MILDURA golfer Sam “Slammer” Smythe will represent Sunraysia at the All-Abilities Riversdale Cup in Melbourne next weekend.
Smythe said “the country boy is coming” and he is keen to play on a flash metropolitan golf course.
“It’s an all-abilities golf event which they run every year,” Mr Smythe said. “I got very excited when I realised I could enter.
“The courses in Melbourne compared to here are completely different … the greens are a lot faster there. It’s going to be a challenge but it’ll be good.”
Smythe said he had upped the ante on his training since being selected for the competition.
“I already went down to the Mildura golf club most days each week,” he said.
“Since I got accepted, I’ve been training even more. I’ve been training most days.
“I want to do as well as I can and hopefully I do alright but I’m going down there without any expectations. It’ll be good to see where I’m at so I can come home and determine what I need to work on. I’m just going to go down to the pitch on the Friday and try my best.”
Smythe’s 2020 tour plans were spoiled due to COVID-19.
“I was going to compete in a few events last year but I didn’t get to because of corona,” he said.
Smythe is the only Sunraysia golfer competing at the event.
“I think I am the first person from here to go down for it,” he said. “I just find golf so enjoyable.
“It’s great to get outside and get in some exercise.”
Smythe has a philosophical outlook on golf.
“In golf you have your good days and bad days, but that’s just part of playing sport,” he said.
“I’ll just go down, do my best, and hopefully come back a better player.
Smythe said the Melbourne trip is strictly business.
“It’s a 36 hole event but I think after 18 holes I will be pretty tired,” he said. “I have my dad coming down so I can just walk along and he can push the buggy.
“My mum always said she wanted a cricketer for a son, but golf will have to do. Next Friday cannot come quick enough.”
