MY LIFE IN GOLF: JACK RIEWOLDT
We talk exclusively to the Richmond Tigers forward, two-time All-Australian and veteran of more than 220 AFL games about how he caught the golf bug and what the game means to him.
Matt Cleary talks exclusively to the Richmond Tigers forward about how he caught the golf bug and what the game means to him.
Igrew up in Hobart next to Bellerive Oval. Mum and dad were PE teachers so we were into every sport growing up. The local golf course was Rosny Park and we’d have a bash every now and again. I also played at Tasmania Golf Club as a junior. But I never really played often enough to be any good. When I moved over to Melbourne with footy I got right into it. I’d play golf on days o, in the oseason, whenever I got a chance. The bug really bit. In my second year at the Tigers a small group of us played in a golf “tournament” down at Moonah Links. It was only 810 of us. A supporter of the club was a member down there and teed it up. So we’d play golf and afterwards go back to his house for a barbecue dinner. It became an annual thing, and grew and grew. It went to like 30 guys, and kept growing so much that today we actually hire out Moonah Links for a whole day in January. It’s like a corporate day. We get explayers down, guys take partners on winery tours. It’s a great weekend. It’s amazing how infectious the game is, how addictive. It’s amazing how much you want to compete against yourself, to continually get better. I got an ocial handicap
about five years ago and now I’m down to 2.1, though it fluctuates, I’ve been a little lower. I have really good rounds and some dud ones. Depends how I’m feeling post game. I play at The National, so it can depend on the wind. I’ve never had a hole-in-one but I reckon I’m still pretty lucky as a golfer. I’m positive on the course. I can hit bad shots but still look at the positive side of things. I’ve got a mate who’s a pretty good player, he could play o 5 or 20, any given day. But he’s got a horrible temperament. He’s so negative about things. He’ll hit a shot into a hazard and think it’s ruined his day. I’ll think I can make par, or a good bogey. One of my greatest strengths is mindset. The rest of my game is okay without there being one outstanding thing. I putt okay, drive it okay, I’m reasonably long. I’m serviceable in most areas. I suppose I’m fairly consistent. Though like everyone you’d like to be playing consistently well all the time. I’ve played golf a bit overseas. I’ve played Kauri Cli s in New Zealand. Played 36 holes in a day in an absolute gale. I had a blast but I was beaten up a bit. Played golf in Phoenix, at TPC Scottsdale, the one with the Stadium Hole. Would love to play in Scotland, Ireland, England and see where the game began. And, obviously, would love to get to Augusta for the Masters. Would love to take the old man there one day. I do love playing new courses but I’m actually loving playing in Tasmania at the moment. I’m really excited about Tassie golf. There’s Barnbougle, King Island, obviously. But there’s all these projects going on. Arm End in Opossum Bay out of Hobart. Mat Goggin’s doing something at Seven Mile Beach. Barnbougle’s a three-hour drive from Hobart. I play there often as I can. I’ve also been to King Island a few times, have some great mates that live there. Took some of the younger players from Richmond down, went fishing, surfing, had a blast. Being from Tasmania, I’m actually really proud of the golfing industry. We’re so lucky that we’ve got these world-class – and public – golf courses right on our doorstep. The owner of Barnbougle, Richard Sattler, is an amazing bloke. He’s a good family friend of ours. My uncle Joe, Nick’s father, used to work there. The Barnbougle pro, Ross Banks, went to school with my parents. It’s an old story but it’s amazing that Richard took a bit of land used for potato farming – and I think at one stage he was supplying McDonald’s with one out of every five french fries – and turned it into a world-class golf course. It’s amazing that they could see the potential, much less do
I’M POSITIVE ON THE COURSE. I CAN HIT BAD SHOTS BUT STILL LOOK AT THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS. – JACK RIEWOLDT
something about it. I’ve met some great guys though golf. Marc Leishman’s a Richmond supporter. He and his caddy came down to the club, they’re Warrnambool boys. We had a hit on Punt Road, hitting golf shots through the goals. Also played with James Nitties, Mattie Stieger, Jason Norris. I ask about golf, they ask about footy. Good blokes. Great golfers. Playing those pro ams, it’s amazing even to just stand on the range, watch them hit balls.
I’ve always loved watching Freddie Couples hit the ball. I try to model myself on him. I’m not really anything like him but I try! You’re always trying to pick up bits and pieces. I’ll ask the pros how to play certain shots. As a professional footy player, you’re always looking at yourself, grading performance to the last inch. It’s a professional attitude, about habit of behaviour. My set shot goal kicking, for instance, is one thing I’ve taken from golf into footy. Putting and kicking for goal, for me, is about feel. It’s about repetition, to an extent. But my goal kicking, I don’t have a routine. I sort of just focus on the last two-three steps and getting a pure strike on the footy. It’s a real tactile thing, I like to feel it. And that’s how I like to putt. There’s a few good golfers in the AFL. There’s one absolute burglar and that’s Sammy Lloyd, a kid from our footy club. He hits the ball as good as anyone, smashes it, hits 5-iron as far as I hit 3-iron. His mum was a very good player, she’s Ladies President at Deniliquin. There’s also Brendon Goddard, good mate of mine. We have very competitive matches. Nick, my cousin, is not as good but he’s one of those blokes that likes to think he is. He’s also a shocking cheat, but his old man is too! It’s hereditary! We have some great fun. The camaraderie of the game is something I love about it, though there’s a pretty long list. I read golf magazines, I watch it on the TV, check my handicap on the Internet. I’m into equipment. I’ve just been fitted out with a new set of Callaways. Got all the little sensor balls on me, saw my swing on the computer. It was pretty cool. Playing team sport is fantastic and I’m truly lucky to be able to do it for a living. And I take that competitive spirit into golf. I’m always trying to beat the course, beat myself. I love those Ambrose days, playing in a little team, winning stu. Basically I like winning! Whether it’s a Saturday or Sunday comp, or getting my handicap down from 2.1 to 1.9. Love the competition. The addictive side of golf, for me, really appeals. And it is borderline addiction. I just love it.
NICK, MY COUSIN, IS NOT AS GOOD BUT HE’S ONE OF THOSE BLOKES THAT LIKES TO THINK HE IS. HE’S ALSO A SHOCKING CHEAT, BUT HIS OLD MAN IS TOO! – JACK RIEWOLDT