Australian Golf Passport

We spend an hour chatting with Todd Ogborn and Joseph Kass, two golf professionals who visited Australia earlier in the year. Travelling to our shores from the north east of the USA, the guys made sure to hit every spot they could on their journey Down Under, and they didn’t miss a beat! Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Bellarine Peninsula, King Island and Barnbougle – they played it. And they also managed to fit in a little side trip to New Zealand! It was so insightful to listen to their perspective on the local golf scene, our courses and Australian golf culture. Their recall for holes and courses is stellar and what they discuss is a solid backbone of any bucket list golf trip to Australia. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting!

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While on your phone or laptop, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks to AAGGG for their support of the podcast.

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On the back of Scott’s recent trip to Tasmania for a friend’s 40th birthday, we devote this episode to golf in and around Hobart, focusing on five main courses. Scott’s sojourn to the Apple Isle began with a mid-construction walk around the site of 7 Mile Beach, the chat about which forms the early portion of this podcast. He was fortunate to play Royal Hobart, Tasmania GG, Elderslie, and Ratho while down in Tassie – and chats about each course. A few brief diversions from the script see discussion about Lord Howe Island and the four Australian golf courses at the extreme reaches of the cardinal compass points. We touch on Dover GC and another three Scott wishes he saw while in Hobart – Huon Valley, Kingston Beach and Llanherne.  Scott compares and contrasts Royal Hobart and Tasmania, and also speaks of the refreshing fun playing more understated golf during the trip. The boys will venture back to their usual fare in upcoming episodes, focusing on one of the more keenly anticipated courses to be discussed next!

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While on your phone or laptop, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. You’ll love it – we guarantee. We thank AAGGG for their support of the podcast.

Links for the courses discussed in this podcast episode -

Elderslie – https://www.eldersliegolfclub.com.au/

LLanherne GC - https://www.llanhernegolfclub.org.au/

Ratho Farm - https://www.rathofarm.com/

Royal Hobart GC - https://www.rhgc.com.au/cms/

Tasmania GC - https://www.tasmaniagolfclub.com.au/

Huon Valley GC - https://hvgolfclub.com.au/our-course/

7 Mile Beach Merch – https://7-mile-beach.myshopify.com/

Bicheno - https://www.bichenogolfclub.com.au/

Arm End – https://armend.com.au/golf/

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This seemed like as good a time as any to hit a wide range of little topics that have been on the agenda over the last few months. This latest episode also gave the chance to discuss a host of newer, smaller news items on the local golf scene too. After some chat about a hole in one for Matt, the focus shifts to the new short course at Kingston Heath. The nine hole par three layout is starting to get a small amount of play prior to an official opening. Initial impressions are extremely positive, which should parlay into all club members and guests enjoying a fun additional facility. OCM have done a great job with a narrow flat parcel of land. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, their work at Mt Lawley GC is discussed briefly.  Scott then discusses the recent member information session presented at New South Wales GC by newly engaged consultant architects Mackenzie and Ebert. A recent site visit at The National by Tom Doak, Brian Scheider and Clyde Johnson has seen fast action to remedy a safety issue involving the 18th tee on the Gunnamatta course. Scott and Matt discuss the specifics and answer a listener question around that curly problem. The episode continues with Scott talking about two impending trips – one to Melbourne, and a more immediate flight to Hobart that is going to allow a site visit to 7 Mile Beach. Listeners get to weigh in on whether it is madness to drive from Hobart to Barnbougle and back again in the same day, all for 18 holes of golf… We close with a few listener questions, including a query on Melbourne city’s best public 9 hole course.

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While online, go spend a minute or two checking out the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, call in to the store at 39 William Street Paddington. You’ll love it – we guarantee. We thank AAGGG for their support of the podcast. We couldn’t hope for a better partner.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

The fiercely private and highly ranked course is a veritable white whale for local golfers and many who venture to Australia for a once in a lifetime golf trip. The course forms a tiny part of what is a sizeable station at Ellerston, sitting within a glorious parcel of Australian country in the Upper Hunter Valley. The property is several hours drive north of Sydney, with a National Park nearby and Pages Creek meandering through the station and the golf course itself. From the origins of the layout and the difficulty of the course, to the standout holes, grasses, terrain, and scarcity of invitations to play. All of it is covered.

Few will ever get to play Ellerston, and those who are lucky enough to visit no doubt have memories to last a lifetime. The experience of visiting the property is a one of a kind, as was Kerry Packer - the Australian billionaire, media colossus and owner of the Ellerston estate. A larger than life figure who enjoys legendary status in Australia, his course is one of a kind, and in several ways a reflection of Kerry Packer himself. Unashamedly tough, with a dramatic flare here and there, and possessing a distinctive Australian charm. The course designed by Bob Harrison and Greg Norman is dramatic, and as one would expect, immaculately conditioned.  It is unique in Australian golf, as we hope our discussion shows.

This flyover is still on the internet somehow – a hole by hole look at Ellerston. It is a great compliment to the discussion of many holes in this episode  – check it out before it gets scrubbed forever. https://vimeo.com/144553100

A look at Kerry Packer when he appeared before a Senate committee dealing with media ownership, as mentioned in the episode.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIOmU3l0Zo

We also encourage you to take a look at the latest range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) – or follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney call in to the store at 39 William Street Paddington. You’ll love it – we guarantee. We thank AAGGG for their support of the podcast. We couldn’t hope for a better partner.

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).  Credit to Darius Oliver, David Scaletti and Greg Norman Golf Course Design for several of the images (as indicated).

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A somewhat unheralded course in Sydney gets the spotlight this episode. A darling of our hosts, Bonnie Doon is the result of years of toil by respected Australian golf architects.

This episode delves into why Scott & Matt feel Bonnie Doon is so good, and why it warrants a visit from those who have time for more than 18 holes in Sydney. The multi-phase, multi-year redevelopment of the course is addressed, as is the surprisingly small size of the parcel on which Bonnie Doon (and other suburban Sydney golf courses) sit.

The importance of firm conditioning and the interplay between mowing lines and green construction is discussed, leading both guys into focusing on their favourite holes across the layout. Special mention to the run of holes in the middle of the back nine!

The episode is rounded out by a brief look at public golf in the vicinity, including Eastlake, Randwick, The Coast and the scenic Bondi Diggers course.

As usual, images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). This episode includes some great before and after images, obtained on the ground during construction. Thanks to Gary Lisbon for several of these photographs too.

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We kick off the new year with a bang, chatting to Mat Goggin, the man behind arguably the most hotly anticipated golf course opening of 2023. Designed and built by Clayton DeVries & Pont on a glorious coastal site in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, 7 Mile Beach promises to be a must-see course for passionate golfers. It has been a while in the making, and will hopefully see play within the coming twelve months. We talk with Mat a little about his professional golf career, living in the USA, the site at 7 Mile Beach and most importantly the new course, as well as the impending development of a second course next door at 5 Mile Beach. Hobart, tourism, project management, course design and other topics round out a fascinating discussion spanning more than an hour. We thank Mat so much for his time – it was a genuine pleasure chatting with him. We hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did.

Keep up with latest developments with the course via at https://7milegolf.com.au/updates/

The social media handle (Insta and Twitter) for 7 Mile Beach is - @7MileGolf

Follow course designers Clayton DeVries & Pont on Twitter (@CDPgolf1) and Instagram(@ClaytonDeVriesPont)

As usual, images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

A favourite among those who know it well, this gem of course on the south west coast of Victoria is given due recognition in our final episode for 2022. From the car trip down to Port Fairy and the attractions along the way, to the charm of the town and other courses worth checking out nearby – we cover all the details needed to plan a visit. The course itself, one of the most authentic link experiences in the nation, is discussed in detail.  Its understated and natural beauty, as well as the high quality string of holes along the coastline in the latter part of the round are all covered. We briefly discuss Port Fairy and course rankings before signing off for the year.

Book a round at Port Fairy via the Club’s website - https://www.portfairygolf.com.au/cms/

Details here for the 2023 Port Fairy Folk Festival – scheduled for March 10-13 – https://portfairyfolkfestival.com/

Moyneyana Festival details here - https://www.moyneyanafestival.com.au/

Tourism details galore for the Shipwreck Coast region here - https://greatoceanroadtourism.org.au/

As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

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Loads of questions from listeners around the globe on all manner of Aussie golf topics are covered in this episode. Discussion includes golf in NSW and WA, Kangaroo Island, TV coverage of the recently staged Australian Open, the design and build of the course at Cape Wickham, Adelaide’s “must-see” course(s), unheralded golf regions, destinations for weekend golf trips, the sand belt, Northbridge and lots more. Royal Melbourne’s fairway grass, Victorians accessing sand belt courses as non-members – heaps of different topics covered. Shoeys, mosquito spray, eye candy bunkers, packets of sausages, the King Island cheese shop, playing tee shots over a jail yard, wallabies on King Island and a few other topics we didn’t think we’d address. Thanks so much to everybody who asked questions – we loved answering them.

For those wanting details on the stay and play package at Barwon Heads, click the link here – https://www.barwonheads.golf/cms/the-clubhouse/accommodation/tariffs/

As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

On the eve of the 2022 Australian Open, co-hosted by Victoria, we focus on this storied course and Club with two of their finest members. Lillie has played golf at Victoria for almost two decades, and shares her experiences on the course and Club as well as her perspective on the game. Matt is an Order of Merit winner and multiple tournament winner on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the OneAsia Tour. He provides a view into how accomplished professional players will approach the course under tournament conditions. We thank both Lillie and Matt for their time and insights.

A quick news of the day segment gives way to in-depth discussion of the layout at Victoria firstly with Lillie and later with Matt. Holes of note, the scope of the renovation undertaken in 2019, and discussion of the qualities of Victoria and favourite holes are all covered. We chat briefly on William Meader – the founder of Victoria Golf Club, and founder of the Victorian PGA, as well as co-designer (with then VGC captain Oscar Damman) of the course. The virtues of the play and stay package at Victoria are considered, which takes us into a broader discussion on accommodation while visiting the Sandbelt. After hearing from Matt Griffin, we finish with a short musical treat, as discussed in Episode Nine devoted to Kingston Heath.

For those wanting details on the stay and play package at Victoria, click the link here – https://www.victoriagolf.com.au/cms/accommodation/staying-at-vgc/

As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Exit Music – Test of time - courtesy of Geoff Carruthers

One of the nation’s golfing treasures is the focus for this episode. Kingston Heath is sharing host duties of the 2022 Australian Open with Victoria GC, which we will feature in Episode 10.

After briefly covering news of the day, we dive right into Kingston Heath’s tournament history, and the sequence of holes we will see on TV next month. The Club’s history and architectural merits of the course are also discussed at length. The site on which the course sits, with one ridge of significance which features on so many holes is also covered, along with segments on the extra hole, the set of par 5s and several other standout attributes of the course.

Prior to the 2016 World Cup, the Golf Society of Australia and Golf Australia prepared several hole by hole commentaries, narrated by 11 time Kingston Heath club champion Richard Macafee. Links to these are below – the video and Rich’s commentary supports the chat during our podcast episode. Here’s his thoughts on the famous short par 4 third hole, as well as the eleventh and fifteenth holes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G05lvRqi900

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D2tW3-Eu-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_432xIOSIMM

As discussed in a previous episode – here’s a link to the Harris Kalinka animation of the par 3 course at Kingston Heath - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrgUmwmreDM . The short course is slated for opening in early 2023.

For interstate and overseas golfers keen to play Kingston Heath, visit - http://www.kingstonheath.melbourne/visitors/ for more information and booking details.

As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

Podcast intro & exit music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com