people
Wisdom of the Elders:
Peter Ormsby
Golfing legend Peter Ormsby – a coach,
Professional and entrepreneur among
other titles – is Australia’s great all-rounder.
By The PGA of Australia
P
eter Ormsby is the quintessential
career golf enthusiast and
entrepreneur: PGA Professional; E-ZGO PGA Legends Tour player; golf superstore
founder; developer and owner of worldrenowned training technology; and proud
father of European Tour star Wade Ormsby,
and eldest son Jordan with his successful
golf car business. As the saying goes, what
he doesn’t know about the golf industry
probably isn’t worth knowing.
It all started half a century ago when, at
10 years of age, Ormsby first picked up a
golf club and fell in love. At 14 he started
working at the Glenelg Pro Shop in Adelaide
for Murray Crafter, a well-known local
Pro who happened to also be his family’s
neighbour, which led to a Traineeship and
job at Riverside Golf Club (now known as
West Lakes Golf Club). What followed was
a diverse, dedicated involvement with just
about every aspect of the game. Golf has
been Ormsby’s lifelong friend. “It’s the only
thing I know, fortunately I never had to go
out and find a different job,” he says.
Now 61 and gradually, perhaps even a touch
reluctantly edging closer to a more laid-back
lifestyle, Ormsby reflects on his time in the
game with a sense of unbridled satisfaction.
“It’s the challenge to get better – I keep
trying to find that perfect golf swing. And I
thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie with my
mates in golf.”
Running Adelaide Shores Golf Club keeps
Ormsby as busy as ever. “Every day new
things come across my desk, it never stops.
But you know what, I’d be lost without it. I’ve
been doing it for so long,” he says.
“From my office I can see the range and if
I’m sitting there watching someone make a
mistake I can’t help myself, I’ll run down there
to introduce myself and say ‘do you mind if I
help you with something I’ve noticed?’ I like
putting something back into the game. The
player gets a bit of a thrill out of it and will
spread the word about the great service and
terrific facilities.”
Ormsby’s advice to younger PGA Members
is to help people and keep helping. “If you
do things for others for the right reasons, it’s
amazing how much good comes back to you.
If you’re out to make a quick buck, forget it.
But if you’re driven, sincere and genuinely
interested in people, they’ll take notice.
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August 2014 | www.insidegolf.com.au
Common sense leads you the right way.”
Named a Centenary Ambassador of the
PGA of Australia and bestowed the 2011
South Australia Golf Industry Award for PGA
Professional of the Year, he hails such peer
recognition “very special”.
“You don’t go out of your way to achieve
these things, they just happen along the
journey trying to do the best you can. It was
one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Inventories and balance sheets have
often been as prominent as scorecards in
Ormsby’s career. He is intensely passionate
about providing high-quality service and
enhancing people’s experience with golf at
every level, in every way.
In 1996 he launched Pete’s Superstore, a
“destination store” in Adelaide with all the
merchandise and equipment a golfer could
need and the customer service to match.
“My wife and I bought three blocks on a
major intersection and we mortgaged
everything to build that shop,” he says. “We
were so committed to the idea we even
planned to sell our house and live on the
premises if we had to in case it did not work.
Immediately it was the place to go, people
came in droves.”
Ormsby recalls that in the early days, running
the superstore held his total commitment.
“I’d been eating, sleeping and dreaming golf
clubs for 35 years. Then in 2007 I sold the
business and turned off my retail brain,” he
says.
“I don’t have any regrets about that decision
because I’m still heavily involved with the
game and that gives me a reason to get up
and go to work