Golf Stories

Did you ever hear about the Italian, the Swiss, the Swede and the Aussie who walked into a bar? Well this time it’s not the opening line of a joke – they actually did walk into a bar to sit and chat with the one person they all have in common – their golf coach, Tom Linskey. Professionals and amateurs alike have come from far and wide to tap into the insight and experience of Australian Golf Schools head coach Tom Linskey, and their stories are as varied and unique as they are interesting. Tom has played mentor to some of the world’s finest players, all of whom have looked to him for instruction and guidance in the great and often-times turbulent game of golf. Through 40 years of teaching he has seen and done what most people could only dream about, from watching his protégés win international titles to striding the fairways of the Ryder Cup alongside his players. In the course of his teaching history, Tom has been involved in molding the likes of Italian superstar Costantino Rocca, Swiss-born Aussie standout Andre Stolz, two-time US PGA Tour winner Gabriel Hjertstedt, and a host of Australian names, including the legendary Jan Stephenson, “The Wyong Warrior” Colin Bishop, and Terry Hayes - Coach and friend to US PGA Tour player Mark Hensby. Leading golf professionals are often remembered for one defining moment in their careers, however Costantino Rocca has two such events with which he will always be identified. Who could ever forget the sight of the passionate and emotional Rocca falling to the ground, pounding the earth with his fists after holing a 60 foot birdie putt from off the front of the 18th green during the final round of the 1995 British Open at St Andrews. His unlikely birdie forced a play-off with John Daly, which Daly eventually went on to win. Rocca is the most successful Italian golfer of all time and his singles victory over Tiger Woods in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama was a crucial and pivotal win which helped Europe secure the Cup that year. Tom Linskey rode the emotional wave with Rocca that day, because he had already walked every step of the way to get him there. Records, as they say, are made to be broken, and Rocca’s legendary status as Italy’s best looks precariously poised to fall to a new Italian standout, Matteo Manassero. This golfing prodigy, only born in 1993, was the youngest ever player to win the British Amateur, the youngest ever to compete in The Open Championship in 2009, the youngest ever player to make the cut in The Masters, and all achieved before his 17th birthday. While Tom hasn’t worked directly with Matteo, the time Tom spent alongside the likes of Sergio Prati and Alberto Binaghi has directly influenced the players who they in turn have coached -most notably - Matteo Manassero. Back on home soil, Jan Stephenson was introduced to Tom during his early days as Club Pro at Wyong Golf Club, where school girl Jan spent her holidays and Saturdays playing golf alongside Tom, and his other high achieving pupils. Of course Jan is well remembered for her off course calendars and photogenic beauty, but behind that glamorous image was a player with an outstanding career. Jan won three Major’s, including the 1983 US Women’s Open, and amassed 16 US LPGA Tour victories to add to an impressive junior and amateur record in Australia and around the world. By the late 1980’s Tom had migrated to Queensland to continue his teaching career. His pupils, it seemed, were not far behind him. Not wanting to commute for instruction, Tom’s State-Representative student, Cathy Neilsen -whom he has coached since the age of 8 all the way through to the Pro ranks- moved to Queensland to continue under his tutelage. As fate would have it, Cathy introduced Tom to her then boyfriend-and now husband-Andre Stolz, and another star partnership was in the making. Tom took Andre Stolz to Number one in combined stats on the Australasian Tour that year, working closely with him as he went on to achieve great international success. Stolz secured four victories on the Australasian Tour, plus a win in Japan, but he most notably took out the 2004 Michelin Championship on the lucrative US PGA Tour in Las Vegas. Although a wrist injury sidelined the star for a number of years, Stolz is back in the groove again, finishing 5th in the 2010 Australian Masters, only one shot behind the inimitable Tiger Woods. Speaking of USPGA Tour winner’s, Swedish-born Aussie Gabriel Hjertstedt was yet another who found guidance under Tom’s watchful eye during his teenage years growing up on the Gold Coast. In 1997, Gabriel broke through for his maiden PGA win at the prestigious BC Open in New York . He became the first Swede to win on the USPGA Tour, and followed this up with a play-off victory in 1999 against Tommy Armour III in Tucson, Arizona. The fabric of these successful player’s lives has one common thread – they have all gained great benefit from the coaching, direction and friendship of Australian Golf School’s Director, Tom Linskey. Call Australian Golf Schools today to book a little slice of history for yourself. Carmen Hajjar. December 2010.