Golf Bnews May 2015

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8 PAGE ODYSSEY PULL-OUT DANNY WILLETT SARAH STIRK RICHARD BLAND US OPEN PREVIEW WIN A FREE GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIP

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Issue 232 | May 2015

Est 1994

FATHER FIGURE

How parenthood turned around Paul Casey’s form

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MAY 2015

8 PAGE ODYSSEY PULL-OUT DANNY WILLETT SARAH STIRK RICHARD BLAND US OPEN PREVIEW WIN A FREE GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIP

PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED

L

should venture out onto a full 18-hole course, rather than hack round a pitch and putt, but after a confidence-boosting trip to our local driving range to bring him up to speed with golfing life in the 21st century (‘What do you mean the ball tees itself up?’ ‘How come this driver is so light? ‘What is that woman doing here?’), he rediscovered his mojo sufficiently to take on the challenge of a 6,500yard course.

There were thrills and more than a few spills out on the course, but the upshot was that when we got home, he went online, and bought himself a new golf bag, a new driver, a new putter, and some new golf shoes. He also decided to get his son into golf, and after buying him a starter set he now takes him up to the driving range every Sunday. At the end of this month, he’s off on a golf holiday to La Manga with three mates.

Now, I’d be happy to take a small cut off the various golf businesses with which he has spent his money following his rediscovered love for the game, but I take my pleasure from having shepherded one lost golfing sheep back on the path to golfing redemption.

With all the doom and gloom surrounding declining memberships and lack of newcomers into the

game, it seems that we, as existing golfers, could do a lot more to swell our numbers.

While we all love to play on an empty course, the long-term effect of barren fairways is that these courses will be closed, which does nobody any favours. So my humble suggestion is that during this month of all months – May is National Golf Month in case you hadn’t noticed – why not invite someone you know that, for whatever reason, hasn’t played golf in ages, to have a game with you. If you’re a member, it could be at your club, or if not anywhere you fancy, but just give it a go. It might turn out to be a disaster, but also just might reignite someone’s interest in the game.

to hear that Sky Sports, which is sponsoring the return of the British Masters at Woburn this autumn, has given away over 15,000 free tickets for the first day’s play.

However, I was somewhat disappointed to learn that almost the entire ticket allocation was given to Sky subscribers. They, after all, are the converted, and probably the least likely to attend the tournament given that they can watch it from the comfort of their living room. Surely it would have been a golden opportunity to spread the word to a much wider audience, and give the bulk of the free tickets to local schools and colleges, so that youngsters might be inspired to take up the game, rather than appeal to a load SKY’S GOLDEN TICKETS of middle-aged football fans who Ticket prices are always a source occasionally flick onto the golf on of anger among sports fans in the Sunday night when there’s nothing UK, whatever game you’re into, much else on the box. whether it be football, cricket, Still, I can only applaud Sky for tennis, horseracing, rugby or investing in golf at a time when golf. At the elite level, watching so many other media outlets and international teams, top clubs sponsors are deserting it. Golf or players live is an expensive needs the oxygen of publicity, as business, especially when you well as live events, to keep it at factor in the costs of travel. the forefront of peoples’ minds, Given the rough ride that British so I strongly urge you all to get golf spectators have had over the yourself over to Woburn in October last few years, with the almost to watch the European Tour’s top complete absence of tournament players in action – even if you have shire-summer-golf-QP-GN-01:Layout 1 pocket.

12/3/15 golf to go and see, I was delighted to put your hand into your

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Est 1994

FATHER FIGURE

BY NICK BAYLY

ast year, I took my neighbour, a stressed-out city boy who works 16hour days, out for his first game ‘in ages’.

It had been so long since he last played that when he pulled his aged golf bag from out of the garage, I half expected to find a set of hickory-shafted blades, a box of foil-wrapped Dunlop 65s, and him wearing pair of kilties with metal spikes. Thankfully that wasn’t quite the case, but his irons could still be carbon dated back to the turn of the century, while his decrepit shoes were caked in the mud from his last round in the previous decade.

He took more than a little persuading that we

THE UK’S NO1 GOLF NEWSPAPER

Editor’sComment

Issue 232 | May 2015 Twitter @golfnewsmag Web golfnews.co.uk

[3]

How parenthood turned around Paul Casey’s form

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Golf News, The Studio, 14 Deanway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6DG Tel: 01273 556377 Email: info@golfnews.co.uk Website: www.golfnews.co.uk Follow us on: Twitter@golfnewsmag Managing Director Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk Editor Nick Bayly editor@golfnews.co.uk Production Kath Perry ads@golfnews.co.uk For Advertising enquiries please contact Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk Design www.yotedesign.com Photography Getty Images Kevin Murray Published by BlueGreen Media Regular Contributors Jeremy Ellwood, Sarah Stirk, Paul Mahoney, Clive Agran, Tom Lewis, Alistair Tait, Matt Ford. © Copyright Golf News 2015. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in anyway or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

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[4]

MAY 2015 | NEWS

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Windlesham proves up to the mark!

Windlesham Golf Club in Surrey has won the prestigious GolfMark Club of the Year award in recognition of the great work it does in getting more juniors and beginners into the game.

Windlesham’s success was recognised at the annual England Golf Awards conference and dinner, which this year was held at the Hinkley Island Hotel in Leicestershire.

The Bagshot-based venue pipped two other clubs to the top title, with Bristol & Clifton and Bedford & County sharing the runners-up place.

The award, which is sponsored

by Cobra Puma Golf, recognises

The management team at Windlesham with the GolfMark award

GolfMark clubs that have made an outstanding contribution to developing the game through a range of activities. GolfMark has just been updated to support clubs to achieve high standards in its four areas: recruitment and retention; management and sustainability; coaching and competitions; and safeguarding.

“Part of our vision is to continuously improve, and GolfMark is a key part of that,” said Stewart Judd, Windlesham’s general manager. “It has helped us put procedures in place, helped us grow our membership, and helped us develop as a sustainable business.”

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Ryder Cup captainn Paul McGinley presented the prizes to Windlesham’s junior scholars

He added: “Windlesham offers innovative packages for juniors and also sets out to attract adult beginners with flexible coaching and membership packages that welcome newcomers to the club. Initiatives include academy memberships, Tuesday coffee mornings for ladies, a structured programme for under-10s, school links, and a junior order of merit competition with a scholarship for the winner.”

One of the innovative elements of Windlesham’s junior programme is its junior scholarship scheme, which is funded directly by club members and helps young players with lessons and access to the courses and all the club’s superb practice facilities completely free of charge for two years. The club recently held its annual scholarship presentation ceremony, which was attended by former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who handed out the prizes on the day and brought along the Ryder Cup for everyone to have their picture taken with. The Division 1 winner was Ryan Morrison, with the runner up prize going to Sam Storey, while in Division 2, the winner was Sam Woodham, with the runner-up spot going to Ethan Millham.

GolfBoards land at The Grove Well-balanced golfers with a sense of adventure have the chance to try a new craze that has been sweeping across America, following the arrival of the first batch of GolfBoards in the UK. Described as a ‘four-wheel drive single person transport vehicle’, the GolfBoard is essentially an overgrown powered scooter that is offered as an alternative to getting around the course with a buggy or on foot.

Hailed as one of the best products at last year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Florida, they are now available for hire at several golf clubs in the South East, including three Hertfordfordshirebased venues – The Grove, Essendon and Cheshunt.

GolfBoards, which are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, can also be purchased directly from the

importers, Frasercorp Ltd, at a recommended retail of price of £3,249 plus VAT. To get moving, users simply step onto the board, take hold of the stability bar, and power up the motor using a thumb throttle control, while steering by shifting body weight as on a scooter. The all-important golf bag can sit on a bag mount, which is attached

Easy rider: Golfers can hire Golfboards at The Grove

to the stability handle or slung over the shoulder as when walking the course.

Anna Darnell, Director of Golf Operations at The Grove, which hires out GolfBoards, said: “We recently took delivery of a batch of GolfBoards and they have already proved very popular with players. They add a completely new element to the game, and let you experience a course in a way that you have never done before.

“They are great fun to use.

You get the feeling you’re surfboarding round the golf course and there is no doubt they help to speed up play. From a course standpoint, they are also beneficial because they cause considerably less compaction than a traditional cart.”

The 4WD GolfBoard can be recharged in two hours and can the board can be dismantled to fit into the boot of a car.

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NEWS IN BRIEF PRIOR FLIES HOME AT FAIRHAVEN

Surrey and England international Lizzie Prior pulled off an impressive wireto-wire victory in the girls’ championship at the weatherhit Fairhaven Trophies in Lancashire. The teenager from Burhill Golf Club fired rounds of 72, 75 and 73 in the rain-shortened event to win by three shots from Hollie Muse (West Lancs) and Scotland’s Shannon McWilliam.

The tournament was hit by heavy overnight rain after the second round and the final day’s play was reduced from 36 holes to 18.

ABLETT HITS TOP GEAR AT KNOLE

Lee-on-Solent’s James Ablett ran away with the Knole Park Pro-Am after shooting a fourunder-par 66 around the tight Sevenoaks course. His matchwinning round included an eagle and five birdies, saw him finish two shots clear of James Jones (Tonbridge), with Ally Mellor and Chris Gane sharing third.

COWDRAY HOSTS GOLF & POLO DAY

Cowdray Golf Club is hosting a day of golf and polo on July 15, when guests will be invited to play 18 holes of golf in the morning, followed by lunch and then watch the semi-finals of polo’s Gold Cup on the lawns at the Cowdray estate. The club is also hosting the Budweiser Pro-Am on July 2, with teams of three players costing £250. For tickets to either event, call 01730 813599 or email enquiries@ cowdraygolf.co.uk.

OLD THORNS MOUNT SEVENS TITLE DEFENCE

Old Thorns mounted a successful start to its defense of the Hampshire 7’s Trophy when winning their opening match, an away leg against Hayling, 4.5-2.5. With the seaside course playing tough, in dry and windy conditions, there were convincing wins for Rob Craig, Paul Martin, Andrew Dickinson and Chris Knowles, with Richard Williams earning an important half.

[6]

MAY 2015 | NEWS

British Masters set for sell-out at Woburn The opening day of the newly scheduled British Masters at Woburn this autumn has already sold out, as golf fans from across the South East make the most of a rare opportunity to watch the game’s top players in action on home soil.

The demand for tickets for the tournament was boosted by a 48-hour promotion run by tournament sponsor Sky Sports, which offered 15,000 free tickets to help celebrate the return of the British Masters to the European Tour’s schedule from October 8-11.

‘Sky Sports Thursday’ is one of a range of initiatives launched by Sky and the European Tour aimed at attracting a new audience to golf alongside established fans. As part of the promotion, Sky TV customers were also able to buy tickets at a discounted rate for the second, third and final rounds.

Ian Poulter, the 12-time European Tour winner and tournament host, said: “This is a brilliant idea and just proves how keen Sky Sports and the European Tour are in

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Ian Poulter is the tournament host for the revived British Masters

attempting to do something different with the British Masters. I’m sure it’s going to be a tremendous event, and the fact that the first day’s play will be free, means as many as possible can and cheer us on.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, added: “We’ve promised to do something different with the British Masters, so we’re delighted to partner with the European Tour and announce ‘Sky Sports Thursday’. As well as entertaining existing golf fans, we’re really keen to play our part in helping attract a new audience, and we hope a day of free golf will help do just that.”

Standard-priced tickets are also available to buy via the European Tour’s website at www.europeantour.com.

Botley Park makes way for housing development Botley Park Golf Club in Southampton is set to close later this month, after the land on which the club is located was sold to make way for 1,400 new homes.

Following the sale, Botley Park Golf Club’s owner, MacDonald Hotels, sent a letter out to its membership, terminating their playing rights from April 1.

The letter confirmed that contracts for the sale of the land had been exchanged and that the golf course would be closing, although the course may be available for a few more weeks for pay and play use only.

At its height, Botley Park had around 400 members, but since news of the golf course’s role in the Boorley Green housing development numbers have dwindled to around 250.

Eastleigh Borough Council chief executive Chris Tapp, who was a member at Botley Park for 23 years, said the club, which would have celebrated its 25th anniversary in July, had many members who had been coming for more than 20 years. “It was a friendly club and that little community is now broken up,” he said. “Botley Park was one of the bestconditioned courses in Hampshire – it

Boltey Park’s 18-hole course is to close later this year

Gatton Manor is under new ownership

One of the South East’s leading golf club operators is to give away 270 free junior golf memberships this month, as part of a campaign to increase participation among the younger generation.

Burhill Golf and Leisure, owner and operator of ten golf venues across the UK, is to give away 30 junior memberships at nine of its UK courses in May as part of National Golf Month. The initiative the memberships given away across seven of its golf centres – Abbey Hill, Birchwood Park, Hoebridge, Ramsdale Park, The Shropshire, Thornbury and Wycombe Heights – and two of its private clubs, Aldwickbury Park and Redbourn.

In addition to the free memberships, Burhill Golf Club will be giving away 30 places into its prestigious Junior Open in 2016. Held every year in April, the 36-hole Burhill Junior Open is a Surrey County Golf Union Junior Boys Order of Merit Event, as well as a Daily Telegraph Qualifying Competition.

Guy Riggott, operations director at BGL, commented: “Introducing youngsters to golf is extremely important to us here at BGL. The game teaches children many important life skills, younger generation is essential if the game is going to continue to grow. All of our golf schools have the national GolfMark accreditation, which means they are recognised beginner and junior-friendly facilities, while all of our PGA Professionals are CRB checked.”

DJ Nelson prepares to rock The Shire

was extremely well managed and a lovely place to play. It’s sad that era has come to an end, but once the planning permission was granted we all knew that sooner or later we’d have to look for somewhere else.”

A consortium of developers and landowners, including Macdonald Hotels, is behind the plans for Boorley Green, which was approved by Eastleigh Borough councillors in 2013.

A spokesperson for MacDonald Hotels said: “There is no firm closure date for the golf course yet, and it remains open to visiting golfers on a strictly pay-andplay basis.”

Members take control at Gatton Manor Gatton Manor Golf Club in Surrey is now being operated by its members, following the establishment of Gatton

Burhill group to give away junior memberships

Manor (Members) Golf Club Ltd. The Ockley-based club was sold to a Russian businessman in 2011, following 10 years of ownership by Patrick and Belinda Kiely.

The 166-acre venue offers an 18-hole course and an 18-bedroom hotel.

Green fee and society bookings, membership enquiries, and Open competitions are being managed by the club’s new golf manager, David Deering. For more information visit www. gattonmanorgolfclub.uk or call 01306 627555.

Golfers at The Shire in north London will be rocking to the sounds of award-winning DJ Trevor Nelson next month, after the renowned broadcaster agreed to host to a golf Trevor Nelson tournament in aid of male cancer charity Orchid.

The Trevor Nelson Swing event, which is to take place at the Potter Bar-based club on June 19, promises a wide range of sound-based entertainment, including a nightclub-themed gazebo, a mobile bar with its own DJ, and sound systems on the patio and practice range.

After golf, there will be a meal in the clubhouse with soul food and music, and Nelson himself will be giving out the prizes. “We’re having 2015’s coolest golf day, and we want to raise the maximum amount for Orchid,” said Nelson. “All proceeds are going directly to the charity, so we really want people to come along to The Shire, join me in having fun on the golf course, and relax afterwards.”

Teams of four cost £349, which includes breakfast and a two-course meal, and a gift pack including a signed copy of Nelson’s latest Sony album. For bookings, email golf@theshirelondon.com or call 020 84417649.

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MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Dainton Golf Keeps Blue Mountain Open

Blue Mountain remains open for play while planning permission is sought to build houses on the site

Blue Mountain Golf Course in Bracknell is to stay open until at least 2016, while its owner, Luff Farms Ltd, seeks planning permission to build up to 450 houses on the site.

The operation of the golf course and driving range at the Binfieldbased venue has been taken over by golf management company

Neil Dainton

Neil Dainton Golf Consultancy Ltd, whose owner, Neil Dainton, helped manage Blue Mountain when it was under the ownership of American Golf over a decade ago.

“Reports of Blue Mountain’s demise are premature,” said Mr Dainton. “My colleague Steve Coles and I ran it for 10 years, and we are absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to extend the life of this fantastic golf course for local golfers use.”

He added: “Furthermore, the driving range has been leased for a minimum of five years, so golfers will still have a fantastic practice facility for years to come.

We are currently offering sevenday access to the course for just £500 until April 30, or when the course closes, which represents outstanding value.”

The driving range, which offers

33 bays and a 350-yard floodlit outfield, is open every day from 7am until 7pm.

The decision to sell the land for housing was met with strong local resistance; however the green light was given when Bracknell Forest Council managed to overturn an agreement made in 1990 that required the land on which the course was built to be kept as green space for at least the next 125 years. A majority of councillors agreed to waive the agreement following a vote in 2013, so that 450 houses and two schools can be built in the golf club’s place. Bracknell Town Football Club were in talks to move its ground to the new Binfield site, but rejected it last month following a disagreement over the size of the plot available for its facilities.

Wimbledon Common tees up National Golf Month National Golf Month teed off on May 1, with hundreds of free coaching opportunities across the UK aiming to encourage more than 100,000 people to give golf a go for the first time.

This year sees Solheim Cup captain Carin Koch joined members at a special focus on Wimbledon Common to start National Golf Month encouraging more women to try golf – and 2015 European Solheim Cup outdoor sport, and I’d encourage Captain Carin Koch teamed up women to get together with friends with Kate Hoey MP, the Mayor’s and family and take part in one of Commissioner for Sport in London, the many National Golf Month free to launch the participation drive taster sessions and experience for at Wimbledon Common Golf Club, themselves what a fun game golf one of hundreds of venues offering is.”

National Golf Month-linked events Doug Poole, founder of National and activities during May. Golf Month, said: “What has The club, which until 2005 was an happened at Wimbledon Common all-male venue, now has a thriving is a great example of how golf women’s section with 61 members, is evolving in the UK. The ladies and a successful ladies’ academy academy is introducing women of which introduces and mentors new all ages and from different walks female golfers. of life to golf, and it’s great to see To celebrate the start of the how, through the coaching and campaign, Koch played a nine-hole mentoring programme, new players exhibition match at Wimbledon are developing from starters to Common alongside ladies viceregular golfers. captain Joanna Croker and 18-year“Of course, you don’t have to be old Lauren Horsford, who earlier a member of a golf club to play golf this month became Surrey ladies’ and there are many starter schemes champion. at different venues throughout Speaking at the launch, Koch the UK, especially during National said: “Golf is a sport that can be Golf Month in May when you can enjoyed by men and women, boys sign up for a free taster session and girls, and is a wonderful game or affordable coaching with a golf for life. I started golf when I was professional.” young and now, as a mum to two To find your nearest National children, we enjoy playing golf as Golf Month free taster session, visit a family. Golf is a healthy, social, www.nationalgolfmonth.com.

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Bright shines under Topgolf lights

Epsom Golf there was an Club’s Assistant impressive prize Professional David table for the Bright shot the amateurs in the lights out – literally team event, won - in the second

by Dave Botley and Topgolf Pairs James Edwards, David Bright and Oliver Wilson Pro-Am held at with James Addlestone. winning a custom Bright claimed the title after fit Callaway XR driver and the bagging 373 points in the unique chance to star in one of Callaway’s tournament, which required advertisements to be shown players to hit balls to designated during Sky Sport’s golf coverage. targets on a floodlit, two-tiered To make the event even more driving range. Handed his winner’s special, afterwards there was cheque for £450 by Ryder Cup a packed out Q&A, hosted by player and European Tour winner broadcaster Rob Lee, with Ryder Oliver Wilson, Bright’s accuracy Cup star Oliver Wilson – who also edged Jack Quilligan (World of played on the night – with all the Golf) into second spot, with 2014’s budding stars of the future keen to winner Stuart Boyle (Wentworth) hear what he had to say. in third.

Wilson commented: “Topgolf is Bright admitted he had no idea a great concept that bridges the what to expect from his first visit gap between casual and serious to Topgolf, but he and his fivegolfers, while challenging them handicap amateur partner Tom all. The Pro-Am was a fantastic Hanley were soon scoring the success, improved by having lots points they needed. of juniors taking part too. “ Each time a ball hit one of Topgolf manager Jamie Savory the targets, the score was said: “The highly favourable automatically registered on a feedback from PGA players, club board in the teams’ bays, and golfers and guests proved yet with each player hitting 20 balls again Topgolf s a winning formula. per format, the premium was on The event’s continuing success distance control and accuracy. shows it’s a great step forward Supported by Callaway Golf, for golf.”

MAY 2015

[9]

Saunders set sights on San Diego Final Five-year-old Arthur Saunders, who plays at Littlestone Golf Club in Kent, has earned a place in the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, after finishing second in the Under 7’s Boys division of the British Junior Golf Tour at Redbourn Golf Club.

The youngster, who is coached by PGA Professional Charlie Wilson at Littlestone, took up the game when he was just three, and proved to be something of a natural from the moment he first picked up a club.

Speaking about his young protégé, Wilson said: “It’s not just Arthur’s natural talent that has led to his success, but his absolute dedication and passion. The only time I’ve seen Arthur cry is when his mum comes to take him home.

His etiquette and knowledge of golf is fantastic, and we have never seen a youngster of his age with such maturity and commitment

Littlestone’s Arthur Saunders looks to have a bright future in the game

to the game. He really is quite extraordinary.”

Now a junior member of Littlestone, Arthur has surpassed both his parents’ and coach’s expectations with the natural talent and dedication that he exudes for the game.

Foxhills five bag sweet 66s Five players showed their winning form at the JSP Construction Industry Charity Pro-Am, shooting 66s around the Longcross course at Foxhills.

Bob Cameron, Richard Wallis, Guy Woodman, Kieran Staunton and Guy Shoesmith each took home £400 for their six-under par round.

To accommodate the huge support from the large number of companies supporting the event, the team competition was based on a five-ball format, with the best two scores counting. The eventual winners, on 95 points, were Wingate Electrical, playing with the

new PGA Kent Closed champion Jordan Godwin, who had another good day at the office, carding a three-under-par 69.

One of the five winners, former four-time Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion Richard Wallis, said: “It was the ideal day for this event, with lots of sunshine putting everyone in a great mood for a day’s golf on what proved to be a course in immaculate condition. The auction dinner was a great way to round off the event and top comedian Russ Williams did a superb job encouraging all those involved to bid and raise lots more funds for the Lighthouse Club.”

“The fact that Littlestone welcomes juniors meant I could take Arthur with me when I went for lessons,” explained Arthur’s dad, Ken. “It was evident from very early on that he loved the game, so we signed him up with Charlie and he has never looked back. He wakes me up at 6am every Sunday so we don’t miss a moment to play golf or be at the club. He knows every distance from every tee box at Littlestone and he even has a lifesize cut-out of Victor Dubuisson in his bedroom!”

The IMG Academy Junior World Championships takes place in California in July, and Virgin Atlantic has kindly donated the cost of the flights to San Diego for Arthur and his father. However, to help further with travel costs, Littlestone members and family friends are holding a special fund-raising golf day on June 12.

Bob Cameron shared the spoils at Foxhills

Chairman of The PGA in Surrey, Guy Shoesmith, added: “Foxhills was in fabulous condition, the weather was beautiful, and I was playing with a new set of Mizuno irons for the first time, so I was delighted with my 66!”

NEWS IN BRIEF

[10] MAY 2015 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NORTH WEALD SUPPORTS NEPAL EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

North Weald Golf Club in Kent organised a fund-raising campaign to help raise funds for victims of last month’s earthquake in Nepal. The club, which has around 40 members who are stationed with the Queen’s Ghurka Regiment in Maidstone, donated £1 for every green fee played between May 4 and May 8 to towards the earthquake disaster fund.

Many of the club’s Ghurka members have been personally affected by the earthquake and some have returned home to their families to help with the clear up.

GOODWOOD TO HOST FAMILY PAIRS EVENT

The annual Family Pairs tournament run by Viva Esprit – Inspired Events will be held at Golf At Goodwood’s Downs Course in West Sussex on August 30. Now in its third year, the event is sponsored by Fairmont Hotels, Beachcomber Tours, Srixon, VPAR and Mint Greens, with the first prize being a trip for two to Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland.

Open to any combination of family members, the cost of entry is £150 per pair.

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

Wisley votes in female captain

Members at The Wisley Golf Club in Surrey turned out in force last month to support the official driving-in ceremony of its new captain, Susie Lee. While there was nothing remarkable in the performance, the occasion merited national headlines when it was revealed that Ms Lee is the club’s one and only captain, not just the women’s captain.

The Wisley, which has previously had a female chairman, has operated a gender equality policy since it first opened in 1991. Male and female members enjoy equal access to the course for equal fees, while the club does not run separate competitions for men and women.

Manor Great Scott flies off with PGA Hanbury to host disabled South region opener at Frilford charity golf day Staplehurst Golf Centre’s Scott Stevens carded a seven-underpar 137 to win the inaugural Order Of Merit at Frilford Heath, the opening event of the 2015 Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit schedule.

Topping the leaderboard of 120 players on the Blue course at the Oxfordshire venue, Stevens shot one of the two lowest final round scores, a five-under-par 67, to win the title and £2,000.

His superb performance, especially on the back nine, left him three strokes ahead of Rob Gowers (South Winchester) who shot 69 for a total of 140, and local man Adam Wotton (Oxford Golf Centre) who equalled Stevens second round with a bogey-

free 67.

Delighted with his performance, Stevens commented, “Having made the decision to play more competitive golf, I put in a lot of practice over the winter, focused on my fitness, and

I’m delighted it’s paying off. I haven’t played much competitive golf this year and I’ve got a lot of teaching commitments, but I’ll keep up the work rate, as I’m now in good shape for the Order of Merit.”

The Presidents Sporting Club/ Essex Disabled Sports Foundation is holding its annual Celebrity Golf Classic at the Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire on July 8.

Over 30 stars of sport and screen set to tee it up at the former European Tour venue include Sir Trevor Brooking, Kriss Akabusi, Ray Clemence, Bob Champion, John Conteh, Tony Cottee, John Francome, Len Goodman, Chris Hollins, Rory Underwood, John Virgo and Kevin Whately.

The charity has so far raised over £1.5 million to provide sporting facilities and opportunities for disabled children throughout the Home Counties, and currently sponsors three children each year to experience a golf scholarship programme, with free tuition.

Entry for a team of three, including a celebrity partner, costs £1,000.

For details and entries visit www. presidentssportingclub.co.uk.

Society days in style... by the sea!

Seaford Head Golf Course To celebrate the opening of our new £1.7m clubhouse we are offering some great Society and Golf Day packages.

PAR

BIRDIE

EAGLE

ALBATROSS

■ Full English Breakfast + Coffee ■ 18 holes £24.00 pp (Midweek) £27.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

■ Full English Breakfast + Coffee ■ 18 Holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu £31.00 pp (Midweek) £34.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

■ Coffee & Bacon Roll ■ 18 Holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu £28.00 pp (Midweek) £31.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

■ Coffee & Bacon Roll ■ 9/18 holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu ■ 18 holes ■ Selection from Society dinner menu £44.50. pp (Midweek) £47.50 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

All society packages can be tailored to meet your own specifications. Minimum 12 people.

Please call the Pro Shop on 01323 890139.

Seaford Head Golf Club Southdown Road, Seaford, BN25 4JS Tel: 01323 890139 www.seafordheadgolfclub.co.uk

CLUBHOUSE OPENED BY PETER ALLISS 18TH APRIL 2015

NEWS | MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[11]

Lott’s in luck with par-4 ace Danny Lott, a 27-handicapper from Surrey, has become the latest player to join the BOSS Watches H1Club, after he aced the 278-yard, par-four 16th hole at London Scottish Golf Club in Wimbledon. He achieved the elusive ace with a three-wood in a club competition, with the ball dropping into the cup while the group in front were yet to putt out.

He said: “I was standing on the tee having not made a putt all day. I just wanted good solid contact, which I finally got and the ball flew straight at the green with a 10-yard, right-to-left draw. I shouted ‘Fore, on the green!’ – which was probably my favourite sentence ever – and the three golfers on the green stopped putting and looked around to make sure they weren’t going to be killed by the ball.

“Then, all their arms went up as they cheered when my ball dropped in without the flag, which made it even more special. I didn’t believe it until I got up to the green and was congratulated by the guys teeing off on the 17th.”

Lott, a commercial account manager for an insurance company in south-west London - has ony been playing golf for a year, after becoming interested in the sport following last year’s Masters.

He added: “This was my first ever hole-in-one and I’m really glad it was in a competition, although it didn’t help me win it.”

Swaffham’s Sam wins top steward award Samantha Hudson from Swaffham Golf Club is the new Fuller’s London Pride Golf Steward of the Year.

Winner of the regional heat in the South East, Hudson beat rival stewards from Halesowen Golf Club in Worcestershire, Blackley Golf Club in Lancashire, and Sherborne Golf Club in Dorset, to take the prestigious award, which is given to the steward who goes the extra mile for their club and their members.

After picking up the title at an awards’ lunch in London, Hudson said: “This means the world to me, I can’t think of anywhere better to work. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me and especially to thank my team.

I couldn’t do it without their backing and their support. This is for everyone who helps run the clubhouse.”

NEWS IN BRIEF SELSDON’S 13TH PROVES LUCKY FOR GORDON

Seldon’s Park Hotel and Golf Club’s par-three 13th hole proved lucky for amateur golfer Ryan Gordon last month, when he managed to find the bottom of the cup with a sweetly-struck 5-wood on the 233-yard hole at the Surrey venue.

Westerham re-opens new-look 8th green After years of having to endure a temporary green on its eighth hole during wet weather, members at Westerham Golf Club in Kent are eagerly awaiting the opening of a completely new green in time for the summer golfing season.

The putting surface on the small two-tier green suffered drainage problems during the winter months, leading to a temporary green being put in place for long periods, which was not ideal for the club or its membership.

However, the club, which is owned by the Altonwood Group, has now unveiled a completely re-designed green, which has been enlarged to the right, the left-hand bunker removed and the right-hand bunker raised up.

This means more of the green surface is visible when playing from the bunker, and there will be an increase in pin-positions away

from the tree at the front-left of the green.

A number of trees towards the rear of the green have been removed, improving the light and air-flow to the putting surface.

Although the tier has been removed, the green will remain a real test, as there are a number of contours flowing through the green, while the low front edge will gather any shots that fall short.

The backdrop of exposed pine trees and newly-planted Rhododendrons make the hole aesthetically pleasing from the tee.

Set in mature woodland, with stunning views across the North Downs, Westerham, which first opened in 1997, offers a 6,329yard, 18-hole parkland course, with its tree-lined fairways and three water features giving the layout a maturity far beyond its years.

PRIOR STORMS TO FAIRHAVEN WIN

Surrey’s Lizzie Prior pulled off an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the girls’ championship at the weather-hit Fairhaven Trophies in Lancashire. The Burhill youngster was five-under par for 54 holes and won by five shots. “I was gunning for a win, but it’s a lot nicer to know I started in the lead and ended in the lead – that’s definitely an achievement for me,” said Prior, from Burhill in Surrey. She was five-under par for 54 holes and won by three shots.

SMITH WINS KENT MID AGE TITLE

Danny Smith (Sundridge Park) won the Kent Mid Age Champiosnhip after beating Matthew Woolf (Royal Blackheath) in a sudden death play-off after both players tied on 152 for two rounds in challenging conditions at Bearsted Golf Club.

Smith fired rounds of 74 and 78, while Woolf matched his total with two 76s, with Smith securing the title with a par at the first extra hole.

SURREY STUDENTS

Treat Yourself... ...more than just a golf club

Four Ball Offer Summer Society Packages

£100 £29 from

per person

Exciting Membership Opportunities Also Available Offers available, when quoting Golf News, until September 2015.

Chislehurst Golf Club, founded in 1894 with the course designed

by Harry Colt, is set within 70 acres of beautiful parkland in the heart of Chislehurst, only 11 miles south east of Central London.

The jewel in the crown is the magnificent 300 year old Clubhouse, Camden Place, which was for a while during the 1870s the home of Napoleon III and his family.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of our rich history.

Chislehurst Golf Club Camden Place, Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5HJ Tel: 020 8467 6798 www.chislehurstgolfclub.co.uk thesecretary@chislehurstgolfclub.co.uk

[12] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WHERE

Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa Nr Towcester, Whittlebury Northamptonshire, NN12 8QH

WHEN

Saturday 18 July 2015 10am – 6pm Sunday 19 July 2015 10am – 5pm

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO GOLF LINX LIVE NOW!

WELCOME TO GOLF LINX LIVE ‘15

Pre-book your tickets now to enjoy a £5 discount on the gate price! Adult weekend passes for both days cost £25, or £15 for one day, when booked in advance online.

Gate prices will be £30 for a weekend ticket and £20 for a one-day ticket. Children 16 and under are free when accompanied with a paying adult.

To make your booking, visit www.chestergroup.org/ golflinxlive/2015/tickets

Whittlebury Park will prove a great venue for Golf Linx Live

New golf show tees off at Whittlebury Park from July 18-19, promising live action and family entertainment on and off the golf course!

I

f you thought consumer golf shows were all the same, it’s time to think again following the launch of what promises to be the most actionpacked and interactive golf event for the golfers – GOLF LINX LIVE ’15.

This brand new and unmissable event, which promises to engage with every level of golfer who has a passion for the game, is taking place at Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club, near Towcester in Northamptonshire. Home to two stunning 18-hole golf courses and a high quality hotel and leisure complex, Whittlebury offers the perfect venue for this unique public golfing spectacular.

Golf Linx Live is being organised by The Chester Group, one of the UK’s most established and experienced consumer show organisers, who have teamed up with Whittlebury Hall & Spa and Whittlebury Park to deliver what promises to be a completely new, radical, and exciting approach to golf shows for the discerning enthusiast.

There are, of course, other golf shows in

the UK, but most take place in the formal environment of an indoor event arena or airless exhibition hall. Golf Linx Live, however, will be a far more informal affair, taking place in a more natural golfing environment.

Held over the same weekend as The 144th Open Championship at St Andrews – which will be screened live at the show so that golf fans don’t miss a minute of the action from the Old Course – Golf Linx Live will offer a unique mix of live action and entertainment, as well as the opportunity to take your game to the next level either from expert advice from PGA Professionals, or by testing out the very latest golf equipment and gadgets on the market.

Visitors will be able to make use of Whittlebury Park’s golf courses, with four 9-hole loops available for a range of demonstrations and events; hit balls on the superb driving range and short game area; take part in a range of custom fitting sessions; enjoy PGA coaching clinics; try their hand on top-of-the-range golf simulators; test the latest equipment Dean Davis will be in action at Golf Linx Live

MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT AT WHITTLEBURY HALL!

Visitors to Golf Linx Live can take advantage of a special discounted rate for overnight stays at Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa during GOLF LINX LIVE, with one night’s accommodation in a standard or twin room; a three-course dinner in Astons Restaurant; and full English breakfast on Saturday or Sunday, costing from just £139pp. Guests can enjoy full use of the Leisure Club throughout their stay, while packages can be upgraded to include room upgrades and spa treatments.

For bookings call 0845 400 0001 or visit www.whittleburyhall.co.uk. from all the major brands and take part in competitions, with a range of great prizes up for grabs. There will also be a wide range of trade stands and demo suites that make up the essential element of this very imaginative event.

THE VENUE Golf Linx Live ‘15 will be held at the stunning Whittlebury Hall, located in the Heart of the English countryside, in Northamptonshire, and takes place from Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th July 2015.

Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club is a great golfing venue, steeped in history and tradition. It provides 36 holes of quality parkland golf ranging from the historic 1905 golf course to the gently undulating grasslands of the Grand Prix golf course.

Set in the magnificent Oak Parkland that

was once part of the Royal Whittlewood forest, Whittlebury Park offers a nine-hole academy golf course and excellent practice facilities, including a nine-hole synthetic putting green.

Adjacent to the golf club is Whittlebury Hall, a magnificent four-sta r hotel and spa set in stunning Northamptonshire countryside. Offering 213 quality double bedrooms and suites; one of the country’s largest spas, boasting 23 treatment rooms; and three superb restaurants, all within a fabulous golf course setting, Whittlebury Hall provides the perfect base for any golfing break.

And with the M40 and M1 motorways just minutes away, and ample free parking on site, it’s easy to see why Whittlebury Park is the perfect venue to hold a live golf event.

INTERACTIVE ATTRACTIONS – TUTORIALS – EXPERT ADVICE – DRIVING RANGE – SHORT GAME AREA – CUSTOM FITTING – PGA TUITION – SIMULATORS – CLUB TESTING – SPA PACKAGES – EXCLUSIVE SHOW ACCOMMODATION RATES – HOLE-IN-ONE CHALLENGE – NIGHT GOLF… the list goes on!

[14] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STYLE&SUBSTANCE Nick Bayly returns to Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, scene of his wedding 12 years ago, and finds a venue even more majestic than he remembered, only with less cake and tougher bunkers

A

s they wind their way up the lengthy drive, first-time visitors to Moor Park often think that they’ve taken a wrong turning off the A412 and have stumbled upon a National Trust property, rather than at a golf club.

Despite the fluttering of flags, and clear evidence of golfing activity, it’s still hard to believe that the building that is technically the ‘clubhouse’ serves such a mundane purpose. It’s safe to say that it wouldn’t look out of place in a Jane Austen novel – but for the lucky members of Moor Park Golf Club, it’s simply home.

A Grade I-listed Palladian mansion, Moor Park redefines the word ‘clubhouse’ and sits alongside Stoke Park as a beacon of architectural splendour in an otherwise drab world of single-storey prefabs.

Set within several hundred acres of Capability Brown-designed parkland in leafy Rickmansworth (which is the last stop on the northern section of the Metropolitan line), the mansion at Moor Park was built in 1678 for the Duke of Monmouth, although its history as a golf club can be traced back only as far as 1923.

Rather unwisely, Monmouth lost his head – figuratively and physically – when he led a failed rebellion to claim the throne of England in 1685, and the property passed to his wife. Before her death in 1732, the property was bought by Benjamin Styles, who made a fortune in the South Sea Company before its bubble notoriously burst.

Further owners succeeded at regular intervals, until the mansion was requisitioned in World War II, when it became the headquarters of the 1st Airborne Corps, who planned Operation Market Garden, Field Marshal Montgomery’s unsuccessful attempt to bring an early end to the war.

So if it’s history you’re after, it’s fair to say that Moor Park has got it in spades, and plenty of visitors beat a path to its impressive doors for that reason alone. However, if you’re after a cracking day’s golf, some superb hospitality, and perhaps a game of tennis, then they can provide that too.

At this point, I have to ‘fess up to being fully paid up member of the Moor Park Fan Club – I’m sure there’s one on Facebook – and reveal that I got married to the current Mrs Bayly here 12 years, five months and seven days ago, and hence the place has a special corner in my heart. I clearly recall visiting it early in 2002, and innocently asking the then general manager if it was possible to have our wedding here on a Saturday in November. “You mean November 2004?” was his swift response.

“No, in six month’s time,” I replied (no, it wasn’t a shotgun, before you ask). An embarrassed laugh later, we moved the date to a Friday and we were back in business.

Part of the deal was that my best man, my dad and I were able to sneak in 18 holes on the High Course before the wedding. And although my thoughts were distracted with more pressing matters at the time, I do recall one of the most enjoyable rounds of my life, despite the fact that five-foot putts for pars have the habit of paling into insignificance when you’re about to sign your life away!

Fast forward to 2015, and three house moves, two children, and a dog later, and, on the surface of it, very little seems to have changed at Moor Park since my last visit. Dig a little deeper though, and I soon discover that a whole lot has changed, most noticeably on the two 18-hole golf courses, the High and the West, which are coming to the end of the latest of what must seem like a neverending series of rolling renovation programmes.

SPRING FOUR-BALL OFFER Book a midweek tee time to play before June 30, and four players can enjoy coffee and bacon roles, and 18 holes on the High Course, followed by sandwiches, for just £50 per person after 2pm (£70 before 2pm). A further £10 discount per group is offered if booked online.

For bookings visit www.moorparkgc.co.uk or call 01923 774113.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

‘Like painting the Forth Bridge’ is how the club’s energetic general manager, Jonathan Dove, describes the relentless work that is required to keep 36 holes of golf in championship condition, as well as maintaining a Grade I listed building with a nasty habit of throwing up huge repair bills for essential things like new roofs.

The bulk of the most recent work has been focused on renovating the bunkers on each of the courses, both of which were originally designed by the legendary Harry Colt during the 1920s.

Stuart Bertram, Moor Park’s long-serving and highly-skilled course manager, has carried out a sympathetic and extremely impressive job of bringing Colt’s hazards firmly into the 21st century.

The new-look bunkers are not only visually appealing, with finely sculptured edges, but they reintroduce the punishment that Colt’s bunkers were originally intended to inflict – namely that you’ll almost certainly drop a shot if you should stray into one.

Apart from the essential bunker repair, changes have also been made to a number of holes on both courses to bring the layout up-to-date in relation to modern equipment, and consequently now offer a more challenging test for all standards of golfer. Gone are some of the hazards at the 170-yard mark, replaced by some new ones at 240 yards, while a number of new back tees have been introduced to stretch the showpiece High Course to a stamina-sapping 7,056 yards for high level competition, of which Moor Park is a regular host at club, county and national level, including the Hertfordshire Stag, the Carris Trophy, the County Championship and English Seniors Open.

At 6,717 yards off the more modest white tees, the High is also a searching test for mere mortals, and it will come as no surprise to learn that a higher than average percentage of the membership are category one golfers. The course is widely renowned for the quality of its par fours, most notably the 8th, 14th and 15th holes, which measure 467, 435 and 450 yards respectively (the latter being 470 off the new back tee. The par threes are also delightfully extreme, from the brutal 12th – which, at 210 yards, often requires a wood to get up – to the quirky 152-yard 18th, which finishes the round on a short, but sweet note.

Long rough is largely, and thankfully, absent to aid speed of play – while the greens are manicured, even-paced and can be fearsomely quick when the course manager wants them to be.

They were running at 11 on the Stimpmeter on the week of my visit in mid-April, so be sure to slot a soft-faced putter in your bag and have the touch of a surgeon.

The West Course, which largely winds its way around the mansion, is no less deserving of high praise, although its shorter length - 5,851 yards makes it more a test of skill rather than brute force – an examination that is all the more refreshing in these days where length is considered king. Having

MAY 2015

said that, the 18th hole – a magnificent downhill par four playing towards the back of the mansion – will tempt big hitters to go for the green, which lies some 300 yards from the tee. Just mind out for the poor tennis players on the left – they won’t give you your ball back.

The peak weekday green fee of £90 for the High and £55 for the West reflects the quality of the experience on offer here, while twilight fees are also available after 2.30pm, and after 4pm for a further reduction.

Besides playing the courses, visitors can enjoy full use of the spectacular clubhouse and the dining facilities, while there are 13 tennis courts, seven of which are grass. Full membership allows access to the courts free of charge, although there is also a separate tennis-only membership.

The magnificent mansion/clubhouse is very much an ‘upstairs, downstairs’ affair, with the changing rooms hidden neatly below ground, while the stately public rooms are on the ground floor. As with all old buildings, significant investment has been essential to ensure the upkeep of the structure while, in consultation with English Heritage, a number of priceless paintings have been restored, and the function and meeting rooms, including the stunning Orangery, have all been refurbished in keeping with the original architecture. All in all, it makes for an impressive sight that has brought a tear to the eye of many a bride’s mother (even my normally stony-faced one).

The 11th hole on the High Course

[15]

As an award-winning wedding venue – I won’t mention it again – the catering and levels of service are right up there with a quality hotel and far exceed normal golf club fare, making it ideal for large society and corporate golf days. And with two courses to choose from, and such spectacular off-course facilities, a 27- or 36-hole package is a wise way to spend a day here.

A quick lesson is a great way to kick off a golf day, and there’s no finer place for that than at Moor Park’s First Degree Golf Academy, which is run by resident PGA professionals Rob Darwin and Rob Warburton. Using the very latest technology, including a GC2 launch monitor and a TOMI putting system, the academy offers an indoor performance studio where the two Robs deliver expert tuition for golfers of all abilities through a range of coaching options, from small group lessons to bespoke one-to-one sessions.

Moor Park justifiably takes pride in setting itself apart from the competition, but it’s a reputation that is well deserved considering the kind of golf – and the standards of service – that you can expect here. So even if you have no immediate plans to get married, I strongly urge you to renew your vows with golf, and make your next match at Moor Park.

For details on membership, corporate or society days please call 01923 7773146, email enquries@moorparkgc.co.uk or visit www.moorparkgc.co.uk The entrance lobby in the majestic mansion house

Water comes into play on several holes, but trees and new bunkers are the biggest hazards

Moor Park’s two championship courses are always presented in superb condition are offer stunning views from the highest points

NEWS IN BRIEF SAUNDERS SEALS HAMPSHIRE SALVER Kent amateur Michael Saunders won the Hampshire Salver after achieving the best combined total during the Selborne Salver at Blackmoor and the Hampshire Hog at North Hants. He was runnerup in the Selborne Salver (73, 67) and tied fourth in the Hampshire Hog (71, 70).

After collecting the trophy, Saunders said: “These have been two tough days with the wind swirling around the trees, but I am delighted to win such a big title, especially as it is Walker Cup year.”

Saunders, who is a member of the England men’s squad, was in England’s winning team at the 2013 Home Internationals and is a past winner of the Lagonda Trophy.

ENGLAND WINS SEVE TROPHY England scored a convincing 19-11 win over Spain to regain the Seve Ballesteros Trophy at the end of the two-day mixed international at Burnham & Berrow. The result extends England’s outstanding record in the biennial match, which started in 1985, with the scores now standing at 14-2. This year’s match marked the first time that women have been included in the team, and they certainly played their part, with Gemma Clews and Ashley Chesters winning all four of their matches.

HINTON JOY AT JAMEGA WIN Oxfordshire’s Craig Hinton held his nerve to beat the elements and 85 rivals as Dummer Golf Club in Hampshire hosted the second stop on the 2015 Jamega Pro Golf Tour. The 26-year-old from Thame came from three shots back after the first round to shoot a joint-best 66 and finish on eight under par and two shots clear of runners up James Ruebotham and David Dixon.

EAST BERKS TAKE JUNIOR TITLE

East Berkshire are the BB&O’s junior club champions for 2015 after winning the title at East Berkshire. Lewis Bird, Ben Platt and Bradley Tuckett’s combined best two from three score of 140 saw them beat Castle Royale on countback, with Woburn taking third place on 141.

[16] MAY 2015 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

St Mellion up for sale

Chislehurst calls for golfing brothers Golfing brothers are invited to take part in the Brothers Amateur Foursomes Open, which is once again being hosted at Chislehurst Golf Club in Kent from June 11-12.

The unique tournament, which is now in its 37th year, attracts pairs of brothers from all over the country, with many returning year after year.

The tournament is played over two days, beginning with an 18-hole qualifying foursomes Stableford played on the first morning. The top eight qualifying pairs then move into the quarter-finals of the match play knockout for the Brothers Open Trophies, with the next eight pairs qualifying for the Plate. Non-qualifiers play in a Stableford greensomes event on the first afternoon, followed by a Stableford foursomes competition the following morning, while the semi-finals proceed around them ahead of both finals on the Friday afternoon.

The competition rules require that all competitors must be members of a recognised golf club with an active handicap. Half brothers and stepbrothers are ineligible, and the maximum handicap

The winners of last year’s Brothers Foursomes’ title

permitted is 28.

The entry fee of £130 per pair includes all golf, coffee and bacon rolls on arrival and a buffet at prize giving following the finals. One courtesy practice round is also available on either the preceding Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon.

The 6,000-yard course and the clubhouse, an 18th century listed historic house once the home of Napoleon III and his family, have both benefitted from investment of more than £250,000 over the last three years, and the course is once more in stunningly good condition at the start of the season.

For entries or further enquiries, call Mark Hickson on 020 8467 2782 or e-mail thesecretary@chislehurstgolfclub.co.uk.

Magic Mustchin maxes out at Farnham There was a thrilling climax to the Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series at Farnham Golf Club last month, when West Sussex’s Darren Mustchin claimed his first professional title with a dazzling sevenunder-par 65 to win the Titleist & FootJoy Assistants & Trainees BetterBall ProAm. Pushed into second spot by one shot was Manston’s Max Brackley, whose impressive birdie blitz still ensured he was the overall winner of PGA South Winter Series Order of Merit, and the first name on the new Battle Bowl trophy.

With both players starting at the 10th, Mustchin’s 65 included five birdies and two eagles, one at the par five 14th, and the other at his last hole, the ninth, where he holed his second shot, while Brackley’s 66 comprised 10 birdies, six of them on his back nine.

Mustchin said: “It’s fantastic to earn my first PGA South Region win and to pick up the leading assistant’s contract with Titleist & FootJoy as well.

Farnham’s greens were really good this early in the season and my long putting

St Mellion International Resort in Cornwall has become the latest big-name golf club in the UK to be put on the market.

The 36-hole West Country venue, which first opened in 1976 and has hosted nine Tour events, is up for sale as part of owner Crown Golf’s strategy of streamlining its UK golf portfolio.

St Mellion has undergone major investment in the last few years, including the opening of a 80-bedroom resort hotel complex with spa, and banqueting and conferencing facilities, plus significantly enlarged clubhouse facilities, as well as a redevelopment of the Kernow Course and refurbishment of the Nicklaus Course, which was the first British course designed personally by Jack Nicklaus.

Last year, the resort received outline planning approval to develop an additional 265 holiday homes on the 325-acre site, and a spokesman said it has since received a number of unsolicited approaches from resort operators and developers.

Plans are also well advanced for the development of a new 10-room spa facility, which, subject to the sale, would be ready to open next spring.

Crown Golf’s chief executive officer, Stephen Towers, said: “St Mellion represents an enormous opportunity as a property development to the right buyer. The new holiday homes and spa facility offer a significant potential trading enhancement to the current income streams, and their eventual completion will boost the long-term profitability of the resort.”

He added: “We regard the completion of the holiday homes development as being outside of our core business, and we believe that with the increased recent levels of interest in the golf resort market by property developers, now is the right time to offer this unique opportunity to the market. Meanwhile, it remains business as usual at the resort, and we look forward to giving a warm welcome to many thousands of golfers this season.”

Rishi Sidhu takes part in the captain’s ‘drive-in’ at South Bucks

was very solid. I missed just one green in regulation for my lowest card this year but as Max was obviously on fire, those two eagles were crucial!”

Brackley echoed the winner’s compliments for Farnham’s playing surfaces, a factor which contributed to his low score. “I played nicely again, drove well, hit it close a lot and holed a few putts,” he said.“Farnham’s greens were in great condition, firm and rolling beautifully, so I was able to have a go at a few of the putts. I’m

very happy with this result, and I’ll be taking aim at the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit events throughout 2015, with an eye on the European Tour Q School at the end of the year.”

Mustchin’s win earned him £400 and the last contract in 2015 for the leading assistant’s prize of a Titleist & FootJoy ball, glove and shoe contract.

Brackley’s prize for winning the overall series was £250, a custom fit Titleist 915 driver and a custom pair of FootJoy MyJoy shoes.

New captain tees off at South Bucks South Buckinghamshire Golf Club’s new captain, Rishi Sidhu, teed off his year in office in fine style last month, when splitting the fairway with his tee shot on the club’s opening hole in front of a group of supportive members.

His nominated charity for the year is Buckinghamshire Mind, and the club will be staging a number of events throughout the year, including the Chairman’s Charity Golf Day, which this year is being hosted in September.

The club’s outgoing captain, Peter Golunski, ended his year with a Captain’s Day held in aid of Help for Heroes and South Bucks District Council’s Chairman’s Community Fund, with the 18-hole Stableford event attracting 18 teams and raising £1,100 for the two charities.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAY 2015

[17]

City Swing Studio offers prize of a year’s free coaching One lucky golfer is set to win a year’s free coaching in a competition being held by CityPoint Golf Studio, an indoor coaching centre in central London.

Based close to Moorgate tube station, CityPoint Golf Studio is searching for one lucky golfer to star in its new YouTube channel and to record their improvements over the course of the year in its stateof-the-art indoor golf studio.

CityPoint Golf Studio’s academy director Chris Ingham explained: “This is a unique opportunity for one golfer to receive a whole year’s PGA coaching completely free of charge, all on the Foresight Sports technology, which is used by top coaches such as Butch Harmon and Martin Hall.

“The lucky winner’s lessons will feature on our YouTube channel, where we can record – and demonstrate –

the improvements that are possible when your coach is using this market-leading technology. What’s more, entrants don’t even need to visit the studio – the competition is online, and it’s just a simple case of signing up to enter.”

All the lessons will be carried out on the Foresight Sports Game Changer 2, which directly measures all essential ball data at

launch using ultra-highspeed cameras – and Head Measurement Technology, which measures all critical club data.

CityPoint Golf Studio features two bays and boasts three fully-qualified PGA professionals with more than 34 years of coaching experience between them. To enter the competition, which closes on May 26, visit www. thecitypointgolfstudio.com.

Fuller goes close in Irish Girls’ Open Surrey’s Sammy Fuller came close to pulling off a dramatic victory in the Irish Girls’ Open Stroke Play last month when she birdied the final hole of the 54-hole tournament to force a play-off.

The 15 year old from Roehampton was two shots off the leader after 36 holes at Roganstown, but battled back bravely to force the prestigious event into overtime when she holed a 10foot putt on the 18th hole for a closing round of 72.

In a sudden death play-off against Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey, Fuller managed to halve the first extra hole, but could not better Mehaffey’s birdie on the par-five 10th hole and had to console herself with a runner-up spot.

Fuller, who was sixth in this event last year, has represented both England and GB&I at girls’ level and is a past winner of the English U13 championship. She is a member of the England girls’ squad.

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Wellington boots rivals at Prince’s Wellington College took the Independent Schools Golf Association’s National Championship for the third time in eight years after outscoring 18 other schools at Prince’s and Royal St George’s in Kent.

The Wellington team, which comprised Daniel List, Edoardo Lipparelli and Ryan Lumsden, finished 13 shots clear of Birkdale, with defending champions Whitgift School coming in third on countback.

In the individual tournament, Lipparelli took the honours with a 36-hole total of 139, with Hampshire’s Arrun Singh-Brar in second on 143.

Lipparelli’s five-under par 67 around St George’s was particularly impressive, as it contained a two-shot penalty.

The top-place schools will take part in the new Alexander Quin invitational 54-hole event to be held at Essendon CC in September.

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[18] MAY 2015 | NEWS

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Trump unveils plans for new-look Tunberry

JOLLY RODGERS IN CHARGE AT SITTINGBOURNE Chris Rodgers won the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship qualifying event after shooting a two-under-par 69 at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Golf Club. Rodgers, who mainly plies his trade on the Asian Tour, booked his return to the PGA Assistants’ grand final to be held at Coventry Golf Club on August 5-7. He pipped five players to the top spot, including Wildwood’s Jack Harrison, who finished third in the finals last year after leading for the first two rounds. Ladies European Tour player Samantha Head (Donnington) also finished joint second, while Sian Evans (Kings Hill) was also among the 19 qualifiers.

LEVERMORE BAGS BROCKET VICTORY Jason Levermore shot a six-under-par 67 to notch up a victory in the Marston’s Beer Head Professionals Championship at Brocket Hall’s.

The PGA in England (East) 2014 Order of Merit winner topped a field of 58 players after carding seven birdies and an eagle on the Hertfordshire club’s Palmerston Course. Second place was shared by Jason Groat (Denver) and Darren Charlton (Dunstable Downs).

Turnberry’s 9th hole will look very different when Trump’s renovations are complete

RALPH TAKES GOLD AT ROEHAMPTON Sussex tour professional Hannah Ralph won the 88th Roehampton Ladies Gold Challenge Cup after battling through blustery conditions to fire rounds of 73 and 80 at Roehampton Golf Club in south west London.

Ralph, who is attached to Cowdray Park Golf Club in West Sussex, where she works between tournaments, two round total of 153 saw her finish one shot clear of her nearest rival, Emma Goddard (Royal Liverpool), and secure the coveted title, which attracted a field of 54 amateurs and professionals.

Ralph, 27, who has played only one Ladies European Tour event so far this season, was delighted to have finally won the Gold Cup,

after several years of near misses.

“Having finished fourth, third and second in consecutive years, it’s great to have finally won it!!” she said. “Scoring was tough due to the conditions – it was really gusty at times, and the greens were very firm and fast – 11 on the Stimpmeter. I was patient, and was pleased with my overall game, espcailly my putting. I had my mental coach, Karen Francis, on the bag, which was great, and she was proud of my performance – both the golf and the mental aspect of it. The hard work is paying off!’

With professionals taking the top three places, the amateur finishers were led by Lizzie Prior from Burhill, who secured fourth place on 155, with rounds of 78 and 77.

A year after buying Turnberry Resort in Scotland, Donald Trump has announced plans to invest $300 million in a major renovation of the famed Ailsa Course.

The historic links course will close in September – after it hosts the Women’s British Open this summer – and then undergo works that will include building or rebuilding five holes and nine greens, and resurfacing the other nine greens.

The most controversial change will be to the par-4 ninth hole, which will be converted to a long par three that eliminates its hog’s-back fairway and relocates the entire hole closer to the iconic lighthouse. The new hole will measure 235 yards – and call for a 200-yard carry from the championship tees, while the lighthouse will be renovated and turned into a halfway house.

Several other seaside holes will be pushed more into the dunes

Donald Trump is investing over £200m in transforming Turnberry

and closer to the water, and the course’s maximum length will be stretched to 7,450 yards. Par will remain 70, with the renovated layout including three par 3s and three par 5s.

All the changes are being made in consultation with the R&A, with the hope of being awarded The Open Championship again, perhaps as early as 2021.

Architect firm Mackenzie and Ebert, which has been chosen to carry out the renovations, has released a seven-minute video outlining the substantative changes that can be viewed on YouTube.

We thought that you might be tired of pictures of another golf club

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Yorke expands new-look academy at Slinfold Popular South Easbased coach Mike Yorke has relaunched his portfolio of acadamies under a new brand name, MY Golf Academy.

Formerly known as Mike Yorke Golf Academy, the new name and the new branding reflect the fact that since launching 12 years ago on his own, Yorke now employs a number of coaches across several different venues.

“We knew it was time to update the look of our brand, and a change of name had been on the cards for some time, not least to reflect the important role that our coaches play,” said Mike (pictured). ”Since starting out in 2003, we’ve grown to the point where we now have nine coaches across our four centres – Horsham, Foxbridge, Horne Park and Slinfold – with three of the coaches now shareholders in the business.

Slinfold Golf & Country Club near Horsham is the latest venue to come under the MY Golf Acadmey unbrella, with PGA Professional David Dorans on site full-time to offer lessons in the club’s recentlyrenovated driving range.

Yorke added: “The new look and new name aside, it is very much business as usual. Our coaching fees will not increase in 2015, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the very best service to golfers. All four venues offer the very latest in performance improvement technology, with our coaches using Trackman to assesses swing dynamics and assist with tuition. Horne Park also has its own specialist indoor putting studio, where putting lessons can be given using Quintic Ball Roll technology, and putters can be custom fitted.”

To find your nearest MY Golf Academy, or book a lesson, visit www.my-golf-academy.co.uk or call 0333 577 2464.

[19]

Old Thorns invests £100k in new machinery Golfers visiting Old Thorns Manor in Hampshire can look forward to playing a championship course presented in pristine condition, following the Liphook-based club’s £100,000 investment in a range of new course maintenance machinery.

The club’s 6,581-yard, 18-hole championship golf course – which was designed by the BBC’s ‘voice of golf’ and the club president, Peter Alliss – will benefit from the arrival of a new fleet of equipment, including new John Deere tractors and mowers, and tools for turf and greens’ maintenance, as well as strimmers, blowers, chainsaws and hedge cutters.

Tucked away in 400 acres of Hampshire countryside just off the A3, Old Thorns is one of southern England’s most

R&A HONOURS FALDO AND LYLE

picturesque country house-style hotels, and in addition to the golf course, offers luxury accommodation, a health spa, and fantastic catering and hospitality facilties.

Golfers looking to book a break at Old Thorns have a wide choice of accommodation to chose from, including 70 bedrooms in the newly-built Shaw Wing, which takes the total number of rooms available for guests at the Liphookbased resort to 166, providing ample scope for its growing number of society, corporate and wedding guests.

Palace players on target at Sweetwoods Sweetwoods Park in Kent once again proved the perfect venue for Premler League side Crystal Palace to sharpen up its shooting skills ahead of the final run-in to the 2014-15 season.

Alan Pardew’s side, John Salako which has been sitting in mid-table for most of the season, were able to take a well-earned day off from playing with the larger ball to a more relaxing game at the popular parkland venue, which has hosted the Crystal Palace Golf Day for the past four years.

Pardew was joined on the course by the assistant manager Keith Millen, as well as a cast of players from past and present Palace teams, including Steve Coppell, Dwight Gayle, Julian Speroni, John Salako,

NEWS IN BRIEF

Shaun Derry, Tony Cottee, Jim Cannon and Ian Evans.

The players enjoyed the course exclusively for the day and took on a 9-hole Texas Scramble in the morning, followed by an 18-hole Stableford competition in the afternoon.

Sweetwoods Park’s general manager Andrew Salter, said, “’I am delighted that we were able to host the Crystal Palace Golf Day, which raised valuable funds for the club’s academy. Many of the guests said how impressed they were with the course and overall hospitality at Sweetwoods, and vowed to return on an individual basis with family and friends in the near future.”

Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle have both accepted an invitation to become honourary members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The pair have joined a select group, with the honour having previously been given to just eight fellow Open champions: Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Roberto de Vicenzo, Tony Jacklin, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

BUTTERFIELD ON TOP AT TYRRELLS WOOD Former European Tour player Andrew Butterfield booked his place in the final of the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship after winning the south qualifying event held at Tyrrells Wood with a three-under-par round of 68. Butterfield, who is attached to Knole Park Golf Club near Sevenoaks, pipped Ben Daniels and Nicholas Mitchell by one shot at the Surrey venue. They will join ten other qualifiers at the £91,500 grand final, which will be held at Burnham & Berrow in Somerset on June 2-5.

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Our 18 hole par 69 golf course opened in 1994, was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark and is laid out on naturally undulating parkland set

amongst mature oak woodland giving the impression that the course has been around for many more years. The course provides an excellent challenge to the skills of low and high handicap players alike.

Built to championship standards with USGA greens and tees, the course has automatic irrigation and a drainage system designed to provide excellent year round play.Among the many

attractive features of the course are the six strategically placed lakes.

Our conference facilities are perfect for your get away from it all meetings and an ideal venue for combining business with pleasure. Enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the clubhouse which boasts a 1st floor function suite overlooking the 15th hole with a private bar capable of hosting a sit down function for 150 guests.

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[20] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Investment pays dividends at Chobham

Youngsters preparing to take part in this month’s Paul Casey Trophy for the Surrey U12 Championship at Chobham Golf Club can look forward to playing the course in tip-top condition following some significant improvements to the play surfaces at the parkland venue.

The tournament, which takes place on May 28, will see Surrey’s top young golfers playing from the yellow tees of the 18-hole, par-69 course, which was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark.

Specific attention has been paid to improving the drainage on the 5,863-yard course, which has resulted in more consistent playing conditions throughout the year. The club has recently spent £150,000 on new greenkeeping equipment as part of a five-year investment programme that will amount to over £500,000, which will further help maintain the improve the playing experience.

Off the golf course, the club’s recently-opened swing studio is keeping head PGA Professional Mike Harrison very busy, with over 250 lessons having already given since the facility opened.

World of Golf unveils ProTracer technology at new-look range

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One of the most popular driving ranges in the South East has taken its practice facilities to another level, following the unveiling of 20 bays featuring Pro Tracer technology.

The popular New Malden-based venue, which completed a major renovation programme earlier this year, unveiled the new technology – which will be familiar to viewers of Sky Sport’s golf coverage – at a special event held on May 12.

The World of Golf offers 60 covered and heated bays located over two tiers, each with new automated power tees, as well as new fairway and light-rough effect outfield. And 20 of these bays now feature ProTracer technology, which was originally developed for television to show viewers the flight path of golf shots and the distance the ball ends from the target.

Now working exclusively with World of Golf, the technology has been adapted and is available on the range, with tablet screen on 20 bays, so that golfers can easily see the flight of every ball they hit, and receive instant feedback on distance. Golfers can also link the system to their phones. The system also allows a variety of game formats where golfers can challenge each other to hit targets which reward shots hit closer to each targets at different distances.

Grant Wright, chief executive officer at the site, said: “We have worked really hard to make sure the range is designed to offer an exceptional golfing experience to all players, whether they have a low handicap or are just starting to hit their first few balls.

“By bringing together all of the latest technologies and facilities, including Pro Tracer, we really have created a ‘hole new ball game’ for golfers. We have The Pro Tracer Challenge ongoing, with daily, weekly and monthly prizes up for grabs.”

FUTURE STARS: RYAN LUMSDEN AGE: 18 HANDICAP: +1 HOME CLUB/S: ROYAL WIMBLEDON GC, SURREY

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

How was 2014 for you? It was a great year. Some particular highlights were top-10 finishes in the McEvoy (8th) and Fairhaven (6th) trophies, the Silver Medal in the Scottish Boys Strokeplay at Cruden Bay, and representing Scotland twice, including the Boys Home Internationals.

The British Boys was enjoyable too, with a top-20 finish in the strokeplay rounds, before getting knocked out in the second round of matchplay.

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

Highlight to date: Becoming a Scotland international player.

How much do you practise?

About 20 hours a week.

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

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

Where are you most looking to improve? Driving accuracy and mid-range pitching.

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

Favourite shot: A 2-iron stinger.

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

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

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

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

Lowest gross score: 63 – 7 under par.

Favourite tour player: Seve Ballesteros.

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

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

[22] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LOST COURSES

BOXMOOR, HERTFORDSHIRE LOVED BY SOME GOLFERS MORE THAN OTHERS, THIS HILLY NINE-HOLER IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD SURVIVED FOR 121 YEARS BEFORE CLOSING ITS DOORS FOR THE LAST TIME IN 2011. JEREMY ELLWOOD LOOKS BACK ON ITS ROLLERCOASTER HISTORY

T

he nine-hole course at Boxmoor on Sheethanger Common in Hemel Hempstead probably boasts a wider spread between opening and closing dates than any other course to fall by the wayside.

The hilly Hertfordshire track, laid out over land leased from the Box Moor Trust, opened in 1890 when Victoria was on the throne, and finally succumbed on 31st July 2011 with an announcement on the club’s Twitter page. It was believed to be the third oldest club in England still playing over its original course.

At the start, the club used a rented cottage as a clubhouse, but in 1895 the members voted to build their own, with 27 of them each donating £5 to more than cover the £97 and 10 shillings cost of a tworoom wooden pavilion. After World War II, the club had a modest 100 members, but by the mid-1970s that had climbed to a healthy 225, with over 200 still on the books just ten years ago.

However, by the end of the Noughties it had all become a bit of a struggle, even though the club was predominantly run by volunteers. In an a local newspaper article documenting Boxmoor’s demise in mid-2011, club secretary Martin Fletcher lamented: “I’ve

the evil day, but as it turned out, there wasn’t an appetite among the remaining members to put their money into it.”

The course had five par threes and an SSS of 64, measuring 2,406 yards for nine holes, but several reviewers on ukgolfguide.com refer to its hilliness. ‘Not your average course, but well worth a visit for a change’, wrote one, while another added, ‘Yes, it is hilly, but not to the point that it’s an inconvenience. The par-4 7th is a real mind-teaser and the near-vertical third and 9th really test your thought process’. Tellingly, the latter reviewer had paid just a

THEN spent the last 12 months trying to create some form of rescue package, but unfortunately in this financial climate we haven’t been able to keep going. There are too many golf clubs and not enough people wanting to play.”

The Box Moor Trust tried to help out, but to no avail, as its general manager, Ian Richardson, explained: “We worked our socks off looking at different ways to keep the club viable, but its membership had dwindled dramatically and their only asset was a clubhouse. We actually spent money on legal fees trying to demonstrate how they could sell debentures to stave off

NOW

TO BOOK A TRIAL ROUND TODAY Call: 01932 584 314 Email: sales@silvermere-golf.co.uk Quoting Golf News

fiver to play on a 2-4-1 scheme – not nearly enough to keep any club going.

It was definitely a Marmite course, though, with some describing it as possibly the most difficult nine-holer in Britain, ultimately too hilly to be enjoyable.

Hertfordshire Golf Union secretary Loius Matamala wasn’t a member, but did play the course a number of times. “I actually quite enjoyed it, but it was very different,” he recalled. “It was quite wellmanicured, but it was very quirky - the third hole in particular, which was a long par three up a very steep hill. If you didn’t get the elevation to carry it all the way there, your ball could come almost back to your feet - it was that steep.”

So what has happened to Boxmoor since that fateful day four years ago? “We’re managing it for wildlife conservation and informal recreation these days,” said Richardson. “It was always a strange course, because it was nine holes over extremely challenging topography. That’s what it was famous for, and may in part have led to its downfall. The bunkers have grassed over now, but if you knew what you were looking for, you would still say, ‘Blimey – this is an old golf course!’”

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COMPETITION | MAY 2015 [23]

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WIN A FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP

RENAME THIS COURSE AND  WIN A FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP  AND A ROUND OF GOLF WITH FOOTBALL LEGEND IAN WRIGHT! Win a game with Ian Wright

Come up with a new name for Traditions and you could win a free membership for life

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Golf News has teamed up with Pin High Golf, the new owner of Traditions Golf Course in Surrey, to offer one GolfNews reader the chance to win a free lifetime membership to the club and the chance to play 18 holes around the parkland course with former England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

This unique and amazingly generous prize will be given to the competition entrant who comes up with the best new name for the club, which is looking to update the name ‘Traditions’ to something that better reflects its location and style.

Pin High Golf bought the club from Crown Golf in April,and has sizeable investment plans for the West Byfleetbased venue, which first opened in 1999 and boasts a 6,300-yard parkland course designed by Peter Allis and Clive Clark.

Plans for golf improvements include a bunker renovation project, improved course drainage, upgraded machinery and a new fleet of buggies, while further investment will be made in the bar and pro shop areas.

Pin High Golf’s managing director, Tony Healy, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have been able to add Traditions to our portfolio. We have big plans to take this course forward, and with that in mind we are looking for golfers to come up with a suitable name that reflects the ambition and quality of the course. Entries can be as creative as they like, so we’re hoping golfers will put their thinking caps on and come up with something really special.”

TO ENTER To be in with a chance of teeing it alongside Ian Wright and winning a lifetime’s membership, simply write down your suggested name for the club (please check that one doesn’t already exist), and email it to info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Pin High competition’ in the subject line, including your name, address and contact telephone number.

The closing date for entries is June 30, 2015. Normal competition rules apply, and no cash prize alternative is on offer.

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[24] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MATT FORD’S

TOUR DIARY

MATT ENJOYS MIXED FORTUNES DURING HIS FIRST TASTE OF GOLF IN CHINA, AFTER GETTING A LAST-MINUTE BUMP UP THE RESERVES’ LIST

I

t’s been quite an eventful few weeks since my last diary, starting with what turned out to be a good decision not to go to Madeira.

I was happy when I made that call, as I’ve not had much success there, and the way my schedule had gone, I needed a week off. How it then panned out with the weather further vindicated my decision to give it a miss, so it was nice to be at home having been on the road for five weeks.

I went out to Morocco the following week, but didn’t play great, as my iron game was a bit off. That course has a lot of falloffs around the greens, so the areas you are hitting to are very small. It’s relatively generous off the tee, and I actually drove the ball quite nicely – but my iron play and my putting weren’t quite as good as they have been, so sadly it was a short week.

I don’t think my expectations have changed hugely following my second- place finish in Africa, as I’m still trying to do exactly the same things. But as soon as you have a good result, you know what you’re capable of and want to achieve it again. So maybe your standards do go up a bit. Every week I want to try and achieve the same thing, but

you just can’t play well every week.

The Shenzhen International was three weeks later, and I thought I might get in, so I sorted out my visa. But then the entry list came through and the cut-off point wasn’t moving. You have to travel Sunday lunchtime, because it’s a 12-hour flight, and with the time difference you don’t get there until Monday night.

On Thursday or Friday I was still fifth or sixth reserve, so I assumed, with no tournament the week before, that it wasn’t going to move. On Saturday morning I was up to third, and they then want to know whether or not you would travel if you were first reserve. I was really in two minds, because it’s a long way to go just to be a reserve.

But, thankfully, by Saturday

I don’t think my expectations have changed hugely following my second-place finish in Africa, but as soon as you have a good result you know what you’re capable of, and want to achieve it again

lunchtime I was in, so I booked my flight and flew out the next day.

I’d been told that all the tournament venues in China are long, which wouldn’t necessarily have suited my game, but it was still a good opportunity, and one I wanted to take. And I played nicely, with my iron

play and putting pretty solid. I didn’t hit the driver that well, but if my irons and putter are solid, I tend to score well, as they’re a key part of my game.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t keep it going in the final round. I was in the third to last group with Tommy Fleetwood, but the putter went missing. I made a double on the second from a 50-yard bunker shot – there was water all around the green, and unfortunately it came out clean - so I got off to a poor start. Then I had a couple of three-putts in the middle, which kept the momentum going the wrong way. I finished tied 34th in the end, which was a bit disappointing, but that’s golf!

I then unexpectedly got into the Volvo China Open, which was about a three-hour flight away. My whole China

experience was very different.

The food’s not quite what you expect – sheep’s heads and so on, so not the usual fare that you get down your local Chinese! The first week we were in a nice hotel, but for the second week there was no room in the official hotel, so I had to book something else. The food was terrible, although we did manage to find a good Italian restaurant around the corner. I hit the ball as well as ever that week, but the putter was poor, and I just struggled with the speed of the greens. I had about six three-putts over my two rounds, and ended up missing the cut by some margin.

After all that travelling, I decided not to go out to the Mauritius Open, and have actually got an exciting trip to Spain lined up. My sponsors, CK Group, won a ‘Seve Experience’ in a Seve Foundation charity auction, offering the chance to tour round his house, meet some of his family, and play golf with one of his brothers at Pedrena. Luckily, my sponsor said I could go along. Seve was my golfing idol, so I’m very excited. It should be awesome, and will hopefully give me plenty of inspiration for the rest of the season.

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MAY 2015 [25]

Dimmock finds her feet in professional ranks

Centurion Club hires top chef for new clubhouse restaurant

Annabel Dimmock, the former top-ranked female amateur in Great Britain and Ireland, is looking forward to pitting her skills against Europe’s top professionals as the Ladies European Tour season gets under way in Europe this month.

The Wentworth youngster, who turned professional in February, failed to make the cut in her opening two events, both of which took place in the southern hemisphere, but showed more than enough promise to show that she has what it takes to compete against the top pros.

At the RACV Ladies Masters in Australia, she shot two rounds of 78, and then at the New Zealand Open, where a 73 and a 77 saw her finish short of the cut mark, despite bagging five birdies during the back nine of her opening round.

Speaking at Wentworth, where is a graduate of the club’s junior scholarship scheme, Dimmock said: “I’ve felt ready to join the pro ranks since playing in the Ladies European Masters at The Buckinghamshire in July. My first year is all about learning and trying to gain my full card. It has been great to see Charley Hull and Amy Boulden both winning the LET’s Rookie of the year awards, and this has really inspired me.”

On her ambitions for her first season as a professional,

Centurion hires top chefs for new clubhouse restaurant.

Members at the exclusive Centurion Club in Hertfordshire look set to enjoy some serious fine dining after club officials announced that it had taken on the services of two of Britain’s top chefs.

The Hemel Hempstead-based club, which opened in 2013, is planning to open a new clubhouse building in April next year, the centrepiece of which will be a restaurant which will be overseen by Chris and Jeff Galvin, whose French-influenced restaurant portfolio includes two London-based Michelin-stared venues, Galvin at Windows and Galvin La Chappelle.

With over 30 years’ experience in working at many of the world’s top restaurants, the Galvin brothers opened their first restaurant in 2006 – Galvin Bistro Deluxe in London’s Baker Street.

A spokesman for the Centurion Club, said: “We are excited

Aiming high: Annabel Dimmock looks set to make a big impact on the Ladies European Tour

she added: “I like to set myself small, achievable goals and work hard at them. I’m lucky to have a great coach in Lawrence Farmer, and personal trainer in Mark Alcock, who are both passionate about their jobs.”

Wentworth’s chief executive, Julian Small, is delighted that the scholarship programme is continuing to bring on such talented players. He said: “A big part of Wentworth’s ethos is to inspire the next generation to play golf and the scholarship programme offers a great opportunity for local boys and girls to do that. Having seen the success of Ross Fisher on the European Tour, it is wonderful to now see our first female

scholar achieve professional status and play on the Ladies European Tour. Annabel has been a role model within both the junior and ladies’ sections.

Going forward, we are looking at ways that the club can support Annabel in her career and we wish her the best of luck.”

Dimmock’s amateur performances have made her a very bankable commodity and she has no shortage of sponsors willing to back her, including Global Reach Partners, DG Imports, BMW and TaylorMade.

And with her outstanding amateur record, she is expected to receive invitations to play in a number of high-profile tournaments this season.

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Chris Galvin is one of Britain’s top chefs

to announce that the highlyacclaimed, Michelin-star Galvin’s will be taking charge of the food and beverage in the new club building when it opens in April 2016. It’s a truly fantastic addition to Centurion Club, and will help cement the five-star experience the club is aiming for.”

The Centurion Club, which features a 7,195-yard championship course charges a joining fee of £4,500 and an annual subscription of £2,500.

The Centurion is to open a new clubhouse in April next year

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[26] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMEBACK PAUL After suffering numerous injury setbacks, Paul Casey is fighting fit and back in the top flight after finding happiness on and off the golf course

MAY 2015 [27]

A

fter dividing your time between Europe and America for so many years, you’ve decided to focus your efforts on the PGA Tour this season, why is that?

It was for a mixture of personal and career reasons. I became a father last September, which is by far the greatest thing ever, and that’s really become the main focus for me – being at home in Scottsdale with my fiancée, Pollyanna [Woodward] and my son, Lex. It was a very tough decision to make, as I’ve been a member of the European Tour for as long as I have been a professional. I’ve been trying to play both tours for a long, long time, and some years I’ve done it brilliantly, and other years I’ve failed miserably, and I just didn’t want to keep putting myself in that kind of a position – where I’m struggling to fly around the world, trying to keep my world ranking at a certain number.

And when you’re not in the world’s top 50, as I haven’t been, it’s really difficult to play both tours.

Committing to the PGA Tour was a decision I didn’t take lightly, and I stewed over it for a long time, but now that I have, I am excited about it. I’ve never played a full season in the US before, so I’m excited to get out there playing – and I also get to spend a little bit more time at home and give it all I’ve got.

Are you the kind of player that needs to be happy off the course in order to happy on it?

Definitely. The feeling I have right now is similar to how I felt in 2009, when I was playing some great golf, but it’s even better than that, because off the golf course, I’m so relaxed and happy with where I’m at. I think the combination of being extremely happy off the course and having confidence on the course has resulted in me playing as well, if not better, than I have in a long time.

You often hear about the ‘nappy factor’ – players doing well when they become fathers for the first time. You won the Dutch Open just two weeks after your son was born. How much, if anything, was that a factor in your performance that week?

Just having my first child was a great distraction and took my mind off golf. I had no expectations coming into the tournament, and I did very little practice, although I had played some good golf coming into it. I only got to the course the day before the first round, so that I could spend as much time at home as possible, so I was a little concerned as to how I was going to play. As it turned out, the first three and a half days were pretty much carefree, as I knew that no matter how things went I was going home to see my baby. But when it got down to the last few holes, I thought, ‘I really want to win this’, and when I did, it all got quite emotional.

You had a chance to win the Northern Trust Open in February. How disappointing was it to lose out in a play-off?

I wasn’t disappointed at all. It was fun to be in with a chance of winning, but given the slow start I had to the season, I felt that it was more a case of things trending in the right direction. I love Riviera Country Club, and have always played well around there, so I knew that I had a chance of a good showing.

And how pleased were you with your sixth-place finish at the Masters, after missing out for last two years?

I was pretty ecstatic. I played some wonderful golf, struck it better than I had for a long time, and posted by far the best two opening rounds I’ve ever played at Augusta [68, 69]. A couple of loose shots in the third round cost me, but I was delighted with the way I battled back on Sunday. With Jordan [Spieth] being so far ahead, we had to take on flags and push a little bit more. Augusta has always required you to push, and you’re rewarded when you hit great shots. It was a great week and it’s great to know that I’ll be back there ne,xt year.

You took Rory McIIroy into extra holes in the quarter-finals at the WGC Match Play. What was it like going head-to-head with the world No.1?

Love match: Casey has found happiness with fianceé Pollyanna Woodward

It was a great match, and although it sounds like a cliché, it really could have gone either way. I felt like I’d been let off the hook, and I gave him chances as well, but I was kind of grateful that I was able to take it to extra holes. Sadly I got really sick that evening, and was really in no state to play the following day. But I’ve got nothing to complain about. I had an opportunity to win it the previous day, and I didn’t shut the door, and that’s life. It was great to be back playing in the Match Play, and overall I had a great week.

At 37, do you believe your best years are still ahead of you?

I believe I’m stronger and fitter than I’ve ever been, and I’ve got the mental game that I never used to have. I reckon I’ve still got a good few years left in me, if I stay in good shape. I just need to get the physical skills up to par and then capitalise on the next five years. If I think about where I was 10 years ago, I’m a completely different golfer – much more accomplished and sure of my own abilities.

I’m much more knowledgeable on everything when it comes to the golfing world. I’ve got to get out there and start making the birdies, and put it to good use. It’s no use being in your prime if you can’t go out there and win tournaments. That’s the most important thing.

You suffered with injuries to your feet and your shoulder in recent seasons. Are you 100% healthy now?

Oh no, I’m never going to say that. But I’m loving my golf and I’m 100% happy with where I’m at. I’m excited to get out on the golf course, and I can’t honestly say that over the years I’ve not always felt like that, so I hope I can retain that feeling through the season.

Do you have any specific goals in mind for the rest of the season?

The goals are still the same as they have always been.

It’s just that as each year goes by I’ve got a shorter time period in which to accomplish those goals.

The great thing is I’m not going to miss any majors

this year. You’ve got to be in them to win them.

Your record in the Majors doesn’t really reflect your performances elsewhere. Why do you think that is?

For quite a while I felt that I had to do something extra special, and to play better golf than I would normally do to win a major. But I no longer think that’s the case.

I recently read an interview with Jack Nicklaus where he alluded to not having to produce something extra special. He said he just put himself in the right place. It wasn’t that he was given as many majors as he won – but because he put together good scores, and a couple of other guys made mistakes, that’s how he ended up winning a few of his titles.

Obviously, the pressure in a major is greater, and the courses are more difficult, but if I keep doing what I’m doing there is no reason why things can’t fall into place, and maybe I’ll walk away with a major victory some day.

How important is it for you to get back in the Ryder Cup team for 2016?

I desperately want to be part of a Ryder Cup again.

I feel like I’ve missed out, and while I haven’t always been in a position to make the team, watching the matches at Medinah and Gleneagles certainly made me want to play in it again. And not just be part of it, but a real solid team player and a leader in the team room, which I know I can be.

When I play my best golf I think I can certainly play that kind of role. I want to be part of many more Ryder Cups, and I’ve just got to play the golf I know I’m capable of and start winning tournaments, and the Ryder Cup will take care of itself. I’ve already talked to Darren Clarke about it and I told him I want to be part of it. I will be there.

Isn’t it going to be hard to play the required number of European Tour events to qualify for the Ryder Cup if you’re not playing much in Europe?

I know I have to play 13 events, which becomes difficult when you haven’t played at the start of the year in Middle East. It was very straightforward when I was top 10 in the world, playing both tours. I know I am back in the top 50, but I have only just got back into the top 50, so I’ll just to see where that takes me.

What does the Ryder Cup mean to you?

For me it provides great memories – the battles, the pressure, the stress, the fun away from the course. There are moments I will cherish forever.

You’ve always had a life outside golf. Are you going to rein in the extreme sports for a while, especially now that you’re a father?

Apart from my family, golf is the most important thing in my life, because it provides for everything else – the fun things I get to do away from the course.

All my effort goes into that, but when I’m away from the course I love snowboarding and mountain biking. They’re a great way of getting away from the worries of tournament golf, so that will never change, although I will have less time for them now that I have other responsibilities!

[28] MAY 2015

I

njuries are as common as twoputt pars on the professional tours these days, with wear and tear on ageing tendons and muscles bringing a premature end to many a career in recent years.

Given the pressure to play so many tournaments, and the forces exerted by the modern golf swing, few players are fortunate enough to be immune from enforced lay-offs through injury, and those that are, know that they have dodged a bullet.

Former PGA Tour player Gary Christian knows all too well the pain of having to pack in a career that has been your lifeblood – and livelihood – for so many years, having been forced to give up the game at the end of last season, following a knee injury that just wouldn’t go away.

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At 43, time, and years of pounding golf balls, finally took their toll on the Surrey-born player, who won’t be a familiar name among UK golfers, having spent virtually all his 20-year career in America.

After graduating from university in Alabama in 1996, Christian turned professional the following season, and then spent a number of years on the mini tours in the US, winning two events during a five-year stretch on the Nationwide Tour. Staying patient, he finally earned his PGA Tour card in 2011, at the ripe old age of 40, after finishing ninth in the money list.

After years of scratching around on the mini tours, gaining a seat at America’s top golfing table, where prize funds are huge, was like winning the lottery for Christian. And

he made the most of his late invitation to the party, missing only eight cuts in 28 events in the 2012 season, and qualifying for the first event of the FedExCup play-offs - The Barclays - where he played the third round with Tiger Woods at Bethpage.

But almost as soon as his career at the top level had got going, it came to abrupt end, when the aforementioned knee injury curtailed his outings to just four in 2014.

Christian, who was born in Carshalton, looks back fondly on his playing days, and is proud of his resilience, as he worked his way through the ranks to earn his shot on the PGA Tour.

“I was hanging in there for a long time,” he says. “I played the mini tours in the US for six years, and a lot of people would

ONWARD CHRISTIAN Surrey-born tour pro Gary Christian is getting used to life on the other side of the camera after injury led him to switch from playing on the PGA Tour to reporting on it for Sky Sports

Talking a good game: Gary Christian has made a smooth transition from playing on tour to commentating on it

have given up in that time. I then played six years on the Web. com Tour and won an event in 2009 – but I kind of regressed over the next couple of years.

But in 2011 I rededicated myself and won towards the end of a very consistent year. I finished ninth on the money list and got my card for the PGA Tour. So to be a rookie at 40 was a pretty big deal. It was a long journey, but there were so many highlights along the way.

“I did well in my rookie year, but unfortunately my short game wasn’t quite good enough. When you’re a PGA Tour player, your weaknesses will get found out in time – the margins are just razor thin.”

With his playing career cut cruelly short, like many tour players before him, Christian has now turned to the media as a means of staying connected to the game, and was snapped up by Sky Sports earlier this year to offer insights as an analyst on the channel’s growing coverage of the PGA Tour. Having previously worked for the PGA Tour’s website and hosted a regular radio show during his injury-enforced lay off, Christian is no stranger to media work, and has settled into his new role like an old hand.

“I had the knee injury for quite a while, so I knew that I had to have ‘Plan B’ in action, just in case ‘Plan A’ didn’t work,’ says Christian, whose first name was given to him in homage to his father’s golfing idol, Gary Player. “I’m going to be doing 12 events for Sky over the year, and obviously I’m hoping that things go well and it leads to other opportunities further down the line at Sky Sports,” he says.

“When I was injured, I tried to do as much media stuff as possible while I was in rehab. I managed to get a radio show on PGATour.com called Afternoon Tee – a rather cunning name I came up with there. That went on for about a year, and I then did some work with the live app team on the PGA Tour website, so I was able to get comfortable being in front of the camera, on the course and expressing my opinions.”

So what can we expect from Gary in front of the Sky Sports cameras? “Being English, I like

to think I can be informative without feeling like I’m talking down to the viewers. Sometimes, you get a bit too much of that, and it’s something I’m wary of.

“I like to keep it simple: praise the players for good shots, criticise the bad shots, and do it in a way that doesn’t come across as arrogant. I like to let my sense of humour come out, which I think will work very nicely with British audiences.

That’s why I’m so excited to come back over here, being comfortable that my sense of humour and my perspective will work a lot better than it might in the US.” As to his commentating influences, Christian has learned the most from the recent generation of former players on the microphone.

“I’ve always enjoyed listening to Ian Baker Finch. I like his style and he’s also got some big achievements on his resumé.

But he doesn’t ever come across as anything but relaxed.

But over here, I’m a big fan of Ewen Murray. When you’re watching golf, you just want someone relaxed to nudge you gently through the broadcast, and Ewen always does a great job of that.

“From what I’ve seen so far, everyone on the Sky Sports team is excellent, and it’s a nice blend as well. Everyone has their own way of doing things, but it all comes together and makes viewing all the more pleasurable.”

Asked about US players to look out for this season, he says: “Harris English had a great start to his career, and he just fizzled out a little bit last year. He’s a very good young American player and he’s got all the tools and a great demeanour. He has excellent mental strength and an incredible game, and I think expectations maybe got a little bit too much for him last year.

Patrick Reed is no longer under the radar these days, but I’m expecting bigger things from.

If the PGA Tour stats measured confidence, he would be at the top of those rankings for sure!”

And confidence is not something that Gary Christian is short of either. A character trait that will surely stand him in good stead as he embarks on the next stage of his golfing career.

S U P P L E M E N T

CELEBRATING THE #1 PUTTER IN GOLF

> MEET MR ODYSSEY > PHIL MICKELSON’S WAND > OLIVER WILSON > COMPETITIONS > ODYSSEY’S JOURNEY > PGA PRO’S RECOMMEND > SHOWCASE OF NEW RANGES > PUTTING STATS YOU CAN’T BELIEVE uk.odysseygolf.com | @OdysseyEurope | OdysseyGolfEurope OdysseyGolf | #OdysseyMonth

#1 THE

we ever made. By utilising learnings from putter designs like Versa and High MOI designs like Havok and Sabertooth, we were optimise weight placement through the use of multimaterial engineering to make this new 2-Ball 36% more accurate than the original 2-Ball.

F GOL N I TER PUT

Putting has been variously described as ‘the game within the game’ and ‘a dark art’, but whatever your attitude to this often infuriating element to your game, it remains the key to good scoring.

The putter is the club you use the most – accounting for 30%-40% of shots in the average round, so it makes sense to not only spend time working on developing a good putting stroke, but also on finding the right tools for the job.

No one knows that better than Odyssey, the No.1 putter brand in golf, whose design team devotes all of its time, expertise and effort into developing putters that make the job of getting a small white ball into a only slighter larger hole just that little bit easier.

The proof of Odyssey’s success comes not only with the number of majors and tour titles that have been secured by the game’s top pros, but also among the legions of club pros, elite amateurs, and regular club golfers who trust the brand to produce putters that not only look and feel great, but most importantly, get the job done.

For many golfers, the month of May marks the beginning of the golf season, with the days becoming longer and warmer, and the greens are finally speeding up. But thankfully May is also Odyssey Month, when the game’s #1 putter brand highlights the importance of putting and showcases the latest range of Odyssey putters.

Now in its fifth year, Odyssey Month offers all keen golfers the chance to improve their putting through unique content provided throughout the month via Odyssey’s website and social media channels. These include drills and tips from putting guru Phil Kenyon, insights from Odyssey’s top staff players, and the opportunity to win plenty of great prizes.

This supplement joins in the celebration of all things Odyssey, highlighting the people who make it happen on and off the golf course, as well as showcasing the latest models, which will hopefully result in you using more of them, but less often, in the golfing seasons ahead. With Odyssey, less can mean more!

To find out more about Odyssey Month, and for details of Odyssey’s putter range, follow @OdysseyEurope and #OdysseyMonth, or visit www.odysseygolf.com.

Odyssey’s principal putter designer Austie Rollinson reveals the processes involved with making a great putter and why the 2-Ball proved such a hit

How did you get into putter design?

I’ve always loved doing things with my hands, creating stuff from scratch and building models.

I grew up playing golf and I have a background in physics, so when I left college and the time came to find a job, I thought to myself ‘designing golf clubs, now that would be a cool thing to do for a living’. I started working at Callaway in 1991, and began working on putters in 1993. I’ve been a putter guy ever since.

What was the first Odyssey you designed?

I helped launch several Dual Force putters that came out in 1994, but the first Odyssey design that I had significant input into was the TriForce, which was launched in 1999.

What has been Odyssey’s greatest innovation so far?

The 2-Ball would have to be the most successful. It represented 50% of the market within its first year and we’ve sold about five million of them in the last 14 years. It was one of the

F O E Y H T STOR HI EY S S Y OD

0 9 9 1

RN O B IS

Odyssey was founded

by Michael Magerman and Jim Flood.

1 9 9 1STRONOMIC

first putters where the alignment feature defined and worked well with the shape of the putter. Interestingly, it was initially designed as a gameimprovement putter, as it was meant to help beginners get the face square to the target. However, Tour Pros immediately saw the advantage to having such a bold alignment feature and quickly started using it and that first year we sold 10 times more than we forecast.

How did the idea for the 2-Ball Fang come about?

We wanted to create a new 2-Ball design that utilized our new Fusion RX insert and would be the most forgiving version

Odyssey develops the first mallet putters molded entirely from a lightweight elastomer called Stronomic.

The range is available in two sizes – the larger Rossie I and the smaller Rossie II – and features an integral brass weight.

Two years after launch, the Stronomic earns a Tour win and gains wide acceptance among Tour Pros.

What are the key ingredients to a good putter?

It needs to inspire confidence. We do this by ensuring that the shape and the head is pleasing to the eye down to the smallest detail. The shape needs to be balanced, so that it is easy to align to the target. It must also feel great. Feel means different things to different golfers, but basically, it is what golfers can hear, see, and feel with their hands. When we design putters we pay very close attention to the sound the impact with the ball makes, as this helps the golfer judge distance. We also work very hard to select the right face materials to ensure good ball speed off the face.

Lastly, we design the club as a system, playing close attention to the grip material and size, the balance of the whole club, and its overall weight.

Does the type of putter you use make a difference?

Most definitely. You need to pick a putter that fits your eye and that you are comfortable with.

The style and balance also needs to fit your stroke. We have strived to create a range that offers something for everyone, which is why we have a lot of different models in our range.

They are numbered from 1 to 9, and each number relates to the position your eyes are over the ball. This is measured by our EyeFit System, a mirror-based device which helps you select the proper head shape based on your set up. Each putter in the fitting process has a dash system on the sole to call out which putter should be your gamer.

How much do you rely on tour player feedback in designing putters?

Player feedback is very important.

Working with Phil Mickelson helped to create our #9 family of putters and the Metal X friction pattern, while working with Ryo Ishikawa inspired new versions of the #9 and the Milled Collection #6M.

1 9 9 1DUAL FORCE

Odyssey introduces Dual Force bronze putters with a black Stronomic insert and Dual Force stainless steel blade putters.

Dual Force features a new, softer urethane material in the cavity which helps redistribute weight to the toe and the heel, increase the MOI, and ensure soft feel at impact.

72

PHIL’S CHANGES

15 YEARS AT #1

In 2014 Odyssey had 72 wins across the world’s major Tours

Phil Mickelson likes to experiment with the shaft length of his putter. Over the past few seasons he has gone as long as 46 inches and as short as 33. His current model is 35

Odyssey putters have dominated the professional Tours for over 15 years. Since 2000, Odyssey putters have been No.1 in usage, No.1 in wins, and No.1 in Top-10 finishes on the world’s professional Tours.

The 2-Ball alone has won 190 PGA Tour events and 12 Major Championships

50% TOUR PROS HOLE

OF PUTTS FROM 8ft

GOLD DIGGERS Odyssey makes a gold-plated replica of every putter used to win a major championship, whether they are a Callaway staff player or not. Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell are all in Odyssey’s Gold Putter Hall Of Fame that is housed at Callaway’s Performance Centre in California

441

Although most Tour professionals are free to play with any putter they like, a total of 441 players chose to use an Odyssey putter last year

6 9 9 1MAJOR S CES C U S

Odyssey’s first Masters is won by Nick Faldo using a Dual Force Rossie 2.

MAJOR FORCE Over 5 million 2-Ball putters have been sold in the past 14 years, accounting for 18 professional Major victories

10

TTER U P NO.1 LF IN GO Odyssey establishes itself as the topselling putter brand in the world.

The number of pounds in weight of urethane material used in the approximately 1 million putters Odyssey sells each year

46.4 The percentage of players using an Odyssey putter on the European Tour during 2014

During a recent four-week stretch Odyssey recorded 10 global Tour wins

7 9 9 1

17,621

9 9 9 1RI-FORCE T

A unique trisole ensures a square setup at address, while the overall design increases MOI to get the ball rolling more quickly, with backspin, skidding and skipping virtually eliminated.

FREDDIE FIRES UP HOT STREAK WITH VERSA #7 Three-putting is an absolute no-no for players of any standard hoping to compile a good score, but especially for Tour professionals, for whom every extra putt can cost them thousands.

Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson is no fan of the three-stab, and this season he has been in hot form with the putter, managing to avoid taking more than two putts on any hole for an incredible run of over 30 competitive rounds. His glorious three-month, 542hole streak finally ended at the Zurich Classic, when he three-putted the first hole at TPC Louisiana.

Freddie’s deadly weapon on the greens is Odyssey’s Versa #7 putter, whose black-white-black alignment aid helps square the putter face at impact for unerringly accurate putts from all distance. Back to zero again, Freddie!

0 0 0 2WHITE HOT

White Hot putters feature a new, patented insert made from the cover material of a golf ball. It features a more responsive and larger insert than previous designs, which moves weight deeper and lower in the head, increases MOI, and gets the ball rolling sooner.

Y M & E M TTER PU WILSON

R E V I OL

HEAD: INSERT: SHAFT: LENGTH: GRIP: LOFT: LIE ANGLE: WEIGHT: FINISH: ALIGNMENT:

What model of Odyssey putter are you using?

Odyssey Sabertooth Versa What do you like about it?

I’ve always liked the Sabretooth look and had success with it. I updated to Versa design to help with my alignment.

What putting tip would you give an amateur?

One of my best putting drills is to set up a six-foot straight putt and put two tees just over a ball width’s apart about two feet in front of the ball. Just work on getting it through the tees, and you’ll know you are starting the ball straight every time.

What is your most memorable putt?

It was at the 2008 Ryder Cup. Henrik Stenson and I were 1-up in our foursomes match against Phil Mickelson and Antony Kim after 17 holes, and I was faced with a 25-footer with about 18 inches of break left to right. I hadn’t holed anything all day, but I nailed it to win the match. It was one of the best feelings ever. To hole a putt like that, in that situation, made it the highlight of the year for me.

Odyssey Sabertooth Versa The Versa Sabertooth is a high MOI mallet with weighted fangs, aiming channels, a double-bend shaft. The dual fangs position the majority of the clubhead’s weight to the perimeter to increase the resistance to twisting, while the high-contrast Versa design highlights the proper face angle from address to impact for correct alignment throughout the putting stroke.

To check out the complete Versa range, visit www.odysseygolf.com.

1 0 0 2WHITE HOT LL 2 BA

Odyssey revolutionises putter design with the release of White Hot 2-Ball, which combines patented alignment technology with new weight distribution technology.

The white discs help line up putts, while its design increases MOI, generating a smoother stroke, improved roll, and more forgiving off-centre hits. It quickly becomes the best-selling putter in the world, and gives Odyssey a 50% market share by 2003.

Milled 303 Stainless Steel None True Temper HSF 34 inches Super Stroke JP40 3.5° 71.5 ° 330g Glass Bead Blast None

Three might be the number of Green Jackets hanging in his wardrobe, but for five-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson, nine is clearly the magic number

More than almost any golfer on Tour, Phil Mickelson is willing to experiment with his golf equipment. He famously won the Masters using two drivers, and has won numerous tournaments carrying as many as five wedges.

He has also used a wide variety of putters over the years. From mid-size mallets and heel-toe weighted models, to the limited edition Odyssey ProType 82 Blade he’s currently gaming.

‘Lefty’ has long been a fan of Odyssey’s iconic No.9 blade shape – a classic, no-frills design that brings to mind the putters used by the likes of Ben Crenshaw and Arnold Palmer – and he used a version the PT82 for many years.

In his quest for putting perfection, Phil has worked closely with engineers at Odyssey’s putting laboratory near his home in Southern California to produce a personalised putter. The resulting putter perfectly suits Lefty’s

4 0 0 2WHITE STEEL

unique style, and is especially effective when it comes to treacherous greens at venues like Augusta, where his record speaks for itself.

“Tournaments are won and lost on the greens,” says Mickelson of his trusty putter. “It’s why I rely on Odyssey technology. Our design team gives me the best chance to win, and Odyssey’s winning results on Tour are a testament to their engineering capabilities.”

Given the variety of different green speeds and grass types that Mickelson encounters around the world, Odyssey supplies Mickelson with several identical putters that feature different inserts, some being firmer while others are softer. Based on the ball he’s playing and the speed of the greens, he changes putters accordingly.

On slower greens, like those found on the West Coast Swing or in Europe, he often adds weight by using lead tape

A precision-milled stainless steel insert and a new White Hot urethane insert delivers the precision and accuracy of milled steel and the feel and distance control of urethane. A satin finish highlights three alignment lines, while a lighter satin finish focuses attention to the centre of the face.

on the sole. On faster greens he uses less or removes the weight entirely.

So will a blade putter like Mickelson’s help you drain more putts?

That all depends on your stroke, and how consistently you can hit a solid putt. A blade putter is ideal for golfers who swing the club on an arc, taking it inside the target line on the backswing and follow-though. If your putting stroke goes straight back and then straight through, a blade-style putter is probably not for you.

When you strike the ball in the sweetspot of a blade, it will perform wonderfully. But with almost no perimeter weighting, putts hit near the toe or on the heel will come up short and miss the target. Forgiveness is not a blade putter’s strong suit.

We might not know the secret of Phil’s silky putting stroke, but here’s the inside track on the most important tool of his trade (see above).

6 0 0 2WHITE HOT XG

Inspired by multi-layer golf ball technology, the next generation of White Hot technology features a multi-layer insert, combining two materials to enhance feedback and control.

A thin outer striking surface and a textured impact zone enhance feel and clearly define the sweet spot.

6 0 0 2TRI BALL

6

DID YOU KNOW? FOUR PGA PROFESSIONALS TELL US WHAT THEY LOVE MOST ABOUT THEIR

PUTTERS

ALAN FLETCHER

DAVID COLES

NICK SMITH

MIKE TOWNSEND

HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL GIRTON GOLF CLUB, CAMBRIDGE

PGA PROFESSIONAL WOBURN GOLF CLUB, BEDFORDSHIRE

HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL STONEHAM GOLF CLUB, HAMPSHIRE

HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL WEST MALLING GOLF CLUB, KENT

Which model of Odyssey putter do you play? I play the Works #1W, with a 35-inch shaft and a SuperStroke grip.

Which model of Odyssey putter do you play? Milled Collection #2 with a 34-inch shaft.

Which model of Odyssey putter do you play? Milled Collection #7.

Which model of Odyssey putter do you play? I play with the Odyssey Works #7 Tank Cruiser.

What do you particularly like about this model? I went to Odyssey’s Performance Lab to get properly fitted, and the #1W, which is wider than a traditional heel/toe-style putter, was by far the best performer for me.

What do you particularly like about this model? I love the weight and feel of the Milled range, and with the added option of changing the weights in the bottom, I can tailor it depending on the speed of the greens.

What do you particularly like about this model? It has incredible feel and the roll off the face, and it’s by far the best putter I’ve ever had.

What do you particularly like about this model? I love the look and balance of the #7. It’s a counterbalanced model and is a bit heavier than a standard putter. I like the feel of and it’s very easy to align.

What putting tip could you give a club golfer? Focus most of your practice on hitting putts from 25-30 feet. If amateurs worked on three-putt reduction, rather than holing out from three feet, their scores would soon tumble.

What putting tip could you give a club golfer? When putting from off the green, check out the thickness of the grass you have to get through and make sure you accelerate through the ball. Trust your line, but distance control is the key to success with this shot.

What putting tip could you give a club golfer? Place half a dozen balls around a hole at even distances, and go through your pre-shot routine with each putt. Try holing each putt, but if you miss one, you have to start again.

What putting tip could you give a club golfer? Practice pace putting from 10 feet and 25 feet to improve your distance judgment, and allow your stroke to develop from there.

What has been your most memorable putt? Holing a 15-foot, left-to-right downhiller in the final hole of a play-off for first stage qualification for the EuroPro Tour at Stoke-by Nayland eight years ago. It was a tough par three and there were 11 players in the play-off!

What has been your most memorable putt? A long-range effort from the back of the third green on the Dukes Course at Woburn, which has a notoriously slopy green. It was either in or off the green – but thankfully it dropped!

What has been your most memorable putt? Holing a 12-footer on the 17th hole in the Hampshire Open to keep a one-shot lead down the last.

What has been your most memorable putt? I will always remember holing a six-footer on the first hole at Valderrama in a pro-am with three close friends. It was the location and the company, rather than the putt itself, that made it so special!

Tri-Ball Alignment and Saturn Ring Technology make the Tri-Ball SRT putter the first of its kind. The Saturn Ring produces truer roll off the face, as well as an MOI more than double than the original 2-Ball to help reduce twisting.

Tri-Ball alignment system helps line up putts to the target.

6 0 0 2UAL FORCE-2

D

Dual Force 2 putters feature a firmer, more resilient Stronomic insert than the original. The stainless steel face is replaced with a material one-fifth the weight, repositioning mass to the perimeter and increasing MOI for greater forgiveness and a truer roll.

7 0 0 2IVINE LINE

D

Odyssey’s first range of putters designed specifically for women. Available in three models, the range features shorter shaft lengths and heavier head weights combined with a White Hot XG insert.

Centre of Gravity, as a theory, was first introduced by mathematician Archimedes over 2000 years ago.

Putter headweights have varied greatly over the years. Innovative technology, materials and advanced knowledge of putters has led to an increase in the average weight of a putter – roughly 50 grams in the last 20 years.

There is actually no ideal stroke path. The most important factor in making putts is having a square face at impact.

The rules of golf allow putters to have up to 10° of loft before they are considered to be a wedge. Most putters have lofts in the range of 2° to 6°.

The maximum lie angle on a putter allowed under the rules of golf is 80°.

If the shaft went directly into the centre of gravity of the putter head, the putter wouldn’t have a balance point and the head would just spin.

A full-shaft offset wasn’t popularised until the 1970s, leading to an immense growth in putter sales.

7 0 0 2LACK SERIES

B

Odyssey releases its first all-milled putter, featuring a high-density tungsten flange that repositions the centre of gravity and increases MOI, a fine-tuned loft system for an optimum launch angle, and a rich nickel-plated finish.

ODYSSEY MILLED COLLECTION

ODYSSEY WORKS

ODYSSEY TANK CRUISER

THE BEST MEETS THE BEST

WHERE FEEL MEETS ROLL

FIND YOUR PERFECT BALANCE

Comprising six tour-inspired head shapes, the Milled Collection features Odyssey’s Fusion RX insert that combines the feel of the famed White Hot insert and the smooth roll produced by the Metal-X stainless steel mesh insert.

Working closely with Odyssey’s Tour pros, each model has been refined to feature characteristics preferred by better players, including flatter toplines, squarer face profiles and simple alignment aids. They are CNC milled to extremely precise tolerances and are hand finished.

For players that like to finetune weight and feel, there are sets of interchangeable weights (340g, 350g, 360g) which can be placed in the heel and toe areas to suit individual preferences.

Odyssey Works putters combine many of the brand’s most successful technologies, including the blackwhite-black Versa alignment aid, a new Fusion RX insert, and a wide choice of Tour-proven head shapes.

The Fusion RX insert sees a White Hot insert combined with an ultra-thin stainless steel mesh and the patented Metal-X roll pattern to create a face that gets the ball rolling 12% faster than the standard White Hot insert.

It also reduces skidding and bouncing, which leads to more consistent distance control.

The Works range features three different sub-ranges, including five Versa models, four counter-balanced models, and four standard models, all in Tour-proven head shapes.

The Tank Cruiser brings a new level of fitting options in the most technological counterbalanced putter in golf.

Available in four different models, each Tank Cruiser comes with a weight kit that offers three different head weights (365g, 375g, 385g) and three counterbalance weights (5g, 15g, 30g) to help you dial in your balance so that it’s exactly how you want it.

The faces features a tour-proven White Hot Insert, which is engineered for consistent sound and soft feel across the sweet spot, while the crown features subtle alignment markings to help square the face to the target.

Each model comes fitted with a 15-inch SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip, which houses the adjustable counter balance system and the weight port.

Model Options: #2, #5, #5CS, #6, #7 and #9

Model Options: Versa #1, #1W, #7, #9 & V-Line; Tank #1W, #7, Rossie #1 & 2-Ball Fang; Armlock (#1W); & Standard #1, #7, Rossie & 2-Ball.

Model Options: #1 Wide, #7, #330M & V-Line, with 35- or 38-inch shafts.

Who’s it for?

With so many head shapes and finishes to choose from, there’s an O Works putter out there for all types of player, especially those who appreciate the instant roll offered by the unique Fusion RX insert.

Who’s it for?

Ideal for those that like to play around with the weight and feel at both ends of the putter to suit conditions and/ or personal preferences. It will also suit as an alternative to the soon-to-be-banned broomhandle.

Who’s it for?

Players who prefer traditional Tour-inspired head shapes and are looking for the instant roll and distance control provided by the Fusion RX insert.

YOUR GUIDE TO ODYSSEY HEAD SHAPES

8 0 0 2WHITE OHUORT T

#1

#1W

#2

#5

#5SC

#6

Rounded heel/toe weighted blade

Rounded heel/toe weighted blade with deep head

Squared heel/toe weighted blade

Mallet with heel shaft

Mallet with centre shaft

Rounded Mallet

Designed from feedback gathered from professionals, the White Hot Tour brings Tour-worthy modifications to the hands of Odyssey customers - a rich bronze finish, Tourtuned weight ports to match head weight with shaft length, and a new Tour insert.

9 0 0 2WHITE ICE

Odyssey introduces a new, multi-layer face insert, with an inner core that’s 19% firmer and 92% stiffer than previous models.

The fine-tuned insert performs better with softer golf balls, and delivers enhanced responsiveness, sound, feel and resiliency.

0 1 0 2BACKSTRYKE

Odyssey engineers move the shaft backward, placing the axis of the shaft as close as possible to the putter head’s centre of gravity to promote a fluid, stable stroke for better distance control, consistency, and accuracy.

1 1 0 2D.A.R.T.

Based on the brain’s ability to complete images that the eye doesn’t initially see, D.A.R.T. Technology ensures that the face of the putter is in line with the target and promotes consistent contact with the centre of the face for greater distance control.

COLLECTION 2015

Y M & E M TTER PU STENSON

IK R N HE

ODYSSEY VERSA

ODYSSEY WHITE HOT PRO

HIGH CONTRAST ALIGNMENT

ICONIC TECH GETS EVEN BETTER

Which model Odyssey do you play?

White Hot Tour #7H.

Nicknamed ‘Project Oreo’ by Odyssey’s design team, thanks to its similarity to the biscuit of the same name, the Versa range is all about contrasts.

The logic between the colour design is to help with one of the essential elements of successful putting: squaring the clubface. The contrasting colours serve to accentuate the face angle at address, providing visual feedback throughout the swing to keep your putter square at impact and on the target line.

The current Versa collection includes five models, which include blade, mallet, high MOI wingtip designs, and a black 2-Ball, each in black/white or white/black – and also features a new White Hot insert, which is softer and more responsive, yet sounds more solid off the face.

After bagging countless Tour wins since it launched in 2000, the White Hot insert has been given an upgrade for 2015 in the form of the new White Hot Pro range.

Featuring some of the brand’s most successful head shapes, Odyssey has re-engineered the insert to improve consistency of feel, sound and performance across the entire face. This has been achieved by a number of technological innovations, including more precise tolerance on the insert’s thickness and flatness, and improved tone and feel due to advances in the chemical bonding processes. The inserts are also now laser-cut to shape and can be optimised to suit different head shapes. Offered in a range of Tour-inspired head shapes, a gunmetal, anti-glare PVD finish completes the classy appearance.

Why that model?

I like a putter with a pretty thick top line and straight lines for aiming, and this one certainly gives me that. I have recently received the new T-blade and that one looks very nice to my eye, and maybe a contender.

Model Options: #2, #7, 2-Ball 90, Sabertooth 90, V-Line 90.

Model Options: #1, #, Rossie and V-Line. Plus ladies range, which features #1, 2-Ball & V-Line models.

Who’s it for?

Players who want a simple way to focus on the face angle of the putter during the critical phases of the stroke and line up square to the ball.

Who’s it for?

Players who like the soft, responsive feel of the White Hot insert that prefer a more traditional, tour-inspired look to their putter. A fitting session using Odyssey’s EyeFIT system will reveal the ideal model for your stroke.

What’s your favourite putting drill?

I do a spiral around the hole, with a tee peg starting at two feet and moving out to eight feet in one-foot increments. I then have to make one putt from every peg before I can go home and have dinner.

What has been your most memorable putt?

I have to go back all the way to a play-off against Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen for the BMW International Open in 2006. I made a six-foot eagle putt to win. It is one of the few tournament-winning putts I have made on the last green. It was also my first win on Tour where my wife was present – which also made it special.

#7

#9

330

Rossie

V-Line

2-Ball

Sabertooth

Twin-fanged, high MOI

Flanged blade with heel shaft

Mid-sized mallet

Face-balanced mallet

Perimeter-weighted mallet

Iconic allignment mallet

Perimeter-weighted high MOI mallet

2 1 0 2FLIP FACE

Creating two putters in one, with one side of the face featuring the Metal-X insert and the other side featuring a White Ice insert. The different inserts allow golfers to customise their putter and finetune performance.

2 1 0 2METAL-X

The Metal-X Insert provides the crisp feedback of a metal striking force, while the unique face pattern generates a mechanical lock with the golf ball’s dimples at impact, creating friction and imparting consistent roll for high precision distance control.

3 1 0 2VERSA

Featuring Odyssey’s latest innovation, Visionary High Contrast Alignment, the black and white contrast of the Versa range accentuates the face angle at address, through the stroke and at impact, allowing golfers to align the putter more accurately.

5 1 0 2O WORKS

Odyssey Works putters combine Versa alignment with a new Fusion RX insert, which gets the ball rolling 12% faster than the standard White Hot insert for smoother roll and improved distance control.

WIN AN ODYSSEY TOUR BAG! Fancy winning yourself a brand new Odyssey Works Tour Bag to keep that all-important Odyssey putter safe and secure, along with all your other clubs and golfing paraphernalia? Then simply answer the question below and this limited edition bag could be yours.

Q: How many majors have been won by players using an Odyssey putter?

To enter, email info@golfnews.co.uk with ‘Odyssey Tour Bag Competition’ in the subject line. Closing date is 15 June 2015.

PIMP MY PUTTER!

IDENTIFY THE SIGNATURE & WIN THE PUTTER We’re giving you yet another chance to win a great Odyssey prize. Just look at the putter above, identify the signature and email us the answer.

The winner will receive an Odyssey putter signed by our mystery player.

Clue: It’s a Callaway staff player.

Good Luck…

To enter, email info@golfnews. co.uk with ‘Odyssey Mystery Putter Competition’ in the subject line.

Closing date is 15 June 2015.

Tour Pros love to add some personality their Odyssey putters, whether it be by having their initials engraved on the face, their national colours painted onto the sole, or a funky headcover, and now you can add a personal touch to your own Odyssey putter through the brand’s full logo service.

To be in with a chance of having the Odyssey putter of your choice given a full personal makeover, simply answer the following question below.

Q: How many times has Phil Mickelson won the Masters?

To enter, email info@golfnews.co.uk with ‘Odyssey Pimp My Putter Competition’ in the subject line.

Closing date is 15 June 2015.

Y M & E M TTER PU WILLETT

Y N N DA

Which model Odyssey do you play?

I use an Odyssey Versa Rossie.

Why that model?

I just think it has the best feel for me.

Do you have a putting drill that the average player could use?

I would always recommend putting through gates to any player at any level.

What is your most memorable putt?

My 50-foot eagle putt on the 13th hole at Augusta at this year’s Masters.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

L

ast year was one of your best seasons so far on tour. What made the difference?

Yes, not quite my very best, but I felt I played fairly consistently. I don’t think I played brilliantly, but I had some good tournaments, made a lot of cuts, and just played pretty steadily all year. Everything was just that fraction better than in the previous two or three years.

My stats were better in every department, and that’s all you can look for. It’s been an allround thing. I didn’t shoot that many poor scores, but I needed to turn the 68s into 65s and 64s, which get you into contention.

Overall, I was a little disappointed I didn’t make top 60 in the money list and qualify for the Race to Dubai finals, but a year ago I was lying on an operating table having knee surgery, and missing the first part of the season, so the positives far outweigh the negatives.

You had a chance to win in Morocco last month – how disappointed were you to finish ninth?

When you finish in the top ten, you know you have had a decent week, but I went out on Sunday and had a really good chance, and just didn’t play well enough on the front nine. But I’m proud of the way I hung in there and battled my way back. I know my game’s not a million miles away from being really good. If it wasn’t for just three or four holes on the front nine, I could have been right in there. Yes, I was disappointed, but I haven’t

MAY 2015 [37]

lost any confidence over it. If I keep playing like I’m playing, then hopefully it will all come together at the right time and, hey ho, you’re holding a trophy.

I know my time’s going to come, and I’ve just got to be patient.

You’re hovering around the top-60 mark again this season.

Are you confident that you can push on?

The start of the season has been very positive, and it’s nice to know you’re playing pretty decently, coming into the time of year when you really want to be playing well. The BMW is right around the corner, there’s the Irish and the French, so we’ve got some great events coming up. You’re always trying to improve and sharpen up your game, but it’s nice not to feel like you’re searching for something that’s missing.

You’ve been on tour for over 15 years now – is the motivation and desire still as strong as ever?

Probably more so, because I’m 42 now, and I’m one of the older guys out here. Being realistic, I’m in the autumn of my career, so I want to make the most of the time I’ve got left, however long that might be.

When the young bombers arrive on tour, what does that do to your mindset as one of the older guys?

You’ve just got to ignore it and draw on your experience. My short game has always been my main strength, so I know that I can use that to my advantage.

I’m fairly average off the tee, distance-wise, but even so, there’s no course that I feel is too long for me. They’re coming out younger and stronger, so you’ve got to try to keep up with them – but I’ve played out here for a long time, and I just try to use my experience to my advantage.

Are your strengths and weaknesses pretty much the same as when you first came out on tour?

As I say, my short game has always been my main strength, and probably still is. But, of course, you’re always trying to work at everything. My iron play has been better in the last year or so. That doesn’t mean to say that you’re hitting it to six feet on every hole, but more that you’re just not making as many mistakes. Perhaps you think, ‘Hang on a minute – that’s a bit dangerous’, and you don’t go at certain flags. Then there’s the mental side as well, so you’re just trying to better yourself the whole time. It’s the whole package you’re working on.

Do you work with anyone on the mental side of the game?

From time to time, but at the end of the day it’s nothing that you don’t already know. It’s just about getting out of your own way most of the time, and playing the golf you know you can play.

That’s the main thing out on tour.

You see a

RICHARD BLAND FACTFILE AGE: 42 HOME CLUB: STONEHAM GC, HAMPSHIRE TURNED PRO: 1996 WORLD RANKING: 266 RACE TO DUBAI: 71 EUROPEAN TOUR EVENTS: 353 PRIZE MONEY: €3,114, 563 BIGGEST PRIZE: €180,200 (5th, 2006 BMW PGA Championship) HIGHEST ORDER OF MERIT: 65TH (2010) WINS: 0 TOP 10s: 17 CHALLENGE TOUR EVENTS: 100 WINS: 1 (2001 Challenge Tour Grand Final) TOP 10s: 22 PRIZE MONEY: €259,181 MAJORS: 1998 Open Championship (MC), 2009 US Open (MC)

Hampshire-based Richard Bland, now in his 20th year as a pro, talks about keeping up with the young guns on Tour, recovering from knee surgery, and how he’s hopeful of bagging a coveted spot in The Race to Dubai Final Series

lot of guys getting frustrated, of course, and I get frustrated too – but I try to keep that to the bare minimum, so you can play the next shot better than you would otherwise be able to.

How do you react to a bad shot – bottle it up inside or let it all out?

I’m not really a club thrower or anything like that, but I probably call myself a few names! A lot of people think it’s a bad thing to show some frustration, but I always think it’s a good thing, because you’re getting rid of it.

If you can say, ‘Right, I’ve got rid of that frustration – now it’s all about the next shot’, then for me it’s okay. As long as you don’t start slamming clubs and breaking things, then fair enough. If you just let it fester inside and bottle it up, then you’re a ticking time bomb as far as I’m concerned. The key is just to make sure you’re ready for the next shot.

Do you work more on the fitness side now than when you first

came out on tour?

Yes, but more to try to stay supple than anything, because you are getting a bit older, and there are a few more aches and pains now! I do some cardio work as well, as you have to try to keep up with the youngsters, but I’m never going to be a marathon runner! I just want to be able to play 18 holes and feel fairly fresh at the end of it all.

In places like Malaysia, you’ve got to be fit and healthy, as it’s a sweat bath out there, and you don’t want to find your tank’s running empty with four or five holes to play. There’s no part of the game you can leave unturned nowadays – you have to work on everything, because if you’re not, someone else is, and they’re going to go past you. It’s not getting any easier!

What’s your favourite course on tour, or perhaps one you feel gives you your best chance of success?

I’ve always loved Hong Kong because, again, it’s not that bombers’ paradise. You have to think your way around, and hit a lot of long irons and 5-woods off the tees. I like those kinds of courses where it’s a bit more of a level playing field. Another of my favourites is Loch Lomond.

Unfortunately we don’t get to play there any more, but I always used to love going there.

Do you still play many regional events back home?

No, not really. I might play in my home pro-am at Stoneham if I’m around, but other than that, no. I just play social golf when I’m at home, so it’s either tournament golf or a bit of social at home – that’s all.

FIT & 42

[38] MAY 2015 | STORY BEHIND THE PIC

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC NEIL COLES | PICCADILLY WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP | OCTOBER 9, WENTWORTH 1964

N

eil Coles joined a rarefied group of golfers last month when he was made an honorary member of the Professional Golfers’ Association.

It was a fitting and long overdue recognition for the Londonborn 80 year old, who not only enjoyed a long and successful career as a player, but also as a golf course designer, and latterly as an official, serving as chairman of the European Tour’s board of directors, a position from which he retired only 18 months ago.

Although he never managed to win a major, Coles was arguably one of England’s most successful golfers during the 1960s and 70s, racking up 31 wins on the professional circuit, 24 of which came before the European Tour came into being in 1972.

He is pictured here waiting to tee off at the 15th hole at Wentworth during the first round of the first ever World Match Play Championship. The tournament, which took place immediately after the Piccadilly Championship, saw just eight of the world’s top players take part in a straightforward knock-out.

Coles beat Tomy Lema 4&3 in the opening 36-hole match, and then took down Bruce Devlin 2&1 in the semi-final to set up a final against Arnold Palmer. Palmer

led by two after nine holes, but Coles won the 11th, 12th, 13th and the 18th to reach lunch two holes up. However Palmer, who was at the height of his powers, fought back in the afternoon, going 2, 3, 3 from the 5th to the 7th to lead by one, reaching the turn in 32. Coles was powerless to prevent Palmer from closing out the match on the 17th, with ‘The King’ winning 2&1 after playing the final 17 holes in just 61 shots.

Coles’s rise to rise to the top of world golf – which twice saw him ranked seven – was all the more remarkable given that he was playing off a 14 handicap at the age of 16. A late starter, he began his golfing career as a young PGA assistant to Ken Adwick at Letchworth Golf Club in Hertfordshire, after rejecting the chance to join his father’s shoe repair and leather business.

He later followed Adwick to Burhill, before moving on to Coombe Hill with Dick Burton and Ken Bousfield. Coombe Hill proved a happy hunting ground for Coles, with his first professional win coming at The Ballantines Championship at Wentworth in 1961.

A fierce competitor, Coles revelled in the competitive arena, and had five top-10 finishes in the Open, with his best chance of lifting the claret jug came in 1961, when he shared third with Christy O’Connor behind Arnold

Palmer at Royal Birkdale. His major career suffered because of his fear of flying, so he never played in the Masters or the US Open.

He also had the misfortune to be playing during the height of America’s all-conquering Ryder Cup teams of the 60s and 70s, and he played eight times between 1961 and 1977 without ever coming out on the winning side. However, he remained a formidable individual opponent,

and still shares the record with Colin Montgomerie for the most singles wins – seven.

When he turned 50 in 1985, Coles jumped at the chance of joining the European Senior Tour. It proved an equally successful hunting ground, with Coles winning nine tournaments between 1992 and 2002 – including the inaugural Senior British Open Championship in 1987 – and finishing inside the top 10 on the money liston no

fewer than eight occassions.

His final victory came in the 2002 Lawrence Batley Seniors at the grand age of 67 – more than four years older than any previous winner of a seniors’ tournament.

He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000, although Coles will perhaps be most proud of his recent recognition by the PGA – an institution that he holds most dear to his heart.

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MAY 2015 [39]

Harrison honoured with Micklem Award Hampshire’s David Harrison has received England Golf’s Gerald Micklem Award for his contribution to the amateur game.

The award was announced at England Golf’s annual meeting when delegates were told of Harrison’s involvement in the sport for over 60 years.

A noted player and an administrator who was captain of the R&A, Harrison was made an OBE for his services to golf, and played a key role in the merger which created England Golf, as the independent chairman of the steering group.

An honorary member of Stoneham, Alresford and Hayling golf clubs, he played for the Hampshire boys’ and youths’ teams before representing England boys. He joined the RAF as a national serviceman and won the RAF championship twice and played in winning teams in two inter-service championships.

He later went to Oxford where he gained a golfing Blue, before winning the Hampshire County Championship a record six times.

He was county captain, played for the county team for 20 years, and also twice won the Golf Illustrated Vase.

Harrison excelled as a golf administrator and was President of the EGU before becoming captain of the R&A in 2007.

He is a qualified rules official and on many occasions has acted as a referee at the Open Championship and at other major golf events.

He is the president of the Hampshire PGA and has also held the positions of joint chairman of the International Golf Federation, president of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries and chairman of the Championship Committee of The European Golf Association.

Sharan storms to Kent Ladies’ title Wrotham Heath’s Sharna Dutrieux captured the Kent Ladies County Championship after beating Tita McCart 4&2 in the final held at Rochester & Cobham Golf Club.

The talented teenager romped through the earlier match play rounds, beating Nicole Stewart 4&3, Fiona McCann 7&6, before dispatching Mollie Lawrence 5&4 in the semi-final.

Brett is taylor-made for Burnham May is ladies month at Epsom Golf Club

Former PGA Assistants’ champion Brett Taylor has his sights set on another national crown after winning the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship East qualifying event at Essendon Golf Club.

He topped the leaderboard at the Hertfordshire venue after carding a level-par round of 72.

And the victory means he has qualified for the grand final for the first time.

He has also played on the European Tour and he competed in the Open at Troon in 2004.

Now he is hoping to put himself

in contention for a PGA Cup place and face the USA in California this September.

Taylor beat Keith Grant and Lawrence Dodd by two shots - and they will join nine other qualifiers at the £91,500 grand final, which will be held at Burnham & Berrow in Somerset on June 2-5.

The Essex-based professional, who now players under the Brett Taylor Golf banner, said: “I had been playing more than coaching, but I’ve got a young family now, so I’ve set up Brett Taylor Golf, which is based at

Crondon Park. That takes up a lot of my time, and I do a lot of coaching now, but I still enjoy playing so this is a good thing for me.”

Taylor was delighted to book his place for Burnham. “This is the first time I’ve qualified for the final. I’ve played once or twice before and not made it.

Other times the qualifier has clashed with something else, so it’s really nice to get through to a big tournament like this again.

I’d like to think I’m playing well so the opportunity to perhaps try for a PGA Cup place is there too.”

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Women looking to take their game to the next level, or to start playing for the very first time, are being encouraged to try their hand at Epsom Golf Club in Surrey, where a host of events are taking place as part of the National Golf Month campaign.

The forward-thinking club is inviting ladies to play its 5,750yard, 18-hole course in a mixture of open competitions, or attended a variety of group lessons, golf clinics, fashiion shows and clubfitting sessions, all of which are offered for free during May. Free long-game lesson are being offered every Wednesday during the month, while roll-up group coaching sessions take place on Thursdays. May 21 will see a fashion show being staged in association with Puma Golf, where the brand’s current clothing ranges will be featured, while Callaway takes centre stage on May 28 for a special ladies’ equipment fiting day, where Callaway’s new XR range of woods and irons and putters from Odyssey, will be available to try out.

Yonex Golf is also hosting a day

Trish Johnson

on June 2, where guests can trial the latest launches and take part in a on-course clinic with special guest Trish Johnson, a long-time star on the Ladies European Tour, who will be hosting a Q&A session after lunch. The day costs £15 per person to include refreshments and lunch.

To sign up for any of these events, call 01372 741867 or email stuartwalker@epsomgolfclub. co.uk. All those who register will be entitled to a free sleeve of Callaway golf balls on arrival.

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[40] MAY 2015 | MEET THE PRO

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MEET THE PRO DAVID GREEN

HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL DAVID GREEN OFFERS THE INSIDE TRACK ON LIFE AT WILDERNESSE GOLF CLUB IN KENT

How long have you been a PGA professional?

20 years.

When did you join your current club and how long have you been there?

I joined Wildernesse in 2011 as PGA Head Professional.

What is your day-to-day role?

As with most pros, it’s one of juggling – from the obvious leading, managing, coaching, merchandising, retailing and playing, to the less obvious tailor, weather forecaster and counsellor!

What’s the best thing about your job?

Not many people have their hobby as their job, let alone their passion. I like all aspects of my job, but I love playing. It’s where I am my best.

And the worst?

The English weather.

What can you tell us about your club?

We have a fantastic 6,500-yard, par 72 parkland course, and a 300-yard practice range with both grass and artificial areas to offer year-round practice. We have a new indoor performance studio, which has C-Swing video analysis software, Flightscope and E6 simulator technology.

I’m involved in a five-year rolling plan for course development, which currently involves bunker re-design and improvements. The club is hosting Regional Qualifying for Open Championship next month, and we’re all very excited about that.

What is the club doing to attract juniors and women?

We have created a junior academy, which attracts 50 juniors each year from the local area. The academy offers a structured programme that covers all aspects of the game, and includes playing Wildernesse Golf Club

a shortened version of the course. For ladies, we have the new members’ academy, which has introduced 20 new women members. We have joined forces with the Kent Ladies and conduct improvers’ coaching for junior girls across the county.

What would stimulate more people to take up golf?

Golf takes time – not only to learn, but also to play. This is a particular problem for busy families, so we need to focus on the future of the game. We need to find a way to encourage golfers to play more 9-hole golf and different formats played at a faster pace.

While gimmicks like Footgolf and StreetGolf are better than no golf, I doubt they have had any real impact on growth.

How should clubs go about retaining existing members?

By making clubs more inclusive without diminishing the tradition.

The 30-45 year old age bracket is the most sought after, but also has the greatest financial and time constraints. We must try to be more welcoming to families, and offer more flexible memberships to reflect this.

How much time do you spend teaching?

I give 25 lessons per week of varying durations.

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

Poor posture – it influences so much movement in the golf swing and causes lower back injuries if left uncorrected.

What’s selling well in the pro shop?

The new Callaway XR product range, particularly the irons.

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

When you’re faced with a breaking

putting, pick the apex, hit it there and let the slope take over!

What has been your highlight as a player?

It was at the 1996 National Assistants Championship at Moor Allerton. It was my first major tournament, and although I only finished eighth, it was the first time that I really believed that I belonged.

That gave me the foundation and drive to work harder.

If you could change one rule in golf what would it be?

Dropping the ball in a bunker, whether under penalty or not.

You are punished twice, firstly for being in the bunker, but then a plugged lie!

Who is your golfing hero?

I admire many golfers - Phil Mickleson, as a fellow lefty; Ernie Els for his great tempo and easy going nature; Nick Faldo for his ability to grind out a result; but as a man to idolise in a heroic sense, it has to be Seve. When I was growing up, he was the player that looked like he was having the most fun. He hit it, found it, got out of trouble, and then either holed the next or got up and down from an impossible place.

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

In the UK it would be Royal St Georges, the rest of the world it would have to be Le Touserrok in Mauritius – great views and a typical Bernhard Langer thinking test.

Who would be in your dream fourball?

Seve, Tom Hanks and Bill Clinton, with my wife on the bag!

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

A professional cricketer or a PE teacher. I always wanted to do something in sport.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAY 2015

[41]

THE THINKING MAN’S US OPEN Already branded as a ‘joke’ by the reigning Masters champion and a ‘one-off’ by the USGA, Chambers Bay looks set to play a starring role at next month’s US Open, whether the players like it or not

I

f anyone thought that the venue for last year’s US was ‘like nothing we’ve ever seen or we’ll ever see Open, Pinehurst No.2, involved a fair amount of – tee to green it looks fair, but if the greens are firm sand, then prepare yourselves for this year’s host, and fast it will probably be a joke’. Henrik Stenson, Chambers Bay, which from some angles, looks like always one of the more outspoken players on tour, the entire layout is made from the grainy stuff. politely branded the layout a ‘different animal’, The controversial course, which is located on the and highlighted the course’s elevation changes as shores of the Puget Sound in Washington State, is ‘unique’. brand new to the major rota, and has already been With no trees to speak off, and some of the widest on the receiving end of more than the fair share of fairways ever seen at a US Open venue, on paper criticism that is normally thrown the way of the USGA the course doesn’t look too testing; but factor in the over its choice of venue. coastal breezes, wickedly sloped fairways, graduated Known for disliking players going under par, the rough, undulating greens – which are expected to USGA has gone out on a limb in choosing the Robert play around 12.5 on the stimpmeter – and the sea of Trent Jones-designed course, which measures a waste bunkers that encroach on almost every hole, whopping 7,600 yards off the very back tees. and it’s easy to see why some big scores are going A public course, which only opened in 2007, to be racked up when the action gets under way on Chambers Bay is expected by officials to play like a June 18. seaside links, with fast, firm-running sloping fairways, “Some of the greens and fairways have a lot of undulating greens, uneven lies, and elevation undulation relative to other places we take a US changes. USGA executive director Mike Davis went Open, said Davis. “It’s a fascinating mix of both on record earlier this month to say that players would knowing how to use these slopes, and knowing how need to study the course long and hard if they wanted to stay away from certain slopes. You really have to to win the US Open, and went so far as to suggest that think your way around this golf course.” those that didn’t might as well stay at home.

As with most US Opens, the course will have a “The US Open at Chambers Bay will not be won par of 70 to make breaking par even harder, and by someone just turning up for a couple of quick continuing with the ‘unique’ theme, the USGA plans practice rounds that week,” said Davis. “It’s a bold, to flip the pars for the opening and closing holes, so one-of-a-kind site for a US Open, and that they play as either par fours or par will require a change of mindset by the fives depending on the tee of the day.

CARD OF THE players. I would contend that there is “The most intriguing thing about COURSE no way a player could have success at the architecture is that it gives us 7,607-7,874 YARDS, Chambers Bay unless he really studies great flexibility in terms of setting up PAR 70 the course and learns it. The idea of the golf course,” added Davies. “We coming in and playing two practice weren’t trying to be innovative or cute.

HOLE YARDS PAR rounds and having your caddie just It’s down to the architecture of the 1 496/598 4/5 walk it and using your yardage book – course that it gives so much wonderful 2 399 4 that person’s done. They will not win flexibility.”

3 198 3 the US Open.”

While Jordan Speith’s comments 4 495 4 Davis added: “There’s going to be suggest he has already talked himself 5 488 4 some players who just love this ground out of winning back-to-back majors, 6 495 4 game, who love the imagination, there will be plenty of other players who embrace it. Then there are other who will fancy their chances of bagging 7 508 4 players who just want predictability. It the US Open trophy when the sun 8 614 5 would not be a US Open if we didn’t goes down over the Pugot Sound on 9 224 3 get some chirping. In fact, we often June 21 – including last year’s winner 10 436 4 joke that if nobody’s complaining, we Martin Kaymer, who also prevailed at 11 537 5 have done something wrong.”

Whistling Straights in 2010, a course 12 311 4 And complain they have. Masters not too dissimilar to Chambers Bay. 13 534 4 champion Jordan Spieth, who played Oh, and if you want to play it for 14 546 4 in the US Amateur at Chambers Bay in yourself once the pros have all gone 15 246/167 3 2010, called the course a ‘joke’ during home, the green fee is $299.

16 423 4 an unguarded moment in play during 17 218 3 this month’s WGC Cadillac Match Play;

18 605/525 5/4 while continuing the comedy theme, The 2015 US Open will be screened on fellow American Ryan Palmer said it Sky Sports from June 18-21.

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[42] MAY 2015 | COMPETITION

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[44] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

M

ost young boys will remember waiting for the sound of the garden gate opening on the morning of their birthday, followed by the reassuring thud as a bundle of cards hits the doormat with the promises of untold riches – usually a £5 note from Grandma and a gift token to spend in WH Smith from my godfather, in my case.

At 27 years of age, Danny Willett is probably a little bit too old to get excited about his birthday these days, but the day the postman delivered a rather important letter from America in March will stick much longer in his memory than any birthday wishes from distant relatives ever did.

As the delivery man casually popped the envelope in question through Willett’s letterbox, he was unaware that inside was golf’s equivalent of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket: an invitation to play at the Masters.

It was a letter that Willett had been waiting a long time to receive, after qualifying at the end of December. “I saw the postie coming up the path, and although I was in the middle of a session in my gym, I couldn’t hold on to see if it had arrived,” he says. “I had and to open it and see it; well, it just felt awesome.

It’s funny, at the end of last year I was trying to play down trying to qualify for Augusta. But it was obviously a big thing for me.”

While most other professional golfers had put away their clubs for the festive break, Willett was involved in an excruciating battle with his friend Tommy Fleetwood for the final Masters’ place. Willett’s stunning victory at the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City had hurtled him to 50th in the world rankings, with the top 50 at the year’s conclusion being Georgia bound.

Yet while Willett, in the week before Christmas, finally turned it in for the campaign, Fleetwood launched one last desperate effort on the Asian Tour. Willett could do nothing more. If Fleetwood came in the top 17 at the Dubai Open, it would be him eating the turkey with azalea trimmings.

Exhausted, Fleetwood missed the cut and, back in Yorkshire, Willett could stop pressing the refresh button on the leaderboard. “Up until then everyone was doing their calculations and, no, I couldn’t relax,” Willett says. “Tommy missing the cut did take the pressure off, but it was a tough situation. Not only are we good mates, but we share a manager [Chubby Chandler] and I didn’t want to rub it in. Not about something that he’d dreamt about, like I had. Tommy came up to me in Abu Dhabi, which was our first starts to this year, and said ‘Well done’. So then we had a bit of a laugh about it and I

HANDY

Following a win in South Africa, an impressive Masters debut, and a third place in the WGC Match Play, Danny Willett is in the form of his life and leading the next generation of young English talent on the world stage

could engage in a spot of banter.”

Once the joking subsided, Willett knuckled down to the serious task of tackling his first visit to Augusta. His preparation went remarkably well, bagging a tied 12th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in March, and a top 30 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, while his only blemish came at the Houston Open, where he could perhaps be forgiven a missed cut with one eye on the following week’s event in Augusta.

As things turned out, Willett acquitted himself admirably on his visit to the season’s opening major. Paired with 1987 Masters’ champion champion Larry Mize and Australian amateur Byron Meth in the opening two rounds, he fired two 71s to progress to the weekend, where a messy third round 76 followed by another sub-par 71 saw him

finish tied for 38th – albeit 19 shots behind winner Jordan Spieth.

Willett was more than satisfied with his week’s work. “Any time you play all four rounds of a major you have to be happy, especially when it’s the Masters, and it’s your first one,” he says.

“The more you play Augusta, the better your chances are of getting around, so for my first time it was a pretty good effort.”

He adds: “I got there on Sunday and tried to take it all in on the practice days, so that when the time came, I was ready to focus on scoring rather than looking all around. I was in the second group out on the Thursday, and there were already 20,000 people on the golf course.”

Aside from the great memories, Willett also got to take away some crystal glassware, when he eagled the iconic par-five

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAY 2015 [45]

I SAW THE POSTIE COMING UP THE PATH, AND ALTHOUGH I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SESSION IN MY GYM, I COULDN’T HOLD ON TO SEE IF IT HAD ARRIVED

DANNY

13th on the opening day after holing a monster putt. “That was pretty special,” he admits. “The ball is somewhere around your kneecaps when you’re hitting that second shot, so it’s always hard to hit a fade into a back-right flag, so I just tried to make sure it didn’t get too far right. Anywhere on that green, you know it’s going to be a stupidly breaking putt.

The putt was fully 50 feet, and it tracked all the way. You dream of boxing one across that green when you’re a kid, so to actually do it was brilliant.

“Overall, I hit a lot of good shots, but it’s easy to get out of place, and before you know it, you’ve racked up a double bogey.”

Willett took that confidence with him to a different format of the game three weeks later, when he teed it up in the WGC Cadillac Match Play at Harding Park in San Fransisco. Having not

played match play golf since his amateur days, Willett had no real expectations, but he took down Ryan Moore, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood and lost to Gary Woodland in the semi-final before beating Jim Furyk in the third-place play-off.

His weeks work saw him pocket $646,000, and, perhaps more significantly, earn a temporary membership of the PGA Tour – opening up the chance to play more events in America.

Now ranked 38th in the world, and a clear second behind Rory McIlroy in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, Willett is leading a new generation of English golfers who looked pumped and primed to follow in the spike-marks of Messrs Rose, Westwood, Donald and Poulter.

Among the younger generation of fellow home-grown talents include two of the men Willett

beat in San Francisco – Fleetwood and Sullivan – along with the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Eddie Pepperell, Oliver Fisher, Matt Baldwin, Andrew Johnston and Matt Fitzpatrick.

And it is Willett, possessing that air of confidence that comes with playing amongst the elite, who believes he can be at the vanguard of this latest St George surge. “England golf at amateur level has always been good, but there was a time after the Westy, Donald and Rose crowd when the transition level to the pro ranks was not so great. But there appears to be a new wave.

It seems to happen in five- or 10-year stages. You get Westy, Luke, Poults who are a similar age and now me, Tommy, Sully, a few others are a similar age. What are our prospects? We’ll see.

Out of this group, though, I think we’ll see some really good golfers

emerge – maybe this year, maybe next. Hopefully I will be heading that. We’re all working hard and all aiming high. It would be amazing if we could get a couple of world No.1s like the last wave, or a major winner or two.”

There’s no doubting that Britain’s got talent, and there can also be no doubting the credentials of the mentors. “We do play practice rounds with the likes of Westy, and it is invaluable picking their brains,” Willett says. “When you play with them, and get advice from them, you realise they’re just normal guys.

It removes some of the mystique about the top golfers.”

In truth, Willett is not the type to be intimidated by his elders, as he showed when beating Westwood in the match play format at Harding Park – and of course when he boldly stared down Donald in Sun City in

December to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which was his second European Tour title, to go with the BMW International he won in 2012.

Rewind seven years, and it’s perhaps possible to see why Willett looks comfortable taking on the world’s best players. One of his last events as an amateur was in the 2007 Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham, where he reached the final.

Everyone at Lytham knew all about his opponent – a teenager named Rory McIlroy – but few had heard of Willett. Within six holes Willett was five up, eventually winning on the 17th.

An English Amateur title followed, as well as a place alongside McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup, and when he turned professional the following May Willett was ranked the No.1 amateur in the world. Eight top-10s in his first European Tour season only further underlined his rich promise.

But then, a few years down the line, with the BMW International title ready to thrust him into the elite, his lower back began to ache. The complaint was traced back to an accident he had on a sledge as a nine-year-old, and was to blight his entire 2013 and the first half of last year.

Willett is still in managing mode, deliberately limiting his schedule in order to limit the stress he puts on his body.

“I’m not 100 per cent, but it’s massively improved,” he says.

“Physically it hurt, but mentally was the killer. When you know you’re swinging quite well, supposedly in your prime, and the body won’t let you rotate. It did hold me back, and I feel I’m now in the position I should have been a couple of years ago. But I’ve learnt a lot and can take the positives into what is going to be a really cool year, what with all the events I’m in. This is my seventh year on the Tour, and in itself it is a great achievement every year to keep doing what you are doing. It’s all going in the right direction, and I’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully keep getting better.”

Willett is certainly going in the right direction – up.

NEWS IN BRIEF GODWIN LIFTS KENT CLOSED TITLE AT LYDD Barnehurst-based Jordan Godwin shot a level-par round of 71 around Lydd Golf Club to claim the first PGA in Kent Closed Championship.

Godwin’s 71 edged out runner up Robert Cameron’s (Sundridge Park) to take the first prize of £700, while Alfie Plant’s 73 put him in pole position as the leading amateur by five strokes from Dan Smith. The new tournament, which is jointly hosted by The PGA in Kent and the Kent Golf Union, involves both top amateurs and pros from the county.

AMOR GOES LOW AT LIPHOOK Wiltshire’s Ben Amor played his way into the Brabazon Trophy with a course record 65 in the southern qualifier at Liphook on May 12. The 19-year-old from Marlborough finished birdie, birdie, eagle to clip a shot off the old record and to lead 30 qualifiers for the Brabazon, which takes places at Notts Golf Club from June 24-27. His closest challengers were Kent golfers Freddie Price and Alfie Plant, who were two-under par.

STAFFS LAUNCHES GOLF EXPRESS A campaign to encourage busy people to play all the game in half the time has been launched in Staffordshire. Golf Express, which offers 9-hole formats for time-pressure golfers, has been backed by 19 clubs across the county, offering 9-hole green fees and a loyalty card to encourage golfers to play more often, with six rounds offered for the price of five. Twelve of the clubs are also offering non-members the opportunity to play in weekly roll-up competitions. The campaign is expected to be rolled out across the country in the coming months.

LOWE LIFTS SENIOR TITLE Leicestershire’s Helen Lowe won the English senior women’s amateur championship at staging a superb back-nine fightback to defeat defending champion Julie Brown at Woodall Spa. Three down after 14 holes of the final, Lowe won four holes in a row to snatch victory on the 18th hole.

[46] MAY 2015 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Cambo calls it a day Former major champion and eight-time European Tour winner Michael Campbell has retired from professional golf The 46-year-old New Zealander quit the game just one month shy of a decade on from his most famous victory at the US Open in 2005.

His triumph at Pinehurst matched Sir Bob Charles’s 1963 effort in the Open at Royal Lytham, making him only the second New Zealander to win a major championship.

In addition to his US Open title, Campbell, who turned professional in 1993, won seven other European Tour titles, the most recent stroke play tournament being the Irish Open in 2003.

However, after suffering from a lack of motivation and several niggling injuries he suffered a massive deterioration in form over the last seven or eight years.

His only outing this year saw him retire from the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January, while the last cut he made was at the Russian Open in August 2013. He ended his career having played in exactly 400 European Tour events and won almost €12 million in prize money.

Campbell lived in Brighton during the height of his career, but now lives in Spain, where he runs a golf academy at Villa Padierna Golf Resort in Marbella.

He admitted that his personal life also played a part in his slump, with his recent separation and subsequent divorce from his wife, Julie, taking its toll on his game.

Speaking to a broadcaster in New Zealand following his decision to retire, Campbell said: “I’ve decided to put golf on the back burner and focus on other

Campbell celebrated his US Open win in 2005 with a dip in the sea near his home in Brighton

things. In the last 18 months, my game hasn’t come back, and a separation and a divorce haven’t helped either. I’ve been an absent father for long periods of my career, and I’ve now got the opportunity to spend more time with my kids, cooking them meals and dropping them off at school.”

He added: “I have no regrets walking away from the game. I have no motivation to play. I thought I’d miss playing, but I don’t. It’s weird, but this has been a chance to reassess my life.

I really enjoying giving back, and I’m looking forward to concentrating on my golf academy. I’ve spoken to a lot of friends, and they’ve told me to be proud of what I’ve achieved, and to stop beating my head against a brick wall – so that’s precisely what I’m going to do.”

Campbell, who is also working as a golf commentator with Fox Sports Asia, said he is considering playing the seniors tour when he turns 50 in four years’ time.

RORY’S RAKING IT IN, AND SO IS SIR NICK! Rory McIlroy and Sir Nick Faldo are the highest placed golfers at joint 10th in the 2015 Sunday Times Rich List, which was published last month.

World number one Money machine: Rory McIlroy McIlroy and six-time major winner Faldo, are both reported to have amassed fortunes of £38m.

Two-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton tops the list with £88m, followed by Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (£72m). Another F1 driver, Jenson Button, is third with a personal wealth of £71m.

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, whose fortune is up from £28m in 2014, won two major titles last season to take his tally to four.

And his bank balance could have been considerably higher were it not for the costly fall-out with his former management company, Horizon, which lead to a settlement that cost him a oneoff fee of €25 million.

The 26 year old signed a deal with

sportswear giant Nike in 2013 that was reported to be worth £156m over 10 years, and he has numerous other blue chip sponsors, including Omega, Bose, He bought his Big earner: Nick Faldo house in Palm Beach, Florida for £6.7m in 2012, and he also owns a £250,000 Lamborghini Aventador.

Faldo who will appear in his last Open Championship at St Andrews in July, is a prominent TV golf analyst in America, and has a string of business interests, including a successful golf course design company. The 57-year-old three-time Open champion won his last major title at the Masters in 1996.

The report, compiled by the Sunday Times Magazine, reveals the wealth of the 1,000 richest people in Britain and the 250 richest people in Ireland. The list is based on identifiable wealth, including land and property, other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly-quoted companies. It excludes bank accounts.

McGowan claims spoils in Zambia The revival in the form and of fortunes of Surrey tour pro Ross McGowan took another important leap forward last month, when he won the Zambia Open.

The 34-year-old from Banstead bagged his maiden victory on Africa’s Sunshine Tour by two shots from Danie van Tonder, after finishing with a five-under par 67 to capture the tournament with a 13-under par total at Nkana Golf Club.

It marks another step up the ladder for McGowan, who lost his European Tour card in 2011, and has been struggling with injuries.

Last month he won the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open on the Middle East and North Africa Tour, and followed that up with a third-place finish at the Royal Golf D’Anfa Open in Morocco. His latest win, which came with a welcome winner’s cheque for just over £27,000, secured his card for the rest of the Sunshine Tour’s season, and also earned him entry into the Mauritius Open, which is a new event on the European Tour’s schedule.

“I don’t think you ever get used to the process of winning, but I do think that having been there before helps. I guess it comes down to composure and just believing in yourself, and trying to trust your game and your swing.”

He added: “I said to my caddie that I thought I needed to get to 12-under if I was to have a chance of winning,” he said. “I just fired at the flags on those final holes.”

Back on track: McGowan has rediscovered his form after recovering from injury

Cool Casey collects Alps Tour title A brilliant final round 65 helped Enfieldbased tour professional Harry Casey claim his first victory on the Alps Tour in the Gösser Harry Casey Open.

Teeing it up in only his sixth event on the popular Europe-based tour, the 22 year old started the final round four strokes back, but reached the turn in 32 strokes to put himself in the hunt for the title, having posted earlier rounds of 69 and 70.

An dramatic eagle-three at the 13th, where he chipped in from off the green, put Casey in front for the first time, and he finished off the round in fine style, chipping in again from 35 feet on the 18th hole to take the title.

Victory moved Casey up to sixth place in the Alps Tour Order of Merit, and leaves the Enfield based professional in confident mood heading into the busy summer schedule.

Speaking after picking up the €5,800 first prize, Casey commented. “I knew if I could make birdie on the last I had a chance, or at least a shot at a play-off.

My final putt went over a tier and straight in, and fortunately for me, 12-under was good enough to win! It was a great feeling and I am really buzzing.”

Casey now heads over to Italy for the Open Colli Berici near Verona for the next stop on the Alps Tour schedule.

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GAME CHANGED

[48] MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

READY... AIM... FIRE...

Sports psychologist Jack Marlow reveals five ways to engage your golfing brain for the new season

Gary Player once said ‘a strong mind is one of the key components that separate the great from the good’, but knowing what you have to do to build a strong mind, and then actually doing it, is a completely different story. This article will provide you with five simple rules to help you prepare your golfing brain for performance – to ready, aim and fire.

R E ADY...

RULE 1: FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL How many times have you driven to a golf course, grabbed your clubs out of the car, ambled up to the first tee and teed off?

Without being too clichéd, when people do this, the term ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ springs to mind. Although the average golfer doesn’t usually have the time to get the hours of practice in that tour pros do, just simply practising on the putting green, driving range, chipping green or even picturing yourself practising for 10-15 minutes before a round will ready your body and mind to perform.

But just hitting a few balls for 15 minutes isn’t enough to activate your brain effectively. Before beginning your round, and to practise effectively, consider these simple tips: → Practise like you play. How often do you see seasoned professionals walk to the range,and hit 10 balls randomly in the space of a minute? Never. Aim to hit practice balls as if you were playing on the course; the same preparation, the same timings and the same routines. So ask yourself the next time you’re practising, would I play this shot like this in the round? → Start off easy, and then gradually make it harder for yourself. Simply putting from close range, then periodically moving away has been shown to significantly increase your perception of the size of the hole, making it seem like a bucket by the time you go out onto the course. → Challenge yourself. You are not going to have a clean lie and line to the flag for every shot. Make sure you practise a range of shots (i.e. hook shots, punch shots and flop shots) to prepare your body and mind for when the unexpected happens.

RULE 2: CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLE The first step to managing your game is to know what you have control over and what you don’t. You can then start to conceptualise how you can use the controllable to overcome the uncontrollable.

For instance, you can control your swing tempo, but you can’t control the wind; you can control club selection, but you can’t control the quality of the lie or the speed of the green.

The uncontrollable aspect that is most commonly overlooked is the outcome where the ball will end up. You can only make this more or less probable. To increase the probability of getting a desirable outcome, you can only make sure you control the controllable and adapt to the uncontrollable.

To do this, consider these tips: → Identify your strengths and play to them.

Confidence stems from the perceived level of control you have. For example, if you are confident with your mid irons, aim to get yourself into a position where you can use this strength. → Forget about the outcome; focus on the process. Ask yourself, how am I going get the outcome I desire? And what do I need to do to achieve this outcome? Then you can plan your route to the hole. → Know the uncontrollables and plan ahead to overcome them.

For example, you cannot control the fact that a hole is straight or that the pin position is on the left just in front of a bunker, but you can control that you aim down the right making the pin more accessible for your approach.

A I M...

RULE 3: STAY CONSISTENT Pre-shot routines are widely considered a ‘must’ for all good golfers. The reason?

They act as a cue that readies the body and mind to execute a well-learned skill – the swing. A round of golf can take up to five hours, which means concentration has to be turned on and off throughout the round. The aim of a pre-shot routine is to turn on your golfing brain at the right point to increase the probability of you getting the desired outcome.

With this in mind, when approaching your ball, consider these tips to optimise your preshot routine: → Compose a mental checklist in your head. This is a step-by-step method to completing your pre-shot routine. This should be replicated before every shot to increase the consistency and predictability of the shot. → Use a physical cue to signify the start of the routine. This could be anything from a slap on the thigh, a deep breath, putting down your bag, to putting on your glove.

This activates your golfing brain into performance mode. → Again, practise like you play. Take a few practice swings exactly the way you want to play the ball. Then you can aim to replicate those swings during the shot.

RULE 4: CONCENTRATE ON THE TARGET...

A key component to your mental checklist should be imagining where you want the ball to land and how you are going to get the ball there. By doing this, you will have a clear vision of how you want to play the shot, as in Rule 2, which will prepare your mind and body to replicate the shot you just imagined. The aim of imagery is to prepare and ready the body for what you predict could happen. When concentrating on the target and imagining how the ball will get there, consider these tips: → Imagine a small hoop the size of a dustbin lid in the place you want the ball to land. When choosing the exact location of this hoop, take into consideration how the ball might react on the green or fairway – how it might bounce, spin, stop dead or roll on a

slope. You can then start to picture how you will get the ball to land in that hoop. → When practising your swing, imagine seeing the ball follow this same path and hitting the hoop, taking into account the uncontrollable (e.g. weather, lie, distance, etc.). → Make sure the image is as close to real life as possible; same time in the air, same feeling in the hands when hitting the ball, the same emotion when seeing the ball land in the hoop and in the same first person perspective.

F IR E ...

RULE 5: THINK SIMPLE THOUGHTS – HIT STUPID The swing consists of a lot of moving parts in a very short space of time. Your brain has performed this swing a countless number of times and it is imbedded into your subconscious. In other words, the golf swing is automatic and that is how it works best. How many times have you tried controlling putting stoke to only hit it too hard or too soft or push or pull it? If you haven’t made the connection already, this is the root cause of the dreaded yips (it wouldn’t be a golf psychology article if I didn’t mention the yips). → Ignorance is bliss when it comes to hitting the golf ball. All of the thinking and decision-making should be completed in your routine leading up to the point when you’re just about to hit the golf ball. Consider these tips to help you ‘hit stupid’: → Trust your routine. Trust your swing.

Trust yourself. If the decision is already made to play a certain type of shot, trust that decision. If you don’t trust that decision, back away and start the routine again. → Focus on what to do, not what not to do. Have you ever had the thought, ‘whatever you do, don’t hit in the water’ to then go and do exactly that? This is called ironic processing, whereby deliberately suppressing thoughts makes them more likely to happen. It is therefore important to be very narrow minded by only focusing on the do’s and not the don’ts.

Jack Marlow is a Sport Psychologist in training and Certified Golf Psychology Coach helping golfers and other athletes of all levels develop their mental game through his private consultancy Invicta Sport Psychology.

For more information visit invictasportpsychology.com or email jmarlow.sportpsych@ gmail.com

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAY 2015 [49]

MIND THOSE GAPS Cleveland Golf is helping golfers to fill the gaps in their wedge armoury – and add some serious bite to their short game – with a great deal on its new range of 588 RTX 2.0 wedges

Cleveland Golf, the UK’s number one selling wedge brand in 2014, is pleased to announce that it will run an exciting promotion on the new 588 RTX 2.0 wedges for golfers in the UK this summer.

From June 1, anyone who purchases one of the new 588 RTX 2.0 wedges will be able to get a second wedge at a discount of 50% off the recommended retail price of £109, helping golfers to fill the gaps at the lower end of their bags.

In the modern game, 65% of all shots are played from 125 yards and in, with this in mind Cleveland has designed the new range of 588 RTX 2.0 wedges to cover every golfers needs across the short game.

Offering the largest number of loft and bounce options, as well as the only dedicated custom fitting system with interchangeable heads and shafts in the UK industry, Cleveland has designed the perfect array of scoring tools to help golfers take charge of their short game.

To achieve this, Cleveland has undertaken hundreds of hours of testing and used feedback generated by the world’s top players to develop the new range.

From that research, it has developed three distinct wedge grinds in two different head designs that are proven to optimise the short game for players of all abilities. For the improving wedge player, there is a more forgiving cavity back design, and for the better player, a traditional muscle-back head shape.

ROTEX 2.0 FACE TECHNOLOGY The Cleveland Golf wedge promotion ends on September 30, 2015. To view the full product range, please visit www.clevelandgolf. co.uk. To find your nearest custom fit location, please visit www.clevelandgolf588. co.uk/dealer-locator.

Also check out Cleveland Golf’s wedge fitting app by downloading it from iTunes.

The Rotex face has been enhanced further to offer the maximum surface roughness allowed by USGA. This has been achieved through three advancements in the R&D lab.

Fourth generation Tour Zip grooves combine 15% sharper grooves and a deeper micro milling to provide superior spin on all shots from the rough.

Advanced, two-pass micro-milling pattern provides a strategically designed roughness close to the USGA limit. This leads to increased friction and more spin, especially from inconsistent lies.

Finally, laser milling fine-tunes the micro-roughness for more consistency and texture across the face.

VARIABLE SOLE DESIGN Cleveland Golf has created three distinct grind options for the 588 RTX 2.0 wedge family. Its comprehensive system makes it easier than ever for any golfer to build a wedge set that maximizes performance based on turf conditions, playing preference and skill level. By progressively varying the wedge’s sole design according to bounce, Cleveland Golf has created an unmatched array of scoring tools.

1 DOT (LOW BOUNCE) • Trailing Edge Grind + maximum heel and toe grind • Lowest effective bounce • Keeps leading edge close to ground for aggressive lob shots, yet provides stability on squarefaced full shots

2 DOT (STANDARD BOUNCE) • Trailing Edge Grind + moderate trailing relief • Mid effective bounce • All-around playability and versatility, allowing golfer to execute a variety of shots from most playing conditions

3 DOT (FULL SOLE) • Constant Sole Width • Higher effective bounce • Allows the golfer to use the sole to their advantage around the greens. Full shape gives stability on full shots, while the curvature in the sole still allows player to open the face.

NEWS IN BRIEF

[50] MAY 2015 | TOUR NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Old Course to build ‘mega grandstand’ to enhance Open viewing experience

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO KIAWAH ISLAND

The US PGA Championship is to return to the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in 2021 – just nine years after Rory McIlroy lifted the title at the same venue in 2012. The Pete Dye-designed course opened in 1991, when it served as the site of the Ryder Cup matches. It later hosted the 2005 PGA Club Professional Championship and the 2007 Senior PGA Championship.

KO LIFTS SKIRTS TITLE

Teenage sensation Lydia Ko clinched her seventh LPGA Tour win just two days after her 18th birthday. The New Zealander triumphed at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at Lake Merced to strengthen her position as world number one.

Ko didn’t have it all her own way, however, and had to birdie the 18th to force a play-off with American Morgan Pressel.

Both players then missed birdie putts on the first play-off hole before Ko rolled one in from five feet to clinch the title at the next hole.

CHALLENGE TOUR FINALE MOVES TO OMAN

This year’s Challenge Tour Grand Final is to be held in the gulf state of Oman. The tournament, which marks the end of the 25-tournament season, will be staged at Almouj Golf in Muscat, from November 4-7. Oman previously staged the penultimate event, with the final being held in Dubai for the last two seasons, but Almouj will now hold the final for the next four years.

R&A HONOURS FALDO AND LYLE

Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle have both accepted an invitation to become honourary members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The pair have joined a select group, with the honour having previously been given to just eight fellow Open champions: Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Roberto de Vicenzo, Tony Jacklin, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

McIlroy secures Cadillac title with match play masterclass Rory McIlroy won his first WGC Match Play title with a comprehensive 4&2 victory over America’s Gary Woodland to cement his position as the world’s most dominant player.

The four-time major winner shook off a nervy start with the putter to move clear with a string of birdies on the front nine.

Woodland rallied on the inward half, but missed a critical short putt at the 13th, and the Northern

Irishman took immediate advantage, winning the 14th to return to three up, and close out the match on the 16th green.

McIlroy – who needed extra holes to beat both Billy Horschel and Paul Casey in earlier rounds – was one hole down to Furyk on the 17th tee, but struck a pinpoint iron to seven feet and holed for a two to go all square. He then ran in a huge putt across the 18th green for eagle to seal his place in the final against Woodland, who beat Yorkshire’s Danny Willett in his own semi-final.

In the play-off match for third place, Willett beat Furyk 3&2 to secure a $600,000 pay out, which moved him to a career high of 38th in the world rankings.

The champion at this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews will be crowned in front of the largest arena in the tournament’s 155-year history, after the R&A revealed plans to construct a huge grandstand around the first and 18th holes that will seat almost 10,000 people.

The spectacular new arena, which will feature two tiers, will be erected behind the 18th green to further enhance the atmosphere created by the grandstands located alongside the adjoining first fairway, while an L-shaped grandstand is being built behind the 17th green and a further stand sited by the first green.

The grandstand behind the famous Road Hole 17th will have a capacity of more than 4,000 and offer spectators a panoramic view of the 17th, 18th, first and second holes.

More than 21,000 grandstand seats will be available across the entire course, giving spectators plenty of options to enjoy excellent views of the links such as at the ‘loop’ where the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th holes can all be viewed.

Daily tickets for the four days of the championship cost £70 if purchased before May 31, and £80 thereafter. For tickets visit www. opengolf.com.

Woosnam rolls back the years Creamer calls for to claim maiden US Senior win Augusta to host Women’s Masters Ian Woosnam holed a 30-foot birdie putt to emerge from a three-way playoff and win a maiden US Champions Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Insperity Invitational.

The 1991 Masters champions appeared on a sponsor’s exemption and beat Kenny Perry and Tom Lehman on the first extra hole at Woodlands Country Club.

Woosnam closed with a four under par 68 to match Perry and Lehman at 11 under. Perry finished with a 66, and Lehman shot 69. In the playoff, Lehman sliced his

approach on the par four 18th into the water, and Perry left a long birdie attempt eight feet short before Woosnam rolled in the winner.

“It’s a great feeling,” said the Welshman, for whom it was his 36th start on the US over50s circuit. “I knew my game was coming around, so I was a little bit disappointed at the beginning of the week that I was struggling with a bad back, but I managed to dig in and grind through it.”

Woosnam has won five times on the European Seniors Tour since turning 50 in 2008.

European Tour appoints new chief executive Canadian businessman Keith Pelley has been appointed to succeed George O’Grady as chief executive of the European Tour.

Pelley, 47, who is currently president of a Toronto-based media company, will take over from O’Grady this summer.

Although he has no specific background in the golf industry, the 47 year old’s previous roles include leading the media consortium for all broadcast rights for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in 2010, while earlier in his career he was chief executive of the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

David Williams, chairman of the European Tour, said: “Keith’s extensive experience and outstanding leadership skills in both sport and media will be invaluable as we continue to further develop the Tour on the world stage.”

Paula Creamer has called for a Masters tournament for women to be held at Augusta National.

Creamer, who won the 2010 Women’s US Open, first floated the idea on Twitter following Jordan Spieth’s victory at the Masters last month, stating: “I hope the Masters will consider a Women’s Masters soon.

They do so much to grow the game. Fastest area of golf growth is women! #6Majors?”

Asked to expand her thoughts ahead of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in California, Creamer suggested that a women’s event could be staged the week following the men’s showpiece in April.

“I think the patrons and everybody would love to have two weeks there, two tournaments. Why wouldn’t you?” Creamer said. “It’s 2015. I think everybody connected with the Masters wants to grow the game. That’s what it is about – growing the game and giving people opportunities. There’s no reason why we can’t do that in women’s golf. We’re just as much a part of growing the game as the men.”

Creamer continued: “I think somebody’s got to speak up. It’s just an idea, and I don’t think that people should be ashamed to talk about it. I’d like to know truthfully why we wouldn’t be able to have a tournament at Augusta. Women’s golf definitely deserves something like that.’’

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[52] MAY 2015 | EQUIPMENT NEWS

THE GEAR EFFECT WINNERS’ BAGS ON TOUR

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Mizuno opens new performance fitting centre at Close House

LYDIA KO Swinging Skirts Classic DRIVER: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond (9) FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 (14), Callaway Big Bertha (18) HYBRIDS: Callaway X2 Hot Pro (20, 23, 25) IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (6-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey Tank Cruiser 330 BALL: Callaway Speed Regime 3 LEE WESTWOOD Indonesian Masters DRIVER: Ping Anser (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping G30 (14.5) HYBRID: Ping G25 (17) IRONS: Ping i20 (3-9) WEDGES: Ping i20 (48, 52), Ping Tour Gorge TS (60) PUTTER: Ping Ketsch BALL: Titleist Pro V1x ASHUN WU Volvo China Open DRIVER: XXIO Forged (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 (15) HYBRIDS: Adams Idea Super 9031 (18), A Grind prototype (20) IRONS: Srizon Z745 (4-PW) WEDGES: Cleveland CG 17 (54, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot XG #7 BALL: Srixon Z-Star XV JIM FURYK RBC Heritage DRIVER: Callaway Big Bertha (9) 3-WOOD: Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme (15) HYBRID: Callaway X2 Hot Pro (20) IRONS: Callaway RAZR X Forged 4-PW WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (52), Titleist Vokey Design SM4 (56), Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (64) PUTTER: Odyssey Versa #1W BALL: Callaway Speed Regime 3 KIRADECH APHIBARNRAT Shenzhen International DRIVER: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond (9) 3-WOOD: Callaway XR Pro (14) HYBRID: Callaway Diablo Edge Tour (18 degrees) IRONS: Callaway X Forged (3-6), Callaway Apex MB (7-9) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (52, 60) Putter: Odyssey Versa #7 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x RORY MCILROY WGC-Cadillac Match Play Driver: Nike Vapor Pro (8.5) 3-Wood: Nike Vapor Speed (15) 5-Wood: Nike Vapor Speed (19) Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (4-9) Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56), Nike Engage Dual Sole (59) Putter: Nike Method 006 Ball: Nike RZN Black

Bettinardi adds Halfmoon to Kuchar Putter Range

Japanese equipment brand Mizuno has expanded its portfolio of fitting centres with the opening of a brand new facility at Close House Golf Club in Northumberland.

The new centre, which has been installed at the club’s academy and driving range, will feature Mizuno’s premium swing DNA facilities, an outdoor fitting suite with launch monitor technology, and a full Mizuno fitting cart, as well as extended wood and wedge fitting packs.

Mizuno’s fitting methodology relies heavily on its hugely successful shaft optimiser and Swing DNA system, which has been the industry’s leading fitting method at club level since its introduction in 2009.

Qualified Mizuno custom fitting specialists will provide freeof-charge fittings, as well as a satisfaction guarantee on custom

fit Mizuno equipment in the form of no-quibble replacements up to eight weeks after purchase.

John Glendinning, general manager of Close House, said: “The addition of the Mizuno Performance Fitting Centre will enhance our existing academy setup, enabling us to offer custom club fitting to both members and visitors. We are excited about the formation of this new partnership with Mizuno, and have every confidence in their ability to provide high quality custom fitting in order to help golfers improve their game.”

Close House is the ninth venue within the UK and Ireland to install a Mizuno Centre of this kind, joining the likes of Silvermere, Bearwood Lakes and Woburn.

To book a fitting at your nearest Mizuno Performance Fitting Centre, visit www.golf. mizunoeurope.com/custom-fit.

Nike limitededition McIlroy putter sells out in two minutes

COULD YOU BE THE NEXT HAPPY GILMORE?

A limited-edited putter made

by Nike Golf that was built to exactly the same set up as the one currently used by world No.1 Rory McIlroy sold out in two minutes when it went on sale last month.

Despite costing $400 (£250), a total of 215 Nike Method 006 putters were snapped by up eager fans in an online bidding frenzy that lasted less time than it takes to boil a kettle.

McIlroy has used the putter, which is a version of the company’s Method Midnight 006, for his last two major championships.

The blade-style putter features the polymetal groove technology that was first introduced in the company’s original Method line of putters.

American Golf and Garmin are on the hunt for the country’s longest drivers. If you can hit any type of ball hard, fast and long, then head to any of its 104 stores across the UK over the May bank holiday weekend (May 23-26) to register your entry.

As well as bagging prizes from Garmin, the overall winner will be sent on an all-expenses paid trip to America to take part in the 2016 RE/ MAX World Long Drive Championships.

“People who are successful on the Long Drive scene aren’t necessarily from golfing backgrounds, which is why we are encouraging as many people as possible to come in store and have a go,” said Daniel Gathercole, head of marketing at American Golf.

“We’re looking for new talent from surprising places!”

Specialist milled putter brand Bettinardi Golf has expanded its range of putters promoted by PGA Tour player Matt Kuchar with a new centreshafted version of the Armlock putter.

Renowned for his putting skills, Kuchar is currently ranked number one on the PGA Tour for one putts – finding the cup 46% of the time with a single putt over 864 holes.

Designed by the seven-time PGA Tour winner, alongside company founder Bob Bettinardi, the new Kuchar Model 2 half moon-shaped putter is the first centre-shafted armlock putter on the market and features seven degrees of loft, with no offset.

The 42-inch Kuchar Model 2, which is milled from a single piece of carbon steel, is an entirely legal putter as long as it is used in the distinctive armlock method. The same model also comes with a standard length 35-inch shaft.

“Both the standard and Arm Lock Kuchar Model 2HM putters will appeal to golfers who demand the very best in design, feel and precision,” said Bettinardi. “With the anchoring ban less than a year away, the Armlock putter offers golfers the first legitimate centreshafted option for a more stable stroke on the greens.”

Both models are priced at £279. For more details visit www. bettinardi.co.uk.

Competitors will get three attempts to hit the ball as far as possible. There will be drivers in store to borrow, or – just as long as it conforms to current regulations – golfers can bring their own clubs. There are three categories: Open, Senior (45+) and Ladies.

There will be a Garmin Vivoactive GPS watch, worth £199, for the winner at each store, while the best three regional drivers in each category will be invited to the grand final this autumn, where the prize is an all-expenses trip to take part in next year’s RE/MAX World Long Drive qualifying event.

For details of your nearest American Golf store, visit www. americangolf.co.uk.

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The original Rotex technology changed the face of spin, and we engineered Rotex 2.0 to take spin control to the next level. It starts with sharper Tour Zip Grooves for better channeling of debris and moisture, creating cleaner contact. Our enhanced 2-pass micro milling pattern is strategically designed to add more friction and even more spin. The final step is Laser Milled Technology to fine-tune surface roughness across the face. It all adds up to more spin and better scoring than ever before, no matter the conditions. This is Spin 2.0.

ROTEX . MILLING rotex 2.0 MILLING

* Source: Units sold in the UK market, on & off course channels according to Golf Datatech Europe retail audit January to December 2014.

Cleveland Golf, Cleveland, CG logo and Rotex are registered trademarks of Cleveland Golf / Srixon.

WHERE SCORING MATTERS and 588 are trademarks of Cleveland Golf / Srixon.

clevelandgolf.com/588RTX2.0 *Source: Units sold in the UK market, on & off course channels according to Golf Datatech Europe retail audit January to December 2014.

Cleveland Golf, Cleveland, CG logo and Rotex are registered trademarks of Cleveland Golf / Srixon.

WHERE SCORING MATTERS and 588 are trademarks of Cleveland Golf / Srixon.

tour zip grooves

laser milling

[54] MAY 2015 | PROSHOP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NIKE GOLF VAPOR HYBRIDS RRP: £134.99 CONTACT: NIKEGOLFEUROPE.COM The Vapor Flex and Vapor Speed Hybrids feature the same eye-catching bright green paint job found in the cavity and compression channel of Nike’s new Vapor driver, along with several other key features, including the FlexLoft 2 system, which allows users to fine-tune loft and face angle to optimize distance and shot shape. A lower centre of gravity, and lower, straighter leading edges also helps get the ball off the ground with ease, while the longer hybrids feature a larger body and shallower face for more forgiveness and speed, and the higher-lofted models feature a smaller body and deeper face for accuracy and workability. The standard model is available in 17°, 20°, 23° and 26° lofts, while the Flex version (£159) comes in 3H (17°-21°) and 4H (21°-25°).

TRIED + TESTED

WILSON STAFF DX2 SOFT RRP: £19.99 FOR 12 CONTACT: WILSONSTAFF.COM With a compression of just 29, Wilson says that its latest generation of the twopiece DX2 is the ‘world’s softest distance ball’. The new model is 25% softer than its predecessor, and thanks to the low compression design golfers can expect to experience more control around the greens and on approach shots, while testing has shown that it also delivers extra yardage off the tee due to less spin being generated off the driver face.

HILL BILLY POWER TROLLEY

The workhorse of the power trolley world for over 30 years, Hill Billy has often been seen as the nofrills choice for golfers who aren’t willing or able to carry their clubs or use a pull trolley.

While early Hill Billy’s stripped-down aesthetics attracted those of us who were more interested in performance than kerb appeal, it’s fair to say that other brands have worked harder to create trolleys that not only work well, but also look good – an important factor in these fashion-conscious times.

It was perhaps no surprise then, when a generation of golfers switched their allegiance to other more sexy brands, where colour co-ordination, sports wheel trims and flashing lights proved a winning combination. But it’s never too late to join the party, and the latest version to roll off the Hill Billy production line is undoubtedly its best yet.

The reasons for this are many, but for starters, as with any trolley that needs to be packed and stored away, is its compact size when in shutdown mode that wins early points. What’s more, it even stands upright on its own when folded up, which is a bonus in my cluttered garage. The wheels also clip on and off with the push of a button.

Out in the clubhouse car park, the two-fold frame system is simple to engage, while the battery pack is so easy to slot into its housing that you could do it with your eyes closed – I tried, and it worked – and all without the connector crunching that often happens. The frame is sturdy and sleek, with its curved lines far more appealing than the boxy frame of old, and my cart bag sat neatly in position.

Another plus point is the bungee cables that secure the bag to the trolley. While the bottom strap on my current model has long since given up any semblance of tension – and is thus rendered useless – the Hilly Billy’s straps are

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA STAND BAG RRP: £229 CONTACT: CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Offering the flexibility of a stand bag, but with the storage capacity of a cart bag, Callaway’s Big Bertha bag is the bag of choice for tour pros when they have to carry. With plenty of room for all 14 clubs and accessories, it boasts a full-size saddle apparel pocket with tour branding and logos, along with a 9.5-inch five-way club organising system. It also features a rangefinder or GPS pocket, a thermallined water bottle pocket, and a full-length clothing pocket.

RRP: £259 (LEAD) £359 (LITHIUM) CONTACT: HILLBILLY.CO.UK

the type you find holding heavy cargo onto roof racks and feature molded hooks at one end for a simple and secure fitting. The on-off speed dial button is simple to use and offers enough power and gear changes to get you up the steepest of hills, while the two-handed handle is comfortable enough. And as a taller golfer, the ability to adjust the height of the handle was certainly appreciated.

Given that this is an entry level model, you can forget battery power indicators, rev counters, distance measurement and temperature gauges, but if you’re looking for a good-looking power trolley for close to £250, that does what it says on the tin, then Hill Billy’s latest model ticks all the right boxes; although the lithium battery, which is good for 36 holes, is well worth the extra cost.

Available with a black frame and six trim colours, it comes with a twoyear warranty and a 28-day money-back trial. And, for a limited time only, Hill Billy is offering a free accessory worth up to £49.

ADAMS GOLF BLUE RRP: £199 CONTACT: ADAMSGOLF.COM Adams Golf has gone back to its roots with the launch of a full set of game improvement clubs whose sole purpose is to help the higher handicapper get the ball in the air easily and more consistently.

The Adams Blue driver (£199) and fairway woods (£169) feature the company’s new Easy Launch System, whichcomprises three features to help get the ball off the ground. The first is a velocity slot in the sole of the clubhead for more face flex and ball speed. This feature also produces more consistent ball speed across the entire clubface for enhanced forgiveness on off-centre hits.

The other two elements are a low and deep centre of gravity for higher launch, lower spin, and more distance, and a new SlimTech shaft with a low kick point that further contributes to a higher launch and improved carry. The Blue driver and woods also afeature an internal draw bias that will reduce the damaging effects of a slice.

The driver is available in 9.5°, 10.5°, and 12° lofts with an Aldila Slim Tech 55g shaft, while the fairway woods are available in 15°, 19°, and 22°. The Blue Hybrids (£129) are available in 19°, 21°, 23° & 25° lofts.

A matching set of Blue irons, featuring over-sized heads with wide, forgiving soles, are sold as either a combination set, including a 3- and 4-hybrid, along with the 5-iron through pitching wedge, for £599 for steel shafts or £699 for graphite, or as a pure iron set (5-PW) for £399/£499. The steel shaft is an 85g True Temper Dynalite SlimTech 85g, while the graphite is a 55g SlimTech by Aldila.

PROSHOP | MAY 2015 [55]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PRO SHOP OSCAR JACOBSON POLOS RRP: £54.99 CONTACT: OSCARJACOBSON.COM

ADIDAS KUMACROSS 2.0 RRP: £89.99 CONTACT: ADIDAS.COM Adidas’s Kumacross sunglasses are perfect for golfers looking to combine style with performance out on the fairways this summer. Available in a range of fashionable multi-coloured frames and mirrored lenses, they feature double-snap nose pads that can be adapted to fit, while ribbed grip temples prevent them falling off your head when you’re stood over a nasty five-footer. Adidas’s proprietary Light Stabilising Technology, which is available in active, bright, contrast or polarized silver, balances light fluctuations; while mirrored lenses which boast a hydrophobic lens coating to repel water, dust and dirt, are also available in select colours for light absorption and contrasting effect. They are also available with prescription lens for glasses wearers.

Swedish apparel brand Oscar Jacobson’s Spring/Summer collection mixes Scandanavian simplicity with Italian tailoring and Anglo-Saxon textiles to create a range that looks equally at home off the golf course as it does on it.

Developed alongside its high street men’s fashion range, the new golf collection offers three colour palettes - Modern, Classic and Fresh. Among the key pieces are the popular pique-knit polos like the Anton, with its button-down collar and chest pocket, while the Gustaf, with its flat-knit collar, remains in the collection, but in a significantly wider range of colours than last year. They are joined by newcomers like the Barry polo, which features contrasting panels on the shoulders, and the Brody polo, which mixes bold body colours with white sleeves and dark flat-knit collars.

CALLAWAY 300 LASER RANGEFINDER RRP: £279.99 CONTACT: BRANDFUSIONLTD.CO.UK Callaway is hoping to break into the ultra-competitive distance-measuring device market with the launch of the 300 Laser Rangefinder. Offering pin-seeking precision in a sleek ergonomic design, the 300 features exclusive Pin Acquisition Technology (P.A.T.), which can lock onto flags up to 300 yards away, ignoring trees or other objects in the background. Providing accuracy to one yard either side of the distance in yards or metres, it offers six-times magnification. The fully waterproof device is powered by a long-lasting lithium battery, and features an auto-shut off system that powers down if idle for more than five seconds.

YONEX Z-FORCE DRIVER RRP: ££179 CONTACT: YONEX.CO.UK Yonex’s Z-Force range, which features a driver, fairway, hybrid and irons, has been designed in response to research by the brand that claims that half of all regular golfers fail to break 100 for 18 holes. Based on this evidence, Yonex decided to buck the trend for low-spinning clubs and focus the Z-Force range on improving performance for higher handicappers. The key technology is lower and deeper centre of gravity positions throughout the metal woods and irons, which help improve distance and accuracy.

The Z-Force driver features a lightweight Octaforce Crown design that reduces the crown’s mass by 3g. This allows weight to be moved lower and deeper in the head, helping to get the ball airborne more quickly and providing added forgiveness. It also features an adjustable hosel which offers 1.5° of loft adjustment either way in 0.75° increments. Yonex’s M-60 shaft has a stronger tip to provide more stability and a more penetrating trajectory. Matching fairway woods (£129) and hybrids (£99) also feature confidenceinspiring heads, and crown graphics that make them look bigger and more forgiving at address.

LYNX BOOM BOOM IRONS

BIG MAX AQUA 7

RRP: £499-£699 CONTACT: LYNXGOLF.CO.UK

RRP: £139.99 CONTACT: BIGMAXGOLF.COM

Lynx Golf has extended its Boom Boom irons range to include six different models spanning all abilities. Each iron benefits from Lynx’s twin slot technology and variable face thickness, while key changes to the individual clubhead designs means the technology is available to players in all handicap categories.

The BB Tour irons (£629) feature thin top lines, narrow soles and stronger lofts making them perfect for pure ball strikers. Good players will also appreciate the BB Maraging irons (£649/£699), which feature thin nickel-rich maraging steel is used in the face, which allows it face to flex to produce high ball speeds. Mid handicappers will love the look and feel of the limited edition Rose Gold irons (£549-£599) and the BB Black irons, with both models deliver a combination of distance and forgiveness, although the design also suits those players who are skilled enough to work the ball.

High handicappers will appreciate the BB Offset irons (£499-£549) which feature wide soles, that lower the centre of gravity and help get the ball airborne, while the offset helps to square the face at impact.

Bag and trolley specialists Big Max has added three new products to its waterproof i-Dry Aqua range for the 2015 season, all of which combine lightweight construction with the very latest in waterproof technology to keep your golfing clobber dry, whatever the weather.

The Aqua 7 is a lightweight stand bag that offers plenty of room for a full set of clubs. It features seven storage pockets, all with seam-sealed waterproof zips, and a leg lock for use with a trolley.

For those that use a trolley, the Aqua M (£189.99) is a cart-trolley bag featuring a 9-inch, 14-way divider top, with nine large pockets, including a cooler pocket. Rounding out the range, and weighing just 2.7kg, is the Aqua O (£219), another cart/trolley bag which features an oversize 10-inch top with 14 full-length dividers, including a handy putter well.

[56] MAY 2015 | SHOWCASE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LIGHT FANTASTIC

Take the weight off your feet this summer

SKECHERS GO GOLF DRIVE RRP: £79 CONTACT: SKECHERS.CO.UK Skechers’ Go Golf range offers three distinctive designs: Bionic (£99), Go Golf (£89), and Drive (£79), all of which focus on offering comfort and durability in a spikeless design that encourages natural movement. The sneakerstyle Drive is specifically designed for summer golf and blends on-course performance with a fashionable, streetwear look. To increase durability, flexibility and stability, Skechers has developed a patented outsole made from EVA and rubber which varies in density to provide golfers maximum grip, even in wet conditions. A wider toe area allows toes the freedom to move to increase grip through the sole of the shoe. They are available in black/ green, charcoal/orange and white in sizes 6-12, including half sizes.

FOOTJOY CONTOUR CASUAL RRP: £100 CONTACT: FOOTJOY.CO.UK An extension of the top-selling cleated Contour Series, the Casual Contour uses the same construction techniques to create a versatile shoe that can be worn on and off the golf course. Featuring full-grain leather uppers with waterproof protection, its soft quarter linings provide comfort, while a slip-last construction provides plenty of flexibility. A polyurethane fit-bed platform offers additional cushioning and support. It is available in two styles – a plain toe blucher and a traditional saddle with U-throat opening – and six colours: white/silver/cobalt, brown/ taupe, grey/grey/green, black/black/brown, white/blue, and black/silver in three widths and half sizes. It is also available for customisation through the MyJoys programme via FootJoy’s website.

NIKE LUNAR WAVERLY RRP: £90 CONTACT: NIKEGOLFREUROPE.COM Part of Nike’s athletics-inspired Versatility range, the Lunar Waverly can be worn on and off the golf course. The designers used pressure-mapping analysis to understand how the foot moves during the swing and determine the size, height, hardness and overall configuration of the rubber nubs on the sole for superior grip and traction.

Dynamic Flywire technology combines with a rubber cup-sole for lateral support, surrounded by waterproof, fullgrain leather uppers. The sockliner is made from cork, which is not only lightweight and adds cushioning, but also keeps the insides odour free. There are five colour combination to choose from.

ECCO CASUAL HYBRID RRP: £100/£110 CONTACT: GLOBAL.ECCO.COM The new Casual Hybrid range combines two of Ecco’s iconic shoes styles – the Street and the Tour Hybrid - to create a stylish sneaker version for men, as well as classic brogue options for men and women. As with all of Ecco’s cleatless models, it boasts an E-DTS outsole which features over 100 traction nubs to promote superb grip, while the sole unit is connected to the uppers using Ecco’s unique direct-injection process, creating a one-piece shoe construction without the use of glue or stitching, which creates a water-tight seal, lightweight flexibility, and out-of-the-box comfort. Both models are treated with Ecco’s proprietary Hydromax technology which repels water.

PUMA BIODRIVE RRP: £100 CONTACT: COBRAGOLF.COM/PUMAGOLF Puma’s latest cleatless creation combines premium full-grain leather uppers with octagonally-shaped pods on the sole to provide grip, balance and stability out on the golf course. The 10 strategically-positioned octagons provide 130 points of traction to give better grip on indoor, smoother surfaces, while traction in the centre of the pods provides stable performance for all conditions on the golf course. Built on an all-new anatomical, roomy comfort last, the carbon rubber in the outsole ensures long-lasting durability, while a TPU 360-degree perimeter wrap is bonded around the shoe for improved protection and durability. They are available in grey/orange, brown/white, black/white/red, and white/grey.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAY 2015 [57]

Six GolfNews readers won the chance to go behind the scenes with FootJoy to discover what goes into making the No.1 shoe in golf and be fitted for a new pair. So how did they measure up? Words by Nick Bayly

SIZE MATTERS When was the last time you had your feet measured? You know, properly measured like when your mum used to drag you along to Clarks to be fitted for a pair of regulation black school shoes before the start of a new term.

Well, I will admit that it was probably that long ago for me, and the same applied to the lucky six GolfNews readers who won the opportunity to be custom fitted for a new pair of FootJoys at the FJ shoe studio at Silveremere Golf & Leisure in Surrey last month.

Our competition winners comprised four men and two women, and after coffee and bacon rolls in Silvermere’s Inn on the Lake, we got down to business with a preview of FootJoy’s current range by the brand’s marketing manager, Richard Fryer.

Richard knows more about golf shoes than anyone in the business, and his insightful presentation gave a thorough understanding of the technological innovations and quality control processes that go into making every pair of FootJoys, as well as revealing a range of interesting clubhouse conversation starters, including the fact that 80% of Japanese golfers prefer the BOA closure system over traditional laces, and why not all golf shoes need an inner membrane to remain waterproof.

Armed with this knowledge, our winners marched over to the Planet FJ shoe studio, which is located inside Silvermere’s golfing superstore. The store is the only one in the UK that stocks every model in FJ’s range, and with a sizeable percentage of sizes and widths – FJ is the only shoe brand that offers three widths – most golfers will be able to walk away with their ideal shoe on the day.

FootJoy launched a special shoe custom-fitting service last year that has helped thousands of golfers find the right shoes. With three trained fitters travelling all over the country, over 3,500 golfers have made use of the service, the results of which has revealed some staggering facts about our feet and our choice of footwear. Among the most surprising statistic was that almost 70% of those 3,500 golfers were wearing the wrong sized shoes, with almost all of them opting for too big a size.

A detailed inspection of our readers’ shoes by Richard revealed

FITTING FACTS

68% OF GOLFERS FITTED BY FOOTJOY WERE PREVIOUSLY WEARING WRONG SIZED SHOES

90% OF GOLFERS HAVE DIFFERENT-SIZED FEET Our competition winners pose proudly on the first tee in their new FootJoys

GARETH WALL

Previously Wore: Size 10 Fitted For: Size 9 Hyperflex “I have had some poorly fitting shoes as a result of buying over the internet, and it really is a huge advantage to have a comfortable pair that fit properly. My feet fill the shoes really well, there is much less movement of my foot within the shoe during my swing, and as a result I feel more stable and balanced. This, along with the comfort, means I’m not thinking about the shoes or noticing them when playing, which is what I want from a pair of golf shoes.”

FJ’s Richard Fryer explains the benefits of the new HyperFlex shoe to Mike Galvin

NEIL WARD Previously wore: Size 8 Fitted For: Size 6.5 Hyperflex “I’ve worn my Hyperflex shoes a dozen times since being fitted and I’ve had lots of positive comments and interest from my golfing pals.

I chose silver, not being brave enough for green or orange, but part of me wishes I had been – they all look great on the course. The shoes have been comfortable from day one, and are very stable throughout my swing.

I have recently had a knee replacement and the shoes fill me with confidence with their support and stability.

Best shoes I’ve ever had! a few telltale signs of incorrect sizing. Top offender in our group was Gareth, a 12-handicapper from East Sussex, whose current shoes clearly showed a worn patch inside the back of the heel.

After a knowing tut, Richard explained that rubbing in this area suggests a shoe that is too big, resulting in the heel moving around inside the shoe, which can cause blisters, but also leads to imbalance and loss of power.

The next step was to measure each of our golfers’ feet in the Brannock device that all FJ stockists are kitted out with.

As well as measuring length, it also measures width and, most importantly, the length of the arch to the first metatarsal of the toe.

The Brannock measurement only serves as a starting point, Richard explained, as when you are moving your foot, it contracts a little and, as a result, most people

SHOES THAT ARE TOO WIDE CAN REDUCE SWING POWER BY UP TO 18% SHOES THAT ARE TOO LONG CAN REDUCE SWING POWER BY UP TO 12%

take a smaller shoe. This was certainly the case with our winners, all of whom took a smaller shoe than they first indicated, with Neil saying he was a size 8, but ended up being fitted for a 6.5, while Gareth said he was a size 10, but happily Room for improvement: walked away wearing a 9, Gareth learned why too big a and even tried on an 8.5. shoe can cost you distance Regardless of measurements, there is no substitute to trying on a pair – allows the toes to spread in the as many golfers, like Gareth, who forefoot to promote extra stability, have bought shoes online, have giving it a more spacious feel.” discovered to their cost. Richard Fitting complete, we headed says that you can tell immediately out onto Silvermere’s picturesque if a size is going to be right, as an parkland course to put the new audible ‘whoosh’ of air escaping shoes into action. And after 18 the shoe indicates that you have holes of marching across the found your perfect match. fairways the five who were able to Once all our winners had be fitted on the day all came back heard the ‘whoosh’ – apart from in one piece, with no reported Sandra, whose tiny size 3.5 feet blisters or pain. The biggest required a special order from compliment that winner Neil was America – and it was simply a able to pay his new HyperFlexes question of finding the style of was that he ‘hadn’t even noticed shoe that each player preferred. he was wearing them’ – which is The ladies both liked slender, high praise indeed for a new shoe. subtle and refined look of the As all our prize winners DNA, while the men went for the discovered, it’s time to think about more macho, performance-driven golf shoes as you would any of HyperFlex, which has a wider item in your golfing armoury, and platform and a rather manlyspend a little more time and effort looking exoskeleton that flexes in getting the correct fit. Your feet with the movement of the feet. will certainly thank you, and so, As our testers discovered, hopefully, will your scorecard. the design of a shoe can also a significant impact on the fitting For more details on the complete and sizing. “Most people can go FootJoy range visit footjoy.co.uk. down half a size if they are buying With thanks to Silvermere Golf & a DNA,” says Richard. “This is Leisure. For online tee bookings because the design of the DNA last visit www.silvermere-golf.co.uk.

[58] MAY 2015 | BREAKS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Spoil yourself at East Sussex National Join the Q for great value breaks Set in over 1,000 acres of quintessentially English countryside, the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa is so much more than just another hotel.

From the spacious en-suite bedrooms to the fabulous dining and spa facilities, this four-star resort is sure to exceed your expectations.

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

golfing getaway.

The contemporary hotel, which adjoins the clubhouse, offers 104 air-conditioned bedrooms, including 12 luxury suites, all of which offer fantastic views of the golf courses and surrounding countryside. The large rooms

are equipped with wallmounted TVs, a bath with separate walk-in shower, while free wi-fi is also available.

Also housed within the ground floor is the state-ofthe-art Horsted Health Club, which offers a 20-metre

Spring Golf Breaks

Prices based on 2 people sharing & subject to availability Offer expires 30th September 2015

heated swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym, an aerobic studio and spa treatment rooms, as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and monsoon shower.

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

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

Prices start from just £190pp. To make a booking, or for further enquiries about the latest offers, call 01825 880088 or visit www. eastsussexnational.co.uk.

The QHotels Group has grown to incorporate 10 UK-based golf resorts within its 27-stong hotel portfolio, offering golfers a wide choice of destinations throughout the country at which to enjoy great value breaks.

Golfers can choose from Aldwark Manor, Belton Woods, Cameron House, Dunston Hall, Forest Pines, Hellidon Lakes, Oulton Hall, Mottram Hall, The Westerwood and Telford Hotel.

Forest Pines is one of its most popular venues, with the Lincolnshire-based club featuring a superb 27-hole championship layout, with three loops of nine holes meandering through a mix of majestic pine forest and open heathland. The most challenging combination is the Forest and Pines layout, which measures 6,859 yards. The shorter Beeches loop, with its three par threes, provides an ideal warm-up.

After a round, guests can relax in the four-star hotel, which offers 188 bedrooms, a luxury spa, three restaurants and two bars.

The majority of QHotels boast spa and leisure clubs, offering treatments that include massage, manicure, pedicure, aromatherapy, detoxifying wraps, and reflexology. All the hotels offer deluxe rooms, junior suites and large suites for those in search of absolute luxury. Each of these rooms are individually designed, with options such as spa baths or walk-in double showers.

Two nights’ dinner, B&B, and two rounds of golf at Forest Pines costs from £195 per person. For more details on the complete range of QHotels golf packages, visit www.qhotels.co.uk or call 0845 0345 777.

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

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

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

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

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

ONLY £199 pp

ONLY £225 pp

ONLY £249 pp

3 ROUNDS at any of these courses:

Hindhead, Stoneham, Hayling or Liphook

ONLY £199 pp

Dinner Option: £10pp per night extra

ONLY £249 pp

Weekend supplement: £10pp extra

Weekend supplement: £15pp extra

1 x Bracken Course* 1 x Seacroft GC

* Located at Woodhall

Weekend supplement: £17pp extra

To discuss your exclusive golf package call 01822 618181

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

BREAKS | MAY 2015 [59]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Live like a king at Tudor Park

Dorset Resort’s looking blooming marvellous!

Visitors to The Dorset Resort near Wimborne could be forgiven for thinking they’ve arrived at Augusta National, such is the abundance of colourful azaleas and rhododendrons at the picturesque West Country resort.

With the spring temperatures warming up nicely, ‘The Augusta of Dorset’ has exploded into full bloom, providing some of the most colourful backdrops to any round of golf.

The Woodland Course, which is cut through a forest of rhododendrons, has been giving many guests the ‘wow factor’. It’s a wonderful place to be, and at times difficult to concentrate on the golf with such beautiful foliage lining the fairways. Banks of pink, red and purple dominate the eyeline, sparking thoughts of Augusta. The Lakeland and Parkland courses are also blessed with flourishes of rhododendron and cherry blossom and the views and reflections across the huge lakes really do look spectacular.

The club’s general manager, Marc Windust, said: “We have a lot of

TheManor House

& Ashbury Hotels

- The Only Sport, Craft & Spa Hotels in the UK

Summer Sizzlers 2015

Golfers looking for a royal golfing retreat this summer should take a look at Marriott Tudor Park Hotel and Country Club in Kent, which has recently undergone a £4.5 million renovation.

The Maidstone-based resort might be only an hour’s drive from the centre of London, but the atmosphere is much further removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. The club, which nestles in a 200-acre former deer park three miles east of Maidstone, and deep in the heart of the Garden of England, is a tranquil spot and a great place for golfers of all abilities to while away their leisure hours.

With three on-site bars and restaurants, there is plenty of choice for wining and dining, while the hotel has recently undergone a £4.5 million renovation to 120 guest rooms, restaurant, conference rooms, and bar, and offers a comfortable place to stay during any golf or leisure break, with other facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, solarium, and a health and beauty spa.

The main attraction, of course, is Tudor Park’s 18hole championship layout, which is the handiwork of acclaimed course architect Donald Steel. His skills much in evidence on the challenging 6,085-yard parkland course that boasts delightful views over this picturesque corner of Kent.

Green fees are £35 from Monday to Thursday, and £45 on Fridays and at weekends, while room rates start from £68pp/pn on weekdays. For details of the latest rates, visit www.marriottgolf. co.uk or call 0800 221222.

visitors who book their golf break at this time of the year in order to see the fantastic floral display. This year looks like a wonderful showing, and with such good weather it should last until the end of June.

There’s a real tranquil feeling on the course, being surrounded by acres of rolling heathland, without a single property in sight except our own luxury Scandinavian lodges.

The three courses, all built with full USGA specification greens, are always well maintained, but the flowers in May and June provide that touch of magic – a must see.”

With this mix of great course conditions, the 14 fantastic five-star Gold Award log homes, and now this floral display, this is certainly the right time to book a golf break.

The unveiling of the new-look Oakland Cottage, a £700,000 luxury cottage, is also a welcome addition for guests. The house recently underwent a renovation to take it to the same high standard of the rest of the resort and is ready to rent now.

To book call 01929 472244 or visit www.dorsetgolfresort.com.

FREE GOLF at

“I’ve never played such fantastic courses”

The UK’s Largest Golf Resort

Stephen W - Trip Advisor

Set in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon.

The Ashbury Hotel is the ideal venue for your golf break.

At least 27 holes of FREE golf with each night of stay!

Pines 17th 442 yards, Par 4

Oakwood 16th 172 yards, Par 3

Beeches 5th 419 yards, Par 4

13/7/15 - 26/8/15

Kigbeare 15th 415 yards, Par 4

• FREE Unlimited Golf • ½ Price Buggies

Full Board Summer Breaks: 3nts Weekend £256pp • 4nts Midweek £300pp

0800 389 9892

6528 6400 5803 5502 5775 6111 1939

ashburygolfhotel.com

• All prices per person • All rooms en-suite • Full board • Party discounts •

a!

PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 17 tutored crafts, including Pottery, Woodwork, Glass Engraving & Hot Press Printing

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

EE Sp FRro yd

Sports Racket Sports Leisure Ranges Family Bowls Swimming Funhouse Tennis Archery Table Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols 5-A-Side Snooker Waterslides Air Rifles Squash Basketball Short Tennis Ten-Pin Lasers Play Area

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

H

Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels

[60] MAY 2015 | TRAVEL NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TUITION BREAKS TOP THE BILL AT LA MANGA

Hailed by top instructor David Leadbetter as a teaching facility to rival anything in the world, La Manga Club’s new Leadbetter Golf Academy is helping to usher in a new era at the luxury destination resort and golfers can take advantage of outstanding value on tuition breaks this summer.

The bespoke academy is the centrepiece of the Spanish resort’s €1m redevelopment of its teaching and practice centre, and guests can choose from a range of courses – with five-night packages including entry to the ‘Total Golf School’ starting from €527 per person.

Golfers of all abilities and ages can combine a stay at the luxury Hotel La Manga Club Principe Felipe or four-star Las Lomas Village apartments and townhouses with a five-star experience at the academy – described by Leadbetter as “comparable with anything I have seen worldwide” and the only one of its kind in mainland Spain.

The four-day school offers 12

hours’ expert tuition and analysis on all parts of the game; from swing technique and short-game secrets to improving a player’s mental approach, preshot preparation and practice methods.

All prices, based on two people sharing a room, also include complimentary access to the fitness centre, indoor pool and steam rooms at Spa La Manga Club, with five nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation in the hotel available from €663 per person.

There’s plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained as well, with special golf tuition packages for children starting from €99 for a fourhour under-nine academy, with further six-hour teaching options for youngsters in the U15 and U17 age groups.

La Manga’s outstanding sports and leisure facilities include three 18-hole championship courses – the North, West and

much-revered South – helping establish itself as Spain’s flagship resort and a firm favourite with European golfers since opening in 1972.

In addition to golf, La Manga boasts unrivalled facilities as a sports and leisure destination, including a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, fourstar serviced apartments and townhouses, and more than 20 bars and restaurants.

To book a break, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@ lamangaclub.com or visit www. lamangaclub.com.

Polish up your putting in Poland Golf may well Sierra Golf Club is one of Poland’s top tracks be in its infancy in Poland, but when it comes to the country’s diverse offering of world-class golf courses already in place, there is undoubtedly a new kid on the eastern block.

In particular, the stunning northern regions of Warminsko-Mazurskie, Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie provide golfers looking to experience somewhere new with an abundance of well-presented courses, offering a variety of challenges for all abilities.

This, alongside a first-class accommodation offering consisting of on-site cottages and modern hotels, as well as vibrant cities, spectacular countryside, a wide range of cultural and leisure attractions, and regular daily flights from UK airports, make Poland a truly attractive proposition for golfers looking to shake things up. With over 25 golf courses to choose from, there are no shortage of venues to play, and with affordable green fees, and no six-hour rounds to endure, they represent great value when compared to other mainstream European destinations.

Among the must-visit courses to put on any Polish golfing itinerary include Sand Valley Golf & Country Club, which is located in the Warminsko-Mazurskie region, some 60 miles from Gdansk. Opened in 2009, this 18-hole championship course features wide rolling fairways, undulating greens, and sandy waste areas that make for an exciting and challenging round.

Another to put on the list is the Gary Player designed Modry Las, which is ranked inside the Europe’s top 100 courses. Regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in Europe, and host to a number of Polish PGA tournaments, the 18-hole championship course winds along the lake’s edges, stretches around ponds and, with Player’s strategically-placed signature bunkers, really challenges all golfers to play their best.

Bogdan Becla, acting director from the Polish National Tourist Office, commented: “We are extremely proud of the quality of our golf courses in Poland, and we are intent of spreading the message to avid golf travellers that our doors are open for them to come and experience a golf holiday that delivers both on and off the course.”

For more information on golf holidays to Poland, visit www.poland.travel or www.golfinpoland.com.

World Expo puts the golfing spotlight on Northern Italy Golfers visiting the World Expo in Milan this summer have the perfect excuse to combine a trip to the globally-renowned exbibition with a golf break to this stunning part of northern Italy.

The World Expo, which runs in Milan from May until the end of October, brings over 140 countries together to showcase their nation’s cultural, scientific and socioeconomic influence. The theme for this year’s Expo is Feeding the Planet, and Energy For Life, with a principal focus on the right to healthy, secure and sufficient food.

Covering an area of one million square metres, Expo 2015 will also showcase each nation’s gastronomic traditions, with food and wine tastings being one of main attractions for visitors.

Outside the exhibition area, located in Rho, a few kilometres west of centre Milan, the entire city will play an active role in the celebrations, with thousands of cultural events organised throughout the city, such as the largest ever exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s works.

Once they have visited the Expo,

golfers are minutes away from some of Northern Italy’s finest golf courses. Traditionally regarded as the hotbed of Italian golf, there is plenty to like about playing in the north of Italy, with its gentle climate, quality courses and ease of accessibility from the UK. More than a third of Italy’s courses can be found in the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont, while great golf is also available in Valle d’Aosta and on the north west coast in the Liguria area.

And, as you would expect from an area that includes the spectacular Italian Lakes, the standard of golf courses more than matches the rich history and culture to be found off the fairways.

Lombardy’s courses have hosted 36 out of 66 editions of the Italian Open, and it’s easy to see why with its range of excellent venues that will satisfy the appetites of all standards of golfers. Among them and set in the Como hills, Villa d’Este is a woodland gem that regularly ranks among the best courses in the country, while Monticello is regarded as one of the great classic venues which has staged the Italian

The site of the Wolrd Expo in Milan

Franciacorta Golf Club

Open seven times.

Menaggio and Cadenabbia is the second oldest in Italy, having celebrated its centenary in 2007, and golfers will revel in the golf on offer around Lake Garda, including Gardagolf, Colombaro and the luxurious Palazzo Arzaga resort.

Just as impressive is Piedmont, with more than 40 clubs, including five of the top ten in Italy, located

across the whole of the region.

Designed by Robert von Hagge, the two 18-hole courses at Bogogno are typical of the highly-regarded designer, and are not to be missed, while Biella Le Betulle has been voted the best course in Italy by the Italian edition of Golf Digest for ten years in a row. Castelconturbia offers three impressive nine-hole layouts created by Robert Trent

Jones Snr while Royal Park, on the outskirts of Turin, has hosted the Italian Open.

Heading east, consider a golf weekend in Franciacorta, the wine region, famous for its white sparkling wine, as well as at the beautiful Lake Garda, where a few rounds of golf can be combined with a visit to an Amaroneproducing vineyard. Alternatively, continuing further east, north of Venice, there’s an interesting golf break combining golf and visits to local coffee and grappa producers.

To check out the complete range of golf packages to northern Italy, visit www.golfholidayitaly. com, where a special e-brochure featuring World Expo Golf Packages can be downloaded.

TRAVEL | MAY 2015

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SarahStirk

I

love this time of year, with great tournaments coming thick and fast. A couple of weeks after the Masters, it’s the WGC Matchplay, followed by The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

From a personal standpoint, I love The Players, having covered it many times now. It’s the PGA Tour’s flagship event, with arguably the strongest field of the year, at a superb golf course. It’s also one of the most fan-friendly weeks of the year, which adds to the unique and lively atmosphere.

Of course, the players all feel the same, and much of that is down to this being their own tournament.

It’s staged at the Tour’s headquarters, and with numerous pros living in the Sunshine State of Florida, it counts as a home game for many. But it’s not just the pros that love it – golf fans all over the world do too. You can watch the best in the game tackle this famous Pete Dye layout each spring and then go and play it yourself.

There isn’t a course more obviously built for tournament golf than Sawgrass. Not only is it set up to test the very best, but there are spots on every hole where a gallery can comfortably watch all the action unfold. This is where the course earns the ‘Stadium’ part of its name - almost every green is in an amphitheatre setting. Even some of the fairways have excellent viewing areas, but for the best seat in

AFTER WATCHING THE WORLD’S BEST TACKLE THE STUNNING STADIUM COURSE AT TPC SAWGRASS, WHY NOT BOOK YOUR NEXT GOLFING HOLIDAY TO FLORIDA AND TRY IT FOR YOURSELF, SAYS SARAH STIRK

the house, you need to grab yourself a beer and head to 17. It’s loud, lairy and brilliant, and easily outguns the 16th at Scottsdale for sheer golfing drama.

The Stadium course is tough. Aside from the obvious intimidation factor of the 17th, one of the most demanding characteristics of the course is the width – or should I say narrowness – of the fairways.

Adding insult to difficulty, the strategically-placed bunkers make this a thought-provoking test, with the approach shots demanding real accuracy, and many players calling this a ‘second shot’ golf course.

The par-five holes at Sawgrass are outstanding, and the 16th is one of my favourites. The trees on the left of the fairway do a great job of pushing your tee shot out to the right, simultaneously concealing what lies up ahead. The walk down the fairway is one of the most memorable in the game. Once you clear the trees on the right, you can see the 17th green in the distance, and you’re already thinking several shots ahead. Forget that for a minute though - the second shot at 16 either demands near-perfection to hit the green in two, or steers you towards the right side, near the water, for an unobstructed view of the pin with your approach. It’s a classic risk-reward hole at a crucial point in the round.

In terms of par three, the 17th at Sawgrass is one of the most iconic – and most copied – in the game.

It’s as if playing with your nerves went into the design

of the hole. The 80-or-so yard walk to the tee allows you to really take in the setting, which is much more expansive than it looks on television.

From a tournament standpoint, it’s effectively a huge bowl, with thousands packed in to watch the action. From a design standpoint, the setting makes reading the wind very difficult. There is a line of trees behind the green, and another behind the tee, that prevent the players from sensing any high level wind. The bowl created by 16 and 17 also causes the wind to swirl, and you’ll see many players backing off a couple of times before committing to the shot. It’s only a little flick with a wedge, but couple that with the wind factor and thousands ready to cheer or jeer, and it’s a pressure-packed moment. You’ll feel all those nerves when you play it for yourself, even with just your mates and a caddy watching!

I defy any of you to not want to get out and play this course having watched it on TV, and that’s the beauty of it, you absolutely can! Book ahead for some great deals – you can stay right next door to the course at The Sawgrass Marriott resort and grab an all-in package, plus it’s easy to get to, with flights straight into Orlando, followed by a two-hour drive north drive.

TPC Sawgrass is a course on most golfers bucket list, and there’s one question you need to be able to answer with conviction, ‘What did you make on 17?’

SENSATIONAL SAWGRASS

Aside from the obvious intimidation factor of the 17th, one of the most demanding characteristics of the course is the width – or should I say narrowness – of the fairways

[61]

[62] MAY 2015 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Me&MyTravels My earliest travel memory is… going on holiday to Florida with my mum and dad when I was seven years old. I remember the sun, the golf course where we were staying, and that there was just so much to do. Going to kid-friendly restaurants at night was novel, too. And all of it in shorts and a t-shirt – you don’t get that too often at home in July.

WITH SO MUCH TIME SPENT ON THE ROAD, IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT WHEN HE’S NOT BUSY BEING THE WORLD’S BEST GOLFER, RORY MCILROY LIKES TO CHILL OUT WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK HOME IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The harbour in Sorrento, Italy

Deane’s Restaurant in Belfasft

Royal Portrush

My favourite place is… back home in Northern Ireland.

With all the travelling that I do, there’s just nowhere I’m more relaxed than among family and friends. I probably have a very romantic view of home, because I’m not back for more than about six weeks in a year.

My favourite hotel is… The Fitzpatrick in Manhattan, New York. I always feel at home there and I’m always looked after well, but not in a fussy way or with any special treatment. And the breakfasts there are great – lots of sausages, white pudding, bacon and breads from back home.

My favourite restaurant is…

Deanes Restaurant in Howard Street, Belfast. There are eight or so different Deanes venues now, and all have different styles, from casual bistros and brasseries to more fine dining.

They all share the same relaxed vibe though, which is about being back home among friends and family.

My ideal dining companion would be… George Best. I’m just such a huge football fan. I can think of a lot of legendary golfers, but I’d love to have chatted to somebody regarded as the best of the best in his day. I think we’d have had great banter.

My least favourite dining companion would be… any professional golfer in the world after they’ve had a bad round.

My favourite golf course is… Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. I could mention every hole in detail, but the 210-yard, par-three

The Fitzpatrick Hotel, New York

14th, which is called Calamity Corner, must be played to be appreciated. With the wind blowing in from the North Antrim coast, this is not a hole for the faint-hearted! In almost every sense, Royal Portrush is a truly awe-inspiring I never travel without… my Bose Bluetooth headphones and music; clean underwear; and good company.

My top travel tip is… to take

good music and headphones wherever you go. You can escape almost anything – or anybody – with great tunes.

And wear lots of sunscreen.

My next holiday destination is… the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

I’ve heard so much great stuff about it, so it’s definitely on my list. I just love the sound of Sorrento and Positano. I’ve heard the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is completely chilled. But it’s maybe not somewhere I’d go on a boys’ trip.

we’re the golf holiday experts www.chakagolf.com

Make this English run unique B&B your base when golfing in South Carolina An Inn on York Street specializes in golf holidays and catering to visitors from the UK and Europe. Innkeepers Mark & Sandie Woodier, originally from the UK, can help with your travel plans and advice on flights and local car rentals. We can organize group golf competitions, presentation dinners and can assist with any of your needs to make your golf holiday at An Inn on York Street the perfect escape.

£349* for 7 nights B&B incl. 3 rounds of golf with buggy

Want to stay a second week? Add 7 more consecutive nights B&B and 3 more rounds of golf for an additional £300*!

£495* for 10 nights B&B incl. 4 rounds of golf with buggy

*Rates are per person based upon 2 people sharing and assuming an exchange rate of £1 to $1.55)

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from £1,695 PP

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1 week b&b, $200 resort credit per room

12 nights Half Board from £1,695 PP

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12 nights All Inclusive Package from £2,235 PP

unlimited golf, incl. flights & transfers

TENERIFE

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Incl. flights & 4 evening meals

ABU DHABI

from £595 PP

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4* Crowne Plaza Yas island

Excl. flights & transfers

Incl. flights, airport & golf transfers

5 nights b&b 2 evening meals & unlimited golf

MEXICO

5* Moon Palace Resort

7 nights b&b 4 rounds of golf plus shared golf cart

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from £1,875 PP

2 weeks All Inclusive Unlimited golf on 2 courses

12 nights b&b 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses

Incl. flights & transfers MADEIRA

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from £1,895 PP

2 weeks Garden Route & Cape Town

Incl. flights & car hire DUBAI

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