Golf News launches premium network days with Linksnet

This summer will see the launch of four Golf News Network events run in conjunction with Linksnet Golf, the UK’s leading online golf network.

The exclusive days will be limited in numbers to ensure all guests receive the best personal service and the opportunity to network in a fun and relaxed golf event whilst playing some of the country’s top courses.

Each day includes a sleeve of Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, breakfast, lunch and the opportunity to compete for around £1,000 worth of prizes from the likes of Stewart Golf, Bushnell, Castore, Skechers, Hayman’s Gin and Merser Rum. What’s more there’s an order of merit where you could win a spot in the Linksnet Season 4 Final in Spring 2024.

The venues are: Bearwood Lakes 5th June £229; Walton

Heath 4th July £189; Delamere Forest 8th Aug £159; West Hill 21st Sept £159

There are just a few spaces remaining at each day and spaces are reserved for bronze, silver or gold Linksnet members. It’s easy to sign up, however. Just visit www. linksnetgolf.com to register your free account and then upgrade from just £29.99 for the year. Not only do members get access to the days, but they get free entry to the Match Play Singles and Pairs Tournament which culminate in a final at Centurion Club, and you get the chance to compete on the live leaderboard where all your scores from your club golf across the season count towards more great prizes and more opportunities to qualify for the final. There are also exclusive offers for members from the likes of Bushnell, Castore and Golf Escapes and you can build up your network online and arrange golf with new friends at all those venues you’ve wanted to visit in the UK and worldwide.

For more details, visit www.linksnetgolf.com.

Hall pipped to LPGA Tour title in play-off

Georgia Hall narrowly missed out on capturing her third LPGA Tour title when losing out in a playoff with France’s Celine Boutier at the LPGA Drive on Championship held at Superstition Mountain Golf Club in Arizona.

Boutier forced extra holes with Hall by making a birdie at the par-5 18th to close out a 4-under 68, matching Hall – who fired a final round 65 – in the clubhouse on 20-under in what was the LPGA Tour’s first full-field event of the season.

Playing the 18th hole again, neither player found the green with their second shot of the playoff. Boutier, chipping from nearly the same spot as she did in regulation short and right of the green, pitched to about four feet, while Hall, who hit her second shot into a greenside bunker, blasted beyond the hole and failed to convert her birdie effort. That set the stage for Boutier’s winning birdie putt.

Boutier had mixed feelings about facing – and beating – Hall, a former Solheim Cup teammate in the play-off. “I was honestly not looking forward to it,” Boutier said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling because you obviously want to win, but at the same time Georgia is a really good friend of mine and a really great player. I’m competitive, so I definitely wanted to win, but it’s not the greatest feeling.”

With the victory, the 29-year-old Boutier claimed her third LPGA victory and became the most successful ever French player on the LPGA Tour, moving past the achievements of Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Anne-Marie Palli. Boutier had previously won the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open and 2021 ShopRite Classic.

Hall, who was looking for her first win since the 2020 Cambia Portland Classic, which followed a victory at the Women’s British Open in 2018, tried to find some consolation in her near miss. “Obviously it was fantastic to get to the position I was in,” the 26-year-old major winner said. “I knew I had to shoot low today, and I’m pleased I was able to do that, but I’m obviously gutted about the result. I had a lot of adrenaline flowing through me on that second shot approach during the play-off and it went a very long way. But overall I’m proud of how I played this week. I just have to keep putting myself into contention.”

Motocaddy rolls out support for British Junior Golf Tour

Leading trolley brand Motocaddy has become headline sponsor of the British Junior Golf Tour, which hosts more than 30 events for talented boys and girls across its nine-hole, 18-hole and Order of Merit categories from next month.

The sponsorship will see Motocaddy on-course banners at every event staged over a seven-month period at pcourses such as Woodhall Spa, Frilford Heath, Sunningdale Heath, Pyle & Kenfig, and culminating in the Tour Championship at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey in October. Motocaddy prizes will also be on offer for competitors at selected events.

Offering youngsters an Approved Golf Development Programme backed by the DP World Tour, the BJGT is the leading junior golf tour in the UK with 17 years’ experience of delivering fun, quality junior golf competitions for junior golfers of all abilities aged 5-18 years. Many boys and girls who have gained valuable experience on the BJGT have gone on to represent their national teams at amateur level, while some have even filtered through to the professional ranks onto the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour.

The BJGT provides young golfers with high level playing opportunities both at home and abroad, including offering UK qualifying places for the largest junior golf championship in the world – the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego, California, that counts Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els among its previous winners.

“The British Junior Golf Tour is delighted to welcome a global leading brand such as Motocaddy to be headline sponsor,” said Tour Director Neil Randall.

“Their support enables us to continue to provide superb playing opportunities to junior golfers, who will once again experience top venues in the UK and compete for fantastic trophies and prizes, while making new friends and cementing existing friendships. We’ve always been driven by a passion for junior golf and in 2023, we look forward to being powered by Motocaddy.”

To find more details of this year’s tournament schedule and how to enter, visit www.juniorgolftour. co.uk.

Oxfordshire’s oldest club celebrates Colt centenary

Flat caps, tweed and patterned socks were the order of the day at Oxfordshire’s oldest golf club to mark 100 years since its redesign by one of the sport’s great architects, Harry Colt.

Based in Cowley, members and staff at Oxford Golf Club stepped back into the 1920s for one day only by hosting its traditional ‘baffy match’ as part of the centenary celebrations. The annual two-team tournament between the club’s members and its staff, directors and committee has been a mainstay in the course’s calendar since the 1950s, with a twist from seasons of yesteryear.

Founded in 1875, Oxford Golf Club’s course is one of 300 in the world which Colt designed or renovated, alongside more celebrated venues such as Wentworth, Sunningdale, Royal Liverpool and Muirfield.

Bragging rights went to Oxford Golf Club’s members this year, who won 4½-3½ in a keenly contested tie which was followed by a meal and a centenary presentation. Among those who took to the course were former club secretaries Michael Blight and Colin Whittle, who worked at the club between 2004-07 and 2008-13 respectively.

Present day general manager Steve Greenwood was delighted with the day’s positive turn out. He said: “Our ‘Baffy match’ is always a real highlight in the Oxford Golf Club calendar,” said Steve. “It brings together our loyal members and hard-working staff who all contribute to the club’s success.

“This year was particularly special as we marked the centenary of our redesign by legendary architect Harry Colt. His impact on the sport remains present in the modern-day game and we feel very fortunate to be one of the few courses in the world to be shaped under his influence in the early 20th century. We couldn’t not mark such a major anniversary without asking participants to dress accordingly and try their hand at playing our course using traditional equipment including some vintage wooden drivers off of the first tee. Results were mixed, but contributed to the day’s enjoyment and it was our privilege to host members, staff and those on our committee both today and in previous seasons.”

In winning the tournament, Oxford Golf Club’s members were presented with a historic baffy – an old-fashioned wooden golf club used by players on their approach to the green. Baffies were commonplace on the course during the sport’s Colt era, but today have been replaced by high-tech carbon fibre alternatives. It’s not the only change to happen on the fairways in the last century at the club.

Upgrades in recent years include substantial investment into the course’s greens, bunkers and fairways, a new irrigation system and the installation of a waste-towater facility which recycles up to half-a-million litres of water each year.

Greenwood added: “Golf has experienced a significant shift in how the game is played, regulated and followed since the redesign of our course. Not only do we pride ourselves on being Oxfordshire’s oldest course, but also an inclusive club which makes golf accessible to all via tuition, an active social calendar and engagement with players of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. Golf has experienced an uptick off the back of the pandemic and it’s great to see so many people embracing our sport.”