There is no-one more in the “loop” than the humble “looper” (Caddy) and the boys chat with one of the best , Rance De Grussa. The Aussie has toted for the likes of Minjee Lee, Jason Scrivener and recently for two 20 year-olds who nearly won the Aussie Open and PGA – Sth Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter and China’s Wenyi Ding.

As a result, Rance just got the nod to steer Potgieter through his first attack on the US PGA Tour for 2025.

Larry and Gary put their spin on the two Australian Majors and Larry has a strange phallic like teaching aid and does his best to describe it. Gazz takes advantage of the situation and somehow creates his tip from said device?

Sure its a little weird… but very insightful and definitively worth a listen –

“Backspin” by INSIDE GOLF Magazine

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ELVIS Smylie made such an impression when he burst into big-time Australian golf three years ago that it seemed inevitable the Queenslander would win early and often – not just in this country, but throughout the world.

Smylie, the 19-year-old with the good looks and the silky smooth left-hand swing, was still an amateur when he shot matching weekend rounds of 63 to come within a stroke of winning the 2021 Webex Players Series Victoria event at Rosebud.

When he turned professional and, a month later, tied for third in the Players Series Sydney, then was runner-up in the NSW Open, Smylie seemed to have the world at his feet.

In the coming months, however, he was to discover just how difficult it is to win a golf tournament. 

Like with Justin Rose, the teenage amateur who exploded onto the golf scene in 1998 with his fourth placing in the Open Championship, turned professional, then hardly made a cut for the next two years, there were quiet whispers that perhaps his early success was just a flash in the pan.

But, while others may have doubted him, Smylie, now 22, never stopped believing in his ability, or his right to be competing against the world’s best.

“Outside noise!” he described the commentary. “Golf is a difficult game with many more lows than highs. 

“You must be patient and believe that the work you’re doing will put you in a position to win.

“As soon as I turned pro I went straight to the European Tour and just got everything thrown at me at once,” he said. “It was tricky dealing with that. But stepping back a bit, what has happened has been a blessing in disguise.

“As time’s gone on, I think I’ve appreciated everything that has happened. I’ve got a better perspective on how I can manage everything as well as I can moving forward.”

“Golf teaches you so many things, both about the game and about yourself as a person. What has happened over the past few years will help shape me into the person I’ll become.” 

Elvis Smylie was finally a winner, capturing the WA Open title in a playoff over Jak Carter.

Smylie was perhaps as much relieved as he was delighted when he broke through to win his first tournament, the Western Australian Open at Mandurah in October, pipping the unlucky Jak Carter in a playoff.

“It meant everything to me,” he said. “It was great to win for all the people, my family, my friends, who have helped me so much.”

With the first three placegetters on the Australasian PGA Tour at season’s end assured of status on the DP World Tour – Smylie was in second place after the Queensland PGA – he is hopeful of returning to Europe next year.

He enjoys touring, though he says it takes time to get used to living out of a suitcase and being away from home.

“My parents help,” Smylie said. “When I was playing in the Open at Troon this year my mum was commentating at Wimbledon and we were able to spend some time together.”

Mum, of course, is former tennis star Liz Smylie, a one-time Wimbledon doubles champion. Dad Peter was also a tennis professional, and Smylie said their experience as professional sports people has helped him on tour.

Smylie pre-qualified to play in this year’s Open, an experience he describes as the best he’s had in golf.

“Just being with those other players, seeing what I need to do, the areas I need to sharpen up, was exciting. But, in the end, it’s just a regular tournament and everything I do I tried to keep the same – maybe with a bit more excitement,” he said.

Twice a runner up over the first six events, Jak Carter is another of the young guns knocking on the door in search of his first tour victory.

Smylie says he’s well organised, meticulous in his preparation for a tournament and always ‘ready to go’ on Thursdays. 

When he’s touring he likes to split up his days – practice and prepare in the mornings; sightsee and relax in the afternoons. 

“After all, we get to visit some of the most amazing parts of the world,” he said.

He’s built up a group of friends on tour. “We have dinner together and root for each other, We’re all playing to win, of course, but we’re also playing against the course.”

After working with Queensland’s Ian Triggs for most of his career, Smylie joined Western Australian Ritchie Smith’s team early this year and believes the real benefits of that move will become apparent in the next 12 months.  

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HE’S LIVED in Australia since he was 11 and speaks with such a broad Aussie accent that you’d wager he’d never left these shores, but Jack Buchanan was born in Scotland and remains proud of his Scottish heritage.

It was the reason he returned to his homeland this year to compete in four mid-summer tournaments on Scotland’s Tartan Tour. 

The first-year pro did well there, finishing second in the Newmachar Classic after leading into the final round, third in the Ladybank Masters and top 30 in the other two events on a tour that’s perhaps a step below our own Australasian Tour.

Buchanan’s dad Billy was a fine golfer who influenced his son to take up the game and when the family moved to Australia a decade ago, the Buchanan’s settled in South Australia, young Jack becoming a junior member at Flagstaff Hill, south of Adelaide.

“I can’t explain the accent,” he said. “Maybe I arrived here young enough to pick up the way Aussies talk.”

A member of the South Australian state team by the age of 14, Buchanan switched to the Glenelg Golf Club and enjoying an outstanding amateur career, winning the South Australian Amateur Championship and finishing a close second in the Australian Amateur in 2022. He was also a member of Australia’s silver medal-winning Eisenhower Trophy team last year.

He turned professional immediately before the 2023 Queensland PGA Championship, and enjoyed moderate success in a handful of starts last season, his best performance being fifth in the Gippsland Super 6 and 15th in the Victorian PGA. 

That all changed when Buchanan returned from Scotland. At his first outing this season he won the Western Australian PGA at Kalgoorlie, beating local hope Jordan Doull in a playoff after both golfers finished at 17-under-par

Jack Buchanan, already twice a winner on the Australasian Tour, just five tournaments into the current season.

“Getting over that first hurdle makes you believe you can do it more,” Buchanan said.

And he did. A fortnight later Buchanan shot a course record 62 in his final round to claim his second victory of the season at the Webex Players Series South Australia at the Willunga course.

“Winning at Kalgoorlie definitely helped,” Buchanan said. “It gave me so much more belief – just knowing you can do it when you need to.”

It was an extraordinary performance by Buchanan who was 10 strokes from the lead after a disappointing first round, his win taking him to top spot on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, and a likely card for next year’s DP World Tour.

Buchanan has been supremely consistent this season. As well as his two wins, he was sixth in the Queensland PGA, 12th in the WA Open and 13th in the PNG Open. His World Golf Ranking is heading north, having leapt from 2700 before he turned professional to a current 785. 

Buchanan describes himself as an aggressive player, who seldom takes the easy option on the golf course. “I’m a good driver and a good ball striker and I generally take the game on,” he said.

He said when a golfer gets on a roll like he did in the final round in Adelaide, “it’s just a great feeling.”

A popular member of the tour, regarded as a laid-back character who is fun to be around, Buchanan says he’s ‘pretty good at relaxing’ and finds it easy to switch off from golf. He says he enjoys nothing better than ‘hanging out with my mates.’

He’s looking forward to competing on the Australasian Tour for the remainder of the season, then plans to campaign in Europe next year – almost certainly finding time for another visit to his native Scotland.

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Now playing on the PGA Tour Champions, Richard Green enjoyed a breakout year in the US, his second placing in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, his fifth runner’s up finish of 2024 seeing the Victorian wind up third on the season-long points list behind just Steve Alker and Ernie Els. 

Green collected US$3,137,821 in prizemoney on the year – as well a bonus of US$300,000 on top for his efforts. 

Prior to competing on the seniors circuits of the world, Green managed three wins in Europe, highlighted by his victory at the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic, won in a playoff against former World No 1’s Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam. Green also claimed two titles on home soil, including the 2004 Australian Masters. 

Before he teed it up in the Charles Schwab finale, Inside Golf’s US correspondent Garrett Johnstoncaught up with Green to chat about his outstanding 2024 season. 

How was your time on the PGA Tour Champions in 2024?

I’m just happy that I’ve been able to put myself in contention a lot this year. I’ve shown myself signs that my game’s good enough to compete with the best of them out here. I suppose I just need to keep playing golf this same way so I give myself a chance to try and win again. That’s the overall idea for me.

What do you make of your PGA Tour Champions journey, two seasons under your belt now?

It’s been amazing so far. This Tour is as good a place you can end up in the over 50 crowd, playing anywhere in the world. Being from Australia and trying to consistently continue playing top level golf, this is the best place to do it.

Hands down.

It’s the best competition, the best presented courses, the best tournaments, and the best prize money that you could ever imagine to play for. So I’m very fortunate to be out here and good enough I guess. The process I went through a couple years ago where I went to Q School with no status and won my card was very crazy you just don’t know what’s going to happen. There are only four or five spots at Q School. You’ve got to be on your game to get one of those spots. Thankfully it was a couple years ago and I’m here now and I’m certainly cherishing it and hopefully I’ll hang onto it for another few years.

Despite not recording a tournament victory, Richard Green enjoyed a sensational 2024 season on the PGA Tour Champions. 

You had a great year in 2024, how gratifying has the consistency been for you?

It’s very, very rewarding to get some good results based on the amount of work we’ve put in. Year to year, to keep doing it is hard. I hope my form can continue well into 2025 and there’s no reason why it can’t. This year I was a little more familiar with the courses and I knew what to expect, whereas in the first year out in 2023 I was a little surprised, and I was learning the courses each week. It felt a bit exploratory. I was trying to find out how you’ve got to play certain holes and certain shots. Then this year (2024) has been a little bit nicer about knowing what I’m getting into and knowing what kind of course is in front of me. You’ve just got to work hard and you’ve got to be fit.

I’ve been a little down with an injury the last few weeks in my lower back. I’ve done a lot of work with my physic Tyson to get back into playing shape. You’ve got to be 100 percent to play out here with the guys and it’s a hard enough game to play fully healthy, let alone with an ailment. 

It’s symptoms that I’ve had before from lifting weight and twisting the wrong way. I think I hurt it after a practice session on the range in September. We’re not getting any younger and I’ve got to learn to pace myself in regards to the work ethic I suppose and make sure I’m fit to play all of the time.

What part of the game does a lower back injury affect the most for you?

Really everything. You feel it standing over the ball. You feel it swinging the club on every shot. It’s a requirement for me to feel fit at all times and ready to play and to go after it hard, so if there’s something that’s a little bit off in my body then it’s very difficult for me to even swing the club. My physic Tyson has been a huge help and kept me in shape throughout the playoffs and now we’ve just got to have a good plan moving forward and hope this doesn’t happen again. You learn from it and then press on.

What have you learned about yourself in your 2024 season when you had four second place finishes (the Schwab Championship was his fifth), being so close to winning?

I guess that I believe that I’m good enough to be out here on the Champions Tour winning with the strong caliber of the players. You’ve got some unbelievable players out here like Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, and Bernhard Langer. All of these guys have been profound winners on Tour over the course of their careers. I may not have won as many times as they have but it’s just nice to come out here and have the sort of game that can compete with them. I’ve got myself into a place of belief where I know I can do it, given the right conditions and the right course, everything hopefully falls into place for a win. That’s probably what I’ll take the most out of 2024, I’ve had so many good results and so many times in contention that makes me feel like I can do it.

What do you expect from your caddie under the pressure of a Sunday when you guys are trying to win?

I expect a lot, actually. I expect him to help keep me thinking straight under the gun. I want him to keep me making the right decisions and talk through the options. We can’t take any decision lightly. We’ve got to be thorough as we talk over a shot and then I’ve got to be very committed to the strike once I get over the ball. It always helps when a caddie is able to keep you in a strong sense of mind.

How often do you get back to Australia these days?

Not enough (laughs). It’s always a long year and I’m certainly looking forward to going home for the offseason. We’ll have a nice break for sure. Can’t wait. I’ll get home at the start of the year and depending on what the golf schedule looks like next year, I’ll be looking for other opportunities to get home. It’s important to pace yourself on this Tour, and when we’re away for a while without any real home base, it’s important to pace yourself when you’re away and look for opportunities to have a rest.

– Twitter: @JohnstonGarrett

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Langer – 67 and no sign of slowing down 

AT the ripe old age of 67, German Bernhard Langer continued to amaze with another victory on the PGA Tour Champions, this one coming at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. 

Langer shot rounds of 69-64-67-66, for an 18-under par total, one clear of Australian Richard Green and Kiwi Steve Alker. 

The win, his only victory of 2024 and first since the 2023 U.S. Senior Open, earned Langer his record-extending 47th win on PGA Tour Champions from 356 starts. He moved up from 22nd at the start of the week to seventh on the final Charles Schwab Cup standings. 

Bernhard Langer’s amazing winning streak continued with a victory at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix. 

Remarkably it was Langers 18th consecutive year with a win on PGA Tour Champions, dating back to his debut season of 2007.

The victory also extended his record as the oldest winner in PGA Tour Champions history, at 67 years, 2 months, 14 days and his 14th win since turning 60 years old, a number which alone would rank tied 18th on the over 50’s tour for all-time wins. 

It was Langer’s first win at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 16 appearances, with a previous best finish of second, and it was the 25th different tournament on PGA Tour Champions that he has won. 

In the last round of the Schwab Cup in Phoenix, Langer shot his age or better for the third consecutive day and 23rd time overall on PGA Tour Champions. 

Before joining the senior tour, Langer was twice a major champion, winning the US Masters on two occasions, while also claiming 42 tournament victories in Europe. 

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McKenzie never in front at Thurgoona – until it mattered most

Victorian David McKenzie struck the perfect shot to within tap-in distance in birdieing the final hole to win the NSW Senior Open played at the Thurgoona Country Club near Albury.

The Victorian carded a closing five-under-par 67, for a 12-under-par total to beat third round leader Mat Goggin by one shot.

“At the time, you’re never really sure what’s going on around you, so in the end, even when I hit it into about a foot and a half, it still seemed a bit far away for my liking,” McKenzie joked of his 9-iron approach on the final hole.

“They’re hard to win. I’ve had a lot of chances a lot of times and haven’t got it done. And the times I have won, I’ve won well and going away so it was good to get one in a close (finish).

Scott Barr and Peter Lonard shared third another shot back.

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AS talk swirls about the demands and the toll on the personal lives of golf club general managers, Warrnambool believes it has found the right man to take the helm.

Marc Tims comes off a much-heralded career in health and wellbeing including holding senior positions with retailers David Jones and the Country Road Group.

“In that sense I have an ideal background in dealing with people,” Tims says.

Although only a matter of weeks into his new role at the time of this interview, he thinks people management is crucial to the GM’s success at any club.

“This is the case dealing with golfers, members, staff and boards. It’s working with them and making sure they are happy which I hope I can bring to the job. That and governance are so important,” he adds

“I am also blessed to have been ‘handed’ a brand new $7.5 million clubhouse, which is already being embraced by members, non-members and the community as a whole.

“As well, there’s been a spike in the number of returning members. And the community is embracing us in general, making full use of out bar bistro and café facilities.

“Already there is a great feel and energy to the place. I could not be more fortunate to be here.”

Marc Tims, the recently appointed General Manager at the Warrnambool Golf Club.

All this on top of a magnificent golf course, open and welcoming to holiday makers, offering the chance to play the superb layout on which Australian International, Marc Leishman, learnt his craft from the time he was a youngster growing up in the town. 

Leishman still comes home at least once a year and always catches up with family and friends on this time-honoured golf course.

Tims has only been in town for three and a half years. 

“I’ve had experience in working with clubs and Golf Australia in sports governance, a priority for community sport. 

“The thing about a GM at a golf club is that he is expected to have experience in all things. It’s almost impossible to be an expert in everything. “

Marc has developed skills from a diverse employment history including operating small business, working in large corporate environments specialising in customer service excellence in retail as well as leading expertise in the corporate health and wellness space. Marc has honed his strength in sporting governance when he worked recently as the Chief Executive Officer of South West Sport. While there, he developed strong relationships in the local community, supporting grassroots community sport and within the golf industry specifically.

 Marc’s exceptional people management skills and his governance experience in a not-for-profit organisation are strengths that will serve him well in his role as GM at the Warrnambool Golf Club. 

“I consider myself a ‘new local’ in Warrnambool, having moved down the coast just over three years ago from Melbourne. I love the town. I love people. I love the golf club and love the way of life,” he says.

Born and bred around the Melbourne sand belt courses and a previous member at Southern Golf Club, Marc is a life-long golfer. He plays off a GA handicap of 9.1.

“With our new clubhouse at WGC-, we have seen organic growth in new and returning golf members and ‘footfall’ traffic from locals and travelling customers who stop by to experience our fabulous state of the art $7.5 million clubhouse and customer service like no other.

“I am really enjoying the new role at the golf club and our members have been very welcoming. I can see huge growth opportunities within the club to create a memorable golf experience for members and visitors in the coming years. I invite anyone who hasn’t seen our club to make the journey down to the southwest. I can guarantee you will be impressed,” Marc says confidently. 

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Warrnambool Golf Club

Warrnambool is one of the region’s most spectacular 18-hole courses and home of the current LIV Golf touring professional Marc Leishman.

The classically designed layout carves its way between and over a massive tertiary dune system, the course offering a unique combination of exposed holes with elevated tees. 

It is located just three hours west of Melbourne at the end of the Great Ocean Road.

With a brand-new state of the art $7.5million club house facility, the Warrnambool Golf Club caters for golfers and guests alike who want to experience excellence in customer service in the bar/bistro and Pro shop facilities.

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Flicking the channels recently I landed on KAYO and The Race To Dubai event, the season-ending tournament on the European Tour. And right in the finish before placing in the top five was 44-year-old Australian Adam Scott. 

After arguably one of the most consistent seasons of his celebrated career, Scott was still doing his thing and doing it very well at that. 

And while I certainly hold no grudge, memories came flooding back as I was reminded it was the same Adam Scott who helped end my career way back when. Maybe it’s best to qualify that statement, he least helped me decide that it was time to perhaps find a more secure way of making a dollar, other than playing golf for a living. 

It was at the 2000 Australian PGA, played at Royal Queensland, the year Robert Allenby won. Allenby would back up and win a year later as well. 

However, as good as Robert was back in his prime, it was a relatively unknown kid at the time who helped determine my immediate future. 

Hitting balls on the range at RQ in the days leading up to the PGA Championship, a tallish, skinny youngster parked his bag next to mine, emptied his bucket of range balls, before going through his practice routine. 

He had been at University in the US, had just turned pro, but whoever he was and whatever he’d been doing, I had no choice other than to be impressed. The ball striking, the skill level, the confidence, the superstar quality was evident. 

Watching the excellence of everything he was doing, with every club in the bag, I knew I was done, no longer had the game to compete with the young guns of the day and was happy to move aside for the next generation, although he would have quickly left me in wake whatever I decided to do. This sweet swinging kid from Queensland was destined for greatness. 

Adam Scott would win the US Masters, the first Australian to do so, 14 PGA Tour events, along with a collection of other significant championships around the globe. And after 24-odd years as a professional, he’s still doing it and doing it well. 

He finished fourth on the final standings of the PGA Tour’s FED EX Cup this year and was ranked in the top 20 in the world after an outstanding 2024 season. Scott shows no sign of slowing up. 

Now this isn’t all about Adam Scott, and not for a minute am I suggesting his time has come, however there is a new generation of Australian stars ready, willing and able to take the golfing world by storm. 

We could have put a bunch of them on the cover of this December issue but picked out Elvis Smylie and Jack Buchanan. I’d heard of Smylie before his recent win at the WA Open, seen Mike Clayton take an interest in his game, carrying his bag on occasion in big Australian events. Buchanan was a new one. 

A South Australian kid, with a powerful swing which belies his slight build, he’s already displayed an ability to win and to get the job done when the pressure is at its greatest. 

Two more climbing the charts with a bullet are Phoenix Campbell and Jak Carter, Campbell winning a spectacular playoff against Carter at the Queensland PGA, who has now been twice a runner up on the Australasian Tour in 2024. 

And there are many more. Jasper Stubbs has played at the Masters already after winning the Asia Pacific Amateur, Quinn Crocker an impressive rookie is currently navigating his way through the US Tour school, Karl Vilips after four years at Stanford University, then following a strong season on the Korn Ferry in 2024 will play his first year on the PGA Tour in 2025. They look to be the real deal. That’s naming just a few. Then there are a bunch of exciting young amateurs timing their run before entering the pay-for-play ranks. Men and women, boys and girls, with the promise and potential to be challenging for the biggest titles in world golf. 

Then there are those who have already made an impression overseas, with David Micheluzzi a solid performer in his first full season in Europe, and it’s easy to forget Min Woo Lee is just 26 years of age, while Cam Davis and Lucas Herbert aren’t much older. 

We have great courses, coaches to compare with the very best, junior and development programs the envy of the world, all combining to give our best youngsters a chance to succeed. 

Keep on keeping on Adam, by no means am I suggesting your best days are behind you, but you are about to have some company. 

The new crop of ‘next gen’ stars are long, strong, fearless, extremely talented and very ambitious. You can read about some of them on the pages to follow. I look forward with great interest to watching their progress. 

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Get in touch
If you have an opinion on this or any other topic in the magazine, send your letter to the editor to rob@insidegolf.com.au and you’ll be in the running to win a gripping prize. 

The post Long, strong and talented – just like Adam Scott 25 years ago first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.

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WHEN good mates Paul Spencer and Chris Chapman decided to set up their own turf product distribution and consultancy business a decade ago, one of their biggest concerns was that the stress might put an end to their 20-year friendship.

“People told us you can’t go into business with your mate,” Spencer said. “I think we’ve proven them wrong. Chappy and I were great mates then, and we remain great mates now.”

And the company they conceived 10 years ago is thriving, too. Greenway Turf Solutions, a business based as much on the knowledge and expertise of its directors as on superior customer service, is one of Australia’s most respected suppliers to the professional turf industry, dispensing products and advice to customers throughout the country.

The efforts of Spencer, Chapman and their team were recognised in October when Greenway Turf Solutions was named Supplier of the Year at the Queensland Golf Industry awards night, the first turf maintenance company to ever win the award. GTS field agent Paul Bevan also took the Superintendents Industry Recognition Award.

Paul Spencer (left) and Chris Chapman from Greenway Turf Solutions, worthy and popular winners of the Supplier of the Year at the Queensland Golf Industry awards.

“Winning that award was certainly a career highlight and a justification for all the work and sacrifices we have made over the past 10 years,” Spencer said. “To build this business together has been very special.”

Spencer and Chapman first met at the University of Queensland’s Gatton College, where they both studied horticulture and agronomy. Chapman’s goal was to become a veterinarian, enrolling in horticulture only to pass the time, he thought, until a spot became available in his preferred field. 

Both men forged careers in agronomy, Spencer becoming a turf consultant and Chapman working in increasingly senior positions within the turf industry.

Frustrated at what they felt was the product supply industry losing its way, Chapman suggested to his friend that they should start their own turf product distribution company. Spencer agreed.

“So at the age of 39, each of us with 20 years of experience under our belts, not a lot to lose and time to recover, we took the plunge,” Spencer said.

“I didn’t sleep for three days,” he said. “I asked permission from my wife to do it and forgiveness upfront for how absent I would probably be, putting all my energy into this new venture.” 

The business began in October 2014, in a room under Spencer’s house, with two computers and an old Holden Rodeo ute that Chapman had bought second-hand from a golf course superintendent.

“We had no exclusive products, no warehouse, no customers, and no staff,” Spencer said.

“But I had a brand in the market due to my agronomic consulting work and, while Chris is just as qualified in agronomy as I am, he had an MBA and a natural strategic business brain.”

Friends and now business partners, Paul Spencer and Chris Chapman first met when studying horticulture and agronomy at the University of Queensland.

Chapman assumed the role of CEO, worked in the office – the ‘backend’ of the business, as he described it – while Spencer got out in the marketplace and tried to conjure up business. 

“When we got an order I would call Chris,” Spencer said. “He would ring around the small group of suppliers we had, order the product, go pick it up from probably three different sources, put it all together and deliver it to the customer.”

Chapman and Spencer sought to bring technical sales back to the industry, utilising their knowledge of agronomy and providing customised solutions for their clients. And it worked, the market responding positively. 

“The second part of our approach, which Chris really drove, was unparalleled service,” Spencer said. “We got the product to the customer when they needed, even if that was 4am the next morning.”

That this unrelenting devotion to customer service continues today was evidenced when my interview with the two directors was delayed for three hours when Chapman had to personally arrange the supply and delivery of products to a customer who needed them without delay. 

The combo of sound advice, quality products and attention to detail proved to be a winner. Chapman and Spencer drew on the relationships they had built over the years and were pleasantly surprised when suppliers such as Campbells Chemicals, Adama and Agrichem opened accounts with the new company.

“Some suppliers didn’t support us initially, but over the years we proved our worth and were able to establish a complete product range,” Spencer said. “I suppose if you are in an industry for long enough, and build a reputation of being honest, fair and easy to work with, you get rewarded in the end.”

After 18 months, the business had grown and it was time to look for proper office space and establish a warehouse. At the same time US company Simplot Partners, a competitor of Greenway’s, was pulling out of the Queensland market and offered to sell its business located at Ormeau, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“We forged a deal where GTS took over the warehouse, truck, employees and product of the Simplot business.” Spencer said. “Very quickly we went from two guys and a ute under my house, to an office, warehouse, stock, employees, and a truck,” Spencer said. “It was a big step, but now we started feeling like a proper business.”

The company grew quickly, opening an Adelaide office in 2016, selling a third of the business in 2018 to John Peaty, the former owner of Globe and Barmac, and acquiring the following year the remaining Australian operations of Simplot Turf and Horticulture.

These days Greenway Turf Solutions employs about 60 staff and operates in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Chapman remains CEO and Spencer is Head Agronomist.

“We both still work direct with our customers in the field on their day to day needs.  There is no management from ivory towers in our business,” Chapman said.

Many of the field agents employed by Greenway were once on the other side of the fence – greenkeepers and turf grass managers, who appreciated the way the company operated and wanted to become a part of it.

Chapman and Spencer are passionate about training their staff, keeping them up to date with changing trends, educating them about the company’s philosophy, and encouraging them to make their own decisions – not least because they know being personally hands-on with Greenway’s increasing clientele is not sustainable for the two of them.

They educate their customer base, as well, hosting seminars and workshops across the country, addressing field days, providing online support and producing webinars and blogs.

Spencer and Chapman, with a passion for making golf course, and sporting turf, better for all.  

Spencer estimates that golf courses make up 65 percent of Greenway’s business, ahead of racecourses, sporting arenas, and turf farms.

As we spoke, he was planning a visit to Eagle Farm racecourse, on his way to an appointment with the grounds staff at Royal Queensland Golf Club to ensure its course was at its finest for the upcoming Australian PGA.

They say their work, at its most fundamental, is to assist their clients to create better playing surfaces.

“There is no greater joy than to work in partnership with guys on the ground and see a course improve year on year and reach its potential – healthy, immaculate and generating positive reviews from golfers,” Spencer said.

Greenway Turf Solutions is an enthusiastic sponsor of pro-ams around the country, providing a rare opportunity for the two directors to test their golf games.

They are both members of south-east Queensland golf clubs – Chapman at Keperra and Spencer at Indooroopilly and Maleny and look forward to one day playing the game more regularly. 

Though acknowledging the hours are long and the work hard, Spencer said: “Working with good people in the industry, assisting them to create great playing surfaces, seeing people’s careers develop within your company, seeing how the business changes the lives of your employees, eases the anxiety and makes it all worthwhile.”

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Micah Hewson, Ashley Denovan, Mongrels Men Founder Tim Hewson and Russell Denovan at the recent Mongrels Golf day at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast.

Mongrels Golf Tim Hewson is the founder of Mongrels Men, an Australian charity that harnesses the power of golf to support mental health initiatives. Established in 2008, the organization began as a casual gathering of mates playing golf but has since evolved into a significant force for mental health awareness and support. Hewson’s vision was to create a space where men could connect, share experiences, and discuss mental health in a non-judgmental environment.

Inside Golf’s Andrew Crockett spoke with Hewson in digging deeper into Mongrels Men and their goals and aspirations at their recent Charity Golf Day at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast. 

What was the motivation to get Mongrels Men started?

The very first ‘Mongrel Masters’ was in 2008. A mate and I wanted to catch up for a game of golf, but with work, family, and kids, it was tough to find time. The only weekend that worked was three months in advance. So, we thought, why not invite a few other blokes along? Before we knew it, we had a golf weekend planned. It turned into a competition, and like any good competition, it needed a trophy. We looked at ourselves—different shapes, sizes, ages, and cultural backgrounds—and thought, “We’re just a motley pack of mongrels.” That’s how it started.

The next year, there were 20 blokes, then 30, then 40. Now, our annual NSW charity golf day has 100 players, and we’ve established a clear charity focus. The Mongrel Masters has morphed from being a weekend away to play golf, to one of the charity’s annual fundraising events.

Are you operating out of Sydney?

Yes, but we’ve just had our first Queensland charity golf day at Emerald Lakes. Over the past 12 months, we’ve built five communities in Queensland. With more to come

Can you describe what your established communities look like?

As a charity, we have three core programs: Community Meetups, the Dog House program, and our Mental Health Workshops.

The Community Meet Ups are designed to get guys out of bed and off the couch—moving, talking, connecting, and forming new support networks. These meetups could be a bunch of blokes getting together for a sunrise walk, a coffee, and a chat. The idea is to get them moving while having shoulder-to-shoulder conversations, which helps them open-up without the pressure of face-to-face interaction. We currently have 13 community champions running events and activities across New South Wales and Queensland.

The Dog House workshops are a space for shelter and learning. We bring in specialist speakers each month to run workshops on topics like breathwork, meditation, burnout prevention, time management, or even gut health and sleep. It’s all about adding tools to the resilience toolkit, so blokes have something to rely on when times get tough.

Our third pillar is the Mental Health workshop. This is a full-day education seminar focused on understanding mental health illnesses and disorders, recognizing the signs, and teaching blokes how to have difficult conversations around topics like suicide. We also equip them with the knowledge to support themselves and others.

Back to the golf—how was your charity day at Emerald Lakes this year?

We had 30 players, which was fantastic. But for us, it’s never been about the numbers—it’s about creating an environment for guys to connect and talk. Just bringing two blokes together to have a meaningful conversation is a win. Mental Health Month is in October, and the 2024 theme was “Let’s talk about it.” So, we encouraged everyone to dig deeper and have those more meaningful conversations beyond just playing a round of golf.

Which sponsors supported the day?

Australian Money Market, Q Properties, Beneficial Beer Co, and it was great to have Inside Golf magazine represented as well.

The Mongrels Golf day attracted a crowd of more than 30 at their first event held in Queensland.

Any advice on how to approach tough conversations on the golf course?

Whether on the golf course or elsewhere, it’s as simple as checking in and being curious. Ask a mate if they’re okay, but listen beyond the “Yeah, mate, all good” response. Often, we get a joke or a half-truth in return. So, we encourage guys to scratch under the surface a bit. If your mate hasn’t been showing up to golf as often as usual, give him a call and see how he’s doing.

Life can be a lot like golf—we all spend some time in the rough. Things can get challenging, and just as you need to work together and practice to get back on track, the same applies in life. It’s about helping a mate get to where they need to be, even if that means encouraging them to seek professional help.

What are your key goals for the next 12 months in Australia?

Looking five years ahead, we want 800 locations across the country. Right now, we’re focused on establishing a presence in every state over the next 12 months. We also aim to expand into rural, regional, remote and indigenous communities. Our rural communities are growing in Outback Queensland. We’ve got a community in Barcaldine, and Longreach will launch in November. The key is maintaining a consistent presence in rural, regional and remote communities and they don’t always have reliable access to medical services, so our Meet Ups are a lifeline for many blokes.

Another priority is growing our volunteer base. We’re a volunteer-run organization, so the more Community Champions we can bring on board to run our communities, the greater the impact we can have. Lastly, awareness is crucial for us as a new charity. We want to spread the word about who we are, what we do, and the positive impact we’re making on men’s lives.

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FOLLOWING a three-win season on the LPGA Tour and in a year in which she reached a career high world ranking, Western Australian Hannah Green has been awarded her second Greg Norman Medal.  

At the PGA Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday night more than 350 guests attended the glittering awards ceremony at Brisbane City Hall at an event which serves as a precursor to the BMW Australian PGA Championship, with Green’s Greg Norman Medal win among a total of 10 awards presented throughout the evening.

The West Australian climbed to number five in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking during 2024 on the back of a win at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Thailand in March, a successful defence of her JM Eagle LA Championship title in April and a wire-to-wire victory at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.

It was the 27-year-old’s greatest single-season yield in her career to date.

Green also won the Greg Norman Medal in 2019 when she had two wins – including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – and was honoured to once again receive Australian golf’s highest accolade.

“It has undoubtedly been one of the best years of my career and to cap it with a second Greg Norman Medal makes it all the more special,” said Green, who was in Florida for the season-ending LPGA event and unable to attend the PGA Awards.

“I would like to thank everyone in my team, my husband Jarryd, my family and friends for their support this year.”

On hand to accept the Greg Norman Medal on Green’s behalf was her coach, Ritchie Smith, who was named PGA National Coach of the Year – High Performance, for a fourth time.

It is a fourth national win for Smith, who also received the High Performance gong in 2014, 2019 and 2021 and in 2024 had three players – Green, Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee – represent Australia at the Paris Olympics.

The PGA Awards were announced as Inside Golf was going to press. A full list of the award winners will be published in the January issue. 

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