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Issue 201 | JULY 2011

Emotional Clarke claims Claret Jug to keep Irish eyes smiling

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN full story - See page 24

full story - See page 51

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Editor’sview email: editor@golfnews.co.uk

Majors are like buses It’s hard to argue with Rory McIlroy’s postOpen tweet that Northern Ireland should be christened the Capital of the Golfing World.

With three major champions crowned in the past 13 months, no other country has got close when it comes to producing winners of the game’s most coveted trophies.

With a population of just 1.8 million, the odds of producing just one major champion in a generation are pretty slim, but to knock out three in a year represents lottery-style numbers.

Such is the level of success emanating from these Gaelic shores, I may consider relocating to County Antrim in order to improve my chances of bagging the monthly medal at my club.

While ‘the luck of the Irish’ is nothing more than a lazy stereotype, the world wants to know what they’ve been putting in the water to make these guys perform the way they have.

Sadly, it’s not about the water. It will come as no surprise to learn that all three players have

grafted to get where they are today. Although blessed with natural aptitude, there are no short cuts to success in golf. And while McIlroy’s major win has perhaps come sooner than expected, and Darren Clarke’s a good deal later, there’s no denying that each, in their own way, is deserving of their prize.

What they choose to make of it now is entirely up to them. Clarke has nothing left to prove, and will be able to hang up his clubs knowing that he has been able to do what many better players before him have failed to do. For McIlroy, expectations are far higher, and he will have to learn, as Clarke has done over the last 20 years, that losing is often the best way of learning how to win.

I hope you enjoy the issue, which, in a year of milestones for golf, represents my 100th as editor of Golf News. Let’s hope I don’t have to wait another 100 editions for us to celebrate another British major winner. Somehow, I don’t think I will.

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Emotional Clarke claims Claret Jug to keep Irish eyes smiling

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London Club unveils for ‘village-style’ reso The South East looks set to welcome a new top class leisure destination judging by the plans recently revealed for The London Golf Club’s new five-star hotel and spa.

The proposed hotel and leisure development in Ash, Kent, will complement the venue’s two existing Jack Nicklaus-designed signature golf courses, and brings to fruition the vision for a worldclass golf resort just 20 miles south of central London.

The development has been created in the style of a traditional Kentish village, and will be built on land overlooking the opening holes of the Heritage Course.

Duncan Mackenzie of Mackenzie Wheeler, the architects that came up with the plans, said: “We knew from the outset that it would be inappropriate to adopt a conventional approach to the design of a hotel in this location. It was also important to take advantage of the natural contours of the site. We have therefore broken down the building mass more usually associated with a hotel guest wing, so that there are smaller units, each orientated slightly differently to its neighbour, to provide an uninterrupted view of the surrounding landscape, with roofs at different heights.

This creates the ‘village’ feel and building materials will enhance the overall effect.”

Grand plans: Artist’s impression of how the new 5-star hotel and spa complex at the London Golf Club will look when completed

The hotel, developed around an attractive courtyard, will offer the highest international service standards and feature 130 guestrooms, including junior suites, butler-service suites and a VIP suite. There will also be a variety of dining options, including a speciality restaurant, banqueting and meeting accommodation, valet parking and landscaped gardens. The spa will be linked to the hotel, enabling club members, day visitors and the local community to enjoy the facilities. An extensive array of treatment rooms will be complemented by a pool that will also be open to non-residents.

The European Tour is setting up an office at the London Club

Seaford Golf Club Bookings now being taken for our Dormy House open March to November 2011

Twin bed en-suite rooms with a five course dinner, bed & full english breakfast, including two rounds of golf from £80 in March to £138 in high summer per person per night Green fee visitors welcome Green fees from £32 County Cards £25 Twilight Tickets £20 For a brochure and more information call Sue on: 01323 892442 Website: seafordgolfclub.co.uk e-mail: sue@seafordgolfclub.co.uk

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A European Tour Regional Office is also to be included as part of the development, while plans to build a European Tour Performance Institute are also at an advanced stage, giving players of all abilities access to the very latest biomechanical technology, as well as a full range of health and fitness advice previously only available to tournament professionals.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “When we announced our joint venture partnership with London Golf Club at the European Open in 2009, the vision was to create a world-class golf destination. The golf facilities are proven at every level, from hosting full European Tour competitions to special events such as the recent Golf LIVE show, which was a huge success and attended by 13,000 golfers.

Now, with the development of a five-star hotel and spa, London Golf Club is set to

Redfern upsets the odds t Hong-Kong-based Nick Redfern claimed a career first South Region Order of Merit tournament with a shock win at the PGA Surrey Open Championship sponsored by Kronenbourg 1664 at widelypraised Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club. Redfern, who plays most of his golf on the Asian Tour, fired a six-underpar total of 210 in the 54-hole event to earn his first Virgin Atlantic PGA South Region Order of Merit title, and a cheque for £2,750.

On a final day when the wind played havoc with scoring, Redfern’s gutsy 71, added to his second round 66, edged out Ben St John and Order of Merit leader Richard Wallis. The latter

threw away the title with a calamitous triple-bogey seven on the final hole, after his approach went out of bounds after ricocheting off a tree. Redfern was two shots behind Wallis coming to the turn of the third round, and looked to be heading for minor honours, but after dropping three early shots, he parred his way in from the 11th hole to claim the clubhouse lead, which no-one else out on the course was able to better in the testing conditions.

Reflecting on his surprise win, Redfern said: “This is my first Order of Merit victory and my biggest achievement in the PGA South Region. The level of play in the region is

Nick Redfern won the PGA Surrey Open

outstanding. My wife and caddy kept me really focused and patient. The final nine holes are something I’ll never forget, and this win is a tremendous boost.”

July 2011 / Issue 201

s plans sort

position itself among the world’s elite golf resorts, and we plan to host major European Tour events in years to come.”

Charles Fairweather, Chairman of London Golf Club, said: “This is a significant hotel and leisure development for London and south-east England, and is set to become an important destination for The European Tour, international golf tourists from continental Europe and further afield, as well as golfers from London and the UK. “While this is a sizeable development with five-star facilities and service, we are proud of the design work that has gone into creating an intimate, village-style resort that will nestle in the landscape, stepping down the contours to minimise visual impact.”

Planning permission for the development was given by local authority Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council in March, although a timetable for the completion of the project is not yet known.

/ 05

Seniors’ stars set for new-look Woburn The Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters is set to be the strongest in the event’s history, with an increased prize fund and a redeveloped host venue in Woburn Golf Club.

Leading players on the European Senior Tour will compete for a prize fund of £285,000 – up £25,000 from 2010, when Irishman Des Smyth captured the title – and a first prize of £42,750.

They will also encounter a new clubhouse at Woburn which opened recently following a multi-million pound refurbishment programme. Work on the new clubhouse began the day after Smyth won the Senior Masters last September, and finished ahead of schedule in time for the summer season.

Former Ryder Cup player Smyth held off an impressive field and denied Carl Mason a record-breaking 24th Tour title.

Mason has since achieved that groundbreaking feat, and will once again be among the field. The Englishman is the only player to win the title twice, in 2006 and 2007, and he will attempt to capture a hat-trick in September at an event that has attracted large crowds to Woburn in recent years.

Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “The Travis Perkins Senior Masters has rapidly developed into one of the most popular events on the Senior Tour with our members, who always relish testing themselves over the Duke’s Course. This year the new clubhouse should add an extra dimension to an already special tournament, so we’re all looking forward to getting to Woburn to see it for ourselves.”

Addington to host Sparks Classic Golfers are being offered the chance to play one of the South East’s finest courses while raising money for a fantastic cause with its exclusive Sparks Classic event. On September 16, Yourgolftravel will be hosting a fundraising event for children’s charity Sparks at The Addington Golf Club in Surrey. As well as 18 holes of golf, competitors will receive coffee and bacon rolls on arrival; complimentary halfway house and drinks buggy; and a buffet lunch, with prize-giving and a charity auction.

Set in idyllic Surrey healthland, The Addington is one of the top 100 courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The course has remained virtually unchanged since it was designed 95 years ago by renowned architect JF Abercromby, who looked upon it as his finest creation. With a mixture of intimate holes wandering through mature pine and birch trees, and stunning views from hilltop tees, The Addington provides an enjoyable but testing round. Entry to the Sparks Classic costs £500 for a team of four. For more information, or to book a place, call Sam Krume on 020 7336 5346 or email samk@yourgolftravel.com.

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The win marked the end of a busy week at Gatton Manor, which also played host to a large Pro-Am tournament on the eve of the main event. A total of 41

teams, comprising of three amateurs and a professional, battled it out in the 18-hole event, with a team from Gatton Manor, led by club captain John Humphries and ably supported by last year’s Surrey Open champion Andy Raitt, emerging as team winners.

The individual pro event saw a three-way tie between Glen Haynes (Wildwood), Andrew Cloke (Sherfield Oaks), and the in-form David Callaway (Milford), who all shot three-under par 68s.

Elsewhere, Woodcote Park’s Ben St John extended the longest drive record on the famous 17th hole by 11 yards, hitting his tee shot 326 yards on the notorious 645-yard

par five, while Gatton Manor’s Neil Penning picked up a jeroboam of Champagne after hitting his putt to two inches on the 100-foot Champagne Putting Challenge.

Speaking after the tournament, Gatton Manor’s owner Patrick Kiely said: “This year’s event saw a very experienced field take on the challenge of taming the course and conditions that our members experience every day. The course was set up in a beautiful condition that had the professionals eulogising about it. A six under par winning score was a true reflection of the challenge presented over the two days.”

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July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 07

Hampshire tour professional Sam Hutsby is to concentrate his efforts on the Challenge Tour for the remainder of the season after admitting that trying to play on the European Tour was unsettling his game.

The Lee-on-the-Solent star is adopting a different approach for the remainder of the season having narrowly missed out on a place at The Open.

Hutsby missed out on the play-off for the last of 10 spots by just one stroke with a costly bogey on his penultimate hole in the 36hole qualifying event at Sunningdale.

Having carded a 64 in his opening round on the New Course, Hutsby attempted to protect his score in the second round on the Old Course. But his level-par 70 left him marooned at five-under – just one stroke behind a clutch of players, who then had to play late into the evening to see

who could grab the final place at Royal St George’s.

Hutsby said: “I was a bit disappointed, because I was in a great position after the first round. Looking back, maybe I should have played more aggressively on the front nine in the second round, because I was hitting the ball well.

But I played ultra safe, and I think I’ve learned from that for the future.”

Open qualifying aside,

Hutsby has decided to concentrate his efforts on getting his name as high as possible on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, rather than waiting for last-minute opportunities to arise on the European Tour.

He said: ‘It’s been difficult to find any consistency, because sometimes I get the call on a Tuesday, and I have to organise a flight that day to play on the Thursday in the European Tour.

“The advantage of the Challenge Tour is that I know I am in every event on the schedule and can plan things a bit better and prepare for those events. There are 15 more tournaments left, and if I can play well in those, I can progress up the order of merit and get a top-20 place to get a European Tour card for next year.”

Hutsby is currently lying 33rd in the Order of Merit, with a best-placed finish of third in last month’s Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley.

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Ashdown to present tough test for top amateurs 2010 Ladies Amateur Strokeplay champion Kelly Tidy

Next month sees the elite of ladies’ amateur golf descend on the bunker-free fairways of Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club to compete in the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

The famous Old Course, ranked as one of the top 100 courses in Britain, and

recently used as an Open Championship Regional Qualifying venue, should provide a stern test for the best female amateurs from Britain and abroad.

Spectators are welcome to come and watch the stars of tomorrow from August 1719. A maximum field of 120

players will play the first two rounds, after which the cut will be limited to top 40 and ties for the final 36 holes.

The reigning champion is England international Kelly Tidy, who beat Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald in the final held at Ganton in 2010. The 19-year-old from Manchester will be back to defend her title, along with a host of international talent.

Royal Ashdown’s Old Course has already proved its championship credentials this summer, hosting the Faldo Series Championship in May, which was won

by Sussex amateur Tom Aspinall, who set a new course record of 67 on his way to taking the regional heat of this national event.

Raitt runs riot at West Hill Andy Raitt produced a flawless 66 to win the West Hill Pro-Am by two shots and bag his second PGA South Region victory of the season. Taking the £1,500 first prize, Raitt’s round included three birdies and no dropped shots. The Nevill’s Jamie Spence could have tied with Raitt, but dropped shots on 16 and 18 left him finishing on oneunder-par for second place.

Guy Shoesmith, the Surrey PGA Chairman and PGA Professional at West Hill, was delighted with the turnout of 54 teams and a field that included the top 10 from Order of

Merit, two multiple European Tour winners and a former Ryder Cup player.

“West Hill has been transformed over the last few years, and although one of the older classic courses, is still a good challenge to golfers at any level, as results proved,” said Shoesmith. “The weather was near perfect, the greens were tip top, and while there were always going to be some tricky pin positions, I honestly felt low scoring was going to be the order of the day. Nonetheless, Andy Raitt’s win was well deserved, and his flawless golf was clearly in a different league to the rest of us!”

Q G uot N e 2

Hutsby’s up for the Challenge

08 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Saunders sets his sights on pro career

Broome Park Golf Club

Kent amateur golfer Michael Saunders has his sights firmly set on turning professional at the end of the year.

The 20-year-old Dartford member won the Kent County Amateur Championships for the second year running earlier this month at Chart Hills, and earlier in the season defended the Watson Trophy for Kent club champions.

However, Saunders plans not to be able to defend either title next summer, as he wants to have joined the professional ranks by then.

He said: “It is a pretty heavy schedule at the moment, and I’ve not been playing too badly, but everything is building up toward the European Tour Qualifying school this year. It’s what it is all about for me.

I want to be out there on the Tour, playing well and earning money.”

Saunders added: “I have friends who have taken

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part in the past who I can go to for advice, and last year I went to watch it to get a feel for what it’s like.

The first stage this year is in September, with the second and third in November.

Hopefully, I can do enough.”

Redbourn h generation

The Topping family came out on top

The only thing missing was Sir Bruce Forsyth when Redbourn Golf Club played its own version of the Generation Game last month. The popular Three

Generations Cup – with each team comprising a grandparent, parent and child – was played to a Texas Scramble format at the Hertfordshirebased club.

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July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 09

hosts game Nine trios crossed swords, with the Topping family from Harpenden Common Golf Club coming out on top after carding a nett 31 in the nine-hole competition. Leading the home charge was the Hunter clan – led by Steve, Director of Golf – who came third with a nett 33.

The event – held over Father’s Day weekend – was played over Redbourn’s 6,500-yard Ver Course, and after the match each team was presented with a commemorative team photo to add to the family album.

Steve Hunter played alongside his 11-yearold daughter, Holly, and mother-in-law, Iris.

“To play in a competition with my daughter and mother-in-law was a unique experience and we had so much fun!” he said.

“Iris definitely caught the golfing bug, and is now looking forward to a repeat match.”

Kavanagh doubles up at Hankley

Stoke Park professional Jeremy Kavanagh captured his second TP Series win of the season with a stunning four-under par 67 at Hankley Common Golf Club in Surrey.

Having hosted Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship just two days

earlier, the testing heathland course was set up in full competition format, with players put on the back tees and pins in challenging locations.

Conditions were made even more difficult by a series of thunderstorms,

which resulted in players being taken off the course until the threat of lightening had subsided.

However, the rain left the greens temporarily flooded, and it was an hour before players were able to get back out again.

Adrian Stuart, one of the early starters not affected by the rain delay, took the clubhouse lead with a two-under par 69, a score that was later matched by Order of Merit leader Francis McGuirk, who blotted his card with a costly bogey on the 17th. That mistake left the door open for Kavanagh – whose back nine included five birdies – to take the title.

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SocieTy & company Golf | 2011 Your complete guide to the best society & corporate venues

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7/2/11 12:06:52

Golf News’ Ultimate Guide to Society & Company Golf 2011 is now available. This has been a must-have publication for every golf society organiser for many a year, and now it’s even bigger and better than before, with a new look, size and style.

Featuring many of the region’s finest clubs and courses, predominantly located in the South East, this indispensible, handy, full-colour booklet provides all the information you’ll ever need to make your golf day a success.

Among details included are up-to-date prices and packages for societies and visitors, information on tee time restrictions, comprehensive directions and local accommodation tips, as well as detailed descriptions of all the courses, with full colour photographs. For your free copy of The Ultimate Guide, please email your Society or Company name to: info@golfnews.co.uk.

01403 792630

Quote‘GOLF NEWS’ when booking.

Fancy a discount?...

Visit our website to pick up 6 green fee vouchers, with each offering excellent value for money compared to our standard rates:

ccgslinfold.com/golfvouchers.pdf Print and redeem as many times as required, and call the clubhouse to book tee times* *Vouchers not to be used in conjunction with any other offer (above offer inc.)

Stane Street, Slinfold, West Sussex, RH13 0RE

01403 791154 - www.ccgslinfold.com *Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability. £5 p/p deposit required upon booking. Offer valid for all new golf days bookings in September 2011. Free use of Health & Fitness facilities includes the Swimming Pool & Steam Room, but does not include the Gym for health and safety reasons.

SELSDON PARK HOTEL & GOLF CLUB SANDERSTEAD, SURREY

SPECIAL OFFER

FOR JULY & AUGUST 2011 l Bacon Baps,Teas and Coffees on arrival FROM ONLY l 18 Holes of Golf l Light Lunch l Organiser goes free For groups of 12 or more

£33pp

We also have great pay and play, residential and membership rates.

For more information, terms & conditions please call us on: 0208 768 3116 or 0208 768 3113 www.principal-hayley.com Selsdon Park Hotel & golf club, Addington Road, Sanderstead, Surrey, CR2 8YA

10 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

qua EFFORTLESS

POWER

princes

McGuirk uses his ‘local’ knowledge Prince’s Golf Club’s head professional used all of his years of experience of playing around his home course to secure a coveted place in the field for the Open Championship at Royal St George’s.

Playing in one of four local final qualifying events held on June 28, which offers Open places to only the top three finishers, Francis McGuirk finished joint second with Hertfordshire’s Tom Shadbolt, after firing rounds of 68 and 71 over Prince’s Shore/Dunes course.

His five under total saw him finish one shot clear of four players, including former US Open champion Michael Campbell.

McGuirk, who only made it to local final qualifying after

Michael Campbell missed out by a single shot at Princes

bagging a dramatic finalhole eagle during a regional qualifying tournament held at The London Club, drew on all his years of playing the highregarded links venue, which is owned by his family.

“It is hard to describe this feeling,” said 37-yea-old Francis, after his stunning display.

“I have played thousands of rounds of golf at Princes and have kept a close eye on the

developments that have been made over the last 18 months, but to qualify in my own back yard is a dream come true.

“The course was in great condition, and the fact it was the only one of four Local Final Qualifying venues to complete play following the rain delays, is testament to the organisation of the R&A, as well as the refurbishments that have taken place.”

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Tom Lewis won the qualifier at Rye en route to the Amateur Medal

England international Tom Lewis won the local final qualifier held at Rye Golf Club by an impressive three shots.

Lewis, from Welwyn Garden City, captured the Boys Amateur Championship at Sandwich two years ago, and booked his place at the professional equivalent in fine style, with rounds of 63

and 65 taking him to the top of the leaderboard on eight under par.

He finished in front of two other players from the South East, with Oxford’s Adam Wootton taking second, while Mark Laskey, from The Shire in north London, edged out Dutchman Inder Van Weerelt in a play-off after

both players had finished three under par.

Wootton, who works at the Oxford Golf Centre and is a member at Southfield, faced an anxious wait to see if his five-under par score would be enough to earn his first entry into the Open.

“It was probably the longest one and a half hours of my life,” he said. “It was finally over at 9.30pm. I was just ecstatic. It was a brilliant feeling.”

Those just outside the qualifying mark included Chart Hills’ Tom Sherreard, who lost out to Chris Woods for the Silver Medal at Royal Birkdale in 2008. He was one shot shy, while Zane Scotland was a further shot behind in seventh.

July 2011 / Issue 201

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local open

alifying

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LITTLESTONE Tudor Park professional Andy Smith used a set of borrowed clubs to gain a place in The Open at Royal St George’s.

Smith, who had to use a friend’s clubs because his irons did not comply with new rules, topped the 36-hole qualifier at Littlestone with a four-under total of 138.

Smith’s achievement in reaching his first Open at the third time of asking was all the more impressive considering his lack of practice because of an operation to correct a twisted bowel last year.

“I play occasionally at Tudor Park with the members and with some friends there, but I’ve not really been playing much since my operation for a twisted bowel last year,” said Smith. “I haven’t got much money at the moment and I have been doing all kinds of part-time jobs to keep myself going – labouring, landscape gardening, and a bit of work as a carpenter’s mate.

“I even using borrowed clubs, with one wedge that I found in my garage at home and another wedge that was in the lost property room at Tudor Park. My own irons and wedges are older and non-conforming now to

Tour winner Peter Baker missed out at Littlestone

Smith scores with borrowed clubs the regulations, so I had to borrow a set from a member at Tudor Park. I only used them for the first time in practice last week, when I paid £25 to come down here for an extra practice round ahead of Monday’s practice.

“It’s just like everything has been meant to be, and on the course I felt as if things would be okay – it’s incredible. I’m in a daze.”

The other two qualifiers from Littlestone were Austria’s Markus Brier, a multiple

winner on the European Tour, and Lee Corfield from Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in Somerset.

The two emerged from a five-man play-off, which included 21-year-old Worthing amateur Jack Bartlett, and Essex teenager Dale Whitnell, who only turned professional last year.

Abingdon’s Eddie Pepperell, who turned pro last month, was one shot off making the play-off, as was Stoke Park’s Guy Woodman.

ROYAL CINQUE PORTS

Hinton defies heart scare

Craig Hinton secured his debut appearance in The Open

The Oxfordshire’s Craig Hinton won his place at The Open after winning the Local Final Qualifying held at Royal Cinque Ports. Despite bogeying the two final holes, Hinton, who suffered a short period of blindness in 2009, shot rounds of 69 and 70 for five under par to claim his place at Royal St George’s.

A member of The

Oxfordshire, 22-year-old Hinton finished one shot ahead of four players in the 36-hole tournament, who had to return the following morning for a play-off after it became too dark to continue.

Hinton said of his illness: “I was at an airport with the England squad in Spain, but was so ill I was taken to hospital and went blind for

a brief time. I was able to get back to England a few days later, but it took eight months to get properly well again.

Then this February during the Spanish Amateur I had headaches and was throwing up. I was in intensive care for a week. It turned out to be an inflammation of the heart.

The doctors said it would take six months to a year to get over it fully, but after three months I started playing again, and in the first event back I was ninth at the Welsh Amateur. After everything I have been through it is unbelievable to be in The Open - it is hard to take in.”

The other two players two earn Open spots were Andrew Johnston from North Middlesex and Wellingborough’s Simon Lilly, who both came through a play-off against Tyrrells Wood amateur Alex Christie and Scott Henderson from Kings Links in Scotland.

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12 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Hindhead bypass set to ease golfers’ travels

Take your game to the next level at the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club. The par 72, 18 hole course is 6511 yards and offers a state of the art academy and training facility.

Society packages include tea, coffee & bacon rolls, 18 holes of golf and a one course meal.

Longest drive and nearest the pin competitions can also be arranged. Bespoke packages can be tailored to your individual requirements.

Society Packages from £45 per person Terms and conditions apply. Rates are per person and subject to availability.

For more information please call 01342 830917 or visit LingfieldPark.co.uk

Golfers travelling out of London to clubs in Hampshire and the south coast will enjoy much faster journey times when the Hindhead tunnel opens at the end of July.

The four-year, £370 million construction project includes four miles of new road diverted from the existing A3, including a 1.2mile dual bore tunnel – the longest underland tunnel in Britain – that by-passes the traditional bottleneck at Hindhead crossroads.

The tunnel, which is routed under the scenic Devil’s Punchbowl, is expected to significantly cut journey times to the south coast, and take away traffic from the village of Hindhead, where traffic lights and long tailbacks have blighted so many journeys over the years.

Hayling Golf Club

An artist’s impression of the twin tunnels

The tunnel was supposed to have opened at the beginning of July, but the finishing touches to the two tunnels, and a full emergency crash test, have seen the official opening delayed by several weeks.

Last month saw 6,500

Old Thorns will be much quicker to reach when the new road opens

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Former England footballer John Salako will be the special guest at a charity golf day in aid of Street Child Africa to be held at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking on September 9.

Salako, best known for representing Crystal Palace and Reading, and now a Sky Sports TV presenter, will play and present the prizes at the event at the Surrey-based public pay-and-play facility.

It is hoped around 20 teams will take part in the fourball Stableford competition over the centre’s 18-hole Hoebridge Course.

Cost for each team is £300 or £80 per head.

To enter a team contact Emma Burton of Street Child Africa on 0208 972 9821 or email emma@ streetchildafrica.org.uk.

members of the public invited to walk the full length of the 1.2-mile tunnel, which drops up to 65 metres below ground level at its lowest point. The speed limit for the tunnel is 60mph.

In addition to making life easier for local people and drivers, the new road is also set to bring huge economic benefits to the Portsmouth area. This was spelled out following a recent visit to the site by the government’s Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

“The truth is that while

Hindhead is a lovely place, for years it has been rightly regarded by people in the south as a horrendous bottleneck,” he said. “Now hopefully this tunnel will get rid of that problem, and help to bring new business opportunities and jobs to Portsmouth. With easier transport through this area more and more people are going to want to invest in the city.”

Among the numerous golf clubs that will benefit from the improved access will be Old Thorns Hotel and Country Club in Liphook, which is located just a few miles form the end of the tunnel, while golfers should also be able to enjoy a smoother run down to Hayling Island Golf Club, which sits at the southern end of the A3.

Golf group attempts to woo Chinese golfers

Staff at Chart Hills are being taught Mandarin

With China set to dominate global financial markets in the near future, a forwardthinking UK-based golf group has decided to take positive steps towards ingratiating itself with the expected influx of golfers from the Far East by providing lessons in Mandarin to its key staff.

Leaderboard Golf, which owns and operates Chart Hills, Sandford Springs, Dale Hill and The Oxfordshire, is to teach Mandarin to staff members and caddies in a bid to woo the burgeoning Chinese tourist market, and acknowledge mainland China’s position as the fastestgrowing golfing nation.

Starting this month, selected staff will receive tuition from linguistics guru Paul Noble, whose

conversation-based learning method was recently launched by Collins Language. Noble will provide a grounding in conversational Mandarin and greetings, as well as phrases more specific to golf. The group will also be adding Chinese language pages to its website.

Paul Gibbons, chairman of Leaderboard Golf, explained the rationale behind the initiative. “The Chinese have developed a love for golf and in a tough economic climate, when British golf courses are fighting hard to get new members, we felt it logical to reach out to this new tourist group, and make it clear that they are welcome at our courses. This is more than a symbolic gesture: British businesses of all types should

welcome the opportunities that are presented by the new visitors, and, though there are some fantastic new golf courses in China, we want the Chinese to understand that nothing can come close to playing golf in the UK.” VisitBritain anticipates that Chinese trips to the UK will more than double by 2014.

This would make the UK the 14th most visited destination from China. The number of visa applications by Chinese tourists rose by 40%c in 2010, with 150,000 Chinese approved to travel.

In the late 1990s, there were only 20 golf courses in the whole of China: the majority associated with the former British colony of Hong Kong. Today, it is estimated that there are 500, with a further 150 under construction, and 500 more at a planning stage.

Last month’s LPGA Championship, the second major of the women’s season, was won by Chinese Taipei player Yani Tseng, who is the new No.1 player. The men lag some way behind the women in professional terms, with Liang Wenchong the highest ranked Chinese player in the world at 131st.

14 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Built to host Tour events and top-flight tournaments, The Oxfordshire Golf Club is one of the country’s most exacting and exciting championship courses, while the a 50-bedroom hotel and spa has transformed it into a top-class leisure destination in

LICENSED TO THRILL Although it is well over a decade since The Oxfordshire last held the Benson & Hedges International Open, it seems only yesterday that the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Bernhard Langer were strutting their stuff in front of packed galleries on the manicured fairways of this purpose-built championship layout.

Of course, those were the glory days of the European Tour, when England was entrusted with over half a dozen tournaments on the schedule (anyone remember St Mellion, Fulford, The Belfry, Woburn, Hanbury Manor and Slaley Hall?). These days, domestic golf fans are restricted to an annual four-day diet of Wentworth, and three majors a decade held in either Lancashire or Kent. Slim pickings indeed.

But back in 1993, when The Oxfordshire first opened it doors, there was a clamour for top-class venues capable of hosting Tour events, with sponsors queuing up to have their brands associated with tournaments packed with world-class players such as Seve, Sandy and Woosie.

During the height of its fame as a tournament venue, the course was only open to members and their guests,

but since those heady days the club, which is owned by Leaderboard Golf, has thrown open its doors to all those who enjoy the finer things in life. While still providing a welcoming home to a core membership, the last decade has seen the club develop into one of the foremost corporate and society venues in the country, with numerous topflight professional and amateur events, Pro-Ams and major charity days hosted here on a regular basis.

From the minute you arrive through the gates and drive up the long, ambling road to the impressive clubhouse – and newly-built hotel – you know that you are somewhere special. Somewhere where golf is taken seriously. At the same time, it’s a relaxed and informal environment in which to enjoy a day’s golf, with none of the stuffiness associated with old school venues. The facilities are all Tour-standard, from the quality of the changing rooms, to the pro shop, driving range and bars, while the level of service is commensurate with its status as a luxury hotel.

Designed by the prolific American architect Rees Jones, The Oxfordshire is upscale golf built on a massive scale, with a budget to match. Its untold acres

of grass and water can often be quite overwhelming to the first-time visitor, with the sheer vastness of the space leaving the timid golfer wondering how he or she is going to cope with the distances involved. It’s golf on steroids, and offers much the same challenge as provided by the 2010 Course at Celtic Manor, if such comparisons are helpful.

I wouldn’t recommend playing off the back tees – which stretch to 7,200 yards – if you’re not overly confident with the driver, but thankfully Mr Jones was generous enough to construct plenty of forward tees for those who like to reach par fives before the sun sets.

With well over 100 bunkers (some of which make the Camber Sands look positively cosy) and four huge man-made lakes, there’s no denying that the course presents a serious test for all levels of golfer.

Factor in massive, undulating greens and a breath of wind – it’s known to blow a bit on this exposed plot of Home Counties countryside – and you have a layout that will challenge every part of your game.

The course boasts not one, but two holes that feature in the renowned list of the ‘500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes’.

The eighth, a hazardous 390-yard par four that doglegs around a lake, is one of them. The green is sited on an island peninsula, where a sentry oak stands guard. A straight shot to the green requires a 260-yard carry, while those of a more nervous disposition can take the water out of play by opting for a 3-wood down the fairway and a ‘straightforward’ wedge in.

The 17th is The Oxfordshire’s nerveracking signature hole, a downhill par five with a right-to-left dogleg. A huge lake runs all the way down the left side of the fairway. The green is opposite the lake. The safe, but much longer route, is to play around the water, but if you’re feeling lucky, the temptation to go for the green across the lake is all too appealing. If you hug the water’s edge off the tee, it’s just over 180 yards to reach dry land, and even more to reach the putting surface.

It’s a hole that has suckered countless golfers before, and will continue to do so in the future, as to lay up on this hole is to shirk one of life’s great challenges, and who wants to go through life as a someone who avoids risk? The worse that can happen is a lost ball and a double bogey. The best? Glory unfathomable.

July 2011 / Issue 201

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home to addition of a n its own right The par-fve 17th is one of the course’s signature holes

The hotel offers 50 comfortable rooms and a health spa

Stay and Play Packages Why not take advantage of special golf break packages, with two nights’ bed and breakfast and three rounds of the golf costing just £235 per person, based on two people sharing a twin/ double room (single room supplement £35).

For bookings, call 01844 278300.

The stlyish clubhouse bar

The other 16 holes aren’t too shabby either, with highlights a plenty on a course that is always presented as if the European Tour committee is about to make a site inspection. The 4th hole, the aptly-named ‘Hell’s Half Acre’, is one of the more entertaining on the outward nine, with the aforementioned amount of sand featuring in the middle of the fairway at this bendy par five.

The short holes are also stunning, with the fifth, which requires a 180-yard carry over a lake being the kind of heartin- mouth experience that is essential for any great par three. All in all, it’s a layout that that demands total respect, while eliciting even greater respect for those who have emerged with their handicaps – and ego – intact.

The golf buggy was perhaps built with such courses in mind, although that’s not to say that a walk is impossible, far from it. It’s a great walk, if you like that kind of thing, and probably a good choice for those that don’t tend to walk too far between shots. There’s also a great halfway house in which to enjoy brief respite from the examination, which is actually more like a third or two-thirds house, depending on when you chose to stop. Never has a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich

seemed more welcome than during a winter round here.

Green fees are a very reasonable £70 during the summer (providing you’re part of a four-ball), rising to £80 at weekends, while hotel guests can play for just £55. The club hosts numerous Open events throughout the season, giving golfers from all over the country the chance to take it on under competitive conditions, while the club will be gracing our television screens later this year following its hosting of a

Trilby Tour event later this month.

In addition to the 18-hole course, the club has planning permission to build a 9-hole par course course. Designed

by Rees Jones and scheduled to open in 2012, it will be an ideal introductory course for new players.

Golfers wishing to take their game to the next level can also avail themselves of the facilities available at the Golf Academy, which include a 250-yard driving range and numerous chipping and putting areas, while the club’s Director of Golf, Justin Barnes, and his team of PGA-qualified professionals, are on hand to give expert tuition on a one-to-one basis, using the very latest swing training technology.

The Oxfordshire’s attractiveness as a venue for golf breaks, conferences and weddings has been considerably enhanced by the opening of the new £6 million four-star hotel, which offers 50 luxurious guest rooms. Additional facilities include the Tempus Health and Fitness Spa, which features a 15-metre swimming pool, fitness centre and treatment rooms, while six conference rooms add to the club’s status as a venue where business and

pleasure goes hand in hand.

The dining options at the club have also evolved, with The Sakura Restaurant, which is run by head chef Richard Buy, raising the culinary stakes to new heights, while the expansive terrace outside the spike bar offers more informal dining during summer months and provides unrivalled views over the course and surrounding countryside.

Whatever your preconceptions about The Oxfordshire, it is undoubtedly one of the most professionally-managed and superblypresented golf resorts in the country, and is fully deserving of its status, and equally deserving of hosting topflight tournaments in the years ahead.

Book now and take on the challenge – or better still, take up the exclusive membership offer below and play it for the rest of your life. It might take that long to master it!

The Oxfordshire Golf Club Milton Common, Thame, Oxon OX9 2PU www.theoxfordshire.com T: 01844 278300, Email: reservations@ theoxfordshire.com

Exclusive membership offers for Golfnews readers Golfnews readers can join The Oxfordshire, either as 5- or 7-day members, for an exclusive rate until August 31, 2011. The joining fee of £1,500 will be waived for this limited period only, with 5-day membership costing £2,100, and 7-day membership £3,050. Both prices include a levy of £335 and £450 respectively, which can be used for food and beverage purchases.

Introductory benefits include a free month’s membership of the gym and spa; dinner for two in the Sakura Restaurant (drinks excluded); and four complimentary green fees (worth up to £280).

Members enjoy a 20% discount on drinks, 10% off food, and a host of other benefits, including designated parking areas, members’ golf days and one-off events.

For more details call on 01844 277657 or email membership@theoxfordshire.com.

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July 2011 / Issue 201

competition

win

Four-ball at Woburn and tickets to the Travis Perkins Senior Masters

www.nailcotehall.co.uk

has teamed up with Woburn Golf Club, Travis Perkins plc, and the European Seniors Tour, to offer a special prize of a four-ball on the Duke’s Course at Woburn Golf Club We also have EIGHT pairs of clubhouse season tickets to the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters to give away to the runners-up.

The tournament, which begins on September 2, will see former Ryder player Des Smyth return to defend the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters title he won at Woburn last September.

The popular 58-year-old Irishman bagged his second Senior Masters victory – and the record of having won events in five separate decades – with a three-stroke win over dual Senior Masters winner Carl Mason. Smyth, who holds the record for being the oldest winner on the European Tour, will be keen to add to his haul of career wins, when the popular tournament returns to the famous Buckinghamshire venue’s Dukes Course.

But Smyth won’t have it all his own way, with Mason looking to chalk up his third Senior Masters title, while former Order of Merit winners Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam will both be looking to get their hands on the title, and grab a share of the £260,000 prize fund.

Among the new generation of Senior Tour players attempting to join that list will be 51-year-old Barry Lane, who will be looking to add the title to the British Masters he won in 2004 – the last of his five European Tour wins.

It all adds to an unmissable event for those who want to see some the biggest names in the game in action over one of the UK’s finest inland courses.

Sam Torrance

Des Smyth

TO ENTER: For a chance of winning either prize, answer the question below and email your details (name, tel number and address) to info@golfnews.co.uk, marking the subject line ‘Woburn Competition’.

Entries close on August 15, 2011. Tickets will be posted to the winners.

The first prize is available for week-day tee times only, and players must have a club handicap, and play off a maximum of 24 for men and 28 for ladies.

Question: On which of Woburn’s three courses will the 2011 Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters be staged? a) The Duchess b) The Dukes c)The Marquess

For more information on The Travis Perkins Senior Masters please visit www.europeantour.com

Doug McClelland

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18 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

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Web: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/downshiregolf

Ridge reaches new heights

No-one could accuse the owners at The Ridge Golf Club from resting on its laurels. The popular Maidstone-based club, which first opened in 1993, has built up a large and loyal following, with a reputation for offering a quality experience, both on and off the golf course, and exceptional value for money.

The star of the show is the superb 18-hole, 6,242-yard course, which was designed

by Patrick Dawson. With its hill top location offering stunning views over the Weald of Kent, the extremely playable parkland layout blends perfectly into the natural landscape, with over 20,000 trees giving it a maturity that belies its relative youth.

Manicured fairways, wellcontoured and consistentlypaced greens, interesting water hazards, numerous dog-legs and a multitude of strategically-placed bunkers, will challenge even the very best golfers, while remaining enjoyable to the high handicap player.

The par-71 course has the added bonus of having fastdraining soil, ensuring year round playability, while a new computerised irrigation system keeps the course looking green and in perfect condition, no matter what the weather.

Investment is continuing apace at The Ridge, with the 2011 season heralding the completion of the construction of a set of new tee boxes that has served to further enhance the presentation of the course.

The tees, many of which are raised, have been remodeled and restyled to offer a wider variety of shot options on many of the holes, and reduce the

There has never been a better time to sample the delights of The Ridge Golf Club in Kent, following major investment in both its course and clubhouse chances of excessive wear during the season.

The £150,000 cost of the project has been repaid with some of the finest playing conditions members and visitors have ever seen, while the total refurbishment of the clubhouse has brought the off-course facilities on a par with those on the course, resulting in the creation of a complete golfing package which everyone associated with the club can be proud.

For those who like to practise, the club also offers a well-equipped 250-yard driving range with eight covered bays, a teaching bay and two outside bays. With quality range balls on hand, it’s a superb facility for golfers to hone their skills.

The Ridge has built up a well deserved reputation for the quality of its catering, which appeals not just to golfers, but also people from the local community. The club’s legendary Sunday carvery is always popular – so much so, that advanced booking is often required.

Full roasts cost from £8.95, while flame-grilled 8oz rump steaks are also one of the best sellers at just £9.95.

The club has recently launched a special ladies’ day package on Mondays, which offers a reduced green fee of just £15 to all female golfers, while all Seniors (over 60s) can also enjoy the same rate on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with adults being able to book tee times for £18, representing a saving of £6

off the standard £24 weekday green fee.

Societies have always been attracted to The Ridge, and with packages for weekdays and selected weekends starting from just £25 for 18 holes with coffee and bacon rolls, it’s easy to see why. For groups of up to 25, the club offers the well-proportioned Ridge Room, which offers spectacular views over the course, with access to the patio area, and which has its own well-stocked bar. This room is perfect for society days, corporate meetings, or to simply sit and soak up the atmosphere after a round of golf. For large corporate days, parties and functions, the club’s Truffles Restaurant can cater for up to 120 people, making it the ideal venue for entertaining on a grand scale.

The club’s team of chefs can tailor menus to suit all dietary requirements and budgets, to ensure your golf day or function is one to remember.

For large groups wanting to make a full day of it, the £55 Platinum package offers superb value, with 36 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch and a two-course dinner making for a truly memorable day out at one of Kent’s best-kept courses. Societies can also play on selected weekends after 11am, making The Ridge the smart choice for those who can’t always afford time off during the working week.

For those who prefer to book their golf on the web, The Ridge operates an internet tee time reservation service, which allows instant on-screen bookings up to seven days in advance, with all bookings followed up by an email confirmation.

For tee times and society bookings call 01622 844382 or email info@ theridgegolfclub.co.uk.

For online tee times and other information visit www.theridgegolfclub.co.uk.

July 2011 / Issue 201

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Whitstable celebrates centenary

Open invitation to Players Club

Whitstable and Seasalter Golf Club celebrated its centenary with a week-long series of competitions last month. The popular coastal Kent venue played host to over 350 rounds during the week, with competitive and social activities for all the family, culminating in a gala dinner attended by over 100 people at the end of the week of festivities.

The ‘golfer of the week’ prize went to the ultraconsistent Trevor Kelly, while the Men’s Medal was won with an impressive net 64

by Don Crawford. Desmond Barker won the Monday flag competition, while the lady golfer of the week was Penny Perkins, who also won Thursday’s bogey competition.

Other competition winners during the week were Neal Hazel, Gwynfor Oakley and John Shepherd.

Earlier in the month, Kent Golf Union president Chris Tappin presented Whitstable & Seasalter captain Derek Bates with a centenary plate, following a match between the club and the county committee.

The Players Club in Bristol is holding its annual Open Week during the first week of August, with competitions open for all golfers taking place every day. The 7,000-yard Codrington Course is hosting a four-ball better ball event and four-man team event with two scores to count. Entry is £25 per player and the same formats can also be played over the 5,500-yard Stranahan course, where entry is £12.50 per player.

There is also an individual nine-hole event over the Watergarden par 3 course, including nearest-the-pin prizes on all holes. In addition, the Men’s Open takes place on the 7th, the Mixed Open on the 17th, and the Stiff Salver on the 27th, where golfers are given the chance to play a course measuring over 7,600 yards.

August 31 sees the staging of the inaugural The Stranahan Trophy, a brand new 36-hole strokeplay event open to both pros and amateurs. Frank Stranahan was a great amateur who was runner-up in the Open Championship in 1947 and 1953. Amateurs with a handicap of two or lower are invited to attend, with the entry fee costing £50. The competition will be played over the Codrington and Stranahan courses.

To enter any of the Open Week events and other competitions, please email adrian@theplayersgolfclub.com or call 01454 313029.

Coaching guru Cranfield awarded Master status

‘Go for Broke’ With our course receiving rave reviews we have something for everyone Our unique Society Package includes: l Coffee & Bacon Roll on arrival l Registration with scorecards & scoreboard l Putting clinic & competition with our professional including a prize l Unlimited range balls l 18 Holes l Complimentary halfway refreshment l Free one day golf insurance l One course lunch

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Scott Cranfield is one of the UK’s top coaches

Scott Cranfield, one of golf’s best-known coaches, has notched another career milestone after being awarded PGA Master Professional status. The 44-year-old from Essex joins an exclusive club that includes one of his early mentors, Denis Pugh.

The accolade, which was awarded by the PGA’s Accreditation of Professional Achievement and Learning panel, is another highlight for Cranfield, who, during a wideranging career, has established several golf academies in the UK, Spain and Poland, and has become a familiar face on TV through his work with Sky Sports. He is also a speaker on the national and international conference circuit and has published more than 50 magazine articles and two books.

Cranfield’s love of the game was nurtured as a teenager at Orsett and Chigwell Golf

Clubs, where he caddied for his father. His professional career began at Chigwell in 1987 and four years later he became head professional at Stapleford Abbotts before setting out on a full-time coaching career.

As a young professional he his sights on becoming the best player in the world, but Cranfield admits his quest for perfection proved bad for his game, although ultimately good for his coaching. “I wanted to play on tour and thought that the route to achieving that was to practise as hard as I could,” he said. “I could hit the ball extremely well a lot of the time, but I had unrealistic expectations of how I should play the game. I had the belief that if I was the best player I should not be making mistakes. It became obsessive, which was damaging from a playing perspective, although later it became beneficial from a coaching perspective.”

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Just off J4 M25, Sevenoaks Road, Halstead, Kent,TN14 7HR

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July 2011 / Issue 201

If you’re looking for somewhere to take a society, for a casual round or even to become a member, Singing Hills Golf Course in sunny Sussex represents English parkland golf at its very best. Nick Bayly reports

Singing Hills has an Augusta feel in parts of it’s three nine’s

OK, so I didn’t hear too much singing in the clubhouse bar, and couldn’t find much of a hill to climb out on the gently rolling fairways, but Singing Hills Golf Course lives up to its name in more than such obvious ways. Without wishing to sound too corny, it hits so many of the right notes in relation to the course, clubhouse and general ambience, that it will leave you with a song in your heart long after your final putt has hit the bottom of the cup.

In fact, whether you’re a diehard member or a first-time visitor, everyone is made to feel welcome at Singing Hills, which operates an open door policy to all those who appreciate the etiquette of the game.

The fact that the sign on the entrance reads ‘Golf Course’ rather than ‘Golf Club’, is no literary accident.

It represents the ethos that permeates throughout the venue, highlighting the preference for inclusivity rather than exclusivity, with none of the stuffiness associated with clubs that gives the The 27-hole layout at Singing Hills is presented in pristine condition throughout the year

Hills hits the high notes word ‘private’ a bad name.

Singing Hills is owned by a family trust and the course operates on a proprietary basis, with no greens committees or captains of this and that.

The fact that one man’s word is gospel has its pros and cons, but at least everyone knows where they stand, and the members seem to rub along happily with an owner who places the golf course, and those who play it, at the top of the agenda.

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in the shadow of the glorious Sussex Downs, Singing Hills occupies an idyllic spot, offering almost unbroken views of rolling green fields,

interrupted only by the occasional church spire and farmhouse chimney pot. Yet despite the scene of rural tranquility, it’s only 15 minutes up the road from the bustling streets of Brighton & Hove, and a similar distance to the A23’s turn-off for Gatwick airport. Not that many visitors here are rushing off to catch a flight. Indeed, when you’ve got golf this good on your doorstep, why would you need to jet off to Portugal or Spain to play?

Opened at the height of the golf boom in the early 1990s, the 27-hole layout was built on former farmland, and is divided into three distinct nine-hole loops – the appositely named River, Valley, and Lake. Major earth-moving works were required to transform the flat arable fields into the gently undulating fairways. The site was blessed with pockets of mature trees, which were left in situ to provide instant maturity to a course that is less than 20 years old. The new trees that were planted are now lengthening their shadows and helping to frame the fairways, and, in the fullness of time, will provide a sterner test to the accuracy of future generations.

For now, the course remains eminently playable, with an opportunity to open the shoulders on many of the longer holes without fear of going too wrong. That said, there are plenty of hazards to catch the errant tee shot or approach, including numerous streams

that bisect the fairways and encircle the greens, while several man-made lakes and lateral hazards heighten the need for good course management.

A feature of Singing Hills is the absence of fairway bunkering. This design feature owes itself to the owner’s firmly held view that if you hit a straight tee shot along the fairway you should not be punished by finding your ball in the sand. While some may regard it as a fault, so many courses have fairway bunkers that are out of step with the advances in modern golf equipment that they would do well to fill them in, or at the very least, relocate them to areas where they might come into play.

To toughen up the tee shots, many of the fairways are cut to narrow the landing areas at key distances, while dog-legs and overhanging trees, and plenty of greenside traps, make approaches a tad trickier.

The golf course is always presented in pristine condition by head greenkeeper Richard Quelch and his dedicated team, with striped and sculpted fairways, immaculate tees, and clear demarcations between the various cuts of rough, while those in the know say that the speed and consistency of the greens has never been better.

As far as the layout is concerned, lingering memories will be of demanding drives on the opening two holes of the River nine, and

July 2011 / Issue 201

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You will find it hard to find better putting surfaces in the South of England

Testing tee shot on the 2nd River

Par 5 finishing hole on the Valley course

The immaculate practice putting green Water, water, everywhere: The 2nd hole on the Lake Course

Sign up for Singing Hills Memberships are available on application, with a joining fee of £250 (reduced from £500 for a limited period), and seven-day annual subscription costing £925.

For membership enquiries call 01273 835353 or email golfsecretary@singinghills.org.uk.

Green fees are £27 for 18 holes on weekdays and £35 at weekends, and £37/£45 for 27 holes.

For tee bookings up to six days in advance call 01273 835353.

of two exhilarating par threes: the ninth on the River, where the green is situated beyond a mature willow tree which guards a lake; and the second on the Lake Course, known as the Island Hole, and Singing Hills’ answer to the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

The Lake loop has an American-style

at 517 yards, is well worth a crack with two metal woods to set up the chance of an eagle. The last hole, a 180-yard par three over water, with OOB at the back, and bunkers and a large willow tree between you and the green, makes for a great finishing hole, providing you’re playing that loop last.

“When you’ve got golf this good on your doorstep, why would you need to jet off to Portugal or Spain?” feel to it, with large, receptive greens with plenty of undulations. The River loop is the most mature, but also the shortest at 2,861 yards, and can be negotiated without recourse to a driver until you reach the par five 8th, which,

The 3,362-yard Valley is the tightest of the three nines, especially around the middle part, with the 370-yard parfour 7th being a particular highlight, with trouble all down the right off the tee in the shape of a stream and a

lake, while the fairway funnels into a narrow green, placing an emphasis on accurate approach play.

All in all, whichever way you choose to play it, the 27-hole layout is a delight, and sets up perfectly for a full day’s golf, with nine holes in the morning and 18 after a relaxing lunch, or any combination you care to think of. The Valley/Lake nines are used for handicap purposes, but the River is a thrilling proposition that makes Singing Hills stand out as a proper 27-hole club, with no nine being inferior to the others.

Away from the course, the practice area includes a 15-bay driving range and a delightful practice putting green, while there is a large covered teaching bay housed in a Swedish-style log cabin, where head professional Wally Street or PGA professional Arron Trott will help lower your handicap for a small fee.

The spacious and splendid clubhouse, which overlooks the course, offers the

first-class Pavilion Restaurant – which is open daily from 7.30am to 9.00pm and can comfortably seat over 80 diners – a delightful bar (don’t forget to pay homage to the antique Wurlizter organ that takes pride of place), and a sizeable golf shop, that also goes by the name of The Greg Woods Emporium. It stocks a vast range of hardware from suppliers such as Callaway, Hippo, Howson, and Lynx, and plenty of fashionable clothing, all of which is competitively priced.

Outside, the large patio that adjoins the bar and overlooks the golf course and practice range, is a popular haunt for post-match debriefings.

Singing Hills has been designed with quality in mind, from the facilities on and off the course, to the welcoming and professional staff, all of whom make it their business to ensure your visit, be it for golf or business, is a truly enjoyable experience, and one that will leave you coming back time and time again.

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July 2011 / Issue 201

NickBayly One broken leg coming up!

Levet’s leap ends in tears What is it with water hazards and golfers? During the course of normal play, pros do all they can to avoid getting their balls wet, let alone their feet, but give them a winner’s cheque, and a certain amount of encouragement from a group of photographers, and they jump willingly into a murky pool full of Pro V1s.

Some tournaments have made it a tradition to leap into the water following a win. The Kraft Nabisco Championship on the LPGA Tour requires the winner to take the ‘Champion’s Leap’ and join a group of past jumpers known as the ‘Ladies of the Lake’, while the water that fronts the 18th green at The Belfry has also seen its fair share of swimmers following Ryder Cup victories, and even the odd European Tour event. Generally, the result is nothing more than a wet t-shirt competition, which can be embarrassing for the girls, but last month saw a celebratory swim prove rather more costly, when Thomas Levet managed to fracture his leg after leaping into the water hazard that surrounds the 18th green at Le Golf National in Paris. Admittedly, he had just won his home Open at the age of 42, but the resulting injury saw him miss out of taking part in The Open.

Let’s hope he remembers to make a safer splash in 2018, when he captains Europe’s Ryder Cup team to victory over the very same course. If there’s any justice in the world, Levet will be handed the job, as the irony of the story couldn’t be more compelling.

GNeditor reveals what has caught his eye in the golfing headlines in recent weeks

Rory smells the flowers It was refreshing to see Rory McIlroy take some well-earned time off after winning the US Open in record-breaking style. So many major champions of late have simply picked up the trophy and then headed off to the next tournament as if they’d just won their club’s monthly medal.

Onwards and upwards, etc, etc.

Surely, this is a moment to savour in anyone’s career – unless you’ve already got a hatful of major titles in the locker room – and one that should be celebrated and cherished, rather

than pushed into the memory banks and saved for a later date, when the excitement has long since evaporated.

So all those moaning minnies (Monty, that includes you), who tutted and sucked their teeth when Rory decided to take a whole three weeks off following one of the greatest triumphs in the modern era of the game, should perhaps look to their own major records.

It was great to see Rory sitting in the royal box on centre court at Wimbledon (an invitation he received months before his US Open win),

Pair of aces: Rory McIlroy spent his time off watching other top sportsmen in action

£80

hanging out with Lewis Hamilton in the pitlane at Silverstone, and going clubbing with boyband JLS in his home city of Belfast.

Here was a golfing superstar in the making being celebrated on the world stage, being acknowledged by those at the top of their own sports, and receiving the recognition for the enormity of his achievement.

Some felt he should have spent the time getting wet and miserable at Castle Stuart, or parading his trophy around the French Open, but someone who has contended in almost all of majors he has played in probably knows better than anyone else how he should prepare for one.

Golfers win so infrequently during their careers that they should celebrate each one like it will be their last (as it often is), instead of worrying whether people will think of them as being too frivolous or, heaven forbid, unprofessional.

OK, so jumping in a lake and breaking your leg might be taking things too far – see opposite – but there are plenty of reasons to take the advice of major champion Walter Hagen and to ‘stop and smell the flowers along the way’.

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July 2011 / Issue 201

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After being on the winning team against Tiger Woods in the 1995 Walker Cup, former British Amateur Champion Lee James’s career has taken a very different turn to his famous rival, but it’s still come with its fair share of high points, as Kevin Nash recounts over three months through injury, James still notched up three wins on the Challenge Tour – in Kenya, Luxembourg and Finland – and, with a couple of second places too, comfortably topped the rankings.

“That was the highlight for me so far. The amateur stuff was all very nice, but it’s the professional game where it really matters.”

James may have come out on top

Finest hour with...

LeeJames

so when I was a kid. I had a bit of a temper, although I think I actually play better when I’m fired up. Even today I’m not happy finishing second. I’ve never wanted to make up the numbers, or been happy to finish in the top 10.”

At 17, James was playing for England Boys, with Howell, Westwood, Van Phillips, Warren

Bennett and Mark Foster. He represented his country at all levels, and picked up 32 caps.

His win at Nairn meant he qualified for the 1994 Open at Turnberry, where he played with Loren Roberts and Constantino Rocca, and missed the cut by a single shot. “I was actually tied for the lead, but that was after six holes on day one, and I was in one of the early groups – but even so. I had a putt to go two shots clear. It was for an eagle on nine.”

He ended up three-putting and it wouldn’t be the last time he experienced trouble on the greens.

“I played the back nine awful, and I suppose I must have relaxed a bit on day two, thinking I’d blown it.”

That devil-may-care approach may have been behind a sensational finish to his second round.

“I birdied the last three holes, but it could have been even better. On 16, I finished an inch behind the hole. My chip lipped out on 17. And on the last, my ball was hanging on the edge of the hole. I was literally three inches from finishing with three eagles.”

sp for we Se ec m bs e ia o it l nt e o h ff ly er s

The year is 1995 and it marks this highly-rated golfer’s only appearance in the Walker Cup before turning professional.

Life will never be the same again for this national amateur champion. In the years to come, there’ll be highs and lows, tears and tantrums, triumph and despair.

However, we’re not talking here about the young American Eldrick Woods, but one of his opponents in the victorious Great Britain and Ireland team at Royal Porthcawl, South Wales. Lee James was in the home line-up – alongside the likes of Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Stephen Gallacher – courtesy of his stunning victory in the previous year’s British Amateur Championship, where his relentless, ruthless game brought the towering Gordon Sherry, all 6ft 8ins of him, crashing down to earth.

James, a foot shorter than Sherry, but with Popeye-like forearms, had slain the Scottish Goliath (also a Walker Cup teammate) at Nairn and the future looked bright.

He was a contemporary of Lee Westwood, who earlier this year became the world’s number one, a position that had seemed to be destined for Tiger in perpetuity. Harrington, of course, has gone on to win three Majors. And Woods, well, we all know what happened to him....

Rewind to 1995, though, and GB & Ireland had won the Walker Cup by 14 to 10, and life was looking good for Lee James. Like Woods, he’d started playing golf at a young age; and, also like Woods, he was encouraged by his father. “My dad got me into the game when I was four,” recalls James. “He got me some cut-down clubs, and we’d go out into the New Forest and hit balls.”

James, from Poole, used to accompany his father to Lakey Hill (later East Dorset, now simply The Dorset), and really blossomed under the tutelage of former professional Graham Packer.

“I was hooked in 1984, when I was 11, watching Seve in the Open at St Andrews. It was around that time that I decided I wanted to be a golfer when I grew up. I’ve always been very hard on myself, but especially

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At the 1995 Masters, meanwhile, he went out alongside the legendary Jack Nicklaus. “That place is awesome, in a different league. And to play with Nicklaus, that made it even more special. He was a nice guy, actually quite talkative for the first four holes.

Then he holed his second shot on the fifth, and suddenly became a lot quieter! He made 67, and led at the end of day one.

“As for me, I actually struck the ball well, but I didn’t hole much. I was with Vijay Singh for my second round.

He wasn’t in contention either, so we had a good chat on the way round.”

Surprisingly, James says he’d only put Augusta in his personal top five.

His favourite course is Golf Club of Georgia, just north of Atlanta, where he has life membership. “The greens there are just as quick and tricky as Augusta. I like quick greens – the quicker the better.”

Once he’d turned pro, it was the greens that were to prove James’ undoing, particularly after he suffered a wrist injury in 2002. That was a bitter-sweet season. Despite missing

in his one and only encounter with Woods, but Tiger’s career earnings comfortably outstrip James’ total of around €750,000 since turning pro 16 years ago. He admits there have been times when the financial implications of a slippery three-footer have played on his mind. “Yes, it has an impact when it’s your livelihood that’s at stake. More than once I’ve been close to packing it in because I simply couldn’t afford to go on.”

He refuses to give in without a fight, though, and has stacked shelves at M&S, and has written hundreds of letters, sent countless emails, and knocked on doors to raise funds, and even held a raffle for potential sponsors.

But things are looking up. Earlier this year he shot a stunning 66 to beat European Tour player Adam Gee by two in the 66 Pro Tour at Burhill to follow up last year’s wins in the same series at The Grove and The Addington. He has also excelled on the Jamega Tour, topping the order of merit with nearly £13,000 in prize money, heading into the mid-season break on the back of wins at Wharton Park and Cumberwell Park, plus second spot at The Warwickshire and a top-five finish at The Vale.

“I need at least three more wins before I can even consider trying to qualify for Euro Tour School,” says Lee. “I’m pleased with my game at the moment, though. I may be 38 now, but if Tiger can come back, so can I!”

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July 2011 / Issue 201

Over 140,000 fans flocked to Royal St George’s over the four days

Sealed with a kiss: Clarke celebrates victory with fiancee Alison Campbell

Darren Clarke continues Northern Ireland’s unstoppable form in the majors with victory at a storm swept Royal St George’s

Darren’sDay They came to Sandwich to anoint a new Irish superstar, and by George they got one, even if it wasn’t quite the one everyone expected, and the star in question wasn’t quite so new.

Although all the world’s attention focused on pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, following his US Open cakewalk, it was his older – much older – countryman, Darren Clarke, who came away with the coveted Claret Jug after four gruelling days on the east coast of Kent. The 42-year-old from Dungannon, who moved back to his native Northern Ireland last year, will be returning to his new home with the most coveted golfing trophy in the world after 20 years of trying.

If prizes are handed out for persistence, then Clarke is perhaps the most deserving recipient of golf’s

greatest title, having banged his head repeatedly against the door over the last two decades.

Having finished runner up in 1997 and third in 2001, when at the peak of his powers, most observers had written Clarke off as a major force.

But although his pre-tournament odds of 175-1 reflected his position in the world rankings (111th), it did not reflect the inner belief that the player, and those close to him, knew he still had in his game.

Always a stunning ball striker, and a great wind player, it was Clarke’s mental frailties that have often let him down in the past, with a notoriously quick temper often turning good positions into lost causes in the blink of an eye. No experienced golf journalist sought a catch ‘a quick word’ with Darren after a bad round, and those who didn’t know any better never asked

World weary: Leading fancy Lee Westwood missed the cut, as did Ian Poulter

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Rough going: Rory McIlroy failed to handle the miserable conditions

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On the charge: Phil Mickelson mounted a Sunday surge which ended in heroic failure

Crowd pleaser: The Open galleries took Rickie Fowler to their hearts

Slice of back luck: Dustin Johnson’s bid for glory came unstuck with a sliced approach at the 14th

Under my umbrella: The weather tested the mettle of both players and spectators

him a second time.

But with age having mellowed his fiery temperament, and all but eliminated his nerves, Clarke strolled around St George’s as if he was out for a Sunday afternoon walk in the park with his boys, rather than battling it out for the most important victory of his long and successful career.

Indeed, at one point during the back nine, he could be seen puffing on a fag. How’s that for casual cool?

Steely-eyed, yet with a ready smile at the corner of his mouth, Clarke looked to all the world as if he knew the result long before the rest of us.

Victory for the senior statesman of a golfing nation that is enjoying a stellar run in the majors, also serves as a prescient reminder that when it comes to fighting it out for the big ones, there’s so substitute for experience.

Although his younger compatriot, Rory McIlroy, showed that youth can have its day, when the chips are truly down, the weather is up and your patience is tested to its limits, it’s those who have been there and got the

Old Tom, same result: Watson rolled back the years with an ace during the second round

T-shirt that are able to dig deepest into their mental reserves to pull off the right shots at the right time.

A younger Darren Clarke would have probably thrown his chance away, but the 2011 version was finally ready to wear the mantle of Champion Golfer.

Clarke has the T-shirt alright, and now he has the Jug to go with it.

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05/07/2011 16:10

London Golf Club Jack’s Inspiration

Jack Nicklaus’ success and vision as the greatest golfer in history is peerless, and was the inspiration for his two championship courses at London Golf Club.

Jack’s vision demands the best in tournament golf, which is why we are excited to be part of the oldest Championship of all – this year proudly hosted by Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, only 1 hour from us.

Welcome to London Golf Club, host to The Open Championship Regional Qualifying.

To find out more call 01474 879899, or email us at info@londongolf.co.uk www.londongolf.co.uk

London Golf Club, Stansted Lane, Ash, Nr Brands Hatch, Kent TN15 7EH

July 2011 / Issue 201

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Storybehindthepic The Beatles: Indianapolis, 1964

L

be said for Ringo Starr, who has gone for the classic first timer’s cack-handed grip, which, as every proper golfer knows, will severely curtail his ability to follow through with a full shot.

Word has it that, despite his incorrect gripping technique, Ringo ‘dabbled a bit’ in golf during his early career, but probably not at Formby, Hoylake or any of the other the posh links courses for which Liverpool is famous. John Lennon, who actually played a couple of rounds in New York in the 70s (the decade, not his score), looks as if he’s reading an imaginary line for an imaginary putt. But then again, John was always quite good at imagining things. Meanwhile, George Harrison – whose golfing connection is limited to having once owned a house that backed onto Badgemore Park Golf Club in Henley – is affecting his typical backstage presence, expressing mild indifference, safe in the knowledge that McCartney will always manage to steal the limelight.

Golf’s link with the Beatles remains at best tenuous, but if there’s one person for whom McCartney’s soppy lyrics might hold some resonance of truth, it must be Tiger Woods. “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now I need a place to hide away, oh I believe in yesterday.”

et’s face it, golf has never been very rock and roll. And let’s also not kid ourselves that just because Alice Cooper and Liam Gallagher like to play the odd round, it somehow makes golf intrinsically cool. It diesn’t.

Which all goes to make this picture of arguably the most important rock and roll band of all time trying their hand at the Royal & Ancient game all the more surprising. Just who on earth were they trying to impress with their unorthodox chipping techniques and ill-considered dress code?

The picture was taken at a golf club in Indianapolis while the band was touring America at the height of The Beatles’ popularity in 1964. Quite why they stopped there is not on record, but Paul McCartney seems to be revealing a distinct ignorance of the rules by choosing to enhance his grip with an outside agency – namely his tie – while also smoking a cheeky fag (an unknowing homage to former Masters champion Ian Woosnam perhaps?). His adoption of Jack Nicklaus’s knockkneed putting stance hints at some knowledge of the game, but his choice of a bladed 4-iron on the green is a bit of a giveaway that we are looking at a golfing charlatan. The same can also

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July 2011 / Issue 201

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‘Brocket rocket’ goes under the hammer One of the surviving Ferraris from Lord Charles Brocket’s 42-strong collection of Italian sports cars is to be sold at auction at Brooklands Motor Musuem in Surrey later this month. The 1969 Ferrari 365GT, which once owned by the infamous lord, is to be auctioned at the Historics Summer sale.

Many of the Ferraris and Maseratis belonging to Lord Brocket were famously destroyed in an insurance scam in 1995, for which he was sent to jail for three years. Part of the fraud involved the supposed theft of four cars from his £20 million collection, which had, in reality, been broken down and buried in bunkers in the Melbourne Course at Brocket Hall Golf Club.

His ex-wife reported the fraud to the police and Brocket was jailed in 1996. The 365GT, which only has 5,000 miles on the clock, is expected to fetch up to £70,000 at auction, although Lord Brocket is not the seller, with the cars having been previously sold to pay off debts.

Legendary former BBC golf commentator Alex Hay died just two days before the start of the Open Champiosnhip, at the age of 78, following a short illness.

Although a professional golfer for more than half a century, Hay was more widely known for his role as a television commentator.

He co-presented all the major golf tournaments with Peter Alliss, playing the Ernie Wise to Alliss’s Eric Morecambe for more than a quarter of a century.

Born in Edinburgh in 1933 and educated at Musselburgh Grammar School, Hay was a professional golfer until 1994. He joined Ben Sayers as an apprentice club maker, before becoming assistant to Bill Shankland at Potters Bar Golf Club Hertfordshire. He qualified as a PGA professional in 1952 and had spells at East

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Stoke by Nayland professional Jamie Moul claimed his first Challenge Tour title when closing out the Acaya Open in Italy with a stunning five-under par 65. The 26-year-old had a string of birdies on the back nine to shift the momentum in his direction and despite bogeying the 18th, finished one shot clear of Spaniard Jorge Campillo.

Campillo led for most of the day, but a double bogey at the par-five 16th proved costly. He needed to hole a 15-foot putt for birdie at the last to force a play-off, but missed, handing Moul the €25,600 winner’s cheque.

Moul started the final round two shots off the pace, but had an eagle at the par five first to crank up the pressure on Campillo.

He reached the turn in two under par, and picked up further shots at the tenth, 14th, 15th and 16th.

“I’m over the moon,” he said, following his breakthrough win. “It was a crazy day and I putted out of my boots. It’s the kind of thing you’ve got to do to win. The eagle on the first helped settle my nerves, and I made some good putts on the back nine. I wasn’t trying to see what was going on elsewhere, I just wanted to take care of what I was doing and thankfully I was able to finish it off.

He continued: “This now means I can schedule the back half of the season. I was category 11, so I wasn’t getting into many events. I was getting calls on Mondays and Tuesdays to go to events, but now I can plan it, so it makes a massive difference. I can also reassess my goals now. Obviously the rankings are in my head now, and a place in the top ten come the end of the season is certainly a realistic goal for me.”

Sand Martins smartens Sand Martins Golf Club in Berkshire has recently completed a £150,000 redesign of the par-three holes on its championship course. The Wokinghambased club employed the services of Alan Leather Associates to carry out the work on the five short holes – 3rd, 8th, 12th, 14th and 17th – with the brief being to improve their appearance and visual definition, and to give them more character.”

Architect Alan Leather said: “Sand Martins is a real gem, with an undulating and highly interesting layout. Although not a long course by modern standards, what it lacks in

length it more than makes up in the variety of holes.

“Unfortunately three of the par three holes lacked that level of interest, and although some changes had been made to them since originally constructed, they were not of the same quality as the rest of the course.

“The new design kept the overall green locations and broad shapes, but removed the poorly-positioned and sized bunkers, and reforming the mounding around the greens to shape the holes, with new smaller bunkers set in the slopes.”

Sand Martins’ managing director, PGA Professional

L to R: Andrew Hall, Managing Director, M Course Manager, Rob Gumbrell,Operatio

Andrew Hall, is delighted with the results, which have been well received by members and visitors

July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 29

ies on eve of Open

Herts, Dunham Forest and Ashridge golf clubs, before moving to Woburn in 1977 as head PGA professional.

He took on the role of managing director in 1986 and subsequently played an important part in Woburn’s development as a tournament venue, designing the Marquess course, which hosted the British Masters, and improving the club’s finances.

The author of seven books on the techniques of the swing, Hay also played a key role in the drawings used in the PGA’s training manual and was a Ryder Cup referee.

He started his commentating career with BBC TV in 1978 at The Open Championship, and continued in that role until 2004, when he had his contract terminated at the age of 71.

Though Hay made it clear that he had not chosen to retire, he remained philosophical: “The truth was the BBC want to go in a different direction, and I can’t complain about that.” he said at the time.

“When I started working for them 26 years ago, I would have been ecstatic to be handed a three-year contract. As it turned out, I lasted for longer than a quarter of a century and enjoyed every minute. From the letters I received, the

viewers enjoyed it too.”

Hay continued to play golf three or four times a week and, after leaving the BBC, devoted more time to pursuing his hobby of oil painting. He died on July 12, two days before the Open Champioship, with his family by his side, leaving behind a wife, Ann, and two sons, Graham and David.

Among the numerous tributes that were issued following his death, PGA chief executive Sandy Jones described Hay as one of the game’s great characters. He said: “He was passionate about golf and Scotland and loved talking about the early days at Musselburgh He attended our lunch last December, and I am so pleased we were able to present him with his Lifetime Achievement Award. He often said he was indebted to golf, but I think golf was indebted to Alex Hay.”

Girl Power on the greens We have always had Mel C down as the most likely ex-Spice Girl to show an interest in golf, given her ‘Sporty’ moniker, but then again, tracksuits and cropped vest tops have never been acceptable attire at most golf clubs I’ve ever played at. But it looks like the Ginger One, aka Geri Halliwell, has beaten them all too it, judging by a few risqué holidays snaps that leaked out to the press last month.

Displaying a flagrant disregard for traditional golfing dress codes, Geri shed her outerwear to free up her loose-limbed putting style while tackling a mini golf track in the grounds of the hotel where she was staying at in Sardinia.

The 38-year-old singer, and erstwhile United Nations ambassador, showed a deft touch with the flatstick. Her boyfriend, Henry Beckwith, resplendent in brand new Bermuda shorts, seems uniquely disinterested. Come on Henry, tell us what you want, what you really, really want to be doing instead!

s up its short holes

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alike. “The architects have done an excellent job, it’s as if the new par three holes have always been there.

The result are changes that make play more interesting and rewarding, and the definition added to the holes echoes the character of the rest of the course.”

Hall added: “This has been a real team effort.

Alan Leather involved the resident staff, both at pro and greenkeeping levels, as they are the ones most familiar with the course operation. This team involvement helped us to understand the issues more clearly, but also gave a good sense of ownership as to what is going on and helped the staff deal effectively with questions

raised by members.”

The investment in the new-look short holes is just one of many exciting changes planned for at the club in the coming months, with a £250,000 renovation of the 200-yearold clubhouse due to be completed by March of next year.

To make the club an even more attractive proposition for potential members, the club has suspended charging a joining fee for a limited six-month period, offering a saving of over £800 on a seven-day membership and £500 on a five-day ticket.

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30 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

US Open Champion Rory McIlroy reveals how he is dealing with the pressure of being labeled ‘the new Tiger’ and how he managed to turn around his major meltdown at Augusta into leading from the front at Congressional tournaments and not give anyone a chance to catch me. I wanted to push on and not make any mistakes.

Do you look forward to the day when Tiger is healthy and you can test yourself against him?

I’ve watched Tiger over the last 15 years and played countless tournaments in my head as a kid where I was him and I was trying to win ‘a major’. So it would be great to be able to get in contention one day, whether it be a Major or just a regular event, and go down the stretch with him, because I’ve never really had that experience before. Hopefully he can get healthy and can get back playing good golf, because the game is a better place with him playing well.

Rory McIlroy put the disaster at the Masters well behind him with a record-breasking victory at the US Open

How does if feel to be a major champion?

It has taken a little bit of time to sink in, but it’s a great feeling. After what happened at the Masters, it’s great to have got my first major out of the way.

How much of winning was joy and how much was relief, given how your career has been built up?

There’s been a lot of joy, and quite a bit of relief too. More joy, though.

Have you been surprised at all by the reaction to your win?

I didn’t quite realise how much of a fuss it would create, but it’s been a real buzz. I’m not sure anything can prepare you for it. The support that I’ve had from people back home, from everyone from all over the world, has been pretty overwhelming.

It’s a very nice feeling to have that support walking onto the golf course.

Do you find yourself getting recognised more when you’re out and about?

Yeah, it’s quite hard to stay anonymous these days, but it’s not a bad thing. If that’s the worst thing I’m complaining about, then I’m doing something right.

How are you coping with all the extra interest from fans and from the public in general?

I’m the sort of person that likes to have people watching me play. I like to have a little bit of a buzz in the atmosphere around the group. I’m definitely enjoying the interest. It’s not the first

Stalking Tiger time that I’ve played in front of big crowds, so I’m pretty used to having large galleries follow me, and it’s something I enjoy.

Were you starting to feel a little bit of pressure as each Major went by?

Yes, definitely. After going close in a few last year, I felt like this year I had a better understanding of what it was going to take to win one, and coming back to Augusta, I felt like that was a great opportunity to get my first major. Obviously it didn’t quite work out there, so it was nice to come back straight after that disappointment and win the next one. To be able to call yourself a Major champion is always going to be special and hopefully, in the not so distant future, I’ll be able to call myself a multiple major champion.

At what point during the tournament did you feel like it was in the bag?

I think Saturday was a big day, playing in the last group and going out with the lead. To play such solid golf gave me a lot of confidence going into the final round. I felt like the course suited my game, and the conditions helped too. With my high ball flight and the soft greens, I was able to get close to some tight pins. When you hit the fairways like I was able to, you’re going to give yourself a lot of opportunities for birdies.

What does it mean to break all those US Open records?

I think the weather and course did me a few favours. If the course had been firm and hard, I don’t think anyone could have got to 16-under par. To have the lowest four-round total, the most amount of strokes under par, they’re all really nice records. It’s nice to have the lowest this and lowest that, but ultimately it’s only the victory that really matters.

Do you feel that the comparisons made between you and Tiger are a little premature?

When you win a Major early in your career, everyone is going to draw comparisons. It’s natural. Of course, it’s nice that people make comparisons, but at the end of the day I’ve won one major and two other tournaments.

Obviously I want to add to that tally, but you can’t let what other people think of you influence what you have to do. You have to just go out there, work hard, and believe in yourself.

During your winner’s speech you said that you were trying to emulate Tiger. What were you trying to emulate exactly?

Having watched him dominate the Masters in 1997, and at Pebble Beach and St Andrews in 2000, I was just trying to go out there with the same intensity that he had during those

After Augusta, a lot was written about possible mental scars. How were you able to get over them so quickly?

I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly. I was very honest with myself and I knew what I needed to do differently if I got myself in that position again. And luckily enough for me, I was able to get in that position the major right after. To be able to finish it off the way I did, tells me that I learned from Augusta, and I’ve moved on.

Your caddie, JP Fitzgerald, came in for a bit of flack over what happened at Augusta. How did your relationship play out at the US Open?

One of the other things that I learned from Augusta is that I didn’t speak to JP enough over that last day. I feel like even if it’s not about golf, having a conversation about something completely different is probably the best thing for me, because it takes my mind off it and it takes me getting too involved in what I’m doing. And it’s nice to have that. So that was a huge thing for me that I learned at Augusta. I need to keep talking to JP and just have conversations going down the fairways. And it seemed to work out for me this week.

What words of advice did Jack Nicklaus have for you?

Jack’s very, very big on not making mistakes. And one of my big goals was to go out there and not to have a blemish on my card. I ended up making two bogeys. It’s nice, you sit down with the most successful player that’s ever lived and for him to say that he expects big things from you, that you should embrace the pressure, those are great things to hear from someone like him. To be able to come out after what he said to me, and put a little bit of that into practice is a nice feeling. I feel as if I have a good relationship with Jack. His little bit of advice along the way has definitely helped me.

July 2011 / Issue 201

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Golfers are quite used to getting stuck on the M25 for a few hours as they travel to courses all over the South East, but one intrepid amateur is bidding to make it his home for an entire month, when he embarks on a full circuit of the maddening motorway in a bid to raise money for Cancer Research.

Trevor Sandford, from Maidstone in Kent, has set his sights on playing his way around the infamous London ring road, with the twist being that he will be coming off at each of the 31 junctions to play a nearby golf course.

Trevor hopes that the challenge, which, not surprisingly, has never been done before, will help raise over £5,000. Each course has donated at least one tee time free of charge, while golfers joining him on the day will be asked to pay the standard green fee, with all donations also going directly to Cancer Research.

Among the 31 courses on the list are The London Club (junction 3), Wildernesse (junction 5), Walton Heath (junction 8), Foxhills (junction 11), The Grove (junction 19) and The Shire (junction 23).

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Trevor takes on M25 challenge TheSocialGolfer.com, 12-handicapper Trevor is asking fellow TSG members, and the wider public, to join him for a round at each junction. Every new golfer signing up to The Social Golfer to join Trevor will also have their £20 annual membership given to the charity.

Trevor will be writing a daily blog on the website, Tweeting, Facebooking, and recording his scores and stats throughout the epic journey, which begins at Mid Kent Golf Club on August 1, and ends at Orsett Golf Club in Essex on August 31.

“I know it’s a crazy idea, but that’s what is great about it, as no-one has done it before,” said Trevor, who is a member at Marriott Tudor

Park in Maidstone. “I’ve already persuaded most of my golfing buddies to give it a go, though they are mostly only doing a few days. The clubs have been kind enough to donate the tee times, and all the money raised from extra rounds will help towards my target. I’ll be running a sweepstake on the number of shots played, balls lost, miles walked, so people can contribute even if they can’t get to play.

Meanwhile, I am looking for advice from seasoned golfers about how I am going to play every day without getting completely knackered!”

All donations can be sent via www.justgiving.com/ monthofgolf2011.

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Disabled Open returns to ESN The Disabled British Open returns to East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa next month, with a capacity field of 72 players set to take on the Uckfield club’s West and East Courses. The pan-disablity amateur tournament, which takes place from August 11-12, offers golfers with a wide range of disabilities the opportunity to compete against each other according to their handicaps. The tournament also offers the elite golfers the opportunity to compete in a gross strokeplay tournament to become the Disabled British Open Champion of the year. For 2011, the tournament will also be joined by the inaugural Mark Smith Junior Disabled British Open, offering golfers between the ages of 12-18 the opportunity to compete against each other in tournament conditions. Last year’s main event was won by Littlestone’s Mark Smith with a score of 15 over par for 36 holes.

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EwenMurray

Sky Sport’s voice of golf speaks out on issues of the month

Darren silences the doubters A

s many of you may know, Darren Clarke and I have spent many hours together on golf courses across the world, as well as the banks of the River Test in Hampshire. Trying to make birdies on the former, and catch fish on the latter, but both with varying level of success. I have never believed he needed a coach, such is his natural ability to strike the ball with precision and power, but I was happy to add my thoughts whenever he came knocking.

Darren and I have often talked about whether he still had it in him to win a major, and although his chances were obviously getting slimmer as the years went by, he never lost focus, and I never lost the belief that his astonishing ability to deliver a club to the ball would turn that dream into reality before his career came to an end.

As you can imagine, Sunday afternoon at St George’s was an emotional few hours for me. So many of the times we have spent together have been tinged with sadness, so this was a time to rejoice and celebrate.

After opening up with two solid rounds of 68, Darren moved into contention for the weekend, arriving under the radar like the stealth bomber. Saturday was a day when shots had to be manufactured, and where imagination and feel was everything – all of which played to Darren’s strengths. His one-under par round of 69 was a masterclass of ball striking, his only disappointment being the fact that he left a few shots

Darren is such a natural talent that I never thought he needed a coach

out on the greens. Nevertheless, these 18 holes will go down as one of the great Open rounds.

The final round was fascinating to watch, and reminiscent of the famous charges that Jack Nicklaus produced back in the day.

Phil Mickelson’s front nine was a delight, and for once his stellar short game was matched by a disciplined long game. Darren’s start was assured, and with nine holes left, it seemed a two-horse race, as one by one they slipped away.

Of course, you need some fortune

Rory’s day of reckoning Last month’s US Open will be remembered for many years to come, and for Rory McIlroy it’s the start of an exciting journey that will take him to the heights of the professional game and into the record books for the next two decades.

I have had the privilege of watching some wonderful golf over the past 20 years, but Rory’s destruction of one of America’s most revered courses puts his achievement at the top of my list. I have never seen a more comprehensive display of sustained excellence than his performance in Washington.

After his collapse at Augusta, he said to me: “I didn’t half mess that up”.

Yes, he did, but that’s all he did. No great surprise, he is 22 years of age.

I cringed when some who should know better said he may never

avoid ‘doing a Bjorn’. Here was a true professional playing like a true professional. A bogey at the last was no matter. The job had been done.

With a major finally in his trophy cabinet, another might come along, although hopefully we don’t have to wait for another 20 years!

Darren’s achievement aside, this was a classic Open, with great stories emerging from every angle.

From young Tom Lewis’s stunning 65 on the opening day, to Thomas Bjorn’s redemption from the trials of 2003, and the magnificent display from another Tom, the ageless Tom Watson, whose hole-in-one at the sixth on Friday almost shock the stands behind the tee off its moorings.

The weather was barely the same for ten minutes. The wind blew, the sun shone, and the rain came down lightly, then in torrents.

All of these ingredients combine to make links championships the way they are meant to be – testing every element of your game and your mental powers.

Along with a traditional links course set up in superb fashion, the 140th Open Championship was memorable for all the right reasons. The four majors are all so different from one another, and therein lies their attraction.

recover. What nonsense. There were calls for him to sack his caddie.

More nonsense. His relationship with JP Fitzgerald goes far deeper than the role of caddie. He is one of his closest friends, like Jim McKay is to Phil Mickelson, like Steve Williams is to Tiger Woods. JP was a former West of Ireland champion, a more than decent player and yes, caddies and players do get it wrong from time to time, but a close friendship on the course under pressure is like having a 15th club.

Now that he has tucked away his first major, Augusta becomes the strongest foundation he could have to build what I’m sure will be an illustrious career. The reason for that is the way he handled the meltdown in Georgia. No excuses, just a bloody awful day. Golf is like that. Rory would have had a good look at what

to go your way and at 4.10pm on Sunday, Darren got the break that all major champions need. His ball somehow skipped over the bunker at the 9th, and ten seconds later, the resurgent Mickelson missed from two feet at the 11th. That opened the door and Darren marched through it with the confidence of someone who had a date with destiny.

The last few holes were nothing more than a lesson in course management, with Darren staying avoiding the bunkers and playing to the safe areas of the greens to

Rory’s four rounds at Congressional were the best I’ve seen at a major

went wrong and what he could do to make sure it would not happen again. He learned quickly.

He talked to Jack Nicklaus and picked the brains of top putting coach, Dave Stockton. He took a trip to Haiti and witnessed some people a lot less fortunate than himself, which put that last day at Augusta

into perspective.

I will never forget that final round at Congressional. It was one of the most emotional days I’ve experienced in golf. Having a big lead is a hard thing to deal with.

The pressure was that he was expected to go ahead and win. He had everything to lose, especially

with the Masters so fresh in everyone’s mind. From moment he birdied the first hole any doubts disappeared. This was Rory’s time.

As the round progressed, I tried to picture the scene back at his home club in Holywood, as well as the fine golfing resort of Loch Erne in Enniskillen, to which Rory is attached. I imagined the TV on in the bars and a full house cheering his every shot.

The picture I subsequently saw in the newspapers were just as I envisaged – families gathered around the tables with smiles on their faces as young Rors split the fairways and peppered the pins.

Ireland is golf through and through, and for a small nation they have produced a host of wonderful golfers, many of them enjoying their finest moments in the Ryder Cup. As Rory walked from the top of the hill to the green at the last, I imagined the members on their feet clapping as if they were taking the walk with him. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

To Rory, you were magnificent, and it was an honour to be at Congressional to witness the best four rounds ever played in a major.

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July 2011 / Issue 201

EASY LIVING

July 2011 / Issue 201

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Despite having an impressive portfolio of businesses and numerous charitable interests, two-time major winner Ernie Els is not ready to give up the day job just yet. Words by Steve Newell Ernie Els will be 42 years old this autumn. It’s hard to believe, but he’s been on tour for 22 years now, and he’d be the first to say that the time has gone by in a flash. He has 68 professional career wins to his name, including three major championships and two World Golf Championships.

Oh, and don’t forget the seven World Matchplay Championships at his beloved Wentworth. Ernie is not the type to shout about it, but hey, the boy from South Africa has done pretty good for himself.

The World Golf Hall of Fame panel obviously thought so too, because Els was voted in at the first time of asking last year. And so it was that at the induction ceremony in May this year, he proudly stood up in front of family, close friends, and an all-star audience, and tried to sum up in 10 minutes what it has all meant to him, a task probably somewhat more taxing than hitting a 2-iron off a bare lie into a raised green.

“From a young age my dream was always to win majors and to try to do what Gary Player did, win the Grand Slam and win a bunch of golf tournaments,” says Els. “I guess I haven’t quite matched the achievements of Gary, but I feel like I’ve won my share of tournaments, and I’ve become a global golfer, as Gary has been all his life. You don’t get inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame without doing something to catch people’s attention and I’m proud of what I’ve done in my career. And I was proud to have my family and close friends at the ceremony to share this with me.”

Honours such as this are by their very nature often conferred on sports stars and celebrities when they are – how delicately can one put this – at a stage in their careers when the leaves have mostly fallen off the tree. Not so with Ernie. “I’m still chasing the Grand Slam,” he says. “That’s what drives me.”

Els gets asked about retirement all the time. “It’s honestly not something I’m thinking about,” he replies.

“Obviously if I’d taken another path early in my life and chosen a sport such as tennis or cricket, I’d be considered a bit of a relic by now. But golfers, we’re lucky. I feel physically in great shape, and I’ve got plenty left in the tank. I’d like to hit it a bit longer, but I’m long enough. And I have the benefit of experience and I feel like I still have the game to win tournaments and majors.”

Els has always said that a full-time career on the Seniors Tour has no appeal, so when the time does come when he calls it a day, he’ll have everything lined up in the commercial sense. Els’s dad is a successful businessman, and the youngest son is definitely a chip off the old block, showing considerable savvy in establishing his off-course interests in a period when he has the highest possible profile in the game.

Els dipped his toe into the waters of golf course design initially in partnership with Jack Nicklaus, but soon struck out on his own and founded Ernie Els Design. The

company can look back with pride on its first decade as a standalone practice, with award winning courses such as The Els Club Dubai, Oubaai in South Africa, Hoakalei in Hawaii and Anahita in Mauritius peppering a portfolio that has successfully made its mark in established and emerging golf markets. Giving a nip and a tuck to the iconic West Course at Wentworth shows a talent and capacity for renovation work, too.

win many plaudits at Ernie Els Wines, the vineyard based at Stellenbosch in South Africa. This vision was a long time in maturing, and it has taken more than a decade to get the point where the company has a portfolio of six red wines across various price points and drinking styles, from the sublime signature Ernie Els to the easy drinking, big on value, Big Easy vintage.

Els loves his wine – his favourite meal is a nice steak with a glass of red – so it is

“I feel like I still have the game to win. I’m still chasing the Grand Slam. That’s what drives me” “It’s something I’ve always been passionate about,” says Els. “To be honest, I don’t think there’s a professional golfer out here who isn’t interested in golf course design. We spend our lives travelling around, playing the best courses in the world.

It’s in our blood, whether we choose to express that or not. For me, it’s a privilege to be able to do this and it’s something that I take seriously. These golf courses will be here long after I’ve gone; they’re part of my legacy. I want to do it 100 per cent to the best of my ability, otherwise I don’t want to do it at all. I’m like that with everything.”

It’s a philosophy that has helped

probably no great burden to be involved in the tastings, as he always is. “I think it’s important that Ernie Els Wines produces wines that I like personally,” he says.

The industry shares his enthusiasm for the product, as does the fast increasing number of consumers literally popping their corks with delight!

However, charitable endeavour could one day be regarded as Ernie’s greatest legacy. The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, which last year celebrated its 10th anniversary, provides educational and golfing opportunities for kids in need in South Africa. Already the foundation has produced a major winner in Louis Oosthuizen, who was

one of its first members and the captain of the golf team, while this year’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel also used to travel with the team. The programme is a huge triumph, not just for future stars, but for kids who gain a proper education and can go on to lead fulfilling lives as successful adults.

“That’s big,” says Els. “To set a child on a path to success is a great achievement.

It really means something.”

More recently, Els and wife Liezl set up the Els for Autism Foundation, a mission initiated by the shared experiences of bringing up their own son Ben, who is affected quite severely by the condition. The couple is currently engaged in a capital campaign to raise more than $30 million to fund The Els Centre of Excellence in Florida, the first of its kind in the world, offering an onsite education facility, medical and professional services, research, and transition to adulthood. It will also focus on a global digital learning platform that will give children on the spectrum around the world access to best practices in education and therapy. The Elses have already put in more than $6 million of their own money, and fundraising activities such as the Els for Autism Pro Am and Els for Autism Golf Challenge are swelling the coffers at a rapid rate.

“Ben has had it pretty tough,” says Els. “But he makes me smile and laugh every day. He’s taught me to just get on with life. Don’t complain. Live your life.”

A devoted family man, Els has set up a charitable foundation to help children with autism, a condition that his son Ben has been diagnosed with

36 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Take the guesswork out of your distanc the job, says Cleveland/Srixon PGA Prof

E T A M I T L U E TH E C N A M R O F R UR PE

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PONSIV R ATION, RES E L E C C A Y, R SPIN, TRA JECTO

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Graeme ‘G-Mac’

McDowell

PIECE

4

PIECE

3

Take a look at the best golfers around the world, and you will notice that they all have different strengths. But there is one skill that they all have in common, and that is consistent distance control with short irons and wedges.

Getting these shots close to the flag at critical moments is key to shooting lower scores and, as is the case when trying to hit it long and straight, there are some various fundamentals that must be followed.

Success with the short clubs is reliant upon two main factors: strong technique and well thoughtout equipment.

The technical side of using short irons is based around a strong set up in which there are some fundamental basics that must be followed. A common mistake with amateurs

Mind the when it comes to using lofted clubs is the subconscious belief that they must ‘scoop’ the ball up in the air.

Doing this carries potentially disastrous consequences, and can be avoided through achieving the correct ball position and the correct weight distribution.

The ball position when using any club from an eight iron through to lob wedge should always be

positioned in the centre of a stance opposite the sternum. What this automatically encourages is a descending blow to the ball, ensuring that shots are not hit fat and that the loft of the club is used to get the ball up in the air.

With the ball position in the middle of the stance, the weight will naturally shift forward to the front foot, encouraging a slightly lower trajectory.

ALSO AVAILABLE IN TOUR YELLOW

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The ball should always be in the centre of a stance when using short irons.

Keep the sternum o backswing to avoid

To find your nearest Cleveland Golf Demo Day or Tour Truck event, v Upcoming demo days are at Shirley Park Golf Club in Croydon on Au To book a custom fitting at the Cleveland/Srixon Centre of Excellen

July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 37

ce control by having the right tools for fessional Ben Clayton

the gaps

over the ball during the d scooping it up in the air.

the lofts of the clubs lack equality.

A pitching wedge typically carries 45 degrees of loft, yet many golfers insist on having their sand wedge with 5456 degrees of loft.

Considering that the difference between the loft of each iron is typically four degrees, this massive gap in loft makes no sense, especially when wedge play is the area of golf that distance control is most critical.

To help solve this problem players on tour have started to ensure that their wedges and short irons are all spaced out evenly in terms of loft. A nine iron has 42 degrees, with a pitching wedge carrying 46 degrees. Therefore the next wedge should carry 50 degrees, with the sand wedge having 54 degrees.

By spacing the lofts out evenly, golfers can make the same swing with each wedge knowing that they will travel the logical distance, meaning that the same swing with a nine iron will go around ten yards further than a pitching wedge.

Combine this with a solid technique and scores will start to tumble.

ONE WEDGE IS A START, TWO IS BETTER, BUT THREE IS A

SCORING SYSTEM

G-mac my LoFTs aRE 48째, 52째, 58째

Cleveland and the CG logo are registered trademarks of Cleveland Golf / Srixon, CG16 and Zip Grooves are trademarks of Cleveland Golf/Srixon

With this comes more control in terms of spin, therefore taking out the risk of the ball ballooning up into the air and out of control.

During the swing, the feeling must be that the sternum stays over the ball. This will go further to ensure that the ball is compressed rather than scooped up in the air, and will help with the consistency of the strike on the ball.

But all of this strong technique can prove pointless if the equipment is wrong.

Amateurs naturally assume that a pitching wedge goes ten yards further than a sand wedge, however this will not be the case should the gaps between

TO FIND OUT WHAT WEDGES YOU SHOULD PLAY, GO TO YOUr LOcAL PrO SHOP AND Try to compress the ball at impact and let the loft of the club do the work.

visit http://clevelandgolf.com/UK_demodays_uk.html. ugust 18, and Camberley Heath Golf Club in Surrey on September 4th. nce, call 07747 533959 or email customfit@srixoncleveland.co.uk.

TELL THEm G-mac sEnT you! www.clevelandgolf.com

38 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Got The Vibe RRP: £55 Contact: www.davehicksputting.com Despite its rather silly name, Got the Vibe is the golfing gadget you never thought you needed, but once tested, wondered how you lived without. OK, it’s not quite as vital as water, sleep or sunlight, but it will certainly create a noticeable difference to the feel and consistency of the putting stroke of golfers who look for small margins to create big differences to their results.

Developed by putting guru Dave Hicks, ‘Got The Vibe’ is

Dunlop Tour Tp-11 Golf Range

a device that is inserted into the shaft of the putter and improves putting accuracy by reducing the vibrations in the putter head. This results in putts hit out of the toe or heel of the putter behaving in the same manner as if hit out of the centre, leading to consistently more accurate putting.

Taking less than five minutes to fit, the device, which is essentially a finely-engineered weight, is positioned in the shaft of the

putter close to the balance point, improving rhythm and resulting in enhanced feel and distance control.

Golfers can either have the Vibe fitted to their existing putter by a professional, or they buy an off-the-shelf model from Dave Hick’s range of custom-made putters, which retail for £158.

Bushnell Rangefinder/ GPS Hybrid RRP: £439 Contact: www.bushnell.com

RRP: £239.99

Bushnell’s latest launch combines a line-of-sight laser rangefinder with the power GPS technology to create a hybrid device that is accurate to within one yard, but also comes with 20,000 courses already preloaded. The GPS part of the system means golfers can get distances to the front, middle and back of the green. They can also set up four custom points per hole – perfect for marking hazards and lay up positions.

Contact: www.dunlopsport.com New for 2011, the Tour TP 11 golf set is perfect set for anyone taking up the game for the first time. The set includes a driver, 3 wood, hybrid, seven irons (5-SW) and and putter and comes with its own stand bag, three headcovers and a rain hood.

The 10.5-degree driver features a MOI design, which helps to stabilise the head through impact, and is fitted with a regular flex Rapport graphite shaft to deliver a mid kick point and a penetrating ball flight. The hybird is designed to be effective from the tee, fairway or rough, while the irons feature a cavity flow system which places additional weight at the toe of long irons and on the heel of short irons to minimise the effect of off-centre hits.

The putter is a traditional heel and toe design which is a favourite with golfers due to its clean looks and great performance.

Ping Collection Icon Belt RRP: £36 Contact: www.pingcollection.co.uk No self-respecting golfer should ‘trouser up’ without a statement belt holding up proceedings, so Ping Collection’s new Icon range of classic and colourful belts is a smart choice for anyone looking to support their favourite equipment brand. Available in vibrant shades, including electric blue and lime to traditional black, they are made from 100% leather and feature a PING logo buckle with leather insert. Nice.

Footjoy DryJoys Tour MyJoys RRP: £140 Contact: www.footjoy.co.uk FootJoy has added the new DryJoys Tour shoe to its popular MyJoys customisation programme. Worn by many pros, including Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, the DryJoys Tour has been built to exceed the demands of the Tour professional, and features Tri-Density TPU Stability PODS outsoles, while the uppers are made from premium leathers. Golfers can chose from over 30 saddle designs and a myriad of colours, as well as options to include flags, initials and other logos. The whole design process is available online at FootJoy’s website (see above), where golfers can create their own MyJoys design.

Most orders take no more than three weeks before delivery.

July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 39

Benross Gold Legend set RRP: Driver £129.99, fairways £79.99/£69.99; irons £349.99.

Contact: www.benrossgolf.com Benross has launched the follow up to its existing Seniors range with the new Gold Legend clubs, designed specifically for the older golfer. By engineering a new dual crown in the head, Benross tech wizards have been able to position the centre of gravity even further back, which means a higher ball launch and improved distance too. There’s also good news if you suffer with a slice – the driver has been designed with offset, making it easier to square the face up at impact. The driver and the fairway woods also feature Sole Tuning cartridges, which help to boost forgiveness and also enable the golfer to get enhanced feedback through sound. There are also hybrids and irons in the range, all designed to be ultra-forgiving with easy-to-launch characteristics.

Incredisocks RRP: £10.75 per pair Contact: 0207 7201441 for stockists

iPING putting trainer RRP: £25 cradle, app free to download Contact: www.pinggolf.com

Taylormade Ghost Spider Putter

RRP: £149 Contact: www.taylormadegolf.com What do you get when you cross a Ghost with a Spider? A haunted house? Perhaps, but you also get the new TaylorMade Spider Ghost putter, which has recently been spotted in the hands of Retief Goosen, Jason Day, Paul Goydos and Scott McCarron.

Following on from the successful launch of the Corza Ghost putter last year, the Ghost Spider features an eye-catching white head, but also boasts the same high MOI characteristics that the original Monza Spider possessed, making it extremely stable and easy to square the face at address for accurate putts.

The steel wire frame construction concentrates the weight into the perimeter, while Bold alignment aids make lining up the ball to the hole that much easier.

Movable Weight Technology allows the head to be customised for optimum feel, while a Pure Roll insert is designed to get the ball rolling smoothly with forward spin.

PGA Professional Carl Watts writes: Ping’s new iPing putter app uses the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer and gyroscope to create a tool that can measure the efficacy of your putting stroke.

Comprising a cradle that attaches the phone to the shaft of the putter, iPing identifies a player’s stroke type (straight or curved), analyses impact angles and measures tempo. After a series of putts, the app records consistency in each area and establishes a ‘putting handicap’, which gets lower as the player improves consistency. Players can compare their results with previous sessions, or they can do comparisons with several Ping tour pros, whose results are pre-loaded into the app.

As a former Tour player, I know my putting basics are good, yet I have always struggled to assess what was happening within the stroke. After a few minutes reading the instructions and watching the ‘how to use’ video clip I tried the iPING on myself.

The first step was to test my stroke using the MEASURE mode, which involves hitting five putts from 10 feet. The resulting data revealed my Stroke Type (slight arc), my Impact Angle (1.1 degree closed) and my tempo (consistent).

After assessing the data, I spent five minutes working on my stroke in practice mode. It quickly became apparent that my putter face was closed in the takeaway, meaning the problem started as soon as I took the putter away. It took five minutes to create a consistently square clubface, and those putts that I habitually missed left started to find the bottom of the cup. It was nothing short of a revelation. I also used the iPing on a couple of my pupils, both of whom had strong arcs and open clubface positions at impact. The data made a real difference to their ability and willingness to make a change, and brought about instant improvements. iPING app will now be a part of the tools I use to improve players’ putting techniques.

Free to download from iTunes, iPing works with the iPhone 4 and the fourth generation iPod touch.

If you think a pair of socks is just a pair of socks, then think again. Athletic sock design has moved on in leaps and bounds, if you’ll pardon the pun (OK, I didn’t think you would) in recent years, with sports-specific socks widely available. Incredisocks have a unique 3-D weave design that provides high levels of cushioning, as well as containing thermo-regulatory properties.

Research has shown them to increase circulation, which reduces swelling and pain, while the bamboo charcoal from which the socks are made contains anti-microbial fibres that kill nasty niffs and release negative ions into the feet to relieve fatigue.

Royal Albartross Mooka Shoes RRP: £1,000 Contact: www.albartross.com If you’re a fan of handmade Italian leather shoes, and have a wallet to match the size of your ego, then these spats, which have been handcrafted for more than 70 painstaking hours using traditional methods, might be right up your street. Limited to just 20 pairs, the Mooka features water-resistant leather uppers with a unique cow hide trim that is made from the hair of Nguni cattle from South Africa, one of the most highly-prized cattle breeds in the world.On the inside, the soft calf leather linings and extra collar padding are free of any stitching.

Each pair comes with a goldplated magnetic ball marker, a free golf lesson with Kristian Baker, the head coach at The Wentworth Club, while a donation of £200 will be given to the Bobs for Good Foundation, which provides school shoes for under-privileged children in South Africa.

40 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

1

Puma Golf

2

Adidas ForMotion

3

Dunning Pique

RRP: £35 Contact: pumagolf.com

RRP: £44.99 Contact: www.adidas.com

RRP: £55 Contact: www.trendygolf.com

The Performance polo is made from 100% poylester, making it lightweight and breathable. It also features HeIQ technology, which has antibacterial qualities to keep you smelling sweet and looking good.

Made from 100% polyester featuring CoolMax technology, underarm mesh panels, shaped sleeved with three stripes, Available in five contrast colours.

Made from 100% polyester, featuring breathable and antimicrobial properties. Slim Fit, with contrast colour placket and cuff detail and embroidered Tour logo on left sleeve.

4

Ping Oxygenate

5

RRP: £40 Contact: www.pingcollection.com

RRP: £55 Contact: www.jlindeberg.com

Made from 100% polyester, featuring Moisture Movement technology for quick-drying properties. Available in Black/White, White/Blaze Red, Black/ Amethyst in M-XL.

Slim-fitting pique polo made from 100% cotton, featuring two-button placket with small JL logo on left chest. Available in beige, blueberry, green, indigo, red and royal blue in S-XL.

4 5

3

Piqué

2

J Lindeberg Rubi

6

Performance

1 6

Freshen up your summer wardrobe with a stylish new high-functioning polo

Nike Aerographics

7

8

RRP: £50 Contact: www.nikegolfeurope.com

FootJoy ProDry

61% Pima Cotton / 39% Polyester with two button placket shirt with contrast collar, sleeve hem and large Ralph Lauren Pony logo. S,M L, XL.

9

9

RRP: £45 Contact: www.footjoy.co.uk

10

Exclusive ProDry fabric wicks away moisture and provides excellent UV protection, while 360 stretch material provides total freedom of movement for free swinging.

Available in black, lime, white, red, and brown with contrast sleeve pattern in S-XXL.

10

Galvin Green

VENTIL8 fabric transports moisture away from the body twice as quickly as a conventional polyester polo. Available in five colours, M-XXL.

Split Panel

DryLite moisture wicking fabric technology keeps you cool when the heat is on, while dynamic function cut patterning provides swing specific freedom of movement.

11

Mizuno DryLite

RRP: £40 Contact: www.mizunoeurope.com

11

Mapping

RRP: £79 Contact: www.galvingreen.com

Ralph Lauren LP

RRP: £89 Contact: www.trendygolf.com

Polyester (83%) and rayon (17%) combine to make this polo lightweight and breathable, with increased ventilation from Aerographics pattern on back, underarm and sides.

8

7

Lyle & Scott

Collar Stripe

RRP: £38.50 Contact: www.trendygolf.com Made from 50:50 cotton/polyester mix, with moisturewicking properties. Vibrant contrast strip on collar, one button pop placket opening. Green Eagle logo on left chest. Sizes M-XXL.

42 /

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43

SEE PAGE 8 FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Situated within striking distance of the popular coastal resorts of Poole and Bournemouth, The Dorset Golf & Country Club offers two quality golf courses and superb on-site accommodation, making it the ideal destination for anybody who fancies a ‘stay and play’ break this summer.

The resort has recently completed the development of another £500,000 luxury Scandinavian-style log homes to keep up with demand from golfers wanting short break holidays, to take its stock of properties to 12.

The houses, which have received a Visit Britain Gold Award to go with their fivestar status, are made entirely from trees grown in the Nordic forests of Finland, and combine simplicity with luxury.

Available to rent from two days to four weeks, each house sleeps up to eight people and features a fully-fitted kitchen, wood burning stoves, saunas, verandahs, and golf trolley sheds. The houses are set in a 300 acres of quiet glade surrounded by fir trees and over 75 acres of private woodlands a nature trails.

For smaller groups and onenight stays, The Dorset Golf Hotel, located opposite the clubhouse, offers 16 twin rooms, all of which have ensuite facilities.

The club also offers two excellent golf courses, with The Lakeland, which was designed by the renowned architect Martin Hawtree, on record as being the longest in Dorset. It measures over 7,000 yards off the championship tees, but that is reduced to a more manageable 6,580 yards off the whites.

Among the notable features of the course are a series of connected waster features and lots of strategically-placed bunkers. With generous fairways and

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undulating greens, The Lakeland is an excellent test of golf and will have players of all abilities scratching their heads trying to work out the best way to score well.

The nine hole, par 66 Woodland Course is shorter – being just 5,032 yards long – but is equally demanding.

Accuracy in driving is essential if you

want to play anywhere near your handicap as the fairways are lined with rhododendrons and tall trees.

After golf, guests can enjoy the superb clubhouse, which has a fully air-conditioned restaurant, which offers lovely views over the Purbeck Hills and a large patio area for alfresco eating.

The resort also boasts two coarse fishing lakes, fully stocked with carp, roach, tench, rudd and perch.

‘Stay and Play’ packages start from £64.50 pp/pn, based on four people sharing a house (minimum stay two nights), with dinner, breakfast and all golf included. Three-night packages, with three rounds of golf, cost from £189.95 per person.

For bookings call 01929 472244 or visit www.dorsetgolfresort.com.

The Ridge Golf Club, Chartway Street, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent ME17 3JB

Play where the stars have played

Serious golf on the Scilly Isles

From e30 (£27)

1996-2009

Staycation golfers looking for a break with a difference this summer should consider taking a short hop on a helicopter to play a round or two on the Isles of Scilly, which boasts one of the remotest golf clubs in the UK.

Located 28 miles off the Cornish coast, The Isle of Scilly Golf Club is one of the only 9-hole links courses in the country. Founded in 1904, the course, which occupies the North East coastline of St Mary’s, was carved – largely

...Arras Golf Club Hotel & Golf Club Tenterden

l 18-Hole Championship Course Par 72 - 6692 yards l Societies and visitors welcome reservation advisable l Luxurious 3 stars Hotel 64 rooms and 4 suites l Cosy Clubhouse with Bar and Brasserie l Driving range and Practice facilities l Golf Shop l Buggy and Trolley Hire

special summer offer

Green fee & meal @ 50€ Includes main course, 1/4 wine or beer, coffee & dessert

l Easy access from Calais by motorway A26 (Calais/Reims)

of Arras (Pas de Calais)

Day 1

Day 2

Swing Health Check with Pro (1hr) l Breakfast l 9 Hole Playing l 18 Holes of Golf Lesson with the Pro l Full Unlimited use of Golf Facilities l 18 Holes of Golf l Full Use of our Luxury Spa l Full Use of Golf Facilities l 2-Course Dinner l Full Use of our Luxury Spa l Accommodation (up to 5pm) Variety of Spa Treatments available on request l

l Special rates for parties of 12 or more l Societies packages and Stay and Play packages on request

Arras Golf Club rue Briquet Taillandier, 62 223 Anzin Saint Aubin-France Tel: 00 33 3 21 50 24 24. email: golf@golf-arras.com www.golf-arras.com

Golf breaks with tuition

l 5 mins drive from the centre of historic town

For more information please contact us Tel: 00 33 3 21 50 24 24. Fax 00 33 3 21 50 29 71 email: golf@golf-arras.com or visit our website

www.golf-arras.com

Price £190 per person (based on 2 sharing) London Beach, Hotel Club & Spa, Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent. TN30 6HX. Tel: 01580 766279. Fax: 01580 763884. Email: offers@londonbeach.com

www.londonbeach.com

by hand – from clifftop scrub by local farmers.

The 5,942-yard course enjoys stunning sea views from every hole, while numerous gorse bushes put a focus on accurate driving and approach play. When conditions are benign the par 73 course is there for the taking, but when the wind blows, its exposed nature makes golf a hard test. The signature hole is the 109-yard 4th, which requires a wedge into a basin from a gorse-surrounded tee poised above the cliffs.

St Mary’s Hall Hotel has teamed up with the club to offer two rounds of golf and three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast, and return flights from Lands End, for just £529 per person (up until September 21).

An elegant and extensively refurbished townhouse, St Mary’s Hall Hotel Spirit Bar and Restaurant serves a range of local seafood, including crab and lobster, and rarebreed meat from the hotel owners’ own farm, while nongolfers can make use of the hotel’s spa treatment rooms.

The more adventurous can take one of the many boat trips that leave St Mary’s daily to the other Islands of St Agnes, St Martin’s, Tresco and Bryher, in addition to trips out to the Eastern Isles to see some of the islands’ marine wildlife.

For more information visit www.stmaryshallhotel. co.uk or call 01720 422316.

July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 43

Prince’s lodge fit for Kings!

The new luxury golf lodge at Prince’s Golf Club welcomed its first guests during the week of the Open Championship, offering the most closelylocated accommodation to the action at neighbouring Royal St George’s.

A number of high profile players made use of the facilities, which will be capable of hosting up to 48 guests when the complex is fully operational later this year. The Lodge, which is located by the 5th green at Prince’s and the 14th tee of Royal St George’s Golf Club, is separated into 12 individual apartments, with each featuring two bedrooms, capable of sleeping up to four people, plus en-suite bathroom

Just awarded British Tourist Board Gold Award

facilities and a shared lounge.

Other facilities will include a restaurant, gym, snooker room, bar and terrace.

The Lodge offered a range of exclusive golf packages

Golfers under starters orders at Lingfield

Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club is the ideal venue those who like to mix their action on the turf, with golf and horseracing right on the doorstep.

The 116-room Marriott Hotel, which is operated under a franchise agreement with Arena Leisure Plc, is located on the home straight of the famous all-weather racecourse, offering superb views of the track and Lingfield Park’s 6,487-yard parkland course.

Visitor green fees are £40 for 18 holes, while golfers wishing to enjoy a complete sporting day can play the

course in the morning and then go racing in the afternoon for as little as £99 per four-ball.

For those looking to stay overnight, all the bedrooms feature flat screen televisions and mini fridges, while corner deluxe suites provide guests with stunning views over the racecourse. All residents have access to the Breathe Spa, which comprises an indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and fitness centre, as well as four treatment rooms.

For all the latest offers visit www.lingfield-racecourse. co.uk or call 01342 834 800.

to coincide with The Open Championship, but will also provide a stunning place to stay for golf groups of all sizes throughout the rest of the year.

Situated by the entrance of Prince’s Golf Club, The Lodge Apartments provide fantastic views of the 27-hole facility, Royal St George’s, and over Pegwell Bay to the white cliffs at Ramsgate.

John George, General Manager of Prince’s, venue of the 1932 Open Championship, said: “This is much more than just a place for visiting golfers to rest their heads after a day on the links. There will be a

Savour the links of North Wales If you’re want to enjoy some seriously rugged links golf, then you only need to head to the fabulous coast of North Wales to experience some of the best links in the world. With views of the sea from every tee, and eight holes played on the worldfamous ‘Point’, it is no wonder Nefyn often draws comparisons with Pebble Beach. With the holes bounded on one side by rocky outcrops and the sea, and on the other by a glorious stretch of sandy beach, it’s an awe-inspiring spot.

Porthmadog, situated a mile from Portmerion, offers an intriguing mix of heathland and links golf. Designed by James Braid, the gorse and undulating fairways create for a testing round. The back nine heads out to sea for a pure links challenge, with the 12th, which requires a carry over a narrow bay, being an obvious highlight.

With its magnificent setting beneath the brooding Harlech Castle, it’s n wonder Royal St David’s is one of the most photographed courses in the UK. Host of numerous top-class amateur events over the years, golfers will need to bring their complete game to score on this lengthy par 69.

Exclusive Golf Breaks has put together a package to enjoy all three courses while staying for two nights at the Royal Sportsman Hotel in Portmadog, with prices starting at just £225 per person. For more details call 01822 618181 or visit www.exclusivegolfbreaks.com.

spike bar, dining facilities, and we’ll also be able to cater for all manner of corporate events all year round. With its ideal location and stunning views of the surrounding golf course, The Lodge is a hugely important addition to one of England’s most historic golf clubs, and looks set to position Prince’s among the elite links courses in the UK.” Prices are £90 for single room £110 for a double/twin and £220 for a 2-bedroom apartment, with full English breakfast in the clubhouse included in the package.

For reservations and golf package details visit www.princesgolfclub.co.uk.

FREE GOLF Air-conditioned clubhouse facilities l Restaurant offering an extensive menu l On site accommodation in the Dorset Golf Hotel 16 twin rooms l From £55.95 pppn including Dinner, B&B and FREE GOLF l l

July & August Society Special Coffee & Bacon Baguette 18 Holes of Championship Golf l Lunch from the Menu l l

£30.00pp (min 4 players)

Telephone No: 01929 472244

FREE GOLF At The Ashbury Golf Hotel The UK’s Largest Golf Resort Set in over 600 acres of rolling Devon countryside in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, the Ashbury Golf Hotel boasts seven 18 hole golf course options plus extensive sports and leisure facilities - all free of charge to guests staying at the hotel. Guests may also take advantage of the sport, craft and leisure activities available to them at the Manor House Hotel.

Beeches 5th 385 yards, Par4

Ashbury 6th 410 yards, Par 4

Oakwood 16th 172 yards, Par 3

Kigbeare 8th 403 yards, Par 4

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Par 72 Par 72 Par 71 Par 69 Par 69 Par 67 Par 54

White 6528 6400 6140 5804 5765 5502 1939

Yellow 6126 6076 5854 5534 5400 5299 1939

Red 5334 5327 5211 4918 4826 4630 1939

In addition there are extensive practice facilities and a driving range.

Pines 4th 270 yards, Par 4

Forest 8th 442 yards, Par 4

Freephone: 0800 389 9892 www.ashburygolfresort.com

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July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 45

Nick Bayly takes a trip to the Western Algarve to play Onyira Palmares, a course whose name will be familiar, but whose layout has changed out of all recognition following a total redesign by Robert Trent Jones Jr

Keeping up with Mr Jones Almost unrecognisable from the course that stood there before, the new layout at Onyira Palmares promises to put the Western Algarve firmly back on the golfing map for UK visitors

Golf course architects are the unsung heroes of the golf industry, with their efforts, like those of greenkeepers, going largely unnoticed by the average club golfer, who is often more interested in the pace of play, the speed of service in the restaurant, and the coldness of their post-match pint, than they are with the name of ‘the idiot who put that stupid bunker on the 12th fairway’.

While tour pros have their name in lights whenever they’re called in to put their name to a course, the professional architects, those with lots of important-sounding qualifications after their names, slip through life largely unnoticed. Could you spot Pete Dye, Tom Doak or indeed Robert Trent Jones Junior in a line-up? Probably not, but these are the chaps who are building the great courses that will be around long after we’ve shuffled off to the great clubhouse in the sky.

The only reason why I recognised the aforementioned Mr Trent Jones Jr is that he walked up to me during our visit last month and said: “Hi, I’m Robert Trent Jones, nice to meet you”, before he jumped into a buggy in preparation for our round of golf to celebrate the official opening of Onyira Palmares, his latest creation that has set tongues wagging on Portugal’s Western Algarve.

Playing alongside the architect of a course, especially a new one, has its

Palmares Packages Green Fees: €95/€70 for 18 holes (high/low season). €155/€125 for 36 holes.

Three nights’ B&B accommodation at the five-star Cascade Resort in Lagos, car hire, and two rounds

of golf at Palmares, starts from €519 per person in low season.

The package also includes a €50 credit for food/drink in the hotel, 20% off spa treatments, a welcome drink on arrival, and a free wine

Robert Trent Jones has worked his magic at Oniyra Palmares

pros and cons. On the plus side, Robert was able to give advance warning on every bunker placement and hidden hazard, read the greens with unerring accuracy, and point the buggy in the right direction for the next hole.

On the downside, he also stood on every tee and offered up a lengthy speech on his design philosophy, as if he was Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount. I’m as interested in course design as the next man, but when you reach the 17th tee having been playing for over five-and-a-half hours in temperatures pushing 30 degrees, sometimes you just want to just hit the ball and see what happens, rather than be told to pick out a fast-moving yacht as your target, knowing full well you’re going to slice it.

That being said, it was a total

tasting session. A seven-night package, including three rounds at Palmares, starts from €1,135 per person for a double room. For more information visit www.cascade-resort.com.

Three night’s B&B at the four-star Tivoli Hotel in Lagos and three rounds at Palmares, including free transfers cost from €230 per person in low season, rising to €305 during peak season (July-August). For bookings, email reservations.htla@tivolihotels.com or call 00 351 282790079.

Monarch Airlines (www.monarch. co.uk) offers flights to Faro from Gatwick and Luton airports, with fares starting from £67 return.

honour to be in the presence of a man who dreams of bunker formations, paints pictures of crumpled fairway in his mind’s eye, and who sees a plot of scrubland as a blank canvas on which to work his art. Fortunately for RTJ Jnr, Palmares was slightly more than a blank piece of paper when he was asked to put his magic touch to it. In fact, it was quite the opposite, having existed as a perfectly nice golf course for over 40 years. ‘Nice’ was the word, but ‘exciting’ wasn’t another one, so RTJ was brought in by the owner, José Coelho, to literally ‘blow up’ the existing course, and start afresh.

Re-designing an old course is, I’m reliably informed, a much harder job than starting a new one, as it is often hard to see past what is already in front of you. But Jones is made of tougher stuff, and barring one or two sentimental things (like not being able to re-route the railway that intersects the course), he has torn up the Strokesaver and created Palmares Mark II without too many tears being shed about what came before.

Some five years after he first set eyes on the course, which occupies a stunning stretch of land just east of the coastal town of Lagos, we now have a 27-hole resort that looks set to reawaken interest in this quiet corner of Portugal, which has perhaps suffered from the obsession with playing the high profile courses around Vilamoura in recent years.

“This piece of land was meant to be a golf course,” says RTJ. “We have built something that people will want to play again, again and again. The changeable winds in this part of the world will ensure players will never be bored.“

Those players will be faced with three sets of nine holes – Alvor, Lagos and Paria. The Alvor, holes one to nine, takes golfers on a parkland journey, with the holes sloping upward and then dropping into a valley. Holes four to seven are really striking, with stunning views out over Lagos Bay. The nine holes of the Lagos marry parkland and heathland, incorporating the only two lakes on the course. A section of the course runs through sand dunes, and players are offered a range of options off the tee – as the hole can be attacked in different ways, both aggressive and conservative – and it highlights Trent Jones’ desire to make the golfer think at every turn.

The loop of nine that make up the Praia is stunning. There are four shore holes that take players through dunes and give a feeling of links golf. The par-five 20th whisks golfers into the true coastal links, while the par-three 26th that features a double green modeled on the 7th and 8th at St Andrews’ Old Course. The par-5 27th is also a stunning piece of architecture. Uphill yet reachable with a big tee shot, the hole rises back out of the dunes and through a deep valley to an amphitheatre below Onyria’s quaint clubhouse.

Its tough to replicate links courses out of their natural habitat, but Trent Jones feels Palmares has got pretty close. “This is St Andrews South,” he says boldly. “But it is better than Scotland, because you don’t have rain that goes sideways! We have tried to balance the course to ensure that each nine combined with any other nine will give you the same score if you are playing well and thinking well. It is like a symphony, and each of the nines has its own character.”

Although there is no on-site accommodation as yet, ground has been broken on the Onyria Palmares Hotel, a 172-room complex which will offer fine dining, a spa and leisure complex when it opens in 2013. In the meantime, the course is just 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of Lagos, which has a wide choice of hotels (see packages below), excellent restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

My only advice is to get down to Palmares before the word gets out.

And don’t ask RTJ II to show you around, unless you want to top up your tan in the process!

46 /

July 2011 / Issue 201

Mix golf and grape Golfers who are partial to the odd glass of wine will be chomping at the grape to book up a unique holiday package to the south east of France, where the award-winning Golf du Médoc Hotel and Spa has launched a special wine-tasting package for golfers. Enjoying a special association with the wine of the region, the hotel is offering a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what only wine professionals are usually privileged to witness, with its involvement with The Harvest Workshop of the Médocaines.

Every Monday for four weeks in late September to mid October, wine lovers will have the opportunity to take part in the vendage at one of the highly-respected Médoc vineyards, with a round of golf either side of a three-night stay at Golf du Médoc.

The day at the vineyard includes an introduction to grape tasting, taking part in harvesting and wine tasting. At midday, there is a tasting and a winegrower’s lunch, followed by a tour of the cellars, more information on the harvest and methods of wine making, tasting of the wine out of the vat and finishing off with a bottled wine tasting. Golf du Médoc Hotel& Spa Resort has put together a package that involves two rounds of golf on one or both of its championship courses.

The links–style Chateaux Course hosted the French Open in 1999 and also stages the French PGA Championship on an annual basis, while the Les Vignes Course offers a slightly gentler experience, but is nonetheless striking for its delightful design. Prices for the package start from €435 per person, including a full day at the Harvest, two green fees, bed and breakfast, with two people sharing a room for the three-night stay at the four-star resort. Golf du Médoc is a 30-minute drive from Bordeaux airport, which is easily accessible from many airports in the UK. For more details and bookings visit www.hotelgolfdumedoc.com.

Cyprus event proves an instant classic!

The 13th Cyprus Golf Classic once again proved a roaring success thanks, in large part, to the wonderful group of golfers who made the week both exciting and entertaining.

The week-long tournament began with a cocktail reception for all 70 guests hosted by the excellent Alexander the Great Beach

Hotel in Paphos.

The next day was a free day, followed by an evening dinner at a local Cypriot taverna, where the meze just kept on coming. It was the ideal start for everyone to get to know each other before the serious action began on the golf course the following day.

The golf began in earnest with a Texas Scramble team

event played at the wonderful Aphrodite Hills Golf Club Although many teams were in contention going down the last, it was Darren Child, Trevor Ray, Carrie Eccleshall and Fay Hill who merged the victors, with an impressive 59.1 points.

The second day featured a better ball team event played on the new Nick Faldodesigned Elea course.

With the six-time Major winner’s well-known love of bunkers, it was certainly a test, however it did not stop Mackay Duff and Brenda Neill – with a combined age of 154 – from running away with the trophy with an incredible score of 44 points.

After another relaxing day off, it was time for the singles, with one round to be played on each of the courses.

On the first day, Sheri Bowditch built up a five-shot lead with her 44 points, but she was unable to sustain the great golf on the first day and was outscored by the overall winner, Steve Critchell, who came storming through to win by five shots with a 74 points total from both days.

The winners were presented with their trophies at a cocktail reception made prior to the final gala evening, which offered a Cypriot night with a full buffet and as much wine as could be consumed.

The 14th CYPRUS GOLF CLASSIC takes place from April 26-May 3 2012.

For reservations, email tournament@exclusivegolf. co.uk, call 020 8660 9905 or please visit www. exclusivegolf.co.uk.

Drive for show at Dromoland Castle Enjoy a luxury golfing break in Ireland this summer with The Dromoland Collection and choose from championship golfing on the Ron Kirby-designed course at stately Dromoland Castle for a weekend fit for a king, or the inland links-style course at chic Castlemartyr Resort, which also boasts a world-class spa and wellness centre. Dromoland Castle, one of U2 frontman Bono’s preferred retreats, has long been a favourite of celebrities and royals, and will surprise guests with its exceptional course within the 410-acre resort. It’s also just a short drive to Ireland’s famed Lahinch golf course for a day out, which Phil Mickelson rates among his all-time favourite links layouts.

The Golfers’ Package at Dromoland Castle is valid throughout the summer, and includes overnight accommodation in a Queen Anne room, full Irish breakfast, a round of golf, buggy rental and dinner in the Fig Tree Restaurant within the resort’s Golf & Country Club for £205 per person, based on two sharing. To book call 0800 056 7434 or visit www.dromoland.ie.

Normandy Golf www.normandygolf.com

British company based in France, specialising in tailor made golfing breaks in Normandy and the whole of France, for Corporate entertaining, Golf societies or special family trips.

To suit every taste and budget For full details call Jonathan Lloyd

0800 0835 330 (Free service) France: 0033 2 32 97 1256

Holidays begin

with the perfect course Pack your clubs in the car and sail to over 80 uncrowded courses, and a selection of hand-picked hotels in France or northern Spain.

Carl Watts tuition holidays Golfers looking to take their game to the next level, while enjoying some late autumn sunshine, should consider booking up a tuitionbased golf holiday being hosted by former European Tour professional Car Watts.

Watts, who is the resident PGA-qualified teaching professional at Mannings Heath Golf Club in Sussex, has put together a schedule of week-long breaks that comprise intensive tuition, mixed in with fun competitions and events, which are suited to all levels of player,

from beginner to single figure handicapper.

Each trip is limited to just eight players, allowing plenty of time for one-onone coaching, as well as group-led activities.

The next trip is to Valle del Este in Spain, October 18-25, followed by Montecastillo from November 7-14, and Stella De Mare in Egypt, from November 29–December 6.

For a full schedule and package prices please call Carl on 07930 365866 or visit www.carlwattsgolf.co.uk.

Play this course: Dinard Golf Club, Brittany

Just a short drive from the port of St Malo, this fantastic links course offers outstanding views and challenging holes.

Why not try it for yourself with one of our great value Play and Stay packages, including your return sailings and hotel.

Golf’s best 2 for 1 membership

2 nights and 3 rounds from £266 per person* Call 0871 244 0665 or visit

brittanyferries.com/golf Huge savings on over 200 golf clubs

where holidays begin *Price based on 2 sharing, travelling in a standard car. New bookings only, subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

www.golfnews.co.uk/greensaver

July 2011 / Issue 201

/ 47

Me&MyTravels

In association with...

with Jonathan Davies – The former Wales fly-half surprisingly prefers the sunnier climates of Spain to that of his native Wales when it comes to golf holidays My first holiday was to…

Tenby in South Wales.

I always travel with… a good book.

My most recent holiday was to… Abu Dhabi last October.

The Emirates Palace

No matter where I am…

I try to enjoy myself.

My favourite golf course in the world is… Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

It’s magnificent.

My favourite golf resort is… the Marbella Club Resort in Spain.

Royal County Down

My ideal travelling golf partners are… the Jewellers.

We’re all mates who’ve been going away on golf trips annually for the past 13 years.

If you come last you have to wear the wig. I’ve won it and worn the wig with pride!

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My best ever round was at…

Cottrell Park near Cardiff, when I went round in three over par.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed at is… the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Wow, what a hotel!

My favourite city in the world is… London or Sydney.

I’m afraid I can’t choose between them.

My most memorable meal abroad was… at the Italian Village on the waterfront in Sydney.

I’m planning a trip to…

New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup in September.

Hopefully I should be able to get some golf in while I’m there, as the courses are stunning. Then it’s London, Dublin, Rome, Paris, Edinburgh and Cardiff for the Six Nations in 2012!

The thing I hate about travel is… airports.

The worst holiday I’ve ever had was… a skiing holiday in Courcheval. The whole family went down with a bug.

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