Breaking Par at the WA PGA Championship Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Breaking Par at the WA PGA Championship Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Choppers, we’re heading across the outback to Calguli Golf Club, the host of the WA PGA Championships. Red Dirt and Green Grass meet to make one of the most unique golf courses I’ve ever played. Ron will be testing himself out off the black tease to see if he could make the cut in this year’s PGA Championships. Not a chance. I had a look last night. The cut for last year was two over. So, that’s what I’m going to try and I’m going to try and get that. You reckon? How you feeling? Not bad. Pretty good. What do you reckon? He uh two over. Okay. Four over. Four all fake. Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit. Oh. Oh. I think we’re okay. Got a couple of rock clubs for the trip cuz if you go on this red stuff, we’re in trouble. Good start. Like good start. See the jumper high? I like it. Yeah. So that’s the Ron Chopper Tech’s going to go there. Um and then maybe the white bit will be a bit bigger. And then the pocket’s going to be like little zippies so that you can put your glove in there and stuff on a rainy day. But don’t mind it. It should be ready to go for summer. Yeah, I was just going to say good timing. shots. Far out. How is this? Okay, 137. I’m going to go a 9. I’m going to try to play like a punchy cut and hopefully don’t ding me n up. Red dirt. Here we go. Roll. Roll. Think I hit the ball. Hit the mud in front of it. Top spin. I think we’re okay. Yeah, this is uh I don’t You got to learn how to play off this stuff. Hey, when I hit a bad shot, I can hear jogger. Yeah, hear it from 100 m away. Ash is all right. I couldn’t chip it that close. E, I wouldn’t chip it that close. It’s really good. That’s an up and down. Well done, mate. It’s not considered an up and down if you pop from off the green. Oh, cuz you All right. Even part. Graham Marsh, who designed this, that’s what he wanted people to do. He reckons golf should be played on the ground. I did it. Up and down. That’s a Graham Marsh up and down. All right. Good start. Cut. Plus two. Ron. Even though right. 529 m par five. This is a monster. This is a monster. Like a proper three shooter. Okay. Drive. I think I’ve got to play it close to that tree on the corner. Little draw. Oh, that’s not right. Stay there. Oh, it’s fine. Oh, it’s a long way in though. Left just looks like it’s no good. It might be fine, but I just stayed on that side. Well, I’ve about 300 m to go. Big red bunker at the front. So, I’m just going to hit a five iron and then I can hit a full shot in. This is This is smart, Ron. See if I can pull it off though. Sculled it, but I think it’s fine. I think I just hit straight in the red dirt. Should have gone for it. Mhm. 290 drive off the jack. Yeah, I could have. Nah. Right. Actually spot on. 105. Uh, this pins on a little small section of the grain. Middle of the grain would be primo from here. Shoulder to shoulder with 50°. I think that’s my 10 and5 shot. Just making that up. [Music] [Music] It was all over it as well. Too much Raz. Oh no, I’m button that. I’m putting that in inside. Oh, that’s it. Yes, Ron makes a 4footer in Kaggulli. There should be a plaque right there, I reckon. Even power through two. That’s good. We’re in the cut line still. Okay, hole three, 321 m. And it gives it one of them. I think if you’re up the front, you can have a pop at the green, but the green’s like right behind these trees here. So, I’m going to go over here with the two on. And then I’m playing smart because I’m trying to show the boys and the girls where to go when they’re playing this weekend. I think it’s all right. See, like the whip off the pads I did there. Yeah, I think we’re okay. The contrast with red dirt and the fairway is just ridiculous. It looks awesome. Hugging it. Yeah, just What’s the play? Oh, I’m going lobby and I’m just going to try and catch it and hope I guess correctly. I just don’t know how it’s going to come out. That bunker bunker. You would go for the green, wouldn’t you? But you have to back tea is tough cuz those trees are in the way. Mhm. Should have played from the reds. Just over the lip. Bit of RZ. I just shank it. I just shank it. I think so. Okay, hang on. That’s That’s That’s happened a couple of times. Oh yeah. Good work. You know what? I reckon I need someone to play from inside 100 for me. That would be a good golfer. You got Joel. But yeah, I know. I just shake it. I’ll be honest. I’m a little bit rattled. I don’t know what just happened then. This is getting embarrassing. Oh man. And when I play bad, I play I play bad double there. I could have thrown it on the grain better. Okay, we’re on the cut line and we’re up to hole three. Beautiful. Wow, that had a bit of everything there, but we reset. They shanked it. Look, the dirt’s in up here. The dirt goes up there. What was I doing? Part three. 133 m. Big tabletop green. Going to go with a nine iron. Hit it on the green and stay away from the bunkers. Apparently that’s my thing today. Why always have a thing? Why can’t this be good? Well, you’d be playing here on that weekend. Yeah, I know. Okay. Just stay on the green. Stay on the green. Why does that always happen? Like landed on, rolled off. Just stay on the green. Stay on the green. This could be a stable foot round. Go. I’m telling you now. Right. A little reset par here. up on the green. Little gray marsh chip. There it is. There’s me length. Okay, hold that and we start again. Oh, that was a good putt. Putters’s been best on ground. What’s that about? Lob wedge has been worst. Driver’s been okay. I’m a good putter. I am a good putter. What’s going on? What a stupid game. One bit works, another another bit goes. Light bunkers, now I don’t like putting. Used to hate it. This is all within a day. No wonder people drink when they play this game. So, apparently the feature hole is eight. Seven’s really nice as well. Y um I’ve seen we’ve all seen so many photos, but I cannot wait to get to that section. 7 8 Y reckon they use the they’re going to use all the backpack ones, you reckon? Okay, let’s try and get a bit of a head start. Okay, 404 m par4. Uh straight down the guts here. Little fade. If I can fade it, I’m playing all right. I’m two over, but me putting good so far. We’re in the red dirt. That wasn’t my fade. That was me draw fade. I’m going to take me nine iron because I’ve already dinged it up a little bit. Just really ding it up now. Oh, now this is going to get this is going to be looking terrible after this shot cuz these are actual rocks here. Do you reckon the touring professionals get different sets of clubs for this specifically or no? Maybe they’re watching too. I was saying they’re watching this to learn where to go or not to go. Who’s watching? Name. Name one. Braden Becker. He would be watching. He’ be watching, mate. This is how you do this shot. Watch this. Ryan Peak. He’s playing in it. Be care. No. Raz. Longest part on the golf course. We’re okay. That’s not too bad. That is very scary hitting off that. You wouldn’t want a new set of clubs, would you? And come here. Bring your uh Yeah. Don’t bring your best set here. Cuz everyone’s got two sets, Ron. Yeah, we’re in the We’re in the bowl. Pretty funky greens. Like big tabletops. Look at that. What’s going on with the pizza ball here? Oh, you wouldn’t eat that, would you? You are a good putter. You are a good putter. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Oh, it’s always that far away. Why is it always that far away? [Music] Oh, no. Did you have another pizza ball? Is that the only we had? Three over. I’m outside the cut line. I’m not bringing any money home. Kids are going hungry this week. Need to go big on the back n or the next couple of holes. Oh, not the zombie parts. Good arm, but was, wasn’t it? Tell you what, someone over the stumps. Yeah. Lick him in me shoulder, but that’s fine. I could see you fielding at the point. You know, those real quick ones straight back in. Did you play um where were you indoor? I just know that. Oh, in indoor. Sorry, I thought you were going to say that I’m like fine league to fine league. I could just see you now. You’re the guy that runs out with the two bats. Stra the handle. When Smith is going like this, wants new gloves. I’m going to ride them up. Little high of his back on 569 m par five. That’s That’s one of the longest far out. I think from memory they’re telling me to go over those bunkers on the left here. 1,700 y 2ks. All right, let’s go. Draw, draw, draw, draw, draw, draw, draw, draw. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Go in the bunker or something. Go short to it. I’m okay. I think from back here. That’s okay. I don’t know what I’m talking about. Let’s be honest. Should play cricket. Okay. Uh, we’re going driver. We’re going to hopefully get it over that lip. I don’t know how the hell it stayed there, but it’s actually in some fluffy stuff, so I might be able to get underneath it. One of them, right? Oh, it nicked it. Gave it a haircut. Fine. Stop. Go right. Go on the green. Nicked it. I measure this cuz I’m going to go off feeling idiot. Man, my short game. It needs a bit of an overhaul, doesn’t it? How’d you do it? One hand. Go one hand. Bit of practice is needed. I need to read the green. What are you doing? Just I do. Oh, okay. Man, I’m making it hard. It’s just working your way up every bloody hole. I haven’t made many birdies. I need to go on a birdie run. Three over. Doing it the hard way. Good second shot though, eh? Right. 365 m par four that sort of goes to the left. Cracking looking hole. Think you can see the eighth from here too. Very nice. Right. Put a nice swing on it too, Ron. Come on. Have a line. Oh, got the bird. I think that’s the line. Yeah, we’ll find out. Don’t know. Got this one, that part five, this one, and the par three are the marquee holes for sure. It’s just red, but then dark greens fairways. You’re in like the Thunderdome here now. Oh, going to go with feel again. I’m not using lobby. I keep using lobby to chip and you just that’s I tell people not to and I’m doing it as well. So 54 going to throw it up high. Probably not going to r out of this but just a push. Not not a shank. Just a push. Just a push. It was just a push. Well, it’s safe. It’s just a long way away. Okay. Little right to left. Good speed control here, Ron. See if you can do that. Yes. Smash that one in. Here we go. Eighth hole. This next par three looks ridiculous. Right, eighth hole, 202 m. Wow. Right into the wind. I think this is a two iron. Yeah, that wind’s up. Right, two iron. Going to try and play high Fay. Land with like a butterfly with sore feet. Going with feel again. Oh, big Australian man. I nuted that. Good shot. Big Australian bushman. Big Australian outback man. What a hole though. Well, let me finish and then I’ll tell you if I like it. But far out. Right. Hold on to your hats here, guys. Oh, just went right. Damn it. I was meant to land up there. I was petrified. I was going to bazing it back to Perth. You rushed that. Like I wasn’t even ready. Yeah, I was just want to get him done with. I shanked the last one, mate. What do you think I was going through? Okay, let’s get out of here. Have to get out of here with a P. Maybe. Maybe. Oh, double breaker. I thought I got that. Most players this weekend will take a bogey here. You could rack up a number. I think this is where our mate Jack Carter had a hole in one. Did he? Oh, he won a car, didn’t he? Want a car? Well done, mate. Would have been easier. All right. 402 m per four. I reckon if this was down, would we not drive this swing? Get the feeling going again. Yes, I think I know how to hit it now. I can’t paddle chip, but I know how to drive it. We’re back. We’re back. Here you go, mate. Here’s six interesting facts about Calguli. The Super Pit in Calguli is the uh home to one of the largest open cut gold mines known as the Super Pit. It’s 3.5 km long, 1.5 km wide, and over 600 m deep. Yeah. Right. Y the gold rush origins. The town boomed after the 1893 gold rush when Patty Hannon uh and two mates discovered gold in the area. Patty Hannon, that’s a pub. Patty Hannon’s is it? It used to be um at uh the cats. Patty Hannon. There you go. Many of its pubs and buildings date back to the late 1800s, giving the town the classic gold rush look. In the early gold rush days, Afghan camels played a huge role in transporting supplies across the desert. Today, Calguli is still a major mining center, not just for its gold, also for nickel and other minerals, making it vital to WA’s economy. There you go. It’s crazy how they’re still mining. It’s wild, man. 107 sprinklers coming around. We’re just We’re going to feel one again that’s been working. Get down. That came out like a rocket. I don’t know. Where’s his armor? Have I hit a golf shot? Have I hit one? Don’t take me eight holes. Long. No, I haven’t. Come on, man. Grand marsh again. I feel like I’ve been here before. should shift it about to three. Five over, three off the cut. Back nine to go. Back nine’s easier though. Is it? Is it? I reckon you’ll cut. I reckon you’ll shoot three under on the next. You reckon? Yep. You’ll be on the cut line. Lost on a count back, right? 356 m 10th hole. 356. That’s a bit of a shorty driver. I might go two iron. I just want to hit in plate. I don’t be looking for balls right now. Can you lace a two iron then? Oh, okay. Yeah. Oh, do I c for you? I fig something out. The swings right. Red dirt. Okay. I think I figured out the swing. It’s just the rest of it. 114. I’m going to hit the shot I just hit on the last hole, which went about 114. Birdies. I need a birdie. I need a lot. Beautiful. Go, go, go, go, go. Come on, Graz. Straight, though. I’m starting to get the ball out in the middle of the face. I think I figured something out, I think. Very good. All right, I’ll just quickly th up this right. This is the start. This would be massive. Break bugger steady. That’s nice. Those paths fairway green. Thanks, mate. So, local here just said even in the middle of summer just this green. It’s amazing, man. Like this place is so so unique. You got to add it to your bucket list if you’re going to come. This is a bucket list. It’s so You will never play a place anything like this. I think you hit it down down towards the bunkers and then you you come in from there. It’s a 518 m par five. I’m going to switch on this side. Play some natural golf choppers. That’s as good as I can hit that thing. Whoa. Gave that a rinse. Did you go in the bunker? Did it? It’s 250 m to the bunker. Oh, maybe not. Disappeared. I reckon the big boys, you’d probably drive and hit a fade into that slot there. But we’re a bloody long way to go. Um, so I’m going to hit a four iron and then leave myself about 100 in. Look at this strategy. This is long this place. Par three. There’s another path three coming up which is longer than the one we played. Far out. 65. I’m going to feel 63. Move your body. Yep. It’s not right, is it? Enjoy your game. Okay, I’m just going to tell what happened there. We asked we there was a group on the green and they didn’t like the fact that we were waiting and we got an absolute mouthful and everyone knows I’m a PJ pro and I I’m trying to grow the game and this lady just went off her rocket at me and I didn’t do anything. I said apologized profusely. Yeah, she didn’t want to hear it. Okay, that’s why I made that part and just kept walking. All right, we’re back. Not great. Okay, so just to go over what happened, we the guy before, he was great. Let us through. We had a photo on the green, mate. Thanks very much. You won’t see us for the rest of the day. She didn’t like the fact that we were just waiting for her and she just went off and I was trying to explain like we not our intention. Massive fan, happy playing golf, like encouraging golf, like keep going. Didn’t want to hear it. Just telling us that we ruined golf with her cuz we were watching her. I’ve never had an experience like that on the golf course. She didn’t want to hear what we said. That is the most I rate thing I’ve ever seen. And you you were nothing but calm and apologizing. No, that’s not good enough. I don’t I’m going to complain, but oh my god, man. I’ve never I’ve never ever almost in my life, let alone on a golf course. You want to hear it? experienced that. They can’t yell at talk to people like that. Oh, other people get to play golf, too. If you walked up aggressively me like, “How come this is taking so long?” Then she could she could be the aggressor. But because you’ve come up and we’re nothing but, “Oh, guys, thanks very much for letting us through.” And she kicked off saying like, “No.” Oh, I wanted to be like, “Hey, how you going? It just started.” That’s how the conversation should have gone. Yeah. This hole this the next hole is great. The next hole maybe hit it here. That’s how the conversation had gone. No rip my head off. How good does that putt though? Great putt. Hey, you are a good putter. Are you he bit worked up? Yeah. Like I never get angry especially on a golf course. It’s just everyone everyone’s having a go anyway. Might take your jumper off actually. bit long, but I was just making sure I got up there. Yeah, there’s a bit of bit of blood in that one. Man, that’s devastating, honestly. Like, I feel bad, but I didn’t do anything. Okay, where am I now? Four over. Yep. Got one back. Lost the fan. Might lose a sub there. All right, we’re not talking about that anymore. We’re carrying on. 192 m par three. Man, the par threes are monsters here. Bit two iron. This is a five iron front pin. Here we go. Oh, leaked it left. Oh. Oh god, another bunker. The group in front just walked past. We gave him a wave. Thumbs up. That’s how you do it. Even that like I still very yippy. E back to five. I think I might do some chipping practice when I go back. because it’s not been great, has it? 452 m path four. Whoa. Right, driver. Oh, this is the one with just dirt to the right, but it’s pretty open. Right, we’re heading drive. We have to Oh, we’re in the red dirt. That’s right in the middle of the red dirt. Back. Open. might be rock club now. Well, here’s one for you. I’ve read lots and listened to lots of like golf advice. When you’re in a position where you’re like your heart rate’s up and your hands might be trembling and stuff, like it’s a breathing, man. Breathing is like the best technique possibly. [Music] Um I thought I was over there. I think I’ve hit a tree. I can’t be this close to the fairway. Cheater. I’ll call it. Okay. Rock club. Not rock club. I don’t know. Draw. Draw. Please go on the green. Please go on the green. Please go on the green. Oh, I think we’re wrong. We’re okay. We’re okay. Less red dirt. Ron clubs might look brand new at the end of it. It sounded pretty thin, did it? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, a couple of fellas, you know, let us play through. Cheers, fellas. Car goes past. Two. Chopper. Chopper. High five. Offer me a sigy. Sit. Sit. Sit. Oh no. vomiting. Little vomit putt. We’ll take a par there. Five over. You know what? I haven’t done again. Par fives. No good. So, just you can’t get But that’s not that’s normal. A reaction, right? Two of the uh the fellas here noticed that we’re coming up behind them. They just pulled over on the side of a green cuz there’s no one else out here and they just watched you two putt, which was nice. And then, Cheers, fellas. have a good day. Play play well. It’s good to see some, you know, nice weather, having a yarn. We don’t I say that we don’t It’s not like we expect people to um but I think if there is someone going quick, you just let them through and then you can just have a you can calm down and have a great day. Not a big deal. It’s not a race, but we’re winning. 403 m par 4. Oh, how cool is the tea box set up on this one? Wow, she’s thin. Still got me pizza ball. She’s battered. Oh, that’s the best shot I’ve hit all day. Don’t go on the red dirt. No. Come on. Hi. Flush that. Is it okay? Oh, good. I’ll take it back. That came out the middle. That was the meat and veg on that one. All right. 135. Actually, spot on. This is nice. Fairway. I thinned it, but I think that might be okay. Hold on. Don’t r the green. Oh, she’s a bit thin. There we Hey, how many holes? 15. That’s not bad. Another par six over. You know what? I’m not actually not looking forward to That’s 17th. That’s a monster throw. That’s where you need a sevenwood or what? You hit threewood. Yeah. Didn’t get there. Didn’t get there. Oh, no. All right. 379 m four. What hole? 16. Okay. Three holes to go. We’re going for it. We’re shooting 86 or what am I now? Six over. Oh, we We’re shooting 86. as hard as the middle. Yes. 109. Uh going to go with pitching wedge. Just a smoothie because the wind’s in our face a little bit. Pizza ball’s got some red stuff on it. Stay on that gear. Be good. Golf shot. Red in the hole. Go in the hole. Golf. We’re back. Very good. Do you reckon the PJ would let me be an encourse reporter for an event? No, but imagine that there. Someone thins it. I think it was the wrong time to take a stinger. It’ be good. He’s got That’s the wrong club. Where’s he aiming? Oh, no. I just want to see how they hit it, too. Cut that. Cut that, mate. Bit of golf. Took a long time now. I’ve got the pizza up. See? Pizza up, ball in. Birdie, come on, birdie. This keep my ball on the next hole. Big finish on the 18th. And the 18th green I’ve never seen. It’s like three of the biggest tears you’ve ever seen. Birdie. Imagine having the lead and standing on this on a windy day going, I need to go. Someone’s at the Someone’s in the clubhouse at 80 and under and you’re sitting here at 90 and under having to trip this from 218 meters. I can’t imagine there’d be too many birdies. No. Be interesting to see if how many there were. I’m going to like I’m really going to be watching this hard now. Now I know the course. When does it start? So this comes out Sunday. It’ll be this Thursday, the first round. Yep. Um on I believe it’ll be on KO. Yeah, it normally is. So, I should put it on TV again. I remember being a kid and and like 9:00 a.m. Channel 7. Um, Roberts, I think he did the golf. He would He wouldn’t have been born. Um, Roberts and it was like 9 till 4. It ran all day. Aussie open. Unreal. Get that back. Yeah, let’s make that happen. Cuz the kids would watch that and get into golf and women would watch it and get into golf and I’m a big Yeah, we are. But I don’t think they yell at me. I don’t like getting yelled at. Right. 218 m wing. This is absolute career two iron coming up right now. I’m going right front. You can I don’t care if I hit this green. You owe me a beer. Right. Bit angry in this one. God. Here we go. Hurt me back. Oh. over the green. I put a bit of leg in it. You see the leg? I was trying to sling it, thinking that’s how I get the extra distance. Outback Australian man. Any advice? Um, I’m going to hit it hard again. I’m going to open I’m big explosion shot. So big full. This is one thing people don’t do in a bunker. I’ve just shanked a bunk shot. I know that. So it’s probably not the best to give you a tip right now. But when people get in a bunker, they go short and try and lift it up. If you ever like duff it or thin it into the face, that’s what you’re doing. If you go up, hit down, just big full swing, you got a better chance. That was good, eh? I in back my head. I was ready to go. I didn’t know I was just gone straight. Many people were going to bog this one on the weekend, I reckon. Probably not that that well. That was pretty good bogey. We’re back to six. Keep jumping back and forth. 56. 56. I’ve missed the cut. We’re already booking our flights. We’re not playing the weekend. Kids are having beans on toast again. Maybe some water. How stressful is professional golf? It’s like trying to play for your dinner. 538 m. Got to hold it to make the cut to get that food on the table. 538 m and this green is gnarly. It’s probably the best way to describe it. I don’t know where the pin is. Might be the top. You reckon it’s still the top from yesterday? Okay. Straight down the guts. Golf shot off this side. Hey, figure it out. Bit late, but I need nine holes to warm up. I reckon 27 whole tournaments that the front nine doesn’t count. I’m And stable and the purse is a meal and I’m the only one playing. Overall thoughts on the course? Mine. Um, equally beautiful as it is tough. Rugged. Yeah, it’s just like if you can hit every fairway and hit every green, no dramas. You can just enjoy the beauty of it. But the stressfulness of missing because if it gets a bad kick off the rocks Yeah. Um but you also you got to play one rock shot when you got kick it off. Yeah. What’s your thoughts? Love it. Y I probably wouldn’t play the backs again, but at the same time you just get to blast away with driver a fair bit because it’s so long. But um yeah, big fan. I would say it just needs a short path three. Like a little 100 m number over I don’t know which one you shorten. Just a little interesting thing just to break it up rather than hitting 200 m holes every time. You reckon? Um you’re about to get done by the sprinkler, mate. You’re going to you got to hurry up and hit. Which way are you not hitting? I don’t I can’t get it. I I don’t know. I think it might be in the fence. Where? Look at this. Look at this. Three t up, down, bottom. Insane. It is a putter, eh? Yeah, I know. So, if I chip this, I have to land it and it’s just going to go all the way down to the bottom tier and I’m going to be further away. Okay, here we go. I’m taking that. It’s a pass. I’m taking that. Probably not the world’s best, but I don’t think I could ship it that close. Can I mark this and show what could have happened? Watch this. That’s like But just so you know, if I just triple past the hole, this is what happens. It could go down to like the next slope. I could still do it here. All right, that’s finished with the birdie. Thank you very much to Cooly uh for letting us play. We’re going to try and maybe play one more game. What? I shoot five over. I’ll take that. I missed the cut. We’re going to the pub for beers because we’re not playing on the weekend. Thank you very much. You got to play cowgilli. Unreal experience. You’re chipping. Want to see what happen if I ch open the f little spinner. Oh, nipped it. See? Yeah. See, that’s why you [Music]

Ron heads to the outback to take on Kalgoorlie Golf Club. This unique course is home of the WA PGA Championships.

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