Golfnews may 2016

ISSUE 254 | MAY 2016

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TIGER WOODS IT’S NOW OR NEVER

GPS DEVICES • CHRIS WOOD • US OPEN • GARY PLAYER • SARAH STIRK • TRAVEL

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BY

NICK BAYLY

FAR FROM THE OLYMPIC IDEAL I

to be a few other late no-shows – is hardly going to stop t was always going to be a tall order to get all of the the party. world’s best golfers to alter their schedules to fit in Golf is already played in every corner of the globe – with this summer’s Olympic Games.

Greg Norman and Nick Faldo have seen to that, with their For some people – and I include myself on this one, golf courses multiplying faster than the Zika virus – so professional golf – at the individual level, is all about the to think that a 72-hole tournament played in Brazil was four Majors. No one remembers who won the gold medal going to suddenly result in a huge surge of interest in the when golf was last included in the Olympics back in game was only ever pure fantasy.

1904, and no one other than Eggheads' panel of experts And to come up with a format that is already used will remember who wins it in 2016 in 100 years time, or for 48 weeks of the year was a masterstroke of dullness. probably even by next year.

Why not have mixed gender teams playing foursomes?

Among the British tour players I’ve heard talking on Anything but the tedium of yet another individual stroke the subject in recent months, the majority like the idea of play event, where the concept of nationality is all but walking alongside Mo Farah at the opening ceremony, and ignored. the chance to rub shoulders with Usain Bolt in the queue And let’s face it, if you haven’t watched golf on telly for McDonalds inside the athletes’ village, but when it by now, you’re hardly going comes to ranking it alongside to tune in at the Olympics to their desire to get a Major on watch another dull four-day their CV, the Olympics doesn’t stroke play tournament when even come close. It’s on a par you’re being bombarded at with the Players’ Championship the same time with 101 other or a WGC event. faster moving, more exciting Given the location of the sports, with people who have venue, and the timing of the trained for years for their one tournament, those cosseted shot at glory. millionaire golfers that do To be brutally honest, golf decide to rock on down to is a game in managed retreat.

Rio in August are more than It is also a game that, played in likely to simply jet in and out of the way that it was originally the 72-hole event like they do intended, takes up huge each and every week on tour, swathes of countryside, huge and will not have the time, nor ■ THEY'LL BE NO MEDAL FOR ADAM SCOTT THIS SUMMER amounts of money, and huge the inclination, to soak up the amounts of time – none of which sits very well with the atmosphere with the rest of the competitors for whom the Olympic ideal. And with Tiger Woods out of the picture, Olympics always was, and always will be, the pinnacle of our current crop of stars, nice lads and lasses though they their chosen sport. are, are never going to be the faces to launch the dreams Most of the golfers occupying positions inside the of millions of new golfers, given the many and varied world’s top 100 didn’t grow up with a gold medal dangling distractions that today’s youth are faced with. as a prized carrot, so to have the Olympics thrust on them And while clubs like Royal Troon, host of this summer’s – albeit with six years’ notice – was never going to be Open Championship, retain single-sex membership, and the attractive proposition that some may have thought the R&A remains 99% male dominated, I’m not sure that it would. They all grew up dreaming of clutching Claret golf is ready to be called the all-inclusive, uniting sport Jugs, slipping on Green Jackets, and lifting Ryder Cups – that many would have us believe. although no-one will ever admit to dreaming of winning So, by all means raise a cheer to whoever it is that has a the US PGA Championship. golfing gold medal hung around their necks this summer, Of course it’s a shame that Adam Scott, Louis but I shan’t lose any sleep if the IOC decides to knock it Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and good old Vijay Singh on the head for 2020. won’t be there, but their absence – and are there bound

ISSUE 254 | MAY 2016 [1] APRIL 2016 | NEWS

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TIGER WOODS IT’S NOW OR NEVER

GPS DEVICES • CHRIS WOODS • US OPEN • GARY PLAYER • SARAH STIRK • MATT FITZPATRICK

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.

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[6]

MAY 2016 | FEATURE

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AN ARTIFICAL PUTTING GREEN CAN CHANGE A DISUSED AND UNLOVED PART OF A GARDEN INTO A PLACE THAT THE FAMILY CAN ENJOY ALL YEAR ROUND

TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN AND YOUR SHORT GAME T

HOME GOLF DESIGN’S artificial putting and chipping greens are an affordable addition to every serious golfer’s back garden

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 carpet-like 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, Kentbased Home Golf Greens aims to 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

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

■ BEFORE

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 or visit www.homegolfdesigns.co.uk.

■ AFTER

To follow the latest projects follow Home Golf Designs on Twitter @homegolfdesigns

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[7]

KAYMER STRENGTHENS STARSTUDDED FIELD AT WENTWORTH T

wo-time Major champion Martin Kaymer will be just one of the many stars of the game taking in BMW PGA Championship, which tees off at Wentworth from May 26-29.

The 31-year-old winner of the 2010 US PGA Championship and 2014 US Open will make his tenth appearance in the tournament, and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow German Bernhard Langer, who conquered the West Course three times.

Kaymer joins a stellar line-up for the first Britishbased European Tour event in 2016, which also boasts Major champions Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell and Danny Willett, and Ryder Cup stars Thomas Bjørn, Luke Donald, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Lee Westwood, plus a host of rising stars, including Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters.

“It’s always a special week as Wentworth is an iconic venue that has a lot of history,” said Kaymer, who has 11 European Tour titles to his name. “After my home country of Germany, the UK is probably my favourite place to play golf, and at Wentworth there are always great crowds creating a fantastic atmosphere. You can tell that the fans there really

ALBION TEES OFF AT EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club is hosting a charity golf day at East Sussex National Resort on July 1 to raise funds for Albion in the Community. Entry is £700 for a team of four and includes 18 holes, breakfast and a three-course dinner. For more details or to book a place, email fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk or call 01273 878246.

WOBURN WINS BBO JUNIOR CLUB TITLE

know their golf and appreciate when you do something well. There’s always a real buzz about the event and I’m looking forward to getting back there.

“I have a decent record at Wentworth, but I’ve not yet been truly in contention to win there, so it would be nice to change that this year. My game is feeling good, and a victory would be a great way to launch into what is going to be an extremely busy spell through the summer and autumn.”

This year, for the first time, twilight tickets are

available, allowing access to Wentworth after 4pm at the weekend to watch the end of day’s action and two concerts – Mike and the Mechanics on Saturday and Tom Chaplin, the lead singer of hit band Keane, on Sunday. Advance daily adult tickets cost £8 for Tuesday, £13 for the Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday, £36 for Thursday/Friday and £46 for Saturday/Sunday.

For tickets, visit www.bmw-pga.com or call 01344 840550.

PENGE QUALIFIES FOR EUROPRO TOUR

S

ussex and England player Marco Penge has qualified for the 2016 PGA EuroPro Tour following an impressive performance in the PGA Euro ProTour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

Building on the momentum from his impressive victory at the Sunningdale Foursomes in March, the 17-year-old Goodwood star finished as the leading amateur at the event and clinched a top-30 finish at the Qualifying School, earning the highest card possible status – Category 3.

Penge reached the qualification stage comfortably, finishing fourth at Burhill Golf Club at

the end of March with rounds of 66 and 76. In the final at Frilford, he fired rounds of 71, 73 and 72, which saw him finish on even par and tied for 22nd.

Penge has made a solid start to his 2016 campaign, recording a sixth-place finish in the South American Amateur, fourth at the Portuguese Amateur, and 14th in the European Nations, before his famous victory at Sunningdale, where he teamed with girlfriend Sophie Lamb to take the foursomes title.

This impressive start to the season, coupled with three victories in 2015, have earned the Horsham-based youngster a call up to the

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Woburn will represent BB&O in the final of the Junior Champion Club for the second time in three years, after beating off the challenge of 15 rivals at Caversham Heath. Last out on the course, Woburn’s three-man team of Tom Bright, Rubin Das and Jacob Fawcett combined for a best two from three score of 71 stableford points, finishing one point clear of Harewood Downs, with Caversham Heath in third on 69. The final will be held during England Golf week at Frilford Heath in August.

MAKE A DATE FOR DYKE PRO-AM

The Dyke Golf Club in East Sussex is hosting a Pro-Am on August 5. The price for a sponsored team is £350, which includes a round for three players with a pro, sponsorship on the golf course, a rolling buffet, and prizes for the leading teams. For bookings, email enquiries@dykegolfclub.co.uk or call 01273 857296.

TAVERNER ENJOYS HOME WIN AT HENDON

preliminary 18-man Great Britain and Ireland squad for the St Andrews Trophy match at Prince's Golf Club in Kent from July 20-21. The team to face the Continent of Europe at the Sandwich-based links will eventually be whittled down to nine.

Hendon assistant professional James Taverner made the most home advantage to claim victory in the PGA East Hendon Pro-Am with a three-under-par round of 67 – one better than Portuguese-based Louis Farrelly, who also used to work at the Middlesex club. Taverner bagged seven birdies during his round, but double bogeyed the last after enjoying a three-shot cushion.

[8]

MAY 2016 | NEWS

FARROW ON THE BALL AT CLANDON REGIS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GROVE BANKS ON SELL-OUT CROWD FOR BRITISH MASTERS

Burhill Golf Club’s Tom Farrow-Smith won the Surrey Under 18 Championship for the Millard Quaich after firing rounds of 70 and 75 at Clandon Regis for a one-over par total of 145. Max O'Hagan (West Hill) was one shot back in second, with Williams Hobbs (Wentworth) in third on 148.

■ ALICE HEWSON

Bognor Regis’s Harry Isham won the Sussex U14 Championship for the Steve Stone Trophy after scoring 41 points at Mid Sussex Golf Club. He beat Josh Dance (Cottesmore) by four points, with Bradley Jones (Nevill) in third on countback.

HEVER TO HOST FASHION EVENT

MILLER’S TIME AT SHANKLIN Ninety-year-old Peter Miller showed it is never too late in life to bag a hole-in-one when he aced the 125-yard 9th hole at Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club on May 5. A member of the Isle of Wight-based club for over 40 years, it was a first ever hole-in-one for the 14-handicapper.

■ CHARLOTTE THOMAS

H

HARRY ON HIS GAME AT MID SUSSEX

Hever Castle Golf Club in Kent is hosting a charity lunch and women’s golf fashion show on June 8. The show will feature collections supplied by specialist women’s golf fashion outlet Swing Out Sister, while guests will be able to enter a prize draw and have a chance to win a complete outfit. Tickets cost £38pp, to include a three-course lunch, with funds raised going to West Kent Mind. To book, email Tanya Wright at tanya@golflikeagirluk.com or call 07940 571207.

FIVE ENGLISH PLAYERS EARN CURTIS CUP CALL UPS

■ TIGER WOODS IN ACTION AT THE AMEX WGC TOURNAMENT HELD AT THE GROVE IN 2006

T

ickets for this year’s British Masters are now on general sale, with fans able to buy tickets for the final three rounds of the European Tour event, which is being held at The Grove in Watford from October 13-16.

The opening round has now completely sold out, with 20,000 spectators taking advantage of the ‘Sky Sports Thursday’ free ticket offer. But fans can still ensure they get to see some of the world’s leading players in action, including tournament host Luke Donald, with tickets for the second, third and final rounds on general release.

More than 57,000 spectators attended last year’s British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Woburn, where Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his maiden European Tour title.

This year, former world and European No.1 Donald takes on the role of tournament host, and he is keen to encourage new and existing fans

to support the event, with a range of innovative initiatives planned at The Grove, including player masterclasses and interviews.

Donald said: “It is great news that all 20,000 free tickets have been snapped up for Sky Sports Thursday at the British Masters, and hopefully we will now also get a good response for the other three rounds, helping to create a special atmosphere at The Grove in October.

“It’s going to be a world-class event, so we would like people to bring their kids and bring their families. Like last year, we are going to have the masterclasses and the Q&As so we can engage with the fans. It is going to be a fantastic event, so hopefully people will support it.”

A season ticket to the British Masters costs £60, while tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday cost £28.50 each. For bookings, visit www.tickets.sky.com.

ertfordshire’s Alice Hewson and Surrey’s Charlotte Thomas are among five English players to have been selected to represent GB&I in the Curtis Cup, which is being held at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club near Dublin from June 10-12.

The two Home Counties players join an eightstrong team, which also includes Bronte Law, Meghan MacLaren, Rochelle Morris, Maria Dunne, and a trio of Irish players – Olivia Mehaffey, Leona Maguire, and Maria Dunne.

Six players were selected automatically through the World Amateur Golf Ranking, while Thomas and Dunne were selectors’ picks.

This will be Law’s third appearance in a Curtis Cup team, having made her debut in the winning side at Nairn in 2012; and a second consecutive appearance for 23-year-old Thomas, who is currently in America studying at the University of Washington in Seattle.

A past winner of the English mid-amateur championship, Thomas has already won a college event this season and was the winner of the inaugural Annika Invitational at Mission Hills in China in 2011. Hewson, who is also studying in the States, at Clemson University in South Carolina, has won twice since starting last year.

The GB&I team is captained by Scotland’s Elaine Farquharson-Black, who played in the matches in 1990 and 1992. She said: "We have an extremely talented team which has considerable experience at the highest level. I am looking forward to meeting up with the team at Castle Golf Club in Dublin to prepare for the match. With some of the best players in the world on both sides, it is going to be a really exciting Curtis Cup.”

Open Week at Prince’s 2016 27 holes Championship links

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For more information or to make a booking contact Alex at the Prince’s Pro Shop:

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

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[9]

TINDALL TAKES TEST DRIVE AT MAGNOLIA PARK

F

ormer England international rugby player Mike Tindall and his royal brother-in-law Peter Phillips have both been fitted for Williams Racing Golf clubs ahead of Tindall’s charity golf day next month.

The golf-loving pair, who play together at Minchinhampton Golf Club in Gloucester, had their swings analysed at the WRG Centre of Excellence at Magnolia Park in Bucks by club fitter Dean Davis to customise each club to their individual specification for maximum performance.

They were both put through their paces using the Williams club assembly system that allows a full set of clubs to be made with the same flex, feel and swing weight – enabling the torque of the club to behave reliably throughout the set, increasing swing consistency.

“Seeing how technical the setup is at Magnolia Park and how Williams Racing Golf goes into so much detail is just amazing,” said 10-handicapper Tindall. “You can see how hard they are pushing for those marginal gains that the Formula One team also have to make to be competitive."

Phillips, who, like Tindall, will use the clubs at the fourth annual Celebrity Golf Classic next month, said: “Having worked with Williams’ Racing team for three years, I am always keen to support them and their innovations as much as possible.

Using the great brains within the organisation to develop golfing products is a logical step.”

The Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic takes place at The Belfry on May 20 and sets of the same customised WRG clubs are being offered as star prizes on the day.

North Worcestershire Golf Club closed last month after being sold to make way for 800 new houses on the 80-acre site. Membership numbers at the West Midlands club had fallen from 400 to 250 in the past 10 years, resulting in unsustainable losses. At an extraordinary general meeting, over 80% of the members voted for the club to be sold to housing developer Bloor Homes.

ALLISS HOSTS HOSPICE SOCIETY DAY AT HEVER

RICHMOND SECURES FUTURE WITH FREEHOLD PURCHASE

T

he Richmond Golf Club in London has secured its future after purchasing the freehold of its site from the Crown Estate.

The club, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, financed the deal through loan notes from 300 of its 500 members.

As a result of the sale, the members’ club now owns its attractive par70 course in Sudbrook Park, which is alongside Richmond Park, and its clubhouse, Grade I-listed Sudbrook House.

David Hill, chairman of the club during the negotiations, said: “When some clubs are closing, selling land or changing the rights of their members, we are delighted that the future of our club is now even more secure. Under the new arrangements, all members will continue to hold an equal stake, regardless of their contribution to the financing of the acquisition.

“Potential new members should not be put off,” he added, “as they will be welcome to, but will not be expected or compelled to, participate in the loan note scheme.“ Despite the sale of the freehold, the club will retain its royal links, as the Duke of York is the club patron, a position previously held by the Queen Mother. Her husband, George VI, had been a member of the club and, when Duke of York, had been club captain in 1924.

Princess Alexandra attended one of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations on Founder's Day in February this year, where she unveiled two paintings of the clubhouse by renowned artist Ken Howard. Other events in the anniversary calendar include a black-tie dinner at the House of Commons, which is being hosted by Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith later this month.

There was a record turnout for St Catherine's Hospice Golf Society at Hever Castle Golf Club in Kent last month, with 92 players turning out to play the course and later listen to a few well-chosen words from Peter Alliss.

Over £7,000 was raised for the charity on the day. The society’s next event is at Woodcote Park on June 28.

FLANAGAN DELIVERS KNOCKOUT BLOW Angus Flanagan (St George’s Hill) won the 2016 Surrey Junior Scratch Knock Out after beating Mikey Doble (Reigate Hill) 3&1 in a tight match held over Walton Heath’s New Course. All square after nine, the 17-yearold England International won the 10th and 11th holes, and then birdied the 17th to take the title.

WILLINGDON TO HOST CHESTNUT TREE DAY Willingdon Golf Club in Eastbourne is hosting a charity day in support of Chestnut Tree, the children’s hospice service for East Sussex, on June 24. The day will include coffee on arrival, an 18-hole round, and a putting competition, followed by a two-course meal, a raffle and an auction. For details call 01323 651668 or email janetandpaulroberts@yahoo.co.uk.

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■ BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT: MIKE TINDALL AND PETER PHILLIPS WITH THEIR NEW CLUBS

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[10] MAY 2016 | NEWS

KENT AND SUSSEX PGA'S TOAST SHEPHERD NEAME Kent-based brewery Shepherd Neame is to continue its sponsorship of some of Kent and Sussex’s leading PGA events. Britain’s oldest brewer will be the title sponsor of The PGA in Sussex Championship at Royal Ashdown Forest on August 31, and The PGA in Kent Championship at Canterbury Golf Club on September 6. Both events are 36-hole tournaments.

NEW RANGE FOR SINGING HILLS The driving range at Singing Hills Golf Club in Albourne, East Sussex, is currently closed to allow for the construction of a new floodlit range, which is scheduled to open in July.

BB&O JUNIOR CHAIRMAN RECEIVES LIFETIME AWARD Iain MacCaskill, former captain of Denham Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, has won the England Golf Lifetime Service Award. A Scottish international at boys' and youth level, he played in the Open at Royal Troon in 1962, after which he moved to Buckinghamshire, where he became BB&O junior manager, then county president, and finally chairman of BB&O juniors, a position he still holds today.

WOODBRIDGE UNVEILS NEW FACILITIES Woodbridge Golf Club in Essex has unveiled a new par-3 academy course and a new indoor swing studio as part of a series of investments at the club. The academy course, which was designed

by Martin Hawtree, features three holes, which are ideal for coaching and introducing youngsters to he game, while the new indoor studio offers a Trackman 4 launch monitor and is also equipped to provide a full range of custom fitting.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

OBAMA TAKES DOWN CAMERON IN ‘BATTLE OF THE GROVE’ A

merican President Barak Obama made the most of possibly his last visit to the UK as leader of the free world by sneaking in a quick game of golf against his British counterpart, Prime Minister David Cameron.

Taking a break from talks over Britain’s future in Europe, the duo played 18 holes at The Grove, the five-star resort in Watford, which is hosting this autumn’s British Masters.

Playing as a foursome, with White House aides Joe Paulsen and Marvin Nicholson making up the numbers, there was no official word on the scores, although reporters who witnessed the match said that Obama, who plays off 17, had the upper hand in the contest.

A White House staff member said that it was the president’s 286th round of golf during his time in office, but the first time that he had played during an international trip. He has played with Tiger Woods, and numerous other sports stars, but rarely against other politicians.

The arrival of the two leaders resulted in heightened security at the resort, with some of the golfers who had pre-booked rounds being asked to start their games at the 10th tee in order to give the celebrity pairing a bit of privacy.

Jonathan Purr, a 36-year-old project manager

from London, was one of the guests who were asked to move to the 10th – but not having played the course before, and not knowing who else was playing that day, insisted on playing the holes in the correct order.

“I’d wanted to play The Grove for 15 years, but wasn’t expecting it to be quite so memorable. The course officials had asked us to move to the back nine, but I refused, as no one wants to start on the tenth. The officials were really polite and let us play at our tee time.”

He added: ‘I’d noticed a bit more security than normal, but it was very discreet, until Obama and Cameron turned up. The four ball we were playing behind was a bit slow, and we were being told by the marshals that we’d have to speed up. Finally, on the 13th, we were asked if we’d mind letting them through – so of course we said yes and the group in front stopped as well.

“What was amazing was that Mr Obama bounded out of the buggy and came over to us, thanked us so much and apologised for disturbing our game. He said it was great to meet us and

GANE ROMPS TO 13-SHOT WIN IN ABU DHABI

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front nine. A single bogey on the back nine at the 13th hole gave Gane his only over-par round of the tournament, but it was still more than enough to secure victory.

“It’s always great to win – especially over three days,” said Gane, who played on the European Tour in 2010. “The team struggled a little during the final round, as we were all pretty exhausted, but we’ve had a great week and it’s been a great Pro-Am, and I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”

Victory secured Gane an invitation to play in the UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe, which is being held at Pravets Golf Club in Bulgaria in October.

Sarah Bennett, the Head PGA Professional at Three Rivers Golf Club in Essex, has been invited to provide coaching support for the England U16 Girls and Boys teams taking part in an annual match against Spain at the end of May. Bennett, who previously played on the Ladies European Tour, is currently the head coach of England Golf’s East Region Girls U18 squad.

GA Professional Chris Gane, who is attached to Silvermere Golf & Leisure in Surrey, enjoyed one of the widest margin wins of his career when romping to a 13-stroke victory at the 2016 OnCourse Golf Pro-Am held in Abu Dhabi.

The 41-year-old lefthander fired rounds of 71 at Saadiyat Beach, 66 at Yas Links, and 73 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, for a six-under-par winning total.

Gane began the final day in the PGAs of Europesanctioned event with a comfortable 10-shot lead, but with temperatures reaching 40 degrees, it was always going to be a tough battle. A birdie at the first hole was a dream start, but with two bogeys and a further birdie, he finished at level par for the

ALLMAN RETAINS MIDDX JUNIOR TITLE

EDDIE PEPS UP FRILFORD’S JUNIOR RANKS

BENNETT EARNS ENGLAND COACHING CALL UP

Stanmore’s Gemma Allman retained the Middlesex Junior Girls' Championship at Sudbury Golf Club. Priyanka Parmar (Pinner) won the Doris Chambers Cup for best aggregator nett score.

RIDEOUT CLAIMS DORSET OPEN Broadstone amateur Andy Rideout won the Dorset Open after beating Lyme Regis professional Kieron Fowler in a three-hole playoff at Dudsbury Golf Club in Ferndown. The Dorset county player also retained the Hillamsland Trophy for the leading amateur score.

organised a photographer to take pictures of us all together. What an experience.”

Asked about the swings of the two leaders, Purr added: ‘President Obama was a left-hander and generated a really decent strike. The PM had more of a textbook swing.”

Ben Thompson from The Grove’s golf operations team was managing the course that day and, despite having considerable experience dealing with the celebrities who often turn up at the clubhouse, appears to have been not a little starstruck himself. “It was a great experience working with the President’s team to prepare for his visit,’ he said. “He’s a very cool person to meet. Even after the game, he was so obliging, taking the time to speak to the staff. It was a very surreal experience.”

The US President also left a team member of The Grove a money-can’t-buy memento of his visit – the official POTUS (President of the United States) golf ball. The Titleist Pro V1 golf ball is marked ‘POTUS’ and ’44’ to indicate that its owner is the 44th man to hold the highest office in the US. "He left another behind, too – in the rough. We are currently searching for it,” Thompson added.

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rilford Heath Golf Club’s junior membership has swelled by almost 60 per cent following an initiative supported by European Tour player Eddie Pepperell.

The 25 year old from Abingdon decided to return the sponsorship money that he receives from representing the Oxfordshire-based club on tour, with the proviso it was spent on introducing more youngsters to the game.

The club responded by appealing for youngsters who had little or no golfing experience, focusing on six local schools. The intention was to create 24 free memberships, but with the scheme oversubscribed, Frilford did not

want to exclude anyone, and as a result, there are 51 new juniors who will receive a 12-month membership and six coaching sessions.

The new crop, which increases Frilford’s junior section to 130, met Pepperell last month at two open evenings.

Pepperell was reluctant to take the credit, but was thrilled to see the response. He said: “I don’t see that I’ve made it possible in any way, shape or form. It’s the club that has helped that along, and hopefully more juniors are going to be able to play.

To get any kids playing golf is great, but I want to help those who maybe don’t have the access.”

Jimmy James, Frilford’s general manager, said:

“Rather than going through an interview process and delaying things, by bringing everyone on board it will generate a bigger buzz. I think it’s a fantastic initiative. There are so many people who don’t have a dabble at golf, and Eddie’s opened the door to everyone.”

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[12] MAY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LIFE MEMBERS LOSE PLAYING RIGHTS AT BROCKET WALTON HEATH HOSTS US OPEN QUALIFYING Walton Heath Golf Club’s Old and New Course will once again be hosting US Open sectional qualifying, with a field of up to 90 players expected to turn out at the 36hole tournament on May 30. International qualifying for the season’s second Major first began in 2005, the year that Michael Campbell qualified at the Surrey venue before going on to triumph at Pinehurst. The tournament starts the day after the BMW PGA Championship finishes, so a strong contingent from Wentworth is expected to make the short journey to Walton Heath, where entry is free for spectators on the day.

OLD THORNS ON COURSE FOR SEVENS TITLE TREBLE Old Thorns Manor began its bid for a third consecutive victory in the Hampshire Sevens on a positive note, with a battling 5-2 win over The Army Golf Club on May 7. Led by non-playing captain Roy Randall, there were wins for Greg Shaw, Matt Bonney, Andrew Dickinson, Paul Gill and Rob Craig, while Scott Benton and Nigel Clarke suffered the home side’s only defeats.

WOODMAN CUTS DOWN KNOLE RIVALS Guy Woodman notched up his third win of the season at the Knole Park Pro-Am, where a four-under-par 66 was required to claim the £900 winner’s cheque. Two birdie bursts proved to be just enough to see him home, and edge out Richard Wallis (Canterbury), Scott Stevens (The Ridge) and local man Ben Martin, all of whom shot 67s.

RICE ON THE BOIL AT FARNAM Purley Downs’ Matt Rice shot a seven-underpar 65 around Farnham Golf Club to run away with the final event in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series 2015-16.

In near-perfect conditions, Rice finished four strokes ahead of Ben Flint (Broke Hill) and Alex Lodge (Calcot Park). Despite Rice’s heroics, Flint’s second place enabled him to snatch the overall win in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series Order of Merit, and become the second name on the new Battle Bowl trophy. Flint also won a £250 cash bonus, a Titleist 915 driver and a pair of FootJoy MyJoy shoes from the sponsors.

EVANS CLOSES OUT KENT TITLE Sian Evans from Kings Hill won the PGA Kent Closed Championship after winning a fourway playoff at Lydd. Evans’s one-under par 70 was matched by Adam Clough (Pedham Place), Charlie Wilson (Littlestone) and Jordan Godwin (Barnehurst), forcing the tournament into extra holes, which Evans won. The new champion said: “I was pretty pumped up after finishing as well as I did, but the four-way play-off was pretty daunting.

All the same, I somehow managed to come out on top. Winning this championship represents a major milestone for me, and I’ll be working hard to ensure my game keeps moving forward.”

CAMPBELL IN CHARGE AT BROCKET Cheshunt Park professional Ian Campbell recorded his first victory in the PGA East region thanks to a four-under par 68 in the Head Pros Championship held on the Palmerston Course at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire. Campbell, who played in the South region until last season, made six birdies as he surged to a five-under-par total to finish two shots clear of runner-up Richard Beadles (Royal Worlington), with Ed Morton, Luke Eggleston and Jason Levermore a further shot back in tied third.

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olfers who bought life membership at Brocket Hall Golf Club in Hertfordshire have lost their playing rights, following the sale of the property to new owners.

Having previously gone into administration under the ownership of CCA International, Brocket Hall was recently bought by a Chinese-backed company. It has emerged that all members of the club have been told that their membership has been annulled and that they must apply to rejoin as new members if they want to continue using the club’s facilities, which include two 18-hole championship courses.

Brocket Hall is still owned by Lord Charles Brocket, who was convicted of fraud in the 1990s, but the trustees of the estate had sold the leasehold to German businessman Dieter Klostermann. Last year, however, the lease was put up for sale after the company went into administration. The lease was then bought by Brocket Hall (UK) Ltd. This new company is also being run by Klostermann, who has been backed by a wealthy Chinese businessman.

The decision to effectively throw out all the members has caused fury, especially among those who paid up to £70,000 to join as life members when the club first opened in 1985.

■ GERMAN BUSINESSMAN DIETER KLOSTERMANN (CENTRE) IS STILL INVOLVED AT BROCKET HALL

A letter sent out in March to all the club’s members by the new owner stated: “The sale to the purchaser does not include the transfer of your membership and you will need to contact the purchaser directly to discuss the possibility of acquiring a new membership.”

The administrator which handled the sale of the club, AlixPartners, initially said that members would be able to transfer their membership to the new owners, or be compensated if their membership had been cancelled, but a spokesman for the firm said that those with a longterm membership would lose out; and only those who paid annually would qualify for a refund.

A spokesman for AlixPartners said: “All annual members were informed on appointment by the administrators that in the event of a sale, their membership would either transfer to the new owners or they would receive a refund of the unexpired portion of their membership fee.

As the sale's process did not include transfer of memberships, the administrators are currently in the process of making these refunds. Members that had paid for long-term memberships in advance pre-administration, as unsecured creditors regrettably will not receive a refund and we understand that the new owners will be contacting all members regarding ongoing use of the club.”

It is believed that fewer than 50 members have applied to rejoin the club under the new terms. The club has made a number of staff at the club redundant, including many of the PGA professionals who worked at the club’s performance academy.

HASSOCKS TO SELL OFF NINE HOLES FOR HOUSING

JOHNSON PASSES ON TOUR TIPS AT BOUGHTON

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assocks Golf Club in East Sussex is planning to reduce its 18-hole course to nine in order to ensure its long-term sustainability.

The club, which is located in the South Downs, seven miles north of Brighton, is hoping to sell off half the land to property developers, ensuring the future financial viability of the club.

Plans have already been submitted to the local council to build 130 new homes and a new primary school on part of the par-70 course, which first opened in 1995.

Golfers will still be able to use the club, which has also applied to build a new clubhouse and driving range from money raised from the sale, but the course will be cut from 18 holes to nine.

Mike Ovett, director of golf at Hassocks, said: “Hassocks Golf Club has been running at a loss for many years, and has only avoided closure because of substantial ongoing subsidies from its owner.

There are no longer any funds available to continue this subsidy.”

He added: “Following an extensive process of engagement with the local community, the Hassocks Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, and the parish, district and county councils, we are pleased to advise that Hassocks Golf Club has submitted an outline planning application to Mid Sussex District Council proposing a comprehensive redevelopment of the golf course site. This will make a significant contribution towards housing provision in Hassocks.”

The site will feature new public open spaces, new footpath and cycle links, and substantial new tree planting.

The proceeds from the sale will fund the new clubhouse, which will feature a bar, restaurant, pro shop and function rooms. Should the planning application be accepted, the proposal will safeguard 21 jobs and create many new ones.

ormer European Solheim Cup player Trish Johnson gave a golfing masterclass to a group of members at at Boughton Golf Club in Kent last month The 50-year-old Bristol-born player, who two years ago became the oldest ever winner of a Ladies’ European Tour tournament, displayed the skills that helped her win a total of 19 Ladies European Tour titles to two groups of lady members.

The Yonex golf club demo day was organised by former European Tour pro Benn Barham, who is now Director of Golf Development for PGolf Coaching, which provides coaching at Boughton.

Barham said: “We had around 45 ladies taking part in two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and I think they all found it very interesting and educational. Apart from giving lessons on chipping and putting with some of the latest Yonex clubs, Trish took part in a full Q&A session about her long career, and she was very professional and engaging.”

AUGUSTA TRIP INSPIRES RAITT TO PINEHURST PRO-AM GLORY

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ormer European Tour professional Andy Raitt showed a clean pair of spikes to his rivals in the 2016 Pinehurst Classic Pro-Am staged by American Golf Holidays.

The 41 year old from St George’s Hill fired rounds of 72, 71 and 73 to win the 54-hole professional tournament by three shots from Daniel Field (East Herts) and PGA South region champion James Ablett (Lee on Solent).

Raitt warmed up for the tournament by joining his amateur teammates on a golfing road trip around the region, with games at Hilton Head, Kiawah Island and Haig Point, before going to Augusta to watch the Masters.

He and his team of Andrew Bernard, Richard Beach and Andrew Flatters, were clearly inspired by Danny Willett’s performance, as they combined to win the ProAm by four shots after enjoying a close battle with James Ablett’s team.

The Pinehurst Resort, which boasts no few than nine championship layouts, with the recently renovated No.2 course having hosted the US Open and PGA Championship on many occasions, proved a hugely popular venue for all the players.

The trip also featured a challenge day at the difficult Jack Nicklaus-designed No.9 Course, where Stoneham Golf Club's Adam Hickling triumphed with a superb score of 39 points, with Woburn's Mark Wharton a point back in second place. The

■ LEFT TO RIGHT: PRO-AM WINNER ANDY RAITT WITH TEAMMATES ANDREW BERNARD, RICHARD BEACH AND ANDREW FLATTERS

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[14] MAY 2016 | COMPETITION

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For details on the complete Srixon golf ball range, visit www.srixon.co.uk. For details of how to book your own fitting session at Studley Wood, call 07500 497225 or email cleveland-srixon@studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk.

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[16] MAY 2016 | NEWS

JOY FOR JOHNSTON AT VALDERRAMA N

orth London’s Andrew Johnston spoke of a dream coming true after holding off a final-day charge from tournament host Sergio García to win his first European Tour title, the Spanish Open.

The 28-year-old from Finchley returned a final-round 70 at Valderrama to finish on one over par and a shot ahead of Dutchman Joost Luiten, with García another stroke back in third with a closing 67.

“It’s a dream come true really,” said Johnston, who became the first winner of a regular European Tour event with an over-par total since Ian Woosnam in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie in 1996. “You always try to picture yourself coming down the last trying to hole that winning putt. It’s pretty surreal. I came off the course and I just started crying with the emotion of it.”

Johnston, who won the Challenge Tour in 2014 and finished 70th in the Race to Dubai last season, added: “The last few years have been crazy; just seeing that steady improvement which is really positive. Hopefully that keeps going in the right way. I had a good year last year, which gave me confidence. The goal this year was to get a win and I can’t believe it has happened this quickly.

“It is what you dream of, to have your name on a trophy alongside so many special names like Seve, Faldo and Langer. You see them winning these tournaments, so to put mine on there feels pretty ridiculous.”

Johnston’s final round didn’t start too brightly, with a dropped a shot at the first, but then he picked up shots on the 7th and 8th to join Luiten at the top of the leaderboard, before the Dutchman made bogey at the par-five 11th. A three-putt bogey on the 14th cost Johnston the outright lead, but he responded superbly with a birdie from 20 feet at the 16th, which ultimately proved decisive, as Luiten was unable to find a birdie on the closing stretch.

After the tournament, Johnston headed home to London, where he first port of call was North Middlesex Golf Club, where the party really started.

“I flew back from Spain on the Monday and popped into the club that night to see a few of my mates," said Johnston. "They put a massive banner up outside the golf club, and I nearly crashed the car when I saw it. We had such a good night. Then we another had the big party at the club on the Friday, and I couldn’t believe how many people turned up, it was such a laugh and a great event."

MOUL TAKES INSPIRATION FROM WILLETT SUCCESS

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■ JAMIE MOUL PLAYED WITH DANNY WILLETT AT THE 2007 WALKER CUP

helmsford professional Jamie Moul bagged his first victory on the Jamega Pro Tour after holding off a talented field at Dummer Golf Club in Hampshire.

The former top-ranked amateur in the world, who partnered new Masters champion Danny Willett in the 2007 Walker Cup, finished one shot clear of Oxfordshire’s Craig Hinton on 11 under par.

“This is only my third professional win,” said 31-year-old Moul, who was 22 when he played alongside Willett in Ireland nine years ago, when they halved a foursomes match against Webb Simpson and Jonathan Moore, before losing to Trip Kuehne and Moore the following day.

With Willet winning a first major crown at Augusta earlier in the month, Moul was keen to reflect on their differing fortunes after claiming a long overdue success of his own. “Danny’s done fantastically

well,” he said. ”His form in the last 12 months has been great, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he was capable of winning the Masters. The way he closed it out was fantastic.”

He added: “If you look at our team and the American team from the 2007 Walker Cup, the number of guys that have gone on to win on the European and PGA tour and win majors is incredible. I didn’t feel I was behind those guys then, and although on paper I am now, there’s no reason I cannot get my tour card back, and be there or thereabouts. You need that little bit of luck to have the right week at the right time.”

Moul was delighted to claim the £2,000 first prize, after finishing runner-up at Jamega Tour events at Reading and Enfield last season.

“I’ve been unsuccessful at Dummer a couple of times, so was keen to rectify things,” he added.

BIG PRIZES UP FOR GRABS AT RELAUNCH OF ROYAL ASHDOWN’S WEST COURSE

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ne of Sussex’s oldest courses, the West Course at Royal Ashdown, will be celebrating the launch of its first membership scheme with a four-ball better ball tournament on July 11th.

This will be the first of a series of open events to celebrate the opening of Ashdown West Golf on the club’s West Course. The inaugural event includes breakfast, player goody bags, a comprehensive demo days with Callaway, 18 holes, complimentary refreshments tent, a giant scoreboard, all followed by live outdoor music, hog roast BBQ, and prizes with a total value of over £15,000 to be won. Teams of four will be competing over the course that was recently voted the best layout in the UK measuring under 6,000 yards.

“We want to introduce or reacquaint golfers of the South East with the West Course, and let them know about the changes that have been made with the launch of Ashdown West Golf. With these changes we believe

we offer the best value membership in the area,” said Ashdown secretary Edward Richardson.

The event coincides with the European Under 16’s Championship around the Old Course at Royal Ashdown, so there will be a tremendous atmosphere, with over 400 players and spectators in attendance. For details on how to enter, call 01342 822018 or office@royalashdown.co.uk.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[17]

HEVER OPENS NEW INDOOR GOLF STUDIO

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olfers looking to sharpen up their game on state-of-the-art swing analysis systems, or be custom fitted for the latest equipment, should consider booking a visit to the new indoor swing studio at Hever Castle Golf Club in Kent.

The brand new facility at the Edenbridge-based club, which opened at the beginning of April, is kitted out with the very best coaching technology aids, including Swing Catalyst video analysis and Skycaddie’s new Sky Trak system, as well as a golf

simulator which enables golfers to play a wide range of famous courses from around the world.

Peter Parks, Hever Castle’s Head PGA professional, is pleased with the completed studio, which is open for both members and visitors to book.

He said: “We are all delighted with the finish we have been able to achieve.

It has the look and feel of a top end golf studio, and the first few golfers that have experienced it have been extremely complimentary about it.”

HARDY HOLES OUT FOR 59 AT ROYAL EASTBOURNE

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15-year-old boy unofficially broke the course record at Royal Eastbourne Golf Club last month, after shooting an 11-under par 59 on the 6,077-yard, par-70 layout.

Playing off the East Sussex club’s white tees, Joshua Hardy fired a remarkable gross score of 59, which was signed for handicap purposes, but did not count as a course record as it wasn’t achieved during an official club competition.

The youngster, who plays off a four handicap, started his stunning round with two pars, but then birdied the par-4 third, and then eagled both the par-5 fourth and par-5 fifth holes with chip-ins from

■ JOSHUA HARDY off the green. He then picked up shots at the sixth, and parred the seventh (stroke index 1), before shooting birdies at eight, nine, 11, 12, 14 and 17. His round could have been even better, but for a bogey on the par-three 18th.

Hardy, who is a member at nearby Eastbourne Downs Golf Club, missed the first eight weeks of the season due to glandular fever, but is clearly back to full fitness. He took up golf when he was just two years old, and his previous seven rounds at his home club were 71, 66, 66, 70, 69, 64, and 64. A delighted Joshua said: “Even though I finished on a disappointing note, this round far exceeded my expectations. I am really excited for the season ahead.”

NOBILITY ON AND OFF COURSE. OF COURSE. SPRING SUMMER 2016

He added: “Although it is ideal for giving lessons in the dry and warm when the weather outside isn’t good, it’s definitely a year-round facility where golfers can benefit from a private venue where they can experience the very latest swing technology, along with the knowledge and expertise of our team of PGA-qualified coaches.”

For a complete list of prices for coaching, club and ball fitting, or private hire, visit www.hever.co.uk or call 01732 700771.

[18] MAY 2016 | COURSE REVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

REDISCOVERING

RUSPER

■ THE PAR-4 10TH GETS THE BACK NINE OFF TO A STRONG START

Nick Bayly pays a long overdue return visit to RUSPER GOLF CLUB in West Sussex and finds a picture postcard of a parkland course and a new management team determined to reinvigorate this popular venue

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’m almost ashamed to admit that despite living only five miles from Rusper Golf Club, I’ve only played it once in the 15 years or so since I moved to the northern reaches of where West Sussex meets Surrey.

To be fair, being located in the leafy lanes a few miles north of Horsham, between the villages of Rusper and Newdigate, you’d have to be going there to find it, as it’s not the kind of course you stumble on by accident. This is, in essence, part of Rusper’s charm.

It’s is the very epitome of ‘The Hidden Gem’.

The course itself was built on a 90-acre parcel of rolling Surrey countryside that was bought by Tony Blunden from the Broadwood estate back in 1985.

Planning was granted for a 9-hole course in 1990, and after extensive work and investment the course opened to the public on August 1, 1992. In 1997, a further 110 acres of the Broadwood estate was secured, and by 2000 the course was opened as 18 holes, with much of the new nine set in mature woodland.

Despite having no track record in course design, Mr Blunden, who passed away earlier this year, did an extremely respectable job, carving out a delightful parkland track through what must once have been a densely wooded area. With extended views out to the North Downs, pretty water features and wooded glades, Rusper offers rural golf at its best, especially on my recent return visit, when the sun was out and the bluebells were in full bloom.

Having not played the course for close to a decade, it took a few holes to get my bearings, but after the gentle introduction of the opening two par fours, my hazy recollection of tree-lined fairways and small, tiered greens soon became reality, when faced with the second shot on the par-five fifth, a 522-yard hole which gently climbs up through the tree line to a tucked-away green.

Long and straight driving has never been one of my strengths, but it is essential if you are to score well here. At 6,724 yards off the back tees, it’s not a course for the feint hearted, although the forward yellow tees take it down to a manageable 6,400.

Back to my game, and it soon became apparent that the course gets tougher the further into the round you go. The par-5 fifth requires an accurate drive to open up the chance of a birdie, while the par4 sixth is one of those short, sharp doglegs where the

meatier part of it is the second shot if you’re not brave enough to take it over the trees off the tee.

The 188-yard 7th is the second of four longish short holes on the card – the 4th is 181, the 11th 206, and the 17th 183 – while the 8th – a 440-yard par four, begins a stretch of three holes that eats up over 1,400 yards of the card alone. The tee shot at eight demands a gentle draw to avoid a trip to the trees, while the fairway on the par-5 9th is about as straight and long as the main runway at Gatwick, planes from which rumble overhead at regular intervals.

I loved the 10th and felt the 11th was the best par three on the course – a tee shot over water to the split-level green surrounded by trees and rough behind and to the right. Back-to-back doglegs are on offer at 12 and 13, the latter being a 500-yard par five where two big hits will most likely find you still some way short of the putting surface.

The par-4 14th presents a sloping fairway over water then demands a long second shot with a tree-lined bank to the left and a water hazard to the right. The 15th and 16th are pretty straightforward par fours, while the uphill par-3 17th requires good club selection to find putting surface. The 396-yard 18th is a suitably demanding par-4 finish, with a ditch 50 yards short of the green keeping you honest with your approach.

At £25 for a weekday round (£20 after midday), and £15 if you only have time for nine, it represents truly excellent value, too. Seniors enjoy a 10% discount

■ VIEW THROUGH THE BLUEBELLS TO THE PAR-3 11TH

WITH EXTENDED VIEW TO THE NORTH DOWNS, PRETTY WATER FEATURES AND WOODED GLADES, RUSPER OFFERS RURAL GOLF AT ITS BEST

■ THERE’S NO MARGIN FOR ERROR ON THE 447-YARD PAR-4 8TH

on green fees, while youths (18-24) and juniors (U18) also enjoy savings of 20% and 40% on the green fees respectively.

Memberships are currently available across all categories, with annual fees set at £916 for 7-day, £716 for 5-day.

Off the course, facilities include a practice chipping green with bunker; a practice putting green; and a 14bay covered driving range., while a new fleet of buggies is available to hire for year-round use, as the course benefits from a network of buggy paths.

The club is currently undergoing significant investment following its return to family-run management at the beginning of April, with Clive and Sara Blunden overseeing renovations to the old clubhouse, with a new spike bar and kitchen, and a general smartening up of its appearance. As publicans – they also run the Royal Oak in Rusper – they also know a thing or two about hospitality, with a tasty selection of home-cooked food, as well as some great local Sussex ales on tap.

So if you’ve yet to discover the delights of Rusper, or like me, it’s been a while since you did, I can’t urge you strongly enough to beat a path to its door, where a warm welcome and a memorable golf course await.

For membership enquiries and tee time bookings call 01293 871871 or visit www.ruspergolfclub.co.uk.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[19]

BRYCE RECEIVES ‘OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION’ AWARD

F

ormer English Golf Union president Bill Bryce, who has spent over 40 years at the highest levels of golf administration, has received England Golf’s Gerald Micklem Award for his outstanding contribution to the game.

Bryce, who is a member at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club, was presented with the award by England Golf President Nigel Evans at the organisation’s annual general meeting.

“I feel honoured and delighted to receive this award, and to join such a distinguished list of former recipients,” said Bryce, who is 82. "Golf has been a huge part of my life, and it has given

me so much. A great deal of that is due to my involvement with the English Golf Union and England Golf, for which I am very grateful.”

Bryce, who was born in Glasgow, has been one of the most prominent figures in English golf for four decades, having been president of the former English Golf Union and, most recently, chairing the England Golf Partnership for ten years until his retirement last year.

But his contribution to the game extends far beyond England, as he has been a member of the R&A since 1974, chairing three of its committees, and has also

represented England on the European Golf Association council and been a member of its championship committee.

A member of the Scottish Boys' team in the early 1950s, Bryce joined Royal Mid-Surrey in 1960, when work took him to London. He played for Surrey during the 1970s, and was the RMS’s club champion in 1963 and 1974. He was also county captain for three years, going on to be county president from 1986 to 1988.

He represented Surrey on the EGU Council and was chairman of the championship and national coaching committees.

SCOTLAND BANKS MORE MENA TOUR MONEY

Z

ane Scotland eagled the first extra hole to win the Ras Al Khaimah

Classic in a three-way playoff at Tower Links Golf Club in the UAE on May 4.

The 33-year-old from London put his approach shot to within 15 feet and holed the ensuing putt at the par-5, 18th to seal his 11th title on the MENA Golf Tour, after finishing tied with Craig Hinton and former European Tour player Miles Tunnicliff at 10-under-par in regulation play.

“Obviously I’m delight to win another title on the tour -- and winning it in a playoff under pressure makes it even special,” said Scotland after receiving the winner’s cheque for $9,000.

“It was one of those days when I just couldn't build any momentum, because I wasn't making any putts. It was kind of boring golf. I knew I had to stay patient

■ ZANE SCOTLAND and focused on every shot, which I tried to do,” said Scotland, who carded a final round 70.

Starting the day one shot in front, Hinton also felt he just failed to summon his best golf when it mattered most.

“Basically, nothing went in and nothing went my way, I just scrambled to hold it together,” said the 27-year-old from

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Oxfordshire. “It’s my fourth runner-up finish on the MENA Tour and this one, in particular, will haunt me, as I led from

You choose.

the start to the playoff,” said Hinton, who joined the tour in 2013. “There is always hope for tomorrow. Hopefully, I will be able to get over the line in some other event on the tour this season, but this one definitely got away from me.”

Tunnicliff hit what he called a 'perfect shot' from the bunker on the first extra hole, but it took a hard bounce and landed in the lake. “Maybe I was a bit unlucky, but overall was very pleased with how I played this week," he said.

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[20] MAY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JONES FILLS MONTY’S SHOES AT GOLF FOUNDATION I

t was all change at the top of the Golf Foundation’s management team last month, as the charity formally welcomed a new president and new chairman.

Sandy Jones, chief executive of the PGA, has taken over the role of president from Colin Montgomerie, while Stephen Lewis, the former

GOLFER INJURED BY WAYWARD SHOT LOSES LANDMARK CASE

A

golfer who was hit on the head by a ball from a player's tee shot had a claim for damages against the club where the accident happened thrown out by a judge.

chief executive of Crown Golf, assumes the chairman’s role from Charles Harrison, who served the charity for seven years.

The appointments are seen as key for the nationally-recognised golf charity, which makes the benefits of golf available to young people.

Speaking at the Golf Foundation’s annual general meeting at Wentworth on April 28, Jones said: “This charity is all about helping the next generation of young players, so if I can help the Golf Foundation team through my experience in the game I’ll be delighted.”

Lewis added: “I feel very proud to have been chosen as the Golf Foundation’s new chairman. I passionately believe in the core values, aims and goals of the Golf Foundation and look to build on the excellent work and progress that Charles Harrison has delivered.

I am really keen to play a part in helping the next generation of players and will grab this unique opportunity to support the Golf Foundation and its highly motivated team.”

Golf Foundation chief executive Brendon Pyle said: “Everyone involved in our charity is delighted that in Sandy and Stephen we are being supported by two passionate golf people who share years of experience in the golf industry and in the sport at the highest level.

We also know that they care deeply about the future of the game and understand completely why this charity’s support of young people from all backgrounds and circumstances, from all walks of life, is so important.

Pyle also praised Colin Montgomerie for his tireless work to promote golf to the next generation during his five-year stint as president. “Colin has been an inspirational president for the Golf Foundation as this charity has sought to raise itself to a higher level in terms of enriching the lives of young people through golf. He has publicly championed HSBC Golf Roots at every opportunity and has always been delighted to roll up his sleeves and take on youngsters in Tri-Golf at public golf events, usually winning, but always with a smile. We are hugely grateful for his efforts.”

In what is being considered as a landmark ruling for clubs, 69-year-old Liam Gray lost his legal action against Workington Golf Club in Cumbria on the grounds that there was nothing that the club could have done to prevent the incident.

While standing on the club’s second green, Mr Gray was hit by a ball hit from the first tee some 220 yards away. The ball hooked over a copse of sixmetre high trees, before hiiting

Mr Gray and leaving him with head jnjuries and an increased risk of epilepsy.

Judge Catherine Howells, hearing the case at West Cumbria Court, said the accident, which took place in 2011, could not have been prevented from happening by the club. Judge Howells said: 'My sympathies are with the claimant, who sustained a significant injury. But he was unfortunate to have been hit

COPSEY CAPTURES GUILDFORD ALLIANCE

P

oult Wood professional David Copsey has won the 2015-2016 Guildford Alliance Order of Merit.

The Tonbridge-based pro bagged the most points from 11 tournaments held at some of the south east’s top clubs over the winter, including Hankley Common, The Berkshire, Worplesdon, RAC, West Hill, Woking, St Georges Hill, Liphook and Walton Heath.

Copsey pipped Kevin O’Connell (Purley Downs) to the title, with European Senior Tour stalwart Bob Cameron (Sundridge Park) taking third.

The end-of-season championship held over 36 holes at Walton Heath was won by Scott Graham (Purley Downs) with a two-under par total in very windy conditions, while the leading amateur was Phil Goodwin (Liphook) who, despite playing off a handicap of six, only dropped five shots.

by an errant ball, the trajectory of which would not reasonably have been foreseen and whose consequences could not have been prevented.”

Afterwards Mr Gray, who is still able to play golf, said: “When you suffer significant brain damage that affects your life and family, but the law deems you have lost the case, it tells you everything. Of course I am more nervous out on the course, but I had to take

a necessary first step back to my recovery, as I loved playing golf and looked forward to playing in my retirement.”

A spokesman for Workington Golf Club said: “The club takes its responsibility for health and safety very seriously, and we will continue to make a game of golf here as safe as possible.

However, golf is not without risks, which is known to all players of all abilities on any course."

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BISHOP CROWNED AT ESSENDON

T

oot Hill pro Mark Bishop took the top spot at the PGA East region’s second Qualifying School, courtesy of two fine rounds at Essendon Country Club.

Bishop, who is captain of the Essex PGA, fired scores of 68 and 72 to finish at four-under-par – three shots clear.

The 46 year old won the second card from this year’s two Qualifying Schools, with the top spot going to Chase Davis (Sprowston Manor), who won the first one at The Essex Golf & Country Club, where the scoring average was lower.

Also earning there cards were the trio who finished in a share of second at Essendon – Adam Pike (Brampton Park), Sam Willis (North Weald) and Lloyd Kennedy (Woolston Manor).

The first Order of Merit event is the Weston Homes Aldwickbury Park Classic.

PONT ROYAL GIVES GOODWOOD THE BOOT

NEWS | MAY 2016

[21]

ALTONWOOD COURSES REWARD LOYALTY

T

he Altonwood Group, which owns The Addington, Westerham, Woldingham, Surrey National and Godstone, has launched a new loyalty card scheme that enables visiting golfers to enjoy the lowest possible rates on green fees.

As well as savings on round of golf, the Altonwood Loyalty Card, which is free, offers

a wide range of other discounts and services, including reduced rates on range balls and buggy hire, and seasonal promotions, while 10-day advanced tee time booking rights are also included.

Golfers can sign up to the loyalty card scheme by visiting www.altonwoodgroup.co.uk and

completing an online application form.

Altonwood’s Director of Golf, Simon Hodsdon, said: “We are very excited at providing golfers in the area with opportunity to enjoy the Altonwood experience, and we look forward to welcoming previous visitors and new golfers to our courses in the near future.”

PETERS POCKETS ROEHAMPTON TITLE

T

he biannual match between Pont Royal Golf Club in France and Golf At Goodwood in Sussex ended in a win for the home side, after a keenly-fought contest held at Pont Royal.

Played over three days at the Seve Ballesterosdesigned course in Provence, the match was all square going into the final days’ singles, only for Pont Royal, led by captain David Payne, to win six of the eight singles matches. In this unique competition, the losers get to keep the Golden Boot trophy, which will be played for again at Goodwood in September. Goodwood captain Glyn Johns said: "I could not ask for a better team to represent the spirit of the competition and, of course, Goodwood."

E

uropean Tour player Alex Peters captured the coveted Roehampton Gold Cup after shooting rounds of 71 and 70 at Roehampton Club on April 14-15.

The 22-year-old second season pro from Shropshire weathered tough conditions at the south west London club, where torrential rain had cancelled all practice rounds, and left the parkland course playing very long.

Despite the winter-like conditions, the 89th renewal of the tournament attracted a high-class international field with players coming from all over England, Wales, Scotland and, for the first time, Belgium and the USA. Sisters Samantha and Annabell Fuller represented the hopes of the home club, but it was Peters who took the spoils, drawing on all her experience to finish on 141 – four shots ahead of Devon pro Jessica Bradley and Belgian pro Laurence Herman.

Kent player Sharna Dutrieux from Wrotham Heath was the leading amateur after rounds of 71 and 76, while defending champion Hannah Ralph, from Cowdray Park, put up a good fight with a score of 148 (76,72), which was five shots lower than her winning score last year. The low round of the tournament went to Surrey amateur Katherine O'Connor from West Byfleet, with a record three-under par 69 in the afternoon.

[22] MAY 2016 | INTERVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

STANDING TALL

CHRIS WOOD talks about his long road from amateur sensation to Ryder Cup hopeful, and the difficult decisions he’s had to make in order to get his career back on track

W

hen Chris Wood tried to enter the United States for the first time in 2009, he was escorted to a detention room and left to stew for two hours. The immigration officers wouldn’t believe he was a professional golfer on his way to the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Wood’s soft, rambling Bristol accent, which sounds like a surf dude speaking at half speed, probably didn’t help his cause. And he doesn’t exactly fit the American profile of an athlete. While his wispy ginger beard and lanky frame, he looked more like Shaggy from Scooby Do as he lollopped through security in flip-flops. But Wood took it all in his lengthy, laid-back stride. “I remember being taken away by a sheriff, quite an intimidating looking guy,” Wood says. “I was 21 and on my own. I didn’t really know what to do. But it’s part of travelling I suppose,” he grins.

Fast forward seven years, and Wood’s 6ft 5-inch frame has become an increasingly familiar sight in America, as he reaps the rewards of breaking into the world’s top 50 for the first time, with appearances at Bay Hill, the WGC Match Play in Texas, and last month’s Masters, providing clear indications that this is a man whose career is in the ascendency.

At 28, Wood is one of a growing band of young Englishmen, headed up by Masters champion Danny Willett, 2015 Race to Dubai runner up Andy Sullivan, and young upstart Matt Fitzpatrick, that are at the vanguard of a new generation of home-grown talent. And while the likes of Rose, Westwood, Donald, Poulter and Casey are far from ready for their pipes and slippers, it’s heartening to know that Team England has some golfing firepower waiting in the wings.

Currently ranked 46th in the world, and residing in a handy seventh place in the European Ryder Cup points list, Wood’s star is definitely on the rise, but for someone so tall, it has taken a surprisingly long time for him to become accustomed to his lofty place in the golfing order.

Evidence of Wood’s low professional esteem came at January’s EurAsia Cup – a team match play that is designed to give Europe’s Ryder Cup captain an early sighter at potential Ryder Cup players. Despite being an automatic selection for Darren Clarke’s team, Wood still found himself slightly overawed by the pedigree of his more experienced partner. “I played with Westy [Lee Westwood] in the fourballs. He did not miss a shot, absolute machine. I think he was four under par, but I was five under, so I had the better score – yet I felt so out of place playing with him in that setting. He was one of my idols. I was on FaceTime with a mate the night before, and I said to him: ‘Have you seen the draw? I’ve got Westwood.’ I still couldn’t believe I was playing with him as my partner after watching him for 15 years, and idolising him. I put too much pressure on myself, and it really knocked my confidence. I think I carried that over a bit. But the golf is there, no doubt about it.”

A contemporary of both Willett and Sullivan on the amateur circuit over a decade ago, Wood says that his rivals’ rapid rise up the ranks has provided a spur for his desire to take his own game, which has suffered several injury-led setbacks, to the next level.

“I roomed with Danny on trips abroad. We were the only ones in the gym first thing, no one else, and last to leave the range. Looking back we were the two with the right attitude and approach. He certainly spurred me on, and I suppose I did him. I played county matches with Sully – he was Warwickshire, I was Gloucester. Every year we seemed to be drawn together and it was always tough. He thrives on confidence, as you can see now. That generation from my amateur days are now coming on really strong, a changing of the guard if you like.”

While Willett came away from Augusta with the green jacket, Wood was able to draw plenty of positives from his second trip to the Masters, following his less than spectacular debut in 2010, where he missed the cut. Indeed, following a third round 74, Wood was tied 16th and well placed to mount a Sunday afternoon charge. Sadly a triplebogey seven at the fourth hole stopped the Bristol man’s final round in its tracks, and the resulting seven-over-par 79 saw him slip down the field into a share of 42nd – scant reward for his patience over the first three days.

Still, it was a significant improvement on his first visit in 2010, where, by his own admission, he was ‘winging it with nil expectation’. “I birdied the first, sticking a 9-iron to six inches with my approach, and I was thinking ‘this is all right’,” he recalls. “Then I thought I hit a decent tee shot at the second, a fraction left maybe, but in good shape. The ball caught a branch and went into the trees. I was cooked from there, took an eight, and it was all downhill.”

It was the definitive Masters' learning experience. “I played with Ryan Palmer and Larry Mize, who was 30-40 yards behind me off the tee, but on the greens, goodness me. It was my second year as a pro, so I was very inexperienced. I learned a lesson that day. And not just on the course. I got told off for using my mobile in the wrong place. I was eating lunch whil texting my fiancée. I was too in awe of it, too inexperienced, but now I’m a different player.

“This time around I was much more relaxed. My girlfriend Bethany came out and caddied for me in the par-three competition, and I knew a lot more about where to go, what to do, and generally felt a lot more comfortable about the course.”

With another Major safely tucked in the memory bank,

■ WOOD'S GIRLFRIEND CADDIED AT THE PAR 3 EVENT AT AUGUSTA

I LEARNED A LESSON THAT DAY. AND NOT JUST ON THE COURSE. I GOT TOLD OFF FOR USING MY MOBILE IN THE WRONG PLACE. I WAS SAT EATING LUNCH TEXTING MY FIANCÉE. I WAS TOO IN AWE OF IT, TOO INEXPERIENCED, BUT NOW I’M A DIFFERENT PLAYER.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INTERVIEW | MAY 2016

[23]

CHRIS WOOD BY NUMBERS AGE: 28 LIVES: BRISTOL TURNED PRO: 2008 WORLD RANKING: 51ST RACE TO DUBAI 2016: 10TH RACE TO DUBAI 2015: 17TH EVENTS PLAYED: 193 WINS: QATAR MASTERS 2013, LYONESS OPEN 2015 CAREER EARNINGS: €6.5M SCORING AVERAGE: 70.32 DRIVING DISTANCE: 288 YARDS FAIRWAYS HIT: 63%

Wood believes he is finally moving in the right direction since recovering from a serious wrist injury that saw him ruled out of action for five months at the beginning of last season, and only returning to the fray last March.

Though he boasts a not inconsiderable three European Tour victories – the most recent of which came at last July’s Lyoness Open – there is a sense with Wood of a career that has edged along at a rate incommensurate with his abilities.

A session in the psychologist’s chair of Ryder Cup veteran Thomas Bjorn earlier this year helped crack the paradox.

“Phil Kenyon, my putting coach, was talking to Thomas in Dubai, and said I had not had the best of starts to the season, would he have a chat with me. Thomas said that most of my problem is I don’t believe I’m as good a player as I actually am, and he was spot on. I don’t know if that is my personality or not, but you have to get over that. I know that now. There is a real opportunity to train on. I sense I’m coming into a new maturity. I’ve been striving for top 50 for years, now I’m there I have to believe I can compete against the top guys in big events.”

Perhaps his split from long-time coach and confidante, Paul Mitchell, last year was a first step in that direction. There is a deep sensitivity still about the separation, but Wood felt he needed a new set of eyes on his swing if he were to progress, and in May last year he turned to Lee Westwood’s coach, Mike Walker.

“I play my best golf with a fade, but I was struggling with a pull hook for a while. There was no sign of improvement, so I had to make the change and it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do because Paul was my best mate. Working with Mike has cemented my rise to the top 50. I haven’t just sneaked in.”

Since taking up with Walker, the results have been as quick as they have been impressive. A third-place finish at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa secured the 28 year old's spot at the Masters, and he preceded that with fifth at the Turkish Airlines Open, second at the Portugal Masters in October, and fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Links in the same month. That came on top of victory at the Lyoness Open in Austria and fourth at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Ultimately the technical stuff will take care of itself. It is the mental aspect that Wood needs to harden, and to that end he treasures his one and only pairing with Tiger Woods at the 2013 US PGA Championship, the latter's last year as world No.1.

“Henrik’s [Stenson] caddie said to me before we teed off, ‘Make sure you learn, make sure you watch him.’ He turned a 78 into a 68 that day. That was the most impressive thing for me, not how he hit the ball. Inside 100 yards he was phenomenal. I chunked a two-iron off the first tee, pulled an 8-iron into the trees, and got up and down for par. I then went birdie, birdie, birdie. Hopefully he thought I could play a bit.

He was so high up on a pedestal, untouchable. I had never even spoken to the bloke. I was there to learn, and he was brilliant to play with. Early in the round I spoke to his caddie, Joe LaCava, to break the ice a bit. ‘How long you been out here, Joe?’ ‘Twenty seven years,’ he said. ‘Blimey, you were out before I was born.’ That got a laugh. Tiger hits it to eight feet at the first, the par-3. I did the same, a little bit inside him. He came over picked up my club and said: ‘Man, these Mizuno guys make good clubs.’ I’m thinking: ‘This is Tiger having the craic with me, bloody hell.’ Now I have to make the mental adjustments. My journey is taking a little longer, but I know I’ll get where I want to be.”

Wood has had to have plenty of patience and self-belief over the last 18 months, during which time he has been plagued by a bulging disk in his back, and only now is back to something resembling full fitness. At 6ft 5inches, Wood is among the tallest players on tour, and has always been troubled by his back, resulting in hours spent on the physio’s table and many more in the gym trying to strengthen his body to meet the demands of the modern golf swing.

Currently ranked 10th in the Race to Dubai, Wood has with a genuine shot at making Darren Clarke’s team, but like most players, he's concentrating on keeping on chalking up good scores, rather than focusing on the future. "The Ryder Cup is a real ambition for me and I've put myself in a good position by performing so consistently this season," he says. "But it's all about continuing to perform consistently."

Wood’s sole Ryder Cup experience came as a 14-year-old spectator during Friday’s matches at the Belfry in 2002. “I was completely inspired by everyone,” he says, after having watched Westwood and Garcia beat first Duval and Love in fourballs and then Woods and Calcavecchia in foursomes, “and I would love to be apart of that.”

His time may come soon.

[24] MAY 2016 | COLUMN

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

After almost catching frostbite in Kent, Ross returns to action for an all too fleeting foray to Morocco, where a lack of match practice proves his undoing

THE PERILS of being a professional golfer based in the UK hit me last month, with ice having to be scraped off the car windscreen before I could head off to practice on more than one occasion.

Late April and early May is a time when many people are often heading to the seaside in shorts and sunhats, not digging out their thermals and gloves again, so it was certainly not what was required as I tried to build up my match practice ahead of a return to competitive action on the European Tour.

My sole outing on the golf course last month was to the London Club in Kent, where a round over the superb Heritage Course coincided with a snow flurry, so we nipped around 18 holes in double-quick time before seeking shelter in the warmth of the clubhouse.

Having been practising and competing out in South Africa during recent winters, it’s easy to forget how long winters can drag on for here, and you can see why so many pros choose to base themselves out in Florida or Dubai, where conditions are much more suited to meaningful practice, and courses are rarely closed for frost!

I had an artificial green installed in my back garden in 2008, which has four or five holes and a practice bunker. It’s got plenty of undulations and is good for keeping my eye in when I’m at home, but there’s really

no substitute for the real thing, while having a bit of sun on your back always helps oil the mechanics of the golf swing.

Sadly there wasn’t a great deal of sun around for my first foray back on tour in six weeks at the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco, which was also a bit surprising for North Africa in May. Still, it was warm – although not warm enough to heat up my putter, which felt a little cold after so much time off.

Although I’m back to full fitness following my recent health problems, I was definitely a little short on match fitness, and that showed up in my scores.

I didn’t feel like I’d played poorly enough to register a 78 and a 75, but they were the numbers I ended up with, and it was no surprise to find myself missing the cut by four of five shots. Tee to green I was ok, but my putting definitely let me down, and it’s something I am going to have to improve on fast if I’m to move up the leaderboards.

Although I won at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam last year on the MENA Tour, it was playing much softer this time around. The rough was longer, and the fairways slightly narrower, as you’d expect for a European Tour event, so scoring was a lot tougher, as the winning total of five-under showed.

Still, although a disappointing result, it felt good to be back out there again, and

■ ROSS IS TAKING PART IN US OPEN QUALIFYING AT WALTON HEATH ON MAY 30

to get the competitive juices flowing, even if for only two rounds.

I’ve got a run of important tournaments coming up in the next few weeks, with the Irish Open at the K Club, then the Nordea Masters in Sweden, and then possibly the Lyoness Open in Austria.

I’m also down to play in the US Open qualifier at Walton Heath on the Monday after the BMW PGA Championship, so if I bang in a few good rounds there I could be on my way to Oakmont.

Walton Heath is almost a home track for me, and I know the Old and the New courses like the back of my hand, so hopefully I can do myself justice there. I’ve had some good

results at US Open qualifying in the past, finishing joint top with Ross Fisher in 2008, which took me to Torrey Pines, where Tiger won his last Major. I’ve entered the last three years, and remember losing out in play-off for the last spot to Jeev Milka Singh one time, and missing out by a single shot in 2014. There are 10 spots available there, so it’s quite a good percentage gamble from a field of 80 or so.

Playing in the Majors is understandably not my main priority right now, given my current position on the Race to Dubai rankings, but If I make it to Oakmont I’ll give it a good crack. After all, what’s there to lose?

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www.golfplan.co.uk ††Premium based on a 70 year golfer taking second hand cover for £1250 Golf equipment and paying by Direct Debit, price includes a 20% year 1 discount. *£1953 – refers to the average amount of equipment cover taken by Golfplan customers during 2015. **Terms and Conditions for the Free Golf Ball Offer • This offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion • Only one free gift per policy holder • The balls will be dispatched 28 days after the policy has been incepted (Please allow 2-3 days for delivery) • This offer applies to new business policies only • Golfplan reserve the right to withdraw, amend or replace the offer without prior notification • This notice is an advertisement on behalf of Golfplan • No cash alternative is available • This offer will run until the 1st September 2016 Please note: †Terms and conditions apply, for full details of policy cover/benefit limitations and exclusions, please refer to our policy wording and summary of cover. A copy of which is available to view at www.golfplan.co.uk or upon request. Calls to 0333 numbers are charged at ‘normal’ rates from landlines. They are also normally included in call allowances on mobiles. Golfplan International Insurance is a trading name of Canopius UK Specialty Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 00743268, Registered Office: 1st Floor, 1 Kings Court Business Park, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1JR. Canopius UK Specialty Limited forms part of the Sompo Canopius group of companies. ® PGA is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited.

GP M062 03/16

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016 [25]

GOODWOOD ACE EARNS GLORIA CHANCE

DAME LAURA TAKES ON PARLIAMENTARY ROLE

G

D

olf At Goodwood junior Ethan Stride struck a hole-in-one as he teamed up with dad Nathan to claim a place in the Grand Final of the Gloria Hotels & Resorts UK Pairs' Golf Championship 2016.

The 11-year-old from Kirdford in West Sussex holed his five-iron at the Downs course's 145-yard 17th to fire his team to a winning betterball score of 46 Stableford points.

And it turned out to be a vital moment of magic from the 19-handicapper, as

runners-up Martin and Nicky Vanstone narrowly missed out on countback after also finishing on 46 points.

It now means the father and son duo will take their place among the other regional winners at Stoke Park in September, where a luxury golf holiday to the five-star Gloria Hotels & Resorts in Turkey is up for grabs.

Ethan, who already has two aces to his name, but none in a competition, said: "It's funny, because I had been talking about hitting a hole-in-one with my dad that

morning. I just hit it perfectly, it rolled up to the hole, and went in. It was an amazing feeling and everyone was congratulating me after the round. Now I can't wait to play at Stoke Park, and hopefully win the holiday."

ame Laura Davies has accepted an invitation to become Honorary President of the Parliamentary Golf Group, which was set up earlier this year to represent the interests of golf at a legislative level. In accepting the role, the 52-year-old former world No.1 said: “I am honoured to accept the Honorary Presidency of the All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group. The group’s deliberately broad aims and independent role in the sport mean they can tackle issues others cannot. I am delighted to accept the role and look forward to working with them.”

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, commented; “I am delighted to welcome Dame Laura Davies as our first ever Honorary President. What she has achieved in the game is phenomenal and it is our intention to support both her work and hear from her where she feels we can support golf through Parliament. My Parliamentary colleagues and I are very much looking forward to working with her.”

KEY UNLOCKS PGA ASSISTANT AWARD

H

arriet Key, an assistant PGA professional at Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, has been named the Ladies European Tour Female Assistant of the Year.

The 27-year-old was recognised for her achievement at the annual PGA Graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham on April 22, where she also finished third in the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year awards, which was won by Keir McNicoll from Gullane Golf Club.

Key picked up the Beverly Lewis Trophy and a cheque for £1,750 for winning the female assistant’s award, to go with £1,000 for finishing third in the main awards.

The PGA training programme, encompassing the three year Foundation Degree, was founded more than 50 years ago and covers all aspects of golf including business, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament

• 2016 Open Championship Packages

■ HARRIET KEY (RIGHT) WITH BEVERLY LEWIS AND LET DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND MEMBERSHIP MIKE ROUND

organisation, sports science and sports psychology.

Speaking after the ceremony, Key said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the LET award and finish third overall. It’s nice to know that the hard work has paid off.”

She added: “I have really enjoyed the last three years of studying, particularly sports science, the coaching and the residential, which I always looked forward to. The pros at Moor Park have been brilliant in supporting me throughout that time, and it’s a great place to work with some fantastic facilities.”

She added: “I’ve been coaching since I was 18 and knew from an early stage that it was a career path that I wanted to follow.

I had got down to a plus-one handicap as an amateur, and played for the county. I enjoyed the team element, but knew when I turned professional that I wanted to coach rather than play.”

David Cook, chief executive at Moor Park Golf Club, said that the whole was delighted with Key’s success. “We are immensely proud of Harriet and all her achievements. She is an integral part of the team here at Moor Park and many of our members’ and visitors benefit from her passion for coaching.”

• Tee times on the best links golf courses in the world including The Old Course, Kingsbarns, Muirfield and The Renaissance Club • Access to guaranteed tee times at The Old Course, St Andrews • Accommodation ranging from 4/5 star hotels, private country estates and seaside B&B’s • Airport meet and greet and daily transfers with your own Muirfield Executive Travel concierge team leader • Muirfield Travel’s fleet of luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles to transport clients in comfort and style • Non-golf activities including private whisky tasting, stalking and fly fishing • Peace of mind with 24/7 support from the team before, during and after the tour • Strong reputation with past clients including the multiple PGA tour winner Brandt Snedeker, Stewart Cink and the current Open Champion Zach Johnson • US Masters and Ryder Packages available in exclusive private homes or luxury hotels

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[26] MAY 2016 | NEWS

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ROYAL ASHDOWN REBRANDS WEST COURSE TO MARK NEW CHAPTER IN ITS HISTORY

STEWART SECURES KENT LADIES' TITLE Nicole Stewart from Chart Hills won the Kent County Ladies Championship after beating Ainee O’Connor 5&3 in the final held at Wildernesse Club in Sevenoaks. Stewart came through four rounds of match play to claim the prestigious title, with wins over Laura Cork (2up), Fiona McCann (1up) and Marcie Smith (2up). The Kent County Senior Ladies Championship was held at the same time, with Nikki Bell from Nizels winning the title after beating Julie Grey 3&1 in the final.

ROWAN IN GRAND FORM Surrey's Samantha Rowan has led 10 qualifiers into the England Golf Grand Medal Final to find the country's champion woman medal player. Rowan, from the Drift Golf Club, won the South Region final at Blackmoor with a net 70. The other qualifiers for the Grand Medal Final at Frilford Heath in August are Mandy Hiscocks (Banstead Downs); Jacquie Cawley (Windlesham); Sally Brown (Ifield); Kaylin Screene (Croham Hurst) Lynne Bray (Dummer); Colleen Alton (Nevill); Susan Crossen (Bognor Regis); Heather Kitson (Cranleigh); and Susan Eccles (Rye).

R

oyal Ashdown Forest Golf Club’s West Course is to be renamed Ashdown West as part of a series of developments at the historic Sussex club.

The Forest Row-based club boasts two layouts, the 6,537-yard championship Old Course, which has hosted numerous topflight amateur and professional events, including the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play in 2011 and this year’s McGregor Trophy for U16 Boys, and the 5,600-yard West Course, which enjoys a separate 70-strong membership, under the name Anderida.

Anderida was established in 1985 and has used the West Course as its home from the outset.

Voted Britain’s best course under 6,000 yards, the West Course was originally laid out as a 9-hole course in 1883, but was extended to 18 in 1932 by architect Stafford Hotckin, who designed the eponymous course at Woodhall Spa. “The launch coincides with a number of exciting initiatives to improve facilities and the members’ experience,’ said club secretary Ed Richardson, who is one of England’s most successful amateur golfers. “Significant investment is being made to enhance the course over the next few years.

When I first laid eyes on it, I felt like an antique

R&A OFFERS FREE CAMPING AT OPEN Golf fans attending The Open at Royal Troon from July 14-17 will be able to book free accommodation at a new camping village being run by the R&A. Located 500 yards from the club at Marr Rugby Club, it will offer two, four and six person pre-pitched tents, along with inflatable beds for each guest. There will be 500 places available each night, with the facility set to open from July 10-17. There will also be catering and shower facilities on site, as well as free parking. Adult guests without children must be under 25. To register, visit www.theopen.com/camping.

dealer who had found a gem at a car boot sale. It needs polishing and loving, but it’s fundamentally perfect for today’s golfer. It cuts through a beautiful forest, with generous fairways, and isn’t too long.

It has pained me to see just so many new courses over the last 20 years built that were too difficult for the average player. We all like a challenge, but fundamentally we play to have fun, and that is what Ashdown West offers.”

As well as a new clubhouse and excellent practice facilities, there is also a well-stocked pro shop run

by Sussex-born PGA Professional Tim Cowley, who said: "We currently run a several academy groups for beginners, as well as intermediate golfers looking for tips and pointers within groups to help them improve. The opportunity to be part of

what Ashdown West has to offer is great news for everyone, and I can't wait to share it.”

Anderida’s honorary secretary, John Tissington, echoed those sentiments: “I am really pleased with the developing relationship between ourselves and Ashdown West, and look forward to welcoming new members in the coming months and years. Fellow members and I enjoy the friendly atmosphere of our regular roll ups but, with a full competition calendar, there is plenty to offer the more competitive player.

There’s a lovely spirit to the club and we are very proud of its past, and look forward to its future.”

Memberships at Ashdown West are available from July 1, with monthly subscriptions rates set at £20 for juniors, £40 for seniors; five-day at £46.50, and seven-day at £65.

WHITGIFT IN CHARGE AT REIGATE HEATH

W

■ DIANE BAILEY, PRESIDENT OF THE LADIES GOLF UNION, AND A MEMBER OF REIGATE HEATH, PRESENTED THE WINNERS WITH THEIR PRIZES

hitgift won the inaugural Southern Schools Invitational, held at Reigate Heath Golf Club in Surrey, after scratch players Alfie Fox and Owen Richardson combined to score 28 Stableford points over the testing 9-hole course.

Attracting a full field of 44 competitors representing 22 teams of both boys and girls from 17 schools throughout the south, the new event atrracted ed some of the most talented young golfers in the UK, some with handicaps as low as plus-three.

The pupils from the Croydon-based Whitgift School

took the title on countback from rivals Wellington College, represented by Daniel List and Lucas Becht.

However, Wellington gained revenge in the girls’ tournament, with Harriet Allsebrook and Izzy Holmes bagging 43 points off scratch against a special girls’ ‘bogey’ card to beat Reigate Grammar’s Chloe and Charlotte Bader.

The girls’ handicap event was won with a score of 57 points by Guildford High School’s girls team.

The boys’ handicap section was won by Ravenscote Junior School.

MONDAY M ADNESS from £87.50 per person

Includes coffee and bacon roll, one round on the High Course and a three course meal. Phone 01923 721653 to book.

Offer available only on Mondays (excluding bank holidays) and subject to availability. Minimum groups of 12.

Moor Park Golf Club, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 1QN enquiries@moorparkgc.co.uk www.moorparkgc.co.uk

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[27]

MCGUIRK SHARES THE SPOILS AT PRINCE’S

DESIGNERS GET BEHIND

POP-UP GOLF COURSE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE A

crazy golf course featuring holes created by some of the UK’s leading artists and designers is being planned for Trafalgar Square in central London later this year.

The pop-up course, designed as part of this year’s London Design Festival in September, will feature a series of holes each created by a group of artists and designers including Mark Wallinger and Sir Paul Smith, as well as renowned architect Zaha Hadid, who died suddenly last month aged 62.

Hadid’s design will feature trademark curves on two levels and will snake between Trafalgar Square’s lions. Sir Paul Smith will transform the steps from the National Gallery with different coloured stripes. Other holes include a maze designed by Wallinger, and a cross-section of a giant pigeon where players will have to hit the ball through its gut.

Festival director Ben Evans said: “Trafalgar Square is quite a challenging public space, so you need to find something that engages a wide group of people. We want them to stop and say ‘Wow, what’s that?’ It will be poignant because of Zaha’s death, but I think what she’s done is stunning. She has done a number of things for the festival over the years, and the company is keen to ensure all of the projects that were in development go ahead.

For us, this is an opportunity to celebrate her work.”

The course is the latest in a line of installations set up in the square for the festival, including a giant chess set and a robotic assembly line. A campaign has been launched on the Kickstarter website to raise the money for the course, which is set to open from September 16-22.

Treat Yourself...

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P

rince’s Rob McGuirk, Tim Milford and Dan Smythe all shot cards of two-under-par 70 at Prince’s to share the honours at the RIP It For Derek Memorial ProAm, held to celebrate the memory of the late Derek Barbour, Prince’s PGA Head Professional from 19982006.

Braving windy and very wintery weather around the Open qualifying course, the trio of 70s edged out Richard Wallis’s 71.

The three players went about their 70s in very different fashions.

McGuirk was one-over-par at the turn, but turned things right around on the back nine. He got two shots back at the 10th and 11th, and added one more birdie at the 16th to finish with 70. Milford notched up six birdies, but offset them with four bogeys, while Sussex newcomer Smythe (Horsham Golf), who started on

the ninth hole, opened strongly with a birdie on the 12th, but then had a run of six pars. Two more birdies came at the first and the second, but a dropped shot at the ninth, his penultimate hole, to share the spoils with McGuirk and Milford.

McGuirk, who was recently appointed general manager at Prince’s, was more than happy with the result. “It’s a great pleasure to host this event, and it’s good to see that my extra time in the office is not affecting my game too much! We are striving at Prince’s to produce a top-class facility, and with the course in such good shape in April, it will be in fantastic condition for both the PGA Kent Open Championship in a few weeks’ time, and later in the year when Prince’s welcomes the R&A for the St Andrews and Jacques Leglise Trophies.”

...more than just a golf club

Chislehurst Golf Club, founded in 1894 with the course

designed by Harry Colt, is set within 70 acres of beautiful parkland in the heart of Chislehurst, only 11 miles south east of Central London.

The jewel in the crown is the magnificent 300 year old

Clubhouse, Camden Place, which was for a while during the 1870s the home of Napoleon III and his family.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of our rich history.

Chislehurst Golf Club Camden Place, Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5HJ Tel: 020 8467 6798 www.chislehurstgolfclub.co.uk thesecretary@chislehurstgolfclub.co.uk

[28] MAY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UNDER NEW STARTER'S ORDERS AT TROON T

he R&A has appointed two new starters for The Open Championship, who will announce the players on the first tee at the 145th Open at Royal Troon.

David Lancaster will become The Open’s official starter, announcing the world’s best players as they begin their rounds on the historic Ayrshire links, while Matt Corker will provide support during the several hours that Lancaster sends players off on each of the championship days.

The pair will replace Ivor Robson, who retired at St Andrews last year, after serving as official starter for more than four decades.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to become the official starter,” said Lancaster, who is a member at Cumberwell Park Golf Club near Bath. “The Open is one of the most prestigious events in world sport and I have long

■ DAVID LANCASTER AND MATT CORKER WILL BE ON STARTER'S DUTY AT THE OPEN

been inspired by its heritage and the tremendous performances of the golfing greats over the years.

Matt and I are very much looking forward to playing a part in history by introducing the players on the first tee.”

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, the R&A’s Executive Director of Championships, said: “David and Matt have a wealth of experience in presenting to audiences of all sizes and we are delighted that

‘TRUMPIFIED’ TURNBERRY READY FOR RELAUNCH

D

onald Trump promised to make Turnberry ‘bigger and better’ after he bought it back in 2013, and the US Presidential candidate seems to have been good as his word after the first pictures of the new-look five-star resort, which he calls ‘his baby’, began to emerge ahead its official reopening on June 1.

Trump has spent over £200 million on a radical redevelopment of the 110-year old Ayrshire resort, which has included a major redesign of the iconic Ailsa Course, host of eight Open Championships, and a similarly ambitious renovation of the iconic hotel that overlooks the links.

From gold taps to fine Italian marble, the

Trump touch is in evidence everywhere you look inside the hotel. That attention to detail includes 476 new windows, 315 chandeliers, 36,000sq ft of marble tiling, and a mile and a half of brand new kerb stones laid around the resort. Every bed is made from hand-carved mahogany, with gold leaf detail as a finishing touch.

So seriously has Trump take Turnberry’s rebuild that he has relocated his top

they will be announcing the players on the first tee, beginning this year at Royal Troon. “We were looking for starters who would be comfortable performing in front of both the thousands of spectators on site and the millions around the world watching at home. David and Matt were recommended to us for their expertise in this field and when we met it became clear that they would be an excellent fit for this role.”

construction advisor, Andrew Billick, from New York to live in a rented property in Ayr. Billick, who has worked on some of Trump’s most prestigious properties around the globe, and has been on site since 2014, overseeing a team of up to 300 construction workers. And with all everyday building materials sourced locally, plenty of money has been plunged back into the Ayrshire economy.

“This is a huge project," he says, "and every day has its challenges, but we’re on schedule and that’s what matters. It’s not a case of Mr Trump wanting to rip the place apart like some people are saying. He has always said if anything can be saved, he wants to do that.”

But a slew of stunning new arrivals, anchored by a 660-seater ballroom, which opens in July, will inevitably change the Turnberry landscape forever.

General manager Ralph Porciani said: “I’ve long had a vision for a ballroom looking out over Ailsa Craig - where else can you get a view like that? Mr Trump has come in and made it happen. It will genuinely be one of the best facilities of its kind anywhere in the world.”

Overnight stays at the resort, including a round of golf on the Ailsa course, a three-course dinner, and a full Scottish breakfast, will start from £585 per person.

Society days in style... by the sea!

Society days in style... by the sea!

We are offering some great Society and Golf Day packages.

HUMPHREYS FLIES HOME AT FAIRHAVEN

E

nglish U14 girls’ champion Lily May Humphreys bagged the biggest win of her career with an eight-shot victory in the Fairhaven Trophy.

Humphreys, from Channels in Essex, was one-under par-in the 72-hole international championship for U18s at the Lancashire venue.

The runner-up was Norfolk’s Amelia Williamson, with Ireland’s Annabel Wilson in third place. The championship was played in challenging conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds playing havoc with scores on the first and last days. “it’s a really big tournament, and I would never have thought I would win it,” said Humphreys, who celebrated her 14th birthday last month and trains with an England Golf U16 regional squad. “I just wanted to do well, but when I saw where I was after the first round, I thought I had a chance to win. I was really happy with the way I played, I was very consistent and my strategy of staying out of fairway bunkers worked. You just couldn’t move the ball forward from them, and it was a guaranteed bogey. Thankfully the greenside bunkers weren’t so punishing.”

Humphreys, who is a member of Hinstlesham Golf Club in Suffolk, opened with a two-over-par 77 – three off the lead – but subsequent rounds of 75, 73 took her one clear of the field after the third round, when her score included a magical spell of birdie, par, birdie, eagle. A final round 74 saw her finish clear eights shots of Williamson, who closed with an 81.

Humphreys played for England in last season’s U16 girls’ match against Switzerland and already this season she’s been third in the U16 spring championship at Hawkstone Park and has had top tens in two women’s scratch events.

Her next target is the English U16 girls’ open championship at The Nottinghamshire in July.

B BO UO

GK GN I O NF AAVTA20ESW OO IL1A5BPR WR 2016 LEICES!

To celebrate the opening of our new £1.7m clubhouse we are offering some great Society and Golf Day packages.

PAR PAR ■ Full English Breakfast + Coffee

■ 18■holes Full English Breakfast + Coffee ■ 18 £24.00 ppholes (Midweek) £24.00 pp (Midweek) £27.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols) £27.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

EAGLE EAGLE ■ Full English Breakfast + Coffee

Full English Breakfast + Coffee ■ 18■Holes ■ 18 Holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu ■ Selection from Society lunch menu £31.50 pp (Midweek) £31.00 pp (Midweek) £34.50 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols) £34.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols) All society packages can be tailored to meet your own specifipackages cations. Minimum people.

All society can be 12 tailored to meet Please callown the specifications.

Pro Shop on 01323 890139. your Minimum 12 people.

Please call the Pro Shop on 01323 890139.

BIRDIE ■ Coffee BIRDIE & Bacon Roll

■ 18■Holes Coffee & Bacon Roll ■ 18 Holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu ■ Selection from Society lunch menu £28.00 pp (Midweek) £28.00 pp (Midweek) £31.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols) £31.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

ALBATROSS ALBATROSS ■ Coffee & Bacon Roll

■ Coffee ■ 9/18 holes & Bacon Roll ■ 9/18 holes ■ Selection from Society lunch menu Selection from Society lunch menu ■ 18■holes ■ 18 holes ■ Selection from Society dinner menu ■ Selection from Society dinner menu £45.00. pp (Midweek) £44.50. pp (Midweek) £48.00 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols) £47.50 pp (Weekend & Bank Hols)

WINT WARMEERR

The View at Seaford Head Golf Course Breakfast offers more than just or occasions. lunch golfing

+

Available for weddings, 18and holes parties business meetings.

It really £20.00 pp is the place to hold any (Midweek) function. With over 100 £24.00 pp possible(Weekend covers for & large groups Bank and Hols) a smaller separate room for a more Minimum 4 personal gathering. people. Must be booked CALL 01323 890139 in advance.

FOR MORE DETAILS. Available from 1 Nov- 29 Feb 2016

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

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COURSE REVIEW | MAY 2016 [29]

■ THE 292-YARD 3RD HOLE IS A DRIVEABLE PAR 4

■ A VIEW THROUGH THE BLUEBELLS TO 10TH TEE

STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE Nick Bayly pays a visit to WEST MIDDLESEX GOLF CLUB, which is celebrating 125 years of providing a green oasis of golfing delights to the citizens of suburban West London

M

iddlesex is one of those English counties that few people are quite sure where it begins or ends. Even many of its longestserving inhabitants would be hard pushed to name the towns that form its borders with Hertfordshire and Surrey, while large chunks of it have been swallowed up over the years by ever-expanding ‘Greater London’ – all of which makes it harder to distinguish what is truly Middlesex.

Thankfully, West Middlesex Golf Club is a little easier to locate due to the wonders of satellite navigation, and just 15 minutes after pulling off the M4 junction of the M25, and making a few judicious turns through the back streets of Southall, I’m at the gates of the club, which is neatly sandwiched between the A4020 Uxbridge Road to the south and the River Brent to the east.

The club is actually cut in half by Greenford Road, which, when Willie Park junior first laid out the course in 1891, was probably little more than a country path, but now serves as the main thoroughfare for those heading north to join the A40. This leaves holes 3 to 12 on one side of the A4127, and holes 1 and 2, 13 to 18, and the clubhouse, on the other. Thankfully, the speed of the traffic isn’t often beyond walking pace, which provides ample time to scoot between cars with your golf trolley.

Anyway, before this starts to sound like an A-Z guide to the roads of West London, it’s safe to say that West Middlesex Golf Club provides an oasis of tranquility in what is a busy part of the capital’s suburbs.

While many inner city courses are often crammed into less than 100 acres, featuring intersecting fairways, and greens and tees placed cheek by jowl, West Middlesex has the relative luxury of 150 acres in which to spread itself out, giving the 18hole layout plenty of room to breathe. While Willie Park Jnr was responsible for the original design, it was James Braid, another of the game’s most influential player-turned-architects, that shaped the challenging 6,119-yard, par-69 course that is played today. Braid’s legacy is an enjoyable parkland design, where the natural contours of the land have

been used to enhance the strategic experience.

Boasting a number of classic Braid features, mixed with an abundance of natural woodlands and the meandering River Brent, the course is built on freedraining soil, ensuring excellent year-round playing surfaces, while the small, yet sloping greens have a reputation for being among the best in the region. The course record stands at 63, which says all you need to know about length not being a course’s only defence.

The card offers no fewer than six par threes, each offering a different challenge, starting off the with the second, a testing 200-yarder that features a 30-foot vertical slope 20 yards short of the putting surface. That rarest of design features, back-toback short holes, comes in after the turn, with the 230-yard 10th, which requires a well-struck hybrid to reach a green where only the top of the flag can be seen from the tee; followed immediately by the course’s signature hole, the 157-yard 11th, which demands a bold shot over a pond – although a cleanly hit 6- or 7-iron should see you safely onto the putting surface, which is heavily tilted back towards the water.

The high number of par threes provides plenty of scope to add length to the others, with the 530-yard, par-5 sixth; the 458-yard, par-4 eighth; and the 509-yard par-5 17th, being prime examples of where you can let fly with the driver on a course that generally offers greater reward for those who are able to keep the ball in play.

Elsewhere on the back nine, the par-4 13th which requires a controlled draw off the tee to avoid a tree, is a highlight, while the par-4 18th is a suitably challenging 400-yard dogleg finale, where finding just the right part of the fairway off the tee will be crucial in deciding

whether you have a shot to the well-guarded green or you are blocked out by the trees.

All in all, it’s a thinking golfer’s course that demands respect from tee to green. It’s also refreshingly quick to play, and with visitor green fees offered at £25 on peak weekdays, and £15 after 1pm, it’s also very affordable. Visitors are also able to play after noon at weekends for £40, and £25 after 3pm.

Societies and corporate visitors are made extremely welcome, with packages for groups graded on numbers, with £34.50pp for groups of 13 to 25 people, including coffee and bacon roll on arrival followed by a one-course meal.

The clubhouse, part of which was converted from a former squash club, offers a spacious first floor bar and restaurant, leading on to course-facing balcony, while there’s also a snooker room and a private dining room. The changing rooms are located on the ground floor, along with the pro shop, which is packed with a wide variety of the latest equipment and apparel, including an impressive range of jumpers and polo shirts bearing the club’s 125th anniversary logo, which has proved extremely popular with members.

The quasquicentennial (125th) celebrations kicked off in April with a special golf day attended by over 200 members and guests, while earlier this month saw a gala dinner and dance held in the club’s impressive marquee, which is where larger social events and weddings are hosted.

New members are welcome to join, and with no joining fee, and the current membership fee being held until the end of May, there has never been a better time to join in the celebrations at West Middlesex.

GOLF NEWS READER OFFER If you’d like to try out the facilities at West Middlesex, a special green fee offer is available for those quoting ‘Golf News’ when making a booking by telephone. A midweek two-ball between June 1 and June 30 can be booked for just £20 (£10pp), representing a saving of £10 on the standard green fee.

For advance bookings, call 020 8574 1800.

■ THE COURSE'S SIGNATURE HOLE IS THE 11TH, A 160-YARD PAR THREE, WHICH REQUIRES A CARRY OVER A LARGE POND TO A HEAVILY-TILTED GREEN

For enquiries about membership, call 020 8574 3450 or email admin@westmiddgc.co.uk.

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

[30] MAY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FLEMING IN THE FRAME AT FOXHILLS

T

om Fleming (Newbury & Crookham), Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre) and current Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) all shot stunning six-under-par 67s around the Bernard Hunt Course at Foxhills to tie for victory in the JSP Construction Industry Pro-Am. Their birdie barrages not only edged out Ally Mellor’s impressive 68, but showed that the long winter hasn’t affected the performances of the South’s top players.

To accommodate the large number of companies supporting the event, the team competition was based on a five-ball format, with the best two Stableford scores counting.

In another three-way tie, the team from Cleshar Contract Services with Martin Woodbridge (Bearwood Lakes) emerged the victors after a count back, edging Wootton’s team from the Danny Sullivan Group into second place and Matt Rice’s (Purley Downs) from Benchmark Scaffolding into third.

The event helped raise money for the Lighthouse Club, which gives financial support to families when they lose their main household income through illness, injury or death.

LOOME TO WEAVE COACHING MAGIC AT PRINCES RISBOROUGH

P

rinces Risborough Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has recently appointed PGA Professional Bruce Loome as its new head professional.

An extremely experienced coach, having held teaching posts in America,

ee Fr to in jo

ALTONWOOD

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Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Germany, where he set up his own successful coaching academy, his last role was as a coach at the Oxford Golf Centre Academy.

Loome, 50, has also worked with a number of top coaches during his career, including Graham Cowley and David Leadbetter, and was part of Tiger Woods’s coaching team whenever the former world No.1 played in Europe. He is also a published author, having cowritten a book called The Philosophical Golfer.

As well as his coaching duties at the club, Loome will be instrumental in developing the club’s current practice

area into a short game academy for use by members and visiting golfers alike.

Speaking about his new role, Loome said: “I’m very keen to lift the volume and standard of coaching at the club to the highest possible level. The club has agreed to build a short game academy, utilising the practise area they already have, and with my extensive experience in short game coaching, I am confident it will be a success and provide somewhere that not only members of the club can practice this vital element of the game, but also golfers from the wider area.”

He added: “All of my coaching will be relaxed and draw on my 20 years of experience. I am confident that my teaching style will alleviate the intimidation factor of taking lessons, and will replace this with sound fundamentals that will allow all standards of players to reach their golfing potential.”

PLANT LEAVES LYTHAM RIVALS IN HIS WAKE

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ent amateur Alfie Plant put a top international field firmly in its place when winning the prestigious Lytham Trophy by seven shots.

The 23 year old from Sundrige Park’s triumph came after a string of second and third places last season, but there was no doubting who was in charge at Royal Lytham and St Annes in Lancashire.

“It’s nice to finally get over the line,” said Plant, who is the first English player to win the tournament in five years. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet but it’s a very big win round a great golf course. I’m over the moon.”

Plant was four over par after rounds of 67, 73, 74 and 70 on the 7,118-yard Open Championship course, which has par of 70 and a standard scratch of 76.

More English players were close behind with Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park) among the three runners-up on 11-over; while James Walker (The Oaks), Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park) and Gian-Marco Petrozzi (Trentham) were also in the top ten.

Plant had had his eye on the championship ever since he played in the simultaneous junior event held at nearby Fairhaven Golf Club. “I used to go and watch the guys hitting on the range, and there was a real aura about it. I remember saying to my dad, ‘I wish I could play and win that one day.’”

Plant has been playing in the Lytham Trophy for four years, and on

his debut he was in the second last group on the final day, eventually finishing tied 13th. “I’ve bagged some experience over the years, which gave me an advantage, and I felt I could post a good score,” he added.

The England international was two shots behind Moore going into the last round, but rather than going all for birdies he stuck to his prearranged plan of avoiding Lytham’s 205 bunkers, and treating par as his friend.

“My game plan was to take as many bunkers as possible out of play and give myself opportunities,” he said. "With my iron play being really good, I was able to get it close a few times and keep bogeys off my card.”

Plant toured South Africa with England earlier this season, and has also been on squad training at England’s winter training base at the Quinta do Lago in Portugal.

“Those winter training session have been massively important,” said Plant. “I felt like I had a head start on the rest of the field.”

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[32] MAY 2016 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

T

iger Woods sounds much more interested in being a boring dad these days than the world’s best golfer.

Whenever the topic of if and/ or when he might return to playing competitive golf again following his litany of surgeries is raised, the former world No.1 talks more of the joy of being able to kick a football about with his kids than he does about being able to belt a golf ball 300 yards with his driver.

To be honest, getting true updates about the genuine state of Tiger Woods’s game, health, and life in general, has been like getting blood out of the proverbial stone over the last two decades, so his diversionary tactics are nothing new to those that have been following his moves since he burst on to the professional scene with that 12-shot Masters' win in 1997.

It’s more than a little ironic that the most famous golfer the world has seen during the new information age has been the most inaccessible and tight-lipped in the history of the game. We’re used to celebrities being taciturn, but Woods has taken his desire to divulge anything – well, anything of interest beyond his extra-marital affairs – to new levels.

While most golfers will, if pushed, spend a few minutes chatting about their game and their goals – and, even on the odd occasion, reveal a few of their innermost thoughts and insecurities – Woods has been all but a blank page for the entirety of his career.

When you’re winning majors and tournaments almost every week, the clubs almost speak for themselves, but when you’re not, things can get awfully quiet, as Woods has discovered to his cost.

While his famously over-protective father, Earl, laid the foundations for the fortress-like inner circle that surrounded Tiger during his formative years, even in the latter stages of his career he has taken the Fifth Amendment

TIGER AT THE

CROSSROADS

With an ailing body, and time and age against him, TIGER WOODS is facing the prospect of being relegated to nothing more than an entertaining sideshow.

Nick Bayly assesses the former world No.1’s future prospects following a litany of injuries that threaten to rob the game of one of its greatest ever talents PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

when it comes to divulging anything newsworthy about his game or, in the last few years, the state of his health. He’s a closed book with a padlock.

Thus any meager morsels of information that do emerge from the Woods camp, be it leaked on Twitter or Instagramed from one of his many charity functions, are leapt on like news gold, to be forensically examined to find if there is a real story to be told.

Such is the dearth of hard facts that when Tiger books a room at a PGA Tour venue, as he has done for next month’s Memorial Tournament, or plays a few holes in a charity event, as he did at opening of his golf course last month, the world heralds 'Tiger’s Return’.

Even the simple act of registering to play in the US Open saw his odds of lifting a longed-for 15th major shorten dramatically with the bookmakers, despite the fact that he probably won’t be teeing it up at Oakmont on June 16.

Woods has not played a tour event since finishing joint 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August last year, after which he underwent two back operations in the space of six weeks. And even now, after an eight-month layoff, he has still only played a handful of holes with Mark O’Meara last month. After the much-shortened round, Woods said: "I'm definitely a little tired, but I

FEATURE | MAY 2016

closer to feeling better every day. I haven't set any date to when I'm playing again, which is frustrating to say. But I've had to go with that mindset. Would I have said that five months ago? No way. I couldn't imagine then feeling like I do right now. Keep improving. Keep getting better. Keep making progress."

It’s one of the quirks of professional golf that no one asks you to retire. Golfers are self-employed, and although they might lose their playing privileges once their game goes south, for golf’s biggest names – and they don’t come any bigger than Tiger Woods – there will always be a tournament host that will put a tee time aside. You only need to look at the career trajectory of John Daly to know that.

But while Daly is happy to slip on his amusing checked trousers and play his party piece at tournaments around the world, is this the future that Woods has mapped out for himself? Accepting sponsors’ invitations to play two rounds and go home with a fat cheque? I, for one, sincerely hope not.

Most of us prefer our sporting heroes to call time on their careers long before they start slipping into the realms of freaky sideshows, as Woods’s outings were veering towards before he could take the pain no longer and went under the surgeon’s knife once again.

For Woods to announce his retirement

FOR WOODS TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT WOULD BE ADMITTING DEFEAT – A WORD THAT HAS NOT FEATURED OFTEN IN HIS VOCABULARY OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS feel pretty good. It's been a while, so I'm just progressing. Nice and smooth. Just gradually progressing.”

And there you have it. He’s in the dark as much as we are. And that’s the nub of the problem. The 40-year-old sounded very downbeat about his prospects of playing again at the end of last year, saying he ‘could not see a light at the end of the tunnel’ and admitting anything he achieved now would be ‘gravy’ (i.e. he’s already had the meat and potatoes of his career). But now, he is beginning to sound like there is light, albeit a rather dim one.

"To actually be able to play soccer with my kids again, to be able to live life, that's what's been nice. Five months ago I couldn't. I still have a long way to go but I'm also getting

would be admitting defeat – a word that has not featured often in his vocabulary over the last 20 years. And it is this failure to accept defeat that is perhaps responsible for his continuing ailments. He never allowed himself time to fully recover from the injuries that continue to plague him, but now that he has, he is still faced with the crushing reality that he can’t play and practise as much as he used to anymore. He’ll never be able to fix himself or roll back the clock to 1997.

Maybe he’ll take this year off and manage to play six times in 2017, then follow with five more events the following year. Maybe he’ll sneak in another six the year after that, and his back will start hurting again, so he’ll play in just the majors in 2019. Pretty soon he’ll be a 50 year old with a bad back, not bothering with the Champions Tour, and turning up once a year to play in the Masters. It’s almost exactly how Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and countless other great players wound down their careers. Barring another astonishing Tiger Woods comeback, it seems a blueprint for Tiger’s eventual end, too.

While Tiger will miss golf, golf will miss Tiger more. No-one has come close to matching his ability to attract television audiences or galleries, and for all the excitement generated around the new Big Three, Four, or whatever number you choose to put on it, none of them individually or combined have the potential to generate the levels of excitement and interest that Woods did, and continues to do, with or without a club in his hand.

So welcome to Golf 2.0. A world without Tiger Woods. It’s not the end of the world, just the beginning of a new one.

[33]

TIGER’S INJURY TIMELINE Key moments in Woods’s medical tale of woe since 2008 APRIL 2008:

MARCH 2014:

Takes two months off between the Masters and the US Open to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the cartilage in his left knee.

Back spasms cause him to withdraw from the Honda Classic midway through the final round.

JUNE 2008:

Misses the Masters for the first time in his professional career, after having back surgery for a pinched nerve. Takes four months off to recover.

APRIL 2014:

Claims the last of his major victories at the US Open, despite playing through immense pain in his knee.

Undergoes immediate surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, as well as having cartilage damage repaired. Out of action for nine months.

MAY 2010:

Having played with a bad neck ‘for quite a while’ and missed the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship, he pulls out of the Players Championship during the final round. The injury is confirmed as an inflamed facet joint. He was back playing the following month.

AUGUST 2014:

Jars back during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and has to be driven off the course in a buggy. Misses the cut at the PGA Championship and does not play again until December.

APRIL 2011:

Suffers a re-occurrence of his left knee injury at the Masters, with a 'minor' knock to that and his Achilles tendon seeing him withdraw from the Wells Fargo Championship as a 'precaution'.

MAY 2011:

Pulls out of the Players Championship after just nine holes and takes the next three months off with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and strained left Achilles tendon.

MARCH 2012:

Despite changing shoes to manage the problem, Woods withdraws with seven holes to go at the WGC-Cadillac Championship with an injury to his Achilles tendon. Despite the pain, he wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational just a fortnight later.

FEBRUARY 2015:

A week on from missing the cut with a then career worst round at the Phoenix Open, Woods (above) completes 11 holes at the Farmers Insurance Open before withdrawing with a back injury. Takes two months off.

SEPTEMBER 2015:

After failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs, he undergoes microdisectomy surgery for a second time and misses the remaining events in 2015.

OCTOBER 2015:

Six weeks on from his initial surgery, he undergoes a followup procedure aiming to relieve discomfort in his back.

FEBRUARY 2016:

Now ranked 444th in the world, Woods's rehabilitation continues, but he sets no timetable for return.

APRIL 2016:

AUGUST 2013:

Suffers back spasms (above) which cause him to collapse to the ground during the Barclays Championship as he finishes second behind Adam Scott.

Announces on his website that he will miss the Masters for the second time in three years, saying that he "isn't physically ready".

MAY 2016:

Registers to play in the US Open.

World ranking is currently 515th.

[34] MAY 2016 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

DISTINCTIVE TIMEPIECES FOR GOLFERS

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

A LOOK BACK IN TIME JEAN VAN DE VELDE • 128TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, CARNOUSTIE • JULY 18, 1999

"What on earth are you doing? He's gone ga-ga.

To attempt to hit the ball out of there is pure madness. Someone please stop him.”

These are the words that BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss uttered in reaction to Jean Van de Velde’s decision to slip off his shoes and socks, roll up his trousers, and climb into the Barry Burn in an attempt to recover his ball on the final hole of the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Standing on the 18th tee just a few minutes earlier, the flamboyant 32-year-old Frenchman held a threeshot lead, and was on the cusp of becoming the first from his country to win the Claret Jug since Arnaud Massy’s triumph in 1907.

But between Van de Velde and victory stood one of the toughest closing holes on the Open rota – a 499yard par 4 which features out of bounds on the left and a deep, wide burn that crosses the fairway not once, but twice.

Van de Velde had shown little fear of the hole that week, having birdied it in two of his previous rounds, but leading the Open can do strange things to a player’s swing, and their mind. Deciding to hit a driver off the tee, he slashed the ball to the right of the burn and was lucky to find dry land.

Needing only a double bogey for victory, the sensible shot would have been to lay up short of the burn and chip on, but the showman inside the Frenchman, and the quality of the lie, saw him attempt to reach the green with a 2-iron. His shot drifted right on the freshening wind, ricocheted backwards off the railings of the grandstand besides the green, landed on top of the stone wall of the Barry Burn, and then bounced 50 yards backwards into knee-deep rough. His brain slowly scrambling, his third shot saw his clubhead get tangled in the rough, and his ball flew into the burn.

The going ‘ga-ga’ phase on which Alliss commentated then

played out, as Van de Velde stripped off, and jumped into the burn with a view to playing out from the water. After several minutes of indecipherable debate with his caddy, the soon-tobe-sacked Christophe Angiolini, discretion finally proved the better part of valour and he took a penalty drop.

The drama was far from over, however, as he then hit his fifth shot into the greenside bunker. In front of an increasingly spellbound crowd, he managed to blast his sixth onto the putting surface, and made a testing eight-footer to the huge relief of the galleries. The resulting triple-bogey seven was something of a minor miracle given what preceded it, but it was still good enough to earn him a place in a play-off alongside Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard.

History records that it was Lawrie, who came from 10 shots

off the pace in the final round, who ultimately took the spoils, but it was Van de Velde’s name that came to be inextricably linked with the tournament and the venue. In fact, he has pretty much dined out on it ever since, returning one year to par the hole with a putter, selling his wines in the clubhouse, and being much in demand on the after-dinner circuit – and now becoming a prominent figure in France’s staging of the Ryder Cup in 2018 – Van de Velde owes a lot to that 18th hole.

Seventeen years on, and the Frenchman’s name will be up on Carnoustie’s scoreboards again this summer, as he plans a hopefully more joyous return to the course in July, this time with his eyes on the biggest prize in Senior golf.

Turning 50 on May 29, he will make his debut in the Senior Open Championship, knowing that he has an opportunity to put the record straight.

Now living in Hong Kong, Van de Velde knows that he has an old score to settle with the Championship Course, and specifically the final hole, ‘Home’. Although, not having played competitively for over five years, his chances of reaching the upper sections of the leaderboard look slim. “I will try and be as ready as I can for Carnoustie,” he says. “The challenges are going to be enormous.

It is the toughest course in the world, especially the closing stretch, which is second to none. It demands so much of your game and your mental strength.

“I don't get tired of people talking about 1999, and reminding me about what happened,” he adds. “I know it is a part of golfing history, but it is also part of my life.”

For tickets to the 30th Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, which takes place from July 21-24, visit www.tickets.europeantour.com.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PROMOTION | MAY 2016

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Please note: †Terms and conditions apply, for full details of policy cover/benefit limitations and exclusions, please refer to our policy wording and summary of cover. A copy of which is available to view at www. golfplan.co.uk or upon request. Calls to 0333 numbers are charged at ‘normal’ rates from landlines. They are also normally included in call allowances on mobiles. Golfplan International Insurance is a trading name of Canopius UK Specialty Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 00743268, Registered Office: 1st Floor, 1 Kings Court Business Park, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1JR. Canopius UK Specialty Limited forms part of the Sompo Canopius group of companies. ® PGA is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited.

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[36] MAY 2016 | INTERVIEW

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Everything. From the clubs to course maintenance, it’s night and day from the days of Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan. There are no spike marks on the greens.

Bunkers are raked perfectly. And the clubs – if we had played with the equipment we have today, no doubt we would have posted similar incredible scores.

Can you suggest one idea to combat slow play?

Stop lengthening courses. Yes, updates are necessary, but owners can redesign their course to make it more challenging without adding 1,000 yards. No one wants to play a six-hour round.

What was your reaction to Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwatrzel’s decision not to play in the Olympics?

South Africa had a great team, but now obviously it will not be as good. I would have given anything to play in the Olympics. Many people fought tooth-andnail for decades to get golf back into the Games, a true worldwide effort. Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world, and our best players should be showcased on the biggest stage in sport, so to have some of our top players withdrawing hurts the game of golf.

If you hadn’t been a professional golfer, what would you be doing?

I am a farmer at heart, and love to get my hands dirty.

My horses and my farm are my passions now. I could easily live out my days in the Great Karoo of South Africa, but I also love to get out and help people, which is why I still travel eight months out of the year.

“YOU WON THE OPEN? IT’S A BLOODY MIRACLE!" Nine-time major champion GARY PLAYER recalls his career highlights, shoots from the hip about slow play, the Olympics, new technology, and explains why he’s still travelling the world at 80

W

hat and where was your first professional pay cheque?

I believe it was the Santa Tournament at The Wanderers Golf Club in Johannesburg in 1953 – my first year as a pro. I finished second to Bobby Locke and won £200.

What was the best round of your career?

It was the final round of the Masters in 1978. I was 42 years old and not expected to contend for any more Majors. Most thought I was past my prime. But I was in such good shape that I knew if I played my best golf, I had a chance to win my third Masters. I was seven shots behind Hubert Green heading into the final round, but I ended up shooting 64, with seven birdies in the last 10 holes, to beat Tom Watson by a single shot.

What was the greatest shot of your career?

In the 1972 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, I hit my ball into heavy rough behind some tall trees that blocked my view of the green. It was a blind shot, but I decided to go for it and hit my nine-iron within three feet to set up a birdie putt that gave me a two-shot lead heading into the final two holes.

When was your first hole-in-one?

My first hole-in-one was on the 15th hole at Virginia Park near Johannesburg in 1950. I was 14 years old and had only been playing golf for a few years, but I’ll never forget that moment. I’ve had 27 as a professional in tournaments.

What do you remember of your first Open Championship?

My first Open was at St Andrews in 1956. I stepped up to the first tee and was a bit overwhelmed that I was playing at the Old Course. Keep in mind that I had slept on the beach the night before. Even though the fairway is incredibly wide, I nearly hit the ball out-ofbounds. I never forget hearing the starter ask, ‘What’s your handicap, son?’ I responded, ‘I’m a pro, sir.’ He said, ‘Well you must be a hell of a putter.’ I returned to St Andrews after I won The Open in 1959. That same starter was there and said, ‘YOU won The Open? It’s a bloody miracle!’

If you had one tip to give a high-handicap golfer, what would it be?

Keep your head still when you putt, and listen to the ball drop into the hole.

What’s the best swing tip you’ve ever been given?

When I first turned professional, most other players thought that my swing was too flat. It was discouraging. But Ben Hogan - my idol - said to me, “Son, your swing can never be too flat.” This was a very important event in my life, because I realised that success would come from hard work and not the critique of others.

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

The R&A and USGA need to require that all equipment companies cut the ball back 50 yards for professionals. It would help save so much money being spent on lengthening courses worldwide and make records more meaningful.

What has been the best technological improvement?

■ PLAYER CELEBRATES WINNING THE OPEN AT CARNOUSTIE IN 1968

■ LONGMUIR IS STILL A REGULAR COMPETITOR ON THE SENIOR TOUR

What's your favourite course and why?

The Old Course at St Andrew, because it is the Home of Golf.

What's your favourite hole?

It’s tough to choose between the 11th at Augusta, the 17th at St Andrews, and the 9th at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City.

What's your favourite club in the bag?

None. I have a special weighted club that helps me stretch each time before I play or hit on the range.

Everyone tells me they have never seen anything as effective.

Who would make up your dream fourball?

Lee Kuan Yew, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Outside of golf, who’s your sporting hero?

I am a big fan of Novak Djokovic. He came from a very poor background, like myself, but overcame so much adversity to become the best in the world.

That demands respect.

[38] MAY 2016 | US OPEN PREVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

OAKMONT AWAITS Next month’s US Open is being held at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, where fast-running fairways, even faster greens, and rows of deep bunkers await the competitors for the season’s second major

T

■ THE PAR-4 FIFTH HOLE AT OAKMONT

he US Open is a major that prides itself on providing a real test for the world's best golfers. When Rory McIlroy had the temerity to blast his way to a record 16-under-par winning total in 2011, the USGA made sure the course the following year was more than ready to protect itself.

Hugely dominant performances from McIlroy, and again from Martin Kaymer in 2014 aside, any score under par will typically be good enough to get you in contention in the year’s second major.

"The USGA wants the US Open to be a tough, rigorous examination," says USGA executive director Mike Davis, adopting an almost headmasterly tone. "We want it to be the ultimate test in golf."

The players have been warned, and many of the field that survived four rounds in 2007, when Oakmont last held the tournament, will testify to its difficulty. That year, big-hitting Argentinian Angel Cabrera triumphed with a five-over-par total, while 11 over was good enough to sneak into the top 10.

Only those who had scored no worse than two 75s survived the cut, while America’s Ryan Palmer had the ignomy of finishing last of those who missed the chop, with a 36-hole total of 28 over par – a score only bettered by two shots by the player who finished last after making the cut.

Why were the scores so high, you might ask? Was there a 40mph wind? Had everyone left their putters at home? No, the greens were running at 13.5 – Augusta’s are generally around 12 – and the fairways were equally rapid, resulting in good drives bounding into the rough and the numerous coffin-style bunkers that line the fairways.

"If Oakmont has a signature, it has to be its lightning fast greens," says Davis.

"And this isn’t a recent phenomenon. These greens have been like this really from day one. In fact, if you go back to the 1935 US Open that was played here, the players were complaining incessantly about the greens being too fast. In fact some of them almost boycotted the tournament and didn’t want to play."

Sam Parks Jr. won that year, with an 11-over par total, and unless the players can display the touch of a surgeon wearing kid gloves, Oakmont might produce similar scoring this time round.

And then there are the holes themselves. The last time Oakmont held the US

Open, the USGA saw fit to lengthen the par-three 8th to 305 yards, making it the longest ‘short hole’ in Major history. It led Phil Mickelson to describe it as a par ‘3.5’, while fellow American Paul Goydos joked that the USGA had done well to create a hole that ‘could host a long drive and nearest-the-pin competition at the same time’. Jokes aside, only 26.7% of shots found the green that year.

"Before everybody thinks we have lost our marbles making a par-3 300 yards, when you go back and you read about what the course’s original architect, Henry Fownes, wanted, he designed that hole to be a driver or 3-wood hole," says Davis.

"The only way to get it to that way these days is to put a back tee there."

Oakmont’s other major defence is its water hazards. The good news is that there is no water in them, but the bad news is that they are filled with thick grass and weed, and it’s the luck of the draw whether you have a serviceable lie, or you need to take a penalty drop.

"From a strategic standpoint it’s fascinating,” says Davis, with a hint of glee in his eye. “Because when a player hits a ball in there, he’s going to have a chance to play out, but it's not always a sure thing that it will come out.”

Cast your eye down the Oakmont leaderboard from 2007, and a couple of names stand out as likely champions in 2016, including one Bubba Watson, who finished fifth in only his second major tournament in 2007, but three missed cuts in the last three US Opens speak of a man who loses patience on the greens.

Justin Rose, the hero of Merion in 2013, is also up there, having ruined his chances of victory was a final round 76, a score matched by Paul Casey, who was in joint third with 18 holes to play. Both players will harbour hopes of keeping the British major roll going following Danny Willett’s Masters win, while Willett himself may fancy his chances of playing well on a course that rewards straight driving and a nerveless putting stroke.

If he’s able to put his Masters collapse to one side – and that’s a big if – there is no reason why Jordan Spieth shouldn’t defend the title he won at Chambers Bay last year. He’s bound to come out fighting – and beware the angry golfer.

So place your bets, settle back in your favourite armchair, crack open the Pinot Noir and prepare to be beguiled, charmed and infuriated by the subtle complexities of one of American’s most challenging Major venues.

OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB CARD OF THE COURSE FRONT 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total 482 341 428 609 382 194 479 288 477 3680 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 35 BACK 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total 435 379 667 183 358 500 231 313 484 3550 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 4 35 7,230 Yards, Par 70

US OPEN BETTING 6 McIlroy; 7 Spieth; 8 Day; 18 Scott, D Johnson; 20 Fowler, Rose; 25 Stenson; 28 Grace, Watson, Matsuyama; 33 Willett, Garcia, Woods, Mickelson; 40 Reed, Oosthuizen, Casey, Kuchar; 50 Snedeker, Furyk, Walker; 60 Kaymer; 66 Leishman, Fitzpatrick, Thomas, Johnson Z, McDowell.

For the complete list of odds see www.paddypower.com.

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[40] MAY 2016 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Meet the

PRO How long have you been a PGA pro?

I’ve been a pro since 199. My first job was at Calcot Park in Berkshire as an assistant pro.

When did you join Turnberry?

I joined in early 2000 as senior teaching professional at the Colin Montgomerie Links Academy, which opened that year.

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

I oversee the golf operations, which directly involves the pro shop team, the academy, caddie masters, rangers, caddies, and locker room stewards. I also represent the golf department on the executive committee for the resort, working closely with the other senior leaders in the business to ensure revenue targets and key performance indicators are achieved and exceeded.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Being associated with such an iconic, worldclass golf facility is a dream for any professional

RICKY HALL, Director of Golf at TRUMP TURNBERRY, reveals what it's like to work at the iconic Open venue as it prepares to reopen following a multi-million pound makeover

golfer, as is working with a team of people who also share such a passion for Turnberry.

It’s a great privilege to meet golfers who have travelled from all over the world to play the Ailsa Course, often as part of a bucket list trip.

Speaking to these guests before they tee off, and sensing their excitement, and then meeting them again when they come off the course and reliving their experience with them, is definitely a highlight of any working day.

The Ailsa is reopening next month following a major renovation – what are the main changes that golfers will find?

I think the extent of the changes will be surprising for many people, as it was already regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world. However, I truly believe that the changes that have been made are incredible and have made arguably some of the weaker holes, such as the 1st, more challenging and visually dramatic. The coastal holes, from the 4th to the 11th, have probably seen the biggest changes and will receive a lot of attention. I don't think that there can be a better stretch of golf holes anywhere.

What’s your favourite hole on the course now and why?

It’s honestly hard to choose.

One of the most impressive changes has been made at the 11th, which probably makes it my favourite hole. It has some of the most amazing panoramic views and plays over a shoreline featuring a

■ VIEW FROM THE 11TH TEE

series of small bays and rocky outcrops. The stunning location provides its incredible beauty, but also its biggest threat. I firmly believe that the changes made to this hole will make it one of the best par threes in the world.

The hotel has also received a complete renovation. What new facilities/activities are on offer for guests, and is everything now gold-plated?

The hotel building has been completely refurbished, making it one of the best hotels in the UK, if not Europe. So much care and attention has gone into the detail of the decor and the finishing. Everything has been upgraded for the guests, from their arrival experience to the room that they check into nothing has been untouched. We have used a lot of brass within the hotel and it looks great – it really fits in with the style of the building.

What can you tell us about the facilities at the academy?

The Turnberry Golf Academy is also being renovated. It will feature a state-of –the-art teaching and putting studios for our team of PGA professionals to conduct our tuition packages in, along with beautiful practice facilities with a breathtaking backdrop. We

have also recently openeda short game area which is a great addition to academy facility.

What is there to do for families at the resort?

We offer family golf lessons, a junior golf clinic, and we also opened The Wee Links last year, which is our 18-hole pitch-and-putt course.

We’ve also got the Wee Explorers, which is our family playroom and, during school holidays we run an extensive children’s activity programme.

Beyond Turnberry, what’s your favourite course in the UK, and the world?

In the UK, it’s hard to beat a day at Loch Lomond, it's such a special place. I’ve also been lucky enough to play Cypress Point, which was an unforgettable experience.

Who inspired you to take up golf?

My dad, he just loves the game. My twin brother Fraser and I have both become professional golfers thanks to his passion and love of golf..

Which three other people would be in your dream fourball?

Myself and Seve against my brother and Moe Norman playing early on a sunny morning over the Ailsa course.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | MAY 2016

[41]

BIRDIES GALORE AS EAGLES TRANSFORM STADIUM INTO STREETGOLF COURSE HOLLINWELL PREPARES TO HOST MID AMATEUR Some of the top middle-aged amateur golfers in Europe will assemble at Hollinwell Golf Club from May 24-26 to take part in the Mid Amateur Stroke Play Championship of Great Britain. The new 54-hole tournament is open to all male golfers aged over 35 years with handicap of 9.4 or less, but such was the interest that a ballot had to be used to bring the field down to a maximum 75, with the ballot falling at 3.5.

The Mid Amateur Golf Tour has over 25 events throughout the year across the UK at courses such as Sunningdale, Hankley Common, Ashridge, North Hants, Rye and Littlestone. There is also a year-long scratch and nett Order of Merit, with the top players proceeding to a finals day, this year at Aldeburgh in Suffolk. For more details, visit www.midamgolf.co.uk.

E

agles were on the scorecard at Crystal Palace Football club earlier this month as former striker Mark Bright and friends used the power of football to help young people ‘Get into Golf’ Bright, who played for the club between 1986-92, was an inspirational guest as the Golf Foundation and Crystal Palace’s Foundation created a special 9-hole course with a difference inside Selhurst Park to promote golf as a sport to youngsters from the wider local community.

Bright led the way as boys and girls were given an ‘access all areas’ pass to hit shots down the players’ tunnel, chip into the dugout, shoot into the goal, drive from the stand onto the pitch and putt in the trophy room – all before enjoying a picnic in the centre circle.

The creative golf format from the Golf Foundation is known as ‘Street Golf’, where young people can design their own golf course to suit their environment.

Speaking at the event, Bright said: “It’s often very difficult for kids living in inner cities to get to a golf course, so why not bring the experience to them, in a fun environment where they can try it out for themselves without having to comply with all the normal rules. If just one or two kids take it further, then it’s been worthwhile.”

The Crystal Palace FC Foundation works for the latest Premier League team to offer golf as part of their Premier League 4 Sport programme. The eight teams attending the day had been selected from HSBC Golf Roots projects in the area, which are all linked to golf venues and PGA professional coaches.

A team from Crystal Palace will now play in the national StreetGolf final against other Premier League 4 Sport clubs in June.

LADY WINS THE LADDIE! Royal Mid Surrey’s Rafiah Bandhay became the first girl to win the Laddie Lucas Spoon at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

■ YOUNGSTERS ENJOYED CHIPPING BALLS ALL AROUND THE STADIUM AT CRYSTAL PALACE, WHERE FORMER EAGLES' STRIKER MARK BRIGHT WAS THE EVENT'S STAR HOST

INDOOR GOLF SIMULATOR Now is your chance to play some of the world’s top courses like Celtic Manor, Birkdale or Troon, from as little as £25 per hour. gs now n i k o o B aken being t Downshire Golf Complex, Easthampstead Park, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3DH Tel: 01344 302030 Fax: 01344 301020 E: downshiregc@bracknell-forest.gov.uk W: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/downshiregolf www.facebook.com/downshiregolf

GOLF COLLEGE TAKES HONOURS AT TREVOSE

S

ix students from the Golf College in West Sussex are celebrating after winning the British Schools and Colleges National Finals at Trevose Golf & Country Club in Cornwall.

Twenty teams of six players took part in the two-day tournament, with the best four scores counting for the team event, which ran alongside a separate individual competition.

After the first day, the Golf College’s 280 total saw them take a six-shot lead over Lee Westwood Essex, with last year’s winners, Hartpury College, a further stroke back on 287. The low score of the day came from the Golf College’s Mikey Doble, with an excellent four-under par 67. Luke Palmowski and Jared Mortimer both shot 69, with a further six players on one under.

The Golf College kept their nerve on the second day, and pulled away by a further eights shots to finish 14 shots ahead of Lee Westwood Essex and 18 clear of Hartpury.

Golf College student Lauren Horsford took the individual title with rounds of 70 and 69 (11 under par), while Aldeberto Montini took the third spot on count back with scores of 74 and 67.

The top three teams will now be invited to play in the Alexander Quin Invitational, a WAGR event being held at St Mellion in September.

The Golf College, which is based at Lindfield Golf Club in near Haywards Heath, has been successfully preparing students for careers in golf for 12 year, having first opened in 2004. Under the stewardship of PGA Master Professional Denis Pugh, and Head Coach Paul Lyons, the college provides students with first class golf coaching while completing a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences, which is the equivalent of two or three A levels.

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[42] MAY 2016 | EQUIPMENT NEWS

HIT THE ROAD TO LOWER SCORES WITH

ODYSSEY’S HIGHWAY 101 ODYSSEY GOLF’S NEW LIMITED EDITION HIGHWAY 101 PUTTERS CONTINUE THE NO.1 PUTTER BRAND’S OBSESSION WITH CONSTANT INNOVATION AND TIMELESS APPEAL

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dyssey Golf is celebrating one of California’s most recognisable landmarks, Highway 101, with a new range of putters that puts the spotlight on the brand’s heritage of continuous innovation.

Highway 101 is a 1,500-mile road that snakes its way down almost the entire west coast of America, from Washington State in the north, down to San Diego in the south, passing close by Odyssey’s headquarters in Carlsbad, which is 90 miles south of Los Angeles.

Austie Rollinson, Odyssey’s principal designer, said: “California has long been a hot bed for creativity in design. Down the southern coast is Carlsbad, home of Odyssey Golf and the Mecca for golf club designers. To pay homage to our hometown, we’ve developed a line of putters dedicated to one of the most recognizable landmarks ever in California, US Highway 101.

“Odyssey has been at the cutting edge of putter design for more than 25 years, and the new Highway 101 Putters not only celebrate our Carlsbad home as a hotbed of creativity in design, but also introduces a new sound-enhancing technology to golfers.”

The new Highway 101 putters feature Sound Chamber insert technology – a space behind the stainless steel face insert that is specifically designed to create the resonation that provides the crisp sound and feel at impact that is preferred by many golfers – especially the Tour players that have made Odyssey the brand with the most wins in the professional game.

The limited edition Highway 101 Putters are precisionmilled from 1020 carbon steel and finished in satin chrome. They are available in three iconic Odyssey 350g head shapes: #2, a slightly larger heel-toe blade with crank-neck hosel; #5, a half-moon mallet with single-bend, slant-joint hosel; and #7, a progressive mallet with weighted alignment wings and a singlebend, slant-joint hosel.

Each putter is fitted with a premium cabretta leather red midsize Master Grip, with black baseball stitching, a stepless steel putter shaft for improved aesthetics, and a unique Highway 101 themed headcover.

ODYSSEY’S HIGHWAY 101 PUTTERS GO ON SALE ON MAY 27 WITH A RETAIL PRICE OF £329 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ODYSSEYGOLF.COM

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[44] MAY 2016 | PRO SHOP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

BIG MAX QUAD POWER TROLLEY £699-£799, BIGMAXGOLF.COM

SKECHERS GOLF GOLF BLADE £109, SKECHERS.CO.UK

£89.99, STUBURT.COM Stuburt, which made a few inroads into the golf shoe market when it had Darren Clarke on its books a few years ago, has launched four new models featuring a new waterproof membrane technology.

Direct Venting technology is based on a waterproof membrane that is air permeable. This means that millions of tiny pores allow heat and sweat inside the shoe to escape in vapour form. The pores are, however, too small to let water pass through from the outside, so feet stay dry in wet conditions.

The headline shoe in the eVent range, is the Helium Tour, which goes on sale next month. Looking every inch like the modern golf shoes, the upper features with breathable event upper, while inside is a cushioned footbed for added comfort, while traction nodules on the outside provide a stable platform from which to swing. It is available in black with a red trim, or white with a blue trim.

The other shoes in the range include the Classic Tour, which combines a timeless wingtip upper made from full-grain leather with a comfortable spikeless rubber outsole; the trainer-style Cyclone Event, which features a microfibre upper combined with a lightweight foam midsole and cushioned footbed; and the Cyclone Boot offers a higher ankle cut for extreme weather conditions. All models come with a one-year waterproof guarantee and are available in sizes 7-12, including half sizes.

PRO SHOP

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STUBURT HELIUM TOUR EVENT

GUIDE

Drawing inspiration from its range of running shoes and adapting them for the golfing environment, Skechers' new Go Golf Blade shoe is made from lightweight synthetic materials, yet offers all the support and comfort required to negotiate 18 holes and more.

Fully waterproof, courtesy of seam-sealed uppers, the trainer-style Blade features a shock-absorbing, dual density midsole and an antimicrobial insole. A stabilised midfoot area increases control during the swing, while a padded collar and tongue, and soft fabric shoe lining, add to in-shoe comfort. The outsole is fitted with replaceable Softspikes cleats. Colour options include black, charcoal, navy and white uppers, with a variety of coloured trims.

Big Max’s new range of electric trolleys is designed to build on the robust qualities of its best-selling push trolley offerings. The two initial models – Quad Hunter and Quad Coaster – both feature a four-wheel base for extreme stability, with the front wheels rotating to offer easy manoeuvrability. The front wheels also lock in place and feature individual suspension for a smooth ride.

Powered by a 230V motor and lithium battery as standard, both models offer a controlled distance function of up to 60 yards, while speed setting, battery level and distance measurement are all shown on a colour digital display which is positioned on a height adjustable handle.

The handle also houses a GPS holder along with a compartment for a separately sold solar charger that trickle charges electronic gadgets.

The slightly more expensive Coaster features an electronic parking brake and a differential gearbox that regulates the speed of the trolley to walking pace on downhill slopes.

A remote-controlled model, the Quad Navigator, is to be launched later in the year.

MOTOCADDY DRI SERIES CART BAG £179.99, MOTOCADDY.COM Weighing less than 2kg, the ultra-lightweight Dry Series bag has been constructed using a special coated waterproof fabric, plus hard-wearing thermo-sealed and nylon-coated zips with ‘zipper garages’ to provide protection from the rain for both golf clubs and accessories.

Seven spacious pockets with heat-welded seams help keep water out, while an insulated cooler pocket keeps drinks cold, while 14 full-length dividers hold clubs securely in place. Motocaddy’s exclusive EASILOCK bag-to-trolley connection system removes the need for a lower bag strap thanks to two holes on the trolley’s bag support aligned with two locking pins on the bag.

It is available in black/red, black/blue and black/lime.

COBRA KING UTILITY £169/£145, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK Already in the bag of Rickie Fowler, Cobra’s new King utility iron is ideal for players looking for the feel and performance of an iron, combined with the forgiveness and slightly higher flight of a hybrid.

Featuring a large sole with a hollow head, the Utility boasts a cup face and a 67g tungsten weight that is positioned low and back in the head to deliver increased speed and higher launch.

Using MyFly8 technology, the King Utility breaks new ground by being adjustable for eight different loft and lie settings (18, 18.5, 18.5 draw, 19.5, 19.5 draw, 21.5, 21.5 draw, and 22). The stock steel shaft is a KBS C-Taper Lite X or S, while the graphite option is an Aldila Rogue Black 85 in X, S or R.

ETIQUS BELTS £49, ETIQUS.CO.UK British watch brand Etiqus has joined forces with Druh Belts & Buckles to launch an exclusive range of belts.

Available in either black or white crocodile-effect leather, the belts are handmade and feature a polished stainless steel buckle. They are available exclusively through the brand’s website, with a £20 discount on offer when bought with any Etiqus Sport Pro or Sport Tour watch.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PRO SHOP | MAY 2016 [45]

PING G FAIRWAY WOODS £229, PING.COM The G fairway woods showcase a number of design changes over the previous G30 model, including a lower leading edge, which sits closer to the ground and raises the impact position on the face by 12% to make getting the ball airborne easier.

The use of Carpenter 455 steel allows for a thinner, variable-thickness face, which increases flexing at impact to deliver increased ball speeds and higher launch through improved roll-radius consistency, while a new internal cascading sole design engages more of the structure at impact, resulting in a large spring-like effect for faster ball speeds. A 25% thinner crown has enabled 7g of weight to be repositioned to move the centre of gravity lower and further back in the 169cc head, resulting in higher initial launch.

Also new to the G series is the Stretch 3; a larger-headed (184cc) driving 3-wood with a deeper, less-lofted face for golfers seeking a versatile driver alternative or hotterfaced fairway wood. An SF Tec fairway wood is also offered, which features a more heel-side centre of gravity to provide shot bend correction.

Available in 3 (14.5°), 5 (17.5°) and 7 (20.5°) in standard head, 3 (16°) & 5 (19°) in SF Tec head and 3W (13°) in Stretch, they come with Ping Alta 65 shafts (SR, R, S, X); with options for the Tour 65 & Tour 80 (R, S, X).

CALLAWAY XFER NITRO £89.99. CALLAWAYGOLF.COM Callaway has launched head long, or rather feet first, into the footwear market with its biggest ever range for 2016. Following 50% sales growth in 2015, the new collection features a dizzying 41 different styles designed to meet the playing demands and fashion tastes of every golfer.

There’s something for everyone, from the super premium Apex Tour brogue (£179) to the lightweight trainer-style Chev Comfort (£49), although the headline model is the Xfer Nitro, part of the X Series, whose performance features include a Big Bertha Power Cleat, which offers longer traction elements on one half of the cleat to assist energy transfer through more solid ground contact. Soft microfibre uppers and an ortholite footbed increase in-shoe comfort, while a memory fold heel tab makes it easier to slip on and off. The Xfer Nitro is available in black, white/grey, white/grey/crimson, and white/grey/lime in sizes 6-13 in medium widths and 7-12 in wide.

tried + tested POWAKADDY TOUCH £399.99/£549.99/£599.99 POWAKADDY.CO.UK

PETER MILLAR E4 PERFORMANCE £55, PETERMILLAR.CO.UK The Peter Millar E4 Collection features moisture-wicking, four-way stretch golf staples like polo shirts, jackets, pullovers, shorts and trousers to keep you dry and comfortable in the most diverse weather conditions. A key piece in the collection is the Competition Strip Stretch Jersey Polo, which has a knitted collar and a three-button placket. It is made from 92% polyester and 8% spandex, which wicks away moisture to keep you dry in all conditions, while four-way stretch fibres provide the freedom to comfortably move in any direction while ensuring an excellent fit. The material also features built-in UV protection, while antimicrobial properties keep odour under control.

POWAKADDY’S NEW TOUCH takes electric trolley technology to the next level with a speed control that reacts to the pressure of your hand. Rather than relying on a traditional roller mechanism, you simply rest your hand on the handle, start walking, and the trolley will respond to your speed. As you slow, so does the trolley. Take your hand off and it will maintain that speed.

The company launched a version of this trolley back in 2010, which was also called the Touch, but this new model has been given a complete makeover in terms of design and styling. The previous design had the stripped down appearance of a HillBilly, but the Touch 2.0 is much more in line with PowaKaddy’s premium position in the market, with plenty of touches that give a more premium feel.

These include a kinetic LED display that turns green when the trolley is moving and red once it has stopped; a built-in USB port for charging phones and GPS units; and bungee bag straps with anti-

pinch handles to keep your bag in place. And then there’s Powakaddy’s wireless Plug ’n’ Play battery system, which allows you to click in the battery in one movement. It is available with a lead-acid battery, and two compact lithium-ion batteries, the more expensive of which guarantees 36 holes on a single charge. The frame – which folds down neatly and can be stored upright – is available in choice of black or white, while the wheels have been given a sporty makeover in terms of trim and design.

The sliding handle mechanism does take some getting used to in order to ensure that it doesn’t lurch off at full speed, but after a few holes you’ll quickly find yourself in tune with each other. Overall, the Touch is definitely an improvement on the earlier model, with a much more solid, quality construction, but I’d like to have seen the digital screen offer a little more information than the fact that it’s on, and I remain to be convinced that there’s anything inherently difficult about operating a speed dial next to your thumb.

[46] MAY 2016 | GPS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PINSEEKERS There’s no excuse for leaving it short with the latest range of Distance Measuring devices

HANDHELD GPS GOLFBUDDY PT4 £299, GPSGOLFBUDDY.EU Offering 37,000 pre-loaded courses, the Platinum 4 features the slimmest design (16mm), highest resolution colour screen, and largest screen (four inches) of any product in the handheld GPS market. Designed to operate like a smartphone, it boasts a touch screen that works on finger movement rather than pressure. Features include dynamic green view to the front, middle and back; target and hazard information; manual lay-up points and pin placement; digital scorecard; and online stats analysis via GolfBuddy Manager.

BUSHNELL NEO GHOST £99, BUSHNELLGOLF.EU Preloaded with more than 33,000 courses, the NEO Ghost provides measurements to the front, centre and back of the green – along with up to four hazards per hole – on an easy-to-read screen. Additional features include auto course and auto hole recognition; and a shot distance calculator, while the built-in battery will last for at least three rounds. A clip enables the unit to be worn on a belt or attached to a golf bag. It’s available in black, charcoal, green or white.

SKYCADDIE AIRE II £129.95, SKYCADDIE.CO.UK Offering front, centre and back distances for 35,000 courses, the handset has a 1.8-inch mono screen, which displays large numbers for easy reference. Features include autocourse and hole recognition; digital scorecard; shot distance; and a pedometer and calorie counter. A fee is required to upgrade to SkyCaddie’s IntelliGreen and TrueGround Target features, which provide green shapes, adjustable pin targeting, and up to 40 hazards per hole, along with access to SkyGolf’s online community for post-round analysis.

GOLFBUDDY VS4

SKYCADDIE TOUCH £329.95, SKYGOLF.COM Pre-loaded with 35,000 courses, the Touch offers glove-friendly touch-screen navigation with a high-definition colour display. Features include IntelliGreen technology, which gives yardages from the angle of attack and highlights major contours on the putting surface; Target List (listing hazards and carries), HoleVue (full hole viewing), RangeVue (showing yardage arcs) and PinPoint (add pin positions), and digital scoring and stats.

It can also measure club distances, steps, time and scores for multiple players, and can be linked via Bluetooth to the SkyGolf 360 app on a smart phone to instantly download the very latest course maps.

£129, GPSGOLFBUDDY.EU Able to vocalise distances in up to eight languages at the push of a button, as well as display them on a small screen, the VS4 offers yardages to the front/centre/back of the green. The volume can be adjusted, while the voice can be male or female. Boasting 38,000 pre-loaded courses, it features course and hole recognition; shot distance measurement; dynamic green view, and a 10-hour battery life.

Measuring 4cm square, it can be clipped onto a belt, hat or golf bag, while an optional silicone strap turns it into a watch.

GOLFSHOT PLUS £22.99, GOLFSHOT.COM Available for Android and Apple smartphones and Apple watches, the Plus edition has access to over 40,000 course maps, offering dynamic 3D flyovers of each hole, and realtime distances to the front, back and centre of each green and all key hazards and targets.

TruePoint touch targeting enables accurate lay up distances, while scorecard and stats tracking is also offered.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GPS | MAY 2016

[47]

WATCH GPS

GARMIN APPROACH X40 £199, GARMIN.COM Offering yardages to the front, middle and back of greens, lay ups, hazards and doglegs on more than 40,000 courses, the X40 is a wristband GPS that also acts as a fitness tracker – monitoring heart rate, steps and calories. AutoShot 4 game tracking automatically tracks shots along the fairway and measures distances for detailed post-game analysis on Garmin Connect, while Green View displays the shape of the green and allows the pin to be manually placed for more accurate yardages. A digital scorecard can track individual stats, while it can also be paired with Garmin’s TruSwing club sensor for swing analysis. It is available in black, white, blue or lime.

SKYCADDIE LINX GT £269.95, SKYCADDIE.COM

BUSHNELL NEO XS

GOLFBUDDY WT5

£159, BUSHNELLGOLF.CO.UK

£159.99, GPSGOLFBUDDY.EU

Pre-loaded with over 33,000 courses around the world, the Neo XS instantly recognises courses and holes and offers distances on up to four hazards per hole – up from two on the previous model – and has a tee time start mode, so you don’t waste any of its 14-hour battery life – which is good for at least three rounds. It also offers shot tracking, and all the normal functions of a watch, including a timer, alarm, and odometer. It’s waterproof and is available in a choice of three colours: black/yellow, charcoal/orange, or white/cobalt.

In addition to the usual front-backcentre of the green readings, the WT5 features a button that offers distances to targets and hazards such as water and bunkers. Its 1.26-inch colour screen also has a dynamic green view and pin placement function, and it allows users to move the pin to nine points on the green for more precise yardages. Pre-loaded with 40,000 automatically-recognised courses, it also offers a digital scorecard. Battery life is good for at least two 18-hole rounds.

SKYCADDIE SW2

TOMTOM GOLFER 2 £199.99, TOMTOM.COM

Slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, and offering an improved 14-hour battery life, the SW2 is pre-loaded with 35,000 golf courses which have been precision mapped on foot, including 99% of courses in Great Britain and Ireland. Features include distance measurement to the front, centre and back of greens; auto course and hole recognition; shot distance measurement, and an odometer and pace of play timer. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity to enable easy data syncing and score tracking.

Tom Tom’s second-generation GPS watch features a slimmer design, as well a number of new features. Along with measurements to greens and hazards on over 40,000 courses, it boasts a shot detection function, which allows distances to be measured via a built-in motion sensor. After the round, the wearer can wirelessly connect to TomTom’s MySports app to check stats. An ‘ultimate round’ feature combines the best holes from a course to demonstrate what a best potential round could look like, and there’s also an automatic scorecard feature that works with the shot detection to keep score, although putts have to be entered manually.

BUSHNELL TOUR V4

CALLAWAY 300

GOLFBUDDY LR5

£269, BUSHNELLGOLF.EU

£239, BRANDFUSION.CO.UK

£219.95, GPSGOLFBUDDY.EU

The new Tour V4 is not only faster than the previous Tour V3 model, but is also 30% smaller and more ergonomically designed.

Capable of measuring up to 400 yards to a flag, it features JOLT technology, which issues a short vibration when the laser is locked onto the target. Dual display technology enables users to toggle between a red or black display for use in all conditions.

It is available in slope (£309) and non-slope versions, with the slope model providing yardages that compensate for elevation changes.

Callaway’s second generation laser features Pin Acquisition Technology which enables it to lock onto pins up to 300 yards away without being distracted by trees or other background objects. Offering six times magnification, it is powered by a CR2 lithium battery, which features an auto shut off system that powers the device down if idle for more than five seconds. The 300 Power Pack comes with a padded carry case, which can be clipped onto a golf bag, a divot repair tool, and a sleeve of Callaway’s Chrome Soft balls.

Accurate to a metre for distances up to 800 yards, the LR5 offers three different operational modes (Standard, Pin and Scan). Scan provides a continuous 10-second display of all objects located; 'Pin' homes in on the flag and factors out the background; and Standard provides a single distance to any chosen target from flag to dogleg point or hazard edge. Compact, lightweight and ergonomic, it features multi-coated lenses with six times magnification, while eyepiece focus adjustment makes it suitable for glasses wearers. It has a battery life indicator and offers up to 5,000 scans from new.

Pre-loaded with 35,000 ground-mapped courses, the GT provides distances to the front, centre and back of the green straight from the box. It can also be paired wirelessly with SkyCaddie’s mobile app to provide expanded HD views of the hole you’re playing on your smartphone. Users can tap the screen to to get information needed for lay ups or up to 40 referenced targets. A built-in shot tracking system, when combined with SkyCaddie SmartTags, allows golfers to track the club, location and distance of each shot, and is synchronised in real time with the SkyGolf 360 Cloud.

£129.95, SKYCADDIE.CO.UK

LASER GPS

[48] MAY 2016 | EQUIPMENT NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT

NEWS

SKYCADDIE OFFERS £50 FOR OLD DMDS GOLFERS CAN SAVE £50 off the price of a new SkyCaddie GPS unit if they trade in their old one before May 31.

The trade-in device can be any make or model, and doesn’t even have to be working. Just bring it into any SkyCaddie retailer and they will refund £50 off any purchase of a new SkyCaddie, whether it be the LINX GT, SW2 watch, the micro-sized Aire II, the Touch, or SkyCaddie’s new SkyPro swing analysis device.

All SkyCaddie models feature over 35,000 golf courses that have been measured on foot by expert SkyCaddie mappers using GPS surveying equipment.

James Holmes, the firm’s UK & European Sales Manager, said: “This is a limited-time amnesty for UK golfers which applies to any make of golfing laser or GPS device which you don’t use any more, even if it doesn’t work. And our 2016 range is so exceptional that we’re prepared to back it with this very strong and simple offer – but it only lasts until the end of May. So if you’ve been on the fence about buying a new rangefinder, now is the time to do it.”

The trade-in offer can also be done online at www.newskycaddie.com/amnesty with Promo Code ‘AMNESTY50’.

TITLEIST LAUNCHES SHORT GAME EVENTS TITLEIST FITTING EXPERTS will be travelling the length and breath of the UK this summer to undertake the Vokey SM6 Tour, a series of specific days allowing golfers to experience and be fitted for its new range of SM6 wedges designed by Bob Vokey.

As part of the series of events, Titleist’s expert will be highlighting the three key areas where wedge fitting can help improve their short game – namely precise distance gapping, shot versatility and creating maximum spin.

Golfers attending each of these events, which will be held at golf clubs and American Golf stores, will also be able to experience the Titleist golf ball fitting process to find the best ball for their game, as well as trialling the latest line of Scotty Cameron putters.

“The Vokey SM6 Tour will allow more golfers to be educated in the importance of finding the best wedge set-up for their game,” said Richard Temple, Titleist’s golf club product manager. “We have selected some of the best short game facilities in the UK & Ireland to ensure golfers have a great opportunity to select the best performing equipment for their game.”

Upcoming venues include Ashridge GC, Herts (June 1), Eastleigh AG, Hants (June 5) and Redlibbets GC, Kent on May 27. To find a full list of participating venues, and contact details to prebook your place, visit www.titleist.co.uk/fitting-day-schedule.

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

EQUIPMENT NEWS | MAY 2016 [49]

ANCHORS AWAY WITH NEW ARM-LOCK GRIP HELP IS AT HAND for golfers affected by the ban on anchoring long-handled putters.

Sussex-based Diamond Golf International is the sole distributor of the Arm-Lock Converter Grip, a specially-designed grip which replaces a regular grip on a belly, broomhandle, or standard putter to accommodate a rules-conforming forearm anchor putting stroke.

The Arm-Lock Converter Grip turns any putter into a forearm-anchored putter and negates the de-lofting that occurs due to forward shaft press when the putter grip rests against the forearm.

The bore in the grip, or shaft channel, is angled so that the shaft aligns with the forearm and increases the effective loft by 2-3 degrees.

Daren Treacy, managing director of Diamond Golf, said: "This is very clever development, and with many pros no doubt being asked by their members for ways to combat the anchored putting stroke ban, it's a great product.

Without increased putter loft, the ball is driven into the ground,

severely affecting the roll and intended line. But most current putters on the market adapted for this method are built with a loft of seven degrees in order to impart a proper roll. The main drawback to these putters is that they still put the player in an awkward position with an uncomfortable forward press at address – but the Arm-Lock Golf Converter Grip doesn't."

The grips are best fitted using compressed air and trimming (for broom and belly putters) or extending (for standard length models) to roughly one inch below the forearm elbow crease is the only other modification required to an existing putter.

The Arm-Lock Converter Grip can be used on either the left or right forearms and by either right or left handed players and was invented by American PGA club professional Ronnie Espedal.

Golfers interested in buying an ArmLock Converter grip should contact their local PGA Professional or visit www.diamondgolf.co.uk.

COBRA PARTNERS WITH ARCCOS COBRA has partnered with Arccos Golf, maker of the game’s only GPS, live shot tracking and tour analytics platform, to offer a free Arccos Driver system, worth £60, with the purchase of any Conra King driver online and at participating retailers.

Arccos Driver, which retails at £60, delivers real-time data for tee shot distances, fairways hit and more, allowing golfers to analyse their driving accuracy and distance. The single-sensor automatically detecting each drive and recording second shot position without the need for tagging or other disruptions. Additional features include personalised challenges, live leaderboards, GPS on over 35,000 golf courses, and social media interaction.

Tom Olsavsky, president of R&A at Cobra, said: “Golfers who use our drivers will be amazed at the distance, forgiveness and precision in each shot, and now thanks to this partnership with Arccos they can track it for themselves. This enhances the fun of any round while allowing players to immediately see just how well they crush the ball with their King driver.”

The promotion began on May 3 and will run until stocks of the Arccos units last.

INSPIRED BY TOUR. AUTHENTIC TO GOLF. FASHIONED FOR YOU.

THE GEAR EFFECT Inside The Bags Of Winners On Tour

BRANDEN GRACE RBC HERITAGE DRIVER: Callaway XR16 SubZero (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 816 (16) IRONS: Callaway Apex UT (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey Versa V-Line BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

ANDREW JOHNSTON SPANISH OPEN DRIVER: Titleist 915D3 (10.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (15) IRONS: Titleist MB 716 (3-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (46, 50, 54, 58) PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron Tour Only Newport 2 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

CHARLEY HOFFMAN VALERO TEXAS OPEN DRIVER: Titleist 915D4 (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Titleist 915F (13.5) HYBRID: Titleist 915Hd (17.5) IRONS: Titleist 716 T-MB (3) Titleist 716 MB (5-9) WEDGES: Titleist Vokey SM5 (46, 50, 56, 58) PUTTER: Titleist Scotty Cameron GoLo 5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1

WESLEY BRYAN EL BOSQUE MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway Great Big Bertha (9.5)

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway XR Pro (14) HYBRID: Callaway Apex (14) IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 3 (49, 54, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey Metal X Milled #2 BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft

SOO-MIN LEE SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER: TaylorMade M1 430 (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 (15) Hybrid: Srixon H45 (19) IRONS: Srixon Z945 (3-PW) WEDGES: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 (52, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey I.92.AR.1 BALL: Srixon Z Star XV

BRIAN STUARD ZURICH CLASSIC DRIVER: Callaway Great Big Bertha (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway XR Pro (14) HYBRIDS: Callaway Apex (20, 23) Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (4-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 3 (52, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey Works Marxman Fang Tank BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

HAO-TONG LI VOLVO CHINA OPEN DRIVER: Nike Vapor Pro (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Nike Vapor Speed (15) IRONS: Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3, 4), Nike Vapor Pro (5-9) WEDGES: Nike Engage (48, 54, 60) PUTTER: Nike Method Matter B2-05 BALL: Nike RZN Tour Platinum

2016 MASTERS CHAMPION

DANNY WILLETT WEARS CALLAWAY APPAREL WWW.CALLAWAYEUROPEAPPAREL.COM © 2016 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway and the Chevron device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Perry Ellis International is an official licensee of Callaway Golf Company.

[50] MAY 2016 | COURSE REVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ THE PAR-4 SIXTH IS THE VALE’S ANSWER TO THE 10TH AT THE BELFRY, CHALLENGING PLAYERS TO REACH A GREEN PROTECTED AT THE FRONT BY WATER

ALL HAIL

THE VALE!

Golf News’s Richard Maunder pays a visit to THE VALE RESORT in Cardiff, where two championship golf courses and a four-star hotel are the main attractions at this all-round sporting estate

W

hile Wales is blessed with several world-class golf break destinations, top the list of venues on a trip to this part of the world should be The Vale, a luxury hotel, golf and spa resort nestled in over 650 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside just a few miles west of Cardiff.

Featuring 143 bedrooms, two championship golf courses, and a spa that has just been voted the best in Wales, The Vale has all the right ingredients for a golf break to remember.

The National course has been considered good enough to stage several top-flight tournament of its own, with the European Senior Tour, Challenge Tour and EuroPro Tour all having held events here since it first opened in 2003.

This swiftly maturing inland championship layout has developed a fearsome reputation, mainly due to it measuring 7,433 yards from the back tees, although there are forward tees to make it playable for club golfers of all skill levels. Despite the 600-yard second hole being the longest par five in Wales, the course isn’t all about big hitting, with a selection of marvellous par threes, while the 280-yard par-4 sixth is The Vale’s answer to the 10th at The Belfry challenging golfers to try and reach the green which is protected at the front by water. With no trouble if you go long, the temptation is to go for it, although a mid-iron lay up, leaving a simple wedge, will still set up the chance of a birdie.

The back nine is where the National course really shows its teeth. The 10th is a long par five and the best hole on the course. Out of bounds runs all the way down the right hand side and water comes into play on the second and third shots. A fairway metal from the tee and a mid iron lay-up leaves an intimidating third shot into a small green. Once on the putting surface you are facing a tricky green. The stretch from 13 to 16 is very strong, kicking off with a 450-yard

par four. It’s a tight driving hole, with water down the left that catches any shot hit marginally right of centre in the fairway. Once you have the tee shot away, a huge green awaits. Planned as a double green when it was first built, it is separated by a large mound in the middle.

Your second shot with a long iron needs to be accurate so as to leave a fairly flat putt. The 14th is a long par three, again over water to a two tier green, while the 15th is a par five with water left and right off the tee, with the green is protected by water, making the lay up and third shot very tricky. The 495-yard 16th is a tough driving hole, with trees and water right, and even after this, you will be left with a long iron into a green surrounded by water and rocks.

After this, 17 and 18 are short par fours, and apart from a tricky tee shot on 17, both provide a good opportunities to finish your round strongly, and if you’re lucky, catch sight of the Welsh rugby team or Cardiff City footballers training on the pitches across the road.

If you thought there was plenty of water on the National, the Lake Course really lives up to its name, with the wet stuff coming into play on no fewer than 12 holes, although its shorter length – 6,436 yards – makes it more playable for the higher handicapper, while still being a serious challenge for better players. Among the highlights is the 12th, a 300-yard par four, which features a Sawgrass-style island green for a memorable signature challenge.

Away from the golfing action, the large clubhouse has a relaxed feel with home cooked

■ THE HOTEL BOASTS 143 BEDROOMS, MANY OF WHICH ENJOY STUNNING VIEWS OVER THE GOLF COURSES

food and an outside patio with seating for over 150 golfers. There’s a good-sized golf shop and excellent practice facilities, including a driving range.

For those making a weekend of it, the hotel boasts 143 rooms, many of them overlooking the golf courses. Mine had a balcony looking out over the Lakes Course, and was kitted out with all the usual mod cons – satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and coffee/tea making facilities – and had a very nice en-suite, with an excellent power shower.

Elsewhere, the Vale Spa – which was recently voted the best spa in Wales at the World Travel Awards – offers a range of more than 50 treatments, has 19 treatment rooms, six bespoke relaxation zones, a 20-metre swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

Food is never far from a golfer’s mind, and the resort’s AA Rosette Vale Grill is the perfect place to enjoy a post-round meal, with a menu that features a wide choice of golfers’ classics, as well as a good selection of locally-sourced specials.

Those with something to celebrate should head for the Salamanza Champagne Bar, where a lengthy cocktail list and live music provide the background to an evening’s entertainment.

With its friendly, attentive staff, first-class accommodation, and two challenging, yet enjoyable golf courses, The Vale should be on everyone’s golfing itinerary.

The Vale has a range of great value golf breaks available, starting with one night’s B&B and 18 holes of golf from just £69pp. For bookings and more details, visit www.vale-hotel.com or call 01443 667800.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | MAY 2016

[51]

SNAP UP CARNOUSTIE’S DREAM TICKET W

ith the fairways in tip-top condition following four months of play off mats, there has never been a better time to pay a visit Carnoustie, arguably one of the most accessible Open Championship venues in Britain.

The Championship course on which Padraig Harrington enjoyed one of his finest hours in 2008 – and which hosts the Senior Open this summer and The Open again in 2018 – has been described as the 'supreme test', and was praised by Walter Hagan as the greatest course in the British Isles and one of the top three in the world.

The course, which at 7,421 yards is the longest in Open history, is a fair but severe test, with one of the toughest closing stretches in world golf.

With over 60 bunkers to snaffle any less-than-perfect tee shots and approaches, and huge, lightning quick greens which make threeputting almost par for the course, this is a links that puts pressure on every element of your game. If there’s a weakness in your golfing armour, you will be found out.

However, the Championship course is just one of three layouts at Carnoustie Golf Links, with the Buddon and the Burnside courses combining to offer three superbly differing, yet equally enjoyable tests of links golf.

The Buddon has recently received a major redesign, with architects Ebert & Mackenzie brought in to reconfigure the course, after its opening par four had to be reduced to a par three following the construction of the town’s new £2m golf centre.

The overall length of the course has been increased from 5,420 yards to 6,088 yards, and the par from 65 to a challenging 68. All in all, it makes for a much more complete course, although the six par three holes, still make it possible to scoot round in three hours, have lunch and then play the 6,208-yard Burnside, which has been used as an Open Qualifying venue on a number of occasions, including in 1953, when Ben Hogan won the Open title at his first and only attempt.

Golfers wishing to take on all

three courses should snap up a Combination Ticket, which offers 18 holes on each course for just £200. Considering that a peak season green fee to play the Championship course is £165, a further £35 secures 36 more holes on top-class courses. It also represents a saving of 30 per cent on the cost of individual green fees for Carnoustie’s three courses.

Four-star accommodation can be found right behind

To book a combination ticket, go online to www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk. For hotel bookings, visit www.bespokehotels.com or call 0844 815 9833.

COMPETITION WIN A FOUR-BALL AT CARNOUSTIE! Golf News has a free four-ball on Carnoustie’s Championship Course to give away to one lucky reader.

To have a chance of winning this prize, which is worth £480, simply answer the question below, and email it info@golfnews.co.uk, putting ‘Carnoustie Competition’ in the subject line and including your name, address, contact telephone number, and where you picked up your copy of Golf News.

The closing date for entries is June 15, 2016. No accommodation is offered with this prize, and the winners must arrange their own transport to Carnoustie.

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[52] MAY 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PUT THE BELFRY ON YOUR BUCKET LIST IF IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU VISITED THE BELFRY, THE ICONIC WEST MIDLANDS VENUE WHICH HAS HOSTED FOUR PAST RYDER CUPS, THEN IT’S TIME YOU WENT BACK TO SEE WHAT A £26 MILLION REFURBISHMENT LOOKS BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A RANGE OF GREAT VALUE STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGE FROM YOUR GOLF TRAVEL.

W

hile three championship layouts and a combination of luxurious accommodation, great hospitality options, and a wide choice of leisure facilities, it’s no wonder that The Belfry, the Ryder Cup’s spiritual home in the UK, remains one of the most popular domestic destinations or a golf break at any time of year.

Whether you’re playing with your partner, or piling in with a big group of friends, The Belfry has got all the bases covered for a golf break to remember.

Fifty-four holes of championship-quality golf is more than enough to keep even the most ardent of golfers busy during a stay.

And while the Derby Course is a great place for those just taking up the game to get to grips

with the basics, the PGA National and Brabazon Courses up the ante considerably, offering bona fide tournament tests that will appeal to all serious students of the game.

The PGA National joined the party at The Belfry when it opened in 1997, and with its American-style mounding providing much of the definition between holes, as well as water coming into play on no less than eight holes, it’s clearly a course designed with tournament play in mind.

However, the star of the show is surely the Brabazon Course, which first hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, when Europe famously wrestled the cup from American clutches for the first time after years of one-way traffic, and most recently in 2002, when Paul McGinley put the seal on

another European win with an impressive swan dive into the lake adjacent to the 18th green.

A round on the Brabazon, which is always presented in pristine condition, is a memorable experience for all golfers with a sense of history.

Who could resist having a crack at the green on the iconic reachable par-4 10th hole, as Seve did in 1985, or channelling memories of Christy O’Connor’s brilliant 2-iron at 18, which was a dagger to Freddie Couples’ heart in 1989.

And your round, Sam’s Clubhouse provides the perfect place to enjoy a drink or two and swap stories of nearlys and might have beens, while hungry golfers will be right at home here too.

Alternatively, you could choose to head to the Brabazon Bar, before moving on to the legendary Bel Air Club & Lounge for a lively evening’s

Southern Counties

HEATHLAND GOLF TOURS

entertainment.

The 324-bedroom resort, which has recently benefitted from a £26 million makeover, is supplemented by a host of other enviable off-course amenities, such as a relaxing spa, diverse food and beverage outlets, plus an award-winning pro shop. Throw in the recentlyopened Ryder Legends Mini Golf Course – which features miniature replicas of some of the most iconic holes in Ryder Cup history – and the tourstandard practice and custom-fitting facilities, and you have all the ingredients for a truly unforgettable golf break.

For details of the very latest golf break packages on offer at The Belfry, visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 1936629.

To enquire call:

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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

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UK BREAKS | MAY 2016

[53]

Opened to huge hype in 2012, STREAMSONG RESORT in Florida proved an instant hit with golfers. Sarah Stirk went to find out what all the fuss was about, and was duly impressed, especially with the cookies I'VE PLAYED A LOT OF GOLF IN FLORIDA over the years, but when the opportunity came to visit Streamsong, I jumped at it! I'd heard the resort described as completely un-Floridian, far removed from the tourist traps of Tampa, Orlando and Miami, how right they were.

If I could sum up Streamsong in one word, it would be 'magical'. I was only there for three nights and two days, and I left feeling like I'd been on a two- week retreat, totally transfixed by the surroundings and working out when I could next squeeze in a visit.

It really is in the middle of nowhere, the nearest town being some 15 minutes away, and a 90-minute drive from Orlando, but that’s its appeal. I arrived late at night, after covering a PGA Tour event in Tampa, and must admit to being slightly alarmed at the sheer darkness around me as I turned down yet another farm track en route to my destination. I only had a couple of days downtime in between tournaments in Tampa and Orlando, and it's close proximity to both means it's a great location. It's far enough away to feel like you've had a proper break, and yet close enough to pay a quick visit from one of the Sunshine States’ key urban hubs.

I arrived about 11pm, and having only managed to grab a sandwich on the drive over I was still feeling a little puckish. So I called room service to order a pot of tea and something sweet. After a brief discussion about what I might fancy, the attendant passed the phone over to the duty manager who decided that peanut butter cookies was the way forward. The only problem being, they didn't have any left, so they would have to freshly bake some and bring them up. When they arrived they were warm and deliciously gooey, but the level of customer service set the tone for the trip – absolutely first class.

Anyway, enough about cookies. The resort is set on 16,000 acres of former phosphate mine in Polk County and was developed by The Mosaic Company, one of the world leaders in crop nutrition. Always seeking ways to enhance the land it reclaims after mining and to support rural communities, the space has been commercially developed in an environmentally responsible way while benefiting the local economy. Plus, us golfers get two phenomenal courses, a win-win situation for everybody.

Two unparalleled, intersecting layouts, Streamsong Red, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and Streamsong Blue, designed by Tom Doak at Renaissance Golf Design, have been beautifully crafted into the landscape to offer something never before experienced in Florida, with dramatic elevation changes being the biggest point of differences between your standard layout in this part of the world. Both layouts have won numerous awards, and Red is consistently ranked among the best public courses in the country. The affable Director of Golf, Scott Wilson, says neither one is defined as the signature course, both offering different challenges.

I found it hard to choose between the two, with most players tending to prefer the one they shot the lowest score on. If that's the case, Red is my favourite. It features striking landforms, large lakes and rolling terrain, and an onslaught of long and tight par fours that will test your physical and mental game. Blue is as visually interesting as it is strategically challenging, with not a single dull hole on the card.

Most of the long holes feature generous fairways with challenging approach shots, while shorter holes provide landing areas that beg for a layup off the tee, but also invite you to challenge their length with the driver.

There is a striking absence of rough on both courses, and areas through the green are mowed to fairway length, while kept sandy areas are considered hazards,

■ THE 180-YARD PAR-3 6TH HOLE ON THE RED COURSE

■ STREAMSONG OFFERS A FEELING OF SPLENDID ISOLATION DESPITE BEING JUST 90 MINUTES FROM ORLANDO

while the rest of the sandy areas are considered waste areas (although the line between the two can be a bit blurry at times!). The greens, like the fairways, are Bermuda and you must take into consideration the grain before you hit your putts.

Beyond the sandy waste areas lies thick vegetation that varies from ankle deep to chest high. The pro shop advised entering these areas could bring you face to face with rattlesnakes, so I never dared even getting close!

The next chapter, Streamsong Black, is due to open towards the end of next year. Designed by Gil Hanse, who built the course for the Rio Olympics, it will be a standalone course set to offer guests a real sense of isolation. With five par fives, it will be a par-73 course and is expected to be the tougher of the three. Although no announcement has been made as yet, I can't imagine it will be long until the next layout is in the pipeline. Space isn't an issue, and I strongly believe there's the ambition and structure in place for Streamsong to become one of the biggest and most high profile resorts in the entire United States.

Like any good destination, there's plenty on offer. The restaurants are phenomenal, likewise the spa and outdoor infinity pool. The clubhouse is minimalist in style, and really isn’t much to look at from the front. However from the back it is absolutely striking, and is perfect contrast for the classic designs of the courses. Inside, you’ll find a pro shop (well stocked, of course), a large bar, locker rooms, and a beautiful dining area. Modern art, clean lines, and wood panels complete the décor.

Golfing aside, my two highlights of the trip were sipping G&Ts on the rooftop bar while watching the sun go down, and taking a boat trip around the lakes in search of alligators.

Streamsong is quite simply like no other resort in Florida. It's setting the standard in customer service, and for me serves as part resort/part retreat. But don't just take my word for it, go and check it out for yourself.

Oh, and did I mention they also do delicious peanut butter cookies?

For details on stay-and-play packages, visit www.streamsongresort.com.

IF I COULD SUM UP STREAMSONG IN ONE WORD, IT WOULD BE 'MAGICAL'. I WAS ONLY THERE FOR THREE NIGHTS AND TWO DAYS, AND I LEFT FEELING LIKE I'D BEEN ON A TWO- WEEK RETREAT, TOTALLY TRANSFIXED BY THE SURROUNDINGS

■ THE 203-YARD PAR-3 7TH HOLE ON STREAMSONG'S BLUE COURSE

[54] MAY 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

AUSTRIAN RESORT LAUNCHES

GIRLS-ONLY GOLF BREAKS A

health and leisure resort in the Austrian Tirol has launched a range of golf breaks that are designed exclusively for women.

The new girls-only packages at Parkhotel Igls in Innsbruck combine exercise and world-class golf with tailored diet plans to restore mental and physical equilibrium and aid weightloss if required.

Priced from £775, the two-night break includes accommodation in a superior single room, modern Mayr cuisine, one green fee, two treatments, use of the extensive facilities, and access to on-site medical facilities and dedicated Mayr Golf training. Three-night breaks are also available from £1,112, including an additional green fee and

25-minute massage.

Parkhotel Igls is a multi-award winning destination spa situated on a plateau above Innsbruck, less than half-an-hour from the international airport. The retreat has three golf courses on its doorstep, including the championship 18-hole course at Innsbruck Rinn, and two shorter courses suitable for less experienced players and clinics.

Parkhotel Igls is Austria’s only TheMedGolf Institute, offering golf-specific training and remedial programmes.

The unique approach combines a medical and therapeutic grounding to aid the development of an efficient and sustainable swing, minimising the risk of typical golfing injuries such as recurring back and wrist problems.

JOIN JEREMY FOR THE

GOLFBREAKS TEAMS UP WITH SKY’S SARAH STIRK TO OFFER

PARADIS GOLF CHALLENGE P

LUXURY GOLF EXPERIENCES G

the ideal brand ambassador, given her business acumen and extensive contacts across the world of golf, sports and media,” said Andrew Stanley, CEO at Golfbreaks.com. “She also has a great passion for developing the game of golf for women, and offers the perfect cultural fit with our organisation,” he added.

Stirk, who joined Sky Sports in 2012, said: “This is a very exciting new venture for me and I’m delighted to be associated with a company that has such a strong reputation for excellent customer service. We see a great opportunity to add a new dimension to customised, luxury golf travel and plan to deliver experiential golfing trips that result in truly unforgettable memories.”

For more details visit www.golfbreaks.com.

olfbreaks.com, Europe’s leading specialist golf travel company, has acquired Xclusive Golf, a boutique agency owned by Sky Sports’ presenter Sarah Stirk that offers luxury and bespoke golfing experiences to individuals and corporations around the world.

The niche agency, which was formed by Stirk in 2009, is being integrated into a new Golfbreaks. com Xclusive Collection aimed at the growing market for high end golf-related travel packages, pro-ams, corporate events, access to private courses and ‘money can’t buy’ celebrity days.

By the time of the Ryder Cup matches being played in Paris in 2018, it is estimated that this premium market could be worth as much as £10 million a year.

“The Xclusive Collection extends our quality offering to discerning golfers, and we see Sarah as

GA Professional and world-renowned trick short performer Jeremy Dale is joining forces with the Paradis Hotel & Golf Club in Mauritius to offer holiday golfers the chance to sharpen up the game under warm Indian Ocean skies.

Dale believes that he has found the perfect formula for a social golf trip, with the launch of The Paradis Golfing Challenge; a mixture of entertainment, learning and friendly competition, all enjoyed in the stunning setting of Mauritius.

From December 2-10, golf enthusiasts can embark on an active holiday to the Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, where they will have the opportunity to take part in Dale’s special golf clinics throughout the week. There will be a different competition format each day, with the host joining the groups for golf during the day, and in the bar each evening for drinks and informal dinners.

The trip is designed to be about meeting new people, playing friendly competitions, and developing golf skills, while also enjoying the resort’s five-star facilities.

Golfers love to improve, love to compete with each other, and love to be entertained,

so a golfing holiday on which they can do all three seemed the perfect idea,” said Dale.

Prices start from £2,140 per person for a golfe, and from £1,840 for a non-golfer, based on two people sharing a double or twin room. The package includes six 90-minute group lessons; three competition rounds at Paradis; unlimited range balls; seven night’s half-board accommodation; welcome cocktail party and prize giving dinner; and return flights on Air Mauritius from Heathrow.

For more information or to book call 01483 445 618 or visit www.beachcombertours. co.uk/paradis-golf-challenge.

we’re the golf holiday experts

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travel

MAURITIUS

BALI

from £1,695 PP

from £2,095 PP

5* Pan Pacific Nirwana

5* Belle Mare Plage

12 nights Half Board from £1,695 PP 12 nights All Inclusive Package from £2,235 PP Unlimited golf, incl. flights & transfers

12 nights B&B (Half Board £30 pp/day) 8 rounds of golf (or 2 hour spa treatment)

MEXICO 5* Moon Palace

SOUTH AFRICA from £2,295 PP Cape Town & Fancourt

Incl. flights & transfers

from £1,895 PP

10 nights B&B 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses

2 weeks All Inclusive

Unlimited golf on 2 courses Incl. flights, transfers & unlimited golf

Incl. flights & car hire

MAURITIUS MIXED PAIRS 2016 TOURNAMENT

ESCORTED TOURS & TOURNAMENTS 2016

11th - 25th September 2016 - From £2,395 pp

Join us on one of our popular escorted tours to South Africa, Mauritius, Turkey, Mexico, Morocco and beyond...

12 nights Belle Mare Plage with unlimited green fees and 5 tournament rounds.

MADEIRA

In addition to its golf facilities, the hotel has an excellent medical department, well-equipped spa with a spectacular indoor pool, hydrotherapy section, saunas, gym and fitness facilities.

For details and bookings, visit www.parkhotel-igls.com.

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TURKEY

BOM SUCESSO

BECOMES EUROPEAN TOUR DESTINATION

B

om Sucesso in Portugal has been announced as the latest member of the European Tour Properties network to become an official European Tour Destination.

The Óbidos resort, just north of Lisbon, is located on the banks of a lagoon with striking inland and sea views, and offers an 18-hole Championship golf course and a 600-strong housing complex built in an eye-catching array of architectural styles. A five-star hotel is currently under development, complete with an extensive range of leisure facilities and services.

David MacLaren, the European Tour’s director of property, said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome Bom Sucesso as the latest addition to our network. Not only does it boast an attractive golf course, but the unique architectural project

that surrounds it make this one of the most striking venues in our portfolio. ” Pedro Portugal, CEO of Bom Sucesso, said: “We are very proud to become a member of an exclusive network like European Tour Properties, and we are looking forward to working together in developing our destination over the coming years. We have created a contemporary destination where modern architecture merges into the natural beauty of the Óbidos lagoon.

Recently we have been supporting professional golf in Portugal, especially with our sponsored European Tour player Ricardo Gouveia.”

Bom Sucesso is the third new addition to the European Tour Properties network in 2016, joining Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort in Bulgaria, and Albatross Golf Resort in Czech Republic.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | MAY 2016 [55]

ME&MYTRAVELS

Former Manchester United and England midfielder LEE SHARPE loves a lads’ golf trip away and is as happy in a beachside hammock as he is a luxury hotel

My first holiday was to… the Isle of Wight. My mum didn't like to fly, so we always went to places closer to home. I loved it there though. It’s like stepping back a few decades to a simpler time.

My most recent holiday was to... the Middle East in January.

I had a few rounds at the Royal Golf Club at Riffa in Bahrain, then managed to get into the Pro-Am at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, then I had a couple of games round the Creek in Dubai. Great trip!

My favourite golf course is...

Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, although it’s hard to pick just one, as I like a lot of courses for different reasons. I played TPC Sawgrass with a couple of mates last summer and thought that was stunning. I also like the courses in Dubai and

Abu Dhabi, but Portrush nicks it because of the history and I love links golf.

■ THE MAJLIS COURSE AT EMIRATES GC, DUBAI

My most memorable ever round was at... the Emirates Course in Dubai last year. I shot two under par and missed two six-footers on 17 and 18 for birdies to shoot four under – I totally bottled it!

My favourite golf resort is…

La Manga in Spain. A mate of mine lives out there, so I go there to see him once or twice a year. He has a bar too, so it's a good trip on and off the golf course. Recently, I was also lucky enough to go to Sun City in South Africa – that's a great place too!

I always travel with... my golf clubs! Always. What else do you need?

The best hotel I've ever stayed is… not actually a hotel, as

■ ROYAL PORTRUSH

The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island

I'm planning a golf trip to...

■ KOH LIPE, THAILAND

I’d find it to pick one luxury hotel over another. My most memorable overnight stay was in a beach hut on Koh Lipe in Thailand, where I slept outside in a hammock. That was pretty cool, and it only cost £2 a night.

My favourite city in the world is... Bangkok.

Scotland. A gang of 12 of us called ‘The Duffers’ is going up there the week after The Open. We’ll be playing North Berwick, The Renaissance, and 36 holes at Archerfield. Last year, four of us went to Ireland for the Masters weekend, staying at a friend’s pub in Tralee, and playing Ballybunion and a few other links courses around there.

My dream fourball would be...

My favourite holiday meal is… Friday runch in Dubai. It's a big

Ben Hogan, Moe Norman and Tiger.

tradition in Dubai, and is a mixture of everything you could possibly imagine – way beyond the traditional breakfast at lunchtime combination.

My top travel tip is... be patient.

The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island

Enjoy the journey, and remember your holiday starts the moment you leave the house.

Oak Point Golf Course, Kiawah Island

Wild Dunes Links Course, Isle of Palms

Travel to a place where there’s always something new to discover. Bask in Southern sunshine all year long, wander through a picturesque tea plantation or tee off amidst mountaintops and rolling sand dunes all in the same day. Start planning your trip today and find out why South Carolina is Just Right for holidays.

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