FIVE-TIME Olympian Natalie Cook (OAM) was almost lost to volleyball as a teenager, but commonsense prevailed and the rest is history.
Sports fans will remember how she and playing partner Kerri Pottharst won bronze and gold beach volleyball medals in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).
But things could have been much different had her volleyball coach (circa 1990) not succumbed to her demands and she had continued to pursue a career in golf.
I caught up with Cook recently to chat about her love of golf, US Masters highlights and how she found success not only on the beach, but from the roof of a clubhouse.
How special was winning Olympic gold in Sydney?
It was a pinch yourself moment when all the stars aligned. To have 35 of my inner-circle in the grandstands among the crowd of 10,000, mostly Aussies, screaming fans was pretty special.
How long have you been playing golf?
When I was 13, my dad Brian joined Jindalee Golf Club in Brisbane and I’d go down there and play in one of the two timeslots available to ladies on Saturday mornings. My first ever golf lesson was with Charlie Earp on Sunday mornings. It cost $5. Also, my grandparents lived in Ayr so I’d go up there and I played with Karrie Webb as a junior. At that time, I was pursuing golf. My dad thought I had potential and we’d one day travel the world with him as my caddie.
Then volleyball got in the way, right?
Yes, the golf dream was real and then volleyball came into the sphere. My volleyball coach said I had to train all weekend with the team or I couldn’t play. I was 15 and told him I played golf Saturday mornings and could come at lunchtime. He said, ‘we can’t have one rule for you and another for the others.’ I said, ‘I’m choosing golf’ and ‘good luck’. A month later he called me and said I could come after golf on Saturdays. He must have seen some talent in me or he was lacking in numbers. Because of that, I fell more in love with volleyball and stopped going to golf.
How often do you get to play golf?
These days I am a good corporate golfer and play two or three times a month. The golf bug has definitely returned. Golf has become my number one sport because I don’t play beach volleyball anymore.
What is your handicap?
I recently put in three cards at Bonville where I’m a member and it’s come back at 21.3. My lowest was 10 when I was much younger, but now I’m a 48-year-old hacker. I’d love to get my handicap down to the low teens to be more consistent.
What is the strength of your game?
The driver. I hit them long and I’m learning how to hit them straighter. I’m good off the tee and with a full-club in my hands I can back myself. When it comes to having to hit half a club; not so great. The long drives and long-irons are my happy place.
As an elite beach volleyballer you knew your way around sand. Are you any good out of bunkers?
I am good in bunkers because I love the sand – so everyone tells me.
Do you have a favourite club in the bag?
The driver – give me that any day. Tee it up nice and high, look up high to the skyline and I can see it going a mile.
Any memorable golfing moments?
I had an eagle on the par-4 first hole at Jindalee as a junior. We spent a long time looking for my ball around the green until someone looked in the hole and there it was. That was a special feeling.
You went to the Masters in April. What was that experience like and what were the highlights?
So many highlights! Going to Augusta to watch Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Jason Day and the other Aussies was special. To experiencing seeing the immaculate course was amazing. I was fortunate to putt on some of the replica greens in the corporate hospitality area and I got to go in the champions’ trophy room and clubhouse and have a look at the tradition. The egg and salad sandwiches and having a famous Azalea cocktail overlooking the first tee was special. So was watching Tiger (Woods) early in the tournament. The par-3 event and the practice day were awesome and I saw Freddie Couples hit a hole-in-one in the par-3 event. I had a great mix of the whole Augusta experience.
Who are some of the best golfers you have shared a round with?
I played with Cam Smith at the PGA Championship pro-am some years ago at Royal Pines and I played with Adam Scott in the PGA pro-am at Royal Queensland. I’ve played a round with Brian Lara, Johnathon Thursday, Greg Norman and Karrie Webb.
Adam Scott gave you a golf tip, didn’t he?
Yes, but he waited eight holes before he gave me a tip that had my driver going another 50 yards. I said ‘why did you wait so long’? He said, ‘I didn’t know if you could handle it’.
Do you have side-bets when playing golf?
I do when I play with my corporate male betting friends. They are more fun bets like nearest the pin and longest drives. I never bet lots of money. My biggest win was at The Hills in New Zealand. A friend was a member and I took his money, about $100. I was going to buy a shirt in the pro shop when he said ‘double or nothing’. The challenge was to hit off the roof of the clubhouse to the 18th green. We all had to use the same club. I chose to go last and as I was addressing the ball I said ‘are you ready to pay me double’? My ball finished within three feet of the hole and they had to pay me double. So, I went to the pro shop and bought a shirt and a pair of shorts.
So, you don’t mind a bit of banter on the golf course?
I love a bit of banter. There was always banter and heckling at volleyball and I don’t mind it on the golf course either.
Who is your favourite golfer?
Adam Scott. His swing is so pure and rhythmical, but for adversity I love John Daly and his Loudmouth pants. He inspired me so I have my Loudmouth putter grip, towel and pants as well. John Daly was always fun to watch.
What’s so good about golf?
I love slowing down from the craziness of the world and being outdoors. I love the camaraderie, the fresh air and the wellbeing aspect of golf. Slowing down is important. And I like the fact that all levels of players can play together and compete.
If you could pick the ideal fourball, who would it consist of?
Michael Jordan, Roger Federer. I met him and played friendly tennis with him. I would love to play golf with him and beat him. And then a gentleman named Dan Millman who wrote the book The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. He has been a big influence in my life.
Tell us about the book you wrote.
My feature book was Go Girl – the journey from bronze to gold. It’s about how to overcome adversity, reach big goals and what it takes to reach the next level.
Now you are on the speaking circuit as a motivational speaker.
Yes, I have been doing that since we won our bronze medal, which is 27 years ago. As soon as we won a medal someone wanted to hear my story and I have been doing it ever since.
Has your message changed over the years?
Yes, it has changed from everyone wanting to hear about winning to everyone wanting to know how to overcome adversity. Not everyone can win but everyone’s journey has its ups-and-downs and they want to know how high-performance people get over the things that don’t always work out. These days, I talk more about my losing than my winning because it resonates with people.
Chief writer David Newbery has been living, breathing and writing and editing golf for more than 30 years. His extensive knowledge of the game comes from covering golf around the world. Hired by Inside Golf in 2009, David previously worked as the editor of The Golfer for 25 years and before that worked for numerous daily newspapers in Australia and overseas. The Brisbane-based journalist describes his golf game as “a work in progress”, but has had the privilege of playing golf with some of the game’s best players including nine-time major winner Gary Player. David enjoys travelling, reading, music, photography and spending time with family and friends – on and off the golf course. 
