GOLF NEWS WINTER 2021

THE UK’S NO.1 GOLF NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 287 | WINTER 2021 | TWITTER: @GOLFNEWSMAG | WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INTERVIEWS

TRAVEL & BREAKS

Dustin Johnson

8-page feature on Lisbon’s Golf Coast

Tyrrell Hatton

Me & My Travels with Lee Sharpe

Nick Dougherty Ross McGowan

Travel News

EQUIPMENT

WIN

Spotlight on Laser Rangefinders + Spikeless Shoes

Shot Scope rangefinder + GPS watch

PETER ALLISS ' THE VOICE OF GOLF '

1931

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2 02 0 COMPLIMENTARY COPY Est 1994

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WINTER 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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EDITOR'S LETTER

NICK BAYLY

the dog or sorting out the recycling.

Golf, along with Deliveroo and Amazon, has undoubtedly been one of the few ‘winners’ of this whole sorry mess. With lots of people still furloughed, and even more working from home, following the fairways has become fashionable again. Those of us who stayed loyal to the game throughout its highs and lows no doubt ■ GOLFERS HAVE HAD TO ADAPT TO feel slightly aggrieved that PLAYING UNDER the normally empty tee COVID CONDITIONS sheets are being filled with these Jonny and Joanna Come-Lateleys who have nothing better to do, but it’s precisely these people – many in their 20s and 30s – who will ensure that golf will have a long-term future. Bitten by the bug, these newcomers will hopefully retain their memberships long after Covid-19 has hopefully done one – that’s a medical term – and clubs will enjoy a renaissance not seen since the heady days of the 1980s, when the R&A suggested that 700 new courses needed to be built in the UK. Sadly, not all of those courses are still around.

Indeed, a lot of clubs that considerably pre-dated the last boom are no longer in business, but such is the ebb and flow of the supply-and-demand chain. And let’s not kid ourselves that golf will remain the no.1 choice of outdoor activity once all the other amateur sports and social activities return. Golf still takes an age to play, is quite expensive, and has its irritating idiosyncracies, so it’s going to have work doubly hard to ensure that it can retain its new customers.

It’s fair to say that not all golf clubs will see 2020 as a win. With hospitality largely shut for a year, and with income from retail, weddings, societies, corporate events and other social activities heavily impacted, not all venues will make it through the current crisis, but at least the revenue streams have not entirely shut down, as have been the case at many pubs and restaurants.

With or without the vaccine, precisely how and when golf clubs will be able to return to a semblance of ‘normal’ remains to be seen, but it could well be quite some time before we will all feel comfortable shaking hands on the 18th green and heading into the clubhouse for non-socially distanced pint and a pie.

Until that time, stay safe people and may all your bounces be favourable ones.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES Well, 2020. Who’d have thought it? It took a global pandemic for the world to realise that golf is more than just a good walk spoiled.

I never thought I’d see a return to the days when golfers had to camp out in their cars overnight in order to secure a Saturday morning tee time, but that would definitely have been the case at golf clubs each and every day for the last eight months were it not for the fact that walk-on green fees are no longer possible when there’s a hidden killer virus in our midst.

I never actually camped out in a golf club car park back in the early 1990s, when golf was last this popular, but I do remember getting up when it was still dark in order to wait a couple of hours to get on at Richmond Park on a weekend morning. Rounds regularly took over five hours, but we never complained. We were just grateful to be out there playing.

Fast forward to the end of 2020, and it’s quite feasible that some private golf clubs might never go back to accepting visitors now that they’ve got fully paid-up members queueing to play from dawn to dusk in all weathers.

Minutes after Boris Johnson revealed that golf courses could re-open on December 2, the online tee sheet at my club went live and duly crashed under the sheer weight of traffic, as golf-starved members bombarded the site with request for slots. With the sun setting at 4pm, the pressure on tee times was twice as great as it was back at the end of the first lockdown. Never mind the frosty greens and biting winds, a round of golf in four layers with a few mates was clearly a far more tempting prospect than walking

A TOUCH OF LON DON LU XURY I N THE GA R DEN OF ENGL A N D The Golf Club offers residents an exclusive 1 year complementary social membership

Presenting an exclusive collection of exquisitely restored apartments in this quintessentially English Grade I listed mansion house, set within the majestic grounds of the famous Sundridge Park Golf Club. Originally designed by esteemed 18th century architect, John Nash, this award-winning restoration is a celebration of The Mansion’s unique heritage and retains many of its original period features.

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TEL: 01273 381794 EMAIL: info@golfnews.co.uk WEBSITE: golfnews.co.uk FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @golfnewsmag INSTAGRAM: golfnewsmagazine MANAGING DIRECTOR Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk

DESIGN Creative Corner james@ wearecreativecorner.com

EDITOR Nick Bayly editor@golfnews.co.uk

PRODUCTION Kath Perry ads@golfnews.co.uk

EQUIPMENT EDITOR Dan Owen dan@golfnews.co.uk

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk 01273 381794 PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images, Kevin Murray, Andy Hiseman

PUBLISHED BY BlueGreen Media REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Sarah Stirk, Clive Agran

© Copyright 2020. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in anyway or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

Elegant new show homes now open to view, Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm The Mansion at Sundridge Park, London BR1 3FZ

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WINTER 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief KENT VOTES TO UNIFY COUNTY ORGANISATIONS ★ Golf clubs in Kent have voted to unify the Kent Golf Union and the Kent County Ladies’ Golf Association under the banner of Kent Golf Limited. KGL will be run by a board of directors from both organisations comprising Peter Long (Chair), Paul Cannons (Captain), Danny Curtis, Joanna Dennis, Chris Lohan (President), Tita McCart (Captain), Jim Pocknell (President), Cheryl Power, Mark Ward and John Young.

Trevose to host Legends Tour event Trevose Golf & Country Club is to host many of Europe’s top senior golfers next summer when the popular Cornish venue once again stages the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship.

With the European Senior Tour’s entire 2020 tournament schedule cancelled due to the pandemic, the tour, which has recently been rebranded as the Legends Tour, will be hoping to return to a full season of events in 2021.

The Links Championship has always enjoyed strong support from Europe’s top over50s players, even more so now that the tournament is hosted by 1991 Masters’ champion Ian Woosnam.

Next year’s tournament, which is being sponsored by Farmfoods, is scheduled for June 17-20, when UK golf fans will be treated to one of the first spectated events since the Covid-19 pandemic began as some of the world’s best golfers battle it out over Trevose’s spectacular championship layout for a share of the €200,000 grand prize, with €50,000 going to the winner.

Woosnam will be joined at the event by a number of Major winners and Ryder Cup stars, with Paul Lawrie, Jean van de Velde and winner of the 2019 Links Championship, JeanFrancois Remesy, all likely to be in attendance.

Woosnam said: “It’s been a tough year for golf with the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns making it impossible for this event to be played in 2020,” he said.

“But I’m delighted to announce that we will finally be returning to Trevose in 2021 and I’m personally itching to get back out onto the beautiful Championship course next summer.”

BARTHRAM SHINES ON & OFF THE COURSE ★ Surrey’s Sam Barthram, who is a member at St George’s Hill in Weybridge, has been named Academic Golfer of the Year at Colorado State University in America. Sam is currently studying for a master’s degree in the Hassan School of Business and is a member of the university’s men’s first team, for which he has also won honours this year.

MOODY TAKES COURAGE AT STONEHAM ★ Stoneham GC’s Ryan Moody won Hampshire Golf’s stroke play championship for the Courage Trophy after shooting rounds of 68 and 71 for a five-underpar winning total. Played at his home club, Moody bagged a vital birdie at the final hole to finish one shot ahead of three players, including fellow Stoneham member Ryan Henley. Moody also won the Cole Scuttle for the best 72-hole aggregate at the County Championship and Courage Trophy.

HARRIS HOLES OUT FOR HAMPSHIRE HONOURS ★ Richard Harris holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to win the Hampshire County Championship at Hayling Golf Club. That putt saw him defeat Toby Burden by the narrowest of margins after both players had dominated the two-day championship which was held at their home club. Harris booked his place in the final with a semi-final victory over Blackmoor’s Mark Burgess, while Burden defeated Kevin Hickman by 2&1.

BLACKMOOR CLAIM HANTS FOURSOMES ★ The Blackmoor duo of Sam Parsons and Mark Burgess won the County Foursomes after shooting rounds an aggregate 146 for 36 holes at Waterlooville Golf Club. They finished one shot ahead of Darren Wright and Ryan Moody. Trevor Gray (Royal Jersey) and Alan Mew (Stoneham) won the Seniors Foursomes title.

Ford focuses on European Tour prizes

Kent’s Matt Ford is looking forward to guaranteed starts on next season’s European Tour after finishing inside the top five of the Challenge Tour’s money list following the final event in Mallorca.

Ford finished tied 14th in the Grand Final, which was held at T-Golf and Country Club, but had done just enough earlier in the season to ensure he will receive playing opportunities in nominated European Tour events in 2021.

Ford, 42, who lost his European Tour card at the end of the 2016 season, finished second in the Italian Challenge in October and third in the Andalucia Challenge in November en route to squeezing into the allimportant top five in the money list by just €300.

“There were so many potential scenarios that I couldn’t really work it out, so there was no point worrying about it,” said Ford “I knew if I finished top five or three then it would be guaranteed and nobody else could do anything about that. Unfortunately, my game wasn’t the best in Mallorca. I had a few swing issues, and while I still hit some good shots, I just couldn’t create enough birdie opportunities and had a real struggle at times.”

He added: “When I finished my final round, I was projected to finish seventh and I was just waiting for that confirmation. I was on the phone chatting to my wife and we both looked at the rankings at the same time and saw that I had gone up to fifth. We both had to double check it! A lot of people had tied for second and that meant the money was shared out.

The fact I finished 14th really made the difference.”

He added: “It’s really strange. Every shot really does count. You can look back at so many shots over the year. The birdie the week before was worth about €2,000, so that’s more than enough to have dropped me out of the top five. The week before that I finished with three bogeys, so that cost me a few hundred euros the other way. Even when I finished second in Italy, one shot more and I would have won and won €30,000 more. The margins are so small.”

Although the new European Tour season gets under way in January, Ford is still waiting to discover exactly how many tournament spots he will get by finishing in the top five. With no players losing their cards from the European Tour due to the pandemic, the usual demotion of 20 players to the Challenge Tour, and vice versa, will not apply for the 2020-21 season.

“We don’t know what that top five means at the moment,” said Ford.

“The number of invites and exemptions is unclear, it could be five or 15 events. It’s not quite the same as the top 20 finish in normal years. But it’s a better scenario than I had at the start of the year.”

R&A reveals new date for 2021 Open at St George’s Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent will host the rescheduled 149th Open Championship on July 15-18 next year, the R&A has revealed.

With the 2020 Open having been postponed due to the pandemic, the Open Championship rota has been reshuffled, with the 150th Open now taking place at St Andrews in 2022, while Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host the tournament in 2023 (July 20-23), before moving to Royal Troon for the 2024 renewal (July 18-21).

Martin Slumbers, chief dxecutive of The R&A, said: “We have been working closely with all the clubs and the relevant local agencies to reschedule the Open Championships. We are grateful to everyone involved at the clubs and at our partner organisations for supporting our plans and showing flexibility to adapt their own schedules. We can now look forward to seeing the world’s best players competing at these outstanding links courses.”

New ProductsNEWS | WINTER 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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InBrief

St George’s pro leaves lasting legacy Former Royal St George’s Golf Club professional Cyril Whiting, whose regular playing partners over the Sandwich links included James Bond creator Ian Fleming, has died at the age of 96.

Cyril was a member of the ‘Whiting dynasty’ of club professionals who served Royal St George’s for an unbroken spell of 77 years, starting with his grandfather Fred from 1911 and then his father Albert from 1948. And Cyril’s prowess as a player was recognised by Fleming in Goldfinger, which features a match between James Bond and the villain of the piece, Auric Goldfinger. The fictional venue for the match, Royal St Mark’s, was thinly based on St George’s and before the match Bond calls into the pro shop to have a club made up by the professional whose name was Alfred Blacking, and who had a son named Cyril.

As well as providing Fleming with background material for Goldfinger, Alfred and Cyril regularly played with him until his death in 1964, the year

HERTS VICEPRESIDENT PASSES AWAY ★ Gerry van Lottum, Vice

President of the Hertfordshire Golf Union, died earlier this month following a short illness.

A former captain of Redbourn Golf Club, Gerry and was a long-standing junior organiser, assisting in the progression of many promising young golfers during his time. He joined the HGU Executive Committee in the 1990s and later became the County Colts team manager before being awarded the position of HGU Vice President in 2010.

before he was set to become the club captain.

Cyril later recalled: “My father or I would join up with Ian, depending on who was available.

Even though the bets were never much more than a fiver, as I remember, there was always great pride at stake. Ian would play his heart out – he was very competitive and always liked to get the edge.”

Cyril was regarded as the most talented player of the Whiting family. He won the Kent Professional Championship at Prince’s in 1959, and then the Kent Open Championship at Royal Cinque Ports six years later. And, again like his father and grandfather, he became an accomplished club-maker and repairer, a skill he began to learn on joining Alfred in the pro shop at St George’s in 1939.

But his apprenticeship was interrupted by the World War II, during which he served in the North Staffordshire and Worcestershire

■ CY RIL WHITING

Regiments, before returning to Sandwich after hostilities ceased in 1945. Cyril then continued to learn his trade before succeeding Alfred as club professional in 1970.

After his retirement in 1988, Cyril and his wife Joan continued to live in their house in Sandwich, which was named ‘The Maiden’ after the famous 6th hole at St George’s, until Cyril moved into a nursing home due to his failing health.

Chiericato captures WPGA Order of Merit

MASTERSON WINS HERTS BOYS’ TITLE ★ Fletcher Masterson won

Kent professional Keely Chiericato won the 2020 WPGA One-Day Series Order of Merit, but Catherine Panton-Lewis rolled back the years to deny her a double celebration.

In what was the final event of the series held at Wrotham Heath in Kent, the pair tied-first after posting one-over-par rounds of 73. As a result, Chiericato earned enough points to replace the London Golf Club’s Anna Smith at the top of the Order of Merit and win it for the second time in three years.

Reflecting on her success in a campaign truncated by the pandemic, Chiericato said: “It’s been a strange year for everyone, so it’s been very nice just to compete. I’m grateful we’ve been able to play and

the Hertfordshire Boys U16s County Championship after shooting a three-over-par 75 in wet and difficult conditions at Hadley Wood Golf Club. The five-handicapper from Porters Park finished two shots ahead of Kenny Walsh (Sandy Lodge). The U15’s title was won by Christian Walls (Bishops Stortford), while 15-handicapper Jamie Jackson (Chesfield Downs) took the U14s title with a nett 74.

thanks are due to all the golf clubs that have allowed us to run the competition. It means a lot for us to be able to play and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed competing.”

One thing the 29-year-old has not enjoyed, however, is having to putt with the flagstick in sto adhere to precautions designed to curb the spread of the virus. “I missed a few short putts today and I haven’t got used to putting with the flagstick in,” added Chiericato, who represents Manston Golf Centre.

One of the errant putts came at the par-three 17th, when Chiericato miscued from three feet. A birdie there would have given her outright victory, but that would have been harsh on Panton-Lewis.

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■ THE NEW BAR AND LOUNGE

Blackmoor unveils stunning clubhouse extension Blackmoor Golf Club in Hampshire has completed an extensive remodelling and expansion project to its clubhouse bar and restaurant, including the construction of a stunning first floor sun terrace with panoramic views over the course.

The project took seven months to complete and has transformed the clubhouse into a stylish and modern bar and eatery where members and visitors can relax, enjoy a bite to eat and choose from a wide selection of beverages.

Inside the clubhouse, the first floor the bar has been extended by incorporating the existing external terrace into the room, making a brighter, more spacious lounge bar filled

as UK golf boom continues

HARPENDEN RETAIN HERTS MEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

with natural light. The interior is styled with art deco design influences and features a new bar with marble-effect quartz counter tops, Italian designer furniture, modern Murano glass lighting and a custom designed trophy cabinet.

Accessed directly from the lounge bar, a new build exterior terrace, constructed along the west elevation of the clubhouse has created an alfresco dining experience. Bordered by glass balustrading, the sun terrace offers panoramic views across the course.

As well as the lounge bar, the 96-cover Colt’s Restaurant, also on the first floor, has been extended and remodelled from the existing clubhouse function room to a stylish all-day restaurant experience.

Playgolf reports record returns

★ Harpenden GC retained the ■ THE COLT RESTAURANT CAN SEAT 96

Playgolf Group, which operates a combination of golf courses, driving ranges, gyms, restaurants and hospitality facilities at venues in Essex, Surrey and Dorset, has reported record returns in 2020, as golf continues to experience a boom across the UK. Its golf courses in Leatherhead, Colchester, Bournemouth and Addlestone have all seen an upswing in membership, revenue and usage. Even after 77 days of lockdown in the Spring, numbers have sprung back beyond expectation, with The Leatherhead Club seeing a 40% year-on-year increase in new members, while Playgolf Colchester reported a 50% increase in visitor footfall compared to 2019.

Playgolf company director Ali Saud said: “All of our courses have seen a surge in membership and visitor footfall. It has given us the financial freedom to invest heavily in each, improving them over the winter, to make playing golf on every hole even more enjoyable. In the short term, the group is focused solely on growing golf participation” Although the Playgolf Group has enjoyed a boom in player numbers, like other venues its hospitality facilities have found the

DISTANCE Made Simple

™

w w w . b u s h n e l l g o l f. c o m

InBrief

Herts Men’s Champion Club title with a three-shot victory over local rivals Harpenden Common at Brookmans Park.

Joss Gosling fired a best of the day 69, and was ably assisted

by Jack Bigham (79) and Tom Speyer (74). The team from Hadley Wood finished third on countback in an event that was reduced to 18 holes due to Covid restrictions.

ESSEX RISING STARS EARN ENGLAND CALL UP ★ Young Essex talents Will

Horne (Thorndon Park) and Harley Smith (The Rayleigh Club) will join BB&O’s Ben Loveard, Cheshire’s Frank Kennedy and Yorkshire’s Josh Berry as rookie selections for new-look England Golf boys’ squad for the 2021 season. Jack Bigham from Hertfordshire and Dubai-based Josh Hill retain their places from this year’s group that were denied the chance to represent their country in UK, European and world events due to the pandemic.

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InBrief BURNS ON FIRE AT SUNDRIDGE ★ Liams Burns captured the Kent County Championship after firing a three-under par 66 around Sundridge Park. The Chislehurst player finished two shots clear of the host club’s Luke Spooner, with Jacob Kelso (Kings Hill) and Joel Newsome (Chislehurst) tied for third with a pair of 71s.

HONOURS SHARED AT KENT JUNIORS ★ There was a three-way tie for Kent’s Junior Championship held at Royal Blackheath, with Bill Scamp (Chesfield Lakes), Max Murray (Sundridge Park) and Lewis Beeden (Dartford) all shooting nett 69s. Twohandicapper Beeden’s 71 took the honours for the best gross score. The girls title was won

by Ellena Slater, whose nett 76 off a two handicap saw her finish two shots clear of Maria Babadi (Littlestone). The handicap division was won by 21 handicapper Kieki Chapman (Rochester & Cohbham) with a nett 72.

ANTOUN IN CHARGE AT KENT CLOSED ★ Jake Antoun won the PGA Kent Closed Championship at Kings Hill Golf Club with an impressive six-under par 66 for 42 points.

The Kings Hill player finished a point clear of Richard Wallis (Canterbury) and Sian Evans (Rochester & Cohbham).

Worplesdon embarks on final phase of course renovation

The multi-year renovation programme led by Lobb + Partners at the historic Worplesdon Golf Club in Surrey will start its third and final phase this winter.

The work, which will focus on holes 11-15,

including the stretch of the course on the far side of the Bagshot Road, will incorporate the reinstallation of heather on bunkers and the restoration of the horseshoe bunker on the club’s famous par-three 13th hole.

“We have had a lot of joy and satisfaction working at Worplesdon,” said golf course architect Tim Lobb, whose Surrey-based firm, Lobb + Partners, was hired to plan the renovations.”With Worplesdon being so local to us, it has been a great opportunity to spend three years working on such a well-planned project with a very forward-thinking club.

He added: “The landscape restoration element of the work, which is something I am very passionate about, has really been embraced by the club, which is very focused on its vision.

Contractor Frank Lovell has been great to work with, and club secretary Chris Lomas and course manager Paul Robinson are both very highquality individuals. We are really proud of what has been done, and we’re looking forward to finishing this winter and giving the members back their course in all its glory early next

The Dyke signs up The Dyke Golf Club in East Sussex has become the latest club to sign up to the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter and demonstrate its commitment to growing the game of golf for women and girls.

The Women in Golf Charter was set up by the R&A as part of the organisation’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry.

Jeremy Tomlinson, chief executive of England Golf, wrote a personal letter to The Dyke’s manager, expressing his pleasure

to Women in Golf Charter

at the club signing up to the charter.

He wrote: “I was delighted to read the commitments that you have made as part of your contribution to the delivery of the Women and Girls Charter. The Dyke will be inspiring other clubs from across the country to develop a more inclusive culture within golf for more women and girls to develop across all levels of the sport.”

He added: “The commitments and targets you have set yourselves are ensuring we continue to develop as a sport and it’s fantastic to see you are working on all aspects of the club from club

Track your handicap on new England Golf app England Golf has launched a new app that enables golfers to stay up to date with their Handicap Index as part of the new World Handicap System.

The app, My England Golf, is available to download for free in Apple and Google Play stores, follows on from the official transition on November 2 to the new WHS for the 1,800 golf clubs and 630,000 golfers across England.

England Golf has created the app to provide golfers with the ability to access their Handicap Index remotely, as well as to keep track of their overall playing record on a regular basis.

The Course Handicap calculator is another unique feature of the new app. This function allowS golfers to cross-reference their Handicap Index with whichever set of tees they will be playing from on a particular day, for any course in the country, in order to work out their Course Handicap.

A golfer’s Handicap Index is updated at the end of a day where a new score is submitted using an average of the eight best scores from their previous 20 rounds. This information will now be instantly available through the My England Golf app as well as the ‘My England Golf’ Platform on the England Golf website.

For more details, visit www. englandgolf.org/whs.

GRAHAM RETAINS SUSSEX SENIORS’ TITLE ★ Steve Graham retained the Sussex County Seniors Championship with a level par 72 to win by three shots in strong winds at East Sussex National. The Championship was reduced to one round because of the Covid restrictions. Graham fired three birdies on the front nine, but dropped shots at 16 and 18 denied him an under-par finish in extremely difficult conditions. Doug Park was runner-up for the second year running, with former champion Paul Plant finishing joint third with Andrew Smith from Royal Ashdown Forest on 77. The Handicap prize was won

by Cottesmore’s Robert Miller.

WILSON WINS BB&O SENIORS ★ George Wilson (Calcot Park) won the BB&O Seniors Championship with a five-overpar total of 143 after rounds of 74 and 69 at East Berkshire. He took the title by three shots from Tim Whittaker (Beaconsfield) and Mark Simpson (Reading).

Doug Cameron (Frilford Heath) retained his title in the 60-64 age category on 11 over, while in 70+ category, Gregor Brown (Frilford Heath) took the trophy with 153.

Essendon raises its game with Toptracer

Members and visitors to Essendon Country Club in Hertfordshire can look forward to enjoying tour-standard practice facilities following the creating of new driving range and short game area fitted out with state-of the-art shot tracking technology.

The Hatfield-based venue has become the first golf club in the UK to offer Toptracer Range mobile technology, a unique ball-tracing system to provide golfers with data on ball speed, launch angle, carry and shot shape and sends the information direct to the smart phone or tablet. The data can be saved for future reference, while providing a detailed insight into how to make improvements.

Designed specifically for use on uncovered driving ranges, Toptracer Range Mobile can not only be used to enhance the practice and coaching experience, but also to set up challenges and competition between players, with a series of skill-based games.

In addition to the driving range, Essendon Country Club offers two championship 18-hole courses, a nine-hole academy course, an extensive short game area and a state-of-the-art swing studio.

Ben Sharpe, Toptracer’s President, said: “We are extremely excited about the first UK mobile installation at Essendon Country Club. This really opens the door for facilities with outdoor practice grounds to bring modern range technology to their members and guests. Essendon is a fantastic location to house our first mobile driving range in the UK and we can’t wait to see all golfers there enhance their development and enjoyment using our tracing

NEWS | WINTER 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Bedford GC shuts down after lease expires Bedford Golf Club closed for good last month after the lease for the land expired and no extension was requested by the club.

The club opened in 1999 as part of an agreement between the landowners and Bedford Borough Council as a requirement to build the first phase of a housing development. That development, south of Great Denham, currently comprises 1,500 homes, with the golf course providing a buffer between neighbouring communities, as well as serving a popular leisure facility for local residents to use. Last year, the course hosted over 30,000 rounds, while the clubhouse also serves as a venue to host many community-based events and functions.

Despite various online petitions and pleas for local government to intervene, the club closed on October 16.

Land agents Bidwells, acting for the landowners, said that the club’s management had chosen not to extend the lease, and that the course could, in the short term, be turned over to over to farming uses, including livestock grazing, although the potential for the site to be used for more private housing remains a possibility.

Local Councillor Jim Weir, and the Save the Golf Course and Urban Community Group believe that the club is being deliberately wound up with the long-term view to develop the land.

He said: “We believe that the golf club is being deliberately wound up by the landowners, despite the tenants attempts to stay, with a view to, in the longer term, seeing additional built development on the land. The golf club is a popular, well-used facility. Over 30,000 rounds of golf were played there in the last

■ BEDFORD CLOSED AFTER 20 YEATS

12 months. The land also has a number of public footpaths which are popular walking routes for many residents.

So popular is the club that in 2011, an application was approved by the Borough Council for an extension of the original clubhouse to allow additional seating for private functions. The clubhouse is used by many residents who are not members of the club as a place to socialise. In addition, it is used as a venue by external groups and clubs.”

■ HANNAH RALPH

Drive somewhere different RALPH REVS UP as Cowdray's new captain

Former Ladies European Tour professional Hannah Ralph has taken on the role of lady captain at Cowdray Park Golf Club in West Sussex.

Ralph, who won the Sussex County Championship and the South East of England Championship during an impressive amateur career, competed on the Ladies European between 2010-2016. She won an Access Tour event at Stoke by Nayland in 2013 and lifted the Roehampton Cup in 2017.

Having been affiliated with Cowdray since she was 10, and with family connections stretching even further back, 32-year-old Ralph is delighted to be invited to take on the captaincy – the first time a professional has been appointed to the role in the club’s history.

Ralph, who is team manager and coach of the Sussex Ladies first team, has also played in a pivotal role in bringing on the next generation of golfers at Cowdray, having set up a coaching business at the club, where she has been instrumental in providing a pathway for new women golfers to enjoy the game.

“I am so proud to follow in some of my family’s footsteps in becoming captain at Cowdray. It really means a lot to me, especially in what has been such a difficult year in many ways. I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing lady caprain, Jo Fife, and the remarkable job she sis. I’m looking forward to an exciting and busy year ahead.”

Ralph has chosen the Oesophageal Patients Association as her chosen charity, which raises funds for the treatment of gastric cancers.

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[10] WINTER 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief BRAMSHAW EARNS SAFEGOLF AWARD ★ Bramshaw Golf Club in Hampshire has been awarded ‘SafeGolf’ accreditation by England Golf in recognition of the management of its junior section.

The oldest golf club in the county is also the first to achieve this national accreditation, which is designed to safeguard the welfare of children and young people, as well as at risk adults, when taking part in golf activities at, or on behalf of, the club. Bramshaw has placed significant emphasis on developing young talent for many years and boasts an active junior academy and a strong junior section. The club runs regular Get into Golf sessions for juniors and adults and prides itself on welcoming new members of all ages.

‘Bryson factor’ sees surge in clients for Middlesex coach Elite coach Alex Saary believes the ‘Bryson Factor’ is responsible for the huge surge in interest in his specialist coaching services over recent months.

As the only UK coach trained in the use of the MACH 3 speed training system, Saary, who is based at the West London Golf Centre in Middlesex, works with elite amateurs, professionals and their coaches to develop speed, flexibility and distance. But as more top-level players see the way Bryson DeChambeau has transformed his game,

Saary has seen a surge in demand for his services that has led to him outgrowing his current facilities.

“The MACH 3 system is perfect for elite players as it builds co-ordination and efficiency of movement as well as speed. With so many elite players seeing DeChambeau’s’s distance, but also his control, I think the perception of big hitting is changing,” said Saary, who is a PGA level 4 Professional. “The effect on my business has been huge, to the extent that I’m having to look for a new venue where I can invest in the right facilities that give elite golfers and coaches the best possible service.”

He added: “The way DeChambeau has changed his physique and speed is amazing, but what impresses me most is the control

he has at those speeds.

The spotlight he has shone on the potential for improvement through speed and distance has been a big boost for me and I hope that once I have found the right venue for my performance centre, I can share these benefits and many more elite golfers.”

■ GUILDFORD'S NEW FLEET OF COURSE MACHINERY

FORMER PGA CHAIRMAN DEREK NASH PASSES AWAY ★ Derek Nash, the former head professional at Ruislip Golf Club in Middlesex and the former chairman of the PGA, died last month at the age of 87.

Training as a clubmaker after leaving school, Nash served at numerous clubs throughout the south east during his lengthy career, including spells as an assistant at Stoneham in Hampshire, Porters Park in Hertfordshire and Finchley Golf Club in north London, before he was appointed Head Professional at Pinner in 1961.

He later made the short move to Ruislip Golf Club where he remained until 1993, after which he moved to the Cayman Islands to set up and establish The Links at SafeHaven. He retired in 1997 and returned to the UK, where he enjoyed regular rounds with friends at Moor Park in Hertfordshire.

Guildford enjoys membership surge

Like many golf clubs throughout the UK, Guildford Golf Club has seen a huge take up in new memberships during the pandemic, with over 200 new golfers joining the popular Surrey club since May. The club has recently launched an entirely new membership structure which is designed to offer a more flexible way for members to fit golf into their lives. Doing away with traditional seven- and five-day

memberships, the new Flexible Lifestyle Membership features four tiers – unlimited rounds, 52 rounds, 35 rounds and 20 rounds.

The unlimited package costs £1,450, while 20 rounds membership is priced at just £450.

A flat annual subscription of £150 applies across all categories.

A spokesperson for the club said: “Our new Lifestyle membership makes golf more accessible for the many people who would not join a club due to lack of time. Our existing membership were fantastic with the move across from our old traditional membership structure to our new scheme.

We have now recruited over 200 new

Foxhills members donate refunded membership fees More than 220 members at Foxhills Golf Club in Surrey have chosen to donate their November membership subscription fees to local food banks as part of an initiative to ensure fewer people go hungry during the festive period.

This led to a £25,000 donation on behalf of the club to food banks in Runnymede and Weybridge, which went towards providing 300 food hampers for families – including a supermarket gift voucher to buy fresh food, 400 ‘food for lunch’ bags for school children, as well as emergency food for families in need.

In addition, the club donated a further £5,000 to provide Christmas hampers to the Children with Special Needs charity in Cobham.

While all members were offered the chance of having their November fees refunded following the UK government’s closure of golf clubs in England, the overwhelming majority chose to have their fees used for good causes.

In addition to the local donations, the club offered a 20% discount on Christmas lunches and afternoon tea to the key frontline

■ MEMBERSHIP DONATIONS HELPED FUND FOOD HAMPERS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

members since May, which is remarkable.

They have all fitted into the club brilliantly, getting involved in competitions and breathing new life into the club.”

The club continues to invest in its course and its staff, and has recently promoted assistant head greenkeeper Jordan Thompson to the role of head greenkeeper, while Daniel Breden has moved from nearby St George’s Hill GC to take over the assistant’s job. It has also invested in brand new fleet of course machinery, which will help both Jordan and Daniel with the imminent completion a four-year bunker renovation programme.

workers, while a group of six local ‘unsung heroes’, nominated by staff, were awarded a range of free experiences at the resort, including rounds of golf, spa days and overnight stays with dinner.

Marc Hayton, Foxhills owner and managing director, said: “An existing issue of people not being able to afford food has become worse, and a number of our members are in the fortunate position of being able to take some of the stress away from these people at a time where everyone deserves a decent meal and celebration – never more so than this year.

“It’s been a challenging year for Foxhills, with two forced closures, but we are confident that we will come out the other side stronger and better than ever and want to do all we can to make sure local residents do too.”

Angela Miller from Runnymede Foodbank said: “We truly can’t thank Foxhills and its members enough for everything they have done to support us. Their kindness and generosity is completely overwhelming. I had to call Marc back to make sure I heard him correctly when he told us the amount – it’s such a huge donation for us and will make a real difference to the lives of so many families – putting food on their tables and spreading some well-needed Christmas cheer.”

NEWS | WINTER 2021

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Howell joins European Tour board

■ KEITH DELLER (RIGHT)

Get Golfing finalists battle it out

■ DAVID HOWELL

David Howell, a member of the winning European Ryder Cup teams in 2004 and 2006 and a five-time champion on the European Tour, has been appointed to the Board of the European Tour with immediate effect.

The 45-year-old from Swindon will bring an important current player perspective with 2020 having been his 25th consecutive season as a European Tour professional.

He is also Chairman of the Tour’s player advisory group – the Tournament Committee, who nominated him to the position – having taken on that role in 2017 from Thomas Bjørn, who himself joined the Tour’s Board in April this year.

Howell said: “I am delighted to join the Board of the European Tour at such a pivotal and exciting time for the Tour and for golf as a whole. It is an honour to represent the players of the Tournament Committee, as well as the membership, and I look forward to helping drive the development of the European Tour.”

for prized Le Touquet spots Get Golfing, the owner of eight clubs across the south, has just completed the regional finals of its Society Masters events, where the winners at each venue go forward to the finals next year at Le Touquet in France.

First out of the blocks was the pairing of Chris Holloway and Ian Stuart of the Manner Printing Golf Society, who won at The Bristol Golf Club after a tense ‘putt off’. Holloway held his nerve in front of about a hundred spectators by two-putting from 90 feet.

It was the same story at Mill Green in Hertfordshire, where a field of 90 witnessed Keith Deller and Macmillan Cancer Support event organiser Gary Ewington took the honours, but only after former world darts champion Deller holed out a nervy six-footer to defeat David Selby and Chris Robinson, who had tied with 46pts in the main event.

At Pyrford Golf Club in Surrey, Liam Wyatt and Paul Lange demolished the field with 50Pts in the Stableford event, leaving Mark Tolley and Gary McPherson in second place on 47. The field of 88 witnessed first-hand the stunning redesign work that is taking place at Pyrford. The competition was stiff, with third spot decided on count back, with Tom Williams senior and Tom Williams Junior pipped Peter and James Georgiou.

Jim Wilson and Michael Wilson of the AWE Society triumphed at Oak Park Golf Club in Hampshire with 44Pts, beating Sandgate Old Boys Adrian Wood and David Graham (39pts on count back from Tim Canfield and Rob Tickner of the CODY Society). Graham also picked up the prize for longest drive on the 17th. Also in Hampshire, Barrie Green and Steven Randall of The Royal Engineers Golf Society engineered a 51-point total to book themselves an all-expenses paid trip to Le Touquet. Over in Kent, Alan Jackson and Phil Rock won the day at Redlibbets G&CC with 49pts, just ahead of Martin Beard and Paul Doherty on 48 and Michael Whitfield and Marcus Wilkinson on 47. The renovation work to the course and the excellence of its presentation was remarked upon by all.

Get Golfing CEO Edward Richardson said: “We wanted to do something a little bit special. It’s a thank you to the organisers of our top 36 societies and it is making people aware of who we are and what we stand for. From our perspective, it always starts with the golf course. People appreciate quality turf, good putting greens and a convenient location. That brings more people to our venues.”

To enter into next year’s Society Masters, where the society organiser and a friend receive a free day’s golf and lunch, you need to book a society day at one of its clubs.

Next year’s Society Masters events will be announced shortly. For more details, visit www.thesocietymasters.co.uk.

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[12] WINTER 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

T

■ THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE MANSION

here can be few golfers who haven’t, at some point in their lives, dreamt of living on or next to a golf course.

The idea of slipping on your golf shoes, grabbing your golf bag, stepping out of your front door and ambling up to the clubhouse before teeing off without a care in the world has been occupying the minds of golfers pretty much ever since the game was invented.

While most of us sadly never come to realise that dream and have to settle for a 20-minute drive to our nearest course, there are others that are more fortunate and get to live out that dream on a daily basis.

That’s certainly one of the main attractions of a stunning new property development that has taken place at The Mansion at Sundridge Park, a beautiful Grade I listed mansion house situated in Bromley, south-east London, which also happens to overlook not one, but two superb 18-hole golf courses.

The Mansion was originally designed by the eminent architect John Nash in 1797, with its surrounding estate and gardens planned by the acclaimed landscape designer Humphry Repton. Over 220 years later, The Mansion and its surrounding landscape have been transformed into an exclusive collection of 22 luxury restored apartments that offer the chance to truly live the dream. While the majority have, not surprisingly, been snapped up by people eager to escape the centre of London, yet remain within touching distance of the capital’s attractions, there are several still available for purchase, with prices starting from £900,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Each of these grand dwellings has been meticulously designed to optimise natural light and make the most of the period features which have been expertly restored.

THE MANSION OVERLOOKS THE HIGHLY-RATED SUNDRIDGE PARK GOLF CLUB, WHICH BOASTS TWO SPECTACULAR 18-HOLE COURSES AND IS THE ULTIMATE ADDRESS FOR KEEN GOLFERS LOOKING TO BE JUST MINUTES FROM THE CLUBHOUSE

■ THE MANSION BOASTS STUNNING COMMUNAL GARDENS

LIVE THE GOLFING DREAM AT

S U N D R I D G E PA R K Overlooking two 18-hole golf courses and housed in a beautifully restored 18th century Grade I-listed building, UK heritage developer City & Country has breathed new life into 22 luxury apartments at The Mansion at Sundridge Park, which offer the chance to fulfil every golf lover’s dream of a home by the links

Owners will benefit from the exclusive and peaceful surrounding oasis, as The Mansion is located within a green setting of almost 300 acres, including the highly rated Sundridge Park Golf Club, which boasts two spectacular 18-hole courses and is the ultimate address for keen golfers looking to be just minutes from the clubhouse.

All residents benefit from a year's social club membership free of charge, whilst those looking for full seven-day golf membership can skip the waiting list. Just imagine being able to drive your golf buggy directly from the doors of The Mansion to the course, and being able to be on the first tee just minutes after leaving your home.

Renowned for its high quality, the club hosts a 72-hole World Amateur Ranking Event each year and is a former qualifying venue for The Open Championship.

The East Course, which also plays host to an England Order of Merit and World Amateur Golf Ranking event, traverses the River Kyd Brook with many striking views of The Mansion's white façade and its Palladian columns. The West Course boasts its own unique character with many tree lined fairways that frame breathaking views of London’s famous landmarks.

Back at The Mansion each apartment is bespoke, refined and graceful, with the proportions and merits of each room have dictated the design treatment so that no two properties are alike. The interior specification has been specially selected to complement each apartment with luxury additions and many beautiful original features, including restored shutters and windows, ornate plasterwork and grand fireplaces.

The result is a selection of exquisite individual properties that provide for contemporary living whilst respecting the unique heritage of The Mansion.

Bespoke shaker-style kitchens have been carefully designed to suit the unique layout of each property. All are fitted with stone worktops and Siemens appliances. Many of the bathrooms benefit from luxurious freestanding roll-top baths and double rainforest showers, double sinks from Villeroy

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

& Boch and brassware from Hansgrohe and Crosswater, and elegant porcelain tiling throughout.

Perfectly designed for modern living and working from home, every apartment is fitted with hyperoptic broadband, which provides residents with the flexibility of choosing their broadband package to ensure their internet requirements are met.

Each of the remaining homes feature private outside spaces – from large terraces to incredible circular balconies with panoramic views, while there is also a collection of fantastic facilities and communal areas which have been beautifully designed to complement the history of the building. Residents will benefit from the sweeping setting of sculptured gardens and wonderful woodland walks in glorious surroundings.

George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4’s property programmes Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces, was hugely impressed when he recently visited The Mansion. He said: “The Mansion at Sundridge Park is without question one of the finest restoration projects of a John Nash building that I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely stunning, with no detail that hasn’t been sympathetically restored and enhanced. All the apartments have been individually restored in keeping with the constraints of their Grade I listing, but at the same time they’ve all be fitted with the very latest in technology and modern conveniences – so you’ve got 21st century living in an 18th century building. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better place to live.”

There’s no better endorsement for a property than from someone who has already moved in, so recent arrivals Samuel and Aretha, who bought a two-bedroom apartment, are well placed to offer an unbiased view of their new surroundings.

Samuel explained: “Our main criteria were being near to countryside, but close enough to commute into London. We hadn’t originally considered Bromley, but everything we had seen more central was either tiny, had no outdoor space or felt lifeless. Sundridge Park was recommended to us by friends who had looked at the properties for themselves and driving up the path for the first time and seeing everything we had been looking for, we were stunned: we couldn’t believe this was still only Zone 4. We didn’t need to look too far out of London to find it – it’s only 25 minutes into the centre of town by train.”

Talking through the process of buying with City & Country, Samuel says: “As home-buying novices we were nervous, but the sales team were fantastic throughout. When we first viewed our apartment it barely even existed, but such a good picture was painted we felt we knew it before we saw it. We used a solicitor City & Country recommended which made things seamless, and everyone was so transparent throughout the build process meaning we were kept up to date at every stage. When we finally moved in, we felt at home from the moment we crossed the threshold.”

Aretha adds: “One of the things which attracted us to Sundridge Park was that all of the apartments are so unique, meaning nobody else has the same as our home. The architecture both internally and externally is so interesting, it’s wonderful. The setting is fantastic, particularly both working in London; it feels like a proper escape in such contrast to the city. Turning off the main road is like entering another world, the best combination of home and holiday – we can breathe a little bit better here.”

■ A VIEW OF THE MANSION FROM SUNDRIGE PARK GOLF COURSE

■ THE CLUBHOUSE AT SUNDRIGE PARK GOLF CLUB

■ THE MANSION COMMANDS IMPRESSIVE VIEWS OVER THE GOLF COURSES AND THE CITY OF LONDON’S ICONIC SKYLINE

■ THE APARTMENTS BOAST BEAUTIFUL PERIOD FEATURES

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF GEORGE CLARKE’S TOUR OF THE MANSION AT SUNDRIDGE PARK, VISIT HERE HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/XDCU2SODC5M To arrange a viewing, or to talk to City & Country’s expert sales team, call 020 3811 3850 or visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk.

[14] WINTER 2021 | FEATURE GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GET INTO THE SWING THIS TAX RETURN SEASON Trust TaxCalc’s smart software to coach you every step of the way

A

re you one of the millions of taxpayers who are required to submit a Self Assessment tax return each year? If so, you’ll know it can be a tedious, daunting task that you often leave until the last minute.

This year has been a year like no other. Covid-19 has forced the majority of us to work from home and that includes the staff at HMRC’s call centres.

Whatever you do, don’t leave filing your tax return until the last minute.

The high volume of returns being filed at the last minute has been known to cause the HMRC website to crash. On 31 January 2020 alone, more than 700,000 tax returns were submitted on deadline day, and around 26,500 people left it until the final hour.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Trust TaxCalc – Multi-award winning tax software TaxCalc’s award-winning software has been trusted to file millions of tax returns. So whether this is your first time completing a tax return, or you’re an old hand at Self Assessment, TaxCalc’s built-in features ensure the process can be completed with speed and confidence.

At the heart of TaxCalc is its unique intelligent SimpleStep® tool.

SimpleStep asks you relevant questions about your income and circumstances. Then, based on your answers, it fast forwards you to the parts of the tax return you need to complete. There’s no trying to figure out if you should be completing a section. TaxCalc tells you.

Helpfully, TaxCalc also automatically calculates and displays your tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) liability as you progress.

Then, when you’ve reached the end of your return, TaxCalc’s smart checking tool, Check & Finish, makes sure everything tallies up and highlights any inconsistencies for you to review and correct if necessary.

Once everything is validated, you’re good to go.

TAXCALC 2020 Self Assessment software From £32 www.taxcalc.com/individual (also for Dividend Database and WhatIf? Planner)

More help if you need it It doesn’t stop there. Just as you’d select the right club for the appropriate job, TaxCalc offers a range of other tools to help in matters of tax and finance.

If you’re VAT registered, TaxCalc VAT Filer for Business speeds the process of submitting your VAT returns.

With the economic upheaval brought about by the pandemic, your tax liabilities for 2020/21 may be different from those for this year’s 2019/2020 tax return. But don’t worry, you can glimpse into the future with TaxCalc What-if? Planner, which accurately forecasts next year’s tax liability. This means, if you have earned less, you can amend your payments on account accordingly when it’s time.

And if you own shares, TaxCalc Dividend Database provides a list of dividends issued by companies on the FTSE350 and AIM100, saving you valuable time searching for your dividend vouchers or trawling through your bank accounts.

Why it pays to file your tax return as soon as you can There may not be long to go until the 31 January Self Assessment deadline, but it always pays to beat the rush. If you are owed a tax rebate for example, there’s every chance you’ll get it sooner if you submit your tax return earlier, so why not download your copy of TaxCalc 2020 today?

Tax will never be as interesting as a round of golf, but that’s when TaxCalc comes into its own.

Like any caddy worth their salt, TaxCalc simplifies everything from start to finish. That means less stress for you in making sure you hole your tax return in one. Surely that will help your game!

TAXCALC VAT FILER FOR BUSINESS VAT filing software From £17.50 www.taxcalc.com/ businessVat

NEWS | WINTER 2021

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Purley plays it safe Purley Downs Golf Club made use of the second lockdown in November to carry out the first major alteration to its 18-hole course in over 90 years.

With the course closed to golfers for a month, the popular Surrey venue took the opportunity to carry to create a new 8th hole.

The new hole was required following complaints from the owner of a house that backs onto the course’s eighth green that errant balls from the tee were landing on his property.

The club’s board, aware of their legal obligations for health and safety, decided to take action. A fence would have been too

high, and eventually needed repair ■ XXXX XX XXXX X XXXX X XXXX X or replacement, so it was decided to XXXX X XXXX X XXXX X XXXX XX move the entire green.

■ THE NEW PAR-3 8TH IS TAKING SHAP The club called on the architectural E services of James Edwards of Edwards Design International to will reduce the likelihood of design the new hole, while 1st Golf balls ending up in neighbouring properties, Construction Ltd, the company which created and also means the green will no longer be the new holes at Royal Portrush for the 2019 hidden from the tee, as it was previously.

Open Championship, carry out the basic Purley Downs will let the landscaping settle landscaping work, which was finished before over the winter, and then its green staff will members returned to golf in early December. create the bunkers, and seed the green and The new green is located about 50 yards to surrounds. The club expects the new hole to the west of the present one and sunk into the be ready for play by mid-summer. slope facing the tee. The new direction of play

Linksnet gears up After a challenging but successful first season, which saw over 1,000 members join and compete on the golf networking platform, the Linksnet team are busy preparing for next season.

Linksnet is a sophisticated web platform which provides golfers from all over the globe with the ability to organise their golf calendar with fellow users at the click of a button, whilst giving easy access to all their golfing news and scores.

Linksnet has quickly built an enviable reputation working with some of golf’s leading brands to offer members a truly unique opportunity to build a network of

InBrief

with new par-3 hole

FOR SEASON TWO

like-minded golfers who share the same passion for golf, whilst competing for some great prizes.

Once again, next season there will be a prize draw for a custom fit set of Titleist clubs, bag and Pro V1 balls for anyone who enters six scores, plus a whole range of prizes from the likes of Bushnell Golf, Skechers, Dirty Dog Eyewear, Stewart Golf, Island Green, Camelbak, Max Golf Protein and Hayman’s Gin. Linksnet will also be offering members a series of 10 exclusive network golf days that will run from April through to September across the UK. 2021 will also

see the return of the very popular team Ryder Cup-style team matchplay final, which will take place in sunnier climes during the Autumn.

Director Paul Rockett said: “Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, the Linksnet team are proud of their achievements in 2020 and are now ready to take the platform to the next level and embrace the positivity we all feel about 2021.”

The second season of Linksnet will launch in early January. The platform is open to all and golfers can sign up at www.linksnetgolf.com.

Berkhamsted puts equality TO THE FORE

FOR NEW NATIONAL COMPETITION

PING is launching a new fourball betterball mixed event open to all golf clubs in England as the brand continues to demonstrate its support for all sectors of the game.

Following the success of the PING Women’s Fourball Betterball Tournament, which is set for its 15th staging next year after being launched in 2006, the new event is anticipated to attract more than 20,000 golfers from over 1,000 clubs across the country.

The tournament, which is administered

by England Golf, will run from the start of

February until the beginning of August, with the final to be held at Thonock Park – the home course of PING Europe – on September 7.

Lisa Lovatt, PING Europe’s managing director, said: “This new initiative epitomises PING’s support for golfers of all ages, genders and abilities, and we are inviting all players to get involved, find themselves a partner and sign up for the event. We are dedicated to supporting club golf, and we hope that this new mixed event helps to bring golfers together in 2021 and onwards.”

Qualifying events will be run at clubs throughout England, with the top 50 pairs progressing to the grand final. Teams who finish first and second in the qualifiers will win a PING umbrella or towel, respectively, with all finalists

★ Farnham Golf Club in Surrey, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2021, has been chosen to host the first English Under 18 Championship that will see boys and girls compete for one trophy. The 72-hole stroke play tournament, which is scheduled for June 25-27, will have a field of 132 players (66 boys and 66 girls) with no handicap or stroke allowances. The girls will play from separate tees, but the set-up will be done in such a way as to make the scores comparable. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of the first two days, then the top 40 players and ties will carry forward their scores before a further 36 holes to decide the winner.

BRITISH GOLF SHOW ANNOUNCES NEW DATE IN 2021 ★ The second British Golf Show at Wycombe Air Park in Buckinghamshire has been rescheduled for May 14-15, 2021.

The 2020 event was scheduled date of May this year, and then was switched to early October, before organisers Elite Luxury Events made the decision to postpone to 2021 due to the pandemic. It will now take place across two halls to allow for extra exhibitors and public attractions.

CLUBS EARN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

Berkhamsted Golf Club has put equal opportunities even higher up its agenda following the announcement that it has signed up to the R&A’s Women In Golf Charter.

Among its steps to create greater gender equality at the Hertfordshire club include the creation of a new national tournament aimed at elite junior girl golfers, and a concerted effort to attract more female golfers from the 35-54 age group.

Earlier this year the club, whose heathland course is ranked inside England’s top 100, committed to making its Berkhamsted Trophy a mixed-gender event, ending a 60-year male-only tradition and breaking new ground for elite amateur golf worldwide.

“The Women In Golf Charter signature process inspired plenty of debate within the club, and we are wasting no time in getting started.” said Howard Craft, Berkhamsted’s general manager. “We already had good women’s golf initiatives running here, but you can always do more.

These new measures will ensure that an increasing number of female golfers will be playing here over the next few years.”

PING mixes it up

FARNHAM TO HOST ENGLAND GOLF'S FIRST MIXED EVENT

receiving special PING gifts, and a fantastic array of prizes up for grabs at the tournament finale.

Registration packs for the event are being distributed to golf clubs by England Golf in January.

★ Three clubs owned by the Burhill Group have enhanced their environmental credentials after being awarded GEO Certified status. Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Burhill Golf Club in Walton-on-Thames and Redbourn Golf Club in Harpenden, have all achieved the coveted status which is awarded to clubs that go above and beyond to reduce their environmental impact. The accreditation, which each club will hold for the next five years, covers areas such as nature, resources, climate action and community and is a demonstration of the commitment of the venues to continually improve their sustainable practices.

WEST PARK TO BUILD ADVENTURE COURSE ★ West Park Golf Centre in Chelmsford is adding a £700,000 adventure golf course to its extensive array of facilities aimed at getting new golfers into the game. The new ‘Rascal Bay’ course, which will feature rafts, tunnels and islands, is being built by Golfwise Enterprise. West Park’s existing 18-hole pitch and putt course is also being renovated. In total, the project is expected to cost £1 million.

[16] WINTER 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HAT TON HITS NE W

HEIGHTS With big wins in America and Europe this season, 29-year-old Tyrrell Hatton has broken into the world’s top 10 and is setting his sights on staying there, as Nick Bayly found out

I

t’s fair to say that 2020 has been a careerchanging year for you, with your first PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, and a cherished win at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in October. It’s obviously been a strange year, but you must be pleased with the way things have gone so far?

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a special year for me as far as my golf is concerned. It was great to win my first PGA Tour event at Bay Hill, which is such an iconic venue. It’s a big milestone in any player’s career to win on the PGA Tour, especially as a non-American. I’ve been fortunate now to win five times in Europe, but to get the breakthrough in the States, in what was my fourth season playing in America, was really pleasing. Hopefully I can take that confidence with me and add some more trophies in the future.

And winning the PGA at Wentworth was a dream come true. It’s well known that it’s a tournament that I attended and watched as a kid with my dad, and dreamt of winning, so all these years later to come back as a player and win it, was amazing.

There are the names of a lot of fantastic players on that trophy, so it was a huge honour to add my name to it. The tournament’s got such an amazing history, and to be a part of that now is extremely special.

Am I right in thinking that you didn’t know you had a three-shot lead when you stood on the 18th tee during the final round at Wentworth?

Yeah, I wasn’t entirely sure how things stood, as I think they had switched off the digital scoreboard on the tee by that point. I was pretty nervous. I hit a decent tee shot, but the second shot to the green was probably the worst shot in the history of the tournament for the champion. I think I caught the ground about two inches behind the ball. It was so far out of the toe that it didn’t even hit the grooves.

I was quite lucky that it got over the hazard, to be honest. It was so bad it missed all the trouble, and luckily I followed it up with a nice up-and-down.

You’ve won so big tournaments before, but can you pinpoint anything in particular that has elevate your game still further?

It’s hard to put my finger on what has made the difference really, as I’m not doing anything particularly different in terms of my preparation, my practice, my swing, or anything like that, but I think one of the biggest things for me is that I’ve been pain‑free after last year’s wrist surgery. So that’s been a huge thing, as it’s been an issue for the last two or three years.

Now that the wrist has been fixed, I’ve been able to train in the gym, which is something I’ve not done for this amount of time previously. I’m feeling fit and healthy, and I’m generally very happy with how things have gone for me this season – apart from missing the cut in all three of this year’s Majors.

You don’t strike me as a gym bunny…

No, I’m not, but I’m quite a self-conscious person, and for the last couple of years I haven’t really liked how I looked. I’m sponsored by a sports brand [adidas], and you want to look good in that kind of clothing, and I got to the stage where I definitely didn’t. So I started in the gym just for my own benefit, to make myself feel good, and I’ve really enjoyed that process. I haven’t lost a huge amount of weight, but I feel in better shape physically and feel much stronger.

Do you think you play better if you feel better?

Definitely. I feel if I'm in a good place, I'm happier generally and much calmer on the golf course and that’s obviously going to help me, as well.

Talking of adidas, you provoked quite a debate

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with your choice of outerwear during the BMW. Did the interest around the hoodies you wore take you by surprise?

Yes and no. A hoodie is not something you see every day on the golf course, but adidas have always tried to shake things up a bit when it comes to golf fashion. If it’s warm, comfortable – which it was – and I can swing without restrictions, then I’ll wear it.

I offered to give away ten of them to my Twitter followers and had literally hundreds of responses within a few hours, so they’ve obviously proved popular with the public – or least sections of it. I know some clubs will have a problem with their members wearing hoodies, but times change and so does fashion.

With the pandemic it’s obviously been a stopstart season, with tournaments cancelled and postponed, and the schedules all over the place.

How did you negotiate the situation?

When the Players Championship was suspended back in March, my fiancée, Emily, and I decided to stay in the States. We rented a house in Florida, in Lake Nona, and spent the best part of three months just hanging around there.

It was a nice spot to be. We obviously didn’t know how long things were going to be up in the air.

Although when we went into a bit of a lockdown in Florida, it was nothing like as tough as it was in the UK, and we felt that only if it got a lot worse in the States we would look at going home.

As far as golf was concerned, they kept the practice facilities open at Lake Nona, so if you wanted to practice, you could. Back in the UK, you couldn’t even leave the house, and no golf courses were open, so I wouldn’t have been able to practice anywhere. Although I didn’t actually practice a whole lot at Lake Nona, it made more sense to stay in the US, especially when the PGA Tour schedule came back in June, and with the quarantine rules it

INTERVIEW | WINTER 2021

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and caddies do. He’s always pretty good at making me laugh, which I definitely need at times.

You’re known for being hard on yourself.

Are you getting less critical of yourself with the recent success, or is that what gets you up?

Yes, I can be hard on myself, but that’s the way I’ve always been. I am getting better at putting bad shots behind me, and trying to look forward and be more positive, but it’s not something you can change overnight.

It’s a work in progress.

■ HATTON HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CONSISTENT PLAYERS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND HE FINALLY MADE THE BREAKTHROUGH IN AMERICA THIS YEAR WITH VICTORY IN MARCH'S ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

just didn’t make much sense to come back to the UK. It was a tough decision for a lot of the European players to go and play in the States, especially for those with families. At the end of the day, everyone had to do what they felt was right for them.

How have you found not playing in front of fans?

It’s been strange, and I’m looking forward to the galleries being able to come back, but we all know what’s on the line, so I’ve no problems in getting motivated with or with without fans watching. The adrenalin might not be pumping quite so hard, but I’m always out there trying my hardest to win.

Your swing looks so simple it’s often hard to wonder where things might go wrong. What are the main things you focus on when you’re working on your swing?

I really haven’t changed my swing since I was maybe 14. I’ve always worked with my dad, and we’ve always looked at kind of two key points of the swing, where it’s like a quarter of the way or halfway back and then at the top of the backswing. So, it’s always just a case of kind of keeping a check on those positions.

When things do go wrong, it normally tends to be when the club is too far outside. And then I’ve always had high hands, so at the top of my backswing, it would be like too steep, and that’s where sort of issues will kind of arise from there.

AFTER MY WRIST SURGERY THIS IS THE FIRST SEASON I'VE BEEN PAIN-FREE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE My downswing is very consistent, so as long I can get it in the right positions I need to on the backswing, and stay in a good rhythm, I generally don’t have to many problems. But I feel like the swing’s in a good place.

How much of an impact has having an experienced caddie like Mick Donaghy had on your performances this year?

Mick and I started working together at the British Masters last year. I’ve loved every tournament that we’ve been together. He’s got so much experience.

He’s been on Tour for over 30 years. I think the win at Wentworth was his 24th win as a caddy, so he obviously seen a lot and he’s worked for a lot of fantastic players.

Mick brings calmness, which is a good thing for me, and we get on really well. We have a really good relationship, and I think you definitely need that when you spend as much time together as players

You don’t always look happy when you’re out on the course, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself at Wentworth. When you think back on that week, is that feeling hard to replicate?

Yeah, I think so. We’re all human, and our emotions change from day‑to‑day. When I think back to Wentworth, the two weeks that I had at home prior to that was massive. Before the BMW, I had been away for the best part of eight months, so to actually be in my own house, my own bed again, was great, and I just felt happy.

It was, I’d say, similar to the feeling I had at Bay Hill. I was comfortable with my surroundings. At Bay Hill we stayed in the house that we’ve rented at Lake Nona for the last couple of years, and everything felt familiar and comfortable. That tends to be when I play my best golf.

There have been other weeks where I’ve been a bit more highly strung, and it’s often been related to being in new venue, feeling jet-lagged, tired or just a bit off colour.

What was the first thing you had after coming home?

The first thing I did when I got home was bacon sandwich, cup of tea, then actually we had a curry for dinner. Yeah, there’s no place like home, so it was just good to be back.

How does it feel to be inside the top 10 in the world, and what’s next on the career goals list?

It’s long been a career goal for me to break inside the top-10 in the world, so to win at Wentworth and achieve that in the same week was very special.

Staying there is another thing, but it’s pleasing to kind of get that box ticked.

I’ve been fortunate to win a few times on the European Tour, including a Rolex Series event, and now on the PGA Tour, so I feel the next step for me would be to win a WGC event and then a major.

That would be very special. It is very hard to win tournaments. You have to go out each week, try your best, and some weeks it works out better than others.

You talked about the disappointment of not performing as well as you’d like to in the Majors this season. What went wrong?

I’ve not got much of a track record at the Masters, so while I came into the tournament with plenty of confidence, my past efforts at Augusta didn’t necessarily point to me having a great week.

I’ve not putted great there, in fact, pretty horribly, to be honest, so that’s been disappointing, as I’m normally a pretty decent putter. And my short game probably hasn’t always been isn’t as sharp as it needs to be to score well around there. Augusta is all about knowing when to attack and when to defend, and sometimes I’ve not always got that right, but every time you come back there, you learn a little bit more.

You racked up your 150th start on the European Tour at the DP World Championship this month.

Five wins; 15 top-three finishes; €14.4 million in prize money and a Ryder Cup cap. And all before you turn 30. You must feel pretty happy with that?

They're nice numbers, I'm not going to deny that, but it's not something I think about too much, so hopefully I have plenty more starts ahead of me and I can keep on improving.

[18] WINTER 2021 | NEWS

ROSS THE BOSS!

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Surrey’s Ross McGowan got back in the winner’s circle after an almost 12-year absence with victory at this autumn’s Italian Open. Golf News editor Nick Bayly caught up with the popular 38-yearold to talk about the overdue win and how he has coped with playing during a global pandemic

It had been over a decade since your last win on the European Tour – at the Spanish Open in 2009 – before your win in Italy in October. What was your immediate reaction to getting your head in front again?

It was part elation, part relief, but it certainly came at the right time for me. It’s no secret that the last few years have been difficult, and as each year goes by it gets harder and harder.

At 38, I’m no spring chicken and every year the new guys coming through just seem to be hitting it farther and farther, and the courses keep getting longer, so it’s tough for shorter players like me to carry on competing at the highest level.

I’ve had to get every ounce out of my game to stay competitive, and I while I know that I’m never going to be able to bomb it 320 yards, I’ve worked hard on my short game, and that has helped me compete and put some scores together.

There are so many variables in golf, not to mention 156-odd rivals each week, that winning isn’t always the end goal. Playing consistently is the key to being successful, and the wins are just the bonus when everything comes together.

You seemed to come into the Italian Open with not much form to speak of. What clicked that week?

To be honest, I felt I had been playing pretty well coming into Italy, and certainly wasn’t out of form. I’d made the cut in four of the previous five tournaments and felt like my ball striking was good, and the work that I’ve put in on my wedge play and my putting was really beginning to show up in my performances on the golf course. So, while I certainly wasn’t brimming with confidence, I felt that my game was progressing, and I was hoping to put in a decent performance.

Had you played the course at Chervo before?

No. It was a new venue for pretty much all of us, which helped level the playing field a bit. Having said that, it was a long course, and definitely suited the bigger hitters. I’m not one of them, so there were lots of holes where I really had no chance of flying the fairway bunkers, so I had to adopt a different strategy. I had a lot of long approach shots – and not all of them from the fairway – but fortunately I was hitting my fairway woods and long irons well, and my short game was pretty tidy, so I was able to put together some decent scores.

You holed some lengthy putts throughout the week. Is that often the difference between a good week and a great week on tour for you?

Yes, it can be. Everyone hits the ball miles these days – well, a lot do – so it often comes down to whose putter is hot on any given week. I was rolling the ball well all week, and we picked some good lines. I also holed a bunker shot at the right time on Sunday, which kept me in it, so sometimes you need that extra bit of luck to get you over the line. I didn’t have a great week with the driver, but thankfully it was a wide-open course, and I still had some angles into the greens!

You had a new caddy in Italy. How did that come about?

Yeah, because you need to have your caddie in the Covid bubble with you, I started back in June with my girlfriend, Chloe, on the bag. She’s a nurse and has no idea about caddying, but it seemed the best way for us to be together safely. She had been

■ PATIENCE PAYS OFF: MCGOWAN IS ALL SMILES AFTER WINNING THE ITALIAN OPEN

I'VE HAD TO SQUEEZE EVERY OUNCE OUT OF MY GAME IN ORDER TO STAY COMPETITIVE working full-time at a hosipital before the pandemic, but she final green in Italy and be clapped by 30-odd officials, sponsors decided to become an agency nurse during the lockdown, so and players, rather than a few thousand spectators, so that was when tournament golf returned in June she took time off to all very different. caddy for me.

I’ve been really impressed with how the European Tour got us That was never going to be a long-term solution, so a mate back playing during the pandemic, and all the safety protocols of mine, Henry Smart, took over bag duties. We’ve known each that have been put in place. Yes, the odd player has tested other since we were juniors at Banstead Downs. He’s a very positive, but they have mainly occurred outside of the Tour decent golfer – plus two or three handicap – so he knows how bubble, so we’ve had no mass outbreaks at events. to get it around a golf course. I’ve played lots of golf with Henry I’ve been tested about 30 times now, and it never gets any and he knows my game. He started out in Italy, so he got off to a less unpleasant, but it’s a very small price to pay for being able pretty good start! to carry on doing your job, especially given what else is going on When it comes to reading putts, Henry gives me how he in the world. sees it, and I tell him how I see it, and if they’re wildly different views, we generally find a The two-year exemption that comes with the WHAT’S IN compromise. Of course, I have to go with my win must be huge bonus?

ROSS’S BAG? instinct, but having another pair of eyes is It’s almost as important as the win itself, to be DRIVER: CALLAWAY EPIC essential. He also helps me stay relaxed and honest, as it will allow me to get into the events FLASH SUB ZERO (10.5) keeps me positive, and it seems to be working. that my previous category didn’t, and I’ll be able Henry runs his own business, finding college to plan a schedule that works for me, rather than FAIRWAY WOOD: places in America for UK golf students, so he’s going from week to week not quite knowing CALLAWAY MAVRIK (17) keeping that ticking over while caddying for where I’ll be playing.

UTILITY IRON: me until the end of the season.

CALLAWAY X FORGED How did you pass the time during the initial UT (21) How did you celebrate the win? lockdown back in April? Was it a big bedsheet IRONS: CALLAWAY APEX After I’d done my post-tournament interviews across the washing line for pratice?

PRO ’19 (3-9) with the media, Henry and I headed straight Not quite, although I did manage to buy a hitting for Milan airport, so there wasn’t much time net online. It wasn’t very good one and I had to WEDGES: CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 4 (46, 50, for celebrating at the course. There were a improvise a bit, as I kept on breaking it. To be 56), CALLAWAY JAWS few players and caddies on the flight back honest, after 15 odd years on tour, I was quite MD5 (60) to London, and the cabin crew noticed that happy to put the clubs away for a few weeks.

I was carrying a rather large trophy, so the I didn’t want to sit around the house doing PUTTER: ODYSSEY TOULON DESIGN Champagne came out and we had a few nothing, so I did some volunteer work with a ATLANTA celebratory drinks on the plane. friend delivering vegetable boxes around where Back home, we were met by Chloe’s I live in Surrey for five or six weeks. It got me out BALL: CALLAWAY parents at the airport, and we went home of the house and gave me something to do. There CHROME SOFT X and the Champagne came out again, but we are only so many TV box sets you can watch – weren’t able to hold a party given the Covid restrictions. A few although believe me, we’ve watched a few! neighbours congratulated me, and I had lots of nice messages on social media, but it was very much of case of moving on to Callaway has stuck with you throughout your career. How the next event and keep the momentum going. important has it been to have their continued support?

Yes, they’ve been very good to me throughout all the ups and It must have felt very different to win a tournament without downs. It would have been easy to have be let go when I was having any spectators watching. How have you found on the Challenge Tour and missing cuts, but they’ve stuck with playing without galleries over the last six months? me, and I’m really grateful for their support, and all the great It’s been very strange, and not something I want to get used to. products I’ve been able to use. I’m not particularly technical Some players need the crowds to feed off, while others find it when it comes to my equipment, but I’ve been really impressed a distraction. I certainly miss having spectators around, but I’ve with some of the new kit, and I’m always keen to test out been around a long enough to not get particularly bothered by whatever new launches they have in the pipeline. Hopefully the them one way or another. It was certainly bizarre to come off the next driver will go even farther!

INTERVIEW | WINTER 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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[20] WINTER 2021 | FEATURE GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

F

or those of a certain age, Peter Alliss was, and always will be, the living embodiment of all things golf.

Just weeks before his death on December 6, aged 89, the ‘Voice of Golf’ was still working his magic behind the microphone, covering the Masters at Augusta from the shielded safety of his home in Surrey.

A true legend of the game in every sense, Alliss spanned the generations that few other personalities have ever done in any sport, and introduced golf to generations of viewers, many of whom had never picked up a putter in their life, and some who never intended to.

But his wise witterings on every subject under the sun, from his analysis of the idiosyncrasies of a player’s swing, a fashion critique of what someone wearing, to the imaginary thoughts of a child watching The Open from a pram, Alliss had to magical knack of finding the right words at the right time. He was also human, and, like any commentator, occasionally made the odd blooper, and while his penchant for calling a spade a spade didn’t always sit well with the players, few could argue that he wasn’t talking from a position of authority.

Sadly, one of sport’s greatest voices wasn’t heard for much of the last 20 years, as the BBC’s gradual retreat from golf gave Alliss much reduced airtime, although his work with other channels, most notably NBC, and, of course, his BBC commentaries for the Masters and the Open, ensured that those who only tuned in for golf’s

I'M AN OBSERVER, NOT A RECITER OF FACTS AND FIGURES. UNLESS YOU CAN ADD SOMETHING, THE BEST OPTION IS OFTEN TO SAY NOTHING

A man for all seasons Golf News editor Nick Bayly looks back at the rich and varied life of Peter Alliss, who died earlier this month aged 89, after a career in golf that spanned almost 75 years

biggest events got their Alliss fix.

Although younger golf fans will only ever have known him as a commentator, Alliss was one of most successful British golfers of the post-war era, clocking up 31 professional wins and eight Ryder Cup appearances in a playing professional career than spanned 28 years.

Born in 1931, Alliss was the son of Percy Alliss, a hugely successful golfer in his own right, who finished in the top five in the Open five times between 1928 and 1936. As was the fashion in those days, professionals also worked as club pros, with Alliss Snr holding down the position as numerous clubs, starting out an assistant at Royal Porthcawl in Wales in 1919, before moving to head professional at Clyne, followed by spells at Wanstead, Beaconsfield, Temple Newsam, and finally Ferndown in Dorset, where he stayed from 1939 until his retirement in 1967.

With golf running through the family blood, it was only natural for Peter to follow in his father’s footsteps. Leaving school at 14, he was picked for England Boys in 1946, and turned professional a year later, aged just 16. He first worked as an assistant under his father’s tutelage at Ferndown, with the pair both playing in the 1947 Open at Hoylake.

After two years of national service between 1949-51, Alliss returned to competitive action in 1952, bagging his first professional win at the Assistants Championship, a match play tournament. After finishing ninth at the Open in 1953, his performances soon caught the eye of the Ryder Cup selectors, and he made his debut in the matches that year at Wentworth, where he lost both his matches in a narrow 6.5-5.5 defeat to America.

FEATURE | WINTER 2021

[21]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ ALLISS WON 31 PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENTS

He won his first big event at the 1954 Daks Tournament at Little Aston, where he beat Bobby Locke and Bernard Hunt with a final round 67, and over the next few years racked up a number of impressive wins, including the Spanish Open in 1955, while three years later he won the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese Opens in successive weeks – for which he won the grand total of £1,145.

After ten years working under his father at Ferndown, Alliss took on his first head professional’s job at nearby Parkstone Golf Club in 1957, following the death of Reg Whitcombe, a role he held for 13 years. At the end of his first week in the new job, he won the PGA Championship, the first of three successive victories in that coveted event.

Despite his undoubted ability, Alliss failed to produce his best form in the Open, and while managing five top-10 finishes, he never came close to winning one, with his third place behind Peter Thomson at Royal Birkdale in 1954 regarded as his nearest miss.

Although his playing career was still very much in full flow in the 1960s, Alliss was first asked to pick up a microphone at the 1961 Open, a tournament that he was also competing in. An instant natural in front of the camera, and over the airwaves, Alliss’s common touch and ready wit proved an instant hit with the viewers, and the last five or six years of his professional career was combined with work behind the camera.

He retired from the professional circuit in 1969, aged 39, after suffering a serious bout of the putting yips that virtually stopped him in his tracks. “I honestly felt I could go on winning forever, and that it was complete waste of time for anyone else bothering to turn up,” Alliss said of his sudden collapse. “Then winter arrived, Christmas came and went, and the Sunningdale Foursomes came round the following March, and the magic and gone, never to return.”

The professional game’s loss was television’s gain, and it wasn’t long before Alliss was seen as the natural successor to Henry Longhurst, who had up until then been the Voice of Golf on the BBC. Mentored by Longhurst,

and enjoying many of his wistful traits, an Alliss commentary is invariably memorable, and the same can be said for many of the courses he designed over the years. In all, working alongside Dave Thomas and then Clive Clark, he had a hand in around 50 designs, including of the Brabazon course at The Belfry, the Marquess course at Woburn and Old Thorns in Hampshire, where he served as club president, In addition to his commentary work for radio and TV, Alliss also enjoyed a cult following for his TV series Around with Alliss, which ran for seven series on BBC2, and International Pro-Celebrity Golf, which ran for eight series in the 1980s.

Both enabled Alliss to deliver his trademark wit and charm in the company of some of the great actors, entertainers, sports personalities and pros of the day. Although not a prolific author, Alliss wrote numerous instruction books, golfing anthologies and historical tomes, while his bestselling autobiography, My Life, can be found in the bookshelves of golfers up and down the land.

It was when Alliss was touring the country promoting that book and his one-man show, that I had the good fortune to interview the great man. Expecting a quick five-minute chat, he gave me forty, and it was an interview I’ll never forget.

When I asked him to describe his commentary style, he took a short pause, and said: “Dear boy, I observe. I don’t recite endless facts and statistics.

I don’t know or care if a certain player is 29 years, 18 days and 22 hours old, first held a club at three, and his mother had a butterfly collection.

They go on and on. I watch a player, see the way they greet the crowd, and observe their swing. I make them into characters. Golf needs characters.

And I try not to state the obvious.

It’s crippling when a player has a five-foot putt, leaves it short, and the commentator says, “Oh, he’s left it short.” You can see that. Don’t state the obvious. Unless you can add something, say nothing.”

He was, in short, a class act, a national institution, and we should all cherish the fact that he brought a touch of colour and light to a game that can, at times, take itself rather too seriously.

■ PETER AND PERCY ALLISS WERE THE FIRST FATHER AND SON PAIR TO WIN RYDER CUP CAPS

■ ALLISS'S COMMENTARY CAREER SPANNED 60 YEARS, (BOTTOM PIC) ALLISS FITTED A PERSONALISED NUMBERPLATE TO HIS ROLLS ROYCE THAT MOCKED HIS PUTTING YIPS

[22] WINTER 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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BULLEN’S ON COURSE FOR TOUR CAREER Sussex-based PGA Professional Mike Bullen talks to Will Trinkwon about playing in the BMW PGA Championship, retaining his PGA Assistants Championship title, and his dream of breaking onto the European Tour

O

n the 18th hole during his second round at October’s BMW PGA Championship, Sussex Assistant PGA Professional Mike Bullen’s first instinct was to lay up.

The 27-year-old from Rustington Golf Centre was playing in only his second European Tour event and was desperate to make the weekend. An opening round of 71 put him in good shape, but bogies on 15 and 16 on Friday meant he needed a strong finish to make the cut.

After making a birdie at 17, he bisected the 18th fairway.

But now he faced a dilemma: chase birdie, but risk bogey by trying to carry the brook at the front of Wentworth’s famous final green, or lay-up and play for par?

“My caddy [friend and England amateur Nathan Longley] said: ‘You’re playing really well, you’re swinging it well, let’s just go for it. . You’re 212 yards away. You’re in such a good spot,” Bullen recounts. From the middle of the 18th fairway Bullen unleashed a 4-iron to three feet and drained the putt for a spectacular eagle. “We made the right decision. It turns out that if I had made par I’d have missed the cut by one!”

Not many European Tour rookies can smile through the pressure of the BMW PGA Championship, but Bullen, who went on to finish tied 37th alongside Justin Rose after two 71s at the weekend, is not any old rookie – he’s used to playing under high pressure. A veteran of the PGA mini tour, Bullen earned his spot in the BMW by making four birdies in the last six holes to win the PGA PlayOffs in Turkey last year. He qualified for that by winning the PGA Assistants’ Championship – which he recently successfully defended.

Playing on the European Tour should be a walk in the park then? Not quite. “I struggled at the British Masters [his Tour debut, where he shot 75 and 80 to miss the cut.

It was tough, because I wasn’t used to walking around with famous golfers. Even just seeing the European Tour sign on the first tee was daunting.”

But Bullen used the disappointment as a springboard.

“I took a lot from the British Masters,” he says. “I knew what to expect at Wentworth and I prepared really well for it. The only pressure I had really at the BMW was the expectation that I put on myself.”

Playing at Wentworth, which, as a junior golfer in Sussex, he’d attended several times as a spectator was a dream come true. “It was just a really cool, experience – there’s no other way to describe it,” he says.

Although he has dreamed of playing on the European Tour since he first started golfing, Bullen has only recently begun to believe that he can achieve his dream: “I wasn’t

a natural golfer. In fact, I would say I had no natural talent whatsoever. For more than a year after I started [aged 12] I gripped it cack-handed.”

Being a late bloomer was also a blessing in disguise.

One of the perks was that rather than commit to a fulltime playing career early and risk flaring out, Bullen was able to learn the ropes on the PGA circuit. “I did the PGA qualification with the idea of it being a back-up career.

But the main reason I did it was to open up opportunities playing-wise. There’s a lot of tournaments and we’re fortunate to play for good money."

But the goal was always to play on the European Tour.

Bullen had his sights set especially on the BMW PGA Championship. “I missed by one in the Play-Offs the year before, so getting into the PGA was always a big goal of mine. The week at Wentworth confirmed that I’m good enough. Making the cut has given me that extra bit of confidence and belief that that’s where I’m meant to be, that’s where I’m meant to play. It’s just a matter of time.

I’m going to keep improving, keep chipping away, and I’ll get there when I’m ready.”

It would take a brave man to bet against him.

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[24] WINTER 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JACKET

ACQUIRED

With a green jacket in his wardrobe and a FedEx Cup title to add to his ever-growing haul of tournaments wins, World No.1 Dustin Johnson has transformed himself into a lean, mean, winning machine

A

fter a couple of near misses at Augusta, what does it mean to finally be able to call yourself a Masters champion? It’s an incredible feeling.

I will remember this for the rest of my life. It is a dream come true. As a kid I always dreamed about being a Masters champion. So, to have Tiger Woods put the green jacket on me still feels like a dream.

Getting to 20 under par, and breaking the all-time scoring record for the Masters, must also give you great satisfaction? I played unbelievable golf all week.

I didn’t really have a number in mind, but with the conditions out there, I knew it was going to take a low score to win.

Before the Masters, Bryson DeChambeau talked about 67 being his idea of par around Augusta now.

What is the par there for you? I never really thought about it. When you add up the numbers on the holes the par is 72. Obviously, it’s a tough golf course, and they have made it a lot longer through the years, especially some of the par fours, but if you take advantage of the par fives and cut out the mistakes, you can definitely post red figures.

If you look back through the past winners, they’ve always played the par fives well, so that’s really the key getting a good score going at Augusta.

Have you always liked the Augusta set up or has it grown on you? I definitely liked the golf course from the first time I played it, but I feel like the more you play it, the more you learn about it, and the more comfortable you get. For the first few years I felt like I was learning a lot. so I feel like I keep getting better and keep getting more comfortable the more times I play it.

Do you think the soft conditions helped play to your strengths? I think the last few years it’s played kind of soft in April, so the conditions on the greens weren’t that different, especially with the SubAir system on the greens, but you could definitely fire it at the pins on the first couple of days, so that lowered the scores.

patrons around is a big part of playing at the Masters, but hopefully they will be back next year.

You’ve done a lot of work on your putting. How much has that improved your overall game?

Yeah, I’ve definitely been putting well. I’m a lot more consistent. I started using a line on the ball, so I know where I’m aiming, instead of guessing. It’s definitely helped. Obviously, Austin helps me read the greens, but most of the time we read them exactly the same. So that works out well. Yeah, it’s just basically just working on the start lines and getting comfortable over the putter.

When you look at how you contended in nearly every event since the PGA Tour came back in June, do you feel you’re on the best form of your life?

I feel like I’m playing really, really well. It’s probably the best I’ve played in my career, yeah, it’s definitely more consistent. I feel like there’s still a lot of room for improvement, but it’s very consistent as far as day‑in and day‑out, my shot shape, my flight and controlling by distance. I’ve put in a lot of work, especially on the wedges, being able to control my distances. So, it’s very consistent right now, and I’m very pleased with where my game is at, so I’d say it’s pretty good.

It looked like some players struggled without a green reading book at Augusta. It didn’t seem to affect you so much. I don’t really use the book to read the greens. I’ll use it when I don’t know the golf course, and for a lot for second shots, but I’ve played at Augusta enough times to the know the slopes well enough not to need one. Austin doesn’t use one either. I’ll look at it, but I don’t use it to read my putts.

You tested positive for Covid in October. Can you describe your experience and how ill you felt at that time? Yeah, I had very minor symptoms. I felt like I had a cold. A little bit of a fever for maybe 36 hours or so.

But after that, I felt fine. The worst part about it was the quarantining for so long afterwards, rather than the illness itself.

Given the huge number of Covid cases in the US, have you been surprised that the PGA Tour was able to get through the season with as few problems as they had?

I think the PGA Tour has done a great job with the plan they have implemented. There have been a handful of positive tests, but all the guys out here take it seriously. I think they do a really good job and that’s why we haven’t had a too much of a problem.

How anxious are you to add another major and keep going from here? Of course, I would love to win a lot more majors. Getting a second one was important, as onetime Major winners will always have question marks over then, so now that’s out of the way I’m hoping I can kick on and win a bunch of them. I just need to keep putting myself into situations on Sunday.

ONE-TIME MAJOR WINNERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE QUESTION MARKS OVER THEM, SO I'M GLAD THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY

What did you learn from finishing second behind Tiger last year? Last year I played great over the weekend. On Sunday, too, I felt like I played really good golf, but just didn’t get enough putts to drop. They just were burning the edges. There were a couple of minor misreads, but nothing was dropping. I’ve always felt really comfortable at Augusta, and I like the way the course sets up for my eye, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck, and for those putts to drop. Fortunately for me, they dropped this time.

How special was it to have your brother Austin on the bag? It was an unbelievable feeling to experience all this with my brother. I love him being on my bag and it was amazing to share these memories with someone who knows the journey we’ve been on to get to this point.

How did it feel to win without all the fans around there to cheer you on? As players we definitely miss the fans – I definitely miss them – and hopefully they will be back in April and I can do it all over again! It was amazing to have my wife, Pauline, here, and Austin, so it was special to have them here, but it wasn't the same without fans.

But it’s still the Masters, and there was still a green jacket on the line. Obviously, the excitement and having the

You’re not known for being the most emotionally demonstrative player out on the golf course, but the occasion clearly meant a lot to you. Yeah, I definitely get excited and I could feel it coming down the stretch because I wanted to win. I get more excited afterwards than I do right there in that moment because I’m so focused on what I’m doing. I don’t know how to explain it other than I’m just really focused on what I’m doing and not really focused on the outcome.

■ JOHNSON FIRES ANOTHER BOOMING DRIVE AT THE 18TH AT AUGUSTA EN ROUTE TO WINNING THE MASTERS

INTERVIEW | WINTER 2021 [25] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

DJ’S CV AGE 36 TURNED PRO: 2007 TOURNAMENTS PLAYED: 277 CUTS MADE: 228 (82%) CAREER WINS: 26 (24 PGA TOUR, INCL 6 WGCS) MAJOR WINS: 2 (2016 US OPEN, 2020 MASTERS) TOP-10S: 106 (38%) CAREER PRIZE MONEY: $70.7M FEDEX CUP WINS: 1 (2020) RYDER CUP CAPS: 4 (‘10, ‘12, ‘14, ‘18)

2020 PERFORMANCE STATS AV. DRIVING DISTANCE: 321 YARDS DRIVING ACCURACY: 62.8% GREENS IN REG: 73% PUTTS PER RD: 29.5 SCORING AVERAGE: 68.5

[26] WINTER 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LOOKING TO BO • D E TA I L E D D E S C R I P T I O N O N E A C H C LU B • T H E L AT E S T PA C K A G E S • G R E AT I M A G E R Y • V I D E O F O O TA G E ( O N S E L E C T E D C LU B S ) • EVERY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW

INTERVIEW | WINTER 2021

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PLAY FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT WITH CBD On fairways across the world, golfers use CBD supplements in the battle against sore knees, shoulders and elbows. CBD has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect, making it a perfect natural remedy. In the UK, Swiss Original Cannabis leads the way in the CBD-market by having a local office and exclusively offering next day delivery to the whole of the UK. According to Jan Bo Timming, founder and owner of Swiss Original Cannabis, CBD is a gift to all golfers: “For example, CBD helps against chronic pains in muscles and joints, it counteracts stiffness in the body and most importantly, it reduces time for restitution, which means you can practice and play for longer. “ CBD is a natural pain remedy It was a car accident in 2016 that started Jan Bo Timming’s interest in CBD.

US Golfers are keen on CBD CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and is a natural supplement, that helps maintain balance in the body. As a result, CBD has taken the world of golf by storm. Especially in the US, it is a major hit among professionals.

American Billy Horschel is the latest of a growing number of professionals, who use CBD. Among the most prominent are for example Bubba Watson, two-time winner of the Masters Champion, and Scott McCarron, winner of the Charles Schwab Cup. CBDs popularity among prominent golfers is contributing to the growing acceptance of CBD in sports. CBD has been legal since the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2018 removed CBD from its list of forbidden supplements.

Bubba Watson uses CBD because it is antiinflammatory and helps him sleep better, he has told US media TheStreet.

Scott McCarron has had a similar experience and has told ESPN that CBD also helps him sleep and perform better.

“I experienced a severe whiplash and found out I was allergic to the doctor’s morphine preparation.

Therefore, I started searching for another natural remedy with less side effects. That’s when I found CBD” explains Jan, who found the natural alternative to painkillers he had been looking for in CBD-oil.

“From there on my interest only grew. I bought books on CBD and medical cannabis and spend countless days and nights studying videos on YouTube” explains Jan and continues:

“Then I realised that Switzerland is Europe’s new centre for CBD. Consequently, I decided to move to Switzerland and start a cannabis company, to create a unique, transparent and high-quality product.”

Your body decides when and how much Getting started with CBD is all about trying it out and feeling your way forward. What and how much fits you depends solely on your body and your needs.

In America, CBD-oil in particular is a hit among golfers. At Swiss Original Cannabis, however, Original CBD Capsules, too, are popular among athletes, because they are easy to ingest and provide golfers with their daily dose of both CBD and B12 vitamin in just one capsule.

A good rule of thumb is to begin with a low dose and gradually increase until you find your personal balance. It is important to feel your way to the right amount that suits your body and need,” says Jan. Mother Earth’s natural remedy Swiss Original Cannabis is exclusively sold on swissoriginalcannabis.com to keep a close relationship with all customers.

“It motivates me immensely to hear stories from customers, who have gotten their joy of life back, transitioning to a medicine free life. I am thrilled to take part in this experience with so many people,” Jan says, rounding off.

Read more on swissoriginalcannabis.com

FEATURE | WINTER 2021 [29] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC SEAN CONNERY • LONDON, AUGUST 31, 1962

W

hen you’re as cool as Sean Connery you can be forgiven for wearing your jeans with turn ups – in fact he could have been forgiven just about anything in 1962, as the 32-yearold Scot had just been announced as the new James Bond, licensed to thrill the next generation of fans of Ian Fleming’s novels turned into blockbuster films.

Despite outward appearances, Connery had never played golf in his life before the storyline in Goldfinger required him to look as if he knew one end of a putter from the other.

Although having grown up a pitching wedge form Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh, the young Bond-in-waiting had never been attracted to the glorious game, preferring instead to strut his stuff on the football pitch and in the gym (he had trials for East Fife FC and was third in the 1950 Mr Universe competition).

But all that changed when he was required to carry off one of the most legendary golfing scenes in film history, where he plays and beats the evil Auric Goldfinger (acted by accomplished golfer Gert Frobe) in a compelling matchplay encounter at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire.

In the image above, Connery is pictured returning to his London house (which was actually a converted nunnery) after having had a golf lesson at the legendary Knightsbridge Golf School, and also having been given a few tips by Peter Alliss.

During filming at Pinewood Studios and Stoke Park, Connery became completely hooked on golf and, like many method actors before and after him, found that the game had taken a firm hold, and went on to play a central role in the rest of his life.

A few years after Goldfinger, Connery helped set up one of the first ever Pro-Ams in Scotland, which was held at Royal Troon

DURING FILMING FOR GOLDFINGER AT STOKE PARK, CONNERY BECAME COMPLETELY HOOKED ON GOLF AND PLAYED IT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE

the week after the Open Championship in 1964. Over 20,000 fans came to the first event, which saw the likes of Jimmy Tarbuck, Kenny Dalgleish, Henry Cooper and Eric Sykes tee it up over the famous links.

Golf was also responsible for Connery’s marriage to his second wife, French artist Micheline Roquebrune, who was his partner in the King of Morocco’s Cup in 1970, a tournament that he won. They were married in Gibraltar five years later and the couple moved to the well-heeled resort of Puerto Banus in Spain, where they spent their time indulging in their shared love of golf when he was not filming.

Connery, who was knighted in 2000, saw out his days with Micheline in the exclusive resort of Lyford Cay in the Bahamas, where he died on October 31, aged 90.

■ SEAN CONNERY RETURNS TO HIS HOUSE IN HAMPSTEAD AFTER HAVING A GOLF LESSON IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE IN 1962

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take place, so it was always the biggest topic of debate. But since they dug up all the greens in 2016 and introduced creeping bent grass and the SubAir system, which regulates the moisture content of the soil under the green, they are probably the best greens most of the players play on all year. It’s made a huge difference, and it means they can host a tournament like the BMW in October and know that they will still have world-class surfaces, which they did.

Going back to your TV work, you came in for a bit of criticism on social media for your comments about the way Bryson DeChambeau went about winning the US Open. It’s obviously part of your job to express your views, but what did you make of that reaction?

My comments about Bryson weren’t particularly directed at him, but more the way the challenge of the US Open has changed, but I understand where the criticism came from and I had to hold my hands up and say, yes, I got that wrong. All kudos to Bryson, he took a look at the set up of

TALKING A GOOD GAME Golf News talks to Sky Sports Golf presenter Nick Dougherty about his life talking about the game for a living rather than playing it and how golf can be a force for good in these troubling times It’s been almost four years since you played your last event at the Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews. I know it’s been a while now, but what have you missed most about not being on tour?

To be honest, there’s isn’t a lot that I miss apart from the competition. As a sportsman, that’s what we love to do – compete. Constantly challenging ourselves against others and seeing how good we can become. I don’t miss the stress of not earning, which was obviously a factor in the latter stages of my career, but the thrill of competition is hard to replace.

It’s obviously been a tough year for everyone, but how impressed have you been with how the European Tour has managed to get a tournament schedule going during the pandemic?

I take my hat off to everyone involved. The tour, the venues, the sponsors and the players. They’ve all done a tremendous job in allowing players to carry on playing and earning. OK, the prize funds haven’t been quite what they were at some events, but no-one is complaining. It’s been an incredible team effort.

The two UK Swings were a tremendous success, and all the players that I’ve spoken to have been grateful for the opportunity and been overwhelming supportive of what the European Tour has been able to put together for them, with the support of the venues and sponsors.

The good thing is that nobody is under to pressure to play in terms of worries over losing their cards for next season, as the Tour has carried over all playing rights for the year, so if players don’t fancy the travel, or the living in the bubble or are shielding for health reasons or whatever, then they don’t have to play. But for those that do want to play, the European Tour has done a fantastic job of creating a schedule which has allowed players to earn some pretty decent money and keep their competitive hand in on some

pretty decent courses.

Have you had time to play much golf between events?

Although it’s been a pretty hectic schedule with my Sky commitments, I’ve played more golf over the last five or six months than I have for ages, although with a young family and my other work commitments, my golf always comes a distant third in the pecking order.

I’m a member at Wentworth and although the tee sheet gets booked up pretty quickly, I have managed to sneak out for a few games. I played a few months back with John E Morgan and Andrew Coltart, and it got quite competitive, I can tell you. We even hit some half decent shots and we all got to wondering where it all went wrong. I’ve got another 12 years before for I reach Senior Tour age, but you never know. If people get tired of hearing me talking a good game, I may have to play it…

What have you made of the changes that have taken place on the West Course at Wentworth?

I’ve been at this club pretty much since I was 19, which is half of my life, so I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformation of the West Course over the years. It’s obviously changed a lot in that period, not only in its style, but also in its overall playability. Back in the day it was never a push over, but it was definitely more scoreable. You could shoot six or seven under if you were on your game.

Since the changes if I ever break par around there now I’m delighted. It’s a bit of a monster now, but that’s because I was never a great driver of the ball, I was never very straight off the tee, and that will always punish you around Wentworth. But arguably the biggest change has been the greens. When they had the poa annua greens you used to get a lot of players complaining about their bumpiness and their pace, which was hard to argue with. The greens were often coming into seed in May when the PGA used to

IT'S PART OF MY JOB TO COMMENT ON HOW I SEE PLAYERS AND THE WAY THEY PEFORM. I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. IT'S JUST AN OPINION the course and worked out a strategy of how out to play it and executed it to perfection. I may not have liked the way he did it, but you have to hand it to him for being able to play the way he did. As much as it is my job to provide insight, it doesn’t mean that I’m always right. I’m proved wrong on an almost a daily basis, such is the nature of golf, so it just goes with the territory, but hopefully it won’t stop me from saying what I think, whether it’s right or wrong.

It’s obviously part of my job to comment on how I see players and the way they perform, so there are times when I’m going to say things that might annoy or upset players.

I have a rule of thumb that if a player comes up to me and says “I heard you say this about me…”, I have to be able to look them in the eye and say “Yes, I did, and here’s why…”

I have to have the evidence to back that up. If I’m only able to look a bit sheepish and say that I didn’t mean it in that way, then I know I shouldn’t have said it in the first place.

Who’s your favourite player to interview?

Rory [McIlroy] would be right up there because of his brutal honesty. He doesn’t shy away from a tough question, he never straight-bats anything. It’s one thing to be a world-class player; to have something worth hearing as well is a whole different thing. Rory matches his game on the course with his game off it.

You’ve put several messages on social media arguing for golf to be allowed to carry on during the lockdowns. Has Covid underlined how important golf is for so many people’s mental and physical well-being?

Absolutely. As well as being a great sport, many people find golf really helps relieve stress. Covid-19 has shone a light on the game and showed more people than ever how golf can help with fitness, both physically and mentally, by getting us outdoors and active. The last few months have opened up the sport to lots of new players, old and young, and I hope that continues.

As part of your work with BMW, you’ve been visiting some of the back-garden practice facilities that members of the public have built during lockdown.

How impressed have you been with the set ups, and what’s your own back garden golf set up like?

The courses and set up that fans have created are incredible. They have offered ways to spend more time with family and friends, create challenges, practice their short game and, more than anything, spend time outside.

The golf is almost secondary. I don’t have much of a golf set up at home, although my young son Max and I been out there a few times practicing our chipping, which has led to the odd golf ball flying over the hedge into our neighbour’s garden – although perhaps I need to keep quiet about that in case he reads this!

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[32] WINTER 2021

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THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR MATT FITZPATRICK DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (10.5˚) FAIRWAY: Titleist TSi2 (3, 15˚). Ping G400 (5, 20.5˚) HYBRID: Callaway Mavrik Pro (19˚) IRONS: Ping i210 (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (52˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: Custom Bettinardi Tour BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

ANTOINE ROZNER GOLF IN DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9˚) FAIRWAY: Titleist TS3 (15˚) UTILITY: Titleist U500 (2) IRONS: Titleist 620 CB (3), 620 MB (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46°, 52°, 58°) PUTTER: Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

CHRISTIAAN BEZUIDENHOUT ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway Epic Flash SZ (8.5°) FAIRWAY: Callaway Epic Flash SZ (15°) HYBRID: Callaway Mavrik Pro (19°) IRONS: Callaway X Forged ’18 (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy (50°, 54°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey Works Big T #5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1

EQUIPMENT NEWS TESTED

PING S2 ZONED JACKET + VISION TECHNICAL TROUSERS Golf News equipment editor Dan Owen gives two key items from Ping’s winter apparel range a run out as winter sets in I was never much of a fan of winter golf in my younger days. The problem being that I was never able to make a decent swing while wearing enough clothes to stay warm. So, I’d often end up play while feeling cold or constricted, often both, which was never ideal. Thankfully, modern golf clothing has changed all that.

We all now know that the key to keeping warm is layering, but I still want to keep those layers as thin as possible. Ping’s S2 Zoned Jacket is a clever piece of winter apparel, as it’s thinner than most mid-layers, but the front chest section and the upper half of the back is quilted with Primaloft Gold Insulation. Initially developed by NASA, PrimaLoft microfibres are fused with aerogel to deliver lightweight warmth.

And while the rest of the jacket is thin, it does a great job of retaining heat and keeping out the wind. There’s plenty of stretch too, which is obviously needed for free swinging, and the shape is fitted, so you don’t have to worry about bits of material flapping about when you’re playing.

Just as importantly, it’s water-resistant, and would serve as a great second layer thanks to its lightweight construction and breathability. Offered in black or blue, it’s a stylish addition to any golfer’s winter wardrobe.

The jacket should ideally be matched up with a decent pair of water-resistant trousers, and Ping has come up with the answer in the shape of the Vision Technical Winter trouser.

Featuring an insulated lining for adding warmth without bulk, they also boast a water-resistant finish, so you won’t need to bother with added waterproof trousers unless it’s absolutely hammering it down. The slim-fit leg fitting provides a modern, stylish look, while the stretchfit waistband offers just the right amount of give.

RRPs: Norse S2 Zoned Jacket £130, Vision winter trouser £90.

CAMERON SMITH

DUCA DEL COSMA UNVEILS FIRST GLOVE RANGE

SONY OPEN DRIVER: Titleist TSi3, (9.5°) FAIRWAY: Titleist TS2 (3 (15°)

Duca del Cosma is launching into the glove market for the first time with a range that is designed to be paired up with its best-selling footwear models.

Aimed at both men and women, the gloves are colour-coordinated with the Italian brand’s most popular shoe models to attract even more business for retail stockists.

There are two glove options in both the men’s and women’s collection. The Men’s Elite Pro glove (£20) is all leather in white, white/blue & white/tan, while the Hybrid Pro (£16) is a synthetic/ leather hybrid in the colours of the Italian flag and white/blue/red.

The Women’s Pro Style glove in zebra and giraffe patterns, and the Designer Pro in white/pink, white/blue & white/grey both retail at £16. They come in right- and left-hand versions in small, medium & large sizes, plus M/L and XL for men. Each size comes in packs of six.

UTILITY: Titleist UT500 (3) IRONS: Titleist T100 (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46°, 52°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron TFB 1.5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

DUSTIN JOHNSON MASTERS TOURNAMENT DRIVER: TaylorMade SIM (10.5°) FAIRWAY: TaylorMade SIM Max (15°, 21°) IRONS: TaylorMade P730 (3-PW) WEDGES: TaylorMade MG 2 (52°, 60°) PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Itsy Bitsy Ltd BALL: TaylorMade TP5x

CALLUM SHINKWIN CYPRUS OPEN DRIVER: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (10.5°) FAIRWAY: Callaway Mavrik (16.5°) UTILITY: Callaway X Forged UT 21' (21°) IRONS: Callaway Apex MB 21'(3-9) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws (46°, 52°, 58°) PUTTER: Odyssey Triple Track Double Wide BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

JASON KOKRAK CJ CUP DRIVER: TaylorMade SIM (9°) FAIRWAY: TaylorMade M5 (15°) IRONS: PXG 0311T Gen2 (3-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (52°,56°, 60°) PUTTER: Bettinardi Studio Stock 38 BALL: Titleist Pro V1

COBRA ROLLS OUT 3D PRINTED PUTTER Cobra has never been afraid to try new things. From being the first brand to offer Arccos sensors as standard, single-length irons and metal injection molding wedges, the brand definitely has a flair for innovation.

Now it has teamed up with Hewlett Packard and Sik Putters to produce a 3D-printed putter. By printing the stainless steel design, Cobra has been able to create a shape and move weight of the King Supersport-35 putter like never before in a blade design, with its lattice structure just not possible from any other form of manufacturing.

Sik Putters, which has a growing following on tour, and is played by Bryson DeChambeau, have provided the face insert technology. The aluminium face is divided into four sections, each with a descending loft, from four degrees down to one. This provides a consistency of roll wherever the ball is struck on the face, or if it’s hit with a downward or ascending blow.

The limited edition King Supersport-35 putter costs £349 and is sure to sell out quickly, but as a proof of the concept, Cobra has already promised to expanded its 3D-printed range in the near future.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR WINTER 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NIPPON CELEBRATES DECADE OF DOMINANCE

COMPETITION

WIN A VOLVIK RAINBOW GOLF BALL TUBE! We’ve teamed up with Volvik, the market leader in multi-coloured golf balls, to offer FOUR lucky readers the chance to win a Rainbow golf ball tube worth £21.95!

Designed to showcase the unique array of multi-coloured golf balls offered by Volvik, the Rainbow tube is a great option for golfers seeking a more easily visible ball to play during the winter months.

Each winner will receive seven multi-coloured VIVID balls - the world’s first matte-finished coloured golf ball - to represent each colour of the rainbow in a bid to brighten up their golf game and make the process of finding a ball an effortless task.

The high-performing VIVID ball delivers incredible distance for golfers with swing speeds between 70-90 mph and provides a mid-to-high launch off the tee, plus a soft feel and high short game spin for extreme greenside control.

TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning this prize, simply answer the question below and email it info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Volvik Competition’ in the subject line. Please include your name, email address, contact number, and where you picked up your copy of Golf News, or if you read it online. The closing date is January 30, 2021.

QUESTION What is the name of the easily visible ball model available in the Volvik Rainbow tube? a) DISTINCT b) VIVID c) VIBRANT

With custom fitting becoming ever more prevalent, golfers have become much more aware of the shafts they’re using.

Nippon’s MODUS3 steel shafts have become hugely popular with custom fitters, with their combination of great feel and consistency.

Nippon first introduced the MODUS3 Shafts line 10 years ago, and they’ve gone on to huge success, with multiple major victories and over 200 professional tour wins. And to celebrate the anniversary Nippon has introduced a new N.S.PRO MODUS3 Tour 115 Luxury Black limited edition.

Designed to fit in between the current 105 and 120 models, the shaft is a mid-launch, mid-spin option. With only 2,000 sets of the limited-edition, the Luxury Black version looks sure be a highly sought-after shaft.

For more information on the extensive range of balls available from Volvik, visit www.brandfusionltd.co.uk.

■ OCEANTEE FOUNDER ED SANDISON

ON THE RIGHT TEE On the tee box of any golf course anywhere in the world you’ll find broken, discarded plastic tees.

For former marine biologist and keen golfer, Ed Sandison, this became a real bug bear and one that prompted the Berkhamstead resident to set out on mission to change things.

Not many of us would automatically make the link between the plastic tees we so readily use and marine plastic pollution. However, Ed Sanderson, founder of OCEANTEE, knew that plastic tees were being found on beaches around the world and had seen first-hand the impact of plastic pollution on marine environments.

It’s fair to say that in 2020 alone, OCEANTEE bamboo tees have been used in place of millions of plastic ones. The EuroPro Tour was the first to make the switch and the momentum started there.

American Golf took the entire product line in store and online, Royal North Devon famously banned plastic tees, The Oman Open became the first European Tour event to replace plastic tees with OCEANTEE tees, then lockdown hit.

Remarkably this proved to be little barrier to the OCEANTEE brand. Sanderson says: “Like most golf businesses, we began to become concerned when golf courses closed and Tour events where we would have featured were cancelled, but what happened was remarkable. Because people had less time pressures, we were able to initiate conversations

which we would potentially never have had chance to. It was really inspiring to hear that sustainability was increasingly important to these organisations and it has catapulted our business forward.”

A great example of this is the relationship that OCEANTEE has developed with the Ladies European Tour. The matchbox units that the tees come in made them COVID-compliant which meant that the LET was able to offer them to players as its events.

This then led to wider conversations about 2021 and a more formal agreement which was announced this in December As well as supplying bamboo tees to events and players, OCEANTEE will also be delivering educational sessions at LET event in conjunction with its charity partner the Marine Conservation Society.

“We want to use our relationships to bring sustainability to a wider audience. We’ve already seen how a little education has stopped people from buying water in plastic bottles, so imagine what we can achieve in golf. By educating youngsters in the run up to LET events and visitors to the tournaments themselves we’re igniting important conversations,” comments Ed. The European Tour’s Cyprus Swing was another series of events this year which took up the opportunity of working with OCEANTEE. To find out more about OCEANTEE and to make your #OCEANTEE Pledge visit www.oceanteegolf.com.

HOLE MOLEY! HONMA’S GOT BAGS OF STYLE If it wasn’t for the logo down the side, most golf bags are pretty interchangeable when it comes too their looks. You can’t say that about these bags from Honma.

Peppered with brand’s signature ‘mole in the hole’ logo, which symbolises Honma’s search for perfection, the Colour Mole Caddie Bag (£250) is available in black, white or pink, while the lightweight Camo Mole bag (£225) is available in red, navy, black, and white.

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SHOT SCOPE PRO L1 £199.99, SHOTSCOPE.COM

BUSHNELL TOUR V5 £359, BUSHNELLGOLFGLOBAL.COM

The PRO L1 offers x6 magnification, slope-adjusted yardages, target-lock vibration and a range of up to 857 yards. The Precision Clear Lens allows users to switch between the laser’s black and red dual optics, with the option to view distances in either yards or metres. It comes with a carry case, lanyard, carry clip, cleaning cloth and a replaceable battery and is available with either blue or grey colour accents. It has a 12-month warranty. xxxxxxxx fill if poss xxxxx fill if poss xxxxx fillif poss xxxx

Accurate to within a yard, the Tour V5 can find the flag from 400 yards, with the Visual JOLT technology giving haptic confirmation. The optics are twice as bright as the brand’s previous V4, which make it easier to see the distances, while the V5 Shift model (£359) allows you to factor slope into your yardages, although that can be turned off for tournament play. Both models boast a powerful magnetic mount, which enables the unit to be attached securely to a golf buggy or other metallic surface.

HOME IN ON A R A NGE

BUSHNELL PRO XE £449, BUSHNELLGOLFGLOBAL.COM

MOTOCADDY PRO 3000 £269.99, MOTOCADDY.COM

Offering x7 magnification and measuring up to 500 yards, the Pro XE boasts ‘Slope with Elements’, a unique technology that factors in temperature and altitude to go with slope technology to offer the most precise distances ever. It also provides compensated ‘Play As’ distance that takes ball flight into account and also features PinSeeker with Visual Jolt Technology, which sees a red ring flash on the viewfinder as the handset vibrates to let you know that you're locked onto the flag.

The PRO 3000 loffers accuracy to within a yard with seven-times magnification and a range of up 1,300 yards. Featuring PinLock technology with vibration and visual confirmation, its boasts a high-resolution LCD display, while the pin can be locked on from up to 450 yards away. It also includes slope compensation (competition legal with slope disabled) to account for any undulations; background noise filtration to make it easier to lock onto a target; an adjustable eyepiece for clearer visuals; the ability to toggle between yards and metres. The

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BUSHNELL HYBRID £399, BUSHNELLGOLFGLOBAL.COM

BUSHNELL TOUR V5 SHIFT £355, BUSHNELLGOLFGLOBAL.COM

The Hybrid offers the best of everything when it comes to managing your way around a golf course – supremely accurate yardages at the press of a button; high quality optics; 5x magnification; shot measurement, and confirmation that you have locked onto the flag thanks to Jolt technology. An easy-to-use GPS, with a digital display on the side of the unit, provides front, centre and back distances to the green on over 36,000 courses worldwide, with autocourse recognition and auto-hole advance.

Offering six-times magnification, the V5 Shift offers a range of user-friendly features, including ‘PinSeeker with Visual JOLT’ technology, which displays a flashing red ring on the screen as the handset vibrates to let the golfer know they have locked onto the flag. It can pick out a flag from 400 yards, measure distances up to 1,500 yards, and it takes the change of elevation into consideration when engaged into that mode. It also comes with a magnetic mount, which enables the unit to be attached securely to a golf buggy or other metallic surface

S E T YOUR S IGH T S ON T HE F L AG W I T H T HE L AT E S T COL L E C T ION OF L A S E R R A NGE F INDE R S

NIKON COOLSHOT 40i GII £399, NIKON.CO.UK

GARMIN APPROACH Z82 £579, GARMIN.COM

An upgrade to COOLSHOT 40i, the 40i GII offers a greater maximum range of up to 1,460m to improve ease of measurement to the flagstick. Offering x6 magnification, the Gii features both slope-adjusted distance and distance-only modes, while Nikon’s LOCKED ON technology ensures that the laser measures the flag and not the background. Distance measurements are given in less than 0.3 seconds through an 18mm viewing aperture and a long eye relief design for ease of use for those wearing glasses.

The Z82 combines GPS and rangefinder technology to provide a more detailed overview of distances and targets. Preloaded with 41,000 courses, when you look through the eyepiece you will see a real-time image of whatever you are pointing at and a 2D rendered map. The flag finder feature locks onto the pin, while a laser range arc is drawn on the green so that you can see if the pin is in the front, middle or back. ‘Plays Like’ feature accounts for slopes, while ‘Pin Pointer’ gives you yardages to the green on blind shots.

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WILSON STAFF MODEL RAW £44.99 FOR 12, WILSON.COM Wilson’s R&D team recently discovered that one of the biggest reasons for inconsistent flight between balls was due to the quality of the paint finish, which often featured variable thicknesses. So, to solve this problem, the new Staff Model Raw balls are offered unpainted.

Removing the paint reduces the chances of the ball being off balance, but it will lead to it looking look dirty after just a few shots. Performance-wise, the four-piece design promises long distance off the tee and high levels of control around and on the green.

BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK SERIES £TBC, BETTINARDI.CO.UK While Scotty Cameron made the milled putter famous, it was Bob Bettinardi who milled them for him. That should give some indication not just how good Bettinardi putters are, but how long he has been making them. One of the first companies to CNC milled grooves on the face, the new Studio Stock Series features an all-new groove design milled into a stainless steel head. The Roll Control Face features an asymmetrical groove design that adds topspin at impact to get the ball rolling more quickly. With four head designs, plus varying neck options, there should be model to suit everyone.

COBRA RADSPEED DRIVERS £369, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK Cobra’s new RADSPEED range of drivers is split into three models, each one targeted towards a specific player type, but all sharing the Radius of Gyration technology. In simple terms, its design maximises the distance between weights at the front and the back of the heads to increase ball speed, lower the centre of gravity and create forgiveness. All three drivers feature a lightweight carbon fibre wrap crown, a CNC-milled face and a T-Bar Speed Chassis for strength. The RADSPEED is the lowest spin option, with adjustable front and back weights; the RADSPEED XB is a more stable and forgiving design, while the RADSPEED XD is draw biased for all you slicers out there.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

CALLAWAY X FORGED UT

TITLEIST TSI DRIVERS

£229, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Hugely popular among its tour staff, many of whom were involved in its prototyping, Callaway’s X Forged UT irons are the ideal choice for better players who want to find more fairways off the tee, lay up in front of hazards that might be in range of their woods, and for reaching the greens on long par threes and for approach shorts on par fives.

Offered in 18-, 21- and 24-degree lofts, and boasting a longer-than-standard blade width and a wider sole, the UTs are forged from mild carbon steel and feature a hollowbody construction that combines with the brand’s unique urethane microspheres to offer high levels of feel. Tungsten weighting pulls the centre of gravity low and back for easier launching shots, while an AI-designed Flash Face increases ball speed for more distance.

£519, TITLEIST.CO.UK Just as night follows day, once every two years Titleist launches a new range of drivers.

You spot them on tour first, then, within a couple of months they release them to the public. And they always look great behind the ball. Well, this time they come packing some serious heat, utilising a unique aerospace grade titanium that is only available from one foundry in Pittsburgh. This material is the key component to faster ball speeds with the new models. Elsewhere, the aerodynamics have been improved and MOI has been increased both across the face, as well as from sole to crown, for more stability wherever you strike the clubface. The TSi2 features a larger profile at address and is built for forgiveness, while the TSi3 boasts a more traditional pear shape and features an adjustable weight track to help influence shot shape.

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AXIS1 TOUR HM £449, BRANDFUSIONLTD.CO.UK Used on Tour by Justin Rose, Axis1 putters feature a unique design that places the centre of gravity on the centre of the face, in perfect alignment with the axis of the shaft, to ensure the clubhead remains square at address and doesn’t rotate closed like traditional putters. The HM features a simple half-mallet head design that will appeal to golfers who need the help from a mallet alignment but prefer a more traditional look.

BIG MAX AQUA SEVEN £139, BIGMAXGOLF.COM BIG MAX has brought forward the launch of its Aqua Seven stand bag, a waterproof model that is designed to withstand the vagaries of a typical UK winter, as golfers flood back onto the fairways following the latest lockdown.

Made from a waterproof material and featuring waterproof zips and fully-sealed seams, it’s guaranteed to keep your kit dry whatever the weather. With an oversize top and fulllength dividers, it can accommodate a full set of sticks while weighing just 1.7kg. Five waterproof pockets, including a cooler pocket, provide plenty of storage options, while neat features such as air channel straps, umbrella holder, glove holder, and robust carry handle add extra practicality. It is offered in eight colours.

ADIDAS COLD.RDY COLLECTION

STEWART GOLF Q FOLLOW

£49, ADIDAS.COM Now we know many of you saw Tyrrell Hatton win the BMW PGA Championship in an adidas Hoodie. While we’re fans here, we know not every golf club will be. The Hoodie is just one part of adidas Golf’s new COLD.RDY collection of garments designed to keep you warm without impacting your golf swing. Utilising a Smart layering system, the garments feature targeted insulation that locks in heat in cold conditions. Innovative yarns absorb and evaporate sweat in an instant, while also being water-repellent. And breathable fabrics trap air between layers while allowing sweat to pass through to minimize heat during intense activity. Basically, other than a heavy downpour, these pieces are ready for anything winter golf will throw at you.

£1,749, STEWARTGOLF.COM The world’s most compact remote-controlled trolley, the new Q Follow folds down small enough be lifted one-handed, making it practical both on and off the course. The all-new chassis, main support, and handle are manufactured using a lightweight microcellular composite which provides a finish that is unique to each model. Bluetooth remote control has a 50m range, while manual steering provides control on paths and bridges. The 36hole plug-and-play lithium battery comes with a smartphone app that monitors battery capacity in real time. A stabiliser automatically deploys and retracts when the Q Follow is folded or unfolded. Other features include a scorecard holder, soft-touch silicone handle and bag strap, handset storage, anti-twist locking bag key, four accessory points, cruise control, quick release wheels, and an umbrella holder mount. It features a carbon fibre finish on the handle, main support, undertray, and wheel arches.

WILSON STAFF MODEL CB IRONS £849, WILSON.COM Wilson produces some of the very best irons for good golfers. Which should come as no surprise considering that players using them have recorded 63 major victories. The Staff Model CB irons are heavily influenced by Wilson’s previous V6 irons and are forged from carbon steel for a soft feel. They feature a stabiliser in the cavity which connects the topline to the sole and puts more mass behind the ball at impact. Tungsten weights low in the toe help lower the centre of gravity for easier launch.

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ECCO S-THREE £180

CALLAWAY APEX PRO KNIT £119.99

MIZUNO WAVE CADENCE £140

The S-Three offers different levels of cushioning and stability to three different parts of the foot. The heel delivers high levels of cushioning; the central part is more rigid for added stability, while the front section offers softness for extra walking comfort. A Gore-Tex membrane offers breathable waterproof protection, while the uppers are made from calf nappa leather, which is soft yet extremely durable. The insole can be removed, while the soles feature over 100 nubs and over 800 traction angles for added grip.

The Apex Pro Knit has a classic brogue-style upper combined with a sporty-looking sole. The upper is one piece of knitted ballistic mesh and offers a balance of flexibility and support.

Highly breathable, it also comes with a one-year waterproof warranty. The TPU spikeless sole has been engineered to create a solid platform, with lateral Xfer Power wall preventing side slippage while absorbing and releasing the energy loaded during the swing. The de-coupled force Flex POD encourages maximum ground contact.

The Cadence is a lightweight shoe built for enhanced comfort. This comes courtesy of a new one-piece ‘booty’ structure in which the tongue is connected to the lining to provide a more comfortable fit. Offering the comfort and support of a high-end running shoe, with the lateral stability and traction needed for golf, it also boasts a sole made from highly durable carbon rubber. The soft-touch Kuraray upper is breathable and waterproof to 20,000mm and comes with a two-year waterproof warranty.

HAPPY FEET

Give your feet a treat by investing in a pair of the latest spikeless shoes

FOOTJOY STRATOS £159.99

ADIDAS CODECHAOS £129.95

The Stratos shoe boasts a new cushioning material called StratoFoam which absorbs shock for maximum cushioning and energy return. The uppers are made from soft NappaLuxe leather supplied by Pittards. They feature an integrated tongue and a reinforced heel for greater stability, while the sole features a channelled tread pattern that stops mud gathering, but also features multi-directional nubs for added grip. It is offered in five colours.

CodeChoas shoes are 100% waterproof courtesy of a fine film that wraps around the mesh uppers, which makes the shoe light, flexible and breathable. Full-length Boost cushioning features across the entire midsole, creating energy rebound, while the rubber element of the sole wraps over from the outsole in three key areas to limits the Boost’s expansion for added support. The Twist grip outsole features a TPU insert with special lugs.

SKECHERS ELITE 4 PRESTIGE £99

PUMA IGNITE NXT SOLELACE £109

DUCA DEL COSMA ELDORADO £179

The Elite 4 boasts a sporty design that keeps feet low to the ground and combines with a TPU spikeless outsoles for superior balance and traction. Comfort is enhanced through Ultra Go and Goga Max cushioning, while the uppers boast a leather/knit combination, with the forefoot section made from leather and the saddle and heel section from a durable knitted material. It is offered in a ‘Relaxed Fit’, which features a roomier forefoot section, in a choice of black with white trim, grey with lime trim, and navy with red trim.

The NXT Solelace features a thin TPU frame around the midsole that enables the laces to envelop the foot, pulling the midsole and outsole of the shoe, rather than the laces simply tightening the upper around the top of foot. A heel cage keeps the foot supported and stable while swinging, while a moulded foam midsole makes them comfortable to wear all day. The fabric mesh upper features a breathable waterproof coating that protects against dirt and grime.

The spikeless outsole features over 100 hexagonal lugs to provide added traction.

The Eldorado is ideal for golfers who prefer a more classic styling, but still want the benefits of a cleat-free design.

The uppers are made from tumbled nappa leather, which boasts a waterproof coating, while comfort is enhanced by the breathable internal bootie system and a memory foam leather insole which moulds to the wearer’s foot shape. The square traction nubs are some of the most aggressive offered in a spikeless design They are offered in regular

LISBON ' S

GOLF COA ST TAKE A BREAK FROM THE NORM

If you’re looking to combine a relaxing golf break with a visit to one of Europe’s most vibrant capital cities, then Lisbon’s Golf Coast is the place to go

S P E C I A L

S U P P L E M E N T

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TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

OITAVOS DUNES OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS OVER THE ATLANTIC

CAPITAL CHOICES

■ GOLF DO ESTORIL

Drive just a few miles along the coast west of central Lisbon and you’ll discover half a dozen excellent golf courses to enjoy, as well as the must-visit towns of Sintra and Cascais 1. QUINTA DA MARINHA Located close to the pretty coastal town of Cascais, a 35-minute drive from Lisbon, Quinta da Marinha has featured prominently on golfing itineraries to the region ever since it first opened in the mid-80s, thanks to its firstclass accommodation and quality golf. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course hosted numerous tournaments in its early life, including Senior, LET and Challenge Tour events, although it is eminently playable for the holiday golfer, with generous fairways and receptive greens mixed in with the odd water hazard and some wonderful views over the seas.

Re-routed in 2016, the course features cleverly located bunkering, raised greens with tight, sloping shoulders, and several fiendish dog-legs.

After a round, golfers can relax in the five-star, on-site hotel, which offers 198 rooms and suites and 40 villas, and an excellent choice of bars and restaurants. quintadamarinha.com

■ QUINTA DA MARINHA IS A MUSTPLAY COURSE ON ANY TRIP TO LISBON

2. GOLF DO ESTORIL Estoril’s superb 18-hole course is located in one of Europe’s oldest established tourist resorts and boasts wonderful views out to the Atlantic.

A masterpiece of design by Mackenzie Ross, the layout makes good use of the surrounding pine trees and eucalyptuses. Although a short course, at 5,808 yards, its par of 69, coupled with uneven terrain and tight fairways, demands accuracy and good course management to score well. clubegolfestoril.com 3. OITAVOS DUNES Providing a hybrid experience of both links and woodland golf, Oitavos Dunes enjoys one of the most dramatic settings on the Lisbon Coast, with magnificent views of the Sintra Mountains, Atlantic Ocean and Cabo da Roca.

Host of the European Tour’s 2018 GolfSixes event, precision rather than power is the order of the day over the opening holes, as anything hit off line will almost certainly require a chip out. Once safely negotiated, the course opens up as you rise out of the woodland, with an opportunity to open the shoulders on the par fives at 7 and 8. Moving to the back nine, the pick of the holes are 14, 17 and 18. The 14th is a wonderful par three that plays over ravine, while the final two holes are both par fours measuring over 450 yards. The 17th is slightly easier, as it has a downhill approach, but the green is tricky and the bunker front left must be avoided. The 18th is a classic finishing hole – a long dogleg left with a narrow fairway, and trees and dunes bordering the rough on both sides.

The course is largely flat, and a good walk will set you up nicely to enjoy the excellent food on offer in the stylish clubhouse or the five-star hotel. oitavosdunes.com

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4. BELAS

LISBON CITY GUIDE Located at the mouth of the River Tagus, Lisbon is connected to the south by two iconic bridges, the 25th April and the Vasco da Gama. The former is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and is overlooked by one of city’s most famous landmarks – Cristo Rei – a 260ft statue of Christ, similar to the one found in Rio de Janeiro. The city is very walkable, although living up to its name of ‘The City of Seven Hills’ it’s advisable to make use of the extensive tram system (buses and subway) or take a ride on one of the many threewheel tuktuk taxis. Don’t miss a tour around St George’s Castle, which overlooks the whole city, while the streets of the trendy Chiado district will find yourself amid beautiful boutiques and a mix of bohemian cafés and bars, where a glass of Ginjinha – a sour cherry liqueur – will set you up for an evening of listening to famous Fado singers in a local restaurant.

3. OITAVOS DUNES

5. LISBON SPORTS CLUB

1. QUINTA DA MARINHA 2. GOLF DO ESTORIL

■ BELAS OFFERS A NUMBER OF DROP HOLES THAT WILL TEST YOUR CLUB SELECTION AND DISTANCE CONTROL

4. BELAS Set in the beautiful Carregueira Mountains, a short drive from Lisbon, the Rocky Roquemore-designed Belas is a demanding championship course that offers fantastic views of the surrounding hills and valleys beyond.

The 6,700-yard layout features gently mounded fairways – several of them set in deep valleys – large scalloped bunkers, plenty of significant rises and falls, and a liberal number of streams and lakes to avoid.

There is a great variety of holes on offer, including an attractive selection of par threes, including a couple of drop holes, while the closing stretch is both challenging and memorable, with the downhill par-5 15th, the par-4 17th, with water on both sides of the green, and the par-4 18th, which requires a carry over a U-shaped lake with your approach, all adding to the drama of an entertaining round. belasclubedecampo.pt 5. LISBON SPORTS CLUB One of the oldest clubs and most traditional clubs in the region, having been founded in 1922, Lisbon Sports Club is a little gem that is well worth searching out during any trip to Portugal’s capital city.

Tucked away in the forests of Sintra, 20km from the city centre, the course measures just under 5,300 metres, with a par of 69. A Fred Hawtree design, it is characterised by tree-lined fairways flowing through a peaceful valley setting. Raised tees and greens add to the challenge, while clever bunkering places an emphasis on distance and direction control, rather than brute force. The greens are sloping and fast. Some of the holes criss-cross each other, so it’s advisable to keep your eyes peeled for balls coming from all directions. lisbonclub.com

HOST OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR'S GOLFSIXES EVENT IN 2018, PRECISION RATHER THAN POWER IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT OITAVOS DUNES OVER THE OPENING HOLES, AS ANYTHING HIT MARGINALLY OFFLINE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY REQUIRE A CHIP OUT SIDEWAYS

■ LISBON SPORTS CLUB IS ONE OF PORTUGAL'S OLDEST CLUBS, BUT ITS OFFERS A THOROUGHLY MODERN TEST OF GOLF

SINTRA Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, Sintra is a charming hilltop town located 25km west of Lisbon that demands a visit between rounds.

Don’t miss a tour of the Pena Palace, a former royal summer residence whose mixture of architectural styles will amaze and surprise, while the region’s Moorish influences can be seen most impressively at the Castelo dos Mouros, a mist-enshrouded ruined castle that looms over 400m above the surrounding forest, which can trace its history back to the 10th century.

CASCAIS The historic and beautiful coastal town of Cascais lies on the Estoril coast, just 30 minutes from Lisbon. The pretty harbour town boasts a yacht-filled marina and lots of great fish restaurants, while its small, sandy coves are ideal for swimming and water sports.

Take a tour around the Palácio da Cidadela, which was commissioned as a summer palace in 1870 by King Dom Luís I. This captivating museum remains the official residence of visiting heads of state in Portugal.

If walking gets too much, hire one of 1,200 bikes offered through the BiCas free bike-hire scheme, which are available from 76 points between Parede and Estoril, and hit the cycle path that runs the entire 9km stretch from Cascais to Guincho. For a bit of nature in the raw, stop off at the Boca do Inferno to watch the Atlantic waves pummel the craggy ‘Mouth of Hell’, 2km west of Cascais.

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10 THINGS TO DO IN LISBON • Take a trip on one of the five tram routes that criss-cross the city. The most scenic tram route is 28, which travels through the Alfama district, while 12E is also popular, climbing from the Baixa to the Castle.

• Hop on one of three funicular railways to climb Lisbon’s steepest hills, or take a ride in the Elevador de Santa Justa, a 150ft tall vertical lift built in 1902 which offers fine views of the city from the top.

• Visit the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) and Gulbenkian museum and gardens.

• Visit the historical quarters of Chiado and Bairro Alto, which are packed with avant-garde boutiques, lively bars and buzzing restaurants.

• Reserve a table for dinner in one of the many Fado houses in Alfama and Bairro Alto which offer this melancholic, but extremely moving musical art form while serving a traditional Portuguese menu.

• Visit The Pilar 7 Bridge Experience - an interactive exhibition overlooking the April 25 Bridge which combines virtual reality technology with a panoramic viewing platform over the bridge and the city.

• Take the 15 tram out to the Belém monumental area and discover the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Jeronimos Monastery, where Vasco de Gama is buried, and visit the architecturally impressive Belem Tower. Take in an exhibition at the Centro Cultural de Belem, and don’t forget to stop off at the iconic Pasteis de Belem café for coffee and a Pasteis de Nata – a custard pastry treat to die for.

• Walk through the Parque das Naçoes - the exhibition grounds for Expo ‘98 – and visit the Oceanarium, which is home to over 8,000 different aquatic species, including sharks, penguins, rays and sea dragons.

• Visit the Time Out Market. Boasting a dizzying choice of 32 restaurants and food stalls, eights bars, a dozen shops, a cookery school and a live music venue, the market brings together all of Lisbon’s finest culinary traditions under one gigantic roof.

• Catch a football match between Lisbon’s two Primeira Liga teams, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. Tickets are like gold dust for this fiercely competitive derby, so be sure to book ahead for the games.

6. PENHA LONGA RESORT Located 30 minutes east of Lisbon, Penha Longa (‘Long Rock’) boasts 27 holes of championship golf set against a spectacular and ever-changing backdrop of beautiful countryside and stunning coastal views to Estoril and Cascais.

Home to a five-star Ritz-Carlton Resort, it’s a peaceful spot in which to test your skills on the famed Atlantic North Course. With its requirement for bold drives, courageous approaches and artful putting on the fast greens, Robert Trent Jones Jr’s design is both an adrenaline rush and a soothing journey through one of Portugal’s most inspiring landscapes.

With half the holes framed by trees, and several lakes to contend with, straight hitting is required to score well, although there are plenty of birdie opportunities out there on an undulating course which is not long by modern standards. The Atlantic South Course is a less challenging, but still entertaining option, with its nine holes winding through some of the most historical parts of the estate.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel boasts 194 guest rooms, six restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a spa and fitness centre, jogging track and a children’s activity centre. penhalonga.com 7. PESTANA BELOURA RESORT Located between Sintra and Estoril, 30 minutes from Lisbon, Pestana Beloura boasts a pleasant parkland course set among the verdant foothills of the Sintra mountains. Featuring mature, tree-lined fairways, six lakes and several streams, there are plenty of natural hazards to contend with on the 5,573-metre, 18-hole course, which was designed by Rocky Roquemore and first opened in 1993. Full irrigation ensures the course is always presented in great condition year-round, while the bentgrass greens are a please to putt on. The welcoming clubhouse features an excellent restaurant and bar with a terrace overlooking the course in which to enjoy a post-round meal.

The course is located next to the Pestana Sintra Golf and Spa Resort, which boasts air-conditioned rooms and offers two restaurants, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts. pestanagolf.com

WITH ITS REQUIREMENT FOR BOLD DRIVES, COURAGEOUS APPROACHES, AND ARTFUL PUTTING, PENHA LONGA IS BOTH AN ADRENALINE RUSH AND A SOOTHING JOURNEY THROUGH ONE OF PORTUGAL'S MOST INSPIRING LANDSCAPES

■ FADO CAN BE ENJOYED IN A WIDE RANGE OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS THROUGHOUT LISBON

■ PESTANA BELOURA'S 18 HOLE LAYOUT FEATURES NO FEWER THAN SIX LAKES

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■ DOLCE CAMPOREAL

14. DOLCE CAMPOREAL

NORTHERN DELIGHTS There is a wonderful collection of championship layouts to enjoy north of Lisbon, with the new links at West Cliffs being a dazzling highlight

■ PENHA LONGA'S ATLANTIC NORTH COURSE

■ DONALD STEEL'S BOM SUCESSO IS ACLASSIC RESORT GOLF TEST, WITH GENEROUS FAIRWAYS MIXED IN WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND SOME DRAMATIC ELEVATION CHANGES

13. BOM SUCESSO Occupying a spectacular site alongside the Lagoa de Obidos, the 18 holes at Bom Sucesso first opened in 2008 and were designed by Donald Steel. It is the very epitome of resort golf – offering generous fairways, a smattering of water, and some interesting changes in elevation.

After a gentle opener, the course quickly gets into it stride at the second, a very strong par-5 which sweeps downhill to a green protected by a lake on the right. The same lake is then carried to the par-3 third. The back nine kicks off with a pretty par three, while the 12th is a testing 400-yard par four with water to the right with the hole turning left to an off-set green.

The closing two holes are show stoppers, with the tee on the par-5 17th commanding the best view on the entire estate, although this demanding 580-yard dogleg will require all of your attention. The 18th offers a similarly inviting view from the tee, although the drive requires a little more thought, as a stream crosses the hole twice before you reach the safety of the green. bomsucesso.net

6. PENHA LONGA RESORT

7. PESTANA BELOURA RESORT

14. DOLCE CAMPOREAL A 45-minute drive north of Lisbon will take you to the championship course at CampoReal, a Martin Ebert design which first opened in 2005 and blends serenely into the surrounding countryside, while providing an enjoyable and interesting round. Blind shots, steep inclines and wooded valleys create a series of hazards that will test all of your shot-making skills on this charming layout, which hosted the Ladies Portugal Open in 2010 and 2011.

The on-site hotel coasts 155 well-appointed rooms and suites, while there is also a range of private apartments, town houses and villas which are ideal for families and larger groups. The hotel boasts four restaurants and two bars, the Southeast Asian-themed Mandalay Spa, while other leisure facilities include tennis courts, bike hire and a children’s activity club. dolcecamporeal.com

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WEST CLIFFS IS SPREAD OUT AMONG 200 ACRES OF ROLLING SAND DUNES AND COASTAL VEGETION, OFFERING SWEEPING VIEWS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FROM EVERY HOLE

15. PRAIA D’EL REY RESORT Situated less than an hour north of Lisbon, Praia D’El Rey enjoys a wellearned reputation as being one of Europe’s top golf resorts. A firm favourite with golf groups and families thanks to its extensive array of five-star facilities, which include a 177-room Marriott hotel, a wide selection of rental villas, five restaurants, tennis academy, multi-sports court, luxury spa, health club, and two championship golf courses - Praia D’El Rey and West Cliffs.

The former is a par-73 championship course is set amidst a combination of extensive pine forests and undulating dunes, and features spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond. Designed by Cabell Robinson, it deserves its reputation as one of the continent’s top layouts. While the front nine flits between the ocean and some inland holes, the course gets into its stride on the back nine, especially on the three-hole stretch from 13-15 that runs along the coast. All are superb tests, with the signature par-3 13th and the 15th, a demanding 400-yard par-4 with a big dip short of the green, being personal favourites. praia-del-rey.com 16. ROYAL OBIDOS SPA & GOLF RESORT Royal Obidos was a stunning addition to the region's golf offering when it opened in 2011. Well known as the last course ever designed by the late Seve Ballesteros, it provides a superb lasting legacy, with the 7,320-yard layout being one of the great man’s best works.

With views over the Atlantic and the Obidos Lagoon, its presents a serious challenge to all levels of golfer, especially on the eight holes that feature water, while the numerous run-offs around the greens offer the chance to practice your Seve-style up-and-downs.

Opened in 2014, the boutique-style Evolutee Hotel sits in splendid

■ ROYAL OBIDOS SPA & GOLF RESORT

■ THE DRAMATIC COURSES AT WEST CLIFFS (ABOVE) AND NEIGHBOURING PRAIA D’EL REY (LEFT) HAVE TURNED THE REGION NORTH OF LISBON INTO ONE OF EUROPE HOTTEST GOLF DESTINATIONS

isolation overlooking the golf course. Boasting just 39 rooms – make sure you bag one with an ocean view – the five-star venue features an Elemental spa, two swimming pools, a restaurant and bar. More importantly, it’s just a short walk down the hill to the clubhouse. royalobidos.com 17. WEST CLIFFS Voted one of the most exciting new course openings of 2017, the stunning links at West Cliffs, located an hour north of Lisbon, deserves to be on everyone’s list of must-play courses in 2020.

Designed by Cythia Dye, niece of the legendary golf architect Pete, it took 14 years to create West Cliffs from start to finish, and her first layout in Portugal has been well worth the wait. Occupying a privileged location high above the sea, the spectacular par-72 clifftop links has been created over 200 hectares of natural landscape, rolling sand dunes and coastal vegetation, and offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from each hole.

Not overly long – it measures barely 7,000 yards off the back tees –its clever design features a number of carries and an array of outstanding holes that have to be negotiated if you’re to score well.

The experience is enhanced by stylish, eco-friendly clubhouse, which was built using natural and certified materials, and offers exclusive panoramic views of the course and the Atlantic from three sides of the glass-fronted building.

West Cliffs is managed by Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, which is situated less than a 10-minute drive away and provides the ideal base for a golfing break. westcliffs.com

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16. ROYAL OBIDOS SPA & GOLF RESORT

SOUTHERN STARS

17. WEST CLIFFS

Head south across Lisbon’s two iconic bridges to sample yet more superb golfing treats 8. AROEIRA I & II Tucked away in a 900-acre private estate 30km south of Lisbon, Aroerira’s two championship layouts, named I and II, cut a swathe through a dense pine forest. Aroeira I, which was built in 1972, some 30 years before II came along. Despite its numbering, the lower numbered course is not the first string, as it perhaps lacks the stadium setting, and the length, of its younger sibling, although they both enjoy similarly elevated positions in the various European course rankings.

Designed by Frank Pennink, Aroeira I plays 6,650 yards off the back tees and requires unerring accuracy off the tee to score well. The round kicks off with a gun-barrel straight par five, but the pressure soon ramps up at the testing 400-yard, par four second, which gently turns right off the tee around a large pond, before rising to a well-protected green.

Water comes into play at the first par three – the 170-yard fourth – and reappears besides the green at the 340-yard par-four sixth, where a 3-wood off the tee leaves you a short iron to a large, but undulating green.

Arguably some of the best holes can be found on the back nine, with the par-3 14th, with the green fronted by water all the way from the tee, and surrounded by a canopy of majestic pines behind, being a highlight.

Aroeira II is more of a championship layout than I, and it’s easy to see why it enjoys a reputation as being the ‘Wentworth of Lisbon’. Built at the turn of the century, there is plenty of maturity to the pine-tree lined layout. Measuring

■ MONTADO HOTEL & GOLF RESORT IS SURROUNDED BY VINEYARDS

■ AROEIRA BOASTS TWO CHAMPIONSHIP LAYOUTS THAT THREAD THEIR WAY THROUGH DENSE FORESTS

15. PRAIA D’EL REY RESORT

8. AROEIRA I & II

10. QUINTA DO PERU

9. MONTADO

just under 7,000 yards from the back tees, water comes into play on no fewer than nine holes, and there are many pot bunkers and large, undulating greens to negotiate. Although wider off the tee in places, it’s grown up golf, and is more demanding than your average holiday golf course.

Last autumn saw the opening of the much-antipcated Aroeira Lisbon Hotel at the resort, a stylish venue that provides the ultimate in chic modern design, offering 68 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a spa and a choice of five bars and restaurants. orizontegolf.com 9. MONTADO Located close to Setubal, a 30-minute drive south of Lisbon, Montado Hotel & Golf Resort is surrounded by famous muscatel vineyards that were planted more than a century ago, and offers a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

The par-72, 6,380m course, which opened in 1992, and was redesigned in 2005, enjoys a pleasant rural setting, with easy-walking fairways laid out between lines of old oaks and younger olive trees, chestnut and pines, winding around creeks and natural lakes.

There are plenty of interesting holes on which to test your skills, but there’s no doubting that the par-three 18th, which requires a tee shot to a island green, is among the highlights, especially if the match is all-square.

On-site accommodation is offered in a four-star hotel, which boasts 90 rooms, two restaurants and a spa. montadoresort.com 10. QUINTA DO PERU Just a 30-minute drive from the centre of Lisbon, the enchanting tree-lined course at Quinta do Peru is framed by the Arrábida Natural Park with its 18 finely-crafted holes meandering gently through avenues of tall pines. First opened in 1994, it was designed by American architect Rocky Roquemore, the 6,640-yard layout has matured nicely over the last 25 years, and is tidy without being pristinely manicured, and the greens are devilishly quick, so its vital to be below the hole if you want to give it anything more than a nudge with the putter. Although the tree-lined fairways are generally not too narrow, big and astutely-placed bunkers, and rapid putting surfaces, ensure that Quinta do Peru is a solid test off the back tees, and most holiday golfers will have more fun off the yellows, which take the course down to a more manageable 6,175 yards. clubgolfquintadoperu.com

■ AROEIRA GOLF HOTEL

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12. RIBAGOLFE I & II

18. ALDEIA DOS CAPUCHOS GOLF & SPA ■ RIBAGOLFE OFFERS TWO SUPERB LAYOUTS EAST OF LISBON

11. TROIA 11. TROIA Located an hour south of Lisbon, and accessible via a lovely short ferry crossing from Setubal, Troia offers a magical setting for Robert Trent Jones Senior’s magical, yet significantly underrated, seaside course, which first opened for play in 1980. Jones utilised his trademark bold bunkering, raised greens and doglegs on the par-72, 6,317m layout, which stretches along the beach and sweeps between pine trees, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arrábida mountain range. Although too short and tight for modern tournament play, Troia hosted the Portuguese Open back in 1983, when Sam Torrance was the only player to break par for the championship, telling everything you need to know about the course’s challenge. It’s recent rise to No.8 in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe ranking shows a club that is not resting on its laurels. troiaresort.pt 12. RIBAGOLFE I & II Set within a nature reserve 40km east of Lisbon, Ribagolfe offers Portuguese golf at its most rural and tranquil. Boasting two courses, I and II, Ribagolfe I, a monstrous 7,300-yard layout that we thankfully reduced to a still not inconsiderable 6,600 yards by hitting from the yellow tees. Played in early spring, the course was lush, green and visually stunning, and with no villas or houses to interrupt the views or the flow of the layout. Each hole is sheltered from the next, and requires your utmost concentration to make par. Deep bunkers will halt progress up the fairway, while sheer length will prove most players’ undoing. The huge greens are even paced and excellent to putt on, although finding the right level was never easy.

Hole highlights include the 7th, a 448-yard par four which is framed by a lake all the way down the right side. Although the water is barely in play, it provides a stunning view from the green at this testing stroke index two.

Ribagolfe II is a shorter test than its sibling, but still measures more than 6,800 yards. It’s a more forgiving, but equally appealing course, with wider fairways and more generous landing areas, while large, contoured greens make it a stiff test, especially if the wind blows. orizontegolf.com

■ TROIA IS A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF LISBON GOLF, RANKED 8TH IN GOLF WORLD'S TOP 100 COURSES IN EUROPE

TROIA OFFERS A MAGICAL SETTING FOR ROBERT TRENT JONES SNR'S MAGICAL, YET SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERRATED SEASIDE COURSE, WHICH FEATURES HIS TRADEMARK BOLD BUNKERING, RAISED GREENS AND DOGLEGS

18. ALDEIA DOS CAPUCHOS GOLF & SPA Located in the historic town of Vila dos Capuchos, on the Costa Caparica, 20km south of Lisbon and 3km from the sea, the 4-star Aldeia dos Capuchos Resort boasts a aparthotel, a full-service spa, three swimming pools and a 9-hole golf course. There is a driving range, practice putting green and pro shop. Eating and drinking options on site include two restaurants, a café and two bars. golfaldeiadoscapuchos.com

BOOK YOUR GOLFING TRIP TO LISBON For more details on Lisbon and its many attractions, visit www.visitlisboa.com, where you will find details on hotels, transport, restaurants, sightseeing and shopping, sport and leisure activities, music festivals, art and design exhibitions and much, much more.

You can also call +351 210 312 700.

■ ALDEIA DOS CAPUCHOS

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■ A 2-BED COTTAGE AT QUINTA DO LAGO

■ THE COTTAGES ARE KITTED OUT WITH ALL MOD CONS

QHOTELS REOPENS RESORTS UNDER TIER RESTRICTIONS THE QHOTELS GROUP HAS REOPENED ALL ITS GOLF RESORT HOTELS in line with the UK government’s current tier restrictions after the latest national lockdown was lifted on December 2.

The UK’s largest hotel and resort golf operator has opened all six of its golf resorts in England, and are now welcoming overnight guests again.

Following government guidelines, all QHotels resorts placed in tier two are fully open for business, including accommodation facilities, providing there is no mixing of households. Those resorts adhering to tier three restrictions will also be open for essential overnight stays, with golf, spa and leisure amenities all on offer, together with breakfast served on a takeaway basis.

And no matter what the tier, golfers will once again be able to enjoy the full array of benefits when visiting any QHotels golf resort, with pay-and-play golf and memberships all available.

Richard Moore, group chief executive of the QHotels Group, said: “The tier system is really tough for the hospitality industry, however, we are determined and ready to do our utmost to get things up and running again at a time when people need it most.”

Two QHotels resorts – Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, in Shropshire and Dunston Hall in Norwich – have been initially placed in tier two with four venues – Belton Woods, in Grantham, Lincolnshire; Oulton Hall, Leeds; Slaley Hall, in Hexham, Northumberland; and DoubleTree by Hilton Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort, in Brigg – in tier three. DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Westerwood Spa & Golf Resort is subject to separate Scottish government regulations and reopened on December 11.

For details on the latest QHotels golf breaks, visit www.qhotels.co.uk.

■ DUNSTON HALL IN NORWICH

QUINTA DO LAGO OFFERS WINTER RENTALS FOR ‘DIGITAL NOMADS’ GOLFERS LOOKING TO SEE OUT THE UK WINTER under Portugal’s sunny skies are being invited to stay at Quinta do Lago Resort, which has an array of self-contained cottages and apartments for long-term lettings.

With almost 50% of employed adults in the UK now working from home, there is a rising trend in people looking to maximise this flexibility and carry out their job from the luxury of a sunnier climate.

Quinta do Lago has created two long-term rental packages, designed to provide all budgets and guests with a smooth work set up, along with access to everything the resort has to offer – providing the perfect work, life balance and an escape from the cold British winter.

These packages are available at The Magnolia Hotel when staying in one of their boutique cottages and also the new luxury development, Reserva.

The Magnolia Hotel’s ‘Work & Play’ packages offer guests a 30% discount on their standard cottage rates throughout the

winter season.

Guests working from ■ THE NORTH COUR the two-bedroom SE AT QUINTA DO LA GO wooden cottages, situated a short distance away from the main hotel, one of the two bedrooms can be transformed into a home office with the necessary amenities and high-speed broadband. The cottage also include a spacious kitchen, lounge area and private patio.

Guests will also receive free access to the hotel’s outdoor pool and tennis court, vintage Dutch bikes, a 10% discount at The Campus spa and leisure centre, and special guest rewards at the resort’s restaurants, as well as housekeeping and laundry services.

The packages start from £2,135 per month. For stays from November 30 to March 28, guests can enjoy a 30% discount on cottage room rates for stays over 14 consecutive nights or more.

For bookings, email book@themagnoliahotelqdl.com.

TASTE THE CREAM OF CORNISH GOLF BOASTING SOME OF THE FINEST HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND BEACHES IN BRITAIN, Cornwall has long been an attractive destination for UK holidaymakers, with its temperate climate and stunning countryside proving a winning combination. Add to that some of the most challenging and beautiful golf courses in the country – and the fact that the county is in Tier 1 of the latest government Covid-19 restrictions – and you have all the ingredients for the perfect winter break.

Golf Holidays Cornwall specialises in organising golf holidays in the south west for many years and with their local knowledge and expertise, they are able to offer keenly-priced packages and custom-designed tours that are designed to suit all budgets and skill levels.

Packages for the current season include two nights at the

four-star Old Custom House Hotel in picturesque Padstow, with three rounds of golf, from £199, with the ‘big three’ of St Enodoc, Trevose and Perranporth for just £279 (Nov-March).

Alternatively, stay three nights at the Garrick Hotel in St Ives and play Mullion, Falmouth and West Cornwall from £262pp.

Residential packages at St Mellion, Lostwithiel, Trevose and Bowood Park are also available at very competitive rates.

Off the golf course, Cornwall is bursting with attractions, including pretty coastal towns such as Port Isaac, Rock and Padstow. The region’s rich culture features the inimitable Tate St Ives, displaying the very best in modern and local art, the incredible Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan, while outdoor activities such as sailing, surfing, walking and horse riding are as good here as anywhere in the British Isles.

For more details, visit www.golfholidayscornwall.co.uk.

■ ST ENODOC'S CHURCH COURSE

LES BORDES’ NEW COURSE SET FOR MAY OPENING EUROPE’S MOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED NEW GOLF GOLF COURSE will officially be unveiled in the heart of France’s famed Loire Valley with the spring launch of the New Course at Les Bordes.

Situated 90 minutes south of Paris, within Les Bordes’ 1,400-acre estate in the Sologne Forest, the par-72 layout has been created by American golf architect Gil Hanse and is set to open in May 2021.

The first golf course to be designed by Hanse in continental Europe, the New Course’s heathland style is in direct contrast to Les Bordes’ Old Course. Featuring large bunkers, subtle elevation changes and incredible green complexes, the layout measures 7,211 yards from the back tees, but is expected to play shorter than its overall length due to the firm and fast playing conditions.

And when combined with the venue’s 10-hole short course – the Wild Piglet, which was also created by Hanse and opened in 2020 – members of Les Bordes will have 46 holes of world-class golf to play.

■ THE NE W COURSE

OPENS THIS SUMM

ER

Hanse said: “We visited the site and fell in love with the entire property. It is very different stylistically to the original 18-hole course, which I think is a positive, as members will have two very different golfing experiences. We realised there was the potential to create some bold and dramatic features and strategies or options on the course.”

Jack Laws, director of golf at Les Bordes, said: “The course has heathland features, but it’s built on sand and has large waste areas like a Pine Valley, and, in this respect, it is a unique style for Europe.

It is an outstanding course with truly exceptional architecture; I was based at Sunningdale for five years before moving to France and, for me, it rivals Harry Colt’s work there, which is incredibly exciting.”

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MARINE HOTEL MAKEOVERS SET NEW STANDARD FOR SCOTTISH GOLF BREAKS

■ THE MARINE HOTEL IN TROON WILL REOPEN NEXT SUMMER AFTER A MAJOR RENOVATION

ALGARVE LAUNCHES ‘BAGS GO FREE’ OFFER PORTUGAL’S ALGARVE REGION IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE COST OF GOLF HOLIDAYS to the popular European hotspot after announcing a subsidy for transporting golf clubs on board a plane.

Algarve Tourism has teamed up with the golf tour operator network for the campaign, which could save golfers up to €100

GOLFERS LOOKING TO PLAY AND STAY at some of Scotland’s finest golf resorts in 2021 should check out a range of packages being offered by the newlyformed Marine & Lawn Collection.

The collection comprises three properties located along the historic Scottish golf coast, including Rusacks St Andrews in St Andrews, the Marine North Berwick in North Berwick and The Marine Hotel in Troon.

Previously known as the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick, the 83-bedroom hotel is reopening next spring as the Marine North Berwick following a change of ownership. The hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovation, with the new-look hotel offering 89 rooms and suites, two new bar and restaurant concepts, 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and an indoor-outdoor spa and fitness centre.

The hotel overlooks West Links at North Berwick Golf Club and boasts scenic views of the Firth of Forth

each on a direct international flight to Faro, with most major airlines included. The free golf bag offer will be applied to bookings made with a licensed golf tour operator for a minimum five-night stay between November and the end of May 2021, with bookings having to be confirmed by January 31.

Golfers travelling from the UK who are staying at an officiallylicensed hotel, villa or apartment will be eligible to take part in the offer. Upon arrival at Faro, the welcoming stretch of southern Portugal awaits with year-round sunshine, warm temperatures, and a staggering 43 nine or 18-hole courses to choose from.

Visitors will also feel safe in the knowledge that the Algarve has

and Bass Rock. It is also handy for rounds at Muirfield, Archerfield Links, The Renaissance Club and Gullane.

Marine Troon, which was also formerly part of the MacDonalds Hotel group, will reopen in the summer following its own major refurbishment, which will include revitalised guest rooms, two new bar and restaurants, and a new fitness and leisure centre with an indoor pool, squash court, sauna and steam facilities. The hotel overlooks the opening and closing holes of Royal Troon’s Old Course, which has played host to nine Open Championships, and will do so again in 2024.

The final property in the Marine & Lawn Collection is Rusacks St Andrews, which will also be reopening in the summer following the completion of a major renovation programme. The finished hotel will offer 114 rooms and suites, a new rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews, which will host the 150th Open Championship in 2022.

extensive precautions implemented, with hotels and courses having Clean & Safe certification, which has been introduced by Portugal Tourism as part its Covid-19 safety measures.

A spokesperson for Algarve Tourism said: “We know our friends across Europe see their opportunities to play golf a little more limited in the autumn and winter months, but in the Algarve, we are open all year round. We all know it’s been a difficult time for everyone with so many travel plans postponed or cancelled this year. But we hope this gesture will be appreciated and may allow some more of our guests to rearrange their visit to our golf courses during the next few months.”

MADEIRA PROVES SAFE HAVEN FOR A RELAXING WINTER GOLF BREAK GOLFERS LOOKING FOR A SAFE HOLIDAY DESTINATION WITH EXCELLENT COURSES AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER should consider booking a trip to the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, which remain fully operational and welcoming international travel.

The islands have taken every step to ensure the safety of every resident and visitor, with Discover Madeira, the consumer-facing brand of the Madeira Promotion Bureau, working with the local and Portuguese authorities to put plans in place for holidaymakers to return, with the wellbeing of all being paramount under the current circumstances.

A spokesman from Discover Madeira said: “We are obviously delighted to welcome back golfers and tourists to Madeira

– but their safety is paramount, which is why we have been working so hard to ensure that the islands are the safest they can possibly be.We want to take the worry away and give visitors the reassurance that they are protected, so they can relax, enjoy their holiday and make the most out of everything Madeira has to offer.”

Hotels, restaurants, bars, golf clubs and other tourist activities across the islands are also adopting the ‘Clean and Safe’ stamp, created by VisitPortugal, which distinguishes tourist activities which are compliant with certain hygiene and cleaning requirements.

Madeira is home to three golf courses. with Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf located on the mainland, and Porto Santo Golf located on the nearby island of Porto Santo.

■ SANTO DE SERRA

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Lee Sharpe Former Manchester United and England midfielder Lee Sharpe loves a lads’ golf trip away and is as happy on a links course as he is on a desert layout

Travel with

My favourite city in the world is...Bangkok.

There’s nothing like it and the golf is great too.

My most memorable holiday meal is…

My first ever holiday was to… the Isle of Wight. My mum didn’t like to fly, so we always went to places closer to home. I loved it there though. It’s like stepping back a few decades to a simpler time. My first ever golf holiday was to Scottsdale in Arizona – which isn’t a bad place to start!

My most recent golf holiday was to…

Dubai for the Dubai Classic. It’s always been one of my favourite places to go on holiday, especially for the golf.

My favourite golf course is... Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, although it’s hard to pick just one, as I like a lot of courses for different reasons. I played TPC Sawgrass a few years ago and thought that was stunning, as is Valderrama. I also like the courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but Portrush nicks it because of the history and I love links golf.

My most memorable best round was… at the Emirates Course in Dubai a couple of years ago. I shot two under par and missed two six-footers on 17 and 18 for birdies to shoot four

brunch in Dubai. Friday brunch is something of a tradition and way beyond the traditional ‘breakfast at lunchtime’ combination. I also had a great paella in Spain a couple of weeks ago. I’d played at Villaitana against the club pro and won on the last hole, which always makes the post-match meal taste even better!

The golf course I’d most like to play is…

■ LEE LOVES THE GOLF COURSES AND FRIDAY BRUNCHES IN DUBAI, AND NEVER LEAVES HIS ORANGE WHIP TRAINER BEHIND

under – I totally bottled it! My best round is a 66 at Manchester Golf Club.

My favourite golf resort in the UK is….

Gleneagles in Scotland. Three superb courses and five-star hospitality all the way. Further afield, I’d pick Sun City in South Africa, while in Europe I’d go for La Manga in Spain. A mate of mine lives out there, so I go there to see him once or twice a year. He has a bar too, so it’s a good trip on and off the golf course.

I always travel with... my golf clubs. What else do you need? Oh yes, my Orange Whip training aid!

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed is… the Hotel Villa Maria in Ravello on Italy’s Amalfi coast. I got married there last year. It’s simply stunning.

Augusta. Isn’t it top of everybody’s list?

I’ll planning a golf trip… for my 50th birthday next year, but given the current Covid restrictions I’m still undecided about the destination. I am planning on playing in three tournaments in Spain in January.

My top travel tip is... enjoy the journey and remember that your holiday starts when you leave the house. Oh yes, and don’t take the kids!

■ HOTEL VILLA MARIA

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