Golf Australia

Each month, Golf Australia showcases great Australian courses and golfing holidays, profiles players and conducts road tests of the latest equipment. Leading PGA professional share instruction tips to improve your game and keep your handicap tumbling.

“QUALITY SHORT COURSES OFFER ALMOST EVERY PLEASURE OF PLAYING THE ‘BIG’ GAME ON A SCALE THAT ISN’T.”

Golf Australia

BONVILLE GOLF RESORT • This month marks 30 years since the official opening of the northern NSW golf resort some fondly refer to as Australia’s ‘Augusta’, while others simply call it their favourite course in the land.

FACT FILE

NORMAN ROLLS OUT THE BIG GUNS FOR SAUDI EVENT

STRICKER CONQUERS METRO

BRETT LEE • Brett Lee was one of the quickest fast bowlers in cricket history. And he admits his early dalliance with golf involved a similar need for speed. Here he talks golfing memories, favourite opponents and more.

MEMBERSHIPS SOAR • Golf participation in Australia has reached levels not seen in 50 years, according to figures recently released by Golf Australia.

DOES GOOD COURSE CONDITIONING OVERCOME BAD COURSE DESIGN?

“THE NOW-DECEASED OLD-WORLD CIRCUIT DID INCREDIBLY WELL TO SURVIVE AS WELL AS IT DID…”

SUBSCRIBE TO golf AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! • Win the holiday of dreams with a $15,000 voucher!

“… FOR THE BEST TOURNAMENT VALUE, YOU WANT TO SEE PLAYERS DO IMPRESSIVE STUFF YOU CAN’T DO”

BACK IN BUSINESS • When the first tee shot is struck at Royal Queensland on January 13 it will mark almost 23 months since a tournament with a purse in excess of $1 million was played in Australia with this year’s Australian PGA Championship played alongside the inaugural WPGA Championship.

HOW THE COURSE WILL PLAY

BEST IN SHOW • After two years of uncertainty brought by pandemic lockdowns and border closures, here is the most comprehensive ranking of the nation’s finest layouts.

RANKING WATCH FOR 2024

HOW THIS RANKING WAS COMPILED

THE NEXT 30…

THE MAKINGS OF A TOP-100 COURSE • Acclaimed course designer and Golf Australia Architecture Editor, Mike Clayton, has seen and played some of the best courses in the world. Here, he reveals the key ingredients for a course to be considered, and ranked, as one of the elite.

“I WAS THE RIGHT DRUNK AT THE RIGHT BAR AT THE RIGHT TIME” David Feherty

FEHERTY SAYS…

COLLIN’S GEAR SECRETS • Collin Morikawa lifted the Claret Jug on his Open debut at Royal St George’s before completing his year as the Race To Dubai and European Tour Champion. He did all this after some unprecedented equipment tweaks.

HIS GEAR, HIS GAME AND A HUMBLE BRAG

BACK TO PUTTING GRIP BASICS

SEVE BALLESTEROS

HAVE NO FEAR

WHAT IS THE LOST ART OF THE SHORT GAME? • How we have gradually lost sight of what really matters most when we play golf

LOVE EVERY CLUB • If you’re more confident with all 14 sticks in the bag, they’ll love you back

LOVE YOUR… DRIVER

LOVE YOUR… FAIRWAY WOODS AND HYBRIDS

LOVE YOUR… MID-IRONS

LOVE YOUR… SHORT IRONS & PITCHING CLUBS

LOVE YOUR… SAND WEDGE

LOVE YOUR… PUTTER

AARON PIKE • Bursting onto the scene at the 2006 Australian Masters, Pike took more than a decade to claim his first professional win before adding another shortly after. In 2021 he finally made his major debut at The Open and here the Queenslander discusses his own golf swing and what you can learn from it.

WHAT’S IN AARON Pike’s BAG?

HOW I HAVE ADAPTED TO THE MODERN GAME

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

GET READY TO LAUNCH

SWEETEN YOUR GAME

FLOW-RITE PRO-FILL SINGLE-POINT BATTERY WATERING SYSTEM

MIZUNO ST-G 220 DRIVER • Cost:...