The 2020 Senior Amateur Championships of Western Australia will be held at The West Australian Golf Club from August 2-3. The 36-hole stroke play event for Men and Women over 55 is a prestigious event on the golfing calendar, and in previous years has attracted a sizeable number of entries from interstate and overseas. With borders currently closed, this may be a window of opportunity for our West Aussie Seniors to bring the Men’s and Ladies’ Titles back to home turf!
WAGC current Men’s Club Champion and GolfWA High Performance team member Haydn Barron offered his insiders tips to mastering this challenging course.
“There are a couple of risk reward holes to be considered at WAGC. The first would be the 12th hole, a short downhill Par 4. With a strong tailwind it is possible to drive the green, but those using driver getting in front of the first fairway bunker makes for an easy pitch shot. Taking a short iron to the hill and letting it roll down to the centre also makes for a good approach.”
“The second hole also offers a risk reward opportunity. It is a long Par 4. You need to make sure you are careful on your green approach. Avoid being long and left because that makes an up and down near on impossible.”
“The hole that I feel is the biggest chance to get into trouble on is Hole 11. The greens are very fast from back left to right, and you need to be very strategic about where you position your ball on the green. The Ladies have a very challenging tee shot. It is not easy to run it through the bunkers, and the bunker at the front left of the green is very deep and a tricky up and down.”
“For me the hole I always try and play the safest is the tenth hole. You need to hit a really good tee shot up to the corner and your second shot needs to be pretty much centre of the green to avoid the out of bounds left and bunker on the right. Being long can also make for a difficult up and down from. And if your short it will easily run back down. Make this the hole you play the safest on.”
“As a general rule at WAGC I would focus on missing the green in the best spots. If you are on the short side it will make for a tricky approach. The greens will be firm and fast making for a tough par save. We are looking forward to seeing some fantastic golf from the 2020 Seniors competing at WAGC this weekend.”
The 2020 Championship will commence at 7.30am this Sunday 2nd August at WAGC, Yokine.
Keep your eyes on WA locals Carmen Palframen of Lake Karrinyup, Janine Northrop of WAGC, Michael Dunsmore of Hartfield who have all been at the top end of the leaderboard in previous years and last year’s highest place WA players Evan Sewell of Manjimup GC and Sharon Dawson from Denmark GC.
Senior Amateur Championships of Western Australia Draw Rd 1 (Sunday)
