Tee for Two

Our guest today is Michele Watts. Michele lost her sight through 2015-16 to a rare eye disease. Yet by 2017 she was an Australian champion blind golfer and in 2018 claimed an International World Blind Golf Championship title. She recently won the national blind golf championship for the second time and has qualified for Team Asutralia at the International Blind Golf Championships in Canada in August. Alongside her excellent achievements in blind golf lies an accomplished professional career and a strong history in volunteering. Today we’re going to learn more of what being a blind golfer means, and what we can do to support this brilliant community of golfers. Links related to this episode Blind Golf Australia (also directs to state associations): https://blindgolf.com.au/ Australian Sports Foundation donation page to support the Australian team at the IBGA International world Blind Golf Championships in Canada in August 2025: https://asf.org.au/campaigns/bga2025worldchamps/2025-blind-golf-world-champs International Blind Golf Association: International Blind Golf Association World of Blind Golf Home Page Introduction to IBGA For information on Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON): Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) | CERA For information on ISPS Handa and Dr Haruhisa Handa: Home | ISPS Handa Michele’s charity – The Centre for Eye Research Australia: The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) Radio 2RPH: 2RPH - Radio Reading Service - Sydney, Illawarra & Newcastle Guide Dogs Australia: Guide Dogs Australia Vision Australia: Vision Australia | Vision Australia. Blindness and low vision servicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sonia Kirkman is a successful businesswoman in a niche area covering a diverse range of golf related sectors, including golf retail and tournament merchandising, business analysis and management, and in transforming golf shops. How many of us have any understanding of the behind-the-scenes of retail golf shops? Today, we’re going to learn more.Our guest today is Sonia Kirkman of Kirkman Sports and Transform Golf Shop Specialists. Sonia is a successful businesswoman in a niche area covering a diverse range of golf related sectors. Sonia has extensive experience in golf retail and tournament merchandising, in brand sales, in golf business analysis and management, and in transforming golf shops. In her time, she has noticed a lot of change in the model of golf shops and the way they are run. She is also a very handy golfer and therefore understands the golfer’s perspective in all the areas in which she works. We all like to dawdle around golf shops, getting delightfully lost in clothes and merchandise, but how many of us really have any idea of what’s going on behind the scenes? Today, we’re going to find out from someone who knows better than anyone – and have a look at golf’s dress code. Links related to this episode:Kirkman Sports: www.kirkmansports.com.auTransform Golf Shop Specialists on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/transformgolfshopspecialistsJamie Sadock: http://jamiesadock.com/about/jamie-sadock/RetailNext: https://retailnext.net/why-retailnextRetailtainment: Hot Stuff: Top 4 U.S. Summer Retail Trends Of 2024 | RetailNextNGF article: The Business Case for Golf’s Dressing-Down - National Golf FoundationGolf Monthly article: Is It Time To Abandon Golf Dress Codes Altogether? | Golf MonthlySonia’s charity- Australian Golf Foundation: www.australiangolffoundation.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is Alicia Nagle, founder and CEO of the social golf club and sport platform Zonely. Alicia, the granddaughter of Australian golf legend Kel, is passionate about inclusion in sport and creating a strong sense of community within Zonely. Her commitment to this resulted in Zonely winning the Excellence in Community Engagement award at the inaugural Women in Golf Charter Awards held in November 2024. Zonely, the first social golf club in Australia to become a signatory to the R&A Women in Golf Charter, and Alicia were also nominated for two other awards.There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes in launching and growing a startup, especially for women, and today we’re going to hear from Alicia about the highlights, the homework, and her vision for the future of Zonely. Links to this episode:Zonely website: Zonely | Play social golfZonely Facebook: FacebookZonely Instagram: Zonely (@zonely) • Instagram photos and videosZonely LinkedIn: Zonely: Posts | LinkedInAlicia Nagle on LinkedIn: Alicia Nagle | LinkedInAustralian Sports Technologies Network: The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN)Women in Sports Technology: Women in Sports TechSPARK: SPARKAlicia’s nominated charity - Animal Welfare League: Home | AWL | Animal Welfare LeagueSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guests today are Kate Torgersen and Monina Gilbey. Kate and Monina have worked individually for a long period of time of the area of environmental sustainability in golf. In May 2024, on World Biodiversity Day, they announced their joint partnership Torgersen Gilbey. The theme of World Biodiversity Day this year was “Be Part of the Plan” and there is no doubt they are part of the grand plan. Their individual and joint passion for biodiversity is part of their overall commitment to demonstrating at a practical level how golf is not only not an enemy to nature but a profound ally. In our discussion today we discuss what environmental sustainability means, how it is implemented at golf courses, why biodiversity is so critically important and the role golf clubs, both private and public, can play in supporting nature and her chain of connection. Links related to this episode: Torgersen Gilbey: https://www.torgersengilbey.com.au/ Torgersen Gilbey on Socials: Facebook: Facebook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torgersengilbey/ Environmental Golf Solutions: https://www.envirogolf.com.au/ Green Gecko Studios: https://www.greengeckostudios.com.au/ Rewild Australia Native Nursery: www.rewildnativenursery.com.au 2023 Community Benefits of Golf Report: https://downloads.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/5qTs4GUfbkAvnOBApJvzTH/3a23749439c5640f01f08067db0d52ef/Community_Benefits_of_Golf_in_Australia_Report__2023_.pdf Andrew Fielke, Creative Native Foods chef and cuisine: https://creativenativefoods.com.au/ Kate and Monina’s nominated charity: WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation https://www.wires.org.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is Karen Lunn. As CEO of WPGA Tour Australasia, Karen is one of golf’s most accomplished administrators and one of the most important thought leaders in the game. A former tour player on the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA Tour and the domestic ALPG Tour, Karen amassed 16 career wins around the world, including the 1993 Weetabix Women’s British Open, a highly coveted title. Her experience as a successful player, Chairman of the LET Board and sometime broadcast commentator has given her insight into all corners of the game and she brings this to her current role. Fresh off the first concurrent running of the men’s and women’s Australian Open championships, Karen reflects on that week, celebrating the 50-year anniversary of WPGA, and a range of matters pertaining to women’s professional golf, women entering the game, and where our sport should head in the future. Links related to this episode: WPGA Tour Australasia: wpga.org.au/ Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC): www.golf.org.au/agic/ Vision 2025 (now Women and Girls Engagement Strategy): Vision 2025: The future of women and girls in golf | Golf Australia Karen’s story on the 50th anniversary of WPGA: WPGA Tour celebrates 50th Anniversary | Golf Australia Beth Ann Nichols story in Golfweek on course set-up: golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/03/16/lpga-golf-course-setups-womens-golf-pga-tour/ Steve Eubanks story in LPGA News on Minjee Lee scoring ability: www.lpga.com/news/2022/minjee-lees-numbers-even-more-impressive-than-the-friday-63 Karen’s nominated charity: lungfoundation.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is Nikki McClure. Nikki grew up in a family of golfers but initially didn’t take to the game, preferring other sports. But when personal tragedy struck her young family, it was golf that helped bring her out from a very dark place and then buoyed her as she created a place of light for other women entering the game. From reluctant golfer, to beginner rebuilding her life, to entrepreneur in female engagement, to board member of Golf Victoria, to women’s captain at Kingston Heath Golf Club, to the first female club president at this prestigious sandbelt club in its 113-year history, Nikki has approached it all with a commitment to women’s golf combined with positive attitude and a sense of fun. Today she shares with us both the tremulous steps and the giant leaps forwards. Links related to this episode: Fairway Birdies: https://fairwaybirdies.com/ Facebook: Fairway Birdies | Facebook Golf Australia Victoria: https://www.golf.org.au/victoria/ Australian Open: https://www.golf.org.au/ausopen/ Nikki’s nominated charity: https://rednose.org.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest on Tee for Two today is Hannah Brown, PhD. Hannah is a person of serious intellect, a person of reflection and a qualitative thinker on the world she sees around her. Hannah is also a fairly new golfer who speaks with relevance and authority on what a new player encounters as they enter the game.  Hannah has recently completed a paper for her MBA called Re-imagining the Game and Business of Golf in Australia Through an Inclusion and Adaption Lens, a positive-facing scientific analysis of what golf and the business of golf can become.   Hers is a unique voice in the game and one to which we should listen if we truly want to embrace and address some of the concerns faced by people wanting to start or remain in golf and see it reach its full potential as the game played for life by anyone and everyone.  Hannah’s insights are thoughtful, positive and humorous.  Links within this episode:  For further information on what diversity, equity and inclusion means, go to the website of the eXtension Organizing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: https://dei.extension.org/ For information on the two studies mentioned which showed positive implications for business profit through diversity, equity and inclusionary culture and practices, please refer to:  Diversity Matters (Hunt V, Layton D, and Prince, S 2015, McKinsey & Co) https://www.mckinsey.com/insights/organization/~/media/2497d4ae4b534ee89d929cc6e3aea485.ashx Delivering Through Diversity (Hunt V, Prince S, Dixon-Fyle & Lee L, 2018, McKinsey & Co) https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/people%20and%20organizational%20performance/our%20insights/delivering%20through%20diversity/delivering-through-diversity_full-report.pdf?shouldIndex=false For information on Hannah’s MBA paper Re-imagining the Game and Business of Golf in Australia through an Inclusion and Adaption Lens or to receive a copy, please contact: hello@twofortwo.com.au  For information on Golf Australia’s work in All Abilities Golf for golfers with disability, please go to: Disability Inclusion - Golf Australia For information on Golf Australia’s work in Safe, Fair and Inclusive Golf, please go to: Integrity Framework - Safe, Fair & Inclusive golf - Golf Australia For Golf Australia’s Mission Statement and Acknowledgement of Country, please go to: Mission Statement & Strategic Plan - Golf Australia For information on Sandy Jamieson’s 1Club with which Hannah started playing golf in an ‘easy, fun and affordable’ way, for information please go to: https://www.1club.golf/  and for his story published in Golf Australia magazine in March 2020, please click here.   Hannah’s charity: https://catherinehouse.org.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest on Tee for Two today is Bonnie Boezeman. Bonnie enjoyed a brilliant corporate career including over 20 years with media giant TimeWarner, 13 of them as Managing Director and Chair of Time Life Australia. Her career tookher around the globe before she arrived in Australia in 1983. It was here that her instinct for helping others took hold, becoming a passion and what shenow calls her life’s work. Bonnie’s generosity has extended in a diverse number of areas and with a broad focus. She has supported charities, organisations and people not onlyfinancially but by lending her considerable business acumen, strategic vision and marketingexpertise. Within her work as a director of the Australian Golf Foundation, she is the architect of theAustralian Junior Girls Scholarship Program, seeking to bring young girls into the game andaddress the imbalance between male and female participation in the sport. Bonnie speaks to us today about her parallel commitments to business and philanthropy,how each supports the other, what she draws from her inspiring work herself and herpositive vision of the future for women and girls in golf. Tee for Two is hosted by Karen Harding. It is produced on the traditional country of theBoon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation in Victoria, Australia, and offers respect to theirElders, past, present and emerging. Links within this episode: The Australian Junior Girls Scholarship program and Vision 2025 within the Australian Golf Foundation: https://www.australiangolffoundation.org.au/vision-2025 Chief Executive Women: https://cew.org.au/ Bonnie’s nominated charity: Mahboba’s Promise: https://mahbobaspromise.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest on Tee for Two today is Geraldine O’Callaghan, the recently appointed coursesuperintendent at Sandringham Golf Links, the home of the new Australian Golf Centre. Gerri is one of a small (but growing) group of women in greenkeeping and is believed to beone of only four female golf course superintendents in Australia. Gerri was raised in the northern part of the state of Victoria, Australia, where she firstlearned to play golf, rising to become an elite level amateur player. After a family tragedy,she travelled the world for six years before returning to Melbourne and to golf. A chance meeting led to her start in greenkeeping and from there her star has continued torise. She has been on the course staff at the revered Royal Melbourne Golf Club for someyears, learning from highly respected Director of Golf Courses, Richard Forsyth. In that time, she has risen to the position of foreman on the East Course before becoming foreman at Sandringham, which is managed by Royal Melbourne, during a very exciting time in itsdevelopment. Her appointment as course superintendent is due recognition of her talent ingreenkeeping as well as her passion and strong work ethic for it. Gerri speaks to us about her journey and her excitement for the road ahead. Tee for Two is hosted by Karen Harding. It is produced on the traditional country of theBoon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation in Victoria, Australia, and offers respect to theirElders, past, present and emerging. Links for this episode: Details on the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association: https://www.agcsa.com.au/ Details on Gerri’s nominated charity: Breast Cancer Network https://www.bcna.org.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.