When you arrive at The Lakes Golf Club, you are greeted with the words “THIS IS THE LAKES, Be Brave, Be True, Be Strong.” The words are inscribed on the prominently placed “Defining Moment” statue, the upper torso of a male golfer shortly after impact. I don’t have the build, muscles or swing of that gifted, glorious golfer but I was brave, true and strong as I walked the lovely links amidst the lakes with club member Dan Wathen. My lasting memory of the golf I played today will be the driver, 3-wood to 25 feet and the ball disappearing into the cup on the 14th hole for an eagle. The same hole that Greg Norman once took an eleven on in the self-generated heat of competition. But golfing legacies are made over careers not a single hole and the model for the “Defining Moment” statue could be Greg Norman, not Andy Reistetter. But I did have my defining moment for sure on the 14th.
CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEWÂ and course tour with Darren Walthen.
Darren has to be the nicest guy ever to walk and play a round of golf with. Watch the video and you will see—knowledgeable, honest and friendly for sure. Insightful too as he said that he “fell in love with the game, challenged myself and here I am twenty years later and still trying to beat myself.” Isn’t that the game of golf we all love in the simplest of terms? The course tour and associated stories goes on and on starting with his prophetic words on the first tee to expect to dunk three to six balls in them there thirsty lakes. Stories about Adam Scott, Tiger Woods and Greg Norman stories all from times The Lakes GC hosted the Australian Open for three consecutive years before Royal Sydney last year and The Australian this year. A rota of four historic golf courses hosting the Open are emerging with the fourth being New South Wales Golf Club where Adam Scott won for the first time in Austral