Golfers Dream Newsletter March 2009

New Zealand was voted Golf Destination of the Year for the Asia & Australasia region for 2009. The award was presented at the International Golf Travel Mart in Marbella Spain on 21st November. The selection for winning destinations is made through votes cast by over 300 golf tour operators from 45 countries. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be the best performing golf destinations this year enjoyed by their golf travelling clients. The top four finalists were Australia, China, New Zealand and Thailand.

American Alex Prugh proved unstoppable in the fi nal round of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open at The Hills course, fi ring two eagles and fi ve birdies for the day’s best round of eight-under par 64. That superb round backed up three earlier subpar scores of 65, 71 and 69 for a 19-under total of 269 which gave Prugh victory by three shots from countryman Martin Piller with Jim Herman, two shots back, completing an American trifecta. Prugh, in only his second year on the tour, stole the show at The Hills course with a sensational fi nish after an uneventful fi rst seven holes which produced a birdie and a bogey at the seventh where he three-putted. “I thought I’d be lapped,’’ he said, and at that point he was two shots behind Herman, who had birdied the fi rst three holes. At the par-4 465m eighth, Prugh pushed his drive into rough but struck the perfect wedge shot. That eagle gave him momentum and confi dence at a vital time and the native from Washington State fi red a barrage of birdies. After birdies at 11, 12, 14 and 16, Prugh, who got a start in the 2007 United States Open through making the quarter-fi nals of his country’s amateur match-play championship, killed off the opposition with his second eagle which gave him a four-shot lead. “I hit two awesome shots, a good drive into the intermediate rough and a 3-wood which was perfect and fi nished pin-high. I had an uphill, breaking 25-foot putt which I started three to four feet outside the edge and it went in the centre – it was a great feeling.’’ Prugh safely made par at the last from the back of the green and admitted to feeling “a bit emotional’’ as he was greeted with a warm ovation from a big gallery as he walked on to the 18th green. “I’ve never seen numbers like that before, it was nice to hear all those people cheering for you.’’ Prugh, who made 14 cuts from 20 starts in his rookie season on last year’s Nationwide Tour, is the fi rst American winner of the New Zealand Open since Corey Pavin at Russley in 1985. Pavin had also won the tournament the previous year and Prugh vowed to return next year to see if he can do the double.

Tee off the New Year by taking advantage of Golfers' Dream Discounted Golf Tour packages exclusively for NZ market. Complete the enquiry form to assist us in putting together a discounted tailor made Tour Package offer for you. Limited Offer – Valid till 31st May 2009. Each month all golfers that have used Golfers Dream online Enquiry Form will go into a Mystery Prize Draw. Fantastic prizes to be WON: Golf Gears, Vouchers, Beauty Therapy, a round of golf with pro, Mystery weekend break for two and many more prizes! Choose from a variety of Tour Packages and create a golf package specific to your budget. View our Golf Tour Packages now!

• Picking up a golf club for the first time can be quite daunting. How are you supposed to hold the club, why are there so many different clubs and how do I know when to use which club, how should I stand, is there a certain way I should swing the club - the list of questions goes on.
• Many new golfers have been helped tremendously by one or two initial lessons to start them on their way. The best qualified people to deliver those lessons are PGA Professionals - they are there to teach you and to answer the many questions you have when you first start out. Simply being shown how to hold the club correctly can not only give you some much needed confidence, but it can make all the difference between making an air shot and connecting with the ball, which we all know is a much better feeling.
• PGA Professionals that are members of the NZPGA have all undertaken extensive training in a education system recognised globally as the best form of golf coach training possible.
• NZ golf professionalsMany golf clubs have a Pro-shop and a Professional available to provide lessons. Lessons are also available through the numerous golf driving range facilities thorughout New Zealand. The cost of lessons can vary depending on location and the experience of the professional. You might expect to pay from $35 to $50+ per hour for a lesson. Remember though, a lesson can prove the difference between enjoyment of or frustration with our wonderful game! How many lessons required will be dependent on the individual skill level of each person.
• It also pays to remember that even the best players in the world still need coaching and on rare occasions hit shots that are remarkably similar to those we make as beginners ie bunker shots.
• Only PGA Professionals have received the training necessary to improve your game - make sure you look for the PGA logo or ensure that the Professional you see is a member of the New Zealand PGA.