ISSUE 190 DIGITAL
July 2020
How long can the PGA Tour stay open during the rise of covid-19 in USA?
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Time Sheet Full
Fast forward 4 months and it is now extremely difficult to get a tee-time any day of the week, never mind during the Saturday or Sunday competitions. For one I have failed to get my fourball our usual Saturday time 4 weeks in a row and our 8am time slot has become a 4-5pm evening time. A time we have taken just be able to get out on the course. The 30 or so members who did not renew their membership, some due to covid19 reasons, are now massively outweighed by the 70 plus new members joining since we reopened. By all accounts this is replicated across many clubs in Ireland.
guests to once again play golf or are we seeing a lasting increase in interest in our sport? And if we add more and more members do we face more problems with getting that tee time slot when we want it? I guess only time will tell but it is at least a positive discussion that we will be able to have in the weeks and months ahead, and a much healthier place to be than we all thought back in April when at the height of the crisis. I hope you enjoy our July digital edition. It is our 3rd edition that we are NOT printing and once again we took the decision to
We have some great new articles to go along with our regular features and finally we are starting to focus on golf events around the world with the majors and other top tournaments starting in the weeks ahead.
ISSUE 190
July 2020 EDITORIAL TEAM Editorial Directors: Neale Jenkins - njenkins@teetogreen.eu Grahame Jenkins - gjenkins@teetogreen.eu Advertising Manager: Claire Muller - claire.muller@teetogreen.eu
Enjoy your golf in the summer sunshine and keep reading and supporting us and our partners. Simple Golf by Simon .....................p4
June Issue 189 Competition Result! Congratulations, you won a pair of spikeless golf shoes!
Will it all last? Are casual golfers joining clubs who only take monthly membership fees up front and will they stay when further relaxation comes around that allows
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produce a digital version only, during this difficult time. I hope it will not take away from your enjoyment and please let us know if you want it sent to anyone else via email.
Captain Duties ................................p5 What’s in the Bag.............................p6
Michael Hardy
Ladies Locker Room.......................p9
Advertising Manager: Claire Muller claire.muller@teetogreen.eu www.teetogreen.media www.facebook.com/teetogreeneu https://twitter.com/TeeToGreeneu
A day in the life...............................p13
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I am Confused! ................................p12 Through the Ages ..........................p14 Have Your Say! ...............................p19 Famous Quotes...............................p21
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It is a long time since golf clubs in Ireland could say ‘Time sheet full’. Prior to the pandemic, golf was struggling with club membership in decline and many clubs started charging less and less trying to encourage local members to jump from one club to another.
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Resident Tulfarris Pro
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Monthly Lesson This is a shot which we would all love to master like Phil Mickelson. It is a high tariff shot for most golfers, which can be a very dangerous shot if it goes wrong, but also one with huge bragging rights in the clubhouse if it comes off. Here are my basics :1 - Open the club face almost like a bunker shot. Set up square to the target with the club face lying open, then edge round until the club face is aiming at the target. Our feet and body should be aiming left and ball position has moved forward in our stance. 2 - Move 65-70% weight onto your left hand side, your left leg. 3- Set the club on the way back with a slight wrist hinge and then keep the club moving through the impact area. Don’t try and scoop the ball up, don’t flick at the ball. Keep your swing smooth but positive thought the impact area and let the loft of the club produce a high flighted shot with loads of spin, which will land softly on the green. A great shot which will get you out of trouble around the greens.
Slowly but surely golf is getting back to normal. Golfers are starting to move around again and fingers crossed it won’t be long before competitors and clubs are functioning as normal. Social distancing apart. Visitors will soon be allowed and clubs can once again look at developing the revenue lines required to continue thrive. So how has your game been? Have you improved certain aspects of your game from your “garden practise”, were you a bit rusty? Maybe you were more relaxed on the course? Some questions to think about when looking at our performance after a long layoff. As a professional golfer we are always looking to improve our overall performance. Since lockdown I have only managed to play 2 games and after a layoff of just over 3 months I was wondering how I was going to perform. In what state of mind we are in will often have a huge effect on our performance. My first few shots were rusty but overall in these two rounds my game was good and I managed a few more birdies than bogies. I put this down to having less expectations and been able to focus clearly on the target and the shot in hand. My mind wasn’t cluttered with different swing thoughts or negative energy from poor shots I had played. Mentally I was in the right place. The mind is probably the most powerful ‘club’ we have in the bag so try to use it wisely. Understanding how the mind woks and in what frame of mind we need to be in to play our best is as important as being able to hit certain shots. So next time you are out playing try to play with the freedom to believe in yourself. Narrow your target down, concentrate on picking the correct shot, think about your intended target not the 15 different possible outcomes. I would love to hear form you to find out how you all got on.
Tour Stories
We all get 1st tee nerves!
Get in touch on my social media channels for some golfing gossip, fun and information. Twitter- @sthorntongolf Facebook- @simonthorntonglf Instagram- simonthornton9 True or False?
Q1. Before the use of tees it was common for golfers to use a small pile of sand Answers on page 21
My first ever BMW Championship at Wentworth was in 2006. I had qualified from winning the PGA Irish Region order of merit. I was relatively new to professional golf and was teeing it up with players I had only ever seen on the television. The top players in Europe at the time. I played my practise rounds alone on the Monday and Tuesday, did a bit of practise on the Wednesday and was given a 10am tee time on Thursday. Surely there wouldn’t be many people watching my group. I was wrong - the first tee had 5/6 people deep, hundreds and hundreds around the tee box. I was white with nerves, the most nervous few minutes on a golf course I have ever had. It took me a few goes to get the ball on the tee and once I had managed I was handed my 3 wood by my caddy. I ignored him and went for my driver - the bigger the head the more chance I had of making contact. I just about made contact and went on my merry way. The relief as I walked down the first fairway was tangible.
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NEWS HEAD PROFESSIONAL, LURGAN GC Captain PGA Great Britain and Ireland
PGA Captain’s Duties.. We know winter is coming when the Alliances start, but also my first year duties as PGA Captain are nearly at an end. What does the role entail? – that was something I didn't really know myself until it started. My journey began at the PGA National AGM at the Belfry on the 3rd April which was preceded by a joint Board and Executive meeting and then a Past Captain's lunch. It was great to meet them all again and we had a lovely photograph taken together. Sadly, Beverly Lewis (seated right) who was there as the only female Captain to date, passed away just last month. The receiving of the distinctive burgundy blazer was a great honour, and though very daunting, it was nice to say a few words about becoming Captain of our great Association. The Captain's duties started straight away with what was one of the highlights of the year, the trainees’ graduation ceremony in The Great Hall at Birmingham University. For those who have never attended the event , what a special occasion it is, to see all the newly qualified members dressed proudly in their member's blazer and it makes me proud to call myself a member of the PGA. Although standing up there in front of 500 young pros with their friends and family certainly gets the heart racing with nerves. Speeches get somewhat easier after that one. It would be fair to say one of the major perks of the post followed two True or False? Q2. A man has won an event on the LPGA Tour Answers on page 21
days later, off to Augusta for the Masters. The PGA group attending was made up of our CEO Rob Maxfield, our Chairman Alan White, Board member David Hayes and myself. Rob and Alan saw very little play during the week as everyone in the world of golf was present so there were loads of meetings to attend. It was a wonderfully busy week, watching some golf, playing some golf with the US PGA and attending many dinners when invited by the world's golfing bodies. We were meeting and greeting all week to promote the PGA of GB & I. A small added bonus was watching the final 9 holes of Tiger's win in the clubhouse with some of the greats of the game. Back to the real world after that and work for a few weeks until the Board meeting at the end of April where I, the Captain, as part of the agenda give a Captain's report on all the functions I have attended. Through the season I attended 22 events, hopefully over the next few Tee to Green magazines I can give some further insight into my roll. In the meantime, onwards and upwards. Thanks Peter Hanna
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What’s in the bag? Cormac Sharvin FAIRWAY WOODS Ping G410 14.5 degree 3-wood, with a 43 inch,Tensei AV 75TX shaft. TV 360 white grip.
THE DRIVER Ping G410 LST 9 degree Driver, with a 45.5 inch Xtorsion black 60TX staft. TV 360 white grip
PUTTER Ping Sigma 2 Arna putter, with a 34 inch shaft sitting at 1 degree upright and 2.5 degrees loft. Grip – Lamkin Deep Edged.
Ping G410 XR3 hybrid, with a NV blue 90X shaft. Swing weight D1. Ping black lie. TV 360 white grip.
IRONs Ping I210 4-PW irons, with Modus 120X shafts. Swing weight D1. Ping black lie. TV 360 white grips. WEDGES Ping Glide forged wedges, with 52, 56 and 60 degrees loft, with Modus 120X shafts. Swing weighted D2, D3 and D4. TV 360 white grips.
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Surging Online Sales Prompts Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company to Establish European Website … Located at www.BenHoganGolf.eu New Site Offers Serious Golfers Throughout the UK and Europe Factory-Direct Pricing, Inclusive of VAT and Delivery Fees on Best-in-Class Forged Golf Clubs, Bags and Accessories
With surging online sales thanks to the Company’s unique factorydirect business model, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company (BHGEC) has unveiled www.BenHoganGolf.eu, a destination for golfers in the UK and Europe to purchase best-in-class forged golf clubs, bags and accessories at unmatched pricing, and inclusive of VAT.
The new site allows serious golfers to purchase directly from the Company at prices far less than competitive products sold through traditional retail channels. This is achieved by minimizing operational costs and eliminating retail mark-up altogether. With many retail golf shops restricted due to current social distancing measures, BenHoganGolf.eu offers easy online shopping from the comfort of home; custom-crafted clubs are typically delivered within two (2) to three (3) weeks. The new website features all of Hogan Golf’s leading forged club models, including the new ICON irons, UiHi Utility Club and VKTR+ Hybrids, as well as the PTx PRO irons, GS53 driver and fairway woods, Precision Milled putters, Equalizer wedges, golf bags and accessories, and more. All prices are displayed in UK£ and are inclusive of VAT, and a local logistics operation reduces both the time and price for orders to be fulfilled. The site is supported by a dedicated, local customer service team available from 9am-5pm (GMT) via Europe@BenHoganGolf.com or by phone at 0800-170-0186 (calls are free within the UK). While all Ben Hogan Golf products are still assembled to order in the Company’s Fort Worth, Texas (US) facility, the same site where 9-time major champion Ben Hogan founded the Company in 1953, a local
Ben
UK warehouse and operations facility has been established to minimize shipping costs and expedite orders for customers. Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has also created a Demo Program specific for the European market, allowing customers the opportunity to test Ben Hogan clubs for a one-time shipping fee of £25 (UK) or £35 (within the EU), with no obligation to purchase. “We’ve spent the last three years re-establishing and rebuilding the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company in the United States” said Scott White, CEO, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company. “We’ve been very pleased with the progress we’ve made there. Before we expanded into the important UK and European market, we needed to make sure we had the systems and resources in place to service serious golfers in this region the same way we do domestically. With the launch of our European website and the establishment of a dedicated logistics team, we are confident that we will be able to replicate our success.” Complementing the new-look Ben Hogan Golf presence in Europe, the Company has launched a program for club fitters in the UK and throughout Europe. This program, which is similar to the Company’s Club Fitter and Builder Program in the U.S., allows accredited club fitters and custom-club builders to buy Ben Hoganbranded club heads directly from the Company for use in their custom club building businesses.
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VIRTUAL WOMEN’S GOLF DAY IS A REAL SUCCESS
More than 30 million impressions help raise dollars for charity Against all the odds, thanks to strong support from people all over the world, Virtual Women’s Golf Day succeeded in delivering a virtual, global celebration uniting hundreds of thousands of golfers around the world through their love of the game.
The Ambassadors and Women’s Golf Day are delighted with the results and hopes that more golf venues will see the success of the campaign and get on board for the revised live events date on September 1st.
The day, which was scheduled for June 2nd, was put on hold for 24 hours in response to the unprecedented events in the USA, yet the campaign still generated 30.5 Million global impressions of its hashtags. More than a quarter of a million people interacted with Women’s Golf Day social media platforms directly driving people to the WGD website whose traffic was at an all-time high.
Founder, Elisa Gaudet comments: “We were honoured to bring so many people around the world together for an inspiring day of sharing, particularly given the challenges the world has faced these past few months. Virtual was a new approach for us, and I delighted that we have been able to entertain, educate and raise essential funds for Charity. Now more than ever, it is important to show our unity and to bring communities together. I have always believed that golf has the power to do this and I urge all golf venues to sign up their location and participate in our September 1st as events take place around the globe”
A series of videos from a range of inspirational Tour players, amateur golfers, The R&A, PGA of America and The USGA, as well as many WGD partner and supporter organizations were premiered on www.womensgolfday.com/ virtual-golf-day throughout the day. The themes were Empowerment & Inspiration, Instruction & Tips, Leadership, Fitness, Discovery & Travel and – aptly - Unity around the Globe. Over 134 hours of content has been viewed to date and will continues to be available to watch on the website.
True or False? Q3. The oldest golf course in the world is St Andrews Answers on page 21
Furthermore, thanks to the incredible response from organisations and individuals across the world of golf who donated items to the auction, WGD was able to raise over $20K for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds will be used to continue their essential work around the globe, in many of the countries where Women’s Golf Day has enjoyed tremendous support over the past 5 years. Visit https://womensgolfday.com/register/ to register your venue for the revised date which promises to be an incredible global single day celebration of women’s sport. In response to COVID-19 and to assist locations, the registration fee is waived by using code WGDUNITES before August 1st
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CLUBS TO HIRE CELEBRATES ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK On this week ten years ago Clubs to Hire opened its first shop in Faro Airport, Portugal. It was the build up of a crazy six month period that saw the idea move from concept to reality. They say adversity is the mother of invention and that was pretty much the case here. Founder Tony Judge saw his previous business crash and burn in the wake of the 2007 financial crash. Judge says ‘Part of my previous business was flying too and from the Algarve and included golfing with clients. This meant I had to drag my clubs with me each time. When that business closed, I then turned my attention to researching ways you could rent clubs when flying into a foreign location. It quickly became apparent that the market was not being catered for and I then started to develop a website and business to look after this void in the market. Like any new business it had many ups and downs, but on that beautiful sunny day in June 2010 we managed to open our first shop at Faro Airport. Our first clients to collect a set were a lovely couple from the UK and I remember it was so exciting to see people come to the shop with a big smile and pick up brand new sets of clubs. In those early days we got fantastic support from TaylorMade, Callaway and the airports and we have built up an amazing relationship with them and other key suppliers. Paul McGinley was a big supporter of the business in the early days and in 2016 PGA professional David Howell became the face and friend of the business’. Since then the business has rented over 500,000 sets of clubs and currently operates in 25 worldwide locations. ‘My focus has always been to supply the best golf sets in the True or False? Q4. Golf balls travel significantly further on hots days than on cold days Answers on page 21
market at a very reasonable price. The convenience of renting and trying out new equipment has become extremely popular and we have have had tremendous support from a base of over 100,000 loyal clients from all over the world’. Clubs to Hire handles more than 300,000 annual visits to its website and more than 60,000 bookings for rental clubs at 25 locations worldwide, including popular golfing regions in the USA, Thailand, South Africa and five countries across the Mediterranean, offering the latest clubs on the market, from leading brands such as TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, PXG, PING, Cobra, Wilson and Mizuno – for men and women, left- or right-handed – from just €40 per week, a potential saving of up to €160, with none of the hassle. www.clubstohire.com
With the 2020 Ryder Cup little over a year away, we take a look Follow us: www.facebook.com/teetogreeneu at the potential make-up of Padraig Harrington’s European side.
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There are loads more Golfbites on our NEW website!
BITE 1: TOPTRACER ANNOUNCES GAME CHANGING UPDATES
BITE 2: THE ALL NEW GOF PRIDE GRIPS COLLECTION
Toptracer technology, is the world leader in ball-tracing technology; The company has announceda string of exciting new updates for its driving range technology, headlined by the additions of Bethpage Black and Royal St. George’s Golf Clubtoits Virtual Golf mode. All-new for this summer,visitors atToptracer Ranges can now tee it up at the 2019 PGA Championship venue and the 2021 Open Championship host, adding to a stellar Virtual Golf line-up which already includes the likes of Pebble Beach and The Old Course, St Andrews. The challenging par-3 eighth hole at Bethpage Blackis also the newfeature hole in the Closest to the Pin mode.
Now available to purchase from authorised retailers worldwide, the MCC Teams collection boasts 15 unique colour combinations to choose from, allowing golfers to represent their favourite sports team every time they take to the course. The MCC is the #1 Grip Series Worldwide™ and has been used by both amateurs and professionals to win over 250 times on Tour. The patented multi-compound design fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord for the ultimate in feel and responsiveness while providing an opportunity for golfers to demonstrate their passion for their sports team through unique styling.
BITE 3: NEW HONMA TR20 RANGE ENGINEERED FOR SPEED The beautifully crafted metal woods and irons feature a revolutionary speed design developed to meet the needs of Tour players and competitive amateurs(0-5 handicap). They are the result of the first product collaboration between Master craftsmen in Japan and club designers in the U.S. with extensive PGA Tour experience. In recent play tests, these high-quality clubs have deliveredimpressive results in terms of their ball speed credentials and outstanding looks behind the ball.
BITE 4: NEW CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT 2020 “The new Chrome Soft is the best expression of Callaway’s philosophy: Demonstrably Superior and Pleasingly Different”. Jason Finley, Global Director Brand Management, Golf Ball at Callaway Golf There is a lot of excitement here at Callaway with this year’s Chrome Soft but it’s not always that easy to get people excited over a golf ball – we realise that! That’s why we have created a lot of really cool assets to help you tell the story about the new Chrome Soft, remind you of our innovative Triple Track Technology now extended into our Odyssey putter line this year.
for the re-opening of the economy and society. We will update clubs when this position changes.”
I am confused On the 3rd June, golf’s governing bodies announced that new protocols would allow for competitive golf. Many clubs, North and South, were delighted that this extra money stream would be available to them in these difficult times. The greenkeepers were told to prepare their courses and committees were getting ready to start competitions. However, within 72 hours the communication officer for the GUI rescinded this decision saying; “The Expert Group on the return to sport have decided that no competitive sport should take place during phase 2 of the Irish Government’s Roadmap
We then find out that this decision only applies to golf clubs in the Republic of Ireland. Clubs from the North CAN play competitive golf. So, while every club in Northern Ireland are playing competitive golf the golf clubs in the Republic of Ireland are still only playing social golf. Who sits on this ‘Expert group’? Tee to Green examined who are making the decisions on the return to competitive golf. We found that the ‘Sports Sector’ where represented by Dr Rod McLaughlin (IRFU), Alan Byrne (FAI) and Fearaal McGill (GAA). Where is the representation for golf? The three sports represented on this panel are all team sports and it is obvious that it is much more difficult for them to return to competition. The owners of Tee to Green are lucky as we live in Northern Ireland, but I wonder should competitive golf and any other golfing decision be applied island-wide. If we cannot play competitive golf in Cork, we should not play in Belfast. Then the governing bodies for golf can be seen to be treating all clubs equally.
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Stuart Horne
WE ARE PASSIONATE
SATISFY OUR CUSTOMERS
1/ When did you first get into the golf business and tells us about your career up to this point?
3/ Is the brand distributed throughout Ireland at present?
I became an assistant pro at Ham Manor GC to Peter Marr when I left school, dreaming of winning the Open like all keen young golfers. Reality kicked in fairly quickly! In 1983 I moved to Gloucester to work for Sigma Golf, setting up their assembly and custom business until 1989 when I was made Director managing the sales and marketing side.
We have been selling into Irish golf shops for the last 3 years, with huge success, thanks to our wonderful agent Patricia Treacy. Last year we started working with a few boutiques and garden centres, the brand has a style &colour for everyone, something our retailers and customers love.
In 1995 I was employedby Taylor Made as product manager, then Regional sales manager from 1998 – 2002. I was approached by Callaway to develop their European Corporate business from 2002 – 2010, setting up global product schemes with St Andrews Links, Audi, Maersk, Bentley and others along the way. My current company Links SRP Ltd was established in 2010, had a few bumpy years, but since then have been focused on the headwear and merchandise side of the business.
We pride ourselves in our service and support, not forgetting our inseason deliveries to satisfy our customers requirements during peak times.
Links was appointed as exclusive distributor for a Czech headwear manufacturer Brand Promotions from 2015, to develop their headwear brands coFEEwww.cofee-uk.com and Sabbot www.sabbotheadwear. co.uk.
2/ You are the Uk and Ireland distributor for Sabbot headwear…tell us a bit about the brand? We have been distributing Sabbot headwear into golf initially since 2016, possibly the most non-traditional product in golf, but has captured the imagination of lady golfers, looking for stylish fashionable comfortable headwear and accessories, rather than the very limited uninspiring offerings from before. Sabbot also gives guys the opportunity to buy something special for their loved ones as an apology for playing so much golf :o)) We are passionate about the protection of animals and exposing the incredible cruelty inflicted on them for vanities sakes. All products use genuine faux fur produced in Europe and UK, ensuring all are cruelty free. We have the biggest selection of faux fur knits hats available in Europe, with production in Czech this gives us so much flexibility as far as styles / colours etc are concerned, something that none of our competitors can match from the Far East, we can also guarantee where our products come from.
4/ Tell us briefly about a typical day in your business life? I am fortunate to have never worked Monday – Friday 9 – 5 in my life and in general loved whatever I have done and the people I have worked with. I feel privileged to have done something that I love, you can never have a bad day in golf, maybe the odd not so good day. As for a typical day, I don’t really have one, it depends on the time of the year, for Sabbot Jan – July is planning for the following year, trade shows, coordinating the pre orders with our agents and accounts, visiting customers. From August – Dec very much full on with packing, shipping, deliveries, sales meetings, Xmas Fairs, meetings with agents etc. I travel to Czech HQ 2 – 3 times a year, wonderful people to work with, also crazy about golf, so they are delighted that their amazing products are being sold in some of the best courses in the world.
5/ Do you play golf and have you ever played in Ireland …if so what is your favourite Irish golf course? I have played since I was 14, a pro for a short time, then played off 3 from 1981 until a car crash in 2010. I started playing again, but have never been the same since and now play off 9, but love the game. I was due to play two courses from my bucket list 2 weeks after my car crash, but had to cancel due to injuries, hopefully will get to Portrush and Royal County Down one day. The few times I have played in Ireland have been amazing, Old Head, Tralee, Malone, Lisburn and a couple of others,everyone was so friendly wherever I played and can’t wait to play some more golf in Ireland. I am always open to any offers :o))
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Keep sending us your local and international historical golfing facts to info@teetogreen.eu and we will print as many as possible. This month we have some very interesting ‘old’ dates that have been sent in and we thank everyone who has contributed. On 22/7/1657, several men were arrested for playing golf on a Sunday. Many people think that golf in US did not start until late 19th century but there are records showing that ‘Kolf’ was played a long time before that. On 30/7/1790, Bruntsfield Links (later known as The Royal Burgess Golf Society) wrote in their minutes, “As this Golfing Society has subsisted above thirty years, a proposal has been some time ago made for having a uniform. Mr A Brown produced a design viz. two clubs crossed with four balls, with the opposite motto below ‘Inde Salus’. This was considered and approved by the meeting.” The Royal Burgess Golf Society is widely regarded as the oldest golf society in the world. On 15/7/1857, David Richie played a match against Alexander Love at Donnelly’s Hollow, Curragh. The Gutta Percha ball that Richie played in the match was later given to Royal Dublin Golf Club with a signed statement of authenticity. In July 1878, Bangalore Golf Club (the oldest golf club outside the British Isles founded 1876) played a match against Madras Golf Club. This is now recognised as the longest running inter club golf tournament in the world.
This was the first time that any US National golf tournament had been held outside continental US. Verne Callison won his first of two Public Links Championship. On 4/7/1965, the Women’s US Open was televised live for the first time. Carol Mann won her only US Open when she beat fellow American Kathy Cornelius by two strokes at Atlantic City, New Jersey. Despite starting with a six over par 78, she won with a total of two over. On 24/7/1966, ‘Champagne’ Tony Lema died in a plane crash. Lema, who won the 1964 Open at St Andrews, had chartered a plane to fly himself and his wife from the PGA Championship at Firestone to an invitational event in Illinois. The plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the nine-hole Lansing Sportman’s Club half a mile from their destination, killing all on board. On 21/7/1985, Sandy Lyle became the first Scotsman since the war to win The Open. At Royal St George’s he held off the challenge of Payne Stewart to win by one stroke. Going into the final round David Graham and Bernhard Langer had the joint lead, three shots clear of the field but both players shot 75’s. On 19/7/1987, Nick Faldo won the first of his six major championships when he parred all 18 holes at Muirfield to record a one stroke win over Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis. Azinger had a three-shot lead going into the last nine holes but in windy conditions he dropped four shots to par, including bogeying the last two holes.
On 16/7/1901, Willie Anderson won the first of his four US Opens at The Myopia Hunt Club. He managed to beat his fellow Scotsman Alex Smith on the first extra hole.
On 28/7/1991, Tiger Woods won his first of three US Junior Championships with a 19th hole victory over Brad Zwetschke at Bay Hill, Florida. Tiger went on to win the next two US Juniors before being too old to compete in the 1994 Championship.
Since 1937 The Open has always been played during the month of July (until this year). However, previously to that there had only been one Open played during July and that was in 1920 at Royal Cinques Ports when George Duncan beat Sandy Herd by two strokes to become the first ‘July winner’ of The Open.
On 25/7/1997, the ‘great’ Ben Hogan died at the age of 84. Hogan won 9 major championships and 64 PGA Tour titles and is the only golfer to have won The Masters, US Open and The Open all in the same year. He completed the career Grand Slam and is one of only 5 players to have achieved this feat.
On 11/7/1960, the US Amateur Public Links Championship was held in Hawaii.
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Some of the best golfers the world has ever seen were born in this month. Here are a few.
Max Faulkner was born 29/7/1916
Faulkner was born in Bexhill-on-Sea and won the 1951 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club. He would play a total of 31 Open Championships form 1934-1975. He did not play in any of the US majors in his career. His father Gus was the assistant professional to the ‘great’ James Braid.
Sir Nick Faldo was born 18/7/1957. Faldo was born Welwyn Gardens City and won 41 professional titles. These included three Open Championships and three Masters titles. He spent 97 weeks at number 1 and represented Europe at the Ryder Cup a record 11 times winning 25 points. Faldo won Sports Personality of the Year in 1989 and was knighted in 2009 for his services to golf.
Adam Scott was born 16/7/1980.
Scott was born in Australia and won the 2013 Masters in a playoff against Angel Cabrera. He has also won the Players Championship, two World Golf events and two Fed/Ex events. In 2014 he reached number one in the world and held that position for eleven weeks.
Justin Rose was born 30/7/1980.
Rose won the 2013 US Open at Merion CC to become the first Englishman for 43 years to have done so. He has also won two World Championships, one Fed/Ex title and on three separate occasions has been the world number one. In 2016, Rose won the gold medal at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It was the first time that golf had been played at the Olympics since 1904.
Jordan Spieth was born 27/7/1993. Spieth won his first major at the 2015 Masters and went on that year to win the US Open at Chambers Bay. In doing so he became the youngest US Open winner since Bobby Jones. Spieth also won the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale and is now just the USPGA away becoming the sixth player in history to win the career Grand Slam.
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NEW LOOK QUINTA DA MARINHA READY TO REOPEN Holidaymakers and golfers will be able to get a first glimpse of the extensive refurbishment of Quinta Da Marinha as the hotel prepares to reopen on Tuesday, June 9. The Portuguese hotel celebrated its 20th birthday in style this year with a complete overhaul of all 198 bedrooms, many communal areas and updated décor throughout, but the big reveal was unfortunately halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Located less than an hour’s drive from Lisbon in stunning Cascais, Hotel Quinta da Marinha is part of the ‘Great Hotels of the World’ portfolio and boasts a Robert Trent Jones-designed par-71 golf course with outstanding views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains. The hotel’s reopening is welcome news to the owners, staff and future guests of the hotel who will finally be able to enjoy the fresh, modern feel of the €5m investment – which is set to make the already five-star experience extra special. Guests will be able to stay in the new rooms, which haven’t been slept in before the hotel’s reopening, as well as experiencing the other extensive facilities the hotel has to offer. Bookings in June, July and August include activities such as yoga, golf, tennis, horse riding, surfing and bike rides – a great way to explore Cascais and the breath-taking beach of Praia do Guincho, located just 5km away. The on-site restaurants will also reopen with live cooking shows from chef Fernando Monteiro set to be another enticing attraction to the resort. Of course, the hotel’s reopening is subject to strict guidelines and precautions to help keep staff and guests safe. Quinta da Marinha has received the ‘Clean and Safe’ stamp of approval from the Tourism of Portugal, which distinguishes tourist activities
True or False? Q5. 80% of golfers will never play to a handicap of less than 18 Answers on page 21
which are compliant with hygiene and cleaning requirements for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other possible infections. The strict safety regulations put in place include an enhanced and thorough cleaning regime, taking the temperature of staff and visitors, PPE equipment where needed, as well as measures to maintain social distancing. The hotel is also debuting mobile room access technology which enables guests to open room doors using their mobile phones. Sales director, João Pinto Coelho, said: “We would have been excited to open and welcome guests back in normal circumstances, but the fact that we are reopening an entirely new hotel brings a different level of anticipation and exhilaration. “It’s been a tough and strange time for everyone, but we are hoping that we can offer an escape to tourists for them to enjoy their leisure time in a safe and luxury environment. “Over the last two decades, It’s always been our vision to offer the best five-star experience in the region and maintain the highest standards possible. This renovation will go a long way to achieving that, giving our valued guests the comfort, space and design they deserve and expect. “We are delighted to be able to welcome them back and look forward to proudly showcasing the new and improved hotel.”
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INTERESTING SNIPPETS Record of Consecutive Pars on PGA Tour What Harold Varner III achieved at the Phoenix Open was unparalleled: on a par with… well, many pars. The 29-yearold American set a new record forc onsecutive pars in a US PGA Tour tournament – no fewer than 32 in a row.
Summer comes to La Manga Club with July 1 opening Hotel, sports, beach and restaurants to reopen as Spain’s leading family leisure and sports resort prepares a warm Spanish welcome for its guests. The GrupoInversor Hesperia (GIHSA) owned La Manga Club, one of Europe’s premier destination resorts for active families, has sprinkled further sunshine on the increasingly positive outlook for tourism this summer, by announcing that it will reopen the resort from July 1. Following recent positive news from governments, airline companies and border controls, Hesperia World – La Manga Club’s management arm – has taken the decision to open the doors from the beginning of next month and to reward families with the resort’s unique brand of fun, activities, relaxation and sunshine. Hesperia World maintains the highest emphasis on the well-being of its guests and employees, and has committed to all guarantees around safety, hygiene and quality, guided throughout by national health authorities and the World Health Organisation. La Manga Club’s opening is at the forefront of a staged re-opening of Hesperia World managed properties across cities in Spain this July, including its hotels in A Coruña, Bilbao, Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, San Sebastián, and Vigo. The first guests at La Manga Club will be welcomed to the resort’s fivestar Principe Felipe Hotel with both North and South golf courses open, as well as the golf academy and driving range areas. Tennis lovers can get back in the swing and play to their heart’s content at La Manga Club’s impressive 28-court tennis centre, with the tennis academy serving up world-class tuition for all ages. Elsewhere, La Manga Club’s Mediterranean cove beach will be open with a lunch service at its famous La Cala seafood restaurant. Further dining options will be available at Amapola (fine dining) and Sol y Sombra, and the hotel’s legendary Piano Bar will be open for pre and post dinner entertainment. Flights are available from across Europe into the airports at Murcia (25 minutes) and Alicante (1 hour). Bookings are now open from 1 July with the cost for a week for a family of 4 starting from €1350. For more information on La Manga Club and to book, go to lamangaclub.com
He started with a par onThursday on the first hole of the TPC Scottsdale and repeated that result non-stop the rest of the day and much of the next. The previous record was held by K.J. Choi, with 27 pars in the 2006 Colonial. Couple Play Almost 1,000 courses They are keen golfers, although they play a kind of golf that we could most accurately describe by scale. Britons Richard and Emily Gottfried have spent the last 14 years travelling around their country playing mini-golf courses, and they have nearly totalled 1,000 – just 50 short. When the couple – he is 39 and she one year younger – began their mini-golf adventure, there were about 600 courses in Britain, a figure that has been increasing at an accelerated pace in recent years to double that number today. Highest-Altitude Course in the World The highest-altitude golf course in the world is in the Himalayas, specifically in Kupup (East Sikkim) in northern India, near the borders with China and Bhutan. It is 3,970 metres above sea level and was officially certified on 10 October 2006 bytheGuinness Book of World Records. At that altitude, playing golf at Yak Golf Club can be both a strange and a fun experience at the same time: due to lower air density, the ball can travel up to 20 per cent further one achshot. Tiger’s Record Drive: 498 yards Tiger Woods hit the shot on the 18th in the second round of the 2002 Mercedes Championship in Kapalua (Hawaii) and stunned everyone: 498 yards. That was the driving distance record onthe PGA Tour until the US circuit reviewed its figures (in 2003 the measurements ystem was changed, using laser technology) and agreed that the official record, 476 yards, belonged to David Love III in the 2004 edition of the same Hawaii tournament – and on the same hole as Tiger. Woods’ achievement now counts as an unofficial record.
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KING OF THE CASTLE 2019
This month, Srixon is sponsoring this section where the person who writes the letter that gets published will win a dozen Srixon balls. This is your UNIQUE chance to get something off your chest. Have a rant or just pass comment on anything relating to golf…so get writing and send to info@teetogreen.eu
Should we be playing competition golf? The PGA Tour in USA have put in many protections so that their golfers, caddies and officials remain safe from the dreaded Covid19 virus. However, after just a few weeks we see the players not adhering to social distancing and now we have 4 players unable to compete because either they or their caddies have contracted the virus. Jay Monaghan had to come out and confirm that the Tour would continue. I suggest that if there are any more cases the Tour may well be cancelled again. 2 weeks ago, in Ireland,we played at 14 minute intervals with no competitive golf. Then we moved to 12 minutes with competitive golf and now we are moving to 10 minutes interval. In July we will be allowed to travel to any golf course and play in open competitions and invite guests to play our courses. Do you think we are moving too quickly? I know for one that I will not be playing anywhere other than my own golf club and I very much hope my club do not allow any open competitions for many weeks yet. Editors’ comment: I agree with you, I do not think I will be rushing to play any open competition for a while or indeed invite any guests to come to my club to play. However, we do need to start getting back to some sort of normality. We all still need to understand that Covid19 is still here and we all need to take precautions.
OCEAN TEE, the sustainable golf company, is expanding its range of award-winning sustainable bamboo tees to include Castle tees. The new design will be available to purchase online from 12th June and can also be included in the company’s Crowd collection, designed to enable golf clubs to make a permanent switch to non-plastic tees. The Castle tee has been developed as a response to consumer and retail demand with many businesses reporting that they wanted to include a castle option in the pro shop. Ed Sandison, Founder of OCEAN TEE, explains how he set about meeting this new challenge, “We get more enquiries about castle tees than anything else, so we decided to look at the feasibility of making a bamboo castle tee. We worked with our manufacturing partner to create a few silhouettes and after testing out various samples before lockdown we settled on the style we are introducing to the range.” The 59mm (39mm body) Castle tees, which retail at £3.99, offer a plastic free alternative to the common pink castle tee currently on the market and come in the company’s familiar matchbox presentation. This can also be customised making them the perfect corporate gift or sustainable promotional item for events and tournaments. The Castle tees will also be included in the range offered as part of the company’s unique Crowd scheme where golf clubs and facilities are combining their buying power to benefit from reduced costs in a bid to ban plastic tees from their courses. Any clubs interested in more information about wholesale pricing and the Crowd initiative email info@oceanteegolf. com As with many businesses the delivery of the Castle tees during the pandemic has come with its own set of problems. Not only was the shipment delayed, with the road between the bamboo farm and manufacturing facility being closed for 3 months, but the samples in the UK self-isolated in Hertfordshire, whilst founder Ed Sandison spent his lockdown in Cheshire, where he famously claimed his first ever hole in one. Ed concludes, “We have been extremely lucky to be able to stick to our business plan through the last few months. We managed to deliver our first ever garment on time as well as our first collaboration piece. The Castle tees may have come later than we hoped, but we know that there is a real demand for this product and look forward to shipping orders out ASAP.”
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Golfer Gary Player gets $5 million in legal dispute with son Marc
The 84-year-old golfer and the South Carolina-based Gary Player Group reached a settlement last month as the dispute was being arbitrated, documents filed in June in Palm Beach County Circuit Court show. The group is operated by Marc Player, one of the golfer’s six children Gary Player designs golf courses and sells golf equipment, sportswear and wine under the label “The Black Knight,” his nickname. There are no details in the court filings on what caused the dispute. Gary Player’s attorney, Stuart Singer, declined to give details in a statement, saying only there was a “contractual dispute” and that the $5 million was for royalties due the golfer. The group’s attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Legendary golfer Gary Player will get $5 million and the rights to his name and likeness back from a company operated by one of his sons, according to court documents filed in Florida.
UPDATE ON THE R&A’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
The South African golfer is the only non-American to win all four major championships: three Opens, three Masters, two PGAs and one U.S. Open. He won 24 PGA Tour titles overall. He then won 19 times on the Senior Tour, including two U.S. Senior Opens and four other majors. He also won a British Senior Open.
The revised schedule will create a strong run of amateur events beginning with the Brabazon Trophy (18-21 August) and the English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship (18-20 August) followed by The Amateur and Women’s Amateur championships and then the European Amateur Championship (2-5 September). The European Amateur Team Championships will be played from 9-12 September and the European Ladies’ Amateur from 30 September to 3 October.
The R&A has updated its plans for its 2020 amateur championships and international matches. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some further changes have been made to the schedule of events this summer. • The Women’s Amateur Championship will be played at West Lancashire from 25-29 August instead of Kilmarnock (Barassie). The Ayrshire venue will now host the 2021 championship from 8-12 June. • The Amateur Championship will be played solely at Royal Birkdale from 25-30 August. • The R&A Girls’ Amateur, Boys’ Amateur and Women’s Senior Amateur championships have been cancelled. • The Curtis Cup has been rescheduled for 3-5 September 2021 at Conwy.
Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships at The R&A, said, “We have been working hard to make sure we can deliver The Amateur and Women’s Amateur championships in August in as safe a manner as possible for players and officials. With that in mind, we plan to stage both championships at neighbouring venues in the north west of England so we can concentrate our resources in one area. “We look forward to staging these great championships which will provide an opportunity for the leading players to compete at the highest level and, if eligible, stake their claims for places in the Walker and Curtis cups as well as other international matches next year. We are also delighted to confirm the dates for the Curtis Cup match and look forward to welcoming the players of both teams to Conwy in 2021.” For regular updates on The R&A’s amateur championships and international matches please visit www.RandA.org or follow The R&A on social media.
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July Schedule for the PGA and European Tours With no Open Championship this year all eyes will be on the first of the World Golf Championship events, the ‘Fed-Ex St Jude Invitational’ at TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee which will take place between 30th July- 2nd August. Last year, Brooks Koepka came out in front with a 3 shot victory over Webb Simpson. However, it is difficult to call who will win the big tournaments as many of the top 10 players are still trying to find their feet. With Webb Simpson already in the winner’s circle and the event being played on a golf course that he enjoys playing, I am going to stick my neck out and put my £5.00 bet on him to win his first WGC event. There are four other events on the PGA Tour in July. The first one is the ‘Rocket Mortgage Classic’ at Detroit Golf Club, an event that was won by Nate Lashley. The Tour then moves to Ohio and Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village, where it stays for two weeks. I do not remember back to back Tour events at the same location happening before. The first tournament is the ‘Workday Charity Open’ and this is followed by the ‘Memorial’. This year the Memorial has been elevated and the winner will receive a 3-year PGA Tour exemption. The field for the event has been reduced to just 120 players instead of the 144 that have played in all the events since the return of golf. Starting on the 23rd July is the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota. Matthew Wolff is the defending champion after winning the 2019 event by shooting a 65 in the fourth round to defeat Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa by 1 shot. It will be interesting to see how Wolff handles the pressure of being defending champion.
Fun Facts While this is a look forward to golf in July, a mention should be given to two different statistics that occurred on the Sunday of The Heritage, Harbor Town Golf Links, Hilton Head. Abraham Ancer managed to hit all 18 greens in regulation on the last day of the championship. Despite leading going into the final round and shooting a 65, Ancer could only finish in a tie for 2nd behind Webb Simpson. Also, in 2nd place, was Daniel Berger who shot his 32 consecutive under-par round of golf. Only two players have a longer steak since 2000, Tiger Woods holds the record with 52 and Fred Funk had 38 in a row.
European Tour restarts The European Tour restarts on 9th July with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria. With the new post Covid19 schedule this tournament has dual ranking with the Challenge Tour. In 2018 this championship was played under time restrictions and was known as the‘Stopwatch Masters’. MikkoKorhoran is the defending champion. Between the 15th-18th July the Euram Bank Open, Adamstal Country Club, Ramsau, Austria, takes centre stage with a prize fund of €500,000 and 1,000 ‘Race to Dubai’ points. The Tour then moves into a six-week UK stretch. The Betfred British Masters at Close House Golf Club near Newcastle will be played between 22nd-25th July. Lee Westwood takes his turn at hosting the event and he will welcome back Marcus Kinhult as the defending champion. The last championship in July on the European Tour is the English Open at Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club, to be played starting 30th.
ANSWERS: 1 .True 2 True, Sam Snead in 1962 3. False. Musselburgh Links is the oldest course in the world 4. True 5. True Well done to those who got them all!
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Famous Quotes “The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight” - Ben Hogan -
BOB HOPE “I just hope I don’t have to explain all the times I’ve used His name in vain when I get up there.”
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“Fame is addictive. Money is addictive. Attention is addictive. But golf is second to none.” MARC ANTHONY
GARY PLAYER “Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I’ve played the game for 50 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea of how to play.”
BEN HOGAN “The most important shot in golf is the next one.” “My swing is so bad, I look like a caveman killing his lunch.” LEE TREVINO
“Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle” ANONYMOUS ARNOLD PALMER “I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone’s game: It’s called an eraser.”
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