Greg Ritchie - Cricket | Celebrity... -
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Published on: 9/1/2004
Last Visited: 2/25/2005
Greg Ritchie - Cricket
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Greg "Fat Cat" Ritchie made his Test cricket debut for Australia at the start of the period marking the end of one era, with the imminent retirements of cricket legends Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh (1983/84), and completed his Test career just prior to Australian cricket's resurgence, arguably marked by its win at the 1987 World Cup in Calcutta, India.
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Ritchie, a middle-order batsman who always seemed to have plenty of time for elegant stroke making, scored his maiden Test century in only his second Test, against Pakistan, and scored in excess of 10,000 runs at First Class level.
Well known and respected for his contributions to Australian and Queensland cricket, Ritchie is also famous for his hilarious Indian alter ego, Mahatma Coat, created in conjunction with the late David Hookes in 1989.Ritchie became a household name in Brisbane with stints as a radio announcer on the Triple M Breakfast Show, and most recently, he has become the face and spokesperson for the Wesley Weight Loss Clinic.
Greg Ritchie recently took time out from his busy schedule, as Managing Director for Gulliver's Sport Travel, to discuss his real sporting passion - golf.
Ritchie played his first round of golf in 1972 at the Middle Ridge Golf Club, in Toowoomba, Queensland.Both his parents were excellent golfers with his Dad playing off a handicap of four and his Mum playing off nine.Across the road from their house at Centenary Heights, Toowoomba, was Rose Park, which also doubled as a practice range.
"Dad and I used to hit golf balls all the time," Greg says, referring to the use of Rose Park as, "our own practice fairway."
Of Middle Ridge Golf Club, Greg says, "I still rate it as one of the top ten country courses in Australia - it is absolutely pristine.It made you want to play golf.Beautiful, beautiful golf club, beautiful golf course and I fell in love with the game at age 12."
Ritchie has a glint in his eye and occasionally chuckles whilst reminiscing his formative golf years, and from this it is easy to see his passion for the game.
"My first nine holes ever I hit 55, but I was hitting big cover-drives off the tee.The green, the clubs, the smell, I just fell in love with the game."
Golf Or Cricket?
By the age of 15, Ritchie really wanted to play golf, and says that he wanted to play golf more than he wanted to play cricket.
"I like the game of cricket, I was good at the game of cricket, but I loved golf, and that passion has stayed with me forever.I have never loved cricket like I love golf.I adore the game and everything about it."
Unfortunately, due to work commitments, Ritchie only gets to play the game he loves so much on a fortnightly basis, but hopes that the pending summer will see him out on the course a lot more.
Whilst on the course, Greg is a relaxed golfer, and likened golf to cricket where he says, "you need to be in the neutral zone."He has played enough Pennants and competition golf to know that you can't let the game beat you.
"I find it extremely relaxing.I lose myself on the golf course and I think of nothing but my next shot and what I am doing and all my woes just disappear."
Approximately two years ago Ritchie became an Ambassador for Brookwater Golf Club, located about 20 kilometres west of Brisbane.He ranks this, along with his Ambassadorship for Callaway Golf Clubs, as his greatest sporting honours, and says they are, "as big a thrill as playing cricket for Australia."
Ritchie is an above average golfer with a current handicap of five, and has been a member of Royal Queensland for about 23 years.His clubs of choice are Callaway X-16 Pro Series, including Fusion Driver with 9.5* loft.Greg rates his greatest golfing moment his second career hole-in-one where he nailed a six iron at the fifth hole during the Brookwater Pro-am in 2003.Queensland members may recall him talking about his achievement during his most recent stint as a presenter on Brisbane's, Triple M Beakfast Show.
Although a prolific driver of the ball from the tee, Ritchie rates his putting and ability to recover as his best golfing attributes.He admits that he can get into a bit of trouble off the tee and regularly surprises playing partners with his ability to recover.Ritchie credits his father for teaching him to play good recovery shots, and says they used to practice by having competitions to shape (draw or fade) balls around trees in the park.
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Speaking about playing with Grady, Ritchie explains, "We've had some great tussles.
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Questioned about his favourite golf courses, Ritchie is unequivocal in his response."Brookwater.
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During his cricket career, Ritchie says that his golf clubs were, "the first things packed.Never went on a cricket tour without my golf clubs."He played some fine courses whilst on these tours, two of which include Wentworth, England and The Belfry located in Sutton Coldfield, England, home of the 1993 and 2002 Ryder Cups.
Everyone who has played the game of golf can relate a story that is nothing short of embarrassing.Greg Ritchie is no different, except that he wasn't playing and his embarrassing moment was acted out in front of a sizeable crowd of spectators.
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All the whispers started, 'Fat Cat's pissed, he's pissed'," Ritchie has a laugh whilst giving his account of the incident.
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We have breakfast at my place, generally with three other blokes, and then as soon as it finishes we go out and play," Ritchie says of his ritual on "Masters Monday".
Greg has achieved more than most so far in life, but one of his greatest achievements to date, has been his ability to lose 35 kilograms in the space of 12 months, through the Wesley Weight Loss Clinic.The weight loss improved his golf swing, but more importantly changed his whole life, dramatically."Mostly, I don't get as tired," he says.
After a brief discussion about the Poms talking up their chances of winning The Ashes back, Greg says he must head off to continue his work commitments.
Greg Ritchie Statistics
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Name: Gregory Michael Ritchie
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