The top golfers in the AFL reveal their secrets to success, best and worst teammates and their dream courses
The AFL’s Top 50 golfers has been revealed by Code Sports – but who is the worst at every club? The stars reveal the golfing secrets, dreams and laughing stocks from inside the four walls.
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It’s a “safe haven” for Ryan Burton. A “happy place” for Mitch Lewis. A “dangerous spot to stand” for anyone even slightly in front of Reilly O’Brien.
The golf course has become the domain of the footballer, and the odds are that if you’re having a hit on a Sunday or Monday at a private golf club in one of the capital cities, there’s an AFL player or two out there dabbling in their secondary sport.
Hawthorn’s Lewis and Port Adelaide’s Burton – teammates and occasional hitting partners for two years at the Hawks – were neck and neck in the race to claim top spot in CODE Sports’ top 50 AFL golfers.
Lewis was born a golfer, his childhood home backing onto the first green at Hidden Valley in Wallan, while Burton came to the sport late before blossoming rapidly under the tutelage of Jack Watts (among others) at the Power.
It was the Hawks forward (with a current handicap of 0.1) who edged clear to claim No. 1 spot on the list after hitting a rich vein of form over the last month, but Burton (0.4) would have spent significant time this year in pole position with Carlton’s Ollie Hollands (0.9) not far behind.
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For Burton, 28, it was a challenge starting out among a Hawthorn playing list stacked with golfing talent, but an off-season trip to the US sparked a lasting love for the sport.
“The Hawks had a group of boys (Lewis among them) who played weekly and were pretty handy … but I never played with them, because I was shocking,” Burton said.
“I played with a couple of the other younger boys, and we sort of just hacked around on some of the local tracks in Melbourne … but I went on a golf trip with about 15 or 16 other boys over in South Carolina, and I guess I just fell in love after that trip.
“Golf is probably my safe haven away from football. Whenever I get bad news about footy or if I’ve played a bad game, I just want to get on the course and just forget about it.
“It’s really hard to think about how bad you played, or losing and things like that, when you’re trying to hit a golf shot as well as it can … it takes your full concentration, and I guess it lets you escape from the footy world a little bit.”
Burton is a member at Royal Adelaide, where he plays regularly with Jed McEntee, Todd Marshall and his former housemate Mitch Georgiades.
He is eager to enter coaching at the end of his playing career – be it football or golf.
“I could definitely see myself doing some coaching in either sport … I’m keen to start doing some filming soon for some TikTok or YouTube golf stuff,” he said.
A few of the Power players like to “walk a few holes” to get the legs moving after a game.
Ollie Hollands swears by it, saying he often recovers better from matches if a round of golf follows soon after.
REVEALED: SEE THE TOP 50 AFL GOLFERS BY HANDICAP HERE
Lewis, who had to put golf on the backburner during his recovery from ACL surgery last year, said it is a crucial mental release for him when he is fit and playing football.
“I wasn’t able to play golf for what would have been four to six months post-op … that was quite difficult – there was a fair bit of time where I was trying to find other avenues to get a release from footy, because golf has been my happy place for a very long time,” he said.
“But it’s more the social element of it, to be honest. You spend four and a half hours playing 18 holes with three of your mates, you talk a bunch of s***.
“It’s time spent away from social media and not worrying about anything else. So that’s what I value the most out of it.”
The Hawks dominated the top 50 with seven entrants.
Geelong contributed five players, while St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast all had four.
Tim English was the only Western Bulldog named, but the club did not nominate Rory Lobb or their Duck Hook Golf trio – Bailey Dale, Oskar Baker and Anthony Scott – all believed to be top-20 calibre players.
The list is surprisingly well stocked with ruckmen and key position players, but there was no room for keen golfers Jordon Sweet or Reilly O’Brien – who drained a hole-in-one at South Australia’s Mount Compass Golf Course on the eve of the season in a development which sent shockwaves through the AFL golfing community.
Crows small forward Lachie Murphy was an eyewitness to the ace, which led O’Brien to exclaim: “I’m the greatest golfer in the world”.
“The golfing landscape at our club will never be the same again,” Murphy said.
“It was the first shot the big fella had hit that went above eye level all day.”
RYAN BURTON (Port)
Current handicap: 0.4
Favourite club to use: driver
Worst club to use: putter
Favourite local course: Royal Adelaide
Dream course to play: Augusta or Tara Iti
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Wesley Bryan
Worst teammate to play with: Jordon Sweet – takes too long and has an ugly swing
OLLIE HOLLANDS (Carl)
Current handicap: 0.9
Best club: Wedge
Worst club: Long irons
Favourite local course: Heritage Golf Club
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Adam Sandler
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Jack Silvagni
SAM STURT (Fre)
Current handicap: 3.6
Best club: 5-wood, almost goes as far as a driver, and definitely goes straighter
Worst club: 5-iron, I’ve never hit a good shot with it
Favourite local course: Lake Karrinyup
Dream course to play: Pebble Beach
Dream foursome to play with: Ricky Ponting, Rory McIlroy, Michael Jordan and Adam Sandler
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Heath Chapman – he doesn’t listen to any of the tips I give him.
JAXON PRIOR (Ess)
Current handicap: 3.9
Best club: Most reliable is my 3-wood, but I love my Callaway pitching wedge (10-iron)
Worst club: Absolute nightmare with my driver at the moment. Dave Micheluzzi changed the loft on it, so hopefully I can hit straighter.
Favourite local course: Any sandbelt course or Brisbane Golf Club.
Dream course to play: There’s too many – top three would be Augusta National, Tara Iti and St Andrew’s Old.
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau and Ludvig Aberg
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Early days Kai Lohmann was some of the worst golf I’ve ever seen. To his credit, he’s put in a lot of hard work and is now very capable.
MITCH GEORGIADES (Port)
Current handicap: 4
Favourite club to use: putter
Worst club to use: sand wedge
Favourite local course: Royal Adelaide
Dream course to play: Tara Iti
Dream team (three other golfers to play with): Tiger Woods, Min Woo Lee, Bryson de Chambeau
Worst teammate to play with: Jordon Sweet, talks too much
TOUK MILLER (GC)
Current handicap: 4.3
Best club: 2-iron
Worst club: Driver
Favourite local course: Burleigh GC
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Michael Jordan, Fat Perez, Tiger Woods
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Matt Rowell
STEVEN MAY (Melb)
Current handicap: 4.3
Favourite club to use: 2 iron
Worst club to use: 3 wood
Favourite local course: Peninsula Kingswood Country Club
Dream course to play: Augusta National
Dream foursome to play with: John Daly, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Jake Bowey – forgets his score
JORDAN DAWSON (Adel)
Current handicap: 5
Best club: Hybrid
Worst club: Putter
Favourite local course: Robe Golf Club
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Bryson DeChambeau, Tiger Woods and Travis Head.
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Darcy Fogarty
COOPER SHARMAN (STK)
Current handicap: 5.7
Favourite club to use: Evenroll ER2 putter
Worst club to use: 2 iron
Favourite local course: Southern GC
Dream course to play: Augusta National
Dream foursome to play with: Cam Smith, Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Marcus Windhager, jumps around on my putting line when he misses a putt
ERROL GULDEN (Syd)
Current handicap: 7.3
Favourite club to use: Putter
Worst club to use: Any long iron
Favourite local course: The Coast Little Bay
Dream course to play: Royal County Down, Ireland
Dream foursome to play with: Taco, Sam Heung Min, Tooms
Worst teammate to play with: Chad Warner – throws clubs and sooks
JAKE BOWEY (Melb)
Current handicap: 7.7
Favourite club to use: 4 iron
Worst club to use: 3 wood
Favourite local course: Cranbourne GC
Dream course to play: Augusta GC
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee
Worst teammate to play with: Blake Howes – only plays 9 holes
LACHIE WHITFIELD (GWS)
Current handicap: 7.7
Best club: 3-wood
Worst club: Putter
Favourite local course: St Michael’s
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Min Woo Lee, Ricky Ponting and Tommy Fleetwood
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Kieren ‘Found My Ball’ Briggs
BAILEY SCOTT (NM)
Current handicap: 8.0
Favourite club to use: Cobra Darkspeed Driver (Masters Edition)
Worst club to use: Foot Wedge
Favourite local course: Westgate Golf Club
Dream course to play: The Home of Golf – Old Course St Andrew’s.
Dream foursome to play with: Bryson DeChambeau, Nelly Korda & Ludvig Åberg.
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Tom Powell because he only plays the back 9 at Riverside.
CHAD WARNER (Syd)
Current handicap: 8.5
Favourite club to use: Driver
Worst club to use: Driving iron
Favourite local course: The Australian
Dream course to play: Augusta National
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, Jordan Spieth, John Daly
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Errol Gulden – stops talking to you and leaves half way through if he’s playing bad
JUDD MCVEE (Melb)
Current handicap: 8.7
Favourite club to use: driver
Worst club to use: 5 iron
Favourite local course: Spalding Park GC
Dream course to play: Cypress Point Club
Dream foursome to play with: Scottie Scheffler, Tiger woods and Rod McVee
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Bailey Laurie – the ball never leaves the ground
TRAVIS BOAK (Port)
Current handicap: 8.9
Favourite club to use: 7 iron
Worst club to use: putter
Favourite local course: Glenelg
Dream course to play: Pebble Beach
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Min Woo Lee
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Jordon Sweet – he’s a stickler for the rules
ZAK BUTTERS (Port)
Current handicap: 8.9
Favourite club to use: driver
Worst club to use: 6 iron
Favourite local course: Glenelg
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry, Jason Day
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Jordon Sweet – too yappy
DAN BUTLER (StK)
Current handicap: 9.0
Favourite club to use: Ping Anser 2 Putter
Worst club to use: 52° (sits in car)
Favourite local course: Yarra Yarra
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, Cam Smith, Rory
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Marcus Windhager, both. Takes maximum time over every shot and always leaves putt short.
HARRISON PETTY (Melb)
Current handicap: 9.3
Favourite club to use: 5 wood
Worst club to use: 6 iron
Favourite local course: Southern GC
Dream course to play: Pine Valley GC
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Greg Norman
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Judd McVee – doesn’t pay his debts
ROWAN MARSHALL (StK)
Current handicap: 9.4
Favourite club to use: 54 degree
Worst club to use: 3 iron
Favourite local course: Victoria
Dream course to play: Tara Iti/Cypress point
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, Scottie Scheffler, John Daly
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Jack Steele, always blaming the greens for his missed putts
JACK STEELE (StK)
Current handicap: 11
Favourite club to use: Driver
Worst club to use: 7 iron
Favourite local course: Victoria Golf Club
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, John Daly, Michael Jordan
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Callum Wilkie, very pessimistic
JORDON SWEET (Port)
Current handicap: 12.3
Favourite club to use: Callaway Elyte triple diamond driver
Worst club to use: 4 iron
Favourite local course: Glenelg, and I think Tea Tree Gully is really underrated
Dream course to play: Cape Kidnappers
Dream foursome to play with: Jack Buchanan, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Zak Butters – he always blames me or playing poorly and brings attention to our group by having tantrums!
MARCUS WINDHAGER (StK)
Current handicap: 15.3
Favourite club to use: 3 wood
Worst club to use: 4 iron
Favourite local course: Victoria
Dream course to play: The Australian
Dream foursome to play with: Paddy Dow, Dan Butler, Ryan Byrnes
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Rowan Marshall, seems to play terribly every time we’re on the same team
PADDY DOW (StK)
Current handicap: 16.9
Favourite club to use: driver
Worst club to use: any iron
Favourite local course: Yarra Yarra
Dream course to play: Augusta
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Fred Couples
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Marcus Windhager, makes the round way too long
COREY WARNER (Syd)
Current handicap: 18
Favourite club to use: 5 Iron
Worst club to use: Putter
Favourite local course: The Coast Little Bay
Dream course to play: Pebble Beach
Dream foursome to play with: Tiger, Min Woo Lee, Steph Curry
Worst teammate you’ve played with: Angus Sheldrick – no golf etiquette, talks when you’re swinging
Originally published as The top golfers in the AFL reveal their secrets to success, best and worst teammates and their dream courses
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