Tee to Green October 2012

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NEWS AND REVIEWS

Updates from around the globe PG

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

Karsten Solheim, Ping and the Gold Putters Vault PG

The Talented Mr. Poulter

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10 courses, 14 days.

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Matchplay psychology

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TRAVEL

SWING THOUGTHS

How he inspired the greatest Ryder Cup comeback of all time PG

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EDITORIAL

Reflections on a Remarkable Ryder Cup I

remember listening to a stand up set

by Welsh Comedian Max Boyce called “I know ‘cos I was there.” In it he expanded on how wonderful it is to be able to say “I was there.” Of course for him the occasions were linked to the Welsh Rugby team at the Cardiff ground and being able to say “I was there” when Cliff Morgan, Duncan Edwards, Barry John or Phil Bennett weaved their magic on the park in front of 50,000 fanatical fans. As he ends the set he says “and even if you were not there, who will know, so just say it I was there when……”

Well I was not there at Medinah and sure wish I was, but thanks to modern satellite television I was able to have an armchair seat and watch every moment as the drama unfolded. I must admit I started watching sure that come 9 or 9:30 I would be pressing the record button on my PVR, turning off the TV, happy to review it all the next morning. But by that stage with the prospect of a great comeback on the cards how could any self-respecting sports fan not sit glued to the screen to see the outcome.

And so four hours later I was still there watching as the European players rejoiced, hugged each other, looked up to the spirit of Seve with tears in their eyes, and revelled in the joys of victory. It was the perfect end to wonderful few months of sport.

As the dust settles and we prepare for sport’s next great spectacle enabling me to reflect on various aspects of the tournament that impressed me or simply made me chuckle.

WHAT HAPPENED TO TIGER WOODS?

Tiger was nowhere to be seen all week! Woods on the other hand was there but mostly trying to extricate his ball from the woods or dropping his head as another putt failed to drop.

When did he last play 18-holes of golf and not make a single birdie? But on the 18th he reappeared and we saw Tiger Woods again. It is the best I have

seen from him in a long while. The Ryder Cup has never been his best stage and after missing a short par putt on the 18th this was merely being confirmed. Tiger Woods, one of golf’s greatest players and personalities, chose to give Molinari a four foot par putt so giving Europe a clear one point victory. Molinari is a fine player, but can best be described a journeyman professional. He will win tournaments and make a very good living at the game I have no doubt, but this I am sure will prove to be the biggest moment of his golfing career. Tiger Woods was aware of this, whether consciously or not, and did not want to take anything away from the young Italian by asking him to hole out when there was a very real chance he could miss. The concession was in same spirit as that of Jack Nicklaus some 40 years ago when he did much the same for Tony Jacklin. I am not that great a Tiger Woods fan, he seems to have lost his way, but this one gesture has elevated my assessment of the man.

A WORD ABOUT MEDINAH.

Perfectly prepared and set up for a contest of this stature. It is NOT about making the course impossible for the players to play. Tough is tough but that does not make or mean it is better. The lack of rough allowed the players to be more adventurous off the tee and also gave us the opportunity to marvel at their skills of recovery. Fast smooth greens are an essential requirement but by keeping them receptive to well struck approaches players were again rewarded for good play. And finally a true risk and reward drivable par four.

What more could the players and the fans ask for. Well done to the PGA of America and Medinah for their contribution to this great match.

WHERE WERE THE BARBIE DOLLS?

My one time colleague and friend Duncan Cruickshank, now with the Southern African Tour, will be grinning when he reads this. After the last two

tee to Green or three Ryder Cups I threatened to write a column about the wives of top golfers. Over the years the cameras seemed to linger longer and longer on these cheerleading beauties. And at times it seemed all were perfect blondes, with perfect hair, perfect smiles and perfect bodies – yes “Barbie Dolls.” I mean this in the nicest possible way but am still pleased to say that this year they were noticeable by their absence. That is not to say they were not there but the cameras seemed to be focused on the far more interesting battle that was happening on the fairways and the greens.

LIP OUTS

Did anyone keep count how often players’ chips and or putts lipped out the cup, certainly as often as the ball dropped. Another pointer of the wonderful skills of these players. As we are often reminded by the commentators the cameras flatten out the view of the greens making them seem a lot flatter than they really are. The slopes on the greens at Medinah are significant and the effect on the ball is only enhanced by the speed of the green. The average golfer would not have found himself reflecting on how many putts lipped out but on how many times he putted right off the green. Remember only good putters lip out – bad putters don’t ever get that close.

AND FINALLY THE CADDIES.

Nowhere to be seen on days one and two. During the pairs, be it the foursomes or the betterball, the advice and assistance of one’s fellow player was all that was called for. The caddies were noticeably standing to the side only contributing when asked.

A quick word about what happened before play on Tuesday afternoon, roughly 66 hours before a meaningful ball went airborne. A celebrity exhibition featured, among others, Justin Timberlake and Michael Phelps, the latter a winner of 22 swimming medals at the Olympics. Yet, the man who is arguably the greatest American Olympian in history gushed about how it was a “dream come true” to hang out with 24 of the world’s finest golfers.

To be able to say ” I was there.”

Will we ever see its like again? For me I am thankful I saw it now and realise that the ultimate significance of sporting occasions like this is priceless.

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Dennis Bruyns bruyns@icon.co.za teetogreen@ballyhoomedia.co.za Publisher Eric Bornman eric@ballyhoomedia.co.za Creative Director Steven Macbeth Art Director Tumi Sibambo Financial Manager Morgan Lufumpa Contributors Theo Bezuidenhout Ferdi Morris Published by Ballyhoo Media Company Reg No 2007/207595/23 14 6TH Street, Parkhurst, Johannesburg South Africa, 2193 PO Box 3125, Parklands, 2121 Tel: 086 111 4626 Fax: 086 6706429 Printed by Paarl Coldset Tee to Green is published monthly

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International and Local

$11.4m payday S

nedeker proves he can beat the best in the world. And then equated the 11.44 million he won after capturing the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup to winning the lottery.

Going into the tournament he knew that his best chance to be the FedEx Cup champion was to win the Tour Championship, no simple task with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods going after the same prize. But with three big birdies on the back nine, he build such a big lead that when his final tee shot sailed into the grandstands to the left of the 18th green and it didn’t even matter. Snedeker closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot win in the Tour Championship, and a $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup. But for Snedeker this was never just about the money.

“I think it solidifies what I already know,” Snedeker said. “I think when I play my best golf, my best

golf is some of the best in the world. I’ve never had more confidence in myself than I have the last five weeks, and I made sure that I kept telling myself that all day. I am one of the best players in the world. This is supposed to happen. It’s OK to feel nervous, and no matter what I feel today, everybody else in the field feels exactly the same way I do.”

Rory McIlroy, the best player in golf this year and the No. 1 seed going into the Tour Championship, faded early by dropping four shots in a four-hole span on the front nine.

So did Woods, who already was 3 over on his round before making his first birdie on the par-5 ninth.

Snedeker’s win took his earnings for the year to $14,989,739. The 31-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., calls that kind of money “crazy talk ... like winning the lottery.”

The toughest part for Snedeker is figuring out what to do with such a windfall. The only thing he has ever

splurged on was his home in Nashville, which he said was “not grandiose.” He still drives the SUV he bought when he first joined the PGA Tour in 2006.

“I’m not by any means a flashy guy,” he said. “Of anybody that I know, I do not need $11 million. So there are going to be things we can do to really help people. So that’s the way I look at it. This is unbelievable to be financially stable for the rest of my career. As long as I’m not an idiot, I should be fine, really. I really think we can make a difference and help a lot of people out in Nashville and Tennessee and the surrounding areas.”

And so ends the most successful year yet in the FedEx Cup -- four wildly entertaining playoff events packed with the biggest names, even if the No. 1 player in the world wound up at No. 2.

“I’m a little disappointed, but at the same time, Brandt really deserves to win,” McIlroy said. “He played the best golf out of anyone.

He knew what he needed to do. He needed to come in here and win. He controlled his own destiny, just like I did. And he was able to come and do that. So because of that, he really deserves it.”

Fedex Cup payout 1. Brandt Snedeker $10,000,000 2. Rory McIlroy

$3,000,000

3. Tiger Woods

$2,000,000

4. Nick Watney

$1,500,000

5. Phil Mickelson

$1,000,000

In Brandt Snedeker’S Bag

DRIVER: TaylorMade Burner SuperFast (8.5°) with a Fujikura Motore VC 7.2 X shaft FAIRWAY WOODS: Tour Edge Exotics CB4 (13°) with a Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 73X shaft HYBRID: Ping Anser (20°) with a UST Mamiya VTS 100 X shaft IRONS: Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back (4-PW) Aerotech SteelFiber i95 Constant Weight shafts WEDGES: Bridgestone J40 (52°, 56°) with a True Temper X100 shafts; Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled (60°) with True Temper DG Spinner shafts PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot XG Rossie BALL: Bridgestone Tour B330

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GOLF TALK

JACK ON OTHER GOLF ISSUES

The ultimate intimidators, Jack Nicklaus and Roger Federer, with 35 majors between them

The Intimidator

The season has been interesting, entertaining and full of storylines.

Golf fans have seen the rise of Rory McIlroy as the game’s best player, Ernie Els got back into the winner’s circle at a major, Tiger Woods has returned to win three tournaments and would be Player of the Year if not for McIlroy, the debate about whether the belly-putter should be taken away from the game has picked up steam and the season isn’t even over yet. Never one to hold back Greg Norman came out with some surprising comments about Tiger Woods recently.

Norman made mention that the golfer who always used to put fear in the competition, Tiger Woods, is intimidated by the 23-year-old McIlroy.

“What I’m seeing is that Tiger’s really intimidated by Rory,” Norman told the website. “When have you ever seen him intimidated by another player? Never. But I think he knows his time’s up and that’s normal; these things tend to go in 15-year cycles.”

Not to be out done Jack Nicklaus probably the most intimidating player ever to have played the game gave his thoughts on it all.

“Quiet Greg, quiet. Down boy. I think Tiger had a pretty darn good year this year. It’s the first time he has gotten himself back into contention in the majors, he didn’t finish them and I think by his own admission he said he had a hard time finishing them. I think Tiger has

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tee to Green On keeping his cool on the golf course: “You don’t really accomplish anything by getting mad. Some people get mad and it charges them up but I always found that if I got my emotions too high by making two or three putts and I got really excited then I wouldn’t be concentrating the way I wanted to on the next one.

Likewise the same thing if I got upset so I tried all my life and people said ‘well Jack doesn’t have a lot of emotion.’ I had plenty of emotion I just contained it because to me it would work against me if I did it the other way. I was 11-yearsold when I threw that golf club. I hit the shot in the bunker and I threw the club almost in the bunker from behind it. My dad said ‘go pick your ball up’ and we left. Pulled me off the golf course. It was the best lesson I ever had.

a lot of wins left in him. He does have a lot more competition. During the couple of years when Tiger wasn’t really there all of the sudden you have Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and I could probably name a half dozen other guys that have all won and learned how to win in Tiger’s absence. They’re not scared of him anymore.

Woods, 36, said he’s not been intimidated by any golfer.

“It’s not like you go over the middle and some guy is 255 pounds and going to take your block off. This is about executing and going about your own business and see where it ends up at the end of the day. It’s just the nature of our sport, which is different than some sports. ... Here, no one is affecting any shots.’’

“How can I intimidate Tiger Woods?’’ McIlroy said. “I mean, the guy’s got 70-whatever (74) PGA tour wins, 14 majors. He’s been the biggest thing ever in our sport. I mean, how could some little 23-year-old from Northern Ireland with a few wins come up and intimidate him? It’s just not possible.

I don’t know where he (Norman) got that from, but it’s not true. More just in awe of what’s he done, of his accomplishments, of his achievements, but never intimidated.’’

Intimidated or not, in awe of or not, the bottom line is another year has passed without Tiger winning a Major. And it must be getting to him whether he admits it or not.

than a Ferrari... But prepare to take some stick when you drive it out onto the first tee.

Or go with the Rolls look - country singer Willie Nelson’s former 1981 electric golf cart with Rolls-Royce features, wet bar on board and named The 19th Hole. Built in 1981 the golf cart was seized by the IRS and auctioned at Willie

Should they dial back the golf ball or the size of the driver?

“I think both. I think it all starts with the golf ball. I think the USGA will probably end up doing that in the not-too-distant future. It is not a Tour issue it is for the game of golf. The game of golf has three problems. It’s too hard, it’s too expensive and it takes too long. If they dialled the golf ball back it would reduce all those costs. The costs of maintaining the golf course, the cost of land and all those things would be dialled back and as an added benefit there’s only one golf course in this country that is not obsolete to the pros and that’s Augusta National, they’re the only people that have enough money to build the golf course and do the things they needed to do. Every time they have an event what do they do?

Build new tees, new bunkers and do everything. It doesn’t make any sense. The simplest thing to do is fix the golf ball.”

And the long putter: “That’s the other thing. To me the long putter, I’ve tried it and I can’t use it but that doesn’t make any difference. I’m sort of in the middle of the road. I don’t know how much it really helps and I know a lot of guys, Arnold (Palmer) is very strong that it should be banned, I think something anchored to your body is probably not in the nature of what the game of golf is and up until Keegan Bradley won, nobody had ever won a major with one so I didn’t think much about it but my guess is it will probably go.”

Nelson’s Pedernales Golf Course.

The golf cart has a radio with tape deck, headlights, turn signals and a small wet bar with several buttons to push for bourbon, gin, scotch, vodka and a W for water or whiskey. The little red and white golf cart has Willie embroidered on its red velvet seats, full wind shield, white fiberglass top and RollsRoyce grille.

New India project

Gary Player Design continues to expand to new countries around the world, and most recently obtained a contract to create a new course in the western city of Ahmedabad, India. The Indiabased real estate development firm, bSafal, is heading the project, known as Glade One, in India’s fifth largest city. In addition to a golf course, Glade One will include a five-star hotel and approximately 350 villas. The Black Knight’s design company currently has more than 40 projects in multiple countries, including Morocco, Montenegro, India, China and Honduras. Its portfolio now includes more than 300 courses in 35 countries on five continents.

New President for SAGA

Andre Pieterse was appointed as the new president of the South African Golf Association (SAGA) at the Association’s Annual General Meeting held in Port Elizabeth during the playing of the Interprovincial Golf Tournament.

Pieterse will take over from the current incumbent, Colin Burger, and in terms of the SAGA’s constitution, will serve a two year term commencing Saturday, 22 September 2012. Outgoing president Colin Burger said he leaves the SAGA in competent hands.

“Andre has been on the SAGA Executive Committee for six years and, having served two years as the second vice president and two as senior vice president, has proven himself as an experienced and competent administrator with an unwavering passion for the organisation,” said Burger. “I wish him well for the term of his presidency.”

Speaking from the 52nd South African Inter Provincial tournament, sponsored by Tempest Car Hire, at Port Elizabeth Golf Club, Pieterse said it was an honour to be elected.

“I’m looking forward to taking over the mantle of the SAGA,” he said. “I have played the game for many years and in this time I have moved through the ranks and served at various levels and my passion for the game and the administration thereof is as strong now as when I first became club captain at Harrismith Golf Club.”

In addition to having been involved in the administration of the sport at national level since his selection as second vice president to the SAGA executive in 2008, Pieterse has served time at provincial level as well, including his presidency of Eastern Free State and six years as the president of the Free State and Northern Cape Union.

The other positions filled at the SAGA’s Annual General Meeting was that of the senior vice president and second vice president.

Gerhard Conradie, who has served as second vice president, will step into the role of senior vice president, while Geoff Taylor, the president of Western Province Golf Union, was elected as second vice president.

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tee to Green

golf talk

Golfing Presidents

Rory McIlroy on top of the world

And as such already caught up in an identity crisis between two golfing nations.

“I was hoping that my success on the golf course would be the more popular topic of golfing conversation today,” McIlroy said in a letter he posted Monday on Twitter.

He has found himself in the middle of a debate over which flag he might represent when golf returns to the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, already with two major championships and a No. 1 ranking by a widening margin, grew up “a proud product of Irish golf.” Because his country is part of the United Kingdom, he also is eligible to play for Britain.

Stirring the debate was an interview with The Daily Mail in which McIlroy said he feels a greater connection with the UK than with Ireland.

“What makes it such an awful position to be in is I have grown up my whole life playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland umbrella,” he told the British newspaper. “But the fact is, I’ve always felt more British than Irish.”

That led to speculation that McIlroy was laying the groundwork toward playing for Britain, and he quickly clarified his position, which remains on the fence.

“I wish to clarify that I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation in the next Olympics,” McIlroy said.

“On a personal level, playing in the Olympics would be a huge honor. However, the games in Rio are still four years away and I certainly won’t be making any decisions with regards to participating any time soon.”

And after the stirring victory of the European team in the Ryder Cup, a victory in which he played a major role, the only flag he is worrying about present is the blue of Europe.

And if you wondered what he does in his spare time the picture tells the story with Rory offering encouragement to his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.

It is a bit over the top when Republican Senators start pointing fingers at Democrates for playing too much golf especially when that president is Barack Obama. With the exception of Jimmy Carter every president for the past 60 years played golf in his leisure time and what better way to unwind and de-stress.

Marco Rubio, the Florida senator had this to say, “Our problem with President Obama isn’t that he’s a bad person. By all accounts, he too is a good husband and a good father and, thanks to lots of practice, a good golfer. Our problem is not that he’s a bad person. Our problem is that he’s a bad president.”

Rubio is not the first politician to criticize Obama for playing too much golf. Romney, in fact, has also accused the President of spending too much time on his game and not enough time on his job, and his campaign even launched a Web page that tracks Obama’s rounds played. According to the site, Obama has logged 104 rounds since 2009.

All the golfing men

Dwight eisenhower Being president can earn you a lot of perks on the links, and Ike took full advantage. He had a putting green built at the White House, and Eisenhower was such a frequent guest at Augusta National that not only was he made a member, but he got his own cabin on the club’s grounds. He became good friends with Arnold Palmer, and along with the King, he helped popularize the game in America. The Eisenhower trophy is awarded to the winners of the World Amateur Team Championship John f. Kennedy Despite a bad back, Kennedy was regarded as the best presidential golfer. He kept his love for the game a secret after Eisenhower was criticized for playing so much in office, but Kennedy would eventually try to use the game to benefit him politically. When the president was accused of sneaking away for other, ahem, extra-curricular activities, aides said he was simply out playing golf.

Richard nixon Nixon took up the game late in life as a way to spend time with President Dwight Eisenhower when Nixon was vice president. By his second term as president, Nixon had little time for the links as he dealt with the Vietnam War, Watergate and his eventual resignation. Once out of office, Nixon retired to his home in California, where friends built him a three-hole golf course. gerald ford Often thought of as the best athlete among the presidents, the former University of Michigan football player was a fixture at Bob Hope’s PGA Tour event, and he was often paired with the comedian himself. Ford became well-known for his erratic drives off the tee, leading to his

Clockwise from top: gerald ford with Palmer, nicklaus and Player; Palmer and eisenhower; Barack obama; John f. Kennedy famous quote, “I know I am getting better at golf because I’m hitting fewer spectators.”

Ronald Reagan Reagan didn’t hit the links frequently during his presidency, and when he did, disaster struck at an outing at Augusta National. A crazed gunman crashed his car through a gate and held several people hostage in the clubhouse while the president was on the 16th hole. Fortunately, 21 hours later the man surrendered and released the hostages unharmed. george h.W. Bush Golf has a deep history in the Bush family. Bush’s grandfather, George Herbert Walker, was president of the USGA and inspired the Walker Cup. The 41st president has served as an honorary chairman of the First Tee, and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Bill Clinton Tiger Woods once said President Clinton used “interesting math” during a round together. Yes, the 42nd president wasn’t afraid to bend the rules, but he’s always had an interesting connection to the game.

There’s a statue of Clinton holding a golf club in Ballybunion, Ireland, to commemorate his 1998 golfing trip.

Clinton also hurt his knee tripping down the steps at Greg Norman’s house in 1997. One of his most

famous contributions to the game was restoring the putting green at the White House george W. Bush Bush once gave up golf during office, saying, “I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

Now out of office, Bush has organized a golf tournament for wounded veterans and was seen on the final day at the Ryder Cup. Rumour has it he gave the American team a pep talk just before the start of play Barack obama Before he was elected, the 44th president was a regular on the hardwood playing basket ball. But since taking office, Obama has focused on golf, playing more than 104 rounds since 2009, according to a Republican Web site that tracks how often he plays.

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golf talk

SA trio for Eisenhower Trophy Brandon Stone, Haydn Porteous and Zander Lombard are ready to launch their bid to become the first South African team to lift the prestigious Eisenhower Trophy since the World Amateur Team Championship launched in 1958.

And the country’s leading three amateurs will carry some good form into the 2012 edition of the world’s most prestigious biennial team competition tees off at the Antalya Club in Turkey from 4-7 October.

Stone, the leading South African amateur golfer in World Amateur Golf Ranking, spearheads the challenge.

The 19-year-old Pretoria golfer arrived in Turkey on the back of a winning debut for the University of Texas where he lifted the individual trophy in the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Georgia.

Meanwhile Porteous and Lombard prepared for the challenge at the recent South African Inter-Provincial, sponsored

by Tempest Car Hire. Porteous, ranked first on the South African Golf Association (SAGA) Rankings, and third ranked Lombard played at number one for Central Gauteng and Gauteng North respectively.

But, with a record 72 countries competing for this year’s glory at the par-72 Cornelia and par-71 Antalya Golf Courses, the SA trio know they face a daunting task.

“We know it’s going to be tough going up against the best amateur players in the world, but we are definitely ready for the challenge ahead,” said Stone, who took up a golf scholarship at the University of Texas in August. To represent South Africa at the Eisenhower is something all three of us have strived towards for a long time and we’ll give it the best we’ve got to try and bring the trophy home.”

Porteous agreed.

“Each nation has a team of three players and it’s a 72-hole stroke-play tournament,” the 18-year-old reigning SA Stroke Play champion explained.

Only the two lowest scores will count toward the team total in each of the four rounds, so even if one of us has a tough spell, the other two will have his back. We are all looking forward to the challenge and we are rearing to get going.”

South Africa’s best previous performance in the World Amateur Team Championship was a runnerup finish at Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina in 1980. The team that year consisted of Ettienne Groenewald, the late Duncan Lindsay-Smith, David Suddards and Wayne Player, son of South Africa’s greatest ever Gary Player.

BOlAnD AnD WeSTeRn PROvInCe SHARe TITle

During the recent South African Inter-Provincial at the Port Elizabeth

tee to Green Golf Club, the eight-man team from Boland achieved the unthinkable – a come-from-behind victory to tie Western Province for the title of the country’s premier amateur team.

It was the first time in the 52-year history of the championship that the prestigious title was shared and much of Boland’s glory was owed to the performances of three South African Golf Development (SAGDB) graduates.

“When you look at the statistics, the contributions of Jacquin Hess, Cedric Rooi and Mark Mahoney’s added substantially to the team’s road to brilliance throughout the week,” said Shaun Adriaanse, the SAGDB’s manager for the Boland region.

Hess suffered just one loss in the foursomes and recorded five decisive victories in the singles to share the Most Valuable Player of the tournament honour with Central Gauteng’s Louis Taylor.

Teamed together, Rooi and Mahoney were one of Boland’s strongest combinations in the foursomes, but also held up their end in the singles to tie for 12th and 16th respectively on the final most valuable players log.

“These performances were top class when you consider that the country’s top amateurs played in this tournament,” Adriaanse said. “While Mark was one of our first members to join the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation (EEFF), Jacquin and Cedric have come through our programme without any outside support. Jacquin and Cedric are thorough-bred SAGDB graduates.”

Arnold Palmer receives Congressional Gold Medal

Two days after celebrating his 83rd birthday, Arnold Palmer became the sixth athlete to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honour given to civilians by the US Congress.

“I’m particularly proud of anything that the House and Senate agree on,” Palmer said, drawing laughs from an audience that included Jack Nicklaus, Vince Gill and House Speaker John Boehner.

Palmer won 62 PGA Tour events, including seven major championships (four Masters, two British Opens, one U.S. Open). He also helped revolutionize golf in the 1960s with his macho looks, powerful swing and go-for-broke style. Palmer was the perfect figure to lead golf into the television age.

Palmer was also praised for his contributions off the course, including the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando and his service in the U.S. Coast Guard. The other athletes to receive the Congressional Gold Medal are Jesse Owens, Roberto Clemente, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson and Byron Nelson.

SAGA

Hall of Fame

The victorious Boland Premier IPT team: Front, left to right: Drikus Bruyns, Philip Spies, Servaas de Kock (manager), Armandt Scholtz, Mark Mahoney.

Back, left to right: Jacquin Hess, Karl Ochse, Anton Oosthuizen, Cedric Rooi.

Fred Couples, a former Masters champion and one of the most popular figures in the game has been elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Couples described himself as a good player, but not a great player, though he’s turned in some amazing performances.

Among his 15 wins on the PGA Tour are the 1992 Masters and two at The Players Championship, including an eagle-birdie-par finish in 1996. He played in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup five times each, and next year will be captain of the Presidents Cup for the third time. He was No. 1 in the world for four months in 1992.

Still to be announced are the results from the International ballot, along with who is selected from the Veteran’s category and Lifetime Achievement to round out the 2013 class. The induction will be May 6 – the Monday of The Players Championship – at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.

Couples was the best in the world in the early 1990s, particularly during the early part of the PGA Tour season. His career was hampered by back injuries in 1994, though he remained competitive at certain events – especially Augusta National – even after turning 50.

“For me, at my age of 52, I think it’s certainly a great honour and great timing, because it will push me to play a couple more years and see how I can play.”

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Go to discoverireland.com/golf

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

tee to Green

Ping

K

arsten Solheim revolutionized golf club design and manufacturing, thereby making the game easier and more enjoyable for hundreds of thousands of amateur golfers.

Elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the lifetime achievement category, Solheim is heralded as a golf innovator who changed the game by examining the mechanics and technology of the sport. Born at Bergen, Norway, September 15, 1911, Solheim came as a little boy to the United States with his parents, Herman A. and Rogna Koppen Solheim. They settled at Seattle, Washington, where Solheim’s father was a shoemaker by trade and he passed on that knowledge to his son who early in his career operated his own shoe repair shop.

The young Solheim had other ideas, though, while growing up, and in high school he had visions of becoming a mechanical aeronautical engineer. Little could Solheim know then that his thirst for engineering knowledge eventually would lead him into recognition as an inventive genius in the golf club manufacturing field and undreamed of success.

At age 24, Solheim married Louise Crozier on June 20, 1936.

They had met in church in Seattle. Solheim resumed engineering training through a college extension course when World War II created a need for defence workers. Moving to San Diego, California, Solheim advanced with Ryan Aeronautical Corporation to a position as flight research engineer in 1945 where he worked on the Fireball jet fighter plane. Six years later, Solheim joined Convair as a project engineer for the Atlas missile’s first ground guidance system. In 1953, he began a lengthy association with General

Electric, becoming a mechanical design engineer on sophisticated radar and guidance systems at GE’s facility in Ithaca, New York.

Transferred to the GE Electronic Park in Syracuse, New York the following year, he helped design and build the cabinet and rabbit ears antenna to clamp onto GE’s first portable TV. It was around this time that the 42 year old Solheim was first introduced to the game of golf, when his co-workers at General Electric invited him to fill out a foursome. He immediately became an enthusiast but found, much to his despair, that he shared a problem with millions of other golfers - he couldn’t putt. Like many of us, he blamed his equipment. However, he did something about it as figuring out how to hit a ball straighter, farther and higher consumed most of his waking hours.

Solheim was sent in 1956 to General Electric’s computer lab at Palo Alto in California, where he worked with a team composed of GE, Bank of America and Stanford Research Institute people to produce the first banking computer system. Solheim continued golf as a hobby and began tinkering in his garage with a blade putter. It was here that he assembled the working model for his first putter, the 1-A, with two popsicle sticks glued to two sugar cubes with a shaft in the middle, rather than attaching the shaft to the heel of the blade. The radical design transferred the weight to the perimeter of the club and the hollow centre area created a distinctive “ping” when it struck the ball. “I’ve got a name for my putter,” exclaimed Solheim to his wife, “Listen to it PING” Thus, a name for his company was born.

Little did he know then that he changed the game of golf forever. “I made a putter to play better myself without any thought of manufacturing,“ said Solheim of his early design efforts.

The putter seemed slow in gaining acceptance from golf shops and professional players. But, after moving to the GE computer facility headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona in 1961, increasing demand for his product resulted in Solheim leaving GE and devoting full time to his new love. In January of 1966, Solheim

designed the Anser putter. The idea came to him as inspiration often does in a flash. He sketched the design on the dust jacket of a 78-rpm record. All he needed was a name. Since it was the answer to a particularly vexing problem – putting – his wife Louise suggested they name it “answer”. Solheim liked the name but felt it would be too long to fit on the putter. With a deadline looming to get the design to the engraver’s shop, Louise then said, “Leave out the w.” Which is exactly what they did.

The Anser putter went on to become the winningest putter in golf (over 500 tour wins) and the most copied golf club in history.

The Anser putters feature optimum line of sight, perimeter weighting,

cavity back design and a low centre of gravity. It’s no exaggeration to say that these innovations changed putting forever. But more than this the features embodied in the putter head would soon be included in the design of irons.

The sales of the Ping Anser putter soared. As a result, Solheim’s business outgrew his garage and he moved to a small building in northwest Phoenix.

Business continued to boom when pro golfer Julius Boros won the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open in 1967 with Solheim’s putter.

During these years, Solheim had also been working on his own line of irons and woods. In July 1967, he incorporated as Karsten Manufacturing Corporation with headquarters at expanded facilities at 2201 W. Desert Cove, Phoenix. Soon, Ping putters were being used by professionals and amateurs to win more golf tournaments than any other make of putter. It is interesting to note that the first Ping putters to be exported out of America came to South Africa. The importer was Herbie Proudt and today the family under the company name Opal Sports is still the agent for Ping Golf in South Africa.

In 1969, Solheim applied the concept of perimeter weighting to irons. His new design and method of manufacturing took the golf world into a new dimension. By taking the weight from behind the centre of the head and redistributing it to the toe and heel, Solheim increased the size of the sweet spot. He was the first to use investment casting in order to improve the consistency of his irons. The Ping iron was a boon to the average golfer because of its playability.

Even off-centre hits could achieve results of decent direction and distance in comparison to the less-forgiving forged irons.

In only a few years, Solheim captured about a large percentage of the market and his

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tee to Green

Ping Eye2 model remains the best-selling iron ever. It is said that Ping irons and putters have inspired more look-alikes and knockoffs than any other clubs.

To recognise Solheim’s club making skills and custom fitting of equipment to players’ needs, the prestigious English Guild of Master Craftsmen admitted Karsten UK Ltd. as its first – and only – golf equipment corporate member. A lifelong churchman and member of Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix Solheim earned deserved recognition when he visited the White House in Washington DC in May 1988.

There, he was presented the President’s “E” Award for Export Expansion by President Ronald Reagan. “To be recognised by the President of the United States for contributing significantly to our nation’s economy is something we never dreamed of,” said Solheim, who earlier in his career had his name and accomplishments entered into the Congressional Record.

Because Solheim wanted lady professional golfers to have similar opportunities to men professionals, he co-sponsored LPGA tournaments in Oregon, Arizona and Massachusetts. In 1990, Solheim sought to advance women’s professional golf on a global basis and founded The SOLHEIM CUP, a biennial transatlantic team competition played on alternate continents and staged by the LPGA and European LPGA. Even today, The SOLHEIM CUP provides an arena where the best women professional golfers represent their countries in the true competitive spirit of the game, which was precisely what Solheim had desired.

In 1996, Solheim became the fifth recipient of the prestigious Ernie Sabayrac Award, presented by the PGA of America for lifetime contributions to the golf industry.

A program presented to 400-plus in the audience read in part: “Solheim’s rise from simple shoemaker to world-recognised golf designer and manufacturer is one of the golf industry’s greatest success stories. Solheim singlehandedly took an establishment, and paved a new way in golf design and manufacturing. In the final analysis, Solheim devoted his entire life to serving the golf industry, while holding firm to his greatest passions in faith, family and PING.” Karsten Solheim, founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation and creator of Ping golf clubs, died at his north Phoenix home of complications resulting from progressive Parkinson’s disease at the age of 88. When we reflect on the persons who have had the greatest influence on the game of golf the name Karsten Solheim will always be near the top of anyone’s list.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Gold Putter Collection

W

hen you win a golf tournament, you get all kinds of perks - big cheques, exemptions, invitations to future tournaments, exotic trophies and more - but one of the finest is the Ping tradition.

In the 1970’s, Karsten Solheim was looking for a unique way to thank and reward the professionals for using a Ping putter en route to victory. He decided to commemorate each victory by creating two gold-plated replicas of the winning putter. One he gave to the champion, the other he kept at the company headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Both were engraved with the professional’s name and the name of the tournament he or she had won. He didn’t know it at the time, but he was in the process of creating golf’s version of Fort Knox. As more and more professionals continued to win with a Ping putter, the collection grows to occupy what has become known as “The PING Gold Putters Vault”.

What began as a way of saying thank you has grown into the most valuable collection of putters in the world. Currently, more than 2500 putters reside in the vault. The oldest belongs to John Barnum, who won the 1962 Cajun Classic with a model 69. The collection includes

putters from many major championships, including all four majors from 1988. The Ping Anser occupies the most space in the vault, with more than 500 wins to its credit.

The tradition has recently been modified and if you should win a major with a Ping putter the replica you receive is solid gold. Two years ago Ping gave away two such putters as Louis Oosthuizen won the Open Championship and Martin Kaymer the PGA Championship using Ping putters. Ping won’t disclose how much the putters cost, but let’s hazard a guess. The average putter head weighs about a

pound. Gold is at approximately $1770 per ounce. If we start multiplying and converting all of this you will find that the solid gold putters will come in at over R200,000 each.

You’ll even find some other Ping clubs in the collection - a replica of the Ping Eye 2 sand wedge Bob Tway used when holing out from the bunker on the final hole to win the 1986 PGA Championship and a replica of the four iron used by Louis Oosthuizen for his albatross two at the second hole in the final round of the Masters earlier this year.

Robert Beck/Getty Images/Gallo Images

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David Cannon/Getty Images/Gallo Images

MAIN FEATURE tee to Green

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tee to Green

MAIN FEATURE

T

he 39th renewal of the Ryder Cup displayed all that is good and enthralling about sport and golf in particular. 24 of the best players in the world battling it out over three days for the honour of winning a trophy that is almost 100 years old.

And yes all about honour and maybe some bragging rights as none of the players are paid to play and there is no financial incentive to the winners.

So why the passion? Because that is the way we humans are programmed, that’s the way we are!

For the record Europe equalled the biggest singles comeback in Ryder Cup history to win The Ryder Cup 14 ½-13 ½ and stun the USA at Medinah. Kitted out in the favourite colours of the late Seve Ballesteros with his iconic image embroidered on their sleeves they pulled off one of the man’s trademark great escapes

Andy Lyons/Getty Images/Gallo Images

Sing Olé, Olé, Olé, Loudly in what will go down as the “Miracle of Medinah”.

When Europe trailed 10-4 late on Saturday during the final holes of the second round of betterball play, it really was a bridge too far. To still win from there was a fanciful dream, and we know dreams don’t come true…… but every now and then they do! Two late wins took the game to 10-6 in favour of the Americans.

What looked mission impossible started to change as the final progressed. Olazabal had sent out his big guns and form players first.

The message was simple – win your matches and get us back in the game. Dramatically they won the first five singles games and the game was on. Two further points from Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia left the game on a knife edge as almost unbelievably the

Europeans were now in the lead 13-12.

Three games were still on the course. Peter Hanson lost the first of them on the final green, but Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari had it in their power to retain the famous gold trophy. Kaymer, left out all day on Saturday, was the one to deliver the point they required to match the biggest comeback in the event’s history. He was up against Steve Stricker. Level with two to go, the American bogeyed the short 17th after hitting his chip far too strongly.

Kaymer, bunkered off the final tee, found the green and had two putts for it once Stricker missed his long birdie attempt. He gave himself and his team-mates palpitations when he sent his first one six feet past, but 21 years on from compatriot Bernhard Langer missing from the same

distance to lose at Kiawah Island Kaymer made the one back and sparked jubilant scenes.

That Molinari finished his game all square with Tiger Woods confirming the result – 14 ½ to 13 ½. The Cup was going back across the Atlantic.

A tearful Olazábal said: “When I saw we had a chance coming down the stretch I was very emotional. The boys have done an unbelievable job.

I have a few thoughts for my friend Seve and this one is for him.

“That’s why I’ve always said that this event is so special. Last night I told them I really believed we could do it and they just believed in themselves. That’s why we’re here as winners.”

Only 13 years ago the American team entered the final day with the same deficit. So American Ryder Cup fans will instantly point to

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MAIN FEATURE Justin Leonard’s 45-foot birdie putt and the craziness that followed as the most memorable moments in Ryder Cup history.

Leonard’s improbable putt was a colossal triumph. Leonard had even been 4 down before clawing his way back to drop the gigantic putt. Within seconds, total chaos reigned as the entire American team, their caddies, wives and girlfriends stormed the green to celebrate. It broke every rule of traditional golf etiquette, and the moment still leaves a deeply bitter taste in the mouths of Europeans.

And standing to one side was lonely figure of Jose Maria Olazabal, an immensely private and gentle man. For a moment the Americans forgot that Jose Maria Olazabal still had a 22-foot putt to halve the hole and the destiny of the Cup was not yet decided. After the ruckus died down, Olazabal unsurprisingly missed the daunting putt.

It’s this last memory that still bothers Crenshaw, himself one of golf’s great gentlemen.

Crenshaw remembers: “I’ve thought about that moment a million times ... I went off my head like everyone else. I was as guilty as anyone. I just completely forgot where I was. It was just a bolt, and we didn’t know what to do. We briefly lost our minds.”

“Afterwards I wished I had walked on to the green and picked up Jose’s ball. Many, many times I have thought that. He is the nicest guy in the world, and he handled it all beautifully. I’ve thought about it all a million times. We lost our heads, no question.”

A member of that victorious American Team was Davis Love lll.

Now all these years later as Captain it was his team that was faltering down the stretch. And the opposite side was none other than Jose Maria Olazabal. Was it Karma or just the Golfing Gods making sure that the books are balanced.

the presence of seve: “seve taught Me one thing above all else,” José María had said at the beginning of the week. “never give in, never quit, anything is possible in this gaMe.”

tee to Green roared back from the same 10-6 deficit.

This rally was even more remarkable, carried out before a raucous American crowd that began their chants of “USA!” some three hours before the first match got under way.

No problem with the crowd chanting USA USA, but applauding bad shots from your opponents and screaming out personal comedowns – just plain ugly and no place on the golf course and no place in sport. This is OK in professional Wrestling and that’s it.

Jose Maria Olazabal squeezed his eyes and fought back tears when Kaymer holed a 6-foot par putt to beat Steve Stricker and give Europe the point it needed to keep the cup.

This was the first Ryder Cup since Ballesteros, the soul of European golf in this event, died last May of a brain tumour. Olazabal wanted his team to wear navy blue, Seve’s favorite colour, and added a clever touch – his iconic silhouette from his Open Championship victory at St Andrews on the sleeves of their shirts.

“This one is for all of Europe,” Olazabal said. “Seve will always be

McIlRoy almost missing his tee of time: As Olazábal put it “All of a sudden we realised Rory was not here and started to look for him.

Finally we got hold of him and he came in.” The Northern Irishmen had seen a 12.25am tee-off time on television, but it was Eastern Time one hour ahead of Chicago. After his win McIlroy said: “I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes. I have never been so worried driving to the course. Luckily there was a State Trooper outside who gave me the escort - if not I would not have made it on time.”

Poulter, whose finish to the second session of Betterball really inspired the comeback, made it four wins out of four - and 12 wins in his last 14 cup games - beat US Open Champion Webb Simpson on the last after being two down early on.

Rose’s second win over Phil Mickelson in his cup career came in amazing fashion. He trailed by one with two to play, but holed from 40 feet on the 17th and 14 feet at the last.

Europe got its payback for Brookline, when the Americans

JIM WATSON/AFP/GettyImages /Gallo Images

Mostly good, soMe not so

present with this team. He was a big factor for this event for the European side, and last night when we were having that meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing. And I think they did.”

Woods and Stricker, the anchors in the line-up, didn’t win a single match at Medinah.

Ian Poulter was the first to embrace Olazabal, which was only fitting. It was Poulter who gave Europe hope Saturday evening when he made five straight birdies to turn a loss into a win and swing momentum in Europe’s favour. Poulter was up to his fist-pumping, eye-bulging tricks again on the final day, winning the last two holes in his match against U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson.

Six of the 12 matches went to the 18th hole on Sunday. The Americans won only one of them.

Europe now has won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, and even more remarkable about this comeback is that they did it on the road.

Davis Love III became the first U.S. captain to sit every player at least once before Sunday, wanting them to be fresh for the decisive day. Instead, the Americans faltered at the end – especially Jim Furyk and Stricker, two of his captain’s picks. The only U.S. wins on the last day came from Dustin Johnson, who went 3-0 in this Ryder Cup, Zach Johnson and unheralded Jason Dufner.

Kaymer gave German golf some redemption from Kiawah Island in 1991, when countryman Bernhard Langer missed a par putt from about the same length that allowed the Americans to win. “It’s a feeling I never had before,” Kaymer said. “On Friday, I sat down with Bernhard and talked a little bit about the Ryder Cup because my attitude was not the right one. But now I know how important the Ryder Cup is.”

World number two Woods, who did not win any of his four matches all week, has now been on the losing side at six Ryder Cups.

As the victorious visitors celebrated near Medinah’s giant flagpole, McIlroy was seen wearing a huge alarm clock around his neck.

Winning is fun, but winning this way is historic.

If this was not the best Ryder Cup ever, it was the biggest. Huge crowds yielded fewer crowd control issues than you would expect, but let there be no doubt about rooting interests.

These people latched onto the American golfers as if they were native sons.

The golf landscape is one of globalization. Many European players are PGA TOUR members and live in the United States.

Whereas their charter to America for the Ryder Cup once carried the entire team across the Atlantic Ocean, only three golfers flew to Chicago. Woods and Rose share the same coach, Canadian Sean Foley. Sergio Garcia’s caddie, Wayne Richardson, works for CBS. Graeme McDowell went to college in Alabama.

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15/02/2012 14:07

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tee to Green

Kobus van den Berg

the rules

Unusual Circumstances “QUIet Please” the UnUsUal and dIverse natUre of golf’s PlayIng fIelds leads to UnUsUal rUles aPPlICatIons. Dennis Bruyns elaborates.

I

have often noted how the same queries seem to come up time and again. And most of these would certainly be covered by a “frequently asked questions” category in a guide to the rules. This month I recall some of my experiences and trawled my references to find some obscure applications of the rules. Some are somewhat technical, others might even seem impractical and some just fun. But as always they teach us something.

A favourite of mine is the status of a snake from a golf rules point of view. Is a snake an outside agency or a loose impediment? A live snake is an outside agency while a dead snake depending on the circumstances is regarded as either an outside agency or a loose impediment (see decision 23/6.5). I find this a bit confusing myself. But this, of course, begs the question – how do I determine whether it’s dead or alive! Certainly the guardians of the rules at the R&A in Scotland might not have to deal with such wonderful reptiles as we do in South Africa, such as Black Mamba’s, Cape Cobra’s and my personal favourite, the Puff Adder. I would not recommend anyone venture close enough to these snakes to actually determine their life status and feel it would be fully justified to simply assume they are alive and take relief

accordingly. Basically this is to drop the ball within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest spot not nearer the hole that is not dangerous and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. Relief The principle above is not to put the player’s life or wellbeing at risk. What unusual circumstances would constitute a ‘good reason’ for stopping play? Basically anything that might put the player in harm’s way such as lightning, very high winds etc.

In my years as a player and later as a rules official on the Sunshine Tour I came across two incidents when players were well within their rights to stop play, without waiting for the committee’s approval.

The first was during the Lexington PGA Championship at the Wanderers.

I forget what round it was but our group had just completed the par five sixth hole as it was played those days and were walking to the tee of the short seventh. We could hear a loud buzzing noise caused by a swarm of bees, which hovered over the tee. We were well aware that the best thing was to leave the bees alone and wait for them to move off. This took some ten to fifteen minutes causing us to fall well behind the field. On the next hole we were approached by Jimmy Hemphill and Bas Keartland, who as

Rules Officials were intent on penalising us for slow play. But obviously the circumstances got us off the hook.

The second incident came years later and made headline news around the world. It happened at Hans Merensky during the Palabora Classic. The tournament was scheduled for the first week in January with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees centigrade. Slow play was always a problem and my temperature (this time as a Rules Official) was on the rise when I was informed by a course marshal that a group of players had fallen a full hole behind at the sixth. I made my way to the sixth green and then drove back up the fairway and sure enough there was no one in sight. As I drove on I found the fifth and the fourth both empty of players. By this stage I had pre judged the situation, as there could be no excuse for losing three holes. All that was in doubt was the penalty – a fine certainly, two strokes probably. I finally came upon the group as they were approaching the third green. And all three were white as sheets. It seemed that one of the players, a young English professional, had hooked his drive off the third tee and his ball had finished quite near the dam near the 17th green, deep in

the rough on the left . This dam is home to a pod of Hippos, which at the time included some young calves.

A Hippo cow, protecting her young, charged after the golfers chasing them about a kilometre into the bush.

Only when she was quite sure they presented no danger to her calf did she return to the dam. As you can imagine the players were in no hurry to resume play. The joys of playing golf in Africa.

Another favourite of mine to use at rules quiz evenings is this tricky question. Is it possible for a player in a match play game to be four down after just two holes? Indeed it is. And the only rule I am aware of that can bring about this unusual set of circumstances is Rule 4-4 which stipulates how many clubs a player is allowed to carry. The penalty for carrying more than 14 clubs in match play is that the state of the match must be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which the breach occurred, with a maximum deduction per round of two holes. In a match between A and B, player A wins the first and second hole and therefore is 2-up after two holes. At this stage, it is discovered that player B has more than 14 clubs in his bag. The rule therefore requires that the state of the match be adjusted by two holes, therefore making player A now 4-up after just two holes.

The next poser involved one of South Africa’s greatest ever players.

In the early 90’s a young Ernie Els was playing in one of his first tournaments as a professional and hit his first ball into the bushes on the right of the 1st hole at Durban Country Club. As he feared the ball might be lost or out of bounds he proceeded to play a

17

tee to Green provisional ball. This shot proved to be a carbon copy of the first landing in much the same area. Both balls were found, one in bounds and the other beyond the fence just a few metres away. But which was which, as both were brand new and had the number and markings. I was called to give a ruling and almost made an error in that I was about to rule that both balls must be considered lost/ out of bounds and he would need to go back and play five from the tee.

Luckily for Ernie and myself I decided to check on the rule and found Decision 27/11 and was able to rule correctly.

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball.

The balls have identical markings and the player cannot distinguish between them. One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or found out of bounds. Based on equity (Rule1-4) the ball inbounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

In a stroke play competition a player putts up to the hole and his ball stops on the lip of the cup. In anger, he has a wild swing near the ball and hits the ball off the green into a greenside bunker. How should he proceed? There is nothing to suggest that the player’s wild swing at the ball was an intentional shot and for a stroke to be played the player must intend to hit the ball. The player must therefore replace the ball and add a penalty stroke to his score.

(Not so) Frequently Asked Questions Not surprisingly the same queries come up time and time again. Here are some “ Frequently Asked Questions” that are not that common but still give an insight into golf’s complex set of rules.

Q. A player plays a stroke from a muddy lie in a water hazard and the ball adheres to the face of the club.

What is the ruling?

A. It would be great if one could just carry the ball and club to the hole and then shake the ball loose but in equity (Rule 1-4), the ball should be dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where the club was when the ball stuck to it.

Q. The Note to Rule 20-1 provides that “the position of the ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.” Does this mean that a player must use such an object and will he be penalised if he uses an object which is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark the position of his ball?

A. There is no penalty. When the word “should” is used it indicates a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the recommendation.

Examples of methods of marking

the rules the position of a ball which are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows: • placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball • using a tee • using a loose impediment – a stone, pebble, leaf or twig • scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16-1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8-2b). As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.

However, under Rule 20-1 it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball. Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of a ball. For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green.

Q. When marking the position of a ball, must the ball-marker be placed behind the ball, or may it also be placed to the side of or in front of the ball?

A. There is no restriction. However, if a player positions his ball-marker in front of the ball on the putting green, and in the process does something to the green which might influence the movement of the ball when played, e.g. presses down a raised tuft of grass, he is in breach of Rule 1-2.

Placing a ball-marker in front of the ball is not recommended but is not a breach of Rule 16-1a, because this Rule permits touching the line of putt

in lifting a ball, and marking the position of the ball is part of the lifting process. The marker must be placed in such a way so that the position of the ball can be easily and clearly referenced. Placing the marker a foot or two away from the ball would not be acceptable.

Q. A player replaces his ball on the putting green three feet from the hole. As he is about to address the ball, it rolls into the hole. Should the ball be replaced or is the player deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke?

A. The answer depends on whether the ball, when replaced, came to rest on the spot on which it was placed before it started rolling. If it did, the ball is back in play and the player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke. If not, the player is required to replace the ball (Rule 20-3d). However, if the ball had been overhanging the hole when it was lifted, the provisions of Rule 16-2 would override those of Rule 20-3d.

Q. A player replaces his ball on the putting green but does not remove his ball-marker. Subsequently the wind moves his ball to a new position. What is the ruling?

A. Under Rule 20-4, a ball is in play when it is replaced, whether or not the object used to mark its position has been removed. Consequently the ball must be played from the new position.

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SUNSHINE TOUR NEwS Branden Grace

Garth Mulroy

Louis Oosthuizen

into their forties. In fact statistics show that early developers often burn out, showing a quick decline in their thirties.

But what is needed to give talented players the opportunity to develop their games to the level required?

And why does South Africa continue to produce great players generation after generation There is no one simple answer to this question but a major contributing factor is the various levels of competition available to players as

they start out as juniors then as amateurs and finally as professionals.

And the sunshine Tour gives our golfing professionals every opportunity to improve their skills, sharpen their game and take on the best players in the world – all here on their doorstep.

In addition to all the above the prize money on offer is only surpassed by the major Tours of America and Europe A look at the schedule for the summer confirms this and must be the best ever.

Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images

Hennie Otto

tee to Green

Road to Riches

I

s there a fast track to success for the touring professional?

Golf differs greatly from most other sports. The lifespan of the modern athlete in nearly every sport from bat and ball games such as tennis and cricket to track and field and even the beautiful game soccer is between 10 and 15 years. In these games players hit their peak between ages of 25 and 30. Golfers on the other hand mature much later, often peaking in their thirties and still able to compete at the highest level well

Sunshine Tour Schedule Dates

Tournament

Venue

Prize Money

Defending Champion

Oct 19 – 21

BMG Classic

Glendower Golf Club

R600,000

James Kamte

Oct 25 - 27

Sun Coast Classic

Durban Country Club

R600,000

Darren Fichardt

Oct 30 – Nov 4

ISPS Handa Match Play Championship

Zwartkop Country Club

R2,000,000

Nov 6 - 8

Nedbank Affinity Cup

Lost City Country Club

R650,000

Warren Abery

Nov 15 - 18

+ South African Open Championship

Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate

€1,000,000

Hennie Otto

Nov 22 - 25

Cape Town Open

Royal Cape Golf Club

R2,000,000

Nov 29 – Dec 2

Nedbank Golf Challenge

Gary Player Country Club, Sun City

$5,000,000

Dec 6 - 9

Nelson Mandela Championship

Royal Durban Golf Club

€1,000,000

Dec 13 - 16

+ Alfred Dunhill Championship

Leopard Creek Golf Club

€1,500,000

Garth Mulroy

Jan 10 - 13

Volvo Golf Champions

Durban Country Club

TBA

Branden Grace

Jan 15 - 19

Sunshine Tour Qualifying School

Schoeman Park & Bloemfontein Golf Clubs

R70,000

Jan 31 – Feb 3

* Polokwane Classic

Polokwane Golf Club

Feb 7 - 10

+ Joburg Open

Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club

€1,500,000

Branden Grace

Feb 14 - 17

+ Africa Open

East London Golf Club

€1,000,000

Louis Oosthuizen

Feb 21 - 24

Dimension Data Pro Am

Fancourt, George

R4,000,000

Oliver Bekker

Feb 28 – Mar 3

+ Tshwane Open

The Els Club, Copperleaf

€1,500,000

Mar 6 - 7

International Final Qualifier for The Open Championship

The Els Club, Copperleaf

TBA

Mar 14 - 17

Telkom PGA Championship

The Country Club Johannesburg

R3,750,000

Mar 21 - 24

Top 30 Tournament

TBA

TBA

* to be confirmed + Co-sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours

Lee Westwood

Keith Horne

19

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T

he contract for the $8.5 million Tournament of Hope has been officially finalized between the International Federation of PGA Tours, event promoter SAIL and the Sunshine Tour, with the tournament secured in South Africa for 10 years.

It will also make for a thrilling close to the 2013 season in South Africa, with the South African Open, the Nelson Mandela Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Championship – all co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Sunshine Tour – following immediately after the Tournament of Hope.

“The Tournament of Hope had long been agreed to in principal, but now that we have a signed contract with the International Federation of PGA Tours, confirming our 10-year hosting of the event, we can begin our preparations in earnest,” said Michelle van Eyden from SAIL, the Tournament of Hope promoter in collaboration with the Sunshine Tour.

The Tournament of Hope will feature the world’s best players competing for the richest total purse in the history of South African golf, placing it amongst the second tier of richest tournaments in world golf.

It ranks above each of the four Majors in terms of total prize money, and is equal to the total prize money on offer at each of the World Golf Championship tournaments. The Tournament of Hope is second only to the $9.5 million purse offered by The Players Championship.

“The Tournament of Hope field will comprise a maximum of 72 of the world’s top players who will be drawn from the top 50 players on the Official World Golf Ranking, the top eight available players from the European Tour Race to Dubai, the top eight available players from the previous season’s final PGA Tour FedExCup points list, as well as those with eligibility similar to that of the Majors and four existing World Golf Championship events, and supplemented by the individual money lists and Orders of Merit of the various Tours that make up the International Federation of PGA Tours. So we are confident that the world’s leading players will be in South Africa,” said Selwyn Nathan, the Executive Director of the Sunshine Tour.

The Tournament of Hope will be arguably the most significant golf tournament in the global game as it provides the opportunity for the International Federation of PGA Tours (PGA Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Japan Golf Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour) to unite in the global battle against the socio-economic issues related to HIV/AIDS, with the tournament contributing financially to this cause.

According to an independent economic impact study conducted

SUNSHINE TOUR NEwS

SA’s biggest golf tournament confirmed The TournAmenT of hope, one of The biggeST TournAmenTS in world golf, will Tee off in SouTh AfricA from 21-24 november 2013.

by Grant Thornton, R700- million in PR and media value is expected to be generated for the country, province, host city and tournament sponsors by the global television broadcast.

In addition to this, the province that hosts the 2013 Tournament of Hope is expected to benefit from an economic injection of between R530 and R903-million, depending on the geographical location of the host province. This will be generated from local and international spectators, operational spend in the province as well as job creation around a major international event.

“Our vision is to ensure that this tournament becomes globally recognized as one of the top tournaments in the world and successfully positions South Africa to an international audience,” said Brand de Villiers, Chairman of SAIL. SAIL has a long history in the field of sports, sponsorships and entertainment, and is particularly well positioned in golf as the promoter of European Tour events such as the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and the Joburg Open for three years, as well as the Telkom PGA Championship and several other tournaments on the Sunshine Tour.

“South African golf has long been one of the great success stories in the history of the global game. We now have the opportunity to match the success of our players with the staging of a major tournament that will keep this country at the forefront of international golf, and right in the minds of the almost 100 million television viewers worldwide who will be watching it,” said De Villiers.

At this stage no venue has been announced and one wonders what will be the best option for an event of this nature.

We are fortunate to have many fine courses in South Africa, a number of which would meet the

course challenge requirement. But with an event of this nature the quality and challenge of the golf course is just one of the factors that need to be considered. In order to raise the money required to present such an event the promoters must be looking at multi- sponsored packages. Sure there will be a main or presenting sponsor but added to this will be all the sub-sponsor packages with corporate hospitality, public hospitality etc. And although some of our co-sanctioned events are already presented in this way none of them is on the scale envisaged for the Tournament of Hope. That is with the exception of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. For years now this tournament is presented on scale that is just frankly bigger than any other in the country. More money, more sponsors, more corporate hospitality and more public support.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been going since 1981 and survived as their publicists like to put it as Africa’s Golf Major. What now for this great event? It must be a consideration that it evolves into the

Tournament of Hope. What better host than Sun City with the tried and tested Gary Player Country Club and all the other resort facilities needed to host a golf tournament on this scale.

In the past we have marvelled at the quality of golf produced by the 12 invites to Sun City imagine the excitement of having 70 of the world’s best players shooting it out over the testing Gary player layout.

Based on the current World Rankings four South African players would automatically qualify by way of their ranking in the top 50 – Loius Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Charl Swartzel and Branden Grace. Just outside the top 50 we find Tim Clarke, Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and George Coetzee.

What an incentive to these and our other top players work their way back up the rankings to ensure a place in the first Tournament of Hope.

Let us hope that all decision makers in the game of golf put aside any personal issues and grasp this opportunity and make the Tournament of Hope a true major.

Justin Rose of Europe celebrates a birdie putt on the 17th green during the Singles Matches for The 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 30, 2012 in Medinah, Illinois.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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23

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important putt on Saturday afternoon. The affable Justin Rose was also a target with a Chicago native sarcastically asking him: ”Shouldn’t you be hitting a three iron to 168-yards Rosey?”

Fortunately for Europe both Poulter and Rose responded in the best possible way by allowing their clubs to do the talking. In this Month’s Swing Thoughts we look at what you can do when you face your own boo-boy on the course, because as we all know there is always one in every four-ball.

BUILD YOUR OWN BUBBLE

BY THEO BEZUIDENHOUT

The Boo Boys T

he Ryder Cup at Medinah in 2012 will go down in history not only as one of the greatest comebacks in golf but one of the greatest comebacks in all of professional sport.

Down and out during the second session of play on Saturday, Europe rallied behind an inspired Ian Poulter.

The Poulter charge lead to a fan on Twitter commenting:”What is it about the Ryder Cup that turns Ian Poulter into Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods into Ian Poulter?” Slightly harsh if you

ask me but nonetheless very true as Woods only collected a half-point and Poulter snarling, screaming and crying his way to a memorable performance.

Unfortunately with all the positives there were during this Ryder Cup the scourge of the Boo-boys did raise its ugly head again. A Boo-boy could be defined as someone who “chirps” the opposition to get them off their game and Medinah served up its fair share. “Don’t miss that putt Poults” could be heard before Poulter’s all

Jacques Kallis scored his maiden test century against Australia at Melbourne in 1997 in the most trying of circumstances. Faced with the likes of Warne, McGrath and Waugh he withstood the Ozzies for more than a day. As with all Australian sides they tried to “sledge” or “chirp” the young Kallis into submission. At the end of the fifth day with no response in sight, Ian Healy the Australian wicketkeeper called off the verbal assault with: “OK boys we can stop it now it is obvious the bastard is deaf”.

Although this example comes from the world of cricket it is very applicable when you are playing with a very vocal or confrontational partner. By not acknowledging either the comments or the outbursts you take the most important method of attack out of the Boo-boy’s armour namely conflict. It is very difficult to argue or attack someone that either won’t listen or is not paying attention.

So the next time you are playing with a John McEnroe make sure you walk out in front, stand on the opposite side of the green or look away when he is losing his marbles. There is nothing worse for a Boo-boy than not having an audience.

DON’T TRY TO PROVE THEM WRONG

An interesting thing about Ian Poulter throughout this Ryder Cup performance was his total commitment and response to his team-mates, and only his teammates. Even after being heckled, Poulter resisted the urge to make it personal and didn’t challenge the crowd or those who had heckled him.

An important thing to learn here is that you can never prove Boo-boys wrong, not by sinking a putt or even by beating them. They are never in the wrong anyway. Rather focus on your own game and remember that you are playing against the golf course and not an opponent.

SWING THOUGHTS One of the big reasons for the European victory at Medinah was there total disinterest in anything of a controversial nature. They came to play golf and to win the Ryder Cup. Something well worth remembering next time you have someone who is trying to get under your skin is the simple question:”Am I here to play golf and enjoy it or am I here to have a conflict with a Boo-boy?”

TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT

Throughout day one and most of day two the American team held sway with a short game display that could only be bettered by Nicolas Colsaerts from the European team. However, one could not help but feel that the Americans were a bit too boisterous too early. In contrast the European team kept their emotions very steady all the way throughout the weekend.

Even when celebrating his winning putt Martin Kaymer was slightly subdued and the scenes that followed were much less emotional than could be expected.

The mental lesson in this is that although the Europeans were very emotional upon winning they did not rely on emotions on the course and they also did not allow the Boo-boys to play on their emotions. Thus the next time you are faced with an emotional opponent do not get drawn into debates or arguments. By keeping in mind that Boo-boys feed off negative emotion remember the body language and actions of Rose, Westwood, McDowell and Lawrie.

All true gentleman of the game and players who got it right to silence the Boo-boys, not by fighting them with words but rather by actions. Seve would have been very proud.

PROFILE:

Theo Bezuidenhout is a sport psychologist in private practice and consults with golfers of all abilities and ages. His clients include top juniors, amateurs and Sunshine Tour professionals. Theo has been a columnist for Tee to Green for over seven years. He is also an ambassador for Volvo South Africa and Volvo in Golf as well as a Titleist ambassador. He has a special interest in parental involvement in sport and has also been involved with the Glacier Junior Series for the last two years as a consultant. He refuses to divulge how often he gets to work on his own golf.

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24

LOCAL TRAVEL

“up and down the garden” Tee To Green Takes a Two week Trip up The Garden rouTe and discovers one of The world’s GreaTesT GolfinG desTinaTions.

The 5th at Pezula

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tee to Green

The 17th at Fancourt’s Montague Course

25

LOCAL TRAVEL

27

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LOCAL TRAVEL

I

t’s been dubbed the Golf Route but fortunately (or unfortunately depending on which side of the fence you’re standing on) there is more to the Southern Cape Coast than just golf. Yes, many the hardcore golfer might just have fainted at such sacrilegious rantings but consider for one second that as a family man I can play more regularly if my wife and children are occupied, well looked after and entertained for the hours I’m on the course. So yes, the Garden Route is packed with world class resorts and coastal towns that will spoil you for choice.

The Garden Route is a stretch of land with magnificent beauty on our South-eastern coast from Heidelberg in the west to the Storms River in the east. The name originates from the multitude of lagoons, lakes and verdant vegetation. It includes such towns as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay with George as the main centre. At 129 370 km2 it comprises 10 % of the country and is roughly the size of England or Louisiana. Considering the population density there are a lot of golf courses, something the area has come under some scrutiny for in the past from certain circles but has provided immeasurable value from a tourism, development, job creation and incoming investment perspective. So even if the tree huggers have taken exception to the development of the land (and I’m no enemy of the planet so please), there is still hectares-aplenty of forest in ratio to every golf course to go and stroll around in naked. Let’s face it; the Garden Route is famous for many things but as far as golfing destinations are concerned, it is the balls.

You could station yourself at a central hub and travel to and from a few courses in close proximity. You’ll be limited to a radius of 100kms either way and spend too much time driving so start by setting up shop in George for the first part of the trip when playing the Mossel Bay and George courses. Mossel Bay is less than hour away to the west and has two wonderful courses in Pinnacle Point and Mossel Bay Golf Club. The latter has a uniqueness in that you can see the ocean from every tee box. Hooray say the up country folk!

George is a perennial favorite so ensure you check availability and flights. You’ll fly into George on any of the regular flight routes from all cities on most airlines.

Accommodation options in George include the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa, numerous lodges, B&Bs, guesthouses and of course Fancourt which is what I would recommend. They offer wonderful stay and play packages year round for families and golf groups. It’ll take you 8 days of back to back golf to play all the courses in these two towns. If you have three weeks at your disposal then great, but if you have only two, play four.

It’s a really tough choice but Montaqu (Fancourt), Oubaai, Mossel Bay GC and George GC prevailed.

It’s a toss up and I will be howled at for leaving someone out but what can you do. Save Pinnacle Point, Outeniqua, The Links at Fancourt

knysna heads

The hyatt regency, oubaai

The Bloukrans Bungy aT 216 meTers is The highesT Bridge jump in The world, 709 feeT aBove The Bloukrans river. iT’s crazy. if This doesn’T geT you screaming like a 9 year old girl noThing will.

and Kingswood for the return trip.

Proceed to Knysna for stage 2 where a stay at Pezula is my recommendation. They have luxury self catering villas you can rent as part of a stay and play package. Based here you can play the courses in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay which is less than an hour’s drive to the east.

Knysna has a vibey downtown that you can navigate by foot for a fun day off if you can still walk at this stage. It’s been voted SA favorite town a few times now and has accommodation options up the wazoo, great restaurants and a wharf.

You could spend the at day The Knysna Elephant Park, Monkeyland, Adventure Land, a Tsitsikamma Forest Canopy Tour, a day at Noetzie beach or the markets so take another 2 days and relax before hitting the course again.

Your golfing options during this stage are Pezula, Simola, Plettenberg Bay CC, Goose Valley and Knysna Golf Club. Again it is a hard decision where to play if you can’t play them all. My picks are Pezula, Plettenberg Bay CC and Simola.

The next haul takes you through Plettenberg Bay and onto St. Francis Bay for the third and final stage of the trip. An absolute no choice in the matter is a stopover at the Bloukrans Bridge. The Bloukrans Bungy at 216 meters is the highest bridge jump in the world, 709 feet above the Bloukrans River. It’s crazy. If this doesn’t get you screaming like a 9 year old girl nothing will.

St Francis Bay is 120 clicks from Knysna. It has some of the most glorious warm Indian Ocean beaches, an up-market village and an exotic marina lifestyle and it’s a famous surfing hotspot. Kelly Slater (8-time world surfing champion) is a single-figure golfer and often plays the St Francis Links. Here you can take a load off and spend a few days soaking it up and play two rounds at the Jack Nicklaus signature course over the last four days. You can stay in the village but I recommend the Golf Lodge, a stunning B&B on the course. There is a lot to do in the area to finish off this stunning trip. Big game fishing, surfing as mentioned, sea safaris, whale watching or a visit to the national monument lighthouse.

This is without a doubt a trip that every avid golfer, nature lover, keen traveler and proud South African must do at least once in their lives.

Twice if you want to play every course and believe me even then you are pushing it. And on that note, happy days! Feel free to send us your pics, diary or personal experiences of this trip on teetogreen@ballyhoomedia.co.za.

LOCAL TRAVEL

28

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The 14th at Pezula

Courses Pezula

I am a 14 handicap but have played two fantastic rounds in the early 80s at this course so my personal view has been severely influenced by those results. But if this part-timer can do it so can you. The simple fact is that you absolutely have to appreciate this marvel of a golf course even if you hack your way around it. Surroundings like this will bring out the best in your game if you take the time to soak it up and get comfortable at any time in your round hopefully sooner rather than later.

Arrive early and enjoy the facilities.

The clubhouse is spectacular. Make a couple of putts on the practice green or go to the driving range. The practice facilities are world-class.

Have a cappuccino and soak up the vibe. It is all part of what has been consistently rated as a 5-star golf experience. It is without a doubt a very special place. Take care though

that the opulence doesn’t go to your head and you start indulging your “I am actually a gazillionare“ fantasy even if the surroundings are conducive to it. The fuss they make over their guests could even perpetuate it but get over it quickly because once you’re out on the course, the hazards and elements don’t care who you think you are (even if you really are a gazillionare!)

The round gets underway with a great par 5 stroke 1 that requires a long iron off the tee laying up and then taking a second shot over a huge ditch. Sensible play will be rewarded and my unwarranted advice to you is be sensible. 3 iron, 5 iron, wedge is the play and my 1 under from two outings proves it. Try to fly the ditch off the tee or go for it in two at your own peril.

It sinks in that you are actually playing Pezula at the short par-3 third which presents the first spectacular view of many especially for us Gautengers who only get to see the

sea once or twice a year. You continue through the most awesome forest lined holes, multi-million rand dream-homes stylishly scattered on the surrounding hills leaving you wondering what on earth some of these people do for a living. The signature hole is great but my favorite hole is the amazing par-5 12th that drops about 100m from tee to green. Again, do yourself a favor and don’t try to hit the white off the ball with you tee-shot. Get it in the fairway and give yourself a chance to finish this hole in style. A good drive gives you a long to mid iron shot in for two which can pay off big time.

Even though I would prefer a caddie to the GPS-enabled golf carts, they do provide the ultimate directions and yardages as you navigate your way around the course. The small cooler with ice and water strapped to the cart is a very nice touch and reiterates that they value your patronage. As with most coastal courses, get your round in

earlier if you are likely to cry about a 2 or 3 club wind even though it remains enjoyable even when it blows. In fact it adds to the challenge. Half way is usually on the fly and it is probably better. The 10th requires a cool head and the last thing you need is the old “hamburger shot“ off that tee. The round will eventually take you right around the eastern head of Knysna with views of the lagoon, ocean, forest and a most impressive residential estate leaving you dumbfounded as to how they managed to build a golf course in such a vast and outlying piece of land. You conclude in style with the par 5 18th up toward the clubhouse.

Another great hole.

I can’t recommend a round at this golf course highly enough. Put it on your Christmas wish-list. You absolutely have to play here at least once in your life!

044 302 5310/1 www.pezulagolf.com

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LOCAL TRAVEL

the 18th at Fancourt’s Links course

Fancourt

Fancourt is consistently rated not just as one of SA’s top golf resorts but indeed the world. Having recently played all three courses (Outeniqua, Montaqu and The Links) for the first time and stayed at the resort I now know why. It is a awesome experience and in the context of this article totally unique. It puts the garden in Garden Route.

The country setting at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains provides a completely different setting to the other resorts that are being featured which is great. It adds further to the variety at

your disposal during this trip. The manicured gardens remind you of what it could be like playing at Augusta.

They are exceptional. The attentive and sincere staff make the arrival and booking in process very comfortable. I like the option of a caddie because someone with local knowledge always makes playing somewhere for the first time more competitive. Ask for Christopher of Wendy. They know their way around these courses. outeniqua and Montaqu You could play these two courses for the rest of your life and be completely

happy because they are testing but forgiving. Try playing off the black tees and you develop a newly found respect of how good the tour pros really are. Montaqu is the more scenic and tighter one of the two and when the wind is up the outward part of the first nine turning in becomes an amen corner of sorts. I played Outeniqua in the wind and rain so the focus was unfortunately elsewhere but it was still a wonderful round of golf with interesting par-3s and long testing par-5s. The greens have just been redone yet they already run very true.

The par-4s on both courses often

require a sensible tee shot and if you are not accurate prepare to get intimately acquainted with the numerous bunkers. Montaqu has a stretch of holes into the first nine that are spectacular. Testing par 4s. The par 3 17th is the signature-hole and easy to see why. A longish par 3 over a big lake requires a full carry to the green. Anything short is wet. Our group finished a round late afternoon and the sunset was indescribable.

044 804 0000 www.fancourt.co.za

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30

LOCAL TRAVEL

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AS wiTH MOST COASTAL COuRSeS, GeT yOuR ROund in eARLieR iF yOu ARe LiKeLy TO CRy ABOuT A 2 OR 3 CLuB wind

Other Useful Info

Mossel Bay Tourism 044 691 2202 www.visitmosselbay.co.za

The 5th at St Francis Links

ST. FRAnCiS LinKS

Links land is the marginal land lying between a beach and arable fields good for grazing of sheep etc. Open to the elements, wind and rain, the game is played on the links grasses between the dunes and the bush.

By pure definition this makes St Francis Links South Africa’s pure links. It may not have been grazing land for the sheep but a natural course between the beach and arable land it is. A Jack Nicklaus signature course will always challenge all who play it and reward those who respect it so if that course is a links, it is due to be something even more special.

The layout combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as its variation in length and direction.

The bunkers look as though they have been simply plowed out of the land. It is the bunkering that truly defines the quality and character of this course. The shape of the greens comes from the natural movement of the land. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand, changing shape in construction as the wind changed its mind. Some are more undulating than others. All putting surfaces and green surrounds present a mental and physical test.

At 6 years and going, St Francis Links looks and plays like it was in the dunes above St Francis Bay

OB 10 10782 Tee to Green strip repro.indd 1

forever. At a time where golf courses are looking at a minimalist approach to course architecture, St Francis Links has already established the perfect balance between nature and man – Generous landing areas (now more generous than when the great man Jack Nicklaus opened the course in 2006) help to offset the visual drama each golfer sees from the multiple tees on each hole. The dunes land provided by Mother Nature was some of the best land Jack had ever seen – his design through the seven dune ridges provides 18 unique golfing experiences. When playing from the tees that best suit your game, each club in the bag will be put to use.

Shot-making is key and imagination is rewarded as there are often multiple options for play around the course.

The natural beauty provided and stunning views ensure that a round at St Francis Links is definitely not a good walk spoiled.

042 200 4500 www.stfrancislinks.com

MOSSeL BAy GC: A PART OF GARden ROuTe HiSTORy

Founded in 1905 Mossel Bay GC has a rich history and a homely approach to the way they do things. It has a distinguishing mark to it in that the

ocean is visible from every tee box.

• The land on which the present course was built was made available to the club by the Municipality in 1924.

• The very first hole-in-one belonged to a lady, Me Doris Wassung, who achieved this on 14 September 1935.

• Severe droughts from 1930 to 1945 and a devastating depression in 1933 made the survival of the club extremely difficult. The whole of South Africa was suffering and the population became very poor. Only the determination and the dedication of the 87 male and 47 lady members at that time, pulled the club through those difficult periods.

• The golf course was redesigned in 1999/ 2000 as part of the residential real estate development on the land surrounding the golf course. This included the revamping of the club house to create a very upmarket golfing facility. This development elevated the Mossel Bay Golf Club to another level.

• At the end of its first century in 2005, the membership reached 1046 and more than 45 000 rounds of golf were played.

The club prides itself as one of the major tourist attractions in Mossel Bay and is a pleasure to play.

044 691 2379 www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za

Pinnacle Point 044 606 5300 www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa 044 851 1234 www.oubaai.co.za Kingswood www.kingswood.co.za 044 802 0700 George GC 044 873 6116 www.georgegolfclub.co.za George Airport 044 876 9310 Knysna GC 044 384 1150 www.knysnagolfclub.com Simola 044 302 9677 www.simolaestate.co.za Knysna Tourism 044 382 5510 www.visitknysna.co.za Goose Valley 044 533 5082 www.goosevalleygolfclub.com Bloukrans Bungy 042 2811 458 www.faceadrenalin.com St Francis Bay Tourism 083 453 5957 www.stfrancisbay.co.za

2012/10/03 11:25 AM

EQUIPMENT

32

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Short cuts to a better game

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Gold Flex - StrenGth and tempo trainer

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e are not all Rory McIlroy. We cannot arrive at the course just moments before a match on golf’s biggest stage, the Ryder Cup, hit a few putts, and stripe our first drive 280 metres down the middle of the fairway. Unfortunately we think we are and think we can.

And following the same logic we are not able to spend five minutes on the practice tee with or without the help of a golf professional and fix a broken swing.

But as I’ve pointed out in the last few issues this is not about permanent fixes that take hours and hours of dedication hitting hundreds of balls on the practice range under the watchful eye of our golf coach. This is about the short cuts, something that might not cure all our faults but will help and will shave off the odd stroke here and there. And something you can do at home either in the garden or even indoors.

Google the word golf and you will get 340,000,000 hits in just 0.18 seconds. Get more refined and search for golf lessons, golf improvement and golf Swing Aids and the numbers still run into the hundreds of thousands.

There are any number of cures for your slice, your hook and even your yips. The problem is sifting your way through the hype and finding those few that will work for you and your unorthordoxed golf swing. It took a lot of effort and hard work to come up with such a unique swing and you don’t want that to go to waste.

When it comes to golf swing aids there are books written on the subject. Some are highly sophisticated and expensive products while others you can buy with a quick visit to your local hardware store. By way of example – having problem lining up, just pop down to the aforesaid hardware store and buy a couple of wooden dowel rods. Go out into the garden pick a target, line the one rod up to the target and the other along your feet line. Ideally your feet should be lined up parallel to the ball target line. Easy, yes indeed, but what about my hips and most important of all how about my shoulders. I’m sure you get the picture. Simple is simple and will be good enough for certain faults and fixes. While the more complicated the fault often the more complicated the cure.

Having sifted through the options here are number that should be able to help if used correctly

The Gold Flex warm-up and tempo training aid is designed to improve your swing while providing a core muscle workout. It encourages a flatter swing plane and forces the downswing to be initiated by the lower body, both of which should lead to a better strike and a cure to slice. The shaft is longer than normal promoting a flatter swing plane, and the very flexible fiberglass shaft will encourage lag and help eliminate early release or casting. The weight at the shaft end will improve the kinetic sequencing in the swing and strengthen the core golf muscles in the wrist arms and shoulders.

If you have been away from the game or just need a good low-impact stretch for pre-round warm-up this is for you. Designed a little like a golf bag it will fit easily in the golf bag but please remember although it is perfectly legal to carry it in your bag and use it before you start it cannot be used during the round at all.

A word of warning – start slowly with any weighted club. Swing slowly back and slowly through and as this shaft is longer than normal make sure you have ample room around you.

SmaSh BaG®

Learn the feeling of the correct ball impact for your swing with an impact smash bag. Hitting into the Smash Bag helps eliminate fat and thin golf shots, helps cure slices and improves overall accuracy. Again it is perfect for home or practice range use.

At first glance, the Impact Bag might appear basic and lacking the substance necessary to help improve your golf swing. But, in reality, for those golfers that are struggling with the left wrist breakdown, the Impact Bag can do wonders. It might be a surprise to some but a lot of times the difference between medium and good players is using the wrists correctly.

And if it is not working or helping your swing use it in your golf anger management classes. Amazing how good you will after giving this bag some unrestrained impact.

GyroScopic traininG cluB

tempo and Grip trainer

A perfect way to improve your grip, tempo and timing. One thing we professionals always call attention to is how well the top Tour players grip the club, almost without exception.

By the same token this is the most common problem with average golfer whose grip can often best be described as coming from a manual written by the Boston Strangler. The moulded training grip provides the correct hand position for the right hand golfer. Unfortunately I have yet to find any version for lefties – must be that you all have good grips.

Removable weights help to simulate both woods and irons and help you warm-up, stretch out and build golf-specific muscles. As it has a shortened shaft it can be used indoors or outdoors.

EQUIPMENT

Improve your golf swing by feeling the correct swing plane and release.

For the first time, you can feel the perfect golf swing instead of worrying about techniques and instruction. The gyroscope in the club head forces your swing to stay on plane and grooves a perfectly timed release. Well so they claim.

This by far the most technical and sophisticated of the swing aids I looked at. And in truth I am on the fence when with regard to recommending it without reservation.

Problem for me is that I swing the club on plane and release the head .

This is not by way of some mystic natural talent but more as result of playing the game for 50 years. It includes a see-through grip guide for ideal hand placement The Gyro Swing is a practice club that gives you feedback as your swing goes off-plane. It works through a “GyroScope” in the club head. The GyroScope spins at a rate of 20,000 RPM. The Gyroscope is programmed to resist any move in your swing that is off-line. This includes taking your

swing back on the wrong plane or coming over the top.

If you are having problems taking the club back inside or coming over the top then the Gyro Swing could help you out quite a bit. It helps develop a natural good swing. But if you fight it you will win and will only help with correction of a wildly off-line swing. If your swing plane is only slightly off, you won’t feel much resistance at all.

In closing just a few on the course tips. I mentioned some of these last month but they are worth repeating again and again.

If your ball is in the rough there is a reason. You made a mistake. Don’t compound it by trying a ridiculous, odds-defying rescue shot. As much as it hurts, put the ball back in play, take a stroke if you must, and move on. Take your medicine like a man and minimize the mistake.

Consider carefully the club you are going to use from the rough. You need loft to extricate yourself from this mess, more loft than you think is necessary. If you usually use a 5-iron, go with an 8 or 9. The combination of standing more vertically and the heavier head will chop through the turf better. Play the ball back in your stance—the club will have to go through less grass and can meet the ball sooner and with more force.

When you’re in the rough off the green, you’re not looking at a complicated stroke. You want the club to brush the turf. Think of a child’s swing set—back and through without over-acceleration. Have a narrower stance to stay quiet with your weight on your forward leg and your shoulders parallel to the ground.

Take a few practice swings and let the club do its job to launch the ball.

Do not try and create extra loft use the loft of the club.

EQUIPMENT

34

irons and shafts Custom Fitment Feature Part 4: Let’s have a quiCk Look baCk at this series oF Fitment Features and the reason Why We are sPending the time to disCuss it in suCh detaiL.

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e started with the Driver, followed by putter and last month we did wedges. Each one of these subsets of clubs in your bag have their own unique set of fitment criteria (the technologically minded will refer to them as “settings”) to adhere to if you want to consistently hit them the way they are meant to be hit. The various permutations have been discussed in length so refer to the Jul – Sept Issues for all the info on the aforementioned clubs. This month we’re looking at our irons with the consideration and variations of shafts and grips available in the market today. I speak for myself in saying that I have developed an appreciation of the research and development that goes into equipment technology and that we should understand why it costs what it does.

The fitment process entails a series of tests aimed at matching your equipment to your swing and not (like most of us have labored on throughout the years) our swings to the equipment. The days when the saying of don’t blame your equipment rang true are over. You can blame your equipment and this is why.

I arrive at the Proshop Woodmead Fitment Centre at 7am where Master Fitter Ferdi Morris is already tinkering around. Between you and me I think he sleeps in his “fitment cave” cuddling a Taylor Made Driver he is known to have his eye on…

My current clubs/ shafts: Mizuno MX-23; Dynalite Gold S300

Irons tested: MX-23 JPX800 Pro JPX 825 Pro Shafts tested: Project X 5.0 Ns Pro 950 Stiff

I grab my 6-iron and start warming up. He brings out the marking tape to determine where the ball is coming out of the clubface. It is all about lie angle at this stage. A lie angle that is out by as little as a few degrees can make a huge difference or help you shape a shot that you have never been able to hit.

My lie angles were at 59 degrees and were generating an average ball speed of 95.6. An adjustment to 62 degrees increased the ball speed to 111.7. This increased ball speed relates to an average increase in distance from 149m to 161m. The general stats remained pretty consistent but there were improvements in key areas.

My Mizuno MX-23s came fitted with are Dynalite S300 shafts, one of the most popular True Temper shafts of all time. The softer tip profile produces a higher ball flight preferred by mid to high handicappers and low ball hitters. It proved to be the right option for me as none of the other shafts or even the newer irons we tested produced better results. With the lie angle adjusted the irons are now perfect for me. Well as far as using the word perfect in this game, it all remains very relative. It’s off to the course now to put the proof into the pudding.

The Pro Shop Durban opened 27 September at La Lucia Mall. It has an advanced custom fitting studio, is 50% bigger than the old shop, has a full ladies department and the widest range of golf product in KZN.

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mizuno history What is it about forged irons that inspire such spiritual devotion in serious golfers? It’s true that they tend to be prettier and shinier than your average cast club. A wellmade forged iron, in the eyes of an enthusiast, is something akin to an exquisite piece of jewellery. But looks aren’t everything, even to a devoted player. There has to be more. And in the case of some clubs, there most definitely is.

One company that has consistently set the standard for forged irons is Mizuno. If you’ve ever hit a forged Mizuno, you know that there’s a decided difference in the feel, sound and consistency of their clubs.

Especially when compared to your average cast irons. Where does that difference come from? It’s a matter of the metal that’s used to make the clubhead and the process by which that metal is turned from a rod of molten 1025 steel into the oh-so-sweet 6-iron that feels just like true love when you strike it. And there’s the small matter of a patent, too.

Mizuno was founded in 1906 as a sporting goods company. At first, its niche was baseballs and athletic wear. But by 1933, Mizuno was making golf clubs, the first Japanese company to do so.

Since then, Mizuno has gone on to become one of the favourite clubmakers of professionals and amateurs alike. Seve Ballesteros played them. Nick Faldo played them. Luke Donald ascended (and recently re-ascended) to his world #1ranking playing Mizuno irons.

Even Tiger Woods was a Mizuno man once upon a time. Tiger played Mizunos during college and continued to use them after he turned pro, despite being under contract with Titleist. In fact, during his first Masters win in 1997, the irons in Tiger’s bag were forged Mizunos.

HUMOUR

36

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A Colourful Character I

n fact stories of John Daly could make for a whole series on Jerry Springer Show. But through it all John has remained one of the most talented golfers of his generation.

Before making it big by winning two majors John was a regular visitor to our shores. And his style of play and general character meant he would never fly under the radar and so I was destined to have some personal interaction with him.

It happened at the Royal Swazi Pro Am, a tournament that was traditionally the last event on the Sunshine Tour. But in 1990 it was early in February. Up to then John had played as he usually did – flashy but with no steady returns.

The story goes that John was going through a messy divorce at the time and after a cross-Atlantic call to his estranged spouse he felt particularly down and depressed. No problem in Swaziland so John went off to the casino for a few drinks with his mates and a “dobbel” on the tables. It went from bad to worse as it so often does.

Then next morning I get a call from the manager of the Lugogo Hotel that one of the professional golfers had totally trashed his room – TV broken, mirrors broken etc. By the time I got down to the hotel John had made peace with the manager apologising profusely for his behaviour and offering to pay for any damages. I caught up with John

and found that he had injury his right hand which was already very swollen and he could hardly bend his fingers. Being a Pro Am, John was down to play later with two amateurs. No worry he said I play and won’t let you down.

Play he did and then went on to win the tournament quite comfortably. By the next week the hand was really ugly having now turned a purple - blue with the bruising and all. We were now at Randpark for the AECI Charity Classic. Again no problem for John as he went out and won again.

Of course John’s style of play helped. He has a great touch and although renowned for his long driving has the softest hands around the greens. In fact he hardly grips the club with his right almost using the hand just as a rest for the shaft (see pic on right).

On the PGA Tour John Daly’s career has featured a litany of surprises, but none more audacious his win at the 1991 PGA Championship. Forget that Daly, a rookie, had missed 11 cuts in 23 starts preceding that week at Crooked Stick Golf Club. The real shocker was his getting into the tournament at all, the result of a domino chain of withdrawals that ranged from excusable to extraordinary and that introduced Ken Anderson, the PGA’s czar of the alternates list, to a new kid on the

Tour block: 9th alternate John Daly. “I had never heard of him,” Anderson recalls, “I had to go look him up in a PGA Tour player guide so I’d know what he looked like in case I had to go find him and get him registered.”

What transpired, of course, was one of the most fateful clashes of time and circumstance in golf history.

Legend has it that Daly drove all night from his home in Memphis to get to Crooked Stick and didn’t know he was in the field until Thursday morning, when Nick Price withdrew due to the impending birth of his first child, Gregory. That was a slight exaggeration. Anderson explains: “I spoke to John on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning to tell him he was first alternate, and he said he was going to get in his car and start

driving. He got lucky in that Price had an afternoon tee time. It allowed him to sleep in on Thursday morning. I looked up where the players were staying that week and left a message at John’s hotel to say he’d gotten [into the field] and didn’t have to get to the course at 7 a.m.”

Daly had never seen Crooked Stick -- all 7,295 yards of it -- and needed a caddie who had. Jeff (Squeaky) Medlin, a hard-working former bricklayer, was set to work for Price, but had driven from his home in Columbus, Ohio, to Carmel knowing his man might withdraw. When Price did scratch, Medlin picked up Daly.

After winning four majors, three with Price and one with Daly, Medlin would die of leukaemia at age 43 in 1997.

Grouped with Billy Andrade and Bob Lohr, Daly shot an opening 69. It made a nice note for the papers, nothing more. Three days later he made the headlines as the new PGA Champion.

Never one to be out the limelight for long John Daly has been making waves on the Tour, but not for his usual shenanigans. Daly has been outfitted by Loudmouth Golf, a clothing company with bright and flamboyant designs.

Here’s a look at some of the pants that Daly has worn lately. An absolute picture of sartorial elegance.

Travel to Ireland!

1

Play some of the World’s Top golf courses on the emerald isle: Ireland. Several interesting packages available over the European Summer and Autumn Get to know the courses of Ireland’s beautiful capital Dublin in 5 days!

Price per Person from: • Double/Twin sharing • Single supplement

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This package consists of: • 4 nights accommodation at the Portmarnock Hotel in a twin including breakfast daily • Rental car D-class 5 days • 3x golf (2x Portmarnock Golf Course, 1x Island Golf Club)

2

Play the famous Northern Ireland Golf Courses from your base in Belfast

Price per Person from: • Double/Twin sharing • Single supplement

from from

EUR 1,105.00 EUR 159.00

This package consists of: • 4 nights accommodation at the Europa Hotel in a twin including breakfast daily • Rental car D-class 5 days • 3x golf (1x Portsteward Golf Club, 1x Royal County Down Golf Club, 1x Royal Portrush Golf Club)

3

Enjoy golf in Northern Ireland and tour the county of Antrim

Price per Person from: • Double/Twin sharing • Single supplement

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This package consists of: • 3 nights accommodation at the Europa Hotel in a twin including breakfast daily • And 3 nights at the Ramada Portrush Hotel in Antrim • Rental car D-class 7 days • 4x golf (1x Portsteward Golf Club, 1x Castle Rock Golf Club, 1x Royal County Down Golf Club, 1x Royal Portrush Golf Club)

4

Vibrant Dublin: golfing at its best and get to know this beautiful city!

Ireland

Price per Person from: • Double/Twin sharing • Single supplement

from from

EUR 1,245.00 EUR 295.00

This package consists of: • 4 nights accommodation at the Portmarnock Hotel in a twin including breakfast • Daily and 3 nights at the Trinity Capital Hotel in a twin room including breakfast • Rental car D-class 8 days • 4x golf (2x Portmarnock Golf Club, 1x Island Golf Club, 1x European Golf Club)

2 further Ireland packages available at a special rate for this European Summer! Enquire with easyGolf!

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39

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