By Richard Owen

Adam Scott, the world’s number 6-ranked golfer, launched Maleny’s golf course onto a global stage last Friday using his Instagram profile to live broadcast a 9-hole match-play round with good friend and club pro-manager Wayne Perske.

Billed as “Nine Holes with a Mate” Adam, 39, joked, chatted about strategy and answered questions posted on-line while riding solo in a cart during the 80-minute social media event viewed by thousands of fans around the world.

The 2013 Masters’ champ has been at home on the Sunshine Coast with his family during the pandemic lockdown away from tournament golf and welcomed Wayne’s recent invitation to play at Maleny’s 18-hole course.

Adam, who played the course beforehand with Wayne and son Billy, some other lucky juniors and his father Phil, said the charm and appeal of Maleny’s Par 68 golf course was that it was created and maintained by an army of volunteers.

“Maleny is a really fun story that I stumbled across through Wayne. The passion of the membership has given a real heartbeat to this club,” Adam said. “They deserve a lot of credit and I just want people to come and experience it with a game.”

The broadcast was Scott’s first attempt at livestreaming using Instagram and he has promised to use the platform to show off more “hidden gems” like Maleny on the Sunshine Coast where he grew up playing golf.

Wayne said Adam’s generosity and patronage had given Maleny Golf Club a “massive credibility boost” which had put the course on the international golfing map.

“It was a fantastic experience, not only for me, but for our golf club during these times when everyone’s doing it a bit tough with social distancing in place,” Wayne said after the match which the “Maleny Masters” duo squared.

“Australia’s doing a fantastic job because one thing we can all still do (almost everywhere) is get out and play some golf.”

Club President Jeff Kruse said the committee and membership had been overwhelmed by Adam’s Scott’s generosity as a result of his friendship with Wayne Perske.

“Adam is a true ambassador for the sport and a great Queenslander, and we can’t thank him enough for the boost he has provided during these difficult economic times,” he said.

“So many golf fans will now be motivated to add Maleny Golf Club’s course to their playing bucket list as a result of this unexpected but very welcome media exposure Adam has provided.”

To ensure Covid-19 social distancing protocols were observed the club urged members to watch the match at home online and asked Maleny police to be present while Adam was on the course. The assignment proved to be an enjoyable and trouble-free country outing for the officers on duty.

The course, serviced by a top-drawer maintenance facility, is comprised of two Par 5s, 10 Par 4s and 6 Par 3s featuring unique revetted greenside bunkering, Tiffdwarf Bermuda Grass greens and Kikuyu fairways within a peaceful, scenic hinterland setting.

Trailer for the video of full 9 holes: YouTube: 1m 41s Quick snippet

Link to Golf Australia for the video of the full 9 holes: Golf Australia page with 2 x 40 minute coverage