GOLF NEWS MAY 2023

INTERVIEW

GREG NORMAN ON THE FUTURE OF LIV

TRAVEL CAMIRAL GOLF & WELLNESS

ME & MY TRAVELS WITH CHRIS HOLLINS

COMPETITION WIN A SUN MOUNTAIN GOLF BAG

LONG DRIVE GOLFER ATTEMPTS WORLD RECORD

OLD TOM MORRIS’S CLASSIC COURSE DESIGNS

MATT FITZPATRICK

LIVING UP TO MAJOR EXPECTATIONS

EQUIPMENT

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With the clock ticking down to the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome in just over four months’ time it seems that the picture about who and who isn’t available for selection for both teams is becoming clearer, although still a little fuzzy in places.

Following the resignation of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia from the DP World Tour, European captain Luke Donald no longer has the option – if he ever really did – of dishing out wildcards to arguably three of Europe’s most valuable players over the last 25-plus years. While it was virtually impossible for any of those players to have quali ed automatically, there was a remote chance that at least one of them might have been given a captain’s pick to help add a bit of experience to what looks like being a very green team. However, that option is now o the table, and Donald at least now has a clearer understanding of the parameters under which he can try to formulate a battle plan to win back the cup, however uphill a battle that might look.

As thing stand, US captain Zach Johnson, although having a deeper and more talented pool to draw on, looks like having a much harder task when it comes to his picks, as a quirk of the regulations means that PGA Tour players who have joined LIV Golf still have a way into the Ryder Cup team through dint of their membership of the PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup stateside. So while the PGA TOUR can ban LIV golfers from competing in its events, the Ryder Cup stands alone as a separate entity, and somewhere in paragraph 98 of the regulations it stipulates that players only have to be members of the PGA of America in order to be considered for selection.

That being the case, any US Ryder Cup captain would have to give serious thought to picking LIV golfers Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed as wildcards following their performance at the Masters, but it is also within the realms of possibility that should any of these players win a major championship between now and September that they would make the team through the normal channels of quali cation. And let’s not forget Dustin Johnson and Talor Gooch, both of whom are in decent form and perfectly capable of winning majors. Talk about pigeons and cats. Given the politics involved, and the weight of pressure no doubt being exerted from above, Zach Johnson will surely not risk the wrath of PGA Tour

commissioner Jay Monahan by giving a LIV golfer a wildcard, but in bowing to this pressure he will also be giving further fuel to the fact that wildcards have never been truly wild, and that they are more about giving a balance to the team in terms of current form and experience and on the odd occasion, friendly favour.

A team without at least two or three of those aforementioned LIV players would result in a slightly weakened US squad being assembled for a contest that has historically put forward the best players from each nation/continent. Could it be right that a reigning major champion should be left out of a team that represents the USA simply because of the tour they play on? Mind you, you only need to look back to John Daly to nd a player with major pedigree with a face that didn’t t. The $64m question – although it should probably be a lot more than that taking into account in ation and the amount of cash sloshing around the world of professional golf these days – should be whether the Ryder Cup should be a match between Europe and the USA, or between players representing the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour? With neither tour existing when the match was established in the late 1920s, it is only over time that the PGA Tour and the European Tour have wheedled their way into the quali cation criteria for the matches. And even then, rules have been modi ed in recent years to re ect the fact that top golfers play all over the world rather than exclusively playing one tour. With or without LIV golfers, this year’s match, as with others before it, will go ahead and likely be remembered for the competitiveness of the matches, and of course, the result, rather than the behind-thescenes politicking. However, without the best players potentially taking part – for reasons that have nothing to do with golf and everything to do with power grabbing – it might be one of those events, like the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where an asterisk has to be placed alongside it on the basis that not all of the sport’s key players were able to compete.

One hopes that there is still the time and the willingness on all sides for a compromise to be found to ensure the integrity of the Ryder Cup is retained, but I for one am not hopeful, and feel like the competition, regardless of where your moral and political allegiances lie, will be the poorer for it if the captain’s picks are not exactly that.

InBrief

RICHARDSON CLAIMS FRENCH

SENIOR MEN’S AMATEUR TITLE

★ Kent Men’s first team player Ed Richardson won the French International Senior Men’s Amateur Championship at Golf de Joyenval in Paris. The Redlibbets player, who also runs golf company Get Golfing, won the 54-hole event by five shots.

EVANS PROVES BEST OF THE WEST

★ Nigel Evans from St Mellons Golf Club in Wales won the West of England Senior’s Open Amateur Championship after shooting two rounds of 73 around Burnham & Berrow’s Championship course for a +4 total. Evans finished one shot ahead of Kevin Parkes from Lindrick and Mark Kingsley from Bramhall, with Parkes taking second on countback.

CORBEN CAPTURES

SURREY MASTERS TITLE

★ Hindhead GC’s David Corben won the Surrey Amateur Masters after shooting a five-under par 67 over the New Course at Walton Heath. The +3 handicapper finished one shot ahead of Ben James Palmer, and two clear of Will Dugdale, with both placed players representing Reigate Hill.

PETERS SECURE FOURTH

MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS TITLE

★ Ann Peters and her daughter Alex won the Mothers & Daughters Championship for the Judy Cup for the fourth time in the last 13 years after compiling a combined score of 115 over 27 holes on the Pam Barton Course at Royal-Mid Surrey Golf Club.

Team Peters, who hail from Shifnal GC in Shropshire, went one better than last year to win the scratch title by three shots from Bernadette and Sophie Newlove from Wollaton Park in Nottinghamshire. The latter pairing won the handicap event for the RMS Trophy with a nett 104.

The scratch and nett competition over 18 holes was won by A & L Treadwell with a gross six-over-par 78 (nett 67), while Surrey Junior Charlotte Woodham won the Meg Kent Trophy for the best U16 performance.

CRANE VALLEY UPGRADES PRACTICE FACILITIES

★ Crane Valley Golf Club in Dorset has invested over £70,000 in refurbishing its driving range and building a new short game area. The investment has consisted of building five additional outside bays to the driving range, extending the roof to protect players from the elements, improving LED lighting, and refurbishing the entire range. The club’s putting and chipping area has also been upgraded with the green being moved and extended to three times its original size to create more pin positions.

Barnehurst up for sale as American Golf concentrates on equipment business

Trump breaks ground on new Sco ish links

Donald Trump ew into Scotland earlier this month to preside over the o cially ‘breaking ground’ ceremony that marks the start of the construction of a second course at Trump International Scotland near Aberdeen.

International Leisure Group, the owner of American Golf, has put four of its golf clubs and leisure sites up for sale as part of a strategic review to focus on its core golf equipment retail business.

The company has instructed HMH Golf & leisure to o er the sites – Barnehurst Golf Club in South London, High Legh Park Golf Club in Cheshire, and Golf Kingdom venues in Essex and Lancashire – for sale.

American Golf only bought Barnehurst in February last year and re-opened the 9-hole course following a two-year period of closure after MyTime Active ended its lease of the Bexleyheath-based venue in 2020.

American Golf invested signi cant sums in the club over the last 12 months, opening a agship Justin Rose Academy, a 15-bay Toptracer driving range, a new 44-seat lounge and restaurant, and a new retail space and custom tting facility.

Tom Marriott, at HMH Golf & Leisure, commented: “We are selling four very attractive family leisure sites in strategic locations. All of the properties have been signi cantly upgraded over the last 24 months and the incoming operator will

Golf clubs suffer membership dip but ‘rounds played’ remains strong despite costof-living crisis

bene t from this capital investment. Trading at each business is strong with signi cant growth enjoyed in recent months.

“These properties represent an ideal opportunity for an existing operator to add to its portfolio or for a new operator to enter the family golf and leisure market. O ers will be considered for the group or the individual properties.”

High Leigh Park Golf Club in Knutsford boasts an 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole academy course, and a 6-hole pitch & putt course, and a 23-bay oodlit driving range with Toptracer,.

Facilities at Golf Kingdom Chadwell Heath in Romford include an 18-hole short course, a 25-bay oodlit driving range, and an 18hole adventure putting course; a oodlit short game practice area, and a clubhouse. Golf Kingdom Rossendale, just north of Manchester, includes a 18-hole adventure putting course, a 22-bay oodlit driving range, and a clubhouse.

Marriott added: “Adventure golf sites and driving ranges almost never come to market and we would expect strong interest for these sites.”

A new survey of golf club managers and data from the UK’s leading online green fee booking company has found that membership resignations have risen following annual April subscription renewals, while the percentage of green fee rounds to member rounds is also pointing towards a dip in membership numbers across the UK.

Contemporary Club Leadership says that it regularly surveys golf club managers and in its most recent ndings, the average resignation rate is six per cent.

“This is back to the level golf was experiencing before the pandemic struck,” said Kevin Fish, who runs the company. While it is not the mass exodus many feared this year, it is still a return to the familiar slippery slope golf has been on over the last 20-odd years.”

He added: “For three years, golf clubs have never been busier, but the easing of lockdown coupled with the severe economic challenges of recent months has sent club boards into a tailspin wondering what increase in subscription fees could be charged this year. We have never seen more volatility in member subscription rates, with the increases ranging from zero right up to 25 per cent.”

Many clubs time their members’ annual subscriptions to run from the beginning of April to the end of March, which may explain why there’s been a recent rise in resignations. Fish believes that the golf industry, which has seen a boom in participation in the last three years, is in a healthier position than it was before the pandemic, but questions about its long-term future need to be asked.

“Our latest survey reveals that almost one third of clubs are concerned about their long-term future, beyond 2028. Our data also shows that the gap between the large and small clubs is getting bigger, as evidenced by resignation rates, subscription revenue and, this year in particular, the levels of salary increases given to secure the best sta .”

BRS Golf, which manages GolfNow, the online tee booking platform, has reported a strong start for both member play and visitor play in the UK for the rst three months of the year, however the company has also reported that membership numbers are starting to drop o . Of the 1,500 clubs on its platform, GolfNow reported a drop of 6,000 members across the UK, with 19 clubs in England reportedly losing more than 100 members since the start of the year, while 30 clubs have lost between 50 and 100.

GolfNow says member rounds are still double what they were before the pandemic and it does not expect the full impact of the cost-of-living crisis to be felt in the UK until July, long after most clubs have completed their membership renewals for 2023.

Trump courted a signi cant amount of controversy when he decided to open the rst course in 2014 due to its site on a previously undeveloped wild stretch of coastline, but the second course, which is being named after Trump’s mother, Mary Anne Macleod, has already received planning permission.

The former US President, who said that the new is set to become ’one of the great golf courses of the world’, has called on the services of Martin Hawtree to design the MacLeod course, which will be built to the south and west of the existing championship course, which is also Hawtree’s work.

Speaking at the site of the new course, Trump said: “We are going to build a great golf course that will be t to host many great championships in the future, along with our championship links. There is no other land like it. We have incredible views by the sea and there are no other dunes like these in the world. It will be a great success.”

He added: “This project is very close to my heart as the course will be dedicated to my late mother and that is a source of great pride to me and my family. My mother was an incredible woman who loved Scotland. She returned here every year and I love Scotland just as much.”

Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, who oversees the management and operations of the Trump Organization’s global portfolio, said: “We’re extremely excited to be breaking ground on another worldclass links course in Aberdeenshire. We own and operate the best courses on earth and this new course at Trump International, Scotland has the potential to top them all and rea rm its place as a top world ranking golf destination.”

■ BARNEHURST GOLF CLUB

■ DONALD TRUMP BREAKS GROUND AT THE NEW MACLEOD COURSE AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL SCOTLAND

■ CLUB MEMBERSHIP RESIGNATIONS ARE ON THE UP

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Club Champion opens new fi ing studio in Crawley

Custom tting specialist Club Champion has opened a new club tting studio in Crawley, West Sussex, with the store accepting appointments from Tuesday to Saturday.

The new studio, which is located in Sussex Manor Business Park, features two indoor hitting bays with Foresight GC Quad launch monitors for analysing performance, and Quintic Ball Roll putter technology to help golfers nd the perfect putter. The 2,000 square foot space also includes a demo matrix of head and shaft options that make up over 50,000 club combinations from over 40 equipment brands, including Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist, Cobra, Srixon and many more.

This is the second new Club Champion location in the UK, alongside the location previously operating under the Golf Principles brand name in Basingstoke. The custom tting team in Crawley is led by Mike Wynn, the new studio manager and Master Fitter.

“This is an exciting opportunity for every golfer in the southeast,” said Warren Scarr, Club Champion’s International General Manager. “From our proven tting process to the unrivaled expertise in golf equipment, golfers will be thrilled to have access to this sort of experience when looking to better their game.”

Club Champion Crawley is open from 10am-6pm Tue-Fri and from 9am-5pm on Saturday. For more information or to book a tting, head to clubchampiongolf.co.uk or call 01256 359865.

Gillyflower

set

Legends Tour tees up free ticket offer to watch senior stars in action in Jersey

The Legends Tour is set to return to the island of Jersey and the stunning links at La Moye Golf Club this summer – with tickets free for fans wishing to attend the event.

Following the success of last year’s event, the Jersey Legends will be held between June 8-11 as a selection of golf’s most famous faces head back to La Moye Golf Club to compete for victory in the third Legends Tour event of the 2023 season.

This year, amateur players will once again be able to play on the famous course alongside the greats of the game as the Alliance Series returns to Jersey. An exclusive opportunity to live out the life of a golf legend, amateurs can sign up to play in front of live crowds and TV cameras in the Alliance Series and will get to play three rounds of golf – one in the Celebrity Series and two in the Alliance Series – alongside their heroes.

The Celebrity Series will also be returning to La Moye as part of the week’s golf on June 8. In last year’s Celebrity Series event, former British & Irish Lions star Scott Quinnell nished in second place as Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler saw o the challenge of the rugby star and took home victory against a famous eld which also included former Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, Westlife singer Brian McFadden and National Hunt horse racing jockey Sir AP McCoy.

festival of gol ng action. Last

With free tickets for fans – who can register via an online link to receive tickets – the fourday event promises to be a festival of gol ng action. Last year, three-time DP World Tour winner Richard Green – who will be returning this year to defend his crown – beat Paul Lawrie in a playo to take home his rst of two Legends Tour victories.Ian Woosnam will be heading up a star-studded line-up alongside defending champion Green at La Moye Golf Club as the Welshman – a Jersey resident – tees it up at his home course. A club that is no stranger to elite competition, the venue hosted the Acorn Jersey Open in 2016 as well as the DP World Tour’s Jersey Open between 1978 and 1995 – a tournament won by Woosnam in 1987.

to bloom with new clubhouse plans

The owners of Gilly ower Golf Course in Cornwall have submitted plans with the local council to build a new clubhouse and 19 holiday lodges.

Formerly the site of Lostwithiel Golf & Country Club, which closed in 2014, the land was bought in 2016 by the Smit family, owners of the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, who have since reopened the course under a new name and turned part of the course into a fruit orchard, while keeping nine holes open for play.

Each of the nine holes is bordered by fruit and nut trees and vegetables, while hedges and rough areas are maintained with wildlife in mind, with greens and fairways managed in as environmentally friendly way as possible.

Under the original plans the Smits wanted to create a horticulture, agronomy and cookery education centre along with 19 holiday lodges, a cafe and facilities and a new reception for the golf club, which is located on the outskirts of Lostwithiel. However, these plans were rejected by the council in April last year after strong local objection.

The new plans, which were submitted at the end of April, feature a slimmed-down project, but still include a proposal for the 19 lodges, as well as a new clubhouse.

Alex Smit, the son of Eden Project founder Sir Tom Smit, said: “The proposal seeks to expand the facilities on o er at the existing golf course, which will bring it back towards

providing a full-service facility, as existed prior to 2014. Substantial investment, landscaping and planting has been undertaken to bring the golf course back into use. It has been reduced in scale and redesigned to a 9-hole course with two sets of tees to enable an 18hole round to be played.

“The proposal would introduce 19 holiday lodges which would be part of an aparthotel facility to be managed by the clubhouse.

star and took home victory against a professional for one round of golf lounge for breakfast, bespoke gifts, and

Alliance Series players in Jersey will receive a three-night stay in the o cial tournament hotel, a bespoke gift pack and invitations to all exclusive functions.

The Celebrity Series will see participants team up with a celebrity and Legends Tour professional for one round of golf while receiving access to the player’s lounge for breakfast, bespoke gifts, and hospitality post-event.

Ahead of the event, on June 7 a traditional Championship Pro-Am will also take place – allowing golfers an opportunity to play with legends of the game before the competition gets underway. Teams of up to three amateurs will team up alongside a Legends Tour professional for 18 holes of golf while receiving access to tournament practice facilities, breakfast in the player’s lounge, a bespoke Legends Tour gift bag, and prize giving and hospitality post-round.

By providing accommodation, further bene t will be derived for Lostwithiel, as guests would spend money in the town.”

Sir Tim addressed the planning committee at last April’s meeting and said it was “a matter of regret” that the application had divided opinions in Lostwithiel, but he said that he and his son were sure that the development would be sustainable and help not just the local community but also bene t the wider population in learning and developing learning about horticulture.

He said that they were working with a number of educational institutions, including Exeter and Plymouth universities, to set up training and research programmes which would run from the farm. He added that the golf club and holiday lodges would help to generate income which would help to fund the educational aspects of the new venture.

■ AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION OF THE NEW LODGES AND CLUBHOUSE PLANNED FOR GILLYFLOWER GOLF COURSE

■ IAN WOOSNAM WILL BE AMONG THE STARS TAKING PART IN THE JERSEY LEGENDS TOURNAMENT AT LA MOYE

Get Golfing takes over Winter Hill Golf Club

Winter Hill Golf Club, the Berkshire-based club owned by the John Lewis Partnership, has been taken over on a long-term lease by Get Gol ng, the registered charity founded in 2018 whose portfolio of clubs rises to ten on the back of its latest acquisition.

The sale of the club to Safegolf Ltd, with Get Gol ng running the club under a long-term lease, comes as part of a series of cost-cutting measures announced by John Lewis earlier this year in response to falling sales at its nationwide chain of department stores and Waitrose supermarkets.

A John Lewis spokesperson said: “This isn’t a decision we took lightly. However, the club is no longer used as it once was and with the high level of investment required for a very small internal audience, we decided that Winter Hill is no longer the best use of our resources.”

The sale, which was formerly completed on April 28, saw the Cookham-based venue become the tenth club in Get Gol ng’s portfolio, all of which – bar Ansty Golf Club in Coventry – are based in the south-east of England, and include Hampton Court Palace, Pyrford, Mill Green, North Downs and Redlibbets Golf & Country Club.

Get Gol ng has stated that it plans to invest in both the golf course and the clubhouse at Winter Hill with the intention to make the venue more accessible to a wider section of the community.

Ed Richardson, CEO of Get Gol ng, said: “When we rst heard about the plans to close the course, sell the land and disband the club, we immediately mobilised, reached out to our contacts and started to engage with John Lewis. They were receptive to our cause and our plans, and we cannot thank them enough for their support.”

The news of the takeover comes as a great relief to members of the club, which was originally set to close at the end of March but will now remain open under its new owners. Only one in ve members now have a link to the John Lewis Partnership – including a spouse or family member – with even fewer being a partner themselves. As a result, Winter Hill was used by just 0.2% of the organisation’s workforce.

Jane Ohlenschlager, captain of Winter Hill’s ladies’ team, commented: “We are delighted for all of the members at

Kent’s Jack Lee made history at last month’s Peter McEvoy Trophy by becoming the rst player to successfully defend the illustrious junior open title.

The tournament, which is held at Copt Heath GC in Warwickshire, was started by the former Walker Cup star in 1981 and previous winners include Peter Baker, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Hertfordshire’s Wayne Henry is the only other double winner, although he achieved that in 1984 and 1987.

Lee won by four shots last September and this time around, with the event reverting back to its traditional place in the golf calendar, he closed things out impressively, nishing two shots clear of Somerset’s Freddie Turnell (Burnham & Berrow) and Sussex’s Harry Malin (Bognor Regis).

Before the event started, organisers gave Lee the heads up regarding his opportunity to create a tournament rst. And, despite a little wobble on 11 and 12 in the nal round, he

the club. Winter Hill means a lot to us and we are thrilled with this outcome. Get Gol ng has a strong track record. We’ve also spoken with members of other Get Gol ng clubs and can see they’re rmly committed to the game.

“We’re also on the same page when it comes to involving the community. With their management and our passionate support for our club and its membership, we’re really excited about our future and the potential to make even more of a positive local impact.”

It is understood that Maidenhead Golf Club had also expressed an interest in buying Winter Hill, with a view to moving to the site following the sale of its golf course to property developers, but John Lewis went with Get Gol ng following a sealed bidding process.

closed things out with a birdie at the last to nish four-under-par overall.

“I had a good gameplan and I made a good start, so even though I bogeyed three times in ve holes it didn’t bother me too much,” said Lee. “I knew I was four shots ahead starting the back nine and also knew there were good opportunities coming late in the round.”

Lee also birdied 14 and learned on the 16th he had a one-shot lead. He parred that hole and just missed for birdie on the 17th before driving to within 30 yards of the last and pitching to three feet. The 18-year-old started the nal round with a three-shot advantage and, after bogeying the second, responded in superb fashion at the next hole.

and, after bogeying the second, responded in superb fashion at the next hole.

Lee added: “I set myself the goal of playing the rst six in level par so that birdie was really helpful in making sure I was exactly where I wanted to be.”

The champion took advantage of the short par- ve 7th to get under par for his round and also birdied the next. Around the turn he came back towards the chasing pack after bogeys at nine, 11 and 12, but was never headed despite the best e orts of Turnell, who went bogey-free in closing with a 68, while Malin got into contention around the turn, but a bogey on 17 proved costly and he nished with a 69.

Lee enters history books with McEvoy Trophy triumph

Long Drive champ tees up world record a empt at London Golf Club

London Golf Club welcomed World Long Drive champion Martin Borgmeier down to the Kent venue last month as the bighitting German took on a Guinness World Records title attempt.

Borgmeier, who hit a 426-yard drive in the nal of the 2022 PLDA World Championship in Nevada to beat major winner Bryson DeChambeau, visited the 36-hole Kent venue to take on the challenge of hitting the most drives in excess of 300 yards within an hour-long period.

Organised by the DP World Tour, London Golf Club was selected in its role as a European Tour Destination venue and its driving range facility, which measures well over the 300 yards required for the record attempt.

Ahead of lming, the driving range was transformed overnight by the London Golf Club greenkeeping team and the DP World Tour team as branding boards were set up, ball-clearing took place and a 300-yard line mark was added at the end of the range.

Guinness World Records o cial adjudicators were also present as Borgmeier attempted to hit more than 459 drives past the 300-yard mark within the allotted time using Callaway Golf’s new Paradym driver. Despite a heroic e ort, the German narrowly failed in his attempt, managing to hit 401 balls over the 300-yard mark from an impressive 630 hits – which meant he was averaging 10 drives a minute for the whole hour.

Speaking after his Herculean e ort, Borgmeier said: “Of course, it was hugely disappointing not to break the record, but having managed to hit 630 balls in an hour, I’m pretty con dent that given the right weather conditions – we were hitting into a slight headwind – I can get there one day. I’m going to keeping trying until I break it.”

Stephen Follett, London Golf Club’s chief executive, said: “We were delighted to welcome the World Long Drive Champion Martin Borgmeier, the DP World Tour

content team and adjudicators from the Guinness World Records to the London Golf Club for the record attempt. Holding events like this is a great opportunity for us to showcase the incredible golf o ering and facilities here at the London Golf Club. We’d like to thank the DP World Tour for choosing us for this shoot. The video is great, so if you haven’t already done so then make sure you head over to their YouTube channel to give it a watch.”

Polly Benson, producer for the DP World Tour, said: “We came here to speak to London Golf Club to see if they were happy to have us. Obviously, they are a European Tour Destination and as a club they have been so welcoming to us. The driving range itself is spectacular and quite unusual in terms of its size – from a challenge perspective it t all those speci cations. London Golf Club has opened its doors to us and frankly we could not have asked for more – they really looked after us and Martin.”

A video of the challenge is available to view on the DP World Tour’s YouTube channel.

Practice makes pe ect at Effingham

Construction is under way on a new practice area at E ngham Golf Club in Surrey that will enable members and visitors to work on their short game before they tackle the club’s Harry Colt-designed championship course.

The new facility is being designed by James Edwards of EDI Golf, and will feature a putting green and a short game academy in an area between the clubhouse and the rst tee that was once occupied by some tennis courts.

Speaking about the need for improved practice facilities following the renovation of the golf course in 2018, club manager Steve Slinger said: “Following a survey of our members a few years ago it was clear our practice facilities did not match the on-course experience. These new facilities will be the rst thing our members and guests see on arrival and will also present wonderful viewing for the people on our clubhouse terrace.

“It will be the complete package. Think of a creative shot or challenge you might encounter around any type of green complex, and this will be on o er to the golfer for practice.”

Leading golf course construction rm CJW, led by Conor Walsh, began construction of the short game academy in February and expects to nish later this month, with the club anticipating an opening next Spring. A Rain Bird irrigation system will be installed as part of the project.

England men’s qua et claim European Nations Championship

Josh Berry, Arron Edwards-Hill, John Gough and Dylan Shaw-Radford combined to steer England to a narrow victory in the European Nations Championship held at Sotogrande in Spain.

After an even par nal round, England nished with an 872 total (+8) to beat Italy by three shots, with Spain nishing a further three shots back in third. Scotland were fourth (+16), Ireland 13th (+47), and Wales 14th (+48) in the 17-team event.

Gough nished second in the individual event, shooting rounds of 67, 77, 73 and 69 to nish on two under par, but lost out on countback to Sweden’s Albert Hansson. Radford nished 15th on 8 over, Betry was tied 19th on +9, and Hill was tied 24th on +10.

Coxon steers path to victory in Hampshire Salver

A chat with England Golf’s Men’s Squad Manager Gareth Jenkins proved productive for Cumbria’s Will Coxon, who won the Hampshire Salver at Blackmoor GC.

The University of Stirling student made a slow start at Blackmoor – the event is jointly held with North Hants – but three successive 67s gave him the title by two shots from Ben Quinney (Kings Hill), Joe Harvey (The Kendleshire) and Zach Little (West Herts).

Coxon is hoping his latest victory will push his name to the front of selectors’ minds ahead of this year’s Walker Cup, which is being held at St Andrews in August, He said: “I had a Zoom call with Gareth Jenkins and he said Hampshire Salver is a good tournament to play in in terms of getting noticed regarding selection for di erent teams. It was the rst time I had played in it and it was a nice boost to get the win.”

The Hampshire Salver is made up of the Selborne Salver (Blackmoor) and Hampshire Hog (North Hants) and Coxon’s opening 75 on Saturday morning left him out of contention with Little taking the Selborne Salver after a play-o with Liphook’s Darren Walkley.

The following day the action moved to North Hants and Coxon and Quinney both opened with 67s to lead by one and both repeated their e orts after lunch although the Carus Green player missed a three-foot par putt to win The Hog.

The duo then went into extra time and Quinney executed a brilliant up and down at the 10th to extend the tournament, but missed the same 3-footer Coxon had missed less than an hour earlier to hand the title to his opponent.

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A. FIVE B. SIX C. SEVEN

Po en’s The Social Golfer Master!

Golfers from all over the south-east of England congregated at the newly named Heron Golf & Country Club – formerly South Essex GC – in Brentwood for the 7th annual TSG Masters on April 30.

A total of 32 members from the popular online golf club and golf society gathered at the Essex club all hoping to be this year’s TSG Masters Champion golfer – the rst of the four ‘Majors’ that the website runs each summer.

This mixed golf event provided plenty of healthy competition and while some TSGers were familiar with the course layout, most were new to it. The eld, ranging from 4 handicappers to 30, played the Heron & Hawk courses – two very di erent layouts o ering their own challenges, the latter including some superb water features.

As always, it was the greens at Heron that proved the real test, with only six players reaching 30 points. After 18 holes, it was a Broxbourne-based golfer Chris Potten who triumphed, scoring a respectable 38 points to win by a single shot from Daniel Walker from Essex, with Surrey’s Jonathan Knowles taking third with 36 points.

Speaking after being crowned TSG Masters champion for 2023, Potten said: “I am in shock! I knew I was playing well after a run of four pars in the middle of my round, but I never expected to win.

Before this, I had never won a golf day, let alone a ‘TSG Major’, so I can’t wait to get home and share it with the family. I would like to thank all the team at The Social Golfer for putting on another great event. The Heron is a real test of golf and no-one was more surprised than I when I found out I had come top of the leaderboard!”

There was also some fun to be had with two nearest-the-pin prizes and a straightest drive competition. The Golf News Guest Trophy was won by Essex- based golfer Michael Tricker.

Commenting on the event, Ian Mullins, organiser of The Social Golfer, said: “What a superb day at an everimproving course. Even the rain held o . We’d like to thank all the sta and management for allowing us to hold this event here. We have been impressed by the amount of investment ploughed into The Heron GC in the last two years. All three courses have seen massive improvement and the club is well on the way to being one of the nest in Essex.”

Ferndown digs deep for Help for Heroes charity

Ferndown Golf Club o cials recently presented Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes with a cheque for £7,500, following their annual fundraising golf day. It takes the club’s total raised for the Salisbury-based charity, over more than a decade, to almost £120,000.

Help for Heroes’ area fundraising manager, John Carpenter, said: “It’s always a pleasure to meet with the members at Ferndown Golf Club. And to receive a donation like this, when we know times are not easy for some people, is particularly heart-warming.

“Our relationship with the club goes back 13 years and I hope it will continue long into the future. The charity’s income has reduced by 55 per cent since 2015, yet our

services are in demand more than ever, so this is most welcome. I can’t thank them enough.”

The golf club’s assistant general manager, Sue Helliker, said: “Members look forward to our annual Help for Heroes’ day and it is a rm xture within their gol ng calendar. Each year we are overwhelmed with the generosity and support we receive and delighted that we can donate a substantial sum annually.”

Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 27,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve. The charity supports veterans from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our Armed Forces.

If your golf club would like to support Help for Heroes, please contact John Carpenter at john.carpenter@ helpforheroes.org.uk.

Collington calls the shots at Faldo Junior Tour opener

Paul Collington (Gog Magog) took the early lead in the 54-hole event when opening with a two-under 71, with local player Harry Cox (Welwyn Garden City GC) a shot back in second. Round two saw Romford’s Harry Linley jump into share of second with Collington with a ve-under 68, but the pair were still a shot behind Colchester’s Oliver Baker who held the overall lead with rounds of 73 and 70.

Despite charges from Monty Holcombe (70) and Noah Cambridge, and a nal 71 from Linley, Collington kept the challengers at bay to secure the Boys U18 category and the overall title with a closing three-under 70, with Baker falling back into the pack with a disappointing 80.

Norwood Park’s Madeline Smith won the Girls U21 category with a +12 total that was highlighted by a closing level-par 73, while Buckingham’s Lulu Leetham won the Girls U16 category after beating Thorndon Park’s Zara Gardam in a play-o after both players tied on +16. Leetham birdied the 18th hole twice, rst to make the play-o and then to win at the rst extra hole.

All three winners will now travel to compete in the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final which is being held at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates this autumn.

The

Faldo Junior Tour returned for its rst UK event of the 2023 season with a full eld of 156 young players at The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire from April 3-5.

■ (LEFT TO RIGHT): FERNDOWN GC MEMBER DEREK SILK, HELP FOR HEROES’ JOHN CARPENTER, AND BOB SUGGETT, FERNDOWN GC’S MEN’S CAPTAIN

Use

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Women’s Golf Day tees up week-long events programme

Women’s Golf Day’s week-long celebration is just a few weeks away, but there is still time for golfers, golf course owners, as well as PGA Members, to play an important role in promoting and encouraging golf as an inclusive sport for all.

Women’s Golf Day is moving to a week-long event this year – May 30 to June 6 – enabling more venues and more people to get involved. Venues that have previously registered in past years can renew thier listing by logging in to their account at womensgolfday.com/my-account and selecting ‘My Location Listings’ from the menu to access their location listing and renew for 2023. For those that have never registered a location before, registration is now open at womensgolfday. com/register. This page outlines exactly what host venues can expect and what bene ts an event registration entitles them to.

Anyone registering using the code ‘wgdgolf23’ will bene t from an upgrade to Premier Listing which entitles locations to promote their course and its events, travel packages and tuition programs throughout the year.

To nd your nearest venue hosting a Women’s Golf Day event, visit www.womensgolfday.com.

Lullingstone Park reopens under new management

Lullingstone Park Golf Course in Kent reopened last month under the management of Everytime Active and has already seen 138 new members join the club since reopening its doors on April 22.

The 500-acre facility is being managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council, includes the 18hole Castle course and the nine-hole Valley course. The club was previously managed by Sencio, which went into liquidation, forcing the temporary closure of the golf club and two local leisure centres in Sevenoaks and Edenbridge, all of which have now reopened.

Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports Leisure Management, which operates over 200 leisure centres in partnership with more than 60 local councils across England.

Hasan Romel, area contract manager at Everyone Active, said: “We’re hugely excited to be able to welcome the local community back to Lullingstone Park Golf Course. It’s great news that people are able to use this fantastic facility again. We are keen to maintain any previously-con rmed bookings, so we would please urge anyone who made bookings before the closure to get in touch.”

He added: “Since the golf course reopened our greenkeepers have been working hard to bring the course back up to our high standards. The team are moving as quickly as possible, but due to the length of closure and the lack of essential maintenance during that time, it’s taking longer under the brilliant grass growing conditions to get the course to where we and our golfers want it. We thank you for your patience and understanding.”

London Airlinks Course opens for play

Golfers in West London have a new place to play their favourite game following the opening of London Airlinks Golf Course earlier this month.

The new 18-hole links course, which is owned and managed by Glendale Golf, replaces the abandoned Airlinks course that closed in 2014. It is built on the site of Heston Aerodrome, London’s main airport until the opening of Heathrow in 1946. Located just minutes from Junction 3 of the M4, the course o ers views of London’s iconic skyline.

Inspired by Scotland’s famous coastal links, the par-68, 5,314yard layout, which is designed to appeal to golfers of all handicap levels, features dramatic mounding, undulating fairways, and a variety of water features. The course features ve par threes, one par ve and the remainder par 4s.

Jon Dummett, Head of Golf at Glendale Golf, said: “The course is short in length compared to traditional 18-hole courses, yet is an enticing feature in today’s market. Time is an increasingly valuable commodity and expeditious golf is appealing. More so when it

satis es the busy city dweller with an appetite for a full round, who might otherwise feel short-changed by nine.”

“The course features USGA-speci cation greens with modern drainage and irrigation systems ensuring quality, all-year round playing surfaces; robust enough to stand up to the expected high footfall.”

In addition to the 18-hole course, facilities at the club also include a 25-bay oodlit driving range with Toptracer technology, and a clubhouse serving a wide range of food and drink.

“After eight years in the making, we’re incredibly excited to be opening London Airlinks Golf Course and bringing the drama of links golf to the city, making it a must-visit gol ng destination,” added Dummett. “Links courses can be notoriously tough to play, but with London Airlinks we’ve ensured the course design is suitable for golfers of all abilities, and we can’t wait to welcome newcomers, novices and golf enthusiasts of all levels to the new course and premium Toptracer range.”

The club, which is the seventh in Glendale Golf’s portfolio, welcomes pay-as-you-go green fee players, but also operates a exible membership plan with fees starting from £80 per month. Green fees, which are priced at £20-£25, depending on the tee time, can be booked at airlinks.intelligentgolf.co.uk.

For more details, and to take a virtual tour of the course, visit www.glendalegolf.co.uk.

Wo hing duo

spring a surprise at Father & Sons Foursomes

Worthing Golf Club’s Pat and Jack Ashby had their week of their gol ng lives as they beat two former winners on their way to claiming the prestigious Father & Sons Foursomes at West Hill Golf Club in Surrey.

Taking part in the seven-round knockout for the third time, the Worthing duo overcame the 2021 champions in the rst round and then disposed of last year’s winners Andrew and Tristan Greenleaf in the quarternals on their way to beating Surrey’s Nigel and Chris Gray 3&1 in the nal.

With Jack only having played once this year at Worthing, the duo travelled to West Hill with little expectation and dad Pat even made arrangements to do something else on the following day as the pair had never previously got past the second round, winning once on their debut two years ago, before losing in the rst round in 2022.

“I am still a bit stunned,” said Pat after lifting the trophy. “It was all a bit surreal. When we saw the draw we just came with little expectations, especially as Jack’s last competitive round was on December 29. But we rode the rollercoaster and felt very relaxed and calm when we got to the nal. It helped that Nigel and Chris were great company.”

Pat also picked out two long iron shots from Jack in the last 16/8 matches as pivotal moments. In both ties they teed o 18 level with twohandicapper Jack hitting a 220-yard ve iron to eight feet to set up safe passage into the quarter- nals and then, in the afternoon, he struck a 240-yard 3-iron to four feet to e ectively decide the match with the reigning champions.

Pat was in ne form with his putter and his e orts on the greens throughout all seven rounds were also a major factor in their success.

“Two years ago I switched to the claw grip from a traditional grip and it made a massive di erence,” added the 13 handicapper. “And I don’t think I have ever putted as well as I did this week. I have never played seven rounds in four days, so my feet were a bit sore, but it was such a great week and everyone at West Hill was so welcoming and friendly.”

The Father & Sons Foursomes dates back to 1931, with the likes Tyrrell Hatton and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick having played in the event with their dads en route to their successful careers as tour players.

LIV FOR THE MOMENT

After enjoying sell-out crowds at its first event in Australia and seeing some of its leading lights enjoy high finishes at the Masters, LIV Golf appears to be on the verge of gaining a level credibility, despite its lack of team sponsors, mainstream TV coverage or world ranking points for its players. Here, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman provides his thoughts on where the Saudi-backed tour is going and the prospect of the on-going feud with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour ever being resolved

that draws in big audiences and huge commercial support. Nobody is really focusing in on that, that we, LIV, identified that opportunity, and that’s the product. One franchise in the IPL sold at the end of last year for $900 million. Where cricket has gone in the last 25 years, to where it is today, is nothing short of extraordinary. So, looking at it from a LIV Golf perspective to see the opportunity of how this can grow out today, it’s just incredible.

It probably wasn’t all that surprising to you that the LIV Golf Adelaide event was so well attended given your legacy and influence in Australia, having Cam Smith in the field, and the fact that Australians rarely get to see truly international fields play, but how pleased were you to see a full house and a tournament with a proper atmosphere?

It’s true that Australia has never seen the best of the best competing there on a regular basis. Yes, we’ve had the Presidents Cup and the World Cup, and other tournaments, but what we, LIV Golf, were bringing in terms of an event, had never been brought before, and that was rewarded with the size of the galleries, the tickets that were sold, and the reaction of the fans that came.

We are here for the long-term, and we want to create an economic impact to this region that’s never been done before through the game of golf, and I think we’re delivering on that now.

Looking at the galleries at LIV Golf tournaments, it looks like you’re attracting a much younger crowd with the type of event you put on, with all the music, hospitality etc. How important is bringing in new audiences to the game to the overall LIV Golf concept?

From our research the average age of fans at our events is around 45, which is about 20 years younger than on the PGA Tour. I hope we can reduce the age of our fan base into the mid-30s, but we are reaching down much faster than I thought we would. There’s no doubt that LIV Golf has shaken up the demographics of the golfing audience.

Given the limited size of the fields, there is clearly a danger that it could all become a bit samey. What are your plans for bringing in new players and perhaps dropping some of those that are consistently at the bottom of the leaderboards?

Will there be relegation?

Absolutely there’s going to be relegation. We’re a league, so there will be a relegation system in place like any other league, so there will be this pathway system we talked about with the Asian Tour and other opportunities, as well. As we look into the future, new players will want to come on board with us, and others will move on. But some of our top players are under contract four or five years, so clearly they will be around for a longer period of time, but we will always look to bring in new talent.

You, and LIV Golf in general, make a lot of noise about the team element – the 12 franchises, as you call them – but do you really feel like the fans buy into that part of LIV?

Look at what Kerry Packer did with cricket, what they’re doing in India with the IPL. Those teams are drawn from players from all over the world, with no particular geographical affiliations, yet

Cricket has always been a team sport, so there are clearly values in those teams, but golf, outside of a couple of high-profile events, is an individual sport, so it’s hard to say that the two are comparable models. We do have international teams. We have a South African team. Some are all over the place. I think that’s the beauty of our model, that we are capturing this fan base from around the world. It’s not just specifically in one country. Golf is a global sport, has been for a century, and it’ll continue to be that way. The Asian Tour was a sleeping giant. So one of my first initiatives as I came in is we invested $300 million into the Asian Tour to wake up this sleeping giant of this incredible pool of talent that’s sitting there. This incredible pool of corporate dollars sitting there waiting.

You talk about LIV Golf being here for the long-term, but where do you see it being in two or three years? Do you hope that the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour can come together with you to co-exist, with players from all tours free to play where and when they want?

Look, we are not going anywhere. LIV is here for a long, long period of time. We’ve said that from the outset. We’ve also said that we want to coexist within golf’s ecosystem. From my perspective, it’s

■ LIVE MUSIC ACTS AND DJS HAVE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN ATTRACTING YOUNGER FANS TO LIV GOLF TOURNAMENTS

a product. We have a product that the fans want. And you have other products, too. You have the PGA TOUR, you have the DP World Tour, you have the Asian Tour, you have the Japanese Tour, and all the other tours. Happy days to all that. There’s nothing wrong with that. Since day one we have encouraged all of our players to go and play other tournaments if they want. If they want to stay with LIV and solely LIV, happy days, that’s their choice as an independent contractor, but outside of our events they’re free to play wherever they want. We want to be part of the system. They’ve made their decision, and we’ve made our decision, but it’s their choice of what they want to do, and if they want to keep putting up roadblocks. We’re not going to go anywhere.

Talking of roadblocks, with the DP World Tour winning its arbitration against LIV Golf in February, can there really be any mutually bene cial cooperation between your two tours and do you have any plans to appeal that decision now that some LIV golfers like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia have chosen to resign their DP World Tour memberships?

Well, I’m not going to go down the legal path and answer questions on behalf of other players. Remember, you used one word there and that was ‘arbitration’. It wasn’t a court of law. Arbitration is di erent. It was a prerequisite of some of the writing in the agreement of how it had to take place. That’s arbitration. Things will play out as they should rightly play out in a court of law, and that’s the way it goes. Like I said, I won’t answer on behalf of the other players, but from a LIV perspective, we’ll always support our players. We’ve said that since day one. We believe in where we’re going, and we’re going to be unwavering in that commitment.

I truly hope somewhere down the line that we can all co-exist and that the best players in the world get to compete in all the majors, play in the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, and the big tournaments, because that’s what golf fans want to see.

Putting my player’s hat back on, I do hope we get to a position where there is resolution to this, because the game of golf doesn’t need to su er. These tours don’t need to su er, the world ranking system doesn’t need to su er.

We’ve always said that we’re happy to sit down and talk with anybody and everybody, which we did with the DP World Tour, but we’ve have had little or no response. We’re okay with that, so we’ll just keep going and doing what we’re doing.

We you surprised by the fact that the Saudi involvement in LIV Golf resulted in such a strong reaction in some quarters?

Yes and no, to some degree, but do the people really understand the facts of the PIF and what they’ve invested in? Maybe not. The facts are the PIF invested in Boeing, so if you’ve ever been on a commercial ight somewhere on a Boeing

aircraft, the PIF has invested in that. The fact, have you ever bought a ticket to a Live Nation show? The PIF invests into that. Have you ever played an EA Sports game? PIF has invested in that. Have you ever used Facebook? PIF has invested in that. Have you ever used Uber? The PIF has put a lot of money into that too. The PIF has invested in other sports too, and they’ll continue to invest in sport because sport is now looked on as an asset class. They understand the market, where they want to invest. Whether it’s direct or indirect, they want a return on their investment. Golf is no di erent. And from a LIV Golf investment standpoint, the value that golf has produced around the world, globally, has just been incredible; from education to investment to hospitality, to agronomics, to health and wellness. The list goes on.

Will there ever be a women’s LIV Golf Tour?

That is a discussion we have internally on a regular basis. I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET players. They love what our product is showcasing. They ask all the time, how can we get involved, we’d love to see a LIV Ladies series, but right now our focus is on making the product that we have now the best it can be. I’m sure there will be opportunities down the line.

Knowing what you know now, just over a year into LIV’s existence and all the ructions it has caused, if you could go back in time would you say that it has all been worthwhile?

I’m proud of what I’ve done for the game of golf. I’m proud of what I’ve done investing into the Asian Tour. I’m proud of the opportunity we’ve given to our principal players. I’m proud of what I can do for the investor to get a return on their investment over a period of time. I’m proud of the fact that golf diplomacy is prevailing over being a monopolist. I’m proud of the fact that we are showing that golf is a force for good.

WE ARE CAPTURING THIS FAN BASE FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IT’S NOT JUST SPECIFICALLY IN ONE COUNTRY. GOLF IS A GLOBAL SPORT, HAS BEEN FOR A CENTURY, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY

■ IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER LIV GOLF’S EMPHASIS ON THE TEAM ELEMENT WILL PROVE ATTRACTIVE TO COPRORATE SPONSORS IN THE LONG TERM

■ ILEE WESTWOOD IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF HIGH PROFILE EUROPEAN LIV GOLFERS WHO HAVE RESIGNED THEIR DP WORLD TOUR MEMBERSHIP AFTER FACING HEFTY SANCTIONS

■ LIV GOLF HAS SUCCEEDED IN ATTRACTING A YOUNGER CROWD

■ OPEN CHAMPION CAMERON SMITH ATTRACTED

A BIG FOLLOWING WHEN LIV GOLF MADE ITS DEBUT IN AUSTRALIA LAST MONTH

AHEAD OF HIS TIME

A four-time Champion Golfer and an innovator in modern greenkeeping methods, Old Tom Morris also le his mark on the gol ng world with a long list of stunning golf courses in all four corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including the iconic Old Course at St Andrews, the challenging contours at Carnoustie and Muir eld, to the rumpled fairways of County Down, North Devon and Lahinch, and dozens more championship venues in between

If you’ve played much golf in Scotland there’s a strong chance you’ve trod the crumpled fairways and undulating greens originally designed by one of the game’s most iconic gures – Old Tom Morris.

Despite possessing almost mythical status, Tom Morris – he only became ‘Old’ to distinguish himself from his son, also Tom, who became ‘Young’ – was a larger-than-life character who came to dominate the gol ng scene as a player and latterly a golf course architect in his native Scotland – and then much further a eld – during the second half of the 19th century.

Born in St Andrews in 1821, Morris started out his gol ng life as an apprentice to the legendary St Andrews professional and clubmaker Allan Robertson. Their partnership endured for over a decade, often playing together in foursomes matches, however their friendship came to a somewhat abrupt end in 1848 when Robertson red Morris after he discovered that his protégé had had the temerity to use a new-fangled gutta percha ball in favour of the featherie ball used by Robertson, which he also used to sell in his shop.

Always a man to embrace progress while respecting the past, Morris moved to Prestwick in 1851 to serve as the club’s rst professional and greenkeeper –the roles were often doubled up in those days. With no more than two dozen golf clubs existing anywhere in the world at that time, Morris was given virtual carte blanche to design the 12-hole course at Prestwick that was to become the blueprint for so many of his future projects, including criss-crossing fairways, blind tee shots, big greens and short par 4s.

OLD TOM MORRIS CLASSICS

OLD TOM’S TOP TRACKS

Carnoustie, Cleeve Hill, Crail, Cruden Bay, Dunbar, Forfar, Kirby Muxloe, Ladybank, Lahinch, Leven Links, Lundin, Montrose, Muir eld, Nairn, Panmure, Prestwick, Royal Dornoch, Lindrick, Northampton, West Herts, Rosapenna, Royal North Devon, Royal Cromer, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Tain, Thornhill

News of the success of his design work at Prestwick soon spread, and before long Morris was engaged in undertaking new designs and modi cations to existing courses all over Scotland, and then further a eld to Ireland, and, eventually, to England and Wales.

Morris didn’t spend much time south of the border, although he did make his way down to the West Country, where his handiwork in the creation of the magni cent links at Royal North Devon is still very much in evidence today, while his legacy is also to be seen at venues from Royal Cromer in Norfolk to Wallasey in Liverpool, and the restored hill-top layout at Cleeve Hill in Gloucester, which is about as back-to-nature a golf course as you’ll nd anywhere in the world.

Given the lack of machinery available for major earthworks in the middlehalf of the 19th century, Morris’s work is renowned for its use of the natural terrain, with little in the way of intervention to the lay of the land as he found it. And with land at a premium, he was also keenly aware of the need to make use of every acre at his disposal, with shared fairways and greens a common feature of his designs.

Elevated tees with views over broken ground, and greens located on raised plateaus or bowl-like hollows surrounded by pot bunkers, are a Morris signature, while an absence of trees or ponds is also a common thread to his courses, preferring instead to challenge a golfer’s strategy by incorporating burns, streams, hedges and walls, the latter of which is very much in evidence at courses like North Berwick, where low stone walls form an integral part of the course’s defences.

In 1864, Old Tom returned to St Andrews at the beckoning of the R&A and made signi cant changes to the Old Course, making it the course we know and love today. He o cially retired in 1903, but the R&A o ered him a consultancy role with a salary for the remainder of his life, which ended in 1908, aged 86, following a 70-year career devoted to the game he loved. His a ection for the game continues to be passed on to future generations through his course designs – a legacy which will never die.

CLEEVE HILL GOLF CLUB is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty at the highest point of the Cotswolds. Cleeve Hill is a rarity where the lands natural features are the main pallet of gol ng creation. The gol ng test comes via the artful routing and all are welcome. 01242 672025 | cleevehillgolfclub.co.uk

FORFAR GOLF CLUB is a fun, friendly and modern golf club with a great historic course. Voted in the top 50 courses in the UK and Ireland under £65 it provides excellent value for visiting groups of any size. Packages with full catering also available. 01307 462120 | forfargolfclub.co.uk

LADYBANK GOLF CLUB measures almost 6,800 yards from the championship tees, making great use of its heathland terrain. It has changed a little over the years, requiring the golfer to display real precision to hit the small and often contoured greens. ladybankgolf.co.uk

892314 | tain-golfclub.co.uk

THORNHILL GOLF CLUB in Dumfries & Galloway is a mixture of parkland and heathland. At 6,102 yards, over relatively level terrain, it provides a good test for all golfers and friendly to mature golfers. Gol ng breaks in on-site accommodation for parties of 4-8 people from £125pp. thornhillgolfclub.co.uk

■ AN AERIAL VIEW OF LUNDIN LINKS IN SCOTLAND REVEALS MORRIS’S TRADEMARK BUNKERING

■ PRESTWICK WAS MORRIS’S FIRST DESIGN PROJECT

■ KIRBY MUXLOE GOLF CLUB OFFERS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF AN OLD TOM MORRIS DESIGN WITH ITS HUMPS AND HOLLOWS AROUND THE GREEN

TAIN GOLF CLUB is a classic Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris. If you would like to play golf while in Scotland you are guaranteed a warm welcome at Tain and it will be a pleasure to play a great course which is suitable for all standards of golfer. 01862

Matt Fitzpatrick, England’s highest ranked player, talks about winning his rst regular PGA Tour event at the RBC Heritage, the pressures of being a major champion, and why he feels the DP World Tour still has a place in the professional gol ng landscape

How important was it to for you to back up last year’s US Open win with your rst a regular PGA Tour victory? Was there a sense of validation with your win at last month’s RBC Heritage?

Yes and no, I guess. I feel that winning the US Open was probably validation enough that I deserve to be out here, but I’m sure there were people out there who may have felt that Brookline set up for me perfectly, so that I should have won, or whatever, and that I have to prove myself at a variety of venues, but it’s not something that bothers me.

Any time you win a tournament is special, but the RBC Heritage had particular signi cance for me and my family, as we used to visit Hilton Head on holiday when I was growing up and I came

MAJOR PLAYER

to watch the tournament a few times as a kid. Although a lot of fans were pulling for Jordan [Spieth], I felt like I had a lot of support out there given my connection with the place.

You seemed very calm out there during the nal round at Hilton Head, when Jordan Spieth kind of reeled you in. Is that something that comes with having a Major in the bank, or is it just the way you operate these days?

The big thing for me that I feel like I’ve learnt when I play well is just having patience, just letting it happen, and just giving myself time.

At the end of the day, the nal round is over 18 holes. If you caught up in ve holes, things can change in the next three holes. I just felt as long as I could be within two shots going into the back

nine, I was in with a shout. I know I can play the back nine well. Hilton Head is a hard golf course. You’ve got to hit good golf shots at the right times, and fortunately for me, I made a great putt on 15, great shot on 16, again, good shot on 17 and good shot on 18 and just managed to get in the playo and went from there.

How has your life changed since your US Open win last year?

Yeah, obviously it changed my life massively. I guess I felt like I was going to be pulled in a million di erent directions – do this, do that, do this – and although I’ve been asked to do more things, at the same time it’s kind of just learning to say no and saying yes to things that I feel are valuable. Doing what’s going to help me and my

■ ABOVE: FITZPATRICK CONFIRMED HIS STATUS AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYERS WITH HIS THRILLING VICTORY AT LAST YEAR’S US OPEN

pro le, as well as helping my sponsors and the commitments that I’ve made with them, rather than trying to please everybody all the time. One thing it has done is made me realise is that my time is really important. So, managing my time better is one of the lessons I’ve learned. I feel like I’m getting better at it. I’ve been playing on tour for like nine years now. It’s di cult to get the balance right –you make some bad decisions and you make some good decisions. It’s just how it goes.

You’re currently up to an all-time high seventh in the world rankings. How far do you think you can go and how do you reset your goals when you’ve got a major on your CV?

The goal is always to try and get as high up the world rankings as I can, and that comes from working hard each week and trying to improve. Outside of that, my main focus is on winning tournaments and performing well in the majors. How pleased were you with your performance at the Masters?

Yeah, it was a probably about as good a week as I played to that point of the year, given the neck issues that had been troubling me at the start of the season, so getting in a top-10 was a positive week and I felt like I was in a good place with my swing. The weather was an issue and was it was rather stop-start. I lost a bit of momentum just when I thought things were going well, and that kind of stopped me in my tracks, but that was the same for a lot of players that week.

How has your added length o the tee helped with your overall play this season?

It’s allowed me to hit less club into holes at some courses than I used to, and that certainly hasn’t harmed my chances of scoring well. I’ve also been able to take certain bunkers out of play that before would have been a problem. Keeping my driving distances up is a constant work in progress, as if I stop doing any of my speed training work it quickly shows up on the golf course, so it’s something I need to work on pretty much all the time.

Fans will have noticed that you ip your grip on certain shots around the greens. Can you explain your thinking behind your crosshanded chipping?

Normally if I’ve got to land it inside 30 yards, I’ll chip cross-handed. Outside of that, I tend to go with a normal grip just because I can’t really get the clubhead speed. I also can’t get the spin from anything outside of that or if I have to play a high shot I can’t get the spin, either, going cross-handed. That’s when I might have to go to a normal grip.

Rory [McIlroy] is due to be ned $3m by the PGA Tour for missing the RBC Heritage, which was of the new designated events which the top PGA Tour players are required to play in. Are you concerned that you are going to have a play a schedule that might not actually suit your game and your plans in order to meet the demands that the PGA Tour is now placing on you?

Sure, I think that is de nitely a concern. In terms of myself playing certain events I’m not really worried about that. If I have to go and play events that I’ve not really played before, that’s not really an issue. I think the big thing that has been talked about a lot with the players is that we want to play less. I do think there’s too much golf, regardless of what level you’re at. Having 53 tournaments in a 52-a-year cycle is ridiculous. It’s too much golf.

I just think people probably need a break from it. They could watch golf every week from January to December. That’s why I think having fewer tournaments, but getting the best players together more often, is the obvious way to go.

Does having some of the LIV golfers coming back into the elds for the Majors add something extra that is missing from the regular events?

Yeah, of course, absolutely. There’s no doubt about it. If you win a major and they [LIV golfers] are not allowed to play, there’s always going to be an asterisk next to that win, whether you like it or not. I think it’s good for the game that they’re playing in those events.

There has been a lot of talk about the DP World Tour becoming little more than a feeder tour for the PGA Tour, especially with the introduction of playing rights for next year’s PGA Tour for the top 10 players in this season’s Race to Dubai points list. Some would argue that that has been the case for the last 20-odd years, but how do you see it as someone who has come on that journey?

The way I see it is that guys want to play for more money and guys want to play against the best players. There’s more money on o er on the PGA Tour and there are more of the best players too. That’s just kind of the long and short of it. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and everything that came with it, Europe has struggled and a lot of things have changed. They [the DP World Tour] were in a good shape before

WHAT’S IN MATT’S BAG?

: Titleist TSi3 (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Ping G430

MAX (3, 15°), Ping G410 (7, 20.5°)

Ping i210 (4), Ping S55 (5-PW)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design

SM9 (52°, 56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Be inardi BB1 Fitz

Titleist Pro V1x

that, with eight Rolex Series events with $9m prize funds, and then, all of a sudden, the pandemic comes along and wipes most of that out. I think we’ve got four of those big money events now, plus the DP World Tour Championship.

Obviously, there’s another player in the game that’s kind of hindered that even more, which is obviously a big factor. I do think that the strategic alliance between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour is a good thing, but at the same time I feel like there probably needs to be a little bit more done from the PGA Tour’s perspective to help out in Europe. As things currently stand, I feel like the relationship is probably a little bit one-sided.

Someone needs to gure out how Europe [the DP World Tour] can co-exist with the PGA Tour, as well as grow. Perhaps there should be more PGA Tour events in Europe and stu like that. I don’t see an issue in that. No o ence to some of the places that we go to in the States, but Rome or Paris are pretty nice places to be to playing a golf tournament. If the PGA Tour is committed to growing the game globally, it can’t just be like, the DP World Tour has got Europe covered so we don’t need to bother with that.

How would you feel as a European golfer just starting out playing on the European circuit?

I think you can de nitely make a nice living playing on the DP World Tour. Probably not so much if you’re nishing in the middle of the pack on the Challenge Tour every week, but I think you can have a really nice life playing on the top tier in Europe. You can play 25 or 26 events a year and if you play okay, you keep your card every year and tick along, and that would certainly make a nice living.

What is your schedule like in terms of playing in Europe this year?

My rst one’s going to be the Scottish Open in July, followed by The Open Championship at Hoylake, and then I’ll play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September, and hopefully I’ll play the Dunhill Links Championship with my mum again in October.

You obviously had a bit of a starring role in Net ix’s Full Swing series. How did you feel like you came across in it and how do think it will help in broadening golf’s appeal?

For me, watching the Formula 1 Drive to Survive series really got me into Formula 1 for the rst time, so if that’s going to have the same e ect in golf, which it has the potential to do, then I think that’s really exciting for our game.

It’s obviously exciting for me as well in terms of raising my pro le, but it’s something we’ll just have to see in terms of how it resonates with the wider public and how it develops. I’ve not watched all the episodes, but I thought mine was really good, of course!

ANY TIME YOU WIN A TOURNAMENT IS SPECIAL, BUT THE RBC HERITAGE HAD PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, AS WE USED TO VISIT HILTON HEAD ON HOLIDAY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND I CAME TO WATCH THE TOURNAMENT A FEW TIMES AS A KID.

■ FITZPATRICK’S SUPERB BUNKER SHOT ON THE FINAL HOLE AT BROOKLINE SET UP A TWO-PUTT PAR FOR VICTORY

SHARPEN UP YOUR GAME UNDER SUNNY SKIES!

Golf Tuition Holidays has run over 20 guided golf coaching holidays to some of Europe’s finest golf destinations for over the last five years, with over 400 happy customers enjoying a week of worldclass tuition, championship golf courses, five-star hospitality and the chance to make life-long friends

It’s hard to build up much enthusiasm for working on your game when it’s pouring with rain or when you’re shivering in the cold, so it makes perfect sense to change up your environment if you want to change up your game.

That was the thinking behind the setting up of Golf Tuition Holidays by qualified PGA Professional coach Stuart Smith, who has over 25 years’ experience of working with all levels of players.

Stuart and his experienced team of coaches have hosted dozens of trips over the last five years that have attracted golfers of all ages and levels of experience, from total beginners just starting out in the game to seasoned single-figure handicappers looking to lower their scores still further – and everything in between. And with 90% of customers rebooking for future trips, you know you’re in for an experience that many are keen to repeat as their game progresses.

All arrive with a common purpose: to improve their game, whether it be driving, iron play, pitching, chipping and putting – and, of course, to have a relaxing holiday at the same time in the company of like-minded people.

The trips, which have been to all corners of Europe, including Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Turkey – feature morning tuition sessions with Smith and his team, followed by friendly, but often competitive, rounds of golf on 18-hole championship layouts. Golfers can play as little or as much golf as they like, but very few miss a minute of the lessons, with many putting in hours of overtime on the range – to which they have free access to unlimited balls – as they seek to put Smith and his coaching team’s tips into practice and play.

The trips vary in their focus, with some specialising in all aspects of the short game, from putting and chipping, to bunker play and pitching, while others focus on driving and iron play as well as course management, match play strategy and how to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

All students come away with personal report on areas for future development, along with a free short game booklet explaining the drills, how to practice, and advice on developing pre-shot routines.

After a morning on the range and an afternoon on the golf course, guests are able to relax and unwind with a group meal, while the resort’s restaurants and bars are also a popular haunt for discussing the day’s activities and swapping stories of successes and failures!

With the next Golf Tuition Holiday in the Cotswolds already sold out, places for a trip to Madeira in October, Morocco in late November, Gran Canaria next January and Egypt in February, are also selling out fast, so if you’re looking to sharpen up all aspects of your game in the sun, then make sure you book up your Golf Tuition Holiday today!

TESTIMONAL: “Just back from Turkey – what a trip! As a new lady 50+ golfer, it took a lot of bravery to book this trip, but I should never of had any doubts – it was the best choice ever. Stuart and his team were brilliant in every way. Fab people, great company, as much coaching as you can bear and a social life too. I loved it and will be back!” – Jo Elliott

TESTIMONAL: “I was apprehensive about joining both as a solo and as someone very recently returning to golf. I need not have worried as everyone was very welcoming. The daily format of lessons followed by 18 holes of Texas Scramble or Stableford meant that all skill levels were catered for, and no-one felt left out. Lessons, whether before or during the round, were concise and clear, allowing us to immediately put the learning into action on the course. The post-round drinks and communal dinners each night ensured everyone got to know each other too. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the holiday.” – Chris

GOLF TUITION HOLIDAYS FOR 2023-24

VILA HOTEL PORTO MARE RESORT, MADEIRA

October 9-16, 2023

• 7 nights’ half-board accommodation at the 4* Vila Hotel Porto Mare Resort.

• 4 Rounds of golf (2 at Santo da Serra GC, 2 at Palherio GC) • Free trolleys and range balls

• All tuition • Fee shuttle to golf courses • Excludes cost of flights

The total cost for the trip is £1,5445pp for two golfers sharing a twin/double room, and £2,055pp for a single golfer in a double room. A non-golfer travelling with a golfer costs £1,150pp.

GOLF TIKIDA PALACE, AGADIR, MOROCCO

November 25-December 2 or December 2-9, 2023

• 7 nights’ half-board accommodation at the five-star Golf Tikida Palace in Agadir • 5 rounds of golf at Golf Du Soleil Resort’s two championship courses • All tuition – first week is a Short Game Masterclass Week (putting, chipping, bunker play), while the second week is ‘Perform Under Pressure’ focusing on course management, working on your weaknesses and mastering the art of match play • Use of the driving range with unlimited balls • All transfers

The total cost for the trip is £1695pp for two people sharing a twin room, and £2,095 for a single player in a double room. Flights into Agadir are not included.

SALOBRE HOTEL RESORT & SERENITY, GRAN CANARIA

January 14-21, 2024

• 7 nights’ half-board accommodation at the 5-star Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity, Maspalomas • 6 rounds of golf on the Old Course (plus option to play 9 holes on the New Course in the afternoons) • Charity Golf Competition in aid of Cancer Research UK (see website for handicap criteria) • £10,000 worth of competition prizes

• Dailyltuition • Use of the driving range with unlimited balls • All transfers • Maximum group of 112 golfers

BOOK NOW!

For all bookings and all other enquiries, visit golftuitionholidays.co.uk, email golftuitionholidays123@gmail.com or call 07766 733560.

STORY BEHIND THE PIC

Every golfer who has ever failed to nd the centre of the clubface on a regular basis should say a small prayer to Ely Callaway and Richard Helmstetter, the men behind the creation of the Big Bertha driver, the latest version of which has just been launched.

Callaway was a textile magnate whose passion for golf developed from an enjoyable hobby into the creation of one of the most successful golf businesses the world has ever seen. Helmstetter was a former billiard cue maker who had a knack for industrial design. Together they made history.

It’s hard to believe that 32 years has elapsed since this space-age looking piece of metal was rst launched upon an unsuspecting gol ng public. Named after the World War I German howitzer gun that was capable of launching a 3,000lb shell over 30 miles behind enemy lines, the Big Bertha arrived in our pro shops in 1991 like some alien spacecraft. It not only looked like something out of this world, all steel and shiny, but also performed like it too, o ering the promise of something previously unavailable to the modern golfer: forgiveness – otherwise known as the opportunity to hit a bad one and still get away with it.

The Big Bertha helped instill con dence into a generation of golfers who had never known what it felt like to stand on

a tee and not be scared out of their wits. Up until then, golfers had been relying on delivering a miniscule sliver of wood to the ball in the vane hope that some part of the

gnarled, screw- lled face would make contact with a scrap of balata. But all that changed with the arrival of the Big Bertha. Although not big by modern standards – its head volume was a pi ing 190cc, compared to the 460cc beasts that are around today – the ground-breaking physics of its perimeterweighted, thin-face construction made it a cinch to hit the ball long distances, even from the extreme edges of the clubface. Its simple, lightweight, sleek design proved an instant hit with tour pros and club players alike, designed as it was, to put the maximum amount of force onto a golf ball, while still maintaining control and accuracy.

These players became the large and loyal customer base that Callaway had been longing for, and gave the company the opportunity to develop Big Bertha into the ‘brand within the brand’ that still exists today.

“We changed attitudes by the creation of a truly superior product that was pleasingly di erent,” Ely Callaway once said. “The attitude before Big Bertha was that, for most golfers in the world, the driver was the most feared, leastliked club in the bag. Now it’s the most popular. Everybody loves it. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect every time, but they like to use the driver because it is so easy to use.”

Subsequent Big Bertha driver launches included Great Big Bertha, Biggest Big Bertha, Great Big Bertha II, Big Bertha C4, Big Bertha 454, the Big Bertha B21 and the all-new Big Bertha, which was launched last month. The company also introduced Big Bertha irons in 1994, and they remain part of the line-up today.

THE PLAYERS CLUB THE PLAYERS CLUB

ELY CALLAWAY AND THE CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA DRIVER • 1991

THE BIG BERTHA HELPED INSTILL CONFIDENCE INTO A GENERATION OF GOLFERS WHO HAD NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO STAND ON A TEE AND NOT BE SCARED OUT OF THEIR WITS

Hilton Head

Matt Fitzpatrick said that a return to a regular family holiday venue proved the inspiration behind victory at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina.

The reigning US Open champion revealed that his family had been visiting Hilton Head Island with his family for over 20 years, and he had always dreamed of one day winning the tournament that is hosted there.

“Of all the tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar, this is the one I wanted to win the most,” he said after beating Jordan Spieth in the play-o to claim the title. “Every year I’ve driven down the drive and you see the winners here and I’ve always thought ‘I want to be one of those’ - and here I am. I feel I’ve been very lucky in my career so far – I’ve won a major and now this.”

The lead swapped between Fitzpatrick and defending champion Spieth throughout Sunday’s nal round, while their playing partner Patrick Cantlay gradually fell out of contention and eventually nished third. But for the second year in a row, the tournament went to a play-o with the leading duo nishing tied on 17-under-par. And there was nothing to separate them over the rst two extra holes either, although Spieth had birdie putts to win the rst two holes, the 18th and then at the parthree 17th, and both missed by the slimmest of margins.

But a superb shot from the fairway to inches from the pin on the 18th, the third extra hole, saw the She eld star seize the advantage and with Spieth missing a 40-foot putt, Fitzpatrick stepped up to sink his for birdie and add to the US Open title he won last year.

Victory earned Fitzpatrick a rst prize of $3.6m, as the tournament was one of the PGA Tour’s 12 new elevated events, and took Fitzpatrick from 16th up to eighth in the world ranking – his highest ever position.

ever position.

TOURNEWS

NEWS

Ryder Cup legends resign DP World Tour membership ahead of sanctions against LIV Golfers

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, three of Europe’s most successful Ryder Cup players, have resigned their membership of the DP World Tour on the day that they were due to have paid nes for taking part in LIV Golf’s inaugural event at Centurion Club last year and face further sanctions for breaches of the Tour’s Con icting Tournament Regulation. Their resignations means that that all three players will no longer be eligible to play in DP World Tour events or be able to qualify or be available for selection for the European Ryder Cup team either as players or future captains or vice captains.

Richard Bland, who won last year’s Betfred British Masters, but also joined LIV Golf last year, has also resigned his DP World Tour membership ahead of the May 3 deadline for the £100,000 nes imposed by the DP World Tour to be paid.

It is understood that Westwood paid the

£100,000 ne, but the Tour could potentially issue nes for the 12 subsequent events that he and the other LIV golfers have played in since, amounting to over £1m in nes.

he and the other LIV golfers have played in read:

A statement from the DP World Tour read: “The DP World Tour would like to take this opportunity to thank the four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the signi cant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years. Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices.”

“As we have consistently maintained throughout the past year, the Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to. These regulations are in place to protect the collective interests of all DP World Tour members. The independent panel appointed by Sport Resolutions recognised this, determining

Fisher books US Open spot after Walton Heath qualifier

Ross Fisher will be teeing it up in his rst major championship since the PGA Championship in 2019 after winning a place in next month’s US Open after coming through a 36-hole international qualifying tournament held at Walton Heath Golf Club on May 16.

The Berkshire-born 42-year-old, who is currently 356th in the world rankings, has played in the US Open ve times in his 17-year professional career, the most recent of which was in 2018, when he nished 48th.

Fisher held a share of the rst round lead after shooting a seven-under 65 on the New Course which featured seven birdies and an eagle. He followed that up with a two-under 70 on the Old Course which proved good enough to secure his berth at the third Major of the year.

“Majors are the pinnacle for any professional golfer, so I’m delighted to be back playing in one again,” said Fisher, who last win on tour was at the European Open in 2016. “I was very fortunate to experience a lot of Majors in my early career and I have missed playing in them. I feel like my game is still there – I just need to put everything together.”

Fisher was one of seven players to earn the spot in the US Open, which is being held at Los Angeles Country Club in California from June 15-18. The 36-hole qualifying event was taking place at Walton Heath for the rst time since 2019, with a eld of 84 players competing. South Africa’s Deon Germishuys topped the quali ers with a 10-under-par total after rounds of 66 and 68. He will be joined in LA by fellow countryman Wilco Nienaber, four-time DP World Tour winner David Horsey, Sweden’s Jens Dantorp, Spain’s Alejandro Del Rey and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.

did not go beyond what was necessary and proportionate to the Tour’s continued operation as a professional golf tour and that we have a legitimate interest in protecting the rights of our full membership by enforcing it,” the statement concluded.

Westwood said: “It’s a sad day, but I couldn’t see any other option with all the punishments hanging over me. I don’t agree with the direction Keith Pelley [CEO of the DP World Tour] and his board have taken and I want to move on.”

Woods to miss rest of season following ankle surgery

Tiger Woods has had an operation on his ankle that is likely to see the 15-time major champion sit out the rest of the 2023 season while he recovers.

The 47-year-old underwent the surgery on at a private clinic in New York just days after taking part in the Masters, where a subtalar fusion procedure was carried out that will require Woods to wear a cast around his foot for up to three months before rehabilitation can start.

Woods withdrew before the third round of last month’s Masters after he looked in pain throughout the season’s opening major. Following the surgery, which was said to have been successful, he will miss competing in the season’s remaining three major championships, as well as any other tour events.

A statement issued by Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent, said: “Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation. The rst goal is to recover and lead a much more enjoyable day-to-day life.”

Woods has played sparingly since su ering serious injuries to his right leg in a car crash in February 2021. He has played in just ve o cial PGA Tour events since, and although he’s made the cut in four, he’s only nished two of those events.

French teen amateur wins LET Access tournament

Fourteen-year-old French amateur Louise Uma Landgraf underlined that raw talent can overcome experience when winning the Terre Blanche Ladies Open following a tense three-way playo .

The teen sensation closed the Ladies European Tour Access Series event – the second tier of twomen’s professional golf in

Europe – with a 74 to nish on one-under-par in the 36-hole event following an opening 69. Despite starting her nal round with a nervy double bogey, Landgraf bounced back with ve birdies to secure a place in the playo , and then clinched her rst professional victory when birdieing the rst extra hole against her fellow French player Charlotte

Liautier and Pasqualle Co a of the Netherlands. “It feels amazing to win,” said the teenager, who had her father on caddie duties. “To win on a professional tour is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and to do so in my home country is especially nice. It was my rst time playing this course, and I think I did a good job.”

BIGGER & BETTER CALLAWAY UNVEILS THE ALL-NEW BIG BERTHA RANGE TRIED & TESTED PING G430 IRONS ECCO BIOM H4 SHOES PRO SHOP YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR LAUNCHES IN FOCUS SKECHERS SHOES KBS SHAFTS

THE GEAR EFFECT

INSIDE THE BAG OF THE RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR

MATT FITZPATRICK

RBC HERITAGE

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Ping G430 MAX (3, 15°),

Ping G410 (7, 20.5°)

IRONS: Ping i210 (4), Ping S55 (5-PW)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52°, 56°), Titleist Vokey Design (60°)

PUTTER: Bettinardi BB1 Fitz

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

PABLO LARRAZÁBAL

KOREA CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°)

FAIRWAY: Callaway Paradym (16.5° & 18°)

UTILITY: Callaway X Forged UT (24°)

IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (5-7), Callaway MB (8-P)

WEDGES: Callaway MD4 (50°, 56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot Versa 7

BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track

TONY FINAU

MEXICO OPEN

DRIVER: Ping G425 LST (7.5°)

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond T (3, 14°)

IRONS: Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3), Ping Blueprint (4-PW)

WEDGES: Ping Glide 4.0 (50, 56), Titleist

Vokey Design Proto (60°)

PUTTER: Ping PLD Anser 2D prototype

BALL: Titleist Pro V1

LILIA VU

CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER: TaylorMade Stealth (10.5°)

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Stealth (3, 15°)

HYBRID: Srixon ZX

IRONS: Srixon Z585 (4), Srixon Z785 (5-PW)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM8 (56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Golo 5

BALL: Titleist ProV1x

LUCAS HERBERT

ISPS HANDA CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5°)

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (3, 15°), TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (5, 18°)

IRONS: TaylorMade P·770 (4), TaylorMade

P·7TW (5-PW)

WEDGES: TaylorMade MG3 (50°, 56°, 60°)

PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast

BALL: TaylorMade TP5

NICK HARDY

ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

DRIVER: Titleist TSi2 (8°)

FAIRWAYS: Titleist TSi2 (3, 15°)

IRONS: Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-PW)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design (50°, 56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Swag prototype

BALL: Titleist ProV1x

DAVIS RILEY

ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

DRIVER: Titleist TSR3 (8°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TSR3 (3,15°), Titleist TSR2 (5, 18°)

IRONS: Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 CB (5,6), Titleist 620 MB (7-9)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46°, 50°, 56°, 60°)

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 7.2

BALL: Titleist ProV1

EQUIPMENT NEWS

PING G430 IRONS TRIED & TESTED

GN Editor Nick Bayly takes Ping’s latest set of game improvement irons out for a spin

As a high-teens handicapper who needs plenty of help in the off-centre distance department, I’ve been firmly in the target demographic for Ping’s G Series irons ever since it launched the G2 back in 2003.

Twenty years on, and having gone through sets of G5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s and 30s, I’m still very much a ‘G Man’, even more so now that my swing speed with an iron in hand is gradually dipping into the low 80s, and my point of contact with the centre of the clubface not always being on point, shall we say.

So it was with something approaching excitement that this somewhat older and slightly more cynical – and certainly not wiser – golfer took Ping’s latest generation of the G Series out for a spin.

The G Series has always been about offering explosive distance on centre strikes, while also not overly punishing miss-hits, and with golf being essentially a game of misses, the better your misses are the better your score is going to be. That being the case I’m not sure I’ve ever tested an iron that’s better at dealing with misses than the G430s, so if you value forgiveness above all other factors in your iron set, then put this magazine down now and go and book a fitting with your local PING dealership.

Hopefully those of you that are still here will also like to know that centre strikes are equally rewarded, with those hit out of the screws travelling like absolute rockets, although thankfully not like the one’s built by Elon Musk.

Through impact the feel is firm with a little explosive pop, with good strikes rewarded with distance that I’ve not encountered with previous G irons.

This was certainly borne out with my Flightscope readings on the range, with my 9-iron averaging 150 yards (carry +

roll), the 7-iron weighing in at 175 yards, and my 5-iron going into orbit with an average 206, with the longest being 215, which I had to triple check to believe. Feedback is precise and noticeable through the hands and the ears, and you’ll have no problems distinguishing misses on the toe from those on the heel or those hit low or high on the face.

Many irons do a great job retaining ball speed on miss-hits, and the G430 irons are certainly in that group. The new PurFlex Technology is critical to making a wider range of the face fast, but where the G430 irons separate themselves is in dispersion. Thanks to tungsten weights in the toe and shaft tip, these irons are incredibly stable, and my dispersion rates were among the tightest I’ve ever experienced with an iron. What I also noticed was a tightening of the yardage gaps between clubs. In the G425 irons there were 4.5° or 5° loft gaps between clubs, but in the G430 irons that’s down to 4 degrees. The upshot is that the G430 irons can match any of today’s longest irons on pure strikes, but the trajectories are such that your approach shots will still hold the green.

With all this power and forgiveness at your disposal you’d fully expect the 430s to

RAHM PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH TRAVISMATHEW CUATER

World No.1 Jon Rahm is riding on the crest of a comfortable wave thanks his partnership with apparel and footwear brand TravisMathew, whose gear he has been using since 2021, the year he won the US Open. The Spaniard has benefitted from Travis Mathew’s Cuater’s performance Tour golf shoe for all four of his PGA Tour wins in 2023, including The Masters in April, and he was also seen out in the company’s The Ringer shoes at this month’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Speaking about his performance-enhancing footwear, Rahm said: “I think the game changer has been the shoes I am wearing. They are a lot more comfortable. I have done some great work with the Cuater and TravisMathew team and I think it has allowed me to be a little bit more stable and up my ball speed and swing speed without losing any control. I can keep that speed up from the first tee shot on Thursday to the last one on Sunday a little bit more consistently.”

TravisMathew’s Cuater The Ringer shoe delivers ultimate comfort with lightweight support, breathability, and moisture management in an attractive, waterproof style. The shoes come with layers of moulded foam to provide a secure and responsive fit.

TravisMathew is currently running a promotion, with anyone purchasing a pair of Cuater shoes gifted a free pair of Cuater socks. For more idetails, visit eu.travismathew.com/cuater.

look like snow shovels, but Ping has done a great job in packing all this extra oomph into a pretty compact design, with medium heel-to-toe length and a moderate amount of offset that does not offend the eye. While by no means thin, the top line is shaped to further reduce its dimensions, while the cavity is only slightly visible in the long irons at address.

My one note of caution – although it might just be me – is that unless you’re a high launch or high spin player, the G430 4-iron is harder to launch skywards than previous G Series models. It’s consistent, but I found it harder to get the trajectory that I was looking for. This was evidenced in that it was some 20 yards shorter on average than the 5-iron, with much reduced carry. Thankfully, I’ve got a G430 4-hybrid in the bag for when I need to play that kind of shot. Also, with the PW set at a loft of 41 degrees, you also might consider some additional support in your wedge options to fill the gap to your lowest lofted specialist wedge, but Ping has that covered with its Glide range, which starts at 46°.

As always, Ping has a wealth of fitting options, including three loft configurations – Standard, Power Spec (stronger), and Retro Spec (weaker) – for players who want higher or lower ball flight throughout the set. New for G430 is the High Launch, which includes a lighter shaft, lighter grip, and lighter weights in the head, all for the purpose of helping golfers create more swing speed and distance. That could be my next option when my swing speed dips below 80mph, but for now the standard G430s look like doing a fine job.

RRP: £150/£160 per iron (st/gr).

CALLAWAY REBOOTS BIG BERTHA RANGE

One of the most iconic brand names in golf equipment has been given a reboot with the launch of the all-new Big Bertha range of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons from Callaway Golf.

Updated from the super game improvement Big Bertha range launched in 2021, the 2023 models are designed to provide game-changing performance and make the game more fun for players of all abilities who want to launch the ball higher and play with more confidence every time they tee it up.

The Big Bertha Driver (£499) boasts an ultralow and forward centre of gravity for players who want to reduce their slice for straight distance and an easy launch. From the generous profile to the high-strength XL face, these drivers are built for more confidence and for players to find more fairways. Offered in 9°, 10.5° (RH/LH) and 12° (RH only) models, it also feature an all-new lightweight Jailbreak system has been enhanced to deliver stability and incredibly fast ball speeds across the face.

The Big Bertha Fairway Woods (£329), which are available in seven lofts from 3- to 9-wood, boast an extremely forgiving shape and enhanced offset for players who want to limit their slices and are looking for easy launch, fast ball speeds, and more accuracy. Jailbreak with Batwing Technology stabilizes the body, while allowing the face to flex for incredibly fast ball speeds, longer carry and more distance. An OptiFit Hosel enables loft to be adjusted across the entire range +/- 2 degrees.

There are also seven models to choose from in Big Bertha Hybrid range (£279), from 19° all the way up to 36°, with each model adjustable +/- 2 degrees. Featuring enhanced offset, so shots fly straight, they are easy to hit and launch extremely high from precisely positioned internal tungsten weighting. Jailbreak with Batwing Technology stabilizes the body, while allowing the face to flex for incredibly fast ball speeds, longer carry and more distance.

Finally, the Big Bertha irons (£1,149/£1,299 st/gr, 5-PW), promote incredible forgiveness in a generous, confidenceinspiring shape. Using cutting edge A.I. technology and

premium performance materials such as tungsten, these irons are engineered to deliver easy distance and powerful iron shots, even on off-centre hits. ach head throughout the set features a unique A.I. pattern to optimize speed and spin across the face are designed with thicker toplines, wider soles, enhanced offset, and longer blade lengths to create forgiveness and a straight ball flight. Boasting a durable black smoke finish, Big Bertha irons utilize lightweight components to provide an easy-toswing package, while Callaway’s Urethane Microspheres produce outstanding feel while maintaining exceptional ball speeds.

SKECHERS GO GOLF ELITE 5 SLIP-INS

We’ve all been a little lazy putting our golf shoes on at some point, trying to push our feet into a pair without unlacing them, and squashed the heel. Well those uncomfrtoable days are over following the launch the new SKECHERS GO GOLF ELITE 5 SLIP-INS. Available for men and women, they are designed to be put on like that with no adverse e ects to the shoe, making them both a time saver, and a life saver for the less supple golfer who struggles to get down to untie their laces.

Once you’ve slipped the shoe on, Heel Pillow Technology locks the foot into place while feeling supremely comfortable. The shoes feature a Twist Fit dial to secure the t of the shoe. But once this is adjusted, you just slip in and out of the show with no further tightening. The combination gets you feeling locked in, and able to make a strong move at the ball.

Skechers dial up the comfort underfoot as well. Arch Fit is used in the footbed, and is the result of research in conjunction with podiatrists. The removable arch support can help with foot, knee and lower back pain. Ultra Flight cushioning keeps the foot feeling fresh throughout the round, plush and springy polyurethane, the foam is ultra-comfortable while being supportive. Keeping you in contact wih the ground is a GRIPFLEX spikeless TPU outsole that provides traction and stability throughout the swing, as well as while walking the course.

£145

SKECHERS SLIP-INS TO SOMETHING COMFORTABLE

World renowned for its out-of-the-box comfort, Skechers is taking its latest range of golf shoes to the next level with the introduction of hands-free Slip-Ins technology, which o ers the ultimate in ease of use

SKECHERS GO GOLF PRO 5 HYPER

Skechers’ Tour-level shoe, the GO GOLF PRO 5 HYPER is worn by Matt Fitzpatrick on the PGA Tour. As a big football and She eld United fan, the shoes are inspired in their design by classic football boots.

Featuring the same Arch Fit comfort insole as the GO GOLF ELITE 5 SLIP-INS, it also uses an ultra-lightweight Hyper Bust foam midsole. It’s so comfortable while saving weight and is unlike any other foam on the market. The shoes are fully waterproof and feature replaceable Soft Spikes for the ultimate in traction.

WOMEN’S SKECHERS GO GOLF MAX 2 –SPLASH

Designed to make a splash on the course with an eye-catching watercolour print, the GO GOLF Max 2-Splash is one of many stylish designs in the women’s line up. Featuring the same removable Arch Fit insoles and lightweight ULTRA FLIGHT cushioning as the SLIP-INS, they feature a spikeless, TPU outsole and synthetic upper with one-year waterproof warranty. The are tremendous

XXIO PRIME IRONS

7-PW £1,279, EU.DUNLOPSPORTS.COM

Designed in Japan and incredibly easy to use, these are the ultimate irons to help an ageing golfer regain lost yardage. The irons feature a SUPER-TIX titanium face and a rebound frame, combining for super-fast ball speeds, especially on shots hit low on the clubface. Super lightweight shafts weight plus grips are designed to rebalance the clubs to make them easier to swing.

BUSHNELL V6 LASER RANGEFINDER

£399, BUSHNELLGOLFGLOBAL.COM

When it comes to rangefinders, Bushnell is a clear the number one, trusted by 99% of Tour players. So when they release a new model, you know it has to be better than what has come before. A new algorithm means the PinSeeker with Visual JOLT technology provides even greater confidence that you’ve locked onto the flag or your intended target. Slope-Switch technology in the Tour V6 Shift adjusts the yardage for elevation changes but can importantly be switched off for competition rounds.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR PRO SHOP

Golf News Equipment Editor Dan Owen offers the inside track on the latest golf gear

FOOTJOY STASOF GLOVE

£22.99, FOOTJOY.CO.UK

SUN MOUNTAIN MID-STRIPE STAND BAG

£329, BRANDFUSION.CO.UK

Retro is in when it comes to golf this year. The Mid-Stripe combines the style of classic vinyl golf bags with the attributes of a modern stand bag with full-length dividers and a double strap. But don’t just stop at the bag – a full range of matching accessories is available including a holdall, alignment stick covers, towel and a single strap for the ultimate retro golf bag.

FootJoy has launched an updated version of its popular StaSof glove which has been a mainstay of the brand’s portfolio for over 40 years. Worn by more Tour players than any other glove, the StaSof promises optimum feel and unmatched grip. The latest StaSof uses a new premium Cabretta leather which maximises moisture resistance, providing enhanced grip and durability in all weather conditions, while its handcrafted construction and angled tab closure provides the best possible fit for every golfer. PowerNet mesh and perforations along the fingers increases breathability, moisture control and fit consistency.

PUMA GOLF ALPHACAT NITRO

£130, UK.PUMA.COM

Puma’s latest spikeless golf shoe boasts enhanced cushioning and energy return through the use of a new nitrogen-infused foam footbed. The uppers feature a mesh design to provide support while walking and during the phases of the swing, while a durable, dual-material sole provides grip and stability in a wide variety of turf and weather conditions. It is available in six colour combinations in the laced model in men’s sizes 7-12.

PHIZZ HYDRATION TABLETS

£7.99, PHIZZ.CO

According to Phizz, 94% of the UK population are dehydrated, and on average we drink less than half the recommended daily intake of water. This isn’t going to help us at any time, but the effects are all the more obvious on the golf course. Phizz is packed with electrolytes to make it three times more hydrating than the equivalent glass of water. It’s also jam-packed with 375% of your daily recommended Vitamin C, as well as vitamins B-12 and B-6, Zinc, and Potassium. Offered in four flavours – orange, mixed berry, mango and apple & blackcurrant – it tastes good too.

PXG 0311 GEN6 HYBRID

£289, PXG.COM

PXG has always made exceptional hybrids, and the new 0311 GEN6 is arguably its best yet. With a lightweight carbon crown and three adjustable sole weights, PXG has lowered the centre of gravity to raise the launch while controlling spin. The three weights can be used to influence shot shape, and in combination with the adjustable hosel, this is the most customisable hybrid on the market.

MOTOCADDY FLIGHTSAFE TRAVEL COVER

£200, MOTOCADDY.COM

CALLAWAY JAWS RAW WEDGES

£159,

CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

Callaway has extended its line-up of Jaws Raw wedges, adding new grinds, as well as high-toe and full-face options. New lofts, a new C grind, and the black plasma finish for left-handers are additions to the standard wedge. A full-face groove option has been made available in lob wedge lofts. The J grind high toe option raises the centre of gravity for a lower more controlled flight, while also allowing for more versatility around the greens.

TAYLORMADE BRNR MINI DRIVER

£379, TAYLORMADEGOLF.CO.UK

Inspired by the classic Burner Bubble, the new BRNR Mini Driver is designed for the golfer who wants a fairway finder. At 306cc and 43.75 inches long, it’s significantly larger than a 3-wood, but substantially smaller than most drivers, making it easy to hit from the tee while being versatile enough to use off the deck. The copper-infused carbon crown saves weight that has been utilised with adjustable front and back weighting. This can be used to lower spin for a more penetrating flight or raise spin to make it easier to use off the deck. It is offered in 11.5° and 13.5° lofts.

This innovative travel cover/flight bag from Motocaddy addresses two of the main issues I’ve ever had with them. Firstly, it can be packaged down to take up very little room when not being used. Secondly, it offers a level of protection I’ve not seen in any other travel cover design, with the storage case becoming an internal clubhead protector when the travel cover is being used. It also has six wheels to help you glide across the airport concourse with ease. Clever stuff.

TRIED & TESTED

ECCO BIOM H4 SHOES

ECCO golf shoes have always provoked a Marmite reaction among golfers, and I’ll be the rst to admit that some of its early models, although ground-breaking in terms of their level of comfort and versatility, looked a little pasty like – as in the Cornish hand-held pastry-based comestible – to my eye.

Thankfully, ECCO listened to feedback from customers and each new generation has looked palpably better than the last. And I think they’ve de nitely nailed it with the BIOM H4, an update to the model rst introduced in 2021 that is designed to be worn year-round, but will come into its own in the wetter months thanks to its outstanding waterproo ng qualities and the impressive levels of traction o ered by its spikeless sole design.

As well as being o ered in six new colours, the latest BIOM H4 features a

reworked upper, notably around the toe area, and this provides a much sleeker and slimmer looking hybrid shoe. It’s also noticeable that the tongue has been redesigned to produce a more ergonomic shape that ts much more comfortably to the foot, while there’s a handy tag at the back of the shoe to help you get some purchase when putting them on.

Straight out of the box, the BIOM H4 o ers a sleek and sporty style, with a contrasting colour pop on the mid-section of the sole immediately making it stand out from the crowd. The uppers are crafted from premium ECCO leather, which gives it a soft feel with a classy matt nish. Wrapping around the foot from the outsole to the midsole, the shoe features X-TENSA technology, which connects the TPU element on the side with the lace system to enhance lateral stability while adding to its contemporary design.

The out-of-the-box comfort is impressive, and the sole, which features three di erent densities, feels rmer in the heel, while o ering more ex around the mid-foot to allow the foot to move naturally while still feeling supported in all the right places. At impact, it provides a solid, stable platform and despite playing in wet underfoot conditions, I never felt the slightest possibility of slipping, while the shoe kept my socks dry, thanks to its Gore-Tex lining, there was no hint of moisture build-up inside after fours of walking in humid conditions.

I could absolutely see myself wearing these for 8-9 months of the year, and then switching to a more summery shoe for warmer rounds, but given its hybrid qualities, you could wear them 365 days a year and have nothing to complain about.

RRP: £170, gb.ecco.com

If you’re in the habit of cycling to the golf course and don’t fancy carrying a full bag of clubs on your back, or if you’re simply looking for a new way to transport a half-set of clubs around the course in comfort, then the all-new Grasshopper Back Pack might be worth a look.

Capable of holding up to seven clubs, the Grasshopper looks like and is operated like a ruck sack, with the whole thing designed to be carried on your back courtesy of two padded shoulder straps. The outer shell is made from a waterresistant and extremely durable ballistic nylon, while the interior features padded slots at the bottom for the clubheads, and a horizontal row of plastic receptacles at the top, which the club shafts pop in and out of. This neat arrangement keeps the clubs rmly in place, so they don’t knock against one another while you’re walking.

There’s a mesh interior pocket for balls and tees, and a further zippered interior pocket for wallets and phones, and an exterior pocket on one side for a water bottle, plus a set of shock cords on the other side for carrying an umbrella.

SPRING INTO ACTION WITH A GRASSHOPPER

The Grasshopper also features a kickstand which stays folded into the padded back panels of the backpack when not needed, but it automatically ips out to prop the pack up when it’s placed on the ground. There’s also a rain cover, which can be fastened over the whole pack on wet days. RRP: £255. To nd out more, visit grasshopperbags.com.

SHOT SCOPE GOES THE DISTANCE WITH PRO L2

The all-new PRO L2 from Shot Scope, costing just £149.99, could really shake up the range nder market, whose prices have been gradually going north of late.

The compact unit gives accurate distances out on the course with improved speed when picking up targets – utilising the same rmware as the more expensive PRO LX range nder. Target-lock vibration gives you con dence in hitting the target and selecting the right club for every shot, while slope-adjusted distances take any elevation changes on the course into account. For added assurance, the adaptive slope technology can be turned on or o to comply with the rules of golf or any tournament regulations.

Also new for a Shot Scope laser is the addition a strong built-in magnet to enable you to attach it to a buggy or magnetic trolley for added convenience and accessibility.

SWING OUT IN STYLE WITH LYLE & SCOTT

Premium British lifestyle brand Lyle & Scott looks coastward for the inspiration behind its bold and inclusive Spring/ Summer apparel collection.

From its Scottish roots in Hawick to its customers across the globe, the latest collection represents the latest chapter of the brand’s rich heritage and pioneering spirit. Simple in nature, yet demanding of endurance, patience, and skill, Lyle & Scott draws parallels between lives spent on the high seas and on the fairways for its golf range.

The collection balances functional, seasonless looks with an every-day, lifestyleled appeal. From ne knits to padded jackets, gilets and hoodies, the collection provides a layering-friendly ensemble of styles to segue e ortlessly from the golf course to the clubhouse and beyond.

Lyle & Scott take time and care to craft a range of golf wear that blends innovation with functionality. These steps can be seen in the Golf Windjammer Hoodies, Seafoam Gilets, ¼ Zip Midlayers and Airlight Trousers & Shorts; be that with

moisture-wicking properties or improved breathability with a better stretch on fabrics for improved motion. There’s also the chance to look your best at the clubhouse with the timeless nish of its golf cardigans and crew knits.

Alongside modern golfwear, established favourites in the polo shirt categories continue Lyle & Scott’s tradition of producing premium quality golf clothing for the needs of any modern golfer.

For more details, visit www.lyleandscott.com.

Golf News Editor Nick Bayly slips into a pair of ECCO’s new Biom H4 Hybrid shoes and finds out whether they add some necessary bounce to his game

KBS GOLF HAS A SHAFT FOR E V E R Y O N E

Who are KBS shafts?

KBS was established in 2008 by our founder Kim Braly. The brand was credible on tour from the outset because Kim had an exceptional reputation for golf shaft design. He has the ability to understand what players need, whether they are elite tour players or club golfers. We o er shafts for all levels of golfer in di erent weights, exes and shaft pro les. Now we also have steel and graphite options for every club in the bag. KBS is going from strength to strength, as no other brand o ers such a comprehensive range of shafts, especially not in two materials.

What does a typical week look like for you on tour?

I generally attend 24-25 tournaments a year. It normally starts with a 2:00 AM alarm clock on a Monday morning. I then a drive to the airport, jump on an airplane, hire a car, and then get to the tournament around 10:30am.

KBS supplies shafts to every golf club manufacturer, so I check with all the trucks that they have what they need. If I see the winner of last week’s tournament, I’ll say congrats. I’m not allowed to approach the players about the shafts. They have to approach you. However, I’ve worked out here for years, so a lot of the players know me. I’ll take a walk down the range and have a chat with some of the players, coaches and caddies. If they mention something is o with their shaft, I’ll take a look and see if there is something I can help them with. Some players tell you what shafts they want, while others want your advice on what they should play depending on conditions that week or for tournaments coming up.

Some tournaments are non-stop, especially if I haven’t been on tour for a while. And sometimes I can be chasing around the tour trucks trying to nd a particular set of shafts for a player. When a golfer needs tting, I spend several hours on the range with the player hitting shots using a launch monitor to check through all the numbers. When

Equipment editor Dan Owen caught up with Paul Steels , the DP World Tour Rep for KBS Sha s, to nd out what his job entails and why there is a KBS sha for everyone

I rst joined KBS, we had three sets in play in Europe. On any given week, we now have 35-45 players with our products in the bag.

When I leave the event on a Wednesday before the tournament starts, I produce a status report. I know the exact specs for any DP World Tour Player using KBS shafts. With golf clubs going missing in transit more often than you’d imagine at aiports, it’s essential we know exactly what we have to get to the manufacturer to build an identical replacement set.

What are the most successful shaft models on tour?

On the DP World Tour there is a good split of di erent iron shafts in play. However, our C-Taper is popular because it’s sti and helps strong players control launch and spin. But we have many models in play, such as $-Taper, C-Taper Lite, Tour V and the original KBS Tour. These shafts aren’t being picked just because the player is familiar with them, they’re being chosen because they perform for the player.

Are tour players more open to graphite shafts in their irons?

We do really well with graphite shafts on the LPGA and LET. But, there are some well-known players on the Legends Tour who have started using our TGI Tour Graphite 90, 100 and 110 grams in their irons. Back in the day they would never have thought about trying Graphite iron shafts when they were on the European Tour as it was then, but it o ers them the same levels of control, a bit more distance and it helps absorbs aches and pains, so yes, the stigma of using a Graphite is dwindling. We’ve seen in the last few years on the PGA Tour some highpro le players having Graphite wedge

NO OTHER BRAND OFFERS SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SHAFTS

shafts for added control and of course every player uses Graphite in there woods and hybrids.

What can you tell us about the new KBS GPS putter shaft?

It’s the rst Graphite putter shaft we’ve o ered and in recent testing, because the shaft is so rm, miss-hit putts on the toe or heel won’t twist the face as much at impact. The shaft also has a soft feel and increases the MOI of the putter and makes it more forgiving. It makes 3ft putts a virtual certainty! Plus, we’ve got two tip sizes in eight di erent colour options and we o er each colour in Matte and Gloss nishes to provide an option to really customize the look of the putter.

How does the shaft being used on tour a ect amateur golfers?

It’s all to do with brand exposure. Golfers see the red and black label being played by the best golfers in the world and they know they can trust the performance of KBS shafts. I’ve been out on tour for over 20 years, I know if we can get half a dozen of the GPS putter shafts in play on tour, we will get a lot of enquiries because they look so cool and golfers will notice them!

You may not need the same spec shafts as the tour players, but you can trust they’ve been designed to perform by one of the golf industry’s greatest talents. There isn’t a golfer in the world I can’t t with the KBS range.

For further information visit: kbsgolfshafts.com

SEEMORE PVD MODEL T

£254, SEEMOREPUTTERS.CO.UK

If alignment is an issue for you, SeeMore’s Rifle Scope technology might be the answer. By hiding the red dot behind the shaft at address, it ensures the clubface and loft of the putter are in exactly the same position every time. The PVD series feature a milled aluminium insert for a soft feel, while the Model T features an extreme heeland-toe design for maximum forgiveness.

PXG BATTLE READY HERCULES

£349, PXG.COM

PXG Battle Ready putters feature a unique Pyramid face design, the graduated groove depth ensures consistency in rollout wherever the putter is struck across the face. Tungsten weighting adds forgiveness, while the adjustable weight allows head weight to be fine-tuned. Offered in with a choice four different hosels to suit your stroke, Battle Ready putters are also available with a graphite shaft for extra stability.

SCOTTY CAMERON SUPER SELECT GOLO 6.5

£429, TITLEIST.CO.UK

Designed to increase forgiveness while improving feel, the 303 stainless steel Super Select putters feature a new dualmilled face milling for a softer feel and more consistent roll. The I-beam neck design takes weight from the hosel, and along with saved weight from bigger milled cherry bombs in the cavity, that can be redistributed to the heel and toe of the putter. An aluminium sole plate is used to help increase MOI.

ODYSSEY VERSA 7

£279, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

Returning a decade after their original release, Odyssey has brought back Versa. The black-and-white extreme contrast alignment helps golfers with their aim at address and throughout the stroke, really highlighting a square face angle. Featuring the classic soft White Hot insert, it comes stock with the Stroke Lab graphite shaft for added consistency.

TAYLORMADE SPIDER GT

£299, TAYORMADEGOLF.CO.UK

The Spider GTX combines the best features of the Spider Tour and Spider X models. Featuring True Path Alignment, it allows for easy and precise alignment to the target. The PureRoll² face insert offers a consistent end-over-end roll. The Spider GTX ranks among the most forgiving Spider putters of all time with MOI above 5,300, due to the heavy 154g stability bar at the rear of the putter equating to 45% of the putter’s total weight.

THE MONEY MAKERS

Putt for dough with this season’s latest mallet models

BETTINARDI SS35

£429, BETTINARDI.CO.UK

The Bettinardi aficionado will really appreciate the SS35, a design previously only available as a limited edition known as the Boxcar, a mallet design with a truncated straight rear edge. 100% precision milled from a single block of 303 Stainless Steel in Chicago, the putters use Roll Control Face milling for an improved roll and soft feel. It also features a Diamond Blast finish to reduce glare at address.

PING OSLO

£399, PING.COM

4

A favoured mallet shape on tour, the highly forgiving Oslo is milled from a solid block of stainless steel. The putter is equipped with an Anser 4-style hosel to make it a good fit for strong-arc stroke types. The full-length alignment line contrasts with the matte-black head for a look clean at address while drawing the eye forward.

CLEVELAND FRONTLINE ELITE ELEVADO

£249, EU.DUNLOPSPORTS.COM

Frontline Elite putters feature a unique Metal Injected Tungsten face insert that moves the centre of gravity towards the face. This reduces face rotation on miss-hits and helps more putts roll on the intended line. Featuring the same soft face as the HB Soft Milled putters, they also feature counterbalance weights beneath the grip to raise the balance point for a more consistent stroke. These are available with the UST All-In shaft for added stability.

CAMIRAL

CALLS

SPAIN'S TOP-RANKED RESORT GETS A BRAND REFRESH

TEE OFF IN TENERIFE WHERE TO PLAY & STAY

ME & MY TRAVELS WITH CHRIS HOLLINS

TRAVEL NEWS

TEMPTING TENERIFE

Blessed with a permanent spring-like climate, and a small but stunning choice of courses, Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, makes an ideal destination for a golfing getaway at any time of year, says Nick

Bayly

Although initially nding it hard to shrug o its reputation as one of the birthplaces of the package holiday, Tenerife has moved on considerably from the bucket and spade breaks that dominated the glossy brochures in the windows of your local Thomson Holidays shop in the 1970s.

Thanks to the arrival of world-class hotel brands, and a number of boutique alternatives to the lowrent chains that dominate the party capital resort of Playa de Las Américas, Tenerife has successfully rebranded itself as a place for cool kids and well-healed families to kick back during the holiday season.

And with a climate that settles around a balmy 24 degrees during the winter, and hotter summer days cooled by light ocean breezes, it’s easy to see why this stunning island located 200 miles o the coast of Morocco makes an ideal location for a spot of R&R.

Although beach-goers came rst in the holiday stampede, golfers were not slow to follow, with the island now o ering six 18-hole courses on which to while away a week or two under cloudless skies.

Split in half by the snow-capped extinct volcano of Mount Teide, the southern half of the island o ers the greatest concentration of golf courses, with four championship layouts within a few miles of each other strung out along the Atlantic Coast. The best of these is undoubtedly Abama, a luxury hotel and golf resort located on the rugged southwest coast, which raised the stakes for both

hotels and golf in Tenerife when it rst opened in 2005.

Styled on a Moorish village, the ve-star resort occupies a 400-acre cli -top location overlooking the island of La Gomera. Owned by Ritz-Carlton, it enjoys an elevated status as a playground for Europe’s holidaying elite, with well-healed families ocking to make use of its all-inclusive kids’ club during the peak holiday season. Adult guests are also likely to be won over by its choice of 10 restaurants ¬– two of which, M.B. and Kabuki, are Michelin-starred – its superb spa, seven tennis courts, private beach, choice of elegant suites and private villas (butlers can be provided), and, of course, its 18-hole championship golf course. Host venue for the Tenerife Ladies Open way back when, the 6,818-yard layout, which was designed by the late Dave Thomas, winds its way through thousands of palm trees and cacti and o ers spectacular views of the Atlantic and the island of La Gomera. There are 22 lakes, joined by a series of waterfalls, while numerous large bunkers, lled with brilliant white sand, add to the challenge. With dramatic elevation changes,

TENERIFE HAS SUCCESSFULLY REBRANDED ITSELF AS A PLACE FOR COOL KIDS AND WELL-HEALED FAMILIES TO KICK BACK DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

■ THE ABAMA RESORT OFFERS FIVE-STAR FACILITIES ON AND OFF THE GOLF COURSE

■ TECINA ENJOYS A STUNNING CLIFF-TOP LOCATION ON LA GOMERA

buggies are essential, and while the green fee is double what is charged at many other venues in the region, it is well worth the investment.

Thomas’s brief was to give the owners the ‘Augusta in the Atlantic’, and he certainly did this with regard to the speed of the greens, as they initially ran so fast that the women pros playing in the rst Tenerife Ladies Open were putting o the greens with alarming regularity. Fortunately, the greens have slowed down a bit since then, and they putt smoothly, but still have some very imaginative pin positions.

The opening section of holes meander about on the upper slopes, while the back nine moves onto the lower, with the 700-feet drop between the two making a buggy all but essential. Arguably the most scenic of the many stunning holes, as well as the toughest, is the par- ve 10th. Plunging downhill from a high tee near the clubhouse, the ideal shot is a left-to-right slider avoiding a lake on the left, then a mid-iron across the edge of a second stretch of water to set up a pitch to the green.

La Gomera, the aforementioned island that Abama overlooks, is also home to another ‘mustplay venue’ on any golf trip to Tenerife – namely Tecina. Requiring a fast ferry ride from Los Cristianos harbour, and a 45-minute drive on one of the greatest roads in the world, Tecina is one of the gol ng wonders of the world. Quite how the architect shoehorned the layout on the land available is a mystery, but he pulled it o with aplomb.

After checking in at the clubhouse, the rst tee requires an almost 600-foot vertical drive up a buggy path. Passing all the holes on the way, you see how the use of terracing on a former banana plantation has enabled a spectacular layout to be sculpted, providing testing holes and a view of the ocean and the ever-present Mount Tiede from all of

them. Signature holes are many, with the 4th, 10th and 12th, with their exposed greens, being strong candidates for showstoppers After a round, golfers can hole up at the Hotel Jardin Tecina, a beautiful boutique-style hotel that overlooks the course and is under the same ownership as the golf club or jump back on the ferry to the mainland where other gol ng delights await.

Love it or loathe it, there’s no getting away from Los Cristianos if you’re a golfer, as the courses at Las Americas and Costa Adeje are both situated right in the downtown area, among the hotels and apartments. They play very di erently, however, with Las Americas, as the name suggests, being an American-style course in both its design and condition. Penal water hazards abound, and with the fairways not overly generous, accuracy is much more critical than length, with short game skills reaping more reward than expertise with a driver. That said, good luck with the killer par-three fourth hole – which requires a 200-yard heave over water and to a well-bunkered green.

For a striking contrast try Costa Adeje, a past host venue for the Ladies European Tour’s Spanish Open, where black volcanic sand lies around the fringes of the fairways and provides a spectacular backdrop to any round. The other striking feature is slightly more man-made, and comes in the form of raised terraces, which are a hangover of an old banana plantation on which the course was built. The designer has kept these tiered banks on the fairways of some holes, which can make driving a buggy a rather hazardous occupation, as well as creating some awkward lies.

Two par-threes spring to mind when talking about Adeje’s signature holes. At the lowest point on the course, the fth is only a 140-yard ick, but a narrow green front to rear, perched about 30 feet above the tee, scrubland to the right and the prevailing wind o the sea to the right, conjures up echoes of Troon’s Postage Stamp. Two holes further on, the seventh is an equally testing prospect, requiring a 190-yard shot over a barranca of scrub. Golf del Sur, conveniently located near the airport in Los Cristianos, is another favourite on any Tenerife gol ng itinerary. Boasting three loops of nine – Links, North and South – it was host to several European Tour events in the early 90’s, and like Adeje, boasts more of that eye-catching and white-shoe ruining black sand, even in the bunkers. When the wind blows, and that is 90 per cent of the time in this part of the world, creative shot making is a necessity in your gol ng armoury to score well here, although generous fairways help prevent running up too many cricket scores.

And nally, no talk of golf and Spain can pass without referencing the late, great Seve Ballesteros. One of the most naturally gifted players the game has even seen, Seve was also quite a handy golf course designer, although his premature death in 2011 robbed us of the opportunity of playing more his architectural output. Thankfully he got around to creating Buenavista, an 18-hole championship course located on the rugged northwest of the island that truly lives up to its name. With stunning panoramic vistas from every hole on a course that is framed by the crashing waves of the Atlantic on one side and the Teno mountain range on the other, Seve has weaved his magic to create a superb holiday track that has a unique mix of six par threes, six fours and six ves.

With many holes seemingly hanging out over the water’s edge – especially the par- ve 13th, and the stunning par threes at 15 and 17 – visitors will require the touch and imagination of the great man himself in order to score well, especially when the wind is up. And after your game, the adjacent ve-star Buenavista Golf is a relaxing spot to relive your nest Seve moments in suitable luxury.

With just a four-hour ight, and such a small but excellent stock of memorable courses to play and luxury hotels to stay in, I’d strongly advise reassessing any preconceptions you had of Tenerife. But just in case, don’t forget to bring your bucket and spade, a knotted hanky, and a threeday old copy of The Sun for blending-in purposes.

■ BUENAVISTA GOLF IS A SEVE BALLESTEROS DESIGN

■ COSTA ADEJE IS BUILT ON A FORMER BANANA PLANTATION

FIND YOUR INNER CALM AT CAMIRAL

Choosing to change a brand name is never taken lightly and comes with many risks, chie y that of losing a long-standing connection with a loyal customer base, but it also allows companies to freshen up a product and to widen its appeal, whether that be the result of a new recipe or formula or just one of those ‘change for the sake of change’ relaunches that are a regular occurrence on the high street.

By their very nature, brand name changes of consumer goods have to happen virtually overnight, with old stock taken o the shelves one day and reappearing with new packaging the next. The same, as it became all too apparent on my recent trip to the golf resort formerly known as PGA Catalunya, doesn’t apply to holiday destinations. I lost count of the number of resort employees I encountered who started o sentences referring to ‘PGA Catalunya’, only to correct themselves with ‘Camiral’ and a nervous smile, while all over the 560acre estate there are signs that use the old or the new name, sometimes both, while the small bottles of water that are put in your golf buggy still display the ‘PGA Catalunya’ branding.

While I’m sure guests are unlikely to forget where they are – an hour north of Barcelona and 20 minutes south of Girona on Spain’s Costa Brava – the mixed messaging all points to a resort that is still very much in a transformative phase that, while still trading on its well-earned reputation as Spain’s top-rated golf resort, is taking a signi cant step into the fast-expanding health and wellness

Formerly known as PGA Catalunya, Spain’s top-rated golf resort is taking a new direction after rebranding itself Camiral Golf & Wellness , where a focus on health and wellbeing sits alongside its already impressive golf facilities and an ever-growing choice of high-quality accommodation

lifestyle market that attracts a much more diverse demographic than the ‘four blokes on tour’ that still dominates the traditional golf holiday landscape, at least from a UK perspective.

So that’s how we have ended up with Camiral Golf & Wellness. While the latter two elements are self-explanatory, ‘Camiral’ refers to an ancient route called the Cami Ral, or Royal Road, that leads from north-eastern Spain beyond the border with France. Now popular with hikers and cyclists, the route passes directly through the resort and explains why you’re just as likely to nd a group of Lycra-clad bikers or backpack-wearing walkers enjoying a beer around the hotel’s pool as you are a four-ball of chino-clad golfers. This also explains why my short trip to check out what PGA Catalunya 2.0 – ok, let’s stick to Camiral – has to o er guests in 2023 saw me spending almost as much time involved in a variety of mind and body-bending o -course activities, and exploring a variety of luxury apartments and villas, as I did trying to nudge my ball around the two 18hole championship courses on o er.

While given my age (54), gender (male) and level of interest (minimal), I generally give the spa element of any golf facility a wide birth if I can possibly help it, it wasn’t quite so easy for this correspondent, who, all in the name of research,

underwent a 3-minute cryotherapy chamber experience, an hour-long full body massage, a 30-minute countryside bike ride and a 25-minute Pilates class, by way of an introduction to the wellness experiences that are available to guests.

After coming through all elements relatively unscathed – although feeling anxious, relaxed, tense, calm, cold, hot, euphoric, sleepy and lightheaded at various times – I can safely say that if you’re after more than just a bog-standard two or three rounds of golf, plus dinner, B&B and a few beers, then Camiral is going to be right up your street – although if you aren’t, it does the golf-only package pretty well too.

And while standing in what is essentially a walk-in freezer in a pair of swimming trunks and gloves while the temperature plummets to -110c (yes, you

HOLE FOR HOLE, IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE STADIUM IS RIGHT UP THERE AMONG THE BEST COURSES IN EUROPE

■ HOTEL CAMIRAL IS THE RESORT’S FIVE-STAR OFFERING

■ THE STYLISH INTERIORS OF HOTEL CAMIRAL

■ THE CLUBHOUSE BAR & RESTAURANT

read that right), doesn’t sound like much fun, I can attest that a cryotherapy session will save fortunes on your home heating bills when family members start complaining that the thermostat has clicked o at 19c. A vital element of any elite sportsperson’s recovery process, cryotherapy is also gaining traction within the wellness community as a way of resetting the body’s functions, with all the blood rushing to save your vital organs from freezing up. Of more interest to me was the fact that it is also proven to boost your metabolic rate, and a threeminute session can burn o as many as 800 calories – more than three times than are to be found in a standard-sized Snickers bar.

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF

Suitably reset, and with the blood having just about returned to my ngers and toes, the prospect of taking on two of Europe’s toughest championship courses didn’t seem quite so terrifying. Well, it didn’t until I stood on the rst tee of Camiral’s Tour Course and wondered how long my supply of half-adozen balls would last given the narrowness of the fairways, the looming presence of trees, and the inconsistency of my swing.

Thankfully, I managed to nurdle my opening drive down the right side of the short stu , hit the green with my second, and a three-putt bogey from 30feet set the tone for the rest of the day.

While playing second ddle to the adjacent Stadium Course when it comes to rankings, the Tour Course is certainly no pushover in terms of its playability. Designed by Neil Coles and opened in 1995, the 6,600-yard course is part of the challenge that is presented to the DP World Tour’s qualifying school each year, where 150-plus hopefuls seek to earn one of 20 cards for the following season’s top tier tour in Europe in a 108-hole marathon that requires skill, stamina and concentration in equal measure. Sadly, I’m not blessed with any of those qualities, and although I was extremely proud to have made pars at all ve of the short holes, the Tour Course’s par 4s and 5s proved more challenging, even playing o the 6,000-yard yellow tees.

The Tour course is a tale of two halves, with the front nine meandering and undulating through beautiful pine forests, while the back nine opens out on to more open terrain that o ers views of the surrounding countryside and to the mountains in the distance. Highlight holes for me included the third, a 330-yard downhill par-4 that gently turns to the right before opening up a stunning view of shallow angled green protected by a large pond in front and a semi-circle of tall pines behind. The 550-yard 7th, the second of ve par-5s, is also a nice hole, with two decent blows required up the left side to get you into position on the corner of a dogleg to attack the green, while being careful to avoid an avenue of trees that block out those who stray too far right.

Water comes into play on the back nine, with the short par-4 12th inviting you to cut o a bit of the drive with an angled tee shot over a pond to set up a wedge to a raised green, while water also encroaches on the approach to the par-4 13th, and again on the drive and the approach to the par-5 15th. The par-5 18th provides a suitably taxing end to the round with the uphill lie of the land ensuring it plays every inch of its 525 yards, while plentiful bunkering, which is another feature of the course, ensures that anything hit marginally o -line with

temporarily halt your progress towards a wellearned drink in the clubhouse. All told, the Tour Course has any number of holes that would not look out of place on the much more highly rated Stadium course and is presented in excellent condition.

And so to the main event ¬– well it is if you aren’t that excited by oxygen tents and freeze chambers –the Stadium Course. Designed to rival TPC Sawgrass as the spiritual home of the erstwhile European Tour, the course opened in 1998 and right from the o was charged with hosting top- ight events, from the 1999 Gene Sarazen World Open, the 2000 Spanish Open – and again in 2009 and 2014 – and since then the 2022 Catalunya Championship and the aforementioned denouement of the DP World Tour’s Qualifying School. A bid to stage the 2023 Ryder Cup lost out to Marco Simone G&CC in Rome, but the Stadium very much remains a world-class venue worthy of staging top events, although perhaps lacking the space around the fairways to accommodate the crowds that are attracted to the Ryder Cup.

Hole for hole, it’s safe to say that the Stadium is right up there among the best in Europe. From the o it delivers on all levels, with each hole perfectly framed by tall r trees, lush vegetation, and an abundance of purple heather. The greens are well bunkered, many-tiered and always in tournament condition, making it quite easy to putt o the green should you nd yourself on the wrong side of a slope. Water is prevalent on many holes, most notably the par-5 third, where danger lurks to the left of the green; the par-4 fourth, where a pond fronts the left side approach to the green, the stunning par-3 11th, where anything hit long gets wet, and, of course, the iconic par-4 13th, where the shallowest of greens juts out into a lake and approaches hit short or long will require a reload.

a 2,000 square metre putting green and chipping area, while there are ve practice bunkers available, each containing di erent sand types (Augusta, St Andrews, Hawaii volcanic, Stadium Course and Pebble Beach). There is also an indoor swing studio looking out over the range that has been kitted out with all the latest coaching and club tting technology, including Trackman and GEARS, which pinpoints tiny aws – and big ones – in your swing through detailed biomechanical analysis.

ACCOMMODATION

Relaxation is certainly not hard to come by o the golf courses, with guests able to take their pick from two on-site hotels – the ve-star Camiral and the four-star La Vida. The latter is designed for guests who simply want comfortable lodgings between rounds of golf, while the former is for those who want a little more space, a few more luxury touches, a larger swimming pool, and all those spa and wellness treatment options right on the doorstep. For those looking for longer, self-catered stays, there are numerous apartments and villas available for rent, which are ideal for larger groups and families looking for that extra element of privacy, while still being close to the resort’s many facilities.

There are four restaurants, with the Camiral boasting the ne dining 1477, which focuses on Catalan-inspired dishes, while La Vida has an Italian restaurant which goes big on fresh pasta dishes and wood- red pizzas. There is also an excellent choice of freshly-cooked food on o er in the clubhouse, with its full-length terrace overlooking the Stadium Course, while the Lounge Bar in the Camiral Hotel is the place for pre-dinner cocktails and lighter bites. Beyond the con nes of the hotel, there are two football pitches – Atletico Madrid FC were staying here ahead of their game against Girona during my visit – tennis courts and paddle courts, and guests are welcome to explore the estate on mountain bikes, while there are miles of hiking trails, a zipline adventure and nature experiences guided by resident botanist Oriol Dalmau, who kindly showed me around his organic vegetable and herb garden while I was returning from a morning cycle ride.

For the very latest golf break packages, visit camiral.com, where you’ll nd a 3-night B&B stay in the 5-star Hotel Camiral and 3 rounds of golf, starts from €185pp/pn.

We played o the yellow tees, which takes the course down to 6,600 yards, but the whites are a hefty 7,141, and the tournament tees are 7,309, both of which are best reserved for those who can knock it 300-plus yards o the tee. I certainly came o the course with even more respect for tour pros, especially ones that come here every year to ght for their right to play at the highest level.

As you’d expect of a tour-standard venue, the practice facilities are also top notch, with The Golf Hub featuring a double-ended driving range with covered and open grass hitting bays to a wide variety of de ned targets, with Toptracer technology on hand to help track your yardages, spin rates and shot dispersion. Golfers can also work on their short game on

In addition to the many experiences on-site, Camiral also provides the perfect access to Catalonia’s many coastal, cultural and culinary highlights. Girona – famed for its gastronomy with more than 14 Michelin-starred restaurants – is just 20 minutes away, while art lovers can celebrate the master of Surrealism at the Dalí museum in nearby Figueres. Hiking the ancient coastal path Cami de Ronda takes in challenging sea cli s, secret beaches and lively seaside towns, and the Pyrenees’ exhilarating skiing is just under two hours’ drive away. As Catalonia is on many a road-biker’s bucket list, courtesy of its breath-taking scenery and challenging climbs, Camiral now has a specialist cycling service to cater for dedicated enthusiasts and clubs. I, however, prefer to pass my leisure time on four wheels and two feet, preferably in and out of a golf buggy, and thankfully Camiral has that covered too!

STAY & PLAY

■ COLD COMFORT: CAMIRAL’S CRYOTHERAPY CHAMBER IS DESIGNED TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND AID MUSCLE RECOVERY

■ CAMIRAL HAS A WIDE RANGE OF PRIVATE VILLAS AND APARTMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO BUY AND SOME TO RENT

■ A STANDARD DOUBLE ROOM AT HOTEL CAMIRAL

■ THE STUNNING PAR-3 11TH HOLE ON THE STADIUM COURSE

PRO-AM TOUR’S SAWGRASS TRIP PROVES ANOTHER CLASSIC

The Pro-Am Tour’s Sawgrass Classic once again saw a sold-out group of 116 golfers descend on the hallowed turf of the home of The PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

And thanks to the support of global digital marketing agency Jelly sh, the pros had an impressive £32,000 prize fund to play for, while gift shirts from fashion brand TravisMathew ensured that all the players looked as stylish as the PGA TOUR players who walked the fairways of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass before them.

Pro-Am Tour players kicked o a busy week by enjoying ringside seats to watch Scottie Sche er run away with the victory on Sunday, while Tyrrell Hatton ew the ag for England when ying up the leaderboard to take second with a closing 65. The players then enjoyed a practice round at World Golf Village’s Slammer & Squire course to get their swings in order before an opening tournament round on Dye’s Valley, previous host of the Korn Ferry Tour nals. Mick Hough’s team led the way with a score of 84, with ex-European Tour Players Adam Gee and Josh White staking an early claim in the pros section on -4. Following golf there was a BBQ cookout and mini ‘ oating green’ challenge which ended under the oodlights with Ash Mansell, the PGA Cup player from Clevedon Golf Club, winning pro shop voucher for his team.

Round two saw the tour head to Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, where Josh White’s team and Chris Gills from Newquay Golf Club rose to the top of the leaderboard on 164 and 162 respectively. White extended his lead with a two-under-par

round, while Blanche Lamprecht from South Africa shot a superb ve-under to climb the leaderboard.

Next up, the Challenge Day on the Stadium Course, where the Pro-Am Tour’s pros got the chance to play o the same tees at the PGA Tour players just a few days before. The leading pro that day, with the low round of 75, was Paul Nessling, followed by Zane Scotland, Adam Gee and Simon Lilly on 76, showing just how hard it is. The amateur event, which saw players using more appropriate tees, resulted in Rob Moore winning with 36 points – a ne score in the conditions.

The following day saw the Pro-Am Tour head back to Dye’s Valley, where the in-form Josh White red eight-under-par 64 to nish three clear of Blanche Lamprecht, who was also hitting a hot streek, taking his team on the same wave to hit the lead on 245 from Jordan Godwin’s team.

The nal day saw six teams within six shots of the lead heading back to The Stadium

Course, but White was just too far ahead for either Simon Lilly or Tom Shadbolt to catch in the pro division with a nal round of level par sealing his winner’s cheque for over £5,000.

Jordan Godwin’s team, which included Pro-Am Tour regulars Rob and Maria Moore, and rst-timer Rob Hutton, did just enough to win the team event by two shots on 323, with the Shadbolt and White teams lling the places.

The professionals generously donated $1,000 to Pro-Am Tour owner Craig Trower’s Cancer Research Page aimed at early diagnosis of cancers in young adults after his own battle with kidney cancer.

Team spaces are already lling up fast for next year’s Pro-Am Tour Sawgrass Classic, so if you’d like to join in the fun, visit www.pro-amtour.com or call 020 80502969.

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 opening of a wide range luxury lodges on the estate.

The eight suites in the Manor House have each been individually designed to o er 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 o ered 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 one-bedroom 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 par72 course, which has recently been renovated by Tim Lobb, tracks the River Thames through 133 acres of stunning Oxfordshire countryside and o ers an entertaining parkland challenge from start to nish. Boasting a superb mix of short holes, ranging from 137 to 183 yards, some classic risk-reward par fours, and opportunities to open the shoulders on some lengthy par ves, the 6,481-yard course in laid out over largely at 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.

■ PRO-AM PLAYERS AT SAWGRASS

■ THE PRO-AM TOUR ENJOYED RINGSIDE SEATS TO WATCH THE FINAL ROUND’S PLAY AT THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

■ DYE’S VALLEY AT TPC SAWGRASS PROVED A STUNNING TEST

■ THE RECENTLY RENOVATED PARKLAND COURSE AT SPRINGS RESORT

■ LUXURY LODGE ACCOMODATION

My rst holiday memory is... going abroad to Rimini in Italy with my mum, dad and sister. I remember burning my feet on the sand and the incredible ice-cream. Italy is still one of favourite locations.

My most recent golf holiday/trip was to… I have kids who are 7 and 8, so there haven’t been many recent ‘holiday’ golf trips, but I’ve had a fair few work-related ones, so I’m not complaining. We managed to get to Greece last year and played the new Olympic Course at Costa Navarino. It was stunning. Even my wife dusted o the clubs and played!

My favourite golf course in the UK is... I have been lucky enough to play so many great courses. I love my home course at The Oxfordshire, as it o ers a really good test of golf, especially in the wind. But I would have to say that the Ailsa Course at Turnberry some beating. I played it with my dad the year after Tom Watson missed out on the Open. It was on our bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. I’d like to go back again and check out the renovations.

My favourite golf course abroad... I only had one putt, but Augusta was pretty amazing. Does Ireland count? If so, Waterville took my breath away when we lmed Golf’s Greatest Holes there. It had everything I wish for when I play golf –stunning views, a brilliant course, and, above all,

CHRIS HOLLINS

The former BBC sports presenter and host of Golf’s Greatest Holes has a so spot for Britain and Ireland’s legendary links, but also enjoys travelling to more far ung golf destinations for work and family holidays

a great clubhouse for a post-round drink or two!

My ideal holiday fourball would include... my dad, my son and, if he’s not too busy, Rory McIlroy.

My most memorable ever round was... playing 18 holes with Rory McIlroy at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. I didn’t play very well, but it was an amazing experience. My most memorable moment was my only hole-in-one, which I got at Pennard Golf Club, which happened just after I won Strictly Come Dancing, so there was obviously something in the stars.

My favourite golf resort is... Camiral Golf & Wellness in Spain, formerly known as PGA Catalunya. It has everything you want in a golf resort – great hotels, fantastic food, plenty of space to unwind, and extensive practice facilities to warm up before playing the magni cent Stadium Course and its sister Tour Course. Then, even if you haven’t played your best golf, you can head back to the pool and relax with a wellearned drink.

I always travel with... a toothbrush, golf shoes –you never know – and a mobile phone charger.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was... Claridges in London. My wife and I were lucky enough to stay there the night of our wedding. We unpacked and got ourselves ready in one bedroom, and then as I went to get a drink from the bar I discovered the master bedroom. It was huge. I was so upset that I had foolishly booked a very early ight for the honeymoon, which meant weren’t there long enough!

My favourite city in the world is... Tokyo. The size and intensity of it all took my breath away.

My memorable meal while on holiday was... the rst time I tried spaghetti vongole on a trip to Italy with Italian friends of my parents when I was a kid. It’s still my favourite dish today.

My worst holiday experience is... always the ight home! Why does it feel so much longer than the ight out?

My top travel tip is...

My top travel tip is... don’t let me organise it! I’m always late.

The second season of Golf’s Greatest Holes, presented by Chris Hollins and Paul McGinley, is currently being aired on Sky Sports Golf.

‘The Magnificent Seven’ James Braid Highland Golf Trail

The James Braid Highland Golf Trail has been initiated to enhance the experience of golfers wishing to visit a wonderfully picturesque part of Scotland whilst benefitting from the enjoyment and challenge of playing over our Braid designed golf courses.

20% off Full Green Fees when quoting JBHGT if you book at any of these seven courses via telephone. More information may be found online via the web addresses shown below.

Golf Club

Inverness Golf Club

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

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club

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

Golspie Golf Club

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

Brora Golf Club

Recognised as one of James Braid’s finest pieces of work, the green staff work tirelessly to preserve its original beauty This course reflects the perfect balance between challenge and fun in a truly breathtaking setting.

Muir of Ord Golf Club

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

Reay

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

■ COSTA NAVARINO’S INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY GOLF COURSE

■ WATERVILLE

Boat of Garten

18 completely individual holes, cleverly and sensitively shaped fairways lined by birch trees, heather and broom producing one of Scotland’s finest tests of golf. Ranked 28th course in Scotland by NCG 2019.