August 16, 2024 • 8 mins
Golf Professional and Coach Marcus Wheelhouse joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the possibility of a LIV Golf event in Christchurch.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I' were joined in now by Marcus Wheelhouse, longtime golfer
pro golf coach as well as you look at the
interesting situation around the possibility of LIV Golf in christ Church.
So Bob Charles himself has distanced himself from the Rebel
tour planning and of course it's going to create some controversy.
Has a level the LAV Golf to have done right
(00:33):
the way through. Marcus, welcome to the show. What what's
your gut reaction to the fact that there's a possibility
this tour may land in christ Church?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Hi? Does he? Well? Look on my stance on this
is that I think it is a fantastic opportunity to
see some of the best players in the world, and
that's a pretty rare opportunity in New Zealand. So I'm
all for it. I think that you know, live has
its place in the world of golf. That we're seeing that,
and we're seeing some great players that have signed you know,
(01:04):
towards that, and so I think, yeah, I think will
be fantastic for christ your chances in New Zealand to
have some of the best players in the world playing it.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So for you the heats died down a little bit
around the funding of this because of course the Saudi
Arabians have funded so much. Now because it's got so
much money, you think people are just starting to let
go of where that money has come from with the
bludgeoning I suppose they'd say, of of international sport through
their funds.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah. Look, it's obviously controversial, and and that's that starts.
I mean, I'm sort of probably just sort of trying
to look at just from from a golf point of
view and just the opportunity to have you know, those
great players here have a great event. I think New
Zealand have you know, we we bat way above our
paygrade for for many sports and and golf you know,
(01:52):
we do we do pretty well and on the stage,
and I think that you know, for young people go
out there and see the likes of the John Rams
and the Brooks, kept care and current sort of major champions.
I just think it's such a great opportunity and I
sort of, you know, tend to just sort of think
about the sport and what that could bring from it
(02:12):
as a set of an event.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Point of view, Do you think that the fans out
there can really determine the difference. They're just interested in
the golfers, not the actual competition. Do they actually buy
into the Live to a full stop? Because I feel
it's a it'll be a standalone event. No one really
cares about rankings through that. They just want to see
the golf.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, look I there Live seems to me. And look,
I'll teach Ben Campbell, who's been in reserve for the
Live Tour all this year. I think it's a you know,
it's a different experience to what a normal PGA tour
or tour event is, you know, with music playing with
you know, the concerts they have, you know after and
during the events, and the entertainment they had both on
(02:54):
and off the course. So it is a different experience
and event. And I think that's you know, that's good.
I think, you know, we have this, this game of golf.
It is growing. It's cool now. It wasn't cool when
I was a young fellow, that's for sure. I mean
that was another century. But that's you know, when you
look at that dear fact that you know, we've got
a cater for all people and in an entertainment. You know,
(03:18):
that's that comes in many shapes and forms. And so
you know, test cricket, you know, was once the holy
grail and now look at T twenty and what that
has brung brought to cricket. And so there is room
for other types of I suppose event base and the
team for a structure live. You know a lot of
people poo poo that, and now they're starting to sort
of see you know that grow as all that side
(03:39):
of things and people getting their head around that. So
it is it has had a shift. And I think again,
I think you know, anything to do with golf is great.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Sir Bob Charles is not a fan. He doesn't want
it anywhere near the golf courses he's involved. And I think
I think the quote through their hero was I want
nothing to do and they wouldn't walk across the street
to watch at all influential. I think it maybe represents
the older school. Not that you can speak for Sir
Bob Charles, but that's that's quite a statement. Is I'm
not interested, I don't want it here.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
It's not traditional, sure, sure, yeah, and look I know
it's well pretty well and it's as I said, it's
that's just an opinion, and he's more than more than
more than I.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Suppose right to have his own ownership on that. So
that's that's just a different opinions.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
When it comes to spreading the word of golf. You
touched on that before, it's likely to drag people and
who aren't golf fans, they just are event fans. And
I think the sporting world is rapidly running toward that,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, And I think live do that, you know, slightly
different with you know, they have lots of things offside
as well where they have lived bars and restaurants where
the players you know, go and have dinner potentially or
and I think you know, the fans get busted from
those zones, not like sale GP. And I was down
luckily enough to be down there in March for the
(04:58):
for the Lilton Regatta, and you know, like when you
had that feel of being part of something, you all
arrived at a similar time and you went through it.
It's it's great, It's that's what it's all about. And
the hype was there, you know, the events over it
pretty quickly. The sale GP I'm talking about, and you're
out and it's and it's a really good time. And
that's you know, now in twenty twenty four a lot
(05:19):
of us a time for so you sort of sit
in that space where, yeah, you want to go and
get entertained and get out. And that's and I think
that's where lives, you know, sits for the shotgun start
for example, all those you know, those blocks are getting
ticket ticked Marcus Wellhouse.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
What about the quality of the golf overall.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Oh, it's phenomenal. I mean, you know, like you you've
got to you know, I suppose just remember that you
know who you're dealing with. And that's again, you know,
sort of not to quote Ben, you know, but but
he's got more knowledge about it than most because he's
been on there. You know, those guys are working really
hard and and they're they're like you'd expect, they're they're
hunting up, they're playing good golf courses, they're shooting great scores.
(06:00):
So yeah, we're they're not out there, you know, like
there's some of some of the media of sort of
read how they you know, they're out there and they're
just mucking about and they don't practice and all that.
That's just total you know, hype, so we'll rub it
rub it. Yeah, I was trying to find a nice
word and that that sits in a space where you know,
(06:22):
you've you've got these great athletes who who are getting
handsomely paid. There's no doubt about that. And that's another
side that I'm not really worried about. I just think
that from a sheer event point of view, these guys
are out there busting their butt and and trying to
be the best players they can be, and they're the
best in the world, so you know, all sorts of
(06:42):
see them and do their stuff and grosser.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Well, the Adelaide event's been hugely successful, Hasn't it a game?
What we talked about before about dragging your average man
out there to watch a game of golf and enjoy
the atmosphere. Because fortunately, unfortunately, whatever you want to see it,
golf still has a shroud of decency, if you will.
It's a it's a very genteel sport. It is. It's
(07:06):
very relaxed, it's very cultured, it's very it behaves itself.
But the Live Tour it wants to release that those shackles,
doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It does, And you know, when you look at you know,
things like the Ryder Cup. You know, that's a different
experience again when it's you know, the States versus Europe
and you know all those things and that and like
I said before, that's what it's all about. You know,
a bit of writing is fantastic. And I think that
you know, when you look at that that share competition,
(07:35):
you know, we want that and it's and it's it's
it's great to get. I just exposure to all those
different different types of golf, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And finally, Marcus Wilson, thanks so much for your time
in your opinion as per you make some golf circles.
Plainly you're in topor at the moment as part of
a tournament down there for Auckland. What's the general golfing
populace think of Live? What's their reaction been like over
the last few years.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Yeah, I think I think the unknown was the was
the big part early and and I think that it's
seems like it's I mean, it certainly will have its
you know, polarizing moments and it has had, but the media,
you know, did certainly create a different opinion with the
PGA to battle basically against the Live, whether that was
(08:23):
as prevalent with the players as the media made that
out to be. I'm not sure. I wasn't there at
that time. I wasn't turing at that stage. But I
think it has oftened a bit with the whole stantce
of things, and yeah, I really think it's you know,
it's getting more and more popular as we go through.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I'll watch it so love the way you blame us.
Thanks Marcus, No, It's great.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I' were joined in now by Marcus Wheelhouse, longtime golfer
pro golf coach as well as you look at the
interesting situation around the possibility of LIV Golf in christ Church.
So Bob Charles himself has distanced himself from the Rebel
tour planning and of course it's going to create some controversy.
Has a level the LAV Golf to have done right
(00:33):
the way through. Marcus, welcome to the show. What what's
your gut reaction to the fact that there's a possibility
this tour may land in christ Church?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Hi? Does he? Well? Look on my stance on this
is that I think it is a fantastic opportunity to
see some of the best players in the world, and
that's a pretty rare opportunity in New Zealand. So I'm
all for it. I think that you know, live has
its place in the world of golf. That we're seeing that,
and we're seeing some great players that have signed you know,
(01:04):
towards that, and so I think, yeah, I think will
be fantastic for christ your chances in New Zealand to
have some of the best players in the world playing it.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So for you the heats died down a little bit
around the funding of this because of course the Saudi
Arabians have funded so much. Now because it's got so
much money, you think people are just starting to let
go of where that money has come from with the
bludgeoning I suppose they'd say, of of international sport through
their funds.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah. Look, it's obviously controversial, and and that's that starts.
I mean, I'm sort of probably just sort of trying
to look at just from from a golf point of
view and just the opportunity to have you know, those
great players here have a great event. I think New
Zealand have you know, we we bat way above our
paygrade for for many sports and and golf you know,
(01:52):
we do we do pretty well and on the stage,
and I think that you know, for young people go
out there and see the likes of the John Rams
and the Brooks, kept care and current sort of major champions.
I just think it's such a great opportunity and I
sort of, you know, tend to just sort of think
about the sport and what that could bring from it
(02:12):
as a set of an event.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Point of view, Do you think that the fans out
there can really determine the difference. They're just interested in
the golfers, not the actual competition. Do they actually buy
into the Live to a full stop? Because I feel
it's a it'll be a standalone event. No one really
cares about rankings through that. They just want to see
the golf.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, look I there Live seems to me. And look,
I'll teach Ben Campbell, who's been in reserve for the
Live Tour all this year. I think it's a you know,
it's a different experience to what a normal PGA tour
or tour event is, you know, with music playing with
you know, the concerts they have, you know after and
during the events, and the entertainment they had both on
(02:54):
and off the course. So it is a different experience
and event. And I think that's you know, that's good.
I think, you know, we have this, this game of golf.
It is growing. It's cool now. It wasn't cool when
I was a young fellow, that's for sure. I mean
that was another century. But that's you know, when you
look at that dear fact that you know, we've got
a cater for all people and in an entertainment. You know,
(03:18):
that's that comes in many shapes and forms. And so
you know, test cricket, you know, was once the holy
grail and now look at T twenty and what that
has brung brought to cricket. And so there is room
for other types of I suppose event base and the
team for a structure live. You know a lot of
people poo poo that, and now they're starting to sort
of see you know that grow as all that side
(03:39):
of things and people getting their head around that. So
it is it has had a shift. And I think again,
I think you know, anything to do with golf is great.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Sir Bob Charles is not a fan. He doesn't want
it anywhere near the golf courses he's involved. And I think
I think the quote through their hero was I want
nothing to do and they wouldn't walk across the street
to watch at all influential. I think it maybe represents
the older school. Not that you can speak for Sir
Bob Charles, but that's that's quite a statement. Is I'm
not interested, I don't want it here.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
It's not traditional, sure, sure, yeah, and look I know
it's well pretty well and it's as I said, it's
that's just an opinion, and he's more than more than
more than I.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Suppose right to have his own ownership on that. So
that's that's just a different opinions.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
When it comes to spreading the word of golf. You
touched on that before, it's likely to drag people and
who aren't golf fans, they just are event fans. And
I think the sporting world is rapidly running toward that,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, And I think live do that, you know, slightly
different with you know, they have lots of things offside
as well where they have lived bars and restaurants where
the players you know, go and have dinner potentially or
and I think you know, the fans get busted from
those zones, not like sale GP. And I was down
luckily enough to be down there in March for the
(04:58):
for the Lilton Regatta, and you know, like when you
had that feel of being part of something, you all
arrived at a similar time and you went through it.
It's it's great, It's that's what it's all about. And
the hype was there, you know, the events over it
pretty quickly. The sale GP I'm talking about, and you're
out and it's and it's a really good time. And
that's you know, now in twenty twenty four a lot
(05:19):
of us a time for so you sort of sit
in that space where, yeah, you want to go and
get entertained and get out. And that's and I think
that's where lives, you know, sits for the shotgun start
for example, all those you know, those blocks are getting
ticket ticked Marcus Wellhouse.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
What about the quality of the golf overall.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Oh, it's phenomenal. I mean, you know, like you you've
got to you know, I suppose just remember that you
know who you're dealing with. And that's again, you know,
sort of not to quote Ben, you know, but but
he's got more knowledge about it than most because he's
been on there. You know, those guys are working really
hard and and they're they're like you'd expect, they're they're
hunting up, they're playing good golf courses, they're shooting great scores.
(06:00):
So yeah, we're they're not out there, you know, like
there's some of some of the media of sort of
read how they you know, they're out there and they're
just mucking about and they don't practice and all that.
That's just total you know, hype, so we'll rub it
rub it. Yeah, I was trying to find a nice
word and that that sits in a space where you know,
(06:22):
you've you've got these great athletes who who are getting
handsomely paid. There's no doubt about that. And that's another
side that I'm not really worried about. I just think
that from a sheer event point of view, these guys
are out there busting their butt and and trying to
be the best players they can be, and they're the
best in the world, so you know, all sorts of
(06:42):
see them and do their stuff and grosser.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Well, the Adelaide event's been hugely successful, Hasn't it a game?
What we talked about before about dragging your average man
out there to watch a game of golf and enjoy
the atmosphere. Because fortunately, unfortunately, whatever you want to see it,
golf still has a shroud of decency, if you will.
It's a it's a very genteel sport. It is. It's
(07:06):
very relaxed, it's very cultured, it's very it behaves itself.
But the Live Tour it wants to release that those shackles,
doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
It does, And you know, when you look at you know,
things like the Ryder Cup. You know, that's a different
experience again when it's you know, the States versus Europe
and you know all those things and that and like
I said before, that's what it's all about. You know,
a bit of writing is fantastic. And I think that
you know, when you look at that that share competition,
(07:35):
you know, we want that and it's and it's it's
it's great to get. I just exposure to all those
different different types of golf, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And finally, Marcus Wilson, thanks so much for your time
in your opinion as per you make some golf circles.
Plainly you're in topor at the moment as part of
a tournament down there for Auckland. What's the general golfing
populace think of Live? What's their reaction been like over
the last few years.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Yeah, I think I think the unknown was the was
the big part early and and I think that it's
seems like it's I mean, it certainly will have its
you know, polarizing moments and it has had, but the media,
you know, did certainly create a different opinion with the
PGA to battle basically against the Live, whether that was
(08:23):
as prevalent with the players as the media made that
out to be. I'm not sure. I wasn't there at
that time. I wasn't turing at that stage. But I
think it has oftened a bit with the whole stantce
of things, and yeah, I really think it's you know,
it's getting more and more popular as we go through.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I'll watch it so love the way you blame us.
Thanks Marcus, No, It's great.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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