Lynnette Brooky has the drive to make a good showing at NZ Open

Lynnette Brooky

By Paul Gueorgieff
Golfer Pacific editor
There are the obvious reasons why Lynnette Brooky has decided to play the New Zealand Open.
``I am playing because the prize fund is good. And I am also playing because it’s the best players in the world, as they say. And it’s at my back door — I don’t have to fly half-way round the world to play in a golf tournament.’’
That was Brooky’s initial response to why she accepted an invitation to compete in our national open which this year takes on extra special significance.
The tournament, to be played at Windross Farm in south Auckland from September 28-October 1, has become part of the world’s richest golf circuit, the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (LPGA) Tour. As a consequence the prizemoney has soared from $NZ300,000 to $US1.3 million and many of the world’s best golfers will be on hand, including New Zealand star Lydia Ko.
But delve a little deeper with Brooky and you find a number of underlying reasons why New Zealand’s former No 1 player is taking on such a task at the age of 49.
Brooky, who as an amateur won two New Zealand Strokeplay Championships, a New Zealand Matchplay Championship and an Australian Strokeplay Championship, feels her success as a golfer has not been remembered as it should. As a professional she played the Ladies European Tour where she won four times, including two French Opens in 2002 and 2003.
That’s no mean feat but when she goes about her business today as a golf coach she says she is often asked who are you?
Brooky said that sentiment is no more apparent when teaching children at one of her golf academies in Wellington.
``Some of the kids at school, they are asked do you know Lynnette Brooky? They have no idea,’’ Brooky said.
But the disappointment is greater when she visits some sports organisations where she would expect recognition.
``When you go to New Zealand Golf, is there anything up there of past golfers like myself? Is there any exhibitions of past golfers doing anything for schools or anything? Is there in Porirua, when I have lived all my life, in the Hall of Fame of sport, a photo of me up there? No.
``They’ve got Michael Campbell, all the rugby players that have made it... but nobody knows of me.’’
Brooky said it is with irony that when her name is mentioned at the Hall of Fame it is only because she sponsors the sportswoman of the year title.
Given those circumstances Brooky said her burning desire to perform well in the New Zealand Open was to educate her younger golf students about who she is.
``I would love to show the kids that I can play. There are a lot of kids back here in New Zealand that don’t know me and that’s one of the main reasons I will be out there playing. Half of New Zealand has forgotten about me, even when I was still out there on tour.’’
Brooky retired from tour golf about three years ago but she did make a re-apperance at the previous New Zealand Open held in February of last year.
She failed to make the cut but was not disgraced. She was on the back foot after an opening round of 81 but had one of the best scores on the second day when shooting 69.
Brooky said she will be better prepared this time round. She will join her husband Ian Godleman in England this month for four weeks of intense training.
Godleman, an English golf coach, spends the northern hemisphere summer in England and Europe.
``We are going to get my clubhead speed up,’’ Brooky said.
``I’m striking the ball really well. Because of the long break that I have had, it has given me a fresh feel. I am actually quite hungry. I’ll be working damn hard. I will be one of Ian’s students and I will be working every day.’’
She is also hoping to stage a pro-am event at Manor Park Golf Sanctuary in Wellington as part of her New Zealand Open preparation.
``I want to get the public involved and get my hype up.
``I will be turning 50 next year and I want this to be a bonus in my life. If anybody wants to put me down, I’ll just look at them and think they are sad people.
``My body is not stopping and my brain is getting muscle power with all the thinking I have being doing. All I do is talk positive, positive, positive. I think I have forgotten how to be negative.’’