GOLF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE JUNE 2011
GLORIOUS GOODWOOD / SUNGLASSES / MEMORABILIA / MOTORING & MORE...
JUNE 2011 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 1
Make a date at glorious Goodwood If you were asked to picture a typical scene at Goodwood then horsepower of some description probably springs to mind, either the four-legged or the four-wheeled variety. This majestic estate set in the sublime Sussex countryside hosts Glorious Goodwood, the famous five-day horse race meeting every July, bookended by the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival, the largest ‘car culture’ events in the world and a double-whammy celebration of all things motorsport from the classic to the modern. There are people, literally tens of thousands of discerning people, who won’t miss these events for all the tea in China. Goodwood is truly one of the country’s great stately homes. Originally a small Jacobean house it was bought as a hunting lodge by the 1st Duke of Richmond, son of King Charles II. Greatly extended over the years it is now worth visiting not least to stand and stare at the art collection, which includes breathtaking paintings by van 2 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM JUNE 2011
Golfer and motorsport enthusiast Steve Newell didn’t know which way to turn at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Press Day. After a mind-altering passenger ride in Ferrari’s dazzling new 458 Italia, he had his senses soothed on the springy fairways of the Downs Course and spoke to Lord March about the good life at Goodwood! Dyck, Canaletto and Stubbs. That’s just the tip of the iceberg at Goodwood, though. “There is so much our customers can take advantage of when staying here,” says Lord March. “Whether enjoying a sumptuous private event at Goodwood House, getting behind the wheel at the historic Motor Circuit, taking to the skies from Goodwood Aerodrome or enjoying the Goodwood Hotel and its modern Health Club and Waterbeach Spa facilities, nowhere else in the world can offer such an extraordinary and diverse range of luxury experiences as you will find here.” Fittingly for this regal location, you will also find the Royal & Ancient game. Golf has in fact been an
attraction at Goodwood for more than a century, although for much of that time it has been something of a hidden gem. The original nine-hole course was conceived by six Sussex gents way back in 1892. The entrance fee and annual subscription was just one guinea, but a lack of membership in any significant numbers was a major problem until the sixth Duke of Richmond’s family stepped in and saved the day. It then thrived and in 1962 it became the Goodwood Golf Club. Lack of membership at Goodwood hasn’t been a problem in its modern incarnation. A major renovation of the Downs Course in 2004 coaxed this James Braid classic into the 21st century and de-
GOLF AT GOODWOOD
Golfers who take advantage of Goodwood’s innovative membership program not only have two fine golf courses to enjoy but also access to the stylish Kennels Clubhouse (left) in addtiion to the main clubhouse (above). In addition to the golf, motor racing, of course, is central to the Goodwood experience, the Festival of Speed (July 1-3) and the Goodwood Revival (Sept 16-18) being among the most anticipated events on the social calendar
spite the worst recession in living memory membership has since thrived thanks to the innovative blend of traditional golf club membership and a new Credit membership, which allows golfers to effectively ‘play as they go’. “In all honesty, the recession has probably helped golf at Goodwood,” says Lord March, “as the flexible and affordable Credit membership has given people more value to their golf and meant that when they haven’t been able to play due to various reasons they haven’t been penalised with a standard golf subscription. Our numbers have increased year-on-year over the past three years, which shows that our membership program is perceived in a very positive
light by the local golfing community.” Lord March, who took over the running of the estate from his father in 1994, has a passion for perfection and in all of Goodwood’s many showcase events he skillfully blends traditional values with modern accoutrements. The same principles have been applied to the golfing experience. “If we were to have golf at Goodwood,” explains Lord March, “we wanted it to be the best, but also different and aimed at a younger audience. I wanted golf to move on, to take all the authenticity and history we have in our various sports and deliver this to our golfing experience in a modern and exciting way, which is relevant today. The Kennels, the clubhouse for our members
at Goodwood, is the physical embodiment of that.” Very special it is, too. The elegant Georgian façade of the Grade 1 listed Kennels clubhouse built in 1787 for the Duke’s faithful hounds, now houses a wonderfully stylish and contemporary interior where members can relax and enjoy a long lunch, supper, or homemade cake and a pot of tea. In homage to the building’s origins, dogs can become members, too. A collection of named water bowls is lined up in the lobby! “Golf at Goodwood is golf as it should be,” proclaims Lord March. “In other words, simple, flexible, not in any way stuffy. Unusually and refreshingly, there’s no dress code and, yes, we encourage members to bring their dogs to the course and the clubhouse afterwards – after all it was the Kennels!” Golfers and their pooches will get equal amounts of joy from a walk around the Downs Course. Dramatic changes of elevation in the valleys and hills provide stunning views over the Chichester Plain towards the cathedral and beyond to the Isle of Wight. It really is quite uplifting and, as I discovered, you can hit the ball quite poorly and still have a lovely afternoon. Down the road and attached to the excellent Goodwood House Hotel is the Park Course, a gentler test of golf and one that meanders through estate woodland with tree-lined fairways and small greens. The Downs should be your first choice, though. It was considered a sufficiently stern test to play host to the inaugural English PGA Championship last year, which is apt, as there are surely few things JUNE 2011 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 3
Eddie Bullock CAPTAIN PGA 2011 / DIRECTOR OF GOLF, GOODWOOD
MY PERSONAL TOP 10 1. Golf at Goodwood, the whole experience playing The Downs course with the stunning views and enjoying Horse Racing and Motor Racing – what a great day out 2. 15th Hole Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand – the most stunning panorama ever 3. Seve winning the Open at St Andrews in 1984 – inspirational as he holed the final putt at the home of golf. Even now it makes me feel good 4. The halfway house on the Marquess Course, Woburn – relaxing interval with friends, always special 5. Enjoying the hospitality of Peter Gammon at Trevose and being invited to share in his personal wine collection! 6. To be at Augusta and enjoy the special surroundings taking in the Georgia Pines, Azalea Bushes, White Dogwood, Pink Dogwood – golf heaven! 7. Good customer service consistently delivered at golf clubs. Sadly few and far between in the UK, but there are some very good ones and they know who they are (if not, ask me, I have a black book listing the good and the bad!) 8. The Trilby Tour, one of the most exciting innovations to be introduced into making golf FUN – congratulations to William Hunt 9. The golf industry, a delight to be a part of from members of clubs, to all that make a huge con tribution to keep the cogs moving in the indus try – club managers, golf professionals, greenkeepers, journalists, course architects...the list is endless. See you all in the Red and White tent at Sandwich for the Open! 10. My John Letters Golden Goose putter, been with me for 40 years – thanks for being there when I needed you!
more quintessentially English than good old Goodwood. The English PGA returns this year and a Trilby Tour event is on the schedule, too (Goodwood member Chris Dyson will be out to defend his title this year). “The Trilby Tour is a great fit with the golf at Goodwood ethos,” says Lord March. “It makes golf more accessible and offers an authentic, yet edgy experience to players…a chance for amateur golf enthusiasts to play in a professional tournament.” Immersed as I was in this world for an all-toobrief 24 hours, it is impossible not to be seduced by the whole Goodwood experience. It really is an extraordinary place. And the enthusiasm of Lord March is utterly infectious. Whatever he sets his mind to, he does so with genuine passion and a refreshing hands-on approach. So, I ask before I go, would Lord March be inspired to take up golf? “I am leaving that to my children…or to my retirement,” he jokes.
Goodwood Golf Club The Goodwood Estate, Chichester, West Sussex Tel: +44 (0)1243 755144 www.goodwood.co.uk * The Trilby Tour will be visiting Goodwood for the first time this summer (July 21) - for details www.williamhunttrilbytour.co.uk 4 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM JUNE 2011
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Look on the bright side!
TAG HEUER ‘GOLF’ With lightweight stainless steel arms that wrap around and hug the head for a comfortable fit, these new golfspecific sunglasses from TAG Heuer filter the perfect balance of sunlight to enhance contours and depth. Guide: £210 www.tagheuer.com/eyewear
Some might say the warmest April on record doesn’t bode well for the summer – but here’s hoping...
SERENGETI ‘MAESTRALE’ These Maestrale sunglasses are so lightweight & comfortable you will not realize that you have them on. Featuring exclusive lens technology including photochromic & polarized properties, spectral control, anti-reflective coating and impact resistance. Fantastic for sport, driving and casual wear. Guide: £149 www.serengeti-eyewear.com TAG HEUER ‘RACER’ A combination of high-tech fittings and noble raw materials ensure the RACER has all of the precision and performance qualities that are the hallmark of TAG Heuer Eyewear. Available in 7 frame sizes and 6 colours. Guide: £130 www.tagheuer.com/eyewear
OAKLEY ‘FLAK JACKET’ (below) The ever popular Flak Jacket series features an interchangeable lens design, so you can change your optics as easily as you change your club. The lenses feature a permanent Hydrophobic™ coating that repels water, oils and dust, the G30™ lenses actually enhancing your depth perception by boosting visual contrast. Guide: £135; www.oakley.co.uk
OAKLEY ‘FAST JACKETS’ (above) A brand new edition to the Oakley range and worn by Oakley ambassadors Rory Mcllroy and the ever-colourful Ian Poulter the Oakley Fast Jackets represent the next generation of performance eyewear from one of the world’s leading sports fashion brands. Available from May 2011. Guide: £190 (Polarized version £230) www.oakley.co.uk
SUNDOG ‘ATTACK’ The Melanin infused lenses developed in conjunction with Essilor lens of France represents one of the most important advancements in Sundog Eyewear, with significant benefits to vision. Mela lens filtration of the visible spectrum results in relaxed vision without the alteration of colours, actually providing for better natural colour distinction. The result is improved vision without fatigue – especially with bright sunlight and reflection from the ground. Guide: £59.99 www.sundogeyewear.co.uk
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SUNGLASSES
ADIDAS ‘ADIVISTA’ (below) Engineered specifically for the needs of the golfer, the new Advista from adidas promises easy adjustability and ergonomically formed hinges for a perfect fit and wearing comfort. With its newly developed lens, the LST™ Vario (Light Stabalising Technology), these sunglasses are designed to adapt to every light condition. Guide: £135 www.adidas.com/eyewear
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ADIDAS ‘RETEGO’ (above) Developed with the help of adidas ambassador Justin Rose, the Retego model bridges the gap between performance and fashion, delivering a confident look and crystal-clear vision. The specially curved lens filters are designed specifically for golfers, providing a wide range of vision perfect for playing ‘side on’. Guide: £120 www.adidas.com/eyewear
CEBE ‘EYEMAX’ This lightweight sports model offers a wide field of vision and features rubber nose pads/temple tips and anti-fog ventilated lenses. The impact resistant 1500 grey flash polycarbonate lenses promise 100% UV protection while the flash mirror coating helps to eliminate any glare in bright conditions. Guide: £50 www.cebe.com
BOLLE ‘VORTEX’ (above) & ‘DRAFT’ (below) The Vortex is a new half-rim model which is lightweight, comfortable and extremely flexible. The 100% UV protective B-clear lenses offer the highest optical clarity and great peripheral vision. The lenses are engineered for maximum impact resistance and feature a hydrophobic coating keeping your view perspiration and dust free. The Draft model offers the same performance in a smaller fit. Guide: £108 www.bolle.com
NIKE ‘SHOW-X1’ The shield lens Nike Show-X1 sunglasses promise grip, stability and comfort. They feature interchangeable lenses, adjustable temples and Nike Max Optics Lens Technology for precise vision at all angles. Ideal not only for golf but many other sports. Frames available in a variety of colour options. Guide: £129 www.golfsmith-europe.co.uk
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What are these worth? This issue, our auction-room expert Kevin McGimpsey highlights five of the most interesting and collectible items to have caught his eye from your recent postings (and please keep them coming!)
SPITFIRE GOLF BALLS What can you tell me about this box of Spitfire golf balls, all of which are still wrapped. Robin Foster, Glasgow These Spitfire balls with a dimple pattern were made during the early 1950s by the Golf Ball Developments Company (GBD) in Birmingham, as established by Albert Edward Penfold in 1927. The Spitfire fighter plane was still a relatively common sight in Britain’s skies and its name continued to evoke nostalgia and emotions. And what a great name for a golf ball, with its connotations for ultimate control in the air! Although they were low budget golf balls, GBD marketed them as having ‘uniform accuracy’. Each ball was wrapped in a clear plastic bag and I particularly like the way in which the paint has yellowed, as can just be seen here, creating a form of patina that reflects the age of these balls.
(Right): The Spitfire ball was a popular 1950s model from GBD, the dimple pattern promising ‘Uniform Accuracy’! (Below): A licensed manufacturer of the wooden headed Gassiat putter, club-maker William Gibson made this particular model – notable for the fact that it is fitted with a shaft fashioned from Danga wood, an expensive African import used on premium clubs. This one would fetch around £500.
VALUE: Although the Spitfire is not a common ball, it is not especially commercial. When they come to auction it is usually as single balls, with a value per ball of £3-5. What is unusual in this case is having a complete box of ‘wrapped’ 12 balls in three plastic ‘Penfold’ sleeves in a near-mint box. At auction its low estimate would be £40 and its high estimate £80.
GASSIAT PUTTER
pad grip, making the handle capable of being moulded to the palm of the individual’s hand. William Gibson was an advocate of Danga wood, an expensive import from Africa and normally only used for quality clubs.
This putter has been in our family since the 1950s. What can you tell me about it and is it worth anything? Helen Ryan. Coin, Malaga, Spain This wooden headed putter was originally known as ‘The Chantilly Putter’, named for the town in France that was home to its inventor, the Marquis de Chasseloup-Loubat. It was first used in 1911 but came to prominence during the 1912 French Open. Golf Illustrated reviewed the putter in its October 1913 issue thus: ‘It certainly is a weird, not to say, uncouth looking instrument. The head is very large and nearly square in formation and the face is shallow. The top of the shaft is not round, but flat-sided and there is an extra thickness at the top for the use of the left hand.’ Jean L. Gassiat (1883-1946), a 29 year-old French golf professional based in Chantilly won the 1912 French Open using the Chantilly putter, beating Harry Vardon by a stroke. Soon after this victory the putter became known as the ‘Jean Gassiat’ putter. It was an overnight success and everyone wanted the putter with its ‘Grand 8 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM JUNE 2011
Piano’ styled head. The majority of the early Model L.C.L. Jean Gassiat putters were made by W.M. Winton under the British Design Registration Number 627,732. Other licensed manufacturers were Slazenger, the Walter Hagen Company and – as in the case of this putter – William Gibson of Kinghorn. Most Gassiat putters that I have seen have a straight hickory shaft with a pistol grip (i.e. not round but flat sided) at the top of the shaft. Our reader’s Gassiat putter is unusual because it has a shaft made from Danga wood and it has a rib-
VALUE: Considering that the Gassiat putter was such a popular addition to the golf bag and was being produced up until the early 1930s, I often wonder why so few ever come to auction. A good condition putter with the more common pistol grip would fetch between £300 and £400. Our reader’s putter is rarer still and, as such, would most likely exceed £500.
LONGHURST LETTER Please find attached a copy of a handwritten letter dated 21st August 1977 that I received from Henry Longhurst. Is this something that might be of value and, if so, would you have an idea as to what that value might be? Alan Harding, Bourg Des Comptes, France Our reader had written to Mr. Longhurst asking him about comments that he made in a book about the rigours of being a golf professional in
MEMORABILIA
(Left): A handwritten note from the doyen of British golf broadcasting and journalism Henry Longhurst; (right): This bronze shows a pensive King Charles in 1642. (Below):
earlier years and whether he still agreed with them, in the light of the expansion of golf in later years. Longhurst’s short and succinct reply reveals not only great penmanship but his failing health at the time: Lost the use of a lung and am rather feeble, so not too much. I certainly think that first the motor car, then television, have caused the so called ‘golf explosion’. The pro’s are unbelievably lucky by comparison with when I came in. So glad you liked the book. Good pictures anyway! Henry Longhurst. Henry Carpenter Longhurst (1909-1978) was a renowned British golf writer and radio/television commentator. During a family holiday in 1920 in Devon he had first taken to golf playing on a three-hole course on a common. A natural sportsman, he quickly became hooked and within eight years had become Captain of the Cambridge University Golf Club. Longhurst started writing for a monthly golf magazine called Tee Topics and came to the attention of the editor of the Sunday Times who invited him to contribute to the sporting page. He then became the golf correspondent of the Sunday Times, and retained that position for 40 years. From the late 1950s to the mid 1970s he was also the BBC Television’s senior golf commentator. Some notable Longhurst sayings over the years include: “If you call on God to improve the results of a shot while it is still in motion, you are using ‘an outside agency’ and subject to appropriate penalties under the rules of golf.” “They say ‘practice makes perfect.’ Of course, it doesn’t. For the vast majority of golfers it merely consolidates imperfection.” VALUE: Henry Longhurst wrote several golfing books, great to read even today but they tend to perform poorly when sold at auction. However there is something rather novel in owning one of his signed letters but I wouldn’t expect it to surpass £100 at auction.
BRONZE PLAQUE
GOOSE-NECK IRON
I found this recently in a junk shop. It was in a pretty distressed wooden frame and was filthy. I bought it for £40 because of the golf factor. I can’t find out anything about it... Simon Bates, Hemel Hempstead
What can you tell me about this rather unusual iron – was it designed to look like this? Terry Lambert, West Ham, London
The scene shows a rather pensive King Charles I in 1642 who has stopped his game of golf to read a letter that tells him that the Irish Catholic gentry had launched a coup and that hostilities had begun. The scene is taken from an 1875 painting by Sir John Gilbert (1817-1897), a much respected artist, illustrator and engraver. We know that the links in question were at Leith a municipal burgh to the north of Edinburgh; not an eighteen hole course then but five holes which each player went round twice in a game. The bronze relief plaque, measuring 7½ x 5 inches is an exact replica of Gilbert’s painting. Charles I is seen centre stage with the letter; the messenger is on his knees and the King’s playing partners can be see looking on. Two caddies have between them at least ten long-nose woods and irons; the King has dropped a wood onto the fairway and in the distance two other golfers are ‘chasing’ after their feather golf balls. Even having received such bad news, Charles I has enough character to continue his game. I don’t know who made the plaque but it would have been mass-produced in the 1920s as a purely decorative object, presented in a dark oak frame, ready for hanging. VALUE: These plaques always sell well at auction and are sought after by not only golf but military historians and Royal memorabilia collectors. I would expect a sale figure of £400-plus.
The iron club had developed with the introduction of the harder gutta-percha ball in the 1850s and soon there were available specific clubs for certain shots. Those of us who have a tendency to shank may take some solace from the fact that golfers have been cursed with that shot since the early days of the game. And in the early 1890s, two inventors decided to do something about it! Francis Archibald Fairlie patented the first of the so-called ‘anti-shank’ iron clubs (#6,681) in 1891. In 1894, a second was marketed as the ‘G.F. Smith Patent’. The idea behind the club was to produce an iron with no neck area between the blade and hosel (a miss-struck shot can come off the shank or neck of the hosel). Smith's hosel was bent in goose-neck fashion so the blade edge was lined up under the shaft. Be aware that the face of this Smith Niblick is smooth; it was only in the early 1900s that the club maker or club professional (in this case William Marshall of Onwentsia, Chicago) would make markings on the face to help to get the ball into the air. The clover mark denotes the actual maker of this club, Spence & Gourlay, a club making firm that operated out of St. Andrews. VALUE: The market for unusual and patent clubs made at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th Centuries remains healthy. However anti-shank irons such as this Smith Niblick are relatively common, so it would sell at auction for between £50 and £100.
Do you have an item of golfing memorabilia you would like Kevin to appraise? If so, send your letter and best possible photographs to Kevin McGimpsey at this address: PO BOX 120, Deeside, Flintshire, N. Wales. Alternatively, email him with with jpegs: kevin.mcgimpsey@bonhams.com JUNE 2011 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 9
ST MORITZ SAMEDAN – SWITZERLAND’S OLDEST COURSE
High on St Moritz St Moritz might be the celebrity skiers’ favourite, but can its two courses rival its Cresta Run and many pistes? Peter Swain hits the slopes
FOR THE SEASONED TRAVELING GOLFER, transport sets the tone for the trip, so when I arrived at St Moritz railway station to find a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce waiting to whisk me up to Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – all of 800 yards away – I knew right away that this was no ordinary golfing weekend. I had flown into Zurich a few hours earlier and taken a train for the two-hour journey south. In my experience, rail travel and golf bags can be a tricky combination, but, this being Switzerland, it all went like clockwork. Six thousand feet up, St Moritz is the latest Alpine skiing destination to make a pitch for the lucrative summer golfing market. Their boast that ‘golf balls fly higher at altitude’ obviously needed verification, so I had accepted an invitation to play in the hotel’s annual competition for heavy hitters. Founded by a committee of Brits in 1893, Samedan is the oldest course in Switzerland and one of the first clubs to be recognized in continental Europe. With the famous Cresta Run, created by thrill-seeking English tobogganists in 1884, just above the town, and two Winter Olympic Games in the mid-twentieth century, St Moritz has an impressive sporting pedigree. 10 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM JUNE 2011
Courses in Switzerland are playable from June through to September, and if you time it right the colourful Alpine blooms will be out in force
TRAVEL / SWITZERLAND
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FACT BOX Return flights with Swiss Air: from £112 Train, Zurich St Moritz return: £75 Badrutt’s Palace Hotel 3 nights B&B: £447 per person based on two sharing Green Fees: average £50 www.badruttspalace.com Engadin Golf Packages 3 nights B&B at a cheaper local hotel 3 green fees, £285 all up (without travel) www.engadin-golfhotels.ch
The Engadin valley in southeast Switzerland is where the Gnomes of Zurich come to play. I always thought the country had three official tongues – French, German and Italian – but here they speak a fourth, Ramansch, a sort of modern Latin. But in any language, money talks. St Moritz has more jewelry and fur shops than you can shake a cocktail stick at. The night before battle commenced, I hunkered down with my hosts in the Palace bar, where cigar smoking is not only permitted but positively encouraged. Very civilized. The unashamedly oldschool five-star hotel is perched high above the lake with stunning 360 degree views of snow-covered peaks, even in high summer. Next morning revealed the 6,800-yard course to be the flattest piece of land for miles around, which is doubtless why it was built here in the first place. The main hazards are not the hills but the pleasantly burbling alpine brooks and lakes that inundate the 18 holes. Unfortunately, on tournament day, they were being topped up by torrential Celtic Manor Ryder Cup-style rain, so a second, clubhouse breakfast was the order of the day. One of the great pleasures of playing in a locale as civilized as St Moritz is the range of company the roving golfer encounters. There were Swiss, Germans, Italians, French, Americans and myself, united by a slightly unhealthy obsession with golf, and all speaking English. While the pro shop did a roaring trade in wet-weather gear, we fortified ourselves with hot chocolate, croissant and expansive talk. When we eventually started, most of the pistes down which skiers hurtled in the 1928 and 1948 Games were shrouded in low cloud. No matter: even though the fairways were in good shape and the old-fashioned greens flat and true, staying out of the water hazards needed full concentration. Judging a course while playing in steady rain is not easy, but with plenty of doglegs around fir trees, and water everywhere, Samedan is a tough challenge from the tips, if a tad easier from the rather generous ladies tees. A couple of the parfours are reachable for longer drivers, which brings us to the main question: do the balls in fact fly further at 6,000 feet? In heavy rain, er, no. More research in clearer weather was called for. St Moritz is a relatively conservative if very 12 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM JUNE 2011
Two hours south of Zurich, St Moritiz may be an unlikely golfing destination, but with views like this what are you waiting for? Situated in the Engadin Valley, Samedan (above & right) is Switzerland’s oldest course. A newer course, Zuoz right), 10 miles away, shares in the Alpine theme and – if anything – is the more interesting test of golf with a number of serious elevation changes
stylish resort. After we dried out, we repaired to the hotel’s farmhouse restaurant next door, Chesa Veglia, for something hot and cheesy, then on to the town’s famed sybaritic hot spot, Dracula, where the celebrity après-ski crowd hang out in the season. There are two courses in the Engadin. The newer one is 10 miles down the valley at Zuoz. Built in 2003 and referred to as the ‘youngster’, with a slightly lower green fee than its august neighbour, I played it in glorious sunshine the following day, and actually preferred it. When golfing in the Alps, I want dramatic elevation changes on the course, and the Madulain track has them in spades. Hilly without being over the top – think St Mellion with Eidelweiss rather than gorse – the front nine is no more than a gentle ascent to base camp. A snack at the halfway house is recommended because the real crampon work is all on the back nine. The tee at the 15th is up such a steep path, a local life insurance company, clearly familiar with the actuarial odds, has helpfully supplied a buggy just to get players up and down without too many heart attacks. At sea level, you might not break sweat, but in the thinner air, I was re-
duced to a panting wreck. (Note to self: maybe cut down on the cigars.) And yes, the balls do indeed fly further at 6,000 feet – difficult to put an exact figure on it, but maybe as much as 10%. If a humble midhandicapper can reach a 400-yard par-four with a drive and a pitching wedge, something’s going on. Of course, my slice became even more deadly, but attacking greens with shorter irons is always helpful. It was a blast. There are, of course, other scenic Alpine courses, but these have to be two of the most spectacular in the region. If you like a choice of challenging set-ups, mountain climbing and good company with a touch of flat-out luxury and a good nightlife, St Moritz is tough to beat. The courses are open from May or June to September and, given the short season, are in extraordinarily good condition. Badrutt’s Palace is one opulent option but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives. Suffice it to say, I didn’t win, which meant the prize of a £10,000 Chopard watch went, surprise, surprise, to a Zurich banker. Luckily, Mrs Swain likes Swiss chocolates.
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£24.99
8 ISSUES OF GOLF INTERNATIONAL delivered direct to your door
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Call our subscription Hotline on (020) 8955 7018 ...or click on the SUBSCRIPTIONS button online at:
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AUDI A7 3.0 TDI Quattro SE S-tronic
Audi excels in the art of discretion
S
o, accepting the fact that it provided us with yet another Bank Holiday opportunity to jam soil under the fingernails and bellow at the kids, how was it for you? At the time of writing, the Royal Wedding is still a week away. But, by the time you read this, the pomp, circumstance and Kleenex will have all been packed away until it’s Harry’s turn, and the only thing fascinating about the myriad fascinators inevitably on display remains the question of how it’s humanly possible to spend so much on a scant fistful of feathers that resembles nothing so much as a freshly shot crow. Giggling in church is utterly addictive, and the opportunity to have a seriously good belly laugh over the hats has always been the best thing about attending a wedding. Let’s hope the friends of the Windsors did not disappoint. One of the more fascinating aspects to the build-up, however, has been the incendiary grump of one particular national newspaper at the news that one of those friends, Audi’s head of public relations in the UK, secured himself a berth at the wedding breakfast. Somewhat disingenuously sidestepping the fact that having spent a small fortune over the years in sponsoring their annual charity polo matches and a slightly larger fortune in donations to said charities Audi’s PR boss has inevitably become quite matey with the Princes, what ruffled the feathers of this particularly right wing branch
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With a marketing strategy that has seen the ultimate in product placement, Audi has elevated its status in the world of luxury refined motoring. And in the delectable shape of the A7 Quattro it boasts one of the finest saloons a lot of money can buy, as Gi’s correspondent Anthony Ffrench-Constant reports of the Fourth Estate appears to be the news that most of the royal family currently biff about in Audis and that, though they do pay for them, they receive – gasp – a discount. Outrageous… Same as it ever was; Audi has long pandered to celebrities and VIPs with favourable lease or purchase terms and there’s absolutely no doubt that the resultant ‘halo’ effect has much to do with the company’s UK sales currently going through the roof. Man Does Job, shock, horror… Indeed, one can only speculate as to just how hard the likes of luxury rivals BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar (anyone remember Jaguar?) are now kicking themselves that, when it comes to putting noteworthy bums on seats, Audi appears to have cornered the market. Because, let’s face, if you’re a premium segment car manufacturer these days, you really do need an edge… After decades of carefully crafted Ultimate Driving Machine marketing, BMW opted for the ‘radical design’ route under Wisconsin wunderkind Chris Bangle, who baffled all and sundry with talk of ‘paradigm shifts’ whilst describing creased bodywork as ‘flame surfacing’ and (best of all) daytime running lights as ‘optical wave guides’. With most of the results now resembling upturned, clinker-built boats with interiors exuding
more than a whiff of the brash American, this approach has not found universal favour. Such remains the power of the brand, however, that it doesn’t seem to matter to most blue and white propeller aspirants, who’ll still buy anything thus badged that’ll take polish. BMW’s argument that ‘something had to change’ appears to cut no ice with Mercedes, which, rather, has simply focused on putting back a deal of the money they so blatantly sucked out of the build process a few years back, to remarkably good effect. Jaguar, meanwhile, under designer Ian Callum, has proved immensely successful at melding the startlingly new with enough styling tradition to both attract a new, younger breed and keep its ageing, diehard customer base happy, and seems now to lack only a marketing budget the size of Audi in the UK. All of which leaves Audi very much in the driving seat with cars which – despite the unnecessarily brash Big Grille which still reminds me of an inflatable doll wearing chrome lipstick – remain relatively discreet and ideally anonymous in comparison to most of the competition. Let’s face it, a second glance is the last thing any royal would wish for when out and about incognito… Now, accepting that the happy couple will have
MOTORING
While the over-sized front grill may irk the occasional motoring journo’, you can do nothing but drool over the rear view of the A7. Onboard, it’s pure Audi, the ergonomically excellent cabin concealing every conceivable technology – at a hefty price should you lean on the frills and extras
been cramped by ceremony into relying on horsepower of a somewhat more traditional nature, Audi’s only opportunity to shine on the day itself must have come in the guise of the going away car. And with new models currently thicker on the ground that ticks on a sheepdog, the newlyweds will have hardly been hampered by choice. Easily the classiest small car around at the moment (amazing what a difference a simple lick of contrasting paint to the roofline makes); the A1 might make an appropriately parsimonious statement. However, though a recent slog to Newcastle revealed it to be surprisingly comfortable over a long haul, I doubt the A1 would boast the luggage capacity appropriate to a freshly shackled bride. Besides which, given the persistent insistence of the sat’ nav’ in the specimen I drove that the Tyne be crossed via the wholly pedestrian Millennium bridge, the risk of first night marriage consummation failure is, perhaps, too great. The most recent addition to the Audi fleet and seven years in the making, the largely flawless A6’s only failing is that it seeks to appeal to the broadest possible customer spectrum by being so utterly anonymous that it is, frankly, almost too anonymous. A perfectly decent drive albeit, it’s far more of a technological tour de force than anything of a thrill to helm, having rifled the A8’s onboard equipment parts bin so rigorously that the only reason to now buy the latter is a requirement for greater cabin space. So with Prince Charles already ensconced in an A8, and the disappointing A5 Sportback serving as proof that even Audi can, on occasion, find itself with sand in the Vaseline, my prediction is that it was an A7 in which the newlyweds finally slunk away from Buck House. Its looks marred only by the size of that front grille, the A7 is the best looking car Audi has produced since the entirely handsome A5, and is notably gorgeous when viewed from anywhere astern. On board, all is exactly where you left it in your last Audi, which means it’s extremely well screwed together, good looking, ergonomically excellent and properly comfortable. The only glitch being the propensity for a pale beige coloured parcel shelf to reflect so strongly in the steeply raked rear screen that you absolutely cannot see out by day… As with the more recent A6, technology is all important, and the A7 may be loaded to the gunwales with diverse multimedia interface systems which, with such goodies as the inclusion of web links to Google, will turn the car into little short of a fully-functioning mobile office. Personally, I can think of little worse than escaping the office to go
...the A7 is the best looking car Audi has produced since the entirely handsome A5, and is notably gorgeous when viewed from anywhere astern. On board, all is exactly where you left it in your last Audi, which means it’s extremely well screwed together and properly comfortable...
for a drive in a car which doubles as an office, but many will surely find such a facility invaluable. Audi does tend to overload its press cars with toys; in the case of the 3.0 TDI Quattro SE S tronic I drove, to the tune of some £25,775 over the basic asking price of £47,200. You pays yer money…. A head-up display which fills the base of the windscreen with information such as speed and navigation instructions annoyed me terribly until I discovered how to switch it off. At which point I missed it so much I promptly reinstated it. Sug-
gesting that you can, however, have too much of a good thing, a fiddly seat massage control system proved even more annoying, relentlessly pummelling my already perfectly comfortable anatomy every time I tried to merely adjust the lumbar support. Most expensive by far of the options fitted was a Bang & Olufsen sound system which demands a wallet-fleecing £6300 for the privilege of watching the tweeters ooze ICBM-like from the dash top every time you start the car. Granted, the sound is wonderful, but no more so than the far less pricey Mark Levinson systems of Lexus fame. If, as is now often averred, we’re becoming increasingly more interested in on-board ‘infotainment’ than we are the actual driving experience, then it’s high time many of these expensive options were fitted as standard in premium models such as this. And, buying an A7, I’d be particularly miffed to discover that the £590 delivery and number plate charge includes only ‘half a tank of fuel’. Now that’s just petty. With 367 lb.ft of torque summoning 62mph in just 6.3 seconds, it goes without saying that Audi’s silky 3.0 V6 turbodiesel provides pretty much all the thrust you could ever wish for, and the 7-speed automatic transmission is slush personified. However, despite the fitted option of adaptive suspension, the straight line ride is too tough to be deemed appropriate to a cabin which aspires to these high levels of comfort. Protestations of over tough ride quality remain the norm in the case of most Audi’s, and the company seems reluctant to pander to (presumably largely British) requests to soften their approach on this front. A pity, since it often mars the increasingly sublime Audi experience. Still, if leaving the Palace in an A7 constitutes the bumpiest ride the royal marriage will suffer, then all bodes well for their future. JUNE 2011 GOLFINTERNATIONALMAG.COM 15