Brad Shilton these days coaching in Auckland

By Neville Idour

Waikato born Brad Shilton, who is always happy to chat, spent 14 years as a touring golf professional before finally calling it a day.

However, he still plays when he can in Charles Tour events and pro-ams. One such pro-am will be the Hills Invitation on December 18 and 19. He has been a regular at this now PGA-sanctioned tournament and has performed well at times. He looks forward to it every year and was very pleased to receive an invitation, given the more particular qualification criteria for the event.

I sat down with Shilton earlier in the year and he reminisced about his life in golf so far.

“I started playing golf when I was 10. Dad played golf and so did a mate I played cricket with.

``I played first with dad then I would whack a ball with my mate. I played lots of sports when I was young but golf took over from cricket fairly quickly when I was 14. I played for Waikato then got into the Titleist academy.

“I remember when I was first named in a Waikato team. I had been playing well and went to Hastings for the under 23 national championships when I was 15 years old. I finished the highest Waikato player.”

Shilton was first named for a New Zealand team after finishing third at the North Island Under 19s at Hawera. He remembers the exciting revelation clearly.

“We were in Northland for a representative match, when halfway through a practice round someone came running out and said I had a call from Phil Aickin (of New Zealand Golf) who said I had made the New Zealand junior team that was going to Japan.”

Shilton continued his progress playing for New Zealand teams and turned professional in 2004. He played on the Asian Tour and the Australian Tour at a time when many of the big names used to feature in the major events such as the Heineken Open in Melbourne.

“I played a few events in Japan but missed out on my tour card. My only tour event win was the South Pacific Open in New Caledonia.

``I also won two Charles Tour tournaments and numerous pro-ams in New Zealand and Australia. I played in the big Fiji events with a third my best finish. So that was 14 years as a professional in a nutshell. After 25 years playing seriously and not having achieved what I wanted I knew the time had come to pack it in.”

So what would fill the void?

“I was going to the gym with Marcus Wheelhouse twice a week and he told me the head coach job was available at Waitemata Golf Club (in Auckland). I knew the general manager there.

``Funnily enough I never had any interest in playing golf when I gave up my pro career. However, I did enjoy caddying for Australian professional Callan O’Reilly for five or six events.”

Coaching it is a different ball game and explains his thoughtful approach with an anecdote.

``I was in Queenstown with some mates for a birthday weekend and the boys wanted to play golf at Cromwell where left hander Willie Moore is the pro. I got some left-handed clubs (Shilton is right handed) and went out and had some fun. I did it to give me an insight into the left handers' game. I’m really enjoying my time coaching and we are very busy at Waitemata.”

As to his form leading into The Hills tournament.

“I have played the Muriwai Open where I made the cut, and about seven other pro-ams. My best finish was a sixth, I think. So no high hopes. I’m simply looking forward to having another enjoyable weekend at the magical Hills.”