GOLF NEWS AUTUMN 2021 (NOV-DEC)

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ISSUE 292 | AUTUMN 2021

COMPETITION

SHANE LOWRY “I had the best week of my life at the Ryder Cup"

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EQUIPMENT AND GEAR

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ME AND MY TRAVELS With cricket legend David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd

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AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS

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EDITOR'S LETTER ■ THERE WERE GLUM FACES ALL ROUND AFTER EUROPE'S HEAVY LOSS

NICK BAYLY

some out-of-form old faithfuls whose age had finally caught up with them, while he was let down by his ‘rocks’, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, both of whom failed to bring their B games, let alone their A stuff, to the matches.

That Padraig had to rely on so many out-of-form captain’s picks spoke volumes about the lack of world-class European players coming through the ranks. America’s dominance of the world rankings and Europe’s combination of old stagers and second-tier talent, and a crowd comprising 95% US fans, created a perfect storm that led to the 19-9 result, but had the matches been at ‘home’, would the result have been any different? Given the gulf in class between the two teams, I very much doubt it, but it might have stemmed the level of humiliation that was unquestionably inflicted.

To be honest, it may already be too late to panic about the potential result in Rome in two years’ time. America’s rookies, such as they were, will be even more hardened professionals by then, with plenty more reserves waiting in the wings, while the likes of Poulter, Westwood, Casey, Rose and Garcia will be well into their dotage and I'm wondering where the half-dozen or so players required to replace them are going to emerge over the next 18 months to give Team USA anything to lose sleep over.

In the unlikely event of being asked if I have any advice to pass on to Europe’s captain-in-waiting for 2023, I would make the following points. Firstly, have at least four captain’s picks, preferably five or six. Secondly, don’t be afraid of youth. If you’re good enough to play on tour, your good enough to beat anyone over 18 holes. Thirdly, if a pairing gets hammered in the first session of day one, don’t pick them to play together later that day or on day two.

Fourthly, don’t feel that everyone on the team has to play two or three matches. John Garner, who was picked for the 1971 and 1973 GB&I Ryder Cup teams, played just one match in ‘71 and none at all in ‘73. OK, everyone needs to play at least one under the new format, but playing out-of-form players just to make them feel better is, quite literally, pointless. Finally, don’t secretly guarantee someone a place in the team six months ahead of the matches. It sends out all the wrong signals and can only end badly for both parties.

Roll on The Rumble in Rome.

NO NEED FOR RYDER CUP PANIC, IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE It’s been six or so weeks since The Slaughter by the Water, The Whipping in Wisconsin, or The Mauling

by Lake Michigan – or whatever nickname the 43rd Ryder Cup ends up being called, which should be plenty of time to be able to look back with a calm and dispassionate eye on what went down at Whistling Straits.

The bare fact of the matter is that Europe suffered its heaviest ever defeat in the near 100-year history of the matches at the hands of a powerful, and, for once, impressively united Team USA. After dominating the opening two days of foursomes and fourballs, with sessions of 3-1, 3-1, 3-1 and 2-2, the host nation duly completed the somewhat inevitable rout with a comprehensive 8-4 win in the singles matches, all of which added up to a 19-9 demolition that will surely send aftershocks through the foundations of European golf for a while to come.

Having lost seven of the previous nine editions of the biennial contest, USA have now won successive Ryder Cups on home soil for the first time in 38 years, and with this current set of players averaging just 29 years old, look set to represent a formidable force in many Ryder Cups to come.

So what went so wrong for Europe? Should we writing off the next two or three Ryder Cup to the Stars & Stripes? Should Europe wave the white flag or the blue and yellow one?

While the knives were hardly out for European captain Padraig Harrington given that September’s result, if not the size of it, was largely expected, there were inevitably some decisions that critics regarded as questionable before and during the matches.

Short on experience and youthful ammunition, Harrington was pretty much forced into turning into

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InBrief ATKINSON WINS PGA SOUTH ORDER OF MERIT ★ Pine Ridge Golf Centre’s Lewis Atkinson finished top of the 2021 PGA South Order of Merit after an enthralling final event at the PGA Southern Championship at Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire. Atkinson, who won the PGA Surrey Open Championship held at Cuddington, had demonstrated immense consistency throughout

Peter Alliss Masters helps raise more funds for disabled children This year’s Peter Alliss Masters tournament, which was held at Old Thorns Golf Club in late September, had a special poignancy about it as it was the first that the great man who helped set up the event was no longer around to hand out the results of all the fundraising, following Peter’s death last year.

The Alliss family and trustees of the charity wanted to continue his work with disadvantaged children, and thanks to the generous support of a large number sponsors seven more wheelchairs were presented to their new owners, with another handed over a later date.

Since its inception in 1987 the event has raised more than £1.25 million for the Peter Alliss Wheelchair Crusade leading to the purchase of more than 300 wheelchairs and walking aids.

The two custom-made wheelchairs sponsored by the Hampshire Police were presented to 15-year-old Sam Deakin and 12-year-old Beau Streetford by Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Murray. Other chairs were

■COMPETITORS AND GUES TS AT THIS YEAR'S PETER ALLIS S MASTER

presented to Francesca Moss, George Leeke, Kaitlin Doyle, Amber Rawlins, Brody Land and Elyssa Harman Lea, with sponsors including Cranleigh Golf Club, Ridgeway Investments and the British Turkey Federation.

The all-important golf day was won by Geoff Creedon with 40 points, with Gary Holloway taking second place on countback from Sanjay Bhikea after both players scored 38 points. The prizes for the leading ladies went to Jenny Lowe with 34 points and Ann Spear with 32 points.

The day was completed in the evening by a gala dinner where a further £5,000 was raised, which will pay for the first new wheelchair for 2022.

the season. Going into the final tournament, the standings were extremely close between Atkinson and Guy Woodman, with Woodman leading by just five points. However, on the final

Stoke Park closes ahead of major refurbishment

day, Woodman would rue a costly bogey-bogey finish around the 6,238-yard layout to finish tied17th, two shots back of Atkinson, who finished in a tie for sixth.

The 18-point difference meant victory for Atkinson, who joined Pine Ridge earlier this year after working aboard in the US.

GANE IN THE FRAME AT TURKEY PRO-AM ★ Kent professional Chris Gane won Beko Classic Pro-Am after beating fellow Kent man Steve Tiley on the first extra hole at Carya Golf Club in Turkey. Both players finished on 10-under-par for 54 holes in the Confederation of Professional Golfers event, with Tiley closing with a 69 catch Gane who had opened up with a 64. Gane won the play-off after his rival found the water with his tee shot on the 18th hole. Brett Rankin and Pavan Sagoo shared

The final rounds of golf were played at Stoke Park last month ahead of its closure for a major refurbishment for a period of up to two years. Members took to the fairways on October 16 for one last game before the gates to the resort shut while renovations are carried out to the 27-hole course and the hotel.

A message published on Stoke Park’s social media channel in October 21 said: “Stoke Park is now closed for refurbishments. We are now entering a transitional phase as we progress our plans to restore the estate to its former glory and futureproof the business. We will be working with our neighbours, Buckinghamshire Council and all other stakeholders to develop this vision, and we look forward to sharing more details with you in due course.”

This summer, Golf News reported the sale of the Stoke Poges-based resort for £57m to Reliance Industries, a multinational conglomeration based in Mumbai that is owned by Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani. Announcing the deal, a spokesperson for Reliance said that Stoke Park would remain a members’ club and that it would ‘look to enhance the sports and leisure facilities’.

That plan is now being put into action, with renovation of the hotel and health club starting in August, while the golf club and the remainder of the 300-acre estate closed on October 18 to enable the completion of the renovation of resort’s 27-hole course. The timetable of the renovations means that the resort will not be re-opening until the summer of 2023 at the earliest.

Golfers had their memberships suspended in October, with some leaving to join other clubs nearby, while a core of members have formed a group that will play other clubs in the area for a monthly fee.

A spokesperson for Stoke Park said: “The new owners are making a major investment into the estate and are committed to preserving Stoke Park’s rich heritage and investing in its future. With every new owner comes a responsibility to progress and futureproof the success of the business and we plan on returning Stoke Park to its

■ STOKE PARK'S 27-HOLE LAYOUT HAS ALREADY BEEN PARTIALLY RENOVATED

■ THE CLUB WILL NOT REOPEN UNTIL 2023

former glory. We can cconfirm that Stoke Park will reopen for members after the planned restoration. Reliance intends to create a worldclass members club to re-open following completion of the work.”

third place.

Dyer aims to bloom under White Rose management

■ JACK DYER LOOKS TO HAVE A PROMISIING PRO CAREER AHEAD OF HIM

Promising young tour player Jack Dyer is hoping to move into the ‘premier league’ of golf after signing a contract with player management company White Rose Sports, which is co-owned by Liverpool midfielder James Milner and Brighton's Adam Lallana.

Essex-born Dyer, 22, who is a member at Boyce Hill Golf Club, made his professional debut at the British Challenge held at The Belfry in September, where he finished tied 21st, before taking part in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews last month, where he shot rounds of 74, 77 and 75 to miss the cut.

Dyer hails from Leigh-on-Sea, has spent the last four years at university in the US, having moved out there in 2016 to attend Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale before graduating

to California State University Fullerton in 2018 to represent the ‘Titans’ at collegiate level.

Dyer has enjoyed an excellent run of form in the last 18 months. In 2020, he posted course record scores at both the English Men’s Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa and the Brabazon Trophy at Sherwood Forest. Earlier this year, he won the South African Amateur Championship to progress to the match play stages where he lost in a 36-hole final.

His rich vein of form was rewarded with a call-up to the GB&I Walker Cup team, after which he registered a third-place finish in the Amateur Championship and fifth place in the English Men’s Amateur Championship in July.

Commenting on his decision to join White Rose, who will look after his on and off-course interests, Dyer said: “I’ve loved every minute of my amateur career, but I’ve reached a stage where I’m ready to take the next step and test myself against the best players in Europe and around the world. I’m really excited to be joining White Rose Sports Management.

The pedigree and experience of James and Adam, plus the expertise that Dr Stephen McGregor and the wider team provide, fills me with huge confidence as I look to build a successful career in the sport.”

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AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief WALLIS CANTERS TO VICTORY AT SANDWICH LINKS PRO-AM ★ Canterbury professional Richard Wallis cruised to victory at the PGA Sandwich Links Championship Pro-Am after shooting rounds of 69 at Royal St George’s and 65 at Prince’s.

The 40-year-old Kent player finished eight points ahead of Little Channels Golf Centre’s Jason Levermore in the stableford scoring event. Six birdies on the back nine at Prince’s completed the rout for Walliss, who has now won seven PGA titles in 2021.

Wallis also tasted victory in the team event, with his squad of Richard Canton, Mark Bryant and Simon Nunney combining to score 178 overall points over 36 holes for a one-point win over Stephen Grouwstra’s team of Will Nixon, Colin Niner and Michael Carroll.

CHESTERMAN PROVES ABLE STAND-IN AT MIDDLESEX PRO CHAMPS ★ Highgate Golf Club professional Oliver Chesterman made the most of a late call up to win the Middlesex Professionals’ Championship at Sudbury. Chesterman was asked to stand in for fellow Highgate pro Ben White after he sustained an 11th-hour back injury. And he made the most of the opportunity, firing a level-par 70 to win by a shot.

Pinner Hill’s Crue Elliott had an opportunity to force a play-off, but his eight-foot birdie putt on the final green grazed the cup and he had to settle for a tie for second with Luke Goddard (Hendon). Home pro James Wood was two-under early in his round before dropping shots to end up at two-over and finish in a tie for fourth spot alongside Ricky Willison.

NORTH FORELAND HOSTS NEW JUNIOR TOUR FINALS ★ The finals of the new Invicta 10s Molyneux Tour, which is aimed at golfers aged 6-10, featured five qualifying competitions this summer, with the finals taking place at North Foreland. The Kent club hosted the 31 finalists on its par-three Northcliffe Course, whose holes are between 45 yards and 140 yards long, providing the perfect place for the juniors to demonstrate the full array of their talents. Order of Merit leader Caleb Twyman claimed a deserved overall victory after the eightyear-old won three of the four events he played in, while Lauren Clarke also looks to be a potential golfing star of the future after taking top honours in the girls’ competition.

Telegraph Junior Final winners explore contrasting routes to victory

■ HARLEY SMITH AND RACHEL GOURLEY

The finals of the 2021 Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship held at Walton Heath Golf Club yielded two impressive winners who achieved their victories in very different fashion.

For boys’ champion Harley Smith it was a relaxing stroll on the heath, but for girls’ winner Rachel Gourley it was a case of stumbling across the finishing line.

Smith, 16, from Rayleigh in Essex, delivered a commanding performance on the final day at the Surrey venue with a closing round of 63 and a comprehensive 13-stroke success over Walton Heath’s emerging star, Kris Kim in the boys’ event.

Meanwhile 17-year-old Gourley took a somewhat contrasting path towards the girls’ trophy by finishing with a card-wrecking quadruple bogey eight at the final hole, yet still managing to avoid a play-off with Farnham’s Lottie Woad, winning by a single shot margin.

With rounds of 70, 67 and 63 for a 54-hole aggregate of 200, 16 under par, Smith surpassed the achievements of the tournament host and sponsor, Justin Rose, who collected the Carris Trophy and McGregor Trophy in the same season and the Telegraph Junior Championship in a different year.

The girls title also appeared to be a walk in the park for Gourley, until a meltdown at the final hole nearly cost her dearly. Holding a five-stroke lead over Woad on nine under par and cruising to victory, the Northumberland player pulled her drive at the last and proceeded to stumble her way towards the green, taking a penalty drop and going out of bounds, before ultimately holing from seven feet for an eight and the silverware. A dazed Rachel admitted afterwards: “After taking a penalty drop following my tee shot, I just seemed to go into panic mode and somehow managed to recover in time. Right now, I am experiencing a rush of emotions – excitement at winning and disappointment about how I messed up the last. Overall, though, I have to be proud of the way I made that last putt.”

Rose praised the two new champions, saying: “Congratulations to Harley and Rachel for managing their game around a difficult golf course. I hope this will act as a springboard and a spur to go on to greater achievements. I hope the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Championship has played a vital part in the finalists' development.”

Golf Plex driving range opens at former Blue Mountain site A new hi-tech driving range has opened up at the site formerly occupied by Blue Mountain Golf Course in Bracknell.

The driving range at the new Golf Plex Entertainment Centre has been kitted out with Toptracer technology, which tracks the flight of the ball and displays the results on touchscreens located in each bay. The technology enables range users to take participate in a variety of different skills challenges and games, while an in-bay food and drink service is also in operation.

Golf Plex also features a 21-hole adventure putting course which currently has 18 holes open. It is split into three loops of seven called ‘Polar’, ‘Jungle’ and Desert, with the latter due to open next Spring.

The 9-hole short course, which is scheduled to open in 2022, will be primarily designed for beginners and those new to the game, it will also offer the chance for more experienced players to practice their short game. There is café on site serving snacks, drinks and pizzas.

Golf Entertainments Ltd, the company which owns the site, is promising an accessible experience for aspiring golfers and families who may be put off by more traditional golf clubs.

Golf services manager Bayley Tustin said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the response from local golfers. It’s such a user-friendly facility, and it’s ideal for all the family, from little kids to experienced golfers, we want them to be comfortable in a fun, exciting environment. We have Sky Sports and music playing in the bays and the outfield is one of the most impressive I’ve seen.”

■ GOLF PLEX AIMS TO ATTR ACT A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE

Richardson wins Kent Mid-Am title Ed Richardson won Kent Golf’s Mid Age Championship after shooting rounds of 69 and 67 at Langley Park Golf Club.

His impressive two-under-par 136 total saw the Redlibbets member, who plays off plus four, finish a single shot ahead of Matthew Gibson (Royal Blackheath), with Joe Hooper (Wrotham Heath) three shots further adrift in third. The nett competition was won by Phil Judge (Rochester & Cobham with a 141 total off a two handicap. The tournament attracted a field of 56 players.

The Belfry sold to US investment bank The Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs is to become the new owner of The Belfry, one of the world’s best-known golfing resorts.

Sky News has learnt that a property fund run by Goldman has usurped the giant bond fund manager Pimco as the preferred bidder for the Warwickshire hotel and golf courses.

A source close to Goldman said on Thursday that the purchase price was expected to be in the region of £140m.

The sale will bring long-running efforts by the Belfry’s current owner, KSL Capital Partners, to offload the 550-acre site, which it bought in 2012.

Savills, the real estate advisory firm, has been working for KSL on the mandate for several months.

KSL conducted an auction of the asset in 2017 but opted against a sale.

NEWS | AUTUMN 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

AW21 COLLECTION

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AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief POPERT ENJOYS HIGH FINISH AT IRISH AMATEUR ★ Kent’s Kipp Popert continued his rise up the golfing ranks with a top-15 finish at the Irish Amateur Open Championship.

The 23-year-old from the Wildernesse Club, who is no.1 in the world ranking for golfers with disability, carded rounds of 76, 72 and 79 in challenging conditions

Sutton Green under threat of closure to make way for retirement village Sutton Green Golf Club in Surrey is in talks with a property developer to sell off its course so that it can be converted into a retirement village.

The Woking-based club, which first opened in 1994 and whose 18-hole course was designed by Laura Davies, sent letters out to its membership in August advising that the club has received an offer from Quinn Estates to purchase the site with a view to building retirement homes, subject to planning approval.

In the letter, the club’s directors acknowledged it will ‘come as a shock’ but reiterated that it was only a proposal at present, which needed to go through a ‘complex planning procedure to reach fruition’.

The club, which currently charges £1,750 per year for full membership, has said it will reimburse lifetime members if the course does ultimately close. The club currently continues to operate as normal and the management has said that the standard of facilities ‘will not be compromised’.

Among those objecting to the proposed sell-off is Woking councillor Simon Ashall, who said: “Sutton Green is in a greenbelt site and in the middle of one of the greenest parts of the borough. Accommodation for older people is generally welcomed, but I do not think that on its own constitutes special circumstances for building on our greenbelt. Residents are concerned and I can’t imagine how I could ever

■ SUTTON GREEN LOOKS SET TO CLOS

E

support an application on greenbelt in Sutton Green. There is already a care home right next to the course, and a further residential home is close by, so I do not think it is something we have a particular need for in the borough.”

Quinn Estates put forward a proposal to build 850 houses at Broke Hill Golf Club in Kent earlier this year. The plans were thrown out

by Sevenoaks District Council, although the decision is now going to appeal.

at the European Club to finish tied 15th on 14 over par. Popert, who competed in the tournament with the use of buggy on account of his condition, which makes it painful

Slip! Slap! golf day goes with a swing at Mannings

to walk, finished just 10 shots behind the winner, Peter O’Keefe, who became the first player since Padraig Harrington to win the Irish Close and Open titles in the same year.

BOOZER’S DELIGHT AFTER TEISE TROPHY TRIUMPH ★ The drinks were on Kent golfer Paul Boozer last month, after the Sheerness amateur won this year’s Teise Trophy at Lamberhurst Golf Club in Kent. A score of 152 overall in the Kent Golf Order of Merit event was enough to seal victory in the

The Slip! Slap! Swing! golf day held at Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate in West Sussex proved a huge success, with golfers turning out in their numbers to help raise money for the Melanoma Fund, a charity that runs skin cancer prevention campaigns, raises awareness of the importance of sun protection.

Dr Elizabeth Blakeway and Dr Jan von der Werth were on hand throughout the day to provide skin check appointments and offer advice to competitors on their skin health and sun protection routines on the golf course.

Dr von der Werth said: “About 25% of the people I saw had significant skin lesions. Two had atypical naevi that I recommended for removal. Others had actinic keratoses which required GP treatment, so this was a day that was

not just fun but impactful, and certainly worth the checks and a good enough reason to repeat such an event.”

Guests were able to raises further funds by entering a raffle with prizes including four-ball tee times at Chartham Park, Minchinhampton, Grange and Mullion golf clubs. A putting competition to win a SIK putter was held on Manning Heath’s practice putting green, while there were plenty of challenges on the way around, with nearest the pins, longest drives and beat the pro, where competitors were challenged to get closer to the pin than former Ryder Cup player Paul Way. After golf, players enjoyed a chilled glass of Mannings Estate Cuvée, while being entertain by Jeremy Dale’s golf trick show.

Dinner was held in the club’s beautifully appointed Campbell room,

■ TEAM YUMAX TOOK HOME THE WINNER'S TROPHY

after which the evening’s entertainment included a question-and-answer session with Paul Way, followed by the prize-giving ceremony, which saw Team Yumax’s quartet of Ben Davis, Ali Gill, Andrew Smith and Rhys Western take the spoils.

30-strong low handicap amateur competition. He beat Adam Perfect (Rochford Hundred) by two shots, with Tommy Fancett (Weald of Kent) finishing third on countback after both players tried on 154. The prize for the best nett score went to

Sussex end three years of hurt to claim Senior County title

Lamberhurst’s Nigel Olier with a handicap score of 142.

RUTHLESS RUTH WINS DEVON LINKS FESTIVAL ★ Devon’s James Ruth defied the elements and strong opposition to win the PGA South West region’s North Devon Links Festival.

Played over three courses, Royal North Devon and the East and West courses at Saunton, Making the most of his local knowledge, Ruth fired rounds of 69, 71 and 73 to claim the £1,600 first prize. The China Fleet player was the only competitor to finish under par, with Martin Stimson (Glyn Abbey GC) finishing second on levels.

Sussex finally put the heartbreak of three near misses behind them when they claimed an impressive victory at the 2021 English Senior Men’s County Finals at Grange Park Golf Club in St Helens.

There were various permutations at play on the final day which could have seen Dorset and Warwickshire pip Sussex to the title. However, the arithmetic for Sussex was straightforward – a win against Dorset would see them crowned county kings.

As if inspired by this thought and perhaps spurred on by the prospect of exorcising ghosts of the past, Sussex flew out the traps. From very early on in the final day’s play it became clear there was only going to be one winner. Graham secured the first point for Sussex with a thumping 5&4 win over David Barton. Martin Galway followed that up with a 4&2 triumph against John Smith and Andrew Smith nailed another point with a 2&1 victory over Phil Bill.

With the teams being awarded half a point each for the top match which didn’t take place due to an injury to Dorset’s Tony Coles, the South East region champions needed just one more point to get over the line.

The 4.5 points mark was reached when both Colin Jones and Paul Plant were

guaranteed at least half a point from their games by going dormie two up. In the end, both men won their games on the final hole and the Sussex side were able to begin the celebrations for real.

Just for good measure Martin King and Doug Park contributed half points from the bottom two matches safe in the knowledge that the win was already in the bag to seal a 6.5-1.5 triumph.

That result sparked joyous celebrations that have been four years in the making for Rick Thomas and many of his team. For three consecutive years from 2017, Sussex were the bridesmaids in this event.

On two of those occasions they had the trophy ripped from their grasp right at the death by some inspired play from Yorkshire and Lancashire.

For captain Thomas, the victory was special and sweet for so many from the county who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes and had to endure some crushing disappointments along the way.

“I’m exhausted, it’s taken four years to get here,” confirmed the Sussex skipper after sealing the win at Grange Park in St Helens. “These guys have deserved it for the last four years and now they’ve actually done it.

It’s been taken from their grasp on three occasions and I’m very proud of them. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to win it again!”

Steve Graham was part of the squad which has had one hand on the trophy in past two occasions it was played only for Sussex to somehow snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Ireland international said: “It’s fantastic. The last three years it’s been won by other teams and they have enjoyed their moment and I’m sure we will enjoy our moment. It was hard work against three good counties and it’s never easy. I suppose it was ours to lose – but we turned up and performed brilliantly. The guys have done brilliantly as a team.”

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Dummer set for new lease of life under Basingstoke ownership Dummer Golf Club in Hampshire is to benefit from a major renovation of its golf course and clubhouse facilities following its purchase by Basingstoke Golf Club.

The former Basingstoke Golf Club was sold for housing last year, ten years after the initial agreement to sell up, and is relocating to Dummer, and changing the name of the club to Basingstoke Golf Course. The new Basingstoke Golf Club is now set to build a new clubhouse and driving range and embark on a course upgrade.

A planning statement submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said: “It is the club’s intention to provide an enhanced golfing facility, adaptable to future needs and economically viable in the long-term. Improving the golf course design will create a more natural landscape and offer a greater variety of strategy options for a wide range of golfers. Changing the quality, size and shape of all greens and improving general playing surfaces will create a more challenging, sustainable and enjoyable course.”

The statement went on: “Whilst the golf course is situated in an attractive location, the quality of existing contouring and landscaping is comparatively poor. Some of the ponds and

■ THE 13TH HOLE HAS A MUCH MORE OPEN FEEL FOLLOWING THE TREE CLEARING PROJECT

The Addington unveils newlook 13th hole The Addington Golf Club in Surrey is carrying out some significant renovations to its historic 18-hole heathland course with a view to returning it to the condition that it was presented to golfers when it first opened back in 1913.

Over the years the treeline has encroached on many of the Old Course’s fairways, tees and greens, altering the playability and the sightlines on many of the holes that were designed by JF Abercromby.

Among the first holes to be tackled is the iconic par-3 13th which had suffered from an overgrowth of rhododendrons on the 230-yard hole. The club’s course management team have embarked on a woodland management programme, cutting down trees and cutting back the rhododendrons to reveal areas that will be scraped to encourage heather regeneration The club has been part of the Altonwood Golf Group portfolio since 2006, and has been the subject to ongoing improvements that have significantly enhanced the experience on and off the course. Recent winters have seen the complete renovation of all 34 bunkers, which have been rebuilt and reshaped to return them to the original design. Ten new tees have also been rebuilt and others levelled, while new paths have been constructed.

The fairways have benefitted from a ‘green waste’ regeneration programme that has considerably enhanced their condition, while a new passive capillary drainage system has resulted in much-improved putting surfaces. A heather regeneration programme has also been instigated to return the course to its original heathland design, while the historic clubhouse has also benefitted ■ A VIEW OF THE 13TH HOLE from considerable BEFORE THE TREE CLEARANCE investment.

Blackmoor captains’ charities raise £19,000 for good causes ■ DUMMER GOLF CLUB HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY BASINGTOKE GOLF CLUB

irrigation reservoirs are unattractive and utilitarian and were not designed to promote biodiversity enhancements. It is also the case that the course, whilst irrigated, is not hydrologically sourced to remain green and verdant throughout the year.”

The plans also include a new driving range with covered bays and a direct covered connection to the new clubhouse for ease of access during bad weather.

A spokesperson for the club said: “The existing clubhouse was built in 1992 and predates contemporary sustainable construction methods and energy efficiency standards. A replacement clubhouse provides an opportunity to introduce a contemporary, high-quality design, consistent with modern sustainability standards.”

Chelsfield Lakes unveils driving range upgrade Chelsfield Lakes Golf Centre In Kent has put itself at the forefront of golf technology with the installation of a TrackMan range system that is set transform the driving range experience for players of all skill levels.

Professionals, experienced amateurs and beginners can all take advantage of the same state-of-the-art technology used by some of the world’s top players at the popular Orpington-based venue, with users being given access to a wide array of tools and games that are built for both performance and entertainment.

For the more experienced player, the TrackMan system offers a host of different modes which accurately track and record ball speed, carry, launch angle, precise distances, and shot-shaping via a 27-inch touchscreen – vital knowledge for taking your golf game to the next level.

With the range reopening in December, the investment also includes top-of-the-range Srixon balls as standard, refurbished astroturf, added bay dividers and a host of new targets to aim at out on the range.

Should golfers need to work on their swing with a coach or be fitted for some new equipment, there are two additional rooms equipped with a separate Trackman 4 video system, designed to analyse a player’s swing to the finest detail.

For those less experienced, the interactive screens provide several fun games and even allow users to load up some of the world’s most top courses and play them as though they were there. Even without a golf club in hand, the range offers plenty to keep visitors entertained, with TV screens, charging stations and the opportunity to order food from the comfort of the benches in the bays.

Nick Hughes, general manager at Chelsfield Lakes, said: “We are incredibly excited to open the range up to the public so that people can see all the work we have put in. Not only have we made massive changes to the bays, but the new Trackman system has the opportunity to totally revolutionise driving range experiences.

“We really believe it is going to be a massive hit with both experienced and new golfers, and with all the different options and games that the system provides, we can say with confidence that there is going to be something for everyone to enjoy on the range.”

■ THE RANGE HAS BEEN FITTED WITH TRACKMAN

Blackmoor Golf Club’s captains’ charities have raised more than £19,000 for the UK Sepsis Trust and Hampshire Alzheimer & Dementia Society following 18 months of fundraising by members at the popular Hampshire venue.

The donations were presented to representatives from both charities on October 16 during the annual Captain’s Drive-in. Outgoing club captain Dennis Pym’s chosen charity, the UK Sepsis Trust, was awarded £8,847, while Hampshire Alzheimer & Dementia Society accepted a cheque for £10,191, bringing the total donation to £19,038.

Speaking at the presentation, Pym said it had been a privilege to be able to support the UK Sepsis Trust, an organisation which helps to prevent deaths from the lifethreatening condition.

Commenting on the donations, Frances Hudson said: “Proceeds have been raised by holding plenty of fundraising events and activities which encourage donations from our members, these included charity coffee mornings, captain’s raffles, fun golf days, cake baking, as well as individual donations from members. I’m extremely grateful to everyone for their support and generosity during my captaincy.”

Speaking at the presentation Alzheimer’s Community Fundraiser, Andy Kendall said: “Like all charities, our income has taken a huge blow due to the pandemic, while demand for our vital dementia support services has sky-rocketed. Without the generosity of supporters like the members of Blackmoor we simply cannot keep up.

Their donation will make a big difference to lives of people affected by dementia and their families who have never needed us more.”

The club has elected its new captains for 2022, with Kevin Quinn taking over as club captain, Vi Ricketts as ladies captain and Nigel Barrow as seniors captain. The club’s charity for 2022 is Myeloma UK, is the only UK charity focused on the discovery, development and treatment for Myeloma, a blood cancer arising from plasma cells.

■BLACKMOOR'S OUTGOING CAPTAINS HAND OVER FUNDS RAISED FROM THEIR YEAR IN OFFICE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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[12] AUTUMN 2021

COURSE REVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

DRIVING

IN

THE

DU N E S

After hearing the rave reviews about Dumbarnie Links, Golf News reader Chris Meldrum travelled to Fife to find what all the fuss was about

■ DUMBARNIE LINKS, WHICH OPENED IN 2020, LOOKS DESTINED TO FEATURE HIGH IN THE WORLD'STOP COURSE RANKINGS

A

course opening in arguably the most famous golfing area in the world has to be very special, otherwise it stands no chance of being successful given St Andrews and Kingsbarns are its neighbours – not to mention the likes of Elie, Lundin, Ladybank and Leven. Ever since I watched the Women’s Scottish Open in August, shortly after Dumbarnie Links had opened, I had wanted to experience the course for myself.

My first impression, after after a 20-minute drive from my base in St Andrews, was a pleasant one, with a short winding drive down to the clubhouse, called The Old Barn, which only opened in April earlier this year. You know as soon as you enter the clubhouse you’re in for a fantastic experience. I couldn’t speak highly enough of the food and the all-round service was outstanding, which seems to come down from General Manager David Scott.

The clubhouse fits perfectly into its surroundings, making use of local stone. Simplicity and style run throughout the interiors, leaving the drama left for the outside on the incredible Clive Clark-designed course.

As soon as you walk onto the first tee, and cast your eyes down the fairway to the rows of man-made dunes that lie in wait, you know you are in for a special day. After having a friendly chat with our starter, who gave us our goody bag, it was decided that our tee of choice for the day was going to be the blues, which came in at 6,400 yards and proved to be the perfect choice. Total yardage for the course varies from 5,300 to 6,900 yards, although there is a special set of back tees on 12 holes that could take the course up to 7,600 yards should it ever hold a men's tour event, which I'm sure it will one day.

It doesn't take more than a few holes into the round to understand what a fantastic job designer Clive Clark and his team have done. There are so

many great holes on the opening stretch, many of which look even better if you take the walk back to the tees. In a fascinating piece of design, Dumbarnie doesn’t allow you to have a sneak peek of what’s in front of you before your next tee shot.

It reveals itself slowly, like the pages of a thriller.

There are opportunities to score, with several riskand-reward par fours, but I forgot how many times I said ‘wow’ as I reached each tee. The balance of holes is probably perfect – generous off the tee and a good mix of elevations and twists and turns, while 14 of the holes offer stunning views of the Firth of Forth. If I had to chose my favourite hole, it would be a toss up between the gorgeous par-3 8th and par-4 9th, both of which will long in the memory.

The green surrounds and contours are nothing short of amazing, as was the overall condition.

As I headed off into the back nine, I would have to admit, that I was having one of my most fun times of a golf course, I wasn’t birdieing every hole, or even having the round of my life, but purely enjoying the course and what lay ahead on the back nine.

The start of the back nine seemed to be tougher, even though there is the reachable par-4 12th, where I lost my first ball of the round. The 10th definitely fits the bill as Stroke Index 1, with a second shot required to carry some 240 yards over water…I laid up on that one.

Holes 15-18 are set up to create the drama we all love on a golf course, with 15 and 17 being birdie chances and 16 and 18 being two very demanding holes indeed - there is such a great mixture for golfers of all abilities.

After my round, I was left to reflect on how perfect, Dumbarnie has managed to be in just a few month’s and it’s only going to get better. I loved the open space – all 350 acres of it – and the lack of buildings, other than the clubhouse, gives a splendid feeling of isolation. And if you’re lucky enough to play in the sunshine, as we did, they can’t be many other places you would rather be.

People have asked me if it’s worth the £258 green fee. My answer is 'Every damn penny of it'.

Definitely put Dumbarnie on your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to return.

■ MULTIPLE TEEING OPTIONS ENABLE THE COURSE TO PLAY FROM 5,300 TO 7,600 YARDS

■ CHRIS TEEING OFF AT DUMBARNIE'S PAR-3 8TH, ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE HOLES

ABOUT DUMBARNIE Dumbarnie Links is part of The Balcarres Estate which is owned by Lord Balniel. The 5,000-acre estate has been in the same family for more than 400 years and the distinctiveness of this piece of land dates back to the 16th century.

Visitor Green Fees range from £185-£270 Caddie Fees: Single Caddie £56, Fore Caddie £80 (plus optional gratuity) For further information visit www.dumbarnielinks.com

NEWS | AUTUMN 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[13]

[14] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Plant rises to the challenge in Provence Kent’s Alfie Plant secured the first Challenge Tour title of his professional career after coming out on top in a three-way play-off at the Hopps Open de Provence in France.

The 29-year-old from Sundridge Park started the final round six shots behind third round leader Lukas Nemecz, but a brilliant five-under-par 67 saw him move 17 under and earn a place in play-off with Nemecz and Germany’s Marcel Schneider at Golf International de Pont Royal.

Plant put himself out of position off the tee on the first extra hole, but recovered brilliantly to make a birdie, while his rivals could only manage pars.

Plant, who turned pro in 2017 after winning the Silver Medal at the Open Championship, said: “It feels amazing to have won my first Challenge Tour event. I felt like I was out of it on the front nine, but I just kept telling myself to keep playing my game, try to nick a few birdies and you never know what can happen. I made two great birdies at 16 and 17, and a great up-and-down at the last to get in the play-off. I can’t really believe it.”

Having played eight consecutive Challenge Tour events prior to teeing it up in Provennce, Plant said he felt mentally and physically drained before the week but believes the lack of expectation allowed him to flourish in France.

“To be honest, it’s probably the worst I’ve felt at the beginning of the week,” he said.

"I felt exhausted because this is my eighth week on the bounce,, so I had very few expectations coming into the week, which definitely helped out there.”

Since his win in France, Plant has missed the cut in events in Portugal and Switzerland, but finished 59th the Emporda Challenge in Spain, and currently lies 26th in the Road to Mallorca rankings and he’s eyeing up the chance to earn European Tour playing rights for the 2022 season. The final event of the season, the Rolex Grand Tour Final, takes place a T-Golf & Country Club in Mallorca from November 4-7, when the final standings will be decided.

“I was hovering around 70th in the money list, so I was worried about keeping my card for next year, but the win has put me at ease now,” said a relieved Plant. “I can start looking at the top end of the rankings and see where I am at the end of the year.”

Chesfield Downs charity day raises vital funds of mental health charity More than £8,000 has been raised at a fundraising golf day held at Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club for an awardwinning mental health charity.

Golfers took to the fairways at the Hertfordhsire club on September 6 to raise funds for PoetsIN, which helps people from all walks of life manage their mental health and wellbeing through writing or other creative approaches.

The day consisted of tournaments, competitions and auctions, raising a total of £8,236 for the charity. In teams of four, each group paid £250 to play the 18-hole course, with refreshments and a lunch also included.

Various competitions also took place on the day, such as a putting tournament, a longest drive competition and a nearest the pin contest. Additionally, attendees got the chance to challenge Chesfield Downs’ professional James Clarke in a ‘beat the pro’ competition. People also donated personal items to be sold in an auction, with artist Sarah Graham raising £1,000 alone for her

artwork.

Paul Chambers, co-founder and chief operating officer of PoetsIN, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people coming together to raise vital funds to support this leading mental health charity. The day was a great way to bring the local community together, while also raising money for an important cause. We are so thankful for the money which has been donated to us. These funds will help so many people who are struggling with their mental health.”

PoetsIN is an awardwinning organisation which offers a safe space for people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Its Creative Mental Health Programme encourages people to express their feelings via the medium of writing or other creative approaches.

Club Company course investment continues across South-East venues The Club Company has invested in course improvements across several of its clubs this summer to enhance the golfing experience for members and green fee customers.

Nizels Golf Club in Sevenoaks has recently completed an ambitious programme of course improvements designed to improve playing conditions and extend the use of the course.

The club worked with international golf course architect Jonathan Gaunt to lay out plans for significant drainage and bunker works over the summer, including the addition of substantial main drainage and extensive gravel banding.

The bunker works included re-shaping and infilling existing bunkers, as well as the

construction of new bunkers. A total of 15 bunkers have been added or re-designed, which has dramatically improved the look and playability of eight of the 18 holes that Nizels offers. The work has finished ahead of schedule and the ongoing recovery has been helped by ideal weather conditions.

Nizels’ Golf Operations Manager Tito Triana commented: “Our members have been amazingly supportive throughout the works, so much so that the work has completed ahead of schedule and areas have recovered extremely quickly. We are amazed with the final results and feel these changes make our course one of the best in the South-East.”

The first green shoots of growth have appeared on a new short game area

Big future for Biggs at Berkhamsted

Junior Academy and various senior golf initiatives, as well as running a full lessons programme and acting as host for the club’s society and corporate bookings.

“I am thrilled to secure my first Head Professional job at one of England’s top 100 golf clubs,” said Biggs. “Berkhamsted is one of the true natural wonders of British golf, and I am thoroughly looking forward to helping to forge the future at a place which is so rich in history and heritage.

“I must also pay tribute to the members and staff at Roehampton Club, where I spent many happy years: I couldn’t have wished for a better place to be while I learnt my trade as a golf pro. As tends to happen in sport, I know

Berkhamsted Golf Club has appointed Joe Biggs as the first directlyemployed Head Professional in its 130year history.

In a double first, it is also Biggs’s first job as a Head Professional, after spending seven years at the Roehampton Club in Surrey, where he was Head Assistant.

Having started the role in August, the 29-year-old Derbyshire-born PGA Professional wasted no time in overseeing a major refurbishment of the club’s pro shop and he has also introduced Trackman technology and Callaway range balls for the club’s 350yard driving range. Biggs will also be developing the club’s Ladies Academy,

■ NIZEL S HAS BENEFITTED FROM A BUNKER RENOVATION PROGRAMME

at Castle Royle in Reading, the construction of which started in midApril and is on track to be ready to play by spring 2022. The project will comprise an impressive multi-tiered green with several practice bunkers for greenside and fairway, as well as a modern driving range and choice of putting greens.

General Manager Mark Allden commented, “It’s a fantastic project which aims to provide premium practice facilities for our members to enjoy all year round.” The club also recently invested in new tee signage and a new fountain for the lake at the 10th hole.

Meanwhile, East Grinstead’s Chartham Park Golf Club recently underwent course renovations.

I’ll meet the friends which I made there many times in the future, as Berkhamsted becomes the exciting new chapter in my life.”

Explaining why the club had selected Joe as its new Head Professional, Club Manager Howard Craft said: “Joe’s enthusiasm, drive and hunger stood out among the candidates. He is exceptionally charismatic, and with his winning personality he has already charmed our members here! The early feedback has been fantastic. You can also see instantly that he is a very gifted coach, and takes great pride in the level of service he gives. We know we made the right choice.”

Berkhamsted popular previous long-standing Head Professional, John Clarke, whose tenure covered almost 30 years, continues to coach at the club.

NEWS | AUTUMN 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JUNIORS COLLECTION

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■ 18 ROUND ON GOODWO TE AMS ENJOYED A OD'S DOWNS COUR SE ■ GOODWOOD HOSTED A GOLF FOUNDATION GOLF SIXES EVENT IN 2019

Goodwood provides glorious way to support junior golf development

■ FAR LEFT: GOLF FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR AND PGA PROFESSIONAL NICOLA BENNETT TREATED GUESTS TO A GOLF CLINIC

The day had a really intriguing mix of history and innovation which was much commented on by the teams, and which perhaps reflected some of the great attributes of our sport.

“We love the challenge, approach, engagement and joy of seeing a child picking up a club for the first time in their school or local community, all the way through to stepping out onto the course on a GolfSixes League day wearing their team shirt. And it’s the process of watching them learn and grow along the way, not just in their golf ability, but in their confidence and life skills too, that makes our work so rewarding as a charity.”

Vanessa added: “First and foremost we are a charity and whilst we are so fortunate to be supported by our core funders such as the R&A, it is important for us to diversify and build on our income streams. We therefore rely on the generosity of individuals, clubs, organisations and companies and our own fundraising activities to help raise the money we require, particularly as there are so many children from all backgrounds that we want to reach.”

The Golf Foundation employs GolfSixes League to grow the game in clubs, along with focused support in helping golf clubs to develop their junior sections, while the charity has a thriving golf programme in schools all over the country, as well as a committed focus on helping community sport organisations to discover golf, with links to local golf venues to ensure progress. It’s all part of a strategy to reach two million youngsters through golf over the next five years. An ambitious plan that needs support.

“To this end we want our fundraising message to be seen by more people, including those from different parts of golf but also the wider sphere of corporate life,” added Vanessa. “Golf clubs raise a phenomenal amount of money for charity each year.

They provide a fantastic platform for which members and guests are incredibly generous to deserving charities. And through this platform, we are working on ways to encourage ‘golf giving back to golf’: Captains nominating us as their chosen charity, our club appeals such as Make Your Mark and Let’s Club Together, or simply clubs getting behind us and making a contribution through a fundraising activity.”

The corporate sphere is another area in which the Foundation is seeking support. The charity’s community projects, some taking place in our cities, offer further opportunities for organisations to show their help.

“And of course, we have our own events, such as the Golf Foundation Goodwood Sixes, that not only shine a light on what we do but provide a fabulous day out for club members, golfers or corporate hospitality whilst helping to raise valuable funds,” said Vanessa. “Above all, it is people that give to people. It’s those who play the game, love the game and understand all the intricacies that the game offers who truly know the opportunities they are giving to a young person when they support the Golf Foundation.”

■ ABOVE: GUESTS ENJOYED A POSTMATCH DINNER IN GOODWOOD HOUSE

To find out more about the Golf Foundation and its fundraising work, visit www.golf-foundation.org, email vanessa@golf-foundation.org or call 07741 559324.

An action-packed day at Golf At Goodwood in West Sussex proved the ideal way to raise funds for the Golf Foundation and enjoy one of England’s finest sporting estates

F

ifteen teams of four players assembled to support the recent ‘Golf Foundation Goodwood Sixes’ event.

Not a typical charity day, this was a celebration of a commitment to junior golf now and in the future.

Teams played three fun six-hole golf formats at Goodwood to raise awareness of the Golf Foundation, the national charity which introduces children from all backgrounds to golf, making a positive impact on young lives.

The charity was highly grateful to all the players who booked a place to compete, and also to many other golf-lovers who supported the Foundation in an online auction that ran alongside the event, helping to raise a combined £24,230.

The Goodwood Sixes held on The Downs Course celebrated the Foundation’s ‘GolfSixes League’ format which has been successful over the last three years or so, this year alone helping several thousand boys and girls to enjoy a start in team golf, over six holes, six a side, in team shirts – supported by their clubs, their PGA Professionals and plenty of parents and volunteers. This year more than 350 clubs have been playing in 72 Leagues across the UK and Ireland, thanks to the backing of The R&A and the Home Nations.

Before starting out, the players at Goodwood enjoyed

a special golf clinic from the Foundation’s very own Ambassador Nicola Bennett, a PGA coach taking golf into city schools in the south of England. A ‘Beat James Braid Hickory Challenge’ on the first, a Flop Shot Challenge, and matching your skill against an excellent junior player, were other oncourse attractions, while the players were able to drive the famous ‘Woody’ buggies which date back to a 1920’s design.

The day was completed with a guided tour of Goodwood House, filled with the history of the 300-year-old estate. The Duke of Richmond welcomed all the guests before a dinner was served in the magnificent ballroom.

NEED FOR FUNDRAISING TO HELP JUNIORS Vanessa Bell, Head of Fundraising for the Golf Foundation, said: “One of the stars of the day was the Goodwood Estate and its team who made all the visiting players and our charity feel so welcome. We were grateful to all our supporters who helped with the event.

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[18] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

“THE RESULT DIDN’T GO OUR WAY, BUT IT WAS THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE” After being on the receiving end of a barrage of abuse from the US fans, Shane Lowry reflects on his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits and reveals what he learned about himself from his wild week in Wisconsin

A month or so has passed since the Ryder Cup and the dust has somewhat settled. Looking back, what is your reaction to the result, your performance and the overall experience?

More than anything, I was really disappointed for Padraig [Harrington]. I don’t think he deserved the beating we got. It looks bad on paper, obviously, but it wasn’t anything that he did wrong, we just didn’t perform as a team for him.

As a rookie, I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was everything I had imagined and more. Honestly, it was the most amazing week of my golfing career. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and it’s the only thing I want to focus on for the next two years.

I don’t care what else I do, as long as I’m in the team in Rome and get the chance to try and win the cup back.

You seemed to come in for a bit of personal abuse from the American crowds at Whistling Straits. What was that like to experience on the golf course?

I don’t really care what people think about me to be honest, so I didn’t think it was that bad until I asked my wife what it was like for

■ SHANE LOWRY WAS ONE OF THE MOST FIRED UP PLAYERS IN THE EUROPEAN TEAM AND IS DESPARATE TO GET REVENGE ON THE US IN ROME IN 2023

her, and she told me that they had experienced abuse while walking around the course as well.

So, that’s not very nice, and it’s not very nice for them to have to listen to me taking some flack. But that was only a small percentage of the crowd. After I finished my singles match on Sunday and I was walking back to follow the other groups and I got a huge ovation off the crowd and in the grandstand on 16, which was pretty cool.

I thought I got on well with the crowd as best I could, but they are obviously a home crowd, and they were always going to be partisan. But some of the stuff that was said to us and to our families was not very nice. But look, that’s just the way it is. Some people are idiots, especially when they’ve had a drink. Nobody turns into a genius drinking, and that’s what they were doing last week. Especially if you were out in the afternoon matches, it was loud.

At the start of the week, I was thinking ‘this is a bit mad’ as you’re being booed all over the shop, but as the week goes on, it does get rather annoying, especially when you’re getting beat.

As a team it was hard for us to perform to our best because no matter what you say, if you stand up and hit a 3-iron into ten feet from 250 yards and you don’t even get a ripple of applause, in fact, you even get booed for it, it’s hard to take. But I tried

to take it as best I could.

I think I performed okay, but it is what it is. I don’t think it’s going to be like that in Rome. We will obviously have the home support, but we’ll be hopefully winning a bit of a different way.

There was much given away by either side when it came to putts. Did that surprise you ?

Yes and no. It becomes a bit of vicious circle when players stop conceding short putts. For a start, the putt that Bryson Dechambeau made such a fuss about was at least four feet, so that was definitely not a gimme. Justin Thomas did the same thing to me and then I did the same thing to him purely because he did it to me and so it goes on. They made me hit a putt from literally 18 inches on the first hole, so I did the exact same thing as Thomas did just because I was annoyed with the picture I’d seen of him that morning with the beer cans.

The problem was that every time an American putted inside six feet, I was getting booed if I didn’t give it to them. They obviously played up to the crowd. When I was playing with Tyrrell [Hatton] on Saturday afternoon and he wanted to give them a couple of balls and I said ‘no, let’s just let them see the ball in’. It was a bit of gamesmanship from me as well. I was trying to get in their heads, but it obviously didn’t work.

FEATURE | AUTUMN 2021

[19]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ LOWRY WAS UPSET WITH THE WAY THE US FANS TREATED HIS WIFE AND FAMILY

might have been his thinking.

Paddy obviously had a lot of faith in me, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to deliver for him. I didn’t do my job. I tried my best, and played some good golf, but just didn’t hold any putts. I was very disappointed after the match. I had a run where I lost four holes in a row, but I got it back. Then Patrick [Cantlay] birdied 14, 15 and 16 and put me away. It was one of those matches where I was playing one of the most in-form players in the world and I needed everything to go my way and it didn’t. Rory won his match, L lot mine and then Rambo and Sergio both got beaten quite easily, and we were behind the black ball after that.

Of the all the European team, you perhaps seemed to get pumped up the most when you won a hole. Was that something that you had planned or did the emotions just get to you?

At the start of the week, I promised myself that I wasn’t going to get caught up in the fist pumping or celebrating from the Americans, if I do something good, I’m just going to tip my hat.

The crowd weren’t going to cheer for me. I swore live on TV accidentally, that’s not me! I don’t do stuff like that, but the emotions were just through the roof and it just all came out. In my own head, I was trying to send a message to my team that we had to keep fighting and keep going. My personal highlight was playing with Tyrell on Saturday afternoon. I had a great time on the course with him, and thought we were a great team, great partnership and even managed to win our point.

Is there anything you can tell us about what went on in the team room on Sunday night?

Everyone was obviously very disappointed, but we all got together in the team room and we tried to celebrate as a team, even though it wasn’t the week we would have liked.

The party, such as it was, ended up in the European team room. It’s always most fun in there. We had a few drinks and chatted about the week. It was nice. A lot of the Americans were in there too and my dad was in there too, which was nice for me as I hadn’t seen in all week. It was a good night, although not the night that many of us were imagining or, shall I say, hoping for.

■ LOWRY TEAMED UP WITH TYRRELL HATTON TO WIN THEIR SATURDAY FOUR BALL MATCH

THEY MADE ME PUTT FROM 18 INCHES ON THE FIRST HOLE, SO I MADE THEM DO THE SAME ON THE VERY NEXT HOLE Did you ask to go out behind Rory in the singles?

Alot is made of the European team's cameraderie. Did you make some new friends that week?

I knew all the lads pretty well anyway, but we definitely became way closer over week and we really used that and we felt that we needed each other.

I created friendships that I didn’t think I would. [Bernd] Wiesberger and [Victor] Hovland are such great lads in the team room and hopefully I’ll be on Ryder Cup teams with them for many years to come.

I knew that I wanted to play in one of the early matches, but I didn’t specifically ask to. We got the draw sent through to our phones and I was the second match on course. I knew Rory would be the first out, but I expected to be maybe fourth as I thought that Sergio Garcia and Rambo [Jon Rahm] would be two and three. One of the reasons Padraig put me and Rory back-to-back was to try and keep whatever Irish support we had together out there. There might’ve been literally 100 or 200 Irish people there, but other than that there was nobody from Europe, so that

What do you think the fall out will be from the defeat?

There’s bound to be a bit of a fall out over any defeat, never mind the margin, and I’ve read a couple of things where people are picking apart Padraig’s captaincy, but I think he was a great captain. He took that job on and it was always going to be a really hard task playing away from home, but we, as players, didn’t perform for him.

But he’ll be fine. In my opinion he’s one of the greatest European players ever to play the game and that won’t change. It’s something that will be disappointing for him and it would’ve been nice if it had gone better, but it is what it is. He’ll be back playing his own golf soon enough and life will move on.

We’ve got a solid group of players and some youngsters coming through so we’ll be ok. The Ryder Cup has always had its ebbs and flows and that’s the beauty of the competition.

[20] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Humphreys secures European Tour card after winning Access Series England’s Lily May Humphreys capped off an impressive first year as a professional by securing top spot in the LET Access Series Order of Merit to win a place on next year’s Ladies European Tour.

The 19-year-old from Stoke by Nayland in Essex turned pro at the beginning of June and weeks later clinched her first win at the Golf Flanders LETAS Trophy in Belgium.

From there, Humphreys, who played in the 2019 Junior Solheim Cup, went on to enjoy a fine run of results, finishing 8th at the Santander Golf Tour Zaragoza and 16th at the Upsala Open, before securing runner-up spots at three consecutive tournaments in Sweden – the Vasteras Open, the Allerum Open and the PGA Championship at Trellborg.

Third place at the Flumserberg Ladies Open and a share of fifth at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open saw Humphreys finish the season with seven top-10 finishes from only 11 starts, win the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year with 2,032 points, and seal her LET card for 2022.

“I’m so happy to have won Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year

■ ROSIE BEE KIM

Everything’s rosey for Kim at Enville Buckinghamshire’s Rosie Bee Kim won the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur Championship after negotiating her way around 54 holes at Enville Golf Club in level par.

Kim, 14, who is a member at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club, made a closing birdie for a final round 71 to win the stroke play event by two shots at the Midlands venue.

Woburn’s Roisin Scanlon holed from 50 feet on the final hole to secure second place, while West Hill’s Ellen Yates bagged a valuable eagle at the same hole to move into a four-way tie for third place on three over with England’s Frankie Dezis, Scotland’s Grace Crawford and Germany’s Philipa Gollan.

Kim, who trailed Dezis going into the final round, birdied the first and second holes to make an early move, and added another at the 12th, but dropped three shots on the back nine before rallying with a closing birdie at the par-five 18th. Despite firing three birdies on the front nine, Dezis’s challenged faded on the homeward stretch, with four dropped shots in the final five holes seeing her close with a 74.

Kim, who this tournament’s U12s category in 2018 and 2019, and the English Girls’ U14s this summer, said: “This is probably the biggest win of my life. It’s a big milestone for me in becoming the player I want to be, so I’m very happy. If I went back to 2018 and told myself me that I was going to win the main title in 2021 I probably wouldn’t have believed myself, but I’m delighted to have proved myself wrong!”

Kim, who also won the U14s section at Enville, added: “I think steady golf won it for me, no drama and lots of consistency. Those are my strong points. It was nervewracking on the 18th, but I knew the scores and what I had to do. Having the experience of playing in these big events is great for me. This has definitely my best season yet and I’m looking forward to seeing how things progress next year.”

Blind golfers turn to clubs for support ■ LILY MAY HUMPHRIES HAS ENJOYED A SUPERB FIRST SEASON AS A PRO

titles. The last two tournaments have been particularly tough courses, but I’m pleased to get over the line,” said Humphreys.

“It has been an amazing first year as a professional and one I will never forget. I have made and met so many friends on Tour, it’s been such a memorable and lovely experience. LETAS has helped me prepare for the LET next year so much. All the girls that have got their cards this year have done so well, and it shows that there is such good competition out here.”

Also winning their Ladies European Tour cards for next season were Scotland’s Gabrielle Macdonald, who won twice this season; Russia’s Nina Pegova; England’s Rachael Goodall; Sweden’s Sofie Bringer and Finnish rookie Emilia Tukiainen, who had six top-10 finishes in 2021.

Thornbury to enhance course with new irrigation system Bristol-based Thornbury Golf Centre is set to embark on a £600,000 irrigation project which is designed to enhance the playability of both of its golf courses, while also improving maintenance efficiency.

The first phase of the project – funded by club owner and operator, Burhill Group Limited – will cost around £275,000 and will see the foundations laid across both golf courses for the installation of a new high-tech irrigation system that will include tee boxes, fairways, approaches and greens. Crucially, the new system will allow the club to better manage the amount of moisture in the ground, making the courses more playable, all year round.

Once completed, the new irrigation system will be controlled via mobile device or computer, allowing maintenance teams to control the conditioning of the golf courses, 24-hours a day. This will make a huge difference to staff efficiency and will also help to deliver an exceptional golf experience that can be enjoyed by club members and visitors.

Tim Good, General Manager of Thornbury Golf Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been afforded this opportunity

by BGL, to make further enhancements to our facility. We are committed to delivering the very best golfing experience for our members and guests, and this is the next step along our road of continuous improvement.”

By the end of today another 250 people will have started to lose their sight. In statistics published in 2015 more than two million people in the UK are living with sight loss that is severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives.

For many this means being unable to do the things that the rest of us take for granted.

Imagine not being able to drive, go shopping on your own or even enjoy watching a favourite programme on television. No wonder that despair and depression, particularly amongst visually impaired men is so high, a feeling of having dropped out of society and being regarded negatively by all but very close friends and family.

For a few being able to take up golf has, quite literally, been their salvation with members of the England and Wales Blind Golf association (EWBG) admitting the relief and pleasure it has brought them simply to no longer feel housebound and useless whilst taking part in a sport at a competitive level.

The problem is that not nearly enough people are receiving the message that golf can bring the massive benefits of being able to get out of the house, to take exercise and play a sport.

Yet even those partially sighted men and women that have started to play golf often struggle to find someone to act as their guide. A reticence to ask is often a major reason, but not quite as big a factor as no one asking if they could be of help in getting visually handicapped newcomers into the game by volunteering to be their eyes and driving them to their club to make introductions. The EWBG has known of people withdrawing applications to join simply because they cannot find a guide.

Before the start of next golf season EWBG is targeting all golf clubs and their members to consider what they are doing for visually impaired men and women and ask those they know if they would like to try golf or, if they played it before their sight deteriorated, whether they would like to start playing again.

Over 700,000 people in England and Wales regularly play golf yet the EWBG active membership is just 30. As Barry Ritchie, chairman of EWBG, says, ‘The biggest hindrance to playing blind golf is finding a guide. There are a lot of people who would really like to play who can’t.’

For more information on England and Wales Blind Golf, visit ewblindgolf.co.uk or contact EWBG secretary Andy Gilford at enquiries.blindgolf@gmail.com.

■ EWBG SECRETARY ANDY GILFORD WITH HIS WIFE MEL

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[22] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Golf loses another iconic voice following death of Renton Laidlaw The world of golf lost one of another its of most famous voices last month following the death of Renton Laidlaw at the age of 82.

While Peter Alliss, who died last year aged 89, was known at ‘The Voice of Golf’ Laidlaw earned the nickname as ‘The Voice of the European Tour’, with his unmistakeable Scottish accent being heard over the airwaves for over four decades during his work as a radio commentator and then a TV commentator, first for Sky and latterly The Golf Channel in the US. Starting out his career as journalist in 1962 as reporter on the Edinburgh Evening News covering golf, Laidlaw became one

of the leading authorities in the sport, transitioning first into radio and then into TV while continuing to write. In that time he covered 165 majors, including 58 Open Championships, and became the first non-American journalist to cover 40 consecutive Masters tournaments in 2014.

He became more familiar to American golf fans starting in the mid-1990s, when the Golf Channel began regularly airing European Tour broadcasts on the cable network, his distinguished lilt keeping viewers tuning in just a little longer, or a little earlier, with each tournament.

“Renton’s knowledge, insight, wit and

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wonderfully distinctive voice made him an immensely popular figure in golf and sport in general,” said R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, who was among many leading figures in the golfing world to pay tribute following his death.

“He was admired by so many of us who grew up listening to his commentary or reading his reports from The Open and the other major championships. Renton made a remarkable contribution to golf over a long and successful career. He will be greatly missed by players and fans throughout the world.”

Laidlaw also served as the secretary of the Association of Golf Writers and was editor of the popular Golfer’s Handbook.

R&A revises Amateur Status rules The rules of golf regarding amateurs and what they can earn from the game in competitive play and how they are funded have been updated by the R&A. Following lengthy consultation with golfers and the golf industry, the updated rules, which apply from January 1 next year, remove many restrictions apvplied to amateur golfers, including a new cap of £700 on what an amateur can win from playing in a scratch competition. The previous limit was £500.

The prize rule applies only to scratch tee-to-hole competitions played on a golf course or a simulator, but no longer applies to long drive, putting and skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition.

Prize money cannot be accepted for handicap competitions.

Speaking about the new prize rules, Grant Moir, Director of Rules at the R&A, said: “Our initial proposal was that any amateur would be able to accept a cash prize up to the prescribed limit, regardless of the type of event they were playing in. However, offering cash might have created a greater temptation than ordinary prizes. Obviously, we’re very keen to protect and maintain the integrity of the game in relation to how the rules of golf are applied and how the rules of handicapping are applied.”

“There was also a concern that there would be more money leaving the golf industry. The vouchers and the merchandise that are traditionally given as prizes keeps the money within the golf club. So we’ve changed that aspect and the ability to win prizes of money only applies in scratch-only competitions.”

The second big change, which mainly impacts elite amateurs competing in national and international competitions, is the removal of all restrictions relating to sponsorships, expenses and advertising. Under the new rules, players competing at an elite amateur level will be able to accept sponsorships and advertise who they are receiving sponsorship from, be it in the form of a logo on a hat, bag or item on clothing.

These changes are aimed to high-level amateurs who might not have made it into national representative squads or university scholarships that would ordinarily take care of expenditure issues.

Moir said: “This change almost redefines amateurism at the elite level.

It gives the opportunity for top-level amateurs to fund their golf through sponsorship, with the sponsor now able to gain benefit from that sponsorship.

Hopefully it will make elite amateur golf more inclusive because more people have the potential to access funding that will help them make their way in the game. As we know it costs money to compete.”

NEWS | AUTUMN 2021

[23]

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Norman joins forces with Asian Tour to launch new Saudi-backed tournaments A new 10-tournament series backed by a Saudi investment fund and headed up

by Greg Norman, has been added to the Asian Tour for 2022.

Details of which players have agreed to play in the high profile tournaments, or where they will be staged, has yet to be announced, but the series is timetabled to begin next Spring.

Greg Norman has been appointed CEO of a new company called LIV Golf Investments, with the 66-year-old golfing icon set fulfil the role of commissioner of what will be a league headlined by a group of the topranked players in the game.

The first initiative of LIV Golf Investments, whose majority shareholder is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, has been to form a new partnership with the Asian Tour, investing more than $200 million to support and promote a new 10-tournament series, with new events across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

“To me, Asia is the most untapped, underused tour I’ve ever seen in my life,’’ said Norman, who has announced that he is stepping away from some of own company’s interests to focus on the new venture.

“This is only the beginning. The Asian Tour is a sleeping giant and we share ambition

to grow the series and unlock what we believe is significant untapped potential.

We see our promotion of these new events as a vital first step in supporting emerging markets, creating a new platform, rich with playing opportunities that create valuable player pathways.”

Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “This is the single biggest development in the history of the Asian Tour and a major milestone for professional golf. The opportunity will secure unprecedented new playing opportunities, establish new player pathways, allow us to compete commercially with other sports, and enhance our social agenda. We are particularly excited at what the landmark announcement brings to the amateur game, providing new inspiration to aspiring

players through a new level of top-flight professional competition in the region.”

Norman defended the financial support of the Saudi-backed investment fund by saying: “I am pleased that the investor base is 100% commercially driven by the opportunity to improve golf for all involved. I am happy to partner with this group of investors to bring the significant resources to bear that are necessary for the fundamental changes required for the greater good of the sport.’’

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England announce four new caps for 2022 Boys’ squad England Golf has retained four members from this year’s team and included four new call-ups in a strong boys’ squad named today for the 2022 season.

Josh Berry, Josh Hill, Frank Kennedy and Harley Smith all enjoyed excellent seasons in 2021 and return to form an experienced spine for the 2022 selection.

Berry, from Yorkshire, enjoyed a 100% record in singles and foursomes as England’s boys and girls won the Home Internationals, while Kennedy became the youngest Englishman to make the cut at a European Tour event when he made his debut at the Hero Open aged just 15.

Hill represented both the England boys’ and men’s squads at Home Internationals as well as playing for GB&I at the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

Smith, from The Raleigh Club in Essex, followed Justin Rose into the record books by becoming only the second golfer to win both the McGregor and Carris trophies in the same season.

The arrival of fresh talent in the shape of Hugh Adams, Seb Cave and Tyler Weaver and Sam Easterbrook adds a new dynamic to the squad.

Adams and Weaver played key roles in leading the England under 16 team to a recent comprehensive 18-2 win over Wales. Easterbrook won the Scottish Boys’ U16 Championship in July – pipping new England team-mate Berry to the title.

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

“ WHEN

I

PL AY

MY

BEST,

I

THINK

I ’ M

THE BEST IN THE WORLD” As he embarks on his 15th season as a professional, Rory McIlroy reflects on a year which has, to date, seen him win two PGA Tour events, but fail to contend in the majors, briefly slip outside the world’s top 10 and endure a wretched Ryder Cup which all ended in tea rs

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

won a point, but there was frustration that I didn’t get more out of myself and disappointment I didn’t do more for the team. There were so many different emotions going through me there and it was all just a little overwhelming.”

He adds: “I think sometimes I give myself too easy a time of it and I try to play it off with talk of ‘golf not defining me’ or that I’ve got balance in my life and I’m happy away from the course, and that’s obviously very true, but if I’m honest, sometimes I maybe use that as a way to lessen the blow if I don’t play good golf.

“But I think it was a good thing for me. I think I realised a couple of things about myself that I hadn’t publicly acknowledged before. I was surprised at how emotional I got, but then after a little bit of reflection over the last couple of weeks, I sort of realised why I did get that way.”

The six-time Ryder Cup player insists that Padraig Harrington couldn’t have done any more and that Europe just didn’t hit quality golf shots or hole their fair share of putts. He says: “There’s not much more Padraig could have done. Sure, the captains set the tone and they create a little bit of the culture around the team, but at the end of the day it’s the players that are out there hitting the shots and trying to hole the putts, and Europe didn’t hit the shots or hole the putts. When you look back on it, America just holed so many more putts than we did and got momentum early. And when you’re the away

E

ver since he burst onto the professional scene in 2007, aged just 17 – and for several years before that ­– big things have been expected of Rory. And for large chunks of his career he has delivered on that promise, and some.

Four major championships before he turned 25; 23 top-10 major finishes; 19 PGA Tour victories; 14 European Tour wins; three Race to Dubai titles; two FedEx Cup titles and a grip on the world no.1 spot for over 100 weeks. Throw in six Ryder Cup appearances and you have the makings of a pretty handy record.

But dig down through all the stats, all the Ws, and all money, and there remains the nagging feeling that Rory hasn’t quite got the results that his almost unfathomable talents deserve.

OK, he’s still only 32, and maybe a year or two off his absolute golfing prime, but with all the miles already under his belt and all the other distractions that are now entering his life, it’s hard to know whether McIlroy’s best golfing years are behind him or still ahead of him.

Victories at last month’s CJ Cup, and another at the Wells Fargo Championship in May, maybe point to the latter, but his last win before that came at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China back in November 2019. He lost his world No.1 status in June last year and slipped down to 14th in the rankings – his worst position since November 2009 – before he rose back up to eighth following his win in Las Vegas last month.

And in a sport largely, and unfairly, judged by major championship wins, he’s not got his head in front in one since the PGA Championship in 2014 and he’s still agonisingly a Masters’ win away from completing the career grand slam of majors. And don’t mention that fourth place in the Tokyo Olympics, where he missed out in the seven-way play-off for bronze medal.

It’s perhaps no coincidence that Rory’s dip in form followed the start of the pandemic and arrival of his first child just over a year ago, but after the emotional turmoil caused by the heavy defeat in the Ryder Cup, it seems that the 32-yesarold Northern Irishman is ready to reapply himself to being the best version of himself.

McIlroy, for his part, believes that despite all his past achievements, and let’s not forget, his immense wealth, he still has the desire and the hunger to return to the top of the golfing and thinks any questioning of his motivation to rediscover his best form is unfair and unwarranted.

AFTER THE TURMOIL OF THE RYDER CUP, RORY LOOKS READY TO REAPPLY HIMSELF TO BEING THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF ■ TOP: MCILROY SECURED HIS SECOND PGA TOUR WIN OF THE YEAR AT LAST MONTH'S CJ CUP ■ LOSING THREE OF HIS FOUR MATCHES DURING EUROPE'S HEAVY DEFEAT AT SEPTEMBER'S RYDER CUP LEFT MCILROY VISIBILY UPSET

“When I play my best, I still think I’m the best player in the world,” he boldly said ahead of his debut on the 21/22 PGA Tour at the CJ Cup, which, of course, he went on to win. “I haven’t played like that for a while, though, but I don’t feel like I need to go that far back to 18 months ago, when I was the No.1 player in the world.

“Obviously the last 18 months haven’t been what I’ve wanted them to be, but if you keep it in perspective, I’m not that far away. I’ve shown throughout my career that I care, that I want to win, that I want to be the best, and in that respect nothing has changed. Of course, there’s a ton of great players now that are playing really good golf, but you just have to try to not just keep up with that, but become better.”

There was no greater display of just how much McIlroy cares about his game than at last month’s Ryder Cup, when he broke down in tears while being interviewed moments after he had won his singles match – the only point he gained from four outings in Europe’s heavy defeat at Whistling Straits. The emotionally charged interview, which was full of home truths, went viral in minutes, and served to underline just how much the matches mean to him now, having once described the Ryder Cup as little more than an ‘exhibition’ during his youth in 2009.

Looking back on that post-match interview, McIlroy admits to being surprised by his reaction, but also said that it showed that he lets himself off the hook too often. “I don’t necessarily get that emotional about golf, so I guess in that way it surprised me. But the Ryder Cup is always a very emotionally charged week,” he said. “I said afterwards that there were so many different thoughts and emotions. There was relief that I’d

side and trying to fight back from that, it’s very difficult. I certainly couldn’t criticize anything that Padraig did. It was on the players to play better golf and we didn’t do that.”

Returning to his own prospects, McIlroy is adamant that getting back to basics, and not trying to beat other players at their own game, as he admits he did with Bryson DeChambeau when he came out with his new power game, will be his route back to the top.

“There was a lot of reflection the last couple weeks and this is what I need to do. I just need to play golf, I need to simplify it, I need to just be me. For the last few months I’ve been trying to be someone else to try to get better and I’ve realised that being me is enough. I know that when I do the things that I do well, I’m capable of winning a lot of events and being the best player in the world.

“It’s just a matter of getting back to playing golf my way. That starts with being creative and being visual and not being so technical . To get to 20 wins out here is a big achievement. I didn’t know if it was going to be this week, but I knew if I just kept playing well and doing the right things, eventually I’d get there. I want to get back to that point where I’m knocking off four or five wins a year.”

With 20 wins comes lifetime membership on the PGA Tour, once you’ve played 15 seasons. For McIlroy that will become official at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. “It’s pretty significant, not having to worry about minimums on Tour and being able to really set a schedule, and especially at that point when kids will be getting to school age and maybe wanting to spend a little bit more time at home, that’s important. When you look to the bigger things in life, getting to that level, I can pick and choose where I play nowadays anyway, but that makes it even better and less of a burden.”

[26] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Linksnet season set for thrilling climax at Prince’s team final Another busy and successful year of Linksnet’s exciting series of networking days saw members gather at Woburn Golf Club in Bedfordshire last month as the second season draws to a close.

Aside from the network golf days, members have competed on leaderboards throughout the season, together with fun monthly competitions that not only reward good golf, but also celebrate the fun side of the game. The season now culminates with the 12 players with the best three scores from 10 qualifying rounds competing in a six-a-side Ryder Cup-style team final in November at the stunning links of Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich.

The 36-hole event will involve 18 holes of greensomes

Harvey earns Hero’s Handshake award for promoting junior golf Patience pays off at Faldo Grand Final It was a case of girls to the fore at the Faldo Series Europe Grand Finals held at Brocket Hall Golf Club on October 25-26 after Patience Rhodes and Faye Wheatley emerged as overall winners of the two finals for 2020 and 2021, which were held simultaneously after last year’s final was postponed because of the pandemic.

The event saw 65 of Europe’s very best juniors compete at Brocket Hall’s Melbourne Course. In the 24th Europe Grand Final, Somerset’s Patience Rhodes’ rounds of 71, 74, 70 sealed the win, commanding a penal course with tight and undulating greens that asked demanding questions from the players. Whilst fellow Englishwomen Faye Wheatley completed the girls one-two, with an inspiring win to claim the 25th title.

Rhodes, who is a member at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, also won the U16, as well as the overall title with her fourunder-par total. She said: “It’s just a great feeling to be the 24th Faldo Series Grand Final champion. At the start of

■ LINKSNET MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED SOME STUNNING COURSES ALL OVER THE UK THIS SEASON, INCLUDING ST ANDREWS BAY IN SCOTLAND

on day one, followed by 18 holes singles matches on day two to decide who will be Linksnet champions of 2021.

The two teams lining up are Team Portrush, comprising Glyn Andrews, David Cooksley, Gavin Featherstone, Leon Loberman, David Ryley and Dave Woods. While Team Troon will be represented by Jordan Edmunds, Simon Hudson, Neil

Inspirational young golfers Harvey Dobson and Tilly Garfoot have been named as the latest winners of England Golf’s ‘Hero’s Handshake’ award, which recognises outstanding work in the field of promoting junior golf and is presented by the Young Ambassadors.

Supported by England Golf and the Golf Foundation, the Young Ambassadors is a team of young people whose aim is to encourage more of their peers to get into golf, feel welcomed at clubs and develop a lifelong love of the game.

Harvey picked up September’s award in recognition of his tireless work at Wexham Park Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire. Through his ‘Fun Fridays’ initiative,

the week my goal was simply to win the Under 16 category, and suddenly I found myself stood on the 18th on the final day winning by two.”

Wheatley, a member at Gosforth Park Ladies Golf Club in Northumberland, also won the U16 section en route to securing the main prize. She said: “It is amazing to finish the week as champion against such a competitive field. I really felt like it was won and lost on the greens this week. I putted great and almost treated it like a putting competition because the greens were that tough. I really didn’t expect the week to go as it did, but I’ll continue to work hard on my game and try and come back and defend my title next year.”

Both players earned invitation to the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in 2022, as well as being offered a start on a professional Tour event in the 2022 LET or Access Series schedule.

Joining the overall champions, age category winners from the tournaments also earn a coveted invite to the Asia Grand Final. In the 24th championship, Jamie Van Wyk (Boys U21), Ben Loveard (Boys U18) and Reis Suart (Boys U16) completed the winners circles. They will be joined by their 25th championship counterparts, Sam Potter (Boys U21), Lucas Martin (Boys U18), Ben Bolton (Boys U16) and Nicola Slater (Girls U21).

McRae, Stuart Nice, Alan Thompson and Simon Weathers.

Guests will enjoy an overnight stay in Prince’s Lodge, with dinner and breakfast.

Linksnet is an online golf platform and community which provides golfers from all over the world with the opportunity to meet like-minded golfers, play great courses and win great prizes from leading brands such as Titleist, Stewart Golf, Bushnell, and Skechers.

Former world trick shot champion Geoff Swain has also attended a select number of days offering his humorous insight on the world of golf, coaching tips and an incredible array of trick shots.

Linksnet is free to join, but to unlock additional benefits, including discounted access to the exclusive network golf days and sponsor offers, members can upgrade to a paid subscription level.

Full details of Season 3’s schedule will be released soon, including a full calendar of network golf days and residential trips at some superb venues across the UK and overseas. For more details, visit www.linksnetgolf.com.

the 15-year-old has encouraged fellow youngsters to get together and enjoy both the sporting and social elements of golf. As well as devoting time to promote the sport to others, Harvey has also developed his own game – reducing his handicap from 28 to two in just five years and representing BB&O at under 16 level.

Tilly, a member at Woodhall Spa, has made a huge impact on girls golf in her county and was the August award winner. As well as producing a video to promote junior golf in Lincolnshire, the 18-year-old also initiated a Junior Captains’ Day for both boys and girls and helps to run junior coaching sessions.

Ireland claim Home Internationals at Hankey Common Ireland produced an incredible singles comeback to tie 7.5-7.5 with England and claim the men’s Home Internationals at Hankley Common Golf Club in Hampshire.

Captained for the last time by John Carroll, Ireland was the only nation to win their first two matches, but a 19th title – and a fifth since 2014 – looked unlikely when England beat them 4-1 in the morning foursomes.

However, Castle’s Robert Moran was a rock for the team and led from the front as he made ten birdies but still had to come back from two down with three to play to halve with reigning English Amateur champion John Gough in an incredible match.

Gough was six-under-par, and one down to an inspired Moran after nine holes, but won four of the next six before the Castle man birdied the 16th and 17th to snatch a half as both men went around in 64.

“It’s the best match I’ve ever played in,” said Moran, who was Ireland’s top scorer with five points from six matches. “John is

a really good friend of mine, and for us to halve the match with those scores and that standard is bizarre. Neither of us deserved to lose, so it was a fair half.”

With Caolan Rafferty hammering this year’s Amateur champion Laird Shepherd 8&7 in the anchor match and wins for Hugh Foley, TJ Ford, Jack McDonnell and Matt McClean, it all came down to Galway debutant Liam Nolan.

England’s Callan Barrow had a 10-foot birdie putt on the final green to halve their match and give Scotland the title, but it slid past the hole to send the Irish team into ecstasy.

“I honestly wasn’t nervous all day,” Carroll said after Ireland won the singles session 6.5-3.5 in his swansong as captain. “Even when we lost the foursomes this morning, I still had hope in the boys. We saw Scotland beat England 8-2 in singles, and that gave us hope. I’m teetotal, but the boys will have a few pints and rightly so because they deserve it. They’ve been fabulous today and all week. They’ve done Ireland proud.”

STORY BEHIND THE PIC TIGER WOODS • LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL, NEVADA,OCTOBER 6TH, 1996

I

t’s highly unlikely that if Tiger Woods was ever to win the Las Vegas Invitational again, or any other tournament come to think of it, that he would pick up the trophy while being flanked by two six-foot women clad only in sparkly bikinis, feather headdresses and stilettos.

But such were the times back in 1996 that such things were not only seen as acceptable, but something to be shown on prime-time TV on a Sunday afternoon. It’s not clear how awkward the 20-year-old Woods felt amid the shimmering glitter of the occasion, but it was clear that his breakthrough win in the desert was the beginning of something big. Quite how big this something was to become, no-one, not even Tiger, in his wildest of dreams. could possibly imagine. But it was big.

The Las Vegas International was only Tiger’s fifth start as a professional on the PGA Tour, and came on the back of 60th, 11th, fifth and third-placed finishes in his opening four events. He started the five-round tournament with an uneventful 70 that saw him eight shots off the pace. He then fired a 63 at TPC Summerlin and a 68 at Desert Inn to push into a tie for eighth, but still six shots behind the leader, Rick Fehr.

Nursing a painful groin injury from playing such a punishing schedule, Woods turned a quiet fourth round into something more interesting when he eagled the par-five 16th to shoot a five-under 67 and get within four of the leader, Ronnie Black.

Then, the magic that Woods had shown as an amateur, and which would become his trademark as a professional, took centre stage at TPC Summerlin in the fifth round. A birdie at the first got the fans into an early

THERE ISN'T A PLAYER CURRENTLY COMPETING IN THE PROFESSIONAL GAME THAT DOESN'T OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO TIGER WOODS frenzy, then came an eagle at the par-five third to take it up another notch. Woods moved into attack mode.

Birdies at the ninth, 11th and 13th put him right in the mix; a further birdie at the 14th pulled him into a tie for the lead; and then a two-putt birdie at the 16th gave him the clubhouse lead on 27 under. From the practice range, Woods got word that Love had made a late eagle and birdie to pull into tie for the lead and play-off would be required to decide the result.

Hitting first at the first extra hole, Woods hit a fairwaysplitting three-wood at the 18th, followed by a nine-iron to 20 feet that applied the sort of pressure that would soon become Tiger’s modus operandi.

Love, no doubt feeling the heat, couldn’t match the shot, sending his 8-iron approach into the left-hand bunker. After deftly two-putting for par, Woods watched Love miss a six-footer and the tournament his – the first of what turned into a dazzling 82 PGA Tour wins over the next 23 years.

The oversized, mocked-up winner’s cheque for $297,000 apparently still hangs in Woods’ office. But what many observers remember most keenly from the tournament is the post-match quote from Love, then 32, and at the height of his career. “As disappointed as I am, I’m that much happy for him,” said Love. “He’s a great player and he’s great for the Tour.”

It was true then and still rings true 25 years later, even though he remains sidelined through injury and large shadow hangs over his future in game. There isn’t a golfer currently competing in the professional game that doesn’t owe a rather hefty debt of gratitude to the man who changed the face of golf in the modern era and forever altered the fortunes of those who play it for a living.

■ TIGER WOODS WON THE FIRST OF HIS 82 PROFESSIONAL TITLES AT THE AGE 20

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[28] AUTUMN 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief YAS LINKS TO HOST ABU DHABI CHAMPIONSHIP ★ The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is to be played at Yas Links next year after 16 consecutive years at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The tournament, which will be staged from January 20-23, will be the first Rolex Series event of the European Tour’s 2022 schedule.

TOURNEWS ■ LEE WESTWOOD IS HEAVY FAVOURITE TO LEAD EUROPE IN ROME IN 2023

BRIER BAGS EUROPEAN SENIOR MASTERS ★ Austria’s Markus Brier secured his first Legends Tour title when winning the European Senior Masters at the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. The 53-year-old from Vienna fired rounds of 70, 66 and 75 in finish on five under par, two shots ahead of Argentine Rafael Gomez, with Paul Lawrie and James Kingston a further shot back in tied third.

SENIOR OPEN RETURNS TO PORTHCAWL IN 2023 ★ Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is to stage The Senior Open for the third time in just 10 years when it hosts the 36th edition of the championship from July 27-30, 2023. Bernhard Langer won the tournament when it was held at the Welsh links in 2014 and 2017, but the German will be 66 by the time it returns in two years’ time. The AIG Women’s Open, formerly known as the Women’s British Open, is also to be staged at Porthcawl in 2025.

MOLINA SECURES SENIOR BREAKTHROUGH ★ Mauricio Molina claimed his maiden Legends Tour title with a four-shot victory at the Riegler & Partner Legends held at Golf Club Murhof in Austria. The 54-year-old Argentinian posted final round 67 to add to earlier rounds of 66 and 67, to finish on 17 under and move clear of fellow countryman José Coceres, who won the tournament in 2019.

BOUTIER WINS FRENCH OPEN ★ France’s Celine Boutier won the Ladies French Open at Golf Club du Medoc. Playing in front of her home fans, the 27-year-old two-time Solheim Cup winner sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to finish on 11 under and claim victory by a single shot from Scotland’s Kylie Henry. It was Boutier’s first LET title in three years.

MICKELSON MAKES HAY ON CHAMPIONS TOUR ★ Phil Mickelson bagged his third win in just four starts on the Champions Tour with a twoshot victory at the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament held at Timuquana Country Club in Florida. The 51-year-old reigning PGA champion carded a 68 on the final day, mixing six birdies with a double bogey to hold off the challenge of Miguel Angel Jimenez with a 15-under-par total.

WESTWOOD WEIGHS UP RYDER CUP CAPTAINCY Lee Westwood has been installed as the overwhelming favourite to be the next European Ryder Cup captain after the 48-year-old said that he would be interested in taking on the role should he be asked.

Westwood has long been considered a future captain following his long and successful Ryder Cup career which began back in 1997 and has resulted in 11 caps and 24 points from 47 matches. Although he won his singles match against Harris English at Whistling Straits last month, Westwood lost his two foursomes matches when paired with Matt Fitzpatrick, and a 12th Ryder Cup appearance as a player looks unlikely, although not impossible given his recent return to form.

“I’ve played in lots of Ryder Cups and been a vice-captain in Paris and it’s something I’d love to do,” said Westwood, when asked about potential future captaincy. “I’m going to have to sit down over the next few months and weigh everything up. I still feel like I’ve got a lot

of golf in me. I could have played my last Ryder Cup match, but I’d rather it wasn’t, but I’m 49 next April, and the likelihood is that it was.”

Europe’s Ryder Cup committee is unlikely to consider appointing a captain who thinks he has a chance of being on the team, so Westwood, who will be 50 in 2023, will have to decide soon whether he thinks he has a future as a team player or a team leader.

“I assume I’ll get three or four months to think about it, but people keep coming up and saying, ‘Are you going to be the captain in Rome?’ I’d prefer to play, but Father Time’s not kind, is he?” said Westwood. “Being Ryder Cup captain is a massive honour and it is something I’d want to do. It’s got to be some time in my future, but I don’t want to let go yet. I still feel competitive.”

Other potential candidates include Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Robert Karlsson, while Ian Poulter is already being talked about as a potential captain for 2025, when the matches are due to be held at Bethpage in New York.

RAFA REIGNS IN SPAIN Rafa Cabrera Bello ended a four-year wait for his fourth European Tour victory after beating fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus in a play-off to at the Spanish Open.

The 37-year-old entered the final day with a two-shot lead but had lost it by the second tee and was two behind Arnaus at the turn after a battling front nine. A hat-trick of birdies from the 13th had him back in a share of the lead at 19 under, and he produced a stunning up-and-down from the sand on the last after a ragged tee shot to save his par and take the contest to extra holes after a closing 69.

Both men sent their tee shots left on the first trip back up the 18th, but Cabrera Bello had the better lie and put his approach to 11 feet to seal a birdie and the win.

Speaking after picking up his coveted national open trophy, Cabrera Bello, who was without a worldwide top-10 finish since January, said: “I came here in probably the worst shape I have been in in the last decade, so to come out of here with a win is incredible. I’ve always dreamed about holding this trophy and it has been on my bucket list ever since I turned professional, so to see my name alongside all those former champions is very special.”

MCILROY BAGS 20TH PGA TOUR TITLE AT CJ CUP Rory McIlroy bounced back from Ryder Cup disappointment as he carded a final-round six-under-par 66 to win the CJ Cup and his 20th PGA Tour title.

The 32-year-old trailed by nine shots after 36 holes at the Summit Club in Las Vegas, but hit a superb third round 62 to storm into contention.

The Northern Irishman began the final round two behind leader Rickie Fowler, but shot a three-under 33 on his front nine to stay in the hunt, but after a birdie at the par-four 12th, he sunk a 34-foot putt from off the front of the green to eagle the par-five 14th and move three clear. And with Fowler struggling to replicate his 63 on Saturday during his 71, Collin Morikawa emerged as McIlroy’s closest challenger.

The two-time major winner picked up birdies on eight of his first 11 holes and closed with an eagle to move to within one after his lowest-ever PGA Tour round of 62. However, McIlroy parred his last four holes to secure a memorable one-shot win.

“It was huge, it really was,” McIlroy said when asked if his poor Ryder Cup performance fuelled his motivation to win again. “There was a lot of reflection in the couple of weeks since then. This is what I need to do. I need to play golf, simplify it and just be me. I think for the last few months I was trying to be someone else to try to get better, but realised that being me is enough and being me, I can do things like this.”

Victory moved McIlroy back into the world’s top ten for the first time since May, rising to eighth from 14th. His 20th PGA Tour success also guarantees him lifetime membership of the PGA Tour.

NEWS | AUTUMN 2021 [29] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WILLETT’S BACK TO WINNING WAYS AT DUNHILL LINKS Danny Willett celebrated his 34th birthday in style with victory at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews.

The 2016 Masters winner started the final round on the Old Course with a threestroke lead and remained at the top of the leaderboard throughout the day, making the turn in three under par. His fifth birdie followed on the tenth and he parred his way home to sign for a four under 68, a twostroke victory, and his first win since the 2019 BMW PGA Championship.

Willett, whose victory lifted him from 164 to 101 in the world rankings, said: “To win here, at the Home of Golf, is very special.

Hopefully it will serve to give me a little bit of momentum going into the last couple of months of the season. It’s been a relatively average year until this. Fingers crossed we can push on a bit from this and have a strong finish to the season.”

■ CASEY MARTIN WON THE RIGHT TO USE OF BUGGY WHEN COMPETING ON THE PGA TOUR IN 1998

CASEY MARTIN HAS LEG AMPUTATED Former PGA Tour player Casey Martin, who made golfing headlines back in 2000 when he sued the PGA Tour for the right to use a golf buggy to play in professional tournaments, has had his right leg amputated.

Martin, 49, has suffered from a circulatory disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome since birth which makes walking difficult. He broke his leg in an accident outside his home two years ago, but the injury failed to heal properly, leading to the need for the amputation, which was just above the knee.

Martin is currently Oregon State’s men’s coach, and role he has held since 2006, but he will take an absence of leave while he recovers from the operation.

Martin famously sued the PGA Tour – and won – for the right to use a cart in 1998 because of his disability, a case that made its way to the Supreme Court.

“I’ve lived with this fear all my life that if I break it, I’m probably going to lose it,” said Martin, Martin, who was a teammate of Tiger Woods on Stanford University’s national championship winning team. “In many ways I’ve exceeded what my doctors told me as a kid. I always felt this would be my destiny, so while it’s weird to be at this point, it’s not unexpected.”

■ ALEXJANDRO DEL REY PROUDLY HOLDS UP HIS 14-UNDER-PAR CARD

DEL REY JOINS ‘58 CLUB’ Spanish tour pro Alejandro Del Rey made professional golfing history at the Swiss Challenge on October 1 after carding a 14-under-par 58 – the lowest-ever score to par on a major golf tour.

Del Rey joins an exclusive club of golfers who have carded rounds of 58 on major tours, adding his name to the list alongside

Jim Furyk (PGA Tour, 2016), Stephan Jäger (Korn Ferry Tour, 2016), Ryo Ishikawa (Japan Golf Tour, 2010) and Kim Seong-hyeon (Japan Golf Tour, 2021) – all of their rounds were 12-under-par on par-70 courses.

In the Challenge Tour’s 32-year history just two rounds of 59 had been carded, with Adrien Mörk and Nicolò Ravano reaching the magic number in 2006 and 2016 respectively, while on the European Tour, a score of 59 has been achieved just once –

by Oliver Fisher at the Portugal Masters in 2018.

AUTUMN 2018 | NEWS

DRIVING THE FUTURE OF GOLFING ENTERTAINMENT

DRIVE TO

Nick Bayly pays a visit to the N1 Golf Range at Greenwich Peninsula to test out the new Inrange ball-tracking technology that is changing the face of driving range entertainment in the UK

G

olf ranges throughout the UK have enjoyed a surge in visitor numbers over the last 12 months, with thousands of new and returning golfers making use of the latest hi-tech facilities to learn the game, sharpen up their skills, or simply spend a few hours with friends trying to hit the ball as far as they can or play some of the world’s most iconic courses with a help of a simulator.

Few venues have seen quite as big a rise in bookings as N1Golf’s Greenwich Peninsula Driving Range, one of central London’s biggest and most accessible golfing venues. Located right on the banks of the Thames near North Greenwich tube station, slap bang next to the O2 Arena, the range boasts a 60-bay, double-storey structure, with players hitting into expansive area containing eight raised greens of varying yardages. The facility also boasts an 18-hole adventure putting course, an American Golf retail store, two bars and a restaurant.

Providing an oasis of green – albeit Astroturf green – for city dwellers, the floodlit facility has been busy throughout the last two years – with an estimated 16 millions balls hit during 2020, but has become even more popular during the pandemic, with groups of players of all ages making use of the state-of-the-art facilities to while away the hours that might have been spent in nightclubs, bars or abroad on holiday.

One of the reasons for Greenwich Peninsula Driving Range’s popularity is that it offers more than the chance to smash balls aimlessly into the blue yonder, as it has the latest ball tracking technology from Inrange fitted into every bay. Inrange’s latest and most sophisticated system, Inrange+, offers an immersive, some might say addictive, range of multi-player golf games designed for players of all levels – including those who might never have touched a club before or played on a full-size golf course.

The Inrange system consists of radar sensors placed in and around the range that create a series of interlocking radar fields. Once calibrated, they can determine the origin of each ball and track its entire flight, no matter how long or short, in real time. The sensors can track dozens of balls hit simultaneously and provide detailed data on speed, trajectory, path, landing point and more, to within a yard of accuracy. And, unlike other ball-tracking systems, they are unaffected by ambient conditions such as light, rain, mist or sound. The resulting data is relayed either to an in-bay touchscreen or via the cloud to the Inrange app on a player’s mobile device.

This technology has been used to create four fun games that encourage the kind of risk taking and shot making skill that is more routinely called for on the course. Up to four players in each bay can compete at games like ‘Shrinking Islands’ in which you must land your ball on a series of virtual islands surrounded by burning lava to outscore your playing partners. The islands become progressively smaller each time they are hit and the more they shrink, the greater the points reward. Another is ‘21’, in which players have to hit cunningly positioned virtual playing cards spaced around the range in order to achieve a combined score of 21.

The Inrange screens also give you a variation on the ‘Bullseye’ game where players aim for giant bullseye targets as well as, of course, the classic long drive competition. Golfers can also play a range of simulated courses or take on other challenges against each other, or simply use the technology for some serious practice on your own. An hour’s booking for three adults using the Inrange technology in one bay costs around £20 per bay, and comes with 120 balls, or £15 for a single player, so it’s certainly not going to break the bank.

Declan Malone, N1Golf’s Director, says the Inrange technology had been key to transforming the range from a place to simply ‘hit balls’ into more of entertainment venue for people of all age looking for a few hours of fun. “We believe that the future of the driving range is as a place for everyone – from

■ BALLS, BEERS & BURGERS: THE N1 GOLF RANGE IN GREENWICH HAS ENJOYED A SURGE IN BOOKINGS FROM NEW AND YOUNGER CROWD OF GOLFERS ATTRACTED BY THE PARTY ATMOSPHERE AND THE HITECH GAME-PLAY TECHNOLOGY

keen golfers to corporate groups, to families with children wanting to try the game for the first time,” says Declan. “Inrange+ enables us to bring whole new audiences to our facility, who can come without ever having picked up a club before and have a fantastic time competing with friends and family.”

The range is arguably better enjoyed at sunset or at night, when London’s dramatic skyline provides a stunning backdrop and you can better see the ball against the dark sky, but whatever time of day you go, it offers excellent all- round entertainment.

In addition to Greenwich Peninsula, Inrange technology is being rolled out to ranges and golf clubs throughout the UK, with systems already in place at Wexham Park Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire, Horton Park in Surrey, Bristol Golf Centre and Riverside Golf Centre in Nottingham, to name but a few.

To find out more about Inrange and locate your nearest venue offering Inrange technology, visit www.inrangegolf.com.

■ INRANGE ENABLES GOLFERS TO TRACK THEIR PERFORMANCE FOR SERIOUS PRACTICE AS WELL AS ENJOY COMPETITIVE GAME PLAY

AUTUMN 2021 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT

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EQUIPMENT NEWS Who's winning with what + news on the latest driver debate

PRO SHOP New equipment from Callaway, Mizuno, SkyCaddie and more

TRIED & TESTED Golfstream push trolley + Callaway winter gear

JACKETS REQUIRED Tackle winter golf head on with the latest hi-tech waterproof tops

[32] AUTUMN 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR HIDEKI MATSUYAMA ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Srixon ZX7 (9.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade SIM2 3 (15°), Cobra King RadSpeed Tour 5 (23°) IRONS: Srixon Z-Forged (4-PW) WEDGES: Cleveland RTX 4 (52°, 57.5°, 62°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS BALL: Srixon Z-Star XV

JEFF WINTHER MALLORCA OPEN

DRIVER: Callaway MAVRIK Max (10.5°) FAIRWAY: Callaway MAVRIK Max (15°) IRONS: Callaway Apex MB (3-PW); Apex Pro (4) PUTTER: Odyssey EXO 2-Ball BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X LS

RORY MCILROY CJ CUP

DRIVER: TaylorMade SIM2 (9°) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade SIM (15°) HYBRID: TaylorMade SIM Max (19°) IRONS: TaylorMade Rors Proto (3-9) WEDGES: TaylorMade MG3 (48°), MG2 TW (56°), MG2 (60°) PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider X Hydro Blast BALL: TaylorMade TP5x

MATT FITZPATRICK

EQUIPMENT NEWS R&A SETS NEW 46-INCH LIMIT FOR DRIVER SHAFT LENGTHS Tour professionals and elite level golfers are to be banned from using clubs that have shafts longer than 46 inches from the beginning of next year.

The R&A, and its counterpart in the United States, the USGA, have announced a new local rule that will reduce the length of drivers from a maximum of 48 inches to 46 inches from January 1, 2022.

The new rule will affect regular amateur club golfers or prevent any manufacturer from producing or selling drivers longer than the new 46-inch limit. Almost all drivers produced by the leading manufacturers feature drivers with a shaft length of 45 to 45.75 inches.

Very few players on the global professional tours use a driver longer than 46 inches – although Phil Mickelson had a 47.9-inch model in his bag when winning the US PGA

Championship earlier this year.

The new Model Local Rule (MLR G-10), which will come into effect from January 1, 2022, follows several years of research into how to combat the increasing hitting distances in the professional game.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We have taken time to consult fully with the golf industry, including players, the main professional tours and equipment manufacturers, and have considered their feedback carefully. We believe this is the right thing for the game at this time and it will provide tournament organisers with the flexibility to choose for themselves within the framework of the rules.”

Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, added: “Admittedly, this is not the answer to the overall distance debate, but rather a simple option for competitive events. It’s important to

note that it is not a ‘Rule of Golf,’ and as such, it is not mandated for the average, recreational golfer. Rather, this is an available tool for those running competitive events.”

For years the R&A and USGA has said that they didn’t believe in equipment bifurcation – having two sets of rules regarding equipment between the professional and amateur games – so this new rule seems counter to that sentiment.

Phil Mickelson was among the few to voice their concerns over the new ruling, taking to Twitter to write: “This is PATHETIC. First, it promotes a shorter more violent swing and doesn’t allow for length of arc to create speed”. In a separate tweet, he added, ”Really though, are the amateurs trying their best to govern the professional game the stupid ones? Or the professionals for letting them?”

ANDALUCIA MASTERS DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Ping G425 Max (15°), Ping G410 (20.5°) IRONS: Titleist T100 (4-5), Ping S55 (6-PW) WEDGES: Ping Glide 3.0 (52°), Titleist Vokey SM8 (56°, 60°) PUTTER: Bettinardi DASS BB1 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

DANNY WILLETT

DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway Rogue (9°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Rogue (15°) UTILITIES: Callaway X Forged UT (18°, 24°) IRONS: Callaway X Forged CB (5-9) WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy 5 (46°, 52°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey Toulon Prototype BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft LS

FORESIGHT UNVEILS ‘GAME CHANGING’ GC3 LAUNCH MONITOR Foresight Sports’ GC2 launch monitor, which is used by many PGA Professionals for coaching and custom fitting, as well as plenty of tour players, is 10 years old this year and well overdue for an upgrade.

It’s successor comes in the shape of the GC3, which features a three-camera system captures ball data on launch angle, side angle, ball speed, total spin, carry, side spin/spin axis, and club data on clubhead speed, smash factor, club path and angle of attack. It can’t offer the loft/ lie angles, face angles, impact location and closure rate that is provided by the brand’s

premium GCQuad system, and the GC3 doesn’t offer putting analysis.

While the price is yet to be finalised in the UK, and it won’t be on sale here until next year, it’s currently retailing in the US for $7,000 (£5,000), making it still pretty expensive for your average golfer, but certainly within reach of the avid golfer with a bit of cash who want to take a deep dive into the swing data.

According to Foresight Sports US Sales Director, Rick Cuellar, the GC3 has been built to make the highest-level performance, gaming, and entertainment

technology accessible to more golfers.

“The GC3 was designed from the start to fill the gap between our original ball-dataonly GC2 and the unmatched data insight of our GCQuad. It delivers the essential ball and club data players need to reliably improve their game as well as power a true-to-life virtual golf experience.”

The GC3 will include the company’s full FSX Software platform, FSX Pro performance insight tool and the FSX Mobile App. It will also be available with all the simulator options, including from Foresight Sports’ Sim-in-a-Box range.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR AUTUMN 2021

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TITLEIST AND TRACKMAN TEAM UP TO CREATE INDOOR STUDIO GOLF BALL If you’ve ever been custom fitted for golf clubs in an indoor studio with a TrackMan launch monitor, there is often the tedious process of lining up silver dots on the ball so that each shot is tracked properly. It’s a small detail, but it does add time to the process, as well as lead to occasional missed shot or inconsistencies with data capture.

Well, all that could be a thing of the past now, as leading ball brand Titleist has teamed up with TrackMan to produce the new all-new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls with Radar Capture Technology (RCT).

Conforming to R&A rules, the new RCT models feature an inner casing layer which is picked up by TrackMan’s radar technology and removes the need to apply reflective markers on the ball or position the ball in a specific way on the hitting mat to gather launch data.

Testing has shown a 99% success rate in signal capture for true spin, resulting in more reliable distance and carry data. The new ball has also enabled TrackMan to improve its spin detection algorithm to require less ball flight to measure spin rate, benefiting, in particular, high ball speed/low spin rate scenarios.

The Pro V1 RCT has a large core inside a casing layer and is designed to fly lower and generate slightly less driver and long-iron spin than the dual-core, four-piece Pro V1x RCT. According to Titleist, golfers will experience the same performance out on the course with a Pro V1 or ProV1x RCT as they would with standard Pro V1.

ARCOSS ROLLS OUT UPGRADE TO SMART SENSOR PLATFORM

The Arccos stat-tracking system was not merely designed to provide statistics about all aspects of an average golfer’s game through its grip-based GPS sensors. Rather, it’s how that accurate portrait of a golfer’s game can be used to build strategies for both playing better golf and planning your approach to your next round or your next practice session.

Now, the company has upgraded its platform to enhance not only the accuracy of those statistics, but also the ways that information is compiled from tee to green.

Most notable in the latest instalment is a revision of what’s known as ‘smart distance’ for each club. In the past, an algorithm ignored abnormally short or long shots from determining the average yardage for each club, but new logic automatically detects and

deletes recovery shots to calculate a more precise distance for each club when hit solidly, rather than dinked to escape from behind a tree, for example.

In addition, Arccos users can simulate those specific distances for each club under an array of temperature, wind and altitude conditions.

So, if you’re preparing for a round in the mountains on a day when higher winds are expected, Arccos can predict which clubs might go further and which might go a little shorter in that environment. A filter also allows a player to get their smart distances based on the most recent rounds played to get a more accurate picture of how a swing change or new club might impact their club selection for their next round.

The smart distance upgrades also impact the company’s AI-driven Arccos Caddie, which

provides live club selection recommendations on every tee. Among the other enhancements is an expanded putting feature that lets users more precisely input the distances of first, second and third putts. This helps produce a more accurate “strokes gained putting” statistic.

Arccos uses sensors on the grip to determine shot distances, location and accuracy to produce stats in all phases of the game. Cobra and Ping offer their latest clubs with the sensors already embedded, along with free trial programmes of the Caddie App, with TaylorMade coming on board next year. Arccos also incorporates a belt clip sensor, called Link, which frees users from having to carry their smartphone in their pocket to record the data, while those who own an Apple Watch can see yardages and input their putts through the watch’s downloadable Caddie App.

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THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR RAFA CABRERA BELLO SPANISH OPEN DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (10°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TS3 (15°), Titleist TS3 (18°) UTILITY: Titleist U500 (3, 4) IRONS: Titleist 620 MB (5-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (48°, 54°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS Prototype BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

SAM BURNS SANDERSONS FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway Epic Speed (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Mavrik 4-wood (15.5°) HYBRID: Callaway Apex Pro (21°) IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9) WEDGES: Callaway MD5 Jaws Raw (46°, 50°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works 7S BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

SUNGJAE IM SHRINERS CHILDREN’S OPEN DRIVER: Titleist TS3, (8.75°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS2 3-wood (13.5°) HYBRID: Titleist 818H2 (19°) IRONS: Titleist T100 (3-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 (48°, 54°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom F5 CS BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

MAX HOMA FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TSi2 3 (15°), Titleist TSi2 7 (21°) UTILITY: Titleist U500 IRONS: Titleist 620 MB (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (46°, 50°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Prototype BALL: Titleist Pro V1

LYLE & SCOTT UNVEILS GOLFICKERS COLLABORATION Lyle & Scott has unveiled a new golf apparel collection that is the result of a collaboration with Japanese golf collective Golfickers.

Consisting of just seven pieces, the inspiration for this capsule collection have been taken from Lyle & Scott archive, referencing classic products from its past, including rugby shirts and knitwear.

A new logo has been created for the partnership, combining Golfickers’ classic buggy image with Lyle & Scott’s iconic Eagle and 1874 - the brand’s founding date.

Formed in 2018, Golfickers is a Tokyo-based golf collective made up of art directors, film producers, photographers, designers, and stylists. The Golfickers name is inspired by the ‘Graphickers’ counter-culture music and design movement during the 1990s in Tokyo.

The collection includes a jacket, knitted cardigan, knitted crew neck, knitted polo, rugby shirt, hoodie, and t-shirt, all bearing the new logo design through embroidery, intarsia knit or a rubberised print.

The limited-edition Lyle & Scott x Golfickers capsule collection is available to buy from www.lyleandscott.com, with rrices ranging from £35-£130.

DECHAMBEAU GOES THE DISTANCE WITH COBRA AT LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP Bryson DeChambeau can call himself the world’s sixth longest driver and the seventh best golfer after the 28-year-old managed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Long Driving Championships held in Las Vegas.

DeChambeau, whose longest drive of the tournament was a 412yard effort achieved on the opening day of the event, was able to reach the 400-yard mark nine times.

DeChambeau posted drives of 406, 386, 403, 396 and 394 yards in the group of 16 to make it to the final eight. Despite registering a 391-yard effort, it wasn’t enough, with the title eventually going to defending champion Kyle Berkshire who beat fellow American Justin James with a 422-yard drive in the final.

DeChambeau said: “I thought I’d make it to the round of 32, but getting to the final eight was beyond my expectations. To say you’re one of the top ten long drivers in the world is pretty sweet.”

He added: “I’m definitely going to continue to keep doing this, and I think these guys that are bigger, better, faster, stronger than me are going to keep pushing me to go faster. I think this is going to translate over really well to the PGA Tour.”

The former US Open champion used a modified Cobra Radspeed driver during the competition, which had its loft set at 4.5 degrees to keep spin rates down. The face was replaced with a stronger beta titanium material to prevent it from cracking at impact, while the bulge on the face was moved to 13 and a slight tweak was made to the tail-weighting to help stabilize the head and optimize launch conditions. DeChambeau also used a 48-inch LA Golf prototype shaft which is softer than what his normal tour shaft to achieve a whip-like effect.

It all added up to clubhead speeds in excess of 140mph and ball speeds over 210mph.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR AUTUMN 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MACGREGOR ROLLS OUT NEW TRAVEL COVERS

CALLAWAY APPAREL STORMFLEECE PRO JACKET As a younger man the word ‘fleece’ would frighten me. Terrible, oversized bobbly sweaters that looked like something an middle aged man would wear to go hiking in. I don’t care if they keep me warm, Mum, I’m not wearing it!

The modern fleece fortunately is nothing like this.

Callaway Apparel sent me a StormFleece Pro Jacket to take look at. It’s definitely not my mum’s idea of a fleece - at least from the outside.

The StormFleece fabric is clever in that it fuses a fleece inner with a softshell outer, but it’s all one layer.

I’ve never tried anything quite like it, it’s super thin, yet really warm. It’s got added Spandex and features Callaway’s Swing Tech technology so that the jacket is fully stretch and will move comfortably with your swing.

It’s also rain proof and windproof, so will keep you dry in a light shower and warm when its blowing. It’s hard-wearing too, and washes well, and because it’s a single layer of fabric, it won’t delaminate like some

MacGregor Golf has unveiled two new golf bag travel covers that will help golfers protect their gear and travel in comfort.

The VIP Deluxe travel cover (£49.99) offers durability, protection and ease of movement that makes travelling with golf clubs a breeze. Constructed from a tough nylon fabric with extra padding around the top of the bag, the VIP Deluxe protects the club heads and provides ample room for a full set with up to a 49” driver. Inline skate wheels manoeuvre the travel cover with ease and large storage pockets provide extra space for accessories or shoes.

The VIP II Premium travel cover (£69.99) offers all the durable protection and ease of use of the Deluxe, with a few extra features for added peace of mind. Additional padding around the top of the cover increases the layer of protection for the clubs, while an internal support strap keeps clubs secure during transit. Three heavy duty external straps provide a fail-safe seal on the cover and lockable dual zips add a final level of security.

TESTED

jackets I’ve seen in golf club changing rooms.

The fabric on this jacket is truly amazing. You won’t believe how comfortable the material is. It’s not perfect, however. While it doesn’t look like a traditional fleece, it does still look like a golf jacket. Which for many people reading this is fine. However, if we’re spending £100 on a jacket, it would be nice if it was one we felt comfortable wearing away from the course as well. But at least you won’t look like a lost countryside rambler like you might in a traditional fleece.

Among its other features, I liked the adjustable sleeves and the droptail hem covers your backside when it’s needed on the course. So if, like me, you like the styling of the StormFleece Pro, I can’t think of a good reason for you not to buy one.

The Callaway Apparel StormFleece Pro Jacket has an RRP of £100. For more details, visit www.callawayapparel.com.

GOLFSTREAM EXPRESS PUSH TROLLEY

TESTED Back in the day, manual trolleys were pretty flimsy affairs, with skeletal metal frames that rusted and chipped over time, while those frayed rubber bungee cords failed miserably in their job of stopping 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 them to glide across all terrains with 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 my pulling days were well behind me. Battery aside, what made Golfstream's powered version's 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 in height, 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.

Has it made me want to give up my electric model? Probably not. But if I ever need a back-up 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 Express Push comes with a two-year warranty and is priced at £179. It can be ordered directly from www.golfstream.co.uk.

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CALLAWAY STORMLITE

CALLAWAY STORMGUARD

GALVIN GREEN APOLLO

£99.99

£174.99

£289

The Stormlite is proof that you don’t have to pay a fortune for a stylish, comfortable waterproof jacket that will keep you dry while being easy to swing in. The fully seam sealed design is totally waterproof, plus Callaway’s Swing Tech ensures a full range of motion. Sizing goes up to 3XL.

Featuring a breathable, eco-friendly waterproof fabric, which is insulated for warmth, the Stormguard features built-in stretch and boasts seam-sealed zippers, side pockets and adjustable cuffs. Stormguard waterproof trousers (£149.99) are offered in black to make a rain suit.

There are many golfers who won’t trust a waterproof jacket that doesn’t feature the legendary GORE-TEX branding. The Apollo features GORE-TEX Paclite stretch fabric, so it’s super lightweight, fully waterproof, breathable, and designed with a full range of movement.

IT’S RAINING, MEN

SUNDERLAND WHISPERDRY PRO-LITE

UA STORMPROOF GOLF

FOOTJOY HYDROTOUR

£130

£225

£150

The UK’s no.1 golf apparel brand have designed a super lightweight jacket that won’t break the bank.

100% waterproof and fully breathable with a 10K/10k waterproof/breathability rating, the water repelling jacket will keep you dry however bad the deluge.

With a 20,000mm rating, this jacket is literally twice as waterproof as some of the options out there. A great feature is the DrySeal Collar, a double collar system with a cinch cord on the inner layer to keep the rain out and clever drainage holes on the outer layer which prevent water from running down the back of your neck.

Silence is golden when it comes to waterproof jackets and the Whisperdry Pro-Lite has been designed to be quieter than a mouse. Made from a soft-touch performance polyester with 4-way stretch, the seam-sealed jacket will keep you totally dry while being highly breathable.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR AUTUMN 2021

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OSCAR JACOBSON PRESTON

STUBURT EVOLUTION

OCEANTEE BELUGA

£157.50

£83.99

£189.99

Oscar Jacobson’s simple Scandinavian style is on display in this lightweight, highly breathable fully waterproof jacket. Designed to offer excellent freedom of movement, adjustable Velcro cuffs and elasticated drawstring at the hem offers size flexibility for the perfect fit.

This full zip, lightweight waterproof jacket utilises Stuburt’s DRI-Back membrane technology to keep the golf dry. It also offers excellent thermal properties compared to much of the competition thanks to a super soft inner lining.

Oceantee specialise in environmentally friendly products.

The Beluga is constructed from a blend of Global Recycling Standard polyester, nylon and elastane. As well as being kinder to the planet, it’s fully waterproof and features stretch to make it easy to swing in.

Stay the course this winter by investing in one of the latest hi-tech waterproof jackets

PING SENSORDRY

PING SENSORDRY PRO

ADIDAS RAIN.RDY

£110

£160

£130

The extremely affordable SensorDry jacket features a fully seam-sealed construction with an inner stretch mesh lining and an adjustable hem and hook-and-loop cuffs to protect the wearer from wind and rain. It is available in fours – red, black, navy and grey – and can be paired with Ping’s SensorDry trousers (£79) to create a full waterproof suit.

Waterproof to 10,000mm and fully breathable, the SensorDro Pro is also windproof. Made from a noiseless polyester fabric, it is designed for distraction-free play with complete freedom of movement. A brushed lining offers extra warmth on cold days. It is available in orange/black, blue/black and black/grey.

Fully waterproof, windproof and breathable, the RAIN.RDY jacket is made from a polyester/elastane mix and offers plenty of stretch for easy swinging, while features include a full zip with stand collar, a drop tail hem with drawcord, chin guard, front zip hand pockets, zipaway hood and velcro adjuster cuffs for a secure fit.

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SKYCADDIE SX550 £379.95, SKYCADDIE.CO.UK Modern mobile phones have got us used to handling large, easy-to-use, touchscreen devices. SkyCaddie have leaned into that with the release of the SX550 GPS unit. At 5.5 inches, it’s the biggest full-colour HD screen ever offered on a golf GPS. It makes it much easier to see the upcoming dangers on any given hole. USB-C fast charging is a big upgrade, while the battery life should be easily enough to get you through 36 holes. ‘Custom Pins’ is great new addition to the roll call of features, with the option to download them directly from SkyCaddie or update the pin information manually.

THE GROOVE BELT £55, GROOVELIFE.COM Ideal for keeping up appearances – and your trousers – on and off the golf course, Groove Belts are made from a hard-wearing webbing material that features an element of built-in stretch so that they don’t dig into your belly when you’re bending down to put in the tee or pick the ball out of the hole. Easily adjustable, they boast an interlocking buckle closure with super-strong neodymium magnets that offer a satisfying ‘snap’ when locked in place.

Offered in S, M, L, XL and XXL sizes, they come in a wide variety of colour options, including white, black, grey, graphite, stone, brown, green, olive and camo, all of which can be matched to a variety of eye-catching buckle designs.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR PENFOLD 007 BALLS £25 FOR 12, PENFOLDGOLF.COM James Bond captured the attention of millions of golfers around the world when he used a Penfold ball in Goldfinger, claiming ‘Here’s my Penfold Heart’ when playing Auric Goldfinger in a famous scene filmed at Stoke Park.

Nearly 60 years later, Penfold has formed an official partnership with the 007 franchise to bring out a 007-inspired collection of golfing accessories, includes balls, tees, towels and ball markers. The special-edition 007 Penfold Hearts ball features the 007 logo in place of the traditional ball identification number, giving you the license to kill... par threes.

MIZUNO ST-G 220 DRIVER

PXG 0341 GEN4 X FAIRWAY WOODS

£449, MIZUNOGOLF.COM Mizuno has enjoyed a decent amount of success at retail with its drivers of late. Following a season where it didn’t offer an adjustable weighted model, the Japanese brand has a new driver that offers all the hi-tech bells and whistles. With front and back weight tracks, as well as left and right, and an adjustable hosel, the ST-G 220 can be optimised for launch, spin, and shot shape bias. A carbon crown is used to save weight, while a forged beta titanium face enhances ball speed.

£259, PXG.COM My grandad gave me an old wooden Cobra Baffler as a kid. It was so easy to hit, with its big heavy rails chopping through the turf. Rails on golf clubs aren’t a new thing, but they work. The new PXG 0341 Gen4 XF feature a split rail design that really helps golfers with a steep approach into the ball. A larger head and deeper face add forgiveness, while adjustable weights can be configured to encourage a draw. To add to the ease of use, each fairway wood has one degree more loft than typical – 19°, 22°, 25°, and 28° – to help increase launch at lower swing speeds.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR AUTUMN 2021 [39] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CLEAN FLIGHT BALL WASHER £35, CLEANFLIGHTGOLF.COM We all know from watching the pros whinge on TV how much the flight of a ball can be affected by a bit of mud on it, so the arrival of a personal ball washer that can be attached to your golf bag seems like a half-decent idea. Throw in the pandemic, which put ball washers out of action for a while, and has put many of us off from touch points such as door handles, and the Clean Flight personal ball washer has plenty going for it. Made from high impact polystyrene and stainless steel, it features a variable brush system that oscillates the ball inside the unit to deliver a clean ball every time. It comes with a golf bag attachment and a bottle of cleaning fluid that requires just a few drops mixed with water to set you up for the round.

CALLAWAY APEX UW

DARREN CLARKE CBD GUMMIES £20, DARRENCLARKECBD.CO.UK Darren Clarke CBD gummies, which are offered in a mixture of strawberry and orange flavours, are 100% natural and include 12 different vitamins and minerals.

Containing 10mg of CBD, each gummy includes 5 HTP, a naturally occurring amino acid that is designed to raise serotonin levels post-consumption, which can help to assist the brain with mood regulation and aid concentration.

£299, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Every player wants more forgiveness from a hybrid, but some of the things that make them forgiving also make them prone to hitting the ball too far left. Callaway set out to make a hybrid that was forgiving and offer a combination of a hybrid and a fairway wood, while delivering a neutral ball flight.

The Apex UW gets its ball speed from its forged maraging steel face cup that uses artificial intelligence so that each loft has its own unique face design to create spin and consistency across a larger portion of that face. Additional velocity is garnered from Jailbreak velocity blades that increase vertical stiffness near the sole, creating more speed low on the face where players often mishit their hybrids. The blades allow the face cup to flex on the crown for better spin rate consistency, and the bars are spread to enhance torsional stiffness, leading to more forgiveness across the face.

Tungsten weights – up to 18g – position the centre of gravity to encourage higher launcher and steeper landing angles for more control on approach shots. Available in nonadjustable lofts of 17°, 19° and 21°, it comes with Project X HZRDUS Black 70 shafts and a Lamkin UTX grip.

MIZUNO T22 WEDGES £155, MIZUNOGOLF.COM If you like compact wedges, with lots of feel, and plenty of grind options, Mizuno has you covered with its new T22 wedge line. With the majority of wedges being cast, it’s nice to see Mizuno still offering a forged wedge. The steel has HD Boron added to help keep the grooves sharper for longer, while a copper microlayer adds to the soft feel at impact.

They are available in four sole grinds – S, D, C and X. S features minimal sole shaping for fuller shots and lower lofts; D offers moderate heel and toe relief and allows gentle manipulation of the face; C features heavy heel and toe relief for more skilled players and firmer conditions, while X has extreme heel and toe relief for short game specialists who like maximum face manipulation. They are offered in 18 lofts (45°-62°) and three finishes. A chrome model is available in RH/LH, while denim copper and raw models are RH only.

VOICE CADDIE SL2 RANGEFINDER £599, VOICECADDIE.COM When it comes to distance measuring devices, there are pros and cons to both lasers and GPS units. Voice Caddie have negated that by including both in one unit. Featuring an OLED screen and 6x optical zoom, the laser part of the rangefinder will stack up with anything else on the market, while the GPS element offers all the features you would typically expect, such as a smart course view and hazard distances. What we really like, however, is the green undulation feature, as well as the ability to angle the green according to your approach position. It's pricey, but it packs a technological punch.

[40] AUTUMN 2021

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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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S AVO U R I N G

SOTOGRANDE LIVE THE HIGH LIFE AT SPAIN'S FINEST RESIDENTIAL RESORT

ME & MY TRAVELS WITH CRICKET LEGEND DAVID 'BUMBLE' LLOYD

GET INTO THE GROVE 'LONDON'S COUNTRY ESTATE' GETS A LUXURY MAKEOVER

AUTUMN 2019 2021 TRAVEL TRAVEL & BREAKS & BREAKS [44] MAY GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SOTOGRANDE AND LA RESERVA CLUB’S RESIDENCES

A FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Golfers looking for a luxury hideaway in one of Spain’s most spectacular holiday hotspots should look no further than La Reserva Club, Sotogrande’s most exclusive residential communities, which is located next to some of the world’s most iconic golf courses and a wide range of leisure activities and restaurants

G

olfers looking for a one-of-a-kind residential enclave, in one of Europe’s most spectacular travel destinations, should look no further than Sotogrande. Within the confines of this elite Andalusian community lies a spectacular country club with world-leading gated residential communities: La Reserva Club. At the epicentre of Sotogrande, it is neighboured within a stone’s throw of the a selection world’s most iconic golf courses and benefits from the wide range of amenities and dining options that are synonymous with Sotogrande’s illustrious heritage If the last two years have taught us anything, other than how to wash our hands and why not to cough in public, it is that our homes are our sanctuaries. With millions of us confined to our houses, flats and apartments for months on end through the various lockdowns, and spending more time away from the office, the demand for property with outdoor space, as well as easy access to leisure facilities, has literally gone through the roof and out of the patio the doors.

The restrictions on overseas travel, which are now thankfully beginning to ease, have further heightened the desire to make the most of all limited leisure time and enjoy the finer things in life. And life doesn’t get much finer than the one enjoyed by residents at in Sotogrande, the largest privately-owned residential development in Andalusia, southern Spain.

First conceived in the 1960s, Sotogrande was the brainchild of Filipino-American businessman Joseph McMicking, who wanted to create a luxury

■ SOTOGRANDE IS HOME TO NEW FEWER THAN FIVE WORLD-CLASS COURSES, INCLUDING RYDER CUP VENUE VALDERRAMA AND LA RESERVA

beachside development that drew inspiration from the resort communities that are a common feature in California and Florida, with a focus on spending time with loved ones and healthy living.

Over the last 60 years, Sotogrande has developed into a 4,500-acre resort that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea 25km east of Gibraltar, back into the foothills of Sierra Almenara, providing contrasting views of sea, hills, forests and green fairways, including the Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco. Sotogrande is one of the continent’s most desirable and distinctive destinations. Fusing Andalusian culture and history with a world-class lifestyle, the magic of Sotogrande lies in its unique mix of tranquillity, elegance, action, style, and serenity; all set within a spectacular location.

The development, which is located 25 minutes from Gibraltar airport, and 45 minutes from Marbella, now boasts around 10,000 properties and a permanent population of over 6,000, which rises to 25,000 in the summer. The gated, secure estate is formed of low-density communities with freehold properties.

Within La Reserva Club specifically, you find gated communities overlooking the Mediterranean that have become homes for likeminded families seeking an authentic lifestyle away from the buzz, and surrounded by exceptional amenities with a sense of neighbourhood. Private and secure within natural parkland, the surrounding scenery unfolds around each property. Each distinctive gated community, of which there are four, offers varying plot sizes and an option of spectacular golf and sea

views or beachfront living in the middle of the hills thanks to the club’s unique inland beach club Despite being home to large yachts, luxury mansions and world-class golf courses, Sotogrande has a relaxed and welcoming feel to it, with the beautiful climate and outdoor lifestyle putting everyone in the holiday mood. With a nod to the huge variety of nationalities represented in the region, the architectural styles of the properties are similarly mixed, with designs varying from traditional Andalucian to Italian Renaissance, and from mid-century modern to Moorish, all the way through to 21st century designs and even a Swiss chalet.

The Seven is a gated community that encapsulates a collection of unique plots situated amongst the ethereal parkland of Sotogrande.

Crafted by the world-renowned landscape architect Jean Mus, the aptly-named enclave features seven villa concepts that have each been designed by different internationally-acclaimed architects.

Each site was landscaped by Mus to integrate perfectly into its natural surroundings and create total privacy for its residents. With panoramic views across the glittering Mediterranean and the hills of Andalucía, each of these family homes embodies tranquillity.

Residents of The Seven enjoy Sotogrande and La Reserva Club’s extensive array of amenities, from championship golf courses to world-famous riding schools and polo clubs. Plot prices start from €7.6m in this one-of-a-kind community.

TRAVEL & BREAKS AUTUMN 2021 [45] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ LA RESERVA'S RESIDENCES OFFER A PRIVATE RETREAT IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

■ THE HOTEL BOASTS THREE OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS

RELAX IN STYLE AT SO/SOTOGRANDE Matt Nicholson checks into SO/Sotogrande, a brand new fivestar hotel that offers a tantalising glimpse into life on Spain’s most exclusive residential resort, before enjoying rounds at Valderamma and La Reserva Club.

SOTOGRANDE HAS A RELAXED & WELCOMING FEEL TO IT, WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CLIMATE AND OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE PUTTING EVERYONE IN A HOLIDAY MOOD Enquiries for gated community villas within the development at La Reserva Club, have increased more than 15% compared to the same period in 2019 – and 8.5% more than any period over the past 18 months. This has results in snowballing sales and significantly reduced availability. Similar rises in enquiries have also been reported for other sub-gated communities currently on offer and for the apartments in Village Verde development, Sotogrande’s latest project, which is set to commence construction soon and lies just outside the confines of La Reserva Club.

Sotogrande’s myriad of facilities includes a yacht marina, a shopping hub, a beach club, a polo club and no fewer than five golf courses. The latter including the world-famous Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup and countless European Tour events; La Reserva de Sotogrande; Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones; Club de Golf La Canada, Almenara Golf, and the San Roque Club, while Alcaidesa’s Links and Heathland courses are only a 10-minute drive away.

La Reserva Club’s stunning Cabell B Robinsondesigned championship golf course, which first opened in 2003, has benefitted from significant investment in recent years. This has been reflected in its most recent rise up the ranking of Continental Europe’s Top 100 list on the respected website top100golfcourses.com, now sitting at 63rd.

In addition to golf, Sotogrande is also home to the Santa Maria Polo Club, which regularly plays host the most famous international polo tournaments. The club also has a polo academy; as well as a Racquet Centre, which has tennis and paddle courts. Horse lovers are also well catered for at the Sotogrande equestrian centre, which has two riding schools and offers a variety of countryside treks.

La Reserva Club’s ‘The Beach’ Club, which opened in 2018, boats Europe’s first man-made inland beach which weaves its way through the relaxation areas to provide an authentic seaside feel. The gastronomic offering at the waterside restaurant is light and refreshing, with a range of carefully conceived and prepared a la carte dishes that are visually enticing and made with fresh and local ingredients. A sports lagoon, contained in a landscaped park, hosts a variety of water sports and activities, and a new boathouse, featuring its own slipway and jetty surround the 17,000 square

■ THE BEACH AT LA RESERVA CLUB CATERS FOR A RANGE OF WATER SPORTS

metres of lagoon.

Food is always front of mind when in Spain, and Sotogrande offers its residents a wide selection of venues in which to indulge. La Reserva Club’s L’Olive features a stylish, modern setting and serves classic French dishes such as Breton lobster casserole. L’Olive also offers a cheese board from La Mere Richard, boasting an abundance of fabulous cheese, including one of Lyon’s finest.

The Trocadero beach club has two restaurants, with both Mediterranean and Asian menus to choose from, while just outside the Santa Maria Polo Club, there are grilled meat dishes to be enjoyed at Asador Cancha II, serving beef from Argentina, Uruguay and Galicia. At the marina, diners can take their pick from Don Diego, which specializes in Nikkei, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, and Ke Bar, a popular local haunt with a Mediterranean-influenced menu. Close by, La Cabana also has a hearty menu of Andalusian grilled meat and fish dishes.

As if that wasn’t enough, Sotogrande’s first and only five-star hotel, SO/Sotogrande, opened in July.

Brand-new to the resplendent and exclusive resort, the SO/ Sotogrande hotel embodies the heritage of Sotogrande, providing guests with contemporary elegance blended with traditional charm. It’s the perfect place from which to sample the lifestyle offered to residents that’s so envied throughout Europe.

While much of life in Sotogrande is lived behind gates and closed doors, the opening of the new SO/ Sotogrande hotel this summer has created a long-overdue venue for those wishing to sample the ‘Sotogrande experience’.

With the main building converted from a typical Andalucian country house with land overlooking the Mediterranean, the hotel offers 152 guest rooms and suites which are dotted around the landscaped property in cottages and contemporary lofts. The latter boast a living space with sliding doors onto a private terrace, a master bedroom with doors onto a garden, and a huge bathroom with a sunken bath and outside private terrace.

Guests can take their pick from a wide choice of bars and restaurants, including MIXO, an all-day coffee shop and cocktail bar; El Cortijo, a contemporary Spanish restaurant, which is also where breakfast is served. HI-SO, an outdoor terrace restaurant with tables set on shaded poolside terraces with sea views and a wood-burning grill, while Social Club is an elegant all-day café bar.

There are plenty of outdoor spaces to relax and unwind, including acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens and three outdoor swimming pools – a main adults pool with sea and countryside views; a secluded family pool; whilst on a lower terrace there is a meditative garden with sun loungers and a large tranquillity pool.

A Wellness Centre, featuring a state-of-the-art spa, opened earlier this summer, offers a wide range of pampering treatment options, while the gym is one of the best I’ve ever seen in a hotel.

STAY-AND-PLAY Sotogrande offers a range of stay-and-play golf packages, combining rounds at Valderrama, La Reserva and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande with overnight accommodation in the hotel. Four-night breaks start from €2,450pp, including rounds on all three courses, a 9-hole practice round at La Reserva, a TaylorMade goodie bag, a preround physio session and all transfers.

■ THERE ARE 152 STYLISH GUEST ROOMS LOCATED ACROSS THE PROPERTY

To book your stay and play package visit: www.lareservaclubsotogrande.com/stay-and-play-golf-la-reserva For more details on Sotogrand’s gated communities and the destination as a whole visit www.sotogrande.com

[46] AUTUMN 2021

TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GET INTO THE GROVE FOR THE ULTIMATE WINTER GOLF BREAK GOLFERS ESCHEWING FOREIGN SHORES FOR THEIR GOLF BREAKS THIS WINTER can make the most of their ‘staycations’ by booking a stay-and-play package at The Grove, which has a range of inclusive offers will prove a tempting proposition for golfers in search world-class golf and a bit of luxury hospitality.

Made famous when hosting the AMEX WGC Championship back in 2006, when Tiger Woods made light work of Kyle Phillips’ stunning parkland course en route to a wide-margin victory, the Hertfordshire-based resort has since proved a hugely popular venue for golfers of all skill levels in search of tour-quality golf facilities and five-star accommodation, as well as those simply looking to relax in the spa or enjoy the wide variety of other leisure, sporting and social activities to be enjoyed on the magnificent country estate.

The Grove’s 7,152-yard layout, which winds it away around the hotel, is renowned for having some of the best greens in the country at any time of the year, while many golfers would be happy to putt on the fairways and tees, such is the high standard of conditioning. Although a testing track off the tips, multiple teeing options make it supremely playable

■ THE GROVE'S 18-HOLE COURSE HAS RECENTLY BENEFITTED FROM A MAJOR BUNKER REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME

however long you knock it off the tee, and there are few forced carries to put off the shorter hitter.

While tee times were in high demand before the pandemic, the course has spectacularly busy over the last 18 months, with its no-members policy ensuring that tee times could be booked providing you were happy to pay the green fee.

First opened in 2004, The Grove has always prided itself on its tournament conditions, and while that was tested again in 2016, when it hosted the European Tour’s British Masters, which was won by Alex Noren. Not content to rest on its laurels, the resort has recently carried out a major renovation project that has seen enhancements to all of its 90 bunkers.

After 15 years of use, repairs have been made to damaged edges, while some bunkers have been reshaped to ensure they remain the hazards that Phillips originally intended.

Attention has also been given to the mown and natural areas surrounding each trap. In addition to the bunker restoration work, a new tee has been constructed on the 5th hole, while a 200m2 extension has been added to the superb practice putting green which is located in front of the

■ THE NEW-LOOK GLASSHOUSE RESTAURANT FEATURES EIGHT LIVE COOKING STATIONS

WAKE UP AND PLAY WOKEFIELD!

clubhouse and the 1st tee.

The golf course work is part of wide-ranging enhancements across the resort, including a reinvented Stables Bar & Restaurant, which serves as the clubhouse for golfers, and renovations to 189 guest rooms in The West Wing, and to public lounges in The Mansion. The Glasshouse restaurant, which takes diners on a lavish food journey with eight live food stations, has also benefitted from a redesign and is as popular as ever with diners seeking a diverse palette of international cuisines all in same sitting. For lovers of Indian food, there is also a new pop-up outpost of Madhu’s restaurant, which serves a variety of South Asian classics with a modern twist that is suitable for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.

Stay & Play Packages An overnight stay in a Classic double or twin room, including a 18 holes of golf, full breakfast, and access to the Sequoia spa, costs from £243pp (based on two sharing) in Nov-Feb and from £264pp in March-April. To book, call 01923 296010 or visit www.thegrove.co.uk.

■ ALL THE ROOMS IN THE HOTEL'S WEST WING HAVE BEEN RENOVATED

DE VERE WOKEFIELD ESTATE, set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland, is offering guests a golf getaway from £119 per person including an overnight stay, two rounds of golf and a two-course dinner, followed by breakfast the next morning.

Guests, who can book with confidence with De Vere’s flexible booking, cancellation and refund policies, can enjoy two rounds of golf at on-site Wokefield Estate Golf Club, a 6,996-yard, par 72 championship course that is designed to USPGA standards, featuring elevated tees, streams, lakes and bunkers to test players’ skill.

After a day on the course, guests can roam the estate’s historic grounds and dine alfresco from the outdoor wood-fired pizza ovens or make use of the hotel’s fully equipped gym and indoor swimming pool.

During their stay, guests will be treated to a two-course dinner which can be enjoyed in the hotel’s Benedict’s Bar, which offers a selection of refreshing drinks, snacks and light meals, or The View Restaurant, where guests can enjoy comfort classics including gourmet deli burgers and hand-crafted pizzas.

For information and to book a stay, visit www.devere.co.uk/wokefieldestate/ or call 01182 077471.

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BRITTANY FERRIES ROLLS OUT NEW FLEET AS GOLF HOLIDAY BOOM RETURNS

GOLFBREAKS ENJOYS RECORD-BREAKING BOOKINGS AS GOLF TRAVEL RETURNS WITH A BOOM

■ DINARD GOLF CLUB

■ GALACIA WAS PUT INTO SERVICE AT THE END OF 2020

GOLFERS TRAVELLING TO FRANCE AND SPAIN with Brittany Ferries next year can look forward to travelling in style following the addition of two new ships to the company’s cross channel fleet.

Following the entry into service of Galicia in 20020, her brandnew sister-ship Salamanca has recently completed its first sea trials in China, where it was built.

The arrival of Salamanca is a key milestone in Brittany Ferries’ fleet renewal programme as it is the company’s first vessel to be powered by cleaner liquified natural gas. Sustainability is at the heart of Brittany Ferries’ fleet renewal programme, and Salamanca will be the first of four new LNG-powered ferries to enter service over the next four years.

IT PAYS TO STAY-AND-PLAY AT PRINCE’S

Salamanca will enter service on the Portsmouth to Bilbao and Cherbourg routes in March 2022, while Galicia is currently sailing from Portsmouth to Santander and Cherbourg.

Among Brittany Ferries’ most popular golf breaks is its annual Pro-Am Challenge, which is being held next year from October 20-24 and will be visiting a trio of Northern France’s finest courses – St Malo, Val André and Dinard. The package includes 3 rounds of golf, 3 nights’ hotel accommodation in St Malo and return sailings from Plymouth to Roscoff with a car. Prices are £515pp for amateurs and £100 for the professional.

For the new Brittany Ferries golf brochure and details of the latest golf breaks, visit www.brittany-ferries.co.uk or call 0330 1595418.

THE LUXURY GOLF LODGE AT PRINCE’S GOLF CLUB in Kent is proving a huge hit with golfers looking to play some of Kent’s finest links courses, including Prince’s itself, neighbouring Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports, and many others along the coast.

Capable of hosting up to 48 guests, the lodge is located by the fifth green at Prince’s and enjoys fantastic views over the 27-hole facility, St George’s, and Pegwell Bay to the white cliffs at Ramsgate.

It is separated into 12 individual apartments, with each featuring two

HAVING EXPERIENCED the busiest September for domestic golf travel in the company’s 23-year history, Golfbreaks has extended its Early Birdie promotion as bookings continue to surge for both the UK and overseas trips.

The Early Birdie promotion, a long-term partnership with Callaway, gives those booking eligible holidays for 2022 the chance to receive a free Callaway Epic Driver alongside their booking. Golfbreaks also offers travellers the opportunity to accumulate Breakpoints, the only loyalty-based rewards scheme in the golf travel industry, which helps golfers to save money for their group on future golf trips.

Alongside the promotion, golfers have been buoyed by the easing of international travel restrictions and are eager to book their next trip away. The changing of travel regulations has seen a huge spike in forward bookings, namely for Spring 2022, as travellers are given the confidence to book their holidays further in advance.

Golfbreaks is encouraging their customers to book their getaways early, as tee times at leading golf courses and resorts across the globe are snapped up by those keen to travel again in 2022.

Andrew Stanley, CEO and Founder of Golfbreaks, commented on his company’s bumper month: “It’s brilliant to see that golf travel is seeing an uptake in bookings after what has clearly been a very challenging 18 months for the travel industry as a whole.

“We’re pleased to see continued easing of global travel restrictions and believe that this will give our consumers continued confidence and peace of mind as they look forward to breaks at some of our incredible venues across Europe and the rest of the world.”

Last month saw travelling abroad become easier for UK golfers, with fully vaccinated travellers no longer requiring a pre-departure test before returning from green list destinations – with lateral flow testing also set to replace the more expensive PCR tests for Brits returning from overseas. Travel to the US is also set to begin again from November 8, with golfers able to take advantage of the fantastic golfing conditions across popular hotspots such as Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Southern California to grab some last-minute winter sun.

To find the latest deals, visit www.golfbreaks.com.

twin bedrooms, plus en-suite bathroom facilities and a shared lounge. It also boasts its own on-site bar and restaurant, the Brasserie on the Bay, where locally-sourced and expertly-cooked seasonal menus are available throughout the week.

There are a number of winter stay-and-play packages on offer, starting from £140pp for 1 night’s dinner, B&B and two midweek rounds for two people sharing a twin or double room. The rate rises to £170pp for Fri/Sat bookings. For reservations, visit princesgolfclub.co.uk or call 01304 611118.

[48] AUTUMN 2021

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CLUBSTOHIRE REPORTS BOOKINGS SURGE AS EUROPEAN GOLF BREAKS RETURN GOLF EQUIPMENT RENTAL BUSINESS CLUBSTOHIRE.COM is reporting record traffic on its website and a surge in bookings as golf travel across continental Europe begins to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Clubstohire offers rental sets from top brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, PING, PXG, Titleist, Wilson and others. The company provides the option to pick up the sets from their outlets in Faro, Malaga, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca with the added bonus of being able to pick your own putter on arrival. Alternatively, delivery to your hotel or golf course can also be arranged.

Outside of the shop outlets, Clubstohire also services various other airports through a network of agents delivering upon arrival. With destinations, outside of Spain and Portugal, including Turkey, Ireland, Scotland, Cyprus, South Africa and Thailand.

Tony Judge, CEO of Clubstohire, said: “In the last few weeks we have sold out in all our key locations across Spain and Portugal.

Several golf groups that have been on the books for 18 months have now taken the plunge and travelled to get some golf in the sun.

We knew there was pepped up demand as our clients have waited almost two years to get away. It was fantastic to welcome our clients back and they were delighted to be back golfing safely in the sun.

Autumn is currently very busy, and we are now preparing for a hectic Spring 2022 market.”

To book a rental set of clubs for your next golf holiday, visit www. clubstohire.com.

VERDURA UNVEILS REROUTED COURSES VISITORS TO THE FIVE-STAR VERDURA RESORT IN SICILY can look forward to enjoying a much-improved golfing experience following a major redesign of the 45-hole venue.

Globally acclaimed golf architect Kyle Phillips returned to the site of his original creation to upgrade the 18-hole East Course land has spent the last three years reworking his magic at the former European Tour venue.

The extensive renovation has seen a number of new features added and modifications made to the routing of the East Course and the neighbouring West Course. The reordering of hole numbers has allowed for the restoration of former favourite holes and brings exciting new additions, while the planting of fescue grasses throughout the course gives the layout added definition.

Phillips said: “We have certainly made the most of the terrain available to us. The drama of the coastline has been improved and we’re proud of what has been achieved. It is new and fresh, the result is great and I think it will be really well received by golfers.

“One of the big differences is with the routing. With the

previous layout, you would cross the other course and they would weave through each other a little at times. Now they are more clearly defined. The course now starts near the practice range on an existing hole, has 14 new holes in between and then finishes on three existing holes back to the clubhouse. “This will make the East Course a par-73 course and the West a par-70. They will both be good challenges. Naturally, with any new course, it takes time to take shape and we’re expecting it to continually improve throughout the winter months so that golfers will enjoy even better playing conditions in 2022.”

To find out the latest golf holiday packages to Verdura, visit www.roccofortehotels.com/verdura-resort.

■ THE RECONFIGURED EAST COURSE AT VERDURA INTRODUCES A MORE DRAMATIC ROUTING

■ PENHA LONGA IS TO RENOVATE ALL 87 BUNKERS ON ITS NATIONAL COURSE

PENHA LONGA TO WELCOME BACK GOLFERS WITH NEW-LOOK COURSE

PENHA LONGA RESORT IN PORTUGAL looks set to welcome back golfers with a new-look course after it unveiled plans to carry out of major renovation of its award-winning Atlantic Course in time for the winter season.

Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, the headline renovation will see all 87 bunkers restored to their original shape, adding 747 tonnes of sustainable, local white sand, enhancing an already picturesque layout which meanders through

the Sintra Mountains, which is just a 30-minute drive from Lisbon.

Course upgrades also include the re-grassing of some of the fairways, a new layer of Bermuda grass, revitalising five of the key holes with improved drainage processes, resulting in enhanced year-round playing conditions.

The Atlantic has recently been named 60th in Golf World’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Continental Europe’ 2022-23, in addition to 52nd in the ‘Top 100 Modern Courses 2021’ and 10th in the ‘Top 50 Courses in Portugal’.

Speaking about the new course upgrades, Oliver Key, General Manager, Penha Longa Resort, added: “Our entire team at Penha Longa Resort are passionate about providing our guests with the best possible experience on the Atlantic 365 days of the year. Having last renovated the course before the Portugal Open in 2009, we want to reinstate consistency across the course and elevate the resort to a new level, attracting new golfers from across the world. It is our ambition to bring tournament golf back to the resort and hope that these changes will be the first step on the road to doing so.”

With The Atlantic’s renovation set to be completed before the end of the year, the resort has also announced two new exclusive packages for visitors, available until March 31, 2022. Both packages include a range of complimentary dining options at the resort, as well as a guided tour of the XIV-Century Monastery, whilst the ‘Reconnect with Nature’ package offers the choice of one daily activity per person such as a cocktail workshop, historical circuit or yoga session.

To find out the latest golf holiday packages, visit www. penhalonga.com/en/autumn

TRAVEL & BREAKS AUTUMN 2021 [49] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

David Lloyd The 74-year-old former England cricketer and Sky Sports commentator David Lloyd always takes his golf clubs on tour, with Barbados being his favourite destination for a relaxing game

Travel with

My favourite city… is Napier in New Zealand.

It’s an art deco city on the coast in the heart of the Hawkes Bay wine region. It has a great climate and a real throwback feel, with all those retro cars you see being driven around the city. My favourite city when I was on tour was Adelaide. You get the hustle and bustle in Melbourne and Sydney, but Adelaide is quite relaxed, with acres of open spaces. I play golf at Royal Adelaide whenever I’m there.

My first trip abroad was… to Australia in 1974 with the England team. I remember the plane refuelling in Darwin, and I stepped off the plane saying: “Crikey, these engines can get really hot.’ And the guys replied: “That’s not the engine – that’s Darwin.” I remember the shock of how stiflingly hot it was there. These days, work takes up most of my time, and I spend about half of it in Britain and the other half abroad. I tend to stay in Britain if I have a short break, although I remember my wife and I going on a cricket cruise around the Caribbean islands, which was fantastic.

My favourite type of holiday is… a cruise. It’s very relaxing and there’s something calming about being on water. But the one thing you must watch out for is all that food. I usually try to keep fit, but it is so hard when you’re having a drink and all the food is so magnificent.

My favourite holiday destination is…

Barbados. I’m a creature of habit, and in Barbados I know exactly what I’m doing and where I’m going. I’ve been to other places in the Caribbean – St Lucia, Antigua and St Kitts

My favourite hotel is… the Trident Oberoi in Mumbai. It’s out of this world in every respect, from the restaurants to the staff. It's truly an experience, with every amenity that you can think of and spectaculars view of Arabian Sea. My favourite airline is… Emirates. I like their A380, because it has a bar in it.

■ CAPE KIDNAPPERS PROVIDED DAVID WITH A MEMORABLE ROUND WHILE COVERING AN ENGLAND CRICKET TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

– but what I love most are the people. I like to enjoy myself with the locals in a rum shack every now and then.

The thing I hate most about holidays is… airports. I get really agitated going through

My favourite golf resort is… Royal

security because I’ve got an artificial knee made of titanium, so I always set off the alarms.

Westmoreland in Barbados. I like to get a game in there whenever I’m there, or at Apes Hill Golf Club, which is more elevated, so you get a nice sea breeze. I’ve been lucky enough to play the Green Monkey course at Sandy Lane, and it was sensational. My other favourite golf course is Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand – it’s very special.

My dream golfing fourball would include… Seve, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ian Botham. What could possibly go wrong?

■ ROYAL WESTMORELAND, BARBADOS

[50] AUTUMN 2021

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