GOLF NEWS APRIL 2024

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Ever since the end of the heady days of Tiger Woods’ dominance of men’s professional golf, which I’m going to call as being somewhere around 2013, golf has been looking for someone else to shoulder the burden of being the talisman of the game.

Tiger, as we all know, is a once-in-lifetime player, indeed several lifetimes, and to ask anyone to step into his shoes, or even partially fill them, was always going to be an impossible task given his massive global reach that transcended the sport in a way that even Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus failed to do to quite such an extent.

While players of Tiger’s generation may sometimes rue their misfortune in having to come against such an indominatable foe every week, they also know that it was having such a transformational figure among their ranks that brought them the riches that they hadn’t truly deserved. Sponsors flocked to be involved in what was previously seen as an unfashionable, old white guys game, and the money flowed in like never before.

That money is still flowing in today, and while Tiger’s powers as a golfer are waning to the point of being an endlessly fascinating, yet at the same time hugely insignificant sideshow, his impact on the global game is still being felt.

I don’t know whether it is to men’s’ professional golf’s credit or its shame that it is still relying on the health updates of a 48-year-old billionaire to keep itself on the back pages, let alone the front, but boy does the game need someone about whom we can get excited about again.

Sadly, that someone is not Scottie Scheffler. His impressive run of results over the last two years is nothing short of incredible, and up their alongside some of Tiger’s average years in 1999 and 2007, when he only managed to win one of the four majors, but he’s in no stretch of the imagination going to be the guy that gets kids wanting to wear his brand of polo shirt or dad’s wanting to buy his preferred shaving gel (not least because Scottie has a fulsome beard).

Scottie, for all is undoubted talent, is not a needle mover. Phil Mickelson, for all his mnay and well-

documented flaws, was a needle mover. Rory McIlroy, in his pomp of 2012-2014, was a needle mover, and has been, for the lack of an decent alternative candidate, for the last 10 years. But, sadly, his needle appears to be stuck in a deep groove from which he can’t escape, forever destined, it seems, to be the fourtime major champion whose candle burned fast and bright before petering out into embers which glowed from time to time, but never enough to fully reignite. Bryson DeChambeau, bless his awkwardly rigid frame, was a needle mover for a few short weeks around his 2020 US Open win, if only in a slightly freakish sideshow kind of way following his massive muscle gain. But good old Scottie ain’t moving any needles no matter how many consecutive rounds he scores under par.

Blame his calm demeanour, his inscrutable manner, or his faith in the good Lord above, but it’s no longer enough to be exceptionally good at your craft to capture the imagination of the public at large. Admiration, yes, but fandom, ‘fraid not. And that suits Scottie fine. He’s not out to make friends, win favour or seek public office. He’s just a hard-working guy who happens to be exceptionally good at what he does. And while his dominance most likely won’t win over any newcomers to the game, it will, at the very least, serve to encourage his peers to double their efforts at raising their own game or face a decade of starring at his gurning face as he picks up buckets of cash and handfuls of trophies and yet more major titles.

Every sport benefits from compelling storylines, and Scheffler’s dominance is providing just that right now, but for how long? Competition keeps people engaged, and, as we witnessed on Sunday evening at the Masters, when sport loses its competitive edge, people begin to switch off. But it’s not up to Scottie take his foot off the gas, it’s up to his rivals to up their own games and take the fight to him.

InBrief

DAUGHTREY WINS BERKHAMSTED TROPHY

★ Charlie Daughtrey’s first visit to Berkhamsted Golf Club ended with his name being added to a list of golfing legends, after the 23-year-old from Rotherham Golf Club enjoyed a three-shot victory in the 63rd Berkhamsted Trophy. Traditionally a 72-hole three-day event, this year’s renewal was cut to 54 holes after heavy rain on the Friday. Saturday gave competitors a different challenge – high winds – but Daughtrey stood alone in the field by posting three consecutive under-par rounds to finish on 209 (-4), ahead of Charlie Croker (Abridge) and George Sanders (Leeon-the-Solent) who both posted 212. Daughtrey, who was part of last year’s winning Yorkshire team in the Men’s County Championships, has a full-time job as a greenkeeper.

POTTER POWERS TO PETER MCEVOY TROPHY

★ Kent’s Jake Potter won the 43rd Peter McEvoy Trophy after shooting rounds of 69, 67 and 72 at Copt Heath Golf Club. The big-hitting 17-year-old from Chelsfield Lakes’ five-under-par total saw him win the prestigious junior title by a single shot from Alex Wells, with Jack Peters and Ben Bolton three shots back in tied third. After his two-under par start, the foundations for his victory were established in the second round, where a run of birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie from the 5th hole saw him reach the turn in just 31 shots. He came home in level par to be the only player in the 72-player field to break par for the opening two rounds. Potter’s final round saw him fire three birdies and four bogeys, with a dropped shot on the 16th meaning that he had to par the last two holes to secure the win after nearest challenger Wells made a birdie at 17.

ESSEX UNION HITS 100

★ The Essex Golf Union reached a major milestone in February when representatives from 24 clubs attended the 93rd annual general meeting held at Romford Golf Club, marking 100 years since the union was inaugurated. Back in 1924, representives of Bowers Gifford, Frinton, Monkhams, Thorpe Hall, Boyce Hill, Grays & Orsett, Rochford 100, Wanstead, Chelmsford, Hainault Forest, Romford, West Essex, Clactonon-Sea, Ilford, Theydon Bois and Woodford golf clubs attended the first ever meeting.

Surrey’s Woad wins Augusta National Women’s Amateur with late birdie run

Lottie Woad became the first player from England to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, when the Surrey star she produced an incredible run of three birdies in her final four holes to take the title by one shot.

An amazing final-round performance from USA’s Bailey Shoemaker, who shot a competition record 66, looked like it might take the victory from Woad, but the 20-yearold from Farnham Golf Club produced a sensational finish under pressure to win by the minimum margin.

Woad led after the first two rounds at Champions Retreat, but found herself two shots behind with five holes left to play at Augusta National. But, despite a bogey at 13, she made a sensational par recovery on the 14th. After birdieing 15 and coming inches from another on 16, she went into the final two holes knowing two birdies were required for victory.

The Surrey youngster showed nerves of steel to hole two birdie putts in front of the Augusta patrons and TV cameras as her eight-under-par total proved to be the winning score in the 54-hole competition. She was one of only seven players who finished under par in the field, and the victory guarantees her entry into all of this year’s women’s major tournaments.

■ JCB GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB WILL HOST LIV GOLF UK IN JULY

LIV Golf League UK stop moves to JCB

The LIV Golf League’s one and only event in the UK during this year’s 14-event season is being held at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire this summer.

LIV Golf’s third trip to the UK, following two stagings at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire, will see the Saudi-backed league head north to the headquarters of the construction industry company’s private course.

LIV Golf UK by JCB will take place between July 26-28, and will be

County Cards to go digital

Speaking after being presented with the trophy by August National chairman, Woad said: “The turning point for me was the great par-save on 14. I hooked off the tee and still had 215 in. There was no way of me stopping it on the green,but then I holed the par putt to stay two back. I knew coming in that there were some good hole locations for me to get at and I managed to hole some nice putts at the end. I thought 16 was in!

“There was a lot of pressure, but I was generally just having fun. I had a great caddie with me – my England Golf coach Steve Robinson, who helped me stay in the moment and I just enjoyed it and embraced it. I had a lot of my family come and support me but particularly my nan who is 85 and came over from England to watch me – I think she had fun today!

She added: “It means so much to be a part of August National history. I’ve watched this event when I was younger and I’ve always wanted to play in it and try and contend, but to win it is just really special.”

the final stop outside the US for LIV Golf’s 2024 season. Among the 56-man field for the 54-hole event will be Ryder Cup stars Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, who will both be making their first appearances with LIV Golf in the UK at the event.

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “Having already hosted four professional tour events, this news in another great step towards putting the JCB Golf & Country Club firmly on the international golf map. We are now only three months away from what promises to be a spectacular event. We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with LIV Golf as both partner and sole host of a UK tournament in 2024.”

LIV Golf Commissioner Greg Norman said: “LIV Golf made history in the UK with our ground-breaking launch in 2022 and memorable encore event this past summer. For 2024, we’re thrilled to expand our reach in the UK with a new host venue in JCB Golf & Country Club, one of the top courses in the country. Only five years old, this fantastic course has already proven its mettle on the professional stage and will add to an exciting summer swing in Europe as our players hit our season homestretch.”

First opened in 2018, the JCB course was designed by Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design and is built on a 240-acre site adjacent to the JCB World Headquarters. The 7,308-yard, par 72 course serves as a showpiece for the engineering excellence of JCB’s machinery and is only open to employees of JCB and its corporate partners, with green fees costing £60 for staff and £70 for staff guests. The course has previously hosted two events on the Legends Tour schedule, with the JCB Championship having been won by Peter Baker last year, and Alex Cejka in 2022.

Tickets for LIV Golf UK by JCB can be purchased from livgolf.com, with grounds passes available from £23 per day, and hospitality tickets starting at £122 and rising to £552 for an access-all-areas package.

■ THE COUNTY CARD SYSTEM WILL BE APP-ONLY FROM 2025

The County Cards that enable golf club members that hold a WHS handicap at affiliated clubs to enjoy discounts on green fees on over 1,300 participating clubs throughout England are to scrap the physical card at the end of this year and move to a digital version from 2025.

A County Card is free barring a £7 administration fee for first-time registers, and there is no fee for the use of the County Card app, as it is a benefit of affiliation to the county in which you play your golf.

The County Card mobile app has lots of useful information such as upcoming competitions in your county, results, latest news, as well as a Course Handicap Calculator. To find out more, download the igCounty app from your usual app platform. ■

Eastbourne Downs join Get Golfing portfolio

Eastbourne Borough Council has announced that golf club operator Get Golfing has been selected to take over operations at Eastbourne Downs Golf Club in East Sussex.

The decision to award the operating contract to Get Golfing followed a bidding process that attracted interest from over 30 parties, with six submitting formal responses.

Eastbourne Downs, which is located on the South Downs overlooking Eastbourne, was founded in 1908 and boasts an 18-hole championship golf course designed by JH Taylor.

Chris Knight, a member of Get Golfing’s senior leadership team, said: “Get Golfing is thrilled to incorporate a club with such a rich and prestigious history into its portfolio.”

Knight added that Get Golfing’s founder, Ed Richardson, who died last year, ‘would have been proud to have seen a club of the standing of Eastbourne Downs join the Get Golfing family’.

Get Golfing operates as a charitable organisation, reinvesting all surpluses back into its venues. The charity currently employs 250 staff across its 12 golf venues – including Redlibbets and North Downs – supplemented by up to 300 seasonal staff. Annual revenues last year reached £19 million, with surpluses exceeding £2 million.

Over the past five years, Get Golfing has allocated approximately £7 million toward facility improvements. The organisation’s primary objectives centre on promoting golf participation and its associated health benefits. It prioritises delivering high quality playing surfaces and course presentations within an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere that remains financially accessible. Moreover, Get Golfing emphasises community integration, making concerted efforts to embed its clubs within their localities.

‘Play in May’ for a chance to tee it up in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am

Amateur golfers from across the country are being offered the chance to tee it up in this year’s BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am thanks to a campaign being run by the Golf Foundation in partnership with the DP World Tour and Wentworth Club.

The Golf Foundation is offering every UK golfer the chance to sign up and ‘Play in May’ for the opportunity to play in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth. The competition has 40 places on offer in the Unleash Your Drive Final at Wentworth in August, after which the top three players on the day will earn a spot in the Pro-Am event in September.

At the end of May, the top 30 players on the Unleash Your Drive leaderboard will qualify for the golf tournament hosted by Dougherty on the West Course in August – while there’s a draw for 10 players who didn’t qualify, both with and without an official handicap.

The #PlayInMay support – a £5 donation must accompany every round played – will help the Golf Foundation’s bid to extend the reach of Unleash Your Drive to every school in the UK. Five years in the making, this mental wellbeing initiative is already creating exciting results since its launch, with over 500 schools having signed up to deliver sessions so far. Early results have indicated a 20 per cent increase in mental toughness among pupils on the programme.

Foundation president Nick Dougherty said: “We believe all golfers who have themselves benefited from golf would be happy to help us to increase the confidence and resilience of our youngsters through Unleash Your Drive. That is why we are asking them to ‘Play in May’ and make a small donation to create a massive national benefit for young people and the wider sport.”

To find out more, visit golf-foundation.org.

■ GOLF FOUDNATION PRESIDENT NICK DOUGHERTY WITH SOME OF THE YOUNGSTERS TAKING PART IN THE ‘UNLEASH YOUR DRIVE’ CAMPAIGN

■ THREE PLACES IN THE BMW PRO-AM AT WENTWORTH ARE UP FOR GRABS

Brocket Hall to host Dave Pelz Scoring Schools

Hertfordshire’s Brocket Hall is to host a series of shotsaving Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools between March and October this year.

The one-, two- and three-day schools are aimed at golfers looking to improve their short game and putting techniques under the guidance of one of the world’s leading short game coaches, Dave Pelz, and his highly qualified team.

A former physicist, Pelz has dedicated a large part of his

life to scientifically analysing the golf swing and paying particular attention to the short game. He worked out that up to 68 per cent of shots by golfers of all abilities occur inside 125 yards and on the green – the area of the game he refers to as ‘The Scoring Game’.

The Dave Pelz Scoring Schools offer tuition on a 4-to1 student-to-instructor ratio and covers instruction on pitching, chipping, bunker play and putting skills in the practice area, as well as time in the classroom to help students understand the teaching methodology.

“We’re delighted to add Brocket Hall to our roster of exclusive destinations at which to hold our Scoring Game Schools,’ said Pelz. “The practice area is world class, with a large bunker complex, extensive putting greens, and a dedicated area for pitching and chipping instruction. Added to this, the estate is one of England’s most complete golf destinations.”

In addition to its extensive practice facilities. Brocket Hall boasts two championship golf courses, the Melbourne Course and the Palmerston Course, and for those opting for the two-and three-day golf schools, it offers on-site accommodation in Melbourne Lodge, which has 16 suites, while the estate’s fine dining Auberge du Lac restaurant is also available for bookings.

For further information, visit brocket-hall.co.uk or call 01707 368700 For details of the Dave Pelz Game Scoring Schools, go to pelzgolf.com

Two big events return to Hampshire tournament schedule

Hampshire Golf have announced the return of two of its most popular events to its amateur tournament schedule with the return of the Hampshire Bowl and the Francis Holmes and Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Both events were postponed during the period of the pandemic and the immediate aftermath, but both tournaments are back by popular demand.

Held over Blackmoor Golf Club’s challenging heathland course, both events will take place during the Hampshire County Championship weekend of June 8-9.

Open to scratch and handicap golfers, these tournaments offer an opportunity to showcase your skills and play one of the best courses in the south, set up for full championship play.

For entry details, and eligibility criteria, visit hampshiregolf.org.uk

World Handicap System changes come into effect

The changes to the World Handicap System that were announced last year came into effect earlier this month, with golfers now able to enter scores for uncompleted rounds, include scores from short courses, and have their scores adjusted when playing in bad weather, among the many updates to the system. The main changes include the following:

Inclusion of shorter courses within the rating system

The overall length requirements for Course Rating have been significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may now be as short as 1,500 yards to be eligible for a Course Rating and Slope Rating, and a set of tees on a 9-hole course may be as short as 750 yards. This change is intended to expand the WHS to thousands of shorter-length courses, including par-3 courses, and enable more golfers to obtain a Handicap Index.

Use of an expected score for a hole not played

Changes have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s ‘expected score’ rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential that more accurately reflects a player’s ability.

An expected score can also be used to convert a 9-hole round into an 18-hole Score Differential. This means that 9-hole scores will be considered in the calculation of a player’s Handicap Index immediately after the day of play, rather than waiting to combine with another 9-hole score.

More frequent playing conditions adjustments

The Playing Conditions Calculation has been modified to increase the likelihood of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. National associations were given discretion, beginning in July 2022, to introduce this revision within their computation platforms, all of which should now be completed

Players to receive shots based on course difficulty

The new calculation for course handicap will be Handicap Index x (Slope/113) + (Course Rating + Par). This updated formula will move that target score to net par/36 points for all handicap indexes. This means if the course rating is higher than par, players will receive additional strokes. Whereas, if the course rating is lower than the par, they will lose strokes. For example, a male player currently playing the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa from the white tees, with a handicap index of 10.0, would have a course handicap of 13 (10.0 x (151/113) = 13.362831).

However, using Course Rating – Par, the course handicap would be 15 (14.76 rounded up).

Fourball formats to count towards handicap

Scores from fourball competitions (such as strokeplay, Stableford and par/bogey), and not just singles play, are now accepted for handicap purposes. The only caveat is that one player of the pair must have scored on a minimum of nine holes, and the total pair score must be at least 42 points (or six under par). If these triggers are hit, however, the golfer who has scored on the minimum nine holes will have an upscaling value added for their unplayed holes, based upon their playing partner’s score. If this score equates to 36+ points, a score differential will be recorded for handicap purposes

Enhanced guidance on conducting a handicap review A handicap review will be conducted at least once a year for every player with a WHS handicap to ensure the handicap index remains reflective of that player’s ability. New reporting tools have been developed that national associations can incorporate into their handicapping software to assist committees in conducting the review process effectively and consistently.

For all the latest updates to the WHS, visit whs.com

■ BLACKMOOR GOLF CLUB

Cowdray Park reopens course after completing major renovation project

Roger Hyde, Cowdray Park Golf Club’s new captain, swung into office on April 7 in fine style, with his traditional captain’s drive-in coinciding with the official reopening of the popular Midhurst-based club’s course following a major renovation over the winter.

The £1m project on the 18-hole championship course included a full rebuild and design of all bunkers and pathway networks, along with some sympathetic landscaping around some green complexes.

Working in conjunction with golf course architect Will Swan from Swan Golf Designs and contractors Profusion, the ambitious timeframe was completed in time for the start of the new golfing season.

The bunkers have all been built to the highest technical specification and are in keeping with the wider landscape of the course, as well as remaining true to original architect Tom Simpson’s handiwork from 120 years ago. The new china clay sand provides a visually stimulating challenge and each bunker is framed with native rough grasses, similar to those that originally graced the course.

In addition to the enhancements made to the championship layout, a completely new par3 course has been built over the winter, which will open a little later in the summer, adding to the club’s facilities on offer to the membership and visiting golfers.

Tim Allen, Cowdray’s Director of Golf, said: “The official re-opening ceremony was a

wonderful occasion, and it was an incredibly proud moment to see the project effectively coming to a completion. A lot of hard work gone into the project, which has been over twoand-a-half years in the making, but this has always been mirrored by the excitement of the scale of the work. The whole team have been fantastic, and we all hope that members and all golfers really enjoy the improvements for many years to come.”

Oxford bags third consecutive win in Varsity Match

Oxford University secured its third consecutive victory in the Varsity Golf Match against Cambridge after running out 9.5-5.5 winners of the 135th staging of the annual contest, which this year was held at Rye Golf Club in East Sussex.

Played over two days [March 22-23], the match comprised five foursomes matches on the opening day and 10 singles matches on the second day.

Oxford took a narrow early lead when winning the foursomes 3-2, with wins from Josh Fallows and Oliver Brunt, Charlie Flaxbeard & Aidan Wong and Chris Little and Harry Thomas, while Cambridge secured their two points courtesy of wins by Jonathan Pinnell & Matt Roberts and Alexander Mair and Chloe Royston.

The first match out in the singles saw Cambridge captain Roberts level the scores with a win over rival captain Niall Curwen, before Oxford secured wins from Fallows, Little and Wong in the next three matches to take a 6-3 lead.

The light blues then fought back with wins from Mair, a half from Royston and a win for Pinnell taking the overall score to 6.5-5.5, with three matches still out on the course.

However, the dark blues put the seal on a third win in three years when Brunt, Flaxbeard and last man Aaron Rose all won their matches to see Oxford run out 9.5.-5.5 victors.

After 135 matches going back to 1878, the current tally stands at 66-61 to Oxford with eight ties. ■

Reynolds reflect of five decades at Cinque Ports

A new era will dawn at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club this autumn when Andrews Reynolds, the Kent venue’s longstanding Head PGA Professional, hands over the reins after almost five decades in the job.

Filling Reynolds’ big shoes is 31-year-old Sam Smitherman, who is moving from Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey to take up the role, which will see him become only the club’s ninth Head Professional in its 131-year history.

Reynolds joined Cinque Ports in 1978, aged just 24, just seven years after he turned professional. He had previously worked at various clubs in the south of England, including Ruxley Park in Kent and a three-year spell The Berkshire, where he worked under Keith Macdonald.

Asked about what he has most enjoyed about his almost five decades at the club, Reynolds said: I never thought I was going to be a club pro at a club as good as this for 45 years. Like every young pro, I thought I was going on tour to win the Open and become a Ryder Cup player but as we know there are very few people who are

that successful. However, what has been fantastic is that at a club like this has given me a very varied lifestyle. The Club Professional does everything. If I just played or just taught or just managed the shop, I think I might get a little bit bored, but because I do a little bit of everything it keeps my brain ticking over.

“There have been a lot of highlights. Having very good players pop in is one. Tom Watson came to the club to deliver a clinic during one of the Opens at St George’s, while Jack Nicklaus came into the shop one year when his son was playing an Open

qualifier here and asked whether he could use the range.”

As host of numerous top-flight amateur events down the year, Reynolds has also seen more than his fair share of young talent emerge at Cinque Ports.

“The Amateur Championship in 1982 was the first big event that I was involved in. As a club, we have grown since then and had Amateur Championships, Ladies’ Amateur, the Brabazon Trophy and Open Qualifying.

Watching Charles Schwartzel win the Brabazon in 2002 was probably the best golf I have seen around here. There was a 30mph wind on a bouncy course with long rough. Every round, the wind was in a different quarter, it went right around 360 degrees. He was masterful.”

Despite having spent so many years at the club, Reynolds’ connection with Cinque Ports looks set to continue after he steps down as Head Professional this autumn, with the club having invited him to be captain for the 2026 season.

“When I first started here as club professional I was only allowed into the clubhouse if I was invited by a member. So, 45 years on, I must have done some things right if they have asked me to be club captain!”

Stapleford Abbotts put up for sale

Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club in Essex has been put up for sale by its owners for a guide price of £3.5 million.

The popular Romford-based club has been in family ownership after the couple that first set up the club in late 1980s, Phil and Rita Newman, bought it back from Crown Golf in 2019 after selling it to the operator in 2004.

The club boasts an 18-hole, 6,428- parkland course, and a large clubhouse housed in a series of attractive converted Essex Barns. Planning permission for a driving range is also included in the details of the sale.

Tom Marriott, director at property agents HMH Golf & Leisure, which is handling the sale, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to own a freehold golf club inside the M25. The club is well known in the area and popular with local golfers.

“The redevelopment of the driving range will create, once completed, a valuable income stream. If preferred, the owners say they would retain and develop out the driving range and supply the finished facility to the new owner at a nominal cost.”

For further information, contact Tom Marriott on 07900 672045, or via email at tom@hmhgolf.com.

■ STAPLEFORD ABBOTTS FIRST OPENED IN 1989

■ ANDREW REYNOLDS HAS SERVED AS HEAD PRO AT RCP SINCE 1978

■ NEW HEAD PRO SAM SMITHERMAN

Foxhills fits the bill for Asian Tour’s International Series England

Foxhills Club & Resort is set to host some of the biggest names in golf and some up and coming stars as the Surrey venues hosts the Asian Tour’s International Series England later this summer.

It is the third consecutive year that The International Series has taken the cream of the Asian Tour and a host of big-name players from the LIV Golf roster to England, and it will be Foxhills first when the players take part in the event over the club’s recently renovated Longcross Course from August 8-11.

The $2 million tournament is part of a series of 10 elevated events sanctioned by the Asian Tour which provides a merit-based open pathway to the LIV Golf League for players from all over the world.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Returning to England for a third successive year underscores the continued growth and success of The International Series brand, and the prominent position that we now occupy in the global golfing ecosystem.

“As we have seen over the past two seasons, players from the Asian Tour and around the world love competing at the iconic locations The International Series travels to, and we are delighted to partner with Foxhills on such a fitting venue, to again deliver elite-level sport at a wonderful golfing destination.

“Bringing The International Series to Foxhills offers us a real opportunity to showcase the allure of our product to a cosmopolitan, sports-loving population in and around the London area.”

Tej Walia, Managing Director of Foxhills Club & Resort, said: “We have been working hard on elevating our product, both on and off the course, to position us as an attractive proposition for professional tournaments. The selection as host venue is testament to the hard work of our team over the past few years and the investment of our owners to allow us to set new goals.

“The growth of the Asian Tour and The International Series has been ambitious and we are excited to be the next chapter of its journey as we look to take it to new heights for both the players and spectators, making it a marquee event on the schedule at Foxhills.

“With the size of the purse, our accessible location for international players and the reward of a place for the Series winner in next year’s LIV Golf League, we’re looking forward to seeing a strong field and an exciting week of golf on our newly renovated Longcross Course.”

Enfield does England proud at Home Nations Junior Inter Club Championship Final

Despite losing all three matches in the recent Home Nations Junior Inter Club Championship Finals at held Nefyn Golf Club in Wales, Enfield Golf Club gave it their all against much higher handicapped opposition.

Representing England, after winning the English Inter Club Championship Final held at The Bristol Golf Club last October, Enfield were matched up against Mold GC in Wales, Turnhouse GC in Scotland, and Forrest Little GC in Ireland. The format for the matches was singles match play, with two of the contests off scratch and then six handicap matches.

Played in extremely testing conditions on the North Wales coast, all of nine of Enfield’s players had handicaps of six or less. They narrowly lost 3.5-4.5 to Turnhouse in the first match, after having to give between two and nine shots in the bottom six matches; while they lost 2.5-5.5 against Forrest Little, despite having to give between eight and 16 shots in each of the bottom six matches.

In the final match against Mold, Enfield went down 3-5 after once again having to give away between 8 and 11 shots in all of the bottom five matches.

Nick Curran, playing off 1, won two of his three matches for Enfield, while Alfie Reynolds, playing off scratch, secured 1.5pts from his three games for his team.

Forrest Little retained the Nigel Dolton Trophy for Ireland after winning all three matches.

■ FOXHILLS’ LONGCROSS COURSE WILL HOST THE ASIAN TOUR’S ONLY UK EVENT

■ ENFIELD GOLF CLUB’S JUNIOR TEAM AQUITTED THEMSELVES WELL

Wyboston Lakes unveils driving range upgrade

Wyboston Lakes Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has installed Trackman at its driving range, which has recently been rebranded Pinseekers following a major upgrade of the practice facilities available for members and guests.

The range now features 13 heated bays, all fitted with Trackman software. Each shot is tracked, and the data stored so that golfers can monitor their progress over time. The software lets guests play virtual courses from around the world, set up competitions for long drive or nearest-the-pin and offers a wide range of games suitable for all ages and skill levels.

The technology at the driving range also now includes two robots, one to mow the grass, and the other to collect the golf balls.

Woody’s Lounge, a new social seating area, has been created for guests and clients wanting space to socialise and relax in a fun environment.

The refurbishment has been done using recycled and reclaimed materials in line with the resort’s commitment to be sustainable wherever possible. The wood used to create new bays, features, seating and tables was all from reclaimed scaffolding materials.

Pinseekers will soon be featuring packages that make full or partial use hire available for groups with a variety of food and drink options.

Dale Shaw, the resort’s hotel manager said: “Local golfers, those working in serviced offices on site, hotel, conference and training centre guests, can all enjoy this great new facility either as a way to improve their golf at their leisure or as a social activity.”

Centenary book celebrates the history of golf in Surrey

Surrey County Golf celebrated its centenary in 2023 with the publishing of a fascinating 116-page hardback book.

The ‘100 years’ book recalls the origins of golf in Surrey from its early days in the 17th century, the formation of the County Golf Union in 1923 and the increasing popularity of the game through to the centenary year in 2023.

There is a compendium of all 107 clubs in Surrey, with historical facts on each one, and a record of team and individual results and representation. It is an enticing introduction to a thriving community of enthusiastic golfers and a collection of impressive golf clubs that continue to enjoy, develop, and support the game of golf in Surrey.

Available to buy from Surrey Golf for £25 + postage and packing, or collection from the County Office there are a limited number for sale.

To order your copy contact Surrey County Golf on 01483 755788 or email office@surreygolf.org.

Pitch extends partnership with adidas for Women’s Beginner Golf Academy

Pitch, the premium indoor simulator and coaching business that has multiple sites across London, has extended its partnership with adidas

to promote the game to women in and around England’s capital city with the launch of its Women’s Beginner Golf Academy 2024.

Pitch and adidas’ Women’s Beginner

Golf Academy has been designed with the goal of creating a community for women who want to play golf and socialise. The academy is offering 100 free beginner lesson packages with the aim to grow the sport and increase participation.

Following the success of the campaign last year, which was exclusively open to beginners, the class of 2024 opens this April and sees each participant receive five lessons, including two group sessions and three individual lessons, all led by a PGA golf professional.

With two venues in London and plans for more underway alongside a national and international expansion, Pitch has received recognition by establishing itself as the goto destination for golf enthusiasts seeking an inclusive, innovative and enjoyable golf experience. It combines leading technology, professional coaching and a contemporary socialising experience for all ages and levels.

Pitch COO, Jessica Ormrod, said: “We are committed to making golf more diverse and accessible, and following the success

of the academy last year, we are excited to be able to offer the opportunity to 100 more women who would like to make golf a part of their life.

“Bridging the gap between seasoned golfers and newcomers is an important part of our ethos, while creating an environment where everyone can enjoy the sport – and the social side of it –whatever their skill level.”

Chris Hedderman, marketing and product director at adidas Golf, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Pitch for the Women’s Beginner Golf Academy. At adidas, we believe in the importance of a community, and the academy embodies this perfectly.

“It is not just about learning the game; it is about creating spaces where likeminded women can come together, share experiences, and forge lasting connections, all while enjoying the game. We are proud to support initiatives that not only introduce more women to golf but also foster an inclusive and supportive environment for them to thrive in.”

SWING OUT SISTER

After winning four times in a row this year, Nelly Korda has lept to the top of the world ranking. Here, the 25-year-old American talks about what kick-started her recent run of form and looks forward to a packed summer schedule, which also includes defending her Olympic title in Paris

Do you feel like the LPGA is getting enough attention as it should compared with other women’s sports?

I think what’s holding it back is that we’re not on prime time TV obviously all the time like the men are. I think that’s where you get the most viewership.

But it is trending in the right direction. And a lot of people, if you give them a finger, they want the whole hand, they want the whole arm. So you have to go a step at a time.

And I think that we are making the right steps forward as a Tour. But obviously being there, you would like it to progress maybe faster. But I think it’s all about putting it in the right spot and on the right platform, and that’s, honestly, prime time TV.

Do you feel as though you have an extra obligation or anything to try to lift the women’s game outside of our bubble and into the mainstream?

I feel like for me, the way that I promote the game is just the way I am. I’m very true to myself. I’m never going to do something I’m not really comfortable with. Obviously I love seeing all the kids and I love promoting the game.

I mean, there is nothing more that I enjoy more. I’m always going to stay true to myself, and hopefully that way do I promote the game.

Winning is obviously a lot of fun. You’ve been doing a lot of that recently. You look like you’re having so much more fun on the golf course. What’s been that key to kind of letting yourself go and letting yourself play loose just have fun out there?

Honestly, having a really great team around me, having really great people, that really helps. I’ve always said that staying in my own little bubble really, really helps me. Not getting too distracted or lost in something that isn’t really what I want to be lost in. There is always temptations when it comes to a lot.

So I have a really great team around me that keeps me really grounded, and they know me so well that I can say anything to them. Even through hard situations, they know what to tell me to make me bounce back.

How aware of that dynamic are you, and therefore how aware are you of what you’re achieving right now?

Yeah, in 2021 I won’t on a run, and then in 2022 and 2023 golf really humbled me. I think they’re sports; there are ups and downs. Ever athlete goes through the rollercoaster, and that is what makes the sport so great. You mature and grow so much and learn more about yourself. You never take these weeks for granted. You always try to appreciate and become very grateful for them. It makes just all the hard work so worth it. But I think I’ve learned so much about myself even through the losses.

To hit the reset button. What advice has he given you in this unique stretch in your career? Just to enjoy every second of it. Careers go by really fast and there are so many highs and lows in a career. To just be grateful about it all and very humble.

You mentioned staying grounded by being around your team, them keeping you in the present moment. This is possibly a once-in-alifetime opportunity. What is that challenge like to put that to the side and really try your best not to think about it?

I don’t know. I think obviously I’m so grateful and happy to be in this position that I could pull off four wins in a row. I feel like in sports you’re always looking ahead, what’s next, instead of like reminiscing on what has happened.So, again, I’m so grateful for my team that we all kind of like live in our own bubble that we take it a shot at a time. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to be thinking about. I think added pressure isn’t always a good thing.

Do you remember at what point in time in your career that focus on the present really clicked into place for you?

I was actually talking -- before my first-ever LPGA win I was talking with Hollis Stacy on the green at Concession. I was out there putting, doing a drill, and she always comes up to me when she sees me out there. She was just -- I was talking to her about like obviously that I haven’t won on the LPGA Tour. She just said, when the time is right. So I just put that in my yardage book that week that I won in Taiwan at Swinging Skirts. I said, when the time is right it’ll happen.

That made me very present and that made me think more of golf is a shot at a time, not to get too ahead of myself, and when the time is right it’ll happen because I put in the work.

I wanted to know coming from your first major win, whether that being in middle school or high school, or even the harder individual, how has your game improved the most, whether that be physical or mental?

I think overall everything has to improve when it comes to my body. Obviously over the past couple years I’ve had issues with injuries, so making sure that my body is good with all the travel.

And mentally I think the most I’ve learned myself is when I play in under-pressure situations. So being in contention and how to handle those situations. Because even though a lot of the people may not seem that I -- that I show it, I definitely feel all the emotions internally.

So knowing how to process those emotions and not have to come out negatively. I learned a lot about myself through those situations.

What does history and your place in it, what does that mean to you in this game?

I feel like that’s a question that I haven’t really thought about too much.

I like to live in the present, so I don’t let myself think about that too much. I feel like that just comes with a little bit more added pressure. Obviously like there is nothing better to me than seeing all the little kids come out and saying that I inspire them to pick up a golf club or I’m their favorite golfer. There is no better feeling than that. Hopefully I do get to inspire the next generation with the love that I have for the game and hopefully they have it too.

But when it comes to the history, I feel like I’m so caught up in being present that I haven’t thought about that too much.

Having played on the Epson Tour in 2016, how impressed are you with the girls out there now and how ready they are to come out here and compete?

I’m so grateful for my time on the Epson Tour. Obviously back in the day it was Symetra. It shaped me to be the player I am today. I would recommend it to everyone. There is just -- it was a great experience for me. I was in between going to college for a year or playing on the Epson Tour for a year.

I’m so glad I took that route. I learned what it was like to play week in and week out and not seeing

CAREERS GO BY REALLY FAST, AND THERE ARE SO MANY HIGHS AND LOWS TO DEAL WITH

my coach after one tournament where.

I think that really, really helped me to be the player I am today. I know the year that I was out there I was out there with Ally, I was out there with Madelene. Like the scores doubled under par. I mean, the competition that year was so, so good. I know every year the competition out there is getting better and better. It’s great to see sponsors support the Epson Tour and raising the prize money, because those girls are good and it’s a great way to pave their way on to the LPGA.

What did a typical workout look like during that period?

Just a lot of strengthening in areas that -- I don’t want to train like a golfer, I want to train like an athlete. Thankfully my team and I, we all have the same outlook on it. Just honestly, just a full body strengthening session.

I have a lot of consistency in my life. I see the same people every single day. I do the same stuff every single day. I try to stay in my own little bubble, and I feel like mentally that’s the best thing that you can do for your mental and physical health, is stay in a routine.

■ BORN WINNER: KORDA HAS CAPTURED 15 TOUR TITLES, INCUDING 12 ON THE LPGA, SINCE TURNING PRO IN 2017

WHAT’S IN NELLY’S BAG

DRIVER: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10.5°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade

Stealth 2 3-wood (15°), TaylorMade

Stealth 2 7-wood (21°)

IRONS: TaylorMade P·770 (5), TaylorMade P·7MC (6-PW)

WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (50° SB, 54° SB)

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 Prototype

BALL: TaylorMade TP5x

When you’re on a streak like this, are you aware of how well you’re playing or are you just in the moment just facing the next hole being one hole at time?

I’m just trying to stay very much so in the moment. I feel like with sports and golf in general, you have so much time to think, so I think that staying in the moment is something that I try really hard to focus on. But obviously with that being said, I’m super proud of the events that I’ve played and the hard work that I’ve put in and the amount of work my team and I have put in to get those victories.

Do you have any concern that you’re peaking before the majors or before the Olympics?

I always try to stay very present. I don’t try to change my attitude for the majors. Just another regular LPGA tournament. The fields are usually just as strong in these events as in the majors. You see pretty much the same girls every week. You play on amazing golf courses. Getting to represent the USA has always been a huge honour. Every time I’ve done it I’ve been super proud of doing it. You don’t just play for yourself, you play for your country. Getting to do that on many stage as Solheim Cup, International Crown, and the Olympics, has been so much fun. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to do that again.

There is talk of a mixed event coming to the Olympics. Is that something you thought about, and how do you feel a mixed event on that stage could help the game?

I’ve heard about it. I think I read about it mainly on social. I think it would be really good for the game of golf. I don’t know how logistically they would handle it. I would say since the Olympics happens every four years you don’t want it to be just like a regular event in a sense. You want it to be something different. So I think that would be really fun, if there would be a team aspect involved as well as the individual.

So you would you like to see some different formats introduced to golf work?

I think there’s definitely been more noise in the past couple years regarding doing a team event with men and women. I think that would be a lot of fun. I would be a huge advocate for sure. I think that’s a great way to grow the game and for us to also have a platform to show the men and everyone that’s watching that we’re just as good. And I think that for the event to come together, that’s out of my hands, but I know that anyone that you talk to, all the players are big advocates for it.

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Gadsby targets World Junior Championship glory after dominating US Kids London Tour

Hertfordshire youngster Ava Gadsby has her eyes firmly on the prizes on offer at this summer’s IMG World Junior Open Championships in California, after the 12-yearold from Royston qualified for the elite-level event following a fine run of performances over the last 12 months.

her age group over the winter in her region, winning six consecutive tournaments on the US KIDS London Winter League. Three of those victories came at North Middlesex, while further wins were bagged at Manor of Groves, Hanbury Manor and Chesfield Downs.

Despite her young age, Ava has already been called up to Hertfordshire County’s U18 first team squad and has been dominating the competition scene for

Centuries up for BBO & Middlesex!

It seems that 1924 was a pivotal year for amateur golf in the Home Counties, with both Middlesex and the triumvirate of Berkshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire having been founded in this most auspicious year.

BB&O kicked off its year of celebrations with the hosting of a Centenary Dinner at The Odney Club in Berkshire on March 2. As well as representatives from

Last year saw Ava, who is a member at East Herts Golf Club, win Hertfordshire Golf’s U16 Championship, as well as 11 Junior Opens across the area, while only last month she won the British Junior Open Qualifier at The Caversham Golf Club, which also qualified for the IMG World Junior Open Championships in San Diego in July, the biggest and most prestigious Junior Championship in the world.

Following her stellar form, Ava, whose uncle is two-time European Tour winner Lee Slattery, has since been invited to further international championships including the European Championships in Scotland, the World Championships at Pinehurst in North Carolina, and further events in Italy, Canada and the US.

over 200 clubs across the three counties, the evening’s festivities were concluded with a Q&A with DP World Tour player and former BB&O amateur Eddie Pepperell, who spoke with BBC Radio 5 Live presenter and fellow The Chipping Forecast podcaster Iain Carter.

Middlesex Golf got its own centenary year under way with a special Centenary Golf Day held at Ealing Golf Club on April 16, where a fourball better ball shotgun tournament was held prior to a dinner and prize giving ceremony.

A special Centenary Dinner for Middlesex Golf is being held on May 18 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington, London.

Tickets cost £65pp and can be ordered through www.middlesexgolf.co.uk.

R&A launches upgraded ‘One Club’ membership

The R&A has launched One Club, an evolution of its direct-to-consumer membership initiative designed to transform how fans and golfers around the world experience the sport year-round.

One Club is free to join and provides members with a comprehensive array of year-round benefits, rewards, exclusive content and unique access to The

Open, AIG Women’s Open and other R&A Championships. This includes the launch of a new global streaming service, R&A TV.

It will also offer fans money-can’t-buy experiences and access to premium coaching and playing opportunities, allowing avid golfers and fans to take their passion for the sport to the next level. Members can interact directly through the platform by providing user-generated content and sharing their own stories and experiences of golf.

Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “We want golf to be more accessible and appealing for people of all ages and backgrounds. One Club helps to achieve this by bringing fans and golfers closer to the sport they love, whether that is through the excitement and drama of our Major Championships or the enjoyment they derive from playing the sport year-round.

A new One Club website has been launched and is now available to sign up for free. For more information, and a full listing of launch partners and benefits, visit www.oneclub.golf.

Surrey clubs rally round to donate equipment to support Ugandan golf charity

Over a hundred golf clubs in Surrey have embraced an initiative to help support the growth of the game in the central African country of Uganda.

Initially launched at West Byfleet Golf Club, the Uganda UK Golf Project aims to provide Ugandan children with essential golf gear, fostering their natural talent and envisioning a world of diversity and inclusion through golf as a transformative opportunity.

Over a hundred Surrey golf clubs have gathered together a mass of second-hand golf equipment to be sent out to Uganda to help supporting the goal of nurturing a new generation of global golf stars from the country.

Naran Shankla, a member of West Byfleet and the founding captain of Mehta Golf Club in Uganda, is a dedicated advocate with ties to Uganda. He started the initiative by carrying clubs on his business trips to gift to Entebbe Golf Club.

The dedicated efforts of Naran caught the attention of Terry Christy, past president of West Byfleet, and Surrey’s county golf secretary, Steve McNeil, who have played a pivotal role in collecting equipment from members of golf clubs in Surrey. The project has gained momentum, attracting interest from additional clubs willing to contribute not only clubs but also shoes, clothes, and various resources essential for the development of golf in Uganda.

With the help of a very generous offer of transporting the clubs to Uganda by Mehta Golf Club in Lugazi, that tally of the golf equipment sent to Uganda is over 1,500 golf clubs, 2,000 balls and 50 golf bags, among other golf paraphernalia.

Steve McNeill, representing the Uganda UK Golf Project, said: “Having collected 1,000 more golf clubs, bags, shoes, all of which are being stored at West Byfleet GC, and with active collection of golf equipment growing at some pace, the Ugandan UK Golf Project must find a means of shipping the equipment to Uganda. To continue with the project and to fulfil the dream of golfers in Uganda it is imperative that we find partners to provide transportation or shipping services to Uganda.”

If you would like to help with this valuable project, get in touch with Gavin Robinson via email at gavr4@ hotmail.com or call the Surrey Golf Office on 01483 755788 if you have clubs that you would like to donate.

If you and your friends like to share the finer details of your rounds in the clubhouse or find 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.

With over 1.5 million registered users across more than 100 countries, Golf GameBook has become a global phenomenon and its database of users is growing day by day.

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 golfing experience both on and off the course, whether it be for a big corporate day or society outing, or between a regular Saturday four-ball, a larger group of golfing friends, or even more formal club competitions.

Golf GameBook’s social media element provides a readymade focal point for all the pre- and postmatch 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.

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

Once you’ve downloaded the Golf GameBook app on to your smartphone, and filled 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: 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 & stats

Golf GameBook enables you to put away your pencil and stop wondering whether you need to birdie the last to bag a podium finish. 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 golfing achievements and experiences even though you might not play with them every week.

CHALLENGES & GOAL SETTING

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 golfing 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 off a 12 handicap, but you want to get down to eight, the app will collect all the statistics from members with an 8 handicap and offer guidance on what specific 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 golfing partners over the course of a season. Perhaps you’ve played 30 rounds together and want to share head-tohead comparisons to find out how you match up against your pals on every part of your game. Golf GameBook has got that covered too.

FUN FACTS & GAMECHANGING 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 offering.

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 fills the screen, allowing you to plot the best way around the course.

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 finding 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 first 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.

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 coffee 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 off 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 first tee.

Golf GameBook is available to download from the Apple Store and Google Play. To find out more, visit www.golfgamebook.com or scan the QR code.

In an extract from BBC Golf correspondent Iain Carter’s enthralling new book, GOLF WAR$ – LIV AND GOLF’S BITTER BATTLE FOR POWER AND IDENTITY , Iain describes the scene at LIV Golf’s first event, which was held at Centurion Club in June 2022, and remembers how it felt like a pivotal moment in the future of the men’s professional game

Pulling into the grassy field that served as a main car park, this felt like the big time. In the distance stood rows of white tents, a substantial grandstand and pristine flags. They were emblazoned with the letters ‘LIV’ –Roman numerals for the figure – that meant so much to the new upstart tour. The driving range and practice putting green were what you would see at a normal tour event. Up the slope from the putting area lay an impressive spectator tented village. There was a huge stage area, and merchandising stalls and refreshment sellers were busily setting up for what they hoped would be a lucrative few days.

Ten weeks earlier, this had been just a pipe dream. Back then, LIV was ‘dead in the water’. Now it was very much alive and kicking. It had money – we already knew that – but now there was a venue, players and a tournament to be played. The transformation of the Centurion Club in such a short space of time was a remarkable achievement.

Throughout all of this I was reporting for what felt like every BBC outlet imaginable, some of which I had not even known existed despite having spent more than three decades on the staff. Radio, television, online; everyone wanted a piece of this story. It had everything: money, morality, greed,international relations and innovation. A grand old sport was being shaken to its foundations and editors who would never ordinarily give golf the time ofday were suddenly interested.

To be fair, the intrigue waned once the

talking largely stopped and 48 golfers –rebels or pioneers, depending on your point of view – began playing.

Then it was just golf. And for those three days, not very exciting golf either. In fact, quite boring. South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel eased to a very convincing win. There was little jeopardy as he made himself $4m richer for three rounds of golf. Schwartzel’s all South African ‘Stingers GC’ won the team element, meaning significant cheques also went to Hennie du Plessis, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen. In truth, the action was only truly pepped by a drip feed of interviews with new and significant LIV recruits: Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez.

‘It’s refreshing to see team golf again. It takes me back to college and Ryder Cup days,’ Reed told LIV’s streamed coverage. ‘You’re not just playing for yourself – you’re playing for your team over there and that camaraderie. I’m excited about seeing more golf. You’re not just seeing coverage from featured groups – you’re seeing it from everywhere.’

Crowd numbers were reasonable and enthusiastic, but many were there on freebies. Tickets had either come from the Centurion Club, distributed via their members, or fans had used discount codes pumped out on players’ social media channels. There was a younger dynamic, many of those attending arrived late and they were not there for the golf but rather performing acts in the evening, including Craig David.

‘There were decent crowds, and it was a different demographic,’ observed former manager and promoter Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler to me. ‘It was the 20- to 40-yearolds, in their jeans, caps turned backwards; “I’m here for a few pints and to see my idols.”’ He added: ‘It showed me that golf is changing.’

We had certainly never seen a prize presentation quite like the one on the final evening that celebrated Schwartzel’s victory. With Greg Norman watching on, the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, was in triumphant mood. He proclaimed that 54, LIV’s number, was ‘the perfect score in golf’, reasoning that this amounted to 18 birdies on a par-72 course. He then stated that he would award $54m to any LIV player who shoots a round of 54, that was four strokes lower than the record score for a single round on the PGA Tour.

Extraordinarily, for some of the LIV stars, such a sum of money

was comparatively small beer. Nevertheless, the entire ceremony celebrated largesse. It was all about the money. There was very little about sporting glory. This was the new era for men’s professional golf.”

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Mashie

Golf partners with Tour legend David Howell

Mashie Golf hosted an event for its members at The Golf Groove in Wimbledon on April 12 to announce its new collaboration with DP World Tour player and former European No.1 David Howell.

Howell, 48, 5 time European Tour winner, will be working with Mashie as a brand ambassador and will be attending Mashie member events, holding clinics and creating content for Mashie’s members to view on the Mashie App.

Golf News publisher Matt Nicholson hosted an informal Q&A with Howell at The Golf Groove event, who entertained members of Mashie with stories from his near 30-year career as a tour professional, which included appearances in the Ryder Cup in 2004 and 2006.

Having played in over 700 tour events, Howell is excited to be starting the next phase of his career and thinks that working with Mashie is an ideal partnership.

“Mashie is an innovative and exciting young brand to be working with,” he said. “It pushes the boundaries of traditional golf club membership by offering both an alternative but also a collaborative approach to playing golf, as Mashie partners with over 100 golf courses in the UK. I am looking forward to developing our relationship and meeting more of the members at their events.”

Howell’s first event with Mashie was at Sunningdale earlier this month where he hosted 40 Mashie Members who had the privilege of playing alongside him and enjoyed a Q&A after the 36-hole event.

Nick Hovey, Managing Director of Mashie Golf, said: “David is the consummate professional and the perfect ambassador for Mashie Golf. As well being a British golfing legend, he is a wonderful raconteur, with many memorable golfing stories about playing with and alongside some of the great of the game, including Seve and Tiger. We know our members will thoroughly enjoy his company, his clinics, and his wonderful insights into our great game.”

Topgolf Surrey reopens after major renovation

Topgolf Surrey reopened in time for the Easter holidays after undergoing a month-long renovation.

The popular Addlestone venue, which first opened in 2006, boasts a 64-bay driving range, 14-hole adventure golf course, and 9-hole footgolf course, closed on February 19 in order to carry out both internal and external upgrades, which included re-turfing the outfield, installing new netting, and enhancements to the hospitality areas inside the main building. The new-look facility reopened on March 16, just ahead of the busy Easter holiday period.

Michael Angelides, Senior director of international marketing at Topgolf, commented: “The decision to close a venue is never taken lightly, but player experience is paramount. We’re pleased to say that the refurbishment works are now complete. The outfield turf is in pristine condition, and the facilities in-venue have had a much-needed makeover.

“Thank you to our partners who supported the works and thank you to our players for being patient with us. We look forward to welcoming players back to enjoy the new and improved Topgolf experience.”

China Fleet opens newlook clubhouse restaurant

China Fleet Country Club in Cornwall has announced the reopening of its brasserie following a £100,000 investment in the resort’s flagship dining venue.

The Brasserie has been completely refurbished to offer club members and guests an elevated dining experience in the stunning surroundings of Saltash.

China Fleet Trust, a military charity dedicated to supporting Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and Maritime Reserves personnel along with their families, has spearheaded this revitalisation effort.

In a celebration of the reopening ceremony, the trustees of China Fleet Trust extended a special invitation to Carl Tester, the Royal Navy Chef of the Year, to officially reopen the newly refurbished facility.

Dean Bennett, China Fleet Country Club’s Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to unveil the new look Brasserie made possible through the generous support of the China Fleet Trust this investment underscores our shared commitment to providing outstanding facilities for our valued beneficiaries and their families.”

Located in 180 acres of beautiful countryside on the border of Devon and Cornwall, China Fleet Country Club offers an array of amenities, including an 18-hole golf course, health club, spa, and self-catered apartments.

■ THE NEW-LOOK BRASSERIE AT CHINA FLEET

■ NICK HOVEY MD OF MASHIE GOLF, DAVID HOWELL, ED KENNEDY, DIRECTOR AT MASHIE GOLF AND MARK INGRAM FROM OCTAGON

DAVID HOWELL AT THE GOLF GROOVE

KENYON HAS THE KEY TO TO UNLOCKING THE DARK ART OF PUTTING

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has hailed the influence of English putting guru Phil Kenyon after claiming his second Masters title in three years.

Words by Phil Casey

Scottie Scheffler compiled one of the best ball-striking seasons ever seen in 2023, with his adjusted scoring average of 68.63 being the seventhlowest in PGA Tour history and the best by anyone not named Tiger Woods.

In total, Scheffler was ranked first in nine different categories, including greens in regulation and strokes gained off the tee, but was ranked 162nd out of 193 players in putting.

That prompted the world number one to turn to lengedenary Tour putting coach Phil Kenyon for help, and the move has paid massive dividends, with Scheffler winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship in successive weeks and finishing second in his next start before travelling to Augusta.

“After East Lake last year [venue for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship], riding home on the plane, sitting there talking to Blake [Smith, his agent], and we kind of look at each other, and I think we both were thinking the same thing,” the 27-year-old American explained following his nerveless four-shot Masters win over Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg. “And we both looked at each other, and I was like, ‘You know, I want to see a putting coach’. Blake goes, ‘I think that’s a good idea. Let’s talk to Randy [Smith, his coach].

“I had watched Phil before and watched him coach players. When you’re out here as long as I’ve been, I just see stuff, and I loved the way Phil coached his players.

■ SCHEFFLER’S ALL-ROUND GAME HAS TAKEN HIM TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD RANKINGS AND TWO MASTERS TITLE

“You look at a guy like Fitzy [Matt Fitzpatrick] who lines up his putts and uses a putter that has a lot of swing to it, and you look at a guy like Keegan Bradley, doesn’t use a line on the ball, uses a big giant putter cross-handed, and he putts good.

“As I watched Phil, I could tell that he was open-minded, and that’s the type of people I like to work with. And we kind of hit the ground running in the fall. I can’t speak highly enough of the decision that Randy also made to be openminded, not take an ego to it, sit there, watch us work, watch Phil do his thing.

“Phil is also a guy that doesn’t have a big ego. He just wants what’s best for his players. I’m really, really fortunate to have those two guys as part of my team.

PHIL IS ALSO A GUY THAT DOESN’T HAVE A BIG EGO. HE JUST WANTS WHAT’S BEST FOR HIS PLAYERS

“Randy had taught me for almost 20 years every single aspect of the game. And so for me to have to bring in somebody else could have been a shot to his ego and he may not have wanted me to do it.

“But Randy sat there and he said, ‘You know what, I think it’s the right time’. We called Phil and about a week later he came in, had a visit. We worked for a couple days, and, yeah, now we’re here.”

Another key member of Scheffler’s team is caddie Ted Scott, who formerly worked for twotime Masters champion Bubba Watson.

“Ted, it’s going to be hard to catch up with you on all these Masters titles if you keep working for me,” Scheffler joked during the green jacket presentation ceremony.

The pair had met in a bible study class on the PGA Tour and Scheffler and Watson played together in the Zurich Classic team event before Watson and Scott parted ways.

“When he called me I had no idea he was that good,” Scott said. “We were his partner in New Orleans. I was like, yeah, he’s a good player, and he’s a great guy. I’d love to hang out with him. After two weeks, I was like, this guy is really good. Now it’s like, wow, is he really good. I’m surprised too.

“I’m just pinching myself honestly. I don’t really know what I’m seeing. The guy is special. He’s a different kind of special. I think we’re all seeing it, and we’re all questioning where did this come from?

“I think discipline is a word that comes to mind. I’ve heard stories that when he was seven years old he would show up at the golf course wearing pants [trousers], talking about he’s going to be on the PGA Tour.

“And he just does all the little things well, and he does them consistently. He doesn’t skip. He doesn’t miss a day. He has that mentality of like ‘I’m going somewhere with all this, I’m actually doing it for a reason’. Then when he gets in a moment, he’s got all the tools.”

KENYON’S CLIENTS SING HIS PRAISES

RORY MCILROY

“I looked at all the guys Phil works with and none of them looked the same, they all putt differently, they all have their different mannerisms, so I knew Phil wasn’t going to have me get into a certain position I didn’t want to be in or felt uncomfortable with.”

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

“He’s the ultimate professional, impeccable work ethic and doesn’t stop until we’ve achieved our task. He is always there either in person or on the telephone when I need him.”

JUSTIN ROSE

“My work with Phil over the years has reaped reward! I’ve gone from never being inside the top 100 to being one of the better putters on tour! He has helped me separate the science behind the stroke and the art of putting and created strategies that take care of both.”

HENRIK STENSON

“Phil has played a big part in my success over the years. His dedication to his clients and knowledge of putting makes him a world-class putting coach! I have been lucky to have Phil on my team.”

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Known to many golf fans as Sky Sports Golf’s ‘Man with the Mic’, Tim Barter has graced our TV screens for over 30 years, providing a fascinating insight into what it takes to excel at the highest level, as well as interviewing some of the game’s greatest names during the course of his work as an on-course commentator and post-round interlocuter.

But while his talents in front of camera are all too evident, what is less well known are his skills as a coach, starting out life an PGA Professional at Botley Park in Southampton before going on to work with some of golf’s leading lights including Seve Ballesteros, Darren Clarke, Andrew Coltart and Richard Bland. Here Tim talks about his contrasting careers as private coach and public TV personality and how the two roles have fed off each other.

WHERE DO YOUR SKILLS LIE AS A COACH?

I feel I’m at my best coaching club players. I like to keep things simple and easy to understand. I never wanted to coach tour players and I had no ambition to do so. There are some coaches who focus on that elite level – to me they’re like Harley Street specialists whose knowledge allows them to fine-tune the best in the game.

I started as an assistant at The Downshire in Berkshire aged 16. At 19 I won my tour card and planned to ease Seve & Co aside, but quickly realised I didn’t have the talent to do so. Being ambitious, I turned my attention to becoming a top-class club pro. I worked for a great professional called Roger Mace whose speciality was merchandising and he ran a very successful shop.

TALKING A GOOD GAME

Tim Barter talk about his twin roles as Sky Sports Golf interviewer and dedicated coach to generations of club golfers and tour stars and how they have helped him to carve out a unique career

I had been lucky enough to work under a guy who taught me how to repair clubs to a high standard, I played well enough to be competitive as a club pro but needed to strengthen my coaching which I considered a weakness.

WHOSE BRAINS WOULD YOU PICK WHILE YOU WERE LEARNING YOUR TRADE?

I wrote to a lot of the best coaches in the world and asked them whether I could come and watch them work. I’d read books and watched videos, but I needed to actually go and see how the best coaches actually did it. To a man, they allowed me to do it. A couple of them charged me, most of them didn’t. I went to America and watched David Leadbetter, Chuck Cook, Hank Haney and in the UK the likes of John Jacobs, John Sterling and Ian Connelly. I just sat and watched them teach and formulated my own style of teaching. I now felt ready and got my first club pro job at Hartley Wintney in 1983. I quickly got a reputation as a good teacher, which I didn’t really expect. I then got into the county and national set-ups.

WHAT MADE YOU STAND OUT?

I think my ability to communicate is probably my best asset. People seem to understand the way I put things and I worked hard at trying to find lots of different ways to put the message across. Everyone learns differently – some by listening and having things explained, others from feelings and images. So that is where I put a lot of my energy and that appears to have been key. I got into TV because they wanted a coaching mind as part of the Sky team.

■ ABOVE INSET: TIM HAD TO MAINTAIN ALL OF HIS PROFESSSIONAL COMPOSURE WHEN INTERVIEWING RICHARD BLAND FOLLOWING HIS VICTORY AT THE BRITISH MASTERS IN 2020, AS HE ALSO WORKED AS HIS COACH

WHO WAS THE FIRST TOUR PLAYER YOU WORKED WITH AS A COACH?

Andrew Coltart was the first tour pro to ask me to be their coach and I said ‘thanks, but no thanks’. It was the beginning of 1999 and I didn’t feel qualified. I knew I would get too invested and worry too much about him missing cuts and I was busy with TV and club coaching. He kept asking and I kept saying no.

Then I had a lesson booked at my club [Botley Park] with a ‘Mr Smith’ and when I got to the range there was Andrew standing in front of me. He said it was the only way he could get me to coach him and that the least I could do after him driving all the way down was to have me look at him.

He was in a bit of a pickle at the time, so we tweaked a couple of things and he finished fourth and second in his next two events. Then Andrew’s manager at the time, Chubby Chandler, rang up and said that he was not taking no for answer now. One of his goals was to become a Ryder Cup player and six months into our work in became one at Brookline in 1999.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT COACHING SEVE?

The first time I coached Seve was at a corporate day. Ewen [Murray] suggested to Seve that I look at his swing as he was struggling. Seve quite liked what I said, we ended up doing a little bit of work together and he played a bit better which was nice. Then at the Spanish Open in Madrid in 1995 Seve was asking Ken Brown about his swing. Ken would acknowledge his expertise is more in the short

THE MIRACLE AT MEDINAH COMEBACK WAS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY RIDICULOUS AND BEING CLOSE TO JOSE AND KNOWING WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM MADE ME EMOTIONAL TOO

game and he spotted me and, again, suggested that I got involved.

In short, Seve had misdiagnosed what he was doing wrong. His destructive shot was a pull hook, which is often caused by an out-to-in swing path, with a closed face to that path, and Seve assumed it was and was working on swinging more to the right. But there are occasions where an extremely closed face can cause the ball to start left even when the swing path is to the right – and this was the case here.

I explained this, but he needed proof, so I placed a headcover just outside the ball, blocking an out-to-in swing path. He flushed the first shot dead straight and said: “You’re a very clever man. You have cured me, but you are completely wrong in your analysis, you have put the headcover down to prove I’m not swinging to the left, but seeing it there stops me swinging left and the ball goes straight.”

I explained the shot was a one-off and asked him to hit some more and, before long, he hit one of the pull hooks, starting 40 yards left with hook and the headcover was still sitting there. I repeated that it was a double closed clubface and that he wasn’t swinging to the left as he would have hit the headcover.

“Maybe I came over the headcover?” I politely pointed out that he’d picked the ball cleanly off the tee and, had he come at a steep enough angle to come over the headcover, he would have squashed the tee into the ground. Then we started to work on fixing it. He actually won the tournament, and I’m not saying he hit everything dead straight, but he played a little bit better than he would have done and it was a dream come true to coach my hero. It turned out to be his last win as a professional.

IN YOUR 30-YEAR CAREER INTERVIEWING TOURNAMENT WINNERS,

WHICH INTERVIEW STANDS OUT MOST FOR YOU?

When Justin Rose won the US Open at Merion in 2013, that was big. I’ve known Justin since he was seven or eight when he was at North Hants and I coached him a little bit when he was part of the Hampshire juniors. I knew his dad, Ken, well – he was a brilliant guy who did a great job on him. When Justin won the Order of Merit at Valderrama I was there to interview him so that was special. The US Open was a funny one. Generally, when a player wins a Major, there is a very strict protocol that has to be followed over who gets to talk to them first. Phil Mickelson was coming up the last, and Justin was in a sort of holding position in the scorer’s area, and my producer said to try and get hold of Justin because it looked like he was going to win his first Major. I was looking through the window and one of the officials came out and said “no, no, no, don’t even think about it” as the American host broadcaster was always given the first interview. At which point, Justin came outside and said: “Barty, did you want me?” and told the official that it was fine as we’d been mates for 100 years. So that was terrific, we had a lovely interview and we talked about the gesture of looking up to the sky and saying: ‘Hey Dad, we did it’. I get emotional now thinking about it. Unfortunately, when players get emotional so do I. I cry a lot.

YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD A VERY EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW WITH

RICHARD BLAND, WHOM YOU HAD COACHED FOR OVER 20 YEARS, WHEN HE FINALLY ONE HIS FIRST TOUR EVENT AT THE AGE OF 46 AT THE BRITISH MASTERS IN 2020. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE THE PERSON TO GET HIS FIRST REACTION ON THAT 18TH GREEN AT THE BELFRY?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going get through it. When he first came off the course to sign for his card we had a quick chat in private, but he was still waiting to find out if his score was going to be good enough, as there a couple of other players still out on the course who good feasibly have caught him, but even then we both looked at each other and started to cry. So, in many ways that helped me when it the win was finally confirmed, and we had to do the proper interview. And when it did and the time came for us to chat live on air, I just took several deep breaths and thought ‘I’ve got to do my job professionally here’. I thought his answer to my first question was fantastic. I say, ‘you know, 478 starts, 20 years, and your dream has finally come true, but describe your emotions, and he said “Can’t, next question!”. I think that helped me because if he had gone into a big emotional blub, I probably would have gone with him, and it would have been car crash television. Thankfully we both almost held it together, but it was a very special moment which I will always treasure.

YOU AND JOSÉ MARIA OLAZABAL HAVE ALSO SHARED

SOME

SPECIAL MOMENTS. WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THOSE INTERVIEWS?

I had two massive blubs at the 2012 Ryder Cup with José Maria. I had developed a close relationship with him over the years and particularly in the run-up to that Ryder Cup. The Miracle at Medinah comeback was completely and utterly ridiculous and being close to him and knowing what it meant to him made me emotional too. I knew through the grapevine that they were going to wear images of Seve on their shirts on the Sunday and that when I asked him before the singles about Seve, which I had to do journalistically, I knew that he would lose it. So I saved that for the end and he just burst into tears, couldn’t speak. That then set me off and I burst into tears and could not stop crying. Then when Europe won, I asked how it felt to lead his team to victory in such dramatic fashion he just looked at the skies and says: “This one is for him!”. His hat went over his face and he’s in floods of tears. I’m incredibly privileged to be in that position.

WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE GOLFER LEARN MOST FROM WHEN WATCHING TOUR PROS?

I had one guy who wanted to join a very famous club and he was having a playing audition. He told me that I had 10 days to make him at least look like a 10-handicap player because that’s what he told them he was. He was actually nearer 20. I chose to spend 10 days working on his short game as I knew we could make an instant impact on his scoring and give him a chance. On the day, his pitching, chipping and putting were sharp, he shot 12 over –his best ever round – and they let him in. So I would say if you were going to watch a tournament, pay particular attention to their short games. Go and watch them on the practice greens, take a mental note of how they set up to different shots and copy it. You can’t build a good house on poor foundations.

WHO WOULD YOU HAVE A GOLF LESSON WITH?

Butch Harmon – all day long. He is a great friend, but he is a wonderful coach. He has this incredible knowledge, but he just keeps it very simple. I listen to people talking about his coaching, and they say it is too simplistic – how can you be too simplistic? I have watched the evolution of people’s swings under him, and it is just a gentle improvement. It ends up looking, quite often, reasonably different but it is a gentle process and done in the right way to keep them playable while he works with them. He would be the guy that suits me personally. If you are a player who likes intricate detail, then Pete Cowen is hard to beat. Pete has an incredible knowledge and he’s taught me a lot about the swing. This

106TH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

WHO WILL BE THE VICTOR IN VALHALLA?

The US PGA Championship is being held at Vahalla Golf Club in Kentucky for the first time since Rory McIlroy’s victory in 2014. But can a return to happy hunting grounds provide the ingredients for the Northern Irishman to enjoy a long overdue return to the major winner’s circle or will the Scottie Scheffler trophy train rumble on?

With majors coming along like buses these days, no sooner has the dust settled on the Masters than all eyes are swiftly turning to the season’s next major examination, the PGA Championship.

Long regarded as the least significant of the quartet of majors, the PGA is enjoying something of a renaissance in recent years, following the decision to move it from its late summer date in mid-August to its new mid-May slot, when golf’s big guns are well and truly motoring and thoughts of lazy days and beach holidays are furthest from our minds.

The 106th edition of the PGA Championship returns to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from May 16-19, and represents an increasingly rare opportunity to see the world’s best golfers come together for four days over one of the toughest courses on the tournament schedule.

While the frankly tedious debate as to whether LIV golfers are able to translate their 54-hole, no-cut form to the white heat of four-round major competition will no doubt rumble on at Valhalla, but it won’t cause Brooks Koepka, last year’s PGA champion, to lose much sleep as he goes in search of a sixth major title, which would see him move alongside Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino in the pantheon of major winners. If he were to prevail, Koepka would also become only the second player to win back-to-back PGA Championships twice. A feat only achieved by Mr T Woods, who did it in

1999-2000 and 2006-2007.

A return to the scene of his last major triumph in 2014 will also give Rory McIlroy’s legion of fans a glimmer of hope that happy memories of the Kentucky course’s will provide the necessary psychological boost that is needed to drag the 34-year-old out of his major funk. When the then 24-year-old lifted the Wanamaker Trophy all those years ago, few would have predicted that a full decade would pass and it would remain his most recent major victory.

There have been half-a-dozen close shaves and near misses along the way, but the big ones, the ones that really seem to matter, have remained elusive for one of the most naturally gifted players of his generation. And while all manner of reasons have been given for his failure to add to his major tally over the years, from poor putting, lack of distance control with his wedges, and now a touch of the lefts with the driver, it seems that it is between the ears, that inner belief, that his powers seem to have drained away. He has the talent to have reached major double figures by now, but golf, at all levels, is a cruel game, and is certainly no respecter of past glories.

With distance being at a premium on this lengthy course, Scottie Scheffler’s long, straight hitting will be a major bonus for the two-time Masters champion, and he will be short odds to add to continue where he left off at Augusta, although winning back-to-back major victories comes with its own specific set of demands that few are able to deal with.

CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, and first opened in 1986, Valhalla – which translates as ‘Hall of the Slain’ from Norse mythology – has hosted three previous PGA Championships (’96, ‘00) two Senior PGA Championships, and, of course, the 2008 Ryder Cup,

where the European team lead by the hapless Nick Faldo came unstuck in a big way.

In preparation for this year’s championship, numerous updates have been made to the course to stiffen its defences against a new generation of bombers and gougers. It will play about 100 yards longer than it did in 2014, with the championship tees taking it to 7,540 yards, with a par of 71. The first hole is 50 yards longer than a decade ago, the par-3 14th can be stretched out to 250 yards if the PGA of America feels like it, which is probably will, while the 18th has been extended by 30 yards.

The easier front nine presents a more open challenge, with slightly undulating links-style fairways that pitch and roll through a low-lying valley. Along with being more difficult and having more imaginative holes, the back nine is a much more traditional tree-lined layout that also has plenty of hazards and changes in elevation.

With generous fairways, Valhalla is a typical Nicklaus design in that it places a premium on precise second shots. It’s also a shotmakers course. Greens are fast, while there are 60 bunkers to contend with, and half a dozen holes feature water.

Discussing the course’s demands, Phil Mickelson, who finished second to Rory in 2014, said: “The fairways are generous, but the biggest thing is coming into the greens, you need to hit your approaches high and land soft. There are also a lot of collection areas and a lot of bunkers to avoid, so the higher and softer you hit the ball, the more birdies at Valhalla.”

The entire course has recently been re-turfed, switching from Bentgrass to Zoysia, a warmerseason grass which allows for easier maintenance during the summer, although quite what its impact will be on playing conditions is unclear.

The 106th PGA Championship is being held from May 16-19, with live TV coverage on Sky Sports.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Currently just outside the top 50 in the world, Thomas Detry is flying the flag for Belgium on the PGA Tour. Here the 31-year-old talks about his hopes of bagging his first elite level win after a half-a-dozen near misses

You’re in the middle of your second season on the PGA Tour after securing your card in 2022 through the Korn Ferry Tour Play-Offs. How have you found things over the last 18 months or so?

It’s been good. Playing on the PGA Tour was something I had always dreamed of and aimed for, but it still felt quite daunting when the moment finally arrived. My initial goal when was just to keep my card, and then I got off to a good start at the beginning of last season, and then I had to kind of readjust my goals, and maybe look at getting into the FedEx Cup Play Offs, or the top 50, qualify for the majors, so the goals have constantly shifted. This year has been pretty similar, a strong start, but I need to be playing in more of the Elevated events so that I can start earning more FedEx Cup points.

I suppose the next goal is to get a win. You’ve had a couple of near misses, but what do you think it’s going to take to get you into the winner’s circle?

Yeah, I’ve had a couple of close ones, most notably at the Bermuda Championship just a few weeks after I got my card, but I probably wasn’t quite ready in my head to make the breakthrough. I tend to overthink things on Sundays, and that’s something I’ve been working to improve on –improving my focus and learning to trust my game rather than trying to force it.

I also had a chance to win at the Houston Open last month, but I just couldn’t get anything to drop on the back nine on Sunday. I hit some good putts, but some days they just don’t go in. It’s frustrating, but that’s tournament golf.

Looking at my performance stats I would say that I definitely need to improve my long iron play. I feel like I drive the ball well, my wedge game is pretty solid, and my putting has been good, but I need to work on reducing my misses with my long irons. We’re getting there, but it’s always a work in progress.

You’ve set up home in Dubai but are currently playing a mainly PGA Tour-based schedule. How is that working out for you?

Yeah, it’s a little bit of a mess right now. I moved out to Dubai in 2021 with my wife and kids and then I got my PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season and now we’re basically living out of suitcases week by week.

My family are travelling with me, so it’s not easy, but we make sure we get nice houses to rent rather than staying in hotels. My wife is from London, so we have a place there too, but we’re kind of in a transitional period of trying to work out what will work best for us all given that I’m basically competing in the US for nine months of the year. We’re looking at a couple of places in the US, maybe Florida or Scottsdale, but nothing is decided yet.

There are quite a few tour pros living in Dubai these days. What do you like about it so much?

Dubai is amazing. I first went there in 2016 and since that time it has changed so much. The golf courses are unbelievable, the practice facilities are superb, the weather is great, and it’s well placed for flying for travelling to events in Asia and South Africa and, of course, Europe, so it ticks a lot of boxes.

How did you first get into golf?

I started playing when I was six years old with my dad. I tried a lot of different sports when I was a kid, including tennis and hockey. It’s only when I was 11 or 12 that I became passionate about golf. I went to a specialist sports school in Belgium that combines academic studies and sports coaching for elite juniors – I chose golf. It was there that I met Thomas Pieters.

After school you went to college at the University of Illinois, where you followed in Pieters’ footsteps. How did college golf prepare you for life on tour?

PLAYING ON THE PGA TOUR WAS SOMETHING I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF AND AIMED FOR

It’s obviously pretty hot in the summer, so we try and get out of there between May and October, but the people are nice and it’s very international, so it’s just an easy place to live for someone like me.

There are quite a few tour pros living out here – Nicolas Colsearts, my fellow Belgian, is out here; Tommy Fleetwood, who also mainly plays on the PGA Tour, has just moved out here full-time, and Thorbjorn Olesen, who has also just got his PGA Tour card, is out here too, so there are plenty of guys to play with.

Yeah, I had offers from a few different colleges in the States, including Northwestern and Florida State, but having that connection with Thomas [Pieters] made it kind of an easy decisions to choose Illinois. I didn’t go for the weather, as it gets very cold there in the winter, but they had a really good golf programme there and that, along with Thomas being there, was what sold it to me.

Mike Small, a former PGA Tour player, runs the golf programme there. He’d been there for 15 years – and he’s still there – and really knows what it takes to play on the Tour and he was someone who I could really trust to help take my game to the next level.

Illinois seems to have become something of a pipeline for recruiting Belgian players of late, and I think a few more are following on soon, so they must be doing something right.

As well as winning Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honours at Illinois you also earned a business degree. How hard was it to combine your golf training with your business studies?

I always wanted to have something to fall back on if my golf career didn’t work out, or I got injured, so I did put the work in for my degree, as that was important to me. But the golf programme was really good and when my golf was going well I felt that I was able to devote time to my business studies, so they kind of both fed off each other and I got my grades. Fortunately, the golf side of things has worked out so far, and hopefully it continues to do so.

I hear that you speak four languages, so that’s also a useful skill to have up your sleeve if your golf ever goes south.

Yeah, I speak French, Dutch, Spanish and English. My grandmother is Spanish and I spoke Spanish at home with my dad, and French with my mother, and learned Dutch and English at school. English is probably my worst language when it comes to speaking, although my Dutch is getting a little rusty as I don’t speak it that often now.

So what language do you swear in when you miss a shot on the golf course?

French. Always French. No-one else – or very few – will understand what I’m saying, so hopefully I won’t get fined by the PGA Tour! I’m trying to cut down on my bad language now as I have two girls and they might be watching some day!

Going back to Thomas [Pieters]. How did you feel about him going to LIV?

He had his reasons and I respect them. He has obviously made a good chunk of money out of it, so good luck to him.

WHAT’S IN THOMAS DETRY’S BAG?

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke TD (9°)

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke 3HL (16.5°)

HYBRID: Callaway Epic Flash 2H (18°)

IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (4), Callaway Apex MP JV (5-PW)

WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Raw (50°, 54°, 58°)

PGA TOUR PERFORMANCE STATS (2023-24)

Driving Average: 301 yards

Driving Accuracy: 56%

Greens in Reg: 67%

Scrambling: 57%

Putts per round: 28.6

Scoring Average: 70.1

I’M WORKING ON LEARNING TO TRUST MY NATURAL GAME MORE, RATHER THAN FORCE IT

We’re still good friends and we talk quite a lot, although perhaps not as much as when we were competing together. He’s got a young family, and so have I, so life has got a lot busier for both of us now compared to our college days, but we’re still good friends. He obviously hasn’t quite got the results that he was probably hoping for so far on LIV, but I’m sure that will turnaround soon.

If money was not the issue, and you could compete anywhere in the world, where would like to spend most of your time playing?

I would say the European events on the DP World Tour. Having the opportunity to play in and around cities l ike Madrid, Rome, Paris, London, Munich and Prague is amazing.

The DP World Tour offers such a variety of golf courses and cultures, yet they are all so close to each other. One week you might get to play a Scottish links, and then another a parkland course, an Alpine layout or a desertstyle course. I love the variety.

THOMAS DETRY FACTFILE

Age: 31

Born: Brussels, Belgium.

Lives: Dubai, UAE

Turned Pro: 2016

World Ranking: 64

Current FedEx Ranking: 27

Prize Money: €5.43m

Pro Wins: 1 (2016 Bridgestone Challenge)

PGA Tour Apps: 51 Cuts Made: 39 (76%)

Prize Money: $4.76m

DP World Tour Apps: 152

Cuts Made: 115 (76%)

Runner-up finishes: 6 (Houston Open 2024, Bermuda Championship 2022, Scottish Open 2021, European Open 2021, Celtic Classic 2020, Hero Open 2020)

Top 10s: 26 (6 PGA Tour, 20 DP World Tour)

Major Appearances: 7

Best Finish: 13th (2023 Open)

Team Wins: World Cup of Golf 2018 (with Thomas Pieters)

PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works 7 DBL Bend (35, 2.5, 71)

BALL: Callaway Chrome Tour X

Don’t get me wrong, the courses we play on the PGA Tour are also great, especially places like Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach on the West Coast swing, but they can feel a little samey at times – although I’m definitely not complaining!

You played in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2010. What do you remember of that experience and how has it fuelled your desire to play in the bigger boys’ version in the future?

Yeah, I have some great memories from that week. We played the matches at Gleneagles. The US team had the likes of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in their team, so they were a strong side. It was my first time playing on the big stage, as it were, and at just 17 it was a really cool experience to be playing in that kind of company.

I won two of my three matches, beating Denny McCarthy both times, but we ended up losing the overall match 13.510.5. We lost the opening morning’s foursome 5-1, so it was an uphill battle from there.

I played in the Hero Cup last year, which is kind of a warm-up team event for potential Ryder Cup players. The whole team environment was really cool, and, of course, one day I would like to play in a Ryder Cup. It would be great to see another Belgian get in the team after Nico [Colsearts] and Thomas [Pieters].

COLT’S CLASSIC COURSES

STAND THE TEST OF TIME

Despite many of his golf courses being well over a hundred years old, it is a measure of the timeless quality of Harry Colt’s skill as an architect that his work continues to enchant and challenge every new generation of golfers, whether it be over the classic heathland courses at Sunningdale, Swinley Forest and St George’s Hill, or the championship links at Muirfield, Portrush and County Down and many more less heralded layouts besides

Although christened Henry Shapland Colt, most golfers worth their salt will know the surname ‘Colt’ is one to be uttered in reverential tones whenever it crops up in discussions about the provenance of a golf course’s quality. To have his name connected with your club is to infer a certain level of built-in quality, and one that has stood the test of time.

Clubs that had the foresight – and the money – to take on his valuable design services around the turn of the 20th century are rarely backward in coming forward about their connections to the man who is widely regarded as having laid the groundwork for the Golden Age of golf course

architecture that followed. He is also championed as being arguably the most influential golf course architect of all time, with many modern golf course designers drawing on his design philosophies in their work to this day.

Born in Highgate in north London in 1869, the young HS Colt spent many hours of his early childhood summers at Worcestershire Golf Club, where he learned the game from Douglas Rolland, uncle of the legendary James Braid. Like many of those that went on to become great golf course architects, Colt was a more than decent player himself. He captained the Cambridge University golf team between 1891-93 and won the R&A Jubilee Vase while still a student.

After he graduated, Colt practiced law in Hastings in East Sussex, and in 1884 became a partner in the firm of Sayer & Colt, which was based in the town.

With his background, education and burgeoning legal career, Colt seemed destined to become a respectable member Britain’s upper class, but golf already had a hold on him. In 1895, Colt joined his mentor Rolland in the design of a new golf course at Rye in East Sussex. That same year, he became honorary secretary of the club. From this position, he developed his earliest philosophies of design as he gradually tweaked the course over the next six years.

Set in the glorious Dorset countryside, Broadstone is one of the finest examples of an unspoilt heathland golf course in the South of England, and deservedly sits in the Top 100 golf courses in the UK.

Within 250 acres of rolling terrain, the fairways run freely and separately through superb natural heathland with its swathes of heather, pine, gorse and rhododendrons, several holes offer magnificent views for miles around.

■ SUNNINGDALE’S OLD COURSE

In 1901, Colt shifted more decisively towards a career in golf when he applied for the position of secretary at the recently established Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire. Over the ensuing years, he made updates to the course, especially after the introduction of the rubber-core ball. He also began to build up his design portfolio, with demand for his design services growing to such an extent that he soon had to take on more staff.

Colt teamed up with Charles H Alison in 1906 and together they worked on Kingsthorpe in 1908, Northampton County in 1909, Denham in 1910, St George’s Hill in 1912, and Camberley Heath in 1913. In 1909, Colt’s masterpiece, Swinley Forest, opened, the Surrey heathland layout immediately becoming one of England’s finest courses. In 1914, just before the start of World War I, Colt finished construction on the fourth course at St Andrews, the Eden, which many astute observers say is still the best of the Home of Golf’s links tests.

In 1907, Colt travelled to Leeds to provide a second opinion on the newly completed Alwoodley Golf Club. There he met club secretary and course designer Dr Alister MacKenzie. Colt felt that the course embodied his own design ideals and spoke glowingly of it at a meeting with the club’s committee. His relationship with MacKenzie led to the formation of the firm of Colt, MacKenzie & Alison in 1919. After MacKenzie struck out on his own in 1923, Colt and Alison brought on John Morrison.

Demand for Colt’s expertise soon expanded beyond his home shores, and in 1911 he visited North America, where he laid out the Country Club of Detroit and the Toronto Golf Club. On that same trip, he also spent a week advising George Crump on the routing of the holes at Pine Valley. After Crump died, the club hired Colt to see the project to completion. His work at Pine Valley, as part of what many historians consider to be the most collaborative golf course design in history, likely inspired several significant American architects.

Colt was a master of lending man-made features a natural look and believed in allowing his designs to become part of the land. In routing his courses, Colt tried not only to blend the holes into nature, but also to create great variety.

COLT’S COURSES

■ RYE GOLF CLUB IS HOME TO ONE OF COLT’S MOST REVERED LINKS DESIGNS

■ MOOR PARK’S HIGH AND WEST COURSES ARE CLASSIC COLT DESIGNS

He incorporated distinctive landforms that rendered holes instantly memorable. He strove to find par 3s of differing lengths and to avoid successive par 4s or similar length or direction. Ultimately, Colt wanted the golfer to walk away not only feeling that the course had arisen naturally from the terrain, but also remembering each hole on its merits.

Colt was an early proponent of the idea that a golf course should challenge the advanced player while accommodating the casual golfer. To achieve this, he often placed hazards strategically to defend the ideal line of play, but leave longer, more circuitous routes to the green less guarded.

His greens typically present a mixture of slopes, some severe, others more benign and subtle. These graceful

contours – which both feed and reject, depending on your angle – create delicate pin positions and make for entertaining chips and putts. Specifically, Colt often used variations of the plateau-style green, which he believed rewarded an elite player’s ability to hit a high-lofted shot.

NOTABLE COLT COURSES

Pine Valley, Sunningdale (Old and New), Swinley Forest, Formby, Rye, Ganton, Moor Park (High & West), Camberley Heath, Royal Portrush, Wentworth (West), St George’s Hill, St Andrews (Eden Course), The Addington, Muirfield, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal County Down, Royal Liverpool.

■ THE ADDINGTON GOLF CLUB, SURREY

Tel: 01590 623332 | Web:

ONE-MAN SHOW

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler blew away his rivals at the 88th Masters with another dominant display to claim his second green jacket at a wild and windy Augusta National

■

Scottie Scheffler fully justified his status as pre-tournament favourite with a nerveless second Masters title in the space of three years at Augusta National.

The world number one carded a closing 68 to finish 11 under par and four shots clear of Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, with Tommy Fleetwood, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and Max Homa three strokes further back.

Scheffler held his nerve as his rivals stumbled around Amen Corner and responded magnificently when Aberg kept the pressure on, the 24-year-old again demonstrating his enormous potential on his major debut.

Aberg only turned professional in June last year, but quickly won on the DP World Tour, helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup in Rome – including a 9&7 win with Viktor Hovland over Scheffler and Brooks Koepka – and also tasted victory on the PGA Tour before the end of the season.

Scheffler has been in equally brilliant form in 2024, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five shots and becoming the first player to secure back-to-back Players Championship titles seven days later.

That meant the 27-year-old had been made favourite for the Masters at the kind of odds – 7/2 – previously only offered for peak-era Tiger Woods and he duly took a one-shot lead into the final round.

A birdie on the third quickly doubled that advantage, but dropped shots on the fourth and seventh left Scheffler in a three-way tie for the lead with playing partner Morikawa and Aberg. Homa’s birdie on the eighth made it a four-way tie, but dramatic and decisive changes were just around the corner.

Scheffler was inches away from spinning his approach to the ninth into the hole for an eagle and tapped in for the easiest of birdies, while Morikawa took two to escape from a greenside bunker to run up a double bogey.

Scheffler also birdied the 10th and was gifted some welcome breathing space when Aberg

pulled his second to the 11th into the water to card a costly double bogey, an error repeated minutes later by Morikawa. Scheffler failed to take full advantage as he also dropped a shot, but then saw another contender fall away as Homa was forced to take a penalty drop from bushes behind the 12th green. Aberg refused to throw in the towel and birdied the 13th and 14th to seemingly keep the pressure on, only for the unflappable Scheffler to birdie the same holes, his approach to the 14th spinning down to tap-in range.

Another birdie on the 16th put the result beyond doubt and unlike in 2022, this time there would be no careless four putts on the 18th green.

In this kind of form, it’s hard to see who can challenge Scheffler for major honours as the golf season moves into full swing. Since February 2022, he has lifted nine trophies, three in his last four starts, and is yet to shoot a single round over par in 2024. As the golf world continues its descent into civil war and chaos, this quiet man of faith has dominated the discourse inside the ropes like no other since the glory days of Tiger Woods. Amen to that.

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IMPRESSIVE

MASTERS SIDENOTES…

RORY’S GRAND SLAM QUEST CONTINUES…

Rory McIlroy was almost at a loss for words after finishing in a tie for 22nd on his 10th unsuccessful attempt to

complete the career grand slam. Rounds of 71, 77, 71 and 73, saw him finish on four-over-par for the week and having to wait another 12 months to have another go at getting the job done.

“I don’t really know what to say,” the world number two remarked when asked about his week. “I need to take a little bit of time to reflect on what I did well, what I didn’t do so well, and sort of try to make a plan for the next few months. Once you get behind here, as I did on Friday, it’s pretty hard to make up that much ground. The majors come thick and fast, so I need to get my game in better shape for the next three.”

TIGER FINISHES LAST…

Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods broke a record for making the most consecutive Masters cuts when notching up his 25th cut on Friday after finishing four shots inside the mark. However, a third round 82, followed by a final round 77 – his 100th at the Masters – saw the 48-year-old finish last of the 60 players to make the weekend. His 16-over-par total was 27 shots behind the winner.

88TH MASTERS LEADERBOARD

1 Scottie Scheffler -11

2 Ludvig Åberg -7

T3 Collin Morikawa -4

T3 Max Homa -4

T3 Tommy Fleetwood -4

T6 Bryson Dechambeau -2

T6 Cameron Smith -2

8 Xander Schauffel -1

T9 Tyrell Hatton E

T9 Will Zalatoris E

T9 Cameron Young E

■

“I FEEL LIKE I’M IN A GOOD PLACE”

Scottie Scheffler offers his reaction to capturing his second green jacket, reveals how his experience of winning in 2022 shaped his performance in 2024, and why impending fatherhood will only serve to increase his competitive desire

How does it feel to win your second green jacket? It’s hard to put into words how special this is. It’s been a long week, a grind of a week. The golf course was so challenging, and to be sitting here wearing this jacket again and getting to take it home is extremely special. I tried not to let my emotions get the best of me this time. I kept my head down. I don’t think I even took my hat off or waved to the crowd walking up 18. I did my best to stay in the moment, and I wanted to finish off the tournament in the right way. And I got to soak it in there after one-putting instead of four-putting, which was a little bit better than last time!

What was the most important shot you hit in the final round?

I would say the best momentum-turner that I had was the birdie putt on 8. I hit two really good shots in there. I had an extremely difficult pitch that I hit up there about 10-12 feet from the cup. It was a challenging read because it turned early, and it was straight at the end. So, it was a putt that you had to really start online and hope it held its line. I poured that one in. That kind of gave me some good momentum, and I used that to birdie 9 and 10 and keep pushing because I knew there was birdies out there on back nine. I had a lot of talented players trying to chase me down, and I knew pars weren’t going to get it done.

What did you learn about leading at this golf course from your previous Masters win to this one?

When I look at the tournament two years ago, I built myself a lead on Friday afternoon and was able to play with the lead and play comfortably, whereas this week I felt like I was battling the whole week.

The thing I learned the most is that you can’t hope to defend a lead by trying to make pars. You need to keep pushing. If I would have played a little bit defensively over the back nine it would have been a significantly different finish. I went for the green in two on 13, was able to make birdie. I attacked the pin on 14 and was able to make birdie. Went for it again on 15 and made a nice par, and I hit a really good shot on 16 to make birdie. If I was just trying to make pars the whole back nine, I would have been standing on 18 having to make par and hoping Ludvig [Aberg] would only make a par.

Around this golf course you have to be patient, but you also have stay aggressive, and you have to hit the right shots, and fortunately I was able to do that.

Given the specific demands of Augusta, is there any way in which you tackle this course differently that you do for a normal PGA Tour event?

I would say I was swinging a bit harder with the driver than I would in a normal PGA Tour event just because there’s a little bit more room off the tee. At a regular tour venue my tee height may be a little bit lower, and I might be hitting more different types of shots, but a lot of the drives I hit this week I was just teeing it high and hitting it hard. That’s pretty much it.

Distance is very important around this golf course. The fairways are fairly wide, and when the greens are this firm, you have to have short clubs going into these greens, especially with the little areas there are to where they put the pins.

To the outside observer you seem like you’re in total control of every aspect of your game right now. Does it feel that way to you?

I think it’s hard to argue with the results of the last few weeks. I’ve been playing some nice golf. I feel like I’m in control of my emotions as I’ve ever been, and I feel like I’m maturing as a person on the golf course, which is a good place to be.

But I really try to not focus too much on the past. I’m going to go home and reflect on this week and soak it in as best I can, but golf, to me, isn’t a very satisfying sport, as it doesn’t often allow you the time to sit back and bathe in your successes, because there’s always next week. It’s a constant grind.

of hit the ground running last autumn. Phil wants what’s best for his players. I’m really fortunate to have him as part of my team, and, yeah, now we’re here.

How important was your decision to work with Phil Kenyon on your putting been in getting to where you are this year?

I had watched Phil before and watched him coach players. When you’re out here as long as I’ve been, I just see stuff, and I loved the way Phil coached his players. You look at a guy like Fitzy [Matt Fitzpatrick], who lines up his putts and uses a putter that has a lot of swing to it, and you look at a guy like Keegan Bradley, doesn’t use a line on the ball, uses a big giant putter cross-handed, and he putts well.

As I watched Phil, I could tell that he was open-minded, and that’s the type of people I like to work with. And we kind

By the time you play in the PGA Championship next month you’ll be a dad. Is there hope for your rivals that you might take your eye off the ball with a new baby in the house?

Well, I’m not going to intentionally take my eye off the ball. I’ll enjoy the birth of my first child, but with that being said, I still love competing. My priorities will change for sure. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably third or fourth in line. But I still love competing. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon, that’s for sure.

THE THING I LEARNED MOST IS THAT YOU CAN’T HOPE TO DEFEND A LEAD BY TRYING TO MAKE PARS. YOU NEED TO KEEP PUSHING. IF I WOULD HAVE PLAYED A LITTLE BIT DEFENSIVELY OVER THE BACK NINE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FINISH.

DRAYTON PARK CROWNED BB&O JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONS

Drayton Park Golf Club’s junior team will represent BB&O at this year’s National Finals at Woodhall Spa after winning the Junior Champion Club county qualifier held at Royal Ascot Golf Club on April 5.

With the competition being reduced to 16 holes due to the recent heavy rains, the teams had to go hard from the start, with the format taking the best two scores from each three-player team.

Henley Golf Club’s Edward Cary (35), Freddie Postlethwaite (32) and Harry Blackwell (31) set the early pace with a team score of 67 points, but that total was soon matched by The Springs, with Henty Plant (34) and Matthew Gough (33) providing the counting scores.

However, Oscar Bolton’s best-of-the-day 35 points (from a 10 handicap) combined with Harry Stachura’s 33 points to take Drayton Park into a lead which none of the other 19 teams could beat. Vinnie James, the third member of Drayton Park’s team, had a strong front nine, but the conditions got the better of him on the back nine as he went on to record 27 points.

All three players will now go on to represent their club and the BBO at the Junior Champion Club Finals at Woodhall Spa in August.

New professional women’s tour launches in the UK

A brand-new tour designed to increase playing opportunities for professional female golfers in the UK has been launched.

The Ladies Pro Series, which is inviting applications for membership for its 2024 tournament schedule from today, has been designed to be complimentary to the existing Ladies European Tour Access Series, with no clashes of dates in a six-event season, with more to be added that initially runs between April and August.

The format of each one-day event (18 holes) will see a female professional paired with an amateur partner, with prizes for both the pro’s individual score, as well as the combined team total.

Following the conclusion of the season, options are currently being explored for tournaments to take place in the Middle East at the end of the year, creating playing opportunities for developmental golfers to enjoy.

With ease of access and a developmental spirit in mind, the tour sees comparatively lower entry fees than many professional events (£300 for members), while retaining a purse of £10,000 for all events in its first year for the professionals. As such, those succeeding in the tournament series will enjoy opportunities to earn a higher amount than on all existing female tours at this developmental level.

Sarah and Adam Walker, founders of the Ladies Pro Series, said: “Women’s sport is rightly growing across the board. Golf is no different and we want to give ladies the chance to compete year-round with comparable prize funds to the men. The standard of women’s golf in the UK is exemplary and we want to showcase this and help them develop their game, so

Established in 1890 Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club is one of the finest golf venues in Cairngorm National Park area. Nestled in leafy parkland looking onto the Cairngorm Mountains, Grantown is a superb 18-hole golf course, very different in style, character and golfing challenge which attracts many golfers due to its charm and playability factor. The course was designed by Willie Park with assistance from James Braid.

The course is approximately thirty five miles south east of Inverness. Grantown is the capital of Strathspey and is a small and friendly town with a grand history of tourism.

Visitors are always assured of a warm and friendly welcome at the Club.

There is also a traditional Clubhouse offering hearty meals and tipples overlooking the first tee.

they are ready to compete at the highest level. Having two young daughters ourselves and having a sporting background we want them to grow up in a world where sport is fair and accessible for all, and we are excited to be a part of the journey.”

The ambitions of the tour will be for it to become an official feeder series for the existing structure within women’s professional golf; notably, providing a pathway into the Ladies European Tour Access Series. The first event on the Ladies Pro Series will take place the week commencing 30 April at Hadley Wood, with the remaining tournaments held at venues across England, again helping to make the series more accessible to the participants.

For more information, visit ladiesproseries.co.uk.

DSTORY BEHIND THE PIC

isplaying the kind of dead ball technique that Roberto Carlos would have been proud of, Sergio Garcia’s infamous shoe kicking incident at the World Match Play at Wentworth back in 1999 singled out the 19-year-old as a man possessed with a fiery Latin temperament to match his Spanish heritage.

The Real Madrid-loving teenager was fined £500 for his schoolboy outburst, but it was only a taste of what was to come from the boy who was quickly given the nickname ‘El Niño’ – Spanish for ‘little boy’, but also the name a hot wind that blows across southern Europe.

Since then, we have followed the high and lows of Sergio’s rollercoaster career with the kind of interest displayed by a disapproving uncle. From the sobbing tears on his mother’s shoulder following his 81 at Carnoustie in 1999, to his jump-in-the-air antics at the US Open at Medinah that same year, Garcia has always worn his heart on his sleeves, if not his shoes on his feet. One moment charming the galleries with his Spanish flair and amusing monochrome outfits, the next he’s smashing his club into the ground and filling the air blue with some thankfully untranslatable swear words.

Over the last 25 years he has plumbed the depths, firstly with his nightmare gripping and re-gripping problems in 2005, and then his ‘gobbing-in-thehole’ incident at the beginning of the 2007 season, which only served to heighten his tag as a Wonder Brat. And then came the Open Championship in July of that same year, where he came within an agonising 10-foot putt of winning the Claret Jug. Not known as a bottler, the then 26-year-old let slip a three-shot lead with an uncharacteristic display of cautionary iron play. Millions were willing him to sink that putt on the 18th green at Carnoustie and slay the dragon. However, there were probably an equal number of people who were hoping he’d miss it, if only to see how the fragile youngster would cope with the defeat.

But let’s not forget the highs – his 25.5-point haul over the course of nine Ryder Cup matches speaks of a player who did some heavy lifting for Europe during two decades of domination, while his Masters triumph in 2017, where he beat Justin Rose in a short, but gripping play-off, was a long

DESPITE AMASSING 25 CAREER WINS, INCLUDING 11 ON THE PGA TOUR, SERGIO GARCIA’S LEGACY, SUCH THAT IT IS, WILL BE OF A CAREER SLIGHTLY UNFILLED GIVEN HIS IMMENSE TALENT

overdue Major reward for one of the most naturally gifted players of his generation.

Garcia, older but not seemingly wiser, remains very much the enfant terrible of the professional tours to this day, even more so since he joined LIV Golf in 2022, leaving the PGA Tour with the kind of petulant rant that seemingly only he –and perhaps Phil Mickelson – is capable of.

Despite amassing 25 career wins, including 11 on the PGA Tour, and that impressive Ryder Cup record, Garcia’s legacy, such that it is, will be of a career slightly unfulfilled given his immense talent, and one which will be tainted by the distinct lack of grace he has consistently shown when it comes to matters of diplomacy, and by some of the childish antics he displayed when things didn’t quite go his way.

Even at the ripe old age of 45, Sergio still has it in him to throw his toys out of the pram. The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

SERGIO

Jaeger proves the master at PGA Tour’s Houston Open

Germany’s Stephan Jaeger claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the 135th attempt after shooting a final round 67 to emerge from a crowded leaderboard at the Houston Open and win by one shot.

The Munich-born 34-year-old posted rounds of 69, 66 66 and 67 at the Memorial Park Golf Course to finish the week at 12 under, one better than the group of five players who finished tied second, including world no.1 Scottie Scheffler, who missed a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have forced a play-off and a given him a shot at a third consecutive PGA Tour victory.

Jaeger, who won six times on the Korn Ferry Tour since 2016 before graduating to the PGA Tour in 2021, was part of a fiveway tie for the lead heading into the final round. He carded four birdies and a bogey on the front nine before making nine straight pars to close out the win.

Thomas Detry, Alejandro Tosti, Taylor Moore and Tony Finau tied for second with Scheffler on -11, with English pair David Skins and Aaron Rai finishing a shot back in tied seventh.

TOUR NEWS

ALL-CONQUERING KORDA WINS FOUR IN A ROW

Nelly Korda secured a fourth consecutive win on the LPGA Tour after beating Ireland’s Leona Maguire in the finals of the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.

With the win Korda became the first golfer to capture four LPGA Tour events in a row since 2008, and just the fourth golfer to do so in the last 40 years.

After winning the LPGA Drive On Championship at the end of January, Korda took almost two months off and then returned to win the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship at the end of March, and then won the following week’s Ford Championship to chalk up the treble.

The 25-year-old world no.1 continued her stunning run of form in Nevada when cruising through three rounds of match play to secure her fourth consecutive title.

Korda was the sixth seed in the match play draw after shooting one-under par over her three

rounds of stroke play. She then defeated Angel Yin 3&2 in the quarters, South Korea’s Narin An 4&3 in the semis, before easing past Maguire with a comfortable 4&3 victory in the final.

Korda said: “Golf can be a funny game. Sometimes you put so much effort into your practice but your golf kind of goes sideways, and sometimes golf feels easy, but you don’t know why. Throughout my career I know I’m going to have times when things feel hard and when they don’t. You just have to learn to roll with it.”

BURMESTER BAGS FIRST LIV GOLF WIN

Dean Burmester won his first LIV Golf event after beating Sergio Garcia in a play-off at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida.

The South African, who won twice on the DP World Tour during LIV Golf’s off-season over the winter, fired rounds of 68, 69 and 68 for a -11 total, a score which was matched by Garcia, who closed with a two-under 69 to reach the same total.

After matching pars on the first play-off hole, Garcia found the water with his approach to the 18th, while Burmester safely landed on the green for a two-putt par to win.

“I feel like I’ve played some really great golf over the last five or six months,” said Burmester. “The two wins back home in South African before Christmas were special, two tournaments I’ve wanted to win for a long time. To win the South African Open, which is the second oldest tournament in the world, is a privilege. I thought I held myself really well there, and to come here on a difficult golf course like the Blue Monster, and to beat major champions – I’m happy to have done that.”

Nakajima’s the hero at Indian Open

Japan’s Keita Nakajima overcame a nervy finish to capture his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open on just his 11th start.

The former world no.1 amateur opened up with two rounds of 65 at DLF Golf & Country Club to grab the early lead and then added a third round 68 to extend his lead to four shots over the field.

However, after extending that lead to nine after 10 holes, Nakajima saw his lead halved to just five when dropping two shots on the par-4 14th hole, while the chasing pack rallied.

He recovered with a birdie on the 15th to move six ahead and he then bogeyed each of his last three holes to sign for a one-over 73, finishing with a 17 under par total, four clear of Veer Ahlawat, Sebastian Söderberg and Johannes Veerman.

The victory was his fourth in the space of just ten months, adding to three wins on the Japan Golf Tour in 2023 which saw him top the Order of Merit and earn playing rights for the DP World Tour’s 2024 season.

KINNINGS TAKES CONTROL AT EUROPEAN TOUR

A new era began in the leadership of the European Tour earlier this month with Guy Kinnings officially taking over the role of Chief Executive from Keith Pelley on April 2. Kinnings has been the European Tour Group’s Deputy CEO, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Director of the Ryder Cup since 2018, and now becomes only the fifth person in the CEO position since the Tour was established in 1972.

Manassero returns to winning ways

Matteo Manassero ended his near 11-year wait for a fifth victory on the Europe’s top tier circuit with an emotional triumph at the DP World Tour’s Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.

The 30-year-old Italian has experienced all the highs and lows that golf has to offer since becoming the European Tour’s youngest winner at the age of 17 years and 188 days at the 2010 Castelló Masters – a record he still holds.

A win on the Alps Tour in 2020 served as a boost to his confidence and last season he won twice on the Challenge Tour to reclaim his card after five years away.

Playing in the Jonsson Workwear Open at Glendower Golf Club, he shot the lowest round of his career with a 61 to take the lead after two rounds, but the job was far from done, with five players holding at least a share of top spot on the back nine in round four.

A two-hour storm delay, as Manassero led by one on the 17th, only added to the drama, but he closed out a 66 to finish at 26 under and return to the winner’s circle, three shots ahead of Thriston Lawrence, Shaun Norris and Jordan Smith.

“This is the best day of my life on a golf course,” said Manassero, who finished his round with four birdies. “It’s been a crazy journey over the last couple of years. I knew that I was getting on the right track, but then you never know. Golf is a really difficult game, so I am just so incredibly happy to be holding this trophy right now.”

He said: “It is a real privilege to become the Chief Executive of the European Tour Group and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly. Our Tour has such a wonderful history, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to help shape the next exciting phase in its evolution.

“I have been working closely with our players, our Board, our partners and our staff over the past six years and I feel we have a great opportunity to look forward and to focus on unity and alignment in the game. There has been a shift in our sport to a more global mindset and that is something, as golf’s global Tour, that we welcome.

“We have a widely recognised international footprint, stemming from 50 years of building relationships and staging tournaments in many different countries and continents and this allows us to appeal to golf fans from a wide variety of different backgrounds and demographics. We very much look forward to continuing that.”

JUNIOR RYDER CUP CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED

Ladies European Tour stalwart Gwladys Nocera and LPGA Tour legend Beth Daniel have been named as captains for the European and US Junior 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup teams respectively.

Nocera is continuing in the role for a second term, having guided her squad of young players to a 15-9 victory in Spain last year, while 2009 Solheim Cup winning captain Daniel will be leading the junior USA team for the first time as the PING Junior Solheim Cup heads to Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia on 9-10 September.

Nocera said: “I’m very excited to captain the European team for the second time in the

coming PING Junior Solheim cup. It’s a real honour and I’m sincerely touched by the trust. I’m very excited to lead what will be an amazing group of young and talented players.”

Daniel said: “I saw John’s name pop up on my phone and I thought to myself ‘why is John Solheim calling me?’. I was so surprised; I thought those days were behind me. I am so honoured that the Solheim family wanted me to captain the US junior team.”

Daniel (pictured left) will look to lead Team USA to their first win since 2019. The USA has won seven of the 12 matches, with Europe winning four and there being one tie. Both teams will feature six automatic qualifiers from a season-long ranking system and six captain’s picks.

THE GEAR EFFECT

EQUIPMENT NEWS

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

MASTERS TOURNAMENT, THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8°)

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 3 (15°)

Utility: Srixon Z U85 (3, 4)

Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50°, 56°, 60°)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Ball: Titleist ProV1

MATTEO MANASSERO

JONSSON WORKWEAR OPEN

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10°)

Fairway: Titleist TSR2 (15°)

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50°, 54°, 58°)

Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Squareback

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

NELLY KORDA

FIR HILLS ERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP, FORD CHAMPIONSHIP

& T-MOBILE MATCHPLAY

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10°)

Fairways: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15°, 21°)

Irons: TaylorMade P·770 (5), TaylorMade P·7MC (6-PW)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG 4 (50°, 54°) Titleist

Vokey WedgeWorks (58°)

Putter: Logan Olson prototype

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

AKSHAY BHATIA

VALERO TEXAS OPEN

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9)

Fairway: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15°)

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW prototype (19°)

Utility: Callaway X Forged UT (21°)

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50°, 54°, 60°)

Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

KEITA NAKAJIMA

HERO INDIAN OPEN

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus

Fairway: TaylorMade SIM 2 Max

Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2

Irons: TaylorMade P-7MC (4-9)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46, 52, 56)

Putter: TaylorMade TP Reserve TR.B11

Ball: TaylorMade TP5

STEPHAN JAEGER

HOUSTON OPEN

Driver: Ping G430 LST (9°)

Fairways: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TTD

HL 3 (16.5°), Ping G425 Max 7 (20.5°)

Irons: Ping S55 (3-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50, 54, 56)

Putter: Odyssey Ai-One 2-Ball

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

PETER MALNATI

VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10°)

Fairway: Titleist TSi3

Ball:

Scotty Cameron Tour Type SS 1.5

TRIED & TESTED

VOKEY WEDGE FITTING APP

Wedge fitting is a difficult process at the best of times. There isn’t another piece of equipment that gets used in so many different ways. Full swings, pitches, lob shots, chipping, and we’ve all probably had to hole a putt with a wedge at some point.

But with so many lofts and grinds available, how do you pick the right ones?

Titleist has introduced the Vokey Wedge Fitting App to their partner fitters to help make this process easier.

I tested the app at Golf Tech UK in Chichester, and their lead club fitter Mark Ostrom put my short game through its paces. Before you hit any shots, you’re asked about the conditions you play in. Living on the south coast, and being more of a fair-weather golfer, I went with ‘medium firm’.

Next, you’re asked about the bunker conditions you play in. Being a nomadic golfer, obviously, this varies, but of the options, ‘slightly firm’ sounded about right. You are then asked about your confidence in the sand. It used to be pretty good, but in recent years I have been inconsistent

out of bunkers, and my confidence is currently at an unhappy ‘medium’, and even that might be pushing it.

The next step is some details about your own clubs. What loft is your pitching wedge, and what loft is the highest wedge you like to play? In fact, my only negative about the app was that it wanted you to tell it what the highest loft you should play is, rather than making suggestions.

The app then asks you how you tend to use each wedge and rank the use-case scenario. So, for example, do I use my 50-degree wedge mainly for full swings, or would I pitch with it? And how often would I use a full swing with a lob wedge, or is it more of a bunker club? And then you rank how important each factor is.

This information is important. At the end of the session, we ranked the importance of shots to see what other suggestions the app would give me, and the club selection did change.

Then it was down to me. After Mark placed a club marker on my wedges to be picked up by the GCQuad, I was ready to hit shots. The advantage of doing this testing indoors was that it enabled me to use the ball I’d play on the course.

The wedge fitting app doesn’t need huge amounts of data; it gets you to hit three full swings with the gap wedge, three full swings and three pitch shots with your sand wedge, and three pitch shots with the lob wedge.

When you start hitting, the screen starts showing some new

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PERFORMANCE WITH PIVO

Anyone who likes to capture footage of their golf swing, either when they’re on the range, practicing their wedge play or putting on a short game area, or even when out on the course, knows the importance of keeping their smartphone steady with the lens focused on the action at all times.

This isn’t easy when you’re working on your own, which is wear the Pivo Pod Lite comes in. Performing the function of a live tripod, the Pivo Pod Lite connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone to become your personal camera crew. Powered by AI technology, face and body tracking allows the device to rotate up to 360 degrees, as well as zoom in and out to keep you in the frame at all times, capturing smooth, seamless footage completely hands free.

The Pivo Pod is ideal for golfers who want to track and analyse their performance, capture their progress over time, share their practice sessions with a coach for feedback or simply have some content to post on social media.

Compact and pocket-sized, Pivo Pod Lite slips easily into a golf

information, and while you shouldn’t take too much notice until after you get the results, the screen shows how you deliver the clubface to the ball, whether you are shallow or steep, and how that differs depending on the type of shot. Personally, it found I’m shallow, and as someone who has struggled to take a divot in recent years, that totally matched up with what I was expecting.

With all that data, the system then gives out some suggestions. Each wedge is given a percentage score on how close to a perfect fit it is for you. With my gap and sand wedge choices being 80%+ in their suggestions, it was pretty clear that they were the right choices for my game. In my lob wedge, it was only at 46%. I was recommended the D grind as an option that could still be opened up but had more bounce, which I believe it came to following my admission about being less comfortable out of the sand.

Depending where you get fit, now is the opportunity to take the wedges around a green and hit some shots with them. If two clubs have a similar recommendation score, go and test them, and see which is easier to hit. You might be surprised in what grind you end up in.

To find out more, visit vokey.com.

bag, making it easy to record your training anytime, anywhere. It is available from www.uk.pivo.ai or from Amazon, with prices starting at £124.99 for the Lite Sports Pack.

Equipment Editor Dan Owen put Titleist’s new Vokey Wedge Fitting App to the test to see if he can dial in his perfect set of scoring clubs

SUNDAY GOLF AVAILABLE TO BUY ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

Sunday Golf is one of the hottest new bag brands in golf, selling over 100,000 bags since they launched in 2020. Hailing from San Diego, the brand evolved around a shared love of the game, enjoying the camaraderie, not necessarily chasing the lowest scores.

Focused on the walking golfer, four bags are being launched in the UK, with a focus on bags built for short sets.

Loma (£119.99) – Minimalist, ultra-lightweight stand bag which carries up to 6 clubs. Perfect for a trip to the range as well as a quick 9 after work.

Loma XL (£169.99) – Big brother of the flagship Loma, weighs less than 2kg, and allows up to 8 clubs.

El Camino (£189.99) – A 10-club bag that’s, versatile carry bag with plenty of pocket space and selfbalancing shoulder straps.

Ryder Bag (219.99) – The lightest possible full-size carry bag Sunday Golf have created. For more details, visit sundaygolf.co.uk

LAB GOLF INTRODUCES DF-3 PUTTER

Golf has become such big business that it’s difficult for new brands to breakthrough on tour. One exception is LAB Golf.

LAB putters aren’t pretty, and they aren’t cheap either – models retail at between £400-£600, but they become prettier the more putts you hole. And for some golfers, it’s literally extended their careers, with Lucas Glover and Camilo Villegas both winning again since switching to a LAB putter.

Featuring a Lie Angle Balanced concept, each putter is fit to a lie angle that will stop the face from rotating open throughout the stroke and make it easier to hit putts on the intended path.

All the putters are centre-shafted for the fitting concept to work, and most of the designs feature significant shaft lean to ensure the hands are in front of the ball at address.

Its latest model is the DF3. Based on the original Directed Force putters, it features a smaller, more appealing shape. Well, when I say smaller, it’s smaller than the original Directed Force models. It’s still unique looking, but it’s definitely more appealing than the original. The circle in the back of the head is called a ‘Gimme Getter’, as it’s possible to pick up the golf ball without bending down. These putters aren’t for everyone, but for the golfer searching for something to hole more putts, they offer something completely different to anything else on the market.

To check out the entire range, visit labgolf.com.

POWAKADDY UPGRADES CT8 GPS

PowaKaddy have become very good at creating compact trolleys, and last year the CT6 was the bestselling model in the UK. They’ve updated the whole range for 2024, including the high-tech CT8 GPS.

The CT8 GPS, which comes in at a hefty £999, features a lightweight Simple-2-Fold frame in a premium gun metal finish. The trolley is also compatible with its new MAG-LOK golf bags, allowing PowaKaddy bags to be securely fitted via a strong magnet without the need for a lower strap. It also features a lightweight yet powerful Plug’n’Play 30v battery system.

But the best changes come from the improvements made to the GPS system, which is now equipped with Advanced Green View, including surrounding bunkers and hazards, directional approach arrow, both Strokeplay and Stableford scoring modes, full scorecard, and cutting-edge game tracking features via the new, non-subscription PowaKaddy App. Utilising a 3.5-inch full colour touchscreen display, it makes all this information clear and easy to read.

I530 ADDS FIREPOWER TO PING’S IRON RANGE

PING has its most comprehensive range of irons at retail right now. From the stunning, but tiny Blueprint T, to the super-forgiving G730. But the final piece in the puzzle is the i530. Designed to replace the i525, the new irons are the best-looking players distance irons PING has ever produced. With progressive offset, the short irons look unbelievable behind the ball, while the longer irons have the right amount to be able to offer a little bit of help.

While they have kept to the typical Players Distance hollow iron formula, they look super clean in the bag. Distance gains

come from multiple sources, including an internal weight pad that provides a deeper and thinner face-to-sole transition, ensuring more face flexing and pushing mass down to lower the centre of gravity for more ball speed.

The forged, highly flexible maraging steel C300 face is welded to a 17-4 stainless steel hollow body that features a precision machined design that thins the back wall to save weight. A polymer applied inside the head on the back of the face improves feel and sound while still allowing the face to flex.

Available in 4-UW, the i530s are offered in a choice of four loft options - Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec, at an RRP of £190/£200 per club (st/gr).

For more details, visit ping.com.

FOURTEEN GOLF HITS UK SHORES

Fourteen may be the most established golf brand that you’ve never heard of. While it has seen significant success on the PGA Tour – including major victories – with its driving irons and wedges, the equipment has not been available in the UK, until now.

Founded in 1981 by accomplished amateur golfer Takamitsu Takebayashi, he felt compelled to create the ideal set of clubs because nobody else had or could. His aim was to create the best set of 14 clubs for every golfer, hence the name.

Fourteen Golf was one of the first brands to understand the importance of centre of gravity in club design and its wedges introduced weight to the top of the blade before others.

Specialising in forged irons and wedges, my favourites are the TB-5 and TB-7 irons, which feature a unique ‘Theatre Blade’ design that removes the cavity step in the back and allows the thickness to flow naturally in a curved shape. It’s not to far off to think of these as a perimeter-weighted blade, and the design creates a really solid feel. The RM4 wedges are also works of art, and are forged from soft S25C steel – a rarity in modern wedge production. Fourteen products are available now online and via specialist custom fitters across the UK. Visit fourteengolf.us to find out more.

ABACUS UNVEILS

LANARK WIND-PROOF

JACKET RANGE

Swedish golf apparel brand Abacus has introduced two new windproof outerwear pieces that have been specifically designed for playing in windy conditions.

The Lanark Stretch Wind Jacket (£79.90) offers 100% wind protection without adding bulk, with its stretchable, recycled polyester material enabling an unrestricted swing with zero billowing. With a full-front zip, and a zipped chest pocket the jacket features elastic bindings at the sleeve and body hem to ensure a snug fit and prevent drafts. It is offered in black with orange contrast or navy blue with a silver contrast for men in sizes S-XXXL. A lady’s option is available in navy/peon

the Lanark Wind Vest (£73.90) boasts many of the same technical features offered in the Lanark Wind Jacket, but in a short sleeve design to allow a little more ventilation and even more freedom of movement. It is offered in white/navy or grey/white,

WILSON INTRODUCES INFINITE PUTTER RANGE

Wilson has launched its next generation of Infinite putters, which combine proven visual alignment technology with a modern premium look and exceptional feel.

Each of the nine models in the range features Activation Parallel Alignment Lines technology, which sees a thicker middle line accompanied by two thinner lines either side on the flange to optimises focus and instil more confidence at address.

The range features a wide selection of putters across various styles of popular mallet and blade designs that are named after areas of Chicago that are close the company’s headquarters – Windy City, Michigan Ave, Grant Park, West Loop, The L, South Side, The Bean, Bucktown and Buckingham.

All feature a double-milled face pattern that ensures consistent feel, roll and distance control regardless of the strike location, while the two-tone PVD finish reduces glare. A new midsize Pistol Karakal flat-sided grip features Enhanced Spyne technology, multi-zone texturing and a no-taper shape to minimize hand and wrist rotation for a smooth, balanced putting stroke.

The models encompass an array of hosel configurations to match up to a player’s particular stroke type and are offered in 33”, 34” and 35” shaft lengths, with an RRP of £140.

FOOTJOY PROMISES CLOUD-LIKE COMFORT WITH ALL-NEW QUANTUM SHOE

FootJoy has launched what it claims is its ‘most comfortable shoe ever’ with the introduction of the new Quantum.

Taking inspiration from traction technologies featured in its Pro/SLX and HyperFlex shoes, Quantum provides exceptional performance through the golf swing while reducing walking fatigue.

Comfort comes from a new SofFOAM midsole – the softest foam ever used in a FootJoy shoe – which delivers a cushioned ride for all-day walking and playing comfort.

Golf-specific performance is aided by the serpentine outsole design with firmer directional traction fins to manage lateral and medial forces through the swing. Softer rubber traction cones help improve grip when walking on or around the course.

It is offered in Navy/White/Lime, White/Blue/Pink, Grey/White/Blue colour options for for men (£149.99) and Navy/ White/Pink and White/Grey/Pink for women (£139.99).

VILLEGAS JOINS J.LINDEBERG TOUR STAFF

Twenty years after it first linked up with him, Swedish fashion brand J.Lindeberg has announced the continuation of its longstanding partnership with PGA Tour player Camilo Villegas.

The 42-year-old Columbian, who is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour and competed in the 88th Masters Tournament, will once again bring his flair to the J.Lindeberg golf collection.

Villegas has been a popular figure on the global tours, and especially in his native Columbia, since turning professional in 2004 following a successful college career at the University of Florida. His latest PGA Tour victory came at last November’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where he clinched his fifth PGA Tour title more than 15 years after he won his first at the 2008 BMW Championship.

Speaking about renewing his partnership with J.Lindeberg, which will see him working with the company’s product development and design team on future golf apparel collections, Villegas said: “Continuing my journey with J.Lindeberg feels like coming full circle, reflecting on all the fun we’ve had evolving together – from the days of big buckles and colourful attire to a more refined style.

“Our partnership has been a constant through the many changes in my career, and I’m so excited to see how we’ll continue to innovate and push the boundaries of golf fashion together.”

BUSHNELL PRO X3+ RANGEFINDER FACTORS IN THE WIND

Bushnell’s new Pro X3+ Laser Rangefinder builds on the success of the previous model with the addition of several new features, including showing the speed and direction of the wind in the display.

In addition to wind speed, the model offers Slope with Elements, which factors in the change in gradient for each shot, and PinSeeker with Visual JOLT, which delivers a vibration to let you know that you’ve locked on to the target.

The Pro X3+ ranges flags at 600+ yards, offers 7x magnification, and has an enhanced ultra-bright backlit dual display to provide crisp, clear data output in the LCD.

The unit is magnetised so that it can be attached to the metal strut of a golf buggy or a trolley, has Bluetooth Connectivity to Bushnell Golf’s Mobile App, and comes with a premium carry case. It is priced at £549.99 and can be bought from pro shops and at bushnellgolfglobal.com.

KANE STRIKES INVESTMENT DEAL WITH REFLO

England striker Harry Kane has taken his love of golf a step further by investing in a golf and sportwear clothing brand.

Kane has become a lead investor in sustainable golf apparel company Reflo, which has succeeded in raising around £1m in its first round of seed funding.

Set up in 2021, Reflo specialises in golf apparel, but also caters for gym goers, runners and racquet sports.

Kane, who is a scratch golfer, has also become an ambassador for the brand and has been wearing items from Reflo’s catalogue since 2022, when he took part in the Icons Series. Going forward, the Bayern Munich centre forward will be wearing the brand officially while playing in Pro-Ams and exhibition matches, as well as when practising.

Reflo’s apparel is predominantly made from recycled polyester, derived from single-use plastic waste destined for landfill which results in its fabrics using 50% less energy and producing 70% less carbon than virgin polyester, requiring no new oil.

Having already planted over 42,000 trees and recycled the equivalent of over 500,000 plastic bottles, Reflo continues to drive its sustainability mission by pledging to plant 500 trees for every goal that Kane scores in the 2023/24 season. He has currently netted 38 goals in all competitions, including 32 in the Bundesliga.

Speaking about his decision to not only represent Reflo, but also to invest some of own money in the company, Kane said: “I want to invest in a brand that connects with my own values around a more sustainable future, and ensuring a world where golf performance and sustainability can co-exist makes me very excited. Hearing what the team at Reflo have planned shows me they have ambitious growth targets to help make sustainability and golf performance as prominent as possible and I can’t wait to be a part of this.”

To check out Reflo’s latest range for Spring/Summer, visit reflo.co.uk.

POLISHING UP THE CHROME

Callaway has launched a three-pronged attack to help golfers find the best ball for their game with the introduction of the all-new Chrome Tour, Tour X and Chrome Soft

Many of us think that buying a shiny new driver is the key to unlocking extra distance to hit the ball further. And while a custom-fitted big stick can certainly be part of the key to unlocking more yardage, sometimes the key to finding enhanced distance – and unlocking lower scores – can be achieved by switching out your golf ball.

Callaway has left no stone unturned in its quest to makie its new Chrome Tour line up the fastest balls in golf. And while the Chrome Soft has been updated, this isn’t a Chrome Soft family of golf balls – it’s a new era where Chrome Tour leads the line.

Chrome Soft has been, and still is, an amazing golf ball. It feels soft, flies high, and spins low. But that’s not necessarily what it does at faster clubhead speeds. The new Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X have been designed to compete directly with the most popular Tour-proven urethane covered golf balls in the game, for the best golfers at the highest echelons of the sport.

THE ALL-NEW CHROME LINE-UP

CHROME TOUR

Chrome Tour is a four-piece, urethanecovered ball designed for higher launch and lower spin. It provides exceptional speed, consistent flight, incredible spin, and greenside control.

The core is engineered for the optimised balance of long distance and soft feel. The aerodynamic package is built for consistently stable ball flights in any condition. Additionally, better players can aggressively go after shots from added spin through the bag, while the cover system provides outstanding control and Tour-level feel.

If you previously played the Chrome Soft X LS, this is the ball you will be looking at.

CHROME TOUR X

Chrome Tour X is a higher compression four-piece ball designed for the fastest clubhead speeds to generate distance and maximum greenside spin. It provides outstanding distance, workability, and spin so you can experience your best performance from teeto-green.

The core promotes maximum ball speed and distance, especially off the driver, while the Seamless Tour Aero cover design promotes consistently penetrating flight with enhanced workability for every club. Better players can also take advantage of the spin and workability X to hit precise iron and wedge shots. If you previously played the Chrome Soft X, this is your new golf ball.

CHROME SOFT

The latest model of the Chrome Soft is a lower compression, three-piece model that is designed to deliver Tour-quality performance for the aspirational golfer. It’s a softer, lower spin ball that flies straighter, but still offers plenty of spin around the greens.

All three models have an RRP of £55 for 12. For more details, visit callawaygolf.com.

CHROME SOFT HAS BEEN, AND STILL IS, AN AMAZING GOLF BALL.

THE KEY TO CHROME’S SPEED

■ GOLFERS ARE ENJOYING FASTER BALL SPEEDS, MORE DISTANCE AND

“This new line-up had to be faster, better from 100 yards and in, and with all that, fly out of the proper window consistently,” says Eric Loper, Senior Director of Research and Development for Callaway’s golf ball division, explaining the science behind the improved performance of the new Chrome Tour range.

“The core is a primary component to how the golf ball is going to perform. It enables us to manage spin rates through the bag, it changes the feel of the golf ball, but ultimately the core is designed to give us ball speed, particularly driver ball speed.

“If you have a slow core, you’re going to have a slow golf ball, so we set out to make our core much faster than we have before, capitalizing on what we’ve done in the past and building on that.”

Callaway’s internal testing has the Chrome Tour X being over 1mph faster at Tour-level ball speeds than the Chrome Tour X, which in their finding was the fastest golf ball on the market. But it’s also no one-trick pony when it comes to all-round performance, as on 50-yard pitch shots it spins around 300rpm more than its competitors.

HYPER FAST SOFT CORE

A slow core means a slow golf ball. Callaway have done everything to make the core of the new Chrome balls not just fast, but Hyper Fast. Using a new polymer, as well as other new materials, Callaway’s ball design team has done everything they can to increase ball speed, without increasing the compression.

PRECISION TECHNOLOGY

Callaway has spent over $100 million in improving their golf ball facility in Chicopee, Massachusetts. All the small improvements made in the golf ball production have allowed it to make a better ball and push the performance to its limits.

SEAMLESS TOUR AERODYNAMICS

If it wasn’t for the branding stamped on the side, most golf balls are indistinguishable from one another. Callaway is the clear exception to this rule with its trademark hexagonal dimples making a clear differentiator and have often been praised for its stability in the wind.

The new dimple pattern utilises both round and hexagonal dimples to maximise distance and stability for the entire flight of the golf ball. Each of the three golf balls has a unique dimple pattern to improve the performance of each ball model. One area where Callaway’s merger with Topgolf has seen unexpected benefits is using it for golf ball design. A nine-camera Toptracer system helps Callaway track a ball for the entirety of its flight. While it sounds crazy to golfers not at a tour level, that information has been used to improved stability in the last 50 yards of a drive. Where that shot ends can be the difference in making a cut or not for a tour player, so it’s vitally important. Seamless Tour Aerodynamics flights the ball on the trajectory golfers like to see. When Callaway

have tested golf balls that launch outside of tour preferred trajectories, they’ve found players manipulate their swings to get the ball launching how they like to see it, so it was important for Callaway to get the ball launching in the right windows so golfers don’t have to compromise their swings.

GREENSIDE CONTROL

A softer cover helps give the balls a softer feel. This helps create more spin, but also more consistent spin.

SEAMLESS COVER

Golf ball covers are made by fusing the two halves together. In some balls this is obvious in the design, and you can see a seam running around the golf ball. According to Callaway’s insight this can affect the performance of the golf ball. Other golf balls that feature a seamless design will trim and buff just the seam, but Callaway smoothes the entire surface of the ball which, they believe, creates more consistent in performance because they don’t have to compromise the dimple design of the ball. Even the paint has been improved on the latest version to create a smoother and more consistent surface.

OPTICAL OPTIONS

The science of the golf ball goes beyond just their chemical makeup. How they appear can make a huge difference depending on how you are looking for help.

Golf balls have been white forever. We’ve had fluorescent yellow golf balls since the 1970’s. And while other colours have been added over the years, it’s optical aids that have made a huge difference to the golf ball market in recent years. Callaway have been at the forefront of this with TruVis, a football-like print that helped make the ball more visible and focus the player’s mind. It also gave the golfer a real-time visual on how a golf ball spins, especially around the green.

They also added a Triple Track golf ball. Utilising Vernier Acuity, the three lines of differing colours and widths, the brain processes the straightness of alignment better. It’s the same optical science used to help pilots land planes.

For 2024, they’ve updated both technologies. And when you add them all together, there are four white and four yellow golf ball options available in all three golf ball models.

TRUTRACK

TruTrack takes the best of TruVis but simplifies it. Reducing the number of hexagons, TruTrack no longer just mimics a football. Two rows go around the golf ball. Callaway have then added an alignment line between them. With both aspects in play, it works like an abstract version of the Triple Track with the lines of the hexagons taking the place of the outer lines on the TripleTrack. Callaway are also offering multiple colours, so look out for limited runs with different designs.

TRIPLE TRACK

As well as the TripleTrack, Callaway have introduced the TripleTrack 360. Woth the alignment aids going around the whole equate of the ball, it’s a great visualiser on the greens.

CHROME TOUR ON TOUR

Here’s what some of PGA Tour’s best players had to say about their choice from of ball from the new Chrome range

XANDER SCHAUFFELECHROME TOUR

“The new Chrome Tour has been amazing. It really ticks all the boxes for me. It’s got a very stable flight off the tee; it maintains spin really well on half shots, and it’s got great spin and feel around the greens. But maybe the most impressive thing is its stability in the wind. It can be tricky to find a ball that performs so well with every club in the bag, but that’s exactly what Chrome Tour does.”

MI WOO LEE - CHROME TOUR X

“The level of feel offered by the Chrome Tour X is the standout for me. Around the greens, I’m seeing the right spin and roll out with chips and bunker shots. Everything fits the trajectory window that I’m looking for. The dispersion is better, and when I got it on the course I found it was also better in the wind, and the consistency is great – and that’s why I’m gaming it.”

ADAM HADWIN - CHROME TOUR X

“I made the switch to the Tour X, and I instantly gained 2mph of ball speed, with the combination of the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond driver. I’m not sure whether it’s the head or the ball or both, but in comparison to the previous generation Chrome Soft and Paradym head, I’m a couple of miles per hour faster. The feel is great too and I just the way it sounds off the face. I’m very pleased with it.”

SAM BURNS - CHROME TOUR X

“Chrome Soft X and I had a really nice run, but since putting the new Chrome Tour X in the bag I gained distance off the, hit the ball better in the wind, and my greenside control is better than ever – so the switch was kind of a no-brainer.”

I FOUND IT WAS ALSO BETTER IN THE WIND, AND THE CONSISTENCY IS GREAT – AND THAT’S WHY I’M GAMING IT.

- MI WOO LEE

Xander Schauffele

Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Akshay Bhatia

Si Woo Kim

Danny Willett

Alexander Noren

Erik Van Rooyen

Emiliano Grillo

Carl Yuan

Robby Shelton

Will Gordon

CHROME TOUR X PLAYERS

Sam Burns

Adam Hadwin

Francesco Molinari

Min Woo Lee

Adam Svensson

Harry Hall

Kevin Yu

Thomas Detry

Adrien Dumont De Chassart

Yuka Saso

ZOOM OLED PRO RANGEFINDER

£299, ZOOMGOLF.NET

Zoom has launched the world’s first rangefinder with an OLED screen, making it easier to use by having the clearest display possible. Utilising the same technology as the very best TVs and mobile phones, colours pop and are, according to ZOOM, five times clearer and three times brighter than those found on rival rangefinders. Elsewhere, it’s got all the standard rangefinder features you’d expect. It’s fast and easy to lock onto the target, it offers slope-adjusted distances, and has a magnetic lock. Plus, it’s USB rechargeable, so no batteries are required.

CALLAWAY PARADYM SMOKE AI

MAX FAIRWAY WOOD

£379, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

Callaway’s Paradym Smoke drivers might grabbing of all the headlines, but the Smoke Ai Max fairway woods are also seriously impressive bits of kit. Callaway has packed its full arsenal of technology into these clubs, including an Ai Speed Face, a Carbon Chassis that saves weight that can be utilised elsewhere, and a Tungsten Speed Cartridge that moves weight low and forward for added ball speed. But what we like most of all is the low-profile shape that makes it look supremely easy to get the ball up in the air off the fairway.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

MOTOCADDY SE

ELECTRIC TROLLEY

£479, MOTOCADDY.CO.UK

The benefits of using an electric golf trolley are there for all to see, but there’s no getting away from the fact that the latest top-of-the-range models are also pretty pricey, with some well into four figures. Motocaddy has stripped it back with the new SE, offering a great electric trolley at under £500. Despite the lower price, with nine speed settings, USB charging, plus a QUIKFOLD frame, and Motocaddy’s proprietary EASILOCK bag connection, this is still a feature-packed product that will help with the heavy lifting of transporting your clubs around the course.

PRO SHOP

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

PING G730 IRONS

£180 PER IRON, PING.COM

Are you looking to hit your iron shots longer, higher, and straighter? The vast majority of golfers probably are. These might just be the PING irons for you. The most forgiving irons in the company’s line up, the Gt30s feature a thin hyper 17-4 steel face that can flex more, while also lowering the centre of gravity to help launch the ball higher. On average, these hit the ball five yards per club farther than the irons they replace. That makes golf sound like fun to me.

EVNROLL NEO CLASSIC £419, EVNROLL.COM

Evnroll designer Guerin Rife has designed some of the best putters the game has ever seen.

Not only does he have an eye for putter design, but the SweetFace technology helps slight miss-hits travel the same distance as a centre-face strike.

The Neo Classic models feature an aluminium polymer backed insert. The aluminium helps with distance control and ball speed off the face, while the polymer softens the feel, making it a win-win.

KBS MAX HL GRAPHITE SHAFT

£115,

KBSGOLFSHAFTS.COM

Golf shafts are difficult to recommend because we all need to go through a proper fitting process to nail down the right model for your game. That said, if you’re a slow swinger trying to regain some speed with your driver, the ultra-lightweight KBS Max HL shaft could be just perfect for your game. Offering stability and performance in a shaft that costs a fraction of its competitors, this a great shaft for seniors, ladies, and those ever-improving juniors. It’s also available in a wide range of colours for even more customisation.

SHOT SCOPE V5 GPS WATCH

£239.99, SHOTSCOPE.COM

Shot Scope’s V5 GPS and Shot Tracking watch expands on its popular V series with a new sophisticated and functionally savvy device that offers automatic performance tracking.

Boasting a sporty matte-black bezel, it is packed with game-enhancing features and has a full-colour touchscreen for easy navigation.

Pre-loaded with maps of 36,000 golf courses, it gives an overview of the full hole to help you plot your way to the green and discover where any hazards are or what might lie ahead on a blind tee shot or approach.

The V5 also allows golfers to access updates within the Shot Scope app, most importantly within MyStrategy, for data-driven insights into how to strategically play a certain course. Furthermore, with over 100 game statistics, including Strokes Gained and Handicap Benchmarking, golfers can explore their data with no additional fees via the app.

G/FORE GALLIVAN2R

£150, GFORE.CO.UK

These new Gallivan2r shoes might just be the best pair G/FORE has ever made. Taking the dress shoe vibe of the Gallivanter but combining that with the comfort and waterproofness of the MG4+, the Gallivan2r offers the best of both worlds. Add to that the new integrated G/POD cleats to deliver the best of spiked and spikeless traction. And if you like your shoes to standout, there are some fantastic unique colour options available exclusively from the G/FORE website.

BEN HOGAN PTX TOUR IRONS

£699.99, BENHOGAN.COM

Hogan was one of the first brands with a forged cavity back iron, as well as one of the first to introduce a combination set back in the day. These new PTX Tour irons might just be the ultimate combo set, optimising performance with four separate clubhead designs within one set. The short irons are traditional blades, the mid irons feature a three-piece design, featuring a titanium core for added forgiveness and a raised centre of gravity for control. Then the 4, 5 and 6 irons feature a multiple design with 1025 steel face and body, filled with foam to help retain that soft feel. The 4- and 5-irons also feature tungsten to help raise launch and spin.

SEED ORANGE AF BALLS

£30 PER DOZEN, SEEDGOLF.CO.UK

Vibrant and highly visible, Seed Golf’s new OrangeAF balls promise to add a splash of colour to the fairways without compromising on performance. A refinement of Seed’s original signature ball, this three-piece model boasts an ultra-thin urethane cover and a ‘SeedSpeed’ core, which is designed to maximise control, responsiveness and distance. Like all Seed Golf balls, packs of OrangeAF can be purchased directly through the brand’s subscription-based online service, which allows customers to switch between different Seed balls at any time.

ADIDAS TOUR360 24

£160, ADIDAS.CO.UK

The Tour360 24 features a waterproof leather upper that makes use of the signature 360Wrap for enhanced hold and support. A combination of adidas lightstrike cushioning and the iconic BOOST complement a Torsion Bridge stabiliser to put some pep in your step, whilst being stable through the swing.

SKECHERS GO GOLF BLADE GF SLIP-INS

£160, SKECHERS.CO.UK

Designed with Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins technology and benefitting from its HeelPillow technology, this waterproof golf shoe offers comfort, support and stability all while holding your foot securely in place. The lightweight and resilient ECO FLIGHT cushioning used is made with at least 10% recycled materials, while the GRIP FLEX outsole provides tour-level traction.

UNDER ARMOUR DRIVE PRO

£150, UNDERARMOUR.CO.UK

Treating the golf shoe as a piece of equipment that can help you hit the ball further – with evidence to prove it – Under Armour has developed the 3-layer ‘Swing Support System’ to support the natural motion of the foot, a dual-density midsole uses HOVR foam and more supportive Charged Cushioning where it’s needed to help guide the foot in the swing.

ECCO BIOM TOUR

£160, ECCO.GOLF.COM

While ECCO was at the forefront of the spikeless shoe revolution some 20 years ago, they still offer a decent range of spiked models. The Biom Tour offers a snug fit along with lowto-the-ground construction and stability. The Pivix spikes are combined with additional grooves on the outsole, ensuring excellent traction and stability throughout the swing.

FOOTJOY PREMIERE SERIES

FIELD LX

£189.99, FOOTJOY.CO.UK

Inspired by golf shoes of the past, Premiere Series uses hand-selected, full grain leathers combined with modern technology. The Tour-proven VersaTrax+ outsole delivers superior traction and stability in every playing condition and on every playing surface.

NEW BALANCE 997 SPIKED

£155, BRANDFUSION.CO.UK

The 997 Spiked share the design as New Balance’s highly sought after 997 trainers, with the addition of an allimportant waterproof microfibre leather upper. The ultrasoft CUSH+ insole provides instant comfort and the shoes come complete with premium Softspikes FastTwist 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats to enhance grip and stability.

GROUND CONTROL

They’ll be no slip-ups on the course with this stunning collection of spike-soled shoes

G/FORE G/LOCK GALLIVANTER

£195, GFORE.CO.UK

G/FORE’s first spiked golf shoe, the G/LOCK Gallivanter combines an athletic fit with premium waterproof leather. An ultra lightweight sole uses the bespoke G/LOCK spike system for optimal on-course traction. A washable and antimicrobial, triple-density foam cushion footbed allows airflow to the feet and provides the ultimate massage for your soles.

SUN, SEA & SPA

A three-day trip to sun-soaked Mallorca sees Matt Nicholson sample the excellent golf courses at Capdepera and Son Severa, watch the pros in action at Alcanada, and enjoy the five-star hospitality on offer at the stunning Carrossa Hotel & Spa

When the call came in late October last year inviting me to a sample a short golf break in Mallorca, just as the UK was heading into winter and the clocks had just gone back, I didn’t need much persuading that this was a trip worth signing up for. Just a few weeks later I found myself leaving behind the gloomy skies of Gatwick Airport and two-and-a-half hours later arriving in Palma to be welcomed by the warm afternoon Mediterranean breeze.

I had been to Mallorca twice before, but both times had stayed in the Palma area, so venturing an hour east was a new adventure. Our lodgings for the trip were at the Carrossa Hotel & Spa, a five-star resort which is nestled in the hills near the town of Arta in the north-east of the island and provides picture postcard views towards Cala Millor and Alcudia. It’s also just a few miles down the road from where ITV hit show Love Island is filmed, but that I’m guessing that won’t be the reason why you come here!

Once a farmhouse, and a family home, with an imposing manor house, the Carrossa first opened in 2018 and is part of Hamacher Hotels & Resorts, which runs two other five-star venues across Europe. The owners have made their Mallorcan outpost a place where one can relax, sleep, dine and generally ‘chill out’ in totally tranquility.

There are 45 suites located in block-style villas dotted around the estate, while a further 30 are situated within the 300-year-old Manor House. There are also four luxury 4/5 bed private villas and three rustic fincas, all with swimming pools and all a short walk from the main part of the hotel.

Facilities at the resort include a state-of-the-art 1,500m2 luxury spa, which is home to a first-class range of relaxation, health and beauty treatments, as well as a 17mx 5m indoor pool, sauna, steam room and modern fitness centre. There is heated outdoor infinity pool and relaxation lounges, poolside bar and yoga activities,

The hotel boasts two superb restaurants, Bistro Badia and the fine dining Restaurant Carrossa, one looking towards the sunrise at breakfast, the other looking to sunset at dinner. The latter serves up fresh seasonal local fare with moreish dishes such as vitello tonnato followed by fresh turbot with fennel, grapefruit and hollandaise sauce, while Carrossa’s sommelier runs a very atmospheric wine cellar, offering tastings from the local vineyards.

CAPDEPERA IS A CHARMING CLUB WITH AN EQUALLY CHARMING CLUB HOUSE

My spacious suite had a private terrace and featured natural stone floors and bathroom fitments, with walk-in showers and air conditioning, with luxury fittings throughout. The terrace looked west to the setting sun, and even though our time here was short it was easy to see how a week or so here spent swimming, sunbathing, spa-ing, and, of course, golfing, would leave you fully relaxed and restored.

SPOILT FOR GOLFING CHOICE

Golfers have no fewer than four attractive 18hole courses within a 15-minute drive, including Capdepera, Canyamel, Pula and Son Servera, while Alcanada, which is the island’s top-rated course, is a 45-minute drive away, but well worth the effort.

Our short trip took in Capdepera and Son Servera, while our final day was reserved for watching the action unfold at the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final at Alcanada. While it was obviously disappointing not to have been able to experience one of Spain’s finest courses first-hand, seeing the pros in action close up was ample proof that you need to be a decent player to score well on this highly challenging layout.

Capdepera is a charming club with an equally charming clubhouse that lies below the hills containing most of the back nine, and above the flat layout of the front nine. First opened in 1989, the par-72, 5,867-metre course has an unusual mix of holes, with the card offering an equal mix of par threes, fours and fives over the first 12 holes – which is a first in my book – while the final six has a more traditional mix with four par fours, one par three and one par five.

■ ALCANADA PLAYED HOST TO THE CHALLENGE TOUR FINAL

Servera, one of the oldest clubs on the island, having first opened in 1967, and one of the few clubs in Mallorca that is owned by its members. It started out life as a 9-hole course and was only extended to 18 in 2012.

The newer holes offer two very different kinds of challenges.

Holes 3-7, which the club calls ‘The Pine Trap’, are quite narrow, cut out of the original pine forest, have significant changes in elevation and are regarded by many as the most difficult.

If holes 3-7 are typical woodland holes, holes 12-15 have a much more open, almost heathland, while the original holes have more of a parkland feel. Measuring 6,500 yards off the championship tees it will certainly test all parts of your game. Water comes into play over several holes, most noticeably on the par-3 3rd and par-7th, which play on opposite sides of a large lake. Back-to-back par fives on holes 15 and 16 offer a chance of late birdies before the course, some unusually, ends with a par three. Feeling very much like a local member’s club, rather than one set up for hordes of visiting golfers, Son Servera may be a little scruffy around the edges, but it is a joy to play and offers great value.

It is rare that I travel to a golf course without my clubs in tow, but that was the case for our final stop, Alcanada, Mallorca’s highest ranked course in all the accepted rankings. Opened 20 years ago, this seaside gem is located on the far north-east of the island and is designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr. Boasting stunning views

The par 3s have a good variety of length, from 110 to 195 yards, while the par fives range from the short 8th, which is reachable for many in two, to the 585-yard 12th which plays uphill and requires three solid shots to reach the green in regulation.

Among my favourites was the 10th, a short par 4 which doglegs around a Martello tower and a reservoir, creating some very tricky decisions to be solved off the tee. The aforementioned 12th is a tight, yet interesting par five requiring careful placement around bunkers at the shoulders of a double dogleg, while the short signature par-3 15th plays up to the mountains with a panoramic view all the way to the coast from the green, and it’s not hard to see why it has long been considered the most beautiful golf hole in Mallorca.

The layout is versatile in that it offers loops of six, nine and 12 holes for those short on time or golf balls, although I would strongly suggest that you make time to play all 18 as it’s a throughly entertaining course from start to finish.

Our tee time the following day was at Son

CAROSSA’S 5-NIGHT GOLFING PACKAGE

The Carossa Hotel & Spa has a new 5-night stay-and-play golf break, comprising rounds of golf at Canyamel, Capdepera and Alcanada, and five night’s half board, with extensive buffet breakfast and multicourse dinner menu, in a twin or double room, with prices starting at €1,090pp. For details on this and other golf packages, visit carrossa.com.

over the Mediterranean, its undulating fairways sweep among the pines and provides a proper championship test, making it a fitting venue to test the Challenge Tour’s finest at its end-ofseason finale.

While I didn’t walk the whole course, I saw enough of the layout to know that it is presented in superb condition, with smooth, quick greens and carpet-like fairways, while the bunkers, which were renovated just four years ago, were also immaculate.

The par-five opening hole features a barranca crossing just in front of the green, making it a forced lay up for the holiday golfer, but I saw many of the pros taking it on with their second. A series of strong par fours follow, culminating in the 8th, a 450-yard two shotter which is played slightly uphill.

Highlights of the back nine include the par-3 15th, which is a superb short hole that sets up nicely for a birdie if you find the right part of the green. The 480-yard 16th is another cracking long par four, with seven fairway bunkers punishing anything hit remotely offline, while the 350-yard 18th is equally testing, with the slightly uphill par four featuring a nest of six bunkers all down the left side and an almost unsighted raised green nestled in a corner, with red stakes around the back.

It was a measure of Alcanada’s challenge, especially if the wind blows – which it did that week – that only five of the Challenge Tour field finished under par over 72 holes, although Sussex golfer Marco Penge clearly found the course to his liking when finishing six shots clear of his rivals on 10-under and secure his DP World Tour card. Having followed his career since he was a junior at Goodwood it was great to see Marco not only win, but also win a place on Europe’s top tier tour.

After watching Marco lift the trophy and give his interviews to Sky Sports we headed back to Carrossa for our final night’s hospitality, enjoying another excellent meal before it was time to head back to the airport early the following morning after what was an extremely relaxing, yet busy 72 hours.

■ THE SUITES ARE DESIGNED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

■ CAPADEPERA GOLF HAS WON AWARDS FOR BEING

THE MOST SCENIC GOLF COURSE ON THE ISLAND

Join

Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort in France is marking its milestone 20-year anniversary with a number of special events, including a amateur tournament which is open to all golfers.

On May 19, the resort’s 18-hole course will host the Terre Blanche 20 Years Open – an anniversary competition for members and guests. Following the tournament, participants will be invited to attend a prize giving ceremony and cocktail reception. Entry costs €160 for golf only, or €750 per person for a two-night stay, with breakfast, golf and cocktail ceremony included.

Celebrations to mark the major milestone at the Provencal resort, which is located just 20 miles inland from the French Riviera, also include a special dinner cooked by not one, but three different Michelin-starred chefs.

On August 2, acclaimed chefs Stéphanie Le Quellec, Philippe Jourdin and Terre Blanche’s Christophe Schmitt will create a ‘six hands’ menu with input from all three creating a unique gastronomic experience.

For oenophiles, the resort’s wine cellar will also be the focus for special tasting of the 2004 vintage, where guests can book one of 20 appointments with the resort’s head sommelier Aurélie Deharbe every Thursday and Friday throughout July and August to sample the finest wines the region has to offer.

Terre Blanche is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, which is limited to just 50 hotels across the world that meet the highest standards of cultural, social, and environmental sustainability. The resort hosted a special Earth Day event on April 21 to celebrate its commitment to a more sustainable forms of tourism.

The resort hosted the Ladies European Tour’s Terre Ladies Open from April 12-14, which saw 29-year-old Anna Magnusson claim her first title on the top tier circuit with the Swede shooting a closing 68 for a nine-under-par winning total.

For more details and bookings, visit terre-blanche.com.

Sign up for a summer break at the Springs

Springs Resort and Golf Club in Oxfordshire is proving a big hit with travelling golfers following the conversion of its 19th century Manor House into a boutique hotel and spa and the arrival of a wide range luxury lodges on the estate.

The eight suites in the Manor House have each been individually designed to offer guests an intimate, chic and relaxing stay in the heart of Oxfordshire. A range of suite types are available and come with impressive bathrooms and all modern amenities. Accommodation is also offered in a range of four two-bedroom lakeside lodges, all of which come with a hot tub and landscaped decking area with views across the millpond, plus a further 15 onebedroom lodges and 27 hotel lodge rooms.

Also new to the site is the 1893 Spa, named after the year the Manor House was originally built, which provides

a wide range of treatments delivered by therapists, plus a spa lounge and hydrotherapy pool with underwater ceramic beds. For foodies, the newly renovated Springs clubhouse is home to The Ridgeway Restaurant, serving a selection of food with lounge and bar areas, and a large terrace overlooking the 18-hole championship course.

The Brian Huggett-designed par-72 course, which has recently been renovated by Tim Lobb, tracks the River Thames through 133 acres of stunning Oxfordshire countryside and offers an entertaining parkland challenge from start to finish. Boasting a superb mix of short holes, ranging from 120 to 210 yards, some classic risk-reward par fours, and opportunities to open the shoulders on some lengthy par fives, the 6,481-yard course in laid out over largely flat parkland, making it an easy but extremely pleasant walk.

Golf break packages start from £135pp for a one-night stay with two rounds of golf, including breakfast and dinner at The Ridgeway Restaurant. For bookings, visit thespringsgc.co.uk or call 01491 827300.

Las Colinas is calling

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, one of Continental Europe’s Top 100 golf courses, has unveiled a range of exclusive stay-and-play packages for golfers looking to escape to the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

From its privileged position just south of Alicante in the region of Valencia, the stunning resort provides a perfect combination of championship golf and first-class leisure facilities.

The Troon-managed resort provide guests the opportunity to tailor their holidays to suit their requirements, with wide range of options are available incorporating golf and accommodation in the lavish self-

Costa Navarino raises the bar in 2024

Costa Navarino is set for its biggest year of offers, as the Greek resort launches its 2024 golf season. With more facilities and experiences than ever before, Costa Navarino will welcome guests and golfers to the Mediterranean in style.

Its four signature 18-hole courses – The Dunes Course, The Bay Course, The Hills Course and the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course – open for play last month.

Meanwhile, pros and amateurs can also participate in several prestigious tournaments, such as the popular Aegean Messinia Pro-Am, which will return from November 18-24.

However, guests of the award-winning resort will have access to the ultra-luxury Mandarin Oriental, as 2024 marks the hotels first full season. It joins W Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos, while Navarino Agora, the vibrant marketplace, open to guests and locals will also enjoy its first full season.

Sports and gastronomy enthusiasts will welcome the start of the new season at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino.. Cycling and hiking will complement 17 courts in the Mouratoglou Tennis Center, while kids and adults can enrol later in the season in the NBA Basketball School and join the FC Bayern Football Camps in the summer.

Five new three-bedroom villas and a five-bedroom Royal Villas at Mandarin Oriental will be launched later in the season, as it opened on April 1.

All villas come with stunning views of the Bay of Navarino, and the relaxation doesn’t stop there, as a range of new treatments arrive at The Spa this year. On April 25, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, will welcome guests with a new adults-only pool to enhance the resorts offering, alongside a series of exclusive wine, champagne and whisky events. And finally, the beachfront W Costa Navarino will open for the season on May 3, with a new programme of music, wellness, water sports, and gastronomy events.

Golfers travelling from the UK will find four direct flights a week from May until October, courtesy of British Airways. Meanwhile, Jet2 and Ryanair have direct flights from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester from May to November and between June and September, respectively.

For more details, and information on the full range of golf breaks, visit costanavarino.com

catering apartments and villas, each sleeping from four to six people.

A host venue for the European Tour Qualifying School, Las Colinas lies along a picturesque valley of citrus trees and Mediterranean woodland surrounded by hills, accessed through a spectacular canyon entrance. The practice facilities are also top class, with natural grass hitting areas, manicured putting green and short game area, which can be used to hit a complimentary pyramid of TaylorMade practice balls.

The sports facilities at Las Colinas include tennis and paddle courts, a gym, swimming pools, bicycle hire and a nature trail. Visitors also have access to the private beach club on the seafront at La Glea beach in Campoamor – a hideaway with infinity pool, sun loungers and café bar.

For the full range of packages, visit lascolinasgolf.com.

I first picked up a golf club when… I was about 10 or 11. Golf has always been a big part of our family’s life. I’ve got a photograph of my granddad playing in the 1920s when he was the captain of Mill Hill Golf Club in London. My dad [double F1 World Champion, Graham] took up golf after he broke his legs in an accident and he needed to do something to keep himself active. He couldn’t run, so he took up golf. I started following him around on the course and we watched golf on telly together, so I got into it that way.

I just started thrashing away and everyone used to say, ‘Oh, he’s got a lovely swing’, which was the worst thing they could have said because I thought I’d cracked it. So, after that I never bothered to have any proper lessons – and that was a big mistake.

My favourite golf course abroad is… Royal Melbourne. There are so many great courses all over the world, but whenever I’m working at the FI in Australia we always try and get a game in at Royal Melbourne. It’s a sand belt course and has a very linksy feel.

Damon Hill

The former Formula One champion and Sky Sports commentator recalls his favourite holiday hotspots and golfing destinations

I’m also a big fan of Yas Links in Abu Dhabi. Surprise, surprise, it’s also right next to the F1 track, so I’m often able to nip out there and get a quick round in in the morning before we start filming, which is a beautiful time to play as it’s nice and cool.

My favourite course in the UK is… Hankley Common in Surrey. I’m a member there, so I’m somewhat biased, but it’s a lovely course and is always in great nick all year round, which is very important given our wet winters. I’m also a big fan of the Downs Course at Goodwood. The views are amazing, the course has a great variety of holes, and you always get well looked after in the clubhouse.

My ideal holiday for ball would include… the same group of guys I’ve been playing golf with for the last 20-30 years. They know who they are!

My most recent holiday was to… Mauritius. It was technically part of a golf trip to play in the Legends Tour’s Celebrity Series Grand Final, but I took my wife Georgie, so I’m going to count it as a holiday! We stayed at the Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort, which was fantastic.

My most memorable round… It might sound a bit odd, but I have great memories of playing Hankley Common on my own a few years ago. I went round in about 21/2 hours and shot 75. I had only intended to play nine holes, but I just got into the zone and just carried on and played the full 18. Having lived most of my life at well over 100 miles an hour I find golf can be very slow, so the fact that I could just whizz round without having to wait for other people really helped my game.

The highlight of my golfing career to date was… playing with Seve Ballesteros at The Oxfordshire. I was complete in awe. He was an absolute god in golfing terms and was a perfect gentleman, too. It’s always nice when your heroes turn out to be nice people.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in is… the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo. I stayed there the same night that I won the 1996 World Championship, so I was it also memorable for that reason alone, but I was staying in a huge suite which had a grand piano and a boardroom, so it was all pretty crazy. It was on one of the top floors, so it had this amazing view overlooking Tokyo. It’s where they later filmed scenes for Lost in Translation.

My most memorable meal… was in a sushi restaurant in the same Grand Hyatt in Tokyo. It was a sushi banquet, with course after course of the most amazing sushi and sashimi. Fresh tuna, salmon and yellowtail. I’m a vegetarian now, but at the time, I wasn’t, and it an was incredible meal. I just remember waking up the following morning feeling massively invigorated probably because of all the protein I’d eaten!

My favourite city in the world is… London. It’s my hometown and there’s always something to see and do and I just love walking around the streets and taking it all in. Further afield, I love Barcelona, and Melbourne is a great city too.

My top travel tip is… to get lost. Get out there and explore. Don’t over plan things and miss out on the opportunity to stumble across something new. Whenever I’m booked into a hotel on my travels I just have to get out of my room and see what’s out there.

■ HANKLEY COMMON

■ DAMON TOOK PART IN THE LEGENDS TOUR’S CELEBRITY SERIES FINAL IN MAURITIUS

■ YAS LINKS, ABU DHABI

■ GOODWOOD’S DOWNS COURSE

■ GRAND HYATT TOKYO

■ SUSHI FROM THE GRAND HYATT TOKYO’S ROKA ROKA RESTAURANT