on the ground, especially if you plan on playing four or five rounds.

When looking at places to stay, consider renting a “flat” (apartment).  They are more affordable than hotels for longer term rentals and give you more of a feeling of home.  In addition, you will be able to save some money for caps, shirts and other souvenirs by not eating in restaurants as often.  Lastly, you will be in the community and get a sense as to how the locals live.  There are a number of property services, but I would recommend HomeAway.com.  They have many listings in and around the Black Rock and Sandringham areas.

Driving may take some getting used to in that Australians drive “on the other side of the road” from what we do here in America.  When going into Melbourne, I strongly recommend you use public transportation.  The rail system is phenomenal.  However, Melbourne is a sprawling area and, while the Sandbelt courses are within close proximity to each other, you will need a car to get to many of the other sites you will want to see when you are not golfing.

Personally, as someone who has played golf for 45 years and devoted the last 35 years to the golf industry, having the opportunity to play these courses has made my experiences as a golfer more complete.  I would compare playing in Australia to playing in Scotland – The Old Course & Royal Melbourne, Muirfield & Kingston Heath, Carnoustie & Victoria.  I am not comparing them and saying the courses are the same.  Far from that.  But, for me, it is the history, traditions, architecture and that feeling I get while on the course ... and the longing to never want to leave it.  I hope and expect to return some day.  It was well worth my time and effort to make the trip, and I know your efforts will be rewarded when you are GOLFING THE SANDBELT!

Doug Hoffmann (l) with Brad James (c) of Golf Australia
and Bruce Green, Royal Melbourne Head Professional.

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

Royal Melbourne Golf Club

(West is #1, East is #6 on AusGolf’s Top 100 & #6 in Golf Digest’s 2016World rankings)

#18 Green - East Course (#16 Composite Course)

What was originally started in 1891, the Melbourne Golf Club is one of Australia’s oldest golf courses.  It became the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in 1895 when Queen Victoria granted the right to add “Royal” to the name.  Looking for room to grow lead to the Club moving out to Sandringham in 1901.  While there, it grew some more and expanded until it finally purchased land in Black Rock where Dr. Alister MacKenzie laid out the West course.  The land for the East course was purchased in 1929.

As stated, Royal Melbourne is a 36-hole facility featuring the East and West courses.  Of the two courses, the West is known as the better.  However, when Royal Melbourne hosts a major event (Presidents’ Cup, Aussie Open), the course used is a “composite” course, made up of twelve holes from the West and six from the East.  In particular, there is a stretch of holes in the middle of the East course that are not as conducive to high-level professional play, but the East does feature some very strong holes.  For the composite course, Holes 1-7, 10-12 and 17-18 of the West are used along with the East's 1-3 and 16-18.

Regardless the course, the greens are large … and not flat.  Unless you are within five feet of the hole, it is likely you will not get a flat putt.  This makes chipping and pitching, as well as lag putting, difficult.  Yet, they are very smooth and true, so if you can get the ball online, you will make putts.  As one might expect, the greens at Royal Melbourne can be groomed to be very quick, but fortunately that is not the case on a daily basis.  If that were the case, any player with a rather shaky putting stroke could be in for a long day. 

In general, the fairways are firm and fast but give you plenty of room to miss; however, if you do miss, you will have that infamous sandy lie, often with some native vegetation playing havoc with your intention of getting a good strike on your next shot.  The trees do a great job of framing, or defining, the holes as opposed to providing an obstacle.  They are not an issue if you are just off the fairway but will create problems for the ball that goes slicing or hooking severely.

As its reputation suggests, the real challenges are the bunkers and green complexes.  Known for his mastery in bunkering, MacKenzie’s masterpiece boasts 89 bunkers on the West, 105 on the East and 96 on the Composite course.  Avoiding bunkers should be the player’s intention when he starts his round, but he had best be prepared for when his ball ends up in one … as it inevitably will.  As with the other courses, playing from the greenside bunkers is not the player’s biggest problem.  The ball generally ends up on the flat bottom as opposed to burying in the face.  But, the fairway bunkers are another story.  Seemingly every bunker has a lip high enough that requires a shorter iron to escape it unless you happened to be far enough from the front of the bunker. 

After the round, spend time looking through the clubhouse at many of the fascinating and historical pieces of memorabilia.  It has hosted countless of events such as the Australian Open (16 times!), Women’s Australian Open, Australian Masters and the President’s Cup, with a list of champions that include Gary Player, Tom Watson, Adam Scott and Greg Norman.  The Club is so rich with history and makes for a complete day.  You also should check out the website as it beautifully portrays all of what is Royal Melbourne. This is a definite to have on your “bucket list” of courses to play if you will be in Melbourne.

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

Kingston Heath Golf Club

(#3 AusGolf’s Top 100; #20 Golf Digest 2016 world rankings)

The next course to be reviewed from the Sandbelt is KingstonHeath Golf Club.  If it were not for the fact that Royal Melbourne is a very short distance away, Kingston Heath likely would be the main attraction in the Sandbelt region.  Unfortunately, though, for the less knowledgeable golfer, Kingston Heath is often overlooked, and the golfer is worse off as a result.  “The Heath” is well worth any effort to play and has received praise from some of golf’s greats. 

Ian Baker-Finch has said this is his favorite course in Australia and one of the best in the world. 

Tiger Woods claims to have used some of the architectural features when designing some of his courses, and referred to it as an “unbelievable golf course.” 

“One of my top five courses in the world.”  Jason Dufner

“Kingston Heath is totally awesome.  Best yet.”  Ian Poulter

Alister MacKenzie, who did the bunkering, stated, “The course has been so well designed and constructed there is little for me to suggest with the exception of a bunkering plan.”  High praise for someone who has Royal Melbourne and Augusta National on his resume.

The history of Kingston Heath (formerly Elsternwick Golf Club) has ties back to Harry Vardon in addition to MacKenzie.  Melbourne’s Stanley Dutton Green lead a group to build a course in the sand-belt area.  During the planning, Green was in contact with Vardon and fellow Open champion JH Taylor and gathering advice.  Vardon was reported to say “construct a course of sufficient length to stand the test of time.”  When the course opened in 1925, it was 6,312 meters (nearly 7,000 yards) and par 82 … six par fives and a lone par three on each side.  When faced with the criticism of the course being too long, Green said, “If we are proved wrong, it will be easier to shorten than lengthen the course.”

Kingston Heath has hosted its share of championships, including the Australian Open (7 times), Women’s Australian Open, Australian Masters (twice) and the 2016 World Cup, won by the Danish team of Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen.  The list of champions also includes Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Adam Scott, Karrie Webb and Aaron Baddeley. 

When describing the Sandbelt courses, the overriding adjective, or concept, that keeps coming to mind is “simplicity.”  There is nothing complicated about these courses in design, and that is what makes them so special.  Aside from digging out the bunkers, there was little moving of earth to create them. The routing just seems to fit so well.  Of course, the bunkering design by Mr. MacKenzie is timeless.  But, they are extremely challenging courses.  And, Kingston Heath is no different. 

If you use Google Earth® and view it from above,"The Heath" won’t seem to be anything special.  None of them will.  Yet, get on the ground, hitting the ball and trying to get it into the hole in the fewest number of strokes possible is another story.  Kingston Heath will bedevil you with the mounds and slopes and firmness that will direct what seems to be a good shot into nearby a bunker.  Just miss the fairway and you will leave yourself with a shot from a mixture of loose sand and grass.  Just miss the green and you will have a testy bunker shot that will leave you hoping you can get down in just two strokes.

Hole #15

Hole 15 is a great example.  What was originally a short par four, Mr. MacKenzie recommend changing it to a par three by moving the green 60 meters closer to the teeing ground and placing it on the top of a ridge rather than behind it.  It plays all of 176 yards to the middle of a green nearly 40 yards in depth that slopes toward all of the edges.  It has eleven bunkers, eight of which are around the green.  Where the bunkers are not, there are collection areas from which it is almost as difficult to make par as it is from one of the bunkers.  Come up short and the ball will roll back down a slope leaving you a challenging little pitch shot.  This hole is known as one of the great short holes in golf.

If you have the opportunity to play Kingston Heath ... take it.  You may not have many chances to play one of the top 20 courses in the world.  You will not be disappointed.

Next week:  Royal Melbourne Golf Club

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

Victoria Golf Club

(#11–Golf Australia magazine Top 100 Courses in Australia 2016)

Adjacent to Cheltenham is Victoria Golf Club.  Victoria was founded in 1903 but moved to its current location in 1926 where it was designed by founder Billy Meader and Oscar Damon, architects you likely do not recognize.  However, Alister MacKenzie (Augusta National Golf Club) was in Australia that year designing Royal Melbourne, so Meader and Damon commissioned MacKenzie for £200 to provide the final touches to what has become a classic Sandbelt course. The course opened for play in May 1927, although the last of MacKenzie’s suggestions were not finished until 1935.  His greatest contribution was centered around the bunkering for which he is so well known, and the approximately 100 bunkers come into play frequently.

The history of Victoria is consistent with that of a club that has been around for over 110 years.  The list of tournaments it has hosted, the who’s who of Victoria members and the other notables who have played (and won) at Victoria would put it alongside the great courses of the world.  It has hosted the Australian Open, Masters and PGA Championships, Women’s Australian Open, World Cup, the Wills Masters (a European Tour event), World Amateur Team Championship and the Colgate Far East Ladies Championship.  Champions of these include Aussies Kel Nagle, Bruce Crampton, David Graham and Stuart Appleby (in a duel with Tiger Woods) as well as Texan Bill Rogers (in a duel with Greg Norman) and Englishman Ian Poulter (in a duel with Victoria member Geoff Ogilvy).  Other notables to play include Arnold Palmer, President George H.W. Bush and Jack Nicklaus.  In fact, it was when Nicklaus was playing Victoria in the mid-60s that he was first called the “Golden Bear” by local writer Don Lawrence, a name synonymous with him still today. 

Hole #1 - 233 Metres (256 Yards), Par 4

The course is terrific – layout, conditioning, playability, enjoyment.  Sandbelt courses are best “firm and fast,” and due to water limitations, they often play that way.  Victoria is no different.  You will get plenty of roll on tee shots, but it can be difficult holding greens unless the shot is struck well.

The landing areas are generous for the most part; although, the tea trees and other vegetation, along with the bunkers, give the appearance that you have less room.  But, if you venture too far off line, you can forget reaching the green and having a birdie chance.  The trees are full and tall, making it difficult to play toward the green from anyplace other than the fairway.

The real challenge comes with the approach shots.  The greens are rather large, but many have run-off areas that like to collect the wayward stroke, and it does not take much to find them.  Of course, if you miss the green, you also have the likelihood of playing your next stroke from a bunker.  Getting the ball close to the hole, whether from your approach or a recovery from a bunker or collection area, is a challenge in itself as the greens are well contoured … in a subtle sense.  Nothing too dramatic as that would be out of character.  Putting also proves worthy of your attention.  It will test you to match the correct speed and line; otherwise, you will have more than your share of 4-5 footers remaining after the first putt.

As with any course that has hosted numerous professional championships, Victoria can be as difficult as you decide to make it.  If you are a very strong player, try it from the back tees and it will really challenge you.  But, for a fun outing, play it forward.  While you might have shorter clubs into the greens (and who doesn’t like that), it still will require accuracy and the deft short game I have previously mentioned.  It will give you the true flavor of Victoria, and Sandbelt golf, and is well worth the time!

Next week:  Kingston Heath Golf Club

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

Huntingdale Golf Club
(#46 on AusGolf’s Top 100)

Huntingdale Golf Club is often overlooked when Americans think about playing the Sandbelt courses.  My guess for this is the lack of attention it receives in America in comparison with Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath.  However, that is not to suggest it is not worthy of the effort to play.  Quite the contrary, it is very enjoyable – playable but challenging, great condition, rich history and very welcoming staff.

While the club officially opened in 1941, it has historical threads to other golf clubs that can be traced back to 1896, first to the Surrey Hills Golf Club then to Box Hill Golf Club.  Neither were in the sand belt area.  But in 1938, the owner of the Melbourne Hunt Club was willing to sell the property, thus giving the opportunity to build a new course.  Interestingly, the course was “designed” by C.H. Alison, an English course architect, who never saw the property.  His layout was based completely on reports of the property.  The responsibility of making Alison’s layout a reality was Sam Beriman.

Australian Masters
Trophy

Beginning in 1979 with the inaugural event and through 2008, Huntingdale served as the home to the Australian Masters, an event that routinely brings in some of the world’s best players.  Some of the more notables to win at Huntingdale include Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Gene Littler, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose and Aaron Baddeley.

Huntingdale offers only two sets of tees on the scorecard -  Blue and Red.  The Blue are for the men and played 6,344 metres (just under 7,000 yards), while the Red measure 5,420 metres (just under 6,000 yards).  From the Blue tees and with over 80 strategically placed bunkers, Huntingdale offers a stern test for even the best players.  Upon checking in, you should inquire about other tee markers so you play the length best suited to your game.  By doing so, you will have a better experience.

If you are not one of the best players, you will still appreciate Huntingdale Golf Club.  The course is very enjoyable and playable.  The fairways are very well maintained and generous, so you didn’t have to hit the ball perfectly on a line every hole.  When the ball finds the fairway, it will leave you with a good lie and a respectable shot to the green.  Yet, miss the fairway, even by just a little, and you often will have a sandy lie that will make hitting the green a challenge.  On a few holes, those bigger misses from the tee will require some creative shot-making to simply get the ball back in a position where bogey becomes a good score.

Unfortunately, it is easy to find a bunker if you miss the green.  While the sand is very fine, the bunkers as a whole are firm; thankfully, you will rarely encounter any buried lies.  For the better player, the greenside bunkers at Huntingdale would not provide a severe penalty.  That said, playing from the fairway bunkers provides a different and more difficult test.  Your first objective is to get the ball out.

The green complexes at Huntingdale are not severe, but they are not easy.  The greens are rather large and have contours that require the correct speed and line to make longer putts.  The surfaces (just like at virtually all Sandbelt courses) are firm, so it requires a well struck approach shot to hold the green.  Any shot without much backspin will release and run out; this is especially true for bunker shots.  You have to make sure you find a landing spot short of the hole in order to have it finish close.  When you manage to miss a green and not end up in a bunker, you will find it easier to get the ball closer to the hole.  One of the shots Americans will have to become accustomed to playing is the putt from well off the green (the “Texas wedge” as some call it).  Often, the fringe is cut very close to the same length as the greens that it makes putting your best option, even from 15-20 yards away.  As the saying goes, “A bad putt is often better than a good chip.”  This is true at Huntingdale.  The areas around the greens are magnificently manicured ... frequently making this your best option.

Upon completion, make sure you go in for lunch.  The food is delicious and the staff is very accommodating.  Make sure you put Huntingdale on your short list if you are going to play the Sandbelt.

Next week: Victoria Golf Club

18th Green & Clubhouse, Huntingdale Golf Club

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

THE SANDBELT: What and where is it?

The Sandbelt, for most golfers, especially in the US, means nothing.  Or, maybe it means an area in the Carolinas, around the Pinehurst area perhaps, that is known for golf and its sandy soil.  Yet, for the world-travelling golfer, it is the  “Utopia” of Australian golf.  It is a collection of eight of the finest courses and clubs in the country, and world, all within a half-hour of each other.  Imagine having Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Pine Valley, Oakmont, The Country Club, Merion and Winged Foot all within thirty minutes of each other.  But in this case, they are Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Commonwealth, Huntingdale, Yarra Yarra, Metropolitan and Peninsula Kingswood.  Gary Player said it best when he said, “The Sandbelt … the greatest collection of golf courses in one spot on the entire planet.”

Melbourne is home to the Sandbelt.  It is located in the very southeastern-most part of Australia on the north end of Port Phillip Bay.  The city proper is located at the mouth of the Yarra River where it feeds into the Bay.  It is a gorgeous city filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful, large gardens, street cars, great shopping and better dining.

The name “Sandbelt” comes from the type of land.  Originally farm land, it is known for very sandy soil, a sand completely unique to those of us in the States.  It is from this land that these courses were built, with very little moving of land.  The courses were routed through the collection of trees and vegetation, and while, they are relatively flat, very simple and subtle in design yet devilishly, fiendishly difficult.  They will not beat you up, but they will challenge you like very few other courses.  Get off the grass and you’ll be dealing with the powder-like sand dotted with trees and native vegetation that will make you miss your nicely groomed rough and perfectly manicured bunkers at your home course.  

And the bunkers … oh yes, the bunkers.  The bunkers on many of the Sandbelt courses were designed by renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie (you might have heard of another one of his projects – Augusta National).  MacKenzie had a way with bunkers.  They just seem to be in the wrong place when you least need it. 

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Planning is Critical

Once in Melbourne, you will start to feel the excitement.  The reason, or one of the reasons, you are in Melbourne is to play Sandbelt Golf.  Before you step on the courses, there are some things you should keep in mind.  A great place to start is the website SandbeltGolf.com.

Getting on the Courses

Schedule your starting times as early as possible.  This is almost the first thing you should do … maybe even before purchasing your airline tickets.  By doing your research, and contacting the courses you wish to play, you can reserve your starting times.  Courses are very welcoming to international visitors, but remember, you will not be the only person wanting to play these courses.  And, each course may have only a limited number of starting times each day for international players, and some days may be off limits or very restricted in order to accommodate member play.

When scheduling your time, be sure to inquire about any course maintenance that might be happening during the time you are there.  It can be frustrating to have to play on recently aerified greens or be able to play only one nine while the other has routine maintenance being performed.  Also, be aware of sunset times.  You don’t want to start so late that you are not able to finish your round.

It is likely that you will have to prepay your guest fees at the time of booking, and they can be rather steep.  Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath are in the A$350-400 range, and the others are comparable.  Be aware of the refund policy as well in the event something happens and you are unable to play.

Make sure you have the proper credentials prior to leaving the States; be sure to ask what is required at the time of booking.  Many of the courses expect you to be a member in good standing of a private club in America, and, as such, have a letter of introduction from the Club Secretary (General Manager).  If you are not a member of a club here, you should ask if a letter from your Club Professional, State or Regional Golf Association or some other organization will suffice.

Unless you have a full group of four, expect to be paired up with others.  This is a great opportunity to meet others, be they club members and native Melburnians or from another country.  This will add to your experience and create a lasting memory.

Dress Code

The website for each club will have the dress code.  Generally speaking, the dress at the Sandbelt courses will be similar to many of the nicer private clubs in America.  If you elect to go during the Australian summer (December – February), it can be very hot (100*F).  For men, appropriate (Bermuda) length shorts are permitted (be sure they are neatly pressed), but be careful of the socks.  Long socks are the custom in Australia, but short socks are acceptable … but not the “peds” or ankle socks that are common in America.  All shirts must have collars and be tucked in, and hats must be worn facing forward.  The women’s dress code will be comparable.  Be sure to be tactful – no striped shirts with patterned shorts.  Lastly, shoes with soft spikes or knobs are accepted.

Pace of Play

It is very important that you maintain your position on the course with the group in front of you.  The position of the group behind is irrelevant.  There is nothing to keep you from enjoying yourself as long as you are respectful of the people with you and behind you.  Yes, you may have paid a sizable green fee to play, but that doesn’t give you the right to dawdle.  You should walk with a purpose from shot to shot.  Be ready to play when it is your turn.  If you get paired with members from the course, be ready to play at their pace.  Taking photos is accepted, but you don’t need one of every shot.

Etiquette

Etiquette takes on many different forms.  Not only is etiquette your behavior on the course, but it includes items such as adherence to the dress code, (men) taking off your hat upon entering the clubhouse, not being too loud or obnoxious and the language you use … and cell phones.  Most clubs will prohibit the use of your cell phone on the course as a telecommunications device (the camera is okay).  But, unless you get a sim card that can make your phone able to be used in Australia or internationally, your smartphone may not be so smart.  Remember, you are a guest at the club.  Just because you paid a sizable amount for the guest fee, lunch or beverages does not give you carte blanche to do as you please.

Walking/Golf Carts

Virtually all of these courses expect you to walk.  Only individuals with conditions that do not allow them to walk the course will be given the opportunity to use a golf cart.  If this is you, you should notify the club of your condition at the time you make your reservation.  It could require you to have something in writing from your doctor stating this fact.  Carts are limited and may not be available otherwise.

Some courses will have caddies available depending upon day and time.  If you desire to use a local caddie, please include that when making your reservation.  Not all clubs will have caddies, nor will caddies always be available at your time if you do not plan in advance.  Also, check to see about the caddie fee, if it is required to pay in cash and the tipping policy.  It is far better to be aware of this prior to arrival so as to avoid any embarrassing situations.

Lastly, most clubs will have push/pull carts available for your use.  This is far better than carrying your own bag, especially if you brought a larger bag to protect your clubs in the luggage compartment.

Distances

Remember, distances are in “metres” and not yards.  A metre is approximately 10% more than a yard, so plan accordingly.  If you remembered to pack your range finder, you will be able to get your yardage; otherwise, brush up on your math skills.  A slight miscalculation will leave you in a bunker short of the green.  Also, check to see about how the distances are measured.  In some cases, the distance is measured to the front of the green rather than to the middle as it is in the States.  This, too, will leave you chipping or pitching and scrambling to save par rather than having a makable birdie putt.

Getting Adjusted to the Sandbelt Conditions

If you are serious about playing well in the few rounds you will play, you might want to go to one of the local public courses in advance in order to become adjusted to Sandbelt golf.  There are a number of public courses in the area, so finding a place to play should not be much of a problem.  Here are two that I would recommend.

Cheltenham Golf Club

Adjacent to Victoria Golf Club is Cheltenham Golf Club.  Cheltenham is a nine hole, semi-private course playing to 2,755 meters (3,000 yards), par 35.  But don’t let this fool you.  The course is very sporty and very tight.  The fairways are narrow and the trees made it even more so.  The greens are small and far from flat.  As is often the case with the first round in any new environment, you will spend much of the time getting acquainted with putting on different grass, learning to convert distances, playing out of bunkers with a totally different type of sand and experiencing which trees will allow balls to pass through and which ones will not (unfortunately, many don’t … just like here in America). 

One of the unique requirements at Cheltenham is the one to carry a bucket of sand with you so you can fill your divots.  You pick these up at the first tee, but the real challenge is to keep from losing it somewhere on the course.

And, at the conclusion of your round is the traditional end to any round no matter where you play – a pitcher of cold beer.

Sandringham Golf Club

Across the street from Royal Melbourne Golf Club is Sandringham Golf Course.  A tight course with many dogleg holes, Sandringham will help get you prepared.  It is a par 70, 5,646 metres for the men and 4,929 metres for the women (about 6,200 and 5,400 yards, respectively) layout that is regarded as one of the more challenging public courses in Melbourne.  

One of the most interesting facts regarding Sandringham is its history.  The current back nine was part of the original Royal Melbourne.  After Royal Melbourne moved across the road, the City of Sandringham purchased the land and expanded the course to 18 holes.  But if you don’t have the time to play, it has a driving range where you can get the rust off.  Another fun fact about Sandringham is that it serves as the parking lot when major events are being held at Royal Melbourne.

Next week: Huntingdale Golf Club

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

I never thought it would come to pass.  What was a dream many years ago came to fruition recently when I traveled to Melbourne, Australia, for vacation and to play some of the world’s best golf courses.  My wife’s birthplace was only a place I had heard about in many of her stories and seen when watching the Australian Open tennis tournament and the many Australian golf events hosted in Melbourne.  I knew the sites very well – the Yarra River, Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) among others.  Yet, it required I stay up late due to the time difference. But, if you live in the Northern Tundra of Minnesota, watching anything coming from Australia in November or January yielded the comfort knowing that at least part of the world was experiencing warm (even hot), sunny weather.

When we made the decision to go to Australia (thanks to a close friend getting married in the Philippines), immediately my mind went to playing the courses I had come to know – Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Huntingdale, Metropolitan, etc.  But, how could I accomplish the feat of getting on these renowned courses?  As a PGA of America Master Professional, of course I would be welcomed, right?  As the son-in-law of a longtime bookkeeper at Kingston Heath, of course I would be welcomed, right?  As the friend of a current executive with Golf Australia, of course I would be welcomed, right?  Not so fast, I discovered.  Playing these courses required significant planning, and I am not just talking about the golf side of things. 

Over the next five weeks, I will be sharing the things you need to know if you plan on travelling “Down Under” for a golf holiday on the Sandbelt courses, as well as information about some of the iconic courses themselves, including Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath.

Getting to Australia

Of course, from the States, getting to Australia is not that difficult.  Qantas, American and United offer flights from many different airports, including LAX, DFW and SFO, directly to Australia on a regular schedule.  However, if you are going directly to Melbourne to start your adventure, then a layover in Sydney may be part of the itinerary.  If you transfer in Sydney, you will go through customs there.  Make sure you leave yourself at least two hours before your flight to Melbourne departs.  Qantas and Virgin Australia offer flights between Sydney and Melbourne hourly.

The cost will be a factor but can be manageable if you plan accordingly.  Airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand will offer fare specials on flights from major cities (LAX, SFO, DFW, NYC) at different times of the year.  You should plan accordingly and well in advance.  But remember, these are from the departure points, so you will have to build in the additional fare to get there, and it could be significant.  Also, if you want to make any stopovers or go to other places in Australia, it might be cheaper to buy those tickets separately.

In our case, we needed to stop in the Philippines for the wedding.  Flying from MSP, we could have gone directly to Australia, with a stopover in Manila coming back.  As a result, the cost would have been over $5,000 each.  However, we booked tickets to Manila and then separate tickets from Manila to Australia.  Doing so saved us over $3,000 per person.

Travel Time & Time On-Board

There are many philosophies regarding overseas travel.  Even if you go “direct” to Melbourne, the entire trip likely will take over 24 hours (especially if you have to connect through one of the departure points in the US) from the time you leave your home in the States to the time you arrive at your “home” in Australia.  If you are not familiar with long travel, it can be an exhausting, frustrating and challenging experience.  Go into it with a sense of adventure, don’t take the little inconveniences seriously, and you will be better in the long run.

How we handle the experience from a physical standpoint varies from one to another.  Unfortunately, so much is dictated by our own bodies.  The single best tip I can give you is common sense … make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

The second best tip is to get as much sleep as possible, but that is easier said than done.  Some sleep really well on a plane; others not at all.  The excitement alone will make it difficult for some to sleep.  While you are awake, you will not be bored.  In addition to any reading material you bring, there are many options for on-board entertainment, from “online” poker against other passengers to a plethora of movies (current and past blockbusters) to our favorite television shows to music.  You will be served at least two full meals and a snack.  (If you have special dietary needs, you are able to order those up to a day or two before departure.)  And, depending upon the airline, you will get a varying amount of free alcoholic drinks – but alcohol can be a stimulant and inhibit your ability to sleep.

And, of course, there is the issue of space.  Depending upon the type of aircraft, you may have a middle seat near a window, or in the middle of the fuselage where you have to get past two or three people to get out to use the bathroom.  Plan accordingly when booking your trip to make sure you reserve the seat you want.  You are going to be in it for a long time.  But, if you follow the first tip (drink plenty of water), you’ll want to be near the bathroom for easy access ... and remember to use it when there are no lines.

Time Change

This is not an issue to take lightly.  It is tough on the body for anyone making the trip, and the older one is, the more difficult it will be. With our typical busy schedules, there is nothing one can, or will, do to adequately prepare for the time change of 16-17 hours.  If possible, try to get on the Australian clock a day or two before leaving.

Length of Trip

If you are considering an Australian “holiday,” two weeks is the minimum you should give yourself for the trip.  Any less and you will not be able to enjoy everything to its fullest ... and you will be wasting your investment of time and money.  That is especially true for the golfer.  You will want to be as sharp as possible so you can play your best and be able to enjoy the spectacular opportunity before you.  It will take you take at least two days in travel going over, and (effectively) two returning.  While you may return on the same day you leave (according to the calendar), you will not feel like doing much the first day or two back in the States. 

Weather

Remember, Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the Australian summer is our winter.  The best time to go for golf is November–April.  You will encounter nearly perfect weather most of the time with infrequent rain, but it can be hot … very hot (100*F).  You should pack accordingly, but make sure you are aware of the dress codes for the courses you will be playing.  And don’t forget the sunscreen!

Luggage Restriction

When traveling to/from the United States, air carriers will allow each person traveling on a coach class ticket two pieces of checked luggage of 50 pounds or less.  Go over that amount, and the additional fees are significant.  This is very important when you are considering the airlines you will be flying.  Try to stay within the “airline partners,” such as American and Qantas or Delta and Virgin Australia.  If you don’t, or are flying on different tickets, then you can get caught with different restrictions. 

For example, the Qantas luggage restrictions for tickets not originating in the United States are significantly lower per person – 66 pounds (30 kg) per person as opposed to 100 pounds.  If you are packing for a three or four-week trip, and include your golf clubs, you will get to 66 pounds very quickly.  If you make this mistake, you will find yourself paying dearly for the overage or pulling out items you don’t want and giving them away at the airport.  The other option is to upgrade to “Business Class” and enjoy the added luggage, additional leg room in better and less crowded seats.  Of course, that is significantly more expensive.

Next Week - Getting on the Courses

Jason Day -- Friend or Foe?

As though my challenge as a Director of Rules and Competitions to keep my players moving around the course in a timely manner isn't hard enough, I now have Jason Day serving as the poster person for being deliberate as professed in this article - http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/pace-play-pga-tour-question-no-easy-answers.

In short, it seems that he has blamed his poor start last year to his not being as deliberate, and that was why he played better the second half - he was more deliberate.  And, since this is his "job," he should have the right to take as much time as necessary.  He states, "In my opinion, I don't care so much about speeding up the game. I've got to get back to what makes me good.  If that means I have to back off five times, then I'm going to back off five times before I have to actually hit the shot."  Great!  Thanks Jason!

So, I'm guessing it couldn't be that he simply wasn't playing as well or putting as well.  Of course not, it cannot be the player's fault.  It must have been the fact that he had to play under the very restrictive pace of play policies that got him.  He's a champion and star player, so he gets the prime starting times and, as a result, gets stuck in the middle of the field where it's naturally slower, but he was still not deliberate enough and played poorly.  Hmm.....

Using that analogy, the Cowboys or Patriots would have gone undefeated this year had it not been because they were forced to go by the 45 second play clock.  Some pitchers surely would win 5-6 more games in a year if they could take longer time between pitches.  Who cares that baseball games routinely take three plus hours to complete?  And who cares that Jason and some of his TOUR buddies take close to five hours to complete a round?  

Actually, Jason, many do.  Just ask people who watch golf and play golf.  The commentators at this year's World Cup from Australia were very critical of the pace of the Chinese players, and rightfully so.  At one point, they were nearly three holes behind.

Also, Jason, do you care about your fellow competitors who like to play faster?  Shouldn't they have the same right to play at their preferred pace?  Are they not playing for the same money you are?  Obviously you don't care.  What if one decides he needs to take six hours to play?  Will that bother you?  In that case, probably so.

I have an idea, let's put all of the fast players at the front of the field and slow players (you know who you are) at the back - every round.  Maybe those at the back won't finish some rounds due to darkness.  They'll have to come back early the next morning to finish.  Plus, television won't be there to see them finish, and they'll miss out sharing their sponsor's names to the world.  I wonder if the sponsors (Nike, TaylorMade) will like that idea?

Better yet, if a group gets out of position, that group should be forced to "pull over" and let the following group play through.  That should give Jason plenty of time to visualize his next shot.  I expect after having to let a few groups play through during a round, Jason will get the message and speed up.  (NOTE:  As defined, a group is out of position when it has an entire par 3 or par 4 hole open, or if the group in front is on the putting green of a par 5 hole when it arrives at the teeing ground.  Notice the position of the group behind is not relevant)

Day does make the valid point that the courses they play are set up to be difficult - quick greens, difficult hole locations, longer rough and they have to hole out each hole - but these are the best players in the world.  And, they spend hours hitting thousands of balls to practice their craft.  One would think that they can practice the pre-shot routine enough so that it can be done in 30 seconds.  In the NBA, a team would have turned the ball over by then.  

Lastly, keep in mind, the pace expected by the TOUR is not unreasonable.  It is not making them play as though they are in a West-Coast, run and gun offense where shots are rattled off every ten seconds. The Rules Committee creates a pace that is realistic given the course conditions, weather conditions, time it takes to walk the course, etc.   The standard pace for a group of three is going to be (roughly) 4:40-4:45, potentially longer.

I wish the TOUR would make a statement by creating tougher penalties, but that's a lost cause ... the TOUR is the players.  Kind of like expecting Congress to sanction itself, but at least we get the opportunity to vote them out of office. 

If we all make the effort to walk with purpose to our ball, start our pre-shot routine before it's our turn to play, be ready to play when it is our turn and continuous putt once the ball is inside 3-4 feet, we can reduce the time it takes to play, enjoy the round and (often) play better.  NOTE:  If you play using a cart that is restricted to the path, make sure you take 3-4 clubs with you to play your next shot ... and don't wait until your cart partner has played before going to your ball (unless, of course, you will be in interfering with their shot).

Cheers-
Doug

Happy 2017!

Happy 2017!

The calendar has turned another year, and we wait in anticipation to what lies ahead.  There will be many changes this year, and that's not even considering the political landscape.  (Since this is a golf-based blog, I won't touch those.)  

The new TOUR season begins this week at Kapalua.  Will Jason maintain his dominance ... in Nike clothing?  Will Tiger win again?  Will it be a major?  Will DJ win another major or two?  Will Jordan maintain his form after winning the Aussie Open?  What previously unheard of rookie will become a household name?

As I was looking through social media (Twitter, in this case), I found this article - "Should Golfers Push, Pull or Carry Their Clubs?".   I wish I had seen and known this information when I was a junior golfer lugging my Jones carry-bag on my shoulder!  Maybe I wouldn't have been suffering from back issues since I was 21.  My Johnny Miller-esque swing with the "reverse C" finish probably didn't help either. 

Oh well, no looking back, let's keep facing forward and make the most of what we have.  All the best for a great '17 on (and off) the course!

See you on the course!
Doug

Thursday, December 22, 2016

After being "off-line" for over three years, I am back.  Life and work (often one and the same) got in the way of my posting, and then I simply forgot about it.  But, I have just finished my 19th season with the MGA; hard to believe I've been here that long.  So, as the 20th is about to begin, I feel it's time to renew sharing my passion.

In looking back at previous posts, almost four years ago to the day I posted about the USGA's announced ban on the anchored stroke.  If you followed the news about the proposed ban, you would have thought the golf world was going to end on Jan 1, 2016. Guess what?  It didn't.  I think three years of discussion prepared people for what turned out to be nothing much.  Yes, a few still get close to anchoring.  Bernhard Langer has figured out how to keep his hands just far enough off of his chest to fulfill the requirements and still be a (the?) dominant player on the PGA TOUR Champions Tour.  Kuchar still putts with the handle resting against his forearm - below his elbow.  And Adam Scott has found a stroke with which he can win (WGC Cadillac Invitational).

In the MGA and USGA events I conducted in 2016, never once did I answer or deal with an anchoring question.  I received a few questions in the beginning of the year via phone calls or emails, but by the time the season rolled around, it was a non-issue.

The biggest controversy for 2016 centered around the DJ ruling at the US Open -- did he or didn't he cause the ball to move?  The referee in his group said no.  The USGA overruled their man and said yes.  But the real issue was the delayed notification, leaving DJ to play a few holes not knowing if he would be penalized, and those chasing him wondering if they were one stroke closer.  Despite being assessed the penalty, DJ made it a non-issue in the end by running away from the field, claiming (finally) his first major.  The issue, however, was not dead.

I believe the referee with DJ was incorrect in his ruling.  The rule was to be applied by looking to see if anything could have caused the ball to move, most specifically wind, water or gravity.  If so, then there is no penalty and the ball is played where it came to rest.  However, without virtual certainty that one of those factors caused the ball to move, then the player (DJ) would be "deemed" to have caused it to move.  After looking at the tape, the USGA ruled that the ball moved immediately after DJ placed his putter next to the ball, thereby ruling that he caused it to move.

In the fall, the USGA and R&A announced a new "Local Rule" that would prevent another DJ incident.  The Committee (the group in charge of the event) may adopt the new local rule that exonerates the player from penalty if he "accidentally" causes his ball to move when it lies on the putting green.  Gone from penalty is dropping your ball-marker, towel or putter on the ball.  Gone from penalty is inadvertently kicking the ball as you come up to mark it. Gone from penalty is inadvertently bumping the ball as you place your club behind it during the address procedure.  As long as it's on the putting green, no worries.  Unless, of course, what you did wasn't accidental, such as forgetting to mark the ball prior to lifting it or rotating it after you have lifted your marker to align that line you put on the ball.  Click HERE to view the Infographic that visually explains the new local rule.  To see complete information on the USGA website about the change, click HERE.

Personally, I think they went too far and would have liked a slightly different change.  I think the answer was to go to the player and ask, "Did you do anything to cause the ball to move?"  If the player says no, then no penalty would be assessed with the understanding that the Committee would go back to instant replay (for those that have it) and look at the tape.  If it is obvious the player truly hasn't done anything to cause the ball to move (rather than looking to see if anything else caused it to move), then there is no penalty.  But, if it shows the player bumping the ball with the club (for example), then a one-stroke penalty is assessed.  But ........... they didn't ask me, so all I have to do is to officiate what is written.  The MGA is following the lead of the USGA and R&A and adopting the local rule for play.  

Time has come to close this post.  Here's wishing you a blessed and joyous Holiday season.

See you in 2017!

Doug