He’s not only the Handicapping and Golf Services Manager for Golf NZ, Phil Aicken is also an extremely credentialled golf referee.
Aicken will be ‘on course’ at Royal Portrush this week as a Rules Official, accompanying various playing groups.
He started Thursday alongside Ryan Fox, Hideki Matsuyama, and Matt Fitzpatrick, and then on Friday walked with Phil Mickelson, Daniel van Tonder, and Ryan Peake.
He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat in association with the Elmwood Trading Company.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are now going over to what is seen as
the best golfing tournament in the world. I'm talking about
the British Open. Obviously, it's over at Royal Port Rush
and we are being joined by Phil Aiken, Golf New
Zealand's handicapping and golf services manager. That's now, but of
course we all remember when he was a fantastic golfer himself.
(00:21):
Still is. But let's go over there and say good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Good evening, Phil, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
How do we find it? Has the weather cleared there?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, we've had pretty good weather most of the day
for this second round. Lots of fine spells, are not
too windy, but enough wind for making a good challenge
for links golf. Dan Hilly has been sitting on the
cut line for five or six hours ever since he
completed his round, and he'd be hoping that the cut
would go to plus two and right now that's what
(00:54):
it looks like.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well that's good news. But how is the atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
This is so special and I'm very privileged.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I've been to two previously, so this is my third
Open Championship. This is I think, in my mind, probably
the best venue for this event. The changes in elevation
all around the golf course and seeing these incredible grandstands
on most holes, some of them down low, some of
(01:24):
them very high. On the golf course. Anytime there's a
boody made or a great shot, the crowds over here
really appreciate good golf. And there's obviously thousands, just thousands
on this golf course and it's hard to move in
some places. I can't imagine an atmosphere in our game
(01:44):
of golf.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah, greater than this one.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So talk to us about the surfaces, the facilities, and
they have to have to import infrastructure for this.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I think they've been runing this for a long time.
I don't know if they'd be so much importing it.
I would think they'd be using local companies. I know
there's I can't think of their name, but Royan Fox
is associated with a company that builds stadium and that's
the other company that's being used here. I did see
an acknowledgement from him on Instagram. I think it was
(02:17):
of this company that not only support him, but they're
the key for this event and what they build.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And right now I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Out at the back of the eighteenth grandstand, absolutely huge
big circular facility surrounding the eighteenth Green, making a very
special experience for anybody, even definitely the golfers, but even
for us inside the ropes, which again that's such a privilege.
(02:45):
You really walk down that ating toll and you've got goosebumps.
You got a three storage facility on the left hand
side which will be all of your hospitality and key
sponsors there, and then just a the grandstand itself.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
It's a massive production.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It would just be as I don't think they released
it ever, but it'd be astounding.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
To know what the you know, the profdence losses on
an event like this.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Oh sounds amazing. You've painted a lovely picture. So what
will you be doing during the week.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Well, I was very fortunate to be invited as a referee,
so there's a team of about seventy referees. In recent
years we've had our general manager of Championships, Dave Mengen,
working here and Dave kindly gave me the.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Opportunity to be here this year, which was a wonderful gesture.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
But every group, there's fifty two groups in the first
two rounds groups of threes. It's one hundred and fifty
six in all, and there's a walking referee with every group.
Plus there are very experienced and rules official who do
this for a living for the DP World Tour, the
USPGA Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, etc. Who are there
(04:08):
roving keeping an eye on on play, the speed of play,
which is certainly a challenge around a beast of a
course like this, and giving us some comfort that if
we are put on the spot with what might be
a challenging ruling, they're there to help us out, because
what we're looking for at the end of the day
(04:28):
is consistency and being feared to all of the field
and the rulings that we do make.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Is there any interaction with the players that you're following.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You wait until they talk to you first.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
So you meet them on the first t and you
meet their caddies, and you meet the other members of.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The group, which include someone caring to carry.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Board, the chief marshal for that group, and then the
person who's keeping score, which obviously helps the live scoring
in the whole event. So you do you meet them
on the first tea and then after that you just
if they do want to have a chat. And I
was very fortunate yesterday to be with Matt Fitzpatrick, who's
(05:11):
currently leading, and he came over and had a chat
a couple of times, which was really good of him,
and I found him just a delightful guy to walk
eighteen holes of golf with. And of course I was
with Foxy as well, and he's just so it easy
(05:32):
out here. So impressed the way he played.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And he did.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
We had a couple of chats on the way around.
Also a little bit different to my group today. They
were all about business, and one of them was Phil Mickerlson.
He was trying to rally and make the cut, which
he did in the end, so he had not so
much discussion with my group today.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
But all was good yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Phil at and I mean magic names. I'm looking at
it now and the players obviously all got these sweeters
on and feeling that maybe a little bit of chill.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, I guess it's getting later in the day here now.
I was walking around with two layers on. I think
for most of the day, the golfers have been very comfortable.
Temperatures have been about seventeen or eighteen. You are, we
are very north and we're up the side the coasts.
Whenever there's a bit of a breeze, it can add
(06:34):
a bit of a chill factor, so you've got to
be prepared for everything and the sort of links golf environment.
But yeah, it's probably the rain jacket going on and
off today that was more the case for the players.
And I've just seen a forecast for round three tomorrow
on Saturday and it's looking pretty tidy. A lot of
(06:58):
long dry periods tomorrow, which is great for the course.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
It's pretty firm, you know. Links golf is.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
All about getting it as pretty much as firm as
you can. And yeah, we look forward to the weekend.
It really is. This is quite a setting of I've
never been here before, so to actually see this course,
I can understand why it's regarded by so many of
the players in this field as the best links golf
course in the world. I love all the changes in elevation.
(07:27):
It gives me a bit of a feel. We're very
fortunate at home we've got Papamu, which is an incredible
links golf course. There's parts of this course that reminds
me of that, but it's got much more change in elevation,
and it's got much more interest around the greens, but
also a lot of extra length as well.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So yeah, this is quite a golf course, very special.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I know that you're a very busy man for Lake
and and we're really grateful to get a little snapshot
of this logic just seeing Rory McElroy now as well.
And you are right there, so enjoy what you've got
left and we'll be of course keeping our fingers, eyes
and toes cross for Ryan Fox that he makes the
cut and Philaken.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Thank you so much, Thank you, Lucie, but well, obviously
looks like Dan Hilly right now is going to make
the cut. Foxy in a few minutes. We're playing seventeen.
Let's say he next Boodie there, conditions are quite favorable
for these last three holes and he's playing so fingers
cross is a chance he's made the last well ten
majors in a row, he's made the cut, which only
(08:34):
five or six golfers in the world have had that
sort of run of recent times. Let's hope Foxy can
play those last three holes well and be here for
the weekend for more from News Talks b listen live
on air or online and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Keep our shows with you wherever. You go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
We are now going over to what is seen as
the best golfing tournament in the world. I'm talking about
the British Open. Obviously, it's over at Royal Port Rush
and we are being joined by Phil Aiken, Golf New
Zealand's handicapping and golf services manager. That's now, but of
course we all remember when he was a fantastic golfer himself.
(00:21):
Still is. But let's go over there and say good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Good evening, Phil, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
How do we find it? Has the weather cleared there?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, we've had pretty good weather most of the day
for this second round. Lots of fine spells, are not
too windy, but enough wind for making a good challenge
for links golf. Dan Hilly has been sitting on the
cut line for five or six hours ever since he
completed his round, and he'd be hoping that the cut
would go to plus two and right now that's what
(00:54):
it looks like.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well that's good news. But how is the atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
This is so special and I'm very privileged.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I've been to two previously, so this is my third
Open Championship. This is I think, in my mind, probably
the best venue for this event. The changes in elevation
all around the golf course and seeing these incredible grandstands
on most holes, some of them down low, some of
(01:24):
them very high. On the golf course. Anytime there's a
boody made or a great shot, the crowds over here
really appreciate good golf. And there's obviously thousands, just thousands
on this golf course and it's hard to move in
some places. I can't imagine an atmosphere in our game
(01:44):
of golf.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah, greater than this one.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So talk to us about the surfaces, the facilities, and
they have to have to import infrastructure for this.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I think they've been runing this for a long time.
I don't know if they'd be so much importing it.
I would think they'd be using local companies. I know
there's I can't think of their name, but Royan Fox
is associated with a company that builds stadium and that's
the other company that's being used here. I did see
an acknowledgement from him on Instagram. I think it was
(02:17):
of this company that not only support him, but they're
the key for this event and what they build.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And right now I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Out at the back of the eighteenth grandstand, absolutely huge
big circular facility surrounding the eighteenth Green, making a very
special experience for anybody, even definitely the golfers, but even
for us inside the ropes, which again that's such a privilege.
(02:45):
You really walk down that ating toll and you've got goosebumps.
You got a three storage facility on the left hand
side which will be all of your hospitality and key
sponsors there, and then just a the grandstand itself.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
It's a massive production.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It would just be as I don't think they released
it ever, but it'd be astounding.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
To know what the you know, the profdence losses on
an event like this.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Oh sounds amazing. You've painted a lovely picture. So what
will you be doing during the week.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Well, I was very fortunate to be invited as a referee,
so there's a team of about seventy referees. In recent
years we've had our general manager of Championships, Dave Mengen,
working here and Dave kindly gave me the.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Opportunity to be here this year, which was a wonderful gesture.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
But every group, there's fifty two groups in the first
two rounds groups of threes. It's one hundred and fifty
six in all, and there's a walking referee with every group.
Plus there are very experienced and rules official who do
this for a living for the DP World Tour, the
USPGA Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, etc. Who are there
(04:08):
roving keeping an eye on on play, the speed of play,
which is certainly a challenge around a beast of a
course like this, and giving us some comfort that if
we are put on the spot with what might be
a challenging ruling, they're there to help us out, because
what we're looking for at the end of the day
(04:28):
is consistency and being feared to all of the field
and the rulings that we do make.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Is there any interaction with the players that you're following.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You wait until they talk to you first.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
So you meet them on the first t and you
meet their caddies, and you meet the other members of.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The group, which include someone caring to carry.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Board, the chief marshal for that group, and then the
person who's keeping score, which obviously helps the live scoring
in the whole event. So you do you meet them
on the first tea and then after that you just
if they do want to have a chat. And I
was very fortunate yesterday to be with Matt Fitzpatrick, who's
(05:11):
currently leading, and he came over and had a chat
a couple of times, which was really good of him,
and I found him just a delightful guy to walk
eighteen holes of golf with. And of course I was
with Foxy as well, and he's just so it easy
(05:32):
out here. So impressed the way he played.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And he did.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
We had a couple of chats on the way around.
Also a little bit different to my group today. They
were all about business, and one of them was Phil Mickerlson.
He was trying to rally and make the cut, which
he did in the end, so he had not so
much discussion with my group today.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
But all was good yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Phil at and I mean magic names. I'm looking at
it now and the players obviously all got these sweeters
on and feeling that maybe a little bit of chill.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, I guess it's getting later in the day here now.
I was walking around with two layers on. I think
for most of the day, the golfers have been very comfortable.
Temperatures have been about seventeen or eighteen. You are, we
are very north and we're up the side the coasts.
Whenever there's a bit of a breeze, it can add
(06:34):
a bit of a chill factor, so you've got to
be prepared for everything and the sort of links golf environment.
But yeah, it's probably the rain jacket going on and
off today that was more the case for the players.
And I've just seen a forecast for round three tomorrow
on Saturday and it's looking pretty tidy. A lot of
(06:58):
long dry periods tomorrow, which is great for the course.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
It's pretty firm, you know. Links golf is.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
All about getting it as pretty much as firm as
you can. And yeah, we look forward to the weekend.
It really is. This is quite a setting of I've
never been here before, so to actually see this course,
I can understand why it's regarded by so many of
the players in this field as the best links golf
course in the world. I love all the changes in elevation.
(07:27):
It gives me a bit of a feel. We're very
fortunate at home we've got Papamu, which is an incredible
links golf course. There's parts of this course that reminds
me of that, but it's got much more change in elevation,
and it's got much more interest around the greens, but
also a lot of extra length as well.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So yeah, this is quite a golf course, very special.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I know that you're a very busy man for Lake
and and we're really grateful to get a little snapshot
of this logic just seeing Rory McElroy now as well.
And you are right there, so enjoy what you've got
left and we'll be of course keeping our fingers, eyes
and toes cross for Ryan Fox that he makes the
cut and Philaken.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Thank you so much, Thank you, Lucie, but well, obviously
looks like Dan Hilly right now is going to make
the cut. Foxy in a few minutes. We're playing seventeen.
Let's say he next Boodie there, conditions are quite favorable
for these last three holes and he's playing so fingers
cross is a chance he's made the last well ten
majors in a row, he's made the cut, which only
(08:34):
five or six golfers in the world have had that
sort of run of recent times. Let's hope Foxy can
play those last three holes well and be here for
the weekend for more from News Talks b listen live
on air or online and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Keep our shows with you wherever. You go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.