GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
THE UK’S NO.1 GOLF NEWSPAPER
ISSUE 282 | MAY 2019
INTERVIEWS TIGER ON TIGER Masters' champion reveals how he won his 15th major FINDING FUTURE FALDOS Celebrating 23 years of The Faldo Series
NEWS | MAY 2019
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EQUIPMENT WHEELS DOWN Your guide to the best golf trolleys TRIED & TESTED Powakaddy C2i Trolley Ping G410 hybrid
MAJOR PLAYER Brooks Koepka retains PGA Championship
'I’M LIVING THE DREAM' EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TOUR STAR MATT WALLACE
TRAVEL COSTA NAVARINO Putting Greece on the golfing map ME & MY TRAVELS Harry Potter stars Ollie & James Phelps
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A FOUR BALL AT THE LONDON GOLF CLUB AND TICKETS TO THE PGA SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP COMPLIMENTARY COPY Celebrating 25 Years
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MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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NEWS | MAY 2019
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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
EDITOR'S LETTER
NICK BAYLY
■ OLD GUYS RULE: WOODS AND MICKELSON ARE AMONG THE NEW BREED OF 40-SOMETHING PROS STILL CUTTING IT ON TOUR
TAKING THE LONG VIEW While I’m not overly sentimental when it comes to anniversaries – just ask my wife – I can’t let this particular Editor’s Letter pass without letting it ever so quietly be known that this edition marks the 25th year of Golf News’ founding. OK, so we won’t be lighting any candles on an office cake, setting off any fireworks over GN Towers, or employing a skywriter over the West Course at Wentworth to let people know that Golf News set up shop about this time of year a quarter-of-a-century ago, but hey, we’re still here, and we’re still doing what we’re doing, and having some fun – although not too much – doing it. And it goes without saying that we hope you still enjoying reading it. And while I’m not that nostalgic when it comes personal milestones, it’s a different matter when it comes to matters of a golfing nature. Give me an episode of Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf from the ‘90s, or a rerun of the Open Championship from the ‘80s, and I’m there – immediately transported back to a simpler time, when checked slacks and flappy collars ruled the fairways, and there was barely a branded cap in sight. While the clothes may have changed, it’s interesting to note that a good number of the players that were ripping up the fairways around the world in 1994, when Golf News first began publishing, are still doing so today, albeit in slightly slacker slacks. Phil Mickelson, a regular on ‘SWWOG’ in the late ‘90s, looks stronger than ever, judging from the workout
routines that he regularly posts on his Twitter account, with his world ranking standing at 23 at the tender age of 48; while Ernie Els, who was voted the PGA Tour’s rookie of the year in ’94, following his victory in the US Open, is still playing some very decent golf on the regular tours while he waits for his 50th birthday in October. Lord knows how many wins 'The Big Easy' will rack up should he commit to a serious senior schedule, but I bet that Bernhard Langer – who is 61 and still winning for fun – is a tad worried. Writing as someone who has recently turned 50, it is heartening to see that ‘the oldies’ still have something to bring to the game as players, not just as commentators, and I fully expect the current crop of 40-somethings on tour to carry on featuring at the top of leaderboards for many years to come, especially now that they’re all spending time in the gym rather than eating pies. Despite the modern game’s move towards a ‘bomband-gouge’ style of play, experience, it seems, still counts for something when it comes to nudging a golf ball around a course. A fact that was made all too clear in the way that Tiger finessed his Bridgestone around Augusta National last month, playing to his strengths, while letting others discover the weaknesses that lurked all too close beneath the surface. So here’s to playing to your strengths in 2019, and here’s hoping that Golf News will still be around in another 25 years’ time to report on Tiger’s 35th major triumph at the age of 78.
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MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
InBrief CAMERON CAPTURES BBO SENIORS ★ Doug Cameron won the BB&O Senior Championship in dramatic fashion after eagling the 18th hole at Sonning Golf Club to seal a oneshot win. The Calcot Park player’s hopes of victory looked slim after he opened up with a 79 in wet and windy conditions at the Berkshire venue, but he roared back into contention with a second round 65 to post the clubhouse target of 144. Fellow Calcot Park member George Wilson, who opened with a 72, needed to match that score to tie with Cameron, but the BB&O senior captain could only manage a 73 and ended up a shot shy in second place.
PANTON-LEWIS QUALIFIES FOR US SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN ★ Former Ladies European Tour player Cathy Panton-Lewis earned a place in the 2019 US Senior Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Golf Club in South Carolina after finishing third at a regional qualifying event held at the Bay Club in Massachusetts. Last year PantonLewis, 63, qualified for the Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club, a feat that earned her the PGA in England (South)’s Player of the Year Award for 2018.
MCMAHON CLAIMS DORSET LADIES’ TITLE ★ Lyme Regis’s Melissa McMahon won the 2019 Dorset Ladies County Championship after beating Eleanor Morris in the final held at Knighton Heath. Harriet Teversham (Yeovil) won the prize for the best 36-hole gross score with a total of 158, while Hermione Christey-Clover (Ashley Wood) took the handicap prize with a nett 148.
LEGOUIX MOVES TO CLANDON ★ Geoffrey Legouix, the longserving head PGA Professional at Aylesbury Park Golf Club in BuckinghamshIre, which closed last month due to the impact of the HS2 rail development, has joined Clandon Golf in Surrey. In other golf club staff moves, Neal Grist has left Meon Valley to take up the position of general manage at Southwick Park Golf Club in Hampshire, while PGA Professional David Smith has left Chadwell Springs Golf Centre after 14 years to take up the role of club professional at The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club.
NORTHOVER WINS ALLISS MATCH PLAY ★ Somerset teenager Chloe Northover won the Peter Alliss Match Play Trophy after winning the final held at Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset. Fourteen-yearold Northover, who is a member at Yeovil Golf Club and plays for Dorset’s U18 team, came through three qualifying rounds on different courses to be one of the eight players who qualified for the match play quarter-finals.
■ CHAMPAGNE GOLF: CALLUM SHINKWIN IN FULL FLOW AT THE OPENING
Moor Park unveils world-class short game area Moor Park Golf Club’s status as one of the south east’s leading private members clubs went up a further notch last month following the official opening of the 36hole venue’s new short game academy. The short game area, which took over three years from initial planning stages to the completion of its construction, boasts over 1,000 square metres of practice facilities and aims to further enhance the standing of the already-renowned Hertfordshire club. Award-winning golf course architect James Edwards, who undertook the project, said: “Without doubt, Moor Park is now home to one of the finest and most intelligent short game facilities in the country. We are delighted that a club as prestigious as Moor Park had the vision and belief to engage my company, Edwards Design International, and embrace
our plans.” He added: “Three particular points set this project apart from the rest – its sheer size, with 360-degree approach areas from designated zones; its proximity to the clubhouse, which gives easy access to members; and the 18 perimeter tees that are designed to create a unique short game course.” The short game area, which is only open to members, officially opened on April 13, with members and guests enjoying canapés and Champagne, followed by a short game demonstration and Q&A session with European Tour player and Moor Park ambassador Callum Shinkwin. “As a European Tour professional, I am incredibly fortunate to practise and play on the best courses from around the world,” said Shinkwin. “I can safely say that the Moor Park
Golding seeks further glory at Staysure Seniors
Philip Golding is eager to defend his Staysure PGA Seniors Championship title when the event returns to London Golf Club from August 1-4. The 56-year-old Londoner clinched his fifth over-50s title with a closing round of 63 at the Kent venue to capture the tournament by two shots last year, and is eager to repeat the feat in 2019. “Anytime you get to defend a tournament is always special,” said Golding, who five senior wins on his CV. “The PGA Seniors Championship was a unique tournament last year. It’s always nice to go back and defend a tournament and hopefully we’ll have the same weather as last year.” Golding made up eight shots in the final 36 holes to surge from the pack to clinch the title last year. The barrage of birdies over the final two rounds even took Golding by surprise. “I shot level par on the first day, and I was a little bit conscious of making the cut, because Monty was on nine under,” Golding said. “I shot 67 on the second day to make the cut, comfortably, then I focused on finishing the best I could over the weekend. I set myself the goal of being inside the top ten at the end of day three, and then
short game area is one of the best facilities I have seen, and I am incredibly honoured to be a part of its opening.” The area gives members the opportunity to practise a selection of shots within 60 yards from different lies. The facility strengthens the already very strong complement of gameimprovement facilities on offer at the club, including a double-ended driving range, swing studio and SAM putting lab. Amy Yeates, Moor Park’s chief executive, said: “The short game area is a huge benefit to our members, and one we are very proud of. We are working hard on enhancing the membership offering at Moor Park, and this world-class facility is another step in the right direction for our mission to reinstate Moor Park as one of the best private members’ clubs in the South East.”
I had a good start on Sunday, and when I looked at the leaderboard after nine holes I was only one or two off the lead. I kept plugging away, hitting good shots, making putts and I ended up winning.” Golding is delighted that Staysure, which is the headline sponsor of the European Senior Tour, also has an branded tournament in the schedule. He said “It’s great to have Staysure onboard. Ryan Howsam, Staysure’s chairman, loves golf and we’ve become great friends. Having his enthusiasm and Staysure onboard is great, especially with the tournament being the first individual one the company has sponsored.” Howsam said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Phil return in 2019 and wish him the very best in the defense of his title. Watching his play over the closing nine holes to shoot 63, and seal a two-shot victory, was one of the most impressive displays of golf I have ever seen, and to experience it first hand at our tournament at a world class venue like London Golf Club was really special.” To buy tickets to watch the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, visit www.europeantour.com/staysuretour.a
NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
How much time is Nick able to devote to the Series? A fair amount. He always attends the three Grand Finals in Europe, Asia and the USA, and will often pop up at regional events if it fits in with his schedule. Seeing him at the finals, and getting the chance to meet him, is part of what the players are playing for, and it’s a part of the Series that dad really loves – hosting the clinics, doing the Q&A sessions, and generally being hands on. Whenever we meet up, whether at the Open or the Masters, as we did last month, dad and I are always talking about the Series, where we can take it and how we can improve it. It’s his baby, and he’s very proud of it.
■ DRIVING FORCE: SIR NICK FALDO HOPES TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF GOLFERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
FINDING THE NEXT FALDO Matthew Faldo, son of Sir Nick, talks exclusively to Golf News about the Faldo Series,, which now spans three continents and 30 countries, and attracts thousands of boys and girls each year as they start on their journey towards future stardom Tell us how the Series came about and what your dad wanted to achieve by setting it up? Dad set up the Faldo Series immediately after his victory at the Masters in 1996. He always knew that he wanted to give something back to the game that has given him so much, and set up something that would give talented young players a chance to shine on a bigger stage. Since its inception, the Series has welcomed over 40,000 boys and girls and crowned 38 champions, many of whom have gone on to success at elite amateur and professional levels. We offer five age groups to compete in, from 12 to 21, and we’ve seen players with handicaps as low as plus-four up to 12.
■ RORY MCILROY WON THE U15 BOYS CATEGORY AT THE 2004 FALDO SERIES FINAL AT LOUGH ERNE
First established in the UK, the Series has since expanded to encompass Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, with 40 events taking place in 30 countries worldwide. Three continental Grand Finals take place in Europe, Asia and North America, bringing together junior golfers from all corners of the world to compete against one another. Last year’s Europe Series involved other 1,500 juniors across 14 qualifying events, with the final featuring 65 players from 20 countries. How long have you been involved in the Series? I started working for the Series in 2010, during the middle of my placement year at the University of West England in Bristol, where I was studying business management. I finished my course on the Friday, and the following day I went straight up to Hollinwell to help out at a qualifier there. I’m now Director of the Faldo Series and look after the day-to-day management of the whole Series, liaising with partners, players, venues, the Tour – everyone who has an interest in the Series.
The winners of the boys’ and girls’ events get invites to play in professional tournaments. How important has that been in the success of the Series? One of our aims is to get players competing at the highest level, so it’s great that through our partnership with the European Tour and the Ladies European Tour that our winners get to experience what it’s like to play in a professional event at such a young age. We’re hopeful of being able to offer a few more starts in Challenge Tour events to our boys winners going forward, as, although a European Tour start is great, and will always be part of the prize package, it’s a slightly less daunting experience on the Challenge Tour, and getting to play in maybe two or three Challenge Tour events, rather than just a single European Tour event, is perhaps a more useful learning experience in the scheme of things. There is an impressive list of tour players who have graced the Series over the years, including the likes of Nick Dougherty, Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Eddie Pepperell, Oli Fisher, Matt Wallace, Mel Reid and Carly Booth. How satisfying has it been for you and your dad to see these players progress to the top ranks of the game? We reckon there are 30-plus players who have competed ■ SIR NICK'S SON, MATTHEW, LOOKS in the Series AFTER THE DAY-TOwho have DAY RUNNING OF gone on to THE FALDO SERIES enjoy successful
professional careers. It’s been one of proudest elements of the Series. Certainly, for the overall Series winners, the opportunity to compete in international tournaments and professional events is a great introduction to the pro game. Dad always likes to keep an eye on former Series players, and is more than happy to offer advice, and help out when he can. He has been something of a mentor to some of the players over the years, certainly with the likes of Nick, Rory, and Matt [Wallace]. Dad played a practice round with Rory at the Open in 2007 when he was an amateur and on the Sunday before the Masters this year he played a practice round with Matt at Augusta. Last month we also had about a dozen former Series girls playing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur event, so that was also good to see. We’ve also seen a lot of players from our overseas events doing well on tour. China’s Li Haotong, who played in the Series, is now ranked inside the world’s top 40, while Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who won the Girls Series in 2016, has already won three times on the LPGA Tour and she’s still only 20. And, of course, Yani Tseng, who won the girls’ final in 2005, has gone on to win five majors and loads other events. Tell us about the schedule for the Series in the UK in 2019. We basically have to pack everything into five months between April and August, with events taking place around Europe and the rest of the world, highlighted by eight regional qualifiers around the UK and Ireland and the South America Championship in Brazil in June. The Grand Final for Europe is being held at Al Ain in Abu Dhabi in November. The qualifiers get booked up very early, so players need to be quick off the mark when the entries open. It only costs £60 to enter, and for that they get a practice round and two guaranteed rounds before a cut, with the top half of the field playing a final round for WAGR points. It’s a tough school, as only each age category winner goes through to their respective Grand Final. For more information, visit www.faldoseries.com.
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NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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[10] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Dimmock strikes gold at Roehampton Tour player Annabel Dimmock added her name to the list of leading ladies to have lifted the famous Roehampton Gold Cup after shooting rounds of 71 and 69 at the Surrey venue on April 19. Although a cold north-east wind and intermittent hail showers made low scoring difficult, the 54-strong field, comprising 24 pros and 30 amateurs, enjoyed excellent playing conditions over Roehampton’s superb parkland course. Dimmock, who is attached to the Wentworth Club, took the title, which dates back to 1927, with a 36-hole total of 140. She finished two shots ahead of fellow professionals Dulcie Sverdloff from Thorpe Hall with 142 (72,70) and Hannah Burke, from Essendon Golf Club in Hertfordshire, on 146 (70,76). The leading amateur prize was won by 25-year-old Chloe Ryan from Castletroy in Ireland, who finished close on the leaders’ heels in fourth on 147. The host club fielded two of its own players this year, with Issy Simpson finishing 12th with rounds of 77 and 78, while Lauren Gooding came in with a 36-hole total of 159 (78,81). Special mention goes to 14-year-old Hyun-ji Kim, a five handicapper from Wimbledon Park, who was called up at the last minute to take the place of an injured player. She reached the club in 30 minutes and came in with a very creditable 166 (88,78).
Prince’s makes progress with Shore and Dunes renovations
The renovation of the historic Shore and Dunes courses at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent is progressing to plan, with the newlook layouts on schedule to open in the spring of 2020. After the redevelopment of the Himalayas nine was unveiled last year, the owners of the historic links venue have commissioned further extensive improvements to bring all 27 holes up to the same standard in terms of ‘quality, playability and aesthetic’. Rob McGuirk, Prince’s general manager, said: “We were thrilled with the re-opening of our Himalayas nine last year and, as a result, came to the prompt realisation that we require similar upgrades to the other 18 holes on the property. I believe the steps we’re taking to elevate the visual and playing aspects of the courses are overwhelmingly positive, and it shows how determined we are to provide a world-class experience to our members, guests and visitors.” Work has already begun on the renovation, with much of the heavy machinery work and initial development completed over the winter. Work on both the Shore and the Dunes will be finished by spring next year, but the courses remain fully open for uninterrupted play throughout this year. Commenting on the works to the Shore and Dunes, Martin Ebert, of architects MacKenize & Ebert, said: “We have been delighted to continue our involvement at Prince’s. Having the opportunity to provide design input to the Shore and Dunes has led us to enjoy an even greater respect for the quality of the detailed shaping of the
Davis qualifies for US Women’s Open Dorset’s Hayley Davis qualified for the US Women’s Open after coming through the European Sectional Qualifier held at Buckinghamshire Golf Club on May 7. The 26-year-old Ferndown Golf Club fired rounds of 71 and 67 to finish in a tie for second with Germany’s Esther Henseleit on six under par, and then won a play-off with a par at the short ninth hole to book her ticket to the second women’s major of 2019, which tees off at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina on May 30. The Wimborne golfer is looking forward to returning to the United States, where she lived for six years, having played college golf for Baylor
greens and green surrounds at Prince’s. The original work of Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison in restoring Prince’s as a great golf course after the Second World War was fantastic. It has been a great honour to have followed in their footsteps. “Our research has shown that the greens used to be much larger, so many of the surfaces have been restored in size simply by mowing them out. In terms of new features, the 5th hole on the Shore nine stands out. The carry over bare sand areas and the view towards the sea makes for a stunning hole, and it also provides a welcome change in angle for the course. “The sixth (existing 5th) has also benefited from the 5th hole project, with a new alignment from elevated tees in the dunes. The reconfigured tee complexes have added character to many of the holes, as have the restoration and creation of bare sand areas in many areas. Prince’s really has three world-class loops of nine holes.” A tactical reconfiguration of the bunkering on several holes, as well as the addition of several new tees, will not only provided more balance between the back tees and members’ yellow tees, but increasing the length of some holes has brought the fairway bunkers back into play for elite golfers. Similar to the changes made to the Himalayas, new open natural sand scrape areas will add an attractive landscape feature, while also providing a natural habitat for rare coastal species of flora and fauna.
■ PRINCE'S SHORE AND DUNES NINES ARE CURRENTLY BEING RENOVATED
University, as well as playing in her first major championship. Speaking after her round, Davies said: “I’m very happy. It was a long day, but a good day, and it ended up well. I hit a solid 6-iron to about 15 feet in the playoff and nearly made the putt, but I’m just relieved to have qualified. Italy’s Colombotto Rosso won the qualifier with rounds of 69 and 68 for a 36-hole total of seven under par, with former Solheim Cup player Diana Luna acting as her caddie.
Hot-shot Humphreys wins Irish and Welsh Stroke Play titles Essex and England star Lily May Humphreys pulled off a dream double when she won the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship just seven days after securing the Welsh title. The 17-year-old international from Stoke-by-Nayland was 10-under par after three rounds at Co Louth Golf Club and six shots clear of her closest challenger, Romy Meekers of The Netherlands. That backed up her equally impressive performnace in the previous week's Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play held at Royal St David’s, where she led from wire-to-wire after an opening 67, and added rounds on 72 and 73 to win by four shots clear of her England teammate Isobel Wardle. Humphreys, who made her Curtis Cup debut at the age of 16, adds this to previous wins in the English, Scottish, British, European and American championships, which have taken her to the top of the amateur game. Her next challenge will be the 2019 English Women’s Amateur at Saunter, where she will be aiming to recapture the title she won in 2017. But her longer-term aim is to follow in the footsteps of Georgia Hall and Charley Hull on the LPGA Tour. Humphreys said: “I’ve been home schooled and next year I have my A-levels. After that I’m hoping to turn professional, and I want to go to LPGA Qualifying School, but I am going to go to LET Qualifying School this year. Hopefully I’ll secure some LET invites then to get more experience and move me up a level so I am ready to turn pro then.”
Sports stars and top pros support diabetes charity day Members and guests at Woking Golf Club were joined by Sir Trevor Brooking, and a legion of other sports celebrities and professional golfers, to raise funds for JDRF, the UK’s type 1 diabetes charity. Football legend Brooking was among a host of football legends, including Ray Clemence, David Howells, and Marco Falco, who took part in the pro-celebrity JDRF Golf Day held at the Surrey club on May 3 to help the charity raise money for medical research and into services for type 1 diabetes. They were supported by a strong turn out of current tour players, including Richard McEvoy, Robert Coles, Lloyd Kennedy, Oliver Fisher, Jamie Little, Sam Little, Lee Newman, Michael East and Simon Khan. Former Spurs midfielder Howells, who
is now a performance analyst and coach based in Guildford, helped to organise the JDRF Golf Day with good friend Sam Loxton, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 33 years. Howells said: “I really admire how Sam deals with the challenges type 1 diabetes has thrown his way. JDRF supports people of all ages with this lifelong condition, and funds world-leading research to treat, prevent and cure type 1 diabetes. I’m happy to help raise funds for this fantastic charity while having a great game of golf at Woking.”
NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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[12] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
InBrief
Edginton to captain R&A
JOY FOR JORDAN AT WINTER SERIES FINALE In a fitting climax to the PGA South’s Winter Series, Langley Park’s Tom Jordan eagled the 18th at Farnham Golf Club to finish with 40 points to win the Titleist & FootJoy Assistants & Trainees BetterBall Pro-Am. Jordan’s stunning finish meant he broke out of the pack to claim the outright victory, finishing two strokes ahead James Ford, Jonathan Ingram, Michael Bullen and Billy Hemstock. The ultra-consistent Peter Tarver-Jones (West Hove) won the overall PGA South Winter Series to claim the Battle Bowl and win a Titleist 918 driver, a pair of FootJoy MyJoy shoes and a £250 cash bonus.
SALESIAN SCOOPS SURREY SCHOOLS TITLE A total of 43 boys and girls with ages ranging from 10-16 took part in the Surrey Schools Higher Handicap Championship at Chipstead Golf Club on April 25. The winner of the girls event was Hannah Link from Collingwood School, Camberley with a 40 points. The Boys’ section was won by 12-year-old Jaden Hanson from Salesian School in Chertsey with 41 points. The Whitfield Shield, which combines of the two best scores from a team of three, was won by Salesian with 77 points. Glyn School matched their score, but lost on countback. The Salesian team comprised Jaden Hanson, Harvey Pitt and Leo Sant.
England reign over Spain at stormy Formby England beat Spain 13-7 in the mixed international at Formby Golf Club to keep a firm grip on the Seve Ballesteros Trophy. The home side built on the first day’s one point lead with a 4-1 win in the morning foursomes, before taking six of the ten singles, with Northamptonshire‘s Ben Jones scoring the winning point when he holed a 35-foot birdie putt to clinch his match 3&2. The tournament began in challenging conditions, with winds of 50mph forcing the opening day’s singles to be abandoned, although the teams managed to play one session of foursomes. After the first session, England led 3-2; after the morning’s foursomes the lead was extended to 7-3, and the team made quick work of the singles, knowing they needed just 3.5 points to retain the trophy. Somerset’s Tom Plumb was first to score, notching up five birdies as he won 3&2. Yorkshire’s Ben Hutchinson followed him almost immediately, winning 5&4 on his debut at this level, defeating Spain’s best-ranked player, Victor Pastor. Fellow Yorkshireman Bailey Gill took England to within touching distance of victory when he won 5&3, playing nicely under par. His result left the way clear for Jones to clinch
the victory. But the team wasn’t finished. Essex’s Lily May Humphreys had seven birdies in her round as she worked her way to a 5&3 win, finishing off with an impressive up-and-down from a steep sandhill beside the green. Bel Wardle completed the scoreline with a strong finish, winning the 15th and 16th holes to complete a 2&1 win. Wardle won all three of her games, as did Jones and Gill. England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards had praise for his players’ attitude when the going got tough. “Conditions were extremely difficult, but the attitude they showed paved the way for today’s play, which was really good. The players really showed what they can do when the conditions are more favourable.” He added: “This is a new team, and irrespective of whether they won their individual matches or not, they will have learned a lot about themselves and international golf and will reflect on how to push on to gain further international honours and hopefully, individual success.” The winning England team comprised Ben Jones, Bailey Gill, Emily Toy, Tom Sloman, Georgina Blackman, Tom Plumb, Bel Wardle, Jake Burnage, Lily May Humphreys, and Ben Hutchinson.
The former captain of St George’s Hill Golf Club has been elected to captain the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the 2019/20 season. Clive Edginton, 67, who has been a member of the Surrey club since he was eight, will begin his year in office with the traditional driving-in ceremony on the first tee of The Old Course on September 20. Born in Walton-on-Thames, Edginton is a former Oxford law graduate, with a Blue for golf, who enjoyed a successful business career in the City, latterly as chairman of Tindall Riley, a specialist insurance management company, before retiring in 2014. He became a member of the R&A in 1997, served on the Rules of Golf Committee from 2000-2004, and was its deputy chairman from 2002 to 2004. He was chairman of the Amateur Status Committee from 2007-2011, and was elected to the General Committee in 2014, which he served as chairman from 2015-2018. He has served St George’s Hill as a committee member, captain, director and trustee. Currently playing off a handicap of eight, he has been club champion four times and is a nine-time winner of the St George’s Hill’s scratch Gold Medal. At various times he has also been captain of the South Eastern Junior Golfing Society, the Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society, the Moles Golfing Society and the Old Malvernian Golfing Society, for whom he played more than 100 matches in the Halford Hewitt.
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NEWS | MAY 2019
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Haste Hill pair win
Clink takes on presidency
InBrief
at England Golf
Golfsixes Final Two members of Haste Hill Golf Cub in Middlesex booked a trip to Portugal with the European Tour later this year after winning the English GolfSixes final at the Centurion Club. Sian Whitbread and Paul Dimmer triumphed after topping their group with a nett 22 over six holes, and going head-tohead with the winners from the other side of the draw, Dennis Swain and Andy Simon from West Essex Golf Club, who managed to get round the course in two-under gross for a nett 19.9. The two pairs then took on the 166-yard challenge, which has faced Tour players over the last two years when GolfSixes has been played at the Hertfordshire venue. And, despite a head wind, and the intimidating water feature just off the green, they came up trumps in the greensomes event. Dimmer sent his tee shot into the heart of the green, while Whitbread rolled the putt to within 12 inches of the hole, leaving her partner a simple tap-in. With their handicap allowance of 0.7 on the hole, they pipped Swain and Simon, who also parred the hole, but received just 0.3 shots. Victory earned the Haste Hill pair a luxury trip to Cascais in Portugal to play in the 12-hole pro-am ahead of the European Tour’s 2019 GolfSixes tournament, on June 7-8. They will stay on as the Tour’s guests to watch the championship. Afterwards, Dimmer commented: “I’m drained – physically, emotionally and mentally, but I’m also exhilarated. It’s probably the biggest single achievement of our sporting lives and we hope to represent England Golf in a way they will be proud of.”
BANDAY RECEIVES ENGLAND CALL UP
Gloucestershire’s Jenny Clink has taken office as the 2019 President of England Golf. A member at Lilley Brook Golf Club near Cheltenham, Clink, who succeeds Northumberland’s Desmond Duffy as president, formerly chaired the English Women’s Golf Association, which later merged with the English Golf Union to form England Golf. Within her county she has been Gloucestershire’s county captain and president. She has also had close involvement with championship golf, both as a soughtafter referee and as a successful England captain. Her commitment to the sport has been recognised with England’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to golf.
McIlroy remains top
Royal Mid Surrey’s Rafiah Banday has been picked for the England U16 team to face Spain in the Mixed U16 international at Woodhall Spa on May 25-26. Banday, who was joint runner-up in the 2018 English U16 Girls’ Championship and played in the Mixed U16 match last year, will be joined by Hertfordshire’s Jack Bigham and Reis Suart, Libby Bell and Rachel Gourley of Northumberland, Patience Rhodes of Somerset, Joshua Berry of Yorkshire and Dubai-based Josh Hill. Spain has won four of the last five U16 mixed matches.
of sporting rich list
Rory McIlroy has been named the UK’s richest young sports star for the third year running, increasing his fortune by £28m to £138m. The 30-year-old from Northern Ireland topped the 2019 Sunday Times Rich List of UK-born sports stars aged under 31. He finished ahead of Gareth Bale, whose fortune grew a £20m to £94m. All the others listed in the top 17 of the list were male footballers, with the exception of boxing world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, whose wealth rose £14m to £49m, ranking him fourth. McIlroy saw his 2018 tournament earnings of ¢6m bolstered by an estimated £25m annually from commercial deals. The four-time major champion has ten-year contracts with Nike and TaylorMade, worth over $100m, as well as sponsorship deals with Omega watches, EA Sports and NBC Sports.
BLIND GOLFERS BEAT HAM MANOR TEAM A team representing the England & Wales Blind Golfers beat Ham Manor Golf Club’s Scratch team on its home course to win the inaugural BlindHam Trophy. The driving force behind the match was Ham Manor member Andy Gilford, who has a sight classification of B2. His team of sight-impaired and blind golfers included the current World Blind Golf Champion, Jason Bastable. The match format consisted of eight players in each team playing a fourball betterball match play with stroke allowances. Winning 2.5-1.5, the Blind team was presented with the BlindHam Trophy, which was inscribed with the words ‘Seeing Is Believing’.
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[14] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
EVERY. SINGLE. HEAD. I N J E C T E D A N D C A L I B R AT E D T O T H E T H R E S H O L D O F T H E S P E E D L I M I T WHILE THE REST OF THE GOLF WORLD WAS CHASING SPEED, WE WERE PERFECTING IT WITH SPEED INJECTED TWIST FACE — A REVOLUTIONARY PROCESS OF STRATEGICALLY INJECTING EACH HEAD TO BRING IT AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE LEGAL LIMIT.
NEWS | MAY 2019
Not required for approximately 0.3% of heads.
Claim based on combined 2018 driver usage on the PGA, European, Japan Golf, Web.com, Champions and LPGA Tours, as reported by the Darrell Survey Co. and Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc.
Š 2019 TaylorMade Golf Company Limited.
GOLFNEWS.CO.UK [15]
[16] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Shortlands celebrates 125th anniversary Shortlands Golf Club in Kent has plenty of competitions and social events planned to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Among the highlights of the competitive season at the Bromley-based venue will be the Salver & Dinner on August 10, while social highlights include a summer ball scheduled for July 6 and a dinner dance for October 19. A ladies’ 125th tea party was held on May 7 and an Antiquarians dinner dance on May 11, both of which were well attended. The club captain for the year is Phil Charnley, whose chosen charity, Hope House, will benefit from fundraising activities organised during his year in office.
England pair sparkle at Fairhaven Trophy
Northumberland’s Rosie Belsham and Yorkshire’s Callum Macfie led the way for England at the Fairhaven Trophies in Lancashire, where they respectively won the girls’ and boys’ titles in great style. Belsham, from Whitley Bay, set a range of personal firsts as she powered to 23 under par and a 20-shot win over Darcey Harry of Wales. Meanwhile, Macfie, from Lindrick, birdied the last two holes at Fairhaven Golf Club for a two-shot victory – and a triumphant return from injury. It’s the biggest win to date for both players, who train with England squads. For Belsham, there was the added pleasure of beating par over 72 holes for the first time – and the vindication for making swing changes in recent weeks. Macfie, who finished on seven under par, won his title at his third and final attempt before leaving the junior ranks. Belsham, playing against a par of 75, shot rounds of 70, 68, 69 and 70. Her sevenunder-par 68 in round two was her lowest ever score and, over the championship, she had four eagles. Two weeks ago the 17-yearold decided to make significant swing changes and worked hard on the range to groove them. “It really paid off,” she said. “I knew my short game was in really good shape, I just didn’t have any expectation of my long game. But after the first round I was playing well.” Belsham also teamed up with George Leigh (Trevose) and Dominic Clemons (Hanbury Manor) to win the team prize for England. Macfie, 18, opened with two-over 74, but after a second round 68 he was in third place and four shots off the lead set by Yorkshire team-mate Ben Schmidt. But weekend rounds of 70 and 69 set Macfie up for a memorable win.
Shortlands was originally called Beckenham Ladies' Golf Club when it was founded in 1894, and is believed to be first ladies' golf club in Kent. The 9-hole course was extended in 1903 from 20 to 35 acres, and, shortly after it was renamed Shorts Golf Course in 1919, it expanded again. The course remained nine holes until 1976, when further work included the addition of a 10th hole, with the seventh and 16th being played once in a full 18-hole round, and all the others being played twice. The club currently boasts over 330 members, with a growing membership across the ladies and men’s sections. The club’s vice-captain, Kevin Rolfe, who will become captain next year, said: “We are grateful to still be here. Lots of clubs around the area are losing members and going bust, but we are still growing and saw 40-odd new members join last year. A lot of people don’t have time to play 18 holes, but you can come here and play five or nine holes, and you don’t have to worry about spending a full day playing golf.”
NEWS | MAY 2019
[17]
GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Gough selected for Walker Cup squad
Sixteen-year-old Conor Cough has been named in an initial squad of 26 players in contention for selection for the GB & Ireland Walker Cup team
The youngster from Stoke Park is among a shortlist of players hoping to tee it up in the biennial encounter against the US, which is being held at Royal Liverpool from Sept 7-8. Gough, the reigning Boys' Amateur champion, leads a strong contingent of 12 players from England included in the squad. Tom Sloman, who won the Copa Sotagrande recently, and Cape Province Open champion Thomas Plumb, also feature in the group. Six players from Scotland have also made the squad, including 2019 African Amateur champion Euan Walker, and reigning Scottish Amateur champion Euan McIntosh. Sandy Scott, who won the El Macero Classic last month, Marquette Intercollegiate champion Ryan Lumsden, Kieran Cantley and Jamie Stewart also feature in Watson’s plans. Conor Purcell, who won the 2019 Australian Amateur Championship, is among five
players from Ireland make Watson’s squad. He is joined by 2019 West of Ireland Amateur champion Caolan Rafferty, 2018 Eisenhower Trophy player John Murphy, Mark Power and James Sugrue. Irish Boys' Amateur champion Archie Davies, Ben Chamberlain and Jake Hapgood are the three players from Wales. GB&I captain Craig Watson said: “We have selected a talented group of players who are all in contention for a place in the team, and will be continuing to monitor the form and results of these players over the course of the season, but there is still time for others to play their way into our plans ahead of the final team selection later this year.” The squad will gather at Royal Liverpool for a practice session later this month, after which the number of players will be reduced for a second practice session in July. The final tenman GB&I team will be announced in August.
■ IAN TAYLOR AND PAUL DENSHAM
Essendon pair capture Teamwork Trophy Essendon Country Club’s team of PGA Head Professional Ian Taylor and Director of Golf Paul Densham combined their talents to win the Teamwork Trophy East with a stunning seven-under-par 64. Playing a fourball betterball format at Hartsbourne Country Club, 22 teams of golf club managers and PGA Professionals within the PGA East region battled strong winds and fast greens. Teeing off first, the Three Rivers team of pro David Salisbury and manager John Hatfield set the early pace with an impressive five-underpar 66. But with an eagle and four birdies on the back nine, their rivals from Essendon jumped to the top of the leaderboard, leaving Three Rivers in second spot and the West Essex team of PGA Pro Chris Baron and club manager James Levick in third on 67.
Wallis in the red at Royal Blackheath
Kent professional Richard Wallis reprised the form in the PGA Professional Championship qualifier at Royal Blackheath that has resulted in him winning the PGA South region’s Order of Merit five times in nine years. Wallis, who is attached to Canterbury Golf Club, posted a four-under-par 67 to win the PGA South regional qualifier and claim the £500 first prize. More importantly, the victory earned him a place in next month’s final of the Titleist and FootJoy-sponsored competition at Hunstanton, which carries a £78,000 prize fund and a £10,000 first prize. Wallis laid the foundations for victory on the front nine with a quartet of birdies, before completing the homeward half in regulation. Ashley Dart (Foxhills) was also four under at the turn, and looked the likely winner after birdies at 11 and 13 took him to six under and two shots clear of the field. However, successive bogeys at 14, 15 and 16 derailed his challenge, and he had to settle for second place after finishing a shot behind Wallis on three under. The pair will be joined at Hunstanton by 11 other qualifiers; a band that includes Matthew Andrews, Gary Gilligan, Thomas Muchmore, Matt Rice, Elliott Evans, Nico Els, Richard Tinworth, Michael Lowe, Paul Jones, Joe Pepperell and Craig Sutherland.
[18] MAY 2019
RESORT REVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
The Belfry
Hotel & Resort, Warwickshire With its iconic Brabazon Course being the jewel in the crown, there is an abundance of other world-class facilities on and off the fairways that make the luxurious Warwickshire resort the ultimate venue for a relaxing golf break, says Nick Bayly ■ THE RYDER CUP LEGENDS MINI COURSE
■ THE BELFY OFFERS THEEE 18-HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES
S
et against the backdrop of 550 acres of North Warwickshire countryside, The Belfry has, over the last 30 years, developed into one of the world's leading golf destinations. It has been showered with hospitality and golfing awards over those years, with its most recent accolades arriving at last year’s World Golf Travel Awards, where the resort won World’s Best Golf Hotel and the Brabazon picked up the gong for England’s Best Golf Course. In addition to 319 luxury bedrooms and suites in the hotel, there’s something for everyone at The Belfry, with a wide range of quality bars, restaurants, spa facilities, and – of course – three brilliant golf courses. And getting there couldn’t be easier, whether by road or by rail, as the resort’s Midlands location ensures it is less than three hours’ drive from virtually all corners of England, and only a 70-minute train journey from central London. On entering the main hotel lobby, it is easy to understand why the resort has won so many awards, and recently became one of just nine in Europe to be given the Gold Flag status for customer service by industry benchmarkers 59club, as well the honour of ‘Ultimate Golf Resort’. The welcome from the staff is as warm as the sun that is beating down outside, while a vibrant atmosphere is instantly noticeable as you walk past the classy Brabazon Bar and surrounding areas. After checking into my spacious double room, I took a spin around the Belfry’s well-kept Derby course, which sits alongside the world-famous Brabazon layout and the inland links that is the PGA National. The Derby is a stunning parkland course with far-reaching views across the Warwickshire countryside. Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, the course demands accuracy right
■ THE ICONIC PAR-4 10TH ON THE BRABAZON
from the first tee – not to mention good club selection and intelligent course management. Following the round, we spent the evening enjoying an amazing meal at the Belfry’s Ryder Grill. This is a treat for all taste buds, with an impressive a-la-carte menu providing a refreshing take on modern dining. After a comfortable night’s sleep and a hearty full English breakfast the next morning, I hit a few balls at the PGA National Golf Academy in preparation for my round on the Brabazon. Fully equipped with five custom-fitting suites, housing the latest brands and Trackman technology, the academy is the perfect venue to fine-tune your game. There are 34 driving bays, while the beautifully kept short game and putting areas offer a great chance to get your game into shape before hitting the course. After a thorough warm up, I headed for the first
tee of the Brabazon course. The greenkeeping team are challenged to provide Ryder Cup-standard course conditions every day – and that’s noticeable as soon as you set foot on the course. The conditioning is certainly impressive – the tees and fairways are beautifully manicured, every bunker pristinely presented, and all 18 greens run around 11 on the stimpmeter, just as they did during the last Ryder Cup held on the course in 2002. Added to that are the iconic memories ordinary golfers can embrace when they tee it up on the Brabazon. The ‘Brab’ allows golfers to follow in the footsteps of legends like Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, all of whom have graced the course. Of course, you remember the famous 10th and 18th, but I was also impressed with a host of other holes, including the par-four 6th around water, and the challenging 16th, another excellent par four, and the scene of Philip Price’s shock Ryder Cup singles victory over Phil Mickelson in 2002. After a round, guests are greeted by a wide choice of dining and drinking options, including the aptlynamed Sam’s Club House – celebrating Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance – which boasts a superb range of traditional golfing fare, while large TV screens beam in sport from across the world. After dinner, the party can move to the Brabazon Bar. For more family-friendly activities, in addition to Rocca’s Pizza Pasta restaurant, kids can enjoy an interactive woodland walk and an outdoor playground, or spplash about in the indoorswimming pool, while for golfers of all ages there is the superb Ryder Legends’ mini golf course, which is modelled on famous Ryder Cup holes from around the world, and is ideal for a bit of friendly competition. While you never lose sight of the venue’s unrivalled Ryder Cup history – images and memorabilia from contests gone by are prominent in certain areas, and meeting rooms used by the respective teams are shown off with golden plaques – it’s very easy to forget you’re in a golf resort. Yes, there is much for us golf geeks to get excited about – attempting that famous shot by Seve on the tenth tee, Christie O’Connor’s two-iron over the water at the 18th, or Paul McGinley’s matchwinning putt at the same hole – but there is as much excitement off the course for the non-golfers. It all adds up to the perfect break – whether that’s for groups of golfers, couples, or for family breaks with kids of all ages.
■ THE HOTEL BOASTS A WIDE RANGE OF EXCELLENT BARS AND RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING SAM'S CLUB HOUSE (ABOVE)
BOOK YOUR BELFRY BREAK Prices for an overnight stay, with 18 holes and a full English breakfast, start from £99 per person. For more information and the latest offers, visit www.thebelfry.co.uk or call 01675 238600.
NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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[20] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Alliss event helps Ferndown raise £25k for charity Ferndown Golf Club’s outgoing captains handed over generous cash donations and disability aids following a bumper year of charitable activities at the Dorset-based venue. Peter Alliss and his wife Jackie were among the guests at the hand-over held ceremony, after £25,000 was raised from the Alliss Invitational last September, with £10,000 of the total allocated to the club’s 2018 captains, Robin Haycock and Pauline Baillie. Lewis-Manning Hospice, nominated as the 2018 captain’s charity, received £6,500, while Friends of Dolphin, the joint captains' charity, was presented with £9,400. MS Centre, the ladies’ captain's charity,
received £2,500. In addition, nine children were presented with walking aids, including buggies, manual wheelchairs, handbikes, walking frames and trikes. The youngsters attend Victoria, Montacute and Langside schools in Dorset. Since its inception in 1987, the Alliss Invitational has raised £1.15 million and paid for more than 300 wheelchairs and walking aids. “We’re now in our 33rd year. Who would have thought we’d still be here today?” Peter Alliss told guests. Sue Helliker, Ferndown Golf Club’s assistant secretary, said: “I’ve been involved, together with Derek Silk, for 30 years. It’s a fantastic cause which really changes people’s lives.” Places are still available for this year’s Alliss Invitational, which is takes place on September 2. A total of 24 teams will take part in the one-day event, which will be followed by a charity auction. The cost is £650 per team.
Walton Heath pair capture Mothers & Daughters’ title
Walton Heath’s Alison and Nicola Taylor won Royal Mid Surrey’s Mothers & Daughters tournament after amassing 118 points over 27 holes over the 5,446-yard Pam Barton course at the south-west London venue. The 87th staging of the historic Open Foursomes competition saw 44 pairings take part, including defending champions Christine and Charlotte Griffith, also from Walton Heath. The competitive field also included six members of the Bonallack golfing family, led by Angela Bonallack, former Curtis Cup star and among the first women to become a member the R&A. She was joined in competition by three daughters and two grandchildren. The wife of former R&A Secretary Sir Michael Bonallack teed up with her daughter Jane Baker, representing St Rule & Burnham-on-Crouch Golf Club against Sara and Natasha Stocks from Royal West Norfolk. The other family pairing saw Glenna and Claudia Beasley compete for Woburn. The pair played with former Curtis Cup captain Liz Boatman and her daughter Alex. The prestigious tournament has been running every year since 1932 and has been staged at Royal Mid-Surrey for the past 57 years. This year, it featured representatives from leading clubs such as Sunningdale, Royal Wimbledon, The Berkshire, Worplesdon, Ashdown Forest, Denham, West Hill, Hankley Common, West Sussex, Burnham & Berrow and Royal Porthcawl. Open to mother and daughter pairings from across the country, the event is played on the par71 Pam Barton Course, which is named after the legendary British and US Amateur champion and club member who claimed the same title with her mother back in 1936. Tournament organiser Sheila Stirling was delighted with the strength of this year’s field. She said: “This year’s event attracted a strong entry of 88 players, and the event continues to be a highlight in the ladies' golfing calendar in terms of its reputation and the quality of the golf played. It has served to promote the best virtues of women’s golf down the years, and this year’s event shows that it still has a very bright future.”
The new benchmark in golf trolleys the world over The all new Golfstream Vision has been developed to provide the very best user experience available in an electric golf trolley today. We looked at all of the frustrations and faults reported to us regarding other trolley brands and have solved them with Vision. Golfers also told us that they were fed up with screens that couldn’t be seen clearly in full sun so we included a screen that can be seen in even the brightest of sunshine. Our one touch folding mechanism makes the Vision the quickest assembling golf trolley in the world. *Available with or without a battery for those who already have one.
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NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
World's oldest scorecard fetches £4,800 You might think twice about throwing away the scorecard for your latest medal round, after a recent Bonham's golf memorabilia auction sold off an old scorecard for £4,800. OK, so the scorecard in question was almost 200 years old – the world’s oldest – so your ancestors would have to be patient when it came to realising its potential value,
Didlick claims Guildford Alliance Championship
but patience can clearly be rewarded when it comes to old golfing ephemera. The card dates from December 2, 1820, and originally belonged to James Cundell, who managed to knock it around Musselburgh Racecourse’s five-hole course twice in 84 shots. The value of the card was increased by a handwritten note at the bottom of the card which read: ‘Dreadful storm of wind and rain – atmosphere quite yellow – just like the lurid regions of Pandemonium’. The card formed the second part of the Pierre Horwitz Collection, which went under the hammer at Bonhams in Edinburgh on May 1, with many of the top lots going for
prices way above their list estimates. One of the most sought-after lots was an 18th century long-nosed spoon, which bore the inscription ‘R.Ferguson’ on the crown. Club historians discovered that the club did not belong to three-time Open champion Bob Ferguson, but rather a Scottish poet by the same name, circa 1750-74, who, according to Archerfield Estate literature, had an affair with Lady Mary of Archerfield. The club had a pre-sale estimate of £1,500£2,000, having been sold for similar sums when it came up for sale at two previous auctions, but this time it sold for £6,300 after some keen bidding from rival collectors. The total amount raised from the auction on the day was £102,000, while an earlier auction from the first part of the same collection managed to raise £150,000.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
The Guildford Alliance, the Surreybased pro-am series, has just completed another successful winter season, with 17 events played between October and April at some of the region’s top venues, including Worplesdon, Camberley Heath, West Hill, Swinley Forest, Woking, Liphook and Walton Heath, as well as new venues in North Hants, Effingham and West Byfleet. The end-of-season championship, held over 36 holes at Walton Heath in April, was won by Jonathan Didlick (Hankley Common) with an impressive two-underpar total on a testing spring day, with Craig Sutherland (Poult Wood) finishing one shot behind. The leading scratch amateur was Tony Jansen (The Wisley), while the handicap winner was Adrian Dawson (Woodcote Park). The season-long Professional Order of Merit was won by Oxford Golf Club’s Martin Woodbridge, while a new professional to the Guildford Alliance, Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre) took second place, with Jordan Godwin (Barnehurst) in third. The Amateur Order of Merit was won by Mark Taylor (Bearwood Lakes) with playing partner Jason Webb (Bearwood Lakes) in second, and Paul Colyer (The London Club) in third. The two-day trip to Sandwich, taking in 27 holes at Prince’s and 18 at Royal St George’s, was won by Matt Rice (Purley Downs) with his team members Pat Owen, Peter Young and Brian Hogan. The professional individual winner, whose score included a 11-under-par total over the 27 holes at Princes – was Jordan Godwin. Those interested in playing in the Guildford Alliance 2019/2020 season should email davidgalliance@ hotmail.com.
enquiries@ducadelcosma.co.uk Tel: 07970 499142 www.ducadelcosma.com
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[22] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Newmarket pro breaks long-service record PGA Professional John Sharkey has become the longest serving club professional at The Links Golf Club in Newmarket. Jim Griffiths was the previous holder of the record, working at the Suffolk club from1944 to 1971. But Sharkey is now in his 28th tear at The Links, having started back in 1991. Sharkey was initially a junior member at the club, joining in 1975, and he subsequently did his training at Gog Magog Golf Club, near Cambridge, before qualifying in 1980. Returning to The Links, he has always been an integral part of club life. As a long-standing member of the greens
Fantastic value afternoon golf this June £15pp after 1pm
Upchurch buggy
£10pp
fleet vandalised
after 4pm
Upchurch River Valley in Kent is offering a £1,000 reward for any information that leads to a prosecution of vandals who caused extensive damage to its golf course and buggy fleet last month. The club reported that ten electric golf buggies were damaged, and at least four ended up being driven into a lake and ruined during a raid on the venue in the early of hours of Sunday, April 7. There were also tyre marks left in a bunker and several fences were broken, while a number of young saplings were uprooted during what a club spokesperson described as a ‘night of mayhem’.
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sub-committee he has seen a lot of course changes, and has mentored nine trainee PGA Professionals during his time in office. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to been the pro here at The Links for all this time,” said Sharkey. “Initially, it was a strange feeling to be informed of holding such a record, but it is definitely a milestone I’m incredibly proud of. Here’s to the next 28 years!”
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[23]
NEWS [24] MAY 2019 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
I’M LIVING
THE DREAM”
After bagging three wins in his first full season on the European Tour, Matt Wallace is riding the crest of a wave that has taken him well inside the world’s top 50 and sees him eyeing up the game’s biggest prizes
■ MATT WALLACE IS PLAYING IN AMERICA AND EUROPE AFTER MOVING INSIDE THE WORLD'S TOP 50
At the start of 2019, few tour players had reason to view the season ahead with more optimism than Matt Wallace, the late blooming, but prolific Londoner who enjoyed the time of his life last year. Wallace rocketed from 139th to 44th in the world rankings by the close of play in Dubai in November, and that top-50 spot meant he celebrated his 29th birthday while playing in the second round of his Masters debut at Augusta. His ridiculously rapid rise up the echelons of world golf came from winning titles in India, Germany and Denmark in quick succession last year, which not only served to give European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn a selection headache ahead of last September’s matches in Paris, but also ensured that Wallace will play In all four majors this year. He has previously competed in just four majors in total, only making the weekend rounds at last year’s US PGA at Bellerive, where he finished tied for 19th. “The learning experience of playing with Jordan Speith on the Saturday, with Tiger Woods just behind, and playing nicely on Sunday was amazing,” he says. “I feel that everything’s a stepping stone at the moment, but I feel it’s going in the right direction.” Returning to last year’s impressive season, which saw him play in 30 events en route to finishing
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tenth in the European money list, Wallace says: “At the start of last year I planned to just play in everything. Every time I played well it threw up a different opportunity, and by the end of the season I was playing for Race to Dubai positioning.” Born in Hillingdon and now living in Hertfordshire, Wallace has recently signed a deal to represent The Belfry, the iconic Midlands venue famous for hosting four Ryder Cups and countless European Tour events over the years. “I remember growing up watching the Ryder Cups and tournaments held there, and really that’s the reason I got into golf,” he says. But it is the future that is uppermost in Wallace’s mind, especially with the quick succession of Majors that he now has on his schedule. “It was a really nice moment to receive the invitation to play at Augusta. To look at it, and have it there in my hand, with my name on it, gave me such a massive buzz,” he says. His trip to the Masters saw him enjoy a play-off victory over Sandy Lyle in Wednesday’s par-three competition, but miss the cut in the main event with rounds of 77 and 75. Although disappointed with his performance in his first appearance at Augusta, he is well aware that few players make an instant impact on a course which, more than any other tour venue, can take years to understand. “It was an incredible week. To play a practice round with Nick Faldo, winning the Par 3 event, and then playing alongside Bernhard Langer on the Thursday and Friday was incredible. It’s just given me a taste to come back here again and do better.” Wallace can enter the rest of the season with justifiable optimism, as the first third of the year has seen him move further up the world rankings, with a runner-up finish in the Dubai Desert Classic, and a superb run of results on the PGA Tour, including a sixth place in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and tied 30th at the Players Championship, which have resulted in a climb to his current ranking of 36th. And he is certainly showing no signs of being overawed by the rarefied atmosphere of his elevated ranking. Wallace has already demonstrated the happy knack of seizing opportunities, and it nearly brought him a Ryder Cup debut in September. Coached by fellow player Robert Rock, who also helps Thomas Bjørn with game, Wallace asked him to ask Bjørn what he needed to do to have an opportunity to play in the Ryder Cup. The answer came back that he would need to play both the Czech Open and Made in Denmark tournament at the end of the qualifying period and show the captain what he could do. Wallace secured a last-minute invitation to the Czech event, which led to an unremarkable share of 36th that did little to help. But then came an astonishing victory in Denmark, where he birdied five of the last six holes to force his way into a fourman playoff, which he won at the second extra
INTERVIEW NEWS | MAY 2019 [25] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
■ WALLACE ENJOYED HIS BEST MAJOR FINISH WHEN TIED THIRD AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
hole. Of his ten professional wins this was surely the most satisfying. “Absolutely,” agrees Wallace. “Knowing exactly what I needed to do at the last tournament to get into the Ryder Cup with a chance. After seven holes, I seemed out of it. Anyone in the boxing arena will know that if you’ve been knocked down twice and come back to win the match, then you’ve done something pretty spectacular. That’s how it felt to me, and it was definitely the best win I had last year.” But it still was not enough to persuade Bjørn to give the Englishman a wildcard, and he ended up watching the Ryder Cup from the comfort of his sofa. “It was hugely disappointing,” he says. “After the highs of a win, I didn’t get to celebrate it as much. I felt like I had done everything I could have to make it. It was frustrating, and I felt like I deserved to be in that team, for sure. They went on to win, so that backs up Thomas’s decision, but it doesn’t mean I couldn’t have done the same job. Before the last match had even finished, I sent out an Instagram post saying ‘2020 starts now’, and as soon as Europe had won the cup, I went straight to the driving range. Thomas picked up on that, and said it is why I’ll be in Ryder Cups for years to come, because I used disappointment as a motivation. “Getting so close to making the team in what was basically my first full year on tour was amazing. I’ve learned so much over the last couple of seasons. I’m technically a better golfer, and I’m mentally a better golfer, and I know what’s required to win a tournament at this level now.” Rory McIlroy began 2019 by describing the European Tour as ‘a stepping stone’ to the PGA Tour, and although Wallace has already played four or five events in the States, he says he is still fully committed to his home circuit. “My stepping stone is I’ve won three times last year, now I want to put myself more in contention like I did at DP World and try and win an event like that,” he says. “Then I want to give myself chances in Majors and WGCs, and see how that goes, but I’m not sure how many more full PGA Tour events I’ll play this year, because I want to better my ranking from last year on the Race to Dubai. Having said that, I want to be known as a global golfer. I want to play all tours, like I’ve done my whole career, but the beauty of having my current world ranking is that I get to pick and choose where I want to play.” Wallace has so far shown no fears of suffering a ‘second season syndrome’ and is confident he can continue his upward progression. “I don’t let myself get into a rut of playing so badly that I keep on going like that; I will change something,” he said. And he firmly believes he can always rely on his uncanny winning mentality. "Who knows, I might not ever win again, but I think a lot of people would say I will and I can," he says. "But I’m 36th in the world, and there are 35 better players than me. I use where I have come from as my motivation. I haven’t thought: ‘I’ve made it.’ I know how intensely I need to work to keep up the quality of my golf. "I love the battle, I love the fight, and I won’t shy away from any confrontation. I’m loving every minute of it right now. I’m in the hot seat, and I’m living the dream".
MATT’S STATS Age: 29 Turned pro: 2012 World ranking: 25 Race to Dubai ranking: 2 Tour appearances: 64 Wins: 5 (4 European Tour, 1 Challenge Tour) Top 10s: 14 Best Major finish: 3rd (US PGA 2019) Prize money: €4.26m Stroke average: 70.42 Driving distance: 312 yards Fairways in reg: 52% Greens in reg: 67% Putts per round: 28.39
[26] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
STORY BEHIND THE PIC ERNIE ELS • US OPEN, OAKMONT, JUNE 20, 1994
W
hile Ernie Els may point to his Open Championship triumph in 2012, at the tender age of 42, as one of the greatest achievements in his glittering career, we’d hazard a guess that he’d rank his first major victory, which came 25 years ago at the US Open at Oakmont, just a few notches above it. The record books show that the languid South African, aged just 24 at the time, and playing in his first season on the PGA Tour and only his eighth major, lifted the title after beating Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie in an 18-hole Monday play-off watched by a gallery of a few thousand. But that, as you may recall, doesn’t quite tell the full story. Played on a course that Nick Faldo described as ‘the hardest course I’ve ever seen’, Oakmont was a brutal test, featuring fairways no more than 20 yards in places, thick rough that was five inches tall, and greens that were as hard as concrete following a week of 90-degree temperatures. While much of the early headlines revolved around 64-year-old Arnold Palmer’s final appearance in a US Open – he shot 77 and 81 to bow out to tumultuous applause from his home state fans – the focus soon shifted to the main protagonists for the weekend rounds. By Friday not only has Palmer left the party early, but Faldo had missed his first cut in a major since 1986, and defending US Open champion Lee Janzen was gone too. Payne Stewart, Nick Price – who went on to win that year’s Open and US PGA – Corey Pavin and John Daly, also failed to progress. Thus the door was, if not wide open, certainly slightly ajar for a newcomer to make a bid for the title. And Els put one of his size 12 feet through it when shooting a superb third round 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead going into the final round. Els got a lucky break at the first hole on Sunday, when a
shot hit deep into the rough was able to be lifted in order to avoid a line of sight issue with a TV camera tower. Making the most of the better lie – which was subsequently judged to be an incorrect ruling – Els got on the green with his second, and limited the damage. And, on a day when the top eight players stumbled round in a collective 19 over par, Els reached the 18th needing a par for victory. But believing he needed a birdie, the South African went for broke with a driver, and hit it miles wide in front of the 15th tee, from which he ended up making a bogey. Roberts, although he didn’t know it at the time, also had a putt to win the title, but his four-footer missed, as did Montgomerie’s birdie attempt on 18, which would also have sealed the deal. Thus all three players ended up on five under par, and a Monday play-off was required to find the champion. The play-off was almost comical in parts, with all three
players letting the occasion get to them in some shape or form. Over the first five holes, the threeball found just five greens in regulation between them, making two bogeys, three doubles and a triple. The second hole was won by Roberts with a bogey, when Els racked up a triple bogey after finding the bushes with his approach, while Montgomerie endured a double after four-putting from the edge of the green. It seemed that nobody wanted to win. But as badly as Els played – he hit six fairways all day – the young South African refused to throw in the towel, and, as Montgomerie’s challenge faded over the back nine, it turned into virtual matchplay between him and Roberts. After 16 holes, the pair were tied at four over par. And even though Roberts drained long putts on 17 and 18, he could not shake Els, who poured in lengthy efforts of his own to take the round into sudden death. Finally, on the 20th hole of the day – Oakmont’s 11th – Roberts finally caved in. Rattled by the crowds swarming the fairway, the 40-year-old American hooked his drive into the rough off the tee and from there could only advance it into a bunker in front of the green, blast out from the lip and try a 35-footer, which horseshoed out of the hole for a bogey. Els, meanwhile, made a simple par, using an iron off the tee for safety, before hitting a nine-iron to the green, and two-putting for the win. Els has gone on to win three more majors in his career, the US Open in 1997, The Open at Muirfield in 2002, where he prevailed in a four-man play-off, and finally at The Open again in 2012, when Adam Scott unraveled on the back nine at Royal Lytham, to give the man they call ‘The Big Easy’ an unexpected last hurrah – or was it? He’s been given a special invitation to play in the US Open at Pebble Beach in June. Could Ernie ride again?
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NEWS | MAY 2019
[27]
GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Snap up a Provençal palace by the links
Leading luxury property specialists Sothebys International Realty has a superb selection of villas located on some of the finest golf resorts in the south of France on its sales books, including a newly-built 855-sq metre villa on the private estate at Terre Blanche, a European Tour destination that boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses. Built on three levels, the villa boasts breathtaking views over the golf course, surrounding hills, and the village of Fayence. The property comprises a large basement, ground floor and an upper floor with a spacious terrace. Owners will have access to all the facilities at the resort, including the hotel, spa, restaurants, golf courses and swimming pool. Moving closer to the French Riviera, Sotheby’s also enjoys sole listing for a luxurious seven-bedroom villa on prestigious Royal Mougins estate. Priced at €4.2m, the 390 m² property is set on a 1,828m² plot and boasts stunning views over the estate and the golf course. Built on two levels, the prestigious villa offers five bedrooms on the lower
level and two on the ground floor, four bathrooms, a sauna, cinema room, living room with kitchen area, pantry. The property also offers a heated swimming pool, while price of the property also includes the entrance fee to the Royal Mougins Golf Club, whose Robert von Hagge-designed course is ranked among France’s top five. For those with even deeper pockets, also located on the same estate is a stylish nine-bedoom Provençal property that was first built in the 1920s. Priced at €12.5m, the property includes multiple reception rooms, a beautiful glass winter garden, nine luxurious bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, several dressing rooms, two main kitchens, an office space, and an atelier. The property also offers six acres of gardens, numerous outhouses, a renovated farmhouse and a chapel transformed into a studio, and it comes with a tennis court and swimming pool. For more details, please visit www.cotedazur-sothebysrealty.com.
Wentworth Club is currently looking for knowledgeable and experienced caddies for a selection of prestigious golf days across Summer 2019. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience Wentworth’s Championship golf courses, including the iconic West Course. To register your interest please call the Caddie Master at Wentworth on 01344 846303. W W W. W E N T W O R T H C L U B . C O M
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[28] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
NEWS | MAY 2019 [29] GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
KING KOEPKA Big-hitting American Brooks Koepka destroyed a world-class field at the PGA Championship to win his fourth major title in two years
I
f Brooks Koepka carries on collecting major championships at this rate, he’ll have surpassed Jack Nicklaus’s haul of 18 by the time he’s 37. The 29-year-old American captured his fourth major in the space of just 23 months with a wire-to-wire victory in the 101st PGA Championship held at the brutally testing Bethpage Black course in New York. Opening up with a seven-under par 63, and then adding a 65 to set a new 36-hole scoring record for any major championship, the big-hitting Floridian calmed down on
Saturday with a level-par 70, but it still gave him a seven-shot lead over the limping pack. However, with the wind gusting around the tree-lined course, Koepka revealed a rare glimpse of his humanity when he stumbled over the back nine on Sunday, with four bogeys from the 11th allowing Dustin Johnson to get within one shot. However, the scent of victory sent DJ into a tailspin, and Koekpa was able to regroup over the closing holes to post a final round 74 and a two-shot win – and his second PGA Championship in the space of just eight months. Already installed as the clear favourite for next month’s US Open at Pebble Beach, there’s no knowing how many more majors Koepka can bag before his star burns out, but it has certainly been impressive to watch.
[30] MAY 2019 | INTERVIEW GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
“I’VE COME
FULL CIRCLE” Eleven years after winning his last major title, and 15 years since his previous success at the Masters, Tiger Woods collected his fifth green jacket at Augusta last month at the age of 43. Here, in his own words, is how he did it It feels unreal to be sitting here wearing the green jacket again. This tournament has meant so much to me over the years. From coming here in ‘95 for the first time, and being able to play as an amateur; to winning in ‘97, and then to come full circle, and come back 22 years later and win again, with all of my family here, is just unreal. It’s something I’ll never, ever forget. Both my kids, Sam and Charlie, were at the Open Championship last year when I was leading on the back nine and then made a few mistakes and lost the chance to win. I wasn’t going to let that happen to them twice, so it’s great for them to see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship. I hope that’s something they will never forget. There were so many different scenarios that could have played out on the back nine. There were so many guys that had a chance to win. The leaderboard was absolutely packed, and everyone was playing well. And then suddenly Francesco dropped a couple of shots on 12, so did Brooks, and then Xander and Patrick and DJ made a run. Then I made birdies at 13 and 15, and then almost canned it at 16, and all of a sudden I’m in front with two holes to play.
Standing on the 17th tee, I kept telling myself that I’d been in this position before, when I had a two‑shot lead with Chris DiMarco and went bogey, bogey, so I said: ‘Let’s go ahead and pipe this ball right down the middle.'
I hit a little flat squeezer out there and just smoked it. I made par there. Then, at 18, I said, ‘Hey, it’s not over yet. Arnold Palmer lost the tournament with a double, so let’s keep the hammer down’. Brooks could still make birdie up 18 and I could make bogey, and next thing you know we’re in a playoff, so let’s get this ball in play. I did, and I saw him tap out for par, and that gave me the cushion, knowing that I could make bogey and still win. I had a little bit of mud on my ball playing that second shot, and I said: ‘Just make sure I overcut this thing; don’t undercut it’. So I overcut it to the right. I then was able to put the ball on the green and two‑putted for the win. Now I know why I’m balding. This stuff is hard! It’s kind of a miracle that I’ve been able to swing a club again, let alone win another major championship. A couple of years ago, I could barely walk. I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t lie down. I really couldn’t do much of anything. Luckily I had the procedure on my back, which gave me a chance at having a normal life. But then all of a sudden, I realised I could actually swing a golf club again. The body’s not the same as it was, but I still have good hands and somehow I managed to piece my game back together. I was chewing gum all week because it helps curb my appetite a little, not because it helps me to concentrate. I usually get really hungry during tournaments, and I keep eating so much. So chewing gum stops me from feeling hungry all the time. I just felt really well prepared coming into the tournament. My earlier results this season really hadn’t reflected the way I thought I had been playing, but I really focused on peaking for this week. Everything came together. I kept doing all the little things correctly – I missed the ball in the correct spots time and time and time again, and if I was out of position, I took my bogey and moved on. I had no doubles bogeys, and just kept plodding along.
I like to think that I’ve encouraged a lot more youth to take up golf. And maybe I’ve had a impact on how some of the younger tour players approach the game and their training. They’re getting bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic. They are recovering better. They are hitting the ball prodigious distances, and a little bit of that’s probably attributed to what I did. When I first turned pro, I was the only one in the gym, except Vijay SIngh. But now everyone trains. Everyone works out – even Phil Mickelson’s working out! Things have come a long way. The win at East Lake in the Tour Championship was a big confidence‑booster for me because I had come close last year a couple times, but still had to get it across the finish line, and I didn’t quite do it. I didn’t do it at Tampa. I didn’t do it at The Open Championship. I was a little better at the PGA, but still I didn’t win. So East Lake was a big step for me, as it confirmed that I could still win out here and against the best players. My performances in the last three major championships have been pretty good, so that in itself gives me a lot of confidence down the road. If I had to offer any advice to people facing adversity in their lives, I would say ‘Never give up’. You always have to fight. Granted, pushing and being competitive has got me into this position, but it’s also what got me out of it. I’ve always had a pretty good work ethic throughout my career, and I just had to change the work ethic a bit and work on some different things. I focused on that and just kept fighting. That’s just part of the deal. We wake up every morning, and there are always challenges in front of us, and we keep fighting and keep getting through it.
MAY 2019 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT
SEVEN REASONS
NEW GEAR + TAYLORMADE MINI DRIVER
Why Ogio is a must for all golf travel
+ ECCO S-LITE SHOES + HONMA’S 6-PIECE BALL
SPRING FASHION Style it out with lightweight knitwear and striped polos
PICK UP A PING WIN Hole more putts with Ping’s Sigma 2 range
ROLL 'EM OUT Lighten the load with the latest power & push trolleys
TRIED & TESTED PING G410 HYBRID + POWAKADDY C2I GPS TROLLEY
[32] MAY 2019
EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
THE GEAR EFFECT INSIDES THE BAGS OF RECENT WINNERS ON TOUR SUNG KANG
EQUIPMENT NEWS
AT&T BYRON NELSON DRIVER: Titleist TS3 9.5 FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS2 (13.5), Titleist TS3 18 IRONS: Mizuno JPX 919 Hot Metal Pro (4), Mizuno JPX 919 Tour (5-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 52, 56, 60 PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron TFB BALL: Titleist Pro V1x
MIKKO KORHONEN VOLVO CHINA OPEN
DRIVER: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero 10.5˚ FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Rogue 15˚ HYBRID: Titleist 818 H2 19˚ IRONS: Titleist 718 T-MB 3, Titleist 718 CB 4-9 WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 54˚, 58˚ PUTTER: Yes! Golf C-Groove Tiffany BALL: Titleist Pro V1x
MAX HOMA Wells Fargo Championship DRIVER: Titleist TS4 9.5 ° FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS3 5 ° HYBRID: Titleist 818H2 19 ° IRONS: Titleist 718 MB (4-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 4610F, SM7 50-12F, 54-14F and 60-04L ° PUTTER: Scotty Cameron T5 W BALL: Titleist Pro V1
JORGE CAMPILLO TROPHÉE HASSAN II
DRIVER: TaylorMade M2 10.5° FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 15° HYBRID: Mizuno CLK 19° IRONS: Mizuno JPX900 Tour 2-5 and Mizuno MP-18 6-9) WEDGES: Mizuno S18 46°, Titleist Vokey Design SM7 52°, 58°, 60° PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 BALL: Titleist Pro V1
C.T. PAN
RBC HERITAGE DRIVER: Titleist TS2 9.5 °s FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist TS3 16.5 °s UTILITY IRON: Nike Vapor Fly Pro 2 iron IRONS: Titleist 718 T-MB 4 iron, Titleist 718 AP2 5-9 irons WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM7 46, 52 and 62 °, Titleist Vokey prototype 58 ° PUTTER: Scotty Cameron prototype BALL: Titleist Pro V1x
TIGER WOODS
MASTERS TOURNAMENT DRIVER: TaylorMade M5 460 9.5° FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M5 13°, TaylorMade M3 19° IRONS: TaylorMade P7TW 3-PW WEDGES: TaylorMade MG Raw, 56˚, 60˚ PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS BALL: Bridgestone Tour B XS
Can we get a pic of Tiger JON RAHM for here? ZURICH CLASSIC
DRIVER: Taylormade M5 10.5° FAIRWAY WOODS: Taylormade M5 15°, Taylormade M3 19° IRONS: Taylormade P750 4-PW WEDGES: Taylormade MG 52°, Taylormade Hi-Toe 56°, 60° PUTTER: Taylormade Spider Tour Red BALL: Taylormade 2019 TP5x
TESTED
Ping G410 Hybrid Equipment Editor Dan Owen delivers his verdict on Ping’s latest utility club Hybrids have a tricky job filling a spot in the bag between the longest iron and your first fairway wood, any many golfers don’t know how to get the best of them. Hit down like an iron, or sweep like a fairway wood? The beauty of the G410 hybrid is that it can be set up to do both. Lots of better players find they end up hooking hybrids, partly because they sweep at them, and partly because they have upright lie angles. With the new adjustable hosel, the G410 can be cranked three degrees flat. Try hitting a hook now, and you won’t be able to. When you add in the adjustable loft, it’s very easy to have the Ping G410 fitted for your game. While I used to love my Adams Idea hybrid, to get the most out of them you really had to hit them out of the middle. The G410, which is offered in five lofts between 17 and 30 degrees, is so much easier to hit, the sweet spot seemingly fills the whole face, and there is a fantastic crack at impact from the maraging steel face. It feels powerful and easy to hit across the whole face.
I was fitted for the G410 at Precision Golf, arguably the UK’s number one brand diagnostic fitter. I hadn’t gone in to be fit for the G410, but to find the best possible hybrid for my game. It quickly became a no-brainer. I hit the G410 longer, more consistently, and without the excessive spin that other hybrids gave me. And my best results were with Ping’s stock Alta CB shaft. Is it perfect? No. I don’t like the look of the turbulators, the head is a bit bigger than I would have picked out of a police line up, and I preferred the darker black paint on the G400 series. But I’m nitpicking. I have never hit a hybrid this versatile, this forgiving, and this easy to hit off the fairway or out the rough. The ball gets up high and just goes – it never floats. And once you’ve got that hosel adjusted, it was never going left either. I can’t see anything taking these clubs out my bag for at least a couple of years. RRP: £225, ping.com
ZOOM DITCHES PLASTIC PACKAGING Zoom Golf is doing its bit for the environment by offering its range of one-size-fits-all gloves in a plastic-free packaging. The German-owned company has replaced traditional foiled packaging with paper and removed the plastic window. This has the added advantage of allowing customers to feel the product without having to take it out of the packet. “Our oceans are filling up with plastic waste
at an alarming rate,” said Thomas Reiter, owner of Zoom. “Up to 13 million tons of plastic waste finds its way into the sea each year, and with 30% of all European plastic usage originating in Germany and Austria, I feel we have a duty to do all we can to reduce consumption. The solution to this plastic flood will require ambitious and binding plans from businesses and governments, but at Zoom and Big Max we have decided that our time to act is now.”
EQUIPMENT & GEAR MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
BUSHNELL LAUNCHES GPS GOLF APP
TESTED
Bushnell has added a GPS phone app that supports both its laser rangefinders and its GPS rangefinders. Free to download for all Bushnell Golf product owners, and available on both Apple and Android phones, the Bushnell Golf GPS App provides state-of-the-art graphics and technology designed to help golfers make better decisions on the course. Advanced graphics enable the user to choose better targets, and is especially useful when faced
with blind shots,. Score-tracking is available on the app, while it also allows for faster course updates via a Bluetooth connection to your GPS device. Golfers using the GPS rangefinders will also benefit from fitness tracking and Swing Pro, a feature that can measure your swing speed and tempo. Downloading the App couldn’t be easier, with Bushnell owners simply required to enter the serial number of their device when prompted during the registration process.
POWAKADDY C2I GPS TROLLEY Equipment editor Dan Owen takes PowaKaddy’s new compact electric trolleyfor a test drive The C2i was PowaKaddy’s first attempt at a compact trolley and this year they have added GPS to the equation. If a car comes as standard with sat nav, why can’t my electric golf trolley? And while talking about cars, it’s an absolute joy getting in this in and out of one. With its compact folded dimensions, this easily sits in a car’s passenger footwell with the wheels off. From design point of view, PowaKaddy has stuck with its signature yellow-andgrey colour scheme, with a nice chunk of carbon effect too, while the wheels look like alloys from a supercar, and the new colour screen looks like it could come from a car dashboard too. Like a typical man, I forgot to look through the instructions before I got the trolley out onto the golf course. This was not to be a problem, as Powakaddy has used a two-fold system that is incredibly easy to operate. You could argue it’s three-fold, as you need to fold the top bag strap as well, but the operation is dead simple. Getting to the first tee, the GPS signal connected very quickly and came up with a list of local courses, and had the correct one right at the top of list. Playing on a super windy day on a wet golf course, the trolley behaved admirably. The speed dial was easy to use, and at no point did the trolley struggle on the terrain, despite not having winter wheels and being narrower than a traditional electric trolley. The new colour screen is bright and clear, and lets you know how fast you’ve set the trolley, and, more importantly, the GPS works brilliantly. While not offering the most detailed GPS, having the numbers at hand as soon as you pull up to your golf ball is a massive timesaver, with none of the faff of pulling out a laser. I tested it in tandem with an expensive standalone GPS device, and there was never more than a two-yard difference between the accuracy of the units. It’s safe to say you’re not giving anything away by going for a smaller compact electric trolley. Extremely simple to use, the C2i works great on the course, and for the golfer that needs that small unit to store away this could be the perfect electric trolley for you. RRP: £699.99, www.powakaddy.co.uk
BRING IMPROVEMENT TO EVERY MOVEMENT Manufactured by Callaway Apparel, ‘SWING TECH™’ technology provides noticeably less restriction and more stretch on selected polos, outerwear and shorts.
For more info visit: www.callawayeuropeapparel.com
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[34] MAY 2019
EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
PING SIGMA 2 VALOR PUTTER £200, PING.COM More and more of the world’s best players are using mallet putters, so it might be time to take another look for yourself. They’re nearly always easier to line up and more forgiving on poor strokes. The Valor is the highest MOI model in the Sigma 2 line. Featuring a Dual Durometer face, the front layer gives a soft feel on short putts, and the firmer back layer helps with distance control on longer putts. Featuring True Roll grooves, they vary in depth across the face and are designed to send the ball the same distance whether it has been struck in the sweet spot or miss hit. The Sigma 2 putters also feature an adjustable shaft length, while Ping has recently introduced a heavy-headed Valor 400 with a 38inch shaft that is targeted towards golfers using an arm-lock stroke.
TAYLORMADE ORIGINAL ONE MINI DRIVER £369, TAYLORMADEGOLF.COM The Mini Driver is a trend that has been out of the spotlight for the last couple of seasons; however, TaylorMade has brought it back in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Despite its mini driver moniker, it features a larger head than the original Original One at 275cc. Featuring a carbon crown, titanium face and body, and a 50g steel sole weight that lowers the centre of gravity. The Original One fits a broad crosssection of golfers, from better players wanting a very strong fairway wood, to club golfers who struggle with the shaft length of the modern driver. The Mini Driver is adjustable for loft two degrees either way from its standard 13.5 degrees, and it also features TaylorMade’s signature Twist Face Technology to help you hit more fairways.
PRO SHOP
YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR
ECCO S-LITE
CALLAWAY APEX HYBRID
£160, GOLF.ECCO.COM The S-Lites are Ecco’s lightest ever leather golf shoes offering. Using the company’s signature Yak leather, the shoes are supple, but hard-wearing, while the unusual diamond embossing helps make them breathable. The spikeless shoes feature a sole unit that is 66% thinner than Ecco has been able to produce before, but still offers plenty of traction on the course. The sole is created using Fluidform technology, bonding fluid materials around the shoes last, to offer cushioning and comfort, without the need to be stitched to the upper.
£249, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM The Apex has proved to be Callaway’s most popular hybrid on tour, so it has had to work especially hard to get the replacement right. Offering a slightly smaller profile than the hybrid it replaces, the Apex 19 features Callaway’s signature Jailbreak Technology behind the face that stiffens the body and allows the face to flex more at impact. The Apex feels very solid at impact, and there will be many who select it purely because of its feel, so addictive is it when hitting it out of the sweet spot. Loft options are from 18 degrees for a two hybrid, up to a 24-degree five hybrid.
EQUIPMENT & GEAR MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
PXG GEN 2 PUTTERS
HONMA FUTURE XX GOLF BALLS
£435,PXG.COM PXG has cleaned up its putter designs with its latest models, making them look better at address, while not skimping on technology. PXG putters were blighted by its tungsten screws on top of the putter in the past. These have been removed and adjustable weights have been added to the sole instead. Each model is now available with three different hosel options: a heel-shafted slant hosel for players with an arcing stroke; a plumber’s neck, or Anser style hosel, that works for a mid-arc stroke; and a double-bend shaft that makes the face balanced for a square stroke. A pyramid face is designed to offer more consistent distance control across the face. All models are available in black or chrome finishes and are either milled from stainless steel or aircraft-grade aluminium.
£59.99 PER DOZEN, HONMAGOLF.COM Six-piece golf balls aren’t new, but there have been very few of them. The Future XX has been designed to increase spin and distance. The first three layers incorporate a highly resilient core, a softer second layer, and a slightly firmer third layer, designed for faster ball speeds that help to deliver distance. The fourth and fifth layers become gradually firmer, providing consistent spin performance, while the sixth layer is a soft urethane cover designed for high spin and soft feel around the greens. The 326-dimple pattern is designed to deliver a high-launching, quick-stopping trajectory.
MIURA K GRIND 2.0 £299, MIURAGOLF.COM Forged at the family-owned factory in Himeji, Japan, Muira’s high performance wedges are produced using an intricate 14-step forging process. The K Grind features an unusual knuckled sole that looks like nothing else on the market. The knuckles are designed to help deliver a square clubface whatever the conditions, and also help get through the sand easier. The K Grind 2.0 also features a milled face for greater consistency and increased spin from any lie.
MIZUNO ST190 FAIRWAY WOODS £279/£315, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM Mizuno has been on a roll this year with its woods. The ST190 driver is the brand’s best big dog in years, and the matching fairway is another unsung hero of a golf club. Featuring a classic look at address, a carbon crown saves weight which can be redistributed to lower the centre of gravity, while an Amplified Wave sole helps increase ball speed on miss hits. The 3- and 5-wood come with a traditional bonded hosel, while the TS option boasts an adjustable head that can move from 13-17 degrees and features a slightly higher profile to help control excessive spin. Fujikura Atmos shafts come as standard, while there is a whole host of ‘no upcharge’ shaft options.
BIG MAX AQUA TCS £149.99, BIGMAXGOLF.COM The Big Max Aqua is a six-wheel cover that combines the brand’s waterproof technology with the innovative Travel Connection System, which enables connection to the golfer’s luggage via the handle that turns two pieces of luggage into one. It also allows upright loading, and the internal bag fix system keeps clubs safe and secure throughout transit. Boasting additional space from two shoe pockets, it is available in black, black/lime, and black/red.
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EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
GLENMUIR GLENCOE
KJUS FREELITE LINUS POLO
£70, GLENMUIR.COM Call us old fashioned, but sometimes we still like wearing a classic v-neck sweater on the golf course. Now, we know we might be losing some breathability, but the Glencoe, and versions of it, should be a wardrobe staple for every serious golfer, especially at this time of year, when the weather can be so changeable. The Glencoe is made from combed cotton, with a dash of cashmere for a super-soft feel.
e l y t S
£79, KJUS.COM Diamonds aren’t only a girl’s best friend, they’re also a golfer’s. Kjus, which uses some of the most technical fabrics of any golf apparel brand, offers a modern take on argyle, placing it on a polo shirt rather than the more traditional wool sweater. The Linus polo boasts moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, and features body-zoned yarns and knit structures to make it super breathable. The shirt features a four-way stretch fabric and offers UPF50+ UV protection.
IT OUT Equipment Editor Dan Owen picks his highlights of the brightest and best apparel and accessories to give your golfing wardrobe a lift this summer
WOLSEY BRETON £105, WOLSEY.COM Ideal for wearing on and off the golf course, Wolsey’s Breton Striped Crew Neck sweater is made from soft merino wool, which is one of the most breathable natural fabrics. Boasting a whiteon-grey stripe design with a constrast blue stripe, the saddle shoulder construction enhances comfort. Wolsey’s trademark Fox logo is located on the back neck.
ADIDAS WEBBING BELT £14.95, ADIDAS.COM As your beltline expands, it’s time to get a webbing belt. Unconstrained by the guilt magnets that are belt holes, webbing belts are infinitely adjustable. So whether you've had too many pre-round bacon sarnies, or you’re watching your waistline and sticking to the Max Golf Protein shakes, this belt will keep your trousers suitably hitched.
G/FORE SNAPBACK £39.50, GFORE.CO.UK The Pray for Birdies Snapback is one of G/FORE’s signature designs. Crafted from a lightweight wool fabric the cap features a custom ‘Pray for Birdies’ patch. Perfect for topping off your oncourse look, shielding your down-fairway gaze, or adding a sporty touch to your day-to-day look.
PUMA PROADAPT WARNING PACK £159, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK/PUMAGOLF Taking inspiration from limited edition streetwear ranges, and Inspired by the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, the Limited Edition Ignite Proadapt shoes are available in jet black and bright fuschia, with the warning icon infused throughout. The sockliner features a custom warning sign, inspired from the famous version at Bethpage Black, that reads: “The Ignite Proadapt Is An Extremely Advanced Golf Spike Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers”.
EQUIPMENT & GEAR MAY 2019
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ALPHA CONVOY 320 BACKPACK
The ultimate everyday companion, this midsized pack is equipped with a dedicated laptop sleeve and thoughtful organisation, yet compact enough to never hold you back when you’re on the move. Perfect for stylishly transporting work and important items throughout your golf trip and the waterproof zip means everything is safe no matter where you are on the links. £99.95
4
MUTANT TRAVEL BAG
The OGIO Mutant Travel Bag is designed to swallow golf bags whole, while the cavernous padded main compartment keeps your clubs safe and protected, and the in-line wheels will help it glide serenely across all surfaces. £179.95
5
OGIO GOLF TOWEL
2
ALPHA CONVOY 520S TRAVEL BAG
The Ogio Alpha Convoy 520s Travel Bag is complete and fully equipped. This four-wheel carryon spinner is sized to meet international airline standards. Due to its expertly designed space and multitude of pockets, this is the go-to bag for transporting all your golfing needs. £229.95
REASONS WHY
Extra-large and made from a super absorbent microfiber, the Ogio golf towel is a necessary addition to every golf bag. Ideal for cleaning and drying your clubs and balls, it is used extensively by players and caddies on Tour, and is essential for keeping your gear in top condition. Available in a wide range of colours - and logo friendly - you can customise this towel to match all your OGIO gear. £19.95
IS YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR GOLF TRAVEL OGIO has been supporting some of the world’s top athletes, and some of the world’s most demanding sports teams for the past 20 years.
3
SHADOW FUSE 304 STAND BAG
The OGIO Shadow Fuse 304 Stand Bag is designed to deliver the lightest, most comfortable walk imaginable. Lightweight, anti-abrasion rip-stop fabric, and ultrarefined design, delivers efficiency and durability while maximizing performance. An innovative Fit Disc system improves weight distribution, while completely redesigned shoulder straps also lighten the load. This bag delivers unparalleled comfort and mobility so you can perform at the top of your game. £179.95
Its goal has always been to make the most ingeniously designed, expertly constructed, and technologically unrivalled travel products fusing performance, sports and lifestyle. The 2019 OGIO product is no exception, having a renewed focus on organisation, durability, protection and mobility, and, as such, has become the trusted brand of the European Tour as its official Luggage Partner. This partnership sees OGIO supporting the Tour across five continents, 31 countries, and over 129,064 miles course to course throughout 2019. Your golf travels might not take you as far in one year, but whether it’s a weekend golf escape or a longer-term golfing vacation, OGIO is the one-stop travel shop for all your golf and travel bag needs.
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BLUE SKY UMBRELLA
It’s always sunny with our OGIO Blue Sky Umbrella. The large 72-inch, vented canopy will keep you comfortably dry in the most severe weather. Pushbutton opening means it’s quick and easy to use, and the contoured handle improves carrying comfort. £59.95
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ALPHA CONVOY MOD HARD CASE
The OGIO Alpha Convoy Mod Hard Case is a tough and rugged fully moulded hard case that gives you even more protection. This is the perfect tool for storing valuables that allows you quick and easy access as well as providing the security you need whilst you are out enjoying the course. £49.95
TO VIEW THE LATEST OGIO COLLECTION, VISIT HTTPS://EU.OGIO.COM UK CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER: 0800 026 4653
[38] MAY 2019
EQUIPMENT & GEAR GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
ROLLIN’, ROLLIN’ ROLLIN’
Powakaddy C2i GPS
Motocaddy M1 DHC Series
£699, POWAKADDY.COM The C2i folds down small enough to fit in a car's passenger footwell, but just being compact isn’t enough, so Powakaddy has added a GPS system to its popular design. A new, full-colour ‘Memory in Pixel ‘screen is fantastically clear, even when the sun is at its brightest, with the display showing front, middle, and back distance on over 37,000 courses worldwide, that can be updated easily through the free PowaKaddy app. And, for golfers playing on hilly courses, there is an optional electronic braking system.
£599.99, MOTOCADDY.COM One of the best-looking power trolleys on the market, the M1's white-and-red finish and modern angles are sure to appeal to a younger audience. DHC stands for Down Hill Control, which automatically controls the speed of the trolley on slopes, so you can just let it go down of its own accord and it won’t freewheel out of control. Perfect for undulating courses, the DHC also comes with an electronic parking brake, enabling you to park it anywhere without worrying about it careering off into a lake or the bushes.
Golfstream Vision
Motocaddy Z1
Stewart X9 Follow
£449, GOLFSTREAM.CO.UK The Vision trolley comes with a display screen which works like a Kindle, so that it can be read in bright sunshine. Added to this innovation is a simple one-click mechanism which folds the trolley down to a compact size, while a magnetic latch holds the trolley together in the folded position to make it easier to carry. High-grip slick tyres provide a cushioned ride, while the 200v motor will transport clubs with ease across all terrains. Choose from five different colour options.
£119, MOTOCADDY.COM Motocaddy is the leading push trolley brand in the UK, and its latest entry-level product offers everything you need, including a simple two-step folding system and a footoperated parking brake. The handle is adjustable to three heights, and, like all Motocaddy trolleys, features the Easilock connection system, which allows any Motocaddy bag to connect to the trolley without the need for a lower strap. It is available in graphite/blue and graphite/red.
£1,499, STEWARTGOLF.CO.UK Stewart’s flagship model features a ‘follow’ mode that enables it to track your every move at a respectful distance. An automatic downhill braking system ensures it doesn’t catch up with you on slopes, while it can also be operated with a remote-controlled handset. Standard accessories include a scorecard holder, pencil and towel clips, ball holder, adjustable cradle, and bag straps. The X9 is available in black, silver and pearlescent white.
Big Max Blade IP
BagBoy Nitron
Clicgear Rovic RV1C
£299.99, WWW.BIGMAXGOLF.COM Boasting a folded down size of 88cm x 62cm, and a depth of just 12.5cm, the Blade IP is easy to carry and, in its folded state, will easily fit into most car boots with a full golf bag placed on top, although it can also slide neatly onto a parcel shelf or behind the front seats. Other features include adjustable bag brackets; a double foot brake; drinks holder; storage compartment; and a ball, tee and scorecard holder. It is available in black, black/lime, white, white/lime, or phantom/red.
£249, JSINT.COM The Nitron features Nitron Piston Technology, a patented nitrogen-powered auto opening mechanism which opens the trolley in a matter of seconds. Two nitrogen-powered pistons transform it from a compact, folded trolley, to ready-to-go in an instant. Folding the Nitron is almost as simple, in a two-step process, with the unit collapsing to a compact size, ready to be packed away.
£159, CLICGEAR.COM Rovic has improved its RV1C push trolley for 2019, and it now boasts a stylish multi-feature console, as well as built-in accessory storage. The trolley has a quick, one-touch fold design, as well as new silicone bag straps, and a lightweight aluminium frame. Other features include a umbrella holder and ball clip. It is available in four different colours – white, charcoal, silver and mint.
Cruise the fairways in comfort and style with the latest power and push trolleys
MAY 2019 | WWW.GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL
GREECE
L I G H T N I N G
COSTA NAVARINO SETS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR GOLF IN THE MED
ME & MY TRAVELS JAMES & OLIVER PHELPS (AKA THE WEASLEY TWINS) WELSH WONDERS THREE MUST PLAY VENUES IN WALES HOT DEALS YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST SUMMER GOLF BREAKS
[40] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
■ THE 17TH AT ST PIERRE
■ ABERDOVEY'S STUNNING LINKS
Welsh Wonders
Wales may be small in both size and population, but when it comes to golf, it has always punched seriously above its weight, as is exemplified by the trio of stunning, yet contrasting venues to be found at Aberdovey, St Pierre and The Vale
S
urrounded by water on three sides and boasting 850 miles of shoreline, it is perhaps no real surprise that some of Wales’s most prestigious golf courses are to be found around the coast. But in addition to its stunning seaside links, the principality also offers an abundance of superb hilltop, clifftop and parkland courses waiting to be discovered, all of which offer relaxed rounds on often uncrowded fairways in the most splendid of surroundings. If you’re looking for classic links in truly jawdropping surroundings, then it’s hard to beat the 18 holes on offer at Aberdovey Golf Club located at the mouth of the Dovey estuary in the Snowdownia National Park. Golf has been played here on a slender strip of turf between the beach and the rolling hills for over 120 years, with Messrs Herbert Fowler, James Braid and Harry Colt all leaving their mark on this classic out-and-back links, which will test every element of your game. With narrow fairways and rough-edged bunkers, visitors will have to be on their best driving behaviour to score well on this 6,556-yard course, which enjoys free-draining soil and superb springy turf. The blind par-three third, with its punchbowl green, may be Aberdovey’s most famous hole, but for many the back nine excels, starting from the par-three 12th, with its now even more exposed plateau green perched above the beach. The excellent 13th and 14th then hug the dune ridge, before the links switches back to the railway side for a homeward run starting with a par five strengthened by a long, narrow, two-tier green, then a classic risk-reward par four. A pair of testing par fours completes the round, the latter played to a large green perfectly situated in front of the clubhouse and dormy house, where a warm welcome awaits. For a contrasting, but no less memorable experience, golfers should make a break for the Welsh border, where the two 18-hole courses at St Pierre Marriott Hotel & Country Club await. With breathtaking views, 400 acres of picturesque parkland, and a stunning 14th century manor, St Pierre is an idyllic retreat set in the rolling hills of South Wales. It features the perfect blend of ancient architecture and modern amenities, and is also home to two superb courses – the Old and the Mathern. First opened in 1962, the 6,741-yard Old Course is a challenging CK Cotton-design that has earned a reputation of being one of the finest in the UK. Among its many strong holes is the iconic 18th, a 235-yard par three played to an elevated green,
which has seen the climax of many professional tournaments. In fact, St Pierre has staged no fewer than 14 European Tour events, as well as the Curtis Cup in 1980 and the 1996 Solheim Cup. The course has recently benefitted from a multi-million pound upgrade, which should confirm its position as one of Wales’s finest inland courses for many years to come. The Old Course is ably supported by the 5,748yard Mathern Course, which has been vastly improved since its overhaul in 2008, when 18 new tees were added, a sizeable number of bunkers reconstructed and repositioned, and a modern irrigation system installed. Its signature hole is undoubtedly the 14th, which crosses two rivers, but there is much else to enjoy, however you happen to play. After golf, guests can relax in the four-star Marriott hotel, with its 148 elegant guest rooms offering luxury bedding, dedicated workspace and 24-hour room service. The hotel also offers a fitness club, spa, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and plenty of outdoor activities. Guests can while away summer days overlooking the ornamental lake or spend a winter’s evening relaxing in front of spectacular log fires with a glass of something equally warming to hand. When ready to dine, guests can choose from the oak-panelled Morgan’s Restaurant, which offers Welsh-inspired contemporary cuisine or the sporty Zest Bar, which serves continental food in a more relaxed setting. If you want to continue with the luxury resort theme, then your Wales itinerary must also include a stay-and-play visit to The Vale Resort, a luxury hotel, golf and spa resort nestled in over 650 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside just a few miles west of Cardiff. Featuring 143 bedrooms, two championship golf courses, and a spa that has just been voted the best in Wales, The Vale has all the right ingredients for a golf break to remember. The National course has been considered good enough to stage several top-flight tournaments of its own, with the European Senior Tour, Challenge Tour and EuroPro Tour all having held events here since it first opened in 2003. This swiftly maturing inland championship layout has developed a fearsome reputation, mainly due to it measuring 7,433 yards from the back tees, although there are forward tees to make it playable for club golfers of all skill levels. Despite the 600-yard second hole being the longest par five in Wales, the course isn’t all about big hitting, with a selection of marvellous par threes; while the 280-yard, par-4 sixth is the Vale’s answer to the 10th at The Belfry challenging
■ THE 12TH ON THE VALE'S LAKE COURSE
golfers to try and reach the green which is protected at the front by water. If you thought there was plenty of water on the National, the Vale’s accompanying Lake Course really lives up to its name, with the wet stuff coming into play on no fewer than 12 holes, although its shorter length – 6,436 yards – makes it more playable for the higher handicapper, while still being a serious challenge for better players. Among the highlights is the 12th, a 300-yard par four which features a Sawgrass-style island green for a memorable signature challenge. Away from the golfing action, the large clubhouse has a relaxed feel with home cooked food and an outside patio with seating for over 150 golfers. There’s a good-sized golf shop and excellent practice facilities, including a driving range. For those making a weekend of it, the hotel boasts 143 rooms, many of them overlooking the golf courses, while the award-winning Vale Spa offers 19 treatment rooms, six relaxation zones, a 20-metre swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The resort’s AA Rosette Vale Grill is the perfect place to enjoy a post-round meal, with a menu that features a wide choice of golfers’ classics, as well as a good selection of locally-sourced specials. Those with something to celebrate should head for the Salamanza Champagne Bar, where a lengthy cocktail list and live music provide the background to an evening’s entertainment. With its friendly, attentive staff, first-class accommodation, and two challenging, yet enjoyable golf courses, The Vale should be on everyone’s golfing itinerary.
ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB Green Fees: £58 Tel: 01654 767493 Website: aberdoveygolf.co.uk Email: sec@ aberdoveygolf.co.uk MARRIOTT ST PIERRE Green Fees: Old Course from £35pp, Mathern Course from £25 Golf Shop: 01291 635205 Website: marriottgolf.co.uk Email: mhrs.cwlgs.golf@ marriotthotels.com THE VALE RESORT Golf breaks from £79pp, 79pp including breakfast and 18 holes. Tel: 01443 667800 Website: valeresort.com Email: reservations@ valeresort.com
■ ST PIERRE MIXES HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE WITH CONTEMPORARY FACILITIES
NEWS | MAY 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
TAKE A TRIP TO STYLISH LE TOUQUET A long-time favourite with British golfers since its opening in the 1930s, Le Touquet Golf Resort is enjoying a revival in its fortunes as a golf holiday destination following significant renovations to its golf course and accommodation offering. One of Europe’s most fashionable resorts in the 1920s and 30s, Le Touquet remains an iconic destination, blending elegant style and architecture with wide, open sandy beaches, surrounded by pine forest. Today, with a stylish new clubhouse and a new-look boutique style hotel, Le Touquet Golf Resort and its three courses is ushering in a new golden age of European golf travel. Headlining Le Touquet’s exceptional experience is France’s top-rated links course, La Mer, which has recently undergone an award-winning restoration project. The upgrade has seen it climb 21 places in
Europe’s Top 100 Courses to 35th, securing a top-10 position within France. Golf d’Hardelot’s Les Pins course became the new rankings’ highest-rising course, jumping 36 places to 23 – and securing seventh spot in the country listing. Significant investment has also been made off the golf courses at Le Touquet, with a contemporary clubhouse opening in 2016, while the renovated Le Manoir Hotel now boasts an elegant new restaurant, lounge, bar and reception area, as part of its rebirth as a boutique-style establishment. Le Touquet is less than an hour’s drive south of Calais, on the Cote d’Opale. Packages start from €335pp for two nights’ B&B in a double room at Le Manoir, with rounds at Le Touquet, Hardelot and Wimereux. For details and bookings, visit www.letouquetgolfresort.com/en.
■ LE TOUQUET'S LA MER COURSE
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[41]
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LOOKING TO BO • D E TA I L E D D E S C R I P T I O N O N E A C H C LU B • T H E L AT E S T PA C K A G E S • G R E AT I M A G E R Y • V I D E O F O O TA G E ( O N S E L E C T E D C LU B S ) • EVERY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
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O K A G O L F D AY ? FOR THE BEST SOCIETY & C O R P O R AT E D AY V E N U E S
[44] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
DORSET RESORT SERVES UP TASTY SUMMER BREAKS
The new exclusivity agreement between the two has further strengthened El Prat’s portfolio of hotel partners and has made it easier for visitors to enjoy its Tour-proven facilities by partnering with the onsite hotel. Guests can take advantage of La Mola’s semi all-inclusive board, including breakfast, daily aperitif with wine, cava and and snacks, as well as unlimited beer, soft drinks and tea/coffee throughout their stay. The four-star hotel boasts 185 bedrooms, three bars, restaurant, spa, infinity pool, steam baths and fitness centre.
EL PRAT LAUNCHES STAY-ANDPLAY PACKAGE WITH LA MOLA Golfers can now enjoy a complete resort experience by playing the exclusive Real Club de Golf El Prat, a 10-time host of the Spanish Open, while staying in La Mola, the perfect base to enjoy one of Europe’s most highly-rated golf courses. The Dorset Golf Resort in Bere Regis has long held a reputation for being a top quality golf break destination, thanks to its 27 holes of championship golf spread across its acclaimed Lakeland, Parkland and Woodland Courses, combined with its wide range of five-star accommodation. The choice of quality accommodation, which includes 14 five-star eco lodge homes, two luxury cottages, and a 16-bedroom hotel, has been attracting stay-and-play golfers for many years, while the condition of the golf courses, and superb catering and hospitality, is clearly a winning combination for visitors. The Woodland Course, which is cut through a forest of rhododendrons, boasts banks of pink, red and purple flowers, sparking thoughts of Augusta. The Lakeland and Parkland nine are also blessed with flourishes of rhododendron and cherry blossom, and the views across the huge lakes are spectacular.
A three-night stay on a semi all-inclusive basis per person in a double room, two green fees starts from €384. Five nights with three green fees costs from €618, while a seven-night stay with five rounds is priced at €918. For bookings, visit www. realclubdegolfelprat.com.
With over 13 years’ experience of taking UK golf fans to Augusta, YGT took over 1,000 clients to attend last month’s Masters, where Tiger Woods claimed his 15th major title. Customers are able to select a range of holidays which include both practice day and weekend tickets, the Ladies Amateur event, plus experiences including direct return flights, accommodation, new five-star luxury hospitality, star-studded parties and flawless on-site concierge services with access to all local courses. YGT customers can now also choose from five host destinations, completing their Masters experience by playing some of the USA’s finest golf destinations such as Kiawah Island, TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst North Carolina and Harbour Town Golf Links, where the PGA Tour visits the week after the Masters.
YOUR GOLF TRAVEL UNVEILS 2020 MASTERS’ PACKAGES
Stay-and-play packages in the Golf Hotel this summer start from £95pp/pn, with dinner, breakfast and all golf included, while lodge breaks start from £230pp for a two-night stay, with three rounds of golf, three-course dinners and breakfast. For details, visit www.dorsetgolfresort.com.
Golfers looking to join the patrons at Augusta for next year’s Masters Tournament can secure their booking with just a £200 deposit with Your Golf Travel.
Your Golf Travel packages for the Masters 2020 start from just £1,895. For further information, visit www. yourgolftravel.com/us-masters, or call 0800 043 6644.
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NEWS | MAY 2019 [45]
■ THE BAY COURSE WAS DESIGNED BY ROBERT TRENT JONES
IN THE LAP OF THE
GOLFING GODS Clive Agran dons his best toga and sandals to pay a visit to the five-star Costa Navarino Resort in Greece, which boasts two world class courses and a choice of luxury accomodation
R
ather embarrassed by Brexit, and saddened at passing through the EU passport channel at an overseas airport for possibly the last time, my pride in being British is at least temporarily restored when learning of the important part our navy played in the Battle of Navarino in 1827. One of the last great naval engagements involving sailing ships, together with our French and Russian allies, we destroyed the Ottoman and Egyptian fleets, thus facilitating the emergence of an independent Greece. There aren’t that many places you can go where past British military intervention is looked upon locally with genuine gratitude and so I will make the most of this one. Ironically, looking out over the blissfully tranquil bay from the balcony of my supremely comfortable room in the Westin Hotel at the Costa Navarino resort, it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful scene. To my right is a vast bird sanctuary where something like 400 species pass through on their way to and from Africa without having to worry about passport control. Beneath me is a kilometre-long stretch of a glorious sandy beach and the turquoise water of the Ionian Sea. Perhaps it’s time to reveal more precisely where I am. Obviously Greece, but whereabouts exactly? So, following the history lesson, here’s a bit of geography: Costa Navarino is in the Messinia region in the southwest Peloponnese. It’s about 170 miles south-west of Athens and so Kalamata airport, which is only 30 miles away, is the one to aim for. It’s a wonderfully quiet corner of the country and much closer to nature than to any bright lights, In fact, there is so little ambient light that stargazing is a popular past-time. But there are loads of other activities for both adults and children, which is the key to the enormous appeal of this fabulous resort. Foremost amongst these is golf. When it comes to the Royal & Ancient game, it has to be said that Greece lags several holes behind most of the rest of Europe,
■ COSTA NAVARINO IS ONE OF EUROPE'S FINEST GOLF RESORTS
which is somewhat surprising for a sporty nation that developed the original Olympic games. If only one of the Greek gods had smashed a small rock across the Aegean and straight into a hole on Mount Olympus, things might have been very different. As it is, Greece has only a handful of courses and two of the very best are here in Costa Navarino. The Dunes is the older, having opened in 2010, and is bang next door to my hotel. Incidentally, there’s another hotel on the site called the Romanos, which, since each unit would appear to have its very own private swimming pool, we can assume is even posher than the very posh Westin. Anyway, the clubhouse is a two-minute stroll from the lobby. Designed by Bernard Langer, the 6,780-yard course gently rolls through olive and citrus groves, and players are welcome to help themselves to whatever fruit they fancy. There’s a lake on the left of the opening hole but, thankfully, there are no other water hazards on this delightfully open course. So instead of worrying about water, you should focus on the fiendishly subtle borrows on the greens, the menacing bunkers and, most important of all, the splendid views up to the mountains and down to the sea.
A shuttle-bus ride whisks you ten minutes along the coast to the Bay course, which opened just 18 months after the Dunes. Opinion is evenly divided as to which is better, but because the 6,300-yard Bay Course runs along the edge of the sea for a couple of delightful holes, and the views are marginally more spectacular on this Robert Trent Jones Junior design, it is frequently preferred. The design brief, in Jones’ own words, was ‘not to create a Top 100 course, but a Top 100 ‘fun course’, and this has been achieved with larger landing areas and green complexes that draw the ball back towards the pin, rather than deflecting it away. The choice as to which is the best course is destined to become more complicated, as two new challenges a little further around the coast are scheduled to open in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Both designed by José María Olazábal, next door to one another, astride a mountain and benefiting from plenty of elevation, they will weave through woodland and provide breath-taking panoramas over the bay and beyond. Construction work is already underway, and my firm hunch is that they’re going to be a couple of crackers. Non-golfers need not worry about finding things to do while their partners, parents or children are bashing balls, as there are numerous options on offer in this sporting paradise. If you’re one to wield a racket, there are plenty of tennis, badminton, squash and padel courts. If you like getting wet, there’s surfing, kayaking, yachting, snorkelling, scuba diving and innumerable swimming pools. Cycling is enormously popular, and most of the mainstream sports are available; there are even two ten-pin bowling lanes. Children are very well looked after, both metaphorically and literally, and it’s not just for jocks, as the non-sporty have not been forgotten. As well as a wide range of first-class restaurants, there is a whole host of activities and courses on offer. Whereas before you could honestly have described me as a super virgin on the subject, following a fascinating talk and tasting, I now regard myself as something of an authority on olive oil. And if, as I do, you prefer wine to salad dressing, you can indulge yourself under the pretext of education. Bake bread if you want to, attend Greek theatre workshops; take a botanical tour; study the stars; unearth archaeology, or simply relax in one of the bars or on the golden beach. The options are almost endless Unambiguously cerebral, and entirely appropriate in the country that gave us both Aristotle and Socrates, are the philosophy walks. I thought too long and hard about whether or not to go on one, missed it, and visited the superb spa instead. Sitting in a room full of fragrant steam is remarkably conducive to intelligent reflection. Because the poor visibility conceals the identity of whoever is talking, holding the philosophy sessions in a steam room might encourage the more self-conscious to voice their opinions. Indisputable, however, is the incontrovertible fact that Costa Navarino is a magnificent resort that caters perfectly for the discerning holidaymaker who wants more than just a quiet time. For more information on the resort, and details the latest holiday packages, visit www.costanavarino.com.
■ THE 6,780-YARD DUNES COURSE
[46] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
N
EW
golf holiday experts for 23 years www.chakatravel.com
DUBAI
from £2,495 PP
5* Jumeirah Al Naseem
7 nights Bed & Breakfast 4 rounds of golf on 4 different courses
Incl. flights, transfers plus a sunset desert safari
ITALY
from £1,395 PP
4* Golf & Gastronomy in Emilia Romagna
7 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf on 5 courses Incl. business class flights, car hire, spa & wine tasting
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
5* Casa De Campo
from £2,585 PP
7 nights All Inclusive, 5 rounds golf, shared cart & range balls Incl. flights, transfers & Pete Dye Golf Lodge room
MAURITIUS
from £2,295 PP
5* Constance Belle Mare Plage
12 nights Full Board Incl. flights, transfers & golf aprox £13 per round
All Inclusive supplement from £760 pp with golf buggy
SOUTH AFRICA
from £2,295 PP Cape Town & Fancourt Classic Garden Route 10 nights Bed & Breakfast with 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses Incl. flights, transfers & hire car
THAILAND
Bangkok & Hua Hin
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14 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf Incl. flights, transfers & caddie included per round
ESCORTED GOLF TOURS WITH PGA PRO JACQUES GOUS
INCLUDING ONE TO ONE & GROUP TUITION Join us on one of our popular escorted tours. Suitable for golfers and non-golfers alike, our PGA pro will be your guide throughout.
South Africa, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Brazil... TO SEE OUR RANGE OF GOLF HOLIDAYS, ESCORTED TOURS AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS VISIT OUR WEBSITE
NEWS | MAY 2019
[47]
GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
James and Ollie Phelps Actors James and Ollie Phelps, 33, who played Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films, developed a passion for golf in between casting spells
Travel with
would want a pro because he could tell me what I was doing wrong, so it would be Sergio Garcia. Ollie: I would have Tiger in my team. He’s not a bad golfer, and I’m sure he’s got some great stories to tell, too!
I always travel with... James: A really loud pair of swimming shorts. Ollie: A toothbrush.
My favourite golf course is… James: Muirfield Village in Ohio. I was lucky enough to play it last summer, and it was out of this world. Everything about it was just right – the attention to detail made it very special. We’ve been lucky to play at some amazing courses all over the world – I’ve so many tags on my golf bag that they jingle like Father Christmas’s sleigh! . Ollie: Pebble Beach. After my honeymoon in California, I managed to sneak away to play both Spyglass Hill and Pebble – which was an amazing experience. I also love Bay Hill. Whenever we do work for the theme park at Universal in Florida, we stay in Orlando and a guy we know is a member there, so we get to play the course. One time we were sitting at breakfast, someone patted me on the shoulder and said ‘I hope you’re having a great day?’ It was Arnold Palmer.
My best round was at…. J ames: Royal Melbourne in Australia. I play off 14 and managed to get round in four over – the round of my life. The greens were rolling at 12 or 13 on the stimp! Ollie: My best round was at Spyglass. I was
My worst holiday experience was...
put out with three of the slowest golfers ever – it took over an hour to play four holes – so I decided to go ahead and play on my own. Playing off the backs, I shot in the 70s which, off 11, I was really chuffed about and still don’t know how it happened.
James: I went to Egypt a few years ago, and everyone in the hotel got sick except me. And we worked it out that I was the only person who had not gone in the pool. So it actually worked out really well, because I got my scuba diving license and spent two weeks going under water. Ollie: I went to Gran Canaria when I was 19. I went with a girl, who I knew I didn’t want to be with. I’m sure people have had similar experiences and it was not nice for everyone.
■ OLLIE MANAGED TO GET A GAME IN AT PEBBLE BEACH WHILE ON HONEYMOON
My favourite city in the world is... James: Nashville, Tennessee. Ollie: Sydney, Australia.
The course I would most like to play is… James: Carnoustie. I’d like to recreate the Jean Van de Velde moment on the 18th! Even if I’m nowhere near the brook, I will chip the ball into the water, just so I can go for it. Ollie: The Old Course at St Andrews, which is on everyone’s bucket list, or Augusta.
My top travel tip is...
My ideal holiday fourball would include... James: Let’s assume Ollie and I are two of the players, so we can have a pairs match. So I
GOLF IN FRANCE THIS AUTUMN WITH YOUR CAR
■ MUIRFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO
James: Check the weather forecast at your destination before you travel. I'm always unpreprared for bad weather. Ollie: Look smart at the check-in desk and try for a last-minute upgrade.
Sail, Play & Stay
4 nights away from just £505pp Our Autumn special offer gives you the chance to play some top quality courses near the famous French holiday destination of La Baule, with plenty of après golf close by. Sailing from Plymouth, Portsmouth or Poole, you can enjoy three rounds at a choice of top golf resorts in Western Loire and Brittany and a three night stay in La Baule.
This break includes
✓ Return sailings with your car and a comfortable cabin ✓ 3 nights at Hotel Hermitage, La Baule ✓ Deluxe Sea View Rooms ✓ Dinner, Bed & Breakfast ✓ 3 rounds of golf at a choice of courses Call 0330 159 5418 email golfdesk@brittanyferries.com or visit brittanyferries.com/golf
Price includes return sailings with car and 4 passengers, with standard 4 berth cabin each way, 3 nights hotel half board (twin rooms) and 3 rounds of golf. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Terms and conditions apply - see website for details.
[48] MAY 2019 | NEWS GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
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