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Issue 229 | Feb 2015 Twitter@golfnewsmag www.golfnews.co.uk

LUKE DONALD TYRRELL HATTON BROOKS KOEPKA SIR JACKIE STEWART READER DRIVER TEST FOOTJOY COMPETITION EST 1994

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FEBRUARY 2015 [2]

FEBRUARY 2015

Editor’sComment

OPEN

BY NICK BAYLY

[3]

TO A L

L

SKY OPENS UP NEW ERA

W

hile Sky has done wonders for the coverage of professional golf, to my mind it was very disappointing – a sentiment echoed by Lee Westwood in much stronger language – that live and continuous coverage of The Open Championship will no longer be free for all television viewers to see after next year.

Following the R&A’s decision to hand over the rights to golf’s showcase event to a satellite channel in return for upwards of £10 million a year, hundreds of thousands of potential stars of the future are being denied the opportunity to witness the events that have inspired generations of today’s top players to take up the game.

Of course, Sky is not the enemy here. In fact quite the opposite, as it has done more to bring us closer to the game, and the professionals who play it, than was ever possible when covered by the BBC. However, like Wimbledon, the FA Cup final and the Olympics (I can take or leave the Boat Race), there are some sporting events that need to be seen by the widest possible audience if they are to retain their relevance.

While the R&A owed it to its accountants to seriously consider all offers for the rights to cover its flagship tournament, there is no question that removing all live golf coverage from the BBC is a hugely detrimental step, and seriously goes against the R&A’s stated commitment to grow the game, however many millions it subsequently throws into funding more outreach projects. Public broadcasting television penetrates people’s consciousness like no other medium.

I’ve lost count of the number of stars of the game who have told me that they were inspired to take up golf after sitting in their front rooms with their dads watching Seve Ballesteros or Nick Faldo winning the Open. To expect all golf fans, and those with a passing interest, to subscribe to Sky or NOW TV is a step too far.

Sadly, the BBC has done itself no favours. While splashing out millions covering football, and plenty on a share of F1, the corporation’s scaling-down of golf coverage in favour of pub sports (darts, snooker, shove ha’penny etc) has quite rightly raised questions within the R&A about how seriously, if at all, the sport is taken by the Beeb.

If ever there was a sign that golf’s popularity is affected by the amount of airtime it gets on free-to-view television channels, it was Rory McIlroy’s ‘defeat’ to Lewis Hamilton in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards. While you can argue the toss over who achieved the most in their respective sport last year, it’s hard to argue the fact that golf’s absence from the BBC has hurt its popularity both as an armchair sport and out there in the real world of participation.

When you pay lip service to a product, it would be ludicrous to simply expect to receive it on the grounds of historical ties, and one can hardly blame the R&A for looking for a new friend to play with.

Conversely, Sky has seriously enhanced golf coverage both in Europe and the United States over recent years.

There has been a huge investment in talent and resources to make a sport that is often ponderous and pedestrian a more

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palatable viewing proposition. Yes, the adverts are annoying, but as things stand, the alternative is a blank screen.

The ideal solution, in my huble opinion, would have been an agreement similar to one currently operating at the Masters, where the BBC shares an element of live coverage with Sky. But given that Sky has stumped up so much cash, it quite justifiably wanted exclusive live rights, leaving BBC viewers with a two-hour evening highlights package, which robs the Open of all its slow-burn drama.

Maybe we’ll wonder what all the fuss was about when the action gets under way in two year’s time at Birkdale, but writing as a long-time Sky subscriber, I still firmly believe that British golf’s showcase event needs maximum exposure on terrestial telly in order to ensure that the game as a whole doesn’t become even more marginal than it already is.

NEW YEAR, NEW GOLFNEWS WEBSITE! Talking of the digital age, we at GolfNews have finally been dragged kicking (and with some screaming) into the 21st century following the launch of our new website. The site, handily found at www.golfnews.co.uk, is an extension of the printed version of GolfNews, and features a mix of club news, equipment previews and reviews, tournament reports, player interviews, travel features, competitions and course reviews. In fact, everything you normally find in the magazine, only more of it, more often!

Readers will also find a much broader range of equipment coverage, including video content and digital galleries, so those looking for more in-depth coverage can go online and find out more. You can also download the latest digital version, browse through back issues, should that be your thing.

So please check it out today, and join in the digital party!

To visit the new-look GolfNews website, simply log on at www.golfnews.co.uk.

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LUKE DONALD TYRRELL HATTON BROOKS KOEPKA SIR JACKIE STEWART READER DRIVER TEST FOOTJOY COMPETITION

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NEWS IN BRIEF ST GEORGE’S TO HOST AMATEUR CHAMPS Royal St George’s Golf Club is to host the Amateur Championship in 2017. It will be the 14th time that the famous links at Sandwich has hosted the event.

It last held the tournament in 2006, when Frenchman Julien Guerrier defeated Adam Gee from Leatherhead by 4&3 in the 36-hole final. The qualifying stroke play rounds will be played at nearby Prince’s, with the knockout stages being played between June 19-24.

SEAFORD JUNIORS SHINE AT SPORTING AWARDS Two Sussex county juniors from Seaford Golf Club picked up awards at the 2014 Seaford Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards. Sussex U16’s player Joel Funnell won first prize in the Young Sportsperson category, while Sussex U13 player Charlie Sorrell won the Most Improved Sportsperson award. Both boys received £50 vouchers and Seaford Golf Club received £400 to support its junior golf initiatives.

[6]

FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

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MAGNOLIA UNVEILS JACKLIN ACADEMY The first pupils at Magnolia Park Golf Club’s new Tony Jacklin Golf Academy are lining up to sharpen up their games for the new season.

Mark McGeehan, the club’s resident PGA head professional, will be running one-hour sessions for youngsters on Saturdays from February 28.

Juniors signing up to the eight-week course, which costs £75, receive one of 50 Academy memberships, which provides access to the club’s par-three course, and will be supplemented by work booklets. The sessions are open to non-members and are aimed at those aged five to 16.

Jacklin, a two-time major champion who

captained Europe to three successive Ryder Cup victories, came on board at Magnolia Park last summer, helping to redesign the club’s existing nine-hole course.

The comprehensive project includes the construction of a championship par-three course, a 30-bedroom Best Western hotel, and a Tony Jacklin-branded clubhouse bar, which is due to be completed by next year.

The club is also building a fitness centre and spa, an air-conditioned gym and aerobics studio, a swimming pool, and spa treatment rooms. It has also submitted planning permission to build a number of two- and fourbedroom lodges.

Austin Lodge is to revert back to farmland

BRUSH UP ON RULES AT ALDWICKBURY Club officials and keen golfers looking to get a better understanding of the rules of golf are been invited to attend a rules workshop being hosted by the HGU Championship Committee at Aldwickbury Park on April 30.

The half-day course, which costs £12.50 and includes lunch, will involve practical scenarios on the golf course as well as classroombased tuition. For bookings, email office@hertsgolfunion.com.

CAPTAINS DRIVE-IN AT CROWBOROUGH Crowborough Beacon Golf Club held its traditional new captains’ drive-in Ryesomes stableford competition for the first time in three years, thanks to a break in the winter weather. Club captain Gerald Bonner, ladies’ captain Hazell Hickey, and junior captain Elliot Hayward performed their drive-in duties before the event, which was won by Alan Mitchell and Gary Wickens with 48 points.

This year’s captains’ charities are the Children’s Respite Trust and Macmillan Nurses.

BIRCHWOOD BACKS SUSSEX INTER-CLUB TOURNAMENT

The Sussex County Golf Union has announced that Birchwood Motors is the new sponsor of the county’s Inter Club Handicap Matchplay Championship.

Previously known as the Optimus Trophy, last year’s winner was Worthing, who beat Crowborough Beacon 7-5 in the final.

Austin Lodge closes but Pentland Golf unveils plans to improve other clubs Austin Lodge Golf Club in Kent has been closed with immediate effect after its owner, Pentland Golf, decided to convert it back to farmland.

The Eynsford-based private members’ club, which first opened in 1992, is one of many clubs across the country to have suffered in the economic downturn, although the club’s owner has said that its demise owed more to its remote location and the difficulty of attracting passing trade.

The 280-acre site, which featured an 18-hole parkland course and a sizeable two-storey clubhouse, was first put on the market in 2012 for a guide price of £1.785 million.

Speaking exclusively to GolfNews, Johnathan Callister, Pentland Golf’s managing director, said: “Our decision to close Austin Lodge was a strategic one. The course was very remote, and within our business we thrive on the quality of course conditions, quality of food, facilities we offer, and the people. We were not able

to maximise on two of these due to the club’s location. Austin Lodge has very little passing trade, so unlike our other clubs – Etchinghill and Boughton – we didn’t have the food and beverage customers that were needed. Also, due to its location, there was no covered driving range or par-three course, both of which we have at our other venues. These are key ingredients to a successful and thriving golf business.”

Pentland Golf is now committed to improving the facilities at the two remaining clubs in its portfolio, and has recently announced a number of plans that will attract new members and casual golfers alike.

“Over the past 18 months we have redeveloped and built a new par-three course at Etchinghill and also completely refurbished the clubhouse,” said Callister. “We have also received planning permission to build a 39-bedroom boutique hotel at Boughton, and we plan to start works on that later this year.”

Wallis rises to the top at Cinque Ports North Foreland’s four-time PGA South Order of Merit champion Richard Wallis shot a three-under 68 around Royal Cinque Ports to win the PGA Kent Christmas Fayre by two strokes.

Over 100 players and 27 teams gathered at the famous Deal links to play an Open qualifying course in fantastic condition with traditional Deal weather - sunshine, strong winds and freezing temperatures - adding to the prospect of a great days’ golf.

Richard Wallis

Wallis comfortably saw off the one-under-par 70 of nearest rival and local favourite Mark Belsham of Prince’s, while PGA South Order of Merit champion Benn Barham into third place. Paul Sherman’s team from Langley Park won the team prize.

The day raised over £3,000 for local children’s charity Demelza, thanks to a raffle and auction organised by Kent PGA stalwarts Chris Evans and Royal Cinque Ports’ Andrew Reynolds.

Senior Masters stays at Woburn The Travis Perkins Masters, one of the longest running tournaments on the European Senior Tour, will mark its 15th anniversary in 2015, when it returns to the Duke’s Course at Woburn Golf Club from September 4-6.

Building firm Travis Perkins has extended its sponsorship of the popular event up to 2018, with an increased prize fund of £320,000 this year – a rise of £20,000 from 2014.

This autumn’s tournament marks the company’s eighth consecutive edition as title sponsor, with previous editions having been held at Wentworth from 2002-2005.

Last year, former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie captured the title by ten shots in front of large crowds over the Duke’s Course, successfully defending the title he won in 2013. The Scot, who went on to win the 2014 Senior Tour Order of Merit, will have the chance of claiming a historic hat-trick in September, and becoming just the second player after Carl Mason to win a Senior Tour event three times in a row.

Andy Stubbs, managing director of the Senior Tour, said: “The Travis Perkins Masters is one our best attended events each year, and it is also one of the most popular with our players, who always remark on the magnificent condition of the Duke’s Course at Woburn. We look forward to welcoming another strong field in September.”

Spectators looking to buy advance tickets should visit the European Tour’s website.

Moor Park has invested in both its 18-hole courses over the winter

MOOR PARK UNVEILS NEW TEES Golfers playing Moor Park Golf Club’s challenging High and West Courses can look forward to enjoying significantly improved conditions this season, following a major investment in new greenkeeping equipment, and the construction of a number of new tees on both of the Harry Colt-designed courses over the winter.

The latest improvements, which include three new tees on the High and one on the West, come on top of the completion of a major bunker renovation programme at the Rickmansworth-based club, which has resulted in the hazards being restored to their former glory. The new machinery, purchased at a cost of £80,000, will also help to ensure the two courses are kept in great conditions.

Moor Park is hosting a number of open competitions this season, including the Hertfordshire Bowl, the Mixed Open, the Ladies’ Open and the Junior Open – although the highlight will undoubtedly be the Tillman Trophy, which takes place in the summer. Played over 72 holes, it is an open to any male amateurs with a handicap of scratch or better.

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NEWS IN BRIEF WOODCOTE BACK CARERS’ CHARITY

Members at Woodcote Park Golf Club in Croydon have raised £3,700 to support a local carers charity following a golf day at the Coulsden-based venue. The Carer to Carer Centre, which provides support and advice to carers, was chosen by Brian Jacob, the club’s five-day captain, as his charity for the 2014/15.

NEW PLANS SUBMITTED FOR EDGWARE COURSE Hopes of a new 18-hole golf course being built in North West London have been rekindled following the resubmission of plans for inspection by its developers. Tony Menai-Davis, who owns The Shire Golf Club in Barnet, withdrew plans to build a golf club on the site of a farm in Edgware last year after meeting strong opposition from local conservation groups, but he has now resubmitted them following further consultation with Barnet Borough Council.

STOKE PARK JOINS EUROPEAN ELITE Stoke Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire is the first English resort to become a member of The Leading Golf Courses of Europe, an association representing some of the continent’s most exclusive clubs.

The 27-hole Stoke Poges-based venue, which was founded in 1908, joins a list of 40 clubs in 13 countries considered worthy of inclusion, including Monte Rei in Portugal, Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria and Turnberry in Scotland.

PARK WOOD UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Park Wood Golf Club in Kent is under new management following its acquisition by Orida, a Buckinghamshire-based company that also owns Oakland Park Golf Club in Chalfont St Giles. The new owners have plans to further improve the Tatsfieldbased venue, which first opened in 1994 and boasts a mature 18hole parkland course with views over Kent and Surrey to the south and London to the north.

HARLEYFORD HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE Members at Harleyford Golf Club in Buckinghamshire have raised over £400 to help pay for a defibrillator to be installed at the Marlow-based venue. The potentially lifesaving machine will be kept in the club’s foyer and can be used in the event of a heart attack. The club is currently holding training sessions so that staff and members can learn how to use it safely.

[8]

FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

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OXFORD PRO CALLS TIME ON 56-YEAR CAREER One of the world’s longest-serving head professionals called time on his career last month after more than half a century at the heart of his club.

Oxford Golf Club PGA professional Tony Rees hung up his clubs – from a professional point of view – for the final time on January 31, following a 56-year career in the game.

The sprightly 74 year old first joined Oxford, which boasts a Harry Coltdesigned course and close links with the city’s university, as an assistant in 1959 – and has worked as the club’s head pro for the last 49 years.

Tony brought the curtain down on his much-loved job just two weeks shy of his 75th birthday.

“I’d always dreamt of a career in golf,” Rees said. “That was all I wanted to do when I was at school. I started

Tony Rees

Brett prepares to do battle Down Under for BMW title A Surrey golfer is preparing to travel 12,000 miles to take part in the world finals of the BMW Golf Cup, one of golf’s largest amateur team competitions.

Brett Capaldi, a 16-handicap member at Windlesham Golf Club, is making the long trip to New South Wales Golf Club in Australia to join his UK teammates in a week-long competition that involves teams

Brett Capaldi is preparing to play in the BMW Golf Cup World Final in Australia

from 43 countries.

Capaldi booked his ticket to the world finals after taking part in a regional heat at Royal Birkdale, and then winning the UK national heat (13-28 handicap category) held over Turnberry’s Ailsa Course last September. He beat off the challenge of 66 rivals at the famous Scottish links, winning on a back-nine countback.

Capaldi will be joined in Australia

by Jon Swarbrick (0-12 winner) and Vivien Williams (ladies’ winner), when they will take part in a 54-hole Stableford event. After two rounds, the individual net scores of the players from each country will be added together to produce a team score, while individual scores will be counted from all three rounds.

All 43 teams will be staying in the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney during their stay, and will have a chance to meet former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie during the event.

Liphook to host Brabazon qualifier Liphook Golf Club has been named as a qualifying venue for this year’s Brabazon Trophy.

The popular Hampshire venue will host the southern qualifier for the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship on May 12 – just six weeks before one of the top five amateur events in Europe is held at Hollinwell, in Nottinghamshire.

The decision to host the tournament at Liphook will hopefully boost the chances of Hampshire rising star Tom Robson, who has won the last two Hampshire amateur championships held at the course.

Robson, who is a member at Rowlands Castle, said: “There is just something about Liphook I love.

The greens are always super fast, and I think I read them pretty well.

The Liphook greenkeeper, David Murdoch, always has that course in fantastic condition whenever Hampshire holds an event there, and even though our events tend to be a little later in the summer, I cannot believe the course will play anything other than it normally does.”

Robson was exempt from qualifying last year, but the 25 year old was forced to give up his place in the field because of work commitments.

Now his record at Liphook has got him licking his lips at the prospect of earning one of the 30 qualifying places up for grabs, along with the chance to follow in club-mate Darren Wright’s and former county teammate Neil Raymond’s footsteps as a winner of the main event.

caddying in Coventry when I was 15, and then I was invited to move down to Oxford Golf Club as an assistant. I remember walking into the club for the first time and immediately being impressed with just how friendly the members were.”

Rees joined Oxford in 1959 and trained under former PGA chairman Fred Taylor – an apprentice to PGA founder member and six-time Open champion Harry Vardon.

“Fred was a great guy to work with,” he recalled. “He was chairman of the PGA and he had been an assistant to Harry Vardon, so to have someone like that mentoring me was a really good experience.”

He added: “I wouldn’t have believed it if you’d told me I would be there for quite this long, purely

because I didn’t realise I was going to enjoy it as much as I have!”

Perhaps his biggest challenge during his half a century in charge has been adapting to the changing face of golf. “Obviously there has been a lot of progress in the game over the last 50 years, but you have to move with the times otherwise you get left behind,” he stated. “For me, the biggest change has been the move to metalwoods. You see how far the young pros can hit it nowadays and it’s unbelievable.”

Now he is looking forward to life after the game – although he admitted he will find it hard to put away up his clubs completely. “I’ll be playing as much golf as I can,” he said.

“That, and enjoying spending some time with my grandchildren.”

Eddie Pepperell has a host of new sponsors following his excellent rookie season

Eddie goes steady with IMG Oxfordshire tour pro Eddie Pepperell has signed with sports management company IMG to represent his professional and commercial interests.

The talented 23 year old from Abingdon finished 49th in the European Tour’s 2014 Race to Dubai money list, in a season which included a run of four topfive finishes in five events.

Since starting his professional life on the Alps Tour in 2011, Pepperell has quickly established himself as one of Europe’s brightest talents, winning on the Challenge Tour in 2012 and claiming his European Tour card by finishing 13th in the rankings. In 2013, he ended his rookie season 76th on the Race to Dubai, demonstrating his potential with a sixth place finish at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Commenting on the deal, Pepperell said: “I am really looking forward to joining IMG and being a part of their impressive stable of golfers. I was pleased my results last season, but I am always looking for ways to improve, and I think IMG’s experience in the industry can help me achieve this and reach the next stage of my career.”

IMG’s global head of golf, Guy Kinnings, commented: “Eddie is one of the brightest young English talents on the European Tour and has improved every year since turning professional. He has an appealing personality and a maturity beyond his years. We look forward to representing him as he continues to develop both on and off the course.”

Pepperell has begun 2015 in bright fashion, finishing 26th in Abu Dhabi and an impressive fourth in Qatar, although he missed the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic. He is currently 26th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Harper beats illness to earn Alps Tour place Kent professional Liam Harper has won a place on the 2015 Alps Tour, which begins next month. The 22-yearold professional from Ashford battled through illness to finish 60th at the Qualifying School Final held in Spain last month, and is now preparing for three events in Egypt, beginning with the Red Sea El Ein Bay Open.

He said: “I was suffering from a shortage of breath, which made it very tough, but I didn’t want to withdraw. Sixty-eighth and ties made it, and I was very happy to get through. The top-35 qualified for the

top category, but I am in category eight, which means I can play in 85% of the events. There is a chance of a re-rank in June, if I get off to a good start, which means the opportunity to play on the tour full-time.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

[10] FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

After a successful pilot launch last year the British Golf Industry Assication has announced that it is planning another month-lpng campaign to push golf to a wider audience in May. Throughout the month, golf dlubs and professionals will be hosting special open days, free taster sessions, coaching sessions for families, ladies and men, as well as Individual lessons.

ENFIELD ACE BAGS BOSS WATCH North London golfer John Baker joined a growing list of amateurs to bag a limited edition Hugo Boss watch after he nailed a hole-inone at Whitewebbs Golf Course in Middlesex earlier this month.

The 47 year old, who plays off 10, aced the 148-yard first hole at the Enfield-based club to secure his prize. Over 4,700 golfers have become members of the BOSS Watches H1 Club since it was launched in April 2013.

GOLFERS SEE RED AT SOUTH BUCKS Golfers at The South Buckinghamshire Golf Club helped to raises awareness of the British Heart Foundation this month by taking to the course in red outfits. Staff, club members and other competitors at the Stoke Poges-based course joined in the ‘Wear it, beat it’ campaign to show support for the national charity. The event allowed golfers to take to the course for a reduced rate if they helped spread the word of the charity.

Burstow becomes UK’s first ‘FootGolf-only’ course

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Keith Mitchell picks up his England Golf volunteer award

MITCHELL WINS TOP VOLUNTEER AWARD Essex golfer Keith Mitchell, who has encouraged over 2,000 boys and girls to take up the game, has been recognised as one of England’s top volunteers.

Mitchell, from Rochford Hundred Golf Club, was presented with the 2014 England Golf Men’s Lifetime Achievement Award for services to golf at an annual gala dinner held at the County Golf Development Conference at Staverton Park in Northamptonshire.

“I get immense satisfaction from seeing youngsters progress and move through the game of golf,” said Mitchells, who has been volunteering in golf for almost two decades.

His first involvement was at Rochford Hundred, where he played a crucial role in the creation of the thriving cadets’ section and, working with the club’s PGA professional, started the ‘Hi-Fliers’ to attract and encourage local shool

children to take up the game for the first time.

After being club captain, he joined the Essex Golf Union in 2009, managed the U16 and U14 teams, and helped develop coaching programmes for young golfers. He represented the union on the Essex County Golf Partnership, and was involved with the introduction of the County Academy Programme. He also developed the U14 Junior Golf Tour, the county U12 coaching centres, and the five new starter centres established this year.

Essex Golf Union president John Peters commented: “We are immensely proud of Keith’s personal achievements and his dedication to promoting junior golf in general and Essex in particular. His work and commitment has been outstanding over the last 20 years, and he has been the catalyst for over 2,000 young boys and girls getting into golf.”

A Surrey golf club has closed down FootGolf is growing fast in the UK its golf course and is instead focusing entirely on FootGolf, the hybrid version of football and golf that has become increasingly popular in the last two years.

Burstow Golf Club in Horley, which was a pay-and-play nine-hole parkland course, has now become Burstow FootGolf Centre, an 18-hole venue where participants try to kick a football into large holes in as few kicks as possible. A typical round takes about 90 minutes and prices range from £6 to £15 – typically higher than the green fees the golf club used to charge.

A spokesman said that the club was particularly attracting stag dos. “We are under new management,” stated the club’s website. “We are pleased to announce that long-term manager and course designer Paul Wright has returned to Burstow FootGolf Centre after a six-year absence. The café and clubhouse have been refurbished and offer a range of light meals, snacks and drinks, and we have special rates for seniors, juniors and societies.”

Golf mourns Long’s loss Jim Long, the director of golf professional relations at Golfbreaks.com, died on December 24 after a short battle with cancer.

The 65 year old enjoyed a wideranging career in golf, which began when he played for England’s youth team as an amateur. He progressed to the professional ranks, and played four years on tour in Europe and Africa, including an appearance in the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Long branched out into golf tourism, founding Longshot Golf Holidays, and among his numerous

achievements, he helped organise more than 150 pro-am tournaments around the world, including events in America, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, South Africa, Mexico, Dubai and Thailand.

His expertise and knowledge led to consultancy roles with TWA, TrustHouse Forte, Dom Pedro Hotels and Sand Martins Golf Club.

More recently, Long was a familiar figure at Windsor-based golf holiday company Golfbreaks.com, where he was instrumental in helping fellow PGA pros develop golf tuition breaks and visits overseas.

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NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[11]

CROWN RAISES Taylor keeps up at Jones Cup £100K FOR GOLF FOUNDATION Three talented amateurs from the South East who took part in the annual Jones Invitational Cup held at Sea Island, Georgia, acquitted themselves well Ben Taylor is enjoying against a top-class field good form in the US drawn from leading amateurs in the US and around the world.

Tomasz Anderson (Brocket Hall), Ben Taylor (Walton Heath), and Ben Wheeler (Purley Downs), who are all studying at American universities, took part in the 54hole tournament, which attracted an 84-strong field.

Taylor, who is on

Members at Crown Golf’s venues around the country have donated over £100,000 to The Golf Foundation in the last eight years.

A cheque presentation for the latest transfer of funds to the golfing charity was made at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Surrey last month, taking the overall total well into six figures since fundraising began in 2006.

The majority of the funds were raised from small donations given every time a member renews their annual membership.

Crown Golf officially reached the £100k milestone on January 19, when chief operating officer Stephen Towers and

the company’s group retail and academies manager Caroline Griffiths presented a cheque for £16,028 to Brendon Pyle, chief executive officer at The Golf Foundation (pictured).

Griffiths said: “We are delighted to top the £100,000 mark, and are so proud of our generous members. Together they have helped The Golf Foundation to inspire thousands of youngsters over the last eight years.

We thoroughly endorse what The Golf Foundation stands for, and what it achieves in our sport each year, and our teams will strive ever harder in 2015 to bring more people into the game.”

a golf scholarship at Louisiana State, fared best of the English contingent, finishing a respectable 14th after shooting rounds of 78, 74 and 71. His sevenover-par 222 total saw him finish six shots behind the overall winner, Austin Connelly from Texas.

Anderson, a Walker Cup squad member who is currently at Jacksonville State, claimed 35th place following rounds of 74, 76 and 77, while Wheeler, who is studying at Coastal Carolina University, finished tied 58th.

GARY’S ON HIS MARKS FOR SENIOR TOUR! Surrey PGA professional Gary Marks is looking forward to teeing it up on the European Senior Tour after finishing second in final qualifying for the over-50s circuit in Portugal earlier this month, The 50 year old from the World of Golf Centre in New Malden missed out on playing for much of last season due to a wrist injury, but looked in fine form over Pestana Resort’s Vale da Pinta course, shooting rounds of 75, 70, 69 and 71 to finish tied second, seven shots behind runaway winner Ken Tarling from Canada.

Marks, who will be playing alongside golfing greats such

as Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam later this year, said: “It’s very pleasing to be able to compete after missing so much of last season. I turned 50 last year, Gary Marks

and like a lot of golfers, we all get excited in our late 40s, because the Senior Tour represents a second chance, and you don’t get many second chances at a career.

He added: “We are all fierce competitors, relatively fit, and no different to the young golfers – it is just that we are a bit older.”

Only the top 16 players in the field earned their cards for the 2015 season, and some big name players from yesteryear weren’t quite so lucky, including the Kent pairing of Stephen Bennett and Mike McLean, who finished down the field.

The European Seniors Tour starts at the Jersey Open at La Moye from June 4-6.

We believe in offering all organiser’s excellent value and dedicated benefits.

Our number one concern is to deliver a truly memorable golf day that exceeds expectations.

NEWS IN BRIEF HOT-SHOT HERBERT SETS HERTS RECORD Twelve-year-old Grace Herbert wrote her name into West Herts Golf Club’s history books by becoming the club’s youngest and first junior girl to represent Hertfordshire’s U16s side. Herbert made her county debut as part of the team which recorded a 4-2 victory in the Herts and Middlesex versus Beds and Bucks intercounty competition. She s now practicing for the Herts Schools Championship, which is being held at Chesfield Downs in March.

MCGINLEY ROBBED AT PEBBLE BEACH Ryder Cup charity mementos belonging to Europe captain Paul McGinley have been stolen from his car, along with his golf clubs, while travelling in America. The Irishman, who was playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, had his hire car broken into outside a restaurant in Ocean Beach on February 10, and discovered that his clubs, travel bag, and passport had been stolen, as well as Ryder Cup items he had set aside for a charity auction.

LEVERMORE’S HOT AT FREEZING FERRY

Jason Levermore weathered freezing temperatures with the help of a warm putter to claim the spoils in the opening PGA in Essex Order of Merit at Felixstowe Ferry links. The Channels head pro, and defending order of merit champion, carded a 72 with two bogeys and two birdies to win by a stroke from Andy Shakespear (Warren Golf Club) and Sam Willis and Matt Stables both from North Weald.

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[12] FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

Fenwick picks up coaching award Sussex-based coach Ryan Hertfordshire boys’ U16 Ryan Fenwick (second right) earns yet more coaching accolades Fenwick is one of five coaches squad. As well as establishing nationally to have been the Futures Tour, Day’s honoured with a special individual pupils include award for their outstanding Harry Bigham, who won contribution to coaching young the 2014 English U14 boys’ players in England. championship and has been Fenwick, who is attached selected for the England U16 to Golf At Goodwood in squad.

Chichester, and Mark Day England Golf Performance from Whipsnade Park Golf Director Nigel Edwards Club in Hertfordshire, received commented: “We all know recognition for their efforts that around successful players in bringing on talent at England Golf’s His students have included Sussex there is always a team of people who Coaching Conference.. Both are now talent Jack Floydd, who has gone guide and support them. So, for the in line for the coach of the year award, on to study at university in the USA, first time, England Golf is recognising which will be announced in April. and Kent’s George Mullins, who individuals who have made an Fenwick coaches the South East’s won the South East Group junior outstanding contribution to coaching.

U18 squad and has been involved championship and set a course record The nominations were received with Advanced Level Apprenticeship at Moor Park in the English Boys’ U18 from volunteers and managers, and in Sporting Excellence for many championship. the awards have been presented to years, inspiring and supporting many Fellow winner Mark Day, who is coaches who have gone the extra mile students to improve their golf and coach to the Thames Valley U16 girls’ to support the players and squads they complete the NVQ Level 3 course. squad, and is also involved with the are working with.”

Council closes Hurst Golf Course A nine-hole pay-and-play venue in Reading has been forced to close, after the council that was running the facility decided to divert funds elsewhere.

Hurst Golf Course, which first opened in 1980 and was operated by Wokingham Borough Council, hosted its last golfers just before Christmas, with councillors voting to use the 22-hectare site to improve the range of activities available at Dinton Pastures Country Park.

Last year, the municipal-owned course made a reported loss of £50,000, while its income had dropped by 38 per cent over the last three years. Former members blamed the closure on a lack of investment in the

facilities by Wokingham Council, which resulted in many golfers moving to other local clubs. The council closed the clubhouse in 2008, leaving golfers with nowhere to buy drinks or food except for a café in the country park.

Councillor Angus Ross, who voted in favour of the closure, said: “The golf market is particularly challenging at the moment. There are a number of large courses locally that are more popular and people are taking up other sport and leisure activities. We are aware there are many golfers who will be disappointed with the decision to close the course, but it was inevitable, as the course has never been that lucrative, even in its best times.”

Hurst Golf Course may be turned into a FootGolf venue

A consultation exercise has begun on what to do with the golf course, with one of the options being to convert it into a FootGolf centre, which is proving a increasingly popular source of revenue for golf clubs.

School’s out: Stoke Park’s new scholars take a break from training

Stoke Park unveils new scholars Stoke Park Golf Club has unveiled the latest generation of talented youngsters to have won a place on its coveted scholarship programme.

The final roll call of students was whittled down from the hundreds that took part in try-out days at the end of last year, with a shortlisted group of 24 narrowed down to the 16 that have just embarked on the year-long programme, which runs until November.

The class of 2015 comprises 10 boys and six girls, of which five are new to the programme, while the remaining nine have carried over their involvement from the previous year.

The old hands are Nathalie Warke, John Gough, Izzy Holmes, Julia Warke, Conor Gough, Thalia Kirby, James Gregory, Taylor Paul, Thomas Gregory, Daisy Kennedy and Carl Banner, while the new recruits are Nandit Sondagar, Charlie Herbert. Ben McFadden, Georgina Bowers and James Woakes.

The scholarship programe is managed

by Stoke Park PGA professional Stuart

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Rank, assisted by fellow profession James Jewell. Speaking to GolfNews, Rank said: “The results from previous players on the scheme have been fantastic across the board, with many reducing their handicaps significantly, representing club teams, and winning at county, European and worldwide level.Many of the under 14 boys have been successful participants in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Nike Futures Tour, while others have also been selected for county squads – the boys in BB&O U12’s and U14’s and Elite, the girls in BCLGA junior and adult teams. Several players have also passed trials for England regional squads.”

Each student will have one group lesson and one individual lesson each month, and will be able to make use of the Buckinghamshire club’s fitness facilities to work on golf-specific training regimes. They will also be given a scholar’s uniform, which they will be required to wear during all competitions and club events.

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NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015

HEYTHROP OPENS JOHN COOK GOLF SCHOOL Oxfordshire golf resort Heythrop Park is to open a new golf school run by former European Tour player John Cook.

Cook, who boasts a successful 20-year coaching career at the very top level, will be joined at Heythrop by his son Mathew, who is also a successful European Tour coach.

Speaking about the decision to locate his school at the Blenheim-based resort, Cook said: “Heythrop Park has by far the best short game facility for teaching in Oxfordshire, and it is one of the top five in the South of England. And the greens here are magnificent, even in the depths of winter. They are unbelievable quality for this early in the year, and a dream to play on if you want to learn to putt better.”

Cook, who has reputation as a short game specicalist, added: ”There really isn’t a shot which you can’t play at the practice facility. And the Bainbridge Course is undoubtedly one of the best courses in the region.’

John Cook with Heythrop Park ’s Tim Good As well as being lead coach for Oxford University’s golf team, Cook currently works with a number of top-flight women tour players, including Nontaya Srisawang, who is playing on the LPGA Tour this year, and Ladies European Tour players Titiya Plucksataporn and Kiradech Aphibarnat. Walker Cup hopeful Bradley Moore is also a pupil of Cook’s, and will be a regular visitor to the new golf school as he prepares for the most importnant season of his amateur career.

“My aim is to maximise the potential of every pupil, whether their goal is to finish in the top 10 in a club competition, or to go on to be a superstar in the elite amateur game or on the professional tours,” Cook said. “Apart from improving their game, I always tell people to appreciate what a great sport they are involved in, and how important it is to have fun playing it”.

Tim Good, Director of Golf at Heythrop Park, is delighted at the arrival of such an experienced coaching team. “John and Mathew are both highly respected around the world as leading coaches. We have just launched a new Academy and Gamestarter membership, so coaching is a core part of what we are offering golfers in 2015. We will also be starting a new series of residential golf schools with John and Mathew, which we think will be popular with players across the UK, given the excellent golf facilities and accommodation offering we have here.”

For more details visit www.heythropparkresort.com or call 01608 673488.

Drive and Dine offer from £30 at Farleigh* Farleigh - Proud host to The Surrey PGA Masters in May 2015.

The Shire is one the Jamega Tour’s top venues in 2015

Luther Blacklock presents the Explanar prize to Etchinghill PGA assistant pro Sophie Daws

Explanar swing trainer proves hit at Etchinghill

Jamega Tour unveils 2015 schedule The Jamega Pro Tour has announced a 21-strong schedule of tournaments for professionals and elite amateurs to play in this season.

With events throughout southern England and the Midlands, the tour once again expects to attract strong fields from rookies to experienced professionals.

Now in its 11th year, the tour lays on two-day events and aims to provide a complete tournament experience, with printed named scorecards, free yardage books, daily pin-sheets, local rules, an official starter and two on-course rules officials.

The season kicks off at Machynys Peninsula on April 27-29, before visiting a number of the South’s top tracks, including Harleyford (May 4-6), The Bedfordshire (May 18-19), The Shire (June 1-2), Gatton Manor (June 30-July 1), and Leatherhead (July 6-7).

The Jamega Tour will continue to incorporate the Single Figure Golfer tour, allowing low handicap amateurs to play for prizes such as expenses-paid slots on the Algarve Pro Golf Tour that is twinned with Jamega.

Martin Sell, who won last year’s Order of Merit and banked over £27,000, said: “It’s truly a real pleasure to be a member of the Jamega Pro Tour. The tournaments are very professionally run, with a friendly atmosphere, and we get to play on some very good courses.”

Etchinghill Golf Club’s juniors are receiving coaching on one of the most innovative training aids developed in the last 20 years, after the Folkestone-based club won an Explanar swing trainer in a competition run by The Golf Foundation.

The club won the £600 piece of equipment after signing up to The Golf Foundation’s Junior Golf Passport programme, which aims to get keen new players from schools into golf club junior coaching and regular play.

Etchinghill’s PGA head professional Steve Mitchell, who signed up to the programme last year, said: “This was a very nice surprise. We’ve really enjoyed working with the Junior Golf Passport, which is a great resource for helping juniors to progress here at the club. The Explanar is really straightforward to use and been really popular with the kids.”

Used by some of the world’s top professionals and coaches, the Explanar – which helps to groove the swing through muscle memory and was designed by Woburn’s master PGA professional Luther Blacklock – has already helped thousands of golfers to improve their swings.

The Golf Foundation has pledged to give away a further two Explanars this year, with the next one available for clubs that register for the Passport scheme before April 1.

Clubs must have a minimum of 10 children registered in order to qualify for the prize draw.

More than 600 clubs have signed up since the Passport’s launch in 2013, with more than 700 PGA Pro’s coaching over 4,000 youngsters. Clubs can register online at www.juniorgolfpassport.org.

Our Dive and Dine offer is a great option for small groups of friends to come and enjoy what Farleigh Club and XIX Restaurant has to offer. You can play and then dine or dine then play. This March and April the choice is yours…

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[13]

Foxhills Golf Events Choose From Two Championship Courses Proud hosts of the 2015 PGA Senior Championships & The Senior Open

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NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[15]

The stunning 18th hole at Silvermere

GOLF DAYS AND SOCIETIES

WIN

A FOOTJOY FITTING EXPERIENCE AT SILVERMERE! Golf News has teamed up with FootJoy, golf’s no.1 shoe brand, and Silvermere, one of the most popular golf venues in the South East, to offer six readers a golf day to remember.

THE PRIZE On April 7, six competition winners will spend the morning at Silvermere’s Planet FJ, taking part in a personal fitting by FootJoy’s experienced team for a pair of FootJoy shoes, plus a selection of FJ gloves and socks.

Prize winners will be able to choose from a wide selection of the current range of FootJoy golf shoes, including the brand new HyperFlex, offering the ultimate in athletic performance; the highperformance D.N.A; DryJoys Tour, which delivers state-of-the-art performance in a more traditional styling; and the ultra-comfortable Contour Casual, which are ideal for wearing on and off the course.

After being fitted for all the new gear, and a spot

of lunch at Silvermere’s Inn on the Lake, players will warm up on the fabulous two-tier driving range, before heading out for 18 holes on Silvermere’s challenging parkland course, where they can put their new shoes through their paces.

TO ENTER For a chance of being one of the six lucky winners, simply answer the question below correctly, and email your details (name, telephone number and address) and your shoe size (UK & European) to info@golfnews.co.uk, marking the subject line ‘FootJoy Competition’.

Entries close on March 6, 2015. No alternative prize is available, and the winners must be able to attend the day on April 7.

QUESTION Which FootJoy ambassador won this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open?

Set in the tranquil Surrey countryside between Woking and Guildford, Sutton Green is an exceptional golf club.

Co designed by former world No.1 Laura Davies and course designer David Walker. The golf course is an impeccable par 71. 6,480 yards from the championship tees. We are the perfect venue for hosting your society and corporate golf days during the summer months. We have various options available and are happy to tailor the day to your specific requirements.

Packages start from just £27.50 For more information please call Mark Jacobs or Bernie White on 01483 747898 or email admin@suttongreengc.co.uk New Lane, Sutton Green, Nr Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7QF

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NEWS IN BRIEF REVENUE PAYOUT FOR PRIVATE CLUBS Hundred of private clubs are set to receive refunds from HM Revenue and Customs over the next two months, after it agreed to return overpaid VAT. However, clubs can only expect to receive interim payments of between half and two-thirds of the money they initially claimed, while HMRC waits for a further ruling from the High Court this summer.

GOODWOOD HONOURS YOUNG STARS Golf At Goodwood’s up-andcoming players were recognised for their achievements at an annual junior awards dinner held at Goodwood Hotel last month. The top award, the Players’ Player, was won by Johno Beadles from Selsey, while the Most Improved award went to 12-year-old Yasmin Hang from Tangmere. Sevenyear-old Roco Bateman from Bognor picked up the coaches’ award. Ladies European Tour player Holly Aitcheson and double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton handed out the prizes alongside Goodwood’s head coach Ryan Fenwick.

MERSEY THEFT GANG ARRESTED Nineteen people have been arrested following a threemonth investigation into thefts at golf clubs in Merseyside last year. The raids took place at 11 golf clubs between April and November, and police targeted 23 properties to make the arrests. Among the stolen goods found was a range of clubs, clothing and accessories from most of the major golf brands, as well as a giant signed golf ball from The Open held at Hoylake in 2014. Victims included Heswall Golf Club, which had its offices rifled through by a gang in October.

TURNILL SEEKS TOUR SUPPORT Sussex-based professional Oliver Turnill has launched a campaign to raise £15,000 to enable him to compete in America this season. The Chichester-born player, who has been playing on the minor tours in the UK, but hopes to broaden his experience by playing on the NGA tour and eGolf Tour in the US, with the goal of qualifying for the Web. com tour at the season-ending qualifying school. For details of how to invest in Oliver, visit www.indiegogo.com/ projects/professional-golferroute-to-the-pga-tour or email oliturnill@yahoo.com.

[16] FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Prince’s proves perfect host for Winter Series clashes The dry, fast-running conditions at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent proved the perfect setting for back-to-back events on the Titleist & FootJoy Winter Series.

Despite freezing temperatures, Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson made the most of his links experience to win the first of the two competitions held on February 2-3. He shot a three-under-par 68 on the Himalayas and Shore layout to edge out Matthew Rice (Purley Downs), and take the winner’s cheque and the sponsor’s ball, glove and shoe contract as the leading assistant.

Wilson, who was delighted with his victory, said: “I was playing in a pretty hot threeball, with Max Brackley and Jordan Godwin out-driving me all the time, but being first to hit the shot to the green certainly made me focus more. Apart from the Manston’s chilling temperature, the Max Brackley conditions were ideal, and the

Prince’s course, and especially the greens, was in great condition – firm, dry and rolling. My experience of playing round Littlestone’s links certainly gave me an edge around Prince’s, as you become very familiar with handling these types of conditions and playing surfaces.”

The following day saw Max Brackley grab his second Winter Series victory of the season, after the Manston man fired a oneover par 73 in difficult scoring conditions over the Dunes and Himalayas layout to beat Leeds Castle’s Steve Purves into second place.

Victory took Brackley into second place close behind Staplehurst’s Scott Stevens in the overall Winter Series standings, opening up the possibility of an exciting conclusion to the competition with just three events remaining at The Berkshire on February 18, The London on March 2, and the finale at Swinley Forest on April 2.

Hersham to open adventure course Hersham Golf Course in Surrey has been given the go ahead to build an 18-hole adventure putting course on its site in order to attract more families and younger golfers.

Councillors at Elmbridge Borough Council gave the green light for the development, which will see a 3.5-metre volcano, a crashed

plane and a cauldron forming the backdrop to a new putting course, as well as a new building to house a reception and a café. The course will be floodlit and open until 9pm.

Hersham councillor Roy Green, who backed the plans for the new course, said: “It won’t quite be a Chessington World of Adventures, but it will certainly be somewhere fun for families to go in Elmbridge. It’s mainly aimed at children, but I think older

people will enjoy it too.”

The adventure course is being built by City Golf Europe, the creators of the junglethemed course at Horton Park in Epsom.

Dean Mara, manager of Hersham Golf Club, said: “It’s an exciting time for the club, and we are pleased to be able to offer the local community another attraction and facility for them all to enjoy. Golf has many social benefits and the Adventure Golf is a great way to introduce children and adults to the game and for us to become a venue for families to enjoy all year round.”

New-look Nailcote extends hotel and golf facilties Golfers visiting the renowned nine-hole short course at Nailcote Hall this spring will find a host of new facilities on offer at the Midlands-based resort.

Work on an extension to the hotel, venue for the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship, started last summer and is due for completion in April, while a new clubhouse is also under construction in readiness for the new season.

From May 1, guests will be able to make use of 11 extra bedrooms, comprising two suites, seven executive rooms, and two additional family rooms. Facilties at the new ‘Champions Pavillion’ clubhouse will include a pro shop, changing rooms, a bar – named ‘Charley’s Bar’ in honour of Solheim Cup star Charley Hull – a 60-cover restaurant, and a balcony with views of the 9-hole course.

Nailcote Hall’s entrepreneurial owner, Rick Cressman, commented: “The Hall has needed these additional rooms for many years, and with the economy improving, as well as the development at Birmingham Airport and the NEC, I am sure the demand for visitors to our area looking for a special place to stay, will continue to grow.

“The new facilities will give everyone who plays

Nailcote Hall will be bigger and even better for this year’s British Par 3 Championship

here an experience to enjoy from start to finish.

Charley Hull has played in the Par 3 Championship for the last eight years, and it is great that she is pleased to have the bar named after her. Let’s hope lots more young ladies follow her lead in the future and appreciate the value of playing a great par-three course.”

This year’s Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship takes place from August 11-14, when array of big names from the European, Senior and Ladies European Tour will be competing alongside TV and sporting celebrities in a series of Pro-Am events. For the latest details visit www. nailcotehall.co.uk.

Royal Lytham will host the Walker Cup in September

Nine English players in Walker Cup squad Nine English players have been named in the initial 20-man squad announced by the R&A for the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to face the USA at Royal Lytham & St Annes in September.

Brocket Hall’s They include Ashley Tomasz Anderson Chesters, the double European amateur champion; Nick Marsh, the English amateur champion; and Brabazon Trophy winner Ben Stow. The other English squad members are Tomasz Anderson, Daniel Brown, Adam Chapman, Sam Horsfield, Paul Howard and Jimmy Mullen. Surrey’s David Boote, who is a member at Walton Heath, is the sole Welshman included, while Scotland has five players and Ireland two, including Gavin Moynihan, the only player in the squad with previous Walker Cup experience.

Nigel Edwards, captain of the GB&I team, said, “We have selected a strong squad of players and they will all know that they are in contention for a place on the team and it is up to them to perform this season. As the season progresses I am sure that a number of players not currently part of this current squad will challenge for places, as has happened in previous years.”

GB&I will be bidding to win back the trophy after the USA’s convincing 17-9 victory in the 2013 match at the National Golf Links of America in New York.

OOSTERHUIS HANGS UP MIKE Fans of the transatlantic tones of commentator Peter Oosterhuis will have to carry on watching golf coverage on television without the benefit of his wit and wisdom, after the 66 year old announced his retirement from broadcasting earlier this month.

London-born Oosterhuis has worked as a golf analyst for CBS Sports, the Golf Channel and Sky Sports for the past 20 years. He worked on the first two events the Golf Channel ever broadcast in 1995, and then joined CBS in 1998.

During his playing career, Oosterhuis won 20 times on the European Tour and won the Order of Merit four years running from 1971-74. He played on the PGA Tour for 11 years during the latter part of his career, from 1975 to 1986. He also played in six Ryder Cups and boasted a 14-11-3 record in the matches – an impressive record given that Europe lost every Ryder Cup from 1971 to 1981. His best finish in a major was runner up in the Open in 1974 and 1982.

Speaking about his decision to hang up the microphone, Oosterhuis said: “Golf has been a big part of my life ever since I was a little boy growing up in England, and I thank CBS and Golf Channel for allowing me to continue in the sport after my playing days were over. I feel it is the right time to step away to focus on things in life that I have always wanted to do.”

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[18] FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

F

inding balls has always More balls than most: Clive discovered 79 balls during a 30-minute nightime hunt been the strongest part of my otherwise rather fragile game. A natural, whose skills have been honed and sharpened by years of staring at undergrowth and rummaging through bushes, it’s the only aspect of the game I feel I’ve genuinely mastered.

Perversely, this talent has often proved my undoing, and my matchplay record would certainly have been very much better had I not so frequently found an opponent’s ball. Even when all-square going down the last, I simply can’t resist the challenge of looking for a ball, and I’m genuinely delighted when I find one, even if in so doing I self-inflict a defeat.

A combination of this ability, and the fact that everyone who gives me birthday and/or Christmas presents invariably chooses golf balls, ensures I have enough to stock a medium-sized driving range. Despite this, I can never abandon a ball without a thorough search, and I am always delighted to receive a sleeve of new ones.

It also explains why, despite being rather sceptical as to its effectiveness and wary of the ghastly spelling, I was extremely interested when I received details of the Nite-Hawk Golf Ball Predator, a jumped-up torch that the manufacturer claims can locates lost balls by ‘emitting short-wave light that makes normal golf balls illuminate in a miraculous way’.

And so, late one Saturday night, when most sensible people were either down the pub or watching Match of the Day, I went to Dale Hill Golf Club – my home club, I hasten to add – to test its efficacy. Despite deciding against a Balaclava, I nevertheless felt distinctly criminal as I slipped my black Mondeo into the quietest corner of the car park. With my NiteHawk torch in one hand, Clive Agran reveals how he topped up his already huge and a Sainsbury’s plastic shopping bag in the other, supply of golf balls following a dusk raid at his local club I sneaked noiselessly past with a handy new gadget the first tee and headed for the rough.

When safely out of sight of the clubhouse, I noted the time and turned on the torch, which emitted a onto the next. But perhaps the most lunatic aspect of curious blue light. The effect reminded me of the dodgy my extraordinary behaviour was a reluctance to give nightclubs I visited in my youth, where the ultra-violet up on an inaccessible ball, even though there were lighting would highlight anything white in an otherwise dozens of others more conveniently located. dark room, thereby fatally damaging the chances And so I scrambled down ditches, ducked of anyone with dandruff and a dark jacket pulling a under barbed wire, and stuck my member of the opposite sex. head heroically deep into hawthorn After about 75 yards, standing out like a full moon hedges to secure my prey. in the night sky, was my first find, an unsuspecting One particularly dangerous Srixon. I plopped it into the bag and moved on. After manoeuvre ended in tears; picking up another couple of decent balls, I crossed the not because I couldn’t reach 18th fairway and headed for the woods on the right the thing, but because of the 17th, a popular spot with those whose lives are when I finally managed blighted by a slice. Suddenly, small constellations of to grab it, I discovered stars were winking at me and my pulse quickened as I it was fatally split. May I scrambled about picking up balls. therefore appeal to you Just as the Nike-Hawk hawker’s claim, only a tiny not to thoughtlessly throw fraction of a ball’s surface needs to be exposed for it to badly damaged balls away, be clearly visible. The other thing I began to appreciate but to dispose of them was why they enclosed a pitch repairer in their pack. responsibly?

Instead of simply a gesture to demonstrate how Despite effectively tackling concerned they are about the maintenance of greens, a tough assault course with a pitch repairer is an essential tool for extracting a an increasingly heavy burden, plugged ball. Having not brought one with me, I was I was nevertheless reluctant to obliged to kick maniacally at the buried balls with the stop when the hour was up, simply toes of my boots, which was both time consuming and because there were so many more more than a little tiring. balls still out there waiting to be rescued.

Scooping up balls with extraordinary frequency, I After all, I’d only covered little more than two was conscious my searching was becoming increasingly holes and already had enough balls to last me a few frenzied. Eager to see how many balls I could find in months (or longer, if I ever manage to cure my fade).

The Nite-Hawk lights up balls an hour, I was no longer wasting precious seconds Back in the comfort of my living room, I counted with a phosphorescent glow looking at the make each time, but instead hurrying out my booty. In total I had found 79 balls: Titleist 23,

One particularly dangerous manoeuvre ended in tears; not because I couldn’t reach the thing, but because when I finally managed to grab it, I discovered it was fatally split

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Srixon 13, Callaway 10, Top-Flite 8, Dunlop 6, Pinnacle 4, Taylor-Made 4, Nike 4, Wilson 2 and Bridgestone 1. Four fell into the ‘miscellaneous’ bracket, having neither branding or logos (cheap Xmas gifts from Tesco, no doubt).

More interestingly, I think I have hit upon a new type of golf that will appeal to those who struggle with the traditional form of the game. Not only is it fun, but it also uses golf courses at night when they otherwise lie idle. And it will generate much-needed extra revenue for clubs.

Either strokeplay or matchplay, and in twos or fours, players could go out after sunset and be given, say, 10 minutes to play (search) each hole. If you find five balls on the first, while your opponent finds only four, you go one up. There are no heavy clubs to carry and, instead of losing balls, you would only ever find them.

The Nite-Hawk British Open? Although perhaps not much of a spectator event, I can clearly see it glowing from strength to strength any night now.

The Nite-Hawk Golf Ball Predator costs £17.99 and can be ordered online at amazon.com. Permission to search for lost golf balls should always be sought from the golf club or landowner.

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NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015

[21]

Selsdon Park Hotel & Golf Club Sanderstead, Surrey

MEET THE PRO GARY TORBETT THE INSIDE SCOOP ON LIFE AS DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT CHIPSTEAD GOLF CLUB IN SURREY

WINTER WARMER When did you join your current club and how long have you been there?I became the head professional at Chipstead on January 1, 1990, so I’ve just celebrated 25 years here.

What is your day-to-day role?

My role has become more of a managerial position these days, as I’m responsible for all operations at the club.

What’s the best thing about your job?

That’s been the same answer for 36 years – you never know what the following day is going to bring.

And the worst?

I don’t really have a worst, but if pushed it would have to be the unsociable working hours.

Tell us something about the facilities…

Chipstead is a parkand course that provides a fair challenge to golfers of all abilities and as a club has a reputation for being one of the friendliest memberships in Surrey. Our doors are always open to visitors, and the staff prides themselves on the high quality service they provide to everyone.

What is the club doing to attract women and juniors?

We have been promoting that side of the game for some time now. We run free coaching weekends for women and juniors, as well as regular junior classes at weekends, along with full and half-day camps during half-terms and holidays.

What’s junior golf like at Chipstead?

For a relatively small section, Chipstead

Chipstead has a reputation for having one of the friendliest memberships in Surrey

has always produced good young players.

During my time I’ve seen 12 of those juniors join the professional ranks, one of whom has just competed in the Dubai Desert Classic. I can only put that down to the support they get from the senior members, along with the coaching programmes we have in place for those that want to improve.

What do you think would stimulate more people to take up golf?

Any sport has to have an element of fun attached to it, so I believe it’s important to make the right first impression when promoting this great game.

What’s the most common swing fault you have to correct?

The basics – grip, posture, alignment and balance points – are the first things I look at, and normally that’s where the fault will lie, regardless of the ability of the player.

What’s been selling well in the pro shop recently?

Callaway equipment and UnderArmour clothing.

Championship at Muirfield. I shot 78 and 74 and missed the cut, but it was a tremendous experience.

Who is your golfing hero and why?

Seve. I had the pleasure of meeting the great man in 1986, while he was giving a corporate golf clinic.

I’d never seen anything like what he produced on the range that day, and I’ve never seen anything like it since.

Who inspired you to take up golf?

My dad.

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What’s your favorite course in the UK, and the world?

Sunningdale Old, Muirfield, and Loch Lomond would be my top three in the UK, and probably Tidewater in Myrtle Beach.

What’s the best swing tip you’ve ever received?

‘Keep things simple’. Keep your swing thoughts minimal and take each shot as it comes.

Who would be in your dream fourball?

Seve, Billy Connolly and Jimmy Tarbuck. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Jimmy on many occasions, so I know how much laughter there is involved – and you can only imagine what it would be like with the great man and Billy Connolly as well.

What has been your career highlight as a player?

Playing in the 1992 Open

What would you have done if you hadn’t have been a pro?

I can honestly say I have no idea!

For more information and terms and conditions please call us on: 0208 768 3116 or 0208 768 3113 Addington Road, Sanderstead, Surrey, CR2 8YA

[22] FEBRUARY 2015

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RAYMOND READY TO GET PRO CAREER BACK ON TRACK Hampshire tour pro Neil Raymond is convinced that he will make it as a professional golfer, despite suffering a difficult season on his maiden year on the paid circuit.

The 28 year old from Titchfield failed to make it through to the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School last year, with his

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hopes of earning a card ending at Lumine in Spain. But the Corhampton professional has not lost faith that he is capable of mixing it with the best in Europe, even though his first year in the pro ranks did not live up to expectations after his glittering amateur career.

“Last season was not anywhere near the year I wanted, but it’s not something that will break me,“ said Raymond. “It’s not the end of me, and I still believe there is a lot more to come and I’m feeling pretty good about the future.”

Raymond blames a lack of proper match practice for his inconsistent results. “I played a few Challenge Tour events and some on the Jamega Tour, but to be honest, I didn’t play enough. It’s partly my own fault, because I needed better results on Challenge Tour to get some more starts, and that obviously didn’t happen.”

Raymond’s best result of the 2014 season came on the Challenge Tour, where he

finished in a tie for 11th place in the Fred Olsen Challenge in Spain. He was also third in a Jamega Tour event at Leatherhead. But after lifting some of the top amateur titles in the country, and playing in the Walker Cup, he was clearly expecting more.

“I didn’t do well on the amateur scene quickly. I took my time, and I was patient. Some people have a good amateur career, and come flying out of the blocks as a professional, while others take a bit of time to get to where they want to be. But my swing is in a good place, and I will keep working on that over the winter to get it more consistent.”

After failing to make the final stage of Tour School, Raymond has to decide where to play this season, and is weighing up the domestic Europro Tour and the German-based Pro Golf Tour.

“I haven’t worked out my full schedule yet. I will get seven starts on the Challenge Tour, but other than that, I’m not sure. I will either play on Pro Golf Tour or EuroPro. But I will get away over the winter to get some good practice in. They say the answer is in the dirt, so that means a lot of hard work.”

Welcoming Woburn puts families first Woburn Golf Club has launched a series of initiatives, including the construction of a brand new short game area, to encourage more youngsters, women and families to take up the game.

The 54-hole Bedfordshire venue, which is home to the European Senior Tour’s Travis Perkins Masters, has already hosted a range of activities aimed at increasing wider family involvement, as well as helping to boost beginners’ performance through a greater enjoyment of the sport.

The club ran an inaugural nine-hole foursomes tournament last year, which partnered 38 beginners with established players – including father-and-son and husband-and-wife partnerships.

With the emphasis on the game being fun, the club went to the extent of replacing the standard 4½-inch cups with 15-inch Woburn’s new short game facility opens this summer beginner-friendly cups on its

shortened course for the event – the first major club in the UK to do so – while insisting that both beginners and regulars played with junior clubs.

Woburn PGA professional Dan Blesovsky said the success of the event meant it would become a regular fixture on the club’s calendar. “The day was a fantastic way of making the sport fun for beginners and their families, and we’ll definitely be running several more this year,” he said. “The bigger holes increase game speed, and give players a real sense of achievement when they hole a putt – which is a great motivator for continuing with the sport.”

Woburn is close to completing the construction of a dedicated short game area, where the focus will be on shots from 100 yards and in. This new facility, which has been designed by former European Tour professional Manuel Pinero, will open in June.

Simpson hails life-changing bionic brace A golfer from South West London who has been unable to walk comfortably for over 50 years has become to the first person in the UK to be fitted with a computer controlled leg brace.

John Simpson (pictured right) suffered from childhood polio which left his nerves so damaged he couldn’t walk and despite multiple operations, physiotherapy and treatments, he has relied on a locked-leg brace to help him move around since he was 14.

Earlier this month, Simpson, 63, who was vice president of sports management company IMG and managed Nick Faldo during the height of his career, became the first patient in the UK to wear the device to help people living with partial paralysis to

walk naturally again.

Simpson called the Ottobock C-Brace a ‘revolution’. He said: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to walk with a lockedknee, which is awkward and puts great strain on my lower back. Over the years I tried new braces, supports and therapies, but nothing helped me walk, so I stuck with my original steel calipers.”

The C-Brace is the only exoskeleton of its kind. Built from carbon fibre, it uses a built-in microprocessor to control all aspects of the walking cycle, and can be worn on either one or both legs.

Simpson, who is a member at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, added: “I can walk naturally again without fear that my leg will give way. It’s going to change my life.”

Despite his mobility difficulties, Simpson has played golf to a high standard since his early teens, when he was taught by his father as part of his rehabilitation. Five years ago he founded golfing charity On Course Foundation, which supports the recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel through golf tuition and jobs in the golf industry.

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FEBRUARY 2015 [23]

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Modern 27 Bay Driving Range Facility Moatlands boasted huge bunkers and the whole course was top-dressed with sand at huge cost

F

NOW

or me, 1993 was an important golfing year, for it was then that I first started working in the industry at a new nine-hole course in Horsham, West Sussex.

It was also the year when two somewhat grander new courses opened a few miles apart, closer to my Tunbridge Nature has taken its course and the fairways are Wells home. One was Nick Faldo’s Chart Hills, and now overgrown and returned to grassland the other, Moatlands Golf Club near the village of Brenchley in Kent. asleep in the locker room prior to our meeting and had As soon as we were able to, my new colleagues and to be woken up.

I headed over to try out the latter, a fantastic new I didn’t get the job, which was perhaps just as well, for Japanese-owned course, where rumours of much sand, just as with a number of other Japanese-owned projects excellent greens and a wonderful routing had whetted in the UK, golf didn’t prove to be the pot of gold they our appetites. It didn’t disappoint, and although there had envisaged, and at its peak the club was reported was the occasional longish trek from green to tee, and to be losing £500,000 a year. Much of the cash went on one or two trees inconveniently placed in the middle of maintaining the huge acreage, which had been carpeted fairways, it was an absolute joy to play, with carpet-like by a bed of sand 150-300mm deep to ensure excellent greens and acres of golden sand that framed the holes year-round drainage. beautifully. We all went away suitably impressed.

After 12 years, Moatlands passed into the ownership It was an expansive layout too, playing to a then of British Ensign Golf, which took the bold decision to exceptionally long 7,060 yards over a spacious estate rebrand the club as Kent National Golf & Country Club boasting over 400 acres. Bunkering was generous too, (and create a rather bizarre heraldic club crest featuring with the most famous trap being the motto ‘Clean Balls the one that ran the entire length of and Good Manners’). the 605-yard 18th, before crossing Sadly, despite in front of a vast double green ambitious plans and shared with the ninth. good intentions, It was an absolute joy I played it a couple more times Kent National would after that, and it was always in survive for just three to play, with carpet-like immaculate condition. I also applied years under its new greens and acres of for the golf manager’s job there, ownership, with the and the interview will always official closure coming golden sand that framed stick in my mind, as the Japanese on October 31, 2008. the holes beautifully gentleman interviewing me fell There was much talk of it rising from the ashes when a suitable business plan could be put in place, but sadly it never came to pass, and ever since then the course has gradually been returning to nature, with much of it now unrecognisable as a golf course.

The beautiful clubhouse was sold separately, and is now a private house owned by football agent Mark Curtis.

But for me, Moatlands remains the only top-end course to both open and close during my time in the golf industry, while going by two different names.

The impressive clubhouse is now a private home for a wealthy football agent

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[24] FEBRUARY 2015

D

GETTY IMAGES

espite enjoying a well-earned break from his golf clubs over the Christmas holidays, Marlow’s rising tour star Tyrrell Hatton showed that he had lost none of his appetite for the game when he bagged sixth place at the star-studded Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

The 23 year old – who finished 36th in last year’s Race to Dubai rankings after posting five top-10 finishes – picked up in 2015 where he left off in 2014, securing a hefty €68,000 reward after compiling rounds of 66,71, 70 and 67 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to finish just five shots behind surprise winner Gary Stal.

Pipped at the post for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award by Turkish Airlines Open winner Brooks Koepka, Hatton even surprised himself by the quality of his performance, following a winter break which, by his own admission, didn’t involve too much work on the driving range.

“I’ve done very little practice since Dubai last year, so I came out to Abu Dhabi with not many high expectations,” said Hatton, who first picked up a club aged three, and honed his game at Harleyford Golf Club. “I wanted to take a bit of time off to appreciate what I did last year, so to start off as I have is very pleasing.

“I had five weeks off over Christmas, and although I didn’t do much practice, I spent quite a bit of time in the gym working on my strength and fitness, so maybe that helped me.”

It certainly seemed to hav done, as the youngster, almost unrecognisable in a hat – courtesy of a new sponsorship deal with Hilton Hotels – once again showed his liking for the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by finishing on 14 under par for four rounds. His early good work was slightly undone by a costly triple bogey eight on the second hole of the second round, but a bogey-free final round of 67 saw him finish strongly, and take his world ranking to a new high of 116th.

Like many fledgling tour pros, Hatton has taken time to adjust to the hectic life of a travelling tour professional, and admits that his diet has suffered

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

from too many junk food meals grabbed between rounds. “It’s difficult to eat well when you are traveling all the time, so it’s easy to put on weight – especially when you like a burger, like I do. I needed to hit the gym to get myself feeling stronger and fitter, which thankfully I’ve managed to do. I’ve never been particularly short off the tee, but gaining extra core strength has helped me gain a few extra yards, which always helps.”

Reflecting on last year, and his goals for his second season on tour, Hatton added: “Last season was definitely a great rookie year and one that exceeded all of my expectations. At the start of the year, I just wanted to keep my card – like I guess all the Challenge Tour guys do. But getting off to a fast start was really good for my confidence, and I just managed to carry that through.

HITMAN HATTON HITS NEW HEIGHTS

After a superb first season on the European Tour, talented Buckinghamshire-based Tyrrell Hatton has kicked off his 2015 campaign in fine style with a string of top finishes in the Gulf

“I think I would say that the Scottish Open was perhaps the highlight of last season for me, certainly in terms of how I coped with the pressure during the final round. With a spot in the Open up for grabs and playing against a world-class field, I was really pleased with how I battled.

“Hopefully, I can keep improving and taking further steps forward. I’d say my big aim for this year would be to get into the DP World Tour Championship again.

I would also like to get my world ranking inside the top 100 by the end of the year, too. And, of course, it would be nice to get the first win. That would be special. I’ve obviously been dreaming about that since I was a kid, so to actually do it would be quite something.”

Currently ranked 116th, Hatton is already closing in on that coveted top 100 spot.

As one of golf’s most promising rising stars, he is aware of his responsibilities both on and off the golf course, and has recently taken up a role as golf ambassador for Child Bereavement UK, whose patron is the Duke of Cambridge. The charity, local to where Hatton grew up, supports families and educates health care professionals when a baby or child dies or is facing bereavement. Each and every year they train somewhere in the region of 6,000 people to help them to better understand the needs of grieving families.

“The aim is to just try to give something back, no matter how little – it is it is always something good to do,” said Hatton. “Child Bereavement UK are a local charity, based near High Wycombe, where I am from, and they fight for a very worthy cause, so I just felt it was good to promote the amazing work that they do. No family, or child, should have to go through that, and the charity does incredible work helping them cope and helping them deal with the news if something bad happens.”

Maturing rapidly in the glare of golf’s global spotlight, in the 12 months since taking his place on the top tier of European golf Hatton has found himself propelled up the world rankings, and knocking on the door of some of the game’s top events.

And with talent in spades, a raft of growing interest, and a host of new sponsors to support him, he looks nailed on to continue his irrepressible march up the golfing ladder in 2015.

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015 [25]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COOL CASEY SET FOR TOUR DEBUT Middlesex-based professional Harry Casey is looking forward to teeing it up on the European Tour’s Madeira Islands Open next month, after earning a place in the line-up following a stunning season on the Algarve Pro Tour.

Since turning pro in October, the Enfield-based former England Elite Squad member has been competing on the TP Tour in England and the Algarve Pro Golf Tour in Portugal.

And following several top-10 finishes in his first few starts, Casey hit top form at Onyria Palmares, claiming back-to-back wins in the Algarve.

Two further runner-up placings took the talented 21 year old to the top of the Algarve Tour’s Order of Merit at the end of the season, which not only earned him exemption on the 2015 Jamega Pro Golf Tour, but also a much sought-after spot in the European Tour’s Madeira Islands

Open, which is being held at Santo de Serro in March.

Casey rounded off his fine rookie season by finishing third in final qualifying for the 2015 Alps Tour, and can now look forward to playing a full season on the European-based tour that has proved a solid training ground for a number of current top tour pros.

Speaking about his stunning start to life in the paid ranks, Casey, who won the Faldo Series and the Carris Trophy during his amateur days, said: “I couldn’t have dreamt for a better start to my pro career. I travelled to the Algarve with a clear goal of trying to get a spot in the Madeira Open by finishing at the top of the series Order of Merit, and I’m delighted that I did it.”

He added: “I’m well aware that the hard work is just beginning. The

Mannings appoints new management Mannings Heath Golf Club has appointed two new members of staff to the Exclusive Hotels-owned venue in Horsham, West Sussex.

Stephanie Hall, formerly Exclusive Hotel’s group business development manager, Stephanie Hall with Exclusive has been appointed Hotel’s MD Danny Pecorelli general manager, while Ian Whitmill has been appointed clubhouse operations manager, after previously serving as clubhouse steward at The Manor House in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, which is also part of Exclusive Golf’s portfolio.

Speaking about the new appointments, Danny Pecorelli, managing director of Exclusive Hotels, said: “Providing the highest levels of service for our guests and members is a fundamental part of our operation, and this means constantly looking at ways to maintain our club and courses to an exceptional standard, while evolving and innovating our product to suit the discerning tastes of members.

Stephanie and Ian’s combination of passion, experience and desire to make an impact will be key in driving our ambition for Mannings Heath forward in 2015, and I am delighted to have them on board.”

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wins in Portugal gave me a great deal of confidence heading to The Alps Tour Q-School, and I was delighted to finish third there and gain my full playing rights for the 2015 season. I’m very excited about the new season and can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Casey’s professional career is being looked after by Berkshire-based player management company Jenahura, whose managing director, Martyn Norris, told GolfNews: “We are absolutely thrilled with Harry’s results in his first season as a pro.

His technical ability and attitude are second to none, and we are looking forward to helping him progress to the highest levels of the game.”

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Survey reveals small rise in rounds played A survey has revealed that despite the negative signals about golf participation in the UK, the number of rounds of golf played at the back end of 2014 actually rose compared to the two previous years.

Leading sports research company Sports Marketing Surveys ‘Golf Rounds Played’ study revealed that the number of rounds played in the final three months of 2014 were up 4.5% against the same period in 2013, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.5%.

With temperatures above average for latter part of the year, England, Scotland and Wales all saw an upsurge in rounds played.

Richard Payne, senior manager of sports accounts at SMS, commented: “After announcing the positive numbers, we knew that unless the weather turned dramatically badly towards the end of the year, that we would be able to publicise some positive news to the UK golf industry. Hopefully this intelligence gives golf a boost going into the 2015 season.”

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Top amateurs set to take on the pros at their own game England’s up-and-coming female amateurs have been invited to take on the tournament challenge of WPGA professionals. Girls from England Golf’s U16 and U18 regional squads have the opportunity to enter the WPGA’s popular One Day Series and gain tournament experience.

The amateurs made an impressive debut in last year’s series, with Buckinghamshire’s Charlotte West (pictured) and Yorkshire’s Megan Clarke both winnning events, while Bel Wardle, Cloe Frankish and Aimee Wilson were all runners-up.

West, a past Buckinghamshire champion who trains with England Golf’s Thames Valley Squad, won the WPGA’s event held at Chestfield in Kent last year, and is keen to repeat the experience. “I wanted to prove to myself that I

could play well in competitions like these,” she said. “It was also interesting to see how the pros manage to get themselves out of trouble and see first-hand how good their course management skills are.”

Rebecca Wood, England Golf’s women’s performance manager, commented: “We are very grateful to the WPGA for opening up spaces at these events for our regional squads. The experience gives the girls a great opportunity to see at first hand how the professional players approach the game.”

The series of seven one-day events take place at Little Aston (May 11), Dunham Forest (May 27), Salisbury & South Wilts (June 16), Kedleston Park (June 29), Torquay (July 9), Chestfield (July 17) and South Herts (August 19).

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[26] FEBRUARY 2015

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Luke Donald took it on the chin after missing out on a wildcard spot for the Ryder Cup, but has vowed never to put himself in that position again Words by Nick Bayly Pictures by Getty images

I HAD NO-ONE TO BLAME BUT MYSELF

I

t was perhaps one of the worst kept secrets in golfing history, but when Paul McGinley calmly read out his list of wildcard selections for last September’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, few in the ballroom at Wentworth that day – myself included – were surprised that it didn’t contain the name of Luke Donald.

After a frankly indifferent season – by his own high standards – which was sprinkled with not-quites and might-have-beens, the 36-year-old former world No.1 was always going to struggle to be picked over Ryder Cup talismen Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, while the pressure on McGinley to select Scotland’s Stephen Gallcher for a home draw was nigh on impossible to ignore.

Still, when the call came through to the Donald household in America, the response to his exclusion was no less gutting.

“It was disappointment mixed with anger,” Donald says. “I could have been picked ahead of Lee, Stephen or Ian, and feel I could have justified the wild card. But

it was not anger directed at Paul or anyone, just at the fact I’d put myself in that situation.

“Let’s face it, but for a few instances during the season, I would have qualified by right. If Matt Kuchar had not holed that bunker shot at the last to deny me the win at Hilton Head, and if Rory [McIlroy] had not got on that birdie run on the back nine at Wentworth, I could have won there. All these things flash through your mind when you’re trying to come to terms with it. But then, during the few months in the run up to the Ryder Cup, I did not play well at all, and you realise you can’t blame anyone but yourself.

Not to say the disappointment didn’t sit with me for a few weeks. It did.”

McGinley was the factor which made the misery so profound for Donald, although not for the reason most would assume. “Of course, you always want to play in the Ryder Cup – it’s provided probably my most enjoyable moments in the game,” Donald says.

“But my desire to play at Gleneagles was heightened because I knew how good Paul would be as a captain.

He has been a big influence on me in the Ryder Cup

– he partnered McGinley in his very first match in 2004 ­– and I love the way he plans everything. He’s methodical, puts in all the work, leaves no stone unturned.

“That’s in my nature as well, and I really wanted to play under him. Yes, when I saw the guys on TV, I did feel a bit jealous. I was on holiday in the Bahamas with my family during the matches, so I didn’t watch it all, but it was hard to tear myself away on the last day. It’s great theatre: there’s nothing like rooting for the guys.”

Donald encapsulated all these thoughts in a text message he sent to McGinley on that Sunday evening. That meant a lot to the Dubliner, who had earlier confessed that he thought the next time he and Donald crossed paths ‘it would be difficult’. He need not have worried. “He had a job to do and did it amazingly,” Donald says. “I have nothing for Paul but admiration.”

In the aftermath of the Ryder Cup, Donald could only see two options. Either to ‘crawl into a hole and feel sorry for myself’, or ‘use it as motivation to make

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sure it never happened again’. Anybody who has ever come into contact with the Beaconsfield-born man would guess that the latter course of action was the way he chose to proceed.

In the black days which he admits to suffering after his rejection, Donald swallowed his pride and recognised that the radical swing changes he had made over the last few months under veteran Texan coach Chuck Cook were not working. So he threw in the towel with Cook, and reignited the partnership with his old coach, Pat Goss, whom he had been with since his college days at Northwestern University in Chicago before the pair parted company in August 2013.

A few months earlier, he had played with Justin Rose when his compatriot won the US Open, and Donald had been desperate to step up a gear himself.

Unfortunately, the big step proved to be backwards.

When he joined Cook, Donald was a top 10 player, having been world No.1 less than a year before. Now he is 34th. “Chuck and I talked after I missed out on the Ryder Cup and the Tour Championship, and we

FEBRUARY 2015 [27]

agreed that if after 13 months the improvements weren’t coming, then it was wise to look elsewhere.

Chuck and I still have a great relationship, it’s just that I physically couldn’t do some of it.”

Under Goss, Donald focused on the things he already did well: short game, bunker play, putting.

With Cook, he turned his attention to the opposite, employing his big muscles and using less wrist and more turn in his swing.

“It was a big alteration, but I thought I could do it, as I’ve always considered myself a fast learner,” says Donald. “But I can see how difficult it is to break down 30 years of golfing DNA. It’s funny, we see someone like Tiger going through radical swing changes and winning more and more majors, and think it can be done. But actually there are not many players who have ripped it all up and been successful. I lost sight of what made me successful. I focused too much on what I perceived as my weakness and forgot about my strength, which is from 150 yards and in.

“When I was No .1, I probably wanted that major too much. I came close to winning majors under Pat,

but figured I needed to be a better ball-striker; figured there had to be an overhaul of the whole package.

But I’m not a ‘big picture’ sort of guy. I prefer making small improvements each day. Pat understands that and for the first few weeks we didn’t talk about swing, just did some really good work on my wedge play and putting. We’ve being doing that ever since, and I’m ready to compete again.”

After practising almost solidly with Goss since November, early results on tour have confirmed the belief that the old Donald might be back. A stunning second round 63 in the opening event of the 2014-15 season in South Africa was classic Donald scoring – accurate driving, unerring irons and holing putts for fun – while the opening salvos on the PGA Tour have been equally encouraging.

To many outside observers Luke Donald is a classic case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and with the benefit of painful experience, that will be something he will now always keep in mind as he prepares to haul himself back up to his rightful spot in the rankings.

NEWS IN BRIEF ADDINGTON HOSTS CHILDRENS TRUST CHARITY DAY Golfers looking to help a worthwhile cause and play one of Surrey’s finest heathland courses should sign up to take part on the Spring Golf Day being held at The Addington on May 15. The day is being organised to raise funds for The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury. Team entry is £495 for a four-ball, and includes bacon rolls and refreshments, with lunch and prizes. To book a place, visit www.thechildrenstrust.org. uk/springgolfday or call 01737 364324.

ENGLAND’S REIGN ENDS IN SPAIN England’s attempt at retaining the Costa Ballena International Quadrangular Tournament was dashed by hosts Spain. The home side struck early in the title decider, winning all three morning foursomes, to get one hand on the trophy. England fought hard in the singles, winning the first three games, but when the remainder of the afternoon matches went Spain’s way, they were beaten overall 6-3. Earlier in the three-day series, England had halved with Finland and beaten Germany 5-4. England’s top scorer was Lancashire’s Sean Towndrow, who took 4.5 points from his six games. Hampshire’s Scott Gregory and Essex’s Bobby Keeble were also in the squad.

LUTON HOO OPEN DAY Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa is hosting an open day on March 1 which will give golfers the chance to try out the facilities at the resort. Starting at 10am, visitors can take a guided tour of the club and play the course for reduced green fee of £25.

Those who decide to sign up to a membership on the day will receive a range of benefits, including no joining fee, six member guest passes, and a free half-hour lesson. To book a tee time call 01582 69885 or visit www.lutonhoo.co.uk.

[28] FEBRUARY 2015 | NEWS

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WOLSEY ANGELS DELIVER WELLINGBOROUGH WINDFALL Wellingborough Golf Club in Northamptonshire is in for a huge windfall after four historically-important statues that were valued at over £5 million were bought by the V&A Museum in London.

The four bronze statues that adorned the gateposts of Harrowden Hall, a country house that the golf club took over in the 1970s, are understood to have been made for the tomb of Cardinal Wolsey, Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII. The Wolsey Angels, as they became known, were commissioned in 1524 from the Florentine sculptor Benedetto da Rovezzano as part of a Renaissance-style tomb for Wolsey.

Two of the angels were stolen in 1988, and were unwittingly sold by Sotheby’s in 1994 for just £12,000, without any mention of Cardinal Wolsey. But it wasn’t until an academic saw the stolen statues and tracked them to Wellingborough that he was able to detail their history – which led to the V&A submitting a £5 million bid for the historically significant artefacts.

The funds were finally raised earlier this month, helped by a £2 million grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and the angels are currently being restored before being placed in public display at the V&A. David Waite, Wellingborough’s general manager, said: “They were just assumed to be a couple of lead statues. I suppose thefts

The Wolsey Angels were stolen from the gates at Wellingborough Golf Club

Prime Minister swings into Whiteleaf like that happened all the time and we didn’t think that much of it. After they were stolen, we moved the other two into the hall for security, and that’s where they stayed until someone wandered in and suggested they might be of national significance.”

Dr Paul Williamson, chief curator of sculpture at the V&A, said: “It is an astonishing discovery. Nobody imagined these things had survived. And if the two angels hadn’t been stolen, they would still be on the gateposts and nobody would know what they were. So, in a way, ultimately they will benefit from the theft.”

The precise sum that the club will receive has yet to be determined, although a freeze on the annual subscription fees might well be on the cards.

Dame Laura among R&A’s first female members Dame Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam, Princess Anne, and four other leading players from the past have been named as the first women members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Following last September’s historic vote by the R&A to admit women into its ranks, the St Andrews-based club announced its first group of honorary female members on February 10, with the promise of more to come.

In addition to Davies, Sorenstam and Princess Anne, four legends of the women’s amateur game have also been invited to becomes honorary members, including AfricanAmerican former LPGA tour player Renée Powell; Scottish amateur champion Belle Robertson; Frenchwoman Lally Segard, who won the British Ladies’ Amateur in 1950 before becoming president of the International Golf Federation; and Louise Suggs, co-founder of the LPGA, and winner of the US Women’s Amateur and the British Ladies’ Amateur in the 1940s.

The Princess Royal follows The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of York and The Duke of Kent in becoming an honorary member of the R&A. Speaking about the historic move, R&A captain George Macgregor said: “It is an honour and a privilege for The

Royal and Ancient Golf Club to welcome these remarkable women as honorary members. The Princess Royal enjoys a strong bond with Scotland, and has shown great energy and commitment to developing sport through her work in the Olympic movement.

“This is a historic day for the club, and we could not be more proud also to welcome women who have distinguished themselves in golf over many years and have been great players and champions. They are extremely worthy additions to our roll of honorary members and will become ambassadors for the club as they have been for the sport of golf throughout their careers.”

Business is booming at new-look South Bucks COLLINS BAGS HINGE TROPHY Chart Hills’s Mark Collins defied freezing conditions to win the Kent Golf Union’s Hinge Trophy after shooting an impressive fiveunder par 68 at Royal St George’s on January 31. The plus-three handicapper finished two shots ahead of Gavin Webb (North Foreland), with Faversham’s Sam Newham a further two shots back in third.

The opening of an impressive new clubhouse at The South Buckinghamshire Golf Club has seen golfers flocking to the Stoke Pogesbased club over the last 12 months.

Since opening the extended £2 million facility in February last year, the club has seen a huge increase in interest from societies, corporate clients, charities, and private customers looking to stage golf days, business meetings and social events.

With two large function rooms, which can seat up to 70 guests, and a restaurant and bar which enjoys views over the golf course, the clubhouse is proving a bit hit with golfers and the

David Cameron poses with Whiteleaf’s members

local community alike.

The last 12 months has also seen membership numbers more than doubled, with the current membership at over 300. Membership benefits include reduced rates on the 18-hole course and the nine-hole Academy course, as well as membership of the BB&O Union. Flexi membership, which was launched last year, has also proved

a big hit, as it enables pay-and-play style golf, while still enjoying the benefits of membership.

In addition to the new clubhouse, the main golf course continues to get better and better, with the dedicated greenkeeping team working hard with experts from the R&A to improve course conditions.

The improved facilities on and off the course have also resulted in a number of big tournaments being hosted at the venue, with the National Public Golf Course Association due to hold its Regional Finals at the club this June, while a Women’s Open is scheduled for later this month.

Golfers enjoying their normal Sunday roll up competition at Whiteleaf Golf Club in Buckinghamshire earlier this month were surprised to be sharing the first tee with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The coalition government leader dropped in for a round at the club with a friend – and a sizeable security entourage – after his home club, Ellesborough, was closed due to snow.

Despite being the most important man in the country, Mr Cameron had to wait for his turn to tee off as members at the Princes Risboroughbased club were in the middle of a competition.

Darren Hodgson, Whiteleaf’s general manager, said: “We had just started a foursomes competition when the Prime Minister and a playing partner arrived. I explained we had a competition just starting, so he would have to wait a while before I could get him off. He was very understanding and had a coffee in the clubhouse, and within about 15 minutes he was out playing.”

The Prime Minister posed for pictures on the patio with members during his visit, but politely declined a membership application form.

Croucher joins ESN team East Sussex National has boosted its coaching team following the appointment of promising young PGA professional Chris Croucher.

The 23 year old, who has twice won the PGA South Assistants & Trainees Order of Merit, will be involved in all aspects of the resort’s golf shop, coaching, and the new customfitting centre. He will also represent the Uckfield-based club in regional tournaments and is looking forward to the challenges of working at one of the country’s leading golf resorts.

East Sussex National’s golf operations manager, Steve Graham, said: “We are delighted that Chris has joined us. He’s an extremely likeable young man with a bright future in golf, and is a welcome addition to our team of PGA professionals.”

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[30] FEBRUARY 2015 | STORY BEHIND THE PIC

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STORY BEHIND THE PIC GARY PLAYER | US OPEN, BELLERIVE COUNTRY CLUB, MISSOURI | JUNE 21, 1965

A

s Rory McIlroy prepares to take another step towards golfing immortality by attempting to become the youngest player to win the career grand slam at April’s US Masters, it’s a timely reminder of another young man who achieved that impressive quartet of major wins 50 years ago – Gary Player.

The South African’s victory at Bellerive Country Club five decades ago not only saw him become the first non-American to win the US Open in 45 years, but also saw him join Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only players at that point in history to have won the US Open, Open Championship, Masters and US PGA Championship during their careers. At 29, he was also the youngest. Since he achieved the career grand slam, the only others to join him have been Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, proving just how difficult it is to play your best over four such demanding tournaments, each of which places its own demands on a player’s physical and mental strengths.

In truth, the Black Knight (as he became known for obvious sartorial reasons) secured his name in the golfing record books long before 1965, having become the youngest ever Open champion after winning at Muirfield in 1959, aged 23, while two years later he became the first international winner of the Masters.

Player arrived at Bellerive in 1965 in the form of his life, convinced that he could win the tournament, which was being held over four days for the first time in its history (previously it had been over three, with two rounds on Sunday). At 7,150 yards, Bellerive was the longest course in US Open history, which played into the big-hitting Player’s hands, and with the help of his revolutionary fibreglass-shafted irons, he raced into the halfway lead with two par rounds of 70.

He added a 71 in third, and then led Australian Ken Nagle by three shots with just three holes to play during the final round. But after double-bogeying the par-3 16th hole, and with Nagle making a birdie at the 17th, Player reached the 18th hole needing a birdie to win. He had a 28-foot putt to do just that, but agonisingly left it four inches short to take the match to an 18-hole playoff.

Returning the following day, Player built a five-shot lead after eight holes and held on to win by three, recording a 71 to Nagle’s 74.

Fifty years on, Player, who turns 80 in November, is planning to attend all four majors this season to mark the career grand slam, and will no doubt be keen to tee it up at Augusta as one of the honorary starters.

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FEBRUARY 2015

MATT FORD’S

A

fter 11 long years as a pro, I’ve finally made it onto the Eurpean Tour after finishing fourth at Qualifying School last November. For those who don’t know much about me, I live in Bearsted near Maidstone, and played my amateur golf out of Bearsted Golf Club, where I still practise quite often.

I’m in my mid-30s, so quite a late developer, having left school many years ago to do a sports science degree in Cheltenham. When I finished I wanted to pursue my golf career – I’d wanted to before, but my mum and dad said I needed to get an education first – so I then spent three years playing amateur golf, got my handicap down to plus three, and made it into the England B squad.

I played all the big amateur events, and had a couple of halfdecent finishes without winning anything major, then I turned pro at the end of 2003, basing myself at Cobtree Manor with Paul Foston.

Along the way, I’ve won a Europro Tour event, had a couple of seconds on the Challenge Tour in Russia and India, and quite a few wins on the PGA South Region circuit. I’ve played a few main tour events too,

[31]

TOUR DIARY

KENT-BASED PROFESSIONAL MATT FORD BEGINS A NEW MONTHLY COLUMN CHARTING HIS FIRST SEASON ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR AT THE TENDER AGE OF 36

as I won the National Assistants’ title the year I turned pro, which got me into the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. I’ve qualified for the French Open the last two years, and also the Scottish Open and Wentworth again last year, via the South Region.

This year I’ll be playing a few more, probably around 25, but it’s difficult to say how many, due to my low ranking. I’ll just have to take the opportunities when they come, because I won’t necessarily know in advance.

I was hoping for all three of the Desert Swing events, because the player who finished fourth at Q School last year played them all, but I only got into Qatar, where unfortunately I missed the cut by a couple of shots as I struggled on the greens a bit.

I also played the South African Open at Leopard Creek, where I started nicely before falling away a bit. In fact, I’ve started well in all three events so far. I was four-under through 12 early on in Qatar, and at Leopard Creek I was third or fourth after a first-round 66. So I’ve had a few good

rounds, but the consistency isn’t quite there yet.

It is a little strange at first, teeing it up alongside the top names, and I often find myself doing a bit of a double-take when I see some of the really big stars. That can be both a good and a bad thing – good because you realise exactly where you are, and bad because it takes you away from what you should be focusing on.

Obviously you don’t go into tournaments

VISIT CALL

not trying to win, but my main goal this season is to keep my card, and I’ll do that by looking after the smaller day-to-day goals, rather than expecting to go out there and win. It would be a massive achievement for me to retain my card at the end of the season, but you can only do that by taking it one shot at a time. It may be a cliché, but it’s so true.

I haven’t got myself a regular caddie yet, although I am looking to sort that out. So far I’ve used local caddies, because you’re looking at shelling out £1,000 a week for a full-time one, and I don’t really

It is a little strange teeing it up alongside the top names, and I often find myself doing a bit of a double-take when I see some of the really big stars

have the finances in place for that yet. But I know a regular caddie would bring the benefits of greater consistency.

Talking of money, I need to say a big thank you to my main sponsor, the CK Group. They’re a specialist cleaning company who have sponsored the Southern Professionals tournament for a good few years, where I’ve enjoyed quite a bit of success. Their managing director, Ian Pether, has been a big supporter of the South Region, and I got to know him quite well through that. So I’m very grateful that he’s come on board with me to help me out on the Challenge Tour and now the European Tour.

There’s no doubt that the hardest part of my job is the travelling and being away from my wife and two young children, but the rewards are there, so I’ve just got to keep focusing and working hard, so that when I am away from them, I’m making it all worthwhile.

Next time, I hope to be able to report on taking some of my good first-round form on into days two, three and four! Fingers crossed.

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GETTY IMAGES

hile Brooks Koepka adheres to the tried-and tested American golfing convention of having a Christian name that most right-thinking people would consider a surname, pretty much everything else about the 24 year old from Florida defies the norm.

A social science graduate of Florida State University, he first caught the eye as amateur in 2012, when he qualified for the US Open aged just 20. Although he unsurprisingly missed the cut in his first major, his performance gave him more than enough encouragement to believe that he could cut it in the paid ranks.

After missing out on qualifying for the 2012 PGA Tour in America by three shots, Koepka surprised everyone by packing his bags for England, and began competing on the Challenge Tour, the European Tour’s second tier, where the average winner’s cheque is rarely more than £20,000. It was a move inspired by his fellow Florida State graduate and flatmate Peter Uilhein, who had taken the same route six months earlier, and had enjoyed impressive results.

Taking himself out of the cosseted comfort zone of American golf was a brave decision for Koepka, but one that, like Uilhein before him, quickly paid off. Testing his skills and mental strength against the extreme variety of course designs, weather conditions, cultures and cuisines (he famously once ate horse meat during the Kazakhstan Open) that European Tour golfers are faced with each week proved his making, and it was only a matter of months before he earned his debut professional victory at the Challenge de Catalunya in September 2012.

The following year, Koepka was an unstoppable force, winning three times on the Challenge

FEBRUARY 2015 [33]

KOEPKA’S QUOTES ON HIS FIRST PGA TOUR WIN: “I wanted to come out this year, get a win, make the Presidents Cup and compete for the majors. I feel like my game is ready to do that.”

ON HIS FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR WIN: “It was nice to finally get a win under my belt. I’ve been knocking on the door for a while, and I feel like I’ve blown a few tournaments, but I’ve learned a lot from my failures.”

ON BEING VOTED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: “You only have one chance to win this award, so to achieve it is very special, especially when you look at the names of past winners. It’s great that I’ve followed up Peter [Uilhein] too, as it [the trophy] gets to stay in the same house!”

ON LIFE PLAYING ON BOTH TOURS: “In Europe, the players often stay in the same hotels, so guys hang out together and there’s more camaraderie. You see all the Spanish guys going out to dinner or having a couple of drinks. I’m not saying the players aren’t friendly in the States, but most tend to do their own thing.”

ON BEING TOLD THAT HE’S QUALFIED FOR THE MASTERS AFTER FINISHING FOURTH IN THE US OPEN: “Could this day get any better? It’s a dream come true.”

ON EATING HORSE STEAK IN KAZAKHSTAN: “I’d been eating pasta for three nights in a row in the hotel and wanted to try something different.

I noticed some other guys were having it. It was actually pretty good; it tasted just like beef.”

Tour, including a stunning victory at the Challenge de España, where he finished a record-breaking 10 shots clear of the field, with a score of 24 under par for 72 holes.

Those three wins earned him automatic promotion to the European Tour for the remainder of the 2013 season and for all of 2014. He rounded off the year by qualifying for the Open Championship – he won the qualifier at Sunningdale – and finishing 12th in his first event on the European Tour, the Scottish Open.

By now a full member of the PGA Tour, Koepka started 2014 by claiming third at the Frys.com Open, and then bagged fourth place in the US Open at Pinehurst to secure his PGA Tour card for the current season in double quick time, as well earning an invitation to play in this April’s US Masters – a box that every pro golfer dreams of ticking.

Back in Europe, Koepka enjoyed four top-10s last summer, before overpowering a world-class field to win October’s Turkish Airlines Open, the penultimate event in the Race to Dubai’s Final Series. The monster €930,000 pay day took him to eighth in the Race to Dubai rankings and saw him named the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year – an honour that has previously been bestowed on the likes of Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer.

Moving into 2015, Kopeka bagged two top-10s in his opening two events on the PGA Tour, before finally becoming a true household name among golf fans in

KEEP AN EYE ON

KOEPKA

As comfortable playing in Europe as he is in his native America, big-hitting Brooks Koepka looks destined for the very top flight of the world stage

BROOKS KOEPKA FACTFILE AGE: 24

WHAT’S IN KOEPKAS’ BAG?

BIRTHPLACE: Wellington, Florida WORLD RANKING: 19

DRIVER: Titleist 915D2 (8.5)

R2D 2014 RANKING: 8th

FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (15)

PROFESSIONAL WINS: 6 (Challenge Tour: 2012 Challenge de Catalunya; 2013 Montecchia Golf Open, Fred Olsen Challenge de España, Scottish Hydro Challenge; European Tour: 2014 Turkish Open; PGA Tour 2015 Phoenix Open.

2014 MAJORS: 4th US Open, 67th Open Championship, 15th US PGA

HYBRID: Titleist 915Hd (20.5) IRONS: Titleist 714 CB (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM5 (52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GoLo 3 BALL: Titleist Pro V1X

America when winning the Phoenix Open in front of one of the biggest crowds in tournament golf. If what he had achieved before hadn’t marked him out as a future star, then winning at TPC Scottsdale in front of TV audience eagerly waiting for the start of the Super Bowl surely did.

Now ranked 19th in the world, Koepka is chomping at the bit for the major season to get properly under way, starting with his first appearance in the US Masters in April.

Bubba-long off the tee (he’s currently averaging an eye-popping 317 yards with the big stick) and a deadly long putter, he has a fearless quality about his game that is an essential attribute for any successful player.

As comfortable plying his trade in Asia and Northern Europe as he is in Texas or Tennessee, Koepka is the future of golf: an American who has a passport and isn’t afraid to use it.

This year, his plan is to play both the European and PGA Tour, something that his high world ranking will allow quite comfortably. Playing in all the majors and all the WGC events will boost his tally on both tours, leaving him to find half a dozen events on both to get his quota up.

As for his hopes for the future, he has a bold prediction: “My expectations have always been to be the top player in the world. I don’t think anyone wants to be mediocre.”

It’s a fair guess that ‘mediocre’ will never be Brooks Koepka’s middle name.

GARY STAL

FEBRUARY 2015 [34] Ranked 435th at the end of 2014,

the 22-year-old Frenchman rose to 103rd after chasing down Martin Kaymer to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Since when was a Frenchman called Gary?

ANIRBAN LAHIRI The 27-year-old Indian bagged his first Tour title after outgunning Bernd Wiesberger in the Malaysian Open. A third round 62 set up the biggest payday of his career and a potential Masters invite.

RORY MCILROY Forget majors, money and marriage, Rory achieved the feat that all golfers only really care about when he bagged his first ace as a pro with a 9-iron to the 177-yard 15th at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Two weeks later he won the Dubai Desert Classic.

THE CUT ROBERT ALLENBY The 45-year Australian claimed to have been ‘kidnapped’ from a bar in Hawaii last month, just hours after missing the cut at the Sony Open. He was found badly beaten up and had his wallet stolen. The FBI is looking into everyone’s version of events.

MARTIN KAYMER The über-reliable German suffered a major meltdown when he threw away a whopping 10-shot lead at in Abu Dhabi. Expect normal service to be resumed soon.

DUSTIN JOHNSON The 30 year old former Ryder Cup star not surprisingly looked a little rusty on his return to action following his six-month leave of absence for ‘personal issues’, and missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open by a single shot.

Still, it left him more time to change his new-born son’s nappies.

[34]

FEBRUARY 2015 | TOUR NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Woods takes break from tournament golf Tiger Woods’s future has Woods is taking time out once again been thrown off to work in on his game after suffering a major course after the 14-time slump in his form major winner announced that he is taking an ‘indefinite break’ from tournament golf in order to work on his ailing game.

Currently ranked 62 in the world, Woods shot a career-worst 82 to miss the cut at the Phoenix Open by 12 shots last month, and was playing poorly in the following week’s Farmers February 26, but will not do so if his Insurance Open when he withdrew game is not in shape. after 11 holes because of tightness in “The last two weeks have his back. been very disappointing to me, Woods issued a statement on especially Torrey, because I never his website that the problem is not want to withdraw,” Woods wrote. related to the back surgery he had “Unfortunately, lately injuries have last spring, but he is having therapy made that happen too often. This every day. He said he hopes to play latest injury is not related to my the Honda Classic, which starts on previous surgery. I am having daily

Jason has his day at Torrey Pines Australian Jason Day won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a playoff after a group of four players finished on nine under par.

Day won with a par at the second extra hole after he and American JB Holmes had birdied the first to see off Harris English and Scott Stallings.

Scotland’s Martin Laird and Ireland’s Shane Lowry finished in a tie for seventh, two shots behind the leaders.

“It’s an amazing feeling because I’ve been working so hard for this,” Day said in San Diego after securing his third PGA Tour title. “I’m really proud of myself to hang in there and grind it out.”

Holmes had a 25-foot downhill putt at the 18th to win his fourth PGA Tour title, but it slid by the hole to force him into a play-off.

Day and Holmes birdied the first play-off hole, while English and Stallings could only manage par. But Holmes was struggling after a poor tee shot at the par-three 16th, the second play-off hole, and Day held his nerve.

Victory came with a $1.098-million prize, but even sweeter in some respects, Day moved to No.4 in the Official World Golf Ranking – behind Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson, and just in front of his fellow Australian Adam Scott.

“The ultimate goal is to get to No.1 at some point,” Day said. But for now, the 27-year-old is just hoping to build upon this victory – something he was unable to do a year ago after capturing the Accenture World Match Play Championship.

physical therapy and I am feeling better every day. Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me.

“My play and my scores are not acceptable for tournament golf. I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.

Next week I will practice at Medalist and at home getting ready for the rest of the year.

I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game.

He added: “I’d like to play The Honda Classic – it’s a tournament in my hometown and it’s important to me – but I won’t be there unless my game is tournament-ready. That’s not fair to anyone. I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon.”

Jason Day is up to world No.4 following his fourth win on the PGA Tour

McIlroy coasts to Dubai triumph Rory McIlroy eased to a comfortable three-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic to get his 2015 season into top gear.

Leading by four shots after 54 holes, thanks largely to a stunning second round 64, the 25-yearold world number one did not require any heroics on the final day. Instead, he compiled a patient two-under par 70 to post a recordequalling winning total in the event of 22 under.

His nearest overnight challenger, Denamrk’s Morten Orum Madsen, triple-bogeyed the first hole to fall away, leaving Sweden’s Alex Noren, coming back from a serious wrist injury, to take second place following a closing 65, with defending champion Stephen Gallacher in third, six shots behind McIlroy.

The victory means McIlroy has achieved four wins and three runner-up finishes in his last seven European Tour events.

“I played a solid round of golf and did what I needed to do to keep my nose in front,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I was a little bit tentative over the first few holes but I guess we’ve seen what can happen to big leads these last few weeks with Martin [Kaymer] and Charl [Schwartzel] in Abu Dhabi and South Africa. I was conscious of that and making sure I didn’t make any mistakes.”

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FEBRUARY 2015 [35]

H

ow long have you been playing golf?

Since I was 12. I’m 75 now, so that’s 63 years, give or take. I was a member of Cardross Golf Club between Dumbarton and Helensburgh. My father was a golfer and my brother was a good player, too. I was never very good – at my best I got down to 8, but I spent much more time as a 12- to 16-handicapper.

Where are you a member now?

I’m fortunate enough to be member of the Royal & Ancient, and I’m also a member at Gleneagles, and at three clubs in Geneva, where I live.

You attended the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles last year.

What did that feel like as Scot?

It was a very proud moment for anyone connected with golf in Scotland, which has done so much to promote golf to the world. I attended the opening ceremony and have never seen so many people at the Ryder Cup on a Thursday before – the atmosphere was incredible and I think they did a terrific job in hosting the matches. And, more importantly, we got the right result!

Like the European team, you obviously enjoyed the pressure of being a favourite during your racing career.

How did you cope with that?

There’s certainly more pressure being the favourite, as you can’t go in there with the attitude of an underdog, but you can’t let it get to you either. All top sportsmen and women thrive on that pressure. Having all those other drivers wanting to beat me only made me more determined to win. Motor racing is an individual sport, and although I had teammates, everything I did, I did for myself. What I love about the Ryder Cup is the way the more experienced players look out for the younger ones coming through. They might be rivals for 51 weeks of the year, but for one week they pull together as one, Three-time Formula One world champion Jackie Stewart from which lifelong friendships has an interest in many sports, but he has enjoyed a life-long are built.

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED love affair with golf, as he tells Jeremy Ellwood

Are you as fiercely competitive a golfer as you were a driver?

Of course! There’s hardly a sportsman or sportswoman at the top who’s not viciously competitive at whatever sport they play.

Did you play golf for relaxation during an F1 season?

Absolutely. Graham Hill took up golf, as did Denny Hulme and Peter Gethin. After qualifying or practice, we would always try and nip off and play 18 holes, because there was always a course around the Grand Prix circuit somewhere. And because of my motor racing, I got invited to an awful lot of pro-ams.

Back then, safety in Formula 1 wasn’t quite what it is today…

No, it wasn’t. I’ve probably been to more funerals and memorial services than anyone I know, just because at that time the sport was so dangerous. If you raced in Formula 1 over a five-year period, there was a two out of three chance you were going to die. So golf was such a nice thing to do – it was peaceful, you were out walking in the fresh air, and you had companionship and competition all in one.

Stewart used to play golf to relax between practice sessions on the Grand Prix circuit

When did you start driving?

I was driving round my dad’s garage by the age of nine, but I didn’t start racing and competing properly until I was about 23. There was no karting and no Formula Ford when I started. I left school at 15 with little or no education – I’m dyslexic – and my first sport was shooting. My grandfather was a gamekeeper, so I took up clay pigeon shooting, which I got quite good at. I shot for Scotland, then for Great Britain, and I won most of the European and Mediterranean championships. I’m the only guy who’s won the British Grand Prix in two different sports – shooting and motor racing! But golf stayed with me until I had an ankle injury about five years ago, which has meant I’ve had to give it up.

You managed to get through your racing career without serious injury. Was that down to skill or luck?

Without ever drawing blood from my body! I don’t think it was luck, but I don’t think it was necessarily skill either. What I unquestionably had was the finest collection of mechanics in the pit lane. I drove for Ken Tyrrell all my life, and I had at least four mechanics – Max Rutherford, Roger Hall, Roland Law and Roy Topp – who were better at what they did than I ever was at what I did. So I didn’t have the mechanical failures other people had.

So you always had complete faith in your car?

Absolutely, and that was partly to do with Ken Tyrrell’s ability to choose high-quality people. Once you’ve chosen them, they develop with you and they raise their game as much as you raise yours. It’s not quite the same as a caddie on the golf course, because my whole life depended on their ability. I was lucky – I had a really good record, which is close to never having been beaten. I only raced in 99 Grand Prix and won 27 of

them, with three drivers’ titles in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

So you were the Jack Nicklaus of the Grand Prix world?

Well, the point is, that to finish first, first you’ve got to finish. There were loads of other drivers who were very good, but their cars were not as well prepared or reliable as mine, because Ken was driven towards producing a robust racing car that wasn’t going to have mechanical failures that would stop us from finishing.

The reason I won so many races was that my mechanics were so good.

You’ve been a critic of the design of modern F1 circuits, saying that they making overtaking difficult. Why is that?

The major reason for the lack of overtaking is down to the modern tracks, nearly all of which have been designed by the same man, German architect Hermann Tilke. Put simply, they are largely carbon copies of each other and they tend not to penalise mistakes. Thank heavens the tracks are a lot safer, but they also tend to produce dull racing, which doesn’t make for great viewing. When I think of the great golf courses of the world – from St Andrews to Pebble Beach to Augusta – they all have green fairways and they all have sandy bunkers; some suit the longer hitters; others place a premium on accuracy; but they each have their own unique characteristics. Crucially, no two of the ones I mentioned were designed by the same person – and that’s what makes golf fascinating, the variety of courses and conditions that golfers are required to overcome.

What did you make of Lewis Hamilton winning his second driver’s championship?

Lewis certainly has the ability to become one of the great drivers, but there’s a lot still to be done to achieve the greatness that I think everyone has perhaps placed on him prematurely. But he’s a young man, so he has many more years in the sport, and I think we are going to see even greater things from him. To become a great, Lewis has to continue to win. He must choose the best teams to drive for and keep his head focused on being a professional.

[36] FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TESTING PANEL RICHARD MOULES, 9

CHRIS STAPLEY 12 H/CAP

JOSH BUDD, 8

CHRIS PURTON, 0

CLUB TEST: DRIVERS

CALLAWAY XR

PING G30

TAYLORMADE R15

COBRA FLY-Z

RRP: £299 CONTACT: CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

RRP: £299 CONTACT: PING.COM

RRP: £369 CONTACT: TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU

RRP: £249 CONTACT: COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

Billed as Callaway’s ‘fastest ever driver’, the XR brings together a variety of technologies that are designed to generate maximum ball speeds – and distance – for a complete range of players. The most distinctive feature is the ‘Speed Step’ crown, a series of protrusions that reduce drag during the downswing to offer increased swing speed – 5mpg faster than previous models – while an ultra-thin face acts as a trampoline to fire the ball off the club face. Available in 9°, 10.5°, 12° and 13.5° heads, the XR can be adjusted to eight different loft and lie settings. Comes with a 46inch, 50g Project X LZ50 shaft.

Turbulator Technology sees six aeronauticallyinspired ridges bonded to the crown which significantly reduces drag and increases clubhead speed. A new, thinner titanium face allows weight to be placed low and back for high trajectory, yet low spinning launch.

The G30 has two head designs, Standard (9, 10.5) and Draw (10, 12), and the hosel can be adjusted by 6/10ths or one degree in either direction, resulting in five different loft settings for each head. The rear weighting increases MOI, so that off-centre hits won’t lose as much ball speed, and the face is encouraged to close at impact, minimising slices.

The R15 features the same weight rail found in the SLDR, only with two 12.5g weights rather than a single 20g weight. Shifting weights to the heel and toe increases the club’s overall forgiveness, while moving one to the heel and the other one to the centre adds draw bias.

The rail is also 12mm closer to the leading edge, creating a lower, more forward centre of gravity, which produces a slightly higher launch, but less spin. An adjustable hosel enables loft to be adjusted by up to two degrees. It is available with a white or black crown with 460cc or 430cc heads, with lofts of 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° or 14°.

One of three new Fly Z drivers (+ and XL) the Fly Z is designed for the improving midhandicapper, and features a low-back centre of gravity that creates higher launch and lower spin, as well as higher ball speeds, courtesy of weight saved through Cobra’s E9 Zone Face structure. This promotes 300rpm more spin than the Fly-Z+, which encourages higher launch without sacrificing distance.

MyFly8 technology enables eight different loft/ trajectory settings, ranging from 9-12 degrees.

Featuring a titanium body with a forged titanium face, the Fly-Z comes with a 45-inch Matrix VLCT SP shaft.

COMMENTS

COMMENTS

COMMENTS

COMMENTS

CHRIS S: Wasn’t a fan of the all-black look, as it was hard to distinguish the face from the crown, and made the head look small. Hard to fault performance-wise, producing excellent distance and very forgiving.

RICHARD: Felt really good, with a nice solid sound off the face. Liked the matt finish to the crown. Felt I could shape the ball and it produced the left-to-right flight I like to see.

JOSH: The all-black crown, face and shaft made the head look a little small at address, but it looked classy. The shaft felt significantly longer and this lead to some inconsistencies, although I hit it the farthest.

CHRIS P: Wasn’t overly keen on the plain matt finish, but it lfet very solid at impact and produced good distance.

CHRIS S: Not my favourite to look at, but performed well once I adjusted the loft and slightly closed the face, but still found it hard to draw, and it wasn’t the longest.

RICHARD: Loved the matt crown and this was my favourite head shape. Head felt quite heavy compared to others, but I was really able to control my shot shape and accuracy.

JOSH: Loved the look of the Turbulators, and although the head looks big, it felt light and easy to control, and produced a powerful ball flight. Wasn’t the longest, but was very consistent.

CHRIS P: Launched a bit high and with too much spin for me, but I liked the overall look of the Turbulator design and could see how it would appeal to mid-to-high handicappers.

CHRIS S: I liked the constrast between the white crown and black face, which made it easy to align. Was by far the longest for me and really liked the powerful launch off the face.

RICHARD: White crown wasn’t my style, so would go for the black option. Nice balance and looked excellent behind the ball. Flew a little high.

JOSH: My favourite of the four. I loved the look at address, especially the white crown. It felt really powerful and was very easy to hit. Easy to align and a good strong ball flight.

CHRIS P: Liked the look at address, with white crown accentuating the head size for added confidence. Felt really solid and was pleased with shot shape and trajectory. Needs a proper custom fitting to make most of the adjustability options though.

CHRIS S: I liked the colourful crown, and the overall look at address. Once I adjusted it to my settings (12, 1-degree closed) it performed really well and felt very solid off the face.

JOSH: Felt really powerful, and I liked the slightly louder sound off the face. Great ball flight and felt easy to shape shots.

CHRIS P: Loved the bold crown (blue) and liked the overall performance too. Great sound, solid feel, and once I’d dialled in the correct settings it was by far the longest of the four.

RICHARD: I’d definitely prefer this with a black crown, as I found the blue a little off-putting, but other than that it performed really well, although it seemed to fly higher than the others, which cost me a bit of distance.

FLIGHTSCOPE RESULTS CHRIS STAPLEY, 12

Distance

YARDS CALLAWAY XR COBRA FLY Z PING G30 TAYLORMADE R15

191 182 177 199

Club MPH

87 84 88 90

Ball Smash MPH

Spin RPM

121 115 117 119

3172 4145 4147 3005

1.40 1.38 1.33 1.33

Launch Shape Degrees

11.1 11.4 12.1 11.3

FADE FADE FADE STRAIGHT

CHRIS PURTON, 0

CALLAWAY XR COBRA FLY Z PING G30 TAYLORMADE R15

Distance Yards

Club Mph

260 268 248 250

112 107 106 110

Ball Smash Mph

150 152 146 147

1.34 1.42 1.38 1.33

Spin Rpm

4137 3449 4338 3948

Launch Shape Degrees

10.0 12.9 13.3 12.1

DRAW DRAW STRAIGHT DRAW

JOSH BUDD, 8

RICHARD MOULES, 12

CALLAWAY XR COBRA FLY Z PING G30 TAYLORMADE R15

Distance Yards

Club Mph

239 237 231 238

104 100 99 105

Ball Smash Mph

140 137 140 142

1.35 1.37 1.42 1.35

Spin Rpm

5156 4391 4627 4174

Launch Shape Degrees

9.8 10.6 12.3 12.7

DRAW DRAW DRAW DRAW

CALLAWAY XR COBRA FLY Z PING G30 TAYLORMADE R15

Distance Yards

Club Mph

258 237 231 238

106 102 104 108

Ball Smash Mph

144 141 144 142

1.36 1.38 1.40 1.31

Spin Rpm

3184 5113 3568 3501

Launch Shape Degrees

9.5 12.7 8.2 13.2

PUSH/DRAW PUSH/DRAW PUSH/DRAW PUSH/DRAW

With thanks to Horsham Golf & Fitness.

For details visit www. horshamgolfandfitness. co.uk or call 01403 271525.

ON TEST NEXT MONTH: NEW DRIVERS FROM NIKE, MIZUNO, WILSON AND TITLEIST

EQUIPMENT NEWS | FEBRUARY 2015 [37]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Jordan Spieth tops list of equipment signings

T

he short winter break saw a host of new equipment contract renewals and sponsorship deals being handed out to players on both the European and PGA Tours.

Perhaps one of the longest contracts handed out was to PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth, who was given a 10-year extension to his sponsorship deal with clothing and accessory brand Under Armour. The 21 year old, who has been with UA since turning pro in 2013, is the first golfer to be outfitted in head-to-toe Under Armour apparel, footwear and accessories during competition. The Ryder Cup star has been involved in the development of the brand’s first golf shoe, which is launching this spring.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Grip brand Lamkin signed evergreen Miguel Angel Jimenez as its newest brand ambassador. The 51-year-old Spaniard, who won on the Champions Tour’s last month, will be involved in testing new products as well as appearing in marketing campaigns. Currently ranked 40th in the world, Jimenez uses a traditional PermaWrap grip made from synthetic rubber on his Ping clubs.

Callaway has been the busiest of the leading equipment brands, signing a host of endorsement deals for the 2015 season.

PGA Tour players Scott Brown, Kevin Kisner, Jason Kokrak, and Kenny Perry have all signed agreements to use Callaway clubs, leaving deals with Nike, TaylorMade,

Eddie Pepperell will wearing Wolsey clothing on tour

Cleveland, and Adams respectively, while Web.com Tour graduates Adam Hadwin, Tony Finau, Colt Knost, Sam Saunders, Jonathan Randolph, Andres Gonzalez, and Derek Fathauer have also signed deals with the brand. They join headline stars, Jim Furyk, who has also signed a contract extension, Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson.

Wilson Staff signed up PGA Tour player Troy Merritt, winner of the 2009 Mexico Open, on a deal that will see the 29-yearold play the latest FG Tour V4 irons and FG Tour TC wedges.

Staying with the South American theme, Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, the 2014 Web.com Tour Player of the Year, has been signed up by Ping to a multi-year club, bag and hat deal. The 23 year old won twice on America’s second tier tour last season and finished second on the money list, gaining a place on the 2014-25015 PGA Tour.

Back in Europe, rising star Eddie Pepperell has joined up with British fashion company Wolsey to represent the brand on the European Tour. The 23 year old from Oxfordshire, who finished 49th on the Race to Dubai last year, will wear apparel from Wolsey’s new spring/summer 2015 Sportsman collection on tour this season.

TaylorMade launches club adjustment service at Wentworth performance lab TaylorMade Golf has launched a new club calibration service that will allow golfers to identify clubs from their existing set that are potentially unsuitable for their game.

The process takes one hour and involves golfers bringing their own clubs into the TaylorMade Performance Laboratory for scrutiny using Trackman technology.

A player will typically hit three-to-five shots with each of their clubs, allowing an analysis from the fitter to then look at distances, flights and dispersions of their shots. From that data the fitter is then able to identify any potential discrepancies in

the set, checking the full specification of their equipment in the workshop (including length, loft, lie, swing weight and grip condition) and making any necessary adjustments right there and then.

The price of the service is £100 for a onehour session, and all adjustments, excluding grip changes, are included. At the end of the session the customer will receive their Trackman results via email, with a voucher for a discounted loft/lie check within six months of their club calibration.

For more information or to make a booking, call 01344 846306.

Westwood launches swing training app Lee Westwood has launched a swing training app for smartphones and tablets that enables users to analyse their swings side-by-side with the former world number one’s own swing.

The Lee Westwood Masterclass app uses new technology called ‘Ultra Reality’ to seamlessly bring Westwood’s swing to your location so you’re truly side-by-side. Whether users record their swing on the golf course, at the driving range, or in their back garden, an image of Lee Westwood will appear right beside them so that they can compare and contrast at their leisure.

The app, which costs £2.99p to download, also lets users adjust the size and position of Westwood on screen so the two swings match up perfectly, while there is also an overlay function, swing plane analysis, and exclusive videos and instruction tips. Users can also share swings with friends by email or on social media.

THE GEAR EFFECT WINNERS’ BAGS ON TOUR PATRICK REED Hyundai Tournament of Champions DRIVER: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Double Black Diamond (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway X2 Hot Pro (13.5) IRONS: Callaway X Forged (3-4), Callaway RAZR X MB (5-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 BALL: Callaway Speed Regime 3 ANDY SULLIVAN South African Open DRIVER: Ping G30 (9) FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping G30 (15) HYBRID: Ping i25 (19) IRONS: Ping S55 (3-9) WEDGES: Ping Tour Gorge SS (47, 54, 60) PUTTER: Ping Scottsdale TR Anser 2 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x JIMMY WALKER Sony Open DRIVER: Titleist 915D2 (9.5) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist 915F (15, 18) IRONS: Titleist 712U (3), Titleist MB 714 (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM4 (48), Titleist Vokey SM5 (54, 60) PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS BALL: Titleist Pro V1x GARY STAL Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

DAVIES SIGNS WITH LYNX Laura Davies has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Surrey-based equipment brand Lynx Golf that will see the veteran Solheim Cup star use Lynx clubs as she continues her record-breaking career on the Ladies European Tour and US LPGA Tours in 2015.

The 51-year-old Dame, who was recently made an honorary member of the R&A, and who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame later this year, said: “Lynx Golf have engineered an exciting and rewarding range of golf equipment. It is great to be a

part of the closely-knit team who are continually striving to produce the ultimate in technology and innovation in golf products. I can’t wait to get out on tour with such great equipment.”

Speaking about the new partnership, Lynx’s UK & European chief executive, Stephanie Zinser (pictured), said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Laura on board with Lynx. Not only is she a legend of the women’s game, but her status on the Tour is unparalleled, and we are excited to be partnering with such an outstanding British golfer.”

Davies, who previously used Srixon equipment, began the season at the Victorian Open in Australia, where she finished eighth.

DRIVER: Titleist 915D3 (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (13.5) HYBRID: Titleist 913H.d (17.5 degrees) IRONS: Titleist 712U (3), Titleist MB 714 (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM5 (52, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey Versa 7 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x BILL HAAS Humana Challenge DRIVER: Titleist 915D2 (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (13.5) Hybrid: Titleist 915H.d (18) IRONS: Titleist AP2 714 (3-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM5 (54, 60) PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron SS Newport 2 Mid Slant BALL: Titleist Pro V1x BRANDEN GRACE Qatar Masters DRIVER: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha DBD (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Big Bertha V Series (15) UTILITY IRON: Callaway Apex (18) IRONS: Callaway X-Forged (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey Versa V-Line BALL: Callaway Speed Regime 3 MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ Mitsubishi Electric Championship DRIVER: Ping G30 (9.5 degrees) FAIRWAY WOODS: Ping G30 (14.5, 18, 21) IRONS: Ping S55 (4-PW) WEDGES: Ping Glide (52, 60) PUTTER: Ping Scottsdale TR Piper C BALL: Srixon Z-Star XV

[38] FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SOUTHERN STARS IN THE MAKING Golf News tracks down some of the brightest young boy amateur talents in the South East, all of whom will be bidding for county, national and international honours in 2015 Interviews by Jim Banting EOIN LEONARD AGE: 17 HANDICAP: +1.2 HOME CLUB: WENTWORTH CLUB, SURREY Who encouraged you to take up golf? My dad, who loves golf. I must have been about five when I first picked up a club.

How was 2014 for you? I found it quite a tough year, combining school, US college entrance exams, tournaments and practice, plus being a teenager, but it was a good season in terms of establishing myself in the Ireland Boys set-up, and playing all the big junior events. I won the South England Boys Open and finished fifth is the Fairhaven Trophy, but I would like to have done better in the Irish Boys, the McEvoy and the British Boys – although at least I have another year to have a go at these.

Representative honours: I am in the interesting position of playing for Surrey, Leinster and Ireland. I represented Ireland at U16 in 2013 and at U18 level in the European Boys, and Home Internationals in 2014. I was part of the winning Leinster side in the Irish Interprovincial Championships in 2013 and 2104, and I’ve played for Surrey since U13 level.

Personal highlight: First Ireland Cap and winning the Leinster Boys and South England Boys.

How often do you practise? Anything from ten to 40 hours a week.

Who is your coach? Stuart Morgan, who operates out of Mill Ride Golf Club and specialises in coaching elite juniors.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months?

Settled at a top US university, a member of the Ireland Senior panel, and with hopefuly a big win or two under my belt!

RYAN LUMSDEN AGE: 18 HANDICAP: +1 HOME CLUB: ROYAL WIMBLEDON GC, SURREY

What are the strengths? Short game, hitting fairways, holing out, course management.

Where are you most looking to improve? More powerful ball striking for a bit more distance, and better long putting.

Favourite courses: The European Club in Wicklow, and the West Course at Wentworth, my home club!

Favourite shot: Spinning my wedges from 100 yards and in.

Favourite club in the bag: 5-wood.

Best piece of advice: Don’t think too much.

Career ambition: Play on the PGA and/or European Tour and win a few majors!

Lowest gross score: A five-under par 67 on Wentworth’s West Course.

Favourite tour players: Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.

College/University plans: I’m currently finalising plans on going to univversity in America – so watch this space!

BILLY WATSON AGE: 18 HANDICAP: +2 HOME CLUB: NORTH HANTS GC, HAMPSHIRE Who got you into golf? My dad is a professional golfer and he encouraged me to take up the game. I was three or four when I first picked up a club.

How was 2014 for you? It was a pretty good year. I won the Champion of Champions tournaent at Woodhall Spa by five shots, which was a nice way to finish off my last season as a junior. I also cut my handicap from scratch to plus two.

Representative honours: I have represented Hampshire boys for several years now, but last year I represented the colts and the mens’ team.

Personal highlight: See above - winning the Champion of Champions.

How often do you practise? Since I finished college in July, I have been practicing every day.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months?

I would like to have had a successful first season competing in mens’ golf, hopefully winning a tournament and contending as much as possible.

What are the strengths? Driving accuracy and my short game.

Where are you most looking to improve? Iron play – it is not as consistent as I’d like it to be.

Favourite course: I don’t really have a favourite, but I really enjoy playing North Hants, as it

challenges all areas of my game.

Favourite shot? The flop shot.

Favourite club in the bag? Driver.

Who is your coach? My dad, Scott Watson.

Best piece of advice? To work hard to maintain consistency and avoid injury.

Career ambition: To play on the European Tour or PGA Tour.

Lowest gross score: 64 (-7).

Hole-in-ones: 1.

Favourite tour player: Justin Rose.

Hobbies and interests: Spending time with family and friends.

College/University plans: No plans at the moment.

Who got you into golf? My father, when I was two.

How was 2014 for you? It was a great year.

Some particular highlights were top-10 finishes in the McEvoy (8th) and Fairhaven (6th) trophies, the Silver Medal in the Scottish Boys Strokeplay at Cruden Bay, and representing Scotland twice, including the Boys Home Internationals. The British Boys was enjoyable too, with a top-20 finish in the strokeplay rounds, before getting knocked out in the second round of matchplay.

Representative honours: Scotland U18 team, Surrey County U18 captain.

Highlight to date: Becoming a Scotland international player.

How much do you practise? About 20 hours a week.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months? I’d like to be competing for a spot in Scotland’s mens’ team, and I’ll be starting my first year at Northwestern University near Chicago. I hope to be competing and winning out in America as soon I start.

What are the strengths of your game? My long iron play and my chipping.

Where are you most looking to improve?

Driving accuracy and mid-range pitching.

Favourite course: North Berwick – you have to play some really creative shots that are almost unique to the course. There are so many great holes, and you can see the sea from 17 of them.

Favourite shot: A 2-iron stinger.

Favourite club in the bag: Definitely the 2-iron.

Who is your coach? Tim Cooke at Sea Pines, South Carolina.

Best piece of advice: Enjoy the walk, and get the basics right.

Career ambition: PGA/European Tour player, and to win the Open Championship.

Lowest gross score: 63 – 7 under par.

Favourite tour player: Seve Ballesteros.

Hobbies and interests outside golf: Tennis, Chelsea FC, spending time with friends.

College/University plans: I’ve accepted a place at Northwestern University, starting in September 2015.

NATHAN LONGLEY AGE: 16 HANDICAP: 0.1 HOME CLUB: WORTHING GC, WEST SUSSEX Who got you into golf? I asked for a golf lesson for my 10th birthday and haven’t stopped playing since.

How was 2014 for you? It was a mixed year. I represented Sussex County and Worthing men’s scratch team and played some great golf, but I was disappointed with my results in the big national events.

Representative honours: I won my first cap for England U16s against Spain in Madrid, which was an amazing experience. I was really hoping to get some top finishes to earn a place in the U18 England Boys’ squad, but I just didn’t do well enough on the days that counted, so I’ve missed out this year.

Golfing highlight: Besides winning my first England cap, it has to be winning on the Players Tour at West Surrey in 2013, when I shot a course record 64 to become the first amateur to win the event.

How much do you practise? Every day. I’m upping my training schedule during the winter and carrying on working hard to get myself in top form for the new season.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months?

I would like to be off good plus handicap – I was off 2.5 at the start of 2014 – and able to gain entry into the bigger championships, and produce some top finishes which will hopefully earn me some sponsorship to enable me to progress further. I’d really like to earn my place in the England squad.

What are your main strengths? Driving and holing out.

Where are you most looking to improve? My strength and conditioning, and my decision-

making on the course.

Favourite course: Jumeirah Estate’s Earth Course in Dubai. I was lucky enough to play several courses out there, but the Earth was really challenging and was in immaculate condition.

Favourite shot: A high draw.

Favourite club in the bag: 58-degree wedge.

Who is your coach? Kieron Judges. He’s the Sussex west region coach and has just moved to Mid Sussex after five years at Worthing.

Best piece of advice: You can be as good as you want to be.

Career ambition: Earn a European Tour card, play in the Ryder Cup, and win the Masters.

Low key stuff, really.

Lowest gross score: A seven-under par 64 at West Surrey.

Favourite tour player: Tiger Woods.

Hobbies and interests outside golf: Cycling, snooker, football and going to the gym.

College/University plans: I’m currently doing a two-year B Tech sports course at Worthing College, which allows me to focus on my golf and gain a few A levels. When I’ve finished I want to be a full-time professional.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE | FEBRUARY 2015 [39]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STARS OF THE SHOW W

While the names have stayed the same, the design, construction and materials featured in the new Z-STAR and STAR XV golf balls couldn’t be more different from their predecessors, which have resulted in a range that promises golfers even longer distance off the tee, increased spin around the greens, and a ball that figuratively kicks sand into the face of wind.

Featuring Srixon’s most advanced ball technology to date, the new Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV feature a number of key technical advancements to improve upon what came before, in the shape of the newly-developed Speed Dimple Pattern, enhanced Spin Skin, new Energetic Gradient Growth Core, and a super soft urethane cover that offer an even softer feel.

The key to the powerful trajectory that sits behind the distance of the Z-Star family of balls, and in particular their performance in the wind, is the combination of a high initial velocity, a high launch angle and low spin.

These conditions are created with the interaction of two new factors in the 2015 balls: the dimple pattern and the energetic gradient growth core.

NEW 324 SPEED DIMPLE PATTERN

The new 324 Speed Dimple Pattern features a more uniform surface area for lower aerodynamic resistance. This results in even more airflow around the ball during flight, giving the Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV a powerful trajectory with longer distance.

than the previous model, meaning higher launch angles and lower spin rates are produced from the tee, while crucially still maintaining the new Z-STAR’s traditional soft feel. The cores of both the Z-STAR and the Z-STAR XV ball has been designed to promote high launch and low spin, but they differ slightly to give the distinctive characteristics of each ball.

Another point of difference between the two models is a new high-resistance Ionomer ultra-thin mid-layer that has been added to the XV Star. This increases mid-layer hardness, resulting in a firmer feel and even more distance than the Z-STAR.

NEW COATING AND URETHANE COVER

Both balls also feature a new urethane coating that delivers softer feel and a stable spin performance.

Although the Z-Star has a three-piece construction and the Z-Star XV a four-piece, the Spin Skin is the same thickness and is 21% softer than in the previous generation. This skin combines with a 7% softer ultra-thin, neo-urethane cover that tests show has increased interaction with the clubface at impact by 25%, and which gives both balls a softer feel and more consistent spin performance.

The Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV (£RRP £45 for 12) are available in Pure White or Tour Yellow, in pro shops and golf stores now.

For more details visit www.srixon.co.uk.

NEW ENERGETIC GRADIENT GROWTH CORE

Designed in pursuit of high launch and low spin performance, the new Srixon Z-STAR features a new supersoft Energetic Gradient Growth large-diameter core. This provides golfers with a greater contrast between the hard outer region and the soft inner

BECOME A GOLFNEWS SRIXON AMBASSADOR How would you like to receive a year’s supply of Srixon golf balls?

How about picking up a new Srixon tour bag, and a whole load of Srixon accessories? Or what about getting involved in testing sessions and custom fitting experiences for the latest Srixon woods, hybrids, irons and wedges?

If all that sounds good to you, then we’d like to offer you the chance to become a GolfNews Srixon Ambassador.

We’ve teamed up with Srixon to offer four lucky GolfNews readers

the opportunity to try out new gear and take part in a range of testing sessions that will appear in GolfNews over the coming months.

The lucky foursome will each be given six dozen golf balls, a tour bag, gloves and caps – courtsy Srixon.

To be in with a chance of being selected, simply complete the tiebreaker below, and email your entry to editor@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Srixon Ambassador’ in the subject line, remembeing to include your contact details, address, age,

handicap, and current equipment specifications. The closing date for entries is March 15, 2015.

All potential ambassadors must be prepared to travel to Srixon’s Centre of Excellence in Maidenhead at their own expense to receive their golfing goodies and to take part in custom-fitting sessions on designated days.

TIEBREAKER: I would like to become a GolfNews Srixon Golf Ambassador because…

The latest generation of Srixon’s top-selling Z-STAR golf ball range promises improved performance for all levels of golfer ENERGETIC GRADIENT GROWTH CORE Advanced construction optimises S.T.A.R. Performance (Spin, Trajectory, Acceleration and Responsiveness).

SECOND GENERATION SPINSKIN The new coating increases frictional force by 18% and overall cover softness by 21% compared to the previous Z-STAR, leading to more greenside spin and touch.

324 SPEED SIMPLE PATTERN Next generation Speed Dimple technology combines uniformity of dimple design with higher surface coverage, creating more distance and wind resistance.

Chris Beck, Srixon Golf’s US brand manager, explains some of the technology behind the performance of the new Z-Star golf ball range What are the key factors a club golfer needs to consider when deciding whether to buy the Z-STAR or the Z-STAR XV? We take a holistic approach to ball fitting that targets attributes that will most benefit the player leading to lower scores. If a player is struggling with spin over distance we might recommend the Z-STAR. If a player struggles with distance, then we might recommend the Z-STAR XV. If we are dealing with a single handicap player, we try to keep it really simple and state that the Z-STAR produces a higher ball flight, while the Z-STAR XV is designed to fly at a lower trajectory.

Do you need a swing speed in excess of 95mph to get the most distance benefit from the Z-STAR range?

All of our balls are designed to optimise distance and feel for all golfers, independent of swing speed. With that said, some players will hit different models longer based on spin and launch angle produced. It is best to consult your local pro to make sure you are optimizing these two variables for the best fit.

What makes the new Z-STAR balls so good at combating windy conditions?

The new Z-STAR Speed Dimple consists of 324 dimples that combine high surface coverage with similar size and shape to optimise aerodynamics. This combination has been proven through computer simulations to cut through the wind better than our competitors.

What is ‘Spin Skin’ technology?

Spin Skin is a Srixon-unique coating formulation that produces 20% more friction for greater greenside control. Every ball has a coating over the cover, but we have reformulated it to produce an innovation that does not affect driver distance or spin. This second generation Spin Skin is truly the best short game technology we have placed on a golf ball.

What feedback have you had from tour players to the new balls?

All our products are tested by our tour players, and many versions are developed prior to launching them to the public. With the new Z-STAR series this is no different.

The most common comment is that they see the greater stopping power around the green, without sacrificing driver distance or control.

All the other ball manufacturers have shied away from producing a yellow premium ball; why has Srixon persevered?

Srixon was the first manufacturer to offer a yellow tour ball because we saw the need and the advantage of being able to see the ball better. Currently, this is still being supported and played at the highest level of competition, with two players on the PGA Tour (Will Wilcox, Zach Sucher) and seven guys on the Champions Tour.

What single ball-related decision can a club golfer make to lower their scores?

Get fitted for a golf ball that will best address the main faults in your game.

[40] FEBRUARY 2015 | PROSHOP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COBRA FLY-Z IRONS RRP: £549 (4-PW) CONTACT: COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

PING CADENCE TR PUTTERS RRP: £139-£188 CONTACT: PING.COM Ping’s new Cadence TR putters take fitting to a new level by offering differentweight face inserts that are designed to fit a golfer’s stroke tempo and feel preference. Traditional-weight models feature a blue aluminium insert and typically fit players with mid-to-fast tempos and can help with lag putting.

Heavier black-coloured stainless steel inserts add 25g of weight, which will help slower-tempo strokes get the ball to the hole. Both face inserts feature True Roll technology grooves that vary in depth and width from the centre of the face to significantly improve ball-speed consistency. Eight models, including four new designs (Anser W, B65, Tomcat C, Rustler) and a counterbalanced option (Anser 2 CB), are available. Each features a black PVD finish and white alignment lines, and are available with adjustable-length shafts.

TRIED + TESTED

Cobra’s new Fly-Z irons feature a speed channel in the sole and behind the clubface – a technology borrowed from the Fly-Z woods – to provide create faster ball speeds and increased distance on shots struck across a wide area of the clubface. Enhanced feel is provided by a urethane cavity insert located behind the face that dampens vibration at impact, while a deep cavity undercuts the heel and toe for greater forgiveness on offcentre hits. They are available in stock black or a choice of four colours (white, blue, orange, red) and come with two hybrids and seven irons (3-4h, 5-GW), but can also be ordered with a variety of iron and hybrid combinations.

CALLAWAY XR IRONS

As a successor to the hugely popular X2 Hot irons, the all new XR irons have a lot to live up to in terms of power and performance, but Callaway believes it has cracked it with an iron that places the generation of maximum ball speed for improved distance at the core of its very being.

Featuring a ground-breaking two-piece construction, the cavity-back XR irons bring together the 360 Cup Face technology more traditionally found in its fairway woods and hybrids, and combined it with an internal standing wave that precisely positions the centre of gravity for improved playability and more accuracy.

The face cup wraps the face over the crown and the sole, and acts like a trampoline on shots that are hit low on the face – a popular area for miss-hits – to increase ball speeds. However, the XR face doesn’t only compensate for off-centre strikes, as higher ball speeds can be achieved from all other impact areas on the face.

Another key feature is the Internal Standing Wave, which is essentially a piece of metal welded to the inside the sole that looks like a breaking wave. This has the effect of both lowering the centre of gravity, as well as increasing the moment of inertia, meaning the XR irons are easy to get in the air and also more forgiving. This weight placement also gives the face cup the freedom to flex for more ball speed across the face.

In Callaway’s tests the XR cranked it seven yards past the old X2 Hot, and out in the real world, I experienced similar gains, with at least a club’s extra distance compared to my current set without any extra effort. The high-launching, soft-landing ball flight was also perfect for attacking the flags on par threes, as well getting the ball close on approach shots.

Vibration dampening technology in the head softens the feel off the face, while the XR’s topline is not as wide as you’ll find on most distance-orientated irons, there is still some workability built into the design. However, if you prefer a sleeker look, then the Pro version, which offers a more compact head, would be a solid option.

RRP : £549/£699 (ST/GR) CONTACT: CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA ALPHA 815 FAIRWAY WOODS RRP: £249 CONTACT: CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Following the launch of the Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver, Callaway has released a set of matching fairway woods and hybrids, which also offers the ability to independently adjust both spin rates and trajectory.

Designed for ball speed and forgiveness at every impact location on the face, the 815 fairway woods feature a forged composite crown and a forged Hyper Speed face cup.

They also have adjustable weights (3g and 30g) that can be used to move the weight forward for a lowspinning ball flight off the tee or back for higher launch and more forgiveness from the fairway and rough.

Designed to appeal to mid to low handicappers, the clubs feature eight-way OptiFit adjustability for loft and lie angles and come in 14, 16 and 18-degree lofts, which can be adjusted by one degree down and two degrees up. A comprehensive range of Matrix shafts is available at no extra charge.

PROSHOP | FEBRUARY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[41]

PRO SHOP PING G30 LS TEC DRIVER RRP: £299 CONTACT: PING.COM Building on the success of the G30, Ping has launched a lower-spinning version – the G30 LS Tec – which offers a centre of gravity that is still low and back in the head, but slightly more forward due to a sole weight in the rear of the sole. By adding the sole weight, the ball spins approximately 400rpm less than the standard G30, delivering a long, but more penetrating flight.

As with the standard G30, the six ‘turbulators’ on the crown offer reduced drag by significantly delaying airflow separation during the swing to improve clubhead speed, while a thinner titanium face improves ball velocity for more distance. The range of adjustability on the hosel has also been increased, going up from three to five loft positions, while a custom tuning port has been added to the rear portion of the sole to alter the swing weight. It is available in 9and 10.5-degree lofts with a TFC 419D shaft as standard.

TAYLORMADE AEROBURNER RRP: £269 CONTACT: TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU TaylorMade’s new AeroBurner woods and hybrids will suit mid-to-high handicappers looking to generate a bit of extra clubhead speed.

Weighing less than 300g, the head of the 460cc driver features various aerodynamic designs to increase airflow speed around its perimeter. This includes a fin-like protrusion along the hosel, a more rounded toe, and a curved crown – all of which reduce drag.

Testing by TaylorMade showed that players were able to swing the AeroBurner 1mph faster than the company’s JetSpeed and SLDR driver, which translated to an extra 5-6 yards distance on average.

In addition, an updated speed pocket extends the length of the sole, which increases face flexibility on shots struck low on the face and in the heel or toe, and expands the club’s sweet spot by 10% compared to the JetSpeed.

In a break with the fashion for adjustability, the AeroBurner features a fixed hosel, although there are four lofts to choose from – 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° and HL (17°). There are also matching fairway woods (3, 3HL, 5, 5HL, £199) and rescue clubs (£159).

PING GLIDE WEDGE RRP: £105/£120 (ST/GR) CONTACT: PING.COM Used to dramatic effect by Bubba Watson during the HSBC Champions towards the end of last year, the Glide wedge features a host of changes to its predecessor, the Tour Gorge, some of which are subtle, and some less so, to improve performance for all types of golfers.

A shared feature of the entire set is a longer-than-standard grip, which encourages players to grip down the shaft to control the ball’s flight. There are markings on the bottom of the grip at 1.375-inch intervals to create three reference points if golfers wish to use shaft length to alter trajectory and distance. The CFS Wedge shaft is also optimised in weight, flex and balance for a stable feel and lower ball flights.

The Glide comes in three sole designs — standard, wide and thin — for different angles of attack and turf conditions, while new Gorge grooves offer improved performance on full, chip and pitch shots. To improve control across the range, the grooves have a 16-degree sidewall in the lower lofts (47-54 degrees) to maximise volume on full shots, while in the higher lofts (56-60) a 24-degree sidewall that gives them sharper edges to help golfers create more spin on open-face shots.

To create more friction from the rough and in wet conditions, each wedge is chrome-plated with 431 stainless steel. According to Ping, the chrome finish beads water off the face and is 220% more consistent in wet grass and 35% more consistent in dry grass than the dark blast finish used on the Tour Gorge wedge. There are 13 loft/sole options, from 47-60 degrees.

ODYSSEY WORKS PUTTERS RRP: £149-£189 CONTACT: ODYSSEYGOLF.COM Odyssey Works putters combine many of the company’s most successful technologies, including the Versa alignment aid, a new Fusion insert, and a wide choice of Tour-proven head shapes.

Along with a choice of mallet, blade and counter-balanced models, the range also includes the 2-Ball Fang, an updated version of the classic mallet that features a pair of white alignment disks on the top that resemble golf balls.

Odyssey has made the top of the putter 75g lighter, which has lowered the centre of gravity and allowed designers to move 24% of the head’s overall weight into a pair of fang-like extensions in the heel and toe. Combined with the Versa colour scheme, Odyssey claims it is 32% more accurate than its previous 2-Ball putter.

The key technology is a new Fusion RX insert, which is a White Hot insert with a 0.406mm thick stainless steel Metal-X covering on the face, which, in tests, got the ball rolling 12% faster than the standard White Hot insert.

MIZUNO JPX850 DRIVER RRP: £349 CONTACT: GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM Although it was first seen on tour in April last year, golfers have had to remain patient to get their hands on Mizuno’s new JPX850 driver, which features an eye-catching blue crown and an even more attention-grabbing sliding weight system that allows golfers to dial in the perfect launch conditions.

The Fast Track system was first introduced in the MP-600 driver back in 2007, and where Mizuno led, others have since followed, with almost all other manufacturers’ current models featuring some sort of moveable weight system. While typical adjustable systems only have one ‘neutral’ setting with fixed launch characteristics, the new Fast Track allows players to set up for a high spin, mid spin or low spin ‘neutral’ flight, which together with high spin, mid spin and low spin in the fade and draw options, means players can easily dial in their perfect launch and spin.

Twin 8g weights that can be located either on the central sliding rail or the two lateral slots located on the heel or toe of the driver.

Together with Mizuno’s Quick Shift shaft release system, that offers eight loft options, ranging from 7.5° to 11.5°, within the one head. The 440cc head also incorporates a ‘rebound crown’ to maximise ball speeds by flexing at impact, while Mizuno’s Hot Metal face technology helps transfer clubhead speed to the ball across a large area of the face.

[42] FEBRUARY 2015 | SHOWCASE

ADIDAS ADIPOWER BOOST RRP: £129.99 CONTACT: ADIDASGOLF.COM Borrowing technology from adidas’s running shoes, the supercushioned Boost shoe features a foam midsole which is designed to deliver maximum energy, responsiveness and comfort. This layer is comprised of thousands of TPU capsules that have been fused together by a unique high-pressure steam molding process. The capsules store and release energy throughout the swing, providing a consistent platform that isn’t possible with a traditional EVA midsole.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FOOTJOY HYPERFLEX RRP: £135 CONTACT: FOOTJOY.CO.UK Featuring a web-like flexible exoskeleton that supports the foot through all phases of the swing, the HyperFlex is designed to be the ultimate lightweight performance golf shoe. The FlexGrid is strong enough to keep the foot from rolling laterally during the swing, but also conforms to the foot and allows natural motion. Other key features include a thicker cushioned foam sole section, which transfers energy from the ground up, while traction is provided by a combination of nine SoftSpikes Tornado cleats and directional nubs.

CALLAWAY XFER PRO RRP: £119 CONTACT: CALLAWAYGOLF.COM The key technology in the new X Series shoes is the Xfer Platform (pronounced Ex-Fer, meaning ‘transfer’), which focuses on the three fundamentals of foot control – alignment, stability and traction – and minimises energy loss. The ‘Superfeet insole’ claims to correctly align the feet, legs, knees and hips for a more solid stance, while the outsole features a combination of cleats and raised rubber ridges that draw inspiration from extreme mountain-climbing footwear to offer solid grip in all playing conditions.

SOLE PROVIDERS

The latest performance golf shoes are packed with visible technology

NIKE LUNAR CONTROL 3 RRP: £130 CONTACT: NIKE.COM

ECCO BIOM G2 RRP: £210 CONTACT: ECCO.COM/GOLF Despite weighing nearly 20% less than its predecessor, the Biom 2 is packed with tech, including a new visible carbon fibre stability bar that runs from the heel to midfoot, and an integrated forefoot stability bar.

The midsole has been slimmed down to not only make it less weighty, but also to bring golfers closer to the ground for improved balance. Cushioning and stability have also been enhanced with a new insole which features silicon pads to prevent unwanted movement inside the shoe. With the uppers made from soft, yet durable yak leather, golfers have the option of a HydroMax weatherproof coating or a slightly more expensive waterproof Gore-Tex material.

Worn by Rory McIlroy, the Lunar Control 3 is built to withstand the pressures generated by one of the most powerful swings in the game. Balance has been enhanced by widening the base of the outsole, moving the cleats closer to the edges, and adding an extra cleat in the forefoot. A carbon-fibre midfoot shank delivers lighter and more stable control, while the midsole features a full-length foam fitbed to provide improved cushioning. The uppers are made from a waterresistant synthetic microfibre, and feature Nike’s Flywire technology for flexible lateral support, with more robust cables providing a more secure fit.

PUMA TITANTOUR RRP: £180 CONTACT: PUMAGOLF.COM Featuring temperature-regulating technology that was originally developed for NASA spacesuits, the TitanTour proactively manages in-shoe climate using phase-change materials that absorb, store and release heat. A thin TPU frame encases the midsole to add strength and increase flexibility, while an external heel support provides greater stability during the swing. The upper is made of full-grain leather, while the insole is equipped with memory foam for added cushioning. New, low-profile removeable Stealth cleats and strategically-placed walls of secondary traction provide grip and stability, while the outsole features flex grooves that allow the foot to move naturally.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FEBRUARY 2015 [43]

THE UNSTOPPABLE RISE OF THE

PRO V1

As Titleist rolls out the eighth generation of its record-breaking PRO V1 ball, Nick Bayly charts the upward curve of one of the most successful brands in golf history and examines the performance improvement claims of the latest models

T

here have been only a handful of products that have turned the game on its head since golf was invented all those centuries ago, but there’s no question that Titleist’s Pro V1 ball deserves its place on that list alongside Callaway’s original Big Bertha driver, Ping’s Eye2 irons and, for my money at least, golf GPS systems, during the modern era.

The Pro V1 – and its sidekick, the Pro V1x, launched in 2003 – has dominated the professional tours right from its launch in late 2000, and in the intervening 14 years has chalked up 25 major titles and over 2,200 wins around the world. All bar a few of these victories have been achieved without the help of the world’s most dominant player over the last decade, Tiger Woods, while his heir apparent, Rory McIlroy, is also not a Pro V1 player.

While the Pro V1 started off life aimed at the game’s better players, the message – or what is known in Titleist’s marketing speak as the ‘pyramid of influence’ – saw the ball rapidly filter down through the handicap categories to the point where many weekend hackers who have yet to break 90 wouldn’t be seen dead without a dozen ‘Pro Vs’ in the bag.

Given that a single Pro V1 currently has a recommended retail price of £4.25, playing with these supercharged sphericals is like setting fire to £10 notes when you spend more time in the woods then on the fairway – but it hasn’t stopped golfers from buying them. Indeed, such has been the Pro V1’s dominance that almost one in every six golf balls bought at the tills in the UK is either a Pro V1 or Pro V1x, accounting for a third of all the money spent on golf balls.

Although it makes very fine sets of golf clubs, Titleist is, at its very heart, a

golf ball company. It owns more than 1,000 golf ball patents (100 of which are linked to the Pro V1 franchise), and over the last five years has been awarded nearly 50% of all ball patents issued in America. Over 1,100 people are employed in golf ball operations, with an average length of service spanning 20 years. Safe to say, that after 80 years of making golf balls, they know one or two things about what makes them fly through the air and off the shelves.

The new Pro V1x has all the great qualities of the previous generation, but with improved feel around the greens, which is exceptional.

It even goes a little further for me off the tee.

BUBBA WATSON

But the Pro V1 hasn’t stood still.

In fact quite the opposite, having undergone numerous significant reworkings to its design during its two-year product cycles. Thus the 2015 version – the eighth generation, which was unveiled last month – sees further technological progress, with the creation of the new compound formula for the cover, which, according to testing with tour pros and over 45,000 amateur golfers, has noticeably improved the feel and short game spin performance of both balls (see panel).

“I often get asked what sets the Pro

V1 and Pro V1x apart from other golf balls,” says Bill Morgan, senior vice president of Titleist Golf Ball R&D. “But you can’t just point to one or two things. The difference is everything.

We have more people with more experience designing and making golf balls, the largest intellectual property portfolio, and the most sophisticated precision manufacturing processes.

The 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the culmination of all that knowledge and all of that technology. The original Pro V1 was revolutionary, no question, but we’ve learned a lot in the last 15 years and these new Pro V1 models are the best we’ve ever made.”

Asked what improvements regular golfers are likely to find in the new models, Morgan says: “When we set out to improve Pro V1 and Pro V1x, the product development process always starts with asking golfers of all skill levels, and not just tour pros, how we can help them shoot lower scores.

Since club golfers have had such resounding success with Pro V1 and Pro V1x, this time around, they told us, ‘Don’t change much. I love the distance. I love the scoring performance. I love the durability.

If you can give me slightly more spin in the short game as well as even softer feel, I’ll take it. I just don’t want to give anything up.’

So that became our design goal.

We’re giving golfers everything they’ve previously had in Pro V1 and Pro V1x, but they’ll also get a softer cover, which will add more spin control and feel around the greens. The feedback we’ve received clearly tells us that all players are benefiting from this improved performance.“ Priced at over £50 for a dozen, the latest generation of Pro V1s may be about as expensive as waste material from a rocking horse, but they will still be snapped up by thousands of golfers eager to become a part of one of the biggest success stories in golf.

MEET THE NEW PRO V1 & PRO V1X PRO V1 2015 (£51 per dozen) DESIGN: Three-piece ball with a very soft compression ZG process core, ionomeric casing layer, softer thermoset urethane elastomer cover, and a 352 tetrahedral dimple design.

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS: Softer feel and more spin control around the greens; slightly more long game spin; and a more penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent for more roll than the Pro V1x.

PROV V1X 2015 (£51 per dozen) DESIGN: Four-piece ball with a ZG process dual core, ionomeric casing layer, softer thermoset urethane elastomer cover, and a 328 tetrahedral dimple design.

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS: Slightly firmer feel and lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent than the Pro V1.

THERMOSET V THERMOPLASTIC: THE KEY TO A SOFTER, YET MORE DURABLE COVER The most significant change to the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x is a reformulated thermoset urethane elastomer cover that is softer than previous models, yet offers more durability.

From a performance standpoint, this new cover increases short game spin and control and improves feel and sound off the face, without compromising on distance.

The cover is created by a chemical reaction that takes place during the casting process. The urethane is termed ‘thermoset’ because the cover, once formed, will not re-melt. Most other urethane-covered balls use a thermoplastic urethane (TPU), which is melted and then reformed to create the cover.

“Thermoset urethane gives us complete control of Pro V1’s chemical composition,” says Michael Sullivan, Titleist’s VP of Golf Ball Product Development. “This allows us to dial in our desired properties of spin control, softness and durability. We tested hundreds of formulations with the new Pro V1s, and you simply can’t do that with TPU.”

[44] FEBRUARY 2015 | TRAVEL NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Spoil yourself this spring at East Sussex National Set in over 1,000 acres of quintessentially English countryside, the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa is so much more than just another hotel. From the spacious en-suite bedrooms to the fabulous dining and spa facilities, this four-star resort is sure to exceed your expectations.

With its two world-class championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus’s course architect, Robert E Cupp, it is a haven for the keen golfers and provides the perfect location for a golfing getaway.

The contemporary hotel, which adjoins the clubhouse, offers 104 air-conditioned bedrooms, including 12 luxury suites, all of which boast fantastic views of the golf courses and surrounding countryside. The large rooms are equipped with wall-mounted TVs, and a bath with separate walk-in shower, while free wi-fi is available.

Also housed within the ground floor is the state-of-the-art Horsted Health Club, which offers a 20m heated swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, an aerobic studio and spa treatment rooms, as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and monsoon shower.

The club’s West and East Course are among the finest in the region, having hosted several European Tour events, and both featuring high on the list of the Top 100 courses in the UK. With sculpted fairways and smooth greens, and buggy paths on both layouts, they are always a pleasure to play on, while the quality of the design and the stunning Sussex countryside make for an enjoyable day’s golf at any time of year. Practice facilities are also superb, with a covered driving range, practice putting greens, and a team of PGA professionals on hand to offer private tuition.

The resort, which is handily placed on the A22, just a few miles south of Uckfield, is currently offering a range of midweek and weekend packages which include up to 36 holes of golf; overnight accommodation based on two sharing a classic double room; three-course dinner; full traditional breakfast, and complimentary use of the leisure facilities.

Prices start from just £190pp.

To make a booking or for further enquiries about the latest offers on golf breaks in 2015, call 01825 880088 or visit www. eastsussexnational.co.uk.

Ashbury offers all-round sporting action!

If variety is the spice of a golfer’s life, then you should look no further than the Manor House and Ashbury Hotels in Devon for your ‘staycation’ golfing break this summer.

The popular Dartmoor-based resort boasts no fewer than seven 18hole courses – and 99 holes – all on the same 600-acre site. This unique complex offers three full-length 18hole courses (the Kigbeare, Beeches and Oakwood), three 18-hole loops made from perming two of the Pines, Forest and Beeches nines, and a further 18-hole par-3 course, the Willows.

The golf courses, which offer stunning views of Dartmoor and across the rolling Devon countryside towards Exmoor, utilise the natural features of the landscape – making the most of mature trees, hedgerows and ponds.

The golf break package at the popular Okehampton-based venue is stacked with extras, including free 27 holes of golf per day throughout your stay, and golf buggies for as little as £5 per round.

Away form the golf courses there is plenty to keep families occupied, even more so now, following the opening of the Ashbury sports

complex, which comprises no fewer than four sports halls. The largest houses four badminton courts and may also be used for activities such as five-a-side football, there are two halls, which are used for archery, pistol and rifle shooting and laser clay pigeon shooting. The fourth hall is used as a gym and there is also a table tennis room. Three swimming pools, which can be used free of charge, alongside saunas, steam rooms and hydro baths.

Other sports facilities include a 28-table snooker hall; a bowls hall with 13 rinks, 10 lanes of 10-pin bowling, 11 tennis courts, and a children’s games room with pool, table football, air hockey and four Sony Playstations.

For the more artistically-minded guests, two craft centres offer 17 tutored crafts, including pottery, glass engraving, hot press printing and woodwork - all tutoring is free, so guest only pay minimal material costs.

There are just under 400 rooms on offer across the two hotels, and all breaks are full board.

For the latest packages, call 0800 389 9892 or visit www. ashburygolfhotel.com.

CORNISH CREAM

Cumbrian clubs launch Lakes Festival Three clubs in the beautiful county of Cumbria are to host a golf festival this summer that looks sure to attract golfers from all over the UK. Windmere, Carus Green and Kirkby Lonsdale have joined forced to create the Lakes Festival, a threeday Am-Am event that will take place from June 12-14.

The four-person amateur team competition, which can comprise all men/ladies or mixed, will be played in a Stableford format, with first prize of a golf holiday to Turkey.

The tournament is being sponsored by Bilyana Golf Holidays, which is offering a seven-day, allinclusive hotel package with three rounds of golf for the winning team.

“We are very much looking forward to this event and would like it to be as inclusive as possible,” said Simon Edwards, head professional at Windermere Golf Club. “The teams can choose their tee times on Friday and Saturday, and the final round will be drawn in score order, with the leaders out last.”

For more information visit www.windermeregolfclub.co.uk or call 015394 43123.

Kirkby Lonsdale

exclusivegolfbreaks.com

2 NIGHTS B&B at St Mellion or Trevose 3 ROUNDS St Mellion, Perranporth & Trevose

ONLY £225 pp Dinner option: £20pp per night extra

ENGLISH RIVERA DEVON

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WOODHALL GOLF BREAKS

2 NIGHTS B&B at Toorak Hotel, Torquay 3 ROUNDS Churston, Torquay & Teignmouth

2 NIGHTS B&B at either: Marriott Portsmouth or Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa, Haslemere

2 NIGHTS B&B at The Metropole Hotel DAY 1 Cradoc G.C 18 holes DAY 2 Llandrindod Wells G.C 18 holes DAY 3 Builth Wells G.C 18 holes

2 NIGHTS B&B at The Royal Sportsman DAY 1 Porthmadog G.C 18 holes DAY 2 Nefyn & District G.C 18 holes DAY 3 Royal St Davids G.C 18 holes

2 NIGHTS B&B at Woodhall Spa Hotel 3 DAYS 1 x Hotchkin Course*

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3 ROUNDS at any of these courses:

Hindhead, Stoneham, Hayling or Liphook

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1 x Bracken Course* 1 x Seacroft GC

* Located at Woodhall

Weekend supplement: £17pp extra

To discuss your exclusive golf package call 01822 618181

We have over 15 years experience of organising golf breaks throughout the UK and Europe

BREAKS | FEBRUARY 2015 [45]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Golf and mudbaths prove ideal spa-ing partners at Dartmouth Golfers who enjoy a bit of post-match pampering should check into the new-look Best Western Dartmouth Hotel, Golf & Spa in Devon, which last year unveiled a new £850,000 spa facility, where a number of relaxing treatments are available for weary limbs.

Following a major renovation, The Dartmouth Spa boasts a new indoor pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and fully equipped gym. The spa also includes three treatment rooms, a dual treatment room for couples, manicure and pedicure areas and relaxation room.

Among the new treatments on offer is the unique Rasul experience renowned for its detoxifying properties – that involves specially formulated muds, infused steams and a dedicated Rasul bathing chamber.

Jamie Waugh, managing director at Dartmouth, said: “We take great pride in offering our customers the best possible facilities - whether they are spa lovers, golfing fanatics or hotel guests. The latest transformation of the Dartmouth Spa is part of our ongoing commitment to make the club one of the top places to enjoy an affordable spa experience in the south west.”

Away from the spa, the 18-hole Championship Course is designed to challenge the most proficient golfer, with strategic positioning of tees, meandering streams, 12 water features, and undulating greens. An additional nine-hole layout, the Dartmouth course. is built to the same high standards as its sister course. Measuring 2,252 yards, with a par of 33, it is guaranteed to test players while they enjoy a more relaxed round.

Weekday golf breaks, including overnight accommodation, two rounds of golf, a three-course evening meal, and breakfast the following morning, cost from just £65pp.

Situated in 225 acres of south Devon countryside, just outside the beautiful town of Dartmouth, the resort boasts 27 holes of golf, luxury self-catering cottages and a 35-bed hotel. For more details call 0800 043 3669 or visit www. dgcc.co.uk.

TAKE TIME OUT AT TURNBERRY Host to some of the most memorable Open Championships down the years, Turnberry is an iconic venue that every golfer should have on their ‘bucket list’ of places to play and stay.

The stunning Ayrshire property, which was recently bought

by American billionaire Donald Trump, is currently offering some great deals on late spring breaks, where guests can take advantage of special weekend rates of £145 per person per night (sharing a twin or double room), including a full Scottish breakfast, Guests can also indulge in 20% off ESPA treatments at The Spa at Turnberry, a restful haven with a stunning infinity pool overlooking the Irish Sea. Twilight rounds on the legendary Ailsa course are available after 3pm from £99, or the equally challenging Kintyre course from £55.

Families can explore the 800 acres of Scottish countryside surrounding Turnbery with an extensive programme of activities, which include quad biking, horse riding and water zorbing.

New for 2014 is the Wildgoose GPS treasure hunt, with families challenged to explore the grounds TheManor to find hotspots on Samsung Galaxy House tablets which are loaded with a special GPS App. Youngsters can go Ashbury Set in the foothills of Dartmoor National wild in Turnberry’s Wee Explorers Hotels Park, Devon, the Ashbury Hotel is the ideal playroom, splash in the swimming - The Only Sport, Craft & Spa venue for your golf break. pool, and have a round on a pitchHotels in the UK and-putt course designed for younger At least 27 holes of FREE golf with each night of stay! children.

For more information visit www.

Oakwood 16th Ashbury 6th Pines 17th turnberryresort.co.uk.

172 yards, Par 3 410 yards, Par 4 442 yards, Par 4

&

FREE GOLF At The UK’s Largest Golf Resort

“I’ve never played such fantastic courses.” Stephen W - Trip Advisor

Summer Sizzlers 13/7/15 - 26/8/15 • FREE UNLIMITED GOLF • HALF PRICE BUGGIES

Kigbeare Pines Beeches Oakwood Ashbury 9 + Pines Front 9 Ashbury 9 + Pines Back 9 Willows

Par 72 Par 72 Par 69 Par 68 Par 69 Par 71 Par 54

6528 6400 5803 5502 5775 6111 1939

June Breaks from: 3nts Weekend £231pp 4nts Midweek £265pp Full Board Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels Sports Racket Sports Leisure Ranges Family Bowls Swimming Funhouse Tennis Archery Table Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols 5-A-Side Snooker Waterslides Air Rifles Squash Basketball Short Tennis Ten-Pin Lasers Play Area PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 17 tutored crafts, including Pottery, Woodwork, Glass Engraving & Hot Press Printing

“The food in the restaurant was good quality with a great choice.” - ARH0lland -Trip Advisor

0800 389 9892

ashburygolfhotel.com

All rooms en-suite • Full board • Child rates • Party discounts

NEWS IN BRIEF GASTRO GOLF AT ST-OMER Saint-Omer Golf Club in the Pasde-Calais region of France has launched a ‘Golf & Gastronomy’ package to tempt golfers with a fondness for French cuisine from across the Channel throughout 2015. From just over £100 per person in the low season and £120 in high season, the offer includes 18 holes over SaintOmer’s 6,800-yard Le Val course, a four-course dinner in Le Lodge restaurant, and a B&B overnight stay in a deluxe room at the on-site Najeti Hotel du Golf.

There are a number of other top courses in the area, including Hardelot, Wimereux, Le Touquet and Arras, that can be added to longer itineraries. For bookings visit www.golfsaintomer.fr.

YGT CONTINUES CLARKE CAMPAIGN Your Golf Travel has extended its commercial tie-in with Darren Clarke by a further three years. The 2011 Open Champion represents the golf breaks company on both the European and PGA Tours, as well as fronting the company’s “Tell Them Darren Sent You” adverts, which have been seen by millions of golfers on Sky. Clarke joined ISM stablemate Lee Westwood on the front cover of YGT’s 2015 brochure which was distributed to more than 500,000 golfers in January.

KEMPINSKI HOSTS LUXURY BREAKS Golfers looking to play a collection of southern Spain’s finest courses while staying in one of the best hotels in the region, should take advantage of a range of luxury golf breaks hosted by the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Estepona. Three-day breaks, including rounds at Valderrama, La Reserva and San Roque’s New Course – all with buggies – and two nights’ B&B accommodation in a deluxe room are available from €710pp. A four-night stay, featuring golf at Valderrama, San Roque (Old Course), Finca Cortesin, Sotogrande and La Reserve start from €1,232pp. To book, call 00 34 952809500 or visit kempinski.com/en/marbella.

LAS COLINAS IS CALLING The award-winning Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, located just south of Alicante, has launched at ‘Stay & Play World Apart’ package. The offer, which is valid until May 31, costs €350pp and comprises five nights’ accommodation in a twobedroom apartment (based on 4 people sharing), three rounds of golf on the Cabell B. Robinson 18-hole championship course, and breakfast each day. Guests will also receive a 20% discount on any extra rounds, as well as a 10% reduction on the cost of all meals taken in the resort’s two restaurants. For bookings, visit www.aworldapart.es.

[46] FEBRUARY 2015 | TRAVEL NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Plan your exotic escape to Marrakesh

PalmGolf at Palmeraie

While the resorts along Morocco’s Mediterranean coast have always been a Mecca for holidaymakers, it is Marrakesh that is currently blazing the trail for golf tourism in Morocco, with at least 14 courses scheduled to be open for play within Marrakesh’s city limits by the end of 2015.

While visitors from France make up a large percentage of the golfing population – French is Morocco’s second language – a growing number of Brits are cottoning on to Marrakesh’s appeal as a winter destination, with the period from November through to April particularly appealing, with daytime temperatures generally up above 20 degrees at a time when Spain and Portugal aren’t quite so warm.

Among the myriad of quality venues to choose from, the five-star Palmeraie Golf Palace Resort, just north of the city, is a firm favourite with golfers of all nations, with its 27 holes designed

by Robert Trent Jones Snr, offering a suitable backdrop to a stunning resort.

Located in vast palm groves, and offering views through a forest of date palms to the snowcapped Atlas Mountains, Palmeraie provides the perfect haven from the hustle and bustle of the Marrakech medina, although it is only a 15-minute taxi ride away from the city centre.

In addition to the 27 holes of golf, guests

Palmeraie’s Hotel du Golf

can enjoy horseriding, tennis, squash, 10pin bowling, five swimming pools and a spa.

There is also a kids’ club and no fewer than 14 restaurants and bars to choose from, with menus ranging from traditional Moroccan to French haute cuisine.

The resort features three separate hotels – Palmeraie Golf Palace, Hotel du Golf, and the boutique Jardin d’Ines – offering a wide choice of rooms, suites, family apartments and villas.

Three-night golf packages start from £365 per person, including two rounds of golf, unlimited practice balls, one complimentary dinner in Leroy’s restaurant, and an airport shuttle.

Flights are not included, but EasyJet operates a regular service from Gatwick, with a flying time of three hours and prices starting from £70 return.

For bookings and more details visit palmeraieresorts.com or call 00 212 524 36 87 66.

It’s going to be another classic in Cyprus!

Aphrodite Hills

The idyllic Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the location for the 17th Cyprus Golf Classic, which tees off on April 29 for a week-long festival of golfing and social events. The tournament has grown in stature year after year, and continues to attract players from all over the UK. Cyprus is truly one of the most beautiful islands in Europe and is a mere four hours away from UK, offering over 340 days of sunshine a year. It also remains one of the safest, friendliest and most hospitable places to visit, making it a perfect destination for golfers and non-golfers alike. Not only will players fall in love with the island, but they’re guaranteed to make some lifelong friends out on the golf course too.

The format of the event will include four rounds of golf: two stableford singles, a Fourball team event and a Texas Scramble team event.

Golf will be played over all four of Cyprus’s top tracks: the excellent Aphrodite Hills, the Faldo-designed Elea, the muchimproved Minthis Hills, and Tony Jacklin’s redesigned Secret Valley.

Accommodation is offered at the newly-refurbished fivestar Almyra Hotel, which enjoys a stunning beach location overlooking the sea, and is only minutes from restaurants and tavernas.

The event is like no other, gala evenings with food, wine and music; excellent silver engraved trophies; generous prizes; luxury golf shirts for all participants. and a few other surprises, all for £1,049 for golfers, and £815 for non-golfers.

The price is based on flights on Monarch Airways from Gatwick, although flights on Jet2 from Manchester, Newcastle or Bristol are available for a supplementary fee.

For a full itinerary or to book, visit www.exclusivegolf.co.uk, call 020 8660 9905, or email tournaments@exclusivegolf.co.uk.

Lumine boasts two championship 18-hole courses

Golfsavers opens up Asian golf holidays

LUMINE LAUNCHES WINTER GETAWAYS Lumine Golf Club, located on Spain’s Costa Dorada, has launched a trio of stay-and-play packages to suit those looking for a golf break in warmer climes this winter.

Catering for short and longer stays, the packages offer travelers the chance to enjoy 45 holes of championship golf, as well as the cultural and historical attractions abundant in the surrounding region, including the ancient Roman town of Tarragona and bustling streets of Barcelona.

From now until May 31, 2015 packages are available for one night’s bed and breakfast and one round of golf for €99pp; three nights and three rounds for €295pp; and seven nights and five rounds for €575pp.

Accommodation is available across four contemporary four-star hotels, each just a short transfer from the resort. Hotel Estival Park and Hotel Magnolia are situated on the beach at the seaside town of Salou, while Hotel Tryp Port Cambrils and Hotel Monica are in the heart of the picturesque port of Cambrils Lumine includes the Greg Norman-designed Lakes Course, which plays host to the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2, and the more traditional Hills Course, which runs through pine and olive trees with spectacular views of the nearby coastline. There is also the nine-hole Ruins Course, another Norman design, which weaves its way through Roman archaeological remains.

For more information visit www.lumine.com or email travel@lumine.com.

Montgomerie Vietnam

Golfers looking to experience the booming golf scene in Asia should check out a new website that is dedicated to the offering the very best golf packages.

Golfsavers.com offers a complete package booking service for golfers searching for golf holidays in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Founded by lifelong golf aficionado David Pettigrew, who boasts over 40 years of on-course experience in the Asia Pacific region, Golfsavers is the one-stop shop for all your holiday needs. Every listed golf course is visited on a regular basis, which gives customers the complete peace of mind that Golfsavers information is always accurate and written from first-hand experience.

Whether you are searching for a week in Bangkok’s Lotus Valley Golf Resort, a sun-kissed escape to Bali’s New Kuta Golf Club, or a tranquil trip to Siem Reap’s Angkor Golf Resort, Golfsavers lists all of Asia’s premier courses at the best prices on the market.

To find out the very latest packages, visit www. golfsavers.com or call 00 66 81988 0600

TRAVEL | FEBRUARY 2015 [47]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SarahStirk

INSTEAD OF WATCHING THE PHOENIX OPEN FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR ARMCHAIR, SARAH STIRK URGES YOU TO MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE TO TPC SCOTTSDALE AND PLAY THE INFAMOUS 16TH, AND THE OTHER 17 SUPERB HOLES

KEEN ON SWEET 16

The fans’ enthusiasm transforms the 16th it into a colosseum-type atmosphere, creating one of the most exciting settings in sport

T

hey call it ‘the greatest show on grass’ and few would argue. Francesco Molinari certainly wouldn’t. Imagine hitting an ace on the loudest hole in golf?

The Waste Management Phoenix Open has always been one of my favourite stops on the PGA Tour. It’s loud, slightly obnoxious, certainly a little bit drunk, but unquestionably brilliant fun.

Since opening in 1986, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale has played host to some of golf’s greatest moments. The course was designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf specifically to serve as the stage for a PGA Tour venue. The tournament attracts over 500,000 fans annually and is the largest spectator golf event in the world. The focal point is, of course, the 16th hole, the fans enthusiasm transforming it into a colosseum type atmosphere, creating one of the most exciting settings in sport.

At the side of the 16th is ‘the world’s largest topless bar’, according to Rich Beem, aka Beemer, my esteemed Sky Sports sidekick, who certainly used to enjoy the frivolity of this event.

The fact the tournament is held over Super Bowl weekend certainly adds to the fluidity, or should that be liquidity, of the spectacle. The vantage points on the Stadium Course are incredible; thousands have witnessed some of the most magical moments in golf right here in Arizona.

My one criticism would be this. In 2013, the PGA Tour implemented a ban on the infamous caddie races, and this year issued a ‘no go’ on players tossing things into the crowd at the most raucous hole in golf.

“At this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, for fan safety reasons,” read a tour statement, “players and caddies are prohibited from throwing, kicking or otherwise propelling items into the crowd on the 16th hole.”

All a bit PC and health and safety conscious if you ask me, but thankfully the fans still got their player swag;

there was just less football lobbing and frisbee throwing than last year.

The interaction at the 16th is what makes this tournament special; it’s a one-off hole in golf. If the tour curtails the enjoyment, this event will lose its unique appeal, and that will be a big disappointment. For now though, it’s a tour stop the players and fans don’t want to miss – and even Tiger managed a smile despite his dismal performance.

So many of you will have watched this tournament on TV, but how about going to tackle it for yourself? I’m still surprised Arizona isn’t a more popular destination for European golfers. The courses in many people’s eyes are far superior to the monotonous Floridian layouts.

TPC Scottsdale offers two world-class championship courses. The Stadium Course, the signature design and home to the Phoenix Open, offers unparalleled views of the beautiful McDowell mountain range.

The Champions Course also provides a stern test, even though it may lack the reputation of its more heralded big brother.

While the PGA Tour only uses TPC Scottsdale for one week, the Stadium course maintains top-notch playing

conditions for most of the year, with around 30 tour pros calling this place home.

The added beauty of the Stadium course is its playability. Brooks Koepka may have made it look easy, but it’s also great for us hackers. Mark Calcavecchia would certainly agree; the charismatic American set new records during the 2001 Phoenix Open for the most birdies in a 72-hole tournament –32 – and the lowest four-round total of 28 under par. The superb condition, elite practice facilities, and the warm winter bring plenty of keen golfers out to the desert each year.

Trouble comes in the form of 72 bunkers that are deep and strategically placed in the fairways and around the greens. Desert vegetation. such as the saguaro cacti. always make for an interesting test, and water comes into play on six of the holes, including three of the last four. This closing stretch is what really makes this course particularly fun – for golfers and spectators. Eagles and birdies are possible, as Koepka showed, but for the likes of you and I, bogeys and doubles aren’t uncommon.

Built on the former site of TPC Scottsdale’s Desert Course, the Champions Course was designed by Randy Heckenkemper to fit seamlessly into the natural desert terrain. Rivalling its famous neighbour in terms of beauty and playability, it’s a great desert golf experience. There are plenty of other top courses in the area too: Grayhawk Golf Club, The Boulders, and WeKo-Pa Golf Club to name a few.

The 2015 Phoenix Open will be remembered for a spectacular hole-in-one from Molinari; Tiger’s worst score in professional golf; and some outrageously raucous behavior at 16. I, for one, can’t wait for next year – but in the meantime I urge you to go and create your own little piece of golfing magic at arguably the most talked about hole in the game.

[48] FEBRUARY 2015 | TRAVEL NEWS

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I

t seems that like buses, great golf courses come along in threes ­– at least they do in Bulgaria, where a trio of top notch cliff-top resorts –­ Thracian Cliffs, BlackSeaRama and Lighthouse – has turned a section of the Black Sea Coast into as thrilling a stretch of golfing territory to be found anywhere in Europe.

Located almost in a line along Varna Bay, about 40 minutes from the newly-built Varna airport, it’s hard to think of three more stunning championship courses located in such close proximity to each other than perhaps the holy triumvirate of Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and Spyglass Hill in California.

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort, which opened in 2011, is the newest of the three, and is arguably the best of the bunch. Winner of IAGTO’s European Golf Resort of the Year award in 2014, the resort offers a championship layout designed by legendary South African Gary Player.

Back in 2012, when it was announced that the 2013 Volvo World Matchplay was to be staged here, there were a few raised eyebrows amongst the golfing community, many of whom couldn’t believe that such a new course was capable of hosting the world’s best players. But those eyebrows soon dropped back into place, and more than a few jaws dropped, when they saw the place with their own eyes, and were presented with what can only be described as an ‘instant classic’.

The players themselves, and especially winner Graeme McDowell, were collectively blown away – in a good way – by the Black Knight’s links-style design, which sets the heart racing right from the off, with its out-and-back layout hugging a three-mile stretch along the rocky shores of the Black Sea. With the sea encroaching on several tees and greens, it’s high on drama and provides plenty of thrills and spills for holiday golfers, Speaking about Thracian Cliff’s appeal, Player, who is

The Black Sea provides a stunning backdrop to Thracian Cliffs Another superb par three proves a tempting target and the opportunity to lose a few more balls!

no stranger to competing on and designing world-class golf courses, said: “I’ve been playing golf for 56 years and never come across such a stunning setting for a golf course before. When people come to Thracian Cliffs they are going to say it’s the best course they’ve played in their life.”

It’s a bold claim, but the course is certainly one of the most memorable, with a succession of stunning holes, notably at the par-three 6th, the tee of which is perched 44 yards above the green with a full frontal panorama of the Black Sea beyond.

With many steep climbs, a buggy is all but essential, so it’s advisable to book one in advance when securing a tee time here. It’s also important to bring a large supply of golf balls, as once they’re off the fairway, they’re generally lost for good. Our group of 16 capable golfers lost 80 balls during the first round, and a marginally more respectable 50 during the second – so you have been warned!

After counting up your scores – good or bad – guests can relax in a choice of two residential villages, where many of the spacious and comfortable rooms offer panoramic sea views, and the superb spa comes highly recommended for those with aching golfing muscles.

TRAVEL FEATURE | FEBRUARY 2015 [49]

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BULGARIAN CLIFFHANGER

The apartments at Thracian Cliffs all enjoy great views of the course and the stunning coastline

A collection of stunning cliff-top courses along the Black Sea Coast, including the majestic Thracian Cliffs, make Bulgaria a stunning destination for the travelling golfer Words by Matt Nicholson

The views can be a little distracting when you’re trying to find a narrow fairway

THRACIAN CLIFFS UNLIMITED GOLF PACKAGE Thracian Cliffs is offering five-night golf break from €549 (£459 approx) per person, including unlimited golf on Thracian Cliff’s Signature Course and at the Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort. The package also includes return transfers from Varna airport; free use of the driving range; free wi-fi; access to the Thracian SPA and beach club. Three-night breaks with unlimited golf start from €395pp.

For bookings, call 00 359 570 92222, email reservations@thraciancliffs.com or visit www.thraciancliffs.com.

Wizz Air offers regular flights to Varna from Luton, with one-way flights costing from £89. For bookings visit wizzair.com

Gary Player has created plenty of thrills and spills at Thracian Cliffs

There is also a private beach club available for guests to enjoy, which boasts its own restaurant and beach bar, and is the ideal venue for enjoying chilled-out evenings in the summer time, when the barbeque is constantly fired up. Diners are truly spoilt for choice at Thracian Cliffs, with the resort featuring a range of gourmet restaurants on site, including Geti, which offers a varied menu of traditional Bulgarian cuisine, as well as tasty Provencal-inspired dishes.

For those golfers with any ammunition left, the next challenge is the Lighthouse Golf Resort, which boasts an Ian Woosnam-designed championship layout. Winning rave reviews almost as soon as it opened in 2004, the course sits comfortably on top of towering cliffs, and features panoramic views out to sea. It has been designed to resemble a links, with numerous bumps and

hollows, inviting fairways, and striking white bunkers, while five large lakes add to the challenge.

Next door is another Gary Player design, BlackSeaRama, which opened in 2008. The views from the cliff-top plateau are particularly special, while the 7,200-yard course, which is divided into two loops of nine, is equally memorable. Each hole is self-contained between towering hillocks that almost perfectly re-create an authentic links. The elevation on each tee is significant and adds considerably to the enjoyment of what is a truly superb layout.

While sub-zero temperatures are the norm in the depths of winter, autumn and spring are very mild – averaging 20-25 degrees – and offer a perfect climate for golf. Temperatures in the peak summer months of July and August can reach 30-35 degrees, although the

coastal courses enjoy cooling sea breezes.

With Bulgaria outside of the Eurozone, the pound Caption goes a long way, with a nice meal at a local restaurant costing less than £10, and a bottle of beer no more 70p.

The main coastal resorts have all been built alongside blue flag beaches, where soft sand, clear waters, and plenty of restaurants and bars make for a relaxing beach holiday. If you want to get away from the seaside resorts, it’s only a short drive to dozens of unspoilt places, including the peninsular walled town Nesebar, where cobbled streets, old churches and ancient monuments provide a welcome change of pace.

So my advice is to give the Black Sea Coast some serious consideration for your next European golfing holiday – it’s seriously good fun for all golfers, no matter how seriously you take the game.

[50] FEBRUARY 2015 | TRAVEL FEATURE

F

ans of the BBC’s imported Italian detective series Inspector Montalbano will need introduction to the attractions of Sicily as a holiday destination.

Ruggedly beautiful – and that’s just the actor who plays our swarthy sleuth – this popular TV series has done more to promote the sites and sounds of this spectacular Italian island outpost than any tourist board could hope to achieve, no matter what their budget.

I’m not sure whether our worldweary inspector is partial to a game of golf when he’s off duty, but the game is certainly another growing part of Sicily’s appeal to overseas visitors, following the opening of a number of world-class resorts on the western coast of the island.

The newest is to be found at Donnafugata, a five-star golf and spa resort located 20 minutes from the coastal port of Comiso. Opened in 2010, Donnafugata’s fortunes have recently been boosted by the opening of a new airport just 10km away, with Ryanair flying in twice a week from Stansted to deposit an increasing

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number of discerning travellers seeking a flavour of undiscovered Sicily.

Voted the ‘Best Golf Resort in Italy’

by Condé Nast Traveller in 2012, the NH Hotels owned-Donnafugata boasts 203 rooms overlooking two championship 18-hole golf courses.

It also features a spa and wellness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and three restaurants. Although the names of the golf courses – Links and Parkland – are rather uninspired, the locations certainly aren’t, and the architects who designed them (Franco Piros and Gary Player respectively)

have done a fine job in carving out two supremely enjoyable layouts that will suit the demands of holiday golfers and tour players alike, so much so that the Parkland played host to the European Tour’s Sicilian Open in 2011.

My favourite of the two tracks was the Links course, which enjoys greater variety, with more changes in elevation, interesting water hazards, and is generally a more fun layout to play than its sister course. Gorse-like shrubbery between holes gives it a linksy look, but everything else about it, with the exception of the coastal breezes, is about as far removed from

DONNAFUGATA OPENS UP SICILY’S DELIGHTS Food-loving golfers looking to enjoy year-round sunshine and two championship courses should look no further than Donnafugata, a luxury resort in Sicily that sits alongside some of Europe’s most scenic villages and towns Words by Nick Bayly

links golf as you could get.

Particular standout holes on the Links include the first, which, somewhat unfairly, has water running all the way down the left-hand side of the fairway long before you’ve had a chance to get your swing into any sort of groove. The par-four eighth is another tester, requiring a considered play with a three-wood off the tee to a steeply downhill sloping fairway and then a pin-point iron to an island green that sticks out into the water that we first encountered on the opening hole.

The back nine offers plenty of variety, with the 14th, a par-five that has a split fairway divided by a large pond, being a highlight. The safe option is the larger bail out area on the right, while a much smaller landing area on the left, which also has water on the left, and the pond on the right, gives the shorter shot to a raised green.

The adjacent Parkland course winds it way through a typically Ragusan landscape of olive and carob trees and, after a fairly pedestrian start, bursts into life at the seventh hole, a sweeping downhill par four played to a green protected by a large lake.

The layout gets appreciably more

interesting as the round progresses, culminating in the last three holes, where water plays a factor in either your tee shot or approach to the greens at 16, 17 and 18. With a variety of teeing options, you can make it as hard as you like, although it’s never going to be easy, especially with Bermuda grass making life tough from the rough.

Off the golf courses, the resort’s practice facilities are being currently undergoing major improvements following the signing of a deal to open a Darren Clarke Centre of Excellence, which will ultimately offer a variety of tuition packages for golfers of all abilities, although for now a driving range is all that is offered.

The 203 spacious bedrooms and suites are spread around a U-shaped courtyard that overlooks the Links Course, with the top-floor rooms featuring balconies and the ground floor accommodation offering small private terraces. There are three restaurants on site, including the fine dining Il Carubo, and the more relaxed 19th Hole, which offers a shaded outdoor terrace for long, lingering lunches.

Sicily certainly isn’t yet the place to go for an all-out golfing holiday where you play a different course every day for a week, but if you like a slower pace of life, virtually guaranteed sunshine, and don’t mind long lazy days by the pool punctuated by the odd round between five-course meals, then it will tick all the right boxes.

A four-night stay at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, including two rounds of golf, starts from €1,080, based on two people sharing a double room, The price also includes breakfast, two three-course dinners and two lunches. For bookings, visit donnafugatagolfresort.com.

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Me&MyTravels My first trip abroad was… to Australia in 1974 with the England team. I remember the plane refuelling in Darwin, and I stepped off the plane saying: “Crikey, these engines can get really hot.’ And the guys replied: “That’s not the engine – that’s Darwin.” So I remember the shock of how stiflingly hot it was there. These days, work takes up most of my time, and I spend about half of it in Britain and the other half abroad. I tend to stay in Britain if I have a short break, although after the last Ashes series my wife and I went on a cricket cruise around the Caribbean islands, which was fantastic.

My favourite type of holiday is… a cruise. It’s very relaxing and there’s something calming about being on water. But the one thing you must watch out for is all that food. I usually try to keep fit, but it is so hard when you’re having a drink and all the food is so magnificent.

My favourite holiday destination is...

Barbados. I’m a creature of habit, and in Barbados I know exactly what I’m doing and where I’m going. I’ve been to other places in the Caribbean – St Lucia, Antigua and St Kitts – but what I love most are the people. I like to enjoy myself with the locals in a rum shack every now and then.

Napier and Hawkes Bay

FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER AND TEST MATCH COMMENTATOR DAVID LLOYD ALWAYS TAKES HIS GOLF CLUBS ON TOUR, WITH BARBADOS BEING HIS FAVOURITE DESTINATION FOR A RELAXING GAME

All I need for my perfect holiday is… my wife and my dog, Tags.

Sandy Lane, Green Monkey Course, Barbados

My favourite hotel is… the Trident Oberoi in Mumbai. It’s out of this world in every respect, from the restaurants to how spotlessly clean it is, and the staff are brilliant. This place is truly an experience, with every amenity that you can think of, and spectaculars view of Arabian Sea from every floor.

is more elevated, so you get a nice sea breeze. I’ve been lucky enough to play the Green Monkey course at Sandy Lane, and it was sensational.

My worst travel experience was… in Kathmandu. I went with a friend to do a bit of trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas. But it was absolutely filthy.

I caught dengue fever and thought I was going to die. I got very ill from all the filth I was breathing in. I tried to see it out while I was there, but I couldn’t work for two weeks when I got back.

Princess Caribbean

My favourite city… is Napier in New Zealand. It’s an art deco city on the coast in the heart of the Hawkes Bay wine region. It has a great climate and a real throwback feel, with all Royal Adelaide GC

South Carolina

My favourite golf resort is… Royal Westmoreland in Barbados. I like to get a game in there whenever I’m there, or at Apes Hill Golf Club, which

[51]

My favourite airline is… Emirates. I like the A380 particularly, because it has a bar in it. those retro cars you see being driven around the city. My favourite city when I was on tour was Adelaide.

You get the hustle and bustle in Melbourne and Sydney, but Adelaide is quite relaxed, with acres of open spaces. I play golf at Royal Adelaide whenever I’m there. I also go to the Oyster Bar, where if you can eat four dozen oysters in one sitting, your name is featured on the notice board. I managed that, but was too embarrassed to have my name written on the wall!

The thing I hate most about holidays is… airports. There are simply too many people, and I’m one of them.

I get really agitated going through security because I’ve got an artificial knee made of titanium, so I always set off all the alarms.

The best thing about travel is... seeing the chaos of places like Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, and the way that somehow it all just works.

Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links #16, North Myrtle Beach

It’s golf season all year long.

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