The rub of green

It is the world’s largest amateur golf series, a competition that sees golfers from all over the globe compete in their own national titles for the chance to represent their country at the international final. Celebrating its 29th anniversary in 2019, each year the Audi quattro Cup sees more than 80,000 avid golfers from 43 countries play a total of 645 individual tournaments for the chance to play that last, all important tournament at one of the world’s great golf courses.

Competition is good natured, but serious, given that national pride is ultimately on the line, so it comes as no surprise that the quattro Cup has attracted some of the world’s great amateur golfers in its 29 years of competition.

In Australia, the national final was again played at the prestigious, Capital Golf Club in Melbourne, the famed sandbelt course designed by golfing royalty, Peter Thomson. Here, the 13 winning teams from around the country came together to play off for the right to represent Australia in 2019 at the stunning Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee in Austria.

Playing a Greensome Stableford format – where both members of a team tee off and then play alternating shots from the best drive – the teams took on the challenging Capital layout, a rare treat in itself given that only a precious few ever get to sample the famed sandbelt course.

At the end of 18 holes, there was a sense of accomplishment throughout the playing group, but the announcement of the winners would have to wait until that evening to be made official.

That announcement was made at a glittering dinner held at encore restaurant in St Kilda, where Audi Ambassador, and national television news anchor, Sandra Sully, delivered the good news.

In 2019, it was the pairing of Aaron Caratti and Andrew Miller from Audi Centre Perth who finished on top and will represent Australia in Austria in just a matter of weeks.

The winning pair demonstrated their skill against a tough field, their score of 44 points too good for the nearest pairing from Audi Centre Parramatta of Sam Tukaki and Ben Bartlett on 41 points.

In addition to the outright competition winners, some other outstanding efforts on the day were also recognised, with Bradley Watt from Audi Penfold Burwood winning the ‘nearest the pin’ and Nick Breslin from Audi Centre Shepparton winning the ‘longest drive’.

But the day belonged to Aaron Caratti and Andrew Miller, who will now face off against the winners of the other national tournaments on the challenging fairways and greens of the Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee in Austria.

To be played from September 22 to 26, it is the second year that the international final has been played at the Austrian course, the venue for the international finals now rotated every three years so that former winners – who must wait three years before entering the quattro Cup tournament again – would not play a final at the same course again.

Surrounded by majestic mountains, the Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee is just 125km south of Munich and offers a testing layout in absolutely breathtaking surrounds. Measuring 6104 metres (men’s championship tee) and 5356 metres (women’s championship), water is a factor on 12 of the 18 holes, while the 32 bunkers strategically placed around the course will force golfers to concentrate on the layout rather than the stunning views to avoid disaster. From the beautiful 10th hole to the toughest hole at the 2nd or the challenging ‘Mousetrap’ 16th, there is no shortage of variety on offer.

Australia has enjoyed considerable of success over the history of the Audi quattro Cup world final in the past. Most recently, the pairing of Jason Rubenstein and playing partner Giora Friede won the title at the international final in South Africa in 2012. So there’ll be plenty of interest in how this year’s Australian winners go at the end of the month. Certainly it’ll prove to be quite an experience and we’ll look forward to seeing how they get on against the teams nearly 50 other countries.

Congratulations to all who took part in the 2019 Audi quattro Cup and the very best of luck to Aaron Caratti and Andrew Miller as they represent Australia at the international title in Austria.