Kyle Francis: - Born in 1952 in Sydney - Started Golf at 8 years of age - Was a member at Eastlake Golf Club - Caddied at The Lakes Golf Club - Did his apprenticeship at The Lakes under Billy Holder - Married Yvonne in 1979 - Worked for Alex Mercer at Royal Sydney Golf Club - Had two serious car accidents which led to five back fusions - He has always been a respected player - He was National PGA Trainee Chairman - He was heavily involved in the establishment of the PGA PDP program - He has been the Head Professional at New Brighton, Concord and Bexley Golf Clubs - Kyle and Yvonne have two sons and three grandchildren
Bruce Young: - Born in Auckland NZ in 1953 - Started playing Golf at 12 - Caddied in NZ, Japan, Europe and Australia for players such as: - John Lister - Bob Charles - Bob Shearer - Graham Marsh - Jumbo Ozaki - Respected in the Golf industry in Golf radio, television and print - Has won 13 Golf Media awards in Australia - Plays off a eight handicap at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast
Interview with Dr. Rob Neal is now live on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Buzzsprout. YARDAGE BOOK YARNS - Golf Podcast Dr. Rob Neal: - Born in NSW in 1957 - Started playing Golf at 25 - Has worked all over the world for over 25 years with all skill levels - Developed "Wedge Craft" with PGA Coach Layne Savoie - Has worked with coaches such as Jim McLean and David Leadbetter - Has worked with most of the best players in the world - Regarded by many as the Worlds leading Golf Biomechanist - Is good friends with Mark Broadie (Strokes Gained) - Married to his his wife Kim, lives in Florida, USA
Billy Dunk: - Born in Gosford, NSW in 1938 - Son of the Greenkeeper at Gosford Golf Club - Turned pro in 1960 - Won over 100 tournaments worldwide - Played in the U.S Open and British Open - Won 5 Australian PGA Cships - Held 80+ course records - He played with Trevino, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player and more - Life member of the Australian PGA - Life member of the Australasian PGA Tour - Married to wife Annette - They have three children, two grandchildren and one great grandchild
Born in Cardiff, Newcastle in 1935 Started playing Golf after his older brother Ken introduced him to the game Lost his right eye at only 20 years of age and had to relearn to play again Winner of the 1964 Australian PGA Championship, ahead of Bruce Devlin Patron of the Waratah Golf Club Life Member of the Australian PGA Represented Australia alongside Billy Dunk in the World Cup Was the Head Pro at Monash Golf Club in Sydney Took over the management of Sugar Valley Golf Course in 1972 Has two sons, Peter and David, both qualified Greenkeepers and PGA Members Been married to Jackie for 63 years
Alex Mercer: - Born in Sydney in 1934 - He had 6 brothers and one sister - He started playing Golf at eight years of age using borrowed clubs - He was the Head Professional at Ashlar Golf Club for five years - He was the Head Professional at The Royal Sydney Golf Club for 19 years - He won 22 Pro Purse tournaments - He has coached many elite Australian male and female professionals - He has been a member of the Australian PGA for 66 years - He has been married to Shirley for 67 years - They have two sons, Robert 63 and David 61 - He is an Order of Australia Medal recipient - One of the games true gentleman
Alex Mercer: - Born in Sydney in 1934 - He had 6 brothers and one sister - He started playing Golf at eight years of age using borrowed clubs - He was the Head Professional at Ashlar Golf Club for five years - He was the Head Professional at The Royal Sydney Golf Club for 19 years - He won 22 Pro Purse tournaments - He has coached many elite Australian male and female professionals - He has been a member of the Australian PGA for 66 years - He has been married to Shirley for 67 years - They have two sons, Robert 63 and David 61 - He is an Order of Australia Medal recipient - One of the games true gentleman
David Graham: - Born in 1946 in Windsor, Victoria (Australia) - Started Golf at 12 years of age at Wattle Park in Melbourne - Switched from left to right handed as a Trainee Professional - Was the Club Professional at Seabrook Golf Club in Tasmania - Moved to Sydney and worked for PGF - Turned Pro in 1962 - Was coached by Alex Mercer - Moved to America in 1969 - Won the 1977 Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club - World Golf Hall of Fame Inductee, 2015 - Won 1979 USPGA after double bogeying the 72nd hole - Won the 1981 US Open - Won 37 tournaments worldwide - One of the hardest workers of all time - Plays with Lee Trevino four times a week - Hung out with Ben Hogan a lot
Grant Field: - Has coached Cam Smith since he was 10 - National PGA Coach of the Year twice - QLD State Coach of the Year four times - QAS Head Coach - Husband to Jennifer and father of two
Mike Orloff: - Born in LA in 1967 - Youngest of four boys to Bill and Mary-Anne Orloff - Member of both the US and Aus PGA - In 2003, he visited close to 19 countries in one year - Has managed many Golf courses and facilities - Worked for Iseek Golf - CEO of Golf Industry Central, Australia - Has helped shaped the Australian Golf industry behind the scenes - Married to Chelsea - Father of two children
Robert Gavshon - Born, Johannnesburg South Africa 1947 - Was heavily involved in swimming, tennis and Rugby Union - Studied Law and graduated - Married Jennifer in 1977 in South Africa - Migrated to Australia in 1978 - Starting Rebel Sport and BBQ Galore - Is a member of the Australian Golf Club - Has received an Order of Australia Medal (2019) - Has three children - Has 10 grandchildren
Rodger Davis: - Born in Sydney in 1971 - Youngest of four children to Stewart and Edith - He started playing Golf at 11 years of age - Turned pro at 23 in 1974 - Won 42 tournaments worldwide - Was ranked 7th in the world in 1986 - He beat Freddy Couples in a playoff for the Bi-Centenial Classic in 1988 - Current Chairman of the Australian PGA - He still loves the game and plays Golf 3 or 4 times a week
Col McGregor: - Born in 1940 in Concord, Sydney - Started as a caddy at Concord Golf Club - He served his Apprenticeship under Bruce Jackson (PGA Professional) - In 1965 and 1966 he won the NSW Open and NSW PGA Championships - Peter Thompson was his mentor - He played Golf with Bobby Locke - He served his entire Club Professional career at NSW Golf Club - He has been a PGA Member for over 60 years - He is now 82
Ian "Moose" Robilliard interview on Yardage Book Yarns now live! Ian played 287 NBL games in total representing three teams including the Sydney Kings He has also been the CEO and Head Coach of The Sydney Kings He worked for the PGA of Australia for over ten years in senior roles He is the Founder and CEO of The Central Coast Academy of Sport, which caters for approx 280 athletes across 14 sports Recipient of both an Australian Sports Medal and Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to Sport One of the nicest guys in Australian Sport
Scott Gardiner: - Started Golf at 7 years of age in Sydney - Moved to the Gold Coast where he won the Club Championship at Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club - Represented NSW in the state team - Represented Australia in the National Team - Gained a scholarship at The Australian Institute of Sport in Melbourne - Turned pro in 2000 - Played on the Korn Ferry Tour for 7 years from 2005 to 2012 - Gained his PGA Tour card in 2013 - Played in the final group of the Sony Open in Hawaii with Phil Michelson - He watched Adam Scott finish eagle, birdie, eagle to win the Scottish PGA, then got a lift on his private jet - He now lives in Arkansas in the US, and coaches all skills levels, but mainly aspires to help other young golfers gain confidence and achieve their goals - Scott is married with two sons
Ian Triggs: - Grew up in Bundaberg, QLD - Played off +3 at 15 years old - Had Greg Norman as a caddy for one Interstate series - Was a Club Pro at Bargara and Kaperra Golf Clubs - John Sendon was one of his Trainee Professionals - He coached John Senden and Karrie Webb for many years - His players have won 150 tournaments worldwide - Former Natioanl PGA Teacher of the Year - He has coached at six US Masters and many other majors - One of Australian Golfs true gentleman
Aron Price: - A very honest and candid interview - Born in Sydney - Was a member of Kareela GC - Went to Georgia Southern University - Was the number one ranked college player in America - Turn Pro in 2004 - Played on the Nationwide and Korn Ferry tours - Got his PGA Tour card - Lives in Jacksonville, Florida - Married to Lucy and has two sons - Now a realtor in Florida
Ewan Porter - Was born in 1982 - Started playing Golf at 10 in Sydney - Got to a +4 handicap as an amateur - Won twice in 2001 on the USPGA Nationwide Tour - Played in three Open Championships - Is the Founder of the Adidas 6s Junior Series - Is the Official Podcast host for the European PGA Tour
One hour with Pazz one on one interview gives us all a great insight into his professional and personal life __ __
Lester was born in Sydney He was off a 8 handicap at 14 He was NSW State Team Captain He has won major amateur tournaments all over the world Represented Australia more than any other player in history He has played with Norman, Ogilvy, Tiger and many more He has been a pilot for many years, more recently with Qantas
Julia Boland was born in Tamworth in 1985 She was introduced to Golf by her Dad at 12 and started playing under the guidance of Terry Hayes at Tamworth Golf Club She won several womens state amateur titles and then won the National Strokeplay Championship She headed to the USA to study at Texas A & M and finished her Masters as a Exercise Scientist She won college events, turned pro and ended up on the LPGA for two seasons After a hip injury stopped her from playing Golf for a living She is now The Deputy Principal of a high school in Brisbane and also the President of The WPGA Some great stories and insights into playing golf as a female, turning professional, and life after Golf
Paul Roser: - Grew up in Broken Hill - Moved to Tamworth at a young age - Studied Commerce at University of NSW - Met his future wife Kim while working - Got married and started working at American Golf Supplies (Ping Australia) - Met and spent time with Karsten Solheim - Has known the Solheim family for 30 years - Has been an integral part of the Australian Golf industry
Lincoln Tighe: - Born in Wollongong in 1989 - Started playing Golf at 4 - Played state level tennis - Was off a 5 handicap at 12 years of age - Was NSW State Team Captain - Represented Australia in 2011 - Won the 2014 NSWPGA Championship - Has played with Jason Day - Finished 5th in the Australian Open - The longest hitter in Australian Golf
Dennise Hutton: - Grew up in Glen Innes in northern NSW - Her parents were caretakers at Glen Innes Golf Club - She moved to Sydney to pursue a career as a school teacher - She was playing off +1 at Bonnie Doon Golf Club - She represented Australia 12 times as an amateur - She won back to back European Tour events - She is a mother - She is a pioneer in womens professional golf in Australia - She is a PGA award winning coach
Garry Smith: - Head Superintendent at Bonnie Doon Golf Club for nearly 20 years - Well respected in the turf management area of the Golf industry in Australia - He has worked at 14 major championships - Garry has played most of the worlds best Golf courses - He has some great insights into the behind the scenes of what we see on the course
Greg Chalmers: - Born in Sydney - Grew up in Perth - Won Aussie and French National Amateurs - Won two Aussie Opens and Aussie PGAs - Been on the USPGA Tour for close to 20 years - Winner on the USPGA Tour - Runs a Autism Charity with his wife Nicole
Brook grew up in Terang near Warnambool in Victoria, two hours South West of Melbourne He started playing Golf at 5 years of age and honed his skills at Terang, Warnambool and Port Ferry Golf Clubs, all approximately two hours out of Melbourne A good friend of Marc Leishman’s, he did his PGA Traineeship under Craig Bonney at Warnambool GC As a qualified PGA Member he has held prestigious roles with both Acushnet Golf both in Australia and worked overseas, and more recently as the agent for Trackman Australia He shares stories about Leishman, Norman, Langer and more We spend over an hour discussing life and Golf
Noel Ratcliffe was born in Sydney in 1945 His father played cricket for Australia and was friends with Sir Don Bradman Noel started playing Golf by sneaking on Bexley Golf Course late on a Saturday afternoon. He then joined New South Wales Golf Club where his first handicap was four After a strong amateur career, He decided to turn pro at the age of 29 Heading straight to Europe he secured his tour card where he played for over 35 years Noel holds a number of records on the European regular and seniors tours including being the second person to ever earn 1 million euros on tour Winner of 16 professional tournaments worldwide, he has played with and beaten most of the best players in the world I hope you enjoy these great stories from Noel from the 70s, 80s and 90s
Stacey Peters (Nee Keating) grew up in country Victoria She started playing Golf with her Grandparents in Lismore 30 minutes from her parents farm. Neither her Mum or Dad are golfers, she built her own little six hole course and driving range on the family property After finishing school she moved to Melbourne to study and met a PGA Pro who helped her get her handicap down to scratch, he also gave her the idea that she could pursue a career as a professional, something she had not considered After turning pro, on only her second year on the LET she won back to back tournaments in Spain and France Stacey now has a full time role with Golf Australia in elite player development, commentates on TV and is about to become a mum for the first time Enjoy Staceys journey so far