Queenstown Golf Club head pro Jamie McIsaac talks the talk but a recent round proved he also walks the walk.
McIsaac, 42 – whose main job is teaching golf at the club’s Frankton nine-holer – has broken the Kelvin Heights course record off the back championship tees.
Playing in the club’s monthly medal competition, he blasted 67 to break Southlander Liam Balneaves’ record of 68, set two years ago.
McIsaac hit 36 on the front nine before carding 31 on the back nine, including birdies on four of the last five holes.
The golfing gods helped him at the 11th, when his ball, seemingly heading out of bounds, hit a tree and bounced back in.
“It’s got me very enthusaisatic again about the game, that I can still do it,” McIsaac says.
Ironically, McIsaac finds it easier playing off Kelvin Heights’ back blue tees rather than the white tees, even though they’re about 500 metres shorter.
“My best score on white tees is only 69 – it’s really weird.”
Take the 100-hole challenge
Two charities will benefit from a golf tournament and 100-hole challenge at the Kelvin Heights course on Sunday.
The 18-hole tournament, for individuals and teams, starts at 1pm – entry is $50, including dinner.
Five golfers have also been sponsored to play 100 holes, starting at first light – Otago rep Jo Hicks-Beach, Heather Atkinson, Simon Boland, Millbrook trainee pro Rob Ilott and The Hills pro Craig Palmer.
Funds raised will be split between The First Tee – a golf and life skills programme for children – and the Cancer Society.
The First Tee programme has recently begun at the Frankton golf course.
Offering advice to golfers all ages and stages at the Frankton course, McIsaac is opposed to plans for the Events Centre to gobble it up for more sportsfields.
“I don’t understand why they want to get rid of a well-utilised sporting facility for, supposedly, other sports.
“I really hope that the community gets behind retaining Frankton as a golf facility.”
McIssac, who shifted to Queenstown from the Wairarapa over two years ago, has been on the New Zealand Professional Golf Association board for about eight years.
Last week’s announcement that the NZPGA championship, under a new pro-am format, will be played at Arrowtown’s The Hills course, for at least five years, excites him.
“This is a real coup for the NZPGA to get the tournament running again, in a bigger way.
“If we can get a big international celebrity, that’s going to make it even more atttactive.”
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