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.

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,