Golf Vic Vol 60 No 2 2019

Matt Cutler sips a coffee in the clubhouse at Riversdale Golf Club, a lovely building that sits imperiously above that gorgeous emerald stretch of ground once the country estate of Sir Redmond Barry before the golf club moved in almost 100 years ago. It’s tournament week, the Riversdale Cup, one of the country’s most prestigious events, and Cutler looks comfortable in familiar surrounds. A long-time Riversdale member, he was once club champion here, more than 10 years ago, although he hardly plays now that he has twin girls, eight years old, and the job as Golf Australia’s High Performance Manager for Victoria. “There could be someone playing out here today we barely know who in five to seven years will be Australia’s next star,’’ says Cutler. “We’ve got to make sure we do everything right by them.’’ Dean Kinney nods in agreement, sitting opposite. Together they represent the big changes happening in high performance in Victorian golf, with Cutler as the executive head and Kinney, a Sydneysider, as head coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport program which sits near the top of the pyramid that is elite golf in this state. The changes are not just about faces. There are philosophical differences too - and only a few days before the Riversdale Cup, Kinney and Cutler had addressed the parents of elite players to plot their path forward. In some ways they have a tough job to match what’s come before them under the departed VIS coach Marty Joyce and former Golf Victoria Head of High Performance Ashley Marshall, Joyce having shifted his focus to his own academy at Spring Valley and Marshall having moved to run championships at Golf Australia under the new national model. Victoria has won four of the past five national interstate men’s teams titles, produced professionals including Lucas Herbert, Brett Coletta, Ryan Ruffels and the recent New Zealand Open champion Zach Murray, and also won the women’s interstate title in 2015 and 2017. We have a world top-five amateur in David Micheluzzi not far away from joining the pro ranks. But as much as it’s a hard act to follow, Kinney and Cutler have embraced the challenge. Cutler’s shift has been seamless; he was previously in the national high- performance system under Brad James for seven years. “I saw it as something to get my teeth into, a bit of a challenge,’’ he said. “I loved working with Brad, but I didn’t get to make too many of my own decisions. This gives me some autonomy.’’ DEAN AND MATT Victorian golf is transitioning into new leadership in high performance with Dean Kinney and Matt Cutler entrusted to guide the next generation of stars. MARTIN BLAKE spoke to them about their plans. High performance banter … Dean Kinney (left) and Matt Cutler are mapping a new pathway for Victoria’s elite golf athletes. feature by Martin Blake 6 Golf Victoria