It’s been a long time between drinks in the Golf NSW Amateur Championship for Brenden Ellam.
The former national and Golf NSW representative took the opportunity to play in the NSW Amateur Championship for the first time in 16 years.
Ellam, The Lynwood Country Club Champion felt obliged to come out of ‘retirement’ and compete in the Champion of Club Champions event. However the urge to see how the best of the amateur’s play these days got the better of him.
“I came back to play the Champion of Club Champions event after I won the Club Championship at Lynnwood. Then I thought, actually enter the whole event, the Amateur and see what its like again. Try and mix it with the young guys,” he said.
And try Ellam did. Even if it took him everything he had to keep up with them off the tee.
As for the skill of today’s young guns, Ellam was impressed.
“I give it everything I’ve got. I’m older, I’m bigger, but I just don’t hit it as far as they do. They’re so supple and they all rip it so hard,” Ellam smiled. “I can’t remember what I was like as a player back then but I can appreciate the quality of golf that these young guys play now. It’s come on leaps and bounds.”
Ellam was a fiercely competitive player in his day and his results matched his passion for the game.
“I came second in a couple of Doug Sanders Under 18 World Juniors in Scotland in the 1990’s and won an ACT Amateur as well. I even won the Club Champion of Champions back then.”
As for his form this week, Ellam was diplomatic.
“It makes it a bit harder when your 10-15 metres behind them all day. It was a good experience though to play in it (the amateur) again.”
“I know I didn’t play as well as I’d like to and I’ve been playing OK.”
“I’m disappointed with a par round yesterday, but I’m even more so with five-over today.”
“Oh well, look’s like I’ve got the weekend off,” he laughs.