Vic Bennetts (born May 1944) is an Australian professional golfer. Bennetts had an excellent amateur career through the 1960s, becoming the first golfer to win the New South Wales Junior Championship three times. Bennetts turned pro in 1968 and quickly had much success, culminating with his "golden year" of 1971 where he won 12 events. Injuries and poor discipline over the next few years, however, arrested his progress. In the mid-1970s, Bennetts teamed up with fitness trainer Ray Anderson who significantly improved his performance, highlighted by a victory at the 1975 Australian PGA Championship, his biggest win. For the remainder of his career, Bennetts primarily worked as a driving range owner, director of golf at Moore Park Golf Course in Sydney, and club professional.
Early life Bennetts started playing golf at the age of five. At the age of 12, he won his first club championship. As a teenager, he attended Maroubra Bay High School in Maroubra, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney. Bennetts largely learned to play golf at Moore Park Golf Club and St. Michael's Golf Course, both near Sydney.
Amateur career In the middle of 1959, he received media attention for one of the first times. On May 14, it was reported by The Sydney Morning Herald that he won the St. George's schoolboys' championship with rounds of 73 and 68. A few days later he recorded a solo second-place finish at the New South Wales schoolboys championship held at Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club.
In the early 1960s, he received much media attention. Early in 1961, he won the junior title of the St. Michael's Cup. In April, it was announced that he was selected to represent New South Wales for the Australian Junior Interstate Matches for the first time. Also during the year, Bennetts also won the New South Wales Junior Championship. It was his first win in the event. In early 1962, he played the two-round South Coast Amateur Championship in Sydney, Australia. At the par-70 course, Bennetts shot rounds of 69 and 68 to win the event by three strokes. In the long history of the event, he became its youngest-ever winner. In May, he played the inaugural New South Wales Junior Mixed Foursomes tournament at Bonnie Doon Golf Club. His partner was Jill Higinbotham. The pair won the event with a 77 (+5), defeating the nearest competitors by six strokes. During this era, he was strongly associated with Moore Park Golf Course.
Over the next two years Bennetts received more media attention. In June 1963, he played the one-round Winter Cup. Bennetts shot an even-par round of 72 to win the event. He was the youngest-ever winner of the event. In late August, it was announced that Bennetts earned entry into the Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches representing New South Wales. In December, he played the Australian Cup, a scratch fourball vs. par event, held at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney. Bennetts paired with Wayne McIntosh. Their team "staged a brilliant finish" with birdies at the final three holes to tie Vic Bulgin and Reginald Dunn at the end of regulation. In March 1964, he played the New South Wales Junior Championship. Due to poor weather the tournament was reduced to 27 holes. Bennetts opened the tournament with two double-bogeys but "settled down" from there. With scores of 82 and 39, Bennetts won by one over George Bell. Later in March, he captained Moore Park's team at the Eric Apperly Golf Shield. Bennetts led Moore Park to its first victory in the event. In July, he was selected to play the Carnarvon Cup again. Bennetts shot a 73 (+2) to win the cup. In November, he played the two-round Champion of Champions tournament at Ryde-Parramatta. Bennetts tied Peter Lungham at the end of regulation at two-over-par 144. The two played an 18-hole playoff to determine the champion. In the playoff, Bennetts recorded five birdies on the front nine on the way to a 32 (−4) and a seven stroke lead. He eventually won it by six, 68 to 74. He became the first golf to win the New South Wales Junior Championship and Champions of Champions in the same year.
Early in 1965, he was referred to as New South Wales' "outstanding junior golfer" by The Sydney Morning Herald. He had much success over the course of the year. In March, he played the New South Wales Junior Championship. Bennetts shot rounds of 71 and 70 to defeat Terry Beaver and Barry Burgess by four strokes. His aggregate was one off Phil Billings record. He became the first player to win the event three times. Shortly thereafter, he was selected to be the captain of New South Wales's team at the Australian Junior Interstate Team Matches. Held in Western Australia, New South Wales won the event for the first time in three years. He was also selected to represent New South Wales in an amateur competition against the Southern Tablelands district that fall. In July, he won the Carnarvon Cup with a 70 (−1). The following week he finished in joint second place with teammate Trevor Wood at the New South Wales Foursomes Championship, two behind the leading pair of John Barras and John Bennetts. In late August, he played the City of Sydney Open, a professional tournament. In the second round, Bennetts shot a "brilliant" 68 (−3) to tie Barry Burgess for the low amateur score. In November, he played the two-round Champions of Champions tournament at Royal Sydney Golf Club. Bennetts was well back during most of the final round. However, leader Peter Headland "dropped four shots over the last four holes to give Bennetts a chance to beat him." At the last, though, Bennetts "took three from the edge at the 18th to lose by a shot." Later in the month, Bennetts played the Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches. The matches were held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Bennetts went undefeated in his early matches. In his team's final match, New South Wales played Western Australia. Bennetts played John Ewings in his individual match. Bennetts was never behind on his way to a 3 & 2 victory. He was considered to be the "hero" of New South Wales' team by The Sydney Morning Herald. During this era, Bennetts was also considered by The Canberra Times to be "one of Sydney's and NSW's leading amateurs."
In 1966, Bennetts recorded a number of highlights, "generally" holding his "form this season." In April, he was slated to play the three-round Australia Capital Territory (ACT) Amateur. He was considered one of the favorites. Bennetts opened with rounds of 78 and 77 but closed with an even-par 72. At the end of regulation, he was tied for the lead with Bill Donohoe, also out of Moore Park, and Gerald Focken. In the six-hole playoff, Focken "coasted home" to defeat Bennetts and Donohoe by three. Later, there was a playoff between Bennetts and Donohoe to decide second place. Bennetts won the playoff. A month later, he played the Concord Cup for the fourth time. He shot rounds of 71–72 to win by one. In September, it was announced he would represent the New South Wales at Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches later in the year. In October, he played the New South Wales Mixed Foursomes Golf Championship at Ryde-Parramatta with partner Carol Blair. The pair "combined brilliantly" with a first round 71. On the par-3 final hole of the tournament they looked sure to win. However, the pair recorded a quadruple-bogey 7 to fall into a tie with team of Don Sharp and Ann Kenny. However, Bennetts and Blair defeated Sharp and Kenny by a shot in a six-hole playoff to win the event. In October, he played the Australian National Foursome Championship with partner Des Turner. The team opened "consistently" with a 69 (−4) and then closed with a 72 (−1). They won by a shot over Denis Bell and Don Flave.
As of February 1967, he had earned rights to play for New South Wales' team once again at the Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches. Late in the month he played in the St. Michael's Cup. He finished in a tie for second place with Des Turner, only behind champion Don Sharp. In March, he started playing pennant matches for St. Michael's. In May, he defeated Pennant Hills' Tony Gresham in a match. Later in the month, St. Michael's defeated Bankstown to move into the finals. Bennetts defeated Vic Bulgin in his individual match. In May, he also finished in second place at the Concord Cup, one back of champion Barry Burgess, in a tie for second with Bulgin. Later in the year, he successfully defended his New South Wales Mixed Foursomes Golf Championship with Carol Blair.
Professional career In 1968, Bennetts did not earn membership for Australia's 1968 Eisenhower Trophy team. Influenced by this rejection, Bennetts decided to turn professional. He decided to turn pro as a "playing professional" rather than pursuing the club pro apprenticeship path. Bennetts made his professional debut on 29 April 1968 at the Monash Masters.
Bennetts first received significant media attention as a professional for his performance at the New South Wales PGA Championship. The event was played in August 1968. Bennetts was in the top three during the first three rounds. He finished in a tie for fourth. In November, Bennetts began playing the North Coast Open. He was considered one of the favorites by The Sydney Morning Herald. Bennetts opened with rounds of 71 and 70 to put him in solo sixth place. In the third round, despite "blustery conditions," Bennetts scored six birdies to shoot a 69 (−3) and tie Les Wilson for the lead. Bennetts had a "nervous" final round, however, scoring erratically. He bogeyed the second hole and eagled the par-5 5th hole. He then recorded a number of bogeys in the middle of the round to fall over par for the day. However, his primary competitor, Wilson, "could not get his putter to work" and shot a 75 (+3). Bob Stanton and Stan Peach and were also briefly in the lead but did not play well down the stretch. On the par-5 17th hole, meanwhile, Bennetts hit a five-foot putt that "hung on the lip of the cup then dropped in for a birdie four." This "clinch[ed]" the title. With a one-over-par 73, he finished at 283 (−5) and defeated Wilson by two shots. Because he held "probationary" professional status, however, Bennetts could not earn any prize money. In December, he played the New South Wales PGA Foursomes Championship with Vic Richardson, a club pro from Moore Park. The event was at Monash Golf Club. With rounds of 71 and 73, their team won the event. Like his experience at Coffs Harbour, however, Bennetts was not allowed to collect any prize money. Later in the season, Bennetts recorded top ten finishes at the Brisbane Water Tournament and Aeron Golf Classic. In April 1969, Bennetts completed his "12-month probationary period" to become a fully-fledged touring professional.
Later in 1969, around the time of the southern hemisphere spring, Bennetts won a number of minor events. In early August, he won the Bankstown purse. Two weeks later he won the Roseville purse with a bogey-free 62 (−2), defeating David Graham, Doug Maggs, and Tony Mangan by a shot. In early October, Bennetts played the Rothman's pro-am at Fox Hills. He tied for the win with Avondale professional Malcolm Wills, with a 65 (−5). Overall, Bennetts won six tournaments during the year. During this era, Bennetts was receiving much praise for his performance. The legendary golfer Peter Thomson referred to Bennetts as one of the top new Australian pros "fresh from the amateur ranks" along with Jack Newton. According to John Hourigan, golf writer for The Canberra Times, Bennetts was among the top Australian golfers to have turned pro in the 1960s along with Bruce Devlin, Ted Ball, Bob Mesnil, and Graham Marsh.