Golf Latest News
MEDIA STATEMENT
October 17, 2023
THE REcovery process begiNS TODAY
Whilst the events of yesterday are still extremely raw for the Club, we would like to thank all first responders led by the Coldstream CFA Fire Brigade, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police for their incredible efforts in responding to the emergency and fighting the fire under extremely challenging weather conditions – ensuring all staff and members were safely evacuated, whilst containing the damage to the clubhouse and safeguarding our golf course and neighbouring properties.
“As a Club with a history that extends back a 100+ years, the loss of our clubhouse is devastating, but it is the loss of irreplaceable trophies, photographs, artworks and memorabilia that hurts most deeply” – said Club Captain, Fred Jones.
The exact cause of the fire is still being determined by investigators.
As we begin the long rebuilding process of a new clubhouse, we are looking forward to welcoming back our members this weekend to play golf; with plans for the development of temporary clubhouse facilities and amenities already underway.
“Whilst this is undoubtedly one of the darkest moments in the rich history of The Eastern Golf Club, we are resilient and I know that our Club will come back better and stronger” – said Jones.
Finally, we are extremely appreciative of the offers of assistance and unconditional support that has been extended by the Australian golfing community and Victorian tourism industry during this challenging time.
For further details, please contact:
Sales & Marketing Manager – The Eastern Golf Club
Tracy Hore on + 61 412 597 126 or marketing@easterngolfclub.com.au
Interim General Manager – The Eastern Golf Club
Peter Stackpole on + 61 412 971 265 or gm@easterngolfclub.com.au
WINTER GOLF – ARE YOU PREPARED?
Whilst we don’t officially welcome winter until June 1, we have already begun to experience winter-like temperatures and playing conditions.
With the arrival of days that are bringing single-digit temperatures, it is time to start thinking about how to best prepare for your round and how the course will play on much cooler days.
Without doubt, the biggest adjustment that needs to be made is with regards to your club selection. Temperatures are already colder which means the ball will not be travelling as far – however, the biggest difference can be seen between morning and afternoon conditions – when club selection can vary by at least 2-3.
Without taking into consideration wind factors, a 7-iron will travel approximately 125 metres in warmer temperatures; whilst in cooler temperatures, players will need to use a 5-iron to achieve a similar distance.
In normal weather conditions, 80% of players don’t select enough club and during winter, this percentage increases. To gain a better understanding of your distance capabilities, it is important to practice in all weather conditions – both on the Driving Range and our on-course practice environment, Shark Waters. Ensuring you have the right clubs in your bag is also important and if it has been a while since you last had a club fitting, now is the perfect time to book in for one – with our EOFY Sale beginning, we have some very special offers available on our range of TaylorMade, Mizuno and Titleist golf clubs.
During the colder months, a warm up becomes even more important to minimise the risk of injury and we recommend members head to the Driving Range for 15-30 minutes of practice prior to teeing off.
What to wear on course during the cooler months is essential – being prepared for rain, hail or shine during the winter months – whilst not being bulked up so much that you are struggling to swing your club properly. Below is our winter apparel check list.
- Wet weather jacket and pants
- Beanie
- SKINS layering pieces
- Umbrella
- Rain Gloves
- Handwarmers
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf
Date: May 30, 2023
stealth 2 has arrived
It is that time of the year when the two powerhouse companies in golf – TaylorMade and Callaway – release their lines of new product and, as usual, the race is on for bragging rights regarding which product goes the furthest and straightest.
Following on from last year, TaylorMade have released STEALTH 2 and the message is simple – more forgiving, better feel and more consistency.
The sharp black and red look as seen with the original model is still there, however the improvement in sound and feel is immediately noticeable to those who have used both products.
The HD option (draw models) has been expanded this year, with increased loft options in the driver and fairway line and now also come in a hybrid option.
The final new product in the new STEALTH range is the STEALTH HD range. This iron sits in a new space for the brand offering maximum forgiveness and launch in the iron category. With its thick sole, the HD iron becomes the highest launching and most forgiving in the range – attracting a host of new players to the brand.
To book a fitting or to test the new product, please contact Scott or speak with a member of our Sports Shop team
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: March 9, 2023
Image Credit: TaylorMade Golf Australia
recent media coverage: women’s ‘get into golf’ initiative 
We are delighted to have received some recent media coverage regarding our Women’s ‘Get into Golf’ initiative with the below feature appearing on PGA Australia.
Barradell’s ‘Biggest Success’
Scott Barradell, PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Melbourne’s Eastern Golf Club, is proud to drive increased female participation and engagement through an exciting Women’s Get Into Golf membership initiative.
“The take up has just been great,” he says. “It really has to be one of the biggest success stories I have ever seen.”
A similar article has appeared in the September edition of Australian Golf Digest but is currently only available online to subscribers.
Now available for fittings – the new Titleist ‘TSR’ Range
We have the full TSR range now available for fittings.
Please contact The Sports Shop to book in for a fitting with our Director of Golf, Scott Barradell, or email Scott directly using the below link.
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf
Date: September 13, 2022
Image Credit: Titleist
TAYLORMADE MYSPIDER
The MySpider platform gives you the option to design your own putter from start to finish – customising it every possible way.
Head Design I Hosel Options I Shaft Choice I Grip Choice I Colour Choice on Every Part of the Putter
Take advantage of this unique design platform, add your personalised MySpider to your golf bag and stand out from other golfers on the course.
Scott would be delighted to assist you through the design and ordering process.
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: August 25, 2022
Image Credit: TaylorMade Golf Australia
ACCESSORIES : STAY WARM & FREE UP YOUR SWING
Winter has definitely arrived and with it an early blast of bitterly cold weather. We all know how important it is to stay warm whilst out on the course, but more importantly, to ensure your swing keeps free and loose.
Layering pieces are an extremely common thing in many sports today and one of the best brands in the business is SKINS.
SKINS were the pioneers in this space and have many benefits besides keeping you warm – they help improve the rate at which blood flows through the body – giving multiple benefits including:
* Decreasing the risk of injury.
* Giving the body more energy.
* Improving the body’s rate of recovery.
For golfers, the long sleeve tops and arm sleeves are an essential part of your winter fit out; together with the tights and calf sleeves.
The Sports Shop is now stocking SKINS and our team would be delighted to assist with any enquiries you have regarding their current range.
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf
Date: Thursday, June 2, 2022
GOLF TUITION : WHY STAYING STILL OVER THE BALL HURTS YOUR SWING
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf
Date: Thursday, June 2, 2022
GOLF equipment – new products make an impact
It is that time of year when all major brands release their new product and 2022 has lived up to all the hype.
Headlining the product launches was, without doubt, the new STEALTH range from TaylorMade with the introduction of their Carbon face. Carbon faces have been tried before, but on this occasion, things look a little different with the sound and feel being welcomed by all. The performance is as good as ever and the striking new black head with red face gives the product a ‘standout’ new look. Similar to previous years, the range offers a Plus and normal model; a fairway and rescue range to match, together with a STEALTH iron range.
A great new SPIDER putter range has also launched with some terrific new personalisation options allowing golfers to design their putter from scratch.
MIZUNO have also released some exciting new product with the 221, 223 and 225 as their premium iron range, together with a new driver / fairway range. The irons are definitely a thing of beauty – keeping the MIZUNO name at the top of the tree in this category. The 223 is the pick for me – it has a thin top line and looks great with a slightly larger club head – making it suitable for anyone from a low to mid handicap.
The MIZUNO PRO name has been added to these models and is a welcome return for the diehard MIZUNO enthusiast.
Last, but not least, Titleist have just launched their SM9 Vokey wedge range. Nothing much has changed from the SM8 but why would you when something is that good! In addition to the clean, classic look, the thing that makes a Vokey so popular is its long list of loft and bounce options. Almost every option you can think of is available together with three finishes – chrome, black and brushed steel.
The Sports Shop offers all of the new product for you to try – to book in for a custom fitting, please contact The Sports Shop team or email me directly.
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: March 8, 2022
Image Credit: TaylorMade Golf Australia & Mizuno Australia
course review – golf australia magazine
Eastern Golf Club has been featured within the December edition of Golf Australia Magazine – with a course review written by their Editor and ‘Top 100 Australian Golf Courses’ Judge, Brendan James.
“From the moment you drive through the gates and ease your way up the long driveway to the clubhouse, you can’t help but be struck by the splendour of the golfing landscape and its surrounds at The Eastern Golf Club. Built on the southern banks of the Yarra River and with the tree-blanketed valley wall of Christmas Hills and the Dividing Range as dramatic backdrops to the north and north west, Eastern is simply a beautiful place to play golf. You can be standing anywhere out on this course and feel a long way from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs. Truth is, all of that is just down the road, which is where the roots of The Eastern Golf Club lay.” – Brendan James
Date: February 10, 2022
Image Credit: Brendan James, Golf Australia Magazine
golf australia magazine 2022 ‘top 100 golf courses’ – south course ranked #54
We are delighted to announce that the South Course has been recognised within Golf Australia Magazine’s ‘2022 Top 100 Courses’ – ranked #54 – an improvement on our ‘2020 Top 100 Courses’ ranking of #55.
The following feedback was provided by two of the judges:
‘With all the major drainage work done and bedded in, the South Course is starting to shine. It is a big, bold layout which one might expect from the Greg Norman stable but it is the strategic lines of play and creative green complexes that get the golfing juices flowing.” – Brendan James, Editor, Golf Australia Magazine
“There’s plenty of width, good green complexes and the condition will continue to improve as the course matures over a few more growing seasons.” – Kevin Nolan, Judge
View Golf Australia Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses’ 2022
Date: January 7, 2022
GOLF INSTRUCTION – ‘killer concepts’ : tucking your arms in close to your body?
In EP3 of Killer Concepts, our Director of Golf, and TaylorMade Brand Ambassador, Scott Barradell, discusses your arms and whether they should be tucked in close to, or away from your body.
GOLF INSTRUCTION – ‘killer concepts’ : keeping your arm straight
In episode of two of Killer Concepts, our Director of Golf, Scott Barradell, talks about keeping your arm straight.
You want your arms to be straight, but relaxed which keeps you tension free.
GOLF INSTRUCTION – ‘killer concepts’ : What does your head do
New TP5 and TP5X balls out now
Without doubt, the biggest change to equipment over the last 15 to 20 years has been the improvements in golf ball technology. The massive distance gains by the game’s elite are due to a number 
of areas, however the biggest one is golf ball technology.
There have been numerous calls from golf bodies around the world to introduce some limits on golf ball design and play – at least in professional golf – but for now it doesn’t look like this will be happening anytime soon.
We now have the new TP5 and TP5x from TaylorMade and, as soon as you open the box, you can clearly see the ball looks different….the dimple pattern is very different!
Taylormade’s most aerodynamic dimple pattern ever is now producing increased carry distances. This new design features a 322-dimple pattern engineered to deliver improved aerodynamics. It features a shallow overall dimple to reduce drag during ascent, with steep walls to trap air during descent in order to maintain lift and keep the ball in the air longer.
The five layer construction continues as in previous models; as does the durable cast urethane cover for extra spin and feel. The range expands this year too with yellow options in both the TP5 and TP5x, together with PIX continuing – making the range and available options bigger than ever before.
After being a free agent for nearly 18 months, Sergio Garcia re-signed with TaylorMade days prior to the 2021 PGA Championship. In this article he provides his insights into golf equipment, and in particular his choice of golf ball.
Four Things to Learn About Golf Equipment from Sergio Garcia
The new TP5 and TP5x balls are priced at $69.95 per dozen and we have stock available in The Sports Shop now. For those interested, we have limited stock remaing of the old model which has been reduced to clear at $50 per dozen.
Scott Barradell: Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: May 26, 2021
Image Credit: TaylorMade Golf Australia, Mizuno Australia & Titleist Australia New Zealand
have you considered an Electric buggy?
With the winter season almost upon us we start to see the course condition become heavier, making the walk around 18 holes a little tougher. On average, golfers walk approximately 10kms each round and, if you are wanting to conserve some energy, adding an electric buggy to your golf equipment makes perfect sense. By removing the need to push your buggy, it assists you to finish your round in a better physical condition.
The two big players in the electric buggy space are MGI and Motocaddy. Australian brand, MGI, are based in Nunawading and need little introduction; however you may not be aware of the European leaders in electric buggy design, Motocaddy, who were founded in 2004.
Motocaddy were one of the first to deliver the, industry changing, lithium batteries; and recently released their remote control buggy – the M7. Until then, only MGI offered a remote option but now golfers have choice and it is a tough one to make.
Motocaddy’s most popular models are the M1 and M7. Their base model – the M1 – offers a small, compact design starting at $1100.00 plus optional accessories. The M7 remote, priced at $2100.00, is their deluxe buggy and comes with all the available ‘bells and whistles’. Pricing is identical to the MGI buggies – offering you greater choice when investigating electric buggies.
The Sports Shop has a demonstration model of the Motocaddy M7 remote, together with a couple of MGI’s buggies available for you to view. We also have a small range of electric buggies for hire if you’re wanting to trial one to see what a difference it can make to your golfing experience.
For more information on the options available to you, please touch base with me when you’re next down at the Club, or send me an email.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: May 25, 2021
GOLF INSTRUCTION – UNDERSTANDING THE SWING PLANE
Have you ever wondered what people are referring to when they say ‘you’re over the top’ or ‘swing more upright’?
In the first of his new instructional golf videos our Director of Golf, Scott Barradell, helps you achieve straighter and more solid shots when out on the golf course.
PlaneMate’s can be purchased from The Sports Shop and retail at $150.00.
To book in for a lesson or club fitting, please email Scott, or speak with one of our team in The Sports Shop when you’re next playing.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: April 6, 2021
How to choose a putter the right way
If you are like the majority of golfers, you probably have more than one putter sitting around in the garage at home – one that you’ve used over a period of time and fallen out of love with; you’ve received it as a gift and it never quite felt right?
The other area that many players have in common is the process of choosing a new putter – maybe some online research or asking playing mates; going into a store and hitting some putts with a range of putters before selecting one – confident that you’ve got the right piece of equipment to take your putting skills to a new level.
Like all things these days, technology has changed in putter design with the concept of ‘one size fits all’ all but obsolete. With different shapes, weights and faces all now available, a putter can now be individually fitted to your specific needs.
Let’s consider the steps in getting fitted for a putter…..
Length: length is easy to get right but is as easy to get wrong. Most golfers use a putter that is too long – manufacturers make putters at a 35 inch standard length and this is what the majority of stores stock.
Head design: most of you will remember the PING anser – the classic shape that is still around today. Shapes such as SPIDER have taken the game by storm of late due to their stability and forgiveness however they don’t suit everyone. Different stroke types suit different players and its recommended that you have your stroke analysed to see what best suits you.
Hosel, lines and weight: aiming the putter is extremely important and it is best to try a range of things that may assist this. Not everyone finds a line helpful, nor does one hosel type suit every stroke.
Grip: the big thing in recent years is big grips but they are not for everyone. Tiger has played with a thin pistol grip his whole career; whereas Jordan Spieth has always liked a mid-size think round grip.
The reason that many retail stores cannot offer a tailored fitting service is they don’t have the technical equipment, or the training and knowledge to do so. As part of the TaylorMade Performance Centre you have access to SAM Putt Lab, a state of the art piece of technology that is used to teach putting and to fit putters. As one of only a handful of instructors in Australia to hold Level 3 certification in SAM Puttlab, I’m happy to assist with both technical sessions and putter fitting. The Sports Shop also carries a range of demonstration putters that members can try on course, providing you with every opportunity to ensure you are selecting the right putter for you.
When selecting all of your golfing needs, The Eastern Golf Club Golf Shop prides itself on three core values:
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Providing value for money – our price match guarantee means that we will honour a lower advertised price for the identical product advertised by a local competitor
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100% money-back-guarantee on fitted equipment
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Exceptional after-sales service
Click for more information on SAM Puttlab
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: April 6, 2021
Image Credit: TaylorMade Golf Australia, Mizuno Australia & Titleist Australia New Zealand
Understanding address versus impact
The two positions of a golf swing that I consider to be the most important are address and impact – if you start in the wrong position then it makes it very difficult to get into a good impact position. Many golfers get both positions horribly wrong and understanding the key differences is a great start to correcting them. In this article, we are going to look at the full swing address and impact positions.
Address:
Getting yourself in the correct position to begin with dramatically increases your chances of making a good swing, no matter what level of golf you play, in all strokes.
At address your
- Weight is fairly even, maybe a little more weight favouring your front leg around 60/40
- Head is slightly behind the ball
- Feet, hips and shoulders square
- Hands slightly ahead or level with the ball
Impact:
By looking at the two images, you can see that there are several big differences between the address and impact position.
At impact your
- Weight is much forward say 80/20 as you can see by the trail leg
- Hips slightly more open than shoulders now – this is called separation
- Head still slightly behind ball
- Hands much more forward than at address
Whilst only still images, they are still very helpful in understanding the key differences between address and impact; and more importantly what a good impact position looks and feels like.
A good drill to do is to start by getting into a good address position and then going into impact. Try going back and forth between the two positions and feel the differences.
If you would like to book in for a lesson, or a Full Swing Service, please touch base when you’re next playing or send me through an email.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: January 20, 2021
South Course #17 in Golf Australia Magazine’s 2020 ‘Top 50 Favourite Courses’
Brendan James – Golf Australia Magazine
eastern launches online golf lessons with introductory offer
Whilst our golf lessions and clinics cannot be conducted at this time, we want to support you in the continued improvement of your golf game from the comfort of your own backyard. Our online lesson platform is easy to set up – please follow the instructions below to download the V1 Golf app and get started.
As an introductory offer, we are offering assessments for $20.
- Head to the Apple App Store or Android App Store
- Download the free V1 Golf app (red app as pictured)
- Create a username and password and login
- Choose the instructors tab from the bottom panel and search for The Eastern Golf Club
- Select Scott Barradell as your instructor
- Go to the camera tab at the bottom panel and record ytour swing from the down the line view and face on view. Use the outline of the player shown when recording your swings
- When you click on the video tab at the bottom panel you will now see the swings you recorded previously. Click on the swing you would like to send. Before sending, use the trim video feature (scissor tab) to ensure that only the ‘swing’ of the video is saved
- When trimmed and the swing is saved, click on the share button to send the swing to be analysed
- Repeat for the swing taken from the other view
- Your swing(s) will be sent to me to be reviewed and I will be in contact with you shortly to review your swing and finalise payment of $20
- Any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me via email
Happy golfing and please stay well.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Brand Ambassador
Date: April 7, 2020
Golf is hard!
At the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational, the first round leader was Matthew Every with a 65. His score on the second day was 83 and he went on to miss the cut. In the third round, held on the Saturday less than a handful of players shot under par – sound familiar?
It’s a typical Saturday afternoon and approximately 80 % of the field have not played to their handicap. Many players have hit balls throughout the week, some have played two to three times and others have just turned up for their weekly Saturday game expecting dramatic improvement from their last time on course. It’s a staggering statistic with roughly 80%, and potentially more, of your golfing rounds not living up to your expectation – no matter what level you play at.
In looking at the checklist below, ask yourself why you may not be improving as any of those could be contributing to it:
- Are you playing at least once a fortnight?
- Are you hitting balls at least once or twice a week?
- Are you having any form of professional instruction – YouTube and friendly advice from your playing partners doesn’t count?
- Have you had your golf equipment checked for its suitability to your build?
I often ask people during their lessons how often they play, and how often they practice? If you are playing once a week, with no practice or instruction, I recommend you go out and enjoy the game. Improvement will, generally only come when you are making an investment in your game out on the driving range, and complemented by tuition – and that’s fine if you are continuing to enjoy being out on course playing and the score is not important.
If your schedule doesn’t allow you to practice much, and if you can find some time, I recommend you spend it on areas like chipping and putting, and no hitting your driver. Inside 50 metres is where your scores are made and if time is limited, don’t bother hitting the range – head to the chipping green instead.
One of the benefits of your membership of The Eastern Golf Club is that you enjoy unlimited golf balls when on the Driving Range; and can access a comprehensive selection of group and private tuition options. Please don’t hesitate to catch up when you’re next in The Sports Shop and we can discuss a tailored program that will assist you in making an ongoing investment in your golf game.
Golf is definitely Hard!!
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: March 11, 2020
golf australia magazine’s ‘top 100 australian golf courses 2020’ announced
The Eastern Golf Club has two, of it’s three, championship courses featured within Golf Australia Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Australian Golf Courses 2020’.
South Course : Holes 1-18 (#55 Golf Australia Magazine ‘Top 100 Golf Courses 2020’)
North Course : Holes 10-27 (#84 Golf Australia Magazine ‘Top 100 Golf Courses 2020’)
Date: February 17, 2020
AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR GAME CAN BRING INCREDIBLE RESULTS
Why is it that less than 10% of golfers have regular instruction and, by that, I mean four to five lessons a year?
For some, it’s a lack of time, for others it’s financial but the number one reason for not investing in your game is the ‘fear of change’. Changing any pattern of behaviour takes time to get used to. There will be errors along the way, slips and frustration as you don’t necessarily see immediate improvement. The general rule of thumb is that it takes between 30 to 60 days to change a pattern of behaviour, and not within days as most golfers expect.
The improvement cycle looks like this:
- Make the decision that you actually want to get better
- Seek help on what to change and that’s where the golf professional comes in
- Practice the changed behaviour as much as you can and for a period of three to four weeks
- Check in with your golf professional on how your progress is going
- Repeat the above
If you follow this cycle, without doubt you will improve – it will just take time and a bit of hard work. Don’t be one of the 90 % of golfers that go round and round searching for the magic answer without finding it because there isn’t one; and often enjoying their golf less and less in the process.
If golf lessons aren’t your thing, the quickest way to see improvement is through a review of, and changing your equipment and having your equipment properly fitted for you – just as you would a pair of shoes. I see so many golfers who play golf two – three days a week with equipment that is 10 – 15, and sometimes 20 years old. Golf equipment and technology is changing constantly, as do our own bodies – what may have worked three years ago might not be best suited to you to ensure maximum enjoyment from your golf, whilst also assisting in minimising any risk of injury.
Eastern Golf Club Member, James Walsh, recently booked in for a lesson and asked me why he was hitting his driver so high and wanted more distance. James didn’t have a lot to change, for as it is for many golfers, it was a combination of technique and equipment. James was very happy to share his story with you:
“For the last 30 years my clubs have come from flea markets, bidding on eBay or gumtree, hand me downs or bargain bins financed by birthday vouchers. I joined Eastern Golf Club 11 months ago as a 26 handicapper. Three weeks ago, at the age of 41, I had my first golf lesson. Scott’s statement about my driver was initially shocking but it turns out he was right, and I really don’t know as much about golf as I thought I did. In 30 minutes, he had me straightened out and banned me from my 12-year-old offset head driver – it was all wrong for me and he lent me a more suitable demo M6 driver. At first, I was overwhelmed but my next round was amazing, gaining 50+ metres on my drives. This meant that my 4 iron 2nd shots are now an 8 iron. In one round I dropped from 11 to 10.3. In 2020, I’m looking at ticking single figures off my bucket list!” – James Walsh
If you’re keen to improve your golf game and are unsure how to go about it, or simply want to try the latest and greatest equipment, please touch base with me when you’re in The Sports Shop, or send me an email and I’d be delighted to have a chat and see how, together, we can help you improve your game, and ultimately get more enjoyment from it as you improve.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: January 15, 2020
Eliminate those three-putts with good rhythm and timing
If there is one area of the game where the Pros really outplay the amateurs, it is in their putting.
If you were lucky enough to see Kevin Na’s win at the Shriners Open on the US Tour you would understand – with one of the best putting performances ever seen on the greens. In the second round he holed 202 feet of putts; to put that into perspective – he holed an 11 foot putt on every green. A good day on the greens is about 100 feet – to double that on one day is simply incredible and Na only won the tournament in a play off that lasted six holes.
What can the average golfer learn from players like Na is that good rhythm on the greens is the key to controlling speed and eliminating three-putts. When most amateurs are faced with a 20 foot putt, the tendency is to simply hit the ball harder; make a short back swing and then ‘accelerate’ the putter through very quickly in a jerking fashion, often losing control of the strike and therefore having no consistency of speed.
The key to controlling your speed is to swing the putter with consistent rhythm and timing to allow your backswing to become much longer than your follow through on those 20 and 30 feet efforts. One of the biggest myths in golf that prevents this is to putt with your shoulders and no wrists. To allow the backswing to lengthen, your wrists should naturally hinge a little as should your elbows. Try throwing a ball without hinging your wrists – you can’t and putting is no different.
If you want to conquer the big putting surfaces at Eastern, spend some time working on your lag putting with the above techniques and watch the handicap slowly come down.
Better still book in for a putting lesson using SAM Puttlab and BLAST Motion with our Director of Golf, Scott Barradell.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: October 9, 2019
australian golf digest magazine : ’25 greatest clubhouses in australia’
“The Members’ Lounge, fitted with comfy armchairs at nearly every table, that spills out to the terrace overlooking the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges has to be arguably the most comfortable members’ lounge in Australia.com “ Terry Hicks, panellist Australian Golf Digest ‘25 Greatest Clubhouses in Australia’.
You may be practicing, but is what you are doing helping you improve your game?
It is not uncommon to see the driving range full on any given day, but are you really getting the full benefit out of what you are doing? Chances are that you may not be achieving as much as you could be. Here’s my guide
to getting the most of your time on the range.
If you are hitting balls before a round, half a bucket of balls is more than enough. This is the time when you are warming up, not practicing. Spend 15 – 20 minutes going through your bag with the focus on rhythm and tempo. Most of your balls should be hit with the scoring clubs and very few with your driver or longer clubs. I reguarly see people arrive at the driving range and immediately pull out their driver and start hitting the ball. Make sure you include some time on the chipping and putting greens before heading out on course.
If you do have the additional time, separate to those days that you are playing a round of golf, to get some more practice in then do your golf game a favour and make it worth while. I would estimate that the large majority of players spend time hitting on the driving range without any plan, and no structure, and are not really making any significant improvement to their game.
If you are having lessons, or working on something constructive to the improvement of your game, the driving range is the place to do it, so invest the time in this. The worst thing you can do on the range is to just hit balls with no purpose or thought. A good simple exercise is try and ‘play golf’ on the range. Hit a driver at a certain spot, pull out a 6 iron and hit at a different target and finish off with a small pitch. This is more constructive, and beneficial to your game than just ‘hitting away’ with the same club, ball after ball. Have fun with clubs and different shots too; try and hit your 5 iron low and high; try and hit a 7 iron half its usual distance. Don’t be one of those players just trying something different every day, thinking you’ve got the fix, but only to find in a day or so, that you haven’t.
All Eastern Golf Club members enjoy full use of the Driving Range facilities including unlimited golf balls.
Some final thoughts for improvement:
- Get some help and appreciate that changing anything takes time. Don’t be one of those doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
- Small changes can lead to big improvement – especially in your short game technique.
- If you do practice, then spend 70% of your time on shots inside 120 metres.
- Before taking advice from someone, including yourself, ask are they qualified to give it?
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: August 1, 2019
Improve your putting and lower those scores now
When I ask people about their putting I usually receive two answers: “It’s OK, or good one day, bad the next” or “It’s pretty close to the truth but only thing I’d say is it’s more down than up”.
No matter what skill you are looking to assess, the first stage of the improvement process is to measure and assess. Once you know what you are doing, whether it’s right or wrong, you can then plan what y
ou need to improve and go from there. The important thing to remember is that the assessment must be measurable so that, over time, you can continue to assess and track your improvements. An example of this is trying to improve your fitness and health – you would collate vital information including how much you weigh, your body measurements and other important health details.
With anything you would like to get better at doing, you always need a starting point from which you can begin your program of improvement.
For years the golf industry has not had the technology to measure and assess a putting stroke; which is one of the main reasons why many golfers never improve in that area of their game. The other reason is that most golfers think their technique is actually efficient as they have never been shown otherwise and the majority of time, it’s not.
We now have the technology to measure and assess a putting stroke in extreme detail and provide golfers with clear reasons as to why they are OK one day and bad the next using SAM Puttlab and the BLAST sensor.
In simple terms, feel is determined by putting dynamics; and by dynamics I am referring to your timing and tempo. Once you develop the correct parameters in these areas which can be achieved with as little as five minutes practice a day, you can improve your putting stroke in no time and you will see your scores come down with it. It was interesting reading an article by Australia’s Cameron Smith in the July edition of Australian Golf Digest saying that he uses the BLAST sensor before every round in his warm up as his feel changes every day. Yours does too.
The BLAST sensor and SAM Puttlab station are both available within the TaylorMade Performance Centre and are the complete solution for improving your putting and lowering your scores.
To enquire about our selection of golf tuition packages; and our calendar of golf clinics, please discuss your requirements with The Sports Shop team or email me directly.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: July 31, 2019
australian golf digest course review
“Moving house is never easy to do. For Melbourne’s Eastern Golf Club, the relocation from suburban Doncaster to Yering in 2015 was an emotional mix of sorrow and opportunity. The former sentiment was over the
loss of 90-odd years of history at one site and the latter a chance to simultaneously make a powerful statement and fortify a new chapter in the club’s history.”
To read Steve Keipert’s full course review in Australian Golf Digest please click on the link below:
Date: June 27, 2019
It’s winter time and that means a few changes in your preparation.
This year we have been blessed with some great weather but in recent weeks we’ve seen winter arrive with arctic temperatures being experienced and darkness arriving late afternoon.
With the colder weather well and truly upon us, you may have noticed that your golf ball does not travel as far and many adjustments need to be made to your game, with one of the most important ones being to review the clubs you are using, with an extra club or two often required.
The other noticable thing during the colder months is that the ball rolls less when on the fairway, and it is often best to choose a club with more loft and less roll. Sounds simple but many golfers overlook these easy adjustments that are required during cold and wet conditions that can be the difference between a great, or challenging, day out on course.
Preparation is imperative when playing in winter and we’ve outlined some of the essential items we recommend to not only play better golf, but to stay warm whilst out there:
- A good set of waterproofs is a must when playing in winter. Many companies now provide waterproof pant options that can be worn instead of normal pants. The FOOTJOY range of waterproof outfits is one of the best on the market and available in The Sports Shop.
- Keeping your hands dry and warm is probably the most important thing during winter and it’s as easy as having a pair of winter gloves and a rain grip glove in your bag. There are several options in the winter glove market that can be used when swinging in those freezing conditions; and equally as important is a rain glove when playing in the wet. Both items cost approximately $30 each and can last up to three to four seasons, depending on your use.
- Grips are another thing which many people overlook. Depending on your use, grips should be changed every one to two years. There are many options on new grips and our team in The Sports Shop can assist you in finding the best pair for your needs.
- It’s fine to try and stay warm by wearing three to four layers of clothing but you still must be able to swing freely. Two absolute essentials for me include a base layer under garment and wind vest. Both keep the body warm without causing extra bulk and impeding your ability to swing freely.
- Finally the list concludes with some basic items including a beanie to keep the head warm, umbrella and hand warmer. Once you are fully kitted out, you will be able to stay warmer this winter and, hopefully, enjoy your golf more.
When sourcing your equipment, please remember our price match guarantee which means that we will honour a lower advertised price for the identical product advertised by a local competitor; and when you’re purchasing your golf equipment through The Sports Shop you are benefitting the club.
In addition to your club and equipment preparation, it’s also imperative to undertake a good warm up before playing. One of the great benefits of your golf membership at Eastern is access to our extenstive practice facilities include long and short game Practice Range facilities including a grass tee driving range and covered practice bays with high quality TaylorMade range balls. The Club’s practice facilities, with unlimited drive range balls, are available to playing golf members only.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: May 29, 2019
director of golf recognised in 2019 ‘top 50’ greatest clubfitters
Fantastic to see our Director of Golf, Scott Barradell featured in Australian Golf Digest 2019 ’50 Great Clubfitters’.
Scott leads a team that takes a great deal of pride in assisting each member with their individual requirements and are fully trained to review your personal playing needs, and how the latest golfing technology and equipment that is available can assist in improving your golf game.
The team are trained in specialised club fitting systems and we can provide assistance with coordinating any repairs and maintenance of your clubs; with the aim to get you, and your clubs, back on the golf course as quickly as possible All club repairs are done offsite and we can assist with the organisation of substitute clubs if required.
The Eastern Golf Club Golf Shop prides itself on three core values:
- Providing value for money – our price match guarantee means that we will honour a lower advertised price for the identical product advertised by a local competitor
- 100% money-back-guarantee on fitted equipment
- Exceptional after-sales service
We only stock products that we endorse, and personally use ourselves.
Well done Scott!
Why a good set up position is most important.
If I was asked to prioritise just one tip that will provide maximum benefit to the average golfer’s game, it would be how to set up a golf ball correctly.
There are very few lessons that I give in which we don’t talk about the set up – it is often an evolving thing, and without players realising, can change from day-to-day. It can include areas such as the width of your stance; standing too far away, or too close, to the ball; poor ball position and, finally, poor posture. Each of these elements can have different effects on your swing; but, the good news is that some subtle changes to your game can make huge differences.
Having good, sound, technique before you hit the shot is imperative to giving yourself the best chance to make a good swing. From an improvement point of view, set up changes are the easiest ones to make as they are ‘static’ and can easily be practiced on the Driving Range, at work, home or practically anywhere. Within short time frames, an improvement in ball striking can be seen with a few minor tweaks.
In this tuitorial I would like to focus on two of these set up areas – ball position and the effect it has on your spine angle. As a general rule, most players that slice have the ball too far forward and those that hook have the ball too far back.
The most common mistake I see golfers make is having their spine too straight (Image: 1 & 2) and their head too far on top on the ball. Poor positioning of the spine, with the ball being too far forward, will lead to a number of things including lack of rotation, swaying of the hips and in general the swing being too vertical which causes big slices or pulling the ball.
In the correct position (Image 3 & 4), the stance should be shoulder width apart with the ball slightly forward and the left hip and left shoulder slightly higher than the right. In this position the head is positioned behind the ball allowing the body to turn correctly and have the club swing around the body as it should.
In our ‘Full Swing Tune Up Package’, the set up fundamentals are included within the areas of your game that we cover over four sessions. To book in for a lesson, or if you have any questions answered regarding your game, please send me through an email.
Incorrect: ball forward and spine too straight.
Incorrect: too far away from ball.
Correct: left hip high and head behind ball.
Correct posture. Good balance, arms just hanging.
Scott Barradell
Director of Golf I TaylorMade Australia Brand Ambassador
Date: March 26, 2019
