October 25, 2024 • 8 mins
A favourite for this weekend’s Canterbury Matchplay Championship, Sam McGill has had quite the journey in his golfing career.
He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his career to date, the support from his family, and what we can expect from him in the championship at Pegasus.
Thanks to Elmwood Trading Company.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are an association with the Onward Trading Company. Let's go
to Sam McGill because the Canterbury match Play Championships are
meant to start today. Over the weekend they will go
and Sam, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
How are we today?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Look, thank you very much first of all on match
day to come to chat with us.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Obviously the match to day match Play Champs are out
at Pikas's Golf in Sports Club, and we know what
a magnificent course that is, but I guess until you
get there you won't know the condition of it.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah. Correct, This morning I was meant to be playing
club champs at Clear, would have got two rounds of
qualifying and I was busy last weekend, so I had
to make up two rounds this week and one of
them was this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
And got a message out and have about six and
say that the course is closed.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So I'm guessing if there's some puddles on the end
out there, they might be caught off, but haven't got
the message yet.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So Sam, that would have been a long day of golf.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Oh well, saying that, Lesliet, couple of weeks, I've played
seventy two holes.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
As of last weekend. We had the South Island into
provincials down here, which are all the South Island teams
like Tasmin the Targo ouring his Southland. And yes, that
was a big weekend last weekend. It was about ninety
holes all together. So it was a good weekend and
we come away with the win, which is even better.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Fantastic. That's even better because you've got well into provincials
in christ Church in December.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, correct, So yeah, that's a five man team six
six or six man six man team with one reserve.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
So it's the first week of December. Neo.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Cool to get the call.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Up and it should be great.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Phone's just cutting out a little bit, but mostly it's okay,
so we'll keep going with it.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Tell us a little bit about your journey, where you
started and why Mike Godenay has got you as a
favorite to win the Cannery match Play Championships.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Oh, it's nice of Mike, I think that.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It all started when I was younger, really, when I
was about seven or eight years old. I used to
live pretty close to Scott Golf Course used to be
a pat three golf course back in the day. And yeah,
grew up with a mate around there and over to
one Marie Beach. I'm good greenkeeper. The Andrew Gorin, he
pretty much he led the way as a greenkeeper, and yeah,
(02:15):
pretty much didn't look back.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
But when I was about eighteen, I kind of gave
it away for.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Ten years, had a family, got a beautiful wife and
three kids, so I'm pretty busy. So yeah, I'm just
thankful that, you.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Know, obviously COVID come around and got back on the
got back on the sticks, and yeah, my wife's been
with me ever since. Yeah, every step of the way,
so it's great for her support so that I can
go out and play golf. So it's great fun. Love it.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, good on here for letting you out, I thought, so, lady. Yeah,
well I'm loving that. I think that's nice to give
the kudos where it's deserved. Absolutely. So what influenced you though?
What has been the biggest golf influence for you?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Oh, influence as well obviously as a young fellow growing up.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Tigerbviously the main one. But like I said, they had
kids and went away for the game for ten years,
and I kind of came when COVID hit and I just, yeah,
obviously just fell in love even more as a young kid.
Like even as a young as a young fellow, I
wasn't as good as what I feel like I am today.
And yeah, if I was ten years younger, I love
(03:21):
to give it a.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Good old crack.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
But like I say, it's just yeah, a lot of influencers.
He's a good he's a good.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Amount of camaraderie around Kennerby at the moment, Like there's
he likes a youngeping coeper more. He's sixteen years old,
and he's another prodigy.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
For Kennry Golf.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
He's going to be you know, he's going to be
a superstar.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And the likes of Kazooma Kabori those fellows, you know,
and I've always got a good pathway for the young.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Fellows as well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
You know, always can have a young too, So yeah,
there's always a lot of inspiration there. But like I said,
I just thought for a bit of fun, and like
you know, I'm pretty natural, naturally talented, and I guess
pretty gifted at the same time. So I just enjoy it,
you know what I mean. Like I don't practice as
hard as all these young followers, but like I say,
I love the game and I love going out competing
(04:03):
and beating people.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
To be honest, well, I'm loving that. I'm loving that
you're confident and that you back yourself to do all this.
And look, that's actually you mentioned Cooper. Well we've been
lucky enough to speak to him as well, but you're
about the third golfer that we've spoken to in this
Onward Trading Company part of our show that has talked
about him. So you know, he's got great opportunities in
(04:24):
the future to go big places. And quickly, let's go
back to the match play. What's your game plan for
the pickers of golf course if you get under way today?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Not really too much of a game plan, to be honest, Like,
it's a lot like water out there. Off one, if
you got off the tea, you can pretty much get
it on the green and hopefully hold a few parts.
But it's all about just getting off the tea around
there because it is it can be quite tight and
there's a few good booty holes out there, and obviously
with all this rain, with it being soft, a lot
(04:56):
of the guys obviously.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Want to be fine straight at the pin. So, like
I say, it's just getting away today and getting that
top sixteen spot and then hopefully make it through it
all Sunday and that's when Degreedy comes down to it
and hopefully play a couple of mchannary teammates and we
will play well and have a big have a big
sell off for the crowd, and you just enjoy the
weekend hopefully, hopefully, hopefully all goes all well. I've got
(05:22):
the kids, so that's that's always nice.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
If you said because of the last couple of weekends.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
So, like I say, with that her support, I wouldn't
be where I am today. I've I've got run a
full time business as well, so I'm pretty busy. But yeah,
like I say, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't
be able to play golf for fun and actually beat people.
So yeah, that's great.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What's your name, Alessandra?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Is your name?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Very good? Oh well, Alessandra, we are very blessed to
know a little bit more about you and your support
which is clearly paying very big diffidends for Sam McGill,
the golfer.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I appreciate it very much, and I'm sure she would
as well. She do you, Like I say everybody, if
it wasn't for I've been in some dark places as
a young fellow, and if it wasn't here, I'm I'm
very grateful for her in my life, and I changed
my life around to be with her. And I've got
three young, beautiful girls. I've got yeah, five, seven and eleven.
And yeah, like I say, Laf's great and I can
(06:22):
play golf at the same time, which is even better.
And yeah, it's great living a pretty pretty great life
to be honestie, So hopefully it continues, and hopefully get
away this weekend and play some good golf.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Oh fantastic. Look. Can I just ask about your three
lovely little girls. Do they play any sport?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So I've just got a me middle girl, Harlowe, she's
seen almost about to be eight.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I've just got her into golf out at Cleeland.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
She's been playing for about six months and I just
hitting balls and I've got her a couple of lessons.
So they've just got a new facility out there, the
Super Bob Yeah, Bob Child's facility.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
It's magnificent.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, it's teen out of tenants. It's an amazing facility. And
I'm quite lucky to know Todd Heller out at Clear
Order who obviously it's a it's a lot, that's a
big part of him.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
And yeah, so she's out there practicing. She's out there
practicing and getting a bit of coaching out there from
a lady called Jeff Read and Rodney Need. It's out there.
So it's great. And you know, hopefully I can, you know,
for sure, to be something that you know that I
wish I could have been as well. So let's hope
that she loves it just as much as I do.
(07:32):
She's got a good wee swing on her.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
So right, well, I do need to remind you there's
a very good career path for little girl cricketers as well. Good.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I just I just heard it on the interview before
about old Macca.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I played golf with Macro Addict Clear Order, old Craignant
Mill and he's a he's a lovely guy. But yeah,
I like I say, if they can all play golf,
they can all play cricket too, because a lot of
good there's a lot of good golfers the cricketers too.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Right, absolutely, absolutely look saying this has been a real
treasure talking to you, and we're going to keep an
eye on what happens at the can of rematch play
champs out at Pigas's Golf and Sports Club, and I
hope that you get under way at midday. But you've
been a true champ. And if any if ever there
was a champ Alexandre, your wife is a very bigger
one than you. Anyway, it's been revealing and I've loved
(08:16):
the interview. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Oh, thanks so much, Ludie.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Like I say, I appreciate the appreciate the pocal and
the support and here give me ghost bump. Thanks you
talking about it.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
A you have a lovely day.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I will indeed go well. We'll look for your name
and the headlines.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Cheers, Leaslie, Bob bye bye.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
For more from News Talks b listen live on air
or online, and
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Are an association with the Onward Trading Company. Let's go
to Sam McGill because the Canterbury match Play Championships are
meant to start today. Over the weekend they will go
and Sam, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
How are we today?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Look, thank you very much first of all on match
day to come to chat with us.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Obviously the match to day match Play Champs are out
at Pikas's Golf in Sports Club, and we know what
a magnificent course that is, but I guess until you
get there you won't know the condition of it.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah. Correct, This morning I was meant to be playing
club champs at Clear, would have got two rounds of
qualifying and I was busy last weekend, so I had
to make up two rounds this week and one of
them was this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
And got a message out and have about six and
say that the course is closed.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
So I'm guessing if there's some puddles on the end
out there, they might be caught off, but haven't got
the message yet.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So Sam, that would have been a long day of golf.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Oh well, saying that, Lesliet, couple of weeks, I've played
seventy two holes.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
As of last weekend. We had the South Island into
provincials down here, which are all the South Island teams
like Tasmin the Targo ouring his Southland. And yes, that
was a big weekend last weekend. It was about ninety
holes all together. So it was a good weekend and
we come away with the win, which is even better.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Fantastic. That's even better because you've got well into provincials
in christ Church in December.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, correct, So yeah, that's a five man team six
six or six man six man team with one reserve.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
So it's the first week of December. Neo.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Cool to get the call.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Up and it should be great.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Phone's just cutting out a little bit, but mostly it's okay,
so we'll keep going with it.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Tell us a little bit about your journey, where you
started and why Mike Godenay has got you as a
favorite to win the Cannery match Play Championships.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Oh, it's nice of Mike, I think that.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It all started when I was younger, really, when I
was about seven or eight years old. I used to
live pretty close to Scott Golf Course used to be
a pat three golf course back in the day. And yeah,
grew up with a mate around there and over to
one Marie Beach. I'm good greenkeeper. The Andrew Gorin, he
pretty much he led the way as a greenkeeper, and yeah,
(02:15):
pretty much didn't look back.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
But when I was about eighteen, I kind of gave
it away for.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Ten years, had a family, got a beautiful wife and
three kids, so I'm pretty busy. So yeah, I'm just
thankful that, you.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Know, obviously COVID come around and got back on the
got back on the sticks, and yeah, my wife's been
with me ever since. Yeah, every step of the way,
so it's great for her support so that I can
go out and play golf. So it's great fun. Love it.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, good on here for letting you out, I thought, so, lady. Yeah,
well I'm loving that. I think that's nice to give
the kudos where it's deserved. Absolutely. So what influenced you though?
What has been the biggest golf influence for you?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Oh, influence as well obviously as a young fellow growing up.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Tigerbviously the main one. But like I said, they had
kids and went away for the game for ten years,
and I kind of came when COVID hit and I just, yeah,
obviously just fell in love even more as a young kid.
Like even as a young as a young fellow, I
wasn't as good as what I feel like I am today.
And yeah, if I was ten years younger, I love
(03:21):
to give it a.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Good old crack.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
But like I say, it's just yeah, a lot of influencers.
He's a good he's a good.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Amount of camaraderie around Kennerby at the moment, Like there's
he likes a youngeping coeper more. He's sixteen years old,
and he's another prodigy.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
For Kennry Golf.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
He's going to be you know, he's going to be
a superstar.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And the likes of Kazooma Kabori those fellows, you know,
and I've always got a good pathway for the young.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Fellows as well.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
You know, always can have a young too, So yeah,
there's always a lot of inspiration there. But like I said,
I just thought for a bit of fun, and like
you know, I'm pretty natural, naturally talented, and I guess
pretty gifted at the same time. So I just enjoy it,
you know what I mean. Like I don't practice as
hard as all these young followers, but like I say,
I love the game and I love going out competing
(04:03):
and beating people.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
To be honest, well, I'm loving that. I'm loving that
you're confident and that you back yourself to do all this.
And look, that's actually you mentioned Cooper. Well we've been
lucky enough to speak to him as well, but you're
about the third golfer that we've spoken to in this
Onward Trading Company part of our show that has talked
about him. So you know, he's got great opportunities in
(04:24):
the future to go big places. And quickly, let's go
back to the match play. What's your game plan for
the pickers of golf course if you get under way today?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Not really too much of a game plan, to be honest, Like,
it's a lot like water out there. Off one, if
you got off the tea, you can pretty much get
it on the green and hopefully hold a few parts.
But it's all about just getting off the tea around
there because it is it can be quite tight and
there's a few good booty holes out there, and obviously
with all this rain, with it being soft, a lot
(04:56):
of the guys obviously.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Want to be fine straight at the pin. So, like
I say, it's just getting away today and getting that
top sixteen spot and then hopefully make it through it
all Sunday and that's when Degreedy comes down to it
and hopefully play a couple of mchannary teammates and we
will play well and have a big have a big
sell off for the crowd, and you just enjoy the
weekend hopefully, hopefully, hopefully all goes all well. I've got
(05:22):
the kids, so that's that's always nice.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
If you said because of the last couple of weekends.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
So, like I say, with that her support, I wouldn't
be where I am today. I've I've got run a
full time business as well, so I'm pretty busy. But yeah,
like I say, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't
be able to play golf for fun and actually beat people.
So yeah, that's great.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What's your name, Alessandra?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Is your name?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Very good? Oh well, Alessandra, we are very blessed to
know a little bit more about you and your support
which is clearly paying very big diffidends for Sam McGill,
the golfer.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I appreciate it very much, and I'm sure she would
as well. She do you, Like I say everybody, if
it wasn't for I've been in some dark places as
a young fellow, and if it wasn't here, I'm I'm
very grateful for her in my life, and I changed
my life around to be with her. And I've got
three young, beautiful girls. I've got yeah, five, seven and eleven.
And yeah, like I say, Laf's great and I can
(06:22):
play golf at the same time, which is even better.
And yeah, it's great living a pretty pretty great life
to be honestie, So hopefully it continues, and hopefully get
away this weekend and play some good golf.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Oh fantastic. Look. Can I just ask about your three
lovely little girls. Do they play any sport?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So I've just got a me middle girl, Harlowe, she's
seen almost about to be eight.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I've just got her into golf out at Cleeland.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
She's been playing for about six months and I just
hitting balls and I've got her a couple of lessons.
So they've just got a new facility out there, the
Super Bob Yeah, Bob Child's facility.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
It's magnificent.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, it's teen out of tenants. It's an amazing facility. And
I'm quite lucky to know Todd Heller out at Clear
Order who obviously it's a it's a lot, that's a
big part of him.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
And yeah, so she's out there practicing. She's out there
practicing and getting a bit of coaching out there from
a lady called Jeff Read and Rodney Need. It's out there.
So it's great. And you know, hopefully I can, you know,
for sure, to be something that you know that I
wish I could have been as well. So let's hope
that she loves it just as much as I do.
(07:32):
She's got a good wee swing on her.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
So right, well, I do need to remind you there's
a very good career path for little girl cricketers as well. Good.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I just I just heard it on the interview before
about old Macca.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I played golf with Macro Addict Clear Order, old Craignant
Mill and he's a he's a lovely guy. But yeah,
I like I say, if they can all play golf,
they can all play cricket too, because a lot of
good there's a lot of good golfers the cricketers too.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Right, absolutely, absolutely look saying this has been a real
treasure talking to you, and we're going to keep an
eye on what happens at the can of rematch play
champs out at Pigas's Golf and Sports Club, and I
hope that you get under way at midday. But you've
been a true champ. And if any if ever there
was a champ Alexandre, your wife is a very bigger
one than you. Anyway, it's been revealing and I've loved
(08:16):
the interview. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Oh, thanks so much, Ludie.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Like I say, I appreciate the appreciate the pocal and
the support and here give me ghost bump. Thanks you
talking about it.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
A you have a lovely day.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I will indeed go well. We'll look for your name
and the headlines.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Cheers, Leaslie, Bob bye bye.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
For more from News Talks b listen live on air
or online, and
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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