IN THE March 2009 ISSUE

cover story

DAMN LIES
You’ve hit a perfect drive, and the ball has ended up in a divot or on a tricky slope. That, says Golf Australia teaching editor Sean Somers, is what makes the game fun. With these tips, you’ll start to see bad lies not as unlucky breaks but as a challenge to hit great shots.

FEATURES

THE STATE OF AUSTRALIAN GOLF: WHAT CRISIS?
Negativity about the state of golf in this country has become the subject of much media attention. But the masses following the game and the 31 million rounds they play each year suggest the game is not at death’s door, say Hamish Cameron and Brendan James.

moonah classic preview: chasing the dream
Paul Gow’s competitive fires are burning brighter than ever. Now, armed with an overhauled swing the former Nationwide Tour winner heads to the Mornington Peninsula with growing confidence.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PAUL GOYDOS
He’s one of the Tour’s most accurate drivers, and an even straighter shooter in interviews. Jeff Centenera sat down with Paul Goydos for a brief chat and, instead, spent an hour with America’s most insightful pro.

APPLEBY’S PITCH-PERFECT PRACTICE
Exhibiting an improved short game, Stuart Appleby was right on target for his first US PGA Tour victory at the 1997 Honda Classic in Florida, writes Brendan James.

AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR PREVIEW: THE NEXT WAVE
With a clear-out at the top of the amateur ranks, Daniel Nisbet and a talented, new class look to fill the breach, says Jeff Centenera.

GOLF HISTORIAN TOM MOORE
He looks the part, like someone who just walked out of a 1930s tournament. And Tom Moore is utterly passionate about preserving golf’s increasingly disappearing ties to its past, writes Rod Morri.

TRAVEL AND COURSES

COURSE REVIEW: KOOINDAH WATERS
The rough edges are gone and the quality of Ross Watson and Craig Parry’s design is starting to shine through, writes Brendan James.
Read the review here.

CENTREFOLD: ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
A long-ago Open host, this southern English links is still a test for the best, as seen in its simple yet challenging par-3 4th hole.

southern stunners
Driving along the NSW South Coast, the travelling golfer encounters scenery of splendid variety. Golf has been played here for more than a century, and Brendan James looks at six of its best courses.

GOLFING GETAWAYS
This month, tours to all points in Thailand, Joondalup’s first-class resort and golfi ng New Zealand by helicopter.

CLUB TESTS

CALLAWAY X-22 IRONS
Callaway’s new iron for the masses goes under the
scrutiny of Golf Australia’s road test team.

PING RAPTURE V2 DRIVER
Ping makes its follow-up attempt at a multi-material driver. Is the Rapture better the second time around?

PRO SHOP
Among the latest gear: Cleveland’s new wedge, the next step in Nike drivers and a cheap source of balls.

INSTRUCTION

THE LONG BUNKER SHOT MADE EASY
It’s a hard shot, particularly the way the pros handle it. But there’s another way of playing the 60-metre bunker shot that will get good results, says Golf Australia touring pro Anthony Summers.

CHIPPING WITH FINESSE
Visualise your greenside shots like Henrik Stenson and you’ll be able to hit those delicate chips the way the pros do.

THINK LOW FOR BETTER IRON SHOTS
Crisp iron shots come from staying low through impact, which is why you’ll see Darren Clarke work with a rope on the range stands up under the pressure of winning tournaments.

SWING SEQUENCE:GEOFF OGILVY’S EASY ACTION
From Coolum to Kapalua, Geoff Ogilvy’s technique stands up under the pressure of winning tournaments. Golf
Australia’s resident therapist, the Swing Doctor, examines
how the nation’s top-ranked player makes it all flow together so neatly.

pga personal lesson: GRIP THE PLANET FOR POWER
Hit the little ball harder and farther by anchoring firmly into the big ball, says Golf Australia contributing pro Des Shearer.

TEEING OFF: BRENDAN JAMES
TOP SHOTS: IMAGES FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF
AROUND THE TRAPS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
INSIDE THE ROPES: MIKE CLAYTON
HUGGAN’S ALLEY: JOHN HUGGAN
WANDERING GOLFER: TED LAZARUS
RULES FORUM: ANDREW LANGFORD-JONES
GOLFOPOLY: GOLF BUSINESS WITH JEFF CENTENERA
WINNER’S CIRCLE: GEOFF OGILVY
SUBSCRIPTION: JOIN OUR EAGLE CLUB AND WIN
A NEW CALLAWAY FT-9 DRIVER 5
RESULTS AND RANKINGS
COMING UP IN WORLD GOLF