He’s the busiest man in Australian Golf and calls all the big shots.
And with golf facing another breakthrough year in 2010, Golfer Pacific decided to put Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt in the firing line to find out what lies ahead for a sport that’s destined for some landmark changes.
Golfer Pacific: Stephen, what are some of the priority areas you will be working on in 2010? Stephen Pitt: There are several key areas that we will be focusing on 2010. The ongoing development and establishment of our junior and game development programs, in coordination with our state associations, remains probably the most important thing we can do to move our sport forward.
It is important that we attract more people to our game but it is equally important that we have the programs and processes in place to maximise their experience in golf.
Our work involving the adoption of the USGA Course Rating and USGA Handicapping Systems continues and club golfers around Australia will start to see their courses rated under the new system as the preparations continue for the introduction of new handicapping system. This is a significant volume of work but we are confident that golfers across Australia will see the benefits.
We will also continue our work with our state associations to help golf clubs across the country to attract and retain members and in the area of high performance to ensure we retain our long term position as a powerhouse in international golf.
Again in 2010, the entire team will be working towards producing fantastic amateur championships across all ages as well as two successful Australian Opens.
GP: The golf industry as a whole – what did we get right in 2009 and where did we go wrong? SP: As a whole we had a very successful year in terms of raising the profile of golf and that’s partly attributable to Tiger’s visit, but I think as an industry on the whole, we maximised that exposure pretty well.
Generally we made the most of those opportunities which was also reflective of the increased cohesion in the golf industry. It’s not so much about where we went wrong, but we do recognise that there is still some work to do to get whole-of-industry programs out there that can achieve some benefits for every single group in the industry.
GP: There are plenty of questions and comments regarding the proposed new handicapping system. There still seems to be some confusion amongst club members. Can you explain how club golfers will be affected by this change? SP: It is a big change in some ways but we still believe our golfers will adapt quickly once changes are implemented. We’re looking for a handicapping system that gives players in the game the best possible experience and allows them to compete on an even playing field, and also so it meets the state of their game.
It’s more portable than our current arrangement and has the ability to be applied universally and be more useable with small fields and non-competition rounds. We think we’ve got the world’s best practice with what we’re adopting and we’re confident it will have a positive impact on golfers in Australia. We have been and will continue to provide as many resources and as much information to clubs as possible. Change always has its challenges but we’re confident in our decision moving forward.
GP: Amalgamation seems to be a popular choice for our district associations recently, particularly in Queensland – is this positive for our game or a concern that regional areas are doing it tough? SP: It’s positive that the districts are amalgamating and it’s logical. It leads to greater strength and utilisation of resources. That’s important everywhere, but more so in areas that are doing it tough.
GP: Has the Tiger Woods drama had any noted effect on golf in this country? SP: Clearly through the headlines, Australian golfers and golf enthusiasts are aware of recent news surrounding Tiger Woods. I don’t believe it has had a noted ‘effect’ on golf in Australia.
Australians have continued to play golf and be interested in golf. The rest is a matter for he and his family and I think people respect their right to privacy.
GP: Is Tiger still a realistic target for the Australian Open or any golf tournament in Australia, in your opinion? SP: Tiger’s visit in November was great for golf. More and more people dusted off clubs they may not have used for a while and got out and played golf. Those who already play, played more.
Whether Tiger returns for the Australian Open or for any other Australian tournament, time will tell.
GP: Will the Australian Open have a sponsor in 2010? And what can we expect in terms of players, facilities and fan fare? SP: We have a good sponsorship base and we are hopeful of increasing that through major partnerships. Having said that, we have restructured the championship so that we can continue at least at the current level, without a naming rights sponsor.
We continue to work hard to grow our sponsorship base and are proud of our current group of partners. We are fortunate to have the ongoing support and vision of Events NSW as we build the championship in the new decade. We move to The Lakes Golf Club this year for the first time since 1992 when Steve Elkington won.
Greg Norman will play and we will work throughout 2010 to secure the best field possible for the Open.
We are also grateful for the support of our leading Australian players and their pride in the Open.
GP: Who is our top-flight pro or even US Tour winner among the amateur ranks . . . if there is one? SP: It’s tough to single out one player. There are so many of them who are doing well in amateur tournaments in Australia and overseas and as a squad they are pretty even.
GP: From what you have seen, who is the next big thing in Australian golf and why? SP: There are so many Australian players who are doing great things all over the world. It’s hard to go past Michael Sim’s record-breaking Nationwide Tour season in 2009 as evidence of great things to come. Katherine Hull and Lindsey Wright have made enormous strides in women’s golf in the last 18 months. The fact that there are three Australian women inside the top 40 in the world is fantastic.
GP: Out of 1-10, where would you rate the current position of Australian Golf, and why? SP: 7.5. Things are positive for golf and our game has enormous growth, but there is more to do. We must continue to build the profile of golf and improve our links with schools, junior players and women. We must also, as a collective, strengthen the position of clubs and golf facilities which will benefit the sport as a whole.
GP: Is the state of golf in this country now better than when you began your ‘tenure’? SP: Yes I think so, but obviously it’s only been a relatively short period. The sport’s profile is higher and there is increased cohesion between ourselves, the state associations and other industry bodies. We have made real progress with the development of several programs, so hopefully we can make some really significant gains over the next 12 months and beyond.
Getting to know our CEO
Married/have kids? Married to Leigh. Hobbies after work? Golf is a bit of a hobby. I’m a keen Brisbane Lions and Boston Red Sox fan but I also enjoy reading and try to get to the gym whenever I can. Favourite golf course? Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
If you could play golf with three people in the world, who would they be? Walter Hagen, Ernie Els and John F Kennedy Favourite food? Mud Crab or perfectly cooked steak Favourite drink? Big Australian Cabernet or Shiraz Favourite movie/TV show? Shawshank Redemption/The Pro Shop What is the most memorable moment in golf for you? Watching Adam Scott win the 2009 Australian Open at NSWGC and seeing how much it meant to him. As a player, having my first hole-in-one was nice. What is the greatest word of advice you have received while in the golf industry? “An association with golf will enrich your life.”
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