As Channel Seven’s “man on the ground” at Australia’s most prestigious tournaments for more than 30 years, no one knows better than Pat Welsh the importance of being in position.
In tracking the finest players to have graced our fairways since joining Channel Seven’s coverage of the Australian Masters in the mid-1980s, Welsh has had a better vantage point than perhaps anyone else in Australian golf.
So if you’re in the gallery at RACV Royal Pines throughout the four days of the Australian PGA Championship, following the footsteps of Welsh is perhaps the first piece of advice, the second coming from the man himself.
“Find the nearest pie stand – that’s crucial – and just enjoy your day out.”
Given its place as the home of the Australian PGA Championship, in his redesign of the course Graham Marsh factored into the layout places for fans to congregate – and there are two in particular that Welsh says provide some terrific viewing opportunities.
“I love to get where you can watch a couple of holes,” Welsh tells Australian Golf Digest. “I tend to go to areas around a green where you can also see a tee so you can get double the pleasure.
“Depending upon where they put the tee, they can drive eight and you’ve got a nice high vantage point right behind the eighth green which is right beside nine tee, which they almost always go at with driver.
“You can even look across the water from the little hillocks at the back of eight and see what’s happening with the second shots into seven, you can pick up what’s happening on seven green and then coming up eight is great, particular if the tee is forward and they can go at the green.”
The other spot that Welsh highlights may seem obvious from the hole number, but it is not actually the position where most fans flock to.
While the Lexus Marquee provides an unparalleled view of the Soniq Million Dollar Hole – the par-3 16th – Welsh likes combining the excitement of the tournament’s final one-shotter with the red numbers on offer at the par-5 15th.
“Of course, the stands behind the 16th green, which is now the Million Dollar Hole, is a very popular place for fans who might be getting a bit thirsty by that stage, but there’s actually a really nice spot around the tee at 16,” he says. “From there you can track them coming up the par-5 15th and then watch them have some eagle and birdie putts on 15 green. Then you can turn around and watch them hit their tee shots over the water into 16 green.
“It’s an area that tends to be under-appreciated because they all want to get up near the green, but if you sit at the 15th green you can watch them have a chance at making eagle and then you’ve got the tee shots at the hole-in-one hole.
“There’s a really good viewing area on the left side of 16 as well where you’re not going to be caught up in the crowd so much.”
Four more spots to watch the PGA at RACV Royal Pines
Behind the second green
Here gives you a perfect look at the iron shots at the par-3 second, plus unimpeded views across the water to the groups on the par-5 ninth, as well as a view of the tee shots at the third.
Behind the fifth green
A par 3 that can be difficult to navigate in a crosswind, behind the fifth green allows you to see players hit their approach shots into four and putt out, all the action of the fifth and then turn around and see them tee off down the short par-4 sixth.
Behind the 14th green
The longest par 3 on the golf course has played as one of the toughest holes in each of the PGAs played on the new layout. A position behind the green enables you to watch players hit their second into 13, try their best at 14 and then tee off with driver down 15.
Area around the first and 10th tees and the 18th green
There’s no better place to be than in the grandstand around the 18th green late on Sunday but with the first and 10th tees also close by, not to mention the practice green, it’s a great place to get your bearings, wait for a group to come through or perhaps snare a post-round autograph from your favourite player.
