Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Melbourne- March 2011
On the 5th of March I flew to Melbourne and attended a 3 day camp with Jay Carter and his players he coaches at Golf Fusion in Tauranga. We travelled to the Mornington Peninsula an hour or so south east of the city. The camp was run in conjuction with the VIS (Victorian Insitute of Sport) We worked with golfing specialists including Ryan Lumaden (3D swing analysis) Ramsey McMaster (Golf specific fitness training) and Marty Joyce (Head coach of the VIS)
The camp was a great insight into the levels at which the current tour pro's pick apart all facets of their game and how detailed their practice is. The environment they have is second to none in Australia and is home to tour pro's like Rick Kulacz, Keiren Pratt and Matt Jager.
After the three days of intense scrutiny, some testing fitness workouts (daily 2 hour sand dune workouts) and rounds at the near bye Cape Shanck Resort course. We headed back to Melbourne to be joined by the remaining NZ team members to prepare for the Riversdale Cup and Australian Amateur championships.
The Riversdale Cup was the first tournament I played overseas so it was nice to be back to familiar surroundings for an event overseas. I joined Ben Campbell in the Australian Forsomes which is played prior to the first round. We had rounds of 75,73 to finish in a respectable 13th. It was a good lead up to the first round in which I managed to shoot 68 and be in a tie for 4th after day 1. The remaining three rounds were mixed with some great golf and some poor golf. Rounds of 76,82,74 followed and I finished in a tie for 50th. Although it had been a rough finish to what promised to be a good event after the first round. I managed to take alot from the experience and also some confidence into the next event having putted well over the four rounds.
Onto the Australian Amateur hosted by Woodlands and Victoria Golf Clubs. Again I was off to a good start playing the Woodlands course first, opening with 2 under par 70. We then moved to Victoria for the remaining 3 rounds in which I posted scores of 75,76,72. To finish in a tie for 25th. Qualifying for the matchplay to decide the 2011 Australian amateur champion. The first match was against a player from Chinese Taipei. I managed to start well and lead from the beginning to win 4&2 having had 5 bidies throughout the morning match. The afternoon game against a big hitting west Australian was my next challenge. Again I started well and holed some crucial putts in my match over the front 9. I was 2 up at that stage and preceded to play my best golf of my trip over the next four holes, winning four in row to shut I'm out 6&5 and move into the quarterfinals the following day.
The quarter finals began on a humid morning and I was unable to take advantage of a few opportunities early on in my match. My opponent went on to birdie the 4th and 5th holes to hold an early advantage. I played some solid golf in the middle parts but couldn't match the consistency of his short game and putting. In the end I went down 4&3 and was knocked out of the event.
The time in Melbourne was fantastic both playing and learning from the more experienced players and specialists was a great experience. I now head home to prepare for the North Island Strokeplay and the New Zealand Amateur in April.
Happy golfing everyone
Mat
The camp was a great insight into the levels at which the current tour pro's pick apart all facets of their game and how detailed their practice is. The environment they have is second to none in Australia and is home to tour pro's like Rick Kulacz, Keiren Pratt and Matt Jager.
After the three days of intense scrutiny, some testing fitness workouts (daily 2 hour sand dune workouts) and rounds at the near bye Cape Shanck Resort course. We headed back to Melbourne to be joined by the remaining NZ team members to prepare for the Riversdale Cup and Australian Amateur championships.
The Riversdale Cup was the first tournament I played overseas so it was nice to be back to familiar surroundings for an event overseas. I joined Ben Campbell in the Australian Forsomes which is played prior to the first round. We had rounds of 75,73 to finish in a respectable 13th. It was a good lead up to the first round in which I managed to shoot 68 and be in a tie for 4th after day 1. The remaining three rounds were mixed with some great golf and some poor golf. Rounds of 76,82,74 followed and I finished in a tie for 50th. Although it had been a rough finish to what promised to be a good event after the first round. I managed to take alot from the experience and also some confidence into the next event having putted well over the four rounds.
Onto the Australian Amateur hosted by Woodlands and Victoria Golf Clubs. Again I was off to a good start playing the Woodlands course first, opening with 2 under par 70. We then moved to Victoria for the remaining 3 rounds in which I posted scores of 75,76,72. To finish in a tie for 25th. Qualifying for the matchplay to decide the 2011 Australian amateur champion. The first match was against a player from Chinese Taipei. I managed to start well and lead from the beginning to win 4&2 having had 5 bidies throughout the morning match. The afternoon game against a big hitting west Australian was my next challenge. Again I started well and holed some crucial putts in my match over the front 9. I was 2 up at that stage and preceded to play my best golf of my trip over the next four holes, winning four in row to shut I'm out 6&5 and move into the quarterfinals the following day.
The quarter finals began on a humid morning and I was unable to take advantage of a few opportunities early on in my match. My opponent went on to birdie the 4th and 5th holes to hold an early advantage. I played some solid golf in the middle parts but couldn't match the consistency of his short game and putting. In the end I went down 4&3 and was knocked out of the event.
The time in Melbourne was fantastic both playing and learning from the more experienced players and specialists was a great experience. I now head home to prepare for the North Island Strokeplay and the New Zealand Amateur in April.
Happy golfing everyone
Mat
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to my new Golf Blog, a quicker, more in depth and easier way of keeping up with whats going on in my golfing career. I hope to keep regular updates from practice, tournaments and major events in my golfing calender. Thanks for the Support. Mat
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