industry news
Gold Coast to host World
Scientific Congress of Golf
F
or the first time since its inception in
1990, the World Scientific Congress of
Golf (WSCG) will be held on Australian
shores, landing on the Gold Coast from the
5-7 of September this year. The conference
has previously only been held at St. Andrews
(UK) and Phoenix, Arizona (US) so gaining
the rights to host the event from the WSCG
Board in 2012 was a major coup for Griffith
University and for Australia.
The WSCG started as a means of bringing
together academics and coaches to discuss
the way in which the science of golf could be
more meaningfully translated into practice.
As one golf coach said “It’s the boffins
explaining what they do in their labs in a
way that means something to me on the
range”. One of the key themes is the practical
application of the science rather than
science for science’s sake. The conference
brings together a broad range of delegates
including biomechanists, physiotherapists,
exercise physiologists, psychologists,
coaches, industry leaders –anyone interested
in, and passionate about, the development of
the game.
A comprehensive program is being
developed around this year’s themes of
‘The Golfer, Technology & Equipment and
Golf Business & Education’. Improving
performance and preventing injury is one
of the key themes of the conference. WSCG
organisers have secured David Darbyshire
as a keynote speaker. Darbyshire is Adam
Scott’s Physical Preparation Coach and will
be discussing some of the key elements of
Perth International
to deliver strongest
ever field
Reigning US PGA Champion Jason
Dufner has confirmed his return to
Western Australia for the 2014 Perth
International at Lake Karrinyup Country
Club from 23 to 26 October.
Dufner won his first Major Championship
last August at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY
and will return to Perth after finishing
second in the inaugural event in 2012.
He will be joined in the field by 24-yearold Frenchman, Victor Dubuisson.
Dubuisson has enjoyed a terrific past year
winning his maiden European Tour title
in Turkey last October and reached the
final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play
Championship in February.
designing holistic programs for athletes
with high expectations and busy schedules.
Darbyshire has worked with the likes of Nick
Watney, KJ Choi, Aaron Baddeley and Ernie
Els, and will be a highlight of the conference.
Seven internationally recognised academics
have also been signed as Keynote Speakers
–Professors Mario LaFortune, Director of
Innovation at NIKE; Eric Wallace from Ulster
University; Senshi Fukashiro, Director of
Biomechanics from the University of Tokyo;
Mark Broadie, Vice Dean from Columbia
Business School; Australia’s Sandy Gordon,
Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology
from the University of Western Australia;
Sean O’Leary, Specialist Musculoskeletal
Physiotherapist from the University of
Queensland; and Dr. Debbie Crews, Director
of the WSCG Board and renowned golf
psychologist.
With this much academic clout, one could
be concerned that the conference is only
for the boffins. However, Canadian PGA
Professional, Henry Brunton, will also be on
hand to ensure that the science is translated
into practice and that those coaches and
lovers of the game of golf in attendance keep
the academics focussed on the practical
application of their data.
Not only will Brunton keep the academics
on their toes, but the always highly
competitive Internationals vs Home Golf
Tournament, which will be held at the
beautiful The Palms at Sanctuary Cove,
provides the opportunity for great debate
about the place of science in golf when one
finds themselves 25 strokes over par!
More information: http://wscg2014.com.
au, or www.facebook.com/golfscience.
congress. Phone: 02 9265 0700.
“I had a great time in Perth two years
ago. I loved the city, the hospitality and
the terrific golf course at Lake Karrinyup.
I had a terrific battle to the end in 2012,
closing as runner-up, and I am hoping to
go one better and take home the trophy,”
Dufner said.
Korean born, Australian based Jin Jeong
will return to defend his title and will be
joined in the field by five-time European
Tour champion and local favourite Brett
Rumford, along with Steven Bowditch
who won his maiden PGA TOUR title in
April at the Texas Open.
The Perth International i ́