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Nadene Gole Achieves World No. 1 Senior Amateur Golfer
Drummond Golf congratulates Australia's Nadene Gole, who became the World No. 1 Senior Women's Amateur Golfer after the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) were updated on February 22. It has been a dramatic rise to the top of the senior rankings for the 54-year-old, who only began competing in the over 50s age category in September last year. Gole, a plus-marker at Victoria Golf Club, has made seven starts at WAGR events during the past six months notching four wins, one runner up performance and two third places. In addition, she made three starts at Australian National Order of Merit events winning on all occasions.
“It’s surreal,” Gole said during an interview with Golf Australia. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to achieve because there are a lot of successful golfers from around the world who are now playing seniors’ golf.”
The Victorian vaulted to the summit of senior women’s golf after her victory at the New Zealand Senior Women's Amateur Championship on February 16. With the win at Whakatane Golf Club, North Island, Gole became just the second golfer in history to win New Zealand’s national amateur championship at both senior-age and junior-age level. In 1989, Gole (nee Hall) captured the New Zealand Junior Amateur Championship at Russley Golf Club, Christchurch.
Stage One of Gole’s amateur career was brief as the talented golfer moved quickly through the ranks. She grew up in Traralgon, Gippsland and began playing golf with her parents (Kevin and Joan) aged 13 and went on to represent Victoria and Australia at junior level aged 15 and 18 respectively. She was runner up at the 1989 British Amateur Strokeplay and then turned professional aged 21.
An eight-year professional golf career followed, which featured winning the European Tour’s Danish Open in 1996. Soon after that success, Gole wound down her golfing career while raising her children Ben and Sophie. She returned to the fairways after joining Victoria Golf Club in 2014 and eventually regained her amateur status.
“Golf was something I wanted to get back into. I really wanted to be a club golfer to play with my husband and my friends plus enjoy a club environment,” she recalled. “The only competition on my radar was Tuesday comp, the Club Championships and representing VGC in Pennant.”
A chance conversation with friend and Huntingdale GC member Heather Gellatly brought seniors golf into Gole’s vision.
“Heather promoted seniors golf and quizzed me why aren’t you playing? I said, I hadn’t played three or four round golf events for decades. So, I really wasn’t sure how competitive I could be given how long I was out of the game.” Gole said.
Gole opened her senior career winning at her first five starts including notching state titles in consecutive weeks at the South Australian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the Victorian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. She was runner up at the Australian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in October and was a member of the victorious Australian team at the Asia-Pacific Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Gole also wore Australian colours at junior level.
Her winning ways continued in the New Year. On February 3, Gole scored her third state senior title with a dominant nine-shot victory at the Tasmanian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in an emphatic wire-to-wire performance at Kingston Beach Golf Club, Hobart. And, then made it two wins in consecutive starts outlasting a quality field across the ditch at New Zealand’s national senior title.
Remarkably, she is currently the highest ranked woman amateur golfer in the world above the age of 25.
Gole is thoroughly enjoying Stage Two of her amateur career.
“I am so happy to rediscover golf. I love the game. It allows me to travel to wonderful places and meet so many fantastic people because golf doesn’t discriminate with age,” she said.
“I’m grateful that I’ve come back to golf.”
In January, Gole joined premium golfing manufacturer Tour Edge as a Brand Ambassador in Australia.
Winner’s Bag: Nadene Gole
Here’s the gear Gole used to win the 2023 Tasmanian Senior Women's Amateur Championship & 2023 New Zealand Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
Driver:
Tour Edge C722 (9.5 degrees)
3-Wood:
Tour Edge C722 (15 degrees)
5-Wood:
Tour Edge C722 (18 degrees)
4-Hybrid:
Tour Edge C722 (22 degrees)
5-Hybrid:
Tour Edge C722 (25 degrees)
Irons:
Tour Edge C722 (6-AW)
Wedges:
Vokey Design SM8 (54 & 58 degrees)
Putter:
Scotty Cameron Futura 7
Golf Ball:
Titleist Pro V1x (Yellow)
