GOLF NEWS JULY 2021

THE UK’S NO.1 GOLF NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 289 | JULY 2021 | TWITTER: @GOLFNEWSMAG | WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITIONS

INTERVIEWS

– WIN a holiday to the Algarve!

– WIN a break to the Belfry!

– WIN a SIK Golf putter!

Shane Lowry Darren Clarke Tom Lewis

POLISHING CHROME Spotlight on Callaway’s Chrome Soft ball range

PICK UP A POLO Your guide to this season’s best shirts

ME & MY TRAVELS with Dougie Donnelly

J O N

EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW

R A H M WE TALK TO THE NEW US OPEN CHAMPION AND WORLD NO.1

COMPLIMENTARY COPY Est 1994

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JULY 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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NEWS | JULY 2021

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EDITOR'S LETTER

OLYMPIC GOLF’S HOLLOW RING Golf being back in the Olympic arena has never sat well in my mind, and while I’m delighted that Justin Rose has a gold medal sitting in his trophy cabinet somewhere alongside his US Open trophy and the countless others he has collected in his career, any tournament that a significant percentage of players who are qualified for but choose to give it a miss only serves to underline how irrelevant it is in the grand scheme of things.

The world’s best players have been happy to travel considerably more than half-way around the world during a global pandemic to compete in the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open and The Open Championship, but when there’s nothing more than a few medals to compete for, then some, and I only mean some, have decided to give it the swerve and prepare to play in tournaments where there are world rankings, Ryder Cup points, and some serious amount of cash to compete for.

Although, as I write this, we are still a few weeks away from the field for Tokyo being finalised, Team GB will, judging by current reports, be represented by Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood, after Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Lee Westwood all said ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ to the idea of competing at the world’s greatest sporting event.

Paul and Tommy are unquestionably world class golfers, and more than worthy of representing Team GB,

NICK BAYLY

but they must feel that they’re only there by default.

Dustin Johnson, the world no.2, and the highest ranked US player, has also decided to give up his chance to go for gold in order to prepare for the FedExCup season, but America will still be represented by a strong field if Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau turn up, as they are currently ranked 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the world ranking.

Given the current Covid-19 situation the decision not to travel to a global gathering of 14,000 other athletes in one place is totally understandable, and, if the circumstances were different, I’m sure the field would be more in line with that the organisers had hoped, but I can’t help but feel that the whole idea of setting up an individual tournament for professional golfers has been flawed from the start, and completely the wrong way for our great game to be showcased on the Olympic stage.

Why not have a mixed pairs team event? Picking the top-ranked men and women to represent their country and playing in a two-ball better ball over, say, 36 holes, seemed like the obvious thing to do. Laying on yet another 72-hole strokeplay event over four days for pros was just lazy thinking and has done everything to highlight what is wrong with the modern game.

While there is a women’s Olympic event hosted at the same venue the week after the men, the opportunity to showcase golf’s inclusivity, with men playing alongside women – as was so brilliantly delivered at last month’s ground-breaking Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika in Sweden – has been scandalously missed.

As things stand, I only hope that those that do choose to go to Tokyo have an incredible experience, and come back healthy and well, and maybe with a medal, and tell those that stayed at home how they missed a truly life-changing event.

I’m sure Justin Rose will back me up.

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JULY 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief SMITH CLAIMS KENT AMATEUR ★ Sittingbourne’s Nicola Smith won the Kent Women’s Championship after beating Nicole Amos (Littlestone) 4&3 in the final held at Canterbury Golf Club. Smith took second place in the 36-hole qualifying stroke play competition, with a nine-over-par score seeing her finish one shot behind Dartford’s Anne Wheble. The losing semi-finalists in the knockout stages

Fans allowed back for Open Championship Next month’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s in Kent will be able to host up to 32,000 each day following the latest government advice on staging outdoor events.

A statement from the R&A said: “We can now confirm that we will be able to welcome up to 32,000 fans on each championship day of The 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s and that this will include those existing ticketholders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets. We will be emailing all these people to confirm the arrangements, including the requirements for Covid status certification.

“Our end goal is to stage a fantastic Open at Royal St George’s and give our fans and players something to be genuinely excited about this summer. Continuing to ensure the health and safety of all of those attending remains our highest priority.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R&A, said: “We are pleased to now be able to proceed with our plans for having a significant attendance

■ AN ALMOST FULL HOUSE WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MONTH'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

at this year’s Championship. These fans will play a huge role in creating a very special atmosphere as the world’s best players compete for the Claret Jug and we look forward to welcoming them to Royal St George’s.

“I would like to acknowledge the support and understanding we have received from the government and public health authorities, fans, players, our patrons and partners, as we have worked through this extremely challenging process. The Open is a very special championship in the world of sport and we are fortunate that so many people care as deeply about it as we do.”

were Olivia Heard (Chart Hills) and Ellie Burdis (West Kent).

HACKER WINS HANTS COUNTY CHAMPS ★ Jo Hacker became the first player from Jersey to win the Hampshire

Bush Hill Park wins ‘Club of the Year’ Award

Men's County Championship title since Christy McLaughlin’s success in 2000, after the 21-year-old from La Moye sunk a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole at North Hants Golf Club to beat Toby Burden. Hacker was one down with three to play in the final, but birdied the last three holes to take the title. South Winchester‘s Harvey Denham won the 36-hole strokeplay qualifier, becoming the youngest winner of the Pechell Salver, breaking the record set by European Tour player Jack SinghBrar, who was also 16 when he won in 2013.

SUART STORMS TO HERTS COUNTY SUCCESS ★ Welwyn Garden City’s Reis Suart won the Hertfordshire County Championship after beating former champion and county men's first team captain Tony Wilkins (Harpenden Common) 5&3 in the final held at Knebworth Golf Club.

Suart, who beat Greg Hurley 2&1, Matthew Lockwood 6&4 and George Williams (20th hole) to reach the final, becomes only the third player in Welwyn Garden City’s history to win the championship after Bob Mitchell, Chris Allen and Sir Nick Faldo. Suart will now represent Herts

Members and staff at Bush Hill Park Golf Club in North London are celebrating after the club was crowned England Golf’s Club of the Year for its efforts in providing members and the wider community with outstanding levels of service during the pandemic.

The Middlesex club – which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2020 – has developed facilities, grown its membership and connected with the local area like never before in the past year.

Bush Hill Park earned the accolade after being shortlisted alongside Stanedge Golf Club from Derbyshire, The Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club and Dunnerholme Golf Club from Cumbria.

Over 160 new members have joined Bush Hill Park since the first national lockdown in March 2020, as well as 250 new social members, due in no small part to the club’s positive and engaging presence on social media.

The club has become a signatory to the Women in Golf Charter and developed a new women’s affiliate programme which has attracted over 40 beginners and put 26 women on a pathway programme to full membership.

With a female chairman and PGA professional at the club, Bush Hill Park is fully committed to encouraging more women and girls to find enjoyment and healthy exercise through golf.

Improvements to levels of governance also impressed the judges while the work on the course and practice area has also been a boon for the members.

New bunkers, an on-course toilet facility and a halfway hut were constructed.

Using money received via an England Golf COVID-19 Support Fund grant, the club was also able to build five undercover practice bays and install a new chipping area for members’ use.

The club also won praise for its work in the community during lockdowns.

Perishable food and drinks were donated to a London homeless charity while 100 food parcels were delivered to members who were forced to self-isolate and were unable to venture out for supermarket shopping. A takeaway food service also went down a storm, with 2,500 portions of fish and chips or curry being sold to hungry golfers denied their usual visit to the clubhouse restaurant because of restrictions.

Stewart Judd, the club’s general manager, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the club and a testament to the efforts of the entire Bush Hill Park Golf Club community, who pulled together to support members and the wider community and to take the club forwards in the most trying of times.”

He added: “The club was really brought together and it was the community aspect of it that I focused on. While we were in uncertainty, I focused on what was certain – the membership and the community that is there within the club.”

at the Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa in September.

VAGLIANO TROPHY POSTPONED ★ The Vagliano Trophy and the Junior Vagliano Trophy, which were scheduled to be played on June 25-26 at Lausanne GC in Switzerland, were postponed due to travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Revised dates for the matches, played between the best amateur women and girls from GB & Ireland and the Continent of Europe, will be advised by the R&A and EGA in due course.

■ BUSH HILL PARK HAS ENJOYED A BOOM IN MEMBERSHIP OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS

■ SULLIVAN BEGAN HIS LONGEST HOLE CHALLWENGE BROR A GOLF CLUB IN SCOTLAND

Surrey golfer embarks on ‘World’s Longest Hole’ to raise funds for livesaving defibrillators Ten weeks, over 1,000 miles and an estimated quarter of a million golf shots. This is what former armed forces mountain craft trainer David Sullivan has in store when he embarks on The World’s Longest Golf Hole challenge.

Starting in John O’Groats in Scotland on June 11, the 58-year-old from Surrey is currently walking between 14-30 miles every day until he reaches Land’s End in Cornwall — all the while, hitting a golf ball.

Sullivan is taking on this unusual challenge to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation. The money raised will help place life-saving defibrillators into villages, towns and cities up and down the country. At every one of the 70 stops on the mammoth journey, Sullivan will be training individuals how to save lives with CPR. His passion for teaching CPR came about when he was faced with a life-or-death situation when a young man suffered a heart attack in front of him. David luckily knew what to do. He administered CPR for 17 minutes until the man could be treated with a defibrillator.

“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery,” said Sullivan. “When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency. It was an experience which profoundly affected me, and now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”

Sullivan will be joined on the challenge by his son Freddie, 21, and hopes his charity challenge will help teach as many people as possible the life-saving skill of CPR and will ensure that many more locations in the country are equipped with defibrillators.

Donations can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/david-sullivan-77.

NEWS | JULY 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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JULY 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief JOY FOR JENSON AT SCOTTISH SENIORS ★ Surrey’s Stephen Jensen claimed the biggest win of his amateur career when capturing the Scottish Senior Men’s Open at Duff House Royal in Banff. Jensen, who is a member at The Wisley, started the final round of the 54-hole tournament tied with Scotland’s Paul Moultrie after carding a 62 in the second round, but fell behind his rival on two occasions before edging ahead with a birdie on the 14th. But three consecutive pars down the closing stretch was good enough to see Jensen close with a 69 and claim a two-shot victory with a one-underpar total of 203.

MCGINLEY SUPPORTS ON COURSE FOUNDATION ★ Former Ryder Cup player and captain Paul McGinley has become an ambassador for the military charity On Course Foundation as it continues its mission to support the recovery of wounded service personnel and veterans through golf. Commenting on his new role, McGinley said: “Serving in the military is about teamwork and I am delighted to be bringing my experiences in this area to help the Foundation as the beneficiaries look to recover from their lifechanging injuries through learning and playing the sport of golf as a group activity before embarking on individual careers within the industry.”

KEOGH KO’S MIDDX RIVALS TO CLAIM COUNTY TITLE ★ Sudbury’s Niall Keogh won the Middlesex County Championship after beating Northwood’s Ian Ashenden 6&5 in the final held at Hendon Golf Club on June 6. Keogh enjoyed an armchair ride to the final, winning his earlier matchplay rounds by margins of 6&4, 5&4 and 3&2, with the latter seeing him beat another Northwood player, leading strokeplay qualifier and four-time past champion Justin Phelps, to reach the final. Phelps, aided by Ashenden and Andre Bothma, combined to see Northwood win the Champion Club event by 12 shots from Enfield.

ALLMAN BEATS ALL WOMEN IN MIDDLESEX LADIES CHAMPS ★ Stanmore’s Gemma Allman captured the Middlesex Ladies County Championship after securing a 4&3 win over Bush Hill Park’s Saskia Owen in the final held at Hendon Golf Club. Owen had won the stroke play qualifier by five shots after shooting 154 for 36 holes in extremely wet conditions, but Allman, who finished second, got her revenge in the match play final, pulling away on the back nine to add a second county title to the one she won in 2017.

■ STOKE PARK IS TO CLOSE FOR TWO YEARS TO CARRY OUT MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Stoke Park to close until 2023 for major refurbishment Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire is to close this summer for a period of up to two years as its new owners begin a wholescale renovation of the resort’s facilities.

Last month, Golf News reported the sale of the Stoke Pogesbased resort for £57m to Reliance Industries, a multi-national 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 while fully complying with the planning guidelines and local regulations’.

That plan is now being put into action, with renovation works on the hotel and health club set to start on August 2, while the golf club and the remainder of the 300-acre estate will close on October 18 to enable the completion of the resort’s 27-hole golf course. The

timetable of the renovations means that the resort will not be reopening until the summer of 2023 at the earliest.

All health and tennis club members have been given notice that their memberships will be terminated on July 31, which is the end of current membership year, which runs from July to July. Golfers will have their memberships suspended in October.

A spokesperson for Stoke Park said: “The new owners of Stoke Park, Reliance Industries, are making a major investment into the estate and are committed to preserving Stoke Park’s rich heritage. Reliance is honoured to be the fifth owners and custodians of Stoke Park since it became the first UK’s country club in 1908 and are committed to investing in its future and the local community.

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 former glory.”

“We can categorically confirm that Stoke Park will reopen for members after the planned restoration. Reliance intends to create a world-class members club to re-open following completion of the work.

Members are the beating heart of the club and its community, and we look forward to welcoming them back after the planned restoration work.”

The closure of the resort will result in a number of job losses across the estate, with staff numbers being scaled back accordingly.

A spokesperson for Stoke Park said: “The club will remain nonoperational until the anticipated reopening in 2023, resulting in the business scaling down its workforce whilst the restoration takes place.

Whilst it is never a good time to close, it is important to begin these works now so we can undertake the major restoration works planned in order to reopen for our members as soon as possible.

"Stoke Park will support outgoing staff members to ensure they are properly compensated for their dedicated service to the club. Reliance is committed to creating a significant number of jobs both during the restoration project phase and after the reopening.”

The club has recently signed a 10-year extension of The Boodles tennis event, which it will host once the renovations are complete and the resort re-opens. The club currently charges £4,500 for annual membership, but no details as to whether this figure will rise following the renovations have been given.

Langer set to defend Senior Open title at Sunningdale Bernhard Langer will bid to capture The Senior Open for a fifth time when he defends his title at Sunningdale Golf Club from July 22-25.

The German made history at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2019 as he claimed the Senior Open crown for the fourth time, one more than Gary Player and Tom Watson.

His triumph two years ago was his 11th Senior Major Championship, the most of anyone in the history of the game, and he also set a new benchmark as the oldest player to win a senior major, aged 61.

“I have been the reigning champion for two years now and it is definitely now the time to defend my title,” Langer said. “I have such fond memories ofl Lytham in 2019 and I cannot wait to try to keep hold of my trophy at Sunningdale this year.

Langer will be joined at the Berkshire venue by a stellar cast of senior legends, including Sir Nick Faldo, who is returning to play in the tournament for the first time in three years. "I have great memories of Sunningdale’s Old

Course, having won the European Open there in 1992, and hopefully some of those memories come rushing back when I return," said Faldo. “The Senior Open always produces an entertaining week of golf for the fans. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to compete this year and I can’t wait to see everybody there.”

Tickets to watch the players in action at Europe’s only Senior Major Championship are on sale sale now. Early Bird prices are £25 for the first day of the Championship on Thursday, while £30 on Friday and Saturday, and £33 for the final round on Sunday. A season ticket for the week costs £100.

Due to limited capacity on-site, buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.

For tickets, visit www.eventbrite. co.uk.

■ BERNHARD LANGER IS BIDDING FOR A SIXTH SENIOR OPEN TITLE

UK Golf Federation launches free online golf handicap Golfers who would like to hold an official handicap, but are not currently members of a golf club, are being offered a chance to do so following the launch of a new online handicapping scheme by the UK Golf Federation.

The UKGF has partnered with Fibodo, an online booking software company, to provide offer the estimated two million non-club member golfers in the UK the opportunity to hold an official handicap through a brand new free digital platform called UK GOLF. Through the new platform, golfers who are

not members of golf clubs will be able to obtain a free official handicap and access it via the web, mobile or App. UK GOLF is now open for club registrations, with the platform available to golfers from early July.

Subject to third party tee sheet integrations, golf clubs will soon be able to promote their tee sheet inventory, take bookings, and boost green fee revenues through UK GOLF users.

Richard Haygarth, chairman of the UK Golf Federation, said: “I have long believed that players who have a handicap are much more likely to keep playing golf. Clubs have known for many years that one of the unique aspects of golf is the fact that golfers of widely differing abilities can compete with each other through the handicap system. The fact that the UK GOLF free official handicap will now be available to

■ XXXX XX XXXX X XXXX X XXXX X XXXX X XXXX X XX

all golfers for life can really help keep people playing golf.”

Anthony Franklin, Managing Director of Fibodo, added: “UK GOLF’s free handicap will encourage more people to play more often at their local and far-off courses. It’s a significant step forward, supporting the golfer to improve their game and courses to increase revenues from a more active golf community.”

NEWS | JULY 2021

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Forrester makes history at Farnham Jenson Forrester created a piece of golfing history on Sunday by becoming the first winner of the English Under 18 Championship for boys and girls.

The championship, which was held at Farnham Golf Club in Hampshire, broke new ground for junior amateur golf in England as it was the first time a 132-strong field was split evenly between boys and girls with one trophy up for grabs.

After 18 holes of stroke play on each of the first two days, 36 holes were scheduled for the final day. However, with heavy rain and electrical activity forecast for late afternoon the decision was taken midway through the third round to curtail the

U.S. OPEN

JON RAHM • CHAMPION

■ JENSON FORRESTER

fourth round to just 10 holes.

And it was Jensen, a 17-year-old from Walsall, who took the spoils, firing rounds of 71, 66, 70 and 38 for the final 10 holes to take the title by three shots from Farnham’s own Lottie Woad, with Jack Bigham (Harpenden) a further shot back in third.

Close House’s Maggie Whitehead, who was the only other player to be under par for all four rounds, finished fourth.

As well as picking up a handsome trophy, an additional prize for Forrester’s victory is an invitation to play in a Challenge Tour event – a reward thanks to Modest Golf Management’s support of the championship. Hosts Farnham Golf Club also recognised Forrester's achievement by

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21/06/2021 13:27

Blue Mountain to reopen as a family 'golf entertainment centre' A new golf course at a major development in Bracknell is set to open this summer.

A sign for a ‘Golf Plex’ has appeared at the entrance to Wood Lane in Bracknell at the Blue Mountain development. Although the old Blue Mountain Golf Course is being transformed into a new housing estate, the site’s legacy as a golf course will continue.

The new Golf Plex will feature a nine-hole golf course, a foot golf course, two driving ranges and an adventure golf course.

Golf Entertainments Ltd, the company which owns the site, launched a recruitment drive last month of anticipation for its July opening, promising an accessible experience for aspiring golfers and families who may be put off by ‘traditional’ golf clubs.

A statement on the company’s website said: “Golf Plex is a new concept in family entertainment, opening in July 2021. Forget what you think you know about golf. This isn’t going to be anything like your normal golf club – full of funny coloured

trousers and odd traditions. In fact, it’s so different from that, we’re not calling it a golf club – it’s a Golf Entertainment Centre.”

The centre will feature a 9-hole short course, which is still under construction and scheduled to open in 2022. It is designed for beginners and those new to the game, but will offer the chance for more experienced players to practice their short game.

The facilities will also include Bear Mountain Adventure Golf, a 21-hole putting course split into three loops of seven called ‘Ice’, ‘Desert’ and ‘Jungle’.

The driving range will be 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 will also be in operation.

Planning permission for a temporary clubhouse, which will be located next to the driving range, has been given by the local council for a period of five years, before a permanent structure can be

■ BLUE MOUNTAIN IS TO TBE RANSFORMED INTO A FAMILY GOLF CENTRE WITH A 9-HOLE SHORT COURSE, DRIVING RANGE AND AN ADVENTURE PUTTING COURSE

built. The clubhouse will have a reception area with seating, a bar, a small kitchen, toilets and a store room with a ball dispenser unit.

The new ‘Golf Entertainment Centre’ forms part of the Blue Mountain development, which will see 400 new homes, a nursery, primary and secondary school, and a community hub built on the old golf course site. The original golf course closed in 2016 after plans for the residential development were approved that year.

NEWS | JULY 2021

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

presenting him with honorary membership. As the highest player girl, Woad secured a place at a forthcoming LET event courtesy of Modest Golf Management.

Clutching the trophy, Forrester said: “Hopefully, I can take this into school tomorrow. I’m hoping to get the day off, but it depends on whether my mum lets me! It feels amazing – I’m so happy.”

“I started off well today. I had 150 yards on the fifth hole and put it to a foot and that settled the nerves. I made a seven on the eighth, but I kept it together and then made four birdies in a row, and then just managed to hold on from there.”

Speaking at the format for the tournament, Forrester added: “Overall, it was a really good event – boys and girls should play with each other and be more involved in championships. Every England Golf event is really well run and exciting to play in.”

England Golf president elect Les Wilson praised the efforts of Farnham in staging the event. He said: “The staff and volunteers at Farnham have been fantastic all week and we are indebted to them for the way they have helped us run this championship. It’s been so good to see the boys and girls competing for the one trophy and the standard of golf on show was amazing.”

Faversham junior organiser wins Volunteer of the Year award Barry Sears’ devotion to helping others at Faversham Golf Club has earned him the title as England Golf’s Volunteer of the Year.

Sears is a mainstay at the Kent club and is now totally immersed in the role of junior organiser, having initially agreed to lend a helping hand as an ‘interim’ volunteer. Five years on, he is still in the temporary role. In fact, he is now a key factor in driving participation among juniors and has a real knack of helping beginners fall in love with the game at an early age. From a total of five juniors when Sears started his work, the club now has a thriving section with more than 70 boys and girls actively engaged as members.

Thanks to his perseverance, the club now runs regular Sunday afternoon meets for juniors without the pressure of more experienced players hurrying them along. The club has also introduced a full set of blue tees for younger players allowing them to play a shorter version of the full course.

A link with local schools has also been established thanks to Sears’s hard work and regular taster session. He has also leant his knowledge and expertise to helping the county develop its grassroots golf strategy and take his skills to a wider audience in the south-east.

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21/06/2021 13:27

Spurs bids to take over Whitewebbs lease to build women’s football academy Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur is set to take over the lease of Whitewebbs Golf Course in North London, which failed to re-open after the latest lockdown at the end of March.

According to local reports, the North London football club has been named as the front-runner in a bid to win the lease for the course, which it wants to use to develop a women’s and girls’ football academy. The club has created a website – www. tottenhamhotspur.com/whitewebbs – to showcase what it hopes to achieve at the venue.

As reported in Golf News last month, Whitewebbs did not reopen on March 29, unlike almost every other clubs in England, with Enfield Council saying it had lost more than £1.1 million during the past five years and it would irresponsible to continue to subsidise it using taxpayers’ money.

If Tottenham is successful with the bid to take over land, the council would use the rental income from the 25-year lease to invest an extra £100,000 a year into grassroots sport for young people across

the borough.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “Our proposals will enhance public access, improve opportunities for recreational and community use and build on the fantastic work that has been delivered by our Foundation in Enfield over the past decade.”

The Conservatives won a seat from Labour in the recent by-election in Chase ward after their candidate Andrew Thorp pledged to fight to save the golf course.

Council leader Nesil Caliskan said: “Residents have consistently told us that any proposal for the future of Whitewebbs needs to ensure the public continue to have access to this beautiful area.

We were clear from the start that any partner we select for this scheme must put the community at the heart of their vision, and I am pleased to see that the bid from Tottenham Hotspur does precisely that. Any proposal will require planning consent and no lease will be entered into unless planning consent is granted following the statutory consultation.”

■ WHITEWEBBS GOLF COURSE MAY BECOME THE SITE FOR A NEW FOOTBALL TRAINING GROUND FOR SPURS' WOMEN'S TEAM

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

Schmidt signs for Milner’s management team after turning professional A sports management company set up by Premier League footballer James Milner has signed its first professional golfer, former Brabazon and Carris Trophy winner Ben Schmidt.

Schmidt has signed with White Rose Sports Management, which was set up in 2015 by Manchester City defender Milner, while last year saw Brighton & Hove Albion’s Adam Lallana, a close friend and former teammate of Milner’s at Liverpool, became a Director at White Rose.

Schmidt, from Rotherham Golf Club Yorkshire, turned professional last month after competing in the 48th Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Florida, where he was the youngest member of the Great Britain and Ireland squad at just 18 years of age. He made his first

professional start in a Challenge Tour event last month, registering a tied 12th finish at the Irish Challenge at Portmarnock Links.

Commenting on his decision to team up with White Rose Sports, Schmidt said: “My long-term goal is to maximise my potential and I strongly believe White Rose is best placed to support me, on and off the course, so I’m thrilled to join the team. I’ve huge respect for James and Adam for all they have achieved in their careers and they are the perfect role models for any young professional. I am 100% committed to their approach and focus on performance, attitude and application to get the best from my ability and build a successful career in the sport.”

White Rose Sports has a dedicated team of experts on its books to help

its clients, including Dr Stephen McGregor, who has previously worked with Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, as well as a host of Premier League teams, including Man City, Leeds Utd and Aston Villa.

Speaking about his new signing, Milner said: “Myself and the whole team at White Rose Sports Management are thrilled that Ben has chosen to commit his future to us. He is a massive talent who has shown his pedigree as an amateur and we will now help him make the transition to the professional game and give him all the support, guidance and advice he needs, on and off the course. Ben is a really exciting signing for White Rose and a sign of things to come as we look to establish ourselves and add to our talented roster of players.”

■ BEN SCHMIDT (CENTRE) WITH ADAM LALLANA (LEFT) AND JAMES MILNER

MAJOR CHAMPION JON RAHM In a thrilling Father ’s Day win, the new World #1 used Epic Speed to capture his 1st Major.

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Bennett bids to widen golf’s appeal as Golf Foundation ambassador

Nicola Bennett, a Trainee PGA Professional at Bush Hill Park GC in North London, has been appointed as an ambassador to the Golf Foundation to help her ambition to introduce golf to people from a wider cross-section of society, including more youngsters from more ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Her first assignment for the Golf Foundation took place on June 9, when she visited Valence Primary School in Dagenham, a part of London that she grew up in, to help promote the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots Programme, which aims to give a first go at golf to two million young people over the next five years.

Bennett was joined at the school by Chris Jenkins, an PGA Advanced Professional from nearby Crowlands Golf Centre, who was her first regular coach, helping her get started on her path to becoming a professional player. The pair led pupils in a beginner’s session, playing the Golf Foundation’s new

Golfway format, a fun way of playing which suits children of all abilities.

Bennett has competed in WPGA events, the LET Access Series, and also took part in last summer’s in Rose Ladies Series. Her next aim is to secure her card for the Ladies European Tour. While working at Bush Hill Park, she has recently specialised in coaching women and juniors. She first came to the attention of the Golf Foundation team when she performed outreach work in local schools in the Enfield area.

Bennett said: “I’m excited to be working with the Golf Foundation as I am passionate about creating golf experiences for young people from all backgrounds. The support of HSBC through the Golf Roots Programme is incredible and I can’t wait to help deliver these opportunities.”

Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “We have known for some time of Nicola’s coaching work at her club

■ NICOLA BENNETT WILL BE VISITING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH EAST IN HER NEW ROLE WITH THE GOLF FOUNDATION

and her emergence as a competitive player, but we were delighted to hear that she has also been reaching out to local schools to introduce children to golf, and that she is now really keen to take this work on wearing a Golf Foundation team shirt. Having discussed Nicola’s professional aims and how they align with the values of our charity, we have no doubt she will be an outstanding ambassador for the charity.”

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England Golf rolls out campaign to boost club membership England Golf has relaunched its ‘Membership: Give it a Shot’ campaign, which is designed to educate new and existing golfers about the benefits of joining clubs across the country.

The campaign focuses on four core values – equality, diversity, family and community – with a suite of new consumer and clubfocused content designed to help golf clubs both recruit new and retain existing members amid the participation boom that has seen more than 4.3 million players recorded as playing at driving ranges across Britain in 2020, as the average age of golfers fell from 46 to 41.

Golf club membership has proven itself to be a valuable, healthy and flexible lifestyle product throughout this period, with club membership increasing significantly in the past 12 months.

Jeremy Tomlinson, CEO, England Golf, said: “Golf club membership has adapted

to welcome a range of modern lifestyles.

Designed to provide individuals with flexible membership offers and carefully constructed payment options have made golf more accessible than ever. We would like to use this exciting period to support clubs in England with resources to help retain members and attract more golfers.

"The unprecedented circumstances of the past year has provided a challenge for all of our clubs, but what has remained constant is the comprehensive and varied offer golf clubs provide. We believe club membership has never been more important and offers individuals, groups and families an environment that represents the best way to fully enjoy the sport.

In this exciting time for golf, we look forward to retaining and strengthening our club membership numbers, as well as welcoming new players to our game in the months and years ahead.”

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TrackMan hits the bullseye with driving range competition TrackMan’s drive to give golfers the very best experience is at the heart of a new competition that puts players against one another on the range.

The TrackMan Bullseye Championship will take place at venues across the UK until July 15 and players will be able to go up against one other at their local range and check their ranking via the leaderboard on the new TrackMan Golf app available in both App and Play Store.

The competition will be available wherever there is a TrackMan-powered driving range and players can take part as often as they like via bay screens and personal devices.

TrackMan technology is already used by top professional golfers all over the world as well as coaches, equipment manufacturers and fitters,

and the Denmark-based company has also been on a journey to expand its number of ranges bringing the game to even more golfers.

“We think it’s the perfect blend of entertainment and skill on the range while practicing,” says Klaus EldrupJørgensen, CEO at TrackMan. “It will allow golfers to have fun, compete against players at their local range and win prizes if they are one of the star performers.”

TrackMan has partnered with rangefinder brand Bushnell and first place at every local range will take home a Bushnell Tour V5 rangefinder and an exclusive Bullseye Championship bag tag.

Second to 5th place will also win bag tags. To find out more, visit www. trackmantournaments.com.

■ ENGLAND GOLF IS LAUNCHING A CAMPAIGN TO HELP CLUBS GROW AND RETAIN THEIR MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS

21/06/2021 13:27

■ TRACKMAN RANGE IS AVAILABLE AT A WIDE RANGE OF CLUBS IN THE SOUTH EAST, INCLUDING THIS ONE AT HOEBRIDGE GOLF CENTRE IN SURREY

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

Royal Blackheath breaks new ground with Mixed Open Royal Blackheath Golf Club is to host the UK’s first amateur handicap singles competition open to both men and women this summer.

Supported by Kent Golf and Golf England, the Open Royal Blackheath Trophy will see men and women will compete against each other, under handicap, at the same time, on the same course, for the same trophy.

The inaugural Open Royal Blackheath Trophy was due to take place last year, but was postponed due to the pandemic, and will now take place on July 5.

Royal Blackheath is renowned for having created the concept of ‘open’ competition, having inaugurated the Boys’ Medal in 1847, 13 years prior to The Open Championship itself.

Since the tournament was set up last year the World Handicap System has been

introduced and a new course rating system launched. This is designed to give all golfers a handicap which is portable around the globe. This now means that all golfers, whatever their handicap, can now easily convert that WHS Handicap Index to any course in the world.

Royal Blackheath Club Captain Alastair McFarlane said: “Throughout its long history, Royal Blackheath Golf Club has been committed to bringing the game of golf to new audiences, and we see this initiative as emblematic of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity in the sport. We are excited to invite male and female club golfers to enter and try to become the first name on the Open Royal Blackheath Trophy for what we hope will become an enduring fixture in every handicap golfer’s calendar for years to come.”

■ ROYAL BLACKHEATH IS TO HOST TO THE UK'S FIRST MIXED OPEN COMPETITION

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE

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Cope claims Links Trophy after marathon play-off English Amateur champion Jack Cope added the St Andrews Links Trophy to his collection after a dramatic finish on the Old Course.

As many as 10 players had a shot at the title coming up the famous 18th in the most prestigious strokeplay event on the amateur calendar. In the end Cope, fellow Englishman Robin Williams and reigning Scottish amateur champion George Burns were left at eight-under, a shot ahead of six others.

The 22-year-old from The Players club near Bristol finally prevailed at the fourth extra hole, the 18th, which he birdied all five times he played during competition, driving the green every time and twoputting. That was eventually enough to beat Burns and Williams, the former Junior Ryder Cup player from Peterborough hitting perilously close to the OB fence on the fourth play-off hole, pitching up but

missing his birdie putt.

Cope’s win was perhaps deservedly so as his final round five-under 67 was the equal best of the final day. It was matched only by the teenage Scot Reuben Lindsay, who finished just a shot out of the playoff.

In the play-off, Cope just figured it was his time at last. “I’ve played four playoffs in my life and lost every one before,” he said. “It had to be fifth time lucky, I suppose. I just tried to stay very much in the present. This morning I knew that I was capable of shooting two good scores to get into this. After the English Amateur last year, I feel I know how to win. In the play-off, I played my best golf tee-togreen all week on those four holes. At the 18th my strategy was to go for it every time. I really committed to the shot, and the last two were two of the best shots I hit all week.”

21/06/2021 13:31

■ JACK COPE WITH THE ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY

NEWS | JULY 2021

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Essendon appoints new course management team Essendon Country Club in Hertfordshire is bringing in some of the golf industry’s brightest course management talents to help the club become one of the South East’s premier golf venues.

As part of the restructure of its agronomy team, Marc Winnan, who has previously worked in senior greenkeeping positions at The Grove, Brocket Hall and Moor Park, will join the club as Director of Courses to lead the dynamic plans to improve golf facilities across the board.

Winnan, who is also a Master Professional, became course manager at Aldenham Golf and Country Club at the age of just 25. He has experience at some of the UK’s most renowned golf courses and has gained valuable and extensive knowledge from some of the most highly regarded golf course agronomists in the country.

Joining Winnan, in the newly created role of consultant agronomist, is Master Greenkeeper John Wells. A hugely experienced course conditioning specialist, Wells assisted in the development of both courses at Brocket Hall and helped elevate them to the very best of standards during the club’s prime.

Wells has since moved to the well-regarded South Herts Golf

■ JOHN WELLS, MARC WINNAN, CRAIG GIBSON AND ALAN WALKER

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Club, where, as course manager, he has built a reputation for presenting an immaculate course year-round. Wells will be monitoring progress at Essendon, paying regular visits to the club in order to aid the advancements of both courses.

Also joining the team is Craig Gibson, who will be stepping into a new role as Estates Manager, tasked with overseeing course

spraying programmes, estate security, and management policies around the club.

The final new addition to the new agronomy and operations team at Essendon is Alan Walker, a past Captain of the PGA and a qualified golf course architect, as club ambassador. Alan will assist with the running of several aspects of club life, focussing on enhancing the overall experience for Essendon’s valued members.

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Get Golfing adds Arkley and Ansty to growing club portfolio Get Golfing, a charity that is investing in a growing network of golf clubs throughout the UK, has added Arkley Golf Club in Hertfordshire and Ansty Golf Centre in Coventry to its burgeoning portfolio.

The two new venues join Get Golfing’s existing stable of clubs which includes Mill Green in Hertfordshire, Warley Park in Essex, Surrey clubs Hampton Court Palace and Pyrford Lakes, Redlibbets in Kent, The Bristol in the West Country and Sherfield Oaks in Hampshire.

Situated on the outskirts of Barnet, Arkley Golf Club boasts a par-69, nine-hole course laid out by James Braid and further improved by Harry Vardon. Get Golfing CEO Ed Richardson said: “Arkley is a special golf club with an important place in the development of golf in Britain, so we are delighted to be involved in returning the club and course to its former glory.”

Following the Arkley investment, Get Golfing has subsequently agreed a 50-year lease on Ansty Golf Centre, a family-owned facility located near Coventry.

The addition of Ansty to the Get Golfing portfolio marks a major step forward for the company, according to company CEO Ed Richardson. “The acquisition of Ansty Golf Centre

is strategically very important for our charity,” he said. “To date, the sites we have acquired have been members’ clubs that also welcome visitors. As a result, we now have the opportunity to broaden our reach into more grass-roots operations. To do this, we believe we need to look toward the golf centre model. Ansty has been on the radar for some time and offers a well-designed 18-hole course, a par-3 course, a 16-bay driving range and a clubhouse that we can use to promote the benefits of golf to the wider community.”

Ansty will also provide a base for Get Golfing to continue its community-based outreach programme, according to its Group Communities Officer Stuart Williams. He said: “Ansty offers us the opportunity to create greater engagement between the golf centre and its immediate communities, not just for golf but the general betterment of the area.

Having undertaken a review of the local communities, I really think we can help make a major contribution to the area around Ansty.”

The change in management also means that Arkley and Ansty members will now be able to access other clubs in the Get Golfing group at reduced rates and will benefit from a range of discounts on drinks, food and golf equipment.

21/06/2021 13:31

■ ANS TEY GOLF CENTRE

■ ARKLEY GOLF CLUB

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

InBrief SWIFT TAKES FLIGHT AT NORTH FORELAND ★ Kent teenager Jack Swift wrote himself into North Foreland Golf Club’s record books after winning the club’s Men’s Championship at the age of just 13. Swift, who captains his county at U14 level, posted rounds to 73 and 74 to record a five-over-par winning total. The five-stroke success saw the talented youngster become the youngest winner in the club’s history as he beat the previous record set by Max Orrin at the age of 16, who has since gone on to forge a career on the European Tour. Junior club member Ben Barr claimed the nett prize to seal the Tom Brown Trophy with scores of 71 and 70 to further underline the talent coming through at the Kent club.

QUICK WINS WELSH YOUTH OPEN ★ Beaconsfield's Ben Quick won the Welsh Open Youth Championship at Whitchurch Golf Club after shooting a two-under-par 282 total over four rounds. An impressive final round 68 saw him finish one shot clear of Tomi Bowen (Welshpool), with Burhill's Elliott MacGregor a further shot back in third, tied with Olivia Lee (Gerards Cross) and Charlie Forster (North Hants).

MCFADDEN ACES BB&O U25 TITLE ★ Ben McFadden (Castle Royle) won the BB&O Under 25 Championship after firing a one-under-par 69 at at Huntercombe Golf Club.

Four-over-par for the front nine, McFadden turned his tournament around with an ace on the 10th, followed by birdies on the 11th, 13th and 16th to come back in 30. Oscar Fuentes (Bearwood Lakes) holed a 20ft putt on the 18th to match Ben's score, but lost out on countback. Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield) shot a 78 (+6) to win the best girl's prize by two shots ahead of Niki Sutton (Frilford Heath).

FOXHILLS INVITES JUNIOR FOUNDATION APPLICATIONS ★ Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey is on the hunt for the next generation of scholars to join the Foundation scheme which set both Paul Casey and Anthony Wall on their way to stellar careers on the European Tour and beyond.

The club is inviting talented applicants to join the scheme to benefit from the first-class coaching team and impressive golf course and practice facilities available at the Ottershaw-based venue. As part of the programme, which has tutored more than 300 children to date, there is mentoring from Tour professionals, equipment support and everything required to gain a deep understanding of the game, on and off the course. The Foundation is also keen to attract keen golfers from disadvantaged backgrounds and to take the sport to disabled young golfers too. For further details, email aburwood@foxhills. co.uk, visit foxhills.co.uk or call 01932 704465.

White in the pink after qualifying for English PGA Final Highgate Golf Club professional Ben White will make his debut in the English PGA Championship Final in July after winning the PGA’s East region qualifying event held at Old Fold Manor Golf Club in North London.

White, 27, fired a two-under-par 69 to led the field by just one shot after a tight contest at the Barnet venue.

His score edged out Luke Fraser (Thorndon Park), James Watts (Kingsway Golf Centre) and Giles Evans who tied for second spot. That quartet will join 13 others from the qualifier in the £30,000 grand final, which is being held at Bowood Golf Club in Wiltshire from July 20-22.

White attributed his victory to an eagle at the par-four second hole when he sunk a 135-yard shot with a pitching wedge.

“I knew the pin was in a bowl,” he explained, “and that if I picked out a spot then it’d get somewhere close. But I

didn’t think it’d go in. It was an even round apart from that, I made a couple of stray tee shots, but I didn’t think two under par would be good enough to win it.

I’d only played Old Fold once before, and that was last week in a practice round so that served me well. I’m used to playing tight courses and bouncy greens. But it might have fooled a few here.”

White was playing in his first tournament of the year, having used the months in lockdown to sharpen his game.

“With everything that was going on last year, I prioritised practice more,” he added. “And with fewer social commitments, I was able to dedicate time to practise and it’s obviously paid off. I usually get a decent amount of practice in, but, pre-Covid, I was probably guilty of not playing enough. I made more of an effort to get out there and meet new members.”

Seve book flies off the shelves as golf fans relive the legend’s finest moments Copies of the new book about the life and times of Europe’s most charismatic golfer, Seve Ballesteros, are being rushed across the world to meet exceptional demand.

Seve: His Life Through the Lens is a photographic celebration of the legendary golfer in a 176-page coffee table volume that also contains descriptions of his greatest triumphs. Large consignments have been shipped from the printer in Slovakia as far afield as California, as well as across Europe, where sales in the UK account for around 60% of the books sold. An extra 500 copies have left for Seve’s native Spain, while another significant quantity has been sent to Tokyo ahead of the Olympic Games.

The book opens with a moving tribute to Seve written by his eldest son Javier, on behalf of his brother Miguel and sister Carmencita as well as himself. “People know you for your golfing career - your victories, Major championship wins, Ryder Cup performances, your personality, your charisma and the unique way you played but few know that you were an even better dad than a golfer,” says Javier.

The book was compiled by Getty Images’ photographer Dave Cannon, long-time admirer and friend of the colourful champion golfer. It charts the charismatic Spaniard’s career, documenting all 95 tour victories en route to him becoming world No.1, including favourite ‘Moment in Time’ memories and

■ BEN WHITE WAS IN FINE FORM AT OLD FOLD MANOR

■ SEVE: HIS LIFE THROUGH THE LENS HAS BEEN A BIG HIT WITH GOLF FANS

images that illustrate them. As well as many action images taken by other talented photographers, the book contains a number of family portraits from the Ballesteros collection not seen in public before.

Following Forewords by Martin Slumbers of The R&A and Keith Pelley of The European Tour, each chapter begins with an essay on his achievements written by golf writer and Seve biographer Robert Green. The book is then rounded off with tributes from both Sir Nick Faldo and José María Olazábal.

“My biggest aspiration for the book is that it captures not only the life and times of Seve, but his unique charisma and spirit, his pride and passion,” said Cannon, who began following the Spaniard’s career after being paired with him at a Pro-am at the Leicestershire Golf Club where he was a member in 1976. “This book is a celebration of Seve as a golfer, but also a tribute to Seve as a man, a father and a husband.”

Published by Vision Sports Publishing, Seve: His Life through the Lens costs £35, while a limited edition collectors’ boxed version, available through www.sevethebook.com, costs £95. This run eof just 1,000 sets includes a numbered art print of the front cover image of Seve winning The Open at St Andrews, signed by David Cannon.

Carberry calls the shots at Three Rivers Sussex golf professional Emma Carberry made up for lost time and discovered what she had been missing in winning the latest event in the OCEANTEE WPGA Series at Three Rivers Golf and Country Club in Essex.

Carberry, 29, a third year PGA Trainee who is attached to the Ryan Fenwick Academy at West Hove Golf Club, was playing in a WPGA tournament for the first time.

After starting out with a double-bogey at the second hole, two birdies on the front nine ensured Carberry turned in level par, and three birdies in the last five holes resulted in a two-under par 72 total, a one-stroke win over Maria Tulley, who birdied 17 but was unable to find a closing birdie to force a playoff.

Victory came with a cheque for £700, which moved Carberry into second place in the order of merit, just behind Tulley, who has banked two secondplace finishes so far this season.

Reflecting on her dream debut, Carberry said: “To win at the first attempt at this level is awesome. I think patience was the secret of my success. Three Rivers is a course you must plot your way around. You can’t just bomb it

■ EMMA CARBERRY

round here, you have to be strategic. I like that kind of golf – I like to think my way around.”

Carberry, having missed the season’s opener, had decided to play in as many as possible. “Covid made playing last year very tricky – events were getting cancelled,” she explained. “And then the year before that I was settling in. I played in a few regular PGA events then and this year I was determined to play in as many WPGA events as well.”

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[16] JULY 2021 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Swiss golfer breaks world record for most holes played in a day If you feel a little tired after playing 18 or 36 holes in a day, then spare a thought for Swiss golfer Jürg Randegger, who shattered the official world record for most holes played in 12 hours after completing 252 holes – on foot – at Ostschweizerischen Golf Club in Switzerland on May 21.

Randegger played the 6,472-yard, par 72 course a stamina-sapping 14 times in 11 hours and 22 minutes. In doing so he broke the current record by 31 holes.

All told, Randegger covered 57 miles and took

1,348 strokes, all of them with a 7-iron. He made five birdies on the day, and shot 90 in his final round, his second lowest score of the entire day.

“I’m very happy to have achieved this ambitious goal,” Randegger said. “Even if at times it was a real torture due to the miserable weather conditions.”

The record for most holes played in 24 hours currently stands at 420, which was achieved by former Major League Baseball player Eric Byrnes, who achieved the feat at Half Moon Bay in San Francisco, California in 2019.

■ JURG RANDEGGER CELEBRATES HIS MARATHON ACHEIVEMENT

Ride in style at the London Golf Club Members and visitors at the London Golf Club can look forward to travelling the Kent’s venue’s two championship courses in comfort and style following the arrival of a fleet of 50 new golf buggies.

The state-of-the-art Tempo Club Car buggies feature GPS technology, which not only offer distances to pins and hazards, but also enables golfers to take advantage of range of in-car services, including ordering drinks and food from the half-way house.

Stephen Follett, CEO of London Golf Club, said: “We decided to renew the fleet towards the end of last year following the huge amount of use the cars had last summer and with another busy season ahead. We viewed the reopening in March as if we were opening a new venue, and that meant reopening with a new fleet of cars.

We also carried out renovations in various areas of our clubhouse.”

He added: “We wanted to show our members, guests, and visitors that we are a forward-thinking venue that is committed to continuously investing in our product, services and people. This is our second fleet with the connected technology – we love it, our customers love it and it’s synonymous with London Golf Club.”

London Golf Club is hosting the European Tour’s CAZOO Classic, which was formerly known as the English Open, from August 12-15. For tickets, visit www. eventbrite.co.uk.

■ RIDE ON TIME: LONDON GOLF CLUB'S NEW FLEET OF BUGGIES

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■ TRACEY WILLIAMSON

Williams holds on at Hayling to lift Senior Women’s Stroke Play title Norfolk’s Tracey Williamson held her nerve during a tense closing stretch to claim a wire-to-wire victory in the English Senior Women’s Stroke Play held at Hayling in Hampshire.

With daughter and England women’s squad member Amelia on the bag, it was an emotional win for the Sheringham golfer after three previous attempts to land the trophy ended in near misses.

Williamson started the final round with a five-shot lead over Ireland’s Laura Webb (East Berkshire) after rounds of 71 and 72 left her on five-under par through 36 holes.

By the time the leading duo reached the turn, Williamson’s advantage over the two-time British seniors’ champion was still a healthy three shots.

But after Williamson found trouble and carded a double

■ AADAM SYED

Aadam Syed secures Surrey Amateur title Aadam Syed captured the 2021 Surrey Amateur Championship after beating Sam Hessian in a closely fought final held over Sunningdale’s Old Course on May 29.

Syed, who is a member at Foxhills, topped the qualifiers in the 36-hole stroke play section, shooting rounds of 69 and 71 to finish on level par and three shots clear of David Corben, Demi Matteo, Justin Chan and last year’s county champion Terry Nicholls.

Walton Heath’s 13-year-old sensation Kris Kim was 15th qualifier on +6, while past champion Mark Booker secured the 16th and final matchplay spot following a play off.

Syed secured his place in the final by beating Daniel Rosevear (Sunningdale Artisans) 5&4 in the quarter-final and Terry Nicolls (Addington Place) 1up in the semifinal. Hessian’s route to the final saw the Sunningdale player overcome Demi Di Matteo (The Wisley) after extra holes, having been 5up after 10, and then enjoyed a 3&2 win over Harley Yates (Burhill) in the second semi.

In the final, which was watched by sizeable gallery, Syed birdied the first two holes to open up an early lead, and was 3up by the eighth after a Hessian missed par putt. But pars at the 10th and the 12th were good enough for the home player to cut Syed’s lead to just one. However, an error off the 16th tee, which saw Hessian’s ball find a fairway bunker, took the Foxhills’ man dormie two.

Hessian battled back with a birdie at 17, where he holed out from six feet to take the match down the 18th.

Both players found the green with their approaches on the final hole, with Hessian holing out to the delight of the Sunningdale members around the green, but Syed rose to the occasion, sinking his own 12-foot birdie putt to secure the title.

Syed has now enjoyed County Championship wins at U12 ,U14, U16 and U18 and adult levels, with only the Colts Championship so far evading him. “I’m working on that!” he said, after picking up his latest trophy.

bogey seven on the 14th, the final pair found themselves locked together on two-under par for the championship. To Williamson’s credit she dug deep to make a brilliant birdie two on the 16th hole, while Webb endured the agony of a threeputt bogey. That two-shot swing proved critical.

After both golfers birdied the 17th hole, Williamson held a two-shot lead playing the last. Both players found trouble off the tee and were forced to take penalty drops, but Williamson was able to steady herself and emerge victorious after a day which became a little more troublesome than she would have liked.

“It was very much a tight squeeze,” admitted Williamson after a final round 77 got the job done. “An uncomfortable squeeze I would call that. I did enjoy it, but it was a little bit tense. That’s

the fourth year I’ve played and probably put too much pressure on myself. This year I tried to relax and enjoy it rather than thinking about winning. I’m over the moon.”

With a triple-bogey seven at the last as she tried to force the issue, Webb’s closing 75 left her in a tie for second place with Fiona Edmond and Caroline Berry.

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

Centurion to host new £1m Ladies European Tour event Lexi Thompson and Georgia Hall will be among the stars of women’s golf competing in a new series of Ladies European Tour’s events – the Aramco Team Series – the first leg of which is taking place at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire on July 8-10.

Swedish double-major winner Anna Nordqvist and Denmark’s 2020’s LET Race to Costa del Sol champion Emily Kristine Pedersen and US superstar Lexi Thompson are also confirmed for the three-day event, which has a $1 million prize fund.

It is the first of five Aramco-sponsored events scheduled for 2021, taking place in the UK, Spain, the USA and Saudi Arabia. The three-day tournament will also offer amateur players the chance to play alongside some of the biggest names in women’s golf.

The tournament will see 36 captains lead teams of four players, who together will compete to shoot the

lowest combined score over three days of golf. All teams will feature three LET players paired through a unique draft system, in which captains choose one player and are randomly assigned another. The fourth member of each team will be an amateur golfer – a position open to all golfers in the UK for the Aramco Team Series – London through the tournament’s world-first Team Up competition. That means it could fall to an amateur golfer to hole an LET tournament-winning putt to secure prize money for the professional players, a feat unique to world golf.

In addition to the team competition, professional players will compete for the lowest individual score over the weekend, for which there is a $200,000 prize up for grabs from the overall pot.

European Solheim Cup hero Georgia Hall is excited about the format becoming a regular feature

Sherreard shines in Kent Amateur Championship Former tour professional Tom Sherreard won the 2021 Kent Amateur Championship after beating 16-year-old Jack Shipton 5&4 in the final held at Wildernesse Golf Club on June 6.

Wet weather forced the 36-hole qualifying tournament to be reduced to just one round, which saw Wildernesse’s own Charlie Hickling top the leaderboard with a levelpar 72. He was closely followed by Sherreard (Kings Hill) and Oliver Lewis Perkins (Mid Kent), with Shipton in ■ TOM SHERREARD fourth after a 74.

The final cut went to 78 for the top 16 players, although a withdrawal due to injury meant Joseph McDonagh-Brown (Wrotham Heath) got in from 17th place.

For the final day, four players remained, with Shipton and Sherreard heading to the final after beating Kipp Popert (Wildernesse) and LewisPerkins in their respective semi-finals.

Experience triumphed over youth in the final as Sherreard, who used to compete on the Challenge Tour and now works as a senior assistant greenkeeper at London Golf Club, took the title with a comfortable 5&4 victory.

Wildernesse eased to a clear victory in the club championship, with combined scores of 223 from Hickling, Poppert and Danny Jones seeing the host club finishing 11 shots clear of Royal Blackheath, with North Foreland six shots further back in third.

on the LET. She said: “It’s a really great addition to the Tour that I think most of us can’t wait to get playing in. It’s a new format and it’s different – and will only be a force for good in women’s golf. Investment like this is fantastic to see and to be able to take the game to new venues around the world and inspire the next generation of young golfers is a really wonderful thing to be part of. Starting in London will, for me, make it extra special.”

Scott Evans, Managing Director of Centurion Club said: “Centurion Club are looking forward to welcoming the Golf Saudi team and hosting another innovative event in the Aramco Team Series.”

The tournament will adhere to COVID-19 protocols, as well as local and government guidelines, but it is expected that a limited number of spectators will be able to attend.

■ GEORGIA HALL IS ONE OF THE LEADING LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYERS WHO WILL BE COMPETING IN THE ARAMCO TEAM SERIES

Glendale tees up ‘summer of golf’ with one-month membership offer Golfers looking to enjoy their summer staycation holidays playing unlimited amounts of golf can do so now following the launch of a low-cost, onemonth membership by Glendale Golf, operators of six golf centres across the UK, including Richmond Park, Tilgate Forest, Portsmouth, Edwalton, Castle Point and Duxbury Park.

LoyalTee 1 Month is a one-month golf membership which offers unlimited golf at a Glendale Golf venue

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up to seven days a week, plus rewards, special offers and golf events to play in.

The one-month package, which starts from just £45 and can be cancelled at any time, is designed to be a stepping stone into full membership for those looking to join for the first time, but it also suits the fair-weather golfer seeking maximum value for money during the summer months.

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INTERVIEW | JULY 2021

[19]

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[20] JULY 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NO

DOUBTING

TOM INTERVIE W

BY

NICK

B AY LY

Ten years after joining the pro ranks, Hertfordshire’s Tom Lewis reflects on his journey from Welwyn Garden City Golf Club to his breakthrough on the European Tour and rubbing shoulders with the game’s top players on the PGA Tour

I

f you can cast your mind back to the summer of 2011 and, more precisely, to the first round of the Open Championship at Royal St George’s, you may recall a young man by the name of Tom Lewis briefly grabbing the media spotlight when he shared the 18-hole lead at the world’s oldest major.

Far from over-awed by playing in the company of five-time Open champion Tom Watson, the 20-year-old Lewis – whose dad had named his son after his golfing hero – relished the added attention that playing in such hallowed company deserved and rose to the occasion magnificently.

Lewis’s first round 65 was backed up with rounds of 74, 76 and 74 to finish tied 30th, but, more importantly, win the Silver Medal for the lowest amateur score of the week. A month later he helped GB & Ireland secure a rare win in the Walker Cup over the US, after which he made the decision to turn professional.

While many good amateurs have to serve an extended apprenticeship in the lower leagues, Lewis came out of the traps like a greyhound on the European Tour, winning his first tournament in only his third event, the Portugal Masters, with a score of 22 under par at Vilamoura.

To put his achievement into perspective, it took Tiger Woods five attempts to get off the mark, Rory McIlroy laboured away for 38 events before he crossed the line in front, while for Richard Bland it took the small matter of 478. While comparisons are obviously rather futile, the manner of Lewis’s victory – where he shot 22 birdies in the final 52 holes – and the maturity he displayed throughout that golden summer, gave rise to the impression that we were witnessing the arrival of someone truly special.

But golf has a strange way of cutting down its tall trees. And while the £400,000 prize money and the two-year exemption was a godsend for

a young player struggling to pay his way and secure appearances, the overnight success proved something of a millstone around young Lewis’s neck, and he struggled under the burden of expectation to regain that form, let alone winning form, for seven long years after that.

Speaking to me back in 2012, a few months after his debut win, Lewis said, somewhat presciently, “Of course it’s amazing to win so early in my career, but I’m also worried about it kind of killing my ambition before I’ve even had a chance to know what it was like to grind it out week in, week out.

There’s a feeling that you have to put in the hard graft for a while in order to earn your first win, and that you might be missing out by not doing that.

But let’s be honest, we’d all take a win, whenever it comes, so I’m not complaining. I just have to kick on from there and not feel like I’ve cracked it.”

And cracked it he hadn’t. He missed the cut in the remaining three events of 2011, and made only eight cuts in 2012, finishing 117th on the money list. With the cushion of the two-year exemption ending in 2013, he made only 11 cuts that year, but saved his card courtesy of a €200,000 payday for finishing third at the Dunhill Links.

INTERVIEW | JULY 2021

[21]

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Both 2014 and 2015 were a struggle, with a 116th place finish in 2015 resulting in a lost card. He regained it in 2016 at Qualifying School and found some vital consistency in his game in 2017, with just five missed cuts from 21 events. However, a lack of high finishes in big tournaments meant that it still wasn’t enough to earn his full European Tour playing rights for 2018.

Looking back on that period, Lewis recalls that he knew where the source of his problems lay.

“I was so keen to prove myself that I tried too hard,” he says. “When I think back to 2011, and my amateur career, turning professional after the Walker Cup, I ended up working on my game so much that I got to a point where I didn’t enjoy it.

It had become work and a grind, and I had lost the joy and fun I had playing the game as a kid growing up. I was playing for money, and I got far too focused on how much I needed to earn to get to a certain world ranking, or what finish I needed to move up the money list, that I stopped focusing on the things I should have been working on – my game and the individual areas I needed to improve, but I focused on the wrong things. By chasing the wrong goal, I lost my game and my confidence.”

Thus Lewis arrived at the beginning of 2018 with nothing more than a Challenge Tour card in his back pocket, a few invites to less popular European Tour events, and the inner belief that good things would come again provided he stuck to his processes and believed that his luck would change.

And so it proved. After qualifying for The 2018 Open Championship and the US Open, he blitzed the field at a Challenge Tour event held at Luton Hoo in September, winning by five shots.

Unsurprisingly, given his wretched run of results, the win served as a massive confidence booster.

“It doesn’t matter how big or small a tournament is, any win is going to give you a psychological lift,” he said after picking up the trophy and the €28,000 first prize.“ After finishing third in the following week’s Kazakhstan Open, Lewis teed it up in the European Tour’s Portugal Masters in Vilamoura, the scene of his finest hour all those seven long years ago.

Playing with a new spring in his step, and buoyed by a return to a happy hunting ground of the Victoria Course, Lewis belied his world ranking of 184 to regain the title he won in 2011 in typically gung-ho fashion, firing a final round 66 to haul in leader Lucas Herbert and finish on 22 under par and secure the €300,000 first prize.

Walking off the 18th green, Lewis looked more than a little stunned at what he had achieved. “It is unbelievable. I am so happy. It has been a rough ride,” he said at the time with a certain level of understatement. “I think this win means more than it did in 2011. The next win was always going to mean more because of how much I have worked for it. Hopefully I can push on now and keep the momentum up. I won’t be taking my foot as the gas now, I want to be moving forward all the time.”

Fast forward to 2021 and we find Lewis, now aged 30, playing full-time on the PGA Tour, and certainly not in any danger of being accused of having ‘taken his foot off gas’. Quite the opposite.

Following his success in Portugal, Lewis went on to finish the 2018 season in fine style, recording three more top-10s en route to secure 41st in the Race to Dubai rankings. He improved on that result in 2019, making 18 out of 23 cuts and finishing 34th in the money list. As well as easing any financial pressures, Lewis’s solid run of form gave him the confidence to head out to America at the end of 2019, where he played in the Korn Ferry Tour’s end of season championship. With few expectations, but a deep-seated desire to expand his golfing horizons, Lewis promptly won the tournament by five shots. Despite not having played in any previous Korn Ferry events, that single performance earned him enough points to

qualify for a PGA Tour card for the 2019-20 season.

“I had always dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour, so to qualify for it after playing just four rounds of golf was amazing,” recalls Lewis, speaking to me in early June while on a fleeting visit to the UK to catch up with family and friends, who he hadn’t seen since Christmas. “Honestly, I always think things happen for a reason. I got very lucky by winning one tournament and that gave me my [PGA Tour ] status.”

Although he’s just bought a new house in England, Lewis is committed to pursuing his career on the PGA Tour for as long as he can, and has set up a semi-permanent base in Jupiter, Florida, where he is renting a house close to the exclusive Bear’s Club, where he gets to practice alongside the like of Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler,

finished tied 71st.

“It was incredible experience to play a major championship at such an iconic venue.” Lewis says.

“Most PGA Tour events almost feel like majors in the way they are organised, so I’m beginning to feel more comfortable playing in the majors as each opportunity comes along.

“It took a while to get used to the set-up of PGA Tour courses, especially the speed of the greens, but I’ve settled in pretty well to life on tour here,” he says. “I’ve proved I can compete at the top level, so I just need to start putting four decent rounds together. I think I tend to try a little bit too hard on Thursdays and Fridays, then I leave myself a little bit too much ground to make up, but then I relax and I can shoot some low scores. Not every player can go low, but I feel I can and that’s a good thing to have in your locker.”

Having no crowds to play in front of during the pandemic hasn’t bothered Lewis that much, given that most US fans have little idea who he is, and that suits him just fine. “The galleries are definitely something some players miss, but from a pure playing point of view, I’m not bothered either way, as I don’t tend to notice them when I’m playing, as

I'VE PROVED THAT I CAN COMPETE AT THE TOP LEVEL, SO I JUST NEED TO START PUTTING FOUR DECENT ROUNDS TOGETHER

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and an ever-growing group of expat Europeans who have chosen to make this corner of Florida their second home.

Ever the fast learner, Lewis quickly found his stride in America’s top golfing division, becoming one of only eight rookies in the class of 2019-20 to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and ended his first season 124th in the money list, having made five cuts in 12 starts.

“My only regret is that I didn’t come out to the States earlier in my career,” he says. “I’m really enjoying the whole experience of playing and living out there. The courses are always presented in unbelievable condition and the PGA Tour really looks after the players.”

The highlight of Lewis’s season last year came in the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis in August, when he finished tied second behind Justin Thomas. That performance, which included weekend rounds of 61 and 66, came with a whopping $583,000 payday and lifted the Hertfordshire man to a career-high world ranking of 46th. Sadly he dropped just outside of the top 50 by the time it came to invitations being handed out to last November’s rescheduled Masters at Augusta, but he earned his third appearance at the PGA Championship last month, where he teed it up at Kiawah Island over all four days. He comfortably made the cut for the first time in the tournament with opening rounds of 71 and 74, but fell away at the weekend after back-to-back 76s to

■ (TOP) LEWIS CELEBRATES HIS EUROPEAN TOUR WIN IN PORTUGAL IN 2018.

ABOVE: LEWIS AND HIS MUM AT THE OPEN IN 2011, WHERE HE WON THE SILVER MEDAL AS THE LOWEST SCORING AMATEUR

I’m just focusing on the shot in front of me.”

While Lewis’s career is very much focused on playing in the States right now, he is not turning his back completely on the continental circuit and one of his prime goals is to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup. To do that he has to improve by competing against the best golfers in the world without compromise. Seeking improvement on the greens, he is currently working with putting guru Brad Faxon and knows that statistically he is competitive in almost all parts of the game.

“I’m in the top half in everything except one area, which is between 10 and 20 yards from the pin,” Lewis says. “If I can improve that a little bit and continue the process I’ve got with my putting and long game, which is becoming the strongest it ever has, I’m really not far away from doing some really great things.”

Sadly, we won’t see Lewis back at Royal St George’s this month, as he narrowly missed out of qualifying for the Open Championship based on his current world rankings, while an 11th placed finish at Portrush in 2019 saw him miss out on automatic qualification by a single spot.

“Yes, it’s very disappointing that I won’t be back at Sandwich this summer, but it is what it is. Hopefully I’ll have a few more chances in the future, but St George’s will always have special memories for me.”

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

Shepherd wins amateur championship after record-breaking comeback Sussex amateur Laird Shepherd produced one of the greatest ever comebacks in matchplay history to win the 126th Amateur Championship amid emotional scenes at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland.

In an all-England 36-hole final against Suffolk’s Monty Scowsill, the 23-year-old fought back from eight down after 17 holes, and from four down with four to play, to triumph at the 38th hole in an extraordinary match.

Having battled with knee and back injuries in recent times, Shepherd, who is a member of Rye Golf Club in East Sussex, was in tears at the dramatic conclusion given the enormity of what the former R&A Foundation Scholar has achieved. In his fourth appearance at The Amateur, the ex-University of Stirling student was warmly hugged by his girlfriend, the Scottish amateur player Chloe Goadby, and friend and caddie, Andrew Davidson.

Shepherd, who is a member of Rye Golf Club in East Sussex, can now look forward to competing in The 149th Open at Royal St George’s next month, the 2022 US Open and next year’s Masters Tournament. He will also be invited to play in an event on the European Tour.

The 36-hole final was the ultimate tail of two halves, with Scowsill, 25, getting a flying start to the morning round with a hat-trick of birdies from the 5th – including a chip-in from the back of the par-3 6th – to seize the early initiative.

Shepherd, who now lives in St Andrews after graduating from Stirling University, passed up an opportunity at the 8th and found himself four down after nine holes. Scowsill quickly made another birdie to extend his lead as he played the opening 10 holes in four-under-par. Shepherd saw another chance slide by from seven feet on the short 11th, before three-putting the 14th to fall six holes behind.

Scowsill, who is a member at Woodbridge Golf Club, then drove the 303-yard 15th to set up a winning birdie.

Shepherd then also threeputted the 17th to fall eight behind, but he claimed his first hole of the match after Scowsill went out of bounds with his tee shot on the 18th.

Shepherd needed a fast afternoon recovery at Nairn and secured his first birdie of the contest at the 23rd to get the match back to six down.

Further birdies followed at the 26th and 27th to cut the deficit to four, but a bogey at the 29th saw Scowsill go 5up with only seven holes left to play.

At the 30th, Shepherd’s par was good enough to claw one back, but he soon found himself needing to win the last four holes to keep the match alive. Incredibly, he did so in dramatic scenes, helped by superb birdies at the 33rd and 35th. At the par-5 36th, Scowsill hit a tree with his drive and then lipped out for glory. And at the 38th, it was all over as Scowsill three-putted for bogey and Shepherd’s stunning comeback was complete.

“It’s an amazing, amazing feeling,” said Shpeherd. “To come back from eight down through 17 holes, I mean, I was honestly more concerned about being on the receiving end of a record-breaking defeat. Monty played so well in the morning and I didn’t really have my game. To turn it around was unbelievable. Winning the 18th in the morning

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round was so important. I just managed to get into a bit of a groove in the afternoon once I won a few holes. I can’t describe how I felt coming down the last four holes, but I was in a calm place.

Asked about for his thoughts on competing at in three of the next four Major championships, including next month’s Open Championship, Shepherd added: “It’s just going to be really special. Whatever happens in the events I’m now going to play, nobody can take that experience away from me. I’m so looking forward to testing my game out against the best players in the world. venues.”

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To Enter To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, simply answer the question below and email it info@ golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Belfry Competition’ in the subject line. Please include your name, email address, contact telephone number, and where you picked up your copy of Golf News, or if you read it online. The closing date for entries is July 31, 2021.

Terms and conditions: The prize is for 2 adults and includes an overnight stay in a twin room, full English breakfast, dinner with an allowance of £24 per person, and two rounds of golf - 18 holes on The Brabazon and 18 holes on The Derby. This prize excludes drinks and any extras. The break must be taken by June 30, 2022 and is subject to availability.

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INTERVIEW | JULY 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[27]

[28] JULY 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MA JOR

P L A Y E R Jon Rahm always knew that winning Majors is what really counts when it comes to measuring greatness in golf. And now he has one, courtesy of a stunning victory at the US Open at Torrey Pines. Here he explains what it means to him

Y

ou were the best of the current crop of young players not to have won a major for several years now, so how does it sound to be able to call yourself a Major champion?

It sounds good, but it will take a little time to sink in. It’s incredible that I’m sitting next to the US Open trophy.

A couple of weeks ago, I watched my good friend Phil Mickelson win the PGA Championship, and I took a lot of inspiration from that. I’ve been close before, and I just knew that the way I have been playing the last few majors, I had to be close. I knew I could get it done.

At what point during the final round at Torrey Pines did you think you could actually win it?

After I missed my birdie putt on 14, I told my caddie, Adam, that two fours and two threes on the last four holes wins the tournament, and that’s what I set out to do – play four really good holes. Not that I was really thinking about it on 17, but the last time I won at Torrey Pines I finished birdie-eagle, and I knew I could finish strong again. I knew history could get close to repeating itself. I stayed patient all day. I hadn’t made many long putts all week, but I’d made a couple of long left-torighters in the past in some clutch moments in my career, and I was able to get two more on the last two holes.

Do you feel like it was meant to be – winning your first Major on a course that you’d won your first PGA Tour event, and doing it on Father’s Day?

Yes. Anyone who knows me know how much I love Torrey Pines. San Diego been my favourite US city for a long time.

It was my wife’s favourite city before we ever met.

Getting my first PGA Tour win here the way I did and with my dad watching was a very special moment. But to get this one done, as a father on my first Father’s Day, with my dad here, and all of my family here, makes it even more special. It’s very hard to believe, that this story can finish up the way it did. It almost feels like it’s a dream sequence in a film that’s about to end and I’m going to wake up soon.

I love Torrey Pines, and it seems like Torrey Pines loves me. It reminds me a lot of back home where I grew up in Spain. It’s not exactly the same, but the coastline, the weather – this is basically a good summer day where I grew up – and these poa annua greens are something I know and I understand and I grew up on, and I think it’s something that really resonates with me. I’m really confident on it.

How did you manage to stay so calm while all the others around you seemed to be losing their heads?

Were you aware of what was going on at the top of the leaderboard?

I might have looked calm, but I was not calm. I wish people could see our heart rate when we’re playing in those moments because that was tense. But you practice to let your body basically take over, right? That’s what I did. My mindset was the same on the first putt on Thursday to the last one on Sunday. The situation does change a little bit, but routine and really staying in the present is what helps.

I was trying not to look at the leaderboards, but the crowd was not cooperating. They were telling me exactly

what was going on. So I decided to embrace it. As I was starting the back nine, I saw all those great names up there, and I thought myself whoever wins this one is going to be the one who won a US Open with a star-studded leaderboard. After that, I just went about my business. I knew I had to survive holes 10 to 13, and hopefully give myself a chance on the final five, which I did.

It took Phil Mickelson until he was 34 to win his first major, but you’ve done it at 26, which is still young. Did you feel like a weight of pressure building up as each major came and went?

No. It’s very easy to get into a mindset of think that only majors count, and that nothing else matters. I mean, we all know that winning a major is not easy, and that’s why only a select group of people have done it. I arrived at the US Open hoping to play well, but a little bit of me was relaxed about it all. You know, I could use my Covid result and my lack of practice as an excuse for not playing well.

Ever since the Sunday at the PGA, I’ve felt a bit of a shift on the golf course mentally. I still had that grit, but almost like each miss bothered me less. I couldn’t tell you why. I believe it’s because I really set myself out to be an example for my son that he would be proud of. I’ve done some stuff in the past on the golf course that I’m not proud of, and I wish I could eliminate it. But I’ve accepted it. I’m not saying it’s going to be smooth sailing until the end, but I feel like that Sunday of the PGA changed things a little bit. My mental game was really good, and it was the same thing at the Memorial. Mentally, I was in a really good place and that’s what allowed me to play such good golf.

INTERVIEW | JULY 2021 [29] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Do you think that missing out on the win at the Memorial spurred you on to winning the US Open?

It’s hard to say, but I did manage to gain some strength from it, especially from the amount of support I had from friends and other golfers. The first person who called me after I knew I had to withdraw was Padraig Harrington. He told me a story in which he was leading by five after 54 holes, signed the wrong scorecard, and got disqualified.

He said he learned a lot more from that situation than he would ever learn from the win.

Nick Faldo texted me the next morning and told me a story of how he was leading a tournament by six with six holes to go and got disqualified, and how he learned from that and got a win the week after.

I believe from the biggest setbacks we can get some of the biggest breakthroughs, and that’s why I stayed so positive. That’s why I kept telling myself and everyone around me that something good is going to come out of it. I don’t know what, but something good is going to come, and I felt it today out there on the golf course. I had Padraig and Nick in my mind when I was out there on the golf course a couple times, knowing that they won shortly after, and I knew that it was going to be my day. It felt like such a fairy tale story that I knew it was going to have a happy ending.

Now that you’ve got a Major in the bag, can you describe what the process has been like of getting your temperament to match your talent?

It’s been a steady process. Life is full of setbacks, but I feel like from those setbacks some good moments have come. I believe becoming a dad was always going to help me because before I could always have the excuse that getting mad helped me out, helped me win golf tournaments, but right now I’m a role model to my son.

I’m going to be, as I am to many kids out there.

Now I understand what I can do, and I know I can perform at my best without showing my frustration so

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much. I made that deal with myself after the third round of the PGA. I wasn’t happy with how I ended, and I could have handled it better, and I vowed to myself to be a better role model for my son. He won’t remember any of this, because he’s only ten weeks old, but I will. Hopefully in the future, he can grow up to be someone who’s proud of his dad. I hope I can provide that example.

The US Open win takes you back to being world No.1.

Which is more important, being no.1 or having a Major championship?

Well, I’ve got both now, so it’s all good! Becoming world No.1 is a consequence of playing really good golf for a very long time, while winning a major championship is performing really well for just one week.

The odds of someone just coming in and just having a better week than you are very short, but to do that over a much longer period of time is a lot harder, so I was very proud of getting to No.1 so early in my career, with or without a major. Of course, I want to win more tournaments, and hopefully win some more Majors, but I also want to be the best and most consistently high performing golfer I can be. Everything else is pretty much out of my control.

I do feel like there’s some magic formula that some people have to deal with the added pressure and stress of a major, and it has taken me some time to figure out what that was. Some people, like Jordan Spieth, found it really early in their careers, while some have taken longer.

But it’s something you’ve got to figure out. Each time I’ve played in a major I’ve felt more comfortable and gave myself better chances, and we eventually got to a point where all the stars aligned and I was able to get the job done.

BECOMING WORLD NO.1 IS A CONSEQUENCE OF PLAYING REALLY GOOD GOLF FORA LONG PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE WINNING A MAJOR REQUIRES JUST ONE GOOD WEEK

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Although there were only 12,000 fans out there, how important was it to have fans back and how have you found playing without them during the pandemic?

After having played tournaments with nobody watching for so long now, having tournaments with 5,000 or 10,000 fans back, felt like a huge change. It was certainly great to have them back at the US Open. The fans are a little bit more vocal and want to make themselves heard, so it’s been nice to see that the enthusiasm for live sport, and live golf, is still there.

Fans are a central part of the game and they create the atmosphere, and I’m glad they’re out there, because as players we’ve missed them. But at the same time, I also want everybody to be safe.

At the end of the day, we play for ourselves, but we’re also here to entertain as well, so we’re playing for them.

From a playing perspective, the one thing a lot of us have talked about is how much smaller the greens look when they’re not surrounded by grandstands. The overall look of many of the courses we play is totally different and it can play tricks with your head sometimes.

You switched clubs at the end of last season and joined Callaway, playing its clubs through the bag.

How important has the switch been in your results this season and how long did it take you to get comfortable with all the new equipment?

The new ball and the new irons have allowed me to hit certain shots that I simply wasn’t capable of before and it showed. I need to say a huge thank you to the team at Callaway for that. As soon as the Masters finished in November last year I went straight to San Diego and

spent three days at Callaway’s test facility hitting a lot of shots and getting dialled in with the new gear. By the time I went home I was really confident with everything.

The switch to the new clubs was pretty straightforward, but the biggest thing to get used to is the golf ball. It’s one thing hitting shots at home or on the range, but it’s another thing hitting shots in competition, especially seeing how the ball reacts in different wind conditions, different temperatures and air densities.

Practicing where I live in Arizona, you’re at a high altitude, so the ball tends to go pretty straight, as there’s not much wind. So, I had to get use to the different situations, like they were at Torrey Pines, where the wind was a bit stronger and the air a little thicker, where the ball moved a little bit more. Again, it’s been working pretty well. My ball-striking has been good all year, and hopefully it just keeps feeling good.

When you first made the switch to Callaway you said that you were more concerned with how you would perform with a new golf ball. I guess the Chrome Soft X is working out for you?

When I came to Callaway I was pretty happy with my long game, but it was the short game that I wanted to improve on, the shots around the green, and I felt like I could do that with the Chrome Soft. From the 8-iron and into the wedges, the Chrome Soft X launches a little bit lower with a touch more spin than my previous TaylorMade ball, which gives me a lot more to play with in short irons and really helps my ability to control my spin. It took a bit of time to get used to it, especially playing in crosswinds, and how it reacted through the air, but I’m really comfortable with it now and it’s given me a lot of confidence to execute shots through the bag.

It’s been well documented that Rory McIlroy lost his way a bit last year trying to get on a more of a level playing field with Bryson DeChambeau. Have you found yourself chasing clubhead speed or distance at all?

Not in a way where I’m going to go out of my way trying to gain a lot of muscle or change my body composition.

I’m already a good ball striker and I’m usually up there in the rankings when it comes to strokes gained off the tee and tee to green, so it’s never really been an issue for me.

I feel I could crank out a few more yards by just swinging a little harder, but I’m pretty comfortable with where I am and feel like I hit it far enough already. Extra distance is never a bad thing, but I’m not looking to bulk up or make any significant adjustments to my tempo or my swing.

[30] JULY 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC JOHN FOWLER HUTCHISON • THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, JUNE 25, 1921 • THE OLD COURSE, ST ANDREWS

O

ne hundred years ago The Open Championship was won by John ‘Jock’ Hutchison, a member of America’s own golfing triumvirate.

The championship was one first truly international renewals, with golfers from France, Spain, Australia, Scotland, England and Italy taking part, while the United States, for the first time, sent a contingent of nearly 40 golfers to attempt to qualify.

Among the group of Americans were Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, George McLean, Jim Barnes, Charles Evans Jr, Wilfred Reid, Emmett French, Charles Hoffner, and Hutchison, a Scot who had been born in St Andrews, but emigrated to America in 1905.

While Scotland had its triumvirate in Harry Vardon, James Braid and JH Taylor, America had a triumvirate of its own in Jones, Hutchison and Hagen. The 1921

A MINOR INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER THE INFORMAL MANNER OF THE TROPHY PRESENTATION, WITH SOME CLAIMING THAT THE CLARET JUG WAS TOSSED TO HUTCHINSON ■ JOCK HUTCHINSON WAS PART OF AMERICA'S OWN TRIUMVIRATE IN THE 1920S

Open was the first of many for Jones and the last for the incomparable Vardon.

However, the 1921 Open belonged to Hutchison, who matched the 72-hole Open record of 290, tying English amateur Roger Wethered after two days of regulation play.

At the R&A’s traditional champion’s dinner on Friday evening, Hutchison collected the first-place prize money and Wethered received a medal. The two men then faced a 36-hole play-off on Saturday to determine who would claim the Claret Jug. Hutchison won the competition handily and the Claret Jug was on its way to America for the first time ever. A minor international incident occurred over the informal manner of the trophy presentation, with some claiming that the trophy was tossed to Hutchinson, while others disputed that claim.

Hutchinson returned to America as a hero, and played in many more tournaments, but a change to the rules regarding the depth of grooves on the clubface proved costly to his short game control and he failed to reach the heights he achieved during the 1910s and early 1920s.

Hutchinson went on to serve as head professional at Glen View Golf Club in Illinois for 38 years, only retiring in 1953 at the age of 70. In his later years he recounted to a journalist that the greatest thrill of his professional career happened during the first round of the 1921 Open Championship, where with Bobby Jones as his playing partner, he scored a hole-in-one on the Old Course’s only par-three and followed it up with an eagle at the very the next hole, which was a par four, a feat that has never since been replicated in professional golf.

Jock Hutchison, winner of over 34 tournaments, including the 1920 PGA Championship, died in 1977, at the age of 93. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

NEWS | JULY 2021

[31]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ ENGLISH OPEN WINNER KIPP POPERT PICTURED WITH CATEGORY WINNERS NICKY WEEKS, GRAEME MAZUR AND SAM MACDONALD

Golf News launches promotional video service Golf News has launched a bespoke promotional video service for golf clubs, golf resorts, driving ranges and associated golf businesses.

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Popert wins English Open for Golfers with a Disability Kipp Popert claimed an emphatic victory at the English Open for Golfers with a Disability held at Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire.

The talented Kent golfer showed his class to post rounds of 72 and 71 for a three-under par total and victory by seven shots over nearest challenger Bradley Smith from Royal Cromer, with Crosland Heath’s Sam MacDonald claiming third spot at the 36-hole event.

Popert started the final round five shots clear of the 2019 champion George Groves. However, the world number two was unable to make an early move and hang onto his crown and eventually had to settle for fourth spot.

Popert – who has cerebral palsy affecting his lower body – comfortably made it to the turn in one over par. Two birdies at the first and fifth holes were wiped out by dropped shots at the second, sixth and eighth.

The member at Wildernesse Golf Club then turned the screw early in the back nine with birdies at the 10th and 11th and was able to play the final holes without any real pressure from the chasing pack.

A birdie at the 18th allowed Popert – playing off a handicap index of plus three – to finish with a flourish.

At least for MacDonald there was the consolation of winning the men’s handicap section of the main event with a two-round net total of nine-under par.

Popert’s two-round tally showed just why he harbours ambitions of turning professional and pushing for tour status. He said: “Winning always feels good – it was really good week. I really enjoyed the course and managed to keep my momentum by avoiding the numerous water hazards and missing in the right places.”

In the women’s handicap competition, Nicky Weeks from Camberley Heath (main image, back right) emerged victorious, five shots clear of Woking’s Aimi Bullock. There was success for Graeme Mazur in the Stableford section of the championship. The golfer from Nevill Golf Club posted a 36-hole total of 70 points to win by six from Worldham’s Iain Millar.

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CLARET JUG CONTENDERS WHO WILL WIN THE SEASON'S FINAL MAJOR?

TOAST OF SANDWICH

2011 OPEN CHAMPION DARREN CLARKE RELIVES HIS FINEST HOUR

DUBLIN UP?

IRELAND'S SHANE LOWRY WON'T BE GIVING UP THE CLARET JUG WITHOUT A FIGHT

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HOLE-BY-HOLE GUIDE TO ROYAL ST GEORGE'S

THE 149TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ROYAL ST GEORGE’S GOLF CLUB, KENT, JULY 15-18

THE GOLF NEWS GUIDE TO GOLF'S OLDEST MAJOR

[34] JULY 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SANDWICH TIME! It’s been two long years since we last enjoyed action from The Open Championship, but the return of golf’s oldest major to Royal St George’s majestic links at Sandwich looks sure to be one worth celebrating, whether you’re a player, a spectator or an armchair fan, writes Golf News editor Nick Bayly

v

Y

ou have to go back to 1938, when The Open was also held at Royal St George’s, to find the last Englishman, Reg Whitcombe, to lift the Claret Jug on home soil, while it has been almost two decades since Nick Faldo secured the famous trophy at St Andrews in 1992.

But history tells us that the golf’s top prizes often go unclaimed by those who deserve them, and The Open is no different, having thrown up more than its fair share of shocks over the years.

The twists and turns of St George’s have also produced some of the most surprising results, with 2003 champion Ben Curtis and Bill Rogers, the hero of 1981, being among the most unheralded winners of recent memory. But then again, it also has a habit of rewarding some real champions, with Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, and before that, Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton, Walter Hagen, and Ben Hogan, all having triumphed at this stunning Kent links.

Darren Clarke, the hero of 2011, was certainly not winning out of turn when he lifted the title at RSG a decade ago, although hopefully this year’s champion will arrive at the following morning’s post-match media interview in a slightly more sober state – but hey, what’s 19 pints of Guinness between friends?

ROYAL ST GEORGE'S TWISTS AND TURNS HAVE PRODUCED SOME SURPRISING OPEN CHAMPIONS, WITH BEN CURTIS IN 2003 AND BILL ROGERS IN 1981, BEING AMONG THEM

And while the players that make up the cast list of hopefuls will bring in the crowds, the star of the show will undoubtedly be the course itself – a majestic links that provides a stunning amphitheatre within which to watch the action unfold.

To stride towards the first tee at Royal St George’s is to embark upon one of the sternest tests in the world of golf. In mid-July, fairways are often firm and running, and greens are fast and true, while the rough will no doubt be up following the recent deluges. Teeing off towards the south, the front nine is characterised by blind shots, imposing dunes and terrifying bunkers, like the enormous, railwaysleeper-surrounded hazard on the fourth, which is set into a sand hill that rises almost 50 feet into the air. The elevated fifth tee offers the chance to catch one’s breath and enjoy a magnificent view of the coast, before striking the tee shot towards the sea.

The back nine is largely duneless, although the fairways feature no fewer undulations and the greens are arguably trickier. Holes 14 to 16 are perhaps the most daunting. Indeed, the 15th, along with the perhaps more famous 17th at St Andrews, can stake a claim to being the toughest hole in Open golf.

And then comes the home stretch, by no means

FEATURE | JULY 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ROYAL ST GEORGE’S OPENS

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N U M B E R S

1894 The year Royal St George’s became the first course outside Scotland to stage The Open.

14 Founded in 1887, the club has hosted 14 previous Opens, the most recent in 2011.

326 The highest four-round total to win The Open WAS recorded by JH Taylor in 1894.

68 JH Taylor shot a four-under par round in 1904 to become the first man to break 70 in The Open.

70 The par for the course was reduced to 70 for the 2011 Open Championship, with the 495-yard fourth hole being changed from a par five to a par four.

6,827 The length of the course in 1981.

The current course is 7,211 yards.

■ ROYAL ST GEORGE'S TOWERING DUNES WILL OFFER SOME GREAT VANTAGE POINTS TO WATCH THE ACTION FOR THE 32,000 FANS WHO WILL BE ALLOWED IN EACH DAY

64 Greg Norman produced a near-flawless seven-under par final round to win his second Claret Jug in 1993.

-1 Ben Curtis was the only player to finish a respite from what has gone before, will offer the opportunity for those in contention to realise their dreams. Some will falter, while one will grasp the opportunity and play his way down, past the clubhouse, to the cauldron of the 18th green, before lifting the famous Claret Jug. With fans allowed back in their numbers – up to 32,000 per day, according to latest government advice – this year’s Open promises to deliver the best atmosphere of the season’s four majors, with packed grandstands guaranteed and a big ‘ooohs and arghs’ sure to be heard across the fairways to let the players know what’s going on around them.

While defending champion Shane Lowry is unlikely to have forgotten what it was like the day he lifted the Claret Jug back in July 2019, a lot has changed in the world of professional golf over the last two years. Jon Rahm has become the first Spaniard to win the US Open; Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to win a major; Hideki Matsuyama became the first Asian player to win the Masters; and good old Bryson DeChambeau has almost single-handedly changed the way the game is played following his muscle building exercise during the first lockdown.

Following his major breakthrough at Torrey Pines, world no.1 Rahm is now priced at just 10-1 to add The Open Championship to his major tally, while Louis Oosthuizen, who finished one stroke behind Rahm to pick up his sixth major runner-up finish, is surely hopeful of reversing the placings back on a links layout at a more generous 28-1 Hopes of a home-grown champions lie with a ragtag bunch of old faithfuls, young pretenders and several who fall between those stalls. With 11 English players currently inside the world’s top 100, six in the top 50, and only one in the top 10, we aren’t currently overly blessed with strength in depth on the world stage, while world no.42 Justin Rose (US Open 2013) and no.96 Danny Willett

(Masters 2016) are the only Englishmen with a Major championship to their name.

Looking down the world rankings of those currently pre-qualified for The Open, our main hopes of Claret Jug glory lie with Tyrrell Hatton (world rank 9), Paul Casey (19), Matt Fitzpatrick (20), Lee Westwood (27), Tommy Fleetwood (33), Matt Wallace (54), Ian Poulter (55), Aaron Rai (106) and Paul Waring (230).

If I had to pick one of those, it would be old stager Westwood, who, despite his advancing years, remains a force to be reckoned with and at 50-1 looks a decent each-way bet. With near misses in 2009 and 2013, as well as recording three other top-five finishes, he knows his way around the Open, and with his newly married wife on the bag he will be looking to follow up from where his good friend Darren Clarke left off in 2011.

Of the Open debutants, of which there will be quite a few following the gap in proceedings, I fancy Norway’s Viktor Hovland (33-1) to do well.

Already twice a winner on the PGA Tour, and ranked 13 in the world, the 23 -year-old has an old head on young shoulders and is primed for a big showing after having to pull out of the US Open with an eye injury. Also keep an eye out – if you’ll pardon the pun – for South Africa’s Garrick Higgo (66-1). Three times a winner in the last 12 months, including in Europe and the US – the 23-year-old fears no-one and has the ability to go very low.

TICKETS All tickets have been pre-sold, with no tickets available on the day. An email will be sent to all ticket purchasers with a link to download The Open Tickets App. Ticket holders aged over 16 will have to show proof of full Covid vaccination or a negative lateral flow test with 48 hours of arriving at the course.

For the latest information visit, www.theopen.com

under par when he won The Open in 2003.

8 The number of club professionals since the club was founded. The current incumbent, Justen Fiddler, has been there since 2012.

61 Tom Watson’s age when he became the oldest player to play all four rounds of The Open in 2011.

250

The cost, in pounds, of an 18-hole visitor green fee from March-October. It is reduced to £160 from November-February.

900,000 Darren Clarke’s prize money for winning in 2011. This year’s champion will collect more than £1.4m.

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[36] JULY 2021 | FEATURE GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

YOUR HOLE-BY-HOLE GUIDE TO

R OYA L S T G E O R G E ’ S Regarded as one of the toughest Open courses, Royal St George’s has been given a few tweaks ahead of the 2021 renewal in order to keep the game’s best player on their mettle. Here’s your guide to playing the 7,189-yard, par-70 links

1

PAR 4, 445 YARDS Setting the tone for any round, it’s a difficult opener into the prevailing wind to a fairway which throws everything right. A drive down the left leaves a second shot with a mid-iron over a cluster of three bunkers to a green that slopes from front to back. Tiger Woods famously started with a seven on this hole in the 2003 Championship after losing his tee shot, while Jerry Kelly carded an 11 in 1993.

2

PAR 4, 421 YARDS The second hole sweeps from right to left, with two bunkers lurking on the corner of the dogleg. Providing those are avoided – either by driving over them or playing safe to the right – players face a relatively straightforward approach. Many will target the front of the green in order to leave an easier uphill putt.

3

PAR 3, 239 YARDS One of two lengthy ‘short’ holes at St George’s, the third is a stiff test featuring a sizeable two-tiered green which is notable for its absence of bunkers. The hole does, however, feature the only tree to be found at Royal St George’s, in the form of a stunted blackthorn to the right of the green.

4

PAR 4, 491 YARDS Players must carry their drive 260 yards to clear the huge ‘Himalayas’ bunker guarding the middle-right side of the fairway, which then doglegs left. Players will then require a long iron for an uphill second to a raised, angled green which features out-of-bounds at the back.

5

PAR 4, 422 YARDS A split fairway gives players an interesting dilemma here. The bold will take on a carry in excess of 300 yards over bunkers, dunes and rough, with the aim of leaving a short approach to an unprotected green. However, a safer shot down the right-hand side with an iron often brings a more profitable result.

6

PAR 3, 174 YARDS With four bunkers surrounding a long two-tiered green, the sixth is known as ‘the Maiden’ and named after the towering dune to the left of the putting surface that reminded course designer Dr Laidlaw Purves of the Jungfrau summit in the Swiss Alps. The original tee position resulted in a blind shot over the dune, but a more conventional test is now provided

7

PAR 5, 566 YARDS Probably the best birdie opportunity on the front nine, despite being one of the longest holes on the course. The drive must be threaded between two prominent dunes to a fairway below, which then doglegs left along a rolling fairway towards a flattish green. There are seven pot bunkers along the fairway, with three more digging into the front right of the green.

8

PAR 4, 450 YARDS Traditionally the hardest hole in Open Championships at Royal St George’s, the aptly named ‘Hades’ demand accuracy with every shot. Tee shots should be kept left to avoid two cleverly placed bunkers, while the second shot it played over a swathe of rough to a contoured green nestled between dunes and protected by two front bunkers.

9

PAR 4, 412 YARDS The second shot is key at this shortish par 4. Any approach that misses left runs the risk of finding two deep bunkers. Locating the right part of the green is also important, given the undulating nature of the surface.

10

PAR 4, 415 YARDS The first hole of back nine demands a precise approach, with an elevated green tricky to hold due to the fact it falls away sharply on all sides. The fiendish slopes famously got the better of Tom Kite in the final round of the 1985 Open, as he conceded the lead with a doublebogey six.

11

PAR 3, 238 YARDS The longest par-three on the course, it is generally played into a prevailing wind and any shot landing short or left of centre tends to collect into one of three small pot bunkers. Anything drifting right may catch one of two other bunkers protecting the front of the green.

12

PAR 4, 379 YARDS Most players will take an iron off the tee and still only have a wedge in their hand for the approach. Five bunkers positioned in front of the green ensure an aerial route is the only way in, but expect to see plenty of birdies here.

13

PAR 4, 456 YARDS Finding the narrow fairway off the tee is not easy at this mid-length par four, with four bunkers lying in wait for anything slightly off-line. A ridge runs the length of green, so players will need to find the right side of it to get close to the pin of the day, while anything hit long runs the risk of going out of bounds.

14

PAR 5, 547 YARDS One of the hardest holes on the course, the 14th averaged 5.07 in 2011 and 5.3 in 2003.

Out of bounds down the right is a clear danger from tee to green, while the ‘Suez Canal’ ditch that crosses the fairway approximately 330 yards from the tee also presents a hazard for the longer hitters.

15

PAR 4, 496 YARDS An extremely tough par-four that is usually played into the prevailing wind. The driving area on this long, straight hole is fraught with danger, mainly from the five bunkers in play off the tee. Any errant tee shot will also inevitably bring the three cross-bunkers lying short of the green into play. For good measure, the green is long, narrow and slightly raised, and will deflect any shots that are slightly off-line.

16

PAR 3, 162 YARDS The shortest and best known of the par threes, thanks to some famous scenes of selfdestruction (Thomas Bjorn) as well as moments of brilliance.

The exposed green is protected all around by seven bunkers, necessitating a tee shot flighted into the heart of a putting surface that slopes uphill from front to back.

17

PAR 4, 426 YARDS A gentle right-to-left dogleg features a fairway full of swales and humps. Under-hit approaches will be punished by a false front, while anyone who goes over the back will have their work cut out to get up and down. Bunkers lurk to the left and right as well, meaning there really is no margin for error when approaching the green.

18

PAR 4, 450 YARDS A great finishing hole that appears to dog-leg left to right but is in fact fairly straight. The drive should fly over the big mound that eats into the right side of the fairway. The approach should then carry the deep bunker tight into the front right of the green. A ridge runs down the left side and anything drifting that way will gather either into a small bunker or ‘Duncan’s hollow’ - so named because George Duncan, needing a four to tie Walter Hagen in 1922, took three to get down and lost by one. Sandy Lyle did the same thing in 1985, but still won by a shot.

INTERVIEW | JULY 2021

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STOUT DEFENCE Having spent almost two years with the Claret Jug in his possession, Ireland’s Shane Lowry knows more than most just how special the trophy is, and he won’t be giving it up easily when he tees it up at Royal St George’s

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s you’d expect from a man who has held on to the Claret Jug longer than anyone since Dick Burton’s five-year reign during the Second World War, Shane Lowry has more than a few stories to tell about his unexpectedly extended period as the ‘Champion Golfer’.

While his boisterwvwous celebrations in Dublin in the days following his triumph at Royal Portrush were well recorded, it is in the quieter moments in the intervening times that have enabled the 34-year-old from County Offaly to appreciate the magnitude of his success, as well as understand what the trophy means to so many people, and not just his friends and family.

While wheeling a padded suitcase containing the Claret Jug through a hotel lobby in Dubai at the end of 2019, Lowry recalls being stopped by a man who asked whether the box did indeed contain the iconic trophy. Admitting that it did, the man asked whether he could see it. Being the generous soul that he is, Lowry agreed and got out the jug from its protective case for yet another photo op. Seeing the coveted trophy in all its glory and having held it in his hands for a few seconds, the man in question promptly burst into tears. The Claret Jug tends to have that effect on men of a certain age.

“Seeing that kind of reaction made me realise what a special trophy it is and what it means to so many people who love golf,” says Lowry. “Just to have it in my possession for this length of time and being able to share it with all my friends and family, and so many other people, has been just an incredible honour. Obviously, I’ve got my replica, and I’ll have that forever more, but to have the real

WHAT’S IN SHANE’S BAG? DRIVER: SRIXON ZX5 (9.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: TAYLORMADE SIM2 3 (15°), TAYLORMADE M5 5 (19°) UTILITY: SRIXON ZX UTILITY (21°) IRONS: SRIXON ZX5 (4, 5), SRIXON ZX7 (6-PW) WEDGES: CLEVELAND RTX ZIPCORE (50°, 58°) PUTTER: ODYSSEY STROKE LAB EXO 2-BALL BALL: SRIXON Z-STAR XV

■ LOWRY WON THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROYAL PORTRUSH IN 2019

thing for two years has been amazing. I’ll be sad when the time comes to give it back, but hopefully I get it back at some stage, whether it be St George’s this year or maybe another time down the road.”

Well, that time has now come, and later this month will see Lowry defend his title at the aforementioned Kent links in front of a slighter smaller crowd than the one which witnessed his impressive six-shot win at Portrush in 2019, in what seems like a distant age.

Lowry has worn the mantle of being ‘Champion Golfer’ pretty well, all things considered, and although he hasn’t won a tournament since his Open success, a world ranking hovering around the top 40, and a dozen or so top-20 finishes over the last two seasons, point to a man that is still playing some very decent golf. Eighth place at The Players Championship in April and tied fourth behind Phil Mickelson at last month’s PGA Championship, and three other top-10s

this season, indicate that he is coming into form at the right time of the season, especially with a Ryder Cup just around the corner. Like most players in the top echelons of the game, Lowry sees himself as a big game performer these days and aims to peak for the biggest events.

“It’s great to do it in the big tournaments,” he says.

“I feel like I’ve been doing that over the last couple of years where I arrive at those big events and manage to kind of find some sort of an ‘A’ game, or something towards my best game anyway.

“Standing on the 18th green at Royal Portrush with the Claret Jug in your hands gives you a lot of confidence in yourself. I don’t know what it is, but I just love major championships. I just love the big weeks. I feel like I’m maturing as a golfer, as a person, so I feel like when I get to those big tournaments I kind of know what’s going to happen. You’re going to have ups and downs; you’re going to have difficult times on the course, and you’re going to have good runs, and when you’re having those good spells, you need to take advantage of them.”

Now semi-permanently based in the States, having recently bought a house in Florida, Lowry has clearly benefitted from competing regularly on the PGA Tour, and although he will continue to support the European Tour, it’s not hard to see why his future career lies in America. “Ireland will always be my home, but while I am playing in America it’s great to have a base and have somewhere to call home. I’ve definitely matured as a player since I’ve moved to America, and my game has really benefitted from the practice facilities and the climate.”

While chasing individual glory is one thing, Lowry is hoping that he can finally become a team player by making a debut appearance at this September’s Ryder Cup. The Irishman currently sits in 10th position on the World Points List and is just one place behind the last automatic qualifier, Victor Perez. Whether he qualifies by right or earns a captain’s pick, Lowry certainly did his chances of making Padraig Harrington’s starting line-up no harm when playing alongside the Ryder Cup captain in the last round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island last month, where the pair finished tied for fourth having started the final day tied 23rd.

“I wasn’t really playing well enough to make the [Ryder Cup] team in 2018, but after missing out on that my main goal at the start of last year was to play in the next one. Winning The Open put me in all the big events and since then I’ve given myself a really good chance to make the team. Obviously, I’d like to qualify, but if I have to get one of the three captain’s picks, so be it. Either way, I would really enjoy being on that team. I’m confident in my own ability, and know that if I’m put on the first tee against anyone that I can bring home a point for the team.”

Before thoughts turn to Whistling Straits, however, Lowry still has the small matter of trying to defend his Open Championship title at course that he has only played once before – and that was over 15 years ago.

“I played The Amateur Championship at St George’s in 2006 and I shot 81 in the one round that I played around there, and I haven’t been back since,” he jokes. “Obviously, I watched Darren [Clarke] win his Open there in 2011, and I know it’s one of the trickiest venues on the Open rota, especially if you get a hot summer in England. It can get firm and fast and play like proper links golf, so it’ll be a great test.

“I’m really looking forward to the whole experience of going there as defending champion. There’s a certain weight of expectation that comes with being the Open Champion, especially given that we’ve had to wait so long for it to come around again.

Whatever happens, it’s going to be really exciting.

Everyone’s just looking forward to playing The Open Championship again, and I for one can’t wait.”

[38] JULY 2021

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A decade after his emotional victory at the 2011 Open Championship, Darren Clarke is returning to the scene of his finest hour, Royal St George’s, in the hope of rekindling some of the magic that lifted him to glory all those years ago

It’s been 10 years since your Open Championship win at Royal St George’s.

Apart from the well documented postvictory celebrations, what is your abiding memory of that week, and do you remember what your expectations were coming into the championship?

There’s so much to take in at the time, from that moment when you know you’ve done enough, all the way through to seeing the special people in your life and then bringing the trophy back to my two sons, which was an emotional thing.

Going into the tournament I was hitting it great, but couldn’t hole a thing. In my practice rounds I was picking up rather than putting, it was so bad. But on Wednesday afternoon I hit a few putts with my lob wedge with my psychologist Bob Rotella and it kind of freed me up and I went from there. By the time the tournament started, I had that huge feeling of calmness that I’ve always felt when I’ve had my best moments in golf. I trusted my process, didn’t worry about the outcome, and ended up with the best outcome of all.

What kind of expectations do you have returning to St George’s this summer a decade older and wiser?

Talk to me on the Sunday night! It’s strange, it feels like longer than a decade, but also like it was yesterday. It’ll be my first time back at Royal St George’s and it will be great to see the place and feel those memories again, but as the week goes on it will be down to business.

I think we just have to wait and see how it goes, but I feel my game is in a pretty good place and I’ve been playing pretty well on the Champions Tour over in the US.

Is there anything in professional golf that you would swap for a Claret Jug?

There’s a common perception that you were something of a links specialist, but is that something of a misnomer given your wins on all types of courses? And, if not, what is it about links courses that particularly suits your style of play?

You’ve obviously had an extremely successful career as a player and a Ryder Cup captain, but knowing what you know NOW, is there anything you’d have done differently in the way your career developed?

Growing up in Northern Ireland, you had to get used to a little bit of inclement weather!

By nature that means that as soon as you start playing you have to be creative and find a way to play all sorts of different shots.

Obviously, I had the biggest win of my career at Royal St George’s, and people will associate me with that, but I’m proud that my game travelled well too, and I have been lucky enough to win all over the world on all sorts of different courses.

I just don’t think you can really look at life like that. Obviously, down the years there are lots of turns in the road, but I can look back at what I’ve done so far and be pretty content with it and the good thing about life now is that I’m playing regularly on the Champions Tour and still enjoying the challenge that brings.

No. The Open Championship is the oldest, biggest and best tournament in the world. All of the American greats came over to play it. It’s so special. When I was growing up practising, it was always a putt to win The Open. It’s the big one.

Golf has been good to me and I’m so proud to have my name on The Claret Jug.

The Champions Tour is a tough school these days, especially given the high calibre of players of your generation choosing to

INTERVIEW | JULY 2021 [39] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ CLARKE WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WINNERS OF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN HE TRIUMPHED AT ST GEORGE'S IN 2011

stay in the competitive game. How have you found the transition into senior golf, and how proud were you to get back in the winner’s circle again?

It really is and it took me a bit of time, but it’s great. I started playing that bit more on the European Tour in 2017 and 2018, and I came over and had a few starts over here later that year.

The standard is seriously good and although parts of the tour are a little more relaxed, it’s still extremely competitive. The win at the Timber Tech Championship was very special, and I was proud to follow it up at the Mitsubishi Electric in Hawaii.

How much are you looking forward to playing in the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale?

I am really looking forward to teeing it up at Sunningdale, as it’s a course I know well, having lived in that part of the world and played a lot of golf there over the years. I’m going to give it a really good go, as it’s a tournament that all senior golfers want to win.

Staying healthy and fit, and the powers of modern equipment, have obviously helped many older players stay competitive for longer, but what do ascribe your ability to play at the highest level for over three decades?

There are lots of reasons why I’ve been doing it for so long I suppose, but the reason I’m doing it now is that I love what I do. I still have that desire to go and work hard and try to improve every day. I still feel that drive to get better.

WHEN I WAS PRACTICING AS A KID, IT WAS ALWAYS A PUTT TO WIN THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. IT'S THE BIG ONE THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO WIN

DARREN CLARKE AND SANA LIFESTYLE – THE PERFECT MATCH Darren Clarke CBD, an exclusive partnership between major winner Darren Clarke and Sana Lifestyle - distributor and licensee of CBD and other plant-based wellness products – have launched a range of premium CBD oils that are set to take the golf CBD market by storm as golfers increasingly look to CBD to help improve their game through a range of mental and physiological benefits.

CBD products have been used by golfers in other markets for some time now but, in the UK, the benefits that CBD can bring to the game are perhaps still underappreciated.

Darren Clarke CBD will provide golfers with a premium product which acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system; a network of receptors that interact with various cannabinoids to maintain vital functions and improve sleep quality, reduce pain, and lessen anxiety levels.

On the course, CBD oil helps golfers to sharpen focus and has been reported to reduce nervousness, be it on the first tee or putting for the match on the 18th green. Post-round, CBD can be a vital part of a golfer’s wellness routine and has been seen to speed up muscle recovery and relieve joint aches. Setting Darren

Clarke CBD apart from its competitors, the products are not only of the highest quality, but are comprehensively tested by third-party regulators and assured to contain 0% THC, meaning that they are safe and ready for consumption.

Darren Clarke CBD has initially launched two flavours of premium CBD Oil; Precision Orange and Precision Forest Fruits. These flavours are available in two strengths: 1000mg and 2000mg, with a recommended retail price of £49 and £69, respectively.

It is available to buy online at www. darrenclarkecbd.co.uk and is available in American Golf stores nationwide.

You’ve put your name to a new range of CBD products that are designed to help golfers deal with stress and enable them to concentrate better. How did that association come about and how has it helped your own wellbeing on and off the golf course?

Launching Darren Clarke CBD was a no-brainer.

The most notable benefits of CBD are recovery, something that a lot of people can often struggle with. Muscle aches and joint pains between rounds will be significantly reduced, which, as a pro golfer playing three or four round tournaments, is a huge benefit. The partnership with Sana Lifestyle came about because of a desire from both sides to create a range of CBD products that would transform the golf CBD market. Sana Lifestyle is a very credible and wellregarded company within the wellness category, so working alongside them made perfect sense.

Darren Clarke CBD oils come in a variety of flavours, do you have a favourite, and how involved were you in creating the range?

Precision Orange is seriously good. Some CBD oils, despite working well, taste pretty odd, so making a product that consumers would enjoy using was an absolute must. We want to make sure that our consumers are using a product that tastes great, rather than tasting somewhat medicinal. To start off we’re sticking with a fairly small range, in order to provide our customers with a no-nonsense, clear catalogue. Further down the line I’m sure we will branch out into other types of CBD based products, and I’m looking forward to conceptualising those.

[40] JULY 2021 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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

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InBrief

TOURNEWS

■ JONATHAN CALDWELL

CASEY & FLEETWOOD TO REPRESENT TEAM GB IN TOKYO CALDWELL ENDS LONG WAIT FOR FIRST TOUR WIN AT SCANDINAVIAN MIXED

RYDER CUP ROLES FOR KAYMER & MCDOWELL ★ European Ryder Cup Captain Pádraig Harrington has chosen Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell to join Luke Donald and Robert Karlsson as vice captains for the 2020 Ryder Cup, which is being held at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, USA, from September 24-26. Twotime Major winner Kaymer will take on the role for the first time after four appearances as a player (‘10, ‘12, ‘14 and ‘16), while McDowell reprises the backroom role he played for the team in Paris in 2018, following four appearances as a player in ‘08, ‘10, ‘12 and ‘14.

SOUTHERN HILLS TO HOST 2022 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP The PGA of America has named Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the replacement venue for the 2022 US PGA Championship. The tournament was originally due to take place at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, but the venue was stripped of hosting rights earlier this month. Instead, the event will head to Southern Hills for a fifth time, and the first since Tiger Woods won there in 2007.

HOVLAND WINS BMW INTERNATIONAL Viktor Hovland became the first Norwegian winner in European Tour history as he finished two strokes ahead of Martin Kaymer to win the BMW International Open in Germany. The 23-yearold started the final day with a three-stroke lead, but Kaymer made a final day charge at Golfclub München Eichenried with 64 to set the clubhouse target at 17 under.

Hovland dropped shot on the 17th, but a birdie at the par-5 18th secured the victory with an 19-under-par total It was his third worldwide victory since turning professional in 2019.

The field for the men’s golf event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games doesn’t contain Justin Rose, winner of the gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio, or the other two medallists, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar.

All three players have dropped too far down the world rankings to be considered for their respective national teams, with Rose ranked 44th, Stenson 155th and Kuchar 64th.

The top-15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top-15, players are eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15. The host country is guaranteed a spot, as is each of the five continents of the Olympics.

Team GB will be represented in Japan by Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood, while Sweden’s men’s team will comprise Henrik

Norlander and Alex Noren, with Stenson as the first alternate if either chooses not to play.

Team USA will potentially field a team of four, comprising Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. Dustin Johnson had qualified, but already stated his desire to stay in the US to prepare for the FedExCup. USA is the only country with more than two qualifiers for the 60-player field, which will compete at Kasumigaseki Country Club from July 29-August 1.

US Open champion Jon Rahm will be joined by Adri Arnaus in the Spanish team, while Masters’ champion Hideki Matsuyama will tee it up alongside Rikuya Hoshino in representing the host nation, Japan.

The women’s rankings will be finalised after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The 60-player women’s competition will be held at Kasumigaseki CC August 4-7.

NO SHANKS FROM ARMITAGE AS HE BAGS FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR SUCCESS Manchester tour pro Marcus Armitage claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Porsche European Open, sealing a two-shot victory after a sensational seven-under-par final round 65 at Green Eagle Golf Course.

The 33uyear-old Englishman made six birdies and an eagle to race to into a fourshot lead through 15 holes, but after a bogey on 16 and a remarkable chip to save par on 17, he faced an anxious wait to see whether any of the closing groups could reach his eight under par total.

His compatriot Matthew Southgate was his closest challenger and was just one shot back standing on the 18th tee, but he could only send his drive into the water on the last to fall back into the pack on six under par, confirming Armitage’s first

■ MARCUS ARMITAGE

win in his 71st European Tour appearance.

Armitage said: “I lost my mum to cancer 20 years ago, and ever since that day I’ve dreamt about being a winner. I’m sure she’d be proud, but deep down this one is for me.

All those lonely days on my own, dealing with life. You have times when you think it might not happen, but I just stuck at it.”

As well as the €180,000 first prize and two-year exemption, victory earned Armitage a place at the US Open at Torrey Pines, while he was already qualified for this month’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s.

Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the ground-breaking Scandinavian Mixed after producing a stunning birdie at the last to overcome the challenges of Adrian Otaegui and Alice Hewson.

It was a fitting finish to the co-sanctioned European Tour and Ladies European Tour event as Hewson had an opportunity to force a play-off with her male rival.

Caldwell had set the clubhouse target at 17 under at Vallda Golf Club in Sweden, after equalling the best round of the week with an eight under 64, which was rounded off in style thanks to a remarkable second shot from the rough for a tap-in closing birdie.

Spain’s Adrian Oteagui had an opportunity to clinch the title at the death after giving himself a birdie opportunity at the 72nd hole for an 18 under total, but his three-putt meant Hewson was the last person standing with a chance to force extra holes. The 23-year-old from Hertfordshire had to hole out with her approach at the 18th to do so, but a par four for a three-under 69 meant she still claimed the honour of the highest-placed Ladies European Tour player in outright third, one stroke behind runner-up Otaegui.

For 37-year-old Caldwell, who partnered Rory McIlroy while representing GB & Ireland at the 2007 Walker Cup as an amateur, it is a life-changing victory having struggled to make his mark on the professional game for 13 years and even working part-time in a golf store to fund his European Tour dreams.

“My immediate feelings are probably a bit of disbelief if I’m to be honest, it’s been a dream of mine for quite a long time,” the winner said. “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but hopefully there’s more to come. In 2009 I played my first year, lost my card, played mini tours and Challenge Tour down the years, and worked in a local golf store, so it’s been a long road. But finally I’m here.”

■ ALICE HEWSON

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

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PRO SHOP

All the latest launches

MASTERS OF SPIN

Wedges in the spotlight

MINT POLOS

Your guide this season's on-trend golf shirts

FIND YOUR APEX

Callaway's Apex irons in focus

SOFT, LONG & VERY STRONG Meet Callaway's new golf ball range – there's something for everyone!

[44] JULY 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

THE GEAR EFFECT

EQUIPMENT NEWS

INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR GARRICK HIGGO

PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TSi2 3 (15°) HYBRID: Titleist TSi3 (18°) IRONS: Titleist T100 (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x (’21)

PATRICK CANTLAY

MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT DRIVER: Titleist TS3 (8.75°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F 3 (15°) HYBRID: Titleist 816 H2 (21°) IRONS: Titleist 718 AP2 (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 (46°, 52°, 56°), Titleist Vokey SM8 (61°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x (‘19)

JASON KOKRAK

CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE DRIVER: TaylorMade SIM (8.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade SIM2 3 (15°), TaylorMade SIM2 Max 7 (21°) IRONS: PXG 0311 T Gen4 (4-PW) WEDGES: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy (52°), Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (56°, 60°) PUTTER: Bettinardi Studio Stock 38 BALL: Titleist Pro V1

BERND WIESBERGER MADE IN HIMMERLAND

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (8°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TSi2 (13.5°) HYBRID: Titleist 818H2 (17°) DRIVING IRON: Titleist T100 (3) IRONS: Titleist 620 CB (4-6), Titleist 620 MB (7-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46°, 53°, 59°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron T5W Putter BALL: Titleist Pro V1

MARCUS ARMITAGE

PORSCHE EUROPEAN OPEN DRIVER: Callaway Epic Speed (9°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (15°, 20°) IRONS: Srixon ZX7 (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50°, 54°, 58°) PUTTER: Odyssey Works 1W BALL: Titleist Pro V1x (’21)

JON RAHM US OPEN

DRIVER: Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Epic Speed Sub Zero (14°, 18°) UTILITY: Callaway X Forged UT (22°) IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Forged (52°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

TRIED & TESTED Golf News editor Nick Bayly gives Honma’s new T//World wedges a run out and is impressed by their all-round versatility Wedges are asked to do a lot of the donkey work when it comes to getting the ball close to the pin. Hacking out from bushes, escaping from plugged lies in the sand, nipped off tight lies from the fringes, and sliding up lush turf in the rough. It’s all meat and drink for our most lofted irons.

Such a demanding array of shots requires a hugely versatile club, and that’s where Honma’s new range of T//World wedges come to the rescue.

Looking clean and unfussy at address, and with just the right clubhead size to inspire confidence without looking unwieldy, I was given the 52° and 58° models to try out, although there are five other loft options (48°,

50°, 54°, 56° and 60°) to choose from and three choices of grinds.

The I-Sole in the 48°, 50°, 52° and 54° lofts feature a slight trailing edge relief across the back of the blade for full sole performance with improved turf interaction at impact, while the C-Sole grind in the 56°, 58° and 60° lofts deliver aggressive heel and toe trailing edge relief witbh a flat bounce surface for golfers who like to open the clubface and get creative around the green, That leaves the S-Sole grind, which is available in 58° and 60° lofts and features four-way relief for shot making with added forgiveness. The wide, full sole ensures this grind is effective across a variety of turf conditions, particularly from bunkers.

During my testing out on the course and on the range, I was impressed by how consistent the ball flights were. Full shots had a midtrajectory and there was no sign of the flight ballooning, while spin was also consistent and well struck shots stopped smartly on the putting surface from a variety of lies.

The versatile sole design means that you can play an array of different shots around the

greens, and I was particularly pleased with the way it cut through the sand in bunkers and made light work of extricating the ball from thicker rough around the greens.

The satin half-mirror finish is pleasing to the eye and it certainly looks and feels like a premium wedge. Golfers can choose from the Vizard IB-105 graphite shaft, which is said to close the faster face at impact for lower launch, although the Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 115 steel shaft that I used offered a nice balance feel and consistency.

As with all clubs, but perhaps even more so given the fine margins of wedge play, having a custom fitting with a PGA Professional is all but essential when considering buying one or a full set of these clubs. A qualified fitter will not only find out which grind will suit your swing type and angle of attack, but will also dial in your gapping so that you have all the distances covered from 150 yards and in, and understand how your wedges fit into the rest of your set.

RRP £149, www.honmagolf.com

SOCK IT TO ‘EM WITH ONZÉ If you’re looking to smarten up you sock game this summer, then a couple of pairs of Onzé’s designs should be just the ticket.

Made in Italy from a technical anti-microbial fabric which wicks away moisture to keep your feet cool, dry and smelling fresh, they are offered in four styles – show, ankle, crew and over-the-calf – in two bold geometric coloured patterns, which are sure you get you noticed on and off the golf course.

With built-in support and elasticity in the heel and ankle areas, they might also help your game, too.

RRP £15.49, onzeswiss.com.

CALLAWAY TEAMS UP WITH CHELSEA FC TO LAUNCH GOLF ACCESSORY RANGE Fans of Chelsea Football Club can now celebrate their team’s Champions League triumph on the golf course with the launch of a bespoke range of CFC cobranded Callaway Golf accessories.

Available now at the Chelsea FC Stadium Megastore, situated at the heart of the club’s Stamford Bridge home in west London, the series of co-branded products give Chelsea fans the opportunity to take their passion for ‘The Blues’ onto the fairways.

The range includes exclusively-packaged Chelsea FC logoed Callaway Super Soft golf balls; driver and putter headcovers; an Opti Fit glove (with integrated Chelsea FC magnetic ball-marker); co-branded bag towel; and a valuables pouch that includes exclusive casino chip ball marker, Chelsea tees, pitchmark repairer and pencil. These products will also be available at a select number of Callaway retail partners, both online and in pro shops.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR JULY 2021 [45] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOLFSTREAM DELIVERS ELECTRIC DREAM WITH FEATURE-PACKED VISION TROLLEY With simplicity at its core, the Golfstream Vision strips back the superfluous and offers an electric trolley that’s both easy to use and looks fantastic Golfstream’s Vision electric trolley is packed with premium performance features yet comes at an affordable price.

Unique features that golfers will only find in the all-new Vision trolley include a revolutionary ‘Caddy White’ display unit, which enables the handlemounted screen to be read in even the brightest sunlight; while a patented one-touch, easy-fold mechanism makes the Vision a cinch to set up and fold away.

It’s also one of the most compact trolleys on the market, folding down to to fit in the smallest spaces and car boots, while a magnetic latch holds the trolley together while being carried to allow hassle-free transportation.

An 18-hole lithium CaddyCell LifePO4 battery, which is supplied as standard, sits in a sleek power platform that is conveniently designed to take all other popular brands of batteries.

Golfstream founder and managing director Derek Richford is extremely proud of the CaddyCell battery technology. He says: “Lithium has been a revolution

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for the industry, and today we are still selling large numbers of our CaddyCell batteries to golfers upgrading the lead acid battery on their old trolleys.

Our batteries are capable of well over 1,000 charges and discharges. If a golfer is playing 100 times a year, our battery is looking to last up to 10 years. In comparison most lithium batteries are good for only 400 cycles.”

The CaddyCell battery drives a 230v whisper-quiet motor that will carry your clubs with ease across all terrains. There are also 27- and 36-hole LifePO4 batteries for golfers wishing to play more golf on a single charge. CaddyCell batteries include a USB charging point for GPS devices, mobile phones, and other devices that might need a power boost during the course of a round, and they come with a no-

quibble, three-year guarantee.

As with all Golfstream trolleys, the Vision holds your golf bag firmly in place by using the side arms, rather than balancing it on the central spine, avoiding unnecessary ‘bag wobble’ over bumpy ground. A non-clogging front wheel, combined with easily detachable main wheels, ensure that cleaning and servicing is also a simple task.

A distance control function, with speed increments of 0.5mph, will perfectly match a golfer’s walking pace, and the Vision can be programmed for left- or right-hand operation using the button on the handle.

The main Caddy White screen can be personalised with a golfer’s details, while there is a ‘simplicity’ mode accessed through the button on the handle for golfer’s who just want to get on with their game with the minimum of fuss.

For complete customisation, the colour scheme can be quickly swapped to any one of five colours from Golfstream’s accessory range.

The Golfstream Vision, which comes with a twoyear parts and labour guarantee, has an RRP of just £449, including the 18-hole Caddy Cell battery, which represents great value for money for golfers that demand total performance and reliability from their power trolley. It is available to purchase online, and through selected retailers and pro shops.

For more details visit www.golfstream.co.uk.

23/06/2021 11:12

[46] JULY 2021

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A ROLLING SUCCESS STORY Callaway has redefined the premium golf ball market with its bestselling range of Chrome Soft balls, but which one is right for your game?

C

ALLAWAY ENGINEERS set out to produce a family of golf balls that any golfer could fit into and benefit from—from Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Phil Mickelson, all the way to the weekend warrior.

The latest generation of the Callaway Chrome Soft — the Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X, and the just-released Chrome Soft X LS— feature a complete redesign to promote more speed and distance, while maintaining the great feel and spin characteristics of its predecessors.

Rahm, who switched into the Chrome Soft X ball after joining Callaway’s staff earlier this year, and used it to win last month’s US Open, had this to say: “It’s an incredibly versatile golf ball – it allows me to maintain my distance and

accuracy off the tee and open doors for me to improve from 150 yards and in. It is also very stable in the wind.”

Chrome Soft X is the most played Callaway Ball on Tour in 2021, while the new Chrome Soft X LS is in play for Marc Leishman, Wesley Bryan and Danny Willett, among others. Leishman recently said, “My speed is up, the flight is consistent, and the spin is still so good around the green.”

So, which family member is right for you? The Chrome Soft is the softest feeling ball of the family designed for those looking for maximum forgiveness and longer distance off of every club in the bag. For those who swing the driver at 105 mph and above, the Chrome Soft X is generally better. It offers soft feel and high ball speed while providing

workability. The latest addition to the line up, the Chrome Soft X LS (low spin) is an ideal fit for bombers looking for a ball with low spin to provide added distance.

All three models are available with Callaway’s Triple Track Technology, which approximately 25% of Callaway’s tour staff opts for, including Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, and Michelle Wie. “We’ve reinvented Tour ball performance again with our Chrome Soft family,” said Dr Alan Hocknell, Callaway SVP of R&D. “Redesigning each model from the inside out allows us to give golfers more of what they want in a Tour ball – long distance, great feel and a spin profile that promotes low spin on full shots and high spin around the green.”

EQUIPMENT & GEAR JULY 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MEET THE REST OF THE FAMILY ERC SOFT First launched in 2019, Callaway has updated the ERC Soft in 2021 to offer enhanced distance with increased control around the green.

A new high energy core combines with a high-speed mantle layer to promote maximum speed, while a new hybrid cover made under license by chemical company Dow that delivers high launch and low spin for long distance, along with great feel and durability. It features Triple Track alignment to improve accuracy on all putts.

It is offered in white and yellow. £36.99 for 12

CHROME SOFT

The latest Chrome Soft ball contains a Dual SoftFast core with a 34% larger volume inner core and a thinner, graphene-infused outer core is designed to promote fast ball speed and increased wedge spin.

In addition to the Dual SoftFast Core, the ball contains a new mantle system formulated of proprietary, high-energy ionomer to promote fast ball speed.

The 10% thinner urethane cover bids to promote less spin on full shots and added distance while still maintaining soft feel and excellent greenside spin and control.

The ball is completed by a new lower drag aerodynamic dimple pattern that promotes higher launch, higher flight, and thus, longer distance.

CHROME SOFT X

The Chrome Soft X contains a significantly larger SoftFast core than its predecessor, which is designed to promote faster ball speed.

The ball features a 15% thinner cover which produces lower spin on full shots, resulting in added distance, while a new mantle system combines a softer inner mantle with a firmer outer mantle, both consisting of proprietary ionomer blends to further promote faster ball speed.

This firm outer mantle works with the new, thinner cover in design to promote increased greenside spin and control.

Also new for the next-gen Chrome Soft X is a lower drag aerodynamic dimple pattern, which is designed to produce penetrating flight and longer distance.

SUPERSOFT One of the most popular balls in Callaway’s range for years, the Supersoft promises long distance, greenside control, soft feel and added durability at an affordable price point. The latest version features a soft compression core to create maximum ball speed along with an excellent combination of high launch and low spin in your longer clubs. It also features new hybrid cover with HEX dimples to reduce drag and enhance lift for even longer carry. It is offered in white, yellow, orange, green, pink and red. £22.99 for 12

SUPERSOFT MAX Designed to produce maximum distance and maximum forgiveness, the Supersoft MAX is an oversized ball that is aimed at game improvers looking for extra yardage and straight ball flight in an easy-to-hit construction.

A low compression core and blended Ionomer cover increases ball speed off the clubface and delivers high launch and low spin on the longer clubs. It is available in white and yellow. £22.99 for 12

CHROME SOFT X L S

Rounding at the range, and the newest addition to the family, the Chrome Soft X LS features a four-piece, a single-core construction that Is engineered to increase speed through a SoftFast Core, a Dual Mantle System, and a refined urethane cover.

The ball contains a significantly larger high-speed core design that aims to provide more distance through the bag, and it works with the mantle system to deliver high resilience and speed.

The Chrome Soft X LS also bids to promote maximum greenside control from the thin proprietary urethane cover for high spin, low launch and excellent feel in a player’s scoring clubs.

According to Callaway, players see a 300-400rpm decrease in spin from the X with the LS ball on mid-irons.

REVA The Reva ball is designed specifically to help low swing speed women golfers hit the ball higher and farther. It features a slightly oversized design – 9% larger than standard – to make it easier to make clean contact on every shot. The core compression is lower for a soft feel, while the cover promotes higher flight and offers less spin off the face, meaning shots goes farther and straighter. It is offered in white and pink. £22.99 for 12

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[48] JULY 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FINDING YOUR PERFECT APEX Callaway Golf's Apex irons have become one the brand’s biggest selling models of recent times, with their fantastic combination of forgiveness, feel and distance. But how do they help you hit the ball better, further, and easier, and which of the five models is right for your game?

A.I. Flash Face Cup

Callaway changed the driver market when they introduced the Epic Flash with its Artificial Intelligence-designed Flash Face.

Able to produce thousands of iterations, AI has created performance gains that a human may have never come up with. For the first time Callaway have introduced an AI-design Flash Face cup into a forged iron to create faster ball speeds. But it also improves spin robustness, the club’s ability to produce similar spin performance, and greater consistency wherever the ball is hit on the face.

Forged Feel

With a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body, the Apex 21 irons both feel soft, and are easily adjustable in a custom fit. Urethane microsphere help produce the soft, solid feel and sound every golfer prefers.

Tungsten Energy Core

In another first, Callaway has inserted its Tungsten Energy Core into an Apex iron. Using five times the amount of tungsten in the head as the previous Apex irons, it positions the centre of gravity to increase launch and produce more forgiveness across the face.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR JULY 2021 [49] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WHICH APEX MODEL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR GAME?

APEX TCB

APEX MB

For elite golfers Callaway offers the Apex TCB. A simpler forged design, internal and external Metal Injection Molded Tungsten helps place the centre of gravity where it’s need, while the compact head, low offset, and shorter blade length make it appeal to the very best golfers.

The Apex MB Irons are a compact blade design for golfers who love a traditional iron. Forged from 1025 carbon steel, the irons feature a changeable weight in the centre of the iron to position the cg centrally for swingweight changes that don’t sacrifice performance.

APEX 21

APEX DCB

APEX PRO 21

A leading forged distance iron, the Apex 21 is targeted at the mid-handicap golfer but is playable for both better players and higher handicaps. Classic looks and feel are combined with moderate offset for a set of irons that will look good, and more importantly, perform in any golfer’s bag.

For golfers looking for more help, especially with launch, the DCB is a first for Callaway. The deep cavity back design features a wider sole, combined with up to 50g of tungsten weighting, making them the ultimate super game improvement iron. The wide sole really helps with turf interaction from a variety of lies, but the clubs still retain the forged body that gives them a super soft feel not normally found in this style of iron.

The Apex Pro 21 features an all-new design. Creating an iron that offers distance and forgiveness, while appealing to a single figure golfer, is a tricky proposition. Callaway has cracked the code by combining a forged 1025 steel hollow body design with an AI-designed Flash Face. The Apex Pro 21 uses up to 90g of tungsten in the long irons, more than any other Apex model, improving launch, and massively increasing forgiveness.

To find out more about the Callaway Apex range or book a custom fitting at an approved Callaway custom fitting centre, visit www.callawaygolf.com.

[50] JULY 2021

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PING GLIDE 3.0

TITLEIST VOKEY SM8

CLEVELAND RTX ZIPCORE

£130

£160

£139

Ping took a ‘grip-to-grind’ approach when working on the third generation of its Glide wedge, re-designing every component to create a higher-spinning, more forgiving design. They put a premium on the feel and forgiveness by combining a stainless steel head with a softer elastomer custom tuning port insert. This expands perimeter weighting to increase the MOI and position the centre of gravity higher to produce lowerlaunching, higher-spinning trajectories. Wheel-cut grooves create more spin control, while four different sole grinds – standard, wide, Eye2 and thin – ensure there are models to best match a player’s angle of attack and typical turf conditions.

There isn’t much room for manoeuvre when it comes to moving the centre of gravity in a wedge, but Titleist pushed the boundaries with the SM8, which positions its CG just in front of the face. This has been achieved by lengthening the hosel and adding tungsten to the toe. This moves the CG up and down based on the club’s loft, and also shifts forward in the higher lofts to help square the face more efficiently. The grooves in the 46°-54° lofts are deep and narrow for grip on full shorts, while the those in the 56°-62° models are shallower and wider for better grip of half-shots. There are six sole grinds and five finishes – chrome, brushed steel, black, blue and raw.

The ZipCore features a low-density material inside the lower hosel, neck and sole area that is four times lighter than the steel it replaces. This allows weight to be saved so that the centre of gravity can be repositioned more in line with the sweet spot. This also ensures the head rotates less on high and low misses. UltiZip grooves are not only sharper and deeper, but there are two more of them to generate spin across a wider area. The range is offered in a mid-bounce for all lofts (46°-60°); a low bounce option for lofts between 56° and 62°, and full bounce for models between 54° and 60°.

They are offered in tour satin, black satin and raw finishes.

v

v

CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 5 JAWS

HONMA BERES

£129 The MD5 provides more spin on partial shots closer to the green by making the grooves on the higher lofts angle away from the base, not only exposing the edges for better grab, but also allowing a more aggressive edge. Milled ridges between the grooves further enhance spin. A low-bounce version added to the wide-sole option provides heel relief for the higher-lofted wedges. The head shape progresses from a more traditional shape in the high lofts to a compact design in the lower lofts for a seamless transition into the short irons.

The Beres wedge comes in five lofts and two grind options for golfers seeking a wedge that performs in varying turf conditions and angles of attack. Made from mild soft steel, the sole incorporates Nickel-Chrome plating to ensure the clubhead slides through the turf and sand for optimal speed at impact, while the face features Black Nickel plating for increased spin control. The sole grind in the 50° and 52° lofts features a thin trailing edge which slides under the ball on full shots, while a C-Sole grind in the 56°, 58° and 60° lofts deliver aggressive heel and toe trailing edge relief with a flat bounce surface for shot-making versatility.

TAYLORMADE MG2

WILSON TOUR GRIND

MIZUNO ES21

£149

£109

£155

The 2nd generation of Milled Grind wedges feature a raw face that produces even more spin and feel. Sharper, deeper and narrower grooves, and a sharper radius, combined with a rougher surface between the grooves, enable golfers to create more friction between the clubface and the ball, generating more greenside spin. The raw finish also reduces the potential for the ball to skid up the face, leading to a more consistent ball flight. Offered in lofts from 48° to 60°, they come with two grinds, low and standard grind, in satin chrome and matt black finishes. The range also includes the all-purpose Hi-Toe and Bigfoot models.

Created in collaboration with Wilson’s tour staff players, the Tour Grind wedge caters for those wanting to open the clubface to shape different types of greenside shots from a variety of lies. The sole offers a clean design and a precision milled clubface, allowing golfers to increase shot-making capabilities. Available in 56°, 58° and 60° options, and made from forged carbon steel, it provides a soft touch for an increased feel at impact, while score lines in the milled face create a higher density pattern for maximum spin and control on every shot.

The ES21 features a sweet spot that is located higher and more central on the face than traditional wedges, which, when combined with a stable design, delivers a squarer strike and greater levels of more controllable spin. A multi-piece stainless steel construction features a hollow body for a higher and deeper centre of gravity, while the high toe and low heel make the head extremely stable when the face is opened up. Spin is enhanced by Quad-Cut grooves milled into the forged face, while vertical micro grooves release moisture and maintain spin in damp conditions. They are offered in a choice of standard or wide soles in 54°, 56°, 58° and 60° lofts.

LOFTY AMBITIONS

£249

Hit it closer with this season’s range of high-performance wedges

EQUIPMENT & GEAR JULY 2021 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INTRODUCING WISHBONE GOLF WISHBONE GOLF IS SHAKING UP THE PUSH TROLLEY MARKET WITH ITS HIGH QUALITY, LIGHTWEIGHT, STYLISH DESIGNS

Founded in 2019, Wishbone is the brainchild of Lee Manvell, an experienced golf trolley designer with a ppoven track reocrd of success in the industry, and Chris Shea , who has over 30 years experience in business and product development.

Wishbone’s innovative range of stylish push trolleys are made from high quality materials and are not only built to last, but they're super lightweight, easy to use, and are extremely affordable. What more do you want from a push trolley?

THE WISHBONE ZERO

WISHBONE ONE

Trolleys don’t get much better looking than the Wishbone Zero. With an organic flow to the design, and a simple fold not found in other trolley models, the Wishbone stands out with its beautiful design in a crowded category.

Designed to be super lightweight, the Wishbone Zero is also exceedingly simple with it’s single-action folding design. Elasticated bag straps, a foot brake, and magnetic fasteners are all easy to use, while being super stylish. The EVA tyres are built to last too, so your clubs will be carried in comfort for many years to come.

Weighing just under 4kg, the Wishbone Zero is 40% lighter than some competitor's models, That’s a huge weight saving, that will leave you feeling fresher after a round. Golf trolleys often seem good value, until you realise you need to spend another £50 on accessories to get them set up how you want. The Wishbone Zero comes with an umbrella holder, score card holder, and a ball holder all as standard. Other accessories options include a frame and wheel cover, an accessory case, and matching golf towels.

At £159.99, you’ll struggle to find a better value trolley, especially one with all the features and accessories included.

The flagship model, the Wishbone One is one of the lightest push trolleys in its class. The minimalist design features clever solutions to a create a fully-featured trolley, without impacting on its ultralightweight frame, The aircraft grade aluminium frame weighs just 2.35kg, and the whole push cart weighs under 4kg.

Key to the design is its simple single-action folding mechanism which enables the trolley to be set up and put down in a matter of seconds. The matt powdercoated finish is scratch-proof, while the plastic fixings are UV resistant, and fully recyclable when the trolley gets to the end of its life.

Available in both black and white, as well as selection of trim colours, the Wishbone One is easy to match up with your golf bag.

At £199.99, it already represents superb value for money for such a high quality product, but looks even more of a bargain with the scorecard and umbrella holders throw into the mix.

WWW.SKYMAXSPORT.COM

WWW.WISHBONE.GOLF

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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE £34.99, SRIXON.CO.UK Like a blast from the distant past, dualcolour golf balls are back. While the look takes some getting used to, they bring with them great alignment benefits, especially on the greens. The 50/50 matte cover gives you a perfect 360-degree alignment aid, which comes in super handy on the greens. Offered in Yellow/Red, Yellow/Blue & Yellow/Orange, the colours are infused into the pigment of the matt cover rather than painted on to ensure the colour won’t scratch or fade over time, and it offers the same performance characteristics as the Q-Star Tour.

CLEVELAND RTX FULL-FACE WEDGE £139, CLEVELANDGOLF.CO.UK Cleveland has added to its RTX wedge range with the new RTX Full-Face. Full-face grooved, high-toe wedges have become a popular trend on tour in recent years, and the design allows golfers to be creative by using the whole face of the wedge for different shot types without giving up spin. The RTX Full-Face features much of the same technology as the RTX-4, including ZipCore to move the centre of gravity centrally, UltiZip grooves for maximum spin, and a heat treatment for greater durability and longer lasting spin.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR TAYLORMADE TP HYDRO BLAST PUTTER £199, TAYLORMADEGOLF.CO.UK The TP Hydro Blast range features fully-milled stainless steel heads that offer a soft feel, while the White Pure Roll insert features grooves milled at a downward 45° angle to help encourage top spin. The range features seven head designs – the Soto and DelMonte are variations on the classic Anser, the Bandon is a take on the fang design popular on tour. DuPage is a classic mallet, with modern alignment cut-outs, and the Chaska is perfect for the golfer who was a fan of the famous Corza Ghost model with its classic circular alignment and three lines.

POWAKADDY DLX-LITE FF PUSH CART SWISS ORIGINAL CBN NIGHT £103, SWISSORIGINALCANNABIS.COM CBN Night is a natural dietary supplement containing CBN oil with added terpenes from cannabis indica that will help you fall asleep faster and more heavily, yet still feel fresh and recharged the next day. It comes in a 30ml bottle with a 1000mg strength and ingested by squirting 1-2 drops under the tongue before swallowing.

£209.99, POWAKADDY.CO.UK PowaKaddy has introduced three new push cart models for 2021, but it’s the DLX-Lite FF that took our eye. With its Fold Flat design, it can fit into the narrowest of spaces, and we’ve found this type of trolley is perfect for slotting in front of a back seat. Made from lightweight aluminium, it features large sports wheels to move it smoothly over any terrain. Designed to fold down easily the trolley comes with a height adjustable handle. Available in graphite/red, or graphite/yellow, this is the perfect trolley for golfers where space is at a premium.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR JULY 2021

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COBRA KING TEC HYBRID £239, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK The KING TEC hybrid is aimed at the better player and is the first hybrid in their range to feature the brand’s PWRSHELL design. The L-cup face insert is super flexible for fast ball speeds and high launch. The hybrid features a matte carbon crown for a distinct two tone look at address. Fully adjustable, three weights on the sole can be utilised to influence shot shape, while an adjustable hosel allows for loft adjustment, as well as three additional draw settings. The KING TEC Hybrid is available in 17, 19, 21, and 24-degree options.

HAYMAX HAYFEVER BALM £6.99 FOR 5ML, HAYMAX.BIZ Hayfever is a blight on many golfer’s lives, causing itchy eyes, runny noses and general discomfort just when the golf season is in full swing. Anti-hystimine pills and nasal sprays have their benefits, but providing an effective barrier to pollen is one of the most successful ways of fighting its harmful effects, which is where HayMax comes to the rescue. Applied like a lip balm, but to the base of the nose, its combination of beeswax and sunflower oil prevents pollen from entering the respiratory system and stops it reaching levels that trigger an allergic reaction. Now available in four fragrances (Aloe Vera, Pure, Lavender and Frankincense), plus a kids' version, HayMax is widely available from high street chemists and health stores.

HONMA BERES BLACK IRONS £495 PER IRON, HONMAGOLF.COM Looking for a special set of new irons? The limited edition Beres Black could be exactly what you’re looking for. Featuring a premium black finish, the whole line up of woods and hybrids stands out from the pack, but it’s the irons that caught our eye.

They feature lightweight, hand-rolled graphite shafts made from super premium materials, which are then finished in a shiny jet black. The heads feature a forgiving L-Cup design that promotes fast ball speeds and a high launch, while weight is placed back in the heel and toe for maximum forgiveness.

PUMA PROADAPT ALPHACAT £120, PUMAGOLF.COM Puma’s new Alphacat shoe boasts a host of hi-tech materials and technology in a fashion-forward design that will appeal to a wider range of golfers. ADAPT Foam, which is made from a combination of EVA cushioning and an impact-resistant polymer, provides impact resistance, energy return and ground feel. A

EXPLANAR INDOOR PUTTING MAT £125/£145 (3M/4M), EXPLANAR.COM Explanar, the manufacturer of the worldrenowned Explanar Swing Trainer used by leading Tour coaches Butch Harmon and Pete Cowen, has launched a new indoor putting mat.

Designed by Master PGA Professional Luther Blacklock, the mat is crafted from premium materials and features a durable velour putting surface that creates a realistic putting experience that runs at 10.5 on the Stimpmeter.

With a thick rubber base, it is designed to lie flat, even on slightly uneven surfaces. Eye-catching colourful graphics not only make putting practice fun, but the high-contrast sightlines make it easy to accurately aim the putter face, while a selection of distance segments enable different lengths of putt to be practised, from 2ft to 10ft.

Available in 3m or 4m lengths, the mat features various visual alignment aids to improve stroke consistency and directional control and pace, with a shallow cut-out ¾-inch hole at one end which only rewards the perfectly struck putt.

Ideal for personal use, or with guidance from a qualified coach, the mat can improve putter head alignment, eradicate pushed and pulled putts, improve tempo and encourage a smooth roll for better distance and speed control.

Pete Cowen, who teaches at all levels of the game, from beginners to multiple Major winners, recommends it to his Tour players for effective practice. He said: “The clear, simple markings on the Explanar Putting Mat make it a fantastic training aid for all players. I even love to chip on it and use it most days when I’m back home at my Academy in Rotherham. Its eye-catching colours also make it great

multi-material outsole features a TPU perimeter that provides stability on soft surfaces, while the central crystal rubber unit provides traction and a soft under foot feel on hard surfaces. The upper is made from a synthetic mesh with a film that provides both structure and support, as well as built-in waterproof protection.

They are available in three colours in men’s sizes 7-12, with a women’s model coming in 2022.

fun for kids. We use it with all our young Academy juniors.”

Dr Hurrian, who runs the Quintic Consultancy, and added: “The indoor surface of the Explanar putting mat gives excellent, consistent and repeatable ball roll. The clear and distinct graphics help improve visualisation and focus your aim.”

[54] JULY 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CALL AWAY APPAREL

CALL AWAY

CALL AWAY APPAREL

ALL OVER FOCUS FLORAL POLO

ALL OVER CHEV GRID POLO

X COLLECTION ALL OVER GEO PRINT POLO

Callaway haS taken inspiration from the current high street trend for repeated larger scale floral prints. The shirt features Swing Tech for less restriction and more freedom of movement in the swing. £60

Featuring a chequerboard grid print with subtle mini Callaway Chevs, Swing Tech offers completete freedom of movement, while the larger hidden chevron in the back of the button placket is a lovely finishing touch. £45

Callaway’s X Collection is geared for the golfer who prefers a closer fit. If this is you, you’ll look a million dollars in this polo with its contrast collar, shoulder and cuff in an unusual ‘Beetle Green’. £60

ELLESE

GALVIN GREEN

Mint Polos

Look fresh on the course this summer with this season’s best short sleeve shirts

LYLE & SCOT T

ALBERI Available only at American Golf, the Alberi features an all-over Ellesse print and is designed for full freedom of movement.

Moisture-wicking, with an SPF 50 protection as well, this shirt will keep you looking fresh on and off the course. £44.99

OCEANTEE

MONTY All-over logo prints seem to be the look this summer, and Galvin Green meets the brief with tiny Gs that look like a subtle polka dot. Fully breathable, the Monty shirt is designed to move with your swing. £69

OSCAR JACOBSON

GOLF

OCEANIC

BOSTON

Featuring a mix of cotton with polyester and elastane, the Lyle & Scott Golf polo is the perfect combination of technical performance with a soft lifestyle hand feel. The regular fit shirt features the legendary gold eagle branding. £50

A collarless polo made of wood pulp and recycled material, the Oceanic's special fibres offer enhanced breathability, long-lasting softness and temperature-regulation properties that will keep you cool, dry and odour free. £49.99

Made from an ultra-fine Japanese pique knit, this stylish colour blocked striped polo offers high levels of breathability, quick moisture wicking and built-in UV protection, making it perfect for hot summer rounds. £54.99

STUBURT

ORIGINAL PENGUIN

PING

ALTON

PARTY ON THE GREEN

FREQUENCY

Featuring Stuburt's DRI-back moisture transfer technology, the Alton polo delivers a high level of breathability and moisture wicking. These technologies combine to help regulate body temperature and maximise comfort. £26.99

Launched before this year’s Masters, the shirt's name encapsulates everything the brand stands for, bringing a touch of the fun to the course. The all-over print features Azaleas inspired by that April trip to Georgia. £59.99

Taking viusal inspiration from the sound waves made by PING’s original 1-A putter on contact with the ball, the Frequncy polo boasts a hidden button down collar, ensuring it always stays in place for a clean on-course look. £60

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JULY 2021 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

JOIN THE GOLF TRAVEL GROUP REVOLUTION The Golf Travel Group’s collection of golf travel businesses focuses on delivering luxury golf holidays to amazing golf destinations at affordable prices GOLF IS PERHAPS UNIQUE in the sporting world in that the natural landscape in which it is played is part and parcel of the player’s experience. From the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands, where golf was first incepted, to the sunny beaches of the Indian Ocean and the plains of North America, no two golf courses are the same. Surely then the best way to expand your golfing horizons is to travel.

Given the claustrophobia of lockdown it is no surprise that golf has enjoyed a surge of new players who were eager to get back to the great outdoors after being cooped up for so many months. Fortunately, Golf Travel Group are here for both new and old fans of this prestigious sport with a full complement of options to broaden your golfing horizons, improve your game and explore new places near and far. As the great golf Champion Tom Watson stated, “No other gam e combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer’s mind.” For a nation battling to maintain good mental health, getting out onto the fairways is a hole in one solution to some of the last years pressures and strains.

Firmly convinced that we would all be in need of a holiday after the solitude and pressures of numerous lockdowns, Golf Travel Group have stayed very busy over the last year.

Unperturbed by the near impossibility of organising their usual holiday packages for their loyal customers, the team at GTG have used the pandemic as the perfect hiatus to reboot, restructure and rebuild a comprehensive service that is nuanced and tailored to the full spectrum of golf enthusiasts.

Relaunching this June with their new brand identity the group has put together a competitive cohort of companies that offer between them a varied and exciting range of golf holidays and experiences from affordable getaways to bespoke luxury tours of the world’s most beautiful courses. The flagship brand, Golf

Travel Centre, is an industry staple offering affordable holidays internationally specialising in group packages in Europe Completely convinced of the restorative qualities of 18 holes, the team at GTG want golf to be accessible to the many, not just the few.

Next in the fleet is GTG’s new brand Golf Travel Lux, a service designed to match top quality golf locations with delightful accommodation. This service is for golf enthusiasts who want to let loose on the course in style, without breaking the bank. GTG have worked tirelessly to create classy package deals that offer the very best of the great outdoors, top quality golf courses and upmarket accommodation.

In 2020 GTG took over Chaka Travel, a boutique golf holiday company with 25 years of operating experience that tailors luxury golf trips to serious golf fanatics. Already the number one golf travel provider to Mauritius, Chaka Travel specialise in beautiful Indian Ocean resorts and trips focused on luxury R&R and top draw golfing Chaka Travel is a global service acting as a caddy concierge for the world’s best golfing experience.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the new brand on Golf Travel Group’s roster – Golf Travel Tours. Truly ground-breaking in the golf travel industry, these tours bring together groups of avid golfers with PGA pro golfers providing affordable access for customers to play golf under the tutelage of some of the best professionals in the sport.

Blurring the boundaries between recreation and professional training, Golf Travel Tours offer trips to 36 countries across the globe and with 365 courses to play, this is the biggest professional tour option on the market. Professional golfers include renowned golf trickshot artist David Edwards and Martin Thompson, head pro for 25 years at Parkstone Golf Club in Bournemouth.

Boasting a team with over 70 years combined experience in the golf and travel sectors, GTG have worked tirelessly to bring the golf travel industry kicking and screaming into the 21st century. This team was the first to streamline client communication in the sector by introducing Facebook Messenger as a means of direct communication and this has

■ EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF MAURITIUS WITH CHAKA TRAVEL

■ MOROCCO IS PROVING A POPULAR DESTINATION WITH THE GOLF TRAVEL GROUP'S DISCERNING CUSTOMERS

been expanded in the relaunch to include Whataspp, ensuring that customers get direct access to a dedicated team and no longer have to put up with an antiquated email process.

Despite the tumultuous nature of the past year, Golf Travel Group to get through the pandemic without a single complaint or bad review, helping their clients to cancel and rearrange where necessary and working tirelessly to do the best for their customers.

For more details on the latest golf holiday deals to some of the world’s most amazing destinations at home and abroad, visit www.golftravelcentre.com, golftravel.tours, www.golftravellux.com, and www.chakatravel.com.

MARINE & LAWN UNVEILS NEW-LOOK HOTELS AT ICONIC AT SCOTTISH GOLFING DESTINATIONS MARINE & LAWN HOTELS & RESORTS, a new collection of luxury hotels on the east and west coast of Scotland, is now accepting bookings for summer for its three Scottish properties – Rusacks St Andrews in St Andrews, the Marine North Berwick in North Berwick, and the Marine Troon in Ayrshire.

Re-opened earlier this month, Rusacks St Andrews offers 123 guest rooms, as well as a range of culinary offerings, including a traditional Scottish pub and the rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the 1st and 18th holes of the Old Course at St Andrews. The renovated property includes a 42,000 square foot expansion which houses additional guest rooms and the rooftop concept. Room-only rates start from £219.

Also just opened following extensive renovations is the Marine North Berwick, which overlooks the historic West Links course at North Berwick Golf Club. It offers 84 guest rooms, two restaurants and bars, a spa, pool and fitness centre. Room rates begin at £189.

Joining the Marine & Lawn collection in 2022, the Marine Troon on the Ayrshire Coast is open throughout 2021, but will officially join the Marine & Lawn Collection in 2022. Overlooking Royal Troon’s Old Course, host to nine Open Championships, the hotel boasts 89 guest rooms, two restaurants and bars, expansive

meeting and event spaces and a new fitness and leisure centre with an indoor pool, squash court, sauna and steam facilities.

Phillip Allen, Chief Development Officer, International Markets at AJ Capital Partners, which owns Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to launch Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts this summer, our new collection of luxury golf hotels along the coasts of Scotland. We look forward to welcoming international golfers and holidaymakers to the ‘Home of Golf’.”

He added: “Our team loves golf and AJ Capital Partners is passionate about creating one-of-a-kind properties that honour and cherish the communities they are positioned within. It has been a humbling experience to go about this task with hotels in such unique and iconic travel destinations.

“We can’t wait to open our doors and showcase the new properties and all the memorable new elements. From our design which pays homage to the game of golf and the history of the region, to our impeccable and highly personalised service, to our food and beverage offerings, including a spectacular rooftop restaurant, ‘18’, overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course in St Andrews, there’s something that everyone will enjoy at the Marine & Lawn properties.”

For bookings, visit ccmarineandlawn.com.

■ MARINE NORTH BERKWICK

■ THE NEW ROOFDECK BAR AT RUSACKS ST ANDREWS

[56] JULY 2021

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Go the distance with The Golf Travel Group COMPETITION

WIN A 5-STAR GOLF BREAK TO PENINA WITH THE GOLF TRAVEL GROUP Golf News has teamed up with The Golf Travel Group to offer Golf News readers the chance to win a luxury golf break for two to the fabulous five-star Penina Hotel & Golf Resort in Portugal’s Algarve.

The lucky winner will enjoy a three-night stay at the five-star Penina Hotel, with two rounds of golf on its Sir Henry Cotton championship course, a venue that has hosted numerous professional events during its long and storied history as the Algarve’s first championship layout.

Located between the fishing resort of Portimao and the historic town of Lagos, and just under an hour’s drive from Faro airport, Le Méridien Penina Hotel & Golf Resort features a fivestar hotel and three golf courses.

The 18-hole Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course is a true test of a golfers’ skill, and has a reputation as being one of the toughest layouts in the region. Flanked by streams, ditches and water hazards, the course is maintained to the highest standard

n QUESTION and boasts an extensive array of WHAT IS THE NAME subtle slopes, elevated greens and OF PENINA’S 18-HOLE breathtaking scenery. It provides a CHAMPIONSHIP real mix of beautifully-constructed COURSE? holes, with the par-three 13th regularly voted one of the top par threes in world golf.

The resort also benefits from two 9-hole courses, the Academy and the Resort. The Academy course is perfect for less experienced players to develop their skills, while the Resort Course is also ideal for beginners, but is a fun test for golfers of all levels. The onsite hotel boasts 196 bedrooms, with all the latest facilities to make a perfect golfing weekend break for groups of golfers or couples alike, including a choice of five restaurants and four bars to enjoy after your golf.

FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT WWW.PENINA.COM.

This great prize is provided by The Golf Travel Group and celebrates the launch of its two new brands – Golf Travel Lux and Golf Travel Tours – alongside the rebranding of the Golf Travel Centre and Chaka Travel.

Golf Travel Lux specialises in luxury golf holidays that don’t break the bank, offering access to some of the most beautiful and rewarding courses in the world. Already established as a bespoke golf holiday company, Chaka Travel pairs the delights of the great outdoors with sophisticated, luxury accommodation.

Golf Travel Centre caters to the many, providing affordable breaks to UK and European courses, while Golf Travel Tours offers the opportunity to be escorted round a golf course by a PGA Professional.

Going on holiday to play golf has never been so sophisticated or so achievable.

For more details, and to book your next golfing holiday in the UK or aboard, visit www.golftravelcentre.com or call 0800 2335844.

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

TERMS & CONDITIONS: The prize is for two people, and includes three night’s accommodation in a twin or double room and two rounds of golf for two people.

Flights and meals are not included. The prize must be taken before June 30, 2022.

WAKE UP AND PLAY WOKEFIELD! 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 can book with confidence with De Vere’s flexible booking, cancellation and refund policies. De Vere is donating 10% of the value of each direct bedroom booking, including VAT, to NHS Charities Together, which supports NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients.

Guests 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. Wokefield Estate Golf Club also offers a new driving range comprising eight indoor bays and seven fully-lit outdoor bays.

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 rotisseries, or make use of the hotel’s fully equipped gym and indoor swimming pool. During their stay, guests will be treated to a twocourse 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.

De Vere Wokefield Estate is close to a number of local attractions including English heritage sites; Silchester Roman Townand Highclere Castle, home of Downton Abbey, and Bombay Sapphire distillery, where guests can enjoy a distillery tour and tasting.

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

TRAVEL & BREAKS

JULY 2021

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Dougie Donnelly The 68-year-old golf commentator loves playing Gleneagles and Turnberry with his fellow Scotsmen, but is desperate to be able to return to La Manga

Travel with

generally a cut above anything you get back home.

The thing I hate about travel is… flight delays. They’re miserable, but generally unavoidable.

The worst holiday I’ve ever had was…I honestly don’t think I’ve had a bad holiday.

You have to make the best of it, even if the weather’s horrible or something unpleasant happens. You’re there to have fun.

My first holiday was…to Scarborough. It was on that holiday that I first took an interest in cricket and became a Yorkshire supporter.

I’ve loved cricket ever since and am now President of the Scottish Lords Taverners.

My dream holiday would be…to Sydney. I really like Australia and would love to spend more time there.

My favourite golf course in the world is… a toss-up between Augusta National and Gleneagles. I love them both for different reasons, but because I’m Scottish I’m going to have to plump for Gleneagles. It proved a great Ryder Cup venue in 2014.

My ideal travelling golf partners would be… Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth. And, if I’m allowed a fifth, good old Monty.

I always travel with… my Amazon Kindle ■ GLENEAGLES' PGA CENTENARY COURSE

to be Turnberry. A great links and a superb hotel, what more do you need?

and my laptop.

My top piece of travel advice is… pack light, My favourite city in the world is… Cape Town. It’s simply magnificent. Wherever I’m working around the world, I always try and get out and see the cities. Avoiding the ‘airport-hotel-golf course trap’ can be heard, but it’s always worth the effort.

My favourite golf resort is… La Manga in Spain. I’ve been on holiday there countless times and am longing to go back when Covid conditions allow.

My favourite place in the British Isles is…

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed at was…

My most memorable meal abroad was…

gosh, that’s tough, because I’ve stayed at so many. If you insist on just one, then it’s got

in Italy. I love Italian food. I can’t recall the name of a particular, but any food in Italy is

and then buy whatever’s missing when you’re there.

surprise, surprise, Gleneagles. We have a holiday home on the estate, and my wife and family love spending time there together.

For all your travel news visit golfnews.co.uk/travel

■ LA MANGA RESORT, SPAIN

[58] JULY 2021

TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HIGHER MOMENT OF ENJOYMENT. NEW

2021 PUTTERS

FEEL AND FORGIVENESS. Consistency and predictability in both feel and performance ensure these eye-catching 2021 putters improve results on the greens. They achieve new levels of forgiveness relying on multi-material construction and a soft, responsive new dual-durometer insert across 11 blades, mid-mallets and mallets.

© PING 2021

HIGH-DENSITY WEIGHTS TO OPTIMISE MOI DUAL-DUROMETER PEBAX FACE INSERT