Aussie golf legend Greg Norman on his COVID battle and role in new reality show Holey Moley

Aussie golf legend Greg Norman jokes his rig caused some problems on new reality show Holey Moley, as he opened up about his COVID battle.

Easing back into a Chesterfield leather armchair, with a velvet smoking jacket adding more than a hint of Hugh Hefner to his natural swagger, Greg Norman is a man completely comfortable in his own skin.

The golfing champion, who built a $400-million fortune on his sporting achievements and business prowess, is not backward in coming forward about his talents on and off the golf course.

Including, as The BINGE Guide cheekily asks, that meme shot of the 65-year-old walking his dog in, ahem, fine form on a beach near his luxury home on Jupiter Island in Florida.

Priding himself on his impressive fitness, despite largely retiring from competitive golf in 2009, Norman laughs at the international attention his, um, tight blue swim shorts attracted.

“I was just out walking my dog and it is what it is,” he quips, with a laugh.

“I think some of the comments were hilarious, and I don’t normally read the comments, so it was quite a bit of fun.”

THAT shot of Greg Norman walking his dog on Jupiter Island, Florida. Picture: Instagram

It’s with the same tongue firmly planted in his cheek, the man who earned the nickname Great White Shark for his aggressive style of play, is excited to show his home country another side to his personality, as the resident golf pro for Seven’s new reality TV play, Holey Moley.

The family-friendly series will see a mix of amateur and professional plays chance their hand over an epic astro-turfed mini golf course, to win

The Eureka Productions format was a monster hit in the US where each episode averaged 4.5 millions viewers, including Norman who became interested in the series.

Schooling the audience on the nuances of golf – and life – was an “authentic” choice, Norman, also credited with designing the course, says.

A scene from Seven's reality series, Holey Moley Australia. Picture: Paul A. Broben

He nominates ‘Putt the Plank,’ as his favourite hole, which is surrounded by a water trap and patrolled by Greg the Shark.

In one of his ‘The Hole Story with Greg’ segments, Norman jokes: “I was meant to swim around the pool, and golfers would have to leap onto my back to get across the water … but we did some tests and unfortunately my skin is so silky smooth everyone kept slipping off. So we had to go with a fake shark instead. Damn this ageless body!”

Not the shy type, Norman embraced the sexy jester role, boasting: “That jacket just slid on my back, no problem.”

“I think what most people don’t realise is I do have a really good sense of humour and I do take the p*ss out of a lot of people and I do have a lot of fun with people,” he says.

Another scene from Seven's reality series, Holey Moley Australia Picture: Paul A. Broben

Showcasing his comedic talents was as appealing as lining up for a new challenge, he adds.

“My role has always been serious, as soon as you walk out to the first tee,” Norman explains. “You had to be so clinical and dedicated. And so when people can see the other side of you and still relate to golf in some ways, like Holey Moley does, it was just a no-brainer.”

The show was meant to bring Norman home to film and promote the series, but with border closures and his own battle with COVID landing him in hospital, then under strict home quarantine, those plans have been shelved.

Norman took to Instagram to document his COVID experience. Picture: Greg Norman/Instagram

Before his diagnosis, Norman was upbeat about how he had lead his companies’ staff through the economic impact of the pandemic – including keeping the construction of 12 Greg Norman-designed golf courses in progress.

“Oh, look, I’m not going to lie, it’s had an impact on a lot of things out there and we’ve worked extremely hard at what we need to do with our business,” he says.

“I mean, there were some adjustments made and I have not travelled to any of my golf course design projects since March; the end of February was my last trip to Cabo [Mexico] working on a golf course there.”

The seasoned business leader adds: “I’ve been through quite a few recessions in my career and it’s how you prepare yourself during that recession that means how successful you are when it comes out. We’ve done a really good job of preparing my company and my people.”

Norman isolating at his Florida home. Picture: Greg Norman/Instagram

Norman, still isolating with wife Kristen at their Florida home, predicts the impact of COVID could lift by later this year when “I think we will be full on back to doing what we need to do. Quite honestly, I will personally be doing a lot of catch up because I have to go to a lot of golf courses that we presently still have under construction, but I still cannot get in the countries.”

While the Shark has become a global mega brand, he remains enmeshed in its operations.

“I developed a really cool brand and logo, and over the years that brand and logo has actually moved out beyond golf,” he says.

“And so I have a responsibility to a lot of situations with my name on the door, with my logo, on whatever the product is. It’s near and dear to me. I don’t just give out my brand or give out my name willy nilly. I give it out with a long-term view of building, over 15 years, a business that’s going to have a good exit strategy.”

Norman in action last year before he was hit by COVID. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Thanks to Holey Moley’s success in the States, interest in driving ranges and minigolf courses has improved participation and that spells dollar signs to a shrewd Norman.

“We’ve seen it over here with different facilities bringing people to play the game of golf at the driving range, with music and entertainment,” he says.

“Some of those people have never been on a golf course. I think it was like 12.5 million visited a golfing facility last year in the United States. You only have to have a conversion rate of like five or 10 per cent and you’ve got half a million people coming into the game of golf. Any way you can get people interested in the game, whether it’s through Holey Moley and the fun side of things … it’s a good thing.”

Holey Moley, 7.30pm, Sunday on Seven.

Originally published as Aussie golf legend Greg Norman on his COVID battle and role in new reality show Holey Moley