Golf News October 2017

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RORY PUTS THE WORLD IN MOTION

L

ast month, in a rare moment of candour, one of the world’s top golfers actually came out and said what he really thought.

While most tour pros fill their media interviews and pre-tournament press conferences with guff about giving it 110%, taking each shot as it comes, staying in the moment, and not getting ahead of themselves, etc, etc, Rory McIlroy – perhaps slightly giddy at the prospect of taking the rest of the year off – decided to unshackle himself from the strait jacket of normal platitudes and pleasantries by revealing a truth that virtually everyone with a vested interest in the future of the professional game has long since held to be inevitable. Namely, that golf needs a World Tour.

While the very mention of the word ‘world’ may send icy shivers through the corridors of power at the European Tour’s headquarters at Wentworth, it will no doubt bring a wry smile to the face of Greg Norman, who first tried, and failed, to get such a tour off the ground 20 years ago.

While McIlroy, to his credit, has generally been pretty straight with the press during his ten years at the chalk face, he is now, at 28, taking on the air of a senior statesman. Often pressed for opinions on anything from presidential candidates to the answers to world peace – as well as his pre-shot putting routines – it’s part of his generous nature to give honest views about most things these days.

So when asked about the future of a global tour, as he was by online podcast No Laying Up, he gave it both barrels, going so far as to suggest that the PGA Tour ‘should buy’ the European Tour.

As someone who has always embraced a global playing schedule, McIlroy is certainly better placed than most to comment on the benefits of creating a

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tour that would encourage the world’s top 50 or so players to follow suit. With only 36% of Americans currently owning a passport, its topflight golfers might benefit from a bit more world travel, if only to discover that not all golf courses have water on them and serve foot-long hotdogs from a cart.

It was perhaps a little harsh on the European Tour for McIlroy to get started on this topic on the eve of one of his increasingly rare sorties on UK soil, as he prepared to tee it up at the British Masters (following his early exit from the FedEx Cup), but the plain and uncomfortable truth is that the European Tour, as we know it, is living on borrowed time.

Starved of top quality fields for the bulk of the year, as our top players chase dollars across the pond, the European Tour has to survive on a diet of meagre scraps thrown by the stars returning home to play in FOUR their domestic opens or one of the newPLAY Rolex Series events, which boast inflated prize funds for less-thanstellar fields.

Like many observers before him, McIlroy highlighted the global nature of the men’s tennis circuit – with its four grand slams backed up by nine ATP World Masters 1000 Series events, and 13 Masters 500 events – as a blueprint for how a World Golf Tour might work.

In reality, this would mean the European Tour being swallowed up by the PGA Tour, and operating as a satellite tour, with big global events perhaps being held in Dubai, Germany, Malaysia, China and Australia.

It’s a picture that many have painted, and has perhaps been discussed for several years behind closed doors in the various golfing seats of power (OK, mainly in the PGA Tour’s head office in Florida), but the day is drawing ever closer. The European Tour can either choose to wait to be pushed, or it can fall of its own accord – but, make no mistake, that day will surely come.

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OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GB&I WINS PGA CUP AT FOXHILLS BERKSHIRE BAGS SENIOR COUNTY CROWN Berkshire won the 2017 Senior Women’s Inter County Team Championship beating eight other counties in the finals held at Knebworth Golf Club in Hertfordshire.

Despite wet and windy conditions, 20 of the 36 competitors in the team event managed to break 80, with the lowest score being Hertfordshire and England player Jackie Foster’s impressive 74. With the three best scores from each fourstrong team counting, it was Berkshire’s foursome of Linda Hunt, Sheree DoveWilde, Tracy Crew and Katherine Irvine that proved most consistent, compiling an aggregate of 232 to pip Sussex, Kent and Hertfordshire by a single point.

LITTLESTONE CAPTURES BIG PRIZES Littlestone Golf Club is celebrating after its teams and individuals enjoyed an amazing year. Mark Collins became Kent County champion, Chris Reynolds became Kent Senior's champion, the club’s scratch team became Kent County Foursomes Champions, and also won the Guildford trophy and the Mid-Kent Cup, while the junior team won the Kent Junior foursomes.

ROOPE CLEANS UP AT ARMY

■ ANDY RAITT IN ACTION

■ PRIZE GUYS: GB&I'S PGA CUP TEAM

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reat Britain & Ireland retained the PGA Cup after defeating the USA 16-10 at Foxhills Resort in Surrey.

Victory for the home side marked the first back-to-back win since 1984, and ensured that at least one of the transatlantic team cups stayed in Europe, following defeats in the Ryder, Solheim and Walker Cups over the 12 months.

Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon holed the match-winning putt after fellow countryman Chris Currie had halved his match to retain the Llandudno Trophy; while masterminding the triumph was team captain Albert MacKenzie, who also hails from north of the border.

MacKenzie made it clear the success was not solely down to his compatriots.

“It was all about a team effort, there

HOWELL HOSTS YOUNGSTERS AT GROVE’S JUNIOR OPEN

Blackmoor's Colin Roope won the Courage Trophy and Hampshire MidAmateur Championship after defeating Matt Allen in a two-hole play-off to win the Courage Trophy held at Army Golf Club. Meon Valley's George Saunders won the Cole Scuttle for the best aggregate score in the County Championship and Courage Trophy. Tom Robson (Rowlands Castle) won the Hampshire Order of Merit for 2017.

KENT BOYS WIN SOUTH EAST FOURSOMES Kent Boys won the SE Group Junior Foursomes title beating Surrey by a narrow margin. The team comprised Connor Bell, Spencer Copley, Jack Hooper, Jacob Kelso, Ben Quinney and James Wright.

LANCASHIRE PIPS BERKSHIRE TO ENGLISH SENIOR CROWN Lancashire won the English Senior Men’s County Championship title after beating defending champions BB&O in a thrilling finale held at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club in Gloucestershire. Lancashire ran out 6-3 winners in the title decider, but BB&O made them fight every inch of the way in the singles, with five of the six games going to the 18th, and the sixth decided on the 17th. Devon finished third, with Worcestershire finishing fourth after losing all three matches.

TAYLOR BACK IN THE GROOVE AT CHELMSFORD Brett Taylor (Rivenhall Oaks) enjoyed a winning return to his former club, Chelmsford, after landing its renowned charity pro-am. Taylor, who was once an assistant PGA Professional at the Essex venue, shot a three-under-par 65 to win by one shot from Mark Talbott (Thorpe Hall) and James Webber (Three Rivers).

was no individual glory here,” he insisted.

A big GB&I win looked an unlikely scenario after the USA won Saturday’s foursomes 3-1 to go into Sunday’s singles just one point adrift of their hosts. But Robert Coles, Matthew Cort, Andrew Raitt, Phillip Archer, Greig Hutcheon, David Higgins and Damien McGrane all won their matches in a 7.5-2.5 rout.

Elsewhere, a stunning half point was grabbed by Currie, who was three down at the turn to Rod Perry, but reeled in his opponent by the 16th, and was one-up playing the 18th. However, his hopes of taking his tally to four wins, and winning the contest for the hosts, were thwarted when his approach felled Coles’s caddy and his par was eclipsed by Perry’s birdie.

The half point meant it fell to Hutcheon on the 17th to claim the half point needed for victory. Describing how it unfolded, Hutcheon said: “I hit a great second shot in – one of the best I’ve hit all week – but it went too long and I left myself a tricky chip. I managed to knock it down. But I’m glad noone told me the putt was for the official victory, because I might have missed it. It is absolutely brilliant. At my age, I’m never going to get in a Ryder Cup team, so it’s absolutely the next best thing."

CAR PROVES A HAZARD FOR LINGFIELD DRIVERS

■ A STOLEN CAR WAS DUMPED IN A POND AT LINGFIELD PARK

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uropean Tour star David Howell was on hand to welcome a field of 60 youngsters that took part in The Grove’s inaugural Junior Open.

Howell, who is the luxury Hertfordshire resort’s first golf ambassador, greeted all of the children and took time with each of them during a putting clinic to pass on some tips and advice on how to putt like a top professional.

Underlining The Grove's commitment to attracting more children to take up the game, the amateur competition, sponsored by Cobra Golf and Max Golf Protein, was staged on the Kyle Phillips-designed championship course and was open to all juniors under the age of 18 with an official handicap.

Howell said: "I am passionate about getting children excited about golf and the fun, family-friendly environment at The Grove is ideally suited to help stimulate a young golfer's appetite for the game. It is great to see so many juniors taking part in this competition and enjoying the experience of playing one of England’s finest courses under tournament conditions."

The Junior Open attracted a high-calibre field, with Jack Kelly coming out on top with a gross 70 (-2) to win the scratch competition by two shots from Dominic Clemons, while nine-handcapper Sam Hadley claimed the handicap prize with a nett 64, two shots ahead of runner up Zach Little. The post-match putting competition was won by Clemons with a score of 15 around the nine-hole set up.

I

t’s not uncommon for a golf buggy to end up in a lake on a golf course, after a golfer takes a wrong turn or loses control, but cars are a much rarer sight. Unless, that is, you happened to be playing a round at Lingfield Park Golf Club on September 28.

Members enjoying an early round at the Surrey club were surprised to discover a Ford Fiesta semi-submerged in the pond on the course’s 14th hole. Spotted by a member of staff out walking her dog,, the Surrey Police were soon called to the scene, along with fire crews from Godstone and East Grinstead, and a specialist boat unit from Walton.

Greenkeeper Dillon Atkinson donned a pair of waders to investigate the submerged car, and quickly discovered that there was no-one inside, and that the car, which later turned out to be stolen, had been completely stripped. The course was shut while emergency services removed the car from the pond, which had been dumped by the thieves during the night, but only after it had been driven around the course. A spokesman for the club said: “We have quite a few people who live on site, but not one of them saw or heard anything. They broke in through a gate and drove around on the course, so they did cause a bit of damage, but nothing major.”

BASILDON PREPARES FOR TAKE OFF AS CLUB PROVIDES NEW HOME FOR AIR AMBULANCE

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asildon Golf Course is set to become an even more pivotal member of its local community after it agreed to host the county’s air ambulance’s landing base.

The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance currently uses land at South Essex College as its base, but this will end shortly because the campus is relocating to Basildon’s town centre. The new helipad will be located on unused land at Basildon Golf Course, with local councillors granting approval for the site on the condition that a new permanent location for a helipad be found within five years.

Adele Brown, chair of Basildon Council’s planning committee, said: “The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance advised that Basildon Hospital is the second busiest hospital they currently serve, as it contains the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, so

the loss of a landing area could have resulted in patients not receiving the care they need at the earliest opportunity. The current helipad at the college is used about twice a week, but it is hoped having a base closer to the hospital will result in greater use. Colin Jenkins, the owner of Basildon Golf Course, has very generously allocated space on his land for the proposed helipad. The golf course is very close to the hospital, and it will help with the emergency services, because there’s always heavy traffic on the road.”

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[6]

OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GREGORY BAGS FIRST PRO PAY DAY H GOLF UNION OF WALES REBRANDS The body that runs amateur golf in Wales The Golf Union of Wales will now be called Wales Golf, and will also take on the responsibilities of Golf Development Wales. The change comes 10 years after the merger between the Welsh Golfing Union and the Welsh Ladies Golf Union, as Wales became the first home union to unite the men’s and women’s games.

HARRIS WINS KEITH MACDONALD MATCH PLAY The Dyke’s Bradley Harris won the Keith MacDonald PGA South Match Play title after beating defending champion James Ablett in the final at The Berkshire. Harris beat several former and current champions en route to victory in a string of close matches. In the second round he beat Jonathan Barnes 1up around his home club, Lee-on-the-Solent.

In the fourth round, he beat Benn Barham 2up at home, and then enjoyed a 1up win over 2016 Order of Merit Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre). On finals day, he beat Jonathan Ingram (Royal Ashdown Forest) 1up in the semi-final, and then beat Ablett in the final after being taken to extra holes.

ampshire’s Scott Gregory, who turned professionial after last month’s Walker Cup, has made an instant impact in the paid ranks after finishing eighth on his Challenge Tour debut in Spain.

The talented Corhampton golfer finished the Challenge de España event on 15 under par to earn €4,520 for his first pay cheque as a pro.

He opened up with rounds of 69 and 71 to comfortably make the cut at Urturi Golf Club in Basque Country. He then fired 65 in the third round, with his seven-underpar effort including a run of four consecutive birdies from the second hole. Three more birdies followed on the back nine, in the youngster’s bogey-free round. A finalround 68 saw Greogry reach 15 under par for the tournament, nine shots behind

the eventual winner, Frenchman Victor Perez.

Gregory made his professional debut on the European Tour two weeks earlier, after gaining a last-minute invitation to play in the Portugal Masters. He shot rounds of 68 and 72 around the Victoria Course at Vilamoura, but unfortunately finished just one shot outside of the cut mark.

The 22 year old’s final tournament as an amateur was in the Walker Cup as part of the GB & Ireland side that lost to the USA in Los Angeles.

Gregory performed creditably, winning two and a half points out of only seven points won by the visitors. In his final singles game, he came back from two down with two to play to earn a half against Norman Xiong, making a 35-foot putt on the

■ SCOTT GREGORY TURNED PRO IN SEPTEMBER

17th to stay in the match.

Speaking about his decision to turn professional, Gregory said: “The Walker Cup was the perfect way to sign off my amateur career.

If I hadn’t holed that 35-footer on the 17th in the singles, I may have played in the county finals to redeem myself, but that putt proved to me I can do it under pressure.

GOODWOOD GOLFERS RISE TO THE REVIVAL CHALLENGE

M

embers at Golf At Goodwood turned back the clock almost 100 years to compete in the 10th Revival Golf Challenge last month.

At the event held to coincide with Goodwood’s Revival motorsport event, which attracted over 70,000 people over the weekend of September 8-10, golfers dressed in period costume battled it out over the Downs Course armed only with traditional pencil-thin carry bags filled with mashies, jiggers, brassies, spoons and niblicks lent by Tony Hunt’s South of England Hickory Golf – which proved far less forgiving than their modern day counterparts.

Competition was tough, with Marco Penge, who

■ GOODWOOD MEMBERS FOLLOW REVIVAL FASHION

“Pro golf isn’t going to be easy, but I’m ready to face any challenges head on and give it everything I’ve got. I want to have a couple of months on my own and explore all of the options, get my name around, and make the right decision after tour school. I want to take my time and make the right moves to start my career.”

turned professional in August, pairing up with Golf At Goodwood general manager Stuart Gillett, while numerous players from the very successful scratch team and last year’s champions Terry and Chris Kerr were also in the field But this year’s crown went to Adam Sandison and Paul Millard with a score of 41, closely followed by Christian Fogden, head PGA professional at Goodwood’s Academy, and partner Justyn Jackson, with a score of 39.

Gillett was delighted with the turnout at the latest renewal of the event, after which golfers were treated to a picnic lunch before being transported to the motor racing festival in vintage taxis. He said: “We had 71 players out on the course, and to see the enjoyment everyone had playing hickory golf was fantastic. This was the tenth year that we have held the Revival Golf Challenge, and it just gets bigger and better every year. Despite the challenges of the weather, a great time was had by all. The event has now become an integral part of the Revival Meeting, and continues to showcase how we do things differently for our members here at Golf At Goodwood.”

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NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

TRUMP’S US COURSES TARGETED BY VANDALS

[7]

■ DONALD TRUMP'S US GOLF COURSES HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK SINCE HE BECAME PRESIDENT

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our golf courses owned by US president Donald Trump have been vandalised over the past few weeks, with slogans critical of the administration etched into the putting greens.

Nine greens at Trump courses in Ferry Point, Hudson Valley and Westchester -- all in New York -- and Bedminster were damaged in similar acts of vandalism, according to local police. A suspect, 61-year-old Clifford Tillotson, of Kaneohe, was identified and subsequently charged with criminal mischief.

“We take all acts of vandalism very seriously and would like to thank local law enforcement officials for their efforts,” the Trump Organisation said in a statement. “The individual responsible is in custody and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

The Trump Organisation didn’t disclose when the damage occurred or whether the president, who lives at the Bedminster venue, was present when the attack took place. Tillotson used a chemical substance to write messages on the green. One was an adapted soliloquy from Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, while other messages written into the greens included ‘President Pence has a

TARVER-JONES ON TOP AT Q SCHOOL Sussex professional Peter Tarver-Jones topped the leaderboard at the European Tour Qualifying School event held at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire, after shooting rounds of 68, 69, 73 and 69 for a nine-under-par total. The 29 bad ring to it’, ‘If Jesus came back tomorrow he wouldn’t be an evangelical’, and ‘Product of too much Propecia’, in an apparent reference to the president’s hair.

The vandalism of the golf courses targetted some of the president’s favourite Trump Organisation properties - he has visited his clubs over 60 times since his inauguration. Vandals also hit Trump’s golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes in California in March, causing about $20,000 in damage by cutting into the greens.

year old from Worthing almost failed to make his tee time for the final round after leaving his clubs at home, but a friend made the 90-mile journey from the south coast to deliver his golf bag to the club with just minutes to spare. A total of 20 players from the 104-strong field progressed to the second stage of

■ THETFORD GOLF CLUB HAS SECURED ITS FUTURE

THETFORD TAKES BACK CONTROL AFTER CROWN ESTATE BUY-OUT

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hetford Golf Club in Norfolk has secured its future after the membership bought the freehold of the club from the Crown Estate.

The last act of the club's trustees was to sign off the lease to complete the sale. The club now

intends to become Incorporated and, as Thetford Golf Club Limited, it will no longer need trustees.

Club manager Malcolm Grubb said: "It has taken a lot longer than expected, but I am delighted that the sale has now gone through.

We have been able to finance the purchase, thanks to our own members taking out debentures, and it may take another 10 years or so to complete the repayments, but after that we will have no debts to pay.”

He added: "We have had quite an influx of new members lately, including a lot of Colt and Intermediate members, and they are likely to benefit more than anybody, as they will eventually inherit one of the finest golf courses in East Anglia.

Removing the burden of a high rent means we can concentrate on the repayments, while also re-investing in the club and the course.”

Club president Anne McHarg added: "We had some difficult times a few years ago, so thank goodness for the recent improvements which will secure a fantastic facility for the town of Thetford and the East Anglian region. I am delighted that the future is bright for Thetford Golf Club."

qualifying school, which takes in Spain next month. Other notable qualifiers included Sam Horsfield and 2017 Walker Cup player David Boote, who turned pro last month.

EDWARDS-HILL ROMPS TO ROMFORD TROPHY WIN Chelmsford’s Aaron Edwards-Hill won the Romford Trophy after shooting rounds of 65 and 69 at Romford Golf Club. His impressive eight-under-par total saw him finish two shots clear of county champion Curtis Knipes (Abridge), with Jay Beisser (Rayleigh) a further shot back in the third. The nett competition was won by five handicapper Jake Wells (Clacton) with a nine-under-par total of 133.

The tournament attracted a field of 59 players.

[8]

OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BJØRN LEADS FROM THE FRONT AT THE SHIRE’S CAPTAIN’S DAY PHOTOGRAPHY: MAGIC HOUR

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riveting speech from the 2018 European Ryder Cup Captain stirred the blood and entranced golfers at the conclusion of the Thomas Bjørn Trophy, held at The Shire London on October 9.

European Tour golf superstar Thomas Bjørn held the audience captive after dinner with inspirational words about his winning Ryder Cup debut at Valderrama in 1997, in a team captained by Shire golf course designer Seve Ballesteros.

Although the canny Dane did not reveal his strategy for next year’s captain’s picks, he finished with a rallying call for all European golf fans to get behind his team when he leads them into the 42nd Ryder Cup matches in Paris next September.

Earlier in the day, 125 golfers had competed in the inaugural Thomas Bjørn Trophy, hosted

by the 46-year-old Dane at The Shire London, near Barnet in Hertfordshire, where Bjørn is honorary captain in 2017 and 2018.

The day’s highlight was a ‘beat the pro’ event on the Ballesteros Masters Course’s picturesque 7th hole, a 124-yard drop shot to a green which juts out into one of the club’s many lakes.

Golfers lined up throughout the day to watch Bjørn take a shot at the pin, then tried to fire their own shot inside the captain’s Callaway golf ball.

Those who succeeded received a personally signed Shire London flag from Bjørn himself at the after-golf dinner.

A raffle and charity auction in the evening raised approximately £5,000 for the European Tour Foundation, the official charity of the 2018 Ryder Cup. Premier League football legend Ray Parlour hosted the auction, following his after-dinner speech, which had

■ THERE WAS A FULL FIELD FOR THOMAS BJORN'S HONOURARY CAPTAIN'S DAY AT THE SHIRE LONDON

■ BJORN DELIVERED A POWERFUL SPEECH AT THE AFTER-GOLF DINNER

everyone roaring with laughter.

“The Shire must be the friendliest golf club in Britain,” said Bjørn. “The welcome is always tremendous, no matter who you are, and you really sense the joy and pride radiating from its members and staff on having Seve’s spectacular golf course at the heart of the club. The Shire is also setting new standards of inclusivity in the sport – which is a difficult feat to pull off. I am proud to have made it my home club, as a north London resident myself, and I always enjoy coming here.”

The day’s big individual winner was Peter Jones, who took away a new Callaway Epic driver after his enormous 44-point haul over 18 holes.

In second place was none other than the Romford Pelé himself, Arsenal’s Ray Parlour.

The winning team – The Singers’ Swingers – comprised Jon Osborne, Steve and Freddie Packham and Sean Maguire from

ASTBURY HALL GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION

REVEALED: THE KEY TO CREATING HAPPY CLUB MEMBERS

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T

stbury Hall, the Shropshire stately home and golf course owned by former Judas Priest guitarist Ken Downing (pictured right), has gone into administration and been put up for sale.

FRP Advisory has been appointed as joint administrators to Astbury Estates Limited and Ken Downing Limited, which owns and operates the venue. Both the golf club and hall will remain open for business while a new owner is sought. The estate is on the market for a guide price of £10m.

The company blamed ‘tough economic times within the corporate hospitality market’ for its unsustainable losses.

Originally built during the reign of Henry III in the 13th century, Astbury Hall, which is located near Bridgnorth, was destroyed by fire in 1889, with the present building opening in 1891. Downing, who left Judas Priest in 2011, bought the estate in 1985, and opened the golf course in 2010, which was managed

by Troon Golf.

The golf course held a EuroPro Tour event in 2013, while former Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke was brought on board as an ambassador for the club, and was an investor in a development of properties on the estate. Plans to build a 63-bedroom hotel were unveiled in 2012, but failed to make it past the planning stages.

Alastair Massey, partner at FRP Advisory, said: “Astbury Hall is a finely preserved English stately home, steeped in history, and the Astbury is a top-notch, uniquely designed golf course, stretching across more than 300 acres of rolling Shropshire countryside. The administration process provides a cushion for the estate to run as normal while the business, including this historic house, the golf course, and events business, are all marketed for sale. We encourage interested parties to make early contact.”

he secrets of keeping golf club members happy, contented and loyal are revealed in new report commissioned by England Golf: Valuing Your Customers.

The findings from Manchester Metropolitan University will be used to help golf clubs strengthen their business by retaining their members. They’ll be shared by England Golf’s club support network, together with a specially produced video and other resources, which will help clubs identify and provide the golfing experience their members want.

The report makes the point that it costs less to retain a member than to attract a new one, and it highlights the numerous

Singing Hills Golf Club in West Sussex. They took the Thomas Bjørn Trophy back to the Brightonbased club, and each of them also won a set of Galvin Green golf waterproofs.

Prize sponsors Callaway, Odyssey, Galvin Green and Golfbreaks.com helped to create a generous prize table, with Bjørn and the European Tour Foundation supplying some of the night’s biggest auction prizes, including two week-long passes to the 2018 Ryder Cup. In the auction, The Shire posted the winning bid for a flag from the 2012 Ryder Cup, which had been signed by the entire European team.

Event organiser Ceri Menai-Davis summed up the club’s feelings after the long-awaited event. “This was no ordinary Captain’s Day,” he said. “It is an unbelievable honour for us to be Thomas’s home club as he leads Europe’s golfers towards the Ryder Cup matches in France next year. Thomas was wonderful with all the golfers who took part, and even allowed a few of them to beat the pro! But you could see that he is still a world-class golfer, and also a world-class captain and ambassador both for us, and, on a much wider scale, for the European Tour and the European Ryder Cup team. Many of us will try to be there next year to cheer him on as he sets out to win the cup back for Europe, and we thoroughly look forward to his next visit to The Shire.”

ways to keep members happy. These include ‘offering enjoyment and engagement’; ‘providing a unique ethos and atmosphere’; 'creating a great customer experience from the car park to the bar’; and offering participation options for all, from novice to experienced players.

The report also offers ideas for clubs to consider to customise their approach to members. These could include becoming a female-friendly club or offering alternative formats, which could be welcomed by beginners, older players and those who are short of time.

Report author Dr Chris Mackintosh said: “Members are the lifeblood of any club and retention really matters. The

evidence says that if golf clubs can be more diverse, more open, and embrace a friendly culture, more people will stay in the game, and we will grow the sport.”

Abbie Lench, England Golf’s Head of Club Support, added: “We want to show clubs how to understand and to value their customers and build a healthy base of loyal members.

There’s another great benefit because we find that clubs which have an excellent relationship with existing members, will find it easier to recruit new players.”

Fr o

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Winter Society Packages

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[10] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

SONNING WINS HILLMAN TROPHY IN OVERTIME Sonning won this year’s Hillman Trophy after beating Lambourne in a thrilling final held at Huntercombe. The seven-a-side match ended 3.5-3.5, forcing the final pairing of Felix Quinn (Lambourne) and Paul Siddell (Sonning) to replay the 18th hole, after their match finished all square.

Both players managed par threes at the first extra hole, but Quinn’s tee shot on the second attempt missed the green, and he left Siddell with a four-footer for the title, which he duly converted. Earlier there were Sonning wins for Rodney Barratt and Mark Sawyer, while Kelvin Hodges and Colin Hodges bagged halves.

BEISSER PIPS KNIPES TO ESSEX ORDER OF MERIT

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PLANS UNVEILED FOR NEW GOLF COURSE IN HERTFORD H

chaired the planning meeting on September 6, said: "It is another layer upon another layer of planning debate. It is complicated, because some of the work on site previously has been subject to planning refusal by the county council, whereas the district council has been more inclined to look more favourably on it.”

He added: "Hertford Heath Parish Council was quite divided about the whole thing, and the principle of losing agricultural land.

Several members thought golf would work well in that location, others didn't."

The application

opes of a new golf course opening in Hertford in the near future were resurrected last month, after plans for a new 18-hole course were presented to Hertford Town Council's planning sub-committee.

The application to build Hertford Golf Course on what is currently agricultural land near Hertford Heath, was first submitted more than 20 years ago, in the 1990s, and has been dividing Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council ever since.

Councillor Peter Ruffles, who

The final tournament in the Essex Order of Merit season proved a closely fought affair, with Jay Beisser (Rayleigh) running out the narrow winner following the conclusion of the Upminster Trophy. He finished just one point ahead of title contender Curtis Knipes in the points list after finishing fourth in the Upminster Bowl. The tournament was won by Will Percival (Orsett), who shot rounds of 68 and 69 to finish one shot ahead of Knipes.

LONDON CLUB HITS THE BRIEF FOR CONSTRUCTION CUP

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POINTS WIN PRIZES FOR LENGDEN AT LUTON HOO Sweden’s Oscar Lengden won the Bridgestone Challenge at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa. The 25 year old entered the final round 12 points off the lead in the modified Stableford event – a first for the Challenge Tour – but shot a closing 62, including an eagle at the final hole, to win the title with 49 points. Third round leader Nicolai von Dellingshausen finished second with 47 points, with Wentworth’s Steven Brown a further four points back in third.

submitted by Belview Golf Club proposes to not only build a golf course, but to construct a clubhouse with bar, restaurant, changing and pro shop facilities.

A water harvesting scheme, for sustainable irrigation and improved drainage, has also been proposed.

In principle, the planning committee had no objection to the change of the land into a golf course; however concerns were expressed about the impact that a new clubhouse would have on the natural landscape, while Councillor Ruffles was also worried that the application made reference to a ‘restaurant’. He said: "The restaurant gives some concern, [we'd] prefer 'dining or refreshment facilities’.

Food should be for golfers or club members and their guests and limited to that. The restaurant should be used in conjunction with the golf club only."

■ ASCAFFOLD WAS ERECTED ON THE 15TH TEE FOR THE FULL BUILDERS' EXPERIENCE

orkers from the construction industry swapped their hard hats for golf caps last month, as they took part in an innovative competition at London Golf Club in Kent.

Teams from different sectors of the industry took part in the unique Construction Cup event, which included a scaffold-built long drive tee on the 15th hole, as well as a ‘Beat the Pro’ challenge on the third hole.

Embracing the theme of the event, the club used 36 black hard hats as tee markers, while the first tee boards, flags and golf balls were all branded with LGC Construction Cup logos.

Participants enjoyed a full English breakfast, as well as a themed three-course meal and prize giving after their rounds.

The victorious team on the day was ODI UK (Carl Hamilton, Tarik Ademavic, Jack Winzar and Jamie Hillier), who won the main prize of one night’s stay with breakfast and one round of golf with tournament sponsor Montei Rei Golf & Country Club in Portugal.

Stephen Follett, the London Club’s chief executive, said, “This was a fun and innovative event which really showcased our willingness to think outside the box. We were glad that everyone enjoyed the day and that the weather was kind. If the rain had been hammering down, it would have put a real spanner in the works!”

Redlibbets Golf Club

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Please note that all weekend bookings will incur a £5.00 surcharge per person.

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Upgrade For Only £5.50 per player Homemade Soup & Sandwiches Upgrade For Only £7.00 per player Homemade Steak & Ale Pie & Chips Upgrade For Only £10.00 per player *Christmas Turkey Dinner & Coffee *available from 1st – 22nd December

To Book Please Call 01604-700 000 (ext 205) or e-mail enquiries@collingtreeparkgolf.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY - NOT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. *SATURDAY & SUNDAY - SUPPLEMENT OF £5.00PP WINTER GOLF RATES VALID FROM 1ST NOVEMBER 2017 TO 28TH FEBRUARY 2018

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EmaiL: proshop@redlibbets.com Phone: 01474 872278 Redlibbets Golf Club ,West Yoke, Ash, Kent. TN15 7HT

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NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

KILLIK ENJOYS THE LYNX EFFECT

[11]

WOBURN WINS PLATE FINAL AT HUNTERCOMBE Woburn Golf Club won the plate final of the Hillman Trophy after beating Richings Park 4-3 at Huntercombe. Woburn, who won the main trophy last year, won four of the first five matches to secure the

A

Brighton golf professional has just returned from the trip of a lifetime on a private jet to play in a star-studded golf competition thanks to Lynx Golf.

Anthony Killik, the head professional at Brighton & Hove Golf Club, flew with NetJets, courtesy of Lynx, to play in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Leisure Classic in Portugal.

He was drawn as the winner of the Lynx Assistant Pro Competition, open to any pro or assistant pro who sold any three sets of the company’s irons between April and August.

After taking his place in the star-studded event, Killik said:

victory, with Alan Featherstone, Richard Bradford, Justin Pardy and Dave Fensome all bagging points, while Mark Collender and David Allison lost to Riching Park’s Mark Collins and Paul Barrington to give the match a more respectable scoreline.

YORKSHIRE CAPTURES COUNTIES’ CROWN Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire 5-4 to win the English Women’s County Championship. In the final day’s other matches the hosts, Suffolk, defeated

■ ANTHONY KILLIK WON A TRIP TO PORTUGAL AS PART OF A LNYX GOLF PROMOTION

“The gang from Lynx couldn’t have been more hospitable, and we were treated like kings from start to finish.”

Killik also proved that he is no slouch with a golf club, winning the ‘Nearest The Pin In Two’ prize during the opening day’s Texas Scramble competition, after almost holing a wedge from 100 yards.

The Lynx retail promotion boasted a number of runnersup prizes too, including £750 worth of 2018 pre-booked Lynx equipment, which was won by Greg Nicholson, of Greg Nicholson Golf; a Lynx ‘Staff Playing Contract’ won by Ian Taylor, Essendon Country Club; a full Lynx Predator range won by Richard Webb, Tilsworth Golf Centre; and a custom-fit Black Cat Driver won

■ KILLIK TRAVELLED DOWN TO PORTUGAL IN A NETJETS PRIVATE PLANE

by Craig Knowles, Glenrothes Golf Club.

Murray Tonry, Lynx’s UK and European sales manager, said: “We had a fantastic response to our unique competition, with a huge number of entries, and we were delighted to welcome Anthony on the trip to play in one of the best charity golf events there is. Lynx is committed to supporting green grass golf retailers, as they are crucial to our ongoing growth and success, and running promotions like this rewards PGA Professionals for supporting us in return and helping to make Lynx a thriving and authentic British golf brand.”

Winter Collection Available from 1 November 2017 to 31 March 2018 (price excludes 24-31 December 2017)

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Overnight accommodation for 2 people sharing a standard twin or double room Includes: Breakfast, 2 rounds of golf and 2 course bar menu dinner (Food image shown is an upgraded option)

Contact Mark or Caroline on:

T: 01304 611118 E: office@princesgolfclub.co.uk W: www.princesgolfclub.co.uk Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9QB

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Nottinghamshire 6-3 to take third place on their first appearance at County Finals in 22 years, while Hampshire beat Buckinghamshire 5.5-3.5 to put them in fourth place, ahead of Nottinghamshire and Buckinghamshire.

PHELPS WINS MIDDLESEX OOM Northwood’s Justin Phelps won Middlesex Golf’s 2017 Order of Merit following the final event of the season, the CW Roe Trophy held at West Middlesex on September 23. Phelps, who also won the County Championship, collected 113 points from seven events and finished seven points ahead of runner up James Ellis from Hendon.

[12] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WATCHAM CAPTURES HERTS MID-AGE TITLE Lewis Watchman won Hertfordshire Golf’s Mid Age Championship after beating 30 rivals over 36 holes at Batchworth Park in Rickmansworth.

Watchman, from Harpenden Common, shot rounds of 73 and 67 for a fourunder-par total of 140. It proved one too good for defending champion Tony Wilkins, also from Harpenden, who shots 70 and 71. Jason Court (Sandy Lodge) won the prize for the best nett score with combined rounds of 140.

BERKHAMSTED WINS HERTS FOURSOMES The Berkhamsted pairing of Luke Colgate and Paul Coburn broke Sandy Lodge’s stranglehold over Hertfordshire Golf’s County Foursomes Championship when taking the title at Porter Park last month. The 36-hole tournament attracted 43 pairs. Colgate and Coburn combined to shoot 71 and 70 for a gross total of 141 (+1) over the par-70 course. The Letchworth pairing of Niall Johnston and Jack Slater finished second after adding an afternoon 73 to a morning 70, with a double bogey at the 16th hole costing them any chance of victory.

SUNBURY WINS SURREY JUNIOR KNOCKOUT TITLE Sunbury won the 2017 Surrey Junior Club Team Knockout for the Chritsie Cup after bearting Cuddington in the finals held at Addington Palace. The winning team, represented by Owen Fox, Harry Dean and Tom Corrigan, beat Wentworth in the semi-finals, while Cuddington saw off the challenge of Royal Wimbledon. The Sunbury team now qualify for next year’s England Golf Club Junior Team Tournament at Woodhall Spa.

O’HAGAN CAPTURES COUGAR INVITATIONAL

SANDWICH PLANS AHEAD TO TACKLE OPEN CROWDS A

record-breaking attendance at this year’s Open has convinced authorities in and around Royal St George’s that transport links to Sandwich and the Kent coast must be improved before the tournament returns in 2020.

A crowd of 235,000 attended the 146th Open at Royal Birkdale, setting an attendance record for a championship staged outside of St Andrews in Scotland. This year’s attendance surpassed the 230,000 mark set at Royal Liverpool in 2006, making it the largest ever to be held in England, and reflects a 17% increase since the Open last visited Birkdale in 2008.

Early discussions to rectify the problems of previous years ,and

ensure Sandwich is prepared for the high number of visitors, have already taken place and one idea is to permanently extend the Sandwich Railway Station’s platform.

A new pedestrian route bypassing the town has already been outlined for 2020, while another idea is to create more temporary accommodation.

The Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Paul Graeme, said: “We know that we’re going to get bigger crowds than before, and we know that the transport management needs to be slick and better. A project board has been set up which will definitely ensure the Open is more successful than in 2011.”

CENTURION CLUB UNVEILS COURSE RENOVATION PLANS

Sandy Lodge pro Crue Elliott and amateur partner Ben Garcia won the Marston’s Beer PGA Autumn Classic.

A year ago, the duo just missed out on the title, losing on countback, but this time it was their turn to triumph in exactly the same fashion after they finished on 82 points, alongside Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) and Jody Greenall. After shooting 38 points in the stableford greensomes event at Felixstowe Ferry, they mustered 44 points at Woodbridge in the second day’s better ball – two more than Brown and Greenall’s tally – to take the title.

WALTON HEATH BACKS BOOTE ON TOUR

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Former Surrey county champion Max O’Hagan won his first big tournament in America last month, when he helped his college team, Florida Tech, take second place at the Cougar Invitational at the Country Club of Columbus. O'Hagan won the individual championship with an eight-underpar score of 205 (68,67,70), to becoming the first men's golfer to achieve the feat since the 2013-14 campaign. O’Hagan, who is in his second year at college, carded 15 birdies over the three rounds.

THE BEERS ARE ON SANDY LODGE DUO

Sandwich Town Council has met Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, and is working with the R&A and Dover District Council. Representatives from

Kent County Council and Dover council have met Sefton Council and Angus Council to talk about the organisation of this year’s event at Royal Birkdale, and next year’s at Carnoustie, and discuss access and event management matters.

A Dover council spokesman said: “We are working closely with a wide range of partners. These include Kent County Council, Kent Police, Southeastern, Network Rail, Royal St George’s, the R&A, Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, South East Local Enterprise Partnership, and our neighbouring local authorities, to prepare to welcome the Open back in 2020.”

T

he exclusive Centurion Club in Hertfordshire is to carry out a series of minor renovations to its championship course over the winter.

The members-only venue near St Albans first opened in 2013 and was co-designed by Simon Gidamn and the club’s general manager Scott Evans. According to the club’s website, the management is undertaking the project with the aim of ‘adding to the challenge and excitement of playing Centurion's championship layout for years to come’.

Among the course enhancements outlined is the addition of new bunkers added on several holes, while the lake in front of the green on the par-four 12th is to be enlarged and complimented by a feature stone wall to the front of the green.

In addition, the 1st and 14th greens will undergo some re-contouring work, while the green at the par-three 17th is to be enlarged to bring to the lake that sits to the left and behind the putting surface more into play.

The Centurion Club hosted this year’s GolfSixes tournament, a new team match play event on the European Tour.

alker Cup player David Boote has turned professional and will represent Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, where he has been a member for the past 13 years, as he forges a new career in the paid ranks.

The 23-year-old Welshman will be the club’s touring professional and will carry the Walton Heath crest and name on his golf bag. The new agreement with the two-time Walton Heath club champion was in place for his European Tour professional debut in the Portugal Masters, where he missed the cut by a single stroke.

A graduate of Stanford University in California, Boote was the lone winner for GB&I in the final series of singles in the Walker Cup match held at Los Angeles Country Club earlier this month. Despite that superb performance in beating the reigning US Amateur champion Doc Redman on the last green, the Surrey-based player was unable to halt a landslide victory for the host nation, which ran out comfortable 19-7 winners.

However, his contribution enabled him to end his amateur

career on a high note, and he embarked on his professional career the following week at Challenge Tour’s Irish Challenge, where he missed the cut by one shot, after shooting rounds of 76 and 72.

Boote said: “I’ve had a really exciting last year in amateur golf, The support I received from club members in the US Open qualifier was tremendous, and makes me really appreciate what an honour and privilege it is to represent Walton Heath as its touring professional. I am looking forward to travelling to pro tournaments representing the club. It’s great to know that I will continue to use the brilliant facilities to help my preparation, and I hope I can do Walton Heath proud through my performances."

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

[14] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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IT'S SAME AGAIN FOR SEWARD 50 YEARS ON Huntercombe Golf Club’s scratch gold medal was won for the fifth time

by Robin Seward last month – an incredible 50 years after he won the title for the first time. The sixhandicapper captured his first scratch medal over the Willie Park-designed course in 1967, and he went on to win it again in 1969, 1980 and 1981. After a hiatus of five decades, Seward returned a gross 73 to capture his fifth scratch title, beating Ian Wood-Smith by two shots, and seeing off the challenge of his son, Keith Seward, who finished third. Robert's father, Dr EC Seward, also won the same title in 1954.

RAYLEIGH ROMPS HOME IN ESSEX FOURSOMES

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he SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge reaches its climax next month, when 10 pairs of golfers assemble at Mazagan Beach Resort in Morocco to take part in the grand final.

Following the completion of ten regional qualifiers, teams representing Airdrie, Bowood, Brokenhurst Manor, Cottesmore, Dundalk, Holme Hall, Leigh, Moor Hall, Muswell Hill and Richmond will take each other on over the resort’s 7,484-yard Gary Playerdesigned course from November 21-22.

Headline sponsor SkyCaddie provided one of its Touch GPS units to competitors at the regional qualifiers, each pre-loaded with exact distances to the day’s pins. SkyCaddie will make the same service available at the final.

“SkyCaddie’s ‘pin position’ feature proved extremely popular during the regionals,” said James Holmes, SkyCaddie’s UK & European sales manager. “When competitors realised that a SkyCaddie GPS can now give them an exact yardage to the pin from anywhere on the hole – including blind spots and through the trees – many used it throughout their round, instead of their normal laser. The pre-loaded units sped up their decision-making, and gave them information which they could not get on a laser – such as distance to the back of the green over the pin.”

Ben Wyatt and Jay Beisser captured the Essex Foursomes Championship for Rayleigh Golf Club after shooting rounds of 65 and 71 at Braintree. The pair’s four-under total saw them finish seven shots clear of runners up Dan Vaughan and Joe Green (Orsett). Five teams shared third place, including defending champions David Abbott and Joe Dobbyn from Boyce Hill. This year’s tournament was entered by 45 teams representing 33 Essex clubs.

STAROSCIK WEATHERS WOODHALL STORM TO WIN GIRLS' CHAMPIONS’ TITLE

U16 GIRLS’ TEAM ROLLS OVER SWISS AT PANAL

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England won the annual U16 girls’ international against Switzerland with an impressive 5-1 result at Pannal Golf Club in Yorkshire. The team comprised Thalia Kirby, Daisy Kennedy, both representing Stoke Park Golf Club, Caitlin Whitehead (Kendal), and Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield). Kirby and Whitehead won their foursomes on the 19th, after their opponents holed out for eagle on the 18th to take the match to extra holes. Heath and Kennedy won their match 3&2. The singles wins were scored by Whitehead 2&1, Heath 3&2, and Kennedy 3&1, while Kirby took her match to the last before eventually losing out.

MAGIC HOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

MOROCCO AWAITS SKYCADDIE PROCAPTAIN FINALISTS

eighton Buzzard’s Georgia Staroscik brought the Girls English County Champion of Champions title back to Bedfordshire after batting the elements at Woodhall Spa. Playing in torrential rain, and having to cope with partially flooded greens on the Lincolnshire venue’s Bracken course, Staroscik shot a two-over-par 74 to win by a stroke, after the tournament had to be reduced to just 18 holes.

Gloucestershire‘s Caley McGinty and Warwickshire’s Maria Toledo Bailey filled the places with scores of 75 and 76 respectively.

Staroscik, 16, arrived at Woodhall Spa with few expectations. “I came here just wanting to do the best I could, and maybe get my handicap cut,” said the 16 year old, who currently plays off four. “So it’s quite surreal to have come away with the trophy – it’s by far the biggest tournament I’ve ever won.”

Starting her round on the 10th, Staroscik was one under par after nine holes. Her inward half included the challenge of a double bogey on the fourth, where her ball plugged in a bunker, but she held on solidly in the tough weather conditions. “Everything was soaking wet, and it was difficult putting across the greens; it was really tough to know how hard to hit it,” she said.

Also at each regional qualifier was a SkyTrak golf launch monitor, set up in hole-in-one challenge mode. At stake was a SkyTrak system worth almost £2,000 – but nobody hit the ace, so the SkyTrak prize remains as yet unclaimed. But the twenty finalists will each have the chance to win it in Morocco, as the SkyTrak hole-in-one contest will be set up once again at Mazagan.

KENT’S KELSO WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TITLE

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ent teenager Jacob Kelso won a fourhole play-off to capture the weather-hit English Boys’ County Champion of Champions tournament at Woodhall Spa. The tournament was reduced to 18 holes after torrential rain flooded the greens on the Hotchkin course, leaving Kelso and Staffordshire’s Ollie Read tied on three under par.

They returned to the course after the rain delay for the sudden-death shootout, up and down the 1st and 18th – and for three holes there was nothing to separate them. But on the second visit to the 18th, Kelso’s par proved good enough to win the hole, after Read’s ball plugged in the bank of a fairway bunker, The 16 year old from Kings Hill Golf Club, said: “This means a lot. It’s my third win of the season, and the biggest of my career so far – and in an England event. In the conditions, it was one of my best rounds of the year. I didn’t know what to expect in the play off, so I stuck to my game plan of hitting fairways and greens.”

It was a policy that stood him in good stead in regulation play. He was out in the first group, enjoyed the good omen of having the No.1 player number, and was four under after 10 holes. He dropped a couple of shots at the start of the back nine, but had another birdie on 15, setting the target for the rest of the field with his 70.

Yorkshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick – brother of Ryder Cup player Matt – and Worcestershire’s Joe Price challenged strongly with scores of 71 to finish tied third, while Hampshire’s Jack Warrren (Stoneham) took outright fourth.

WOODMAN BAGS BB&O PRO'S CHAMPIONSHIP Guy Woodman won the BB&O Professionals Championship after shooting a 141 total for 36 holes around the Blue course at Frilford Heath Golf Club. He started with an unspectacular two-over par 74 in the morning, but turned up the heat by scoring a fantastic five-under par 67 to finish on three under par and claim the top prize.

Tom Fleming used his local knowledge of the Frilford layout to finish two shots back in second with rounds of 73 and 70.

SENIORS RETAIN HOME INTERNATIONALS’ TITLE England’s senior men’s team successfully defended its Home Internationals title in the weatherhit championship held at Rosslare in Ireland. England laid the foundations of their win on the first day, when they beat Ireland, 8-1. The second match against Wales was interrupted by high winds, but they completed a clean sweep of the six singles to run out 7.51.5 winners after the three foursomes were declared halved. Needing just one point from the match against Scotland, England’s Stephen East won his match 6&5 to seal the title, with the match eventually ending in a 4.5-4.5 tie.

WENTWORTH BOOSTS GREEN CREDENTIALS

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entworth Club has been awarded a prestigious international sustainability certification in recognition of the Surrey club’s commitments to the environment and local community.

The GEO Certified accreditation by the Golf Environment Organisation is the international

standard in course sustainability and reflects that Wentworth has met the highly regarded ISEAL member certification standard.

Verified by an independent auditor after a site visit, the accreditation focuses on Wentworth’s commitment to nature, its conservation and natural

course materials; responsible use of energy and waste; and positive community value.

The assessor cited a recent significant heathland restoration project on the site, and woodland development activities, as well as state-of-the-art hardware and technology maximising water and energy efficiency, as prime examples of the club's sustainability commitment.

Wentworth’s work in partnership

with the Surrey Wildlife Trust, and successful scholarship programme, were noted as key contributors to the accreditation’s community values.

The club, which recently completed the renovation of its West Course, is currently embarking on a major refurbishment of its iconic clubhouse, with plans in place to introduce new sustainable technology as part of the build, together with efficiency measures in water and energy management.

Kenny Mackay, Wentworth’s Director of Golf Courses & Grounds, said: “Wentworth’s ambition is to be the world’s premier private golf and country club, and sustainability is absolutely key to this, while also being something demanded by our members. We have been working tirelessly to ensure all three of Wentworth’s courses not only remain in top condition, but do so in a way which is conscious of the local environment.”

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

QHOTELS SOLD TO CHINESE INVESTMENT COMPANY

Q

[15]

■ HELLIDON LAKES

company Alchemy Partners, started with just two hotels.

At the time of the sale, its golf portfolio comprised Aldwark Manor, Belton Woods, Dunston Hall, Forest Pines, Hellidon Lakes; Mottram Hall, Oulton Hall, Slaley Hall, Telford Hotel, and The Westerwood.

RBH chief executive officer, Helder Pereira said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the team at QHotels throughout the sale process. Our priority now is ensuring all of our guests, including golf members, enjoy the best possible experience at our hotels – so it is business as usual, in terms of hotel and course operations.

We’re firmly focused on delivering the high standards of service our guests expect and deserve, and our golf members will continue to have access to ten sensational resorts.”

Hotels, one of the largest golf resort operators in the UK, has been sold for a reported £525 million.

The company has been purchased by UK real estate investment company Aprirose, acting in partnership with China’s Cindat Capital Management.

QHotels’ portfolio includes 26 hotels, along with 17 golf courses spread across 10 golf resorts, the majority of which are based in the Midlands and the North, plus one in Scotland.

Aprirose have appointed Redefine BDL Hotels to manage the 26 hotels. As a result RBH will now manage more than 75 hotels across the UK, providing 11,000 rooms.

QHotels, which was founded in 2003 by managing director Michael Purtill, finance director Ian Goulding, and investment

HARRIS HOLDS SWAY IN SUSSEX ORDER OF MERIT

B

radley Harris is on course to win his first PGA in Sussex Order of Merit title with just one event to play at Cooden Beach.

The results of three pro-ams played in rapid succession helped shape the Order or Merit listings, and has set up what looks to be a tight finish.

Harris, who is attached to The Dyke Golf Club in Brighton, current leads the way in the standings, edging Singing Hills’s Chris Croucher into second place, with just the PGA in Sussex Autumn Meeting at Cooden Beach on October 19 left to play.

Lea Cooper and Lewis Parker tied for top place at the Ham Manor Pro-Am on September 28. They both finished on rounds of one-under par 69 to edge out Harris, Paul Nessling, Jonathan Elliott and Ryan Fitzgerald into a tie for the runners-up spot.

DUSTIN JOHNSON GOLF'S WORLD NUMBER 1

T

■ BRADLEY HARRIS

At the Cottesmore Charity Pro-Am the next day, Harris outclassed the rest with a fine 70. Taking his cheque for £700, he left Fitzgerald, Luke Bangerter, David Copsey and Dan Croucher two shots off the mark in a tie for second place.

The Golf College’s Tim Spence overcame windy conditions to win the Selsey Pro-Am with a two-under-par 66.

Taking home the £500 first prize, Spence finished two shots ahead of James Ablett and Piltdown’s Richard Hill.

But with a second place at Ham Manor and victory at Cottesmore, it’s Harris who’s made the most of the Sussex Swing, and ensured he’s the one the others have to catch at Cooden Beach.

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[16] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

2-FORE!-1 MEMBERSHIP OFFER Golfers can now sign up for a 2-Fore!-1 membership for either a six- or 12-month period for £59 or £99 respectively.

Membership allows golfers to download more vouchers – up to six per day across the UK. For details, visit: www.2fore1.co.uk/ deal/national/membership.

Golf News readers can enjoy a special introductory half price membership offer by entering the code ‘GN50’ at the checkout stage.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 2-FORE!-1 GOLF

TWO PLAY ONE PAYS After acquiring Todays Golfer’s 2-FORE!-1 earlier this year, The Golf Network has relaunched the cut-price green fee scheme with a brand new website packed full of great golfing deals

B

ack in the mid-1990s, at the height of the golfing boom, there was a time when virtually no right-minded golfer paid full price for a green fee. Presented with a surfeit of courses, itinerant golfers could take their pick from a myriad of green fee deals.

Who operates 2-Fore!-1?

2-fore!-1 is part of the Golf Network, which also operates Golf Market and Golf Deals Group websites. With over 230,000 subscribers, the Golf Network is one of the largest golf promotion companies in the UK. How do I join 2-Fore!-1?

Simply log on to www.2fore1.co.uk – and register your details. Then browse the list of courses, choose one you’d like to play, buy a voucher, book a tee time, and then present it at the pro shop before play.

How many golf courses currently accept 2-Fore!-1 vouchers?

There are currently around 700 courses on the site, although more are joining all the time, so check back on the website regularly for updates.

Golf Clubs, both proprietary and private, frightened of missing out on the growing number of golfers for whom membership no longer had the appeal that it once did, signed up to any number of schemes that promised to help fill empty tee sheets.

In the days before the internet – if you can remember that far back – this resulted in golfers rocking up at pro shops up and down the country with golf bags stuffed with booklets and vouchers they had purchased from national newspapers, golf magazines, and various indepedently-run schemes.

Anyone remember the Barrelfield Network?

What do I pay at the golf course?

Each course has a price guide on their 2-Fore!-1 page and the details also appear on the voucher. Please check with club for exact rate on the day you wish to play.

Please note, green fee prices are subject to change, and vouchers do not apply to any special rates that the course may run.

It was something of a free-for-all, with unwitting pros inundated with golfers waving scraps of paper in their faces demanding half-price fees. For those that managed the schemes properly, the two-forone concept provided a welcome source of revenue, helping to fill quiet moments in the timetable that would otherwise had gone unused, as well as boosting takings in the clubhouse.

How long are 2-Fore!-1 vouchers valid for?

2-Fore!-1 vouchers are valid for three months from the purchase date, unless otherwise stated. The expiry date is shown on the voucher. Multipack/credits are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Fast forward to 2017, and while many of those schemes have long since disappeared, golfers have an eye for a deal like never before. With supermarket buy-one-get-one-free offers all the rage, and discounts from website operations like Groupon and Wowcher proving extremely popular, consumers – and golfers – are more savvy than ever when it comes to bagging a bargain.

Few golf companies have latched onto this customer-driven market more than The Golf Network (TGN), an Essex-based business which was founded in 2012. Operated by a group of PGA Professionals, TGN specialises in harnessing the power of the internet to offer savings across a wide range of golf products and services, from golf holidays and breaks, to equipment and golf lessons, and, yes, you’ve guessed it, green fee deals.

The products part of the business is run through www.golfmarket.co.uk and bespoke course and

■ 2-FORE!-1 DEALS ARE AVAILABLE AT CELTIC MANOR'S ROMAN ROAD COURSE

lesson offers through www.golfdealgroup.co.uk, while its discounted green fee operation is accessed via www.2fore1.co.uk. Earlier this year, the company acquired the 2-Fore!-1 scheme that had been operated for many years by Today’s Golfer magazine, and now following a major redesign of the website – provides a user-friendly platform for over 700 UK golf courses to promote green feel deals to an ever growing number of golfers.

Commenting on the new site, Steve Cooper, PGA Professional and The Golf Network’s Managing Director, said: “The 2-Fore!-1 scheme enjoys iconic status among UK golfers, many of whom grew up and played their first rounds with it. It was a shame to see it close earlier this year, and we are proud to be able to bring this icon of British golf back to life.

The 2-Fore!-1 scheme has been around for a long time, but with the advent of new technology, it has become an even greater tool for clubs to use and maximise their exposure.”

He added: “We have launched a brand new state-of-the-art website –2fore1.co.uk – which is easy to navigate and simple for golfers to use, and showcases every course in the scheme. We currently have over 700 courses on the site, and we are always looking for more, so any golf clubs that are interested in showcasing their facilities to our 200,000 members should contact us immediately,

and one of our team will discuss the listing and how best to promote the club.”

The scheme is easy for golfers to join – see below for the details – and offers a truly flexible way to instantly enjoy cut-price golf at some of UK golf’s iconic venues, including The Belfry and Celtic Manor, as well as those lesser-known clubs that you’ve always been meaning to play. One-off vouchers to use for 2-for-1 deals can be bought for just £3.50, while bulk-buy multiple vouchers can bring that cost down to as little as £1.80. The vouchers can also be bought as gifts – making them the ideal present for a golf-mad member of the family or a friend or colleague.

The site hosts regular prize draws for members to win a selection of golf prizes – this month’s is a dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls – while there are £50 vouchers to be won to spend on any 2-Fore!-1 or Golf Deals Group offers you choose. While there are incentives to encourage members to get their friends to join, with a £3.50 credit (free voucher) offered to all those that get someone else to visit the site and buy a deal.

So, with so much great value golf on offer, there’s no excuse for putting away your clubs this winter – just click on the 2-Fore!-1 website, and book up your next half-priced round.

How does a credit pack work?

After you purchase a multi-pack, we automatically credit your account with the amount required to purchase the vouchers at your leisure. Credit lasts 12 months – so you can choose your vouchers anytime within a year from purchasing the credit pack.

Can I extend a voucher that I did not use?

Vouchers expire on the date shown, however if you have any special circumstances you can contact us.

Can I take a copy of the voucher on my phone?

Generally, vouchers need to be printed and given to the club on arrival, however, check with the club when booking.

If I can’t print my voucher, can you send it to the club for me?

As a last resort, if you are away from a printer or do not have internet access, we can do this with 48 hours' notice.

How do I receive my voucher?

You will receive your voucher instantly on purchase – both via email and in your account.

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[18] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL AT STOKE BY NAYLAND

the 18th the pair went, but it was Hall, the 29 year old from Wales, who appeared least fazed by the drama.

While the PGA Assistant deposited her tee shot eight foot from the pin, her opponent overcooked hers, and cleared the green. Two chips later, and a tap-in saw Escudier down in four, leaving Hall with two putts to claim the trophy and the winner’s cheque. Both were needed. She ydia Hall completed a wire-to-wire victory sent the first scooting past the in the WPGA International Challenge at hole, and was left to sink a sixStoke by Nayland, but it wasn’t all plain sailing foot putt for victory. for the Welsh tour professional.

The putting shenanigans on Not least the sudden-death play off with the 18th were at odds with what France’s Ines Escudier, following a two-shot Hall, a Ladies European Tour swing on the par-three final hole on the winner, cited as key to her first Gainsborough course at the Suffolk resort.

■ LYDIA HALL WON EVERY WPGA EVENT SHE ENTERED THIS SEASON victory in a LETAS tournament.

Escudier, who began the final day four “The win was down to my putting again,” said Hall, who recently spent time in shots behind Hall, birdied it for a six-under par round of 66, and complete the Abu Dhabi concentrating on honing that side of her game and making a couple tournament’s 54-holes in nine under. of changes. “It was good in the first round and again today. I’m playing a lot better Hall, by contrast, bogeyed it in a scenario that was reminiscent of her visit to the now that I’ve sorted it out. I must say, though, the tense finish wasn’t in my plans. hole in the first round.

Ines made me work hard for the win.”

On both occasions the ball flirted with the cup, before refusing to drop. Back up

L

MOOR PARK HOSTS ACTION4ARCHIE DAY

M

oor Park Golf Club hosted the eighth annual Action4Archie golf day last month, which helps to raise funds and awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund.

The event is organised and hosted by Gary and Louise Hill from Buckinghamshire, who set up Action4Archie to raise vital capital

for fund’s work after their son, Archie, was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. The Hill family have been ambassadors for the fund since 2012, and have succeeded in raising over £190,000 for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

This year’s golf day was another resounding success – despite damp conditions – with a turnout of 90 people

helping to raise over £16,000 on the day.

Gary Hill said: “We are always proud to hold the Action4Archie event at Moor Park.

Everybody who attends is extremely impressed by the

■ THE NEW INDOOR ACADEMY AT COTTESMORE

COTTESMORE OPENS NEW INDOOR STUDIO

C

ottesmore Golf & Country Club in West Sussex has unveiled a new indoor swing studio ahead of the winter season.

Designed to be used for custom fitting golf equipment, as well as indoor coaching, the new purpose-built studio is located next to the club’s pro shop, which has also benefitted from a major refurbishment.

Calum Callan, Cottesmore’s director of golf, was the driving force behind the development of the new facilities – which include Foresight Sports’ GC2+HMT launch monitor – and he is hoping that all of the club’s members, including its thriving junior section, will make use of the studio, especially during the winter months, when

course, staff and the organisation of the whole day. Our thanks for all the support we receive.”

David Cook, Moor Park’s chief executive, said: “It gives the Moor Park team a huge sense of achievement when we host events such as the Action4Archie golf day. It is a privilege knowing our club and our members are helping to raise funds for such an amazing cause.”

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NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

[19]

BIRCHWOOD PARK ENJOYS MEMBERSHIP BOOST FOLLOWING £5M INVESTMENT

M

embership at Birchwood Park Golf and Country Club in Kent has soared in the six months following an extensive £5m development, which has seen the club ■ INVESTMENT IN NEW FACILITIES HAS ATTRACTED NEW MEMBERS TO BIRCHWOOD PARK become the most comprehensive health, leisure, golf and events facility in the area. by more than 45 per cent.

The investment has provided locals with a family-friendly leisure facility, with Melanie Drake, the club’s general manager, said: “Birchwood Park has always several new additions to the club’s staff helping to take the business to the next level. been a bustling club, full of activity, and we are delighted to have seen even more The new facilities on offer to members include a hydrotherapy pool and people making full use of the new developments in the past six months. Our sauna in the wellness area, as well as 60 new pieces of gym equipment. A new team is very proud of the excellent facilities that we have available here, and we timetable, encompassing 70 classes, has also been launched this month. look forward to providing excellent service and facilities to members and visitors Since the beginning of the year, the number of adult members has gone up in the future.”

outdoor practice is a less attractive prospect.

Callan said: “The main purpose of the studio is for custom fitting, enabling us to sell more hardware, and giving people that far better experience, but also for coaching – in particular winter coaching. I stay mostly busy throughout the year, but December and January are the quiet months, and normally when I take a holiday – now we have the swing studio, I don’t know when I will be able to get away!”

Callan added that the club’s growing junior academy was one of the main reasons behind the new addition, as he wanted to ensure the youngsters had somewhere to practise during winter. “I started the junior academy in 2007, and it now has three different age groups and is recognised as one of the best in the area, with four county players and one who is training with England,” he said.

PGA AWARD-WINNER JOINS ROYAL MID-SURREY TEAM

F

ormer PGA Rookie Assistant of the Year Dan Leeke has joined the professional team at London’s Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club.

Leeke has moved down from Hawkstone Park Golf Club near Shrewsbury, where he served as an assistant professional for three years. He now becomes part of an eight-strong group of professionals at the 125-year-old Richmondbased club that currently boasts more than 1,300 members.

A former PGA Midlands Assistant of the Year, Leeke also achieved a first class honours degree in Golf Science and Development at the University of Lincoln after three years of studies.

“I’m really excited to be part of such a successful, thriving and developing Royal Mid-Surrey team,

■ DAN LEAKE

and it’s a real honour for me to be attached to such a prestigious club,” said Leeke.

Royal Mid-Surrey’s head professional, Matthew Paget, is thrilled with his latest recruit and believes he will help maintain a high quality service for the benefit of all of its members. “Dan is a perfect fit for Royal Mid-Surrey. We continue to strive to offer club members the best service, and having another qualified PGA professional of Dan’s experience will help us to deliver the highest standards.”

Apart from golf, Leeke has a varied sporting background covering motorsport, motocross and mountain biking. He is also a keen runner, and is aiming to take part in next year’s London Marathon.

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NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

[21]

RORY REBOOTED

Rory McIlroy talks about his plans to come back fitter and stronger for 2018, following his first win-less season during his 10 years on tour

WORDS NICK BAYLY PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

European golf for many years, and to see Sergio [Garcia], myself, and a lot of the other guys show up, speaks volumes about his popularity as a person and a player.

A

fter the disappointments of the FedEx Cup and this year’s majors, how pleased are you to finish off your season with a runner-up finish in the British Masters?

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much out of the British Masters, as mentally I had kind of wound down for the year, so perhaps that’s why I played so well. The pressure was off me to perform, so maybe that worked in my favour. I treated it as a bit of a bonus, but it was a fun event, and it was great to be able to support Lee [Westwood] at Close House. It was also nice to earn a few world ranking points before I put the clubs away for the year.

What was Lee’s reaction when you told him you were playing in the British Masters?

He actually asked me at Sergio's wedding back in July if I was thinking of playing, and, at that point, I wasn't, as I was hoping to be in the Tour Championship, taking the following week off, and then playing the Dunhill.

But obviously I didn't make the Tour Championship, so I needed to add one more tournament to my schedule, and the British Masters was the obvious one. I was really happy to support Lee, as he's been a good friend of mine on tour since I turned pro. He's been a central figure in

Obviously a lot of your fans are disappointed that you’re taking a break from competitive golf. Can you talk about what improvements you want to see before you play again?

Yeah, I won't tee it up again competitively now until 2018. Basically, I just need to give myself a bit of time to recover from this injury that's been bothering me all year – but really just to work on my game a little bit, and reset everything. It's been a big year in my life away from the golf course, and I'm not saying that that had an effect on what happened on it. I feel like the injury held me back from practising. But if I can't take time off at this part of the year, when can I take any time off.

I think 75 per cent of the guys out here would say it would be nice to have some sort of an off season. I'm just giving myself an off season this year and looking forward to improving my health, improving my game, and becoming a better player in 2018.

I want to play in the Ryder Cup next year, so obviously I had to play my five events in Europe in order to qualify.

So that was obviously the big deciding factor. I've been quite close to the edge on minimums over the last few years, so I didn't really want to put the European Tour in another sticky position. So I thought, yeah, I'll play an extra one and not have to make them make the hard decision and have to answer to the membership about why I didn't play the minimum when I could have.

How close are you to full fitness and how much rest do you need to get to that point?

It's hard to put a percentage on it. I feel okay right now, but that’s because I’ve had a few weeks off. So it's always been just a bit of managing it. Does it feel okay? Yeah, it feels okay, and I can do a little bit, and then I have to take a bit of time off, and then I can do a little bit again. But I think just a four- to six-week break without really doing anything, and really concentrating on rehab exercises and doing all that stuff, I'll be fine.

I just haven't given myself that little more prolonged length of time to let it fully heal and let it feel 100 per cent. I actually don't feel that far away. I feel better I'M JUST GIVING now than I did starting MYSELF AN OFFthe FedExCup Playoffs, so SEASON THIS YEAR AND that's a good thing, and LOOKING FORWARD TO that hopefully bodes well IMPROVING MY HEALTH, for these next few weeks IMPROVING MY GAME, in terms of rehab.

Have you mapped out some sort of timetable?

I'm taking a ten-day holiday in mid-October, and then once I get back, I’m going to be doing quite a bit of equipment testing, and then I'll start to execute the AND BECOMING A BETTER plan that we have going forward.

But do you still feel I don't anticipate hitting golf balls PLAYER IN 2018 inhibited in the amount until the end of November, but of practice that you can put in? depending on how I feel, it could be earlier than that.

Yes, I do. I don't feel like I can go out there all day and But I'm looking forward to just getting myself right, practise. I feel at some point, I'd have to take a bit of getting myself healthy, and then being able to practise time to let it rest, and I can feel it sort of stiffening up as much as I want to feel prepared going into each and and getting a little bit sore. It's not as if I can go full every tournament, instead of feeling like I'm playing bore at it like I want to. But hopefully by giving it that catch up all the time. six or eight-week rest, I'll be able to fully practise and prepare, and not feel like I'm playing catch up at every What's been the motivating factor to keep playing tournament, because I feel like I haven't been able to do when you were thinking about shutting it down the preparation that will allow me to play my best golf. altogether?

[22] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WOKING MOVES WITH TIMES AS IT PREPARES TO CELEBRATE 125TH ANNIVERSARY

PORTELLI LOWERS SAFFRON WALDEN COURSE RECORD AT CHARITY PRO-AM

T

he Saffron Walden Charity Pro-Am, now in its fifth year has developed into one of the best-supported events in the Eastern Region PGA calendar. This year’s event was supported by 20 local businesses, and saw a field of 47 professionals and 141 amateurs take part.

First prize in the professional category was won by Glen Portelli, representing Old Fold Manor Golf Club, with a new course record of 65, seven under par.

Portelli’s seven-under-par round also helped his team

of Saffron Walden juniors – Jacob Gamble, Charlie Carter and Alex Sparrow – win the team prize with an impressive 21 under par.

Since its re-introduction five years ago, the SWGC Pro-Am has raised more than £40,000 for various

local charities, with this year’s event collecting over £8,000 for the captain’s nominated charity, Blue Smile, a Cambridge-based organisation which provides specialist therapists for vulnerable children in schools.

TYRRELLS WOOD COMPLETES 13TH HOLE RENOVATIONS ■ WOKING HAS CARRIED OUT MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO ITS 125-YEAR-OLD COURSE

W

oking Golf Club, the first of the great Surrey & Berkshire heathland courses, is marking the milestone of its 125th anniversary in 2018 by unveiling a series of changes that will bring it firmly into the 21st century.

While respecting all its traditions and timeless appeal, the club, which has boasted such luminary members as Roger Wethered, Bernard Darwin and Freddie Tate, announced a number of modern initiatives in advance of its birthday year.

The greens, which have long been regarded as one of the course's great defences, have recently benefitted from a major drainage programme under the guidance of newly recruited course manager Andy Ewence, who

came from The Buckinghamshire.

There has also been continued major works with a focus on bringing the course back to its fast-running, heathland roots, and off the course, a new swing studio is nearing completion.

It is no coincidence that Woking has risen faster up the various course rankings in the last few years, and in June this year it reached 20 in Golf World's Top 100 Courses in England poll.

Not only is the course changing, but the club has announced a trial break from its traditional two-ball format. From November, three- and four-ball ball golf will be played on Tuesdays and Fridays, a move that secretary Richard Pennell says that societies and visitors have been requesting for many years.

T

yrrells Wood Golf Club has recently completed a major renovation of the 13th hole on its James Braid-designed course.

The club commissioned Sussex-based architect James Edwards of Edwards Design International to design the changes to the 405-yard, par-four hole, whose original green was located at the bottom of a hill, offering a testing blind shot to golfer who failed to get the ball far enough up the left side of the fairway.

Under the supervision of course manager Paul

■ BEFORE

■ AFTER

Sheather, the new greens complex has been enlarged and re-orientated diagonally to the line of play to add strategy, and has also been raised by 1.5 metres to make the putting surface visible for approach shots. The approach to the green has also been re-shaped to create new run-off areas, which will improve drainage and year-round playing conditions. Three front bunkers have also been completely rebuilt, while the encroaching scrub has been cleared back to allow more sunlight and air movement to the green.

It is expected that that the new green will be opened for play next Spring, while the club will continue with its on-going bunker renovation programme over the winter, with another ten bunkers being re-shaped, lined and sanded.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

[23]

GLENDALE SMASHES FESTIVAL TARGET

O

GANE GRABS THE SPOILS AT ST GEORGE’S HILL

C

hris Gane shot a four-under par round of 66 to win the Nelson Trophy Pro-Am at St George’s Hill Golf Club in Surrey.

Claiming the £800 winner’s cheque, the lefthander from Silvermere edged out the 67s of runners-up Richard Wallis and Van Phillips.

Notching up his fifth win of the season to date, a delighted Gane said: “It’s been a relatively quiet season for me so far, with some good placings and close finishes, but it’s always a joy to come to St George’s Hill, one of the best courses anywhere, and play in this event. As usual, I was playing with Matt Selby, who has been the driving force behind this event, and we were joined

by Jeremy Lowe and Duncan

Reid, both significant players and movers in their own right."

Starting on the 10th, Gane’s round started unpromisingly by dropping a shot on his opening hole. Another bogey at the 16th was repaired immediately by a birdie at the 17th, but with ten holes left and one-over-par, Gane needed something pretty special if he was to get into the frame. That was exactly what he delivered, producing a terrific run of three birdies and an eagle in the space of seven holes for a final nine of 30.

Gane’s eagle was on the fourth, a driveable par four which offers a big target but is defended by large bunkers and one of the trickiest greens on the course.

And dozens of families paid their first visit to Tilgate Forest ver 1,000 people swung a golf club for the first time Golf Centre in Crawley to try out the newly-created ‘Family during Glendale Golf’s third annual Festival of Golf, Fun Zone’ on the driving range, which was part-funded by smashing the group-wide target across six golf centres England Golf. nationwide.

Glendale Golf managing director Tom Brooke said: “This year, In this year’s Festival, which took place across a single for our third event we made sure that everything happened week of intense activity in mid-August, the six Glendale in a single week, rather than running events across the month Golf centres each ran a series of attractions designed to as in previous years. We also focused much harder this year on encourage new golfers and their families from the local attracting pure newcomers to the game, rather than simply community to pick up a golf club – and the public responded aiming for first-time visitors to one of our golf centres. in unprecedented numbers.

“And the result was over 1,000 people swinging a golf With each venue deploying its PGA golf coaches and SNAG club for the first time in their lives – at just six golf centres, Golf equipment to offer as many free lessons as possible in a single week. We will have to go some to beat the 2017 during the week, summer 2017 saw Glendale Golf’s biggest Festival of Golf when we run next year’s event. festival yet as regards the number of first-time visitors to a “But we are very aware that we need to do much golf centre. more than just one week of activity every year to attract A host of fund-raising activities raised over £2,400 for the newcomers and families. This year’s success has given us the Golf Foundation during the week, including a 50p donation impetus to work even harder through the rest of 2017, and from Glendale Golf per green fee booked online over the into 2018, to make our golf centres genuinely more attractive weekend of August 12-13. and accessible to a wider audience.”

And the Golf Foundation also ensured that six lucky participants each walked away with an Etiqus watch after winning their local nearest-the-pin contest at participating Glendale centres during the festival.

The group’s most successful summer event took place at six Glendale venues, including Castle Point, Duxbury Park, Edwalton Golf Centre, Portsmouth Golf Course, Richmond Park, and Tilgate Forest.

Each venue had been targeted to encourage over 100 people to swing a golf club for the first time – and Duxbury Park led the way by attracting over 300 visitors in a single day to its new Golf & Games Family Park, where a family-friendly short course, garden games including giantsized snakes and ladders and Connect 4, and an orienteering trail, all drew the crowds. The Duxbury Park team also put golf clubs into the hands of over 100 local children in the town centre at the Chorley Play Day during ■ GLENDALE GOLF’S TOM BROOKE (LEFT) RECEIVES A RECOGNITION AWARD FROM ANDY WRIGHT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT THE GOLF FOUNDATION the summer holidays.

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[24] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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TYRRELL HATTON

A return to the Home of Golf brings about a return to form for Tyrrell, as he successfully defends his Dunhill Links title in stunning fashion – with a little help from friends and family

I’VE NEVER HAD TO DEFEND a title before, so there was definitely a different feeling coming into the Dunhill Links Championship this year. I obviously had some great memories to draw on from last year, where I shot a course record 62 over the Old Course to win my first European Tour event.

Thankfully, after some tough results over the summer, I managed to show a bit of form coming into the event, finishing third at the European Masters and eighth at the British Masters, and I felt like my swing was a lot more solid, and the putter was finally beginning to warm up a bit.

The British Masters really was a tale of two halves. I played some really good golf over the first two rounds at Close House, shooting 63 and 65 to take a two-shot lead, and then I couldn’t keep it going over the weekend. The greens got a bit bobbly with the soft conditions, and I had a few putts miss that I felt I should have holed, and it got inside my head a bit. I felt my scores didn’t reflect the way I had played – but that’s all part of the game. It was very frustrating not to have finished off the way I’d hoped, and to end up eighth was a little disappointing after the position I had put myself in. Taking the positives, though, overall I hit a lot of good iron shots, and it was nice to feel comfortable with my swing again, and it obviously put me in good shape for the Dunhill.

Once again, I was paired up with the actor Jamie Dornan at St Andrews. We had such a good time last year that I figured that it would great to keep the winning partnership going, and he felt the same. Jamie was a bit more relaxed than he was last year, and that really helped me too. That’s probably why the Dunhill seems to suit me so well.

Although we’re playing for lots Race to Dubai points, playing alongside amateurs for all four days means that it has a very different vibe to a regular tour event.

Conditions were quite tough in the first round at the Old Course – it was cold and there was quite of bit of wind off the left, so I was pretty pleased with an opening 68.

The following day, the weather was about as kind as it could ever be at Carnoustie, and

IF YOU HAD TOLD ME IN THE SUMMER THAT I WAS GOING TO WIN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED YOU, SO TO HAVE TURNED IT AROUND SO QUICKLY PROVIDES A HUGE BOOST TO MY CONFIDENCE

thankfully I was able to make the most of it. Nothing really happened for the first five holes, but I picked up birdies on the sixth, seventh and eighth to really kickstart the round. The last four holes are among the toughest in tournament golf, so to birdie 16 and 18 was a huge bonus – on top of birdies as 12 and 14 – and to walk off with a 65 felt like a minor miracle. It was somewhat put in the shade by Tommy Fleetwood’s 63, which was really impressive, but I was happy to be moving in the right direction.

Kingsbarns is generally regarded as the easiest of the three courses when the wind is down, so I knew I had to put in a good round to keep up my challenge. I got off to a great start, making birdies at three of the first four holes, and made two more around the turn, and three more coming in, to sign for another 65. What really pleased me was the lack of mistakes – I didn’t drop a single shot around Carnoustie or Kingsbarns, and was driving the ball really well, finding greens, and making some good saves when I needed to.

Going out with a five-shot lead isn’t as comfortable as it sounds. You know you’re expected to win, which puts all the more pressure on you, but you also know that it’s easy to go very low at St Andrews when there’s no wind, as I proved the previous year.

After I put my approach to the first green in the ■ TYRRELL AND JONATHAN BELL HAVE FORMED A PROFITABLE burn, things could easily PARTNERSHIP SINCE TEAMING UP IN SEPTEMBER

have unravelled, but thankfully I was able to regroup, and managed to chip in with my penalty drop to rescue an unlikely par. If anything, it was just the wake up call I needed, and after making birdies at the next four holes, I kind of felt back in control of my game.

I kept things ticking over on the back nine, and didn’t look at a leaderboard again until I got to the 16th green, when I saw that Fish [Ross Fisher] was 11 under for his round, and was just three back. Obviously the 17th at St Andrews is not easy, and while 18 offers an eagle chance, I knew that if I was able to par my way in, it would probably be good enough. As it turned out, Ross could only manage pars on the last two for a 61, and although I lipped out on 17 for birdie, I had a big enough lead on 18 to allow me to lay up, chip on, and two-putt for a 66 and a threeshot win.

It was a huge relief to get my second win, but it definitely felt harder than last year – I don’t know why – perhaps because of all the pressure I put on myself – but it was great to get over the line again and kind of prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. If you had told me in the summer that I was going to win again before the end of the year, I probably wouldn't have believed you, so to have turned it around so quickly provides a big boost to my confidence going forward.

It was great to be able to share the win with my mum, who lives in Inverness, as I don’t get to see her that often, and Emily, my girlfriend, was also there. Hopefully, Jamie will be free to play in it again next year – he’s definitely my lucky mascot!

It’s hard to put my finger on what’s

changed, as I’m not a particularly technical player, but something has just clicked. I’m hitting the driver well, striking my irons really nicely, and have finally found a bit of form with the putter. Having Jonathan [Bell] on the bag these last three events has certainly helped my mindset. We’re good mates, and it has been great to have someone who can help me to relax on the golf course, as that is when I play my best.

Jonathan’s a pro himself – he wanted to play on the EuroPro Tour this year, but didn't have the funding. He's been working parttime, so when I asked him to come on the bag for Switzerland, he was quite happy to do that. Obviously we’ve had a good run, and he's going to carry on until the end of the year, which will hopefully give him a good platform for next year, when he's going to play himself.

The win has certainly come at a good time. There were a lot of world rankings and Race to Dubai points at stake, and Ryder Cup points, too, so it was a good time to get some points on the board after the lean spell over the summer. Hopefully, I can now push on until the end of the season, and take some momentum into next year.

YOU CAN FOLLOW TYRRELL ON TWITTER @TYRRELLHATTON PARTNERS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | OCTOBER 2017 [25]

TWO TONYS HIT THE GROVE FOR CHILDREN’S CHARITY

F

ormer football stars Tony Gale and Tony Cottee joined 40 other golfers from the advertising, construction and insurance sectors for a charity golf day in aid of Action for Children at The Grove in Watford.

After a warm up on the driving range, the stars of screen, pitch and industry took on the 2016 British Masters’ venue’s 18-hole courses, before coming together

in the clubhouse for a BBQ dinner, award presentation and charity auction.

With teams from Price Forbes & Partners, Overbury, Clear Channel, Unilad, the Met Police and others, the event raised over £10,000 for Action for Children, which helps improve the lives of 370,000 children and young people and their families every year. The charity’s fundraising

manager, Laurena Di Bello, said: “What an incredible day!

Thanks to everyone who came and had fun, and for raising such a fantastic amount to help us continue our vital work.”

Those interested in taking part in the 2018 Golf Day for Action for Children at The Grove should email laurena.dibello@ actionforchildren.org.uk.

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WOOTTON WINS ASSISTANTS’ TITLE AT WEST HOVE

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xford Golf Centre’s Adam Wootton fired a sensational second round 63 en route to winning the PGA South Assistants & Trainees Championship at West Hove Golf Club, and claim the Crown Inn PGA South Assistants & Trainees Order of Merit title for 2017.

Wootton’s stunning closing effort saw him leapfrog past 12 other players on the leaderboard in the 36-hole event, ending in a tie with Silvermere’s James Ford, who shot a second round of 66 to match Wootton’s final score.

Having reeled off birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and eighth to reach the turn in four under, more birdies came for Wootton at the 11th, 14th and 18th.

With an immaculate inward nine of 33, he was the early leader in the clubhouse, but when Ford came in with a 66 to tie, the two now had to face each other in a sudden-death playoff.

Playing the 14th, both made par and did so again at the next hole, where Wootton narrowly missed from 15 feet for the win. Back on the 14th again, Wootton’s second shot was a wedge to four inches, while Ford had bunkered his drive and splashed out to 20 feet. Ford came close, but left Wootton with a tap in to win not only the title and a cheque for £1,000, but the Order of Merit title as well – celebrating his last year as a PGA Assistant in style.

The new champion commented: “Despite playing pretty badly in the morning round, I was only three shots behind the leaders, and I knew that there were plenty of opportunities out there.

In the afternoon I managed to get my second shots closer and made a few putts. That gave me more confidence to keep attacking, which really paid off in the play off.”

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[26] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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ALL HAIL

HALL! After an impressive debut in last month’s Solheim Cup and securing six top-10 finishes on the Ladies European Tour so far this season, Dorset’s Georgia Hall is on the cusp of earning the breakthrough win that her talent deserves

WORDS NICK BAYLY. PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

■ HALL WITH CADDIE DAD WAYNE

How well do you feel you’ve settled in to life on tour?

It was a little difficult to start with, but I know everyone now, and I get along with a lot of players, so, yeah, I'm really enjoying it. The season has been somewhat stop-start, with the loss of some of the mid-season events, but when you get a run of tournaments, it’s possible to get a bit of form going.

Y

ou’ve had a very solid year, with four top fives from seven events and currently lying third in the money list.

How do you sum up your season to date?

I set out this season with the main goal of getting my first win, so in that respect it’s disappointing that I’ve not managed to do that yet, but I’ve been very consistent, and feel that I’ve learned something from those near misses. I’m just trying to stay patient and to keep on improving. My other goals were to get into Solheim Cup team; get into the world’s top 50; and to win the order of merit. I’ve achieved two out of the four so far. The two players above me in the Order of Merit need to play in five events for their earnings to count, and they’ve currently only played three, so if they don’t play at least two more, I will be pushed up into first. Hopefully I’ll have a good finish to the year, and we’ll see where it takes me.

You finished third at the British Open and 10th at the Evian, and made the cut at the US Open and the US PGA. How pleased are you with your performances in the majors this year?

If you'd told me at the start of the year that I would have two top-10 finishes in the majors I’d have been pretty happy with that, but the reality is never quite the same, as there are things you think you could have done better. I had a great week at the Ricoh at Kingsbarns, and although we were never realistically in with a chance of catching the leader on the final day, I was pleased with the way I hung in there. It was my fifth British Open, and I love links golf, so I feel like it’s one of my best chances of winning a major.

I also had a good week at the Evian, although the last round wasn’t quite what I wanted. I just couldn't get a lot going. There were some tricky pins, and it was very cold, so not ideal scoring conditions. But considering it was my first experience there I was quite happy. I like tight courses, so it suited my game – I just didn’t hole enough putts. Overall, it gives me a lot of confidence going forward, and I’m hoping I can build on that next year.

You topped the qualifying list for the European Solheim Cup team. How much did getting on that team motivate you this season, and what was the experience like playing in it?

Getting on the Solheim Cup team was, of course, one of my main goals this season, so to get that box ticked was really important.

Regardless of the result, it was probably the best week of my career, and probably my life. We had an amazing team, and we all got along really well, and we couldn't have had a better captain in Annika [Sorenstam]. She gave brilliant speeches every night, and it just made us more determined. We all played with all our hearts – I've never tried so much to win points for the team – but we just

You’ve had your father, Wayne, on the bag for most of your events this season. What has that been like?

He's done a great job on the bag for me, and we work well together. I gave him a break for the Evian, as we’d been on a long run of tournaments, so I had Brad Beecher on the bag in France.

He caddied for Inbee Park for all her major wins, so he’s a very experienced caddie. We got on really well, but Dad will be back on the bag for the rest of the season.

REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST WEEK OF MY CAREER, AND PROBABLY MY LIFE came up a little short. It’s one of the reasons I play golf, not just for personal satisfaction, but to feel part of a team, and I can’t wait to experience it again.

Did playing in the Junior Solheim Cup and the Curtis Cup give you a taste of what it might be like?

I did play quite a lot of foursomes and four-ball golf growing up as an amateur, especially for England, and, of course, at the Curtis Cup, and the Junior Solheim Cup in 2014 as well, but I don’t think anything can quite prepare you for the noise and the atmosphere that surrounds the Solheim Cup itself. The crowds were the biggest in Solheim Cup history, and it was really exciting to be a part of that.

You were the only European to play in all five matches, winning two full points. What kind of pressure did that put you under, and how tired were you at the end of the week?

I was pretty mentally drained, but physically I was ok. I slept well between rounds, and made sure I drank and ate the right things, so my energy levels were fine. I just wanted to do whatever was best for the team. I was very lucky to have amazing partners, so that made it a lot easier for me. But I think I was running mostly off adrenalin for the whole three days. I was pretty pumped up out on the course, so had to club down a lot, as I was hitting it much farther than I normally do. I just went out there and gave it my all, and although it was really disappointing to lose my singles match on the last hole, I really enjoyed the week.

You won the Female Golfer of the Year Award at last month’s American Golf’s UK Golf Awards. That must have been a proud moment.

Yeah, it was amazing. I was up against many of my teammates from the Solheim Cup, so I was absolutely honoured to win that award. It means a lot to me and I appreciate it so much. To have the public recognise all the hard work is really special.

One of your sponsors is Berenburg, the banking group that also sponsors Gary Player’s charity. Have you had a chance to meet him yet and has he had any words of advice for you?

Yes, I’ve met him at several times at the Berenburg Invitational at Wentworth. He told me that you should never feel sorry for yourself and never give up. A few times you kind of get a bit low, but I never give up. I always keep trying. He also told me to keep my head down when I’m putting, so I'm getting a bit lower over the golf ball, and it seems to be working.

GEORGIA HALL FACTFILE AGE: 21 LIVES: BOURNEMOUTH TURNED PRO: 2014 LET RANKING (AS OF OCT 1ST): 3RD LET APPERANCES: 43 CAREER PRIZE MONEY: €541,582 BEST FINISH: 2ND, MUBARAK LADIES OPEN 2016 TOP 10S: 15 LOWEST ROUND: 64 (3 TIMES) DRIVING DISTANCE: 255 YARDS AVERAGE SCORE: 69.88

BENIANS RACES TO AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECT AUTUMN/WINTER C SPEEDGOLF AUTUMN/WINTERAUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION 2017 GLORY Super-fit golfers converge on Piltdown Golf Club to battle it out for the 4th British Speedgolf Championships

AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION 2017

WORDS APRIL TOD

AUTUMN/WINTER COLLEC AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION 2017 AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION

B

putters provided by Cure Putters. ritain’s fourth national Speedgolf New for the 2017 championship was a team Championship was won by PGA Professional pairs’ competition played over Piltdown’s last ten Chris Benians, after he completed the 18-hole holes. Pairs played one ball, taking alternate shots course at Piltdown Golf Club in East Sussex in 69 ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL and running in tandem to complete the challenge. shots, taking 47 minutes and 13 seconds, to give him a Team ‘Piltdown Pioneers’, comprising club manager Speedgolf score of 116.28.

ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL Phil Bonsall and Piers Heagerty, took top honours, Benians, from Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire, was edging out Ryder Cup Run’s Andrew Murray and Paul only the second-fastest competitor to cover the 6,055Dunstan, who notched up the fastest round around yard, par-69 course, but his one-over-par score meant the 10 holes – 24 minutes – but couldn’t match the that his combined total was enough to take the title. home team’s golf score.

Runner up George Boxall completed the course in ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | CALLAW The tournament just 38 minutes and 17 seconds, but attracted a field of over 40 his eight-over-par score of 78 saw him competitors, who were sent lose out to Benians by just 0.4 points. @ApparelCallaway Callawa out in@ApparelCallaway six-minute intervals Benians, 42, who is a coach at CallawayEuropeApparel.com over Piltdown’s heatherRichmond Park Golf Course, admitted ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks o ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Europe is an official licensee of Callaway Golf Company. filled and course, which does that this was definitely his toughest not feature any bunkers. round since taking up Speedgolf two AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd ESTANISLAO GOYA 1| CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.inddThe 1 running order was 09/08/2017 12:23 years ago. He said: “I am absolutely organised so that the fastest over the moon – the competition this players went out first in year was much tougher. Wesley Cupp, order to prevent the slower who is the current world champion, ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | C @ApparelCallaway CallawayEuropeApparel.com competitors holding up play. was also in the field, and I fully expected him to win, Competitors travelled from all over the UK and even so this is an especially thrilling result for me.”

GOYA ©2017 | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Europe is a further afield, ESTANISLAO with a strong American contingent Benians, who has now qualified for the 2017 ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESS including current world no.1 Wesley Cupp from New Speedgolf World Championships, which takes place York. MostAW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd of the male competitors took less than 1 in Houston in November, added: “Perhaps the biggest 50 minutes to complete the course – knocking more surprise is that the best Speedgolf players score than three hours off the time it traditionally takes to better playing Speedgolf than they do when playing ESTANISLAO GOYA | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL HENNI ZUËL | CALLAWAY TOUR PROFESSIONAL play 18 holes. @ApparelCallaway C regular golf – and do so in a fraction of the time.” @ApparelCallaway CallawayEuropeApparel.

Most competitors use five or six clubs at most, In the ladies' division, Speedgolf debutant Elizabeth ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Eu carrying them by hand or using a lightweight carry Taylor from Chingford in Essex took the title after an ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registere CallawayEuropeApparel.com bag, while the rules allow that@ApparelCallaway they can putt with eight-over-par 80 over the 5,217-yard course in 59 AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd 1 @ApparelCallaway CallawayEuropeApparel.com the flagstick in the hole. Many choose to putt oneminutes and 57 seconds, gave her a Speedgolf Score ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Europe is an official licensee of Callaway Golf Company. handed, allowing them to keep their clubs in close AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd 1 of 139.57. Defending British champion Emma Morgan ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Europe is an official licensee of Calla contact, ready to run to the1 next tee. took second with a score of 141.15.

AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd 09/08/2017 12:23 Both category winners were crowned champions AW17-AD-EG+HZ-WeWear-TodaysGolfer.indd 1 For more information on future British Speedgolf with specially engraved trophies, as well as receiving ©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis Europe is an official licensee of Callaway Golf Company. events, visit www.britishspeedgolf.co.uk. golf watches supplied by event sponsor Etiqus and

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[28] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HONOURED ROSE TARGETS MORE MAJORS J

ustin Rose has admitted that being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List capped off a year that he will remember for the rest of his life.

Rose, who received the honour in a special service held at Buckingham Palace on October 11, emerged victorious as golf officially featured at the Olympic Games for the first time since 1904, where besides winning a gold medal for Team GB, he also became the first player to make a hole-in-one in Olympic history.

Rose said that the landmark victory has re-energised him, and he is keen to challenge again at key tournaments, and build on his one and only major success, which he achieved at the US Open in 2013.

"It's something you are maybe hoping for after the Olympics, but definitely not expecting,” Rose said of his MBE. "It really capped off the whole Olympic experience for me. Whenever you have your work recognised, whatever field you are in, it's just a great feeling."

Rose struggled with injury during the first half of last year, with a back problem in particular causing him distress. But the 36 year old, who is currently 13th in the world rankings, says his focus was always on making the Rio Olympics and having achieved success in 2016, he is keen to keep the momentum going into 2018, which is a Ryder Cup year.

"I had a few little injuries to deal with, so I really set my eyes on Rio, trying to make sure I was 100 per cent, and I really put all my energy into peaking for the Olympic Games," he added. "For me, the year really revolved around being fit for the Olympics and it was the one tournament I won during the year and made 2016 a year I will always remember.”

Rose, who enjoyed three second-placed finishes on the PGA Tour in 2017, most recently at the FedEx Cup’s BMW Championship, said: “I'm now looking forward, rather than looking back to what I've done. I have a great team around me, and I’m in a solid spot to build on. I want to get back to winning positions in titles and major championships. The last time I was able to win a major championship was four years ago now, and I feel ready to get back in the winner's circle."

■ JUSTIN ROSE PROUDLY SHOWS OFF HIS MBE

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| Lying betwe en the North and south picturesque Downs in Hampshire the heart countryside of the gem of a , Blackmoor heathland Golf Club course desig is a in 1913. ned by the celebrated Harry Colt Acting as a regional qualifier for between the Open 1998 and Champions 2003, and hip venue. is an Engla nd Golf Cham pionship The club is the home to the Selbo most prest rne Salve igious amate r, one of Britai ur events, n’s and is regul arly voted one of

BORDO

N | HAM PSHIR

E | GU3 5 9EH

the top 100 courses in England.

Laid out in two loops , the 18 holes all bear the comprise stamp of five par 3’s Colt with which bunkers, elevated and two par greens well 5’s makin guarded by g up a par The surro undings alone 69. are worth by heather, a visit with gorse, silver the cours birch, oak e lined also guara and fir trees nteed with . Tranquillity no road, rail distraction, is or aircraft and yet is noise acting in easy as a Counties reach of Londo via the A3. n and the Home

TEL: 01 420 472 775 | EM AIL: AD WEB: W MIN@BL W W. B L A ACKMO CKMOO ORGOL F. C O . U K R G O L F. CO.UK

Society Pack ages A selection of society packa for groups ges are availa of twelve or ble more just £39 per person in the starting from and £65 per winter season person in the , All include summer period 18 holes of . golf number of different food together with a options, our co-ordinator golf will be happy your requir to discuss ements.

Green Fees Visitors are warmly welco med to Blackmoor from to course loadin Monday to Friday subjec t fees are £45 g during the year. Green in the winter per round in period, and £70 the summer season. Howev please note that er members club Blackmoor is a private and it is highly call ahead advisable to to find the best times to visit.

How to get there From the A3 take the Farnha Bordon exit on to the A325. m and second round At the about take a le; turn into Firgrove Road signed Blackm Club, and the oor Golf course is to be found at the end of the road on the right hand side. Postco de for sat nav GU35 9EH direction is

Other Facili ties Practice Range

Waterlooville

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“If you haven’t played it, put it on your bucket list! The friendliness of the welcome, the presentation of the course and the quality of the greens were all outstanding.” – ANDRA, GLOUCESTERSHIRE TEAM CAPTAIN

Waterlooville Golf Club has continued to receive similar feedback all year and was very proud to host the English Women’s County Finals in September 2016.

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Tel: 023 9226 3388 Web: waterloovillegolfclub.com Waterlooville Golf Club, Cherry Tree Ave, Cowplain, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO8 8AP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | OCTOBER 2017 [29]

ABLETT CALLS THE TUNE AT LONDON CLUB PRO-AM

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In the team event, Pentland Golf’s Benn Barham led his amateurs to the top spot by a winning margin of five shots in front of Tilgate Forest’s Lea Cooper and his sponsors’ team from Westerham Financial Services.

After picking up the winner’s cheque for £800, Ablett commented: “The conditions were nearly ideal, not too much wind, and the Heritage course in fantastic condition as usual.

It’s always nice when you find that groove that lets you focus on making birdies, and I made the most of the opportunities that came my way.”

and Romsey’s Elliott Groves both shot 67s, but while Groves made five birdies, Raitt had a game of two very different halves. Starting on the 9th, he dropped two shots on his two opening holes, and then fired off no less than six birdies in a row from the 12th to the 17th to reach four-under with nine to go. Things then rapidly cooled down with five pars and a bogey on the fifth, but Raitt’s eagle on his final hole pushed him back into contention to tie for the second spot with Groves.

ee-on-the-Solent’s James Ablett shot a six-underpar 66 around the Heritage course to win The London Golf Club Heritage Pro-Am, sponsored by Westerham Financial Services.

Starting on the 10th, Ablett was four under after his opening nine, and two more birdies came on the second and third. He bounced straight back from his only bogey on the sixth with a deuce on the seventh, and two more pars put him at the top of the leaderboard.

PGA Cup star Andy Raitt

KENNEDY CAPTURES EAST ANGLIAN OPEN

PURVES PROVES KING OF HIS OWN CASTLE

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eeds Castle’s Steve Purves made the best of his course knowledge to be part of a fiveway tie at the Leeds Castle Pro-Am in Kent.

Purves, who is the PGA Head Professional and club manager at the Maidstone-based venue, battled strong winds around the picturesque nine-hole course to shoot a one-under-par 33 – a score matched by Simon Wood (Ridge), James Jones (Tonbridge), Mark Brailey (Shirley Park) and James McGilvray (Birchwood Park).

McGilvray, Brailey and Purves each managed two birdies along with one bogey on their respective nines, while Jones and Wood had one birdie each in their flawless rounds.

Purves and his amateur partner also won the team event with a four-under-par total, although they shared the honours with Brailey and his partner, along with Sittingbourne’s

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Peter Appleyard and his amateur partner.

Speaking after his home win, Purves commented: “This Pro-Am is a great way to showcase not only our cracking course, but to reinforce the message that nine-hole golf is a valid format for casual or tournament play. I’d like to thank Arkas for their invaluable support for this year’s Pro-Am – our fourth – and we’re all looking forward to 2018’s event!”

He continued: “We’ve made a number of major improvements over the past four years with new tees, a new irrigation system, and constant improvement of the playing surfaces. These investments are all paying off handsomely in terms of the calibre of the course and the quality of the golfing experience Leeds Castle now offers.”

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oolston Manor professional Lloyd Kennedy won his first Order of Merit title thanks to a superb display in the East Anglian Open held at The Rayleigh Club.

Kennedy followed an opening 67 with a course record-equalling 64 to finish on 11 under par.

The 32-year-old PGA trainee, who held a full card for the European Tour in 2012, won by four shots from Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park).

He said: “The guys here shoot good numbers every week – there’s a lot here that have played European Tour, Challenge Tour. So you need

to play good golf to compete, let alone win – I’m delighted.

It has been a long time since I won anything, so it feels pretty good.”

Former European Tour player Rob Coles (Maylands) was in a cluster of eight players tied for fourth, having shot a second-round 64 to share the course record with Kennedy.

Coles finished top of the East region’s Order of Merit for a second successive year, and will now head to the national PGA Play-Offs at Walton Heath at the end of the month. He will be joined at the renowned Surrey course by Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) and Glen Portelli (Old Fold Manor) who

took second and third spot respectively in the overall rankings.

Coles said: “Any time you win an Order of Merit, it means that you’ve been quite consistent – and hopefully I have. I think I’ve had a first, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth, so I’ve been pretty steady over the year. The next hard step is to play well in the Play-Offs, which I know is going to be tough with so many good players. But it is exciting to get a chance.”

[30] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

this year, and I have been involved in many sales of these speed training sets across Europe and beyond.

I also sell sets to customers at the Golf Hub too. II have an online store – www. mattgolf.net – and I have been selling Superspeed and two other training products that are very popular – Train Your Aim for Putting and Tee Claw. I have also found that Evnroll putters have sold well due to the fitting experience I can offer using the Quintic ball roll technology in The Golf Hub to compare the evidence of the player’s own putter with the performance of an Evnroll.

Matthew Masters offers the inside track on his role as PGA Advanced Professional at The Golf Hub at Porters Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire ■ PORTERS PARK BOASTS A PAR-69 PARKLAND COURSE

How long have you been a PGA professional?

I started my apprenticeship in 1990 at Ashridge Golf Club in Hertfordshire, and became a fully qualified professional in 1995. I have worked at four clubs in the county over the last 27 years.

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

I am based at The Golf Hub at Porters Park Golf Club, which is an indoor coaching, practice and play facility. My primary role is offering coaching to all standards of player, both members and visitors, using the various practice areas, the golf course, and The Golf Hub. What’s the best thing about your job?

Being able to coach so many people from such differing walks of life, and to help them get the best out of themselves and get more enjoyment from their golf. It is very rewarding to take someone on the journey from their first steps in golf up through the levels, sometimes even to the pro ranks, which has happened several times in my career.

Tell us something about the playing experience…

Porters Park boasts a fantastic par-70 golf course and is one of the best in Hertfordshire, which, from my admittedly biased viewpoint, makes it one of the best in the region.

The card features just two par fives, and at least six really tough par fours, which makes it a serious challenge for good players. The brook that runs through the course appears on 11 of the holes, and an errant shot can easily end up on its steep banks. The condition is excellent all year round, and a little secret is that in the summer there’s a twilight rate of only £30 from 3pm, which is an absolute bargain.

What have you done to keep attract new members?

We are lucky to have been able to maintain a healthy membership here; however, we have seen a slightly drop off in female and junior members. I have had great success in attracting more women, thanks to the current members who are great ambassadors for the club, and by running a women’s coaching programme over the last five years. More than 25 women who have attended those courses have gone on to become full members. I have recently been given the go ahead to promote a new Lady Academy Practice and Par 3 Membership, which I believe will grow our female numbers even faster.

As far as juniors are concerned, I am in the middle of running a 10-week coaching programme called Matt’s Junior Masters. There are three one-hour groups for girls and boys aged between seven and 11, and we work on all parts of the game. The club has also recently let me create a new Junior Academy to run alongside the Ladies Academy.

These young golfers will be able to come to the club and use the practice facilities and the par-three course with their parents.

How much time do you spend teaching?

I am a full time coach at Porters Park and am busy with lessons six days a week. My favorite lesson is to take a student out onto the course to help them to learn to score lower. I do a high percentage of my coaching on the course.

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

Superspeed Golf training clubs. I have been the European distributor for Superspeed Golf since the beginning of

What facilities do you have for custom fitting?

Golf Hub is a Centre of Excellence for Orka Golf Clubs. I have the GC2 launch monitor with head measurement technology to carry out a comprehensive Orka fitting service. We also have the Quintic ball roll launch monitor for putting. This is a fantastic piece of technology to help a player realise what is really happening within the stroke and the effect on the ball.

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

I have been fortunate enough to play at Queenwood in Surrey a couple of times and, for many reasons, it would have to be my favourite course in the UK. I went to Augusta in 2011 to watch the Masters and this would have to be my favourite course in the world. I had to pinch myself when I arrived at the back of the 18th green on my first day and realised I was actually there. It would be a dream to play there one day!

Who inspired you to take up golf?

I came from a family of boxers and rugby players, so my Dad tried to introduce me to these first. My parents helped me to take up on sports, so I guess it was them that inspired me along with catching a first glimpse of the game on BBC2 ProCelebrity Golf, so you could say Peter Allis inspired me too!

Which three other people would be in your dream fourball?

Seve Ballesteros, Harry Vardon and Jack Nicklaus.

Matt Masters is available to book for lessons at Porters Park. For bookings, call 07876 598 0541, email matthew. masters@btinternet.com or visit www.mattgolf.net.

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NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

RYDER CUP RUN RAISES FUNDS FOR GOLF IN SOCIETY CHARITY

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wo fitness fanatics from the world of golf have teamed up to run over 200 miles from Wentworth Club in Surrey to the host venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Le Golf National in Paris.

European Tour Ryder Cup operations director Paul Dunstan and Dr Andrew Murray (pictured) ran in excess of a marathon on each of seven days, accumulating around 380,000 steps each, while taking on various golfing challenges in their rest breaks, including placing second in the pairs competition in the British Speedgolf Open, and playing at Le Golf National’s famous course upon reaching their final destination.

The run, which coincided with the ‘Year to Go’ celebrations, as Europe and USA prepare to lock horns in the 42nd Ryder Cup next September, is on target to raise £5,000 for Golf In Society, a charity that enables people with dementia to continue to play the game.

MANN HOLDS SWAY AT HICKORY OPEN Scotland’s Fraser Mann captured the 13th World Hickory Open title after fending off challenge of a truly global field at Kilspindie Golf Club in East Lothian. With players from 13 countries from around the world, including the USA and Scandinavia, competition was fierce for the trophy which was won in 2016 by former Masters’ champion Sandy Lyle.

And it was a fellow Scot, Fraser Mann, who walked off with the ultimate prize in hickory golf, with the Carnoustie player’s title-winning scores of 71 and 70 were impressive using any kid of equipment, but even more so when achieved with clubs that date back almost 100 years.

As in past years, the field reflected most of the best exponents of hickory golf in the world. Out of

Dunstan said: “Andrew and I have had some incredible moments running and playing golf this week – the highlight was seeing Andrew waist deep in a pond during our game of ‘wild golf’ which carried me through plenty of difficult miles. He definitely won the running, but I’d like to think I won the golf! I’m proud to have helped raise awareness of Golf In Society. Hopefully the support received over the last week continues, and the aching legs will be all the more worthwhile.”

Dr Murray, a brand ambassador for Merrell UK, is no stranger to long distance challenges, having once run 4,300km from the far north of Scotland to the Sahara desert. However, the 37 year old admitted

the 120 competitors, 28 hailed from Switzerland and 18 from Sweden, both of which boast a rich heritage of hickory golf. The American contingent was led by past US champion Mike Stevens, while the English invaders were led by Andrew Marshall from Norfolk, who lifted the championship at Carnoustie in 2015.

Whilst Mann was one of those representing Scotland, a small team of talented international junior golfers from Loretto’s much vaunted Golf Academy, led by former Hickory Open champion Rick Valentine, were also in the line up.

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council

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struggling for the first few days of his latest challenge, as he was still recovering from a viral meningitis bug that he had caught three weeks earlier.

“I spent the first day spewing and just holding on,” he said. “This wasn’t ideal, given we were having to eat 5,000-6,000 calories per day just to keep going. But I feel as right as rain now, as nothing beats a decent dose of exercise. I work with the University of Edinburgh and the World Golf Foundation’s Golf and Health project. We want to highlight that exercise in the great outdoors is the best thing you can do for your health. Walking, running, or playing golf regularly can add seven years to life. It can also improve health and make you happier. We’re urging everyone to get golfing, or any other activity you enjoy.”

Anthony Blackburn, the founder of Golf In Society, said: “We have been working incredibly hard since we started two years ago, and this effort by Paul and Andrew gives real impetus to our cause. We want as many golf clubs as possible to appreciate the social benefits, and the financial potential, of getting involved for their local communities and for those living with dementia and Parkinsons.”

The duo's efforts can be supported on Justgiving.com.

Search ‘GolfAndMentalHealth’.

spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism commented: “The World Hickory Open is a relatively modest event by comparison with next year’s Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open, but it comes at a time of year where the hospitality sector needs all the revenues it can generate, so all the support we can give by attracting quality events during shoulder season will be welcomed.”

He added: “The international profile of the event has promoted Scotland’s Golf Coast all over the world, with many of the players hopefully coming back year after year, and encouraging friends and family to discover all that East Lothian has to offer, on and off the golf course.”

[31]

WALLIS RECLAIMS VIRGIN ORDER OF MERIT CROWN

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GA Cup star Andy Raitt shot a 13-underpar total to win the final event of the PGA South Region season, the Crisp Thinking PGA Farnham Finale, by four strokes.

The St Georges Hill man reeled off rounds of 68, 68 and 67 to mark an emphatic victory, but as the climax to the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit series, the Farnham Finale also saw Canterbury’s Richard Wallis notch up his fifth regional Order of Merit title.

As the new champion, Wallis was delighted with his achievement, saying: “After winning the PGA Southern Open at Cuddington, the possibility of another Order of Merit beckoned, and I took every opportunity to make it mine.

It’s fantastic to be back in contention again.”

Raitt’s impressive figures belied the multiple winner’s struggles, as he explained: “The figures look good, but I was fighting a pull both days.

My putting was hot and turned what could’ve been pars and bogeys into birdies – occasionally from the wrong fairway! We were blessed with good weather and, after the recent downpours.

Farnham was in terrific shape as well.”

In second place, with a total of 217, was Silvermere’s Chris Gane, with Romsey’s Elliot Groves and Oxford Golf Centre’s Adam Wootton tied for third place eight shots further back.

Wootton fired a final round 62 to move up into the minor places, but it did not count as a course record with ‘pick and place’ rules in force.

The final event of the season also sorted out the top three placings for the PGA Play Offs, with Wallis, Raitt and Richings Park’s Chris Rodgers filling the berths at Walton Heath on October 30.

[32] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ROOKIE

ON THE RISE Matt Wallace, the 27-year-old first season European Tour pro from from Hertfordshire, discusses teeing it up with the big boys, winning in Portugal, and working in Hollister PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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t’s pretty cool to be playing in the same tournament as someone like Rory McIlroy. You want to be playing with these guys on Sundays.

I remember Jordan Smith doing it in South Africa at the start of the year alongside Rory, and then he went on to win in Germany. It can only give you confidence, playing with these guys.

I played with Danny Willett, Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick at the US Open, and that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been on a golf course. I’m a very confident guy, but with it being my first Major, at a US Open, I was certainly nervous. At the US Open I wasn’t too comfortable with my game, and on a US Open golf course you need to be right on it.

If someone had said to me a few years ago that I’d be competing on the European Tour, I’d have said ‘no way’. Because of how hard I’ve worked, it’s all snowballed into one huge year. I’m now riding off that success, and I’m playing much better golf than I did last year. My level of my game has gone up massively over the last year, and that’s down to my coaches and my team. Everyone behind the scenes has given me the best opportunity to play good golf.

Winning in Portugal was the best feeling ever.

It had always been a dream to win on the European Tour, and to pull it off six months into my first season on tour was unbelievable.

The first two rounds, when I shot 63 and 66, were really easy, but the third round, when I struggled to a 73, was the hardest round of my life. Sunday was a bit of blur, but I stuck to my processes and ground it out. I thought I had it in the bag when I birdied the par-five 13th, and it was nice to walk up 18 knowing I had a three-shot lead and I had secured my tour card for next season.

I was 18 when I worked in a Hollister clothing shop. I’d just finished school, and knew I wanted to play golf, but didn’t know the route to go down. I had two years of golfing and working at Hollister, before going out to America. I always wanted to go to university, and then the

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opportunity came along, so I had a year out there. I played well and got into the England squad, which was great, as I had always wanted to represent my country. I then turned pro, and I’ve learned more as a professional than I ever did as an amateur.

Something I’d say to many amateur golfers is don’t be afraid to turn pro. Learning from the pros was better for me than what I was doing as an amateur.

My management company has still got an email from me asking for a job. In 2015, I was working harder than I’d ever worked before, but working on the wrong stuff, which made it worse. I was up at five and on the range, practising and playing all day, and then in the gym. I’d do it constantly, but just wasn’t getting better. I said to a few of my friends that I was giving up. A couple of guys said to me ‘you can’t give up, keep going’. This was when I was 30th on the Alps Tour, and losing for fun.

I remember leading a tournament, one clear going down the last, and everything was in great shape. It was one of the wider fairways, but my swing just didn’t hold up, and it went out of bounds, and I lost by one shot. I knew it was nothing to do with my head, just about the mechanics. Two months later in Egypt I won after spending time with my former coach Matt Belsham, who coaches Alex Noren.

I think every tour pro goes through struggles at some point. I went through a spell of six missed cuts after the US Open, but there were things going on outside of golf that now I realise have to be in place. I feel like I’ve dealt with it well, because I’m playing some good stuff now.

I had a great run on the Alps Tour last year, winning six times. The first few wins were hard work paying off, and then my confidence picked up massively. I didn’t play as well during the latter stages of the season, but my putter was on fire for the last three wins. Then with the sixth I felt really good going into the event, and everything fell into place, and I won it by quite a big margin.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITION | OCTOBER 2017

[33]

WIN A GOLF HOLIDAY TO SUNNY SPAIN WITH BLUE OLIVE EXPERIENCES Golf News has teamed up with Spanish golf holiday specialist Blue Olive Experiences to offer a four-night golf holiday for two people to the southern region of Murcia.

The prize includes four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation and three rounds of golf at different courses in the area.

The winners will also receive a full concierge service from Blue Olive Experiences' team, including transfers to and from the airport, and golf courses, as well as an evening excursion to Murcia city. The winners will also receive a goody bag.

BLUE OLIVE EXPERIENCES – YOUR KEY TO A MEMORABLE SPANISH GOLF HOLIDAY BLUE OLIVE EXPERIENCES has one aim: to provide you with a truly memorable golfing holiday experience – the best courses, quality accommodation and cultural opportunities.

It’s a recognised fact that most of the very best courses in Europe are to be found where the sun shines most of the year. Far away from waterproof and sweater weather, and where rich cultural heritage, wonderful gastronomy and fine wines regale in abundance. This is the Iberian Peninsula, where Blue Olive Experiences is based in the glorious South of Spain.

Blue Olive Experiences provide a concierge service that truly makes the difference and provides access to some of the finest golf courses in Southern Spain, top-quality accommodation, and the chance to develop a totally bespoke ‘golf experience’ package.

Enjoy the beautiful temperate climate of Costa Calida or Costa Blanca South, where an average of 320 days of sunshine each year provides the perfect weather conditions to enjoy a round of golf. With over 30 courses to choose from – including a number designed by golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros – the opportunities are endless, but all guaranteed to deliver the trip of a lifetime.

In addition to identifying the top venues for you to indulge your passion for golf, Blue Olive Experiences also provide a choice of accommodation, from a stay in a modern villa sited on Spain’s longest golf course, to a contemporary hotel on the coast, with impressive facilities directly on the doorstep.

If you would like to extend your itinerary to include trips to places of historical or cultural interest, book a night out at a restaurant with

return transport, or arrange airport transfers – Blue Olive Experiences can handle everything on your behalf.

Flying to Murcia (San Javier) or Alicante airports, which operates regular flights from the UK, it is possible to build any package, starting from a short four-night stay up to an extensive two-week Sunshine Experience.

To find out more about the Blue Olive Experiences golf concierge service in Spain, visit www.clubblueolive.com or email info@ clubblueolive.com.

TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning this prize, all you need to do is answer the question below correctly, and email your answer to: info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘BLUE OLIVE COMPETITION’ in the subject line, and including your name, address and contact telephone number, and details of where you picked up your copy of Golf News.

TERMS & CONDITIONS The closing date for entries is November 30, 2017. The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative is available. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over. Winners will have to arrange and pay for their own flights to Murcia (San Javier). The prize is valid for travel between December 8, 2017 and March 31, 2018, not including public holidays, and is subject to availability.

QUESTION How many golf courses can you choose from when booking a Blue Olive Experiences golfing holiday? a) 20+ b) 25+ c) 30+

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[34] OCTOBER 2017 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MANNING

After winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2013, aged just 20, Matteo Manassero was lauded as Italy’s next global superstar. It hasn’t quite worked out like that, but the 24 year old is now steadily returning to form after several years in the doldrums WORDS NICK BAYLY PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

M

atteo Manassero is used to breaking records. The youngest winner of the Amateur Championship; the youngest player to claim the Silver Medal at the Open Championship; the youngest golfer to play in the US Masters; the youngest ever member of the European Tour; the youngest winner of a European Tour event; four tour wins before his 20th birthday; the list goes on.

The Verona-born golfer has always been a special talent. His father took him to a driving range when he was just three years old, and a year later he had the good fortune to meet Seve Ballesteros while the great man was playing in Italian Open in 1997. The two had an impromptu meeting that left its mark on the young Matteo.

“The Italian Open was held at my home club, GardaGolf, that year. I think I must have been four,” Manaserro recalls. “Seve was playing in it, and I remember meeting him out on the putting green, where we ended up having a chipping competition. I managed to hole one, and we all had a joke about it. Of course, I had no idea at the time who he really was, but it left a lasting impression on me.”

They say you should never meet your idols, but that didn’t hold true for Manassero, whose early career almost mirrored that of Seve’s. Winning at

all age groups in national competitions in Italy, he broke through on the world stage when capturing the 2009 Amateur Championships, defeating England's Sam Hutsby 4&3 in the final at Formby. The victory qualified him for that year’s Open Championship at Turnberry, where, playing alongside Tom Watson and Sergio García in the first two rounds, he made the cut and won the Silver Medal as leading amateur, eventually finishing tied 13th.

Watson was fulsome in his praise of the young Italian. “He has a passion for the game. That's what I look for in a young golfer. Technique can be added, if necessary, but if they don't have that passion, then I am concerned. Matteo has it."

After reaching no.1 in the world amateur rankings at the end of 2009, Manaserro turned professional in 2010, aged just 17, with a tall reputation and even bigger expectations.

To no-one’s surprise he made an instant impact among the paid ranks, and, after making his debut at the BMW Italian Open in May, he picked up his first win at the Castello Masters in September, in what was only his 18th tournament as a full-time member of the European Tour. Finishing 31st in the money list, he was the only serious contender for the 2010 Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.

Following in the footsteps of Francesco and Eduardo Molinari – the brothers from Milan who provided plenty of moral support to their fellow countryman as he made his way on tour – Manassero quickly became the darling of the European Tour, and soon had the world at his feet.

Three further wins followed in successive years – the Malaysian Open in 2011, the Singapore Open in 2012, and, most impressively of all, the BMW PGA Championship in 2013. All of which took him to the dizzy heights of 25th in the world rankings, playing in all the majors and the World Golf Championship events.

But passion, it seems, can only take you so far. After triumphing at Wentworth in 2013, where he beat Simon Khan and Marc Warren in a fourhole play off to lift the prestigious PGA title and carry off the €750,000 first prize, it’s fair to say that Manassero’s career has stalled.

Now aged 24, he has yet to win another tournament, and is currently languishing, if that’s not too strong a word, at 327 in the world rankings. After finishing 11th in the inaugural Race to Dubai rankings in 2013, his subsequent money list finishes read 60th, 167th, 73rd, and a current ranking of 106.

Dangerously close to the 100th spot needed to retain his card for next season, the still-young Italian is having to draw on all of his experience in his eight seasons on tour to keep the show on the road.

It’s hard to say that a player that has won four times on Tour before his 20th birthday, and amassed over €6.2 million in prize money, has somehow fallen short of the mark, but judged on his early performances, even Manassero’s biggest fans will admit that their man hasn’t quite kicked on in the way that was expected.

He made just six cuts in 2015, 13 in 2016, and while the early part of 2017 saw some consistency return to his game, the latter part of the season has seen him make the cut in just three of his last nine events. More worryingly, there have been only a handful of top-ten finishes, with a third place in last year’s Scottish Open and this year’s Indian Open being his only top fives in the last four years.

A quick look at his performance statistics on tour perhaps shows where his results are going awry. Although never the longest of hitters – he averages around 280 yards off the tee – the strength of Manassero’s game has always been his accuracy, as he showed through 2010-11, when he was comfortably finding well over 70% of fairways and greens in regulation. Move forward to

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FEATURE | OCTOBER 2017

■ MANASSERO IS ONE OF A GROWING GROUP OF ITALIANS MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR

[35]

the last three seasons, and that percentage has dropped into the high 50s off the tee – a figure that has seen his average scores go up from 70.4 in 2010 to 72.8 in 2015, and 71.48 in the current season. A wayward long game puts pressure on the short game, and his results with the putter have also seen upward numbers, with his average putts per round going up from 29 in 2010 to over 31 in 2017.

Two shots a round, eight shots a tournament, is a lot of ground to give away.

Confidence is such a transitory element of the performance equation, it can come and go at the blink of an eyelid, but once it’s gone, it’s very hard to get back, as Manaserro is finding to his cost. Speaking about his lowest moment – which came at the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, when he missed 15 cuts in a row – Manaserro says: “It was a really tough time for me in so many ways – with myself and more technical things to do with my game. There were a lot of downs and some pretty deep ones, but it’s something that virtually all tour pros have to face up to at some point in their career – being under pressure and having to perform because people expect you to perform. It just increases the problems even more, and that’s what it was for me.

“There wasn’t just one tough moment – there were lots of them. When you shoot 80, and you feel like you can’t do much better – it’s hard to take. I was trying, but every time I had an important shot, I was missing. It was such a bad feeling. I wanted to get out of this hole I had dug, but I wasn’t completely myself during that period. It’s impossible to keep your spirits up when it’s something that is so important to you, and you care about so much, and you can’t do it.”

He adds: “And there was no trigger for it – it was just me. It was one of those things where people can tell you whatever to help you, but in the end, you have to get out of it. It’s inside of you. It’s not a mental coach, your swing coach, it’s not your father, it’s not your mother, it’s just you.”

Showing the kind of mental strength and will to win that brought him his early successes, Manaserro strongly believes he’s now put that troubling period well and truly behind him, and is looking forward to getting his game back on track. After representing Italy in golf’s return to the Olympics at Rio last summer, he seems to have turned a corner.

His performances in 2017 speak of a player who is capable of stringing four solid rounds together, and while he may not yet look like returning to the winner’s circle just yet, he feels he is definitely moving in the right direction. “The last nine months have been good,” he says. “I’m missing maybe one good round out of four to be up there in contention, but that takes time. I’m patient, I’m doing things right and it’s clicked in my mind. I’m more relaxed and that’s all that really matters for me. Now it’s about getting back in contention and feeling that vibe again.”

Attached to GardaGolf, near Verona, where he first learned to play the game, Manassero knows that he will have to rise to the occasion if he is to figure in the game’s biggest events going forward – most importantly, the 2022 Ryder Cup, which is being held in Rome. Incredibly, he will still be a year short of his 30th birthday when golf’s biggest team event arrives in his home country, and hopefully reaching the prime of his golfing life.

“It is amazing to have the Ryder Cup come to Italy, and to be hosted at such an incredible and beautiful city as Rome,” he says. “Outside of the football world cup, it’s going to be one of the biggest sporting events Italy has ever hosted. I would love to be a part of it – but there is a lot of golf to be played between now and then. I love team events, and have played them as an amateur and a few as a professional. It’s a unique event, and to play in it would be a dream come true for me.”

It may seem like a mountain to climb for a player ranked lower than 300th in the world should be thinking of Ryder Cups, but for someone as talented as Matteo Manaserro, it is definitely within the realms of possibility.

BUT IN THE END,

YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF IT. IT’S INSIDE OF YOU. IT’S NOT A MENTAL COACH, YOUR SWING COACH, IT’S NOT YOUR FATHER, IT’S NOT YOUR MOTHER, IT’S JUST YOU

[36] SEPTEMBER 2017 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STORY BEHIND THE PIC JOYCE WETHERED • LADIES BRITISH OPEN • ST ANDREWS • MAY 18TH, 1929

ALTHOUGH LADIES have always enjoyed the same

male counterparts by a good 20 yards

rights as men to play at the St Andrews’ Links Trusts

or more. Years later, Bobby Jones went

many courses in St Andrews, it has been something of an

on record as saying that she was the

anachronism that, up until the 2007 Ladies British Open,

most gifted player he had ever seen,

no competitive professional women’s event had been

while fellow American legend Walter

held on the Old Course for almost 80 years.

Hagen was similarly impressed. "There isn't a male golfing star in the world who

That event was the Ladies' British Open Championship in 1929, a tournament which went down in golfing folklore, as

wouldn't envy the strong, firm strokes

it saw the return of the legendary Surrey champion Joyce

she played," he said.

At 23, after winning the 1925 British

Wethered in what is widely regarded as the greatest ladies’

Amateur, she suddenly announced her

match ever played.

retirement. Explaining her decision with

Wethered had officially retired from the game in 1925,

typical candour, she said: ''I have simply

after her third Ladies' British Open win in 1925, but was

exercised a woman's prerogative of doing

enticed out of retirement at the prospect of playing at the Old Course. However, after making smooth progress through

living from golf brought her amateur status into question with

something without the slightest regard for what anybody thinks,

the early rounds, Wethered came up against America’s leading

the R&A; however Wethered settled the issue when she played a

and because I want to please myself.''

amateur, Glenna Collett, in the final.

series of exhibition matches in the US in 1935, where she took on,

Collett was five up after the morning round of the 36-hole final, and looked to be cruising to victory, but Wethered turned the

Although blazing the trail for women’s golf, Wethered was

and beat, numerous male professionals, including Bobby Jones

still conscious of being treated as a second-class citizen in what

and Gene Sarazen, and earned £4,000 in the process.

was then a male-dominated sport. "There were too many clubs

Born in Brook, Surrey, in 1901, Wethered first took up golf while

tables in the afternoon, winning hole after hole, and although

where you had the feeling you were not wanted, or clubhouses

Collett rallied, the end came at the 35th hole, much to the delight

on a holiday to Scotland, where the family had a house that

you were not even allowed in,” she said. "I well remember waiting

of the partisan crowd. Collett later described the galleries as a

overlooked Royal Dornoch. Her father was a keen single-figure

for my male partners to emerge from the locker room at Royal St

‘squeezing, swaying and almost hysterical mob’, adding that she

player, while her brother, Roger, played in the Walker Cup team for

George’s, and having to keep my hands warm on the radiator of

had genuinely feared for her life had she beaten Wethered.

many years.

someone's Rolls Royce."

A natural from the outset, Wethered had only one formal lesson,

Victory at St Andrews secured Wethered’s fourth and most

Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975, Wethered

memorable British Ladies title, adding to the championships she

but recalled learning her swing from copying Harry Vardon, J.H.

died in 1997 at the grand old age of 96, having enjoyed a life as a

won in ‘22, ‘24 and ’25, as well as five consecutive English Amateur

Taylor and Bobby Jones. Breaking 90 at the age of 10, she joined

noted horticulturalist, following her marriage to Richard Heathcote

Championships (‘20-’24), in a short but brilliant career that

the Surrey county team in her late teens, and was soon competing

Armory. And should she be looking down from the 19th hole in

spanned just nine years.

for national titles, with her first big win coming in 1920, when,

the sky, it will hopefully come as some small crumb of comfort for

aged 18, she beat Cecil Leitch in the final of the British Amateur at

her to know that the top women’s professionals of today are more

Sheringham, where she came back from six holes down to win 2&1.

likely to be warming their hands inside the comfort or their own

Shortly after Wethered's Open triumph, the Wall Street Crash left her family in dire financial straits, forcing her take on a job as the golf manager at Fortnum & Mason’s in London. Earning a

Tall and willowy, Wethered was quite capable of outdriving her

Rolls Royces than standing on the outside looking in.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | OCTOBER 2017

MAGIC HOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

FOSTER ON FIRE AT THE SHIRE

J

erome Foster capped a thrilling year’s golf at his home club, The Shire London, by becoming only the second amateur in history to win a Jamega Pro Golf Tour event.

Over two days in late September, Foster shot rounds of 68 and 69 for a seven-under-par total to take the year’s penultimate Jamega Tour title by two shots from Ryan Boyns, Sam Forgan and 2017’s Jamega Order Of Merit winner Jamie Abbott.

Using his local knowledge of the 7,028-yard Seve Ballesteros Masters Course, Foster played almost flawless golf to take the tournament, with ten birdies and only three bogeys over the 36 holes. Standing over a three-footer for par at the 18th on the final day, Foster thought he had to make the putt to secure a playoff place against Abbott, not realising that the latter had doublebogeyed the final hole to slip two shots back. When the putt dropped, Foster was surprised hear the words ‘You’ve won!’, as he was embraced by his caddy – who was his father, Winston.

After lifting his first trophy in a professional golf tournament, the 22-year old Sports Science graduate from Hull University felt a rush of satisfaction: “I’ve played in Open Qualifying for two years running, and finished 12th in last year’s Jamega tournament at The Shire, but nothing comes close to the feeling of winning. I’ve worked hard on my game this summer, and everything came together. It feels great, as an amateur just starting out, to beat the pros.”

One-handicap Foster, who has been a member at The Shire

■ THE SHIRE'S JEROME FOSTER

for two years, has become tough to beat at his home club, successfully defending his men’s club championship title in July, and repeating the feat in this year’s scratch matchplay championship at the club.

His next challenge comes in November, when he heads to the Algarve to compete in the Portugal Pro Golf Tour – having gained free entry to each Tour event as his prize for winning The Shire London leg of this year’s Jamega Tour.

The Shire London’s Ceri Menai-Davis said: “Jerome is a club champion to be proud of. He sets a great example to all young golfers: he practises until the sun sets, and conducts himself with honour and respect for his fellow golfers at all times. It has been a pleasure to witness his progress in the sport, and we are delighted at the way in which he represents the golf club.”

[37]

REDLIBBETS OFFERS A WINTER GOLFING WONDERLAND

G

olfers looking to get the most out of their membership this winter should take a look at Redlibbets Golf Club, which boasts among the best year-round playing conditions in the region.

Built around and through a picturesque wooded valley in the North Kent Downs, not far from Brands Hatch, the course first opened in 1997, and was designed by respected English architect Jonathan Gaunt, for whom Redlibbets was his first solo project.

Sited on free-draining soil, and using the latest drainage and irrigation systems, the 20-year-old layout is always presented in superb condition, and comes into its own during the winter, when its sandy subsoil ensures it remains open for play, with no need for winter greens, temporary tees, or trolley restrictions.

The 6,600-yard, 18-hole course is part-woodland, part-parkland,

■ REDLIBBETS OFFERS SUPERB WINTER GOLF

ELS SEALS SURREY ORDER OF MERIT AT PUTTENHAM

S

outh Africa’s Nico Els gave a masterclass in course management and handling breezy conditions when winning the Puttenham ProAm by a single stroke.

Victory for Els, who represents Professional Golf Tuition Breaks, also ensured he won the PGA in Surrey Order of Merit, snatching the title from Leatherhead’s Michael Lowe by just £200.

Lowe, along with the Chris Rodgers (Richings Park) and Mark James (Pyecombe), shared second place, a shot behind Els, who posted a

■ JAMES GREEN AND TIM HIGGS FROM PORTSMOUTH GOLF CENTRE ■ NICO ELS

one-under-par 70 around the 6,220-yard layout.

Commenting on his win, Els said: “I came really close in the PGA in Surrey Championship, but lost the play off, so winning here is a very nice boost to my confidence.

“Blustery winds, combined with tree-lined fairways and well protected greens, made club selection challenging to say the least,” added Els. “But knowing what to hit off the tee makes a big difference, as it’s easy to get into trouble

WEBUYANYGOLFCLUB WE ARE THE COUNTRIES LEADING BUYER OF USED GOLF CLUBS

round here if you are pushing for distance with your drives.

That said, Puttenham was in great nick, and despite rain for the last 30 minutes of play and dropping a shot on my opening hole, I was very pleased with the way I played the other 17.”

A total of 92 players took part in the Pro-Am, which was in its third year. Els’s individual score helped Puttenham members Nick Arney, Peter Grant and Doug Giberson take the team prize, with a score of 14 under par. It was a particularly sweet victory for Arney, who is Puttenham’s mens’ captain and the driving force behind the tournament.

A charity raffle held on the day raised more than £600 for the Saving Tiny Lives Appeal for the neonatal unit at Frimley Park Hospital.

with many of its fairways lined by mature beech, oak and chestnut trees, which helps give it a maturity way beyond its years, while its hilltop location also embraces spectacular panoramic views across rolling Kentish farmland towards the City of London.

Away from the course, the practice facilities include a 10-bay driving range, a practice bunker, chipping green and a separate putting green. There is a also a covered bay for teaching, and an indoor teaching studio with a Trackman launch monitor, where the club’s experienced PGA head professional Jay Kelly and his team offer a wide range of lessons to improve your performance on the golf course. For those looking to sharpen up their short game, a state-of-the art putting and chipping studio is currently under construction.

Society and green fee golfers are welcome throughout the week, and after midday at weekends, and with midweek green fees starting from just £15pp during the winter months and £22.50 at weekends, it’s easy to see why Redlibbets is such a popular choice. The club has membership opportunities across all categories, and with no joining fee, and payments able to be spread in monthly instalments, being a member has never been more affordable.

The club is currently running a competition to win six months’ full membership, worth £595. To enter, simply contact the pro shop on 01474 872 278 or via email at proshop@redlibbets.com, quoting reference ‘WW17’, and your name will be entered into a prize draw.

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[38] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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HAMPSHIRE CROWNED MEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONS

CINQUE PORTS GREENKEEPER WINS TORO AWARD

R

H

ampshire won the English Men’s County Champions title for the first time in 21 years after prevailing at Trevose in Cornwall.

The last time Hampshire won this prestigious team event was in 1996, when Justin Rose was in the ranks.

It’s been a long road back to the top in county golf – especially for playing captain Martin Young, who has just completed his eighth county finals.

News of the victory filtered back to Young, as Tom Robson, Ryan Harmer and Billy McKenzie delivered the crucial 2.5 points in the singles to take the team over the line. Matt Wilcox and Colin Roope made it even better for Hampshire, when they won their games to complete a 6.5-2.5 win over Staffordshire – and give the team a complete set of three wins in the championship, following earlier wins over Somerset and Northumberland.

Young confessed to tears as he played the 17th, and he was almost speechless afterwards, although he did say: “This is so weird. I am so unbelievably happy.”

His team, however, had a lot more to say about the win, fashioned in grim conditions of wind and rain, which gave them their much-prized victory.

Hampshire went into the final day knowing a half would give them the title, but they wanted to win their third match outright. They grabbed the advantage in the foursomes with one big win from Young and partner Wilcox, who were three under par when they finished 7&6; and one snatched point from McKenzie and Robson. McKenzie knocked their second on the 18th to 18 inches from the cup to set up a birdie

and a 1up win.

Harmer quickly followed him with a grandstand finish against England international Gian-Marco Petrozzi on the 18th. Harmer had been two up with four to play, then was pulled back to all square by Staffordshire birdies on 15 and 17 – but holed a 20-footer on the last for birdie and a one-up win.

“This is incredible, something we have all wanted for so long,” he said. We have come so close in previous years but it’s always been a bit of a battle on the final day. But today is our day.”

McKenzie was close behind battling Jack Gaunt, another England international, in a tight match, which was peppered with birdies. Gaunt took the game down 18 when he birdied the 17th to get back to all square, and the players went on to share the point providing Hampshire’s winning half to secure the title.

“I knew everyone was well up, so it made it easier coming down the

stretch,” said McKenzie. “But getting the winning half point is fantastic, especially against Jack who is a great player. I’ve had a good week, but it’s great that I can play my part for the team.”

Wilcox was Hampshire’s biggest points scorer with five wins from six starts, while McKenzie and Robson both had 4.5 points from six games.

In the other match, Somerset knew that if Hampshire lost, the result would be decided on countback, so they set out to amass as many points as possible, managing to beat Northumberland 7-2.

They were 2-1 up in the foursomes, and dropped just one singles point, to Northumberland’s Matthew McClean.

In the end, it wasn’t enough, but team Somerset captain Justin Lane said: “We knew we had to come out hard and hope Staffordshire would do us a favour. But Hampshire just outplayed them, and many congratulations to Martin and his team.”

oyal Cinque Ports’ greenkeeper Nick Machin has been named the winner of the 2017 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award.

The 31 year old from Kent impressed the judging panel, comprised of representatives from the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, Toro and Reesink Turfcare, with the depth of answers he was able to provide to the examination questions he faced during the final interview stage, despite such a short time in the industry.

Machin said: “I’m feeling absolutely unbelievable right now. I didn’t expect this, I just came here thinking I would give it my best shot, and what would be, would be. So to end up winning is unbelievable.”

As part of his prize, Machin wins a seven-week scholarship at the University of Massachusetts in America, a trip to the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, and a visit to Toro’s headquarters in Minneapolis.

The young student award was won by 19-year-old Angus Roberts from the Roxburghe Golf Club in Northumberland. As part of his prize, he wins a two-week work placement at the exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in France, as well as a trip to BTME in Harrogate.

The runner up in the Greenkeeper of the Year Award was Levi Pethick from Stoneham Golf Club in Hampshire, while Bramshaw Golf Club’s Craig Woodman was runner-up in the Young Student category.

BB&O CAPTURES U16S LEAGUE TITLE

T

he BB&O’s Under 16s team won the South Eastern Group League finals at Essendon, after beating teams from against Sussex and Essex.

After a tight triangular morning foursomes, BB&O led Essex by five points to three and were even with Sussex at two a piece. Critically, Essex had faired slightly better against Sussex than they had against BB&O. In the afternoon singles, both Sussex and BB&O managed to win all but one of their afternoon matches against Essex. Scores between BB&O and Sussex were very close, and again both teams tied, leaving them both on the same number of match points. Having beaten Essex in the morning foursomes slightly more convincingly than Sussex, BB&O won on game countback to become the winners of the very first Under 16 League Championship.

The BB&O team comprised James Gregory (Stoke Park), Gregor McKenzie (Kirtlington), Taylor Paul (Stoke Park), Melan Dhaubhadel (Calcot Park) and Archie Smith (Caversham Heath).

STUDLEY WOOD GOLF CLUB PROUD HOSTS TO THE

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FEATURE | OCTOBER 2017 [39]

FRANCESCO MOLINARI, ITALY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL RYDER CUP PLAYER IS HOPEFUL OF MAKING A THIRD APPEARANCE FOR EUROPE IN PARIS NEXT YEAR, AND IS RIDING HIGH INSIDE THE WORLD’S TOP 20, FOLLOWING A SUPERB SEASON ON THE PGA TOUR IT'S BEEN A LONG SEASON, travelling back and forth between Europe and America. I’ve tried to schedule it in order to stay as fresh as possible, but it's hard to do so over such a long period of time. After 10 years of playing on the same courses on the European Tour, I’ve enjoyed the challenge of playing some new venues on the PGA Tour, which has freshened up my appetite for the game.

I knew that the courses in America were firmer and faster, so going over there presented a challenge that would help me get better. So far, I’ve played pretty well, and I am loving it. I’ve had a really consistent season this year, and only missed four cuts in 21 events, and had 14 top-25 finishes.

I am very proud of the way I played at the PGA Championship. Finishing second was my best performance in a major. It would have been nice to start the final round maybe a couple of shots closer to the leaders, but it was great getting to the last three holes tied for the lead. It's what you practise for. Hopefully I'll get another chance to contend for a major soon.

People often ask me how I manage to hit the ball so straight off the tee. I worked out a long time ago that I needed to play to my strengths to succeed on tour. I’ve never been a long hitter, so if you can’t be long, you need to be accurate, and have good course management. So I don’t try to hit the ball too hard. It is better for me to be further back in the fairway than further up in the rough, so I work hard on finding the right line from each tee. I try to focus on a really small target. In golf, you need to make the margin of error as narrow as you possibly can, and the best way of doing this is to aim for a specific spot, rather than a general area.

I still feel nervous before every event, because I work hard and care about what I do. I think the most nervous I’ve ever been was at my first Ryder Cup in 2008. The pressure in the build-up to that event is unique, because you are playing for a team, not just yourself. It is a different environment that makes you feel more nervous than usual.

Going out last in the singles at Medinah, I knew it would come down to me, or the guys just in front of me, to get the job done. Tiger crushed me 4&3 when I faced him at Celtic Manor in 2010, so my plan was to play my own game, and not worry about what he was doing. I played well, and I had a couple of chances over the last three holes to go one-up. Seeing Martin [Kaymer] holing the putt on 18 was a huge relief, but getting the half point was a very proud moment for me, and made the win even better. I really didn’t think Tiger was going to concede my three-foot putt on the 18th green. We had been going hard at it for 17 holes, and we both played some really good golf, so it was a really sporting gesture.

I don’t think some of his teammates were too pleased with his decision, though.

If you look at my career historically, I always seem to have performed better in Ryder Cup years. Whether that’s coincidence or not, I couldn’t say, but it certainly gets me motivated.

The best shot I ever hit was the 15-yard bunker shot that secured Italy’s 2009 World Cup victory. I was playing with my brother, Edoardo, and I knew that I needed to get up and down in order for us to win. I hit it to around four feet and holed the putt.

The more I look back, the more I appreciate how well I played that shot.

I’ve hit three 62s on the European Tour. I’m not one

for keeping a close attention to my scores, so often in the middle of a good round I don’t always know how many shots I’m under par, because during those rounds you forget about your score and play shot by shot. I’m just trying to birdie every hole.

I’m really proud of being the first Italian to win my home open twice, following my victories in 2006 and 2016. Last year was my first win in four years, so it was a real relief to get back in the winner’s circle again, especially in front of my home fans in Milan. I would love to make it a hat-trick, and match Costantino Rocca’s record of five wins.

I’m delighted that Italy has been chosen to host the Ryder Cup in 2022. I’ll be 40 years old by then. It would obviously be amazing to be part of it as a player, but otherwise it would great to be part of it in any other capacity.

I played the course at Marco Simone in Rome a fair few years ago now, but it's a really good design, and I'm sure it'll be a great challenge. It's also a great chance for the Ryder Cup to showcase one of the great European cities, and for Italy to show what it has to offer all golfers.

Many people think it is strange that a boy from Turin should be a West Ham fan, but it goes back to the days when Gianfranco Zola was the manager there. I am a huge fan of his. And they remind me of my Italian team, Inter Milan. Both teams were really good in the 1960s, but have not been doing so well recently. My coach, Denis Pugh, is also a Hammers fan, so we have plenty to talk about apart from my swing!

I like living in London, it has a nice international feel, and easy access to the west and the Far East. I wouldn’t have liked my children to grow up in a gated community in Florida.

[40] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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TOURNEWS...

TOUR NEWS IN BRIEF

DUNNE DEAL AT CLOSE HOUSE

I

reland’s Paul Dunne produced a spectacular finish to hold off the late charging Rory McIlroy, chipping in on the 72nd hole to win his maiden European Tour title by three shots in the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Close House.

McIlroy piled the pressure on the 24 year old with five birdies in seven holes on the back nine to set the clubhouse target of 17 under par, adding a closing 63 to his third round 64. But it was to be Dunne’s day, as he fired a stunning nine under par final round of 61, which

included an eagle three on the sixth hole, and a remarkable birdie on the 11th, when his ball hit a greenside sprinkler head and rolled to three foot from the pin.

If that provided some entertainment for the crowd of 14, 611, Dunne’s finish was even better, when he found the greenside rough on the 18th, needing to avoid double bogey in order to secure victory. With McIlroy watching on from the recording area, Dunne then holed his chip for a brilliant birdie to cap a stunning closing 61, and finish three shots clear on 20 under par.

McIlroy’s second runner-up finish of 2017 provided a timely boost ahead of his final appearance of the year at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, while 48-year-old Robert Karlsson finished third on 16 under par with a closing 66.

Dunne said: “I feel like I've played pretty consistently all year, and I've given myself a few chances on Sunday to contend and haven't really been able to put the foot down. That was my focus today, to get off to a hot start, and once I got my nose in front to just keep pushing. It obviously gives me a huge sense of satisfaction to know that I can beat players of this calibre.”

THOMAS SECURES FEDEXCUP

J

ustin Thomas secured the FedExCup and its $10m jackpot with a runnerup finish at the Tour Championship.

The reigning PGA champion fired a five-under-par 66 at East Lake to move above Jordan Spieth at the top of the FedExCup standings, as 23-year-old Xander Schauffele claimed a one-shot victory in the season-ending event.

Schauffele, whose first PGA Tour win came at the Greenbrier Classic in July, began the final day two strokes adrift of 54-hole leader Paul Casey - whose challenge faded with a closing 73 - but birdied the last to secure a second victory of his PGA Tour rookie season.

Thomas posted a front-nine 33 and found himself in a share of the lead alongside Schauffele, who reached the turn on level par, when Kisner failed to

get up and down from the bunker at the 10th. Kisner bounced back from another bogey at the 11th to hole a putt from just off the next green, only for Schauffele to move ahead by birdieing from six feet at the 13th.

Thomas posted back-to-back birdies from the 16th to pull into a tie for the

PIETERS TO HOST IT’S A BELGIAN KNOCKOUT

T

he European Tour will return to Belgium for the first time in 18 years next year when the Belgian Knockout – a new event which incorporates a head-to-head strokeplay knockout format – at Rinkven International in Antwerp, from May 17-20.

Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters will host the event, which will be part of the 2018 Race to Dubai.

The opening two rounds will follow a familiar stroke play format for 36 holes, before the leading 64 players go head-to-head in knockout stroke play matches contested over nine holes on the weekend to determine the winner.

“I think it’s going to be exciting,” said Pieters, who finished fourth

at the Olympic Games in Rio. “We are going to see an innovative new format and it will make it really exciting for people who come

lead, but could only par the par-five last, as Schauffele held his nerve and converted a two-foot birdie for victory.

Thomas, who moved to third in the world rankings on the back of his runner up finish at East Lake, has captured four regular PGA Tour wins and the PGA Championship this season.

along to watch and also for people watching it at home on TV.” Pieters, along with Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts and emerging star Thomas Detry, represents an impressive new generation of talented Belgians competing on the world stage, and he believes the time is right to take European Tour golf back to the country.

“It means the world to Belgium to have another European Tour event,” said Pieters. “We’ve had a decent increase in interest in golf in the last few years with Nico’s [Colsaerts] Ryder Cup, my Ryder Cup and the Olympics helping, so we thought it was time to get our own tournament back.

“It is a big role for my family, with my sister and brother-in-law promoting the tournament. I’m obviously closely involved with it too, which is a different challenge for me, but hopefully it is going to be very satisfying when the tournament starts.”

PGA TOUR CLAMPS DOWN ON BETTING RULES

MATTHEW TO SKIPPER SOLHEIM CUP TEAM

C

atriona Matthew has been appointed as European captain for the next Solheim Cup, which will take place at Gleneagles in Scotland, from September 13-15, 2019.

The 48 year old from North Berwick made her ninth appearance as a player for the European team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa last month, having served as a vice-captain to Annika Sörenstam.

Selected as the travelling alternate by the captain, she stepped into the player role after Suzann Pettersen withdrew through injury, and the Scot proved to be one of the stars of the team, earning three points for Europe from her four matches.

With a career total of 22 Solheim Cup points, Matthew moved up to third on the all-time points list, behind Laura Davies (25) and Sörenstam (24). She also moved into joint third with Cristie Kerr on the all-time match victories list, with 18 career match wins, behind only Davies and Sörenstam with 22 apiece.

She said: “It’s a great honour and a dream come true to be the captain at home in Scotland. Since my first appearance in 1998, I have always loved playing in the Solheim Cup. It’s always such an incredible atmosphere and over the years that I’ve played, I’ve enjoyed it more and more. Scotland will provide the perfect stage for the 2019 Solheim Cup and Gleneagles will be a terrific venue."

The PGA Tour is bringing in a new rule for the 2017-2018 season that bans all those involved in players’ support teams, as well as tournament staff, volunteers, and PGA Tour staff, from placing bets on tour events that they are personally involved in.

Previously applying only to players, the new blanket ban is part of the PGA Tour’s new integrity programme, which is designed to ‘protect its competitions from potential outside influences related to gambling’.

The Tour’s longstanding policy against players from betting on Tour events will be expanded to cover all ‘facets of competition and operations’.

The policy covers all the personnel associated with PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Web.com Tour, Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Latinoamérica and PGA Tour China, covering approximately 140 events per year.

NEW SCHEDULE WITH RECORD-BREAKING PRIZE FUND ON PGA TOUR

The PGA Tour’s schedule for 201718, which got under way earlier this month, will feature no fewer than 49 tournaments, including two new events in South Korea and the Dominican Republic. The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in South Korea is a brand new event for the tour, while the Corales Puntacana Resort Championship in the Dominican Republic was previously a Web.com Tour tournament. Total prize money for the predominantly-US based tour will be a record $363 million.

There are two events – The National and the Barbasol Championship – that have yet to announce a venue, with the former also looking to find a new headline sponsor following the ending of Quicken Loans’ four-year deal. The season ends at the Tour Championship at East Lake from September 20-23, with the Ryder Cup teeing off at Le Golf National in Paris just five days later on

NORDQVIST WINS EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

A

nna Nordqvist became the first European player to win a women’s major championship since 2013, after the Swede won a play-off against Brittany Altomare to win the Evian Championship in France.

With matching final rounds of 66, Nordqvist and Altomare came from five strokes behind the overnight leader Moriya Jutanugarn to tie for the lead on nine under par, but it was Nordqvist who triumphed on the par-four 18th. Altomare made a double-bogey, only moments after greens staff had been using squeegees to clear water from the flooded green.

The tournament was reduced to 54 holes, after rain washed out the first day’s play, and threatened to halt the final day’s action, when hailstones lashed the course during the playoff.

Just 10 weeks ago, Nordqvist was put on bed-rest for a fortnight, having been diagnosed with mononucleosis during the US Women’s Open. She returned to tie for seventh at the Women’s British Open, and was the leading points’ scorer for the European team at the Solheim Cup. With the final Major of the year over, So Yeon Ryu won the Rolex Annika Major Award for the best overall performance across the five Majors in 2017.

EQUIPMENT & GEAR

OCTOBER 2017 WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/EQUIPMENT

HYBRID HEAVEN

SHOWCASING THE LATEST MUST-HAVE CLUBS

CONTENTS TRIED & TESTED: ONE-LENGTH IRONS PRO SHOP NEW GEAR FROM CALLAWAY, PING, CLEVELAND, TAYLOR MADE & CHERVO EQUIPMENT NEWS PING APPAREL WINTER APPAREL REVIEWED

[42] OCTOBER 2017 | NEWS

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EQUIPMENT NEWS

THE GEAR EFFECT WHAT THE WINNERS WERE PLAYING ON TOUR ANNA NORDQVIST EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ARE YOU A SERIAL GOLFING SHOPPER? IF YOU HAVEN’T BOUGHT a new driver in the last four years, or a new set of irons since 2012, then you’re officially ‘below average’ when it comes investing in new golf equipment.

That’s according to Golf Datatech’s 'Serious Golfer Shopping & Purchasing Habits Study', which is published every two years, and reveals consumers’ average equipment purchasing cycle when it comes to buying drivers, irons, wedges and putters.

While it is often joked that five per cent of golfers are responsible for buying 95 per cent of all new golf equipment, a recent survey of our shopping habits has revealed that the purchasing power is spread much more widely among the golfing population.

The survey tapped over 2,500 golfers from its database in America, studying multiple demographics, handicap, gender, region, and

DRIVER: Callaway GBB Epic (9°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway GBB Epic (15°) HYBRID: Callaway GBB Epic (20°) UTILITY: Callaway Apex UT (24°) IRONS: Callaway Apex CF16 (4-PW) WEDGES: PXG 0311 (50°, 54°, 58°) PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works Black 330M

MARC LEISHMAN BMW CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway GBB Epic (9°) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway GBB Epic (15°) UTILITY: Callaway Apex UT (21°) IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy Forged (54°), Titleist Vokey SM6 (58°)

price point. The respondents' average handicap was 14, and they played an average of 64 rounds a year. The average household income of those questioned was $145,000 a year (£107,000), which skewed the results somewhat, given that the average household income in the UK is £35,000.

The results showed that these golfers change their driver and wedges every four years, their

irons every five years, while their putter got replaced every six years.

The average respondent spent around three months thinking about buying new gear before they parted with their cash, The survey also found that online shopping for equipment in the United States is up more than 50 per cent year-on-year.

PUTTER: Odyssey Versa 1W BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X

XANDER SCHAUFFELE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: TaylorMade 2017 M2 (9.5°) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade 2017 M1 (15°)

MIZUNO UNVEILS NEW JAPANESEINSPIRED CLOTHING RANGE MIZUNO has introduced clothing from its Japanese apparel line-up into Europe for the first time with the all-new ‘Authentic Japanese Collection’ for autumn/winter.

The new collection features sophisticated fabrics and styling lifted directly from Mizuno’s domestic Japanese collections.

Headlining the collection is the Impermalite F20 Rain Suit, Mizuno’s most popular waterproof in Japan, tailored from fabrics so light and soft that they can be worn as a windtop or packed away into its own compact storage pouch.

The breathable Impermalite F20 fabric offers the highest levels of waterproofing (to 20,000mm), with products coming with a two-year waterproof guarantee.

BRIDGESTONE BENEFITS FROM ‘TIGER EFFECT’

IRONS: TaylorMade P790 (2), P750 Tour Proto (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM6 Raw (52°, 56°, 60°) PUTTER: Odyssey Works Big-T #5 BALL: TaylorMade TP5x

LUCAS BJERREGAARD

The Breath Thermo collection features an extended range of garments, many of which owe their origins to ski-wear designs. These include a base layer and tights, which not only insulate, but also generate new heat using trace amounts of vapour released from the body.

PORTUGAL MASTERS

The Half Zip is the ideal lightweight bodywarming second layer for the coldest of winter golfing days, while the Full-Zip Jacket and Full-Zip Gilet are packed with performanceand warmth-enhancing technology and style.

They both feature Mizuno’s lightweight TechFill material, which maintains padding volume and performance for longer; Mizuno Move Tech, which allows golfers to swing freely via key strategic stretch points, and a soft-touch neck-warmer panel for added protection where the heat is most likely to escape.

MB (6-9)

Completing the high-tech apparel line-up are the Tech Shield Jacket and Move Tech Trouser.

The former is a mid-weight wind-protection layer, while the latter is a premium fleece-lined trouser.

GET A GRIP WITH GOLF PRIDE’S NEW ALIGN RANGE LEADING GOLF GRIP BRAND GOLF PRIDE’S new range of Align grips are now on sale across the UK and Europe.

DRIVER: Titleist 917D2 (9.5˚) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway GBB Epic (15˚), Nike Vapor Fly (19˚) IRONS: Titleist 718 CB (4-5), Titleist 718 WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM6 (46˚, 50˚,

DESPITE NOT HAVING SWUNG A CLUB in competition for over eight months, or won a tournament since 2013 (Bridgestone Invitational), Tiger Woods is still helping to sell golf gear. The 14-time major champion has not played a competitive golf tournament since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic after the first round in February, but he is still proving a positive influence for the golf brands whose products he endorses.

56˚), Titleist Vokey Prototype (60˚)

Woods signed a deal to play Bridgestone Golf balls in December last year, but due to ongoing back issues was forced to withdraw from tour golf just two months later. Yet despite Woods' absence from TV screens, Bridgestone has still achieved record growth for the first half of 2017.

FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 917F3 (15°)

"Tiger Woods has been very positive influence on the game, and continues to be so," said Bridgestone CEO Angel Ilagan. "Golf has been experiencing declines in the recent years, but with Tiger on board, it's bringing a lot of consumers back to the game, and to Bridgestone.

The ground-breaking technology is available in the MCC family in both the traditional MCC taper profile and MCC Plus4’s larger lower hand profile.

"Tiger actually has more power as an endorser than he does as a player," added Ilagan, who described Woods as ‘the Michael Jordan of golf’, and ‘the single golfer who's had the greatest impact of bringing consumers into the game’.

The patent-pending innovation also features a unique micro-diamond texture and boasts 50% firmer material compared to the surrounding grip area to amplify its pronounced feel. The flex channel separates the alignment ridge from the grip body to maximise elevation lift and lock the grip into the fingers, while conforming to the rules of golf.

Ilagan's suggested that as long as Woods is around, the golf industry is safe. "I think the industry is in a little bit of panic, although it really need not be," he added.

The Align MCC and MCC Plus4 models are designed to deliver a new level of consistency in golfers’ games, courtesy of a raised ridge that extends down the back of the grip for repeatable and correct hand placement and an enhanced ability to help square the clubface at impact.

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Futura X7M BALL: Titleist Pro V1

PAUL DUNNE BRITISH MASTERS DRIVER: Titleist 917D3 (9.5°) HYBRID: Titleist 816H2 IRONS: Titleist 716 T-MB (3), Titleist 718 CB (4-PW) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM6 (52°, 58°) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GoLo S2 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

TYRELL HATTON DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Ping G400 LST (8.5°) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 (16.5°) HYBRID: Ping G400 3 Crossover IRONS: Ping i200 (4-PW) WEDGES: Ping Glide 2.0 (50°, 54°), Titleist Vokey SM6 (58°) PUTTER: Ping Vault Oslo Slate BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

opinionleader.it

ON AND OFF COURSE.

[44] OCTOBER 2017 | EQUIPMENT

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TAYLORMADE TP RED PUTTERS £239, TAYLORMADEGOLF.COM Tour pros are prone to seeing red these days, especially on the greens, where the percentage of players using red-coloured putters has grown significantly over the last few seasons. Tiger Woods pioneered the bold look with his Sunday red polo shirts, but today’s top players like the contrast that it offers on the greens, with the likes of Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia all successfully using a red putter from TaylorMade’s TP range at some point.

Seeking to build on this trend, the company has expanded the number of head options to include six new mallet-shaped models, comprising five new variations of the Ardmore putter, as well as the Chaska model. The Ardmore boasts a variety of different sizes, toe hangs, and sight lines to fit a player’s preferred look at address. Each boasts milled stainless steel heads featuring TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert, which combines 45° grooves with a softer polymer between the grooves to promote better forward roll and reduce skidding across varying surfaces.

Each putter has a head weight of 355g, a 3.5° loft, a 70° lie angle, and comes available in 34- and 35-inch shaft lengths. They also feature interchangeable sole weights, and are fitted with a Super Stroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip.

TITLEIST DT TRUSOFT £160, GOLF.ECCO.COM Re-engineered with a larger, lower compression core and a softer cover, the new DT TruSoft promises longer distance, soft feel on all shots, increased short game spin, and decreased driver spin. Available in white and high optic yellow, it also boasts an aerodynamic cover design that delivers a piercing, yet consistent ball flight.

PRO SHOP

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LATEST GEAR

MIZUNO BR-D4 STAND BAG £180, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE This lightweight stand bag weighs 2.5kg and features a four-way top with full-length dividers, a double strap, and an air mesh hip pad. There’s a quickaccess magnetic pocket, an insulated cooler pocket, a matching rainhood, and a zip-off panel for embroidery or personalisation. Finishing touches include a velour-lined waterproof valuables pocket, top-cuff side handles, and cart strap channels. Colour options are grey/black, grey/blue, and grey/red.

GALVIN GREEN DASH HALF-ZIP PULLOVER £140, GALVINGREEN.COM New to Galvin Green’s Insula range, the Dash half-zip pullover combines outstanding thermal regulation with maximum breathability for the perfect garment in cold conditions. Made from a soft, light and breathable polyamide fabric, it traps in body heat for warmth, but also enables moisture to optimise comfort. It is also stretchy, allowing an unrestricted swing. Fine details include padding around the shoulders and elbows, and a single chest pocket. It is available in black/grey in sizes S-3XL.

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER CBX IRONS £570/£648 (4-PW), CLEVELANDGOLF.COM The new Launcher CBX irons are a progressive cavity back set whose shape and design is based on the shots needed by each loft. The long irons feature a low-profile shape to help keep the centre of gravity low for higher launch, while the narrow profile produces extra power from a cupface design (4-7 iron), which provides better face flexing for more ballspeed and spring-like effect.

The set gets progressively more compact from long to short irons to add playability. The short irons also feature a progressively narrower topline and less offset than in the long irons.

They boast the same ‘Tour Zip’ grooves and surface roughness developed for the company’s performance wedges. Each face also features laser-milled lines between each groove to maximize friction for more spin.

They also boast progessive V-shaped soles which feature more bounce towards the leading edge and less in the trailing edge, providing smoother interaction with the turf. The long irons feature a shallower V-shape to better match with the typical sweeping swing, while the shorter irons the V-Sole looks similar to that of the brand’s RTX-3 and CBX wedges to match the naturally steeper swing used on these clubs.

FOOTJOY DNA HELIX £175, FOOTJOY.CO.UK FootJoy’s new DNA Helix shoe offers a blend of stability and flexibility in a lightweight, athletic design. A reworking of the DNA 2.0 shoe, they feature ChromoSkin leather uppers and a new NitroThin 3.0 TPU outsole, which is 23% lighter than in the previous model. It also boasts a 13% wider heel area, with the cleats spread out further apart, increasing balance and traction throughout the swing. Other features that increase inshoe comfort and cushioning include a foam collar, a stretch tongue, an extra-thick fitbed, and low-profile SoftSpikes Pulsar cleats. They come with a one-year waterproof warranty, and are available in three colours for the laced model (white/red/blue, white/silver and black), and white/black only for the Boa-closure model.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT | OCTOBER 2017 [45]

CHERVO MAFI JACKET £285, CHERVO.COM Ideal for those chilly autumn rounds, Chervo’s Mafi padded jacket is noiseless, ultralightweight and features the company’s ‘Happy Goose’ down-free insulation to keep you warm in all weathers. An AquaDrop coating repels water and stains, while ensuring the jacket is breathable.

PING SIGMA G PUTTERS £175, PING.COM Ping has expanded its range of Sigma G putters with two new mallet designs, the Craz-E and Tyne H. Featuring advancements to Ping’s True Roll Face Technology, and multi-piece faces, they offer significant improvements in feel, alignment and overall putting performance over previous models.

The Craz-E has a ball-width centre sight line, and significant heel-toe and back weighting for maximising stability and balance, while the Tyne H is distinguished from the original Tyne by an Anser-style hosel to fit a slight-arc stroke and create offset, plus a top-rail sight line that is white on a black nickel finish for contrast and easy alignment.

The face insert on both models is made of pebax elastomer, a lightweight, elastic compound used in the soles of athletic shoes, which provides the putters with a soft, yet responsive feel.

True Roll Face Technology comprises aerospace-grade aluminium milled on the face to varying depths and angles to improve traction for immediate forward roll and consistent distance control.

A choice of two pistol-style tapered grips is offered, while an adjustable shaft option costs an extra £24.

BLUE OLIVE BAG BROLLY

GOLFBUDDY VOICE X £149.99, EU.GOLFBUDDYGLOBAL.COM GolfBuddy’s next generation Voice GPS unit delivers out-of-the-box distances on over 40,000 golf courses across the world. Simply charge it up, turn it on, let it find your location, and you’re ready to go. As the name suggests, audio is a key option of the Voice X, as it will speak your distances.

However, the voice function can be turned off, leaving a display screen showing large figures for front, centre, back and hazards. Distances are delivered using GolfBuddy’s Dynamic Green View technology that gives yardages from the angle of attack, while shot measurement allows users to accurately gauge distance with every club, helping to better understand shot selection. Boasting step counting, a watch function and a 10-hour battery life, the Voice X can be clipped onto a belt, hat, pocket or golf bag.

£25, SHOP.CLUBBLUEOLIVE.COM Keep your golf bag dry this winter with the Blue Olive Bag Brolly. The same size as a conventional iron, the brolly has a telescopic shaft and neatly slots into any compartment of your golf bag and is suitable for use on a buggy or trolley.

A 360° spring-action is engineered to allow a player to move the umbrella part of the brolly out of the way when a club exchange is needed.

CALLAWAY CHEV MULLIGAN

PING G400 CROSSOVER

£59.99, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Golfers looking for a little more grip on the slippery autumn fairways, while still enjoying the comfort of a summer-style shoe, should take a look at Callaway’s Mulligan, which combines molded traction nubs with traditional cleats to offer high levels of stability out on the golf course in all underfoot conditions. A compression moulded EVA midsole combines with a soft microfibre upper to provide just the right amount of cushioning to keep your feet comfortable and fresh during the round, while sturdy Big Bertha power cleats provide a solid platform from which to swing with complete confidence. They are available in black, white or grey, with colour-contrasting soles.

£200, PING.COM Designed for players who prefer a more iron-like design to their hybrids, the G400 Crossovers feature a forward centre of gravity placement that creates straighter, longer shots, and a 20% higher launch than the previous G model. The sole also has less camber than the G Series, making it easier to cut through the turf, while a thinner topline presents a more refined appearance at address. The face is now made from maraging steel that is stronger than normal steel and can therefore be made thinner to increase ball speed. It alsoflexes more at impact to give a higher launch and therefore a steeper descent to increase stopping power by 30%, making it ideal for long approaches into tight pin positions. A 20g tungsten toe weight increases MOI for more stability through impact, while a hydropearl chrome finish completes the look. The loft options are 3 (19°), 4 (22°) and 5 (25°), while the standard shaft is Ping’s Alta CB, which is counterbalanced to increase forgiveness.

[46] OCTOBER 2017 | EQUIPMENT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT NEWS TRIED & TESTED:

STERLING SINGLE-LENGTH IRONS AS SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLES to manage a consistent strike with my irons – ok, pretty much all of my clubs – I was intrigued at the prospect of trying out a set of irons that claims to improve consistency.

STUBURT ROLLS OUT WINTER GOLF SHOE RANGE STUBURT’S REPUTATION for producing quality golf footwear at affordable prices is reinforced with its latest collection.

One of the key designs in the new collection is the Helium Tour (£69.99), which, along with the Vapour Tour and Classic Tour shoes, features the brand’s eVent waterproof fabric system. This air-permeable and waterproof membrane relies on billions of tiny pores for breathability, venting moisture to the outside in one easy step.

As well as featuring a microfibre breathable upper and eVent bootie membrane system, the Helium Tour has a cushioned insole and midsole, combined with lightweight cleats to offer the ultimate in comfort and performance on course.

The eVent bootie membrane system is inserted between uppers and interior lining for complete waterproof protection as well as excellent breathability.

The Vapour eVent Spikeless (£64.99) offers a relaxed, casual look with no compromise on performance. The shoe features a breathable microfibre upper, EVA cushioned midsole and insole, together with rubber outsole for maximum comfort.

The Classic Tour Spikeless (£89.99) shoe delivers a sleek, stylish and traditional look with a classic wingtip, brogue design. They feature full grain leather uppers, a cushioned sock liner, and an anti-slip heel counter for extreme comfort. The spikeless rubber outsole provides superb grip and traction, while the eVent full bootie membrane system offers top-level waterproofing.

‘PUTT A POPPY’ TO SUPPORT ROYAL BRITISH LEGION GOLFERS LOOKING TO SUPPORT THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, and honour all those who have suffered or died in war, are being invited to ‘Putt a Poppy’ this November, following the launch of a limited edition range of Titleist Pro V1 golf balls featuring a poppy logo.

All profits raised from the sale of the balls will go directly to the Royal British Legion and its important work of providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.

They are available to purchase from the Royal British Legion’s online store, The Poppy Shop – poppyshop.org.uk – from £14.99 for a sleeve of three or £49.99 for a pack of 12. There is a also a golf umbrella with a poppy logo for £24.99.

The concept of having a whole set of irons the same length is not a new one, but has not been seen from a major manufacturer for over 25 years, so when Wishon Golf revisited this long-forgotten corner of the equipment market last year with the launch of its Sterling Single Length irons, it opened the door for a whole new generation of golfers to experience the joy of hitting two good iron shots in a row.

The central theory is that by having all irons the same length, weight and lie angle, the golfer can adopt the same set up for all shots, and should therefore be more consistent. The accepted principle is to make the shaft length around that of a standard 7-iron, and Wishon therefore offers the Sterling irons in 36.5, 36.75 and 37-inch lengths.

Being 6ft 3, I usually have my irons half-an-inch longer than standard, so following a custom fitting session at Diamond Golf’s headquarters in West Sussex, I was advised to opt for the 37-inch set. But whichever length you go for, it means that your longest iron, which is the 5-iron in the Sterling set, is shorter than usual and the short irons are longer. Most golfers can hit a 7-iron ok, so it seems like a sensible starting point.

During testing on a simulator, and out on the golf course, the longer short irons actually didn’t feel as odd as I’d expected, and I found it easier, as it felt like you were making a bump-and-run swing with a 7-iron that then went in the air like a wedge. The longer shafts took my hands out of the stroke a little – which has certainly been my downfall with my short game in the past, when my hands tend to get a little flicky the closer I get to the green.

The shorter 6 and 5 irons also played like they should, but it took more getting used to, trusting that the shorter shaft was going to deliver the distance you could see in front of you – but it always did. The trajectory was slightly lower than I am used to with a standard set of irons, but they often tend to balloon, so the more penetrating flight from the Sterling irons helped achieve comparable overall distances. It’s also hard to understate how much confidence you get from being able to get 5-iron distances with a 7-iron swing.

The loft gaps vary between 4° in the 7-iron upwards and 5° in the 8 iron downwards, and each head is weighted according to the shaft length to ensure consistent distances, and the same club weight of 274g. Compared to my current set, the distances were almost exactly the same in the long and mid irons, but fractionally longer in the wedges, so it will take a bit of time and practise to re-dial

in your distances from 150 yards and in. Right throughout the set, the distance gaps were very consistent, with 8-10 yards separating each club. If gapping is still an issue at the top end of the bag, there’s a 23-degree 5-hybrid that will produce more height, and possibly more distance than the 5-iron.

The Sterling irons heads are almost oversized, but in the longer irons they retain a more refined look. At address, the top line is reassuringly generous, and that is maintained throughout the set without getting too chunky.

The 8-iron to SW feature a blade-style cavity back made from carbon steel, which offers good feel and a mid-width sole that plays very well from all types of lie. The peripheral

IT’S HARD TO UNDERSTATE HOW HITTING EVERY SHOT LIKE IT’S A 7-IRON IMPROVES YOUR CONFIDENCE OVER THE BALL weighting in the heel and toe creates a little notch in the centre of the trailing edge of the sole, which is fine for shots from grass. The sand iron is great for pitching and chipping, and you need that loft to cover your distances, but a specialist lob wedge with a proper bounce on it would probably be required too.

The longer 7, 6 and 5 irons all feature a high COR design using a high-strength steel on the same carbon steel body as the blades. These have an open cavity that moves the centre of gravity back, so that you combine a higher launch with a face that will deliver more ball speed. It did make the sound feel more hollow at impact, but the centre of the face does a good job of getting the ball up and out there. Off-centre strikes saw a slight drop off in distance, but whenever I hit one right out of the middle, it flew long and straight.

Wishon has created a special S2S Stepless shaft for the Sterling irons that comes in regular and stiff flexes, and it is light and well balanced and matches the set very well.

Although recent PGA Tour winner Bryson de Chambeau is living proof that good players can successfully use single length irons, I would say that they would have most appeal to beginners up to mid-handicappers that are looking to keep this most complicated of games as simple as possible.

For more details, or to find your nearest qualified custom fitter, visit www. diamondgolf.co.uk or call 01903 726999.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT | OCTOBER 2017

[47]

PING HAS WINTER WRAPPED UP Play your best this winter with Ping Collection’s latest range of climate-controlling outerwear

P

ing Collection has billed its 2017 Autumn/ Winter apparel range for men and women as its most technologically advanced ever.

Demonstrating the company’s dedication to helping golfers to play their best, Ping has engineered the latest collections to combine industry-leading technologies and fabrics, with craftsmanship and attention to detail, to provide unrivalled quality and performance.

The latest collections feature Ping’s Sensor performance fabric technologies, which includes Pertex and the introduction of PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Active, in key autumn/winter products.

Well established in the outdoor market, and

ZERO GRAVITY TOUR SUIT Ping has updated its popular Zero Gravity Tour Suit, which is constructed from ultra-lightweight Pertex Shield 2.5 layer fabric, offering stretch and breathability. Fully seam-sealed throughout, both the jacket and trousers offer waterproof protection, and feature stretch properties for easy swinging in all conditions. As an added convenience, the entire suit can be packed away into its own pocket.

RRP: £180 jacket, £130 trousers.

NORSE JACKET The waterproof Norse jacket is a quilted polyester top that features lightweight thermal insulation, which will keep you both warm and dry. Breatheable, windproof, water resistant and boasting stretch properties for easy swinging, it’s the ideal winter golfing partner. It is available in black, in sizes S-XXXL. RRP: £140.

designed for active pursuits, Primaloft Silver Insulation Active is a lightweight, breathable, thermal insulation which is also water resistant, providing comfort and enhanced performance for golfers in all playing conditions.

The collection showcases the continued partnership with technical waterproof fabric expert Pertex, with the launch of a new flagship men’s waterproof suit and CoolMax fabric technology, which features in specific garments.

Modern colour palettes complement the technical designs that deliver comfort, style and performance, to allow golfers to play their best and coordinate their outfits, whether on or off the course.

INNIS HALF-ZIP TOP

BARKLEY JACKET

A new addition to the Sensor Warm range, the Innis half-zip top boasts a double knit construction. This creates a space between the face and the back of the fabric that traps air to provide added insulation.

The innovative fabric is also water repellent, keeping the wearer dry in light showers, while a stretch construction provides additional comfort and freedom of movement. Details include a zip pocket to the chest with earphone access, and contrasting colour side panels.

RRP: £95

Engineered with a lightweight, insulated quilted front panel, the Barkley jacket offers excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. A knitted, brushed back fleece body and sleeves provide insulation and ensure complete freedom of movement throughout the swing.

RRP: £80

CROSBY POLO An essential in every golfer’s wardrobe, the long-sleeve Crosby polo features a blend of synthetic and breathable natural fibres to keep the wearer warm, yet dry.

It features a concealed button down collar and a three-button placket, while the material is quick drying and requires no ironing. It comes with colour constrast sleeves in a choice of black/grey and midnight blue.

RRP: £60

TARA TOP

OSLO JACKET

Designed to be worn as a mid or outer layer, the Tara top is a stylish addition to any female golfer’s wardrobe this winter. From the Senor Cool range, it boasts thermal properties, and has a stretchy, figure-hugging cut.

With a high funnel neck to keep the cold at bay, it features colour-contrasting long sleeves, and comes with a half zip.

RRP: £65

Among the highlights of the comprehensive women’s range is the Oslo jacket which features PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Active throughout to deliver lightweight, highperformance thermal insulation. Available as a full jacket in black or as a vest in sky blue, it is water resistant, features a quilted body, and comes with a double-ended zip.

RRP: £140/£120

For more details on the entire 2017 Autumn/Winter range, visit ping.com.

[48] OCTOBER 2017 | EQUIPMENT

HIGH & MIGHTY

Dump those long irons and invest in the latest game-improvement hybrids

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CALLAWAY STEELHEAD XR £179.99, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Sitting between the XR and XR OS hybrids, the Steelhead XR is aimed at mid-to-high handicappers looking for distance and forgiveness in equal measure. It boasts Callaway’s new hyper speed face cup, which is designed to maintain ball speeds on miss-hits, while the face is longer and deeper than previous models, and features a higher toe end with a squarer taper.

The crown has a smaller version of the speed step offered in the XR woods to increase clubhead speed, while a tight leading edge and cambered sole makes it easy to pick the ball off the turf.

Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25°, 28°

TAYLORMADE M1

TITLEIST 818 H1

£229, TAYLORMADEGOLF.COM

£255, TITLEIST.CO.UK

The M1 hybrid promises improved distance and versatility with the firstever sliding weight track in a rescue club. The 27g weight track enables users to not only experience the neutral/fade biases, but also has the added option of a draw setting for increased shot shape adjustability. The head features a much squarer face than previous designs with a high toe to offer forgiveness and a high MOI. An ultra-lightweight aluminium loft sleeve enables loft to be adjusted +/- three degrees, while the sole retains the small ‘speed pocket’ cavity behind the face to increase ball speeds from shots hit low on the face.

Lofts: 17°, 19°, 21°, 24°

Billed as ‘scoring’ clubs rather than ‘rescue’ clubs, the H1 is one of the most refined hybrids aimed at the game improvement market. Designed for those that like to sweep the ball, rather than hit down behind hit it, the 818s are 10% more forgiving than the previous 816s, thanks to a deeper centre of gravity. An adjustable hosel provides 16 loft and lie settings, while a cylindrical weight bar – which comes in five weights between 10-18g – runs horizontally behind the face and can be switched to control flight and encourage a fade or a draw. A new sole channel – which is filled with polymer to avoid clogging – flexes to increases ball speed across the entire face.

Lofts: 19°, 21°, 23°, 25°, 27°

PING G400 £200, PING.COM

MIZUNO CLK SHOCKWAVE

The clubface on the G400 is 11% thinner than the G model, which increases face flex by 35%, and adds about 1.5 mph of ball speed.

The two lower-lofted models have weights that move the centre of gravity towards the toe to minimise a draw bias, while the 4 , 5, and 6 are designed to launch the ball higher with added forgiveness. The matt black crown features more pronounced turbulators than on the G Series, which increases airflow for more clubhead speed. The sole features a removable weight at the rear of the head, which is 30% heavier than the G, making it easier to get the ball airborne.

Lofts: 17°, 19°, 22°, 26°, 30°

£245, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER HB

LYNX BLACK CAT

£200, CLEVELANDGOLF.COM

£139, LYNXGOLF.CO.UK

Part of the all-new Launcher HB range, the hybrids are a reworking of the HiBore XLS model that first came out in 2008. The HiBore stepped crown aims to lower the centre of gravity in the head for a higher launch and more forgiveness. Featuring a generously-sized heads (112cc-114cc) and a long, confidence inspiring blade length, the soles feature the same Flex-Fin design found on the HB woods to enhance ball speed and promote easy launch conditions, while the crown features a silver eliptical design to demarcate the step. The hosel is not adjustable.

Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25°

Available in a matt black, blue or red paint finish to suit your style, the Black Cat hybrid boasts a sleek, low profile design that makes them very easy to hit from tight lies. The head features a wide footprint, which, along with its responsive tip Grafalloy Prolaunch shaft, makes it really easy and forgiving to launch, while the face has been subjected to a special hardening treatment, which increases ball speeds for more distance.

Lofts: 20°, 23°

The CLK features an eight-way adjustable hosel, which enables 32 set-up possibilities, including +/- two degrees, with upright options.

Boasting an ultra-thin maraging steel face and an amplified ‘shockwave’ sole – the first slot of which is much deeper than that found in the JPX 900 hybrid – the CLK is not only designed to deliver faster balls speeds, but also pushes weight lower and forward for a high, low-spinning flight. Featuring a dark grey crown with a rounded profile, and a beveled leading edge, the heads get progressively bigger through the lofts.

Lofts: 16°, 19°, 22°, 25°

YOUR GUIDE TO GOLFING TRIPS AT HOME AND ABROAD

ENTICING

TRAVEL AND BREAKS

OCTOBER 2017 WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

A GOLF DESTINATION TO SAVOUR

ALSO IN THIS MONTH'S TRAVEL: GOLF IN PROVENCE SARAH STIRK RETURNS TO VILAMOURA CLIVE AGRAN VISITS SICILY LA MANGA NEWS ME AND MY TRAVELS WITH ALAN MCINALLY ALL THE LATEST TRAVEL & GOLF BREAK NEWS

[50] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL BREAKS

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QHOTELS’ ‘EARLY-BIRD' DEALS ARE WORTH CROWING ABOUT

■ SLALEY HALL

G

olfers booking a 2018 break at any of QHotels' 10 four-star golf resorts can take advantage of

‘early-bird' offers if they book before October 31, with prices for a one-night, 36-hole deal starting at

IT PAYS TO STAY-ANDPLAY AT PRINCE’S T

just £79.

Group bookings will be entitled to a 20 per cent discount on drinks

at the venue, a £10 resort voucher, as well as onein-12 going free.

The ‘early-bird' booking window runs until the end of the month, with each offer including one night's, four-star, dinner, bed-andbreakfast accommodation and two rounds of golf, effectively maintaining 2017 prices.

The four-star QHotels group offers championship-standard courses across the UK, including Slaley Hall in Northumberland, where prices start at £99; Belton Woods (from £99) , Oulton Hall (from £89), Mottram Hall (from £89), and Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort (from £99). For more details, visit www.QHotels. co.uk/golf.

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.

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 ■ PRINCE'S LODGES 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

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.

■ BURNHAM & BERROW

TEE IT UP ON THE ATLANTIC LINKS W

ith free-draining fairways and firm greens, the stunning links that line the north coast of Devon and Cornwall come into their own in the winter months, when inland courses are beginning to soften up.

The six courses that form the Atlantic Links trail along the dramatic backdrop of the north Atlantic coastline boast a combined age of almost 700 years, with both Burnham & Berrow and St Enodoc founded in 1890, Saunton East in 1897, with the younger members, Trevose and Saunton West, having been established in 1925 and 1937 respectively.

Royal North Devon, or

Westward Ho!, as it is fondly known, is not only the senior citizen of the Atlantic Links, but is also England’s oldest golf course. Indeed this unique links course, set on common land on which livestock still graze today, has hardly changed in 150 years and to play it is like taking a step back in time and seeing how golf was played in Victorian England.

The club is steeped in history: it was on this course that JH Taylor, born in the village of Northam that overlooks the course, started his career as a caddie. He went on to win five Open Championships and formed one third of the great triumvirate, with Harry

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TRAVEL BREAKS | OCTOBER 2017

[51]

■ THE WOODLAND COURSE

DORSET RESORT PROVES A WINTER WONDERLAND G Vardon and James Braid, who dominated the game for some 30 years.

The club honoured Taylor with club presidency in 1957, and his portrait and some of the clubs are still proudly

displayed in the clubhouse.

In fact thanks to the club’s heritage, the clubhouse is a veritable treasure trove of golf memorabilia, second only to that owned by the R&A.

Breaks start from £340 per person to play three courses, rising to £723 for all six, and include all tee times and accommodation reservations. For more details and bookings, visit www.atlantic-links.co.uk.

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 nine-hole 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 £63.95pp/pn.

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

TUNE UP YOUR GAME AT TEWKESBURY G olfers looking for a relaxing break in the Gloucestershire countryside should head for the tranquil surroundings of the Tewkesbury Park Hotel, Golf & Country Club, which offers an 80-bedroomed 18th century manor house hotel with enviable views over the historic town of Tewkesbury.

The resort has been the subject of a £4m renovation, with every element of the venue benefitting from substantial improvements, including nine new luxury suites, two meeting rooms, two new spa treatment rooms, an orangery, and a new cocktail lounge.

The 18-hole, 6,579-yard course, has recently benefitted from a complete bunker renovation programme by Peter McEvoy, and features plenty of interesting holes, with wooded areas and water hazards

TheManor House

& Ashbury Hotels

- The Only Sport, Craft & Spa Hotels in the UK

FREE GOLF at

“I’ve never played such fantastic courses”

The UK’s Largest Golf Resort

Stephen W - Trip Advisor

Set in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon.

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

At least 27 holes of FREE golf with each night of stay!

Pines 17th 442 yards, Par 4

Oakwood 16th 172 yards, Par 3

• FREE Golf • ½ Price Buggies - £8 & So Much More!

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05/10/17 - 25/04/18

EW N

Autumn to Spring

appearing early in the round, before it opens up onto spacious fairways on the back nine.

Guests have a range of dining options, including with the Garden Room, which serves traditional English and French cuisine, while The Place offers a range of light snacks and meals. Guests’ leisure needs are taken care of by an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, and squash and tennis courts, all of which are free to use.

The hotel is currently offeringone nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast, two rounds of golf, and full use of the leisure facilities for £115pp MonThurs, £119 Fri/Sat, or £99 for Sunday.

For more details call 01684 272320 or visit www.tewkesburypark.co.uk.

Oakwood 4th 321 yards, Par 4

Multi Sport Simulators

November & December 2017 Bargain Breaks from £50pppn - FULL BOARD! Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels Sports Racket Sports Leisure Ranges Family Bowls Swimming Funhouse Tennis Archery Table Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols 5-A-Side Snooker Waterslides Air Rifles Squash Basketball Short Tennis Ten-Pin Lasers Play Area PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 18 tutored crafts, including Pottery, Woodwork, Glass Engraving & Hot Press Printing

0800 389 9892

Kigbeare Pines Beeches Oakwood Ashbury 9 + Pines Front 9 Ashbury 9 + Pines Back 9 Willows

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

6528 6400 5803 5502 5775 6111 1939

All Weather Sports Pitch & Running Track

ashburygolfhotel.com

• All prices per person • All rooms en-suite • Full board • Party discounts •

[52] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ITALY

Boasting a huge variety of quality golf courses, set in diverse and beautiful landscapes, combined with stunning cities, a rich cultural heritage, mouth-watering cuisine and fine wines, the host nation of the 2022 Ryder Cup is ready to welcome the world’s golfers

A GOLFING NATION COMES OF AGE ■ THE 2022 RYDER CUP IS BEING HELD AT THE MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB NEAR ROME

W

ith year-round golf, famous cities, outstanding culture and world-renowned cuisine, it’s hard to understand why Italy has remained Europe’s undiscovered golf destination for so long.

Just a short flight from the UK, Italy is home to no fewer than 141 18-hole golf courses, and they offer exceptional value, with green fees at an average price of €50 per round.

With fabulous beaches, some of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities and delicious food and wine, Italy has long been a haven for tourists. Few people, however, are aware of its selection of golf courses, many of which are to be found in the north and centre of the country, and on the sun-soaked islands in the south.

Those looking for an all-encompassing golf break will be spoilt for choice in whichever of the diverse regions they choose to base themselves. Whether searching for the Alpine serenity of Piedmont, the architectural masterpieces of Veneto, the material and natural wonders on offer in Emilia Romagna, the

historic splendour of Lombardy or the diversity of Friuli Venezia Giulia, visitors will be spoilt for choice, with an array of cultural and gastronomical delights.

Away from the world-renowned sights, golfers will find immaculately-maintained and spectacularlylocated golf courses just waiting to be discovered.

Even better, with the domestic market still developing, visiting golfers will often find that they have the pristine fairways to themselves.

The nation currently attracts 700,000 foreign green fees, but that number is set to grow rapidly over the next five years as Italy gears itself up for the 2022 Ryder Cup, which takes place at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, near Rome, for what will be only the third time the event has been staged in continental Europe.

Italy beat off three other bidding countries to host the world’s most-watched golf tournament, with the awarding committee impressed by plans to reconstruct the proposed course and increase investment in the Italian Open. That event’s prize fund was doubled from €1.5 million in 2016, with a €7 million prize fund guaranteed for each of the following 11 years, as the tournament joins the European Tour’s new Rolex Series.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017

EMILIA ROMAGNA

EMILIA ROMAGNA IS A REGION IN THE CENTRE OF ITALY, ideally placed to visit the cities of Florence and Venice, just a one-hour drive from the region’s capital, Bologna. With a beautiful and diverse landscape, the historic region makes for the ideal base for an Italian golfing adventure.

Nestled between two of the country’s most famous cities, there are 25 golf courses in the region, which, combined with a rich heritage and world-renowned gastronomy, make Emilia Romagna among the most exciting of Italy’s golf destinations.

Bologna is a vibrant city with an 11th-century university and arched porticos lining the streets and squares of its medieval core. The red brick city, where culture and art abounds at every turn, also boasts an exquisite selection of wines.

Nearby Modena is home to one of the region’s most acclaimed courses. A Bernhard Langer design, Modena Golf Club, with its winding fairways and

■ MODENA, EMILIA ROMAGNA

water hazards, provided a fitting challenge to competitors in the 50th Italian Open.

The charming Adriatic Golf Club is among the most naturally beautiful courses in Italy, and, located just back from the sea, carves its way through pine forests and salt lakes.

After a day on the course, those seeking relaxation and wellbeing can pamper themselves at more than 20 spa facilities situated throughout the area, from the hills of Parma to the sea of Rimini and Riccione.

SARDINIA UMBRIA

Golf Club Milano, the host course in 2016 and 2017, lies within the majestic Monza Park and its 685 acres of forest. Home favourite Francesco Molinari memorably pipped the then Masters Champion, Danny Willett, to the title by a single shot here last year to become the first Italian to win his national Open twice since the event became part of the European Tour in 1972.

MARCHE

■ FRANCESCO MOLINARI AND MATTEO MANASSERO WILL BE HOPING TO BE IN THE 2022 RYDER CUP TEAM

Molinari is one of three Italians to have played in the Ryder Cup, along with brother Edoardo and Costantino Rocca, and the 35 year old will be hopeful of playing a leading role in proceedings in five years’ time, either as a player or maybe even as captain.

While golfers all too often tread the wellbeaten path on the way to popular resorts in Spain and Portugal, flight times to Italy compare very favourably with these more established golfing destinations, with daily direct flights to the main Italian international airports from no fewer than 20 UK airports, with great deals to be found across the UK’s numerous low-cost carriers.

The climate means golf can be a comfortable year-round activity in Italy. Temperatures in the north can vary a lot between seasons, with cold winters, but in the central regions the climate is a mild Mediterranean one with hot, summers and warm winters. In southern Italy the spring and autumn temperatures are similar to those reached in the summer elsewhere in the country.

For a golf break that offers so much more than good courses, it may be time to turn your attention to Italy.

[53]

Parma, famed for its cuisine and Romanesque buildings, including the frescoed Parma Cathedral and the pink marble Baptistery, is among the region’s most alluring attractions.

Beyond the region’s historic centres, more than 100km of coastline, littered with relaxing coves, white sandy beaches and water parks, offer entertainment to suit all tastes.

Along the 14 ‘Roads of Wine and Flavours’, food lovers will find more than 1,000 stops with farms, winemakers, cheesemakers, ham producers, farmhouses and artisan workshops. And along the Via Emilia, motorsport lovers can get to know the truth behind the many stories created in the worldfamous Motor Valley, from Ferrari and Ducati to Lamborghini and Maserati.

Packages including a choice of 25 golf courses and 27 golf hotels are available direct from Emilia Romagna Golf, with prices starting from £605 for seven nights and five green fees.

THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA boasts just half a dozen golf clubs, but what it lacks in quantity ■ PEVERO is more than compensated for in quality. The showcase venue is undoubtedly the 27-hole layout at Is Molas. Opened in 1975, the club, which has hosted the Italian Open three times, is located 30km from Caligari on Sardinia’s south west coast. Pevero, located in Costa Esmeralda, on the northern tip of the island, is also a must visit, with Robert Trent Jones having carved out a stunning layout on the edge of the rugged coastline, while celebrated architect Robert van Hagge’s beautiful pineforest design at Is Arenas, along with the 18 holes at Puntaldia and at Tanka Golf Villasimius, should also be on every golfer’s Sardinian golfing itinerary.

ONE OF ITALY’S MOST-VISITED tourist regions, courtesy of its beautiful hilltop towns and unspoilt ■ ANTOGNOLIA, UMBRIA villages, Umbria is also home to a number of superb golf courses which enjoy tranquil settings in the stunning Umbrian countryside. Golfers can take their pick from the 18-hole championship course at Antognolla, a classic Robert Trent Jones II design near Perugia, which is set against the backdrop of a medieval castle, or try their hand at nearby Circolo Golf; while petrolheads should not miss the opportunity to play the stunning nine-hole course at Golf Club Lamborghini, which is nestled in the vineyards and woods surrounding the Lamborghini estate between Panicale and the shores of Lake Trasimeno.

THE CENTRAL EASTERN REGION OF MARCHE is home to a dozen golf clubs, which ■ CONERO GC merge in with the beauty of the countryside and the coastline to offer a variety of challenging layouts to suit all levels of holiday golfer.

Conero Golf Club, located in Conero Park, close to the Adriatic, is a highlight, with its 18-hole course weaving its way through fairways lined with oak and cherry trees, before opening out onto several lakes, where an island green awaits at the fifth hole. There is also a 9-hole executive course on which to test your short game.

Other courses within easy reach during a stay in Le Marche include the Riviera Golf Club in Marignano, Miglianico Golf and Country Club, the San Donato Golf Resort and Spa, the Golf Club Montegiove, and the 9-hole Golf Club I Lauri.

[54] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL

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LIGURIA

LIGURIA IS A COASTAL REGION of north-western Italy known for its

■ CIRCOLO GOLF, LIGURIA

VENETO THE CLIMATE Italy’s weather varies considerably from the north to the south of the country.

In the north – between the Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines – the climate ranges from very cold winters to very hot, humid summers.

By May it is 22c, and it is still in that range throughout September. Winters are not especially wet. In the centre the climate is milder, with a smaller difference in temperature between summer and winter and a shorter and less intense cold season. Summers are longer, but the humidity found in northern cities is mitigated by the sea. In the south and the islands winters are never particularly harsh, and spring and autumn temperatures are similar to those reached in the summer in other areas of Italy. It rarely dips below 15˚c, even in January, and the summers are in the mid-30s.

Rainfall May to September is negligible.

VENETO, IAGTO’s Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year in 2013, is among the most historic and beautiful of the Italian regions, and is also home to over 40 golf courses.

Located in an area stretching from the Dolomites to the sea, from Venice to Vicenza, and from Lake Garda to the Abano and Montegrotto hot springs, the region offers a wonderful opportunity to combine great golf with culture, history, and heavenly food and wine.

Venice is the region’s biggest draw, and while the city itself needs little introduction, the beautiful countryside surrounding the historic republic has given rise to some outstanding courses. Nowhere is this more so than at Golf Villa Condulmer. Just seven miles from Venice, the course offers exceptional golf, with its 18th century villa providing a magnificent backdrop, while the nearby Arnold Palmer-designed layout at Golf Ca’della Nave, and the three nine-hole loops at Asolo, are also well worth a visit.

Delicious food and wines can be found across Veneto, whether in the renowned cities or the unique countryside dotted with antique villas.

The region is also home to one of the most significant historic cities of Italy – Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, offers an extraordinary wealth of art, history and culture, from Roman remains with the arena to Celtic, Medieval and Renaissance masterpieces of unrivalled beauty.

Verona Golf Club’s attractive tree-lined course is a good test for all golfers, and also provided the platform for Matteo Manassero to launch his international career.

Meanwhile, regularly rated among the best courses in Italy, Padova has hosted a number of prestigious Italian championships in the last 20 years, with its beautifully-designed clubhouse the perfect place to relax after a round. The north of Veneto is home to the Dolomites, which features some of Europe’s most scenic mountain courses, including the spectacular Golf Club Asiago.

■ ASIAGO, VENETO

■ GOLF CLUB MONTICELLO, LOMBARDY

LOMBARDY

beaches, towns and more than 210 miles of coastline. Offering the warmth of the Mediterranean, Liguria’s mild climate is perfect for year-round play, with holes just a stone’s throw from the water.

Jewels in its golfing crown are the four 18-hole courses to be played at Circolo golf degli Ulivi, St Anna Golf Club, Garlenda, and Circolo Golf Rapallo. Garlenda is an ideal place for a relaxing stay, combining golf with other activities thanks to its close proximity to tourist attractions such as Alassio and Albenga. The course is situated in the beautiful Lerrone Valley and is surrounded by ancient olive groves and pine forests.

There is also a wonderful choice of nine-hole courses perched on hills overlooking the beaches which can be found at Castellaro, La Filanda, Pineta di Arenzano and Marigola, while those new to the game will enjoy the layouts at some of the courses around Genoa, including Garden Golf, Cus Genova Golf Academy, Sarzana, and Cinque Laghi Golf, which are all suitable for beginners.

The Ligurian Golf Association has worked with the courses in the region to create a Golf Pass, which enables visitors to play a collection of the courses at a discounted rate. For details, visit www.liguriagolf.com.

WITH A RICH HISTORY, the highest number of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Italy, and a collection of Europe’s most famous lakes, including Maggiore and Garda, there really is no excuse not to visit the beautiful region of Lombardy. Throw in the capital of good food with its century-old dishes, the lights and splendour of renowned boutiques in Milan’s fashion district, as well as more than 60 golf courses, and the region serves up the perfect recipe for a golfing adventure.

Lombardy is the Italian region where golf is most widespread and, surrounded by fascinating natural beauty, its golf courses offer ideal playing conditions, with historically-exclusive venues offering spectacular views of Lake Como, whose courses have hosted some of the biggest international golf events.

Luxury hotels, historical villas surrounded by nature parks and gardens, tranquility and scenery of unparalleled beauty, makes Lake Como the ideal destination for golfers.

Among the region’s stand-out courses are Barlassina and La Pinetina country clubs, Carimate, Le Robinie, Golf dei Laghi Monticello and Menaggio e Cadenabbia, while Golf Club Villa d’Este is regarded as one of the most challenging par-69 layouts in Europe.

Lake Garda is one of the best-known golf destinations in Europe due to its beautiful scenery, Mediterranean vegetation and a variety of world-class golf resorts. It is possible to play year-round near the Garda, thanks to its warm, temperate climate, and it is a great golfing opportunity not to be missed.

A treat awaits golfers just a few kilometres from the business and fashion capital of Milan, where country clubs surrounded by vegetation and rural architectural structures are reminiscent of many clubs in England.

Lombardy deserves a special mention for the great variety and high quality of its food and wine, with in excess of 248 traditional products. Some of the country’s finest wines come from Franciacorta, the Oltrepò Pavese and Garda.

PIEDMONT

JUST TWO HOURS FROM TURIN, Piedmont is true to its name of 'mountain foot', with more than 30 Alpine peaks creating a nature lovers’ parade of crystalline skies and enchanting valleys.

The mountainous landscape forms not only an historic boundary, along which imposing fortifications and medieval abbeys lie waiting to be explored, but has also created a golfing paradise, within which four of Italy’s finest five courses can be found.

Not only are many of the courses set in areas of outstanding natural beauty, but they are also an excellent starting point for discovering a region of Italy with much to offer: cities rich in art, history and culture; unspoiled countryside; soaring Alpine peaks and wide valleys; pristine lakes; and some of the world’s choicest food and wine.

Golf Club Biella is an English-style country club with a course laid out in a natural landscape by John Morrison. It is regularly rated among Italy’s finest layouts, and the same is true of Bogogno, which is located between Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore and features two 18-hole courses designed by acclaimed American architect Robert von Hagge – the Del Conte and the Bonora.

Named as the best golf course in Italy by numerous golf magazines, Royal Park is set in a mature forest, framed by the Alps in La Mandria Regional Park. Right next door is Torino, which encompasses two courses, both characterised by their settings of mature trees fringing the holes and fairways, and natural water hazards comprising streams and small lakes.

Turin boasts an artistic and architectural heritage spanning from Roman times to la Belle Époque, every corner brings a surprise encounter with art and culture, thanks to its numerous art galleries, churches, palaces, opera houses, gardens and museums. But it is perhaps Piedmont's food that will linger longest in the memory, with the star of the region's cuisine being the white truffles of Alba, while Piedmont's collection of famous wines will provide the perfect complement to any meal.

■ CASTELCONTURBIA, PIEDMONT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017 [55]

in a landscape where mountains, sea and hills cluster together to remarkable effect, Friuli Venezia Giulia is among the most diverse of Italy’s golfing destinations. Its unique topography has given rise to seven varied and distinctive golf courses.

From the water-rimmed greens in Grado and Lignano, to the mountain forests in Tarvisio, and from the gentle slopes of the hill district to the vineyards and castles around Gorizia, no matter which course you choose, golf in Friuli Venezia Giulia has the extraordinary taste of exploration and challenge.

Udine Golf Club is among the region’s finest, and plays host to the European Senior Tour’s Italian Open. Boasting an extensive redesign, it enjoys a beautiful location in the foothills of the Carnic Alps. Other must-play courses in region include Trieste, Castello di Spessa and Castel d’Aviano.

Off the course, the region boasts two fabulous cities. Udine is an unmistakable Italian town with elegant squares and ancient architectural buildings, including the cathedral and the hilltop Udine Castle, which is home to several museums and an art gallery.

Trieste is the region’s capital, a seaport city with a wealth of culture that’s situated towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory, lying between the Adriatic and Slovenia. The main square, one of the biggest in Europe, faces the sea and is fronted with the city’s most impressive buildings.

Meanwhile, the 11th-century castle at Gorizia, with its stunning views across the town and the Alps beyond, is among Friuli Venezia Giulia’s most alluring attractions. The region’s proximity to its Central European neighbours, not only provides a fantastic opportunity for a trans-national golfing adventure, but has also created a distinctive culture, which manifests itself in a unique cuisine, fusing three great culinary trends – Central European, Venetian and Slav.

Its location on the Adriatic means that fish and seafood play a central role in the region’s gastronomy. Known predominantly for its white wine, Friuli Venezia Giulia forms part of the Tre Venezie wine region, ranked as one of the finest in Italy.

SICILY

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA

BORDERING AUSTRIA, SLOVENIA AND THE ADRIATIC SEA,

SICILY HAS LONG BEEN A POPULAR DESTINATION for tourists eager to soak up its fascinating mixture of history, art and culture. Little wonder, with the island having been a Greek colony, a Phoenician settlement, a Roman province, a Byzantine region, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom on its way to the eclectic culture that is apparent today.

It’s an intoxicating combination that many people have found hard to resist, and the same can also now be said of ts golf offering.

With a varied range of quality courses and temperate climate, matched by a growing choice of direct flights to its four airports, and a plethora of historical, cultural and gastronomic delights, Sicily has everything needed for a golf break offering outstanding courses and that little bit more, and is fast establishing itself among Europe’s top golf destinations.

■ DONNAFUGATA LINKS COURSE, SICILY

■ GOLF CLUB LIGNANO, FRUILI VENEZIA GIULIA

There are five golfing venues on the island, featuring seven 18hole courses: Verdura Resort (45 holes), Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa (36 holes), Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa, Allegroitalia Siracusa Golf Monasteri, and Le Saie Golf Club.

Situated on Sicily’s south-west coast, Verdura is a luxury oasis and features two 18-hole championship courses – the East and West – as well as an inviting nine-hole executive course, all designed by Kyle Phillips. Host venue for the 2017 Rocco Forte Open, Verdura also staged the 2012 Sicilian Open and boasts an array of five-star facilities, including a golf academy and double-ended driving range, 203 hotel rooms and suites, six tennis courts, a 4,000sqm spa complex and a choice of four restaurants and five bars.

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, located on the south-west coast, has also enjoyed the privilege of hosting European Tour action, with Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin taking top honours at the 2011 Sicilian Open. Situated in the cultural heart of the island, and a 30-minute drive from the historic city of Ragusa, the resort features two 18-hole championship courses – the Gary Playerdesigned Parkland and the Links – as well as extensive facilities away from the fairways, including Italy is ideally connected to a 202-room hotel, luxury spa the UK, with a lot of direct and health club, two swimming flights available all-year pools, a private beach, and three round on both British restaurants offering a broad Airways and Alitalia, selection of locally sourced food. as well as with low-cost

GETTING THERE

companies like Ryanair and

PUGLIA

LOCATED IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN CORNER OF ITALY, yet with easy access to the coastal airports at Bari and Brindisi, Puglia is enjoying a significant growth in visitors in recent years, many of whom are drawn to its elegant hotels, quiet beaches, and unspoilt villages.

Geographically and culturally, the area is closer to Greece than Italy, and the food is also not typically Italian, with its ‘cucina povera’ (peasant

Easyjet. These companies have daily direct flights to the main Italian international airports like

cooking) offering more rustic fare. Ideal for couples and families looking for more of a resort-based holiday, visitors stay in a selection of luxury

Milano Malpensa, Roma

resorts converted from former monasteries and old watchtowers, many of which have links to the golf courses, while the traditional Puglian

Fiumicino, Torino, Venice,

conical-shaped houses also make for interesting places to visit and stay.

Bologna, Pisa, Palermo,

There are four attractive 18-hole courses in the region, including San Domenico, Acaya, Riva dei Tessali and Barialto. The pick of the bunch are the first two, which offer a balance between challenging championship golf and a more accessible holiday layout.

20 British airports have

Offering fabulous sea views, myriad bunkers and fierce rough, San Domenico’s 6,986-yard course is fit to test the best, as it has done as the former venue for the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final. It’s located just back from the shoreline, so expect testing breezes in the afternoon.

Acaya Golf & Country Club, part of a Hilton resort and home to a Costantino Rocca Academy, boasts open fairways and receptive greens. It’s a good choice for golfers of more moderate ability, although it still presents a challenge off the back tees.

TO ORGANISE YOUR NEXT ITALIAN GOLF HOLIDAY, VISIT

www.italygolfandmore.com

Brindisi, while as many as

■ SAN DOMENICO, PUGLIA

direct flights to Italy.

[56] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SICILY SEASON

Enjoying a warm Mediterranean climate, a collection of world class golf resorts, and some of Europe’s most scenic towns and coastlines, Sicily should definitely be on your golf holiday hot list says Clive Agran

I

f, when you think of Sicily, you see thick-set men in dark glasses and spats, carrying violin cases and making offers no-one could possibly refuse, you might have to think again, and instead picture in your mind’s eye athletic-looking people dressed in sporty apparel, carrying golf clubs and conceding putts no-one would miss, surely.

Shaped like a deflated football and sitting just off the toe of Italy, this sun-soaked island is rapidly establishing itself as a golf destination par eccellentissimo despite the fact that there are reckoned to be fewer than a thousand golfers among the population of 5m living in an area 60 times the size of the Isle of Wight. Consequently, the eight fullsized courses are effectively for the exclusive use of overseas golfers from both mainland Italy and elsewhere.

A recent upsurge in the number of visiting Brits is so easily explained that it doesn’t require the deductive powers of Sicily’s most famous son, Inspector Montelbano.

Quite clearly it was the opening of a second international airport at Comiso in 2013 that triggered the influx. What is uncertain, however, is which is the greater attraction, the golf or the haunts of the fictional detective whose exploits were broadcast on

■ ALLEGROITALIA SIRACUSA GOLF MONASTERI IN SICILLY

BBC Four on Saturday nights.

Leaving to one side the man who is evidently doing for Sicily what Bergerac did for Jersey, let’s work our way anticlockwise around the island, starting from the other international airport at Palermo, and play five of the eight courses.

First stop is the famous Verdura Resort, which nestles next to the warm Mediterranean Sea on the south-west of the island. Passing through the gated entrance and swooping down to the elegant contemporary hotel, you very quickly realise you’re somewhere special. The only disconcerting aspect is the freaky similarity of the RF Rocco Forte logo to the famous and familiar Roger Federer equivalent.

Although endowed with pretty well every sporting facility you might want, it’s the golf

BOTH ARE BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED AND IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION, MAKING IT TOUGH TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM.

courses that are the principal attraction of this fabulous five-star resort. And they don’t disappoint. Both are beautifully presented and in outstanding condition, making it tough to choose between them. Why not play on the one the European Tour uses for the Rocco Forte Open? That’s not possible because a composite course made up more or less equally of holes from the East and West is used. Incidentally, big-hitting Alvaro Quiros lifted the trophy in May when he edged out Zander Lombard in a play off.

Both courses were designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2009. Phillips believes that golf should be fun, and that players shouldn’t spend hours searching for lost balls.

Consequently, his fairways are inviting and it’s principally the quality of the approach that determines how well or badly you score.

Another truly top-notch resort blessed with a beautiful pair of courses is Donnafugata, which is right down near the southern tip of the island. Again, one of the hottest topics of conversation that divides opinion pretty well straight down the middle of the fairway is which is better. The contenders are the Parkland and the Links.

Strictly speaking, the Parkland is not true parkland and, you guessed it, the Links is too far back from the sea to be even considered in the same category as Carnoustie or St Andrews but, if you feel more comfortable in spikes than cement boots, it’s perhaps as well to say nothing.

Parkland supporters point to the fact that this gently rolling track was given the nod over its neighbour when the Sicilian Open was played here in 2011. Raphael Jacquelin triumphed back then with four rounds in the 60s and a winning total of 12 under par.

Controversy, like Mount Etna on the other side of the island, erupted on the final day when failing light prompted one of the officials unilaterally to call a halt to proceedings. His

■ IL PICCIOLO ETNA GOLF RESORT

■ DONNAFUGATA

■ VERDURA BOASTS 27 HOLES OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF

maverick decision was quickly rescinded, allowing some players to complete their rounds while others waited until Monday morning. Confusion reigned, but unsubstantiated suspicions of possible Mafia spot-fixing were never investigated either by the European Tour or Inspector Montelbano.

The fairly open course is fun and far from intimidating. Designed by Gary Player, it weaves around the olive and carob trees dotted about the gently rolling landscape.

Although there are a couple of lakes, the odd stream and a bunch of bunkers, the principal threat is posed by the Bermuda

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

grass that deepens the further you stray from the fairways. The first cut of rough is a lot less troublesome than the second, which devours balls more rapidly than a Thompson submachine gun fired off rounds on St Valentine’s Day. Like Al Capone himself, it’s tough stuff, so don’t mess with it.

Although you can see the Mediterranean from various spots, the nearest you get to water on the ‘Links’ course is a couple of large lakes. Populated with a rich variety of ducks, geese and migrating birds, they provide enormous visual appeal and are the dominant focal points on a course

TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017

that sweeps joyously around them in two impressive bowls.

There’s plenty of elevation, and a number of lofty tees present inviting opportunities to drive into the valley below. Clear definition is provided by bushes that evidently flourish in the sandy soil and bear a striking resemblance to the gorse and broom found on genuine links – they even have yellow flowers. An almost complete absence of trees enhances the links look, while a solitary and impressive pine adds interest to the ninth.

Wide horizons and strong briny breezes blowing in from the Mediterranean further

[57]

hotel, which is an old monastery with modern additions, was deemed to be the priority, and so the bulk of considerable recent investment has been lavished on it rather than the course.

The latter enjoys a great layout that weaves between orchards, groves and cacti.

However, the lack of signage and indifferent condition rather let it down. These are matters ■ MOUNT ETNA REMAINS ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOS management assured me will soon be corrected. augment an authentic sense of seaside golf, Continuing north up the east coast so why wasn’t the Links chosen to host the past Augusta, no less, we climb up the Sicilian Open? At over 7,000 yards off the side of Mount Etna to a lovely spot 600 tips, it’s plenty long enough. Apparently, and metres above sea level, and, consequently somewhat surprisingly, the fear was the pros noticeably cooler. As you might expect, would find it too difficult. Ridiculous! the course at the Etna Golf Resort and Spa An unfair criticism could be that these two enjoys a great deal of elevation, and some superb courses, together with all the other of the tee boxes are way up high in the sky. wonderful facilities, discourage Donnafugata Higher still is the summit of Mount Etna, guests from ever leaving the resort, except to whose brooding presence is very apparent. fly home, thereby missing out on the lovely The buggies are noticeably quicker than local towns of Ragusa and Modica, sensational normal, possibly to facilitate a fast escape in seafood restaurants, stunning Baroque the event of an unexpected eruption. architecture, honey-coloured churches and Tight, tree-lined and truly top quality, palazzos, tours around chocolate factories and the course is a cracker. The only one on the wineries and, of course, I-spying Montalabano island with no Bermuda grass, it demands landmarks. precision rather than power, and the driver There’s no time to dwell, as we must head will come out of the bag about as frequently up the east coast to a course that’s easier to as Etna erupts. play than it is to say, Allegroitalia Siracusa Golf Guy Roberts, the club's English marketing Monateri. The first word was added at the manager, kindly invited me back. Frankly, it’s beginning of this year when Allegroitalia took an offer I almost certainly won’t refuse. over the management of the place. The lovely

[58] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PACK YOUR BAGS FOR PRAIA D’EL REY G

uests at the Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort can look forward to enjoying an enhanced fivestar experience when they visit this winter, after the top Portuguese resort completed a significant upgrade of its hotel facilities.

The award-winning venue completed a major refurbishment programme to key areas and facilities in its 177-room Marriott hotel earlier this year, in readiness for marking its 20th anniversary, as well as the

opening of a second links-style championship course, West Cliffs.

Featuring an array of five-star experiences, Praia D’El Rey has quickly risen to establish itself among Europe’s most popular golf destinations for individuals, families and groups since opening in 1997. Situated less than an

hour north of Lisbon, on Portugal’s magnificent Silver Coast, Praia D’El Rey’s par-73 championship course is set amidst a combination of extensive pine forests and undulating dunes, and features spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond. Designed by Cabell Robinson, it deserves its reputation as one of the continent’s top golf layouts, and West Cliffs Golf Links is set to quickly join it, judging on early reviews.

Offering sweeping views of the

Atlantic Ocean from each hole, the spectacular par-72 seaside links – which has been laid out by Cynthia Dye – has been created over 200 hectares of natural landscape, rolling sand dunes and coastal vegetation, and is the first Dye golf course in Portugal.

As well as golf, the resort boasts an extensive array of world-class sports, leisure and accommodation facilities, including a wide selection of villas, a tennis academy, a luxury spa and health club, and numerous watersports and restaurants.

For more information, go to www.praia-del-rey.com.

MAKE YOUR WAY TO MAGICAL MAZAGAN L

ocated 90km south of Casablanca, on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the Mazagan Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort features a 500-room hotel, 67 villas, six restaurants, spa, casino, nightclub, and an 18-hole championship golf course.

Opened in 2009, the resort was built

by South African hotelier Sol Kerzner a cost of more than £250m. Styled on traditional Moroccan architecture, the hotel features dark woods, mosaics, ochre walls and green-tiled roofs.

The golf course is the highlight of the leisure facilities on offer here, with Gary Player having carved out a superb 18-hole links that runs alongside a 3km stretch of beach. While only a handful of holes are hard by the sea, the 6,093-metre course follows the contours of the dunes and offers many natural links features, albeit it with very nonCeltic vegetation, including dreaded ‘witches fingers’, a stubby shrub that seems to live on a diet of golf balls.

The first five holes wend their way around the luxury villas built beside the hotel, but the fun really starts once you head down to the sixth, a superb par three where the crashing Atlantic waves are directly ahead of you. The fairways are extremely generous, which helps given the ever-present wind, although the challenge gets tougher as you get nearer the greens, with ragged-edged bunkers and heavily-contoured putting surfaces proving exceptionally testing.

Guests can chose from a variety of accommodation options, from private villas overlooking the course, to one of 468 deluxe en-suite rooms and 17 suites in the main hotel. Sea views come at a premium, but are worth the extra cost.

Golfers and non-golfers alike will appreciate the separate spa, which offers 19 treatment rooms, with treatments comprising a mixture of traditional Moroccan and Western influences. A hamman and a Technogym fitness centre are also free to use.

The hotel also boasts the largest casino in Morocco, with over 400 slot machines and 60 gaming tables, while the adjacent Alias nightclub can accommodate up to 1,000 people, and offers regular themed nights, live bands and guest DJs. An unlimited golf package this winter costs from £180 per room per night, based on two adults and two children sharing a double room, with breakfast and free access to all the leisure facilities. Return flights to Casablanca from London Gatwick on Air Arabia (www.airarabia.com) cost from £200pp, with a free shared transfer to the hotel included.

For bookings, visit www.mazaganbeachresort.com.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017 [59]

MY ALGARVE LOVE AFFAIR

Sarah enjoys a long overdue return date with the Old Course at Vilamoura, which is now under the ownership of the Dom Pedro Group

I MAKE NO SECRET OF THE FACT that covering the European Tour’s Portugal Masters for Sky Sports is my favourite week of the year. It was certainly even better this year, due to an earlier slot in the schedule, which made for perfect weather all week.

Great golf, great food, lovely people – what’s not to love?

This year saw one of the best Portugal Masters ever staged – a great field assembled with the Victoria Course hosting for the eleventh time. Designed by the late, great Arnold Palmer, and one of five courses at the Vilamoura resort, the Victoria opened in 2004 and, just a year, later staged the World Cup, won by Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge of Wales, before the first Portugal Masters was held in 2007.

Playing to 7,146 yards and a par 71, the picturesque and often sun-drenched track has generous fairways and gentle rough, and therefore puts a premium on accurate wedge play and converting numerous birdie chances. Despite its playability, there are a number of hazards strategically lurking across the 90-hectare site for those straying too far off line, with several lakes and bunkers in play, and plenty of natural vegetation, including carob, olive and almond trees.

The course was in perfect shape this year, with lots of refurbishment having happened in the lead up to the 2017 edition. It’s been a period of flux due to a recent change in ownership, with the Dom Pedro Group officially launching ‘Dom Pedro Golf’ after acquiring five of Vilamoura’s best-loved courses from Oceanico.

As the owner and operator of four hotels in the Algarve, and several more around Portugal and Brazil, Dom Pedro spells a new age for golfers traveling to Vilamoura. Central to the visitor experience will be what has long been recognised as Europe’s most complete golf offering, comprising five world-class championship golf courses, all within a 3km radius.

As well as the Victoria Course, the collection features

I POSTED A COUPLE OF

PHOTOGRAPHS ON INSTAGRAM DURING MY ROUND, AND IT WAS LOVELY TO SEE SO MANY COMMENTS SAYING FOR MANY IT WAS STILL THEIR FAVOURITE COURSE IN THE ALGARVE Pinhal, Laguna, the Old Course, and the Millennium.

Vilamoura is one of Europe’s most popular golf destinations, and the Dom Pedro Group has been at the heart of its development for over half a century. The organisation’s standing in the region has only been enhanced by the investment in the five headline courses, which are complemented by 634 hotel rooms and apartments at three four-star hotels and by Vilamoura’s other main attractions, namely the gorgeous, windswept beaches and the vibrant marina.

The group plans to invest more in the courses and facilities over the coming years, with a real vision to giving the properties an American feel when it comes to the high standard of service. Expect the offering to keep getting better and better.

I was lucky enough to play the Victoria Course on the media day a couple of years ago, and this year

■ THE DOM PEDRO HOTEL OVERLOOKS THE VICTORIA COURSE AT VILAMOURA

I tackled the Old Course. I’ve played it before, but its one of those layouts that you never tire of. Well, that’s not entirely true – I was pretty tired of finding the trees after I walked off the 18th green. I posted a couple of photographs on Instagram during my round, and it was lovely to see so many comments saying for many it was still their favourite course in the Algarve.

As many of you will know, it’s a tight, tree-lined course featuring some challenging holes, but in complete contrast to the Victoria course, where you can open your shoulders and hit driver off most tees, the Old Course is a strategic test of precision. I used my three-wood and long irons on many occasions, but that’s also a lot to do with how I’m hitting the big stick at the moment. I’m not the first, and won’t be last, to have seen a drive find an umbrella pine and remain there.

There’s no doubting the breadth and depth of wonderful golf on offer in Portugal, but the Algarve region still delivers on so many fronts when it comes to a golfing holiday, and that’s why it’s always number one on my list.

■ THE OLD COURSE AT VILAMOURA BOASTS TIGHT, PINE-TREE LINED FAIRWAYS

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @SARAHSKYSPORTS

[60] OCTOBER 2017 | TRAVEL

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■ THE CLUBHOUSE AT PONT ROYAL

GOLFING AROUND

PROVENCE With stunning hilltop towns, culturally rich cities, gastronomic delights, and 19 superb golf courses, including the showcase course of Pont Royal, the southern French region of Provence is packed with hedonistic pleasures to delight the senses

F

rance’s south-east region of Provence has plenty going for it as a year-round holiday destination, with long, hot summers giving way to cooler winters, while its stunning range of hilltop villages and culture-laden cities – such as Arles, Aix and Avignon – providing an irresistible attraction for generations of well-heeled travellers coming to experience its uniquely relaxed Mediterranean vibe.

Provence makes a wonderful destination for golf too, with a variety of quality courses within one hour of each other – and with the bonus of a wide range of tourist attractions all in one package making it more than a match for better known destinations in southern Europe.

Provence evokes images of fields of lavender and sun flowers, olive orchards and vineyards, all of which inspired artists such as Van Gogh and Cezanne.

The region has a history dating back before the Romans, who colonised the area and left an amazing legacy of architecture captured by coliseums at Arles and Nimes, which are still in use today. The Camargue on the Mediterranean coast is home to white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos, while inland you have the rugged Luberon and Alpille hills dotted with stunning hilltop villages.

It’s a region of heavily contrasting landscapes, and nowhere is this better reflected than in the choice of golf courses on offer, many of which have been designed by the game’s leading architects, who have worked in harmony with the natural beauty of the land to create some truly memorable layouts.

That can certainly be said of Barbaroux, which holds the honour of being first course ever designed in France by Pete Dye. It created quite a stir when it opened almost 30 years ago, and it’s still a talking point today, with its eclectic mix of architectural styles – part links, part US resort course – proving a somewhat unusual, if enticing, combination. Heavily contoured fairways, punishingly deep bunkers, and severe elevation changes make this short but challenging track a

thrill from start to finish.

Another celebrated American architect, Ronald Fream, put his mark on the Provencal landscape when he built Dolce Fregate, a stunning 18-hole parkland course located close to the Mediterranean near Bandol. Set amid vineyards and olive groves, and with fairways flanked by pines, it offers stunning sea views from almost every hole and is must-play on any visit to the region.

The same applies to Servannes, a jawdropping layout located in the foothills of the Alpille Hills. With the scent of lavender and the sound of cicadas wafting across the lush green fairways, the course winds its way around the base of the white rock of the mountains, before opening out into a valley of pines and olive trees, where several lakes and two island greens are among the hazards to contend with.

The 18 holes at Saint Baume Golf Club, located between Aix, the beautiful Mediterranean coast and Brignoles, occupy a similarly spectacular setting, with the Saint Baume Massif providing a stunning background to a pleasant parkland course where beautifully presented raised tees and greens are

■ PONT ROYAL 15TH HOLE

■ PONT ROYAL 7TH HOLE

AT THE HEART OF PROVENCE, BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL MEDITERRANEAN, AVIGNON WITH POPE’S PALACE AND AIX EN PROVENCE, A CITY OF CULTURE AND ART, LIES A HIDDEN JEWEL OF THE GOLF WORLD, GOLF INTERNATIONAL DE PONT ROYAL

■ LE MOULIN DE VERNEGUES

separated by manicured fairways regularly interspersed by large ponds.

At the heart of Provence, between the beautiful Mediterranean coast, Avignon with Pope’s Palace, and Aix en Provence, a city of culture and art, lies a hidden jewel of the golf world, Golf International de Pont Royal. One of the most revered clubs in the region Pont Royal, it opened for play in 1992, and enjoys the elevated status of being the only course in France designed by the late, great Seve Ballesteros.

Located in the pretty town of Mallemort, in the foothills of the Alps, Pont Royal was built on 75 hectares of ‘garrigue’, ancient hunting ground through pine woods and hills covered in wild herbs, with a superb backdrop of the Alpilles, the Luberon, the Durance Valley, and the Massif of the Trevaresse.

A former host of an Alps Tour event for a decade, Pont Royal’s 6,327m course is a tight, demanding layout that requires plenty of imagination and the kind of shot-making skills for which the legendary Spaniard was famous.

With holes that regularly plunge and soar across a forested landscape, Pont Royal is what they call a ‘thinking man's course’. A classic example of the challenge on offer comes at the 462·yard 7th, a dramatic par four which sweeps down from the tee and then up to the left on a thrilling rollercoaster fairway; or the par-

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TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017

[61]

■ PONT ROYAL 2ND HOLE

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO POLISH UP THEIR SKILLS, THE CLUB ALSO BOASTS A DAVID LEADBETTER GOLF ACADEMY, WITH PRACTICE FACILITIES INCLUDE A TWO-TIER DRIVING RANGE, THREE GREENS FOR CHIPPING AND BUNKER PRACTICE AND PUTTING facilities including a two-tier driving range, and three greens for chipping and bunker practice and putting. There is also a six-hole academy course, which is ideal for beginners, as well as for better players looking to sharpen up their short game.

Although the club has no accommodation of its own, there are numerous villas and apartments available for rent nearby, while the four-star Moulin de Vernegues Hotel & Spa is situated just a lob wedge from the third tee, and is naturally a popular destination for golfers.

A member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, it’s both traditional yet modern, boasting 100 well-appointed rooms spread out between a traditional old Provençal building and a more modern extension.

Many rooms feature private patios looking out over the golf course, while a fine dining restaurant, a fabulous I’Occitane spa, and a large outdoor swimming pool, add to its many attractions.

For golfers looking for further challenges, there are 10 golf courses within a 30-minute drive of Pont Royal, with a Provence Golf Pass offering green fees at up to five courses for just €177.

■ DOLCE FREGATE

BOOK YOUR GOLF TRIP TO PROVENCE PLAYING PONT ROYAL, €80 (APRIL-OCT), €64 (NOV-MAR). A SPECIAL LOW SEASON DEAL INCLUDES LUNCH AND AFTERNOON TEE TIME WITH A GOLF BUGGY FOR €60PP. GOLFPONTROYAL.COM BARBAROUX, €78/€56, BARBAROUX.COM. DOLCE FREGATE, €95/€70, DOLCEFREGATE.COM. SAINTE-BAUME, €76/€56, GOLFSAINTEBAUME.COM. SERVANNES, €76/€58, GOLFSERVANES.COM. PROVENCE GOLF PASS: PLAY FIVE OR THREE OF PROVENCE’S 19 GOLF COURSES FOR €177 OR €295 RESPECTIVELY. FOR DETAILS, VISIT WWW.GOLFPASS.EU.

STAYING LE MOULIN DE VERNEGUES,****

three 11th, a 200-yarder that requires an all-or-nothing shot from an elevated tee across a wooded gorge to a distant green perched on top of a rocky outcrop.

Closing out the back nine is Pont Royal’s version of ‘Amen Corner’, with holes 15 to 18 all presenting different challenges, and the last hole providing a dramatic finish, climbing up and over a hill before the fairway sweeps left, down to a sloping green next to a large lake.

With the occasional Mistral winds, some severe inclines, numerous large water hazards, and notoriously quick greens, Pont Royal is not for the faint-hearted, but it rewards players with stunning views, and with no two holes alike, you’ll be kept enrapt until you’ve holed the final putt.

The relaxed and stylish Provençal clubhouse offers an excellent choice of home-cooked Provencal dishes, while a glass of chilled rosé, grown from vines just miles from the clubhouse, always goes down well after a round here.

For those looking to polish up their skills, the club also boasts a David Leadbetter Golf Academy, with practice

WWW.MOULINDEVERNEGUES.COM PIERRE ET VACANCES LATITUDES HOTEL***, WWW.PIERREETVACANCES.COM FOR DETAILS OF PRIVATE HOMES WITH POOLS AND EASY ACCESS TO PONT ROYAL, CONTACT INFO@ GOLF-PONTROYAL.COM

GETTING THERE FLY: BRITISH AIRWAYS, EASYJET AND RYANAIR OFFER A REGULAR SERVICE FROM LONDON AIRPORTS TO MARSEILLE OR NIMES, WITH A FLYING TIME OF ONE HOUR 40 MINUTES. PONT ROYAL IS 30 MINUTES AWAY BY TAXI OR HIRE CAR. DRIVE: PONT ROYAL IS A 10-HOUR DRIVE FROM THE EUROTUNNEL OR FERRY, TAKING THE MOTORWAY ALL THE WAY VIA REIMS, DIJON, BEAUNE AND LYON, EXITING AT SENAS 10 ■ GOLF DE SERVANES

MINUTES FROM PONT ROYAL.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

5 REASONS TO BOOK A WINTER GOLF HOLIDAY AT LA MANGA CLUB

LA MANGA CLUB TO HOST CHELSEA FOUNDATION SOCCER SCHOOLS

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THE WEATHER Murcia is blessed with the best climate in Spain for winter golf, and you can still play in shirt sleeves for most of the winter.

2

CHEAP FLIGHTS Unlike many destinations, La Manga Club is well served by flights into Murcia and Alicante airports from across the UK.

3

CHOICE Three great courses all on your doorstep leave you chilled and relaxed to reach the first tee with no driving pressure.

4

LIFE La Manga Club is a resort that buzzes year round, providing guests with plenty of life off the golf course.

5

VALUE There are some exceptional deals to be had. A four-night, threeround golf break costs from €240 per person.

a Manga Club has long been popular with top-flight football teams, with some of the world’s most famous club’s using the resort’s premier footballing facilities for pre-season training and mid-season breaks, but the club has taken its football offering to a whole new level, following the opening of a new Soccer School hosted by Chelsea Football Club’s Foundation.

The exciting new venture will see the Chelsea Foundation stage a series of junior training camps at La Manga Club over the next three years, starting from Easter 2018.

La Manga Club’s CEO, Jose Asenjo, and Brendan Dwyer, the resort’s commercial director, visited Stamford Bridge for last month’s Carabao Cup match against Nottingham Forest, where they joined Spanish international Alvaro Morata in the tunnel prior to the 5-1 victory.

Dwyer said: “With outstanding

■ CHELSEA STRIKER ALVARO MORATA WITH LA MANGA CLUB’S JOSE ASENJO AND BRENDAN DWYER

facilities, and a fabulous year-round climate, La Manga Club has a reputation for working with some of the biggest names in sport. Chelsea has been one of the best teams in Europe over the last decade, and they enjoyed a fantastic year last season, culminating in winning the title, and we’re delighted to have this opportunity to work together and grow the game.”

Chelsea Foundation’s head of community, Shaun Gore, said: “We are delighted to be running Chelsea Foundation Soccer Schools at La Manga Club. La Manga Club

is famous for its fantastic training facilities, and this will enable children to develop and learn while in a safe and fun environment. We are really excited to be teaming up with the resort to offer a truly fantastic footballing experience.”

Boasting eight FIFA-approved grass pitches, La Manga Club is a popular choice as a destination for teams seeking a warm-weather football training break, with no fewer than 75 clubs from 19 different countries having held training camps there this year, including Chelsea’s U18 and U23 squads, which used the resort to help

prepare for their 2017-18 campaigns.

The first three Chelsea Foundation Soccer Schools are scheduled to take place at the resort next year, with the opening school being held the week before Easter, followed by two over the summer from July 3-15 and from August 21 to September 3. The schools will be open to boys and girls aged between four and 16. Each child will receive an official Chelsea training kit as part of the package.

Further details about the Chelsea Foundation Soccer Schools at La Manga Club will be announced shortly at www.lamangaclub.com.

LA MANGA CLUB RECEIVES GLOBAL GOLFING ACCOLADES

LA MANGA CLUB TO LAUNCH 2018 EUROPEAN AMATEUR GOLF TOUR

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T

a Manga Club’s status as a world-class golf resort has continued to rise following the latest annual awards issued by some of the world’s leading media outlets and travel associations.

For the fourth year in a row, the luxury sporting venue was the only resort in continental Europe to receive acclaim in the ‘Best Golf Resort in the World’ category at the 2017 Ultras Awards, being shortlisted alongside tPebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, St Andrews, and eventual winners Gleneagles.

La Manga Club was also named as one of the world’s best family-friendly golf resorts in Great Golf magazine’s inaugural list of the ‘Top 100 Greatest Golf Resorts’, while the resort is a leading contender for three top awards at the 2017 World Golf Awards – which it will host for the first time from November 23-26.

As well as being nominated for the accolade of ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’, the resort has also been shortlisted for two further honours, with La Manga Club’s South Course in the running to be named as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’, and its five-star Hotel Principe Felipe nominated for the title of ‘Spain’s Best Golf Hotel’.

The new accolades cap a memorable first six months of the year for La Manga Club – including receiving a Golf Digest ‘Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts 2017’, being voted ‘Spain’s Best Golf Resort’ by readers Today’s Golfer for the sixth year in a row, and becoming the first golf venue in Spain to be invited to join an exclusive new collection of the world’s top 100 golf resorts, as chosen by respected website Top 100 Golf Courses.

As part of its programme of sustained investment, the resort opened a new European Cricket Performance Centre this spring, while the eyes of the golfing world will be on the resort in November, when it stages the 2017 World Golf Awards.

La Manga Club will welcome delegates from all over the world for three action-packed days of unrivalled networking events, dinners and exclusive golf experience activities, with the highlight of the event taking place on November 25, when the winners will be announced a gala prize-giving ceremony.

LA MANGA CLUB SERVES UP PRE-CHRISTMAS GOLF WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS

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eaturing world-class facilities on and off the course, La Manga Club is a firm favourite with golfers across Europe, and players can end the 2017 season in style by heading to Spain’s flagship resort to compete in its La Manga Club Golf Open from December 5-8.

Taking place for a 17th successive year, the 36-hole event – which will be played on the resort’s North and South courses – attracts men and women from all over the continent, and offers the ideal chance to grab a sunshine golfing break before Christmas. Four-night packages are available from €425pp for guests staying in the Las Lomas Village, or €510pp when booking the Hotel Principe Felipe.

To book, email reservas@ lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

he burgeoning European Amateur Golf Tour, now established as the most popular amateur golf tour in Europe, will launch its 2018 season in spectacular fashion at La Manga Club next month.

Taking place from November 17-20, the ‘La Manga Club Murcia Open’ offers golfers the chance to enjoy four rounds at the world-famous resort, and a range of other attractive benefits, with packages starting from just £595 per person.

The 2017 EAGT tournament schedule featured some of the most prestigious venues in golf, including Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Sawgrass, and Whistling Straits, as well as classic European courses such as Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Sunningdale, Les Bordes, and PGA Catalunya.

Royal Birkdale and Erin Hills, hosts of this year’s Open Championship and US Open, also featured, and the 2018 tour promises to be just as strong – with La Manga Club leading the way.

Open to all male and female golf club members with an active handicap, the November event includes four rounds – two each on La Manga Club’s acclaimed North and South courses. An array of prizes will be awarded to the players with the best scores after each round, while the overall tournament champion will win automatic qualification to the 2018 EAGT Final.

As well as golf, players will enjoy three nights’ accommodation in either La Manga Club’s four-star Las Lomas Village or five-star Hotel Principe Felipe.

Non-golf packages are also available, with all prices – which are based on two people sharing a room – including complimentary access to the resort’s spa and leisure facilities.

For more information, visit www.eagt.co.uk or call 0845 4662222.

FOR THE LATEST OFFERS AT LA MANGA CLUB GO TO LAMANGACLUB.COM

TRAVEL | OCTOBER 2017 [63]

LAS COLINAS RETAINS LEADING VILLA RESORT CROWN WIDEN YOUR LISBON HORIZONS WITH ORIZONTE O rizonte-Lisbon Golf, the largest golf course management company in Portugal, has announced three new stay-and-play packages for the forthcoming autumn and winter season.

Situated within easy access of Portugal’s lively and cultural capital city, the Orizonte group portfolio is a firm favourite with golfers across Europe thanks to its collection of seven top-class golf courses.

It also boasts a selection of well-established coastal accommodation options dotted within the beautiful Costa Azul region, and the management group has just launched some stunning new stay-and-play golf packages incorporating its Ribagolfe, Quinta do Peru and Aroeira courses.

There are two hotel options in Sesimbra, a picturesque fishing village nestled in a sheltered bay in the Setúbal District, while there is also the chance to stay in Caparica, a lively resort town boasting stunning coastline views.

Four nights at the refurbished Tryp Costa da Caparica, located right on the sea, Includes

a round at Quinta do Peru and two rounds at Aroeira, starting from just €293, while a sevennight stay with two rounds at Quinta do Peru and Aroeira and one at Ribagolfe, starts from €490. A four-night stay at the Sana Sesimbra, with the same golf options as Caparica, starts from €284, while a seven-night stay is priced from €462. The Sesimbra Hotel and Spa costs from €311 and €482 respectively, with free access to the pool, sauna, Turkish bath, tropical shower, Swiss shower and gym.

Aroeira I, Aroeira II and Quinta do Peru – provide different tests of golf in stunning surroundings, with the latter establishing itself as one of Portugal’s top golfing venues, with its 6,660-yard, par-72 parkland layout rated among the top 100 courses in Europe. Aroeira I has hosted the Portuguese Open in 1996 and 1997, and together, with its sister course – Aroeira II – it is spread over 350 hectares of estate surrounded by thousands of pines and several lakes.

For more details, visit www.orizontegolf.com.

SET SAIL FOR THE RYDER CUP WITH BRITTANY FERRIES

B

rittany Ferries has unveiled a special package that takes in next year’s Ryder Cup in Paris, alongside a golf holiday.

As an approved operator

For

of Ryder Cup Travel Services, Brittany Ferries is offering a programme that includes sailings from Portsmouth and the official Ryder Cup ticket

and accommodation package, which includes five nights’ hotel accommodation, four-day standard Ryder Cup admission, and all transfers to Le Golf National.

As part of the launch of sailand-stay golf breaks to France and Spain 2018, it is offering a

L

as Colinas Golf & Country was crowned ‘Europe’s Leading Villa Resort’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards ceremony, whilst it also scooped ‘Spain’s Leading Villa Resort’ accolade for a third consecutive year.

Voted for by the public, the World Travel Awards support, promote and develop the global travel and tourism industry by recognising and rewarding excellence. The ‘Leading Villa Resort’ categories recognises resorts that offer the perfect combination of world-class facilities, as well as leisure attractions and services that complement the stateof-the-art property on site.

The resort, located south of Alicante in 330 hectares of

Mediterranean woodland, has become a leader in attracting international leisure visitors and second-home owners to the region since its opening in 2010.

A host of modern properties are currently for sale at the resort, including two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments and villas with large gardens or terraces, parking and green areas with communal or private swimming pools.

Apartments start at €245,000, with villas starting at €490,000.

The Troon-managed resort also boasts Spain’s Best Golf Course (World Golf Awards 2015, 2016), and is one of Continental Europe’s Top 100 courses, having recently risen 23 places in the

■ MIGEUL ANGEL JIMENEZ OPENED THE NEW SHORT GAME ACADEMY AT LAS COLINAS

recent Golf World rankings to 55th. It has also recently opened a new short game facility designed by Spanish golfing great Miguel Angel Jimenez. The 5,000-square metre facility, which was opened last month by the Ryder Cup star, features a 680-square metre green and two large practice bunkers.

£599 package to play the Ryder Cup course. That includes two nights on board, two nights’ bed-and-breakfast at the Hotel le Versailles, and three rounds at Golf de Courson, Golf National and Golf de Rochefort.

The company is also offering savings for early birdies: there’s

10% off all sail-and-stay golf break prices for bookings made before October 30.

“Our Ryder Cup package is the jewel in the crown of our 2018 golf breaks,” said Graham Ruth, director of Brittany Ferries golf. “We offer hundreds of sailand-stay breaks to play some of

the most challenging courses throughout France and Spain every year, but I have no doubt Le Golf National will be among our most popular next year.”

For more details, visit www. brittany-ferries.co.uk/golf or call 0330 159 5418.

one looking to drive somewhere different

Discover the delights of golf in France including The 2018 Ryder Cup course With Brittany Ferries Golf you can play some fine links or beautiful park-land courses, staying at comfortable hotels – and all an easy drive from our arrival ports in France.

The Ryder Cup heads to Le Golf National at Versailles from 25 - 30 September 2018, so why not play the course ahead of the big match play competition?

If you fancy being at the event itself, as an Approved Operator of Ryder Cup Travel Services travel partner we can arrange all aspects of your trip.

Call 0330 159 5418 email golfdesk@brittanyferries.com or visit brittanyferries.com/golf

Why choose golf with Brittany Ferries?

✓ Great value, including sailings, golf and hotel ✓ Award-wining service and top-class facilities on board ✓ Pack the clubs in the car at no extra cost ✓ Expert Golf Desk advice

[64] OCTOBER 2017 | COMPETITION

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ME&MYTRAVELS

Alan McInally, the ex-Scotland international and Sky Sports football pundit, rarely leaves the UK without his golf clubs in tow

My first ever holiday was… a family trip to Majorca when I was about 13 or 14 years old. My first as an adult was when I played at Celtic FC, and we all went to Vancouver in Canada.

My most recent holiday was to...

San Lorenzo in Portugal, where we played the Old Course at Vilamoura.

My favourite golf course is... the new look Ailsa course at Turnberry. I was brought up on the west coast of Scotland, and love all the courses around there. I have a huge soft spot for Loch Lomond, but I recently played the new Turnberry, following the changes. It is absolutely sensational.

My ideal holiday

■ SAN LORZENZO, PORTUGAL

fourball would include...

Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

They each brought something unique and special to the game. They might need to give me a few shots, though!

My best ever round was... a three-under-par 69 at Vale Royal Abbey in Cheshire, where I am a member.

My favourite golf destination is...

Florida. The weather is great – most of the time – and there are hundreds of great

courses to play, and superb hotels and restaurants.

I particularly like playing around Naples and Clearwater - the courses are groovy.

I always travel with... my flip-flops and plenty of golf balls!

I always try and fly British Airways.

The best hotel I've ever stayed at was… either the Fitzpatrick in New York or Sandy Lane in Barbados. They are both stunning hotels. I’ve been lucky enough to stay in both, as well as too many others

■ TURNBERRY'S AILSA COURSE

to mention or remember.

My favourite city in the world is ...

New York. My girlfriend is from Calgary in Canada, so I will have to say that too!

My most memorable holiday

meal was at… the Golden Dragon in Vilamoura. It might seem odd to pick a Chinese restaurant in Portugal, but the food was great and so was the company, and it occupies a beautiful spot overlooking the marina.

My worst holiday experience was... in Turkey.

Pretty much everything was a disappointment, so I’m not sure I’ll be hurrying back.

Beach and Oakland Hills.

The golf courses on my bucket list are…

Augusta, Pebble

My top travel tip is... don’t forget your passport!

I'm planning a golf trip to... Florida with Tour pro Gary Boyd early next year.

the new mauritius resort! c palmar by constance opens november 2017

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sri lanka luxury golf holiday * 13 nights from £2,625 pp

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Return flights 13 nights accommodation B&B 6 rounds of golf Car and driver throughout Wide range of excursions

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We pride ourselves on over 20 years of tailor making golfing holidays to South Africa, please get in touch and we’ll put a trip together to suit your individual requirements. We also have escorted group trips with tuition.

Join us on one of our popular escorted tours. Suitable for golfers and non-golfers alike, our PGA pro Jacques Gous will be your guide throughout and provide some tuition. Make new friends on the trip of a lifetime!

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