Around the Traps with Gary Lord

Weekend Australian Financial Review, 18 September 2005

Interviewee/Golfer: Gary Lord

Position: Managing director, OzForex, an independent foreign exchange provider. After a few years' retirement from the institutional foreign exchange markets, I've downed my clubs to come on board and build the business internationally.

Golf course membership: Manly, Terrey Hills and Macquarie Links.

Your handicap: Nine, and a lack of physical co-ordination.

What clubs do you use? It's all over the place. S-Yard driver, Srixon fairway woods, Mizuno MP29 irons, Titleist wedges and an Odyssey putter.

Favourite course: Kingston Heath. I've only played it once and I remember the quality of the greens and that the course is hard but fair. It appears like it's been a golf course forever.

Favourite hole: The seventh at Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand. It's unbelievable with wind. A full 190-metre carry over a ravine down to the ocean. Spectacular.

Most inspiring golf player: Greg Norman has always been an inspiration.

If you could play anywhere, where would it be? Like everybody else, just one round at Augusta National. To test yourself with some of the shots the pros play, like a five wood or long iron to the 13th green or the tee shot on the 12th.

Memorable moments: After losing quite a bit of cash over the years to my mates at Terrey Hills, I won the "royal strip" one time. This is where you bet the other three players for the front nine, back nine and the match. If you're down on any of those three bets then the double is compulsory. I got them all and picked up close to a grand.

Tips for other golfers: Never bet against Michel "the Moroccan" Bouskila, Peter "Magoo" Miles, Paul "Fatty" Vautin or Max Krilich.

Any problems? My strength is my short game. I have nicknames like "up and down Dan" or "Houdini". My problem is I struggle to get my drives on the short grass of the fairway I'm playing.

Most like to have a round with: A four-ball with the Shark, Tiger and John Daly on one of the really tough United States courses.

Why golf? Who knows? It either grabs you or it doesn't.

Any comments/trends: Some rules are stupid, like penalties when the wind blows your ball yet you haven't touched it. Generally, most developments make the sport more enjoyable, especially the number of quality courses being built.

Back to Media Centre

Go to top