Written By : ILISAPECI MARAMA. What a week the first week of the Professionals swing through the Pacific has been, with some great golf being displayed. The first event on the calendar was the Air New Zealand Koru Club Pro-Am over 2 days last weekend at Denarau, it needed a sudden death playoff to decide the winner as Nick Gillespie and Jarrod Pender were tied at 11 under par.
The pair played the 18th hole twice before Jarrod Pender was victorious. At the same time the Blue Gas Nadi Open was being fought out at the Nadi Airport Golf Course, again a Sudden death playoff was needed to decide the winner as defending champion Anuresh Chandra and Olaf Allen Jnr were tied after the 3 rounds, Olaf was successful on the first sudden hole of sudden death.
Wednesday saw the guys head to the Shangri-la’s Fijian Resort and Spa for a 1 day event, a large field was in attendance to see 3 players tie for the title at 5 under par, Nick Gillespie, Alex Tait and Andrew Henare shared the spoils. Thursday the field assembled at Natadola Bay for the Club Car Pro-Am, the scoring was again good as Brad Shilton took the title with the lowest round ever to be shot at Natadola at 6 under par 66, Brenden Stuart and Mark Purser shared second with 3 under 69’s.
The field now heads to The Pearl for the Digicel Fiji Open which will be held over the 3 days of the long weekend. A capacity field will take on the Robert Trent Jones Jnr layout and those interested seeing some great golf should head down for a look.
The winners of the lead up events will all be there and will be joined by defending champion Mike Hendry and past winner Mathew Griffin.
On the amateur front our National boys will be trying to stop the title from going off shore as they take on players from Australia and New Zealand, Vikrant Chandra the winner of the Fiji Amateur will be trying to hold off Olaf Allen Jnr the newly crowned Nadi Open Champ and team mates Anuresh Chandra and Roneel Prakash and don’t be surprised if the later of the 4 causes an upset. What better way to wrap up a long weekend than sipping a cool beverage at the clubhouse as you watch these players battle it out for the National Title, all visitors are welcome to come and watch.

The last event of the Fiji leg of the Pacific swing is the Starwood Classic from the 15th to the 18th at Denarau and Natadola Bay, all players will play 2 rounds on each course. The event has the largest purse played for in some time in Fiji of $110,000 and all credit to Shane Cunning and the Starwood team for raising it and guaranteeing such a strong field attends all these events.

Events for the Coming Week:
Natadola Bay
l Wednesday – Ladies competition all welcome meet at the pro-shop at 9am
l Saturday 18th – Monthly Medal Stroke played from the blue tees, call 6733500 for bookings

The Pearl
lWednesday – Single Stableford from the member’s tees commencing at 10:00am all golfers holding official handicaps welcome.
l Saturday 18th – Single Stableford from the member’s tees commencing at 10:00am all golfers holding official handicaps welcome.
Nadi Airport – Saturday competitions run for all with valid handicaps. Contact 6722148 for further details.
Suva Golf Club – 14th June – Stroke event – sponsored by Fiji Chemicals. Phone the club on 3382872
Special Offer – Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa + Natadola Bay Golf Course
From FJ$338 per room twin share and inclusive of taxes, the package features buffet breakfast in Sanasana Restaurant with overnight accommodation in a Garden View Room. Children under 12 stay and eat for free existing bedding. Add FJ$50 to include dinner for two adults at Sanasana Restaurant. Local identification will be required at the time of check in.
Combine this with a fantastic golf rate $67.50 per person for 18 holes, shared cart and practice balls prior to play for local residents staying at the Intercontinental Hotel until the end of June 2011, Stay 3 nights and be upgraded to unlimited golf for the same price for duration of stay.
Plus present your FNPF card when you dine at our food and beverage outlets to receive 15% discount until June 30th 2011. Call the hotel on 6733 455 to book your escape.

Helpful Hints:
Key to consistency
There is a saying in life that we don’t prepare to fail, we fail to prepare. The same can be said for golf, every player that is successful in the golfing world has a pre-shot routine. This is the building block for a repetitive game and finding one that works for you is imperative to lowering your score. I keep mine fairly simple, I start by standing the ball looking at the target and picturing where I want the ball to start and the flight it will take. I have 2 practice swigs whilst behind the ball both imbedding in my mind the positive flight of the ball and it landing beside my desired target. I then select my balls starting point (normally a twig or a piece of grass a few inches in front of the ball) I take my stance aligning the clubface to my target first and the placing my feet in place parallel to my target.
I look at the target one more time waggle the club head twice and make my swing.
This will not always guarantee the desired result (as those who have played with me can attest to) but it surely gives you a much better chance.
To all those playing in the Fiji Open or the Starwood Classic I wish you all good luck and until next week enjoy your golf.