Golf legend retires after 32 years at club

A DRIVING force for the game who has coached hundreds of golfers has retired after 32 years at Lismore Workers Golf Club.

Peter Jaeger moved to the Northern Rivers after four years as a tour professional.

He has trained some of the best juniors from the region and has even caddied for one of them in the British Open.

Jaeger found his calling as a coach while he was still playing professionally.

He played in Pro-Am events when he started working at Casino Golf Club 40 years ago.

He now hopes to spend more time with his grandkids and at the beach after devoting most of his working life to the Lismore club.

“In 32 years, I’ve seen a lot of change, certainly golf is a more relaxed sport than it used to be,” he said.

“The perception of it has changed, the sport is now seen as being available to everybody, not just a few.

“Whether this was a reality is a matter for debate, but the important thing is that the game has evolved and is now more inclusive.”

Jaeger coached the likes of Rhein Gibson, Michelle Ellis and Kane Webber.

All three went on to play professionally and he was able to caddie for Gibson at the British Open and other international events.

Part of that was playing in the same group as the legendary Tiger Woods.

While he enjoyed rubbing shoulders with the greats of the game, Jaeger’s passion was always coaching at grassroots level.

“I love coaching golf and that’s my passion,” he said.

“I get just as much delight from teaching players of all standards to achieve the level of proficiency they seek.”

His last five years at the club have been some of his busiest with a spike in memberships.

“COVID was a game changer for Lismore. As team sports in the area were cancelled, we continued in a modified way and we benefited with an 18 per cent surge in membership,” he said.

“It was mainly young guys realising golf offered a sporting and social outlet, but also great flexibility for young families without there being a week-to-week playing commitment.”

Jaeger will not be lost to the club completely with plans to keep coaching juniors once a week.