LOCAL golfer Matt Docking will next week compete in the 2025 Four Nations Cup, held at The Pulpit Club about an hour outside Toronto, Canada.
It is the third iteration of the cup, where teams of four golfers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa compete for the international honour.
Australia will be looking to retain the cup after winning the 2023 tournament.
Docking is set to fly out on Saturday for what he said is one of the biggest tournaments of his career so far.
“This is going to be a new experience for me, representing the country in a capacity for a trophy,” he said.
“The last time I did something similar, it was more of an exhibition event to generate goodwill between the Australian PGA and golf in China; this is a far more competitive event than that.
“I’ve played in bigger events with some really big-name golfers, but you’re representing your country as an ambassador, not so much as a competitor.”
This tournament, Docking will be looking to bring the trophy home for Australia – and Swan Hill.
“There’ll be a very different feeling there, fronting up in a team uniform representing Australia, the fact that we get to put the Australian flag on our sleeve,” he said.
“I don’t know exactly how I’m going to feel until I stand on the first tee.
“I’m sure there’ll be some nerves, which will be a good thing, and certainly looking forward to working my way through that.”
To add to the honour, Docking was named as the captain of the Australian team.
“Golf being an individual sport, the opportunity to captain the PGA Team for our country on an international stage is an amazing honour,” he said.
“This will just add to the already exciting overall experience and will certainly be something I can look back upon with great pride in the future, hopefully also bringing the trophy back home.”
Docking qualified for the Four Nations cup after winning his fourth Australian PGA Professionals Championship in 2023.
The 44-year-old was the golf pro at Royal Hobart when he won the 2023 championship, before moving to Swan Hill in order for his two children to attend the specialist school.
Golfing is very much a family affair for the Dockings, with Matt’s wife – and de facto coach – Courtney being the golf pro at Murray Downs.
“We have our discussions; I’m certainly not the easiest person on the planet to coach,” he said with a laugh.
Docking’s children have also recently showed an interest in golf.
“When I started trying to do a bit of practice in the lead up to this – and they love riding around on the golf cart – but they decided they wanted to try and swing a golf club,” he said.
“Our eldest, Libby in particular, is swinging a club and giggling when she makes contact which is a good thing.
“If it’s something that they have fun doing, we’re more than happy to keep them doing it.”
Despite the 14-hour time difference between Toronto and Swan Hill, Docking said the family back home would be eagerly tracking his results.
The three other golfers competing for Australia are all from Queensland, and Docking said from previous tournaments there was a good sense of camaraderie.
“We all get along really well, so looking forward to getting over there and catching up,” he said.
“I think when we factor in that we’re representing our country, there’ll be a little bit of extra heart put into it in terms of trying to get it done.”
The tournament will run from September 2-5, with 36 holes being played a day.
Docking said many in the Swan Hill community are already getting behind him.
