GOLF NEWS MARCH 2024

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telly this year? Or streamed on to your phone or laptop? More than last year, the same, a bit less, or perhaps none at all?

If your answer is one of the latter two of those four options, take comfort from the fact that you are part of a large and growing sector of the gol ng population that is switching o from watching professional tournaments and going and doing something less boring instead (to borrow a phrase from 80s children’s TV programme ‘Why Don’t You?’).

While the cost of living crisis has resulted in some people cancelling their Sky Sports subscriptions, it is the quality of the elds and the nature of the competitive formats that has been the biggest cause for viewing gures for golf tournaments dropping o a cli over the last 12 months. That, and the growing dissatisfaction with the money grab that is currently dominating the discourse across the men’s global professional tours.

While the generationally life-changing/eye-watering/ bank-busting sums of money being o ered on the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour these days has served to create an even greater disconnect between fans and the players than has ever existed before, it is the watering down of the elds, spread thinly as they are across three competing tours – I’m being generous by including the DP World Tour in this conversation – that has resulted in palpably inferior products that are no longer ‘mustwatch’ events, if ever they once were.

When you look at the viewing gures for LIV Golf and your average PGA Tour event – last month’s Cognizant Classic was watched by 260,000 in the States and global gures for LIV Golf barely break 100,000 – the amount of cash being thrown around by sponsors seems ludicrous given the paltry number of eyeballs on the product, but such is the spending power of the average golfer that they are still deemed a worthy target market.

While the Saudi PIF, which is bank-rolling LIV Golf, is clearly not bothered by public interest or indeed viewing gures across its various platforms in its early years, it is hard to see America’s leading companies continuing to dig into its corporate marketing co ers if PGA Tour events continue to be won by the likes of unknowns such as Grayson Murray, Nick Dunlap, Jake Knapp, Austin Eckcroat and Mattieu Pavon – decent golfers although they clearly must be. And for how long will fans tune in to LIV to watch the same group of four or ve players take turns in winning its zero jeopardy events?

Fortunately for the PGA Tour, its immediate nancial

future has been secured by a conglomerate of deeppocketed major sports team owners for whom a billion or three o the bottom line is small change, but this, like the Saudi royal family’s interest in sports washing, is not a long-term solution to the central problem facing professional golf in its current divergent set up.

While I have no issue with LIV Golf’s existence, it’s competing schedule – baring the Majors – is diluting men’s professional golf to the point of making watching it, well, pointless. I wish that the various tours could all see a way to rub along together, much in the same way the cricketing world has adapted to integrate the IPL. My ideal scenario would be a nine-month, 20-event PGA Tour season (including the four majors), from say from midJanuary to mid-October, followed by a six-week LIV Golf season, followed by six weeks o for all those involved over Christmas and the New Year to go home and count their cash before it all starts again. If this dream were ever to come to reality we’d have the world’s best players competing on a regular basis, and not just the Majors, as is currently the case, and everyone would, hopefully, be relatively happy.

As thing stand, the most likely long-term outcome for all of this is that the PGA Tour survives and LIV golf doesn’t, unless it undergoes some signi cant changes and seeks to t in more cooperatively.

One thing all professional golfers should understand is that the money coming into the game right now won’t last forever. The money, or the will behind the money, always runs out or nds a new toy to play with. What does persist through time, however, particularly as it relates to golf, are the foundational principles of open and fair competition, meritocracy and history. Rather than looking at the sel sh and exceptionally shortterm view of stu ng their pockets with cash – enticing although that prospect certainly sounds – our sport’s elite performers should be asking themselves what the long-term impact on the whole game will be if they continue along this gold-laden, but heavily diluted path. If they bother to look closely enough, they will soon discover that this particular temple of Mammon is built on a foundation of nothing but sand.

InBrief

THORNTON EARNS DP WORLD TOUR STARTS AFTER PGA PLAY-OFF SUCCESS

★ Northern Ireland PGA

Professional Simon Thornton earned himself spots in this year’s BMW PGA Championship, Irish Open and British Masters after winning the PGA Play-Offs at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus. The 46-year-old former European Tour winner will return to the circuit after birdieing the 17th hole to take advantage of Scotland’s Paul O’Hara late slip-up to claim the title by a stroke. Thornton, along with O’Hara and third-placed Toby Hunt from Wales, has also secured his place in this year’s Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team, which will see them take on the USA at Sunriver Resort in Oregon in September.

GOLF FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

The Golf Foundation has appointed sports development expert Steven Day as its new Chair, replacing Stephen Lewis who is stepping down after almost eight years leading the charity.

Day brings over 20 years’ experience in the sport sector across a range of roles including as Head of Grassroots Development at The FA, CEO of Fulham FC Foundation, and Chair of Active Surrey.

Day said. “I’ve spent most of my career helping young people to develop through sport and physical activity and I hope my experience can add to the clear passion of the Golf Foundation team.”

SURREY LADIES VOTE TO CHANGE NAME

Surrey Ladies County Golf Association has made the landmark decision to change its name to Surrey Women’s Golf following a vote held at the county’s AGM At Walton Heath.

The third largest English county body representing female golfers has also become a limited company, which gives it greater legal protection.

Surrey

Women’s Golf becomes only the second English county, looking after the interests of female golfers, to change its formal name to incorporate the word ‘women’s’ instead of ‘ladies’. Lincolnshire changed its name to Lincolnshire

Women’s Golf Association in 2018.

Jane Bathurst, Captain of Surrey Women’s Golf, said: “As the County body representing female golfers in Surrey, we want to promote inclusivity in our sport and to encourage all women to get involved. t is important to move with the times and to ensure that we appeal to women across the board. We hope that our name change to Surrey Women’s Golf reflects this.”

Surrey Women’s Golf has updated its logo and website address to reflect the change, which can be seen at surreywomensgolf.org,

Stoke Park opens UK’s first BiomecaSwing Studio

Stoke Park has opened a new hi-tech coaching studio as the Buckinghamshire-based club continues to carry out a major renovation of its gol ng facilities following its temporary closure in 2021 under new owners.

The coaching facility has been redeveloped as a BiomecaSwing Studio and contains technology unique to Stoke Park in the UK.

The studio is the rst venue in this country to feature BiomecaForce 3D AI Force Plates. Designed by biomechanics expert JJ Rivet, the force plates enable Stoke Park’s coaching team to capture kinetic and kinematic data to better understand a golfer’s swing signature. This information is vital to get to the correct swing diagnosis quickly and help the golfer to ful l their potential.

The newly refurbished BiomecaSwing Studio also includes TrackMan 4, the doppler radar system which can be used indoors and outdoors to track the ight of the ball and measure club data at the point of impact. When used indoors in the swing studio it can also be used to play hundreds of courses in its simulator application.

Stuart Collier, Stoke Park’s Director of Golf, commented: ‘This new technology enables us to o er a special and unique coaching experience for all golfers, with individual coaching programmes available for beginners right the way through to professionals.”

Golf Boom Shows No Sign Of Slowing

New golf participation data for back end of 2023 in the UK has revealed that more rounds of golf were played between July and September than in any previous year with the exception of 2020.

After a slow start to last year, mainly caused by bad weather, rounds played across the UK remain well above pre-pandemic numbers, in the latest sign that golf’s pandemic participation boom has reset the baseline appetite for the game.

According to a report issued by Sporting Insights, only January of the rst nine months of the year saw a dip against 2019 gures, while the remainder of the year has so far seen 2023 track and often exceed the totals seen outside lockdowns during the period 2020-2022. September was the quarter’s strongest performing month, both against 2022 (up 10%) and against 2019 (up 55%). The year-to-date average of 2,910 rounds played per course per month means there are 646 more rounds per course per month being played – or an extra of 21 more people per day.

The report suggests that initiatives such as iGolf, Openplay and Flexigolf schemes for independent golfers in England, Scotland and Wales were playing a signi cant role in providing routes for non-members and newer golfers to track improvement and access competitive golf, helping those people to stay in the game.

BRS Golf, golf’s leading provider of tee time management booking technology, report a strong rst half of 2023 for both member play and visitor play in the UK and Ireland, with more rounds played so far this year than in the whole of 2019.

Another big change in golf participation since the pandemic has also been the noticeable shift in the patterns of play, with games played from midday onwards representing 60% of all rounds, up for 50% in 2019, while the number of rounds played on weekdays has gone up to 59%, compared to 56% four years ago. Both gures re ect a change in work patterns, with more people working from home or operating exible working hours, which enable them to clock o early to play golf during times that were once considered ‘o ce hours’.

Inspiration Club –‘a modern links in the city’ – set to open this summer

Golfers in the West London area will have a new championship golf course to play on their doorstep with the opening of The Inspiration Club on June 1.

Described by its developers as ‘a modern links in the city’, the new 18-hole course is situated between Northholt and Hillingdon, just o the A40 and ve miles from junction 16 of the M25.

The 6,610-yard course, which has been under construction since 2020, has been designed by world renowned architects Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert, and features rolling links-style fairways and large USGAspeci cation greens which average 550 square metres in size, enabling a huge range of pin positions. The greens have been seeded with pure distinction bent grass which ensures smooth putting surfaces throughout the year.

The course features four par- ve holes – which bookend the front and back nine –along with four par-threes and 10 par-fours.

“We wanted to ensure that we had the right designer to create our vision and the result is a golf course unlike anything London has ever seen – a modern style links,“ said club director Tony Menai-Davis, whose Bridgedown Group also owns The Shire London and the 9-hole West London Golf Centre.

“To experience the shapes of the greens and run-o s we have here you would normally have to travel to the coast to nd. The Inspiration o ers the drama of the absolute best courses in the UK, all in sight

of the capital. We are incredibly proud of The Inspiration and cannot wait to open in June.”

Mackenzie, whose company was responsible for the recent redesign of Turnberry in Scotland, said: “This has been an exciting, enjoyable and unique project and, if we have done our job well, then the same should apply to playing the course. We hope that following a rst trip round the course, golfers of all standards will want to return with their friends.”

Three-quarters of the initial tranche of memberships have already been sold, but they are a limited number still available. For more details, visit theinspirationclub.co.uk.

The BiomecaSwing Studio is open to the public and can be booked directly by emailing Chris Murtagh, Stoke Park’s Head of Instruction, at cmurtagh@stokepark.com.

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England Golf celebrates rising stars and unsung heroes at centenary golf awards

England Golf celebrated its 100th anniversary last month with the Centenary Dinner & Awards at the very place it was born – The Midland Manchester Hotel.

And, as part of the celebrations, 11 di erent awards were handed out while 12 names were also inducted into an all-new England Golf Hall of Fame.

Hosted by former European Tour player and Sky Sports presenter Nick Dougherty, The Midland Manchester Hotel welcomed 450 guests and recognised heroes from across the country who have gone above and

There were 11 category winners announced, each with a unique story to tell, while nine of those categories were nominated for by the public, before 46 judges from the golf industry and golf media examined the nominations to whittle them down to one winner per category. This year’s awards saw the inaugural England Golf Hall of Fame inductees named, as picked by the England Golf Centenary Committee. They are the late Sir Michael Bonallack, Allison Nicholas, the late Gerald Micklem, Peter McEvoy, Trish Johnson, Gary Wolstenholme, Georgia Hall, the late Peter Alliss, Dame Laura Davies, Sir Nick Faldo, Bridget Jackson and Luke Donald.

England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson said: “What a night it was at The Midland

Rose Ladies Open to return to Brocket Hall

Following on from the success of the Rose Ladies Open hosted at Brocket Hall in 2022 and 2023, the tournament is to return to the Hertfordshire venue for a third year in 2024.

Kate and Justin Rose created the Rose Ladies Open in 2022 to continue their work supporting and growing the women’s game. Having secured Brocket Hall as hosts since the inaugural tournament, together, the Roses and venue are working together to build on the solid foundations of the rst two years to make the 2024 event bigger and better.

Brocket Hall in will play host to the 54-hole stroke play tournament from September 6-8, where a full eld of 108 players will be teeing it up on the par-72 Melbourne Course, which was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark.

Last year’s event was won by Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, who red a nal round 65 to nish on 12-under-par, two shots ahead of fellow Swiss player Elena Moosmann.

■ JUSTIN AND KATE ROSE WITH 2023

ROSE LADIES OPEN WINNER CHIARA TAMBURLINI AT BROCKET HALL

Manchester, not just in celebrating 100 years of England Golf and the Rose, but in continuing to recognise the amazing people across the game today, who make it what it is.

“We received many fantastic nominations for clubs, volunteers and individuals across the country and we’d like to congratulate all of our nalists, and of course, our winners. I would also like thank Nick Dougherty who was an exceptional host, and we look forward to our next occasion in 2025.”

ENGLAND GOLF 2024 AWARD WINNERS

Club of the Year – Bedfordshire GC

County of the Year – Devon Golf

Diversity and Inclusion Champion – Nicola Bennett (Bush Hill Park GC, Herts)

Participation and Development Coach of the Year – Alex MacGregor (Addington Court GC, Surrey)

Performance of the Year – Kris Kim (Walton Heath GC, Surrey)

Sustainability Project of the Year – Colmworth GC (Bedfordshire)

Tournament Venue of the Year – Shifnal GC (Shropshire)

Volunteer of the Year – Abi Frodsham (Wallasey GC, Cheshire)

Women and Girls’ Trailblazer – Jersey Ladies Golf Development Group

Young Volunteer of the Year – Freya Allen (Elsham GC, Lincolnshire)

Lifetime Service Award – Graham McCormack (Birchwood GC, Cheshire)

Johnston pa ners with American Golf ahead of Beef Stock ‘24

American Golf has unveiled DP World Tour golfer and fan favourite Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston as its newest ambassador as the brand continues its drive to become the one-stop destination for all golfers’ equipment needs.

To celebrate the partnership, anyone who books a free custom tting session at their local American Golf store in April and May will have the opportunity to play a round of golf with Johnston in July.

As well as hosting a series of collaborative activities throughout 2024, where Johnston will o er the American Golf community tips to improve their game, American Golf will sponsor the Cobra Puma player’s clothing, which will feature its logo during tournaments on the DP World Tour in 2024.

In July, the retailer will become the headline sponsor for ‘Beef Stock’ – a physical realisation of ‘Beef’s Golf Club’ podcast into a day-long festival being held at Essendon Golf Club in Hertfordshire on July 25. Comprising an 18-hole tournament including breakfast, masterclasses, competitions and a champions BBQ, American Golf will have a pop-up experience for guests to interact with on the day.

New episodes of ‘Beef’s Golf School’ – a six-part series of exclusive YouTube tutorials released in 2023, which saw Beef team up with Hollywood actors, TV stars and sporting personalities to help improve their golf game, will also be released by American Golf from May.

■ BUSH HILL PARK PGA PROFESSIONAL NICOLA BENNETT WON THE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD

Former Ryder Cup players pass away

The gol ng community lost two stalwarts of the early European Tour and the Ryder Cup following the deaths of Maurice Bembridge and Malcolm Gregson in the last few months.

Gregson, a member of the 1967 Great Britain Ryder Cup team, passed away in January aged 80, while Bembridge, who played in four Ryder Cups between 1969-75, and won six times on the European Tour, died at the end of February at the age of 79.

Leicester-born Gregson enjoyed a strong amateur career, representing England Boys before turning professional in 1961, becoming an assistant professional at Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire. Attachments with Dyrham Park, West Sussex, Moor Allerton, Badgemore Park and Almaina Park Golf Clubs.

In 1967 he won the PGA Championship at Hunstanton and in doing so became only the third player after Dai Rees and Peter Alliss to complete the PGA Assistants’ and PGA Championship double. He also won the Daks at Wentworth and Martini International at Fulford and won the Harry Vardon trophy for winning the Order of Merit.

The trip to Texas for the 1967 Ryder Cup proved a chastening experience for Gregson and his Great Britain teammates. He lost all four of his matches and Great Britain

nished 15 points adrift of their hosts at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, with the 23.5-8.5 score line representing a record defeat.

He won the Daks again in 1968, but that turned out to be his last tournament victory on later became the European Tour 1974. Gregson made his debut on the European Senior Tour in 1993 and went on to play in more than 200 events, winning ve of them before making his nal appearance in 2008.

Nottinghamshire-born Bembridge turned professional at the age of 15 when he began working as an Assistant at Worksop Golf Club. He made his Ryder Cup debut in 1969 in the famous tied contest at Royal Birkdale, winning two and halving one of his ve matches, and went on to play in the next three Ryder Cups, in 1971, 73, and 75.

Following the formation of the European Tour in 1972, Bembridge won six times in total, with his rst victory at the 1973 Martini International. His best season was in 1974 when he won claimed three titles – the Piccadilly Medal, the Double Diamond Strokeplay, and the Viyella PGA Championship. In total, he won 20 professional titles, including the Kenya Open three times.

He also shot to fame when recording the joint lowest score at Augusta National for after he shot a nal round 64 during the 1974 Masters, en route to nishing ninth behind Gary Player.

The Buckinghamshire prepares to unveil major clubhouse ‘reimagination’

The Buckinghamshire Golf Club is on course to unveil a multi-million pound renovation of its historic clubhouse this spring which will form the centrepiece of a new-look members’ club.

The project to restore the landmark 17th century mansion situated on an island alongside the River Colne includes the addition of seven new bedrooms, an orangery restaurant, valet parking & locker lounge, work spaces, golf lounge with the latest simulator technology, wine room and whisky room.

The interiors have been created by designer Kim Partridge, who oversaw the interior transformation of 2027 Ryder Cup venue Adare Manor in Ireland.

For Sanjay Arora, CEO of the Arora Group, which acquired the club in 2018, the vision is to create a contemporary upmarket club o ering UK and overseas members the opportunity to blend golf, business, hospitality and family time, just 15 miles from west London and 10 miles from London Heathrow Airport.

Arora said: “This is an important rst step towards our vision of creating one of the nest clubs in the world. The Buckinghamshire is a diverse, cosmopolitan club for business and pleasure, where members can enjoy the pleasure of being expected and their guests and families can experience rst class hospitality, personalised service and relaxed style.”

Speaking about her design inspiration for the project, Kim Partridge said: “While we wanted to echo the Englishness of this classic country house, the brief in relation to the club and member experience is avant garde, providing a place where the touchpoints o er understated luxury, where members feel at home and can spend time with friends and family. All of these things will make The Buckinghamshire di erent and put the club at the forefront of the new face of golf.”

The Buckinghamshire, which has a rich heritage of hosting professional tournaments, including qualifying events including for The Open, AIG Women’s Open and US Women’s Open, is to remain the headquarters of the Ladies European Tour.

■ MALCOLM GREGSON

■ MAURICE BEMBRIDGE

Luton Hoo steps up Ryder Cup ambition with plans to build new course

Plans to host the Ryder Cup at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa in Bedfordshire have moved a step closer following a decision made at the highest level of government.

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa’s proposal to build a new championship course on its property was approved by Central Bedfordshire Council in June last year. The hotel’s owners, Arora Group, said it wanted to be able to host the matches in either 2031 or 2035.

Lee Rowley, Minister for Planning and Building Safety, said the government would not require the application to be called in for a further planning inquiry, which means the planning permission granted by the council stands, paving the way for the existing golf course to be extended and remodelled, as well as the building of a new clubhouse and o ce.

Luton Hoo currently has an 18-hole golf course but wants to replace it with a more challenging layout worthy of

hosting the Ryder Cup, which can also accommodate more spectators.

Surinder Arora, founder and chairman of the Arora Group, which bought the hotel in 2021, commented: “Our acquisition of Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa was always with the intention to curate a luxury leisure and hospitality experience on the existing estate. We want to continue building on the already rich history of Luton Hoo and to ensure that any future investment into the estate will bring economic bene t to Bedfordshire and surrounding areas.

“Hosting the Ryder Cup, potentially in either 2031 or 2035, would raise the pro le of the area to a global audience and the opportunity to bid to host a Ryder Cup at Luton Hoo is a very real and realistic ambition. The government’s decision not to call in the application is great news and a further step towards realising our ambition.”

Player and Justin Rose to be involved in the design of the new course, although there is no con rmation that either has been o cially commissioned.

DP World Tour Chief Exec steps down

European Tour group Chief Executive Keith Pelley is to leave the European Tour group at the end of March after serving in the role for almost nine years.

Pelley became only the fourth chief executive since the European Tour’s formation in 1972 when he joined in 2015, from his previous position as President of Rogers Media.

Pelley said: “It has been an incredible honour to be the chief executive of this wonderful institution for almost nine years. When I came over from Canada back in 2015, I set out to create a culture of innovation and to grow our prize funds and our Tour for our members by ensuring that we appealed to new, younger and more diverse audiences.

“We have done that and so much more because our players, sta , partners, broadcasters and fans have all fundamentally bought into that philosophy that we are in the entertainment industry. I would therefore like to thank everyone for their support and commitment to innovation and evolution in our sport.

Pelley is to be replaced by his deputy, Guy Kinnings, who joined the European Tour Group six year ago. group’s

The new course will be designed to present a more suitable challenge for the demands of the Ryder Cup and provide more viewing options for spectators.

It is understood that Arora has been in talks with Gary

Objections to the building of a new course have been lodged by Historic England and the Garden Trust, while councillors from Central Bedfordshire said the potential bene ts to the area ‘outweighed any potential harm to the green belt’.

new Chief Executive from April 2. Kinnings said: “It has been a privilege to work closely with Keith since I joined the Tour in 2018. He set out to transform the Tour and unquestionably he has done that. It will be a huge honour to take on this role in April and I look forward to working with our players, sta and partners in the game, as well as our executive leadership and senior management teams, to continue to build upon everything our Tour has achieved in recent years.”

Under Pelley’s leadership, the European Tour group introduced the Rolex Series, DP World’s title partnership of the group’s main Tour, the G4D Tour for Golfers with a Disability, mixed events with the LET and LPGA, and staged the two most successful Ryder Cups to be played on European soil, in Paris in 2018 and Rome in 2023. He also guided the Tour through the Covid 19 pandemic and formed

strategic alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, as well as established pathways for other tours onto the DP World Tour, as part of the ongoing e orts to make global golf more aligned.

Pelley’s critics will argue that he has also overseen the DP World Tour becoming little more than a feeder tour for the PGA Tour following an alliance that enables the top ten players on the DP World Tour’s money list to earn PGA Tour cards for the following season. He also was part of the European Tour group board that refused to negotiate with LIV Golf back in 2019 when the Saudi PIF rst approached to collaborate on a new set of events. Since then, large numbers of Europe’s top players have joined LIV Golf, leaving DP World Tour robbed of many of its leading players, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Thomas Pieters and Adrian Meronk.

Speaking ahead of his departure, Pelley said that he felt that it was only a matter of time before LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour would reach an agreement that would see a uni cation of the rival tours.

“Whether it be in six months, a year, two years or 10 years, I think people are coming to the realisation that a collective product is in the best interest of global golf,” said Pelley. “It is the only way growth and prize funds continue at this level. It is inevitable.”

■ LUTON HOO’S OWNER IS SEEKING PLANNING PERMISSION TO BUILD A NEW 18-HOLE COURSE CAPABLE OF HOSTING A RYDER CUP

■ KEITH PELLEY IS RETURNING TO CANADA AFTER EIGHT YEARS AT THE HELM OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP

Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race returns to help save men’s lives

Prostate Cancer UK is calling on golfers across the UK to grab their clubs, round up playing partners and take on The Big Golf Race, the UK’s biggest golf fundraising challenge, to help save men’s lives.

Since The Big Golf Race was launched in 2020, more than 11,500 golfers have raised over £3.4m to help fund life-saving research to radically improve the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated.

This year, the leading men’s health charity is urging more golfers to take part in The Big Golf Race to help save dads, grandads, brothers, uncles and friends from a disease that a ects one in eight men in the UK.

Golfers willing to take on The Big Golf Race have three fundraising options: the Marathon (consisting of playing 72 holes in a day and walking an average of 26 miles); the Half Marathon (36 holes over 13.1 miles) ,or the formidable Ultra Marathon (100 holes over 35 miles).

Those who register will receive a fundraising pack, including golf balls, tees, pencils and a fundraising guide, plus there are opportunities to earn incentive gifts along the way.

Golfers taking part will have a chance to win some fantastic golf prizes, with the top fundraisers winning a three-night B&B trip for four to the renowned Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in Portugal, including two rounds of golf, courtesy of Golfbreaks.

Golfers who raise over £250 are also in with a chance of winning a full bag of Titleist golf clubs worth £3,000 and tting, and other prizes, like a Motocaddy electric trolley and bag, are also up for grabs.

To nd out more and register a team, visit prostatecanceruk.org.

Skylark set to rise again under new owners

Skylark Golf & Country Club in Hampshire, which was put up for sale in June last year after falling into administration, has been sold.

The sale of the Fareham-based club was handled by HMH Golf & Leisure, acting on behalf of the Joint Administrators Kroll Advisory Ltd.

Essex-based golf course operator First Golf Operations Limited has been named as the new owner, although it has not been revealed how much the club was sold for. The club has been renamed Skylark Country Club and a new website is now live at skylarkcountryclub.uk.

The club has continued to operate on a ‘business as usual’ basis, and honour all event bookings, including weddings and golf days, while a buyer was found.

Tom Marriott, at HMH Golf & Leisure, which handled the sale, added: “It is quite rare to o er a multi-revenue golf business to the market on the south coast. Skylark is a quintessential country club in an excellent location on the outskirts of Fareham, midway between Portsmouth & Southampton.

“The business has an excellent turnover and clear potential for future growth now it is under control of First Golf Limited, an experienced operator. I’ve no doubt that the buyer will invest in the property and take the business to the next level.”

Geo Bouchier, speaking of behalf administrators Kroll Advisory Ltd, commented: “We’re delighted that a successful outcome has been achieved, securing 53 local jobs. Under new ownership, the club will undoubtedly achieve its full potential and continue to provide its members and wedding parties the renowned and award-winning service Skylark is known for.”

As well as an 18-hole, 5,609-yard golf course, Skylark’s facilities include a Grade II listed 18th century wedding barn, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, spa and gym facilities.

Ladies European Tour founders celebrate 45th anniversary at Thorpeness

Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel invited the founders and early members of the Ladies European Tour for a weekend’s celebration of professional golf.

Hosted by Thorpeness Director of Golf Christine Langford, the two-day reunion marked the 45th anniversary of the LET’s rst tournament, which was sponsored by Carlsberg.

Langford, a founder member of the LET and winner of four events, was joined by Cathy Panton Lewis, the GB & Ireland Women’s PGA Cup captain and winner of 14 tournaments and Jenny Lucas, formerly Jenny Lee-Smith, winner of the inaugural Women’s British Open and 12 tournaments. Seven other founders joined the group, as well as players from the early days, between them amassing over 40 tournament wins.

Three pioneering female golf journalists also took part in the weekend’s celebrations, namely Liz Kahn, Lewine Mair, Patricia Madill, along with TV commentator Maureen Madill.

The group enjoyed a celebration dinner on the Friday evening, followed by an entertaining quiz devised by LET founders Maxine Burton and Denise Hastings, and played a video with messages of support for the pioneers of the women’s game along with some thoughts from players who could not attend.

Messages were received from LET chief executive Alex Aramas, Dame Laura Davies, Trish Johnson, as well as founder members Jane Chapman and Chris Gri th.

Some members also enjoyed a round on the Thorpeness 18-hole course, which was designed by ve-time Open Champion James Braid and regarded as one of the nest in Su olk.

Langford said: “We haven’t had a celebration for the LET since our 30th anniversary. Researching the project has been quite interesting, tracking down a few people and nding out what they have been up to, including one ex-member who married her dog on daytime TV! I am thrilled that so many of the players made the journey to Thorpeness, most for the rst, but hopefully not the last, time.”

Dale Reid, one of the Ladies European Tour’s most gifted and charismatic players, who recently passed away aged 64, was also fondly remembered over the weekend.

Walton Heath to host UNDERRATED Junior Golf Tour’s first European event

The UNDERRATED Junior Golf Tour is set to land in the UK this summer, with the rst event scheduled to take place at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey from May 29-31.

Launched in 2022 by US basketball star Stephen Curry, the Underrated Golf Tour has the aim of o ering more opportunities for junior golfers to compete on world-class courses in an inclusive environment. It hosted 10 tournaments throughout the US over the last two season and is now expanding to Europe to provide access and opportunities to junior golfers and give them the chance to be seen by top-tier college recruiters.

“We are thrilled to be expanding the UNDERRATED Golf Tour brand to London for season 3,” said Curry. “UNDERRATED Golf is a brand that will uplift and inspire underrepresented individuals who have yet to have equal access to the sport and the opportunities that come with it. It’s time that we level the playing eld, and ensure these student athletes throughout Europe have the critical tools and skills for a successful and sustainable future.”

The top three boy and top three girl winners from Season 2 (2023 Curry Cup) have been invited to play at Walton Heath for the UNDERRATED Golf European Tour’s opening tournament.

Alex Woodward, Chief Executive of Walton Heath, said: “We are delighted to welcome The UNDERRATED Golf Tour to Walton Heath for its inaugural staging of a tournament outside of the USA,” said “We are proud to be part of supporting the junior game and providing special opportunities to inspire the male and female golfers of the future. To the players, good luck, we hope you are excited at the prospect of stepping foot onto our cherished heathland and we look forward to welcoming you to Walton Heath in May.”

■ LET FOUNDER MEMBERS AND PAST PLAYERS SUE BAMFORD, PAM CHUGG, JULIE SMITH, CATHY PANTON-LEWIS, JANE FORREST, MAXINE BURTON, CHRISTINE LANGFORD, DENISE HASTINGS, VANESSA MARVIN AND JENNY LUCAS ON THE FIRST TEE AT THORPENESS

■ FORMER NBA STAR STEPHEN CURRY IS BRINGING HIS UNDER RATED JUNIOR GOLF TOUR TO THE UK THIS SUMMER

The Golf Trust has shipped over 16,000 golf balls to Fafali, a charity in Ghana thatdelivers a ‘Golf & Goal’ educational programme in the African country.

Golf Clubs and golfers from all over the United Kingdom were called into action with a nationwide campaign taking place over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Golf balls, whilst easily accessible over here, are hard to come by in Ghana and, with the help of everyone who has donated,

The Golf Trust are enabling this programme to continue into the rest of 2024. The programme provides golf coaching and a mainstream education for Ghanaian children who may not receive an education otherwise. Children are gifted equipment to continue their golf education alongside their schooling if they remain on the course and interested in the sport.

“The Golf Trust has been a great partner

in our quest to grow the game in Ghana,” explained Solomon Allotey of the Ghana Golf Union. “Through their support, we have been able to provide the needed equipment to the underprivileged in Accra who wouldn’t have access to golf.”

Cae Menai-Davis, founder of The Golf Trust, said: “I was totally blown away with the amount of balls clubs from all over the country were donating. I was driving vans full of golf balls up and down the country, so they’ve seen some miles even before they make their way to Ghana.

“It may only seem like golf balls, but to Fafali they are a huge help and will help them out massively over the next couple of months. The work they do over there to not only grow the game of golf, but to also give children a fantastic education is simply incredible and we look forward to helping them grow in the future.”

Golfers donate over 16,000 balls to Golf Trust campaign Hayling

PGA in England (South) Region Members can look forward to an expanded competitive calendar in 2024, with more events and more prize money up for grabs than ever before, as well as a host of exciting new venues to play.

The summer season tees o at Hayling Pro-Am on May 10 and runs all the way through to the traditional Christmas Fayre Pro-Am at Cinque Ports on December 7. In between, there are many highlights, including plenty of new additions to the schedule, with new events being held at Top 100 heathland courses at Hindhead (July 31) and Camberley Heath (October 10).

Golf At Goodwood is also welcome newcomer to the South Region circuit, hosting the PGA Southern Open from October 14-15, while the popular West Sussex venue is also scheduled to host a new Pro-Am event on August 23 which will combine 18 holes on the Downs Course with a visit to an evening horse racing meeting at Goodwood.

The PGA Kent Open is being staged from August 12-13 at Chart Hills, whose Nick Faldo-designed course has recently bene tted from a major renovation, while Donnington Grove joins the schedule as host of the Southern Pros Championship from August 27-28.

In between all that, there are two overseas trips to Portugal look forward to, including the Sunshine Pro-Am (Feb 17-25) and the Portugal Pro-Am (Oct 30-Nov 4), while the 2024 campaign will once again conclude in the sunshine in Turkey, where the St James’s Place National Pro-Am should attract a stellar eld at the Antalya Golf Club from November 25-29.

■ STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SECRETARY GARETH SHAW & THE GOLF TRUST’S CAE MENAI-DAVIS WITH THE HUGE HAUL OF GOLF BALLS THAT ARE DESTINED TO BE USED TO HELP CHILDREN IN GHANA LEARN TO PLAY THE GAME

R&A chief executive to step down

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, is to step down at the end of 2024 after nine years in the role.

Slumbers, 63, will oversee the staging of The Open Championship at Royal Troon, the return of the Women’s Open to St Andrews and the Curtis Cup match at Sunningdale, before relinquishing his role by the end of the year.

Slumbers said: “It has been a privilege to serve golf at the highest level. It is a role that I have been proud to carry out on behalf of The R&A, the members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and all our global partners. In any career there is a time to allow the next generation to have its turn. I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that The R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents.”

During his tenure, Slumbers has led a modernisation of the R&A’s activities, which included the merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union and its subsequent integration to enable the R&A to represent golf for men, women, boys and girls at the elite level.

He also played a leading in role in driving forward the modernisation of the Rules of Golf, most significantly in 2019, and the roll-out of the World Handicap System a year later. He also leant his influence to the Distance Insights process, the outcome of which was announced in December and included the scheduled roll back of golf ball distances from 2028.

He also played a significant role in commercialising many of the R&A’s activities, including turning The Open into an all-ticket affair, which, while financially successful, has not been particularly popular with fans. The increased revenues generated from ticket sales has enabled the R&A to substantially increase its investment in amateur golf around the world and, with the backing of sponsors, has also enabled The Open and the AIG Women’s Open to grow its prize funds significantly.

His tenure has not been without its critics, however, with the R&A’s decision to switch the coverage of The Open Championship from the BBC to Sky Sports in 2016 resulting in the loss of a huge opportunity to grow the game through free public service broadcasting.

Loughton up for sale

The site formerly occupied by Loughton Golf Course in Essex has been put up for lease by its owners, the City of London Corporation.

The club, which offered in 9-hole course in 30 acres of woodland on the edge of Epping Forest, closed in 2021.

With the assistance of real estate consultants Knight Frank, the City of London Corporation is seeking to rejuvenate and reinvent the site and wishes to grant a new lease of between 20-35 years.

The City of London Corporation is welcoming proposals from parties who are interested in taking on the site, with a view to building a long-term future which is harmonious with the local community and the forest.

For further information on the lease details, contact henry.mcneilwilson@knightfrank.com.

Faldo Series launches Futures events for younger golfers

The Faldo Series, the global charitable trust which has kickstarted the careers thousands of junior golfers – and dozens of leading tour professionals – over the last 28 years, is launching a new tour in 2024 for junior golfers aged 7-12 that will run as a compliment to its established Junior and Elite Tour.

The Faldo Futures has an ambitious plan to offer the qualifying rounds to be hosted at any club across the UK with players qualifying for regional finals followed by the Faldo Futures Final being held at The Belfry in August.

The new tour is aiming to introduce competitive, but fun golf to this younger generation, with competitions played over shortened courses that fit best with the host club. Nine-hole competitions will be split by age group and gender, with the top two players from each section qualifying for one of eight regional finals to be held in May.

The winners of the regionals will play in The Faldo Futures Final at The Belfry during the British Masters week in August, hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

Commenting on The Faldo Futures, Matthew Faldo, Tournament Director of The Faldo Series, said: “We’re delighted to be launching The Faldo Futures Tour for 2024. Encouraging the younger generation to participate in the sport is fundamental to its continued success and we’re very much looking forward to seeing hundreds of young people play golf, but more importantly have fun, during the first round.”

Golf clubs are now being invited to participate in the new tour by staging their own competition between March 22 and April 14. In addition to helping encourage participation of the sport among young people, clubs will receive support for their event including a digital competition platform, digital promotion pack, official Faldo Futures Venue logo, prizes for the winners and listing on The Faldo Series website. The club will also benefit from the increased exposure by providing follow-up junior tuition opportunities and junior membership.

For more information, visit faldoseries.com/the-faldo-futures.

Robertson answers the captain’s call for 2025 Walker Cup

In a break from long-standing tradition at the Walker Cup, former Italian Open champion Dean Robertson has been named captain of the GB & Ireland team that will take on the United States in September 2025 at Cypress Point for the 50th version of the biennial contest.

Robertson, 53, who is currently working as a high-performance coach at the University of Stirling in Scotland, is the first professional golfer to take charge of the GB&I squad since the inception of the matches in 1922.

He will begin his two-year term in the role by captaining GB&I against the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy at Royal Porthcawl in July.

Robertson, who played in the 1993 Walker Cup and is a former Scottish Amateur champion, said: “To have represented GB& I in the St Andrews Trophy and the Walker Cup was the pinnacle of my amateur career and an incredible privilege. Now to have the honour of captaining Great Britain and Ireland is something I could not have imagined, but it is one that I am thrilled about. I very much look forward to working closely with the players for the matches ahead with an important focus on being well prepared and playing to win.”

■ MARTIN SLUMBERS HAS OVERSEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO GOLF’S GOVERNING BODY DURING HIS NINE-YEAR TENURE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

■ DEAN ROBERTSON IS THE FIRST FORMER TOUR PLAYER TO CAPTAIN THE GB&I WALKER CUP TEAM

THE AGES A CLUB FOR

Boasting a stunning parkland course and a recently renovated clubhouse, Bush Hill Park Golf Club in has been enjoying a new lease of life in recent years, with the near 130-year-old north London venue buoyed by a new generation of golfers that have been attracted to the club by a continuous period of investment in the facilities and a new emphasis on inclusivity, rst-class hospitality, and a family-friendly ethos

Like many golf clubs in the UK, Bush Hill Park has enjoyed a significant change to the landscape of its membership in recent years, following a revival in golf from both seasoned but previously ‘nomadic’ players, and novices dipping their toe into the game for the first time.

Thanks to the injection of new blood, the club has been able to carry out significant renovations to both the course and the clubhouse that has brought a club that was first founded in 1895, firmly into the 21st century and beyond.

Stewart Judd, the club’s general manager, who has been in role since 2017, is justifiably proud that Bush Hill Park has become one of the most progressive golf clubs around, and he, and his fellow board members, are determined that the club’s future fortunes are permanently turned around based on the quality of the facilities and the member and visitor experience.

Ambassador, was recognised in England Golf’s Centenary Awards just last month, where she was the recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Champion award for her impressive work in breaking down barriers for women in golf, and inspiring new golfers from a wide range of backgrounds within the local community and further afield.

Nicola teaches the Club’s Women Driving Forward campaign that sets up a pathway to golf, which has seen hundreds of women and girls take up the game for the first time.

In 2023, she hosted two primary school festivals at Bush Hill Park, accommodating 16 schools and over 200 pupils. She has also run classes for the Muslim Women’s Sports Association and is passionate about inspiring more young people from all backgrounds, particularly girls, into the sport.

17TH HOLE FROM BEHIND

As one of the first clubs in Middlesex to have been awarded England Golf’s new ‘Respect in Golf’ accreditation, which recognises a commitment to inspiring a welcoming environment, the club’s progressive attitudes have captured the attention of several major awards in recent years, most recently at the Club Mirror Awards in November 2023 when the club was crowned the Golf Club of the Year Award. This is the third time the Club has been honoured at these awards following wins in 2019 and 2022, and together with the ‘Golf Club of the Year’ awarded in 2021 by England Golf, marked a quartet of awards.

The judging panels were clearly impressed by developments at the club in the last few years, most notably in respect of women’s golf, which has brought female participation at the club to an all-time high. Nicola Bennett, the club’s Senior PGA Professional, and Golf Foundation

■ BUSH HILL PARK HAS SUCCEEDED IN ATTRACTING MANY NEW FEMALE MEMBERS IN RECENT YEARS THANKS TO A PATHWAY PROGRAMME SET UP BY CLUB SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL NICOLA BENNETT

Like the rest of the club, Bush Hill Park’s 18-hole course has not stood still. The 5,776-yard parkland layout recently having been which rated the fourth best in Middlesex by respected authority Top100Courses.com. Neatly contained in just over 100 acres of suburban parkland, the course is not long by modern standards, but its par of 70, and a sextet of tricky par-three holes and four lengthy par fives, ensures that players must bring their ‘A game’ to score well here.

Some of the fairways are narrow, tree-lined affairs, although it broadens out in places to enable big hitters to open their shoulders on the par fives, three of which are well over 500 yards long. The closing stretch of holes from 13-18 is especially memorable, with water coming into play on the par-four 17th. All in all, it’s an entertaining mix that will provide a challenge to all elements of your game in delightfully peaceful surroundings.

The installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation system back in 2018 has proved a life saver as far

as the course is concerned during a series of hot summers, most notably in 2022, when many courses burnt to a crisp, and it’s more than paid its way in ensuring that quality playing conditions are maintained throughout the season.

In addition to its impressive golf course, Bush Hill Park also boasts a state-of-the-art swing studio, offering advanced swing analysis technology, including Foresight Sports’ GCQuad launch monitor to create a top-quality teaching and practice facility. The studio is mainly used for lessons and club fittings but is also available to hire by the hour for individual practice or group games on a simulator.

Besides the course, the leafy North London club, located in Winchmore Hill and less than four miles from junction 25 of the M25, is an impressive destination, reached via a long sweeping driveway through beautiful grounds.

The club attracts visitors and hosts revisiting societies year after year that enjoy the experience of the Club, which has been greatly enhanced in recent years with the Head Chef and in-house catering team serving an exciting menu in relaxed and recently modernised dining areas.

The clubhouse, the Old Park Mansion, is a locally listed building that has been home to its members since 1922 and provides an impressive venue for all occasions, with function rooms of various sizes, the recently renovated Ridings restaurant, contemporary lounge and sports bar, and spacious changing rooms. The large patio at the front of the building, overlooking the 18th green, and a veranda at the rear overlooking the first tee, provide great places to enjoy a drink in the sunshine with stunning views of the course, making the club the ideal destination to spend time whether or not you’re playing golf. The club bucks the trend of having one of the most active and vibrant social scenes in Middlesex, and hosts a diverse calendar of events and dining experiences throughout the year.

Continually evolving the member experience is a priority and has recently included the creation of added benefits with a new member referral scheme, special offers with local partners, and complimentary Country Membership with MASHIE Golf that gives members preferential green fees at premium golf clubs all over the UK.

All in all, the club continues to emerge as a destination for a broad range of players and visitors that are seeking a replete golfing experience.

To discuss summer golf days and membership opportunities, please call 020 3146 9892 or visit www.bhpgc.com.

■

GREEN

■ BUSH HILL PARK’S MANAGEMENT TEAM CELEBRATE THE CLUB WINNING ANOTHER MAJOR INDUSTRY AWARD

Pros fall by the wayside as top England amateurs claim Sunningdale Foursomes glory

England team amateurs

Dylan Shaw Radford and Harley Smith teamed up to win this year’s Sunningdale Foursomes after beating Daryl Gwillian and Will Shucksmith 5&4 in the nal held over the Berkshire club’s famous Old Course. Shaw Radford (Hudders eld) and Smith (The Rayleigh Club) reached the nal after a walkover in the semi- nal against John Wilding and Ellie Gower but had earlier come through ve qualifying matches.

Gwillian and Shucksmith, with the latter representing the host club, reached the nal after beating Tom Osborne and Charlie Doughtry in their semi- nal, with the match going to the nal hole.

Earlier Osborne and Doughtry had lowered the ag of DP World Tour player Eddie Pepperell and his partner Rob Harrby in a match that also went the full distance, before Harrby hit his approach to 18 onto Sunningdale’s practice putting green, leaving his partner needing to hole his fourth shot to keep the match alive, which he only narrowly failed to do.

Solheim Cup star Georgia Hall also made an early exit, losing her second round match 3&2 when paired with Ryan Evans against the Newcastle pairing of Andrew Minnkin and Philip Ridden.

Former Tour players Benn Barham, Robert Rock and Scott Drummond, playing in di erent pairings, also su ered early defeats, all going out in the rst round of the season’s traditional curtain raiser.

To check out all the results from this year’s Sunningdale Foursomes, visit www. sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk.

■ EDDIE PEPPERELL TANGLES WITH SUNNINGDALE’S HEATHER DURING HIS THIRD ROUND DEFEAT

GOLF GAMEBOOK: THE CLUBHOUSE IN YOUR POCKET

Inject more fun into you and friends’ golfing lives with Golf GameBook , the free and easy-to-use app that is guaranteed to raise the entertainment stakes on and off the course, while also keeping tabs on those all-important scores and stats

If you and your friends like to share the ner details of your rounds in the clubhouse or nd yourselves wondering how your mid-round scores are matching up against friends playing in the group ahead, or even in a game taking place somewhere else, then Golf GameBook might just be what has been missing from your life.

Free to download and easy to use, Golf GameBook, in its simplest form, is a smartphone app that performs, in parts, the roles of a digital scorecard, GPS unit, stats tracker, real-time leaderboard, and every kind of social media platform you can think of – all in the same place. It’s your virtual clubhouse rolled into one handy package.

UNITING A GLOBAL GOLF COMMUNITY

Golf GameBook has been on the quest to make golf more fun for friend groups in various forms for almost 15 years, rst starting out life in 2008 as a physical device, much the same shape and size as a mobile phone. But the progress of digital technology, and the explosion of the downloadable app market in the early 2010s, soon meant that having a separate device to your smartphone was no longer necessary, and Golf GameBook’s creators, former Finnish tour professionals Mikko Manerus and Kalle Väinölä, pivoted to develop a mobile-based operating system, with the rst app for smartphone users coming out in 2014.

With its headquarters based in Finland, Golf GameBook quickly garnered a strong following in the Nordic countries, with over 500,000 registered users in this region alone, but over the last decade the app has grown to become a global phenomenon, currently boasting over 1.5 million registered users across more than 100 countries.

PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO COMPETITION

With its emphasis on personal interaction and score sharing, Golf GameBook’s raison d’etre is to inject more fun into the gol ng experience both on and o the course, whether it be for a big corporate day or society outing, or between a regular Saturday four-ball, a larger group of gol ng friends, or even more formal club competitions. Golf GameBook’s social media element provides a readymade focal point for all the pre- and post-match chat, while its tournament functionality means that that you could run an entire competition for up to 72 players all just using the Golf GameBook app.

As Mikko says: “As former tour pros, Kalle and I have played in countless Pro-Ams and other events where we saw amateur golfers being excited before they started the game, but much of that excitement dissipated long before the round was nished. We thought that golf deserved to be more fun. We also wanted to make it a lot easier for players to both enter and count a score and to play more of those great game formats golf has to o er. So, we decided to not only create the best digital scorecard in the world, but also make it one that could easily be used to share content, whether it be photos, videos and along with all the other conversations that revolve around golf games.”

Despite sharing some clear and obvious capabilities with other platforms and technologies, it’s fair to say that there is nothing else quite like Golf GameBook out there for golfers, with its impressive array of gameenhancing features putting it head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to accessibility, functionality and ease of use.

QUICK & EASY SET UP

Mikko adds: “Looking at other traditional social platforms we quickly saw that there is only a nite amount of golf-related content that people want to share on them, as not all their friends will be interested, but on Golf GameBook you know that everyone in your group is just as obsessed with the game as you are and that it’s ne to share all your golfrelated banter and content in that space.”

Once you’ve downloaded the Golf GameBook app on to your smartphone, and lled in your details, (email, handicap, home club etc), to get started you just simply add in your group – whoever you’re playing with that day – choose one or two match formats, set up a nearest-the-pin and longest drive competition, if you wish, and then you’re good to go.

After that, all you have to do is enter your scores and Golf GameBook does the rest, calculating handicap scores and Stableford points, providing hole-by-hole score updates and a live leaderboard for everyone in your group to access, as well as those friends who may not be playing that day.

Golf GameBook enables you to put away your pencil and stop wondering whether you need to birdie the last to bag a podium nish. It’s all there in front of you. Once the round is over you can share scores, uploaded photos or videos you may have taken during the game, and then celebrate successes and commiserate the glorious failures.

The app is also a good way of making friends at your home club as when you register you can instantly see which members of your club have registered with Golf GameBook, while you can also invite friends who play golf to sign up, so that you can share each other’s gol ng achievements and experiences even though you might not play with them every week.

CHALLENGES & GOAL SETTING

Challenges are a huge part of the fun to be had on Golf GameBook. Whether that’s with your friends, or through the extended group of global users on the app. Can you hit 25 greens in regulation in a month? Who is the longest driver in your fourball? Who has holed the longest putt?

The app also allows you to compare your performance against the entire network of Golf GameBook members and be in with a chance of winning a host of prizes and gol ng experiences through competitions run by Golf GameBook throughout the year.

You can also use the app to set yourself goals. For example, if you play o a 12 handicap, but

GOLF GAMEBOOK IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD

FROM THE APPLE STORE AND GOOGLE PLAY

To nd out more, visit golfgamebook.com or click/scan the QR code.

you want to get down to eight, the app will collect all the statistics from members with an 8 handicap and o er guidance on what speci c elements of your game you need to improve, and by how much, to reach that goal.

Golf GameBook’s also great for creating a bit of healthy competition between regular gol ng partners over the course of a season. Perhaps you’ve played 30 rounds together and want to share head-to-head comparisons to nd out how you match up against your pals on every part of your game. Golf GameBook has got that covered too.

FUN FACTS & GAME-CHANGING STATS

If you’re nerdy about your stats – and let’s face it, a lot of us golfers are – you’ll be glad to know that shot tracking and data gathering are a core feature of the Golf GameBook o ering.

“While there are many fun elements to the app, in terms of social content sharing and fun challenges, Golf GameBook is very much grounded in trying to help you play better golf,” says Mikko. “And its core is the digital scorecard. That’s where you document your scores and you maintain your handicap and, naturally when you do that, statistics start playing a role.”

You’d expect to see a breakdown of birdies, pars, and bogeys, which fairways you’ve hit and how, but Golf GameBook will also show your score changes depending on your shot execution and course strategy. You can laser down to just how much nding the fairway matters when it comes to getting on a green in regulation and see how and where you’re trailing your pals on the numbers front. How close were you to the hole when you hit your rst putt? How many penalty shots? How many chips? From that data, you can get a well-rounded overview of where the areas of your game are where you fall short. Set yourself a handicap target and then use the categories to drill down and make it happen.

YOUR EYES IN THE SKY & ON THE GROUND

Golf GameBook also serves as a GPS unit, enabling you to click on a course and get fullhole overviews and precise yardages to targets and pins wherever you are playing in the world. Click a map and a GPS hole guide lls the screen, allowing you to plot the best way around the course.

GOLF GAMEBOOK ENABLES YOU TO PUT AWAY YOUR PENCIL AND STOP WONDERING WHETHER YOU NEED TO BIRDIE THE LAST TO WIN. IT’S ALREADY ALL THERE IN FRONT OF YOU

GOLD

MEMBERSHIP – TAKE YOUR GOLF GAMEBOOK EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

While the basic Golf GameBook app is free to use, registered users are able to enhance their experience, and get access to an even broader range of game and fun-enhancing features, by becoming a Gold member.

Costing just £39.99 for a 12-month subscription, little more than the cost of a cup of co ee per month – but also available for a free 30-day trial – Gold membership opens up a wealth of extra functionality on the app, including up to 20 game formats; deeper dives into performance statistics; GPS maps that expand into hole-by-hole statistics, and a ‘Private Game’ mode that allows you to get out on the course and record your scores without letting anyone else know that you’ve sneaked o for a cheeky mid-week game.

Gold membership also enables you to run multi-group matches and add unregistered players into your scoring, saving time asking new players to sign up to the app on the rst tee.

■ GOLF GAMEBOOK’S LIVE SCORING FEATURE WILL ADD EXCITEMENT TO ANY ROUND

E ingham’s new sho game area ready for spring opening

E ngham Golf Club will add another string to its gol ng bow when one of the UK’s largest and most extensive short game practice areas opens at the established Surrey venue in May.

Positioned between the clubhouse and rst tee, the area – featuring a 1,250m2 short game academy green with 12 distinct zones for a greater variety of practice, and a 450m2 putting green – will be unveiled this spring after more than a year’s growing in period.

The club commissioned architect James Edwards to design one of his in-demand short game academies, which have received rave reviews across the country. At E ngham, Edwards Design International has built one of their largest practice areas to date, sculpting the land to re ect the dynamic downland terrain of the course.

As well as endless opportunities to experiment with putting, pitching, chipping and bunker play, the area will include two new practice net bays and a cleaning station

for shoes and trolleys.

Richard Anderson, Chair of the Board at E ngham Golf Club, said: “We’re very excited to open our new area in a few short months, bringing the calibre of our practice facilities in line with Harry Colt’s incredible course. The area was conceptualised in response to feedback from our members, and we really envision this being a place where they can spend hours honing their skills and enjoying themselves.

“We are most proud of the seamless, direct member journey from clubhouse to rst tee via the new 12-zone academy and putting green, which makes practice the most accessible it has ever been at E ngham.”

■ PART OF THE NEW SHORT GAME PRACTICE AREA

■ HAMPSHIRE’S MATTHEW DODD-BERRY, WHO IS CURRENTLY STUDYING AT EAST TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY, HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR ENGLAND’S GOLF MEN’S SQUAD

Trilby Tour expands schedule for new season

The Trilby Tour, the UK’s biggest amateur golf competition, is about to get even bigger, with the tour adding two more quali ers to the schedule ahead of the 2024 season.

Passionate amateurs from across the country will ght to qualify for September’s Grand Final – which will once again return to Ayrshire’s Dundonald Links, host of the 2023 Women’s Scottish Open.

Meanwhile, the Trilby Tour has con rmed two returning sponsors following the success of last year’s competition: golf apparel brand Glenmuir and trolley manufacturer Motocaddy. Entry to the Trilby Tour will also include a

New indoor golf studio opens in Farnham

A new indoor golf studio has opened in Farnham where the emphasis is on introducing newcomers to the game, and creating a fun, family-orientated atmosphere.

The Golf Manor, which is located in Lion & Lamb Way in the centre of the Surrey town, opened in January and is being run by Lawrence Oranusi, a former IT consultant who has employed a team of PGA Professionals to o er coaching for all levels of golfer.

The studio features bays equipped with state-of-the-art simulators and swing analysis technology for a wide variety of game play experiences and coaching. Bays can be hired by the hour from as a little as £20, while a variety of membership packages are available for those who want to use the facility on a more regular basis.

For more details, visit www.golfmanor.club.

England caps nine new men’s team members

England Golf have named a 14-player men’s squad ahead of the new season, with nine new names included.

Eliot Baker, Ben Brown, Will Hopkins, Charlie Crockett, Matthew Dodd-Berry, Zach Little and Mark Stockdale join the squad, with Sam Easterbrook and Tyler Weaver making the step up from the England Boys’ Squad.

Six players will be UK-based while eight players will receive additional support from coaches while attending their respective colleges in the USA.

From last year’s squad, John Gough, Josh Berry and Frank Kennedy have all gone on to turn professional, with Berry picking up a DP World Tour card – the second youngest ever to do so, aged just 18, behind only Rory McIlroy.

England Golf Men’s Squad Manager Gareth Jenkins said: “We have a number of new faces this year who have impressed across various championships and we’re looking forward to the year ahead where the players will receive England Golf training sessions with support from world-class coaches, and feature in competitive opportunities around the world in 2024.”

Full squad: Eliot Baker (Devon); Ben Brown (Yorks); Zach Chegwidden (Essex); James Claridge (Sta s); Will Hopkins (Lincs); Dylan Shaw-Radford (Yorks); Jack Bigham (Herts); Charlie Crockett (Surrey); Matthew Dodd-Berry (Cheshire); Sam Easterbrook (Warks); Josh Hill (UAE); Zach Little (Herts); Mark Stockdale (Bucks); Tyler Weaver (Su olk).

Glenmuir shirt, while Motocaddy will provide a range of prizes at all six events.

Qualifying will get underway at Carus Green Golf Club with the return of the Championship of Cumbria – which was last held in 2022 – on May 2. Later in the season, the inaugural Championship of Greater Manchester at Saddleworth Golf Club will mark the rst time the Trilby Tour has held a quali er in the county.

The additions bring the total number of qualifying events to ve, with three tour staples remaining on the schedule – the Championship of Yorkshire at Kilnwick Percy, the Championship of Oxfordshire at The Springs Resort & Golf Club and the Championship of Ayrshire at Dundonald Links.

Dundonald Links will also stage the nale of the tour on September 23, a week after the nal quali er at the same venue.

To learn more about the competition, visit www.trilbytour.co.uk.

■ THE GOLF MANOR INDOOR STUDIO

■ THE TRILBY TOUR WILL HOST A TOURNAMENT AT THE SPRINGS RESORT IN JUNE

■ LAST YEAR’S WINNER KAREN-BEATTIE WITH DARWIN ESCAPE’S GOLF DIRECTOR ASHLEY PHEASANT

WIN A CUSTOM-FITTED CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE DRIVER!

To celebrate the launch of Callaway Golf’s new range of Paradym Ai Smoke drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, we’ve teamed up with Callaway to give one Golf News reader the chance to get their 2024 golf season off to a flying start with a brand new Paradym Ai Smoke driver, worth £569

The Paradym Ai Smoke Drivers represent a quantum leap forward in Callaway’s Ai journey, with the most sophisticated face they’ve ever created from player data and machine learning. The Ai Smart Face optimises driver performance using swing dynamics from thousands of golfers which have been used to create over 50,000 virtual face prototypes, optimising performance for each head shape.

With Ai Smart Face technology, micro de ections are activated upon impact helping to optimise launch and spin on o -centre shots. The result is sweet spots not just in the

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The Paradym Ai Smoke Driver is o ered in four models – Max, Max Fast, Max D and Triple Diamond. The MAX is suited for every level of player with a forgiving shape and adjustable perimeter weighting for up to 19 yards of shot shape correction. MAX D is built with high MOI, and a generously stretched pro le for players looking for shot shape correction. Triple Diamond is for better players looking for increased workability, and MAX Fast promotes lightweight, easy-to-swing performance.

TO ENTER

For your chance to win, simply answer the question below and email info@golfnews.co.uk with the subject line ‘Callaway Ai Smoke Competition’. The winner will be selected at random and has the option to be custom tted for the driver or select an Ai Smoke driver model of their choice. The closing date for entries is April 30, 2024.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT MODELS DOES THE CALLAWAY PARADYM

AI SMOKE DRIVER COME IN?

If you would like to learn more about the full Paradym Ai Smoke range from Callaway, head over to eu.callawaygolf.com

Walk in the footsteps of Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Justin Rose at Moor Park Golf Clu

FROM MODEST AMBITIONS

Niall Horan is combining a hugely successful solo singing career with a burgeoning golf business, following the setting up of Modest! Golf Management in 2016. Here, the 30-yearold from Northern Ireland explains why he decided to get into player and tournament management, reveals his hopes for the future growth of the game; his own golfing obsession, and, oh, how he almost broke 80 at Augusta

When did you rst get into golf?

I started from a really early age back home in Mullingar in Ireland with a group of friends. I loved the sport back then and loved staying up on Masters Sunday watching the nal round with my dad.

What do you love about the game?

Everything. It’s a great way to escape for a bit, to turn my phone o and relax. I enjoy playing and meeting new people and the challenge of working hard to try and improve my game.

There’s nothing more grounding than a game of golf before you get the adulation of a crowd! I just love it, and that’s why I really got into it. I was playing a lot when I was younger but once the band kicked o and we were traveling the world, we used to just play a lot to get away from the madness. It’s a nice release to be able to spend four hours thinking about something else.

Why did you decide to set up Modest! Golf Management and how proud are you of way the company has developed and of what your players have acheived?

How much time do you get to work on your own game these days?

My game is doing okay – my handicap is 9. I’d like to get it down to ve or below, but it’ll take a bit of work to do that. The clubs go everywhere with me on the tour bus, so I always try and nd somewhere to play or practice between concerts. When we go on tour, that’s how we ll a lot of our days o , and we even been known to play on some of our gig days as well! My home club is Wentworth. When I’m in America I play all over though. Wherever I can get a game.

Have you ever been coached or taken lessons?

I haven’t, but I should. Half the issue is that I live in Central London and when I go out to Surrey or whatever to play golf, you go out to play, not practice. With the amount of time I get to play golf these days, all I want to do is play.

If I had the time, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know a lot of the coaches from just being around them and that would be the aim.

I really felt, along with my management company, that we could o er something di erent for some of the young golfers coming through. My management company has looked after young talent for many years, and then we brought in Mark McDonnell and Ian Watts into the company, who between them have 35 years’ experience in the golf industry.

Our focus is 100% our players. This isn’t about me or anybody else. This is about our players. This is their time, their careers, and we’re there to support them as best we can every step of the way. Long term, we want to develop a small, very talented stable of players across all tours. We’re a boutique company and want to sign a small number of key talents and really support them on their journey.

If I’m struggling with something these days, I just send a video to someone like ‘Rosey’ [Justin Rose]… I know that sounds incredibly privileged, but he’s become a good friend of mine and it’s cool to have that help. I’m sure if he ever needed singing tips he’d throw them at me!

It’s mad. We started with literally nothing in 2016 and now we’ve got a stable of 15 players across all the global tours and o ces in London and Los Angeles. We’ve been lucky enough to attract some great players, including Tyrrell [Hatton], Connor Syme, Ewen Ferguson, Guido Migliozzi, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist and LPGA Tour player Angel Yin, to name but a few.

Obviously Leona is doing amazing and is inspiring the next generation of girls in Ireland, while fellow Irishman Brendan Lawlor is second in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability and doing a superb job on the G4D Tour.

It’s been incredible time and hopefully we can kick on now. We’ll see what happens. It’s a tough world out there, but we’re going to try and cause a bit of disruption!

You’ve played your own part raising the pro le of golf in Ireland with Modest! Golf’s management of the Challenge Tour’s NI Open, which then became the ISPS World Invitational, and transformed into a mixed event with women and

men playing for the same prize money. How did that come about?

We always wanted to get involved with the Challenge Tour and put our money where our mouth is. I’d also heard what a rst class event the NI Open had been for a number of years. It was described to me as the closest thing you will get to a main European Tour event, and for us that’s exactly what we wanted to be involved with. So it was great that it went on to become a trisanctioned event between the DP World Tour, the Challenge Tour and the Ladies European Tour.

We got into golf with the aim of developing the next generation of players, whether they be men and women, so by supporting a tournament like the World Invitational we helped to bring that goal to fruition. We created the opportunity for women to perform on the same stage as men and compete for the same prize fund, and I am delighted that so many female pros took part.

It was always such a fun week, with lots of events outside of the tournament itself, with live music acts and more. It de nitely attracted a much younger, newer audience. It’s a shame that it came to an end last year, but we de nitely went out with a bang.

How do you think golf in general can broaden its appeal to younger audiences?

I think the game needs at times to be made quicker to encourage younger people into it. The European Tour, as it was then, kind of led the way with some new tournament formats a few years ago, and they’ve done a good job with their social media activity, but that needs to feed down more to the club level. Golf’s a great game for all ages and all genders. It requires skill and dedication and also gets you outside meeting new people and keeping you active.

Hopefully the work we are doing in the event space and in addition to our work with the R&A, we like to think we are doing our bit, but of course it needs all the stakeholders in golf to pull together to make the biggest di erence.

I’ve always been about just getting people to try it. If you can get someone to pick up a golf club and hit a few balls, whether they’re good or bad, it’s still good craic. The amount of people who’ve said, ‘I’ve just been to Topgolf and I was absolutely useless, but here’s a video of me and we had a great time’ – that’s what you want. And if you stick with it, you’ll get better. That’s not to say it gets easier. It’s still a really hard game even if you’re decent at it.

Dress codes have relaxed in recent years, with fashion brands entering the golf apparel market, and pros wearing hoodies and short-cut trousers. What do you like to wear on the golf course? I’m a mixed bag when it comes to what I wear. It depends where I’m playing. I can be more conservative at times and just wear my usual blue and cream. But the hoodie has been a revelation since Tyrrell [Hatton] won wearing it at the BMW PGA Championship in 2020. They’re all wearing

them now, including Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

I think it’s a generational thing, but it’s also about time we got comfortable with the fact times change and this is what people are wearing. If we really want to start growing the sport we need to stop taking stu like what people wear so seriously.

You’ve been lucky enough to play some great courses around the world, but word has it that you’ve played Augusta the week before the Masters, not once, but twice. What was that experience like?

The things that I’ve been able to do through golf are just insane. But yeah, I’ve been lucky enough to have played Augusta on a few occasions now and you know the way you play some course and go, ‘well I’ve done it now, ticked that box’, this one is

It’s amazing and it came about quite by chance. We met at The Open in 2022 to talk about a couple of content things. Then it became, ‘do you want to sign up with us and play with our gear?’ They’d help Modest! with our grassroots work with the R&A and vice versa, so it was a great t.

Callaway are the ones really putting their money where their mouth is in terms of initiatives like getting people into the game with their ownership of Topgolf. I met Chip Brewer, the president of Callaway, when I went to get my tting in Carlsbad and just speaking to him it was clear that we’re all on the same page in terms of getting people into golf and how we do that.

How’s Callaway’s new AI Smoke equipment treating you?

The gear is o the charts. The new Smoke irons are ridiculous – they’re so forgiving! They feel incredible, how pure they strike the ball. I got an extra nine yards o my seven iron alone which I didn’t think was in there – I wasn’t even swinging

it particularly hard. As for the driver, I drive the ball decently anyway. I’m carrying it 270 to 275 yards which is decent for someone my size and weight, but I managed to nd another seven or eight yards o that as well so it’s been impressive to see.

just on a di erent planet. It’s like nothing on earth. It’s what I imagine heaven to look like.

The rst time I played it was I standing on the 18th needing a par for a 78 and then doubled the last. I shot 80, which is still not too bad, eight-over, but I’m a much better golfer now, so to break 80 is the big aim now. If you treat it as a normal golf course, it’s scoreable. But it’s very hard to treat it as just another course. When you get on that rst tee your grip gets tighter and it all becomes a little tense because you always want to play well on a great course. You kill yourself just thinking about it.

You announced a new collaborative partnership with Callaway at the beginning of last year. How did that come about and what does it entail?

Visiting the factory, I was lucky enough to get a bit of a tour around the place. They explained how they do all the aerodynamics, how they’re shaping clubs, the metals they use, the carbon, the AI technology, the thought behind it all and it’s so impressive. They’re de nitely changing the game, there’s no doubt about that. As we can see from the top half of world golf – there’s a good few in there that are playing Callaway.

Who’s the best golfer among your peers in music? Justin Timberlake. The man’s class.

Any contenders for the worst?

It’s funny you say that. We’ve just got Lewis Capaldi a set of Callaway clubs. He clipped a few balls, sent me a video and I’ll tell you what, the swing’s naturally there. Must be the Scottish in him. A while ago he was like, ‘I’m not f***ing playing golf, f*** that! That’s a loada rubbish, old man’s game.’ Then six weeks later he’s asking me if I can get him a set of clubs! He’s mad into it. He’s playing on tour with the lads in the band as well now, so if we can get him into golf, then anything is possible!

■ HORAN HELPED BROKER THE DEAL THAT SAW MODEST!

GOLF PLAYER TYRRELL HATTON JOIN LIV GOLF FOR A REPORTED $58M

While I’ve no doubt that most identical twins enjoy the ability to impersonate the other to fool a teacher or play a trick on a friend or colleague, I’d place a few quid on Nicolai Hojgaard not wishing to have swapped roles with his twin brother Rasmus over the last 12 months, or, for that matter, the year that lies ahead.

While Rasmus is considered – according to those in the know –to be technically the more gifted golfer of the two, it is his older brother – by two minutes – Nicolai who ended up being picked to play in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome and who is now plying his trade on the PGA Tour, while Rasmus continues to tough it out on the European circuit after a frustrating season plagued by injury and an agonising nal tournament which saw him miss out of qualifying for the riches of the US circuit by a single shot.

It was a cruel twist for the brothers, who are clearly each other’s biggest fans, with perhaps the exception their doting parents, that having followed virtually identical career paths since their junior days on the Danish amateur circuit, that they should now be competing thousands of miles apart on di erent continents and for widely di erent levels of competition and prize money.

Rewind the clock back to the start of 2023 and the twins were both on course for potentially life-changing years. Rasmus began the year ranked 107th in the world rankings after a 2022 season that had seen him nish 16th in the DP World Tour ranking and bag ve top-10 nishes. At the same time, Nicolai was 132nd in the world and had nished 71st in the European points list following a di cult season that had yielded just one top-10 and eight missed cuts.

But Rasmus’s career progression stalled when he su ered a shoulder injury in mid-February which resulted in him sitting out two-and-half months of the season at a time when others were accruing vital points for both the DP World Tour and for September’s Ryder Cup. With the DP World Tour having done a deal with the PGA Tour that o ered PGA Tour cards for players not otherwise quali ed who nished inside the top 10 of the

TWIN PEAKS

Identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard are both blessed with huge amounts of golfing talent, but the 23-yearold Danish brothers are ploughing different paths this year after enjoying contrasting fortunes at the end of last season

Words by Nick Bayly

DP World Tour rankings, those two lost months were especially painful for the young Dane, who had targeted both those goals at the start of the year.

Returning to the competitive action in mid-April, the pressure was on for Rasmus to make up for lost time, and he did so pretty well, with 10th-placed nishes at the Dutch and Scottish Opens, and then narrowly missed out winning the French Open when Guido Migliozzi red a closing 62 to pip him by a shot. Further top-10 nishes in Spain and South Africa saw him arrive at the season-ending tournament, the DP World Tour Championship, needing a decent performance against nearest challengers Adrian Meronk, Mattieu Pavon and Robert McIntrye in order to bag the last of the ten PGA Tour cards on o er.

Opening with rounds of 74, 66 and 65 to move into a tie for ninth, Rasmus was in a tight battle with Pavon for that coveted tour card.

Starting the nal round one shot clear of the Frenchman, Rasmus looked all set to book his ight to the States when arriving at the Earth Course’s par- ve 18th hole. Needing a birdie to secure his playing rights in America, he could only watch in despair as his second shot approach to the green found the water, resulting in a penalty stroke and a par, which left him in 11th spot, while Pavon was left celebrating after nishing one shot ahead following four consecutive birdies over the closing four holes.

The salt in the wound was made all the more painful by the fact that his brother, Nicolai, ending up winning the tournament, thus securing the biggest win of his career – and a €2.6m pay day – and cementing his already secured position to earn a PGA Tour card. While obviously delighted with his brother’s success, it highlighted for both players the narrow, life-changing margins that professional golfers face on an almost a weekly basis.

Looking back on that fateful day last November, the pair are both sanguine about what it meant for each other’s immediate future.

“There’s no doubt that that day was awkward,” says Nicolai. “It de nitely took some of the shine o my celebrations. To be

THE SALT IN THE WOUND WAS MADE ALL THE MORE PAINFUL BY THE FACT THAT HIS BROTHER, ENDED UP WINNING THE TOURNAMENT

■

■ NICOLAI (LEFT) AND RASMUS HOJGAARD HAVE BOTH ENJOYED STRONG STARTS TO THE PROFESSIONAL CAREERS

honest, I felt worse for Ras than I felt good about winning the tournament. Sometimes it is tough for both of us in situations where one is performing well and the other not. It’s all part of it though. He is great at supporting me when I need it, and I hope I am the same for him.

“It was agonising the way it happened,” adds Nicolai of Rasmus’s near miss. “I really wanted him to get that card. He was in a great position, but it came down to a crazy scenario and he just missed out. Of course, I feel sorry for Ras, but I know he’s going to bounce back. He always does. He’s one of the best golfers I know and he’s going to come back stronger, and I have no doubt that he’ll get his card come November. He’s too good not to.”

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that will be the case. This remarkable pair of Danes have inspired each other throughout their young careers. Rasmus already has four DP World Tour wins, while victory in Dubai was Nicolai’s third triumph on the European circuit and came on top of his debut appearance in the September’s Ryder Cup in Rome where he earned a captain’s pick from Luke Donald. Widely questioned – with Adrian Meronk so annoyed at being left out that he joined the LIV Golf circuit four months later – Nicolai gave his critics plenty of rope when only managing a half-point from his three matches, but the rookie was understandably nervous in such a pressure cooker situation.

Talking about his Ryder Cup journey, Nicolai still has to pinch himself at how kindly the dice rolled for him last year.

“Coming o what wasn’t a great ‘22 season, I got a late call up to play in the Hero Cup [a team event for potential European Ryder Cup players] after Rasmus got injured. I was asked to stand in for him – so that was all a bit weird for both of us. I did OK there and from there on I started to play some pretty decent golf. I played well in Europe and then in March I got an invitation to play in a PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic where I nished second, and it kind of kicked on from there.”

He adds: “When I started the 2023 season I was so far behind in the points race that it barely crossed my mind that I could get picked for the Ryder Cup team, but then slowly it crept into my mind, and I thought maybe there’s a chance if I keep my head down and keep on improving. I managed to do that, and then I got the call from Luke. It was an incredible feeling and looking back it was the best week of my gol ng life and is something I will cherish forever. Of course, I didn’t perform as well as I would have liked, but as everyone says, playing in one makes you feel like you never want to miss another, so that will be me my main priority once the qualifying points season kicks in again and hopefully I

HE IS GREAT AT SUPPORTING ME WHEN I NEED IT

can improve on what I did in Rome.”

Moving into the top 50 in the world – he is currently 33rd – has also opened the door for Nicolai to compete in all the biggest tournaments, including the four major championships, an arena which either brother has yet to make an impact in.

“I feel like the next step now is to contend more in the bigger tournaments, especially the majors,” says Nicolai, who has played in just ve majors with a best placed 23rd in last year’s Open Championship. “That’s the goal for me over the next few years. Of course I would like to win more tournaments, but putting yourself in contention more often is the key to getting comfortable in those situations.”

After managing to put the disappointment of what happened last year behind him, Rasmus is already showing admirable form in early season exchanges on the DP World Tour, securing three top-10 nishes from his rst ve events, and already looking like a strong contender to secure one of the ten PGA Tour promotion spots on o er again for the 2025 season.

“I’m perhaps more motivated than I’ve ever been going into this season,” Rasmus says. “I have to give myself a little bit of credit for staying patient throughout last season and for performing the way I did after coming back from injury, but my goal is fairly simple this year. I want to win that PGA Tour card at the end of the year and will be working my hardest to achieve that.”

If it all goes to plan, who knows, as well as competing on the PGA Tour together next year, we may see the Hojgaard twins walking down the fairways at Bethpage Black battling the Americans in the 2025 Ryder Cup. It could be time to dust o my old Dire Straits albums. Brothers in Arms, indeed.

HOJGAARD V HOJGAARD

How the brothers match up on some key performance metrics (up to the end of the 2023 season)

WHAT’S IN NICOLAI’S BAG?

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym AiSmoke Triple Diamond (10.5°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond (16.5°, 20°)

IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (4), Callaway Apex MB Proto (5-10)

WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Raw (50°), Jaws Full Toe (56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Odyssey Versa Jailbird

MINI

BALL: Callaway Chrome Tour X Triple Track

WHAT’S IN RASMUS’S BAG?

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym AiSmoke Triple Diamond (10.5°)

Fairway Wood: Callaway

Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond (16.5°)

Irons: Callaway Rogue ST Pro (2), Callaway Apex MB ‘21 (3-9)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52°, 60°), Jaws Full Toe (56°)

Pu er: Odyssey AI-ONE Milled 8

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X

■ NICOLAI WON THE BIGGEST TITLE OF HIS CAREER AT THE 2023 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN DUBAI

■ RASMUS WON HIS FOURTH DP WORLD TOUR TITLE IN DENMARK LAST YEAR

FOWLER’S LASTING LEGACIES

Among a select group of British architects who played a leading role in golf course design’s ‘golden age’ during the early years of the 20th century, Herbert Fowler has le a lasting legacy for golfers from all over the world to enjoy

As with most successful second careers, Herbert Fowler came to be one of England’s most celebrated golf course architects quite by accident. Born into a wealthy Somerset textile family in 1856, Fowler eschewed the traditional university education route followed by his peers, and started out his working life in banking, becoming a partner in a Wellington-based rm, while, somewhat unusually, also playing rst-class cricket for Somerset.

Unfortunately for his career prospects in banking, Fowler’s gures weren’t quite as impressive when it came to nance, and his rm went bust in the late 1890s, with Fowler up to his elbows in dept and with no obvious means of paying them o . Although he joined Royal North Devon Golf Club in 1879 – and got his game, which was helped by his long driving, to a level where he managed to make

the last 16 of the Amateur Championship in 1891 and nish 26th in the Open Championship in 1900 – Fowler’s move from playing golf to designing golf courses came about when his wealthy banker brotherin-law, Sir Cosmo Bonsor, proposed that Fowler pay o his banking debts by helping him to build a golf course on a large parcel of land that he owned in Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey. Thus, the seeds of Fowler’s second – and most important –career were sown.

By the standards of the day, the creation of what is now known as Walton Heath’s Old Course was a slow process, with the course, hewn from 600 acres of heather – taking over

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three years to build and not opening until the summer of 1904. With a big budget at his disposal, Fowler was painstaking in his preparation of the land, and spent precious time, and money, laying down a system of pipes that brought water to each green and tee to create what was one of the rst examples of modern-day irrigation. That the course measured 6,424 yards was most likely down to Fowler’s own prestigious length of the tee, but it was a prescient move as the arrival of the Haskell ball and better equipment soon demanded that championship courses be of a similar yardage.

Fowler built a second course at Walton Heath, the New, in 1907, although it started out life as 9-holer and it wasn’t extended to full 18 until some six years later. By this time Fowler was a major gure in golf. He had become a member of both the R&A and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and was listed as one of the R&A’s representatives on the St Andrews’ Green Committee in 1903. And with word of his excellent work at Walton Heath soon spreading among the gol ng community, Fowler was soon being o ered course development and renovation projects all over the British Isles, with the redesign his own gol ng alma mater, Royal North Devon, being one of his earliest commissions. With business booming, Fowler was happy to be joined at his busy practice by Tom Simpson in 1910, and between them laid out or modi ed another eight courses, including Delamere Forest in Cheshire and the Royal Automobile Club in Surrey, before the

outbreak of the Great War in 1914 brought an immediate halt to all course work.

On returning to England in 1919, following a brief foray to the US, Fowler was given the task of rebuilding Saunton Golf Club’s East Course, which was rst laid out in 1897. It was clearly a huge success, as legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin, writing about Saunton in The Game of Golf, said: “Saunton is, potentially at any rate, one of the nest courses of the world, t to hold up its head with St Andrews or Prestwick, Hoylake, Prince’s or Pine Valley. Rarely, if ever, have I seen such gol ng country on such a gorgeous scale, so that it hardly seems real, but made rather out of the fabric of a dream.”

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BULL BAY GOLF CLUB Few places can rival the setting of Bull Bay, a blend of lush fairways, ravines, elevated tees and superb greens. Arguably Fowler’s best-kept secret, he made the most of undulating land that nature provided and sets the player a unique challenge. Once played you are certain to return.

Tel: 01407 830960 | Web: bullbaygc.co.uk

Tel: 01372 229243 | Web: royalautomobileclub.co.uk

HERBERT FOWLER CAME TO BE ONE OF ENGLAND’S MOST CELEBRATED GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS QUITE BY ACCIDENT

The following year, 1920, saw Fowler and Simpson set up a partnership with JF Abercromby and Arthur Croome for a few years and by the end of the decade the quarter were responsible for creating, adding to and modifying a multitude of courses in Britain and Continental Europe, including Aberdovey (pictured above left), Cruden Bay and Royal Lytham & St Annes, along with the construction of the Blue and Red courses at The Berkshire. The latter is a typical example of Fowler’s creativity, with the layout boasting six wildly di ering short holes, six par 4s and six par 5s, all of which make use of the land’s natural slopes, with holes that t naturally and comfortably into the landscape.

Fowler retained his ability as a golfer until late in his life, making his best ever score round St Andrews’ Old course, a remarkable 70, when he was 68. He died in 1941, aged 84, leaving just £325 in his will. A small amount to show for a life that has positively a ected so many others and will do for centuries to come.

COODEN BEACH features dykes, ponds and bunkers to catch a wayward shot. Nine holes exceed 400 yards and present a di erent challenge from which ever tee you chose to play from. Being relatively at the course is easy walking but the climb up the 9th hole takes you to the highest point of the course where you can take in the stunning views.

Tel: 01424 842040 | Web: coodenbeachgc.com

Tel: 01689851323 | Web: wkgc.co.uk

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB has two exceptional downland golf courses in the beautiful surroundings of the Epsom Downs, members and their guests can enjoy the perfect gol ng experience. Sweeping down towards Epsom Racecourse, the tree-lined grounds make for a dramatic backdrop for a round of golf at any time of the year.

WEST KENT GOLF CLUB was founded in 1916, West Kent is a well established and highly respected private members’ club. The 6427 yard course has a challenging mixture of undulating features based on woodland, downland and parkland holes to test all abilities and is the longest ladies course in Kent at just under 6,000 yards.

SHIRLEY PARK GOLF CLUB is ve minutes’ drive from East Croydon station, yet it is a hidden oasis of 130 acres of Surrey countryside. The course was o cially opened in July 1914 by the then Lord Mayor of London and still today, it is regarded as one of the nest courses in the south London area, with an extremely warm welcome.

■ WALTON HEATH’S OLD COURSE

■ BERKSHIRE’S RED COURSE

■ ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB

STORY BEHIND THE PIC

JOSÉ MARIA OLAZÁBAL • MASTERS TOURNAMENT, AUGUSTA

There was a time when European golfers won the Masters for fun. By fun, I mean they won it a lot – although they also probably had a lot of fun doing it, too.

Beating the Americans in their own backyard has always added an extra frisson to any Major win, and it became even more fun during a period that Europe was also dominating the Ryder Cup.

Thirty years ago – yes, three zero – José Maria Olazábal’s two-shot victory at Augusta followed an incredible run of wins for European golfers that stretched back to Sandy Lyle in ‘88, Nick Faldo in ‘89 and ‘90, Ian Woosnam in ’91, and Bernhard Langer – seen here handing over the green jacket –in ‘93. Only Fred Couples’ popular win in ‘92 spoiled the Euro party that went on for much of the decade.

Olazábal was known throughout his career as a great scrambler, much like his fellow Spaniard and much-missed

friend Seve Ballesteros, and in 1994, the 28-year-old joined his compadre as a Masters champion by giving a masterclass in scrambling ability – along with one of the hottest putters in Masters’ history. During the 72 holes, ‘Ollie’ had 30 oneputts, chipped in twice, and got up and down from every single one of the six greenside bunkers he happened to nd himself in. They are extraordinary stats by any standards and gave him the platform for a two-shot win over Tom Lehman, after he red a nal round 69 to come from one shot back after 54 holes. An eagle at the 15th clinched the deal, and he closed it out with three pars to claim the rst of his two Masters victories.

Olazábal’s second green jacket came in 1999, when he went head-to-head with Greg Norman over Augusta’s fabled back nine and came out on top by three shots after ‘The Shark’ once again folded under the white heat of competition, as he did so spectacularly against Faldo in 1996.

OVER 72 HOLES OLLIE HAD 30-ONE PUTTS, CHIPPED IN TWICE, AND GOT UP AND DOWN FROM ALL SIX GREENSIDE BUNKERS HE FOUND

Since the turn of the century, the Masters has been won by just three European players, with the green jacket coming back to England for the rst time in 20 years when Danny Willett sprung a major surprise in 2016. Sergio Garcia added to Spain’s roll call of champions when he triumphed in 2017, and then fellow countryman Jon Rahm doubled his major tally when winning at Augusta last year.

But that was then, and this is now, and as the players from both sides of the Atlantic, and indeed, the rest of the world, gather at Augusta to compete for the 88th Masters Tournament, there are any number of European players queuing up to claim the green jacket, including Rory McIlroy, who is still desperately in search of that longed-for major grand slam, along with a new generation of European stars from Rasmus Hojgaard to Ludvig Aberg, but they will need more than a little bit of the touch and air that José Maria possessed in order to get the job done.

JOUSTING FOR THE JACKET

The world’s best golfers will be reuniting for the first time in eight months for the 88th Masters, a tournament that sees reigning champion Jon Rahm return to Augusta to defend his title, but this time as a LIV golfer. Could the stakes be any higher?

While the Masters is always the most eagerly anticipated golf tournaments of the year, coming as it does, after eight Major-free months, this year’s renewal has more than a certain extra frisson to it for a number of wellpublicised reasons.

The arrival of LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed tour, in the spring of 2022, set the professional tours on a collision course that has seen long-standing friendships torn apart and bitter rivalries created. The schism that now exists between those that stayed ‘loyal’ to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, and those 50-60 plus players that chose to follow Greg Norman into battle, seems wider than ever, and with many LIV golfers having seen their world rankings drop faster than Everton down the Premier League table over the last two years, this may well be the last time we see some of them teeing it up at the Masters, or any other of the major championships, for some time to come.

While the Masters Tournament committee has said that they are not minded to rescind invitations to LIV golfers, the continued denial of world ranking points to LIV Golf events means that players of the standing of Talor Gooch no longer qualify for the Masters despite his consistent run of good results on the LIV circuit.

Few will shed a tear for Gooch and his like, given the gamble that LIV defectors knowingly took when they joined the breakaway circuit for eye-watering sums, but their absence is slowly but surely beginning to undermine the integrity of the majors as the months tick by.

DEMOCRATIC GUEST LIST

Thankfully for golf fans, the Masters, due to its unique set up, has a slightly more democratic feel

to its guest list given that many of the top players who joined LIV also have a recent major victory to the name, or are past Masters’ champions, thus enabling them to tee it up at Augusta for as long as their exemptions or golf game allows. Thus, defending champion Jon Rahm and past winners Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia will all be chomping at the bit to get back into Major action next month, as will the likes of LIV’s other recent major winners Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

With so many question marks surrounding the future direction of professional golf, and with so few answers, it all adds up to an intriguing backstory that continues to bubble beneath the surface at pro tournaments around the world. What isn’t in doubt, however, is that the Masters remains professional golf’s biggest draw outside of the Ryder Cup, and all eyes will be on Augusta on April 11 when the rst round gets under way, signalling the beginning of four days of glorious gol ng action at one of the most visual stunning courses in the world.

FORM FAVOURITES

While this year’s renewal presents its usual tantalising mix of stars, many of them will be arriving at Augusta in somewhat indi erent form, with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Sche er, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schau ele all having so far failed to get a ‘W’ on the board on the PGA Tour, or anywhere else, in 2024.

Sche er, the current no.1, continues to impress from tee to green, and has enjoyed four top-10s from ve starts to date – but his performance with the putter has been pretty woeful by his own high standards, and he has cut a frustrated gure on the greens this season. Having said that, class is

■ RORY MCILROY HAS HAD SEVEN TOP10 FINISHES AT THE MASTERS, BUT THE GREEN JACKET HAS PROVED FRUSTRATINGLY ELUSIVE

THIS YEAR’S RENEWAL HAS MORE THAN A CERTAIN EXTRA FRISSON TO IT FOR A NUMBER OF WELL-PUBLICISED REASONS

permanent, and it’s unlikely that his failings with the at stick will be more than a temporary blip on what has otherwise been an extraordinary run of form since his breakthrough win in Phoenix back in 2022.

McIlroy, likewise, is also continuing to frustrate both himself and his loyal following of fans thanks to some consistent inconsistencies with all parts of his game. Some weeks his driver is on, but his short game lets him down, and on others he holes putts for fun but can’t nd a fairway. It all adds up to not very much for a man who, almost unbelievably, is chasing his rst major victory in a decade.

PGA Tour loyalists

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Colin Morikawa – major champions all – are also nding several players too good for them so far this season. Despite being admirably consistent, Spieth and Thomas haven’t won for over two years, while 2021 Open champion Morikawa at least has last year’s ZOZO Championship trophy on his mantlepiece, although he hasn’t threatened to trouble the engravers so far this season.

to LIV, the ery Spaniard will no doubt be doubling down on his e orts to retain the jacket to prove to himself and his critics that competing on the no-cut, 54-hole circuit hasn’t dulled his competitive edge.

EUROPEAN EXPECTATIONS

While Europe’s hopes certainly look to rest heavily with the current champion, there are reasons to be optimistic about the hopes of Rahm’s Ryder Cup teammates, with 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick beginning to get the hang of things around Augusta in recent years, with a best-placed 10th last time out, while Viktor Hovland, who nished 2023 in ne form, is surely going to come good in a major championship before long. He nished seventh at Augusta last year – where he shot a disappointing 74 on Sunday when bang in contention – and has all the attributes to be a green jacket contender.

It will also be exciting to see how wonderkid Ludvig Aberg gets on in what will be his rst outing in a major championship, let alone a major, although the stats are very much against the young Swede, with just three rst-time winners since the Masters began in 1934, and with Fuzzy Zoeller’s triumph way back in 1979 being the most recent triumph by a debutant. Still, kids are born ready these days, and it will be no surprise to see Aberg high up the leaderboard on Sunday.

TOUGHER CHALLENGE

Regardless of experience, all the players will face an Augusta National course that now measures a whopping 7,555 yards o the back tees, making it almost 600 yards longer than it was when Tiger Woods won in 1997.

If you’re looking for a US winner it would be foolish to ignore the chances of Wyndham Clark. Last year’s surprise US Open champion has continued to rise up the world rankings – currently seventh – with his excellent run of form including victory at last month’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Patrick Cantlay is another home-grown talent who also can’t be ruled out of the equation either, although the admirably consistent world No.6 has yet to improve on a best-placed third in the 2019 PGA Championship when it comes to major performances.

Rahm is short odds to repeat his feat of 12 months ago, and following his disappointing move

While 35 yards was added in 2023 with the extension of the par-5 13th hole, the only lengthening that has taken place ahead of this year’s renewal is the extra 10 yards that has been added to the par-2 second hole, Pink Dogwood, which now measures 585 yards, making that second shot from a hanging lie even more of a challenge.

All of which points to Augusta being pretty much a bomber’s course, albeit a bomber who also has the touch of a surgeon around its notoriously slick greens. And whoever can master both of those skills will have a solid chance of slipping on the green jacket come Sunday night on April 14.

The Masters will air on Sky Sports Golf from April 11-14. For the full schedule of live coverage, visit skysports.com. For all the latest Masters betting odds, visit oddschecker.com

■

■ THE PAR-5 SECOND HAS BEEN LENGTHENED BY 10 YARDS TO MAKE IT EVEN HARDER TO REACH THE GREEN IN TWO

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

Golf News talks to David Moon, the golf manager at St Mellion Estate, the changes he has seen during his 30 years at the popular Cornish venue and how the club is investing for the future

In April you celebrate 30 years at St Mellion. What are you most proud of in terms of how the resort has developed in that time?

I’m most proud of how we’ve managed to maintain the balance between being a golf resort and a members’ club. We have always had a very active membership – currently numbering around 700 – and been a very active resort, with a high volume of golf groups and residential parties, so it’s always been a ne balancing act to manage the demands of those two distinct interests, and I like to think we have managed to get that right.

When we opened the new hotel in 2012, we moved from being a 24-bed operation to being an 80-room resort, and that brought with it some challenges, but also provided an opportunity to grow the business. Some resorts just rely completely on hotel guests and visitor green fees for their golf income, where we’ve managed to maintain a very healthy golf membership while also running a successful resort, and that’s been very rewarding.

Apart from the new hotel, we completely redeveloped the Kernow Course in 2008, and also made improvements to our agship Nicklaus course in recent years. We’ve recently invested £500,000 in a new buggy eet, and we have also recently completed a £2 million refurbishment of the 18 cottages that we o er on the estate. They are hugely popular with visitors and that investment has de nitely paid o . We’ve also spent £500,000 refurbishing the health club and the changing rooms, so it’s a constant series of investments to ensure the resort continues to o er the very best facilities and high levels of service for all our members and guests.

How has your own role changed over the years?

My role has changed hugely since I rst arrived in 1994 as Head Golf Professional. It was at the height of the club’s association with the European Tour, so I was excited to be immersed straight into hosting tour-level golf events. My duties were initially a mix of retail and coaching, and I did that

pretty much full time for the rst six years. And then, in 1999, after St Mellion was sold by the Bond brothers to American Golf, my role changed from head professional to Director of Golf. Since then, my role has evolved, but I’ve essentially remained the golf manager and shaped the golf department to be a representation of me.

What is St Mellion’s unique selling point?

There are many elements that make St Mellion an attractive venue for members and guests, but chie y it’s about the golf – having two 18-hole courses – the Kernow, which is a really good standard of resort course – and the Nicklaus Course, which, although I’m biased, I believe is one of the best resort courses in the UK. It’s only 6,284 yards long – which is short by modern championship standards – but every hole presents a challenge. Also, unlike some other resort courses, it doesn’t take six hours to play.

On top of that we’ve got some great practice facilities, amazing food and beverage o erings, and a variety of excellent on-site accommodation and leisure facilities. All of that has combined to give us a very strong proposition to attract and retain members and grow our golf break business. We see some golf groups come back here every year, and some come every three or four years, but they do come back, which is very positive.

St Mellion is part of the Crown Golf portfolio. What advantages does this bring to your members?

Apart from the obvious bene t of our members being able to play at Crown’s large portfolio of excellent courses throughout the UK, it makes us part of the company that is completely focused on golf and is helping to attract new people to the game by making it more inclusive and more welcoming. That commitment to broadening golf’s appeal provides untold bene ts across all of the clubs in the Crown group.

St Mellion has a high-pro le tournament history, having hosted the B&H International Open for seven consecutive years back early 1990s. Would you like to see tournament golf return to the resort again some time?

I would love to see more tournament golf being held here, but commercially its quite a stretch to commit to top-level events these days. We hosted the English Seniors Open in 2007 and more recently hosted Challenge Tour events in 2022 and 2023, where the players raved about the quality of the course, which was very rewarding. I’d love to see a big match play event being held on the Nicklaus Course, as perfectly set up for that format.

If you had to pick a favourite hole on the Nicklaus course, which would it be and why?

That’s a very di cult one, because we’re blessed with many signature holes on the Nicklaus, including the 5th, 11th and 18th, but if you twisted my arm for just one it would be the 12th, which is a beautiful par- ve through what is our version Augusta’s Amen Corner. It plays straight through an avenue of pine trees, with a little creek down the right-hand

■ SEVE BALLESTEROS WON THE BENSON & HEDGES INTERNATIONAL AT ST MELLION ONLY A MONTH AFTER DAVID JOINED THE ESTATE IN 1994

■ DAVID MOON PRESENTS ALEX FITZPATRICK HIS TROPHY ON WINNING THE 2023 CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

SMOKIN' GUNS

MEET CALLAWAY’S NEW SHARP-SHOOTING PARADYM AI SMOKE DRIVERS

UNLEASH THE BIG DOGS!

The best new drivers of ’24

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

All the latest gear launches revealed

JAKE KNAPP

MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP

Driver: Ping G425 LST (9°)

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade BRNR Mini

Driver (13.5°)

Irons: PXG 0211 ST (4-PW), Srixon ZU85 (2)

Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II (50°),

Titleist Vokey SM9 (56°) and a Titleist

Vokey Wedgeworks (60°)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

GENESIS OPEN

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5°)

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi10 3 (15°), Cobra King RadSpeed Tour 5 (17.5°)

Irons: Srixon Z-Forged II (4-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype (52°, 56°, 60°)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype

Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

MATTHIEU PAVON

FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN

Driver: Ping G430 Max (9°)

Fairway Wood: Ping G430 LST 3 (15°)

Hybrid: Ping G430 (19°)

Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)

Wedges: Ping Si59 (52°, 58°)

Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

RIYKUA HOSHIMO

QATAR MASTERS

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II

Fairway Wood: Srixon ZTX (19°)

Irons: Srixon Z585 (4), Srixon Z945 (5-9)

Wedges: Cleveland Golf RTX3 (52°, 56°, 60°)

Putter: Odyssey White Rize IX 3SH

Ball: Srixon Z-STAR Diamond

DARIUS VAN DRIEL

MAGICAL KENYA OPEN

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD Max (9*)

Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (19°)

Irons: Srixon Z Forged (4-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX-6 Zipcore, (50°, 54°, 60°)

Putter: Odyssey Versa WBW 7

Ball: Srixon, Z STAR X V

JORDAN GUMBERG

SDC CHAMPIONSHIP

Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9°)

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15˚°)

Utility Iron: Titleist U505 (2)

Irons: Callaway Apex CB (4-6), Callaway

Apex MB (7-10)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54°), Vokey Wedgeworks (60°)

Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten (Broom Handle)

BRONTE LAW

LALLA MERYEM CUP

Driver: Titleist TSR1 (10°)

Fairway Woods: Titleist TSR3 (15°, 18°)

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T150 (5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54°, 60°)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport

Ball:

EQUIPMENT NEWS

TRIED & TESTED

PING G430 10K MAX

DRIVER

GN Equipment Editor Dan Owen puts the claims of the Ping G430 10K Max Driver to the test

I could keep this review of the new Ping G430 Max 10K driver short and sweet by simply saying that it is absolutely brilliant. But I know you’ll want to know more than that – and so will my editor. 2024 is the year of the ‘Max’ driver. Through the use of AI, equipment manufacturers have been able to crack the code of making a super-forgiving driver that doesn’t spin excessively, and Ping is leading the way in this breakthrough with its new G430 Max 10K.

An addition to the existing G430 line-up, the 10K features a Carbon FlyWrap crown from the LST head and stretched-out dimensions that take the driver right to the R&A’s limits. That helps them reach a 10K MOI, not only does it reach the legal limit of maximum heel and toe MOI, but it also has a massive MOI crown to sole. What does this mean? If you miss the sweet spot, the driver face will twist less at impact, resulting in straighter drives.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this driver looks massive at address, but that isn’t a bad thing. It’s super con dence-inspiring and the shaping of the driver looks good to my eye.

Performance-wise the Max 10K proved an absolute game-changer for me. Although normally a pretty short but straighter driver, I’ve been a little o -line of late and my fairway hit stats had taken a dive, but with the 10K in hand, I barely missed the short stu in two 18-hole rounds and more importantly, didn’t lose a single ball. As an added bonus, I also gained a few yards over my current gamer, so I’d call that a win-win.

square to their target line more often. The proof is in the pudding. Testing the grip on the rapid tricky green of Valderama, it felt good. I tested the medium pistol, with a elongated pistol section, lls out the palm of your top hand. With a multi material construction, it doesn’t feel like a typical rubber Golf Pride putter grip, but with its dimpled texture it isn’t as soft as some options on the market. It’s a responsive feel.

I’m now old. I don’t like that fact, but I am. And along with golf shoes, the putter grip may be the piece of equipment that has changed the most since I first started playing golf. It used to just be a relatively thin piece of rubber with a flat front. But they have evolved. There are multiple manufacturers, materials, shapes and sizes.

Traditionally, golf grips have tapered slightly and got smaller in the bottom hand. More recently no-taper grips have come to market that are designed to help the breakdown of the wrists through the putter stroke.

Golf Pride have created a collection of Reverse Taper grips. The grip is what it says, with the bottom of the grip being signi cantly wider than the top. The new grip is designed to stabilise the stroke and

help deliver the face squarer at impact more constantly.

Equipment Editor Dan Owen gets his hands on Golf Pride’s new Reverse Taper putter grip and likes what he feels

Using a SAMS putting lab, Golf Pride tested a total of 364 putts, with over 21,000 variables measured. Conditions measured included: face path, back swing ratio, forward swing ratio, timing, path, face position at impact, loft, face rotation, and more. Through this testing, Golf Pride was able to determine that Reverse Taper technology delivers a 15% squarer putter face at impact (measured in degrees) vs a parallel putter grip when comparing a zero-degree starting point (straight 12-foot putt with putter face aimed at target). By placing the hands correctly on the putter utilising Reverse Taper technology, golfers will be able to return the putter face

After a couple of putts, you quickly get used to the broad lower half of the grip. The greens were fast, and the reads weren’t obvious, but with the help of my local caddy Miguel giving me elite green reads, a putter I love, and the Reverse Taper grip, I holed more than my fair share of putts.

With two sizes, and three shapes, Pistol, Round and Flat, there is a grip model for almost everyone. Which will you chose?

half of the grip. The greens were fast, me elite green reads, a putter I love, and almost everyone. Which will you chose?

AMERICAN GOLF OFFERS FREE SWING AND GEAR ASSESSMENTS

Leading UK golf retailer American Golf has launched free in-store Full Game Review sessions to enable every golfer to achieve their full potential as we move into the new season.

Taking place in a net or on a driving range, American Golf’s 290 experts, including 30 PGA Professionals in select stores, will provide free advice and perform a full analysis of each player’s game, from the equipment they use through to allimportant technique.

care less about the sound or feel, but I’m happy to report that they are both within acceptable limits, although the Max 10k doesn’t o er the same solid feel you get o the G430 LST.

But on-course results are one thing.

I wanted to see how the G430 Max 10K worked on a launch monitor. Thanks to the guys at the Golftech UK, I was able to use their new Chichester studio, and put in some time on a Foresight GC Quad. And the numbers really stacked up.

good numbers.

My Golftech tter suggested trying a couple of di erent shafts and after hitting a few, we settled on the new Mitsubishi Diamana WB 43X. At sub 50g, but in an extra sti ex, it’s a very unusual shaft, but it really worked for me. My dispersion got even tighter, launch went down a degree, but spin came down over 400rpm. More importantly, ball speed jumped 1.5mph, carry went up 7 yards, and total distance went up 9 yards – a full18 yards further than the LST. That’s huge.

Sophie Fox, Senior Marketing Manager at American Golf, said: “We believe every golfer deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. It’s not often you get the opportunity to have a free session with experts in the game. It’s no wonder the Full Game Review sessions are proving popular with beginners and experienced golfers alike, and we hope as many players as possible take advantage of the free sessions.”

Full Game Review sessions must be booked online in advance and are subject to availability. Visit the American Golf website to book and for full terms and conditions.

Obviously, your experiences may vary, but to my mind the Ping G430 Max 10K is a phenomenal driver. Go and get t and see what gains you can make. £599, ping.com

HIT THE FAIRWAYS WITH OGIO’S STAND-OUT BAG RANGE

OGIO has released its first ever range of lightweight golf carry bags, including one stand-out design featuring a unique water-dipped pattern that gives each product a one-of-a-kind finish.

The Fuse Stand Bag (£269) is designed as a lightweight, bold and functional carry option for golfers of all ages and abilities. The Hawaiian-themed Aloha Fuse bag sees the top section of the over mould hydro-dipped for water transfer printing, creating designs whereby no two bags are the same.

Boasting OGIO’s t-disk carry system, rapid access pocket and three-ball silo, the Fuse Bag is available in a range of ve colourways.

The four other designs – Black Sport, Brush Stroke Camo, Gra ti Kaleidoscope, Navy Sport – also feature new over-moulded tops, while all Fuse bags also come with a four-way, full-length divider top and six front facing pockets, including a rapid snap access pocket. To see the full range visit, eu.ogio.com.

CALLAWAY ROLLS OUT NEW CHROME BALLS

Callaway has rolled out a new range of Chrome golf balls – Tour, Chrome Tour X, and Chrome Soft – which have been reinvented from the inside out to offer improved performance across the board.

Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X have replaced the previous Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS models that were marketed for better players with more speed, while the Chrome Soft remains in the line-up.

Every aspect of their design has been enhanced, including a new Hyper Fast Soft Core,

mantle designs, new Tour Seamless Aero package, and the cover formulation.

Chrome Tour is a fourpiece ball targeted to players who want the best combination of distance and feel. For want of a better descriptor, think along the lines of a Pro V1.

The Chrome Tour X is also a four-piece ball designed for ball speed, while producing more spin. It goes toe to toe with the Pro V1X. Chrome Soft is still a threepiece ball with a softer compression, designed to launch high and spin low and often suited to average swing speeds or golfers looking for that lower spin. All three models have an RRP of £55 for 12.

MOTOCADDY POWERS UP ALL-NEW ELECTRIC TROLLEY RANGE

Motocaddy has launched seven new compact-folding M-Series electric trolleys and a brand new entry-level SE model, that combine a sleek automotive-inspired design with a host of high-performance features, including the brand’s cable-free lithium battery technology.

O ering golfers a wide variety of choice at di erent price points, the new M-Series extends from feature-packed entrylevel options to more premium models equipped with game-enhancing GPS and Downhill Control capabilities, plus a agship trolley with luxury high-end detailing. Bene ting from the distinctive sporty look are the new M-TECH GPS, M5 GPS, M5 GPS DHC, M3 GPS, M3 GPS DHC, M1 and M1 DHC models.

Newly styled ergonomic handle grips and low-pro le aerodynamic wheels with highperformance tyre tread are also a feature of the models, while a new retractable rear anti-tip wheel is also available as an optional extra if preferred.

smartphone alerts and updates to the 40,000 pre-loaded courses with drag and drop pin positions is also available.

The M-TECH GPS (from £1,399) is the agship model, combining fast and accurate touchscreen GPS for over 40,000 courses, with luxury nishes including hand-stitched leather handle grips and polished chrome detailing.

The M5 GPS (pictured right, from £1,079) and M5 GPS DHC boasts the same highperformance GPS technology as the M-TECH with a free six-month trial to the cellular Performance Plan. The DHC version features Automatic Downhill Control that adjusts to maintain a constant speed while moving down a gradient for a smoother ride, plus all terrain DHC wheels and an electronic parking brake, which works on both up and downhill undulations.

The M3 GPS (from £929) and M3 GPS DHC (from £979) provides front, middle, and back distances, plus a Dynamic Green view through the high resolution 2.8” LCD touchscreen display. Connection to the Motocaddy app for Bluetooth-powered

PING EXPANDS PLD PUTTER LINE-UP

PING has added five new models to its popular range of Putting Lab Design (PLD) putters – the PLD Milled Anser, Anser 2D, Oslo 3 and DS72 and Ally Blue 4.

The ve new models represent a combination of favourites like the Anser and newer, tour-proven models like the DS72, which is played by Viktor Hovland. The Anser 2D and Oslo 3 are tour-in uenced, high-MOI designs and the Ally Blue 4 is a new, multimaterial mallet that delivers exceptional forgiveness with bold alignment features.

The M1 (from £779.99) is the world’s easiest-to-use compact electric trolley thanks to its simple folding system with space-saving inverting wheels, LCD widescreen display, nine speed settings and adjustable distance control up to 45 yards.

Four of the new models (Anser, Anser 2D, DS72 and Oslo 3) are fully machined from forged, 303 stainless steel and each is distinguished by an attractive gun-metal nish. The deep Aggressive Milling Pattern face technology on all the models is precisely milled for tourpreferred sound, feel and speed.

The company has also launched a new entry level electric trolley called the SE, which starts at only £479.99 for the lead acid battery model. Based on the S-shaped frame and platform made popular by the legacy 12V S-Series range, the SE features nine-speed settings, a USB port for on-the-go charging of mobile phones or GPS devices, plus an LED power indicator and handle-mounted battery

electric trolley called the SE, meter. The lithium battery model retails at just £549.99.

For more details, including the range of matching Motocaddy bags and accessories, visit motocaddy.com.

The Ally Blue 4 is a three-piece design di erentiated by its square footprint and full length, top alignment aid. The strong arc design consists of an aluminium body, stainless steel soleplate and aluminium hosel to create an extremely high MOI, easy to align mallet.

Ping PLD putters have an RRP of £450 and are available now. For more details, visit ping.com.

TITLEIST INTRODUCES VOKEY SM10 WEDGES

Titleist has launched a new range Vokey Design wedges that are designed to produce a lower, more controlled ight with improved feel and maximum spin.

The Vokey Design SM10 wedges feature the most complete line-up of loft, grind and bounce combinations in the game to t a variety of swing types, styles of play and course conditions.

The range features loft-optimised centre of gravity to achieve precision in distance and trajectory control. In the 46-52° models, the CG is lower for a better transition from the iron set and more consistent distance gapping, while in lofts 54-62° the CG is moved up and forward, which provides lower trajectory and a squarer face at impact.

The grooves are individually cut based on loft and nish, with the grooves on the stronger-lofted wedges (46-54°) are cut narrower and deeper, while the higherlofted wedges (56-62°) feature wider and shallower grooves. A parallel micro-texture between grooves helps to maximize spin on partial shots, and a high frequency heat treatment is applied to the impact area, doubling the durability of the groove edge compared to untreated grooves.

Progressive shaping by loft inspires con dence, with lofts 46-52° featuring a smaller pro le and a straighter leading edge, while lofts 56-62° have a larger footprint and a more rounded leading edge for shot versatility.

Priced at £169 per club, and o ered in Tour Chrome, Jet Black and a new Nickel nish, SM10 wedges can be purchased o the shelf, or custom ordered with a selection of shafts, grips, shaft bands and ferrules. For a complete list of options, visit vokey.com.

■ MOTOCADDY’S NEW SE TROLLEY WILL GET YOU POWERING ACROSS THE COURSE FOR UNDER £500

■ MOTOCADDY’S TOP OF THE RANGE M-TECH TROLLEY

TIGER TEAMS UP WITH TAYLORMADE TO LAUNCH SUN DAY RED APPAREL RANGE

Tiger Woods and TaylorMade have announced the launch of a new apparel brand inspired by the 15time major champion.

Called Sun Day Red, the partnership will see the launch of a new range of apparel and footwear that will be at retail from May onwards, although initially online only.

Woods says the name of the brand name is a tribute to the fact that he’s always worn red on Sundays, while the 15-striped tiger logo is a tribute to the number of majors he has won over the course of his career.

“It’s the right time in

“It’s the right time in my life,” Woods said at the launch event, appearing in a cashmere sweater from the new brand. “It’s transitional. I’m no longer a kid anymore. Life changes, I have kids now, and this is an important part of transitioning into this part of my life, to have a product and a brand that I’m proud of.”

him playing with the brand’s driver, fairway woods, irons and wedges.

Woods said he was courted by other companies to launch a new apparel brand following his split from Nike, but he trusted TaylorMade for their ability to “get it right“.

“I have learned so much over the years and have a lifetime of experience adjusting my apparel and footwear to help me play better based on the way it was constructed,”

Woods’ relationship with TaylorMade dates back to 2017, when the two signed an equipment deal that has

Skechers has unveiled an all-new range of golf shoes, with the latest GO GOLF collection delivering innovative performance technology, exciting new designs, and the ultimate in comfort for men and women.

Integrating comfort technologies from Skechers’ performance and lifestyle divisions, as well as key insights from its

Woods said. “There are things that I could tell you that no one knew I was doing over the years. I’m ready to share those secrets with the world.”

TaylorMade CEO

David Abeles said Woods had been an inspiration for his team, including his discipline and meticulous approach to product design. “There is no in uence from TaylorMade on this brand. His brand stands alone and is independent from TaylorMade,” Abeles said.

The range, which goes on sale in North America from May 1, includes polo shirts, knitwear, hoodies, golf shoes, gloves and headwear. For more details, visit sundayred.com.

SKECHERS GO GOLF COLLECTION

team of Skechers performance tour pros, the Go Golf Collection’s key innovations for the new season include the use of Skechers’ hands-free Slip-Ins technology across select styles for men and women, the expansion of the brand’s Twist Fit alternative dial closure system, and its Arch Fit removable insole system, which provides added arch support.

GO GOLFBLADE GF – SLIP-INS

Worn by world no.11 Matt Fitzpatrick, the GolfBalde GF feature Hands Free Slip-Ins technology which enables them to be put on by simply slipping your feet into the opening.

This waterproof shoe o ers comfort, support and stability all while holding your foot securely into place. Additional features include a lightweight ECO FLIGHT cushioning, a spikeless outsole, and Resamax cushioning for all-day comfort. Colours: white/ navy, black, and white. RRP: £160

GO GOLF MAX 3

This sleek shoe boasts a sporty design with Arch Fit insoles providing arch support, ultralightweight cushioning and waterproof protection. It also features a spikeless, durable grip TPU outsole. Also available in extra wide width, PLUS FIT. Colours: white/navy, navy/lime, grey/red, black/grey.

RRP: £110

GO GOLF PRO 6

This spiked shoe features a removable Arch Fit comfort insole with lightweight and resilient ECOFLIGHT cushioning, replaceable Softspikes Tour Flex Pro featuring three degrees of traction and ten points of contact to deliver unmatched stability and performance. Additional features include a waterproof synthetic upper with one-year waterproof warranty. Colours: white/navy/ red, black, o -white. RRP: £145

GO GOLF ELITE 5 SLIP-INS

Featuing Skechers’ exclusive Heel Pillow, this waterproof shoe for women features a synthetic upper with a unique Twist Fit adjustable closure, removable Arch Fit insoles, lightweight ULTRA FLIGHT cushioning, and a GRIPFLEX spikeless outsole. Colours: black/pink, white/ lavender, Grey/Aqua. RRP: £140

GO GOLF MAX 3

Combining high performance technologies with colourful air, the womem’s Max

3 is a spikeless design with a durable outsole, features Skechers dynamic Arch Fit removable insoles for podiatrist certi ed arch support, Skechers waterproof protection with a one-year warranty, and ULTRA FLIGHT for lightweight and responsive cushioning. Colours: grey/multi, white/multi, black/multi. RRP: £110

GO GOLF GO WALK 5 SLIP-INS

GO Walk 5 Slip-ins are here to help you feel and look your best out on the course with a heathered jersey upper and supportive heel clip. This water repellent design also features Slip-ins technology and exclusive Heel Pillow to lock your feet in place. Designed with lightweight and responsive ULTRA GO cushioning, Goga Max insole technology delivering high rebound cushioning, and Goodyear performance outsoles for enhanced traction, stability, and durability. Colours: Grey/Aqua, Navy/ Pink, BKLV. RRP: £100

Additional Skechers GO GOLF styles can be found at skechers.co.uk.

BIG GUNS

Callaway’s new Paradym Ai Smoke drivers represent a quantum leap forward in driver design and performance –with real player data and advanced machine learning used to create a series of sweet spots all over the face of its four gamechanging models. Equipment Editor Dan Owen finds out what makes them tick and which driver will suit your game best

There’s an arms race going on in golf, with every equipment manufacturer trying to produce the hottest, most forgiving driver on the planet. But where others have chased a once thought mythical MOI number to concentrate on forgiveness, Callaway is looking to the future, with arti cial intelligence literally shaping the face of its new Paradym Ai Smoke drivers.

And with four drivers in the line-up, if you can’t nd your new howitzer, or should we say, Big Bertha, in this range, then maybe you need to think about taking up a new sport.

CRACKING THE CODE

Callaway has been using Ai to aid the design process of its driver faces going back to the launch of the Epic Flash driver in 2020. So that part isn’t new. But what is new, and unique to Callaway, is how they are feeding the Ai the information to create those drivers.

It’s fair to say no two golfers have ever swung the club exactly the same way – although peak Tiger and Adam Scott got close at times – but drivers have, for a long time, been designed following the study of swing robots. Incredibly clever bits of kit as they are, they are also entirely too predictable and repeatable. Even the mishit swings are the same every time. They don’t have the inconsistency of human error.

In the creation of its new Paradym Ai Smoke driver range, Callaway’s R&A team fed over 250,000 di erent golf swings, captured by the company in their ttings, from the everyday player all the way to Jon Rahm, into its Ai super computer. This information has been called the’ Swing Code’. That data has been grouped to create four drivers in the Ai Smoke family, each one designed to favour the elements of that particular type of player’s swing.

Evan Gibbs, Callaway’s

director of R&D for

■ THE PARADYM AI SMOKE DRIVERS BOAST A COMPLEX FACE DESIGN CREATED IN REPSONSE TO DATA GATHERED FROM THE STRIKE PATTERNS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GOLFERS

metalwoods, says: “More players are getting t than ever before and we have so much access to data, It’s trying to gure out how we leverage it to help drive the designs and optimize them for the players who are going to play them. It’s about taking real player swing dynamics and incorporating those characteristics into the optimization in a way we’ve never done before.”

THE AI SMART FACE

Rather than chase high Moment of Inertia – the clubhead’s resistance to twisting – Callaway has proven there is more than one way to skin the forgiveness cat, if you’ll pardon that rather grotesque analogy. Callaway has doubled down on AI and learned how to create drivers that hit the ball further every time, wherever it strikes the face. While the body provides forgiveness, the ball

has to hit something, and that’s where the face comes in. For the rst time since introducing its AI-designed Jailbreak system, Callaway has completely revamped the technology to further enhance stability, and more importantly, tighten downrange dispersion. What that means in its simplest form is that by changing the geometry on the back of the face — using thick and thin areas paired with a new cup face — the start line and direction from mishits are minimised, leading to straighter shots that end up closer to the target.

The AI Smart Face was designed after hours of machine learning fed by the Swing Code data. The result is a series of ‘micro de ections’, or sweet spots, across the face where they are needed.

In the past, Callaway simply asked the supercomputer to improve ball speed on mishits; however, the inclusion of small dimples on the face – which cannot be seen – serves to counter how the face usually exes at impact on certain mishits and in uence launch/spin conditions.

■

WHICH PARADYM SMOKE AI DRIVER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

PARADYM AI SMOKE MAX

The Ai Smoke Max Driver is the headline act of the range. Featuring a forgiving shape and adjustable perimeter weighting to deliver up to 19 yards of shot shape correction. Are you struggling with a slice or want to limit the curvature on your ball? The Ai Smoke Max could be the answer. Designed to suit the widest number of golfers, according to the Swing Code data, the Max will best suit golfers that have a path that’s a little out to in, and hit slightly up on the ball with the clubface a little open.

With its rear weight track, the 460cc Paradym Ai Smoke Max can be ne-tuned. In our testing we found it naturally wanted to hit the ball a little left in the neutral setting, but with the wight track and adjustable hosel this can easily be counteracted to become a fade bias driver if that’s what you need.

PARADYM AI SMOKE TRIPLE DIAMOND

THE AI SMART FACE WAS DESIGNED AFTER HOURS OF MACHINE LEARNING FED BY THE SWING CODE DATA

Explaining their impact on performance, Johnny Wunder, Callaway’s Tour Content Manager, said:

“The signi cance of these micro de ections lies in their ability to counteract gear e ect, which essentially refers to the twisting of the clubhead. When the face is tuned – using player data, an interesting aspect in itself – it’s supported in speci c spots. Consequently, when a player makes an o -centre hit, the twisting e ect on the head is minimized, resulting in less impact on the shot’s direction, strike, and overall performance.

“For instance, if a shot is mishit towards the toe, the head moves around, altering the shot’s trajectory and impact. However, with a smart face designed to combat or mitigate these e ects, the impact on the shot is reduced. I’ve observed that it softens some of the edges on a heel or toe hit. Therefore, when you feel like you’ve hit it out of the toe, not only is the feel not as bad, but the shot doesn’t exhibit those abrupt right or left turns.”

Elsewhere there are two big changes to the design of the Paradym Ai Smoke drivers from previous generations. Callaway has strengthened the 360 carbon chassis with a titanium support to make it 15% lighter than last year’s full carbon construction.

Another signi cant change to last year’s Paradym drivers is the absence of Jailbreak technology, the support structure that was located directly behind the face. With the new construction of the Smoke drivers, Callaway have been able to sti en up the head without needing the added weight of Jailbreak.

Callaway’s most popular driver on tour, the Triple Diamond is being played by Jon Rahm among many others, and as such is designed for golfers who hit the centre of the clubface most of the time, swing with a neutral path, have a neutral face angle at impact, and tend to hit up on the ball and have swing speeds in excess of 105mph. It will also suit players with high clubhead speeds who are looking for lower spin.

It features a smaller 450cc tour-preferred shape, with a 14g adjustable weighting that can be moved from back to front to ne-tune spin. Fade-biased, it’s designed to emphasise and improve centre strikes, rather than o er the allaround forgiveness of the Max.

If you’re a student of Callaway drivers of old, the TD might remind you of the classic ERC Fusion when you set up behind the ball, but the comparison ends there.

PARADYM AI SMOKEMAX D

If you slice the ball, the MAX D is the one for you. Callaway’s Swing Code ndings were there were a lot of golfers who struggled with the slice. Golfers with a swing path from the outside, down and across the ball. These types of golfers swing down on it with a face that’s open to path, typically with a little slower clubhead speed and impact locations that tend to range from low heel to high toe, that often results in a slice.

The Smart Ai face has been designed to help golfers who deliver the club face like this. But despite all of this, it is being played on tour by Alex Noren.

The Max D features a stretched pro le at address, however it doesn’t really highlight that it is a drawbiased club. Until you hit it. This will be a total gamechanger for a lot of golfers out there with the amount of slice correction that has been built into the club.

PARADYM AI SMOKE MAX FAST

The target Max Fast player will have a lot of the same swing delivery issues as the Max D player, however, they’ll be doing it at a slower swing speed – between 75-90mph – so Callaway has stripped it of any excess weight, removing the adjustable hosel and introduced a 40g Mitsubishi Blue/Silver shaft to help maximise swing speed. Built with high MOI and a larger pro le at address, it inspires con dence and delivers lightweight easy-to-swing performance.

ODYSSEY AI-ONE CRUISER PUTTERS

£339, ODYSSEYEU.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

With the renewed success on tour of broomstick, armlock, and longer counter-balanced putters, Odyssey has introduced an updated Cruiser range. Featuring the game-changing Ai-ONE insert, which features an aluminium backer and White Hot urethane insert to deliver more consistent ball speeds from off-centre hits, the putters boast heavy heads (380g), longer grips (17 inches) and a new shaft (SL 140 Stroke Lab steel), and come with a choice 5g, 10g, 15g and 20g removable weights which allow you to dial in your head weight. Head shapes include the #7, Jailbird and Double Wide, #7 Arm Lock and #7 CS Broomstick, with the latter featuring a 48-inch shaft and a 450g head and a split grip.

MIZUNO PRO 245 IRONS

£1,380 (4-PW), EMEA.MIZUNOGOLF.COM

Part of a range of three new Pro Series irons from the Japanese brand, the 245s are a set of forged hollow irons that fall into the ‘player’s distance’ category. Mizuno has done a great job of disguising the inner workings, which feature a suspended tungsten weight, and you would be hard pressed to think these were anything but a player’s cavity back, or from behind, even a set of blades. Not only do they look great, with a full satin brush finish, but they feel like Mizuno irons should, with a mix of multi-metal construction (carbon steel and copper) throughout the set helping to create the best iron for each club in the set.

ECCO LT1

£170, ECCO.COM

Never one to stand still with its golf shoe designs, ECCO has enhanced in-shoe comfort in its latest range with the introduction of LYTR Foam, which not only makes the LT1 significantly lighter than previous models, but also boosts cushioning and energy rebound – literally putting a spring in your step.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR PRO SHOP

As well as offering a sporty look, the shank area – which guarantees stability and prevents twisting – is visible through the sole, adding a vibrant pop of colour to the overall design. Fully waterproof, it’s available in lace or lace-free BOA closure models in three colours for men and two for women.

Equipment editor Dan Owen casts his expert eye over the last equipment launches

WILSON STAFF MODEL BLADE

£1,050 (4-PW), WILSON.COM

These classic-looking chrome irons, with traditional knurled hosels, are a rarity in modern golf club design in being forged from carbon steel. While they aren’t packed with game improvement technology, they have Wilson’s modern interpretation of its fluid-feel hosel and precision toe weighting to help centre the sweet spot. The face features double cut muscle milling which enhances spin consistency and distance control.

MOTOCADDY DRY-SERIES

£289.99, MOTOCADDY.COM

Part of a comprehensive new range of new cart bags, the Dry-Series is a great year-round option for those that rely on trolley to get around the course. Superlightweight and 100% waterproof thanks to the durable TPU nylon fabric, thermo sealed zips and heat-welded seams, the latest version of the Dry-Series features nine pockets, 14 full-length dividers, umbrella sleeve, Velcro glove patch, towel hook, pen holder and scorecard pouch. It also offers EASILOCK compatibility for a Motocaddy trolley, and is available in blue, red, lime and fuchsia.

TITLEIST AVX £42 FOR 12, TITLEIST.CO.UK

Titleist has reengineered the AVX ball from core to cover to increase performance on every shot, delivering longer distance tee to green, more greenside spin and control and even softer feel. This has been achieved with the introduction of a new high gradient core that is also used in the Pro V1 range, which helps reduce long game spin without sacrificing greenside control. A new thin, high-flex casing layer reduces excess spin in the long game, while a new softer urethane cover delivers increased spin and stopping power with the scoring clubs. It is available in white or optic yellow.

NEW BALANCE 997 £155, BRANDFUSION.CO.UK

With a strong following on the high street for its fashionable trainers, New Balance is also enjoying a growing fan base in the golf market thanks to its philosophy of giving its most popular street shoes a golfing twist. The 997s have been in a mainstay in its sneaker range for many years, with this model featuring waterproof microfibre leather uppers and a rubber outsole that is offered in spiked or spikeless options. Colurs include navy/grey, grey/orange and white/navy.

SHOT SCOPE PRO ZR RANGEFINDER

£299.99, SHOTSCOPE.COM

Shot Scope’s most advanced rangefinder yet, the Pro ZR features a hard-shell casing for on-course durability, while the ultra-clear LCD display combined with red/black dual optics ensures that players can read their measurements regardless of the light conditions over a distance of 1,500 yards. With rapid-fire detection, and enhanced target-lock vibration, the PRO ZR gives golfers distances accurate to within a yard instantly. A built-in magnet enables it to be attached to any metal surface, while buyers also get access to a free app to view detailed course maps.

PING S159 WEDGES

£175, PING.COM

Boasting a tour-proven shape, there is plenty to like about the look of Ping’s latest performance wedges. The carbon steel heads, offered in chrome or black pearl, feature a straighter leading edge that helps alignment on full shots, while a hydrophobic HydroPearl 2.0 finish helps these wedges retain spin in the wet. In fact, testing has proven that they can spin up to 200rpm more in damp conditions. Add in 25 loft/grind combinations and a revolutionary WebFit app and this is one of the most comprehensive wedge ranges ever.

PXG 0311 BLACK OPS

£549, PXG.COM

The Black Ops is being widely lauded as the best driver that PXG has created to date. Ball speeds are up from the use of Advanced Material Face Technology, while huge amounts of carbon have been used in the head to save weight. The adjustable weighting helps a golfer with a specific miss, while dependent on the settings, the Black Ops is another driver to reach the 10K MOI threshold.

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER XL2

£426, EU.DUNLOPSPORTS.COM

The XL2 combines forgiveness with some tricks to help the ball get out there. The head is designed to inspire confidence at address, while weight is placed low and deep in the clubhead to encourage a long, high ball flight. The XL face utilises AI computing to simulate the most common strikes across the clubface to create a variable thickness design that helps increase energy transfer for longer drives.

MIZUNO ST230 MAX

£499, MIZUNOGOLF.COM

While not quite achieving the hallowed 10K MOI figure, Mizuno has also gone for max forgiveness the ST230. By using more carbon, and stretching the head while remaining traditional at address, designers have been able to place a substantial 54g weight in the rear of the head to boost the MOI. Looks-wise, of all the new ‘Max’ drivers, this one looks the most classic behind the ball.

COBRA DARKSPEED MAX

£440, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

If Batman designed a driver, it would look like the Darkspeed. Featuring a H.O.T face, it boasts 15 pads in the back of the clubface that increase ball speed across the face. Cobra plays a balancing act of aerodynamics versus MOI. The Max option features the most conventional shape and offers the most forgiveness in the range. It has a flatter, wider shape behind the ball, with adjustable weighting.

PING G430 MAX 10K

£599, PING.COM

TAYLORMADE QI10 MAX

£499, TAYLORMADEGOLF.CO.UK

The Qi10 Max features a stretched 460cc head which has allowed weight to be placed at the back for that extreme 10K MOI. Carbon covers 97% of the crown to save even more weight, while a third generation 60X Twist Face removes mass in the front of the head that can be utilised to increase the MOI. An adjustable hosel sleeve enables loft and face angle to be adjusted for preferred ball flight.

MAX POWER

This season’s new drivers are all about maximising forgiveness so that your misshits go farther and your centre strikes sail into the distance

CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE MAX

Ping says the G430 MAX 10K is its straightest and highest MOI driver to date, eclipsing the 10,000 g-cm2 combined MOI threshold first achieved by the G400 MAX five years ago. A fixed 28g back weight, a larger head profile, and a lightweight Carbonfly Wrap on the crown helps drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimize the CG, lowering spin and ensuring ball speed preservation across the clubface for added distance.

£569, EU.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

Callaway has doubled down on its use of artificial intelligence and learned how to create drivers that hit the ball further every time, wherever it’s hit on the face. Featuring an AI Smart face designed after hours of machine learning, combined with real player data, the result is a series of micro deflections, or sweet spots, across the face where they are needed. The sliding rear weight helps for fine tuning trajectory and shot shape.

MACGREGOR V-MAX SPEED

£129.99, MACGREGOR-GOLF.COM

MacGregor is out to prove that a new driver doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg, or even both, yet can still perform. With a high MOI design for stability on off-centre hits and an oversize sweet spot, the dynamic flex face of V-MAX Speed features evenly spaced grooves to promote a smooth transfer of energy from club to ball even on imperfect strikes, delivering explosive distance while retaining playability, accuracy, and a high level of forgiveness.

NEW JERSEY

YOUR GUIDE TO GOLFING IN THE USA'S GARDEN STATE

ME & MY TRAVELS WITH MASTERS LEGEND IAN WOOSNAM

SAVOURING SCOTLAND

WHERE TO PLAY IN THE HOME OF GOLF

TEEING UP A SCOTTISH FLING

With a population of just five million and a total of 587 golf clubs, it’s fair to say that the citizens of Scotland are spoilt for choice when it comes to where to play the game they claim to have invented. From the five Open Championship venues with three-figure green fees, to the nine-hole courses with honesty boxes, there are few countries in the world that can match Scotland for the diversity of its golf offering.

Despite the embarrassment of riches on their doorstep, the Scots are a generous lot – forget the lazy stereotype – and generously welcome all and sundry to share the wealth of links course, parkland tracks, and cliff-top beauties that are to be enjoyed in its wonderfully unpopulated countryside.

I’ve had the good fortune to play quite a few them in my two score years of golfing, including all the major championship layouts, a Ryder Cup course, a Solheim Cup venue or two, and many an amateur championship host, but perhaps the ones I cherish the most boast far less exalted histories.

For instance, I’ll never forget the rounds I used to enjoy with my late mother at Kemnay Golf Club back in the early 1980s. Then, aged 13, and living just outside Aberdeen, we would drop a few pounds in the honesty box and play nine holes in glorious isolation. Mum, bless her, never liked to be rushed on the golf course, and never enjoyed having a group of stuffy old men watching her tee off, so midweek rounds on deserted courses like Kemnay suited her down to the ground.

While Kenmay might not qualify as a hidden gem, it’s certainly part of the overall fabric of what makes golf in Scotland such a unique experience. And although the championship layouts are all worth ticking off your bucket list, you can have an equally enjoyable, and, dare I say it, cheaper time, by straying off the well-beaten tracks, and searching out some of the courses and clubs that don’t have their own Twitter feeds or Facebook pages, but will leave just as many lasting golfing memories.

With over 150 nine-hole courses to choose from alone in Scotland, you can rack up three or four clubs in a day if you plan your itinerary properly, especially during those glorious summer months when 18 hours of daylight allows the serious golfer time to tick off 72 holes in a day, and still leave time for a pie and a pint.

So whether you have £20 or £200 to spend on a green fee, whether you’re a scratch golfer or struggle to break 100, and whether you’re looking for five-star luxury, and or a simple B&B for the night, there is something for everyone in Scotland – and you won’t have to look too far to find it.

Golf News editor Nick Bayly extols the virtues of a golf break to Scotland, where stamina-sapping Open Championship links venues rub shoulders with 9-hole parkland courses and everything inbetween

WHETHER YOU’RE A SCRATCH GOLFER OR STRUGGLE TO BREAK 100, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN SCOTLAND – AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR TO FIND IT

■ MACRAHANISH DUNES IS GOLF AS GOD INTENDED, WITH MINIMAL DISTURBANCE OF THE NATURAL LAND

HOME IN ON THE HOME OF GOLF

With the dust having long since settled at St Andrews following its hosting of The 150th Open in 2022, there has never been a better time to start planning a visit to the Home of Golf.

Although Old Tom Morris would probably spin in his grave at the thought of St Andrews being called a ‘golf resort’, the ancient town on Fife’s east coast is one in all but name, with golf tourism being its main source of income almost since the game was first played here 400 years ago.

The fabled Old Course is clearly the sun around which all the other courses in the town draw their heat, and getting a tee time on the ‘Auld Lady’ seems to be as hard as ever, with no let up in demand for a chance to walk in the footsteps of the great champions that have graced this course at 30 Open Championships since 1873, the most recent of which saw a mullet-wearing Australian by the name of Cameron Smith walk off with the Claret Jug.

The Old Course remains the ultimate bucket list course, and is a must-play for any golfer with a pulse. Half of all of the starting times are selected through a daily ballot, so there’s a fair chance of getting on if you haven’t pre-booked, but there are any number of tour operators that will be able to offer guaranteed tee times, taking out all of the luck of the draw, and allowing you to plan your trip with absolute certainty. And what a treat you will have in store.

■ THE CARPET-LIKE GREENS AT BRORA BLEND SEAMLESSLY INTO THE CRUMPLED FAIRWAYS

Offering the most nerve-wracking opening tee shot in golf, despite possessing one of the widest fairways in the world, the Old Course sets up iconic shot after shot. From your approach over the burn to the first green, to the drive over the corner of the Old Course Hotel on the 17th tee, and that putt up the Valley of Sin at the closing hole, it’s a beguiling journey through golfing history that will have you wanting to do it all over again as soon as you walk off the 18th.

St Andrews is long on quality and quantity, with the Links Trust offering no fewer than seven other superb layouts on which to test your mettle, with the New Course being the pick on those in the immediate vicinity. Less quirky than the Old, it shares many of its qualities, including several double greens, but the holes are more defined. If you’re looking for more thrills and spills, then I’d recommend a game at the Castle Course, a 6,759-yard cliff-top layout which enjoys stunning views over St Andrews from around the bay.

Talking of bays, Fairmont St Andrews Golf Resort & Spa, located in St Andrews Bay, is also popular luxury stopover, with its two championship courses, Torrance and Kittocks, providing 36 holes of cliff-top golf with a linksy feel, while the fivestar hotel offers 209 guest rooms, a spa, and new fewer than six dining options.

For golfers looking to stay more centrally in St Andrews, the MacDonald Rusacks Hotel, which sits half way up the right-hand side of 18th fairway, is perhaps the more authentically Scottish venue, although the Old Course Hotel, which is situated on the dogleg of the Road Hole 17th, with the fabled Jigger Inn within its grounds, is the popular and obvious choice, with its course-facing suites providing a suitably luxurious vantage point from which to soak up the golfing atmosphere.

MONARCHS OF THE GLEN

Moving away from St Andrews, no five-star visit to Scotland should miss out on the chance to visit Gleneagles, the self-styled highland playground of the rich and famous down the years. Golfers have been queuing up to play the resort’s PGA Centenary Course ever since it hosted the Ryder Cup in 2014 and the Solheim Cup in 2019.

Although not a classic Scottish course by any stretch of the imagination, you’d be mad not to want to follow in the footsteps of the European and American teams, although make sure you also play the resort’s other two more mature layouts, the century-old King’s and the Queen’s, both of which have benefited from significant renovations, returning them to challenge that James Braid first intended.

Whichever courses you play, you can be guaranteed a good night’s sleep in the AA Five Red Star Gleneagles Hotel, which is luxury at its most Scottish. Guests can choose to stay in either a range of rooms and suites in the hotel – including the ten ultra-luxury suites that occupy the top floor of the hotel – or rent one of the two, three and four-bed private lodges that are located on the estate.

If Braid courses float your boast, then the journey up to Brora Golf Club on Scotland’s north west coast is a must, with the traditional links widely regarded as one of his finest designs. Regularly ranked inside GB&I’s top 100, five-time Open champion Peter Thomson described Brora as ‘the most natural links course in the world’, and who are we to argue.

For those visitors flying in or out of Edinburgh, a stop off for a round at the Renaissance Club has much to recommend it. Located between Gullane and North Berwick, and only a 30-minute drive from the airport, Renaissance opened as a private members’ club in 2008 on the Archerfield

■ THE PGA CENTENARY COURSE AT GLENEAGLES, VENUE FOR THE 2014 RYDER CUP AND 2019 SOLHEIM CUP

■ CRUDEN BAY IS ONE MANY FINE LINKS TO BE FOUND ON SCOTLAND’S NORTH EAST COAST

■ FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS OFFERS TWO CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES AND MAGICAL VIEWS TOWARDS THE HOME OF GOLF

Estate, a pitching wedge away from Muirfield, but with far better views over the Firth of Forth. Tom Doak, the creative genius behind Pacific Dunes in Oregon and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand, has created a series of compelling holes several carved out of the coastal pine forest, and others stretching along the coastline high on the cliff tops above the Firth. After a round, guests can relax in the comfortable surroundings of the palatial clubhouse, while the quality of the accommodation, which comes in the form of 23 suites within a lodge, is well above par.

■ TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS, JUST NORTH OF ABERDEEN, IS A SUPERB TEST AND IS RATED NO.23 BEST COURSE IN THE UK

BEST OF THE WEST

After tackling the Open Championship courses at Carnoustie and Muirfield, golfers looking to test themselves on something altogether newer, but no less challenging, should head over to Trump Turnberry, where a renovation of the iconic Ailsa Course has been drawing rave reviews since it reopened in 2019. The most controversial change is to the par-4 ninth, which has been converted to a long par three that relocates the entire hole closer to the lighthouse, while several other seaside holes have been pushed closer to the water, to add further to the drama.

Elsewhere, a new Trumpified clubhouse offers diners the chance to chow down on lobster mac ‘n’ cheese or one of numerous cuts of Scottish-reared

■ THE NO.1 COURSE, HOST OF THE 2018 SCOTTISH OPEN, IS ONE OF THREE 18-HOLE LINKS ON OFFFER AT GULLANE GOLF CLUB

steaks cooked on an open grill in the Duel in the Sun restaurant, while the hotel itself has received a similarly spectacular renovation.

Golfers looking to play the only course in the country to be built on a Site of Special Scientific Interest should make the pilgrimage to Machrihanish Dunes, which transports visitors back over 120 years to a time when golf was at one with nature. Amazingly, only seven of the 260-odd acres of the site have been disturbed to make way for the rumpled fairways and punchbowl greens of the David McLay Kidd-designed 7,082-yard course, which makes for a truly unique links experience, and one that requires pinpoint accuracy to score well, especially when the wind gets up, as it often does on this remote outcrop on Scotland’s most westerly coast.

■ CARNOUSTIE’S CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE’S GOLFING BUCKET LIST

GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY GOLF CLUB

is situated in the Cairngorms National Park. The Club was established in1890 as a nine-hole course and by 1921, it had grown to 18 holes with the help of Willie Park and James Braid. The course is a traditional Scottish resortcourse designed to appeal to all levels of golfers. The Club has all the facilities you would expect from a Club in the top 100 in Scotland.

Tel: 01479 872079 | Web: grantownonspeygc.co.uk

TORWOODLEE GOLF CLUB features an 18hole course that is a stunning picturesque rolling parkland paradise just outside Galashiels in the beautiful Scottish Borders countryside. The course is set in a valley amongst mature trees, anked by the River Gala and divided by the Borders Railway line. Green Fees start from just £40 a round, with golf and food packages available and EZ-GO electric buggies.

Tel: 01896 752260 Web: torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk

MONIFIETH is home to two fantastic 18 hole links courses, The Medal and The Ashludie. These courses have been enjoyed by every level of golfer – from seasoned professional to happy amateur – and even Tom Watson who is a member! 18 hole and 36 hole packages are available with bookings/information available via the website along with green fees and other information.

Tel: 01382 532767 | Web: moni ethgolf.co.uk

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS

embraces mile after mile of spectacular Aberdeenshire coastline. Against a dramatic North Sea backdrop, our awardwinning championship course o ers breath-taking scenery and an unparalleled test of golf. Experience the unrivalled beauty, atmosphere and Scottish hospitality of Trump Internationalthe ultimate gol ng destination.

Tel: 01358 743300 | Web: trumpgolfscotland.com

It’s fair to say that it would take a good chunk of your lifetime to play all the great golf courses that Scotland has to offer, and while it may seem overwhelming at first, taking that first important step will take you on a golfing journey of discovery the likes of which you would struggle to find anywhere else on earth.

TAIN GOLF CLUB in Ross-Shire, is a classic 18-Hole Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris. If you would like to play golf while in Scotland you are guaranteed a warm welcome at Tain where you can experience a great course which is suitable for all standards of golfer. Tain Golf Club is a Scottish Golf Championship venue and will be hosting the Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship this August.

Tel: 01862 892314 | Web: tain-golfclub.co.uk

WEST KILBRIDE GOLF CLUB With spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde to the beautiful island of Arran, West Kilbride provides a true Scottish links golf experience. The Club is proud to have been selected as the host venue for both the 2023 R&A Seniors Home Internationals and the 2025 Scottish Boys Championship. Price – £100pp, May – September

Tel: 01294 823911 | Web: westkilbridegolfclub.com

CABOT’S CALLING

Following a change of ownership in 2022, the golf club formerly known as Castle Stuart has been reborn as Cabot Highlands . And although the name is different, the club’s commitment to offering a five-star experience remains intact, while plans for a second championship course, and the addition of luxury accommodation, looks set to ensure that this highland gem, becomes an even more sought-after golfing destination in the years to come

By its very nature, the process of changing the brand name of a consumer product has to happen virtually overnight, with the old stock taken o the shelf one day and reappearing with new packaging the next. The same, as it became all too apparent on my recent trip to the venue formerly known as Castle Stuart, cannot be said of a golf club, where several conversations made reference to ‘Castle Stuart’ only for the speaker to quickly correct themselves with ‘Cabot Highlands’ and a nervous laugh, much in the same way as I did when asking for a Marathon Bar in my local corner shop long after everyone else was chomping down on a Snickers.

To confuse matters still further, while the Scottish club itself was rechristened Cabot Highlands in June 2022, the golf course, which rst opened in 2009, is called the Castle Stuart Golf Links. All this matters not a jot, but having hosted three editions of the Scottish Open in the early part of its life, it will undoubtedly take some time for past visitors and many locals to refer to this highland venue by its new moniker without feeling unfaithful to what came before.

While the Cabot name will be unfamiliar to many UK golfers, it is one that is enjoying increasing recognition in North America, with the Toronto-based company building a portfolio of golf courses and resorts around the world since it was founded by Canadian entrepreneur Ben Cowan-Dewar and course development specialist Mike Keiser in 2011. With two clubs in Canada, two in the US, and another in St Lucia, Cabot’s purchase of Castle Stuart represented a signi cant shift in the company’s geographical interests, but one that Cowan-Dewar admits was too hard to overlook when the opportunity to buy the Inverness-based venue came up following the untimely death of its original owner and founder, Mark Parsinen, in 2019.

Since the change of ownership, things have moved on apace at Cabot Highlands, the most signi cant of those things being the hiring of American course architect Tom Doak to design a new 18-hole championship course that will sit alongside the Castle Stuart Golf Links. The new, and as yet untitled course, is scheduled to open in 2025 and will occupy a tract of land to the west of the original course, circling around the estate’s eponymous castle and swinging down to a stunning stretch of holes besides the Moray Firth.

Although still in the very early stages of construction during my visit last summer, a brief tour of the estate in a 4x4 revealed the massive potential for this new site to provide a perfect addition to its illustrious neighbour, which currently occupies 19th spot in the UK & Ireland’s Top 100 Courses ranking list. With plenty of elevation changes, stunning views, tantalising glimpses of the 400-year-old castle, and the opportunity to lay out a run of holes right beside the water’s edge, Doak must have rubbed his hands with excitement when he rst clapped eyes on the majestic landscape before him.

For now, and until the new course opens in 2025, golfers visiting Cabot Highlands will have to content themselves with playing the Castle Stuart Golf Links, which is a modern masterpiece and a must-play links on any Highland gol ng itinerary. Designed by the club’s late founder Mark Parsinen, in collaboration with architect Gil Hanse, the Castle Stuart course is a rarity among links in that it has been built on two levels: one, right up against the Moray Firth, and another on the ground high above, which o ers the most spectacular panoramic views – something also not associated with more traditional links, whose fairways often sit below the level of the dunes and rarely o er much interaction with the sea.

The course is laid out in two loops. The rst three holes all play down by the water’s edge and away from the clubhouse towards Inverness, before turning back inland and, nally, towards the iconic art-deco styled clubhouse. The back nine largely mirrors the front. Happily, for this correspondent at least, the emphasis appears to be on playability and enjoyment rather than on remorseless grind. With wide fairways, generous landing areas and thinned out rough, you can a ord to be a little wayward o the tee, but the test gets signi cantly tougher the closer you get to the green, many of which feature double tiers and severe run-o s to fend o all but the most accurate approach shots.

While there are no weak holes to talk of, the highlight holes for me, of which there are plenty, include the driveable par-4 third, which is down by the water’s edge; the sixth, a 552-yard par ve which is played to a long, narrow green that sits between a pair of waste bunkers; while on the more elevated back nine, the 220-yard 17th is another cracker, and serves to bring the round towards a suitable climax.

One of the many upsides of having not just one, but two 18-hole championship courses on the estate will be to turn Cabot Highlands into an instant ‘destination’ in its own right, and not just somewhere to play en route to the Highland’s other famous venues. While it is quite possible to play two rounds in a day, especially during Scotland’s lengthy summer days, having 36 holes in one location also a ords the opportunity for golfers to tarry awhile, hence Cabot’s plans to expand its current accommodation o ering to include 16 new luxury lodges, a restaurant, and maybe a hotel down the line.

The impressive clubhouse provides a homely welcome at any time of the year, but I expect is an even more welcome sight when the temperatures drops. The rst- oor changing room must o er one of the best locker room views in golf, and it didn’t surprise me to learn that it will most likely become a restaurant when Cabot’s planned changes come to fruition.

While there are is a four-bedroom cottage on site for gol ng groups to stay in, if that is booked up golfers looking to stay nearby can head to the recently opened AC Marriott Hotel in Inverness, which is just a 20-minute drive from the course along the A96 and enjoys a stunning location beside the River Ness. Rooms here, including bed and breakfast, start from £89, rising to £219 in high season.

Visitor green fees for 2024 are £225 for 18 holes between March 24-April 30, and £295 from May 1 – Oct 31. A two-round package and an overnight stay for eight guests in the 4-bedroom lodge costs from £405pp. The course reopens for the 2024 season on March 23. For more details, visit cabothighlands.com. For bookings at the AC Marriott Hotel in Inverness, visit marriott.com or call 01463 211955.

■ CABOT HIGHLAND’S CASTLE STUART GOLF LINKS IS A SCENESTEALING COURSE WITH STUNNING VIEWS OVER THE MORAY FIRTH

■ CABOT HIGHLANDS SECOND COURSE IS BEING DESIGNED BY

■ CASTLE STUART GOLF LINKS

HITTING THE GREENS IN THE GARDEN STATE

Whether you’re looking to tee it up at some of the most exclusive private golf clubs in the world or walk the fairways of some of America’s most highly rated public courses and resorts, the Garden State of NEW JERSEY has it all, plus world-class entertainment and generous hospitality

It is somewhat apposite the state that is home to the United States Golf Association – which sets the Rules of Golf and runs many of America’s leading amateur and professional tournaments, including the US Open – should have chosen to base its headquarters in New Jersey.

The Garden State, as it is known, has a long tradition and strong association with golf. And while the world-renowned courses to be found at Pine Valley and Baltusrol no doubt proved good reasons for US golf’s governing body to set up shop at Liberty Hills in Somerset County, the accessibility to over 275 of the US’s nest public courses and resorts must have also entered calculations when deciding to base their headquarters in the heart of New Jersey in 1972.

With so much choice, and so much quality in quantity, it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to highlighting NJ’s attraction as a golf holiday destination, or as, might be the case, a holiday destination with some golf thrown in.

Bounded by New York to the north and northeast, Delaware and Pennsylvania to the west, and 130 miles of stunning coastline on the famous Jersey Shore to the east, New Jersey maybe one of the USA’s smallest states, but it’s also one of the wealthiest and most populous, and is packed with things to do and places to see, and as such is the ideal place to kickstart any itinerary to this beautiful part of north east America.

OLD SCHOOL COUNTY CLUBS & MODERN MASTERPIECES

New Jersey is laden with gol ng history, with some of its most best known layouts well over 100 years old, but is also home to some the USA’s newest designs, whose nely sculpted fairways bely their young age.

Any discussion of golf in New Jersey will and should begin with what many consider to be the

best golf course in the world – Pine Valley Golf Club. Located in the southern part of NJ in Camden County, Pine Valley has ranked No.1 in every edition of Golf Digest’s esteemed ‘America’s 100 Greatest Course’ except four times – when it was second to Cypress Point. George Crump’s tree-lined masterpiece is regarded as gol ng nirvana for many, although getting a tee time will require playing as a member’s guest, so be prepared to get checking the family tree if you want to experience what is widely considered to be the ultimate test of golf.

First opened in 1919, such was its di culty it took fully three years before anyone shot 70, while some of the early members are understood to have won quite a bit of money betting rst-time visitors that they couldn’t break 80. Although Arnold Palmer famously took all the bets going when he played it in 1954 and cleaned up when shooting an impressive 68. Described by Robert Trent Jones as a ‘beautiful monster’, it’s worth selling your grandmother to play alongside a member for the day at a course which places high demands on every shot.

But if you’re connections don’t cut it, New Jersey is thankfully blessed with plenty of alternative world-class venues, with ten of the Garden State’s 275-plus courses featuring in Golf Digest’s top 200, including some of the best designs by the game’s classic architects. AW Tillinghast lived

■ CAESARS PALACE ATLANTIC CITY

NEW JERSEY IS LADEN WITH GOLFING HISTORY, WITH SOME OF ITS MOST BEST KNOWN LAYOUTS WELL OVER 100 YEARS OLD

– has the potential to give New Jersey yet another top nationally ranked course within its borders.

For golf with incredible panoramic views, check into the Crystal Springs Golf & Spa Resort in Hamburg – the closest golf resort to New York – which boasts no fewer than six championship courses, including designs by Robert von Hagge (Crystal Springs) and Robert Trent Jones (Ballyowen), all played in the shadows of the

for much of his life in New Jersey and built both courses at seven-time US Open venue Baltusrol, whose magni cent Lower Course also hosted the PGA Championship in 2005 and the Women’s PGA Championship just last year.

Tillingshurst’s handiwork can also be enjoyed at the unique masterpiece that is Somerset Hills, although that too, Like Pine Valley, requires a member’s introduction, although there are no such concerns at the fabulous 27-hole facility at Ridgewood Country Club, which hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup, when the home side ran out 9-3 winners under the captaincy of Walter Hagen. More recently host of the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open, Ridgewood boasts three 9-hole loops, with the East and West combination forming the premier day-to-day 18-hole course, where accurate driving is required to navigate your way through tight, treelined corridors to rm and fast greens. The club’s Central Course is also not to be missed, especially if you want to try and recreate Rory McIlroy’s feat of reaching the green on the par-4 fourth, which he did in all four rounds of the Northern Trust, making two eagles and two birdies!

Fans of Donald Ross’s design skills should not miss the gems to be played at Plain eld Country Club and Mountain Ridge Country Club. The former, a host venue for the US Women’s Open, the US Amateur and The Barclays, is one of the oldest clubs in the US, with the 130-year-old venue having been restored some 20 years ago by Gil Hanse to make it the work of art that it is today.

While New Jersey is home to dozens of timeless classic courses, it also the venue for some very 21st century designs, including the modern marvels that can be equal parts awe-inspiring and polarising, such as the Donald Trump-owned Liberty National and Bayonne, both of whom enjoy dramatic and rather surreal locations directly across the Hudson River from Wall Street where panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline create a quixotic backcloth. Bayonne is an authentic links layout reminiscent of many a British seaside course, with fairways tumbling through giant man-made sand dunes and greens perched on raised plateaus. It’s dockside location is incongruous to say the least, but it’s well worth playing for the views alone.

For other modern tests, be sure to tackle the ultra-di cult and expertly crafted Galloway National, while bold and beautiful courses like the Ridge at Back Brook and Tom Fazio’s Trump Bedminster should also be high on your list of mustplays. And a newcomer, a bold and mesmerising redesign of the old, at Sand Barrens – the new Union League National in Cape May Court House

breathtaking Appalachian Mountains.

Students of gol ng history, and anyone who loves the game, should be sure plan in a visit to the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History in Clementon, which houses one of the world’s leading collections of golf artifacts and memorabilia. Its exhibits tell the fascinating 100-plus-year story of golf in America and is well worth factoring into your holiday itinerary.

OFF-COURSE ATTRACTIONS

EXPLORE THE SHORES OF NEW JERSEY

New Jersey’s 130 miles of sandy beaches are beckoning visitors this summer. With direct ights from the UK to Newark and enviable weather during the summer months, the state is a great choice for those looking for an ultimate beach holiday with beautiful barrier islands and bays dotted with majestic lighthouses, shing villages and scenic views.

The sandy beaches are the state’s most treasured prize and attract families, couples and friends, visiting to enjoy the sun, sand, water sports and beach side attractions.

Atlantic City is New Jersey’s most famous coastal city. Visitors ock to enjoy the wide sandy beaches, the world-famous boardwalk, world class casino resorts and fantastic dining and entertainment o erings.

BEACHES & BOARDWALKS

Other cities with beach-front locations include the lively Wildwoods, Seaside Heights with its two amusement piers, family favourite Ocean City and trendy Asbury Park, all of which feature fun- lled boardwalks with entertainment, rides, shopping and dining.

Adrenaline junkies are well catered for on the beaches of New Jersey. The state is home to some of the best sur ng on the East Coast, the ocean typically remains warm through October and the excellent sur ng is the result of the Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane season which increases the swell. Great beach towns for sur ng include Manasquan, Belmar and Seaside Heights.

Family beach holiday options are also in abundance along the coast of New Jersey.

Long Beach Island is an 18-mile-long island strewn with small shore towns and long stretches of white sand which has been attracting families for generations.

At Beach Haven, the island’s main action centre, you’ll nd the water parks Fantasy Island Amusement Park and Thundering

Surf Water Park & Adventure Golf.

At Wildwoods in southern New Jersey, in addition to an expansive beach, there are 38 blocks of exciting boardwalk attractions, including three incredible amusement piers, water parks and crazy golf, plus there is a weekly rework display during the summer. Point Pleasant Beach o ers a boardwalk lled with arcades and rides, an aquarium and beach front amusement park and Ocean City has eight full blocks of family amusements.

For a quieter beach experience Spring Lake, Ocean Grove and Stone Harbor o er a more sedate stay. Here you can nd historic lighthouses, preserved natural areas, inlets and bays.

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Hard Rock Live Etess Arena.

Live music events and festivals take place throughout the state. Coming up this summer and beyond include The TidalWave Music Festivalin Atlantic City, which features country stars from around the US and will take place 11-13 August, while Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park features two full days of music with more than 25 bands on three stages. This years’ festival takes place September 14-15 with Bruce Springsteen headlining on Sunday.

And if American Football is your thing, then NJ has that catered for too, with the Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford being home to the New York Giants and New York Jets. Due to host the FIFA World Cup nal in 2026, the venue also hosts big scale music concerts such as the Rolling Stones, who will be playing there on May 23 and 26 (2024) – so book now to avoid disappointment!

Cape May is a charming town located at the southernmost point of the Jersey Shore, with a world renown architectural legacy, many of its colourful Victorian homes have been turned into boutique bed & breakfasts. The town is also home to the grand Congress Hall, which is America’s oldest seaside resort, dating back to 1816. The small towns of Barnegat Light and Harvey Cedars, both located on the north end of Long Beach Island, also o er a laid-back, idyllic island getaway.

To start planning your New Jersey holiday, visit www.visitnj.org/uk

Barnegat Light and Harvey Cedars, both located on the also o er a laid-back, idyllic

ATLANTIC CITY – VEGAS

BY THE SEA

Atlantic City is often considered the entertainment capital of New Jersey and big acts have been performing there in casinos, clubs and bars since the 1930’s, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra were regularly belting out their hits in the early days of Atlantic City’s music venues. These days, Alicia Keys, ZZ Top, Mary J Blige, Diona, Alice Cooper and Billy Ocean are just some of the artists to have played gigs here in recent years. Venues here include Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort, the Event Centre at

Gloria Reso s unveils

Serenity

hotel upgrade and state-of-thea golf academy

Guests staying at the Gloria Serenity Resort in Belek, Turkey can enjoy an enhanced golf and leisure experience following the unveiling of the refurbished ve-star hotel and new Gloria Golf Training Academy.

As part of an extensive multi-million euro upgrade has seen all 367 rooms and villas upgraded at the ve-star hotel, as well as the introduction of a number of new à la carte restaurants, a bakery, an ice-cream parlour and a kids club.

A second lobby with three sea-view terraces has been built, while new mirror TV systems have been installed in all rooms to create larger living spaces. Locker rooms with shower and dressing facilities for use after check-out has also been introduced, as has new modern gym equipment.

Further investment has also seen Gloria Golf Club open its Gloria Golf Training Academy, the nation’s rst facility of its kind. PGA-quali ed professionals at the 45hole complex, as well as a dedicated physical performance coach, will work alongside each individual player to improve every aspect of their game – all in tandem with an unrivalled line-up of specialised equipment and state-of-theart technology.

Facilities awaiting players include 48 Trackman-equipped driving range bays, as well as 18 practice greens for putting, bunker play and pitching. The academy clubhouse houses Turkey’s rst hi-tech putting centre, integrating PuttView, PuttView X and Quintic technology.

An on-site club- tting centre – alongside a fullyequipped repair and customisation workshop – will help players nd and perfect the clubs to take their game to the next level. Golfers can also bene t from the guidance of a quali ed golf psychologist and rules training from a DP World Tour-quali ed referee or use the private gym or golfers’ lounge facilities.

David Clare, director of golf at Gloria Golf Club, said: “As the only 45-hole golf club in Turkey, we think it’s crucial that we have truly world-class facilities and sta to help golfers – at any level – who want to develop We’re fortunate to have three excellent courses and have signi cantly added to our pre-existing practice facilities in recent years, leading to the creation of what we believe will be one of Europe’s leading golf academies.”

A short drive from Antalya International Airport, Gloria guests are spoilt for choice in accommodation, with three luxurious ve-star resorts on the beach –Gloria Golf Resort, Gloria Verde Resort and Gloria Serenity Resort.

Clubs to Hire launches long-term equipment rental option

Clubs to Hire, the golf holiday equipment rental company that has outlets all across Europe, is now o ering long-term rental options for golfers who have enjoyed using the company’s gear on breaks.

Clubs to Hire o ers the latest sets from all the top manufacturers including Callaway, PXG, TaylorMade, Srixon, Mizuno, Cobra and others. During the last two years they have seen demand from their clients to play with the same clubs rented when they return home.

Under the new rental scheme, In nity, golfers can now rent new or pre-used sets from as little as €70 per month. Golfers simply pick the set they like and it will be shipped to their home, where they can enjoy the set for a minimum of six months. Sets can be shipped to anywhere in the UK and Europe.

Tony Judge Club to Hire’s CEO, said “Purchasing a new set of golf clubs can prove expensive for a lot of people and the average golfer is not always sure if that particular set will suit their game. Now a lot of golfers will rent a set on holidays with Clubs to Hire and then go home and do a longer-term rental with In nity. This also enables golfers to enjoy playing with new or pre-used sets at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them outright.”

Clubs to Hire In nity o ers new sets from Callaway, PXG and Cobra and pre-used sets from Callaway and Srixon.

Launched in 2010, Clubs to Hire will celebrate its 14th year in business and the company has grown from strength to strength. It now handles more than 325,000 annual visits to its website and more than 40,000 bookings for rental clubs at 26 locations worldwide, including popular gol ng regions in Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, UK, Dubai, Mauritius, South Africa and ve countries across the Mediterranean.

Clubs, which are available for left or right-handed players and are tted with a variety of shaft exes, can either be waiting at the airport or delivered directly to the golfer’s accommodation.

For more details visit clubstohire.com/in nity

SO/ Sotogrande launches new stay-and-play packages

SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort Hotel in Spain has unveiled a selection of new stay and play packages designed to o er guests an incredible gol ng experience on Spanish and European top 100 golf courses while enjoying winter sunshine in the Mediterranean.

The headline act of the new collection of packages is the Sotogrande Golf Tour Classic– designed for golfers seeking the ultimate gol ng experience. Guests will experience a tee time at three legendary courses, former Ryder Cup, current LIV Golf host and #1 course in Spain, Real Club Valderrama; #2 course in Spain and home of the DP World Tour’s Andalucia Masters, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande; and recent Ladies European Tour host venue and #7 course in Spain, La Reserva Club, as part of a ve-night stay at the resort. Prices are from £1,487 approximately..

In addition, the new Golf Escape package will o er guests the chance to enjoy rounds of golf at the on-site Almenara Golf, which features in Spain’s Top 100 courses, and nearby La Reserva Club which has recently been listed in the Continental Europe Top 100. Golf Escape options, staying at the SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort, include 3, 5 and 7-night stays, with 2, 3 and 4 rounds of golf respectively.

For more information, and to make a reservation, visit sotogrande.com.

Travel with

How old were you when you rst picked up a golf club?

I must have been around seven, so 1965. My dad took us down to Llanymynech Golf Club, which is famous for having 15 holes in Wales and three holes in England. On the fourth hole, you tee o in Wales, putt in England and return to Wales three holes later.

My dad, Harold, used to play local club football when he was younger, but when he got to 35, he and his football mates gradually took up golf instead, and then we all got introduced to the game soon after that as a family.

What is your rst holiday memory?

My dad always used to take us on holiday to Butlins in Pwllheli in South Wales. Funnily enough, we went there for the boxing. My dad was a keen amateur boxer and he got us into it as well. It was the early ‘70s and Butlins used to run these boxing competitions for the kids – hard to believe now – and if you won your nal bout your family got a free holiday. My dad loved a free holiday, so we kept going back there year after year!

What’s your favourite golfer resort?

I’ve stayed at some fantastic golf resorts all over the world during my career, so I’ve been very lucky, but I guess it’s only as I’ve got older that I’ve really been able to appreciate what they have to o er in terms of a holiday, as opposed to how they stack up as tournament venues.

Apes Hill Resort in Barbados, of which I am ambassador, is obviously a very exciting proposition, and is on its way to becoming one of the world’s great resorts, although it’s doing it on a very low-key level, being careful to make sure it is developed in harmony with the local area. The course is magni cent, with incredible views too, while the facilities around it, from the academy and the restaurants, and the properties that surround the course, are all top class.

Who would be in your ideal holiday fourball?

That’s a tough one, as I’ve always loved playing with the mates I’ve made on tour, but If I could only pick three I‘d go for DJ Russell, Peter Baker and Sandy Lyle. They’d be lots of laughs and a few side bets.

IAN WOOSNAM

Ian Woosnam , the 1991 Masters champion and former world no.1, likes to kick back in Barbados when he’s not competing on the Legends Tour, and is fond of a freshly cooked steak and chips from his favourite restaurant in Madrid

And what’s been your most memorable round?

I once shot 57 at Oswestry Golf Club in the middle of winter, and that included missing a two-footer and three 10-foot birdie putts on the last three holes. That was something else, but I’ve shot some incredible rounds in all sorts of di erent places – I think I shot a 60 in Monte Carlo – but I’m not really one for dwelling on speci c rounds, as I was always more concerned about winning. It’s all about the destination and not the journey when it comes to tournament golf!

What’s your favourite course in the UK?

It used to be the West Course at Wentworth when it was set up the old way, but obviously I’ve not played it so much following its redesign. I used to loved how it demanded that you could hit every club in the bag, not just half a dozen or so, and you can’t say that about a lot of courses these days.

What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in?

What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in?

incredible. I’ve got great memories of staying there when I won the Million Dollar Challenge in 1987.

What’s your favourite city in the world?

in Sun City, South Africa. Having all the elephants

You can’t go too wrong with The Lost City Hotel in Sun City, South Africa. Having all the elephants and gira es and wildlife on your doorstep was

Dublin. It’s as much about the people as it is the place, and everywhere you go in Dublin you’re always made to feel welcome. One of the best times I had there was in 1978 when a few lads went over there for a couple of days for the craic and ended up staying there two weeks! Obviously I’m Welsh, but part of me feels a bit Irish, especially after winning the Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2004.

What’s been your most memorable meal on holiday?

There have been quite a few, but a steak I had at a restaurant in Madrid called Caso Paco was hard to beat. The beef comes straight out of the bull ring apparently, and they cook it over a charcoal grill and bring it out on a hotplate so it carries on cooking at the table. Served medium rare with some fresh chips and a bit of salad – lovely! I’m going there again in a few weeks’ time.

What’s your top travel tip?

Have a friend with a private plane! Travelling – or rather ying – used to be fun when I was rst competing on the European Tour. You just jumped on a plane and got where you wanted to go. These days, ying abroad is such a hassle with all the security, the queues, the delays, losing your luggage. It’s no fun anymore for me, but it’s obviously part of the job.

Dublin. It’s as much about the people as it is obviously part of the job.

My other top tip is to take Imodium tablets and mosquito repellent. Both can be life savers!

■ THE LOST CITY (THE PALACE) IN SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA

HILL BARBADOS

■ OSWESTRY GOLF CLUB, WHERE WOOSNAM ONCE SHOT 57

■ THE STEAK SERVED AT CASO PACO IN MADRID

■ APES HILL BARBADOS

■ PICTURED BEFORE THE 18TH HOLE’S REDESIGN IN 2012, WOOSNAM WAS A BIG FAN OF WENTWORTH’S WEST COURSE

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