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Sydney’s Paige Stubbs is embracing her life as a new-age professional and will relish the chance to take her talents to the world stage when she represents Australia at the Women’s PGA Cup in October.
The youngest member of Australia’s five-person team, Stubbs is fearlessly chasing her dreams of becoming the world’s best female golf coach, harnessing lessons learned playing professionally to help her both as a player and a coach.
After turning professional in 2015, Stubbs took the chance to play overseas in both Europe and China, a grounding she believes will make her an effective coach.
“I kept pursuing that dream of playing professionally,” she recalls. “I loved it. I’ve always loved competing.
“Travelling as a professional during that time of my life was an incredible experience and I think it really rounds you as a person.
“It’s certainly made me the person and the coach that I am today.”
Now Stubbs, who became a full PGA Member at the start of this year, works as the Teaching Professional at Castle Hill Country Club where she is taking her coaching to the next level.
Determined to help as many golfers as possible, she has expanded her instruction to both in-person and online offerings, embracing technology and the power of social media to make golf instruction more accessible than ever before.
“I’ve always said that I want to help the whole world and I’m conscious of ensuring that I can reach as many people as possible,” she explains. “Only doing that in-person reduces the amount of people you can help.”
Stubbs emphasises that time spent in COVID lockdown- as well as when courses in New South Wales were closed due to floods – inspired her to take her coaching online as well. Now, she offers tuition through online platform Skillest in addition to her coaching at Castle Hill.
Tailoring a range of programs to the individual’s needs, her online offerings range from one-off swing analysis, right through to 24/7 swing support and communication.
“It’s more feasible for the player and for the coach,” says Stubbs, who had three top-five finishes on the WPGA Tour Australasia.
“It means that the player knows they are practising the right things and, in a sense, keeps them accountable as well.
“Where there can be a lag time between lessons in-person, I am able to provide instant feedback for everyone online.”
In addition to those who sign up to her online programs, Stubbs also maintains a strong social media presence, sharing tips and insights for everyone, particularly via her Instagram account.
“I think social media is extremely powerful when used correctly,” says Stubbs. “We do need to be cautious, though, when people just start trawling for answers to their swing.
“There’s no doubt that creating quality content for social media is time consuming, but it is certainly rewarding in the long run.”
Regardless of whether a student shows up on the range or on screen, a lesson with Stubbs is built on the same fundamentals as she tries to understand their goals and then simplify technical advice as much as possible.
“I try to make a distinction between whether someone is chasing a quick fix or whether they are looking to make longer term progress,” she says. “Then it’s about communicating the information in a manner the student can understand. I’m very hands on.
“You learn to explain things differently to different people. We are always learning as PGA Professionals and it’s important we continue that process.”
For all of the time and dedication she gives to help other golfers on their journey, Stubbs is particularly excited to have the chance to focus on her own game and represent Australia next month.
“I’ve always wanted to represent Australia,” she smiles. “I’m incredibly proud to do it and to have the flag on my arm is just super, super cool.
“I can’t answer it any other way.”
Stubbs will tee it up alongside Anne-Marie Knight, Nicole Martino, Katelyn Must and Angela Tatt at Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico October 24-29. The field, comprised of teams from six world PGAs, will compete in a 54-hole strokeplay format, with each team’s lowest three scores counted after each round.
We chatted with father/son PGA Professional duo John (Maroochy River Golf Club) and Mackenzie Wright (Sunshine Coast Golf Centre). Together, they shared their reflections on working in golf, visions for the future of the game and even a birthday to remember.
What is one piece of advice you would offer to a new PGA Professional?
JOHN WRIGHT: Make a big effort to develop your communication skills; that will really take you places. It’s important that we stop and check in with members at golf clubs about how their golf is going – a short chat can mean the world! No one is ever above anyone else or the game.
MACKENZIE WRIGHT: Have a plan. It’s important that you write down where you want to get to and what you need to do to get there. I think that’s crucial in whatever aspect of the golf industry we are working and the more disciplined you can be, the more likely you are to see positive results.
What barriers do we need to break down to get more people into the game?
JW: The game has moved forward rapidly in the past decade and we have a great opportunity to attract the friends of “COVID golfers”. There has been a massive jump in membership and participation and we can really make the most of that.
MW: I think the time it takes to play a full 18 holes can be hard for people balancing work and family commitments. I think incorporating things like more par 3 courses and shorter holes for new golfers will help to attract more players.
What is the best part about your job?
JW: As a full-time teaching professional now, I enjoy turning up to work knowing that I have the opportunity to change someone’s day for the better. I love the client feedback when things are going well or when someone has a career best score. I’m very proud to be a PGA Member; it’s a privileged position.
MW: As a coach, I love the challenge of problem solving. Helping people learn the game and watching them improve and enjoy it is immensely satisfying. I’ve also appreciated the time I have had learning from other PGA Professionals and hearing about their experiences.
What’s the most memorable golf experience you have had with each other?
JW: No doubt that would be taking Mackenzie and his older brother Jack to Barnbougle Dunes for his 21st birthday. Mackenzie shot 69 to beat us – you might say he was destined to win that day!
MW: When dad surprised my brother and me with a trip to Barnbougle for my 21st birthday. That’s one I’ll always remember! Any time we are on the course together is memorable and there’s always a healthy dose of rivalry.
Queensland golf’s highest achievers of the past 12 months will be honoured at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night to be held at The Star – Gold Coast on Tuesday, October 25.
Represented by the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, Golf Course Superintendents Association of Queensland and Golf Management Australia, the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night acknowledges the achievements all finalists have accomplished in a period where the state has continued to see significant growth in the game of golf.
“It is wonderful to see that those individuals, golf facilities, programs and events that have assisted the game to continue its strong momentum can be recognised on our night of nights,” said PGA State Manager, Broc Greenhalgh.
“Our list of award finalists this year are a great representation of the high standards our state has come to expect in servicing our sport.”
Golf Australia State Manager, Luke Bates, explained how the evening is an opportunity to celebrate those making an impact from all corners of the industry.
“Traditional facilities servicing thousands of golfers play an integral role in the growth of golf but through the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night we are also able to recognise the smaller facilities and less well-known individuals around the state,” said Bates.
The evening is truly an industry-wide event and as Golf Management Australia (QLD) President Aaron Muirhead explained, it’s an opportunity to recognise the efforts of those behind the scenes.
“The past 12 months have been challenging for many golf administrators, boards and golf club employees with government restrictions, busy courses as well as adverse weather adding to the pressures,” said Muirhead.
“The Awards Night allows us to celebrate those who have gone over and above to keep our facilities operating effectively, an opportunity that we look forward to each year.”
Golf Course Superintendent Association (QLD) President Paul McLean has also highlighted that the event is a wonderful way to bring the industry together.
“Our golf clubs reflect on achievements separately though to celebrate successes as an industry alongside peers and partners shows our sport’s positive culture we are so very proud of,” said McLean.
To book your tickets or for further details about the QLD Golf Industry Awards Night, please visit www.qldgolfindustryawards.com.au or alternatively contact the PGA (QLD/NT) office on 07 5657 6100 or via e-mail on [email protected].
2022 finalists for their respective awards (in alphabetical order)
Golf Club of the Year
Golf Club of the Year (Under 400 Members)
Golf Supplier of the Year
Junior Program of the Year (MyGolf Centres of the Month – QLD)
Volunteer of the Year
PGA Queensland Coach of the Year – Game Development
Distinguished Manager Award
PGA Queensland Coach of the Year – High Performance
PGA Queensland Club Professional of the Year
PGA Queensland Management Professional of the Year
Golf Club Staff Member of the Year
Golf Club Board Member of the Year
Tournament of the Year
Superintendents Achievement Award
Metropolitan Tournament of the Year
Golf Course Assistant Superintendent Recognition Award
Regional Tournament of the Year
PGA Legends Tournament of the Year
Golf Course Turf Apprentice of the Year
Additional awards presented at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night that don’t attract finalists include:
The PGA is proud to release a new multi-channel campaign to promote the invaluable contribution that PGA Professionals make to the golfing industry every day.
The campaign, featuring TVC commercials to run on Foxtel and Kayo, as well as outdoor and online media, celebrates the vast skillset of PGA Professionals and emphasises the number of ways in which they help golfers to enjoy the game.
Here for you takes the audience on a relatable journey, serving as a reminder that wherever you are on your golfing journey, “PGA Professionals are here for you.”
From the course, to the driving range and practice facilities and into retail settings, PGA Professionals are positioned as the solution for every golfer. The heartbeat of the golf industry and the leading experts in coaching, equipment and club fitting, retail, game development and golf club management, PGA Professionals help every golfer – from the advanced, right through to the very beginner.
The campaign, which closely aligns the expertise of PGA Professionals with the PGA Professional roundel, will ensure that golfers right around Australia know who to turn to when they need assistance in any aspect of their game.
PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman emphasised the importance of ensuring that the broader golf industry is aware of the important role that PGA Professionals play.
“They are the heartbeat of the golf industry and are the leading experts in golf,” Kirkman said.
“To earn the right to wear the prestigious PGA Professional badge, aspiring Professionals must undertake a three-year PGA Membership Pathway Program. Their education and training makes them golf’s most skilled people, so when you see the PGA Professional badge, you know you are getting the very best in golf advice from a fully-qualified professional in their field.”
The campaign encourages audiences to seek out the services of their local PGA Professional, both by visiting the Find a PGA Pro website or at their local golf facility, where more than 1,700 PGA Professionals are servicing the industry every day. The campaign will run for a month on Foxtel’s sporting networks and go live later this year across outdoor media and digital display advertising.
Fate is often associated with cruel twists; destiny a pre-ordained path to the inevitable. Harrison Endycott has experienced both sides of life’s flip of the coin and it has led him to the PGA TOUR.
Endycott will make his debut as a member of the PGA TOUR in the early hours of Friday morning at the Fortinet Championship in California.
It represents both the culmination and beginning of a path that has been littered with forks in the road, forks that for many can leave childhood dreams unfulfilled.
And it all starts with a cup of coffee.
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Bob Leach would regularly frequent the Thyme Square Café in Hornsby in Sydney’s northern suburbs.
As his wife Dianne worked tirelessly in the kitchen, Brian Endycott was up front making cups of coffee and chit-chat with customers in equally large doses.
Brian saw Bob’s son Ben grow up to be a highly accomplished golfer at Avondale Golf Club and Ben would have a critical influence on Harrison Endycott’s development as a young golfer.
Previously a member at Asquith Golf Club, Brian was told that Avondale was starting a new junior program under the watch of PGA Professional Mark Paterson.
A club frequented by Prime Ministers, ex-Wallabies and titans of business was beyond the financial means of the Endycotts at that time so Ben Leach stepped in and convinced Avondale to sponsor young Harrison as a development player so that he could be coached by Paterson and his son Ben, the Assistant Professional at the time.
It was a moment in time that changed everything that followed.
“I don’t know why Mark and Ben took a shine to me,” says Endycott, pictured above with Ben, Avondale member David Donnelly and Mark.
“I’ve got no idea. I just wanted to go play good golf and I was very fortunate to be able to be mentored by that family.
“Avondale is a place in my heart that I’ve never forgotten and never will. Hopefully one day I’m in a position to give back a lot to that golf club.
“I wouldn’t be playing the PGA TOUR if it wasn’t for them.”
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As Paterson began to build a junior program from scratch, Endycott gave him a glimpse of the future.
Like most active 12-year-old boys, Endycott had visions of sporting greatness that changed by the hour.
Playing for the Wests Tigers in the NRL, playing cricket for Australia, surfing like Kelly Slater, playing rugby union for the Waratahs and playing golf on the PGA TOUR.
These were not fanciful dreams, simply options.
But there was a talent and an intensity to his golf that separated him from almost everyone else his age.
“You’re talking about 1 per cent of kids in the world,” Paterson says of those who realise seemingly impossible dreams.
“It’s pretty hard for us to say that they’re going to make it but he had the drive, the dedication and he just had this thing about his game.
“There are kids that are special. There are kids when you watch them hit a ball who are special. They get it in the hole, they know how to score. He just had all those special talents and he was good in every aspect of his game.
“He knew what he wanted in life. We set a dream for him and he’s reached that dream now.”
Tragedy would take the player-coach relationship to even greater depths.
Endycott lost his mother to ovarian cancer at just 15 years of age.
It is a time in a young man’s life where even the slightest disruption can greatly alter their direction; Harrison had to suddenly face a life without his mum.
As his father and sister both struggled to come to terms with their loss, Endycott had the Paterson family to hold him in place.
“We’ve dealt with a lot of family hardship but what Mark and Ben have done not only for me but my dad, for my sister, their whole family is unbelievable,” Endycott says.
“Not only did they develop me and help me to get to an area of my career where I wanted to get to but they’ve coached me to be the person I am and to look at life in a completely different way.
“I can’t buy that. I can go out and win 10 majors and be world No.1 but I couldn’t buy that loyalty of family.
“I’m very, very humbled to have that in my life.”
The Paterson family influence is all encompassing.
Mark was Endycott’s first coach, is now his mentor and is described by both as being “a second father”.
Ben is Endycott’s current coach and surrogate big brother, the pair talking daily from all corners of the globe.
Ben’s wife Abbey is a trained social worker who provided counselling support to the entire Endycott family and Mark’s wife Robyn has opened her heart and her home to be something of a second mother.
“We feel like we’re a village with ‘Harro’ because he’s not just a student to us. He’s more than a student to all of us. He’s like a second son to me and a brother to Ben,” Paterson adds.
It’s created a support network that has been vital in moving Endycott through the various stages it takes to join the PGA TOUR.
With financial support from some Avondale members, he spent two years battling language difficulties in South American countries playing the PGA TOUR-Latinoamerica circuit and then graduated to the cut-and-thrust of the Korn Ferry Tour, a cobblestone road toward the promise of gold.
Harrison, Mark and Ben all talked through taking the path with no promises but only opportunity, confident that the drive and determination he displayed as a kid hadn’t faded.
“He’s still got that drive. He wants to get better and better and better. And he will,” Paterson says.
Victory earlier this year at the Huntsville Championship was pivotal; the pro shop at Avondale Golf Club full of members craning to see young Harrison fulfil his destiny as the Korn Ferry Tour season reached its climax.
They will all tell you that he is just getting started, but he has already come so far.
“All because of where Bob Leach bought his coffee,” Endycott adds.
Scott Barradell, PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Melbourne’s Eastern Golf Club, is proud to drive increased female participation and engagement through an exciting Women’s Get Into Golf membership initiative.
Established in April this year, the program helps to make golf more accessible for women, promoting the invaluable physical, mental and social benefits that the game provides.
“The whole concept was around promoting golf as being something fun, social and good for both the mind and body,” Barradell says. “We are so excited to open up that opportunity.”
The program, which provides participants a free, restricted 12-month membership, is designed to align with The Eastern Golf Club’s vision to support growing participation amongst women and girls. Barradell and his team at Eastern clearly struck a chord with the local female community, as they received over 300 expressions of interest.
Initially slightly overwhelmed by the uptake, Barradell was thrilled to see so many people – and such a range – keen to be involved.
“The first induction evening was crazy with 180 people in attendance,” he recalls. “We had women of lots of different ages and abilities join, which has been great.”
From that starting point, the program has gone from strength to strength, as Barradell and his team at The Eastern Golf Club continue to offer a premium experience for their newest female golfers.
“We have had another 50 or so join since that initial night in April, he recalls. “It’s just fantastic.”
Members of the program receive a range of benefits and can enjoy a fully immersive golfing experience at Eastern. Weekly clinics and practice sessions provide a warm and welcoming environment for everyone; where participants include those totally new to the sport, some who are returning after some time away, and others simply looking for an edge.
“I think a lot of the time, there can be an intimidation factor when women are looking to get in to golf,” Barradell explains. “Essentially, we are trying to remove that.”
The clinics themselves cover every aspect of the game, to ensure that participants are able to enjoy getting out and playing, without having to face the stress of competition golf.
For Barradell, that has been a rewarding experience, too.
“We have a structure that we follow; working through chipping, putting and full swing,” he explains. “It has been something new and of course it has its challenges, but it’s just so rewarding.”
The program is also acting as a catalyst to get an increased number of women onto the course. With the benefit of having 27 holes at The Eastern Golf Club, including the Shark Waters Par 3 course, Barradell is seeing more women on the fairways than ever before.
“Our women’s fields have doubled since the start of the program,” he says.
Even after the final putt is holed, members of the Women’s Get Into Golf program are able to enjoy an all-encompassing experience at The Eastern Golf Club.
“We are running special monthly events as well,” Barradell explains. “From equipment fittings, to rules seminars and even fashion shows, we are keen to make sure we get the girls together as much as possible.”
An outstanding initiative, the Women’s Get Into Golf membership program is setting the standard for increased female engagement. Opening the door for greater participation in the game, Barradell and the team at Eastern are helping more and more people embark on their own golfing journey.
“It’s all about having more people at the golf club,” he says. “That’s a good thing for everyone.”
A PGA Professional since 1995, Barradell considers the Women’s Get Into Golf initiative as something of a watershed moment.
“The take up has just been great,” he says. “It really has to be one of the biggest success stories I have ever seen.”
We’re delighted to be welcoming Ian James to the 2022 Golf Business Forum/PGA Expo as a key speaker.
An expert in golf retail and golfer engagement, Ian is passionate about establishing real-word connections and relationships within communities and the range of benefits this can provide to PGA Members, individuals and businesses.
Ian has more than 30 years of experience working at all levels of the corporate industry and will deliver unrivalled insight into influencing customer behaviour, purchasing patterns and creating brand loyalty.
For the past 15 years, Ian has been imparting his knowledge to those in the golf industry via his company Real Tribe. In his role, Ian is driven to help increase participation and engagement and his ideas will inspire you to maintain meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with golfers.
We are also excited to announce that Ian will also deliver EXCLUSIVE content to PGA Members at the Expo. lan will help you discover how to engage and align with golfers and facilities, maximising your financial impact.
Secure your tickets to the 2022 Golf Business Forum/PGA Expo now.
In his 56th year as a PGA Professional, Denis Brosnan remains one of the most enduring and influential figures in Australian golf. Unsurprisingly, his fascination with the properties of a golf club began at an early age and continues unabated to this day.
At qualifying for The Senior Open in July this year, Brosnan was simultaneously product-testing and trying to play his way into the field at Gleneagles.
With the yet-to-be-released but R&A-approved Brosnan Golf B77 driver in his bag, Brosnan bettered his age but failed to qualify, shooting 74 at Glenbervie Golf Club.
It was a triumph in every other sense of the word, taking great pride in the performance of another product that carries his name and revelling in the opportunity to play the game amongst friends he has known for half a century.
“It wasn’t available to the public, but we had R&A approval for it, so I used it and it worked really well,” Brosnan says of the B77.
“Before we get it ready for the public I’ll work on it, hit it, test it, put it in the bag, have a couple of rounds of golf with it, see what I think.”
Touring the Brosnan Golf warehouse in Brisbane’s northern suburbs is enlightening not just for the scale of the operation that sends containers of golf equipment around the country on a daily basis but the passion of the man behind it.
You sense that as he speaks on the latest release he is ruminating on what is next; as one container leaves the warehouse he proudly watches on as the next set of custom-built golf clubs are expertly constructed.
It has been this way since the establishment of Brosnan Golf in 1977 and which has expanded over the past 45 years to include 16 Golf World retail stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
And it all stemmed from an invitation as a 12-year-old to work in the Virginia Golf Club pro shop with Ted Cates, one of the founding members of the PGA of Australia.
“Ted was interested in making golf clubs, so I became interested in making golf clubs,” Brosnan adds. “I’d be there grinding and polishing golf clubs at a young age.
“Ted was way ahead of his time in so much as that he was casting way back in probably the late 1950s. He was casting putters, brass putters, and alloy woods, and of course I’d be in the pro shop grinding and assembling them.
“That was a great life experience for me. In later years, when I decided to get into manufacturing golf clubs, it gave me a terrific grounding.”
After a few years of working in the shop at Virginia Golf Club, Brosnan was put forward to begin his PGA Traineeship under Fred Anderson at Oxley Golf Club.
Not only did he continue to build clubs but the 17-year-old soon showed an affinity for sales.
He completed his PGA training under Frank McCarthy Snr at Jindalee Golf Club, spent a few years as the PGA Professional at Caboolture Golf Club and was recruited to become the PGA Professional at Redcliffe Golf Club in 1967.
Brosnan’s wife June – who passed away in 2016 – also worked in the pro shop at Redcliffe and would prove instrumental not only in the founding of Brosnan Golf but in the company’s success over the coming decades.
Although locally-manufactured golf clubs are less prevalent today, when Brosnan Golf entered the market they were going toe-to-toe with the likes of Dunlop, Slazenger, Spalding and PGF. Rather than being intimidated, Bronsan revelled in the competition.
“You might have said that’s a very competitive marketplace but I didn’t mind that at all,” he says.
“I came out with a product that I believed was brilliant, it was priced right and I was able to get the support of a lot of the golf pros in golf shops around the country.
“All of that put together meant that we could succeed, as we did, and we sold quite a lot of equipment. And I just kept doing it.”
At the heart of Brosnan’s decision to enter the equipment manufacturing sector was a belief that Australian conditions required golf club construction that was more durable than those that were imported from overseas.
“I thought for maybe two or three years that a lot of the golf clubs that were coming into Australia from overseas were poor quality zinc heads or die-cast heads,” he explains.
“Our conditions were far harsher than a plush, American golf course, and the golf clubs were not standing up. So I thought, I can do a lot better than this.
“I was always interested in what a club looked like and what it would do, the type of shaft it had, even from a young age. The fact that you could finish a golf club, it could look fantastic, and it would perform really well. All of that came into it, even as a 12-year-old, 14, 15, 16-year-old working in the pro shop.
“How far does it go? What will it do? What’s the shaft like? Is it square or hooked or open? I was always interested in that and performance, performance, performance.
“Our very first model was the Taipan with a cavity back, large sweet spot, wide sole, easy to hit. We sold thousands of them. People loved them.”
In the 24 years he worked out of Redcliffe Golf Club, Brosnan continued to run the pro shop at Caboolture and would often teach at Beerwah, Bribie Island and Woodford.
It was during one of his junior clinics at Beerwah that he met a young man by the name of Ian Baker-Finch.
“He was a junior up there and was part of the program that we used to do, but he had so much talent,” Brosnan recalls of the 1991 Open champion.
“He hit the ball very well. I made sets of golf clubs for him and he was good. We’re still friends today; he’s a great guy.
“Wayne Grady, exactly the same. I sponsored Wayne on the tour for a long time and he had some terrific wins using Brosnan golf clubs.
“He won the German Open using a set of Brosnans. His very first Pro-Am that he ever won, he used a set of Brosnans, the Tour Classics.
“We had the Wayne Grady Signature clubs later, but he predominantly used the Tour Classic, and then later a model called the Tournament. He was a brilliant player.”
Due to celebrate his 77th birthday in December this year, Brosnan continues to be active in every aspect of the business while also finding time to play as many events on the SParms PGA Legends Tour as he can.
It is an intoxicating mix that he shows no sign of giving up any time soon.
“It’s a question that people ask me all the time, ‘Are you going to retire?’,” Brosnan concedes.
“I’ve got two very good friends that are my age or a little older that have not retired, that are still very active in their business.
“We talk about it and we come to the conclusion, well, no, maybe we won’t. I’m at a point where I’m happy doing what I’m doing. I’m happy to continue running the business and doing what I do and playing a lot of golf.
“You’ve got to love golf. It’s more than a job – it’s a career. It’s a love.
“For me, golf is something that I enjoy. I love playing, I love the people, I like the friends. People like Randall Vines, Tom Linskey, Lloyd McPharlin, these are guys that I met in the ‘60s and have been friends with ever since.
“Golf is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle.”
We chatted with James Single, PGA Professional since 2011 and Head Professional at Port Macquarie Golf Club in New South Wales, to get his reflections on a career in the sport he loves.
What have you learnt about the game recently that sticks out for you?
“Just how underestimated the social side of the game is. The connections that players make while on the course is vital to growing memberships and facilities should do what they can to encourage social events in conjunction with the game.”
Having been involved in the game for a long time, what is your most memorable golfing experience?
“Mixing with PGA Touring Professionals Gavin Coles and Peter O’Malley as a junior in Bathurst was a very exciting experience and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them do what they do on the course and it is something that I will remember for a long time.
Other than that, I really value spending time with family and friends on the golf course away from business. It is a great chance just to enjoy our surroundings together; that’s the best thing about golf. It’s not just the game we play, it is who you play with and share that time with that makes it the best game ever.”
You have a wide-ranging job as a PGA Professional, what’s your favourite part of your job?
“I love getting out of the Pro Shop and teaching people to play the game of golf. The thrill I get from teaching when I see a student hit a shot that they thought they weren’t capable of hitting is fantastic.”
What barriers do you think we still need to break down to get more Australians playing more golf, more often?
“I believe course access is certainly a barrier; clubs are leaning heavily towards membership and competition play as opposed to social play. I think it’s important that we open up social play as much as possible.
I also believe that we need to do all we can to get more women playing the game. For a long time we have known that encouraging female participation is one of the best ways to grow the game of golf, so we need to do everything we can to get more women and girls out on the fairways as soon as possible.”
What is one piece of advice you would offer to a new PGA Professional?
“I would advise a new PGA Professional to keep learning and developing their knowledge around the game of golf. There is so much information available to us and we are only just scratching the surface of what we know, even long after we become a PGA Professional.”
To find your local PGA Professional, click here
Golfers nationwide are discussing the possibility of their clubs housing goats and sheep, composting and implementing other environmentally-friendly measures since discovering Eastern Sward Golf Club’s ecological experiment.
The story on the south-east Melbourne based club’s biodiversity journey was published by Melbourne newspaper The Age late last month and other clubs want to know how they can follow Eastern Sward’s lead.
PGA Professional at the club Garth Cusick, who is driving the project where former farm animals roam the non-playing areas and composting bins surround the car park alongside superintendent Shaun Lehane, has been bombarded with expressions of interest from across the country.
“People have asked about lots of things,” Cusick said. “Whether it be using the animals to reduce the costs of managing their sites. Or we like the idea of reducing the chemical use or it’s been ‘it’s simply a feel good story, how do we get animals on our site?’.
“The interest has been humbling. People have also asked ‘do you need more money to continue?’ and ‘we like what you’re doing, how do you do it? Could you do it for us?’.”
The positive responses come while the experiment is still in its early days.
He is happy to share his ever-growing knowledge as he is fully aware of the amazing possibilities the project may create.
“What we’re doing is looking at expenditure, longevity of the practices and managing the asset which is the golf course,” Cusick said.
“It is of no use keeping that information to ourselves.
“This work can save clubs money, improve their practice and most importantly bring more people to golf courses because they are not just playing golf, and that’s good for the game.”
Attracting and retaining more people to golf has long been Cusick’s passion.
After working in the industry for three decades, he won Golf Australia’s Visionary of the Year for the month of July for his work bringing Chinese-Australian women into golf through his business The International Golf Academy Australia, which is based at Eastern Sward.
His desire to keep growing the sport led him down the microbiological path.
Following a chat with Lehane on how they could decrease the club’s expenses and increase cash flow, Cusick decided to study to explore various methods of soil management.
He commenced an online microbiology course with soil biologist Dr Elaine Ingham’s US-based Soil Food Web and has been studying 15 to 20 hours per week for the two years since.
“I wanted to contribute. I’ve been coaching the game for 30 years, but I didn’t think it was enough,” Cusick said.
“For the overall longevity of the game, I believe we need to protect the boundaries we play on. We have some ultra clever people building some impressive structures with amazing functionality.
“Can we focus it so that it is more natural, politically correct and cheaper? Yes. Hence, the study and luckily what I’m studying is 20 years of knowledge already in the agriculture sector. I’m bringing that knowledge to this site. I didn’t invent it, I’m just copying what others have told me.”\
His research brought him to the idea of introducing animals to the non-playing areas.
Passersby on neighbouring Thompson Road are often perplexed to see sheep and goats gathered around the Eastern Sward Golf Club sign, but they have proven to be a game-changer.
Before the 160 animals – who either come from the Strong Hearts Animal Sanctuary, which rehomes animals surrendered by farms, or the RSPCA rehabilitation program – were introduced to the course, the grass in the non-playing areas was nearly head high and a fire hazard.
Now, it is kept short at no cost.
“Originally the staff managed 23 hectares and by using the animals, we have fenced off ten hectares,” Cusick said.
“The animals manage those ten hectares and the same budget is now used on 13 hectares. We’ve intensified the energy rather than spreading out. Consequently, we’ve had significant change and we think between $10,000 and $12,000 we would spend on those ten hectares on staff, machines, maintenance and fuel.
“So we’re not having that as excess, we choose to improve our playing surface. Our course is not at 100% capacity and we want more people to come and play.
“We are not having six levels of cut, we’re down to three. We have green, fairway and tee, and rough. That means less machines required, less on and off machines.
“Our golf course now is 75% fairway, 25% rough and we are aiming to have a 90/10 split this summer. That’s a big change that the members can see. It plays faster. They are enjoying the round and we’ve used that energy and money to focus more on our greens and green surroundings.
“Our course is easy off the tee and the closer you get to the hole the more difficult it is. We’re entry level. People come here to learn the game.”
If a golfer hits their ball over the fence into where the animals roam, there is a simple local rule of taking a free drop inside the playing area.
Cusick gathers the balls, and returns them to the clubhouse, when he visits the animals to either check on them or gather microbe-rich manure for composting.
The animal manure has not had any artificial inputs and is perfect to add to his composting systems.
By extracting the microbes from the compost using an ‘aerated tea’ method to transfer it in water to the chosen. The local microbes support natural plant growth and are the key to the reduction of chemical use.
The club is conducting this experiment in conjunction with Dr Mary Cole, a well-known academic, plant pathologist and soil microbiologist, to provide peer reviewed data on process, methods, cost and outcome.
Cusick’s long-term vision is to use compost on the golf course instead of pesticides and fertiliser, and while working towards that goal, he has built an incredible rapport with the animals.
He knows them all by name, but he has a special bond with the ‘Little Boys’ in particular.
They are four goats – who are not so little anymore but the name stuck – who were the first to arrive to Eastern Sward and have called the club home since they were six weeks old.
Some of the members have a similar connection with the animals and community involvement is a huge factor in the project.
When they shear the sheep at Eastern Sward, they donate the wool to the Tooradin Knitting Club – in the town on Western Port Bay – and educating people on what can be done with their natural resources is a massive part of the club culture.
“This golf club is more than just people walking on the course to play,” Cusick said. “We can teach them how the life cycle of plants works, why plants grow, why trees grow, how compost is used, what is compost.
“Having alternate interests is also important for club members.”
For now, Cusick’s focus remains squarely with continuing to evolve the project at Eastern Sward. Although, he cannot help but be excited by the prospect of his visions coming to life elsewhere.
“We are lucky to sit here in a live experiment where Eastern Sward Golf Club have given us their course to test these theories,” he said. “We are not inventing processes, we are modifying existing processes to suit the site.
“The model we have here can be picked up and taken to any other golf club. That’s the dream, but right now I’m focused on this club.”
