That’s the scary proclamation of Kobori’s coach, Dominic Azzopardi, who has travelled south from his base at Peregian Springs on the Sunshine Coast to the Coffs Coast to prep his newest pupil for a shot at winning back-to-back WPGA Tour of Australasia events.

The pair spent an hour with two clubs and four balls on Sawtell Beach on Thursday morning honing her bunker technique and worked on adjusting her ball flight with driver on the range at Bonville prior to yesterday’s Pro-Am.

The results of that session, in particular, should send warning bells through the rest of the field.

“She drives it 215-220 yards carry with not much roll because of her flight,” Azzopardi said on the eve of the tournament.

“I spoke to her after the Aramco Series Singapore event (where she finished T16); we’ve got to get 20 yards more, 30 yards more.

“We were hitting some drives on the range this morning with an alignment stick working it from right-to-left.

“She’s hitting some 230 carries that were running out to 260. That’s 30-35 yards further than what she was hitting at Singapore.

“If she can hit it 240 carry, 260 roll-out yards, that’s going to be pretty competitive on any tour.”

Another key area of focus for the pair since they began working together in December last year has been Kobori’s putting, specifically her speed control.

With clutch putts at the final hole of regulation and the first playoff hole, that work stood up under tournament pressure at Tuncurry last Sunday… not that Azzopardi saw it.

He was only made aware that the final round was being broadcast on Kayo Sports as Kobori made her way towards the 18th green, needing to make a sand save from the left trap to force a playoff.

What he saw next vindicated everything they have been working towards and the potential that lies ahead.

“Those last two putts I saw last week, perfect speed, matched her line to speed, they were in the middle. She’s walking them in,” said Azzopardi, who also works with world No.51 male player Lucas Herbert and LPGA Tour player Karis Davidson.

“That’s where she’s going to get to with her putting, having better and better speed control.

“The stroke’s great, the mechanics have gotten better and better since we’ve started working together.

“That’s the exciting thing for me, to see what she did in Singapore and again last week.”

As he talks about Kobori’s ceiling, excitement permeates Azzopardi’s voice.

A player ranked No.179 in the world, in her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour and with two LET Access Series wins to her name with a bubbly personality and a nickname of the ‘Smiling Assassin’.

It’s a mix that Azzopardi finds intoxicating.

“She’s class,” was his succinct summation.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl as good between 75-125 metres. She is unbelievable.

“I jumped on the bag the week of the Sandbelt Invitational to have a good look at her game and she had 15-under, shot three course records and lost by a shot to Cam Davis.

“She showed herself what she was capable of that week.

“She showed me a lot too. She showed me how good she was in some areas and how we could really improve in other areas.

“Her putting needed a little bit of work, her bunker play needed a little bit of work, her chipping needed a lot of work. She drove it straight but not far enough to be mixing it with the best in the world.

“She took everything on and rolled the sleeves up.

“I’m just loving working with her because she’s just such a great person too.”

Kobori begins her Australian Women’s Classic campaign at 11.10am AEDT on Friday paired with another tournament fancy in Kelsey Bennett and amateur Charlotte Perkins.

Live scores

A unique, state-of-the-art facility, it gives golfers the chance to learn, practice and play in a high-performance environment, 24/7. The TPZ opened on Monday, with one week of exclusive access to Sandhurst club golf members and residents.

The TPZ is a member-access facility based at the PGA Golf Learning Hub, within the Sandhurst Club precinct. Comprising of four simulators powered by Trackman technology, it gives members access to skill-development, coaching services and gameplay.

Coaching Programs Manager at the PGA of Australia, Nick Bielawski, is thrilled to open the doors to members and is excited by what the opening of the Trackman Performance Zone represents.

“In launching the Trackman Performance Zone, we are giving golfers the chance to commit to their game-improvement journey in a new and exciting location,” he said. “We know that Trackman provides unrivalled shot data, so to offer that to more golfers will help make skill-development easier than ever before.”

Additionally, the TPZ will help to enhance the coaching offering available at the PGA Academy.

“To have another indoor and controlled environment will give our coaches the chance to work with their clients in great depth,” Bielawski explained.

“To coach with that instant, accurate and detailed shot feedback will mean that clients can see how their game is evolving, even over the course of an hour-long session.”

Beyond skill-development, the Trackman Performance Zone shapes as a destination for an exceptional gameplay experience – in any weather, at any time.

Open 24/7 for members, the Trackman software has more than 200 courses available to play, including some iconic locations like St Andrews and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

“The gameplay experience on the Trackman simulators is unbelievable,” Bielawski said. “To give golfers the option to play these championship courses in less than an hour, really helps to open up the game to more people.”

Memberships to the Trackman Performance Zone are being released in stages, with the first wave available exclusively to Sandhurst Club residents and members, and set to open to the broader public this Friday.

For more information on the Trackman Performance Zone and the services available at the PGA Academy, click HERE

First as a player – both at an amateur and Professional level, and now working vocationally, she finds it deeply rewarding to be part of the industry every day.

A journey that began playing casually with her parents, Susie’s aptitude for the sport was quickly apparent. Initially highlighted by her selection for Division One Pennant at Kooyonga Golf Club in South Australia, it led to state team representation and then a stint at the Australian Institute of Sport once she completed school.

“For me, it was all a stepping stone process as I progressed with my golf,” she recalls. “I would perform well and opportunities would keep opening up for me.”

Significantly, Susie’s strength of performances earned her a full scholarship at UCLA in America, where she was able to blend her passion for elite golf, with her vocational interest in professional communications.

“That was an excellent thing for me to do, of course it was daunting to start with, but it was fabulous.

“In that environment, you always have someone to practice with, compete against and learn from.”

During her time overseas, Susie’s team won the National Championship. A personal highlight, it inspired her next move, as she embraced the challenge of playing golf professionally.

Stints in China and throughout Asia ensued, as well as playing the women’s circuit in Australia, before Susie earned a full card in 2010 to play on the Japanese Tour.

Although injury meant this would only be for a season, Susie’s time as a Professional opened a range of doors for her when she returned to Australia, looking to maintain her connection to golf.

“I sort of fell into a role back at Kooyonga, helping out with the junior programs – and that kickstarted my career in golf as a worker, rather than a player.

“A lot of what I was doing was assisting the PGA Professionals at the club and that started the thought process for me that I really wanted some formal qualifications.”

Having played enough to qualify for the PGA Tour Articulation to Full Vocational Membership of the PGA, Susie completed her course in 2016 and couldn’t be happier with her decision.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat – for anyone who has the opportunity, then I would highly recommend it.

“Now as a PGA Professional, it is so rewarding to be in a position to help people with their golf and pass on knowledge.”

Currently the Golf and Membership Manager at Kooyonga, Susie is passionate about creating a warm and welcoming environment; ensuring that the golf club is somewhere people can find a real sense of joy.

“Camaraderie from a club perspective can give people some real purpose and something they can enjoy,” she explains. “From there, I love to help create a club environment where people feel supported and safe.

“In golf, we are lucky that we are in a profession where we can help people.”

Equally keen to get back into coaching and pass on her technical knowledge to the game’s next generation, Susie is heartened by the extent of impact that she, and all other PGA Professionals can make every day.

More broadly, she is energised by the continued growth and development of the game for women, something Susie describes as “an instrumental change,” over the course of her time in the industry.

“Where once when I was a junior, you might have been a bit scared to walk through the clubhouse, over the years we have seen golf become so much more open,” she explains.

“Now we have special measures for women and that is really important.

“It’s lovely to see golf helping more women and girls get into golf and take up the game. It’s much more welcoming than it ever was before.”

Imbued with the desire to help give all golfers the skills and resources to enjoy themselves on the course and around the club, Susie is excited by the possibilities that exist in the sport.

“My ultimate goal is to continue helping all people enjoy the game.

“I’m really looking forward to what’s possible.”

For more information on Women and Girls month, click HERE

Up until the age of sixteen, Qianyao (Yoyo) Han had never considered golf. Born into a family of high performing athletes, she instead had her heart set on becoming a champion track and field athlete.

“I was selected by a state coach to go and train full time for hurdles and triple-jump at a camp in the South of China,” she recalls. “At the age of thirteen, I was taken away from my parents, living with other kids where we trained with great intensity.

“We were not allowed to leave.”

Perhaps as a consequence of the rigorous regime, which saw the group train before and after school every day, Yoyo’s body broke down. A serious lower back injury left her incapable of walking, let alone hurdling, so there was a decision to be made.

“The way it worked was that if I didn’t go and compete and win a medal at the state-sponsored games, then either me – or my coach – would have to pay a fee for all the training,” Yoyo remembers. “I was not of any use to them injured, so we had to find a solution.”

Remarkably, it was golf – a sport Yoyo had never considered – that proved her calling.

A state-sponsored and somewhat experimental golf program designed for talented athletes was set to operate out of Mission Hills, and Yoyo’s athletics coach nominated her for selection.

“I was told to pack my clothes for one week and wait at the gate the next day,” she says. “I didn’t even know where I was going, I didn’t know what golf was. I just decided to go with the flow, hoping to get picked and fortunately I did.”

Yoyo quickly proved herself amongst the group and was selected as one of ten to come to Australia to continue to develop her career in golf.

Inspired to work on her game like never before, Yoyo was also reinvigorated by the opportunity she experienced in her new home.

“I started to realise a new sense of freedom,” she explains. “Out on the golf course I could show my emotions – whether I was angry, happy or sad, I was allowed to show it.

“Since moving here, my mindset has changed drastically.”

Although she wanted to turn professional at this stage, the persistent effects of her injury, along with her relative inexperience, made that very difficult.

So, determined to keep her Visa and stay in the country, Yoyo enrolled in the Membership Pathway Program to become a PGA Professional. A journey that fostered her burgeoning love for the game, it also gave her the chance to learn a lot about herself as she set about creating a career in golf.

“It (The Membership Pathway Program) took me five years to complete,” she remembers. “I couldn’t speak English very well at that time, but I had such great support that made it possible for me.

“I was so determined and would practice before and after studying every day – no matter the weather or the conditions, I was trying as hard as I could.”

Her efforts duly rewarded, Yoyo became a fully qualified PGA Professional in 2017. A proud day, it was the culmination of an extraordinary journey and a testament to her unwavering persistence.

“The day I graduated, it was a big relief,” she smiles. “Knowing I could actually start my dream of being a golf coach, I am very proud.”

After working at the Sandhurst Club for a period of time both as a coach and in the shop, Yoyo has found her niche as one of the most in-demand coaches at the thriving Yarra Bend Golf complex just outside Melbourne’s CBD.

Although she often finds herself coaching for 12 – 14 hours a day, Yoyo is happy, knowing that she is making a tangible difference every day.

“I love talking to people, all sorts of different people,” she explains. “Coaching people of all different levels is rewarding, and seeing them progress – often in the space of an hour is great.

“I love that moment when they hit a perfect shot, turn around and have that excited look in their eyes.”

Ultimately, Yoyo’s assessment of where she started in sport, to the relationship she now has with golf, is a heart-warming one.

“Previously, everything I was doing was all about ‘win, compete, survive,’” she says. “Now I realise that golf is quite enjoyable.

“I enjoy it so much more now.”

For more information on Women and Girls month, click HERE

The achievements of twenty-five Associates were recognised, as fifteen graduated in NSW/ACT, while a further ten accepted their PGA Professional roundel in Victoria.

The NSW/ACT graduation was held at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney on Friday evening.

Membership and Events Administrator, Corinne Kelleher, joined Senior State Manager David Barker in welcoming graduates, along with their family and friends for a wonderful night of celebration.

“It really is a special night,” he said. “All of our fifteen graduates tonight have done an exceptional job to earn that roundel and we know they will do us proud as fully qualified PGA Professionals.”

Their graduation comes after three years of training and education through the Membership Pathway Program, where each Associate completed a blend of workplace training, virtual and face-to-face education, as well as a Diploma-level qualification.

“It is a rigorous process, so each of our graduates should be very proud,” said Barker.

On Tuesday night, Victorian graduates gathered at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne’s south east.

PGA of Australia Chair, Mr Rodger Davis, as well as Chief Executive Officer Gavin Kirkman, Member Director Ian Baker-Finch and Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Hergt were all present, as they celebrated the achievements of Victoria’s graduates.  

They were joined by General Manager for Membership and Education, Geoff Stewart, along with Victorian Membership Manager Luke Bower and Membership and Events Administrator, Garth Webster for an evening of celebration for a further ten PGA Professionals.

“There can be no doubt that our class of 2022 were exceptionally strong,” Bower explained. “It is great to have the chance to recognise that tonight and wish them well for their careers in the industry.”

See below for a full list of graduates from each state:

VIC:

NSW:

Heavy rain through the week convinced Weatherly – in consultation with the match committee – to cancel Saturday’s members comp as parts of the course were already flooding.

Mooroopna’s resident PGA Professional decided to open the pro shop on Saturday morning in case some members wished to have a social hit.

By midday, he had moved his pro shop stock into the clubhouse and headed home before the Shepparton-Mooroopna Causeway was closed at 6.30pm that night.

It would be three weeks before he would be able to return.

The golf course itself was closed for almost a month but due to his insurance policy via Golf Business Australia, Weatherly had the peace of mind to know that he would not suffer financially.

Managing Director of Golf Business Australia, Daniel Bateup, has become a valued conduit between PGA Professionals and insurance companies and has formulated a policy that is designed to protect the business interests of PGA Members during difficult times.

Whether it has been bushfires, flooding, rain events or malicious or accidental damage, many golf clubs have been forced to close their doors temporarily the past few years.

Given that many clubs are unable to obtain insurance for flooding or it is prohibitively expensive, the Business Interruption (Loss of Attraction) cover sourced by Golf Business Australia provides a much-needed source of income.

It was a source of income that Weatherly insists saved his business.

“I don’t think I’d be here anymore if it wasn’t for insurance. Definitely not,” says Weatherly, who was also insured through Golf Business Australia at his previous posting at Craigieburn Golf Club.

“My business would have gone for sure.

“For a young family, the financials were our biggest concern. Rent, car payments, all that sort of stuff.

“All the stress about living within our means and making sure we could pay our bills because there was no income coming in.

“The insurance kicked in and that helped us to get back on our feet.”

Describing the service provided by Bateup and his team as “emotionally comforting”, Weatherly contacted Golf Business Australia on the Sunday, October 16.

Initially unsure whether his policy covered flooding, Weatherly says the communication and efficiency of the Golf Business Australia team was crucial in such a stressful period.

“You feel like you might be asking almost stupid questions about what’s covered and what’s not but Daniel and his team walk you through it all and provide that guidance that you need,” Weatherly adds.

“I didn’t know what my policy covered. Not exactly.

“Sunday night I messaged Daniel and said, ‘Not sure what’s going to happen here, am I covered?’ Daniel was straight onto it and said, ‘Yes, you’re covered for flood’ and that he would get back to me on what needed to happen.

“They had the assessors come out, all of the reports, all of the stock, all of the equipment listed out.”

For Bateup, it was another example of the specific cover required by PGA Professionals.

“GBA is very proud of the outcome achieved for Ben at Mooroopna Golf Club,” Bateup said.

“We will continue to work closely with our insurer partners so that PGA Members continue to receive the best possible protection and competitive premiums.”

Weatherly paid tribute to the golf club management and members who helped to strip out the pro shop while he was cut-off from the course and also Paul Jamison and the team at On Course Golf.

And he was extremely grateful for an insurance settlement facilitated by Golf Business Australia.

“The golf club was absolutely incredible. They had some members rip up the carpets for me because I couldn’t get over there,” Weatherly said.

“And I highly, highly recommend Daniel, Steve and their team.

“I can’t imagine where I’d be right now without that insurance policy.”

Golf Business Australia is a partner of the PGA of Australia. To get a free quote or take advantage of the Golf Business Australia discount offer available to PGA Members visit https://members.pga.org.au/MyPGA/MemberOffer/Member_Benefit_Detail.aspx?Id=17725&seqn=21

After completing his PGA Associateship to become a PGA Professional in 2021, Watson, who currently works as the Head Teaching Professional at Long Reef Golf Club in New South Wales, was thrilled to have the opportunity to start work in an industry that was booming in the wake of the pandemic and keen to take advantage of it.

“There’s no doubt that period has been great for golf as so many people got into it,” he explains. “So, coming into the industry as a PGA Professional at that time, it was pretty clear to me that my goal should be to keep all of these new golfers – be they young kids or older people – in the game for life.

For me as a coach, that is simply a process of picking apart different parts of a player’s game and working out where there is room for improvement.”

To aid that process and to elevate his offering as a coach, Watson sought further education opportunities. Certified with the Titleist Performance Institute, TrackMan University and abreast of all of the PGA’s Accreditation and Continuing Education programs, he was hungry for more. 

A chance to expand his thinking and round his perspective, he decided to complete a coach certification course with Circles.

A digital shot-data platform, Circles is designed to give coaches greater insights into the performance of their players, to help develop targeted practice plans. Purpose-built to drive precision and effectiveness for both the coach and the player, Watson is effusive in his praise, both for the platform and the process of upskilling.

“I spent two days doing the certification,” he recalls. “There was an introduction to the program, we went through the data categories and even learnt how PGA Tour players use Circles.

“The big thing for me was how we can use it to help players peak when it is important – understanding they can’t be at full peak year-round.”

That high-level insight is particularly relevant for Watson as a coach, as he works with ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players, James Grierson and Jay McKenzie.

“Now with an in-depth understanding of the platform, I have all the data on what my players are doing on the course and it is my job as a coach to analyse that, work out where they are good and where they might be lacking.”

This process of staying at the cutting edge of industry trends is something that Watson is particularly proud of, too.

He feels it is especially relevant for golf coaches responsible for guiding the game’s next generation.

“I think the best coaches continue to educate and upskill themselves,” he says. “The more knowledge you have, the better for the student and ultimately that’s all I care about.

I’m still very young in the industry, I don’t take that lightly. I want to continue to learn and grow and spend more time with the other Professionals in the game.”

It is that process of bettering the student that has driven Watson’s other passion in recent months. At the age of just twenty-three, he, along with five other partners, opened Strokes Gained Studios in Brookvale.

An innovative all-in-one golf facility, Watson is proud to combine the most advanced in golf performance technology, with a purpose-built physical training centre to offer a one-stop-shop for golfers looking to realise their potential.

“Whether it’s through technique or skill instruction, personal training, physio, we feel like we are that one-stop shop to either prolong your career, or to help you towards your specific goals and get better,” Watson explains. “The whole team here is TPI qualified, has an interest in golf and a real passion to help people improve.”

Combining TrackMan simulators, SAM Putt Lab, Capto Precision Putting, Watson and his team have left no stone unturned in providing golfers the resources they need to succeed.

“You look at the best players in the world and they have got a swing coach, a personal trainer, a dietitian, a sports-psychologist – so we know that in order to perform, you need to be as well-rounded as possible,” he says. “So that all-encompassing approach to your game is what we are trying to offer.”

Evidently, they are scratching an itch, too, having registered more than 50 members in their first three months, and also signing deals with clubs in the local area to extend their innovative offering to more golfers than ever.

“We’ve definitely got a winning formula at Strokes Gained,” Watson smiles. “Whether we are helping professional golfers or everyday players, seeing them get better is our long-term goal.”

As he enjoys the process of running his own business, Watson has come to realise the appetite that currently exists for golf’s alternative formats, and is confident that the industry is heading in the right direction by embracing that.

I think it’s great to see the game moving away from just being played in traditional formats,” he says. “It’s only going to get more people into golf; all the indoor centres are awesome, interactive and attracting a new demographic.

“We also need to remember that because we are so time poor, people want things instantly and this new approach means they can go there and get their golf fix, rather than relying on spending a long time away from family.”

More broadly, Watson believes that PGA Professionals have the chance to utilise indoor golf facilities to offer a welcoming introduction to the game to ensure a positive first experience for more golfers than ever before.

“A soft introduction is an important thing – getting people involved in the first instance,” says Watson. “Understanding all of these innovations and changes, ultimately our role as PGA Members is to continue to give a good experience.”

The PGA will be running a coach certification course in partnership with Circles on March 8th and 9th at the PGA Learning Hub, Sandhurst Victoria. This programme has been delivered to over 350 leading coaches across USA, China, and New Zealand. The Circles’ Coach Certification Programme educates and supports coaches to understand & implement a data-led coaching program and  is most suitable for those who are interested in implementing data-led coaching insights, and are prepared to dedicate time to achieving this for the long-term profitability & success of their business.

 More information on the Circles’ Coach Certification Programme and registration is available: HERE

You can find your nearest PGA Professional, accredited to help you in all aspects of your game, using our updated Find a PGA Pro platform at: https://pga.org.au/find-a-pga-pro/

Australia’s newest PGA Professionals, they were joined by more than sixty attendees on the night, including General Manager of Membership and Education Geoff Stewart, Queensland Member Support officer Mark Weir, Training Manager Stephanie Jamieson as well as State Manager for QLD/NT, Broc Greenhalgh.

“It’s a great chance to celebrate their achievements over the last three years and to welcome them to the fold as Full Vocational Members,” Weir said.

“They have obviously navigated a challenging time throughout their Associateship with COVID, so it is wonderful that we can honour them tonight as they move into the industry as PGA Professionals.”

There were fourteen graduates on Friday night, including 2022 National PGA Associate of the Year, Mitchell Smith.

Additionally, the group included Zoe Maxwell, who competed at the 2023 Vic Open, as well as Jade Longstaff who completed the entirety of her Membership Pathway Program from Darwin.

“The class of 2022 was an outstanding group,” said Weir. “We are immensely proud of them all and looking forward to following their progress and supporting them on their journey as Full Vocational Members of the PGA of Australia.”

A full list of graduates from the evening is available below: