Dave Wallis was born and bred in Western Australia and moved to Melbourne with his family when he was 13.
As a teenager Dave loved his sport and he played football, basketball and Ten Pin Bowling as a kid growing up in Melbourne with AFL his first love. Unfortunately, Dave suffered a series of injuries as a footballer and was forced into early retirement. Given that Dave’s has had a full beard, since the age of thirteen, I’m pretty sure that the injuries received and injuries given was a fairly lop-sided ledger.
Dave started playing Golf at Rossdale Golf Club at the age of 16 and was playing off scratch by the time he was 18.
He left Rossdale Golf Club and joined Long Island Country Club when he was eighteen. Unfortunately, that move led to Dave quitting golf for four years after a few run ins with some older members of the club. Some events in your life help to shape the type of person that you ultimately become and perhaps in reflection Dave’s friendly and inclusive manner, which we have always experienced at the Ballarat Golf Club, may be partly attributable to being a target of those self-indulgent members.
He returned to playing social golf in 2006 before undertaking his traineeship and turning professional in 2008.
It was in 2010 that Dave moved from Centenary Park Golf Club to Ballarat and started work in the pro shop with Dominic Azzopardi.
Dominic was never able to keep Dave fully occupied and in 2013 Dave had his eyes set on Samantha Fry. Always the diplomat Dave thought that he would ask Gary if he could ask Sam on a date. While I’m sure that this was a nerve-racking experience Dave finished the conversation by turning around and walking straight into a glass door. Samantha and Dave were married in 2018.
In 2014, Dave was appointed the Head Pro at the Ballarat Golf Club. As a young pro this appointment reflected the faith that the club had in Dave’s ability to take on the pro shop and ultimately promote the game of golf.
Not long after his appointment Dave was joined in Ballarat by his parents, Gary and Lorraine, and his sister, Samantha, who all took on an active role in supporting Dave’s new venture. Dave’s family were regularly seen working in the shop, chasing balls on the range and cooking up a storm on the BBQ.
Following the death of his dad, Dave began holding charity golf days to raise funds for brain cancer research. To date Dave has raised well over $40,000 for this research.
While Dave’s primary focus has always been on providing club members and guests with a first-class, customer based, professional service, he has also supported quite a number of up-and-coming local golfers with the opportunity to undertake their traineeships through his business. The mentorship and opportunities that he was able to provide these trainees will be a long-lasting legacy of David Wallis Golf. It is also worth noting that it was Dave Wallis who enticed Angela Tatt away from “The Good Guys” and back into the world of golf.
While I’m sure that everyone has a Dave Wallis story, I would like to share one of mine. A few years ago, I decided to buy a new set of irons. Prior experience had taught me that Dave new his stuff and that he was always straight down the line with any advice that he offered. After a little bit of deliberation, the decision was made and Dave insisted that he needed to ensure proper fit by hitting a few balls on the range. As excited as a kid two days before Christmas I headed down to the range 5 iron in hand. After I hit the first ball all I could hear was Dave – “Ah so its like that is it”. Honesty is not all that it is cracked up to be.
A few highlights;
- In a recent survey of golf members Dave and Pro shop staff were identified as the welcoming and friendly face of the club.
- Dave has hosted 2 ALPG and 5 Futures events
- Dave has built the service up from one teaching professional to five
- Nominated for professional of the year award
- Designed and introduced the Golf Australia approved Par 3 course
- Was ranked No. 4 Titleist fitting store in Australia
- Provided ongoing contributions and support to the Golf and Greens Committee.
He survived the turmoil of the Covid years and last year’s rain despite the financial costs to his business.
While one chapter in Dave’s life has now closed, he has developed a substantial managerial and marketing skill set that he will now be able to transfer to his new role. As for the Ballarat Golf Club, Dave has already demonstrated his commitment to the club through his recent membership and appointment to the Board.
Dave, I take this opportunity, on behalf of the total membership, to thank you for all that you have done over the last ten years as head pro. May the next ten years be filled with countless opportunities and continued personal growth.
Leigh Mitchell
