By Peter Owen
PROFESSIONAL golfer Will White’s life changed forever three years ago when he landed a job with Boags, the iconic Tasmanian beer brewer.
It was there he met Jenny, his future wife, and rediscovered the confidence he’d lost when his fledgling career as a touring pro went off the rails, leaving him disillusioned and, in his owns words, ‘burnt out’.
The former Sunshine Coast trainee, who tasted pro-am success at only his 10th professional start, had relocated to Tasmania because of family connections, and because it offered the peace and quiet for him to recover.
While at Boags, White continued to teach golf and, two years ago, returned to the industry – as head pro at Launceston Golf Club, the oldest 18-hole course in the state and one of Tasmania’s premier clubs.
With a head for figures and a passion for coaching, White’s now launched his own business – Launceston’s first indoor golf facility, complete with four state-of-the-art Trackman bays, with a fifth planned for April.
He calls the business Willfit and has plans to open a second facility later in Hobart and, perhaps, extend the franchise onto the mainland.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” White said. “With our weather it’s impossible to play outdoors during the winter months – difficult even to coach.
“But with an indoor facility like this, golfers can play all year round – day or night,” he said.
The centre, which opened in mid-December just 2km from the Launceston CBD, has more than 30 paid-up members, who are able to access the facility 24 hours a day, and hosted 120 sessions in its first fortnight for casual golfers.
White’s coaching sessions are booked out for weeks ahead.
He described the Trackman simulators – suitable for elite golfers as well as raw beginners – as the “most accurate ball flight modeller in the world”.
“It will show you the flight of the ball and tell you numbers on what caused that flight. Once you see it, and realise why you’re hitting good or bad shots, it’s so much easier to correct yourself,” he said.
Willfit also has a large custom putting green, a lounge, a golf shop, with staff on-site from Wednesday to Sunday for casual golfers. White describes it as a ‘family friendly’ environment and – despite his background with Boags – has opted to keep it alcohol free.
White’s replacement at Launceston Golf Club is Scott Mansfield, who relocated to Tasmania from Townsville, where he had been assistant professional.
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