Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Season Kicked Off

The cob webs that gathered on clubs and the minds of rested golfers have been dusted off. It just seemed like yesterday that the women’s pro tours were battling for end of 2014 year positions and now, again we find ourselves at the start of a new golfing year.

With the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) season kicked off and having some much welcomed warm-up events, already the tingling feeling that golf gives me is slapping me on the back – welcome to 2015. Fasten your safety belt, this is going to be a great year in golf.

Nicky Garrett took the honours at the BWAC Regional Employment and Community Services ALPG ProAm at the start of the new year and walked away with another great smile and cheque in her hand.

Aug 16, 2014; Pittsford, NY, USA; Sarah Kemp hits a fairway shot on the 5th hole during the third round of the Wegman

An unexpected and exciting finish to a sudden death play-off as darkness surrounded the green saw Sarah Kemp and Liv Cheng shake hands as dual winners at the McLeod ALPG ProAm in Queensland the week after. The tour went on to Moss Vale Classic in New South Wales where Sarah Oh carded a 64 in the 2 day event and edged out an in-form Kemp by one stoke to capture an early season win. The season openers and good placings help ease the long journeys across the ALPG and LET Tours.

Although still on home soil for most players for the next six ALPG events, the travelling will be a factor as it is always is. The expanse of Australia and it’s states are broad. Players will bound for airports or take weary drives up and down the coast to get to their next destinations on time. Within a few hours, the caddies and crews will settle into the next hotel or next host home, unpack the essentials and hit the course to keep the swing fluid. I recall quite easily how tired I can get just waiting to board a flight. I sure don’t hit the driving range or blast out an hour at the gym on a treadmill or complete a session of weights after I arrive at my destination. These players are dedicated to the life of golf and do whatever hard work it takes to rank in the world’s best golfers.

There are still some tasty ALPG Tour Events to be held. They include Renault Ladies ProAm, Pennant Hills ALPG ProAm in NSW and the Oates Victorian Open. These early events give players rhythm and confidence and time to iron out any flaws before they head into the much sought after events of the RACV Ladies Masters, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open.

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The Renault Ladies ProAm at the Castle Hill Country Club starting Thursday, January 29th sees some more of the Ladies European Tour (LET) players converge in NSW getting acclimatised to the Australian weather conditions. Although in the throws of summer, mild temperatures and rain across the eastern states should present some comfortable but breezy conditions. Dame Laura Davies returns and will get a taste of a mild afternoon sun teeing off at 1pm (Aust EST).

Making her professional debut at the Renault Ladies ProAm will be Su Oh from Victoria, Australia. Now 18, Oh captured her LPGA ticket on the Symetra Tour and and was part of the winning Australian team that competed for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Japan last year. She went head to head with the Pro’s at the 2013 RACV Ladies Masters, finishing in a tie for 2nd place. This saw her claim the 2013 Australian Amateur Champion.

Su Oh – Photo Credit ALPG

Asked if she was nervous about teeing it up this week, Su Oh said

“Not really, I think it is because I’ve done this schedule (ALPG tour events) for a few years now so it feels pretty normal right now, but I might feel different once I get to the venue and tee it up on the 1st.” (ALPG)

The shootout commences at 0700 with some of Australia’s best golfers combined with LET players and last year winner from Scotland, Kylie Walker who claimed victory after shooting a 67. This format engages the professionals with sponsors who come together and unite as one to promote and grow women’s golf in Australia.

Don’t forget the RACV Ladies Masters, the first co-sanctioned event for the year with the Ladies European Tour (LET) is almost upon us. It will commence 12th through 15th February, 2015 and will be held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort, on the Gold Coast in Queensland where it has done since 1992. For this years competition there has been exciting changes made to the course. A newly designed 9 holes by Graham Marsh will give fans some elevated views and test the players early in the season. With a new layout comes challenges as the course will play 5982 yards and will bring freshness and in this sense of change it will display itself beautifully for a newly crowned champion of the RACV Ladies Masters 2015.

Follow your favourite Australian Golfers and start the 2015 season alongside them.

I have a good feeling about this year. Follow me on twitter @TinkWalker and tell me who you will be following

Next: Charley Hull, The Casual Professional

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