Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Summer 2016 | Page 18

Although Ikin said it took him ‘just one second’ to consider
Guyatt’s invitation to caddy for him at the Open, he
conceded he accepted the role with some trepidation. And
appreciating golf etiquette at that level was at the top of
that list.

“But Matty coolly rolled a three-hybrid to within tap-in
distance.”

“Obviously I didn’t want to make a goose of myself and
do the wrong thing, which I probably did on the very first
day,” he said.

“A tick over two dozen used Pro V1s,” he grinned. “Matty
and I are mates. We often play together at Indooroopilly
with Adam Blyth and Paul Hayden. There was never going
to be a monetary fee.

“Because of my fair skin, I turned up in long pants. No
caddies wear long pants. And I also discovered that caddies
don’t wear golf shoes, either.
“But little things like raking the bunker for the other
player; cleaning their ball on the green if their caddy is
busy; and when to take out the flag – they were simple
caddying lessons learned.”

And what was the recompense for six days at Royal Sydney
– two days of practise and four tournament rounds?

“But Matty changes his golf ball every three-to-four holes,
so the used Pro V1s went straight into the Ikin backpack.
“I didn’t caddy for him for anything more than the
experience. And this was among those sporting
experiences that I will never forget.”

However it wasn’t just an education in caddying. Ikin says
his experience over the two tournaments will hopefully
make him a better golfer.
“First and foremost, as weekend golfers we must know
our own game and we need to fully understand our
limitations,” he said.
“Every time we play a shot, we should hit the
simplest shot we can and then be unconcerned
about where it goes. It is what it is.
“And, as Matty and I agreed, no post-shot
commentary or reaction is beneficial. If we hit a
poor shot, being upset or throwing a tantrum is
totally counter-productive. Conversely, there is no
point walking down the fairway after a 280-metre drive
thinking we are Tiger Woods, then duffing a pitching
wedge and walking off with triple bogey.
“I know golf might not sound as much fun if played
this way, but it works.”
A typical example of this ‘sensible’ approach was
when Guyatt was 20 metres short of a certain green,
facing an uphill shot that Ikin thought was perfect for
a lob wedge.
“I watched some of Matty’s lob wedges on the practise
fairway and his execution was just sensational,” he
recalled.
“When he was considering what club to use on this
particular day, I’m thinking ‘there’s a huge gallery, you are
brilliant with the wedge. Geez, if I had your ability I’d be
throwing it up and watching it land, then stop dead’.

18 Q Golf

Summer 2016

www.golfqueensland.org.au