MEET the man who was only a few shots away from the prestigious US Tour.
Two years ago, a giant Arizonan cactus robbed Lee Hunt of what every professional golfer strives for - a US Tour card.
Standing on the 18th hole on the last day of qualifying, Hunt knew he needed to birdie the long par five to get into the final round of qualifying for a US card.
Full of adrenalin, Hunt stepped up to the tee and saw a tall cactus 305 yards down the fairway. It was like something out of a western movie.
“Just aim right at it, you won’t hit it,” his caddy said.
The pro, who has never had trouble hitting the ball straight, slammed the ball gun-barrel straight down the middle of the fairway.
He watched it soar off, picked up his tee and then turned to his caddy.
His caddy looked like he had seen a ghost.
Hunt’s ball was plugged in the cactus, three metres up the prickly stem.
He was forced to take a drop and ended up salvaging a bogie. A bogie that would have been an easy birdie and a tour card had it not been for a giant, spiky cactus.
“I was shattered at the time,” he said.
“Luckily now I can look back and laugh about it.”
But it’s not all bad news for the Queenslander. He returned to his home course, North Lakes, one of Australia’s top 50 golf courses and took up the role of head professional.
He stayed there for two years, leaving only when the opportunity came up to shift to Highlands Golf Club.
While Highlands Golf Club isn’t quite a top 50 golf course, Hunt said it was definitely a trade up.
“North Lakes was great and is still a great course but it was a resort-type course where members paid big bucks but only played every few months,” the man who grew up playing in Queensland teams alongside Adam Scott said.
“I wanted something more personable.”
And, with his first child on the way, a move to the Highlands made good sense.
He and his partner Katie want their child to grow up in a tight-knit community, just like where Hunt grew up in the Queensland town of Clermont.
Hunt said the Highlands also gave him the opportunity to work in a community-based club where he could regularly work with the local golfers to improve their games.
“Here the people are friendly, they want to get to know you and know what’s going on in your life,” he said.
“It’s a good place to raise a family and at the moment I cannot see myself going anywhere else.”
With the long-term plans, Hunt has taken on a trainee professional to help him out in the shop.
Tim Steele from West Wyalong started at Highlands Golf Club last week and is looking forward to doing his three-year apprenticeship.
The big-hitting country boy has to work 40 hours per week in the pro shop, complete a Diploma in Business Management and play in Sydney weekly, all as part of the apprenticeship.
Hunt hopes Steele’s presence in the pro shop will give the club more time to develop the already established junior program.
“[Former professional] Larry Canning did a wonderful job with the junior program and I want to build on what he created,” Hunt said.
“I cannot believe how inexpensive and accessible golf is in the Highlands - it’s perfect for juniors.”
While he is passionate about teaching and club fitting, the 29-year old still hasn’t ruled out chasing the American dream.
It’s a cut-throat and expensive dream that many golfers are hooked on and it’s one that Hunt could’ve already realised, had it not been for one giant cactus.