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cover /content
The sun was setting across the famous 18th hole in Carnoustie and the light was flooding the bar when I caught a glimpse of South African Paul Adams within a group of fellow hickory golfers from all over the world enjoying a pint after a great day of golf at the WHO. The atmosphere was all time and I went over and asked if I could take a portrait because to me he absolutely embodied the spirit of the tournament with his elegant style and his distinctive statue. There was nice light around the column with photos of the past Open champions from Carnoustie in the back which made the ideal background for the photo. Sure enough I did not think that it would end up as a cover at the time but a great reminder to me that a picture tells more more than a thousand words and brings me back to a fabulous time in Scotland which I would like to thank the whole crew of the WHO for and especially Sir Lionel Freedman for introducing me to the world of hickory golf. cover photo / Thomas ÂŤBecknaÂť Eberhar ter 6
PAG E 08 i n t r o d uc tio n
PAGE 3 2 Irela nd
PAG E 12 h i s t o r y o f Lin ks go l f
PAGE 4 0 Yves Nicollier the a r tist
PAG E 22 t h e Wo r l d H i c ko r y O pen
PAGE 4 8 BUNKER/S UP Golf Tour 2 0 1 6 PAGE 5 8 Tour Prizes
PAGE 6 2 And er ma tt Alp ine links feel i ng PAGE 6 6 Strokesa ver PAGE 7 0 cred its
introduction
Of all the games ever invented by man, golf is arguably the greatest – except for hide and seek perhaps. More than in any other game you have to win the battle against yourself to succeed. Golf is a game of tradition – from the Green Jacket to the hallowed grounds of the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. Yet golf is still evolving as it has been doing for hundreds of years but people feel that the changes to the game are threatening its history. Technology has changed the way we play and think. However, change is a part of life, the only consistency – we simply have to accept it. Nevertheless, there are a few crazy souls out there seeking a return to the roots, playing with old hickory shafted clubs, each one having its own shape and character. The Bunker/s Up Team travelled to the sacred grounds of Carnoustie to be part of a very special event – the World Hickory Open Championship. Rather than mourning the old days and traditions, the event is about the fun – a lot of fun!
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BITE!
At the same time we perceived the opportunity to follow the traces of the ancient game. Where was it born? Why do we play 18 holes? Who influenced the way we build and what is all that enthusiasm for links golf about when the golf world turns its eyes towards the islands for The Open? Carnoustie and The Old Course attract golfers from all over the world but there are 100 more true Links courses only in Scotland where the spirit is alive, perhaps even more. We picked 2 – Murcar Links and Cruden Bay, in the Aberdeen region – where nature, the local people and the environment are in perfect balance. True links golf is a mind-opener, nowhere does golf feel as natural as here. Rounding off the links spirit we dug back into the archive to find the story behind the first Links experience of our part – an exciting, sweet and unforgettable feeling from the rough coast of Ireland. Yves Nicollier brings some fresh attitude into the game in Switzerland having learnt about himself and from competing on the PGA Tour Monday qualifiers. I had the chance to have a nice chat with him. And last but not least we look forward to this years Bunker/s Up tour with 12 stops all over Switzerland. We hope to see as many of you out there as possible and share some laughter!
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Links golf — the origin
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ph otograph y / Th omas E berh ar ter il l us tration / Mike Kn obel
text / An dreas Ah l m
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Talking about golf there is no way around Scottish links golf, and talking about links golf there is no way around The Old Course in St Andrews. Few golfers have ever heard about the home of golf and even less know what all that fame is about. How can the Open return to a large grass field every five years and everybody starts raving and going mad and telling old tales about great champions. A course where every hole sight seems to be alike at first, 9 holes facing one direction and the next 9 the other with 14 holes being Par 4/s. On Sundays the whole area is closed for golfing since it is also used as a public as public recreation field.
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But let/s dig a little bit deeper into the history. «The putting greens have had a thorough overWhere golf was born remains a point of dispute. It is haul, re-turfed and otherwise improved. On each written though that the first to make a fortune on balls green, with the exception of the first and return, two were the Dutch, shipping leathery balls filled with holes have been placed; the one is played to by parhair to Scotland as far back as the 15th century. They ties going outwards, the other in the in-coming. To were to be hit up to 200 meters. The Dutch played prevent mistakes, the outgoing hole is supplied with a similar game called «colf», a game that got lost a white flag, and its neighbour sports a red one, that again. In Scotland, on the other hand, the vast land being the colour for all the return holes. This is a outside the villages called links land offered a perfect decided improvement on the old system, preventing venue for the game to grow. The sandy bottom let the confusion and delays which often had to be put up ground dry quickly after rain and in winter the grass with, on medal days especially when a party going remained naturally short thanks to animal grazing. out encountered another winding their way homeAs the game was banned by royals and persecuted by wards on the same green, there being only one hole the church in the 16 th and 17 th century, the links were betwixt them.» a perfect location to retreat. The term This was the «links» derived beginning of the from the the Anmodern 18 hole glo-Saxon word course. When «hlinc» meaning Robertson died in a ridge. Later the 1959, a young man later known word was used to as the Old Tom denote any grassy Morris was apstretch along the pointed «Custoocean. The game dier of the Links» was played in varand «Keeper of the ious locations with Green» in St. Ana various numdrews, paid £ 50 ber of holes. It a year by the R&A. wasn/t until 1764 He insisted on no that the players in plays on Sundays, St Andrews decida rule still applied ed to turn their 10 The Old Course, St Andrews, 1764 today. He changed greens of which 8 were played on the way out as well as on the way the layout to what mostly still remains till today. He back into a total of 18 holes. This was only 10 years also laid out the New course in St Andrews as well after the twenty-two «Noblemen and Gentlemen» as 50+ courses including Carnoustie and Muirfield. founded a silver club, a championship played annu- Until today the Old Tom is being celebrated as the ally on the links of St. Andrews. A few decades later founder of modern golf course architecture. Besides the Society of St. Andrews Golfers became the «Royal his architecural task the Old Tom was the prime golfer & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews», still responsible of his days winning 4 of the first 7 held British Opens, for the rules of golf. By 1855 the game had become the last one at the age of 46, a unbeaten record until so popular and common, that a certain Allan Robert- today. He last played in The Open in 1896 aged 75. son was paid 20 £ to enlarge the greens and create He swam in the sea every day of his life and out-lived double greens. Once he was done the local newspa- his wife, daughter and three sons. He died aged 86 after a fall in 1908… So much to history. per wrote:
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10 th hole, Cruden Bay
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Now golf course architecture is a tedious matter. Amazing layout, stunning views, a masterpiece by this and that – it/s the same, always, don/t you get it!! Like the surfers talking about all the hollow tubes elsewhere in the world and the wine enthusiast about the matchless round final note of this special 2012 Tempranillo. In the end it/s a golf course and as usual golf was the winner again, making us humiliated humans that just aim for the 19 th. But something tears us back out there following nice photoshoped pictures in magazines and weary slogans about uniqueness. We spend the hard-earned Dollars on equipment, flights, green fees and lots of drinks – again. And that is exactly what we did… We followed some traces of the ancient and visitedtwo pearls in the Aberdeen shire that are not promoted by every links golf agency. Nevertheless they have a long history of more than a hundred years, and the fact that great creators like Old Tom Morris and his friend Archie Simpson had their hands on the design remains unknown to most golfers. More than in many of the prime links locations at the true links spirit is alive among local everyday players at St Andrews and Carnoustie. Here you meet the low scoring Senior 4-Ball that has been out here every Friday since 20 years and the 12ish-year-old brothers chasing after Rory, Greame, Russel Knox and Danny Willet. These fellows don/t care much about status and expensive Green fees – they simply love the game because there is not much else to do in their village.
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13 th Tee, Cruden Bay
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13 th Tee, Cruden Bay
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13 th Tee, Cruden Bay
«Golf, a plague invented by the Calvinistic Scots as a punishment for man/s sins.»
feeling of being lost on the rough north-east coast are overwhelming. To anyone who makes it to this remote land: Cruden Bay is a must! More words I shall not loose…
James Barrett Reston
MURCAR LINKS has a different story. Situated on the outskirts of Aberdeen Murcar belongs to one of the world/s finest stretches of links golf. In the fields of the Kings and Queens Links Golf just down the road from the University golf was played in 1625. 150 years later the renowned Royal Aberdeen was founded. The game became so popular that it was decided to proceed with the formation of a new golf club – The Murcar Links. Archie Simpson, Keeper of the Greens at Royal Aberdeen and good friend of Old Tom laid the first layout in the rugged dunes. The course was built in seamless connection to its older brother Royal Aberdeen. Many golfers seem to confuse the two courses, continuing on Murcar after the 9th on Royal. There are tales about Japanese golfers who started on Royal Aberdeen but finished up in Murcar/s clubhouse, calling the police because there was no sign of their car in the car park.
But most of all they love their home course more than any course in the world. Here they want to share a game with their friends over the «hlinc», wind, rain, sun, cold or warm, whatever the day may bring, just like the ancient did – the true links spirit. Or as the lady from the nearby Whiskey distillery put it: «Not even whiskey over a good game of golf!» CRUDEN BAY GOLF CLUB is the first pearl we visit and like most other Links in the area it has a rich history. The manager quickly grabs the local history book showing us footage from the match between Harry Vardon & Ted Ray in 1914 (note: Remember Paolo/s favorite club in last years issue – a Ted Ray
3-iron). The promotion video from 1914 is available at the Scottish National library: http://movingimage. nls.uk/film/3007 (golfing action from minute 5). Among golf architects Cruden Bay is considered in the top 50 in the world, a must-see and many travel here for inspiration as the course has a very nonconformist layout. Yes, the Old Tom Morris made his to create this masterpiece, along with his fellow architect Archie Simpson. Being quite far north the big crowds never make it here – in the words of the number one Scottish golf guide: «The fact is, travelers willing to make the trek are rewarded handsomely.» No two holes are alike. The high dunes, the deep burns, the blind shots, the amazing views and the
Murcar offered us a warm welcome. Down-toearth and friendly management and humorous local players. «It/s a bit chilly for a round of golf» laughed an elderly man with a thick woolly cap as the cold wind gusts blew over the driving range. «But you/ll get a perfect round, the weather will tidy!» The further north you go the more self-ironic and relaxed people are. Aberdeen has a rich industrial history exporting granite and oil. The first few holes are facing toward harbor and the waiting ships, before you get lost in the «hlincs», the ridges were only golf matters. The wind died, the sun showed up and Murcar presented itself from the best side and let us finish the day in shirt only. Links golf at its best, you never know what the day will bring. And when you/re done for the day don/t miss out to stroll through some nightlife in town. There/s a reason why Aberdeen is one of the 50 most livable cities in the world. You/re sure to find quite some characters.
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The World Hickory Open — style, fun and slightly mad
madness rubrik
ph otograph y / Th omas E berh ar ter il l us tration / Mike Kn obel
text / An dreas Ah l m
madness
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«I/d heard of it. But I/d never seen it. And I certainly hadn/t played it. All of which meant that the last Friday in May, 1999 was very much a first for me. Some twenty-four golfers, walking straight out of an early 20th century wardrobe and onto the nine holes of the oldest playing surface of the world. Each with a thin leather bag slung over their shoulder, each bag rattling as cleek, mashie and spoon vied for pre-eminence. The first at Musselburgh. a modest par-3. A mashie and two putts. On a good day. Fascinating. And completely mad.»
Sir Lionel Freedman
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25 Gypsy Joe and son
These are the words of World Hickory Open founder Lionel Freedman on his personal first experience with hickory golf. 16 years later at the 10th anniversary of the Open the picture is even more mad: More than 150 players from over 20 countries walking down the prestigious grounds of the Carnoustie Links in knickers, tie and tweed. The warm reception at Lionel’s already legendary welcoming drinks evening revealed the special vibe among the even more special breed of hickory golfers. Others would call them obsessed freaks. Who would
dress in 1920s fashion and play a round of golf with only 5-ish wooden shafted clubs on some of the most sought-after grounds of golf? It seems that who/s caught is caught and that the fascination has no limits. The talk is about the latest discoveries of old clubs, old clubmakers like Tom Stewart and George Nicoll with their almost godlike status and of course the sweet memories of past hickory opens. «You will meet some characters» says a German golf historian, grinning. He is attending with his entire family. His youngest son is around nine years old and the youngest competitor in the field, sporting knickers and a hat of
Deal Wyatt Hudson and comrade
course. And we get to meet quite the characters indeed. There is Gypsy Joe, a bare-knuckle fighter and professional golfer. Born as a Romany gipsy his father dealt in scrap metal and his mother sold lucky heather. At the grave of his grandfather, a passionate golfer, he swore to become a professional golfer. But there was also boxing. A tall, statue-like guy, he says: «I was told I had an amazing left hand. I really wanted to go places.» But at the age of 18 he drifted off into knuckle-fighting, pocketing £5,000 for his first victory and later became London/s heavyweight champion. His biggest dream remains to qualify for the
Open. «It/s my dream – for me, my father and my grandfather – to play in the Open. I don/t think of winning it, just playing in it.» At the bar lounge, we meet this properly dressed man with a fine sense of style. Curiously yet suspiciously he is flickering through the latest edition of Bunker/s Up. Suddenly he bounces up from his armchair, rushes outside and returns with a single club in his hands. He sits back down and explains: «You don/t want to leave this outside and have it stolen, it/s precious!» Deal Wyatt Hudson drifts off into story telling. The club in his hands is a Niblick – a
wedge – with a kind of cavity back and a strongly rounded sole. «This is the first club with bounce», he says, his eyes sparkling with joy. «It was actually an experiment at first, but flouted and refused by the golfing society. It took many years until they were manufactured again and today everybody has a sandwedge with bounce in his bag». His amusement is catching and I suspect that to Dean the value of the club lies more in its history than in its price. My assumption is confirmed by the rumor that Dean was the rhetoric consultant of a certain George W. Bush. Who would care less when you tee off in the beautiful links, a
few sticks in a small bag, a good portion of style, a smoke and great company to enjoy the walk. «The main thing is simplicity. The small bag, maybe 7 to 9 clubs, the speed of play. And most of all bringing back in to play many of our historic courses that have been spoilt by modern equipment.» This is Lionel/s answer to my question on the fascination of playing golf the old fashioned way. I can relate to that immediately. Technology has overtaken the focus of modern golf so much that the main folks forget about touch, tactics and imagination. All that matters is more distance and
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madness
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«The main thing is the simplicity, small bag, may be 7 to 9 clubs, speed of play.»
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more spin. I can fully understand that at this stage people want to get back to the soul of the game – the skill, the style and a lot of fun. When Lionel founded the tournament in 2005 you had to be a part of the British Golf Collectors’ Society to be able to play hickory tournaments in the UK. «Apart from that there were only a few small tournaments in Sweden» he adds. «I felt there was a need for an Open that anyone could play in.» And how does he feel about being recognized as the main force behind the revival of hickory? «Very proud…and hopefully not finished yet» is the answer of this humble, wise and much self-ironic 82-year old gentleman. He still plays a few holes every now and still enjoys the hickories but adds that he is glad that there are buggies. He receives strong support from his wife and friends from nearby golfing societies when it comes to the organization of the Open. These are the forces that make it possible to hold the event on some of the most attractive links in the world. 91year old Archie Baird is the tournament/s good spirit. The former captain of Gullane and member of Muirfield is just happy to see all the delighted people out there, and Alan Crow, the past Chairman
of Montrose Links Trust, will be greeting every player on the first tee again next year, advising them to stay out of trouble. And staying out of trouble is a must in Carnoustie. Ernie Else simply stated: «It/s probably the best bunkered course you/ll find anywhere in the world.» Personally, I didn/t stay out of the bunkers and that cost me many strokes. But my first day/s flight partner did. Cliff Martin, amateur and former rock band guitarist from LA with an amazing short-game almost took it all the way. The hard work on his home turf in Bel Air paid off. In the end he was just one stroke behind beating all the Pros. On the second day I was paired with Neil Cascogne, a clubmaker from Newcastle. A short back swing and quick follow through left even short irons lower then 20 meters over the ground. «Hickory just suits my game,» he found. «Bump and run. I/m used to strong winds and hard grounds».
But in the end it was tour professional Andrew Marshall who took the title with a very strong result of 67-76 total over the two days covering one round on the Buddon Links and one on the championship course. «I/m absolutely thrilled to be the 2015 World Hickory Open Champion». Andrew Marshall follows in the footsteps of Sandy Lyle. 29 But winning in the end was only of second priority. «I really enjoy the camaraderie between hickory golfers – and seeing just how much everyone loves playing with these crazy antique clubs!» says Cliff. Third place finisher Johan Moberg offered me a fine drop as the game came to a standstill on the famous 16th Par 3. Just what I needed as that the winds were picking up and the sun was setting. Later that night we swept the fine bottle of Glenmorangie Johan received at the prize-giving in Swedish manner with his merry fellows. Everybody agrees on Lionel’s words: «Can I put all that in a single word? I/m not sure. But I/ll try. I/d say that that the word is fun. The hickory game is fun. Go out there and enjoy it!»
«I really enjoy the camaraderie between hickory golfers – and seeing just how much everyone loves playing with these crazy antique clubs!» Cliff Martin
G N I C U D O . R S T E I IN ER
S G W E N E TH
ATION M R O F N I ORE M R O F M G.CO VISIT PIN
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Ireland — Stout, surf and links golf
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ph otograph y / N icol as Foj tu
text / An dreas Ah l m
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Both the footage and the story behind it lie a few years back. I/ve been waiting to find the appropriate opportunity to bring it to paper and ironically it might somehow close a circle in my short golf journalist career. If you can call it a career. As a matter of fact a photo of my dear friend Nicolas Fojtu from this very trip landed on a cover. This is how it all started. A bluff that turned out to be self-fulfilling and started this passion of mine: the search for golf stories worth spreading.
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35 1 / unspoiled links land 3 / the 18 th, Doonbeg
Not long after finishing our studies we planned a surf trip to the islands in an old Volkswagen. I had always been attracted to Ireland – the rough coastline, the beautiful light, the many empty line-ups for surfing and some of the world/s best links courses. Apart from my surfboard I decided to throw some clubs in the back of the van. I had never even gotten close to a real links course and I could feel the excitement be given the chance during this trip. Some people claim that you cannot fully understand the game if you haven/t walked 9 holes out along the coast and 9 holes back in, embedded in dunes, steppes and grass fields as if man/s hand didn/t even have anything to do with the creation of the course. And I must admit that I don/t disagree. My first touch with links golf was an eye-opener, an unforgettable experience that brought my understanding of golf a step further. In the end it/s no more no less than bringing that ball into the hole with the least amount of shots
2 / pitch and putt, Enniscrone 4 / final putt
possible, although it can be a consuming and dizzying path. Realizing that the fairway really is the fair way through the dunes, the green indeed is greener than the rest of the grass, digging a bunker the easiest way to create a hazard and that all course architecture has its origins in this landscape, as if it was created by nature itself, was pure joy. A few days into our trip we steered by Galwick towards Lahinch, Spanish Point and Doughmore Bay, famed to be a real swell magnet among surfers. It was already late afternoon when we found the parking and the sign to the beach. To my surprise we had to cross some dunes and parts of the beautifully located Doonbeg links golf course. We jumped into our wetsuits and ran down to the beach. But I was already swinging my clubs and walking down the holy links land in my head. In my mind I knew that I had to make it onto that course somehow.
Here are the words I wrote back then explaining the covershot: «With slightly trembling hands I finally stand here – Tea Nr. 4 – Par 5, 570 yards. The sun sits just above the horizon. The grass in the dunes shines like gold. The fairway is barely recognizable in the steppes, but it is still clear where the dunes lead the course. I have been dreaming of this since my childhood: to return to the origins of the noble game. On the land between sea and mainland, through the dunes and steppes, where only cattle and sheep would graze, the nobles from past times invented this strange game: ball, club, hole. He who delivers the ball into the hole with the least amount of strokes wins. It/s that simple. The search for waves brought us here: Doughmore Bay is a real swell magnet, a place where even in summer there are reasonable waves on the numerous sandbanks. Surfers and golf-
ers can be found at the same spot, not only because the surfers need to cross holes 4 and 15 to get to the beach. After our evening surf session I can not help making a few swings on the famous Doonbeg links course: The course that had shortly before been recognized among the worlds best 100 courses of ‹Golf Digest›.My first swing on this auspicious piece of land is a pearl. The adrenaline levels is shooting up, partly due to not having paid for my first swings on a links and partly due to childlike excitement over the perfection of the moment – the swing, the draw, the dunes, the light.» Back in our campervan we started making plans the same night on how to get on the course without paying – 150+ pounds was a lot of money for vagabonds like us. Nicolas pretended to be a photographer and I pretended to be a golf journalist. Luckily Nicolas had some photo equipment, a great eye and
seek the unspoiled view of a non-golfer on the sport, and even more luckily he brought a proper shirt. I had a shave, left myself a mischievous /stache, made a call to the office and off we went. I can say I was nervous when we met the manager at the bar. But things went the right way and soon we stood on the first tee box. I couldn/t believe it was going to be that easy. It is remarkable how strong the memories from that first round of links golf still are today. Even though the land was declared as perfect links golf land by the Scottish Black Watch Regiment in as early as 1892, the course construction only began in 1999. One has to acknowledge Greg Norman for his philosophy of «least disturbance» as they built the course. 14 of the greens and 12 of its fairways required no changes but simply mowing the lawn.
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A rather sad part in Doonbeg/s story is that a certain Mr Trump bought the piece of land in 2014 and renamed it Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Ireland. Maybe we shouldn/t give him any more media attention, but then again I enjoy the controversial coverage of a shady man, especially in golf. Hats off to Golfsuisse for their good article in their latest issue and especially to the golfing society for keeping the man off the big stage in the golfing world – hopefully America will wake up eventually! So much about politics. Speaking of America – there was this funny event involving a few bulky Americans who were fulfilling their dream of real links golf on that same round. After getting lost in the dunes with their carts they started shouting at their walking fore caddies, and when they discovered the surfers crossing to the beach, one of them surprisingly uttered: «Did you see that surfer on the fairway? If the balls ain/t in their throats, I don/t know where they are!» Nicolas and I still laugh when we think of these Americans, who by the way kindly let us pass. «Need yardage?» After hitting a solid long-iron onto the green on the Par 5, the six tourists shouted one after the other: «Good shot, good shot, great shot, great shot, European Tour!?!» A few holes later and excited by the amazing shots from the day we found ourselves in the dunes instead of the 19 th with a Guinness. The bay, the sunset, the shadows, the dunes – yes, even Nicolas would
share some of my passion for this kind of golf – real links experience and excelled expectations. Obviously Ireland has a lot more to offer than bizarre people and newly built old fashion links. The real deal are the basic public courses and pitch and putts where neither who-is-who nor who-is-filthy-rich don/t count. They can be found in every other village and are undoubtedly the reason why the islands are still on top of competitive golfing. All the kids need to do is fool around on the courses to eventually become good at golfing. I was even able to persuade Varvara and Nicolas to have some fun on the green. Enniscrone is the perfect place for this kind of golf. Kelly Slater allegedly showed up here to escape from the crowds. Pretty obvious when you can find both a world class right-handed break in the bay and a great links course. Like in many other Irish towns, there is just one bar, the Gilroys. The locals may seem a bit reserved at first but after a pint or two of Guinness they turn out to be very craic lads (fun guys). Apart from soccer you learn mostly about brewing. 70 % of all Irish barley is supposed to go to the production of Guinness and apparently you can tell the nationality of a drinker by the number of foam rings in the glass once it/s empty: One ring per gulp. The American, they say, takes 20 plus sips, the Irish leaves 5 to 6 rings on average and the Aussie remains unbeaten, not leaving any rings and knocking back the pint in one go. Another rule of the Guinness drinker is that he should never have just one pint in his hands. «It is a well-known fact that a bird does not fly with one wing!». Filling the glass pretty much comes down to science. The barman tilts your glass to 45 degrees and fills it up to three quarters, then leaves it on the counter to settle and finally fills it to the brim. «It takes about 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint!» Don/t fret, it/s worth the wait! Surf, golf, stout and whiskey and a coastline with beaches where you/re still allowed to park your campervan for free. Empty line-ups and cheap golf. Fish and chips and the smell of coffee in the morning. Not a day without rain nor sun. Friendly people and sheep and a Celtic aura that have fascinated me for a lifetime. That/s the quick resume of an intense and unforgettable camping trip with dear friends.
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«It takes about 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint!»
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# t h e f i lt h y f l a m i n g o s w w w. f i l t hy f l a m i n g o s . c o m
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Yves Nicollier — the artist
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ph otograph y / Roman B eran ek il l us tration / Mike Kn obel
text / An dreas Ah l m
character
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There are some outstanding people who don/t have to rub your nose in it, who don/t have to state it. There/s just something about them. Yves Nicollier is one of them. Born and raised in Aeugst am Albis, he grew as a regular kid behind the hills of Zurich. With his hood fellows he was up to mischief rather than focusing on serious stuff. At the age of 14 he swung a golf club for the first time in his life, joining his father on the newly opened local driving range. He must have realized his talent at that very point, but things went another way. He learnt the craftsmanship of an artistic blacksmith. He worked just to be able to hunt the perfect wave and live the life of a beach bum.
The first time I met Yves was on the set of a pilot project for Swiss television. Mo and me had been asked to take on the challenge of cross golfing through Switzerland with only a bag full of balls – everything covered and streamed live on TV, radio and social media – indeed a slightly crazy project. Yves was on site, introducing himself as a
camera man who loved the game of golf. Movie production was one of his passions, he said. A 191cm statue-like guy with long hair and a worn out Cali cap marched through the hay with a cam, followed by two young Appenzeller boys doing the fore caddy job. Later that day we sat around the campfire – the whole crew joined
by the local farmer owned the land and provided the firewood, letting all the random rendez-vous of the day sink in and share laughter into the night. This is when I first learnt about Yves’ courageous and innovative adventures as a golfing professional.
character
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«A golfer is an artist – he draws lines in the sky.» A few months later we met again to have a chat. As I had felt from the beginning Yves’ story was worth sharing. It inspired me, and I was sure it would inspire many more.
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It was at the age of 23 when he suddenly felt he needed a new goal in life. What’s more obvious than becoming a professional golfer? However hard this undertaking may have seemed at the age of 23, Yves went for it. Very soon he had played his Handicap below 4 to attend the playing ability test for the Swiss PGA teaching professionals school. Once he gained pro status he packed his belongings and took off to the states. The land of no limits has a different approach to the game. Few people on our side of the pond know that every top level PGA tournament is open to any golfer worldwide with a professional status. 200 bucks and you/re in – you only have two huge hurdles to pass: Top 4 in the pre qualifier and a consequent top 4 finish in the Monday qualifier. Yves and some soul mates founded TourQuest and
challenged their destinies by travelling from Monday qualifier to Monday qualifier. Discovering his passion for filmmaking, Yves and his fellow golfers started a Monday qualifier youtube webisode, found sponsors and managed to live a low budget life on tour: Burgers, beers and sleeping in the van. One can argue about how to define success. None of the fel-
lows ever made it into the money rankings only by making cuts and trying to stay alive for the weekend. Very few of our kind could, however, imagine coming as close to battling our sport/s crème de la crème. The «Tourquest» project is still alive, though the members have gone their own ways. Paul is playing on the web.com and Asian PGA Tour, Sam has moved to Puerto Rico where he continues
to follow the dream, getting better everyday and offering a training camp for hungry young guns on the hunt for their chance to compete with the elite. Today Yves lives partly in Los Angeles floating through the Californian beach life with his girlfriend who is the singer of «It Takes a Village». Coaching golf, camera jobs, Music clips, parties, a golf tournament every now and then and a lot of surf. Back in Switzerland he backs up his father on the Albis Golf driving range in Wettswil. His father, just like Yves, is a selftaught golf professional. He made himself known as the swing wizard. Yves grins and cites his father when he explains that most of the time people struggle too much with their mindset. One should not neglect the technique but far more important is that we learn to make the best out of our present skills. I can feel how proud Yves is of his father who/s got that little something that makes people overcome their mental boundaries.
A beer or two later Yves reveals his philosophical side. «It took me a while to actually figure out what golf means to me» he says. «First of all, I realized that golf is just one of the many toothpicks in my life. There are so many me’s but golf will always remain a strong passion for sure – I’m glad to have been introduced to the game.» He points at the toothpicks in front of him and picks one out. We had a lovely cordon bleu and lord knows whether there were
still some leftovers between his teeth. «Secondly, golf is a school of life. Nothing ever taught me so much about myself. Learning how to face difficult situations in life like handling pressure or fear, accepting your struggles and finally having a mindset that goes with the flow.» And with an enthusiastic gleam in his eyes he adds: «Thirdly, a golfer is an artist, he draws lines in the sky. We used to always have bets on announcement when practicing for our Monday
ANDI AHLM // Yves, does golf matter? A // And hit the ball very far? Y // Everything and nothing matters. Most of what bothers us in life is just in our minds anyway. I believe that we shouldn/t take ourselves so serious. The world doesn/t revolve around us, and the word fail shouldn/t even exist. We/d better call it experience and learn from it. *Laughing* golf, I had to learn it the hard way, doesn/t matter, it/s just a game, and worst case you loose a white, round piece of plastic weighing 45.93 grams.
Y // It may help, but straight usually gets the job done easier.
A // And to have style on the course? Y // I don/t care too much about clothing. To me, someone who/s found his way of doing it and who makes it look like a piece of cake is a stylish golfer.
A // Is it then important to have a nice swing?
A // Why aren/t there more Boys and Girls on the courses in Switzerland like you?
Y //No, it/s not like synchronized swimming. A golfer has 14 tools to get the ball with the least shots possible in that hole. There are of course certain physical laws that help achieving that goal. The sooner a golfer understands them the better.
Y // Good question my friend. Golfing in Switzerland is still very strict and serious. Typically Swiss you could say. When I played in Cali for the first time I was bit shocked. People had their shirts out, some didn/t even have
qualifiers. It/s when your imagination connects with your physical skills that you get to the next level of golfing.» Yves’ mind seems to wander off – to some Californian golf course perhaps – his hand drawing the lines of high draws in the sky. It/s this artistic approach to understanding the game that makes Yves unique. It seems to be an attitude Yves carries through all of his passions, his toothpicks in life.
collar, beers and a hot dog at the halfway house and they didn/t even talk about handicap. They played the game, just for fun. It/s so simple - the most important thing is to have a good time.
A // With your help, what can we do to bring more kids with your attitude to the course? Y //By joining our annual xGolf Tournament in the Säuliamt hills where the fun comes first. For more information search for «xGolf OPEN Championship (major)» on Facebook.
A // What/s the closest you ever came to play on the PGA Tour? Y // When I was one round short of qualifying for a PGA event. But to get in, I/d have had to play 6 under which I didn/t. Great experience though.
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character A // If you have to pick one memory from the times on the road for Monday qualifier, which one is it?
A // What/s the lowest single round score you ever posted as a Pro?
A // If there was one practice drill of any kind you could teach all golfers worldwide, which one would it be?
Y // 4 under paar. Y // After driving 20 hours through the desert on the road to the first Monday qualifier, I was standing at a gas station when I realized that I had put myself in a strange, foreign situation. I was a long way away from home, from my girlfriend and from my family, and my bank account reminded me of my first year of my artistic blacksmith apprenticeship. I had to change my attitude, I started loving the adventure, not knowing how far we/d get, where we/d eat and how we/d pay.
A // What is success to you in one sentence having in many ways a more artistic approach to anything? Y // It doesn/t really matter what you do, just how you do it. When I see someone doing their job and that they/re doing it with passion and a smile on their face, that/s what success is to me.
Y // Visualizing. I use the Focusband. Its’s a great tool to make sure that the golfer is in the right state of mind when hitting a golf ball.
A // Tell us in a sentence how Focusband works! Y // Focusband is a brain sensing headset that measures your brain frequency. Through audio and visual feedback a performer of any kind can train the mental process to perfection. It has been very successful on the PGA Tour.
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YVES COLUMN I ask myself quite often: What would I do if if I could start over? I would have loved to have a coach who simply showed me a decent grip and posture, that/s it. From there I would only watch videos of PGA Tour players, how they do it. I would set the audio on mute, because I dont want anybody/s voice interpreting the swing with their eyes. A good coach protects a student from his own influences and is only a guide for the student to find himself. We all learned to walk by watching our family members doing it. That is how I would like to learn the swing, visualize the shot and then do it, on or of the course. A great way to learn visualizing is playing golf in the forest, shape the ball flight around the trees, first in your mind then for real. Once your body has a clear picture of what you want, it will react accordingly.
Fortunately I had the chance to meet my friend Jason Goldsmith a few years ago. He coaches on the PGA Tour, successfully integrating the Focusband, he worked with Jason Day the last 4 Years and currently Justin Rose is his new horse. What I learned from him is priceless. It all happens between our ears. Consistency starts in our mind. He taught me a routine with the Focusband, to be sure I let my body perform without letting thoughts interfere. Nothing more freeing than playing golf like that. I/m more than happy to pass on my knowledge to golf students. Win a brand new Focusband and a lesson with Yves at the final BUNKER/S UP tour stop. Get in touch with Yves for a lesson in Wettswil and learn how to become the master of your mind.
Try Focusband with yvesnicollier@gmail.com
compete
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BUNKER/S UP — Golf Tour 2016
ph otograph y / Aman da N ikol ic / Rom an Beranek
pre s en ted by Joh n B aker
compete
The BUNKER/S UP Golf Tour 2016 will be stopping at 11 gorgeous golf courses, covering the Engadin, Switzerland/s Central Plateau and Valais. The Tour starts with the ambitious 4-day matchplay in the Engadin. Saturday and Sunday and the original kick-off event at Zuoz remain unchanged of course. It is fair to say that both Riederalp and Leuk are top class courses. The stop at Sedrun, close to the Sources of the Rhine, features a night tournament just for fun to remind us why we love this sport so much. The Friday and Saturday weekend package Oberkirch/Limpachtal is another highlight of this year/s edition. Just like last year, the tour will also be stopping at Otelfingen in Zurich before finishing off with the finale at Davos where we/ll celebrate and drink to the tour as always.
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compete
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win
win
Strelasund
Grand-Tirolia
Golfpark / Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Resort / Kitzbühel
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The winning tour prize in the «Moovers» category includes: 5 nights for two in a Double room. Breakfast, one massage of 25 mins each and 4 green fees each included.
www.golfpark-strelasund.de
The winning tour prize in the «Groovers» category includes: 5 nights at the Grand-Tirolia Resort for two. Breakfast, 3 green fees each and buggy included. www.grand-tirolia.com
win
Quellness Golf Resort Bad Griesbach
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The winning tour prize in the ÂŤSmoothersÂť category includes: 5 nights at DAS LUDWIG for two in a Comfort Double. Late breakfast, access to the hot springs and all additional services e.g. free golf course shuttle and 3 green fees each for all golf courses included. www.quellness-golf.com
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Andermatt — Alpine links feeling
reference
ph otograph y / An dreas Mon sberger
text / Moritz Frey
reference
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The Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf Course has been open to public for about a year now. Last year we had the honour to host a BUNKER/S UP tour stop on this gem designed by Andermatt Swiss Alps. We are impressed by what has happened in the meantime and by how both the course and the club facilities have evolved. Links feeling comes up when the wind blows through the open valley and indeed the course lies just behind the ridge - the «hlinc» the Anglo-Saxon origin of the word «links».
How has the course been adjusting to its surroundings over the past year or two? The course has become a part of the landscape and evolved into a proper ecosystem. Thanks to Andermatt/s particular climate you can literally see how nature changes, especially in spring. Over the past two years of the Pre-Opening, we completed the last tasks and got rid of the remaining flaws. Now we are ready for the official opening, proudly presenting a really fun course. Tell us about the golfing season in Andermatt. Does the snow affect the fairways and the greens?
Depending on the weather, the course opens mid-May and closes mid-October. In winter, the course is covered in up to two meters of snow and turned into a cross-country ski run and a footpath. The snow protects the fairways and the greens. Ice, however, can be a bit of a challenge for the greenkeepers in spring as the grass may need a lot of care and possibly even to be reseeded due to a lack of oxygen over winter. Spring is when the course opens. What do people need to be allowed on the course? First of all, you need to enjoy golfing and
reference
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to be really keen to take on the challenges of a championship course. We welcome everyone up to Handicap 54. In order to guarantee smooth plays for every golfer on the course we issued our Handicap standards. We recommend you respect them. The green fee is between CHF 75 and CHF 160 depending on the season and the time of day. Can visitors look forward to a club house? Yes, they sure can. Thanks to our new club house, we/re ready to cater for all golfers. There/s a reception, locker rooms and even a Pro shop in case you forgot something at home. Our restaurant «The Club House» is run by 5-star deluxe hotel «The Chedi Andermatt» and offers the perfect choice of snacks, drinks and proper meals that/ ll please even the most demanding players. It also features a popular and huge sun deck facing south and boosting amazing views of the course. In this edition, we take a closer look at links courses. Taking into account Andermatt/s frequent strong
afternoon breeze, you could say that there/s a slight links feeling to be had on the course, right? Those who teed off in Scotland/s Highlands before will certainly feel at ease in Andermatt. The landscape is barren and wild, the climate/s cool and the wind can be an additional challenge. In Andermatt, the heavily farmed paddocks can only be mowed in mid-July, which is why the grass in the hard roughs can grow up to 1.5 m. This adds to the links feeling of course, as do the wavy greens. Where does this make the course more difficult, and which holes may be less difficult thanks to the wind? With the typical north-easterly you need to play the holes facing Realp (west) slightly shorter. The same goes for the holes facing Andermatt (east) with the foehn. When facing the wind, they all need to be played longer accordingly. Both playing with and against the wind is challenging. In other words, the wholes may need to be played up to 3 clubs longer or shorter.
yardage
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Strokesaver The 145th OPEN in Royal Troon marks the 36th Open Championship for Strokesaver, Golf/s No 1 course guide.
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The 8 th, Royal Troon
In 2016, the oldest Major in the world of golfing returns to the Royal Troon Golf. Ahead of the last edition, the Par 71 Old Course was expanded to 7175 yards. With its typical Links layout, the first 9 holes on the dunes leading away from the club house and the second 9 heading back, the Royal Troon is a hefty challenge. Especially with the wind in the face on they way back these final holes are amongst the most difficult in the world.
March 1878 saw the foundation of the golf club at the Portland Arms Hotel of Troon. In 1880, the first six holes opened between Craigend and Cyaws Burn, and by 1888 were expanded to 18 holes. In 1909, club professional William Fernie who won the Open Championship 1883 was tasked to come up with course improvements. In fact, the layout today goes back to the original concept. The player editions for the OPEN Edition are printed only 10 days before the tournament. Unlike
Club issues the Tour players call for a variety of information on the graphics, which are reviewed and analyzed thouroughly by all caddies. Like every year, we are again slightly nervous until all players have completed the first day of the championship. If there is no negative feedback, just like in the past 36 years, we will be in Royal Birkdale in October 2016 in order to put together Golf/s No 1 course guide of the 146 th OPEN and to hand it out to the players.
www.strokesaver.ch
‌eine Freundschaft die beginnt und niemals endet. www.handverlesen.ch
credit
PUBLISHER Ve r e i n B u nker/ s U p! F o r ch s t r a s s e 234 8 0 3 2 Z ü ric h b u nk e r s u p. c h
E D I TO R - I N C H IE F An d r e a s A h l m a n d i @ b u nker s u p. c h
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CORRECT IONS A N D PROOFREADIN G Dominic Bossa r t , Anja Schä rer
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DIST RIBUT ION F or F r e e o n go l f c o u r s es , go l f s h op s, resta ura nts a nd b a rs a ll over Switze r la nd COPY RIGHT A l l p rin ted ar tic l es in th e ma ga zine a re p rotected b y cop yright. R e p r o d u ct i o n an d o th er u s e o n l y with p rior written p er mission of the p ub li s he r. LIABILIT Y In the event that contributions or information is inaccurate or incorrect, the publisher is not liable unless gross negligence. For articles that are identified by name is the author responsible. The publisher assumes no liability for unsolicited text or image material.
Links Scottland Ireland Hickory Art Gallery www.bunkersup.ch