MEETING and hatching a plan to one day beat a No. 1 in the world was probably the last thing on Cathy Stolz’s mind when she made a comeback to golf.
After more than 20 years on the sidelines and raising a family, Stolz has found her way back to the game she has always loved.
And no-one is more surprised than her.
After returning to full-time work, Stolz found herself working in the golf shop at Shelly Beach Golf Club on the NSW Central Coast.
Simply put, Stolz met some great people and decided she wanted to play some golf with them. The former touring pro applied to get her amateur status back in 2017 just so she should go on some golf trips with those friends.
Now she suddenly finds herself battling with some of the best senior amateur women players in this country – led by an old sparring partner, Nadine Gole, now the No. 1 ranked senior women’s amateur in the world.
Yet Stolz, who is a few years younger, has her in her sights.
“Well, I would like to beat her,” Stolz told Inside Golf. “That’s definitely one of my goals for the year.
“Other than that, I’d really like to make the Asia-Pacific team, which is chosen later in the year.”
Cathy Stolz has made a successful return to golf while finding a happy home at Shelley Beach.
Always a reliable driver and a good putter, Stolz jokes that her short game still ‘sucks’.
“Maybe I should have gone to one of Nadine’s golf schools and learned how to chip,” she jokes.
Stolz gave up the game when she had a family and admits coming back to the game was never really on the agenda . . . until it happened.
Now her stellar play has earned her a start – as an amateur – in the Women’s NSW Open at nearby Magenta Shores later this month.
“I know how hard it can be at Magenta and how tough they can set it up,” she said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Ironically Stolz won the NSW Women’s Amateur in 1991 when she was Cathy Neilson.
“Certainly, the game has changed a lot. The players nowadays have all got better – especially in women’s golf,” she says.
“They’re better than we were when we were kids.
“When we were kids we thought we were pretty good. But these youngsters today . . . gee, they’re just exceptional.”
She’s also in awe of Gole’s extraordinary talent in her senior years.
“I played with Nadine in South Australia and we were neck and neck with five holes to go but she just played that bit better than me,” said Stolz.
“Then we played in Victoria [senior amateur championships] and she just didn’t make a mistake, she putted great and just didn’t do anything wrong.
“I played all three days with Nadine around three courses that I hadn’t played before but the second day at The Beach course at 13th Beach it was blowing a gale and she shot even-par. It was just a remarkable round in those conditions.
“She is about five years older than me, so there is that. Maybe at least she’ll probably retire before me.”
Stolz tries to play two to three times a week these days but seldom hits ball at the range.
“My long game is fine, it’s my short game that needs improving,” she said.
And being one that came through an exciting era of women’s professional golf, does she stay connected with the old brigade?
“Not that much. I do stay in touch with Karrie Webb, Jane Bell and Tanya Holl and a few that I played with,” she said.
And her favourite courses?
“Probably Kingston Heath and The Australian,” she said.
“But Shelly Beach is right up there as well because it’s a great place to hang around and a great club to be part of.
“Coming home to Shelly it’s just amazing how beautiful it is and what great condition it’s always in.
“I’m pretty lucky to have it virtually at my door.”
