GOLF NEWS APRIL 2022

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ISSUE 295 | APRIL 2022

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MASTERS PLAN Scottie Scheffler reveals how he swept to Augusta glory

FULL BEEM Rich Beem relives his 2002 PGA triumph

ERIK VAN ROOYEN

PUTTING FOR DOUGH

Meet the man behind the moustache

What makes Odyssey the dominant force in putting

TRAVEL FEATURE Verdura putting Sicily on the golfing map

THE ICEMAN COMETH E XCLUSIVE WITH

RYDER HENRIK

KING OF SWING ME & MY TRAVELS WITH SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS

INTERVIE W CU P

C AP TAIN

S TENSON

COMPLIMENTARY COPY Est 1994

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APRIL 2022 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

A POWERFUL FEELING More ball speed means higher launching, longer shots that land softly and closer to the hole.

©2022 PING

More speed, more distance.

More grooves, more control.

NEWS | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EDITOR'S LETTER

NICK BAYLY

Europe, as the impact of the pandemic on people’s working patterns and work/life balance begins to fully take hold.

While the boom should have been a godsend for the golf clubs, the limited number of daylight hours meant that many clubs had to literally turn away customers – mainly by banning visitor rounds – as golf became one of the few sports that was allowed to carry on during those dark days when social distancing was the norm, while society and corporate business, and all the usual bar and catering takings, all but dried up and has been slow to return.

The worry now, of course, is whether the current golf boom has solid foundations or whether it has been built on quicksand. As people begin to filter back to the office, and household budgets begin to get squeezed by the current fuel crisis and galloping inflation, the concern, in some quarters, is that golf club membership will, along with that Netflix subscription and those regular Deliveroo orders, be among the first things to be ditched as our collective belts get tightened.

I, however, am taking a more positive short-term view, but a slightly more gloomy long-term view. Yes, a few of those youngsters – and by that I mean those in their 30s and 40s – who joined golf clubs just get themselves out of the house during the lockdowns may fall by the wayside, but those hard core club members – whose average age is well into their 50s – a third are over 60 – will cling onto their memberships for dear life, forsaking new cars and third holidays in order to carry on playing their beloved game.

The elephant in the room, and the one which will already be giving golf’s governing bodies sleepless nights, is that golf’s ageing demographic is currently showing signs of going one way, and that’s up. Despite all the laudable programmes to introduce golf into schools and inner cities, and to encourage more boys and girls, none of these efforts seems to showing up in the membership stats and are unlikely to do so in the years ahead given all the other distractions and faster and more inclusive forms of entertainment that are on offer.

All of this points to there being fewer clubs around in 10 years’ time and golf becoming a more expensive game. Some might argue that golf has been too cheap for too long, but that’s a debate for another time.

■ A THIRD OF ALL GOLFERS IN THE UK ARE OVER 60

BANKING ON BOOMERS I think there have been three what might technically be considered ‘golf booms’ during my 30-odd years working in golf. The first happened in the late 1980s, around the time that the R&A published its famous report that suggested that 700 more golf courses needed to be built to satiate the unquenchable demand for tee times that resulted in golfers sleeping in the cars overnight in order to secure a precious Saturday morning slot at the local muni.

The second boom came shortly after Tiger Woods destroyed the field at the 1997 Masters. Tiger has moved the needle throughout his 30-year career – witness the 30% rise in viewing figures at last month’s Masters, when he made his long-awaited return to competitive action – but he certainly lit the touchpaper in a many a young golfer’s mind when he plundered all before him during that golden 12-year period between 1997 and 2008 that resulted in 14 major titles.

The third boom, and one that is very much still a work in progress, is the one that started shortly after the pandemic began in the spring of 2020, and has continued pretty much unabated to this very day.

The problem with booms, as any economist will tell you, is that they are often, although not always, followed by a bust, or at the very least, a fall. That was very much the case for the majority of those farmers who decided to convert their unprofitable arable fields into scrubby pay-and-play golf courses back in the 1990s. How many of them still survive today? Not many.

According a whole host of reliable survey evidence, membership numbers at golf clubs in England have risen by over 100,000 since the beginning of 2020, up a staggering 15% to a new total of almost 740,000.

Those figures have been replicated right across

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InBrief DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR THOMPSON AT KENT’S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS ★ Millie Thompson won Kent Golf’s Champion of Champions tournament after shooting rounds of 74 and 75 at Ashford Golf Club. The Sittingbourne & Milton Regis player’s impressive five-over-par total saw her fend off the challenge of 31 rivals and win the scratch title by five shots and the nett prize by a single stroke.

Janette Withey (Nizels) was runner up in the nett event, while Alisa Theunis (Royal Blackheath) took second spot in the scratch category.

ESSENDON SECURES HERTS JUNIOR TITLE ★ Essendon’s Lilly Hertz, Tanus Van Molendorff and Rohit Karia combined to win the Herts Junior Club Championship with a score of 76 points at The Hertfordshire G&CC. The tournament attracted 13 teams from 10 clubs, with Hertz’s 39 points and Van Moldendoff’s 37 being the best two scores from the three required for a three-point win over Bishop’s Stortford’s A team.

The Shire to renovate Seve course as part of major on-going investment The Shire London is to carry out a programme of alterations to its Seve Ballesteros designed championship course that will serve to ramp up the challenge at the Barnet-based club, which first opened in July 2007.

The Shire boasts the only course designed by the late five-time Open champion in the UK. The sympathetic renovations are to be carried out by European Golf Design, whose world-class portfolio of projects includes Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course, JCB Golf & Country Club, and 2023 Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy.

The Shire’s director Ceri Menai-Davis said: “Heading into our 15th season with Seve Ballesteros’ fantastic original design, we thought it was time to refresh the challenge a little. Seve’s wide appeal, plus our warm welcome to all levels of golfer, has already made us one of London’s most popular golf venues, but continuous improvement is always our goal. The changes will make some parts of the golf course a little less punishing,and more picturesque.

“Having already announced our intention to work with by European Golf Design at one of other venues, The Legacy Club, we are thrilled that they will also be looking at The Shire London for us. Their track record speaks for itself, and we cannot wait to reveal what we have in store for golfers in about a year’s time!”

Jeremy Slessor, managing director of European Golf Design, said: “We’ll be starting with the second and 17th holes, aiming to

make tee shots more heroic, add more risk and reward, enhance the aesthetics, and improve the challenge still further. The Shire is already an exciting golf course, and EGD aims to make it even more interesting for all levels of golfer.”

The Shire London has also revealed a host of other recent improvements, including the addition of Golf Genius live scoring and TrackMan Long Driving to its golf days. Out on the golf course, every tee has new markers and signage, while a comprehensive course conditioning programme is being carried out under the guidance of Head Greenkeeper George Stillwell, who has recently joined the club from the Ladies European Tour.

A newly turfed main practice area, with three new covered bays and new practice nets, has recently been installed, while the short game area beyond the 18th green has also been upgraded.

Inside the clubhouse, the gym has benefited from the arrival of new equipment, while a new conservatory and BBQ area has been created to cater for large groups and golf societies.

In light of the investments on and off the course, green fees for the new peak season (May-September) will increase to £75 from Monday-Thursday, and £80 on Friday, and to £90 on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Summer golf days, which all include live scoring and a private room, are available from £75 per head, including refreshments, or from £87.50 including a post-golf meal.

KNEBWORTH ROCKS TO SCRATCH VICTORY ★ Knebworth Golf Club’s men’s team avenged their narrow defeat in last year’s Scratch League competition by winning the 2022 renewal in fine style, with George Ackerman, Warren Clarke and George Williams combining for an aggregate medal score of +20 over 36 holes at Harpenden Common.

They finished four shots clear of the Harpenden team of Jack Bigham, Tom Speyer and Graham Du Plessis, with Bigham compiling the best individual 36-hole score with rounds of 69 and 67, with the latter score matched by Knebworth’s George Williams in his opening round. Host club Harpenden Common finished third on +27.

Knebworth will now progress to the National Champion Club Final, which is being played at Lilley Brook GC in Gloucestershire in September.

NIZELS LADIES SHINE IN SPAIN ★ A team of 10 women representing Nizels Golf & Country Club in Kent has won the 2021 Annodata UK Golf Club Classic in Spain. The team, which was able to field five players per match, battled through to the final, which was held at the Montecastillo Golf Resort in Spain, after winning six knockout rounds.

The final against Charnwood Forest, saw Pat Morecroft, Adele Young, Carol Turl, Janette Withey and Gina Phillips all win their matches for a clean sweep. Team captain Juli Fayers said: “Our ladies are a highly competitive bunch, who held their nerve throughout their journey to the final in Spain and have now been crowned champions. To win from an original entry of some 400 clubs is a fantastic achievement.”

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR AT HERTS FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ★ Father and son Vic and Archie Kenny made the most of their home advantage to win Hertfordshire’s Men’s Fourball Championship after combining to score 44 points at Old Fold Manor. They finished one point ahead of West Herts pairing Chris Godman and Stuart Kent, who took the runner’s up spot on countback from East Herts duo Ken Hayes and Alan Sharpe.

■ THE SHIRE IS TO RENOVATE SEVERAL HOLES TO FURTHER ELEVATE THE PLAYING EXPERIENCE

■ LIV GOLF CEO GREG NORMAN

Centurion prepares to host inaugural LIV Golf Invitational tournament LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is set to announce a series of ‘marque names’ for the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which begins its planned schedule of eight tournaments at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire from June 9-11.

Players will be competing for an unprecedented $255m throughout the series, which will see seven events each carry a total purse of $25m, comprised of $20m in individual prizes and $5m for the top three teams.

A team championship will round off the series in October, which sees four tournaments held in the US, one in Thailand and one in Saudi Arabia.

The fields are at each event are limited to just 48 players, who will play three rounds with no cut, ensuring no player goes home empty handed.

Norman has yet to reveal the names of players who have expressed an interest in playing or have already signed up to the series, however at least 15 of the wold's top 15 players have already

agreed to take part. It is understood that at least six DP Tour World players have already asked for releases to participate in the Centurion event, while Americans Phil Mickelson and Robert Garrigus have both asked the PGA Tour for a waiver to take part. The first LIV Golf Invitational event clashes with the Scandanavian Mixed, a tournament co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour that is limited to just 78 men and 78 women.

Tickets to see the LIV Golf Invitational at Centurion Club are now on sale, with one-day passes starting from £67, and three-day passes priced at £178. There are four levels of hospitality packages, ranging from £246 all the way up to over £9,000 for an exclusive VIP packages that will include premium hospitalty and access to walk inside the ropes during the tournament.

For more details, visit tickets.livgolf.com

NEWS | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Play the International Course 18 holes of Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf

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Penge sparkles in South Africa after recovering from knee op Sussex-based tour professional Marco Penge has made a positive start to the new golf season following a long injury lay-off.

The Horsham-born player recorded a Challenge Tour careerbest fourth place finish at last month’s SDC Open in South Africa, his first competitive appearance in over eight months after suffering a knee injury mid-way through last season. The 23-year-old fired round of 65, 71, 63 and 70 at Zebula Golf Estate to finish on 19-under-par and finish just two shots behind winner Clément Sordet.

Penge teed it up at the following week’s Limpopo Championship, which was staged at two venues, Euphoria and Koro Creek, where he finished 30th to pick up some more welcome prize money following what has been difficult period in his career.

“I’ve had a really tough time over the last year with injury,” said Penge. “I was thinking that the knee surgery wasn’t going

to work properly and I would be back to square one, but my physio gave me the self-belief that I could perform and the last few weeks has been the best my knee has felt for seven months.”

He added: “It’s great to be back out playing again and catching up with everyone. It was my first time playing in South Africa and I loved it. I’m one of the longer hitters on tour and the conditions out here really suit my game. After I played that first practice round, I thought I should be playing out here all year! It’s great to play with some of the South African guys and see their different approaches to the game. Everyone was so friendly and the courses are in great condition. I’m so lucky to be doing what I’m doing.”

Penge, who graduated through the EuroPro Tour in 2019 after finishing third on the Order of Merit, believes the Challenge Tour creates the ideal environment to develop as a young player, admitting he takes inspiration from the likes of Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, all of whom learned their trade on Europe’s second tier tour.

“The Challenge Tour provides the perfect platform to get yourself ready for the top level of golf,” he said. “The likes of Koepka, Hatton and Fleetwood and all the other guys who have come through this tour and are now at the top. It’s an inspiration for myself and everyone else that is playing this year because we’re all trying to achieve pretty similar goals, and if we can follow in their footsteps we would be doing pretty well.”

Whittington Heath reopens after HS2 rerouting Whittington Heath Golf Club has reopened all 18 holes for play after significantly redesigning its historic golf course to make way for the new HS2 railway line which is planned to cut through it.

The revised course, which reopened in April, boasts five new holes on adjacent land to the east, replacing those that are set to be lost.

The captains’ drive-in saw club president Kelvin Edwards cut the ceremonial ribbon and the club’s four section captains tee off, followed by a men’s captain versus ladies’ captain match.

Whittington Heath Golf Club, situated on the A51 just outside of Lichfield, learnt that the HS2 rail line would be cutting through its course in 2012. Although the club’s very existence was threatened, members decided to work with HS2 to devise a sustainable solution and secure its future. Working in close collaboration with leading golf course architects Jonathan Gaunt and contractor John Greasley, the club has created a course arguably even better than its predecessor.

The redesigned layout features five new holes specially

■ AN AERIAL VIE W OF THE

NEW-LOOK COURSE

designed to complement those retained on the original course, which are now being restored to traditional heathland. The project has also seen the construction of a purpose-built clubhouse, replacing the original clubhouse on the A51 which has been demolished to make way for the new high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

Tony Rundle, chairman of Whittington Heath Golf Club’s HS2 sub-committee, said: “We are delighted to be able to officially open our fantastic, remodelled golf course. HS2

presented the club with an existential crisis. However, we were determined to find a solution and through tenacity and close collaboration with a group of supportive partners, the course has been remodelled and its future assured. Whittington Heath Golf Club has for many years been considered one of the finest golf courses in the Midlands. We look forward to welcoming golfers to our new course and I’m confident its reputation will be enhanced.”

Jonathan Gaunt, of course architect Gaunt Golf Design, said: “We were first asked to be involved in the redesign in July 2012. Our brief was to create a new section of the course to match in as closely as possible with the existing course, which was already highly regarded for its Harry Colt design. It was a tough commission to take on, but A really exciting one. We eventually arrived on site in January 2019, and that was when the fun really began. Progress was swift and the contractor, John Greasley, worked amazingly well through some very challenging conditions to finish the course at the end of autumn last year. The project has far exceeded my expectations and it’s one I am extremely proud of. The construction team. together with the maintenance team at Whittington Heath. have worked so well together to bring this project to life. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of the next 100 years at what I consider to be the best course in Staffordshire.”

NEWS | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Shirvenham Park provides welcoming home for Parkies Pals When Carole Lee came up with the idea to start a putting club at Shrivenham Park Golf Club she never dreamed about the wider impact it would have on the community.

In particular, the hugely positive effect it would have on local group supported by Parkinson’s UK affectionately known as ‘Parkies Pals’.

From humble origins, the putting club at the Oxfordshire venue has now become a social hub for Parkies Pals. Not only do Parkies Pals regularly join in the fun with club members and other guests, but they have also made the golf club the base for their monthly meetings.

Carole admitted: “Just prior to Covid I was asked to join the committee at Shrivenham Park Golf Club where I had been a member since 2004. We needed to raise funds for our club and, not having any spare space for a

driving range, I suggested starting a putting club using the facilities of the putting green outside the clubhouse.

From small beginnings, greater things happen. It was advertised on local notice boards and in the local parish magazine. We charged £2 per person for 9 holes ,which included loan of equipment and also a hot drink and biscuit. Then Covid struck and, like many things, it was put on hold. I then met with one of my friends on a church walk who said she had a friend who wanted to know more about the social putting at Shrivenham. I met the lady who runs the local group of Parkinson’s UK called Parkies Pals. They started coming along last summer and the result has been amazing.”

Parkies Pals was started in 2018 with the idea of uniting people with and without Parkinson’s in support and friendship whilst raising awareness of this most frustrating and debilitating condition through café meet-ups, fundraising and sponsored events. The the group gathered at Shrivenham Park on April 4 for a fun competition and raised £235 for charity.

Carole added: “It is always our aim at Shrivenham Park to make everyone feel at home. Parkies Pals have now made their home at Shrivenham Park and hold their meetings there on the first Monday of the month.”

Bennett relishes role of PGA Captain Former Ladies European Tour player Sarah Bennett has become The Professional Golfers’ Association’s 82nd Captain. Bennett, 53, the head teaching professional at Three Rivers Golf and Country Club in Essex, has become only the second female to captain the PGA. That she is following her close friend and mentor the late Beverly Lewis in the role adds even more significance to her appointment.

“It means so much to me personally following in the footsteps of my role model Beverly Lewis,” Bennett said. “If it wasn’t for ‘Bev’ I wouldn’t be where I am today. She used to coach me in her garden when I was 15 and we used to discuss my swing in her kitchen, I really tested her knowledge! She was always there for me as a mentor and friend, offering advice, support and encouragement during my career.”

Bennett was a member of Colchester Golf Club at the time and, having turned pro, went on to spend 25 years on the Ladies European Tour, become a respected and indemand coach at Three Rivers as well as the regional coach for England Golf East.

Speaking about Bennett’s appointment, PGA chief executive Robert Maxfield said: “Sarah’s tireless voluntary and charity work makes her a great role model for all PGA Pros to look up to. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her excellence as a coach and devoted a huge amount of time helping people of all ages, ability and background into the game. She has been a loyal ambassador for the Association, and I know she will prove to be a very popular and successful captain.”

Looking ahead to her year in office, Bennett added: “I have always had huge respect for the Association since first becoming a member in 1990 and this is the proudest moment in my golfing career; following in the footsteps of legends in the game is something I will cherish forever. I have always enjoyed challenges and hard work and will do my upmost to continue to promote golf in its entirety and grow women’s golf at all levels of the game.”

■ THE GROUP GATHERS ONC EA MONTH AT SHRIVENHAM PARK

■ PARKIE S PALS ORGANISER CAROLE LEE

■ SARAH BENNETT WITH PAST PGA CAPTAIN BERNARD GALLACHER

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Alan lands Plumb title as Volunteer of the Year Alan Plumb’s happy knack of combining his knowledge, enthusiasm and spirit of bonhomie with his love for the game made him a deserved winner of the Volunteer of the Year category at the 2022 England Golf Awards.

At Strawberry Hill Golf Club in Middlesex, Alan is recognised as the ‘go to’ guy for members and staff alike whenever there is a question to be asked or an issue to be resolved.

Alan’s involvement at the club ranges from the juniors to the seniors and every stop in between. He plays an influential role in Strawberry Hill’s ‘Get into Golf’ programme as well as the running of the academy, and his work on a schools programme has also seen him devote time and energy to a project at a local venue for children with special needs.

And at the other range of the age spectrum, Alan has played a key part in rolling out the

Kent pro cooks up a storm on MasterChef A PGA coach from Kent swapped his golf glove for a pair of oven gloves to take part in this year’s series of MasterChef, the popular BBC TV show which tests the skills of the UK’s best amateur cooks.

James Skelton, who runs his own coaching academy at Bearsted Golf Club in Kent, had applied for the long-running show several times before, but only finally got accepted for this year’s series after spending the last two years perfecting his culinary skills during the various pandemic lockdowns.

And the enforced time away from his swing studio certainly paid off, with the 38-year-old dad of two progressing through his opening round to reach the semi-final before his run finally came to an end.

From an initial group of nine contestants in one of five first round heats, James progressed to the semi-final which is

welcome mat for golfers aligned to ‘Age Concern’.

As a past captain and member of the board, Alan is part of the furniture at Strawberry Hill and widely recognised by his peers as the ultimate volunteer. Even the minor inconvenience of a replacement hip has not deterred Alan from serving his beloved Strawberry Hill. If there’s a job needing done in the clubhouse or a member of the greens staff requiring assistance with divot repairs, then he will always be the first to raise a hand.

“It started a few years ago,” added Alan, after being named as the winner. “When you leave work you realise that you have transferable skills. I started coaching and helping our fantastic junior organiser with some of her projects and summer golf camps for our juniors. Then I was organising coaching for adult beginners and that

■ SOME OF THE JUNIORS

AT STR AW BERRY HILL

morphed into our academy which we started five years ago. We now have 50 members and you get involved in all sorts of things – the list is endless.

“Golf is like a board game – it’s for everyone from 8 to 80! We start young with the juniors – about five or six.

With Age Concern they have someone my age there to make them feel comfortable. We do work with all ages and it’s fantastic to see adult beginners develop. That’s the most rewarding thing of all.”

reserved for the best 10 cooks from the group of 45 hopefuls that started out on the journey to be crowned MasterChef champion for 2022.

James impressed judges Greg Wallace and John Torode throughout the competition with his home-cooking style, which involves modern British classics. Cooking a two-course meal against five others to win one of four places in the semi-final, James whipped up a baked cod loin with a smoked salmon and herb crust for his main course, served with ■ JAMES'S LEMON creamed leeks and fondant POSSET WITH CARAMELISED potato, followed by a lemon APPLES posset with cinnamon-braised which was actually a blessing in apples for his dessert. The judges disguise as this last couple of years I’ve said his main had ‘bundles of flavour’, been cooking more than ever and really was ‘beautifully cooked and well-seasoned’, had a chance to work on my skills. So, I felt it while the pudding was described as ‘smooth, was the right time to give it a go. I’m pretty with a nice wobble and a lovely amount of competitive, just as I am on the golf course, sharpness’. so I was really excited about the whole Speaking about the experience, James experience of taking part in the show.” said: “I’ve applied to go on MasterChef lots of With the filming of the show long since times in the past, but never been successful,

■ PGA PRO JAMES SKELTON PROVED A MASTER IN THE KITCHEN

over, James is back in his swing studio helping golfers improve their golf games, although he’s not put away his oven gloves, as he still has a hungry young family to feed.

“I like it when we get a chance to eat as a family and I love making food fun for the kids. Masking different pastas, pizzas or baking some sweet treats is something they love getting involved with.”

NEWS | APRIL 2022

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Clutch Pro Tour tees off in style with full season of tournaments and a new clothing sponsor The Clutch Pro Tour, which offers a 25-strong schedule of events for players looking to prepare for and progress to the main professional tours, has unveiled a packed 2022 season, as well as a new official clothing sponsor.

The tour teed off its 2022 season of tournaments at Olton Golf Club at the beginning of April, and will offer competitive opportunities at leading clubs throughout the South East and the Midlands over the next six months, before finishing at the Tour Championships at Kedleston Park in Derbyshire in October.

Sand Martins prepares to reopen 16th green after vandal attack The members at Sand Martins Golf Club in Surrey are looking forward to being able to play the 16th green on its popular parkland course again after vandals destroyed much of the playing surface at the beginning of January.

The green was subject to extensive damage and had to be completely relayed by the greenkeeping team. The damage was reported to the police, but the culprits have yet to be found.

Ben Emerson, the club’s Head PGA Professional, said: “We are now only a few days away from being able to re-open the green following the disgraceful vandalism that took place at the beginning of the year. Our green staff have done

A total of £630,000 is on offer over the course of the season, with events being held at a variety of top-class venues, including Goodwood, Moor Park, Luffenham Heath, North Hants, Royal Ashdown Forest, Prince’s and Chart Hills.

The tournaments are open to male and female professionals and elite amateurs playing off scratch or better. The Order of Merit winner gains two Challenge Tour invites for 2023, a free international series, a club deal with Mizuno, a Bushnell laser and a one-year management contract with Unity Golf, plus a Galvin Green wardrobe for next season.

Galvin Green is the official clothing sponsor the Clutch Pro Tour 2022 season.

As part of the new sponsorship, The Galvin Green Championship, staged on the Nicklaus course at St Mellion from May 3-5, becomes the Tour’s first 54-hole stroke play event, with total prize money of £20,000 and £5,000 going to the winner.

Galvin Green also sponsors several promising professionals playing on the Clutch Pro Tour, including Shergo Al Kurdi, Mike Bullen, George Baylis, Ryan Cornfield and Nick Cunningham.

Brand signage will be prominently displayed

■ GOLF AT GOODWOOD IS ON THE CLUTCH PRO TOUR SCHEDULE IN 2022

at all Tour events, as well as featuring on live streaming and social media posts.

Clutch Pro Tour, co-founder and Director Tom Hayward said: “Galvin Green is a name in golf synonymous with high-quality, so we jumped at the opportunity to build a partnership. Our aim is to provide careerlaunching incentives and opportunities for developing professional golfers in the UK and

Ireland. Since the premium apparel brand shares our vision, we’re confident it will prove to be a great partnership and I hope that a clutch putt on the 18th wins The Galvin Green Championship at St Mellion to mark our first ever 54-hole tournament with something special!”

To find out more about the Clutch Pro Tour, visit www.clutchprotour.co.uk

Pitch opens new flagship Soho venue

■ THE 16TH GREEN AFTER THE ATTACK AND THE NEW LY PREPARED GREEN

a fantastic job repairing the damage. I’d also like to offer a huge thank you to all the local golf clubs and greenkeepers for their help and support in getting the green repaired.”

The club is hosting the 29th Sand Martins Charity Pro-Am on June 10, with funds from the day being donated to the First Days Children’s Charity. It costs £420 for three amateurs and one PGA Professional to enter a team. For more details about the day, email ben.emberson@ sandmartins.com or call 0118 9792711.

Indoor golf entertainment company Pitch Golf London has expanded its portfolio of venues in the capital with the opening of a new flagship site in Soho.

Founded by Chris Ingham ■ PITCH SOHO and Elliot Godfrey, Pitch Golf opened its first venue in Bishopsgate near Liverpool Street station in 2016 and has proved hugely popular with city golfers looking to sharpen up their game, as well as a place to hold corporate and social events.

Staffed by a team of qualified PGA Professionals, including recently promoted Head Professional Adam Wells, both venues offer state-of-the-art hitting bays, simulator technology for game play, and the very latest swing and ball tracking technology for lessons and custom fittings. They also feature a Pitch Clubhouse, where guests can grab a drink or a bite to eat between and during games, while both venues host regular DJ nights.

The new 8,000 square foot Soho site offers nine hitting bays, a mezzanine bar and a private members lounge.

For membership enquiries, booking rates and more details, visit www.pitchgolf.london.

[10] APRIL 2022 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Fabulous Farnham scoops England Golf Tournament Venue of the Year Award Farnham Golf Club’s superb hosting of the inaugural English Under 18 Championship has won it the accolade of Tournament Venue of the Year at the 2022 England Golf Awards.

The Surrey club – staff and members combined – put their heart and soul into staging last year’s event featuring 132 of the most talented boy and girl golfers in England.

General manager Ben Beagley and his committee of staff and members set out with the aim of providing a firstclass venue for both spectators and competitors alike and succeeded in their ambition. Head greenkeeper Rupert Lawrence ensured the course was in first-class condition throughout the three-day event.

A small army of 95 club volunteers helped the event go smoothly by staffing the range, carrying out on-course scoring and ball-spotting duties.

■ FARNHAM HOS TED THE

ENGLISH U18 CHAMPIONS

Forrester who edged ahead of home favourite Lottie Woad on the closing day, Farnham was also proactive in attracting local sponsorship for the event with a profit in excess of £7,000 going directly to support the club’s thriving junior section and improved practice facilities. A charitable donation was also made in connection with the championship.

Beagley said: “It meant a lot to host the event and we’re ecstatic to win this. We had tremendous support from the HIP IN 202 1

And the warm welcome in the terraced clubhouse and bar and restaurant guaranteed that visitors – both parents and locals – enjoyed the best of hospitality.

The championship – England Golf’s first national mixed event for juniors with players competing on the same course at the same time for one trophy – also captured the imagination of the media.

The championship was broadcast via Content Live with 300,000 views across a number of digital platforms. BBC South Today featured the event as the lead item on their sports news with an audience share of 400,000 viewers.

Meanwhile, national golf media provided excellent coverage of the championship won by Walsall’s Jenson

membership – over 90 of them volunteered and it showed in the welcome we offered just how much it meant for us to

have the event here. To win this award is outstanding. This was our first ever England Golf championship at Farnham and we wanted to pull out all the stops to put on a fabulous show and be excellent hosts.”

Farnham’s decision to re-invest profits from the event in the junior section, continues the club’s commitment to the next generation.

“Our junior section here is not for profit,” added Beagley.

“That’s something we’re proud of. Everything we take from junior subscriptions all gets ploughed back into coaching and prizes and events and whatever we can do to grow the game for juniors. We have some fabulous young golfers, a great junior organiser and brilliant academy and all of that contributes to the club.”

Thompson blooms at Hampshire Rose Bedfordshire’s Luca Thompson added her name to the illustrious honours board of the Hampshire Rose after two birdies in the last three holes secured an impressive two-stroke victory at North Hants Golf Club.

The 19-year-old from Pavenham Park GC joins an impressive cast of former champions, including Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, after finishing ahead of Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield GC) and Danielle Hardwick (Perranporth).

The tournament was back after a two-year absence due to the covid pandemic, and following a short early frost delay, the Hampshire Rose got under way on a cold, but sunny day.

Thompson set the early pace with a

morning round of three-under-par 70 and was tied for the lead coming down the stretch, edging ahead again with a birdie on the 16th and sealing victory with two towering shots to the heart of the 18th green to set up a closing birdie four.

“This is the first big event I have won and feels amazing,” said Thompson, who is the daughter of Pavenham Park’s Head PGA Professional Zac Thompson.

“The greenkeepers did a great job and it is such a lovely course. I played here in the Rose Ladies Series last year and I was pleased how I managed to put myself in the right places today and had a lot of good lag putts which was key to scoring.

It’s a great start to the season.”

■ LUCA THOMPSON WITH THE HAMPSHIRE ROSE TROPHY

NEWS | APRIL 2022

[11]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Kent bags County of the Year title at England Golf Awards

■ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kent Golf’s successes on and off the course in the last year has earned them the title of ‘County of the Year’ at the 2022 England Golf awards.

Following the merger of the men’s union and ladies’ association in 2020, the unified body has gone from strength to strength and the award reflects their efforts to develop the game across the county.

The county prides itself on its open communication with its clubs and golfers with 1,300 subscribers to its newsletters and a growing following on its active social media accounts bringing their community of golfers together.

A heavy emphasis on junior golf has paid dividends with Kent’s activities for young golfers impressing the England Golf Awards judges. Two new junior academies for golfers with a disability have recently been set up at Kings Hill Golf Club and Stonelees Golf Club. In total, six junior academies in the county are helping boys and girls reach their potential.

During the pandemic, a junior development support grant of £1,000 was offered to clubs looking to implement creative ideas.

A new ‘Invicta 10s’ Tour has also encouraged those young

golfers with a handicap index greater than 40 to enjoy competitions and develop their confidence on the course.

An early signatory to the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, Kent has also prioritised SafeGolf accreditation among its clubs and facilities. By September 2021, all 82 clubs and two golf facilities in the county had achieved SafeGolf accreditation.

On behalf of Kent, chairman Peter Long accepted the award and promised to continue the county’s good work. He said: “We’re doing further launches of junior academies and will take our women and girls programme forward. We will invest in our clubs and we have issued grants to develop golf. All our efforts are going into grassroots golf.”

Cairns Cup unveils new headline sponsor for disability golf festival The Cairns Cup, a new Ryder Cupstyle team match play event between golfers with a disability from Europe and the USA, has received the backing from a headline sponsor.

Amazon Web Services, the world’s leading cloud computing service provider, has been unveiled as the title sponsor for The Cairns Cup, which is being held at The Shire London from May 11-13.

The tournament will be part of weeklong Disability Golf Festival, with a

Charity Am-Am event taking place on

May 9 and a Disability & Inclusivity Open Day on May 10.

The organisers of the event are aiming to raise awareness of disability golf and provide a platform to raise funds to

promote golf as a sport for all.

Each team will bring a squad of 16 players, although only 12 will play on any given day. Each team will have players with at least six different disabilities and

WHS handicaps ranging from scratch to 54, making the event truly inclusive and available to all golfers who have a disability.

The European team will contain disabled golfers from England, Wales, Germany, Holland and Portugal, the US team features players from North Carolina, Florida, Oregon, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Indiana.

Kevin Booth, Cairns Cup event organiser and European team captain said: “We couldn’t be happier to welcome AWS to The Cairns Cup family. Their commitment to disabilities is both inspiring and humbling. This is a perfect fit for the ethos of The Cairns Cup event and knowing we have a brand like AWS behind us, can only help raise the profile of the event, both now and in the future.”

For more information about The Cairns Cup or the Disability Golf Festival, contact Ian Mullins at Ian.mullins@ mc2marketing.co.uk or call 07961 198966.

[12] APRIL 2022 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Holland finds new home at Centurion Club Centurion Club in Hertfordshire has appointed Peter Holland as its new Director of Golf.

Holland, who is originally from Hertfordshire, has worked at a number of clubs overseas, including Monte Rei Club in Portugal, the Montgomerie and Butch Harmon School of Golf in Dubai, the Velaa Private Island in the Maldives, and most recently Agalarov Estate and Zavidovo PGA National clubs in the Russian Federation.

Holland said: “It’s great to be back in my home county and working at such a forward-thinking club. What has been achieved here in such a short time has been incredible and I’m really looking forward to

helping take the club even further in the years to come. We aim to give the members and their guests a superb level of service, so I will be looking to work with the golf ops team to see where we can enhance the golfers experience.”

With a busy summer of tournaments in the calendar, the staff at Centurion Club are preparing to host professional players from the men’s and ladies game when they host LIV Golf Invitational and the Aramco Team series in June. General Manager Michael Duffy added: “Peter joins us at a really exciting time and we are delighted to have someone with his level of experience and knowledge joining the team.”

Curtis Cup team announced for Merion matches Eight players have been selected for the Great Britain and Ireland team to take on the USA in the 42nd Curtis Cup at Merion, Pennsylvania from 10-12 June.

The GB&I team is made up of Hannah Darling, Louise Duncan, Annabell Fuller, Charlotte Heath, Caley McGinty, Emily Price, Lauren Walsh and Amelia Williamson. The non-travelling reserves are Farham’s Lottie Woad and Beth Coulter from Ireland.

World no.10 Darling and world no.11 McGinty earned their places in the team as automatic selections thanks to being the top-two GB&I players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as on April 21.

Six players return to the GB&I team which lost 12.5-7.5 to the US in Wales last year, despite leading after all of the opening three sessions. They will look to build on that form when they head across the Atlantic to be joined by debutantes Price and Williamson.

Elaine Ratcliffe, GB&I Captain, said: “I am delighted to have six of the girls from last year back in the team for the 2022 match and I believe this gives us a strong base to build upon. The two new players to ■ LOUISE DUNCAN AND HANNAH DARLING the team will strengthen that talent base and we WILL BE BIDDING TO GET THEIR REVENGE FOLLOWING GB&I'S DEFEAT IN WALES LAST YEAR very much look forward to an exciting match.”

St Andrews set to break attendance records for 150th Open celebrations This summer’s 150th Open at St Andrews is set to be the largest in the championship’s history with a record-breaking 290,000 fans due to pack into the Old Course from 10-17 July.

Unprecedented demand to attend this historic milestone for The Open led to more than 1.3 million applications in the ticket ballot and has resulted in the highest-ever number of general admission tickets being issued to fans.

The attendance surpasses the previous record set at St Andrews in 2000, when 239,000 spectators watched Tiger Woods lift the Claret Jug for the first time. Woods has already committed to playing in this year’s championship, having made a welcome return to competitive golf at last month’s Masters.

A record 20% of general admission tickets have been allocated to fans under the age of 25, including over 20,000 children aged under 16 who will be attending free of charge thanks to the ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative.

A record 80,000 spectators are due to attend the four practice days, exceeding the total of 61,000

Cort and Mansell share spoils at Trevose PGA Professionals Matt Cort and Ashley Mansell had to settle for a share of the spoils in the PGA South West Cornish Festival after experiencing contrasting fortunes on the closing holes at Trevose.

Cort, a member of GB & Ireland’s victorious 2017 PGA Cup team, had begun the last of the festival’s three rounds co-leading the 114-strong field with Ben Amor on nine-under, two shots clear of Mansell. That advantage had increased to four after Mansell dropped a shot on the outward half and Cort birdied the par-five 10th.

The pair traded birdies on the par-three 11th to maintain the four-shot difference, but a brace of

■ MATT CORT AND ASHLEY

MANSELL

bogeys for Cort and pair of birdies for Mansell thereafter resulted in them posting nine-under par totals of 204.

Reflecting on the change in fortunes over the final few holes, Mansell said: “I played pretty solid today, but after hearing Matt was two-under after 11 holes I thought second place was the best I could do. So yes, it was a big change of events which I didn’t expect. I finished second in this event a few years back so it’s good to go one better.”

Sussex appoints new county secretary Sussex County Golf has announced the appointment of Emma Whitlock as its new County Secretary. Her appointment follows the retirement of Anup Vasant who served as Sussex’s County Secretary for 16 years.

Emma has been Assistant County Secretary for the last two years and is well known and respected across the county, within England Golf’s South-East Group and nationally.

She brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in many areas of the golf industry over the last 16 years, including a marketing role at the Dyke Golf Club, a two-year spell as Hertfordshire County Golf Development Officer and, most recently, as Head of Retail at The Nevill. Chris Spencer has taken on the new role of Operations Manager and Assistant Secretary.

Emma said: “I am looking forward to visiting clubs to introduce ourselves, to discuss the work of the county and how we can better support clubs and their members.”

Boyce Hill hits tree-mendous milestone Boyce Hill Golf Club in Essex is celebrating reaching its centenary this month by planting 100 trees.

The Benfleet-based club, which was founded in May 1922, will be hosting the Essex Amateur Championships this summer as part of its centenary celebrations, while a week-long schedule of events, including a variety of open competitions, is taking place from July 25-30, culminating in a gala ball.

Scott Clark, general manager at Boyce Hill, said: “Reaching the centenary is a massive landmark for the club. After the tough two years that everyone has endured, it is nice to see the club come out the other end with a big year to celebrate with. It’s great that have been given the opportunity to host the Amateur Championship’s this summer, and we will be staging lots of other tournaments for member and guests to mark the milestone. The

■ SCOTT CLARK, GENERA L MANAGER, GRAHAM BURROUGHS, HEA D PGA PROFES SIONAL , AND ANDY HARDING, COURSE MANAG ER

aim is now another 100 years, without a doubt.”

To further mark the occasion, course manager Andy Harding and his team of greenkeepers will be planting 100 trees.

The club initially opened as a ninehole course, before being redesigned by five-time Open Champion James Braid to transform it into an 18-hole course.

The club’s head PGA professional, Graham Burroughs, has been at the club for more than 40 years, making him one of the long-serving head pros in the country.

NEWS | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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[14] APRIL 2022 | INTERVIEW AUTUMN 2018 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

about two hours sleep that night.

You didn’t win on tour again after your success at the PGA. How do you look back at your career? Is it with a degree of satisfaction or do you have regrets?

I don’t have any regrets. From where I was in 1998, working at El Paso Country Club, making $13,000 a year as a club pro, to being a major champion four years later. Come on, who does that? Sure, I wish I could have done better after winning the PGA Championship, but if somebody told me 25 years ago that I would win the PGA and now be commentating for Sky Sports, I would have said ‘I’m in’. It was just a phenomenal career and I loved every minute of it, for the most part. I’m very fortunate to have had all the successes that I did.

BEEM ME UP! Twenty years after his stunning victory at the 2002 PGA Championship, 51-year-old Rich Beem relives those four career-changing days at Hazeltine National and reveals what was going through his mind as Tiger mounted one of his famous Sunday charges Interview by Jack Martin

L

et’s scroll back two decades, to the moment you arrived at the 2002 PGA Championship. You’d won a PGA Tour event, The International, just two weeks earlier, and had a couple of other top-five finishes already that season, so you were hardly a no-hoper – ranked 73 in the world – but what were your expectations for that week at Hazeltine?

I had absolutely zero expectations, given that it was only my fourth ever major, but my form coming into that tournament was extraordinary. It was probably the best it had been during my entire career. I was hitting the ball extremely well, driving it long and straight, and my putting, which had kind of been my Achilles Heel throughout my career up to that point, had finally come good and I was feeling pretty confident about my game.

I had switched to a new putter, a STX Sync Tour, at the beginning of the season and it seemed to transform my putting. It had a centre shaft with a big, bulbous weight behind it. It wasn’t pretty to look at, but it did wonders for my putting stats.

I also felt that I knew the golf course at Hazeltine as well as anybody, but when you go to a major, they’re different animals. I just tried to play free and loose.

What do you recall of the early rounds?

I started out with a level-par 72, so was already four shots off the pace after the first round, but certainly not out of it. A second round 66 took me into a five-way share of the lead with Calc [Mark Calcavecchia], Fred Funk, Retief Goosen and Justin Leonard. Tiger was two shots further back.

I shot another 72 on Saturday, and I remember making a 12-foot birdie putt at the last hole which put me into the final group with Justin Leonard, otherwise Tiger and Fred Funk would have been going out last with Justin. Heading into Sunday I felt really comfortable in my own skin and with my golf game.

At what point did you think you could win? And what was it like seeing Tiger charge up the leaderboard?

I’ve told this story many times, but I literally didn’t pay any attention to what Tiger was doing, or what anyone else was doing.

I was playing so well, and so focused on what I was doing, that I was literally oblivious to what was going on around me. I couldn’t control what they were doing and they couldn’t control what I was doing, so it seemed like a waste of mental energy to think about those things.

All I knew was that I was leading by one after nine, having been three behind Justin at the start. I didn’t see another leaderboard until 13, when I saw I had a six-shot lead with five to go. And I was like, ‘Wow, I really have a chance to win this thing’.

Of course, I heard the cheers around the course, and, at first, I thought they were for Fred [Funk], as he had some story going

that week, but I soon realised that they for Tiger, but I just tried to staye calm and go about my business.

I remember after making birdie at 13, the walk from the green to the 14th tee was about 50 yards, but it felt like about 150, as all these thoughts started entering my head. I thought the only way I was going to lose this was if I screwed something up, so I kind of gave myself a talking to and just got on with it. I holed a 40-foot putt for birdie on 16, and standing on the tee at 17, I still had a two-stroke lead, and it was all still in my own hands. I pared the par-three 17th and had that two-shot cushion going down the last.

The great thing was that I had a world-class caddie on my bag, Steve Duplantis, – who is sadly no longer with us – and he knew what I was like when I was under extreme pressure. I remember when we got to the 18th tee he pulled out the driver and said to me ‘Hit this thing as hard as you can’. I got up there and swung it as hard as I could and it just sailed straight down the middle and was one of the longest drives I hit that week. I didn’t miss a single fairway in the final round and Steve knew that the harder I hit it that driver the straighter it went. I found the green with my second shot had the luxury of being able to three-putt for a bogey and the win.

I really went into that final round thinking that I had nothing to lose, so it really helped free me up to play my own game.

Did Tiger say anything to you after you won?

He congratulated me outside the scorer’s hut. He had a big smile on his face and it felt genuine. But I know he would have been disappointed. If nothing else, he faked it very well. He still gives me a bit of grief about the win. That’s fine, he can give me grief for the rest of my life because it means I’ve done something good!

Did the win mean more to you knowing that you had beaten Tiger when he was at the height of his powers?

No, not personally. But I remember three weeks later I went to the German Masters and Seve Ballesteros came up to me in the hotel saying ‘You, you beat Tiger. You showed the world he can be beat.’ It was a badge of honour to me that Seve thought I beat the best player in the world. I still have the photo of him with me and my wife.

The guy was a stud.

What did you do that night to celebrate?

We hopped on a plane to Seattle. We stayed up until about 4am giggling and laughing. You just don’t want the night to end so that you can soak up everything. I only got

Do you enjoy competing on the Champions Tour?

I do, but I wish I could get out there more often, as I’ve got a competitive edge to satisfy, but my work schedule with Sky prevents me from playing more. It’s tough competing against guys who are practicing day in and day out, and playing most weeks, but it’s still a lot of fun.

Has being a TV analyst helped you in anyway as a senior player?

Absolutely. I’ve got a front row seat to what guys like Rory [McIlroy] and see how they chip, putt and drive, so you’re always learning. I remember watching Jason Day for Sky Sports back in 2015. He was making mistakes and I thought, ‘If the world No.1 is making mistakes and is handling it, why aren’t I doing that when I’m on the course? Accepting mistakes.’ We’re always learning in this game.

At 51 years young, you’re obviously still young enough to know a lot of the guys still competing on the main tours. Do you think it’s harder to be objective as a commentator when you still have relationships with players?

I think it helps if you have relationships with the guys on the driving range. You do need to be friends with them to a point because you can’t judge everything that you see just by how they’re hitting the golf ball, how they’re swinging, this and that.

You have no idea whether a player’s mother or child is sick. You need to understand what is going on in these players’ worlds, because what happens inside the ropes for a player is partially golf-related, and partly what’s going on in their life. We are not robots. If somebody in your family is not doing well, or if anything off-course is going on, it’s going to affect you inside the ropes and there is no getting away from it. This is the real world. This is how it all happens.

The game seems to be in good hands with current group of top young players. Would you have been able to compete in this era?

I wouldn’t. These guys are so big and strong. They are fearless.

It’s not just the length they hit it, but they just turn it on so often.

Their mentality is so strong.

Which player are you most impressed with?

Jon Rahm. The shots he has in his locker, and how he manages his game, is so impressive. He has all tools to be competing for the big titles for a very long time.

How important is that the best players have a global schedule?

You want to have the best players in the world to support one tour. There’s a lot of Americans who don’t want to leave their country, and that’s fine, but I think if you’re to become a better allround player you need to compete all over the world. The slight merging that has taken place between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour is great for the game. Having a bigger Scottish Open, with a more international field, for instance, is good for golf.

You played alongside your son, Michael, at the PNC Championship – a tournament formerly known as the Father/Son Challenge – last December. What was that like?

It was tremendous. An amazing experience. I’ll always have the memories of that week. It was is cool to play alongside your son in a real tournament.

Michael is still learning how to play the game. He’s figured out the shots to play. Just playing some college golf would be a good experience for him.

COMPETITION | APRIL 2022

[15]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITION

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Just minutes from the hotel is The Sherborne Golf Club, a picturesque, par-72, 18-hole, 6,400 yard course taht was originally designed by James Braid. It’s position on a Dorset n QUESTION hilltop makes it a peaceful course with stunning views WHO DESIGNED over Somerset and the Blackmore Vale, and an enjoyable SHERBORNE GC'S COURSE? challenge for all golfers, so even if you’re not successful in A) JACK NICKLAUS this competition, it's worth checking out one of the many B) JAMES BRAID Open golf events the club hosts over the summer.

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[16] APRIL 2022 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

A SOFT GRIP FOR A HARD GAME

STORY BEHIND THE PIC JAMES BRAID • HENLEY GOLF CLUB, OXFORDSHIRE, 16TH MAY 1908

J

ames Braid must have been a busy man. In the days before helicopters and executive jets, the five-time Open Champion must have possessed the powers of dematerialisation in order to travel the length and breadth of the county not only playing golf, but also having a hand in the design, construction and re-development of close to 300 golf courses during his life.

The fact that he lived until the impressive age of 80 – he died in London in 1950 – helped his cause somewhat, but it still almost defies belief that he was able to play such a pivotal role in the development of modern golf course design before the days of motorways, let alone the wonders of the internet age.

The clubs that are fortunate to bare the hallmarks of Braid’s work formed an association in 2009 - The Association of James Braid Courses – which now boasts over 300 members, with clubs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and all corners of England, and even one in New York. The membership includes many of Braid’s famous designs – St Enodoc, Brora, Dalmahoy, Gleneagles, Littlestone, as well as many of his ‘hidden gems’, village courses like Ilkley, Lundin Ladies, Goswick, Broadway, Peel and Stover, to name but a few. Members of all the clubs in the Association enjoy preferential green fees at these courses by booking in advance, and many take advantage of this great offer.

In addition to his life as an architect, Braid was also a club pro – although I doubt he was around much to give lessons – enjoying eight years at Romford Golf Club and from 1904 till his death in 1950 at Walton Heath in Surrey. And besides bagging just the five Claret Jugs, and numerous other tournament victories, he also helped form the Professional Golfers’ Association, and is credited with inventing the ‘dogleg’ hole. Not a bad life’s work by anyone’s standards.

Braid was often called upon to officially unveil the courses he worked on, and here we see the great man

IT ALMOST DEFIES BELIEF THAT BRAID WAS ABLE TO PLAY SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN GOLF COURSE DESIGN BEFORE THE DAYS OF MOTORWAYS AND THE INTERNET

in action at the opening match at Henley in 1908. Mr D Stephenson, the then Professional at Prince’s Golf Club prepared the original plans for Henley, but Braid is credited with its design, as yardages of the course that opened bore no resemblance to the originals. Braid was paid the handsome sum of £15 6s 6d for his efforts. The match to celebrate the opening of the course took place on May 16, 1908 between Braid and Rowland Jones, who was a late replacement for Harry Vardon – who reportedly cried off with the flu – and refereed by Harold Hilton, twice Open Champion as an amateur.

Records show that Braid scored a 77 in the morning round and 74 in the afternoon to win the match, with

both rounds taking just two hours to play.

Over the years the course at Henley has changed somewhat, due to technology and health & safety reasons, but Braid’s legacy very much lives on, with all subsequent course renovations carried out in the trademark Braid style.

It is somewhat apposite that one of Henley’s members, Michael Herriot, should run The Association of James Braid Courses, and together with the other 300 clubs, and the good work of the James Braid Golfing Society, is playing an important role in ensuring that the skills of this most multi-talented of men should be cherished for years to come.

[18] APRIL 2022 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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Following a long line of talented South African golfers to make it on to the world stage, Erik Van Rooyen is making a big impression wherever he plays – and not just because of his fancy fashion sense or his fascinating face furniture

S

outh Africa has unquestionably punched above its weight when it comes to producing world-class golfers over the last 50 years. With one foot in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, its place on the map has created globe-trotting stars, with Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen being the biggest of them all.

Throw in the likes of major champions Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Trevor Immelman, and you have a pretty impressive roll call of players who have brought golfing glory on a nation that prides itself on sporting achievement.

With the latter grouping passing the peak of their powers, a new generation of South Africans was required to keep South Africa’s golfing flag flying. And flying it they are. Branden Grace, George Coetzee, Brandon Stone, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Haydn Porteous, Thomas Aitken, Darren Fichardt, Zander Lombard and Dylan Frittelli are just a few of the players currently doing very well for themselves on various tours around the world. And you can, of course, add Erik Van Rooyen’s name to that lengthy list.

Currently on the cusp of the world’s top 50 – having been as high as 40 just 18 months ago – Van Rooyen’s route to the top echelons of the game started off relatively slowly, before moving into the meteoric.

Beginning his golfing journey as a seven-yearold chipping golf balls around his grandparents’ home in Cape Town, he followed that with a stint caddying for his father at Pretoria Country Club. And it was only in 2009, aged 21, that he first left South Africa to pursue his dream of studying in the US. With three offers on the table for golf scholarships, he eventually chose the University of Minnesota to pursue his golfing and academic career.

After enjoying four years as a ‘Gopher Golfer’ he graduated with honours in 2012 and turned professional the following year. Returning to South Africa, he ducked around on the Sunshine Tour for several seasons, before making his first foray into Europe on the Challenge Tour in 2017, where he won the Hainan Open in China and went on to finish third in the order of merit and earn his European Tour card for the 2018-2019 season.

After finishing runner-up in the Joburg Open that same year – which earned him a place in his first Open Championship – he went on to bag four further top-10s in 2018 en route to finishing 38th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

With that experience under the belt of his trademark trousers, Van Rooyen was fast out of the blocks in 2019, securing runner-up finishes in Qatar and Morocco before he achieved his first European Tour win at the Made in Denmark tournament in August. Needing to sink a 12-foot birdie putt to win the title, he did so with the calmness of a seasoned pro, and the shackles were finally off. Tenth place in the 2019 money list was fair reward for his impressive efforts and gave notice that the world had another latedeveloping South African talent on its hands.

That notice was given wider stage when he took third place in the WGC-Mexico Championship in March 2020 – his first taste of WGC golf – where he celebrated his 30th birthday by shooting a course record 62 during the second round en route to bagging his biggest ever pay day – $555,144. His improved ranking earned him a place at the Masters and the Players Championship, both of which were postponed or cancelled as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic finally hit the sporting world, leaving Van Rooyen all dressed up but nowhere to go.

■ ERIK VAN ROOYEN PLAYS GOLF WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE - AS WELL AS AN UNMISSABLE MOUSTACHE

Fast forward to June, and Van Rooyen, like all players, was itching to get back into competition, so after sitting at home with is wife in his home in Florida for two months practising his beloved electric guitar, he made the decision to head back out onto the PGA Tour.

“It was a very strange to have to put my clubs away in March, just after the result in Mexico, and just as I was sort of playing the best golf of my life with all these big tournaments ahead of me,” he says. “The course where I’m a member in Florida was closed for five or six weeks, and all the other courses around me were only allowing members to use the facilities, so there wasn’t much I could do golf-wise. I sort of treated the

WHAT’S IN ERIK’S BAG? DRIVER: CALLAWAY ROGUE ST MAX LS, 10.5° FAIRWAY WOODS: CALLAWAY ROGUE ST LS 3 (16.5°), CALLAWAY MAVRIK SUB ZERO 7-WOOD UTILITY IRON: CALLAWAY X FORGED UT (18°, 21°) IRONS: CALLAWAY APEX TCB (4), CALLAWAY APEX MB (5-PW) WEDGES: CALLAWAY JAWS MD5 (50°, 54°, 58°) PUTTER: ODYSSEY TOULON SAN DIEGO BALL: TITLEIST PRO V1

■ ERIK VAN ROOYEN WITH HIS WIFE AND NEW-BORN DAUGHTER AT THE PAR-3 COMPETITION AT LAST MONTH’S MASTERS AT AUGUSTA

THE LOOK ON MY DAD'S FACE WHEN HE ARRIVED AT AUGUSTA WAS PRICELESS one of those cuts came at last month’s Masters, time as a second off-season, something we don’t where rounds of 73 and 79 saw him miss the cut normally get to do, and I enjoyed the time at by six shots. He came off the course on Friday home, spending time with my wife, getting fit particularly deflated after dropping five shots in and generally making sure I was in shape for the last five holes, taking a double bogey at 15, when golf was able to return.” where his wedge approach spun back into the Having lost a bit of the momentum that he water. built up at the start of 2020, Van Rooyen’s results The conditions were tough for the opening were not surprisingly patchy when tournament rounds, with the wind changing direction all golf was able to restart in June, with five missed the time, and the greens speeding up. Given cuts in his first ten tournaments back, while a that it was only my second look at the course, long-awaited debut in the rescheduled Masters after withdrawing in 2020, it probably wasn’t in November didn’t go exactly to plan when he surprising, but it was disappointing, especially had to retire after theWhat’s first round with an injury.Included...

What’s Included... as my family had flown over from South Africa Moving into the 2021 season, Erik continued to watch me play. Still, they had a blast. The look to press for PGA Tour success, and it eventually on my dad’s face when he saw Augusta for the came at the most unlikely of times, when he first time was priceless, so at least that was a arrived at the Barracuda Championship in positive.”

August on the back of having missed the cut in Did he seek out a few tips off his Florida six of his previous eight events. neighbour Ernie Els ahead of his appearance at The tournament, held at Tahoe Mountain Club Augusta? “Ernie has been a friend and a mentor in California, featured a modified Stableford to a lot of the younger generation of South scoring system, which rewarded aggressive play Africans coming through, me included, and if I with five points awarded for eagles and two have any questions or need any advice, I know for birdies. This suited Erik down to the ground he’s always been happy to answer them. In and he racked up 50 points for 72 holes, firing a fact, down here in Florida, where I’m based, I’m 16-point final round, including an eagle and six surrounded by lots of players from back home birdies, to finish five points ahead of America’s – Louis, Charl, Brandon [Grace] all live nearby, Andrew Puttnam to secure his first PGA title. as do players like Shane Lowry, so I’ve got lots “Winning the Barracuda was a massive step of people to lean on for advice – it’s just a great forward for me,” says Van Rooyen, whose wife environment for golf generally.” had given birth that their first child, Valerie, While a lot of the chat around Van Rooyen just a month earlier. “It had been a difficult 18 in recent seasons has been about his dashing months for me golf-wise, and I hadn’t been trouser trends, we can’t let the opportunity playing well. There had been glimpses, but slip to discuss the most prominent fashion I hadn’t been able to put four good rounds feature he has been sporting of late, namely together. So, to win there that week, under the the fantastic moustache that he has been pressure that I was under, gave me so much wearing with aplomb since he rocked up at the confidence to take forward. After winning in Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January.

South Africa and on the European Tour, winning “My wife hates it, so it definitely has a shelf on the PGA Tour was always the next goal, so to life, but I’m keeping it for the time being,” have achieved that was dream come true.” he says of the expertly coiffured top lip Victory also ensured that Van Rooyen furniture that gives him the vibe of a World squeezed into the end-of-season FedEx Cup Play War II fighter pilot. “It’s not something I really Offs, where he took he new-found confidence to planned, but it’s a bit of fun. My grandfather new heights. A 37th place finish in the Wyndham had a moustache his whole life. I used to do it Championship, qualified him for the Northern for Christmas, and this one has kind of stuck Trust, where he finished fifth, and then onto the around for a little while. It has a bit of a life BMW Championship, where he placed seventh, of its own, so I have to wax it to keep it under and a finally a birth in the rarefied atmosphere control when it’s windy. People seem to like it, of the Tour Championship, where he finished so we’ll see how long it stays.”

16th to cap off a remarkable turnaround in his Moustache or no moustache, there’s no season’s fortunes. mistaking Van Rooyen’s ambition and the talented This season has seen some longed-for 32-year-old South African looks sure to carry on consistency come to his game, with just three turning heads wherever he plays his golf. missed cuts from 14 appearances. Unfortunately,

7 NIGHT 7 THE NIGHT HOLIDAY HOLIDAY AT AT THE THE 7 NIGHT NIGHT HOLIDA HOLIDAY YA AT T7 THE 5* 5* RESORT BEACH 5* KORINEUM KORINEUM BEACH RESORT RESORT 5* KORINEUM KORINEUM BEACH BEACH RESORT What’s Included...

What’s Included...

[20] APRIL 2022 | NEWS 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

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ITALIAN JOB

After playing in five Ryder Cups and serving his apprenticeship as vice-captain in 2021, the time has finally come for Henrik Stenson, Sweden’s finest golfing export, to take on the captain’s mantle in Italy for 2023. But what kind of captain will he be?

And what will he have to do to turn around Europe’s fortunes following the whipping at Whistling Straits?

Let’s ask the man himself….

INTERVIEW | APRIL 2022

[23]

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H

ow proud are you to become the first Swede to captain the Ryder Cup team, and what does it personally mean to you to be awarded the role?

I was very humbled and proud to be given the captaincy.

It didn’t take long to accept the offer, but it took a while for the enormity of the role to sink in. I’m super excited for the journey that lies ahead, but no that it won’t be easy.

Sweden has a long history in the Ryder Cup, certainly from a playing point of view, with nine players having represented Europe over the years, so I feel like this is one for them too.

How excited are you to be breaking new ground in captaining the team in Italy, the first time the country has ever hosted the matches? What are your thoughts on the host venue, Marco Simone?

I think it’s clearly got the potential to be the best Ryder Cup ever. The city of Rome has so much to offer. I think we can make it really, really special. The European fans will travel in from near and far as we know; add to that the very passionate Italian fans, and I think we’ve got a very strong mix. It’s 18 months until the matches, so we have a lot of ground to cover before we get to that point.

The Italian Open was held at Marco Simone last year and will do so again this year and next. Will you be encouraging potential Ryder Cup players to take up those opportunities to get to know the course in a competitive setting?

Of course, I will be encouraging the players to familiarise themselves with the golf course, but we have players that are very spread out geographically. They have their own schedules. I can encourage them to come and play the Italian Open, but they are old enough to figure out the best way to prepare for an event like this. We’ve got the chance to assemble the team or to come to play the golf course at other times, as well. There will be a variety of opportunities, so it won’t be just a case of playing in that tournament.

Coming off a record defeat at Whistling Straits, there are fears that America might be entering a period of domination in the matches. What are thoughts on the balance of power the currently exists between American and European players?

Americans have always dominated the world rankings, yet Europe has still managed to win Ryder Cups both in Europe and in America, so I’m not concerned about the result in Whistling Straits. There are always fine margins in these matches, whatever the final score may say, and I don’t feel like last year’s score was fully representative of how the two teams played. But I know my players are going to be up for a challenge in Rome. We saw a very strong American team at Whistling Straits, but we also saw that coming into Paris, and we still won that. So, we’re going to spend these next 540-plus days preparing the best we can, and we are going to be ready for that challenge in Rome in September next year.

What was your analysis of what happened at Whistling Straits? What do you think was the reason for such a lopsided result?

If you look at the raw stats, we simply got outplayed by the American team tee to green. They drove the ball better than us, putted better than us and won key holes at key moments. There’s no shame in that – it happens to all of us at some time in our careers. We’ve did a big debrief with players, caddies and everyone after the matches, and we learned a lot from that and I think that will help us going forward for sure. I’m going to get the strongest team possible assembled and we’ll be ready for the competition next September.

You’ve played under five different captains during your career and also worked alongside Padraig Harrington as a vice-captain last year. What have you learned from each of them and what sort of captain do you think you’ll be?

First and foremost, it’s my captaincy and I’ll hope to put my own twist on it, if you like, but yes, of course, the experience I had playing under five captains and working with Pádraig at Whistling Straits has rubbed off on me and I will take bits and pieces from all them with me. They have all had different personalities and had different ideas,

■ MAN OF THE PEOPLE: STENSON HAS BUILT UP A LOYAL FOLLOWING OF FANS DURING HIS FIVE APPEARANCES AS A RYDER CUP PLAYER

we played over the years, I think it will be a fairly even contest. I know he got the better of me and Pádraig in a foursomes match at The K Club in 2006, and then I think I got him back somewhere. I played against him in the World Match Play back in the day, and we’ve played a lot together and against each other over the years. He’s a fierce competitor and he’s had a great career and been a big force in world golf for decades. I fully respect him as a player and a person and I’m sure we’ll get on fine.

I WANT TO BE A PLAYERS' CAPTAIN AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT GREAT BOND THAT HAS EXISTED IN THE EUROPEAN TEAM FOR SO MANY YEARS and that’s the great thing with that experience; that I can cherry pick the bits that I want and use that in combination with what I want to do and how I want to shape my captaincy. So I’m sure it’s going to be a collaboration of a lot of collective experiences as well as my own.

Above all, I want to be a players’ captain. I want to work closely with the players, and to continue to develop that great bond that has existed within the European team room and among the players for so many years. Given that I’m very much an active player, and competing at the highest level, I will have the opportunity to meet up with both the experienced players and also the young and upcoming players in the Europe. The players are the most important thing. I’m there for the players. They can call me at any time and I will make sure I’m in regular contact with them as well throughout this journey.

Your rival captain, Zach Johnson, has already shown a large part of his hand by naming at least one of his vice captains. We know he’s going to have six picks. Have you had the opportunity to think about such things yet?

I think we operate a slightly different timeline to the US team when it comes to the Ryder Cup. They started the qualification process at Sawgrass. Ours will start later. So, we’ve got time to decide these things exactly how the qualification is going to look and how many wildcards we’ll have and so on. Zach needed to be slightly quicker out of the block due to their timeline and same goes for the vice captains. I will have time to assemble my team, and I can assure you, I will let you know in due course.

What’s your relationship with Zach like?

I think if you want to dig into Ryder Cup matches and how

There seems to be a perception there will be a changing of the guard in 2023 from the Caseys, Westwoods, Poulters, to the new blood coming through. Do you see it that way?

Yeah, it may well turn out that way, time will tell. There was always going to be shift to the next generation at some point, and it may well happen this time around.

If you look at the average ages of the teams at Whistling Straits, ours was 35 and the US was 26, so we certainly had the older, more experienced team last time.

I can also see that a few hungry veterans will want to keep their jerseys. I know from my own experience that when you play in a Ryder Cup, you don’t want to hand that jersey to someone else. You are going to fight dearly to keep it another time. And that’s exciting for me as a captain to follow all these players and how they are going to want to qualify and how hard they will work to make sure they are.

But we have got the experience, the players who have played a lot of Ryder Cups, and we also have the new talent on the DP World Tour that are up-and-coming and have shown some great signs and want to continue to do that. And I’m sure they will be hungry to get one of the spots on this team to get there in Rome and then we have some Europeans who are mainly playing on the PGA Tour.

Some of them, I don’t know that well, but I will have the opportunity to get to know them and play with them and see where they kind of fit in in all of this over the next few months and beyond. These are exciting times, and the door is open for anyone with a European passport.

Can you single out one of your favourite memories of the Ryder Cup and why it means so much to you?

It’s hard to explain the feeling in a team room with the guys. We are all getting together to play for our countries, for the continent, for the fans and each other. The bonds you create, the atmosphere on the first tee, on the 18th green, when a match is coming up the final hole. It’s just a sporting event like no other, and that’s what makes it so interesting for golf fans, and those who only ever tune into golf for the Ryder Cup. Standing there when Darren Clarke finished his match at The K Club and the raw emotion that goes with victories, with losses, happiness and disappointment and other circumstances – I’ve got some of my greatest memories and some of my strongest connections with other players, or certainly from the Ryder Cup. They are experiences that will stay with you forever.

[24] MARCH 2022 | INTERVIEW AUTUMN 2018 | NEWS

M A S T E R

&

C O M M A N D E R Scottie Scheffler dominated this year's Masters in the same manner that Tiger Woods did in his heyday.

Here’s how he says did it….

H

ow does it feel to have won the Masters, your first major title, just two weeks after reaching no.1 in the world?

It feels pretty good and I’m just really thankful to be in this position. Obviously, I had dreamed of winning the Masters since I was a kid, every golfer has, and I imagined what it might feel like to walk up 18 with a big lead, but for that to play out the way that it did was beyond my expectations.

I didn’t break my concentration until we got on to the green on 18. Once we got there, I was like, all right, I’m going to enjoy this, and have some fun with it. The four-putt was a little embarrassing though, but it kind of broke the tension.

It looked like you had some sort of pre-planned strategy for managing your way around the golf course…

We did. My caddie, Ted, and I knew exactly where I wanted to put the ball and if I was to miss it, which side of the golf course I could be on to where I could still get it up-and-down. We just did a good job of keeping myself in positions where we could still manage to reach the green when I wasn’t swinging my best.

Ted knows the golf course so well, and I trusted him every step of the way. I had a lot of nice up-and-downs, so if I was to pick one part of my game that excelled the most, I would say it was probably my lob wedge.

Talking of wedge play, how pivotal was the chip-in at the third hole during the final round?

The most important thing for me there was getting that ball up-and-down, but to have it go in was obviously off the charts, but my main goal was just to get down in two, so see it go in was something special. Parring 4 and 5 was huge as well. After

that I kind of just started cruising. I felt comfortable with most of the aspects of my game and I felt like I wasn’t ever going to make a bogey.

Did you keep your eye on the leaderboards all day?

For the most part I didn’t look at leaderboards. I did see at one point that Rory [McIlroy] posted 7-under, and then Cam [Smith] and I were kind of getting a little tight there after he birdied 11. I made a huge par putt there. After that he made the mistake on 12, and I had a nice up-and-down, and after that I just played some good golf coming in.

I just kept my head down, kept pushing and trying to hit good shots and stay aggressive. The minute you take your foot off the gas at Augusta, and play overly conservatively, bogeys can just start racking up. You have to play conservatively aggressive and hit good shots. You can’t just limp your way in.

I knew that on the back nine and all I was trying to do was just hit good shots.

Eight weeks ago, you had our first PGA Tour victory. You now have four wins in your last six starts. Could you ever imagine back then how this was all going to play out? And other than due to the fact you played great golf, did you ever see this coming? What do you put it down to?

I would say ‘no’ to both of those! I’ve never been a guy that likes to look too far into the future. So, for me, just staying present

has always been what works best.

The Masters brings lots of life-changing things, but how excited are you about being able to go back to Augusta year after year?

That’s the coolest part about this whole deal. It is such a fun golf course. Augusta National is about as cool as it gets. I just can’t believe that I can come back and enjoy it for the rest of my life.

A lot of top players, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, have talked about the influence that Tiger Woods has had on their game. What kind of influence has Tiger had on you?

Huge. I played Tiger’s irons, wore his shoes and wore his shirt this week. Tiger has done so much for the game of golf. and I, and all my fellow pros, are so glad to have him back out here.

He is the needle for the game of golf. He has completely changed the PGA Tour since he came out on tour 25 year or so ago. And his YouTube clips are such an inspiration for me. I remember watching the highlights of him winning in ‘97, kind of running away with it, and he never really broke his concentration. That’s something that I reminded myself of today. I tried not to look up.

I tried to keep my head down and just keep doing what I was doing, because I didn’t want to break my concentration. The only time I did was on the 18th green and I had a five-shot lead and was like, all right, now I can enjoy this. And you saw the results of that. Thank you, Tiger.

APRIL 2022 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT

DREAM GREEN MACHINES FIND YOUR PERFECT ODYSSEY PUTTER LOOKING AFTER NO.1 Stats & facts behind Odyssey’s domination on Tour

BLADES OF GLORY The best new irons in 2022

PRO SHOP All the latest launches

THE GEAR EFFECT Winning equipment on the global tours

[26] APRIL 2022 | EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

O D Y S S E Y THE PEOPLE’S PUTTER With four unique and distinct putter ranges, Odyssey has a flatstick to suit every type of golfer and every type of putting style. Golf News equipment editor Dan Owen dives into the differences between their design and performance attributes and picks out some of his favourite models

ODYSSEY TRI-HOT 5K The Tri-Hot 5K was created with the intention to produce a blade shape as preferred by many tour players that could outperform a high-MOI mallet putter for forgiveness. Odyssey has moved the centre of gravity positioning forward and used stainless steel, tungsten and aircraft-grade aluminium to create the performance it was searching for. With an inertia level exceeding 5000 IZZ for incredible forgiveness, the centre of gravity is moved closer to the face to improve speed control and consistency, as well as consistency of spin.

RED STROKE LAB SHAFT

The steel portion is shorter than the original, saving seven grams compared original Stroke Lab shaft. It’s been made stiffer and more stable for added consistency.

STAINLESS STEEL FRONT

The front portion of the putter and the neck are milled from 303 stainless steel.

This places a large potion of the weight at the front of the putter head which keeps the centre of gravity forward. This helps with dispersion and results in more holed putts when hit less than perfectly.

WHITE HOT INSERT

The original insert is back, with the same formulation as the original at the request of Odyssey tour players. Also, the fact it is lighter than the steel surrounding it adds even more heel and toe weighting to the putter.

TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING

Over 120g of tungsten is placed in the heel and toe of the face. That’s close to a third of the total weight of the putter.

Not only does it keep the centre of gravity forward. which helps improve roll, but it also increases inertia to over 5000IZZ. This is more akin to an oversized non-traditional putter shape.

ALUMINIUM FLANGE

The lightweight flange gives the putter its shape without adding excess weight.

ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING

Fine tunes the feel of the putter with aluminium, steel and tungsten weights.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022 EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022

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ODYSSEY ELEVEN

TOULON DESIGN 2022

The Odyssey Eleven range features a mallet putter that performs more like a blade.

The mallet head shape adds forgiveness and alignment, but with a more forward centre of gravity to get the control benefits of tighter dispersion found in bladed putters.

Traditional mallets often have their weight at the back of the head, which improves MOI, but makes them harder to square at impact and putts can be missed to the right. By moving the centre of gravity forward it can help square the clubface, which in turn should help you hole more putts.

Toulon Design putters have become popular very quickly, with over 38 tour wins already around the world. Providing a more traditional feel than the Odyssey insert, they are produced to the highest standard and milled from the finest materials.

MIDNIGHT BLACK FINISH

Deep as the night, this super premium finish is a cut above similar milled putters. The contrast is great behind the ball for extra help with alignment.

BLACK EMERALD STROKE LAB SHAFT

The steel portion of the shaft is shorter than the original Stroke Lab shaft, saving 7g. It has also been made stiffer and more stable for added consistency.

REFINED HEAD SHAPE

A refinement of the Ten, the putter head is designed to frame the ball at address and ensure alignment is spot on.

FORWARD CENTRE OF GRAVITY

The heavy steal front helps move the centre of gravity a quarter-of-an-inch forward compared to other mallet putters, which is huge.

CROWNED SOLE

A blank canvas that Odyssey can add different alignment aids to with multiple available at launch.

RED STROKE LAB SHAFT

The steel portion is shorter than the original, saving seven grams compared original Stroke Lab shaft.

It’s been made stiffer and more stable for added consistency

TPU SOLE INSERT

WHITE HOT INSERT

The centre of the putter is just 19 grams. With all the weight moved to the front and perimeters of the putter, it makes so forgiving. The TPU sole insert also helps improve feel.

The original insert is back, with the same formulation as the original at the request of Odyssey tour players. Also, the fact it is lighter than the steel surrounding it adds even more heel and toe weighting to the putter.

ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING SYSTEM

Odyssey is implementing a similar design language across its 2022 putters.

As with the Tri-Hot 5K and Eleven, adjustable weights are placed in the front corners of the putter head to help move the centre of gravity forward while improving the moment of inertia in the head. Weights are available from 5g up to 20g.

DEEP DIAMOND GROOVE MILL PATTERN

While similar, the face design has evolved from previous models. Deep full face grooves control sound and feel by channelling vibration and feature extra grooves across the face that bisect the diamond pattern. The face features a medium depth double fly cut to enhance forward roll and feel.

WHITE HOT OG 2022 Odyssey has extended the line up of last year’s hottest selling putter model. The White Hot OG putters brought back the legendary insert that tour players prefer. There are four new models added this season to go with those previously launched.

NEW HEAD SHAPES

Odyssey has added the popular Double Wide model. They’ve introduced a #7CH , otherwise known as a plumber’s neck hosel. #7 Nano features a smaller head and a heel hosel that will appeal to golfers with an arc putting stroke.

And there is also the #7 Jailbird, which is a combination of the #7 and the Jailbird and adds an extra stabilising bar at the rear of the head.

HIGH PERFORMANCE SHAFTS

Available in a premium stepped steel shaft or our multi-material Stroke Lab shaft in a stunning red finish.

With the Stroke Lab shaft the steel portion is shorter than the original, saving 7g compared original Stroke Lab shaft. It has been made stiffer and more stable for added consistency.

MILLED SURFACE FINISH

A rich silver PVD finish features fine milling on key surfaces. The beautiful designs will appeal to golfers who appreciate the look of a milled putter.

WHITE HOT INSERT

The original White Hot formulation, feel, sound and performance are all back in one exceptional two-part urethane insert. Tour players and golfers alike had been asking Odyseey to re-introduce it for years.

[27] [27]

[28] APRIL 2019 2022 | INTERVIEW EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

T H E P U T T E R G U R U Seamus Sweeney, Odyssey Golf’s representative on the European Tour, has been helping the world’s best golfers find their perfect Odyssey putter for over 25 years.

Here he explains how small details can make all the difference at the top level

H

ow has Odyssey evolved in your time with the brand?

It’s Interesting to reflect on that. When I started with Odyssey on the European Tour back in the mid-1990s there were less than 10 guys using our putters. We were a new brand in Europe and everything was fresh, and inserts were still something most guys hadn’t tried at that point, so we were really offering something different to our competitors.

If you compare that to now, where, over the years, we’ve added alignment help with putters such as the 2-Ball. We’ve added higher MOI models, if you think how hot the no.7 was and still is on tour.

The inserts have evolved over the years, but more recently we’ve gone back to that White Hot feel, as it has always been the most popular with our tour staff. Then we’ve added Toulon, and more recently Stroke Lab shafts, so there are options for players who prefer a milled putter, and for golfers who need a change in feel.

We offer so much technology and we understand how the ball rolls in a lot more detail than we did.

Putter design has evolved to help get the ball rolling earlier after impact. While our putters are always evolving, they also still share DNA with those early

models too. There are players out on tour who are still playing some of those early designs. There is Danish player who isn’t part of our tour staff who has always used a Rossie and doesn’t like to switch putter. We’ve had to change the insert for him, as he literally wore it out. And he has about six back-up putters in case anything happens to it!

How often do you have to change out the average tour player’s inserts?

A lot of the guys change inserts to vary feel and there are a number of them who will have matched putters, one with a firm insert and one with a softer insert. The players play on a much wider variety of putting surfaces than they did 20 years ago, so players are always looking to find out whether a different feel of putter could more effective of a different type of green.

The majority of guys will tend to stick to the same putter, regardless of conditions, but a few will have a loft adjustment if they’re playing on particularly grainy greens that you tend to find in Africa, Thailand or Malaysia. Adding loft, often up to 3 or 3.5 degrees, creates better launch conditions on grainy greens as it lifts the ball from the grass more quickly.

What has the reception been to this year’s new models out on Tour?

It’s been very positive. Some of the classic models have had players take to them this season. The #5 mallet, the 2-Ball and the #1 Wide have all proven popular. And our traditional #1 is always popular. The Tri-Hot putters are picking up momentum. It takes a bit longer for the players to appreciate the extra consistency, but once they see that benefit, it’s going to take a real effort to ever pry that putter out of their hands.

Toulon Design has added an extra dimension too.

These putters offer that one-piece milled feel that is very different to our Odyssey inserts, and it attracts players we would never have received otherwise. And when an Odyssey player is looking for a totally new sound and feel, we can move them over to Toulon.

For Tour players, sound is so important to their interpretation of feel. Pablo Larrazábal, for example, loves that crisper sound from a milled putter.

How have players taken to the Stroke Lab putter shaft?

Over 50% of the DP World Tour players playing Odyssey putters use it now. The proof is in the pudding for them, and if they don’t putt consistently

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022 [29] EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022 [29]

ODYSSEY BY NUMBERS

with it, they wouldn’t use it.

What it allows us to do out here on tour is change the balance point of the putter. We can really manipulate the putter weight with added head weight or heavier grips. As well as the consistency benefits it’s another fitting tool that helps us really hone in a putter for each individual player.

Are Tour players tricky to work with?

Not really. However, they do know exactly what they want. They hit balls and roll putts day in, day out, and many of them are incredibly acute when it comes to the differences they can feel. Many players on tour would be able to tell a 5g difference in grip weight, for example. Or they are only happy with a putter grip that is out of production and we have to scramble to find one. I’ve had players who have noticed the putter shaft feels off if the shaft is tipped differently. This is on a 15ft putt! And these guys are almost never wrong, they can pinpoint these differences so quickly.

It’s their job and they need to trust their tools.

WHILE ODYSSEY PUTTERS ARE ALWAYS EVOLVING, THEY ALSO SHARE DNA WITH THOSE EARLY MODELS TOO When Pablo Larrazábal shot 62 in the wind at last month’s ISPS Handa Championship it was incredible.

But he can’t do that if he doesn’t trust his equipment.

He uses a Triple Track Chrome Soft X and we added a Triple Track Alignment to his Toulon Design Las Vegas. And those tweaks are the difference between winning and just making the cut.

What has been your most exciting moment working for Odyssey?

Odyssey has had over 300 wins in Europe and I’ve been a part of a large portion of those, and they are all important to me. However, the one that really stands out was when Michael Campbell won the 2006 US Open with a putter I’d fitted him for.

But when I was new to the tour team, I was sent out to Florida for some training with the US team.

Literally my second week. We were at a Champions Tour event when suddenly Arnold Palmer approaches the Odyssey bag I’m looking after and asks me what’s new. I had to pinch myself. I also got to work with Seve, I say ‘work’, I had to listen to what he wanted. He was very precise in what he asked for, and I always found that I had to be extra alert when he was around What’s the strangest requests you’ve had from a tour player when it comes to a putter?

I once had a player ask me to bend a putter so flat that he could use it off his knees. We never really got a reason why he wanted it, but we were able to do it without the putter neck snapping. He tried it for one morning, and then handed it back. It obviously didn’t do what he thought it would!

What’s best putting tip you’ve ever received?

I wish I’d written them all down over the years! I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with some of the best putters in the game, but one piece of advice that sticks with me is that the head of the putter will only do what the hands tell it to do. So, a very small movement of the hands can result in quite a large movement of the head, so getting the grip right is very important.

I also like the idea of keeping the putter face square to the target for a little bit longer after you’ve hit the ball. It is something that Thomas Bjorn does, where it looks like the face is pushed towards the target instead of being rotated.

We look at the numbers that make Odyssey the No.1 putter in the game

#1 PUTTER ON TOUR IN 2021 #1 PUTTER ON TOUR FOR LAST 11 YEARS #1 PUTTER ON EVERY MAJOR TOUR #1 PUTTER AT ALL 14 MAJORS IN 2021 #1 PUTTER AT THE LAST 39 MAJORS #1 PUTTER IN GLOBAL WINS IN 2021 #1 PUTTER IN GLOBAL TOP TENS IN 2021 #1 PUTTER IN MAJOR WINS WITH 6 IN 2021

1 Gold medal

1 - The most-used Odyssey model at the Zurich Open was the Tri-Hot 5K 2 2 - Number of discs on a 2-Ball putter 38 - Number of wins for Toulon Design 43 - Different men’s putters on the Odyssey website 85 – Number of Odyssey putters in play at the ISPS Handa Championship – 41 more than the closest competitor 91 – Total Major Wins 1,628 – Worldwide Tour Wins 218 – PGA Tour Wins 373 – DP World Tour Wins 274 – LPGA Tour wins 164 – Korn Ferry Tour wins 284 – Japan Golf Tour wins 120 – Other wins 195 – PGA Tour Champions Wins $769,988,545 – Total won using Odyssey putters

[30] APRIL 2022 | EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

THE GREAT DUCA TRADE-IN – SAVE £25 OFF YOUR NEXT PAIR OF GOLF SHOES!

Support sustainable golf & growing the game in emerging markets Trade-in a pair of any make of your old golf shoes and receive £25 off the purchase of a pair of handcrafted Duca del Cosma shoes and have your unwanted pair put to good use.

We’ve partnered with the Recyclatex reuse & recycling group to collect and refurbish all the discarded shoes over the next two months across the UK & Ireland. Your shoes will then be distributed in Africa, India and Eastern Europe, giving budding golfers the opportunity to have high quality shoes.

Duca del Cosma aims to make the game of golf more sustainable and with your backing we can speed the development of those players with limited access to high quality equipment.

So, dig out your old golf shoes & hand them (tied together by the shoelaces) to any Duca del Cosma retailer to take advantage of this offer.

The Great DUCA Trade-In runs from 1st April – 31st May 2022 inclusive & incorporates all the men’s/women’s shoes in the latest Duca del Cosma range, including the CHURCHILL shoe for men & the WILDCAT model for women.

*Terms & conditions: By taking part in this Promotion, all participants in the UK & Ireland aged 18+ (excluding Duca del Cosma customers, agents, or employees) are deemed to have accepted and be bound by the full Terms & Conditions. Customers handing in a pair of unwanted used golf shoes into a retailer stocking Duca del Cosma footwear between 1 April & 31 May 2022 inclusive will receive a £25 discount off the purchase at full RRP of a new pair of Duca del Cosma golf shoes of their choice available from the same retail outlet on a one-to-one exchange basis. Once the unwanted shoes have been handed into the retail outlet, they cannot be returned, as they will be donated to the Recyclatex Group for reuse or recycling in emerging golf markets. This discount cannot be applied to other offers and only a matching pair of unwanted shoes will be accepted to qualify for the discount on a new pair of Duca shoes.

The retailer has the right to refuse unwanted shoes that are not deemed to be made for golf. Duca del Cosma reserves the right to amend or end this Promotion at any time.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TAYLORMADE STEALTH

CALLAWAY ROGUE ST MAX

PING G425 MAX DRIVER

£469, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU

£479, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

£450, PING.COM

I’m not sure exactly why TaylorMade called its latest driver ‘Stealth’ as it’s one the most eye-catching designs out there, but what’s easy to understand, however, is why it has called it their first 'Carbonwood' driver, as it features a 60-layer carbon fibre Twist Face and a carbon crown. The carbon face saves weight compared to titanium that is used further back in the head to increase forgiveness. The unique Nanotexture Face Technology is a coating that makes the carbon usable by adding durability and helping add spin on miss-hits to add consistency. Stealth + is available for golfers looking for lower spin, while the Stealth HD is a draw-biased option.

The original Rogue was one of Callaway’s most successful recent driver models, so it’s no surprise to see the name return.

Where the Epic driver had a focus on adjustability, Rogue ST concentrates on pure performance. Powered by a Tungsten Speed Cartridge, up to 26g is moved to where it is needed to maximise performance. Putting it further back in the head helps retain ball speed on miss-hits. Combined with the AI-designed Jailbreak Speed Frame and the new AI-designed Flash Face, this driver is focused on providing the fastest,and most consistent drives. Plus, there are three other head options to fine-tune your fit – Max D, Max LS and Triple Diamond LS.

Despite it entering its second season, the G425 is still one of the top drivers on the market. Ping has a recipe for making super stable, easy to hit drivers. We can tell you they’ve not messed up that formula with the G425 MAX. The highest MOI driver they’ve ever produced, it features a 26g movable tungsten weight that shifts mass lower and further back and can be adjusted to help encourage a draw or fade. It also features a fully-adjustable hosel, and is offered with a choice of four stock shafts to dial in for a precise custom fit.

XXIO 12

WILSON LAUNCH PAD

£699, XXIOUK.COM

£305, WILSON.COM

Combining forgiveness, distance and a lightweight design, there isn’t anything else quite like XXIO 12 on the market. It features ActivWing stabilisation that alters aerodynamic forces at work in the first half of the downswing. The airfoil generates lift, guiding the club to its optimal impact angle for maximum speed. A combination of a heavier clubhead and a lightweight shaft increase ball speed and swing speed at the same time.

A Weight Plus design positions mass under your grip to help you find the ideal spot at the top of your swing and makes the downswing more consistent.

The Launch Pad driver is designed for golfers who struggle to get the ball airborne and fight the dreaded slice. One of the lighteest drivers on the market, it comes with a lightweight EvenFlow shaft to create effortless swingspeed.

It is designed with a Peak Kinetic Response face, created using advanced computer modelling, resulting in a Tourproven geometry and improved ball speed across the entire face. This works in conjunction with an offset hosel and a 2˚ upright lie angle to help fight a slice.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE The latest drivers are designed to help golfers of all experience levels to hit it further and straighter

COBRA KING LTD X

HONMA TW757

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER XL

£399, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

£559, HONMAGOLF.COM

£379, CLEVELANDGOLF.CO.UK

Cobra’s King LTD driver was so good that some of the company’s tour players were still playing it six years later.

The LTD X takes what was good with that model but adds modern forgiveness and uses up to 30% more carbon fibre to save weight elsewhere in the head. PWR-COR Technology moves that saved weight low and forward, right behind the face to transfer maximum speed to the golf ball at impact with reduced spin. Weight at the rear of the head added forgiveness and consistency. Three models are available for a perfect fit.

For golfers looking for a combination of technology and Japanese craftsmanship, Honma's TW757 might be the driver you’re looking for. While the drivers feature classic lines behind the ball, they are powered by Carbon-Slot Technology. The carbon reinforces the slot, allowing for a thinner slot which increases ball speed. A carbon crown saves weight, while feel and sound have been improved, while two internal ribs transfer energy more efficiently.

Offered in 455cc and 460cc heads, both feature front and back adjustable weighting.

The latest Launcher XL is arguably Cleveland's best ever driver, and undeniably the most forgiving it has created.

Featuring a higher MOI than previous models, it is designed to increase launch and be more forgiving. Borrowing technology from sister brands Srixon and XXIO, the Launcher XL features a Rebound Frame, alternating areas of flexibility and stiffness to direct more energy into the ball. The adjustable hosel offers 12 different options, while the grip features an Action Mass CB weight. This helps square the clubface more consistently.

[32] APRIL 2022 | EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR JORDAN SPIETH

EQUIPMENT NEWS

RBC HERITAGE

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (10°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS2 (15°) DRIVING IRON: Titleist T200 (20°) IRONS: Titleist T100 (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46°, 52°, 56°), Titleist Vokey Prototype (60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Circle T 009 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER THE MASTERS

DRIVER: TaylorMade Stealth Plus+ (8°) FAIRWAY: TaylorMade Stealth (16.5°, set at 15°) DRIVING IRON: Srixon ZU85 (3) IRONS: Srixon ZX7 (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Special Select Proto BALL: Titleist Pro V1

EWEN FERGUSON QATAR MASTERS

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9˚) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TSi3 (18°), Cobra LTDx LS UTILITY IRON: Titleist T200 (3) IRONS: Cobra King Tour (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron T5 Circle T BALL: Titleist Pro V1

JENNIFER KUPCHO

CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Ping G425 LST (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping G410 LST (14.5°) HYBRID: Ping G410 (21°) IRONS: Ping i210 (4-PW) WEDGES: Ping Glide 3.0 (54°, 58°) PUTTER: Ping Prototype PLD Kushin BALl: Titleist Pro V1

PABLO LARRAZABAL

ISPS HANDA CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond S (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond (15°), Callaway Epic Speed (18°) UTILITY: Callaway X Forged UT (24) IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (5-7), Callaway Apex MB (8-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 4 (48°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

TRIED & TESTED

GOLFSTREAM EXPRESS PUSH TROLLEY Back in the day, manual trolleys were pretty flimsy affairs, with skeletal metal frames that rusted and chipped over time, and those frayed rubber bungee cords doing their best to stop your golf bag from sliding off. The uncomfortable rubber handle was never at the right angle, and the whole thing all too easily flipped over on the slightest of inclines. They also weighed a ton.

Thankfully, things have moved on a bundle since the 1980s in the manual trolley world and the latest models can do everything you’d want from an electric trolley except do the pushing and pulling bit, and even that’s a whole lot easier thanks to lightweight materials and wheel bearings that enable it glide across all terrains with the greatest of ease.

I had the pleasure of testing Golfstream’s Vision power trolley several years ago, and was mightily impressed, so when they asked if I’d give a push version of it a run out, I was interested, although not overjoyed, given that I thought those days were well behind me. Battery aside, what made the powered version so good was its simple set up and easy folding mechanism and that certainly rings true of the Extreme, which slides up into

position with a satisfying one-touch click and folds back down with similar ease.

Weighing just 3.9kg, and folding down to just 280mm, it features a rubberised dual handle, a foot-operated parking brake, quick release wheels and an accessory station as standard. It’s been designed to take all the existing Vision accessories too, so you can have this kitted out with holders for an umbrella, GPS unit, drinks bottle and a scorecard and you’re ready to roll.

My 18 holes on an admittedly fairly easy-walking course was hassle-free and despite being weighed down with a tour-style bag packed with clobber, the Extreme ticked all the boxes, with its smooth-edged frame and stylish design making it look every inch the power trolley only without the power.

So if I ever need a back-up to my Golfsteam power trolley, should I forget to charge my battery, which I often do, then this will do the perform the job of super-sub nicely.

The Golfstream Vision Extreme comes with a two-year warranty and is priced at £179. It can be ordered directly from www.golfstream.co.uk.

DUCA DEL COSMA LAUNCHES TRADE-IN PROMOTION TO DISTRIBUTE UNWANTED GOLF SHOES Golf shoe brand Duca del Cosma has launched a tradein that offers golfers £25 off any of its latest styles if they donate a pair of their old golf shoes of any make to budding golfers in emerging markets.

The Italian brand has teamed up with British reuse and recycling group Recyclatex, so that all the unwanted shoes collected during the promotion will be refurbished and distributed among aspiring players in Africa, India and Eastern Europe.

The Great Duca Trade-in promotion – which runs until May 31 – is easy to take part in. All a golfer needs to do is dig out an old pair of golf shoes of any brand name and hand them in to the nearest Duca stockist with the laces tied together. In exchange for each pair donated, they will receive £25 off on a new pair of Duca del Cosma shoes they purchase from either the current men's or women's collections.

The entire Duca del Cosma SS22 collection is available for trade-in, including classic brogue styling of the Churchill which is offered in Cognac and Royal Blue, and the Regent, a modern take on a traditional silhouette, comes in both White and Cognac. The Tomcat offers a sportier option in grey, while the Flyer is available in two new bold high-contrast styles. For female golfers, the two new White King Cheetah designs, along with the Wildcat in the striking glossy White and Red, plus the BELLEZZA in dazzling Navy and Pink colour options are also part on the trade-in promotion.

For more details and to view the entire range, visit www.ducadelcosma.co.uk/pages/the-great-duca-trade-insave-25-off-your-next-pair-of-golf-shoes

EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LYLE & SCOTT UNVEILS RAVEINSPIRED APPAREL RANGE Lyle & Scott's Spring/Summer 2022 golf apparel collection draws its inspiration from the rave music scene of the 1980s and early 90s, offering a disruptive style with a bold use of colours and eutrophic tones, as well as deconstructed tartan and nostalgic reinvented embroideries.

The collection includes all the classics, including a reversible gilet that features a contrast print chest panel and Lyle & Scott script logo back, or a fully printed reverse side. Lightweight, windproof and constructed with an eco-friendly water-repellent treatment to provide protection no matter the weather, this gilet also boasts stretch jersey panels and elasticated arm holes and hem,

allowing for full range of movement during the swing.

Known for its stylish and timless polo shirts, the new L&S Jacquard Polo provides exceptional moisture management through enhanced breathability and a polyester and Tencel blend for a lightweight and soft feel. It is finished with a tonal rib collar for a smart, but casual, tailored look.

The knitwear range is headlined by a ¼ Zip Pullover, which features a bold stripe pattern and Lyle & Scott script logo on the sleeve. Made from merino/cotton blend, this pullover provides exceptional thermal regulation through its moisture wicking properties.

The collection also sees the introduction of the Knitted Player range, including the Player Knitted Cardigan, which features fully fashioned armholes, a contrast rib and branded buttons for a premium look and feel, the entire Knitted Player range is made from a 12-gauge cotton/merino blend that is soft, casual, and suitable for both on- and off-course wear.

For details, visit www.lyleandscott.com

SUN MOUNTAIN LIGHTENS THE LOAD – AND YOUR WALLET – WITH CARBON FAST STAND BAG Sun Mountain’s new H2NO Carbon Fast bag features an innovative recess to protect the retractable legs when sitting on a cart or trolley. Made from a lightweight nylon fabric with a TPU-coated waterproof treatment on both sides, the stylish black and gold bag incorporates a carbon fibre panel.

Boasting a 14-way top with full-length dividers, it has seven forward-facing pockets, making it ideal for when using on a trolley or buggy, and comes with a dual-strap system for easy carrying.

It is priced at a hefty £979 – yes, you read that right. For more details, visit sunmountain.co.uk.

MACGREGOR HAS THE FULL PACKAGE Package sets have been flying off the shelves during the recent golf boom, with new golfers and those returning for the game for the first time in a while looking for a decent set that they can grab off the shelf that doesn’t cost the earth.

MacGregor has launched two package sets aimed at this sector of the market. The entry-level CG3000 is a 10-piece set that comprises a 13° titanium driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 6-SW stainless steel irons and a mallet-style putter. Offered with a branded stand bag, they are available in RH/LH models with an option for an extra inch on the iron shafts for taller golfers. A full set costs £369 and a half-set £249.

The DCT3000 is a 12-piece set that features a 10.5° titanium driver, stainless steel fairway wood, two hybrids, 5-SW irons and mallet putter. Offered with steel or graphite shafted irons, it is priced at £469 with a stand bag or £479 with a cart bag. For more details, visit www.macgregor-golf.co.uk.

STRIPE IT WITH TAYLORMADE’S NEW TOUR RESPONSE BALL

GOLF PRIDE LAUNCHES SOFTEST EVER GRIP

Visual aids are playing an increasingly important role in the design of the modern golf ball. From exaggerated lines to the more obvious cues such as Triple Track and PIX, easy alignment is the name of the game. And it doesn’t get much easier to line up your putts than with TaylorMade’s new Tour Response Stripe ball.

The high-vis neon yellow stripe is a 22mm wide band that wraps around the equator of the ball, with lines in the centre and edges to make putter alignment super quick and easy. And with its distinct look, it should be pretty easy to spot in the rough if you ever happen to stray offline.

The Tour Response Stripe – and the all-white Tour Response – is a three-piece ball with a 70 compression which is designed to perform like a TP5 and TP5x for those with slower swing speeds. They feature the same Tour Flight dimple pattern as TaylorMade’s tour-level balls to maximise carry distance, and a Speedmantle layer that helps increase ball speed at impact. Priced at £39.99 for a dozen, they are available in shops now.

While many golfers prefer the feel of soft grips, traditionally they haven’t performed as well as firmer grips, as they often twist too much in the hands.

However, Golf Pride’s new CPX (Comfort Performance Extreme) has been designed to feel soft yet perform like a much firmer grip.

This is down to the creation of a new soft and responsive rubber compound that moulds to the golfer’s hands for comfort and stress relief. The soft and tacky material features a 45-degree diamond pattern inspired by the grips on BMX bikes. This new tactile design is raised to maximise contact area with the hands, enhancing performance. In addition, the innovative Control Core in the grip’s end cap complements the soft rubber compound to deliver maximum softness and maximum control.

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[34] APRIL 2022 | EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ORIGINAL PENGUIN TIE DYE PRINT POLO

HONMA TW757 B IRONS

£54.99, ORIGINALPENGUIN.CO.UK Worn by multiple PGA Tour winner Cameron Smith, the Tie Dye Print Polo is inspired by the nostalgic, carefree outlook of the early 1980s, harking back to long summer days with a touch of Miami Vice thrown in. Made from 30% recycled polyester and 15% elastane, it stretches in all the right places while offering a fitted, fashion-forward look.

£159 PER CLUB, HONMAGOLF.COM We know most golfers shouldn’t be looking at blades, but boy, do these look good. This latest model from Honma offers a bit more help than most, but you need to be a serious ball-striker to consider these irons. Weight has been removed in the heel, plus a tungsten weight has been added to the toe, which combines to put the sweetspot into the centre of the club head and make it just a hair bigger than a traditional blade. Forgiveness is relative, but this is designed to be forgiving for a blade.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

UNDER ARMOUR HOVR TOUR SL

CALLAWAY ROGUE ST HYBRID

£150, UNDERARMOUR.CO.UK Golf shoes have evolved so much in recent times that they often have more in common with trainers and running shoes than the golf footwear of years gone by. UA’s new HOVR Tour SL shoes feature Intelliknit uppers which boast a combination of yarns that lock you down where you need support and stretch where you need flexibility through the swing. Fully waterproof, they offer lots of support around the heel, locking you into the shoe to help you make solid, powerful, but controlled swings.

£249, EU.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Taking the best bits from Rogue ST driver design, the Rogue ST hybrids – which are offered in standard, pro, OS and OS Lite models – are built for golfers looking for speed and performance. A redesigned Jailbreak now features two frames that stiffen the body but allow the face to flex. The AI-designed face plate is optimised for launch, spin, forgiveness and ball speed. Tungsten weights are placed optimally to help increase launch and forgiveness.

SRIXON Q STAR TOUR £34.99 FOR 12, SRIXON.CO.UK While Tour golf balls are definitely the most advanced from a construction standpoint, not all golfers have the clubhead speed to take advantage of them. The Q-Star Tour is a tour calibre ball built for the masses. Featuring a three-piece construction, the lower compression ball is designed to work most efficiently at moderate swing speeds. Low spin off the tee, the unique Spin Skin cover with SERM makes helps the ball grab and stop around the greens.

The speed secret is the FastLayer core design, the graduated core is soft in the centre and gradually gets firmer by the outside edge, so it acts as if it’s a core with thousands of added layers.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR | APRIL 2022

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TAYLORMADE SPIDER GT PUTTERS £329, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU Over 80% of the Spider GT’s weight is located in two steel wings on either side of the head. That creates huge MOI and makes this one of the most stable TaylorMade putters ever. An anodised aluminium top plate gives the putter a distinct look, especially in the red model. A Pure Roll² insert, crafted from a firm TPU urethane material that contains silver aluminium bars angled at 45°, produces a consistent roll time after time.

MOTOCADDY PRO-SERIES BAG £209, MOTOCADDY.COM Motocaddy makes golf bags that are specifically designed to work with their trolleys. The EASILOCK system secures the bag and trolley with the need for straps at the bottom of the bag. With lots of storage, 14-way dividers, and a handy external Jumbo putter well, the ProSeries offers everything you want in the trolley bag. The cosmetics are impressive too with the new red trim looking great paired with the new S1 trolley, offering a stylish, modern look that is more than the sum of its parts.

BETTINARDI BB1 PUTTER £389, BETTINARDI.CO.UK Bettinardi is renowned for the level of detail and craftsmanship that go into its milled putters. Made from a single block of soft carbon steel, the face features a Super-Fly mill pattern that produces a responsive feel at impact to help achieve consistent speed and touch. The contrast from the Glacier Black finish against a white golf ball helps to frame the ball at address. The BB Series is available in four distinct head shapes, and the BB1 model might just be one of the best-looking Anser-style putters on the market.

BLUE TEES SERIES 3 MAX LASER RANGEFINDER

COBRA FORGED TEC IRONS £999, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK Players’ distance irons have been a wonderful addition to the irons market in recent years, offering forgiveness and distance in a sleek package that appeals to a wide range of golfers. These new Forged Tec irons from Cobra feature a soft, 5X forged steel body paired with a thin face that creates faster ball speed. The face is supported by a lightweight foam that also improves feel at impact while tungsten foam increases forgiveness.

£199, BLUETEESGOLF.COM A relatively new kid on the laser rangefinder block, having first launched in the US in 2019, the Series 3 Max is the brand’s top-of-the-range model, yet is still nicely priced at under £200. Available in navy, black and pink, it boasts x7 magnification and has a range of handy features, including Adaptive Slope, which takes your elevation in comparison to your target into account, while the Active Flag Lock function ensures the laser locks onto your intended target rather a tree or object directly behind it and delivers a gentle pulse when it has locked on. The bold display is easy to read in all light conditions as it automatically adjusts to the ambient environment, while there is a built-in magnetic strip which allows you to attach the device to the struts of a buggy, trolley or any other metallic surface.

[36] APRIL 2022 | TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITION

WIN AN ARCCOS CADDIE BUNDLE! We’ve teamed up with those clever people at Arccos Golf to offer you the chance to win a set of the all-new Arccos Caddie Gen 3+ Smart Sensors and an Arccos Caddie Link to help take your game to the next level this season.

n QUESTION WHAT IS THE AVERAGE HANDICAP IMPROVEMENT FOR ARCCOS CADDIE USERS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR?

A: 1.54 STROKES B: 2.95 STROKES C: 5.78 STROKES

The winner will receive a pack that includes 14 of the brand’s latest generation Smart Sensors – one for every club in your bag – and the Caddie Link, a powerful wearable that allows you to leave your phone in the bag to concentrate on playing your best golf. You’ll also receive your first year’s subscription to the award-winning Arccos Caddie app for free.

Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors simply screw into the butt of your grips, and, using the Arccos Caddie Link device, automatically tracks shots through the brand’s’ A.I. platform, which delivers unparalleled insights into your game to help maximise your potential.

Other features in the Arccos Caddie platform include Smart Distance Club Averages, an A.I. Powered GPS Rangefinder, Caddie Advice and Strokes Gained Analytics for every club in the bag to highlight your strengths and weaknesses, as well as guide your practice and equipment choices. Arccos Caddie users experience an average handicap improvement of 5.78 strokes during the first year, some in as few as five rounds, by ensuring you make smarter on-course decisions.

TO ENTER For your chance to win this fantastic prize, worth £299.98, answer the following question correctly and email your answer to info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Arccos Competition’ in the subject line. Please include your name, email address, contact telephone number, and where you picked up your copy of Golf News, or if you read it online. The closing date for entries is May 30, 2022.

Goliath, meet David.

Goliath, Goliath, meet David. meet David.

Don’t laugh, but a UK based start-up run by an Australian is about to disrupt the global golf ball industry. Straight out of Crewe. but It’s astart-up UK based Don’t laugh,Don’t but alaugh, UK based runstart-up run How? Simple – develop a no wonder we’re by anisAustralian is aboutthe to disrupt by an Australian about disrupt global the global tour-level product, cut out to developing a cult the middle man and the following with people golf ball industry. out of Crewe. golf ball industry.

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We sell direct to you, with claims great service and comparable greatMoral serviceof and comparable the story – you don’t have to pay a for performance half the performance forperformance halfpremium the premium for golf balls. normal price. normal price.

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TRAVEL COMPETITION & BREAKS | APRIL 2022 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PUTTING THE F

BACK INTO GOLF FA S H IO N Farah Golf focuses on what made Farah so popular in the first place: contemporary style and well fitted clothing with signature prints, textured patterns and subtle detailing Farah clothing is a menswear label that has been around for as long as we can remember. It has played a key part in the style of pretty much every generation from the Mods to the Rude Boys, Casuals and the 90s’ indie music scene – each sub-culture making the signature Farah F Tab its own.

Despite its US origins, Farah has remained so intertwined with our culture that it has come to be considered quintessentially British, which is why it is exciting to see golfers finally getting the chance to sport their own ‘F’ tab with the launch of Farah Golf. And, what’s more, it has all been designed exclusively in Manchester!

The whole collection is unlike that of any golf brand out there. It is instantly recognisable, incredibly wearable and will have universal appeal.

Statement pieces with seasonal prints including the stylish geometric patterned Addison Polo and the oversize floral print on the Dallas Polo sit alongside very cool, core classics.

The iconic branding comes in the form of a golf specific frosty green Farah ‘F’ motif. This appears on every garment’s left chest, as well as on the brand’s famous side seam flag label. The ‘F’ even features in the designs themselves in the form of branded buttons and zippers, and more prominently in the Frankston Polo, the Sadun belt buckle, and the Reese cap.

All the polo shirts are made from lightweight fabrics, specifically sourced for golf. Alongside

cotton blends and tech fabrics, there is a four-way stretch, partially plant-based recyclable fabric called Sorona used in the tipped Hoxie Polo. Whatever the composition, all the fabrics feel incredibly soft and premium and are ideal for playing golf in.

Golf-specific design features carry across the range. The Judson Trouser has a neat scorecard pocket, the lockdown zipper and wind guard of the Tisdale Mid Layer deliver comfort and performance, while the four-way stretch fabric in the Jonah Trouser delivers superb movement.

As well as fit-for-purpose design, detailing really matters to the Farah brand. All these finer performance characteristics have been included to enhance the golfer’s playing experience without limiting their use to a golf course.

Farah is all about providing men with the right clothes from which they can confidently create their own style. That means each season Farah Golf will consistently offer a thoughtful line-up of both updated classics and trend-led pieces, including signature prints, textured patterns, and great detailing. Farah focusses on the elements that have enabled the brand to remain at the forefront of many men’s wardrobes in the last five decades and for many years to come.

FOR FULL DETAILS ON THE RANGE. VISIT WWW.FARAHGOLF.COM OR FOLLOW @FARAHGOLF

WHATEVER THE COMPOSITION, ALL THE FABRICS FEEL INCREDIBLY SOFT AND PREMIUM AND ARE IDEAL FOR PLAYING GOLF IN

HOXIE POLO

DALLAS POLO

HAYES MIDLAYER

JONAH TROUSER

Made from a partially plant-based fabric called Sorona, the Hoxie is a technical polo that is also kinder to the environment. The subtle textured fabric gives the polo a unique look and feel. The double tipping on the collar and placket characterises several items in the Farah Golf range, as does the raised F motif.

Bold, all-over floral print makes a real fashion statement, but this greatlooking garment also packs a punch when it comes to performance. The 4-way stretch fabric offer great movement and elevated levels of breathability, while the branding on the back neck and woven F flag complete the distinct look.

The distinct look of this great midlayer comes from a curved chest stitched line and low hem. This contemporary garment offers great breathability and is super stretchy thanks to the elastane in the fabric blend. The contrast zip and F motif on the neck gives a modern twist on an everyday classic.

Jetted pockets with white tipping give the Jonah trouser and Jester shorts a distinctive, contemporary look. Both are made from a moisture-wicking fabric that is also breathable, making them idea for summer golf. With a wide range of sizes and leg lengths you will easily find your perfect match.

[37]

[38] APRIL 2022 | EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HONMA TW757 P IRONS

TAYLORMADE STEALTH

WILSON D9 FORGED

£159/£169 (PER CLUB, ST/GR), HONMAGOLF.COM

£112/£136, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU

£792 (4-PW), WILSON.COM

The TW757 P is a modern player’s distance iron designed for distance while retaining the feel the Japanese brand is renowned for. Tungsten weighting in the toe and sole centre the sweet spot and are used in combination with an under-cut cavity to create a surprising amount of forgiveness for the size of the iron head. A reduced face thickness throughout the set helps create faster initial ball speeds.

The Stealth irons feature a Cap Back design that extends around the toe. The polymer composite cap takes weight from the back so that it can be dropped lower in the head where it’s more useful. The design also supports the top line, making it more rigid. This allows the bottom half of the face, and the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, to flex more for faster ball speeds and higher launch. ECHO Damping gives the irons a forged feel at impact.

The two-piece construction of the D9 features an carbonsteel body and face that is just 2mm thick. Power Holes on the sole help the face flex more at impact, but they are filled with urethane for a softer feel. Wilson has refined the idea that less material supporting the face can help the face flex at impact, and the D9 Forged now uses a unique asymmetrical version that was found to work best in a forged iron.

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER XL

TITLEIST T400

£499/ £599 (ST/GR), CLEVELANDGOLF.CO.UK

£185 PER CLUB, TITLEIST.CO.UK

This new progressive set offers forgiveness where it is needed in the long irons and control where required in the short irons. Hollow longer irons offer maximum forgiveness, while the Mainframe AI-designed face offers fast ball speeds across the face. Short irons feature a more compact cavity back design for precision and control.

The T400 irons are built to be the longest, highest launching and most forgiving of Titleist’s T Series range. The heads boast a hollow construction, a low centre of gravity and super thin faces. They also have a wide body and a split-sole design to prevent digging. The result is an iron that will help golfers with moderate swing speeds hit the ball higher and farther, even when they miss the centre of the clubface.

COBRA FORGED TEC X

CALLAWAY ROGUE ST MAX

PING I525

£999 (4-PW), COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

£849, EU.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

£180 PER CLUB, EU.PING.COM

A game improvement iron that looks like a player’s distance iron, the Cobra Forged Tec X takes the core of what makes the Forged Tec work but expands its dimensions to appeal to more golfers. The hollow body features a 65g tungsten weight to make launch effortless. The irons are filled with a lightweight foam for a soft forged feel, and a thin PWRSHELL face offers fast ball speeds.

The Rogue ST MAX irons are some of the longest Callaway has ever produced. The high-strength steel Flash Face Cup has been optimised for ball speed, launch and spin, while each loft has a specifically designed face to maximise its performance. Tungsten weights positions the centre of gravity specifically for optimal launch in each iron, while urethane microspheres are used to improve feel and sound.

Representing an upgrade on the i500s that came before, the compact hollow head of the new i525 features a forged maraging steel face for faster ball speeds, while tungsten weighting in the extremes of the toe and shaft tip make it one of the most forgiving irons for its size. The big change has been the addition of a layer of EVA polymer in the head, which is strategically placed to improve sound and feel with no loss of ball speed.

IRONS TO INSPIRE Looking to raise your iron game this season?

Then check out these new kids on the block

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

APRIL 2022 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

V E R D U R A P U T T I N G T H E

G O L F

S I C I LY H O L I D A Y

O N M A P

TRAVEL NEWS

YOUR GUIDE TO GOLF BREAKS AT HOME & ABROAD

ME & MY TRAVELS

WITH CRICKET LEGEND SIR VIV RICHARDS

[40] APRIL 2022 | TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

S I C I L I A N A D V E N T U R E With 36 holes of championship golf and a stylish five-star hotel, Sir Rocco’s Forte’s Verdura Resort has single-handedly put Sicily on the golfing map

■KYLE PHILLIPS HAS WORKED HIS MAGIC IN CREATING TWO WORLD-CLASS COURSES THAT COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER SO WELL

W

WORDS BY MATT NICHOLSON

hen someone with the reputation in the hospitality world as Sir Rocco Forte decides that he wants to build a golf resort, you know it’s going to be good.

That is exactly what happened around the start of the new millennium when, after an exhaustive search, the worldfamous hotelier found what he was looking for – a spectacular plot of land on the south west coast of the volcanic Italian island of Sicily.

Things were not exactly plain sailing from there, as Sir Rocco encountered numerous problems in an eight-year planning battle with local officials in his bid to obtain the necessary permits. But as you can imagine for a man who, when working with the Trust Houses Group, had responsibility for more than 800 hotels, 1,000 restaurants and almost 100,000 employees, and now co-owns the luxury Rocco Forte Hotels group, he wasn’t going to let a bit of red tape stand in the way of his achieving his dream.

The final result is the five-star Verdura Resort; a 500-acre site nestling adjacent to the azure waters of the Mediterranean which opened in 2009 and features an extensive range of luxury sports and

leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, and two 18-hole championship courses.

Located on the southern coast of the island, a 90-minute drive west from Palermo airport, Verdura occupies a spectacular, mile-long beachfront spot overlooking the Mediterranean.

Offering 203 rooms and 50 suites, the luxury resort boasts a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, including six tennis courts, a 60m two-tiered infinity pool, a 170sqm gym and a 4,000 square metre spa complex.

Guests can sample an authentic taste of traditional Sicily with an array of dishes at one of the resort’s seven restaurants and five bars – with fresh, organic produce sourced straight from Verdura’s own gardens. In addition, visitors can enjoy an array of cultural and culinary experiences where they can discover the secrets of Sicilian cooking and taste the many famous wines of the region. There is also plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained, with dedicated kids and teen clubs providing a variety of activity programmes throughout the year.

But golf is the reason we’re here. A member at Sunningdale for 45 years, and also a member of The R&A, The Wisley and New Zealand Club, Sir Rocco is a self-confessed golf obsessive, so it was no surprise that the 12-handicapper turned

to the services of one of golf’s leading course architects, Kyle Phillips – who designed Kingsbarns in Scotland and The Grove in London – to create his three courses – the East, West and a nine-hole parthree course. Built to the highest specifications, a composite course of the East and West was used when Verdura hosted the European Tour’s Sicilian Open in 2012 – and again from 2017-18, although the tournament is sadly no longer on the schedule.

After picking up some useful inside tips on how to tackle the East Course from Director of Golf Antonio Castelo over a leisurely lunch in the hotel’s excellent Liola restaurant – the pizzas are not to be missed – we headed out to the first tee in a freshening breeze, excited, yet slightly nervous about what lay in store.

The East Course has been completely renovated since it first opened in 2009, with Kyle Phillips making the most of the closures caused by the Covid lockdowns to complete the work in 2021.

Having not played the course in its original state, it’s hard to make meaningful comparisons, but the result is a stunning links-inspired layout that features new putting surfaces, additional bunkering and manicured fairways lined by rough featuring native grasses. With views of the Mediterranean from almost every hole, the setting is as magical as the flow of the design, which

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first takes you inland, before sweeping out to the shoreline, with the coastal stretches from 5-7 and 12-14 being obvious highlights. The 6th, a short par-4 which sits hard by the sea, and the par-3 13th, which is also adjacent to the water, would be my two personal favourite holes, but any number could be regarded as ‘signature’, such is the strength in depth of the design. Requiring creativity, accuracy and a sense of adventure, Phillips has created a superb course that makes you think before every shot and demands total concentration to score well. Factor in the wind, and you have a course that can, and has tested the best.

After my round I checked into my room in the hotel, where I was greeted by a jaw-dropping view from my balcony of the sea and the golf course and I had just played. The room was luxuriously furnished and generously sized, with the bathroom alone being the size of a standard double room in most hotels. The rooms are divided into Superior Deluxes, Classic Suites and Grand Suites – the latter come with central courtyards reminiscent of Roman villas. The Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites have sea-facing terraces rather than gardens, and all are done out in a warm contemporary Sicilian style, with rich earthy colours and much use of natural materials – stone bathroom fixtures, wooden fourposter beds and ceramic tiles.

After a quick shower, it was off to the fine

■ THE VERDURA ESTATE OCCUPIES A STUNNING COASTAL LOCATION

■ THE HOTEL POOL OVERLOOKS THE MED

WITH VIEWS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM ALMOST EVERY HOLE, THE SETTING IS AS MAGICAL AS THE FLOW OF THE DESIGN dining restaurant Zagara for dinner, which serves exquisite Mediterranean food and was every bit as good as I’d hoped, with a mouth-watering selection of local and seasonal dishes, with freshly caught grilled fish and a prawn ceviche being a highlight, along with some superb Sicilian wines.

The following morning, after a relaxing sleep and a reviving breakfast at Café Buongiorno, I slung my golf bag on my back and hopped on one of the many bicycles that are freely available to guests to make the three-minute ride to meet my playing partners on the first tee of the West Course.

A little more undulating than the East, standout holes for me were the loop from the eighth to the 12th, and the seaside finish, which builds to a crescendo and finishes beneath the clubhouse.

Each hole stands alone on merit – the long, ridgetop par-three 12th is a hole of simple design and beauty, but one of the hardest par-threes you’ll play – before the round finishes in breathtaking style with two memorable the par-fours. The 17th requires an approach up to a sloping green set deep into hillside, while the stunning 18th then takes you back in the opposite direction towards the clubhouse, with the glistening Mediterranean waiting on your right to swallow up any errant drives or second shots.

■ ALL THE ROOMS OFFER VIEWS OUT TO THE SEA, WHILE THE RESORT HAS FIVE SUPERB RESTAURANTS TO CHOOSE FROM

As you would expect for a Tourlevel venue, the practice facilities are outstanding too, with a double-ended driving range and excellent academy providing the ideal complement to the courses.

Visitors can save on airline charges and leave their clubs at home, too, with the resort having invested in a significant upgrade of its club rental services, with two-round hire packages starting from €40.

After the round we had lunch at the pool bar overlooking the stunning outdoor swimming pool, after which I decided to get back on my bike and visit the resort’s impressive spa and use the Technogym Studio to burn off some of those lunchtime calories. The spa features four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, while its treatment rooms offer the usual mix of massages and facials, and form part of a wellness centre whose facilities would be hard to improve on.

Before dinner we were treated to a drink - or two - in the hotel’s stylish Granita Bar, where bar manager and resident mixologist Cristian

Concari conjures up a range of superb cocktails.

Cristian spent many years in London working in the capital’s finest bars and I can thoroughly recommend trying out one of his specials, including the Zafferano, which is made from oaksmoked whiskey, lemon juice and a homemade saffron syrup. After that we headed to the resort’s beachside Amare restaurant, where we dined on an amazing seafood platter as the sun went down.

The following day, our last at the resort, I managed to squeeze in another quick 18 holes on the East Course – which went up even more in my estimation second time around, even if my golf wasn’t quite so good. As we had an early flight the following morning, we headed back to Palmero for the final night, staying in another luxury Rocco Forte hotel, the five-star Villa Igiea, a 120-yearcentury palazzo, with turrets and colonnades, which is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Med. All of the 78 huge and elaborately decorated rooms and suites – designed by Sir Rocco’s sister, Olga Polizzi – boast amazing sea views, and the whole hotel experience proved a wonderful way to finish a trip that will linger long in the memory.

GOLF PACKAGES ■ SIR ROCCO FORTE'S STYLISH VILLA IGIEA HOTEL IN PALERMO

A three-night stay in a double room at Verdura, including three rounds of golf and daily breakfast, costs from €312pp for bookingS made between now and November 12. For more details, visit www.roccofortehotels.com

[42] APRIL 2022 | TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

RELIVE THE RYDER CUP AT GLORIOUS GLENEAGLES IF YOU FANCY FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the Ryder Cup heroes of 2014, then now is the time to book up a spring break to the fabulous Gleneagles Resort in Scotland.

Set in 850 acres at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, Gleneagles is a world-class resort offering guests an unrivalled choice of sports and leisure facilities. When it first opened in 1924 it was described as ‘a Riviera in the highlands’, and today the five-star resort retains that ambience, and a ratio of more than one staff member to every guest ensures an unprecedented level of service.

Gleneagles is home to three championship courses, as well as the nine-hole ‘Wee Course’. The courses were the inspiration of two of the world’s most famous golfers; James Braid, five-time winner of the Open, designed the King’s and Queen’s, while Jack Nicklaus created The PGA Centenary Course, on which the 2014 Ryder Cup was staged so successfully, as well as the 2019 Solheim Cup, which saw Europe triumphant once again.

The Centenary Course plays between 5,065 and 7,081 yards, due to five tee options at each hole, and from the back tees is the longest inland course in Scotland. Nicklaus combined the best of the earlier designs to create a modern classic that offers carpet-like fairways, deep-filled white sandy bunkers, and firm putting surfaces. With plenty of risk-reward holes, a smattering of water, and big greens on which pins can be tucked away, it’s a classic Ryder Cup course.

The 6,741-yard King’s Course, a regular host of the Scottish Open back in the day, is a traditional inland links, and features more undulating, slightly less manicured fairways than the Centenary. The par threes are particularly memorable, with the 160-yard 5th playing to raised green with trouble and steep banks on all sides, while the 7th, has a touch of the 12th at Augusta about it, albeit without the water to contend with.

The Queens is a classic heathland layout, with touches of woodland and moorland golf thrown in for good measure. At 5,965 yards, it is significantly shorter than its neighbours, but no less demanding. Occupying the highest ground on the estate, it offers stunning views over the surrounding countryside, which will come as a welcome distraction should you find yourself spending too much time in the heather.

Other golfing experiences can be enjoyed on a superb 18-hole, par-3 Wee Course, and there’s also a nine-hole pitch-and-putt close to the hotel which is ideal for young families to give golf a go in more relaxed surroundings.

Away from the courses, three restaurants and bars provide awardwinning menus and a choice of over 100 malt whiskies. The estate offers a wealth of outdoor pursuits, including horse riding, shooting, fly-fishing, falconry, mountain biking, tennis, squash and off-road driving.

AROEIRA TROPHY SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON LISBON GOLF A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE ON AND OFF THE COURSE at one of Portugal’s most iconic golfing venues awaits players competing in this year’s Aroeira Trophy, which will take place from June 1-5.

Organised by ORIZONTE – Lisbon Golf, tournament packages for the 2022 Aroeira Trophy cost €470 per person, based on two people sharing a room, and include four nights’ bedand-breakfast accommodation at the chic Aroeira Lisbon Hotel and three rounds of golf on Aroeira’s two championship courses –Pines Classic and Challenge.

A welcome cocktail, free golf shuttles and a prize-giving dinner are also included – with a two-night stay for two people at the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel including two rounds of golf on offer to the winner of the 54-hole competition.

Designed by Frank Pennink and meandering through tall avenues of pine forest and surrounded by wildlife and nature, Pines Classic plays to 6,650 yards and demands accuracy and placement off the tee if you’re to score well.

Opened in 2000 and designed by Donald Steel, Aroeira’s Challenge course compliments its older sibling well and visitors will discover a course that possesses a few more thrills and spills along the way. At more than 7,000 yards from the tips, the course bares its teeth with water in play on nine holes and large, undulating greens testing the putter to the max.

Alongside the courses on the stunning Aroeira estate, the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel provides the ultimate in chic modern design, including 68 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a spa and a bar and restaurant, and offers easy access to the sandy beaches of the Costa Azul region.

ORIZONTE provides golfers with the opportunity to play five of the leading courses in and around Lisbon, together with exceptional value for money on a wide range of accommodation options.

For more details about the 2022 Aroeira Trophy and to book a place, email booking@ orizontegolf.com or visit www.orizontegolf.com.

For fitness obsessives, there are cycling, jogging and powerwalking trails, while the pulses can also be raised on a guided tour of the estate on two-wheeled Segways. The spa boasts 20 private treatment rooms offering every conceivable face and body treatment, two swimming pools, outdoor hot pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, gym and fitness training, a beauty salon, and posttreatment relaxation areas.

Stay-and-play packages during May start from £344 per person per night, including bed and breakfast, full use of the spa facilities, and a round of golf on The King’s or Queen’s. A round on the Centenary course can be added at £145.

For bookings, visit gleneagles.com or call 01764 449 029.

GRAB A SLICE OF THE GOLF LIFE WITH SOTOGRANDE PROPERTY GOLFERS LOOKING FOR GUARANTEED SUNSHINE and access to one of the best golfing regions in Spain, are being offered the chance to grab their own slice of golfing heaven with the sale of a superb pair of villas in the heart of Sotogrande in the Costa del Sol. The two properties, which are on the same plot of land, were built by a British builder in 2010, who is now selling them on due to imminent retirement.

Located 12 miles from Gibraltar and with easy access to dozens of world class courses, including San Roque, Almenara, Valderrama, Alcaidesa and the two courses at Sotogrande, the air-conditioned villas are separate, making them ideal for guests, rental income from long and short lets. Facilities include a 10m x 5m swimming pool, four private patio areas for dining and entertaining and parking for up to a dozen cars.

Priced at only £695,000, interested parties should email john@colomendy.co.uk or call John on 07785774590 for further details.

TRAVEL & BREAKS | APRIL 2022 [43] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SAMPLE OF SLICE OF SUSSEX

BY THE SEA AT THE BEACHCROFT IF THE IDEA OF COMBINING A TRADITIONAL BEACHSIDE BREAK WITH A FEW ROUNDS OF GOLF In one of the most picturesque parts of the country, then The Beachcroft Hotel in Felpham, West Sussex, is certain to tick some of your holiday boxes.

Located in the village of Felpham, on of the outskirts of Bognor Regis, The Beachcroft Hotel offer 40 spacious, well-appointed rooms, including dog-friendly ground floor rooms, family sea view rooms with a private terrace and a luxury penthouse suite with balcony.

For couples, families and small groups looking for a little more privacy or an extra touch of luxury, the Beachcroft also offers a range of four Beach Hut Suites. Opened in 2019, and located just a few yards from the hotel, these stunning split-level apartments offer two bedrooms, bathroom, and a double height sitting room leading out to a private deck directly overlooking the sea. They are kitted out with comfy sofas, Smeg fridges, coffee and tea-making facilities and big flatscreen TVs with Netflix.

A wide range of family-friendly facilities, including a spa, swimming pool and gym, and a choice of excellent eating options, make the Beachcroft a great beachside bolthole in which to relax and unwind. The newly expanded garden terrace restaurant Blake’s, with outdoor dining pods, offers light bites and traditional afternoon tea, while Tamarisk Restaurant and Monty’s Bistro serves freshly caught seafood dishes and traditional British fare.

The hotel also serves as the ideal springboard from which to explore the area and play some of the areas excellent golf courses. Just a few miles is the always enjoyable layout at Bognor Regis Golf Club, while there are two 18-hole courses on offer at Chichester Golf Club 15 minutes further inland, Golf at Goodwood’s Park Course, while Littlehampton Golf Club’s superb links/parkland style layout is just a few miles along the coast to the east.

Rates for B&B at the Beachcroft Hotel start from £126 B&B per night (Sun- Thurs) in a Classic Room based on two adults sharing. Beach Hut Suites, catering for up to four guests, start from £275. For more information, visit www.beachcroft-hotel.com or call 01243 827142.

Midweek green fees on Chichester Golf’s Cathedral Course start from £27. To book a tee time, visit www.chichestergolf.com.

Travel with

Sir Viv Richards Former West Indian cricket captain Sir Viv Richards, reveals that he could have traded his bat for a set of golf clubs, but the 70-year-old Antiguan is making up for lost time by playing golf at every opportunity My earliest holiday memory is… hopping on a bus to stay with relatives on the east side of Antigua. When we were children there were no funds for holidays. That was our break. Still, it was exciting for a little boy like me, and my grandmother was a fine cook.

I think she gave me my love of seafood — wherever I go, I try and make sure there’s good fish to be had.

My first trip abroad was… on board a fishing boat as a 14-year-old schoolboy cricketer, travelling to the inter-island games. From there it was quite a shock to be on a plane to India for a Test — 70,000 people at the first game, more than lived on Antigua. Being able to travel was one of the great incentives for playing cricket – particularly to see England. We would listen to the commentary of John Arlott and Brian Johnston, hear them describe the ground, the weather, the break for tea... I was determined to get there, and cricket was the key.

DORSET RESORT SERVES UP TEMPTING SPRING BREAKS THE DORSET GOLF RESORT In Bere Regis has long held a reputation for being a quality golf break destination, thanks to its 27 holes of championship golf spread across its acclaimed Lakeland, Parkland and Woodland Courses, combined with its wide range of five-star accommodation.

The choice of quality accommodation, which includes 14 five-star eco lodge homes, two luxury cottages, and a 16-bedroom hotel, has been attracting stay-and-play golfers for many years, while the condition of the golf courses, and superb catering and hospitality, is clearly a winning combination for visitors.

The Woodland Course, which is cut through a forest of rhododendrons, boasts banks of pink, red and purple flowers through the summer, sparking thoughts of Augusta. The Lakeland and Parkland nine are also blessed with flourishes of rhododendron and cherry blossom, and the views across the huge lakes are spectacular. With a promise of no winter tees or temporary greens, and excellent drainage, the courses are always presented in great condition all year round.

A two-night stay in the hotel starts from £128.95pp (Mon-Thurs), with three rounds of golf, a three-course dinner and breakfast. One-night lodge breaks for a minimum of four people, with two rounds of golf, start from £139pp.

For more details, call 01929 472244 or visit www. dorsetgolfresort.com.

My favourite holiday destination is…home in Antigua. When you travel as much as I did and still do, one of the things people find hard to believe is that going home is a holiday. Catching up with people and playing golf it what gives me the most pleasure. Man, I love that 19th hole. We tee off early in the morning and sometimes we’re still at the clubhouse at 10 or 11 at night. If I had to travel away from Antigua, it won’t be too far, it’d be to St Lucia, a beautiful, island, or to Grenada, for the people and that lovely laid-back lifestyle, or to St Kitts. That’s just a 25-minute hop — and they have a great golf course at the Marriott – Royal St Kitts. That’s my idea of a holiday.

■ ROYAL ST KIT TS

Favourite golf course? I have hosted a charity golf tournament every year at St Lucia Golf Club since 2002, so that has very specially place in my golfing heart. Beefy [Ian Botham] and Nasser [Hussain} always take part, and lots of other ex-cricketers, so there’s a great party atmosphere.

My home club in Antigua is Cedar Valley. It has no pretensions about being a championship layout, but the views are amazing and there’s always a great vibe in the clubhouse.

I always took my golf clubs with me when I toured with the West Indies, so we usually managed to get a few rounds in during every test series. If I had had the chance to play golf earlier in my life, before I took up cricket, I would probably have had a decent chance of making a career of it, but golf has always been my passion outside of cricket, and it’s great to be able to play it as you get older.

My favourite holiday meal… has to be something Caribbean. I love the street food shacks that you can find all over Antigua, where they serve dishes like pepperpot, steamed fish, goat water stew and cow heel soup. For something fancier, I’ll head to Le Bistro, on the eastern side of the island, which is a classic French restaurant, or for something more chillded I’ll go to OJ’s on Crabbe Hill beach, which does great seafood.

When touring, my favourite place I visited was… Kashmir. Each country

■ ST LUCIA GOLF CLUB

has its different pluses, but Kashmir has a magical quality. The people, the culture, the houseboats at Srinagar, it was all magical. I swore to myself I would go back, hire a houseboat and take a proper holiday there, but, of course, I’ve not got round to it yet.

[44] APRIL 2022 | TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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