Golf Vic Vol 60 No 2 2019

The Future is Now Across many levels, the game of golf is going through enormous change but it is difficult to imagine a more significant development than the staging of the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April. Victoria’s rising young star Julienne Soo was one of 72 of the world’s finest amateurs who played in this historic event, at a club where for decades women were excluded. As Golf Australia makes progress in our Vision 2025 strategy to encourage more women and girls into golf, it was a timely demonstration of the benefits that can come when all sectors of the game work together to grow it. The release of the Guidelines for the Promotion of Equal Opportunity for Women and Girls in Golf by the Australian Human Rights Commission is just one of a number of initiatives covered in this edition of your Golf Victoria magazine that speak to the future of golf. There’s stories on the collaboration agreement between the PGA of Australia and the ALPG, the new look of the High Performance Unit in Victorian golf, the achievements of Vision 2025 in its first year, the appointment of Sabrin Nyawela as Golf Australia’s new participation officer for inclusion with a brief to focus on immigrant communities, the introduction of Junior Leagues as an extra stepping stone in the development of young golfers, and the advent of a golfing community called Future Golf. All of these progressive developments show that the future of golf is now… so it is appropriate that the Golf Victoria magazine itself is also going through an examination of its future. As most of you will know, an online survey was conducted in March. With One Golf now operating in five Australian jurisdictions, it was an opportune time to ask Victorian recipients of the magazine a number of questions about future content, frequency of publication and delivery methods. The survey has closed and we are currently analysing results but it is clear Victorian golfers have appreciated the high quality of the magazine and have enjoyed reading the diverse range of stories about the game we all love. Golf Victoria magazine will celebrate its 60th birthday in the upcoming June/ July edition and has evolved from an initial 12 pages in an era long before the introduction of the internet and social media to the current 52-page full colour editions which, we are proud to say, have consistently addressed issues and changes in the game from the viewpoint of the everyday golfer. We do recognise that it is important that we be informed on golfers’ expectations and requirements in today’s environment. None of the golfing administrations in the other One Golf jurisdictions (or, for that matter, in New South Wales and Western Australia) currently produce for their member clubs and golfers a magazine equivalent to the quality, style and content of the Golf Victoria magazine. An opportunity may exist in due course for the magazine to be adapted so that it becomes both local and national in its reach. This might be possible if encouragement were given to the magazine being published and received electronically as the preferred method of distribution. Although the survey was conducted online, there is still an opportunity for magazine readers to have their say by contacting me at theresem@golf.org.au with your ideas and comments. “It is appropriate that the Golf Victoria magazine itself is also going through an examination of its future.” golf report Therese Magdulski Golf Operations and State Senior Manager - Victoria Golf Australia Golf Victoria 5