For Claire Shin, few places feel as special as Wagga Wagga Country Club. It’s where she broke through for her first major win last year, and this week, it’s where she returns to defend her title, newly minted as an Australian citizen.
It’s been a big 24 hours for the 20-year-old. This morning, Shin proudly stood at her citizenship ceremony, waving the Australian flag. By afternoon, she was back on the course, reunited with the familiar fairways that shaped some of her favourite golfing memories.
“Lots has changed, especially the greens,” she said.
“They’ve been amazing the last couple of years, so it’s really exciting to be back. Most of the members missed me as well. I played a few rounds with them last year, and they’ve all been really nice. The manager’s been amazing too, they’ve taken such good care of me and my dad.”
That last part — and my dad — is no small detail. Claire’s father, who first introduced her to the game, has been there every step of the way.
“He gets more nervous than I do,” she laughed.
“Sometimes he’ll say, ‘Oh my gosh, Claire, what are you going to do tomorrow?’ and I’m like, ‘Dad, relax!’ But it’s nice to have him around. Most golfers’ parents don’t come by anymore, so it’s good to have someone who supports you all the way through.”
This week, he’ll be right where he always is, nearby, watching quietly from the clubhouse, too nervous to walk every hole but never far away.
The two share a long history with the sport. When the family moved from New Zealand to Australia more than a decade ago, golf became their shared language.
“My dad used to play 36 holes a day in New Zealand, and get scolded by my mum for it,” she laughed.
“When we moved to Australia, he’d take me to the driving range, but I’d just sit on my phone. Then one day, he asked if I wanted to try playing golf. I said, ‘Yeah, sure, why not?’ and I guess he saw potential. After a few lessons, he really believed I could go professional, and here I am.”
For Shin, Wagga Wagga holds a special kind of comfort. It’s the course where her confidence grew, where her father watched proudly as she lifted a trophy for the first time, and now, where she returns as an Australian, both on paper and in spirit.
“It’s a good feeling,” she said.
“It’s good to be finally Australian after sixteen years. I’m definitely going to love Vegemite and lamingtons even more, but I think I already loved them long ago.”
The milestone meant she missed the pre-event pro-am, but Shin’s focus remains steady.
“I hope nothing’s changed in my game,” she said.
“My distances have gone a little bit further, so I’ll be cautious with that. I’ll just stay cool and focus for the next few days.”
Now, as she prepares to defend her crown, there’s a sense of familiarity and gratitude in the air.
“I’ll just keep my game steady,” she said.
“Stay cool, focus, and enjoy it. I’m Aussie now, so I’ll do my best.”
Round One will begin at 9 AM tomorrow morning.
TV TIMES – Wagga Wagga
Friday, 17 October
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
