Life on tour with Amelia Garvey

By Neville Idour

Amelia Garvey’s quest for an LPGA Tour card came up just short by a few dollars or a couple of shots in 2023.

This was the Canterbury golfer's second year competing on the second-tier Epson Tour, from which the top 25 ranked players gain their cards for the LPGA.

A chance meeting with her and close friend and fellow Epson Tour player Jenny Rosenberg following a round at Millbrook near Queenstown gave this Golfer Pacific writer the perfect opportunity to host them for a round at The Hills after their practice session there the following day. The weather was perfect and it was great to get up close and personal with Garvey and Rosenberg and enjoy watching them in action.

Garvey, renowned for her length off the tee, certainly showed that ability and accuracy but it was noticeable that Rosenberg lost little by comparison. Garvey is a pleasure to watch as there is nothing pedantic or lengthy about her pre shot routine. Just set up and deliver. Rosenberg was also an easy watch. Garvey’s putting was also very impressive and accurate. Again no lengthy dithering over her putts.

Following our round it was great sit down with both players and get the lowdown of life on tour.

We first spoke with Garvey and asked her to talk about the travel and difficulties on tour in the United States.

``This was my second year on tour and I learned a lot from my first year which is always hard … learning how to travel and manage your time,’’ Garvey said.

``I definitely enjoyed 2023 a lot more. I had a full time caddie with me which was really nice. It made things a little easier in terms of managing practice rounds, using course notes and of, obviously, not having to carry my own bag as well. That has probably been the biggest change I have had this year.”

How did she get on covering the cost of a caddie?

``My caddie Jamie Tipper is my cousin. He was a head professional at a golf course in England. I was born in Manchester in England and moved to New Zealand when I was five years old. All my extended family are still in England so he was a teaching professional at a course in Manchester and had been doing it for over 10 years. He caddied for me in all my big events as an amateur, also at Q school when I first turned professional and we are a good team.

“I played my first year as a rookie and I saw him again and he said I am willing to do it if you are. So I said it would be a great investment to have you out there with me. It is like family rates I guess so it is not as expensive as a normal tour caddie would be. So it has been an investment for both of us.

“It has been great having someone like my older brother to travel with. We have done a lot of big road trips together, sharing the driving in my vehicle.”

What was your vehicle?

``It was a little run down Ford Focus. We clocked up a lot of miles. I had it since my third year of college so he (the car) did well to get through the year. So I got rid of him at my last event in Florida. He was costing me too much in repairs with over 160,000 miles (256,000 kms) on the clock.’'

What’s with the he, for a car, we asked.

``His name is Fergus the Ford (much laughter). It was time to go and we had a little send off at the end of the year for him. But it has been really good having Jamie on my bag helping me stick to the game plan and he is going to be on my bag next year as well.

``He is also my short game and putting coach. Having him with me has definitely helped me mentally and it is less lonely out there. Our relationship has grown a lot in this last year which is really good. He also coaches a few girls on the Ladies' European Tour as well, so he has a lot of knowledge.”

So how does he coach others when the Epson Tour is season long?

``We do have weeks off and if he has time he will go back to Europe sometimes. But he figures it out and does video calls with his girls.”

We then ask what the courses are like on the Epson Tour?

``I don’t think they are yet up to LPGA standard. We do play some great courses but also some where you can’t play your normal game because of the layouts. However the Epson Tour has come such a long way in the last four or five years. The purses are increasing every year. I think some for 2024 are double what they were two years ago.

“I don’t think people realise how good the girls on the Epson Tour are. It is not a mini tour. You have to play so well to finish inside that top 10 at the end of the year. (They automatically get their LPGA Tour cards).

``It is a great tour which is growing. It is tough as the money isn’t great if you are not finishing inside the top 10. You are probably only breaking even for your weekly expenses if you finish inside the top 20. So it is an investment at the end of the day, hopefully a short term one. I do have the confidence that I will make it, given the people I have around me and the knowledge I have gained. In 2023 it was just two shots over six rounds at Q school that was the difference.”

Is course management the key we ask?

``We have looked at how we have done this year and how we are going to play courses where I may have to hit irons off tees and can’t take advantage of my length. How do we attack them as there is no point finishing 60th, just making the cut, although you still have to play well to make it. To make progress, top five or top 10 is required. We have looked at the scoring averages and over the three rounds 17 to 19 under par scores are winning.

“So I need to go into tournaments with the mindset that I need to be making six birdies a round. Am I going to do that playing defensively? Probably not. However, with hazards around greens on par fives we can’t risk going for the green in two shots at times.”

How about accommodation on your travels?

``Jamie and I have been renting (online accommodation) Airbnb’s all year. We get a two bedroom place or a three bedroom and share with some other girls as well, maybe even get a bigger house. It is not cheap.”

With Jamie included, Garvey said the weekly expenses are between $US1500 and $US2000. Add to that the $US400 entry fee for each tournament. That means a top 20 finish or thereabouts to cover costs.

So what is it like with the other players?

``I love it. The girls are great. We are all out there trying to do the same thing. We are all excited for girls that get the job done and are able to move on to the LPGA Tour. We all have the same goal to make it.”

Tell us about your friendship with New Yorker Jenny Rosenberg

``We became friends towards the end of the year. I have known her about six months but we got really close. She is a girl I could be friends with outside of golf as well. We are very similar. She wasn’t doing much in the off season and has always wanted to travel here and there. So I said come over to New Zealand and we will play some golf and I will show you round a little bit.”

Which is exactly what they have done.

“We have been sharing Airbnb’s on tour and Jamie is coaching her a little bit as well. So it all fits in and when I am in America and have an off week I can always say where are you and we can practice together. It is really nice to have someone you can practice with or forget about golf and have a nice time so it has been great to bring her here to play Millbrook, Jack’s Point and The Hills. She loved today’s round and it was good that The Hills were happy for us to come and practice.”

Garvey enjoyed being Rosenberg’s tour guide and after Queenstown it was to include Clearwater and Terrace Downs in Canterbury then to the far north and the fabulous Te Arai Links in Northland.

Finally we ask what the goals for 2024 are.

“I want to win an event. I’m over not winning. Top 10 at year's end. Play in a fourth US Open would be nice.”

That is quite a bucket list but after getting up close and personal with the delightful Garvey one can only wish her all the best for 2024 and to achieve her heart's desires. Her hard work deserves payback and it couldn’t happen to a nicer young lady.

Garvey’s 2024 year began at the Webex Players Series in Victoria in late January. The Victorian Open from February 1-4 and the Webex Series in Sydney from February 8-11 follow. She will then have a break until the Epson Tour kicks off with the TPS in Florida on March 4.