March 7, 2025 • 7 mins
Craig is a very well-respected golf professional who has had stints at Clearwater, Pegasus and Harewood Golf Clubs among others.
This week we catch up with him thanks to the support of the Elmwood Trading Company at the NZPGA Championship at Hastings Golf Club.
This event immediately after the NZ Open at Queenstown has a lot of the Australasian top players there competing alongside Craig, who qualifies for the ‘Legends’ over 50’s tour of Australasia at the same time as commanding an entry by way of his standing on the PGA NZ Tour.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Okay, right, Well let's go to the resident professional at
the Hereward Golf Club, and of course this is an
association with the Elmwood Trading Company. Mister Craig Mitchell joined us.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning, Leslie. How are you look?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I'm very good, but you're not here in christ Each
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I am in Bridge Parker. I am in Hastings playing
in the nz PGA Championship.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh fantastic, Well tell us how you got there.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, it's a bit of a long story, but a
couple of seasons ago I won the New Zealand Club
Pro Championship and as part of the when I got
to start in this event, which is quite large. It's
co sanctioned for the Australasian Tour. So the fields full
of young twenty five year old males that hit the
ball forever.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
You'd be loving that.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Not really when you're fifty seven. It's a bit of
a sight to see. But I keep telling myself that
part is the great neutralizer. That's what I tell myself.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I just fantastic that you're playing and you're still so competitive.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, I do enjoy it. I got to say I
love golf. I played golf for a long time and
just to be here and I'm actually staying with some
friends and there's some good banter and camaraderie, so it's
been quite good. Actually it's been great.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So how did you get involved in golf? What was
your background? Your story?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Well, I live next to Ascot golf course in christ
Church and I used to find golf balls and sell
golf balls and I paid for green fees and it
sort of went from there, So that's pretty much. I
guess it was just opportunity. It was just the fact
that I lived close to a golf course and it
went from there, I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And you're a young nipper then.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Ten years old, so mom and dad never saw me
in the weekend or during the week I was gone, oh, well.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
It sounds good to me. That's what we all should
be doing. But I guess that's another story these days.
But you know, you are such a respected person within
the golfing community, obviously not just here but around the country.
And the friendships that you build up and you know,
what are some of your best recollections of what you've
done in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Oh, my god, there's a question. I've had a few
different jobs, which has been really interesting. I was at
Russy for eight years and then I worked at Clearwater
for seven years and Pegasus for four years, so just
the variety and currently ad here what I've been there
eleven years. But I guess it's just the people you
meet along the way. You're in a position that you
(02:28):
can sort of help people and they're very grateful and
they don't have to be. People think you've got to
be a good golfer to have lessons, but I mean
I enjoy helping everybody. In fact, my wife is a
new golfer and she's very new to golf and on
a Sunday we go out and I give her a
lesson and we play nine holes and just the joy
that she's getting from the game, and it's just fun
(02:50):
to be part of her journey. She's doing so well
and I'm so proud of her. But it just sort
of brings it home again when you're teaching someone that
you're you know, someone you love amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And also I think you know, when you're in a sport,
do you want people to experience success too? Don't you
You want to know that you're getting better, So having
that expert help is so important.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, just everyone's on their own journey, and I guess
you're just trying to help them be the best version
of themselves. And it's just very enjoyable. I guess the
difficult thing is perhaps sort of tailoring the level of
instruction to the pupil you've got in front of you.
That can be the difficult thing, getting it through without
sort of confusing the person. Nobody wants to go home
(03:32):
with more questions and answers.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Well, I mean that's part of your skill, isn't it
Reading the person?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
True, there's a big part of that. So just finding
out about them, you know, what they want from golf,
how much time they've got to practice, Have they had
a hip replacement, have they got a sore neck? I mean,
all of those things that you can really tailor the
instruction to them individually. That's that's the joy of it.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
All the things that I'm really interested in is when
things aren't going well, how do you bring that back
when you're in the middle of a game.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Well, that is the hard thing. And I think one
of the things I try and sort of instill with
my pupils is if things aren't going right, how do
they put the wheels back on to them, so to speak.
So they're not reliant on me because unfortunately I'm not
out with them when they're playing golf on their own.
So they have to be able to sort of understand
(04:31):
their own game and what they need to do, perhaps
what their tendencies are when they're not playing well to
get back on track. But got to be honest, some
days best player in the world can't put it back
on track. So it's just a very difficult game.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, and that's the attraction of it, isn't it really
for people is to try and conquer something that is
incredibly difficult.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Oh my word, you absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Who are some of the big names that you've played
with in the past.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I had to played golf with Brian Lara, So I'm
a bit of a cricket fan, and probably late sort
of ninety seven ninety eight, he played it roughly and
he was looking for someone ever game with. So I
had a game with Brian Lara and it was quite
freaky in the regard. You know, I was watching the
cricket the day before, watching him, and then next day
(05:23):
I'm actually playing golf with him. So that was really cool.
Couldn't believe how small he was. He was the smallest
person I've ever seen in the world, and you know,
and I looked up to him and Sash and Ten
Dolka at the time, so very fortunate of a game
of golf with him. Another time, I had nine holes
with Carl Nabel, the great Australian golfer who won the
(05:45):
British Open in nineteen sixty and he was mid sixties
then and he was just having a practice round. So
I sort of plucked up the courage to ask him
if I could join him, and he said yes, and
that was very memorable.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
It's phenomenal really when you think that got great memory
as you have. But if you know, we've talked a
little bit about other people's game, what about your game
if it's not going right, when you get time to
look at it and take it apart and practice well.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I play golf once a week, so I work full
time for here with golf club. But I try and
hit a bucket of balls every day. I try and
make that a minimum. So I like to do it
early because at the end of the day, I don't
want to know about golf. It's want to go home.
So I get there early, and I hit a bucket
of balls every day, and I do a little bit
of stretching. It's not a lot, but I've got this
(06:36):
thing in the back of my mind that a little
bit every day is better than nothing at all, so
I try and do that on a regular basis.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Well, there's still obviously room for great gentlemen with wonderful
values and ethics, and that is what you are, Craig Mitchall,
thank you so much for chatting to us here and
all the very best up in Hastings the NZPGA.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Thank you, Leslie. I've enjoyed speaking to you.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It has been great for more from News talks'b us
and live on air or online, and keep
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio
Okay, right, Well let's go to the resident professional at
the Hereward Golf Club, and of course this is an
association with the Elmwood Trading Company. Mister Craig Mitchell joined us.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning, Leslie. How are you look?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I'm very good, but you're not here in christ Each
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I am in Bridge Parker. I am in Hastings playing
in the nz PGA Championship.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh fantastic, Well tell us how you got there.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, it's a bit of a long story, but a
couple of seasons ago I won the New Zealand Club
Pro Championship and as part of the when I got
to start in this event, which is quite large. It's
co sanctioned for the Australasian Tour. So the fields full
of young twenty five year old males that hit the
ball forever.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
You'd be loving that.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Not really when you're fifty seven. It's a bit of
a sight to see. But I keep telling myself that
part is the great neutralizer. That's what I tell myself.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I just fantastic that you're playing and you're still so competitive.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, I do enjoy it. I got to say I
love golf. I played golf for a long time and
just to be here and I'm actually staying with some
friends and there's some good banter and camaraderie, so it's
been quite good. Actually it's been great.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So how did you get involved in golf? What was
your background? Your story?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Well, I live next to Ascot golf course in christ
Church and I used to find golf balls and sell
golf balls and I paid for green fees and it
sort of went from there, So that's pretty much. I
guess it was just opportunity. It was just the fact
that I lived close to a golf course and it
went from there, I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
And you're a young nipper then.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Ten years old, so mom and dad never saw me
in the weekend or during the week I was gone, oh, well.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
It sounds good to me. That's what we all should
be doing. But I guess that's another story these days.
But you know, you are such a respected person within
the golfing community, obviously not just here but around the country.
And the friendships that you build up and you know,
what are some of your best recollections of what you've
done in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Oh, my god, there's a question. I've had a few
different jobs, which has been really interesting. I was at
Russy for eight years and then I worked at Clearwater
for seven years and Pegasus for four years, so just
the variety and currently ad here what I've been there
eleven years. But I guess it's just the people you
meet along the way. You're in a position that you
(02:28):
can sort of help people and they're very grateful and
they don't have to be. People think you've got to
be a good golfer to have lessons, but I mean
I enjoy helping everybody. In fact, my wife is a
new golfer and she's very new to golf and on
a Sunday we go out and I give her a
lesson and we play nine holes and just the joy
that she's getting from the game, and it's just fun
(02:50):
to be part of her journey. She's doing so well
and I'm so proud of her. But it just sort
of brings it home again when you're teaching someone that
you're you know, someone you love amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And also I think you know, when you're in a sport,
do you want people to experience success too? Don't you
You want to know that you're getting better, So having
that expert help is so important.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, just everyone's on their own journey, and I guess
you're just trying to help them be the best version
of themselves. And it's just very enjoyable. I guess the
difficult thing is perhaps sort of tailoring the level of
instruction to the pupil you've got in front of you.
That can be the difficult thing, getting it through without
sort of confusing the person. Nobody wants to go home
(03:32):
with more questions and answers.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Well, I mean that's part of your skill, isn't it
Reading the person?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
True, there's a big part of that. So just finding
out about them, you know, what they want from golf,
how much time they've got to practice, Have they had
a hip replacement, have they got a sore neck? I mean,
all of those things that you can really tailor the
instruction to them individually. That's that's the joy of it.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
All the things that I'm really interested in is when
things aren't going well, how do you bring that back
when you're in the middle of a game.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Well, that is the hard thing. And I think one
of the things I try and sort of instill with
my pupils is if things aren't going right, how do
they put the wheels back on to them, so to speak.
So they're not reliant on me because unfortunately I'm not
out with them when they're playing golf on their own.
So they have to be able to sort of understand
(04:31):
their own game and what they need to do, perhaps
what their tendencies are when they're not playing well to
get back on track. But got to be honest, some
days best player in the world can't put it back
on track. So it's just a very difficult game.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, and that's the attraction of it, isn't it really
for people is to try and conquer something that is
incredibly difficult.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Oh my word, you absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Who are some of the big names that you've played
with in the past.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I had to played golf with Brian Lara, So I'm
a bit of a cricket fan, and probably late sort
of ninety seven ninety eight, he played it roughly and
he was looking for someone ever game with. So I
had a game with Brian Lara and it was quite
freaky in the regard. You know, I was watching the
cricket the day before, watching him, and then next day
(05:23):
I'm actually playing golf with him. So that was really cool.
Couldn't believe how small he was. He was the smallest
person I've ever seen in the world, and you know,
and I looked up to him and Sash and Ten
Dolka at the time, so very fortunate of a game
of golf with him. Another time, I had nine holes
with Carl Nabel, the great Australian golfer who won the
(05:45):
British Open in nineteen sixty and he was mid sixties
then and he was just having a practice round. So
I sort of plucked up the courage to ask him
if I could join him, and he said yes, and
that was very memorable.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
It's phenomenal really when you think that got great memory
as you have. But if you know, we've talked a
little bit about other people's game, what about your game
if it's not going right, when you get time to
look at it and take it apart and practice well.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I play golf once a week, so I work full
time for here with golf club. But I try and
hit a bucket of balls every day. I try and
make that a minimum. So I like to do it
early because at the end of the day, I don't
want to know about golf. It's want to go home.
So I get there early, and I hit a bucket
of balls every day, and I do a little bit
of stretching. It's not a lot, but I've got this
(06:36):
thing in the back of my mind that a little
bit every day is better than nothing at all, so
I try and do that on a regular basis.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Well, there's still obviously room for great gentlemen with wonderful
values and ethics, and that is what you are, Craig Mitchall,
thank you so much for chatting to us here and
all the very best up in Hastings the NZPGA.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Thank you, Leslie. I've enjoyed speaking to you.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It has been great for more from News talks'b us
and live on air or online, and keep
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio
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