Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 - Issue 432 i Golf Australia

For nearly a century, Carnarvon Golf Club has been a valued member of Sydney’s golfing landscape. But now, its future hangs in the balance amid growing pressure to convert the course into a cemetery to address Sydney’s apparent dwindling burial space. Sydney’s public golf scene has seen Kogarah Golf Club announce it will be closing its doors to make way for commercial, retail and accommodation spaces, merging with Liverpool Golf Club. Moore Park in Sydney’s east has been one of the more high-profile course closure stories; Sydney’s busiest course under threat of being cut down to nine holes. There are also reports of Cammeray Golf Club in Sydney’s north – which has recently reopened as a par-3 nine-hole loop – potentially under threat of closing its doors. The proposal to…

Quail Hollow has been the yearly host of the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship (now the Truist Championship) since 2003. Unlike many PGA Championship venues, such as Valhalla last year and Oak Hill the year before, this one will at least feel familiar to many of the players. In 2017, Justin Thomas validated his promising talent with a two-shot win, capped off by a brilliant 7-iron on the par-3 17th hole over water which sealed his maiden major victory. Many players describe the course as expansive, making it ideal for the fan experience by offering a variety of viewing options and perches. There were also some course changes in 2023, which we’ll get to in a bit. The closing three holes at Quail Hollow, known as the Green Mile, provide…

Webb celebrated her incredible win at the 2006 Kraft Nabisco by buying herself a boat, cleverly naming it Ayr Waves II. Will another Australian star be making waves in 2025? In the years since 2006, Aussies have accrued just nine top-10s (four of them Webb) and 12 top-20s (five of them Webb) in this championship. In the two years it’s been held atThe Club at Carlton Woods, the record of Australians has not been flattering, either. In 2024, nine Australians contested, four (including Hannah Green and Minjee Lee) missing the cut and the best of the rest, Gabi Ruffels and Steph Kyriacou, tied 40th. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is no reason for the 2025 Australian contingent not to contend. The course, which opened to acclaim in…

You are out on the course, enjoying a perfectly acceptable round of golf, when out of nowhere you suddenly slice a drive out of bounds. Obviously it’s annoying and inevitably, you find yourself asking that age-old question, “What the [insert rude word here] happened there?” Easy. You cut across it. Or perhaps you spun out of it a bit. Or you started down with your shoulders. Or you struck it out of the heel. Or you were misaligned. Or you were carrying some extra tension, meaning you failed to release the club. Or there was some moisture on the clubface. Or you reverse pivoted. Or you tried to hit it a little harder, throwing your timing out. I could go on. Apologies for that paragraph. But it is of course…

We all know Donald Trump doesn’t do anything by halves. Whether it’s politics, business or opinions, he’s always full-on, pushing boundaries and, it seems, usually getting what he wants. So it is with the 17 golf courses in the Trump Golf portfolio, with its latest – and first in the Southern Hemisphere – now open in Indonesia. Like Trump himself and his modus operandi, it offers a no-compromise golf experience. Trump International Golf Club Lido, near Bogor, 56 kilometres south of Jakarta, is the fledgling newcomer in Trump Golf’s formidable stable. Unlike most of his other courses, Trump doesn’t own Lido, instead managing the facility for Hary Tanoesoedibjo’s MNC Land, a subsidiary of the publicly listed MNC Group – a heavyweight in Indonesian property development, financial services, hospitality, entertainment, media…

It is the mangiest of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It is the drummer in Spinal Tap. It is the character “Mike” – the not very funny one – in The Young Ones. It is a fifth wheel in a four-event swing. It is, of course, the United States PGA Championship, known as a “major” championship. And its time is up. Of course, the time is not up for the U.S PGA Championship. Might not ever be if the powers-that-be remain in thrall to the almighty greenback, as has long been their wont. So, maybe not for a while, anyway. But its time should be up, and soon, at least as a major championship. Because, as the world of golf grows and the greater world shrinks, and it’s like…

The Australian Women’s Classic at Coffs Harbour Golf Club provided an exhilarating spectacle, as world-class talent descended upon the lush, rain-soaked course, battling unpredictable conditions and fierce competition in a quest for the prestigious title. With a field stacked with elite players from both the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Ladies European Tour, the three-day, 54-hole stroke play competition delivered dramatic moments, unexpected twists and a crowning champion whose triumph was hard-earned. Grace Kim, the Aussie LPGA star, entered the tournament with high hopes, but an awareness of her rusty form following an off-season spent prioritising fitness over time on the course. Yet, as Round 1 unfolded, Kim proved she had lost none of her competitive edge. Posting a steady 4-under 66, she positioned herself as a formidable contender, just…

Following a trip to Australia in 1988, Tom Doak returned home to write a book he would call The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses. It was meant as a guide for his friends, so often had the well-travelled, 26-year-old enfant terrible of golf course design been asked about the best places to play in various countries. He self-published 40 copies, presented them as gifts, and, presumably, thought relatively little more about it. This would change, of course. Because, of course, the book did not remain confidential. Indeed, it became a sensation. For as Doak’s reputation for course design grew along with his business, so too did the potency of his no longer confidential guide. Such was demand, he printed another thousand copies. He took it to a publisher, who printed another 12,000.…

The Cliffs Kangaroo Island is set to make waves in the world of golf, offering a first glimpse of its spectacular new course starting in January 2026. This highly anticipated South Australian destination has been more than a decade in the making, and now, golfers will finally have the chance to experience what promises to be one of the most breathtaking courses in the world. Developer and CEO Sam Atkins can hardly contain his excitement. “This project has been over 10 years in the making, and to finally see the golf course taking shape, grass being planted, and the clubhouse design complete is a huge achievement,” he says. “Preview play will offer limited access for guests to immerse themselves in the course and its stunning surroundings before the grand opening…

Inspired by the wild and rugged nature of the Scottish Highlands, and powered by exclusive Danish technologies, the ECCO GOLF BIOM H5 redefines performance golf shoes built for the elements. Recognised as the birthplace of golf, Scotland inspires this shoe’s rugged durability, while Denmark spearheads its innovative advancements – combined, BIOM H5 has been created with durability in mind. The ECCO BIOM H5 was designed and developed with sustainability at its core, featuring mindful construction and a minimal use of materials to reduce environmental impact. The shoe incorporates improved materials designed for easy cleanability, durability and longevity, ensuring they maintain their appearance and performance over time (some may say, it looks better and better the more it is used), thus ensuring each pair of BIOM H5 shoes stands the test…

The 1980s was the “big” decade. There were big developments, big plans from big-personality entrepreneurs, big shoulder pads, big hair and, most of all, there was big money. Golf in this country wasn’t missing out, either. The biggest name in world golf was Greg Norman and whenever the Shark teed up at home, the fans were 10-deep along each fairway he strode. The game was thriving and developers looked to cash in on golf’s surging popularity by building golf courses with a resort or real estate attachment. In Queensland, the flag bearers for this boom were Palm Meadows and Sanctuary Cove, while further north in the tropics there was Paradise Palms and Mirage Port Douglas. Sydney didn’t miss out, either. In 1986, plans were announced for the development of Riverside…

Born in Auckland, passionate entrepreneur Lyndsay Sharp has become a formidable force in the Australian hospitality industry. Alongside her husband David who heads up vineyard and winery operations, Lyndsay has dedicated herself to progressing the region’s reputation as a dynamic tourist, epicurean and wine locale as well as creating exceptional guest experiences. Their shared passion and commitment have firmly positioned The Sharp Group as a beacon of quality and innovation. The couple were inducted into the Wine Geelong Hall of Fame in 2024 for their contribution to the industry. “My background is marketing and PR, a lot of it in food and wine - two things I love!” Lyndsay tells Golf Australia magazine. “Doing what I do comes naturally; it’s a delight to get out of bed for work every single…

The Chevron Championship will be played from April 24-27 at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas; its home since 2023. Prior to that it was hosted by Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, from 1972. Winning this championship requires skill, determination – and a leap of faith. The year 2025 marks a number of milestones for the Chevron. The Tour itself is celebrating its 75th anniversary. For Australians, it heralds 25 years since 25-year-old Karrie Webb claimed the first of her two victories in the year the LPGA turned 50. As she herself recently turned 50, she gave pause to reflect on those two wins, which remain the only victories by an Australian so far. Webb won in 2000 and in 2006. Both wins were…

Once upon a time, before the ubiquity of the internet, all-knowing phones and generational networks which can instantly transfer so many billion gigabits, some friends of mine set off to play golf down the Murray. Each year, this four-ball, made up of two pairs of brothers, would contest “The Spoils” - what they called the familial bragging rights of their annual competition. They purchased an AFL premiership-looking cup, inscribed the winners’ names on the plate, even created a silk-lined display case called “The Hermitage” which they named after the museum in St Petersburg which houses the famous Fabergé eggs. As one does. As many others do, too, the group would travel to a different golf landscape each year. Barnbougle one year, Gold Coast the next. There’s been Bonville, Mt Broughton,…

Since the turn of the 20th Century and beyond – well before the rise of the highly acclaimed courses which the country has become renowned for on the international stage in more recent years – the bulk of quality golf in New Zealand was found in or close to the major towns and cities on both the North and South Islands. In the city of Auckland, both the Auckland Golf Club (1894) andThe Grange Golf Club (then the Otahuhu Golf Club, 1924) were among the originals, sharing a history with others, including theTitirangi Golf Club, which took over the site vacated by Auckland Golf Club’s move south in 1909. From 1931 onwards, the members of Auckland andThe Grange clubs had been able to stare at each other from across the…

A bold new era of luxury golf is taking shape on Puerto Rico’s eastern coastline. Moncayo, the visionary 1100-acre development redefining high-end living in the Caribbean, is set to introduce a truly exceptional golf experience. In collaboration with renowned UK-based golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert, the unveiling of Moncayo’s Golf Club marks an exciting milestone; one which sets a new benchmark for private, world-class golf in North America. This is not just another championship course; it’s an immersive experience which celebrates the island’s spectacular landscapes. Designed exclusively for Moncayo residents and their guests, the golf club will offer a seamless blend of sport, nature and community. Golfers will navigate fairways framed by the Caribbean Sea, the majestic ElYunque Mountains, and the island’s unspoiled shoreline – a breathtaking backdrop which…

Tested by: Golf Australia Writer & Digital Editor, Callum Hill. Cost: Starting from $549.95. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I’ll be candid, this was the first time I had laid my eyes on a set of RAM golf clubs in a very long time. When our trusty sales guru Stuart Liversage proposed I test them, I thought we could be going vintage. There is no secret that the price-point of these irons jumped out at me when they arrived at Golf Australia HQ and they are a beautiful-looking iron that still pay homage to the line’s glory days of the ’70s and ’80s. Very much a player’s-looking iron, I was pleased with how they looked in the bag and also at address. HOW THEY PERFORMED: The RAM FXT irons offer a balanced mix of forgiveness,…