Golf: Five resign in support of Tongue

Mal Tongue's five assistant coaches showed a united front when joining the national director of coaching in resigning from the New Zealand Golf Association yesterday.

Shane Scott (Christchurch), Bob McDonald (Auckland), Murray Macklin (Wellington), Brian Boys (Hamilton) and Simon Thomas (Dunedin) said they had no hesitation in resigning from contractual positions they had held since 2002.

Each spoke of his admiration and respect for Tongue, New Zealand's highest-profile coach who was contracted to the NZGA as a technical director in 1994.

Tongue decided his working relationship with NZGA chief executive Peter Dale had deteriorated to the stage where he was best to cut his official ties with the organisation.

Dale received the six letters of resignation yesterday, to take effect in two months.

He said he hoped to resolve the matter so the coaches would remain in their positions.

The five assistants had no direct dealings with Dale, but said they decided to resign with Tongue as a sign of their support for him.

Scott, McDonald, Macklin, Boys and Thomas said they regarded Tongue as the leader of their team and, if he departed, so would they.

They each reached that decision independently and all said they had no beef with the NZGA as a whole.

"For me it was a complete no-brainer given the way the team have worked as a unit since we were put in place," said Macklin, who is also the development officer for the AMP Golf Foundation.

"What Mal has done for me as a coach is huge," he said.

Macklin, who has watched and worked with coaches from around the world, considers Tongue has unique qualities.

"He's still the one that hits me. He has the rare quality of being able to take a player and make quick changes.

"He has a very fast eye to spot the issue and deal with it quickly. Young players can look like choppers one month and the next month they are incredibly proficient.

"Few coaches in the world can do it the way he does it. There's no question about his being world class."

Boys echoed Macklin's sentiments.

"He's right up there, without a doubt," Boys said.

McDonald said he felt mixed emotions about what had happened.

"It's sad for New Zealand golf. We don't want to let the kids down, and we won't.

"We have no option but to back Mal. I would not have had a role to play without Mal. I couldn't do the job without him.

"It's not just about loyalty. It's deeper than that."

Thomas said the director of coaching job was a role he aspired to, but he felt he still had a lot to learn by working alongside Tongue.

He said he was in awe of Tongue's abilities and cherished the chance to work alongside him.

Tongue said he had not sought the support of his assistants.

He had informed them of his decision to step aside as a courtesy and was taken aback when each responded by saying they would resign, too.

"The coaches said they understood the situation for a long time anyway and knew what had been happening within New Zealand golf," Tongue said.

"All of them said they wanted to support me. In no way did I say I expect you to do this.

"All I said is, 'This is what I'm going to do', and they all said, 'We're going to join you'.

"We're six people who are passionate, dedicated and committed to New Zealand golf.

"I don't expect blind loyalty because I've had that in the past and it doesn't work.

"But to have their unconditional support was incredible."

- NZPA