SHOOTING THE MESSENGER

IT is no secret that golf in Australia is going through some pretty tough times. At the grass roots level, club memberships are steadily declining and, according to the recently published Sweeney Report into sport interest and participation, we are playing and watching less golf than at any time during the past 20 years.

At the other end of the spectrum, professional golf is also suffering. Two of our triple-crown tournaments – the Australian Open and Masters – had not secured a naming rights sponsor at the time of writing. This is despite the continued success of our players on all Tours and the presence of 13 men in the top-100 of the world ranking.

As a means to overcoming some of the problems facing golf in this country, the Australian Golf Industry Council was formed in 2006, drawing on key stakeholders of the game – administration, club management, golf course superintendents, course designers, equipment manufacturers/distributors and players. The main objective of the council is to work in a co-ordinated way to grow, develop and promote golf.

However, all of this unity and working for the betterment of the game could have been avoided. Just ask Robert Allenby.

Allenby says the concerns facing the game in this country, especially the difficulty in finding sponsors for two of our biggest events, can be blamed on the Australian golf media.

Veteran golf journalist Bernie McGuire approached the Victorian for a chat during the British Open and was asked for his opinion on the Australian tournament sponsorship issue. Allenby launched straight into an attack on the Australian media.

“We are doing our part and there’s no doubt about that and you only have to look at how well our guys have been playing in the States, Europe and Japan over the past few years, so obviously it’s up to the promoters and the media to promote us properly,” Allenby told McGuire. “That just hasn’t been the case in the past.

“If there’s no tournament organisers and no sponsors then the media don’t promote us in the right way and then golf in Australia gets a little negative. When we play in America they love us but when we go home to Australia they hate us. Maybe that’s why we don’t want to come down and play because we’re sick of reading that we
are getting things handed to us on a plate.

“So no matter where we go, we try and play our best and try and win but sometimes that’s not good enough for the Australian public and the Australian media.

“It’s been the case for so many years. I’ve copped so much flack for the last 17 years for what I am trying to do.”

The 37-year-old continued his tirade with this: “I just think that as far as Australian golf is concerned they [the media] have dug their own hole.”

Talk about shooting the messenger. What a bloodbath!

I have to say this: Allenby does an incredible amount of charitable work and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars in that regard. On the course, he can be charming and funny … when he’s playing well or he’s just won a tournament. I have never found him more personable than during the three weeks when he won the Open, Masters and PGA back in 2005. When he’s not winning, watch out.

He has not endeared himself to some sections of the media, it is true. But they are hardly out to get him. For Allenby to point the finger of blame at the media for causing the lack of tournament sponsorships in this country is ridiculous.

Look through any Australian golf magazine, newspaper or website and you will find plenty of positive golf stories. There are bound to be negative stories as well but do we not publish these in the hope some cashed-up sponsor thinks everything is rosy in Australian golf? Of course, if we did that, according to Allenby, the game at a professional level would thrive with bigger purses (I’m sure you would like that Robert) and better fields.

Robert, just so you don’t miss out on what is really happening in Australian golf I have put your name on the subscription list for Golf Australia magazine.

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