Golf News Dec / Jan 2018

ISSUE 271 | DEC/JAN 2018 | TWITTER: @GOLFNEWSMAG | WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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GOLF’S NEW DAWN: BOLD AND RADICAL A

s the curtain falls on another calendar year – the golfing season never stops these days – there are just five minutes to draw breath to digest what has been a fairly tumultuous 12 months in pure golfing terms, never mind Trump or Brexit.

In a non-Ryder Cup year, the plaudits were shared evenly across the golfing nations, with America’s Justin Thomas bagging the headlines Stateside, with his five wins, a first major, and his FedEx Cup triumph; while Jordan Spieth kept his major tally ticker rolling along nicely ■ THE MODERN FACE OF EUROPEAN GOLF: TOUR BOSS KEITH PELLEY WITH SPAIN’S JON RAHM with a spell-binding performance at its male counterpart.

The Open, where his histrionics on the driving range at The European Tour, under the never-less-thanRoyal Birkdale will go down alongside those of Seve in enthusiastic leadership of Keith Pelley, has shown the car park at Lytham for sheer sporting drama. a willingness to bend and bow to the needs of the Dustin Johnson’s four wins – including three on the commercial world, and has embraced all manner of new bounce in the spring – ensured he ended the year formats in order to shake up traditions, while maintaining in the No.1 spot in the world rankings, while Sergio its core fan base. The Rolex Series has worked – up to a Garcia’s defeat of Justin Rose at Augusta ensured golfing point – but the two-tier approach to prize money may immortality for one of Europe’s most popular players, and well not be sustainable if more and more top European may well kick-start a late charge for more major glory. players continue to look to the PGA Tour for their bread Another Spaniard, albeit a somewhat younger, larger and butter. No amount of social media pranks, or live model, burst onto the scene in the cuddly shape of Twitter streaming will keep audiences interested if there Jon Rahm, who muscled his way to three wins in his isn’t the quality of fields to support it. first full season on the professional circuit, and set Elsewhere, golf is finally getting to grips with a European pulses racing at the thought of this Americangender-free future, with more and more governing based maestro waving the European flag in Paris next bodes and unions joining forces at a national and September. county level, while UK golf clubs are reporting growth He’ll be joined in Thomas Bjørn’s team by the likes of across female and junior memberships and stability Tommy Fleetwood, whose two big wins, and ultraamongst their male ranks. The closure of clubs has consistent performance across the season, earned him turned from a torrent to a drip – a sign that the bottom top dog status in Europe, and the classy Justin Rose, of that particular well may have hopefully been reached, who is now a constant presence on leaderboards across although we’re far from being out of the woods, if we’re the globe. And with a bevvy of youngsters also coming mixing our metaphors. of age, the scene looks set for a battle royale at Le Golf Bold and radical approaches are needed to keep golf National – with or without Tiger Woods (who may play relevant at all levels of the game, which will require similar some golf in 2018). approaches from everyone involved, from club captains The women’s professional game, at least on this side and managers, through to the tour bosses, players of the pond, suffered a psychological blow in a heavy and sponsors. All golfers need to take a share of the Solheim Cup defeat, while a distinct lack of playing responsibility. So book that tee time, join that club, buy opportunities for its players has cast a more long-term that putter, sign up for those lessons, and book that golf shadow over the future of the Ladies European Tour, holiday. Golf needs you as much as you need golf! leading to rumours of a merger with the LPGA, or even

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DEC/JAN 2018 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ WALTON HEATH WILL HOST THE EUROPEAN TOUR IN OCTOBER

BB&O MOVES TO NEW HQ Berks, Bucks & Oxon Golf moved into its new headquarters last month, with England Golf chief executive Nick Pink and BB&O President Alistair Booth both attending the official opening of the new offices at Rycote Farm in Thame, alongside many other people who contribute to golf in the region. The boardroom in the new offices is available to use at no cost to all BB&O affiliated clubs.

MOOR PARK MEMBER RAISES £2,000 FOR POPPY APPEAL Moor Park Golf Club member Pam Holland helped raise over £2,000 for the Poppy Appeal in November after organising a bridge tournament and a raffle at the Hertfordshire club. The 85 year old, who has been a member at Moor Park for over 65 years, has been raising funds for the Poppy Appeal for 60 years. She said: “The Poppy Appeal is very close to my heart, and something I will continue to fund raise for as long as I can. It is a joy to be a part of the day.”

NEWTON’S 13TH PROVES LUCKY FOR SOME Two hole-in-ones were recorded at Newton Green Golf Club’s 13th hole in the space of just seven days this autumn. Club member Andrea Thompson kicked off proceedings at Suffolk-based venue when finding the cup with a 6-iron off the tee from 126 yards, and just six days later Richard

WALTON HEATH TO HOST BRITISH MASTERS I

t has already hosted one Ryder Cup and five editions of the European Open during its 114year history, but top class professional golf will be returning to Walton Heath Golf Club again next year, after the renowned Surrey venue was chosen to stage the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports.

The prestigious tournament, which will take place from October 11-14, was revived in 2015, following a seven-year hiatus, and will be hosted by world no.5 Justin Rose, who is following in the footsteps of fellow English golfers Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood in hosting the tournament.

Poulter held the honour at Woburn in 2015, Donald at The Grove last year, while Westwood hosted the event at his home club, Close House in Newcastle, this September, when Ireland’s

■ JUSTIN ROSE IS TO HOST THE BRITISH MASTERS

Paul Dunne took the title.

Rose has no direct connection with Walton Heath, having grown up in Hampshire and played his club golf at North Hants, although he has long held the club’s two courses, the Old and the New, in high regard, and played many tournaments there in his amateur days.

The 37 year old, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his contribution to golf, will further underline his status as one of the game’s leading ambassadors by hosting the British Masters at a venue he believes will be a popular choice amongst his peers.

“I’m very excited to be hosting the British Masters at Walton Heath,” said Rose. “Walton Heath is a golf course I really, really enjoy playing. I went back there in the summer just to ensure I wanted to take the tournament there,

and I had forgotten how good a golf course it is.

It has got teeth, but it is traditional, and hopefully the players will really enjoy it. Hopefully we will assemble a strong field, get some good weather, and we can host an amazing tournament next October.”

He added: “It’s a huge honour to host the British Masters and to follow in the footsteps of three friends of mine, Ian, Luke and Lee. I’ve known for a while that I was next in line to host in 2018, so I’ve been watching carefully to see how the boys have done the hosting role. They’ve all done a great job and put their own stamp on it, and their own personality on it. They’ve all been very successful and the crowds have been great. This tournament has really created its own identify on the European Tour. Hopefully I can put some of my own touches here and there and continue that success.”

The Old Course, which was designed by Herbert Fowler, measures 7,462 yards off the back tees, making it a strong test for today’s top professionals.

It is likely that a composite of the two courses will be used for the tournament, although the final configuration is yet to be announced.

The tournament, which has a prize fund of £3m, is expected to draw a strong field, with Rose set to use all of his influence to attract members of the European Ryder Cup squad – who will only have finished competing in Paris just 12 days earlier – to take part.

Once again, tournament sponsor Sky Sports will be giving away 10,000 free tickets for the opening round, which takes place on Thursday October 11.

The free tickets went on sale on December 7, on a first come, first served basis, with tickets for the other three rounds and pro-am also on general sale.

David Newlands, Chairman of Walton Heath, said: “Walton Heath Golf Club is honoured to have been selected by the European Tour and the tournament host, Justin Rose, to be the venue for the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, thereby extending the club’s long and distinguished record of staging professional and amateur events of the highest quality."

He added: "Our traditional heathland courses are amongst the finest in the world, and we are confident that the players, spectators and a global television audience will really enjoy the tournament.”

To register for the Sky Sports Thursday free ticket giveaway, visti www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Hobden repeated the feat with a 7-wood from 172 yards to bag the second ace of his life.

NEW FACES AT BRENTWOOD Brentwood Golf Club in Essex has made two key appointments ahead of the new golfing season. Experienced course manager Andy Miller, formerly of Woolston Manor, joins the greenkeeping team, while the professional team has been boosted by the arrival of Paul Eady, who like Miller, was previously attached to Woolson Manor.

RUSPER BAGS SURREY FIVES TITLE Rusper Golf Club won the Surrey Fives tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years after beating The Drift at a rain-soaked match held at Sutton Green. The tournament is one of the most popular Surrey knockouts, with the winners picking up the iconic silver, bronze and wooden trophy which dates back to 1927. Rusper’s winning team comprised Paul Greenhead, John Sawyer, Rob Arcus, Alan Lucas and Nigel Watson.

GATTON MANOR REOPENS AS NEW OWNER UNVEILS PLANS TO REVITALISE THE CLUB

G

atton Manor Hotel & Golf Club’s closure turned out to be thankfully short-lived, after the popular Surrey-based venue reopened less than a month after the gates were shut.

The final rounds at the Ockley-based club were played on October 31, after the club’s Russian owner, Andrey Umanskiy, was unable to find a buyer for the £4 million property. But the venue reopened on November 24, after the club was bought by locally-based businessman, who also owns a pub ■ GATTON MANOR IS SET TO FULLY REOPEN AS A MEMBERS' CLUB EARLY NEXT YEAR nearby, The Parrot at Forest Green.

The course was maintained by a skeleton facilities will be open. The course is in a very acceptable playing condition, greenstaff during the brief closure, and members despite being run on a reduced staffing level. Please be patient, we are have been invited back to play as visitors for a discounted green fee of £25, planning future maintenance schedules for the course and the clubhouse, with £5 being placed on a tab, which will be added to the member’s bar card and we will work hard to open the bar and restaurant as soon as possible.” when the club officially re-opens next year. The club has also announced a Gatton Manor, which first opened in 1967, boasts a 6,637-yard two-month membership for December and January, which costs £225 for championship course and a 12-bedroom hotel. Umanskiy bought the club in unlimited golf during that period.

2011 for £3.5 million. The sale price agreed with the new owner has not been The pro shop is open to take green fees, rent trolleys and buggies, and made public. serve hot and cold drinks, although the clubhouse remains closed with the A significant percentage of the membership left at the renewal stage in exception of the locker rooms and toilets.

April, while those that stayed on were offered a discount on their fees for the In a letter sent out to members, the new owner said: “We will be operating period that the course remained open. By the time of the closure, less than with limited facilities at this early stage, with the pro shop being utilised as a 100 members were still registered at the club. clubhouse, with limited drinks and snacks. The locker rooms and cloakroom

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DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BACK IN BUSINESS Nick Bayly catches up with Surrey-based tour pro James Heath, who has just won his European Tour card after a successful trip to Qualifying School in Spain

Y

ou finished 38th on the Challenge Tour’s order of merit this season, so how much of a relief was it to win a place on the European Tour through qualifying school?

It was more of a surprise than a relief to be honest, as after the final event of the season in Oman, I was seriously considering giving it all up and trying my hand at something completely different. I’d been banging away for a dozen or so years at various levels, and really didn’t feel like my game was going anywhere. I’ve got a wife, a young boy, and another child on the way next month, so I was looking around for a more solid form of income to support my family.

So Qualifying School was a last throw of the dice?

Very much so. In fact, I wasn’t that keen on entering it, as my mind was really set on doing something else. I had even applied for a couple of jobs.. But my brother, Mike, who has been caddying for me on and off, persuaded me to give it one last go. We went there with a ‘nothing to lose’ kind of mentality, and it paid off, I suppose.

Talk me through your week at Q School…

I’ve been to Q School half a dozen times and won my card twice before that way, so I knew what to expect. Although it’s a marathon, it’s also a sprint, as you’ve got to get off to a good start to make the first cut, which comes after 72 holes. I opened up with rounds of 72, 68, 68 and 69 and made it through. That left around 70 players chasing 25 cards over the final two rounds.

The fifth round was really frustrating,

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as I couldn’t get the putts to drop early on, and then I doubled 15, and dropped another shot at 17, and looked like falling out of contention. Thankfully, I managed to eagle the final hole, which got me back in the mix, and gave me a lift going into the final round.

I started the final day in 31st place, so I still had plenty of work to do. I was in the first group out, so I didn’t know exactly what score would be good enough. Teeing off at the 10th, I parred the first six and was beginning to feel like I was falling back, but I managed to sink a 45-footer for birdie on 16, and then picked up shots on 17 and 18, and got within one shot of the top 25. I picked up another shot at the third to move into a qualifying spot, and then parred my way in until the ninth, my last, at which point we reckoned I needed to make a birdie to make sure of my card. I nailed a driver, and had a pitch of around 70 yards to the green. Thankfully, I almost holed my approach, and was left with a tap-in for birdie. I finished on 14 under, which turned out to be one shot inside the qualifying mark, taking 18th spot.

What was going through your head on that final putt, even though it was a tiddler?

In my head I was saying to myself ‘just make contact, just make contact!’ because I couldn’t feel my hands, I was that nervous. To birdie the last to get in was phenomenal.

You said in your post-round interview that you were almost disappointed that you would have to carry on playing golf now.

Did you really mean that?

I’m not sure about that. My head was all over the place at the time, so I said a lot of things, but it was really just coming to terms with what I had achieved.

I genuinely thought that I would be looking for another job next year, so now to have the next 12 months kind of mapped out, and to be guaranteed around 18 starts on the European Tour, is amazing. But it’s also a big commitment, financially,

as you’re looking at the thick end of £50,000 just to play the tour for a season. With a baby on the way in January, I want to be around as much as I can to help out at home, but I’m also aware that I’ve got to make the most of this opportunity, as I want to stay on tour for a while, not just one season.

Tour school graduates get a lot more opportunities to play than they did in the past. Will you be travelling here, there and everywhere?

I’m playing in the JoBurg Open in South Africa, and then I’m going to take two months off around the birth, and then go back out to Oman in mid-February and then crack on from there. There’s a re-ranking before the BMW, so hopefully I can put some early points on the board and then get into some of the bigger events later on in the year.

Hopefully you might have a few sponsors knocking on the door to help cover the cost of all those nappies.

We’ve had some interest, and my management company, Jenahura, is currently looking at a few potential backers, so hopefully we’ll have a few things in place in the New Year.

You played on the European Tour in 2007 and 2014 – what attributes do you have that you think you have now that will help you stay out there this time?

I’m definitely older, and hopefully a bit wiser. I’m also playing for my family, and not just myself now, which comes with added pressure, but hopefully in a good way. My overall game is in good shape. I’m quite long off the tee, so hopefully I can keep it in the fairway and give myself some chances to make some birdies. I won on the Challenge Tour last season, so I know I can do it when everything clicks, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.

Where will you be practising over the winter?

I’ve been a member at The Wisley for about seven or eight years now, so I go down there to practise and play. The facilities are superb, and they’ve got a few indoor bays on the range as well. The members are very supportive, and there are lots of other tour pros based there, so there’s often someone around for a game, although sadly they don’t always want to play for money to give it a more competitive edge!

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

INGREBOURNE LINKS OPENS FIRST NINE HOLES CORBEN’S THE SURREY MASTER Surrey captain David Corben signed off his year in office in style

T

he first nine holes of a proposed ■ INGREBOURNE LINKS BOASTS 27-hole new golf complex has A STUNNING NEW CLUBHOUSE recently opened at Ingrebourne Links in Essex.

The opening of the North course marks the end of a seven-year project to open a links-style venue in the heart of the Essex countryside.

The course, which is located just outside Rainham, is the brainchild of Alan Walker, a former captain of the Professional Golfers’ Association and undulating fairways. a member of the European Institute of Golf Course The greens have been constructed to USGA Architecture. specifications, with sandy sub-soils allowing for free Walker, who also owns Garon Park near Southend, drainage while creating the right environment to hit the opening shot off the first tee at the official grow and maintain fine-leafed grasses that make for opening, with new members following over the smooth, fast putting surfaces. weekend in a number of pre- organised ‘taster flights’.

The nine-hole East Course is expected to open Commenting on the opening, Dominic Eagle, the in 2018, with the final South nine scheduled to be club’s general manager, said: "We've been delighted completed in 2019 to create the finished 27-hole with the feedback we've received from members, complex. who unanimously agree that it's a fantastic nine Preceding the courses, the clubhouse was holes and can't wait until the remaining 18 holes are completed in the summer and opened its doors opened over the next two years. lt's been very much to members for the first time on July 1. The striking a 'soft' opening, aimed exclusively at our current 200 design is matched by outstanding facilities, including golf members. We really want to protect the course, the Links Brasserie, a state-of-the-art gym and fitness because it's something quite special that deserves to studio, luxurious locker rooms, and a banqueting be respected in this way." suite able to accommodate up to 250 guests.

Although located miles from the sea, lngrebourne Both golf and health club memberships are Links has gone to great lengths to create an available, with a range of options to suit every authentic, traditional links experience, with the individual. Call 01708 201301, or for more details layout featuring whispy grass in the rough, deep visit www.ingrebournelinks.com. rivetted bunkers, some with sleepers, and generous,

THORPENESS PRO NETS A RARE BIRDIE!

when winning the Surrey Masters

T

a two-under-par 70 to finish three

he head professional at Thorpeness Golf Club in Suffolk has saved a rare owl following a bizarre and almost literal wild goose chase through several people’s gardens.

Christine Langford, who had five wins on the Ladies European Tour, had heard that Dawn – one of a pair of Ural owls – had escaped from owner Alec Mayhew’s aviary, along with partner Misty, and was feared lost.

“I’d seen TV and radio appeals calling for people to help find Dawn and was becoming increasingly worried for her safety as severe winds were forecast. When she was spotted in the woods opposite my house, Alec rang the doorbell and I knew this was our best chance to reunite her with him and his amazing family of 37 owls,” said Langford, who is an honorary member of the PGA and a founding member of the Ladies European Tour.

Setting out with a collection of nets, extension poles to try and bag the bird, which is most commonly found in Europe and northern Asia, Langford chased the owl for three hours through several residents’ gardens, until the owner managed to net the creature while it rested on a garden fence. According to the owl keeper, owls don’t eat or drink when they’ve flown the nest, so it was estimated that Dawn could only have survived for a few more days.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when we finally got her,” said Langford. "In 30-years playing professional golf, this is easily my most special birdie. I’m delighted for Alec and Dawn, and I would like to thank all the people in Leiston who let us trample around their gardens chasing it.”

tournament held at Addington Palace on November 12. The plus-four handicapper from Hindhead fired shots ahead of Coombe Wood’s Jacob Aaholm, and a further shot in front of the host club’s Billy Whiteman.

MAXWELL WINS GOWLAND SALVER Northwood’s Sean Maxwell captured Middlesex Golf’s George Gowland Salver after beating clubmate Nick Lines 5&4 in the final held at Ealing Golf Club. Maxwell beat Crews Hill’s Ross Dickson 5&4 in the semis, while Lines overcame Fulwell’s Robbie Lyon 1up on the other side of the draw.

Maxwell took an early advantage in the final, going three up at the turn, and pulled further clear with birdies at the 12th and 13th holes, before closing out the match on the 14th.

SUDBURY SECURES LORNA PETERS TROPHY Sudbury Golf Club’s team of Carolyn Matthews, Heather Graydon and Felicity Lavelle won the Lorna Peters Memorial Trophy after combining to score 74 points at Highgate Golf Club in North London. They finished two points ahead of Highgate’s team with Muswell Hill a further four points back in third. The annual

WOODMAN SIZZLES IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

tournament, which was inaugurated ■ GUY WOODMAN'S WINNING TEAM

Peters, a longstanding member at Highgate who was awarded an MBE for her services to golf.

R

ecord temperatures for November greeted competitors for the American Golf Holiday’s Pro-Am Tour's first event of its winter series, with competitors enjoying a week of continuous sunshine in the Arizona desert.

Once again, the Arizona Classic Pro-Am attracted a strong field of former European Tour players and top regional PGA Professionals. The event boasts play on four of the finest desert courses in America: Desert Highlands, Blackstone Country Club, Grayhawk Raptor, and We-Ko-Pa’s Cholla course.

The opening round was staged at the exclusive Desert Highlands Golf Club, one of Scottsdale's top private clubs, to which the event provides unique access. Many consider that this is the course where Jack Nicklaus invented desert target-style golf, and it was presented in immaculate condition. Pro-Am Tour rookie Guy Woodman adapted quickly to desert golf, shooting a superb 67 to lead his South Region colleague Andy Raitt by two shots. A barbecue was enjoyed after play on the club's elevated patio, where competitors enjoyed a spectacular view across the ‘Valley of the Sun’. Many lingered after play to enjoy a stunning desert sunset, which would be repeated every night throughout the week.

Another magnificent private club, Blackstone Country Club, was the venue for round two, where Cooden Beach professional Paul Nessling shot an outstanding 63 – a personal best – to tie with Raitt in second place, and just one shot behind Woodman.

However, former European Tour player Benn Barham provided some excitement when he holed his second shot at the par-five ninth for an albatross.

In round three, held at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course, scoring was more difficult, and Woodman had to call upon all of his experience to grind out a one-under-par 71 to maintain his one-shot lead over Raitt.

Surrey Down's Craig Cowper shot an excellent 69 to move up to fourth just behind Nessling.

The scenic We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, located on an Indian reservation, ■ KENT PRO BENN BARHAM BAGGED AN ACE AT WE KO PA

in 2000, is held to honour Lorna

HUMES DOUBLE ACT AT HARPENDEN Sisters Ellen and Esme Humes pulled off a family double at the Hertfordshire Ladies Golf Association’s autumn junior meeting held at Harpenden Common. Ellen won the staged the final round on the Cholla Course, and a steady two-under-par 70 proved good enough for Woodman to claim victory by two shots from Raitt, while Cowper and Nessling sharing third place. In addition to the Pro-Am, challenge days were played at Troon North, which was won by Raitt, as well as TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, host venue for the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open.

With massive grandstands being constructed around the course, competitors enjoyed the full PGA Tour experience. Nessling played inspired golf to win with an impressive 40 points, with Woodman and Jason Kelly tied for second on 37 points. In the team event, Woodman's team of Richard Beach, Dave Roberts and Malcolm Wager claimed victory, after an exciting competition with the lead changing several times. Jamie Harris' team was second, with Nessling's team in third. Benn Barham topped off an exceptional week of great shots by acing the par-three 11th at We-KoPa, but was this a better shot of the tournament than his albatross two? Either way, it certainly contributed to a brilliant atmosphere at the prize-giving dinner.

For details of future Pro-Am Classics, visit www.pro-amtour.com or call John Hooper on 023 8046 5885.

Barbara Quirk Shield for the best gross score (33pts), while younger sister Esme won the Autumn Cup for the best nett score (41pts). Both players are members at Mill Green.

Olivia Rael-Brooke (Dyrham Park) won the Cunningham Salver for the best combined score at spring and autumn meetings.

BISHOPS STORTFORD RETAIN POWELL CUP Bishop's Stortford’s Jackie Foster and Rebecca Earl won the Powell Cup for the third year running after beating Welwyn Garden City, represented by Kelly Hutcherson and Esther Strous.

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DEC/JAN 2018 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HOPKINS MAKES HISTORY AT TELEGRAPH FINALS H ertfordshire’s Max Hopkins made history when he became the youngest ever winner of the Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship at Quinta do Lago in Portugal.

At just 14, Hopkins became the youngest boys’ champion since the prestigious event was first held in 1985. In the girls’ tournament, 15-yearold Annabell Fuller from Roehampton won in emphatic style, with a 13-stroke margin victory.

The pair took the crowns from holders Harry Goddard and Hannah Screen, who were unable to match their heroics of last year in a field of 21

SIX-WAY TIE AT BRAINTREE PRO-AM A perfect day for scoring saw six players tie for first place at the Braintree Pro/ Low Am, with just one shot separating the first nine places. James Scade (Little Channels) and Gary Carter (Five Lakes) both birdied the 18th to earn a share of the spoils, while Scott Hudson (The Warren) went one better by picking up an eagle at the final hole to also finish top. Jack Winer (Abridge), Andy Pestell (Chelmsford) and Steve Cipa (South Essex) also shared the first-place prize money. Sharing seventh place, and a solitary point in the Porsche Order of Merit, were Jason Levermore and Craig Housden, both from Little Channels, and Mark Talbott from Thorpe Hall.

COLES SHOOTS SIZZLING 62 Maylands Golf and Country Club’s Rob Coles won the Essex Professional at Rochford after shooting a nine-underpar 62, which was boosted by a holein-one at the par-three 15th. Runner up was Mason Papple (Stock Brook Manor), who in his first event as a professional scored a creditable 66, while third place was shared by Mark Talbott (Thorpe Hall) and Lloyd Kennedy (Woolston Manor).

XMAS CHEER FOR SHAKESPEAR AT THORNDON PARK Andy Shakespear’s four-under-par 67 was good enough to win the Christmas Pro-Am at Thorndon Park in Essex. The Rivenhall Oaks pro finished one shot clear of Brett Taylor, and three in front of Rob Coles. A total of 29 teams took part in the popular annual event, which was won by Taylor and his amateur partners Ron Sullivan, Patrick Bowler and Paul Wilkinson, who amassed 93 Stableford points.

competitors, and finished sixth and fourth respectively.

Despite his relative inexperience, Hopkins, from Bishop’s Stortford, kept his nerve during the three-day event to post scores of 71, 72 and 71 on Quinta do Lago’s North Course and finish on two under par, three shots clear of runner up Ben Jones from Brampton, Northamptonshire.

“That was my greatest win, and it will take time for this to sink in,” said Hopkins. “I had a few nerves on the short putts I had, but I wasn’t nervous coming up the last as I knew the other scores.”

Hopkins, who finished second in the English Boys’

FALDO PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE MOTHER

S

ir Nick Faldo has paid tribute to his ‘amazing’ mother, after she passed away aged 90.

Joyce Faldo, who lived in Welwyn Garden City her entire life, died peacefully of natural causes on November 6, with her son by her side.

The 60-year-old six-time major champion said: “My mother was a once-in-a-lifetime character who entertained us with a running commentary of everyday life. She has left us with unforgettable moments and memories. She was before her time in terms of health and fitness, advocating olive oils, long walks, and peaceful meditation. She appreciated the simple things and found heaven on earth in her own quiet garden. I affectionately and respectfully called her the ‘Iron Woman’.”

Faldo, who was a pupil at the Sir Frederic Osborn School in the town during the 1970s, added that it was his mother who had completely believed in his decision to leave school and commit to golf.

“She celebrated it all in a most proud and most protected

way,” he added. “She had the gift of gratitude; grateful for family, grateful for a walk, and grateful for her garden. In return, I feel eternal gratitude to her and true appreciation for the lessons of this most amazing character in my life.”

Mrs Faldo met her late husband George at an event she organised in 1946, before the pair wed six weeks later.

The two were their only son’s biggest supporter, letting him leave school at 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional golfer. In recent years, they served as hosts of the Faldo Trophy at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club, where they brought Nick for his first golf lesson at the age of 14.

Sir Nick said: “My mum travelled the world, but was happiest in the town her own father helped build. Welwyn Garden City had it all for her. She loved the lakes, the campus, the walks, Sherrardspark Wood, and the walk to Brocket Hall. I’m pretty sure my mum has walked more miles in Hertfordshire than near anyone, and she loved every step.”

In lieu of flowers, donations were invited to be made in Joyce Faldo’s memory to Faldo’s golfing charity, The Faldo Series.

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U16 Amateur, and third in the North of England Boys’ Open this year, showed nerves of steel on the super-fast greens, failing to register a single three-putt throughout the 54-hole event. “Two-putting takes a lot of shots off your score, and that’s the thing that has done it for me, as I haven’t played great off the tee this week,” he added.

Hopkins and co-overnight leader Alfie Fox, from London, remained level-pegging on the second day, before a dramafuelled sixth hole changed the complexion, when Denton’s James Wilson dropped three shots after finding trouble in the trees. Then Fox’s hopes

■ JOYCE FALDO'S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH SON NICK AND HER GRANDCHILDREN

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

crashed on the 11th hole when the Londoner lost his ball and then carded a nine after failing to get to grips with the green.

Fuller’s route to glory was somewhat more comfortable, as she saw off the highly-rated Lily May Humphreys, the British Amateur Girls’ champion, into second place for the second-year running.

The 15 year old, who plays off three, said: “This is close to the biggest win of my career,” said Fuller, the English Girls’ U16 champion. With a sevenshot lead at the turn, Fuller really turned the screw as she mustered five birdies in all, including a fine greenside chip in at the penultimate hole. “This is such an honour,” she added.

“There are so many who have won this and gone on to win big championships. One day I hope I can follow in their footsteps.”

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

MUSWELL HILL CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY

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he members at Muswell Hill Golf Club will be rolling out the bunting in 2018, when the historic North London venue celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding.

Located just five miles from the City, Muswell Hill has been serving up a golfing treat to the capital’s citizens since 1893, when, following a meeting in the Green Man Hotel, it was first decided to open a golf club for the men and women of the area to enjoy.

Starting out life as a 12-hole course, the layout was

extended to 18 in 1905, although it was reduced back to nine after the outbreak of World War I, when part of the course was used for allotments. Re-established as an 18-holer following the cessation of hostilities, Muswell Hill opened a new clubhouse in 1931.

Since then, the club has evolved into one of North London’s premier 18-hole parkland courses, offering views towards Alexandra Palace and beyond, and providing a challenge to golfers of all abilities.

The par-71, 6,416-yard layout has recently benefitted from a major renovation programme, following a course appraisal carried out by Ken Brown and Ken Moody’s Creative Golf Design, with several holes re-designed and most of the greens and bunkers rebuilt to improve drainage. This autumn has seen the building of new tees on the first, sixth and 11th holes, new greens on the first and fourth, and the planting of new trees on 16, 17 and 18.

The club currently offers a range of flexible membership packages, and boasts a thriving academy for beginners, The club regularly hosts regional and county events, and is popular with visiting societies due to quality of its facilities and its proximity to the city.

he world's top ten male golfers have earned an average of $781 for every shot in their professional careers, a new study has found.

Sports and fitness website Noob Norm analysed 20 years of tour data to arrive at the figure, which only includes shots played in PGA Tour events, so the total figure would be much higher.

World No.2 Jordan Spieth topped the rich list, banking $1,104 for every shot he has played since turning professional in 2012, while Rory McIlroy also broke the $1K barrier, earning an average of

$1,073 per shot.

World number one Dustin Johnson has a career average of $859 per shot; however, in 2017 he banked $1,696 for every shot played during a season in which he won four times.

While the current top ten players’ earnings per shot are impressive, there is one golfer, currently without an official world ranking, who has earned more than any of them.

Tiger Woods's career average

OSCAR TAKES THE SPOILS AT HANKLEY COMMON

Royal Mid Surrey‘s Oscar Granstrom Livesey won the first event of the 2017/18 Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series after shooting a sixunder-par 64 at Hankley Common. He dropped his only shot of the round at the final hole, but picked up seven birdies en route to bagging 42 points in the Stableford event. He finished three points ahead of Ben Wall (Tournebury), Billy Hemstock (Beaverbrook) and Adam Clough (Pedham Place). The second Winter Series event at Littlestone Golf Club saw Rustington Golf Centre’s Michael Bullen, Corhampton’s Adam Reid and Pentland Golf’s Steven Mitchell all shoot two-under-par 69s, scoring 38 Stableford points each to tie for top place.

KENT UNVEILS U13/14 TRAINING SQUADS

WORLD'S TOP TEN EARN $781 PER SHOT

T

[9]

Thirty-seven boys took part in a Kent Golf Union U14/14 squad trial at Hever Castle Golf Club run by PGA pro Peter Parks last month. Following the trial, the players named as automatic participants in the 2018 squads included Jake Antoun, Matthew Darbinson, Lucas Dennison, Joseph Drummond, Mastafa Hassan, George Harris-Andrews, Ciaran Higgins, Luke Jenkins, Jack Lee, James Munns, Charlie Sewell and Jack Shipton. earnings per shot of $1,282 puts him way ahead of the pack. His best year was 2008, when he earned $4,191 per shot. Woods returned to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas earlier this month, where he finished tied eighth in the 18man field on eight under par.

SHEERNESS WINS SRIXON JUNIOR LEAGUE PLATE

Sheerness Golf Club’s junior team won the plate competition after beating Dartford 201 at the Srixon Junior 4Somes League final held at Kings Hill. The team was headed by captain Liam Mason and also included Tom Abela, Tom Dutton, Charlie O’Reilly, Archie Knights and Archie Buckland.

AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WILL TREASURE

Located in Richmond-on-Thames, historical Royal Mid-Surrey is truly a London Club easily accessible from the city. With two 18-hole golf courses and a superb clubhouse, the club is the perfect venue for corporate golf days and golf societies.

Tailored packages are now available for 2018 starting from £125 for golf and a three-course meal.

Individual visitor green fees are also available on weekdays.

FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT GOLFGROUPSP@RMSGC.CO.UK OR CALL 020 8940 1894

WWW.RMSGC.CO.UK

[10] DEC/JAN 2018 | INTERVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JAMIE AND HIS MAGIC TOUCH

Matt Nicholson catches up with Kent PGA professional Jamie Harris, who is building a new golfing life in America after enjoying a successful career in the amateur and pro ranks in England

T

he world of professional golf is full of players who, given a more favourable bounce of the ball and a bit more luck at the right time, could have made a name for themselves, or, at the very least, earned a decent living on tour. I’ve lost count of the number of club pros I’ve played with in pro-ams who hit a very decent ball, but for one reason or another just haven’t managed to make that breakthrough that separates from the pack.

While out in America last month, playing in the American Golf Holiday Pro-Am Series, I was matched up for the week with Jamie Harris, who will be a familiar name to anyone with a passing interest in the Kent golfing scene, and who, in the nicest possible way, probably falls into this category.

While virtually all of the pros taking part in the event had made the trip over to Arizona with their playing partners from the UK, Jamie was already out there, having moved to the States just over a year ago to take up the position of Director of Instruction at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, an established private members’ club just outside of Scottsdale.

It’s not hard to see why he took the decision to swap the dark, damp winters of England for America’s mid-west, where the sun always shines and the quality of life for a local club professional is a good few notches above what is would be in the UK, yet it was a wrench all the same. But with his wife, Sandra, being from Scottsdale – they met during a pro-am here – the desire to be near family while their children are young was also a factor in the move.

“The biggest plus to life out here on a golfing level is undoubtedly the standard of the courses and the weather,” said Jamie. “Although, given the extreme temperatures out here, it's almost a complete reversal of life in the UK, as while golf pretty much shuts down in the winter back home, out here it can reach 120 degrees in the summer, which is just too hot for golf, but I'll take it over the cold winters we get in the UK.” Aside from the weather, he is still getting used to the locals talking about football when they really mean American Football and not soccer, and he’s yet to find a restaurant that serves a proper full English breakfast or a decent roast dinner, but he says they are ‘small prices to pay’ for the life they are able to lead in the desert.

“As much as I miss home, I couldn't imagine a nicer place to live,” Jamie says. “Although you have to watch out for the odd scorpion and rattlesnake when you’re out and about, thankfully, both tend to only come out at night, so you rarely encounter them.”

He gets back in touch with his golfing friends from his old days when the American Golf Holiday Pro-Am Tour rolls into town for its Scottsdale Tour, although for the rest of the time he is busy giving lessons at Red Mountain Ranch, and helping out at the local community college in Scottsdale, where he is the head golf coach.

It’s all a far cry, both in terms of mileage and culture, from the Kent golf scene that Jamie grew up in back in the 1980s. Born and raised in Tunbridge Wells, he first picked up a golf club when he was barely out of nappies, and joined the Nevill Golf Club in 1981, when he was just five. A natural talent, he rose quickly through the ranks at club, county and national level, winning the Sussex Boys Championship in 1993, aged 17, and the England Boys Championship for the Carris Trophy that same year.

The following season he won the English Boys' Open for the Peter McEvoy Trophy, beating David Howell in the final, and in doing so became the first player since Peter Baker to hold the Carris and the McEvoy trophies at the same time. His performances soon caught the eye of the England selectors, and he made his international debut at the World Junior Team Championship in Japan in 1994. Later that year he was part of the England that won the European Junior Team Championships in Portugal.

Looking to develop his game within the amateur ranks, Jamie

■ HARRIS HAS WON OVER A 100 TOURNAMENTS

THE R&A'S SECURITY THOUGHT I WAS SOME SORT OF PRANKSTER, BUT AFTER SHOWING THEM MY PLAYER’S BADGE, THEY THANKFULLY LET ME STAY won a golf scholarship to Brevard Community College in Florida, and soon made an impression in the States, winning the 1997 Southern Intercollegiate Championship in Alabama after beating Carl Pettersson in a play-off. Pettersson, who went on to win five times on the PGA Tour, is not the only decent player to have come out on the wrong end of battle with Jamie, who had a reputation for being able to go low when it mattered. “I played Justin Rose three times during my amateur days, and I beat him every time,“ Jamie recalls. “I am sure that when he’s sitting in his $10 million home in the Bahamas, looking at his US Open trophy, he still thinks about that!”

After graduating from college in 1998, Jamie returned to England and immediately turned pro. Attached to The Nevill, he got off to a dream start, winning his first event on the Futures Tour at Windlesham. Graduating to the EuroPro Tour in 2000, he won at St Mellion, and his career looked to be on even more of an upward curve, when, just weeks later, he fired a course record 63 at Scotscraig to qualify for The Open at St Andrews.

Jamie takes up the story of what was to be his first – and only – major appearance. “I was working at Sainsbury's at the time, and when I phoned my department manager to tell him I needed the rest of the week off to play in the Open, he just said ‘Don't take the piss’, and put the phone down. Fortunately the produce manager had seen me on Sky Sports, so he knew that I wasn’t trying to pull a fast one. Another slight problem was that I hadn’t brought enough clothes with me for the week, as I hadn’t figured on qualifying. So after some groveling with the apparel companies I managed to get kitted out for the week in everything other than pants – which I

bought from the local Asda – in a sale, of course!”

Things didn’t get any better when our hero arrived at the Home of Golf. “As I had flown up to Scotland, I had travelled light, so I only had my pencil bag with my clubs in. With no rainhood for protection, by the time I got to St Andrews on the Tuesday I had lost my towel and headcovers – so I was in a right state. When I got to the driving range, I parked myself in a bay between Vijay Singh, Mark O'Meara and Tiger Woods. The R&A’s security thought I was some sort of prankster, but after showing them my player’s badge they thankfully let me stay. It was just as well that I had the badge, because the way I hit the first few shots certainly wouldn't have convinced them that I played the game for a living! Not surprisingly, I shot 76 and 78 and missed the cut by 10 shots, but I had a great week, with the highlight meeting Jack Nicklaus, who is one of my all-time favourite players.”

Back down to earth, Jamie settled into life as a local pro, joining the PGA in 2004, and competing on the PGA South Region circuit, where he chalked up over 100 tournament wins, and broke numerous course records. His lowest was a 59, achieved during the first round of the Risebrough Trophy at Bognor Regis, while numerous 61s and 62s have followed. Although he enjoyed runnerup spots in the EuroPro Tour in 2008, and represented GB&I in the PGA Cup at Loch Lomond in 2009, Jamie’s career highlight came as late as 2011, when he qualified for the BMW PGA Championship, the Wales Open and the Scottish Open, after finishing runner up in the PGA Play Offs in 2010.

Jamie recalls the nervous few weeks he endured before teeing off at the European Tour’s headquarters. “Before playing in the BMW, I had spent the winter delivering aircraft parts for a freight company based in Crawley, so I had only played half a dozen times in the previous seven or eight months, and my game was more than rusty. Wentworth was cold and playing long, so I was delighted to par the first three holes, and thoughts were soon running through my head about that I was going to do with the £750,000 first prize. After a 50-minute wait to play the fourth hole, I made an eight, then started planning what I was going to do with my weekend off!”

Jamie’s last tour event came a few months later at the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. “Due to weather issues I started my second round Friday morning, and didn't complete it until Sunday morning,” he recalls. “I shot one-under-par 71s for both rounds and still missed the cut by two, which shows how hard competing on the tour is.”

Since winding down his playing career, Jamie, now aged 41, has been focusing on teaching, sharing much of the knowledge he has gained from some of the best players and coaches in the game.

His instruction covers all aspects of the game, paying particular attention to the short game, which offers club golfers the best opportunity to reduce their score. As Jamie says: "Golf is a great game, but it's certainly more fun when you play well.”

WINTER

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Sunday* to Thursday Excludes bank holidays

• Sausage and Bacon Muffin with Tea or Coffee • LGC Welcome Gift • Inclusive of Range Balls & use of Practice Facilities • 18 Holes on the International Course • 2 Course Meal after Golf Available Sunday – Thursday (*Sunday limited tee-times only), from 1st November to 15th April, subject to availability.

Must be booked in advance. Driving Range closed Monday from 10am for maintenance.

To book please contact the Club on 01474 879 899. www.londongolf.co.uk London Golf Club, Stansted Lane, Ash, Kent, TN15 7EH

[12] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

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The Tour was founded shortly after he reached the qualifying age of 50 in 1991, and he was the dominant figure in its early days.

He headed the money list in five seasons – 1993, 96, 97, 98 and 99 – winning 23 tournaments. He led the Tour’s career prize-winning chart until 2007, when he was overtaken by Carl Mason.

Horton, who was born in Lancashire, began his golfing career as an assistant professional, and then head professional, at Ham Manor Golf Club in Sussex.

He moved to Royal Jersey Golf Club as head professional in 1974, where he remained for 25 years until his retirement in 1999.

Horton was one of the ‘Butten boys’, a group of British professional golfers who were part of a training programme funded by Ernest Butten, an entrepreneur and joint founder of PA Consulting Group. Starting in 1963, Butten funded a residential golf school at Sundridge Park in Bromley, where Max Faulkner was employed as the teaching professional.

Reflecting on Horton’s career, PGA chief executive Robert Maxfield, said: “Despite his success at the game’s highest level Tommy was first and foremost a PGA Professional. He flew the flag for the association at every opportunity, especially during his year as captain. The days when club professionals like Tommy could excel on the Tour are long gone, but he never lived in the past and was always mindful of the game’s future. To that end he was the first honorary captain of the European Junior Ryder Cup team for the match in 2008 and for the three subsequent encounters. He also kept in touch with the PGA and attended the most recent biennial past captains’ lunch in March. He was accompanied by Helen, his wife, and we extend our deepest sympathy to her and his family at this desperately sad time.”

TOMMY HORTON

PASSES AWAY AT 76 T

ommy Horton, the former Ryder Cup player and PGA captain, has died after suffering a short illness.

The 76 year old was taken ill while attending an event at Royal Jersey Golf Club on December 7, and died that same evening.

Horton was PGA captain in 1978 and played in the Ryder Cup on two occasions. He won four European Tour events and finished in the top ten three times. His best year was 1976, when he was fifth.

His record on the Senior Tour was even more impressive.

PEPPERELL OPENS NEW PERFORMANCE CENTRE AT FRILFORD HEATH

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rilford Heath Golf Club called upon the services of its attached touring professional, Eddie Pepperrell, to help with the official opening of its new performance centre and professional’s shop last month.

Aided by England Golf chief executive Nick Pink, Pepperell hot-footed it from Dubai, where he was competing at the end-ofseason DP World Championship, to cut the ribbon at the unveiling of the new facility at the South Oxfordshire venue, where he is a longstanding member.

The new state-of-the-art centre will offer members and visitors the opportunity to practice and play on some of the world’s leading courses with the help of an innovative new golf simulator, as well as offering access to the latest in custom fitting technology in the club’s newly-renovated pro shop.

Pepperell said: “We live in a everchanging world when it comes to technology and innovation,

and golf is very much part of that hi-tech revolution. Golf needs to embrace technological advances if it is to remain attractive and relevant to the new generation of golfers, and this new state-of-theart performance centre at Frilford Heath does just that.”

The new facilities are being managed by the club’s team of PGA professionals, including Sean Elliot, Chris Richardson and Harriet Matthews. September saw the club open a new six-hole academy course, which took the number of holes on offer at Frilford Heath to 60, with the Yellow course joining the club’s Red, Blue and Green 18hole courses. The six-hole layout features 12 synthetic tees and six synthetic greens, with the longest hole being just 86 yards.

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NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

[13]

ROYAL MID-SURREY REFLECTS ON ‘MOMENTOUS’ YEAR

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oyal Mid-Surrey Golf Club has enjoyed a year to remember, after marking its 125th anniversary with a series of special events both on and off its two 18-hole courses and entertaining guests from around the world.

“It’s been a momentous year for the club and all those fortunate enough to be associated with it,” said chairman Chris Holt. “We’ve welcomed guests from 22 other ‘Royal’ golf clubs spread across the globe; staged several top level tournaments and numerous interclub matches; plus added a record number of new members, many of whom took part in our celebrations from the summer onwards,” he added.

The highlight of the anniversary was the festival celebrations weekend in June, when the club held a presidents and captains reception, followed by a four-ball better ball

competition across both courses and a barbecue attended by 450 people; and a foursomes team event followed by a gala dinner with 400 guests.

“There have been so many memorable events and everyone at the club has embraced the occasion and contributed to making it a great success,” said long-standing member Patrick Cunningham. “The captains’ committee started planning events two years ago, and the activities raised the profile of the club at all levels. We had an amazing response from everyone invited to take part, including two guests from each of the other ‘Royal’ clubs represented from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.”

Competitions secretary Emma Dickinson, who spearheaded the event operations, said: “Feedback from visitors and guests has been universally positive, and the

SIMPLE MINDS SET TO ROCK WENTWORTH

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cottish rock band Simple Minds has been booked to play at the 2018 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on May 27.

Best known for their singles Don’t You Forget About Me and Alive and Kicking, the Glaswegians have sold more than 70 million records worldwide, and will draw from a back catalogue which includes five number one albums when they take to the stage after the final putt has dropped at the iconic Surrey club.

With their 17th album due at the start of 2018, Simple Minds is preparing to follow in the footsteps of the Kaiser Chiefs, Mike and the Mechanics and Status Quo, all of

celebrations have also brought us closer to our local community.

We’ve also been able to strengthen relationships with local businesses, such as Fullers Brewery and Majestic Wines, who were keen to support the club through sponsorship across the festival.”

During the club’s milestone year, the JH Taylor course hosted the Men’s Surrey County Championships and the English Women’s Open Matchplay, while the traditional Mothers & Daughters Open was played over the club’s Pam Barton course. A final element of the celebrations saw the

publication of Baptism of Fire - A New History of Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club.

The 200-page book is co-authored by club members Patrick Eagar and Neil Bennett, and tells the story of the club since its centenary with a superb range of pictures, profiles of prominent players, and fascinating stories.

whom have played at the BMW PGA Championship in recent years.

Lead singer Jim Kerr, who has fronted the band since the late seventies, said: “It’s fantastic that we will be able to experience something we have never done before. We’re very excited to bring the curtains down on what promises to be an enthralling week on the golf course. Bringing music to a golf event is a fantastic idea, and we are relishing the chance to be part of it.”

Early bird tickets for all four days of the tournament, plus the Wednesday Celebrity Pro-Am, are available to buy online now through www.eventbrite.com, with the Sunday afternoon ticket, including the concert, costing £40. For information regarding hospitality and VIP packages, email enquiries@ europeantourhospitality.com or call 01344 840550.

The drive of your life Home to the 2017 PGA Cup, Foxhills Club & Resort is the ideal destination for your next round.

Located amongst picturesque countryside, Foxhills features two Championship golf courses and blends friendly service with exceptional greens. The first club in the UK to offer luxury buggies equipped with built-in GPS course guide, golf days and residential golf breaks in our 4* AA hotel are available.

Play 18 holes as a fourball with a hot toddy at the half way hut for just £200, or hold your next golf day with breakfast, 18 holes and a two-course lunch for only £60 per person.

Discover why Foxhills has Championship golf down to a tee.

Stonehill Road, Ottershaw, Surrey KT16 0EL t: 01932 704465 foxhills.co.uk/offers/golf/winter2017/pga

[14] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LONDON CLUB TEES UP GOLF-THEMED CHRISTMAS GIFT I f you’re looking to give something golfrelated to a family member or friend this Christmas, then there’s nothing more appropriate for the golfobsessed people in your life than a free golf outing.

London Golf Club in Kent has come up with the idea of a gift card, which make perfect presents for golfers, especially as the Brands Hatch-based venue is offering a 10 per cent festive bonus on each card bought from now until December 24.

If you purchase a £50 card, the recipient will actually receive

£55 to spend at the club, while a £75 card comes with a £7.50 bonus, and the £100 card with an extra £10.

Ideal for family and friends who love golf, the London Golf Club gift cards can be redeemed at one of Kent’s finest golf facilities for green fees, apparel ,or equipment in the pro shop.

The gift cards can also be

TUDOR PARK LAUNCHES JUNIOR TEAMS IN 2018

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udor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club in Kent is to break new ground in 2018, after it decided to set up a junior golf team to compete in local matches at the start of next season.

The formation of a junior golf team has been possible due to the huge leap forward in the number of young players coming to Tudor Park, which has seen junior membership increase by 20% in the last year. And at lNovember's inaugural junior awards evening, the team members proudly showed off their new kit, which has generously been sponsored by one of Tudor Park’s adult members and the club’s men’s committee.

“We have made junior golf a key focus over the past 18 months, and both ourselves and our adult members are committed to encouraging young players to join in, have fun, and become competitive in a sport they love,” said Stephen Haffenden, the club’s junior golf organiser. “We have seen so much progress among our young players, from those that come along to our school holiday golf camps, to our junior members – a lot of them are more than good enough to play competitively.”

LYDD

LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH NEW STAFF

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used as payment towards one of the club’s winter golf packages, which are priced from £85 per person. The package includes a sausage and bacon muffin with tea or coffee on arrival, a welcome gift, range balls, and use of the comprehensive practice facilities, 18 holes on the International Course, and a two-course meal in the clubhouse after golf.

Available from Sunday to Thursday until April 15 2018, the package offers incredible value, as the International, host of the 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship, is a highlyregarded downland course.

Gift cards can be purchased directly from the club or by calling 01474 879 899.

Tudor Park holds GolfMark status, endorsed by Golf England and English Women’s Golf Association, which recognises clubs that make an outstanding and innovative contribution to junior and beginner golf. It was also one of the first clubs in Kent to have academy tees on its 18-hole course, allowing junior players – and adult beginners – to tee off closer to the green. This year, the club has expanded its junior golf camps to accommodate a growing number of children interested in learning to play golf during the school holidays, and it started an order of merit competition for its junior members.

At the junior awards event, the junior club championship trophy was won by 14-year-old Bailey Korkis, while a special trophy was presented to 13-yearold Ellena Slater, a pupil at Maidstone Grammar School, who won the adult ladies club championship.

In 2018, Tudor Park plans to introduce its junior team to home and away friendly matches, hold junior match play competitions, and encourage youngsters to play in its adult competitions.

ydd Golf Club in Kent has recently filled two key roles at the club following the appointment of a new head PGA professional and a new head greenkeeper.

Nick Warwick returns to the club as head professional, while James Bass has been installed as head greenkeeper. Warwick has been a PGA pro for over 10 years, having worked at venues all over the South East coast, including more recently at Rye Golf Club, where he was assistant head pro.

He has developed a strong reputation as a coach, and one of his main objectives at Lydd is to encourage more ladies and juniors back to the club, which boasts fantastic practice facilities, including a floodlit covered driving range and a six-hole par-three academy course, which are perfect for beginners ust starting out in the game.

“This is an exciting challenge for me and one which I relish,” said Warwick. “We have all the facilities and assets a golf club could wish for, and it is now about getting people through the door to come and enjoy our club. The golf course is unique; more of a lakes course than classic links, but being near the coast gives it that links feel, with the wind, coupled with the firm fairways and greens.”

Bass, 24, is delighted to become head greenkeeper at such a young age. He has developed his skills as an assistant greenkeeper at nearby Littlestone Golf Club. He felt ready for a fresh challenge and has already made a big impact at Lydd, with members and visitors commenting on how the course has transformed since his arrival.

Bass said: “Since I arrived at the end of September, I have installed a programme which will get the course in good shape through the winter months. We are lucky here that the course drains well, allowing our golfers to play without the use of temporary greens or winter tees. I am very excited to see how the course develops into the spring.”

Society Par 3 Challenge

Back by popular demand for 2018 is the Reading Golf Club Par 3 Challenge for Golf Societies

Any members of a golf society (min 12 players) who score 8 points or more in one round during a society visit in 2018 will be entered into a draw at the end of the year with the prize being a return visit in 2019 for the whole society! With the longest par 3 measuring just 157 yards from the yellow tees this doesn’t sound too difficult and with Society Packages from just £39.95 it is the ideal venue for your golf society this year.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITION | DEC/JAN 2018

[15]

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INTERVIEW | DEC/JAN 2018

STEADIER EDDIE

After enjoying his best ever season on the European Tour, Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell explains how he got his game back on track following last year’s trip to the dreaded Q School INTERVIEW BY JEREMY ELLWOOD

A

fter a slow start to 2017, you came to life in the second half of the season, finishing 16th at the US Open and bagging half a dozen top-ten finishes. What sparked the improved form?

I think it been coming for a while, to be honest.

I was striking the ball well in the early part of the year, but the putter was pretty cold, which is the reason why the results didn’t come earlier.

But the putter was a little more consistent in the middle part of the season, and that showed through in my results.

I also took on a new caddie, Mick Doran, midway through the year, and he has made a really positive impact. He was on the bag for the KLM Open and the Portuguese Masters, where I finished third both times. We had a great game plan and we committed to it. My game was good for two or three weeks – I think I shot ten consecutive rounds in the 60s from the end of the Czech Masters to the beginning of the British Masters, and bagged three top-five finishes, so that was the most consistent I’ve played for a long, long time.

So you went from thinking about a possible return to qualifying school to focusing on the Race to Dubai final series?

Yes, it was a timely turnaround.

Did that allow you to play more aggressively?

I’ve always felt that I’ve played my best when I’ve needed to. Sometimes you can get complacent if things are sewn up. Listen, the idea of getting to Dubai doesn’t excite me now, because I’ve been there twice before. I don’t just want to be competing in these top events, I want to be winning them. I believe I’m good enough to, and I’m finally getting my game back to a level where I’ll be able to. It sounds ambitious, but you’ve got to set yourself high targets.

Thinking back to the US Open, does the international qualifier held at Walton Heath somehow play to your advantage, as you’ve come through there before?

I think it’s the third time I’ve been to Walton Heath and I’ve qualified twice, so it has certainly been a happy hunting ground for me. I think if you go to Walton Heath and play well, you’ve definitely got a good chance [of qualifying], because there aren’t that many people there, and they’re not all going to play well.

How much of a confidence booster was it to perform as well as you did at the US Open?

Confidence is a funny thing, isn't it? I'm not going to try and explain it, or we'll be here a while, but I try not to think too much about it. I don’t know how much I play off confidence. Anyhow, the US Open was huge for me. Crikey, just to play good golf again in that environment was massive.

But, for me, it’s little things like not shooting over par out there that were most rewarding about the experience. I look at that kind of stuff more than I do playing in front of big crowds.

Frankly, I’ve always loved showing off, but it was having the skill set to go out there and not shoot over par and finish in 16th place, that was really positive. Bogey-free rounds excite me the most, because I feel like I’m going to have days where I shoot seven or eight under par, but it’s those days when things aren't going your way, and you still get round the course in level par, that show you how good you are.

So is it more about making your bad rounds better than how good the good rounds are?

Yes, and I think the way that I’ve been able to do that is by putting a strong 3-wood in the bag. If I get a tee shot that I’m not overly comfortable with, I can now pull a club out of the bag that I’m totally comfortable with. Generally speaking

now, I’m able to keep the ball in play with a 3-wood, whereas I’ve struggled to do that with the driver for a number of years. But because I’m getting the ball in play so much more, the strength of my iron play comes into its own, and from there it's just a case of how well I’m putting.

That has been streaky this year, and I still want to improve it, but it’s getting better.

I also feel there’s a lot more consistency throughout my game in terms of shot patterns.

I've hit very few shots where I've looked up and been surprised by the start line. I'm a big ‘start line’ kind of a guy. If I'm starting the ball on line, I feel I can play really good golf. When I'm not, when I'm struggling, I'm starting the ball in quite a specific window.

How much shorter off the tee are you with the 3-wood than your driver?

It’s not that much shorter, because it's so strong – it's a 13˚ Callaway Epic 3-wood – and, if I hit it right, it goes pretty much as far as my driver, which is about 280-290 yards, so it's a great club, and has been an awesome addition to my bag this year.

How close do you feel you are to getting your first win on Tour?

I honestly don't know. I think Portugal was probably the closest I came this year. I was two shots behind the leader going into the final round, but ultimately would have had to shoot a 62 to win it, so it wasn’t really on. My recent good results have been kind of sneaky, backdoor top-fives. They are nice, obviously, but I wasn’t

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in the lead or really in contention going into the back nine on Sunday. I feel like there's nothing in my game that’s getting in the way of me winning tournaments. The game is pretty solid. I just need to make it happen.

Twelve months ago, you were at Tour School trying to regain your playing rights, and now you'll be playing in all the top European Tour events next season. Does the struggle you went through last year make where you’re at now more enjoyable?

Not really. Of course, I'd rather be playing in the Race to Dubai finals than be at Q School in Spain, but you know, it's golf, isn't it? I'll always enjoy playing good golf, whether I'm playing on the Euro Pro Tour or the European Tour. It doesn't really matter too much to me. I just want to feel comfortable on the course and hit good shots. That's where I get most of my enjoyment out of golf.

But you must take some pride in the way that you’ve bounced back...

My dad and I predicted that 2017 would be my best year – and I’m glad to have proven us both right. People react to the bad, and I had a bad year in 2016, but I have come back, and from June onwards I have been playing really good golf. I’m certainly optimistic about the future. I want to do what I’ve done over the last six months over the next 12 months. With the access I will have to the bigger events next season, I feel there’s a big opportunity for me to really kick on and see where it takes me.

PEPPERELL’S 2017 PERFORMANCE RECORD (2016 IN BRACKETS) WORLD RANKING: 139 (327) RACE TO DUBAI RANKING: 42 (113) EVENTS PLAYED: 24 (22) CUTS MADE: 17 (10) TOP 10S: 7 (3) PRIZE MONEY: €971,896 (€245,051) STROKE AVERAGE: 70.74 (72.03) DRIVING ACCURACY: 61% (49%) DRIVING DISTANCE: 288 YDS (SAME) GREENS IN REG: 72% (66%) PUTTS PER ROUND: 29.83 (29.7)

[18] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BELFRY RETAINS ‘BEST GOLF HOTEL’ AWARD T he Belfry’s status as the most popular golf resort in Europe was reconfirmed last month, when the iconic Midlands-based venue won ‘Europe’s Best Golf Hotel’ for a second consecutive year at the 2017 World Golf Awards.

The four-time Ryder Cup venue also picked up England’s Best Golf Hotel for the fourth year running, while its celebrated Dave Thomasdesigned Brabazon Course was voted England’s Best Golf Course at the awards ceremony held at La Manga in Spain.

Chosen by golfers from all over the world, the awards sit alongside the World Travel Awards, which recently named The Belfry as ‘England’s Leading Conference Hotel’ and ‘England’s Leading Resort’ at a ceremony in St Petersburg, Russia.

James Stewart, The Belfry’s resort director, commented: “It is an honour to be named Europe’s Best Golf Hotel for a second consecutive

year, and we would like to thank every golfer from across the world who voted for us. As the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup, we are challenged every day to ensure the quality and service we provide to our customers is of a world-class standard.

“The dedication and hard work put in by the whole team across the resort has taken The Belfry onto another level this year – proved by a recent 59club rating that put the resort in the top three for customer service across Europe.”

■ PETER APPLEYARD

■ THE BELFRY

Stewart added: “I would also like to give a special mention to our Director of Golf, Chris Reeve, who joined us earlier this year, and who has lifted standards across all of our golfing facilities, including the PGA National Golf Academy. Once again, Angus Macleod and

his skilled greenkeeping team have done a remarkable job on all three courses. In particular, the conditioning of the Brabazon has been enhanced yet again, ensuring a true Ryder Cup experience every day of the week, every week of the year.”

APPLEYARD ESCAPES TO VICTORY IN THE ALGARVE

S

ittingbourne PGA professional Peter Appleyard swept to victory in the Golf Escapes Algarve PGA South Overseas Pro-Am with a ten-under-par winning total.

Played around Laranjal, Appleyard opened with a level-par 72 which included five birdies. Good as that was, he was still five shots off the pace behind first-round leaders Richard Wallis and Chris Gane, who both shot 67s.

Appleyard’s next round at the stunning Monte Rei looked unpromising, with a double-bogey six on the third hole, but four birdies in five holes turned things round, and despite a bogey on the tenth, Appleyard made another four birdies on the way home for a 67, three shots better than his nearest rival.

Now in with a decent chance against current and former Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champions Wallis and Wootton, Appleyard played flawless golf around Quinta do Lago’s South course. Three birdies on the way out were combined with two more on the way home for his 67, which proved good enough to win by two shots.

Wootton’s seven birdies were spoiled by two dropped shots, while Wallis’s putter went cold, and would only deliver two birdies and an eagle for his closing 69.

A delighted Appleyard said: “This is one terrific event! Golf Escapes and the PGA laid on a wonderful four days and three top courses, which we played in lovely weather. To then come out on top was truly icing on the cake!”

Appleyard went the whole hog, winning the team event as well. He and his three amateurs, which included Wildernesse’s Mark Roy, won by just the one stroke from Darren Walkley’s team.

Whitgift.

Whitgift School is one of Britain’s finest independent day and boarding schools for boys aged 10 –18. The School has an enviable national reputation for academic excellence, sporting success and all-round achievement.

Beneficiaries of the golf programme have competed at county and national level. Recent graduates have turned professional and received golfing scholarships at universities both in the USA and the UK. See what Whitgift can do for you: n Golf scholarships offered n Outstanding academic record n Lessons by resident PGA professionals n Elite Golf Academy places by invitation n Surrey Golf Lab tailor-made programmes n Numerous national and major school golf tournament winners n On-site practice facilities n Home fixtures at Croham Hurst GC and The Addington GC n Regular national and international tours

For further details on golf at Whitgift, please contact: admissions@whitgift.co.uk +44 (0)20 8633 9935 www.whitgift.co.uk/opendays Whitgift School, Haling Park, South Croydon, CR2 6YT, United Kingdom

Whitgift. From foundation to excellence.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

PLAYING QUICKLY LOWERS YOUR SCORES – AND IMPROVES THE BANK BALANCE – STUDY REVEALS

certainly open a lot of eyes in the locker rooms. Personally, for my game, the findings have given me a lot to think about, but I think they’ll also be of interest to the amateurs that are looking for ways to get their handicaps down.”

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “I’m constantly thinking about how the game of golf will evolve and what the future looks like. Without a doubt, data analytics and the kind of insights provided from the RSM Player Performance Study will be core to that future. The more data we can make available, the more the pro golfers, and amateurs, will be able to understand the nuances in their performances, and hopefully gain that extra edge or advantage.”

G

olfers can lower their scores if they spend less time standing over the ball, according to a new study conducted with European Tour players by auditing firm RSM International.

The player performance study, which was carried out in collaboration with the European Tour, collected data on 47 European Tour professionals over five tournaments, taking in 304 rounds of golf and 22,579 shots. Led by Dr Matt Bridge, senior lecturer in Coaching & Sports Science at the University of Birmingham, the study revealed a number of key findings, including that a shorter time over the ball resulted in a 90 per cent increase in the likelihood of strokes gained.

The study investigated what would happen to a player’s score if shots where a player spent one second or more than their average at address were adjusted. Using the data from the 20 players with more than eight rounds of data for consistency, it was found that should these shots all be set to the outcome of an average putt

[19]

or shot for that distance to the hole, they would finish the tournament, on average, 1.2 shots lower.

Each player’s tournament finishes were then adjusted based on the number of strokes lower their score would be at the end of a tournament. This resulted in an average increase in winnings of €189,000 for these 20 players.

Ryder Cup player Andy Sullivan said: “Could findings like these be a potential game-changer? Absolutely. As players in a complex game, with so many variables, it’s crucial that we look at the data and how even tiny changes can help improve our performance. The average figure of €189,000 more a year if players spend less time over the ball will

■ ON THE CLOCK: SPEEDING UP PLAY NEEDN'T COST YOU SHOTS

RICHMOND PARK CHARITY DAY DRIVES UP FOUNDATION FUNDS

T

■ STEVE TAVERNIER WITH HIS WEEKEND DRIVE

he old golfing maxim that you ‘drive for show and putt for dough’ rang especially true for one lucky golfer at Richmond Park Golf Course in Surrey last month.

When Steve Tavernier took part in a charity putting challenge, he slotted home a 50-foot putt to bag the top prize of a weekend’s use of a Jaguar F-Pace luxury SUV, supplied courtesy of Guy Salmon Thames Ditton. Not only did he get to enjoy this

stylish motor, but also received a £200 voucher to put towards a brand new Etiqus golf watch.

The putting challenge was part of an event organised by the Richmond Park golf team to raise funds for the Golf Foundation. Set up in 1952, the registered charity is dedicated to providing an opportunity for young people to enjoy the benefits of golf, regardless of background or ability.

Jon Dummett, general manager at Richmond

Park Golf Course, said: "We had many fun and exciting attractions at this year's fundraising event, including the Caddyshack barbecue and beer tent, beginner golf lessons, and the putting challenge. All proceeds from the event, which amounted to £550, were donated to the Golf Foundation. We really appreciate the generosity of Guy Salmon Thames Ditton and Etiqus Watches for providing such amazing prizes."

golf_news_quarter_page.qxp_137mm_160mm 07/12/2017 16:00 Page 1

A Great Short Game Makes Winners

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[20] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 |INTERVIEW

EURO FIGHTER Having lead the Race to Dubai for almost the entire season, Tommy Fleetwood managed to hold onto the top spot after a gripping finale in Dubai. Here’s his reaction to being Europe’s No.1 and how he hopes it will kickstart his push to even greater achievements

I

t’s not often you get to celebrate for finishing 21st in a tournament, so how hard was it to deal with your emotions after the final round in Dubai?

For a while I didn’t quite know how to react, as I obviously hadn’t finished off the tournament the way I would have wanted to, so the Race to Dubai was effectively out of my hands. I was just relying on someone else’s performance. It was a weird situation, as I didn't feel like I could take any credit for what I had just achieved, even though I’d played well for most of the year.

The whole final week was an emotional rollercoaster for me. The first round was poor, and then I got it back on the second day, and then the third day was up and down. And then I didn’t get anything going in the final round, but I still won the Race to Dubai.

How much sympathy did you feel for Justin Rose?

Golf’s a funny old game, but it can also be such a cruel and difficult game at times. Justin played unbelievable golf for three-and-a-half days, and then just let it slip a bit on the back nine. He was very gracious, and came over and congratulated me, and it says a lot about his character that he was able to do that. It’s never nice to lose, but that’s sport. We all have good days and not-so-good days.

You led the Race to Dubai for almost the entire season.

How would it have felt to have had it snatched away from you at the end?

It’s the nature of being in front that you’re there to be shot at, and past years have shown that are always going to be two, three or more players who are in with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai at the final event. The achievement of winning a season-long title is massive. The Race to Dubai is held in very high regard by all the players on tour. It rewards a level of consistency, and I’m proud that I’ve managed to keep my game ticking over for such an extended period of time.

Were all these permutations roaming around in your head, and did that affect your performance at all?

No, I was trying to win the tournament, and I felt like I could; I was playing well. It just didn't turn out that way. I was right back in the tournament after the second round, and was only two shots off the lead on Sunday, but when Justin pulled ahead, it became harder to concentrate on what I

MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD. THAT WILL ALWAYS BE THE OVERALL AMBITION. WHETHER I ACHIEVE IT OR NOT IS ANOTHER THING, BUT I'LL ALWAYS STRIVE FOR THAT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INTERVIEW | DEC/JAN 2018

it or not is another thing, but I'll always strive for that. I think this year has been a big year in terms of my career.

I feel like I’ve put myself on the world stage with my performances in Mexico and at the US Open. When we sit down after this year, we'll make sure that the goals are set high, and that I push myself to achieve more.

I've got a lot of experience under my belt over the last two or three years, and I think I’ve learned from those experiences. I know that you can go down the wrong path very easily, and I think I've got people around me that know how to help me stay on the right path.

was doing, and not look at what he was doing. But for the most part, I stayed in the moment, and played my own game, taking it hole by hole. It's not an easy thing to do, but I’m pleased with how I handled it.

Was there a point when you thought you’d blown it?

It’s hard to say, really. After I’d come off the 18th, having made bogey at the last two holes, I sat on the couch and was just watching the TV, not being able to do anything.

It was all out of my control. It was tough. I thought the way Justin was playing, it was going to be hard for me to win, but he struggled over a few holes coming in, and that was that. Of course, I would have preferred it to have been easier, but at the same time, it's been absolutely brilliant going head to head, and having a bit of a dogfight with Justin, who, in my eyes, is one of the greatest players in recent times.

Justin was a similar age when he won the Order of Merit for the first time and we've seen what he's gone on to achieve. Do you see it as a springboard to majors and Ryder Cups?

I hope so. I have nothing but respect for Justin and what he has achieved so far. He's got one of the strongest records around, and he's got a hell of a mantelpiece. He's had a great career to date, and hopefully this will be the beginning of the next stage of mine. I want to win a lot more golf tournaments, and play well in the big events, so we’ll sit down at the end of the year and reassess where my goals lie.

What is the one thing above all others that you think won this for you?

It’s an obvious thing to say, but my consistency ultimately won it for me. Even these last five or six events, when I came back after having the baby, I didn't do anything special really, but I had a couple of top tens, and I was never outside the top 25. When your good golf comes, you have to make the most of it, which I did a lot of the time. Sometimes it doesn't always happen when you're in form. You don't quite get the performances you want. But I won twice, I finished second twice, and one of them was a WGC, and I finished fourth in the US Open. I had the big finishes when I was

[21]

playing well, and when I wasn't – I missed only four cuts – I felt like I was always making headway.

If somebody told you 18 months ago that you’d be sitting here now with the Race to Dubai trophy in your hands, what would you have thought?

It’s certainly been a big turnaround. Looking back to the BMW at Wentworth in 2016, I genuinely considered pulling out there, because I didn’t think I’d be able to get it off the first tee. I was that embarrassed about how I was hitting it. In all honesty, I was scared of what I was going to do. So that has always been like a benchmark for me to see where I've been, and where I've come from, because that was my lowest moment as a pro. Eighteen months or so later, and I’ve won the Race to Dubai. I couldn’t have got here without the help of a lot of people – they know who they are – but I can't give them enough credit.

I know I am out there hitting the shots, but there's a lot of work goes into it that people don't see. I’m just so grateful to everyone around me.

After winning in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year, what did you say to yourself? And how did you keep it all going?

Well, I'm quite a determined person, and I have a lot of goals in my career and in my game. It was a goal to win again, of course, but it wasn't the be-all and end-all. I hadn’t won in three or four years, so to come out and win early on told me that my game was back to somewhere near where I wanted it to be. So I wanted to win again, and I was very confident that I could. And I nearly did so again at the WGC in Mexico.

A lot of players who haven’t won in a while, or before, tend to take their foot off the gas when they do win, but I didn’t see that as the time to relax or step off. I see why it happens, because it's such a high, winning, and it's a skill to be able to not get too ahead of yourself, or stay at a certain level, because it is a massive come-down. But, you know, once you've won a tournament, you get to the next venue two days later and nobody cares. I was practising in Qatar the following week, and people were coming over and saying ‘well done’, and they were happy for me, but they’ve got their own games to worry about.

You have to stay focused, because there's always another week where 155 guys are out there that want to win.

How good do you think you can you be?

Very, I hope. My ultimate goal is to be the best player in the world. That will always be the overall ambition. Whether I achieve

Is the next stage playing more in America?

I obviously want to play a bit more over there next year, and with three of the four majors being there, and most of the WGCs, I will be there a lot more. I’ve really enjoyed the tournaments I’ve played in the States, and think the courses suits my style of play. Playing against the best players in the world has to make you a better player. It’s still a big learning curve for me, but I’m excited about the prospect of testing myself out in different conditions and on different courses, and seeing where it takes me.

You became a dad for the first time at the end of September. How did that impact on your season?

I took six weeks off after the birth, but, if anything, it gave me a bit of a welcome breather, and just allowed me to take my mind off golf for a while and focus on looking after Claire and Frankie. It felt like I hadn’t played for a year when I came back, but I was surprised how quickly I was able to get back into the swing of things again.

It’s important to find a balance in life, so I’m sure the demands of parenthood will make sure I get that.

FLEETWOOD’S 2017 RACE TO DUBAI JOURNEY TOURNAMENT POS. PRIZE MONEY UBS HONG KONG OPEN

T3

€105,341

ABU DHABI CHAMPIONSHIP

1

€421,139

QATAR MASTERS

MC

0

DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

MC

0

MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

T12

€40,236

WGC MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP

2

€984,270

WGC - DELL TECHNOLOGIES

T39

€58,894

MASTERS TOURNAMENT

62

€9,283

SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL

2

€291,347

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

MC

0

US OPEN

4

€504,738

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN

T6

€65,000

HNA OPEN DE FRANCE

1

€1,040,824

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN

T10

€113,353

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

T27

€56,228

WGC BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL T28

€62,457

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

T61

€18,005

OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS

MC

0

ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS

T25

€36,142

ITALIAN OPEN

T6

€166,982

WGC - HSBC CHAMPIONS

T20

€76,104

TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN

T23

€63,737

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

T10

€121,899

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

T21

€82,929

FLEETWOOD’S 2016-17 EUROPEAN TOUR STATS EVENTS PLAYED: 24 WINS: 2 TOP 10: 10 TOP 25: 15 MISSED CUTS: 4 PRIZE MONEY: €5,420,530 STROKE AVERAGE: 69.72 DRIVING DISTANCE: 299.64 YDS FAIRWAYS IN REG: 70.78% GREENS IN REG: 77.35% AVERAGE PUTTS: 30.44

[22] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HERTS GOLF BODIES TO MERGE IN 2018

CASEY HOPES TO REJOIN THE BRIT PACK

T

he Hertfordshire Golf Union is to merge with the Hertfordshire County Ladies Golf Association in 2018.

The two bodies agreed to a new combined body called 'Hertfordshire Golf Limited' following meetings held on November 27. The HGU held an Extraordinary General Meeting at Brookmans Park, while at the same time the HCLGA held its annual general meeting at Aldwickbury Park.

At the HGU EGM, 40 attendees representing 24 affiliated clubs voted on the two resolutions, while at the HCLGA AGM, where postal votes were allowed, they had already amassed over 200 votes from individuals cast prior to the meeting.

In both cases the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the merger, and the new body will commence operations as of January 1, 2018.

Hertfordshire is the fifth county in England to have a merged county body.

KENT GOLF APPOINTS NEW SECRETARY

P

aul Casey is keen to underline his renewed commitment to the European Tour by joining four of his old Ryder Cup teammates in hosting the British Masters in the not too distant future.

Casey rejoined the European Tour last month after concentrating on the PGA Tour for three years — and said that his motivation for reapplying for membership was not just about getting back into the Ryder Cup squad.

The 40 year old, who played for Surrey during his junior amateur days, aims to prove that by following Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and next year’s host, Justin Rose, as a driving force behind the British Masters.

The event has gone from strength to strength

since it was re-launched in 2015, and Casey will play in it next year, when it will be hosted by Justin Rose at Walton Heath Golf Club, before offering to take the hosting reins himself.

World No 14 Casey said: “We’ve talked for years about the need for more tournaments in England. But instead of just complaining about it, those four players have really grabbed the bull by the horns. The idea of playing in it next year is tempting, especially as it is going to be played at one of my favourite courses – Walton Heath.”

He added: “I would love to serve as host, too, because even though the Ryder Cup is clearly a priority, my decision to rejoin the European Tour is not solely about making the team for Paris. I’m looking to spend at least the next five

St Mellons Golf Club St Mellons, Cardiff, CF3 2XS Tel: 01633 680 408 Email: secretary@stmellonsgolfclub.co.uk

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or six years playing in Europe and the States, providing my form doesn’t fall through the floor again.”

Casey needs to play four European Tour events outside the Majors and World Golf Championship tournaments to become eligible for the Ryder Cup. So far, he has committed himself only to the Abu Dhabi Championship in January, but his schedule looks set to take in more events in Europe later in the year, as those held in the summer carry double Ryder Cup points.

He has also been selected as a wildcard by Thomas Bjorn to play for Europe in January’s EurAsia Cup, which pits 12 European players against 12 players from Asia.

K

ent Golf has appointed Sarah McDonald as its new county secretary.

A member of Wildernesse and Littlestone golf clubs, Mcdonald previously held the post of honorary secretary of the Kent County Ladies Golf Association committee. She is the first woman to hold the post of county secretary in Kent Golf’s history.

As part of a restructuring of management roles, the country has also appointed Simon Wood to the new post of golf manager. Wood, who was previously golf and facilities manager at Sundridge Park, will be tasked with arranging the many fixtures organised by the county during the year, as well as providing a better liaison with affiliated clubs.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EPSOM MOVES WITH THE TIMES Epsom Golf Club is staying one step ahead of the competition thanks to its constant investment in its beautiful downland course and its historic clubhouse, while offering a range of affordable and user-friendly membership packages

Set within the beautiful Kent countryside, our golf course offers an experience you’ll want to come back for time and again.

WINTER OFFER

E

psom Golf Club has a reputation for being one of the friendliest private members clubs in Surrey, and for providing a challenging and enjoyable test of golf for many generations of golfers since its founding in 1889.

Despite its rich and impressive past, the club is not one to get weighed down with history or tradition, and is determinedly looking to the future in all aspects of club life, ensuring younger generations are able to experience what this fine club has to offer.

As with most clubs, the golf course is the star of the show at Epsom. At 5,780 yards, the 18-hole layout is not long by modern standards, however, being situated high on the Surrey Downs, it presents a wide variety of spectacular downland holes, each one abundant with character and an excellent test for golfers of all abilities, requiring an entire repertoire of shots. The yearround greens, which have become legendary in the area, are consistent and true, offering a very demanding test because of their mixture of speed and undulation.

The views from the course are superb, with the signature par-four sixth hole affording a stunning panorama of London’s iconic skyline.

The course offers a wonderful variety of holes, with the card featuring two par fives, 12 par fours, and four par threes.

Some of the fairways are narrow and require accuracy off the tee, while the lofty location ensures that wind is often a factor when it comes to club and shot selection. Being built on the chalky downland, drainage is fantastic, which allows for excellent year-round conditions, with the course often being open in winter when other local clubs are shut.

The club has continued to invest in its facilities, both on and off the course. The current investment plan has included the redesign of the first hole, lengthening it from a par three to par four, along with the installation of new pathways and numerous tee box improvements. The level of effort and skill required to maintain and improve the course is immense, and following the appointment of a new head greenkeeper, the standards of the course continue to improve. The club has recently purchased a fleet of new machinery, which has helped

the staff to present the course in excellent condition.

Elsewhere, the club has also invested in a new website, which boasts on-line tee booking system, ■ EPSOM PRO-AM GROUP while the club’s facilities have been greatly enhanced with the addition of a GC2 golf simulator in the indoor coaching studio.

Epsom is a social, inclusive club in every respect. There is as much golf as members can handle, with a mixture of social and traditional inter-club fixtures, as well as charity golf days and one of Surrey’s most popular pro-am tournaments. All sections, from juniors to seniors, enjoy weekly roll-ups, ladies meet weekly on Tuesday mornings, business ladies on Saturdays, while men meet on Sunday mornings. Additionally, members enjoy reciprocal arrangements with over 35 golf clubs, many of them free, including the links at Littlehampton Golf Club.

A warm welcome awaits members and visitors alike in the clubhouse. Epsom’s was the first purpose built clubhouse in Surrey, completed in 1893, four years after the club was founded, and remains as an architectural icon to this day, albeit with numerous improvements and extensions, including a snooker auditorium built in 1913, which houses a 200-year-old Victorian snooker table, used to host exhibition events.

The main lounge, with its own bar, and the upstairs traditional wooden beamed dining room both offer picturesque views of the 18th fairway and green, perfect for a relaxing drink and bite to eat. The 19th is a relaxed bar, ideally suited to golfers wanting a quick drink or snack prior to heading out to play or after returning from a round.

The clubhouse can host private and corporate functions for up to 100 guests, looked after by an experienced team. There are many social events held at the club, including themed evenings, dinner dances, casual events and dinner jacket occasions, as well as the Sunday carvery, which are organised for the members, their family and friends to enjoy.

20% off society packages Call 01959 533793 to book

From £20pp* 2 January to 29 March 2018 Includes weekdays and weekends Min 10 players

FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIP - £390 FOR 12 MONTHS The new Flexible package is excellent value for golfers with a modern lifestyle who cannot justify an unrestricted full membership. They are eligible to enjoy all the benefits and privileges of a private members club, including; • Access to the 18 hole course • Gain an official CONGU handicap • Play in club competitions • Bar card discount of up to 15% The FLEXI club card includes 365 credits redeemable against peak and off-peak rounds of social or competitive golf, from just 10 credits per round. Top-ups are available.

For details of the latest membership opportunities, including Flexible, green fees and society packages please contact the Director of Golf, Stuart Walker on 01372 741867 or email stuartwalker@epsomgolfclub.co.uk.

For more information, visit www.epsomgolfclub.co.uk.

www.lullingstonegolfcourse.co.uk Parkgate Road, Chelsfield, Kent, BR6 7PX 01959 533793 | lpgc@sencio.org.uk www.lullingstonegolfcourse.co.uk T&Cs: Offer valid 2/1/18 – 29/3/18. Min 10 players. Includes weekday and weekend packages. Not in conjunction with any other offer. *with 20% discount applied

[24] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TAKE YOUR GAME TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH

BIRD GOLF ACADEMY If you want to fulfil your golfing potential, then a visit to one of Bird Golf Academy’s 11 sites across America will set you on the path to lower scores

I

f you’re serious about taking your golf game to the next level and beyond, the biggest commitment you can make is time. It’s widely reported that getting expert at anything – be it playing the piano, learning to speak Japanese or MasterChef-standard cooking – takes 10,000 hours of practice.

The same goes for golf. Today’s generation of tour pros spent virtually all their waking lives honing their skills in their back gardens, on driving ranges, and at their local golf courses, before they were good enough to join the professional ranks, so it’s no wonder that the very best players earn such rich rewards.

For amateur golfers, with slightly less lofty ambitions, it still takes time and commitment to lower a handicap, which is why when your practice is limited to a few airy wafts before our Saturday fourball, our skill level stalls at quite an early age.

Having the occasional lesson with your club pro will provide a sticking plaster for your worse faults, but if you’re serious about making some rapid and sustainable progress with your game, then a trip to a residential golf school could well be the answer. Given the poor winter weather in the UK, most golf schools are based abroad, with America being one of the most popular destinations for golfers in search of top-class tuition breaks.

One of the most renowned golf coaching programmes in the States was set up almost 20 years ago by Jay Ewing, a New Zealand-born former tour professional, who founded the Bird Golf Academy.

Ewing set up the first school in 1999, and he has since gone on to establish a national network of 21 Bird Golf Schools across 11 states that has helped thousands of golfers make tangible and sustained improvements to their games.

To ensure the very best coaching standards, Ewing has also assembled a team of world-class teaching professionals, who have all been PGA or LPGA members for a minimum of 20 years. These include an LPGA National Teacher of the Year, PGA Master Professionals, multiple award-winning PGA Professionals, and winners of the US Open, the LPGA Championship and various LPGA Tour events, as well as six members of various Golf Halls of Fame.

TEACHING PHLIOPSPHY Recognising that no two golfers are the same, Ewing says that the Bird Golf Academy does not subscribe to a specific method or system, because each golfer is different, with a variety of skills and requirements.

“There are many ways to successfully swing a golf club, dependent on the player,” says Ewing.

“All of our teachers are versed in several methods and styles and can teach the person accordingly. Everything we do is customised for the student. They pick the time they want to come, and the areas of their games they want to work on. It’s very much their golf schools, and the quality of instruction is second to none.”

This personalised service – there are no more than two students per coach at any of the schools – has helped to set Bird Golf apart from other teaching schools, and ensures that all golfers are placed on a permanent path to improvement, with these newly implemented lessons and ideas being taken from practice onto the golf course. A significant emphasis is also placed on the mental side of golf, ensuring students receive a holistic approach to improvement, not just focusing on mechanics.

THE SCHOOLS With 21 venues throughout 11 states, Bird Golf Schools are based at some America’s finest golf resorts, with many of the affiliated golf courses having hosted tournaments across all the professional tours.

Teeing off in Arizona, Bird Golf has three venues, including the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, which boasts the 36-hole Whirlwind Golf Club on site, while in California students can take their pick from four schools, including one at the Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Santa Barbara, which features two championship courses, and the Classic Club in Palm Springs, which was a former host venue of the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic.

For wine lovers, there is also a school based at the Arnold Palmerdesigned Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Napa Valley, while down south, the San Diego School is based at Rams Hill Golf Club, whose championship layout was designed by the legendary Tom Fazio.

On the east coast, Bird Golf has two unique sites for their Carolina schools, with the North Carolina venue based at the historic Pinehurst, which is considered the home of American golf, while the southern location at Myrtle Beach epitomises tradition and the game's heritage.

■ WHIRLWIND GOLF CLUB, ARIZONA

Recognised for its famous mountains, Colorado boasts two Bird Golf venues, Crested Butte and Green Valley Ranch. The former’s course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and is surrounded by striking peaks, while the latter is located just outside Denver, where students can test their skills on the 18-hole championship golf course and nine-hole par-three course, as well the state-of-the-art practice facility.

Moving south to Florida, Bird Golf has five affiliated facilities in the Sunshine State, which provide a subtropical climate enhanced by beaches, bays, and the unique Bermuda grass. The most recent addition to the portfolio is Turnberry Isle Miami, which boasts two championship courses, while the Jack Nicklaus designed Club

■ ABOVE: CLUB AT BOCA POINTE ■ LEFT: MERITAGE HOTEL, NAPPA

at Boca Pointe is one of the more exclusive schools, offering a stunning championship-standard course, with accommodation and relaxation provided by the highly regarded Waldorf Astoria Boca Resort.

Another popular school is located just north of Orlando at the Mission Inn Resort and Spa. This is home of two award-winning championship courses, with the scenic countryside providing a wonderful backdrop, while beach lovers might prefer the school based at The Shores Resort and Spa at Daytona Beach, where rooms offer beautiful ocean views after a brilliant day’s golf at Pelican Bay’s North and South courses.

With other schools based in Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Minnesota and Tennessee, golfers are really spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a Bird Golf School that will suit their game, as well as their preferred climate and scenery, from hot desert layouts, and stunning mountain courses to cooling beachside links. And with stunning accommodation options included as part of the package, students are guaranteed first-class hospitality whichever venue they choose.

GOLF SCHOOL PACKAGES The Bird Golf Academy offers three all-inclusive tuition and accommodation packages – Eagle (one student/one pro); Champion (two students/one pro); and Buddy (two students/one pro). Each provides private, individualised instruction from a PGA/LPGA Professional, a full evaluation, lunch, and unlimited use of the golf and practice facilities over a three, four or five-day period, featuring between 18-40 hours’ instruction.

THE EAGLE The student receives one-on-one tuition from their professional each day, which will also include a playing lesson over nine or 18 holes.

THE CHAMPION Each student receives two hours’ of personal instruction each day, and then joins their partner and coach for a full 18-hole playing lesson. Eight hours of tuition each day. Twin rooms are offered.

THE BUDDY

■ CLASSIC CLUB IN PALM SPRINGS

Also designed for two students, each will enjoy personal analysis and instruction each day, and then join their partner and coach for a playing lesson over nine or 18 holes, adding up to six hours’ tuition each day.

RATES: EAGLE: $3,050-$5,595 CHAMPION: $2,350-$4,295 BUDDY: $2,095-$4,150 All prices include accommodation, personalised instruction, lunch, unlimited golf and practice, and all taxes.

For all enquiries, bookings, or to request a brochure, visit www.birdgolf.com, email info@birdgolf.com, or call 001 623 882 2054.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018 [25]

TYRRELL HATTON

A top-ten finish in Dubai brings the curtain down on a superb season for Tyrrell, which resulted in two wins and a move back into the world’s top 20

I

t was great to sign off the 2017 season on a bit of a high, with an eighth-placed finish at the DP World Championship and a top 20 in South Africa. It was always going to be hard to keep the momentum going from the wins in Scotland and Italy, but I was pretty pleased with the way I kept my focus going until the bitter end.

With those final two tournaments of the season to go, I had an outside chance of winning the Race to Dubai, but needed to finish no worse than third at the Nedbank and then win in Dubai, so while I didn’t manage to pull that off, it gave me an added incentive to keep my foot down.

I’ve always struggled a bit at Sun City for some reason, so it was always going to be a bit of a challenge to chase down Tommy [Fleetwood]. I didn’t really get anything going over the four days in South Africa, and a third round 76, on what was a very windy day, put paid to my chances.

Once the R2D was gone, I was purely focused on shooting four good rounds

■ TYRRELL CHATS TO GARY PLAYER AHEAD OF THE NEDBANK CHALLENGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

I WAS REALLY PLEASED FOR TOMMY

TO HAVE WON THE RACE TO DUBAI – HE PLAYED PRETTY MUCH A FULL SEASON IN EUROPE AND REALLY DESERVED IT FOR HIS CONSISTENCY

■ ABOVE: TYRRELL DIGS ONE OUT OF THE SAND IN DUBAI; RIGHT: JONATHAN BELL WILL BE ON THE BAG AGAIN NEXT SEASON. BELOW: PING MADE A GOLD-PLATED PUTTER TO MARK TYRRELL'S WINS

in Dubai, and trying to win some world ranking points. I had finished second last year, and feel like the Earth Course really sets up well for me, so I went there feeling pretty confident.

My putter was pretty cold in the first round, resulting in a level-par 72, so I put a new model in the bag for Friday’s round, and it seemed to have the desired effect. I shot a nine-under 63, which got me right back into things, although it could have been a 60 or a 61 if my ball hadn’t plugged in the greenside bunker on the par-five 18th. That hole seems to hate me for some reason, but hopefully one day I’ll play it well.

That’s professional golfers for you – never happy!

I shot 69 on Saturday, and started the final

round just three behind Justin Rose, and in with a decent chance. I got off to a great start, making birdies at the first two holes, and another at the seventh, but with Justin enjoying a similarly good front nine, I wasn’t able to make any inroads into his lead. I pushed hard on the back nine, but could only make a couple more birdies, and, after bogeying 16, ended up shooting 68 to finish eighth.

I was really pleased for Tommy to have won the Race to Dubai – he played pretty

much a full season in Europe, and really deserved it for his consistency along with those two wins. I was happy to take fifth, given the way my season dipped, and having drifted out to 30th in the world rankings over the summer, it was good finish the year back inside the top 20, and virtually where I was after the WGC in Mexico in March.

Next season I’ll be looking to keep progressing up the rankings, but each move upwards gets harder and harder, so It’s going to take some better performances in the majors and the big events to get me there, and that is clearly something I’m going to have to focus on in 2018.

For now, I’m going to take stock of what has been a long but rewarding season for me, and enjoy a few weeks off away from golf, starting with a holiday in Mexico with my girlfriend. Then it’s back home for Christmas with the family, and then I’ll be back hitting balls in the new year, before I head out to Malaysia to join Team Europe in the EurAsia Cup – an event that I’m really looking forward to playing in.

I’m looking at following a similar schedule to the one I had in 2017, playing in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and then the GolfSixes in Australia, before heading over to America in March for the build up to the Masters, and returning to Europe for the run of Rolex Series events in May and June.

The good news on the caddy front is that my good friend Jonathan [Bell], who has caddied for me since the autumn, is going to be with me next season. He’s been a brilliant addition to the team, and hopefully we can carry on where we left off next year.

This is my final column for Golf News, so I hope you’ve enjoyed a little bit of an insight into my life on and off the golf course this season. It’s certainly been one I’ll remember for a long time, and hopefully there will be even better ones to come in the future. Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year!

YOU CAN FOLLOW TYRRELL ON TWITTER @TYRRELLHATTON PARTNERS

[26] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | INTERVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Meet James Wood, the recentlyappointed Head PGA Professional at Sudbury Golf Club in Middlesex

How long have you been a PGA professional?

Since 2012, so just over five years.

What has your career path been to date?

I started out as assistant pro at Highgate Golf Club, before moving on to become a teaching professional at Muswell Hill. I was head pro at Crews Hill, and I’m now the head pro at Sudbury Golf Club.

about your job?

Working at a golf club!

putting green, and a driving range.

And the worst?

I have to work every weekend.

What is the club doing to attract juniors and women golfers?

The club has taken me on to tackle this area, so watch this space!

What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?

Entrepreneurial, ambitious, and approachable.

How much time do you spend teaching?

About 20-25 hours per week.

Tell us something about the facilities and the playing experience…

We have a really nice 18-hole course situated in west London, with views to all of London’s iconic structures, including the Shard, BT Tower, the London Eye and Wembley Stadium.

In addition to the golf course, we have a short game area, a practice

What is your day-to-day role at the club?

I give lessons to the membership and visitors, keep the first tee flowing, and have a fully stocked retail shop.

I play with some of the members.

What’s the best thing

Who is your golfing hero and why?

Sergio Garcia. He just has that Spanish flair about him. I’ve watched him a few times live, and the sound he generates off the clubface at impact is unbelievable.

What’s selling well in the pro shop at the moment?

Under Armour clothing is flying off of the shelves.

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

‘Never up, never in’. It’s amazing how many amateurs leave putts short.

The Players Club

Who inspired you to take up golf?

My dad, Alan.

What is your career highlight as a player?

Winning the 2014 PGA East Region Autumn Classic.

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

Allowing 14 clubs in the bag. It should be ten or

Which three other people would be in your dream fourball?

My dad, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter.

12 at most, which would reintroduce some skill into the game.

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

Probably an accountant. I was always good at maths at school. If not, a pilot, as I always wanted to travel the world.

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

In the UK it has got to be Royal St Georges, while abroad I’m a big fan of Monte Rei in Portugal.

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Summer Midweek Stay Overs One night & Two rounds of Golf Stay @ Canons Court mews 1 round on The Codrington course 1 round on The Stranahan course Includes coffee and breakfast Includes range balls both days £83 each based on 12 or more £99 each based for a 4 ball

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NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

FOXHILLS WINS FITNESS AWARDS

FARQUHARSON-BLACK TO REPRIEVE CURTIS CUP CAPTAINCY

E

F

oxhills Club & Resort in Surrey picked up two accolades at the annual National Fitness Awards, claiming ‘Best Hotel Facility of the Year’ for the third consecutive time, along with winning ‘Best Health Club of the Year’.

The Athena Hotel in London hosted the 8th National Fitness Awards ceremony, which recognises and awards excellence in all corners of the fitness industry across the UK. Jason Adams, general manager at Foxhills, said: “We are ecstatic to be recognised for our ongoing hard work by receiving the hotel facility award again. Since last year’s huge investment, sharing it with our members has been the most important thing and the feedback has been exceptional. To be

awarded as a health club on top of that is an honour.”

He added: “The past 12 months have been spent developing plans for new fitness facilities scheduled for completion next year, so I have no doubt that our leisure team will continue to deliver a high level of standards to match. Bringing people together is what we promote as a family-run resort, so every bit of support is greatly appreciated.”

MCGUIRK PROVES A PRINCE AMONG PROS

P

rince’s Golf Club’s Rob McGuirk (right) had a day to remember at the PGA in England South region’s annual dinner and Pro-Am on November 7. He not only steered his team of three amateurs to a memorable victory over The Berkshire’s Blue course, but at the black tie dinner afterwards, found he’d

[27]

been voted PGA Professional of the Year.

On a November day that brought fair weather for the PGA professionals and invited guests, The Berkshire’s Blue course was in fantastic condition. McGuirk and

his Kentish raiders took full advantage, scoring 87 points to edge out not only St George’s Hill star Andy Raitt and his Brand Fusion team, but McGuirk’s right hand man at Prince’s and captain of the PGA in South, Anthony Tarchetti, as

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both had notched 85 points.

Happy to take home the £300 for his day’s efforts, and applaud all the other winners of the various achievement awards at the region’s annual dinner, McGuirk was clearly overwhelmed to find he was the popular recipient of the PGA Professional of the Year award.

As he held the prestigious award, McGuirk calmly explained: “After finding I was no longer making the grade on the European Tour, I decided to find a new direction and the PGA was the perfect fit for me. It speaks volumes

laine Farquharson-Black will captain GB & Ireland in the Curtis Cup for the second time, when the biennial encounter against the United States is played at Quaker Ridge from June 8-10, 2018.

Farquharson-Black, who played in the 1990 and 1992 matches, led GB&I to a 11½-8½ win over the US when it was contested at Dun Laoghaire last year, and will be looking to retain the trophy when the two sides face each other in New York next summer. She will be assisted, once again, by Helen Hewlett, who will act as team manager.

Farquharson-Black, said: “I am very proud to have been selected to captain Great Britain and Ireland again, and I am looking forward to the challenge of retaining the trophy after our memorable win at Dun Laoghaire last year. We will be working with a very talented group of golfers over the coming months, before we select a team of eight players for what promises to be a thrilling match against the United States next summer.”

A group of six players joined her on a visit to Quaker Ridge last month, including Alice Hewson, Leona Maguire and OIivia Mehaffey, who all played in the GB&I team in 2016. India Clyburn, Sophie Lamb and Annabel Wilson also joined the trip.

for being a member of this organisation that all sorts of new opportunities opened up for me, especially in my general manager’s role at Prince’s.

“We have further improvements in the pipeline, and in a few years’ time it will be amazing to look back and think that I was a big part of all that. It’s especially rewarding to be voted to receive this award, and it makes me feel honoured and very proud to be a PGA professional in what I regard as a great community of fellow golf professionals.”

The awards ceremony included some special

highlights, including Canterbury’s Richard Wallis (pictured left) picking up his record fifth Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit Title for 2017 and the Player of the Year Award, while Adam Wootton collected the Charity Fundraiser of the Year Award for his golf day in memory of his late, great friend, which raised over £10,000 for Thomley.

Comedian Adger Brown provided the after-dinner entertainment and led the auction, helping raise a substantial sum to provide playing opportunities for young PGA professionals in the region.

[28] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HALL EYES UP GLOBAL AMBITIONS AFTER WINNING EUROPEAN ORDER OF MERIT D orset’s Georgia Hall is setting her goals even higher for 2018, after winning the Ladies European Tour’s order of merit before the final event in Dubai was played.

The 21 year old from Bournemouth is looking to take another giant leap forward in her careerin 2018, after enjoying a superbly consistent season in 2017, which saw her make a stunning debut in the Solheim Cup in August, and bag six top-five finishes in the nine events she played on the Ladies European Tour. Hall topped the money list with just £350,000 in prize money, half of which was earned for finishing third at the British Open.

Looking back at her Solheim debut, Hall said: “I remember it all.

I knew it would be amazing, but I didn’t actually know it would be as good as it was. It was an incredible experience throughout every minute. I already cannot wait for two years’ time; once you play in one, you just want to stay in the team for the rest of your career. For the majority of my career, it’s just been me, so to be playing with someone else, you feel like there is a partnership and trust. That is quite special.”

With the season now over, Hall is taking a long overdue and well-deserved holiday. “I’m taking six weeks off from golf, and I think

it will be nice to chill out and celebrate the season I’ve had,” she said. “ I haven’t had much time away from the game since I took the game seriously. From the age of 12 to 18, I didn’t really spend time with friends – I was just practising.

I don’t really miss stuff like that, because I never had it – I don’t really know what it is like. But the sacrifices have definitely paid off. I love golf so much, I love travelling, I love playing in tournaments, so the idea of doing anything else didn’t really interest me. I don’t feel I have lost out anymore; and given the same choices again, I wouldn’t

■ GEORGIA HALL WILL BE LOOKING TO PLAY MORE IN AMERICA NEXT SEASON

VANDALS HIT CINQUE PORTS AGAIN

P

olice are hunting a vandal who drove a car over the fairways and a number of greens at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Kent.

The incident, which happened between 5pm and 4am on December 3, is the second such

change a thing. I love what I do.”

Hall’s third place in the Women’s British Open provided another breakthrough of sorts. It was especially laudable given the venue, Kingsbarns, was completely new to her. “That tournament is number one on my list every year,” said Hall. “I’d played really well in the Scottish Open the week before, so I was confident. I got myself in a good position within two days and just told myself: ‘Keep in this.’ I managed to do that, which proved to me that I can win a major, and especially a British Open.”

While many sports, including golf, are hotly debating the disparity between prize money for men and women at the very top level, Hall has no time to feel sorry for herself, or to start rattling cages.

“I can’t do anything about that,” she said. “All I can do is try to be the best that I can be. I can’t be annoyed about what I can’t control

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or do anything about. It is nice to earn good money, but that’s not why I’m out here. I don’t see it as a massive problem; it’s not like another woman is playing against me for different prize money.”

The riches available on the LPGA Tour in the United States are, however, within touching distance.

“When I was growing up I said I’d like to turn pro at 18, which I did,” Hall said. “Then I said I wanted to spend two or three years on the European Tour. There wasn’t a rush – I wanted to make that progression. I have now learnt a lot.

I didn’t want to go to the LPGA Tour if I didn’t think I could do well there.

I think I’m ready now.

“Experience has been so important for me, and mentally I have improved more than anything, which has led to the results of this year. I know myself more now, I know my golf game a lot more now.”

GREGORY WINS BB&O’S ‘MOST IMPROVED’ AWARD

F

ifteen-year-old Tom Gregory has been awarded the BB&O’s Boddington Trophy for 2017, after being voted the most improved player in the region during the season.

Gregory was given the trophy at an awards ceremony held at Frilford Heath in front of nearly 70 guests. The youngster from Stoke Park won November's Van Phillips Trophy, has been selected for the England Boys 2018 squad.

The second award of the night, the U14 Achievement Award, was won by Woburn’s Ben Loveard, who was the runaway winner of the Futures Tour U14 Order of Merit.

The last award of the evening went to BB&O junior organiser Jan Hubrecht, who was honoured for his many years of hard work and dedication in developing the junior programme in the region.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018 [29]

attack to have taken place at the Deal-based club this year, with similar damage occurring in February, when a car was driven across the fairways, leaving deep tyre marks.

Kent Police spokesman Inspector Ian Swallow said: “This is extremely frustrating for those associated with the golf course and we are proactively taking steps to identify any offenders.

We would like to hear from anyone who saw anything or who might have more information and can help us with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289.

provide affordable housing.

Barbara Richardson, managing director of Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Property Ltd, which is handling the bidding process, said: “The golf course is an exciting, beautiful site for housing, but it will be even more fantastic when it gives homes to our residents. We have a one-off opportunity to deliver a truly amazing place for people to live. We need someone that will be in it for the long term; it’s not an in-and-out in two to three years project.”

The proposed development would see 2,000 homes, an all-through school and a community centre built on the site, after a contract, which was signed last year, will see the golf club surrender its lease to the Royal Borough for a minimum of £12m.

A date for the closure of the club – which was founded in 1896 – has yet to be announced, although club chairman Brian McGinley said: “If the plan is approved in 2018, then the contract comes into force.

After that time, the board will bring to the members a resolution to decide how long we should remain at the site. The earliest date of departure is May 2019 and the latest is May 2023; there is no financial disadvantage if we remain until September 2019.”

■ 2,000 HOMES ARE TO BE BUILT ON MAIDENHEAD GOLF CLUB

MAIDENHEAD SITE COULD BE WORTH £500M

T

he 135-acre site currently occupied by Maidenhead Golf Club looks set to fetch over £500m when it goes to competitive tender for a 2,000 home residential development early next year.

More than 20 construction companies have expressed an interest in developing the site, which is within walking distance of Maindehead town centre and the train station, with the successful final three companies going through to an assessment by the Royal Borough’s planners in March, before the successful bidder is announced in May. The terms of the sale will require that at least 30 per cent of the site be developed to

KENT CLUB T HIT BY BUGGY BATTERY THEFT

■ TOM GREGORY PICKS UP HIS AWARD

he spate of golf buggy battery thefts across the South East continued in November when more than 40 batteries were stolen from buggies at Sene Valley Golf Club in Kent.

The batteries, along with a golf buggy, were stolen during the night of November 12.

Kent Police spokesman Sergeant Helen Bland said: “We have carried out a number of enquiries and provided security advice to other clubs. It goes without saying that golf club’s should ensure equipment is securely stored. It is always a good idea to securitymark expensive items and keep serial numbers.

"In the meantime, we would also ask residents to keep an eye out for the sale of these batteries in the local area and report anything suspicious to us as soon as possible.”

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[30] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC NICK FALDO • US MASTERS • AUGUSTA • APRIL 14, 1996

SIR NICHOLAS ALEXANDER FALDO turned 60 earlier this year. I know, where did the time go?

Didn’t he win the Masters a few years ago? Well, he did, but those ‘few years’ have turned into more than two decades.

Reaching 60 is a significant milestone in anyone’s life, but for those of us whose first contact with professional golf was watching Faldo in various eye-catching sweaters laying waste to his rivals in the Majors during the 80s and early 90s, it was especially poignant.

When Faldo hit 60 in July, it marked a gap of more than 21 years since the greatest British golfer of his generation won the last of his six majors, the 1996 US Masters, when his focus and ambition overwhelmed Greg Norman so memorably, and it all ended in tears of one sort or another on the 18th green at Augusta National.

There seemed no reason at the time to suspect that this was to be Faldo’s last, thrilling hurrah, but that is what it turned out to be. After a decade of dominance, highlighted by his three Open Championship wins and three Masters’ triumphs, Faldo not only destroyed Norman on that Georgia Sunday. The effort meant that he, too, seemed to have been overcome, his talent sucked all but dry by the willpower it took to overtake the Australian.

It was the Sunday the golfing gods took off, the Sunday when Augusta was finally meant to hand its most desperate victim his hard-earned green jacket,

but instead fitted him up for one of the ‘strait’ variety. It was the Sunday when Norman had a six-shot lead and shot a 78 to lose by five.

Of course, there had to be a winner, and the fact that winner was Faldo — Norman’s arch-nemesis — only added to the sense of tragedy.

Yet Faldo did not snigger, he did not smile, he did not even celebrate. Instead, he gave his vanquished opponent a big hug, and hung on to him longer than is normally acceptable in such circumstances, before promptly breaking down in tears, as the enormity of his achievement began to sink in.

Faldo later admitted that it had been the only time in his career that he ever felt sorry for an opponent. Truly, the Iceman melteth.

As a former champion, Faldo continued to return to compete at Augusta for a decade after his triumph, but waved a final farewell to Magnolia Lane in 2006, after he missed the cut by 10 shots. Mediocrity was never a jacket that would suit Sir Nick.

Faldo played his last major – his 100th – at the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2015, when, aged 58, he closed out his career with a one-under-par 71 – a suitably impressive finish to the career of one of British sport’s most successful, if least cherished, champions.

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PROMOTION | DEC/JAN 2018

BAG YOURSELF THE HOLIDAY HOME OF A LIFETIME…

[31]

■ ST JAMES CLUB RESORT POOL

FOR A LIFETIME The unveiling of a new luxury residential resort in the golf-obsessed city of Orlando is providing an affordable way for UK golfers to enjoy years of great holidays under warm Florida skies

I

t’s no happy coincidence that a high percentage of the world’s top professional golfers choose to base themselves, and their families, in Florida.

With easy access to the rest of the States to the north and west, and pretty much the rest of the world to the east, the Sunshine State has developed into a truly global golfing hub over the last few decades.

Indeed, it was that great golfing pioneer, the late Arnold Palmer, who became one of the first top players to lay down his roots in the region, purchasing the site of where the iconic Bay Hill Resort now stands in 1969. Back then, Palmer was looking for somewhere warm to enjoy his winters, and he was instantly smitten by the area around Orlando, which, in the 1960s, was little more than a sleepy farming town.

Fast forward to 2017, and Orlando is not just the home of all things Walt Disney, attracting millions of Mickey Mouse fans from all over the world each year, but is also where hundreds of professional golfers – and thousands of amateurs – call home. Attracted by the stunning year

■ DAVID LEADBETTER SCHOOL

round climate and the almost limitless choice of great courses to play on – there are over 125 within a 40-mile radius of the city – golfers have been flocking to this part of central Florida in their millions over the last two decades.

Many top pros, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, have built luxury residences in the gated communities that have sprung up all over the city’s exclusive suburbs, enjoying the privacy that they afford, as well as the easy access to superb practice facilities and top championship layouts.

While building a bespoke 10-bedroom pad with cinema rooms and parking for a fleet of Lamborghinis is perhaps only within range of the top tour pros, golfers can still enjoy the benefits of the Orlando lifestyle through a variety of more affordable options, whether it be renting a holiday home or, as is becoming increasingly popular for overseas visitors, becoming a resident through a shared ownership scheme, which enables all of the benefits of property ownership without a big financial outlay.

■ ST JAMES CLUB RESORT ENTRANCE

■ WALT DISNEY WORLD

One such project that has recently launched into the UK and European market is the St James’s Club Resort, which is currently marketing a range of luxury 2 & 3 bedroom apartments at its’ site located within 5 minutes drive to the main attractions of Walt Disney World, and about 1/2 an hour to Universal Studios and Sea World.

These elegant properties, which are built around a clubhouse with own private pool and gym, are offered through a shared ownership programme, allowing buyers to enjoy stays of between 8 and 12 weeks per year over an extended lifetime by way of a 99-year lease.

Aside from becoming an exclusive co-owner of one of these fabulous luxury apartments, owners at the St. James’s Club Resort enjoy executive membership of the two Greg Norman designed golf courses at nearby Champions Gate. Popular with tour players for practice and play, as well as holiday homes for a wide range of families, Champions Gate is a piece of paradise on earth as far as golfers are concerned. If that wasn’t enough, each share provides the buyer with access to an additional 900 private golf courses throughout the USA and Canada, as well as the option of being able to exchange holiday locations each year at 3,000 other luxury resorts located around the world.

And for those looking to shave a few shots off their handicap while they’re on holiday, first time home share buyers at St James’s Club Resort also receive special coaching by the David Leadbetter Academy in Orlando, (all within the discounted price) which is widely regarded as one of the foremost coaching facilities in the States.

Phase 1 at the St James’s Club Resort is being offered to the first 36 members at a 20% prelaunch discount which translates to only $83,333 (£63,000 approx.) for a two-bedroom luxury apartment for 8 weeks’ yearly occupation, while three-bed properties start from just $113,167 (£85,000 approx.).

The properties are sold with a 99-year lease, and can be bequeathed to the buyers children or heirs, while buyers are also able to sell their share after seven years should they decide they no longer wish to be part of the club or their circumstances have changed. If property values stay buoyant over the period, owners have the potential a recoup a good portion or more of the initial purchase price should they ever need to sell their share, although the properties are not being sold as investments, but simply as a more cost-effective way of owning and maintaining a holiday home. Unused weeks can be shared with friends, be sold back to the club for holiday rentals, with income being shared back among the owners, or can be exchanged with any of the other 3,000 participating luxury resorts worldwide.

For regular visitors to Florida, and those keen golfers who plan to come back year after year, the incentives for part-owning a home at the St James’s Club Resort, rather than renting a villa or staying in hotels, speak for themselves.

If the average family spent just £4,000 a year on holidays over a lifetime of, say, 30 years, they would have spent over £120,000, with no way of recouping that money.

Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell, a 3-handicap golfer, is one of the first members of the of the St. James’s Club Resort, who will enjoy the many benefits that come with being a member of the club. So, if like Nigel, you’re a keen golfer, becoming a member at the St. James’s Club Resort also entitles you to a two year membership at Greg Normans’ designed courses at Champions Gate Golf Club about 10 minutes from St. James’s. An apartment at St. James’s Club Resort may well unlock the key to a lifetime of great golfing memories – and, who knows, you might be teeing up alongside some of the most famous names in the game.

For more details, visit www.StJamesClubResort.com, email Info@StJamesClubResort.com, or call the UK Sales & Marketing team on 0203 633 1007.

■ CHAMPIONS GATE

[32] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | INTERVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

"I FEEL FRESH, I FEEL HEALTHY, AND I FEEL MOTIVATED” Despite missing out on the European No.1 spot, Justin Rose finished off 2017 in a blaze of glory, and the 37 year old has more of the game’s biggest prizes in his sights next year

I

t was obviously not the outcome you wanted in the Race to Dubai, but how proud are you of the fight you put up for the title?

It’s obviously very disappointing not to get the job done. At the start of the week, I set myself the goal of winning the tournament, and that way I was in control of my own destiny. That’s the way I wanted it, as by not playing in South Africa, I kind of made winning a requirement.

For 63 holes or so I was in control, and felt like I was going about my business, but then other players started to make a charge on the back nine and, after going out in 32, I expected to post a low number. But I kind of stalled around the turn. I felt like I needed to make something happen, and when that happens you can get out of rhythm, and try too hard. And that’s kind of what happened.

I missed a couple of birdie chances at 10 and 11, and got frustrated with that, then dropped shots on 13 and 15, and it kind of unravelled from there. I missed the fairway on 18, and although I still had a chance to make an eagle to win the Race to Dubai, the tournament was already gone. I've had tough losses in the past, and you absorb it, and you move on. It's part of golf.

How much has it fired up your will to win the Race to Dubai again in the future?

I feel like I will be competitive for a few more years to come, so it would be great to get it done again. I think I gave it a great run towards the end.

I don’t think it will affect the way I organise my schedule as such, so I just need to focus on playing better in the majors, World Golf Championships, European Tour events, and the Rolex Series, and see if I can get it done another year.

When you won the Order of Merit in 2007, you were a similar age to what Tommy Fleetwood is now. Can you recall what it was like to win it at 27, and what it did for you going forward?

Yeah, I still think it's one of my biggest achievements in the game. Any time you beat world-class players over the course of a year, it means a lot more than it does winning in a week. It stands up, and I think I did it only playing 12 events that year, which is unbelievable. I don't know really how it happened. I played well in the right events – in the majors and WGC events that year – and it was very rewarding to come to Valderrama and really play well when I had to.

To see my name on a trophy alongside those of some of Europe's greatest ever golfers – Faldo, Seve, Sandy, Woosie and Monty, and guys like that – is very humbling. It’s an impressive list. And when I won it, it felt like I had really achieved something to justify some of that early hype that I had after being the ‘Birkdale Boy’.

WHEN I WATCHED BACK ON TV THE PUTT THAT I HOLED TO WIN IN TURKEY, MY PUTTING STROKE LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN IT DID TWO YEARS AGO. BUT IT'S NOW BECOME MY STROKE. I'M NOT TRYING TO DO THAT. IT'S JUST HAPPENING. SO I GUESS THE HARD WORK IS BEGINNING TO PAY OFF

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INTERVIEW | DEC/JAN 2018

[33]

You must have been delighted with the run of results that took you into that position to challenge for the money list.

What do you think put your game into winning mode?

I’ve put a lot of work into all areas of my game this season, especially with my posture and managing my swing following my back injury, but putting has been a big focus for me this year. Putting is what translates playing decent golf into playing winning golf.

If I look back at my wins in China and Turkey, I putted really well. I putted very solidly from inside six feet. I didn't give away too many cheap shots there, and I also made a few 20-footers.

I don't think about my putting as much as I used to, which is a sign that I must be much more confident about it. I changed to sort of a claw-style grip over a year ago, and it has taken that time for it to become more natural. It means that I can focus a lot more now on the skill of putting, rather than the technique of putting. By that, I mean green reading, and then just doing performance drills on the putting green, rather than constant

■ ROSE WON HIS SECOND WGC IN 2017, BUT THE MASTERS TITLE GOT AWAY

nice that it's begun to happen.

But the key is for me to keep that going now. As we see, it's what Dustin Johnson did. It's what Justin Thomas has done. It's what Jordan Spieth has done – and they have really created a bit of a gap at the top of the world ranking by doing that. Right now, I'm still three or four wins behind those guys. So I need to continue to win. Then, if I start sniffing around the top, if I start getting close in points, then absolutely, it will become a huge objective to get to No.1. But I need to focus on what's going to get me there.

stroke work. I think that my putting feels a lot more simple in my head.

When I watched back on TV the putt that I holed to win in Turkey, my putting stroke looks a lot different than it did two years ago. But it's now become my stroke. I'm not trying to do that. It's just happening.

So I guess the hard work is beginning to pay off.

How do you think the disappointment of losing out at the Masters shaped the rest of the season?

You're going to have putts that miss and you're going to have putts that go in, and you're going to win and you're going to lose. The overriding thing as a player is that you have to commit to your process.

You can't let the situation dictate how you hit the putt. I thought I did a good job on the 18th hole at Augusta, because I was very aware of the magnitude of the situation, and I promised myself that I would just hit a good, free putt and I did that.

I was faced with a similar length putt to win in Turkey, and although it’s hard to compare the two situations, they were both putts to win big tournaments, and I stuck to my processes, and the putt dropped and I won. The putt in Turkey was a lot easier than the one I faced at Augusta, but I’m pleased that I stuck to my stroke and it went in.

What is the main motivation for you now? Prize money, trophies, or world ranking points?

I think obviously when you're playing tournament golf, there is always a big difference in prize money between winning and finishing second, but there's a bigger difference in feeling and emotion. Winning is the fun part.

Fortunately, I’m at a point in my career where money isn't the motivation; it's holding the trophy. Before my wins in China and Turkey, the Olympics in 2016 was my last win. It had been a while, and I had not won on the PGA Tour for two and a half seasons. I had three or four second-place finishes this year, so I was more interested in the win than anything else that came along with it.

World ranking points are a bonus. You need to win tournaments to make inroads on the world rankings, but, as I said, winning is what I do this for.

How much of a goal of yours is it to get to world No.1?

I wouldn't say it's front and centre of my thoughts, really. I've been very much aware of wanting to win more, but I feel like that was always going to be the next level for me. Winning another major would be another step forward in my career, but I think winning more regularly would also be a step forward, and that's what I'm focusing on, and it's

You seem to have an inner calmness out on the course these days. Has that just come with experience and age?

Well, yeah, I think I look calm, but inside I still get pretty nervous. But those are the fun nerves that you hope for. I think I've learned that just because you're nervous it doesn't mean you're going to hit bad shots. I try to relish that feeling. But to win tournaments these days you can't be defensive anymore.

You can't really make pars and hope to be moving forward. Guys are pushing so hard these days, and there are so many quality players.

You have to have an aggressive mind-set if you are going to win tournaments, and that has been a big change for me.

Can you assess whre think your career is so far and where you believe it can go?

If someone said to me: 'If you could do it all over again, and you could wipe the slate clean right now, and do it all over again, would you?', I'm not sure I would. It's been 20 years of hard graft, and I've achieved a lot. I've won a major championship. I've won Olympic gold. I've won a lot of other tournaments. I've had some great moments. To kind of try to do all of that again from a clean slate would be a daunting task. I'm happy with where things are at, but there's a lot more I believe I can achieve. I think I'm coming into a nice part of my career where there's a lot of experience under my belt and there's a lot of learning that's being done. I feel fresh, I feel healthy, and, perhaps more importantly, I feel motivated. I've always said I'd like to be a Hall of Fame player. Who makes that determination, I don't know, but that's kind of what I'm working towards.

But I've also heard Phil Mickelson say that the time to think about all that stuff is when you're done and you can really look back and enjoy all your victories. There's plenty more to achieve. The minute you start to think about what it looks like when you retire is the minute you soften up a little bit. So my mind's not there. My mind is about just trying to get in the conversation, I suppose, and keep winning.

Finally, how do you like the way the European Ryder Cup team is shaping up?

I really like it. I'm already getting excited about it. The rookies that we had on team last year are no longer going to be rookies. They have a lot more experience under their belts, and hopefully all of them will get on the team again.

We have a lot of English players playing really well at the moment, but there's a lot of talent on the European Tour. Tommy [Fleetwood] would be a great addition to the team, just down to the fact of how he plays his golf. He can play fourball, foursomes; he makes putts; he hits the ball beautifully. He's a great guy, and he'll really contribute in the team room. I'd also love to see Alex Levy make the team. I love the flair with which he plays. He seems to play aggressive golf, and being a Frenchman, the local crowds would really get behind him. But there’s no point talking it up too much. There's a lot of golf to be played between now and September. But, so far, so good.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Ultimate

CLUB WHERE TO PLAY

GUIDE All these clubs feature in our Ultimate Golf Day Guide.

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CAME DOWN GC DORSET

LEWES GC EAST SUSSEX

Society Packages: Coffee and bacon roll, 18 holes, and a two-course dinner, starts from £40.50.

Society Packages: (April-October 2018) 18 holes £25; 36 holes £40; weekend 18-holes £30.

TEL: 01305 813494 | EMAIL: MANAGER@CAMEDOWNGOLFCLUB.CO.UK WEB: WWW.CAMEDOWNGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

TEL: 01273 483474 | EMAIL: SECRETARY@LEWESGOLFCLUB.CO.UK WEB: WWW.LEWESGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

BLOXWICH GC MIDLANDS

HOLTYE GC EAST SUSSEX

Society packages are available to all groups with more than 16 players. Contact the club for further details.

Full membership benefits, plus reciprocal playing rights, are available with this membership.

Call Nick on 01342 850957 or email general-manager@holtye.com to join now!

Came Down – the birthplace of the Ryder Cup – is situated close to the county town of Dorchester, and close to the busy coastal resort of Weymouth. It offers the ideal location for both the regular local player and the visiting golfer.

Situated on the northern edge of the Black Country, Bloxwich Golf Club is a well established members' club founded in 1923. It offers excellent facilities and the traditions you would expect from one of the premier clubs in the area.

TEL: 01922 476593 | EMAIL: SECRETARY@BLOXWICHGOLFCLUB.COM WEB: WWW.BLOXWICHGOLFCLUB.COM

T H E B E S T S O C I E T Y & C O R P O R AT E D AY V E N U E S

golfdayguide.com

Listed in Fine Golf's top 200 'running' golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland, and voted sixth best course in Sussex, you are assured of gorgeous scenery and top-class golf when you play at Lewes, which offesr bespoke packages for societies.

BREXIT BUSTER MEMBERSHIP OFFER 15 months unlimited golf membership for only £7.67 per week.

That's less than the cost of two pints of beer or two glasses of wine!

TEL: 01342 850635 | EMAIL: SECRETARY@HOLTYE.COM | WEB: HOLTYE.COM

WELWYN GARDEN CITY GC HERTFORDSHIRE

STEVENAGE GOLF CENTRE HERTFORDSHIRE

TEL: 01707 325243 | EMAIL: DAVID@WGCGC.CO.UK | WEB: WWW.WGCGC.CO.UK

TEL: 01438 880 424 | EMAIL: ENQUIRIES.GOLF@SLL.CO.UK | WEB: WWW.SLL.CO.UK

UFFORD PARK GC SUFFOLK

COTTESMORE G&CC WEST SUSSEX

Located within easy reach of the M25 and A1, Welwyn Garden City Golf Club is hidden amongst the Hertfordshire countryside. One of the best kept golf courses in the county, its undulating parkland setting, with narrow fairways protecting small, true, well-draining greens, makes it the ideal venue to hold a memorable society or corporate golf day.

Summer season (April to October) packages start from £33pp. The club is happy to discuss individual requirements.

The Golf Centre is located in Aston, a rural part of Stevenage within easy distance of the A1 & A10 motorways. With ample free parking. the venue houses a superb par-72, 18-hole course, designed by John Jacobs. It is one of the finest designed courses in Hertfordshire.

Stevenage Golf and Conference Centre offers a variety of society packages to suit personal requirements.

To Receive A Copy Email us at guide@golfnews.co.uk with your Society or Company Name, number of players, and your address.

Set in the beautiful Suffolk Countryside, between Ipswich and Aldeburgh, Ufford Park is one of Suffolk’s premier golf clubs and an ideal venue to hold a truly memorable society or corporate golf day.

Winter packages (Nov-Feb) start from £29pp.

Summer packages (Mar-Oct) start from £35pp.

TEL: 01394 382836 | EMAIL: GOLF@UFFORDPARK.CO.UK WEB: WWW.UFFORDPARK.CO.UK

Cottesmore is a family-owned business that welcomes all visitors looking for an enjoyable day out, and prides itself on offering excellent service and exceptional quality. Whether you choose from one of the standard packages or prefer a tailor-made experience, the club can cater for all your needs.

There 18, 27 and 36-hole packages are available. Summer package prices start from just £29, including coffee, bacon roll and 18 holes.

TEL: 01293 528256 | EMAIL: GOLFDAYS@COTTESMOREGOLF.CO.UK WEB: WWW.COTTESMOREGOLF.CO.UK

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WEST MALLING GC KENT

The two 18-hole courses, Spitfire and Hurricane, are named in honour of the iconic fighter planes that flew out of the nearby airfield during World War II, are a challenge for all standards of golfer. The courses are surrounded by beautiful undulating countryside, with many mature trees and panoramic views overlooking the North Downs.

Winter society packages start from £22pp.

GOLF GUIDE | DEC/JAN 2018

ASHLEY WOOD GC DORSET

Described by Peter Alliss as 'The Best Kept Secret in Dorset', Ashley Wood is a friendly club where visitors and societies are always welcome. The course, which wfirs opened in 1896, is constructed on free-draining chalk with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

Society packages: Autumn/Winter from £25pp; Spring/Summer rrom £32pp.

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LAUNCESTON GC CORNWALL

Launceston G is a friendly member's club and a great venue for a day’s golf for green fee players or societies. It offers value for money packages, with excellent catering facilities, friendly staff, and deals suitable for parties of all sizes.

Packages start from £32.95pp, and can be tailored to suit requirements.

TEL: 01732 844785 | EMAIL: INFO@WESTMALLINGGOLF.COM WEB: WWW.WESTMALLINGGOLF.COM

TEL: 01258 452253 | EMAIL: GENERALMANAGER@ASHLEYWOODGOLFCLUB.COM WEB: WWW.ASHLEYWOODGOLFCLUB.COM

TEL: 01566773442 (CLUB) 01566775359 (PRO SHOP) | EMAIL: SECRETARY@ LAUNCESTONGOLFCLUB.CO.UK | WEB: WWW.LAUNCESTONGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

WEYMOUTH GC DORSET

WATERLOOVILLE GC HAMPSHIRE

TEMPLE GC BERKSHIRE

Society packages are available from £31.50pp.

Temple offers year-round golf on a high-quality course designed by two-time Open champion Willie Park Jr and opened in 1909. Its handy location near to the M4 and M40, along with its beautiful setting, renowned hospitality, excellent value for money, and friendly service, make Temple the ideal society venue.

Summer packages (Apr-Oct) from £50pp.

Winter packages (Nov-Mar) from £35pp.

TEL: 01305 750831 | EMAIL: WEYMOUTHGOLFCLUB@GMAIL.COM WEB: WWW.WEYMOUTHGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

TEL: 02392 263388 | EMAIL: MARK@WATERLOOVILLEGOLFCLUB.COM WEB: WWW. WATERLOOVILLEGOLFCLUB.COM

TEL: 01628 824795 | EMAIL: SECRETARY@TEMPLEGOLFCLUB.CO.UK WEB: WWW.TEMPLEGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

ROCHESTER & COBHAM PARK GC KENT

RADCLIFFE ON TRENT GC NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

CALCOT PARK GC BERKSHIRE

Weymouth Golf Club boasts a wonderful 18-hole parkland course designed by James Braid which opened in 1909 and offers spectacular views of the Jurassic coast. The club is especially friendly and offers a warm welcome to all societies and visitors.

A range of society packages are available from £21pp.

One of the oldest courses in England, Rochester & Cobham has hosted the Kent Amateur, the Brabazon Trophy final qualifier, and two international matches, as well as regional qualifying for the Open Championship.

A range of society packages are available on Tuesday afternoons and all-day Thursdays. All society days are tailored to requirements.

Society Winter Specials are offered from November–March.

Recently recognised as a championship venue by England Golf, the course at Waterlooville suits golfers of all abilities. The picturesque parkland layout measures up to 6,550 yards, and with five par fives, five par threes and eight par fours, presents an interesting experience for all skill levels.

Radcliffe on Trent is home to the British Boys Open for the McGregor Trophy, and is one of Nottinghamshire’s premier clubs. Boasting a topclass course with top-class catering, is offers the perfect day out for any society or passionate golfer..

Winter and summer packages are available. Call the club for details.

TEL: 01474 823411 | EMAIL: MANAGER@ROCHESTERANDCOBHAMGC.CO.UK WEB: WWW.ROCHESTERANDCOBHAMGC.CO.UK

TEL: 0115 9333000 OPTION 1 EMAIL: ADMIN@RADCLIFFEONTRENTGC.CO.UK WEB: WWW.RADCLIFFEONTRENTGC.CO.UK

CROWBOROUGH BEACON GC SUSSEX

MUSWELL HILL LONDON

Crowborough Beacon is a superb, mature heathland layout which delightfully sits close to the highest point in Sussex at nearly 800ft above sea level, offering stunning South Downs views.

Winter green fees from £25pp.

TEL: 01892 661511 EMAIL: OFFICE@CBGC.CO.UK WEB: WWW.CBGC.CO.UK

Muswell Hill Golf Club is a stunning parkland golf course and the ideal location to welcome societies.

A favourite golf course among societies and corporate hosts with many returning year after year. A testing golf course only 30 minutes from the City, it is ideally located for golf societies within Central or North London.

TEL: 0208 888 1764 | EMAIL: MANAGER@MUSWELLHILLGOLFCLUB.CO.UK WEB: WWW.MUSWELLHILLGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

Calcot Park is a Harry S. Colt designed course that has invested heavily in improving its facilities and surrounds to such high levels that it now comfortably sits as one the best of its category in the county. The course is rated in the top six golf clubs in Berkshire and we hope you will avail yourself of the facilities on offer at the club.

Winter Golf Experience; coffee and bacon roll on arrival, 18 holes of golf and a two-course chef’s special afterwards for just £45 per person (minimum eight players required).

TEL: 0118 942 7124 | EMAIL: INFO@CALCOTPARK.COM | WEB: WWW.CALCOTPARK.COM

SANDY LODGE GC HERTFORDSHIRE

Founded in 1910 and designed by six-times Open Champion Harry Vardon, Sandy Lodge is a superb example of inland links golf. On arrival you will be welcomed into our friendly club house, perfectly equipped with a well-stocked bar, outside terrace with views across the course, luxurious changing facilities and additional function rooms provide the perfect space for larger groups to enjoy celebrations and our extensive menu options.

Society Packages: Until to March 2018 - Packages start from £40pp.

April to October 2018 - Packages start from £65pp.

TEL: 01923 825 429 | EMAIL: INFO@SANDYLODGE.CO.UK | WEB: : WWW.SANDYLODGE.CO.UK

[36] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

serving up a feast of entertainment, none more so than Andrew Lyth from Texas and Ken Daly from Carnoustie. Both regular finalists down the years, and single figure golfers, Andrew and Ken provided a fourball match and singles match of the highest order, with both going down to the final hole.

Nerves and excitement were in abundance all week, as the Swingers' Final is the closest many amateurs get to representing their country and continent in competitive golf. In the end, the experience of the European team paid off. With some breezy conditions on the three links-style courses, the European games were a little better suited to what Streamsong threw at them.

The Rest of the World will be back again in Season 15 to try and reclaim the trophy, and the big question is what part of the world will the Swingers final visit next?

You can find out by registering at www.flyingclubgolfleague.com and following @GolfingSwingers on Twitter. Give yourself the chance to be there next year, and live the dream of winning a trophy for your country and region.

■ THE TWO VIRGIN SWINGERS' TEAMS ENJOYED A FINE WEEK'S GOLF IN FLORIDA

EUROPE BRINGS SWINGERS’ TROPHY HOME! T

eam Europe successfully won back the Pedlar Trophy in the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Swingers Final held at Streamsong Resort in Florida.

Led by nine handicapper Morag Hutcheon from John O’ Gaunt Golf Club, Europe defeated the Rest of the World 15-9 in the annual Ryder Cup-style final, having tasted defeat in South Africa last year.

Playing over three rounds of foursomes, fourballs and singles

across the three fabulous courses at Streamsong, Europe grabbed an early lead on day one and never looked back.

The star performer of the week was Rebecca Gray from Haydock Park.

While she had played in one of the very early finals in the mid-2000’s, the event had changed beyond recognition since then, so she like it was being a rookie this time out. Not only did Gray win all her three matches, but she was asked to double up on singles day to replace a European colleague who had been taken ill the night before. She took the responsibility on her shoulders to win her fourth match and become the only Swinger ever to take four points in a final.

There was some stunning golf on show, with several matches

GOLF RESORT GROUP LAUNCHES ONLINE TEE BOOKING

G

olfers looking to play at any of Redefine|BDL Hotels’ 10 golf resorts can now book a tee-time quickly and easily online, after the UK's biggest golf resort management company launched a new pay-and-play booking system.

Visitors to the clubs, which were formerly owned

by Q Hotels, now have the opportunity to select from any of the ten four-star golf venues and, by simply clicking on the resort of their choice, will be offered available tee

times by date and time - with some currently available for just £10.

And, with tee-times bookable a week in advance, the simple system allows golfers to arrange a tee-time with friends from the comfort of their armchair, on the train, or while sat at work.

John Stuart, chief operations officer at Redefine|BDL Hotels, said: "We've been looking to implement a simple, online tee-time booking system for some time, but some we

looked at were too involved.

We just wanted to make it easy for our customers: click and select, pay and play. And that's what we have, simplicity itself – and, importantly, it works really well for both the customer and the club."

The RBH portfolio offers championship-standard courses in unique resort locations, including Slaley Hall, Belton Woods, Mottram Hall, and Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort.

For details, visit www. qhotels.co.uk/golf/tee-times.

■ SLALEY HALL

Seaford Head Golf Course

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NO W BU jec G t t AV G o we A IE at IL S he r c AB on LE di t !

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WE ARE OFFERING SOME GREAT SOCIETY AND GOLF DAY PACKAGES PAR ● ●

Full English Breakfast,Coffee &18 holes £26pp Midweek ● £29pp Weekend & Bank Holidays

BIRDIE ● ● ●

Coffee, Bacon Roll &18 Holes Selection from Society lunch menu £30pp Midweek ● £33pp Weekend & Bank Holidays

EAGLE ● ● ●

Full English Breakfast, Coffee & 18 Holes Selection from Society lunch menu £32.50pp Midweek ● £36.50pp Weekend & Bank Holidays

ALBATROSS ● ● ● ●

Coffee, Bacon Roll & 9/18 holes Selection from Society lunch menu &18 holes Selection from Society dinner menu £50pp Midweek ● £53pp Weekend & Bank Hols

WINTER WARMER SOCIETY SPECIAL ● ● ● ●

Full English or Ham, Egg and Chips & 18 Holes £20 Midweek ● £24 Weekend Minimum 4 people. Must be booked in advance From November 1st to 29th February 2018

All society packages can be tailored to meet your own specifications. Minimum 12 people. Please call the Pro Shop on 01323 890139.

)

NEW MEMBERS

AMAZING OFFER JOIN NOW AND DON’T RENEW UNTIL THE END OF MARCH 2019 TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

Call 01323890139 or email

seafordheadproshop@hotmail.co.uk

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

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | DEC/JAN 2018

LINCOLNSHIRE DUO WIN SKYCADDIE PROCAPTAIN CHALLENGE

H

olme Hall professional Paul Bradshaw and his amateur partner Chris Hall combined to win the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge in Morocco.

The duo from Lincolnshire joined forces for a birdie-laden and bogey-free negotiation of the Gary Player-designed course at Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort that resulted in a comfortable victory.

Bradshaw and Hall had begun the second and final round of the Stableford format

event a point adrift of their PGA Midland region rivals and tournament leaders, Moor Hall's Cameron Clark and his club captain Paul Brindley.

At half way, the deficit had been erased, and with the duo from Sutton Coldfield seemingly becalmed, they posted four birdies for a total score of 85, and victory by three points.

The last of those birdies was recorded at the par-five 18th

by Mills, a 20-handicapper who looked anything but, as

his chip-and-run approach came to rest inches from the hole for a tap in. It was a fitting way to win the tournament that, supported by Golfplan Insurance, carries a £22,000 prize fund, of which £5,000 goes to the winning pro.

Holme Hall’s final round of 43 points was matched by Leigh Golf Club pair, PGA pro Andrew Baguley and John Taylor. As a result, they finished third on 81, one behind Moor Hall.

Despite their obvious unity on the course, the partners cited different reasons for their success. “Our secret was keeping the ball in play,” said Bradshaw. “The fairways are quite generous, but the ice

■ SKYCADDIE WINNERS PAUL BRADSHAW AND CHRIS HALL

plants that border them are brutal, so we kept the ball out of them and plugged away.”

Hall, meanwhile, had a different take on the proceedings. “From my point of

WALES GOLF TO CREATE GENDER-NEUTRAL JUNIOR COMPETITIONS

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GOLF FOUNDATION AWARDS

A

E

number of junior Welsh golf competitions in 2018 will be gender neutral for the first time ever, Wales Golf has announced.

This means girls and boys will not be segregated into separate events, although there will still be male and female prizes. The move towards equal competitions is part of a series of changes to championship golf in Wales aimed at increasing both competition and participation.

The previously-named Boys competitions at under 16 and under 14 levels will change name to reflect the extension to allow girls to compete. They will be called the Welsh U16’s and Welsh U14’s Championships.

The champion could be male or female, but there will also be separate gender prizes and trophies in both championships.

Handicap limits will be altered slightly to 20 and 28 respectively.

Gillian O’Leary, director of Performance for Wales Golf, welcomed the news. “Following the success of the Ping Welsh Junior Tour, this change now offers national competitive golf within Wales to all junior golfers, at all stages of their development,” she said.

England Golf has yet to announce any similar plans to alter its own competitions for boys and girls.

very year the Golf Foundation Presidents’ Awards celebrate some of the real heroes of grass roots junior golf and the high achieving projects that encourage more young people to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport.

The Golf Foundation is in a unique position to recognise the individuals, groups and organisations who deserve special acclaim for helping youngsters from all backgrounds and circumstances to enjoy the benefits of golf. It is calling on golf fans to make their nominations now to reward people of integrity who give their time to support the charity’s national HSBC Golf Roots programme, which is providing an ever-more successful player pathway from school to regular club golf.

The Presidents’ Awards will be staged in May at Wentworth, on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship.

Volunteers, PGA professionals, teachers, sports development workers,

view it was having a really good professional to play alongside,” he said. “Paul played brilliantly over the two days.”

The pair, however, was united in its view of the resort

and its course. “It’s been unbelievable,” said Mills. “I’m halfway through my year as captain, and I don’t think anything will come close to topping this."

administrators, sport partnerships and local authorities are among those who can be nominated for one of the nine awards, which are shared out between group projects and individuals. The most prestigious honour is the Sir Henry Cotton Award, which is for outstanding service in the development of young golfers over a sustained period of time.

Brendon Pyle, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Our Presidents’ Awards represent a priceless opportunity for this charity and our partners to recognise and celebrate the outstanding commitment and passion that our award winners show in helping young people to find a good start in golf so that they may enjoy the game long into adulthood.

“For next year, the nearly 300 golf clubs that have received a Skills for Life trophy will be invited to nominate their young recipient to win the national Mackenzie Award at Wentworth. This is a really exciting addition to the awards and will truly celebrate our wider commitment to helping young golfers develop into confident and resilient adults.”

The closing date for nominations is February 23. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the ‘Presidents’ Awards’ page at www.golf-foundation.org.

ESSEX LAUNCHES NEW SENIORS TEAM EVENT FOR HIGHER HANDICAPPERS

G

olf clubs in Essex will have a new team competition to enter next season, following the launch of the John Day Seniors Trophy.

The competition has been added to the calendar to

WEBUYANYGOLFCLUB WE ARE THE COUNTRIES LEADING BUYER OF USED GOLF CLUBS

provide competitive team golf for category three and four seniors. The Essex Seniors Team Championship currently runs for teams of 11 players with a handicap of 18 and below.

The John Day Trophy will

follow a similar format, but run for a team of nine players with handicaps from 13 to 28.

The matches will be played on the same dates as the Seniors Team Championship, baring the semi-finals and finals.

A player who represents their club in one of these events will not be able to represent their club in the other. It costs £70 to enter a club team, or £120 to enter a team for both competitions.

Strike it Rite! ®

STEELHEAD

you and pay cash ➽ Anywhere else, you can send us your clubs get paid by PayPal ➽ Bring your clubs to RG42 3DH for cash ➽ We can clear pro shop old stock & oddments

➽ We can hold regular bring

and sell days at your club giving members cash to spend in your shop ➽ Available every Monday,

throughout the year.

Please call in advance to make an appointment

GOLF UNIT, NESTINGS, JIGS LANE, N. BRACKNELL. RG42 3DH We are the opposite side of the roundabout at TESCO, Warfield Email: graham@webuyanygolfclub.com Tel: 07880 706308

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[38] DEC/JAN 2018 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TOURNEWS...

FLEETWOOD CLINCHES RACE TO DUBAI TITLE T bid to be European No.1 for the first time in 10 years came up agonisingly short, despite a poor closing round from Fleetwood.

After three days of serene golf, Rose looked in complete control of the tournament, and was cruising at three under par for the day after 11 holes, but he bogeyed three of the next five to slip out of the outright

fourth-place position he needed to win the money list.

With Fleetwood looking on from the clubhouse after a two-over-par 74 left him out of the top 20 on 11 under, Rose needed to hole from the front fringe for eagle at the 72nd hole to snatch the Harry Vardon Trophy. But his effort from around 80 feet drifted left of the target and, although he holed for birdie, a four-way share of fourth place was not enough to displace Fleetwood from the top of the standings.

As for the tournament itself, Rahm

HORSFIELD ROMPS TO Q SCHOOL WIN qualifying line, with the top 25 and ties earning European Tour cards. It proved to fall at 13 under par, though it was a nervous wait for the nine players tied on that mark. Past European Tour winners Kristoffer Broberg, Gonzalo FernandezCastaño and Anders Hansen were

among the qualifiers, while youngsters Jazz Janewattananond, Connor Syme and Jonathan ‘Thomson will embark on rookie years in the Race to Dubai.

Surrey’s James Heath was the first player to confirm his qualification. The Englishman was out in the first group of the day and birdied the ninth hole – his last – to reach 14 under par and prolong his professional career after a tough few years of questioning his future.

Another notable qualifiers included Surrey’s Ross McGowan, Laurie Canter, Mark Foster, and Ireland’s Conor Syme, who played in September’s Walker Cup.

ommy Fleetwood was crowned Race to Dubai champion after Justin Rose endured a torrid back nine on the final day of the European Tour season at the DP World Tour Championship.

Spanish sensation Jon Rahm emerged from the pack to become the only multiple winner of a Rolex Series tournament this season, while Rose's

M

anchester-born Sam Horsfield claimed an impressive eight-shot victory at Qualifying School Final Stage, as 33 players earned European Tour cards on a dramatic final day at Lumine Golf Club in Spain.

The Englishman closed with an eight-under-par 63 to reach 27 under par overall. On another day of good scoring in Tarragona, all eyes were on the

SORDET SOARS ON CHALLENGE TOUR

F

renchman Clément Sordet claimed a second victory of the season at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, as Scott Fernandez and Bradley Neil dramatically clinched European Tour cards on the final day of the Challenge Tour season.

The top 15 in the season-long Road to Oman Rankings will play in the Race to Dubai next year and there was much movement throughout the fourth round at Al Mouj Golf, with Sebastian Heisele and Robin Sciot-Siegrist ultimately the two to drop out of the European Tour places in the final week of the season.

Estanislao Goya and Oliver Lindell were two others who were inside the top 15 in the projected rankings, but endured difficult days as the wind picked up off the Sea of Oman, ultimately sharing 11th place – not enough to hold those European Tour positions.

Fernandez and Neil both turned in 33 to climb the leaderboard, but started to falter on the back nine, each bogeying the 17th before making impressive pars on the last hole in the

knowledge that a dropped shot would be costly. They took the 14th and 15th cards for next season, Neil finishing 4,436 points ahead of Heisele for that final position, and they will both now embark on rookie seasons on the European Tour.

By contrast, Sordet’s progress to a fourth Challenge Tour title seemed relatively serene. The Frenchman stretched his overnight lead to four shots with two early birdies and, with the charges of Erik van Rooyen and Goya falling away, he walked down the 18th with a two-shot lead. A comfortable par saw him sign for a

two under par round of 70 and a 15 under par total, taking the 25 year old to second place in the Rankings, with Marcus Kinhult the runner-up and Fernandez and van Rooyen sharing third place on 12 under par.

The round of the day came from Jens Dantorp, whose blemish-free 66 secured the Swede his European Tour card in a share of fifth place and concluded a remarkable fortnight following his victory in last week’s Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge.

Meanwhile, Tapio Pulkkanen was crowned Challenge Tour Number One, the first Finn to achieve the honour.

wearing a hospital gown after undergoing a series of tests.

“Well, that wasn’t quite the finish to my year I had in mind!” he wrote

on Instagram. “Had some chest pain last night and into this morning, and it kept getting worse. After some medical advice, I had to withdraw and was shipped off to the hospital to get my heart looked at. After seven hours of tests all looks good with my heart, thankfully.”

Donald subsequently pulled out of his remaining golf commitments for the year, and won’t be competing again until early 2018. The former world no.1 has slipped down to 125th in the world rankings following a season that has included just two top10 finishes and nine missed cuts.

DONALD SUFFERS HEART SCARE

L

uke Donald is to sit out the rest of the year after suffering a heart scare on the eve of the RSM Classic in America. The 39 year old was admitted to hospital on November 16 after complaining of pains in his chest.

Donald was scheduled to play in the PGA Tour event in Sea Island, Georgia, but pulled out before the first round, and later used social media to post a picture of himself

TOUR NEWS IN BRIEF GRACE SHINES AT SUN CITY

fired a flawless final round 67 to snatch a one-shot win over Shane Lowry and Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The Spaniard moved into the lead with a birdie at the 16th, while his closest rivals, Rose, Dean Burmester, Dylan Frittelli and Sergio Garcia, faltered over the final holes.

FOWLER BAGS HERO CHALLENGE AS TIGER RETURNS

R

ickie Fowler fired an 11-underpar 61 to win the Hero World Challenge after Tiger Woods capped his return from injury with a solid four days’ work in the Bahamas.

Fowler trailed third round leader Charley Hoffman by seven shots, but made eight birdies in a stunning front nine to lead at the turn. He added three more birdies to break the tournament and course records at Albany Golf Club and win by four strokes over Hoffman.

Woods, playing his first tournament since withdrawing from February's Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms, carded a final round 68 to add to earlier rounds of 69, 68, 75, to finish tied ninth in the 18-man invitational event. He went out in 31, hitting three birdies and an eagle at the seventh. He recovered from a double bogey on ten with three birdies in his next five holes, before successive bogeys at 17 and 18 sullied his card.

South Africa’s Branden Grace secured a first victory of 2017 by grabbing a one-shot win on home soil at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City. The South African fired a final round 66 at Gary Player Country Club to edge ahead of playing partners Scott Jamieson and Victor Dubuisson, who all had spells top of the leaderboard during the final round. Grace began the day three strokes off the pace, but fired six birdies in a flawless display, with overnight leader Jamieson finishing a shot back, and Dubuisson a further stroke adrift.

CHEVALIER WINS WOMEN’S INDIAN OPEN

France’s Camille Chevalier produced a back-nine birdie blitz to become a first-time winner at the Hero Women’s Indian Open. The 23-yearold from Aix-en-Provence fired five birdies in her last eight holes on the Black Knight Golf Course at DLF Golf & Country Club for a final round of 67, to finish at 12 under par, a stroke clear of the Scotland’s Michele Thomson.

ROCCO FORTE OPEN RETURNS

Sicily is back on the European Tour schedule next season after it was announced that the Verdura Resort is to host the Rocco Forte Open from May 10-13. First hosted at the resort this year, shortly after becoming a European Tour Destination, the tournament saw Spaniard Alvaro Quiros secure his seventh European Tour title after overcoming Zander Lombard of South Africa in a play-off.

DAVIS FOILS DAY DOWN UNDER

Australia’s Cameron Davis fired a final round 64 to snatch a one-shot victory in the Australian Open held at The Australian Golf Club. Davis, ranked 1,494th in the world before the tournament, started the final round six shots behind Jason Day, but the 22 year old stormed through the field to claim his first professional title with an 11 under score of 273.

He also claimed a spot in next year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth finish eighth on six under.

RAHM WINS ROOKIE AWARD

J

on Rahm has been awarded the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, after a breakthrough season that included a record-breaking victory at the Irish Open in July and victory at the DP World Championship in Dubai.

The current world No.4 – who finished third in the Race to Dubai – sealed the accolade ahead of South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli, Englishman Jordan Smith, Hideto Tanihara of Japan and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox. The 23-year-old Spaniard earned his maiden professional title at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open in January, holing a 60-foot eagle putt on the final hole to clinch the title. He then joined the European Tour, and almost immediately won the Irish Open, storming to a six-stroke victory at Portstewart with his 24-under-par total being the lowest in the tournament’s history.

Rahm becomes the first Spaniard to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award since Pablo Larrazábal in 2008, and the fifth in total, with Gonzalo FernandezCastaño (2005), Sergio Garcia (1999) and José Maria Olazábal (1986) also having claimed the honour.

CONTENTS TRIED & TESTED: TAYLORMADE P790 IRONS PRO SHOP: NEW GEAR FROM SHOT SCOPE, G/FORE & BIG MAX SHOWCASE: ESSENTIAL GOLFING ACCESSORIES

EQUIPMENT & GEAR

DEC/JAN 2018 WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT NEWS COBRA'S NEW F8 CONNECT RANGE UNVEILED

IRONS TO INSPIRE

TAYLORMADE'S NEW P790 IRONS REVIEWED

[40] DEC/JAN 2018 | EQUIPMENT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT NEWS KBS LAUNCHES GAME IMPROVEMENT SHAFT

SRIXON DONATES £43K TO PROSTATE CANCER UK

SPECIALIST STEEL SHAFT COMPANY KBS has added a new dimension to its range by introducing a shaft for mid to high handicap golfers for the first time.

SRIXON SPORTS EUROPE has announced that it has raised an impressive £43,000 for its charitable partner, Prostate Cancer UK, in 2017. The sizeable donation comes on the back of another successful year for the brand in the UK, as demand for its fifth generation Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf ball continues to grow.

The new KBS Max 80 is a lightweight shaft that produces a high trajectory and spin rate for the longer distance shots that the majority of golfers find difficult to hit consistently.

Brand ambassador Graeme McDowell joined Srixon Europe’s tour manager Iain Steele to pose with a cheque showcasing the impressive final donation during a recent European Tour event. The Ryder Cup star and former US Open champion personally played a key part in the promotional campaign that helped drive up sales.

“In the past our philosophy has been to design stronger shafts aimed at the better player, but the Max 80 has been developed for those players with a higher handicap looking to maximize the performance of their irons on every shot,” said Kim Braly, the company’s R&D and tour operations director.

Paul Steels, who represents the brand on the European Tour, added: “For clubmakers and fitters the KBS Max 80 is a welcome addition to the KBS range. It’s a very useful shaft to have at their disposal, because it’s lightweight with a high launch; available in three flexes and with further custom options to suit every individual golfers needs. It enables them to better fit golfers that have less confidence in their iron shots.”

The KBS Max 80 weighs 102g and is available in three flex options (regular, stiff and X stiff) with a chrome finish, along with a .370 parallel tip diameter. Custom fitting is available at selected dealers.

The partnership saw Srixon donate £1.50 for every dozen Z-Star and Z-Star XV balls sold at trade to Prostate Cancer UK, helping to raise funds, as well as awareness of the lifethreatening male-specific disease.

To enhance awareness for the campaign, and give its customers more value, Srixon introduced a limited edition 15-ball bonus pack which included an additional free sleeve of balls decorated with Prostate Cancer UK’s logo.

BRIDGESTONE BOSS SAYS BALL ‘IS GOING TOO FAR’ TIGER WOODS, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Gary Player have been calling for many years for distance limits to be placed on golf balls used on tour, but the golf ball brands have maintained a wall of silence on the subject – until now.

The chief executive officer of Bridgestone, one of the game’s biggest ball manufacturers, recently lent his support to their cause, saying in an interview that tour professionals were hitting the ball ‘way too long’ and that something needed to be done to ‘standardise’ the balls used on tour.

Bridgestone Golf president Angel Ilagan is the first executive from a leading ball manufacturer to publicly call for a golf ball that doesn’t go as far.

Woods, Bridgestone's most high profile staff player, recently echoed those sentiments. He said: "We need to do something about the golf ball. I just think it is going too far. With the game progressing as it is, I think the 8,000-yard golf course is not too far away. That’s pretty scary.”

Bridgestone signed Woods in 2016 to play its Tour B 330 S ball, which has now been redesigned and rebranded

■ TIGER WOODS WITH BRIDGESTONE CEO ANGEL ILAGAN

as the Tour B XS. Ilagan said he is in favour of bifurcation, with one set of rules for pros and another for recreational golfers. "I think there is an option to have a ball that is played on Tour, and a ball that is played casually," he

said, adding that he gives a standardised ball a 50-50 chance of appearing on Tour in the near future.

However, Wally Ulhein, president of market leading ball brand Titleist, said he was unconvinced of the need

for a reduced-distance ball, claiming that Bridgestone has an alterior motive for wanting other brands balls to be reigned in.

“Given Bridgestone’s very small worldwide market share, and paltry presence in professional golf, it would seem logical they would have a commercial motive making the case for a reduced distance golf ball,” said Ulhein, who is retiring from Acushnet at the end of 2017.

In a letter to The Wall Street Journal, Uihlein questioned the evidence that a longer ball is negatively impacting the game. The letter came in

response to USGA executive director Mike Davis, who suggested that the cost of lengthening courses was making the game more expensive for all. "Is there any evidence to support this trickle down cost argument?”

Uihlein wrote. “Where is the evidence to support the argument that golf course operating costs nationwide are being escalated due to advances in equipment technology?"

The R&A and the USGA, which govern the rules of golf around the world, say they have no current plans to bifurcate the rules when it comes to golf balls.

TRIED & TESTED:

TAYLORMADE P790 IRONS THE P790 IS A FORGED BLADE that retains many of the features found in TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MB irons – including sole camber, offset flow, sole radius and hosel length – while improving its performance through more efficient shaping and weight distribution.

It is being touted as a forged distance iron for better players, which sounds like the best of both worlds, and certainly fills a previously empty slot in the company’s irons category.

It's not quite all forged though, as the wrap-around face is forged from carbon steel and then welded onto a cast carbon steel body. It also features a hollow head that has a screw in the toe, through which 4g of foam is injected

into the cavity, which expands to support the forged face that is just 1.75mm thick in places.

Also inside the 3-7 irons is a high-density tungsten weight in the base of the cavity, which serves to increase MOI throughout the set. There is also a speed slot on the sole, which enables the face to flex a little to increase ball speeds.

Despite being slightly bigger that a traditional tour-level iron, when you put the clubhead down at address it looks and feels like a club that good players will like. The top line of the 79mm long blade – which gives the club its name – is thicker than most for a head of this size, and it does inspire confidence, as does the extra little bit of offset.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT | DEC/JAN 2018

[41]

THE GEAR EFFECT WHAT THE WINNERS WERE PLAYING ON TOUR BRANDEN GRACE

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE DRIVER: Callaway Epic Sub Zero (9˚) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway XR16 Pro (16˚) UTILITY IRONS: Callaway Apex UT (21˚, 24˚) IRONS: Callaway 2013 X Forged (5-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy Prototype (52˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works Jailbird BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

COBRA CONNECTS WITH NEW F8 RANGE COBRA’S LATEST RANGE OF CLUBS is first set to feature the brand’s built-in shot tracking system.

Powered by data tracking technology Arccos, Cobra’s new F8, F8+ drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons all feature Cobra Connect, which allows users to automatically track their performance across all game aspects.

Previously only available with Cobra’s F7 drivers, the Connect system features electronically embedded sensors in the grip which automatically record the distance and accuracy of every shot, so golfers can track their improvements round-to-round.

The shot tracking requires no tagging or tapping, while the sensors also serve as a golf GPS, providing exact distances to any point on 40,000-plus courses via the Arccos 360 App. It also measures distances hit with every club, and offers shot analysis, including strokes gained, and handicap breakdowns for driving, approach shots, chipping, bunker play, and putting.

■ THE FB RANGE CAN BE CONNECTED TO YOUR SMARTPHONE FOR DATA TRACKING

Anyone who buys a standard seven-piece set of F8 irons in any configuration will also receive additional Arccos 360 screw-in sensors to round out their 14-club set.

Players using the Arccos app will also benefit from a five-round preview of Arccos Caddie, which shows the optimal strategy on any hole by analysing every shot taken with Arccos, as well as 120 million-plus shots hit by the other golfers, and 368 million geotagged data points on more than 40,000 courses. Powered by the Microsoft Azure cloud, Arccos Caddie accounts for elevation data and weather conditions, including forecasted wind speed, wind direction, rain and temperature.

JUSTIN ROSE

TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN DRIVER: TaylorMade M1 (9.5˚) FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M2 (15˚), M1 (19˚) IRONS: TaylorMade P790 (4), TaylorMade P730 (5-PW) WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind (52˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: TaylorMade TP Red Collection Ardmore 2 BALL: TaylorMade TP5

JON RAHM

DP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: TaylorMade M2 (10.5°) FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M1 (15°,19°) IRONS: TaylorMade P750 Irons (4-PW) WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind (52°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red BALL: TaylorMade TP5X

PATRICK CANTLAY

SHRINERS HOSPITALS OPEN

WILSON POWERS UP WITH NEW C300 IRONS

G/FORE AIMS HIGH WITH DISRUPTOR RANGE

WILSON STAFF HAS UNVEILED its new C300 irons, which feature two rows of power holes to enhance forgiveness and increase distance.

FLX Face Power Hole technology features around the entire perimeter of the clubface to minimise contact between body and face, resulting in more flex for forgiveness and greater distance.

G/FORE HAS LAUNCHED a new high-top golf shoe, the Mid/Street Disruptor, which is designed to be worn on and off the course. It features a higher cut to the ankle and premium outsole details for added flexibility.

G/Fore founder Mossimo Giannulli said: "At G/Fore, we aim to help someone express their own individuality and style, rather

As with the previous C200 model, 76% of the iron’s face is free from the body of the club, and is filled with a soft urethane material for better feel and distance. Three holes feature on the topline, while two appear on the sole, which Wilson Staff say increases distance by seven yards. The price for a seven-club set (5-PW) is £515/£599 for steel/ graphite.

In the bag, the P790 looks stunning, with a clean modern design, and a matt finish offset by a polished chrome strip on the back that goes around the toe. Combined with the toe screw and the square font for the numbers, the P790 is one of the best looking irons TaylorMade has ever made.

Performance-wise, it certainly lives up to its credentials, and produced high balls speeds off the face, with the kind of low-spinning, penetrating trajectory that good players like to see. The lofts are strong, which accounts for some of the distance improvements over comparative irons, and there is certainly additional forgiveness on those less-than-perfect shots, especially in the 7-iron and upwards, where you feel the benefit of the larger head, speed slots, tungsten weighting and the cavity design.

The feel from the new True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 shaft was excellent, and you really felt you could zip the

than conforming to the norm, whether that is on the golf course or in their everyday lives. We've been blown away by the way the Disruptor has been received. It has received such a positive reaction and we wanted to give people the option to bring the design into their off-course wardrobes.

Costing £159, it comes in black or white, and is available to pre-order now.

IT IS BEING TOUTED AS A FORGED DISTANCE IRON FOR BETTER PLAYERS, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS clubhead through impact, although it may be too light for some better players, so, as ever, a custom fitting is advised to dial in your preferred shaft options.

Technically, the P790 is a lovely looking and performing set of irons, and I could see high single-figure players using the entire set, while slightly better players might blend the 3, 4 and maybe 5-irons into one of the other P700 sets.

RRP: £1,049 for a seven-club set

DRIVER: Titleist 917D2 (9.5˚) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (15˚) HYBRID: Titleist 816H2 (21˚) IRONS: Titleist 714 AP2 (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM5 (54˚), SM6 (56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

WADE ORMSBY

UBS HONG KONG OPEN DRIVER: Titleist 917 D2 (8.5˚) FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist 917 F2 (15˚) HYBRIDS: Adams Idea Pro (16˚, 21˚) IRONS: Titleist 718 CB (4-5), Titleist 718 MB (6-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM6 (48˚, 54˚, 58˚) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Futura X5R BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

[42] DEC/JAN 2018 | EQUIPMENT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BIG MAX DRI LIGHT TRAVEL COVER

BIG MAX ICE 7 STAND BAG

£139.99, BIGMAXGOLF.COM Transport your precious golf equipment with the Dri Lite travel cover system, which is large enough to store all of your gear, and even features two shoe bag pockets. The water-resistant, rip-stop cover boasts self-stand technology for ease of use, and has internal/external bag fixings to secure your luggage during transportation and avoid damage. For added ease of use the bag is wheeled with skate ball bearings, and has carry handles in key areas.

£69.99, BIGMAXGOLF.COM The Ice 7 adds space and practicality to the traditional winter bag with its seven-inch top, four spacious pockets and weight of just 1.6kg. Its lightweight durable nylon construction, comfortable straps and extra size make it perfect for a quick nine holes or practice round in the winter months for those who want to carry just a bit more than the bare minimum.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

COBRA F8 DRIVERS £329, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK The next generation of King Cobra drivers are the first in the brand’s history to feature a milled forged titanium face, which is 3% thinner and 10% lighter than previous models for even great ball speeds awith enhanced distance and accuracy.

The King F8 and F8+ drivers are designed to provide players of varying abilities a choice between oversized performance with maximum forgiveness, ortraditional shaping with maximum workability, precision and penetrating ball flights.

The F8 features an oversized 460cc head that increases MOI and provides more distance, forgiveness and speed on off-centre hits.

An adjustable weight system offers two centre of gravity settings: one in the back for a higher ball flight and one in the heel to provide additional draw bias. A series of aerodynamic trips positioned around the perimeter of the face reduce drag for increased clubhead speed, while an ultralight, five-ply carbon fibre crown saves weight to move the centre of gravity lower and deeper for higher trajectories and increased forgiveness. The variable thickness forged face boasts an ellipticalshaped sweet zone, which creates more hot spots farther away from the centre of the face for more distance on heel and toe shots.

Offering full adjustability, the F8 can be switched to eight loft settings between 9o and 12 o, while Smart Pad technology maintains a square clubhead at address. It comes with a Lamkin REL 360 Tour grip in a choice of three stock shafts – MRC Tensei CK Blue 50g, Aldila NV 2KXV Blue 60g, or an Aldila NV 2KXV Green 65g.

The F8+ is aimed at golfers who prefer a smaller head – 440cc – with a more penetrating trajectory. It is available in lofts from 8-11 degrees. Both can be with paired with Cobra Connect powered

by Arccos, the golf data system that uses electronically embedded sensors in the grip to automatically record the distance and accuracy of every shot.

VOLVIK VIVID XMAS BALLS

£15.99, VOLVIK.COM Volvik has launched a range of Christmas-theme golf balls that look set to find their way into many golfer’s stockings this Yuletide. Available in a special gift box, the range contains four bright three-piece Vivid balls in red, white, green and yellow, with festive decorations around the middle. The matt-finished Vivid is designed to generate more distance for golfers with slower swing speeds looking for softer feel and consistent flight – with added sparkle. The red model can be bought singly from pro shop counters, while the other colours are only available in packs of 12.

STUBURT ENDURANCE JACKET £79.99, STUBURT.COM Stuburt’s Autumn/Winter 2017 collection is packed full of affordable and effective outerwear to help keep you cosy and dry on the golf course this winter. The AW17 collection includes a wide range of garments, from outerwear to layering, featuring state-of-the-art materials and cutting-edge design. Headlining the collection is the new Endurance outerwear. Boasting Stuburt’s Dri-back moisture transfer technology, the jackets come with either full or half-zips. They are highly breathable, with good windproof and thermal insulation properties, and offer taped seams and waterproof zips for maximum weather protection.

The matching black waterproof trousers come with an elasticated waistband, two side pockets and one back pocket. All Endurance clothing comes with a two-year waterproof warranty.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT | DEC/JAN 2018 [43]

G/FORE'S TRANSPORTER II £285, GFORE.COM The latest version of G/Fore’s Transporter stand bag can be customised with tonal logos and quilted patent leather front pockets, while initials or a player’s name can be embroidered on the front pocket.

Made by luggage specialists Vessel, the bag weighs just 2.7kgand features a cooler pocket, an inner valuables pocket with a two-combination lock, magnetic tee pocket, patented rotator stand technology and a double strap. It also boasts a leather carry handle, a ball marker towel ring, and premium zippers with leather pulls.

SHOT SCOPE V2 WATCH £225, SHOTSCOPE.COM Shot Scope’s V2 combines advanced GPS technology with automatic performance tracking. Available now, the V2 builds upon the success of the company’s automatic club recognition technology and detailed performance statistics by also providing accurate front/middle/back GPS yardages.

Performance statistics of this nature have previously only been available to Tour players, however V2 uses Shot Scope’s proprietary course mapping data to bring the same level of detail to the palm of the everyday golfer.

Shot Scope’s engineers have developed V2 with three modes to meet the needs of every golfer – GPS, Pro and GPS+Track.

In both GPS and GPS+Track modes, the LCD screen displays distances to the front, middle and back of the green, as well as to hazards, from the golfer’s real-time position.

Performance tracking is activated in both Pro and GPS+Track modes. The device works in the background to collect over 100 Tour-level statistics, broken down into five areas: clubs, tee shots, approaches, short game and putting.

OSCAR JACOBSON CALEB VEST £110, OSCARJACOBSON.COM Worn either as a mid or outer layer, the lightweight Caleb vest boasts a host of innovative technologies to help keep you warm during winter rounds. The woven fabric contains insulating Primaloft padding, which works equally well on its own on dry winter days, but also performs under a jacket when the rain comes down or the cold wind whips in. Featuring Zip-In technology, it can be combined and zipped in with the brand’s Lawrie Pro rain jacket for the ultimate in protection against the elements. Boasting elasticated arm holes and hems, it is available in blue, black, grey or camouflage in sizes S-XXL.

SUN MOUNTAIN H2NO2 SUPERLITE £225, BRANDFUSIONLTD.CO.UK An ideal winter carry bag, the new waterproof H2NO Superlite bag weighs just 1.9kg and keeps its contents dry with the help of YKK zips protecting four accessory pockets, including a full-length clothing pocket, while the X-strap dual strap system makes for a comfortable carry. An effective rainhood ensures 100% waterproof protection from the elements. It is available in four colour combinations, including black/cobalt blue and black/red/white.

BETTINARDI H2 303 SS WEDGE £139, JSINT.COM Bettinardi’s brand new H2 303 stainless steel wedge provides players with tried and tested face-milling technology transferred from the company’s putter range. The patented Honeycomb face milling featured between each groove creates more friction between club and ball, providing a tighter spin in both wet and dry conditions to keep the ball under control, while the C-Groove sole grind makes it easier to play touch shots around the green or from sand.

It is available is six lofts between 50° and 64°, and three bounce variations (8°, 10° or 12°), and comes with a KBS Hi-Rev Tour shaft as standard, along with Lamkin Crossline Cord grips.

[44] DEC/JAN 2018 | EQUIPMENT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ACCESS ALL AREAS

SRIXON DEN BAG £115, SRIXON.CO.UK Perfect as a luxury waste paper basket replacement for any self-respecting golfer’s office at work or home, the Den Bag could also be used for storing golf balls, umbrellas, or any amount of extraneous golfing clobber that we all have cluttering up the home.

It’s time to load up your bag with these handy golfing accessories

£59.99, PING.COM

MOTOCADDY CLEARVIEW UMBRELLA

Ideal for weekend golf breaks or just taking a change of clothes to the club or the gym, this handy duffel bag has acres of space and features four external pockets. Made from durable polyester to ensure a long lasting performance, it also boasts a non-slip shoulder strap.

This 68-inch umbrella has a handle that is 65mm longer than standard so that it works when attached to a golf trolley. It also features two clear panels so that you can see where you’re going – always useful – and an auto-opening mechanism for quick deployment.

PING DUFFEL BAG

POWAKADDY WINTER WHEELS

£34.99, MOTOCADDY.CO.UK

SKYCADDIE LINX £199, SKYCADDIE.COM As well as offering front, centre and back yardages, the Linx provides distances to doglegs, and layup points, along with pin placement targeting, shot measurement, odometer, scoring and statistics.

Preloaded with 35,000 courses, it can be paired with a smartphone to enable call and text alerts, and access SkyCaddie’s mobile app.

£69.99, POWAKADDY.COM Developed in association with British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, these handy winter wheels are designed to minimise damage to courses during the wet winter months, while the non-clogging tread design offers traction on slippery slopes.

ECCO SHOE CLEANING KIT

CALLAWAY GOLF TRIFOLD TOWEL

£19.99, ECCO.COM Put the shine back into your golfing footwear with this handy cleaning kit, which includes brushes, creams and sprays that will help maintain water resistance, remove ground-in dirt and stains, and breathe new life back into old leather.

£7.99, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM The game is hard enough without mud all over your equipment and your hands. This offering comes with a carabiner to attach the towel to your golf bag.

SUNWISE PARADE SUNGLASSES £64.95, SUNWISE.CO.UK Sunwise has a range of 50-plus sunglasses with interchangeable lenses to give golfers plenty of options to suit playing conditions. The Parade White boasts yellow platinum polarised lenses for extra protection against strong sunlight. The lenses filter out potentially damaging light and eliminate glare, while wraparound arms keep them stable throughout the swing.

TAYLORMADE WINTER MITTS £24.99, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU Providing complete protection from the cold, wind and rain, these onesize-fits-all mittens feature a Thinsulate water-resistant nylon shell that repels wind and rain, making them the ideal choice for winter golf or walking the dog.

YOUR GUIDE TO GOLFING TRIPS AT HOME AND ABROAD

BEACH LIFE

TRAVEL AND BREAKS

DEC/JAN 2018 WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

PLAYING IN AND AROUND DAYTONA, ORLANDO

ALSO IN THIS MONTH'S TRAVEL: FEATURE ON SCOTLAND’S GOLF COAST ME AND MY TRAVELS WITH DEAN ASHTON CLIVE AGRAN VISITS MAURITIUS ALL THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS GOLF ESCAPES LAUNCHES NEW LADIES GOLF COLLECTION

■ HAMMOCK BEACH, OCEAN COURSE

[46] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAKE A DATE WITH DALE HILL

BOWOOD OFFERS ROYAL RETREAT

W Make yourself at home in the heart of Gleneagles Rentals at Glenmor The Gleneagles experience is one of a kind – you can now enjoy it from the comfort of a Glenmor luxury holiday home, located in the heart of Gleneagles.

On your stay you can enjoy complimentary golf for one person, plus access to all of the leisure, dining and pursuits of the 5 star Gleneagles estate.

A main season 2 bedroom rental starts from £2,720 for 7 nights.

Find out more Visit gleneagles.com Call 01764 694 321 Email own@gleneagles.com The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulation 2010 requires Gleneagles to provide you with certain key information in relation to the proposed seasonal ownership contract. A standard information form which contains this key information in relation to that contract may be obtained by contacted us via the above methods.

ith two magnificent courses set deep in the heart of the Sussex countryside, Dale Hill Golf & Country Club is widely recognised as one of the leading resort venues in the south of England.

The Woosnam Course was created by the former US Masters champion, and is his first European design. It is a particularly challenging layout, constructed to USGA specifications, and at 6,512 yards demands and rewards accuracy off the tee.

The 5,856-yard Dale Hill Course is a well-established layout rich in wildlife and mature woodland, and blessed with contrasting scenery. The front nine is parkland, while the back nine is heavily wooded, challenging even the more experienced golfers.

The hotel boasts two restaurants, a lounge bar and a spike bar. The award-winning Wealden View restaurant offers a fine selection of dishes, many made with local ingredients, while the informal conservatory-style Eighteenth Restaurant serves a range of popular dishes and bar snacks.

The 35 en-suite bedrooms are all tastefully decorated in a modern, yet comfortable style, with separate shower and plasma televisions, while free Wi-Fi access is available. Guests can also make use of the four-star leisure facilities, which include an indoor pool, sauna and gym, tennis courts and snooker room.

Stay-and-play winter packages start from £109 per person, to include two rounds of golf, a two-course dinner, bed and breakfast. For details on the latest breaks, call 01580 200112 or visit www.dalehill.co.uk.

D

iscerning golfers looking to add an extra element of privacy and luxury to a golf trip away with family or friends should take a closer look at Bowood Golf & Country Club in Wiltshire, where a private lodge offers the perfect retreat for a weekend golfing break.

Queenwood is a private four-bedroom Georgian lodge, which offers a very special bolt hole, where at least two days of top-notch golfing can be blended with a boutique country house hotel. Available for complete occupancy, and with in-house catering services on hand, it offers the chance

for a select group of golfing friends or business colleagues to enjoy a real slice of country house living.

The luxury interiors have been stylishly decorated by the Marchioness of Lansdowne, whose 15 years at Colefax & Fowler is much in evidence, with regency stripes with pastel floral prints in the sitting room, while full-bodied reds give the dining room its distinctiveness and warm glow.

Each of the four bedrooms offers en-suite facilities, and are individually-decorated with soft-furnishings that are elegantly co-ordinated in a

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | DEC/JAN 2018

[47]

HUNT OUT CELTIC MANOR’S HUNTER LODGES G

roups of golfers looking to make a stay at Celtic Manor even more memorable should consider booking one of the luxury lodges that overlook the Twenty Ten Course at the popular Welsh resort.

The lodges provide the best of both worlds – a private homefrom-home in the peace and tranquility of the South Wales countryside, yet with Celtic Manor’s five-star amenities on the doorstep.

The Hunter Lodges enjoy views of the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course and the Usk Valley beyond. Sleeping up to ten people, the large Scandinavian-style log lodges all have four double or twin bedrooms, spacious dining and living areas, and fitted kitchens. They also boast outdoor hot tubs and indoor saunas.

Hosting three-, four- or seven-night stays for guests, the lodges are primarily aimed at the family and leisure market, which is filling Celtic Manor’s 400-bedroom hotel on weekends and during school holidays. The lodges are also designed to appeal to golf groups playing Celtic Manor’s three championship courses, friends on spa breaks, and corporate incentive trips.

Prices start from £1,544 (£193 per person for a group of eight) for a two- or three-night stay in a four-bed lodge with rounds on both the Montgomerie and Roman Road courses.

very English country house style.

After a restful night’s sleep it’s time to tackle the Dave Thomas-designed Championship course, which is widely recognised as one of the finest layouts in the South West. Measuring 7,317 yards off the back tees it represents a serious test for professionals, although forward tees can reduce its length to a more manageable 5,682 yards,

making it suitable for golfers of all standards.

There are also great practice facilities, too - including a three-hole academy course, an undercover floodlit driving range and two putting greens.

Three PGA-qualified teaching pros are also on hand, while a former farmhouse has been converted into a smart clubhouse, with a pro shop and a tempting restaurant and bar.

One night golf breaks staying at Queenwood Lodge, including two rounds of golf, dinner and full English breakfast, are available from £215 per person. For reservations, call 01249 822228 or visit www.bowood.org.

TheManor House

& Ashbury Hotels

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[48] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

IT PAYS TO STAY-AND-PLAY AT PRINCE’S T

he luxury golf lodge at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent is proving a huge hit with golfers looking to play some of Kent’s finest links courses, including Prince’s itself, neighbouring Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports, and many others along the coast.

Capable of hosting up to 48 guests, the lodge is located by the fifth green at Prince’s and enjoys fantastic views over the 27-hole facility, St George’s, and Pegwell Bay to the white cliffs at Ramsgate.

It is separated into 12 individual apartments, with each featuring two twin bedrooms, plus en-suite bathroom facilities and a shared lounge. It also boasts its own on-site bar and restaurant, the Brasserie on the Bay, where locally sourced and expertly cooked seasonal menus are available throughout the week.

There are a number of stay-and-play packages on offer, starting from £99pp for one night’s B&B and two midweek rounds at Prince’s from November 1, or £160pp up until October 31. Room-only prices are £105 for a single room, £135 for a double/twin, and £270 for a two-bedroom apartment, with full English breakfast included in the package.

For reservations, visit www.princesgolfclub.co.uk or call 01304 611118.

ENJOY A HISTORIC GOLFING STAY AT HEVER CASTLE G

olfers who fancy living like royalty for a few days should consider booking up a golf break at historic Hever Castle Golf Club in Kent, where guests have the chance to stay in a wing of the historic castle that was once the family home of Anne Boleyn.

The Astor Wing at Hever Castle offers 21 luxurious bedrooms, set within stunning private areas of the castle, which are available all year round. The stunning accommodation has once again been awarded Visit England’s Five Star Gold

award, which recognises excellent standards of accommodation and attentive service.

For the ultimate overnight experience, Hever also offers Medley Court, a luxurious four-bedroom property, which boasts its own private entrance and fabulous views of Hever Castle, and is perfect for golf groups and couples celebrating those special occasions.

While the iconic Hever Castle is one Kent’s most visited attractions, the adjacent golf club has also earned a reputation as a

popular stopover for the region’s golfers, with the 27 holes of top quality parkland golf proving a draw with travelling golfers and local players alike.

A former host of the Kent PGA Championship and Kent Open on numerous occasions since opening in 1992, the Kings and Queens combine to produce a championship course of over 7,000 yards. With water hazards, numerous astutelyplaced bunkers, small greens, and some narrow tree-lined fairways, its place an emphasis on accuracy, although there are plenty of opportunities to open the shoulders, especially on the front nine. Later on, it’s the trio of holes from the 11th to the 13th – Hever's very own ‘Amen Corner’ – that stand out, not only

for their beauty, but their difficulty, with carries over and beside water to small, well-protected targets.

Off the course, Hever boasts a superb Tudor-style clubhouse, part of which dates back to the 13th century, which provides the perfect place to relax

2017 11 Golf News HP Golf Breaks.qxp_166mm h x 288mm w 10/11/2017 11:56 Page 1

Wish you were here Ufford Park Woodbridge

1 night Golf Breaks from only £95* per person includes complimentary use of the Health Club with it’s gym and pool.

Looking for the perfect all year round venue for your golf break?

Set in the heart of Suffolk and located just off the A12, our 18 hole, par 71 course is ideal for the beginner or the experienced player.

Book your tee time online, visit the on-site AmericanGolf superstore and practice your swing on our 2 tier floodlit driving range, all before you even set foot on the lovingly cared for, award-winning, top winter course.

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before, during and after a day’s golf.

There are a wide range of stay-and-play packages on offer, starting from £93pp for one night in a deluxe room, including full English breakfast, nine holes on the Prince’s course, and entrance to the castle and

gardens. The same package, but including 18 holes on the championship King Course, costs £109pp, with room upgrades available for both packages.

For more details, visit www.hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 700771.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | DEC/JAN 2018 [49]

SEE THE NEW YEAR IN AT NEWQUAY

DISCOVER DARTMOOR’S GOLFING DELIGHTS

L

A

ocated within putting distance of Fistral Beach and one of the finest golf courses on the north Cornish coast, the Pentire Hotel in Newquay offers contemporary accommodation with unrivalled Atlantic views, state-of-the art facilities and a relaxed, coastal vibe.

Many of the 75 rooms come with a beautiful sea view and can accommodate almost any group size. Residents also get access to the onsite pool and steam room, allowing you to unwind after a day on the course. In the evening you can get a bite to eat in the hotel’s restaurant and bistro, whose menu is sourced from seasonal local ingredients.

Located just two minutes' drive from Newquay Golf Club – with its series of demanding greenside bunkers and breathtaking vista - the hotel also has links with

many of Cornwall’s other top courses, including nearby Perranporth and St Austell, making it the perfect launchpad for a golfing holiday full of variety, challenge and natural beauty.

Golf packages during January and February start from £180 for two nights’ B&B accommodation, and rounds of golf at Newquay, Perranporth and St Austell. For more information, call 0117 256 5966 or visit www.ngolfsouthwest.co.uk.

DORSET RESORT PROVES A WINTER WONDERLAND G

olfers seeking a UK-based winter golfing break without the winter playing conditions should head for the Dorset Golf & Country Club, which promises year-round golf, thanks to its continued investment in drainage and irrigation, and its underlying chalky subsoil.

The 27-hole Bere Regis-based resort has enjoyed another year of uninterrupted golf in 2017, and is promising more of the same in 2018. All three ninehole loops of the Woodland, Parkland and Lakeland courses have remained fully open at the popular South Coast venue, with grass tees and main greens in action throughout the winter, without a temporary playing surface in sight.

The resort has always been a popular golf break destination, with its 14 five-star Gold Award Scandanavian lodges providing a luxury retreat. Capable of sleeping up to eight people, each lodge boasts a fully-fitted kitchen, a large lounge with a wood burning stove, a sauna, a veranda, and an integral shed for secure club and trolley storage. Stay and play packages start from just £61.95pp/pn.

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

s well as being home to one of the UK’s most scenic National Parks, Dartmoor is also the venue for a handful of stunning moorland golf courses, each of which enjoys its own unique and stunning setting.

Exclusive Golf Breaks has put together a great value short break package that give golfers the chance to choose from the delightful layouts to be found at Yelverton, Tavistock, St Mellion and Bovey Castle.

The Jack Nicklausdesigned St Mellion needs little introduction to the golfing public, having hosted numerous tour events over the years, while the magnificent Bovey Castle, located in Moretonhampstead, is fast gaining a reputation as a challenging tournament venue, having hosted several EuroPro Tour events in recent years. Designed to rival its sister courses at Gleneagles and Turnberry, the JF Abercombie-designed course at Bovey meanders through the undulating estate, with

■ BOVEY CASTLE

winding streams and large Dartmoor rocks adding to the challenge at every turn.

Tavistock and nearby Yelverton are both classic moorland tracks, with golfers required to share the generous fairways with herds of grazing sheep and native Dartmoor ponies, while enjoying fine views over the stunning Devon landscape. Yelverton staged the Men’s Senior Amateur Championships in 2006, and presents a serious test of golf, although it remains playable for all skill levels providing you don’t mind chipping out from the gorse bushes and bracken from time to time. The fastdraining Dartmoor soil not only provides tight, linksstyle lies, and quick putting surfaces, but it also ensures

year-round play.

There is a choice of accommodation options, including the comfortable Bedford Hotel in the historic market town of Tavistock, which has earned a reputation as a foodie’s paradise, following the launch of its Food & Drink Festival, weekly markets, and its superb range of restaurants and gastro pubs. The Apple Tree Bed & Breakfast, a Grade II Victorian house also located in Tavistock, is also a recommended venue for travelling golfers.

Packages start from £109 per person, for one nights’ B&B and two rounds of golf for breaks taken before February 28, 2017. For bookings, visit www.exclusivegolfbreaks.com or call 01822 618181.

■ YELVERTON GOLF CLUB

Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Club “This Cornish cracker is a must visit – superb” John E. Morgan , Former PGA & European Tour Professional and Sky Sports Golf Commentator

Hotel | Golf | Events | Hospitality 2 DAY GOLF BREAK

3 DAY GOLF BREAK

4 DAY GOLF BREAK

1 Night; to include dinner, bed, breakfast & 2 rounds of golf – from £80 per person

2 Nights; to include dinner, bed, breakfast & 3 rounds of golf – from £130 per person

3 Nights; to include dinner, bed, breakfast & 4 rounds of golf – from £180 per person

For all enquiries, to check availability or make a reservation, please call the reservations team on 01840 213017.

BOWOOD PARK HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB, LANTEGLOS, CORNWALL, PL32 9RF. TEL: 01840 213017. EMAIL: GOLF@BOWOODPARK.COM. WEB: WWW.BOWOODPARK.COM

[50] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ NORTH BERWICK

FEAST ON THE EAST O

With more than 20 courses to choose from, including a handful of Scotland’s finest links, East Lothian’s Golf Coast should be on every serious golfer’s bucket list

nce every decade or so, over 150,000 golf fans make the pilgrimage along Scotland’s stunning East Lothian coast to pay homage to Muirfield Golf Club, host venue to 16 Open Championships, most recently in 2013.

Widely regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, never mind being the best on the Open rota, the venerable links, which is home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is a mustplay for all golfers – providing they can stump up the green fee.

The 7,192-yard course is renowned for being the fairest test of all the Open venues, with few of the quirky bounces and hidden danger that links courses often contain. Two circuits of nine rotate in opposite directions, the back nine looping inside the front nine, ensuring that the golfer is never faced with the same wind direction on two consecutive holes. As Jack Nicklaus once put it, “What you see is what you get.”

The challenge relies on clever design rather than gimmickry, with your fate lying almost entirely in your own hands – find the right place and you will be rewarded; find the wrong spot and things get tougher by degrees.

Take the third hole – a short par four where you need to flirt with the left-hand rough for the ideal line in between the mounds. Too far right and you’ll be coming in semi-blind over the right-hand mound; too long and you’ll find yourself on one of the mounds.

And for those who claim Muirfield lacks views, the fifth hole at least rather confounds that, a sweeping par five with stirring views out over the Firth of Forth. Admittedly, ■ CRAIGELAW Muirfield doesn’t provide non-stop visual drama, but that may be a blessing in disguise, for you will undoubtedly need to focus on the task in hand to fathom out the mystery of the course. Perhaps the greatest strength of Harry Colt’s ingenious routing is that nearly every hole stands in wonderful isolation, expertly thought out and beautifully framed.

But while Muirfield is the sceptred orb in East Lothian’s golfing crown, there are plenty of other magnificent gems on which to test your skills in this stunning corner of Scotland. Stretching from Musselburgh in the west, to Dunbar in the east, the coastline is home to some wonderfully scenic links that will live long in memory.

Playing second, and perhaps third and fourth fiddle to Muirfield are Gullane Golf Club’s three magnificent layouts, the aptly named No.1, No.2 and No.3. Straddling a large grassed-over volcanic plug, the courses are among the hilliest links you’ll ever play. The No.1 course, a composite set-up of which hosted the Scottish Open in 2015, and will do so again in 2018, is the oldest and most revered of the three, but a round on any or all is highly recommended, as is a visit to the fascinating museum in the clubhouse. The town itself lives and breathes golf, and is, not surprisingly, a popular staging post for golfers on the East Lothian trail.

If Muirfield is widely regarded as the king of East Lothian in golfing terms, then North Berwick’s magnificent West Links is

■ THE GLEN IN NORTH BERWICK

CRAIGIELAW GOLF CLUB TH E P E R F EC T S E T T I NG O N S COT L A ND ’ S G OLF COA ST

THE GOSFORD PACKAGE FROM £222.50 PER PERSON

THE LINKS PACKAGE FROM £225.50 PER PERSON

Price quoted is a weekday price based on two sharing a room. Enjoy a two night stay at The Lodge at Craigielaw on a Dinner B&B basis and play 3 rounds of golf on the courses bordering Gosford bay - Craigielaw, Longniddry and Kilspindie.

Price quoted is a weekday price based on two people sharing a room.

Test your links skills on 3 fantastic local courses - Craigielaw, Dunbar & Gullane No.2. Enjoy 2 nights Dinner B&B at the Lodge at Craigielaw.

C R A I G I E L AW | LO N G N I D D R Y | E H 3 2 0 P Y | T E L : 0 1 8 7 5 8 7 0 8 0 0 | E M A I L : I N F O @ C R A I G I E L AW G O L F C LU B .CO M | W E B : W W W.C R A I G I E L AW G O L F C LU B .CO M

[52] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

Continued from page 50

BUT IF IT’S HISTORY YOU’RE AFTER, THEN A VISIT TO DUNBAR GOLF CLUB, WHERE THE TRADITIONAL LINKS HAVE BEEN BATTLED SINCE 1856, IS A MUST

■ GULLANE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

undoubtedly the queen, if not, then the next in line to the throne.

Overlooking the Firth of Forth and the iconic Bass Rock, the 6,400yard course is situated on slightly raised land to make the most of the sea views, and offers a rollercoaster of a ride, with every shot in your repertoire required to negotiate the testing layout that features low stone walls, deep bunkers, humps and hollows and the occasional blind shot.

The 190-yard, par-three 15th, Redan, is one of the most copied holes in world golf, with its heavily guarded green set at 45-degrees to the tee, presenting one of the toughest targets you’ll ever come across, while there are too many other mouth-watering challenges on this unique and quirky course to mention. However you play, you’ll come off the links at North Berwick with a broad grin on your face, and wondering when you can come back again.

Moving on, tucked away at the end of a private road that meanders along the shore of Aberlady Bay, Kilspindie is cherished by locals and tourists clued up enough to get in on the secret.

It’s short, measuring less than 5,500 yards off the back tees, but this charming ancient links – believed to be the 35th oldest in the world – is a real throwback to the days of the mashie niblick and the feather ball.

Kilspindie measures only 5,480 yards from the medal tees.

Although the par

■ LONGNIDDRY

is 69, the standard scratch score is 66 so that lets you know you should not be in for too torrid a time when playing here, weather permitting. There is just one par five and four par threes, only three of the par fours are greater than 400 yards in length, indeed seven of the 13 par fours are less than 300 yards, so length is not a major factor here, although the ability to fashion a shot under the wind, and chip off tight lies are skills worth possessing if you are to score well.

Another much-underrated stop on the East Lothian trail is Longniddry, whose unusual mixture of links and woodland will get your strategic golfing brain thinking. Located a few miles east of Edinburgh, the course is not long by today's standards, but the challenge soon becomes clear when you find a scorecard with a complete absence of par fives, and eight par-fours that measure over 400 yards. Although the fairways are quite generous and the greens large, misdirected shots will end up in punishing gorse and rough.

Not all courses in the area are a century old, however. Craigielaw, located adjacent to Kilspindie, only opened in 2001. This stunning 6,600-yard Donald Steel design plays like a links, despite being

DUNMUIR HOTEL

AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT 11 NEWHOUSE TERRACE, QUEENS ROAD, DUNBAR EH42 1LG

The Dunmuir Hotel welcomes golfers whether it be on an individual basis or large group of 40. With 20 stylish bedrooms, from standard doubles to lovely deluxe rooms, it can offer a room for the most discerning golfer.Tailored packages are available on request.

TEL: 01368 862033 | EMAIL: INFO@DUNMUIRHOTEL.CO.UK | WEB: WWW.DUNMUIRHOTEL.CO.UK

visiting parties welco me

for GOLF NEWS readers

£200 for golf after 13.00 on

Kilspindie Golf Club The 35th Oldest Golf Club in the World

2018 Green Fees £60 per person £80 per person

Special Society Packages available for 12 or more golfers

£240 for golf after 14.00 at Weekends Quoting GN01/18

TEL: 01875 870358 EMAIL: BOOKINGENQUIRY@KILSPINDIEGOLFCLUB.CO.UK W E B : W W W. K I L S P I N D I EG O L F C LU B .CO.U K KILSPINDIE GOLF CLUB | THE CLUBHOUSE | ABERLADY | EH32 0QD

BAYSWELL PARK HOTEL

One of the most beautiful places for golf travel in East Lothian

Golf Package From £269pp • 2-night stay at Bayswell Park Hotel • 3 Course Dinner • 2x Scottish packed lunch (sandwich, bottle of water, snack and small whisky) • Transport to the golf courses • Round at Gullane Golf Club • Round at Dunbar Golf Club • Based on two people sharing • One-night options available

DUNBAR IS CERTAINLY one of the most beautiful places for golf

course, than to take advantage of the fine dining

travel in East Lothian and Bayswell Park Hotel benefits from its

we offer at the hotel restaurant. Locally sourced

strongest points. Perched on a cliff top overlooking the Firth of

products and freshest ingredients create a truly unique

Forth and the Bass Rock, the hotel offers magnificent coastal

experience. Our refurbished boutique bar serves a

views. Guests can choose between number of different rooms

wide selection of over 150 fine wines, choice of

available in the hotel – from standard family rooms, through

30 whiskies, 16 gins to local beers, ciders and spirits.

superior sea view to exclusive hot tub suites, overlooking the

A stay at Bayswell Park will allow you to relax and fully

coast. There is no better way to relax after a busy day on the

enjoy your golfing getaway.

BROXMOUTH PARK BRIDGE HOUSE AND HEAD GARDENER’S COTTAGE are located on

between five-bedroom Bridge House, sleeping up to ten people, or

150 acres of private, unspoilt ground of Broxmouth Park. Fully catered,

the four-bedroom Head Gardener’s Cottage, taking up to eight guests.

theses gorgeous, luxury houses provide an ideal accommodation for

Broxmouth Park is situated only a five-minute drive to some of the

groups, who are looking to take a break from hustle and bustle of the

nicest golf courses by the sea, where you can spend a full day. We offer

city and enjoy staying in the private cottage, surrounded by lovely

great golf packages that will allow you and your friends to discover

parkland, while relaxing in the eight-people hot tub. You can choose

what East Lothian has to offer – completely stress free!

HEAD GARDENER'S COTTAGE

BRIDGE HOUSE

4 bedrooms

5 bedrooms

Golf Package From £1,839

Golf Package From £2,299

2-night stay for up to 8 guests with hot tub • Round at Gullane Golf Club • Round at Dunbar Golf Club

2-night stay for up to 10 guests with hot tub • Round at Gullane Golf Club • Round at Dunbar Golf Club

Captions for images please

For more information, please email info@bayswell.com or call 01368 862225

[54] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ MUIRFIELD

■ ARCHERFIELD LINKS

Continued from page 52

ANOTHER RELATIVE NEWCOMER, IF A RATHER MORE EXCLUSIVE ONE, IS THE RENAISSANCE CLUB, A STUNNING TOM DOAK DESIGN THAT SITS NEXT TO MUIRFIELD

slightly inland, with rumpled fairways and crowned greens surrounded by steep pot bunkers making it a true championship test, while views of the ever-present Firth of Forth add to the enjoyment of the round.

Just along the coast from North Berwick, you’ll come across The Glen, a stunning 18-hole course located on the clifftops overlooking the south end of the town. It boasts several memorable holes, starting from the uphill par four opener to the sensational, driveable par-five climax which, from the elevated tee, provides some breathtaking views of North Berwick town and the Firth of Forth. The course's signature hole is the 13th, or Sea Hole, as it is known. A blind par three to a green framed by beach and rocks to the back and right, it is Pebble Beach or Cypress Point with a Scottish twist.

Another relative newcomer, if a rather more exclusive one, is the Renaissance Club, a stunning Tom Doak design that sits next to Muirfield and offers a mix of wide open and tree-lined holes on high ground above the sea, providing fine views over the Firth of Forth. It’s had rave reviews since it opened in 2008, and has proved a superb tournament venue, with the Scottish Seniors Open being held here in recent years, while final qualifying for The Open is being held here until 2021.

Next door to the Rennaissance is another new kid on the block,

Archerfield Links, which is home to two outstanding 18-hole links – the Fidra and the Dirleton. Golf has been played on and off at this site since the mid-19th century, but it was only when Edinburghbased businessman Kevin Doyle sunk £55 million into the 500acre estate at the turn of the millennium that Archerfield was reborn, with the construction of the two courses, the restoration of magnificent Archerfield House, and the building of 100 luxury homes and private lodges.

The Fidra’s pine-tree lined fairways on the front nine holes provide an somewhat unlinksy start, but the trees soon give way to more classic links land around the 12th, where undulating fairways and tightly mown areas around the greens allow the kind of bumpand-run approaches and long putts that links golfers enjoy, while views out to the Bass Rock and the coast of Fife only add to the enjoyment. The club is also home to a state-of-the-art Performance Centre, which offers three-indoor fitting and coaching suites, as well as tour-standard practice facilities.

But if it’s history you’re after, then a visit to Dunbar Golf Club, where the traditional links have been battled since 1856, is a must.

A host venue for all of Scotland’s major championships over the years, the 6,597-yard course occupies a narrow strip of land that runs along a rocky beach, bordered by the Old Deer Park wall, and offers the total links experience, especially when the breeze is up.

History buffs will also not want to miss a round at the world's oldest continuous golf course: the Old Links at Musselburgh, which offers nine holes set inside a horseracing track. Be sure to hire a set of hickory-shafted clubs, don your finest tweedy plus-fours and flat cap, and see how you fare.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON GOLF BREAKS TO EAST LOTHIAN, VISIT WWW.GOLFEASTLOTHIAN.COM

EXCELLENT CARAVAN HOLIDAY HOME

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Superb value, high quality Thistle Awarded holiday home accommodation, for short breaks or longer in

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Great Spring Deals!

Tantallon Park sits alongside the Glen Golf Course, a superb local links course, also easy access to Whitekirk Golf Course. 2 great courses exist within easy reach of Belhaven Bay, one is of a championship standard. Mortonhall, 10 Local courses, 2 Driving Ranges, and easy access to the City of Edinburgh.

ALSO HOLIDAY HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BY THE SEA

Simply check availability online meadowhead.co.uk or telephone 0870 760 6924

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | DEC/JAN 2018 [55]

LADIES ROLL UP LUMINE LAUNCHES FOR THE GREAT WINTER GETAWAYS L GOLF ESCAPE! Golf Escapes’ Justine Sayer explains why the Sussexbased golf travel company has launched a new range of women-friendly golf breaks How did the idea for the Golf Escapes Ladies Collection come about?

It was born from a chance meeting, but created to address a genuine market segment within the golf industry that is not being serviced. It was on a train with Jon Ruben, the managing director of Golf Escapes, that my friends and I began talking about our next ladies golf holiday. While chatting, it became clear that there was a huge scope to improve on what was currently being offered in the holiday sector for women.

Many meetings, and much planning later, I find myself as general manager of a new and fresh approach to female golf holidays and very excited about launching the ‘Golf Escapes Ladies Collection’.

Like many other lady golfers, I really enjoy my golfing and spa trips away, experiencing other courses here in the UK, or the warm and sunnier climates of Europe or exotic worldwide destinations. We are looking to create a bespoke collection of resorts, hotels, spas and golf courses for the ladies to enjoy, gain confidence and go further with their trips away.

What do you think are the specific demands of women from a golf holiday compared to those of men?

I believe that women can go further with their golf experiences and explore many courses not only in the UK, but Europe and worldwide, if they are guaranteed safe, reliable and frequent direct transfers from airports to the resorts. Women enjoy a mixture of flat courses, undulating fairways, natural environments to enjoy the fauna and flora, and some extra challenges, such as long carries, water and sand, as that’s how they develop their golf skills. So we have put together a great selection of courses to offer women. There are courses to suit every player – no matter what their handicap.

The difference between men’s trips and women’s holidays is ‘attention to detail’ and ‘their environment!’ A lot of women enjoy a bit of pampering alongside great golf.

Within our Ladies Collection, golfers will find a wide choice of five-star hotels in which to relax and unwind, along with exceptional meet and greet services, with a glass of Prosecco on arrival, while their luggage and golf bags are taken care of. Added to that, lovely spas to relax in after their golf and to enjoy a treatment or two. Many of the hotels also offer diverse cultural experiences that women can go out and enjoy safely.

It’s also important to have the option of going out for some shopping, to indulge in excellent local restaurants, and, above all else, have fun with their friends.

■ ISLANTILLA GOLF RESORT

Will you be offering UK mini breaks, as well as more extended shorthaul holidays?

Yes, we have included some fantastic courses based in the UK. Here at Golf Escapes we have 15 years of established partners that we know go that extra mile with our clients. We also have UK Tours – these are packages that have been specifically researched by my colleague, Claire, and are great tours in the UK that you can’t buy elsewhere. These offer excellent golf courses, spas, beauty treatments, gyms and other outside culture trips, such as wine tasting events and sightseeing visits.

There is a growing market for coaching-orientated golf holidays. Is this something Golf Escapes Ladies Collection will be looking to offer? What about hosted trips for single women golfers? Larger group discounts?

We have on board many PGA Golf Professionals, who take out our ladies’ groups and offer coaching holidays. The resorts especially selected for TLC have excellent facilities for coaching, whether that be a chipping lesson, a fairway driving lesson or putting drills, this will all be catered for. This will continue to grow as more ladies explore other courses in Europe and worldwide. Naturally, discounts are available for larger group bookings with TLC. Can you give an example of some of the packages currently available?

The Islantilla Golf Resort, a four-star venue in Spain, is offering golf breaks including half board (breakfast and dinner) and unlimited golf on its 27-hole course from €57 per person per night, throughout May and June 2018.

What are your personal favourite golf holiday destinations, and where haven’t you been that you’d like to tick off?

I have been lucky to experience alot golf in the UK with my golfing friends, including East Sussex National, Old Thorns and The Vale. They all have exceptional spa facilities, as well as excellent food and customer service.I recently went to the Algarve and explored lots of resorts and golf courses. I particularly enjoyed playing El Rompido and Penina. I think my game would suit Palmeras with its beautiful elevated tees, long fairways, the course mixes links golf with parkland, and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains.

It has a little of everything! Monte Rei would be a must too, as the Jack Nicklaus Signature course never fails to impress. There are many, many more on my list to tick off.

For more details, visit www.golf-escapes.com/ladies-golf-holidays.

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

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

From now until May 31, 2018 packages are available for three nights and unlimited golf for just €290pp.

Lumine, which hosted the European

Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage last month, includes the Greg Normandesigned Lakes Course, and the more traditional Hills Course, which runs through pine and olive trees with spectacular views of the nearby coastline. There is also the nine-hole Ruins Course, another Norman design, which weaves its way through Roman archaeological remains.

Accommodation is available across four contemporary four-star hotels, each just a

LA MANGA WINS ‘BEST GOLF VENUE’ AWARD L

a Manga’s reputation as one of Europe’s most popular golf destinations has received a glowing double endorsement after the Spanish resort received two of the leading accolades at the 2017 World Golf Awards, including being named as ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’.

The resort, which was also hosting the event, enjoyed a

CLUBS TO HIRE EXTENDS LICENCES AT KEY EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS

H

aving operated at Faro and Malaga airport for seven years, golf equipment rental company Clubs to Hire has just secured the rights to operate in both airports up to and beyond 2023.

Both Faro and Malaga airports have seen significant growth over the last five years, and golf demand in both regions is on the up. This year, over 26 million travellers will pass through Faro and Malaga, and almost

short transfer from the resort. Hotel Estival Park and Hotel Magnolia are situated on the beach at the seaside town of Salou, while Hotel Tryp Port Cambrils and Hotel Monica are in the heart of the picturesque port of Cambrils.

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

memorable evening, with the Hotel Principe Felipe also winning ‘Spain’s Best Golf Hotel’ for the third time in the last four years.

A five-time host of the Spanish Open, La Manga Club boasts three renowned 18-hole courses – the South, North and West – a ninehole academy course and Golf Training Centre. The resort recently celebrated its 45th anniversary and has enjoyed a year to remember in 2017, being rewarded for continued investment on and off the golf course.

José Asenjo, general manager of La Manga, said: “It’s been another terrific year for golf at the resort, and to receive these top awards is a great honour and testament to the longevity and relevance of La Manga as Europe’s leading sports and leisure resort.

“It was a tremendous privilege for us to host some of the biggest names in global golf tourism in our landmark year, and to have the chance to showcase our fantastic facilities to guests from all over the world.”

Regarded as the most prestigious awards programme in golf tourism, this year’s World Golf Awards attracted a record number of votes from golf tourism professionals worldwide and golf consumers in more than 100 countries.

10% of them are coming for golf.

Clubs to Hire has invested significantly in both airport shops and will continue to invest to meet expanding demand for 2018.

“We are delighted with our new shop at Faro, as the airport has seen record numbers since the opening of the new terminal in June of this year,” said Clubs to Hire’s chief executive Tony Judge. “Faro’s passenger numbers have increased 200% during our tenure, and Malaga has seen average growth of over 6% per annum. Our newly opened stores at Palma Majorca and Alicante are also proving very popular, and we are busy considering new locations for 2018 and beyond. We aim to look after our clients, as they love the comfort of arriving at our shops and receiving a fist class product and service.”

The company currently handles up to 75,000 requests for rental clubs at its 20

locations around the world, including popular golfing regions in the United States, South Africa and five countries across the Mediterranean and offers the latest clubs on the market from £32 per set per week.

Golfers can go online to pre-select sets of the latest clubs and pick their putter of choice on arrival, which are then either collected from shops in airport terminal buildings, or delivered direct to hotels or golf courses for even greater convenience.

FINCA CORTESIN HAS WINTER GOLF OFF TO A TEE G

olfers keen to escape the clutches of winter can do so in style by heading to the deluxe Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa in Spain.

The luxury resort in Andalucia has unveiled a range of three and five-night ‘Golf Experience’ packages for guests to enjoy from now until the end of 2018, with award-winning golf and an array of attractive other benefits all included.

Costing from €963 per person for a three-night, two-round break, packages include golf on the resort’s award-winning 18hole championship course, one 50-minute golf lesson at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, free use of the driving range, and a golf welcome gift, including two polo shirts and caps.

In addition, guests will receive daily bed-and-breakfast

accommodation in a junior or executive suite, and complimentary access to Finca Cortesin’s 2,200m² Spa and Beach Club.

Players seeking a longer stay can take advantage of great value by booking a seven-night bed and breakfast stay from €1,545 per person. Prices, which are also based on two people sharing a suite, include five rounds of golf and offer the same leisure privileges.

For more information visit www.fincacortesin.com.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ THERE ARE PLENTY OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITES IN THE DAYTONA BEACH AREA

DRIVING IN

DAYTONA BEACH Famed across the world for its beaches and its adrenaline-fuelled speedway circuit, Daytona Beach also boasts some of Florida’s finest golf courses, where a world-class golf vacation is as thrilling as it is affordable

O

ne of the game’s iconic figures, Donald Ross is the father of Daytona Beach golf, designing Daytona Beach Golf Club’s South Course, the area’s first layout, in 1921. The South Course, with generous fairways and the challenging greens complexes Ross is renowned for, introduced the area to the game, and a story from the area’s daily newspaper at the time of its opening still rings true. “It is one of the most picturesque courses in Florida and emphasizes the beauties of the tropics,” the article said upon the South Course’s opening.

Speaking of picturesque, Ross’ work at New Smyrna Golf Club has been drawing raves since the layout’s 1953 opening. The course oozes charm and the influence of Ross continues to be felt throughout the property.

New Smyrna is just minutes south of Daytona Beach and renowned for its quiet charm and surf town vibe. New Smyrna Golf Club is the perfect complement to the barrier island’s charming ambiance. Much of the area’s appeal is based on its history, but New Smyrna Golf Club has continued to evolve, installing new greens in 2016 that are in pristine condition.

While Riviera Golf Club can’t claim Ross as its architect, the semi-private club is home to America’s longest running mini-tour event and continues to provide locals and visitors alike with an outstanding round. The family owned layout is a throw-back. Golfers

don’t have to have a tee time - just show up and play.

Players love the par 71 layout and a facility that treats everyone like family. A memorable golf experience comes in many forms, and the model at Riviera - good layout, good conditions and great customer service - has made it a favorite.

Golfers are often attracted to Daytona Beach by the lure of LPGA International or the legacy of the founding layouts, but the depth and quality of the area’s offerings are what sustain the destination.

■ LPGA INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CLUBHOUSE

Victoria Hills Golf Club, a Ron Garl design carved amidst stunning live oak trees and Augusta Pines, is worth the short trip to DeLand to play. Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club is the centerpiece of America’s largest fly-in community. Once home to a United States Naval base during World War II, the airstrip now runs through the heart of a course regarded as one of Central Florida’s best.

DeBary Golf & Country Club is regularly chosen to host U.S. Open qualifiers, and the 4-star property specializes in the member-

■ LPGA INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS COURSE

for-a-day experience.

While the area has more than its share of outstanding courses, Daytona Beach is also a short drive from other premier layouts.

Traveling golfers that use Daytona Beach as a base for their trip, will find themselves with a quick commute to layouts like TPC Sawgrass and the Ocean and Conservatory

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | DEC/JAN 2018

[57]

DAYTONA BEACH GOLF PACKAGE STAY 5 NIGHTS ROOM-ONLY AT HILTON DAYTONA BEACH OCEANFRONT RESORT, WITH THREE ROUNDS OF GOLF IN DAYTONA BEACH AT LPGA HILLS, LPGA JONES AND VICTORIA HILLS. INCLUDES RETURN FLIGHTS FROM LOND0N GATWICK TO ORLANDO WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS (MANCHESTER SUPPLEMENTS APPLY) ** FREE GOLF CLUB CARRIAGE WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS ** PRICE: FROM 965PP, BASED ON TWO PEOPLE SHARING AND TRAVELLING BETWEEN APRIL 9 AND MAY 31, 2018.

WHY NOT COMBINE A STAY IN DAYTONA WITH A TRIP TO THE WORLDFAMOUS TPC SAWGRASS, HOME OF THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP? SAWGRASS IS AN EASY ONE HOUR'S DRIVE AWAY. FURTHER PACKAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT 2018.

PLEASE CHECK YOURGOLFTRAVEL'S WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. BASED ON 2 SHARING.

0800 043 6644 OR INFO@YOURGOLFTRAVEL.COM

■ SHOPPING IN DAYTONA BEACH

courses at Hammock Beach.

As important as what happens on the course is to the Daytona Beach golf experience, it’s still only part of the area’s considerable appeal. The things that make Daytona Beach an international travel destination significantly enhance its appeal for golf groups.

When the final putts drops, the fun is just beginning.

With 23 miles of pristine coastline, including beaches that allow cars in some areas, the appeal of playing 18 in the morning and enjoying the area’s off-course activities in the afternoon is considerable.

Daytona International Speedway recently completed a $400 million renovation that reimagined one of the world’s most iconic motorsports venues. The 'Daytona Rising' project transformed the Speedway into the world's only pure motorsports stadium, a facility that provides fans with premium amenities and unparalleled conveniences.

The popular guided Speedway Tour allows visitors to experience the 31-degree high banks before walking in the footsteps of legends past and present and climbing the podium in Victory Lane. Tours now include a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, where spectacular displays honour all forms of motorsport. The experience provides a long list of exclusive sights that

WITH MORE THAN 20 GREAT VALUE GOLF COURSES WITHIN A SHORT DRIVE OF EACH OTHER, THE HARDEST DECISION MIGHT BE WHICH TO PLAY FIRST even non-race fans will appreciate.

With average high temperatures from January to May ranging from 20-29° C, visitors can enjoy time in the water – swimming and scuba diving – 12 months a year, but the coastal fun doesn’t end at the beach.

The Daytona Beach area is home to extensive collection of state and local parks, and hiking and biking trails for inland experiences that are guaranteed to excite.

From November to March, visitors can witness hundreds of manatees seeking the warm water refuge at Blue Spring State Park, one of the many eco-tour adventures visitors flock to.

A little closer to the pounding surf, visitors can stroll along nature trails and enjoy scenic vistas from observation towers, and spectacular 360-degree views of the Atlantic, the Intracoastal Waterway and more at the

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

Completed in 1887, the lighthouse is a fascinating piece of Florida history. It towers above others as the tallest lighthouse in Florida. This majestic facility, tucked away in the charming town of Ponce Inlet, stretches 175 feet into the sky. Feeling adventurous?

Climb the 203 steps to the top for some truly breathtaking scenery and one-of-a-kind photo opportunities.

When the sun sets, the Daytona Beach experience continues to deliver. The area’s culinary scene is thriving, from off-thebeaten-path eateries to independent restaurants serving specialty fare prepared by award-winning chefs. Establishments ranging from The Cellar, 31 Supper Club and Rose Villa, to vegetarian-friendly favourites such as Dancing Avocado Kitchen and Kale Café and Juice Bar have turned Daytona Beach’s into a foodie paradise.

Whether it’s fresh, local seafood served at an oceanfront restaurant or a prime steakhouse complete with an impeccable wine list, there is something for the most discerning of palettes.

If a great happy hour spot and a relaxing evening are on the docket, the ‘Daytona Beach Ale Trail,’ a collection of 19 craft brew pubs, is worth checking out. Each stop along the trail has a unique atmosphere, complete with a wide selection of beer and dining choices. While some serve delicious tapas and meals, and others encourage visits to neighbouring eateries or welcome favourite dishes brought in, picnic style. The food truck scene is emerging, and on any given night a food truck or two will be parked by an Ale Trail stop ready to serve a delectable dining experience.

Shopping is an integral part of any international trip and Daytona Beach has a surplus of options.

The Tanger Outlets feature more than 75 of the most popular brands and designers.

Volusia Mall completed a $5 million upgrade and is home to large department stores like Dillard’s and Macy’s, along with over 100

shops and restaurants.

ONE DAYTONA, which opened in late 2017, is a premier retail, dining and entertainment destination across from Daytona International Speedway.

Head downtown to the historic Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach, where a wide range of independently-owned boutiques and authentic eateries offer a unique atmosphere. The downtown areas in Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach and DeLand, voted “America’s Best Main Street” in 2017, continue to add eclectic new shops and restaurants, bringing local charm to the emerging hot spots.

Getting to Daytona Beach is easier than ever. There are direct flights into Daytona Beach International Airport from New York City (JetBlue), Atlanta (Delta) and Charlotte (American Airlines), meaning the area enjoys one-stop access from almost anywhere in Europe. Daytona Beach is just an hour’s drive from Orlando and Jacksonville with direct access off Interstate 95 and Interstate 4.

Daytona Beach is home to some of Florida’s finest golf courses, stunning coastline, and luxury accommodations that range from oceanfront suites to golf course condos. The Sunshine State is a hotbed for golf travel, and Daytona Beach has reasserted itself as a player on the golf travel scene.

Premier golf courses, easy access, and a range of off-course activities ensure the fun of Daytona Beach only ends with the trip.

Whether golfers are coming to enjoy The Players Championship in May or Daytona Beach’s sub-tropical climate during the winter months, Central Florida’s fastest emerging golf destination is poised to continue its ascent in 2018.

CONTACT DETAILS DAYTONA BEACH AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WWW.DAYTONABEACH.COM FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/ DAYTONABEACH TWITTER: @DAYTONABEACHFUN INSTAGRAM: @DISCOVERDAYTONABEACH TEL: (386) 255-0415

[58] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

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■ PARADIS BEACHCOMBER GOLF RESORT & SPA

MAURITIUS A GOLF LOVER’S PARADISE

For the sheer density of championship golf courses, there are few islands to touch Mauritius, where half a dozen top-class layouts are to be found within a sand wedge of a tempting range of exclusive five-star resorts, writes Clive Agran

A

fter visiting Mauritius in 1896, American writer Mark Twain is said to have described the magical tropical island in the Indian Ocean as ‘God’s blueprint for Heaven’. Twain was ahead of his time in many ways, but he was certainly ahead of the game when it came to planning his holidays, as it is only in the last 25 years or so that this enchanting island paradise, which is located 500 miles east of Madagascar, has been on the map as a serious holiday destination.

Golfers have had to be slightly more patient, as with the glorious exception of the Gymkhana Golf Club, which dates back to 1844, there was nothing worth travelling half way around the world to play until the opening of Belle Mare Plage’s Legend course in 1994.

Since then, the golfing floodgates have opened, and golfers can now pick from

no fewer than nine 18-hole championship layouts, and several excellent nine-hole courses. Allied to the island's unrivalled reputation for luxury facilities and friendly service, fabulous climate, and stunning beaches, it is no wonder Mauritius is the destination of choice for many of today’s discerning golf tourists.

Nestling in the Indian Ocean, it’s about an 11-hour flight away from the UK, and four hours ahead of GMT in the winter, which is obviously the best time of the year to swap the miserable weather here for the glorious sunshine there.

The nine courses are nicely distributed around the island, with four in the east, four in the south west, and a very recent addition in the north. Much more important than the number is the extraordinary quality. Having now played most of them, I can vouch for how good they are.

For the first two nights of my all-toobrief visit I stayed at the stunning Paradis

Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa. Luxurious hardly begins to describe this glorious beachside property that stretches along a peninsula and offers every imaginable activity from scuba diving to fine dining. But before playing the ‘home’ course, I travelled 20 minutes up the road to another in the south-west corner and one that offered Paradis guests a reduced green fee.

Having inadvertently lied by claiming not to have played the Heritage before, I was then gripped not so much by guilt as déja vu, as I dribbled my opening drive up the curiously familiar first fairway. The truth was soon uncovered when it was revealed that the Heritage used to be called Golf du Chateau, which I had indeed knocked it round some eight years ago.

Designed by South African Peter Maktovich, the island’s most popular architect, the course lies a little way back from the sea, and clings to the lower slopes of an impressive mountain. It weaves its

way through what was previously a sugar plantation, and affords amazing views down over the lagoon to the south and up to the hills of the Black River Gorges nature reserve.

Both the inward and outward halves are challenging; the front nine has the steeper climbs, while the back nine has more water.

Both benefit from plenty of elevation, are extremely pretty, offer a choice of five tees, and are invitingly open, fairly forgiving, and hugely enjoyable.

Although the greens throughout are generously proportioned, watch out for hazardous clumps of impenetrable grasses from which golf balls never emerge. Apart from their appealing appearance, which

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■ MONT CHOISY

echoes the surrounding fields of waving sugar cane, their principal virtue is they are so dense that you save time by not even bothering to look for your ball, let alone your opponent’s!

Two years ago the Heritage made history when hosting the first ever tri-sanctioned golf tournament, by combining the European, Sunshine and Asian Tours to create the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. The event returned to the Heritage at the end of November.

After a wonderful dinner and restful night at my resort hotel, I felt strong enough to walk the 100 yards or so from my exceptionally comfortable room to the welcoming first tee at Paradis. There, I was confronted by the spectacular mountain Le Morne. With near vertical sides, reaching a height of 1,824 feet, it dominates the surrounding area, and is a constant looming presence, especially on the front nine.

Opened in 1990, the 6,425-yard course is a shade easier than the courses that have followed in its footsteps, and is a real pleasure to play. The odd numbers have it on the outward half, with holes three and five providing stunning par fives, while the ninth is a scary stroke index one that dangerously skirts the water’s edge.

If the front is fabulous, the back nine is simply drop-dead gorgeous, as the course sweeps out and back along the bay, then takes you to the headland before politely escorting you back to the clubhouse. The sparkling Indian Ocean, some dazzling

■ BEACHCOMBER DINAROBIN HOTEL GOLF & SPA

■ THE PETER MAKTOVICH-DESIGNED COURSE AT MONT CHOISY

birds and lush tropical vegetation combine with a visually stunning and wonderfully well-maintained course to create a truly unforgettable round of golf.

Mr Maktovich has certainly left his mark on Mauritius, and there was a sufficient buzz of excitement about his latest course to justify leaving the lovely Paradis resort, driving up the west coast through the bustling capital, Port Louis, and all the way to the northern tip of the island; a two-hour trip that felt entirely justified the moment I looked out of my magnificent room at Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa at the gorgeous beach.

Just a few minutes up the road is a former plantation, the profitability of which suffered when the price of sugar tumbled.

What possible better use could be made of the gently undulating acres than to convert them into a golf course? Maktovich apparently spotted the potential of the site, which is now called Mont Choisy, many moons ago, and was thrilled to be given the task of creating a truly spectacular course.

From the moment you pass through the entrance gates, and drive along an imposing avenue of mature Flame Trees, you realise you’re in for something special. The spacious modern clubhouse heightens the expectation levels before you step out onto the first tee.

You won’t be disappointed, because,

although it’s easier to play than it is to categorise – it’s neither strictly seaside nor parkland – it’s unmistakeably impressive.

Doubtless, huge amounts of earth were shifted to create the sensuous contouring and black waste bunkers are an attractive feature that help provide plenty of definition to the five par threes, eight par fours, and five par fives.

Apart from its sheer beauty, what is most extraordinary is how remarkably established the course already is. Just a couple of weeks after its official opening, it was in perfect nick with none of the rough edges or immaturity you would normally expect to find on such a new track.

The spectacular course is the effective hook that will doubtless attract dozens of wealthy golfers to buy the handsomelooking adjacent property. With very little on offer under a $1m, staying at the Trou Aux Biches Resort looks the more sensible option.

Although blessed with a wonderful year-round tropical climate, where the temperature rarely rises above 33 degrees or falls below 17, Mauritius’s equatorial location means that the sun always sets around 6pm, so there is pressure on tee times during peak winter months – which means that pre-booking is essential – but whichever combination of courses you choose to play, you won’t be disappointed.

If you can drag yourself away from the

golf courses, sun loungers and all-inclusive buffets, the island offers a number of excellent excuses to venture out. Port Louis features a bustling central market and the historic Citadel-Fort Adelaide, while the Caudan Waterfront is great for shopping for local crafts. And if you like a flutter on the horses, Champ De Mars, the oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere, has racing every weekend from May to November. For the more intrepid explorer, a trip to the island's wild interior, much of which is protected by nature reserves, is a must. Get up close to the wildlife on a safaristyle tour in Casela Nature Park or Yemen Nature Reserve in the west, where zebra, antelope and wild pig roam free.

It’s not known if Mark Twain had much of an interest in golf, but if he were able to revisit Mauritius today, he would be hard pushed not to at least give it a try.

Beachcomber Tours has a range of half-board and all-inclusive packages to the Beachcomber resorts at Paradis, Dinarobin, Trou Aux Biches and Canonnier, ranging from £1,397pp£2,635pp for seven-night stays, including direct flights on British Airways from the UK, depending on type of room and time of travel. For the very latest packages, call Beachcomber Tours on 01483 445618 or visit www.beachcombertours.uk.

■ TOP: THE HERITAGE GOLF COURSE. ■ ABOVE: A SUITE AT THE BEACHCOMBER TROU AUX BICHES RESORT ■ THE RAVANNE RESTAURANT AT THE PARADIS RESORT

[60] DEC/JAN 2018 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ ATLANTIC DUNES

SEA PINES & DYE

Golf News’ Richard Maunder, with father in tow, makes the pilgrimage to the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he finds its three stunning courses, including the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links, more than live up to expectations following a recent multi-million dollar renovation ■ HERON POINT

T

urning off the i95 Interstate, and crossing the causeway linking the Hilton Head Island to the South Carolina mainland, you are instantly aware you have arrived at somewhere very special.

Press on to the southernmost tip of the island and you reach the Sea Pines Resort.

With five miles of unspoiled beaches, 14 miles of bike and walking trails, 21 tennis courts, and 600 acres of forest preserve, Sea Pines is a truly beautiful place.

Recently the beneficiary of a $50m investment programme from its owner, Bill Goodwin, Sea Pines is the epitome of all that is best about country club America, with no detail left out in the search for customer satisfaction.

Amidst this lie three magnificent golf courses, Harbour Town Golf Links, Atlantic Dunes and Heron Point. The first of this trio of world-renowned layouts is home to the RBC Heritage, the PGA Tour event that traditionally takes place the week after the Masters, and boasts a history of legendary winners, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo, while more recent champions have included dual winners such as Davis Love III, Stewart Cink, Boo Weekley and Jim Furyk. Clearly, it’s a venue that rewards experience.

At 7,099 yards off the back tees, the course is not unduly long by PGA Tour standards – and it’s pretty flat too, with only four feet change of elevation – but the Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus design is renowned for its premium on finesse and imagination. With pine trees and specimen oaks draped in Spanish moss hanging over the fairways and greens, it

requires real precision and good course management to score well. Its signature feature is the size of the greens, which are less than half the square footage of most other championship-level courses.

At 6,253 yards off the white tees the course is also an enjoyable experience for the holiday golfer. There is no shortage of great holes, including the eighth, a long par four, ranked the toughest on the course, which features sand and water left of the green, while the short par-four ninth has bunkers guarding the front and back of the green to put off big

■ HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS 18TH

hitters from trying to drive the green.

The course also boasts four exceptional par threes, including the 14th, with water guarding the green, and the 17th, which plays towards the beautiful coastline of the Calibogue Sound and features a steeply elevated sliver of a green. Invariably the breeze comes off of the Sound, making this a challenging short hole.

The 18th is the signature hole at Harbour Town, with this 472-yard par four guarded by the Calibogue down the entire left side. The red and white Harbour Town lighthouse is a famous golfing landmark behind the green, which itself is guarded by bunkers.

The Harbour Town experience is enriched by splendid practice facilities and the magnificent new 55,000-square foot clubhouse, whose corridors showcase the club’s tour history, while its enormous locker room is bigger than most clubhouses and easy to get lost in!

Travel a mile east and you will find the Plantation Golf Club, home of the Atlantic Dunes and Heron Point courses. Once again, an award-winning new $15m clubhouse welcomes you to outstanding facilities.

Atlantic Dunes, formally known as the Ocean Course, was opened in 2016 after extensive

redesign carried out by Davis Love III and his brother Mark. Incorporating elements of the surrounding beachfront, along with native pines and oaks, the course is a stunning experience.

Lightening quick greens and fast-running fairways make this a challenging and memorable experience. The par-three 15th is the signature hole, playing 155 yards to a sloping green, which backs onto the Atlantic.

The green also provides an opportunity to ogle at some of the magnificent beachside properties on this coastline.

The Pete Dye-designed Heron Point, formerly known at Sea Marsh, completes the 54 holes at Sea Pines. Voted South Carolina’s 2015 Golf Course of the Year, the course measures 7,035 yards off the back tees, but with seven sets of tees on each hole, the layout suits golfers of all abilities. Recently modified, the course is more player-friendly, while still retaining the customary Pete Dye challenges. With huge bunkers, many of them sleeper-lined, and plenty of water, and stunning greens complexes, it’s a great third string to Sea Pines’ already impressive bow.

For a brilliant after golf experience head to The Sea Pines Beach Club. Only 300 yards from the Plantation Clubhouse this Atlantic facing resort provides the perfect setting to wind down after the challenges of Sea Pines golf.

THE SEA PINES EXPERIENCE The ‘Ultimate 54’ package combines 18 holes at Harbour Town Golf Links, Atlantic Dunes and Heron Point for the allinclusive price of $499 per person (SunWeds). For more information, visit www. seapines.com or call 001 866 561 8802.

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golf holiday experts for 22 years www.chakatravel.com travel

SRI LANKA

from £2,745 PP

MAURITIUS

Luxury Golf & Safari Holiday

5* C Palmar by Constance

Incl. flights, car & driver throughout with 9 excursions

(Winter 2017 / 2018 from £2,595 pp)

13 nights Bed & Breakfast 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses

ITALY

from £1,395 PP

4* Golf & Gastronomy in Emilia Romagna

7 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf on 5 courses Incl. business class flights, car hire, spa & wine tasting

ABU DHABI

from £1,695 PP

5* Crowne Plaza, Yas Island

7 nights Bed & Breakfast with 4 rounds golf Incl. flights, transfers & municipality fees

from £1,995 PP

12 nights All Inclusive - Newly opened!

Free green fees + golf buggies, incl. flights & transfers

SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town & Fancourt

from £2,695 PP

10 nights Bed & Breakfast with 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses Incl. flights & hire car

THAILAND

Bangkok & Chang Mai

from £2,625 PP

14 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf Incl. flights, transfers & selected excursions

ESCORTED GOLF TOURS AND NEW GOLF CRUISES ROMANTIC DANUBE GOLF RIVER TOUR

10 NIGHTS FROM £4,543 PP Includes: • 3 nights Prague • 7 nights cruise • 5 rounds of golf • Chauffeur & luxury van transfers • Welcome packet • Club cleaning

A winning combination...

ESCORTED GOLF TOURS

PGA PRO GUIDE WITH TUITION Join us on one of our popular escorted tours. Suitable for golfers and non-golfers alike, our PGA pro will be your guide throughout.

South Africa, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Turkey...

TO SEE OUR RANGE OF GOLF HOLIDAYS, ESCORTED TOURS AND GOLF CRUISES PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | DEC/JAN 2018 [63]

ME&MYTRAVELS

Dean Ashton, the former Norwich and West Ham striker always packs a pencil bag when he heads off on his golfing trips, and longs for a game at Pebble Beach

My first ever holiday was to…

glorious golf course.

Vale Do Lobo in the Algarve. I was injured at the time, so I only got to play once. I’ve been back a few times since though.

My ideal holiday fourball would include...

Majorca. I go every year with friends and have a couple of good days, including a few drinks.

Tiger, Seve and Dustin Johnson.

I just love seeing great players in action. Tiger, well because he’s Tiger, Seve for his short game magic and powers of recovery, and Dustin for his effortless power.

Sergio Garcia would be my back up.

My favourite golf course is…

My best ever round was at...

the West Course at Wentworth. I just love the way it is set up from the tee, how difficult it is - it’s a

Sheringham on the Norfolk coast. I went round in level par off a seven handicap. I play off five now, but

My most recent holiday was to...

still haven’t manage to break par for 72 holes.

My favourite golf resort is...

PGA Catalunya in Spain. It is a special place – arguably the best in Europe.

I always travel with... a pencil golf bag. I never know when I’m going to get a buggy, so I don’t want to be lumbered with a tour bag.

The best hotel I've ever stayed in is...

Turnberry. It’s unbelievable. Even though I’ve stayed in some magnificent

■ PGA CATALUNYA, SPAIN

places in Europe, I never tire of looking back up the hill to the hotel. The golf courses aren’t too shabby either.

My favourite city in the world is...

■ TURNBERRY RESORT, SCOTLAND

London. I don’t think anywhere beats it when the weather is nice.

My worst holiday experience was ... when my golf clubs didn’t turn up on a trip to Portugal. I had to borrow a set, and they were shocking – and so was my golf.

The golf course I’d most like to play is…

Augusta. Even

the top pros get excited about playing it year-in year-out, which says everything you need to know.

I'm planning a golf trip to...

America. I’ve yet to play in the States, so I’d love to go over to the west coast and

play Pebble Beach.

My top travel tip is... to put a couple of clubs in a mate’s bag, perhaps the putter and driver, and he does the same with you, so at least if your clubs go missing, you’ve got a couple to play with!

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