Golf: Turner ropes in big names to help stars of the future

Three big names of New Zealand sport are backing Greg Turner's bid to produce Kiwi stars on the world golf stage.

All Black hooker Anton Oliver, yachting legend Russell Coutts, and the last outstanding Kiwi tennis professional, Brett Steven, agreed this week to become advisers to the fledgling Golf Tour of New Zealand.

They will also join a mentoring programme for young golfers, and assist a scheme to get investors to back budding stars.

New Zealand golfing great Turner, a friend of the trio, initiated the schemes, which have won the support of New Zealand Golf chief executive Larry Graham.

Turner instigated the New Zealand tour but it has struggled to gain a foothold. A successful tournament was held in Taranaki, thanks to local enthusiasm, but there were no takers elsewhere.

Taranaki will host another tournament in October, and Turner and tour chief executive Larry Powell are working at getting other districts on board.

"We are producing more technically capable golfers than ever yet the distance between where they are and need to be is as wide as ever," said Turner, who won 12 professional tournaments during his career.

"New Zealand hasn't adapted well, across many sports, to the professional era. Golfers are a lot younger now and miss the advantages of playing against tough, older competitors. It's a problem in many sports.

"Anton told me that the first thing he does when the Super 12 squads are named is 'check to see how many men we've got this year'.

"When I was a youngster, I'd get my arse kicked by Geoff Clarke every week, even when he didn't hit a decent goal shot. It's about learning to win ugly.

"Brett, Russell and Anton have got an awful lot of experience to pass on - the things they have learned are very valuable."

Turner said all three had emphasised the importance of getting a strong domestic competition running before the mentoring could work fully.

"You can't substitute for the experience of playing - what the mentors can do is stop the young golfers making the same mistakes over and over," said Turner.

"Apart from Michael Campbell and Philip Tataurangi, our other top golfers have emerged despite being New Zealanders. It has been good luck, not good management."

Turner believes Oliver, Coutts and Steven will promote the New Zealand tour, especially in securing sponsorship.

Their names will lend credibility to young players' attempts to get financial backers - how motor racer Scott Dixon funded his early career.

Steven, who is completing a financial degree, plays off a two handicap while Coutts is pushing single figures. Oliver is a non-golfer. Turner is targeting other sports stars.