Golf News April 2019

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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ISSUE 281 | APRIL 2019

INTERVIEWS Callum Shinkwin Kevin Pietersen

NEWS | APRIL 2019

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WIN

A SET OF ARCCOS SMART GRIPS

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

ROARING BACK Tiger Woods claims fifth green jacket

SERGIO GARCIA’S GUNNING FOR MORE MAJOR GLORY

COMPLIMENTARY COPY Celebrating 25 Years

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APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CLUBS. CLOTHES. COMMITMENT.

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EDITOR'S LETTER

NICK BAYLY

THE COMEBACK IS COMPLETE It’s been a privilege to have witnessed – occasionally first hand – the sheer and utter brilliance of Tiger Eldrick Woods.

My time as a golf writer has coincided almost to the day with the rise and fall, and rise again, of his golfing career. From his first appearance at the Masters as an amateur in 1995, to his comeback-of-the-ages triumph at Augusta just days ago, the intervening quarter of a century or so has been compelling, fascinating, spellbinding, and, at times, plain ridiculous.

I’ve written Tiger off on this very page more times than I care to mention over the last decade or so, but greatness knows no limitations, certainly not one with the iron will of Tiger Woods, and I for one am delighted to have been proved so very wrong.

Only Tiger was going to decide when he ‘was done’, and although he himself uttered those words just two years ago, the wonder of medical science, combined with the physical and mental strength of one of the world’s most gifted and determined athletes, have re-written a different script – one that will pass down through the generations as one of those ‘I was there’ moments for those lucky enough to have been surrounding the 18th green at Augusta National on April 14, 2019.

As great comebacks go, this one takes some beating. Even Lazarus might have cause for concern, let alone Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 majors seems again within Woods’s reach, where once it looked like a distant galaxy.

■ TIGER WOODS CELEBRATES HIS FIFTH MASTERS TITLE IN FRONT OF AN ADORING CROWD

Golf has its own share of back-from-the-dead stories, from Ben Hogan, who survived a head-on collision with a bus to win six more majors, to Nicklaus himself, who returned from the wilderness to win the 1986 Masters – 23 years after his first, at the not so tender age of 46.

But Woods’s story might just eclipse that. From the public shaming following his messy marital break-up, through the decade of debilitating back pain caused by his explosive swing, Woods has been through the ringer in all manner of the word and come out the other side.

His all-too-human weaknesses exposed a new side to a man the many felt was unknowable, and although it was painful to see a sporting icon reduced to a mug shot on a police camera, his fall from grace served to make him one of the people, and the American galleries, who once cheered him on out of sheer respect for his brilliance, rather than love, were now warming to the man who barely acknowledged their presence in his singular pursuit of golf’s biggest prizes.

Woods, at 43, now moves above Arnold Palmer with five Masters titles, one behind Nicklaus, and with five more years to play with before he reaches the age beyond which no-one has been fitted for the green jacket, 48, he still has time, although not a lot, to make more history. I, for one, can’t wait to see how the remaining chapter of The Tiger Woods Story unfolds.

And, however it ends, it won’t be predictable. Nothing ever is with Tiger.

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THE UK’S NO.1 GOLF NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 281 | APRIL 2019

INTERVIEWS Callum Shinkwin Kevin Pietersen

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NEWS | APRIL 2019

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WIN

A SET OF ARCCOS SMART GRIPS

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

ROARING BACK Tiger Woods claims fifth green jacket

SERGIO GARCIA’S GUNNING FOR MORE MAJOR GLORY

COMPLIMENTARY COPY Celebrating 25 Years

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APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

InBrief

Wokefield unveils new golf academy

WINER WINS AT TOOT HILL ★ Abridge Golf Club PGA professional Jack Winer won the Toot Hill Golf Club Pro-Am after shooting a four-under-par 66. A seven-birdie round at the Essex venue saw Winer finish two shots clear of in-form Rob Coles (Maylands), with Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford) and Mark Stokes (Bishops Stortford) sharing third after a pair of 69s. A full field of 30 teams enjoyed Toot Hill’s pristine course, whose fast greens took many players by surprise. The winning team, led by professional Marc Dodd, and including amateurs Mark Lingwood, Luke Elliot and Adam Pope, compiled 85 points, and beat Mark Stokes’s team on countback.

COLES COLLECTS AT SAFFRON WALDEN ★ Saffron Walden Golf Club teed off its centenary celebrations in 2019 by hosting a PGA East Region Pro-Am. The tournament was won by Mayland’s professional Rob Coles, who pipped Saffron Walden’s own Sarah Smith to the top prize by a single shot.

Coles fired a two-under-par 70, while Smith was the only other pro to break par on a tough day for scoring. Smith made up for missing out on the individual title by leading her team of Saffron Walden ladies to the team prize with an impressive 84 points to win by one point from the teams with professionals Chris Cutchie and Ben Wyatt.

MANOR HOUSE APPOINTS YOUNGEST LADY CAPTAIN ★ Danielle Binder has become the youngest ever lady captain at a UK golf club following her appointment to the role at Manor House Golf Club in Wiltshire.

The 20-year-old has only been playing for four years, but has already got her handicap down to 12, and has won a host of club events. She aims to use her time in office to promote junior golf and encourage more girls to take up the game.

HERTS GOLF APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT Hertfordshire Golf has appointed Hugh Wikner as its new president following its annual general meeting held at Brookmans Park.

A member of Hadley Wood Golf Club and a highly respected Golf Referee, Wikner takes over the presidency from Lesley Hewitt.

Frank Clapp, the recently retired general manger of Harpenden Golf Club, has been appointed Hertfordshire Golf’s new finance director.

Hoylake golf resort moves closer Plans to build a £200m golf resort in Liverpool have taken a step forward following a recent vote held by Wirral Council.

The project, including a Celtic Manor-branded hotel, spa, and conference facilities, as well as an 18-hole championship golf course and 18-hole municipal course, was first put forward in November 2016. Since then, Wirral Council has agreed to back the scheme with prudential borrowing of £26m, along with £600,000 to support geotechnical surveys.

The proposal faced two motions calling for it to be scrapped at a special meeting of Wirral Council held last month, but by both failed, one by a single vote, while a third, wanting more analysis, was passed by a margin of three.

Jim Anderson, chairman of the Nicklaus Joint Venture Group, said: “The project, when it’s completed, will be completely self-funding. In fact, the council earn out of it. I calculate it’s going to be somewhere around a million pounds a year straight into the council’s coffers. From my perspective it’s a win-win situation.”

He added: “I do understand there are some detractors of the project. And we’re very keen to communicate with them, understand what their concerns are. From the environmental point of view, up to 50% of the golf course will be a

natural habitat. That’s not what exists now.”

Anderson said the next step would be to start the Environmental Impact Assessment process, which is likely to take a year. This will inform the golf course’s design in terms of its impact on the landscape and wildlife habitats; the land is also entirely designated as green belt.

“The EIA will give us a lot of detail concerning any flooding issues, and importantly, what species we’re dealing with, so the golf course can be designed to enhance their habitat,” he said.

“Quite frankly, that isn’t going to be difficult, because the habitat at the moment is generally farmland and poor grade farmland at that.”

Anderson added: “We have a great opportunity here to develop a golf course that will be almost purpose-designed to encourage wildlife to be successful. We think we can demonstrate very strongly that we are improving the habitat here, not destroying it.”

Wirral Council leader Phil Davies said: “The resort will create hundreds of jobs for local people and has wider potential benefits, including supporting local businesses and revitalising Hoylake’s high street. If we say this scheme should be abandoned, it will send a message that Wirral is closed for business, and the danger is that people will go elsewhere.”

Hertfordshire

Hot-shot Gough

clubs to host Women’s British Open qualifying events

Two of Hertfordshire’s top clubs have been selected to host qualifying events for the AIG Women’s British Open.

Sandy Lodge Golf Club in Northwood has been chosen to host a pre-qualifying competition on July 15, while Ashridge Golf Club in Berkhamsted will stage final Final Qualifying on July 29.

The AIG Women’s British Open itself is taking place on the Marquess Course at Woburn from August 1-4, where England’s Georgia Hall will be the defending champion.

Ashridge has been a venue for Regional Qualifying for The Open on six occasions, and will also stage the R&A Women’s Senior Amateur in September 2020. Sandy Lodge’s par-69 course has also hosted Open Qualifying three times.

■ SANDY LODGE

De Vere Wokefield Estate has opened a new Golf Academy, which includes a new driving range.

The official launch took place on March 8, when golfing legend Dame Laura Davies officially opened the new facilities.

The new academy will be used for coaching by the hotel’s four professionals and features technology such as a ball launch and swing monitors. The driving range comprises eight indoor bays and seven fullylit outdoor bays, which can be used as part of corporate and leisure packages.

Ciaran Sheehy, golf sales manager at De Vere, said: “We are excited to announce the launch of De Vere Wokefield Estate’s new Golf Academy and driving range. We’re constantly looking at ways to enhance the golf experience for our guests and members, and the addition of these quality facilities will enable us to attract more golfers and provide group coaching sessions for corporate clients” Set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland, the estate boasts an 18-hole Championship golf course; a practice green with two bunkers; and a putting green. The resort’s hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment and now offers 87 luxury guestrooms in the Mansion House, and a further 289 refurbished bedrooms in Wokefield Place and Wellington Lodge.

There is also the 1560 Restaurant & Bar in the Mansion House; a Whiskey Lounge; the re-designed restaurant, The View, and Benedict’s Bar located in Wokefield Place.

■ LAURA DAVIES OPENED THE NEW ACADEMY

■ CONOR GOUGH WITH ADIDAS MD ANDREW LAW

wins ‘Performance of the Year’ award Talented teenager Conor Gough has won England Golf’s Performance of the Year Award after his stunning 2018 season.

The 16-year-old from Buckinghamshire, who is a member at Stoke Park, won the British Boys’ Championship, the McGregor Trophy, and the Fairhaven Trophy last year, and is now up to ninth in the world amateur rankings.

Gough was up against tough competition for the award, with contenders including the England men’s team, Gloucester’s Mitch Waite, who was England’s top male golfer for the year, and Cumbria’s Caitlin Whitehead, who won in Europe and Asia Pacific. But the judges felt that Gough’s performances and victories set him apart from the other finalists.

Gough picked up his award at the England Golf Awards held in London last month, where over 400 guests applauded the young man’s achievements, while European Tour star Tommy Fleetwood sent a message to praise his performances.

“Congratulations on winning your award,” said Fleetwood. “What an amazing year. I’ve been

keeping track of your progress and we will be doing that for a long time, I am sure. Winning all those events in one year is something that I never had the ability to do! It was a very, very special year and congratulations – you really deserve it. Good luck in the future, I’ll be watching out.”

In addition to his three national title wins, Gough also represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup last year, helped England win the Boys’ Home Internationals, and GB&I to defeat Continental Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

“This means a lot,” said Gough. "I had a very good year last year – I got my first world ranking, started well in Portugal and then the wins came and I’ve carried on this year.”

This year he’s already followed up with his recent three-shot victory in the Major Champions Invitational in Florida.

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Luke Who’s On The Move?

Former world No.1 Luke Donald has moved his family to sunny Florida after selling their luxury home in Chicago It’s no secret that successful professional golfers earn tidy sums of money, but it’s not often that golf fans get to see how the world’s top players invest the proceeds of their skills.

So it was with more than a hint of jealousy that fans got an insight into the lifestyle of former world No.1 Luke Donald, after the 41-year-old star decided to put his American home on the market.

Pictures of the six-bedroom mansion, which is located in Northfield, 20 miles north of Chicago, were listed on a real estate agent’s website, giving an insight into Donald’s design tastes, as well as offering a glimpse of how he relaxes away from the golf course.

Donald, who has won 17 times since turning pro in 2001, and banked over $40m in prize money, put the spacious mansion on the market last summer, with an asking price of $4.5m. It sold last month for $3.9m to a private buyer. Having bought the house for $3.7m in 2008, the Ryder Cup star has probably lost money on the deal, having completed a number of major renovations, including adding a gym, games room, and high-tech golf simulator room, and upgrading the kitchen, master bedroom and wine cellar. The 11,000-square foot property also comes with a pool, spa, blue stone patio and expansive grounds Born in Hemel Hempstead, Donald has strong links to Chicago, having studied art at the city’s Northwestern University for three years before turning pro. It was while

■ DONALDS CHICAGO MANSION SOLD FOR $3.9M

a student at the university that he met his future wife Diane Antonopoulos, whom he married in 2007 and has three daughters with. The couple also owns a property just north of the Chicago, so they still have a presence in the state.

Donald and his family moved to Florida last year, and now live in the exclusive Bear’s Club Golf Resort in Jupiter, where he counts Michael Jordan and Michelle Wie as neighbours.

Donald, who spent 56 weeks as world No.1 in 2011, has recently returned to competition after being forced to sit out six months of 2018 with a herniated disk in his back. Having slipped down to 919th in the world rankings following the long layoff, his top-ten finish at last month’s Valspar Championship saw him move up to 548th.

■ WYCOMBE AIR PARK IS HOSTING THE BRITISH GOLF SHOW

British Golf Show prepares to tee off at Wycombe Air Park

A new consumer golf show, where golfers will get the chance to try and buy the latest golf equipment, and take part in a wide range of interactive events, tees off at Wycombe Air Park in Buckinghamshire from May 17-18.

The 2019 British Golf Show promises to offer an entertaining day out for

golfers and their families, as well as for people thinking about trying golf for the first time. Visitors to the show will be able to try the latest golf technology products, and golfing venues will be showcasing their resorts and golf courses. Brands such as Cobra and Callaway will be organising tests of their new product ranges out on the 300-yard outdoor driving range.

Visitors will also be able to take part of a wide range of non-golfing experiences, as the show is run in conjunction The Elite Events – London, which showcases over 170 lifestyle brands, including the latest supercars,

boats, aircraft, fashion, jewellery, travel, shooting, beauty and wellness.

Alex Ayling, Managing Director of show organisers The Elite Luxury Events, said: “Save the dates, because on May 17-18 we will be putting on a show unlike anything that UK golf has seen before. Golfers who visit the show will have access to around 60 golfing products and services on display in the hall. While there, they will also have access to a host of golf-related experiences and also other lifestyle-related ones. We’ll have indoor and outdoor driving ranges, with demos from golf equipment brands, plus there’s an Indoor putting area, and some golf simulator experiences, and the Zen Green Stage will also be there for people to try out, and we expect this to be very popular.”

Ayling added: “Visitors will also be able to pre-book a wide range of experiences, including helicopter rides, test drive the latest supercars on the runway, try out clay pigeon shooting, enjoy fine wine tastings, and much more.”

Following a partnership with the UK Golf Federation, all visitors to the Golf Show will receive a voucher giving a free round of golf or a free lesson at one of over 100 golf facilities in the UK. To book tickets, or to find out more, visit www.britishgolfshow.co.uk.

■ DONALD ADDED HIS OWN DESIGN TOUCHES TO THE SIX-BEDROOM PROPERTY

Wayward Epsom golfer smashes own car window

Epsom Golf Club member Tom Attwell achieved a golfing first of sorts last month when a wayward tee shot that he hit at the Surrey club’s 14th hole smashed through the window of his own car.

The 18-handicapper hooked his tee shot on the 357yard, par-four hole so badly that it landed in a small car park on the edge of the course and smashed straight through the rear passenger window.

Attwell, who is a fireman, only realised his costly error when returning to the car after his round, when he discovered the broken window and found his lost ball inside his Mazda X5.

Speaking about the freak incident, Attwell said: “It was very windy. My ball went so far left over the bushes that I didn’t bother to look for it. When I got to my car I saw the window. I thought someone had broken in, but nothing was missing. Then I discovered a golf ball in the footwell behind the front seats, and found that is was my ball. I’d smashed my own car window with my tee shot!”

After reporting the incident to the club, officials agreed to cover the £180 damage through its own insurance policy.

NEWS | APRIL 2019

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APRIL 2019 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

A WHOLE NEW

BALL GAME Since retiring from professional cricket, Kevin Pietersen, England’s second-highest run scorer, has happily swapped a cricket bat for a set of TaylorMade clubs as he searches out the world’s best courses While I was playing cricket I had no interest in golf. I didn’t have the time, or the inclination. But once I’d hung up my bat, and had a few more days to fill, I was persuaded to go to the driving range by some dads at my kids school. As soon as I picked up a club, I was like ‘this is me’.

They weren’t expecting me to hit it well, if at all, so when I turned up I just said to myself: ‘Hit the ball’. I can kind of drill myself into the mindset of taking away all the peripheral noise and just hit it – that’s what I’ve done my whole career. Thankfully, I was able to do that at the driving range. I love this game so much; it takes away all the noise for me and I can just stand over a ball and just drill, drill, drill.

I like playing golf with blokes who take golf for what golf is – you put a few quid in and you play for something, even it’s just pride, against your mates. I think golf has plenty of valuable life lessons to teach everyone. Golf is a great leveller. When you jump onto a golf course, it doesn’t matter if you’re the poorest or the richest bloke in the world, it’s all about you and that little white ball.

Beating Ricky Ponting at golf was one of the sweetest moments of my sporting career. I think Gary Player had actually said that Ricky was the cleanest striker of a golf ball he’d ever seen from any other sportsman, so beating him was a real feather in my cap.

GOLF HAS PLENTY OF LIFE LESSONS THAT EVERYONE CAN LEARN FROM. IT'S ALSO A GREAT LEVELLER. IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU AND THAT LITTLE WHITE BALL

Wentworth is my favourite course in the UK. It has to be, because I live there. I take the kids to school, get on my golf buggy, and I go to the range. I then play 18 holes, get back in time for the school pick up, and then back home.

My favourite course back home in South Africa has got to be Leopard Creek. You can be in the middle of a game of golf there and can see leopards or elephants, and you can hear the hippos in the water. It takes you to a different place.

Being invited to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews is such an honour, and I’ve been lucky enough to play in it for the last four years.

Jumping into the environment of the professional golfer, and having the opportunity to learn from them and share the whole experience, is incredible. I love watching the pro's ball-striking and seeing how good they are under pressure. I’ve been drawn with a few former cricketers over the years, including Shane Warne, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher – it’s a lot of fun and there are always plenty of bragging rights to be won. It’s just the best week, and I just thank my lucky stars when the envelope with the invitation arrives.

My first time playing in the Dunhill was in 2015, and I was a rabbit in the headlights. I was paired up with Eddie Pepperell, who is a spectacular golfer, but I didn’t play

■ KEVIN PIETERSEN HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH GOLF SINCE RETIRING FROM PROFESSIONAL CRICKET

good golf at all. We were grouped with Ernie Els, who is obviously a huge hero of mine, and I was pretty much overawed by the whole occasion. Year Two, I knew what to expect, but I got hardly any shots, as I play off six, so it was quite hard, and my pro Matty Guyatt and I missed the cut as a team. All three courses are brilliant, but we all want to make it through to Sunday’s final round at the Old Course, when the pressure’s really on.

Golf is coming in for a lot of criticism at the moment for its lack of entertainment. They’ve tried various shortened formats of the game, with shot clocks and GolfSixes, but the fans need to feel more connected to the players. I like it when the players are miked up and chatting to on-course commentators, like they do in the T20 matches in cricket, but I’d also like to hear some of the chat between players and their caddies – although I’m sure a lot of it wouldn't always be suitable to broadcast to a family audience!

My ideal holiday fourball would include my wife, my son and my daughter. Easy. Dylan and I go up to the driving range at Wentworth, and we whack balls all day long in the summer. I don’t bring him when it’s cold, as I don’t want him to hate the game. And then my daughter is only three, so maybe in ten years time we will go and play golf at Leopard Creek during the winter in the UK, and Wentworth in the summer – that’s my dream at least.

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[10] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ THE CENTURION CLUB IS TO HOST THE WORLD'S TOP WOMEN NEXT YEAR

■ (L-R) DENNIS BAGUETTE LPGA; SCOTT EVANS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CENTURION CLUB, AND ROSS HALLETT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT IMG GOLF EVENTS

Centurion to host LPGA Tour event

The best women golfers in the world will be teeing it up at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire next year after it was announced that the club will be hosting the UL International Crown in 2020.

The biennial matchplay event, which is run by the LPGA and managed by IMG, sees teams of four representing the top eight golfing nations in the world compete over four days of matches.

After three days of four-ball competition, the top

five countries will advance to the Sunday singles matches. Points are awarded per match – two for a win, one for a tie and zero for a loss – and all points from the four-ball matches carry over to Sunday, when the total cumulative points for the four days will determine the overall champion. The UL International Crown has a prize fund of $1.6million.

The field of eight teams is determined by the combined Rolex Women’s World Rankings of the top four players from each nation four months before the event, which is being held from August 27-30. The final field of 32 players and the final country seedings will be confirmed via the rankings one month later.

Last year, the Republic of Korea won the UL International Crown on home soil at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, with the USA and England finishing in a tie for second. The 2016 edition was also won by the host nation – the USA at the Merit Club in Illinois – and Spain were the inaugural champions in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland.

Speaking on behalf of UL, a global safety science organisation, Kathy Seegebrecht said: “We are absolutely delighted to play the next edition of the UL International Crown at Centurion Club. We were very impressed with the quality of the golf course and facilities, as well as the enthusiasm of the club’s management and members. The selection endorses our strategy of playing the event at world class international venues, and we look forward to taking the tournament to the next stage of its evolution.”

Scott Evans, managing director of Centurion Club, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to host this important international tournament and be able to continue to build our credentials. As a club, we are still relatively young, but we offer a high-end facility that will be in world-class condition next year. Hosting our first LPGA event is a landmark moment for us on our journey.”

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Senior open returns to Sunningdale

Sunningdale Golf Club is to host the Senior Open Championship in 2020.

The Berkshire venue’s Old Course first hosted the tournament in 2009, when America’s Loren Roberts took the spoils, while another American, Marco Dawson, came out on top when the event returned in 2015.

In addition to two Senior Opens, Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters, the European Open, the Seve Trophy, the Walker Cup, the AIG Women’s British Open, and has been a qualifying venue for The Open.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at the R&A, said: “The Senior Open continues to grow in stature, and Sunningdale will be an outstanding venue for the 2020 championship. The top senior players in the world will relish the challenge presented by the Old Course and we can look forward to an excellent week of world class golf.”

David MacLaren, head of the Staysure Tour, said: “We are very pleased to announce The Senior Open Presented by Rolex’s return to the incredible Old Course at Sunningdale. The Senior Open offers us the unique opportunity to visit both traditional Open venues and other world-class golf courses in the British Isles. Sunningdale is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world, not just the United

■ SUNNINGDALE'S OLD COURSE WILL BE HOSTING THE SENIOR OPEN FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 12 YEARS

Kingdom, and we are all looking forward to returning next year.”

Among those who will be eligible to compete in their first Senior Opens next year will be five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk and 2003 Masters' winner Mike Weir.

Nick Howe, chairman of the Tournament

Committee at Sunningdale, said: ‘’We are delighted that the Senior Open is returning to Sunningdale in 2020. It is the third time we will have held this prestigious event and we are very much looking forward to hosting the best senior golfers in the world and seeing how they navigate the challenges of the Old Course, now ranked the number one course in England.’’

NEWS | APRIL 2019

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Hazlemere sold back to proprietary ownership

Hazlemere Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has been converted back into a proprietary-run club after being sold off by its members for £1.75 million.

The club, which is located in the Chiltern Hills between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield, was under proprietary ownership when it first opened in 1982, with the land on which the course was built having been bought at auction by four golfing friends - Dave Wanstall, Ron Luzar, Mick Curry and Reg Carlisle.

The following year, the club was bought by local businessman Sarit Roy in partnership with Andy Andrews and Henry Carlisle, brother of one of the original backers. Roy was the major shareholder and managing director for 17 years, until he sold the club to the members in 2000.

The members decided to put the club on the market last September as the clubhouse and the course both needed serious investment. The name of the new owner has not been revealed.

It is rare that private members’ clubs become available to commercial buyers, and Hazlemere’s sale attracted strong interest from potential buyers through selling agents HMH Golf & Leisure.

The club, which boasts an 18-hole course and a large two-storey clubhouse, is best known as the

■ HAZLEMERE GOLF CLUB WAS SOLD FOR £1.75M

venue where Luke Donald first learnt to swing a club. He joined the junior section in 1986, at the age of nine, before moving on to become a member at nearby Beaconsfield Golf Club.

Jerry Young, Hazlemere’s general manager, said: “Interest in the club was phenomenal. We had at least ten bids, and new interest materialised throughout the process. In the end the club was sold to an individual who is keen to maintain the ethos of the club whilst at the same time prepared to

reinvest in the fabric of the buildings and golf course.

“The decision to sell was because the club needs more investment to ensure it keeps its edge. The clubhouse is looking a bit tired, it needs refurbishment and the course needs improving.”

Rudding Park unveils its own Amen Corner 10/04/2019 13:26

Rudding Park Golf Club in Yorkshire has unveiled a new routing on its 18-hole Hawtree Course that takes inspiration from Augusta National, venue for the Masters Tournament.

As at the Georgia venue, the Yorkshire club’s own ‘Amen Corner’ on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes sees fairways and greens cut through mature woodland. Rhododendrons replace the azaleas and dogwood, with Rudding Park’s own version of Rae’s Creek coming into play on two holes.

The signature par-three 14th, named ‘Rhododendron Glade’ due to a profusion of colour in late spring, is well guarded by three bunkers at the front, and another hidden from view to the right. Playing uphill,

Quinney rules at Kings Hill

Bearsted-based amateur and Kent Colts team member Ben Quinney shot an impressive sevenunder-par 65 around Kings Hill Golf Club in Kent to to win the PGA Kent Closed Championship by four strokes.

Winning a new Callaway Epic Flash driver for his performance, Quinney said: “It’s my lowest round ever, and my first bogey-free one as well. I felt really comfortable, missed just one green in regulation, drove well, and was pretty hot with my wedge to set

■ BEN QUINNEY SHOT 65 AT KINGS HILL

and into the prevailing wind, presents a challenge for all golfers, with the undulating green making a par no easy score on this 163-yard hole.

Rudding Park has two courses designed by renowned architect Martin Hawtree – the 18-hole Hawtree Course and 6-hole Repton Short Course, while the resort’s Golf Academy offers an extensive range of coaching facilities.

James King, Rudding Park’s golf manager, commented: “It is important to be innovative and offer guests new experiences and give previous guests a reason to return. Amen Corner is a fantastic addition to the Hawtree Course, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience this fantastic loop of three.”

up birdies on the shorter par fours.”

Trailing in his wake with rounds of 69 were Weald of Kent’s Ryan Boyns and Barnehurst’s Jordan Godwin.

With Kings Hill in excellent condition, and ideal weather for low scoring, Quinney made two birdies at the opening holes and added two more at the seventh and ninth to be out in four-under 32. Birdies at the par-five 10th, and par-four 13th and 16th tightened Quinney’s grip on the lead, and two pars down the last two holes ensured a wide-margin win.

The tournament saw a field of 84, split into 52 PGA Professionals from the county and 32 amateurs, all competing for the title. There were separate contests for the seniors, ladies, PGA trainees and amateurs, all held in conjunction with the main event.

Boyns picked up the Leading Trainee award, with Kyle

Kelsall and Redlibbet’s Larry Batchelor sharing the elder statesmen’s prize, while West Kent’s Jerri Sewell finished best of the six ladies playing, two of whom were amateurs.

The PGA South Region secretary Sam Smith commented: “We’re delighted that by working closely with the Kent Golf Union, this event has become a major fixture in the Kent schedule for the county’s amateurs and PGA Professionals.”

He added: “It’s great to see how this sort of initiative is forging great relationships between the professional and amateur codes of the games.

Special thanks go to Kings Hill for their continued support and for providing a course in such great shape, allowing us to showcase the current and future golfing talent within the county.”

[12] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ BBC TV PRESENTER DAN WALKER IS FRONTING A CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF PLAYING GOLF

Get your clubs out for a digital detox

The benefits of getting away from the stresses of modern life are being highlighted in a new campaign to get over-worked golfers back into the game launched by England Golf.

Called #SwitchOffWithGolf, the campaign aim to encourage current, future and lapsed golfers to take time out from their busy schedules to rediscover their love of the game.

BBC TV presenter Dan Walker and former Olympic pentathlon competitor Professor Greg Whyte have

been given ambassadorial roles to front up the campaign, which hopes to ‘reduce screen-time and increase green-time’ and help improve golfers’ mental wellbeing.

Over 85% of adults say they experience stress regularly, while 67% of men admit to having been so stressed at some point over the last year that they have felt unable to cope. Britons identify technology as a cause of stress and disruption to personal life, often feeling overwhelmed by the ‘always on’ culture, forever connected by email, SMS and social media.

Professor Whyte has added his medical expertise to the campaign, reiterating the physical and psychological benefits of playing golf. “Physical activity and outdoor activity are incredibly potent stimuli for positive lifestyle changes, because it impacts all areas of health simultaneously by improving physical, mental and social health. Golf is a fantastic stress reliever in whatever way you chose to play it. You can really tailor the game to suit your needs, so on a day where you want to play all day go and play 18 holes, but if you’ve got 15 minutes and want to destress, you can head to the range.”

Walker, a keen golfer who plays off 10, says he always tries to find time to get out on the course or down to the driving range, despite his hectic work schedule and family commitments.

“We’ve all got busy lives, and it’s hard to fit things in sometimes, but it is possible,” he said. “We’ve got three kids – I’ll drop one of them off at a piano lesson and then know I’ve got 20 minutes to go to the driving range, maybe play a couple of holes or just hit a few balls, then go back to pick them up.”

He added: “The great thing about golf is that feeling when you hit one ball, just smash it – even if it doesn’t go down the middle that feeling is beautiful. If you’re busy at home and busy at work, there are still so many ways to switch off with golf.”

1Putt larger hole format concept

CG-Triple-Track-Ad-564x80-2.indd 3-4

sets up home at Thames Ditton A company that aims to boost golf participation via the introduction of a competition format involving larger hole cups has announced a permanent residency at Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Course in Surrey.

Two brothers with years of family experience in the golf business, Harry and Ross McInley, launched the first 1PUTT event in 2016, as a way to modernise the game. Since then, they have organised events at Sunningdale Heath, Strawberry Hill, Redlibbets, Dukes Meadows and Banstead Downs, along with a largescale event for Durham University.

Ross McInley said: “The traditional golf hole was inspired by a drainpipe at St Andrews and hasn’t changed for 500 years. In order to combat dwindling numbers, 1PUTT’s design bridges the gap between those who have never played and those teeing off weekly to offer a fun and competitive golfing experience. Faster, more aggressive play with team scramble formats means all abilities can join in.”

He added: “With no dress codes and team kits encouraged, the atmosphere suits the on-course DJs and bars for the perfect golf set-up. Caddy spots are available for those who want to come along for the fun and an après-style party awaits those making their way back to the clubhouse.

■ 1PUTT GOLF EVENTS, WHICH FEATURE LARGER HOLES, BARS AND DJS, ARE PROVING POPULAR WITH YOUNGER PLAYERS

“1PUTT is the perfect platform for people to approach golf with a new mindset, encouraging participation for everyone and offering more than the traditional format. We’ve deliberately challenged the status quo to remove barriers and stereotypes associated with the game.”

Harry McInley added: “The new golf experience

with DJs, relaxed dress code and on-course drinks is something most people never thought possible.

Traditional golf courses all around the UK are struggling to get players to take part. 1PUTT is here to challenge the offering and bring friends together on the course.”

To find out more about 1Putt events visit, www.1puttgolf.co.uk.

NEWS | APRIL 2019

[13]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Holmes joins Golf News team

Leckford unveils ‘new’ nine

Golf News has strengthened its commercial team with the appointment of Jacob Holmes to its sales department.

Jacob, who is a senior account manager at Cheltenham-based Fellows Media, will be the point of call for all golf clubs and golf brands looking to get their brand message across to the Golf News readership.

A keen golfer, who plays at Brickhampton Golf Club near Cheltenham, Jacob is relishing the opportunity to represent Golf News, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

He said: “I love building strong relationships with clients and putting together strategic marketing campaigns that deliver tangible return on investment. I am looking forward to working with the Golf News team, and talking and meeting with all elements of the golf industry about how Golf News can deliver results.”

To get in touch with Jacob, please call 01242 259249 or email jacob.holmes@ fellowsmedia.com.

Over 130 members of Leckford Golf Club in Hampshire took part in a special three-day Stableford competition last month to celebrate the opening of nine new tees on the historic nine-hole course.

The club, which is owned by the John Lewis Group, and is located on a 4,000-acre estate near Stockbridge, has invested significant sums in building the new tees, which now enable members to enjoy an 18-hole experience on the expanded layout.

Dan Robinson, course manager at Leckford, said: “I think local golf courses are struggling a bit at the moment. But we are still investing quite a lot here. We recently did up the clubhouse, and now we have completed the addition of nine new tees. Now, when you play the course twice, you have a different tee for all 18 holes. The positioning has meant the course plays very differently from the new tees, making the course far more interesting.”

Club member Derek Woodman won the first event on the new layout with 43 points.

■ NINE NEW TEES HAVE BEEN BUILT AT LECKFORD TO CREATE AN 18-HOLE EXPERIENCE

New-look West Essex

sets the stage for London Open

This year’s London Open is set to be the best staging of the tournament yet, with prize money doubling and the backing of a title sponsor.

The 2019 renewal, which will be staged at West Essex Golf Club on June 11-13, will be known as the London Open supported by Golfbreaks. The overall prize fund for the event, co-sanctioned for the first time with the PGA in England (South) region, will be £20,000, and it will carry a first prize of £5,000.

This year will also see the tournament extended to 54 holes and the introduction of a 36-hole cut. A full field of 144 players will be comprised of an equal number of players from the South and East regions.

West Essex has undergone several notable changes since last year’s event, as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to upgrade the already excellent tree-lined layout.

Club secretary James Levick said: “The course has undergone many improvements over the winter, including the refurbishment of four bunkers, two others being removed, a new back tee for

World’s oldest scorecard up for auction

Bonhams is auctioning a rare collection of golfing memorabilia at its Edinburgh salesrooms next month when the second part of the Pierre Horwitz Collection goes under the hammer.

Among the most interesting lots is what is believed to be the oldest scorecard in the world. Estimated at £2,500-3,500, the card, which has been framed and mounted, dates from December 2, 1820. It shows that a Mr Cundell played the five holes within the Musselburgh Race Track twice, a total of ten holes in

■ THE WORLD'S OLDEST SCORECARD

10/04/2019 13:26

the 15th hole and the surrounds of the 16th being completely redesigned. It’s an exciting time for the club with our investment going into the course, clubhouse, new academy course, driving range and short game area.”

Last year Jason Levermore won the London Open after defeating Glen Portelli in a play-off. Levermore said: “The London Open is fast developing into an excellent tournament. It will be great this June to compete at West Essex against South region players as well as those from the East. That, as well as the new 54-hole format and significant prize fund boost, will definitely help grow the tournament’s stature even more.”

84 strokes. Charmingly, the golfer provided his own commentary in a handwritten note at the bottom of the card, writing ‘Dreadful storm of wind and rain – atmosphere quite yellow – just like the lurid regions of Pandemonium.’

Mr Cundell is believed to be James Cundell, who was closely involved with the Thistle Golf Club since its founding in 1815, and who published one of the first ever rule books of golf in 1824.

Bonhams golfing memorabilia consultant Kevin McGimpsey said: “This original scorecard is in remarkable condition considering its age, and the atrocious weather conditions at the time Mr Cundell played his round. It has an excellent provenance, having once belonged to the well-known golfer Sir Henry Cotton, who kept it in his renowned Black Tin

Box with other rare examples of historical golfing memorabilia. The scorecard predates the oldest cards owned by the international golf museums.”

The Pierre Horwitz collection covers the period from the early part of the 19th century to the 1920s, and concentrates especially on the manufacture of clubs and balls and rare patented designs of both. Other highlights include a feather golf ball, handmade around 1840 by Allan Robertson, which is estimated to fetch £3,000-5,000; while a long-nosed neck putter from around 1856-63 made by Robert Forgan, has an estimate of £1,500-2,000.. It is stamped, ‘R. Forgan’ on the crown in large letters, and bears his first known mark, a ram’s horn.

The Pierre Horwitz collection Part I made a total of £150,000 when it went to auction in October last year.

[14] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ CHERRY LODGE GC HAS SPRUCED UP ITS CLUBHOUSE AHEAD OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Cherry Lodge upgrades clubhouse facilities

Female members and visitors playing at Cherry Lodge Golf Club in Kent are enjoying palatial new surroundings after the club installed a new women’s locker room over the winter.

The changing room has been extensively refurbished and extended to take the facilities at the popular private members’ club to a new level, with 45 bag lockers and 80 holdall units, 12 coin-operated visitor lockers, plus four new showers and washbasins.

Former electrician Chris Smith is keen to crank up the difficulty voltage at Cranleigh Golf & Country Club in his role as the club’s new course manager.

The 47-year-old flicked the career switch a decade ago to pursue adds spark to Cranleigh his passion in greenkeeping, and subsequent roles at West Middlesex, Merrist Wood, Hartley Wintney, Pyrford and Southwood led to his December appointment at the par-68 Surrey venue.

Although Cranleigh is a relatively short course by today’s standards, at under 6,000 yards, it places serious demands on accuracy and strategy. And Smith is determined to ensure all of those defences are available as much as possible, with special attention earmarked for around 50 bunkers dotted around the course.

For Smith, it means fixing the plugs is all about eradicating buried lies in sand traps, rather than making sure the wires are in the correct sockets.

Smith explained: “I’ve played Cranleigh a few times and it is generally in great condition – they have done a fantastic job here in recent years. The greens are always in superb condition.

“But the bunkers are the main thing to address. They have had a few issues with puddles in bunkers when it gets a bit wet, so they were marked as ground under repair and out of action.

“Golf isn’t supposed to be easy – if you hit it in a bunker, you should then have to play it out. That’s part of the game, and this is a course which definitely needs its bunkers.

“So we will be tackling that. It’s not a huge job to make sure all of our bunkers are in play as much as possible in all weathers. I’m not sure whether that will make me popular or not, but we want the course to be played as it is supposed to be played as much as possible.”

Supplied and installed by Crown Sports Lockers, the extension has doubled the club’s previous capacity, and should prove an invaluable investment in what is the club’s 50th anniversary year.

Club manager Brian Bamford said: “Forty golf clubs are located within a nine-mile radius of Cherry Lodge, so it’s vital we focus on delivering exceptional member service. Our ladies' section has grown significantly in recent years, creating pressure on the club to expand our changing area. The men’s locker room had been refurbished 15 years ago, but the ladies were still soldiering on with old outdated metal storage.”

He added: “Their events are so popular that there was no room for everyone to change, so we clearly had to act quickly. We had been planning the refurbishment in early 2018, but the influx of new members prompted a rethink and we went back to the drawing board to look at a much larger project.”

Built on a former fruit farm in the 1960s, Cherry Lodge became a private members’ club in 1993. It currently boasts over 550 members, of which 128 are women. The club’s 18-hole course was upgraded just four years ago, with the creation of 27 new bunkers, 14 new men’s tees and 13 women’s tees.

The club’s first flexible membership package is drawing high interest, while its society prebookings are also up on previous seasons. “We’ve signed up around 70 members to our new flexible scheme, and pretty much reached our limit,” said Bamford. “Golfers' needs are shifting, and so is the demographic, so we are constantly aware of the need to adapt to that. This year’s society bookings are also very good, while to improve our events facilities we’re planning a glass partition along the front of the clubhouse to create a separate functions room.”

CG-Triple-Track-Ad-564x80-2.indd 5-6

New course manager

■ CHRIS SMITH IS RELISHING GETTING STUCK INTO HIS NEW ROLE AS COURSE MANAGER AT CRANLEIGH

Smith, who is originally from Derbyshire and is a five-handicapper, will head a team of five greenkeeping staff, but knows his broad range of skills from his previous career will come in handy at a club which has so many other leisure activities available.

He said: “I was an electrician before, but I love the game, and I want to see people enjoying the course. I love what I do now.

“But that doesn’t stop people from asking me to fix the odd electrical issue. I’ve fixed the terrace lights already, and I’m sure there will be a few jobs cropping up from time to time!

“My priority is the course, but I’m happy to help out where I can. There is a friendly feel all around the club. Everyone does their bit, so it’s great to be part of that.”

NEWS | APRIL 2019

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

R&A releases extra Open tickets An additional 15,000 tickets have been made available for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July.

The R&A has extended the capacity on each of the four championship days by 3,750, meaning 43,750 spectators will be at the County Antrim venue each day. It means 215,000 spectators will attend the championship across the week, as Northern Ireland stages The Open for the first time since 1951. The extra tickets for The Open will go on sale on April 15.

The original bank of tickets for the event, which takes place from July 18-21, sold out in record time, with the only tickets left being for practice days and more expensive corporate hospitality packages on championship days.

The extra tickets are on sale now, on a first come first served basis.

“From the moment tickets and hospitality packages went on sale last year it was clear there was huge demand from fans to attend this historic occasion,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A. “We have been working closely with the government agencies, our advisers and contractors to assess whether we could accommodate some fans on each day and have decided we can do so without impacting on the outstanding spectator experience.”

■ THE R&A HAVE HAD TO FIND WAYS TO INCREASE SPECTACTOR CAPACITY FOR THE OPEN AT ROYAL PORTRUSH

CHROME SOFT X AND ERC SOFT NOW AVAILABLE WITH TRIPLE TRACK TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED ALIGNMENT. ®

Leo’s on his way to San Diego A six-year-old golfer from Surrey is in with a chance of being named world junior champion, having won a place to represent the UK at a global competition in America.

Leo Boniface, originally from Sutton, started playing the sport at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom when he was four and only turned six last month. He qualified for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships after taking third place in a qualifying competition in

Clarke wins special award

A HAMPSHIRE GOLFER has been recognised by prime minister Theresa May for his outstanding contribution to the community.

Warren Clark, from North Baddesley, received a Points of Light award for his work, which has ensured golf is accessible for disabled for disabled coaching people.

Through his charity, Warren Clark Golfing Dreams, the 18 -year-old, who has autism, provided free golf sessions to more than 5,000 disabled people.

The Points of Light award recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

March.

Proud father Lester Boniface said: “Being one of the youngest players, and playing in such difficult weather conditions, Leo did extremely well to come third. He loves playing golf and is extremely excited for the rest of the season, with lots of local and national competitions coming up. 10/04/2019 The family is looking to find sponsorship before Leo jets off for the championships in July, which are being held in San Diego, California.

“Due to the high costs of travel and equipment, we are currently looking for sponsors to help fund this talented young boy, so anyone interested in helping is welcome to get in touch.

Leo has previously used his skills to help good causes, having raised £3,000 for Shooting Star Chase children’s hospices after beating an adult player in a match.

In a personal letter to Clark, prime minister Theresa May said: “The success of your foundation is testament to your passion for golf and your dedication to seeing more disabled people take up the sport. Through the free taster sessions you provide, you have enabled thousands of people to participate in golf and enjoy playing alongside others. I wish you the very best as you represent our country in this year’s Special Olympics.”

Warren, who has volunteered at golf clubs since the age of 11, is also a special ambassador for the Special Olympics.

The charity, which Clark set up in 2016, receives funding from the National Lottery, is also the only organisation in the UK providing free taster sessions in golf for people with learning and development difficulties.

Clark said: “I am thrilled and proud to be receiving this award and so pleased to receive it. Thanks so much, it’s very exciting at this time, especially being at the World Games with Special Olympics, I hope to do well and will be giving my golf my everything.”

13:26

[16] APRIL 2019 FEATURE GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

R ANGE RE VOLUTION Golf News editor Nick Bayly heads to Tilgate Park Golf Centre in West Sussex to find out how Toptracer’s shot-tracking technology is proving a game-changer for golfers and golf facilities alike

E

ver since I was forced to take piano lessons at the age of seven, I have railed against the concept of ‘practice makes perfect’. Instead of tinkering away on the ivories for hours, I’d simply turn up to the lessons every week and hope to wing it. Inevitably I’d be admonished by the teacher for wasting his time and mine, and after reading my end of term report, my parents, would come to conclusion that they were also wasting their money.

I can still play ‘Chopsticks’ and the opening bars of ‘The Entertainer’, but there my piano skills end.

It’s been the same with golf. Despite having access to a whole world of elite coaches, custom-fitted clubs and state-of-the-art training systems, I can count the number of proper golf lessons I’ve had on the fingers of one hand.

Consequently, my golf game is as good now as it was when I was 15, with marginally less flexibility.

Part of my reason for not wanting to practise was that I find it immensely boring. The experience of hitting 100 or so balls into a field is dull beyond belief, even if there are some random targets to aim at. With no feedback, and often no idea where the ball has actually gone, it’s a largely futile exercise.

Thankfully, the driving range experience is moving on. Advancements in technology have not only made it possible to record shot data and receive meaningful feedback, but they’ve made it fun, too. And for that we have Toptracer to thank.

Those of you familiar with TV coverage of the PGA Tour will already be aware how much of a difference Toptracer has made to the viewing experience, with armchair fans being able to track the flight of the golf ball from the clubface with unerring accuracy. Such do I rely on the presence of the trusty yellow line on the screen that whenever it fails to pop up I get ever so slightly irritated.

First World problems, eh?

Toptracer has undoubtedly proved a game-changer for TV viewing, and now, with the creation of Toptracer Range, it’s doing the same for the way we practise and spend our time at the range. Using a pair of ball-tracking cameras and a tablet-sized screen mounted in individual bays, driving ranges all over the world are being transformed by the power of Toptracer technology.

So what makes it such a revolution for range users? Well, for starters, as with the TV version, Toptracer technology tracks the flight of your ball so that a quick glance at the iPad-sized screen will show you the arc of your shot, while also providing a wide range of statistical feedback, including carry distance, total distance, ball speed, launch angle, height and dispersion. That alone makes it a brilliant piece of kit for the humble range user looking to improve their game with or without the presence of a teaching pro On top of valuable shot data, Toptracer Range also offers a variety of game modes, including longest drive, nearestthe-pin, a points-based target game, and virtual golf – the latter of which allows you to play a number of the world’s

■ TOPTRACER LINKS UP WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO ENABLE DATA TRACKING OVER TIME

■ TOPTRACER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMS THE WAY GOLFERS CAN PRACTICE AND HAVE FUN AT THE RANGE

best golf courses live from your own bay.

To test out the benefits of this technology we took a trip to our nearest Toptracer venue, Tilgate Park Golf Centre in West Sussex, which currently has nine of its 20 bays kitted out with the technology. With no upcharge compared to the cost of a normal bay – although other venues do charge a premium – it was not hard to see why the Toptracer bays were soon filled up by 5pm, and judging by the whoops and squeals coming from the adjacent bays, it was apparent that Toptracer livens up any trip to the range.

After confirming that I am as short off the tee as I thought I was, and my Monty fade is consistently inconsistent, our three-ball put Toptracer’s simulator mode through it paces with a nine-hole challenge on the back nine at Pebble Beach.

Apart from the absence of the crashing waves, the warmth of the sun, and the $500 green fee, we could have almost been playing the famous Californian links.

OK, so the course wasn’t quite as detailed as PGA Tour 2018 on an Xbox, but it was plenty realistic enough for me. And once things got serious, as they soon did, it didn’t really matter what course you were playing on, as your mind was fully focused on beating your fellow players.

Fashioning shots to avoid water, bunkers and, in my case, a tree positioned five feet in front of me, added a level of creativity that you would never replicate if you were simply hitting balls into a field. The putting element is, of course, not possible within the confines of the bay, so instead you are required to execute a chip or pitch shot to a variety of targets on the green between 65 and 90 yards away. This, in itself, is a lost art on the driving range, and one which proved a lot harder than it looked, especially off the tight lie offered by the range mat.

If I were looking for ways to improve the overall Toptracer experience, a more complex mat, which features deep rough, semi-rough and fairway-length artificial turf, would be a huge benefit, although putting in a tray of sand or water might be taking it too far. The cameras, which are mounted on the roof of the range, don’t always pick up lower-flighted shots, so

you have to play the game through the air to ensure shots are registered.

As with all data technology these days, an App is all but essential, and Toptracer’s Community App enables you to create a personal profile and access your entire history of shot data via your smartphone, and also allows you to see where you rank against other players on daily, weekly and all-time leaderboards, and, of course, brag about it on social media.

One of the best things about Toptracer is its universal appeal. Its shot-tracking capabilities will appeal to wannabe pros and absolute beginners alike, while it’s an excellent way to introduce children or non-golfers to the game in a low-pressure, fun environment. The game modes give families and friends the chance to get together in a fun and competitive environment, and it’s also a useful tool for coaches and club pros.

Toptracer’s rollout in the UK is still very much in its infancy, with only 30 or so golf clubs and ranges currently offering the technology – including World of Golf New Malden, Silvermere, Horton Park, Pedham Place, Portsmouth Golf Centre and Sandown Park – but as the momentum behind its benefits for both golfer and venue grow, it won’t be long before a range near you joins the Toptracer party.

To find your nearest Toptracer venue, visit www.toptracer.com.

TOPTRACER IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO INTRODUCE NEWCOMERS TO THE GAME IN A FUN AND STRESS-FREE ENVIRONMENT, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A SERIOUS TOOL TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR GAME

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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[18] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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[20] APRIL 2019 FEATURE GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

OFF THE CANVAS

After losing his European Tour card at the end of last season, Hertfordshire tour pro Callum Shinkwin is hoping to bounce straight back in 2019, and he’s made a solid start

G

olf can be a cruel game. Just ask Callum Shinkwin. After missing out on a three-year exemption when he let victory in the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open slip from his grasp at Dundonald Links, the Englishman no longer holds a European Tour card.

With only the top 110 players securing full playing privileges for the 2019 season, Shinkwin missed out by the small, but extremely significant margin of €33,000, finishing 119th in the Race to Dubai rankings, condemning the 26-year-old to a return to the dreaded Qualifying School in Spain.

Having dusted himself off, and pulled up his proverbial socks, Shinkwin played well at Qualifying School, given the circumstances – but not well enough to win back his card, meaning he has had to start the new year relying on a reduced schedule of the smaller events on the European Tour, as well as trying to pre-qualify for some of the bigger ones.

So far, that somewhat loose schedule has worked out pretty well, with Shinkwin coming through pre-qualifying events to make the starting line up in both the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic, two of the European Tour’s biggest early season tournaments, which boasted strong fields and decent prize funds. He pressed home his good fortune in both events, finishing 54th in Abu Dhabi and 56th in Dubai, bagging decent, if unspectacular, pay cheques at both.

It could have been so much better in Dubai though, as he opened up with superb rounds of 66 and 68 over the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club, and

■ CLUBBING UP: CALLUM SHINKWIN IS HOPING TO WIN BACK HIS EUROPEAN TOUR CARD IN 2019

WHAT’S IN CALLUM BAG? DRIVER: CALLAWAY EPIC FLASH SUB ZERO (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOOD: CALLAWAY EPIC FLASH SUB ZERO (13.5°) UTILITY: CALLAWAY X FORGED UT (18°) IRONS: CALLAWAY X FORGED (3-9) WEDGES: MACK DADDY 4 (52°, 58°) PUTTER: ODYSSEY TOULON MADISON BALL: CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT X

was right in mix at the halfway stage, just two shots behind leader, and eventual runaway winner, Bryson DeChambeau.

But, as is beginning to become a recurring trend, Shinkwin couldn’t keep his hot form going over the weekend, and costly rounds of 75 and 74 saw him slip back into the middle of the pack.

Still, it buoyed his confidence, and a tenth-place finish at the Vic Open in Australia and a tied sixth at the Indian Open – where he held the lead after 54 holes, only to throw in another disappointing final round – all point to a player who is set to return to the big time at the earliest opportunity providing he doesn't get in his own way..

Asked about the lows of missing his card by such a fine margin, Shinkwin, who turned pro in 2013 after an impressive amateur career, is surprisingly sanguine. “Losing my card last year by a couple of spots was, of course, very disappointing, but I know that I can get it back if I play well, so I just have to trust what I can do and let it happen. I just want to play as well as I can and make the most of the opportunities that come my way.”

He adds: “Even at Q School last year, my golf game was good, but I just wasn’t getting the results, so I didn’t ever get too down on myself. I’ve found some form now, and I’m just waiting on the results to come in, which will hopefully start happening.”

Talking about close run things, it’s hard not to wind back the clock to July 16, 2017, and to the final round of the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, where Shinkwin came within a whisker of a lifechanging win. Having played imperiously in the final round, Shinkwin had one hand on the trophy when he came to the last hole with a one-shot lead. A prodigious driver of the ball – he currently averages over 320 yards on tour – Shinkwin hammered his tee shot 325 yards down the fairway on the par-five hole, only to take five more shots to get down – four from the side of the green – before losing a play-off to Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello.

“The Scottish Open was one that definitely

got away,” Shinkwin says. “Alot of people have said that I should have laid up with my approach at the last. However, everyone in my team said that I had done nothing wrong. I just got unlucky.

“Of course it was a pressured situation, but it was nothing like what everyone probably thinks. I hit a great second shot in and finished in a divot on a down slope of the bunker. I had no shot, really. But it’s all a learning curve and, obviously, if you win, you have to have luck on your side. It wasn’t there for me.”

He adds: “At the time I was very pleased just to have secured a top finish, but a win out on tour is massive, with all that it brings you by way of exemptions, so when I think back on it now I feel gutted, but at the time I was very pleased to do what I did that week.”

Helped by the cheque for close to £600,000 that he picked up as consolation – which the recentlymarried Shinkwin used to buy his first house – he finished 40th in the Race to Dubai that season with earnings of just over €1 million.

Last year was a struggle, though. With a dozen missed cuts and a best finish of joint ninth in the Italian Open, it was no surprise for Shinkwin, who plays his golf at Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, to find himself teetering on the edge of the cut mark, and heading back to Qualifying School in Spain.

Had losing out on the Ayrshire coast perhaps left a mental scar? “Not really,” he insists. “I just never pushed on. But I’m back playing well again and my aim is to get back to where I was two years ago.”

Asked what he needs to do to ‘push on’, and get back on the top tier, he says: “I think everyone who looks at my game knows I’m a good ball-striker and have a solid long game. I’m pretty good around the greens, but from 100 yards and in is where I need to raise my game. It needs to be a lot sharper and stronger. If I can get that sorted and hole a few more putts I’m sure I’ll get to where I want to be.”

With a positive attitude like that, combined with his innate talent, few are betting against seeing Callum Shinkwin back where he belongs before too long.

MY GAME IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND I'M PLAYING WELL AGAIN. I JUST NEED TO WORK HARD AND I'M SURE I'LL GET TO WHERE I WANT TO BE

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[21]

[22] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Mizuno offers ‘Tour fitting' Mizuno has opened up its Tour Performance Studio at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Berkshire to the public, offering regular golfers the opportunity to experience a level of custom fitting usually only available to the brand’s staff players.

Opened nine months ago, Mizuno’s Tour Performance Studio is a service hub for Mizuno’s professional and elite amateur players when they’re away from the tour. Located at Bearwood Lakes’ academy, the studio has everything needed to fine-tune players’ equipment: Trackman 4, tour-level golf balls, Swing DNA and a full range of heads and shafts for irons, woods and

wedges. Bearwood Lakes is also the permanent base for Mizuno’s European Tour workshop when it’s not being used on tour, so clubs are assembled for golfers while they wait on site.

A limited number of ‘Tour Fit’ appointments are now available to the public, with customers spending a full day at the studio (9am-3pm), during which time they will receive a complete ‘through the bag’ custom fitting session, after which any clubs purchased can be immediately built at Mizuno’s on-site workshop and be ready to take away on the day.

The Tour Fit Experience also offers wedge grinds, stampings, some tour

Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club is back in family ownership after the couple that first set up the club in the 1980s bought it back from Crown Golf.

Phil and Rita Newman first developed the club 30 years ago, and have now decided to buy back their pride and joy after it was put on the market by Crown Golf in November.

Despite previously selling Stableford Abbotts, the Newmans, both keen golfers, remained members of the club, which boasts two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole par 3 course, and their passion for its future led them to put their hands in their pockets and reinvest.

Commenting on their purchase, Phil Newman said: “We see a big future for Stapleford Abbotts and have plans to invest in the clubhouse and course to

Stapleford Abbotts changes hands bought back by founding owners

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issue shafts and other components that are generally only available through the tour.

“This is a great opportunity to be treated like a tour pro for the day, in the same studio, with the same technicians who work with our contracted European Tour pros,” said Alex Thorne, Tour Operations Manager for Mizuno.

The fee for a day’s fitting and service is £500. The price does not cover the cost of any equipment purchased, with possible upcharges for shafts or components that may not be included within the regular custom-fitting programme. To book a custom-fitting session, email tourfit@mizuno.co.uk.

take it to the next level for our members.”

Crown Golf has owned the club since 2004, developing the business and the golf courses over this period. Following a number of expressions of interest, a decision was made to sell the property in November last year.

Crown Golf chief executive Stephen Towers said: “We have greatly enjoyed being custodians of Stapleford Abbotts.

In recent years we have rationalised our portfolio, while also broadening our property development and golf management activities, and this sale is consistent with that strategy. Stapleford Abbotts is a great facility, and I am delighted that we have found such a committed and passionate buyer who knows the club, and will be well placed to lead it on the next stage of its journey.”

NEWS | APRIL 2019

[23]

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Paget adds Pachesham

The grass is always greener at The Shire

PGA Professional Matthew Paget, who heads up the academy and pro shop at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Richmond and three other golf courses in Kent and Sussex, has added Pachesham Golf Centre in Leatherhead to his MP Golf coaching and retail portfolio.

Paget, who began his career at Royal Cinque Ports in 1991, has acquired the licence to operate the Pachesham Golf Academy. He has also taken over the management of the former American Golf retail space at the site, located close to Junction 9 on the M25 and the nearby A3.

In addition to Royal Mid-Surrey, Paget also operates pro shops at Walmer & Kingsdown, Cherry Lodge and The Nevill.

“I’m really excited at the prospect of taking on the challenge of growing the business at the Pachesham Academy and expanding the retail operation to its full potential,” said Paget, who picked up the Pro Shop of the Year Award for his work at Royal Mid-Surrey in 2012, and supervised a successful refit last year. “The new shop at Pachesham will feature extensive selections from many leading premium brands designed to appeal to avid golfers in the Surrey commuter belt, while the new coaching programme will specialise on improving the customer’s short game.”

He added: “We’ve already worked closely with owner Phil Taylor to put our plans in place and I’m confident that those who are familiar with the facility will notice the difference."

The Shire London is enhancing its Seve Ballesteros course by reseeding its greens with a new type of grass that is used on some of the world’s top layouts.

On the recommendation of architects Dye Designs, which has been hired by The Shire’s owners to build two further 18-hole courses at West London Links and the Dye London, all 18 greens have been interseeded with bentgrass developer Tee-2-Green’s Pure Distinction, which is used on some of the world’s most famous courses.

Now a feature of the 18-hole Masters and nine-hole academy courses at The Shire, this uniquely bright green grass is dense and grows upright. It also has exceptionally strong resistance to disease, extreme temperature changes and general wear, making it easy to maintain, as well as providing a truer roll than grass species more typically used in the UK. The course is also set to have all of its greenside bunkers renovated over the next few years. These will be lined with Capillary Concrete, a sustainable cementbased polymer that solves all drainage and moisture problems, significantly improving year-round playing condition. This will reduce the occurrence of washouts, soil contamination, plugged lies and other bunker

maintenance problems. The bunker faces will be rebuilt using recycled artificial turf, allowing for better conditioning and reduced maintenance time.

Ceri Menai-Davis, director of The Bridgedown Group, which owns The Shire, said: “We are hugely excited at the start of this golf season about introducing our golf course improvements to members and guests. The course remains true to Seve’s design, but, with the assistance of Dye Designs, we will be able to ensure our quality of conditioning shines through all year round. With the continuing developments at West London Links and The Dye London, 2019 is shaping up to be a landmark year.”

Cynthia Dye, daughter of Pete Dye’s late brother, Roy, said: “We are delighted to be introducing EcoBunker technology to The Shire London. The maintenance will become a lot cheaper and a lot less time consuming, meaning more can be invested in other parts of the club. So far, I have redesigned the greenside bunkers on holes 8, 9 and 13, and I am confident the new changes will impress members and guests, alike.”

Dye Designs has also designed the new short game and putting area at The Shire and has helped staff with greenkeeping practices to ensure only the best techniques are used. Dye Designs has also consulted on the final shaping and green surrounds of the West London Links, which is due to open in 2020.

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[24] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Cowdray Park unveils new swing studio Cowdray Park Golf Club in West Sussex has enhanced its already impressive array of new facilities with the opening of a state-of-the-art swing studio.

Located on the driving range at the Midhurstbased club, the spacious new studio provides golfers with a comfortable environment to improve their game, whatever the weather, with expert tuition from resident PGA Professionals Matt Watson and Harry Smith.

The team will be using Trackman 4 launch monitor technology to assist with coaching, as

well as developing the custom-fitting service in the pro shop. The ability to measure full ball flight data is essential for recommending improvements, whether it is technique or equipment-based.

The major upgrade to the academy facilities is the latest improvement to take place at the club, which also boasts an 18-hole championship course. Last year, a number of new tees were rebuilt, while a major bar refurbishment took place in the clubhouse.

Director of Golf Tim Allen said: “We are fortunate that we are benefitting from significant investment in the golf club, the course, and its facilities. The pro shop business has grown year on year for the past three years, and the studio is the natural extension of that growth. We want to give all golfers, members and visitors, the best possible experience in their coaching and fitting.”

Hamptworth’s ‘Beast’ receives R&A recognition

Hamptworth Golf Club in Wiltshire has announced that its signature 666-yard 16th hole has been officially recognised by the R&A as a par-six for competition and handicap play.

Known as ‘The Beast’, the lengthy hole takes up more than 10% of the 6,500-yard course, and plays considerably longer due to its undulating topography. Formerly a 570-yard par five, Hamptworth’s 16th is believed to be England’s only par six, although there are others in the UK, including a 695-yard hole at Destow Golf Club in Wales, while there are even several par sevens located around the world, including an 1,100-yard hole at Gunsan Country Club in South Korea.

Michael Mulligan, Director of Golf at Hamptworth, commented: “New innovations in golf are very rare, so to create something unique that is recognised in this way is very unusual, and we are proud that we have added an extra reason to make Hamptworth a must-play course. The hole is a superb challenge that both members and visiting golfers have really enjoyed playing, and we are delighted it has been given the official seal of approval. Although it is a long hole, the fact that it is a par six means that most golfers have a chance to get to the green in four shots, and we challenge golfers to ‘Beat the Beast’, which is a net birdie.”

In addition to the attraction of England’s longest hole, the course, which is located on the edge of the New Forest, has benefitted from over £250,000 of investment over the last two years, with increased drainage enabling it to stay open throughout the year, with no need for temporary greens.

NEWS | APRIL 2019 [25] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Wycombe Heights opens new hi-tech range Wycombe Heights Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire has opened a new driving range featuring state-of-the-art technology.

The range, which officially opened on April 13, one of many new advancements is the installation of Toptracer Range technology into 20 of its 24 bays – making it the only club in the area to offer the shot-tracking technology.

Using cameras mounted around the facility, Toptracer Range technology tracks and displays every shot on video screens found at each hitting bay, and allows for a host of fun game modes that are scalable to any ability. Data is instantly recorded and displayed on the screen through a player profile that can

Reigate Heath pro accepts Surrey PGA captaincy

Clifford Gough, PGA Head Professional at Reigate Heath Golf Club, has been elected to be the new captain of The PGA in Surrey.

Well known for his passion for getting children into golf, Gough is also an enthusiast for foursomes golf and hopes to see more of the format featured in the county’s competitive schedule.

“It’s a terrific honour to be nominated by your peers to be their captain, and it’s a decision that’s gone down very well with the members at Reigate Heath as well,” Gough said.

He added: “In terms of our schedule for The PGA in Surrey, I’m delighted that we’re very well supported, but with the growing emphasis on faster golf, there’s one type of format I’m keen to promote: foursomes. It’s just an idea at this point, but we’re trying everything we can to see a foursomes event at Reigate Heath as part of The PGA in Surrey schedule.

“We play a lot of fourball betterball and individual formats, so a foursomes event would provide something that’s completely different, fast and, perhaps more importantly, fun.”

When it comes to getting children into golf, Gough certainly leads by example.

Besides being the Surrey County coach for the under 12s, every Saturday he runs the Academy programme, assisted by PGA Assistant Professional Charlie Jones, which has attracted healthy numbers of local youngsters along to learn to play.

“Much of my coaching is about getting kids at whatever age to see golf as a great way to have fun,” said Gough. “In the same way, I think a foursomes event for the Surrey PGA Professionals is an opportunity to remind all of us why we love golf – it can be very hard work, but it’s always fun.”

be accessed at any time through the Toptracer Range community app, allowing users to return to their stored data on subsequent visits, or compare their performance against friends.

The new driving range at Wycombe Heights will be open to all, offering tuition from its experienced team of professionals and a comfortable setting for beginners to take up the game or have fun with friends and family.

Sarah Blunden, general manager at the venue, said: “We are all so excited to be opening the new driving range, and I can’t wait to see how it transforms the practice experience here. Toptracer technology has become very recognisable to golf fans over the last couple of years, and it will really add a new dynamic for both avid golfers and beginners looking to pick up the game in a fun and relaxed environment.”

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[26] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Lowe goes low at London Club

A five-under-par 41 points saw Leatherhead Golf Club PGA Professional Michael Lowe win the penultimate event in the PGA South Winter Series with Titleist & FootJoy by three shots.

After shooting the lights out over the Heritage course at London Golf Club in Kent, a delighted Lowe said: “It’s the first time I’ve played the Heritage course. I liked it a lot, especially the par-fives around and over water, and I thought the greens were pretty good too.”

With strong winds and low temperatures, conditions at the exposed Kent venue were far from easy, but Lowe mastered the challenges in style and took home the winner’s cheque of £500.

He birdied three of the four par-fives in his six-birdie round, dropping just one stroke at the second.

Tom Jordan (Langley Park), who also picked up the Leading Assistant’s ball, glove and shoe contract, Adam Clough (PGolfCoaching@Pedham) and Darren Timms (Gravesend Golf Centre) finished runners up.

Speaking about his win, Lowe said: “I’m currently acting general manager at Leatherhead, which has left me little time to practise, let alone play, but my new coach, Steven Orr, has simplified things so that I don’t feel the need to practise as much to get results, and the win here confirms that. So in 2019, while I’ll be playing less, I’m aiming to do as well as I can in the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit tournaments, alongside some of the local Pro-Ams.”

Tandridge unveils renovation plans Tandridge Golf Club in Surrey has taken on the services of golf course architect firm Lobb + Partners to carry out renovations to its historic Harry Colt-designed course.

Tim Lobb, whose past projects include work on Colt courses at St George’s Hill and Blackmoor, is determined that Colt’s legacy will be honoured in a sympathetic renovation that will retain his original design philosophy while bringing the course up to date for the modern age.

Colt’s original course dates from 1924, and Lobb has been engaged by the club to carry out a ‘courseevolution programme’, retaining its natural and historic character. Lobb, who has been a course architect since 1996, is currently finalising an initial appraisal of the course which he believes is ‘up there with the very best’.

“It’s a bit of a cliché, but blending the Colt philosophy with modern-day constructability is at the forefront of our mind,” said Lobb. “It’s a challenge, but we need to be sympathetic to the

original Colt design, while making it attractive to the demands of 21st century golfers.”

He added: “We’re really interested in the wider landscape philosophy. We’ve always got involved heavily in our other projects with the landscape, particularly when we’ve been working with the heathlands. The landscape is key to the golf course.

It’s in a beautiful location, with long views that we’re hoping to enhance. It’s a spectacular course, and we’re extremely proud to be able to play a part in the future of the club.

“It’s a really long-term view we’re taking. We’re looking to take our time and get it right – it won’t be rushed. And I think the club will take that view too.

It’s all being considered very carefully.”

Tandridge’s 18-hole course, which is located near Oxted, offers spectacular views of the Surrey North Downs and the High Weald, with the front nine running along relatively gentle land, while the back nine is sited in more rolling and dramatic terrain.

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Puttenham, which is 125 years old this year, is a picturesque and mature woodland/heathland course and a great test of shot-making. The greens also have the reputation of being some of the best in the county. The clubhouse has excellent facilities, with modern changing rooms, a well-stocked golf shop and a welcoming bar and restaurant area.

We also have a 300-yard driving range, a practice bunker and two practice putting greens.

TIM COOMBES, DIRECTOR OF GOLF, PUTTENHAM GOLF CLUB, SURREY n HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PGA PROFESSIONAL? I have been a PGA Professional since 1988, so just over 30 years. n WHAT HAS YOUR CAREER PATH BEEN TO DATE? I started as a young assistant under PGA Professional Doug McClelland at Silvermere; then moved onto Hoebridge Golf Centre in 1991, and then Windlesham in 1994 as a full-time coach and player. I became Head Professional at Chobham in 1998. I've been at Puttenham since 2012, and in 2015 moved out of the pro shop and into the club office to become the assistant manager. n WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT THE CLUB? I organise all of the club’s digital and print marketing, and oversee the golf shop operation. I have a responsibility for revenue generation, legislation compliance, general club office administration, membership recruitment, and act as the club manager when the general manager is away.

■ PUTTENENHAM HEATH CELEBRATES ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

n WHAT IS THE CLUB DOING TO ATTRACT JUNIORS AND WOMEN GOLFERS? Our former club chairman has just volunteered as our new junior organiser. He is very keen to launch regular activity sessions for our juniors, in addition to our Saturday coaching sessions conducted by our club orofessional. We also currently offer free junior membership to children and grandchildren under the age of 16 of adult members, and are looking at reducing the subscription for all other juniors. n WHAT’S SELLING WELL IN THE PRO SHOP? As I mentioned, it’s our 125th anniversary this year and to mark this milestone we launched a range of clothing and accessories with a special club crest which has been very well supported by the membership.

n WHAT IS YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHT AS A PLAYER? Reaching the final of the European Tour School in 1994 at Massane in France. n IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE RULE IN GOLF, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? If you had asked me that question a couple of years ago I would said tapping down spike marks, but now that has been addressed with the 2019 rules changes, nothing major springs to mind. However, I’m not a huge fan of the new knee-high drop. n WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE COURSE IN THE UK? Sunningdale’s Old Course. I have been fortunate enough to have played it several times and they were special days. n WHO IS YOUR GOLFING HERO? Nick Faldo. His dedication, eye for detail, and mental strength was an inspiration to a young PGA Professional. n WHO INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE UP GOLF? My father. I was 13 and had been suffering from a knee injury from playing too much cricket at a young age. This meant I had to give up all sport until I was fit again. On my 14th birthday my father took me to the local public course and told me I had been cleared to play golf if I wanted. We hired two halfsets of clubs and went out onto their par-3 course for 9 holes. The rest is history, as they say.

n WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? The varied nature of the work – no two days are the same. n WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOUR COLLEAGUES USE TO DESCRIBE YOU? I asked the general manager to come up with three words and he described me as ‘enthusiastic, thorough and generous’, so I’ll take that!

n WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM FOURBALL? Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. n WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF YOU HADN’T HAVE BEEN A PRO? I would like to think I would have been a professional cricketer.

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n WHAT’S THE BEST SWING TIP YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? When I was about 18, I remember a coach telling me to maintain flex in my right knee throughout my backswing. I am quite tall and when I was young my legs were not as stable as they should have been. It made a huge difference to my balance and ultimately the distance I struck the ball.

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[28] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Hawkhurst unveils housing plan Plans for over 400 new homes to be built on the site of Hawkhurst Golf Club in East Sussex were displayed for public scrutiny last month.

The plans, proposed by the golf club’s owner, Cedardrive Ltd, would see 375 houses built on the site of the existing 9-hole golf course, and 34 more on adjoining land, if given the go-ahead by local planners.

The development would also include new community facilities, including public car parking to serve the village centre, and a new country park between Hawkhurst and Gills Green.

Jonathan Buckwell, a spokesman for DHA planning consultants, which is working with Cedardrive on the

proposal, said: “The golf course is under-used and has seen a significant decline in membership in recent years.

The site offers a unique opportunity for Hawkhurst to meet its proposed housing allocation in the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan at a site at the heart of the village, rather than in outlying areas of the parish.”

He added: “The Cedardrive team has taken great care to ensure that the landscape-led design is sympathetic, and wholly in keeping with the surroundings. Our proposals consist of a number of smaller development areas, each showing different character attributes, and which reflect a village feel, rather than that of one large estate.”

Wiltshire Golf was among those celebrating after picking up England Golf’s ‘County of the Year’ Award last month.

Wiltshire, which has just 26 affiliated golf clubs, making it the smallest in the South West and South East divisions, held off the strong challenge of Lancashire, a previous winner of the title and a county which represents 157 clubs.

It impressed the judges with the merger of its men and women’s organisations which created Wiltshire Golf, with the way it involves its clubs in its planning and the golfing opportunities it offers to players of all abilities, including a junior development tour.

Operations director Scott Talbert said: “It is brilliant to receive recognition like this for the way we’re trying to change people’s attitudes to golf and to modernise the game.”

European Tour star Jordan Smith, who played for Wiltshire ‘County of the Year’ title and England before he turned pro, sent a video message of congratulation to county officials.

2019 04 Golf News QP Golf Breaks.qxp_166mm h x 145mm w 08/04/2019 14:46 Page 1

Wiltshire wins

“I’m so proud of my county, Wiltshire. For such a small county we have definitely been punching above our weight,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the county set up, so I want to say, ‘Congratulations Wiltshire, keep up the good work and thank you very much for all your help over the years.’”

Wiltshire Golf has completed a year as a merged organisation and has a board which combines members with long experience of county golf and those who bring fresh ideas, knowledge and skills. It has more than 100 youngsters in its junior programme and is aligning its competitions so that, for example, the boys’ and girls’ championships and the men’s and women’s county foursomes are played on the same course on the same day.

It is also launching a nine-hole par three championship for all and hopes to attract 160 golfers on the day. At least 40 youngsters attend each of the nine events of the junior tour, run for players aged 12 and under who are high or prehandicappers.

There are also plans to relaunch its county card service for members, offering added benefits and new playing opportunities, including an order of merit.

Talbert said: “The whole atmosphere is really positive.”

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2019 04 Golf News QP Golf Breaks.qxp_166mm h x 145mm w 08/04/2019 14:46 Page 1

Time for a Time for for a a break?

Time

2019 04 Golf News QP Golf Breaks.qxp_166mm h x 145mm w 08/04/2019 14:46 Page 1

break?

Golf Breaks from as little asa Time for break? £125.00 per person break? £125.00 per person Golf Breaks from as little as

The Perfect Venue for Golf Days & Societies, set in the Surrey Countryside

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Our impeccable 18 hole golf course, with stunning countryside views, is an ideal venue to host a golf day.

From golf societies and corporate hospitality to team building and personal celebrations, we love nothing more than laying on a golf day to remember and offer a range of flexible options.

Summer Packages from £30.00 Sutton Green Golf Club, New Lane, Sutton Green, Nr Guildford, Surrey GU4 7QF. Telephone: 01483 747898 Email: admin@suttongreengc.co.uk

www.suttongreengc.co.uk

NEWS | APRIL 2019 [29] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Horsham hires County Coach Experienced PGA Professional Leah Roelich has joined the MY Golf Academy coaching team based at Horsham Golf in West Sussex.

Roelich brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role, having coached numerous Surrey country teams and being England Golf’s south regional manager.

In addition to delivering private lessons, Roelich will be spearheading a new beginners’ programme and her own junior community initiative, Pea Wea Golf.

“I have a passion for teaching golf to all, no matter what age or ability,” said the 28-year-old from Devon, who was previously based at Copthorne Golf Club.

She added: “I always strive to come up with new and exciting ways to make golf more enjoyable and accessible to everyone.

I try to apply a modern take to the game and in the way I teach, by encouraging golfers to get out on the course and play. I believe there is more than one way to play and teach this game, and together we can adapt and tailor it to fit around your life, wants and needs.”

Virgin Atlantic Swingers launches 16th Season

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Swingers 16th season got under way last month with a host of new partners and competitions.

Virgin Atlantic’s innovative golf loyalty programme is supported by a wide range of commercial partners, with long-term sponsors Stewart Golf, Dirty Dog, SkyCaddie, Gleneagles, Blunt Umbrellas, Hertz, Level 4 Golf and Golf News being joined by two new sponsors for the 2019 season in Titleist and Glenmuir – all of whom will be providing amazing prizes and giveaways throughout the season.

Titleist will not only supply balls and some prizes, but will also partner in the Swingers' Ambassador competition, giving members an opportunity to win personalised staff bags, Pro V1 golf balls and more.

Glenmuir, the Fly Club Swingers’ new clothing partner, will provide collectable season goody bag shirts, as well as shirts for all finalists.

This year’s final returns to the UK for the first time in six years, as the season comes to a climax on England’s North West coast this autumn to take on two of the

UK’s finest links courses – Open Championship venue Royal Birkdale and former Ryder Cup venue Southport & Ainsdale.

Each year, the lucky 24 qualifiers compete in a Europe versus Rest of the World Ryder Cup-style contest. The final is, for most, unlike anything else they will have experienced in amateur golf. Captains, chosen from within each team, host team meetings each night, where pairings are announced for each day’s play and tactics are decided.

Hearing their name called out on the first tee ‘Representing Europe’ or ‘Representing Rest of the World’ sends a tingle down the spine of every player.

Every putt and every shot is not just for themselves, but for their team and the players they represent at home who didn’t make the final.

There’s nothing like the pressure and excitement of the Swingers Final, as finalists get to play foursomes, fourballs and singles matches to decide the overall winners. By the end of the week, finalists have not only had a truly memorable experience, but they will also have made new lifelong friendships through their passion for golf and the Virgin Atlantic brand.

The final is not the only opportunity for the Swingers members to get together this year, as there are a whole host of golf days planned, with visits to West Lancs in the north, Little Aston in the Midlands, and Walton Heath and Knole Park in the south. And, if players fancy getting some golf in America, there is also a very special day at Ballyowen Golf Club in New Jersey in August.

The Flying Club Swingers programme remains an incredible draw for amateur golfers around the world, and it is easy to see why, with high quality events to attend, and a whole range of prizes to be won on the website each month.

Register now to start your Flying Club Swingers' journey, and if you’re one of the first 150 Swingers to enter six scores, you will win a fabulous goody bag containing some fantastic gifts from this year’s sponsor partners.

For more details, visit www.flyingclubgolfleague.com.

To find out more about Virgin Atlantic, visit www.virginatlantic.com.

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M EM MEO B BLLEE GGO DAYS MROA RA O LLFF DAYS Whether you are small group, a society, charity Whether youa are a small group, a society, corporate corporate oror charity golf golf day organiser, Castle Golf Clubhas hasaa selection selection ofof packages and and day organiser, HeverHever Castle Golf Club packages bespoke golf daysfrom from bespoke golf days

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Whether you are a small group, a society, corporate or charity golf day organiser, Hever Castle Golf Club has a selection of packages and bespoke golf days from GOLF DAY BENEFITS

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One FREE place for every 21 players [16+ in winter] GOLF DAYforBENEFITS One FREE buggy every 8 buggies hired FREE placeround for every 21 players [16+player* in winter] Preview at reduced rate for every

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round at reduced rate for ToPreview enquire about possible dates and find outevery more player* please contact: Sarah-jane Hardy, Golf Days Co-ordinator. golfdays@hevercastle.co.uk | 01732 701003

GOLFdates DAY To enquire about possible andBENEFITS find out more please contact: www.hever.co.uk/summer-golf-days One FREE placeHardy, for every players [16+ in winter] Sarah-jane Golf 21 Days Co-ordinator. golfdays@hevercastle.co.uk 701003 One FREE buggy for every| 01732 8 buggies hired Preview round at reduced rate for every player* www.hever.co.uk/summer-golf-days

Every golfer’s dream Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club offers two superb championship golf courses - both designed by the great J.H Taylor, with true, unfulating, fast greens - comprehensive practice areas, extensive clubhouse facilities and some of the UK’s best teaching professionals.

The Pro Shop offers a wide range of leading brands with up-to-date competitive pricing.

The Performance Studio is where we use state of the art software to recommend the correct custom fit clubs to suit your swing.

To Play at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club is to walk in the footsteps of royalty, Ryder Cup & Walker Cup stars, great professionals and outstanding amateurs from all walks of golfing history.

With a rich heritage and 36 holes of testing golf, Royal Mid-Surrey provides golfers with one of the most exceptional golfing experiences in London.

We welcome golf groups (minimum size 12 players) and individual visitors on weekdays.

Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, Old Deer Park, Twickenham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2SB Tel: 020 8940 1894 | Email: recp@rmsgc.co.uk | www.rmsgc.co.uk

[30] APRIL 2019 | NEWS

Ultimate

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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Gailes Links, a classic Ayrshire links course, has hosted 32 championships since 1927, including Open Final Qualifying from 2014-2017. The course, which was designed by Willie Park Jnr, is available for play all year round, while other facilities include a practice range with complimentary golf balls, pro shop and home-cooked food in its superb dining room.

April fourball rate: £200, Singles £55; May-Sept fourball rate £380, Singles £100. For bookings, call 01294 311561 or visit www.gaileslinks.co.uk

Hockley is built on free-draining chalk downland, which means it remains playable all year round. The James Braid-designed course meanders gently up a valley before reaching the top with stunning views across the city of Winchester and south towards the coast.

Society packages from £39pp. Visitor green fees from £29pp.

Membership Packages Available. Tel: 01962 713165 Email: admin@hockleygolfclub.com Website: www.hockleygolfclub.com

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PETERSFIELD GOLF CLUB

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STEVENAGE GOLF & CONFERENCE CENTRE

Petersfield Golf Club is an 18-hole members club, set in an area of outstanding beauty, nestling beneath the South Downs.

The 6,437-yard, par 72 course meanders through delightful countryside with outstanding views. It is built on 170 acres of sandstone beds, which affords excellent drainage, USGA designed greens, coupled with free draining fairways, offers all-year round play.

Tel: 01730 895165 Email: manager@petersfieldgolfclub.co.uk Website: www.petersfieldgolfclub.co.uk

With par of 72 and 6485 yards off the back tees, the course has no temporary tees or greens and is playable all year round. In addition to the fine course, there are comprehensive practice facilities, including a full length driving range with practice bunker, a practice putting green and chipping area and indoor practice nets.

Tel: 01483 224888 Email: office@clandonregis-golfclub.co.uk Website: www.clandonregisgolfclub.co.uk

Sevenage G&CC is located conveniently within Aston, a rural part of Stevenage within easy distance of both the A1 and A10.

Home to a superb par-72, 18-hole course designed by John Jacobs, the signature hole is the tricky par-4 18th that requires a second shot over a lake. The clubhouse is a perfect venue for golf societies, weddings and other celebrations, and there are superb conference facilities.

Tel: 01438 880424 Email: luke.simkins@sll.co.uk.

Website: www.sll.co.uk

Golf days welcome seven days a week

Summer Golf Days from £26 per player Including coffee and bacon baps on arrival and 18 holes.

1 in 20 Players Goes Free

Special GolfNews Readers Package from £39 per player Full English Breakfast on arrival, 18 holes, 3 Course Meal. (worth £49pp) (T&C’s: must be booked and played before April 30th.

Add £6pp for weekend availability)

Summer Golf Breaks from £115 per player Including Two rounds of 18 holes, Two Course Evening Meal, Overnight Stay & breakfast.

1 in 12 Players Goes Free

Special GolfNews Readers Package from £149 per player Includes Unlimited Golf and Buggy Hire, Three Course Evening Meal, overnight stay and breakfast.

(T&C’s: prices are based on two players sharing a room, Sunday to Thursday night stays)

to book contact 01622 890866 or proshop@weald-of-kent.co.uk

www.weald-of-kent.co.uk

NEWS | APRIL 2019

[31]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WIN A SET OF ARCCOS SMART GRIPS! G

olf News has teamed up with Arccos, the leading golf data tracking technology company, to offer one lucky reader the chances to win a set of Arccos Caddie Smart Grips and start getting to grips with their game as the new season gets into full swing.

Arccos Caddie Smart Grips are GPS sensor-embedded grips developed in co-operation with Lamkin, which offer a seamless version of the company’s inround stat tracking app.

Rather than requiring separate sensors that need to be screwed into the butt end of the grip, Arccos Smart Grips feature 13 grips with sensors already built in.

A 14th screw-in sensor, for use with your putter, is included in the set. The grips are fashioned after the popular Lamkin Crossline grip, which features denselypacked traction elements for improved grip stability.

Arccos Caddie Smart Grips include all the great features found on the app, most notably Arccos Caddie, which provides in-round yardages, club recommendations and playing strategy through an artificial intelligence mechanism, including recommendations on every shot from tee to green.

Driven by machine learning through Microsoft’s Azure Cloud computing platform, Arccos Caddie's decision-making is formulated through processing more than 200 million shots and mapping more than 418 million data points on more than 40,000 courses.

SYSTEM FEATURES: - Embedded sensors that are swing-weight neutral - Battery designed to last 5 years and fully guaranteed for 2 years - Power saving mode - Enhanced shot-detection algorithm THE SYSTEM INCLUDES: - 13 Lamkin Crossline 360 Smart Grips + 1 Arccos Putter sensor - Free iOS & Android apps - 30-day, money-back guarantee on uninstalled grip sets TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning a set of Arcoss Smart Grips, which are worth £149.99, simply answer the question below correctly and email your name, address, contact number, and where you picked up your copy of Golf News, to info@golfnews.co.uk, using ‘Arccos Competition’ in the subject line. The closing date for entries is May 30, 2019.

USER BENEFITS: - Get AI-powered Caddie Advice for every shot, on every hole - Know your exact distance to any point on the course - Learn precisely which club to use in every situation - Identify your actual strengths and weaknesses

QUESTION: HOW MANY SHOTS HAS THE ARCCOS SYSTEM TRACKED TO COME UP WITH ITS CLUB SELECTION ADVICE? A) 100 MILLION B) 50 MILLION C) 200 MILLION

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[32] APRIL 2019 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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After suffering a mid-season slump last year, Sergio Garcia has come firing out the blocks in 2019, and is going all out to add to his already impressive list of tournament wins, including a second major triumph following his memorable Masters victory in 2017

By your own high standards, 2018 wasn’t one of your finest seasons, but judging by your results so far this year you seem to be coming back to some of your best form. How do you feel your game is progressing as we move into the 2019 major season?

If you take away the middle three months of the year, it was actually a pretty good season.

Unfortunately, those three months happened to coincide with some of the majors and some pretty other big tournaments, so in those terms it looks like I had bad year.

But if you look at first part of the season, and the last four months of the year, I played pretty well. I had a lot of top 10s, two wins – if you include the Ryder Cup, which I do! – and plenty of other solid results.

I just don’t want those three months to happen again. You can have a couple weeks here and there when you slip up a little bit, but you can’t let it continue for that long. That’s never happened before in my career, and I don’t want it to happen again. So I’m going to focus on making sure that I keep practising hard and playing hard, and try to maintain the consistency that I’ve had throughout my career.

You’ve certainly put yourself into contention a lot over the last six months.

The way I’ve always looked at it, you can’t get victories without being up there among the leaders on Sunday and finishing in the top ten, and in that

■ GARCIA IS CUURENTLY PLAYING SOME OF THE BEST GOLF OF HIS LIFE AND IS GUNNING FOR MORE MAJORS

respect I’m pretty pleased with the way my form has been trending over the last four or five months.

I’ve had six or seven top-tens, including a victory at Valderamma, and been in there with a chance over the weekend, and playing much more consistently. If you’re fighting to finish 25th, you don’t have a chance of winning, so I’m pleased that I’m putting myself into contention more often, and hopefully another win is around the corner.

Is age catching up with you yet?

I’m 39 now, 40 next year, so winning isn’t so easy at this age, or any age, although it’s great to see Francesco [Molinari] and Paul Casey winning in their 40s. Winning becomes tougher as each season goes by. All the new guys on tour are much better now than they used to be, and, you know, it doesn’t make life any easier. At the end of the day, the only thing I can do is give myself the best chance, and try to play the best way that I know. You know, if I’m around the top ten and I have my chance of winning, I’m happy.

When you look back on the tail end of last year, was there a particular moment that you felt things turned around that got you on this great run of form?

I felt things starting to turn at the Wyndham Championship at the end of August. I shot 66 and 65 in the first two rounds, and felt like my

ball striking was coming back. And then I played great in Portugal, but didn’t really make anything, and finished seventh, and then being a part of the Ryder Cup team in Paris obviously gave me a little extra boost.

And from then on all my tournaments were at a good level – winning at Valderrama, finishing second in Sun City, and top-tens in Dubai and Hong Kong. I feel like I’ve been playing at a nice level and that’s why we got all those good results.

I’ve just got to try to keep going along the same lines and keeping up the momentum.

Because you already have a major in the bank, do you feel that you have different expectations of yourself?

I don’t know. I mean, I know what I want to do, and I know what I want to achieve. Obviously, my expectations are different, yes, because now I want to win my second major. I want to keep being consistent. I want to try to keep improving in all aspects of the game, and giving myself chances at winning tournaments and winning majors.

That’s what I’ve done my whole career, and that’s what I want to keep doing. Then it’s just a matter of having a great week at the right time and hopefully I’ll lift another one of the big ones.

Now that the majors are bunched together over four months, has that changed the way you’ve prepared for this season over past years?

No, I haven’t really done anything differently. You

INTERVIEW | APRIL 2019

[33]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

resulted in a lot of players taking more advice from referees before they take a drop, and other types of issues, so that has, if anything, slowed down things a little bit, but I guess it’ll pick up again once it begins to become second nature.

These things take time.

■ MAJOR MOMENT: SERGIO GARCIA WAS A POPULAR WINNER OF THE MASTERS IN 2017

You put your hands up when you mistakenly thought your putt had been conceded in your quarter-final match against Matt Kuchar in the WGC last month.

How hard was that to take?

IT’S JUST A MATTER OF HAVING A GREAT WEEK AT THE RIGHT TIME AND HOPEFULLY I’LL LIFT ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIG ONES

WHAT’S IN SERGIO’S BAG? DRIVER: CALLAWAY EPIC FLASH SUB ZERO (9°) FAIRWAY WOODS: CALLAWAY EPIC FLASH SUB ZERO (13.5°, 18°) IRONS: CALLAWAY APEX MB (3-PW) WEDGES: CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 4 (54°, 58°) PUTTER: ODYSSEY TOULON BALL: CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT XA

obviously try to be at the best level you can be between April and July, but it’s not easy to peak for such a long period of time.

However, if you can get into a good rhythm, on a really good roll, over that time, you would put yourself in with a good chance of bagging a few really big wins. The flip side is that if you have a few bad weeks, you’ve got to bounce back quickly and find a way to get going again.

I actually don’t mind that the majors are close together, because it makes it exciting for everyone, players and fans, as you don’t have to wait too long for the next one! It’s definitely going to be exciting, because we know that as soon as Augusta finishes, they know there’s the PGA coming the next month, and we don’t have to wait two months until the US Open.

Of course, there are always going to be question marks when you’ve been with one company for so many years, but those questions kind of got answered as soon as I started working with Callaway, and I couldn’t be happier with way things have turned out.

It’s becoming quite common for players to switch their equipment around. I think it depends a little bit on the player, but also it depends what company you go to. Obviously I went from a good company to a great company, so I wasn’t going to a company where I didn’t know if they had good products or not.

In coming to Callaway, I knew that I was going to a great golf company with great quality equipment, really good people, and a great way of working.

You put Callaway’s new Epic Flash driver in the bag at the beginning of the year. How have you got on with it?

In addition to equipment changes, there’s obviously been a lot of talk about the new rules changes that came into force this season. What has been your take on it?

I really like it a lot. I like the look of it and have been impressed with the way it has worked for me. I love the playability that it’s given me, the way the ball is coming out a little bit faster. The combination of Epic Flash driver and the new Chrome Soft ball works perfectly for me, and I’m really pleased with the control, and distance, that it’s given me. I’m feeling in a great place with all the new gear, and hopefully it can help me push on.

Are you surprised how quickly you’ve got comfortable with the new clubs?

It’s been quite tough for a lot of tour players to suddenly change what they’ve been doing instinctively for so many years. The knee-high drop, for instance, has certainly almost caught me out a few times, so you have to pay attention in this those kind of situations.

A lot of the new rules were introduced to simplify things for amateurs, make the game a bit easier to understand, and speed up play, so whatever rules can do that is good for the game.

For a tour point of view, the rules have certainly

It’s quite simple. I screwed up. Obviously, I missed my putt and I kind of tapped it with the back of my putter before he said anything. Yeah, it’s a loss of hole. I understand that.

The only issue was that Matt was like, ‘I didn’t say it was good, but I don’t want to take the hole.

I don’t want to do it like this’. So I was like ‘Okay, it’s fine, what do you want to do? There are many options that you can do if you don’t want to take the hole, even though I’ve already lost that hole.’

But obviously he didn’t like any of the options that were there. It’s fine. At the end of the day, I’m the one that made the mistake.

If you make a mistake, you get penalised and that’s it. I’ve always said it. I’d rather get penalised, if I’ve done something wrong than get away with it and know that I’ve done wrong.

I don’t know if there’s other people that can live with that, but for me, it’s tough to know that I’ve done something wrong and got away with it.

Talking of putting. What have you been doing with regards to putting with the flag in or out?

From long range, I’ve generally been putting with the pin in, because it gives you a little bit better view of the hole, and also you don’t have your caddie or someone else’s caddie, like, walking around the hole, so that kind of helps. But when it comes down to putts inside 30 feet, I like to putt with the pin out every single time.

As Europe’s all-time top Ryder Cup points scorer, you're obviously hoping to be a part of the team as a player for many years to come, but have you given any thought to when you might like to take on the captaincy?

I don’t even I don’t even want to think about it yet.

You know, I’m hoping that physically, mentally and game-wise, I’m going to be good for a few more. So when that time comes, if it comes, I’ll think about it and I’ll make a decision, but it’s not something that I’m focused on at the moment. I’m still fairly young – well, I am in my eyes!

Finally, do you think becoming a father has helped your golf game in any way?

It has definitely given me something else to think about when I’m not playing, that’s for sure! My daughter, Azalea, is awesome, and being a dad is the best thing. It changes you, for sure, mostly for the better, but it has been an incredible experience so far. It’s not been too much of a distraction from my golf. If anything, it’s made me want to work harder, and be a better player.

[34] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC FIDEL CASTRO AND CHE GUEVARA • COLINAS DE VILLAREAL GC, CUBA, 1961

G

olf and Cuba have a short and somewhat troubled relationship. Prior to Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, the tropical Caribbean island was something of an off-shore Las Vegas for partying Americans, with hotels, casinos, nightclubs, bars and country clubs sprouting up all over the island to entertain its large number of wealthy visitors.

The golf courses at the Country Club of Havana and the Havana Biltmore Golf Club were both opened before World War I, and were designed by Donald Ross. Back in the day, when American golfers were still allowed to travel to Cuba, the Country Club hosted professional tournaments which attracted big names, with the likes of Sam Snead, Gene Sarazan, Billy Casper and Arnold Palmer all teeing it up. The Country Club of Havana still holds the annual Commonwealth and Canada Cup tournaments, although they are not the prestigious events that they once were.

But the fun stopped at the beginning of the 1960s, when Castro banned golf outright, proclaiming it as an ‘elitist game for the idle rich’. As part of a very public propaganda exercise to mock golf’s bourgeois pretensions, Castro invited guerrilla leader Che Guevara to take part in a match over the 18-hole course at Colinas de Villareal in 1961, just a month before the Bay of Pigs incident.

The iconic scene of the two men dressed in combat fatigues, and surrounded by gun-totting caddies and supporters, has passed into golfing folklore, with Castro eschewing regulation golf shoes for a pair of jackboots, while Guevara preferred his trademark jaunty beret to a more traditional peaked golf hat. During the match, Castro putted left-handed, using what is clearly a traditional interlocking baseball grip, but he otherwise played righthanded. Guevara employed a rather unorthodox claw grip.

Castro lost the match, shooting 157, and promptly banned Cuban citizens from playing the game. He ordered both courses to be ploughed up, with Villareal being used

CASTRO PUTTED LEFTHANDED, USING AN INTERLOCKING BASEBALL GRIP, WHILE GUEVARA EMPLOYED A RATHER UNORTHODOX CLAW GRIP

as an army barracks, while the Country Club of Havana was turned into an art school.

Today, Cuba still only offers 27 holes of golf, with 18 holes at Varadero Golf Club, located on a spit of land to the north of the island that is almost entirely given over to the luxury all-inclusive resort, and nine holes on land that was part of the Country Club of Havana.

Somewhat bizarrely, Varadero hosted the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final in 2000, when a young Henrik Stenson took the title, while today it is used to hosting tourists – although, of course, no Americans, who are still banned from visiting the island unless they are part of the US military force based at Guantanamo Bay. The US Naval Station at Yatera Seca boasts its own 9-hole course, but only service personnel can play it.

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[35]

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Gosling plays it smart

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to win Berkhamsted Trophy Harpenden’s Joss Gosling implemented a smart ‘irons-only’ game plan in winning the 60th Berkhamsted Trophy, in association with Bushnell Golf, at Berkhamsted Golf Club.

Over the 72 holes of this year’s trophy, the ex-Texas University college star didn’t hit a single driver or wood of any kind, resulting in better accuracy off the tee and an average of 14 greens in regulation in each of the event’s four rounds. His strategy was also used 42 years ago by another young amateur, who went on to be Masters Champion just 11 years later – Sandy Lyle.

Gosling, who was taking part in his first Berkhamsted Trophy, was the only player to break par as, once again, the 6,605 yard, bunker-free layout proved more than a match for 99 of the country’s best amateur golfers.

Despite two decades’ worth of technology advancements, the average winning scores at the event have risen, not fallen, over the last two decades.

The club’s classic gorse and heather golf course, a regular in England’s Top 100 lists, uses only natural defences rather than man-made hazards.

As competitors gathered to practise on the Wednesday, laser rangefinder market leader Bushnell Golf supported the event by demonstrating its new Pro XE model, with over 86% of the field subsequently using a Bushnell to measure distances during the tournament. And the eventual winner was a Bushnell user too.

Rounds of 71, 67, 75 and 70 produced a

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total of 283 (-1) and a two-shot victory for Gosling, who was immediately cut to +2.2 handicap following his victory. His winning performance earned him a coveted place on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Gosling spent five years in the USA on a golf scholarship at the University of Texas at Arlington, as a sociology major.

After his return to the UK in 2016 he briefly turned professional, before injury forced him back to the amateur ranks.A lifelong member of Harpenden Golf Club, Gosling has close family who are members at Berkhamsted. “The members run the Berkhamsted Trophy brilliantly, and are extremely welcoming to everyone,” he said. “The tournament is presented very professionally, and the atmosphere is similar to playing in a top college event in the United States”.

Gosling’s name now sits alongside those of former world No.1 Luke Donald and double Major-winner Sandy Lyle, European Tour champions Andy Sullivan, Tom Lewis and Graeme Storm and amateur golf giants Peter McEvoy and Gary Wolstenholme – all former winners of the Berkhamsted Trophy.

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[36] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Chipstead to host ladies open day with free membership on offer

■ THE MYTIME ACTIVE TEAM AT THE 2019 ENGLAND GOLF AWARDS

Mytime Active clubs bag Innovation Award

A pioneering scheme which successfully put golf on prescription at two South London centres has won England Golf’s new Innovation Award.

Golf operator Mytime Active led the way with a pilot project at its centres at Bromley and Orpington, which showed how the sport could improve the health of inactive people. Benefits included lower blood pressure, better grip strength – which indicates greater vitality among older people – and improved well-being. Now it’s set to spread to other centres and to other golf operators.

The impact of ‘Golf on Referral’ was recognised when it took the Innovation honours at the England Golf Awards held in London last month.

The judges were particularly impressed by the opportunity it offers to strengthen golf’s community links and to scale up the project nationally.

Golf on Referral was developed by Mytime Active, working with England Golf and UK Active. The scheme sees local people referred by GPs for a six-week series of 12 sessions, which combines golf lessons with advice on changing behaviour. It continues to run at the two centres, now at a nominal charge of £2.50 per session.

From next month is will also be extended to Mytime Active’s

centres at Barnehurst, near Bexleyheath, Hatchford Brook in Birmingham and Dibden, Southampton. Mytime Active has 16 courses in London, the Midlands and on the south coast.

After picking up the award – which was presented by Amelia Lewis, regional manager of award sponsor Players 1st UK – Mytime Active’s Scott Bartlett said: “This is great. It’s one thing to come up with the idea, but another to show that it is changing people’s lives. It’s good to have the recognition for all the hard work that has gone into winning this award. It would be fantastic if more places could follow our lead, and we could reach more and more people.”

England Golf chief executive Nick Pink commented: “We’re very proud to have supported Golf on Referral and to show there are extremely good health reasons to encourage more people to take up and keep playing the sport. We’re very excited by the potential to scale up this scheme across the country, and we look forward to working with Mytime Active to share the approach.”

The Mytime project prevailed against stiff competition for the Innovation Award, with runners-up including AL Junior Academies from Hatchford Brook Golf Centre, near Birmingham; Golf Access, which encourages beginners to learn on the course, not just the practice ground; and Slinfold Golf and Country Club in West Sussex, where the women’s section took action to offer a 21st century experience.

Chipstead Golf Club in Surrey is now under new ownership and will be holding a Ladies Open Weekend on April 27-28.

The cost of the day will be £15 and will include a free 15-minute short game check with one of the club’s PGA Professionals, 18 holes of golf, a drink after play and a yardage book, so that golfers can map their way around the course.

Director of Golf Gary Torbett said: “The club has been under new ownership for just over a year now, and during that time many changes have been made to the appearance. There has been significant investment into new machinery for the course, clubhouse refurbishments, a new driveway and entrance gates, and, most recently, the redevelopment of the club’s practice facilities.”

He added: “We are always looking to encourage new golfers to our club with new initiatives. We know that today’s golfers have an opportunity to experience quality golf at affordable prices and here at Chipstead we provide both. We have affordable membership packages and competitive green fee rates so we really hope that lady golfers from the local areas come along and join us to see what Chipstead has to offer.

“I’m delighted to announce that our new owners will be giving away one year’s free membership to one lucky customer during our Ladies' Open weekend ,and look forward to welcoming all of those who attend.”

To book a tee time, and a free 15-minute coaching session, please call Gary or Nic on 01737 554939 or email directorofgolf@chipsteadgolf.co.uk.

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NEWS | APRIL 2019

[37]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Aylesbury Park closes down due to impact of HS2 rail link

■ AYLESBURY PARK CLOSED DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED HS2 RAIL LINK PASSING THROUGH ITS COURSE

Shirley Park pair shine at Woodcote Manager/Pro Am

Shirley Park Golf Club’s manager Steve Murphy and PGA Professional Mark Brailey put on a terrific team display at Woodcote Park in Surrey to win the Teamwork Trophy in this year’s Club Manager & PGA Professional Challenge, supported by Open Solutions.

Playing in gloriously sunny weather, 28 teams of managers and PGA Professionals competed at Woodcote Park Golf Club in a Fourball BetterBall format. Murphy and Brailey outshone the opposition with a stunning score of seven-under-par 65, two shots better than the 67 of their nearest rivals from West Hill, club manager Patrick Dawson and PGA Professional Guy Shoesmith.

Besides the rewards of taking time out to play together and with their peers, there was a generous prize table as well courtesy of Ellis of Richmond. The winning club manager and pro took home a case of wine and a cheque for £300 respectively, with second and third places being suitably rewarded in similar fashion. Three nearest the pin winners took home bottles of champagne and a prize draw for the club managers earned the lucky ticket holder another case of wine.

Open Solutions CEO Ed Beale commented afterwards: “The Teamwork Trophy is going from strength to strength, and is testament to the ideas and hard work of Woodcote Park’s PGA Head Pro Wraith Grant and former club manager Adrian Dawson who started this initiative.”

Beale added: “The PGA in England (South) do a great job of organising the whole event and making sure it all runs very smoothly, and Woodcote Park, led by its new manager Jerry Kilby, laid on a terrific day on and off the course, and I’m delighted to confirm we’ll not only continue to support this event, but with The PGA’s help, develop it around the other PGA regions as well.”

Aylesbury Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has become a victim of the proposed high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, after it was forced to close down suddenly last month following protracted uncertainty over the venue’s future.

The controversial £52 billion HS2 railway line is due to slice through the club’s 18-hole course, making a re-routing of the layout all but impossible. The club had been in talks with the rail operator since as long ago as 2012, but no alternative route had been reached, with the

lack of guarantees over its future as a golf club resulting in a large number of members leaving to play elsewhere.

The club closed its doors for the final time on March 31.

In a statement issued by administrators Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency, company spokesman Gareth James said: “We were appointed administrator of Aylesbury Park Golf Club on March 25. While discussions and negotiations with HS2 Limited were ongoing, without formal agreement, the directors regrettably had no alternative but to place the company into administration.

The administrator will continue those negotiations with HS2 Limited in relation to future occupation of the land, but the business will cease to trade and the golf course closed on March 31.”

First opened in 1995, at the height of the golf boom, Aylesbury Park boasted an 18-hole, par-70 parkland course designed by British architect Martin Hawtree.

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BRAID’S LASTING LEGACY Having had a hand in the design of over 200 golf courses in the UK and Ireland, five-time Open Champion James Braid has shaped the face of the game for generations to come, with his skills as an architect creating challenges that test the modern golfer to this day

I

f you were to draw up a list of people who have had the most impact on the game of golf, you would expect to find the likes of Old Tom Morris, Frank Stapleford, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Karsten Solheim, Ely Callaway and, of course, Tiger Woods, well inside the top ten. But also near the top of that list of greats, you would find James Braid.

Braid, who was born in Scotland in 1870, not far from St Andrews, shaped the modern golfing landscape of the United Kingdom like no other. Not content with having won five Open Championships during a ten-year period between 1901-1910, and being one of the founding fathers of the Professional Golfer’s Association, Braid used his knowledge of course strategy as a player to design

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and renovate over 200 courses during a 40-year period between 1910 and 1950.

After moving to London in his early 20s, during the height of his playing powers, Braid landed his first professional’s job at Romford Golf Club in Essex. Two years later he moved south of the river, to Walton Heath, a new course in Surrey designed

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FEATURE | APRIL 2019 [39] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

further 45 years until his death in 1950.

In the midst of his Open successes – during which time he dominated the game with JH Taylor and Harry Vardon to form the ‘Great Triumvirate’ – he found time to put pen to paper and explore his thoughts on the game, its playing, and, most interestingly, its design. Advanced Golf, first published in 1902, is a book any golf course architect or serious student of the game should not fail to have on the shelves of their library.

Braid dedicated two chapters of the book to course design – ‘The Planning of Course’, and ‘The Character and Placing of Teeing Grounds, Bunkers and Putting Greens’ – and fascinating reading they make for those who think about the strategy of what makes a good golf hole.

He wrote: “It is both necessary and desirable that the holes should be laid out as suggested by the lie of the land, every natural obstacle being taken care of. There should be a complete variety of holes – not just in length, but in their character – the way in which they are bunkered, and the kind of approach shot that is required. The greens should be well guarded. The shorter the hole, the smaller the green, the more closely guarded.

“The bunkering and general planning should be carried out with the specific object of making it necessary not only to get a certain length, but more particularly to gain a desired position…and the player who does not gain his position should have his next shot made more difficult.”

Braid, who is widely credited with the invention of the dogleg, firmly believed that longer holes should present safe and brave options off the tee. “There should as frequently as possible be at least two possible alternative methods of playing the hole – an easy one, and a difficult one – and there should be a chance of gaining a stroke when the latter is chosen.”

Braid was also a fan of a grandstand finish, with the closing holes placing increasing demands on the player as the round reaches its end. “The last two or three holes should be of good length in order to induce a good finish,” he wrote. “At the long holes, the bunkering should not be too severe. In the case

■ THE BEST OF BRAID: (LEFT-HAND PAGE) BERKHAMSTED GOLF CLUB; (ABOVE) ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB IN WALES; (RIGHT), GOODWOOD AT GOODWOOD IN WEST SUSSEX

of the shortest of the short holes, I would have no cross bunkering, but bunkers all around it.”

Some contend Braid was guilty of over-penal bunkering, and being too tough on the player, but others argue that he was, at heart, a strategist. “Long bunkers right in front of a green are not a good form of hazard,” he propounded. “Bunkers are not placed on a course haphazard, but they are made in particular places to catch defective shots. Whilst every assistance should be given to the bunker to enable it to catch its own kind of shot, and the player punished by having to play out of it, generally there should be a fair chance of playing forward.”

Braid’s prolific architectural work is all the more impressive when you consider that he was operating in a time when there were no planes or helicopters, a sparse rail network and poor roads. It didn’t stop him from completing projects all over the British Isles however, from St Endoc, Royal Porthcawl and Aberdovey in the west, to Berkhamsted, North Hants and Goodwood in the south, to his beloved Gleneagles in the north, where his magnificent King's and Queen's courses are among the finest inland courses anywhere in the world, and to the classic links at Carnoustie, one of the Open Championship’s toughest layouts.

Of course, Braid can’t have been a constant presence at many of these constructions, and most of his restoration projects probably required no more than a fleeting visit to assess the lie of the land; but such was his expertise that he only needed a brief look at detailed relief maps to know what was required to create a decent golf hole.

While many of Braid’s courses have stood the test of time, most have now been renovated to combat the march of modern golf equipment and the modern golfer, but every time an architect sets foot on one his courses, they know that they are responsible for retaining Braid’s philosophy and maintaining his legacy for generations of golfers to come.

To see a list of the Association of James Braid Courses clubs, or to download the mobile Android app, visit www.sites.google.com/site/ajbmap.

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Located in the heart of the Highland Capital, Inverness Golf Club has a splendid parkland course with tree lined fairways and generous well manicured greens. An enjoyable and challenging test for any golfer.

An award winning golf club, set in an area of outstanding scenery with the hills of the Great Glen to the south and Ben Wyvis to the north. The course features tight fairways and one of the finest par 3’s in Scotland.

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Reay Golf Club

A true Scottish links golf course and national championship venue. Voted Scotland’s Best Golfing Experience (Value for Money) at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards 2017 & 18, it is ranked in top 50 courses in Scotland (Golf World)

Situated an hour’s drive north from Inverness, the small Highland village of Golspie hosts one of the hidden gems of Highland golf. The Par 70 course offers an excellent golfing experience whether you are an advanced golfer or beginner.

Recognised as one of James Braid’s finest pieces of work, the green staff work tirelessly to preserve its original beauty.

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A traditional links course on the scenic north coast of Scotland. It nestles in Sandside Bay with the North Atlantic Ocean visible from every hole. Reay is far north, but certainly worth the distance.

www.jamesbraidhighland.golf • www.boatgolf.com • www.invernessgolfclub.co.uk • www.muirofordgolfclub.co.uk • www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk • www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk • www.broragolfclub.co.uk • www.reaygolfclub.co.uk

LITTLESTONE GOLF CLUB, KENT

SHERWOOD FOREST GOLF CLUB, NOTTS

STOVER GOLF CLUB, DEVON

Littlestone Golf Club is recognised as a Top 100 UK golf course. An Open Qualifying venune on five occasions, in 2020 it will be hosting The Open Junior Championship. The Championship Links and The Warren courses are both renowned for their excellent-year round condition.

Tel: 01797 363355 Web: www.littlestonegolfclub.org.uk

One of the country's oldest and finest heathland layouts, Sherwood Forest is currently rated 83rd best in the British Isles. The 18-hole, 6,806-yard course, which was designed by Harry Colt, features 98 bunkers and requires carries over heather to reach the pristine fairways. The club is located in Mansfield, close to Jnct 27 of the M1.

Tel: 01623 626689 Email: info@sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk Website: www.sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk

Located near Newton Abbott, with easy access from the A38 and M5, Stover's 5,959-yard, par-69 course is regarded one of the best parkland courses in the South West. It features a wide variety of holes, elevation changes, streams and ponds, with views stretching over Dartmoor in the distance. Visitors and societies are guaranteed a warm welcome.

Tel: 01626 352 460 Email: secretary@stovergolfclub.co.uk Website: www.stovergolfclub.co.uk

WEST ESSEX GOLF CLUB, ESSEX

COLCHESTER GOLF CLUB, ESSEX

TYRRELLS WOOD GOLF CLUB, SURREY

Only a few miles from central London, with easy access from the M25, West Essex's par-71 Championship course, home to the London Open, is one of the best in the region. With quality playing conditions and its stunning views its a must-play for your next round. Summer society packages from £34, Green fees from £20.

Tel: 020 8529 7558 Email: sec@westessexgolfclub.co.uk www.westessexgolfclub.co.uk

Founded in 1907, Colchester GC's beautiful tree-lined course, which measures 6,357 yards, has been voted the No.1 course in North Essex, with fast-running fairways and more than 70 bunkers providing a wonderful test for all players, with a great mix of holes, including four par threes.

Tel: 01206 853396 Email: assistant@colchestergolfclub.com Website: www.colchestergolfclub.com

With its unique parkland/downland course and Grade II-listed clubhouse, Tyrrells Wood is ecognised as one of the finest venues in Surrey. Set amid a myriad of specimen trees, framing magnificent views of the surrounding countryside, the James Braid-designed courses provides a tough, but rewarding challenge. There are a variety of great value society packages for visiting golfers.

Tel: 01372 376025 Email: office@tyrrellswoodgolfclub.com

Braid club guide

Play some of James Braid’s finest courses

FILEY GOLF CLUB, NORTH YORKS

ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB, WALES

ENFIELD GOLF CLUB, MIDDLESEX

Established in 1897, Filey's 6,112-yard, par 70 course was originally designed by James Braid, but has been sympathetically modified over the years to consider modern technology, but still retain the original Braid layout. Socieites and visitors are most welcome, with green fees from £32pp, and group packages on request.

Tel: 07123 513293 email: secretary@fileygolfclub.com Website: www.fileygolfclub.com

Aberdovey's championship links is consistently rated in the Top 100 in the UK & Ireland, and is widely regarded as one of the friendliest clubs around. Other facilities include six twin-bed ensuite rooms, a well-stocked pro shop, restaurant and bar with Sky Sports. Ideal venue for society or captain’s away days. Visitor green fees from £43.

Tel: 01654 767493 email: sec@aberdoveygolf.co.uk Website: www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk

Located in North London, and within easy reach of the M25, Enfield is a friendly and welcoming clubs. Its 6,154 yard,18-hole parkland course is situated in beautiful surroundings, and boasts tree-lined fairways, superb greens, and a brook which winds its way through the heart of the course. Twighlight green fees after 4pm from £20pp.

Tel: 020 8363 3970 Email: karen@enfieldgolfclub.co.uk Website: www.enfieldgolfclub.co.uk

ST AUSTELL GOLF CLUB, CORNWALL

BUNGAY & WAVENEY VALLEY, SUFFOLK

TORWOODLEE, SCOTLAND

Situated close to Cornwall's south coast, with amazing countrywide views, St Austell's superb 18-hole course will challenge golfers of all levels. Whether you are just visiting or arranging a corporate/society day, the club offers a warm and friendly welcome.

Green fees: £30/£20 (summer/winter). Day rate: £50.

Tel: 01726 74756 email: office@staustellgolf.co.uk Website: www.staustellgolf.co.uk

Situated on the Norfolk/ Suffolk border, Bungay & Waveney Valley GC, which was founded 130 years ago, prides itself on providing a warm welcome and great golf experience for memebrs and visitors.

The 6,055-yard, par-69 course boasts free-draining sandy soil, which ensures top quality golf all year round, and no temporary greens.

Tel: 01986 892337 email: secretary@bungaygc.co.uk Website: www.bungaygc.co.uk

Located 30 miles south of Edinburgh, Torwoodlee welcomes visitors from around the world to sample its majestic 6,021-yard parkland course, set in a valley amongst mature trees, flanked by the River Gala, and experience the warmest of Scottish Borders hospitality. There are a wide range of great value society packages, starting from £36pp.

T: 01896 752260 E: torwoodleegolfclub@torwoodleegolfclub.com.

Website: www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk

FEATURE | APRIL 2019

[41]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

these two James Braid classics?

The history and authenticity of Gleneagles underpinned our new thinking, and we went right back and looked at old pictures of the courses, and how Braid originally designed the courses and wanted them to play. We also consulted with our members to understand how they viewed the golf experience. There was a common link, and it was clear that by creating a detailed plan that would see every bunker enhanced across the King’s and Queen’s, we would not only see both courses restored to Braid’s original vision, but also significantly improve playing quality.

The Queen’s is a classic heathland layout through trees and heather and we wanted to re-establish this fact. Also, looking back at the history of the King’s, it was originally created as an inland links, and, as such, we now cut the fairways to 8mm – in line with seaside links courses, so that you can play more shots along the ground, and the ball runs out more.

We re-lined every bunker across all three courses, with capillary concrete used on the King’s and the Queen’s courses. It has also allowed us to align the look of the bunkers back to the vision of Braid on the King’s and Queen’s.

Braid wanted bunkers to offer golfers a ‘glimpse’ of sand, while remaining challenging and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. We’ve now achieved this, bringing the courses back to how they were meant to be seen and played.

It is also worth noting Braid’s bunkers were originally based on the courses supporting summer play only, so to bring them back to his original design concept, and make them playable all-year-round, is a huge achievement.

The bunker work led us to change the fairways back to Braid’s vision too. We no longer have fairway bunkers sitting in the rough; they are now in play and they are sitting in the fairways, which, in some cases, have been made 40 per cent wider. This is great news for the amateur golfer, because they are now effectively further away from the rough, making the whole playing experience more enjoyable. Having said that, golf balls will now also run into fairway bunkers – before the rough used to stop them.

We’ve also taken out some trees, and both courses have a slightly more open feel to them, again, harking back to how they would have been in Braid’s day.

MONARCHS

OF THE GLEN Golf News catches up with The Gleneagles Hotel's Director of Golf, Gary Silcock, to find out how preparations are coming along for September’s Solheim Cup, and get the lowdown on the recent renovations to the venue’s iconic King’s and Queen’s courses, which celebrate their centenary in 2019

You’ve got under six months to go before the Solheim Cup tees off on the PGA Centenary Course. How are preparations going?

Very well. We’ve had a decent run of weather over the winter, and avoided the storms and snow that some parts of the country experienced in recent weeks.

We’re 700 feet above sea level here, so grass growth is always slightly slower than lower lying areas, but it’s all looking good so far. The courses are all in great shape and we’re really excited about hosting the matches.

We’ve also got the Junior Solheim Cup taking place on the King’s Course in the same week, and the Queen’s Course will be open for our hotel guests and members, so we have had to draft in lots of volunteer greenkeepers to help out during those tournament weeks. We normally have a staff of 50, but will have over 100 in total during that week.

The grandstands won’t be going up until July, but it’s not on quite the same scale as the Ryder Cup, so the set up won’t take quite so long. The stands around the first tee will probably seat around 3,000 people, but I expect there will still be plenty of noise!

What changes have been made to the course since 2014?

Apart from the course being five years older, and generally more mature, we’ve made a few alterations to enhance Jack Nicklaus’s concept of creating a ‘modern classic’ that are in keeping with a resort-style course. To that end, we’ve now raised the height of the fairway cut to 15mm, as opposed to 12mm, so golfers now play off more of a ‘carpet’ on the fairways, and the ball will be played more in the air, as befits its design.

We've also created more refined edging and definition to each hole. We’ve removed 2,500 tonnes of grass from the rough, and now golfers can find their golf balls more easily, and when they do find them, they will invariably be sitting in wispy rough or heather. This has also improved our speed of play, which is now more aligned to what is required to run successful resort golf. We want the PGA Centenary to be emerald green, have white sand bunkers, and be unashamedly modern, and akin to its heritage of staging the Ryder Cup. Will the course be set up differently than it was for the Ryder Cup? Yes, a little bit. The Ladies European Tour has asked us to prepare the greens so that they will be slightly softer and more receptive than they were for the Ryder Cup, and they also want the rough to be cut a little lower and less thick. Catriona Matthew [Europe’s

■ THE KING'S AND QUEEN'S COURSES HAVE UNDERGONE A MAJOR RENOVATION TO RETURN THEM TO THE STYLE THAT COURSE DESIGNER JAMES BRAID ORIGINALLY INTENDED

captain] has also asked for a few more run-off areas around the greens, as she wants the players to be able to putt from the fringes. Apart from that, the golf course has five years more maturity under its belt now, and we’ve put in a few more trees, so the overall set up will be better than it was in 2014.

What did you learn from hosting the Ryder Cup from a course preparation perspective?

We will certainly put more staff on the golf courses to protect the areas where spectators and contractors go, rather than try to fix things after the event. We will also prepare the grass for repair before the event happens, so that as soon as the Solheim Cup is finished, the grass is properly prepared for regrowth. The main difference about the Solheim Cup compared to the Ryder Cup is that it is a little bit earlier in the season, so hopefully the weather will be a little warmer, and the grass should recover more quickly.

The King’s and Queen’s courses have been the subject of major renovation projects in the run up to their centenaries this year. What are the main challenges that your team faced in enhancing

Given all the work that has been going on, it’s probably never been a better time to come and play at Gleneagles.

For sure. We now have three world-class, but very different, golf courses to offer visitors – something that is probably unique to the British Isles. A lot of people think that you need to stay here to play here, but while we do give priority to our members and hotel guests, we very much welcome visitor golf and have a wide range of green fee packages to suit those who want to play a game on one of the courses or all three.

STAY & PLAY PACKAGES During May, a one-night B&B stay, with two rounds of golf on any of the three courses, plus full use of leisure facilities, costs £680 based on two people sharing a twin or double room. For bookings, call 0800 389 3737.

GREEN FEE OFFER For tee times between May 1-15, a round on either the King’s or Queen’s courses costs £100. For bookings, call 0800 389 3737.

■ GLENEAGLES' DIRECTOR OF GOLF GARY SILCOCK

FURTHER AFIELD GOLF MEMBERSHIP This special membership for golfers living outside Scotland includes full playing rights on the King’s, Queen’s and PGA Centenary courses, as well as use of the PGA National Golf Academy and the par-three Academy Course. It costs £1,485, with a £500 joining fee. For enquiries, call 01764 694424.

[42] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ WOODS UNLEASHES HIS TRADEMARK ROAR AFTER SECURING HIS 15TH MAJOR TITLE

TIGER ROARS AGAIN Eleven long years after his last major triumph, and with all manner of insults and injuries in between, Tiger Woods captured his fifth Masters’ title amid dramatic and emotional scenes at Augusta National

Tiger Woods achieved what must surely be one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time when winning the 83rd Masters Tournament at the age of 43 – eleven years after his last major win, and 14 since he last slipped on the coveted green jacket.

Just two years after he conceded that his career ‘was done’, Woods rose Lazarus-like from the sporting dead to complete a triumph which is extraordinary even by his own extraordinary standards.

It made perfect poetic sense that this drama played out amid the towering pines of Augusta, where Woods first began to change the face of golf in 1997. Twenty-two years on, a greying and visibly balding Woods celebrated more wildly than ever before in the company of his mother and two children. The fact that he hadn’t won at Augusta since his father died in 2006 was not lost on anyone.

“We’ve come full circle,” said Woods.

As far as the tournament itself was concerned, Woods came from two shots behind the frontrunning Francesco Molinari to capture his first ever major where he had not led or jointly led after 54 holes. His closing round of 70, for a 13-under-par total, gave him a one-shot margin of victory of the all-American trio of Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.

Playing in the final group alongside Molinari and fellow American Tony Finau – three balls were employed five hours ahead of the normal schedule to beat an approaching storm – Woods was three

shots behind Molinari when they reached the turn, and the win look beyond him.

But Molinari, who showed such stunning calmness for three-and-a-half days, wobbled visibly and horribly over Augusta’s famous closing stretch. After finding the water with his tee shot at the par-three 12th for a costly double, the Italian compounded the error at the 15th, when carving his tee shot into the woods off the tee. His second shot ended up too close to the trees on the left, and catching a branch with his third, the ball met a watery grave. The resulting double-bogey seven ended the Open champion’s Masters’ dream in a flash, and left the door open for Woods, and a growing cast list of wannabe winners, to battle it out.

American outsider Patrick Cantlay produced an eagle at the 15th to jump from the shadows to the top of the leaderboard at 12 under, while Schauffele joined him at the head of affairs with a birdie at the 14th.

Cantlay’s dropped shot at 16 and Schauffele’s failure to take advantage of the defenceless 15th looked significant. Cantlay stumbled again at the penultimate hole, but not so Johnson, who quietly went about his business of dismantling the back nine. Birdies at the 16th and 17th edged him to a share of the lead, while Koepka – bidding for his fourth major title in double quick time – immediately joined the same party – just as Woods launched a drive to within 234 yards of the par-five 15th green, a hole he would birdie with a two-putt from 30 feet.

The 16th hole, where Woods has previous history, saw the winner hit his tee shot to three feet. The lead was two. Tiger, young or old, does not fritter that away. He had two putts for victory at that 18th; in adding to the drama, he used them both, and sent the crowd into ecstasy and the golfing world into meltdown.

Speaking in the Butler Cabin, where Patrick Reed did the honours of slipping on the green jacket over Woods’s broad shoulders, Woods said: “It feels like I’ve come full circle. My dad was here in ’97, and now I’m the dad with my two kids. For them to see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship – I hope that’s something they will never forget.”

He added: “With all the things that I’ve battled through, I’m just lucky to be able to play golf, let alone do this kind of thing again. I had serious doubts after what transpired a couple years ago. I could barely walk. I couldn’t sit. Couldn’t lie down. I really couldn’t do much of anything.”

Experience helped, especially he said, from that defeat at the Open last year at the hands of Molinari.

“It didn’t feel unfamiliar, because that was just two majors ago,” he said. “It was just last year in July that I had the lead. So I just kept saying ‘I’ve been here, it wasn’t that long ago. Just go ahead and just keep playing your game, keep plodding along and keep doing all the little things correctly. Miss the ball in the correct spots, be committed to it, even if the wind is puffing up and down, keep committed to it.’

And I was.”

Inevitably, the next question for Woods is whether he thinks he will be able to press on and beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. “I really haven’t thought about that yet. Maybe, maybe not.

But right now, I’m just enjoying this one.”

And so did we all.

MASTERS TOURNAMENT LEADERBOARD POS PLAYER TOTAL 1 Woods -13 T2 Schauffele -12 T2 Johnson -12 T2 Koepka -12 T5 Finau -11 T5 Simpson -11 T5 Molinari -11 T5 Day -11 T9 Rahm -10 T9 Fowler -10 T9 Cantlay -10

■ WOODS NOW HAS FIVE GREEN JACKETS TO HIS NAME

APRIL 2019 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT

REACH YOUR

APEX Meet Callaway’s new Apex Iron

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Check out the latest fast & forgiving irons

STAY ON TRACK Find the cup with Callaway’s Triple Track golf balls

PRO SHOP All the latest gear for the new season

EQUIPMENT NEWS New Irons Inspired

by Woods & Rose

SHOT SCOPE V2 Your key to lower scores

[44] APRIL 2019

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT NEWS

RELEASE YOUR ‘INNER JUSTIN’ WITH HONMA’S ROSE IRONS Honma Golf is to sell a replica set of the irons that new signing Justin Rose is currently playing on tour.

Honma’s TW-MB Rose Proto irons were hand-crafted for the reigning Olympic champion at the company’s factory in Japan under the direction of Hiroshi Suwa, Honma’s long-serving head of R&D. “These irons replicate the ultimate set we made to precisely meet Justin’s requirements on Tour,” said Suwa. “He shows great attention

to detail and can guess the spin numbers on his shots within 200rpm with the naked eye.

As a result, his preference is for precise control of spin on all the irons in the set.”

A perfect replica of Rose’s set, the irons are forged from carbon steel for a soft feel, while the heads feature a sharp toe and a narrow sole for a clean release through impact.

The set costs £1,375 and is offered with a choice of over 20 premium shafts at no extra charge.

TITLEIST HAS HIGH HOPES FOR LOW-SPINNING TS4 DRIVER Titleist has added a lower-spinning model to its existing range of TS drivers, with the launch of the TS4.

Although the TS2 and TS3 drivers offer golfers plenty of different loft and trajectory options, the new TS4 will to appeal both to tour players and elite amateurs with high swing speeds that are looking to further reduce their spin rates off the tee.

“While we know most golfers find their best fit in a TS2 or TS3 driver, there is a percentage of players out there with distinct performance needs, such as aggressive spin reduction,” said Titleist's Josh Talge. “TS4 is the ultra low-spin driver that still produces exceptional ball speed. If you want to hit it longer, but are having trouble controlling spin off the tee, TS4 was made for you.”

The TS4 features a smaller, pear-shaped 430cc head that places the centre of gravity 5mm further forward in the head than the TS2 to reduce spin around 300rpm. The TS4 doesn’t feature the adjustable Surefit CG of the TS3.

The TS4 driver will retail at £499, and goes on sale in the UK from June 27.

TAG HEUER UNVEILS GPS WATCH Swiss watch powerhouse Tag Heuer has launched a golf-specific smartwatch, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 ‘Golf Edition’, which double up as a GPS rangefinder, with over 39,000 courses preloaded into the system.

Based on Google’s Wear OS operating system, the watch comes preloaded with Tag Heuer’s Golf App. Featuring detailed 2D maps, when combined with the free to download App on your smartphone, it shows 3D-rendered course maps to help you decide what club to hit.

The watch doubles up as a shot tracker, so if you record every shot, not only will it be able to give you detailed statistics post round, it’ll also be able to recommend which club to hit as the device learns your distances.

The 45mm watch features a ceramic bezel on top of a black PVD titanium body and features a white strap that is reminiscent of a golf ball dimple pattern. RRP: £1,600.

WOOSIE TUNES UP FOR SENIOR CIRCUIT WITH SKYTRAK Ian Woosnam is hoping to keep his game in shape ahead of the new Staysure Tour season by installing a SkyTrak launch monitor at his home in Jersey.

The 1991 Masters’ champion, who turned 61 last month, has had the state-of-the-art swing analysis technology fitted into his new swing room, and he is delighted with its peformanceenhancing capabilities.

“SkyTrak helps me to produce my best golf,” said Woosnam. “It gives me everything I need to work on my game, including golf course simulation. I can now practise at home whenever I want. It’s proven to be accurate and it’s definitely easy to use, and also has a wealth of choice as regards golf courses.”

Woosnam, who has 29 European Tour titles to his name and five Senior Tour wins, added: “SkyTrak helps me to stay match-fit and keeps my game sharp before tournaments. I can also pick it up and take it with me when I travel to

Barbados, where I can just set it up at my home over there – so it’s the ideal launch monitor for my busy schedule.”

Woosnam chose SkyTrak due to a need to collect accurate data. “I needed something which I could get my numbers on,” he said.

“And since having SkyTrak installed, I have used it to test different golf balls, looking ahead to the 2019 Staysure Tour season. It has also been useful when looking at changing shafts.

There is a social side to the installation too.

“When friends have come around to play golf, it has been absolutely great. I have a wonderful games area now at home, perfect for indoor golf, with the SkyTrak at the centre of the setup.”

TRAVISMATHEW HITS THE UK

Order online at: www.justgolfonline.co.uk

Fans of apparel brand TravisMathew will soon be able to get their hands on its products, after the Californian brand finally launched across the UK and Europe.

Founded in 2007, TravisMathew’s clothing has been worn on the PGA Tour for over a decade, but its has never been available in the UK. But following its sale to Callaway in 2017, the Spring/Summer 2019 collection will be available at a range of golf clubs and retailers. For details, visit www.travismathew.com.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR APRIL 2019 [45] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR KEITH MITCHELL KEVIN KISNER HONDA CLASSIC WGC MATCH PLAY

DRIVER: ST190 degrees) DRIVER: Mizuno Callaway Epic (9.5 Flash FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 917F2 (16.5 Sub Zero (8.5°) degrees), Titleist TS2, 21 degrees FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Rogue IRONS: Mizuno MP-18 (4-PW) Sub Zero (15°) WEDGES: Vokey SM7 (50, 54, 59 degrees) UTILITY: Callaway Apex (18°) PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Tour X IRONS: Callaway BALL: Titleist ProApex V1 Pro 16 (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (46,

TAYLORMADE IRONS WIN ‘BATTLE OF THE BRANDS’ In the latest instalment of American Golf’s ‘Battle of the Brands’ challenge, TaylorMade’s M5/M6 irons topped the charts with an average distance gain of 10.2 yards when pitted against the leading brands’ in the game.

American Golf customers were invited to test their current 7-iron against TaylorMade M5/M6, Callaway Apex, Wilson D7, Cobra F9 and Ping G410 irons. With nearly 400 testers taking part, the results were taken from a wide sample of golfers and showed that TaylorMade’s newest irons led the field narrowly with 10.2 yards from the Cobra F9

with a 9.1-yard average.

Wilson’s D7 irons recorded the longest single hit of the test, with a customer hitting a 7-iron 225 yards.

There were significant gains across the board, with every brand showing an average distance increase of over seven yards. There were also standout performances from the Cobra F9, with a biggest single increase of 67 yards, while the Wilson D7 registered a monster 225-yard effort for the biggest hit on the test, closely followed by a 217-yard strike from the Ping G410. The overall winner of the competition also registered his biggest increase with the Wilson D7 irons, and won a full custom-fitted set from American Golf.

Conrad Edkins, Director of Marketing at American Golf, said: ”The results across the

board for the clubs on test were hugely impressive, and really do show that if you get the right club for your game then the opportunities for improvement are huge.

"There’s so much great technology out there at the moment and whether it’s through Battle of the Brands, or just coming in to try out some clubs, any golfer can find the right club to improve their game.”

52°), SM6KITAYAMA (58°) KURT

OMAN PUTTER:OPEN Odyssey White Hot Pro #7 DRIVER: TaylorMade BALL: Titleist Pro V1 M5 (9) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 (16.5) DRIVING IRON: TaylorMade GAPR Mid 3 PAUL CASEY IRONS: TaylorMade P750 (4), VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP TaylorMade P730 (5-PW) DRIVER: TaylorMade M4 (10.5) WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M1 (52, 56), TaylorMade Hi-Toe (60) 2017 3-wood (15) PUTTER: Toulon Design Atlanta IRONS: Mizuno JPX 919 (3); Mizuno MP Stroke Lab

In the latest instalment of American Golf’s ‘Battle of the Brands’ challenge, TaylorMade’s M5/M6 irons topped the charts with an average distance gain of 10.2 yards when pitted against the leading brands’ in the game.

American Golf customers were invited to test their current 7-iron against TaylorMade M5/M6, Callaway Apex, Wilson D7, Cobra F9 and Ping G410 irons. With nearly 400 testers taking part, the results were taken from a wide sample of golfers and showed that the TaylorMade’s newest irons led the field narrowly with 10.2 yards from the Cobra F9 with a 9.1-yard average.

Wilson’s D7 irons recorded the longest single hit of the test, with a customer hitting a 7-iron 225 yards.

There were significant gains across the board, with every brand showing an average distance increase of over seven yards. There were also standout performances from the Cobra F9, with a biggest single increase of 67 yards, while the Wilson D7 registered a monster 225-yard effort for the biggest hit on the test, closely followed by a mammoth 217-yard strike from the Ping G410. The overall winner of the competition also registered his biggest increase with the D7 irons and now takes home a full set, custom fit at American Golf.

Conrad Edkins, Director of Marketing at American Golf, was delighted with the results that followed on the back of the Battle of the Brands Driver test. He commented: ”The results across the board for the clubs on test were hugely impressive, and really do show that if you get the right club for your game then the opportunities for improvement are huge.

“With this test, and our earlier driver test, customers have really enjoyed understanding what works for them and their swing. There’s so much great technology out there at the moment and whether it’s through Battle of the Brands, or just coming in to try out some clubs, any golfer can find the right club to improve their game.”

25 (4);TaylorMade Mizuno MP 5TP5x (5-PW) BALL: WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 (52, 56);

DUSTIN JOHNSON Titleist Vokey prototype (60)

WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP PUTTER: Scotty Cameron

by Titleist

DRIVER: TaylorMade M5 (10.5) 350 SSS FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M5 (15) BALL: Titleist Pro V1 IRONS: TaylorMade P790 (3-iron), TaylorMade P730 DJ Proto (4-PW) SCOTT HEND Milled Grind (52, 60 WEDGES: TaylorMade MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP degrees), TaylorMade Hi-Toe (64 degrees) DRIVER: G410 Plus (9˚) Tour Black PUTTER: Ping TaylorMade Spider BALL: 2019 TaylorMade FAIRWAY WOOD: TitleistTP5x TS2 (15˚) HYBRID: Titleist 818 H2 (19˚)

RYAN FOX 714 MB (4-PW) IRONS: Titleist

ISPS HANDA SUPER 6 60˚) WEDGES: TitleistWORLD Vokey SM7 (50˚, 54˚, PERTH PUTTER: Odyssey Toulon Madison DRIVER: Srixon Z 785 (10.5) BALL: Titleist Pro V1x FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Epic Flash (15) DRIVING IRON: Srixon Z U85 (20) RORY MCILROY IRONS: Srixon Z 785 (4-PW) PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WEDGES: Cleveland RTX 4 (51º, 54º, 60º) DRIVER: (9°)Tour Red PUTTER: TaylorMade TaylorMade M5 Spider BALL: Srixon Z Star XV FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M5 (19°) UTILITY: TaylorMade P790 UDI (2-iron)

JB HOLMES IRONS: TaylorMade P750 (3, 4), GENESIS OPEN TaylorMade P730 (5-9)

DRIVER: Callaway Epic Flash WEDGES: TaylorMade MG (48°), Sub Zero (10.5) TaylorMade Hi-Toe (54°, 60°) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 HL (16.5) PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider X Copper IRONS: Srixon Z U85 (3), BALL: TaylorMade TP5 Srixon Z-785 (4-PW) WEDGES: Cleveland RTX 4 (50, 54, 60 degrees) FRANCESCO MOLINARI PUTTER: Scotty Cameron 009M ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL BALL: Srixon Z-Star XV Flash Sub Zero DRIVER: Callaway Epic Driver (9*)

DAVID LAW FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Epic Flash ISPS HANDA VIC OPEN

Sub Zero (13.5*) DRIVER: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero HYBRID: Callaway Apex Hybrid (20*) (10.5˚) IRONS: Callaway Pro TS3 19 (4), FAIRWAY WOODS:Apex Titleist (15˚, 18˚) Callaway Apex MB 18 Irons UTILITY IRON: Wilson Staff(5-PW) FG Tour V4 (3) WEDGES: Callaway IRONS: Wilson StaffMack C300Daddy (4-6), Wilson Staff FG Tour V656*, (7-PW) 4 Wedges (50*, 60*) WEDGES: Wilson Staff PMP RAW (52˚), PUTTER: Odyssey Toulon Titleist Vokey SM7 (58˚) Madison Stroke Lab Putter PUTTER: Odyssey Versa BALL: Chrome Soft X 2-Ball Red BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

BRING IMPROVEMENT TO EVERY MOVEMENT Manufactured by Callaway Apparel, ‘SWING TECH™’ technology provides noticeably less restriction and more stretch on selected polos, outerwear and shorts.

KEITH MITCHELL PHIL MICKELSON

HONDA PEBBLECLASSIC BEACH PRO-AM

DRIVER: Mizuno ST190 (9.5°) DRIVER: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (9°) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist 917F2 WOOD: Callaway Epic (16.5°), Titleist TS2Zero (21°) Flash Sub (13.5°) UTILITY:Mizuno Callaway X Forged UT (3) IRONS: MP-18 (4-PW) IRONS: Callaway Pro (4); Callaway X WEDGES: Titleist Epic Vokey Design SM7 (50°, Forged 18 (5); Callaway Apex MB (6-PW) 54°) Titleist Vokey Design (60°) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider X Copper 19 (54°, 60°, 64°) BALL: Titleist Pro V1 PUTTER: Odyssey Versa #9 White BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X For more info visit: www.callawayeuropeapparel.com

[46] APRIL 2019

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INSIDE THE APEX

Callaway Golf’s new Apex 19s are the brand's most advanced ever set of irons. With a huge range of technology packed into their compact, yet forgiving heads, they deliver power and precision in equal measure

URETHANE MICROSPHERES Urethane is used in golf clubs because it dampens vibration to improve sound and feel. However it can also greatly reduce the face’s ability to flex, lowering COR and ball speed. 500,000 miniscule 'microspheres' are positioned behind the clubface, touching the back of the face. The elastic-urethane microspheres provide the quiet sound and soft feel of urethane without slowing down COR or ball speed.

World No.7 Francesco Molinari is using a full set of Callway clubs, including the Apex Pro 19 4-iron and 5-PW in the Apex MB irons

EQUIPMENT & GEAR APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SOFT FORGED BODY Apex irons are designed to offer a super soft, satisfying feel at impact. The heads use a forged steel body. This also helps when custom fitting, as it’s a soft material that is easy to bend for custom lie angles.

THIN CLUB FACE Callaway uses a 360-degree cup face design on the Apex irons. The thin face allows the whole clubface to flex for greater distance. But distance isn’t everything, as you need to know how far your shots are going to travel. The Apex 19 uses Spin Control Variable Face Thickness technology in the face. The thickness differs across the face, thinner and thicker in strategic areas to decrease spin on the long irons for more distance, and more spin with the short irons for increased control going into the greens. The two combine for consistent distance through the bag.

The Apex Pro is the first players' iron to feature this technology. The 3-6 iron feature a fast design, with the 7-iron acting as a transition, while the 8PW feature a slower-faced design built for control.

METAL-INJECTION MOLDING Metal-Injection Molding, or MIM, is a way of producing a super dense, precisely-shaped, precisely-weighted piece of tungsten that slots perfectly into the clubhead. It gives Callaway's engineers strict control over the dimensions and weight of each piece of tungsten, and total control over the centre of gravity position in each iron, promoting easier launch in the long and middle irons, and a lower, more controllable flight in the short irons. The Apex Pro model boasts up to 50g of tungsten, which is unheard of in this size and style of iron.

Offered in a platinum chrome or smoke finish, the Apex 19 irons are available 3-PW and come with True Temper’s Elevate 95 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips.

RRPS: Chrome finish: £1,399/£1,299 (gr/st), Smoke finish: (£1,499/£1,399).For more details, VISIT WWW.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

[47]

[48] APRIL 2019

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CALLAWAY’S TRIPLE TRACK TO TOUR SUCCESS Building on the success of ERC Soft Triple Track golf ball, Callaway Golf is about to unveil the Chrome Soft X Triple Track, which features the same unique alignment system with Tour-level performance.

C

allaway launched the ERC Soft golf ball earlier this year, and it’s a great ball for a lot of golfers, but the standout feature was the introduction of Triple Track alignment, a visual aignment aid that helps to increase accuracy when it comes to lining up putts.

Such has been its success, that Callaway has decided to roll on the technology to its tour-level ball category - which has resulted in the creation of the Chrome Soft X Triple Track.

Triple Track Technology is based on the science of Vernier Hyper Acuity. Essentially, it's a way of finetuning your sight to operate better than it normally would. By providing your eyes with certain visual cues – such as lines of particular colour, width, and spacing – they achieve hyper acuity. The technology is used on aircraft carrier runways, and in gun sights, two areas where accuracy is even more important than it is on a two-foot putt. But that tiny improvement could be enough for a putt to drop,

rather than slip by the edge.

The visual technology in the Triple Track ball uses three lines – two blue lines with a thicker red line in the middle – to help golfers align better to their intended starting line. The lines also help with stroke feedback; if the lines roll end-over-end, that means the putt was struck properly.

The Chrome Soft X Triple Track is a four-piece ball designed for fast ball speeds, high launch and low spin, and is the most popular choice with Callaway’s staff professionals. Featuring a Graphene Dual SoftFast Core, and a premium urethane cover, the ball is soft feeling and long. The larger inner core maximises energy, while both lowering spin off the tee and launching higher. The urethane cover helps the ball grab and stop around the green, so there is no loss in control.

The Chrome Soft X Triple Track ball will be in stores across Europe from April 19, priced at £39.99 for 12.

For more details, visit www.callawaygolf.com.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR APRIL 2019 [49] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CALLAWAY’S GOLF BALL GROWTH Golf News equipment editor Dan Owen talks to Jason Finley, Callaway’s global director of brand management, about the company's success in the ultra-competitive golf ball market ■ WHAT MAKES CALLAWAY GOLF BALLS STAND

OUT FROM ITS RIVALS? We’ve come to market with a differentiated product with strong performance characteristics. It’s different from most of what you’ve seen on the market.

We were the first to offer a softer compression tour-level ball with the Chrome Soft. They offer tremendously long distance; the Graphene-infused Dual SoftFast core has allowed us to make the core significantly larger, while the outer core with the graphene is thinner and stronger, which gives better spin separation.

We’ve had huge success on tour with Chrome Soft. Players love the distance benefits. Francesco Molinari is the latest player to make the switch. He loved the extra ball speed and lower spin off the tee, but also consistent, controlled distance gains in his irons – and, more importantly, no compromise with control around the greens.

■ TRIPLE TRACK TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES ENHANCED VISUAL CUES TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THE RIGHT LINE

■ PHIL MICKELSON IS A DEVOTEE OF TRIPLE

TRACK TECHNOLOGY. DID HE HAVE A ROLE IN ITS DEVELOPMENT? We showed Phil early protoypes when we first started working on Triple Track. He has always used a line on his golf ball, and he loved it when he saw it.

The design uses Vernier Acuity Precision, the same technology used to land planes on aircraft carriers.

His main feedback was that he wouldn’t use a line on every putt, so he needed a blank side to the ball.

So his input definitely influenced how the final product looked.

■ CAN YOU TALK ABOUT OTHER NEW BALLS IN

THE LINE UP FOR 2019?

I like to say that the ERC Soft is aimed at anyone who pays for their golf balls! Outside of tour players, I can see every level of golfer playing these. For most people, this will be the longest golf ball Callaway offer, so it’s great for better players who have lost a little bit of yardage over the years, but it still retains spin and control around the greens.

Competitor golf balls feature urethane covers, so golfers just expect them to spin around the green, but that is not the case. Our hybrid cover design will massively outperform it around the green. And it also helps generate speed in the cover,

CHROME SOFT HITS THE TARGET ON TOUR

while being soft, with the ball being around a 60 compression. Plus it’s durable. Soft, fast, and durable is a difficult combination to achieve and we’re really proud of it.

We’ve also introduced the Supersoft Magna. The benefit of making a bigger golf ball like the Magna, is that it is more forgiving. The centre of gravity sits higher off the ground; the easiest way to think of that is if you went around with someone who struggles to get the ball in the air and let them play off a little tee peg, they’d have a much easier time. They’d get underneath the ball, they’d make better contact, and they’d hit the centre of the face more often. That’s what

■ THE CHROME SOFT IS THE OFFICIAL BALL OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Callaway golf balls have enjoyed multiple successes on the world's professional tours, with the Chrome Soft X being the choice or recent winners Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele, and new staff signining Francesco Molinari, who won his first event as a Callaway player using one at Bay Hill.

Molinari said of his recent golf ball switch, “From the beginning, the golf ball was the biggest question mark in switching equipment. With the clubs, in general, irons and woods, you can do a lot of things with the loft and the shaft, but the ball it is what it is, and you need a solid performing ball, and that’s what I feel I got with the Chrome Soft.”

He continued: “Looking at the combination of driver and ball, it’s hard to say which makes the biggest difference, but I'm definiteiy getting definitely more ball speed throughout the bag, and I'm keeping the spin the same, which is obviously hugely important when it comes to control. The Chrome Soft offers great feel, and it's a little bit softer around the greens than the ball I played with last year. So it's a gain at both ends.”

Earlier this season, the Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X became the official range ball of the European Tour, as part of a wider sponsorship deal with Callaway. This will enable more tour players to experience the performance-enhancing characteristics of Chrome Soft, and potentially lead to increased useage of both balls in competition.

having a bigger ball offers. It’s a low spin, very straight golf ball. It gets in the air easily, and, for the target golfer, the extra forgiveness will make them hit the ball further than a more traditional design.

■ TRUVIS HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. HOW IS

THAT EVOLVING? It’s shown that people are open to having something different on their golf ball. It makes up around half of all Chrome Soft balls sold in the USA. It made us more comfortable exploring options such as Triple Track. It was such a statement that it got people trying Chrome Soft who may not have previously, and even if they didn’t like Truvis, many found out about the other advantages of the golf ball.

■ FRANCESCO MOLINARI WON THE ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL THE FIRST TIME HE PUT THE CHROME SOFT BALL IN PLAY

[50] APRIL 2019

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ODYSSEY EXO STROKE LAB PUTTERS £369, ODYSSEYGOLF.COM The Stroke Lab shaft is the most significant addition to an Odyssey putter in years, with its unconventional design helping improve the consistencty of the putting stroke. The Exo is the most forgiving range of putters Odyssey has ever made. A heavy stainless steel outer body is combined with a lighter weight aluminium exo cage to increase the MOI. The putters also feature a White Hot microhinge insert for a soft feel with better forward roll. Three new models have been added to the range, including the Marxman shown, a stunning new 2-Ball, and a 7 Mini.

WILSON STAFF MODEL £899, WILSON.COM Designed in conjunction with PGA Tour player Brendan Steele, Wilson’s new Staff Model blades replace FG Tour 100s, but retain the similar shape at address that tour players prefer. Forged from carbon steel, the centre of gravity has been moved to the middle of the clubface with the help of the rear muscle cut and Wilson’s traditional Fluid Feel hosel design, which removes unnecessary weight from the hosel.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

TAYLORMADE P7TW IRONS

MOTOCADDY S1 TROLLEY £499/£549, MOTOCADDY.COM The S1 has been one of the best-selling electric trolleys since it first launched.

This latest model updates the winning formula with modern styling and a new sunlight-friendly LCD screen. The high-resolution display is like the model used on the recent M series compact trolleys, and displays nine speeds, plus the battery meters. A new lithium battery design can be left in the trolley to charge and take to the course. Motocaddy’s Quikfold mechanism makes it easy to erect and put away, while while there is a real advantage using one of the brand’s trolley bags, as the Easilock connection system means they can slip directly onto the trolley without the need for a lower strap.

£1,899 FOR 7 RONS, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU TaylorMade’s new P7TW irons have been designed in close collaboration with 14time major champion Tiger Woods, and replicate the exact models currently in his bag. Combining a forged, muscleback blade with a unique milled grind sole and tungsten weighting, they deliver the precise trajectory control, high levels of workability and smooth turf interaction that Woods demands from his irons. Each iron boasts many of the same design elements, such as blade lengths, face height, centre of gravity progression, sole geometry, score lines found on the former world No.1’s clubs. They are on sale from May 1.

GOLFBUDDY L10V LASER RANGEFINDER £299, GOLFBUDDY.COM The Aim L10V laser is GolfBuddy’s most advanced laser rangefinder, combining state-of-the-art technology with unmatched simplicity of use. A unique audio option gives spoken confirmation of distances, providing extra confidence and ease of use. It offers three targeting modes - standard, scan and pin – while 6x magnification ensures precision and clarity through the excellent visibility of the wider LCD screen. Other features include a slope on/off option to provide increased accuracy for various elevations; automatic shut off after 10 seconds; and the option to switch off audio distances.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR APRIL 2019

[51]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COBRA KING MIM WEDGES

TRAVISMATHEW

£119, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK First we had forged clubs, then Karsten Solheim introduced cast heads, and now Cobra is introducing Metal Injected Moulding, a new process that could eventually take over both. Each MIM wedge is created using a mixture of stainless steel metal powder, which is heated and injected into a mould. Using a sintering process, the metal is heated to an ultra-high temperature resulting in a more even grain structure than forged and cast wedges and an ultra-soft feel.

The wedges, which are robotically polished for a more consistent finish, feature the same sole design as used by Rickie Fowler, a CNC-milled face and grooves, as well as a radial milling pattern that gives extra spin on touch shots around the green. The wedges come with data-gathering Cobra Connect powered by Arccos, which offers added value.

£74.99, TRAVISMATHEW.COM TravisMathew's new Spring/Summer collection's So-Cal inspired range includes the ‘A-Grade’ polo shirt, which features a unique push-through all over print, while the chest pocket adds another style dimension.

The cotton/poly jersey, with its fourway stretch, moisture wicking technology and wrinkle-resistant material, has been designed to offer the ultimate blend of comfort and performance, while still retaining the all-important trait of timeless, relaxed styling both on and off the golf course.

TITLEIST CNCPT IRONS £3,500, TITLEIST.CO.UK The CNCPT CP-01 and CP-02 irons, which are available for custom orders only from May, build on the platform of the brand’s C-16 iron, and feature the thinnest unsupported, constant-thickness face in golf, made possible through the use of a rare, super strong alloy never before used in club manufacturing. A super metal L-face insert produces ball speeds never previously seen off an iron. Large amounts of high-density tungsten – an average of 100g per head – produces higher launch, greater distance and more forgiveness across a wider area of the face. The CP-01 is the larger, more forgiving of the two irons, and offers higher launch. The CP-02 offers similar ball speed, but in a more blade-like head, with less offset and more workability.

OGIO AQUATECH 504 LITE STAND BAG £230, OGIO.COM Part of Ogio’s Alpha golf bag range, the Aquatech 504 Lite is extremely lightweight, tipping the scales at just 2kg. Waterproof, ripstop fabric and zips deliver protection and durability, while lightweight components minimise mass to maximise performance. Redesigned straps and and a new fit disc system improve weight distribution, balance and custom fit adjustability. The bag also boasts four waterproof YKK pockets, insulated water bottle and cooler pockets with drainage ports, and a five-way top with integrated handle. It is offered in royal blue, charcoal grey, black and red.

PXG 0317 X GEN2 HYBRID

TAYLORMADE M5 FAIRWAY WOOD

£375, PXG.COM PXG’s new hybrid boasts the same Hot Rod technology found in the brand's matching driver, with a carbon crown that boasts a raised centre section that stiffens the crown and reduces energy loss for longer shots. A TPE insert gives the hybrids a soft, powerful feel by reducing vibration. PXG has updated its sole weights, which are now heavier, giving the club even more adjustability for fine-tuning a custom fit.

The crown design helps with alignment, while the unusual matte grey crown is a real headturner.

£369, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU TaylorMade has introduced Twist-Face to a fairway wood for the first time this season.

To get the desired effect, which is to reduce the dispersion, there is more Twist-Face engineered into the fairway woods than the driver, and it is moved lower in the face. TM’s testing has shown dispersion improvements of 18 yards down to just three yards. Unusually, the club is also made from titanium, which, when combined with the carbon crown, has allowed for a 65g movable weight to be placed on the sole to influence shot shape. That’s by far the biggest single weight shift ever seen in a golf club and should really help adjust shot shape.

[52] APRIL 2019

EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

KINGS OF DISTANCE Game improvement irons are designed for easy-hitting distance, but they still need to look good behind the ball. Here are ten of the best all-round performers

PXG 0311XF GEN 2 £400 PER IRONS, PXG.COM The 0311 XF irons offer extreme forgiveness while maintaining the sleek look and superior feel of a blade. A large internal cavity and slightly longer blade, with extra offset, increases MOI, while a thin top rail maintains a great look. The XF boasts the world's thinnest clubface, which is made from maraging steel that measures just 1.5mm thick. To making it this thin, PXG’s engineers fill the heads with COR2, a lowdensity material that has high energy transfer, which not supports the face at impact, but helps generate more ball speed and that soft, distinctive PXG feel. The back of the head features ten tungsten alloy screws to position the centre of gravity in the right place and add some visual drama. The weight in the toe combined with the double offset on the trailing edge by the heel helps square the face up at impact and provides a deeper centre of gravity for the extra launch.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PING G410

CALLAWAY APEX 19

COBRA F9 SPEEDBACK

£126/£136 PER CLUB (ST/GR), PING.COM

£1,299/£1,399, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

£649, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

Undisputedly the best-looking G iron that Ping has ever produced, the G410 features a smaller head than the G400, yet boasts 8% higher MOI for increased forgiveness. The face has been made thinner by removing the custom-tuning port and placing tungsten weights in the heel and toe. Without that structure behind the face, it can flex more for faster ball speeds. Combined with the COR-eye variable face thickness design, the deep undercut on the top line, plus Ping’s cascading sole design, these irons are fast right across the face.

The Apex 19s are arguably a player’s distance iron; however, they’re so forgiving that it is hard to leave them out of the GI category. A forged carbon steel body is used for a soft feel, and allows easy adjustability for custom fitting. The 360 Face Cup features a flexible rim around the perimeter that flexes at impact to promote fast ball speed for consistent distance across the face. A urethane microsphere insert contains over a million tiny air pockets that absorb unwanted vibration without slowing down the cup face design.

As with most game improvement irons, Cobra’s eyecatching new F9 irons see weight placed low and back in the clubhead – but rather than being part of the sole design, Cobra has raised it up, leaving a conventional width sole to make contact with the ground. It looks unusual, like they’ve stuck the sole on of a smaller iron, but it makes sense. A total of 33g of tungsten weights are placed in the heel and the toe to increase MOI, while a forged, ultra-thin face design delivers high ball speeds. For those so inclined, the F9’s are also offered in a one-length shaft option.

MIZUNO JPX 919 HOT METAL

WILSON D7

HONMA T/WORLD747P

£469 (5-SW), WILSON.COM

£969 (5-PW), HONMAGOLFEUROPE.COM

£120 PER IRON, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM A rarity for Mizuno, the Hot Metal irons don’t feature a forged head, instead they are a one-piece cast head made from a Chromoly alloy. This material can be made thinner because of its strength, producing more ball speed for longer shots. A Sound Rib design tunes the impact sound for a really solid feel at impact to go with the added distance, while it shares the 919 Tour iron’s new stability frame, which is open at the heel portion to enhance stability, launch and a loft-appropriate flight apex for controlled, soft-landing approaches.

Wilson has taken the appealing aesthetics of its FG Tour V6 irons and game-improvement design features of its C300 irons to create the new D7s, a new distance-orientated model. The D7 features a ‘Power Hole’ design on the sole to allow the face to flex for longer shots, but Wilson’s designers have removed them from the topline following feedback from golfers that they didn’t like looking down on them. Combined with the thinnest face design of any Wilson iron, these are seriously long-hitting clubs, as was proved in a recent American Golf test.

Arguably the most classic-looking game improvement irons at address, the 747P still packs plenty of forgiveness into its minimalist design.

Featuring a soft, cast steel head with a 3D badge in the cavity, they feel very soft at impact, but are designed for distance. A 20g tungsten weight, combined with an undercut cavity, pulls the weight low and back to raise the launch angle and lower spin, for high, arcing distance. Thye are available 3-SW, with a choice of Nippon Pro steel shafts or Honma’s Vizard graphite shafts.

LYNX BLACK CAT

TAYLORMADE M6

TITLEIST 718 AP1

£499/£549, LYNXGOLF.CO.UK

£849/£999, TAYLORMADEGOLF.COM

£115/£140 PER CLUB, TITLEIST.CO.UK

The Black Cat irons feature a hollow polymer-filled cavity and a forged face, which gives them a soft feel at impact. The design combines Hollow Head Technology with a Variable Face Thickness design that distributes the weight across the hitting surface, while the hollow cavity in the head allows for one of the thinnest forged faces in the industry. This provides more effective energy transfer across the face for increased ball speeds and a high MOI throughout the set. And while they are designed for distance, the polymer filling and forged face give the clubs a soft feel you wouldn’t expect from a distance design.

The M6 irons feature a weight-saving fluted hosel design, a 360-degree undercut cavity, and Inverted Cone Technology behind the face for fast ball speed on mis-hits. A new speed bridge – a beam of steel that connects the sole to the top of the iron – is designed to stabilise the head at impact. Positioned exactly at the point that vibrates most at impact, it works with the Speed Pocket to improve sound and feel, as well as increase ball speed. The extra support of the SpeedBridge allows TaylorMade engineers to use the full cut-through slot for faster ballspeeds, especially from shots struck low on the face.

Every time Titleist updates its popular AP1 iron, it delivers a more classic look, while also making these game improvement irons much more forgiving. The long irons (4, 5) feature a cast stainless steel hollow body design, while the rest of the set features an undercut cavity back – designs to help produce the correct yardages and trajectories for each club.

The unsupported face design features 52g of highdensity tungsten in the toe, which stabilises the head and generates plenty of ball speed across the entire face, as well as producing slightly lower spin than the 716 AP1, which add up to additional yardage.

[53]

MARCH 2019 EQUIPMENT & GEAR [54][54] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

RAISE YOUR GAME WITH SHOT SCOPE

Golf News equipment editor Dan Owen looks at how you can lower your scores and improve your course strategy by using the tracking technology of the Shot Scope V2

S

trokes gained. Data analysis. Shot tracking. Three terms we all sort of understand from watching golf on Sky. But Shot Scope V2 really understands them.

The Shot Scope V2 does all the hard work for you, so you don’t have to make detailed notes as you’re playing.

The average Shot Scope V2 user loses 2.7 shots from their handicap in their first 30 rounds played by learning to play smarter. That’s huge! So how can the ShotScope V2 help you?

It’s a simple system. Well, you could argue it’s two simple systems in one. It’s a hugely detailed shot

tracker, but it’s also a fully-loaded GPS system. With 40,000 courses worldwide, all mapped in-house, you never need to worry about tardy course updates. The system offers dynamic yardages that give you accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of the green and hazards, regardless of your angle of approach, and it gives distances to bunkers and water hazards as well. It’s a fully-loaded GPS on your wrist, so why spend out on two devices when one will cover it?

So what do you need to do to get the system up and running? It’s pretty simple. Register for a free Shot Scope

V2 account and download the mobile and desktop apps.

Set up the band and screw the lightweight tags into the grips of your clubs.

Go out and play a round of golf, with the system doubling up as a GPS rangefinder, and automatically tracking your shots without you having to tag each one. And then dive into over 100 statistics, working out exactly where you went wrong and seeing if it was your distances, approach play, short game, tee shots, or putting that are holding you back, or hopefully driving you on!

BUT WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO USE IT? WE’VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS Club Testing

Strengths & Weaknesses

Each Shot Scope V2 comes with 16 tags in the box. That gives you a couple of spare to play about with. Why not use one to test out a new driver? Take a second driver out on the course, hit shots with both, and at the end of the round, you can check which one is longer and straighter. It won’t be anecdotal – you’ll have hard evidence of which driver was hit longer and straighter.

We’ve all had lessons over the year – some of us more than others – but while we might have asked for help with our slice, or how to escape the sand, it could have been our approach shots or putting that were actually affecting our scores.

Shot Scope V2 can tell you where you are losing shots, and your PGA Pro can tell you how to stop it.

Shot tracking will never give you all the answers, but it will help you ask the right questions.

Gapping Do any of us really know how far we hit our clubs?

A few rounds with the Shot Scope V2, and the Performance Average will give you your yardages for each club. When you see the actual yardage gap between clubs, it’s much easier to choose the right club to fill the gap. All those years you’ve been hitting your three-hybrid and four-iron near enough the same distance? The Shot Scope V2 would have shown you that you needed to replace it with a two-hybrid.

Saving & Sharing When you track your game, Shot Scope provides a recorded history of your golf: memories of where you’ve been, shots you’ve hit, and scores you’ve made.

It’s easy to share these through the app, but also you can compare your game to other players, competing on leaderboards which can be just you and your mates, or across Shot Scope V2 users worldwide.

The Shot Scope V2 Watch costs £225. To place an order, visit www. shotscope.com.

APRIL 2019 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

LAGO LUXURY SPRING INTO ACTION WITH A GOLF BREAK TO QUINTA DO LAGO IN PORTUGAL’S SUNNY ALGARVE ME & MY TRAVELS TV PRESENTER JENNI FALCONER REVEALS HER FAVOURITE GOLFING DESTINATIONS

C A N A R Y

C A L L S TAKE YOUR PICK OF TENERIFE’S TOP TRACKS

[56] APRIL 2019 | NEWS

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Golf Breaks

Nestled in the heart of the Dartmoor National park, our hotels offer the unique opportunity to experience world-class sport, leisure and spa facilities, as well as free expert craft tuition. With and unrivalled choice of 99 holes, The Ashbury Hotel is the perfect destination for your next golf break.

£195PP

Price Includes: ✓ En-Suite Accommodation ✓ 18-Holes of Golf Everyday ✓ Hydro Spa & Sauna ✓ Group Coaching ✓ Golf Simulator ✓ Indoor & Outdoor Gym ✓ Free Expert Craft Tuition ✓ Full-Board Dining

Choose from 70 FREE SPORTS & CRAFT activities from our programme

Free Sports & Leisure Including: ✓ Archery ✓ Table Tennis ✓ 5-A-Side ✓ Basketball ✓ Air Pistols ✓ Badminton ✓ Squash ✓ Short Tennis

✓ Swimming ✓ Spa & Sauna ✓ Air Rifles ✓ Ten-Pin ✓ Bowls ✓ Tennis ✓ Lasers ✓ Snooker

Summer Sizzlers

15th July to 28th August 2019

All Breaks include:

0800 197 7549 ashburygolfhotel.com

FREE Unlimited Golf & 1/2 Price Buggies just £8 per round

TRAVEL & BREAKS

APRIL 2019

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SWING INTO SPRING WITH QUINTA DO LAGO GUESTS CAN COMBINE world-class golf with an array of luxury lifestyle facilities when booking a golfing break at Portugal’s Quinta do Lago resort this spring – with three-night, two-round hotel packages available from €338 per person including buggies.

The Algarve’s premier golf, sports and family destination is offering outstanding value on golf breaks taken before April 30 in the resort’s boutique Magnolia Hotel.

The new packages feature two rounds of golf on Quinta do Lago’s 18-hole championship courses, Laranjal or the South, while guests can unwind afterwards with free access to the facilities at The Magnolia Hotel, including Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and chill room. All prices are based on two people sharing a twin room.

Complementing the golf facilities is a choice of ten bars and restaurants, including the Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant.

For more information visit www.themagnoliahotelqdl.com.

TRIO OF TOP HOTELS TEMPT GOLFERS TO TENERIFE

GOLFERS VISITING TENERIFE can forget about those three-putts and instead focus on the three superb hotels to have linked up with Tenerife Golf for 2019.

Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, Hotel Gara Suites and Gran Melia Palacio De Isora have joined the wide selection on offer in the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands with golfers and visitors able to enjoy the ongoing appeal of the year-round sunshine and the many attractions on offer.

The five-star resort Royal Hideaway Corales Resort in Costa Adeje overlooks Playa Enramada beach, next to the picturesque town of La Caleta. It is in an ideal location to play at Costa Adeje, Las Americas and Abama, with a dedicated golf desk and other services for golfers.

For those who prefer their golf just a few steps from their room, the Hotel Gara Suites Golf & Spa is situated within Las Americas Golf Course, just 200 metres from the clubhouse and a five-minute walk from the beach, restaurants, attractions and nightlife of Playa de las Américas.

Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora is a five-star hotel located on the south-west coast of Tenerife, with the figure of the island of La Gomera in front and the majestic Teide as its backdrop. Abama and Buenavista are within just a few minutes’ drive, while there is also easy access to Amarilla and Costa Adeje.

For more details, visit www.webtenerife.com/ golfwww.webtenerife.com/golf.

Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club Golf Breaks for as little as £99 pp Oct - March £110 April September

Residential Golf Breaks in 2019 2 DAY GOLF BREAK

3 DAY GOLF BREAK

4 DAY GOLF BREAK

BENEFITS FOR 2019 BREAKS

1 night bed & breakfast 3 course evening meal 2 rounds of Golf

2 nights bed & breakfast 3 course evening meal each day 3 rounds of Golf

3 nights bed & breakfast 3 course evening meal each day 4 rounds of Golf

(Unlimited Nov - Jan)

(Unlimited Nov - Jan)

(Unlimited Nov - Jan)

1 free of charge allocation or he group organise should numbers exceed 16 Golf Locker Room to store equipment Various dinner options

1st October - 31st March £99pp 1st April - 30th September £110pp

1st October - 31st March £159pp 1st April - 30th September £190pp

1st October - 31st March £199pp 1st April - 30th September £249pp

Available midweek or weekends

Available midweek or weekends

Available midweek or weekends

Why not extend your break? Extra dinner, bed, breakfast & Golf nights can be added to your break

All package tariffs above are based on 2 people sharing twin/double room. Single occupancy incurs a supplement of £25 (1st Oct - 31st Mar) £35 (1st April - 30th September) of the total price. Superior room upgrades incur a supplement of £10 per person per night. Unlimited Golf is subject to availability and course/weather conditions. Buggy hire is available at £25 per round or £35 per day. Advanced booking is advisable.

Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club, Lanteglos, Camelford, Cornwall, PI32 9RF | Booking Hotline 01840 213 017 | info@bowoodpark.com

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[58] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GC Bad Kleinkirchheim © ArnoGRUBER

GC Seltenheim © Gernot GLEISS

KGC Dellach

GC Moosburg © Tine STEINTHALER

One golf card for three countries Alpe-Adria-Golf Card: Austria, Slovenia, Italy Carinthia, Austria’s southernmost province, is regarded as a paradise for golfers.

Each of the 12 courses has its own style and provides its own enticing special challenges.

They mostly feature wonderful views of the mountain world, and are always close to a swimming lake. And now the international Alpe-Adria-Golf Card provides an additional attraction on a golfing holiday in Carinthia, enabling golfers to get to know three countries, three cultures and three versions of the Alpe-Adria cuisine in just one holiday.

Ten of the golf clubs in Carinthia and just under 40 hotels have partnered with the Alpe-AdriaGolf Card, as well as ten more golf courses in Italy and Slovenia. So now there are no limits to the variety you can enjoy on a single day of your holiday, as it is possible to visit all three countries on just one day. The card (between three and five green fees) ensures that the price is consistent and offers great flexibility (from €195). 2 for 1 promotion from the start of the season to 30 April and from 7 October.

www.golflust.at

NEWS | APRIL 2019 [59] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

So close to the south… … with the Alpe-Adria Golf Card.

Golfing south of the Alps, surrounded by spectacular scenery, has many attractions. Including the tantalising taste of three different countries. 12 months a year. You can pop across borders and play over 20 golf courses in Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. With one single card.

The Alpe-Adria Golf Card – available exclusively from your golf hotel or the participating golf courses.

Your card bonus: early* and late** in the season the Alpe-Adria Golf Card is even worth twice as much – your partner plays free of charge. www.golflust.at www.alpe-adria-golf.com *from the start of the club’s season up to and including 30 April 2019 on all participating golf courses, excluding Dolomitengolf, GC Jesolo, GC Venezia, GC Otočec, Royal Bled. All rights reserved. Subject to change. **from 7 October 2019 until the end of the season on all participating golf courses, excluding Dolomitengolf, GC Jesolo, GC Venezia, GC Otočec, Royal Bled. All rights reserved. Subject to change.

[60] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | APRIL 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOLF EXPEDITION

CRUISING CANADA | SCOTLAND | IRELAND Scotland & Ireland Golf Expedition | JUNE 2019 & 2020 | RCGS RESOLUTE Canada’s East Coast - Fiddles & Sticks | JULY 2019 & 2020 | RCGS RESOLUTE

Ballyliffin

A unique take on the traditional golfing holiday, One Ocean Expeditions golfing cruises offer a truly ‘new way to play’. Onboard our ‘floating hotel’, RCGS Resolute, guests will sail between some of the world’s most exquisite, renowned and remote courses in Canada’s East Coast, Scotland and Ireland, transferring to each course via an exciting Zodiac cruise. Onboard these extraordinary voyages, we blend a unique cruise experience full of wildlife encounters, visits to colourful coastal villages and historic sites plus exciting off-ship excursions with the ease of access to spectacular golfing locations. Challenging courses, superb coastal and mountain views, great competition and a friendly onboard atmosphere make these expeditions a truly memorable golfing and travel experience.

BUILD YOUR DREAM NOW

020 3126 4039

o n e o c e a ne x p e d i ti on s. c om

› › › › › › › › ›

Small-ship cruise expeditions to the world’s most remote golf courses Play at Ballyliffin, Ireland, the ‘lost course’ of Askernish and Cruden Bay, Scotland Tee off at Cabot Links, Cabot Cliffs and Crowbush in Nova Scotia, Canada Enjoy exceptional guest service provided by a 1:4 staff to passenger ratio Relax in superior comfort and style onboard RCGS Resolute Discover panoramic outdoor viewing areas ideal for wildlife watching Benefit from small-group excursions tailored to each individual passenger Relish fresh local cuisine and superb whisky tastings Sail through spectacular remote coastal scenery

TH E R E I S ONLY

O N E OC E A N

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[62] APRIL 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

N

EW

golf holiday experts for 23 years www.chakatravel.com

DUBAI

from £2,495 PP

5* Jumeirah Al Naseem

7 nights Bed & Breakfast 4 rounds of golf on 4 different courses

Incl. flights, transfers plus a sunset desert safari

ITALY

from £1,395 PP

4* Golf & Gastronomy in Emilia Romagna

7 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf on 5 courses Incl. business class flights, car hire, spa & wine tasting

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

5* Casa De Campo

from £2,585 PP

7 nights All Inclusive, 5 rounds golf, shared cart & range balls Incl. flights, transfers & Pete Dye Golf Lodge room

MAURITIUS

from £2,295 PP

5* Constance Belle Mare Plage

12 nights Full Board Incl. flights, transfers & golf aprox £13 per round

All Inclusive supplement from £760 pp with golf buggy

SOUTH AFRICA

from £2,295 PP Cape Town & Fancourt Classic Garden Route 10 nights Bed & Breakfast with 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses Incl. flights, transfers & hire car

THAILAND

Bangkok & Hua Hin

from £2,695 PP

14 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf Incl. flights, transfers & caddie included per round

ESCORTED GOLF TOURS WITH PGA PRO JACQUES GOUS

INCLUDING ONE TO ONE & GROUP TUITION Join us on one of our popular escorted tours. Suitable for golfers and non-golfers alike, our PGA pro will be your guide throughout.

South Africa, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Brazil...

TO SEE OUR RANGE OF GOLF HOLIDAYS, ESCORTED TOURS AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS VISIT OUR WEBSITE

TRAVEL & BREAKS

APRIL 2019 [63]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Jenni Falconer Jenni Falconer is a relative newcomer to the pain and pleasures of golf, but the TV and radio presenter has certainly been bitten by the bug

Travel with

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was...

Huvafen Fushi on Kaafu in the Maldives. I’ve been there a few times, and I absolutely love it. There is sand everywhere – in the bars and restaurants – so you are barefoot for the duration. If it rains and there is no golf, there are lots of watersports on offer, or you can simply drink cocktails in the bar all day!

My first ever foreign holiday was to… Spain.

Our family used to go the Costa del Sol every year until I was 17, although I remember the journey as much as the holidays, as we’d drive the whole way in a car with no air-conditioning in 40-degree heat! We’d rent an apartment a little way out of Marbella in the mountains and the views were spectacular.

My most recent holiday was... a weekend break to Paris. It’s an amazingly beautiful city when the sun is shining.

My most memorable ever round was at ...the Centurion Club in St Albans for the GolfSixes Pro-Am last May. It was a challenging course for a beginner, as I only ■ HUVAFEN FUSHI RESORT, MALDIVES

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

I’m biased, of course, as I was born there, but it’s the great place on earth. But if I had to choose outside of the UK, I would pick Barcelona, because it has everything you want, from sandy beaches to beautiful buildings, fabulous restaurants and bags of history, and, of course, plenty of sunshine.

■ HERMANUS GOLF CLUB, SOUTH AFRICA

took up the game in February last year! I live in London, and have been having lessons with Joanne Taylor at Tyrells Wood Golf Club in Leatherhead. My uncle is a member at Richmond Golf Club in London, and my dad is a member at a club up towards Loch Lomond, so I’ve had a few rounds with them. I also played Celtic Manor at last year’s Celebrity Cup, and the nine-hole course at Nailcote Hall at the British Par 3 Championship, both of which were great fun, if rather nervewracking! I’m looking forward to playing more golf abroad, as I love playing in warmer weather.

I always pack ... a couple of good books. I like to binge read. I love a real mix, whether it’s a crime thriller, a spot of romance, some chick-lit or something more traditional. My favourites are probably thrillers. My husband and I tend to bulk-buy books at the airport and then share them when we’re away.

My most memorable holiday meal was at…The Cliff in Barbados. It’s one of the most romantic restaurant locations; you can sit at an intimate table for two, right on the edge of a cliff looking straight out to sea. The food is amazing too.

■ JENNI TOOK PART IN LAST YEAR'S BRITISH PAR 3 CHAMPIONSHIP HELD AT NAILCOTE HALL

My next trip is to ... Cape Town. My brother lives there, so we try to visit as often as we can.

The climate is fantastic and even though the flight is 12 hours, there’s no jet lag. We spend time by the beach, hiking in the mountains, and having lunch in the wine lands and a barbecue for dinner. Now that I’m a golfer, I’d love to play some of courses around the Cape.

Hermanus Golf Club looks pretty special.

My top travel tip is ...always pack a spare outfit and a supply of toiletries in your hand luggage, so that if your child throws up on you mid-flight, you’re well prepared. Can you tell that I’m talking from experience?

[64] APRIL 2019

TRAVEL & BREAKS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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