Ricky Ponting’s `best week of the year’'
By Neville Idour
Cricketing legend and former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has become almost a permanent fixture at the New Zealand Open. So it was nice to chat with him about his involvement as an ambassador.
I first asked him how many times he had played the event.
“I must have played seven or eight tournaments. I missed a few through those covid years. But it’s the best week of my calendar year, really,’’ Ponting said.
2025 New Zealand Open: Day 1
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting of Australia plays a tee shot during day 1 of the 2025 New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort on February 27, 2025 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
``I actually should be in India and Sri Lanka right now commentating the T20 World Cup, but I decided to come here instead. So that’s how much I like this week. It’s such a great week.
“Queenstown in itself is a great place. My family and I come every winter as well. So I come and play golf in summer and we ski in the winter. It’s just such a great place to come to.”
So how did this all begin?
“I got an invite. I guess back in the day they were probably looking for a few ambassadors, probably sporting ambassadors from other sports that play a reasonable level of golf.
``So with me, Stephen Fleming, Warnie (the late Shane Warne), Brendon McCullum back in the day …. and Ian Botham used to be part of the tournament as well. Therefore there’s been a bit of a mix of cricket and rugby over the years. I’m one of the lucky ones that keeps getting an invite back, so hopefully I’ll keep playing okay and getting an invite back.”
What is your handicap?
“Two. I’ve drifted out a bit the last couple of years. I’m getting old, I’m 51 years old now, so I’m starting to slow down a little bit.”
His modesty is hilarious ….”drifted out a bit to a two handicap”. Oh please.
So how often does he play?
“Depends on what time of year it is. During summer back in Australia I’m pretty busy with my Channel 7 commitments, cricket commentary stuff. But in a normal week I either play or hit balls a couple of times a week.”
Your home course?
“Peninsula Kingswood and Metropolitan are the two clubs I play in Melbourne as I’m based in Melbourne. I joined Metro probably 10 years ago and PK maybe eight years ago. Now play PK more than I play Metro. PK is unbelievable.”
So what are your favourite course around the world? You must have played in a few countries?
“Yes I’ve played in a lot over the years. I’ve spent a lot of time in the UK and New Zealand and fair bit in South Africa. I did a tour to the USA last year. We played some of the great courses there like Pine Valley, Shinnecock Hills, Merion and others. They are all pretty cool. Portrush in Ireland I rate as highly as anywhere I’ve ever played. So I’ve been lucky and we are lucky in Melbourne. I mean we have got five or six that probably stack up the top 20 or 30 in the world.”
How about the marquee New Zealand courses at the top of the North Island?
“No I haven’t yet. I’ve heard a lot about them and a lot of my friends from home have played them. Something to look forward too.”
So what is next for Ponting?
“I’ve got a coaching gig coming up in India in the IPL in March, April and May. So I’ll head home for a couple of weeks then off to India for about 10 weeks in the IPL (Indian Premier League). After that I’ll go home for a month then I have another coaching job in America through June and July. It’s a comp they started three years ago called Major League Cricket and I coach in that. So there’s enough going on keeping me busy, the kids are getting older and everythings good.”
Your children?
“I’ve got three children. A 17 year old girl, a 14 year old girl and an 11 year old boy so they keep me pretty busy.”
Are they golfers?
“The young bloke plays, but the girls not so much. The boy plays all sports. So give him a golf club, a cricket bat, a tennis racquet, a soccer ball and he’s all over it.”
Hard to believe, but with that we end what was a 4 minute 55 second chat. Quite delightful and a reflection of the kind of person Ponting is. Immensely likeable with a ready smile, full of the good things about life and very approachable. Definitely a classy ambassador and great advocate for the New Zealand Open.