Golf News September 2016 by Golf News

ISSUE 258 | SEPTEMBER 2016

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW LEE WESTWOOD TRAVEL IRELAND LATEST HYBRIDS PREVIEWED PAUL BROADHURST

HOSTS BRITISH MASTERS RYDER CUP STARS DESCEND ON THE GROVE FOR TOP EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT

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PROACTIVE TOUR PROS SHOW THE WAY

he European Tour’s decision to ask tour pros to host tournaments, rather than simply playing in them, has proved something of a masterstroke. This year has seen Sergio Garcia roll out the red carpet for his fellow pros at the Spanish Open, while Rory McIlroy once again played the generous host at the Irish Open – although he was not so generous as to let anyone else win it. Last year saw Ian Poulter host the return of the British Masters at his home club, Woburn, which, thanks to a generous sponsorship by Sky Sports, and Poulter’s presence, resulted in crowds of over 60,000 attending over the four days. Poulter has handed over the baton for compering October’s British Masters to Luke Donald, who decided to move the tournament to The Grove in Watford, which is just 20 miles from his childhood home in Beaconsfield. The Grove’s championship layout is no stranger to hosting top-class golf, having staged the World Golf Championship event won by Tiger Woods (remember him?) in 2006, while the five-star resort is more than capable of laying on luxury digs for the pros who aren’t slumming it at the Watford Travel Tavern. It should be a sell-out event – especially as a large chunk of the European Ryder Cup team will be there fresh from victory or, heaven forbid, defeat at Hazeltine 10 days earlier. Among the bookies’ favourites will be defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who bagged his first European Tour victory at the British Masters last

September, and will be bidding for his third win in 12 months following his triumph at the Nordea Masters in June. Should he bring back the Ryder Cup, and regain his British Masters title, the drinks will definitely be on him. On the subject of pros taking on a more proactive role, it was great to see regular golfers getting a chance to play alongside the pros in last month’s European Seniors Tour Willow Classic at Hanbury Manor. As a unique feature of the event, regular club golfers – who stumped up a not insignificant sum – were able to tee it up alongside Ryder Cup legends such as Ian Woosnam and Mark James during the actual tournament itself, rather than in the ProAm that precedes most tour events these days. It’s a format that helped resurrect the fortunes of the Dunhill Links Championship, and it’s one that could well be rolled out across far more events in the coming seasons, as the professional tours bid to put on a much friendlier face for sponsors and golf fans alike. With the Senior Tour currently offering only 10 tournaments to its membership outside of the Majors, the European over-50s' circuit is in dire need of a shake up. While its players are in a far more relaxed frame of mind than they were in their younger days, and are still the heroic figures that golf fans in their 40s and 50s grew up watching, it is in a strong position to market itself more effectively to sponsors – and, of course, the fans, who are, after all, the lifeblood of all live sport. So a programme of all-inclusive pro-am events may well signal the beginning of a healthier future for this important section of the professional game.

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Mannings Heath A New Era The UK’s first ‘Golf & Wine Estate’. Great golf, wine tastings, fine food and more. The championship Waterfall Course still offers members the best of golf in the beautiful setting of the Sussex countryside, near Horsham. But now with a new range of both on and off-course facilities - including a wine tasting and spike bar - as we further improve the Waterfall and Kingfisher courses, the clubhouse and the welcome you’ll receive. We’ve turned Kingfisher into a new 9 hole course, open to members and non-members: we are using the space to create an amazing winery and vineyard. Visit us, hear our story and tee off from just £35* *Twilight from 4pm (Sept) – Twilight from 2pm (Oct)

PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images PUBLISHED BY BlueGreen Media REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Jeremy Ellwood, Sarah Stirk, Paul Mahoney, Clive Agran, Ross McGowan, Alistair Tait. © Copyright 2016. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in anyway or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

www.manningsheath.com Tel: 01403 210 228 | Email: info@manningsheath.com Address: Hammerpond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG

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SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

VAN’S THE BB&O MAN Van Phillips (Stoke Park) fired a second round 65 to land the PGA in BB&O’s Professional Championship held at the Cotswold Club. After a solid opening one-under-par 70 in the morning, Phillips turned up the heat after lunch with six birdies in a flawless display that clinched the title by two strokes from first round leader Greg Blainey (Billingbear Park), who followed his opening 67 with a 70. Guy Woodman finished third after matching Phillips’ 65 to add to an opening 73.

SUSSEX WIN FARLEIGH FOURSOMES

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MARKS HOLDS ON AT HANBURY TO CLAIM WILLOW CLASSIC

ary Marks captured his first European Senior Tour title in just his 17th event as he won the inaugural Willow Senior Golf Classic by two shots at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club in Hertfordshire. Marks started the final round with a commanding five-shot lead, but was pushed to the end by his playing partner, James Kingston. Winner of this year’s Senior Tour Qualifying School, the 52 year old’s best result this season had been a tied 18th finish at the Wales Senior Open before taking victory with rounds of 67, 63 and 72. “It’s the greatest day of my golfing life,” said Marks. “The strength of the field here was great, and you might have a friendly game with one of them and beat

Sussex won the South East Golf Union’s Junior Foursomes after finishing on 21 over par at Farleigh Golf Club’s Purple Course. The team comprised pairings of Nathan Longley and George Ounstead (+3); George Mills and William Townsend (+14); and Connor Johnson and Oliver Smith (+4). They

■ GARY MARKS WRAPS UP HIS FIRST

finished two shots clear of Surrey, with

SENIOR TOUR WIN AT HANBURY MANOR

them, but I beat them all, and I’ve won a major event, it’s one of the biggest events on the Senior Tour.” He added: “This season, I’ve been up the leaderboard and then falling on a number of occasions. The Senior Open was important. I put in two 70s and finished level par. Because of the scale of that event, it gave me a little extra strength.” Marks needed to draw on that strength on the back nine as a double bogey on the par-four 13th saw his lead reduced to four shots with five holes to play. “It was difficult to cope with mentally,” he said. “I had a seven-shot lead with the back nine to play, it suddenly got quite difficult. I had a penalty stroke and started to lose my swing a bit, it was quite tough getting over the finishing line. I had a four or five shot lead, but then I had another bogey after that, and in

your mind you start seeing things unravel. In the end, I hit enough decent shots to cross the line.” Australian Mike Harwood went two better than his result at the Scottish Senior Open, as he backed up his fourth-place finish at Archerfield with a second place at Hanbury Manor, finishing 12 under par after a final round of 68. Kingston recorded his best finish on the over-50s circuit, tied third on 11 under par. The tournament, which was generously sponsored by former Hanbury Manor captain Duncan Sinclair, proved a hugely successful fundraiser for the Willow Foundation, which was set by ex-Arsenal footballer Bob Wilson and his wife Meg, and provides special days for seriously ill young adults. Over £120,000 was raised from ticket sales and a special Pro-Am event that ran throughout the course of the tournament. The total sum was boosted by two players achieving aces in the Pro-Am, which triggered a £20,000 donation from insurers. The Wednesday Pro-Am was won by the team of professional Mike Harwood, Woburn captain Ian Holloway, former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings, and former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur footballer John Lacy, while the Thursday Pro-Am day was won professional André Bossert, Rob Jiggins, Steve Parnell and Rob Steed.

Hampshire a further shot back in third. The competition also included teams from Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

HOYLAKE TO HOST WALKER CUP IN 2019 The next home leg of the Walker Cup is to be played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The Wirral-based club, which hosted the Open in 2009, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its foundation when it hosts the biennial contest between Great Britain and Ireland and the USA for a second time from September 8-9, 2019. The Wirral links was the setting for the United States’ 13½-10½ victory in 1983, when it first staged the event.

WORTHING RETAINS SUSSEX LADIES DIV 1 TITLE Worthing successfully defended the Division 1 Sussex County Ladies Golf Association Interclub Championship title after beating Crowborough Beacon

EUROPE WINS JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY

■ EUROPE RAN OUT NARROW WINNERS AT PRINCE'S

he Continent of Europe won the Jacques Leglise Trophy for the first time since 2012 with a 13½-11½ victory against Great Britain & Ireland at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent. Leading their opponents by a commanding 8½-3½ at the start of the second day, the visitors won three of the morning foursomes to increase their advantage to 11½4½ going into the afternoon’s singles. Adrien Pendaries, who contributed a maximum four points for the Continent of Europe in the match, defeated Harry Goddard 3&2 to put his side 12½-4½ up, and within touching distance of winning the match outright. However, GB&I captain Marco Penge kept his team’s hopes alive after matching former Boys Amateur Champion Marcus Svensson’s birdie at the last with his own birdie putt from short range to win by one hole. Former Junior Open champion Kevin LeBlanc won four holes in a row between the 10th and 13th to beat Jonathan Goth-Rasmussan 4&3, while fellow countryman Mark Power picked up another point for GB&I shortly after, overcoming Boys Amateur Championship runner-up Alejandro Aguilera Martin by 2&1. The Continent of Europe did not have to wait much longer to win the match outright though, with Edgar Catherine’s encounter with Thomas Mulligan finishing all-square to give the visitors the vital half point to take them past the 12½ point mark and into an unassailable winning position. Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of Europe’s Ryder Cup team member Matthew, won by 3&2 against Pontus Nyholm, birdieing the 16th to close out his match. He finished the

event as one of the home side’s top contributors with 3½ points. Charlie Strickland’s dual against Boys Amateur Champion Falko Hanisch went the distance, with the Englishman going 1up on the 17th after the German could only manage a par – and he sealed his victory by one hole with a halve on the 18th. The penultimate match between Toby Briggs and Maximilian Schmitt was halved, before Jamie Stewart’s two-hole success in the final game against Kristoffer Reitan resulted in a 13½-11½ final score in favour of the Continent of Europe. In the morning foursomes, Schmitt and Hanisch continued their excellent form with a convincing 5&4 win against Toby Briggs and Mark Power.

in the final held at The Nevill. Fielding a strong team comprising several county players, including two juniors, Worthing lifted the trophy for the 14th time in the 115-year history of the event. The team, which was captain by Emma Bullock, included Karen Sykes, Paula Carver, Penny Brown, Anya Olsen, Suzanne Harmsworth, Heather Hilder-Darling and Sarah Cooper-Olsen.

HUNTSWOOD SOLD TO PRIVATE BUYER Huntswood Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has been sold to a private buyer for £1.75 million. The proprietary club, which is located between Marlow, Beaconsfield and Maidenhead, comprises an 18-hole course, and was sold by Savills as a going concern. It first opened for play as a 9-hole course in 1996 and was expanded to 18 in 2002.

NEW LOOK WENTWORTH TAKES SHAPE

he renovation of Wentworth Club’s West Course, which is currently closed while it undergoes a major redeisgn, has been given a boost following the signing of a new partnership between the club and respected golf consultancy firm European Golf Designs (EGD). The landmark deal will see EGD added to the West Course advisory team, and ensure that feedback from current European Tour players is at the heart of the West Course’s redesign and restoration. The firm will be working closely with Ernie Els Design on the extensive bunker remodelling programme, and will become a key consultant on the project that is aiming to restore the West Course to its former glory. As part of the process, Wentworth’s Director of Golf Courses & Grounds, Kenny Mackay, will work closely with EGD to ensure current players are

■ WORK IS WELL UNDER WAY ON THE WEST COURSE consulted throughout the extensive renovation and that their views are central in shaping the future of the West course, which has been the home of the BMW PGA Championship since 1984. The course is currently undergoing a series of comprehensive improvements – including the introduction of a SubAir system to the greens – which will be completed in time for next year’s tournament in May. Wentworth’s chief executive Stephen Gibson said: “Having the European Tour as our partner and European Golf Design join our advisory team is

absolutely fantastic news for the West Course and for Wentworth. It will mean ongoing player review and endorsement of our plans, which will be delivered by the industry’s best consultants. We really could not have a more complete team for the West Course restoration. “By next May, when the BMW PGA Championship returns to Wentworth for its 37th year, we will have one of the most outstanding courses in world golf, and I have absolutely no doubt that the changes we are making will attract the world’s best players to Wentworth. That is tremendously exciting.” Jeremy Slessor, managing director of EGD said: “We are delighted to be working with Wentworth on the restoration of the West Course. The process of consulting the leading European Tour players will certainly enhance the project, helping to ensure we deliver improvements that will result in an outstanding championship golf course.” After starting work after the conclusion of this year’s BMW PGA Championship, the project is well under way, with a dry summer allowing all the major earthworks to be carried out without delay.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WHY AN ARTIFICIAL PUTTING GREEN IS A MUST FOR ALL GOLFERS Costing as little as £2,000, all golfers should consider installing a Home Golf Design putting & chipping green

hanks to the UK’s shockingly inconsistent weather, keeping a lawn looking tidy at any time of the year is a tough job, but even when it does resemble the Centre Court at Wimbledon, grass is just, well, grass at the end of the day, and good for very little except looking at, interspersed with the tiresome jobs of weeding and cutting. Which is why more and more people are choosing to give up the national obsession with firing up the Flymo every Sunday afternoon in favour of pulling out the putter for a spot of practice on the latest generation of artificial greens. While a high percentage of Tour players have converted their enormous estates into full-scale replicas of the greens at Augusta, there are also plenty of regular golfers that are choosing to dig up

their smaller domestic lawns and replace them with something altogether more interesting to look at and fun to play on. Thanks to massive leaps in technology, the current ‘crop’ of artificial golf greens are far removed from the stuff you used to see behind the fruit and veg in your local greengrocers, and more akin to the carpetlike putting surfaces you’ll find on a championship golf course. And while a tour-standard setup can be expensive, a more simple design, featuring a few carefully constructed holes, can an affordable, yet equally effective option, for the amateur golfer. This is the type of customer that Home Golf Designs is currently working with to fulfill their domestic dream layouts. Set up ten years ago by experienced greenkeeper Andy Brown, who enjoyed spells at Nizels and Croham Hurst, Kent-based Home Golf Greens aims to

BEFORE

AFTER

HOME GOLF DESIGN CLIENT TESTIMONIALS “I LOVE PRACTISING ON MY HOME GOLF DESIGN GREEN, THANKS SO MUCH” ANDY SULLIVAN, EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYER

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meet the needs of the keen golfer looking to sharpen up their short game skills in the comfort of their own home. Rather than driving to their local club every time they want to put in a bit of work on their lag putting or greenside chipping, owners of a Home Golf Design green can simply open the back door and, hey presto, they’re on the first hole and sinking putts for fun. One of Home Golf Design’s earliest customers was three-time European Tour winner Andy Sullivan, who had a three-hole course built in his back garden in the Midlands. While the company can’t take full responsibility for Sullivan’s impressive performances on tour, having somewhere to practice his putting stroke at home clearly hasn’t harmed his form on the greens as he builds towards a potential Ryder Cup debut this autumn. “While it’s nice to work with tour players, and those will sizeable budgets, most of our projects are on a much smaller scale, where customers are looking for a few straightforward holes to practice on,” says Brown. “But no matter how big or small the project is, our attention to detail is exactly the same. We work closely with the client through every step of the process to make sure they get exactly what they want, and work within their budgets to achieve their ambitions.” The son of a golf professional, and with his experience as a greenkeeper, Brown prides himself on knowing the demands golfers have when it comes to replicating greens, as well as what is required to landscape holes into a domestic setting, where greens are often competing with the other requirements of a traditional garden. “Home owners don’t want a green just to be simply plonked down in the back garden,” says Brown. “So we work closely with the client to make sure it blends in with what is already there, and, if required, carry out sympathetic landscaping to ensure that it doesn’t dominate the setting.” Often taking less than a week to install, and requiring next to no maintenance, other than brushing off the leaves in autumn, a Home Golf Design green is a great addition to any golfer’s garden. And with chipping-length surfaces and custom-designed bunkers available to surround the putting green, as well as full-size practice driving nets, golfers can work on all aspects of their game at any time of year. So whether you’re looking to win next year’s club championship, set your children on the road to Open glory, smarten up your golf club, or simply want to have somewhere to challenge your mates to a few holes over a drink, a Home Golf Design putting green should be your very next step.

For more details on Home Golf Design's range of artificial greens, or to book a site visit, call freephone 0800 7837188, email info@homegolfdesigns.co.uk or visit www.homegolfdesigns.co.uk To follow the latest projects follow Home Golf Designs on Twitter @homegolfdesigns

SIGNATURE SHAPE MEETS EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE.

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[8]

SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SAUNTON TO HOST BOYS' AMATEUR The East and West Courses at Saunton Golf Club have been chosen to host the Boys Amateur Championship in 2019. The North Devonshire club last held the event in 1997, when Sergio Garcia won by 6&5 against Richard Jones. Saunton boasts a long record of hosting top amateur events, with the St Andrews Trophy, the English Amateur Championship, and the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship having been staged there in recent years.

DETRY RISES TO THE BRIDGESTONE CHALLENGE

NEW GOLF CENTRE TO OPEN AT CHADWELL SPRINGS A new family-orientated centre is to open at Chadwell Springs Golf Club in Hertfordshire next year. The revamped venue, which will feature a nine-hole par three course, a 9-hole pitch and putt course, and a 22-bay driving range, is being remodelled from an existing 18-hole course whose site was split by the rerouting of the A10 several years ago. The club is currently closed for the development with the the par-three course scheduled to be unveiled in late spring.

GROOM BRUSHES OFF SUSSEX RIVALS Worthing juniors filled the first two places in the Sussex U15 championship held at windy West Hove Golf Club on August 31. Billy Groom took the scratch title with a one-under-par 71, with clubmate William Townsend taking second on countback from Cuckfield’s Oliver Dickman, after both players shot 73s. The handicap competition was won by Jacob Watson (Ham Manor), who fired a net 65 playing off a 17 handicap. He finished one shot clear of Charlie Gilgenkrantz (Singing Hills), who shot a net 66 off a 16 handicap.

elgium’s Thomas Detry made Challenge Tour history to claim his first professional win as he romped to a stunning 12-shot victory at the Bridgestone Challenge held at Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire. The 23-year-old Challenge Tour rookie fired himself into the lead with a stunning 12-under-par first round of 60, and then carried on a remarkable scoring record over the 7,000-yard course for the next three days to finish on 29 under par, following a final round 63. Detry’s winning total matched the joint lowest under par score in Challenge Tour history set by Ivó Giner in 2003, while it broke

the record for the largest winning margin on the Challenge Tour, which was previously set at 10 shots by Brooks Koepka in 2013. Heavy rain during the third round caused delays that required the leaders to play 27 holes on the final day, but Detry was unfazed by the weather, as he fired 11 birdies in his final round to finish clear of runner up Thrirton Lawrence of South Africa, with Denmark’s Martin Ovesen a further shot back in third. Detry, who was ranked eighth in the world as an amateur before he turned professional in June, was ecstatic with his record-breaking victory, and is looking forward to trying to climb higher up the

rankings on the 2016 Road to Oman after picking up a first prize of €28,800. “I am lost for words,” said Detry. “I only turned professional three months ago, so to win so early in my career is a dream come true. We’ve had all sorts of weather, and a few delays, but fortunately I was able to stay in the zone and play some pretty good golf – it was a lot of fun.” Detry’s victory was made all the sweeter by the news that his close friend, and fellow University of Illinois graduate, Thomas Pieters, had won his third European Tour title in Denmark. “It is amazing,” he said. “Last night we were texting each other saying ‘Let’s do this, let’s win this for us, for our coach back hom,e and our coach back in the United States’. We get along very well, and it is really cool that we have both won on the same day.” The tournament, which was reappearing on the schedule for the first time since 2012, was backed by tyre and rubber company Bridgestone, whose products were showcased in a special driving area at the venue. The Bridgestone Challenge formed the focal point of a package of golf sponsorships for Bridgestone in 2016, which also included the creation of the first ever DriveGuard Trophy, which reached out to thousands of amateur players.

DOUBLE ACE FOR DELL

ussex club amateur Carol Dell achieved a rare double last month when she aced the same hole twice in the space of just five days. The lucky lady holed out with a single blow on the 144-yard 16th hole on the Oaks Course at Horsham Golf & Fitness on August 12, and then repeated the impressive feat on August 17.

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PGA RECOGNITION AWARD FOR POULTER

yder Cup hero Ian Poulter is to receive the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to the game at this year’s PGA annual fundraising lunch. Poulter, who qualified as a PGA Professional back in the 1990s, before scaling the heights of the game as a player, will be the guest of honour at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on December 16. The 40 year old follows in the footsteps of some of the game’s greatest names to have been recipients of the award including Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and current Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke. PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Ian will be the guest of honour at the PGA lunch and receive this award. His is a truly inspirational story that shows that if you combine talent and determination, you can achieve your dreams. “He has excelled on the world stage, and nowhere more so than through his Ryder Cup feats, which are on a par with anything we have seen in the history of the matches. No-one will ever forget his performance on Saturday afternoon in the 2012 Ryder Cup, which played such a huge part in the Miracle at Medinah.”

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016

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FOXHILLS TO HOST PGA CUP

number of prestigious tournaments such as the European Tour’s Tournament Players Championship and the Tour’s Qualifying School, where Open champion Sandy Lyle tasted victory. PGA chief executive Sandy Jones commented: “Foxhills is a perfect venue for the PGA Cup, with a great history and a fantastic course that will be ideal to showcase the talents of the leading PGA players from either side of the Atlantic. The victory in California last year has really whetted everyone’s appetite for this next chapter in this great event. With GB&I also having tied at Slaley Hall in 2013, and grabbed victory on the last hole in 2015, it promises to be another equally close fought and exciting contest between the teams.” Marc Hayton, Foxhills’ managing

oxhills Club & Resort in Surrey has been chosen as the host venue for Great Britain & Ireland’s eagerly anticipated PGA Cup clash with the United States in 2017. The Ottershaw-based club will stage the 28th playing of the matches which will be contested over three days in a Ryder Cup-style format from September 15-17. GB&I, under newly appointed captain Albert MacKenzie, will be bidding to retain the Llandudno Trophy following last year’s thrilling first triumph on US soil at CordeValle in California. Foxhills, which features two championship courses – the Bernard Hunt and Longcross – is the longterm venue for the Senior PGA Professional Championship. The club enjoys a long tradition of hosting elite level golf, having staged a

WATERLOOVILLE FALLS VICTIM TO BANKING FRAUD

aterlooville Golf Club in Hampshire has been swindled out of over £90,000 after being targeted by an online banking scam. The club has since had to take on a 10-year bank loan to plug the gap in it finances, after fraudsters founded a loophole in the club’s software

■ WATERLOOVILLE HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO PLUG THE CLUB'S FINANCES AFTER BEING DEFRAUDED OF £90,000

COLES BURNS OFF BRENTWOOD RIVALS

■ WINNING GB&I TEAM IN 2015 director, added: “The PGA Cup is an excellent showcase of the world’s best club professionals, and we are delighted to host the 2017 event. The transatlantic competition will be hotly contested, and hopefully home advantage will help the GB&I team extend their winning streak. We look forward to working closely

with the PGA team and making the contest a great success.” The PGA Cup was first contested in 1973 at the legendary Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina, with the Llandudno Trophy, that the teams contest, being donated by former Ryder Cup player Peter Alliss, who inherited it from his father Percy.

security systems in 2014. The hackers were able to steal the funds after sending an email disguised as an invoice. When an employee clicked on the attachment, it downloaded ‘spyware’ on to the computer, inadvertently ging the fraudters the ability to withdraw funds from the account, which they did the following day in two instalments. Nat West, the club’s bankers, refused to refund the lost money because the club had not downloaded the bank’s own security software. The club’s chairman, Mark Pinhorn, said a direct transaction from the savings account was a highly unusual payment that should have been flagged by the bank, but wasn’t. NatWest agreed that the transactions were not authorised by the club, but claimed ‘gross negligence’ on the part of the club and maintained it was not responsible for the fraud. A bank spokesman said: “We have every sympathy with the club being the victim of malware fraud. We investigated the case thoroughly and provided a detailed rationale for the outcome. We provide extensive security advice to enable customers to prevent malware fraud, through direct messages, emails and access to the security centre on our website.” Waterlooville is not the only golf club to have been targetted by banking fraudsters – only last month Harrogate Golf Club in Yorkshire lost over £300,000 to a similar scam.

European Tour professional Robert Coles took advantage of glorious sunshine to sparkle with a fine six-under-par 66 in the Brentwood Pro-Am. The Maylands Golf and Country Club pro flew in to compete having earned a top 20 finish in the European Tour event in Denmark. And his good form continued, with the only blemish on his card coming with a bogey on the par-three 18th. Coles finished three shots ahead of Jason Levermore (Channels), who was two ahead of a three-way tie for third between Mark Davis (Thorndon Park), Steve Cipa (South Essex) and Craig Donaldson (TopGolf Chigwell).

SAUNDERS’ WISE AFTER THE EVENT Kevin Saunders (Brokenhurst Manor) secured a one-shot victory in the Be Wiser Insurance PGA in Hampshire Masters after shooting a 141 total for 36 holes at Hartley Wintney. He finished ahead of Jon Barnes (Lee-on-Solent), with Adam Hickling finishing in third after collapsing to a second round 79 to add to his record-breaking first round 65.

WORTHING IN CHARGE AT COODEN Worthing won the Sussex County Union’s Olivers Trophy after beating Royal Eastbourne 9-3 at the final held at Cooden Beach. Worthing took the morning foursomes 3-1, with the biggest win coming from first pairing Tim Martin and Scott Nightingale, who beat Brad Manton and Gary Brockwell 7&5. The afternoon singles were similarly one-sided, with Worthing winning five matches and halving two, with Richard Hine’s 1up win over Scott Williams gaining the only full point for Eastbourne.

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[12] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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BOSSERT BREAKS SENIOR DUCK AT WINDY WOBURN KURDI SCOOPS SURREY U13 TITLE Twelve-year-old Shergo Kurdi fired a fourover-par 75 to land the Surrey U13s title at Malden Golf Club. The four-handicapper from Windlesham Golf Club finished four shots clear of second-placed Benjamin Brew (Surbiton), with Jack Evans (Royal Wimbledon) taking third on countback from Jack Osborne (West Surrey) and nine-year-old Oscar Lent (Walton Heath). Kurdi, who finished second in the Surrey 15 Championship and third in the U16 Championship held at West Surrey, also finished third in the U14 Championship at Malden, which was won by Harry Crockett (Addington Palace), who shot a oneover-par 72 to beat Barnes Wallis (Surrey National) by a stroke.

CIPA IN CHARGE AT WANSTEAD European Senior Tour pro Steve Cipa birdied his final three holes to win the Wanstead Pro-Am with a three-under-par 66. The South Essex Golf Centre player finished a single shot ahead of the quartet of Steven Hambling (Braintree), Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood), Jason Levermore (Channels) and Ian Ellis (Great Yarmouth & Caister).

SHIELD SUCCESS FOR STOKE PARK LADIES Stoke Park Country Club ladies' team secured the prestigious Bucks Challenge Shield for the fourth consecutive year at Harewood Downs. The seven-strong team Thalia Kirby, Daisy Kennedy, Georgina Bowers, Amelia Curtis, Jill Dodds, Camilla Kastrup and Edwina Acheson - played superbly to see off Burnham Beeches in style in the morning semi-final. And the same septet won all their games in the afternoon final against Buckingham to secure the title in wholly convincing fashion.

fter hosting the world’s best female players earlier this summer at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, Woburn Golf Club switched gender and age group to host the cream of the European Senior Tour at the Travis Perkins Masters, which was held at the Bedfordshire club from September 2-4. After two successful days of pro-ams, the main event got under way on the Duke’s Course in unbroken sunshine, and it was former dual TP Masters champion Des Smyth who took up the early running with an opening 66, pursued by recent tour winner Tim Thelen, and 2013 order of merit champion Paul Wesselingh, in front of large and appreciative crowds. The weather took a turn for the worse for the second round, with swirling winds and lashing rain making life difficult for all players on the testing woodland course. However, former Masters champion Ian Woosnam rose to the challenge to score a best-of-the-day 68 to move into a share of the lead with Switzerland’s Andre Bossert, who added a 70 to a first round 69 for a five-under par total and a share of the lead. Peter Fowler and Phil Golding lay just one

■ ANDRE BOSSERT COLLECTS HIS FIRST SENIOR TROPHY FROM THE DUKE OF BEDFORD stroke back, with Italy’s Costantino Rocca just two shots off the pace, in what looked like a compacted leaderboard with just 18 holes to play in the 54-hole tournament. Strong winds greeted the players once again for the final round on Sunday, and it was Bossert, who had yet to win on the over 50s' circuit, who held his nerve with a best-ofthe-day 69 to break his duck with a four-shot win over Woosnam, who struggled to find his top form with the putter, and had to settle for second place alongside former French Open

GRIFFITHS GRABS EUROPRO SPOILS AT ESN

urrey professional Curtis Griffiths won the Matchroom Sport Championship after a suddendeath play-off with Ashley Chesters at East Sussex National in Uckfield. Griffiths, who is attached to Wentworth Club, fired rounds of 70, 65, 70 to match Chesters’s 54-hole total of 205 and take the game into overtime. Griffiths had held the lead for most of the final round on the East Course after birdies at the second,

winner Phil Golding. “To me this is the biggest event on the Senior Tour outside of The Senior Open, so to get my first win here is something of a dream come true,” said Bossert, who was presented with the Travis Perkins Masters trophy by His Grace the Duke of Bedford, and picked up a first prize of €60,000. “And to do it in the company of a legend like Woosie makes it even more special. It was nice to have A three-shot cushion playing the 18th – it certainly made the walk down the last fairway very enjoyable.”

7th, 12th and 14th, while Chesters kept in touch with birdies of his own at the 5th, 12th and 15th. The lead changed hands at the 17th, when Chesters made birdie and Griffiths dropped a shot, but there was still time for the Wentworth man to pull level when he parred the last, with Chesters making his first bogey of the tournament. In the play-off, both players took three to reach the green in the heavy rain, but Griffiths managed to sink a 12-foot putt for the win, while Chesters’ similarlength effort failed to find the hole. Griffiths won £10,000, a Motocaddy S1 Lithium trolley, a Bushnell Tour X rangefinder and a pair of Bollé sunglasses.

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[13]

CAMERON ROLLS BACK THE YEARS TO CLAIM PGA SUPER 60S TITLE

ent professional Bob Cameron and his amateur partner Gordon Hedley ensured lightning of the metaphorical kind did not strike thrice at Gleneagles by winning the PGA Super 60s Championship. In doing so, the pair from Sundridge Park Golf Club prevented defending champion Murray White from recording an unprecedented hat-trick of victories in the tournament for PGA Professionals and their amateur sidekicks aged 60 or over. But it was a close run thing, with the destiny of the £1,000 winner’s cheque in the balance well into their second circuit of the Queen’s Course at the worldrenowned Ryder Cup venue. They had begun the second round level on seven under par with White and Moor Park member Bob Head. And with the duos trading birdies, it stayed that way until the pairs negotiated the par-three 14th on the James Braid-designed course. They went into it all square, but the eventual winners emerged from it two strokes to the good. “That was the crucial hole,” said Cameron. “They bogeyed it and Gordon, who had a shot, made par, so it resulted in a two-shot swing in our favour.” White and Head reduced the deficit to one with a birdie at the 15th, but a double bogey at the 16th proved terminal to their hopes, and it was left to Hadley to deliver the coup de grace on the 18th, following up his first round eagle at the final hole with a nett birdie for 13-under-par total of 123 and a three-stroke victory. “It was a tough battle, always competitive but very friendly,” said 63-year-old Cameron, who has played on the European Senior Tour and was once head pro at Sundridge Park. “We play in a lot of pro-ams in the south, but this was our first time in this tournament. We’ve enjoyed every minute of it. We’ve met a great bunch of guys, the course was in fabulous condition, and we’re thrilled to win it.” ■ BOB CAMERON AND GORDON HEADLEY

ABBOTT BLITZES MILBROOK RIVALS John O’Gaunt professional Phil Abbott won the inaugural KJW Pro-Am with a career-best nine-under-par round of 65 at Millbrook Golf Club in Bedford. His record-breaking round included nine birdies and no bogeys.

NEW PAR-THREE COURSE OPENS AT WESTERHAM

on Noades, the late chairman of golf group Altonwood, had a mission to make golf available to all, and his ambition looks to be well on the way to becoming reality, following the opening of a new 9-hole, par-three course at Westerham Golf Club in Surrey. Plans for the course first began in 2009, long before Noades’ passing in 2013, but after extensive negiotiations with the Environment Agency, Kent County Council and Sevenoaks District Council, planning approval was finally obtained towards the end of 2011. Designed with beginners in mind, the new ‘Churchill 9’ parthree course will be the focus for Altonwood’s tuition centre, providing a first-class venue where juniors and adults can learn and develop their skills before progressing to a full-size course. Located on the site of the old Brasted Sand Pits extraction site, development involved not only the restoration of the site, but the protection of its ecologically

important plant species and invertebrates. These are detailed as ‘Open Mosaic’ areas (usually termed as ‘rough’ on golf courses) only add to the interest and difficulty of the course, while the lake between the 7th and 8th holes adds a further degree of difficulty, but the club has advised that the water is deep and players should not, under any circumstances, enter the water in an attempt to retrieve any golf balls. Instead they should take a drop out on an adjacent fairway. Together with Westerham’s already extensive short game practice area, driving range and indoor tuition centre, the Churchill 9 provides a superb facility for beginners to build their confidence and hone their skills. Run by Altonwood’s team of PGA Professionals, an extensive tuition programme has been developed to target new golfers and encourage people to take up golf, including a detailed programme for schools, which meets the needs of the national curriculum.

NIVEN SECURES BB&O SENIOR CHAMPS David Niven (Newbury & Crookham) secured his first BB&O Seniors Championship after beating Ian Oakes (Denham) in a playoff at Denham Golf Club. Niven shots rounds of 73 and 76, and Oakes 77 and 72 to tie the scores on 149, but Niven, who had finished runner-up in three previous Senior Championships, won at the first extra hole after Oakes found the trees with his tee shot.

GOUGH LOWERS STOKE PARK RECORD Thirteen-year-old Conor Gough fired a course record-breaking 62 at Stoke Park en route to winning the club’s Junior Open by 10 shots. The round started relatively slowly, with a birdie-eagle start tempered by a bogey to see him out in 34, but the back nine featured no fewer than seven birdies and no dropped shots to come home in 28.

KEMP CAPTURES BB&O TITLE John Kemp ended his streak of runner up finishes in the BB&O Amateur Championship after winning the title at The Oxfordshire. The plus-three handicapper from Woburn shot rounds of 70, 75, 75 and 69 to finish two shots clear of Tim Shin, and three ahead of David Langley, both of whom play at Castle Royle. Ben Jenks (Buckingham) won the Penfold Trophy for the leading handicap score after the first 36 holes with a 143 total.

[14] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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GOODWOOD TO OPEN WAITING LIST AS CREDIT MEMBERSHIP PROVES A HIT

LASKEY LEADS FROM THE FRONT Hertfordshire’s Mark Laskey won his first EuroPro Tour title of the season after shooting rounds of 67, 68 and 65 at The Oxfordshire to capture the FORE Business Championship. He fired rounds of 67, 68 and 65 for a 16-under-par total, to finished two strokes clear of Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool). Victory moved the Brocket Hall professional up to second on the money list and also earned him an exemption to second stage of European Tour Qualifying School.

COWPER SECURES SURREY TITLE Surrey Downs’ professional Craig Cowper captured the PGA in Surrey Championship after shooting rounds of 70 and 73 at Bletchingley for a one-under-par total. David Copsey (Poult Wood) and Andy Raitt (St George’s Hill finished joint second.

olf At Goodwood’s credit membership system has proven so popular that the club is to stop accepting new members at the end of the year. The West Sussex-based venue, which boasts two 18-hole courses, has made the decision to close its books to new members next year in order to ensure that current members still have the best possible golf experience. Any new applicants for membership after December 31 will be asked to join a waiting list. First introduced in 2006, the credit-based scheme has seen Goodwood enjoy a net gain of over 600 members from when it operated a traditional seven- and five-day annual

memberships. This year has seen the club receive an average of 30 applications for membership each month. The scheme has also encouraged women and young players to stay involved and take up the game, with 331 of the current members being female and 88 being juniors. The current fee structure requires all flexible members to pay an annual fee of £345, on top of which credits are bought in blocks to redeem against tee times, guest games, buggies and lessons. The credits do not expire, providing the membership is renewed. Goodwood’s Academy has also experienced increased

participation levels, with 125 children taking part in summer camps, 95 juniors training on the Level Up programme, and over 50 women enrolled on Get Into Golf. Eddie Bullock, a nonexecutive director of Golf At Goodwood and former PGA Captain, believes that these positive numbers are evidence of how the club is breaking the mould. He said: “I have been involved with the club for six years, and in that time the team has continued to challenge convention. By delivering innovative and memorable golf experiences, Golf At Goodwood has grown against the current UK trend.”

GIBSON WINS AMERICAN GOLF JUNIOR TITLE North London teenager Elle Gibson was crowned the 2016 American Golf Junior Girls Champion after shooting a net 63 in the final held at Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire. The 13 year old from Barnet, who plays off 16, qualified for the finals after winning a regional event at The Shire London, where she is a member.

GROVES GOES CLOSE AT CZECH OPEN Hertfordshire professional Luke Groves missed out on bagging his first tour win after losing out in a play-off at the WGM Czech Open at Beroun Golf Club. The 23-year-old form South Oxhey finished tied on six under par with local player Ondrej Lieser, after shooting four rounds of 70 and a final round 72, but lost the play-off.

■ GOODWOOD'S DOWNS COURSE

FERNDOWN’S ALLISS INVITATIONAL RAISES OVER £30,000

he annual Peter Alliss Invitational Charity Golf Day held at Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset succeeded in raising over £30,000 for a range of good causes. The tournament, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary and was sponsored by JM Scully Ltd, saw 23 teams take part in a shotgun start over Ferndown’s championship course. The competition was won by the team comprising John Astley, Reine Baker, Andrew Lear and James Wilson, who combined to score 87 points. A post-round auction, which was hosted by Mike Osman and featured prizes including the use of a luxury villa in Thailand and a tour of the BBC South Today studios, helped push the money raised on the day to over £30,000, which will be split between the Peter Alliss Wheelchair Crusade and the Ferndown captain’s chosen charities. Alliss, who personally attended the event, said: “The concept of the Alliss Invitational was thought up 30 years ago by Derek Silk, John Iles, and myself. On a small scale, we aimed to raise as much money as we could for disabled young people. Now, 30 years on, we have raised over £1 million and donated hundreds of wheelchairs to change the lives of so many children and young people.” Ian Walton, Ferndown’s general manager, added: “The new competition format was introduced last year, and with Peter’s continuing support, has contributed to the success of the day and, most importantly, valuable money being raised for charity."

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016

WEXHAM PARK UNVEILS INVESTMENT PLANS

he new owners of Wexham Park Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire have vowed to transform the club into a family-friendly facility that will appeal to all sections of the local community. The Slough-based venue, which boasts 27 holes of golf split across two courses, has recently been bought by Toureen Group Ltd. Under the new agreement,

Cornerstone Golf will manage the day-to-day running of the centre, and, together with the new owner, plan to enhance the current facilities, with extensive upgrades to the range, short game area, and retail facilities. “We want Wexham Park to become a prime example of a modern, family-friendly golf facility that offers something for everyone,” explained Adam Stacey, the centre’s Director of

Golf Operations. “We have a strong membership that includes a vibrant junior section, and we want to maintain this momentum by pushing the club to the forefront of growing the game.” Wexham Park is already a hub centre for the BB&O region, where PGA Fellow Professional Martin Heys works with the U12 squad, while its training academy has produced a number of players that have gone on to play at both national and international levels, with recent academy graduate Meghan MacLaren

being part of the winning GB&I team at this year’s Curtis Cup. “The heritage of the centre and the relationship it has with aspiring golfers within the local community is hugely important to us,” said Heys. “Everyone who comes through our doors is well looked after and made to feel welcome, and hopefully they feel inspired by their surroundings to get out and make the most of the facilities that we have to offer.” In addition to the two courses, the club employs six professionals who provide tuition on the course, and the soon-to-be upgraded 36-bay driving range and short game practice area. Additionally, a purpose-built Footgolf course provides a fun variant of the game that is suitable for all the family. “The future of the centre is going to be very exciting,” added Stacey. “We can’t wait to get started on developing the facilities at the club and cementing its place as a sporting hub within the local area.”

WALLIS CANTERS TO KENT PGA TITLE AT CANTERBURY

ewly-attached Canterbury PGA Professional Richard Wallis won the Kent PGA Championship after shooting rounds 64 and 67 around his home course. The former Walmer & Kingsdown pro’s 11-under-par score saw him finish three shots ahead of Scott Stevens (The Ridge), with last year’s champion, Benn Barham, in third on seven under. Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson re-affirmed his position as one of the leading assistants in the county by finishing fourth and picking up the leading trainee award for the second year in a row. Playing at the immaculately prepared Canterbury Golf Club, Wallis took full advantage of his recently acquired local knowledge, shooting a superb morning round of seven-under-par 64 to take a two shot lead over Barham’s 66. In hot pursuit, with rounds of 67, were Stevens and Wilson. Determined to maintain his lead and claim the championship title, in the afternoon round Wallis opened his bid with a birdie and made another at the third to reach nine-under. Staying patient, Wallis reeled off six more pars before finding another birdie at the 15th – and with pars on the last three holes no-one could touch him.

[15]

WALLACE’S WINNING RUN ENDS Moor Park professional Matt Wallace extraordinary winning run on the Alps Tour came to end this month when he finished fourth in Citadelle Trophy International in France. The 26 year old was bidding to win his sixth Alps Tour event in a row, but came up just one shot shy of making the play-off for the title, following a final round 67 at Golf de Preisch. With just three events remaining, Wallace is certain to win the Alps Tour money list, and has already secured exemption from the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School.

HERTS SECURE INTER-COUNTY FINALS PLACE Hertfordshire qualified for the finals of the PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship following an impressive win in a regional qualifier at Bush Hill Park in Middlesex. A six-under-par score of 134 in the three-man team event, in which the best two scores count, created a threestroke winning margin over Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and the rest of the six-strong field. The team comprised Glen Portelli (Verulam), James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) and Daniel Field (East Herts). The 36-hole final will be played on the Belfry’s PGA National course from October 18-19.

VICE CAPTAINS NAMED FOR PGA CUP

“Winning the county championship means a lot to me, especially against such a strong field,” said Wallis, who has also won at Prince’s and Bearwood Lakes this season. “I made the most of the opportunities that came my way with the 64 in the morning, and I was pleased to follow up with a 67, which was enough to stay clear of the pack.”

Cameron Clark and Martyn Thompson have been named as PGA Cup vice captains to Albert MacKenzie for GB & Ireland’s PGA Cup clash with the United States at Foxhills in 2017. Clark, the head PGA professional at Moor Hall in Sutton Coldfield, played in the team that won at CordeValle in 2015, while Thompson, who is the head professional at Parkstone Golf Club in Dorset, was a vice captain.

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[16] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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■ ANDREW JOHNSTON -AND HIS BEARD – WAS A STAR ATTRACTION AT THIS YEAR'S LONDON GOLF SHOW

HUMPHREY’S LIFTS LIPHOOK CUP Essex and England amateur Lily Humphreys became the youngest ever winner of the Liphook Scratch Cup after shooting 141 for two rounds at Liphook Golf in Hampshire. Humphreys, from Channels Golf Club, who plays off plus three, finished five shots clear of George Price (Bude & Cornwall), with Sharna Dutrieux, from Wrotham Heath in Kent, finishing third on 149.

AMOR WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS Wiltshire’s Ben Amor won the English men’s county champion of champions tournament after playing the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa in seven-under par over 36 holes. The 21-year-old England squad player from Marlborough won by three shots from Kent’s Dan Brown after dropping just one shot during the tournament.

HAMILTON-MARTIN CAPTURES DISABILITY OPEN Surrey amateur Duncan Hamilton-Martin won the inaugural English Disability Open held over the Marriott Forest of Arden’s Aylesford and Arden. The St George’s Hill player, who plays off three, scored a gross 149 for 36 holes to win the scratch tournament, which was hosted by BALASA Golf and supported by England Golf. A field of 35 players with a variety of impairments competed in categories based on their golf handicaps. James Hourigan (Royal Dublin) won Category 1 (scratch to 9.4) with a net 142; Tony Lloyd (The Shropshire) won Category 2 (9.5 to 18.4) with a net 143, while Keith Dolman (Rochford Hundred) won Cateogry 3 (18.4+) with 57 stableford points.

‘BEEF' ADDS WINNING INGREDIENT TO LONDON GOLF SHOW

stuff, so the more practical it is the more they enjoy it. "It's great to see the enthusiasm of the youngsters here, too. Golf needs to get as many kids involved as possible – as without them there's no future for golf. They're the most important thing, and shows like this help to get them enthusiastic about the sport and keep them interested.” He added: "I'm just having fun here; it's nice meeting new people, and it's great to be able to send people home with a smile on their face. Highlights for me included watching the trick-shot boys. I always go home and try to hit those shots and I can't – I can't even hit one on the volley! They're amazing and really cool. I enjoyed the whole show." Around 12,000 visitors attended the show over its three-day run, with event director Simon Jones expressing his delight with the

uropean Tour star Andrew Johnston won himself a host of new fans after making a star turn at this year’s London Golf Show, which took place at Bluewater Retail Park in Kent from August 26-28. The 27-year-old Londoner, who is based at North Middlesex Golf Club, perused the stands at the Glow Exhibition Centre, along with the thousands of other golf fans who attended the three-day show. Johnson, known as ‘Beef’ by his friends and on tour, also took time out to have dozens of photos taken with fans, and conduct interviews with TV broadcasters and the golfing media. After visiting the show for several hours, the winner of this year’s Spanish Open said: "The show's been really good; they've got some great stands. It's really practical, which people love. They want to try out different clubs and different

feedback he had received from both visitors and exhibitors, as he confirmed that the show would return for its 13th outing in 2017. "The response to the show has been fantastic from visitors and exhibitors alike. And having ‘Beef' here all Friday afternoon really excited everybody. He was incredibly generous with his time, signing autographs, posing for pictures with stand-holders as well as visitors - and generally helping people enjoy themselves. “There aren't many top sports people you can imagine who would allow kids to insert golf tees into their beard! He is such a refreshing change from the norm and his personality is a shot in the arm from which golf can only benefit. We're already looking forward to next year's show and we hope both ‘Beef' and this year's many exhibitors will return in 2017."

their swings, including a host of celebrities. Actors Sean Connery and Christopher Lee were regular clients in the early days, while more recently Vernon Kay, Ant and Dec, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell had honed their game in there private basement studio in the heart of SW1. The authors of two hugely successful coaching books, The Golf Delusion and Golf’s Golden Rule, Gould and Wilkinson’s latest volume is called Finishing School, and focuses on the movements immediately before, during and after impact. In these moments, the slightest wrong move can destroy a swing, no matter how perfect the other stages might be. Running to 224 pages, the book features step-by-

step, detailed illustrations throughout, and is supported by additional videos available online. Writing in the forward to the book, LPGA Tour player Juli Inskter, who has also been a pupil of the two coaches, said: “I believe that Finishing School will prove to be a great help to all struggling golfers who have never realised how crucial building a sound

here is a new challenge for golfers at the end of Sutton Green Golf Club’s front nine, following the completion of a remodeling of the Surrey club’s ninth hole. The par-four hole has been lengthened by 50 yards with the construction of a new green further back from the previous one, while a new lake has been built at an angle alongside the green, which further adds to the test. The new hole is 430 yards long, while the lake has been extended to 250 yards. The change has taken the Laura Davies-designed course up to 6,480 yards, with the par remaining at 71. Another new feature of the hole is a new halfway hut, which sits behind the new green, and offers golfers a chance to gather their thoughts, and enjoy some light refreshments before taking on the back nine. While the course continues to attract plenty of investment, the club’s practice facilities are also a strong feature, with the short game area adjacent to the 10th tee often being used by leading tour coach Gary Smith, who also works with amateur golfers, and can assist all level of players to improve their short game.

AMOR WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

KNIGHTSBRIDGE SWING GURUS LAUNCH NEW COACHING BOOK T wo London-based golf coaches whose skill and expertise has improved the swings of countless thousands of amateur golfers and professionals alike over the last 25 years, have launched a new book that focuses on the business end of the golf swing – the impact zone. Steve Gould and David Wilkinson have worked at the Knightsbridge Golf School in London for well over a quarter of a century, and in that time have helped a complete crosssection of golfers to improve

GREEN ON THE MOVE AT SUTTON GREEN!

post-impact arc is to building a consistent, repeatable golf swing.” Published by Elliott and Thomson, the hardback version of Finishing School can be bought online for £25, or downloaded from Amazon on an e-reader for £10.

iltshire’s Ben Amor won the English men’s county champion of champions tournament after playing the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa in seven-under par over 36 holes. The 21 year old England squad player from Marlborough won by three shots from Kent’s Dan Brown after dropping just one shot. Third place went to Yorkshire’s Ben Hutchinson, who finished on two under par. Amor, who follows in the footsteps of previous winners Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood, said: “This has been a bit of a tough year and I’ve under-achieved on my expectations, so it’s nice to get the win. I’ve put in lots of hard work and you reap the rewards eventually.” Brown, from Chart Hills kept up the pressure on Amor until the back nine, when three bogeys over the last six holes saw the title slip from his grasp. “I was a bit disappointed towards the end, but pleased with the shape of my game,” he said. “I played well this morning to get to fourunder and I got to three-under through four this afternoon. But perhaps a little bit of mental fatigue set in later on, it was nothing drastic, but I found a few fairway traps.”

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[18] SEPTEMBER 2016 | COURSE REVIEW

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COURSE REVIEW COPTHORNE

COPTHORNE GOLF CLUB, WEST SUSSEX

Nick Bayly pays a visit to Copthorne Golf Club in West Sussex and finds a welcoming members' club which is proud of its rich history and boasts a picturesque parkland course that challenges every aspect of a golfer’s game PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN MURRAY

■ ABOVE: VIEW OF THE 18TH HOLE FROM BEHIND THE GREEN

■ BELOW: A NEW CROSSING ENSURES SAFE PASSAGE FOR GOLFERS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OF THE COURSE

here can be few golfers who have driven along the A264 between East Grinstead and Crawley whose eyes have not occasionally been diverted off the road for a second or two as they enviously try to catch a glimpse of players teeing off and holing out at Copthorne Golf Club. Set astride this busy highway, the glimpse is often all too fleeting but has surely proved tantalising enough for the odd golfer to peel off the road and search out the clubhouse, which is tucked away to the north of the road, along with two of the club’s 18 holes. In many ways, the road that divides the first and last holes from the remaining 16 provides a fantastic shop window to a constant stream of potential customers. Anyway, enough of roads and traffic – did I mention that the club is two minutes from the M23? As a first time visitor, I can safely say that, once played, Copthorne defied all of my preconceptions built up from those three-second glances from my car on my way to Lingfield racecourse. Rather than being the rather flat and boring parkland track that I had created in my minds’ eye, it turned out to be a relentlessly enjoyable, challenging, and never-less-than entertaining round on a layout that is a beguiling combination of parkland, woodland and heathland. Once into the round, it soon had me making comparisons with all sorts of far more famous – and much more expensive – courses, and I can give it no higher praise than to say it left me wanting to come back for more. First and foremost, the course enjoys a fabulously rural atmosphere, where the avenues of mature trees drown out any noise from the road, while the flightpath from Gatwick is far enough away so as not to disturb a relaxing and tranquil environment in which to shout at your golf ball as it unerringly heads into one of the ditches that criss-cross the course, or

ONCE INTO THE ROUND, IT SOON HAD ME MAKING COMPARISONS WITH ALL SORTS OF FAR MORE FAMOUS – AND MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE – COURSES, AND I CAN GIVE IT NO HIGHER PRAISE THAN TO SAY IT LEFT ME WANTING TO COME BACK FOR MORE

comes to rest directly behind the roots of a huge oak or pine tree. But before we get stuck into the round, a bit of essential background is required. Copthorne is celebrating its 125th anniversary next year, so it’s been around for a while. Founded in 1892, and built on land that was once Copthorne Common, the club has evolved in tandem with the thoroughfare that divides it, and has undergone a handful of re-routings and redesigns over the last century or so, as land was variously taken away and brought back, before the current layout was settled upon. The course is made up of 10 'new' holes, which were opened between 1976 and 1984, and eight which have been in existence since 1903 or possibly earlier – with modifications made by James Braid in the 1930s and by Bill Cox in the early 1980s. The clubhouse was built in 1932, and has had several extensions over the years, including a large conservatory that overlooks the 18th green and the practice putting green. It is due to get another polish ahead of its anniversary celebrations next year, which will no doubt be welcomed by the membership, whose numbers are approaching 500, made up of a wide cross-section of the local community. The 6,654-yard course is undoubtedly the star of the show, and it’s a star that has never looked brighter following some tireless work by the club’s long-serving head greenkeeper, Mike Gould, who together with the new chairman of greens David Evans, successfully transformed the greens into some of the best putting surfaces around. The greens are spoken of with great pride, and with Mike, Dave and their team of dedicated staff, it appears the greens are in good hands. Elsewhere, new drainage has improved the playability of a course, which, like many in the region, is built on clay, while investment in several new tees, and even a new hole – the 17th – has also elevated the playing experience. And so to the course itself. The first hole provides a suitably gentle introduction to Copthorne’s challenges, which typically require an accurate tee shot between an avenue of trees, before you’re faced with a green that is guarded by either a ditch, a stream, trees, or as it often the case, all three. At the first, the approach is made all the more difficult by out of bounds just a few yards behind the green, so an early ‘thin’ is not advised. After negotiating the A264 utilising the recently installed traffic light controlled crossing, you’re into the main bulk of the course, which gently rises and falls around a delightful sanctuary of woodland and heathland. Each hole enjoys its own mini-amphitheatre, while offering glimpses of others through the tree line, parts of which were heavily thinned out by the great storm of 1987, which felled 600 trees. In one of the more recent changes to the set up carried out in 2014, the second is now a 520-yard par 5, rather than a 400-yard par 4, and playing uphill and often directly into the wind, is a demanding three shotter for the average handicapper. The third, 'Bowl' is the first of four excellent short holes – although at 192 yards off the white tees it demands a long iron or hybrid to reach a putting surface which, as the hole’s name suggests, features a raised bank around the back which will stop anything hit long from disappearing into the trees. History has it that the bowl once served as an arena for cock fighting and bare-knuckle bouts, although

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COURSE REVIEW | SEPTEMBER 2016

[19]

AN IDEAL VENUE FOR GOLFERS OF ALL AGES, THE INTRODUCTION OF A SET OF FORWARD BLUE TEES, WHICH TAKES THE COURSE DOWN TO JUST UNDER 4,000 YARDS, ALSO MAKES IT A PERFECT PLACE TO ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION

■ THE 192-YARD 3RD IS A TESTING SHORT HOLE PLAYED INTO BOWL-SHAPED GREEN

there was no scuffling in our two-ball, even after I managed to salvage a par with a deft wedge from under a bush. The 4th, a 330-yard par 4, is almost reachable for those that can produce a slight fade with a lusty blow, but presents a solid early birdie chance for lesser mortals, providing you stay on the left side of the fairway and avoid the tree line on the right. The 5th – ‘Round The Bend’ – is a demanding par 4 that requires a draw off the tee to set up a lengthy approach to a green that slopes heavily from right to left, while the sixth is a gun-barrel straight par-five that bigger hitters will hope to reach in two. The par-3 7th also presents an avenue of trees to a raised green, which is framed beautifully from behind by a large beech tree, while the challenge at the 8th, a 530yard par 5, has been ramped up by the introduction of a new back tee, which not only lengthens the hole, but changes the angle of the shot, requiring a draw to avoid clattering into the trees on the right. The landing area is actually more generous than it looks off the tee, although the second shot needs to be carefully laid up short of a stream – just one yard short, my case – to leave a pitch into the green which slopes from left to right. The front nine closes with a return to one of the course’s original holes, ‘Braid’s Best’, a 440-yard par 4 that was designed by the great man. A left-to-right dog leg, the tee shot needs to be placed in the left half of the fairway to give a clear sight of the green, while a stream crosses the fairway 130 yards short of the green to keep you honest. Highlights on the back nine, include the 11th, 'Goose Neck', a sharp left-to-right dogleg par 4 which requires the right hander to fade it off the tee to avoid a lake

■ A NEW GREEN HAS ELEVATED THE CHALLENGE ON THE PAR-4 17TH

inhabited by Canada geese during the breeding season. The second shot, off a sloping lie, is very difficult to get close to the pin because the green slopes both right to left and from front to back. The 470-yard 16th, aptly named ‘Twister,’ is a daunting double dogleg par 4, which certainly lives up to its billing as stroke index 1. The hole started life as a par 5, but was down-rated after a re-measure. Tree-lined from tee to green, the best, if slightly obvious, advice is to keep it straight, and take consolation from the fact a five will feel like a par. The 17th is a short par 4 whose design has been immeasurably improved following the construction of a new green and a new tee, which changes the angle of attack to a fairway that has a ditch all the way down the right side, and a green guarded by trees on either

side of a narrow entrance. Back over the A264, the clubhouse comes into view as you tee off at 'Fir Finish', a 380-yard par 4 that sweeps uphill from right to left between rows of Scots Pine. It’s only a short iron to the green, but it is a smallish target, with deep bunkers on three sides to catch out those who are marginally off line or misjudge the yardage, while there is always an audience watching from the terrace to ramp up the challenge still further. While demanding in terms of course management, Copthorne won’t leave you out on your feet, which makes it an ideal venue for golfers of all ages, while the introduction of a set of forward blue tees, which takes the course down to just under 4,000 yards, also makes it a perfect place to encourage the next generation. With a very active competition scene, both within the club and in the county – the ladies have just won the Division 2 of the Sussex league, while its men’s team are regular winners of the Inter-club Matchplay – Copthorne is a relaxed and thoroughly friendly club, where visitors are welcomed and new members quickly assimilated into the club community, and a variety of events in the spacious clubhouse ensures a busy social scene off the course. The club is also doing its bit to introduce golf to the next generation, with its junior academy, which runs every Saturday from 2.30-3.30pm in the summer, and between 2pm-3pm in the winter, attracting a growing number of children aged between 6 and 14. Making full use of the club’s three-hole academy course and practice facilities, each session is taken by PGA professionals Russell Buxton and Dean Powley, with the aim of extolling the fun side of golf, while helping keen youngsters to progress through the ranks. As well as structured lesson programmes, the club also runs regular junior competitions, with this summer seeing the launch of its first ever ‘Drive, Chip and Putt’ Championship, which saw 24 juniors from across the county taking part. Already a popular event in America, where the final is held at Augusta National, Copthorne is hoping to roll out the competition across Sussex next year, with a final to be held at the club at the end of July. Next year – the 125th anniversary – promises to be a busy one for all involved with the club, with the Sussex Amateur among the highlights of a packed competitive schedule. And with lots of celebrations and events planned for off the course, it seems like the perfect time to join in the fun.

MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Memberships are currently available across seven- and five-day categories, while a flexible option, which offers 15 rounds per year, and an Afternoon membership, which offers full playing rights after 2pm. Visitor green fees are priced at £50 (£40 after midday), while a full range of competitively priced packages are available for groups and societies. For more details, or to arrange a trial visit, call 01342 712033, email info@copthornegolfclub.co.uk or visit www.copthornegolfclub.co.uk. You can also find the club on Facebook, @CopthorneGolfClub

Golf Break Offers

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[20] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

LONDON GOLF CLUB APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXEC

DAVIES WINS SOUTH OF ENGLAND TITLE

DALE HILL

£89 Winter Golf Breaks Valid 1st November - 30th December

Join us this Winter and enjoy a Golf break from just £89 per person. Includes a 1 night stay in a Superior room, 2 course bar meal, Breakfast & 2 Rounds of Golf. Valid all week. £89 price based on 2 people sharing. Single supplement & upgrade charges apply. Need to book by 31st October. Subject to availability.

Contact us on 01580 200112 opt 1 or Email reservations@dalehill.co.uk Dale Hill Hotel & Golf Club, Ticehurst, Wadhurst East Sussex TN5 7DQ

THE OXFORDSHIRE

Winter Golf Stay

Experience our Championship course for yourself with our fantastic Golf Break offer just £99pp Offer includes: 1 night Bed & Breakfast in an Executive room, 2 rounds of golf and full use of our Poolside facilities. Valid November – March, Sunday – Thursday only. Based on 2 people sharing, single supplement applies.

Call 01844 278300 or Email reservations@theoxfordshire.com The Oxfordshire Hotel & Golf Club, Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2PU

SANDFORD SPRINGS

Winter Golf Breaks £109pp includes

ondon Golf Club in Kent has a new man in charge following the appointment of Stephen Follett as its new chief executive. He joins the internationally-renowned venue in Brands Hatch, following a long and distinguished career in the golf industry, having previously held the positions of director of golf for Marriott Golf, and director of operations at Troon Golf. “It’s a privilege to have been appointed chief executive at the London Golf Club,” commented Follett. “The club is a prestigious venue of international importance, and a recognised European Tour destination, so I’m looking forward to being a part of its growth on both the national and international stage.” the London Golf Club features two championship courses, the Heritage and the International, both of which boast a rich tournament pedigree, having played host to the European Open in 2008 and 2009, the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2014, and this year’s Brabazon Trophy. Charles Fairweather, chairman of the London Golf Club, expressed his delight having such an experienced person at the helm at such an important period in the club’s history. He said: “Stephen joins us with a wealth of experience that will be invaluable to the progression of the club. We have gone from strength to strength over the years, and we’re sure that Stephen’s arrival will be a catalyst for even more exciting developments in the ■ STEPHEN FOLLETT future.”

■ JOSHUA DAVIES

ales’s Josh Davies won the South of England Amateur held at Walton Heath in Surrey, after shooting rounds of 74, 70, 67 and 75 for a two-under-par total of 286 over the club’s New and Old Courses. Davies, who is a member at Celtic Manor, tied scores with Denmark’s John Axelsen, but won the first extra hole to take the coveted title, which has been won by a host of top players in the past, including Masters champion Danny Willett, who won the title in 2007. The only other player to finish under par was Tom Harris (Isle of Man), while Jake Burnage (Saunton) was fourth at one over.

GOLF PAYS TRIBUTE TO COURSE DESIGNER CUPP ROBERT CUPP, one of the most successful and prolific golf course architects of the modern era, died last month, aged 76. Cupp, whose courses have hosted more than 50 national and international championships, died on August 19 in Atlanta, Georgia, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Pennsylvania in 1939, Cupp picked up his love of golf from his father, and was caddy master at Lewistown Golf Club at the tender age of 12. He joined the army in 1957, during which time in earned a masters degree in fine arts. After leaving the army in 1966, he worked as an assistant pro at a club in Florida, before moving into golf course architecture. He joined Jack Nicklaus’ design firm in 1970 as a senior designer – a position he held for 15 years before leaving to set up his own company in Atlanta. His portfolio with Nicklaus included Glen Abbey Golf Club in Ontario, Shoal Creek Golf Club in Alabama and Desert Highlands in Arizona. Once on his own, Cupp often collaborated on projects with tour professionals and other designers. Among his most notable joint projects included

1 night stay in a standard room, 2 course dinner, breakfast & 2 rounds of Golf. Valid November – March. Subject to availability. Valid all week. Based on 2 people sharing, single supplement & upgrade charges apply.

Call 01635 296800 or Email reservations@sandfordsprings.co.uk Sandford Springs Hotel & Golf Club, Kingsclere, Hampshire, RG26 5RT

■ CUPP DESIGNED EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL'S TWO COURSES

Old Waverly Golf Club in Mississippi with Jerry Pate; Liberty National in New Jersey with Tom Kite – which will host next year’s Presidents Cup – and Savannah Quarters in Georgia with Greg Norman. While most of the 150-plus courses that he designed or renovated were in North America, Cupp expanded his work abroad, with one of his rare overseas projects being the East and West Courses at East Sussex National, which opened in 1990. Designed using bent grass from tee to green, the two layouts very much fit the mould of American stadium courses, with raised mounds separating generous fairways, and large, contoured greens. Evidence of the quality of Cupp’s work at ESN was the awarding of the European Open to the East Course in 1993 and 1994, while the West hosted the Challenge Tour Championships between 1995-1998 and the European Tour Qualifying School from 1994-1997. Jack Nicklaus was one of many leading industry figures to pay tribute to Cupp. He said: “Bob was terrific at what he did, and added so much pleasure to the game, not only through his designs, but also with his fun-loving personality and charm. We hope that Bob will be remembered for all the great things he did, and how he lived his life, which in my opinion was very special.” Cupp was also an established writer, publishing The Edict, 'a Novel from the Beginnings of Golf', and co-authoring Golf’s Grand Design, which covered the history and evolution of golf course architecture.

YOUR SPECIAL

BRITISH MASTERS' PREVIEW THE GROVE, HERTFORDSHIRE | 13-16 OCTOBER 2016

STARS COME TO THE GROVE | TOURNAMENT INFORMATION | MEET YOUR HOST LUKE DONALD >>>

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[22] SEPTEMBER 2016 | BRITISH MASTERS

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION BUY YOUR BRITISH MASTERS' TICKETS NOW! ● Advance day tickets for Friday 14th, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th cost £33.50 for adults and £23.50 for concessions. Day tickets for Thursday 13th are sold out. An adult season ticket costs £70 (Weds 12th – Sun 16th), while reserved grandstand seats behind the 18th green cost £10 on Saturday 15th and £15 on Sunday 16th. Tickets to watch the Wednesday 12th ProAm cost £13. ● All tickets, as well as a range of corporate hospitality packages, which start from £330pp, are available to buy online at www.europeantourtickets.com and www. sky.com/tickets.

HOURS OF PLAY ● The first two rounds will be a twotee start, in three-ball groups. For these rounds, starting times in the morning will be between 7.40am–9.10am and in the afternoon between 11.55am–1.25pm. Saturday and Sunday will be a single tee start. The start time is to be confirmed, depending on the cut.

DIRECTIONS

BY TRAIN OR TUBE + BUS ● The nearest mainline station is Watford Junction, which is 20 minutes from London Euston, and is on the mainline that services Birmingham and Manchester. Watford Junction is also served by the Metropolitan overground. A regular bus service from Watford Junction to The Grove will run on Tournament days. Tickets are £5 for a return, please check Britishmasters.europeantour.com for further information. BY CAR (sat nav postcode WD17 3NL) ● M25: Leave at Jtn 19 or Jnt 20, following the signs to Watford. At the first large roundabout take the A411 Hempstead Rd towards Watford. The entrance to The Grove is half a mile on the right.

WHO CAN MASTER A HOST OF EUROPE’S RYDER CUP STARS ARE SET FOR A SHOWDOWN AT THE BRITISH MASTERS SUPPORTED BY SKY SPORTS, BUT WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP?

hatful of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, including Olympic gold medal winner Justin Rose and Masters' champion Danny Willett, will be descending on the The Grove Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort next month, when the British Masters supported by Sky Sports takes place from October 13-16. The five-star Hertfordshire resort is no stranger to hosting the world’s elite, having staged the WGC-American Express Championship back in 2006 – and a decade on from Tiger Woods’ impressive win, a new generation of stars is preparing to tackle the Kyle Phillips-designed championship course. While it’s too early to know if the European team will be returning with or without Samuel Ryder’s iconic trophy, the members of the team who arrive at The Grove will be guaranteed a tremendous reception from British golf fans, whatever the outcome. That sentiment will be especially true for Rose, who will be making his first competitive appearance on British soil since claiming his historic gold medal in Rio, where he helped ensure golf made a memorable return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence when he held off a determined challenge from Open champion Henrik Stenson. The 36 year old is preparing himself for an emotional homecoming at The Grove, where he will attempt to capture his second British Masters' title following his victory at Woburn in 2002, when he triumphed in a memorable battle with Ian Poulter. And with all 20,000 free tickets for the opening round already snapped up as part Sky Sports’ Thursday promotion, Rose will be assured of a hero’s reception. Following the huge success of the initiative at Woburn last year, when all 15,000 free tickets for the opening round were snapped up in less than 48 hours, this year’s allocation has been increased by 25%, enabling even more fans to watch the action for nothing on the first day. Rose helped golf reach a new global audience at the Olympics,

and he is now looking forward to doing the same at the British Masters, with the tournament aiming to help boost golf participation in Britain by engaging with new and existing audiences through innovative coverage and initiatives. “I think everyone could see what representing Great Britain in the Olympics meant to me, and it will be very special to come back home as an Olympic champion and play in front of the home fans at the British Masters,” said Rose. “We all hoped that golf’s inclusion in the Olympics would widen the appeal of the game and that is also the overall aim of the British Masters, so it will be great to be able to build on the momentum of Rio at The Grove. “For me, personally, it will be another chance to play on home soil, after missing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earlier this year through injury, and having won the title 14 years ago, I would love to have another chance to win it again.” More than 57,000 spectators attended last year’s British Masters at Woburn, where Matthew Fitzpatrick claimed his maiden European Tour title. Now a Ryder Cup player, and winner of two tour titles, following his victory at June’s Nordea Masters, the 22 year old from Sheffield will be bidding to defend his title on a course that will be new experience for most of the field, with the exception of tournament host Luke Donald, who finished joint sixth behind Woods at the same venue back in 2006. Donald himself [see interview on page 24] is looking forward his week in the spotlight, and the chance to build upon the success of last year’s re-launch of the tournament at Woburn. He’s also looking forward to lighting the touchpaper on his own season, which by his high standards, has fallen short of expectations. “British golf fans love coming out and supporting their events and supporting British players,” he said. “I’m looking forward to bringing even more people to this amazing tournament, and it goes without

THE GROVE: A CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE FOR EVERYONE

■ 1ST HOLE

irst opened in 2003, The Grove made no secret of its ambition to host top golf events, but it was a massive coup for it to stage the WGC-American Express Championships in 2006, just three years after opening. The star-studded tournament – which was won by Tiger Woods at his swashbuckling best – put the Kyle Phillipsdesigned course – and the resort – firmly on the golfing map, a place from which it

has never looked back. Phillips’s layout oozes quality and bears all the hallmarks of a great British inland course, with subtle bunkering, undulating greens, a smattering of lakes and streams, and holes that wind themselves between mature wood and more open parkland. The course is always presented in tip-top condition, with tees looking like greens, and fairways like carpets, while the impressive putting surfaces can play like

glass in the summer, while remaining fast and true even in the depths of winter. And when you put that lot together, it makes for 18 holes that are distinctly individual, yet fit together as an extremely impressive whole. Every hole places exacting demands on shot-making and course management skills. Anything that misses the putting surface will often find itself rolling back towards the fairway or angled off towards a bunker or

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BRITISH MASTERS | SEPTEMBER 2016

[23]

THREE OFF THE TEE GOLF NEWS’ TIPS FOR THE BRITISH MASTERS' TITLE

THE GROVE?

ANDREW JOHNSTON

■ 17TH HOLE

One of the hottest properties in world golf, following the arrival of ‘Beefmania’, Johnson enjoys a laugh with his fans on and of the course, but he’s also a very talented golfer. Despite winning the Spanish Open in April and finishing 8th in The Open, he just missed out on Ryder Cup qualification, and will arrive at The Grove fresher than most. And with the comforts of home on his doorstep, he is a good bet for a place if he can tear himself away from autograph hunters.

LUKE DONALD Donald also missed out on making the Ryder Cup team after a slow start to the season, and a poor run in the Majors. However, he has showed recent signs of a resurgence on the PGA Tour, and with a good record of wins on home soil – he also finished fifth at Woburn last year – he has a good opportunity of adding to that tally if the putts start to drop, and hosting duties don’t prove too much of a distraction.

SHANE LOWRY Another near miss for Hazeltine, Lowry is a worldclass player on his day, as he proved when winning last year’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational. The 29-year-old Irishman has blown hot and cold this season, but was hot in June’s US Open where he finished runner up behind Dustin Johnson. Second in the British Masters at Woburn last year, he has a solid chance of going one better.

saying that I would dearly love to dearly get back into that winner's circle in front of my home crowds.” A British winner of any description will be would be well received, but there would be an especially big cheer reserved for Luke Donald.

■ 18TH HOLE

one of Phillips’s beloved grassy hollows. The descriptions of some of the holes verge on the poetic, with the 436-yard, par-4 fifth ‘rumbling away from you like a crumpled green blanket’, while the 150-yard, par-3 seventh allows golfers to ‘spy only a furtive glimpse of a sliver of the green’. What is described as a ‘dastardly, secretive bunker ready to gobble up the unwary or bold’, awaits drives on the 435yard, par-4 eighth, and the advice for the 567-yard, par-5 ninth is to ‘let yourself off of your tether and give it a ride’. The 184-yard 16th is noted as being

‘hoodwinkingly great’, because your eyes are ‘deceived by a trap that is deliberately and dishonestly well shy of the green’. It could be the stuff of nightmares for inexperienced golfers, but thankfully a multitude of teeing options allows the course to be played from a more manageable length. Eschewing the traditional membership structures, The Grove offers premium payand-play golf, with peak summer green fees available at £185, and twilight rounds on offer at £99. Pricey yes, but it’s certainly proved worth paying.

CARD OF THE COURSE 7,121 YARDS, PAR 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

379 537 472 226 388 408 184 495 452

4 5 4 3 4 4 3 4 4

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

351 445 462 175 436 559 150 435 567

4 4 4 3 4 5 3 4 5

[24] SEPTEMBER 2016 | BRITISH MASTERS

MEET THE

HOST

British Masters host Luke Donald is hoping that a return to his favoured home soil will bring about a change to his fortunes following a recent lull in form

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How did you come to get involved in hosting the British Masters? The European Tour approached a few players a few years back, asking if we would we be interested in being ambassadors, and it seemed like a great idea. We're always hungry for more events in the UK. Certainly, as a kid growing up, I have so many memories of running around Woburn, Wentworth and Sunningdale and watching some of my idols. Slowly some of those tournament went away, so I think it's important to try to get some events back in the UK, and thanks to the vision of the European Tour, and the insistence of some of the top players, we’re trying to reverse that trend. Why did you choose The Grove to host the tournament, and what do you think of the course? The Grove is a truly world-class facility. It’s got a great hotel; it’s well located for players and fans to get to; and I think all the players will really enjoy playing the course. Although it is a parkland layout, and it has plenty of elevation changes, it is always presented in great condition. It has a really nice variety of some longer holes, and some drivable par fours. I think it will also be a fun course for the spectators, as there are lots of vantage points from which to watch the action, so I think it will be a great venue for the British Masters. What did you learn from your experience at Woburn last year, when Ian Poulter was host, and is there anything you will do differently this time? Ian did a fantastic job at Woburn. It was nice to see this tournament come back and have a real buzz to it. We had great crowds, great support, and obviously having the backing of Sky Sports was a big help in making it a big success all round. We knew the British Masters would get great crowds. British golf fans love coming out and supporting their events and supporting British players. It was a fun and successful week, but it’s my turn now, and I will be looking forward to hopefully having even more success and bringing even more people to this amazing tournament. Like last year, we are going to have lots of masterclasses and Q&As with players and celebrities, so we can engage with the fans. There are also going to be Hero Challenges and the ISPS HANDA Pressure Putt Showdown, where pros and celebrities team up to compete against each other. It is going to be a fantastic event, so hopefully people will come and support it. What would it mean to add the British Masters title to your CV? At the moment I would just love to win any tournament to be honest, but it would be a little bit more special if it were on home soil. It's always nice to play in front of supportive crowds, especially with the size of crowds that this tournament is now attracting. It's been a little bit of a dry period for me – I haven't won for a couple years – but I would dearly love to get back into that winner's circle. You have a great record in the UK, with two wins in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and one in the Scottish Open. What is it about playing here that you enjoy so much? I enjoy the atmosphere. I enjoy the crowd support. I think it's fun to play in front of 15,000 people or more. There's a certain level of focus that improves when you have that many people watching you and that much support behind you. So I just put it down to good support and playing well at the right time. And how is your game right now? The season so far has been disappointing for me. I’ve had some good patches, but the consistency that I would like to see in my game hasn’t been there. I feel like I've been seeing a lot of progress on the range, but it's not quite carrying over to events. I’ve been working really hard, and just haven’t had that breakthrough win that gives you the confidence to take things forward. I feel like I picked up some momentum at the Wyndham [he finished second]. It just takes one good week to really change a season around, so this is as good a time as ever to get going. You’ve been on tour for 15 years now, won 16 tournaments, and obviously banked a lot of prize money, but do you still have the same enthusiasm for the game as you did when you first started out? I definitely do. My game isn’t as good as I would like at the moment, but I’m fully committed to being the best that I can be, and I’ve been working very hard with my coach, Pat Goss, to get my game back to where it should be, and hopefully rediscover some of the old Luke Donald. I’m 38 years old now, so I do have some miles on the clock, but I’m fit and healthy, and I definitely still have the enthusiasm for the game – and the desire to win more tournaments.

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BRITISH MASTER COMPETITION | SEPTEMBER 2016 [25]

FIVE PAIRS OF SEASON TICKETS FOR THE BRITISH MASTERS SUPPORTED BY SKY SPORTS TO BE WON! Golf News is delighted to offer five lucky readers the opportunity to win a pair of season tickets for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, which this year moves to a new venue at The Grove, Hertfordshire, from October 13-16. These season tickets are worth £140 a pair, and the lucky winners will be able to attend the Pro-Am day on October 12, and all four days of the tournament. With a prize fund of £3 million, the British Masters is being hosted by seven-time European Tour winner Luke Donald, and looks set to attract the cream of European golf. Last year saw Ryder Cup rookie Matt Fitzpatrick bag his first European Tour win in thrilling

style in front of packed galleries at Woburn Golf Club, and this year he will be bidding for further glory as the tournament moves to The Grove, host of the WGC-American Express Championship in 2006. Situated fewer than 20 miles from the centre of London, among 300 acres of English countryside, The Grove boasts a world-class hotel and a stunning Kyle Phillips-designed championship course.

Fitzpatrick looks set to be joined by a host of fellow Ryder Cup stars, including Masters' champion Danny Willett, Olympic gold medal winner Justin Rose, and Europe’s most capped Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood, to name but a few. The tournament will also feature a host of masterclasses from tour stars; Q&As with celebrity guests and tournament professionals, and a lively tented village, with plenty of shopping opportunities and full bar and catering facilities.

COMPETITION ENTRY To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets, all you need to do is answer the question below correctly, and email your answer to: info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘British Masters Competition’ in the subject line, including your name, address, contact telephone number and where you picked up your copy of Golfnews. The closing date for entries is October 3, 2016. The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative is available. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over.

QUESTION: WHO WON THE WGC-AMERICAN EXPRESS CHAMPIONSHIP HOSTED AT THE GROVE IN 2006? To buy tickets for the 2016 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, go to www.europeantourtickets.com or www.sky.com/tickets.

THE EUROPEAN TOUR IS BACK IN TOWN 13TH - 16TH OCTOBER 2016 The Grove Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Estate TICKETS.EUROPEANTOUR.COM

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COURSE REVIEW | SEPTEMBER 2016

[27]

golfers will focus their attentions on the 6,400-yard Manor Course, which opened for play in 1972, and occupies land on the other side of the Bell Inn, which was once home to the clubhouse, but now provides 26 comfortable bedrooms and a bar and restaurant for all to enjoy. With over 40 years under its belt, the Manor Course has matured into a fine parkland layout, which, while not long by modern standards, features a significant number of tight, tree-lined holes, making it a challenge for all handicap levels. And although there are just 30 bunkers to navigate, they are particularly well placed, especially around the smaller-thanaverage greens, where only the slightest misjudgment can leave you reaching for your most-lofted club. Highlights for me included the second, a 550-yard par 5, which requires two lusty blows to leave you a delicate approach shot over a stream to a green tucked into a clearing in the forest; while the fifth, a 500-yard par five is another typical Bramshaw challenge, requiring a long and accurate drive to the left-hand corner of a left-to-right dogleg to set up the chance of reaching the green in two.

■ BRAMSHAW’S MANOR COURSE IS A STUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP WOODLAND LAYOUT SET IN THE HEART OF THE NEW FOREST

COURSE REVIEW BRAMSHAW

BRAMSHAW GOLF CLUB, HAMPSHIRE

Set in the stunning surroundings of the New Forest, Bramshaw Golf Club boasts two memorable, but hugely contrasting courses, and a comfortable boutique hotel in which to rest up between rounds. Words by Nick Bayly

I ■ THE BELL INN OFFERS 28 COMFORTABLE ROOMS AS WELL AS AN EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR

WITH STUNNING COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS, AND SOME CHALLENGING TOPOGRAPHY BELOW YOUR FEET, IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT A ROUND ON THE FOREST COURSE WILL LINGER LONG IN THE MEMORY

t didn’t take me long to discover that they do things differently in the New Forest when I turned a corner just a mile or so off the M27 near Lyndhurst, and came across a pig trotting nonchalantly across the road. And then, around the very next bend, I had to slow down to pass two donkeys that were greedily chewing at the hedgerow, seemingly oblivious as I tried to give them a wide berth on what was a narrow stretch of road. Such scenes are common for golfers at Bramshaw Golf Club, whose membership all but shares the land around and on which its two 18-hole golf courses are built. At the oldest golf club in Hampshire, the relationship between man and beast goes back many generations, with the Royal & Ancient game first having been played on Brook Common back in the 1860s. Under the private ownership of the Crosthwaite Eyres family since 1953 (whose current generation lives on the estate), Bramshaw is a fine example of a club living in harmony with its surroundings. As it falls within the confines of the New Forest National Park, animals have the right to roam – and roam they do, even if it means ambling across a fairway while you’re in mid-backswing. This is certainly the case on the club’s historic Forest Course, an 18-hole, 5,574-yard layout that is almost unique to these shores. Built on common land, it’s golf at its most natural, with only the tees and greens being managed, while the fairways are left to take nature’s course, barring a bi-annual cut to keep them playable. While the greens are partially fenced off in order to preserve the sanctity of the putting surfaces, grazing cattle, deer and ponies are left free to leave the odd loose impediment for golfers to contend with. With stunning countryside views, and some challenging topography below your feet, it’s safe to say that a round on the Forest Course will linger long in the memory. And, at just £25 for a round, it’s an absolute bargain providing you enter into the spirit of it all. And while the National Park is quite rightly very strict about changes that can be made, the club is planning to redesign the course next year, altering the order of the layout in order to better accommodate golfers and wildlife. The revamped configuration is set to be open on April 1, 2017 – when the new season officially gets under way. While the Forest Course makes for a fun round, more serious

■ THE FOREST COURSE IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT WILL TEST ALL ELEMENTS OF YOUR GAME

There are four excellent par threes to contend with, the longest of which, the 7th, weighs in at a hefty 225 yards off the back tees, and presents a stern test for the less assured ball striker. The 273-yard 12th and 325-yard 14th offer a bit of respite on the back nine, with big hitters assured of a decent birdie chance ahead of the challenges of the 15th – a long par five that bends around the tree line – while final two holes require yet more accurate driving, with out of bounds all down the left on the 17th, and the 18th requiring a pin-point tee shot to a hole that doglegs left at a right angle to set up an approach to the final green, which looks like a very small target indeed from the fairway. All told, it makes for a thoroughly entertaining game, set amid extremely beautiful, yet easy-walking surroundings. A friendly proprietary club, with a spacious two-storey clubhouse and a well-stocked pro shop, Bramshaw boasts a healthy competition scene, busy seniors' and ladies' sections, and a growing and active junior section. With two courses to play, and lots of other things to see and do in the area, an overnight stay is all but essential for the visiting golfer, with the Bell Inn providing the perfect place in which to hole up between rounds. Under the same family ownership as the golf club, it offers 28 extremely comfortable rooms – and two more besides the clubhouse – all boasting en-suite facilities and offering the very essence of country house hotel chic. The spacious restaurant serves up an excellent range of home-cooked food, many of it sourced from the estate and other local farms, while there is a wide choice of locally brewed ales to sample from the bar during the inevitable post-round analysis. So whether you’re looking to sign up as a member, book your next golfing break, or plan a society outing, Bramshaw Golf Club really does tick all the boxes – just watch out for those donkeys!

MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Memberships are available across all categories, offering access to both courses or just the Forest Course, as well as host of other benefits, including 10% discounts on spend in the clubhouse; advance bookings; free guest green fees for family members under 10; and reciprocal playing rights at 13 local courses. For membership enquires, call Stuart James on 023 8081 3433 (opt 4).

BOOK YOUR BRAMSHAW BREAK Stay-and-play packages comprising one round on the Manor Course, one round on the Forest Course, and overnight accommodation in the Bell Inn, with dinner, bed and breakfast, start from just £109pp (Sundays), while two-night, two-rounds stays begin at £159 between Nov-March. There are special offers for groups, with one in 12 staying free. To book, call 023 8081 3433, email golf@bramshaw.co.uk, or visit www.bramshaw.co.uk.

[28] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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■ ANDREW JOHNSTON TEES OFF AT THE ENFIELD PRO-AM

DORSET PAIR CLAIM ENGLAND GOLF TRUST TITLE Sarah Holt and Sarah Lethbridge, representing Sherborne Golf Club in Dorset, captured the national England Golf Trust Stableford competition, following a closely fought final held at King’s Norton in Worcestershire. The pair scored 47 points in the betterball stapleford competition, which raises funds for the England Golf Trust to provide grants to help talented young golfers stay in the game.

WILTS WIN BOYS’ COUNTY CHAMPS Wiltshire successfully defended its title in the English Boys’ County Championship, winning by just a half point from Yorkshire after a thrilling day of golf at Cumberwell Park Golf Club in Wiltshire. At the start of the final day all four teams were still in with a chance of taking the title, but it was Wiltshire kept their head in front after beating Northants 5.5-3.5 to snatch the victory with 16 points from games won, while Yorkshire fell just short with 15.5.

COPTHORNE CELEBRATES FIRST SUSSEX LADIES’ TITLE

IT’S BEEF ALL-ROUND AT ENFIELD!

t’s been a busy month for celebrity visits at Enfield Golf Club in North London, with the club first entertaining cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne during the pair’s round Britain ‘Beefy Challenge’, and then enjoying a visit from European Tour star Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston during a Jamega Tour event. A crowd of members assembled to watch the cricketing icons during their attempt to play one hole in each of the first-class 18 cricketing counties across the UK in a 24-hour period. Enfield represented Middlesex and was the seventh course to be visited, after starting their round at first light. The pair arrived by helicopter, and played the hole with Sky Sports cameras on hand to capture all the action on the day. Botham had the upper hand over his Australian rival when it came to the score, bagging a par four to Warne’s five.

Copthorne’s ladies’ team has won Division 2 of the Sussex Inter-club Championship for the first time in the 93-year history of the tournament. The winners had to battle through league matches against East Sussex National, Piltdown, Singing Hills and Dale Hill, before beating Worthing in the quarter-finals and Haywards Heath in the semis, to set up the final against Slinfold, which was held at The Nevill on August 24. The winning team comprised team captain Lynne Whalley, Julie Weddell, Maggie Haydon, Jane Davidson, Janis Kinnear, Janis Wilson and Joanne Mott.

Club manager Paul Beresford-Green said: “It went very well. We had about 120 people along, a lot of players, former captains, and some children off school. It was a really good effort considering it was a short and sweet occasion, as they had to go off to play elsewhere – we were seventh on the list and they were a bit late arriving. Perhaps they chose us to play as we are one of the oldest clubs in the country. We have invited them back if and when their diaries allow, and they expressed an interest in playing the other 17 holes.” The third flying visitor, although this time by car, was Middlesex-based tour star Andrew Johnston, who took part in the Jamega Tour’s Enfield Pro-am held on August 31. The Spanish Open star, who started out his professional career on the Jamega Tour, played Enfield numerous times as an amateur. Playing alongside club captain Phil Tiddy, Johnston

HAM MANOR TO HOST FAMILY OPEN WEEKEND

am Manor Golf Club in West Sussex is hosting a family open golf weekend from September 30-October 2, at which golfers will be able to experience all of the facilities at the popular Angmering-based club. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the course, meet the club’s team of PGA professionals, and to chat to club captains and members, as well as

■ BOTHAM AND WARNE PLAYED ONE HOLE AT ENFIELD breezed around the parkland course in a threeunder-par 69, and had plenty of positive things to say about the layout following his round. Johnston finished in tied third in the Pro-Am behind Steve Lewton and James Webber, who both shot 68s to share the spoils. Johnston generously donated his share of the prize money to the Noel Johnston Foundation, which was set up in his father’s name to promote sports to children.

enter a range of fun competitions with prizes, and try their hands at putting, chipping and driving on the club’s extensive practice facilities. Guests can also take a tour of the clubhouse, which offers snooker and table tennis, as well as have a go on the recently-opened indoor golf simulator. There will be special membership discounts for those who decided to join on the day, while free junior memberships are currently on offer for the rest of the year. To book a place on any of the three days – Friday 3pm-4pm; Saturday, 1pm-2pm; Sunday, 2pm-3pm – call 01903 783288 or visit www.hammanor.co.uk

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016 [29]

HARTSBOURNE TO HOST FREE SOCIETY GOLF DAY

olf society and corporate golf day organisers looking to get a taste of the course and faciitles on offer at Hartsbourne Country Club in Hertfordshire are invited to attend a special day that is being held on October 20. The open day, which is free to attend, is available for up to two representatives of a society or company. The day will include an 18-hole two-ball Stableford competition. with a 9am shotgun start. Also included is a continental breakfast on arrival, and a twocourse lunch after golf, following by a prize-giving. Hartsbourne is situated in Bushey Heath, on the county borders of Hertfordshire and Middlesex, and offers 27 challenging holes set in over 180 acres of mature parkland. The 6,336-yard, 18-hole course was first laid out in 1922 by Fred Hawtree and five-time Open champion JH Taylor, and is an enjoyable test for all levels of golfers, while the 9-hole, 2,991-yard Hunt course is a no less challenging par 35, which makes for a superb optional 27-hole loop for golf societies. In addition to its famous course architects, Hartsbourne is steeped in golfing history, with Bernard and Geoff Hunt, the only brothers ever to represent Great Britain in the same Ryder Cup team, being the professionals at the club while they competed on the professional circuit in the 1960s and 70s. In 1954 Dai Rees won the Goray Championship at Hartsbourne when he played with the young Peter Alliss, while Peter Oosterhuis holds the course record – a nine-under par 62 – which was set in 1971. The club prides itself on offering a warm welcome to all guests, and its superb clubhouse facilities and excellent catering make it the perfect venue for corporate bookings and societies.

SPEYER ENJOYS JAMEGA TREBLE Buckinghamshire’s Tom Speyer achieved the rare feat of three Jamega Pro Golf Tour titles in the same season with victory at Aldwickbury Park on August 16-17. The 27 year old from Bourne End continued his rich run of form by backing up a play-off win at Windmill Hill, Milton Keynes, with a five-under-par total of 138 on the Hertfordshire course to finish a shot clear of the field.

HOLTYE APPOINTS NEW PRO ■ BOBBY BRADFORD AND CHARLIE WILKINSON GAVE CHESHUNT A ONE-TWO IN THE HERTS OPEN

BATTLING BRADFORD LEAVES PROS IN THE SHADE AT HARPENDEN

For entries to the Open Day competition, call 020 8421 7272 or email office@hartsbournecountryclub.co.uk.

he annual battle of pros versus amateurs at Hertfordshire Golf Union’s Open Championship resulted in a rare win for the unpaid ranks, when Cheshunt Golf Club’s Bobby Bradford took the spoils with a gross 139 total for 36 holes at Harpenden Golf Club. The event, which is jointly organised between the HGU and the Herts PGA, is the only tournament that allows pros and amateurs to pit themselves against each other and compete for a common prize. At the halfway point, five

competitors were tied on 71, including juniors George Avgousti (Mill Green) and Charlie Wilkinson (Cheshunt), County Seniors captain Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), along with professionals Stephen Harris, a former assistant pro at Harpenden, now attached to The Shire London, and current Herts PGA captain Ian Taylor (Essendon). But Bradford stormed through the field in the afternoon, scoring an excellent 67, including birdies at the final two hoes, to add to his morning round of 72 to take the title. Wilkinson added an afternoon round of 70, but was left to rue a bogey, bogey finish to end up two shots behind his clubmate. Daniel Field was the best-placed professional after an afternoon 68 to add to his morning 74 for a total of 142, which was good enough for thrd place.

Well-known Sussex PGA Professional Nic Duc has moved from The Nevill to take up the position as head professional at Holtye Golf Club in East Sussex. Replacing the club’s long-serving professional, Kevin Hinton, Duc will be involved in the wider operation of the club, and has recently overseen the renovation of the pro shop, while there are plans in place to revamp the driving range.

HERTS PAIR SHARE NORTH OPEN TITLE Max Hopkins (Bishop’s Stortford) and Ben Pierleoni (Berkhamsted) shared the honours in the North of England Under-14 Open held at South Moor Golf Club in County Durham. The Hertfordshire duo finished on 11 over par for 36 holes to take the trophy. Lancashire’s Matthew Jackman led by one shot after the opening round, but slipped back into third place after the second round. Supported by the Stanley Area Action Partnership, the tournament attracted players from all four home countries, as well as from as far afield as Dubai and South Africa.

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[30] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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SAND MARTINS OPENS NEWLOOK SWING STUDIO BOULTONS CHIP IN TO GRAB PING PLATE GLORY It was a family affair in the plate final of the Ping Women’s Fourball Betterball Championship, after the mother and daughter pairing of Helen and Rachel Boulton took the spoils following a dramatic play-off at Gainsborough Golf Club Three pairs had tied with 45 points, and had to return to the 18th for a sudden-death play-off. But Helen – a 20-handicapper - settled matters in style when she chipped in for a net birdie, appropriately using a Ping wedge to seal the win. This year’s tournament attracted a record level of entries, with over 16,500 women, representing 890 clubs, taking part in the qualifying stages.

RICH PICKINGS FOR RODGERS Richings Park’s Chris Rodgers won the King’s Hill Pro-Am after shooting a five-under round at the Kent club. The round included two eagles and four birdies, but was offset by three bogeys, although it was still good enough edge out Lee-on-the-Solent’s James Ablett into second spot by a single shot, with Chris Gane and Richard Wallis a further shot back tied third.

ADAMS IN CHARGE AT CORHAMPTON Swanmore Golf Centre’s Martin Adams chalked up his third victory in the PGA in Hampshire season after defeating Michael Lord (New Forest) in the Oxford Brasserie Matchplay Championship held at scorching Corhampton Golf Club. The 1up victory in the low scoring final took the 29-year-old PGA Assistant Professional back at the top of the Order of Merit.

G AMERICAN GOLF OPENS NEW STORE AT SANDOWN PARK

olfers in Surrey and South West London are being offered the chance to try and buy equipment from some of the game’s biggest brands following the opening of a new American Golf store at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Esher. The centre, which is located within Sandown Park racecourse, boasts a nine-hole golf course, and a 33-bay floodlit driving range, a short game area, and two state-of-the-art club-fitting bays, from which PGA Professional Dominic Toms also run a coaching studio. At the official opening of the new store last month, manager Rikki Hill said: “I’m delighted with the team we’ve put together to launch the new store. We’ve

invested over £200,000 in the facilities at the golf centre, and it now caters for every level of golfer. We now have the latest equipment in club analysis and statistical information, along with a team of experts who can ensure every customer is fitted for the correct product to improve their game and all round performance on the golf course. As well as bringing the best equipment in golf to Esher, there will be a wider product range available through American Golf’s iPad ordering system. “As well as hitting balls on the course or the range, golfers can grab a bite to eat or a drink at the venue’s bar and restaurant and with opening hours until 9pm

BACON / SAUSAGE BAP BEFORE ROUND

on the range in the week, it’s a perfect venue for a catch up after work.” Daniel Gathercole, Director of Marketing at American Golf, added: “American Golf is on a mission to bring the best facilities to existing golfers, and provide expert guidance to anyone wanting to start or get back into the game. A venue like Sandown gives us a chance to be at the heart of a golfing community, so we’re delighted to make the investment into the venue and the people of the Esher area.”

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olfers looking to sharpen up all aspects of their game or get customfitted for a new set of clubs should head for Sand Martins Golf Club in Berkshire, following the opening of its new-look performance studio. Using the very latest Trackman launch monitor, visitors to the studio can put a wide range of equipment from the game’s top brands through its paces, including the latest launches from Callaway, Titleist, Ping and TaylorMade – all of which can be custom-fitted to suit the individual golfer’s swing in order to maximise performance. The TrackMan tracks the trajectory of the golf ball from launch to landing, and has the ability to measure the full ball flight, which is essential to produce the highest quality data. Armed with this information, which includes stats on launch angle, swing speed, smash factor and spin rates, Sand Martin’s expert team of PGA Professionals can recommend the right equipment to help you play better golf. A full bag fitting session takes around 90 minutes and costs £50, while irons/ woods/wedge fittings take 60 minutes and cost £40, although the fitting fee will be refunded on all equipment purchases over the value of £250. To book a fitting session, call 01189 770265 or email studio@sandmartins.com.

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JAMEGA JOY FOR IN-FORM HOGARTY

NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016

■ TYLER HOGARTY

yler Hogarty justified his decision to play in the Jamega Pro Golf Tour event at Windmill Hill Golf Centre in Milton Keynes by winning a free season on the Algarve Pro Golf Tour this winter. The South African tied for seventh on the Buckinghamshire course, and was rewarded for his consistency over the past five events to win the tour’s fourth mini order of merit of 2016. He then fled for the airport, having received a late invite to play the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge. “I made the right decision,” he said. “I’ve played in Portugal the last few years, and if you don’t have to pay entry fees, you can make a bit of money. At this level a lot of guys fund themselves, and prizes like this are what we need.

“I’ve been working really hard on my game, and it’s year-round golf for me now. The best thing I can do is keep playing. You cannot make an impression, attract sponsors,

SEVE BALLESTEROS PRO-AM ENDS IN THREEWAY TIE AT FOXHILLS

or move up the levels if you’re not competing.” Hogarty, 24, follows Celtic Manor’s Richard Bentham, Ipswich’s Jamie Abbott and Langley Park teenager

George Mullins in becoming the latest victor in a new initiative for the Jamega Tour, which was established in 2004 and hosts 22 two-day events in 2016. “Our ethos has always been to put the golfer first,” said Gary Harris, Jamega tournament director. “The tour provides fierce, but friendly competition on some fabulous courses –but not every professional can play every week. "We understand this, so introduced the mini order of merit to provide extra spice. Now professionals can have a month’s focus on Jamega events and win themselves a complete winter of paid entries on the Algarve Pro Golf Tour. It’s been extremely well received.” The final round of the mini order of merit started at Aldwickbury Park on August 15-16 and runs until the final event of the season at The Shire from September 19-20.

■ ADAM WOOTON

ico Els, Adam Wootton and Paul Neesling all fired six-under-par 66s around the Bernard Hunt course at Foxhills to share the spoils in the KCOM Seve Ballesteros Foundation Pro-Am. Wootton’s display crowned his seventh win of the season, while it was Els’s fifth win and Nessling’s third. Celebrating its seventh year with a new sponsor, KCOM, the event has now raised funds well in excess of £250,000 in aid of a cure for brain cancer, and to provide opportunities for underprivileged children to play golf. Just behind the winners, Foxhills’ ambassador Nick Dougherty fired five birdies in his 67, a score that was matched by another European Tour winner, David Howell, who hot-footed it back from Switzerland after competing at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre. Chris Gane (Silvermere) led his trio of amateurs from Lloyds Bank to victory in the team event with 125 points, two better than James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) and his KRL team, which included current British amateur champion Scott Gregory. Speaking of the high regard in which the tournament is held, joint-winner Els

[31]

ROYAL GATHERING AT ROYAL DORNOCH A gathering of representatives from 57 of the world’s 66 ‘Royal’ clubs took place at Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland earlier this month. Presidents, captains, managers and members of Royal clubs took part in a week long series of competitions and social events to help celebrate 400 years of golf at Dornoch. The first royal golf club was Royal Perth, founded in 1824, while the oldest is The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, founded in 1745 and granted Royal status by King William IV in 1834. Royal Dornoch received its royal charter in 1906.

LINCS COUPLE CAPTURE PING FOURBALL CHAMPS Lincolnshire couple Spencer and Julie Gooderson became England Golf’s first Ping Family Fourball champions after chalking up an impressive 48 points at Gainsborough Golf Club. The husbandand-wife team from Spalding Golf Club topped an impressive inaugural leaderboard at the new event, which was open to relatives playing in any combination of husbands, wives, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, sisters and brothers, who ranged in age from 12 to 75.

GROVES GOES CLOSE AT CZECH OPEN

said: “This is a very special day in any golf professional’s season, and for all of the amateurs who go to great lengths to support it. It’s a great cause, and a great way to remember the man himself. So we’re all very pleased to have played our best in honour of Seve, a hero to millions of golfers, both professional and amateur, and an inspiration to all of us.”

Hertfordshire professional Luke Groves missed out on bagging his first tour win after losing out in a play-off at the WGM Czech Open at Beroun Golf Club. The 23-year-old form South Oxhey finished tied on six under par with local player Ondrej Lieser, after shooting four rounds of 70 and a final round 72, but lost the play-off.

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[32] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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BURGE AND CROUCHER SHARE BLETCHINGLEY HONOURS GRIFFIN WINS MIDDX H’CAP TITLE

Michael Griffin captured the Middlesex Handicap Championship after racking up 39 points on a hot day at Wyke Green Golf Club in Isleworth. After going close in previous renewals, the Trent Park player fininshed just one point ahead of

CARNOUSTIE BEGINS OPEN PREPARATIONS

Gary Leach (Pinner Hill), with Gary Toone (Grom’s Dyke) in third. In the team event, Ealing's A team, consisting of Warren Blanchett, Michael O'Malley and Gerard Poyntz, took home the spoils with a combined score of 102.

CHELMSFORD CLAIM SENIOR CROWN Chelmsford won the Essex Seniors Team Championship after beating Romford 7.5-3.5 in the final held at Romford Golf Club. Only one of the 11 matches went the full distance, as both teams won their points by wide margins, with the biggest being Paddy Parlour’s 6&4 victory over Romford’s Andy McCarthy.

STOKE BAGS PLUM TROPHY Stoke by Nayland retained the Essex Golf Union’s Norman Plum Trophy after

arnoustie Golf Links is beginning its preparations for hosting The Open, which returns to the Scottish club for the eighth time in its history in 2018. Carnoustie’s Championship Course last held the Open in 2007, when it was won by Padraig Harrington. “The Open is the ultimate event to have on your golf course, and from a greenkeeper’s point of view, it’s the pinnacle,” said the club’s links superintendent Sandy Reid. “It means a huge amount to us at Carnoustie.” As part of the preprations

to host golf’s oldest major, the course has recently undergone several minor changes to improve both the playing and spectating experience. “We’ve recently created some new spectator mounding, and we’ve replaced some of the poorer grasses in the rough with fescue,” Reid said. “There’s been a couple of relatively minor tee alterations, but a lot of the work we do is to try and enhance the spectator experience, without trying to make it look like a stadium course.” Plans are currently in place to build a new practice tee this year

ahead of the Open, on what is currently an area of land occupied by the first and 18th holes on the Buddon Course. Architect Martin Ebert will work with the club on this project. When the club last hosted the Open, it was a wet event, with the course suffering from a high water table. “Since then we’ve raised a lot of areas as in fairway areas and some bunkers, to get away from water during wet periods,” Reid said. “Landing areas on the 7th, 9th, 11th, 17th and 18th have all been raised.”

hris Croucher (right) and Alex Burge shared the honours at the Bletchingley Pro-Am, after both players shot four-under-par 68s to take home their winners’ cheques for £800 each. They edged out Andy Raitt (St George’s Hill) into third spot, while multiple winner David Copsey tied on two-under-par with Bletchingley’s Michael Day. Croucher, who is attached to East Sussex National, was delighted to notch up his first win of the season. He said:“I didn’t start playing in competitive events until the end of July, and my first few results were very average to say the least. But after a poor start, something clicked around the turn and and I made four birdies on the trot, so I was really pleased to negotiate the last three holes in par and finish with a 68.” Burge added: “Bletchingley was in great condition, but making a score here is all about course management. After a great start I made a good job of getting round the rest of the holes, but the putter had cooled off, so coming to my last hole knowing I needed to make a birdie to tie with Chris, and then doing it, was particularly satisfying.”

defeating Theydon Bois 4-2 in a closely fought final held at Bentley Golf Club.

JOY FOR JANKOWSKI Hertfordshire pro James Jankowski claimed his second PGA in England East victory of the year when winning the Stanmore Pro-Am with a one-under-par 68. Ben Kerr, Glen Portelli, Darren Bragg, Tom Phillips and Marc Dodd all shots 69 to tie for second.

MANNINGS HEATH CAPTAIN’S DAY RAISES £4.5K

he captain’s day at Mannings Heath Golf Club in West Sussex helped raise over £4,600 for Cardiac Risk in the Young following a golf day attended by 120 members. John Gleaves, captain for 2016, was delighted to be able to hand

over the proceeds to his chosen charity after a day which included an 18-hole fourball competition, and a post-round hog roast, auction and raffle. The tournament saw 30 teams take part in a shotgun start over the

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[34] SEPTEMBER 2016 | MEET THE PRO

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recently received an award for his work for junior development. We offer free membership for under 12s and regular coaching. Our junior organisor, Keith Marshall, is brilliant and very committed.

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How much time do you spend teaching?

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

Under Armour clothing, Bushnell laser rangefinders and Srixon/ Cleveland hardware.

PGA Professional Andy Hailes lifts the on lid of life as Director of Golf at Mannings Heath Golf Club in West Sussex

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

Commit. Whatever the situation, commit 100% to the shot you’ve chosen. What was your career highlight as a player?

ow long have you been a PGA professional?

Since 2005 – so just over 10 years.

Albeit a long time ago, winning the Sussex Colts Championship.

What was your first job in golf?

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

Driving the drinks buggy around the two courses here at Mannings Heath during the summer holidays – easily the most fun job ever!

There are a few I’d remove, but I’d

rather add one in – a 15-second shot limit for every shot. I’d definitely start with tour players, as it’s becoming a bit silly now. What’s your favourite golf course in the UK, and the world?

After the Waterfall Course at Mannings – of course – it would be West Sussex Golf Club in Pulborough, while abroad it would be the Old Course at Vilamoura. Who is your golfing hero and why?

I honestly don’t have one in golf, but my sporting hero is definitely Roger Federer, for all he’s achieved in tennis and the sporting example he sets. Who inspired you to take up golf?

My mum and dad. Which three other people would be in your dream four ball?

Ricky Gervais, Nicole Scherzinger and Martin Brundle. What would you have done if you hadn’t worked in golf?

I’ve always harboured dreams of being a racing driver. I’m open to offers…

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

Looking after the entire golf operation, ensuring the experience and service for all members and guests is at the highest level. We have a great team in the shop and front of house that make my job a lot easier. What’s the best thing about your job?

Doing something as a job that I grew up playing as a hobby is incredible, as not many people are able to do that.

Tell us something about the facilities and the playing experience…

The championship Waterfall Course is undoubtedly one of the best courses around, both for quality and a playing test. We have recently turned our Kingfisher Course into a 9-hole offering. I believe golf needs quicker and more affordable, and this will tick both those boxes. The club’s new

owners are investing in an upgrade to the clubhouse and with their background in the wine industry we are truly becoming a great entertaining venue. What goes better with golf than wine? What kind of junior programmes do you operate?

My assistant professional, David Williamson, looks after the junior coaching programme and has

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW | SEPTEMBER 2016

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 2, HAZELTINE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, MINNESOTA. USA

[36] SEPTEMBER 2016

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW

CAN ROOKIES WREAK HAVOC AT HAZELTINE?

The 44th Ryder Cup brings together one of the most inexperienced European teams in recent history, against an American team packed full of major champions and highly ranked players – but when it comes to match play golf, and Ryder Cup golf specifically, it’s less your bank balance and more your fighting spirit that counts when you’re standing on the first tee WORDS BY NICK BAYLY

ith six rookies, some of whom are decidedly out of form, and a collection of more experienced players who are carrying injuries and boast patchy recent results, the odds are heavily stacked against Darren Clarke’s team of Euro fighters bringing back the Ryder Cup from Hazeltine next month. But if history can teach us anything about this most fascinating of sporting encounters, it is that past glories, world rankings, and to a certain extent, the formbook, are much over-rated when it comes to deciding the outcome. Almost as overrated, in fact, as the value of the captains, who, history also tells us, are ‘brilliant’ and ‘inspirational’ when the team wins, and ‘uncommunicative’ and ‘unpopular’ when it loses. And while Clarke, and his rival captain, Davis Love III – who has generously been given a chance to redeem himself following the Miracle at Medinah – are both all too aware of the Ryder Cup’s knack of knocking major champions off their shiny pedestals, as well as being no respecter of pedigree, this Ryder Cup, more than any others in recent memory, must surely be America’s to lose. That situation was pointed out when Clarke and Love

Cup experience, Clarke will have exactly half of his team with no track record to speak of. While factually correct, bare statistics have been shown to have little or next to no impact on results. Europe won in 2010 with five rookies, and with virtually all of the American side having been on the receiving end of heavy defeats in recent renewals, experience, in this context, might be considered an overrated quality. But Clarke will have every right to worry about his team’s lack of Ryder Cup history under its collective belt. As he himself admits, no number of Major appearances, EurAsia Cups, Walker Cups, or U14s county foursomes matches, can ever hope to properly prepare players for the mayhem that is unleashed during a Ryder Cup week. ‘I’m happy with the balance of the team,” said Clarke, after he revealed the final 12 – as if he could say anything else. “Yes, we have a number of rookies in there, with one of them being the Masters champion [Danny Willett], but those guys are there for a reason. They are playing consistently well. They are keen and young. Every now and then there’s a turnaround in the old guard, and this happens to be on of those years.” As ever, on world rankings, the American team holds

WORD HAS IT THAT CLARKE HAS BEEN EVEN MORE METICULOUS IN HIS PREPARATION, GETTING IN STATISTICIANS TO ANALYSE EVERY MINUTE ELEMENT OF THE PLAYERS’ PERFORMANCES, FROM SAND SAVE PERCENTAGES TO AVERAGE DRIVING DISTANCES all the aces, with an locked swords at a press average ranking of 23 conferences before the compared to Europe’s US PGA Championship, 32. It’s a stat that which lit a touch paper has proved a poor to the phoney war that indicator of past Ryder rages in the weeks Cup performance, before the matches get so it might as well under way. be ignored, with gut While neither instinct left to prevail skipper was interested on which is the better in laying down any overall side on current gauntlets – or indeed ■ DARREN CLARKE HAS CALLED ON THE SERVICES OF NO FEWER THAN FIVE form, as well as who giving away anything VICE-CAPTAINS, INCLUDING IAN POULTER AND SAM TORRANCE (NOT PICTURED) will benefit the most remotely factual with from course conditions and the venue for the matches, regards to their thoughts on team selection or potential which will no doubt provide a large and perhaps slightly pairings – there was a hint of the shadow boxer about aggressive home crowd hell bent on seeing USA win for Clarke’s performance in setting up his team as the clear only the third time since 1999. underdogs. Although Clarke is barely on speaking terms with “The Americans have to be the clear favourites,” Clarke Europe’s previous Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley – insisted, when pressed on his thoughts as to the balance following the latter’s failure to back Clarke’s initial bid for of the two teams. “They have to be favourites. They’ve had the captaincy – the blueprint for the victory at Gleneagles a task force, for goodness sake. They’ve done everything. will no doubt have been passed along the chain of Davis is obviously doing a wonderful job, and his guys are command by other forms of communication, and will play all playing very, very well.” a part, however small, in the new captain’s strategy. Much pre-match talk has centered around 10 of Word has it that Clarke has been even more meticulous Love's 11 US team members – the 12th man is being in his preparation, getting in statisticians to analyse every announced on September 25 – boasting previous Ryder

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW

minute element of the players’ performances, from sand save percentages to average driving distances, in an effort to work out the best pairings, and which formats of the game appeal to which player. And let’s not go into details about the thread count on the hotel sheets, or the water-repelling qualities of the rain suits (an issue that came to haunt the American team at Celtic Manor in 2010). If it all sounds like overkill, it probably is, but in the absence of the ability to actually hit the shots, the devil is in the small details that the captains can actually control. It is perhaps a sign of America’s desperation – that’s not too strong a word to describe how much they want, nay, need to win this – that following the assembly of the almost laughable ‘Ryder Cup Task Force’, they decided to switch the qualification system in order to try and ensure the players with the best current form were given the best possible chance to make the team. While previous teams – and indeed the current European team – has a smattering of players who played well early on in the qualification process, but whose form has subsequently tailed off, by leaving three of his wildcard picks until September 11, and his fourth and final pick, until September 25 – less than a week before the matches begin – Love has given himself the chance to add some truly in-form players to the line up, should the situation demand it. It will hopefully avoid a repeat of the situation that left 2014 FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel twiddling his thumbs, and allow a late-season form player to grab a piece of the action.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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Clarke, on the other hand, had his full team all tied up a full month before the action starts, with his three captain’s picks – Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and newboy Thomas Pieters – all revealed on August 30. The differing strategies have their strengths and weaknesses, with some players perhaps having too long to stew over their preparations, while others may not have enough time to get their head around being included in the team. Either way, the merits of the two apporaches will no doubt be picked apart when the cards fall on October 2 and the post-mortems begin. The two teams aside, Clarke will arrive at Hazeltine with unquestionably one the largest back room squads in Ryder Cup history, with no fewer than five vice-captains, and any number of official and unofficial support staff in tow. With a ratio of two players per captain or vice-captain, the 2016 European Ryder Cup team will not fail due to any lack of man management, or a failure of any player’s suspect mental state or physical wellbeing going unreported. This will, quite possibly, be one of the most closely scrutinised teams in the history of sport. And with every nano-second of the matches beamed live across the world in full technicolour 3D HD, there really will be nowhere for the players to hide. So far, of course, pretty much all the 2016 Ryder Cup has been is talk. The real action will begin on September 30. Heroes will be made, villains too. But one thing is for sure – you won’t be able to take your eyes off it, not for one minute.

DARREN’S DAY?

European captain Darren Clarke is happy for his team to be considered underdogs at Hazeltine, but is confident that it can bite the Americans where it hurts most Now that your team has been finalised, how happy are you with the overall shape of the team? I'm very happy with the balance of the team. Obviously we have six rookies in there, with one of them being the Masters 'champion, but those guys are in there for a reason. They are playing consistently well. They are keen, young players. Every now and again there's a turnaround in the old guard, and that time is here. But we’ve balanced that out with some experienced players in there, like Lee [Westwood] and Martin [Kaymer], so the team has a good balance of experience and youth. With USA on home soil, and with only one rookie, do you see them as strong favourites, despite the recent run of results? With the teams as they stand, you'd have to say America is the clear favourite. But that's always the case if you're simply looking at the world rankings. But when you get there, it's 12 guys against 12 guys in match play, and anything can happen. Davis [Love III] has gone to great lengths to try and find a winning formula, and I wouldn’t expect anything less, but then so have I.

Tour, but that did not come into any of my selection criteria in terms of who would make a good pick for the team. If he had been further down the list, would I still have considered him? Yes, but friendship has no place when it comes to wild cards, and that's part of the tough calls that captains have to make. But the fact that he's in the team pleases me greatly, because he's a European Ryder Cup stalwart. He's very, very experienced. He's been my partner in many, many Ryder Cups. I know what he brings to the table and I know what he brings to the back room, and there are not many guys you'd prefer to go shoulder to shoulder with. He is definitely one of them.

Why do you think Europe has consistently outplayed America in recent renewals? I just think the Europeans have had the run of the greens. They have made a lot of big putts at the right time. The gap in the quality of the players is so small, that if somebody knocks in a 20-footer at the right time, that can make a huge difference. Regardless of the line-ups, it's going to be as closely contested as it has ever been.

What made you and Lee such a great Ryder Cup partnership? I think because we travelled the world together for many, many years, we understood each other's game so well. We never apologised to each other, because we never had to. I knew the strengths of his game and he knew the strengths of mine, and we both drove the ball pretty well. So we could play in foursomes or fourballs. We just knew each other inside out, and that's why we're so successful.

How pleased are you to have Lee [Westwood] in your team? Lee is probably my best friend out on

How good is it to have two current major champions in the team?

It’s wonderful to have Danny [Willett] and Henrik [Stenson] in there, but when it comes to the Ryder Cup, every man has to stand up on that first tee, and records don't really count for an awful lot. You've got to perform. Certainly those two guys have done that at the highest level, and hopefully they will do that at Hazeltine. I have no doubt that they will. How much encouragement have you been giving to Matt Fitzpatrick over the last few weeks, as he just squeaked into the team after a tough summer? I've been speaking to Matt on almost on a weekly basis. And while you're correct in saying he's been struggling in terms of results, his stats have been very good. It's a big deal for somebody as young as Matt to be right on the cusp of making his first Ryder Cup. He's been pushing himself too hard, and I just suggested to him to relax a little bit and enjoy it. If his stats weren't as good as they were, I would be somewhat concerned, but I'm not. He's a quality player. How much value did you put into chemistry and personality when filling out that team? Personalities play a big part in it, as there are always egos to manage,

but statistics are also helpful when looking at the shape of the team and potential pairings. They are not definitive, but they provide an indication of how guys are playing, and what aspects of their game are suited to particular formats, even specific holes. So, myself and my vice-captain will decide on what we think might make successful pairings. They have got to want to play with each other. Thankfully, none of the players has any favourites, and there is nobody they don't want to play with, which makes my job much easier. You have two Spaniards in the team. Would they make an obvious pairing? There have been some wonderful Spanish pairings in the past. Obviously Sergio is one of the strongest players on the team, and he has played in many Ryder Cups. For Rafa, it will be his first, but certainly that may be a pairing that I may look towards. But either of them would be a good partner for anybody else on the team. Whether there's a Spanish pairing or not, we shall wait and see, but I certainly am very pleased to have both of them on the team. How pleased were to you see Rory back in the winner’s circle this month? Rory can win any week, and he's been very close to playing really well for quite some time now, so it was no surprise to me to see him win. He just seems to have thrown in the odd not-so-good round recently, and the putter hasn't really been behaving. But Rory is such a talent that he can win anywhere. When you have his ability to hit the ball as far as he does and as straight as he does, he can overpower any golf course, and he will be a potent force in our team.

[38] SEPTEMBER 2016

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RYDER CUP PREVIEW

EUROPEAN PLAYER PROFILES RORY MCILROY AGE: 27 WORLD RANKING: 3 CAPS: 3 (2010, 2012, 2014) RYDER CUP RECORD: P14 W6 L4 H4 SINGLES: W2 L1 H0 FOURSOMES: W0 L2 H0 FOURBALLS: W2 L 1 H2 After missing the cut in two of the four majors, and looking a little shaky in the putting department for the majority of the season, the former world No.1 bounced back to form with a dramatic win in this month’s Deutsche Bank Championship, where he triumphed in typically flambouyant style with a closing 65. With a renwed swagger in his step, he’ll have an arrow on his back at Hazetine, but relishes that role. He played with Garcia three times at Gleneagles, winning 11/2 points, and then stuffed Rickie Fowler in the singles.

DANNY WILLETT AGE: 28 WORLD RANKING: 11 Willett earned his place with wins at the Abu Dhabi Championship in February, and, of course, his stunning victory at the Masters in April, where he profited from Jordan Spieth’s collapse with a superb back nine performance at Augusta. He has been somewhat off the boil since then, with a third at Wentworth his only top-30 finish in his last eight events. A gritty fighter, his temperament should be ideal for the Ryder Cup.

HENRIK STENSON AGE: 40 WORLD RANKING: 5 CAPS: 3 (06, 08, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P11 W5 L4 H2 SINGLES: W1 L0 H2 FOURSOMES: W2 L1 H1 FOURBALLS: W2 L 1 H1 After winning The Open in July, and finishing runner up at the Olympics, the super cool Swede is in the form of his life. He wasn’t picked for Medinah in 2012, but bounced back in stunning fashion in 2013, winning the PGA Tour and European Tour money lists, and then playing a major roll in Europe’s victory at Gleneagles in 2014, where he was unbeaten when partnered with Rose, but lost to Patrick Reed in the singles. Expect the gold and silver medalists to have a very busy week.

SERGIO GARCIA AGE: 36 WORLD RANKING: 11 CAPS: 7 (99, 02, 04, 06, 08, 12, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P32 W18 L9 H5 SINGLES: W3 L0 H4 FOURSOMES: W9 L2 H2 FOURBALLS: W6 L3 H3 In the absence of Ian Poulter, the fiery Spaniard is likely to be the player to stir up the team emotionally. Still one of the best players not to win a major, Garcia has rediscovered his form of late, winning the Bryon Nelson earlier this year, and finishing fifth in both The Open and US Open this summer. Could be asked to chaperone fellow

Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello in at least one match, but may also be reunited with McIlroy.

CHRIS WOOD AGE: 28 WORLD RANKING: 30 The tallest man on the European Tour leapt into the Ryder Cup reckoning after winning the BMW PGA Championship in May. Although he has enjoyed 12 top-10 finishes in the last 18 months, his form has cooled off this summer, with missed cuts at The Open and US Open, and continuing concerns over injuries. He played in this year’s EurAsia Cup, winning two points and pairing up well with Lee Westwood. Likely to be used sparingly.

JUSTIN ROSE AGE: 36 WORLD RANKING: 10 CAPS: 3 (08, 12, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P14 W9 L3 H2 SINGLES: W2 L1 H0 FOURSOMES: W4 L1 H1 FOURBALLS: W2 L1 H1 Team GB’s golden boy will be one of Europe’s talismanic figures at Hazeltine. He was one of the stars at Gleneagles in 2014, where he was undefeated in five matches, winning four points. The 2013 US Open champion’s season has been a slow burner, with the early part tempered by a shoulder injury, but with his confidence sky high following his triumph in Rio, he should be one of Clarke’s go-to men in all formats.

RAFAEL CABRERA-BELLO AGE: 32 WORLD RANKING: 29 The team’s second Spaniard doesn’t win very often – he last got his head in front in 2012 – but he is ridiculously consistent, and is yet to miss a cut in Europe this season. He secured his place with runner-up spots in Dubai and Qatar, and a thirdplaced finish in the WGC Match Play, which came with a €580,000 prize. A solid, if unspectacular player, he averages ‘only’ 285 yards off the tee – so could be matched up with a bigger hitter like Pieters if Clarke is prepared to risk an all-rookie pairing.

ANDREW SULLIVAN AGE: 29 WORLD RANKING: 44 A nine-shot rout in the Portugal Masters last October, followed by a runner-up finish in Dubai in March, helped secured Nuneaton-born Sullivan’s place in the team. His form has dipped off a bit in recent months, which is a worry. He won all three points in the EurAsia Cup, and looks a good battler, as he showed when chasing Mcllroy all the way in the DP World Championship last season. Might only get two outings though.

in the Czech Masters, but earlier wins in the British Masters and Nordea Masters put him on the cusp. A supremely accurate iron player, a straight driver, and increasingly confident putter, he would be a reliable foursomes or fourball partner if twinned with an experienced teammate, and could well play alongside Willett or Westwood, both of whom he won with at the EurAsia Cup.

LEE WESTWOOD AGE: 43 WORLD RANKING: 43 CAPS: 9 (97, 99, 02, 04, 06, 08, 10, 12, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P41 W20 L15 H6 SINGLES: P9, W3, L6, H0 FOURSOMES: P17, W9, L4, H4 FOURBALLS: P15, W8, L5, H2 Needing just two points to match Nick Faldo’s record of 25, he will have a good opportunity to pass that mark if he maintains his winning percentage points record in what will be his 10th appearance. Finished second in the Masters, and played in the last group at the US Open, but does nothave much other form to write home about. Could be paired with a rookie, or slot in wherever, he will be a steadying force in the team room.

MARTIN KAYMER AGE: 31 WORLD RANKING: 51 CAPS: 3 (10, 12, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P10 W4 L3 H3 SINGLES: W2, L1, H0 FOURSOMES: W0, L0, H2 FOURBALLS: W2, L2, H1 The dual Major champion finished just outside of the qualification spots after a solid run over the summer, which yielded five top-10s. The hero of Medinah in 2012 – well, he sunk the winning putt – has been suffering from the chipping yips and hasn’t won since 2014, so will be unlikely to figure in the foursomes – although there won’t be any bare lies at Hazeltine, which should help his cause around the greens. Needs to justify his captain’s pick.

HAZELTINE O

pened in 1962, and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, Hazeltine National is one of only two clubs in America to have hosted every championship offered by the USGA and the PGA of America, with its most recent Major being the the 2009 US PGA Championship won by YE Yang. It gained almost instant notoriety when hosting the US Open in 1970, just eight years after it opened, after which the course came in for a good deal of criticism when nearly half the field failed to break 80 during the first round. It’s certainly a demanding layout – it has a slope rating of 158 – which tests every facet of a player’s game: length, accuracy, and finesse. It’s certainly not tricked up in any way, presenting straightforward test off the tee with narrow, bunker-lined fairways, and a combination of prairie, trees, and water to negotiate. The configuration has been altered slightly for the purposes of the Ryder Cup, with the 16th and 7th holes switching round.

KEY HOLES 7TH PAR 4, 402 YARDS This stellar two-shotter, which is normally the course’s 16th hole, features the Hazeltine Lake on the right and a creek that frames the hole on the left. The peninsula green sticks out accusingly into the water, putting fear into the hearts of players that are too greedy, or too timid, with their approach.

12TH PAR 5, 518 YARDS Hazeltine has plenty of dangerous holes, but few are more dangerous than this lengthy par four, which features water short and right of the green and a ton of yardage to cover in just four strokes. During the 2009 PGA Championship this hole played more than half a stroke over the card, so a par will often be good enough to win in match play.

THOMAS PIETERS AGE: 24 WORLD RANKING: 41 The big-hitting Belgian bagged the final wildcard following an impossible-to-ignore victory in Denmark earlier this month, which was achieved under the captain’s nose and intense media scrutiny. Having finished second in the previous week’s Czech Masters and fourth in the Olympics – he’s on a hot streak of form, and his length will be a valuable match play asset at Hazeltine, as will his youthful confidence. A future Ryder Cup star in the making, but has it come too soon?

TEAM AVERAGE AGE: 31 TEAM AVERAGE WORLD RANKING: 27

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK

VICE-CAPTAINS

AGE: 22 WORLD RANKING: 46 Sealed the final qualifying spot after finishing fifth

Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter and Sam Torrance.

■ THE 7TH AND 10TH HOLES AT HAZELTINE ARE JUST YARDS APART

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NATIONAL 14TH PAR 4, 352 YARDS An obvious birdie hole, the landing area on this short par four is at its widest short of the long fairway bunker on the right side, which, given a reasonably generous pin placement, offers a relatively simple pitch to set up a birdie, although longer hitters will be looking to knock it in for an eagle.

16TH PAR 5, 572 YARDS Normally the 7th, this double dogleg is heavily tree-lined along the right side and finishes in a long and narrow green. Players trying to reach the green in two will have to contend with a pond that protects the left side, three bunkers that protect the right, and a lone bunker behind.

17TH PAR 3, 182 YARDS The green is surrounded by bunkers, while a water hazard will lay claim to any approach left short. Once the green is reached there is still no guarantee of a two-putt, due to the large bowl and a multi-tiered surface.

CARD OF THE COURSE 7,628 YARDS, PAR 72 Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Par 4 4 5 3 4 5 4 3 6 Yards 442 429 633 210 352 642 402 186 475 Hole 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Par 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 3 4 Yards 452 606 518 248 448 405 572 176 432

■ THE PAR-5 16TH IS A CLASSIC RISK/REWARD RYDER CUP HOLE

RYDER CUP PREVIEW

SEPTEMBER 2016 [39]

US PLAYER PROFILES DUSTIN JOHNSON AGE: 32 WORLD RANKING: 2 APPEARANCES: 2 RYDER CUP RECORD: P7 W4 L3 H0 Johnson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2010, where he impressed when beating US PGA champion Martin Kaymer in the singles, and he was also one of the better US performers at Medinah, again winning his singles. He sat out Gleneagles after taking a six-month voluntary leave of absence following some personal issues, but returns to the fold in fine fettle following his long overdue first major victory at June’s US Open, and can be expected to feature heavily over the three days.

JORDAN SPIETH AGE: 22 WORLD RANKING: 4 APPEARANCES: 1 (’14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P4 W2 L1 H1 Spieth formed a brilliant partnership with Patrick Reed on his debut in 2014, the pair winning two foursomes matches impressively, but he squandered a good lead when losing to Graeme McDowell in singles. Although he has won twice this season, the current world No.2 isn’t operating at the level he achieved during his double major winning year in 2015, and it remains to be seen if he has fully recovered from his collapse at this year’s Masters.

PHIL MICKELSON

dependable man to have in a fourball pairing, and this experienced campaigner looks mentally unflappable.

BROOKS KOEPKA

back on home soil he will be a crowd favourite and a cheerleader in chief. Likely to be paired with Spieth again, in what will be a strong partnership.

MATT KUCHAR

AGE: 26 WORLD RANKING: 20 APPEARANCES: – The sole rookie in Davis Love’s team – to date – is also one of the youngest, but this powerful ball striker is unlikely to be the weakest link in the squad. Although he boasts just one PGA Tour title – which came in early 2015 – he has shown immense promise this season, with runner-up finishes at the Byron Nelson and the St Jude Classic, and a fourthplace at last month’s US PGA Championship. His length off the tee – averaging 303 yards – will be a potent weapon in the fourballs if he’s given the chance.

AGE: 38 WORLD RANKING: 17 APPEARANCES: 3 (’10, ’12, 14’) RYDER CUP RECORD: P8 W3 L2 H2 Winning the bronze medal in Rio has been the golfing highlight of Kuchar’s year to date, although he has also bagged nine other top-10 finishes, including three thirds, most notably at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. Without a win since 2014, Kuchar’s best days are probably behind him, but he is super steady and is one of the few Americans with a winning Ryder Cup record. He could also be paired with everyone and anyone.

BRANDT SNEDEKER

RICKIE FOWLER

AGE: 36 WORLD RANKING: 24 APPEARANCES: 1 (’12) RYDER CUP RECORD: P3 W1 L2 H Automatic qualifier this time, having required a wild card at Medinah in 2012, where he was involved in two tight pairs matches alongside Jim Furyk, winning one and losing the other. He was beaten in the singles by Paul Lawrie, but he’s a better player than that, and will relish the return following a season which has included a win at the Farmers Insurance in January and six other top 10s.

AGE: 46 WORLD RANKING: 14 APPEARANCES: 10 (’95–’14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P41 W16 L19 H6 A runner-up finish in The Open secured an 11th consecutive Ryder Cup appearance for the mercurial left-hander, whose powers are showing no signs of waning when it comes to the big events. Possessed with outrageous ability, vision and touch, Mickelson will be the team’s unofficial leader out on the course and in the team room. He’s only won half of his 10 singles matches, losing a critical point to Justin Rose at Medinah in 2012, so still has room to improve his record.

AGE: 40 WORLD RANKING: 25 APPEARANCES: 4 (06, 10, 12, 14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P14 W6 L6 H2 The 2015 Open champion boasts a solid Ryder Cup record for a tough, battle-hardened competitor whose only singles defeat in four appearances came on his debut against Darren Clarke on Irish soil. A dependable foursomes partner, he could pair up with Mickelson or any of the other bigger hitters, and is a deadly putter on his day.

JIMMY WALKER

PATRICK REED

AGE: 37 WORLD RANKING: 15 APPEARANCES: 1 (‘14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P5 W1 L1 H3 Something of an unknown quantity in 2014, Walker put in a solid debut at Gleneagles when paired with Rickie Fowler, halving both his matches, and then winning his single against Lee Westwood. Back on the team as a major champion following an impressive US PGA Championship success in August, he will be a

AGE: 26 WORLD RANKING: 8 APPEARANCES: 1 (‘14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P4 W3 L0 H1 Unbeaten two years ago – three times alongside Jordan Spieth and once in singles, when beating Henrik Stenson on the final hole – Reed earnt his place on the team with victory at The Barclays last month. He didn’t win himself any new fans at Gleneagles with his ‘shushing’ of the Europeans galleries, but

ZACH JOHNSON

AGE: 26 WORLD RANKING: 9 APPEARANCES: 2 (’10, ‘14) RYDER CUP RECORD: P7 W0 L2 H5 Still looking for his first winning Ryder Cup point, Fowler was always going to be a likely pick after his performance at The Barclays, where only a late stutter in the final round – when he was pushing to secure his Ryder Cup spot with the win that he needed – saw him fall short of automatic selection. A popular figure in the team room, and a big hit with the fans, he still has it to prove when it comes to match play, as he showed when getting mashed by McIlroy in the singles at Gleneagles, although five halves shows he has plenty of fighting spirit.

JB HOLMES AGE: 34 WORLD RANKING: 21 APPEARANCES: 1 (‘08) RYDER CUP RECORD: P3 W2 L0 H1 Just finishing outside of the automatic qualifications spots, despite suffering a midseason slump, Holmes earned his wildcard selection on the back of a fourth place finish at this month’s BMW Championship. A four-time winner on the PGA Tour, he was a member of the team that won at Valhalla in 2008 – America’s last victory. He is a big hitter off the tee, but his approach play and putting ability isn’t quite so impressive, so he may be limited to fourball outings.

TEAM AVERAGE AGE: 33 TEAM AVERAGE WORLD RANKING: 14

VICE-CAPTAINS Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.

[40] SEPTEMBER 2016

RYDER CUP PREVIEW

A fixture in the Ryder Cup since 1997, LEE WESTWOOD heads to Hazeltine for his 10th appearance, where he will be hoping to break Nick Faldo’s record for the most points won by a European – as well as silence those who suggest that he is only there because of his friendship with the captain WORDS BY NICK BAYLY PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

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t’s no great secret that Lee Westwood was always going to be boarding Europe’s plane to Hazeltine, whether he earned a place on the team or not. Long before Darren Clarke announced the 43 year old from Worksop as a wildcard on August 30, everyone but everyone knew that Westwood would be impossible to leave out of the Ryder Cup equation. It was just a question of whether he travelled as a player or a vice-captain. By leaving the decision on his final vice-captain to the last minute, Clarke advertised all too plainly that if his closest friend on tour for the last 25 years had failed to make the team through automatic selection, or his form had slumped so badly that he couldn’t be considered a safe captain’s pick, he would there to help out in some other official capacity. As it turned out, the sheer number of rookies that qualified by right almost dictated that Clarke had to turn to more experienced players in order to balance out the team, and add a bit of historical weight to the mix. And there are few players that boast more Ryder Cup history than Lee John Westwood. Blooded alongside Clarke back in 1997, when he served under the leadership of Seve Ballesteros, Westwood has been the only permanent fixture in the side for coming up to two decades, and should he manage to hold things together for another two years, few would deny him the chance to match Faldo’s record and secure an 11th successive appearance in Paris.

SEPTEMBER 2016

With 23 points from a possible 41 – 17 of which have been won in foursomes and fourballs – Westwood has proved the ultimate team player, combining with Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and, most recently, Jamie Donaldson, to help Europe establish those all too familiar early leads, and then attempt to hold on in the singles. Westwood’s record in the latter format is not quite so impressive, having lost six of his nine matches – but his 3&2 defeat of Matt Kuchar at Medinah in 2012, which tied the scores at 12-12, was one of the most decisive results on that most decisive of days, while his defeat to Jimmy Walker at Gleneagles in 2014 was suffered long after Jamie Donaldson had inflicted the killer blow for Europe. And while so much of the Ryder Cup is measured in euros, dollars and points, it is what Westwood brings to the party as a personality, as much as his powers with a putter, that has made him the sturdy English oak around which much of Europe’s success has been built. To say he’s been there, done that, and got the T-shirt is the understatement of the century. While Europe’s back room team does not lack for experience when it comes to captains and vice-captains, in the white heat of competition, Westwood is the immoveable rock and implacable force to which countless first-time players have looked for a calming word or even just a quiet nod that serves to ease frayed nerves. Kaymer, who played in foursomes and fourballs alongside Westwood during his debut at Celtic Manor in 2010, is in no doubt of what he brings to the Ryder Cup table. “Lee brings a lot of calmness and peace to the team – which is not something that is available in huge supply at a Ryder Cup. He really helped settle my nerves at Celtic Manor. I was worried about letting him down, as I looked up to him in the same way that he may have looked up Nick or Seve when he first started out, so to play alongside him, and have him take me under his wing, really helped my own game. He’s one of the best players that Europe have ever had, and his record speaks for itself.” Ryder Cups aside, it’s fair to say that the last few years have not been the easiest for Westwood. Due to personal circumstances off the course – his 16-year marriage to wife Laura broke up early in 2015 – his form dropped off dramatically, and he found himself outside of the world’s top 50. He left his Florida home and moved back to the UK at the end of last year in order to be closer to his children, and the transition has not been conducive to consistent results. However, a victory in Thailand over the winter saw him earn a place at the Masters, where a second-place finish behind his ISM stablemate Danny Willett put him back in the Ryder Cup picture. And although top 10s have been thin on the ground since then, a solid three rounds at the US Open – where he played in the last group with Dustin Johnson, but blew out with an 80 – has been enough to convince Clarke that he can still cut it at the very top of the game, as well as prove more than just

[41]

■ WESTWOOD WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO ECLIPSE NICK FALDO'S ALL-TIME EUROPEAN RYDER CUP POINTS RECORD AT HAZELTINE

ANY TIME ANYBODY WRITES YOU OFF, IT'S GOOD MOTIVATION. YOU CAN EITHER TAKE IT AND BE MISERABLE OR STICK IT BACK DOWN THEIR THROAT, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE ATTITUDE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE WHEN YOU GO TO THE RYDER CUP

another father figure to lean on at the Ryder Cup. "I was determined that I was going to show some form and get on that team," says Westwood, who also had to rely on a captain’s pick from Ian Woosnam in 2006, and Paul McGinley in 2014. "I wasn't ready to write my game off just yet, as I knew deep down that I was still capable of some good golf. It was nice to play well at the end of last year, and actually get in the Masters from the result in Thailand – and obviously I played great at the Masters and finished second. Any time anybody writes you off, it's good motivation. You can either take it and be miserable or stick it back down their throat, which is pretty much the attitude that you have to have when you go to the Ryder Cup." He adds: “Of course, I would have liked to have played my way on to the team, but Darren knows what I can do in the Ryder Cup, and what I can bring to the team, so it was a great thrill to get the pick. “The Ryder Cup has provided me with most of the very special moments in my career. The matches have given me a bigger buzz than any other golf tournament, and I’m very proud of my record, and that of the team as a whole. Hopefully there will be one or two more to come.” Asked if it’s too early to talk about when he might assume the captain’s mantle – as he surely will – Westwood sounds keen, but is cagey on timings. "I'd love to be captain one day. It's a massive honour, and very few people get to do it. I've played under lots of different captains – Darren will be my eighth – and I should be able to look back and know what to do and what not to do. Hopefully one day I'll get the chance to do that, but I’d really love to have at least two more to play in before I get to the captaincy stage.” Paris in 2018 indeed may be too soon, but Italy in 2022, when Westwood will be 49, might be a better bet. Either as a player or a captain, Europe could have no finer ambassador – of that there can be no doubt.

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FEATURE | SEPTEMBER 2016 [43]

DISTINCTIVE TIMEPIECES FOR GOLFERS

E T I Q U S . C O . U K

A LOOK BACK IN TIME JOSÉ MARIA OLAZABAL AND SEVE BALLESTEROS • 1989 RYDER CUP • THE BELFRY

IF YOU WANTED A PICTURE that sums up the confidence José Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros had in their own ability – and superiority – then this is it. Striding down the fairway at The Belfry during the 1989 Ryder Cup (which Europe retained after tieing 14-14), they looked as if they owned the place – two matadors at the peak of their powers. Olazabal, who was just 23 at the time, manages a cheeky schoolboy grin, while Seve, ever the father figure, at nine years his senior, maintains the look of a man who still has a job to be done. The record books show that as individuals they were mightily impressive players in their own right – but as a partnership at the Ryder Cup they were nigh on unbeatable. By the time they played their 15th and last Ryder Cup match together – a 2&1 defeat of Davis Love III and Tom Kite at The Belfry in 1993 – the Spanish Armada – as they had come to be known – had amassed a record of won 11, lost 2, halved 2. Despite their stunning win ratio, Seve and Ollie were worth far more to the team than the points, as their presence in the locker room alone sent a wave of confidence surging through less experienced team members – and a shockwave of fear through the opposition. They may not have always played the best golf, but their ability to get out of trouble from the most unlikely spots proved

psychologically damaging to their opponents in the match play format. Time after time, a US pairing would think they’d won a hole, only for Seve to find a route to the pin from behind the bushes, or Ollie to chip in from off the green to snatch an unlikely half. It ripped the guts out of many a rival, and proved

the secret of their success. Such was their complete trust in each other that Billy Foster, who was on Ballesteros’s bag in two Ryder Cups, believed that each player was their own best caddy, with the real caddies simply performing the role of bag carriers for every match, letting them get on with sorting out the club selections and the lines on the putts. Foster is also responsible for the ultimate tribute to the dynamic duo. On the wall of Billy’s Bar in the Bingley St Ives Golf Club, which is dedicated to Foster, hangs a large photograph of Olazabal and Ballesteros lining up a putt at the Ryder Cup. Under the photo, in Foster’s handwriting, there is a short caption: “Ryder Cup: Ballesteros and Olazabal versus God and Jesus. Seve and Ollie, 2 up.” Seve, of course, sadly passed away in 2011, after losing a long battle with a brain tumour, while Olazabal went on to lead the European team to that spectacular come-from-behind victory at Medinah in 2012, during which he, and all of his players, channeled their inner Seves to pull off the most extraordinary turnarounds in sporting history. The European players at Hazeltine later this month will no doubt be shown a few videos on Seve in action as they prepare to take on the might of America once more, and if one ounce of the maestro’s magic wears off on them, they’ll have every chance of bringing back the Ryder Cup once more.

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[44] SEPTEMBER 2016 | PAUL BROADHURST

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BROADY HITS THE BIG TIME After a professional career spanning 28 years, PAUL BROADHURST can call himself a major champion having won the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie. It’s a lifechanging result that has already seen him heading for the riches of the Champions Tour in America

inning a major championship is a life-changing achievement for any player. How much has yours changed in the last month or so? It's been absolutely massive. Winning the Senior Open was beyond my wildest dreams. I genuinely believed that this sort of thing didn’t happen to players like me. I've won a few tournaments over the years, but nothing anywhere near as big as this. I feel very, very privileged to have won it. Since then, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, as winning the Senior Open gets you two years' exemption for the Champions Tour. I’ve played the US Senior Open and two other tournaments so far, and things are going OK. I finished tied 19th last week and my game was pretty solid. Outside of the US PGA, I didn’t play any regular tour events in America during my

younger days, so it takes some getting used to the course set-ups – especially with the rough around the greens and off the fairways – but I’m swinging pretty well, and really enjoying the challenge. So how will your schedule change with the exemption? I’m pretty much going to be playing the Champions Tour full-time for this season and all of next, as it’s too good an opportunity to miss. I’ll try and play in Europe when I can, but I’ve got to make the most of it. I’ve no plans

to move to the States, as I have two kids still at school, so I’ll be hopping back and forth and having to get used to time zones and not much sleep. Our eldest two are at university, so when they’re on holiday we can hopefully rope them in for a bit of baby-sitting, so that my wife can join me out on tour. You also get a bye into next year’s Open Championship at Birkdale – do you have any course form there? I didn’t qualify when it was held there in 2008 or 1998, so 1991 was my one and only Open

there. I remember shooting 68 and 69 over the weekend and finishing somewhere in the top 20. I’m looking forward to seeing how my game measures up against the younger guys, but my focus will be the Senior Tours. Going back to Carnoustie, you seemed to get better as the tournament went on. What do you put that down to? To be honest, I really struggled on the first day. My putting was really poor. Even on the front nine on the second day, I was still struggling. I was four over par for the tournament after

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PAUL BROADHURST | SEPTEMBER 2016 [45]

27 holes, and my main concern was about making the cut. The 12th and 14th were really big holes for me. My son Sam was on the bag all week, and he was trying to keep me patient. I'm not the most patient of players, but his words of wisdom worked, and we made a few putts coming down the stretch and came back in 30. Then I carried that into the third round, and played lovely over the front nine holes. I had a three-putt on the eighth, which dropped me back a little bit, but at that point there was no real thought of winning the tournament. I was still quite a long way behind. But the final round was unbelievable. I was four shots behind, and didn't think I had much chance of winning. I thought it was too big a gap. Not many people shoot six under around Carnoustie on the last day of a tournament. Things like that don't normally happen. Miguel [Angel Jimenez] gave me a little chance at 10, when he hit the tree and it went back in the water and made double, and then I rolled a birdie putt, which got me right back into it. You managed to get up-and-down three times over the last three holes – including twice from the bunker – what was going through your mind at that point? I was pretty much in control of my emotions all the way around until I holed the putt at 15 to go one ahead, and then suddenly reality hit me, and my swing got a little bit quicker, and my heart rate got a lot faster. I didn't hit a bad shot at 16, but it's such a hard hole. It was always drawing away with the wind, so it released and rolled down the slope. I made a nice 4-footer for par there. I played a poor iron shot on 17, but made a massive putt from about ten feet just to stay one shot clear. The really important shot for me was the drive at 18, where I hit as good a drive as I could have hit down there. All I was thinking with my second shot was to try not to go out of bounds left. That's all I was thinking. I hit it a little bit heavy and pushed it down the right side. I glanced at the scoreboard, and Scott McCarron had bogeyed the last, and when Miguel didn't make four, I knew I could get

up-and-down in three from the trap, which made it a lot, lot easier than if I had had to up-and-down it. How does the Senior Open win rate against your six victories on the European Tour, and even your Ryder Cup appearance? I think it’s bigger than all of the tournaments I won – a lot, lot bigger. It’s difficult to compare it with the Ryder Cup, as that’s a different kind of event altogether. Getting into the Ryder Cup was massive, but that was the result of a string of good performances. Winning the Senior Open is the biggest achievement of my career. What has the Senior Tour experience been like compared to the European Tour? With just three rounds at a standard Senior Tour event, you’ve got to get it right from the off. Bad starts are absolutely out of the question – you have no time to make up for errors. Senior Tour events might be smaller in scale, but the facilities and the venues are every bit as good, and so are the players. How hard was it to fill the gap between finishing on the European Tour in your mid40s and waiting to joining the Seniors? It was really difficult, to be honest. I didn't know what to do for three or four years. I had a certain amount in the bank, but that went down quite considerably after four years not playing on Tour – especially with four kids to feed! I didn't really know what I was going to do. I thought about going into coaching, but I'm not the greatest coach in the world – I just wanted to carry on playing. I just accepted that I wasn't going to make too much money playing golf in the next

■ BROADHURST WITH PARTNER WOOSIE AT KIAWAH ISLAND

three or four years, but I wanted my game ready for the Senior Tour. It must have been satisfying to come out last year and win your very first senior event at the Scottish Open. Yes, it was incredible. My last main tour event before that was the Open Championship at Lytham in 2012, and after that I pretty much dedicated myself to getting my game in better shape than it was when I finished on Tour. I work with a guy called Tim Rouse now, and I've been with him three years, and we've done a lot of work on my game. I had been playing pretty well in Midlands regional events – shooting good scores in pro-ams and invitational events. I was hopeful I would get off to a good start. I knew that my best golf was good enough to win a tournament, and I certainly felt competitive. With the Ryder Cup around the corner, can you tell us your abiding memory of Kiawah Island in 1991? There are quite a few. I remember a few of us getting wake up calls from the local radio station early on the Friday from a guy telling us he was part of the ‘Wake the Enemy’ campaign. My call came in at 5am, I think – they were honest about their intentions, and it was pretty funny. Faldo was already up when they called his room at six, and he just put the phone down. Back then there was more of a ‘them and us’ feel to the matches, as we didn’t play on

their tour very much, and they didn’t play in Europe. Now the top guys see each other a lot more and know each other better, so there is less animosity. They all want to win, but it’s not quite so personal. I was proud of the way I played in the singles against Mark O'Meara. [Broadhurst won 3&1.] I think Seve was level par in his game against Wayne Levi, and I was one over. And they were the best scores of the day – some of the guys were miles over par. I came into the matches in good form, and was disappointed to only play twice, but I suppose it was to be expected when you’ve got a team full of big names. Mind you, we had five rookies, so it’s not too dissimilar to what the current team is like. How do you rate Europe’s chances at Hazeltine? America has got to be the slight favourites, especially with home advantage and so much experience in their team – but then again, we said that at Medinah, and look what happened there. I’m sure the matches will be close, but I’d make US favourites – although, of course, I’ll be pulling for our boys all the way!

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[46] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SHORT GAME GURU STUART SMITH JOINS GOLF NEWS TEAM

olf News readers can look forward to sharpening up their short game in the coming months, following the appointment of Stuart Smith as the magazine’s new expert short game instruction coach. PGA-trained Smith, who currently runs two successful golf academies at Heydon Grange in Hertfordshire and Thetford Golf Club in Norfolk, has developed a fresh and innovative approach to the often troublesome areas of pitching, chipping and putting. He has helped hundreds of

amateur golfers transform their short game and dramatically improve their scores, and is confident that he can do the same for Golf News readers through his collection of video lessons, and recently-launch academy holiday training camps. Speaking about his new role, Smith said: “I feel honoured to have been asked by Golf News to be its official short game expert, and I can't wait to share with readers as much information as I can on the short game and see everyone improve.” He added: “I have been coaching for over 20

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years, the last 10 of which I’ve focused on the short game, specifically wedge and chip shots from 100 yards and in, which I believe are the key to good scoring. This is where most shots are played, and a good short game will save your scores and make the difference between winning and losing. I once played in a 72-hole competition when I only managed to hit a third of the greens in regulation, but I still managed to finish on level par. That was all down to my chipping and pitching – getting up and down from around the green.” Smith, author of ‘Seven Steps to Heavenly Chipping’, added: “I’m going to be offering Golf News readers lots of exclusive online tips via the Golf News twitter feed @golfnewsmag, where they will also be able to view and download my latest short game instructional videos. I'll also be hosting weekly Q&A sessions, where readers can ask me for advice about their own games. "I am really looking forward to working with all of Golf News’ readers and helping them to improve all aspects of their short game.” Smith has also teamed up with Golf News

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to launch a series of coaching holidays, where golfers can improve their short games at top class venues in warmer climates. The next trip is being held at the Costa Ballena Resort in Spain from October 12-19. The trip will feature morning tuition sessions with Smith, followed by five rounds on Costa Ballena’s 18-hole Ocean Course – a regular venue for the European Tour’s Qualifying School – and five rounds on the resort’s excellent 9-hole par-three course. The total cost for the trip, including seven nights’ halfboard accommodation at the 4-star Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort, and return flights on BA from Gatwick to Seville, is £805pp for two people sharing a twin room, and £925 for a single room.

Spaces are limited, so for bookings and all other enquiries, visit www.stuartsmithgolfacademy.com, email stuart@stuartsmithgolfacademy.com or call 07799 088786.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

We are pleased to announce the following great golf offers: ■ LUCAS DORNAN TAKES THE HONOURS AT THE AMERICAN GOLF LONG DRIVE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A DRIVE OF 368 YARDS

BILLERICAY GOLFER BOMBS HIS WAY TO VICTORY IN LONG DRIVE FINALS

ssex club golfer Lucas Dornan has bagged a place in the World Long Drive Championship after smashing a 368-yard drive during the finals of the American Golf Long Drive Championship held at High Legh Park Golf Club in Cheshire. The 31 year old from Stockbrook Manor Country Club in Billericay, who also picked up a hamper of products from Garmin as part of his prize, came into the final as one of the pre-tournament favourites, after progressing through the two qualifying events with ease, despite never having entered a long drive event before. Using a Callaway XR 16 driver with a Fujikura XXX shaft, Dornan proved his worth throughout the early rounds, dispatching a number of huge drives, including one 383-yard monster, although having made it through to the final match he struggled for consistency in a

tense encounter. Under the spotlight of Sky Sports’ cameras, with five drives from six completed, Dornan didn’t have a legal ball in play. His opponent, Dave Evans from Bedford, had previously recorded 364 yards from his first set of three, but Dornan managed to dispatch a 368-yard rocket with his final drive of the competition. With three balls left to win, Evans struggled for control, and having consistently hit over 370 yards all competition, failed to record a legal drive in his final set. "I'm delighted to have won the American Golf Long Drive Championship in my first ever long drive event,” said Dornan. “I knew from looking aT the swing speeds of the other competitors that if I hit it well I'd be among the leaders. I‘d clocked 152mph during the day, so I knew I was swinging it fast, but was just missing the middle of the club,

so it was a relief when I managed to get a legal drive on my last hit in both the semi-final and the final. From qualifying in store, through regional heats, and to the final, I've had a fantastic experience, and can't thank American Golf and Garmin enough for giving me the chance to go on and compete with the best in the world." In the ladies' category, Rebecca McGinley defended her title with a winning drive of 299 yards in the final against Olivia Raybould. The pair’s best drives of the day were 318 and 285 yards respectively. Anton Reader took the over 45s' title from David Willmore with a drive of 343 yards. All three players will represent American Golf and Garmin at the World Long Drive Championships in Oklahoma in October. The UK final is being show on Sky Sports 4 on September 20.

in passionately. “All golf coaches know about golf, but are seldom experts in children,” he said. “This is completely the wrong way around. Primary School teachers aren’t experts in every subject they teach – but they are in how to engage children and enthuse and motivate them to learn.” The Junior Golf Alliance will also be tackling the subject of junior golf coaching from a business angle, by looking at how coaches and clubs can generate meaningful revenues from coaching golf to children and young people. It’s a question Plimmer is more than qualified to answer, having established JOLF some five years ago. The coaching programme now

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SUSSEX PROS JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH JUNIOR GOLF ALLIANCE hree Sussex-based PGA professionals have joined forces to set up a coaching programme that aims to offer training and support for coaches currently involved in training junior golfers. The Junior Golf Alliance has been launched by Neil Plimmer, Jonathan Shipstone, and Nevil Perryman-Best following 18 months of planning, with its overriding aim being to improve the experience that children have when they first take up golf, focusing on how they learn, how they develop, what it takes to truly engage them, and to provide opportunities to play, learn and compete. It’s a principle that Plimmer, who works at Cuckfield Golf Centre in West Sussex, believes

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■ NEIL PLIMMER

has over 400 children engaged in 10 weekly sessions during school term time, along with many more in school holiday camps, children’s parties and in-school sessions. For more details, visit juniorgolfalliance.co.uk or call 01444 657050.

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[48] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

AGNOLI JOINS TOPGOLF TO BUILD UP JUNIOR ACADEMY

T COLTS TEAMS TO FACE SCOTLAND & IRELAND Up-and-coming young players from the South East have been selected for England U16 boys’ internationals against Scotland and Ireland. Michael Gilbert (Essex), Conor Gough (Bucks) and Dominic Clemons (Herts) have been picked to play alongside Barclay Brown, James Cooper and Tom Stagg, Charlie Daughtrey, Callum Macfie, Matthew Freeman and Hugo Kedzlie. The match against Scotland takes place on September 24-25 at Rockliffe Hall in Durham, while the tie against Ireland is being staged at Castletown on October 8-9. England won all three Colts home internationals last year and have already beaten Wales this season. Brown, Clemons, Daughtrey, Freeman, Gough and Kedzlie were all part of that successful team.

ERRANT GOLF BALL HITS SANDOWN JOCKEY

here was a chaotic conclusion to a horse race that took place at Sandown Park last month, after a stray golf ball ricocheted around the field, causing one jockey to fall off his mount, while another was struck in the head. Jockey Charlie Bennett narrowly avoided serious injury during a race meeting at the Esher track on September 9, after a golf ball that had strayed onto the racecourse from the adjacent golf course was kicked up by a horse’s hoof and struck him on the head. The errant ball deflected off Bennett’s helmet and landed in front of another horse, which panicked and bucked directly right, unseating jockey Kieren Fox just 100 yards from the finish line. Fox, whose mount was towards the back of the field at the time, said: “It happened so fast, I didn’t know what had caused it, but you can see on the replay it hit Charlie’s helmet and went straight

HARMER TIME AT HOCKLEY Shanklin & Sandown’s Ryan Harmer won the Hampshire Mid Amateur title after shooting rounds at 70 and 65 for a sevenunder-par total at Hockley Golf Club. Harmer finished four shots clear of Martin Young (Brockenhurst), with Ryan Henley (Stoneham) a further shot back in third. They were the only three players in the 36-strong field to finish under par.

SOUTHERN STARS SHARE HONOURS AT ST GEORGE’S HILL

BENNETT WINS HANTS SENIORS Jane Bennett (Lee-on-Solent) won the Hampshire Ladies Senior Championship after firing a gross 81 at CorhampTon Golf Club. The five-handicapper finished one shot ahead of three players tied on 82 – Marion Howells (Hankley Common), Gemma Duxfield (Royal Winchester) and Diane Oram (Basingstoke). The nett competition was won by Annie Wortley (Meon Valley) with 70 off a 19 handicap.

GA South region stalwarts Guy Woodman and Chris Gane both fired five-under-par 65s to split the pot at the Nelson Trophy Pro-Am held at St George’s Hill Golf Club in Surrey. The pair outclassed the host club players Adam Morganti and Andy Raitt on two under par, with Morganti’s eight-birdie round was undone by a double bogey on the first, while three more bogeys

RYDER CUP

coming home spoiled what might have been. Having notched up his eighth win in the southern schedule and a EuroPro victory in the World Snooker Golf Masters in August, Gane was more than happy to share the limelight with Woodman, He said: “We both love playing St George’s Hill, which was in fantastic condition as usual, and while the bogey at my penultimate hole proved expensive, getting round here in 65 is always guaranteed to put a huge smile on my face.” The Nelson Trophy and the pro-am prizes were handed out by former England and Surrey wicketkeeper Alec Stewart.

THE GOLF COLLEGE

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across in front of my filly’s face. It could have been worse. Imagine if it had hit Charlie in the face.” Sandown Park Golf Centre’s nine-hole course is closed during race meetings but that doesn’t prevent miss-directed balls from earlier rounds finding their way onto the track. Andrew Cooper, course manager at the centre, said: “We take all reasonable measures to remove balls. Apart from me, and the head groundsman walking the track, there is a team of 14 guys going over it in the morning. The reality is that you’ve got four or five inches of grass there, and as the track is next to the course, you’re going to get balls flying over there, but you often have to step on them to know they are there.”

opgolf Chigwell in Essex has recently appointed PGA Golf Pro Andrew Angoli to expand its coaching database and reach out to new beginners. Angoli has 12 years’ experience, with nearly 10 years’ experience as a full time coach and was last year made an Advanced PGA Professional by the PGA. Having coached at county level for Hertfordshire and Norfolk for the boys and girls teams, he now aims to build up Topgolf’s coaching database as he has done at previous clubs, with an initial plan to fill the junior academy. On his new role, Angoli said:“Coaching golfers is my passion and I love bringing that passion and enjoyment to my lessons. I am always looking out for ways to improve what I can offer in my coaching and truly believe you can always get better. I am really looking forward to working at Topgolf ,and am certain we can improve as a coaching team in the future.” Angoli uses Skytrax launch monitor and other technology-led training aids in his coaching to help get the best results for his students, while FlightScope and Hudl swing analysis is also available in the venue’s coaching zone, which is open is days a week from 9am to 9pm.

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016 [49]

RICHMOND TO HOST LOYALTEE RYDER CUP

o celebrate this September's Ryder Cup, Richmond Park Golf Course is hosting its own version of the event, with a match play competition held on the Duke's Course on September 30. Nick McArthur, golf services manager for Richmond Park, said: "We're giving golfers the chance to create

their own match play drama, with our 18hole fourball event. It's a pair’s competition, open to both members and visitors. Entry is just £30 per pair, and includes breakfast on arrival and a meal after golf. Every player from the winning team will be awarded with a personalised gift pack, and there will be prizes for nearest the pin and

longest drives." Golfers will be drawn to play for either the Red or Blue team, with individual match results counting towards the final outcome. To find out more about the Loyaltee Ryder Cup at Richmond Park, visit www.glendalegolf. co.uk or call 0208 876 3205.

NIVEN WINS SENIOR CHAMPIONS’ TITLE

erkshire’s David Niven won the English senior men’s county champion of champions tournament after shooting rounds of 73 and 74 at Woodhall Spa. The 59 year old from Newbury & Crookham finished five shots clear of his nearest rival, Essex’s Steven Rooney, with Staffordshire’s Robert Aston taking third. Niven, who had just returned from helping England win a bronze medal at European team championship, said: “I’m absolutely delighted for my county and for our BB&O president, Rod Crisp, who caddied for me. I was BB&O junior champion at 16, and I don’t know what happened in the intervening 43 years! But it’s so nice to come back as a county champion and to win a tournament a prestigious as this.” This was Niven’s first appearance in the champion of champions tournament, having been runner-up in the BB&O Senior Championship three times before taking this year’s title in a play-off.

CHICHESTER WINS CYRIL BLAKE CUP Chichester beat Seaford 3-1 to win the final of the Cyril Blake Cup held at Bognor Regis in West Sussex on September 5. The plate final was won by Worthing following a 2.5-1.5 victory over Ham Manor.

WILDERNESSE HOSTS BLIND GOLF TOURNAMENT

TAYLOR SWAPS ONE LONG DISTANCE DRIVE FOR ANOTHER

ussex-based pro Jay Taylor has raced to the top of the mini order of merit leaderboard on the Jamega Pro Golf Tour after a string of excellent results this summer, which culminated with victory in a 36-hole event held at The Bedfordshire on August 30-31. The 34-year-old from Brighton tied for second at Aldwickbury, and lost in a play-off at Windmill Hill, before his luck turned at The Bedfordshire, where a second round 66 saw him break his duck for the season. “It’s a great feeling, especially being so close, with two seconds in the last three weeks,” Taylor said. “I was a little hesitant after a doublebogey on 17 and had a good hour’s wait in the clubhouse to find out if I’d won or nor, which was nail-biting.“ Having quit tour golf in 2009, after six years as a professional, Taylor credited a career break as a long distance lorry driver, and a winter spent playing for drinks on a golf simulator in Spain, as the inspiration

Wildernesse Club in Kent hosted the England and Wales Blind Golf Association’s Sir Colin Cowdrey Trophy on September 11. Euin Hill, guided by Howard Cheetham,

behind his triumphant return on the Jamega Tour. “I was fed up with not having any money, and then I taught golf for six years in Bromley,” he said. “Almost qualifying for this year’s Open Championship was the reason I started playing professionally again. I lost in a five-man play-off on the fourth extra hole, where the top three qualified. I then thought I’d try playing a little more on the mini tours, and have had some great results.” Taylor’s extended sabbatical saw him take on a variety of roles, including putting hairdryer plug sockets together and gaining an HGV license to drive lorries. His parents live in Spain, and his good form for 2016 was sparked by his involvement over the winter in a golf simulator business in a piano bar in Vilamoura. “I practised a lot of wedge shots and a lot of drinking,” he explained. “It adds a bit of pressure when you are playing for drinks.”

was the competition winner with 39 points, with runner up Peter Hodgkinson, guided by his wife Margaret, taking second with 34 points. Hodgkinson also won the Steve Ford Memorial Trophy for the best B1 golfer. Wildernesse volunteers, alongside EWBG volunteers, acted as guides to the players, assisting with ball spotting, describing the terrain, and giving feedback on shot direction and distance.

FARLEIGH AND FOXHILLS UNVEIL NEW BUGGY FLEET Golfers booking a game at Foxhills or Farleigh golf clubs can look forward to riding around the two Surrey venues in absolute comfort, following the arrival of a new fleet of buggies. The new E-Z-GO RXV golf cars – 30 of which are at Foxhills and 20 at Farleigh – feature hand-stitched seats, wider bag storage, and built-in GPS systems. As well providing an interactive course guide and scoring options, the GPS unit allows direct communication with the clubhouse for food and beverage orders.

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[50] SEPTEMBER 2016 | NEWS

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CONTROL YOUR DISTANCE TO LOWER YOUR SCORES In the first of a new series aimed at improving your putting performance, PAUL WILLIAMS, coach at the MY GOLF ACADEMY at Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey, explains how distance control is the key to taking fewer putts

ontrolling the distance a golf ball rolls across the green sounds like such a simple task, so why do so many golfers struggle to produce consistent results? Good putters will tell you that they ‘feel' it or they can ‘sense’ the distance they are faced with on the greens. That’s all well and good for them, but how do they actually do it and, more importantly, how can you achieve the same level of success time after time? The reason some golfers can judge distance so well is because their technique – however unorthodox or unprofessional looking – creates

an impact condition that has two key elements: a centred strike, and a consistent launch angle. While both of these elements are important, let’s explore the effect of a consistent launch angle, as this may be something you haven’t considered as relevant before now. When a golf ball sits on the green, gravity is pushing it down to the bottom of the blades of grass, so when the putt is struck, there needs to be enough loft presented to the ball to lift it on top of the grass, and start it rolling forward. This loft should create a launch angle of between 1 – 2 degrees.

■ PIC 1

■ PIC 2

IN PICTURE 1, the launch angle is below two degrees and the start of forward

rotation is measured at 0.00. In other words, the ball started to rotate forward immediately after impact. In Picture 2 (see below), the launch is over three degrees, notice how the start of forward rotation is 16.28 inches after impact, meaning that before this point the ball was rotating backwards. This high launch can result in the ball jumping off the face, bouncing and skidding as it travels across the green. By comparison, if there is too little loft presented to the ball at impact, it may launch too low, and could be squashed into the ground, causing it to jump and skid with a rate of forward rotation that is too high. In either case the ball will loose speed at an inconsistent rate, making it very difficult to judge the distance it will roll out. While there are several factors that could influence the launch angle, the most obvious one is the loft of the putter. If the static loft on your putter does not compliment your technique, you are making life difficult for yourself before you even hit the putt. Add to this the fact that you could also be adding or taking loft away in your address position by leaning the shaft too

far back or too far forward, or by having excessive wrist or body motion through the impact area. The truth of the matter is that it is almost impossible to know where you are going wrong until you have your stroke monitored on a ball roll camera such as Quintic, which will provide the facts about what you and your putter are causing the ball to do as it leaves the face. So if you are struggling to control distance on the green and would like to discover why and how to get better, book yourself a 90-minute assessment session at the MY Golf Academy Putting Studio at Horne Park Golf Centre and discover the truth about your putting. In next month’s edition, we will look at the effect centre striking has on putting performance, not just on the distance the ball rolls, but also on its direction.

To book a putting assessment at the MY Golf Academy at Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey, email Paul Williams at paul@my-golf-academy.co.uk or call 07515 128228. For more information, visit www.my-golf-academy.co.uk

WIN A ‘TOUR EXPERIENCE’ COACHING & PUTTER FITTING DAY Golf News has teamed up with MY Golf Academy’s experienced tour coach Stuart Cartwright and putting guru Paul Williams to give one lucky reader the chance to transform their game with a full day’s coaching. The winner of this unique coaching day will undergo a full ‘Tour Experience’ review of their game, while accessing the facilities of the state-of-the-art putting and swing studios available at Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey. This incredible prize is sure to educate and inspire any golfer to reach new heights.

THE PRIZE-WINNER’S DAY WILL INCLUDE: ● A 9-hole playing lesson at Horne Park with experienced tour

coach Stuart Cartwright acting as your caddy. Statistics will be gathered during the rounds to get a clear picture of your game.

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TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning this superb prize, simply answer the question below, and email stuart@my-golf-academy.co.uk, with ‘Golf News Competition’ in the subject line. Please include your name, contact details, and your golf handicap. The closing date for entries is October 30, 2016.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TOUR NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016

TOURNEWS...

[51]

TOUR NEWS IN BRIEF NOREN ON A ROLL AT CRANS

WILLETT AND WESTWOOD BID FOR WORLD CUP GLORY

D TOUR TO SHAKE UP SCHEDULE WITH NEW KNOCKOUT EVENT T

he European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia are to introduce a new tournament format into next season’s schedule. The inaugural World Super 6 Perth will feature 54 holes of stroke play before the remaing 24 players battle it out over a final day six-hole shoot-out. To be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Perth, Western Australia, from February 16-19, and co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour, the World Super 6 Perth will be a world first in professional golf. The tournament will see a cut after 36 holes, before the field is then further reduced to the top 24 players after the third round, with any ties for 24th place being decided by a play off. Those remaining players will then earn their places in the six-hole shoot-out. Any matches tied after the six holes will be decided by playing the new Knockout Hole - a purpose-built 90-metre hole which will be constructed at Lake Karrinyup, with a new tee placed adjacent to the 18th fairway and utilising the 18th green. The knockout hole will be played once, and if a winner is still not decided, the competitors will return to the new tee and take on a decider, with the victor decided on a nearest-the-pin contest. That player will then progress to the next round of the match play or, in the case of the final match, win the tournament.

anny Willett has chosen Lee Westwood as his playing partner to represent England at November’s World Cup of Golf in Australia. As the highest-ranked Englishman to confirm his participation in the event, Masters' champion Willett was given the honour of choosing his teammate for the event in Melbourne. With nine Ryder Cup appearances under his belt already – and a 10th on its way at Hazeltine next month – Willett said Westwood was the obvious choice, due to his experience of team golf. “It’s always great to represent your country. You don’t get the chance to do it too often, so I’m excited about playing the World Cup,” explained Willett. “It’s a different format this time, so I’m really looking forward to playing with Westy. He’s played in nine Ryder Cups, and has unbelievable experience of foursomes and fourballs, so I couldn’t have picked a better partner.” Westwood, who finished tied second behind Willett at the Masters, received one of Darren Clarke’s captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup. The 43 year old, who will be making his World Cup debut in Australia, said: “It’s an exciting format and it adds to the occasion when you’re playing for your country, so hopefully we can bring the trophy home with us.” The tournament is being held at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, where Jason Day and Adam Scott will be strong favourites to defend the title they won at Royal Melbourne in 2013.

Alex Noren left it too late to qualify for this year’s Ryder Cup team, but the 34-year-old Swede certainly underlined his credentials as a future candidate after bagging his second win of the season at the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre. The Swede took the title after shooting a final round 65, and then beating Australia’s Scott Hend in a play-off, where he sunk a 30-foot putt at the first extra hole to seal the win. Having also won the Scottish Open in July, Noren is now up to eighth in the Race to Dubai and 27th in the world rankings.

PETERSON PIPS PIETERS TO CZECH TITLE America’s Paul Peterson claimed a maiden European Tour victory at the D+D REAL Czech Masters after overcoming Thomas Pieters in a final round duel. The left-hander from Arizona edged into the lead at the 16th and then holed out from 17 feet at the last for a birdie to deny Pieters the chance to retain the title he won last year by single shot.

KIM CALLS THE SHOTS AT WYNDHAM Si Woo Kim birdied the final hole to claim a five-shot victory and a maiden PGA Tour title at the Wyndham Championship. The 21 year old, who came close to carding a 59 during the second round, followed a third-round 64 with a final-round 67 to finish five ahead of Luke Donald, with Brandt Snedker and Hideki Matstuyama tied for third a further stroke back.

LANGER FLIES HOME IN BOEING Bernhard Langer won the Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge after beating Woody Austin and Kevin Sutherland in a play-off. The 59-year-old German came from seven shots behind the leaders in the final round to take the title. He birdied the final hole to make the play-off, then birdied the first extra hole to secure his 29th victory on the Champions Tour.

ATLEVI’S A LEGEND IN PARIS Sweden’s Magnus Atlevi secured a maiden European Senior Tour title at the inaugural Paris Legends Championship. The 50 year old carded a final round of 69 to win by two strokes from Mark Mouland at Le Golf National. A three-time winner on the Challenge Tour during the 1990s, Atlevi took just ten tournaments to secure his first title on the Senior Tour.

WOODS COMMITS TO OCTOBER COMEBACK

iger Woods has given the strongest indication that he is ready to resume his golfing career following his self-imposed exile, after a statement on his website revealed that he has entered the Safeway Open in California,

October 13-16. Writing on his website, tigerwoods.com, the 14-time Major champion said he also plans to play in European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open, which begins on November 3. Woods has been out of action for more than

a year following surgery on a back injury. His last tournament was the Wyndham Championship in August 2015. He could also tee it up in the Tiger Woods Foundation-run Hero World Challenge in December, and the Tiger

work to do. Whether I can play depends on my continued progress and recovery. My hope is to have my game ready to go. “I’m looking forward to going to California for my foundation event and Safeway. I’m also excited to return to Turkey and Albany.”

Woods Invitational, on the Monterey Peninsula, on October 10 -11 – just before his PGA Tour outing at Napa. Woods said: “My rehabilitation is to the point where I’m comfortable making plans, but I still have

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[52] SEPTEMBER 2016 | EQUIPMENT NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HEATH GEARS UP WITH TRAVISMATHEW SURREY TOUR PROFESSIONAL JAMES HEATH has become the first player in Europe to become a brand ambassador for fast-growing clothing brand TravisMathew. The 33 year old from London joins a host of PGA Tour professionals, including Keegan Bradley, Luke List, Chris Kirk, Charley Hoffman, Stuart Appleby, Sam Saunders, Andres Gonzalez and Patrick Cantlay, who are currently wearing items from the brand’s summer collections. Heath, whose recent victory in the Challenge Tour’s SSE Hydro

Challenge sees him ideally placed to regain his full European Tour status for the 2017 campaign, said: “I’m delighted to be working with the guys from TravisMathew. I had seen their products on the PGA Tour, and always wondered when they would be available in the UK. I’m honoured to be the brand’s first European brand ambassador.” Heath qualified for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he first started wearing apparel from TravisMathew’s spring/ summer and autumn collections at

CALLAWAY BUYS TOULON PUTTER BRAND

the beginning of a long-term relationship with the brand. For details on the latest collection visit, www.travismathew.eu/shop.

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HOW GOOD COULD YOU REALLY BE... CALLAWAY HAS STRENGTHENED its hand in the premium putter market after buying fast-growing brand Tour Design, makers of the Toulon range of putters. Tour Design, which is based in California, was founded by Sean Toulon, who is the former head of product design at TaylorMade. Callaway already owns Odyssey, the No.1 putter brand across all major worldwide Tours, but the company is keen to harness the best product designers in the business. “Sean is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable leaders in the golf equipment industry, and we are excited to have him come aboard to help us continue to lead the putter category with great designs and the highest performing innovations,” said Callaway Golf president Chip Brewer. “This partnership fortifies our position as the number one equipment

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company in golf, and adds valuable experience to our leadership team.” In his new role, Toulon will join as a senior vice president at Callaway, and general manager for the Odyssey brand. “We are so excited to be joining forces with Callaway and Odyssey,” he said. “We have been inspired by the innovation of these two great brands over a long period of time. But what might be even more impressive is the engagement these

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016

MCILROY PONDERS PLAYING ‘MIXED BAG’ RORY MCILROY is considering playing with a variety of different equipment brands next season, following Nike’s decision to stop making clubs and balls. The four-time Major champion, who has been with Nike since 2013, will continue to wear the brand’s clothing and shoes, but from next season will be free to play any equipment he chooses. McIlroy had 13 Nike clubs in his bag at The Barclays, the first tournament he played in after the shock announcement last month – with the sole change being a new putter. He took out his Nike Method Origin blade, and replaced it with a new Scotty Cameron prototype mallet, which he hopes will help reverse his form on the greens this season.

Speaking about the change of putter, he said: "I feel like by changing to a mallet, it doesn't encourage the face to close that much, which is the bad putt I was getting [with the blade]. So the mallet design encourages the face to stay a little more square through impact." The world No.4 also dismissed coming to any sudden decisions about other clubs in the bag, although he hinted that he was not adverse to mixing and matching his bag, rather than restricting himself to just one or two brands. "I don't think it's the time or the place to change clubs that I feel like I'm very comfortable with," McIlroy said. "Obviously working with the Nike

THE GEAR EFFECT Inside The Bags Of Winners On Tour

JUSTIN ROSE OLYMPICS

■ MCILROY WILL BE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE HIS CLUBS FROM NOW ON

guys over the last number of years, they have got to know me and what I like in golf clubs. There’s no reason to start changing just because I can. I'm comfortable with everything." He added: "I might start tinkering a little bit in the off-season, and see what else is out there. I don't expect to sign with anyone next year. I'd rather just have a year of playing what I want and

being comfortable, and if I come across something that I really like, I'll look to sign a longer-term deal." Equipment companies have reportedly been falling over each other in an attempt to entice McIlroy to try out their clubs, with several brands even sending sample sets to McIlroy’s parents’ house in a bid to get him to try something new.

XXIO OPENS NEW CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AT SILVERMERE JAPANESE GOLF BRAND XXIO has announced a new partnership with Silvermere Golf Complex in Surrey. The popular Cobhambased venue, which features an 18-gole golf course and a 52-bay driving range and extensive practice facilities, will now feature a dedicated XXIO Centre of Excellence that showcases the brand’s equipment, as well as giving golfers the opportunity to trial and get custom fitted for XXIO clubs, which have been the best-selling equipment in Japan for the last 14 years. To celebrate the new

[53]

DRIVER: TAYLORMADE M2 (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TAYLORMADE M2 (15˚) IRONS: TAYLORMADE PSI TOUR (3), TAYLORMADE TP MB (4-PW) WEDGES: TAYLORMADE TP EF (52˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: TAYLORMADE GHOST MONACO BALL: TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED X

PATRICK REED

BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA ALPHA 816 DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND (9) FAIRWAY WOOD: CALLAWAY XR 16 PRO (18) IRONS: PXG 0311 (3), CALLAWAY X-FORGED (4), CALLAWAY MB1 (5-PW) WEDGES: CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 2 TOUR GRIND (52˚, 56˚), TITLEIST VOKEY SM6 (61˚) PUTTER: ODYSSEY WHITE HOT RX #2 BALL: CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT

ALEX NOREN

OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS

venture, Silvermere hosted an XXIO demonstration day on September 3, when golfers had the chance to trial XXIO’s complete range, including the latest XXIO9 clubs as used by women’s Major grandslam winner and recent Olympic Games golf medal winner Inbee Park. Terry Sims, managing director of the Silvermere Golf Store, said: “Our premium facility is the perfect match for the XXIO brand and its high

quality performance golf equipment. Also, with the high calibre of club fitters that we possess at Silvermere, we are able to fit XXIO to the high standards a brand of this nature requires.” Leslie Hepworth, president of XXIO Europe commented: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Silvermere, and couldn’t be happier with the XXIO brand being showcased at the South East’s

premier retail outlet. XXIO continues to go from strength to strength, and the Centre of Excellence at Silvermere, along with its expert professional staff, will provide the perfect environment for golfers to try out and reap the benefits of our advanced performance clubs.” To book a XXIO custom fitting at Silvermere, email club.department@ silvermere-golf.co.uk or call 01932 584 325.

EALES BAGS FIRST TOUR WIN FOR LYNX LYNX GOLF IS CELEBRATING its first professional tour win after staff player Paul Eales won the Scottish Senior Open at Archerfield Links last month. The 53-year-old from Southport claimed his maiden title on the over-50s' circuit with a Parallax driver and a combination of Parallax irons and Lynx Tour Blades, using the more forgiving irons in 4-6 lofts, but relying on Lynx’s premium blades for feel from 7-PW. With wife Sharon caddying his Lynx Tour bag, Eales was seven shots off the lead heading into the closing round, but a four-under par 68 for an 11-under total of 205 gave him a one shot win over Peter Fowler and the 2013 champion Santiago Luna.  Eales has now won at all three levels of the European professional game, with the Scottish Senior Open adding to his 1991 Audi Open success on the Challenge Tour and 1994 Extremadura Open win on the main European Tour.   Eales was one of the first ambassadors to sign with Lynx when the brand relaunched in the UK and became a familyowned company under the guidance of husband and wife

team Steve Elford and Stephanie Zinser.   Elford said: "Firstly, we are delighted for Paul. This win is a fitting tribute to his skill and commitment to the game. As far as Lynx is concerned, we are confident that we produce golf equipment that is of superlative quality, and the fact the Paul has won, not with bespoke clubs made for him, but with equipment available to every player, underscores the point strongly. We are delighted to see our clubs in the hands of a winning champion like Paul, as both he and we know they really do work."

PING LAUNCHES PINK G DRIVER TO SUPPORT WATSON PING IS PUTTING 6,000 LIMITED EDITION pink G drivers, similar to the one used by Bubba Watson, up for sale, with $60 being donated to the Bubba Watson Foundation for every one sold. The pink G drivers are available for pre-order through Ping retailers around the world. The driver, which also comes with Watson’s caricature head cover, costs £500. It marks the third time in four years that Ping has partnered with Watson on the fundraising project, which has surpassed $1 million in donations since 2012. “Bubba’s a creative thinker, and his decision to distinguish himself by using a pink driver and shaft helped make this programme possible,” said John A Solheim, Ping’s chairman. “We’re blessed with the opportunity to partner with Bubba, and are very grateful to golfers who choose to support this programme for the benefit of the Bubba Watson Foundation.” Watson, who has used a pink Ping driver since 2012, said: “Ping and the Solheim family are incredibly generous in giving back to the game through ideas like the limited-edition pink-driver programme,” Watson said. We’ve been able to do a lot of great things together that truly help improve the lives of the less fortunate and those in need.” The pink G drivers are offered in 9º and 10.5º lofts for right-handers, and 10.5º for left-handers, with regular or stiff flex graphite shafts.

DRIVER: CALLAWAY XR 16 SUB ZERO (8.5˚) FAIRWAY WOOD: CALLAWAY XR (15˚) HYBRID: CALLAWAY APEX (18˚) IRONS: CALLAWAY APEX PRO (4-9) WEDGES: CALLAWAY MACK DADDY 2 (47˚, 52˚, 56˚, 60˚) PUTTER: ODYSSEY WORKS #1 BALL: CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT

RORY MCILROY

DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: NIKE VAPOR FLY PRO (9.5˚) FAIRWAY WOODS: NIKE VAPOR SPEED (15˚, 19˚) IRONS: NIKE VR PRO BLADES (4-9) WEDGES: NIKE ENGAGE (47˚, 52˚, 56˚, 59˚) PUTTER: SCOTTY CAMERON M1 PROTOTYPE BALL: NIKE RZN TOUR PLATINUM

DUSTIN JOHNSON BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER: TAYLORMADE M1 (11) FAIRWAY WOODS: TAYLORMADE M1 (17˚, 19˚) IRONS: TAYLORMADE TP MB (3-PW) WEDGES: TAYLORMADE TP EF (52˚, 60˚) PUTTER: TAYLORMADE SPIDER BALL: TAYLORMADE TP X

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DRIVER: TAYLORMADE M1 430 (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TAYLORMADE AEROBURNER (15) IRONS: TITLEIST 716 CB WEDGES: TITLEIST VOKEY DESIGN SM6 PUTTER: TITLEIST SCOTTY CAMERON PROTOTYPE BALL: TITLEIST PRO V1

[54] SEPTEMBER 2016 | PRO SHOP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GALVIN GREEN RYDER CUP RAINSUIT JACKET £370, TROUSERS £350, WWW.GALVINGREEN.COM The European Ryder Cup team is being kitted out by Galvin Green for the first time this year, and the Swedish-based clothing brand has put of all its weather-beating technology into a range that has been specially commissioned by team captain Darren Clarke. The rainsuit’s jacket is the first waterproof full-zip Gore-Tex jacket to be fitted with a new C-Knit backer. This Japanese-made fabric has a super smooth feel and can slide easily over garments worn underneath. Its three-layer construction makes it totally waterproof and highly breathable. The jacket is also available in a short-sleeved version with a half-zip, and both jackets carry the European flag on the back neck, plus the official Ryder Cup shield on the left chest. There is also a matching pair of waterproof trousers, made from the same fabric, which features zipper openings at the back of the leg rather than the sides. The range is completed by a three-layer, full-zip windstopper jacket, which combines a tight-knit polyester outer layer with a Gore membrane and a moisture-management inner layer. It is windproof, water repellent and breathable. It features the European flag on the back neck, plus the official Ryder Cup shield on the left chest. All are available to buy now at the official Ryder Cup online shop - euroshop.rydercup.com/stores/golf/en.

CLEVELAND HUNTINGTON BEACH PUTTERS £89, CLEVELANDGOLF.CO.UK

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Named after the location of Cleveland Golf’s headquarters in America, the new Huntington Beach Putter Collection offers three new designs – 1, 4 and 6. The 1 is a plumber’s neck blade, designed with a subtle curve; the 4 features the same plumber's neck with much sharper angles for golfers who prefer a squarer look at address; while the 6 is a mid-sized mallet with a double bend shaft. Each model features a white line across the head from front to back to aid alignment. Made from soft 304 stainless steel – which is 50% softer than the 17-4 steel found in many putters – each Huntington Beach putter features a coarse, diamond-shaped face milling pattern which is four times deeper than the previous generation Cleveland Classic Collection HB putters, and softens feel at impact, while increasing friction with the ball for a truer, more consistent roll. The soft steel allows for a greater degree of customising, with the lie angle being able to be adjusted by up to 8 degrees. The grip has been specially made by Lamkin to offer a smooth surface design with exceptional feel, comfort and feedback.

ETIQUS RYDER CUP SPORT TOUR £299, ETIQUS.CO.UK Celebrate your love of all things Ryder Cup with a special edition Sport Tour watch which features the brand’s unique dimple-patterned face in a distinctive Ryder Cup European blue background. It also includes the unique Butler Bezel, inspired by the R&A’s Pace of Play guidelines; Swiss made movements; a Sapphire Crystal glass face, and a solid stainless steel bracelet.

SRIXON SOFT FEEL £25 FOR 12, SRIXON.CO.UK

SRIXON Z U65 UTILITY IRON £155, SRIXON.CO.UK An updated version of Srixon's highly-popular utility iron, the hollow-construction Z U65 is forged from carbon steel and designed for players who prefer the look of a long-iron, but want the added forgiveness of a standard hybrid. The club has a thin, high-strength SUP10 face that improves ball speeds, and a low, deep centre of gravity that promotes a higher launch angle and more playability. A thick muscle pad in the lower portion of the head adds additional forgiveness and improved turf interaction. The club comes in three lofts (18, 20 and 23) with Miyazaki's Kaula Iron 7 shaft.

Srixon has launched two new versions of its Soft Feel ball range, which are aimed at players with mid to low swing speeds. The 10th generation of the Soft Feel and Soft Feel Lady golf balls features a softer cover and a lower compression core, offering greater distance and an even softer feel than its predecessors, as well as improved greenside spin and enhanced accuracy from tee to green. Both new versions feature Srixon’s Energetic Gradient Growth Core, combined with a new 60 compression design – 12 points softer than the previous model – which results in even softer feel on all full shots, without sacrificing distance and accuracy. The Ionmer cover is 11% thinner and 5% softer than the previous model, with the softest feel rating tested in the low-compression golf ball category. The new cover also provides more greenside spin and softer feel on all pitches, chips and putts. Both models also boast a 324 speed dimple pattern, which combines greater uniformity of dimple design with better surface coverage. This results in less drag, producing a more penetrating ball flight and maximised distance on full shots.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PRO SHOP | SEPTEMBER 2016 [55]

FOOTJOY DRYJOYS SELECT JACKET £295, FOOTJOY.CO.UK FootJoys’ new autumn/winter clothing collection has already been put through its paces in the heat of competition, with tour players such as Gregory Bourdy, Brett Rumford, and Andrew Dodt all wearing items from the collection at the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, which often has a habit of delivering autumnal conditions. The new range focuses on light and breathable pieces, which make it simple for golfers to add and remove in order to adapt to changeable conditions on the course. Incorporating outer, mid and base layers, the collection features several eye-catching new colours such as grey, green, orange and blue. Created from Japanese fabrics, the DryJoys Select waterproof jacket is the flagship garment, offering 25,000mm waterproof protection and remaining incredibly lightweight to allow for other layers to be worn underneath. It is available with a matching pair of trousers (£200).

TITLEIST 917 DRIVERS PRICE: TBC, TITLEIST.CO.UK Following its tried and tested pattern of launching a new driver every two years, Titleist has unveiled the latest generation of its 900 series, in the shape of the new 917 D2 and D3 drivers, along with matching fairway woods. Designed to provide ‘maximum distance and forgiveness with precise customisation’ the 917 drivers feature an updated version of the Active Recoil Channel that appeared in the 915, along with the SureFit adjustable hosel, the new model also features a new horizontal weight port in the rear of the sole, which allows the centre of gravity to be altered to offer even more precise shot control. Called SureFit CG, it comprises a dual-weighted cylinder that slides into a port that runs perpendicular to the face, which enables the centre of gravity to be moved from neutral to a back, heel position (draw) or a forward, toe position (fade). Each position affects face closure and sidespin, and allows players to dial in their preferred shot shape, while still keeping the face square. The 460cc D2 provides distance and forgiveness in a large, full pear profile, and produces a higher peak trajectory, with 250rpm than the D3, while the 440cc D3 offers more workability, lower spin and a more penetrating trajectory. Both are available in 8.5º, 9.5º, and 10.5º lofts, with an extra 12.5º loft for the D2.

TITLEIST CAMERON & CROWN PUTTERS £320, TITLEIST.CO.UK The new range of Cameron & Crown putters by Scotty Cameron offers four of the designer’s most-trusted models custom designed with a 33-inch shaft and specifically weighted for players who prefer shorter putters. This configuration ensures correct swing weight, providing optimal feel and balance throughout the stroke. The four head shapes – Select Newport 2, Select Newport M2 Mallet, GOLO 5, and Futura X5R – are made from soft stainless steel and feature aluminium face inlays, face-sole components and flange constructions, and come in a raw finish with a silver mist treatment to reduce glare.

CALLAWAY XR STEELHEAD IRONS £649/£829 (ST/GR), WWW.CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Golfers of a certain age will experience a degree of nostalgia when they first catch sight of Callaway’s new Steelhead XR irons, which bear more than a passing resemblance to its best-selling X-14 irons. Launched just over 15 years ago, the X-14s went on to become a firm fixture in the bags of millions of club golfers all over the world, thanks to their ridiculously easy-to-hit design. One of the main features of the X-14 was its longer blade length. That allowed the club’s centre of gravity to be positioned in line with the centre of the face, making for a stable head that improved performance on those all too frequent miss-hits. The XR Steelhead departs from the X-14 with the addition of a new face cup design, which wraps around the sole, topline and toe section, thinning out the perimeter to create a larger, more flexible face area in the centre. The combination of the X-14’s shape and centre of gravity, boosted by the improved cupface technology, gives the Steelhead XR irons a spring-like effect that goes to the legal

limits. An important part of improving the cupface design was strengthening the body that supports the face structure so the face rebounds in the direction of impact. The weight saved through the thin face has been repositioned in the head in a variety of different places in order to match the needs of each iron in the set. That means that it sits lower and further back in the long irons, but moves higher in the short irons to produce more spin and a lower trajectory for better control. A steel-infused urethane layer within the lower part of the cavity controls the vibration of the face to enhance feel, while the steel adds weight to influence centre of gravity. Standard shafts options are True Temper’s XP 95 Stepless in steel and Matrix’s F15 in graphite.

tried + tested CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA FUSION DRIVER £369, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM The Fusion range has always been about the melding of different materials – mainly carbon and titanium – and in this respect the new Big Bertha Fusion follows in that tradition. However, where this new model breaks ranks with previous designs is in its construction method and use of materials, with Callaway’s designers making the crown and the sole from an ultra-light, but ultra-strong material called triaxial carbon, which is held together by a titanium exoskeleton. With the new material 65% lighter than titanium, and 35% thinner than the forged composites used in previous Callaway drivers, a significant 35g of weight has been freed up to position low and deep in the 460cc head to improve launch conditions and increase the MOI by up to 17% over Callaway’s already very forgiving XR driver. The overall head shape is more streamlined – longer back-to-front – than previous models, while the crown features the same speed steps found in the XR, which boost its aerodynamic properties and promote faster clubhead speeds. In a refreshing change to the industry’s obsession with longer and longer shafts, the stock UST Recoil and Mitsubishi Diamana Red Board shafts are available in a 44.5-inch design for increased control, as well as the more standard 45.5-inch for those who rate distance as the top priority. Interestingly, Callaway’s consumer testing revealed that 30% of golfers who used the shorter shaft hit it further than with the longer shaft – suggesting that the shorter shaft length affects the efficiency with which a player is able to deliver the clubhead to the ball. We tested the longer version, but thankfully found no issue with its accuracy, or indeed its distance, and it proved a very forgiving partner off the tee, not overly punishing miss-hits, but feeling very sweet off the centre of the face. The triangular head shape won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, nor perhaps the slightly busy detailing, but in this age of visible technology, the BB Fusion is not scared of bragging about the elements that make it such an impressive addition to the Callaway driver line up. It’s price also points towards its premium status, but if you’re looking for a new big stick that will give you back the element of accuracy and consistency that you’ve been missing from your long game, while still getting it out there, the BB Fusion could be a very welcome addition to the bag.

[56] SEPTEMBER 2016 | HYBRIDS

HIGHER

FASTER

FURTHER

Welcome to the next generation of big-hitting, high-launching, ultra-forgiving HYBRIDS

YONEX EZONE XPG

PING G

COBRA KING F6

Yonex commonly uses carbon composite in its golf clubs, so it’s no surprise to find this lightweight material featuring in the crown of the XPG. This enables an 8g weight to be positioned deeper in the clubhead, which moves the centre of gravity lower and deeper to promote a high launch trajectory, extra forgiveness. A heavier head counterbalanced by tungsteninfused grip end promote extra distance, while Yonex’s Quick Adjust System enables the loft to be altered with ease. Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25° (+/- 1.5°)

Ping has moved the centre of gravity a touch further back in the latest incarnation of the G Series, which makes it incredibly easy to get in the air no matter where you strike it on the face. The almost square-shaped face is made from variable thickness high-strength steel which features bulge and roll, and flexes more on centre impacts to enhance ball speeds. Turbulator fins are present on the matt black crown, which aid alignment and improve aerodynamics. Lofts: 17°, 19°, 22°, 26°, 30° (+/- 1°)

A 13g weight chip in the rear of the sole pushes weight low and deep in the F6’s head to improve forgiveness, and also creates higher-launching shots. The single-thickness steel face features a Speed Channel, which increases ball speed on off-centre hits. The MyFly8 adjustable hosel can be adjusted eight ways, providing 24 lofts from 16 to 25 degrees, while the SmartPad on the sole helps the club pivot to keep the head visually square at address. Lofts: 17.5°, 20.5°, 23.5° (+/- 1.5°)

MIZUNO JPX EZ

CALLAWAY STEELHEAD XR

SRIXON Z H65

Looking more like a fairway wood than a hybrid, the JPX EZ should inspire confidence among hesitant hybrid users. Longer and deeper than its predecessor, it features the same shockwave sole design found in the JPX850 range, but it has been made wider and wrapped around the heel and toe to draw weight further back. Combined with Mizuno’s rebound crown, this creates thinner areas at the top and bottom that will flex more at impact to generate more distance. Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25°

Featuring a bigger footprint than the XR hybrid, and a lower and deeper centre of gravity, the Steelhead XR is more forgiving and easier to launch. A larger face incorporates Hyper Speed Face Cup technology that enables the edges of the face to flex and release faster at impact, raising ball speed to promote more distance, while a new sole design reduces friction to make it easier to launch from almost any lie. Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25°, 28°

The Z H65 hybrid comes in four lofts with a progressive head size that ranges from 105-110cc. Drawing inspiration from the recently-launched F65 fairway wood, the hybrid features Srixon’s arc support channel for a higher launch and optimal spin. The lower lofts have a deeper centre of gravity location that promotes a higher initial launch. The higher lofts have been designed with a more rounded sole shape for added shot versatility from a variety of lies. Miyazaki's Kaula Mizu 7 Hybrid shaft is the stock offering. Lofts: 16°, 19°, 22°, 25°

SRIXON Z355

TITLEIST 816H2

TAYLORMADE M2

Featuring a classic head shape, with a glossy black crown and a maraging steel face, the Z355 offers a heavierthan-standard head, which helps increase speed in the downswing and aids power transfer into the ball. A shallow face, with a deep centre of gravity, encourages high launch for shot-stopping control into greens. The sole is similar to that of a fairway wood, which makes it more suited to shots from the short grass or the tee, rather than the rough. Lofts: 19°, 23°, 26°

A large head profile and increased face progression ensures the H1 will appeal to players who sweep the ball at slower swing speeds. An undercut sole channel flexes at impact to launch the ball with lower spin and higher speed. Distance is enhanced by a thin steel face, which flexes at impact, while the high MOI design promotes forgiveness on miss-hits. The hosel can be altered for loft and lie, while a weight port provides further custom fitting options. Lofts: 19°, 21°, 23°, 25°, 27° ° (+/- 1°)

The M2 is made entirely of steel, rather than a mix of steel and carbon composite, which results in a monotone black crown design, rather than the colourful combinations that have been a feature of previous models. The head, which has a slight draw bias, is larger and more stable on off-centre hits than the M1, and the taller face inspires confidence, while a longer sole speed pocket helps the face flex so shots launch with more speed and height. Lofts: 19°, 22°, 25°, 28°

£159.95, YONEX.CO.UK

£159, MIZUNOEUROPE.EU

£119, SRIXON.CO.UK

£179, PING.COM

£199, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

£205, TITLEIST.CO.UK

£149, COBRAPUMAGOLF.CO.UK

£149, SRIXON.CO.UK

£149, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2016

TRAVEL & BREAKS YOUR GUIDE TO GOLFING TRIPS HOME AND ABROAD

■ 4 PAGE FEATURE ON GOLF IN IRELAND ■ SARAH STIRK VISITS THE EVIAN RESORT ■ NEW TEE TIME SERVICE ■ OLD HEAD OF KINSALE, IRELAND

■ ME AND MY TRAVELS WITH CHRIS HOLLINS

[57]

[58] SEPTEMBER 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WHERE CHAMPIONS CALL HOME With The Open returning to Royal Portrush in 2019 and the continued success of its home-grown heroes, there’s a definite spring in the golfing step of Ireland, where world-class courses, and the legendary warmth of its hospitality, combine to create an intoxicating golf holiday destination WORDS BY NICK BAYLY

It must be something they put in the Guinness that makes them so good. Either that or divine intervention. The statistics tell their own story, with a staggering nine of the last 40 Major

■ COUNTY LOUTH

championships having been won by players hailing from the island of Ireland. Forget the Celtic Tiger – all the talk in professional golfing circles over the last few years has been about how an island with a population of just six million has managed to produce not one, not two, or even three, but four individual Major champions over the past decade. With Rory McIlroy bagging four, Padraig Harrington three, and Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke chipping in with one a piece, the last half dozen or so years has seen a hefty percentage of golf’s most coveted trophies – and a whole stack of prize money – heading back to the place that Tourism Ireland has hastily rechristened the ‘Home of Champions’. McIlroy, the 27-year-old world No.3 from the town of Holywood, has, along with a trio of his fellow countrymen, put Ireland on the map, not just as somewhere that boasts great golf courses, but a place that produces great golfers. And with the Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush in 2019, and Portstewart hosting the Irish Open in 2017, it’s fair to say that Northern Ireland’s status as a golfing powerhouse has never been higher. On the back of all this good news, there has never been a better time to experience what Ireland has to offer the travelling golfer. And with 400 courses to choose from – including a third of the world’s supply of links layouts – your only concern should be which to include in your time-pressured itinerary.

AROUND DUBLIN WHILE IRELAND IS BLESSED WITH PLENTY OF COURSES that have hosted the Irish Open or the Irish PGA, only one can lay claim to having hosted the Ryder Cup, and on that basis alone no selfrespecting fan of the event can miss the opportunity to play the K Club, the iconic venue just inland from Dublin, where the spine-tingling matches took place between Europe and America in 2006, and where Rory McIlroy delighted packed galleries to carry off this summer’s Irish Open. The drama and emotion was fought out on the 7,300-yard Arnold Palmerdesigned course, whose twists and turns, and plentiful supply of water hazards, sets up perfectly for the demands of match play golf. The resort has traded on the memories ever since, and no-one walks off the 18th green here without memories of their own to treasure. The same can be said of another nearby championship venue, Killeen Castle in Meath, which hosted the Solheim Cup in 2011. It proved a fitting stage for another bruising match play battle, which saw Europe’s ladies defeat the odds and overcome a powerful US team in a dramatic final day’s play over Jack Nicklaus’s stunning parkland layout. It features water on no fewer than nine holes, offering plenty of risk/reward strategies, while Nicklaus’s trademark bunkering can give the impression of a sea of sand off many of the tees. These inland gems aside for one moment, it is Dublin's most famous links, Portmarnock and Royal Dublin, that often garner the most headlines in any golfing review of the area. And while they don't offer the volcanic dunes of Ballybunion, Lahinch and Doonbeg, they line up like dominoes along the coast north of the city centre, making them easy pickings on a short break, and within touching distance of the capital. Just three miles north of the city, the twin joys of Portmarnock Golf Club and Portmarnock Golf Links are to be found. Sometimes called the Old and the New to avoid confusion, Portmarnock Golf Club is the most revered Dublin links, ranking among the top 100 courses in the world. It has hosted 13 Irish Opens in the modern era, crowning champions from Ben Crenshaw in 1976 to Michael Campbell in 2003. The 7,466-yard championship course won't wow visitors with its views or terrain – it just pummels them with strong holes. The extra nine, added in the 1950s, is just as good, even offering two surprises the other 18 holes can't: a scenic walk along the shore and an outstanding drivable par four. The neighbouring Portmarnock

WITH 400 COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM – INCLUDING A THIRD OF THE WORLD’S SUPPLY OF NATURAL LINKS – YOUR ONLY CONCERN SHOULD BE WHICH TO INCLUDE IN YOUR TIME-PRESSURED ITINERARY

■ PORTMARNOCK

IRELAND.COM/GOLF

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2016 [59]

Links, designed by Bernhard Langer, is a younger, more playable, and more affordable links. Just five miles up the coast, Royal Dublin lacks the scenery and dunes of Dublin's other A-list seaside tracks, but the second oldest links in Ireland is still a fine example of its type, with recent work done by Martin Hawtree bringing the course up to modern standards (and length), with its subtleties designed to punish any scorecard. Perhaps the most under-appreciated links in all of Ireland sits across the Boyne River. County Louth Golf Club (also called Baltray) was established in 1892, but it wasn't until 1938 that architect Tom Simpson perfected its routing. In 1993, architect Donald Steel upgraded the design to 7,031 yards – sturdy enough to host the 2004 and 2009 Irish Opens. County Louth has an uncanny ability to forgive the sins of highhandicappers, yet punish the pros.

■ ROYAL DUBLIN

IRELAND'S ANCIENT EAST

■ MOUNT JULIET

■ DRUIDS GLEN

■ KILLEEN CASTLE

IRELAND.COM/GOLF

AFTER HITTING THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF DUBLIN, a trip south to Ireland's ancient east and the county of Wicklow is in order, taking in a trio of top tracks – The European, Druids Glen and Powerscourt – all of which are within an hour’s drive of the capital. The latter boasts two championship courses, with its Peter McEvoy-designed East having hosted the Irish Senior Open and the Irish PGA Championship, while its West Course is among the top 20 parkland layouts in the country. Both courses are almost overshadowed by the magnificent 200-room five-star hotel that overlooks them. Druids Glen, yet another former Irish Open venue, has built a reputation as the ‘Augusta of Ireland’, thanks to its manicured landscape, beautiful flowers, and its card-wrecking trio of holes around the turn that make Amen Corner look like a walk in the park. The resort’s recently refurbished five-star hotel makes it an ideal spot for a stopover on any itinerary in this area. Head south further still, and you’ll soon stumble across yet another venue that proved more than a test for the world’s best at Mount Juliet. Host of the WGC American Express Championship won by Tiger Woods in 2004, and set in more than 1,000 acres of beautiful Kilkenny countryside, Mount Juliet is one of Ireland's most treasured retreats. The elegant main house sets a suitably opulent tone for the resort, and the 7,100-yard Jack Nicklaus-designed championship Glen course is one of the finest tests in Ireland. After a relatively innocuous start, it quickly leads to some of the best holes you are likely to play anywhere in the world. After a round, make sure you find time to play the club’s infamous 18-hole putting course, which offers wicked slopes and a lot of fun.

DRUIDS GLEN HAS GAINED A REPUTATION AS THE ‘AUGUSTA OF IRELAND’ THANKS TO ITS MANICURED LANDSCAPE, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AND ITS CARDWRECKING TRIO OF HOLES AROUND THE TURN

[60] SEPTEMBER 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WILD ATLANTIC WAY SHOULD YOU PREFER ROADS LESS TRAVELLED, you will find none to match those that lead to the sensational links courses in north west and south west Ireland. The collection of Connemara, Enniscrone, Rosses Point, Donegal, and Ballyliffin’s Old Course stand as tall as any in the entire British Isles. Part of what is now known as the Wild Atlatnic Way – amazing coastal touring route that stretches more than 1,500 miles – this glorious corner of the Emerald Isle is a real treat, with marquee courses and hidden gems aplenty, plus the sort of après-golf that you only ever find in Ireland. Take in any of these great courses and you’ll have the time of your life. Further south ‘Created by God, designed by Arnold Palmer’ are the words written on the scorecard at Tralee – and by the time the 11th green has been reached, after one of the greatest front nines in golf, it’s hard to disagree. The sea can be seen from every hole, but so stunning, and challenging, is the course itself that there will be little time for gawping. The same could be said of Waterville. Designed by the late Eddie Hackett in the early 1970s, and recently remodelled by Tom Fazio, the only thing preventing its hosting major tournaments has been its isolated location – although doubtless that is the very reason that Waterville was Tiger Woods’s preferred Open warm-up venue. Woods’ annual return to the links of the south-west was surely inspired by Tom Watson, whose five Open wins were all preceded by countless rounds at Ballybunion. Huge dunes, small greens, and plenty of eccentricities are just a few of the reasons that so many people consider Ballybunion to be the benchmark against which all natural links should be tested. Likewise Lahinch, where blind shots, massive dunes and some of the quirkiest holes in Ireland, await at Alister Mackenzie’s amazing links. Perhaps the most (in)famous hole is the par-five 4th – Klondyke – where the second shot must be played over a giant dune. It’s a true classic, and work done by Martin Hawtree to update the course has only made the challenge of this ‘Irish St Andrews’ even greater. Greg Norman’s Doonbeg – recently snapped up by Donald Trump – is even more remote ■ DOONBEG

■ TRALEE

■ ROSSES POINT

than Lahinch. It’s also one of the world’s great coastal courses, and should be on any itinerary. Nestled amongst a narrow crescent of rugged sand dunes around the rim of Doughmore Bay, the course looks and plays like it has been there for centuries, with fairways pitching and rolling with every rumple of the earth. The green contours are also designed ‘as the land lies’ and the bunkers are hand-dug, with some edged by tall layers of stacked sod, and others by shaggy tufts of native grass. The result is a genuine Irish links of unexpected breaks, unanticipated results and undeniable thrills. After a game, golfers can retire to the comfortable on-site hotel and stylish lodges, which are suitably low key, but undeniably luxurious. Further round the coast is the lovely county of Cork, where two cracking golf venues await. Old Head of Kinsale must be one of the most dramatic sites in the world, with the course sitting precariously on a diamond-shaped spit of land that protrudes two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. As a golfing experience, there’s nothing like it. Fota Island, meanwhile, is a little more sedate, being an idyllic parkland that is played through the heart of a 780-acre estate, which is included in the ‘Inventory of Outstanding Landscapes of Ireland’, Fota is quite simply stunning. If you’ve had enough of being battered by the links, it’s the perfect antidote. ■ OLD HEAD OF KINSALE

OLD HEAD MUST BE ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SITES IN THE WORLD, WITH THE COURSE SITTING PRECARIOUSLY ON A DIAMOND-SHAPED SPIT THAT PROTRUDES TWO MILES INTO THE ATLANTIC IRELAND.COM/GOLF

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2016

[61]

■ ROYAL COUNTY DOWN

■ PORTSTEWART

NORTHERN IRELAND Steer into Northern Ireland and two masterpieces await which are likely to define your visit. At Royal County Down, acres of gorse and heaving dunes set before the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne combine to create a picture postcard of a links. Continuing north, the next stop is the Dunluce course at Royal Portrush, the only course in Ireland to have ever hosted The Open, which it did in 1951 – and which will repeat the feat in 2019. The home club of Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the famous links on the North Antrim coast is currently undergoing a little re-jigging to accommodate The Open and test the world’s best, although what was there before was already far from easy. Course preparations, and the work to create the two new holes on the Dunluce Links, are already underway, with the new 7th and 8th holes borrowing land from the adjacent Valley Course to develop a new par five, playing down into the valley and encompassing that course’s 6th hole, and then a par four, playing back over its 5th hole, into duneland. The new holes will replace the current 17th and 18th holes on the Dunluce Links, freeing up that land to be used to accommodate the spectator village and championship infrastructure. The overall length of the course will increase by just under 200 yards to 7,337 yards, and the number of bunkers will be increased by three to 62, still leaving Royal Portrush with the fewest bunkers of any of the courses which host The Open. Next year, it will be Portstewart’s turn to roll out the green carpet for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and you can expect the party to roll over well into the following week if McIlroy should successfully defend his title over the Strand course that rivals Portrush for its sheer majesty, with carpet-like fairways set amidst towering dunes and views across Lough Foyle. It’s safe to say that whichever part of Ireland you choose to visit, and which ever courses you decide to play – be they championship layouts or less exalted, but equally enjoyable venues – they will provide lasting memories. And if you’re very lucky, a little bit of that McIlroy magic might just rub off.

NEXT YEAR IT’S PORTSTEWART’S TURN TO HOST THE IRISH OPEN, AND YOU CAN EXPECT THE PARTY TO ROLL OVER WELL INTO THE FOLLOWING WEEK IF MCILROY SHOULD SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND HIS TITLE

■ ROYAL PORTRUSH

For details of current golf packages to Ireland, visit www.ireland.com/golf IRELAND.COM/GOLF

[62] SEPTEMBER 2016 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MAKE A BREAK FOR THE MANOR If variety is the spice of a golfer’s life, then you should book your next golfing break at the Manor House and Ashbury Hotel in Devon, a delightful Dartmoorbased resort that boasts no fewer than seven 18-hole courses

lthough they say that good things come in small packages, when that package refers to golf courses, I’m firmly in ‘the bigger the better’ and the ‘more the merrier’ camp. And there are few more enjoyable places to play, and no venues in the UK with a wider golfing menu, than that offered at the Manor House and Ashbury Hotels in Devon, which lays claims to being comfortably the largest golf resort in the United Kingdom. The popular Okehampton-based resort boasts a staggering seven 18-hole courses – adding up to a whopping 99 holes – all on the same 600-acre site. This unique complex offers four full-length 18hole courses (6,528-yard Kigbeare; 6,400-yard Pines, 5,765-yard Beeches, and the 5,502-yard Oakwood), and a further 18-hole par-3 course, the Willows. And if that wasn’t enough golf to be going on with, two further different 18-hole loops can be made from

TheManor House

& Ashbury Hotels

- The Only Sport, Craft & Spa Hotels in the UK

Among the many highlights are the par-three third and par-five 16th, which features a 180-foot drop on your approach to the green, while the driveable par-four 4th is also a cracking hole to test your accuracy with a wood or hybrid. It would be wise not to think that the lack of yardage on other layouts means they are easy courses. With lakes, bunkers, ditches, hedges and the occasional blind shot to contend with, and not to mention the huge greens, many of which are tiered, you really do have to plot your way round to score well. And with so much great golf on offer, it requires more than a weekend to tackle all the holes on offer, so 3-4 night breaks are ideal if you want to get the full Manor House experience. The golf break packages on offer are stacked with extras, including free 27 holes of golf per day throughout your stay, and golf buggies for as little as £8 per round, so that guests can play all seven layouts without fear of running out of stamina! Away from the golf courses there is plenty to keep couples, groups and families occupied, with many facilities available free of change to guests, including 11 tennis courts, 12 badminton courts, 13 bowls rinks, 30 snooker tables, 10 lanes of ten-pin bowling, three swimming pools, five target ranges, team sports, and numerous exercise classes. Guests also enjoy free use of two state-of-the-art hydro spas throughout their stay, and with saunas,

FREE GOLF at

steam rooms and relaxation loungers also on offer, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy day of activities. Visitors can also pamper themselves with a choice of over 20 health and beauty treatments, including hot stones massage, facials and manicures – all at great value prices. There is also a brand new 18-hole adventure golf course that is available to test putting skills on free of charge, while a children’s games room features pool, table football, air hockey and games consoles. For the more artistically-minded guests, two craft centres offer 17 tutored crafts, including pottery, glass engraving, hot press printing and woodwork. All tutoring is offered free of charge, with guests only required to pay for minimal material costs. Accommodation is spread across the Manor House Hotel, which offer 203 comfortable en suite rooms, and Ashbury Hotel, which boasts a further 222 rooms, all of which feature TVs, tea and coffeemaking facilities and hair dryers. With all packages offering full board, guests can indulge themselves, with the buffet style breakfast proving a big hit with golfers looking to build up their energy levels before a full day’s golfing. Perfectly set up to accommodate golfing groups of all sizes, as well as couples and young families, The Manor House and Ashbury Hotels should be high on your list for your next golfing break. For the latest packages, call 0800 389 9892 or visit www.ashburygolfhotel.com.

“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

06/10/16 - 26/04/17 • FREE Golf • ½ Price Buggies - £8 • 10% OFF Health & Beauty

EW N

Autumn to Spring

combining two of the nine from either the Pines and Ashbury layouts. The golf courses, which all offer stunning views of Dartmoor and across the rolling Devon countryside towards Exmoor, utilise the natural features of the landscape, making the most of mature trees, hedgerows and ponds to provide truly breathtaking holiday golf, while the region’s free-draining soil ensures playing conditions are perfect throughout the year. The Kigbeare is the longest and arguably best of the courses on offer. Starting and finishing outside the clubhouse on two of the original holes built in 1991, 14 of the holes have been constructed on the Kigbeare Estate and include some of the finest holes on the complex. Over 8,000 large, mature trees give the course a feel beyond its years, while helping to provide the tree-lined fairways that define many of the holes.

Oakwood 4th 321 yards, Par 4

Multi Sport Simulators

November & December Bargain Breaks from £50pppn Full Board!

PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 17 tutored crafts, including Pottery, Woodwork, Glass Engraving & Hot Press Printing

0800 389 9892

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

6528 6400 5803 5502 5775 6111 1939

Sports Racket Sports Leisure Ranges Family Bowls Swimming Funhouse Tennis Archery Table Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols 5-A-Side Snooker Waterslides Air Riﬂes Squash Basketball Short Tennis Ten-Pin Lasers Play Area

Kigbeare Pines Beeches Oakwood Ashbury 9 + Pines Front 9 Ashbury 9 + Pines Back 9 Willows

EW N

Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels

All Weather Sports Pitch & Running Track

ashburygolfhotel.com

• All prices per person • All rooms en-suite • Full board • Party discounts •

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LEGEND OF THE RYDER CUP LIVES ON AT AWARD-WINNING

BELFRY RESORT D

espite having hosted its most recent Ryder Cup almost 15 years ago, The Belfry continues to draw in golfers year after year, many of which return to walk and play in the footsteps of the great champions that have graced the fairways of its iconic Brabazon Course on the four occasions that it hosted the contest between 1985 and 2002. With its central location, excellent facilities, and renowned golf courses, there are few better places for a golf break than this customer favourite. That fact was clearly shown at last month’s World Travel Awards, where the Warwickshire-based venue was crowned England’s Leading Resort at the prestigious World Travel Awards for the second year running. Set against the backdrop of 550 acres of North Warwickshire countryside, just 20 minutes outside of Birmingham city centre, The Belfry is enjoying a growing reputation as a family-orientated destination thanks to its wide array of leisure

UK TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2016 [63]

facilities, and the opening of a new 18-hole Ryder Cup-themed putting course, while there is also an excellent variety of dining options, including The Ryder Grill, The Ryder Kitchen, Rocca’s Pizza Pasta and Sam’s Club House. The legendary Brabazon course is obviously the big draw for golfers, having hosted the biennial tussle between Europe and the United States on no less than four occasions. The Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss design has witnessed some of the greatest moments in the event’s long history, from Seve Ballesteros driving the par-4th 10th and Christy O’Connor’s 2-iron on 18, to the winning putts by Sam Torrance and Paul McGinley from virtually the same spot 17 years apart. The course is always in pristine condition, with lightning-fast greens and hazards galore producing the sort of risk-reward holes that bring out the competitor in golfers of all skill levels. In addition to the Brabazon, there are two other excellent layouts to enjoy. The PGA National is a very strategic inland links that has already hosted the European Tour on two occasions, while the shorter Derby course is a pleasant alternative to the two championship designs, yet still provides a challenge for players of all abilities. Golf breaks start from just £149 for one night’s bed & breakfast and a round on the Brabazon, while a two-night stay, full English breakfast each morning, and 18 holes on all three courses, costs from £259pp. To book any of these packages, call 0844 980 0600 or visit www.thebelfry.co.uk.

■ THORPENESS’ GENERAL MANAGER BRAD MCLEAN TAKES TO THE SEAS WITH EAST COAST FISHING TRIPS

THORPENESS LAUNCHES ‘FISH AND CHIPPING’ BREAKS

olfers who like the idea of catching fish as well as birdies should book up a trip to Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel in Suffolk, which has launched a break that takes in a spot of sea fishing between rounds. The ‘Fish and Chipping’ breaks are available on a one- or two-night basis, with unlimited golf, a day fishing trip in the North Sea, dinner, bed and breakfast staying in its 36-bedroom hotel. No previous fishing experience is required and the costs include all the necessary equipment. The trips require a minimum of four people to secure a voyage with East Coast Fishing Trips, which sail out of Lowestoft, which is a 45-minute drive from Thorpeness. A two-night golf and fishing break costs £270 in low season (October, April, May) and includes two-nights’ B&B, dinner on one evening, unlimited golf, and fishing. A shorter one-night break is available from November to March, with one night’s B&B, dinner, unlimited golf, and a fishing trip available for £135pp. Those without their sea legs can take advantage of the club’s range of golf-only winter packages, which allow golfers to tackle the James Braid-designed, 6,421-yard heathland course for just £95pp, including dinner, B&B and one round of golf; while two-night packages and unlimited golf can be booked for £179pp. For bookings visit www.thorpeness.co.uk or call 01728 452176.

Southern Counties

HEATHLAND GOLF TOURS

To enquire call:

01822 618181 Website:

Email:

schgt.co.uk

info@exclusivegolfbreaks.com

Five of England’s finest heathland courses have joined forces as Southern Counties Heathland Golf Tour Blackmoor, Hankley Common, Hindhead, Liphook and West Sussex Staying at top quality hotels and Inns.

Packages start from just £339 playing three rounds of golf and two nights B&B at a top venue

[64] SEPTEMBER 2016 | COLUMN

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Although the eponymous spring water at the French resort town of Evian is world-renowned, so too its golf resort, whose hosting of ‘The Evian’ provides a thoroughly fitting end to the women’s Major season

SITTING OUT ON THE TERRACE of the Hotel Ermitage at the Evian Resort, sipping on a glass of something cold – although not the water – it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place to be. Set in beautiful flowering gardens, with glorious views in every direction, including the fabulous Lake Geneva, it’s La Belle France at its finest. As host venue for the Ladies European Tour’s flagship event, the Evian Championship, since 1994, the Evian Resort has been on the golfing map for many a year, but its status was racked up several further notches when it was given official Major status by the LPGA Tour in 2013 – and in doing so became the fifth and final Major of the season. It’s hard to think of a more perfect spot for the world’s best women golfers – and all the top players do come – to finish off their Major season, after what for many has been a long and exhausting year. With spas and pampering opportunities aplenty, it’s a great place for the girls to let their hair down a little, even though they are all competing for a prize fund of $3.25m, which is one of the biggest purses in the entire calendar. It’s a sure sign that the golf course is up to the job of challenging the best players in the world when the best players in the world come out on top. Since it gained full Major status in 2013, the Evian’s roll call of winners comprises Suzann Pettersen, Kim Hyo-joo and Lydia Ko, while before that, Inbee Park and Ai Miyazato, both former world No.1s, had lifted the title to further underline the tournament’s Major credentials. Originally created in 1904 as a 9-hole course, Evian’s layout was only extended to 18 holes in 1988 by American architect Cabell B Robinson. And although he did a fine job, his work been ■ THE ROYAL HOTEL

■ THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP ALWAYS ATTRACTS BIG CROWDS AND THE BEST PLAYERS

superseded by that of European Golf Design’s Steve Smyers and Dave Sampson, who completed a major remodeling of some key holes at the beginning of 2013. The new-look design was well received by the players and fans alike, as the revamped course was changed as much to make it a more spectator-friendly design, as it was to ramp up the challenge for the players. The last four holes, known collectively as the ‘Evian Puzzle’, were all remodelled to increase the drama over the closing stretch, and offer better viewing for the galleries, with raised grass banks providing natural seating areas from to watch the action unfold. Despite the banking, the 6,428-yard course has quite an open feel to it, with a number of holes offering stunning views across Lake Geneva. Although the majority of the previous routing remains in place, the fifth hole is now a picturesque par-three played over water, as opposed to a par four, while the tee at the 13th has been moved back to make it a par five. A new par-three 16th plays over an attractive water feature with three ponds, while the 17th is now a par-four, played in a similar position to the old 16th hole. The final hole is now a 442-yard

■ THE RESORT ENJOYS STUNNING VIEWS OVER LAKE GENEVA

THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THE NEW-LOOK COURSE HAS THE DRAMA THAT IS REQUIRED OF A MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE

■ THE REDESIGNED FIFTH IS A TESTING PAR 3 PLAYED OVER WATER

par-four, which features a large lake protecting the right side of the green. It’s a demanding finish, and one worthy of deciding a major title. On first play, there’s no doubt that the newlook course has the drama that is required of a Major championship venue, while the large, undulating greens – which have been enlarged by up to 40 per cent – give plenty of opportunity to introduce a variety of pin positions. They are also extremely undulating, placing a heavy premium on being on the right side of the hole if you’re to have a run at an eagle or a birdie. The water features ramp up the excitement, while the breathtaking views all add to make a round at Evian an extremely memorable experience. The course is only open from March through to November, depending on when the snow arrives, so you need to time your visit right to enjoy the best playing conditions. And while the bulk of male-orientated British golfers have perhaps been reluctant to avail themselves of the resort, given its more feminine attractions – luxury hotels, spas, shops and mineral water – for golfing couples I can’t think of a better place for a relaxing short break, with Geneva being just a 75-minute flight from London. And with not one, but two luxury hotels on site, both of which have also been refurbished, and a dizzying choice of restaurants and bars to choose from, I can’t urge you more strongly to come and dip your toes into this most beguiling of French resorts.

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2016 [65]

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JUST TEE TIMES

PROVES JUST THE TICKET FOR COST-CONSCIOUS GOLFERS If you’re looking for guaranteed great value golf at many of Europe’s hottest golf destinations, then it’s time to let JustTeeTimes.com take the strain

ith everybody looking to stretch their euros as far as possible since the pound’s post-Brexit decline, the good news for golfers who still want to play in Spain and Portugal is that JustTeeTimes.com provides the best prices and the simplest booking engine for the continent’s golfing heartland. The company was born out of 15 years’ experience in booking tee times, and began fulfilling the needs of European golfers as Just Tee Times.com in 2010. It now covers more than 200 golf courses on the Iberian Peninsula – and associated island groups – with a dedicated team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From the Costa Brava in the north-east of Spain, down to the Costa del Sol and on to the Canary Islands; or from Minho, in the north of Portugal, down to the coast of the ever-popular Algarve, and beyond to the Azores, JustTeeTimes.com has negotiated a wealth of preferential rates for its customers at leading golf courses. And that comprises some of the biggest names in two of sunshine golf’s foremost destinations, including Monte Rei; Quinta do Lago; Onyria Palmares; San Lorenzo; Vale do Lobo; Oitavos Dunes; Penha Longa; Praia D’el Rey; Vidago Palace; PGA Catalunya; Platja de Pals; Finca Cortesin; La Reserva; San Roque; Alcanada; La Manga Club; and many more. The company’s new-look website offers tee times – and golf packages – at the best possible prices, all with no booking fees and no credit card charges. It also has comprehensive course information, making it easy to select the best course for your game. The website is configured for mobile and tablet use and there is also a Just Tee Times app available to download from the Apple store and Google Play. Carols Ramos, the chief executive

and founder of JustTeeTimes.com, said: “At Just Tee Times.com we offer the independent golfer, who wishes only to book golf, a quick and easy solution to access tee times at competitive rates, saving both time and money. “We specialise in booking golf because we understand a golfer’s desire to check and book their tee-times simply, efficiently and at a time that suits them, all in a no-nonsense manner with all the latest prices and course information laid out clearly. Booking golf should not be a chore; it should be the first stage of a great experience.” To aid navigation and simplify the booking process, Just Tee Times.com

lists available green fees and tee-times by country, region, or by individual golf course, and its experienced team is onhand to offer excellent advice should you be undecided on where you want to play. It is also expert in arranging group visits and is capable of negotiating extra preferential group rates at the golf courses. “When it comes to group bookings, eight is our magic number,” said Ramos. “With our specialist knowledge we can advise you at which courses you can receive further discounts when your group comprises eight or more golfers and we are in a great position to negotiate group discounts on your behalf.

WE SPECIALISE IN BOOKING GOLF BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND A GOLFER’S DESIRE TO CHECK AND BOOK THEIR TEE-TIMES SIMPLY, EFFICIENTLY AND AT A TIME THAT SUITS THEM

■ ALCANADA IS JUST ONE OF MANY TOP COURSES ACROSS SPAIN & PORTUGAL THAT CAN BE BOOKED THROUGH JUSTTEETIMES.COM

“We can also alleviate some of the hassle to make the trip organiser’s experience stress free. Simply let us know your requirements and we will reply with a golf itinerary proposal which you can share with the group and amend to your requirements. And, when you’re happy, we will book preferential tee-times and send you the confirmation. It’s as simple as that. “And to round off our ‘love eight’ relationship, there is no requirement to pay off the balance of your trip until eight weeks before your first tee time.” Available tee times in Portugal currently start from just €25 at Balaia Golf Village, on the Algarve, while further west in Estoril, at the renowned Penha Longa, a round on the Atlantic North course can be had for just €32. In Almeria, Spain, a round at Alboran Golf will cost just €29, as it will at Las Ramblas and Vistabella Golf, on the Costa Blanca. In Murcia, easily accessed by San Javier or Alicante airports, a round at either Altorreal or Lorca Golf Resort will set you back a mere €30. And, at Bellavista Golf, on the Costa de la Luz, the price for a round of golf drops to just €27. If you’re looking to fit in some winter golf in Tenerife, which sees just a few days of rain each year, golf in December starts from just €79 per round. And who can put a price on getting some sun on your back in December? The JustTeeTimes.com head office is based in the marina in the heart of Vilamoura – where it can offer tee-times at preferential rates on the Oceânico stable of Faldo, Laguna, O’Connor, Old, Pinhal and Victoria courses. It is open seven days a week with a dedicated golf booking team. So contact JustTeeTimes.com now for the quickest, safest and most efficient booking service in the business.

[68] SEPTEMBER 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOLF ESCAPES

■ CLAIRE JONES

BREAKS INTO UK MARKET

■ MARRIOTT HANBURY MANOR

ussex-based golf travel company Golf Escapes has launched into the domestic golf market, and is currently offering a wide range of grate value golf breaks across the UK and Ireland.

Claire Jones, who recently joined Golf Escapes after working as the golf sales and events manager at Hever Castle Golf Club in Kent, is handling all enquiries and booking for UK & Ireland clients.

The company has quickly built up relationships with a host of top quality resorts, hotels and golf clubs throughout the country and is able to offer a extremely competitive rates for range of bespoke breaks to golfers, whether they be travelling as a two-ball, or as part of a much larger group or society. And groups of at least 12 ensure that one player goes free. The Marriott hotel group has built up an enviable portfolio of properties throughout the UK, and golfers can take their choice from Hanbury Manor, Tudor Park

GOLFY CARD

TEES UP GREAT SAVINGS ON EUROPEAN BREAKS

olfers taking a golf break in Europe can now save 25% on green fees with the Golfy card. The popular discount card is accepted at more than 150 golf courses across five countries, including France and Spain, as well as 130 hotels in France. With more than 50,000 cardholders, Golfy is already established as a leading network in Continental Europe. Now, with a special introductory offer, it is inviting golfers from the UK and Ireland to join and benefit from discounts on green fees, hotel stays and golf breaks, while earning loyalty ‘Yards’ for all purchases. The Golfy network features a huge choice of golf break destinations, from great value venues in northern France and Belgium to top tournament courses, such as PGA Catalunya in Spain, and Le Golf National in Paris, home of the 2018 Ryder Cup. Alain Jeanjean, founder of Golfy, said:

“For 25 years, Golfy has been saving golfers money at our growing network of courses and hotels. With a Golfy card, golfers from the UK and Ireland will be made welcome, instantly save money and earn loyalty benefits at golf courses and hotels across Europe.” All purchases within the Golfy network, including green fees, pro shop, buggy hire, golf lessons, restaurant, hotel accommodation and spa, earn cardholders loyalty ‘Yards’, which can be redeemed for exclusive rewards and gifts. The Golfy Indigo Card, offering a 25% discount on green fees and 15% off accommodation, is now available for a special price of €45 (the standard cost of the card in France is €109). To buy a Golfycard, or for more details, visit www.golfy.fr.

Rivers Golf Tours See a slice of

and Lingfield, Meon Valley and the Forest of Arden to name but a few. A one-night stay with two rounds of golf at Hanbury Manor, venue for the European Senior Tour’s recent Willow Classic, costs just £135pp for Sunday night stays, while two nights and two rounds at Forest of Arden, which boasts two 18-hole championship courses costs from £99pp. There are savings to be had on breaks to The Belfry if booked before October 31, with two rounds at the Ryder Cup venue, including one on the Brabazon Course, starting from £159 for one night’s bed and breakfast. Further afield the a visit to Macdonald Hill Valley in Shropshire or Portal Golf Resort in Cheshire will be rewared with a free £10 bar credit if booked before Spetember 30.

CLUBSTOHIRE.COM FREEZES PRICES TO ENTICE POST-BREXIT GOLFERS

lubstoHire.com is offering travelling British golfers extra value by freezing its prices on rental sets, despite the value of the pound falling by more than 10% since the Brexit vote in June. The Dublin-based rental firm continues to offer golfers sets of the latest clubs on the market from between £32 and £55 per week at locations around the world, including the US, Thailand, South Africa and countries across the Mediterranean. “We believe it’s imperative that pricing is kept in check to compensate for the recent currency depreciation, and so by maintaining

For the latest UK & Ireland golf break deals, and for golf holidays throughout Europe, North America, South Africa and the Far East, visit www.golf-escapes.com or call 01342 811777.

our consistent price structure, we’re offering even better value for money to our British customers,” said ClubstoHire CEO Tony Judge. “Golfers will look to get away in both good and bad times, but a greater concentration from the UK are now travelling to more traditional golfing destinations in Europe, like Spain and Portugal.” ClubstoHire.com currently services 23 locations in 10 countries including: Spain Alicante, Costa Dorada, Girona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Murcia, Palma (Majorca) & Tenerife; Portugal – Faro, Lisbon & Madeira; Cyprus – Paphos; Morocco – Marrakesh; Turkey – Belek; South Africa – Cape Town; Thailand – Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket; United States – Orlando, Florida & Scottsdale, Arizona; UK & Ireland – Cork, Dublin & Edinburgh. NH_golfnews_2016.qxp_139_160mm 15/09/2016 11:06 Page 1

Stay & Play Breaks at Nailcote Hall Hotel

All the family can enjoy the challenge of the British Par 3 Championship Course • Bed & Breakfast including 18 holes of golf - £59.00 (based on 2 people sharing) subject to availability until 31st November 2016

Autumn Golf Offers

The Ultimate Bucket List Golf Tour

• 3 Ball 18 holes - £39.00 with complimentary Tea or Coffee • 4 Ball 18 holes - £49.00 with complimentary Tea or Coffee

web: riversgolftours.com.au We provide pa icipants with a friendly relaxed atmosphere where good golf, great food and beautiful scenery will ensure a memorable holiday in beautiful pa s of Australia.

For Society Groups and Corporate golf days at Nailcote Hall please visit www.nailcotehall.co.uk/golf

For more golf information contact: riversgol ours@gmail.com

Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire, CV7 7DE Telephone: 02476 466174 info@nailcotehall.co.uk

[70] SEPTEMBER 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LUXURY LODGINGS ON OFFER AT

■ OITAVOS DUNES

OITAVOS L

ocated 30 minutes west of Lisbon, on Portugal’s Estoril Coast, Oitavos is familyowned resort set among the natural dunes of the stunning Sintra Cascais National Park. A four-time host of the Portuguese Open since its opened in 2001, its dramatic coastal location provides the backdrop to a superbly entertaining 6,300-metre, par 71 course. Designed by American architect Arthur Hills, the layout is a rare mixture of woodland and links-style golf, with the first half dozen holes

BC_NEW Maurit GOLF NEWS 09/16_Layout 1 16/09/2016 12:51 Page 1

The Art of

Mauritius

played among the trees, before opening out to the more dramatic holes besides the sea, and then returning to the woods for the last two holes. The signature hole is the par-three 14th, a scary-looking 165-yard hole played across a deep storm ravine. Practice facilities include a 300m double-ended driving range, and two putting greens. The golf offering is back up by a stylish five-star hotel set within the national park that opened in 2010. Designed with sleek lines and elegant interiors, the hotel offers 14 spacious rooms, 127 lofts, two suites and, for those looking for the ultimate escape, a one-bedroom private villa that stands apart from the resort, which features its own pool and comes with a personal butler. Other facilities include four restaurants, three bars, an organic VOYA spa, equestrian centre, and a tennis and squash club. There’s also a surf school. For culture vultures, the cobbled streets of Cascais are a short walk along the coast, while the UNESCO World Heritage town of Sintra is a 10-minute drive from the resort. Three nights’ B&B with two rounds of golf at Oitavos Dunes costs from €555pp. For details of the latest golf packages, visit www. theoitavos.com.

START THE XMAS PARTY EARLY AT

LA MANGA OPEN

G Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa

The best choice of luxury hotels on the island

As the first hotel company in Mauritius, Beachcomber Hotels had the first pick of the most stunning locations and the best of the beaches when choosing to place its hotels. We are now fortunate to have a choice of eight individual and exceptional hotels dotted around the island.

We’ve got everything from indulgent luxury to superb all inclusive options. For families all of our resorts are family friendly offering a great range of free land and water sports, free children’s clubs for 3 to 12 year olds, a choice of spacious family accommodation and family friendly dining options.

For the ultimate luxury stay at the best address in Mauritius, the Royal Palm Hotel. For golfers challenge yourself on the Paradis Golf Course. And for the perfect family holiday choose one of our luxury villas at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club or Trou Aux Biches Resort & Spa.

For the best Mauritius holidays call Beachcomber on 01483 445 632

www.beachcombertours.co.uk

olfers depressed at the prospect of another long winter ahead are being invited to pack their clubs and head to Spain’s La Manga Club to compete in the resort’s popular end-of-season La Manga Club Open at the start of December. Taking place for a 16th successive year from December 5-10, the 54-hole event is set to feature men and women from all over Europe competing on the resort’s North and South courses for an array of prizes. Tournament packages feature four or five nights’ accommodation in the five-star Hotel Principe Felipe start (€510pp), or four-star Las Lomas Village (€425pp), including breakfast and a welcome pack; a cocktail reception; a gala dinner and prize-giving ceremony. Prices include tournament entry for golfers, practice balls, and on-course refreshments, while a practice round is also included for golfers staying five nights. In addition, event guests will also enjoy discounts of 15 per cent when eating at any of the resort’s Amapola, Asia, Luigi’s and La Bodega restaurants and Deli-Café, and complimentary access to the club’s fitness centre, indoor pool, saunas and steam rooms. La Manga Club Open packages are available from €510 (£425 approx) per person in the resort’s Hotel Principe Felipe, or €425 (approx £355) per person in the four-star Las Lomas Village apartments.

For more information or to book, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub. com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2016

[71]

ME&MYTRAVELS

TV presenter and former Strictly winner CHRIS HOLLINS often heads to the South Wales coast to get his golfing fix

My first holiday memory... in Rimini, Italy. My parents used to know the owner of the Hotel Ambasciatori, so we would go every year as a family. It was very simple: a great little beach, where we had our own umbrella and would build sandcastles, and then eat our own bodyweight in food.

My favourite golf course in the British Isles is... The Oxfordshire, which is a real test for a proper golfer, or Pennard in South Wales, which is a quirky cliff-top links. My parents have a flat in Caswell Bay, which is nearby, so I’ve grown up playing it. The Gower Penisula is fanstastic

My most memorable ever round was… the day I played with

■ PENARD IN SOUTH WALES

Rory Mcllroy at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship Pro Am in 2010. Rory’s a great player and a thoroughly nice man, too.

My most embarrassing moment on a golf course... was topping a ball in the same event the following year, when playing with Sir Bruce Forsyth and Anton Du Beke. There was a big crowd, and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.

My favourite golf resort is... Loch Lomond in Scotland. It's not open to the public as a hotel or a golf course, but the rooms are

My usual fourball includes…my

incredible, as is the golf course.

My favourite city is…Tokyo. I think it's mostly because of the relationships I've built up there through work, but it was the most extraordinary experience, having to learn about their customs and culture.

dad, brother-in-law and an old mate.

My favourite meal on holiday was… the first time I had spaghetti vongole in Italy when I was 10. We were driving around the countryside of Emilia-Romagna and found this restaurant which served the freshest, most wonderful clams I've ever tasted. If only I could have had some wine, it would have been perfect.

My worst travel experience was…being ill on a flight back from the World Cup in South Africa. I felt fine when boarding, but then as soon as we took off, I suddenly felt really unwell. There's no escape on flights.

My dream holiday fourball would include…Rory Mcllroy,

■ THE OXFORDSHIRE

■ SPAGHETTI VONGOLE

My most recent trip was…

Seve Ballesteros and Bob Hope.

to play the Stadium Course at PGA Catalyuna in Spain with my dad.

My top travel tip is… to try everything. So, when in Rome, as they say, find the busiest local restaurant and have what everybody else is eating. For a family like mine, that lives to eat, that's been the most rewarding tip.

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