When I received my July issue of Compleat Golfer and saw myself staring up from the cover with the words ‘I’m starting a whole new chapter’, it really made me do a sort of ‘double-take’.
I mean, I have always been a golfer and my entire outlook from when I was at school was to make it in the difficult world of professional golf. Some kids want to be doctors, firemen, pilots, vets or lawyers, but you could have asked me since the year dot and I would have said, ‘I want to be a professional golfer’.
Now, these words – ‘I’m starting a whole new chapter’ – were there staring up at me and it shows me how my life is changing, even though I’m still ‘only’ 33.
I’ve become involved in the business side of things and there are lots of things going on. I’ve got my wines, my restaurant, my travel and various other things; watching them grow is always a good feeling. And the growth depends on how well I play; it affects the business side. The more I play well, the more other stuff picks up and it motivates me to play even better.
Now I’ve got the opportunity to get into golf course design with the Malkovich Group and that in itself is a huge honour and an exciting advancement.
I’ve always said that if I didn’t play golf I’d be a struggling farmer! Everyone knows about my love for the farm life – living on it, helping my dad and brother around the place, checking out all the new equipment and so on. I’ve always been a farm boy; I love the scenery and the kids love it too. I enjoy the lifestyle associated with farming.
But, first and foremost, I’m a golfer. I always had a ‘Plan A’ and never a ‘Plan B’. I am blessed to be able to say that golf has come together for me to be able to chase my goals and allow me to now have a ‘Plan B’, which includes expanding my business and helping build for the future for myself and my family.
What has also changed now is that a lot of my spare time is spent looking at my emails and replying to them. Having never been a ‘desk-bound’ person and having a love for the outdoors, I’m now having to reply to those needing to talk to me about the business side of things and I must say it can be time-consuming, but it’s also very exciting.
My priority now is to get back among the wins and there are a couple of important events and tournaments coming up. I’m looking forward to challenging for titles and making the most of this new ‘energy’ and direction I’m headed in!
