CUP TICKETS TOO DEAR
I, like a lot of your readers of your magazine, am excited about the upcoming Presidents Cup to be played at Royal Melbourne.
The prospect of seeing such great players such as Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and co. makes me want to keep on marking the days off on the calendar until they are here.
However, when I enquired about ticket prices my mouth just dropped open! Who sets the prices of tickets for these tournaments? With the way our country is going with everyone watching what they spend, interest rates, cost of living going up all the time, who has $480 lying around to pay for a general week pass to the Presidents Cup? Even a day pass on the Sunday is $130, which I think is extreme.
If the organisers want a full house to cheer on the Internationals against the USA they should cut the price of tickets substantially so our sport is not seen by some of the general public as an elitist sport.
I just hope the prices aren’t placed that high just to pay an appearance fee for Michael Jordan to come out as the American assistant captain.
At this point in time me and my friends, who had planned on going have decided to watch it on Fox Sports instead.
Brett Davis, via email
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
This is the first time I have written into Golf Australia, despite having been a subscriber for many years.
Brendan James’ editorial (“Keeping Your Gear Near And Dear”) in the April issue really struck home to me. I have just purchased my first new set of irons having had a second-hand set for the past 15 years.
I was not sure what to do with my old set so I gave my grandmother a call. She has had the same set of clubs for the past 35 years and still enjoys a hit once a week. My grandmother was over the moon to take my old set of clubs off me and could not wait to get out for a round with her ‘new’ clubs.
Shane Brown, Whyalla, South Australia
NOTHING WRONG WITH INK
First up, you have a great magazine and I look forward to reading it each month.
I do, however, have one problem though. I read the article on the female golfer Mollie Fankhausen (“Ink Flows For Some”, Wandering Golfer, GA April) who happens to have some tattoos on her arms and chest.
The comments that were made by the writer about people, who have tattoos, was totally uncalled for. I also have two tattoos, which are covered by my golf shirt and those who have seen them have all said how good they are. I can honestly say that not everyone who has a tattoo is a “neckless moronic footballer, nightclub bouncer or colourful underworld figure”.
I also have several friends who are CEOs, police and a doctor and they all have at least one tattoo and not one person I know, who has a tattoo, thinks that “vandalising public buildings and property with spray paint is art”.
Maybe it’s about time Ted Lazarus got out of the dark ages and faced up to the fact that people who have tattoos aren’t as bad as he thinks. And, yes, some tattoos are art.
Jeffrey Hodges, via email
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Having played golf for over 55 years, I must say how much I enjoyed Brendan James’ article on old clubs (“Keeping Your Gear Near And Dear”) in the April issue of Golf Australia.
Why did we ever buy 1-irons? I still have mine – a Spalding Top Flite cold forged, which I couldn’t hit but felt it was important to have it in the bag for a short time.
I still remember the thrill of buying my first full set of golf clubs, Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Mark II, which were sold to me by George Naismith, the former Australian Open champion, at the Melbourne Sports Depot. I’ll never forget how good the persimmon driver was.
Like you, I also have the one and only issue of Inside Golf magazine – not sure what the bikini girl on the cover had to do with golf but she sure looked good.
I also have the first issue of Golf Australia magazine, published February/March 1987, with, who else, Greg Norman on the cover. After all these years I still subscribe to your magazine.
I love all the improvements that have been made to golf equipment because it keeps 70-year-olds like me in the game. I think the changes to golf ball, in particular making them cut-proof, has been a great advance. I vividly remember destroying a Penfolds Heart ball with one wild mis-hit.
Thanks for the article, Brendan. It brought back some great memories.
Keith Rodda, Essendon, Victoria
Have you got something you want to get off your chest? Let us know your opinion via e-mail golf@golfaustralia.com.au
