In 1983 a young Phil Cartwright took on the role of Golf Professional at the Young Golf Club, and now 33 years later he’s hanging up the keys.
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Phil recalled the days prior to motorised golf carts and titanium clubs when golf itself was simply a game before evolving into the technologically advanced sport it has since become.
At 22 years old, a bright-eyed Phil made the move to Young from Orange to fulfill his ambition of running a Pro Shop. He was required to collect green fees, run competitions, coach, sell equipment, run the Pro Shop, repair equipment and act as the club’s representative.
“He grew a mustache when he applied for the job so he looked older,” wife Leneve laughed.
“A lot of people thought he looked too young to manage a Pro Shop.
“Now he doesn’t have to grow a moe to look old, because he is.”
Overtime Phil has witnessed major changes to both the club and sport itself, in particular the quality of the course, clubhouse expansions and techniques in training procedures.
“The golf course has improved out of sight with the town’s recycled water being used on the fairways,” he said.
“There’s an automatic watering system on the course now as opposed to physically plonking a sprinkler in the ground, and twisting it to get it to go – it was a very labor intensive system before.
“The Pro Shop’s changed from very basic to having a lot more stock and providing a lot more services than when we first game here, and the game has also changed a lot, as has the equipment.
“It’s gone from being a game to being a science, there’s a lot more science in it now than there used to be, even with coaching.
”We used to do lessons and explain to people what they did, now we use technology.”
But something that hasn’t changed overtime is Phil’s passion in providing quality country service to members and visitors.
“The thing I like most is the camaraderie with members and visitors,” he said.
“We try to remember people’s names, especially with the veterans - it’s one of the things we try to do to make sure people enjoy the place and make them want to come back.
“That’s the bonus about working in a country town, the personal contact.”
Now after working long hours for the last three decades, Phil has decided it’s time to enjoy some time of his own.
“Even though I’m a Golf Pro I only get to play about five or six times a year, so I’d like to do a bit more of that for sure,” he said.
In the last 33 years the Pro Shop has been manned for in excess of 120,000 hours, 12,000 days, – only closing for 34 of those – and has run over 80 junior clinics, 18 Veterans Weeks of Golf, over 8000 18 hole club events, and over 5000 six and nine hole events. Phil has started work before 7am over 7000 times, and finished after 7pm over 8000 times, and has overseen and serviced over 700,000 rounds of golf.
While a set date is yet to be confirmed, Phil said he’s looking to finish up toward the end of September.
“We have a lot of fun with the members but what I’d like to say to everyone is thanks very much for your support, for welcoming us into your club, and I wish the club well and hope it becomes a strong and successful facility for golfers in the future,” he said.
He also thanked Leneve for her support over the years who he said has been an integral part of the Pro Shop.
On behalf of the club, president Patrick Fitzgerald wished Phil all the best.
“He’s been a great servant of the club, he’s done magnificent things for golf in Young and we’re sad to see him go. He’s going to be really missed by the membership base as a whole.”