Golf News October

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Issue 215 | October 2012

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POULTER HEIST HOW ONE MAN STOLE THE RYDER CUP SHOW P20-21

WHEN IT COMES TO GROOVES, EVERY TEN-THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH COUNTS. The decision to start milling the Gorge™ Groove on our new Tour wedges in-house was easy. It was the only way our engineers and machinists could ensure the precision you need for higher spinning, more consistent wedge shots. Then we added three sole designs to help match your swing and playing conditions. For more spin and control in your wedge game, find Tour wedges at your golf shop or ping.com. ©2012 PING 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071

Milled to perfection by PING® machinists in Phoenix, Arizona.

Three sole widths (WS, SS, TS) in multiple lofts fit your swing and playing conditions.

WARREN BENNETT P12 | GOLF SHOW COMP P15 | EWEN MURRAY P18 | MIZUNO CUSTOM-FITTING P25 | PRO SHOP P30-31 | TRAVEL P38

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October 2012 / Issue 215

In a world where the finest details matter, London Golf Club continues to raise the bar. As a European Tour Destination we promise a warm welcome, first-class service and a relaxing environment from the moment you arrive. Our two championship courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus are maintained in pristine condition all year-round and have some of the finest putting surfaces in the country.

EXPERIENCE LONDON GOLF CLUB THIS WINTER

£70

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• English breakfast muffin with tea/coffee • 18 holes of golf on International Course • No temporary greens • Soup at halfway house • Traditional Kentish main meal • Inclusive of range balls and use of practise facilities Available Monday – Thursday from 1st November to 31st March subject to availability. Must be booked in advance.

S U R PA S S I N G E X P E C TAT I O N S

STANSTED LANE | ASH | KENT | TN15 7EH | 01474 879899 | golf@londongolf.co.uk | www.londongolf.co.uk

October 2012 / Issue 215

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Read the UK’s No.1 Golf Paper online at www.golfnews.co.uk

Issue 215 | October 2012

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Twitter@golfnewsmag

Golf News, The Studio, 14 Deanway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6DG. Tel: 01273 556377. email: info@golfnews.co.uk. Website: www.golfnews.co.uk Managing Director Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk

Sales & Marketing Director Andy Martin andy.martin@golfnews.co.uk

Editor Nick Bayly editor@golfnews.co.uk

Design www.tridentdesign.co.uk

Advertising Production Kath Perry ads@golfnews.co.uk

Photography Kevin Murray (kevinmurraygolfphotography.com) Action Images, James Cheadle

Published by BlueGreen Media Contributors Paul Mahoney, Clive Agran, Ewen Murray, Denis Pugh, Alistair Tait

POULTER HEIST HOW ONE MAN STOLE THE RYDER CUP SHOW P20-21

N OO N R TE CIAL £25 F A PE LY S ON LES

O 9H

WHEN IT COMES TO GROOVES, EVERY TEN-THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH COUNTS.

Follow us on: Twitter@golfnewsmag

The decision to start milling the Gorge™ Groove on our new Tour wedges in-house was easy. It was the only way our engineers and machinists could ensure the precision you need for higher spinning, more consistent wedge shots. Then we added three sole designs to help match your swing and playing conditions. For more spin and control in your wedge game, find Tour wedges at your golf shop or ping.com.

Milled to perfection by PING® machinists in Phoenix, Arizona.

©2012 PING 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071

Three sole widths (WS, SS, TS) in multiple lofts fit your swing and playing conditions.

WARREN BENNETT P12 | GOLF SHOW COMP P15 | EWEN MURRAY P18 | MIZUNO CUSTOM-FITTING P25 | PRO SHOP P30-31 | TRAVEL P38

© Copyright Golf News 2012. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in anyway or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

WINTER GOLF

Editor’sview view

at East Sussex National

email: editor@golfnews.co.uk

Fourball Packages from only £160

Cashing in on the Ryder Cup I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who found it hard to return to the humdrum existence of a Monday morning at work just eight hours after having witnessed one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.

Given my slightly overexcited state for the three days of the Ryder Cup, almost everything else seemed dull by comparison. It was the same after the Olympics, only I don’t recall being anything quite so excited, even when Mo Farah won the 10,000 metres. After all, Mo was expected to win, while Europe, as one slightly over-eager, but now infamous American golf journalist called it, was the loser-in-waiting.

Only it didn’t quite turn out like that.

And just as the Olympics gave London the feel-good factor, so the Ryder Cup has once again lifted the spirits of golfers and the golf industry, just as the post-Celtic Manor glow was beginning to fade. The flood of tenuous promotional emails that I had in the days after the matches finished was testament to that fact, with all manner of companies looking to piggyback on the victory in Medinah.

Whether a win in the Ryder Cup results in increased participation, be it through newcomers or existing golfers getting out more often, or through equipment sales or holiday bookings, is a hard one to assess. Regardless,

it put golf on the front and back pages for a few days, and was the top story on every news bulletin, which can only be a good thing. Clubs might start to capitalise on it by organising more matchplay events, instead of offering up a diet of boring old Stableford tournaments. I played in one on the Friday morning of the Ryder Cup, where four people previously unknown to each other played a fourball match which consisted of six holes of foursomes, six of fourballs, and six of singles. We might not have known each other at the beginning, but four hours later we were partners in crime, sworn enemies, and the best of friends. You can’t ask more of a game than that.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

The finest downland course in Sussex...

Bookings now being taken for 2013, in our Dormy House, open March to November Twin bed en-suite rooms with a five course dinner, bed & full english breakfast, including two rounds of golf from £90 per person per night GREEN FEE VISITORS CAN NOW BOOK ONLINE AT SPECIAL PRICES go to www.seafordgolfclub.co.uk and follow the visitor tee booking link For a brochure and more information call Sue on: 01323 892442, e-mail: sue@seafordgolfclub.co.uk or visit: www.seafordgolfclub.co.uk

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POULTER PUTS SPOTL A Hertfordshire golf club has become the centre of media attention after Ian Poulter’s heroics in The Ryder Cup. Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club, which is part of the Crown Golf group, made national headlines last month following Poulter’s inspiring performance at Medinah, which helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in such dramatic fashion.

Although Hitchin-born Poulter is attached to Woburn Golf Club, it was at Chesfield Downs that he first began to take the game seriously, when his fledgling football career stalled following rejection

by Tottenham Hotspur.

He joined the club as a junior in 1992, and quickly took his handicap down to seven aged 14. He won Chesfield’s club championship in 1993, aged 17, playing off four, and subsequently became an assistant to the club’s head professional, before he joined the European Tour in 1996, aged 20.

Despite being one of the most successful Ryder Cup golfers of all time, there were few signs of Poulter’s future greatness at Chesfield, according to those that knew him at the time.

“He was never anybody you looked at and thought ‘He’s going to be a phenomenal player’,” said Keith Bond, head coach at the club, who also used to be the head pro at Stevenage Golf Centre, where Poulter first took up the game as a junior with his father, Terry, and elder brother Danny. “He just wasn’t a standout player,” Bond added. “Of the two it was Danny who was the better player. I think Ian was a seven-handicap when he was 15. But he really believed he would go on to great things. He

told everyone at school he was going to be world No 1. He told people here that he was going to win European Tour events.

Everyone thought ‘well, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about’. But it turns out that he did, and we didn’t!”

Chesfield Downs’ general manager, Tim Hudson, admits that the club has let slip its relationship with its favourite son, who has a house in nearby Milton Keynes, although he lives mainly in Florida these days.

“Although Terry Poulter is still a member here, the club unfortunately hasn’t maintained its relationship with Ian as closely as might

Oxfordshire on course to open new nine A new nine-hole course is on schedule to open at The Oxfordshire Golf Club next year.

The new par-three academy course has been designed by renowned American architect Rees Jones, who was also responsible for creating the club’s 18-hole championship course.

Surveys of the land are still being finalised, but it is hoped construction will begin before the end of the year, and be completed in 2013. The club believes the additional facilities will prove popular for golf days, which can now be extended to 27

holes, with those who do not have enough time to play the 18-hole course. Tim Pettifer, The Oxfordshire’s general manager, said: “The nine new holes that are to be added will make the course even more exciting, and both members and non-members will benefit from this new stage in our development.”

Wildwood on the market

SUNDAY 4 BALL - INC. BREAKFAST £100

GOLF SOCIETIES DIRECT SALES: 07961 428965 THE RIDGE GOLF CLUB, CHARTWAY STREET, SUTTON VALENCE, MAIDSTONE, ME17 3JB. TEL: 01622 844382. WEB: WWW.THERIDGEGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

The news coincides with the announcement that former BBC Breakfast sports presenter Chris Hollins has taken over as club president.

The 41-year-old, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, takes over the honorary post from chat show legend Sir Michael Parkinson, who held the role for nine years.

Wildwood Golf & Country Club, a 27-hole private members’ club located in Alford, on the SurreySussex border, has been put up for sale.

The 232-acre property

includes 27 holes of golf; a 9-hole short course; practice facilities and a large clubhouse. Full planning permission has also recently been granted for an 84-room hotel, including 39 holiday

lodges, health spa, and conference facilities.

Wildwood’s owner, Phil Harrison, is currently in advanced talks with the Professional Golf Association to establish their southern regional head office and a centre of excellence at the club.

Tom Marriott of HMH Golf and Leisure, which is handling the sale, said: “This is a unique opportunity to develop Wildwood into a premier destination golfing resort in the South East.

It is an ideal corporate venue, set within quintessentially English countryside.”

October 2012 / Issue 215

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LIGHT ON CHESFIELD

Autumn Offers at

CHART HILLS GOLF CLUB

Small beginnings: Ian Poulter began his pro career at Chesfield Downs in the early 90s

Chart Hills Golf Club, Weeks Lane, Biddenden, Kent. TN27 8JX W:www.charthills.co.uk, E: info@charthills.co.uk, T:01580292222

Autumn Twilight Offer Tee time after 3pm in September £40pp Tee times after 2pm in October £40pp Twilight Buggies from £10 have been expected. We hope to change this, and we’re all naturally thrilled that one of the world’s top golfers was a member and assistant here. We’re planning to commemorate his achievements in Medinah with some memorabilia in the clubhouse, while some of the members have already suggested hosting an annual golf day for his nominated charity or a junior Open competition, and perhaps re-naming one of the function rooms in his honour.”

He added: “It would be exciting for everybody to see Ian back at the club.

He is already inspiring a new generation

of young golfers the world over, and we are immensely proud that he is connected to Chesfield Downs.”

Chesfield’s Golf Academy gives over a thousand golf lessons to junior golfers each year, and with a 150-strong junior section, Keith Bond hopes that Poulter’s example will inspire future generations of the club’s young golfers to go on and emulate him. “All the youngsters who use the club are really excited to think Ian was once a junior member at their club,” he said, “and with some of the young talent we have here maybe it won’t be long before we produce another star of the future!”

Winter Breakfast Offer Enjoy a full English Breakfast with 18 holes of golf at Chart Hills.

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Chart Hills Golf Club, Weeks Lane, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8JX www.charthills.co.uk T:01580 292222 E: info@charthills.co.uk

Tree stars in Junior Ryder Cup Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup team was sadly unable to recreate the heroics of its senior counterparts, going down 14½-9½ at Olympia Fields in Illinois.

The 12-strong teams, each made up of six girls and six boys, took part in foursomes and mixed fourballs, followed by singles matches over two days, with US players Casie Cathrea, Karen Chung and Esther Lee all going unbeaten for the home side.

Despite being on the wrong end of the result, Sussex’s Toby Tree acquitted himself well, teaming up with Ireland’s Gavin Moughniahan to get a half in his fourball match against Cameron Champ and Beau Hossler, who finished in the top 10 in this

Toby Tree

THE DYKE GOLF CLUB, SUSSEX

year’s US Open, before bagging a brave half against Champ in the singles, after shooting six birdies over the last 10 holes.

The teams also played a ‘friendship match’ at Medinah, the day before the Ryder Cup matches began.

Turner painting valued at £20m turns up at golf club auction

An oil painting bought at an auction at a golf club in Kent for £3,700 is believed to be a long lost work by famous painter JMW Turner worth up to £20 million.

Convinced the small painting, which is entitled Fishing Boats In A Stiff Breeze, was created by

Britain’s most loved painter, art investor Jonathan Weal made sure he had the winning bid at the auction eight years ago. Now historians and scientists are backing up his claim, after tests dated the oil on panel to 1805, and a handwriting expert verified the signature

on the work as Turner’s.

Mr Weal came across the 13in by 10in painting at an auction held at the Weald of Kent Golf Club in 2004, where it was even catalogued as a Turner, but only had a reserve price of just £700 to £900.

“I eventually had to go up to £3,700, four times the estimate, so there must have been some others in the audience who suspected it was seriously valuable,” said Mr Weal. “Turner spent a lot of time in Ramsgate and I believe he painted it at a spot between Ramsgate and Broadstairs – an area where Nelson used to pick up a lot of his men to go to sea.”

Scientific tests date the painting, inscribed on the panel along with the title, from the same year Turner painted his famous The Battle of Trafalgar.

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6/

October 2012 / Issue 215

News in Brief WALLIS WINS KENT PGA TITLE Richard Wallis shot a superb 10-under-par total of 130 around Royal Blackheath to add the Kent PGA Championship to his growing list of victories in 2012. The Walmer & Kingsdown pro dropped just one shot in the 36 holes to finish three strokes in front of Tim Milford (Pedham Place), with Benn Barham (Chart Hills) three shots further back in third.

Captain Colin calls in at Bearwood With Ryder Cup fever very much in the air last month, Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Berkshire was honoured by a visit from 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who dropped into the club just a few days before he headed to Chicago for an altogether different role as a studio pundit for Sky Sports.

Montgomerie hosted a clinic on the driving range for guests, before taking to the course with a group of selected members. The seven-time European Tour Order of Merit champion was particularly impressed with the standard of the putting surfaces at the Wokingham-based club.

“These are the best greens I have played on for quite some time,” was one of his comments, after stepping off the championship course.

Carl Rutherford, Bearwood Lakes’ managing director, said: “We are always delighted when Colin visits Bearwood Lakes. He is great company on and off the course, and the quality of his golf appeared to be as good as it has ever been.

I know that it has been a terrific thrill for everyone to meet a living legend of the game, and it was fitting to have a former winning captain of the Ryder Cup just prior to Europe’s stunning victory in Medinah.”

Monty played Bearwood Lakes with some lucky members

HAPPY VALLEY! Darenth Valley Golf Course has been selected as a finalist for The Kent Wedding Awards 2012. The Sevenoaks-based club’s nomination is within the Wedding Venue of the year category, and comes only months after receiving its civil ceremony and partnership licence earlier this year. The club is able to host wedding receptions for up to 200 people.

Golfino opens West End store Leading European golf sportswear brand Golfino has opened a new flagship store in London’s West End The company’s first standalone boutique in the capital is located on trendy South Molton Street, in the heart of Mayfair.

The 71-square metre store was officially opened at special reception on the eve of London Fashion Week, and was attended by the brand’s owners, Dr Bernd Kirsten and his wife Christel, and a host of guests, including BBC TV presenter Chris Hollins, and top model and the face of Golfino’s Autumn/Winter Collection, Sophie Anderton (pictured right).

Andrew Thomson, Golfino’s Sales Director, said: “The new London West End boutique complements our hugely successful ‘shop-in-shop’ store within Harrods and further underlines the brand’s commitment to grow its presence in strategically

important locations across the UK.” In the UK, Golfino also has a store in Edinburgh, as well as a large network of prestigious resort and golf course stockists that includes Turnberry, Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale. In addition to its standalone stores, the company also boasts 500 shops-in-shop partners across 18 European countries.

Founded in 1986, Golfino reported sales of €33.5 million in 2011, up over 10% on the previous year.

Links and Lodges Experience one of the UK’s most treasured links golf courses in all new Lodge accommodation. Overlooking the stunning 27 hole links golf course and the English Channel, The Lodge at Prince’s is the perfect option for golfers looking for a weekend getaway trip from the city.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

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Hankley kicks off PGA Winter Series

nter Warmer

Seven of the finest golf courses in the South have been selected for the eight round, professional-only PGA in England (South) 2012-13 om the 1st October 2012 to 31stWinter MarchSeries, 2013in association with Titleist-FootJoy. A combination of links, heathland and downland, these & Bacon Sandwich courses are great venues to play at any time of the year, but all are perfect for winter golf. With all eight rounds s played over 18 holes, there’s no better way of keeping your gg &competitive Chips hand in before the 2013 schedule tees off.

Each event offers a superb opportunity for the leading assistant pros to win a valuable ball, glove and shoe per person Monday to Friday contract from Titleist and FootJoy. Again, there will be a winnings-based Order of Merit, for which the winner will receive a custom fit Titleist 913 custom pair Weekends and Bank Holidays (tee offdriver, aftera11am) of FootJoy MyJoy shoes, and a £250 cash bonus. f 4 people (for groups over 8, deposit will be required) Starting on November 13, the opening event is at Surrey heathland gem Hankley Common, followed

by North Foreland’s challenging cliff top course on 28. The third 36 holes around the eal toNovember celebrate theevent, new clubhouse fearsome Prince’s courses, wipes the cobwebs away ctioninstarting winter.

2013, with thethis tournament staged over January 28-29.

There’s another 36 holes over two of the finest best Winter courses in the south. Very good natural drainage. heathland courses in the UK, The Berkshire on February 20, and Swinley Forest the following day. Switching from the traditional to a modern Nicklaus design, the 2012-13 winter series moves to the International Course at The London Club on March 4, while the final round is at Stoneham on March 28.

There will also be the annual Assistants & Trainees Better Ball Pro-Am at Farnham on April 17.

Spoils shared at Chart Hills Tom Fleming and Larry Batchelor emerged triumphant as the joint winners of the inaugural PGA Woosnam-Faldo Challenge following an unprecedented eight-man playoff at Chart Hills.

After the first round at Dale Hill was washed out with rain, the event was reduced to just 18 holes, which resulted in a pile up at the top of the leaderboard, with Andrew Butterfield, Nick Redfern, Nico Els, Scott Marshall, Ben St John and Adam Wootton, joining Fleming and Batchelor on four under par.

Five of the eight made birdies at Chart Hill’s dangerous par-three 17th, but with the light fading only Fleming and Batchelor made pars at the par-four 18th, and the pair were forced to share the spoils when a third play-off hole was halved.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

LINGFIELD PARK GOLF CLUB

Discover Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club Golf Course – after a period of substantial investment, our facilities are amongst the best in the area.

Set amongst 200 acres of breath-taking Surrey Parkland, we offer a championship level 18-hole course, comprehensive practice areas and a state of the art teaching academy including:

• three putting greens • ‘chip n run’ green • bunker practice green • driving range with covered teaching bays.

Become a member from as little as £31 per month and benefit from discounts across Lingfield Park and beyond – including free use of nine other Marriott Golf courses across the UK.

Cherkley plans under fire from conservationists Plans to create a new high-end golf club in the grounds of an historic 380-acre estate in Surrey have met with fierce resistance from environmental groups.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has begun a fundraising drive to stop the grounds of Cherkley Court in Leatherhead from being converted into a golf course.

Last month developers were granted planning permission

by Mole Valley District Council to convert the estate into Beaverbrook Golf Club. Lord Beaverbrook was the press baron who lived there for most of the 20th century.

However, the CPRE has stated that the plan for the venue, which is in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will harm biodiversity.

“The environmental damage that is going to be done creating a golf course and a leisure complex on this site is absolutely wrecking the biodiversity,” said CPRE spokesman Andy Smith.

“We’re talking to our legal advisers and we’re in the process of putting the funding in place for a legal challenge.

We believe the council’s decision-making process was flawed and we will be seeking to prove this and to push the council back to the drawing board. We cannot allow this precious and sensitive area of Surrey countryside to be wrecked for the sake of a few hundred rich golfers.”

The planned golf course at Cherkley Court will be a co-design between five-time Open champion Tom Watson and David McLay Kidd, whose

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most prestigious recent projects include The Castle Course at St Andrews and the ultra-exclusive Queenwood in Surrey. Joining fees for the golf club are estimated to be in the region of £100,000 for founder members, with membership numbers capped at 500. The conversion of the house and grounds, to incorporate a

hotel, two restaurants, a spa, a herb kitchen, and cookery school, is expected to cost £60m.

The planning permission includes the provision that the estate’s owner provides a £240,000 bond to reinstate the golf course to meadowland should the development fail within five years.

Centurion signs Prince’s claims first member tourism award

Call now for more information on any of our golf packages and our membership options.

Restricted to only 600 members

Plans to develop Cherkley have met with resistance at national and local levels

The opening day of membership sales at Hertfordshire’s newest golf club, The Centurion Club, began with the signing of its inaugural member.

Steve Camp (pictured above, centre) had no hesitation in putting pen to paper after touring the course at the Centurion Club, which is due to open next summer.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Camp said: “This is going to be an amazing golf course,

and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to join.

I just can’t wait now for it to open for play!”

The Centurion Club is located on the outskirts of St Albans, and features a 7,200-yard, 18-hole championship course designed by acclaimed locally-based architect Simon Gidman.

Prospective members can arrange a guided tour of the club by calling 01442 510 520 or visiting www. centurionclub.co.uk.

Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich has won the Chairman’s Award at the Visit Kent Annual Awards in recognition of its contribution to tourism and employment in the county.

The club’s general manager, John George, and marketing manager David Holder (pictured right), picked up the prestigious gong at an awards dinner held in Faversham last month.

“This award is extremely gratifying, and testament to the long term vision and passion of our

owners and the hard work and dedication of the entire team here at Prince’s,” said Mr George. “It has been an amazing few years, witnessing the transformation of the courses and the opening of our spectacular new accommodation offering, so naturally it’s fantastic to be recognised for our achievements. “ As well as a number of suppliers having to employ new staff to meet the demands from Prince’s, the club also boasts in excess of 70 members of staff,

The Lodge at Prince’s has proved a big draw

Alf’s the man at West Kent The members at West Golf Club in Orpington raised a glass or two to its oldest and most popular members last month, when Alf Mann reached the milestone of his 100th birthday.

While most of his contemporaries are sitting at home in a comfortable armchair with their slippers on, Mann is more than likely to be getting his golf shoes out and contemplating his next round of golf.

Mann, who is four years older than West Kent, which first opened in 1916, plays 10 holes twice a week, and has only recently given into the pleasures of riding in a buggy after a lifetime spent walking the fairways.

Mann only stopped driving his car last year, and now restricts his driving

all of whom are from the local area.

Featuring 38 bedrooms with en-suite facilities, lounge, bar, terrace and snooker room, The Lodge is also home to a brasserie -style restaurant that focuses on using traditional Kentish produce.

to the golf course, where he still plays a mean game. Playing off eight in his heyday, Mann came second in the club’s Presidents Salver aged 93, beating all but one of the 400 other competitors.

“The main thing that has happened over the years I’ve played the game is the most amazing changes in golf equipment and courses,” says Alf, who joined West Kent as an artisan member in 1937. “How I would love to have been playing with the clubs we have now, back in my young days. Perhaps I could have got my handicap even lower.”

Unsurprisingly, the club has named him their Golfer of the Year, and is holding a special dinner to honour him later in the year.

Centurion Alf Mann still finds the energy for 20 holes every week

October 2012 / Issue 215

/9

Marco has Masters in his sights!

Last October, Sussex teenager Marco Penge caused a sensation in county golfing circles when he won the club championship at The Dyke, one of the toughest courses in the region, aged just 13.

It didn’t come as much of a shock for members of the Brighton-based club though, as the slenderly-built schoolboy has been creating headlines ever since he represented Mannings Heath men’s team aged just 10.

One year on from his historic win at The Dyke, and the records keep tumbling for the scratch golfer from Horsham, who now plays for Worthing Golf Club’s scratch team, Sussex U18s, Sussex Colts and Sussex Men’s team.

In April he won his second consecutive Laddie Lucas

Spoon at Prince’s in Kent, and a month later lost in a play-off for the Sussex U21s Championship at Royal Ashdown. This summer, he reached the quarter-finals of the Sussex Amateur, finished ninth in the U18 section of the Henry Cooper Junior Masters, and seventh in the McGregor Trophy (England U16s) at Trevose.

He then returned to winning ways at Royal Cinque Ports in July, where he picked up the Hazards Salver for best score for an U16 player at the Carris Trophy. And only last month he chalked up a remarkable fourth consecutive victory in the Sussex U15 Championship at West Hove for the Dick George Trophy, and enjoyed a successful run of results at the England U16 internationals against Spain and Wales, winning three out of his four matches.

Penge, who attends Forest School in Horsham, has learnt his craft from many of Sussex’s top coaches over the years, including Neil Darnell, a professional at Mannings Heath, and Clive Tucker, who is now at Wildwood Golf Club in Alfold. His main coach now is Alex Saary, a London-based PGA Advanced Level coach whom he has been with for five years.

Having become a scratch golfer five months after becoming a teenager – the same age as his hero, Tiger Woods – Penge now has his eyes on getting his handicap down to plustwo by the end of the year.

As his game continues to develop, and the competition invitations come from further afield, the cost of Penge’s golf commitments rise too.

But his parents, Angelo and Marie, are happy to support their son while he remains so dedicated, to the extent that they have even provided him with a nine-foot putting green in their home. There has been other financial support too; Marco received a grant from Set4Success, a local initiative

driven by Horsham Rotary Club and SportsAid, and further funding from the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters Charitable Trust.

And despite his tender years, Penge knows what his dream is – to one day pull on the green jacket. “My dream would be to win the Masters at Augusta,” he says. “I’m very focused on my golf. I’m quite an aggressive player like Tiger Woods, but I don’t ever get angry on the course. I’m good at school, but I don’t intend to carry on with education after I leave Forest, as I want to be a professional golfer. I don’t like the idea of sitting at a desk!”

And with talent like that, there is a strong chance that he won’t have to.

Marco Penge has enjoyed another stellar year

Stoke Park searches for future stars Stoke Park scholars will receive free membership to the club

Stoke Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has launched its own search for the golfing stars of the future with the creation of five golf scholarships for talented youngsters.

The five-star resort is hosting an open day on October 27, where golfers aged

between 10-16 will undergo a series of skills tests to see whether they are up to the standards set by a group of professional coaches, including Stoke Park’s head instructor, Stuart Rank.

Golf’s answer to the X Factor will test short game and long game skills, as well

as require candidates to play a number of holes on the golf course. Short-listed candidates will then be invited back for an interview, from which the final five will be chosen.

Stuart Collier, Stoke Park’s Director of Golf, said: “We are keen to help support the future of golf in the UK, and to help nurture talent. The idea behind the scholarship programmes is to holistically train the next generation of talented players, to make stars of the future. The coaches are looking for future potential, not necessarily who plays best on the day.”

Stoke Park’s members are personally funding half the scholarship programme, with the club matching any contribution they make. The winners of the five scholarships will have free access to the 27-hole course and the practice facilities, as well as group and one-on-one tuition, and swing, course management and fitness advice.

Anyone looking to take part in the trials should contact Stuart Rank on 01753 717184 or email srank@stokepark.com.

Great Scott comes good at Wildwood Silvermere’s Callum Scott played the best 36 holes of his life to win the Wildwood Invitational, with an 11-under total.

Opening the last event in the PGA South region’s Order of Merit schedule with a blistering 66, Scott maintained his bogey-free birdie-charged golf to card a final round 67, pushing rivals Andrew Butterfield and David Stanton into second and third place. Over the 36 holes, Scott missed just three greens and fairways, and only needed to save par twice.

“I’ve been working really hard with Wildwood’s coaching guru Clive Tucker, and today it all paid off,” said Scott, who has been playing on the EuroPro Tour for the last five years. “I’ve been playing well,” he added, “but not finishing well – usually adding in some score-wrecking errors on the way. Today it all came together. My ball striking was really good, and I’ll continue to build on all the hard work with Clive through the winter.”

Richard Wallis was confirmed as the winner of Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit for an unprecedented third year running, and took the first of three places on offer for December’s Titleist PGA Play Offs in Turkey as the defending champion.

Callum Scott (centre) celebrates his Wildwood win

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10 /

September 2012 / Issue 214

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Sandford Springs to open hotel

Super Sandra shines at St Andrew

Construction has begun on a three-star hotel at Sandford Springs Golf Club in Hampshire.

The new facility, which is due to open in September 2013, will comprise 40 twin rooms, a breakfast buffet area and a relaxation zone.

The hotel will overlook the 11th green and 12th tee on The Wood course and will be less than 200 yards from the main clubhouse. The clubhouse will also see a major refurbishment, including new changing rooms and kitchen.

With an estimated 20 jobs being created, the owners of Sandford Springs, Paul Gibbons, is confident that the hotel will attract new visitors to

Surrey amateur Sandra Combstock has won the UK Public Courses Ladies’ Championship for the second year in succession, after beating 31 rivals over the Eden Course at St Andrews.

Woking-based Sarah, who plays off seven, is a member at Hoebridge Golf Centre, which had six other players representing the venue in the finals.

The new hotel will offer 40 guest rooms

0208 657 5581 Croham Hurst Golf Club, Croham Road, South Croydon, CR2 7HJ

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the club from all over the country.

Gibbons also owns The Oxfordshire Hotel & Golf Resort, which recently opened a 50-bedroom hotel, and which last year hosted over 17,000 guests.

Andrew Wild, general manager of Sandford Springs, said: “We are excited and cannot wait for the work to begin; it will be a valuable addition to our club as well as to the local community. Throughout the building process we will strive to incorporate environmentally responsible practices, and have chosen an architectural design in keeping with the landscape in this most beautiful part of England.”

www.chgc.co.uk clubmanager@chgc.co.uk

Singh stars in Faldo Finals

Hampshire teenager Jack Singh-Brar posted a final round 72 to win the 2012 Faldo Series Grand Final by two shots at Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland.

The 15-year-old from Brockenhurst carded rounds of 72, 78 and 72 to finish on six over par for 54 holes, two shots ahead of 17-year-old Rochelle Morris (Huddersfield) and Ewan Scott (St Andrews), who won the Boys’ U18 title.

Second round leader Assaf Cohen started one shot ahead of the field, and four

ahead of Singh-Brar, but struggled to a 79 and finished in a tie for fourth.

“I feel very happy about the result; especially knowing how Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng’s careers took off following their success in the Faldo Series,” said an elated Singh-Brar. “The win has changed how I feel about my life and my career as a golfer.

Sir Nick is a great guy and the Faldo Series experience has made me appreciate his dedication to helping young golfers achieve their best.”

Faldo, who was on hand during the week, said: “Jack is a worthy champion, having beaten our largest ever field, and looks to have a great future.”

Singh-Brar will be offered a start in a pro event next season, and will also be invited to the Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills in China.

14/09/2012 08:58

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September 2012 / Issue 214

/ 11

Goodwood revivalists turn on the style Tweed was out in force on the Downs Course

Andrew Baldock. The pair finished six shots clear of Chris Dyson and Alec Stoner, with Ian West and partner Ian Griffin taking third on countback.

Goodwood’s head professional, Christian Fogden, took on the role of James Braid for the day, and was given the dubious honour of trying to beat allcomers on the Downs Course’s opening par three hole, with those inside his tee shots winning a golf ball.

After a superb lunch in the Kennels clubhouse, golfers were then transported in an open-top vintage bus up to the Revival Festival, where at estimated £600 million of classic cars took part in three days of races and time trials around the historic Goodwood track. The sell-out event was attended by over 130,000.

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£80.00 per Tee Time (4 Balls only-max. 2 slots) A group of 40 golfers discovered a new-found appreciation for the skills of Harry Vardon, James Braid and all the other top golfers of the Edwardian era, after taking part in Goodwood’s annual Revival Golf competition.

Held over the weekend of Goodwood’s Revival Race Meeting, the nostalgic golf tournament saw competitors don heavy tweed jackets, waistcoats, wool caps, ties, braces and plus-fours, as they took on the challenge of the club’s testing James Braid-designed Downs Course in weather conditions that veered between cold and

damp to decidedly warm, during the course of an eventful morning.

Scoring was made even harder by the requirement that players use a set of 1920s clubs, including small woodenheaded drivers with hickory shafts, and a range of niblicks, mashies and brassie irons that were short on grooves and featured even smaller sweetspots.

Despite the testing conditions, and unforgiving equipment, the winning score in the two-ball better ball Stableford competition was an impressive 40 points, which was achieved by vintage club enthusiast Geoff Bleasby and his partner

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12 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

“I feel there have been a lot of wasted years where my golf career is concerned”

BOUNCING BACK Kevin Redshull catches up with former Tour veteran Warren Bennett as he bids to get his career back on track following an overdue turnaround in his fortunes Warren Bennett feels he has some ‘unfinished business to attend to’ where his professional golf career is concerned, and his performance at this summer’s Open Championship only served to strengthen that belief. After battling his way through regional and local final qualifying, the 40-year-old former European Tour tournament winner, who disappeared off the playing scene completely for two years in 2009 to become a caddie, finished joint 77th at Royal Lytham & St Annes in what was his fifth Open appearance during a career that has been blighted by injury.

Bennett’s first Open appearance was at Turnberry 18 years ago, when he won the Silver Medal for finishing as leading amateur.

Afterwards, Sir Michael Bonallack, the former R&A secretary, picked him out as a future Open champion – an expectation that few players are ever able to live up to.

Fate then intervened in the shape of a longterm neck injury, which was followed by a damaged left hand when he was knocked off his bicycle by a car in 2007. By early 2009, Bennett had had a enough of not being able to compete consistently at the top level – despite having won seven times on the Challenge Tour, as well as the Scottish PGA Championship in 1999.

“Even though I still loved golf, I had fallen out of love with playing the game, so I decided to become a professional caddie instead,” he said, during a break in practice at Prince’s Golf Club, close to where he now lives at Broadstairs on the East Kent coast.

Initially, Bennett carried the bag for Austrian Tour pro Bernd Wiesberger, before becoming the full-time caddie for Trish Johnson on the Ladies European Tour. “I loved it, and made

some great friends, but there was always this nagging feeling that, first and foremost, I was a player, and it hurt because I was missing it.”

So Bennett, whose father, Peter, was in the Leyton Orient side that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1978, decided to give playing another go last year and, although he did reasonably well, his improved form this year is down to having employed a regular coach for the first time.

“I have never had a proper coach in my career, I’ve always done it on my own, but after failing to make it back onto the European Tour at last year’s qualifying school, I said to myself, ‘Where am I going? I am 40 years old, I want to get back on Tour, my fitness is back and I have got the work ethic and the motivation, but I haven’t got the skills.’

“Then, about six months ago, someone said to me I should go and see Matt Belsham, who coaches pros like Robert Rock and Jamie Donaldson, and after just a few sessions with Matt, everything just seemed to click into place. He’s given me a fresh insight into how to swing the club, and it’s something I can get my head around, which is half the battle when you have been used to doing it a different way for 20 years.”

His remodelled swing certainly stood up to the demands placed upon it by the penal rough and plethora of bunkers at Lytham, where he was 11th in driving accuracy among the entire field. But, after two splendidly solid opening rounds of 70 and 71, which saw Bennett make the cut by two shots, his putting stroke deserted him over the weekend, as he shot rounds of 75 and 76 to finish on 12-overpar 292, 19 shots behind winner Ernie Els. “I don’t know why it happened, but my putting just got worse as the tournament went on,” said Bennett, who won just over £10,500 for finishing tied 77th. “I wasn’t nervous, and I wasn’t trying too hard. From tee to green,

I played as well over the weekend as I had in the first two rounds, but I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole. In the final round I had four three-putts in five holes, and if I had had half a putting game, I would have finished in the top half of the field.”

Trish Johnson followed Bennett’s progress in the second round, and was there at the end to offer consolation for what might have been.

“Trish came up to me afterwards and said, ‘You could easily have shot 65 today’. Even on the 18th, I stuck it to four feet, but then missed the birdie putt. That’s the moment I would like to rewind if I could.

“But my overall feeling after Lytham was that my performance had been acceptable, and it sort of flicked a switch on in me which said, ‘you know what, you are still good enough’, and it’s made we want to get my Tour card back as quickly as possible.

Thinking back over the four days in Lancashire, Bennett is able to highlight the positives, rather than dwell on negatives.

“I didn’t feel out of my league, I loved the atmosphere, and it was great playing with Dustin Johnson in front of loads of people on the Saturday. It was also lovely to have so many people come up to me who I thought wouldn’t remember me and say, ‘It’s great to see you back here’.”

Among the latter was none other than Ernie Els himself. “I was on the range after the first round, and Ernie, who I hadn’t even noticed was there, because I had my head down practicising, came up to me and said, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ and we had a five-minute chat, recalling old times, which was really great.”

Now though, it’s very much planning for the future that is dominating Bennett’s agenda.

He is already looking forward to playing in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles at the end of August. “As a former winner of the Scottish PGA title, I am eligible to enter

that tournament and, to be honest, I can’t wait to get up there, because I feel there have been a lot of wasted years where my golf career is concerned.”

After that Bennett will begin to turn his thoughts to the European Tour qualifying process, and if does he manage to regain his card for next year, it will complete something of a fairytale return for a highly talented player who three years ago had reluctantly decided that his top-flight golfing days were over.

Bennett caddied for Trish Johnson when his own career took a nosedive

October 2012 / Issue 215

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14 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 15

M25 golfer commits story to print An amateur golfer from Kent who circumnavigated the M25 with a golf bag on his back last summer to raise money for a cancer charity has committed his epic journey to print.

Trevor Sandford played golf courses near all 31 junctions of the infamous motorway during the month of August last year and succeeded in raising over £8,500 for Cancer Research.

Inspired by the death of Seve Ballesteros, the 59-yearold from Maidstone set out from Mid Kent Golf Club on August 1, and played 18 holes every day for 31 days, taking in some of the south east’s top tracks along the way, including The London Club, Walton Heath, Foxhills, Stoke Park, The Grove, and finishing up at Orsett on August 31.

He charts the highs and lows of one of the wettest ever summer months in Golf Against Cancer – A Month

of Madness on the M25.

Among the many highlights, Sandford picked out meeting Olympic javelin champion Steve Backley at the London Club, playing in Bond-style trilby hats at Stoke Park, catching sight of Gary Barlow and the X Factor film crew at The Grove, having lunch in the magnificent clubhouse at Moor Park, and taking a double-bogey seven on the last at The Shire. The lowlights, which were many, included painful blisters, a strained thumb, multiple bee stings, and a crooked knee. He also never wants to see another bacon roll in his life.

Playing through mini heatwaves, and torrential downpours, Sandford was met with welcome arms by all the clubs that took part, many of them offering free four balls, so that supporters could join him along the way. Opening and closing chapters detail the challenge of organising an odyssey

GEAR UP FOR WINTER with Stuburt’s Multi-Layer Concept of this nature, but the core of the book is the daily diary of the tour, where he recounts tales of his amazing run of chip-in birdies, and how golf fails to obey the laws of physics, even for someone who is clearly a very lucky golfer.

Golf Against Cancer – A Month of Madness on the M25, costs £13.99 to buy online, but copies can be obtained direct from the author for £10 by emailing sandfordenterprises@ tiscali.co.uk or via www. thesocialgolfer.com.

All proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.

COMPETITION

5 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE LONDON GOLF SHOW TO BE WON! We’ve got together with the organisers of this year’s London Golf Show to bring Golf News readers a chance to win one of FIVE pairs of tickets to the annual event on the 9th-11th November.

Now in its eighth year, the longestrunning golf show in the UK will once again be held at Earls Court, and this year’s show will see the largest indoor demo and equipment days in the UK, with more brands, more offers, and more fun!

The 2012 show is designed to provide a truly interactive experience for golfers of all ages, and will again be supported by retail partner the Internet Golf Store, and some of the world’s top golf brands, including TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno, Cleveland, Nike, Titleist, Wilson, Cobra and Yonex.

In fact, this year’s show is so well supported, that for the first time all the major brands will be in attendance and, as such, visitors will be able to test, try and learn about all the latest club innovations.

Attendees will also be able to seek expert advice on the products that are right for their swings, with over 50 PGA Professionals ready to offer advice and tips. Other highlights will include World Trick Shot Champion Geoff Swain and Kevin Carpenter’s trick shot show; 16 driving bays for club testing and custom fitting; TaylorMade’s custom-build truck; guest interviews; prize competitions, and a special Kids Zone.

TO ENTER: Email your answer to the question below to: info@golfnews.com, with ‘London Golf Show Competition’ in the subject line, including your name, address and contact number. Entries close on 1 November, 2012.

QUESTION: Who is the World Trick Shot Champion?

If you can’t wait to see if you’ve won, book your tickets to the show at www.londongolfshow.com. Advance tickets cost £12 (£15 on the door), £18 for two people, or £48 for a group of six. U14s go free with a paying adult.

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16 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

EURO FIGHTERS! Europe staged one of the greatest fightbacks in sporting history to win the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah. Here’s how it played out in pictures It was close and there were lots of cigars!

Bubba Watson plays out from Medinah’s non-existent rough

Dream Team: Europe bagged its seventh win from the last nine matches

Punching On: Ian Poulter played a pivotal role in the outcome

It’s all over bar the shouting: Garcia shakes hands with Furyk after his dramatic 1-up singles win

Fore right times two: Donald and Watson had the same idea about where that ball went

Keegan Bradley was a star in a disappointing US team

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 17

Dancing the night away: Team Europe rekindle the famous ‘Ollie Shuffle’

Down and out: the faces on the US players and their supporters say it all

On guard: Tiger Woods leaves the 18th after another bad week at the office

Furyk overhits his approach to 18

The first tee at Medinah was a cauldron of nerves and noise

Sergio Garcia shows what it takes to win a singles match at Medinah

Heart on sleeve: Seve proved an inspirational figure despite his absence

Luke Donald brought home the first point on Sunday

Job done: Germany’s Martin Kaymer sealed the match with a gutsy five-footer on the last

Justin Rose holes out on 17 to peg back Phil Mickelson

18 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

EwenMurray Murray

Sky Sport’s voice of golf relives his highlights of the 39th Ryder Cup

MEMORIES OF THE MIRACLE AT MEDINAH “Poulter’s last five holes on Saturday singled-handedly gave Europe a chance of turning things around”

I

t was a privilege and honour for me to be able to put the words over the most amazing pictures at the 39th Ryder Cup. At times during the live broadcast from America’s Mid-West, I wondered if this was really happening, or if it were just a dream.

Thankfully it was the former, and we all witnessed one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.

Being the captain of a Ryder Cup side is such a double-edged sword. Should you win, you are a national hero; should you lose, you must have made some poor decisions. After an even start, America took a grip on things on the Friday afternoon, and by 4pm on Saturday, Davis Love III was looking very much like a genius. The golf from the home side was a joy to behold, and cheers for birdies and eagles rang around Medinah’s No.3 course.

There were murmurs that José Maria had got it all wrong, but nothing could have been further from the truth. The golf from the US team was sublime. It led my co-commentator, Colin Montgomerie, to say that Europe’s performance was ‘simply not good enough’. Monty, of course, had his captain’s hat on, and his reaction was perfectly understandable. But in the following two hours of play, the Ryder Cup changed direction as two significant things happened.

Firstly, Ian Poulter became the player he has always said he was, and secondly, Olazabal continued to remain calm amid the American storm.

Poulter’s last five holes on Saturday afternoon singled-handedly gave Europe a chance of turning things around, and along with that,

the belief that they could make the most of that chance.

After McIlroy birdied the 13th, Poults went on the rampage and reeled off five birdies in a row. The US pairing of Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson was two up with six to play, shot three under par for the last six holes, and still lost!

Think what that did to America’s team morale.

His captain called him ‘an inspiration’, others a ‘marvel’, ‘amazing’, a ‘super hero’. They were right, of course, but all of these superlatives were inadequate descriptions for the inspirational level of Poulter’s play. 10-4 down and struggling to keep it there, somehow Europe finished that second day just four behind. The way the home side had played, that was honestly the best we could have hoped for at the end of the pairings sections.

The final day dawned, and after Luke Donald had led the side off to the start they so desperately needed, there was no sign of our world number one, Rory McIlroy. With sirens blazing, he turned up in a police car with minutes to spare. The patrolman later admitted that he might have cost the home side the Ryder Cup, but said that the match should be won on the fairways and not the freeway. Top man, I hope if I ever get caught over the speed limit in the States, I run into him!

That incident only added to the drama, and Rory steered the ship through the first half dozen holes, while his team mates in the first five matches were chipping away at the handsome American lead.

It still looked bad though, as there was a band of red in the middle order of the scoreboard.

From there, we all know what happened. Justin

Rose’s double birdie finish took out Mickelson, who sportingly applauded his rival’s heroic efforts, and then Martin Kaymer buried the demons of Kiawah Island for German golf

fans by securing the winning point with a nerveless six-foot putt.

Some people – mainly those holding betting slips – were annoyed that Tiger, having missed his par putt, conceded Francisco Molinari’s three footer, thus giving Europe the outright win. I understand their annoyance, but have we not praised Jack Nicklaus ad nauseam for doing pretty much the same thing 43 years ago?

Woods did not deserve that treatment and I hope, when the dust settles, that his doubters will realise that the trophy was already on its way east when he made that gesture.

The mantle of the Ryder Cup has now been handed to Gleneagles. It’s certainly going to be a hard act to follow, and I worry that it’s too late in the year to be hosting such a huge event that far north.

The course is a favourite of few, but as we have seen in the last 30 years, the infrastructure is more important than the course, and Gleneagles will excel there. I just pray it gets some help from Mother Nature. I left my hotel in Anstruther to cover the last round of the Alfred Dunhill Links on October 7 and the east coast had its first frost of the winter.

There is also the discussion of how many wild cards Europe should have in 2014. With so many of our top players based full-time in America, the captain of the Gleneagles side would do himself a huge favour by emulating the US system of having four picks. That post is surely between Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Paul Lawrie and Thomas Bjorn, and a decision will be made in Abu Dhabi during the latter half of January. But for now, let’s enjoy the memories of the Miracle at Medinah.

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 19

20 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

Ian Poulter says it is his desire to part of a team that transforms him into such an irrepressible force at the Ryder Cup Ian Poulter says a lot of things, and not all of them are memorable, but few will forget his comments in 2008, where he said that if he played to his potential that it would be ‘just me and Tiger’. Well, at the Ryder Cup, that prediction came true.

Except he was better than Tiger. Better than Rory. Better than all of them, in fact.

On Friday morning, in the foursomes, he took Woods down. On Saturday morning, in the foursomes, he claimed the scalp of US Masters champion Bubba Watson. On Saturday afternoon, in the fourballs, he lowered the colours of 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson. And finally, on Sunday afternoon, in the singles, he dispatched US Open champion Webb Simpson.

He ripped the heart out of the American team. He was unstoppable. And although the Ryder Cup is first and foremost a team event, where individuals are rarely singled out, Poulter stood head and shoulders above his rivals and his teammates. More than anyone, he won the Ryder Cup for Europe. If that is beginning to sound like hyperbole, then perhaps we should listen to a half-drunk Lee Westwood, who, in between glugs of champagne during the post-victory celebrations, proposed a new format for Ryder Cup selection. He said: “From now on it’s going to be nine automatic spots, two captain’s picks and Poults.”

And I’d hazard a guess that those sentiments will be echoed by every other player, and most of the immediate future captains. As Davis Love, the US conquered captain, said during one of his post-match interviews: “Poulter just gets under your skin.” It’s a slightly creepy analogy, but I think everyone knows what he means.

He rubs people up the wrong way.

Poulter’s Ryder Cup record, although still quite slim, is beyond impressive, with 12 out of a possible 15 points achieved from his four outings, and a 100% win ration in the singles.

But given his astonishing success in this most stressful of competitive environments, why, when he pounds his rivals into submission in the matchplay format, can he not dominate during a Major? It was one of the first questions asked of Poulter at the post-Ryder Cup press conference, and it drew a somewhat unexpected response from someone whose glass is traditionally well over half full. Shaking his head repeatedly, he said: “It can’t be done. It can’t be done. It can’t be done.” He said “it can’t be done” six times in total. “I’ve tried. It can’t be done,” he confirmed.

But surely a weekend like the one he had just experienced could act as a catalyst for a win at The Open or the Masters? To which replied: “It can, but you know what, these Ryder Cups might be my Majors, and that’s fine. If they are, if this it, I’m a happy man. I’ve got more pride and passion to play in the Ryder Cup than I have to win a Major. I want to win a Major, don’t get me wrong. I’ve been close and who knows, this result might be that changing factor to get me over that line, but if I don’t win another golf tournament from here on in, this Ryder Cup will go down as the highlight of my golfing career.”

Perhaps it is just Poulter’s fate to be the best team player in a highly individual sport. The 36-year-old has always thrived under the team camaraderie that is at the core of the Ryder Cup ethic. Woods, a winner of 14 Majors, is the complete opposite, a man who shies away from any form of the game where he might have to rely on someone else – and even his own game can’t be relied upon much these days.

A keen Arsenal fan who was rejected by Spurs as a teenager, Poulter traces his love of team sports to his affinity with football.

He said: “That’s me, that’s who I am. I want to be contributing to the team. In football, I always wanted to be the one that scored the goal, just to do his bit, to do enough to make a difference.

I’m a team player. I like to give it 100 per cent.

If I go down, I’m going to go down in flames.

My Blue Heaven: Poulter thrives on the atmosphere that only a Ryder Cup can produce

The Ryder Cup helps replace the team sports I miss.

He continued: “I might not have been born with the talent of some people, but I’ve got a big heart, and I’m prepared to go out on the line. I’ve got as much confidence as anyone that’s ever played the game and the belief that I can hit the right shot at the right time.”

And boy did IJP hit some right shots during the 39th Ryder Cup. Among the many highlights was the showdown between himself and Bubba Watson on the first tee on Saturday morning.

The previous day had seen the Masters champion whip the US supporters up into a frenzy, and they continued to go nuts as he hit his drive into the distance – going against the traditions of remaining silent during players’ shots.

With the same scenario expected to be played out on Saturday, Poulter, playing alongside Justin Rose in the morning foursomes, decided to play Bubba at his own game, and challenged the European fans to raise the decibel levels as he hit his own tee shot.

“I told the boys, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll have my two minutes tomorrow’, Poulter says. “I knew what Bubba was going to do. So I had to get in there first. It was a conscious decision.

I planned it in advance, of course I did.

He was going to do it, he’s on home soil, he has all the home fans backing, so I needed our supporters to get behind me.”

Nobody had witnessed anything like it at a Ryder Cup, or any other tournament, and it set the tone for the rest of the weekend, with Poulter cranking out a series of aggressive fist pumps and continual shouts of ‘Come on!’ every time a chip or a putt found the bottom of the cup.

“We were four down, but it felt as if we were all square,” Poulter gave the European fans plenty more reasons to cheer by playing some of the best golf of his life, chipping in from bunkers, from off the green, and holing yards and yards of putts. His extraordinary run of five birdies over the closing holes on Saturday afternoon turned his four-ball match on its head, and turned around the overall fortunes for Team Europe.

Rather than going into the singles a seemingly

hopeless 11-4 down, it was 10-6 – a position from which America had come back from to win at Brookline in 1999.

“We were four down, but it felt as if we were all square,” says Poulter. “Looking back, did we honestly think we could win eight-and-ahalf points? Somehow we did. No one really made a speech. We discussed certain things about the golf course, the pin locations and decisions to make on the par fives and other holes that could be key during the round, but deep down there was just a feeling that we could do it.”

Lightning indeed struck twice, and Europe went on to achieve one of the most remarkable sporting comebacks of all time. Going out second behind Luke Donald, Poulter played his part with another gutsy performance in beating Webb Simpson two up, making birdies on the last two holes to take the vital point. It wasn’t pretty at times, but the result was all the mattered.

“When I went out, I was a little flat at first,” says Poulter. “I chipped in at one, but I was tired and really struggling to get anything going. Being there on your own is tough sometimes, you need someone to give you a kick up the arse, but I didn’t have that person and it made it difficult. Then it changed on eight. I hit a great shot, Webb shanked his, and I knew he was under pressure. I knew he felt uncomfortable at that point, and I felt that if I could just get my nose in front, I could win that match. I could see the other guys on the top of that scoreboard all up, and I was down, and I thought, ‘If I can turn this match, if we can win the first five games, then we’re in front. If I could win, that would feed the other guys to get the inspiration and finish the job.”

And finish the job they did, with Europe going on to record a victory that few dared believe possible.

It’s also hard to believe that is going to be as good as it gets for Ian Poulter.

At 36, and relatively free from injury, he could be considered to just be reaching his golfing prime, and certainly capable of challenging for Major honours. But perhaps here is one golfer for whom only the Ryder Cup is able to bring out the best in him. It turns him from an everyman into a golfing Superman.

Just don’t ask him to design the tights.

October 2012 / Issue 215

“Ryder Cups might be my Majors, and that’s fine with me”

MATCH WINNER

/ 21

22 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

NickBayly Bayly

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

Disabled golfers deserve a shot at gold Although I’m far from convinced that professional golf deserves its place in the Olympics, on the basis that the Majors already provide the pinnacle of our sport, I do feel that it should be represented in the Paralympics.

If that sounds slightly contradictory, I apologise, but there’s no prize money in disabled golf, the players receive no lottery funding, and they are all amateurs, which clings pretty close to Baron de Coubertin’s ideal in my book – which can’t be said for many sports that are part of the modern games.

Having played with several disabled players over the years, and watched the highlights of the action from last month’s British Disabled Open on television, I’m really disappointed that the very best of these players will not get the chance to have their skills shown to the widest possible audience, alongside their ablebodied colleagues, at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

If you missed the TV coverage of The Disabled British Open, which was shown on Sky Sports 3 on September 18, I strongly suggest you find a friend that recorded it, as the talent on show matches almost anything I saw at London 2012.

This year’s winner, Alasdair Berry, plays off a handicap of three and was nine over par for 36 holes at East Sussex National. If that sounds rather unimpressive, it’s worth noting that he has no hands. Given those limitations, it’s hard to imagine the skill and determination that is required to play to this level.

Golf’s governing bodies will no doubt continue

Disabled golfers show true Olympic spirit

The end of the entourage?

to make a case for disabled golf’s inclusion in 2020, and following the success of the London 2012 Paralympics there is surely a strong chance that more sports will be included in the years to come, as the general public becomes aware of just how good disabled athletes are in their own right. It puts those of us who struggle DOWNSHIRE GOLF COMPLEX to play the game with own ‘handicaps’ to shame.

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by the enormous entourages that follow the pros around these days. Every time I go to a driving range at a tournament, it’s hard to make out the players through the phalanx of gurus, swing coaches (one for driving, one for chipping, and one for putting), managers, equipment salesmen, caddies, snake charmers, and palm readers that obstruct the view of the paying public. These motley crews resemble court jesters before the king, each stepping forward to amuse, entertain and distract, and each secretly wondering whether they’ll survive the ordeal.

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The news that Luke Donald has slimmed down his support staff, after ditching his mind coach, Dave Aldred, made me chuckle ever so slightly.

To be honest, Aldred’s work was done with Donald, who hardly needs someone to tell him how good he is every time he tees it up.

Having worked with Aldred – the man who transformed the fortunes of Jonny Wilkinson – for several years, Donald has bravely decided to go it alone with his mental preparation in a bid to ‘freshen things up’ (i.e. ‘I need someone else to blame for still not having won a major’).

Mental coaches aside, I’ve always been slightly mystified

instructors like Dave Stockton and Dave Pelz specialising in the dark arts of putting, while former European Tour players Mark Roe and Tony Johnstone have carved themselves out niches as chipping coaches.

However, given that there are far more players than there are coaches, there are inevitably conflicts of interest. One such instance happened at this year’s US PGA Championship, when Lee Westwood urgently sought out the services of his coach, Pete Cowen, to help him shore up his flagging short game.

Cowen, as it turned out, had been flown out to the season’s final Major by another player, and was busy working with him at the time that Westwood wanted to meet up. The upshot? Westwood sacks Cowen for not being available.

All pretty shoddy, but Cowen won’t lose too much sleep over it. These hired guns of the fairways are well versed in the frailties of players who are looking for everyone but themselves to blame for their shortcomings. And besides, they’ll be another player along in a minute with issues with their take away. It’s a game of swings and roundabouts.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 23

EUROPE OUT TO REPEAT RYDER CUP RESULT AT SWINGERS FINAL!

Ireland’s Hugh O’Connor will lead the Swingers European team into battle at Turnberry Isle

Virgin Atlantic’s unique online golf league, Flying Club Swingers, has now drawn to a close for another season, and next month a team of 12 amateur golfers will head to Miami to take on a Rest of the World team in a three-day Ryder Cup style competition at Turnberry Isle Resort.

With the Ryder Cup safely in European hands, the team, led by captain Hugh O’Connor (pictured), will be out to retain a trophy they won a year ago in Orlando.

Hugh, who plays at Mount Juliet in Ireland, is now on his third consecutive final and has tasted both success last year and defeat at the

Manor House Golf Club in Wiltshire the previous year. “We’re really excited to be heading to Miami in November to defend our title,” he said. “Flying Club Swingers is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced in golf – it’s three days of intense competition played in a fantastic environment and fun atmosphere. In the two finals I’ve played, I’ve made great friends on both sides of the Atlantic, and I’m looking forward to meeting both teams this year. Virgin Atlantic and Milestone Event Management create an event only comparable to the Ryder Cup and, after seeing the

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heroics in Medinah this year, I can’t wait to try and replicate the European success with my team.”

Joining Hugh will be Mark Crossan, an ambitious young golfer aiming to play golf on the US university circuit next year. Mark is another finalist returning from last year. Said Mark: “Last year whet my appetite for travelling and playing golf, and I knew it would be hard to make the team again. This shows I have achieved my season’s targets.

Everything about the event is so enjoyable. Being a team is great fun. I can’t wait to get out there! ” It really is a strong European team this year, with Janet Melville, the English Women’s Senior Strokeplay champion, providing some valuable experience of team golf, as she has also represented the English amateur team on many occasions. It will certainly be welcomed by the five rookies who make up the team, and we look forward to hearing how they got on in next month’s issue.

The European team comprises Hugh O’Connor, Mark Crossan, Martin Derrick, Keith Eustace-Pedlar, Martin Hayes, Alan Horn, Brian Joy, Janet Melville, Peter Parker, Robert Scambler, Paul Swatkins and Dave Woods.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

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Support grows for Clarke captaincy Darren Clarke’s odds of becoming Europe’s next Ryder Cup Captain have shortened dramatically in recent days, following almost universal support from fellow players and leading figures within the game.

Although the Northern Irishman is qualified to play on the European Tour until 2016, there has been a significant swell of support for the 2011 Open Champion to lead Europe into battle at Gleneagles

in two years’ time, with Lee Westwood one of the prime movers behind the Clarke bid.

A close friend of Clarke, and a stablemate at Chubby Chandler’s ISM agency, Westwood said: “He’s a major champion.

He’s tactically very astute, and has the ability

to remain calm under pressure, as he showed at the K Club. Darren has a lot of things going for him.”

The other leading candidate for the job is fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, who has twice successfully captained the Vivendi Trophy team. “Paul is good in the team room and makes a great vicecaptain,” said Westwood.

“He’s done a good job with the Vivendi Trophy. Paul has played three Ryder Cups, while Darren has played five and got a major championship and won a lot more tournaments than Paul. You have to have a criteria somewhere, and I think Darren just edges it for me.”

The Ryder Cup committee will announce its decision on the captaincy in January.

Shin completes ‘Asian slam’ with British Open victory South Korea’s Jiyai Shin completed the first Asian clean sweep of women’s major victories in one season after winning her second Ricoh Women’s British Open title in five years at Royal Liverpool.

The 24-year-old former world number one shot a final round of 73 in brutal conditions at the Wirral-based club to finish as the sole player under par for the championship on nine under total.

She was nine strokes clear of fellow South Korean Inbee Park, with Paula Creamer a stroke further back in third after windy weather forced players to complete the final 36 holes in a single day.

Shin joined fellow South Koreans Sun Young Yoo and Na Yeon Choi, winners of the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship and US Women’s Open respectively, and Shanshan Feng of China, who won the LPGA Championship.

Inbee Park also won the Evian Masters, which is only considered a major championship on the Ladies European Tour, and becomes a major on the LPGA Tour in 2013.

The 15-year-old South Korean-born New Zealand sensation Lydia Ko took the Smyth Salver as the leading amateur in a share of

17th position on nine over par, with England’s Holly Clyburn two shots back in a tie for 26th.

Catriona Matthew was the best of the home players, shooting a final round 75 to end in a share of 10th.

Shin ran away with the Women’s British Open

Turkey to stage Tour event Turkey is to join the European Tour’s schedule for the next three years, following the launch of the Turkish Open in November 2013.

The brand new $7m tournament is set to be staged on The Montgomerie Course in Belek and will be contested by a limited 78-player field. It slots into the schedule just a week before the season-ending Dubai World Golf Championship, and will be staged from November 7-10.

The tournament is being organised by Chubby Chandler’s company, International The Montgomerie Maxx Royal will host the Turkish Open in 2013

Sports Management company.

Keith Waters, Director of International Policy with the European Tour, said: “We wanted to create a stronger finish to the season and we will have that now with the BMW Masters, the HSBC Champions, and now the new Turkish Open as the last events before the Dubai World Championship. The Hong Kong Open and the Singapore Open will be staged as usual next year in the later part of November, they will now become the opening events on the 2014 schedule.”

October 2012 / Issue 215

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26 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

FIT FOR PURPOSE It’s a widely known golf industry fact that four out of every five golfers are using ill-fitting clubs.

This could be anything from incorrect shaft flex or wrongsized grips, to simply using a clubhead that doesn’t help you to get the best from your game.

I’d like to think that I’m not one of those 80 per cent, having had the opportunity to be custom-fitted by most of the major manufacturers over the years, but then again, the golf swing is a constantly changing thing – well, it is in my case – and what worked for me three or four years ago, might not be so helpful for me now.

As someone who is slightly taller than average – 6ft 3” – I’ve always been slightly out of the ordinary when it comes to equipment, and have not used an ‘off-the-shelf’ set for over a decade. Despite numerous fittings, and one as recently as 10 months ago, I remained confident that a few elements of my game could be improved through a new fitting, so it was with a high degree of expectation that I accepted an invitation to have a session at Mizuno’s recently-opened National Fitting Centre in Surrey. The centre, which opened in February this year, is located at Burhill Golf Club, which is handily-placed next to the A3/M25 interchange near Cobham.

As you’d expect for a showcase operation, the extended indoor bay is kitted out with the very latest in custom-fitting technology, including TrackMan – which tracks the flight of the ball using radar – and Mizuno’s own Swing DNA shaft fitting system, which takes club-fitting to a whole new level. It’s also stocked with Mizuno’s complete range of irons, woods,

hybrids and wedges, giving fans of the brand the widest possible choice of options.

The centre has already been used by Luke Donald and other European Tour stars such as Chris Wood and Gary Orr, who uses Burhill as a training base, and with Mark Yonwin, one of Mizuno’s most experienced custom-fitting specialists, standing behind me, and a lifesize cut-out of brand ambassador Luke hanging on the wall, it was hard not to feel like I was in safe hands.

Besides a fitting cart crammed with over 40 different heads and upwards of 50 shafts, the centre is equipped with the company’s award-winning Shaft Optimiser and Swing DNA software – two clever pieces of technology which, Mizuno claims will reveal a golfer’s true ‘swing signature’. The system’s genius is in recognising that the essence of a player’s action reveals itself in the stresses created in the shaft during the swing. Those forces are measured by the Shaft Optimiser – a specially-made 6-iron that features sensors along its shaft. Those sensors monitor five key shaft parameters as the club is swung, and send that data to a laptop computer, armed with software that makes recommendations for both shaft and clubhead. The system needs just three swings to provide accurate readings.

After a quick chat about my previous customfitting experiences, and a discussion about my current clubs and the relative strengths and (many) weaknesses in my game, we kicked off by establishing the ideal shaft length (a quarter-inch longer than standard, in my case). After a five-minute warm-up session, I hit some balls with the Shaft Optimiser, which has been attached to Mizuno’s new JPX 825 Pro irons, which, alongside, the JPX 825 irons,

Nick Bayly pays a visit to Mizuno’s state-of-the-art National Fitting Centre at Burhill Golf Club and finds out how just three swings can put you on the path to better golf

Mark recommends for me to try out, as a 13 handicapper with a modicum of skill.

The Optimiser needs a level of consistency on which to make its recommendations.

The great thing here for amateurs is that it is shaft dynamics that are being measured – not the flight of the ball. “You’d be amazed how similar the shaft loads on your best and worst shots are,” says Mark. “So even if you’re not hitting the ball out of the middle, the Optimizer can quickly get a really good reading of how you swing the club.”

Mizuno’s Mark Yonwin explains the figures from the Shaft Optimiser’s readings

After just a handful of swings, the Optimiser identifies a pattern in my swing. A digital readout on the device consistently reveals five figures – 81, 5, 5, 8 and 9. Mark is on hand to interpret.

“The 81 is clubhead speed, in mph,” he says, showing me a computer screen that also records the data for Mizuno’s staff tour players.

“That is putting you alongside LPGA star Stacy Lewis who, at 83mph, represents a fairly average figure for the male club golfer. This figure can’t give you a shaft flex on its own – but generally

October 2012 / Issue 215

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Tape attached to the iron’s sole reveals where the clubhead is making contact with the ground, allowing adjustments to be made to the club’s lie angle

It takes just three swings with the Shaft Optimiser to find your ideal shaft

the faster the swing, the stiffer the shaft.”

The second figure, a five, relates to my tempo.

“Essentially this is a measure of the speed of changeover from backswing to downswing, out of nine,” Mark explains. “One being very slow, like a David Toms, and nine being fast, like a Bubba Watson. This affects how and when you load the shaft, and has implications for your best shaft profile. But you are right in the middle there.”

My third figure of five – again out of nine – is a measure of what Mizuno term ‘toe down’.

“The forces on the shaft created by the downswing cause the shaft to bow,” adds Mark.

“You could think of it like casting a fishing rod, and its far end dipping down. This bowing flattens the lie of the club and is the reason it is generally recommended to have the toe a little off the ground at set-up. Again, your figure is in the middle.”

The fourth figure refers to kick angle. “During the downswing, shaft flex sees the head lag behind the grip,” Mark says. “Then, approaching impact, that flex kicks the head through and the shaft bends forwards, towards the target. Kick angle is a measurement of this. In your case, eight means there is quite a lot of kick going on. We can now look towards a shaft that will kick a little bit less, to give you a bit more stability at impact.”

The fifth and final figure is called Release Factor. “Some golfers, like Sergio Garcia, release the club very late,” says Mark. “They would be towards two or three on this scale. Often, this late release sees big divots taken. Others release the club early; they are more ‘pickers’, taking the ball cleanly. Your figure of nine shows you are casting off at the top too early, and

would benefit from a softer-tipped shaft to give more energy to your strike, whereas the very late releaser needs a firmer tip.”

It does not take long for the Shaft Optimiser software to recommend me three shafts, ranked in order of suitablility. “It’s showing us that you would benefit from a shaft that is slightly stiffer than the one you currently use,” Mark reports. “The NS Pro 1150 is a medium-weight stiff shaft that will assist your action where you need it, and tighten up your dispersion. What the computer can’t do is factor in personal feel or preference, so that’s why it gives you three options to test out.”

Before we move on to the Trackman, Mark gets a strike board out and asks me to hit a few shots off it with some tape stuck to the bottom of the sole of my club to monitor my lie angle. As a tall golfer, the head on a standard iron tends to sit too flat, and that is borne out with my strikes, which are slightly off the toe, and lead to a slight push. By raising the lie angles by two degrees – by using a different head from the fitting cart – the strike now comes from the centre of the club, which helps produce a cleaner, more consistent contact and encourages a straighter shot.

Lastly, Mark measures my grip size, and suggests that I come down from my mid-size grip to a standard grip with three layers of tape, which he explains will help turn the club over more easily through impact and encourage a draw, rather than the fade that is currently my standard shot shape.

Finally, I am ready to hit the suggested club – a JPX 825 Pro iron, with a Nippon N.S. Pro 1150Gh Tour stiff shaft (1/2 inch longer, two degrees upright). The club feels great

– considerably more wieldy and responsive – but what is perhaps more surprising is the instant extra confidence with which I swing it.

The fitting process has taught me much about the way I swing the club; knowing I have a tool in my hands that complements that action has instantly encouraged me to swing with assurance. The extra yardage (six) and lower launch angle (19 degrees, rather than 22), (improved spin rate from 3,800rpm to 4,200) and overall shot shape (slight draw), merely backs up what I know to be a better performing club.

Mark rounds off the session by explaining the Swing DNA system’s

recommendations for my full iron set-up.

Three and 4-irons are out, with a more forgiving 22-degree JPX 825 hybrid coming in, while three JPX wedges – 50º, 56º and 60º – give me the right loft gaps and spin rate in the short irons. The line-up – and the fitting – is complete.

This system could reveal that your existing clubs are perfect, or like me, could show that some parts of your game could be improved by changing your equipment set-up or even the set make-up. And in a game where small margins can make big differences, it’s certainly a compelling reason to make sure your next set of clubs are custom-fitted for you.

To book a custom-fitting session at Burhill, which costs £50 (and includes a free Mizuno polo shirt and an accessory kit), visit www.mizunoeurope.eu and follow the links.

Golfers can also find their nearest Swing DNA custom fitting centre from over 400 located across the UK, where fitting sessions are generally available for free.

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A DV E R T I S I N G

F E AT U R E

October 2012 / Issue 215

The 2012 season saw a number of me Golf and Srixon brand, as staff players some of the biggest trophies in golf

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17/10/2012 10:24

Eighteen months ago, American Keegan Bradley was just another talented rookie looking to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour. Today he’s widely regarded as one of the hottest talents in world golf, having won the 2011 USPGA Championship in his first appearance in a Major.

He followed up that stunning result with victory in August’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, before going on to be a leading light for the home side in the Ryder Cup at Medinah, where he formed a successful partnership with Phil Mickelson.

Bradley whetted the appetites of Srixon fans around the world with his post-victory interview at the Bridgestone Invitational, announcing that he had been using a new Z-STAR golf ball and was now playing the best golf of his career to date.

In the bag for Keegan this season, who is now 14th in the World Golf Rankings, has been the ever dependable Srixon Z-Star XV ball, 588 Forged wedges, CG7 Tour irons, Mashie hybrid, Launcher fairway wood and Cleveland Classic driver.

The Cleveland Classic driver has been a popular choice on tour this season and helped deliver a memorable 1,2,3 finish for Cleveland at the Greenbrier Classic in July. The driver, which ltralite technology to features Ultralite help players generate increased head speed and distance with the same swing effort, was also used

by Ted Potter Jr as he claimed his maiden tour victory from fellow Cleveland Classic players Troy Kelly and Charlie Beljan.

On the European Tour, the first Cleveland Golf and Srixon success came at the Sicilian Open in March. It proved to be a very successful week for the Srixon Z-STAR XV ball, as Thorbjorn Olesen

registered his first European Tour victory.

Srixon wasn’t finished there for the week as Soren Kjeldsen, José Manuel Lara and Shane Lowry, who used a Z-STAR XV in Tour Yellow, finished inside the top 10 at the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort using the Srixon Z-STAR XV. Lowry then went on to win this month’s Portuguese Open, while Gonzalo-Fernandez Castano used the Srixon Z-STAR XV to win the BMW Italian Open. The Spaniard also used Cleveland’s award-winning 588 Forged wedges.

The 588 wedges have proved a common theme among Cleveland’s tour successes

October 2012 / Issue 215

A DV E R T I S I N G

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F E AT U R E

emorable victories for the Cleveland s such as Keegan Bradley delivered

AGE ON TOUR

IT’S BACK. AND IT’S BETTER THAN EVER.

World beater: Keegan Bradley has enjoyed a stellar second season on the PGA Tour

“The Cleveland 588s were always the best wedges ever made.

And with this next generation, they still are!”

Graeme McDowell

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen is one of Europe’s rising stars

this season. Forged from 1025 carbon steel, they feature Cleveland’s patented Tour Zip Grooves and Laser Milled technology to help maximise spin, making Cleveland the leader in wedge innovation, a mantle that it is sure to retain in 2013.

On the LPGA Tour, the Srixon Z-STAR also helped South Korea’s Inbee Park win the Evian Masters. The victory marked the week that Cleveland Golf and Srixon claimed a win on every professional tour this season and returned Park to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2008, when she claimed the Women’s US Open title.

Next year promises to be another successful year for the brand, and Golf News will be bringing you exciting news of Cleveland Golf and Srixon’s new line-up of products over the coming issues.

Srixon staff player Inbee Park captured the Evian Masters

Experience the legend, re-born at your Cleveland golf retail stockist.

www.clevelandgolf.com

30 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

Adams Idea Tech V4 Forged irons RRP: £799/£699 (st/gr) Contact: adamsgolf.com Adams’s new V4 forged irons are a high performance set of irons that can be aligned with easy-to-hit hybrids. The set is made up of a 3, 4 and 5 hybrid and 6-PW irons. Forged using carbon steel with a distinctive nickel plating, they feature a dark PVD finish and contain Velocity Slot technology and a Cut-Thru design. Designed to produce the same face flexibility as a driver, a channel is cut all the way through the head for increased face deflection and longer shots.

To adhere to R&A regulations, a TPU insert seals the slot, improving feel and offering a crisp sound at impact. The irons use a multi-material construction featuring tungsten heel/toe perimeter weighting in the long irons to provide optimal centre of gravity location for increased forgiveness and higher launch. They are offered in right- and left-hand options in light, regular and stiff flexes.

Bioflow Sport Twin RRP: £34.99

Honma W-103 wedges RRP: £140

Contact: bioflowsport.com Worn by Ryder Cup players Lee Westwood and Paul Lawrie, and many other tour pros, Bioflow’s magnotherapy wristbands have developed a strong following among the golfing community over the years. With wrist pain a common complaint among active golfers, Bioflow’s patented technology seeks to draw the magnetic field deep into the joints to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation. The new Sport Twin model sees a Central Reverse Polarity magnet and a relay magnet embedded in a dual silicone wristband, which maximises its impact on the affected area. It is available in a choice of colours, including black, yellow, white and orange.

ProQuip Wind 360 jacket

Contact: info@honma.co.uk With over 100 craftsmen involved in the creation of every club, Japanese clubmaker Honma is legendary for setting quality and performance benchmarks. Its range of nickel chrome wedges is equally impressive, if slightly more affordable. Available in nine lofts from 48 to 63 degrees, the face is finished with high-friction nickel, which facilitates maximum spin, while the Slide Zone sole, which is exposed directly to sand and turf, is finished in chrome, which has a low friction coefficient to make it resistant to wear. There are two types of head design for 100-yard and 80-yard shots. A muscleback design for 48˚-53˚ lofts ensures a solid feel on impact and helps consistent distance on longer approach, while a hyper muscle-back design with added thickness is used in the 56˚-63˚ models for total precision.

RRP: £69 Contact: proquipgolf.com Made from a four-way stretch fabric that is lightweight and breathable, the Wind 360 offers maximum playability and supreme comfort.

The fabric is water-repellent and windproof, and features anti-crease technology, making it perfect for storing in a golf bag in case of light rain. It is available in navy, grey, black and blue, in sizes S-XXXL.

TaylorMade Golf Burner OS irons RRP: £449 (5-SW) Contact: www.taylormadegolf.eu TaylorMade’s new OverSize distance irons are engineered for players seeking forgiveness and maximum performance. Key to their performance is a wide sole camber that glides through the turf for clean contact. Its low centre of gravity and thin face construction help produce a faster ball speed and high ball flight, while the brand’s exclusive Inverted Cone Technology delivers consistent distance even on off-centre hits. An ultra-lightweight shaft promotes a faster swing speed for increased distance Aesthetically, the Burner OS features a two-tone gunmetal finish, and true to its oversize characteristics, the clubheads feature a thicker, confidence-inspiring top-line, along with a generous offset to provide a slight draw bias.

SHOP SkyCaddie Breeze

RRP: £229.95 Contact: skycaddie.co.uk Golfers looking for a more affordable entry into the GPS market should check out SkyCaddie’s new Breeze, which is also among the most user-friendly distance measuring devices on the market. Using SkyGolf’s industry-leading GPS software, it offers accurate measurements to the front, middle and back of the green on over 30,000 courses (including 95% coverage in the UK) without the need to touch a button. The device locates the course and individual holes automatically, with yardages clearly displayed on the handset’s three-inch screen. Golfers can also measure any shot, view a jumbo screen with a huge number to the green, or see their scorecard in landscape, while those seeking more advanced stroke-saving features such as HoleVue, IntelliGreen, RangeVue and PinPoint, can do so with a series of SkyCaddie’s membership packages.

October 2012 / Issue 215

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Heavenly Hybrids RRP: £300 for 9 clubs Contact: www.heavenlyhybrid.com While most golfers have at least one or two hybrids in the bag these days, this set is entirely made up of them, on the basis that some players will benefit from their distance-enhancing and forgiveness qualities through the bag.

Designed by Hertfordshire-based golf pro Stuart Smith, Heavenly Hybrid’s give golfers of all abilities greater distance, improved ball flight, and better control. Tests have shown that the clubs hit the ball nine per cent further than equivalent irons, and are 10 per cent more accurate from inside 20 yards. The unique design of the Heavenly Hybrid pitching wedge makes those scorecard-wrecking shots from around the edge of the green as simple as putting, while the sand wedge makes escaping from bunkers similarly easy.

Smith, who has been a golf professional for 20 years, said: “I wanted to produce a complete set of hybrids which would enable golfers of all abilities to improve their game and get more enjoyment from playing without having to change their swing.

The response from people who’ve tried or bought the Heavenly Hybrids has been fantastic.” Available in mens and ladies’ set, the nine-piece Heavenly Hybrid range comprises 3,4,5,6,7, 8 and 9 irons, plus a hybrid pitching wedge and sand wedge.

Clubs can also be bought individually for £40, with clubhead covers included.

Mizuno MP-64 irons RRP: £699 (3-PW) Contact: golf.mizunoeurope.com It’s rare for Luke Donald to make any kind of equipment switch, especially when it comes to his favoured irons, but the fact that he has put Mizuno’s brand new MP-64 irons straight into his bag following testing at the Barclays Championship speaks volumes about the quality and performance of the company’s latest iron offering.

Designed for skilled players, the MP-64 offers more forgiveness than a traditional blade, with Mizuno’s R&D team focusing on producing a soft, yet solid feel, which has been achieved with a shallow cavity and a thicker muscle pad positioned behind a wider portion of the clubface. The grain flow forged iron is made from a single billet of mild carbon steel and comes with a double nickel mirror chrome finish. The longer irons feature a deeper cavity, providing forgiveness where it is needed most. The cavity depth progressively reduces down to the short irons, which are thicker and exclusively feel-orientated.

“We flipped the design process on the MP-64,” says Mizuno’s chief iron engineer, Chris Voshall.

“Maximising feel became the absolute priority - with forgiveness added afterwards. With other more forgiving ‘player’ irons in our line like the JPX825 Pro and MP-59, we were free to really chase impact sensations. Everything about the MP-64 iron is soft, from the muscle definition, the sole contours and, ultimately, the feel.”

TRIED &

TESTED Lynx Golf Boom Boom 2 driver Rating: RRP: £349 Contact: www. lynxgolf.co.uk I’ve seen quite a few off-the-wall ideas when it comes golf equipment over the years. So many, in fact, that I could probably fill a spin-off series of Dragon’s Den. For the most part, I’ve taken up the Duncan Bannatyne roll of “blah, blah, blah, and for that (spurious) reason, I’m ooot!”, adding that I hoped the inventor hadn’t given up their day job (which they usually had) to pursue their dream of making millions from the unbreakable tee/ unloseable golf ball/etc. But once in a while, and I mean a while, comes an idea which, at first glance, seems totally nuts, but then on closer inspection, and a bit of testing, seems to make a glimmer of sense.

I had that reaction at the launch of Lynx Golf’s new Boom Boom 2 driver, which, to cut to the chase, features a heated headcover. While that obviously doesn’t sound like a great pitch, when combined with a 460cc beta-titanium clubhead that is filled with a secret mix of gases, which, when heated, help create a truly, although not literally, explosive reaction off the face, then you have the seeds of a stonking idea.

Hot 1 Technology, under which all this technology is branded, sees a lithium battery built into the headcover which heats up the driver to a cosy 50 degrees centigrade. Independent robot testing (visit www. robogolf.com for the details) has shown this to launch the ball up to 15 yards further that other drivers when hot, and by a smaller, but still significantly impressive margin when cold.

It’s not all about the head, however as the Boom Boom 2 is driven by a 46-inch long Aldila RIP’dNV shaft, which some golfers may find too long for their liking, although its plays a significant role in bagging that extra yardage. During an 18-hole on-course test with a 9-degree model – there are also 10.5 and 12-degree options – I ripped my first three drives a good deal longer than I normally do with my own big stick – 280 yards was my best effort – and even found the fairway. Admittedly I made sure that I was first to use the driver, while it was at its hottest, but there’s no doubting that Lynx is onto something here.

The neatly-contained rechargeable lithium battery features various settings to help preserve battery life, and the headcover is no more bother to put on than usual, with the added bonus that you can also warm up your hands on a chilly winter round. Some golfers may not go a whole heap on the head’s bright red crown, matched up against a white shaft, but it all adds up to club that not only looks hot, but plays hot too. Over to you, Duncan.

Srixon Soft Feel ball RRP: £26.99 Contact: www.srixon.co.uk Although its best-selling AD333 ball remains unchanged for next year, Srixon has revamped the remaining two-piece balls in the range, including the Soft Feel and the Distance.

The Soft Feel, which is now available in pure white and bright yellow, is designed for players with slower swing speeds (although more than 70mph) and combines soft feel with exceptional distance.

The new ball features an improved Energetic Growth core combined with an aerodynamic 324 dimple pattern to give optimum trajectory with low spin resulting in longer, straighter and more consistent shots. The larger core and high MOI also provides tighter dispersion with off-centre hits.The Soft Feel for Ladies, which is the lowest compression ball in the range, has also received a makeover, and is now available in pure white and pink.

The revamped Distance ball (£17.99 for 12) has higher initial velocity than its predecessor, a harder compression, and delivers a more penetrating ball flight for golfers with swing speeds in excess of 80mph.

FootJoy GTXtreme glove RRP: £11.50 Contact: www.footjoy.co.uk Designed for golfers who like to play in all weathers, without sacrificing feel, the new GTxtreme glove effortlessly masters grip control with the use of digital APL leather technology, which sees leather located in the palm and thumb for maximum grip. A digital FiberSof material along the back of the glove and a strategically-positioned mesh offer a contoured fit.

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October 2012 / Issue 215

1. J Lindeberg Banner Argyle

2. Lacoste Pierre 1/4 Zip Sweater

3. Ralph Lauren Polo Golf Half Zip

RRP: £110

RRP: £145

RRP: £109

The Argyle pattern never goes out of fashion, and JL’s take on this wardrobe classic features this season’s key colours in a cotton/cashmere mix with solid sleeves and a small JL logo on the back of the neck.

Following the colour trend for 50 shades of grey, the slim-fitting Pierre is made from pure wool, and features a zip closure, with ribbed neck, hem and cuff. The iconic Croc logo makes an appearance on the left chest.

Ideal for use as a layering piece, this half-zip long sleeve top is made from 100% cotton, and makes for easy swinging. The collar features a contrasting interior, with RL’s Polo Player logo on the left chest.

1

2

3

NICE JUMPERS

7

STRIKE A COSY POSE THIS AUTUMN WITH SOME STYLISH KNITWEAR

5

4

6

8 4. Puma Golf 1/4 Zip Sweater

5. Hugo Boss Sweat Black

RRP: £65

RRP: £115

Any colour, as long as it’s grey. Puma’s stylish zip sweater adds a layer of warmth, while turning a cool look even cooler. Technically-placed patches of ribbed stretch cotton knit help the top move with your swing.

Every golfer should have a black top in the locker and this could be it. Made from high quality blended cotton, it’s more cosy sweatshirt than woolly jumper, and features sporty raglan sleeves and a stand-up collar.

6. Ferrari Golf Collection

7. Lyle & Scott Colour Block Pullover

8. Original Penguin

RRP: £159

RRP: £89

RRP: £85

Ideal for the petrol-headed golfer in your life, this full-zip sweater is made from 100% wool, with a polyester overlay on the chest, arms and back. Two hip pockets and a leather pull tab complete the detailing.

Blocked panels in cool colour combos and the famous Green Eagle gives this piece a sartorial edge, while a Thermocool/cotton blend regulates body temperature to keep you from over-heating on the greens.

This stylish crew neck jumper is made from 100% merino wool for a super soft feel and has a cable knit running through the body. It features a ribbed collar and cuff and the Original Penguin logo on the left chest.

All of these items are available to order online at www.trendygolf.com

October 2012 / Issue 215

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JOY TO THE WORLD Nick Bayly quizzes FootJoy marketing director Richard Fryer about the top-selling brand’s 2013 range of golf shoes, and discusses the future of the spike on the outsole to provide a very good level of stability, while also offering the versatility of a spikeless shoe. As consumers’ tastes and performance demands vary, we are seeing product development accelerate at a pace that we have not seen over the previous few years.

As mentioned, our product line is the broadest that we have ever offered, and this enables us to offer the exact performance attributes that every golfer is looking for.

For some people, ‘performance’ is stability, and interaction with the ground. For others, having a more flexible shoe to cater for an injury gives them their required performance; for others having a shoe of minimal construction, which allows them to feel the terrain is what they look for in ‘performance’.

As designers and consumers alike become more knowledgeable and more demanding, the scope for new product becomes seemingly endless.

How many different models does FootJoy have in the 2013 range?

We have 12 categories for men, nine categories for women, and let’s not forget our shoe for juniors! This really is the most comprehensive shoe line we’ve ever had. It covers every taste across the spectrum, from traditional, to contemporary, to hybrid styling, to casual and to the out and out sporty athletic. It covers every price point, from our entry-level GreenJoy shoe to the super premium FJ ICON, but most importantly we are covering every performance need, whether it be someone looking for the stability of XPS-1, the light weight of the FJ SPORT, or the comfortable Contour Series. We also have another performance dimension covered in an exciting new shoe that is launching in the New Year, but we can’t tell you about that just yet!

The demand for the street shoe/trainer-style market has really moved forward this year.

Do you think more UK golfers will be switching to spikeless shoes in the future?

There’s no doubt that the more casual look has taken off and many of these have been spikeless models, but this year over 90% of golf shoes sold in the UK have been spiked shoes, so we don’t think that the spiked golf shoe is about to be left behind. The spikeless golf shoe offers versatility and comfort, but will not live up to the performance standards of spiked models in terms of ground traction and stability.

Shoe brands, including FJ, have been banging on about traction, grip, ankle support and waterproofing for years, yet none of these elements are offered to the same degree by ‘casual’ shoes than they are by more traditional golf shoes. Are we in an age of form overtaking function?

Far from it. For example, in our FJ Sport Spikeless shoes due to launch in November, we have created a performance spikeless golf shoe.

It is waterproof, has multi-directional nubs

Golf clubs are becoming far more relaxed places to be these days, is that reflected in the styles and designs of the new FJ range?

As ever we try to be a step ahead of the latest fashion trends, and as street and golf footwear trends to the more casual look, certain segments of our range are specifically catering for that golfer.

I’d guess you’d agree that regular golfers should consider having two, or maybe even three different pairs of shoes, to suit a variety of playing conditions.

We’d definitely recommend having at least two pairs of golf shoes, which should be worn in rotation. The linings in our shoes are designed to draw moisture away from the foot to keep your feet cool and dry, which means you should give your shoes a few days to recover and for this moisture to evaporate, for which you’ll need a second pair to wear. It also allows golfers to grow their shoe wardrobe and match shoes with different outfits, which is far more common and important than it was.

“We’d definitely recommend having at least two pairs of golf shoes, which should be worn in rotation” The fashion for personalised shoes seems to be growing too, how popular is FJ’s MyJoys programme proving?

MyJoys continues to be a unique programme and the options are seemingly endless. We’re continually adding new styles, new leathers and new personalisation options, which is keeping people coming back to see the latest and greatest.

What’s the wackiest pair you’ve had to produce for a customer?

It would be very tricky to identify just one pair,

but I do enjoy going to www. myjoys.co.uk and watching the latest designs ticking across the bottom of the screen – some of them are definitely one-offs!

What’s the best-selling FJ model in the UK? The AQL is the biggest selling model. In fact, the top three best-selling golf shoe models of any brand in the UK bear the FJ initials, in AQL, Contour and DryJoys Tour, with GreenJoy and FJ SPORT following closely behind in sixth and seventh place.

What’s the most popular style of shoe on Tour this year?

FJ ICON remains the most worn shoe on Tour, through its combination of stability, comfort and contemporary styling, but we have a number of other models well represented, including XPS-1, DryJoys Tour and FJ SPORT. Do FJ staff players get to choose the model they use, and not just the colour?

We never pressurise our ambassadors to use a particular model of shoe. We have a huge range for them to select from, and when you add in MyJoys they really can find themselves exactly what they want, both from a performance perspective, as well as a styling point of view.

The fact in the current world’s top 10 players we have each of our big four categories represented – FJ ICON, XPS-1, DryJoys Tour, FJ Sport – is testament to that.

Do you have a cupboard full of FJ Classics to keep the old school pros happy?

The Classic was a beautiful golf shoe that had a place in many people’s hearts, but the transition into FJ ICON and our other categories has been nothing short of astonishing. Golfers of all abilities are looking for lightweight, stable, performance golf shoes, and the way that the Classic was manufactured could not keep pace with consumers’ performance demands.

What’s your favourite shoe in the new collection, and are you wearing it?

My favourite shoe in the new collection is a pair of prototypes that we will be releasing in March, so I can’t tell you too much about those, but next year I’ll be styling some FJ ICONs in the new wave pattern (most likely customised through MyJoys), and then some FJ SPORT shoes with the Boa lacing system for the summer... whenever that arrives in 2013!

GOODY NEW SHOES FOOTJOY HAS TWO BRAND NEW SHOES FOR 2013, BOTH OF WHICH ARE SPIKE-FREE FJ SPORT SPIKELESS (RRP £100) A lightweight, flexible hybrid shoe featuring a spikeless outsole, which means that it can be worn on and off the course. Encompassing a completely new outsole and upper pattern, the Sport Spikeless offers waterproof leather uppers to provide breathability, comfort and strength, while a new lightweight midsole provides soft underfoot cushioning. Traction comes from a durable rubber outsole that features multi-directional nubs.

Colour options: white with orange and white detail, or white with blue and white detail.

FJ CONTOUR CASUAL (RRP £87.50) The next generation of Contour Casual fuses casual styling with comfort and flexibility.

This hybrid shoe, which first launched in May, has undergone a number of design tweaks to bring a fresh new look, including a new upper pattern that features a colourful saddle option and plain toe blucher. In-shoe technology includes a contoured platform, soft mesh linings, a lightweight Fit-Bed and a last that has been designed to closely match the shape of the foot.

Colour options: black with taupe accent; taupe; coffee; white with steel blue and a light grey trim; and white with orange and a light grey trim.

34 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

Tucked away in peaceful countryside on the Essex/ Suffolk border, Stoke by Nayland Resort has long been popular with visiting golfers. It’s also a regular stopover destination with Premiership and Championship football teams, many of which use the resort when playing matches at Norwich or Ipswich. The two Championship golf courses have also proved a draw for top professionals, with the course having hosted European Senior and Challenge Tour events during its 40-year history.

The resort is owned by the Peake family, who invested the money from the sale of its Copella apple juice brand into creating a superb, familyfriendly golf resort. The latest investment in the facilities has seen the construction of 10 selfcatering apartments. Situated on the banks of a picturesque lake, overlooking the 10th tee of the Gainsborough Course, the five eco-friendly lodges are each made up of two apartments, which can be booked separately or together, offering accommodation for two to 12 people.

Each contemporarydesigned apartment offers everything guests could possibly want in a holiday pad, with spacious open-plan living areas featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, which open out onto a private deck or balcony.

On arrival, guests are

Stay in style at Stoke

by Nayland Rooms with a view: the lodges enjoy stunning vistas over the golf courses and countryside

allocated a dedicated concierge, who will look after them during their stay, and arrange everything from restaurant bookings to tee times. In addition, a number of services are available, including in-room spa treatments and ‘takeaway-style’ food – it’s even possible to book a chef and a waiter to provide private dining.

Guests staying at the lodges can enjoy the same son-site facilities as hotel guests, including the fabulous indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, gym, and enjoy specially reduced-rate green fees.

The two championship courses, named after the famous local artists, Thomas Gainsborough and John

Constable, were created in the early 1970s and truly capture the natural beauty of the Suffolk countryside.

They are well established and challenging, with many natural water features and mature treelined fairways. Both 18th holes provide an exciting finish, with the drive from tees to greens in front of the clubhouse over one of the four lakes.

With golf of such quality on your doorstep, it pays to make a weekend of it, which is handy, as the lodges can be booked for a minimum of two nights.

Prices start from £295 for a twonight stay in a one-bedroom apartment, rising to £1,350 for a whole week in a fourbedroom house. For guests staying in the main hotel, golf break packages start from

CORNISH CREAM

£110 per person, based on two people sharing a twin room.

The price include two rounds on either course, a three-course dinner in the Lakes Restaurant, and overnight accommodation in the 80-bedroom hotel and full English breakfast.

For more information, visit www.stokebynayland.com, call 01206 262836 or email sales@stokebynayland.com.

exclusivegolfbreaks.com

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

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

ENGLISH RIVERA DEVON

HAMPSHIRE & SURREY CLASSICS

MID WALES

NORTH WALES

WOODHALL GOLF BREAKS

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

2 NIGHTS B&B at either: Marriott Portsmouth or Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa, Haslemere 3 ROUNDS at any of these courses:

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

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

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

ONLY £249 pp

ONLY £199 pp

ONLY £225 pp

ONLY £249 pp

Hindhead, Stoneham, Hayling or Liphook

ONLY £199 pp

Dinner Option: £10pp per night extra

Weekend supplement: £10pp extra

Weekend supplement: £15pp extra

1 x Bracken Course* 1 x Seacroft GC

* Located at Woodhall

Weekend supplement: £17pp extra

To discuss your exclusive golf package call 01822 618181

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

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 35

The 11th hole at Hayling Island

Awarded 5 Star Gold Award by British Tourist Board

Please visit our new website

27 holes of fantastic golf

www.dorsetgolfresort.com

Classic tracks on your doorstep

THE DORSET GOLF HOTEL AND LUXURY LOG HOMES FOR RENT FREE GOLF Air-conditioned clubhouse facilities l Restaurant offering an extensive menu l On site accommodation in the Dorset Golf Hotel 16 twin rooms l From £57.95 pppn including Dinner, B&B and FREE GOLF l l

Golfers looking to bag themselves a great value golf break in the UK this autumn, should try out a quartet of stunning courses on the Hampshire Surrey border.

Experienced golf holiday company Exclusive Golf Breaks has put together a superb package for stay-at-home golfers this autumn, combining a collection of wonderful courses with quality hotels, to offer an unbeatable threecourse, two-night break.

Golfers can choose between the delights of Hindhead, Hayling Island, Stoneham and Liphook, while staying at either the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth or the Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa in Haslemere, for as little as £259 per person, based on guests playing three courses and sharing twin rooms.

The only problem with this break is deciding which course to leave out, as they are all classics that you’ll want to play again and again.

Hindhead is a delightful Open qualifying course set over two valleys, and is in superb condition all year round. The front nine meanders majestically through Neolithic valleys guarded by tall pines before finally emerging at the hillside plateau of the back nine. Peter Alliss is a member here, so you might be lucky to catch ‘The Voice of Golf’ swapping stories in the atmospheric clubhouse after your round.

Just down the A3, Liphook is similarly spectacular, with the classic heathland course always presented in pristine condition, and boasting some of the best greens in the country.

Although the course measures just 6,200 yards, its par of 69 and the prevalence of trees and heather will keep your score honest. With each hole enjoying its own sanctuary, and the sandy turf a pleasure to hit off, there are few more enjoyable settings for a day’s golf.

Pushing on down to the coast, the A3 takes you almost to the doorstep of Hayling Island Golf Club, arguably one of the most under-rated links courses in the country.

Enjoying stunning views of the Solent, the Isle of Wight and Langstone Harbour, the free-draining links is the perfect

autumn golfing venue, with springy turf and consistent greens making it pure golfing pleasure. The easy-walking course is no pushover, with the occasional blind shot, and a succession of testing, wellprotected par threes making this a challenge for the best golfers, especially if the wind whips in off the Solent, as it is prone to do on this exposed outcrop. After a round, golfers can relax in the stylish Art Deco-style clubhouse, where the panoramic views never cease to inspire.

Moving further west along the coast, the final link in this particular chain is Stoneham Golf Club, an undulating heathland/ parkland classic located just outside Southampton. Much

underrated, except by those who know it, Stoneham offers a serious test, with the only truly level lies found on the tees, making club selection and shot execution a challenge.

With cross bunkers to avoid, gullies to negotiate and streams to cross, a round at Stoneham is never dull, with brain rather than brawn being required to score well around this thrilling 6,392-yard layout.

And if your golf isn’t up to scratch, you can at least enjoy the variety of wildlife to be seen on the course, from deer walking through the woods to kestrels circling above.

Golfers can choose to base themselves at two very distinct hotels for their two night break, with the Marriott Portsmouth offering easy access to major

routes, as well as being a convenient location for popular sights like the Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays and the historic naval dockyard.

The hotel offers newlyrenovated spacious rooms, with cable TV, wifi and all the usual services of a quality hotel, including 24-hour room service.

Alternatively, guests can stay at the Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa in the delightful market town of Haslemere.

To book this package, which costs £249pp for three rounds of golf and two nights’ B&B accommodation (a £10 supplement is payable for weekend breaks), visit www. exclusivegolfbreaks.com or call 01822 618181.

NOVEMBER SOCIETY SPECIAL OFFER l

Coffee & Bacon Baguettes on arrival

Basket of Driving Range Balls 18 Holes of Championship Golf l Two Course Dinner, Coffee & Mints l l

ONLY £29.95pp! (min 8 players)

DORSET’S PREMIER GOLFING VENUE NOT TO BE MISSED!

TELEPHONE NO: 01929 472244

FREE GOLF At The Ashbury Golf Hotel The UK’s Largest Golf Resort

Set in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon.

The Ashbury Golf Hotel is the ideal venue for your golf break.

Oakwood 16th 172 yards, Par 3

Ashbury 6th 410 yards, Par 4

7 x 18 hole course options all on one site!

KIGBEARE PINES FOREST ASHBURY BEECHES OAKWOOD WILLOWS

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

6528 6400 6140 5804 5765 5502 1939

Forest 8th 442 yards, Par 4

Kigbeare 15th 382 yards, Par 4

Autumn to Spring Specials 24/9/12 - 01/5/13 • FREE UNLIMITED GOLF • FREE BUGGIES • DRIVING RANGE TOKENS

Bargain Breaks from: Weekends £55pppn~Midweeks £50pppn Sports Bowls Table Tennis 5-A-Side Basketball

Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels Leisure Racket Sports Family Swimming Tennis Funhouse Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Squash Snooker Waterslides Short Tennis Ten-Pin Play Area

Ranges Archery Air Pistols Air Rifles Laser Clays

PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 17 tutored crafts, including Pottery & Woodwork

0800 389 9892

ashburygolfhotel.com

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

36 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

Join the pros for fun in the Spanish sun!

N

EW

We’re the golfing holiday experts.

MAURITIUS

5* Belle Mare Plage 12 nights half board unlimited golf on 2 championship courses incl. flights, transfers from £1,595 pp

MEXICO

5* Moon Palace Resort 2 weeks all inclusive unlimited golf on 3 courses incl. shared cart on all courses flights from UK

from £2,095 pp

MOROCCO

ABU DHABI 4* Crowne Plaza Yas Island 7 nights bb with 5 rounds golf flights from UK airport and ground transfers from £1,199 pp

SOUTH AFRICA

2 weeks Garden Route & Cape Town 12 nights with 5 rounds golf flights from Heathrow from £2,395 pp (incl. hire car)

5* Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort 4 nights all inclusive unlimited golf with buggy airport shuttle transfers included from £430 pp (excl. flights)

MADEIRA

5* Meliã Madeira Mare 7 nights bb with 4 rounds golf incl. transfers from only £535 pp (excl. flights)

Amateur golfers looking to combine a holiday with some seriously competitive golf should consider signing up for the Costa Del Sol Overseas PGA Pro-Am, which is hosted by the PGA’s South Region.

Sponsored by Titleist, Holiday World Hotels and Golf Escapes, the Pro-Am will see groups of three amateur golfers play alongside a South

Regional professional in 36-hole competition held over two of the Costa Del Sol’s best courses, Santana and Torrequebrada. The package, which costs £695 (not including flights) per person, also includes a practice round (including buggies) on each course, five nights in a twin room on an all-inclusive basis at the fourstar Holiday Polynesia Hotel in Benalmadena, and car hire from Malaga airport for each

group. Also included in the price is a welcome cocktail party and a prize-giving gala dinner. Non-golfing partners are also welcome, with prices from just £389, plus flights.

This unique event, which takes place between February 24-March 1 2013, comes with a very tempting £6,000 prize fund for the professionals.

For bookings, call Golf Escapes on 01342 811777 or visit www.golf-escapes.com.

CALL OUR SPECIALISTS

028 9023 2112

www.chakatravel.com

enquiries@chakatravel.com

GOLF TRAVEL ORG PRESENT THEIR PGA PROFESSIONAL HOSTED GOLF COMPETITION WEEK Sat 16th – 23rd February 2013

At the 5 star Praia D’el Rey Golf & Beach Resort On Portugal’s Silver Coast (1 hour north of Lisbon) Come and enjoy competition golf with like minded golfers in a relaxed atmosphere hosted by PGA Pro Richard May

PACKAGE INCLUDES: 7 nights B&B accommodation at the 5 star Marriott Hotel

4 range tuition sessions with Richard May

6 rounds of golf including 4 competition rounds with prizes

Car hire (shared by two people) including full no excess insurance

Welcome & farewell dinner with prize giving presentation

Service of our hosts

Price in twin/double room……£619 pp Self catering option available from……£475 pp All payments are fully protected by Travel Services - Please note flights are not included in this package.

For bookings see our website www.golftravelorg.com Email: martin@golftravelorg.com Or telephone 01992 304351 \ Mob: 07762633233

Perfect your game at Praia D’el Rey Golfers looking to sharpen up their game this winter and enjoy some healthy competition with like-minded individuals in the sunshine of Portugal should book up for a week-long holiday being hosted by PGA Professional Richard May. The competition week is being hosted at the five-star Praia d’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort on Portugal’s stunning Silver Coast from February 16-23. The package, which costs from £475pp (flights not included) for seven nights’ self-catering accommodation or £619pp for a twin/double room in the five-star Marriott Hotel, includes six rounds of golf (four of which are ‘competition’ rounds), car hire, and welcome and farewell dinners, and prizes.

Golfers will also receive four driving range coaching sessions with Richard.

For bookings, visit www.golftravelorg.com, email martin@golftravelorg.com or call 01992 304351.

Golf Escapes moves with the times!

Specialist golf tour operator Golf Escapes is celebrating its 10th birthday this October in style. It is moving offices to a larger, newly refurbished property in the Mid-Sussex village of Horsted Keynes and taking on new staff to join the existing team as part of its expansion programme.

Founding Director Jon Ruben said: “Despite the uncertain economic situation, I am delighted that the company has gone from strength to strength since we opened in October 2002. The golf holiday market has changed beyond recognition since

we started out, but one of our main strengths has been the ability to adapt to the changing conditions. This, in addition to our firm belief in offering the best customer service, has enabled us to continue to take Golf Escapes forward with confidence.”

Ruben added: “I am excited about the future, and now that we have bigger offices, we will be looking to expand and develop the business, offering more holiday destinations to our customers in new countries.

It is very gratifying that so much of our business is made up of repeat bookings

from loyal clients, as well as personal recommendations, although the introduction of our new website and tailormade online booking system has widened our profile to a whole new audience.”

For the very latest golf break offers, visit www. golfescapes.com or call free on 0800 279 7988.

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 37

Korineum offers the best of Cyprus

keeping your holiday on course for 10 years

Cyprus has always been a popular holiday destination with UK travellers, but an absence of world-class golf facilities prevented it from becoming a destination for British golfers, until, that is, the arrival of the Korineum Golf Resort in 2007.

Located in the north of the island, in a lush green oasis on the way to Esentepe, Korineum is tucked away in the foothills of the Five Finger Mountain Range and enjoys the prestige of being the north Cyprus’s first championship-standard golf facility.

The entire landscape has been shaped and sculpted to perfection and features an 18-hole, 6,232 metre

championship layout, a threehole academy course and a 34-bay driving range.

The course has been laid with a special type of genetically-engineered grass called Seashore Paspalum, which has been imported from America and is designed to withstand the hot Cyprus climate.

Daily green fee rates top out at €75 at weekends during the high season (October to May), dropping to €55 in the low season (June to September), although a variety of specially-priced packages are available through tour operators such as Cyprus Paradise, which is currently offering a seven-night

break staying at Korineum for £596pp. The package includes return flights from the UK, local transfers, seven nights’ B&B, and four rounds of golf.

Facilties at the resort include a 86-room hotel (including four junior suites), a choice of bars, three restaurants, swimming pool, live evening entertainment, spa and fitness centre, as well as a 70m private beach, which is 3km from the resort, but is free for hotel guests to use.

For more information visit www.cyprusparadise.com/ golf or call 02031500913.

For more details on Korineum, go to www. korineumgolf.com.

Onyria Palmares

Algarve remains big hit with Brits

Le Meridien Penina has just been named as 2012 Portugal’s Leading Golf Resort in the World Travel Awards. Come and see why…

• Beach Club

• 18 hole Championship Course (several time host of the Portuguese Open)

With dozens of superb golf courses, a wide selection of quality resorts, plenty of direct flights, and a glorious year-round climate, it’s not surprising that Portugal’s Algarve coast remains such a firm favourite with UK golfers.

Such is the popularity of the region with the British golfing public that so far this year, leading tour operator Golfbreaks.com has seen 15 per cent more golfers travelling to the region than in 2011, while bookings for 2013 are up almost a quarter.

Venues such as the legendary Penina – Sir Henry Cotton’s iconic layout that started the golf boom – and the much-loved San Lorenzo, which is ranked in the top 30 in Europe, are just two highlights. The five courses of the Pestana Group – including Vila Sol and Pinta – are also hugely popular, as are the Vilamoura courses of the Oceanico group.

Along with the famous Old, the jewel in the Oceanico crown is the stunning Arnold Palmer-designed Victoria layout, which last month hosted the Portugal Masters. The tournament is one of the most popular

stops on the European Tour circuit, with players enjoying both the challenge of the Victoria course and the off-course attractions of the Algarve.

But golf is not just around the central Vilamoura area – there are plenty of superb alternatives, including to the East, including the lovely little town of Tavira, with a number of excellent courses close by. The Western areas of Lagos and Alvor, meanwhile, are also gaining ground, thanks largely to the massive remodelling at Onyria Palmares, which can now claim to be Portugal’s No.1.

Golfbreaks.com has a number of winter offers to the region, including three nights’ B&B at Dona Filipa in Faro and two rounds on San Lorenzo from £185pp during December-January. A three-night break to the Tivoli Victoria in Vilamoura, with three rounds (Victoria, Laguna, Millennium), costs from £295pp from November–March 2013, while the same length stay at Le Meridien Penina in Alvor, including three rounds of golf, costs from just £159pp, For the very latest offers visit www.golfbreaks.com.

• Tennis courts

• 9 hole Resort Course

• 5 minutes from lively Alvor

• 9 hole Academy Course

• 10 minutes from beautiful Lagos

• Large outdoor pool

• 45 minutes from Faro Airport

• 3 bars (can be seasonal)

• Recently refurbished guest rooms

• 5 restaurants (can be seasonal)

• Penguin Village Children’s Club

• Extensive practice facilities

FANTASTIC PACKAGES 01 November 2012 – 28 February 2013 3 nights + 3 rounds

5 nights + 5 rounds

7 nights + 7 rounds

PER PERSON

PER PERSON

PER PERSON

£169

£269

£369

Price based on 2 sharing a twin room with breakfast included in a group of 4+. Flights / car hire / transfers not included.

We are members of ABTA and we are ATOL holders. All our holidays are financially protected.

For bookings please email: info@golf-escapes.com, call: 01342 811777 or visit: www.golf-escapes.com

38 /

October 2012 / Issue 215

Verdura launches new all-inclusive package

Rocco Forte’s Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily has launched ‘Endless Privileges’, a new all-inclusive ‘stay and play’ programme offering golfers a host of benefits, including daily green fees, complimentary lunch and dinner, and a selection of golf accessories to take home.

As part of this programme, golfers will have unlimited access to four different and challenging courses designed around the natural contours of the Sicilian landscape, as well as enjoying world-class facilities.

To complement the resort’s two 18-hole Championship courses and 9-hole course, players can tee-off in the footsteps of the world’s best golfers on Verdura’s newest course – a combination of the most testing holes of the East and West courses, which features 12 signature holes by the Mediterranean Sea – and recently played host to Europe’s best during the 2012 PGA Sicilian Open.

Next month, the resort will host three further prestigious tournaments – the BMW Golf Cup, the Rolex 2012

Tournament, and the Italian finals of the 2012 Jaguar Golf Trophy – confirming its growing status as a world-class golf destination for players and spectators alike.

Designed by leading golf architect Kyle Phillips, Verdura’s links courses wrap around the resort’s buildings and follow the shoreline, providing an exciting year-round golfing experience. Two years on from its opening, the courses have matured into glorious, gently undulating

landscapes dotted with citrus and olive trees and punctuated by challenging bunker and water hazards. Alternating each day, one of the golf courses is dedicated to two-ball play, providing an atmosphere more associated with a private club.

Verdura also benefits from excellent practice facilities, including a doubleended driving range; three chipping and putting greens; and three bunkers, while the Golf Academy, led by Golf Director Niall Cameron and his team of PGA qualified professionals, offers oneon-one tuition along with regular clinics.

The clubhouse, built around a small piazza, houses a pro shop, restaurant and bar where golfers can enjoy a daily complimentary ‘19th Hole’ lunch. Guests can also unwind at the resort’s awardwinning spa, with dedicated treatments designed to relax the muscles after a day on the golf course.

The Endless Privileges package starts from €234 per person per night, based on two sharing a deluxe double room (from €258pp in a Junior Suite) and includes daily green fees, buffet breakfast, 19th Hole lunch at the Torre Bar; and dinner.

To book, or for more information, visit www.roccofortehotels.com or call 00 39 0925 998 180.

Mogador puts Morocco on the map

Mogador Golf & Spa Resort, located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, is the latest addition to the impressive golf offering in this fast developing African golfing nation.

Boasting two 18-hole GaryPlayer-designed courses, it looks set to become a popular destination with British golfers looking for a unique cultural experience, combined with great golf and value for money.

Located in Diabat, a quiet village about 4km from Essaouira, Mogador was ranked 15th among the world’s top 20 best new courses last year by a leading golf publication, and with green fees costing from just £50 per day, or £270 for a week, it presents good

value when compared to other top-rated courses on the continent.

Golfers can stay in comfort at the resort’s recentlyopened Sofitel Essaouria, which offers a range of 28 private villas and suites, as well as 147 deluxe and standard rooms. A fusion of contemporary design and local Souiri culture, the hotel boasts four restaurants, three bars, swimming pools, a Clarins spa, and access to a private beach.

Your Golf Travel has a range of packages to Mogador, with four-night breaks starting from £335pp from January through to April, including three rounds of golf. To book, or for more details, visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 0436644.

Golf Escapes is delighted to offer some fantastic packages to Morocco. Great value and superb golf courses greet you in this fascinating, beautiful and magical country...

Korineum Golf Resort SPECIAL WEEKLY PACKAGES

• 7 nights B&B 6pp • 4 rounds of golf £59 • Return flights with in-flight meals • 20 kg checked luggage and 5 kg hand luggage • Local transfers and representative services • No charge for golf bag • Under 100% ATOL protection

Palmeraie Golf

all inclusive in

Morocco RIU TIKIDA BEACH: 5 Nights – Twin Room, All Inclusive, 4 Rounds at Golf du Soleil, return airport and golf course transfers.

VALID 04 JAN – 31 JAN

VALID 13 FEB – 29 MAR

£485pp £559pp

Golf du Soleil

RIU TIKIDA GARDEN: 5 Nights – Twin Room – All Inclusive, 4 Rounds – 1 x Palmeraie, 1 x Amelkis, 1 x Al Maaden, 1 x Royal, return airport and golf course transfers.

VALID 04 JAN – 31 JAN

7 night golf break from £596

VALID 13 FEB – 29 MAR

£415pp £469pp

Amelkis

For more information please email: info@golf-escapes.com, call: 01342 811777 or visit: www.golf-escapes.com Different durations, additional rounds of golf, room upgrades and single room supplements available on request – please ask for further details. Prices shown are based on an exchange rate of 13 MAD to the Pound. Flights are not included, please enquire for further details.

Call our holiday experts on 0203 150 0913 or visit www.CyprusParadise.com/golf

www.KorineumGolf.com

Only 3 hrs from London | Excellent year round climate | All inclusive packages

ABTA

The Travel Association Y2916

October 2012 / Issue 215

/ 39

Me&MyTravels with Andrew Flintoff - The former England and Lancashire all-rounder, who now lives with his family in Cobham, Surrey, loves to get away from it all at Loch Lomond Rambagh Palace in Jaipur

My first trip aboard was… when I was 15, on a cricket tour to South Africa. During my playing career I travelled all over the world, but didn’t see anything but hotels, cricket grounds and gyms.

My most recent holiday was... Disneyland in Paris with the family this summer. I haven’t had much time for holidays, as I travel

so much for work. We lived in Dubai for 18 months, which felt like a permanent holiday, but came back last year as there’s only so much sun you can take.

My favourite hotel is… De Vere Cameron House, on Loch Lomond.

It’s on the lake and has great restaurants: the Cameron Grill, for Scottish steaks, the Boat House,

which overlooks a little boatyard, and Martin Wishart, which has a Michelin star. Apart from The Carrick, which is a great golf course, there’s also a superb spa, which my wife, Rachel, likes.

My dream trip… would be to take my family to some of the amazing places I’ve been lucky to visit in recent years. I’ve been to Tanzania, where I lived as a Masai, to Australia to live with Aborigines, and to the jungles of Borneo. When our three children are older, I’d love to take them to all of those places. I get bored easily. I can’t just sit on a beach.

My favourite country is… India – I’ve always felt at home there. Delhi and Mumbai and the Taj Mahal are all incredible – but it’s the people I love. Indians are so interesting, accommodating and friendly. The best hotel I’ve stayed at there is the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur: its architecture is unbelievable.

When I go away, I always pack… a satellite phone, to keep in touch with my family; a mosquito net; a head torch, so I can use my hands to make a fire or put up a tent in the dark; and a rag a cameraman gave me – for washing, tying things and putting on my head when it’s hot.

My favourite city for a short break is… New York – it’s so buzzy and full of life, although after a few days you want out. We were taken to The Carlyle, where Woody Allen plays sometimes. It was great, listening to jazz and drinking vodka martinis.

We stayed at the Waldorf: a waste, as we were out so much. For a family break, I’d prefer Dubai: the hotels are child-friendly, you can guarantee the weather and there’s plenty to do.

The most romantic hotel I’ve stayed at is… the Al Maha Desert The Carrick on Loch Lomond

Resort in Dubai, which is located in the desert. It has bedrooms like Bedouin tents, but far more luxurious. The scenery is calm, the food is great, and we did lots of new things like horse riding, archery and falconry.

Andrew Flintoff is an ambassador for the De Vere Club and appears in A League of Their Own on Sky1, and Freddie Flintoff Goes Wild, a series of wildlife adventures broadcast on the Discovery Channel.

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