PGA Professionals Archives - Page 38 of 43 - PGA of Australia

Tassie Professionals celebrate at 2020 awards


Tasmanian PGA Professionals have come together to commemorate the year that was with the Tasmanian PGA, PGA Professionals Championship, Tasmanian PGA Foursomes Championship and PGA State Vocational Awards over the weekend.

Played across 36 holes at Claremont Golf Club on Sunday 29 November, the Tasmanian PGA and PGA Professionals Championship were both won by PGA Professional Luke Hickman with scores of 68-65 for a total of 5-under 133.

Early rain cleared to produce a stunning day. Despite increasing winds lower scores were recorded in the afternoon for the 14 player field.

Alex Hamilton claimed second place in the tournament, four strokes back from Hickman with rounds of 70-67 for a 1-under par total.

Played on Monday 30th November the Doug Murray PGA Foursomes Championship saw seven teams contest the event over 27 holes at Tasmania Golf Club.

Tasmania Golf Club PGA Professionals Nick White and Scott Priest claimed their third win as a pair and fourth win each overall with a score of 106. Peter Freeland and Bryce Gorham finished in second place with a score of 108.

To conclude the celebrations, the Tasmanian PGA State Vocational Awards were presented to Adam Holden for Game Development Professional of the Year, Jamie Corkill for Club Professional of the Year and Aiden Withers for Coach of the Year.


Australia’s PGA Professionals put their tournament skills to the test on Tuesday 1 December at the PGA Professionals Championships of WA, QLD/NT and NSW/ACT in what proved to be three highly competitive events.

Usually played throughout the year, the events provided PGA Professionals with the opportunity to enjoy a day of competition with their peers following what has been a challenging year for many in the golf industry.

On Wembley Golf Course’s Old Course Gavin Reed posted an impressive round of 5-under 67 to win the PGA Professionals Championship of WA by two strokes over Braden Becker, Scott Barr and Andrew Gott.

Light winds and temperatures of 26 degrees made for perfect scoring conditions for the field of 36 PGA Professionals. After a steady start Reed took advantage on the back-nine, posting three late birdies on holes 16, 17 and 18 to take home the winner’s cheque.

“It was great to be out there playing tournament golf for some money, rather than a friendly game for a bowl of chips,” said Reed post-round.

At Lakelands Golf Club, Victoria Park Golf Complex PGA Professional Darren Weatherall and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia regular Peter Martin recorded a one-stroke victory in the PGA Professionals Championship of QLD/NT.

With scores of 4-under 68 the duo sat atop a stacked field of 56 PGA Professionals. Christopher McCourt, Matthew Rogers and 2019 PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit winner Brad Burns tied for third place at 3-under the card, ahead of a further eight players tied for sixth place at 2-under 70.

“In my second competitive round since leaving the Troppo Tour 9 years ago, I was just happy to be out playing a great track with some fellow PGA mates,” said Weatherall wrote in an Instagram post.

“It’s been a long time between drinks the putter ran hot and I am pleased to say I managed a win at the PGA Professionals Championship of QLD/NT.

“Thanks to all the sponsors, the PGA of Australia and Lakelands Golf Club and congrats to Peter Martin.”

“It has been a difficult year this year with limited playing opportunities due to COVID so it is great to get a good result today,” said Martin, who recorded a 4-under front-nine before a back-nine of even par.

“COVID has changed the way I look at the golf industry and this year I have set up a coaching studio to generate some extra income.

“I’m really enjoying the coaching side of things and it is something I will pursue more as my playing career slows down.”

Long Reef Golf Club PGA Professional Michael Infanti bested a field of 67 Professionals at Castle Hill Country Club to be crowned the PGA Professionals Championship of NSW/ACT champion for 2020 with a round of 2-under 70.

ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia regular Anthony Choat was one of two other Professionals to finish under par at the challenging course, tying for second place alongside Anthony Summers at 1-under 71.

“I haven’t played a competitive round in three or four years. so it was nice to see a lot of friendly faces out there today,” said Infanti.

Held on 29 November, the PGA Professionals Championship of Tasmania was won by Luke Hickman at Claremont Golf Club.

Hickman claimed a brilliant four-stroke victory over runner-up Alex Hamilton thanks to rounds of 68 and 65.

The PGA Professionals Championship of SA will take place on 7 December at Grange Golf Club, ahead of the PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria to be held at Sandhurst Club on 14 December.


Mentorship, connection and ongoing education. The four recipients of the 2020 NSW/ACT PGA Vocational Awards all have different stories to tell yet there are common threads among them.

A former junior at the club, Joanne Bannerman has become the first female to be named the NSW/ACT Club Professional of the Year since Janelle Smith in 2016 while Charles Kares has been named Coach of the Year for a second time for his commitment to both The Lakes Golf Club membership and the next generation of PGA Professionals.

Nigel Gibson’s guidance in elevating Manly Golf Club into such a strong financial position saw him awarded the Management Professional of the Year and Warren Moses’s dedication to growth in a number of demographics led to the Nelson Bay Golf Club PGA Teaching Professional being recognised as Game Development Professional of the Year.

“During such challenging times as we have experienced in 2020, this recognition serves not only as acknowledgment of how these PGA Professionals have handled adversity in 2020 but the years of commitment leading up to it,” said NSW/ACT State Senior Manager, David Barker.

“There was a wonderful field of worthy nominees again this year and we are delighted to recognise Joanne, Charles, Nigel and Warren with these awards.”

Club Professional of the Year

Joanne Bannerman (Cumberland Country Golf Club)

Joanne Bannerman never imagined she’d receive the Club Professional of the Year award. Truth be told, she didn’t envisage becoming a PGA Professional in the first place.

A junior member at Cumberland Country Golf Club in Sydney’s western suburbs, Bannerman was on the verge of leaving Cumberland to pursue a teaching position in Brisbane when retiring club pro Philip Nance suggested it might be worth sticking around.

“He said to me that this was the opportunity of a lifetime, and it has been,” Bannerman says.

“It was the best start I could have hoped for. He definitely paved the way for me to have a great future in golf.”

Now Bannerman is dedicating herself to making sure the game of golf itself has a bright future.

A thriving junior program that incorporates an excursion each term to the Terrey Hills par-3 course is encouraging the next wave of Cumberland members and Bannerman is putting her technological know-how to fast-track beginners into becoming avid golfers.

Certified in TrackMan, SAM PuttLab, K-Vest and the Titleist Performance Institute, Bannerman exposes newcomers to the latest in coaching technology from the moment they walk through the pro shop door.

“I feel that they find it a lot easier to get into the positions that they need to using the K-Vest because a lot of people who are new to the game have no idea how to move,” Bannerman reasons, her ultimate aim to become a PGA Master Professional.

“By viewing it on the screen they can see whether they need to rotate further or less. They can visualise it and then feel it once they get there.

“It provides instant feedback rather than trying to guide them into that position.”

Nearing 15 years as the club’s Professional, Bannerman’s commitment to excellence and warm personality have made her a treasured asset within the club.

“I can say from personal experience that she has the patience of a Saint when it comes to giving lessons,” says Club President Denis Clifford.

“We are very lucky to have her as our Club Professional.”

Coach of the Year

Charles Kares (The Lakes Golf Club)

He claims his Greek heritage is a factor but Charles Kares’ willingness to go above and beyond was a major reason for his selection as NSW/ACT Coach of the Year for a second time.

The Teaching Professional at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, Kares not only provides lessons to the membership but offers guidance to elite amateurs, shares his knowledge with current Trainees from throughout Sydney and is continually seeking to better himself professionally.

A former junior at Royal Canberra who received coaching from Gary Barter at The Australian Golf Club, Kares engages with members at every opportunity to foster an environment of shared improvement.

“If I have a 30-minute gap in my schedule, I’ll walk around and speak to members on the driving range or on the chipping or putting green and just be available to them,” Kares says.

“I don’t want them to feel like the only way they can speak to me is by booking a lesson.

“The money they spend on a lesson is not just for that hour, it’s building a relationship and feeling comfortable to talk to me any time they want.

“We’re lucky that the member wants to talk to us and is seeking our advice with a lesson because we are there first and foremost to help them enjoy their game of golf.”

Citing the transition of Lakes member Chizuru Ueda into the professional ranks and successfully obtaining a China LPGA Tour card as a 2020 highlight, Kares is also heavily invested in the development of the coaches of the future.

Part of the PGA’s mentor program, Kares is always on the lookout for those he believes will develop into fine coaches themselves.

“When I present to the Trainees, it’s the ones who have their ears perked up for a start,” says Kares. “The ones who feel comfortable enough in their skin to stand up in front of people and talk about a topic and someone who is confident enough to back themselves. They’re the traits that you need to have to be a good coach.

“It’s the ones also who are willing to go outside the square, to listen to other coaches, wanting to research more so they can build a philosophy that they can develop and use to teach people.

“Above all though they have to enjoy golf and want to see someone progress and improve.”

Management Professional of the Year

Nigel Gibson (Manly Golf Club)

When Nigel Gibson worked under the late Paul Rak as Director of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club, communication was a key tenet of his management methodology.

That grounding proved to be highly valuable this year when the Manly Golf Club General Manager was required to communicate COVID-19 updates to his membership on an almost daily basis.

When Gibson joined Manly in 2013 and set about constructing a strategic plan, member consultation was a key part of the process. That connection to the club has cultivated a culture of belonging and pride that has seen the club post net trading surpluses in excess of $500,000 in each of the past five years.

“I was really fortunate to work with Paul Rak at Kingston Heath. He was my mentor coming through the ranks from a Director of Golf to a golf management role and he was really big on communication,” Gibson says.

“It creates a culture where members are very comfortable with what’s happening at the club.

“When we did a strategic plan back in 2013 we engaged with the membership right from the outset.

“It’s that open line of communication with members that gives them the confidence to have a positive culture in the club.

“That positive culture means they are comfortable bringing their guests and they’re proud of our club.

“All of our new membership has essentially come through our members’ guests.”

A strong financial position at the onset of COVID-19 meant that the club was able to guarantee staff full salary even in the case of complete lockdown.

Gibson also instituted a Pantry & Staples service that not only provided older members with a safe manner in which to purchase and pick up basics such as toilet paper but kept the kitchen staff engaged when most clubhouses were closed.

“That went down really well and was really well supported,” Gibson said of the Pantry & Staples service that included pre-prepared meals.

“We have a number of members who are aged 70-plus so they were quite concerned but felt very comfortable in being able to order online and then come by the club and pick it up.

“With our regular communication channels, at a time when things were bit strange, the members felt comfortable that they at least knew exactly what was going on at the club.”

Game Development Professional of the Year

Warren Moses (Nelson Bay Golf Club)

Whether it’s juniors, ladies or seniors, Warren Moses adopts the same philosophy towards growing the game: Comfortable and connected.

The Teaching Professional who works alongside his older brother Maurie at Nelson Bay Golf Club in Port Stephens, Moses is a tireless advocate for introducing new people to golf.

He partners with fellow Game Development Professional of the Year nominee Mark Ingrey (Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation) in taking golf into schools throughout the Hunter region and the relaxed way he conducts his regular Saturday ladies clinic has encouraged at least 20 ladies to date to progress to membership and participation in club competitions.

“Golf doesn’t need to be about playing competitions every weekend,” says Moses, who charges just $10 per session for any ladies who wish to attend.

“Some people are happy playing nine holes a week with their husband or son or daughter.

“The biggest asset that I have is that I try to make sure they never feel intimidated.

“One lady said to me that ladies won’t come to clinics if they feel intimidated in any way. You’ve got to make sure they feel relaxed.

“They want to be in an environment where they feel comfortable and wanted, and that’s what we provide.

“The Professional’s role is to get them to come to the clinics and then you’ve got to get them to connect. That’s the secret. If you want progression, they have to connect and become friends.

“That’s how you grow the game.”

A Gary Edwin devotee who also credits his brother for having a major influence on his career, Moses is equally passionate about introducing kids to golf and providing a pathway of progression.

“Myself and Mark Ingrey have been trying to get golf into school curriculum because we feel if you can get golf into curriculum we’re going to grow the sport,” says Moses, who with the help of members at Nelson Bay runs clinics for some 40 juniors each week.

“We’ve been trying hard to get teachers to think when they’re thinking about a sport they can offer to do golf.

“Our belief is that if we make it fun and the kids get a chance to experience it, we will attract some new kids to the game.”


South Australian PGA Professional Warren Symons has been awarded Life Membership of Stirling Golf Club in a ceremony to celebrate 34 years of service.

“It is a great honour to receive Life Membership of Stirling Golf Club,” Symons said.

“To be recognised in this way by the club and the Stirling community is deeply humbling.”

Symons joined Stirling as a junior in 1977 and quickly developed a love of both golf and the club that would lead him to begin his PGA Traineeship under Ted Williams from 1980.

Following his apprenticeship Symons spent seven years as the Assistant Professional at Stirling until 1990 before moving to Hahndorf Golf Club for 12 years.

When the opportunity arose to return to Stirling Golf Club in 2002 Symons jumped at the chance and never looked back. He has served as the PGA Professional in residence ever since.

“I am greatly appreciative to have had the opportunity to connect with the Stirling members and community through my roles over the years and to have mentored so many at the club,” he said.

Throughout his years of service few highlights stand out more for the PGA Professional than the way the club has grown within the community during his tenure.

Warren said his highlight has been raising the standard and profile of the club within the golfing community.

“Over the years I’ve worked hard to introduce a positive attitude to the club and a strong belief in what we can deliver for the community,” he said.

“My mantra has always been ‘we’ve got a right to be as good as any other club’ and it’s true.

“In working with the committee, our members and juniors that mantra has become engrained in our club’s fabric and it’s something I’m very proud of.”

As a PGA Professional of nearly 40 years Symons is #PGAProud to wear the PGA of Australia roundel that signifies its wearer as a leader within the community.

“Our logo commands respect within the golfing community and being part of the PGA of Australia sets who we are, the leadership we show and the mentoring we do every day.”


The PGA of Australia has launched a national advertising campaign celebrating the invaluable role of PGA Professionals in the industry.

The campaign – featuring three television commercials and outdoor media – aims to bring to prominence the vast skillset of PGA Professionals and enhance the recognition of the coveted PGA Professional accreditation badge.

“On the back of golf’s pandemic-inspired boom, we have seen thousands of new and returning golfers flood our fairways and facilities. Our multi-channel campaign is targeted to assist first-time golfers to understand who they can turn to for coaching or fitting advice and reinforce to existing golfers the important role and function of PGA Professionals,” said Gavin Kirkman, PGA of Australia’s chief executive.

“The fun, fresh and creative way in which we have promoted our PGA Professionals helps illustrate strongly that our Members are more than just good golfers. They are the heartbeat of the golf industry and are the leading experts in coaching, equipment and club fitting, retail, game development and golf club management.

“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 person, so when you see the PGA Professional badge, you know you are getting the very best in golfing advice from a fully qualified professional in their field.”

This campaign sees the creation of a fictional character, Dale the Driving Ranger, who hilariously attempts to give advice to golfers using a series of bizarre coaching techniques. Dale adorns a child-like Sherriff’s badge with the words ‘Driving Ranger’ scrawled over it on masking tape. The ad concludes by illustrating that the only badge that should be trusted is that of a PGA Professional, and acknowledges that they are golf’s only accredited professional coaches.

The outdoor advertising encourages audiences to get a lesson and fitting by a PGA Professional and will be showcased in high traffic locations across Australia.

Some of the golf industry’s leading equipment manufacturers – Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra Puma Golf and Mizuno – have all assisted in widening the reach of this campaign by providing their support.

“These golf brands have been pivotal to bringing this campaign to life,” Kirkman said.

“They – like us – believe that a healthy golf industry is reliant on the success of PGA Professionals. We are proud to unite with these quality brands and thank them wholeheartedly for embracing this campaign.”


Australian golf’s 2020 boom continues at pace, with a surge in interest from young men its driving force.

In its latest report “New member demand … The impact of Covid-19”, Golf Australia confirms that more than 42,000 people have joined golf clubs in the 10 months to the end of October.

That represents a surge in new membership demand of 126 per cent nationally – despite the lengthy Covid-19 shutdown in metropolitan Melbourne – and on track for a five per cent overall annual rise, which would represent the best such number since 1989.

Golf Australia’s general manager of golf development David Gallichio was optimistic about the findings, compiled by Golf Business Advisory Services.

Gallichio pointed to the encouraging immediate results for Australian clubs and facilities, but highlighted the “critical” need for the industry to sustain the long-term interest.

“The numbers themselves are important right now,” Gallichio said.

“But what is paramount for the game’s future is for us to ensure the retention of the new members and players by extrapolating the data and taking those lessons to our clubs and facilities.”

The strongest growth has been among males aged 20-49 with almost 75 per cent of male membership growth from that cohort.

Male membership growth has represented 88 per cent of the total surge and it is women aged 50+ who have been responsible for more than 56 per cent of the female growth.

Gallichio said the research also pointed to the different ways new members were using their clubs.

In the corresponding six-month period in 2019, new members played 64 per cent of their golf at weekends.

“This year’s newcomers have switched that up to the point that only 56 per cent are playing across weekends,” Gallichio said.

And we’ve been excited to see a 133 per cent spike in new members in regional areas this year (to the end of October), too.

“These are just some of the lessons we have to take on as an industry to ensure that new members get the most value from their investment and continue long-term.”

Additionally, GA and the PGA have worked closely to begin development of a “membership attraction and retention” toolkit for clubs, facilities and PGA members, helping them to capitalise on this uncommon growth.

The Australian Golf Industry Council is fully invested in the initiatives with all member organisations to offer similar education packages to help their members deliver positive outcomes.

Rounds growth has also continued.

The report reveals that year-to-date October data (excluding Victoria) shows rounds eight per cent up on 2019 – and 22 per cent in the months May to October.

For this latter period, male and female rounds demand is up by 22 and 20 per cent, respectively.


In a parallel universe, Michael Sim completed his 11th Masters at Augusta National on Monday morning.

In that world Sim is a perennial major contender, has a handful of victories on the PGA TOUR and is a feted superstar whenever he returns to play on Australian shores.

That is how the Michael Sim story was supposed to go.

But at 36 years of age and with opportunities to play his way onto world tours dwindling in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sim has turned his attention instead to making other golfers better.

Possessing a swing that was admired not only for its fluidity but the results it yielded, Sim’s body began to fail him at an early age.

A stress fracture in his back that was diagnosed at just 21 restricted Sim to only middling results across two seasons on the PGA TOUR, ultimately losing his card at the end of 2008.

In 2009 he returned in emphatic fashion. He won three times on the US secondary circuit, finished top-20 playing alongside Tiger Woods at the US Open and rose to 44 in the Official World Golf Rankings by year’s end. In his second start of 2010 Sim was tied for second at the Farmers Insurance Open behind Ben Crane to rank as the 34th best golfer on the planet.

He had been invited to make his Masters debut that April but a shoulder injury forced him to withdraw a week out from the tournament and that parallel universe soon vanished into thin air.

Currently the 507th ranked golfer in the world, Sim has won the 2017 Queensland Open, 2019 WA Open and 2020 Queensland PGA Championship in recent years but the elite level of world golf to which he appeared destined to reside has remained out of reach.

A proud father and husband based on the Gold Coast, Sim still has eyes on playing in Asia or Japan but given the uncertainty that comes with life as a touring professional is within weeks of completing his PGA Bridging course and has begun to establish himself as a coach.

Splitting his time between Lakelands Golf Club and an indoor facility where he can put his Trackman certification to good use, Sim says his method to developing players is a mix of old and new thinking.

“I just teach what I know. I don’t try to teach what I don’t know,” Sim revealed.

“Obviously playing at a high level and all around the world I feel like I’ve got a lot of knowledge that I can share.

“Most of my lessons that I have with people I start with the basic fundamentals. Get them on plane, make sure they’ve got a good grip and that their alignment is good.

“It’s amazing how many people aim not where they’re supposed to and then the ball position gets adjusted because of that.

“That’s certainly a good start to at least hit a good golf shot.”

Level 1 and 2 Trackman Certified, Sim has embraced the technological advances available to coaches but admits that his passion is in sharpening up the short game.

“It’s more of a technology-based lesson with Trackman but you can also go in there and play some courses, test your wedges on Combine tests, gather club data, ball data,” Sim explained.

“It’s a different lesson to being outdoors and doing short game and seeing the actual ball flight rather than hitting against a screen.

“I started with David Milne at a young age and we did a lot of chipping and putting and pitching and that’s certainly one of the strengths of my game.

“I certainly enjoy teaching that area as well. There are always amateurs out there who you can help save shots around the green, whether that’s from a three-putt or don’t get the ball up-and-down or sometimes don’t even chip the ball onto the green.

“I played with a guy in a pro-am recently who had a really long backswing with his putting stroke and then completely stopped on it. He’d hit it short, hit the next one long and it was like that the whole day.

“I gave him a little tip to shorten his backswing and then accelerate through and he holed two putts in the last four holes from 20 feet.

“I’ve always enjoyed going to the chipping green for three or four hours and hitting different types of shots rather than hitting balls on the range in the same spot. I’ve always liked moving around, hitting bunker shots, lob shots, chip-and-runs; it’s so much more enjoyable.

“It’s nice to have the two different styles of teaching available for me.”

Sim has by no means closed the door on returning to life on tour – the Japan Golf Tour is his favoured path back – yet he remains realistic about the chances available to not only himself but the young Aussies hoping to transition into professional golf.

“It’s not just us professionals but the elite amateurs are in the same boat,” Sim said.

“I played with Nathan Barbieri at the NT PGA and he’s a really good player but he might not get to a Q School until 2022 perhaps.

“We can’t just sit around and wait for events with this COVID pandemic.

“Q Schools now with quarantines in place, it’s certainly a world of the unknown for the professional golfer.”

To book a lesson with Michael e-mail him at [email protected] or direct message @michaelsimgolf on Instagram.


In 15 years of playing pro-ams throughout the country PGA Professional Paul Williamson saw all manner of faults among amateur golfers.

Poor decision-making, succumbing to pressure and weird and wonderful swings that often defied the laws of physics gave him a grounding on what the vast of majority of golfers need to play better.

High performance coaches such as Matt Ballard have told Williamson that the thought of coaching those who can’t break 90 is akin to torture. Yet for the Emerald Lakes Golf Club-based PGA Professional it is his personal experience that makes him the perfect option for such golfers.

The concept of ‘building a brand’ among individuals sounds to many like a lesson in developing an inflated ego but Williamson has come to learn that a PGA Professional’s personal brand need not be anything more than the story behind why they are the coach that they are.

“Why do I coach the way I coach and what do I truly believe about what people need?” says Williamson, who has become a mentor with the RGX Coaching Training system.

“That then resonates with a certain amount of people. It also helps me to identify that the person standing in front of me who just wants to cure their slice is probably not my ideal client.

“Become very clear on your core beliefs about why you coach the way you do. Some coaches like to use technology and know the numbers and there are a ton of golfers out there who are exactly like that and respond best to that.

“Understanding your why, your story and how you are different to everyone else. From there it’s about creating an understanding amongst people that you might be someone they would like to be involved with.

“The brand – my story – has helped to create the tribe that is bringing more people in who are in turn telling the story for me.”

The combination of a clear personal brand with the internationally recognised symbol of the PGA of Australia is a powerful one.

The PGA brand is synonymous with golf excellence and expertise across the globe and should be used in conjunction with a PGA Professional’s own personal identity.

“When our PGA Professionals combine a strong personal brand with the recognition of the PGA brand, they present an excellent image to golfers – skills, knowledge, experience and strength,” says PGA of Australia GM of Membership and Education, Geoff Stewart.

“I encourage all of our PGA Members to consider their personal brand and ensuring the recognition of the PGA brand is incorporated.

“Our most successful PGA Members in a range of roles ensure the PGA brand is a component of their overall, effective personal brand.

“Don’t rely solely on external brands for career success. Your long-term career success is primarily determined by your personal brand – your knowledge, skills and experience and how you convey this to new and existing golfers.”

It was a focus on new golfers and the lack of lessons being undertaken by the existing membership at Rosebud Country Club that shaped Matt Bolton’s career trajectory.

In addition to the establishment of Bolton Performance Golf with club-fitting capabilities and the latest in technology, Bolton developed a program that enticed new golfers into the club and fostered an environment that has converted many into Rosebud members.

“One of the things that I have worked out over my time is that people don’t want to look stupid,” offers Bolton.

“We try to create an environment that isn’t like that. It’s welcoming, it’s an environment where people want to come and they don’t feel like they’re being watched.

“We developed a program called Learn to Golf. It is a six-month program and teaches them everything from rules and etiquette to basic technique and how to score for the regular formats that we play.

“The whole idea was to get those students to a point where they could join as a nine-hole member at the end of the six months.

“My pitch to the Board was that if we have these people here for six months they’re not going to go anywhere else; you’ve got a captive audience.

“Before COVID-19 we had two groups of 20 participants and we signed up 18 as members.

“If you work out the recurring spend over five years on just those 18 new members there is a lot of revenue there for golf clubs.”

Williamson’s way of differentiating himself from other golf coaches was to offer a guarantee of improvement.

‘Get Good at Golf’ guarantees that those currently shooting scores of 90 and above that they will improve by 10 shots per round if they follow Williamson’s instruction for a 10-week period.

It speaks to those Williamson knows he can help in a way that resonates with all golfers who want to get better.

“The people who sign up and accept those conditions know that I am going to keep coaching them for free until they get to their 10-shot target,” Williamson explains.

“That guarantee is something that entices a lot of people in.

“Is that for everyone? No, not even close. But it is for those who are fed up with whatever’s not been working.

“I’m getting the right people and there’s not one person on my books right now that I don’t really enjoy coaching. I’m really excited to get up in the morning and help every one of them.

“By understanding my ‘why’ I’ve created my own tribe who enjoy what I’m doing.

“And it means that I’m not getting lost in the crowd.”


Jake Higginbottom has won the Gunnedah Golf Club, Stripes Engineering & Komatsu Pro-Am at Gunnedah Pro-Am by three strokes.

Facing a tricky crosswind that whipped across the course all day, Higginbottom took advantage of the two par-5s on the course to move up leaderboard at the PGA Pro-Am Series event.

An eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, following by a birdie on the par-5 sixth went a long way to helping the Asian Tour player take victory with a round of 5-under 65.

“I’ve never had the chance to play here before but from talking to the boys the course has come a long way in the last 12 months,” said Higginbottom.

“It’s great to have something to play in after the year we’ve had so I’d like to thank Gunnedah Golf Club for hosting us today.”

Matthew Jones and Jordan Widdicombe tied for second place at 2-under the card, ahead of Justin Warren, Aaron Townsend and Martin Dive at 1-under.

The NSW swing of the PGA Pro-Am Series now moves to the Coffs Harbour Golf Club for the North Coast Open in early December.

View the final Gunnedah Golf Club, Stripes Engineering & Komatsu Pro-Am leaderboard at pga.org.au.


Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ commitment to 100 per cent recycled packaging is a good news story that PGA Professionals should share with golfers.

What’s a bottle of water worth to your business? $2? $3?

What if the perceived value of that bottle of water to the consumer stretched into a positive environmental message and a feeling of increased goodwill toward their golf club?

The commitment by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to reduce packaging waste and achieve ‘packaging neutrality’ by 2030 is one that should be celebrated within the golf industry.

Recent studies have shown the positive impacts that golf courses have on the environment and as a valued partner of the PGA of Australia, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is opening the door to an important conversation and an initiative that every golfer can get behind.

Point to the packaging on bottles of Mount Franklin that display the 100% Recycled Plastic branding. Advise golfers of the recycling programs in place at your club and where they can return empty bottles at the end of their round. Make each consumer feel good about the choices they are making when they grab a drink from the fridge.

“We’ve heard the community message loud and clear that packaging waste is unacceptable,” says Peter West, Managing Director of Australian Beverages at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

All Coca-Cola soft drink brands (600ml and below) and all water brands (600ml and below) in Australia are now being produced in 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. This includes Mount Franklin spring water and Powerade as well as Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta.

“Our 600ml still spring Mount Franklin bottle and our 600ml soft drink bottles now feature a message encouraging Australians to recycle in the right way so they can be made into bottles again,” says Ben Thiele, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ National Business Manager for Golf.

“We believe that this is a great conversation for PGA Professionals to have with all golfers and a positive message for those clubs who stock Coca-Cola Europacific Partners products.”

The extent of the positive impacts that Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ responsible packing commitment are many and varied, upholding lofty company targets and leading the way in government campaigns such as Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.

In addition to ensuring that each bottle has more than one life through its manufacturing process, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is reducing its carbon footprint in the way it sources and bottles the water in each of its Mount Franklin bottles.

The water is sustainably sourced from Australian springs, bottled and transported within Australia, the end-to-end value chain including the manufacturing processes, packaging formats, delivery fleet, refrigeration
equipment and ingredient sourcing resulting in a 25 per cent reduction in carbon footprint.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ commitment to using recycled plastic builds on sustainable packaging initiatives to reduce or replace plastic across the whole portfolio. This includes 7 out of 10 plastic bottles in Australia now being made entirely from recycled plastic, removing plastic straws from sale, light-weighting (making plastic bottles less heavy so the production and distribution process is more efficient) and forming partnerships with
environmental organisations to clean up waste in the environment.

In June last year Coca-Cola Europacific Partners began rolling out recycled plastic packaging for their carbonated beverage line for the first time in Australia; another way in which they are helping to keep our golf courses beautiful.

“Such initiatives are the perfect example of why Coca-Cola Europacific Partners are such a valued partner of the PGA of Australia,” said PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman.

“Knowing that the drinks they sell in their pro shops are being produced and sourced in a sustainable manner should act as an extra selling point for our PGA Members.”


Headlines at a glance

Related Content

Orchard perfect fit as Gibson’s successor at Royal Pines
SA and WA qualifiers decided for PPC National Final
Aussies on Tour: Smylie comes full circle in Germany
Ford eyeing Peake’s Pro-Am path into golf elite
Media Centre