South Australians. We’re parochial. We know we live in the best place on earth. While we punch above in a lot of areas, we punch hard where it counts. All and sundry know of our reputation for amazing food and wine as well as pristine natural landscapes.
But it’s our unrivalled pride for anything local for which we’re known. No one else turns up to events like South Aussies. So it’s little surprise that when Greg Norman announced The Grange Golf Club would be hosting the first-ever LIV Golf in Australia, ticket sales sold out – and sold out fast.
As a member of The Grange Golf Club, I can tell you why this big piece of dirt in Adelaide’s western suburbs is a special place and one that should be high on every golfer’s bucket list. The Grange is the only SA club with two 18-hole layouts ranked in Australian Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses.
The practice and training facilities are unsurpassed with multiple putting and chipping greens, high-quality warm up nets and a newly renovated driving range. All complemented with a savvy head pro (Warren Mercer) operating arguably Australia’s friendliest and hardest working golf shop, it’s easy to see why this place is regarded as a golfer’s golf club.
When the chance of hosting the first LIV Golf event started to whisper through the club, none of the members really understood what was about to happen. To witness the LIV team come in, set up and implement a golfing ‘revolution’ at our club has been a joy to experience.
Sure, we’ve had to deal with a compromised layout, restricted parking and sharing our place with many contractors and visitors. But I’ve not heard more than a couple of members get the brace and bits over what has been an amazing event for our state and club.
It may seem that LIV took over the golf club and left the members and staff in their wake. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. From day one they’ve engaged warmly, connected with members and appreciated this place needed to remain a working golf club through the build process.
As for the event itself, wow. Just wow. It’s spectacular. It’s hard to describe in words what it means to see massive galleries line our fairways and surround the greens to watch 48 of the world’s best golfers.
Apart from the excitement among members, it’s been special seeing our club hospitality and administration staff rubbing shoulders with the players and their caddies. It’s a reward for the amazing job they do at our club – not just for this event but every week of the year.
Other highlights include seeing Greg Norman gather our greenkeeping staff in the middle of the ‘party hole’ for a selfie. And to hear of Phil Mickelson throwing a pineapple ($50 note) to one of our young baristas for the “best coffee I’ve ever had”. And to watch our GM stand quietly, proudly taking in the moment after the ridiculous hours he’s spent keeping the place running. These are the things that make me smile and I’ll remember them long after the stands have been packed away.
And I’d have laughed at you if somebody said my LIV golf week would start by spending an hour with Bubba Watson in a range clinic,followed by jagging myself a spot carrying a bag in Cam Smith and Pat Perez’s pro-am group.
But it happened and it happened at my golf club. I’m sure all the members will hold their own fond memories of what has been an insane and special week.
As INXS sang, “LIV baby LIV.”
