FROM THE BYRON NEWS . . . (Presumption, since Gary was Editor when he wrote it) Rhys Wright is retiring after 30 years as the Byron Bay Golf Club’s professional. By GARY CHIGWIDDEN • 28th Sep 2006 8:00 AM What do golf pros do when they retire? Well, in the case of Byron Bay Golf Clubs Rhys Wright, play golf of course. That, among other things, including travel and community work. After 30 years as the clubs professional, Rhys is retiring in December. I have not played much golf in the last five years and its something I will do, she said. I want to do some travelling and I want to do some community work and give a little bit back to Byron Bay in some way or other. And of course, a little bit of time for me. A born and bred Byron Bay local, Rhys, influenced by her mother who played golf, took up the game as a young girl. At 17 she started going to Sydney one weekend a month for specialist coaching. She would catch the train down to Sydney on Friday night, be coached on Saturday and be back in the Bay for school on Monday morning. All I ever wanted to do was represent Australia as an amateur and I did that many times, she said. One of the highlights of her early career was being part of the Australian team contesting the World Cup in Spain in 1970. Others were playing in the mixed Australia versus Japan competition for four years, with Greg Norman a team member in one of those years and playing in the Tasman Cup in New Zealand. But the stand-out, she said, was winning the Australian pro title at the Rosnay course in Melbourne in 1978. Before Rhys became the pro at Byron Bay, a travelling professional used to visit the club to give lessons to members. From the little shop she opened 30 years ago, Rhys has watched both the course and the facilities improve immeasurably over the years. Its been a wonderful journey to see the club progress, she said. It has matured and lots of things are happening in the club. I feel privileged to have been part of the journey. I think the thing that has been lovely has been making new friends and meeting people.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 22:01:50 +0000