GOLF NEWS JUNE 2023

THE 151ST OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON’S FINAL MAJOR AT ROYAL LIVERPOOL

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‘Time makes fools of us all. Our only comfort is that greater shall come after us’. Well, those now famous words uttered by early 20th century science fiction writer Eric Temple Bell certainly holds true for virtually all of those who follow the professional golf tours and were expecting the PGA Tour/LIV Golf spat to rumble on well into next year and beyond.

Turns out we needn’t have worried.

The PGA Tour, or more specifically, the PGA Tour’s commissioner, Jay Monahan, was simply playing a secret game of brinkmanship and was trying to squeeze every ounce of cash out of the Saudi’s Public Investment Fund before he handed over the keys to the castle to a rival tour whose name he could barely bring himself to mention just weeks earlier, let alone entertain getting into bed with.

As volte faces go, the PGA Tour board’s 180-degree pivot is about as pivotal as they get, with one big collision course seemingly being replaced by a whole other mass of smaller collisions that will no doubt be faced as the details of how these two behemoths of international professional golf find a way of co-existing.

The winners, and it seems there are plenty of them, in this bizarre turn of events, are certainly the 48-plus golfers who have been part of the LIV Golf circuit that has circumnavigated the golfing globe over the last 16 months or so. Some have only played only a handful of events, and had to return to whence they came, while others – mainly those marque players who accepted sizeable signing-on fees, have played in them all and consequently felt the full wrath of their former paymasters in the shape of fines, suspensions and, eventually, bans.

The losers – in financial terms at least – are the players that turned down big cheques in order to stay

loyal to their home tour, only to find out they could have had their slice of LIV cake and eaten it and then be welcomed back with open arms next season. Hindsight is a terrible thing.

The sacrificial lamb in all of this was unquestionably Rory McIlroy, who almost single-handedly presented the public face of PGA Tour players who stayed loyal to the status quo, and who, time after time, was put forward to state the case of ‘PGA Tour good, LIV Golf bad’ to the point where it clearly took a toll on his own game and, most probably, his mental health.

Yes, Rory already has more money in the bank than he knows what do with,

and was well placed to reject whatever offers came his way – there were none from LIV, apparently – but he was under no obligation to be such a prominent figure in all the off-course machinations, and no doubt feels that he has been made to look a little foolish given what has transpired in recent weeks. Should he and all those other multi-millionaire golfers be seeking compensation for not having gone to LIV is questionable, but these are strange times we live in and they may yet earn their extra pound of flesh for having stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.

With so many details, big and small, still to be ironed out, it feels somewhat futile at this point in time to conjecture as to what the world of men’s professional golf will look like as we edge towards 2024, but those of us who do not move in such rarefied circles will be glad that ‘Golf’s Great Divide’ is at an end, and we can all get back to enjoying the world’s best golfers competing together in whatever format of the game is on offer, whether it be 72-hole stroke play, 54-hole shot-gun starts or continental clashes of team match play.

Nick Bayly

InBrief

HENDRIKSEN BAGS SECOND PGA PRO CHAMPIONSHIP

★ Paul Hendriksen shrugged off the attentions of defending champion Matt Cort to claim his second PGA Professional Championship title at Sherwood Forest. Having won the event in 2015 at Burnham & Berrow, the 2023 title made Devon-based pro one of only a handful of players to win the tournament twice. After opening up with a 68, the Ivybridge professional took the lead in the second round with a six-under 66 and maintained his lead with closing scores of 72 and 67, to finish six shots ahead of runner-up Cort. Both men secured spots in the 2024 PGA Play-Offs at Aphrodite Hills.

MAGUIRE BLOWS AWAY ST ANDREWS LINKS RIVALS

★ Ireland’s Alex Maguire won the St Andrews Links Trophy by five shots after playing the last 36 holes of the 72-hole tournament in 15 under par. The Laytown & Bettys-town player started the final day two shots behind halfway leader Charlie Crockett (Addington Palace) but rounds of 66 and 64 ensured he secured the biggest win of his career with a 20-under total. Sweden’s lbert Hansson took second, with Scotland’s Calum Scott a further shot back in third, beating Crockett on countback.

ALL RHODES LEAD TO ST RULES VICTORY

★ Somerset’s Patience Rhodes lived up to her name when biding her time en route to winning the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews.

The 19-year-old from Burnham & Berrow was trailing her rivals, including elder sister Euphemie Rhodes, in the 54-hole stroke play event, before a six-under par final round saw her leapfrog into the lead, finish-ing one ahead of Sweden’s Ebba Norstedt and France’s Lois Lau, while her sister ended a shot further back, alongside home favourite Jennifer Saxton.

WEYMOUTH SWITCHES TO GENDER-FREE TEES

★ Weymouth Golf Club in Dorset has become the latest golf club to remove its labels for men’s and ladies’ tees and allow golfers to choose from four tees based on their ability and individual preference. Dozens of clubs have gone down this route in the last 10 years as it can encourage improving golfers, retain ageing players and pro-mote social golf. A club spokesperson said: “Weymouth Golf Club is known for its dedication to inclusivity and progressive values and we are thrilled to announce the introduction of gender-free tees. Golf has long been seen with traditional gender-specific tees dictating the playing experience. However, we recognise that the time for change has come.

Horder flattens Pancake at Prince’s to claim Women’s Amateur Championship

Germany’s Chiara Horder has won the 120th Women’s Amateur Championship after a convincing 7&6 win over America’s Annabelle Pancake in the 36-hole Final at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

In the morning session of the final, Horder made a fast start. After Pancake’s bogey at the first, Horder made birdies at the opening two par-3 holes, 3 and 5, to go three up and maintain the lead after eight holes. In the softer conditions after overnight rain, Pancake made a timely birdie at 9 to reduce the deficit. Nevertheless, a double bogey at 10 from Pancake after a poor drive and a third birdie two of the morning from Horder on 11 extended the lead to four holes. The American again claimed one back with a birdie at 12 before the highlight of the morning came at 13, when Horder holed a brilliant 40-yard chip to the delight of the large crowd.

Pancake replied with a birdie at 15, only for Horder to drive the green at 16, a par four, and restore a four-up lead. Pancake’s third birdie of the back nine gave her hope going into the afternoon action, but Horder was in command at threeup after playing 18 holes in four-under-par.

In the afternoon round, Horder birdied the par-5 second and again the short third for a five-hole lead before a number of troubles for Pancake which saw her make costly bogeys at 4 and 5. A seven-hole lead soon became eight after another bogey from the American at 7. Pancake’s first birdie of the afternoon at 8 reduced the deficit and another came at 11 to cut the lead to six, but another excellent iron from Horder at 12 sealed the victory.

Horder, 20, who came into the event ranked 273rd in the rankings, knocked out the world’s leading amateur Ingrid Lindblad in the semifinals, and now joins a championship roll of honour which includes Babe Zaharias, Catriona Matthew, Carlota Ciganda, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Celine Boutier and Leona Maguire.

Horder earned exemptions for this year’s Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s British Open at Walton Heath, and next year, she’ll tee it up at the Chevron Championship and US Women’s Open. She will also have an invitation to the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. “I cannot believe that I will be teeing it up in three Majors. It’s a dream come true.”

Horder became the third player to win the Women’s Amateur at Prince’s. The Kent links, which was presented in superb condition for the tournament week, with fast-running fairways and super smooth greens, attracted a field of 144 players representing 36 countries, including 12 players ranked inside the top 50 on the world amateur golf ranking.

Royal Ascot rolls out red carpet for royal visitors

Royal Ascot Golf Club rolled out the red carpet for a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh earlier this month when the royal couple visited the Berkshire course to cut the ribbon on the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Wood.

The Duke and Duchess unveiled a plaque and planted two oak trees to mark the occasion and were later joined by club members and volunteers in the clubhouse for afternoon tea.

Created in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, the Memorial Woodland consists of 675 trees, one for every member of the club, and 450 further shrubs. The wood was designed and planted by members of the Berkshire-based club and is nestled within the grounds of the 150-acre course as a living testament to Her Majesty’s remarkable reign.

The wood contains a wide variety of woodland trees and shrubs, as guided by the Woodland Trust, and will provide a sanctuary for wildlife and herbaceous plants to positively contribute to the local ecosystem.

The opening took place exactly 135 years after the course was

granted Royal status by Queen Victoria whose children learnt to play golf at the course before The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, became Patron of the club in 1901.

Tim Wescombe, Chairman of Royal Ascot Golf Club, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to officially open our Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Wood. This newly planted wood will stand as a lasting testament to Her Majesty’s remarkable reign in a location which means a great deal to the Royal Family given their close connection with our neighbours Ascot Racecourse. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Their Royal Highnesses for their attendance and celebrating this great occasion.” Club general manager Stephen Nicholson added: “It’s not every day you get to entertain royalty, but that’s what we did. The team delivered in a massive way to make the club literally fit for royalty. We can’t wait to welcome the Duke and Duchess back in the future to see how the woodland develops.”

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of wooded Crown land off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse. The club’s new course was formally opened in 2006 having moved from its original location on Ascot Heath in the middle of the racecourse a year earlier.

■ CHIARA HORDER WITH THE WOMEN’S AMATEUR TROPHY

■ THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH WITH CLUB OFFICIALS AT THE OPENING OF THE QEII MEMORIAL WOOD

■ HORDER DROVE THE BALL BEAUTIFULLY ALL WEEK AT THE FAST-RUNNING PRINCE’S COURSE

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Top women pros swing into London as Aramco Team Series returns to Centurion Club

Nelly Korda, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Leona Maguire will be among the stars of women’s golf competing in the Aramco Team Series – an event introduced to the Ladies European Tour in 2021 – the third leg of which is taking place at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire from July 16-18.

The $1m tournament, which takes place just a week after the conclusion of the LIV Golf Invitational held at the same venue from July 7-9, will give a chance to the world’s top female golfers to shine on the UK stage.

Korda, currently ranked second in the world, has carried her scintillating form from 2022 into 2023, securing an impressive six top-10 finishes out of just eight starts this year. Most notably, the Olympic champion claimed a third-place finish in the first major of the year at the Chevron Championship.

Having tasted victory at the Aramco Team Series in Sotogrande last year, Korda has set her sights on adding a second Aramco Team Series trophy to her collection and said: “The Aramco Team Series is a special event that showcases a unique blend of individual talent and team dynamics in golf, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to once again compete alongside top professionals and amateurs. I’ve had great performances in the past three Aramco Team Series events I’ve played in, so I hope to deliver a top performance for the fans in London and capture my second Aramco Team Series title.”

Each team consists of three professionals and one amateur, with the 26 team captains chosen based on their world ranking. As with last year, the captains pick in reverse order, with the 26th ranked team captain picking first. A third professional is picked at random, while an amateur is also then assigned to each team to complete the team line up.

The individual competition is held over 54 holes, with team event played over 36 holes.

New short game practice area opens at Bishop’s Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club’s members and guests are enjoying an elevated playing and practice experience at the popular Hertfordshire based-club following the successful implementation of a three-phase project of improvements.

Guided by the expertise of leading agronomy consultancy Greg Evans Golf Course Solutions, the club started the first phase of the course improvement with the installation of a new tee on the third hole and by moving the green on the fourth hole 20 metres back.

Phase two began last summer and included installing a new 900m2 short game area with chipping zones, bunkers and a new 800m2 putting green. These opened for play in May and have proved hugely popular with members. In addition, the main course benefitted from a new irrigation system, levelling the approach to the 5th green and adding new tees to holes 8 and 10.

Phase three has already begun and will include work to the 8th hole’s pond area, bunker upgrades on the 6th and 16th greens complex, and a new mound feature to the left of the 12th green.

Craig Greason, Chief Executive at Bishop’s Stortford, commented: “Appointing Greg Evans Golf Course Solutions to provide us with a clear vision for our agronomy work has been invaluable. Not only has their expertise and experience cut out any guesswork, but they’ve ensured every part of the project is delivered on time and to a world-class standard – something extremely important to our members.”

This means that the players play in their respective teams for the first two days – best two scores from four – and the winners of the team event will be decided at the end of the second round. After the second round, there will be a cut to the top 60 professionals and ties and the draw for the final round of the Individual competition on Saturday will be purely based on the professional leaderboard.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire, currently ranked 20th in the world, will grace the field alongside an already stellar line up that features some of Britain’s best, such as local favourites Georgia Hall and Charley Hull and defending champion Bronte Law, who left fans in awe with a spectacular 55-foot eagle putt to secure victory last year.

Maguire said: “I had a great time competing in the Aramco Team Series – New York last year, and I’m looking forward to being part of the Aramco Team Series on European soil and compete alongside an exceptional field that’s lining up. Hopefully, we can put on a great show for the fans in the UK.”

In addition to watching high quality golf, visitors will be able to experience an array of offcourse activities, including a short game chipping challenge and long putt challenge, while kids can enjoy themselves in the ball pit, face painting zone, and colouring wall. A variety of food and drink stalls will be available along with a big screen and outdoor seating area to witness the action.

Advanced tickets for the tournament cost just £5 per day or £10 for all three days, with under 18s admitted free. For more information, visit www.aramcoteamseries.com.

Westwood

to enjoy home advantage as Asian Tour swings into Close House

Lee Westwood is set to return to competitive action at his home club, Close House, later this summer when the former world no.1 tees it up at the Asian Tour’s International Series England event from August 17-20.

Westwood spearheads a group of 10 LIV golfers who are set to join the field at the Newcastle venue, as the Asian Tour breaks new ground.

Despite being born and raised in Worksop, Westwood moved to the north-east a number of years ago and struck up a long-standing partnership with Close House as its attached tour professional, hosting the British Masters when the tournament was held at the club in 2017 and again in 2020.

Westwood said: “I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before, and there is truly nothing quite like it. Local excitement is building nicely with some of the players confirmed. I’ve been embraced by the people of Northumberland since I set up home there.

Their passion for sport is unrivalled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week – the atmosphere will be tremendous.”

Joining Westwood are 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and this year’s PIF Saudi International winner Abraham Ancer, all of whom currently compete on the LIV Golf circuit. Tickets are available from SeeTickets with prices starting from £10 and free admission for U16s with a paying adult.

FROM THE FLAMES PHOENIX

Just three years after being rescued from almost terminal decline by charity Get Golfing, Pyrford Lakes in Surrey has become one of the south east’s most popular venues, where all golfers, from elite pros to complete beginners, are made to feel right at home, writes Golf News Editor Nick

As I walked the 100 or so yards from the overflow car park towards the clubhouse at Pyrford Lakes it became all too clear that this is a place on the up. Not only judged by the fact that I had to use the overflow car park on a Wednesday lunchtime , but also by the buzzing atmosphere in and around the vast clubhouse terrace, where dozens of midweek golfers were enjoying post-round hospitality in the afternoon sunshine.

Basking in the warmth, and with the low beat of a chilled mix track emanating from a range of external speakers, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled on a pool party at a cool Spanish bar were it not for the backdrop of the golf course and the giveaway shorts-and-polo shirt dress code of the clientele. While it isn’t meant to rival an Aiya Napa beach club, it all combines to provide a refreshing change to the buttonedup attitudes that still exist at all too many UK golf clubs, despite all the evidence pointing to a new generation of golfers preferring a more relaxed vibe that seems to be Pyrford’s USP.

And that’s how Get Golfing – which has been steadily building a portfolio of clubs in the UK that currently stands at nine – likes to do things. Set up in 2018, Get Golfing is a charity whose aim is to encourage participation and to deliver a positive impact on the physical and mental health of those who play, as well as to help reverse the recent trend of course closures. To achieve this, Get Golfing understands that it has to deliver the best possible course conditions and high-quality hospitality to attract players to its clubs. This is neither an easy nor an inexpensive task but, as a charity, it benefits from tax advantages that means it can invest in a club in a way that was not previously possible, while at the same time providing more affordable golf.

Pyrford Lakes has certainly benefitted from plenty of investment since it came under the Get Golfing umbrella in 2020. The new management team arrived just over three years ago to find a club that was virtually on its knees, with less than 250 members and a course that had been pretty much left to its own devices, with fairways lacking much in the way of grass, parched tees and greens, and bunkers that had been ravaged by weeds. For the few remaining members that had been playing the Clive Clark and Peter Alliss designed course since it first opened in 1993 it was a sad state of affairs, to say the least.

Bayly

Fortunately, Get Golfing and its energetic CEO Ed Richardson, a veteran of the elite amateur circuit and an experienced club manager, knows what it takes to get a golf club back on its feet, and together with course manager Richard Covey and general manager Dan Lucking, the team set about rising this particular golfing phoenix from the flames. Having spent his formative years at Hankley Common and Liphook, Covey has experience of preparing some of the UK’s finest inland courses, and through hard work and access to Get Golfing’s investment, he has succeeded in returning the course to a standard where the county unions are happy for the course to host tournaments, while a Clutch Pro Tour event is also in the offing.

With the fairways now pristine, the greens running fast and true, and the bunkers benefitting from a full renovation programme, with raised faces making them more visible from the tee, conditions on the 6,235-yard links-style layout are just about perfect for the busy summer season that lies ahead. Ringed by mature woodland, giving it a lovely secluded feel, the layout boasts rolling fairways that weave between sculptured mounds, while 23 acres of lakes, fringed with bulrushes, reeds and lilies, give the course its distinctive characteristic with water ever-present.

Separated into two loops, providing a choice of starting positions, every hole is different and while the course may not be the longest by modern standards, a good score will require careful strategy and use of every club in the bag. Longer hitters may well be tempted to take on the challenge of longer carries, yet the design gives the less experienced player a safer route to make par.

While it is a specialist golf operator, Get Golfing recognises the importance of a club’s social side, and in that respect it has left no stone unturned in the desire to make it a venue that you’d be happy to visit with or without your clubs. The light and airy clubhouse, whose transformation was celebrated at a big party on May 20, has benefitted from a complete

makeover, with several rooms being repurposed to create a stylish and seamless experience that gives it a sports bar/leisure club vibe that feels welcoming and somewhere you’d want to hang out, whether for a post-round meal, a weekend brunch, a business meeting, or somewhere to watch a sporting event on huge flatscreen TVs.

The internal space is cleverly divided to provide a separate space for weddings and private parties, while a wrap-around patio overlooking the 12th and 18th greens almost doubles the footprint available for hosting members and visitors. Huge bi-folding doors enhance the feeling of space, creating a smooth transition between inside and out, while an open kitchen with a serving hatch that opens up to the patio provides the opportunity for golfers to grab a quick snack and a drink en route to the first or 10th tee. Two kitchens, including one with a wood-fired pizza oven and an Argentinian grill – show the ambition of the club to offer more than your standard sandwich platter and chips combo – although they can do that too – and shows why Pyrford is also proving a popular venue for those for whom chasing a small white ball has no appeal.

The improved course and the stylish clubhouse has proved an attractive proposition to golfers too, with the club now enjoying an extremely healthy membership of over 950, spread between 7-day, 5-day, Intermediate and Flexible members. The latter is a points-based scheme that enables points to be exchanged for tee times, with the number of points depending on day, time and holes played. It enables golfers to join the Get Golfing family for as little as £250, with points being able to be used at any of the company’s other 10 venues, including nearby Hampton Court Palace, North Downs in Surrey, Redlibbets in Kent, and the most recent addition, Winter Hill in Hampshire.

Membership fees are paid by monthly by direct debit, and with no joining fee and no big upfront annual membership costs, the barrier to entry is kept low, ensuring golfers can find a membership that suits their budget and their schedule. In line with its remit to grow the game, Get Golfing doesn’t charge a membership fee for juniors, so it’s not surprising that the club boasts a strong group of U18s, with 170 youngsters enjoying the freedom to use the club’s course and practice facilities at no cost, before hopefully staying with the club when they hit adulthood.

Whether it’s to play golf – club, social or society – host a family or business function or simply enjoy a bite to eat, Pyrford Lakes ticks all the boxes and plenty more besides. But don’t take my word for it – although you definitely should – come and experience it for yourself!

To book a tee time, visit golf.pyrfordgolf.co.uk/ visitorbooking. To enquire about membership, visit pyrfordgolf.co.uk or call 01483 723555. For more information about Get Golfing, visit getgolfing.org.

Tour-level fitting that’s OPEN to everyone

Nolan pips Little to Brabazon Trophy after Sunningdale play-off

Liam Nolan was rendered speechless after he defeated Zach Little in a thrilling three-hole play-off to win the Brabazon Trophy held at Sunningdale Golf Club.

The 23-year-old Irishman, playing out of Galway Golf Club, had nerves of steel and his calm and composed nature helped him to a stunning up and down shot on the final play-off to clinch the victory.

The end result was a harsh one on 18-year-old Little from West Herts, whose phenomenal final round of 63 had forced the play-off, but the talents he displayed at Sunningdale Golf Club leave it in no doubt that he has a bright future in the game.

As had been the case all week, the final day’s play took place in beautiful sunshine and it soon became apparent that lower scores were being put in throughout the field as Loic Naas (65), Matthew McClean (66), James Claridge (67) and Jake Plumb (67) all recorded impressive rounds. None of those compared to Little’s incredible bogey-free 63 which included birdies on 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 as he made a charge to the top of the leaderboard and installed Essex-based tour player Dale Whitnell held his nerve to claim his first DP World Tour win after 14 years in the pro game after a dramatic final day of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.

Whitnell back to winning ways in Sweden

himself as the clubhouse leader midway through the afternoon.

Both Claridge and Plumb made valiant attempts to match Little’s target but fell short, meaning it was left to Nolan, playing as part of the final group to try and become the only man who could stop the youngster’s tilt for the title. The Irishman made his way up the 18th fairway knowing that only a birdie was good enough to force a play-off and his second shot on the par 5 left him at the back of the green on a slight slope.

Nolan judged his pitch to perfection though and left himself a comfortable putt for birdie, much to the delight of an expectant crowd who knew they were about to see a terrific play-off between two in-form players.

Little and Nolan didn’t disappoint and having both found

the back of the green on the first play-off hole, they agonisingly missed birdie putts by a matter of inches to ensure a second hole was needed. Nolan repeated his trick from his regulation round as he chipped beautifully from the back of the green to within inches of the hole, forcing Little to sink a pressure putt from eight feet to extend the contest. Nolan put yet another outstanding pitch to within touching distance of the hole and unfortunately for Little, his six-foot putt caught the lip of the hole and drifted on to give the Irishman an opportunity for victory. The Galway man tapped in his putt to huge cheers from the gathered crowd to ensure he would be the newest name on the famous Brabazon Trophy and a thoroughly deserving 2023 champion.

There was a consolation prize for Little as he took home the George Henriques Salver – awarded to the leading GB&I player aged under 20 – for his outstanding 72-hole score of -3.

in 2009 but had a spell as a courier as he played on satellite tours before winning the KPMG Trophy in his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour in 2019. That was the same year he earned his DP World Tour card at Qualifying School and now, with three top-10s already in 2023, he is a winner in his 106th start and moves into the top 20 on the Race to Dubai ranking, as well securing his card for the next two seasons.

Whitnell set the tone for his week at Ullna Golf & Country Club with a closing 96-yard hole-out eagle on day one and carried that momentum into a second-round 61 that handed him a six-shot lead at the halfway stage. That advantage was cut to two with two to play as American Sean Crocker put the pressure on with a closing 65, but Whitnell birdied the 17th to give himself some breathing room and signed for a 70 and a three-shot win at 21 under.

The victory marked a huge turnaround in fortunes for 34-year-old Whitnell, who completed his long journey to the winner’s circle 14 years after joining the paid ranks in 2010. The Colchester man played in the Walker Cup alongside Tommy Fleetwood

Whitnell said: “It’s awesome. It really tested me out there. I was trying to play like I didn’t have a lead and just play my own game. And I did that. I hit a couple of poor shots at the wrong time, but I managed to limit the damage, and that is why I am standing here with the trophy.

“It’s been a long road for me, I’ve got so many people to thank –my fiancée Angie, my caddie Gaz [Melia], my coach Craig [Lockwood] – who I didn’t know flew out to watch the final round – my mum and dad, Callaway, Travis Mathew, all my friends and family. It’s been a long time coming, but I’m ecstatic. It means everything to me, it’s what I get up every day for. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.”

■ BRABAZON WINNER LIAM NOLAN

Housing developer buys site formerly occupied by Kent & Surrey GC

Retirement housing developer Inspired Villages has bought a 27-acre site in Edenbridge on what used to be The Kent & Surrey Golf Club.

It has acquired the site with planning permission for 184,000 sq ft of accommodation, including a 100-unit integrated retirement community.

The deal represents the 29th site acquired by Inspired Villages, through which it plans to open 34 Integrated Retirement Communities, providing more than 5,000 homes. Inspired said that it will now consult locally on revisions to the existing permission and plans to add facilities from which the wider community might benefit, such as a restaurant and a wellness suite.

Chief development & property officer Neal Dale said: “We are keen to start progressing plans for the village here while raising awareness and gaining support from the local community. The provision of this type of age-appropriate accommodation is of wider benefit as it naturally frees up housing stock throughout every element of the property ladder.”

Help is at hand for tremor sufferers

If you are one of the one million people in the UK affected by essential tremor, or you know someone who is, you will know just how disruptive and debilitating it can be. Simple tasks like signing your name, drinking a glass of water, or using your touchscreen phone become impossible without frustration or embarrassment.

For golfers suffering with tremors the symptoms can impair fine motor skills such as swinging a golf club or practice putting, and even the simple job of filling in a scorecard, forcing many players to give up a game that gives them so much pleasure.

But there is hope. For patients with a moderate or severe tremor that has previously not responded to medication, Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRGFUS) is a safe, cutting-edge new treatment that can help tremor sufferers regain control of their lives again. Offered by only a handful of centres in the UK, this ground-breaking treatment is completely non-invasive, requiring no surgery and can be completed in just a couple of hours.

MRGFUS combines two technologies – high intensity focused ultrasound (FUS), which is guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to destroy a small area of tissue in the brain responsible for the tremor. The outpatient procedure takes about 3-4 hours and results are comparable to deep brain stimulation, but without the risks of general anaesthesia – the patient is awake throughout – and invasive surgery.

The treatment, which has been available for around five years, has resulted in an average reduction of 75% in hand tremor for successful procedures – although all patients will have a slightly different response.

Queen Square Imaging Centre, a specialist neurological practice based in central London, which works in partnership with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, has carried out hundreds of successful procedures on a wide range of NHS and private patients whose lives have been negatively impacted by tremors, but have seen the instant benefits that focused ultrasound can have on their quality of life.

Staffed by an experienced and highly qualified team of neurosurgeons and neurologists, with access to the very latest state-of-the-art equipment, Queens Square is ready and able to help tremor sufferers turn their lives around and, for golfers, to get back out on the course and start lowering those scores.

For all enquiries, and to find out whether you might be suitable for treatment, visit queensquare.com, email treatment@queensquare.com or call 0207 8332513.

■ THE KENT & SURREY GOLF CLUB BEFORE ITS CLOSURE

Spence helps Featherstone find his touch to claim Lagonda Trophy

A couple of coaching clinics worked wonders for Norfolk junior Edward Featherstone, culminating in his impressive victory in The Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog Golf Club in Cambridgeshire.

Last month he took advantage of a great opportunity to work with former European Tour pro-turned-coach Jamie Spence. The Sky commentator was renowned for his skills on the green and his former caddy Tony Rushmer, now a Norfolk-based journalist, contacted his old partner having seen Featherstone play in a county match.

The 17-year-old missed a few makeable putts against Bedfordshire and Tony discovered that Spence was going to be in the region so asked if he would spend a bit of time with the talented youngster after playing a round at Sheringham alongside long-time friend Rob Lee. Spence agreed and told Featherstone to think more about feel rather than trying to achieve the perfect putting stroke every time.

The impact was immediate. The Norfolk Schools champion qualified for the Brabazon Trophy with a two-under 70 at Delamere Forest and then, at Gog Magog, put together rounds of 68, 69, 70 and 70 to win by the famous Lagonda Trophy two shots and gain his first WAGR points. George Cordall (Worksop) shot a final round 65 to tie for second place behind Featherstone with Oliver Baker, who closed with a 70. Hanbury Manor’s Adam Tridgell started the final round with a two-shot lead, but a disappointing closing 78, saw him drop to seventh place on 3 over.

“Over the last three weeks I have been consistently shooting under par,” said Featherstone, who also tied the amateur course record at Sheringham last month. “My driving and iron play has generally been good, but the putting has really improved, and I have also been getting up and down more. Jamie [Spence] got me to pick up a ball and throw it under-arm to the hole and I put it to two feet, and he put it to a foot. He said I good feel and in myself more. The main thing is confidence now, and the fact I know I am doing the right things has definitely changed something in my game.”

The South buckinghamshire golf course

Sign up for Celebrity Golf Day at The Shire!

Fans of football and golf are being invited to take part in a Celeb-Am Charity Golf Day being held at The Shire London on July 20.

A great day is promised at the popular north London club, which boasts the only Seve Ballesteros designed course in the UK, with Liverpool legend Graeme Souness (pictured below) and other celebrities in the starting line-up, all raising money for the Red Eagle Foundation children’s charity, which helps disabled, disadvantaged and seriously ill children.

Known for his forthright views as a pundit on Sky and talkSPORT, as well as his successful time as both a manager and player with Liverpool, Newcastle and Rangers, Souness will be taking part in a Q&A session after golf where he will talk about his career on and off the field and answer questions from guests.

Guests will also be treated to a prematch breakfast, a two-course dinner and prize giving, with the evening’s entertainment compered by the brilliant Adger Brown, who will also be hosting a live auction with some great prizes and experiences will be up for grabs. The day will include live leaderboard scoring, prizes on every hole, plus lots of competitions.

The cost is £750 for a 4-ball and for the first 5 companies to book and quote ‘GOLFNEWS23’ will be offered a free hole sponsorship package worth £150. To book a team, email dominic@redeaglefoundation.org or call 07834 907700.

The South Buckinghamshire is one of the finest public golf facilities in the South of England and has everything you could want for great golf. The emphasis is on a value for money golfing experience that will exceed your expectations.

GREENFEES

Weekdays from £20.00 before 1pm £15.00 after 1pm

Weekends from £32.00 before 1pm £24.00 after 1pm

T: 01753 643332 | E: golfenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk www.thesouthbuckinghamshire.co.uk

Twitter: @southbucksgc | Instagram: @southbucksgc

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The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course, Park Rd, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PJ

Set in 130 acres of attractive mature wooded parkland, the 18-hole pay and play Colt/Hawtree designed course is both challenging and rewarding in equal measure with several good birdie opportunities and a memorable selection of holes. The sixth, tenth, 11th, 13th and 16th - that would grace even the finest championship layout. There is a friendly ambience on and off the course, and the clubhouse is the ideal venue for your post round drink.

■ ED FEATHERSTONE IS PRESENTED WITH THE LAGONDA TROPHY BY TOURNAMENT FOUNDER CLIVE SMITH

Flexi Memberships available from £320.00 Society golf available on request

South Winchester proves ‘top of the shots’ for Arccos users

Golfers playing at South Winchester Golf Club in Hampshire using the latest shot-tracking data and Artificial Intelligence to improve scoring prevailed as the most dedicated Arccos members in Britain, according to 2022 rounds recorded by Arccos Golf.

The unique ‘faux links’ course in Hampshire offering all-year round golf saw more than 30 rounds a week being played by avid golfers using Arccos Smart Sensors to detect each shot hit.

“It’s fantastic to see so many of our members and visitors using Arccos as they strive to improve faster and pinpoint where to work on their game in practice,” said Sam Holloway, Golf Development Professional at South Winchester Golf Club. “The Arccos data is a massive help in all lesson formats as it allows us to identify a golfer’s shot tendencies and structure our tuition accordingly to provide appropriate drills and advice.”

Founded in 1993, the Championship course measures almost 6,500 yards from the yellow tees and over 7,000 yards from the tips.

Courses in Southern England dominated the ‘Most Played’ rankings for Arccos members using Smart Sensors in their clubs in 2022, with all of the top 10 courses located in the Southern counties.

Second on the ‘Most Played’ charts came Newbury & Crookham Golf Club – one of the oldest venues in England. Established in 1873, the relatively short par-69 woodland course measures just under 6,000 yards and presents a more strategical challenge.

Hampton Court Palace GC ranked third, followed by The Addington and Shirley Park in Croydon, the Bernard

Women’s Golf Day turns into a week-long festival

This year’s Women’s Golf Day celebrations were expanded to a full week, with events taking place around the world from May 31 to June 6.

Starting with WGD Palooza Digital Day and the ringing off the New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell, the celebration continued throughout the week, drawing to a close as the last event finished at Moorea Green Pearl Golf Club in French Polynesia.

More women and girls were able to access these celebratory events in 2023 than ever before given the new format and the increase in the number of countries and venues. Gambia, Greece, Peru and Zambia joined WGD for the first time this year, taking the total number of participating countries to 84.

Hunt course at Foxhills and Knole Park in Sevenoaks taking seventh. Rounding out the top 10 in eighth was the championship course at Cave Golf and Hotel, closely followed by Witney Lakes and Hoebridge Golf Centre in tenth.

Arccos members have now recorded more than 690 million shots during 14.5 million rounds in 162 countries worldwide. Arccos Caddie automatically tracks shots while delivering in-round insights and personalised Strokes Gained analytics for every game facet and each club in a golfer’s bag. The innovations helped new Arccos members who played at least 10 rounds lower their handicap by an average of 5.71 strokes in their first year of membership.

New and existing female golfers around the globe dressed in red and white to share their experiences on social media, generating 194 million impressions, an increase of over 100 million compared to 2022, with 397,143 engagements and a reach of more than 92 million.

“Every year we work to increase the number of facilities that host Women’s Golf Day and it was very exciting to welcome the 139 courses from Japan and watch on social media, in real time, the impact WGD has on golf around the globe,” commented WGD founder Elisa Gaudet. ”I experienced firsthand how important it is to have new and existing female golfers participate in WGD events to build confidence, new friendships and skills that do last a lifetime. Our goal is to create more opportunities and unity and we are achieving that on a global level.”

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■ SOUTH WINCHESTER GOLF CLUB

■ GOLF AT GOODWOOD HOSTED A WOMEN’S GOLF DAY EVENT

LIVING

IN THE MOMENT

It’s been a roller-coaster 16 months for all those players who signed up to the LIV Golf League, including Englishman Richard Bland , whose 25-year career on the European Tour had looked to be winding down before opportunity came knocking. In an exclusive interview with GN Editor Nick Bayly, Richard reveals how the new formats have helped reenergised his game and why he’s looking forward to continuing his LIV journey before thoughts turn to a senior career

For a man with such a beige sounding surname, Richard Bland’s life has been anything but over the last two years, with the 50-year-old Surrey-based tour pro having won his first European Tour event at the end of 2021 amid emotional scenes at The Belfry, and then, just 12 months later, defected to the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Roll the calendar back two years and we find the then 48-year-old Bland, the veteran of 478 European Tour events, and the very epitome of pros who are often unfairly described as ‘journeymen’, facing a play-off against young Italian star Guido Migliozzi for the 2021 British Masters title. Moments later, after winning the play-off, Bland broke down in tears when the weight of the moment overcame a man who had toiled away unrewarded – in terms of wins – for two over decades. Interviewed by Sky Sports oncourse analyst Tim Barter, who also happened to be Bland’s coach, and it wasn’t surprising to see the pair blubbing like babies by the end of the post-match chat.

Buoyed by his victory, a newly confident Bland proceeded to enjoy the season of his life, finishing third in the following week’s tournament in Denmark, and then bagging six further top-10 finishes in a season that saw him finish 11th in the Race to Dubai, and earn almost €1.2m in prize

money, taking his career earnings to almost €8m. Taking that form into 2022, Bland almost returned to the winner’s circle again at January’s Dubai Desert Classic when birdieing the last two holes to force a play-off against Viktor Hovland at Emirates Golf Club. However, it was the talented young Norwegian who took the title with a birdie at the first extra hole. That near-miss saw Bland’s world ranking rise still further to a new career high of 53, and within tantalising reach of gaining instant access to the major championships and an invitation to the Masters.

Sadly the invitation was not forthcoming, but he did earn a debut appearance in the WGC Matchplay in Texas in March, where a tied 9th finish – he won two of his three group matches and beat Lee Westwood before losing 3&2 to Dustin Johnson in the round of 16 – further raised his profile and showed that at the age of 49 he still had what it took to mix it with the best. He also teed it up at the US Open, where he acquitted himself well enough with a tie for 47th, although he missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship.

Just two months after his WGC appearance, Bland, although not knowing how the future would play out, probably thought he had given up on his dream of ever playing at Augusta, and probably another PGA Tour or DP World Tour event, when signing for LIV Golf.

I’VE GOT NO PLANS TO APPLY TO RE-JOIN THE DP WORLD TOUR

It was a move that took many of Bland’s supporters by surprise, but in terms of cold, hard financial terms, was a completely understandable decision. Despite his heroics over the previous 12 months, and the decent prize haul, there was no future certainty over where his career was heading, and the incentive for a near 50-year-old to join a circuit where the minimum guaranteed pay out at each event was $125,000, and a first prize of $4m, proved too hard to resist for a man who was looking to secure his family’s future at the backend of his playing career. Needless to say, like all the other players who signed up to the start-up Saudi governmentfunded circuit, Bland came in for no shortage of criticism for joining Greg Norman’s merry band of men, many of whom were regarded as past their sell-by dates when it came to competing on the world stage – although that proved somewhat wide of the mark when LIV golfers filled four of the top six places at the Masters and Brooks Koepka won last month’s US PGA Championship. That said, the age of the players who joined LIV, many of whom were in their late 40s and several, including Phil

■ BLAND HAS BEEN A PERMANENT FIXTURE ON THE LIV GOLF SCHEDULE SINCE ITS LAUNCH LAST YEAR

Mickelson, well into their 50s, gave rise to the view that players were cashing in on their status of yesteryear rather than the careers they had in front of them.

While many LIV Golf players chose to resign their membership of the PGA Tour and/or the DP World Tour, rather than being accused of trying to have their cake and eat it, Bland was among a number of European and English golfers who, although well within their rights at the time, chose to hang on to the dual status for as long as he could, plying their trade on both the LIV circuit and the DP World Tour when their schedule allowed. This resulted in some ugly scenes in locker rooms, and more than a few heated exchanges on driving ranges and on social media as the new world order – or so it seemed at the time – took shape.

Despite being a vocal critic on Twitter of how the DP World Tour had ceded power to the PGA Tour through its new so-called ‘Strategic Alliance’,

Bland played in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, and he has also played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this season – finishing 8th and 10th respectively – before the expanded 2023 LIV Golf schedule kicked back into action in February, although he, along with all of the many of the other European LIV golfers, has since resigned his DP World Tour membership.

Bland has certainly made no secret that he joined the LIV Golf circuit for the money, but also for the opportunity it gave him to play a reduced schedule – LIV Golf has a schedule of 14 events in 2023, compared to the average 26-30 events he played each year on the DP World/European Tour – allowing him to spend more time with his family.

He has enjoyed some healthy returns on the breakaway circuit, with a best-placed finish of fourth in the 48-player field in Bangkok last year earning him a hefty $1.17m pay out – more than twice as much as he collected when winning the British Masters – and a total of $4.9m from the 15 events he has played in to date.

Although born in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, Bland has spent most of his 27-year life as a tour professional based in Southampton and was a regular visitor to nearby Stoneham Golf Club, where the club named its new halfway house in his honour last year. He now lives in Woking in Surrey, and is a member at The Wisley, where he helps keep his game shape between LIV events.

Speaking to Bland ahead of his appearance at LIV Golf’s only UK event, which once again, is being staged at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire next month, and in light of the recent merger between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Saudi PIF, which bankrolls LIV Golf, I asked him what he made of the decision and how it would impact on his schedule going forward?

“To be honest, there is still so much that we don’t know about how things will pan out that it would be foolish to even try and speculate how the golfing landscape will look next year,” he tells me. “I don’t think it will even be until 2025 that the full picture will emerge, but all I can tell you is that I’m very happy playing on the LIV circuit and will continue to do so until I am told otherwise.”

Asked whether that means that he will be applying to renew his DP World Tour membership next season and play a combined schedule, he says: “No, I’ve no plans to get back on the DP World Tour. At the stage I’m at in my career when I have to ask myself how many more DP World events am I actually going to play? I’m really happy with the schedule that we’ve got with LIV, especially with the expanded number of events we’ve had this year, and if I do need to play more there are always Asian Tour events

that I can play in, such as the one they are hosting at Close House next month.”

Bland, or rather LIV, paid up the £100,000 fine that he was issued for playing at the launch event at Centurion Club last year, although this time around there will be no fines due to having handed back his DP World membership and also because of the new alliance between the three tours. After having got to the know the course last yuear, Bland is keen to get back there and see if he can improve on the 31st place he achieved 12 months ago.

“I was very impressed with Centurion, it was a good test, with some strong holes. I remember it was quite breezy that week, which made life tough, especially on some of the holes that are more exposed around the middle part of the course, and when you came into the trees the wind was swirling around, so it was certainly a challenge. It will be interesting to see how it plays this year with the hot weather we’ve be having, so I expect it will be playing quite firm and fast, but I’m really looking forward to getting back there at what will be the first tournament venue that LIV has returned to.”

After over 25 years playing 72-hole stroke play events with a cut, Bland, like all the other LIV golfers, has had to adapt to the new 54-hole format, where there’s little time to recover from a bad start. However, without a cut, Bland says there is more time than you think to work your way into the mix.

“With any tournament, if you shoot a poor first round you’re putting yourself behind the eight ball, but with LIV you’ve at least got 36 holes to rectify it, whereas if you shoot three or four over in the first round of a traditional tour event you’re probably going home unless you’re the same under par for the second round. So yeah, it is it is a little different, but I’m enjoying it.”

While baring the Ryder Cup, team events are not part of the DP World experience, Bland is also enjoying the team format of LIV, and has built up solid bonds with his fellow Cleek GC players, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Bernd Weisberger.

“I’ve really like the team aspect of LIV,” he says. “Although we are all still playing as individuals, it’s been nice to get to know the guys on a more personal level. We all get on great and it’s been nice to spend time with them all on and off the course – playing practice rounds, having dinner and that sort of thing. We’ve got a good team spirit going and it really spurs you on to want to try to contribute to the team.”

Having just turned 50, Bland has one eye on extending his career on the over-50s circuits, but is already leaning towards the PGA Champions Tour in America rather than the Legends Tour, the European equivalent.

“Yeah, I would probably prefer America because it’s a little more competitive, and less about ProAms. Obviously, there is a bit more travel involved but a lot of European guys have gone over there and done well, so it’s something I’d defiantly consider if the opportunity arose.”

Of more immediate interest is his imminent appearance at The Open Championship at Hoylake next month, where he will be teeing it up in golf’s oldest major for what will only be the fifth time of his career. Asked what expectations he has of his return to major championship golf for the first time since last year’s Open at St Andrews, Bland says:

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure it’s going to be a great event, and I’m delighted to be a part of it. Hopefully, the weather will be kind, but given the last few weeks it’s bound to be fast and fiery. I’ll head up there the week before and get my bearings, as it’s been a long time since I last played Hoylake, but I love the challenge and the creativity required for links golf. I’m not the longest off the tee, but I can generally keep it play, so hopefully that will serve me well.”

WE ARE PLAYING AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO AS A TEAM, AND I LOVE THAT ASPECT OF THE LIV GOLF FORMAT

■ MAJOR PLAYER: BLAND IN CONVERSATION WITH FELLOW LIV GOLFER BROOKS KOEPKA

■ BLAND WON HIS ONE AND ONLY EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT AT THE BRITISH MASTERS IN 2021

Gallagher urges more clubs to install lifesaving defibrillators

Ten years after surviving a heart attack thanks to the quick response of a doctor and a defibrillator machine at an event he was attending in Aberdeen, three-time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher says it is ‘irresponsible’ for golf clubs not to have on-site defibrillators.

Figures show that as many as 400 golfers suffer heart attacks on UK golf courses every year, with heart disease currently accounting for one in four deaths in the UK. Research by insurance company Golf Care in 2019 found that around two-thirds of UK golf courses did not have a defibrillator. There are more than 2,000 golf clubs in the UK, of which fewer than 700 have officially registered details of their defibrillators on the National Golf Course Defibrillator Register.

Although progress has been made in recent years, Gallacher, an ambassador for Golf Care, is urging golf courses yet to install a defibrillator to do so now. It comes as the 74-year-old golfing legend reflects on the cardiac arrest that left him ‘medically dead’ and in a coma for a week in 2013.

Gallacher was on a hotel stage about to deliver a guest speech to an audience of golfers when suddenly he collapsed, having suffered a cardiac arrest. He said: “Luckily for me, the quick actions of a retired A&E nurse and various others in the audience saved my life. I had no pulse and was given CPR while someone accessed the hotel defibrillator. I’d always considered myself fit and healthy for my age, being a gym-regular, non-smoker, moderate drinker, and with no real underlying health issues besides slightly elevated blood pressure. Waking up in the Royal Aberdeen Infirmary a week later surrounded by my family was a shock, to say the least.”

Ten years on, Gallacher has no clear memory of the events of that night,, but has since pushed for more heart health awareness and more widespread accessibility of defibrillators, both in and out of golf.

He said: “My family and I started a campaign to encourage UK golf clubs to provide defibrillators somewhere on their premises—whether it be in the clubhouse or the ‘halfway hut’. We knew there was a high number of people suffering cardiac arrests or heart attacks on golf courses, so, naturally, it made sense.

“Defibrillators are quite simply life savers. If they can be accessed quickly enough, they can shock the heart back into its normal rhythm to give you a good chance of a complete recovery. They’re also fully automated, so they can instruct anyone how to proceed in an emergency, even if they have not been specifically trained. That said, I do think that CPR should be taught to everyone in school – everyone deserves the chance to be saved.”

The current survival rate for a cardiac arrest in the UK is very low, with just one in 10 people making it through. However, the use of both CPR and a defibrillator increases the chances of survival by more than 50%, compared to just a 9% chance of survival with CPR alone. For every minute that passes after a person suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival drop by 10%, so quick access to a defibrillator can be the difference.

Gallacher said: “Every golf club – big or small –has a duty to provide a defibrillator and educate their members on safe usage. The stats don’t lie, and more awareness is certainly needed. It is wholly irresponsible for a golf club not to have at least one on-site defibrillator in 2023 Defibrillators should be a lot more commonplace outside of golf, too. My goal is for them to be as common in society as fire extinguishers.”

Evans joins golfing greats after winning Guildford Alliance Pro Challenge Trophy

The Guildford Alliance, the Surrey-based Pro-Am series, has just completed another successful season, with over 200 golfers –including over 40 newcomers – taking part in 19 fixtures, with only one lost to bad weather.

London Golf Club and Coombe Hill were first-time hosts this season, and both proved popular with members, enjoying sell-out fields. The 2022/23 schedule also saw the introduction of a new foursomes’ competition, with professional Nico Els and amateur Peter Young winning the event, which was held at Woking in November.

The Alliance enjoyed an ‘away’ series in Bournemouth, with members playing Ferndown, Broadstone and Stoneham, and although the weather was not ideal, the event was a huge success, the Ian Golding (Kingswood) and his team of Lynton Fairman, Ian Evans and David Thoroughgood taking the team Pro-Am title, while Craig Sutherland (Poult Wood) won the pro category by one shot from David Copsey (DCGS).

Other venues for the season included Hankley Common, The Berkshire, Swinley Forest, New Zealand, West Hill, Liphook, Blackmoor and Burhill, with the season’s opening and closing events held at Walton Heath.

The championship finale was held over Walton Heath’s Old and New Courses and the Professional Challenge Trophy was won by Sian Evans (Rochester & Cobham) with a superb 36-hole score of 11 under. Sian is the first female professional to take the title, which boasts an impressive list of past winners, including Open Champions Max Faulkner, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, Alf Perry, Alf Padgham and Richard Burton – as well as former Ryder Cup players Neil Coles, Ken Bousfield and Peter Alliss, and many more leading PGA Professionals.

The Amateur Scratch Trophy was won by Lewis Smith (Sittingbourne & Milton Regis), while the seasonlong Order of Merit winners were PGA Professional Craig Sutherland (Poult Wood) and amateur Clive Talbot (Copthorne).

■ PAUL WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN OF GOLF CARE, BERNARD GALLACHER AND TRUDIE LOBBAN, FOUNDER OF THE ARRHYTHMIA ALLIANCE

WIN FREE TICKETS TO THE AIG WOMEN’S OPEN AT WALTON HEATH!

Golf News has teamed up with Toyo Tires, one of the leading partners of the AIG Women’s Open, to give away a whopping 20 pairs of tickets to attend any one day of the highlight of the women’s professional golf calendar in the UK.

Taking place from August 10-13, the AIG Women’s Open always attracts the cream of the women’s professional golf tours, with 144 players from all over the world set to tee it up on Walton Heath Golf Club’s Old Course to compete for the coveted major trophy and a prize fund of $7.3m.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai will be the defending champion after claiming her maiden major title in thrilling fashion at Muirfield last year, edging out In Gee Chun on the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off after letting slip a five-shot lead entering the final round.

An elite band of just five women have claimed victory in the championship more than once – with Karrie Webb and Sherri Steinhauer having completed the treble, while Debbie Massey, Jiyai Shin and Yani Tseng have each won it twice, the latter having achieved the double most recently in 2011, so Buhai will have to be on top of her game if she is to repeat the feat of 12 months ago.

Last year’s champion will certainly face some stiff competition with the likes of world no.1 and 2, Jin Young

Ko and Nelly Korda, in attendance, while 2018 champion Georgina Hall will also be hoping that a return to English soil will provide the chance to win for a second time.

Buhai is also looking forward to competing in front of large crowds at Walton Heath after The R&A launched an enhanced fan experience that aims to attract new and diverse audiences to the Championship to enjoy women’s golf at the very highest level. For the first time, live music will feature at the Championship with global superstar Ellie Goulding, who currently has the number one song on the Official UK Top 40 Charts alongside Calvin Harris, headlining a pop concert for fans on Saturday, August 12 following the close of play.

In addition to the headline music act, the new festival Fan Village will deliver an engaging live programming schedule throughout the week that includes player appearances and interviews, live Q&As with inspiring women, documentary screenings, live podcast recordings and more live music.

Buhai continued: “We have always had really good crowds when we have come to the UK and the AIG

Women’s Open has always been a really well supported championship, but bringing in off-course entertainment is going to attract more people, and perhaps encourage the younger generation to come and see what’s going on. Anything that makes it more fun is a fantastic way to attract new people into golf. It’s going to create some buzz around the championship and some new excitement.”

TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning one of the 20 pairs of tickets that Golf News and Toyo Tires have to give away, simply answer the question above and email info@golfnews.co.uk with the subject line ‘AIG Women’s Open Ticket Competition’. The winners will be selected at random and have the option to choose a day of their choice to attend between August 10-13. The closing date for entries is July 20, 2023.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Adult tickets for the AIG Women’s Open cost from £20 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with Saturday tickets, including entry to the Ellie Goulding concert, priced at £55. There is a £10 discount when booking a weekend bundle and a saving of £40 when booking a five-day ticket offering. Kids go free with a paying adult on all days except Saturday. For tickets, visit www.aigwomensopen.com.

A. Karrie Webb

B. Ashleigh Buhai

C. Yani Tseng

■ 2022 CHAMPION ASHLEIGH BUHAI

Barber proves a cut above at Social Golfer Par 3 Championship

Members of popular online golf network The Social Golfer travelled from all over the south-east to compete in TSG Par 3 Championship at Pedham Place Academy in Kent on June 11.

With handicaps ranging from seven to 24, and the course in excellent condition, the eighth renewal of this exciting event, which is played over 27 holes before the top six players go to a sudden death shoot out, proved a hugely enjoyable contest.

Steve Slater, John Barber, Russell Mitchell, Roger Dickson, Sam Swanscott and defending champion Mark Crane made the top six shootout, with Crane and Barber holding their nerve to reach the grand final, which required a playoff on the 18th hole.

The final was a nail-biting affair, as Crane’s tee shot fell short and right of the green, with Barber’s just on at the back, but when Crane’s chip died on him, it was left to Barber to hole-out for par and victory. It was his third Social Golfer title, after wins at the TSG Open in 2022 and the TSG Matchplay Championship in 2015.

Commenting on win, Barber said: “I never turn up to these superbly run events to win, but rather to have a great day’s golf in good company. However, a win is always welcome, and it took all I could muster to beat Mark, who put up a superb defence of his title. I look forward to defending my crown in 2024!”

New indoor golf venue opens in Wimbledon

A new indoor golf venue has opened to the public in south-west London that offers state-of-the-art technology to help golfers develop their skills, as well as enjoy simulator rounds in a relaxed and stylish environment.

The Golf Grove, which is located in the Centre Court Shopping Centre on in Wimbledon, features 12 Trackman supported hitting bays, which can be used for golfers to work on their swing or to simply enjoy family-friendly games designed to help new and inexperienced players learn the basics of the game. Callaway clubs are provided in each bay and there is a team of PGA Professionals on hand to help golfers develop their game.

The venue also offer a full custom fitting service in its data-led Callaway Performance Centre, utilising Callaway’s OptiFit Technology to deliver the best results tailored to a player’s specific needs. It also offers putter fitting sessions on a state-ofthe-art Zen Green Stage. In addition to offering the latest golf technology, the venue also boasts a stylish bar, restaurant and rooftop terrace.

To find out more, visit thegolfgroove.com or call 020 3869 9920.

Hutsby rises to the challenge in Spain

Hampshire’s Sam Hutsby came out on top in a six-man play-off to secure his first Challenge Tour title for over eight years at the Andalucía Challenge de Cádiz in Spain. The Portsmouth player carded a final round of 71 to move to a 15 under alongside Filippo Celli, Nicolai Kristensen, Jesper Svensson, Clément Berardo and Julien Sale at Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri and set of dramatic play off. Celli, Berardo and Kristensen fell at the first hurdle before Hutsby made par at the third extra hole to defeat Sale, who could only manage a bogey.

Hutsby, 34, who won the 2014 Kazakhstan Open, was delighted to secure his second Challenge Tour title and admitted to feeling confident ahead of the extra holes having won a six-man play-off at Qualifying School last year.

“My was my last win on the Challenge Tour was almost 10 years ago and most of the young guys coming through are so fearless. I got off to the worst possible start with a double bogey on the first, but I managed to get my head back down and use my experience to bounce back. I had to keep reminding myself that I was still in the tournament.

THE PLAYERS CLUB

“When it went to a playoff, I was quietly confident because I’ve won about 15 play-offs in my career. I’ve always been very confident in those situations, and I also won a six-man play-off at the second stage of Qualifying School last year. I’ve got some amazing memories in the game, but this is right up there.”

He added: “I hope to take a lot of confidence from this win. I’ve always said that the standard on the Challenge Tour is incredible and that is proved by the number of guys that go on to do so well on the DP World Tour. It’s so easy to get down in this game and my season hasn’t been going the way I would have liked until now.”

The win moved Hutsby up to 21st on the Road to Mallorca ranking, with the top 15 earning promotion to the DP World Tour at the end of the season.

The Golf News Guest Trophy was awarded to Kent golfer Dale Wilson.

LIV THE DREAM! LIV THE DREAM!

The stage is set for a full house at the stunning Centurion Club in Hertfordshire for the return of the LIV Golf Invitational Series , which has shaken up the game for players and for golf fans around the world with its unique format and focus on offering fast and furious entertainment on and off the golf course

The ground-breaking LIV Golf International Series is returning to the UK in July, with the London leg of the ground-breaking series being held at the exclusive Centurion Club in Hertfordshire from July 7-9, when a field of 48 elite international players will be coming together to compete for the only LIV Golf event being in the UK.

The players, including a host of current for former Major champions, Ryder Cup heroes, tour winners and rising stars of the game, will be competing over 54 holes for a prize fund of $25m for the ninth event of the 2023 schedule, with $4m being awarded to the winner and $16 million shared among the remaining competitors.

This same prize structure will be repeated at four other remaining tournaments in the US over the next five months, before a team final is held at Royal Green Golf & Country in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from November 3-5, where $50m will be up for grabs.

To add to the unmissable spectacle of players competing for the individual prize, the 48-strong field will also be competing in 12 designated fourman teams, with the best two scores from each of the three rounds being added up to deliver an overall team score, with $5m being split among the top three teams.

The season has seen some spectacularly exciting and close competition between the teams so far, with the all-Spanish speaking Torque GC, captained by Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, having won two events, a total matched by Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces, which is looking to reclaim the overall team title it won last year.

America’s Talor Gooch, a member of the Range Goats GC squad, is on the hunt for a treble of individual titles, after winning back-to-back events in Adelaide and Singapore, while man-the-

With a shotgun start on all three days of the tournament, and no cut, the action on the golf course promises to fast-paced and high octane, all culminating in a gripping final afternoon’s play on Sunday, where the players will be competing to grab a slice of $25m prize fund, which is split between individual and team events.

ELEVATED FAN EXPERIENCES

moment Brooks Koepka, winner of the US PGA Championship, will be looking to add to his haul of LIV Golf titles following his triumph on home turf at Orange County National in Florida in April.

There will be plenty of English players for home fans to cheer on, with Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey in the starting line-up alongside Laurie Canter and Richard Bland, while the likes of six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, reigning Open Champion Cameron Smith, two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia will also have their followers in what is a truly interational field studded with stars from all corners of the globe.

Golf fans visiting the LIV Golf – London are set to enjoy a visitor experience unlike anything offered at a pro golf event in the UK, with a range of immersive activities, entertainment and hospitality options that will provide fun for all the family, as well as ensure a memorable experience, whether you’re there for just one day or all three rounds of the tournament. Grounds passes will allow fans to walk the course, view the tournament from select viewing platforms and grant entry to the Fan Village, which is located in the heart of the action, and will provide the setting for the week’s entertainment. Open daily from 11.30am, the village is jam-packed pull of familyfriendly entertainment including the Locker Room which features sommelier tasting, a chance to test

■ LAST YEAR’S WINNER CHARL SCHWARTZEL

■ DUSTIN JONHSON WILL BE BACK IN ACTION AT CENTURION

your skills with a Zen Green Stage, golf simulators, and a family space. A special kid zone in the village will feature live science shows, a chipping challenge, ball pits, and an autograph zone for kids to capture a memory of the golfers to treasure forever. With three of the four Majestick GC team members – Poulter, Westwood, and Canter – will also be hosting a special chipping challenge throughout the three days of the golfing festival – while fans should keep eyes peeled for a star appearance!

Another unmissable stop will be the merchandise shop, located by the Fan Village, to get your hands on team swag and some exclusive LIV London merchandise to show your support for your favourite team and players in style. Die-hard fans can also head over to the LIV tattoo parlour to really represent the team - albeit temporarily with a transfer.

LIV Golf – London is not only a world-class sporting event but also promises to be a culinary adventure. With a spectacular array of food trucks and beverage stands being provided by some of the region’s leading caterers. It will offer everything ranging from highend gastronomic experiences to

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

Friday July 7 to Sunday July 9

11.30am Gates Open

Fans free to experience the Fan Village, watch the players practicing on the range and short game area, and enjoy the wide range of hospitality on offer.

2.15pm Shotgun Start

The entire 48-player field, playing in groups of four, tee off at the same time, for all three days, offering an all-action four-hour passage of play. Sunday’s final round start time is 2.05pm.

6.30pm Après Golf

Introducing a lively post-round hospitality experience in the Birdie Shack bar, with free concers being staged by award-winning artists DJ Snake (Friday) and Alesso (Saturday).

TICKETS - GROUNDS PASSSES

Grounds passes allow fans to watch the action from select viewing platforms on the course, and grant entry to the Fan Village for great food, drink and interactive fun, as well as live entertainment before, during and after the day’s play. There is free entry for those age 12 and under, when with an adult with a ticket.

Prices: Fri £35, Sat £38, Sun £40 or £99 for all three days.

HOSPITALITY PACKAGES

finger-licking street foods. Visitors will also be treated to numerous beverage stands selling coffee, craft beer, artisanal cocktails, freshly squeezed juices, and more in the tournament Fan Village and around the venue.

After the conclusion of the golfing action, which will be around 6.30pm, fans can look forward to entertainment from a series of free concerts after the first two rounds, with French musical maestro DJ Snake, best known for global smash hits including Turn Down for What, Let Me Love You, Lean On and Taki Taki, taking to the main stage on Friday. Then on Saturday, the multi-platinum and world-famous Alesso, responsible for megahits Heroes, (we could be), Words (featuring Zara Larsson), and When I’m Gone (with Katy Perry), will perform for fans, with open admission to the Birdie Shack hospitality for all ticket holders.

The air-conditioned Gallery Club offers views over the 15th tee and 16th green and the Fanzone and features an all-day grazing buffet menu and unlimited beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. A popular location for socialising with friends or entertaining clients, the price per person is Fri £265, Sat £260, Sun £245 (all prices +VAT).

BIRDIE SHACK

The party will be in full flow all day long at the Birdie Shack, a covered open-air venue with great views over the 4th green. The package includes a live DJ, bar and party vibes. Packages start from £120pp per day to include a grounds pass, vouchers for three free drinks (beer, wine, soft drinks) and access to a range of food vendors (for purchase) or upgrade to the Birdie Shack Sky Box (£181 per day) for all the same offerings with an all-inclusive bar and wait service.

CLUB 54

Club 54 provides an exclusive premium experience for fans looking for the best of the best. Enjoy a handcrafted drink with your private viewing of the players warming up on the practice range, Then head on over to an exclusive viewing terrace right on the 18th green. Indulge in the chefcreated multi-course selection of local seasonal fare. VIP parking included. Fri £605, Sat £580, Sun £520 (all prices +VAT).

DISCOUNT & FREE TICKETS

There are special ticket offers are available for select groups, including free entry for children aged 15 and under attending with a ticketholding adult, and 25% discounts for students, teachers, doctors, nurses, and members of the emergency services. Free tickets will also be offered to those currently serving in the Armed Forces. All discounted tickets must be ordered in advance by emailing discounts@livgolftickets.com.

ORDER ONLINE TODAY!

Tickets and hospitality packages are limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tickets.livgolf.com.

■ BIG CROWDS ARE EXPECTED TO COME AND WATCH THE LIKES OF MAJOR CHAMPION PHIL MICKELSON IN ACTION

■ DJ SNAKE WILL BE PERFORMING A FREE LIVE SET AFTER GOLF ON FRIDAY NIGHT

GALLEY CLUB

CENTURION COURSE GUIDE

With its combination of tree-lined holes, water hazards, fast greens and hard-to-reach pins, Centurion’s 7,064-yard course looks sure to test every facet of the LIV Golf –London’s high class field

CARD OF THE COURSE

While the LIV Golf Series, with its popular 54-hole format, 48-player field, team element and shotgun start, was a new format for tournament golf when it launched last year, the course that this exclusive group of players will be taking on is certainly no stranger to testing the game’s elite.

It was perhaps fitting that Centurion staged the revolutionary GolfSixes event in 2017 and 2018, which not only introduced the golfing world to a faster, more exciting alternative to 72-hole stroke play tournaments, but also alerted the world to the quality of the venue, with many of the players that took part in those events coming away wanting more tour events to be held at the club in the future. And they had their wish when LIV Golf chose to kick off its first ever event at the Hertfordshire club last June.

While many courses lay their claim to fame on a handful of good holes, it’s as hard as it is unfair to single out any one hole at Centurion, given the quality and variety of the challenges on offer. First opened in 2013, the Simon Gidmandesigned course was built to host tournament golf and provides a stunning mix of woodland and parkland holes that will examine every shot in

a golfer’s armoury. With the back tees stretching the course to 7,064 yards, and having a par of just 70 for the tournament – it has enough length to test the best, without making it a slog, with plenty of opportunities to open the shoulders, but also requiring careful course management in order to attack some of those tucked-away pins.

The layout begins in an attractive area of pine woodland on the western edge of the 250-acre site, where the opening five holes cut a green swathe through the tree line. A sweeping 492yard right-to-left par four opens up proceedings nicely, before switching into a stunning parthree, where a raised green protected by bunkers provides a tricky target from 180 yards. This is followed by a superb 432-yard par four, which swings right to left, with a greedy bunker guarding the corner of the dogleg.

After the beautiful par-three fifth – a 165-yard downhiller to a flat green with little margin for error on all sides – the course opens out over more rolling terrain, although thanks to sizeable

mounds between the fairways, a sense of individuality is maintained for almost every hole, while offering excellent viewing grounds for fans.

The 466-yard sixth is a really testing par four, with a big drive required to bring a flag that is hidden behind a raised bank into play, while the 513-yard ninth, which will play as a par four this week, introduces the first of four significant water hazards, although the toughest of them is probably the 12th, a 422-yard par four which features a pond fronting the putting surface to catch under-hit approaches.

The 208-yard 14th is as testing a par three as you’ll find, playing uphill all the way to a raised green that has trees back, right and left, and bunkers at the front, while the 136-yard 17th is another stunning short hole, with two trees standing like sentries behind the green, while water lurks to catch anything hit long and left.

The holes have all Latin names, such as Alma Mater, Pro Forma and Hydro, to reflect the Roman history of the local area, and the course closes with the aptly named Ad Infinitum, a 559-yard, par-five whose green is protected by a large lake bounded by a stone wall to the right. Played right in front of the clubhouse, it’s a fitting finale to a thoroughly entertaining course that will offer plenty of thrills and spills for players and spectators alike.

Prepared to tournament specifications, the course boasts arguably some of the best putting surfaces to be found anywhere in the country. Built on sand, the bent grass surfaces are like carpets – fast, true and firm, yet receptive to the right kind of shot.

IN BLOOM ROSE

Long talked about as a future global golfing superstar, former world no.1 women’s amateur Rose Zhang burst onto the LPGA Tour last month when the 20-year-old American won the Mizuho Americas Open in her very first event playing as a professional. More titles and more fame look certain. A lot more.

What were expectations coming into your first event as a pro? Did you really think that you had a chance of winning it?

The short answer is ‘no’. I honestly didn’t even expect to make the cut, and the reason why I say this is because I don’t think about my expectations a lot. I think about playing the golf course. I think about trying to shoot the best score that I can. Obviously, I have frustrations, disappointments with my game, but I never once think about where I should or might finish. So with that mindset, the expectation for me winning did not even cross my mind. I was just playing my game. I was having a good time out there. This is the game that I love, and I’m so thankful to be doing it as a professional now and hopefully getting paid to do it!

It took Annika Sorenstam 34 starts to win her first LPGA Tour event, Lorena Ochoa 33, and Lydia Ko ten. You do it first time out. How do you put your achievement into perspective against those great players?

First of all, I did not know that stat, but that’s just so cool. To be honest, I really don’t think about the stats, and certainly not about when and where I should be winning tournaments, but to know I’m in a good place is just amazing. I just want to keep improving and doing better and we’ll see what the future holds. For now, I’m just soaking it all in.

What factors affected the timing of your decision to turn pro?

At the beginning of my college career in 2021, I told my coach that I wanted to pursue professional golf in the future, but I didn’t know whether it would be after I’d finished my degree or whether it would be during my time at college, but one thing is for sure: I wanted to finish my degree.

The second factor was that I wanted to see how well I played in college golf. I believe that if you’re not able to conquer one stage, then you won’t be able to go on to the next one. College golf has turned out well, so I thought, okay, now I can see where the trend is going. I see that I have the potential to move to the next stage, so I think it’s time to make a plan to make that happen.

I’ve had great support from the people around me in coming to this decision – my family, agents, coaches, all of them have had their input. I’ve taken their advice very seriously, and from there I ultimately decided that it was time for the next stage and here we are. Being able to turn pro while still being at college and finishing my degree is the ideal result.

You’ve struck up a friendship with Michelle Wie, who you’ve said that you’ve always been inspired by her achievements in and outside the game. What does it mean to have that support coming through the ranks, and now as you enter the professional part of your career?

Michelle has been a massive influence on women’s golf and a huge mentor for me. For her to come out and support me is just so incredible. She’s just such a great person to have as a friend and someone to turn to. She was actually one of the main influences behind my decision to turn pro while still at university. She was at Stanford too, and has done it before, and she told me that I could definitely do it. That gave me the confidence to try it. Seeing her standing by the 18th green brought me to tears. She gave me some great advice before the final round, via a text, she told me just to have fun, go out there, and get the job done. I’m really thankful for everything she’s done for me over many years.

Did your experience of winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in March help you grind it out to win the play-off at the Mizunho Americas Championship?

It’s quite interesting, because I feel like once I finished on 18 and signed my scorecard I knew I was going back out there. It felt exactly like the Augusta National. Even though playoffs are never comfortable, I felt like it was such a familiar position that I’ve been in before that when I

went out there, there wasn’t any other thoughts other than the next shot. So, yeah, when I went out there with Jennifer [Kupcho], and all I was thinking about was ‘hit the fairway, hit the green, try to make the putt’. Very simple, but that’s ultimately all I was thinking about.

You’re already being looked at as a role model for kids younger than you to bring them into the game. When did you first feel like you had a platform, and what’s been the best advice you’ve been given on how to use it?

I will say I’ve started realising my influence on juniors in my area, especially playing AJGA and playing Rolex TOC, being Rolex Player of the Year twice. In my last Rolex TOC event I was 17 and there were a bunch of 12, 13 year olds just entering the AJGA scene. They asked for my signature, and it was quite a shock because I’m in the same tournament as them. But that’s when I first realised that, hey, people know me. It’s important to be a good role model, as they are pretty much watching your every move to gain inspiration.

How do you switch the mindset from playing as amateur one week to playing as the pro the next or are you still in a transition phase somewhere in between?

The transition has only just started, but I’m trying to make that switch between the two as quick and as seamless as I can. I will say that this has been an incredible experience so far, but going forward, I understand that there are going to be a few bumps in the road, and I’m expecting a lot of obstacles that I’ll have to face, but I’m just going to continue to learn from inside the ropes.

You seem very relaxed and calm on the golf course. Is this how you are generally or is it some sort of Zen golf-mode?

For the most part, I would say I have a very chilled, calm demeanour. I don’t have too many ups and downs in terms of my personality. I think being able to be the lay low kind of person compared to my friends and the people around me is my character trait. There was this joke in my first year at college, although my teammates would probably not agree with me now, but everyone thought that I was dead inside and that I just don’t show any emotion. I kind of played along with it as I thought it was funny, but I do kind of lije to keep things contained.

Have you set yourself any goals on what you might achieve over the remaining pro tournaments you have this year?

I don’t really have any expectations in terms of performance. It’s more of understanding what I need to do as a professional. I have four majors to play in and maybe four other events, so I just need to learn how to take care of myself, my golf game, find out what works well for at every event that I’m playing in. I think the struggles that some players have competing on the LPGA Tour mostly relate to the lifestyle and the dynamic of travelling and playing for a living rather than just a hobby. I think I’ll be having to work out my time management, and how to make that work for me.

You’ve been playing Callaway equipment since you were 13. How has it been to have their support during your amateur days and now that you’re a pro?

WHAT’S IN ROSE’S BAG?

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond LS (9°)

3-wood: Callaway Rogue ST LS (13.5°, 18°)

Hybrids: Callaway Paradym (21°)

Irons: Callaway Apex 21 (5-AW)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (54°, 58°)

Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Double Wide Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

I’ve used Callaway clubs and balls in every one of my wins since I was a junior, and that gives me so much confidence when I’m out on the course, knowing that it works for me and that I feel comfortable with it. I switched straight into the new Paradym driver when it came available to me, and I’m really happy with my Rogue ST fairway woods and all the rest of my equipment right now.

■ ZHANG WAS RATED THE WORLD’S TOP FEMALE AMATEUR FOR A RECORD 143 WEEKS BEFORE SHE DECIDED TO TURN PRO

■ ZHANG WON AN LPGA TOUR EVENT AT HER VERY FIRST ATTEMPT AS A PRO

STORY BEHIND THE PIC

TIGER WOODS, THE 135TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB • JULY 23, 2006

Tiger Woods arrived at Hoylake in the long, hot summer of 2006 on the back of chalking up his first ever missed cut in a major after shooting back-to-back 76s in the US Open. That hurt a man who back then, aged 31, felt that every major golf championship was his to lose – a belief that was drilled into him from boyhood by his father, Earl, who had passed away just two months earlier.

Determined to put his lacklustre performance at Winged Foot behind him, Woods stepped out onto the burnished links at Royal Liverpool with a clear game plan. Stay in the fairway and out of the bunkers. Nothing else mattered.

In 2000, when Woods won his first ever Claret Jug, he avoided every bunker at the Old Course at St Andrews. Could lightning strike twice, and enable him to do the same at Hoylake, another course famed for its treacherous hazards?

And while it was a plan that, before the off, seemed unlikely to yield a hatful of birdies and eagles, it also avoided the possibility of the card-wrecking 6s and 7s that can take you out of a tournament before it has properly started.

With the course baked as hard as the M1, and the ball rolling out on the fairways like a marble on ice, even keeping the ball in play with an iron off the tee was no mean feat. But once again, Tiger proved he’s doubters wrong. In a record first round of low scoring – 59 players shot under par – he opened up with a 5-under 67 to sit just one off the pace set by the course record-breaking Graeme McDowell, who fired a 66.

Using the driver just once – at the par-five 16th hole – Tiger put his trust in his 3-wood and 2-iron to get him within range of Hoylake’s well-guarded greens and let his mastery with the wedge and golden touch with the putter do the rest.

Friday’s second round saw Tiger in total control of his golf ball as he stormed into the lead with a near-faultless 65, which included an outrageous eagle on the par-4 14th hole from over 200 yards out. Sitting at -12 for 36 holes, Tiger was just a shot in front of Ernie Els, who matched his 65, with Chris

DiMarco two shots further back with a 65 of his own.

Saturday - Moving Day - saw Tiger maintain his one-shot lead with a steady 71, but Els, DiMarco and Sergio García, who fired a third round 65, were ready to pounce should Woods wobble.

Woods wobble? Not a chance. He barely batted an eye as he strode imperiously around Hoylake on Sunday’s final round, twirling his club after virtually every shot en route to a masterful 67, an 18-under-par total, and a two-shot win over DiMarco. Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, Woods never missed a beat, and never once found the sand. Indeed, such was the level of perfection, that Nick Faldo, who knows a thing or two about links golf, described it as ‘masterclass of tactitional golf’.

After sinking the winning putt, Woods slumped into the arms of his caddie, Steve Williams, and the tears flowed as he remembered the father who had inspired and driven him to this point in his career.

“I’m kind of the one who bottles things up a little bit and moves on, tries to deal with things in my own way,” Tiger said during his championship press conference. “But at that moment it just came pouring out and of all the things that my father has meant to me and the game of golf, and I just wish he could have seen it one more time.”

For a man with 15 major wins – although only two since 2006 – and over 80 other tournament victories – Hoylake will always hold a special place in Tiger’s heart. It was a celebration and a memorial in a profound sense to his relationship with Earl, a man who successfully guided his son from a child prodigy to a full-blown global superstar that transformed the sport of golf.

“Dad was always on my case about thinking my way around the golf course and not letting emotions get the better of you, because it’s so very easy to do in this sport,” Woods recalled. “And just use your mind to plot your way around the golf course and if you had to deviate from the game plan, make sure it is the right decision to do that. Dad was very adamant I play like that my entire playing career.”

Sadly, Woods won’t be at Hoylake this year to try and recreate some of those spell-binding shots he pulled off in 2006, as he tries to recover from yet another careerthreatening injury, but no-one who was lucky enough to witness those four magical days on the Wirral will ever forget what it is to be in the presence of greatness.

HOYLAKE AHOY!

With over 250,000 fans set to descend on the Wirral next month as the 151st Open Championship roles into Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the stage is set for a grandstand finish to golf’s major season.

But who will be left holding the Claret Jug once the dust has settled? Nick Bayly examines the likely lads to enjoy their moment in the sun

After hosting one of the most visited Open Championships in history in 2014, the people of West Wirral are once again eagerly awaiting the arrival of golf’s best players, anxious to see how Royal Liverpool Golf Club stands up to the onslaught of modern technology and today’s big-hitting stars.

The organisers of this year’s championship are expecting a crowd in excess of a quarter-ofa-million over the four days of the tournament, which tees off on July 20 and comes to its typically dramatic conclusion on July 23. With just a month to go before the player’s arrive, most of the grandstands are in place, and

there is a real buzz around the club, which has hosted golf’s blue riband event on 12 previous occasions – the most recently nine years ago when Rory McIlroy notched up his fourth and, unbelievably, his most recent Major victory, and before that in 2006, when Tiger Woods romped to the 11th of his 15 major titles over the sunbaked links.

Few will forget the long, hot summer of 17 years ago, when a fully fit Tiger blazed the trail with his two-iron to capture his third Claret Jug before collapsing in the arms of his then caddy, Steve Williams, as memories of his father, Earl, who had died just weeks before, came flooding back.

As things currently stand, Woods’s ability to defend the title he won in 2006 remains very much in doubt, with the former world No.1 having already dropped out of the PGA Championship and the US Open as he continues to recover from the ankle operation he had in April just days after he limped out of the Masters.

Even at 47, Woods’ absence is keenly felt at the Majors, but it will be even more of a loss to the venue where he triumphed in such spectacular fashion – albeit almost two decades ago. Whether he recovers in time or not, the world keeps on turning, and the 156 competitors that do eventually make the line up won’t be too concerned as there’s a Claret Jug to be won, and a $15 million prize fund to battle for, with or without the living legend in attendance.

As with all majors these days over the last decade or so, McIlroy finds himself at the top of the most betting lists at 8-1, despite his lengthy drought in professional golf’s biggest events, but it will be brave bookie who lengthens his odds now that he’s back on winning soil, albeit such a long time ago. Rory’s fans have had their patience stretched to the very limit of late, with the 34-year-old having notched up no fewer than 18 top-10 finishes in the last 31 majors that he has competed in since 2014, including top-five finishes in the four of the last six Opens. Quite what he has to do to drag himself over the line only he knows, but his tendency to chuck in a poor round at the start or the end of a championship has certainly cost him dearly of late. Attempts to treat majors as just ‘regular’ events has clearly failed, and I fear for his sanity should he finish just out of the frame this time around.

These days, the lowest odds are also reserved for Jon Rahm (8-1), who has recorded seven top-10s in his last 17 majors and is coming off the back of winning the Masters in April. Although his ridiculously hot form has cooled of late, the swashbuckling Spaniard cannot be ruled out from proceedings on a course that will suit his game. A brilliant shot maker, he will have to be in complete control of his Callaway ball over Hoylake’s bone-dry fairways, and have a hot week with the putter, if he is to chalk up the third title of a career major grand slam, but he can be guaranteed not to leave anything out there.

My other big fancy is Viktor Hovland (25-1), Norway’s second-best sporting export behind Erling Haaland, who is destined to make as big an impact in golf as his countryman is doing in football. His recent win at the Memorial Tournament, on the back of his second place in the PGA Championship and 7th in the Masters, points to a man who is getting more comfortable on the game’s biggest stages. He got unlucky at the PGA, with a bad lie in a bunker derailing his chances in his battle against Brooks Koepka, but he’s got the game to win on any course and a relaxed temperament that borders on Zen.

And then there’s the defending champion, Cameron Smith (20-1), who is only being offered at such generous odds because he has been plying his trade on the LIV Golf circuit following his victory at St Andrews 11 months ago. Otherwise, he would surely be vying for favouritism. With no

CAMERON SMITH IS SET

■ RORY MCILROY IS BIDDING TO END A NINE-YEAR WINLESS RUN IN THE MAJORS THAT GOES BACK TO HIS VICTORY AT ROYAL LIVERPOOL IN 2014

recent form to go on in 72-hole events baring a ninth place in the PGA Championship and 34th at the Masters, Smith is something of a dark horse despite his immense and well-known talent and 20-1 seems like an each-way steal. A win at a LIV event last September shows that he still has the competitive fire in his belly, and he will be going all out to try and become the first player to retain the Claret Jug since Tiger Woods in 2005-6. And you can’t ignore the chances of the winning machine that is Scottie Scheffler. The 25-year-old American has gone from zero to six PGA Tour wins in 15 months, won his first major championship title at last year’s Masters, and is now routinely among the favourites at every major. The current world no.1’s game can travel almost anywhere and that includes links golf, as he showed when he finished 8th at Royal St George’s and 21st at St Andrews in his first two attempts at The Open. Could he knock on the door of another major in 2023? You bet he can –at odds of 10-1.

■ VIKTOR HOVLAND HAS BEEN KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH

THE STAGE IS SET FOR A GRANDSTAND FINISH TO GOLF’S MAJOR SEASON

THE OPEN @ ROYAL LIVERPOOL BY NUMBERS

1869The year that Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also widely known as Hoylake, was founded. For the first seven years of its existence the land on which the course was laid out was also used a horse racing track, which is honoured today with the hole names ‘Course’ and ‘Stand’. The layout of the racecourse is still visible, bordering the 3rd and 18th holes – while the saddling bell can be found in the clubhouse.

As for the Hoylake course itself, the world’s elite will find several changes to the layout Rory tamed in 2014, including one completely new hole – the par 3 17th – on a course which is just 29 yards longer than it was nine years ago, up from 7,312 yards to 7,341. As with 2006 and 2014, The R&A has rearranged the normal order of the holes so that the final hole is the 16th, with the original 17th and 18th holes being used as the first and second holes for the duration of the championship. The reason for the redirection is that, as viewers of the 1967 Open will recall, the 560-yard, par five 16th has always had the potential to be a classic finishing hole, with outof-bounds all the way down the right-hand side of the dogleg to offer the chances of disasters and eagles in equal measure.

Although it is not one of the longer layouts on the championship rota, Hoylake has plenty of other defences to protect its par, especially if the wind gets up, which it is apt to do on this stretch of the Lancashire coast.

The set-up will ensure that whoever walks off the 18th with the Claret Jug under his arm will be a deserving champion and will join some exceptionally hallowed company.

YOUR

GUIDE TO VISITING THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

TICKETS

Tickets for all four competition days have sold out in advance. For returns, visit theopen.com

HOSPITALITY Hospitality, which comes with an entrance ticket, are still available, with prices starting from £275+VAT for The Links Club, which is located to the left of the 4th hole and just a short walk from a reserved seat in the 18th green grandstand. Access to the Links Pavilion is included, although food and drink is offered on a pay basis.

OPENING TIMES

Gates open at 7am on practice days, 6am on July 20-21, and 7am on July 22-23.

GETTING TO THE OPEN

• By road from the South: Exit the M6 at junction 20a and join the M56 signed for Chester. Leave the M56 at junction 15 • and join the M53 heading towards Birkenhead.

• Park & Ride: Park & Ride facilities (£10 Sun-Tues, £15 Thurs-Sun) will be operating a short distance from the course. There are no public car parks adjacent to the course and those arriving by car without a reserved car park label should use the Park & Ride facilities.

• By rail: Passengers travelling via Lime Street Station, Liverpool, should change onto the Merseyrail Wirral Line for trains to West Kirby. Alight at Hoylake and follow the signs. A special service will be running throughout the tournament.

IF YOU’RE STAYING AT HOME

Sky Sports Golf will have live TV coverage of the championship for all four days, while BBC Radio 5 Live will have full radio coverage.

12The number of times that Royal Liverpool has hosted The Open. The first, in 1897, was won by the host club’s Harold Hilton, who was an amateur, who also won the title in 1892. Frenchman Arnaud Massey became the first non-Briton to win the championship when he won at Royal Liverpool in 1907.

39The longest gap in years between staging of The Open at Royal Liverpool. After renewals in 1913, ‘24, ‘30, ‘36, ‘47 and ‘56, it dropped off the rota following Roberto do Vicenzo’s victory in 1967, when the R&A considered that the club didn’t have the necessary infrastructure to host the championship. It was reinstated in 2006when Tiger Woods won, and returned in 2014, when Rory McIlroy won the most recent of his four majors.

7,341The length of the course in yards. It measured 6,995 yards for the Open in 1967, 7,258 yards in 2006, and 7,312 yards in 2014.

1

The number of times Tiger Woods used his driver during his victory at Royal Liverpool in 2006. He used it on the par5 16th hole during his first round and then never used it again. He finished the championship on 12 under par.

2

The number of shots over par that Peter Thomson was when he won the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in 1956. The Australian shot rounds of 70, 70, 72 and a three-over-par final round 74 to finish three shots clear of Belgian Flory Van Donck. It was Thomson’s third consecutive Open victory, following wins at Birkdale in ‘56 and St Andrews in’ 57.

17The penultimate hole on the course will be a new challenge for Open players, with the par-3 Little Eye having only been completed in 2021. Named after one of the three small islands in the Dee Estuary beyond its elevated green, it only measures 139 yards, but swirling winds will make club selection very tricky.

607The longest number of yards that the par-five 18th hole will play following the introduction of a new back tee. In 2014, the final hole measured 551 yards.

230,000

The number of people who attended The Open in 2014. This year’s renewal is expected to be attended by a record-breaking 260,000, only this time all season and day tickets have been pre-sold through a ballot.

HOLE-BY-HOLE GUIDE

TO ROYAL LIVERPOOL

7,312 yards, par 72

8

1

Royal, 458 yards, par 4

A tough opening hole, with bunkers left and right at around the 280-marker. Out of bounds lurks off the right. The right side of the fairway gives a view of the kidneyshaped green as it angles away to the left between bunkers. In 2014 a lot of the players took an iron from the tee short of the left-hand bunker.

2

Briars, 437 yards, par 4

The 8th requires a blind tee shot over bushes to a fairway protected by gorse on the left and a bunker down the right. Miss the trouble and you are left with a straightforward second into a large and accommodating green protected by three bunkers.

9

Stand, 453 yards, par 4

The 18th on the original layout features classic Hoylake bunkering. A new tee adds 18 yards to the length, while three fairway bunkers guard the landing area – one left, two right – but the hole still requires an accurate tee shot and a precise approach to a green that features three front bunkers.

3

Course, 514 yards, par 4

Played as the opening hole by members, ‘Course’ is flanked by internal out-of-bounds down its right-hand side, competitors can fly the corner of the dog-leg off the tee, but might run out of fairway. It is safer to hit an iron and then flight the second over the edge of the practice ground to a green positioned close to the out-of-bounds, but which features no bunkers.

4

Road, 366 yards, par 4

An early birdie opportunity here, as although there are bunkers guarding the left side of the fairway at this short par four, a decent drive down the right will leave a flick with a wedge to a slightly raised green that falls away from front to back.

5

Long, 514 yards, par 5

A big left-swinging dogleg that will throw up its fair share of birdies and bogeys. The tee shot at the shortest of the course’s three par 5s needs to be threaded between gorse on the left and bunkers right. With a favourable wind, players can expect to be playing mid irons to a tricky two-tiered green.

6

New, 199 yards, par 3

With the prevailing wind against and from the right, the first of the four short holes should offer plenty of thrills and spills. It plays slightly uphill to an elevated green guarded by three bunkers at the front and features slopes off left and back. Wherever the flag is located most players will aim for the centre of the green and hope to get lucky with their putter.

7

Telegraph, 479 yards, par 4

Another tight driving hole which will require perfect positioning to avoid rough on both sides of the fairway. A new tee added 27 yards in 2014, and now requires a 250-yard carry just to find the fairway, but those confident to hit a driver will be left with a short iron to a smallish green which is partially hidden and guarded by two bunkers front left.

14

Dowie, 215 yards, par 3

The second short hole requires accurate club selection, as the wind often blows directly from behind. A gully down the left is to be avoided, because it leaves a slippery pitch or putt over the top and down to the flag. The right-hand bunker, which was reduced in size for the 2014 championship, is designed to gather tee shots that leak down that side. If the ground is firm, players will need to land the ball well short of the green to attack a front pin, with two front bunkers making the entrance narrow.

10

Hilbre, 454 yards, par 4

Hilbre offers a sharp right-to-left dogleg with an absolute ‘must-find’ fairway. The corner of the dogleg is well bunkered, as is the bail out area on the right. The small green is banked up on the left but drops away into a hollow on the right.

15

Far, 503 yards, par 4

From being one of the easiest holes in 2014, when it was a par-5, ‘Far’ is a par-4 for the Open and is now one of the most difficult. The drive is fairly innocuous, however placement in the wrong position can leave difficult lies for the second shot, which will probably be with a long iron at best. A large mound in the middle of the fairway can also obstruct views to the green, which is slightly raised and has a very steep run-off area to the left, and an even deeper bunker to the right.

11

Field, 614 yards, Par 5

The 15th, previously the 16th in past Opens, has been significantly lengthened since 2014 and now plays over 600 yards, and if the wind is into the players’ faces, the hole can become quite intimidating from the tee. Finding a fairway bunker makes par a tough ask, but hitting the fairway certainly brings birdie into the equation. A lay-up is almost more difficult in some instances than going for the green, with a tight portion of fairway in the ideal wedge spot and a bunker lying in wait to the left. If they can reach, most players will have a go at the green, or play an aggressive lay-up to the right 60 yards short of the green. A number of bunkers line the left of the green and entry from right is the ideal angle, again suiting a player who can shape the ball right to left if having a crack from the fairway.

16

Punch Bowl, 388 yards, par 4

Lake, 456 yards, par 4

A long hole that can play even longer than its usual yardage, many players will lay back short of fairway bunkers on both sides and leave themselves well over 200 yards into the green. The green suits a running shot and welcomes low ball flights that enter through the mouth of the green, with bunkers left and right. However, a cross bunker 50 yards short can come into play if entering the green from the wrong angle. The surface itself is very big and requires deft touch to navigate successfully.

17

Dee, 444 yards, par 4

The first of four holes running along the shore, Punch Bowl is quite short, but usually plays into the wind. The fairway narrows at the 280-yard mark to leave a small target off the tee. The approach is fairly narrow and tight, so the shorter the club in the players’ hands the better. Depending on pin placement, players can be aggressive in trying to make a birdie, but trouble awaits on both sides, with bunkers flanking the entrance to the green and difficult and steep swales to the left making for a tough up and down. 12

The hardest hole in 2014, Dee features a sloping fairway that throws the ball off to the right –towards a trio of bunkers – as the hole turns left to a raised green. Normally played straight into the wind, it’s a long hole, with a big drive required to leave a mid-iron into a slightly raised green. Pins at the front are very accessible where the green is at its widest, but the further back the flag, the tougher the shot.

13

Little Eye, 134 yards, Par 3

Alps, 191 yards, par 3

Alps is one of the toughest short holes on the Open rota, with the green set well back into sandhills that block the left side. The back-left pin position is particularly challenging and any shot that comes up short will leave a difficult up-and-down. A swale separates the back of the green and the dune beyond, while a bunker to the right and a gnarly hill add further to the difficulty.

Dun,

611 yards, par 5

At just 140 or so yards, ‘Little Eye’, Hoylake’s newest hole, requires as much as a 5-iron as a little as a gap wedge, depending on the wind. Playing directly towards the sea, a raised infinity green is surrounded by a sea of bunkers and sandy waster areas, and huge fall-off areas to all sides, provide a striking scene. Any miss will leave a devilishly difficult up and down. Once on the green, the undulations are considerable. 18

The back tee has been moved back around 50 yards since 2014 and significantly further right, while the out of bounds down the right-hand side has been moved 20 yards further left. The fairway now appears just a handful of yards wide from the tee, particularly with a necessary carry of 240 yards to reach the fairway and dangerous bunkers down the left. A brave tee shot is required, however, if players have any ambitions of a closing eagle, as the out of bounds is more in play for the second shot too as the hole curves to the right. On the approach, numerous bunkers surround the green, with the three on the left particularly likely to come into play for those bailing out to the left.

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RORY’S LA STORY CLARK SPOILS

Rory McIlroy’s nine-year search for a fifth major will move on to the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool next month after he was beaten by one shot by little-known American Wyndham Clark in the 123rd US Open held at the ultra-exclusive Los Angeles Country Club

Wyndham Clark, whose only previous tour win had come at last month’s Wells Fargo Championship, carded a level-par 70 to finish on -10 and claim his first major title at what was only the 29-year-old American’s seventh attempt, having missed the cut in four of them with a highest placed finished of 75th.

McIlroy, playing in his 58th major, but without a win since 2014, trailed Clark and Rickie Fowler by one shot going into the final round at Los Angeles Country Club, and after a birdie at the first, was soon tied for the lead. But that was to be his last birdie of the day as a cold putter, and a costly bogey on the 14th, left him marooned on level par, and agonisingly short of major redemption.

“I’m right there, it’s such fine margins. I’m getting closer,” said McIlroy, after recording his third runner-up finish in a major. “The more I keep putting myself in these positions, sooner or later it’s going to happen for me. When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet. I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship.”

Having put himself into such a strong position to win, McIlroy’s only possible regret will be that he was unable to exert enough pressure on Clark on a day when he found more greens in regulation than any other player.

“There are a couple of things I will rue,” he added.

“The chip on 14 being one. It was really hard to get the ball close, but I hung in there and just didn’t quite get the job done. I will keep coming back until I get another one.”

None of this should, however, take away from the achievement of Clark, currently ranked 32 in the world, who repeatedly belied his lack of major championship experience to announce himself on one of the game’s biggest stages in fine style. Time after time he was able to limit the damage when he missed fairways and greens, including at the eighth, where after taking two attempts to play out of rough to the left of the green he was able to chip to three feet to ensure he dropped only one shot.

“That up and down for bogey was probably the key to the tournament,” said Clark, who becomes the fifth successive player to win their first major at the US Open.

Clark also worked himself out of another tricky situation at the par-three ninth, holing a downhill seven-foot putt to salvage par after hitting his tee shot into the rough on the edge of a greenside bunker. Dropped shots on 15 and 16 revived the possibility of late drama, but a visibly emotional Clark, who had poignantly talked of wanting to win for his late mother, Lise, who died of breast cancer in 2013, hugged caddie John Ellis and family members on the 18th green after parring the last to seal his victory.

“I just feel like it was my time. I have dreamed of this moment for so long and there are so many times I have visualised being here in front of you guys and winning this championship.”

That the championship turned into a two-horse race for most of final day was mainly down to joint third round leader Rickie Fowler’s surprising and early capitulation, with the Californian, who was bidding to win his first major at his 48th attempt, slipping tamely away with three bogeys in the first seven holes. Four further dropped shots on the back nine saw the 34-year-old, who, along with Xander Schauffele, had opened the week with record-breaking 62s, finish with a 75 and a share of fifth place.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler continued to show admirable consistency to take third, three shots behind the winner, after a closing 70, while Open champion Cam Smith took solo fourth after shooting a 67. Tommy Fleetwood, who made the cut by the minimum margin, enjoyed a fine weekend, shooting rounds of 70 and 63 to fly up into a share of fifth place, with only a missed four-foot birdie putt at the last robbing him of the chance to join the 62 Club.

World number two Jon Rahm, who cut a frustrated figure for much of the week, signed for a five-under 65 to finish at three under in a tie for 10th alongside Brooks Koepka. Defending US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick finished in a tied for 17th and left the somewhat quirky Hollywood course probably hoping, like many in the field, that the USGA will probably decide not to bring the championship back here again for a long, long time – if ever.

■ IN THE SHADE – RICKIE FOWLER LED GOING INTO FINAL ROUND BUT DROPPED AWAY WITH A CLOSING 75

CELEBRATES

■ LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB CAME IN FOR HEAVY CRITICISM FROM MANY PLAYERS

RORY

HOPES OF WINNING UNRAVELLED AT THE

WHEN HIS BALL PLUGGED IN THE FACE OF A BUNKER RESULTING IN A COSTLY BOGEY

MINT POLOS THE COOLEST SHORT SLEEVE SUMMER SHIRTS

TRIED & TESTED EVNROLL V SERIES PUTTER NEW BALLS, PLEASE! YOUR GUIDE TO CALLAWAY'S COMPREHENSIVE BALL RANGE

PARADYM SHIFT

The inside track on why Callaway's new driver is dominating the global pro tours

THE GEAR EFFECT

INSIDE THE BAG OF THE LATEST WINNERS ON TOUR

EMILIANO GRILLO

CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9°)

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Rogue 3-wood (13.5°)

HYBRID: Callaway Apex (20°)

IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)

WEDGES: Callaway MD3 Milled (46°), Callaway MD Forged (50°), Cobra Forged (54°, 60°)

PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot OG Stroke Lab #5

BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

VIKTOR HOVLAND

MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

DRIVER: Ping G425 LST (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15°), Ping G430 Max 7-wood

HYBRID: Ping G425

UTILITY: Titleist U510 (21°)

IRONS: Ping i210 (4-PW)

WEDGES: Ping Glide 4.0 (50°, 56°), Ping Glide 2.0 (58°)

PUTTER: Ping PLD DS 72

BALL: Titleist Pro V1

TOM MCKIBBIN

PORSCHE EUROPEAN OPEN

DRIVER: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15°, 21°)

IRONS: TaylorMade P760 (4), P7MC (5,6), P7MB (7-9)

WEDGES: TaylorMade MG3 (46°)

PUTTER: TaylorMade TP Bandon

BALL: TaylorMade TP5x

NICK TAYLOR

RBC CANADIAN OPEN

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3 (10°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TSi2 3-wood (15°), TaylorMade SIM2 Max 5-wood (18°)

HYBRID: Titleist TSR2 (21°)

IRONS: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (46°, 54°), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58°)

PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Tour

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

ROSE ZHANG

MIZUHO AMERICAS OPEN

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9°)

FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Rogue ST LS (13.5°, 18°)

HYBRID: Callaway Paradym(21°)

IRONS: Callaway Apex (5-AW)

WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Raw (54°, 58°)

PUTTER: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Double Wide

BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

DALE WHITNELL

SCANDANAVIAN MIXED

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°)

WOODS: Callaway Rogue ST LS (15°)

HYBRIDS: Callaway Apex UW (19°, 23°)

IRONS: Callaway X Forged (5-PW)

WEDGES: Callaway MD Forged (50°, 54°, 58°)

PUTTER: Odyssey Exo 2-Ball

BALL: Titleist Pro V1

WYNDHAM CLARK

US OPEN

DRIVER: Titleist TSi3, (9°)

FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade Stealth 2, (15°)

UTILITY: Titleist T200 (3)

IRONS: Titleist 620 CB (4-9)

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46°, 52°, 56° 60°)

PUTTER: Odyssey Jailbird Versa

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

EQUIPMENT NEWS

construction, and it’s only underneath where you see how they are attached together. There are no unwanted vibrations from where the pieces meet either, which could be a worry with a multiple-piece adjustable putter.

Distance control was good. Grooves on putters tend to slow down the face, so a couple of times I was a little short on my longer putts. I loved the way it lined up as well. I’m a big fan of having two lines a ball’s width apart for alignment. For me, it didn’t need the sightline on the top, as that just confuses, and I feel like I’m having to check too many different things to line up a putt. The contrast finish helps though, and gives you some perpendicular alignment that provides an extra level of help when you really need it.

TRIED & TESTED

EQUIPMENT EDITOR DAN OWEN PUTS EVNROLL’S NEW V SERIES ER5.2 DUO PUTTER THROUGH ITS PACES

Have you ever found the perfect putter? I did once, it was in my bag for close to 10 years. It was a Rife Barbados that had seen off dozens of putters in that time. A putter I liked so much that I hunted down an identical replacement grip when it had worn out. A putter that was cruelly stolen out the back of my car six years ago.

The Evnroll ER 5.2 Duo is designed by Guerin Rife, the same designer as that long-lost Barbados. While Rife putters had grooves, with Evnroll they’ve really stepped it up with their sweet face technology. The grooves are designed to help the ball roll the same wherever across the face the putt has been struck from, making it a super-forgiving putter.

Part of the modular V series line up, the 5.2 has interchangeable hosels, faces and flanges, as well as movable weights to help you find the perfect putter for your stroke. The putter I tested featured the short plumbers neck hosel, a winged flange with dual alignment lines, and the Duo finish which features a satin face with a top line alignment, and black flange for a similar visual effect to Odyssey Versa alignment. It’s finished off with a classy matte black shaft.

These putters feature milled 303 stainless steel faces, and with the grooves, feels and sound soft. The rear flanges are made from aircraft-grade aluminium. One of the most impressive things about these putters is the fit and finish, and at address you cannot see any seams in the

STEWART GOLF

LAUNCHES ‘WONKA-STYLE’ GOLDEN BALL EVENT

The TourTac grip feels great, but was a lot bigger than I’m used to. I’m a putting throwback to a bygone era, and I still like using putter grips I can actually get my hands around.

Now I’ll admit that the ER5.2 DUO in this set up, probably isn’t the right putter for me. I didn’t choose the set up, it was sent by Evnroll, but because they are so customisable, I think I could find a putter I really like in the range. The same putter head, with a satin finish, and no topline line, plus a hosel that is more in line with the clubface and a smaller pistol grip and I think I could have a keeper.

Evnroll has a fantastic fitting facilities in the UK now, including at specialist fitters such as Core Golf and Precision Golf, so you can go in and try every combination and fine-tune the putter until you’re happy. Plus, if you fancy a change, but want to retain the feel, you can buy an additional back flange to give the putter a new look. A definite recommend if you are looking for a milled putter with modern technology.

RRP: £419, evnroll.com

Trolley brand Stewart Golf has announced a new promotion that takes its inspiration from Willy Wonka’s ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion from Roald Dahl’s book Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.

Stewart Golf promotion will see ‘golden balls’ randomly hidden inside newly purchased golf trolleys. However, instead of winning a factory tour, as Charlie Bucket and his family did, Stewart’s Golden Ball winners will receive a full refund for the entire value of their order –including any accessories purchased.

In addition to these hidden Golden Balls, Stewart will also be running a sitewide sale, giving golfers at least 15% off all new golf trolleys and accessories. This sale will remain active until the final Golden Ball has been claimed. The Golden Ball event will run in both the UK and USA, with four Golden Ball’s to be found in each region.

CEO Mark Stewart said: “There has never been a better time than now for golfers to upgrade to a Stewart trolley, with the chance of winning your entire order for free. The Glitch event was an incredible success last year and received a great reception from our customers, so we’re hoping to see a similar pattern once again with Golden Ball!”

TALKING TENSEI

Jonathan Alongi, Mitsubishi Chemical America’s Director of Aftermarket Sales & Marketing, tells Dan Owen what golfers can expect to see from its latest shaft launch, the TENSEI Blue 1K

BLUE IS THE COLOUR, SHAFTS ARE MITSUBISHI’S GAME!

Leading golf shaft manufacturer Mitsubishi Chemical has added the Tensei 1k Pro Blue to its major-winning range, which also includes the Pro White and Pro Orange. Equipment Editor Dan Owen finds out what this latest model offers and how it can help take your game to new heights

Mitsubishi Chemical has been a market leader in graphite shaft technology for nearly 20 years, with a tour-proven product used for almost 600 wins, including the 2023 PGA Championship and US Open. While the legendary Diamana shaft is perhaps the company’s most well-known product, it‘s the TENSEI family of shafts that has dominated its tour presence in recent years.

With the Diamana family of graphite shafts, Mitsubishi Chemical popularised the idea of colour coding shafts by their launch characteristics. The White model has always been low-launch and low-spin; Blue has meant midlaunch and mid-spin, while the new TENSEI 1K Blue is the most advanced mid-launch, mid-spin shaft the company has ever released.

“Anticipation for TENSEI 1K Pro Blue has been building for a while now,” says Mark Gunther, Mitsubishi Chemical’s Senior Director of Sales & Marketing. “TENSEI 1K Pro White laid such a nice foundation for the family and 1K Pro Orange provided that great counter-balanced option, but there’s just nothing like a Blue profile to fit the largest swath of golfers out there. TENSEI 1K Pro Blue carries that mid-mid mantle as good or better than any Blue we’ve ever done.”

TENSEI products relentlessly pursue improved performance through innovative construction

and advanced materials and is MC’s only brand that includes the name of the technologies used in the shafts themselves. TENSEI 1K (1K carbon fibre) Pro Blue builds on lessons learned from its predecessors CK (Carbon Kevlar) Pro Blue and AV (Aluminum Vapor) RAW Blue. The use of 1K carbon fibre is a commitment to using the most premium materials available to enhance stability and bring the most consistent possible performance to golfers everywhere. Players can expect the same pleasing, smooth feel in TENSEI 1K Pro Blue they saw elsewhere in the 1K Pro line.

Material innovation is everywhere in TENSEI 1K Pro Blue. Aside from super-premium 1K carbon fibre, the shaft features the Xlink Tech Resin System, a revolutionary multi-phase interlinked resin that drives the amount of carbon fibre volume up for better overall feel, while actually increasing the shaft’s overall strength, a feat that was not possible at the launch of AV RAW Blue. Feel is even further improved through the use of low resin content prepreg.

But it isn’t all feel with TENSEI 1K Pro Blue. The top players in the world have consistently reported more ball speed and improved control, attributable to an enhanced stiffness profile that controls the curvature of the shaft during the swing to maximize head speed.

What is the TENSEI range of shafts and how does the TENSEI Blue 1K fit into that line?

Up until this point the only 1K Pro parts launched were white and orange, which are both low-low profile shafts. Orange is counterbalanced, but still flies and spins low. TENSEI 1K Pro Blue brings a mid-mid blue profile into our most popular line. Most golfers gravitate towards a blue profile, so this was a sorely needed product in the TENSEI 1K Pro family.

What are the key technologies in the 1K Blue and how is it better than previous TENSEI Blue models?

TENSEI is our only brand that uses the name of the primary technology in the name of the product itself. Think about TENSEI CK, standing for ‘Carbon Kevlar’ and TENSEI AV, which stood for ‘Aluminum Vapor/. TENSEI 1K Pro uses super premium 1K carbon fibre in the handle section. This creates strength and stability in the handle and stops the shaft from ovalising as you load it at the start of your downswing. Every TENSEI line improves on its preceding line. AV improved on CK and 1K built off of AV.

What type of swing/golfer will suit the TENSEI 1K Blue?

TENSEI 1K Pro is firm in the hands and active in the tip. We have consistently found this to be a recipe that creates ball speed. When the shaft holds up to load and strain in the handle it can really create a whip-like feel down towards the head. That creates speed. It also helps tick launch up for those looking for a little help getting it elevated.

How has tour take-up been so far?

We first brought TENSEI 1K Pro Blue to tour in November 2022 at Houston. In its first week we had four in play, which is unbelievable. It generally takes a little while for a product to get hot, but players just immediately saw speed. It even recorded its first win in March at Tampa, a few months before it launched at retail. The 1K Pro family continues to grow and grow on tour. At Fortinet this year in Napa – the first event of the 2022-23 season – we had six 1K parts in play. At the PGA Championship we had 32. It’s been just awesome to see.

Why is it only releasing to the general public now?

These things just take time to get right. It’s highly complicated technology and structures and if we rush a product to market and get it wrong, it just hurts the golfer. Our mission is to help golfers hit it better and thereby have more fun on the golf course. A big part of accomplishing that is launching product when it’s ready, not when it’s convenient.

GET A GRIP ON YOUR GAME WITH BEAVER GLOVES

Combining high quality materials and innovative design with eye-catching colour options German golf glove and accessories brand Beaver Golf is making big waves in the UK

While 95% of golfers wear a conventional white glove, Beaver Golf, a German golf accessories brand that believes in shaking up the norm, offers a wide range of more colourful, yet stylish options, while still catering for the more conservative golfer.

While its solid red, cognac, hot pink and aquamarine coloured gloves are guaranteed to get you noticed on the tee, Beaver Golf also offers an all-white model and an allblack design for those who like to keep things traditional when it comes to their glove game. And while Beaver gloves not only look the business, they are also proven performers thanks to the quality materials and quality craftsmanship that goes into each and every glove. Made in Germany, where precision engineering and consistency is valued above almost everything else, Beaver Gloves have been developed from professional expertise and extensive laboratory testing, along with valued customer feedback, to offer one of the best performing golf gloves on the market.

Designed to fits like a second skin, each glove adapts perfectly to the shape of the hand, giving maximum freedom of movement, while providing a secure and comfortable connection with the grip of the club. Breathable – with ventilation offered between and on the fingers – and hand-made from high-quality premium cabretta leather in AAA quality, they offer high levels of feel,

yet are extremely durable, ensuring they remain in peak condition even after dozens of rounds.

Whether you prefer timeless brown, elegant white, playful pink or dazzling aquamarine, the ‘original BEAVER glove’ is the perfect glove for on-trend golfers who also place a high demand on performance. And even more impressively, Beaver Golf prides itself on its sustainable credentials, with its branded products packaged in recycled paper, and free from plastic, ensuring a very small ecological footprint.

And even more impressively, all this quality doesn’t cost the earth; in fact Beaver Golf gloves are extremely affordable compared to other leading premium glove brands, with a single glove priced at just €21.99 (£18.75), while sets of three are even more keenly priced at €59.99 (€51), which should see the average golfer through a whole season.

Offered in men’s sizes S, M, ML, L, XL and XXL, and women’s sizes S, M and L, your Beaver Glove is ready and waiting to be ordered now.

And it doesn’t stop at gloves. Beaver Golf also offers a wide range of branded accessories, including a stylish range of caps and beanies, ball markers and pitch mark repair tools, tees, towels, socks, hoodies, t-shirts and duffle bags.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Nikon COOLSHOT 50i

Nikon’s first rangefinder with a built-in mounting magnet. Designed to bring your game to the next level, this innovative product features Nikon’s superior optics, slope adjustment, continuous measurement, dual locked-on technology and hyper-read functionality for accurate and instant target confirmation. The OLED display provides you with a bright and clear view, and the rangefinder is even competition-approved thanks to the flashing ‘actual distance’ indicator at the front.

www.nikon.co.uk

CALLING THE SHOTS

WHICH CALLAWAY BALL SHOULD YOU PLAY?

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• SOFT FEEL

• TOUR-LEVEL SPIN

• LONG SHOTS

YOU NEED: CHROME SOFT

Chrome Soft is designed for a wide range of golfers who want outstanding feel, excellent distance, and incredible forgiveness.

Key performance characteristics include signature

Chrome Soft feel, more distance off the tee, low-spinning iron shots, and a high level of greenside control.

RRP: £55 per dozen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• HELP WITH YOUR PUTTING ALIGNMENT

YOU NEED: TRIPLE TRACK OR ERC 360 FADE TECHNOLOGY

Triple Track Technology is expanded with 360° surface area coverage, providing advanced alignment across the entire circumference of the golf ball. It’s designed to help you choose the proper start line, and to promote visible roll feedback on the putting green. Available on Chrome Soft and ERC Soft models.

360 Fade Technology offers better alignment across the golf ball, and visible roll feedback on the putting green. It is available on the ERC Soft.

RRP: £44 per dozen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• STRAIGHT DISTANCE

• EYE-CATCHING LOOKS

• THE SOFTEST FEELING GOLF BALL IN THE CALLAWAY RANGE

• YOU LIKE THE OPTION OF BRIGHTCOLOURED BALLS

YOU NEED: SUPERSOFT

Supersoft is one of the most popular balls in golf, particularly for its long, straight distance, and, most importantly, the super soft feel. Callaway have advanced the cover, core and construction technologies to enhance these key benefits, with improved performance from tee-to-green. It is offered in six colours – green, red, orange, yellow, pink and white.

RRP: £29 per dozen

Chrome Soft, Supersoft, Truvis, ERC Soft, Warbird or REVA? GN Equipment Editor Dan Owen delves into Callaway Golf’s expansive ball range and finds out which might be the right ball for your game

Callaway has invested millions into its golf ball business in recent years and produced some of the most successful balls on tour, used by the likes of Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Rose Zhang and many other top players. With their distinctive hexagonal dimples, known for their strong performance in the wind, Callaway offers a comprehensive range of golf balls, and there is definitely a model among them that will help you perform at your best.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• FASTER BALL SPEEDS

• HIGHER FLIGHT

• HIGHEST GREENSIDE SPIN

YOU NEED: CHROME SOFT X

Chrome Soft X is Callaway’s #1 ball on Tour worldwide. The four-piece ball is a great option for the better, fasterswinging players who want excellent spin consistency and Tour-level short game control. Key performance characteristics include high ball speeds off the tee, workable iron shots, and Tour-level greenside control.

RRP: £55 per dozen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• VISIBLE AFFIRMATION OF HOW THE BALL IS REACTING

YOU NEED: TRUVIS

The Truvis pattern is specifically designed to maximize your view of the golf ball for better focus and visibility. If you want to see how the ball is spinning on greenside shots, or see how well your ball is rolling on the green, Truvis really helps pick out the finer details. Truvis is available on Chrome Soft models.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• FASTER BALL SPEEDS

• LOWEST DRIVER SPIN

• PIERCING LONG IRONS

YOU NEED: CHROME SOFT X LS

Chrome Soft X LS is designed for maximum distance with the lowest spin. It’s especially suited for better players who want to bomb it off the tee, with a combination of long-distance and a straight ball flight. Key performance characteristics include very fast ball speed off the tee, penetrating long iron shots, straight ball flight, and excellent greenside control.

RRP: £55 per dozen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• A BLEND OF PERFORMANCE AT A LOWER PRICE POINT

• HELP WITH YOUR PUTTING ALIGNMENT

YOU NEED: ERC SOFT

ERC Soft introduces technologies that promote a new level of complete performance. Leading with the cover, we’ve created an all-new GRIP Urethane Coating System that provides even more greenside spin. The unique cover is paired with an all-new HyperElastic SoftFast core that increases ball speed, while maintaining a soft feel through the bag.

RRP: £44 per dozen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

• DISTANCE AT A LOWER PRICE POINT

YOU NEED: WARBIRD

One of most enduring and popular golf balls in Callaway’s line up, the two-piece Warbird is designed for maximum ball speed off every club.

A large, high energy, compressible core and an optimised ionomer cover featuring HEX Aerodynamics, combines to promote high launch and long carry to add distance to all facets of your game.

The cover also provides feel and greenside control.

RRP: £21 per dozen

IF YOU ARE A SLOWERSWINGING FEMALE PLAYER LOOKING FOR:

• EASY LAUNCH

• EXTRA DISTANCE

• MORE FORGIVENESS

YOU NEED: REVA

Engineered for women who want to improve their distance, ball flight and consistency, the Reva ball, which is offered in white or pink, promotes easy launch and more forgiveness. Its oversized construction conforms to the rules of golf, while the oversized core and low spin characteristics are also designed for longer, more accurate shots.

RRP: £29 per dozen

For more details, visit eu.callawaygolf.com

SHIFT THE PARADYM

SHIFT

Callaway is having its fastest ever start to a season in terms of the number of wins that its new Paradym driver has racked up on the worldwide professional tours. Golf News Equipment Editor Dan Owen looks at why has it proved so popular withthe game’s best players, and finds out how regular golfers can get custom fitted for this game-changing big stick

Callaway is having a Hall of Fame year when it comes to the results it is achieving with its new Paradym driver – and that is saying something for a company with such an illustrious history when it comes to creating game-changing drivers. Clubs like the legendary Big Bertha, the Great Big Bertha, as well as the more recent Epic series, have all been hugely successful on tour and at retail. But with just half of the year gone, the Paradym driver has already played a pivotal role in a significant number of tour victories this season.

At the time of writing, the Paradym has contributed to an impressive 38 wins, including nine on both the PGA and DP World Tours, six on the LPGA Tour, three on the Korn Ferry Tour, and an astonishing 11 on the Champions Tour.

World No.2 Jon Rahm has been responsible for four of those wins on the PGA Tour, with them of them going, unforgettably, at the Masters. The big-hitting Spaniard has effectively utilised the low-spin Triple Diamond head of the Paradym driver, enabling him to play with more loft than ever before and take advantage of its capabilities.

TOUR DOMINANCE

However, Callaway’s success on the PGA Tour extends beyond Rahm. Non-contracted player Justin Rose secured a win using the standard Paradym driver, while Sam Burns, Emiliano Grillo, Chris Kirk and Si Woo Kim have all preferred the Triple Diamond version.

With recent wins on the DP World Tour for Dale Whitnell (Scandinavian Mixed) and Pablo Larrazaba (KLM Open), taking it to nine for the season, Paradym has accrued 56% of possible victories on the European circuit this season. An astonishingly dominant figure by any reckoning.

When we look back on this season in the years to come, one of the most significant wins came from Rose Zhang at the Mizuho Americas Open.

In her debut event as a professional golfer, the 20-year-old American, who had previously won two NCAA titles, triumphed after a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho, winner of last year’s Chevron Championship, one of women’s golf’s five majors. Zhang, a member of #TeamCallaway since the age

a Paradym Triple Diamond driver in her bag. After her historic win, she expressed her unwavering confidence in her equipment, stating: “Callaway equipment has played such a big part in my success, and I know that this is the right decision for me. I’ve used their clubs and golf ball in every one of my wins since I was a junior, and that gives me so much confidence when I’m out on the course.”

TRUSTED TECHNOLOGY

What is it about the new Paradym model that attracts both staff players and non-contracted players? The answer lies in its forgiveness, ball speed, and adjustability. Callaway has effectively combined these features to create a perfect storm of technology.

Forgiveness and stability are achieved through the use of a 360° Carbon Chassis, comprising two different carbon composites: Triaxial Carbon and Forged Carbon. Triaxial Carbon, a strong and lightweight material, is employed for the crown of the driver head, while Forged Carbon allows Callaway to create shapes that would be impossible with traditional carbon fibre in the sole. This combination results in a significantly lighter driver head compared to traditional titanium-based designs, redistributing around 20g to other parts of the clubhead. This redistribution greatly improves ball speed, forgiveness, and moment of inertia (MOI).

Ball speed is enhanced by the Jailbreak A.I. Jailbreak Technology utilises an internal bars that stiffen the clubhead, preventing twisting on off-centre hits and reducing the loss of ball speed. An all-new A.I. face optimization enhances speed,

CALLAWAY HAS EFFECTIVELY COMBINED THESE FEATURES TO CREATE A PERFECT STORM OF TECHNOLOGY

■ CALLAWAY HAS HIGH PERFORMANCE FITTING CENTRES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THIS ONE AT SILVERMERE IN SURREY

PARADYM WINS ON TOUR IN 2023

38

9

9

6

3

COMBINATION A WINNING

11 CHAMPIONS TOUR (84%)

launch and spin, and downrange dispersion. This is the world’s most advanced driver face designed by artificial intelligence. The combination of these technologies ensures a forgiving clubhead that maintains ball speed on off-centre hits while providing ample flex for increased ball speed on centre hits. A win-win if ever there was one.

The Paradym driver also offers adjustability through movable weights and Callaway’s Opti-fit adjustable hosel. In the standard head, a sliding weight can be adjusted to influence shot direction. Meanwhile, the Triple Diamond model features movable front and rear weights for fine-tuning launch and spin. Paradym X has a weight for swing weighting purposes, but internally is weighted to help the golfer hit a draw.

A FITTING SUCCESS

One thing all these tour players have in common is they have had their Paradym driver custom fitted to their swing. With adjustability built into the club, it makes it much easier to get fit for your driver. All around the UK retailers offer OPTIFIT Fitting Carts full of custom fit options. But where do you go if you want a more elevated experience with a wider range of fitting premium tour level upgrade shafts options, such as the popular Fujikura Ventu?

If you are in the South East you have a few options. There is a Regional Performance Centre at Silvermere in Surrey. Prince’s Golf Club in Kent has recently became a High Performance partner, and as well as in-depth Callaway fitting, an Odyssey putting studio is in development. For the ultimate Callaway fitting experience, however, get your pro to book you into the National Performance Centre at Callaway’s headquarters in Chessington. Further afield, the Belfry in the Midlands and Celtic Manor in Wales are both High Performance Partners, while there is a National Fitting Centre located at the home of golf, St Andrews.

To find your nearest fitting Callaway fitting centre and learn more about how the Paradym driver can change your game, visit eu.callawaygolf.com.

Callaway Tour staff professional Dale Whitnell talks about his recent win at the DP World Tour’s Scandinavian Mixed event and how his equipment is helping him to play his best golf

Congratulations on your impressive win at the Scandinavian Mixed. Do you feel like a victory has been on the cards for a while?

I always thought it was coming. I’ve been on tour for 10 years now, but I never lost faith in my ability. Coming into that final round in Sweden I was able to feed off the two previous times where I had been tied for the lead and it really helped to be able to draw on those experiences. Fortunately, I had a fourshot lead going into the Sunday and my coach just told me to be positive and I managed to hold off the challengers.

How long have you been with Callaway?

I’ve been with them since around 2007, when I was using the Fusion driver and the Hex Black ball. Callaway have been amazing, the team are awesome, they really make you feel part of the family.

How do you rate the Paradym driver?

It’s the best driver I’ve ever had – without a shadow of a doubt. It’s not only added distance to my game – I ‘m averaging six yards more off the tee than I was last year – but it also makes my occasional bad shots go straighter and still get out there. The Paradym has had so many wins on all tours this year that the stats just speak for themselves.

Your Odyssey putter seemed to be running hot in Sweden. How pleased are you with the way that’s working for you?

The putter works very well, I’m currently using the Odyssey EXO 2-Ball, which I’m so comfortable with.

Are you going to treat yourself to anything nice on the back of your victory?

My fiancé Angie and I have been engaged for three years, and we’re looking to get married soon – so the money will come in handy for that!

What tournaments are you most looking forward to playing this season?

The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is a tournament I always look forward to playing. I love playing in front of the home fans and that tournament is extra special.

Where are you currently based?

I divide my time between Florida and Essex, I just finished having a house built near Tampa and working on my game in the winter there works perfectly. When I’m back in Essex I often work on my game Crondon Park, where I’m attached, and at Forrester Park, where I play with my society, and where they’ve just cut me to +8 handicap on the back of my tour win!

Is the Ryder Cup in your thoughts?

It’s not at the forefront of my mind, but I did get a message of congratulations from Luke Donald for my win, which was a nice touch. Tommy Fleetwood also sent me a nice text. I used to play amateur golf with Tommy, and we played in the 2009 Walker Cup together. I was inundated with messages after the win, for which I was very grateful.

■ A GROUND-BREAKING COMBINATION OF MATERIALS AND DESIGN FEATURES HAS CREATED A WINNING MACHINE

■ JON RAHM HAS RACKED UP FOUR WIN USING THE PARADYM DRIVER, INCLUDING THE MASTERS

TAYLORMADE TP RESERVE PUTTERS

Taylormade has entered the premium putter market with a new line of stunning CNC-milled putters. Designed with the putting purest in mind, TP Reserve models are milled to exacting standards and feature grooves machined in to achieve optimal sound. With three classic blades and three stylish mallets, as well as a selection of different neck styles and toe hangs, there is a putter to suit every

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA REVA

£499,

CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

The REVA range has been specifically designed for female golfers who wants to hit the ball further, straighter and higher. The driver features a large sweet spot that uses A.I. technology to optimise speed and spin across the face. The stretched-out head inspires ocnfidence at address and also creates extra forgiveness, while a triaxial carbon crown and lightweight components enable slower swinging golfers to swing faster with less effort.

SUN MOUNTAIN CLUBGLIDER MERIDIAN

£299,

BRANDFUSION.CO.UK

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR PRO SHOP

The first time you use a ClubGlider is a truly life-changing golf travel experience. Gone is the awkward back-breaking effort required to manouevre a typical travel bag, or having to crouch down just to get the thing off the ground. The ClubGlider Meridan, with its folding leg frame and pivoting caster wheels, is an absolute joy to steer around the airport. Now, with its new eye-catching Tropic/Spruce colour option, it’s easy to spot on the conveyer belt too.

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

EDEL SMS PRO IRONS

£250

PER IRON, THEGOLFTAILOR.COM

Based out of Colorado, Edel Golf specialises in high-end custom-fit clubs. The SMS Pro is its latest iron and is designed for the better player. The forged cavity back features two key technologies – a CNC-milled Tri-Step sole provides precise turf interaction from any lie, but the eye-catcher is the swing match weighting. Two 2g weights and one 8g weight can be switched around until you find the combination that gives the most consistent strike and fastest ball speed.

RAM FX TITANIUM DRIVER

£79.99, RAMGOLF.CO.UK

Yes, you read that right. £79.99 for a 460cc titanium driver. Ram is confident the FX driver performs, and with that kind of saving over most drivers, that’s a whole chunk of change you can use to spend on playing golf or lessons. Designed for forgiveness, a forward centre of gravity keeps the spin down while an aerodynamic crown helps reduce drag for faster clubhead speeds.

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS E723 DRIVER

£399, AMERICANGOLF.CO.UK

Exclusive to American Golf in the UK, Tour Edge dominates play on the PGA Champions Tour. The Exotics E723 is its most forgiving driver ever at a whopping 5,600 MOI. It features a unique Ridgeback design where a spine of titanium through the crown and body stiffens the driver head for greater ball speed. A lightweight Quad Carbon design is used to fill the gaps left by the Ridgeback. A 20g weight in the rear can be moved to fine-tune ball flight to straighten out those hooks and slices.

POWAKADDY FX1

£649, POWAKADDY.COM

Electric trolleys have got increasingly complicated in recent years, but the FX1 bucks that trend. Stripping back the electric trolley to essential key features, the FX1 is designed to be a reliable trolley with a Lithium battery, while stripping away the superfluous such as touchscreens and GPS systems. But it doesn’t skimp on style or design, sharing the same frame as the more expensive FX3 and FX5 models.

PING G430 LST 3-WOOD

£550, PING.COM

The low-spinning, tour-style design of Ping’s new G430 LST fairway wood combines a variable-thickness, high-strength titanium face, titanium body and a 80g tungsten sole plate to position the CG low/back for faster ball speeds with reduced spin, producing on average seven yards more distance. The low-profile, 169cc head also benefits from Spinsistency, a proven clubface innovation engineered with a variable roll radius that improves performance across the face, especially on shots hit low on the face, by reducing spin for more distance. It is offered with 15* of loft, which is adjustable +/- 1.5°.

GOLF BUDDY LASER LITE 2 RANGEFINDER

£169.99, GOLFBUDDY.CO.UK

Rangefinders were once an expensive proposition that only better players were willing to splash out on. Now there are a plethora of good value options available. The Golf Buddy Laser Lite 2 features a compact design, fast speed and an ‘Easy Pin Finder’ mode, as well as a Slope feature that can be turned off for competition play. Plus, it comes with a smart carry case.

PXG 0317 CB IRONS

£189 PER IRON, PXG.COM

PXG is known for loading its irons with technology, but that’s not what all players are looking for. The 0317 CB is a more simple player’s iron, triple forged from soft carbon steel. A large weight in the back of the iron can be used in a fitting to finetune head weight. Then to create consistency from set to set, the face and cavities are milled, and then robot polished for a level of consistency that can’t be reached with human hands.

ABACUS MONTEREY

£59.90, ABACUSSPORTSWEAR.COM

A simple Scandinavian polo with a contrast collar, elevated with simple accent lines. Constructed from breathable, DryCool tech fabric, it features built in stretch and wicking properties keeps the golfer cool and comfortable.

PING MR PING

£60, PINGEUROPE.COM

The iconic Mr Ping logo originated from a clay sculpture made by John A Solheim all the way back in 1967. Now you can find it on your polo shirts as Ping has produced a technical modern polo shirt that honours the history of the brand.

CHERVO ANYONE

£110, CHERVO.COM

Chervo has some bold all-over prints for the fairways this season, and we are here for it. Various technologies have been used to keep you comfortable on the course, a DryMatic treatment ensures freshness and breathability and Sunblock technology that protects the wearer from UV rays.

CALLAWAY APPAREL

ALL OVER CHEV PRINT

£45, CALLAWAYEUROPEAPPAREL.COM

Callaway has played with its iconic Chevron alignment aid to create a stylish all-over print. The moisture-wicking OPTIDRI fabric boasts a soft hand feel with added stretch and Swing Tech to move with your swing.

ORIGINAL PENGUIN SWINGING

PETE NOVELTY PRINT

£60, ORIGINALPENGUIN.CO.UK

Original Penguin do fun prints well, but by keeping it simple in white and grey, this polo is something anyone could pull off. Striving towards greater sustainability, it is made with 30% recycled polyester and features a self-fabric collar.

MINT POLOS

G/FORE BLOSSOM

RIB COLLAR TECH JERSEY

£110, GFORE.CO.UK

We know that not everyone can pull off a yellow floral print polo shirt, but if you can, you’ll need this in your wardrobe. The rib collar tech jersey polo is a modern take on a classic style and is made with a fine tech jersey fabric for maximum mobility and stretch.

MEN’S UA ISO-CHILL

GRAPHIC PALM

£60, UNDERARMOUR.CO.UK

UA flattened out the fibres and added some science to create a game-changing Iso-Chill fabric that quickly pulls heat away from the skin – keeping you calm, cool, and focused on your game. Available in a variety of colours, this vibrant palm print is sure to turn heads.

PETER MILLAR CORNWELL PERFORMANCE JERSEY

£95, PETERMILLAR.CO.UK

This Cornwell polo offers sharp style and technical performance that make it a staple in any wardrobe. It’s constructed from a lightweight, anti-microbial fabric that wicks moisture and stretches four ways for optimal comfort and mobility on and off the golf course.

These high-performance polos are guaranteed to provide a breath of fresh air on a hot summer’s day

GOLF IN THE CAROLINAS

Your guide to the best places to play in North & South Carolina – America’s true golfing heartlands

Pinehurst

K iawah island

H ilton head

& so much more WHERE TO PLAY WHERE TO STAY OFF-COURSE ACTIVITIES

Famed for its stunning selection of woodland and parkland courses, North Carolina’s unique, sandy terrain is the reason behind its proliferation of worldclass courses.

Located just over an hour south from RaleighDurham International Airport, North Carolina’s Sandhills region, a collection of small towns encompassing Aberdeen, Southern Pines and Pinehurst Village, has some of the south’s grandest and charming hotels and some equally fine golf. A paradise for nature lovers, the beauty of North Carolina also extends beyond the fairways. There are endless hikes and bike rides available that offer wondrous sights, including some of the most beautiful waterfalls in America.

PINEHURST RESORT

Often referred to as the ‘St Andrews of America’, Pinehurst is the physical and spiritual heart of the North Carolina golf scene, with more than 100 years of history and no less than nine amazing golf courses built around a town that, like St Andrews, simply lives and breathes golf.

With luxurious accommodation options and endless top-class amenities, there is little surprise that Pinehurst is considered to be one of the world’s finest golf destinations.

Of course, one of the main reasons why so many golfers flock to this hallowed venue is to play Pinehurst No.2. A truly historic track, No.2 has hosted more single golf championships than any course in America, including three US Opens, a PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup. It also broke new ground for professional golf in 2014 when it hosted back-to-back US Open and US Women’s Open Championships for the first time, and it will do so again in 2029.

As the first US Open Anchor Site, the championship will return to Pinehurst in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. The United States Golf Association, which organises the US Open, is

establishing a second headquarters at Pinehurst opens in 2023, further enhancing the resort’s reputation as the true home of golf in the USA.

Famous for its turtleback greens, which swat away approach shots with something approaching glee, Pinehurst No.2 is also renowned for its deep and jagged bunkers. Its angles and swales make par an earnest effort, even on its most manageable holes, but despite its championship pedigree, it is still extremely playable for the holiday golfer, with balls almost impossible to lose and errant tee shots requiring little more than a punch back out onto the fairway, while many of the par-5s are reachable in two from the right tees. As with many of the best courses in the world, No.2’s difficulty makes it good, but its easiness makes it great.

Michael Campbell, 2005 US Open Champion

"After my first practice round at Pinehurst No.2 I came off the course and remembered every single hole, which is very unusual for me. I really liked the course, and it suited my eye. It wasn’t long, but it was tough, and the greens were tiny. I knew that the most important thing that week would be distance control with my irons – and so it proved.”

Jack Nicklaus, 18-time Major Champion

“Pinehurst No.2 is my favourite golf course from a design standpoint. It was from the moment I first played it, and it still is today.”

Donald Ross’s masterpiece was restored ahead in 2011 in order to return it to the architect’s original design intention. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw were hired to carry out the renovation work, which involved cutting back the rough which had gradually encroached onto the fairways, thinning out the treeline and reintroducing some of the sandy waste areas which were part of the original aesthetic.

The changes, which were well received by the pros at the 2014 US Open and by students of architecture alike, have served to preserve and enhance what is widely regarded to one of the world’s finest courses, inland or otherwise, for future generations to come.

BEST OF PINEHURST’S REST

Of course, while Pinehurst’s No.2 is on everyone’s must-play list, the resort boasts an embarrassment of other great layouts, with No.4 and No.8 being stunners, while the Jack Nicklaus-designed No.9, originally known at National Golf Club, was a welcome addition to the Pinehurst collection when it was bought into the fold eight years ago.

Ross said that ‘golf should be a pleasure, not a penance’ and nowhere does that mantra fit better than The Cradle, a 9-hole short course that opened in 2017. Created by Gil Hanse, who also recently redesigned Pinehurst no.4, the Cradle is a course that even the newest to the game can enjoy. Described by The Golf Channel as ‘the most fun 10 acres in all of golf’, the 789-yard layout features holes as short as 56 yards and no longer than 127.

Designed to attract a new generation of golfers, the course has a laidback vibe that encourages visitors to kick off their shoes and play the course barefoot while listening to music played through 26 on-course speakers which are cleverly disguised as rocks or located in the surrounding vegetation. One hole, the 66-yard third, Punchbowl, is surrounded by deckchairs which gives guests a ringside seat to see whether golfers can take advantage of a green whose design funnels the ball towards the cup, and make that longcoveted ace.

With a course-side bar serving up sodas and local beers, it all adds up to a fun round for golfers of all ages – two kids can play for free with a paying adult –and definitely one to add to the holiday golf checklist. pinehurstgolf.com

DESPITE ITS CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE, PINEHURST NO.2 IS EXTREMELY PLAYABLE FOR THE HOLIDAY GOLFER, WITH IT BEING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOSE A BALL

■ THE PINEHURST RESORT BOASTS NINE WORLD-CLASS LAYOUTS, INCLUDING THE FAMED NO.2 COURSE, ONE OF THE USGA'S BASE VENUES FOR THE US OPEN

■ PINEHURST IS THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF AMERICAN GOLF

■ MICHAEL CAMPBELL CELEBRATES WINNING THE 2005 US OPEN AT PINEHURST

OLD EDWARDS CLUB, INN & SPA

Located a two-hour drive north of Asheville, in the quaint town of Highlands, Old Edwards Club’s Tom Jacksondesigned championship course promises a North Carolina golf outing you will never forget.

Cascading along one of the highest ridges on the East Coast, this magnificent tree-lined parkland 18-hole layout offers inspiring mountain views from elevated tees and greens.

The clubhouse includes The Grill Room with a grand dining porch, sun porch, a fitness centre with locker rooms, an outdoor heated mineral pool, clay tennis courts, and a fully stocked golf shop.

Spanning four beautifully-landscaped blocks in downtown Highlands, the resort’s hotel is in the heart of a walking mountain town filled with restaurants, live and performing arts, boutique shopping and pristine outdoor

recreation on the fun and scenic Southwest Plateau of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains The rustically elegant architecture and interiors promote total relaxation and an air of carefree leisure. On-site dining options include Madison’s, the main restaurant, which uses ingredients sourced from the property’s farms and greenhouses, and serves cocktails made with herbs. oldedwardshospitality.com

NC'S HIDDEN GEMS

Whether you’re in search of woodland layouts overlooking the vast wilderness of the Blue Ridge Mountains or looking for birdies on the coastal courses of Brunswick county, North Carolina has a stunning variety of golfing options.

LEOPARD’S CHASE GOLF LINKS

The newest of the ‘Big Cats’ courses located in Ocean Ridge Plantation in Ocean Isle Beach – the others being Lion’s Paw, Tiger’s Eye and Panther’s Run – Leopard’s Chase is characterised by dense, bentgrass greens, man-made lakes, native areas and grasses all bound together by a network of winding, wooden bridges.

The longest and toughest of the four layouts, highlights at Leopard’s Chase include the peninsula green on the 190-yard 4th and the large fairway

bunker that threatens on the 425-yard, par-4 5th. On the back nine, the fairway flirts with a couple of wetland areas on the par-5 11th, while waterfalls frame the elevated green on the par-4 18th, one of Brunswick County’s best finishing holes. The course, along with sister course Tiger’s Eye, was recently named by Golfweek as one of the best public courses you can play in North Carolina, and we won’t argue with that.

bigcatsgolf.com

RIVERS EDGE GOLF CLUB

Located in Shallotte, in the centre of coastal Brunswick County, this stunning Arnold Palmer-designed layout should be on everyone’s must-play list.

Offering seven breathtaking holes which play along the Shallotte River, its signature 570-yard 9th hole – often referred to as ‘Arnie’s Revenge’ – features marshlands along the entire length of the left side and a narrow peninsula green surrounded by marsh on three sides. The hole is one of the most recognisable and challenging along the coast of the Carolinas. This memorable course should be on everyone’s must-play list. p layriversedgegolf.com

NAGS HEAD GOLF LINKS

Designed by Bob Moore, and first opened in 1986, the 6,200-yard course at Nags Head plays hard along the inner waterway on the southern end of the Outer Banks, where capricious breezes off sound-side waters create a unique golfing experience each and every day.

With its coastal winds, rugged shoreline, island holes, seaside vistas, and tees and greens separated by rolling dunes and wild sea grass, the course bears far more than a passing resemblance to a Scottish links.

Moore deliberately designed the landing areas to feel restricted to create an exacting, target feel to the layout in his quest to keep much of the natural roll of the dunes intact. With pushed-up greens, along with mounds and ponds in just the right places to get your attention, the course places heavy demands on finding the fairway with your tee shot. Great care must be taken to account for the hidden hazards crossing the landing areas, which force lay-up shots to avoid posting really big numbers on the card. invitedclubs.com

OMNI GROVE PARK INN

Framed by the splendour of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the historic Omni Grove Park Inn Golf Club, located near Asheville, celebrates the spirit of mountain golf. Designed by the legendary Donald Ross in 1926, the 6,055-yard, par-70 course is contoured out of the rolling landscape with tight, tree-lined fairways, challenging bunkers and receptive bent greens.

Played by many legends of the game, including Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and also a favourite of former President Barak Obama, the golf course at Omni Grove Park Inn is ready for you to create your own slice of golfing history. Elevated tee boxes assure that you get amazing views with each drive, although watch out with your tee shot on the par-3 17th, as the green comes very close to the hotel!

The magnificent hotel, which overlooks the golf course, first opened in 1913 and provides an elegant retreat for golfers and non-golfers alike. Luxurious rooms and suites enjoy panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, while guests can dine in a choice of elegant restaurants, some of which feature outdoor terraces. For active types, there are tennis courts and an indoor pool, while a subterranean spa is close at hand for pampering treatments, while the hills and mountains await the serious hiker. omnihotels.com

TOBACCO ROAD

The ideal stop coming to and from Pinehurst, Tobacco Road, located in Sanford, opened to worldwide acclaim in 1998. Architect Mike Strantz found his canvas, not on the seaside cliffs of the British Isles, but rather in the remnants of a sand quarry in the Sandhills of North Carolina. He allowed the rolling terrain to evolve into one of golf’s most uncompromising designs. Beyond the panoramic views and stunning vistas lies a course that tests all of a player’s eye, determination and wits.

Golf.com famously called it ‘casino golf’ in that you either hit the jackpot or you lose all your money, such are severity of the undulations and the penalties for not finding the rights spots. Following a recent visit, the same magazine also called it ‘Alice in Wonderland’, with the 18 holes offering ‘a psychedelic journey in golf’.

Bunkers shoot dozens of feet in the air; blind tee shots lead to fairways wider than a motorway; while the greens, in some instances, appear literally smaller than postage stamps. It’s a course you have to see to believe, and even then, you’re not quite sure whether to trust your eyes, such are the extraordinary tricks of the imagination that it plays on your golfing brain. Either way, it promises an unforgettable round played in stunning surroundings. tobaccoroadgolf.com

NORTHERN ADVENTURES

From the mighty Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, to the ethereal islands lining the Atlantic coast, and the golfing sandhills in between, North Carolina offers a deep dive into the American way and the opportunity for limitless adventures and memorable experiences

Bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and South Carolina to the south, and Tennessee to the west, North Carolina has long proved a popular holiday destination for Americans, but the Tar Heel State is also enjoying a surge in visitor numbers from overseas thanks to improved flight connections and a rise in interest for more authentic travelling experiences.

Many are drawn by the plentiful opportunities for adventures, including hiking the woods and mountains, rafting the rivers and cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway, while others come to savour the dynamic cities of Raleigh, Charlotte and Wilmington, with their top-class museums, superb restaurants and an astonishing number of craft breweries.

GET YOUR TACKLE OUT

If offshore fishing floats your boat, then the waters off the coast of North Carolina won’t disappoint. The Gulf Stream pulls warm water north, while the Labrador Current pulls cool water south, creating the perfect climate to catch a wide range of fish.

The Outer Banks are just 30 miles or so from the Gulf Stream, but farther down the coast around Wrightsville Beach, Southport and the Brunswick Islands’ beaches, you’re about 60 miles from these fish-rich currents, with Yellowfin and blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi, swordfish and sailfish just some of the types of fish that are waiting to be caught.

OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

No matter how you define adventure, you’ll find it by land, air and sea in North Carolina. Let the quiet calm of bird watching make your heart thunder. Experience the rush of rock climbing. Dive hidden shipwrecks in the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’ – named after the many ships that came to an untimely end in the waters off the outer banks of North Carolina – or don your hiking gear and climb mountain summits with expansive views. The only limit is your imagination.

CULINARY DELIGHTS

Famous for its barbecue, with state-of-the art broilers producing smoky, mouthwatering, slowed-cooked cuts, North Carolina is a foodies’ paradise.

Sample long-time favourites like Lexington Barbecue in Lexington; 12 Bones in Asheville’s River Arts District (a favourite with the Obama family); and Buxton Hall, also in Ashevile, where award-winning chefs Meherwan Irani and Elliott Moss serve up whole hog BBQ and buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches.

Those seeking flavoursome fresh fish should head to the coast for Calabash-style seafood, which sees locally caught fish, shrimp, crab, oysters, clams and mussels given a light cornmeal batter coating for that winning combination of crunch and silky fresh seafood. Those golfing in Pinehurst are spoilt for choice for casual and fine dining, with the town offering range of eateries. Be sure to check out Chapman’s Food and Spirits in Southern Pines, which is renowned for its ‘Hamm Burger’, made from ground chuck, short rib and beef brisket; and don’t miss out on a meal at the Ironwood Cafe, which although has nothing to do with golf, has a lot to do with great food, with its surf ‘n’ turf inspired menu featuring lobster tails and various cuts of 28-day matured steaks ticking all the boxes for an aprésgolf splurge.

GET CRAFTY WITH YOUR ALES!

If you like a beer and, frankly, who doesn’t – North Carolina ranks inside the top-10 for most breweries in the US, with 380 sites across the state. Asheville, west of Charlotte, is the arguably the beer capital of the state, but you won’t find it hard to find craft ale bars and full-service tap rooms wherever you travel throughout the Carolinas. Often made from locally grown malts and served up in a variety of stylish venues and more spit-andsawdust pubs, you’ll never fail to find a decent ale in North Carolina!

ARTS & CULTURE

There’s something special about experiencing the arts in the places they took hold. North Carolina is the state where outdoor theatre was born, and the one bluegrass legends called home. It’s also the site of the nation’s oldest folk school and the source of endless inspiration for its largest pottery community. The nation’s first public art museum still thrives here, and galleries across the state feature exhibits where you can discover a different point of view. Dive into history at train, plane and nature museums, or find rainy-day fun at hands-on attractions and science centres.

SPORTING RIVALRIES

Welcome to the home of one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports. UNC-Duke men’s basketball might be a tough ticket, but museums dedicated to both programmes welcome fans year-round. Also on the sporting schedule are the Panthers and Hornets in Charlotte, Hurricanes in Raleigh and minor league baseball teams state. And no sporting trip to NC would be complete without a visit to watch NASCAR racing at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is also home to this adrenalin-fuelled port’s national Hall of Fame.

ISLAND HOPPING

In the southernmost corner of North Carolina is one of the south’s best kept secrets. From the Cape Fear River, reaching down to the South Carolina border, North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands beckons softly. Six barrier island towns – Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island –provide 45 miles of wide, stunning beaches. Picturesque southern towns like Southport, Calabash, Shallotte and Leland draw visitors with familyowned, one-of-a-kind restaurants, galleries and shops, and even movie locations. Adding a temperate climate ideal for year-round outdoor activities, dining, and festivals along with museums, historic forts and lighthouses, the stage is set for a perfect coastal getaway. Toss in boating, kayaking, fishing and golfing and there’s always plenty to do – or you may choose to do nothing at all but enjoy the quiet, the beaches and nature.  And a special treat, the east-west orientation of the islands provides both spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the ocean several months of the year.

YGT offers a wide range of bespoke golf holiday packages to North Carolina, including Pinehurst Resort, starting from £2,835pp for 5 nights’ accommodation and 3 rounds at Pinehurst No.2, No.4 and No.8 courses. Flights included.

For more details and bookings, visit yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 0436644.

SOUTH CAROLINA: A SEASIDE GOLFING PARADISE

Home to over 350 stunning golf courses, the sunny state of South Carolina also has a superb selection of luxury resorts and hotels, sandy beaches, majestic mountains and blue crab to die for

With so many superb golf courses to choose from, it’s often a question of what to leave out, rather than what you can’t miss when planning a golf trip to the sun-drenched, golf-rich state of South Carolina.

From Kiawah Island, and its famed and feared Ocean Course, to the seemingly countless layouts to be found in the Myrtle Beach area, and onto PGA TOUR venues such as Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, golfers are properly

spoiled for choice when they come to Carolina’s Atlantic coast.

With direct flights from the UK to Charleston offering easy access to South Carolina, and great weather guarantees, it’s never been better times to let the plane take the strain and enjoy and unforgettable golfing holiday of a lifetime. So let’s take a whistlestop tour of some the Palmetto State’s mustvisit destinations and must-play courses.

TOP 5 BUCKET-LIST COURSES TO PLAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT, THE OCEAN COURSE

Often considered to be the first course designed for a specific event— in this case the 1991 Ryder Cup — this manufactured linksland-meets-lagoons layout might well be Pete Dye’s most diabolical creation. Every hole is edged by sawgrass, every green has tricky slopes, every bunker merges into bordering sand dunes.

Strung along nearly three miles of ocean coast, the Ocean Course boasts the most seaside holes on any layout in the Northern Hemisphere, with ten hugging the Atlantic and the other eight running parallel to those. Dye took his wife’s advice and perched the fairways and greens so that golfers can enjoy unobstructed views of Kiawah’s stunning coastline from every hole, while also serving to also exposes shots and putts to ever-present and sometimes fierce coastal winds.

Designed to test the best, and amaze the rest of us, the 7,300-yard course –the longest of the daily tees – demands a player to be in complete control of

every facet of their game if they are to come away unscathed. While many holes set up well for driver off the tee, every hole asks a different question, whether it be risk/reward carries and angles, whether to lay up or go for it, whether to fly it high or bump it in. And even if you answer some of those questions, some holes will just leave you scratching your head.

Our advice? Pick the right tees to match your skill level, take lots of golf balls, hang on for dear life and enjoy the ride!

Once inside the safety of the sumptuous clubhouse, the Ryder Cup Bar is not to missed, filled as it is with a treasure trove of memorabilia, making it one of golf’s greatest 19th holes. While offering rental villas and homes, the centrepiece for many visitors is the Sanctuary, a 255-room luxury hotel that opened in 2004. With an oceanfront location, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and superb dining at both the Ocean Room and Jasmine Porch, this is simply one of the best accommodation options at a golf resort anywhere. kiawahresort.com

HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS, SEA PINES RESORT

Home of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage tournament, which follows the Masters each year, Harbour Town Golf Links is a favoured stop with tour pros and holiday golfers alike, and it’s not hard to see why.

Placing a premium on finesse, imagination and shot making, rather than brute strength, this Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus creation features one of the finest collections of par threes in the world, while the iconic 478-yard 18th, with its famous lighthouse backdrop, is one of the most feared par fours on the tour.

Laid out on relatively flat land, with the fairways flanked by pines, the greens are fair, and while the yardage may not test your length, it will certainly test your accuracy. seapines.com

WILD DUNES RESORT LINKS COURSE

Located just outside of Charleston, on the Isle of Palms, the Links Course at Wild Dunes is notable as being the first course that legendary architect Tom Fazio ever designed. First opened in 1980, it makes for ideal holiday golf, with its attractive marshland/seaside location and playable length – tees measure from 6,000 to 6,500 yards, ensuring this par-70 layout remains a challenging yet enjoyable round for all-comers.

The 18th hole, once a daunting 500-yard dogleg par-5, was changed into a benign 190-yard par-3 back in 2015, following the impact of coastal erosion caused by a hurricane, but it provides a no less entertaining end to a memorable round.

Also on the same estate, the Harbor Course, another Fazio design, measures up pretty well with its bolder sibling, with nearly every hole encountering lakes, salt marshes or the Intracoastal Waterway.

Wild Dunes is an expansive, multi-use resort, the centrepiece of which is a luxury hotel overlooking the ocean, so if you’re looking for that famed Low-country charm, a getaway replete with golf, food, drink, and miles of sandy beaches awaits. hyatt.com

MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF AT MAY RIVER GOLF CLUB

Bordered by rivers and dotted with lagoons, marshes and tidal sloughs, the sandy-soiled fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed May River course are routed through dense woodland close to the meandering river from which the layout gets its name.

Boasting wide fairways, strategic bunkering and acres of natural waste areas, the course measures 7,171 yards off the back tees, and requires a strong driving game to score well, while the large, crowned greens will also place an emphasis on good lag putting. Always presented in pristine condition, and blessed with a great variety of holes, May River provides players with ample opportunity to perfect one of golf’s greatest joys – the well-executed recovery shot! montagehotels.com

BAREFOOT RESORT

Perfect for a pure golfing trip, the Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach features four great courses, each of which has been designed by a former tour player or leading architect – in this case Davis Love III, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye.

Regardless of where you come down on this renowned quartet, you’ll never have a better opportunity to test yourself against each man’s philosophy of golf than a long weekend at this popular Lowcountry retreat.

That’s certainly the case with the 7,350-yard Dye Course, where Pete used all of the land’s elements – gently rolling terrain, dunes, exposed sand and water – to fashion a course that punishes wayward shots as only he can. Fazio, who has built more golf courses in South Carolina than in all but one other state, knew how to craft a classic Lowcountry layout, using oaks, pines, sand and natural areas and grasses. The par-71 course is a continuous loop that only returns to the clubhouse at the 18th hole, yet the course - while visually intimidating, with water on 15 holes - is known for its playability.

Love, the two-time Ryder Cup captain who grew up in the Carolinas, used his experiences to fashion a layout that incorporates the recreated ruins of an old plantation house in the routing of five holes. His greens complexes are reminiscent of Pinehurst No.2, a course the North Carolina graduate knows well.

Norman, whose Australian youth was spent playing in that country’s sandhills courses, uses large waste areas to define his course, which is described as a course ‘found in the deserts of the American southwest, but without the desert’. Fairways flow into natural areas, bunkers are strategic and deep, and greens complexes are open but undulating. Put them all together, and the result is a series of experiences that contrast and complement each other and make for a memorable 72 holes of championship golf. barefootgolf.com

SOUTH CAROLINA GOLFING REGIONS

An hour west of Columbia, one of the North Carolina’s oldest clubs, Aiken, provides a throwback to early 20th-century walking courses. Similar to courses found in the Pinehurst area, Aiken features sandy waste areas and trees bordering its fairways, and while less than 6,000yards at its longes,t is a challenge for all levels of play.

Also worth a try are Saluda’s Persimmon Hill Golf Club, home of the state’s longest par-5 at 630 yards; Orangeburg’s city-owned Hillcrest Golf Course; and Graniteville’s Midland Valley.

Away from the fairways, South Carolina’s capital city caters for sightseers and thrill-seekers alike, with the local area offering a host of activities from white water rafting on the rapids of the Saluda River to admiring local artwork at the world-class Columbia Museum of Art.

GREENVILLE

Upstate South Carolina offers a change of terrain for the visiting golfer, with the rolling hills and dense woodland layouts providing a vastly different experience compared to the flatter coastal courses.

COLUMBIA

South Carolina’s state capital is fine place to base yourself for a tour of some of the region’s less celebrated, but well-respected courses that are ready to enjoy their time in the sun.

A popular base for many fans attending the Masters, Columbia is surrounded by a sizeable choice of local country clubs, all open to the public – including Wood Creek, Lexington, and Columbia Country Club to name a few.

The Columbia market also offers upscale public golf at Oak Hills, as well as at a trio of former private courses – Timberlake Country Club, the only course built on the shores of Lake Murray; The Windermere Club, a Pete Dye course with its testing par-5 18th along the shores of Lake Windermere; and Cobblestone Park Golf Club near Blythewood with its 27 holes and elevation changes.

Although it has been on the scene since 1989, The Spur at Northwoods is enjoying a welldeserved renaissance after its by Perry Dye design was renovated in 2014, with new owners investing over $1m rebuilding greens and bunkers, regrassing fairways and building new cart paths to

raise the bar at this popular Midlands layout.

Golden Hills Golf & Country Club, another 1980s design, has also undergone some impressive renovations, while Indian River Golf Course has switched around its nines and cleared out hundreds of pine trees to make it much more interesting and playable layout for members and visiting golfers alike.

Ideal for play at any time of year, but especially beautiful in the autumn, when the leaves are changing their hue, Grenville is well worth a visit, with golfing highlights including The Walker Course, a 6,911-yard layout that hasn’t fallen outside of Golfweek’s top 25 courses since it opened in 1995. Boasting dramatic elevations and the occasional blind shot, the course’s signature hole is the par-3 17th, with its green bracketed by four bunkers forming an aerial image of a tiger’s paw. If mountain layouts set your pulses racing, then a round at Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Northern Grenville should be on your itinerary, with Perry Dye’s masterpiece providing a test of stamina and skill, with its changes of elevation requiring distance control and a deft putting touch on its superb greens.

Other Upstate courses with distinguished pedigrees include Spartanburg’s Heddles Hideaway; the acclaimed Links O’Tryon in Campobello; The Preserve at Verdae and, most notable of all, River Falls Plantation in Duncan, which was designed by the great Gary Player.

CHARLESTON

There is good reason that cars carrying South Carolina license plates are emblazoned with the slogan ‘First in Golf’. The first golf club, golf course, and golf clubs imported into the United States all originated in its oldest city, Charleston, and it’s hard to drive a few miles in any direction without seeing a signpost for a country club or a golf resort of some description.

Today, the Charleston area boasts more than 24 courses, including many designed by some of the game’s most notable architects, such as Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, and Jack Nicklaus. Visitors to the city are spoilt for choice for golfing experiences in a region that is generically called the ‘Lowcountry’, which takes in the coastal counties of Charleston, Berkley and Dorchester.

The two stunning layouts at Seabrook Island, the Ocean Winds and Crooked Oaks, should definitely be on your golfing checklist, while there are two more stunners to be played at Wild Dunes, where the Fazio-designed Links and Harbor courses continue to earn rave reviews.

Elsewhere, and at more affordable rates,

Whether you choose to base yourself in Charleston, Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach, SC golf offers quality and quantity in equal measure

■ UPSTATE GREENVILLE OFFERS THE CHANCE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

■ CHARLESTON NATIONAL

■ TIDEWATER GOLF CLUB IN MYRTLE BEACH

■ COLUMBIA'S STATE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1786

there are tee times to be booked at Dunes West, Patriots Point Links, RiverTowne Country Club, Shadowmoss Plantation, Wescott Plantation, and for those with a taste for American history, The Links at Stono Ferry, which is sprinkled with relics from the Revolutionary War, many of whose battles were fought around this region.

Charleston National, a superb Rees Jones course that is a firm favourite with local golfers and visitors alike. There are natural wetlands and lagoons to contend with, while the pine and oak tree forests demand accuracy from the tee if you are going to reach the greens in regulation. It’s a tough test from the back tees at 7,100 yards, but with four other teeing options, golfers of all abilities can enjoy this sensational design.

Between rounds, the area has so much to offer visitors, including Charleston itself, which was recently voted the best small city in North America. Boasting a rich history and a vibrant contemporary culture, Charleston is awash with great restaurants, lively bars, and a buzzing nightlife. It’s a place to savour smoky, slow-cooked BBQ, sample a legendary oyster Po’ Boy sandwich, or sip on Bourbon-laced cocktails or locally-brewed craft ales at the numerous rooftop bars on King Street and all over the city.

Shoppers can hunt out bargains at the infamous Charleston Market, soak up the city’s history on a carriage ride through the West side, or perhaps learn the dance which got its name from the city where it all began.

Music is central to Charleston culture, and there are no shortage of jazz clubs and bars in which to listen to live bands and impromptu gigs, while architecture fans can marvel at the unique design of the multi-coloured stucco houses that line the city’s streets and avenues. Bike-friendly, and easy to walk, you’ll only need a car when heading out of town for golf.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Boasting over 25 courses, there are enough golf holes on Hilton Head Island and within 20-minute drive, to play golf every day for a month and still not have time to fit them all in.

Harbour Town Golf Links is obviously the big draw (see above), but there plenty of other world class layouts on which to test your game, teeing off with Davis Love III’s Atlantic Dunes, which opened to great acclaim in 2016. A reconstruction of the former Ocean Course by the five-time RBC Heritage champion, was named 2018 National

Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

Outside the Sea Pine gates is a wide array of courses for all skill levels and budgets. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort offers a trio of layouts by noted architects Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and Arthur Hills, while Palmetto Hall Plantation has courses by Hills and Bob Cupp.

Other on-island multiple-course areas include Hilton Head Plantation (Country Club of Hilton Head and Oyster Reef, both designed by Rees Jones); Port Royal Golf Club (courses by Dye, George Cobb and Willard Byrd); and Shipyard Golf Club, which has 36 holes designed by Cobb and Byrd. Start with offisland courses and work your way to Sea Pines, or try it in reverse. Whichever route you take, Hilton Head Island has golf options to stir a player’s soul.

MYRTLE BEACH

Boasting 60 unbroken miles of sandy beaches and over a dozen seaside towns, Myrtle Beach is where America comes to play – on and off the golf course. At last count, there were 120 courses in the Myrtle Beach area, otherwise known as ‘The Grand Strand’, stretching from just over the border in North Carolina down to the southern tip, on Pawleys Island.

With designs from the likes of Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones and Tom Fazio the self-styled ‘Golf Capital of the World’ promises memorable experiences from the opening tee shot to the final putt. Highlights include Dunes Club Golf Course, a vintage 1950’s Robert Trent Jones design that is considered by many to be the premier course in the area. Although only a few blocks from the beach, it’s a parkland layout that winds through woods, marshes and small ponds. The 640-yard par-5 13th, dubbed ‘Waterloo’ for its watery peril, gets all the press, but fun par-3s, including the 12th which is all carry over the marsh, add to the drama.

Another must-play on this coastal stretch is TPC Myrtle Beach, a Tom Fazio layout that boasts treelined holes, firm, fast greens, over 60 bunkers, and secluded fairways with few outside distractions. With five sets of tees, from 5,118 to 6,950 yards, TPC offers golfers a taste of the high-calibre set-up that Tour players require, but with friendlier challenges from the other tees. An added draw is the Dustin Johnson Golf School, while motorised Golfboards provide a fun alternative to a cart to surf the smooth fairways.

Another Myrtle Beach stalwart is Tidewater Golf Club, which, as the name suggests, makes the best of its seaside location, with eight holes played along the water. With five sets of tees, taking the course from 4,648 up to 7,044 yards, and elevation changes unusual for the area, Tidewater offers a fun challenge to golfers of all levels, with some forced carries from the longer tees that make it interesting. Heavy overseeding and covers on the Bermuda greens prevent winter kill to ensure plush fairways and well-conditioned greens virtually year-round.

For information about holidays and golf breaks to South Carolina, visit discoversouthcarolina.com. For more details of golf holiday packages to South Carolina, including flights, hotels and tee times bookings, visit delta.com or yourgolftravel.com.

MYRTLE BEACH IS WHERE AMERICA COMES TO PLAY – WITH AT LEAST 120 GOLF COURSES AND MILES OF GOLDEN SANDY BEACHES INTERSPERSED WITH BUSTLING SEASIDE TOWNS

■ HARBOUR TOWN YACHT BASIN AT HILTON HEAD

■ TPC MYRTLE BEACH IS A MUST-PLAY COURSE

SOUTHERN CHARMS

From jaw-dropping sunsets and palm-studded beaches to Blue Ridge mountain vistas, from large cities that never overwhelm to Lowcountry towns that leave you in the highest of spirits, South Carolina provides an orchestra of landscapes that hits the right notes all year round

BALMY BEACHES

Imagine warm sand beneath your feet, blue waters as far as the eye can see, and the rejuvenating scent of Atlantic sea air. It’s all waiting for you at South Carolina’s illustrious beaches. Whether it’s the iconic Myrtle Beach Grand Strand, the white-sand shores of Hunting Island or the Lowcountry’s Kiawah Island Resort, South Carolina beaches compose a landscape of unmatched beauty.

discoversouthcarolina.com/beaches

OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

South Carolina’s diverse natural landscapes offer endless opportunities for adventure. From rejuvenating retreats and natural wonders to thrilling weekend adventures, this is the place to experience the great outdoors. From the deep forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beautiful beaches of the Grand Strand, South Carolina’s diverse landscapes promise an unforgettable escape to the outdoors. discoversouthcarolina.com/outdoors

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

From cobblestone streets to awe-inspiring plantations, in South Carolina you’ll uncover more than you ever imagined. Its unique culture is woven from the fabric of modern traditions and the treasured customs of days gone by. Explore the mountains, Midlands and coast of this storied state, and make some history of your own along the way. To find out how to add an historic spin to your golf trip, check out discoversouthcarolina.com/ heritage.

MUSEUMS AND ARTS

From the mountains to the coast, South Carolina’s many art galleries and museums tell the story of an intriguing past and a flourishing cultural present. Discover inspiration in a captivating work of art or a compelling historical exhibit. South Carolina museums house the stories of our diverse culture and unique Southern heritage. From dinosaurs and sharks to Picassos and Gullah landscapes, it’s all here.

To put yourself in the frame for the best of SC culture, visit discoversouthcarolina.com/ museums-and-arts

CULINARY HIGHLIGHTS

From local seafood restaurants along the coast to farm-to-table fare in the Upstate, there’s a dish to suit every palate in South Carolina. From the sweet taste of a blue crab bisque or a bowl of peppered wild shrimp, to the crunch of crispy fried okra or the smoky notes of a slow-cooked barbecue brisket, or the sweet taste of a freshly baked pecan pie washed down with pitcher of refreshing ice tea, the Palmetto state brings a world of flavour to your plate.

South Carolina is also renowned for serving up some of the best oysters in the US, thanks to pristine growing conditions and advanced aquaculture practices. In fact, the state’s coast is part of what’s called the ‘Napa Valley of Oysters’. Available from September through to April –i.e. whenever there is an ‘R’ in the month – connoisseurs prefer them served raw with a vinagrette, they are served every which way here –grilled, lightered battered and then fried, baked in a half shell with breadcrumbs, or roasted on baarbeque.

To discover some of the Palmetto State’s toprated restaurants and find out what makes South Carolina a foodie paradise, visit discoversouthcarolina. com/must-eats

YGT has bespoke golf holiday packages to South Carolina’s leading destinations, including Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston and Kiawah Island, starting from £1,695pp for 5 nights’ accommodation and 3 rounds, or from £2,000 for 7 nights and 4 rounds. Flights included.

For more details and bookings, visit yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 0436644.

6 OF THE BEST

PLACES TO PLAY IN THE SOUTH WEST

ASHLEY WOOD GOLF CLUB

Ashley Wood Golf Club is based in North Dorset, just a 20-30 minute drive from Poole and Bournemouth. A picturesque downland course which is a test for all levels of golfer, we are open virtually all year despite the variable English weather. Steve Sanger, General Manager, 01258 452253 (Option 4) Email: generalmanager@ashleywoodgolfclub.com

ORCHARDLEIGH GOLF CLUB

The 6,824-yard, par-72 course is routed through mature trees and with water coming into play on seven holes. Our practice facilities include a full-length covered practice range, practice bunker, chipping and putting greens. Orchardleigh Estate, Frome, BA11 2PB www.orchardleighgolf.com | info@orchardleighgolf.net

You can stay on-site at this stunning 54-hole venue located on the outskirts of Bristol, with two rounds and breakfast available for just £149pp for a midweek stay, with one round on the Codrington Course and one on the Stranahan course, plus unlimited golf on the par 3 Watergarden course.

www.theplayersgolfclub.com

ST ENODOC

St Enodoc’s Church Course is a highly-ranked true links course overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Camel River Estuary. Perched high above the dunes of Rock and Daymer beaches, it it offers a wonderfully unique golfing experience. www.st-enodoc.co.uk | 01208 863216

St Enodoc Golf Club, Rock, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 6LD

The Dorset boasts a 27-hole Championship Course designed by Martin Hawtree and offers 14 Luxury Scandinavian Log Homes & Cottages and a newly upgraded 16-bedroom hotel. A one-night, two round midweek golf break starts from £95pp, includning a 3-course dinner, bed and breakfast. www.dorsetgolfresort.com | 01929 472244

STOVER GOLF CLUB

Set in beauftiful parkland with some of the prettiest golf holes in Devon, Stover’s recently renovated 5,582-yard, par 69 course is laid out in mature woodland, with water featuring on a number of holes, and provides an interesting and enjoyable challenge to golfers of all abilities.

www.stovergolfclub.co.uk | 01626 352460

THE DORSET GOLF RESORT

THE PLAYERS CLUB

STOVER

THE PLAYERS CLUB

THE DORSET GOLF RESORT

ORCHARDLEIGH GOLF CLUB

ASHLEY WOOD GOLF CLUB

ST ENODOC

Costa Navarino judged ‘Best Golf Resort in Europe’

Time to get saving for the ‘Ultimate West Coast Golf Experience’

Two of the west of Scotland’s finest courses, The Machrie and Dundonald Links, have joined forces to launch of a new golf holiday package aimed at travelling golfers with deep pockets.

With seven rounds of golf across a selection of Scotland’s best west coast courses, private jet travel and world-class dining and whisky experiences included, the new Ultimate West Coast Golf Experience will be on every golf enthusiast’s bucket list this year.

The itinerary starts with three nights at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, where guests can stay in one of their luxury golf lodges or hotel suites and enjoy two rounds on its spectacular course. The par 72 layout was thoughtfully designed by Kyle Phillips and offers sweeping views across the Firth of Clyde and, from the clubhouse, views of the neighbouring Isle of Arran. To satisfy even the greatest golf enthusiasts, rounds at both Prestwick (birthplace of The Open) and Western Gailes, dating back to 1897, are also included within the package, with both clubs only a short drive from the hotel.

Meanwhile, dining highlights include a threecourse dinner at Dundonald’s The Canny Cow restaurant, where fine dining options as well as hearty post play favourites are on offer, a special BBQ evening and - for whisky enthusiasts - dinner and tastings in the hotel’s Whisky Room.

Following a few days in Ayrshire, the journey to The Machrie starts in style with a Jetlogic private jet transfer from Prestwick to Islay. With over 130 miles of coastline, Islay, known as ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, boasts dramatic cliff faces, turquoise bays and numerous beaches. Upon landing, guests are whisked to Islay’s famed hotel The Machrie to check into one of the stylish suites or lodges. Set

Bag yourself a break at Brocket

Brocket Hall’s ‘stay & play’ packages for the summer season give golfers the option of playing one or two rounds of golf, choosing from the Melbourne and Palmerston courses, and the opportunity to stay overnight in the historic Melbourne Lodge, originally the estate’s old coaching stables.

Lunch, before or after golf, and supper are additional and can be taken in the The Melbourne Club or the acclaimed fine-dining restaurant, Auberge du Lac, both conveniently located on the Hertfordshire estate.

The par 72 Melbourne Course, designed by former Ryder Cup golfers Clive Clark and Peter Alliss, was opened in 1992 whilst the more technically-demanding Palmerston Course,

in the dunes, The Machrie is the perfect base for golfers looking to tee off on the wild and beautiful Scottish isle brimming with wildlife.

Golf has been played at The Machrie since 1891. Since then, the award-winning, 18-hole course has been fully modernised by course architect DJ Russell and combines the very best of a traditional historic links course with a modern layout and green complexes. Three rounds of golf are included within the package, as well as use of the 6-hole par 3 Wee Course for those wishing to hone their skills further.

Following a day on the course, guests have the opportunity to sample The Machrie’s Essence of Islay tasting experience - a seasonal six course menu which centres exclusively around hyperlocal ingredients sourced from small-scale supplies. Further culinary highlights include a three and four course dinner, with whisky pairings, at The Machrie’s impressive 18 Restaurant & Bar with views over the course and out to the Atlantic Ocean. A Lagavulin Whisky experience is also included in the package.

Away from the gastronomy experiences, guests can enjoy walks, and bike rides, along the pristine seven-mile beach in front of the hotel or embark on an wildlife tour of the island, discovering the birds and wildlife made famous on David Attenborough’s recent BBC series, Wild Isles. Additionally, a visit to Islay is not complete without a tour of one of the nine whisky distilleries on the island – which is also included in the package.

The cost of the Ultimate West Coast Golf Experience is £6,135 per person, based on four golfers travelling. For more details, visit themachrie.com.

Popular golf course review website Leadingcourses. com has published its latest ranking of the 100 Best Golf Resorts in Europe which are based on reviews provided by the website’s users.

The overall ranking is based 50% on the rating of the golf club on Leadingcourses.com and 50% on the rating for the resort itself on Booking.com.

The criteria for being classed as a ‘resort’ is that the hotel and the golf course/s must be located on the same premises or next to each other, and the venue should offer more than just golf-related facilities. This year’s ranking also factors in added marks for resorts which offer more than one golf course, with venues given a bonus of 0.005 points per every hole offered, thus giving a boost to resort’s that offer 27 holes or more.

This latest ranking has produced a new number one for the first time in four years, with Costa Navarino in Greece, which offers four championship 18-hole courses, edging past the long-time top-ranked resort at Finca Cortesin in Spain.

Costa Navarino has jumped an impressive six places up the ranking, have been judged seventh best in 2022. Located in Messinia, in Greece’s southwest Peloponnese, Costa Navraino offers a world-class golf experience with four 18-hole signature courses, but it also boasts four hotels, including The Westin and The Romanos.

Other venues to improve their ranking was Gleneagles, which is up to third from last year’s fifth, no doubt helped by having three 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole par-3 course; while Der Oschberghof in Germany moved up to fifth place from last year’s tenth.

Breaking into the top 10 is The K Club in lreland, while the Donald Trump-owned resorts at Turnberry and Doonbeg both dropped down the list, with the former slipping from 2 and 4, and the latter from 3 to 6.

created by Donald Steel alongside Martin Ebert who managed the design detail and construction, was fully open in 2000.

With its stunning views over the property’s glorious stately home and lake which is straddled by a magnificent bridge, the Melbourne guarantees visitors a highly-enjoyable and memorable day. It crosses the River Lea on four occasions as it follows the natural contours of the estate grounds before finishing in front of the Hall after a short ferry ride to the 18th green.

In contrast, the par-73 Palmerston suits golfers looking for a more strategic, challenging round. Unlike the Melbourne, this tree-lined track does not feature the river at all. Instead, it meanders around the Capability Brown-inspired woodland of rare hornbeam, Scots and Corsican Pine, monkey puzzle and

500-year-old oak trees that create some spectacular hazards alongside the fiendishly placed bunkers and large undulating greens that ensure a true test.

Packages start from £190pp for 18 holes on either the Melbourne or Palmerston Course, overnight accommodation, and a full English breakfast. Throw in an extra round for a further £95.

For more details, visit brocket-hall.co.uk, email golfevents@brocket-hall.co.uk or call 01707 368700.

■ ROUNDS AT THE MACHIE AND DUNDONALD LINKS (INSET) ARE AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

Judy Murray

The leading tennis coach, and mother of tennis stars Andy and Jamie Murray, is a recent convert to golf, and is aiming to get as comfortable with a club in hand as she is racquet as she travels the world

My earliest travel memory… is my mum taking me and my younger brothers to Berwick-uponTweed to stay with our grandparents. I remember spending most of the car journey fighting with my brother, and my mum having to keep one hand on the wheel and the other hitting us to behave.

My first holiday overseas was to Tenerife when I was 18 with some friends. I was a typical rookie Scot, lying in the sun without bothering to bring suntan lotion. I got horrendously burnt and blistered and the front of my feet were so painful I couldn’t wear shoes. These days I take a cap and factor 50.

After my boys were born, our first big trip abroad was a car-ferry camping holiday in France. In my early days of coaching and when I was managing the boys, all we saw was the airport, hotel and tennis centre – we travelled so much but saw so little, so I’m making up for lost time now.

My most recent golf holiday was to… Vidago Palace in the Douro Valley near Porto in early May. I’m quite new to golf, so this my overseas golf holiday.

There’s an 18-hole course in the hotel grounds which is reckoned to be the best course in north Portugal. It also had a driving range and practice area and stunning views over the local area. The sun shone, there was a spa on site and outdoor pool, so my first experience of a golfing holiday was bliss, and I’ve already booked to go back in October.

I bought a two-night stay at Carnoustie Golf Hotel in a charity auction and went there a few weeks ago. Carnoustie is obviously steeped in Scottish golf history. It has the Championship course, and two other 18-hole courses, all of which offer wonderful views out over the North Sea. There’s also a starter course for beginners with six very short and varied holes and an 18-hole public putting green, which I loved.

My ideal holiday four-ball would include… Anton du Beke, Robbie Keane and Catriona Matthew.

My most memorable ever round was… when I played in the pro-am at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last September. I had only been playing for six months and was in a team with Oliver Wilson, who had just won the Made in Himmerland tournament in Denmark on the DP World Tour, Peter Jones from Dragons’ Den, and Irish businessman JP McManus. It was daunting in many ways as a newbie in front of big crowds, but an incredible experience. I learned loads from observing Oli at close range and he shared a lot of great tips, especially on getting out of bunkers! Normally I need a spade!

Travel with

My favourite golf resort is… Gleneagles. This is where I learned to play. I live close by and it’s the perfect place to start because it has wonderful teaching pros, a driving range with TopTracer – which has been so useful in trying to understand which clubs to use for different distances – short game practice areas, pitch and putt course, 9-hole par 3 course and, of course, the three Championship courses, all set in beautiful Perthshire countryside. I often meet deer, rabbits, pheasants and swans on the fairways!

I always travel with… notes from my lessons with my Gleneagles pro Matthew Reid.

My favourite hotel in the UK is… the Isle of Eriska Hotel, just outside of Oban in Scotland. It’s on a tiny peninsula where the road gets cut off by the tide at certain times and there’s no phone reception, making it even more magical. There’s a spa, golf course, wonderful food and gorgeous rooms with four-poster beds. I go there when I just want to switch off from the world.

My favourite city in the world is… Rome.

My memorable meal while on holiday was… when renowned Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe [nicknamed Salt Bae] cooked in front of myself and Andy at one of the restaurants in The Crown Towers in Melbourne during the Australian Open. What a treat!

My holiday reading/playlist would include… the latest book from Lisa Jewell or Val McDermid, and a playlist from the 80s that would include Blondie, Queen, Meat Loaf and Elton John.

My worst holiday experience was a four-day trip to Milan several years ago where my luggage got lost and turned up just before I flew home!

I’m planning a golf trip to Provence. I went to Aix recently to watch Andy playing a final and met a gang of guys at Marseille airport who had been on a lads’ golf trip. They sold it to me and it’s a great chance to brush up on my French. I have a degree in French but if you don’t use it, you lose it.

My top travel tip is travel light, but always leave room in your bag for shopping! And pack clothes pegs to clip the curtains together in the hotel room to ensure sunlight doesn’t wake you too early. That’s one of my jet-lagbusting tips!

■ JUDY IN ACTION AT LAST YEAR’S BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PRO-AM

■ JUDY LIVES CLOSE TO GLENEAGLES AND ENJOYS PLAYING ITS THREE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES AND USING ITS TOP CLASS PRACTICE FACILITIES

■ ISLE OF ERISKA HOTEL, NEAR OBAN, SCOTLAND

■ VIDAGO PALACE, PORTUGAL

■ STAR CHEF SALT BAE