2020: Was it All Bad for Golf?
Our hosts look back at 2020 and consider the impact of Covid-19 on golf in New Zealand and around the world. Certainly professional tours lost their galleries and it was strange watching television coverage without the usual fan reactions. But then recreational golf experienced a mini-boom in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, individual stars had their ups and down, none more so than Tiger Woods.
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New Sir Bob Charles Biography
Our hosts conduct an extended conversation with Geoff Saunders, the author of the first comprehensive biography of New Zealand’s greatest golfer, Sir Bob Charles, and to review the book and find out why it took 15 years to complete.
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How to Design a Golf Course
Greg Turner, once New Zealand’s best player on the European PGA Tour, has become New Zealand’s foremost golf course designer whose projects include the expansion of Millbrook Resort into a stunning 27-hole layout. He talks to Brendan Telfer about his design approach and what it takes to build a beautiful golf course for all handicappers.
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What’s Up At Muriwai?
Muriwai Beach Golf Club is one of the most rustic, charming golf links in New Zealand. With the Tasman Sea lapping at its shoreline, the club has overcome some serious (and expensive) re-routing and is today one of the most successful clubs in the country with a sold out membership and waiting list. Our hosts speak with long time President Malcolm Cooper and GM Andrew Jackson.
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Covid 19 and the upsurge of people wanting to play golf in NZ
On The Tee’s latest podcast with Brendan Telfer visits two large metropolitan golf clubs to find out why one of the curious legacies of Covid 19 here in NZ has been the upsurge in people wanting to play golf.
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Sir Bob Charles has Ideas to Improve the Game
Sir Bob Charles, unquestionably New Zealand’s greatest golfer, now 84 years old and still playing when the temperature rises above 15C, joins our hosts from his home in at the Clearwater Resort in Christchurch to reflect on his marathon 1963 Open Championship victory, legendary players he played with, and rule changes he would like to see to speed up the game and make it more fun. Who was the best putter of all in his day? Tune in and find out.
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The Covid-19 Surprise for NZ Golf
Jason Gulasekharam, the Media and Communications Manager for NZ Golf, and a talented amateur player himself, reports a very surprising statistic reflecting participation in golf since the end of the Lockdown. As well, Jason outlines the plans for the re-start of the Charles Tour that tees off at the Muriwai Beach Golf Club on July 30, leaving our hosts to reminisce about their days playing that wonderful West Coast links in all kinds of weather.
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What Now For Mark Brown?
Mark Brown, one of New Zealand’s most accomplished professionals, has retired from touring. Brown, who won just about every NZ amateur title there is before turning pro, reached a world rank of 57 winning on both the Australasian Tour and the European Tour. He talks with our hosts about those halcyon days travelling the globe and what’s its like now that he’s settled back in New Zealand and looking to spend more time coaching and raising a young family.
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COVID-19 & the Future of Professional Golf
The lockdown is over and now that New Zealand is among the first countries in the world to open up, top Kiwi and European Tour professional, Ryan Fox, talks with Brendan Telfer and Tom Hyde about what he’s been up to during his forced time off from the game and what he knows about the European Tour schedule that’s believed to be targeting a July re-start with the British Masters.
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Olympics or Bust: What’s up with New Zealand’s top golfers?
With special guest Peter Williams, the former TVNZ sports commentator and news reader, our hosts discuss the coming year in professional golf, one highlighted by the Olympics. Currently, Danny Lee, Ryan Fox and Lydia Ko appear to be likely to represent New Zealand in Tokyo, but all have had up-and-down years and, in golf, nothing can be taken for granted. Lydia Ko has recently hired yet another new coach. So what do our hosts, all accomplished golf journalists, think about this? Tune in for a 40-minute debate and find out.
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