We continue the Quick Fire Questions series with four-time European Tour winner Greg Turner. The New Zealander's wins came in England, Italy, Spain and Sweden and he also finished T7 at The 1996 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club. Here he talks to us on a range of topics, from the one rule he’d change to the moment 20,000 Australians were chanting at him.
Favourites
What is your favourite course and why?
"Tara Iti, which is a new course in the north of New Zealand. It’s an exquisite, strategic golf course with just fescue and sand accompanied by stunning sea views. A real tip of the hat to traditional design. Engrossing fun!"
What is your favourite hole and why?
"The eighth hole on the Arrow nine at Millbrook in Queenstown, New Zealand. We designed it so I might be a little biased! It’s just a short par four with the widest fairway on the course, but with a green that slopes away.
In spite of the wide fairway there is a real advantage in driving to give yourself the optimal line in. For the lesser player the contours assist the approach, with a running shot feeding down the green. Whereas for the more expert player the short approach asks them to step out of their comfort zone."
What is your favourite club in the bag?
"You can’t afford to have a favourite club!"
What is your favourite Ryder Cup moment?
"I can still remember the victory in 1985 with Sam Torrance, because it led the way to a new era in Ryder Cup play."
"I can still remember the victory in 1985 with Sam Torrance, because it led the way to a new era in Ryder Cup play."
What has been your favourite tournament to compete in over the years?
"The Presidents Cup was very special for me. It’s not often you get to enjoy a team dynamic in golf and at the event in 1998 the camaraderie was exceptional."
"The Presidents Cup was very special for me. It’s not often you get to enjoy a team dynamic in golf and at the event in 1998 the camaraderie was exceptional."
Who would make up your dream fourball?
"Alister MacKenzie, Harry Colt and Russell Brand."
"Alister MacKenzie, Harry Colt and Russell Brand."
If you had to pick your favourite shot from your career, when and where would it have been?
"My first tee shot in the Presidents Cup. I was first to hit, with 20,000 Australians chanting 'kiwi,kiwi' and on the tee was George Bush Snr, John Howard, Peter Thomson and Jack Nicklaus. I’ve never been so happy just to get the ball airborne!"
"My first tee shot in the Presidents Cup. I was first to hit, with 20,000 Australians chanting 'kiwi,kiwi' and on the tee was George Bush Snr, John Howard, Peter Thomson and Jack Nicklaus. I’ve never been so happy just to get the ball airborne!"
Personal highlights
When was your first hole-in-one (as an amateur or professional)?
"It was at an exhibition match at my old home club, Otago Golf Club, with a five iron at the seventh."
What and when was your first professional pay cheque?
"It was at the Air NZ Shell Open in Auckland. I can’t remember how much but it was a start!"
"It was at the Air NZ Shell Open in Auckland. I can’t remember how much but it was a start!"
Can you describe the greatest round you have ever witnessed?
"As a rookie I played with Bernhard Langer in the Australian Masters. I can’t remember exactly what he shot but he kept hitting the flag with long and medium irons. I got a sore neck leaning sideways to see the ball!"
"As a rookie I played with Bernhard Langer in the Australian Masters. I can’t remember exactly what he shot but he kept hitting the flag with long and medium irons. I got a sore neck leaning sideways to see the ball!"
The state of the game
If you could change one rule of golf, what would it be?
"The lost ball rule. Stroke and distance is too severe, discourages aggressive play and slows play down. If players could drop and carry on for a penalty of one there would be less time spent searching and/or walking back."
What has been golf’s best technological improvement?
"Metal drivers have really helped the novice."
"Metal drivers have really helped the novice."
Away from the fairways
Do you have any superstitions?
"No superstitions. I have enough to worry about without maintaining a routine."
Do you have any famous sporting family members?
"My two brothers represented New Zealand at different sports - Brian in hockey and Glenn in cricket."
"My two brothers represented New Zealand at different sports - Brian in hockey and Glenn in cricket."
Outside of golf, who is your sporting hero?
"Hero is too strong a word, but I have great admiration for Roger Federer."
"Hero is too strong a word, but I have great admiration for Roger Federer."
What’s your favourite film?
"Being There with Peter Sellers."
"Being There with Peter Sellers."
What song, book and luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
The song would be Telegraph Road by Dire Straits, Christopher Hitchens’ book Arguably, and a case of Valli Pinot Noir.
The song would be Telegraph Road by Dire Straits, Christopher Hitchens’ book Arguably, and a case of Valli Pinot Noir.
