• Game over.
  • Aidan Bennett and Brad Shilton.

Giving the pro a scare on the 18th!

A game of Golf with... Brad Shilton, Head Professional, Waitemata Golf Club

It’s a tough gig publishing this monthly magazine. We’ve decided that we need to mix more business with pleasure, so we’ve introduced this new feature “A game of golf with…”. Each month our publisher and golfing hack Aidan Bennett is having a hit – over nine or 18 holes – with an interesting local who also enjoys smashing the little white ball around. This month with Waitemata’s head professional Brad Shilton.

 

I'm loving this new monthly column – getting out and playing golf with some really interesting people. You never know, over time, my golf game might improve as well. In late October I took my A-game to play with Brad Shilton, the new head professional at the Waitemata Golf Club.

I must admit I was packing myself as Brad Shilton is a big name in golf. So the thought of exposing him to my back-swing-less hacking game was a little daunting. It didn’t take long, however, to realise that he’s going to be well-suited to golf coaching. I was relaxed in no time.

We started off on the par three 10th hole at Waitemata, as the Tuesday morning ladies were going off the front. I had a shocker on the 10th, a little nervous on the putting. But on the 11th I really came into my own. My near perfect tee shot was in the middle of the dog-leg fairway and proudly a few metres ahead of Brad’s. A birdie or easy par was on its way. In fact we shared pars on the next two holes. Satisfying for a 20-plus handicapper.

Although he loves living on the Shore (with Claire, his partner of 13 years in Birkenhead) – Brad Shilton is a Mooloo (Waikato) lad through and through. Born and bred and schooled in Te Awamutu (he’s a member of the high school’s hall of fame with the musical Finn's) where he loved playing all sports – including tennis and cricket. He was a handy cricketer in his early years before choosing the golfing path in his early teens. He yearned to be a pro golfer.

The 39 year-old has now been playing elite level golf for 20+ years, representing New Zealand as an amateur before turning professional 2005. He was a PGA Touring Professional for 13 years, mainly on the Australasian and One Asia Tours, competing in events throughout the Asia-Pacific region. His career highlights included a win on the Australasian Tour, third placing in a European Tour event, two wins on the Charles Tour as well as numerous pro am wins in New Zealand and Australia.

Looking back on his career, Brad kicks himself a little that he didn’t take up a golfing scholarship to college in the States. He had the opportunity in his late teens and feels that would have been a good way to gain some valuable qualifications while honing his golf game. But he says he still loves what he does, and clearly being a people person will make him a fantastic asset for the Waitemata club – a role he says is his first real job.

On to the 13th, the first par five of the round and Brad's drive was immaculate – long and straight, finishing up on the left hand side leaving very handy positioning to put his second on the green, which he duly did. I was happy with my six.

The highlight of the round for me though was giving Brad a scare on the 18th. His tee shot went soaring over the trees to the right, we couldn’t see it, but he knew it was pretty much spot on, slightly right, but only a small iron from the green. I stepped up and slammed my tee shot 150 metres but into the trees (that Brad went over) but the ball ended up in the open. My next three iron was a treat, only three metres from the pin – a birdie was in my sites!

Brad says his favourite course in New Zealand to play golf is Kinloch, which is very challenging, he also enjoys the challenge of Jacks Point (Queenstown) and playing at Harewood in Christchurch. Overseas he says the many high quality courses in Melbourne (Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne, Victoria and Metropolitan etc.) really appeal. New Caledonia is also a favourite golfing destination, and just happens to be where he had his most significant professional tournament victory on the Australasian Tour. Highlights have also included playing at St Andrews and Royal Troon in Scotland.

“I am thrilled to have turned my focus to coaching and look forward to working with golfers who share my passion for the game,” explained Brad when quizzed on his new coaching career. "I really enjoy being part of the improvement process and am excited to share in the success of golfers I coach."

As well as individual lessons and group clinics, Brad will offer on-course playing lessons, which he see's as his strength and point of difference due to experience as a touring professional.

"Throughout my playing career, I have seen first hand how simple it can be to improve through on course assessment. By analyising how golfers go about their round, creating a plan for improvement and putting these improvements into practice on the course, I believe players of all abilities can make rapid improvements without necessarily having to spend hours on the practice range.”

I might have to book in with Brad myself for a few lessons. I missed that crucial putt on the last hole for my birdie and the opportunity to skite about beating the pro on the 18th! I really enjoyed the nine holes with Brad though and came away thinking that he will only be good for the Waitemata Golf Club and local golfers.

Waitemata Golf Club, 15 Derby Street, Devonport. Phone 09 445 8716. email: admin@waitematagolf.co.nz Visit: www.waitematagolf.co.nz