David Good, now 77, the long-serving skilled at The Dunes on the Mornington Peninsula.
DAVID Good, the much-loved, lengthy serving skilled on the fabulous Dunes course on the Mornington Peninsula didn’t realise it on the time, however he might have properly been a witness to historical past again in 1976.
“Greg Norman has simply gained a match, and I used to be travelling from Adelaide with him and (the late expatriate English skilled) Man Wolstenholme had stated we might stick with him whereas all of us performed an occasion in Melbourne.
“Within the days main as much as the match, Kerry Packer telephoned Greg and invited him to a World Collection Cricket match between Australia and the West Indies at AFL Park in Waverley.”
Norman requested the enterprise tycoon, who had simply modified the face of cricket by beginning the renegade competitors, if he might carry Good alongside.
“For a lot of the recreation Greg and Kerry had been locked in dialog one-on-one. With hindsight, I reckon that’s when Packer sowed the seed of a world golf circuit.”
The world tour – a relentless pastime horse of Norman’s – nearly bought off the bottom within the 1990’s earlier than floundering.
Thirty or so years later, the Shark turned the face of recent LIV circuit which has break up the sport down the center philosophically, emotionally and bodily since its inception.
Good, now, 77, a person who has been in golf for over 50 years as a tour participant and winner, enterprise man and educating skilled, reckons the Shark was heading in the right direction all these years in the past.
He says all of the bickering and posturing in terms of LIV has a easy resolution.
“It ought to be just like the Method One (motor racing) circuit,” he says. “There ought to be 10 or 12 LIV occasions in several international locations. Folks can play in them with out concern or favour. And the remainder of the golf world can proceed to do their very own factor.”
Good’s time within the recreation additionally qualifies him to have revered and forthright opinions on two different aspects of the sport which annoy him.
He realises he’s not the primary to think about it, however in his view, professionals ought to be compelled to make use of a golf ball which doesn’t journey as far.
“Amateurs can nonetheless use the present ball,” he causes.
Good additionally dislikes the ‘broomstick’ putter. The regular-sized putter in his bag now was manufactured in 1978.
“I simply don’t just like the lengthy putter regardless that I’ve used it at occasions. What number of tournaments would Tom Watson have gained with an extended putter? However he by no means succumbed. He was a traditionalist.”
Good can nonetheless play and not too long ago shot 72 on the Dunes “and doubtless left a pair on the market” – not too unhealthy for a bloke aged 77 who has undergone a number of coronary heart operations – the primary in his early 50’s. “Blokes have a tendency to not fear however we must always all get common well being checks,” he says.
We’ re chatting beside the fireplace within the fantastic Dunes clubhouse.
“I like this place. It’s a house away from residence,” he says.
From left, David Good, with Brian Twite and Peter Stickley.
He is aware of everyone right here by first title, a talent taught him by his dad when a teenaged David labored within the household’s shoe retailer.
Good learnt the sport on the nine-hole course in his residence city of Ulverstone on the rugged north coast of Tasmania.
However he was good at Australian soccer, too, enjoying centre half ahead for Tassie in and beneath age nationwide carnival. One among his team-mates was Richmond legend, Royce Hart. Bob Shearer was enjoying for championship winner, Victoria.
Good was high qualifier for the Australian beginner within the late 1960’s and turned professional within the following 12 months. He was pressured to take a membership job after 5 years on tour.
“I had three younger youngsters to help and prize cash for Australian Open was $2000 – not for the winner, in complete!”
He gained a handful of occasions together with beating Seve Ballesteros in a play-off for the NZ Open.
The great cash flowed in Europe on the seniors’ tour.
“Europe was good for me. The pound was price triple the Australian greenback.
“I’ve carried out all of it in golf – I’ve made some cash, not a fortune.
“I’ve had my highs and lows, however I’d do all of it once more.”
