Frank Nobilo
Name:
Frank Ivan Joseph NobiloCountry:
New ZealandBorn:
May 14, 1960 in Auckland, North Island, NZ.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golfer; golf commentator; ambassador for leading NZ winery Nobilo Wines (Frank is related to founder Nikola "Nick" Nobilo).Turned Pro:
1979NZ Amateur champion (1978). Total professional wins (14), including European Tour (5), Australasian Tour (2), PGA Tour (1) and Asian Tour (1). Awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 1998.
Nobilo has the dubious honour of being injured by an errant golf ball. A mishit tee-shot at the exclusive Lake Nona G&CC struck him above the left eye, and required 30 stitches.
Asia
Andersen Consulting
Played as the Andersen Consulting Hong Kong Open. Second-placed Wook-soon Kang (S Kor) finished 5 shots behind Nobilo (NZ). [Hong Kong GC, Fanling; composite of 10 holes from Eden course, 8 from the New].
America
x
Played as the Mexican Open (Abierto Mexicano de Golf). Won by Nobilo (NZ). [Club de Golf Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico].
America
Chrysler
Played as the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic (April 24-27). Tour rookie Nobilo (NZ) beat Brad Faxon (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record his only win on the PGA Tour. [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].
America
Subaru
Played as the Subaru Sarazen World Open (Oct 31-Nov 3; PGA Tr unofficial money event). Scott Hoch (USA) finished in second place behind defending champion Nobilo (NZ). [Legends course, Chateau Elan GC, Braselton, Georgia].
Europe
Deutsche Bank
Played as the Deutsche Bank Open TPC of Europe (May 30-Jun 2). Second-placed Colin Montgomerie (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Nobilo (NZ), who recorded the last of his five European Tour wins. [Gut Kaden G&LC, Alveslohe, nr Hamburg].
Europe
BMW
Played as the BMW International Open (Jun 29-Jul 2). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) and Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Frank Nobilo (NZ). [St Eurach L&GC, Iffeldorf, Bavaria, Germany].
America
x
Played as the Sarazen World Open (Nov 3-5; PGA Tr post-season unofficial money event). Second-placed Miguel Ángel Jiménez (Esp) and Mark McNulty (Zim) finished 1 shot behind Nobilo (NZ), who recorded his first win in America. [Legends course, Chateau Elan GC, Braselton, Georgia].
Asia
Sampoerna
Played as the Sampoerna Indonesia Open (March 23-26; Asian circuit event). Second-placed Jerry Smith (USA) finished 3 shots behind Frank Nobilo (NZ). [Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) course, Damai Indah Golf, North Jakarta, Indonesia].
Europe
Turespana
Played as the Turespana Open Mediterrania (March 4-7). Second-placed David Feherty (N.Ire) and Gordon Brand Jr (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Nobilo (NZ). [Parador de El Saler, nr Valencia, Spain].
Europe
Lancome
Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by Frank Nobilo (NZ). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].
Europe
PLM
Played as the PLM Open (Aug 11-14). Second-placed and defending champion Howard Clark (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Nobilo (NZ), who recorded the first of his five European Tour wins. [Flommens GC, Falsterbo, nr Malmo, Sweden].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship (next played in 2002). Won by defending champion Frank Nobilo (NZ). [Mount Maunganui GC, Tauranga, NZ].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship (Dec 28-31). Second-placed Brett Ogle (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Frank Nobilo (NZ). [Mount Maunganui GC, Tauranga, NZ].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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