As a youngster from Merimbula who grew up in Sydney, Evin Priest would marvel at the beauty of Gerringong golf course each Christmas when his family returned south to see family on the Sapphire Coast.

“I’d always think, ‘look how amazing that course looks’,” recalls Priest, who turned his childhood passion into a career as a US golf and sports correspondent for the Australian Associated Press several years before returning to Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But never in his wildest dreams did Priest, who joined the Gerringong club during the lockdown, imagine he would one day play the picturesque course with Steve Williams - one of the world’s greatest caddies.

On October 10, Williams - the man who helped Tiger Woods reach the top of his game - will join Priest at the beachside course to play 18 holes, followed by a signing of Together We Roared, the book the pair co-authored.

Priest met Williams while travelling the world and writing about the globe’s greatest golfers and their caddies, and the humble Kiwi bagman and laconic Aussie scribe became mates.

But COVID clipped Priest’s flying wings and, after living in the US for several years, the journalist returned to Sydney to work.

Evin Priest.

Golf was his lockdown activity of choice and Priest joined Gerringong, the course he admired as a child.

He and Williams also started a popular golf podcast, Chasing Majors, in 2022 with the successful first series sparking the idea for Together We Roared.

Priest describes writing the book with Williams, which recounts the New Zealand-born caddy’s time on the bag for 13 of Woods’ 15 major titles, as “a dream come true”.

Evin tries his luck at Gerringong.

“To write anything that contributes to the historical literature of Tiger Woods, and Steve’s role in that, has been incredible,” says Priest, who would update Gerringong’s club members and staff on the book's progress each weekend when he played the course.

“Jake and Shane (Gerringong pro shop staff) and the club president Tony, would hear all about it and cheer me on every step of the way.

“When Shane asked me if I was doing a book launch in Australia I thought okay, why not? The book’s official launch was in Sydney but it made sense to have one in Gerringong too, given it’s the course that really kicked things off for me.”

So, Priest pitched the idea of an informal book signing and Q&A session at Gerringong to Williams and was delighted when he agreed, doubly so when the caddy jumped at the chance to play 18 holes.

“I never knew if Steve was going to go for it or not,” says Priest. “But to his credit he just said ‘yeah absolutely I'd love to come down and play the golf course you've told me about’ and to hear him excited makes me even more excited.”

Priest describes Williams as one of the most humble people he’s met, and compares playing Gerringong with him to the way Williams felt when Tiger played at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, the caddy’s home course, before the 2002 New Zealand Open.

“Steve fought back tears when Tiger was playing a practice round ahead of the NZ Open,” says Priest, recounting an excerpt from Together We Roared. “Steve just couldn't believe that, not only was his home course hosting the greatest player who has ever lived, but that he was working for him.

“So for me to take Steve to Gerringong, while it’s not my childhood course, it is very special to me, it’s going to be amazing.”

While Priest says he won’t be fighting back tears, he’ll certainly struggle to wipe the smile from his face.

“To think that I'm bringing a guy that I consider a hero to play at Gerringong golf club and then speak to not only the members but the community at the footy club that night, it's just a pinch yourself moment,” he says.

“It’s a really fun course, it’s got that laid-back South Coast approachability which Steve really appreciates, and the views are just incredible. The maintenance team do an amazing job with the rain and wind Gerringong receives.

“Some of the world's most famous beach courses might have 14 holes looking at the ocean but at Gerringong you can see the sea from every hole, you’re looking at the crashing waves on every single shot.”

And there will be no shortage of members lining up to share their tips on playing the course’s trickier holes with the world-famous bagman.

The book signing will be held at the Michael Cronin Oval Clubhouse at 6.30pm. Tickets are $75 and include a copy of Together We Roared, which Williams and Priest will be available to sign.

For more information visit Gerringong Golf Club’s website or Facebook page.