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.

Golf Australia

“TRUTH BE TOLD, WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE’VE GOT, YOU JUST NEVER THINK YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE IT.”

THE BRISBANE GOLF CLUB YEERONGPILLY • QUEENSLAND • The oldest club in the Queensland capital has managed to embrace its significant and historic roots while also not shying away from change and continual improvement.

FACT FILE

“DECHAMBEAU’S LEVEL OF BEHAVIOUR OFTEN VEERS MORE TOWARDS MALEVOLENT THAN MAGNIFICENT.”

STUDY: GOLF’S BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT • Golf has long been persecuted by critics for harming the environment. But a new report reveals otherwise.

GREENER PASTURES • How is your lawn looking after lockdown? Has your chipping turned your backyard into a chopped-up mess? Now is the time to get your lawn back in shape. Here are some helpful tips to help you grow grass just like the pros.

LAWN SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA

GOLF’S “GREATEST BALL-STRIKER” DIES SEPTEMBER 4, 2004

LOFTED

HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2021

ON A Wing & A Prayer • Marc Leishman heads to the 120th US Open Championship at New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club with few expectations but a fierce determination to have a red-hot crack at the title.

MICHEL’S MAJOR LEAP

How 30 Mad Minutes CHANGED MY LIFE • EXCLUSIVE BY 2006 US OPEN CHAMPION, GEOFF OGILVY

BEYOND Covid • From the golf courses played on the game’s biggest pro Tours to interesting short courses and the public layouts in our biggest urban centres, the architectural quality of those layouts in a post-COVID golfing world will be important for the game and the environment.

FULLSTEAMAHEAD

SCOTT HEND UNPLUGGED • There are few professional golfers who are as well travelled in their career as Scott Hend. The three-time European Tour winner from Queensland has seen plenty during his more than 20 years in the play-for-pay ranks and, typically, he doesn’t hold back on a wide range of topics.

DOIN’ IT FOR THE KIDS

Short PAR-4s

HIT IT STRAIGHT MORE OFTEN

SPIN IT LIKE A PRO

FIND YOUR PLAYING CODE

CHIP IT STONE DEAD

THE SHORT GAME CHIP IT CLOSE FROM ANY LIE • Scramble pars like a Tour pro with Chris Jenkins’ eight-page guide to saving your score around the greens.

YOUR FIVE STEPS TO A SHARP SHORT GAME • Like any part of the game, improving your chipping, pitching and bunker play requires more than just an upgrade in technique. You’ll need to develop solid basics, club selection, good strategy and decision-making skills, and practice habits.

PERFECT YOUR SET-UP TO HIT PURE CHIPS

HOW TO FIX THE TWO BIGGEST CHIPPING FAULTS

THINK MINIMUM EFFORT, MAXIMUM ROLL’

QUICK DRILL

WIDEN EVERYTHING TO ADD MAXIMUM LOFT

ELIMINATE THE WRISTS AND FOCUSON ROTATION

STILL NOT CONFIDENT? TRY A SIMPLER METHOD • The shot I’ve just demonstrated is easier to play than the long, lazy lob, but it requires a few adjustments to play it well. Here’s a simpler version. It won’t fly as high and the ball will run more on landing, but if you just want to clear a hazard and get back in play, this is a good option.

HOW TO READ YOUR CHIPS LIKE PUTTS

QUICK DRILL

PRACTISING YOUR SHORT GAME • How to make the quickest improvements in the shortest time.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRACTISING & TRAINING? • Understanding the science behind the art of preparing for golf can help you use your precious time more effectively

GET ‘HANDSY’ IN SAND

HIT IT CLOSER • The short game is unique in golf. Professional...