Golf News July 2016

ISSUE 256 | JULY 2016

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COMPLIMENTARY COPY TWITTER @GOLFNEWSMAG WEB GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

JUSTIN

ROSE

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW PLAYER IRONS TURNBERRY WIN A FOUR-BALL AT WOBURN MATT FITZPATRICK WILLOW CLASSIC 4-PAGE PULL-OUT

TALKS OLYMPICS, RYDER CUP AND INJURIES

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RINGS AIN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE I can’t begin to express how disappointed I am that so many of golf's leading professionals have decided to turn their backs on the Olympic Games.

Having fought tooth and nail to get the sport back on the schedule of events, golf’s governing bodies are going to Rio with egg all over their faces after the players that just two years ago gave their full and unquestionable support, have now rescinded on the basis that they’re either a little bit busy, or they’re worried about a mosquito. Let’s be quite clear here, fears over the Zika virus are a massive smokescreen for the top players’ complete inability to think outside their own little boxes.

As golf struggles to gain traction with kids, and falls out of favour with public broadcasters, the Olympics was an all too rare opportunity to promote the game’s leading stars to a truly global audience, and not the tiny percentage of the population that are able to afford subscription channel TV. I’ll confess that I had misgivings about golf’s relevance to the Olympic ideal, and wondered if there was a good reason why it had only been played two or three times since the Olympics began in 1894 – but once the sport was on back on board, those who make a very healthy living from it should have felt duty bound to give it their full backing.

Rather than admit that gold medals aren’t their thing, or that the lack of prize money on offer is a bit of a turn off, the naysayers have gone all caveman on us and pretended

THE NAYSAYERS HAVE GONE ALL CAVEMAN ON US AND PRETENDED THAT THE FUTURE FERTILITY OF THE HUMAN RACE IS AT STAKE that the future fertility of the human race is at stake.

Not only have they made all professional golfers look like self-obsessed prima donnas, but their inability to see the bigger picture will potentially deny future generations of golfers the chance to compete in the Games, as you can be sure that when the IOC sits down post-Rio to discuss which sports should be slung out, golf will be high up on the agenda.

And talking of legacies, one can only imagine that the Olympic golf course that was designed and built at

■ JUSTIN ROSE IS IN THE 'REMAIN' CAMP

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great economic, environmental and social cost to host the tournament, will be a ghost town once the pros that do turn up have done their four days’ work. I hope the Brazilian government returns it to agricultural land and lets local farmers grow vegetables, or, at the very least, shortens the course by 5,000 yards and turns it into a free facility for local schoolchildren to use.

But let’s forget about the players that aren’t going to be there, and concentrate on those that are. For instance, all the leading ladies – barring South Africa’s Lee Anne Pace – have put aside their fear of flying insects to tee it up, and nice blokes like triple Major champion Padraig Harrington, who was one of the original ambassadors for golf’s Olympic push, now get the chance to go for gold. Word has it that he had to Google his potential Irish teammate, Seamus Power, to find out what he even looked like, although given the familiar format of the event – individual 72-hole stroke play – it won’t matter if he mistakes him for a caddy.

There are clearly lots of lessons to be learned from this whole fiasco, and I hope that the IOC gives golf’s governing bodies the chance to get things right in 2020.

The qualification criteria is a joke – a maximum of four players from each country means that lots of the world’s top 100 aren’t eligible – and the format should be a round robin match play team event, leading to knock-out rounds.

Anyway, all that’s for others to sort out. In the meantime, I just hope the IOC will see the bigger picture and give us a second chance. Golf deserves, and needs, its place at sport’s top table more than ever.

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NEWS | JULY 2016

PUTTERS DRAWN AT DAWN WITH AS HANDICAP FEUD RUFFLES FEATHERS AT BUCKINGHAM GOLF CLUB

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olice were called in to investigate a feud between female members at Buckingham Golf Club, following allegations of cheating, harassment and vandalism.

At the centre of the scandal at the Buckinghamshire-based venue was Kaye Mater – a new member at the club whose partner, Columb Harrington, is the older brother of former Open champion Padraig Harrington.

Mater, 52, was accused of playing with a false handicap by a group of senior women members in April.

After complaining to club officials, She returned to her locker in the clubhouse a few days later to find an anonymous note on it on which included a number of expletives.

Several days later a poison pen letter was sent to the farmhouse she shares with Mr Harrington. Handwritten in block capitals, it said: ‘If you’re so unhappy, perhaps you should join another club. We would like you to.

You’re just like trouble.’

Three weeks later, a window was smashed at the rear of her house by someone using a golf club. After the police became involved, investigation officers issued a formal warning over the poison pen letters to senior ladies’ section member Yvonne Kemp.

Kemp refused to show police samples of her handwriting in order to prove her innocence, which led to the following caution being issued. The feud led to Kemp’s husband, Richard, who is the club president, scrapping his President’s Day competition next month, citing the stress of having his wife ‘falsely positioned as a criminal suspect’.

Mater also complained to the club about the anonymous note on her locker and also about alleged bullying by ladies’ captain Patricia Ellis.

Kemp and Ellis could both face expulsion from the £1,000-a-year club if found to have been involved.

DAVIES RECEIVES ‘SPIRIT OF GOLF’ AWARD

D

ame Laura Davies has become the first female recipient of the Golf Foundation’s prestigious Spirit of Golf Award, following a ceremony held during the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The Spirit of Golf Award is presented to a professional who is considered to be a truly inspirational figure to junior golfers, thus helping the Golf Foundation and its partners to grow the game.

Davies joins an illustrious cast of previous recipients

■ KAYE MATER WAS SUBJECTED TO A HATE CAMPAIGN AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF BEING BETTER THAN HER HANDICAP SUGGESTED

GRAVES CLAIMS SUSSEX COLTS' TITLE

Mater took up golf only two years ago, and has improved rapidly since she and Harrington joined Buckingham Golf Club. Playing regularly has seen her handicap plummet – she and her five-handicap boyfriend even won a competition in Morocco. But she says a clique of

of the award, which includes Tony Jacklin (2008), Lee Westwood (2009), Ian Poulter (2010), Ernie Els (2011), Peter Alliss (2012), Tom Watson (2013), Darren Clarke (2014) and Justin Rose (2015).

Brendon Pyle, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Laura’s amazing record in professional golf speaks for itself, and she deserves this recognition from the Golf Foundation particularly for the fact that she has inspired so many young players either to take up the game or to take their golf to the next level.

“The spirit in which Laura has always played the sport, her highly competitive edge, coupled with her love of great sportsmanship, exemplify what we as a charity are aiming to encourage in young players through what we call ‘Skills for Life’. In 2016 the Golf Foundation is trying harder then ever to encourage greater numbers of girls into golf and we are honoured that Laura is helping us to raise the profile of girls’ golf by accepting this award.”

After recieving her trophy, Davies played in a Tri-Golf Challenge against Golf Foundation boys and girls in The R&A SwingZone, and took part in a public Q&A session about her lifelong involvement in the game, which has included 79 wins around the world, including four Majors and seven order of merit titles.

Davies was made a Dame by the Queen in 2014 for her services to golf, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

FITZPATRICK CLAIMS TOP PRIZE

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resh from playing in the US Open at Oakmont, European Tour star Matthew Fitzpatrick made the most of a rare day out with his family to win the West Hill Pro-Am. The Nordea Masters' champion finished with an eagle on the 17th hole for a one-under-par 68 over the Surrey track, which was enough for him to collect the £1,500 winner’s cheque.

But on a day when the scoring was pretty tough, the PGA Kent captain Anthony Tarchetti, host club professional David Osborn, and The Oxfordshire’s Justin Barnes pushed Fitzpatrick hard, all shooting level par 69s to share second place.

Fitzpatrick started with a bogey at the first, got it back with a birdie at the fifth, but gave it away again at the next hole. A birdie at the 12th got him back to level par, but another dropped shot at the 16th left the Ryder Cup hopeful with a lot to do. His answer was an eagle at the par-five 17th, and a safe par up the last put him pole position.

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■ TOUR STAR MATT FITZPATRICK MADE A RARE OUTING ON THE PGA CIRCUIT

senior ladies took against her. In April one publicly accused her of having a ‘phoney’ handicap that gave her an unfair advantage.

“My handicap went down from 36 to 27 in two years, but some ladies say it should have gone further,” Mater said.

■ JAMES HEATH

HEATH FINDS REDEMPTION IN THE HIGHLANDS

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n emotional James Heath dedicated his victory at the Scottish Hydro Challenge to his late mother, after the Englishman marched to a two-shot triumph in the Highlands.

The 33 year old from Surrey, who endured a tough start to the year when his mother passed away, but has since experienced the joy of fathering a first child, was under the cosh for the duration of the final round at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club.

But he never looked unduly nervous as he bounced back from the two bogeys he suffered in some style, birdieing the following two holes on each occasion. The Londoner’s drive on the final hole found the rough off the tee, but he once again proved he was made of stern stuff in the difficult rainy conditions, putting his approach to 12 feet and two-putting for a closing par, a four-under-par final round 68, and a 21-under total.

“It’s been ten years since winning, so I had wondered if it was ever going to happen," Heath said. "“It’s been a very tough year so far for my family, so it was nice to give them something to be happy about. It goes without saying that this one is for my mum.”

Having played eight full seasons on the Challenge Tour and two on the European Tour, Heath admitted that he wondered if he would ever win again, and says he seriously considered packing it all in.

“It’s been a good few years in the wilderness for me, no question,” he said. “But I’m still standing, still getting the ball airborne. I wasn’t even going to play this week. I made a double bogey on the 17th hole on Sunday in Saint Omer and I just thought, ‘I’ve had enough’. But I had a pep talk from my brother on Monday night and it was tough love – but it worked a treat."

Toby Graves followed in the footsteps of European Tour players Gary Evans and Paul Way when claiming the Sussex Colts Championships, after shooting a twounder-par 70 at East Brighton Golf Club.

Graves, 19, who is currently studying and playing golf in at Keiser University in Florida, finished one shot ahead of Harry Bayley from Chartham Park. Played in wet and windy conditions, the first two players were the only players to break par, with Graves’ four-under-par back nine helping him pull clear of his rivals at his home club. Last month saw Graves shoot a seven-under-par 65 at East Brighton, missing out on breaking the course record by a single stroke.

ABRIDGE LADIES RAISE £22K FOR ROMFORD HOSPITAL The ladies section at Abridge Golf Club in Essex raised over £22,000 for the children’s ward at Queen’s Hospital after taking part in a golf day at the Romford-based club. Over 120 ladies took part in the 24th renewal of the annual event, which offered numerous prizes, including the chance to win a Lexus car for a hole-in-one. The impressive sum will be used to pay for new slumber chairs in the Queen’s Hospital’s Lagoon ward, which enables parents staying with sick children to get a good night’s sleep.

ANDY’S THE MAIN MAN AT MANNINGS HEATH Sussex amateur Andy Main shot rounds of 72 and 74 to a record 11th club championship at Mannings Heath Golf Club in Horsham. His two-over par total on the club’s Waterfall earned him a sixstroke victory over Luke Bennett. Ben South won the club’s nett championship with scores of scores of 78 and 68.

BAINES BAGS ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ TEAM TITLE Three Lancashire teenagers made history for their school when they won the English schools’ team championship by two points on the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa.Tom Blackhurst and brothers Louis and Harvey Talarczyk scored 75 points to win the salver for Baines School in Poulton-Le-Fylde. They beat Lode Heath School, from Solihull in the West Midlands, and another Lancashire team, Standish High from Greater Manchester, who both had 73 points.

DUFFY TO BE ENGLAND GOLF PRESIDENT IN 2018 Rules expert Desmond Duffy has accepted the nomination to become President of England Golf in 2018. The 79 year old has refereed at all levels of the game, including at eight Open Championships. He has been a member of the EGU Board, represented England on the Council of National Golf Unions, and been a member of the R&A Rules and Championship Committees. He has also been a member at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland for the past 48 years, and plays off an 11 handicap.

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JULY 2016 | NEWS

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BOWER STORMS TO BRABAZON GLORY AT LONDON CLUB

■ REMEDY OAK'S NEW GREENS HAVE RESULTED IN TOP-CLASS PLAYING CONDITIONS

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SEDLESCOMBE PAIRING WINS AMERICAN GOLF PAIRS QUALIFIER Sedlescombe Golf Club members Carol Ticehurst and Lindy Montandon qualified for the national final of the American Golf Ladies Championship after notching up 51 Stableford points at Rustington Golf Club. The pair will now take their places at The Belfry on September 9-10 to battle it out over the Brabazon Course for the title of best ladies pair in the UK. Other qualifiers for the final were Charlotte Hinge and Celine Graciet from Brighton & Hove Golf Club, with Maggie Hopkins and Sarah Cooper Olsen from Rustington and Worthing Golf Cubs taking the final spot.

COOPER JOINS MOOR PARK Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire has appointed Wesley Cooper as its new golf services manager. A graduate of Central Lancashire and Birmingham Universities, with a degree in golf management, scratch player Cooper has a wealth of golf experience, and is member of the PGA. Cooper said, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to implement the high standards that you would expect of a premier club such as Moor Park.”

ROONEY SCORES AT ESSEX SENIORS Orset Golf Club’s Steven Rooney fired rounds of 78 and 75 off the white tees at Crondon Park to win the Essex Senior Championship. His nine-over par total took him three shots clear of Keith Davies (Chelmsford), with Geoff King (West Essex) in third on countback from Kevin Petch (Colchester).

NEW-LOOK REMEDY OAK OFFERS YEAR-ROUND QUALITY

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layers at last month’s Open Championship regional qualifying event held at Remedy Oak Golf Club in Dorset were able to enjoy first-class playing conditions that the tournament deserved, despite suffering a deluge on the day, and weeks of wet weather in the run up.

While several other Open qualifiers held around the country had to be halted due to flooded bunkers and greens, play was able to carry on at the Bere Regis-based club largely thanks to the club’s investment in new greens and new drainage systems over the last 18 months.

First opened in 2006, the 7,005-yard championship course always enjoyed a reputation as a great summer layout, but playing conditions often suffered in the winter months, when fairways became soft and

greens were affected by poorlydraining subsoils.

The club’s management took charge of the situation, and closed the course at the end of 2014 for seven weeks to carry out a £500,000 renovation project. The works saw all the greens replaced with USGA specification rootzone and the existing grass re-laid on top to maintain the current contours, slopes and characteristics of the greens.

At the same time, the club also embarked on some significant enhancement works, including the construction of new lakes on the 7th and 15th holes, which significantly improved the design and overall aesthetics of the course.

As a result of the renovations, the greens now are presented in

tip-top condition for 12 months of the year, and the heavy storms that have affected so many clubs this season have not caused any interruption to play.

Nigel Tokely, Director of Golf at Remedy Oak said: “We are always looking to invest in the course for the benefit of our members and guests, and this significant investment in the greens allowed us to have freedraining greens all year round.

This is important as, with climate change, we seem to get more rain each year.”

Remedy Oak has held Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship since 2013, and will do so until 2018.

Last month’s event was won by Gloucestershire amateur Joe Long, who shot a stunning fiveunder-par 67 over the 7,005yard championship course.

amie Bower won the Brabazon Trophy by a stroke following a thrilling final round at London Golf Club in Kent.

The Yorkshireman shot a two-under par 70 to finish on 12-under, pipping long-time leader Cameron Davis, whose title challenge fizzled out with a three-putt on the final hole.

The final round of the English men’s open stroke play championship had everything: brilliant shots, missed opportunities, upsets, nail-biting tension – and a dramatic suspension of play when the leaders, locked at 12-under par, were both on the 18th green and waiting to putt.

A violent thunderstorm forced the last group off the course, and when they returned Bower twoputted for par and victory, while Australia’s Cameron Davis missed a short one, which would have taken the title battle into a play-off.

■ JAMIE BOWER

Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon), meanwhile, parred the hole to claim third place on 10-under and to win the Henriques Salver for the best score by a player aged under 20. Ben Hutchinson (Howley Hall) was also a trophy winner, capturing the Scrutton Jug for the best combined score in the Berkshire and Brabazon Trophies.

Bower said: “The biggest win of my life by an absolute mile. It means everything. But I feel really bad for Cameron, he played really well, and it was awful for that to happen on the 18th. No-one wants to see that and you would rather win it by holing a putt.”

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NEWS | JULY 2016

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WOODLANDS MANOR ON THE MARKET

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oodlands Manor Golf Club in Kent has been put on the market for £1.75 million.

The West Kingsdown-based club is being sold following the retirement of the current owner.

The 137-acres site comprises an 18-hole parkland course, practice facilities and a clubhouse.

The club, which nestles in the Knatts Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between Orpington, Sevenoaks and New Ash Green, was originally opened in 1928 to a design by six-time Open champion J.H. Taylor. He and three-time Open champion Henry Cotton played the opening round on the course to celebrate its completion. The current 18-hole format dates from 1967, and was designed by renowned course architect Neil Coles.

Woodlands Manor has been in the hands of the current owner since 2000, and currently boasts an annual turnover of about £635,000.

BROOKS RECLAIMS COLTS TITLE AT BROOKMANS

Ben Allen, director at property agents Bilfinger GVA, which is handling the sale, said: "Woodlands Manor Golf Club is a wonderful facility. The club occupies a tranquil location, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of nearby city life. The golf market is proving to be an interesting investment sector

for purchasers seeking alternative investment opportunities, and provides the security that owning a significant tranche of freehold land brings. The golf sector also offers remarkable value compared to the residential property market, along with the hope potential of future alternative use."

STOKE PARK PRO-AM RAISES £140,000 FOR DIABETES CHARITY

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he sixth annual JDRF Pro-Am held at Stoke Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire resulted in a four-way tie, but more importantly saw over £140,000 raised on the day for type 1 diabetes charity JDRF. Played around Stoke Park’s newly re-bunkered Colt-Allison layout, local professionals Andy Raitt, Chris Gane, Rob Edwards and Welsh raider Matthew Dearden all shot four birdies each to share the honours in the tournament which only rewards players for birdies (£75) and eagles (£150). All four players fired four birdies to take home the lion’s share of the £15,000 professionals’ prize fund put up by local businessman and long-term PGA supporter Colin Brumpton.

Guy Woodman led the Bunker Mentality team to first place with 83 points, surging past the 81 points scored by JDRF’s own team led by Gane, and the Stoke Park 4th Team led Chris Murtagh.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance hosted the tournament and played in the Pro-Am, while Sky Sports’s James Haddock was the master of ceremonies at the post-golf entertainment, which included a gala dinner and a charity auction.

Summing up the day on behalf of JDRF, director of fundraising Dean Benton said: "It was another terrific day and we are delighted to have raised £141,000,

■ ROB EDWARDS WAS ONE OF FOUR WINNERS AT THE JDRF PRO-AM which will support the world’s best research into the better treatment, prevention and cure of type 1 diabetes.”

As one of the winners, Raitt added, “With over 400,000 people in the UK suffering from type 1 diabetes, we’re doing all we can to help JDRF. The course was in great condition, and once again special thanks go to Stoke Park’s Director of Golf Stuart Collier for laying on yet another great event.”

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Hanbury Manor’s Joe Brooks won Hertfordshire Golf Union’s Colts Championship after shooting rounds of 71 and 69 at Brookmans Park. His twounder par total of 140, was all the more impressive due to the testing conditions endured for the second round, which was delayed by 90 minutes by heavy rain.

Brooks, who won the same title in 2012, suffered a triple-bogey seven at the parfour 17th hole, but hung on to win by two shots from Harry Gillespie (Welwyn Garden City), with Harry Bigham (Porters Park) and further shot back in third.

STORTFORD STAYS THE COURSE TO CAPTURE JUNIOR CLUB TITLE Bishops Stortford won the Hertfordshire Junior Club Championship played under extremely testing conditions at Aldenham. Strong and gusty winds, combined with incessant rain made scoring difficult, but Cormac Bell, whose 37 points was the best of the day, combined with George Wright (34) and Adam Crowther (25) for Bishops Stordford to take the title by two points from Harpenden, and represent Hertfordshire in the England Golf Junior Champion Club Final at Frilford Heath in August.

UZZELL DOUBLES UP AT CHOBHAM Chobham Golf Club’s junior captain Harry Uzzell achieved a rare double last month after winning both the junior and men’s club championships in the same season.

He fired rounds of 74 and 67 to win the latter title by four shots.

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JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CELEBRITIES SIGN UP AS CENTURION UNVEILS NEW CLUBHOUSE PLUMB SINKS RIVALS AT COLNE VALLEY Alisdair Plumb shot an impressive level-par 280 around Colne Valley to claim the Essex Amateur Championship. The Chelmsford player pulled clear of the field with opening rounds of 67 and 65 and, despite a third round 76, was able to coast home with a final round 72 to win by three shots from Mitchell Sarling (Boyce Hill) and Taylor Carter (Rochford Hundred).

CLARK BAGS HERTS BOWL Hadley Wood’s James Clark bagged a rare double when he won the 36-hole King George V title at Porters Park, and the Herts Bowl for the best 72-hole gross total achieved over the weekend from both Porters Park and from the Herts Stag at Moor Park. The Hadley Wood player shot rounds of 69 and 68 for a total of 137 (-3) to win the KGV by five shots, and won the Herts Bowl by one shot from David Corben (Porters Park).

ALDRED’S KING OF HERTS AT MOOR PARK William Aldred got his summer holiday break from university in America off to the best possible start when winning the Hertfordshire Country Championship over the High Course at Moor Park. The former Brocket Hall player, who is currently studying at Berkeley University in California, beat Oliver Ross (Ashridge) 3&2 in the final, following three days of knockout match play rounds at the challenging Rickmansworth-based club. The best medal scores on the qualifying day was Nick Woof (Ashridge), with rounds of 71 and 72 for a 143 total, while James Surridge (Verulam) qualified in second place on 145. Luke Colgate (Berkhamsted) and Jordan Lawrence (Sandy Lodge) were the losing semifinalists in the knock out stages.

FISHER FINDS HIS FORM AT WEST ESSEX European Tour pro Oliver Fisher made the most of his local knowledge to win the West Essex Pro-Am. The 27 year old from Chingford, who is an honorary member at West Essex Golf Club, where he joined as a junior, fired a four-under-par 66, including three birdies and an eagle, to win by a single shot from Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) and James Mynott (St Ives).

HANTS SENIORS IN CHARGE AT LIPHOOK Hampshire won the Southern Counties Seniors Foursomes after beating teams from Surrey, BB&O and Sussex at Liphook Golf Club. Hampshire won the day by just half a point from Sussex, 6.5 to 6, with BB&O third with four points and Surrey in fourth place with 3½. The 10-man winning team comprised Richard Elmes, Jamie Pinchon, Trevor Gray, Bob Wickings, Oscar O’Herilihy, Pete Fletcher, Alan Mew, Gerry Penfold, Pete Scott and Peter Cunningham.

YOUNG AIMS FOR MOTHER OF ALL VICTORIES AT WOBURN

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ampshire professional Liz Young will not just be carrying the weight of her own high expectations when she tees it up at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn later this month.

The 33-year-old from Brokenhurst Manor will be sixand-a-half months pregnant when she takes her place at the season’s fourth Major on July 28, and will have to deal with all the physical limitations that all expectant mothers will be familiar with.

Impending motherhood has so far proved no barrier to success for Young, who has played better than ever since announcing that she is expecting her first child at the end of October, and easily qualified to play at Woburn on the back of her current ranking on the Ladies European Tour.

She explained: “I can’t hit the ball as far. I used to be an average to long hitter and now I’m a short hitter, so it’s adjusting to that and having to hit fairway woods into par fours, especially for the British Open. As long as you keep it straight and have a good short game, then you’re in with a chance. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last three tournaments.”

England’s top woman player in her amateur days, playing under her maiden name of Elizabeth Bennett, the former Curtis Cup player has not ruled out the possibility of capturing a first professional victory on

■ RONAN KEATING AND HIS WIFE STORM HAVE RECENTLY JOINED CENTURION

■ LIZ YOUNG WILL BE OVER SIX MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN SHE TEES IT UP AT WOBURN

home soil in Britain. “I’m still going into tournaments thinking that I can win it. I know my golf’s good. I’ve got to make adjustments. Competing was my first goal and anything could happen at any point. As soon as I’ve got to the tournament, I’ll still be wanting to win it.

Realistically, with Scotland, I think it will depend on the weather and if we have bad weather then that’s going to make me tired a lot quicker. At the Ricoh Women’s British Open, I always get good feelings when I come to Woburn, so why not?”

She added: “Woburn is my favourite course in the UK – I love it. I got pregnant at the beginning of the year, and thought that I wouldn’t be playing in it. I was quite sad, so when I found out that I was definitely going to be playing I was thrilled."

This will be Young’s fourth time in the British Open, following previous appearances in 2014, 2013 and 2008, and she will be up against a crack field, with includes defending champion Inbee Park, world No. 1 Lydia Ko and past champions Mo Martin, Stacy Lewis, Yani Tseng, Jiyai Shin, Catriona Matthew and Karrie Webb.

Last month’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Brooke Henderson will also be vying for the title, which is being held over Woburn’s Marquess Course from July 28-31.

For tickets, visit ricohwomensbritishopen.com.

S

inger Ronan Keating, South African rugby star Schalk Brits, and American tour professional Paige Spiranac have become the latest in a growing list of celebrities to join the exclusive Centurion Club in Hertfordshire.

The St Albans-based club is already frequented by numerous sports stars, but following the recent unveiling of its new clubhouse, which includes a restaurant set up by the Michelinstarred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin, the club is looking to attract a new level of interest by keen golfers in the region.

Spiranac turned professional last year, and although she is more famous for her golf fitness videos and social media activity, recently won her first professional event on the Cactus Tour in America. The 23-year-old San Diego graduate will use the club as her European base and carry the Centurion Club crest on her bag as she competes during the 2016 season.

Saracens and Springboks hooker Brits has been one of the English Premiership's most dynamic players since joining Saracens in 2009, enjoying a shining career, which most recently saw him helping the club to win the Premiership and European Championship this season.

Golf-mad Keating has joined the club with his wife Storm following a recent trial round, which left both impressed with the facilities on and off the golf course.

LONDON GOLF SHOW OFFERS ‘GREAT GREEN FEE GIVEAWAY’

■ CRAIG HINTON

A

s part of its campaign to get more people playing the game, the London Golf Show has teamed up with golf clubs in Surrey and Kent to give away more than £2 million-worth of golf rounds.

Every visitor to the show – which takes place at the Glow Exhibition Cetnre at Bluewater Retail Park in Kent from August 26-28 – can claim nine free rounds of golf worth more than £300, simply by visiting ■ GLOW EXHIBTION CENTRE, BLUEWATER the stands of each of nine clubs.

The Addington, Bletchingly, Chart Hills, value thanks to the generosity of our exhibitors."

Cherry Lodge, Farleigh, Surrey National, Weald of Kent, Launched in 2005, the London Golf Show is Westerham and Woldingham will give a free green designed to appeal to golfers - and potential golfers fee to every visitor to their stand.

- of all ages and abilities. With numerous interactive The London Golf Show's events director, Simon stands - including nearest-the-pin, long-drive and Jones, said: "Existing golf club members are most long-putt contests; free PGA tuition; a massive likely to play at their own club, but occasional golfers indoor driving range featuring the majority of – or people who may not have played for a while – golf's best-known club brands; custom fitting; club are much more likely to play if it's not going to cost testing; trick-shot displays; simulators; the latest golf them. And now they can, with each show visitor able gadgets; extensive retail; and the opportunity to to walk away with more than £300-worth of free golf. win everything from a packet of tees to an exotic "If just 7,000 people redeem the free golf offer, that golf holiday, it is the ultimate day out for any golf will represent more than £2 million-worth of green enthusiast. fees alone, which is a staggeringly generous gesture Tickets are free for accompanied under-16s, and by the clubs concerned. And last year we had more also for female golfers, until August 25. Tickets than 14,000 visitors through the door!” booked before July 31 will cost £7.50, but that rises Jones added: "The London Golf Show is the longestto £15 if bought on the door. For tickets, visit www. running consumer golf show in the UK – and this londongolfshow.com. constitutes our best ticket offer ever. It's extraordinary

HINTON HITS NEW HEIGHTS

O

xfordshire tour pro Craig Hinton finally shook off the bridesmaid tag on the MENA Golf Tour after winning the Joburg City Masters in South Africa.

The 27-year-old from Thame, who is attached to The Oxfordshire, started the final round of the tournament three shots off the pace, but fired a closing 68 to finish two clear of the field, with a final score of seven under par.

A four-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, which runs tournaments throughout the Middle east and Africa, Hinton eagled the par-4 seventh and birdied the next two holes to get his nose in front for the first time in the tournament. He dropped a shot on the par-5 15th, but held his nerve, capping his round with a birdie for his maiden win on the circuit.

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[10] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WALLACE BAGS FIFTH TITLE ON ALPS TOUR H BURKE ENJOYS HOME WIN AT ESSENDON Tour player Hannah Burke scorched to a six-under 66 to win the PGA East Region pro-am held at Essendon Country Club, the Hertfordshire venue she represents on the Ladies European Tour. Burke, who won the Czech Republic Open last year, was in imperious form, not dropping a single shot during her round, and bagging three birdies and an eagle to beat James Webber (Three Rivers G&CC) by a single shot, just a day after his Order of Merit triumph around the same course.

CAMPBELL CALLS THE SHOTS AT SOUTH HERTS Cheshunt Park professional Ian Campbell bagged his third PGA East Region victory of the season after shooting a five-under-par 67 to win the South Herts Pro-Am. The 37-year-old Scot has enjoyed a seriously consistent form this year – finishing outside the top six just once in his 10 starts so far this season.

WOOTTON RULES ROOST AT ROCHESTER & COBHAM PGA Kent Open champion Adam Wootton shot a five-under-par 66 to win the Rochester & Cobham Park Pro-Am in impressive style. The Oxford Golf Centre professional’s bogey-free round, which also included five birdies, earned him £750. Runner up Zane Scotland banked two eagles and three birdies during his round, but was undone dropped shots at the 12th and 15th in his 67, which was matched by Ashford’s Tom Muchmore.

ertfordshire professional Matt Wallace continued his unbeatable run of form on the Alps Tour with victory in the Open Frassanelle held in Italy.

The 26-year-old Moor Park professional shot rounds of 66, 65 and 65 at Frassanelle Golf Club near Padua for a 17-under-par total, and a four shot margin of victory over his nearest challenger, Victor Perez from France.

Wallace has won no fewer than five Alps Tour events this season, with victories in the Dreamlands Pyramids Open, the Tunisian Golf Open, the Gosser Open and the Vigevano Open.

His impressive run of form has taken him to the top of the order of merit with over €26,000 in prize money.

His good form led to him missing the last three tournaments as he secured invitations to compete on the European Tour in two tournaments in Austria and Sweden in June, where he finished tied 103rd and tied 53rd respectively.

“Playing in Sweden and Austria really helped me to understand what

level I need to be at to compete.” Wallace said.

“I played some good stuff to start with and then lost my way a bit, but I was in contention – so I know my game is good enough if I can play my best.”

Explaining the reason for his step up in form this season, Wallace added: “I’ve learned mentally how to deal

■ HANNAH BURKE IN ACTION AT THE US WOMEN'S OPEN

BURKE ENJOYS LATE CALL UP FOR US WOMEN’S OPEN

with grinding out scores when I’m not playing well. I didn’t play that well on the second day for the first 10 holes, but I was still two under and finished strongly to end up six under. I’m also learning how to deal with being in the lead.

I sleep a lot better and play better when I’m in this position than I did a few years ago.”

H

ertfordshire’s Hannah Burke took part in her first US Women’s Open last month, after qualifying through a European Sectional Qualifier held at Buckinghamshire Golf Club last month.

The 28 year old from Mid Herts Golf Club was the first alternate for the third major of the season, but was given a last-minute call up when a higher-ranked player withdrew.

Despite putting in some hard preparation work at Essendon Golf & Country Club, Burke went on to miss the cut by 14 shots at CordeValle Golf Club in California, after shooting rounds of 79 and 84.

Among the highlights of her trip was being presented with a gold-plated Ping putter by Ping president John Solheim in honour of her victory at last year’s Czech Republic Open.

WILLETT ENJOYS ROYAL RESULT AT WIMBLEDON

M

asters' champion Danny Willett looked like he is continuing to enjoy the spoils of his success at Augusta, after accepting an invitation to watch the Wimbledon tennis championships from the comfort of the Royal Box. The 31-year-old Major champion flew into Centre Court with his girlfriend via helicopter from his home in Sheffield, where he joined fellow golfers Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Chris Wood, as well as 15-time Major champion Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara, to watch the quarter-final matches.

4 ball from 2.30pm on weekdays £200 on the High course £150 on the West course

Summer 4-Ball

4 ball from 4pm on weekdays £150 on the High Course £100 on the West Course

Moor Park Golf Club, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 1QN Tel: 01923 773146

www.moorparkgc.co.uk

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COMPETITION | JULY 2016

[11]

WIN A FOUR-BALL AT WOBURN & TICKETS

TO THE TRAVIS PERKINS MASTERS THE TRAVIS PERKINS MASTERS returns to Woburn Golf Club for the 16th consecutive year from September 2-4, and GolfNews has teamed up with the organiser to offer you the chance to win a round on the magnificent Duke’s Course, with lunch, for you and three friends, plus four season tickets to see the stars of the European Senior Tour in action. Pairs of season tickets to the Travis Perkins Masters are also being offered to five runners up.

THE TRAVIS PERKINS MASTERS AT WOBURN:

A CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE WHERE CHAMPIONS COME TO PLAY Scotsman Ross Drummond.

With crowds of more than 20,000, the Travis Perkins Masters remains one of the most popular on the schedule, and is also one of the Senior Tour’s longestrunning tournaments.

Travis Perkins plc, whose sponsorship of the event will run until 2018, has offered an increased prize fund of £340,000 for this year’s edition – a £20,000 rise from last year’s total.

Last season, eight-time European No.1 Colin Montgomerie secured a hat-trick of consecutive wins following a thrilling final round play-off against fellow

Montgomerie joined an illustrious list of past winners, including another former Ryder Cup captain, Mark James in 2005; Carl Mason, the most successful player on the Senior Tour, who claimed the championship in 2006 and 2007, and 2012 Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth, who won at Woburn in 2010 and 2012.

ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW Discounted daily tickets for the Travis Perkins Masters can be purchased in advance from www.europeantour.com/ tickets for £10, while season passes are available for £25. Tickets can be

purchased on the gate for £15 per day, or £30 for a season pass. Under 16s are admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult.

Following on from last year, spectators can again reserve on-site car parking for just £10 per day (Friday-Sunday), which can only be booked in advance and must be for a specified day.

The offer ensures a parking space adjacent to the first fairway, within a 250-yard walk of the first tee, the 18th green, tented village and practice putting green. It also includes a free event programme and daily drawsheet.

COMPETITION ENTRY For a chance to win a midweek fourball on the magnificent Duke’s Course, plus lunch (excluding alcoholic drinks), or one of five pairs of season tickets to the Travis Perkins Masters as runners up prizes, please answer the question below, and email your answer to info@golfnews.co.uk, with ‘Travis Perkins Masters Competition’ in the subject line. Please include a contact telephone number, an address and where you collected your copy of Golf News. The closing date for entries is August 14, 2016.

QUESTION: THE 2016 TRAVIS PERKINS MASTERS WILL BE PLAYED OVER WOBURN’S DUKE’S COURSE, BUT WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE CLUB’S OTHER 18-HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE? A) THE DUCHESS B) THE PRINCESS C) THE MARQUESS

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Entrants must be 18 or over. The winner will be notified immediately after the closing date of the competition. The midweek fourball round must be taken before December 31, 2016 and must be booked in advance with the club.

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[12] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WELWYN BEGINS WORK ON NEW ACADEMY COURSE

■ LEE JAMES

T SPEEDGOLFERS ALL SET FOR DALE HILL CHALLENGE

T

he fastest golfers on two legs are converging on Dale Hill Golf Club in East Sussex next month to take part in the British Open Speed Golf Championships. The event, which takes place on August 14, combines a player’s score with the time it takes them to complete 18 holes. The defending champion

KURDI IN CONTROL

T

welve-year-old Surrey star Shergo Kurdi fired a three-under-par 70 to land the Milford U14 Boys Rookie Tour event held at Milford Golf Club in Surrey.

The five-handicapper from Windlesham Golf Club scored 35 Stableford points to win the scratch competition by four shots from Jack Kurzberg (Wentworth), with Harry Crockett (Addington Palace) in third with 29 points.

The handicap section was won by Luke Bloom (Burhill), with 43 points off a 24 handicap.

Kurdi, who finished fifth at Reigate Hill and fourth at Shirley Park in earlier U15 Rookie Tour events, is to travel back to Amman later this summer, where he will join Abdullah Al Otaibi and Omar Shahin in preparing for the men’s Arab Championship in Oman in November.

is Rob Hogan, who shot a five-over par 77 in just 34 minutes when winning the title at Boars Head Golf Centre in Crowborough in 2014. If you think you can beat him, or just fancy a go, email pam@britishspeedgolf. co.uk or visit www.britishspeedgolf.co.uk for more details.

he second phase of an extensive upgrade to the practice facilities at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club in Hertfordshire is now underway.

Designed by architect Anthony Hodgson, the second phase of the project sees the development of a new four-hole academy course laid out over the club’s existing driving range.

The first phase saw the construction of a new short game facility, which comprises a 300-square metre green complex and a large greenside bunker that is big enough to use for group lessons.

Construction of the new four-hole academy is scheduled to get underway in September, with an opening date of next spring. The short course is being built on the outfield of the existing driving range, enabling the greens, which are being built from synthetic grass, to be used as driving range targets when the short course is closed.

SHIRE TO HOST ‘BUILDERS OPEN’

G

olf-loving builders, roofers, joiners, plumbers and other tradesmen in and round the M25 are being invited to take part in a new tournament aimed specifically at all those working in the building trade.

The Shire London in Potters Bar is hosting the London Construction Open on Friday September 23 – a working day, of course – where the self-styled Battle of the Builders will be taking place over its award-winning Seve Ballesteros-designed 18-hole championship course.

Open only to golfers who are members of either a professional organisation in the building trade, or a national trade association, the London

Construction Open will be a fun day to share some golfing banter with friends and work colleagues, while competing to top the golfing pecking order among the capital’s building trade.

At just £275 per fourball – cash in hand will be accepted – the price includes four green fees, food, prizes, a special bag tag, and a free gift for every golfer.

To book a place, call The Shire London on 020 8441 7649 or email golf@theshirelondon.com.

Society days in style... by the sea!

Society days in style... by the sea!

We are offering some great Society and Golf Day packages.

LEE TAMES THE OXFORDSHIRE TO BAG TITLE

W

elsh professional James Lee shot a fiveunder-par 67 to win the 2016 Foremost Professionals Championship supported by Glenmuir at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.

The former European Tour professional from Caerphilly finished one shot ahead of Jon Good (Addington Palace), who narrowly missed out on a birdie at the 18th that would have forced a play-off.

The challenging Oxfordshire layout provided a stern test for the full field of 110 Foremost members, with only half a dozen players negotiating the stiff breeze, long rough and wet fairways to return sub-par scores.

Playing in the final group, Good required a birdie three at the uphill par-4 18th to match Lee’s round of 67, however after an accurate approach to 15 feet, his downhill putt for a three slid past the right edge.

Having got to six under midway through the back nine, Lee dropped his only shot of the day at the tough par-3 15th, but managed to hang on with a superb par-save at the long 17th and a regulation par at the last.

“I had a decent score here last year in some tough conditions, and today went really well so I'm really happy with it,” commented Lee. “I kept it on the short stuff for most of the day, and didn’t really get into too much trouble.

I hit one bad shot, where I knocked it in the water on 17, but managed to save par with a good pitch and a putt."

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

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[14] JULY 2016 | COURSE REVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ENJOY THE BEST OF BRITISH AT

BROCKET Located in the heart of one of England’s finest country estates, BROCKET HALL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB in Hertfordshire offers truly top-class facilities, with 36 holes of championship golf, a tour-standard academy, a 16-bedroom lodge, and an award-winning lakeside restaurant

L

ocated just 20 miles north London, and close to Welwyn Garden City, Brocket Hall presents an oasis of tranquillity and calm from the minute you enter its imposing gates and make your way up the long and winding driveway.

The tree-lined road gradually gives way to a majestic view towards a magnificent 18th century mansion house – the Hall – which occupies a suitably lofty position overlooking vast acres of manicured turf, colourful flowers, neat hedges, and shimmering

lakes. So far, so very Brideshead Revisited.

Brocket Hall, the estate, that is, has been in and out of limelight ever since it was first built in 1760. Once home to two British Prime Ministers, and a favourite country retreat for royalty, latterly it was home to Lord Charles Brocket, whose rise and fall has been all too well documented.

It’s reputation of one the country’s finest golf venues stretches back only as far as a quarter of a century. Its first course, the Melbourne, opened in 1992, and is named after the 2nd Viscount

Melbourne, William Lamb, who led the country in the mid-1830s; while its second 18-hole layout, the Palmerston, opened in 2000, and is dedicated to the third Viscount Palmerston, Henry John Temple, who served two terms as Prime Minister between 1853 and 1865.

The Melbourne Course is rightly regarded as the showpiece layout, with its 18 holes occupying the stretch of parkland in front of the hall. It was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark, with many experts believing that it is one of the finest designs the former Ryder Cup player-turned commentator-

turned architect ever produced.

The layout follows the natural contours of the undulating 18th century parkland and belies its tender age. Measuring 6,616 yards from the back tees, with par of 72, it’s not the endless slog offered by many championship layouts, and represents an enjoyable, but thoroughly challenging test, with holes that are both varied and interesting, with the River Lea providing a beautiful, but daunting hazard on four of the 18. The river is in play right from the off, waiting to catch anything struck

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COURSE REVIEW | JULY 2016

[15]

■ THE PALMERSTON GOLF ACADEMY OFFERS WORLD-CLASS PRACTICE FACILITIES

■ THE 18TH GREEN ON THE MELBOURNE COURSE PROVIDES A DRAMATIC FINISH TO THE ROUND

too far to the right off the tee on the opening 320-yard par four, with a second shot played to a long, narrow green that also hugs the water’s edge. The par-3 second is no less demanding, requiring a full 170-yard carry directly across the river to a green that is heavily tilted back to front, and protected by trees on both sides.

The fourth, a 420-yard dogleg par four, is another showstopper, with a good drive to the corner of the leg leaving a testing shot over the water.

As you plot your way around, each hole continues to entertain and ask questions, but the most telling question is left until the very last hole.

The 18th is one of the finest closing holes in golf. This teasing downhill par five appears straightforward enough from the tee, but once golfers walk over the brow of the hill, those who have hit a decent drive are faced with a all too often posed dilemma of whether to play the safe shot, and lay up in front of the Broadwater Lake, leaving a short, but equally difficult, iron into the green with their third, or man-up and take on the full glory of

the hazard with a fairway wood for their second.

Whatever the answer is, there will be time enough to spare for reflection when you are carried across the lake by a charming ferry to complete the hole.

A weak approach cost Trish Johnson almost certain victory in the Cantor Fitzgerald Laura Davies Invitational when it was held here in 1999, and the murky waters have decided the fate of many a match since then, with a scuba team required to empty the lake of

balls after almost every season.

If you’re lucky enough to have time for two rounds in a day, and even if you’re not, the Palmerston Course is an equal delight, if presenting a very different challenge. Opened for play in 2000, it was designed by that doyenne of modern English architects, Donald Steel, whose carried out some of his finest work in creating this parkland classic.

Measuring a whopping 7,080 yards from the championship tees, the course winds its way through the undulating estate, where majestic specimen trees, including hornbeam, beech and pines, create a feeling of intimacy and pose as impressive hazards. Unlike the older Melbourne course, the River Lea doesn't come into play on the Palmerston. Instead, Steel has relied on bold bunkering and avenues of trees to keep players on their metal.

■ ALL CHANGE: THE CLUBHOUSE BOASTS LUXURIOUS LOCKERS ROOMS

■ A VIEW TO BROCKET HALL THROUGH THE PAINE BRIDGE

A thinking golfer’s course, there are options off almost every tee. Central bunkers divide the 3rd fairway, while the 4th tempts the big hitters to drive left over a small hollow and across the corner of the dogleg. The short par-five 9th is also tempting to attack in two shots, but cleverly positioned greenside bunkers await anything but the best struck approach shot. Your approach on the par-4 12th must negotiate an unusual chalkface, which lies some 100 yards from the green. This really is a delightful hole, which requires pinpoint accuracy from the tee.

Both courses are always presented in tip top condition, and a series of recent renovations has ensured that both have maintained and enhanced their presentation, as well ensured that they continue to present a challenge to the very best players.

While most clubs pay scant regard to practice grounds, Brocket Hall is home to the Palmerston Golf Academy, a tour-standard facility which includes

a 300-yard driving range; short game zone with two pitching/chipping greens; a large putting green; sevenhole par 3 course; an indoor V1 Video Analysis studio, Titleist SureFit club fitting, a Flightscope launch monitor, and expert tuition from a team of PGA Professionals, led by newly-appointed Director of Golf Sam Oliver. So if practice is your thing, then Brocket Hall ticks all the right boxes, and then some.

Away from the golf facilities, members and visiting golfers are looked after most royally, with a fabulous clubhouse, complete with luxury lockers rooms; the Watershyppes restaurant and bar; the spacious Oak Room, which is capable of hosting 150 guests for large events; and a south-facing terrace from which to watch players trying to find the green on the 18th.

With such stunning surroundings on offer, it’s no surprise that Brocket Hall’s stay-and-play packages are very popular. The Melbourne Lodge, converted from an old stable block adjacent to the Hall, offers 16 wellappointed twin and double rooms, with dinner and breakfast taken in the clubhouse, while the Hall itself offers 30 lavishly-furnished rooms and provides a stunning location for special occasions. Packages including overnight B&B accommodation and 36 holes of golf start from just £169pp/pn during the summer (£159 in winter), which represents superb value given that the standard visitor green fee is £135 during the week and £175 at weekends.

Another of Brocket’s star attractions is the award-winning Auberge du Lac, a five-star restaurant tucked away at the corner of the Broadwater Lake, which offers French-inspired fine dining of the highest order. Popular for wedding parties, honeymooners, birthday celebrations and all lovers of fine food and wine, a visit to the Auberge provides a very stylish highlight to any golfing break.

Brocket Hall offers a variety of memberships, from five- and seven-day individual and corporate packages, which gives every golfer the opportunity to become part of the Brocket Hall family, while visitor rates remain extremely competitive, with winter rates (Dec-Feb) starting at just £65 for 18 holes on either course, a bacon roll and coffee on arrival, full use of the practice facilities, and a twocourse meal after golf.

For membership enquiries, golf break bookings, and tee time reservations, visit www.brocket-hall.co.uk, email golf@brocket-hall.co.uk or call 01707 368700.

[16] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WILDERNESSE PROVES TOUGH TEST FOR OPEN HOPEFULS S ELS IN CHARGE AT CUDDINGTON Nico Els shot a six-under-par 65 to win the Cuddington Pro-Am and take home the £1,500 winner’s cheque.

In one of the biggest club Pro-Ams in the south, Els’s performance outclassed the rest of a strong field on a day when the wind was blowing and the greens were firm and fast.

Els, who represents Professional Golf Tuition Breaks, finished three shots ahead of his nearest rivals, early leaders Andy Raitt and Tim Spence, who both shot cards of 68 to take home £950 each. Els said: “The conditions were pretty tough, but my golf from tee to green was good, and it felt great to get it all working together. Paul Schunter and his team did a fantastic job on getting the course into really excellent shape, and the club laid on a marvellous Pro-Am as usual. I’ll be hoping to keep up this sort of form at a few more events over the summer.”

trictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman was on hand to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the newlook clubhouse at Wildernesse Golf Club in Kent.

The 60-year-old TV star, who is a keen golfer, gave the thumbs up for new facilities following a guided tour, which was preceded by a drinks reception for members and invited guests.

The recently completed renovations consist of a facelift to the clubhouse exterior, with improvements including a newly landscaped entrance courtyard, brand new porch, and an updated reception area.

Since 2012, the club has invested over £750,000 to enhance both the golf course

and clubhouse facilities; with a new terrace area, indoor swing studio, practice facilities, and a course remodeling and bunker renovation programmed complementing recent clubhouse work.

As a regional qualifying course for The Open Championship, which is set to return for a further three years, the club has planned an ongoing programme of course improvements to ensure it maintains the highest standards for both its members, visitors and competitors.

Commenting on the event, Wildernesse chairman Simon Neathercoat, said: “We are delighted with our newly-refurbished club. The evening was an opportunity

RAITT’S ARROW STRAIGHT AT DARTFORD PRO-AM Andy Raitt secured his fifth victory of the PGA South Region season after, shooting an impressive four-underpar 65 to win the Dartford Pro-Am. The St George’s Hill professional holed just enough putts to keep the 66 of hard-charging David Osborn (West Hill) in second place for the runner’s up spot, with third place shared by Ryan Fitzgerald (Burgess Hill), Chris Rodgers (Richings Park) and Charlie Wilson (Littlestone).

■ LEN GOODMAN (CENTRE) PERFORMS THE RIBBON CUTTING DUTIES AT THE UNVEILING OF WILDERNESSE’S RENOVATED CLUBHOUSE

to celebrate its successful completion with our members and all involved in the project.

The club has had a significant presence amongst the South East golfing community for over 125 years, and this contemporary renovation will hopefully encourage new faces to come and experience the wonderful course and clubhouse facilities.”

Last month saw the club host Local Open Qualifying, when 111 pros and leading amateurs teed it up in a bid to win a place at Royal Troon. The best scores were one-under par 71s achieved by Mark Collins (Chart Hills) and Luke Bangerter (Redhill), with five other players earning a place at Final Qualifying.

GANE GALLOPS TO EPSOM GLORY

S

ilvermere’s Chris Gane showed his rivals a clean pair of heels when winning the Epsom GC Pro-Am with a superb threeunder-par 67. The corporate prize was won by Wildheart, led by Simon Halls and including John Murray and Epsom’s men’s vice captain David Barnett, who won a trip to Spain donated by Costaless Golf, while the overall team winners, with a score of 22 under par, were Andy Jefferry, Ross Shepperd and Louis Tonkin. The Pro-Am was attended by 38 teams.

Epsom’s director of golf, Stuart Walker, said: “Putting on days like this at the club takes a great deal of work from many people, from all on the Pro-Am committee, to the members who volunteer to help on the day and in preparation the day before, and, of course, all our very generous sponsors who help to make our Pro-Am one of the best around. The amount of praise and thanks from both guests and pros alike always reassures us that we are doing a great job with our flagship event.”

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NEWS | JULY 2016

[17]

KING RICHARD RETAINS PRINCE’S 27 CROWN

K

ent professional Richard Wallis and his amateur sparring partner Tony Adams successfully defended their title to remain the PGA Prince’s 27 champions, completing the three nines at the Sandwich-based venue in just 100 strokes.

The unique format exploits Prince’s layout of three nines, with the first nine played as a foursomes over the Shore nine, the second a greensomes over the Dunes nine, and the last nine a four-ball betterball over the Himalayas nine. Wallis and Adams shot 34, 35 and 31 for their winning card.

With almost perfect weather conditions, the dynamic duo just managed to edge out the cards of 101 from three other strong combinations: Chris Evans (Tandridge) and his partner Ryan Warren; Benn Barham (Pentland Golf) and partner Matt Woolf, and Paul Page (West Malling) and his partner Robert Johnson.

"For once it was really warm, with a one and half club wind, ideal for links golf," said Wallis, who won

£550 for his efforts. "Tony’s a member at Prince’s and now off four, and he and I have been playing in proams for years – so it’s really nice to play together in something that’s refreshingly different, especially when it’s at his home club and around a golf course I really like.”

His partner Adams added: “Prince’s was in fantastic condition, but with all the rain we’ve had, the rough’s brutal, so it was a pretty stern test of golf. Richard played well, but our main goal was to beat our playing partners, Richard’s coach, Paul Page. We were level pegging right up the last two holes, both of which we managed to birdie, which was just enough to fend off the opposition!”

Wallis is now the senior teaching professional at Canterbury Golf Club, and is focusing on his teaching business. “There’s a nice balance now between playing and teaching, and that means I can pick and choose the events I like playing in, on courses I really enjoy.”

YULE WINS BIARRITZ CUP England’s Jack Yule scored the biggest win of his career with a one-shot victory in the Biarritz Cup in France. The 21-year-old form Norfolk was 11-under par for the four rounds, scoring 64, 67, 68 and 66. Yule led throughout the championship and finished the first round with five consecutive birdies. After two steady rounds he teed off on the final 18 with a one-shot lead and compiled a score of three-under, which featured two eagles.

It kept him one stroke ahead of Jeremy Gandon of France who powered up the leaderboard with a closing 64. Yule travelled to France with Will Enefer (Wrekin) and James Walker (The Oaks) to play both the Chiberta Grand Prix and the Biarritz Cup. Walker tied sixth in the Chiberta Grand Prix and England were runners-up in the team competition in both events.

STOKE PARK LONGEST DAY CHALLENGE RAISES £14K FOR CANCER CHARITY ■ RICHARD WALLIS IS NOW COMBINING HIS PLAYING CAREER ALONGSIDE TEACHING

WORLD OF GOLF REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH 'SKY TRAIL' CLIMBING COURSE

O

ne of the most popular driving ranges in the country is about to get a little more adrenaline filled, as planning permission has been secured for the first ‘Sky Trail’ climbing course in London.

The World of Golf in New Malden, Surrey, has recently been given planning permission to build an outdoor Sky Trail climbing course, consisting of a number of walkways and ropeways over three levels. The new facility will be built on a patch of unused land next to the driving range.

The climbing trail will be up to 14 metres high, and is expected to take up an area of around 1140 square metres. The plans, which include an extra 106 car parking spaces and a small administrative and storage building, were approved at a Merton Council planning meeting on June 21.

The Sky Trail course, which will be the first of its kind in the South East, is expected to open next summer. The popular golf centre already boasts a twotiered driving range and an 18-hole dinosaur-themed adventure putting course.

Stoke Park’s director of golf Stuart Collier headed up a team of eight golfers to raise more than £14,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support when they played 72 holes of golf in one day.

The Buckinghamshire-based club’s ‘Longest Day’ challenge saw Collier, fellow Stoke Park pro James Jewell, and members Paul Simmonds, Steve Whelan, Hasan Abdat, Ben Keeping, Matt Pearcey and Paul Trendell – smash their target of £6,700 before they’d even completed two of their four rounds of golf. It was the second successive year that Stoke Park representatives had taken on the challenge, which is played out across 100s of golf courses nationwide to raise money for the charity. Last year they raised more than £6,700 and set themselves that figure as a minimum again this year.

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NEWS | JULY 2016

[19]

KEY CHANGES

■ PROS TAKING PART IN NEXT YEAR'S BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT WENTWORTH WILL BE FACED WITH A VERY DIFFERENT WEST COURSE

TO THE WEST 1ST MORE FAVOURABLE LIES

The bunker located front right of the green is to be removed and replaced with a grass hollow. The remaining greenside bunkers are to be softened to allow a less steep exit.

3RD A LITTLE MORE FORGIVENESS

The middle right-hand fairway bunker is to be removed, while the three-tiered green will be modified to create more pin positions.

4TH A MORE NATURAL LOOK

The front bunker on this par-five is to be removed to open up the green to a wider variety of approach shots.

8TH BRINGING THE WATER IN

The fairway bunker will be removed and replaced with heather. The green will be lowered to the height to bring the water more into play. The green will also be shaped to create more pin options. The greenside bunker will be removed and replaced with grass hollows.

9TH INCREASED CONTROL

The middle right fairway bunker will be removed, making the drive less tight. The green will see a softening of the left greenside bunker face to create an additional front left pin position.

ERNIE GOES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD After a mixed reception to his first redesign of the WEST COURSE, Ernie Els is back at WENTWORTH to have another go at creating a championship layout that will be loved by both tour pros and club members alike

T

he diggers, bulldozers and shapers moved into Wentworth Club last month to undertake the second major redesign of the West Course in seven years.

Following Ernie Els’s major renovation project in 2009 – under the direction of former owner Richard Caring – the club’s new Chinese owner has invited the South African back to carry out a further significant overhaul of the 90-year-old layout, which was originally designed by Harry Colt.

The project is part of a £20 million renovation of all of the club’s three golf courses, as well as the clubhouse and other leisure facilities at the exclusive Surrey venue.

And after yet further comments about the course following this year’s BMW PGA Championship, where the greens suffered from uneven growth, it seems that the renovation work can’t begin soon enough.

The contractors moved in on June 6, barely two weeks after Chris Wood cleared the final green following the close of play of this year’s tournament, and the work is expected to be completed well in advance of next year’s renewal.

Els’s design company will be working in close co-operation with Wentworth’s Director of Golf Courses and Grounds, Kenny Mackay, and his team, to ensure that the new-look course meets the demands of both tour professionals and the club’s membership – the latter of which will be stumping up significantly increased fees from next year.

Speaking about the project, Mackay said: "We’ve listened to feedback from pros who have played in the BMW PGA Championship over the last five years, as well as our club members’ views, and we’ve taken what they’ve had to say on board and passed that, along with our own thoughts, on to Ernie and his team.”

He added: “The West is an iconic golf course, and we have to remain very mindful of its heritage and its history. We’re not rerouting any of the holes, or lengthening it. Our ambition is to

cement the West’s place as a world-class course for all levels of play: tournament pros and club members alike.”

The substantative design improvements will be focused on the 8th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th greens (see panel for details); while there will also be a reduction in the number of bunkers from 88 to 65, and a general softening of the traps to make them slightly easier to escape from, with many having a larger area of flatter sand at the bottom, and others being reshaped or having their back portions lowered.

In a further attempt to make it a fairer test, all the greens are being reseeded with a creeping bent grass to offer a more consistent roll and enable more flexibility in controlling speeds to make them appropriate for all levels of competition.

Mackay is keen to stress that this is in no way meant to make the course a pushover for the pros. “Make no mistake, this will still be a very challenging course, especially off those back tees,” he said. “But it will also be a more enjoyable course for club golfers to play off the forward tees, with fewer fairway bunkers, and more options on shots to the greens, some of which will be less punishing on errant approaches.”

Another significant innovation will be the introduction of a SubAir system below the greens, which will ensure the putting surfaces remain more consistent throughout the year. The SubAir system draws away

■ THE 8TH GREEN IS BEING LOWERED TO THE HEIGHT OF THE WATER

11TH OPENING UP PLAY

The tee shot will be made more open with the removal of both the front fairway bunkers. The approach to the green will also be more open, as the front bunker will be removed.

The green is to be redesigned to give more options for hole locations and also reward accurate approach shots.

12TH DITCH RELOCATED

The ditch is being taken out of the rough and moved back to the tree line. The first fairway bunker will also be removed to encourage a more aggressive drive. The green will be softened to create gentle yet subtle breaks.

13TH BETTER REWARDS ■ WENTWORTH'S COURSE MANAGER KENNY MACKAY

excess moisture, while aerating the greens by blowing air into the subsoil. Working closely with the Sports Research Turf Institute, Mackay trialled 10 different bent grasses in both light and shaded areas to find the best for the climate, and is confident that they have arrived at the perfect choice with 007 creeping bent.

“We will be the only club in the country to use a SubAir system and this type of grass,” said Mackay. “It’s unique to Wentworth, and it will ensure that we have perfect year-round playing conditions.

As well as improving the playing surfaces and upgrading the irrigation system, Mackay is keen to improve the overall look and feel of the course. “In a return to Harry Colt's original vision, we’re also undertaking a lot of heath and woodland enhancement work, together with a comprehensive planting scheme that will add native plants and trees across the course,” he said. “It’s not only the playing characteristics of the course that we’re looking to enhance, but also its overall aesthetics. The re-establishment of heathers and the replacement of some of the bunkers with grassy hollows will give the course the look and feel of when it was first built.”

Renovations are also planned for the club's Edinburgh and East courses, but it will be carried out on rolling basis to ensure that there will be at least 36 holes to play on at all times.

The first left fairway bunker will be removed to offer better rewards for those who decide to take a tight line off the tee. The front right side green bunker will also be removed to allow a more open approach shot.

14TH STILL CHALLENGING

The middle left greenside bunker will be removed.

The green complex will also be redesigned but with the aim of retaining the ability the green has always had for rewarding a precise tee shot.

15TH IMPROVED CONSISTENCY

The front right bunker will be replaced with a grass hollow to give additional access to the green for approach shots.

16TH MORE VARIATION

Two fairway bunkers, one left, one right, will be removed and the remaining left side bunker will be repositioned, opening up the tee shot options.

The front greenside bunker will be taken out to allow the green to receive a greater variety of shots.

The blind back green bunker will also go.

17TH WIDENING THE TARGET

The entrance to the green will be reshaped to encourage the ball to feed onto the green.

18TH A LARGER LANDING AREA

The first left side fairway bunker will be removed to create a larger landing area. Around the green, the middle back bunker will be replaced by a grass hollow to offer a more forgiving shot back towards the water.

[20] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MANNINGS HEATH TO OPEN WINERY AS PART OF MAJOR INVESTMENT PLAN ENGLAND’S WOMEN WIN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP England won the European ladies’ team championship for the first time in 23 years after they beat Spain 4-3 at Oddur Golf Club in Iceland to win the gold medal. The team, which was coached by Steve Robinson and captained by Anne Baines, comprised Emma Allen (Meon Valley), Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted), Bronte Law (Bramhall), Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), Lizzie Prior (Burhill) and OIivia Winning (Rotherham). The final was incredibly tight, with six of the day’s seven matches going to the 18th hole.

GREAT SCOTT WINS SUSSEX MID AGE Duncan Scott shot rounds of 68 and 72 at his home course at Pyecombe to win the Sussex Mid Age Championship.

His 141 total saw him finish five shots clear of Craig Millyard (Cottesmore), with another Pyecombe man, Stuart Cohen taking third. The nett winner was yet another home player, Jon Robinson, who shot nett rounds of 69 and 71 off a 12 handicap.

AMBRIDGE WINS HERTS SENIORS Moor Park’s John Ambridge added to his career haul of titles when winning Hertfordshire’s Seniors Championship for the second time after shooting rounds of 78 and 74 at Brickendon Grange. His 10-ver-par 36-hole total of 152 saw him finish two shots ahead of Mike Ready (Old Fold Manor) and Stephen Dawson. Nine-handicapper Clive Seager (Sandy Lodge) returned a 36-hole nett total of 145 to win the handicap title.

M

annings Heath Golf Club in West Sussex is about to undergo one of the biggest transformations in its history, after its new owner announced that the 36-hole facility is to be reduced to 27 holes in order to make way for a new vineyard.

The Horsham-based club was sold several months ago to South African-based businesswomen Penny Streeter, who owns a Sutton-based healthcare recruitment company that operates in both the UK and South Africa, along with a vineyard in South Africa.

Mannings Heath currently boasts two 18-hole courses, the championship Waterfall Course and the Kingfisher Course.

The former is currently only accessible to members, while the latter is open to visitors and members.

But under new proposals, Streeter has outlined ambitious plans to change the name of the club to Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate, and turn over half of the existing Kingfisher course over to vines, and investing heavily in the remaining holes, as well as the club’s off-course facilities.

While the change of use will clearly take some time to bear fruit, the new owner has already invested in the golfing facilities on offer to members and visitors alike, with the installation of new practice nets; new warning

WEALD OF KENT LAUNCHES ‘WHAT YOU THINK IT’S WORTH’ GREEN FEE bells on blind shots, and a new toilet has been installed on the Waterfall Course. Updated signage has been ordered, as have water drinking fountains, while existing pathways are to be rebuilt all around the course to make them more buggy friendly.

Speaking about her exciting plans for the club, which was founded in 1914, Streeter said: “When we acquired the golf club – at a time of general declining golf activity across the UK - it was our plan to improve the golfing, club and venue experience for members and visitors, whilst at the same time expanding our wine and entertainment activities. We believe that the concept of wine and golf go hand in hand in attracting muchneeded visitors and tourists to the area. We plan to apply for consent to erect a winery, new restaurant, tasting room.”

She added: “The clubhouse is also in urgent need of some

TLC, so we plan to upgrade the facilities and repaint inside and out. The spike bar is being restored and will re-open as a wine tasting and spike bar facility and a much needed additional entertaining/post golf space.”

On the decision to change the Kingfisher into a 9-hole course, Streeter added: “The enhanced 9-hole layout will be more in keeping with the current demands for less time-invasive golf, as well as encouraging youngsters into the game. The changes will take place over time in several phases, but will include redesigns of some of the holes, incorporation of alternative tees for a different back nine, a radical upgrade of the practice facilities, including a short game area, and the building of a pro shop in the area. Our golf pros are very excited about these plans and we are convinced that the decision, although contentious, is the right one.”

T

he Weald of Kent Golf Club is hoping to attract new golfers and past visitors to its course with the launch of an innovative green fee offer.

The club, which is located 10 miles south of Maidstone, has launched a green fee offer where golfers who pre-book a round on its 18-hole course will be able to tee off without paying a green fee in advance, and they only pay what they think their round was worth after they’ve played the 6,310yard, par 70 parkland course.

The round must be played between 10am2.30pm, and is only available on Tuesdays during July. The current midweek green fee is £24 before noon, and £20 after.

Matt Pickard, the club’s Director of Golf: said: ”We’re hoping that this will encourage people to try the game and, of course, try the Weald for the first time. We’re pretty sure it’s the first time a golf club has attempted such a thing, and it will be interesting to see the feedback from it.”

He added: “All we require is feedback from golfers about their round and the course, whether it’s the quality of our greens, the length of our fairways, how our staff treated them, or the overall presentation. We’re confident that golfers will enjoy every aspect of their visit – and hopefully they will pay accordingly.”

To book a time for a Tuesday, go online at www.weald-of-kent.co.uk or contact the pro shop on 01622 890866.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016

[21]

IT PAYS TO STAY LOYAL WITH ALTONWOOD

G

■ RECORD BREAKERS TIM MARKWICK, ROB BRACK, BEN PEMBLE AND IAN HENDERSON

KENT GOLFERS BREAK RECORD FOR MOST HOLES PLAYED IN 24 HOURS

F

our amateur golfers from Kent have broken the world record for the most number of golf holes played in 24 hours.

Rob Brack, Ben Pemble, Ian Henderson and Tim Markwick started their record-breaking attempt at Deangate Ridge Golf Club at 8am on June 21, and broke the previous record of 244 holes by 7am the following morning. When the team finally put down their clubs at 8am, they had played 257 holes.

Their plan to switch to glow in the dark balls at night did not quite go to plan, as the balls were soon lost,

so they decided to take a break and continue at first light. The team now has to wait for their attempt to be officially verified by the Guinness World Records.

Brack, from Gillingham, came up with the idea as a way of raising money for the Wisdom Hospice, which cared for his father Jim Brack before his death in 2014. The 44 year old is a former captain of Gillingham Golf Club, a role his father held six years before him. The two men hold the UK record for the shortest time between a father and son being captain of the same club.

olfers looking to play a variety of golf courses across the South East at discounted rates should consider investing in the loyalty card launched by the Altonwood Group.

The company owns and operates five golf courses in the region, including The Addington, Westerham, Surrey National, Woldingham and Godstone Golf Clubs.

The Altonwood Loyalty Card is free to join for all visiting golfers, and guarantees the lowest green fee rates available at all five courses, including online offers via third party promoters. Card holders will also receive discounts on range balls and buggy hire, and be eligible for

advanced booking rights and other special promotional offers.

“We’ve experienced an increase in the number of visitors playing across our courses.” said Altonwood’s managing director, Simon Hodsdon.

“We’d obviously like to retain as much of that play within our own courses as possible, and believe the best way to do so is to guarantee our regular visitors the best available rates at all the clubs. Over 9,000 golfers have already signed up to the loyalty card scheme, but there’s room for plenty more.”

To sign up for the loyalty card scheme, visit altonwoodgroup.co.uk.

SCADE EASES HOME AT EAST HERTS James Scade survived a bogey at his final hole to secure a narrow victory in the East Herts Charity Pro-Am. The Ingrebourne Links-attached professional fired a four-under-par 67 to beat Luke Bowers and Jason Levermore by a single shot.

The winning Pro-Am team, on a tally of 123, was led by Essendon’s Ian Taylor.

HUGGINS DOUBLES UP AT FRILFORD Olly Huggins became the first player to win Frilford Heath’s Morland Cup and John Fisher Cup in the same season.

Played over the club’s three 18-hole courses, the 17-year-old student from the Bristol Academy of Sport fired rounds of 70 on the Green, 67 on the Blue and 71 on the Red to take the title by six shots from defending champion Jake Dines. Playing off scratch, Huggins 208 total was also good enough to win the handicap section for the John Fisher Cup.

TREBLE TOP FOR GILES

HALL’S TIMELEY ACE

■ LYDIA HALL

R

ising Ladies European Tour star Georgia Hall showed why she is one to look out for after bagging a timely ace at the recent Tipsport Golf Masters in the Czech Republic.

The 21 year old, who is attached to Remedy

Oak Golf Club in Dorset, notched a hole-in-one at the 15th hole during the second round at Pilsen Golf Club. As well as helping her score along, the ace earned her an Omega Seamaster ladies' watch, whose £20,000

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value dwarfed the €4,000 prize money she picked up for finishing tied 16th in the tournament itself.

The watch is made from 18 carat gold and stainless steel, and features a diamondset bezel and a white mother-of-pearl dial.

Hall, who is in her

second season on tour, is currently ranked sixth in the money list, with a best-placed finish of fifth at last month’s Buick Championship in China. Last year, she finish 32nd from 12 events, but has already eclipsed her season’s earnings in six events this year.

Cornwall’s Sammie Giles completed a full set of national titles following her victory in the English women’s amateur championship at West Lancashire. The 21 year old from St Mellion was one under par for 72 holes, and finished one shot ahead of last year’s runner up, Lizzie Prior form Burhill. Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted) was third on one over par. Giles won the English women’s stroke play at St Annes Old Links in 2015, and captured the English women’s mid-amateur at Bath in 2014.

...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

[22] JULY 2016 | COURSE REVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CREATE YOUR OWN HISTORY AT

LEEDS CASTLE

LEEDS CASTLE GOLF COURSE might not be in the city of Leeds – in fact it’s in a small village in Kent – but it most definitely has a castle, and one that provides a stunning backdrop to arguably one of the prettiest 9-hole golf courses in the South East

N

ot many people know that the Ryder Cup has visited Leeds Castle Golf Course. OK, the biannual match between Europe and America has never actually been held at the nine-hole public course just outside Maidstone, but Samuel Ryder’s iconic trophy has been taken to the club not once, but twice during its 92-year history – which is more than most clubs can boast.

The first time was in 1937, when the American team led by Walter Hagen stayed at Leeds Castle en route to taking part in the matches at Southport & Ainsdale (which the US won 8-4). The second time was two years ago, when the famous trophy returned once again as part of the celebrations to mark the hosting of the first ever PGA Pro-Am held over Leeds Castle’s beautiful par-34 course.

Among the leading tournament professionals and amateurs taking part that day was former PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones, who brought the trophy along for guests and players to see. And while Leeds Castle might not be ready to host the many thousands of fans that flock to the Ryder Cup these days, the 9-hole course certainly proved a worthy test for the region’s top pros, with Benn Barham’s winning total of 33 being only one of two under par scores achieved on the 2,861 yard, par34 course that day.

All the of pros came away impressed with the design and condition of the course, with the

■ THE NEWLYCONFIGURED LAYOUT BRINGS THE CASTLE - AND ITS DEEP MOAT – MUCH MORE INTO VIEW

■ THE EASY-WALKING 9-HOLE COURSE IS IDEAL FOR THOSE WHO DON’T WANT TO SPEND ALL DAY PLAYING

9-hole format making a refreshing change to the monotony of traditional five-hour 18-hole formats, while many spoke in gushing terms of the pleasures of playing golf in such a beautiful and historic landscape.

First opened in 1924, the course was designed

by Sir Guy Campbell for the Honorable Lady Baillie, the then owner of Leeds Castle. Campbell also built the stunning layout at West Sussex Golf Club at Pulborough, so he knew a thing or two about course design. Enjoyed by countless high-powered guests over the years, both the course and the castle remained off limits to the public until 1976, when the doors were opened to visitors and golfers from all over the country.

Parts of the castle, which is surrounded on all sides by a moat, date back to the 12th century, while its turrets and castellations remain in superb condition, making it a major attraction for visitors to this beautiful corner of Kent. The castle has hosted all manner of public and private events in recent years, including meetings for foreign heads of state, business conferences, open air concerts, and it even served as a dramatic location for the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. It is also a romantic venue for weddings, and famously hosted the nuptials of former US Open champion Retief Goosen. The grounds are also home to a maze, and what may be the only museum in the world

devoted to dog collars.

“We have something very special here, and there's nothing like it in the world,” says Steve Purves, the golf club’s PGA professional, who has been at the course almost 20 years. Still competing in tournaments on the PGA South Region and Kent PGA circuits, Purves has played a central role in the revitalisation of the course, which has recently benefitted from a major investment project.

The two-year renovation programme has seen a number of key changes which bring the stunning castle backdrop more into play, including a new 6th hole that runs along the moat's edge, and a teasing par three 8th hole, while the closing 9th hole has been extended from par three to a testing par four. Elsewhere, a woodland management programme has thinned out overgrown areas to ensure almost every hole enjoys vistas of one of English golf’s most scenic venues, while new teeing areas and new drainage systems have significantly improved the yearround playing experience.

The renovations have not only improved the aesthetics, but also ramped up the golfing challenge, which was in danger of being overtaken by the modern game. “Sir Guy Campbell did a terrific job with the original design, but like many courses, new equipment and new technology meant that it became necessary to look at how the course could be updated successfully,” says Purves. “The newlook course retains all the best things about the original design, while enhancing the challenge for the modern golfer. Last year’s Pro-Am was a terrific way to prove that we’ve achieved all that and more, and we have been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response to the changes that we have had from regular club golfers.”

An undemanding walk across largely flat parkland, the course is ideal for golfers of all ages to enjoy, while the absence of a par five on the card is no hardship. And with a round able to be played in well under two hours, it’s also a great way to get a quick golfing fix without losing the

rest of the day.

Green fees are a very modest £13.50 for nine holes during the week and £17 at weekends, while those that want to play the course twice can do so for £23 during the week and £26 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Golfers wishing to play unlimited golf, a fiveday season ticket costs £295 per year, while a seven-day option is just £395. Both memberships come with a range of money-saving benefits and advanced booking options, and can be bought online. Golfers with less time on their hands should consider taking up a ‘One Under Card’, which offers seven rounds for the price of six, with prices starting from just £81 for the midweek card.

Leeds Castle also provides the perfect venue for society and corporate golf days, and with packages for 18 holes, bacon rolls and coffee starting from just £24pp, represent tremendous value.

In addition to the improvements to the golf course, a new designated short game practice area has recently been opened, where golfers can work on their chipping and putting, or take part in individual or group lessons offered the club’s resident teaching staff.

For bookings or membership enquiries, call the pro shop on 01622 767828, email golf@leeds-castle. co.uk, or visit www.leedscastlegolf.com.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016

[23]

GILBERT AND FULLER SCOOP HENRY COOPER HONOURS E

ngland regional squad players Michael Gilbert and Annabell Fuller (pictured right) scooped the honours at this year’s renewal of the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters at Nizels Golf Club in Kent.

Gilbert missed the cut in the tournament last year, but there was no holding him back this season. The 15 year old from Chelmsford won the boys’ title on eight-under par, finishing two shots clear of Jack Cope and Harry

with Jake Benson and Arrun Singh Brar to win the Nations Cup for England.

Fuller, who trains with the England Golf South U16 girls’ squad, went into this event determined to win, having been second five times this year – and losing three titles in play-offs. She made no mistakes, leading from the start, and returning the best score in each of the four rounds, shooting 71, 72, 67, and 74.

Gillespie, with Conor Richards and Charlie Strickland a stroke further back in tied fourth.

Gilbert is a member of the England Golf East U16 boys’ squad, and tied fifth in the U16 spring championship at Hawkstone Park.

Fuller, from the Roehampton Club in Surrey, was four-under par in the girls’ event – and 13 shots clear of her closest rival. The 14 year old also teamed up

GOLF BALL COLLECTOR HONOURED FOR CHARITY WORK

on the Prowl PREDATOR

1

05-YEAR-OLD golfer from Surrey, who raised more than £100,000 for charity by selling used golf balls, has been honoured at the House of Lords.

Max Morris, a keen golfer right up until his mid-90s, spent over 18 years collecting used balls from Coombe Hill Golf Club, sorting them by brand, boxing them, and then selling them to raise money for charities across the country.

He was given a British Citizen Award (BCA) at the House of Lords, which honours residents for their extraordinary work in different communities.

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Morris said: ‘I’m very pleased to have the recognition for my charitable efforts. It’s an honour to be awarded a BCA, and I’m very thankful that I was nominated. When I started collecting golf balls to donate, I never thought it would become as large as it was, but I’m glad everyone involved was able to help so many people.”

Formerly a member at New Malden Golf Club, he joined Coombe Hill in 1999 after moving to Kingston. From there he would take boxes he collected from the golf course to charity shops across the town for them to sell.

The main charities to benefit from his collection were Cancer Research UK, St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Oxfam and The Children’s Trust for children with multiple disabilities.

AQUARIUS PRO IN THE RUNNING FOR LONGESTSERVING RECORD

A

golf club in South East London believes it might have the longest serving club professional in the world.

Aquarius Golf Club in Honor Oak's PGA professional, Fred Private, has worked continually at the club for 52 years.

Perhaps even more amazingly he didn’t start working at the club until a full ten years after turning professional.

Jim Halliday, secretary of Aquarius, said: “It's a fair bet that we have the longest serving PGA professional. Fred was appointed assistant pro in 1964, adn was made the head professional in 1967. At 85, he is still teaching at our club today. He captained the Kent PGA in 1971, and is now an honorary member PGA. There can’t be many who have served longer.”

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[24] JULY 2016 | INTERVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

GOING FOR

GOLD JUSTIN ROSE will be representing Team GB at the Olympics Games in Rio, and he’s determined to enjoy every minute of it – although he’s disappointed that so many leading figures have decided to turn their back on the event

H

ow proud are you to be representing Team GB at the Olympics?

I'm really excited about it. I’m treating it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s been my philosophy, if you can call it that. I understand that it's been tough from a scheduling point of view, but when it only comes around once every four years, it’s something that you make an exception for. That's been my attitude towards it.

I've never been to an Olympics before, even as a spectator, so to go as an athlete is a huge honour. It's something that all of my family has been very excited about. My wife, Kate, is a former gymnast. Although she was a sports acrobatic gymnast, which has never been an Olympic sport. The Olympics was always a big deal in her field growing up, so we're both excited about it.

What are you most looking forward to about going to Rio? Being part of Team GB, which is going to be about 350 athletes, and being part of an event that has so much history, is something to be proud of. I remember being at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2012, just after we’d won the Ryder Cup, and I thought we deserved to win the team of the year, but were beaten by Team GB, based upon their incredible medal count at the London games. You could see how that resonated with the British sporting public, and the importance that people placed on being a part of Team GB, so it's something that's I’m really proud to be a part of.

What are your abiding memories of watching the Olympics when you were growing up?

I remember not being able to say Linford Christie’s name properly, and calling him ‘Olympic Crispy’. I must have been seven or eight, but watching him in the 100 metres in the 1988 Games was one of my earliest memories. In more recent times, Usain Bolt, with his cool celebrations, has grabbed my attention. I had a chance to meet him about a month or two ago, so that was cool. Also what Mo Farah has achieved has also been incredible. Obviously we've had great representation on Team GB through a lot of sports.

Have you had any thoughts about your own celebrations if you win gold?

I haven’t, but I'm sure we can come up with something in the next couple of weeks. I'll try to be creative. It might be a good Instagram competition to see what people come up with.

What will your schedule be like when you get to Rio? I want to take it all in, and I want to be a part of the opening ceremony, so I’m going to go early and stay in the Olympic Village for a couple of nights and try and watch a few of the early events. I’m hoping that may inspire me in terms of the overall occasion, as well as give me an idea of the scale of the Olympics. After that, I’m moving out of the Olympic Village to a house near the golf course, which will be more convenient and predictable in terms of journey times to and from the venue.

■ ROSE WILL BE JOINED IN RIO BY FELLOW BRIT DANNY WILLETT, BUT

I listened to what the experts had to say, weighed it up with where I am in my life and my career, and made the decision to go. I think the Zika risk is going to be one of those things that we look back at and think it's a non-event, hopefully. You're going to get down there, and you're probably not going to see a mosquito in sight. But at the same time, no one can stand there and categorically tell you you're going to be okay, and that's the problem.

Obviously, with golf being an outdoor sport, played around the water out there, 20-30 miles out from the city, you are probably at a higher risk than most other athletes in most other sports, who are in much more of a contained environment. So there is that to weigh up and factor in the decision-making process.

Following from his withdrawal from the Olmypics, Rory [McIlroy] said that he thought the pro tours aren’t rigorous enough in their drug-testing programmes, and that he and other players could takr them without being caught if they wanted to. What’s your view on that?

I don't know how you would improve the procedures that are currently in place. I don't know what else they're looking for.

I’ve been tested three or four times a year since the testing programme was introduced and its feel comprehensive enough to me. I believe golf has that great image of being a clean sport, and I think it has fallen into line with all the other major sports in terms of its drugs policy and its eligibility for its inclusion as a Olympic sport. The aim of drug testing is to keep sports clean, which is obviously very much what I stand by, and what Team GB stands by, and what golf as a whole should stand by.

Are you happy with the format or do you wish they'd tried something different – a team event?

I think it's the right format for golf. If you're looking at getting the truest champion, 72-hole, stroke play golf is the tried and tested format. If you start to get funky team formats, it can dilute a certain player's potential. If you have a country with a great player and maybe a weaker player, that's probably not fair to the higher-ranked player, let's put it that way. So I think 72hole stroke play is the most fair and simple and, I guess, it gives you the correct outcome.

THERE WILL BE NO LOVE LOST WHEN THE TOURNAMENT GETS UNDER WAY

How disappointed are you by the number of other top male golfers that aren't going to be there?

I would say that most of the golfers that aren’t coming are skipping Rio rather than skipping the Olympics per se. That's the way I'd like to frame it this particular time around.

It's obviously disappointing that some players have decided not to come; of course it is. There's no point in lying about that, or pretending otherwise. But I totally respect and understand their perspective, and their decisions. You must do what feels right for you and your family. But I've been fairly unwavering in my commitment to the Games.

How did you weigh up the risks over Zika?

How would winning gold compare to winning a major?

I think if I was to fast forward ten years, I'd like my career to read ‘Justin Rose, multiple major champion and Olympic gold medalist’. It's going to be right there alongside the majors, but not compared to. I just think it has its own category. It's once every four years. It's very unique. Andy Murray has won multiple grand slam tournaments and he won the gold medal, and I think that was a big moment for him. He'd probably put it in different column to his Wimbledon titles, but it would be at the very top that column. Like I said, they stand apart.

Away from the Olympics, your focus these days is very much of the main events, the Majors and the WGCs. Would you say that chasing these tournaments can affect your overall form?

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Yeah, I think there's a danger of that, for sure. For me, the majors are really what are going to move the needle in my career. If I win one, two, or three more, that's going to be what defines my career. Do I single-handedly focus on the majors at the beginning of the year? Probably. But I also have other goals as well: to be a more prolific winner; to be able to have a season where I win more than once or twice. That's a big goal of mine.

But outside of that, it is focusing on the major championships, because I believe that's where history is at, and that's what's going to define you as a player.

So I always see the major championships as two-week spells – a week of preparation where you're really getting into it. That paid dividends for me at Merion. I feel like that separated me from a lot of the other guys that particular week. And that gave me the opportunity to win. So I think they are worth targeting and going after. It's only a danger if you can't handle that mentality and the pressure of what that represents.

Your results in The Open probably haven’t been as good as you would have liked. What do you put that down to?

INTERVIEW | JULY 2016 [25]

Obviously my Open Championship form is something I've definitely been conscious about, and I’ve really being trying my best to turn that around. I think last year, when I finished sixth, was obviously a step in the right direction, but generally it has been a frustrating tournament for me.

It's easy to blame a bad draw once in a while, but that’s really no excuse. There have been a few occasions where I've felt like I've actually played much better than the bare result, but I don’t think I have an issue with The Open. It’s a tournament that I'd dearly love to win. This year I altered my preparation a little bit, and didn’t play in the Scottish Open, which I have done before, so there have been a few changes in terms of trying to figure out how best to prepare for it. So I spent a week up at Troon prior to the tournament, playing the course and getting my head together, rather than getting distracted at home.

How much has your back injury interrupted your preparations for the majors this year?

I've got a herniated disc, which I think a lot of golfers face at some point in their career. There’s pretty much nothing you can do about it. Thankfully I was in good shape generally, so while some people would have been laid off for four or five months, I was able to bounce back in four or five weeks. I don't think I could have been back a day sooner, so I worked incredibly hard to be back and fit and ready. It's the nature of

being a golfer, I suppose. It's the nature of getting a little bit older, and having played a lot of golf through my career.

I came back from injury straight into the US Open and then onto the WGC at Akron, and have really just been trying to find some form again. Any time you have any time out with an injury, you're not able to practice quite as much, but I feel like I'm in a much better place now. I'm beginning to be able to focus on my performance, rather than just trying to get fit.

So it's about the right time for me to start turning in some good results and I'm excited about getting stuck in again.

On the plus side, having a bit of time off has really helped freshen me up, especially with the run of events we’ve had, with back-to-back majors at The Open and the US PGA, then the Olympics, the Ryder Cup and the Fedex play-offs.

There’s a lot of golf to be played and I feel quite hungry and ready to go.

Do you feel that you have a responsibility to grow the game?

If you want to call it responsibility, yes I do. Do I feel like it's nice to give back? Yes. I received a lot of help from many different organisations within the game on my up, and it doesn't take much to give back in certain ways, and I always try to do my fair share. I think there are times in your career where you know you need to be single-minded and maybe there are times of your career where it's time to give back, and

that time might not be right now, but the mentality to give back, just being a good role model is important. The best way you can give back to the game is to be a positive role model in terms of how you go about competing and the temperament you show. Then if you are able to give back on top of that through time, effort, campaigns, money, whatever it might be, then that's a bonus.

The Olympic golf tournament takes place at Reserva de Marapendi Golf Coutrse, Barra da Tijuca in Brazil from August 11-14.

The women’s event is being held from August 17-20.

[26] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TESTIMONIAL: "AFTER PLAYING ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR FOR OVER A DECADE, I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY DIFFERENT COACHES. STUART CARTWRIGHT IS THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THEM ALL" NICK DOUGHERTY, EUROPEAN TOUR PRO

“AFTER MY INITIAL ASSESSMENT, STUART ROBINSON PROVIDED ME WITH A SIMPLE PROGRAMME THAT I COULD DO AT HOME. IT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED MY BALANCE, FLEXIBILITY AND STRENGTH, RESULTING IN ME ADDING 20 YARDS TO MY DRIVES IN LESS THAN 10 WEEKS. MY HANDICAP HAS ALSO REDUCED BY TWO SHOTS.” PETER, 18 HANDICAP

TAKE YOUR GAME TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH

INTELLIGENT GOLF PERFORMANCE A holistic approach to golf training, taking in the technical and physical aspects of the game, is being offered by experienced tour coach STUART CARTWRIGHT at his performance studio at Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey

Y Intelligent Golf Performance is hosting a series of seminars at golf clubs in the South East later this summer, where prospective clients can gain an insight into the programme. Costing just £5 to attend, there will be sessions at Horne Park (Aug 9), Horsham Golf (Aug 12) and Slinfold Golf & Country Club (Aug 23).

To book a place, call 07958 553642 or email stuart@ elitegolftraining.co.uk.

ou only need to wander along the driving range at any event on the European Tour to know that golf at the highest level is a team game. While only one person hits the actual shots, a whole array of people have helped him or her get to that point.

Besides the faithful caddy teeing up golf balls, there will be any number of other interested parties standing close by, from a swing coach and a physical trainer, to a sports psychologist and a suited business manager with a mobile phone clamped to his ear. Meanwhile, back at home or at the tournament hotel, there could be a masseur, a nutritionist, and even a private chef on hand to cater for their client’s every need.

This team approach is nothing new for the very top professionals, but it is becoming a growing trend among elite amateurs, albeit on a much smaller scale, and it has even trickled down to the mass ranks of players at club level, where a small number of specialist coaches are offering professional-level training to handicap golfers who are serious about improving their game and their physical wellbeing.

And it is this last, but largest, group of players that led to the setting up of Elite Golf Training by experienced golf coach Stuart Cartwright. A

former tour player himself, Cartwright has coached some of the game’s top performers, including European Tour players Nick Dougherty, Steve Webster and Mark Davis, and was convinced that were many more players across the handicap spectrum that could benefit from this more rounded, holistic approach to golf improvement.

He set up Intelligent Golf Performance (IGP) in 2009, and since then has seen his client base extend across the complete spectrum of skill levels and ages, from European, Challenge and EuroPro Tour professionals, to veteran double-digit handicappers looking to shave a few shots off their scores in the monthly medal.

Cartwright, who has studied many aspects of sports training and swing mechanics, looks after the technical side of affairs at IGP, while Stuart Robinson, a qualified chiropractor with an in-depth knowledge of the biomechanics of the swing, handles the physiological side of things.

“The vision behind Intelligent Golf Performance is to deliver a regime of coaching that is unlike any other,” Cartwright explains from part-time base at Horne Park Golf Club in South Godstone, where he has a purpose-built indoor performance studio.

“I set up IGP to deliver a one-stop facility that will deliver a comprehensive coaching programme

that takes in the technical, biomechanical, physiological and emotional characteristics that deliver performance.”

Robinson, who has a degree in human biology from St Andrews University, Is based at Precision Golf in West Byfleet, where he works with both injured and healthy golfers to help them improve their games. A scratch golfer himself, and a member at Walton Heath, Robinson uses his knowledge of physiology to provide indepth analysis of golfer’s biomechanics during physical movements, including the golf swing.

This information then allows him to isolate physical weaknesses that can later be corrected.

His role forms a link between the coach and the player, by making players physically capable of consistently producing the technique they and their coach desire through specifically tailored exercise routines.

“While IGP is essentially about lowering scores, it’s also about finding a path that works best for the individual,” says Robinson. “We work within and around a golfer’s physical limitations to get the best out of their game. Sometimes we’ll find a golfer is losing distance or movement because of a non-golf related injury, so we always look to trace problems back to their source, and fix that first, rather than develop a swing around an incorrect posture.”

He adds: “While most of our clients are a picture of health, a number of IGP clients have signed up following minor injuries or operations, and benefit from a more rounded approach to training, which helps them to regain movement and improve the strength of their core golfing muscles, which ultimately leads to a improved technique.”

The IGP programme is set out as a 24-hour block of contact time, which is broken down into 10 hours of coaching with Cartwright, 10 hours of physical training with Robinson (two of which comprise the initial biomechanical assessment), and two hours of collaborative training with both of them at the beginning and the end of the programme to set targets and assess overall progress.

“By setting out clear objectives from the very start, we all know what our goals are, and we also get an understanding of how serious golfers are about making changes to their game,” says Cartwright. “We’re not trying to create a new breed of superhuman golfers. We’re aiming to deliver permanent solutions to some often longstanding problems, be they physical or technical, or both, rather than offering temporary sticking plasters. This is borne out in our results, which lead to gradual, long-term improvements, rather than instant quick-fixes.”

For golfers who are prepared to invest time and effort – and, of course, a little bit of money – into making themselves better golfers and better allround physical specimens – then two men called Stuart could be the answer to their prayers.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016

[27]

TALE OF OLD TOM MORRIS HITS THE SILVER SCREEN

F

ans of golfing history and costume dramas are in for an enjoyable trip to the cinema this month, following the launch of Tommy’s Honour, a biopic depicting the relationship between two golfing legends, ‘Old’ Tom Morris and his son Tommy.

Tommy’s Honour tells the true story of the relationship between two of the game’s best ever players. Morris Snr won The Open four times between 1861 and 1867, while Morris Jnr, ‘Young’ Tom, won it in 1868, aged just 17, but died seven years later.

GOODEY IN DOGHOUSE AFTER LOMBARD WIN

Directed by Jason Connery, the film premiered at last month’s Edinburgh Film Festival, where it met with largely positive reviews by critics. Award-winning actors Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden take on the roles of father and son.

The film, which goes on general release next month, is based on the book ‘Tommy’s Honour: The Story of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, Golf’s Founding Father and Son’, which was written by American sports writer Kevin Cook and first published in 2007.

Although featuring plenty of golfing

action, much of it is filmed from a distance, with little in the way of close ups of actors playing shots in heavy tweed and sporting thick beards. Many of the scenes were filmed in and around St Andrews, where the Morris family lived, and where Old Tom designed the front nine of the Old Course.

Among the most memorable scenes include some ill-tempered matches between the Morris clan and their archrivals, the Park family from Musselburgh, as well as scenes depicting Old Tom’s combative relationship with the R&A.

■ OLD TOM MORRIS IS PLAYED BY PETER MULLAN IN 'TOMMY'S HONOUR'

SIMPLICITY AT ITS HEART

H

ertfordshire professional Ben Goodey will miss his wife’s birthday after qualifying for the final of the Lombard Trophy with a stunning 59 at Ashridge Golf Club.

The Manor of Groves' PGA Professional flourished alongside club member Robert Jones, a 27-year-old banker from Theydon Bois, as they secured a place in the £41,500 grand final at Vila Sol in Portugal.

The duo dovetailed perfectly as they secured a four-shot win over their nearest challengers, Simon Harrison and Fraser Allen of Gog Magog Golf Club.

A birdie, eagle start set them on their way and by the seventh hole the deadly duo were already seven-underpar. A solitary blip at the eighth where they dropped a shot briefly halted their momentum, but eagles at 10 and 15, plus three other birdies, saw them clinch victory in style.

“I don’t think the wife is too happy,” Goodey confessed. “But hopefully she might let me off if I come home with a nice cheque! Rob and I dovetailed really nicely out there – if one of us was struggling on a hole the other one always came in. That makes life a lot easier and we’ll be looking to carry that on in the final.”

The duo played together in this event last year at the regional final at Old Fold Manor, on that occasion missing out on a place in the final on countback. But Goodey was almost denied the chance to bid for a place in this year’s final after tearing a ligament in his ankle in the weeks running up to the event.

“I couldn’t believe it – I went over on it playing football,” he recalled. “For a while I didn’t think I was going to be ready in time to play. I could feel it on the way round and felt like I was limping a bit – I was trying to hold it together but at the same time was relying on Rob a bit too.

I’m really glad I made it and now I’m really looking forward to the final in Portugal.”

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STUART RANK lifts the lid on his daily duties as the head professional at STOKE PARK COUNTRY CLUB

H

ow long have you been a PGA professional?

13 years.

What is your day-to-day role at the club? Managing and delivering a leading golf academy. Every day is different, from coaching beginners through to elite players; to delivering corporate clinics and overseas coaching trips.

What’s the best thing about your job? The people. I meet wonderful and interesting people every day and they never cease to amaze me.

And the worst? Not having enough time to play. Everyone thinks when you’re a golf professional you must play loads of golf – but it seems to be getting less and less!

Tell us something about the facilities and the playing experience… We’re very lucky here at Stoke Park to have one of the finest coaching facilities in the UK. We have all the latest technology at our disposal and also the freedom of space, which means each lesson can be away from any hustle and bustle: whether focused on driving or the short-game. Also, the recent changes to the course – the front nine has undergone extensive and quite stunning bunker renovation – have now given playing lessons an extra dimension off the tee and around the greens.

What is the club doing to attract junior and female golfers? We’re very proactive in driving new golfers into the game, with both junior and female golfers being a high priority. We’ve got seven very talented girls on our scholarship programme, with four now established in the England Regional Squads. We have also strongly supported National Golf Month and Women’s Golf Day, which has proved to many ladies that Stoke Park has an open and relaxed attitude, which is particularly appealing to female golfers.

How much time do you spend teaching? I try to get a balance between managing and teaching, but demand is high at

■ 9TH HOLE AT STOKE PARK

Stoke Park for lessons, so it isn’t always that easy. It probably works out at three full days’ teaching and two office days spread over my working week.

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

Ping has seen a real resurgence lately and is proving very popular. I think the fact that they only change their product range every other year is a real attraction to consumers.

Technology is also growing fast, so most of our members have a laser or GPS to help them out on the course. And, of course, our own Stoke Park-branded apparel is always popular.

What range of facilities do you have for custom fitting? Trackman has really transformed our coaching and fitting capabilities, so adding this to our range of suppliers gives us a comprehensive offering. We also have Honma and PXG now using Stoke Park as a venue for their custom-fitting days.

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

Grip it lighter! We all try too hard and, once you relax and let the club swing, you’ve then got a chance. Of course, technique around this is paramount, but if you’re hanging on for dear life then you’ve got no chance to execute a smooth swing.

What is your career highlight as a player? I was invited to play in a pro-am last year which included no fewer than 12 exRyder Cup players – guys that I’d grown up watching on the European Tour and who had been an inspiration to me. I was pretty nervous, but enjoyed every minute!

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

In England, I would have to say Hillside, with each hole enclosed by dunes, it makes it a great test and is one of the best links there is. However, Loch Lomond is my number one: a really special course, and if you get the sunshine it can be spectacular.

Who is your golfing hero and why? Nick Faldo. He was the reason I wanted to be a pro. I remember staying up late to see him win the Masters in a play-off against Scott Hoch. That was it for me.

Who inspired you to take up golf? That was my father. He was a low handicapper and a head greenkeeper, so I grew up on the golf course, mixing with the members and playing from dusk until dawn every day.

If you could change one rule in golf what would it be? To help speed up play in the amateur game I would let players drop a ball near where they think they’d lost it and add an extra two shots, instead of stroke and distance.

If you ran the golf industry for the day, what three things would you introduce or ban?

I would ban dress codes, as these are extremely outdated now. With modern fashion having so many crossovers, it seems pointless. Recent events based around equality are disappointing, so making every club’s membership open to both sexes would be one I would introduce – not something we have to worry about at Stoke Park. And I would love to see a tournament run with every pro playing exactly the same equipment and ball. That would make for interesting viewing.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COURSE REVIEW | JULY 2016 [29]

system, while local visitors can join Bracknell Council’s E+ Card scheme, which, for an annual fee of £35.70, allows tee times to be booked up to 15 days in advance and enjoy significant savings on green fees.

The annual season ticket remains very competitive, with £600 offering tremendous value for money for those looking for unlimited weekday play. For an extra £100, golfers can also enjoy rounds after 1pm on weekends, while £900 secures unlimited golf throughout the week. Other benefits include free practice balls for the driving range, advanced tee bookings and discounts on buggy hire, lessons, drinks and pro shop purchases.

The Downshire is also very much a family course, with extremely buoyant youth and ladies’ sections.

With the Junior Golf Academy being run throughout the year, including regular coaching days during the school holidays, young golfers are certainly well looked after here. For youngsters and absolute beginners, the nine-hole pitch-and-putt course provides a great place to build up confidence before tackling the main course. The vast pro shop is a veritable Aladdin’s Cave for equipment junkies, stocked as it is with an wide selection of bags, shoes and clothing – including a Nike Golf mini-store and a dedicated shoe fitting zone – as well as a wide range of keenly-priced equipment and clothing from all the major brands. The shop also boasts a GC2 indoor golf simulator, where guests can play many of the world’s most iconic courses, including The Belfry, Carnoustie, Birkdale, Oakmont and Hazeltine, the venue for this year’s Ryder Cup. Ideal for year-round use, as well as

■ LARGE GREENS RAMP UP THE CHALLENGE AT THE DOWNSHIRE

GET DOWN TO THE

DOWNSHIRE With continued investment in its first-class facilities, there has never been a better time to visit THE DOWNSHIRE GOLF COMPLEX in Berkshire, which is widely regarded as one of the best publicly-funded golf facilities in the country

M

aking golf affordable and accessible is the foundation for getting the next generation of golfers interested and involved in the game, and nowhere is this philosophy more readily apparent than at The Downshire Golf Complex in Berkshire.

Under the ownership of Bracknell Forest Council since 1999, the Wokingham-based facility is a prized asset among the many first-class leisure facilities on offer to the area’s residents. Voted among the best publicly-funded golf courses in the UK since opening its doors in the mid-1970s, facilities at the complex comprise an 18-hole parkland course, a 9-hole pitch and putt course, a covered driving range, practice putting greens, pro shop and a comfortable clubhouse.

Following significant investment, the main course has never been in better shape, with resources ploughed into a complete re-bunkering programme, the building of new tees and pathways, and the construction of a new half-way house, have also improved the experience for all golfers. Further expenditure on drainage later this summer will further enhance the year-round playability of this enjoyable 6,371-yard parkland course.

Students of course design will be interested to note that renowned architect Fred Hawtree was responsible for creating this well-crafted layout, and his signature touches are still clearly visible today.

There is water of some descriptions on 13 of the holes to keep players honest off the tee and on approaches to the course’s large greens, which allow numerous pin positions to provide varying tests from week to week. The course is certainly no pushover, but generous fairways offer the opportunity to make a few birdies, providing the ball is kept in play.

The par threes are refreshingly short, with the 127-

■ A GC2 INDOOR GOLF SIMULATOR IS AVAILABLE FOR GAME PLAY AND LESSONS

yard third only a flick with a wedge, but often belies its stroke 18 index, while the 166-yard seventh is arguably the signature hole, with water in front of the green, and bunkers guarding the front right, ensuring that only a precise shot offers up a chance of par, let alone a birdie.

There are four lengthy par fives, three of which are over 500 yards off the white tees, but offer solid birdie chances providing you avoid the numerous ditches that cross-cross the course at regular intervals.

The green fees are graded according to the times you want to play, with just £22.80 securing a round on the 18-hole course from Monday to Friday for non-members. This rises to £28.70 at weekends and bank holidays. In line with its philosophy of access for all, the club operates a discounted green fee for over 63s of £14 per round (Mon-Fri), while juniors (U16) have been given even more of an incentive to take up the game with green fees starting at just £8.30 on week days.

The club operates a 10-day advance booking

for corporate and society outings, it costs £25 per hour to hire.

Next to the shop, the 30-bay floodlit driving range is also extremely popular with beginners and those warming up before a round, or enjoying some practice either on your own or under the expert eye of the complex’s team of PGA Professionals.

The Downshire’s Golf 4U Academy offers a variety of personalised teaching programmes and the very latest swing analysis and custom-fitting equipment, while the driving range has 15 automatic ‘Power Tees’ and uses high-quality Srixon golf balls. Among the additional facilities is a fantastic nine-hole putting and chipping area in front of the clubhouse.

The all-weather surface also features a fringe area, with varying levels of rough to help with chipping practices, while the undulating green provides the ideal place for golfers of all levels to fine-tune their putting skills.

The spacious clubhouse offers a pleasant environment to enjoy some welcome sustenance after a round, with The Fairways Bar & Restaurant offering a full snack and bar menu, as well as catering for weddings, large functions and societies.

The complex is popular with visiting societies and is open for bookings for groups seven days a week.

Breakfast and 18-hole packages start at £26.50, while coffee, 18 holes, and a three-course meal, costs from £35.75pp.

So, with summer in full swing, and the course in full bloom, there has never been a better time to head down to The Downshire, where a warm welcome awaits.

Downshire Golf Complex Easthampstead Park, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3DH. Tel: 01344 422708. www.bracknell-forest.gov. uk/be Email: downshiregc@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

[30] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

QUICK QUESTIONS

with PAUL WESSELINGH After spending 25 years as a club pro, Derbyshire’s Paul Wesselingh joined the European Senior Tour in 2011 and has since won seven times, including the Order of Merit in 2013.

Here, he recalls his favourite courses, shots and clubs, and picks highlights from his career

W

hat and where was your first professional pay cheque?

It was in a BB&O Assistants event in 1986. I can’t remember where it was, but I won £50. I thought I’d won the lottery.

Lynn. I was playing in really heavy rain and my driver slipped out of my hands on the follow through. It went up into a tree and stayed there.

I had to climb up and get it back. From that point I decided it was worth wearing a glove.

If you had to pick the greatest shot from your career, when and where would it be?

It has to be my second shot with a rescue club into the par-five 18th on the last day at the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius in 2013. That was a great finish to an incredible year for me. Winning the tournament confirmed my European Senior Tour Order of Merit victory in 2013. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

What’s the most nervous you’ve ever felt on the golf course?

It was on the first tee of my debut Open at Muirfield in 1992. I was playing with Paul Lawrie and José Coceres. I could hardly feel the club.

I thinned my opening drive. It started low and seemed to bounce off the front of the teeing area and went straight down the middle. It sounded like I ripped it.

What is your favourite hole and why?

It would be the 18th at Winston Golf in Germany.

On the last day of the WinstonGolf Senior Open in 2014, I played the 18th hole four times, three of them in a play-off with Bernhard Langer and Phil Golding. I birdied it three out of the four times, and nearly holed my second shot twice.

What has been your favourite tournament to compete in throughout your career?

The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

I loved playing in it, even though I never did very well.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by anyone on Tour?

Sam Torrance once said to me, ‘Don’t weaken a strength to strengthen a weakness.’ I’ve never forgotten that, so I never try to draw the ball now!

If you had one tip for a 20-handicap golfer, what would it be?

Work hard on your short game and putting.

What’s your last thought before you hit a driver?

Get my left shoulder over my right shoe. This makes sure I fully rotate and don’t snatch the club away.

What is your favourite course and why?

The Oconee Course at the Reynolds Plantation Resort in Greensboro. I played one of my six PGA Cup matches there. It was an incredible week and an awesome course.

What is your favourite club in the bag?

My putter. I love putting, even though I change it quite often. That’s something I’m going to try not to do this season, but I’ll probably fail on that one.

What is your favourite Ryder Cup moment?

It has to be Sam Torrance’s winning putt on the 18th green at The Belfry in 1985.

Who would make up your dream fourball?

Tom Hanks, Michael Caine and Billy Connolly.

When was your first hole-in-one?

My first and most lucky hole-in-one came when I was a six handicap playing in a winter league match at my then home club, Kings Lynn in Norfolk. It was a winter green on the 136-yard 12th hole. I pulled my 9-iron into the tree left of the green. I saw it bounce around the tree a bit, before rolling down a branch, dropping onto the green and rolling into the hole. Class!

What is the most unusual thing that has happened to you on the course?

It wasn’t on Tour, but as junior member at Kings

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

I hate driving straight down the middle of the fairway and ending up in a divot. It’s so unfair and I wish we could drop it.

Can you suggest one idea to combat slow play?

It’s simple – just walk to your ball quicker. I’ve played in Japan a lot in the last couple of years and it’s not unusual to see players running down the fairways to catch up.

What is your favourite film?

I love the Bourne films, I’ve watched them so many times.

What was the first album you bought?

Electric Light Orchestra’s Out of the Blue.

What was your first car?

It was a mustard Mini Clubman Estate.

KINGS HILL PRO PLAYS 100 HOLES IN A DAY

K

ing’s Hill’s PGA Head Professional Ben Blackburn enjoyed a well-earned rest last month after playing 100 holes in just 16 hours.

The Kent club’s Director of Golf teed off at 4am on June 22, and completed his 100th hole shortly after 8pm. Supported by friends, family and fellow clubs members throughout the 13-mile challenge, Blackburn is donating the £1,700 raised on the day to Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Getting up that early was a major challenge, and the weather was a bit drizzly for most of the morning, but by the late afternoon it was sunny and warm,” said Blackburn (pictured below). “My wife, Emma, and everyone else provided some great support.

"I was dead on my feet at the end of the day, but the next day I felt surprisingly good, all things considered, and I may have mentioned over a celebratory beer that I’m thinking of doing it again next year!”

He added: “Having witnessed friends fight cancer and the incredible strength shown by their loved ones I have seen first hand that Macmillan Cancer Support is about more than fighting this nasty disease – it's about the lives of those affected by cancer directly and indirectly. I hope that the money I raised means that they can continue to help anyone affected by cancer and give them the strength they need to fight.”

Kings Hill Golf Club is hosting the Samsung PGA Southern Professionals Championship on September 15- and 16, which is preceded by a Pro-Am on September 14. For bookings visit www.kingshillgolf.com.

SENIOR GOLF

CLASSIC

2016

WILLOW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SPECIAL FOUR PAGE PULL-OUT

WILLOW SENIOR GOLF CLASSIC HANBURY MANOR

MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB FRIDAY 26TH - SUNDAY 28TH AUGUST 2016

INTRODUCING THE EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR'S NEWEST AND MOST UNIQUE TOURNAMENT ■ SEE ROGER CHAPMAN TEE IT UP ON THE 26TH AUGUST

to the inaugural Willow Senior Golf Classic at Hanbury Manor. The tournament is a new and unique addition to the European Senior Tour’s schedule, and provides the opportunity for amateurs to play alongside golfing legends on a beautiful championship course. The Willow Senior Golf Classic is brought to you in partnership with Willow, and all proceeds from the tournament will go towards providing Special Days for seriously ill young adults. We hope that you will come and join us in supporting this fantastic new tournament, either as a player or a spectator, and help us to raise funds for a great cause through great golf.

Duncan Sinclair

DUNCAN SINCLAIR – BENEFACTOR

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2016

WILLOW

SENIOR GOLF

Former European Tour golfer, and now two time Senior Major champion, ROGER CHAPMAN is joining us at Hanbury Manor to play in the first Willow Senior Golf Classic. We caught up with the Englishman to get his thoughts on life on the Senior Tour, the event, and his game.

How is 2016 treating you so far?

RC: I’ve not had the best start to the season.

I had second and ninth-place finishes in America, but apart from that, I think it’s been very average. I have been suffering from tendinitis in my left elbow for most of the year - so in June and July I had a break to try and sort it out.

What are your expectations/goals for the second half of the year?

RC: My next event will

be the Senior Open, so I'm gearing up for that.

So hopefully that will kickstart the back end of the season.

What are your strengths on the course?

RC: Usually my iron play is pretty good.

What has kept you competitive over the last thirty years?

RC: Being a sportsman, the competitive instinct is always there.

How does life on the Senior Tour differ

from life on the European Tour?

RC: Shorter weeks!

Normally we play three rounds, so we can travel on a Wednesday instead of a Monday.

Has winning two Majors changed your perspective on golf, and if so, how?

RC: It's made me want to win more. I liked the feeling of winning the Majors.

What is your lasting memory of winning your first major?

RC: How well I actually

played and how positive I was.

You obviously spend a lot of time in the US. How do you decide which events to play in?

RC: I normally play in every event, because there are natural breaks. If it's more than two weeks, we come home. If it's only one week, Cathy and I will go for a holiday. We've been to Mexico, Napa Valley, and Canada.

What made you decide to play in the Willow

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION THIS, THE INAUGURAL SENIOR WILLOW GOLF CLASSIC, will be played in the alliance format, allowing amateur golfers to tee-up alongside the professionals over 54 holes between the 26th and 28th of August. Golfers who are unable to play in the event need not fear as there are many ways to enjoy the veritable feast of golf on offer, including two Pro-Ams, a selection of fantastic hospitality packages, and spectator tickets that can be purchased in advance or on the door.

ALLIANCE FORMAT The alliance format is both a team and individual competition; each team comprising one professional and one amateur for all three tournament rounds.

The amateur carries their team score forward from round one through to rounds two and three, when the amateur with the lowest cumulative nett score over the three days of competition will be the winner.

The professionals will play a traditional stroke play format and carry their individual score forward.

The winner will be the professional with the lowest gross score.

Amateurs can purchase a spot in the tournament for £4,000, and his or her partner will be drawn at random before the event.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES WILLOW is the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable Special Days. These Special Days enable them and their

families to reconnect and refocus on each other while enjoying an activity of their choosing. A day for them, a day about them, and a day that will create memories they will all treasure forever.

To book your place in the Willow Senior Golf Classic, you need to contact Willow at SarahJane.Thompson@willowfoundation.org.uk or 01707 259 777

PRO-AMS • The tournament is preceded by two Pro-Ams from 24th – 25th August (Wednesday and Thursday) each starting at 12.30pm • The cost of each team is £1,250 for three amateurs playing alongside a leading professional from the European Senior Tour over the championship course • This is followed by a prize presentation dinner in Hanbury Manor's stunning Poles Hall Further information can be obtained by contacting Willow at SarahJane.Thompson@willowfoundation. org.uk or 01707 259 777

HOSPITALITY • Spectators can enhance their experience by purchasing hospitality during the Willow Senior Golf Classic • Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea are included

ADMISSION CHARGES Tickets purchased in advance will cost: • Season Tickets, £20 – All 3 competitive days • Day Tickets, £10 – Admission for any one day • Tickets are available by visiting www.europeantourtickets.com/tickets or calling 01344 840550 • All ticket prices include VAT and booking fee

• Prices start from £125 + VAT per person

Tickets purchased on the gate will cost: • Season Tickets, £30 – All 3 competitive days

• To make enquiries or book a hospitality package, contact Sportingclass at suzannel@sportingclass.com or call 0208 734 3890

• Day Tickets, £15 – Admission for any one day • All gate proceeds will go to the Willow charity, helping seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 • Car parking is free, as are children under the age of 16 when accompanied by a paying adult

“It’s been a hard two years for my family. I wanted to make some amazing memories that were not me in hospital or sick with the treatment I'm currently on; some much needed respite, and headspace away from the world of cancer that I've been thrust into. Memories from our weekend away are the ones I want my children to remember me by.” David, 35, brain cancer.

SENIOR GOLF

CLASSIC

Senior Golf Classic?

RC: My good friend Andy Lee from Sportingclass is promoting the event, so that was one of the reasons.

The Willow Senior Golf Classic will be played in support of Willow. How proud are you to be helping raise the profile of this worthwhile charity?

RC: When you are fully fit it really makes you appreciate it. Having been close to someone who has been seriously ill, and seeing what they go through and the fight they put up, you are in total admiration for them.

You last played competitively at Hanbury Manor in the 1999 English Open, are you looking forward to returning

in August?

RC: Yes I am. It's a nice course with a great hotel and I enjoyed playing there in the 90s.

What are the biggest drawbacks of being a Tournament professional?

RC: The travel. Great when you’re young, not so when you get older, the novelty wears off!

What do you make of the alliance format?

RC: It will be great to play with business people, sportsmen and women, and celebs all for a great cause.

What advice would you give to the amateurs playing in the event?

RC: Just go out and enjoy it! Try not to worry about it all.

THE FIELD

2016

WILLOW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

Robert "Bob" Wilson, OBE, is a former international goalkeeper and broadcaster. Wilson is most noted for his career at Arsenal between 1963 and 1974 when he made over 300 appearances for the club, and two appearances for Scotland. In 1999, Bob set up the Willow charity, so we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions: Q: When you set up the charity

spreading the word.

back in 1999, did you imagine it would be where it is today?

BW: When Megs and I set up Willow six months after Anna died, we thought it would only help seriously ill 16-40 year olds in Hertfordshire where we lived, and where Anna worked as a nurse. Only after six years did we take it to national status after receiving so many requests from adjoining counties.

Q: Where does the name Willow come from?

BW: My nickname as a footballer was Willow based on the name Wilson. Anna became known as Little Willow.

Q: How can people help the Willow charity?

BW: Lots of wonderful folk have helped Willow as volunteers, people who donate both financially or goods for our shops, by setting up third party events themselves, and simply

Q: When did you take up golf?

BW: I only started playing golf properly in my twenties when I was an Arsenal player. We were all members at South Herts GC and then I was a member for many years at Brookmans Park.

Currently I am an honorary member at Brocket Hall. As for handicap, the best I achieved was 15 but now it’s 19.

Q: Will you be playing in the Willow Senior Golf Classic?

BW: I hope to play on the first two days, but I’ll be attending the event throughout.

Q: Do you think Arsenal will finish ahead of Spurs again next season?

BW: Good final question! I’ve been asked it for last 20 years, and even last season Spurs somehow managed to finish below Arsenal. It all depends on who Arsenal sign before the new season.

IN SEPTEMBER this year, Europe and USA will go head to head in the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine Golf Club, Minnesota. Very few will be making the 8,000-mile round trip to cheer on our fateful 12, yet, at the Willow Senior Golf Classic, spectators will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Ryder Cup stars from the past. Here’s a line up of some ex-Ryder Cup heroes that you can come and watch: IAN WOOSNAM

COSTANTINO ROCCA

The former World Number One and 1991 Masters Tournament Champion is a five-time winner on the European Senior Tour. The Welshman has also made eight Ryder Cup appearances, winning on four occasions and retaining once. Also captained Europe to success in 2006 at The K Club with a record-equalling nine point winning margin.

Holding a 54 percent win ratio from 11 matches, Costantino Rocca made three appearances for Europe in the Ryder Cup from 1993-1997.

Rocca won five European Tour titles between 1993 and 1999 before joining the European Senior Tour and claiming two wins in 2007, the same year that he was named Rookie of the Year.

MARK JAMES BARRY LANE

“We both have memories that we will never forget , and we can focus on these during the hard times.”

Elliott, 40, Myeloma.

For some their Special Day is the opportunity to return some normality to their lives. For others it is the last chance to fulfil a dream. But for all, at what is the most difficult of times, a Special Day is a life-affirming experience that can lift spirits, reunify families and be a source of strength when it’s needed most.

Each Special Day provides a positive experience to be shared with a partner, parents, siblings, children, or close friends. To date, Willow has provided more than 12,500 Special Days for young adults diagnosed with a lifethreatening condition such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington’s disease.

Founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter, Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, Willow is a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged 31.

Anna’s love of life and the enriching experiences of her own Special Days were the charity’s inspiration.

A five-time winner on the European Senior Tour, former Ryder Cup star Barry Lane also has four European Tour titles to his name. Lane has finished top three in the Senior Tour Order of Merit four times in the last seven years, and also finished in the top ten in five tournaments during 2015.

A veteran of seven Ryder Cup tournaments between 1977 and 1995, Mark James won 18 European Tour events before joining the European Senior Tour. James enjoyed his best season in 1989 when he won three events on the European Tour and finished fifth in the Order of Merit, before going on to finish top ten in the Order of Merit on seven occasions.

PAUL BROADHURST

DAVID GILFORD

One of just four European golfers to have a 100 percent win ratio at the Ryder Cup, Broadhurst won both of his matches in 1991 during the bitterly contested ‘War on the Shore’ at Kiawah Island, where the United States won 14 ½ to 13 ½. Broadhurst won on his Senior Tour debut last season and has recorded six top ten finishes in eight events.

A star of the Ryder Cup in 1995, David Gilford won three points from a possible four when he partnered Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer on the Friday and Saturday, before beating Brad Faxon on the Sunday. Gilford joined the European Senior Tour in 2015.

CARL MASON The most prolific winner on the European Senior Tour, Carl Mason has 25 Senior Tour titles to his name and enjoyed two victories on the European Tour in 1994. Mason broke Tommy Horton’s record back in 2011 when he claimed his 24th and 25th wins on the Senior Tour.

PHIL GOLDING After birdying the final hole, Phil Golding took the title of Open de France winner on his 201st appearance on the European Senior Tour back in 2003. Since then, he has placed sixth, fourth, and fifth on the European Senior Tour Order of merit over the last three years, and enjoyed a successful season in 2014 when he won the French Riviera Masters and recorded three runner-up finishes.

WILLOW

SENIOR GOLF

[34] JULY 2016 | NEWS

2016

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GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

A DESTINATION

RE-BORN H

ANBURY MANOR GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB is home to a wealth of history and style. Dating back to the 16th century, the manor and championship golf course is set in 200 acres of spectacular Hertfordshire parkland, and the front nine holes of the course benefits from panoramic views across the county.

Features of the original nine-hole course, designed by Harry Vardon in the early 1900s, can still be seen interspersed through the newer championship course which was opened in 1991 and was the first to be designed by Jack Nicklaus II. The course is now recognised as one of the best in England, and was home to the English Open from 1997 to 1999. Measuring over 7,000 yards, it provides an exciting test of skill and expertise for golfers of all levels.

Hanbury Manor also features a host of first class facilities, welcoming the whole family to its hospitable halls for any event or occasion.

Situated in the heart of the hotel amongst the 161 luxurious and unique suites, the resort boasts a brand new indoor swing studio that features a state-of-the-art golf simulator and Foresight launch monitor, and can be used for golfing tuition or group hire.

The on-site signature spa invites guests to unwind in its Romanesque indoor, heated swimming pool with poolside jacuzzi, or indulge

WIN

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in one of the many treatments on offer. For more active patrons, the resort features both a resistance and cardiovascular gym, or if you want to enjoy the beauty of the grounds, outdoor tennis courts and a running trail provide outdoor adventures.

The country club also offers several dining options from the fine European cuisine of the Oakes Grill and Terrace restaurant, to the casual, light bites in Vardon’s bar. Or for something different, Oakes Hall and Cocktail Bar serves daily afternoon tea in sumptuous rich wood-panelled surroundings with a roaring open fire for the chillier winter months.

This stately manor has continually evolved through the ages, from its beginnings in the 16th century as home to the last Plantagenets, it transformed into an elite girls’ school before coming to rest as a luxurious golf and country club resort, open to all who wish to enjoy its splendid offerings.

Hanbury Manor is currently running a trial membership of one month for £185, inviting golfers to become part of this historic club and experience the warm hospitality, luxurious facilities, and scenic surroundings of the home of the Willow Senior Golf Classic.

■ HANBURY MANOR'S ROMANESQUE INDOOR POOL WITH POOLSIDE JACUZZI

I

n celebration of the 2016 Willow Senior Golf Classic coming to Hertfordshire this August, Golf News is delighted to offer readers the opportunity to win five pairs of season tickets to the event, plus the chance to win a complimentary four ball to play a world class course.

The Willow Senior Golf Classic will take place from August 26th28th at Marriott Golf UK’s Hanbury Manor Hotel and Country Club.

One lucky winner will receive a pair of season tickets to attend all three tournament days, plus a complimentary four ball to play the championship venue. Four runners-up will also receive pairs of season tickets to attend the event.

The tournament is partnered with Willow, a charity that provides Special Days for seriously ill young adults, and will feature a star-studded line-up of golfers vying for the £350,000 prize fund.

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, JUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHICH ENGLISHMAN WON THE SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SENIOR US OPEN IN 2012?

A) GARY WOLSTENHOLME B) ROGER CHAPMAN C) PAUL BROADHURST To enter, please send your name, address, contact number and answer, via email, to info@golfnews.co.uk

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

COURSE REVIEW | JULY 2016

[35]

LITTLE ASTON

PACKS A BIG PUNCH Widely regarded as one of the toughest parkland courses in the country, LITTLE ASTON GOLF CLUB may be just a few miles from the centre of Birmingham, but its hushed fairways make you feel like you’re a world away WORDS BY RICHARD MAUNDER

■ THERE ARE FEW FINER PARKLAND COURSES IN THE UK THAN LITTLE ASTON

O

nce described by the famous golf writer Bernard Darwin as ‘a pleasant park course of excellent turf’, Little Aston is a golf club that truly harks back to the glory days of British golf.

First opened in 1908, and designed by the legendary Harry Vardon – who was reputedly paid just 10 guineas for his work – Little Aston is a little pocket of golfing history, with its atmospheric clubhouse littered with treasured memorabilia.

Vardon created a course with long and challenging carries that ultimately proved too hard for the members, so Harry Colt was summoned to make the course friendlier, while Mark

Lewis – the dub's professional for over 40 years during the first half of the 20th century – must also be credited for taking Little Aston through to maturity.

More recent changes have seen the course extended to counter the effects of modern equipment, while the 17th green was repositioned in front of a lake to add more drama to the closing stretch.

Approached via a long drive, with impressive houses on either side, Little Aston’s tree-lined fairways have witnessed generations of great golfers and great contests. Its challenging 6,813-yard layout has proved an attraction to professional and amateur events alike, with the Amateur Championship held here

as early as 1927, while the Dunlop Schweppes PGA Close Championship was staged in 1951 and the British Masters on five occasions during the 60s.

The English Men's Amateur has also been contested here three times, most recently in 1994.

The course is always maintained immaculately, and even in the winter it plays well for a parkland layout, while the club is justifiably proud of the

quality of its large greens and of its trademark Colt bunkers.

The course is an honest one, in that everything is dearly laid out in front of you, and there are no tricked-up holes.

The two-tiered greens feature subtle gradients, and roll fast and true, while large bunkers cut into the fairways on almost every hole, forcing players to think before carelessly pulling out the driver.

While the par fours don't give too much away, the par fives can be attacked, and long hitters will be eyeing up the third hole, which measures 514 yards from the blue tees, while the 12th hole, coming in at just 485 yards, offers risk and reward in equal measure. A booming drive leaves a mid-to-long iron into the green for most, but a well-placed bunker swallows tee shots, while water guards the left side of the green. Two accurate shots offer the chance of an eagle, although anything less could spell trouble.

The par-four 17th is widely regarded as one of the feature holes, despite being just 380 yards on the card. Requiring only an iron or hybrid off the tee, the sloping ground promotes

a draw, meaning the next shot must be controlled, as water protects three-quarters of the green on the left side. Fittingly, the 18th a suitably testing hole, with the gateway to the final green guarded by a large bunker that stretches across the entirety of the fairway, like a sleeping policeman.

First-time visitors to Little Aston are often left wondering what all the fuss was about at the end of a round, but like a fine wine, it’s a course that just keeps on getting better the more you drink in its subtle nuances.

Green fees: £95 (Apr-Oct), £55 (Nov-Mar). Bookings: 0121 353 0330. For more details visit littleastongolf.co.uk.

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[36] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

HAPPY HICKLING SEALS EUROPRO START

HOJGAARD ROMPS TO MCGREGOR TRIUMPH AT ROYAL ASHDOWN

D

A

dam Hickling overcame a two-shot deficit to win The PGA in Hampshire Stroke Play Championship at the Army Golf Club in dramatic fashion.

The Stoneham pro triumphed in a two-hole play-off with first round leader Dan Seymour, after both had finished on a two-under-par total of 140.

The big bonus for Hickling is a spot on the PGA EuroPro Tour event back at the course in August, where the winner will pick up £10,000.

In the play-off, both players had regulation threes at the 17th, but Seymour, of Winchester Golf Academy, shanked his second at the 18th into thick rough. That opened the door for Hickling, who kept his

nerve after a good drive to find the green and two-putted for a par, while Seymour suffered a triple bogey.

Hickling, 25, also won the PGA in Hampshire Young Professionals Championship ahead of 29-year-old Seymour, run in conjunction with the main event, and sponsored by Hampshire Patrons.

After securing his place at the PGA EuroPro Tour event at the Army Golf Club in August, he said: “I am absolutely delighted to win one of the Hampshire majors, especially as there was so much at stake. I am really happy to get an invite to the Tour event, which should be a great experience for me, and good for my confidence in the coming weeks.”

ee Fr to in jo

ALTONWOOD

LOYALTY CARD

enmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard put on a command performance to win the McGregor Trophy by six shots, finishing on seven-under par at Royal Ashdown Forest in Sussex.

The 15-year-old signed off with a birdie on the 72nd hole, having shot two-under 70 and 67 in the final two rounds, speeding away from his rivals in the English U16 boys’ open stroke play championship.

Hojgaard also won the Jean Case Memorial Salver for the best gross score by an U15 player, finishing nine shots ahead of second placed Dylan de Prosperis of Italy.

He adds this win to his Danish amateur title, which he won last month, and to the bronze medal won a week earlier when Denmark’s boys finished third in the European team championship.

“It has been an incredible three weeks,” said Hojgaard, who ranks his McGregor triumph as the greatest of his successes because of its international status.

The runner-up, on one-under par, was Chelmsford’s Michael Gilbert, who recently won the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, while third place was shared by de Prosperis, who made a big move with 68 in the third round, and by Hanbury Manor’s Harry Goddard, who was the halfway leader.

Fourteen-year-old Dominic Clemons from Gog Magog shot 68 in the last round and finished on three-over par to share fifth place with Yorkshire’s Charlie Daughtrey.

FOUR-WAY TIE AT WEATHERBEATEN BETCHWORTH

D

espite two rain delays and wet conditions under foot, the Betchworth Park Pro-Am saw a close finish, with four players tied at the top of the leaderboard after a long day at the Dorkingbased club.

Nico Els (pictured), Chris Gane, David Copsey and Michael Lowe all fired one-under-par 68s to share the spoils in the individual professional event, while the result team competition was only decided when the final putt dropped at 9.30pm.

“The groups that started in the morning definitely had the advantage,” said Els. “We had the drier weather with some rain on our last two holes, whereas the afternoon teams had non-stop rain and at least one more long delay in the middle of their round.”

Els was delighted with his form, commenting, “I spent the winter over in South Africa, and so my UK season’s only just getting going. Betchworth Park’s always a tough one, with difficult pin positions, so I was very pleased that my game held together and some par-saving putts dropped.

“Winning here, even if it’s a tie between the four of us, is a great boost for my game.

I’m practicing hard on the right aspects, and I’ve now got a pretty busy schedule of events ahead of me, so this result was just the ticket.”

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adies European Tour star Annabel Dimmock was at Stoke Park last month to help over 30 beginners take their first steps in the sport.

The Buckinghamshire venue was one of more than 400 involved in the worldwide Women’s Golf Day, which gave female players the chance to take part in a free introduction course.

The 19-year-old Wentworth golfer offered advice to the eager beginners,

and Stoke Park’s head of instruction, Stuart Rank, believes her involvement had a big impact.

“From a Stoke Park perspective, it was a great success, and having Annabel here as well was exciting for the ladies,” Rank said. “The feedback from those who attended – particularly those who had not really played before – was very positive. What’s more, it was clear they were having great fun."

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016

[37]

ENTRIES OPEN FOR SOUTH BUCKS CHARITY DAY

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ntries are being sought for The South Buckinghamshire Golf Club’s annual chairman’s charity golf day, which takes place on September 16 at the Stoke Poges-based facility.

Last year’s event was a great success, with over £4,000 raised for the chairman’s community fund, and it is hoped that this year’s event can help raise even more money for local charities.

The 2016 renewal, which is being sponsored by Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) is open for teams to enter as well as sponsors and donations for the raffle and auction, will take place on the day.

The day comprises breakfast on arrival, 18 holes on the Colt/Hawtree course, followed by a three-course lunch, prize giving and auction. Entry fees are £165 per team of three.

There is space for only 18 teams, so early booking is advised to avoid missing out.

For more information visit thesouthbuckinghamshire.co.uk, or for bookings, email golfenquiries@southbucks.gov.uk or call 01753 643332.

TILGATE OFFERS RAINY DAY REBATE

G

olfers worried about wasting their money on a washed out game of golf, can rest easy if they book a round at Tilgate Park Golf Course in West Sussex.

After suffering one of the wettest June’s on record, the forward-thinking publiclyowned facility in Crawley has launched a unique ‘Rainy Day Guarantee’, which offers a free 18-hole round to anyone who has to endure rain for three or more consecutive holes during a round in July.

Golfers must book their initial round online more than 48 hours in advance in order to qualify for the voucher for a free round, which is valid for two weeks after the first round.

• 2016 Open Championship Packages • Tee times on the best links golf courses in the world including The Old Course, Kingsbarns, Muirfield and The Renaissance Club

“Several of the ladies have already signed up to come back for further lessons and hopefully that will be replicated worldwide as we, as an industry, look to introduce more people of both genders into the sport.”

Women’s Golf Day originated in the USA and the four-hour event aims to get players of any experience level to play the sport in a relaxed, non-threatening environment.

Stoke Park has one of the most active ladies sections in the country and first began to encourage women to play in 1908. The club was one of just five to play their part in Women’s Golf Day in England.

“Women’s Golf Day is a new concept and sometimes new concepts take some time to get going – maybe that’s why just five venues in England participated,” Rank suggested. “The Ladies were surprised at how relaxed the place was. Many ladies have had bad first experiences at golf clubs and we are keen to change that. We should all be encouraging new golfers and taking away the barriers to membership – and, to that end, making golf tuition more accessible is essential.”

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[38] JULY 2016 | FEATURE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

DISTINCTIVE TIMEPIECES FOR GOLFERS

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

A LOOK BACK IN TIME GEORGE LYON • GOLD MEDALLIST • OLYMPIC GAMES, ST LOUIS USA, 1904

GOLF’S RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES after an absence of over 100 years has so far proved less than glorious, with the men’s event having been deserted by an almost daily increasing number of the world’s top players.

While many of those who have withdrawn to date have cited issues over scheduling and concerns over the Zika virus, the harsh reality of the situation is that most of our leading male professional golfers just don’t believe that a gold medal is something worth travelling half way around the world to win.

While there are plenty of good players that are willing to play – and it should be noted that few, if any, female players have withdrawn – history shows that golf’s relationship with the Olympics is, and always has been, an uneasy one.

Golf was first included in the schedule of events at the Paris Games in 1900, which was an all-round chaotic affair after Baron de Coubertin, who founded the Games in 1894, was forced to cede control to a newly-formed committee, following pressure from the Union of the French Societies for Athletic Sports. This caused chaos, as a completely new schedule of events had to be drawn up, and many athletes who had planned to compete according to the original schedule subsequently withdrew.

A golf tournament did take place, however, which was won

by America’s Charles Sands with scores of 82 and 85. Somewhat bizarrely, there was also a separate handicap event, which won by another American, Albert Lambert. The 10-handicapper only entered because he happened to be in Paris on a business trip. A women’s event was also held, with Margaret Abbott, an American who was visiting Paris with her mother, taking the gold medal, while her mother finished seventh.

The 1904 Games was held in Missouri, USA, and, as with this year’s tournament in Brazil, a completely new golf course had to be built at Glen Echo in St Louis to host the tournament.

The sport’s popularity in North America was rising dramatically at the time, and the tournament attracted some 75 amateur entrants, although none from overseas.

The favourite for the gold medal was H Chandler Egan, a 20-year-old Harvard student who was the reigning US Amateur champion. After easing through the stroke play round, Egan made light work of his rivals to reach the final, where he came up against 46-year-old Canadian George Lyon. In horrendous conditions, Lyon outlasted his younger rival during the 36-hole final, and much to the annoyance of the local crowds, fought through the wind and rain to win 3&2.

From here on in, golf’s relationship with the Games went badly wrong. The London Olympics of 1908 should have featured some of the heavyweights of British amateur golf, including the likes of Harold Hilton, Robert Maxwell and the legendary John Ball, while George Lyon made the long journey across the Atlantic to defend his title.

A six-round tournament was scheduled over the links at Royal

St. George’s, Princes, and Royal Cinque Ports, but when the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews became embroiled in a dispute with the Olympic organising committee over player eligibility, all the home players withdrew from the event. That left a disappointed Lyon as the only competitor. He was offered the gold medal, but turned it down.

There was no golf tournament for the Stockholm Games in 1912, as it wasn’t a popular sport in Scandinavia at the time, while so few entries were received for the Antwerp Games in 1920 that the tournament was scrapped.

Prior to the controversial Berlin Olympics in 1936, a golf tournament was held at Baden-Baden – The Great Golf Prize of the Nations. Although there were no medals up for grabs, Adolf Hitler donated a trophy in expectation of a home win for the German team.

Going into the final round of the aggregate pairs tournament, it looked as though the Führer would get his wish, with Leonard von Beckerath and C.A. Hellmers leading the English pairing of Tommy Thirsk and Arnold Bentley by three shots. Hitler’s representative at the tournament, foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, sent a message to his leader that German victory was imminent, and Hitler eagerly set off for Baden-Baden to present the trophy.

However, the plucky Englishmen had other ideas, and Thirsk produced a course-record final round 65 to take the title from under the host’s collective nose. Von Ribbentrop raced off to intercept Hitler and break the bad news. On being informed, Hitler promptly turned around and headed back to Berlin, leaving Dr Karl Henkell to present the winners with the trophy, which now hangs in the clubhouse at Hesketh Golf Club in Southport, where Bentley was a member.

Golf’s fractured relationship with the Olympic Games seems set to continue at Rio, with a change to the format, and perhaps a return to its amateur roots, possibly required if it is not to disappear from the schedule of events for another century.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016 [39]

PUTTING FOR SHOW

Nick Bayly pays a visit to MY Golf Academy's state-of-the-art putting studio based at Horne Park Golf Club in Surrey, where golfers of all standards are being put on the right track to lower scores ■ MY GOLF ACADEMY’S PUTTING STUDIO OFFERS CLUB FITTINGS AS WELL AS SHORT GAME COACHING

T

■ PUTTERS CAN BE CAN BE CUSTOM FITTED ON SITE TO SUIT THE PLAYER’S NEEDS

hese days, most club golfers take the trouble to get themselves custom fitted for a new set of irons or a driver, but how often does this happen when it comes to investing in a new putter?

The piece of equipment that is responsible for the most number of shots in any round is a largely ignored item in the custom-fitting jigsaw, with most golfers happily picking one off the shelf, giving it a couple of waggles on the pro shop carpet or, if they’re lucky, out on the practice putting green, before marching to the till.

This is perhaps not surprising, given that most putter manufacturers only pay lip service to the concept of a true putter fitting. They might offer different head styles, shaft lengths and grips, but these adjustments bear no relation to a proper custom fitting. A putter must match your putting style and posture – an analysis that can only be carried out with a dynamic fitting from a qualified putter fitter and instructor.

The other reason that so few people play with bespoke putters is that putter fitting centres are few and far between. Thankfully that is beginning to change, and the indoor putting studio at Horne Park Golf Club near South Godstone is one of a growing number of venues that are focusing their attentions on this vital area of the game.

Housed in a purpose-built building adjacent to the clubhouse, the putting studio at Horne Park first opened in 2010, but has recently undergone a major refit, with the

installation of the very latest Quintic putting analysis system, along with new customfitting equipment, and a brand new lick of paint. A recognised Odyssey putter fitting centre, it also stocks all the latest models from the world’s No.1 putter brand.

The studio is operated by the MY Golf Academy and is staffed by experienced PGA professional Paul Williams, who has been personally trained by putting guru Dr Paul Hurrion to offer an outstanding custom fit service and coaching experience. When booking a session, golfers can choose to custom fit an existing putter or one of the Odyssey putters, or any other brand, as well as receive expert putting tuition.

The studio itself comprises an 11-foot golf hole located on a perfectly flat artificial surface (which has a speed of about 12 on the stimpmeter). The Quintic system uses high-speed cameras and a computer with biomechanical analysis software that provides the data from which a proper fitting can be achieved. The camera captures data from just the first 18-inches of the ball’s journey to the hole, but this snapshot provides enough information to extrapolate results for the entire length of the putt, recording the angle of the clubface at impact (open or closed), launch angle (loft), spin (side and back), clubhead speed, ball speed and plenty of other data. All of which combine to tell you how far the ball missed the hole – if you needed reminding!

I brought along not one, but two putters to the fitting: one is a heel-toe weighted blade and the other a high-MOI mallet. After hitting a series of six 11-foot putts with both, it was readily apparent that the mallet-shaped putter was not helping my performance, as its counter-balanced grip was causing the head to overtake the handle too quickly through the strike. This presented too much loft to the ball, launching it too high, which caused it to bounce for the first five feet of the putt.

Dilemma sorted, we concentrated on the heel-toe model, which was face balanced but not counter balanced, which offers more stability in the face rotation, and a lower launch angle for the ball. Paul instantly noticed it was too high in the toe, as I tend to putt with my hands and arms very close to my body. He also noticed that the ball was so far forward in my stance that the putter face was on its way to the follow through at the point of impact – resulting in a closed face and pulls to the left. The data backed up this assertion, with marked hooked spin and a consistently high launch angle, which resulted in the ball ‘bouncing’ for the first 20 inches of its path, rather than rolling smoothly off the face.

When giving fittings and lessons, Paul normally takes golfers out on to Horne Park’s practice putting green to give a ‘real-life’ experience, but owing to bad weather we kept our session indoors.

Fitting almost over, Paul adjusted my putter to make it one degree flatter, so that the putter head was lying flat to the ground, and also de-lofted it by one degree from the standard three degrees to bring down the launch angle, which would reduce the ‘skid and bump’ start that was characteristic of my putts.

I then hit a half a dozen putts with the adjusted model, and the results were impressive and instant. While my change of ball position had largely corrected the problem I had had with squaring the putter head up, the de-lofting of the face had eradicated the bounce, while creating an instant forward role, as opposed to the slight skid before. All of which helped to provide more consistent distance control and helped the ball to hold its line.

Although my putting stroke had been somewhat deconstructed and rebuilt, I came away with a renewed sense of confidence, a few key things to work on, and the knowledge that I now had a putter that was fit for purpose. Whether I am is another question…

BOOK YOUR PUTTER CUSTOM FITTING SESSION

■ THE STUDIO IS KITTED OUT WITH HIGH SPEED CAMERAS AND A QUINTIC LAUNCH MONITOR

A comprehensive 90-minute putter assessment with Paul Williams costs £90, while a 45-minute new putter fitting costs £45. A special week of putter and wedge fitting in being held at Horne Park from August 15-18, at Slinford Golf & Country Club on August 19, and at Horsham Golf & Fitness on August 20. To book a session, call 07515 128228, email paul@my-golfacademy.co.uk, or visit www.my-golf-academy.co.uk

[40] JULY 2016 | MATT FITZPATRICK

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

SHEFFIELD STEEL Picked out as future star long before winning last year’s British Masters, MATT FITZPATRICK is already well on the way to living up to the hype, with a Ryder Cup spot all but secured following his recent victory in Sweden WORDS BY NICK BAYLY PHOTO BY HOWARD BOYLAN & GETTY IMAGES

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

MATT FITZPATRICK | JULY 2016

M

att Fitzpatrick clearly remembers the day he rocked up to play in the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013 and was asked for his ID before being mistaken for a kid fetching Tiger Woods’s practice balls.

As Fitzpatrick had won his right to play in golf’s oldest major after winning the US Amateur, the gatekeeper could have been forgiven for not recognising the skinny-looking 18 year old he was dealing with.

Fast-forward three years, and the golfing world knows who Fitzpatrick is. Last October’s British Masters victory saw the youngest player in the field lifting his first professional title and taking home a €767,000 winner’s cheque, while last month’s victory at the Nordea Masters has ramped up his fame a further notch, taking him to the cusp of Ryder Cup stardom.

Winning at Woburn was not a new experience for Fitzpatrick, who, eight years earlier, aged just 13, shot a one-over-par 73 to help his home club, Hallamshire, become English champions. Yet despite his impressive credentials in the amateur game, Fitzpatrick’s victory over the Marquess Course last year was nothing short of phenomenal – adding his name to a very select group of players who have won in their rookie season.

Born in 1994 – which will make many people feel old just reading it – Fitzpatrick was a talented all-round sportsman from an early age. A cutting from the Sheffield Star in 2005 carries a story on Fitzpatrick and his friends from Hallam School triumphing in mini-tennis area finals, while an archive photo from 2008 shows him posing on the back row of Tapton School’s U13 football team. But it wasn’t too long before golf became his favourite sport, and, encouraged by parents Russell and Sue, it quickly became his life.

A junior at Hallamshire Golf Club, Fitzpatrick quickly progressed through the ranks, and then from club to county, and then to the international elite amateur circuit. After winning the North of England Under 16 title in 2010, the youngster’s big breakthrough came at the 2012 Boys Amateur Championship, when he trounced Welsh international Henry James 10&8 in the final at Hollinwell.

The following year, aged just 18, he became the first English winner of the US Amateur in 102 years, after he beat Australia's Oliver Goss 4&3 in the final held at Brookline, Massachusetts. As well as a big trophy and universal praise, victory also brought with it invitations to play in the following season’s Masters, US Open and Open Championship.

He duly took his place in all three, missing the cut at Augusta, but becoming the first player since Bobby Jones in 1930 to be low amateur at both US Open and The Open, where he finished 48th and 44th respectively. He rounded out the year by playing in the Walker Cup, where he won three out of a possible four points during GB&I’s 17-9 defeat at the National Golf Links in New York.

Shortly after his US Amateur win, Fitzpatrick followed in Luke Donald’s footsteps by taking up a golf scholarship to Northwestern University in Chicago; however, while Donald saw out his course until graduation, the impatient Fitzpatrick left after only a term in order to follow his dream of becoming a tour professional.

While ditching further education before you’ve got your qualifications is not something most careers teachers would advise, Fitzpatrick only ever wanted to do one job, and after playing just five matches for his college team, decided he’d be much happier being out there earning money doing what he loved best.

Happily, it proved a profitable decision, with the records and milestones soon tumbling. After just 18 months on tour, he is the youngest player in the top 100 in the world – 401 days younger than Jordan Spieth – and finished 12th on the money list in his first season on the European Tour, bagging a record breaking six top-10 finishes, over €2 million in prize money, and, of course, that memorable victory in the British Masters in front of an appreciative home crowd. Now up to 45th in the world and 20th in Europe, further records look set to tumble.

Known on Tour as ‘Mondeo Man’ –in homage to his beloved 2010-registration Ford, which he says he has no intention of trading in for a Ferrari any time soon– Fitzpatrick’s story is one of a prodigiouslytalented sportsman surrounded by a network of close family and friends who have helped to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Nowhere was that made more obvious then in the celebrations that took place following Fitzpatrick’s victory at Woburn, when his two best friends from home, James Gregg and Ted Brady, ran on to the 18th green spraying bottles of Champagne all over their mate. It was what 21 year olds are expected to do, and it was refreshing to see.

After handling all the media requirements with the calmness of a ■ MATT STANDS WITH THE HAVEMEYER TROPHY AFTER WINNING THE 2013 US AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP ON AUGUST 18, 2013

I FEEL LIKE I'M A MUCH BETTER PLAYER THAN I WAS 12 MONTHS AGO. THERE ARE SHOTS THAT I CAN HIT NOW THAT I COULDN'T BEFORE, AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE GAINED FROM PLAYING TOUR EVENTS HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT MY GAME

■ LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AME LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET

[41]

seasoned pro, Fitzpatrick jumped into his Mondeo and headed back to Sheffield, famously stopping off en route for a sandwich at his favourite fast food outlet – Subway.

The new season has already brought a string of firsts for Fitzpatrick The end of March saw him tee it up in his first World Golf Championship event, the Cadillac Championship at Doral, where he was the youngest member of the field. Far from being overawed by the situation, he battled back from an opening 76 to be level par for the next 54 holes and finish 35th in the 66-man field.

Two weeks later he took part in his first US Masters as a professional, where, were it not for the exploits of fellow Sheffield resident Danny Willett, we would have been talking up Fitzpatrick as England’s next big hope. A final round 67, which equalled the best of the day, secured a £200,000 payday, and yet more major experience in the bag.

After a run of missed cuts in May, he came back with a bang to win the Nordea Masters in Sweden, leading from the first round to the last in a confident display that spoke volumes for his growing maturity.

After such early success, second seasons are always tricky, but the youngster seems to have taken it in his stride, and victory in Sweden virtually locked the 21 year old’s place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team, although poor showings the the US Open and The Open still leave him with work to do to make it safe..

Asked whether he has let his mind wander to the possibility of getting on that plane to Hazeltine, Fitzpatrick is typically coy. “It [the Ryder Cup] is not something I try to get too caught up with,” he says. “I’m just trying to play the best I can each week, and see where that takes me.

My experience in the EurAsia Cup has definitely heightened my desire to make the team in September. The team atmosphere was great there.

Everyone was having a good laugh and just enjoying themselves. That was the big thing that Darren tried to instill in us – to go out there and enjoy yourself, and normally when that happens, you play your best golf.”

Weighing just over 10 stone and standing just 5ft 9inches tall in his spikes, Fitzpatrick’s slender frame is more akin to that of a jump jockey than that of the archetypal tour professional, but he more than makes up for his lack of physicality with straight hitting, brilliant iron play, and a mental maturity that belies his age. Averaging ‘just’ 280 yards with his driver, he is never going to be able to overpower courses with brute strength, but finding well over 70% of the fairways in regulation and over 75% of greens, has certainly helped his cause. Coached by Pete Cowen, he’s what you would call a natural ball striker.

Sponsored by Under Armour – whose headline ambassador is Jordan Spieth – and Dubai Tourism, Fitzpatrick’s business affairs are managed

by Chubby Chandler’s ISM, which also looks after Willett, Westwood and Clarke – three allies well worth having on your side at any time, but especially in this year of all years.

Despite Fitzpatrick’s relative lack of power, Chandler is confident that his youngest charge has more than what is required to make it to the very top of the game. “I actually think that the courses that suit Matt best are the hard ones,” he says. “People might think that the majors will be tougher for him, as he’s not that long off the tee, but the majors suit Matt, because his strength currently lies with mid to long irons, and that will hold him in good stead in the majors, where the fairways are narrower and the pins tucked away.”

If Clarke is looking for a natural foursomes partnership, Fitzpatrick and Willett were as thick as thieves during January’s EurAsia Cup, where the former showed that he has lost none of the match play skills learned from his years on the amateur circuit, with an assured performance in his first professional team event, which included a victory in the final day’s singles over last year’s Paul Lawrie Match Play winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Asked about where he is in his career now, against where he expected to be at this stage, Fitzpatrick admits that he’s exceeded even his wildest dreams. “I’ve got to say that I’m quite a long way ahead of where I expected to be. I also feel like I'm a much better player now than I was 12 months ago. There are shots that I can hit now that I couldn't before, and the experience that I've gained simply from playing more tour events has taught me lot about my game, and everything related to being a professional golfer – including all the travelling.”

Another new experience that Fitzpatrick has ticked off in his fledging professional career is the joy of paying tax – not something he had ever had to do before, having never previously held down a job. “Yes, that came as a bit of a shock, but I guess that paying tax must be sign that I’m doing something right. At the end of the day, I'm lucky to be doing a job that I love, and like to think I've worked hard to get here. But at the same time, I know that I’m very privileged to be doing what I do, and I’m just trying to enjoy every minute.”

Watch out taxman – ‘Mondeo Man’ is on a mission that could yet plug the hole in the national debt.

[42] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ICONIC ST ANDREW'S HOTEL UP FOR SALE

A

rare opportunity to snap up a bit of golfing history, and own one of the most popular 19th holes in the world, has come about after the Dunvegan Hotel in St Andrews was put on the market last month.

The small hotel is sited on the corner of Pilmour and Golf Place, just over 100 yards from the 18th green of the Old Course.

Although it only has rooms for 16 guests, it is the famous Golfers Corner Pub, and Claret Jug restaurant which are something of a Mecca for golf fans visiting the Home of Golf.

Over 30 major champions, including Arnold Palmer, Ernie Els, and Tiger Woods, have enjoyed a pint or two in its atmospheric pub, whose walls are lined with golfing memorabilia. The Dunvegan is also a popular celebrity haunt during the annual Dunhill Links Championship, with Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery,

President George H W Bush and astronaut Neil Armstrong all having enjoyed its famous hospitality owner the years.

The Dunvegan has been ownership and management of Sheena and Jack Willoughby for the past 23 years, but they have decided to sell up in order to fund their retirement. Mrs Willougby said: “We’ve had the time of our lives running the hotel, and have loved meeting and hosting so many golfers, golfing celebrities and our true core customers, the notso-famous golfing visitors, alike. You just can’t describe the atmosphere at the height of the season, but the place just seems to have a magnetic pull for people from all four corners of the world.”

The property is on the market for £2.9 million through agent Pagan Osborne.

WHAT IS PERFORMANCE TRACKING?

Linda Black, head of property sales for Fife-based company, added: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to live the golfing dream at the heart of the sport’s birthplace.”

VPAR LAUNCHES ‘LIVE’ HILTON GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

A Shot Scope Q & A

WHAT IS PERFORMANCE TRACKING? Performance tracking is the in-depth collection of data that takes place during your round when wearing a Shot Scope. It works in the background so you are free to play and feedbacks the whole game, shot by shot. Giving you a complete image of how you played, not just your final score, so that you can understand how you play and how you can play better.

WHATS IN IT FOR ME? Know your strengths and play to them so that you can play your very best round. Identify your weaknesses so you can concentrate on them off the course and track your long term improvement to see how you progress.

Shot Scope lets you know your game so you can manage how you play for the best results.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? As long as you keep your band charged, wear it when you play and have the lightweight tags inserted into your grips the system does the rest for you. It will automatically detect when and where a shot is played and with which club, allowing you to enjoy your round with no interruptions.

WHERE CAN I PLAY? Anywhere. Take your Shot Scope wherever you go, store over 100 rounds of data and the battery will last for up to 9 hours between charges. If a course isn’t already mapped the data will still be gathered and the Shot Scope team will map the course within three days of being played.

HOW DO I SEE MY STATS? Upload your round using Bluetooth Smart or a USB connector to the Shot Scope dashboard. Instantly review your stats, converted to easy to read actionable insights and view your round on an overhead map of the course.

CAN I USE IT IN COMPETITIONS? Yes. Shot Scope conforms to the Rules of Golf so there are no restrictions on when you can use it.

A

ward-winning golf technology company VPAR has partnered

with Hilton Worldwide to launch a new live amateur golf tournament.

The Hilton Golf Championship Powered by VPAR allows golfers of all abilities to compete against each other this summer. Participants can enter for free by downloading the VPAR app, and tapping 'join in', the new ‘Challenges’ tab. Golfers then simply score their rounds during the summer, using VPAR as a digital scorecard; their position is then automatically displayed on the Championship leaderboards.

Participants can score on thousands of courses across the various regions thoughout Europe and the Middle East at any time, and enter an unlimited number of times.

The top 20 golfers who post the lowest individual net scores before September 4th will be invited to compete at the two-round grand final in Portugal in October. The winners and their guests, will be hosted for three nights at the Conrad Algarve, on a full board basis, before enjoying a gala dinner to conclude the inaugural event.

The championship is divided up into four handicap flights, to give golfers of all abilities a chance of winning. The top five from each flight will qualify for the final in Portugal. Other prizes from sponsors will be awarded for monthly benchmarks, including most courses played, most rounds played, and most birdies scored.

The Hilton Golf Championship is an individual strokeplay, net competition with the best round counting.

Handicap limit is 28 for men and 36 for

WWW.SHOTSCOPE.COM

women. For full competition details, visit golf.hilton.com/competitions.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

NEWS | JULY 2016 [43]

ECLIPSEGOLF:

WHERE FITTING COMES FIRST RHYS AKTINSON, a former customfitting specialist on the European Tour, has a launched bespoke equipment service to help club golfers get the most out of their game and their clubs

T

our pros want for nothing when it comes to their equipment. Never mind the free clubs and unlimited golf balls – and those natty caps and shoes with their initials engraved into the leather – every aspect of their gear is designed to within an inch, or rather a millionth of a inch, to help them get the most out of their game.

Whether it be the bounce on their wedges, the angle of the putter face, the thickness of the tape on their grips, or the swingweight of their shafts, no stone is left unturned to exact maximum performance from their hardware.

It’s this same attention to detail that inspired PGA AAT Professional Rhys Atkinson to set up Eclipse Golf. Having worked closely with over hundreds of professionals on the European Tour for the past

20 years, including the likes of Masters’ champion Danny Willett and Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn, he began to wonder why the levels of service that were on offer to tour pros wasn’t more widely available to the serious club golfer.

Spotting a glaring gap in the market, he launched Eclipse Golf last year, with the aim of delivering a personal, bespoke, and more importantly, independent, coaching and equipment advisory service, offering full equipment assessments and fitting and building services to help golfers of all abilities get the best out of their game.

Based out of indoor performance studios at Ifield Golf Club in West Sussex and the Knightsbridge Golf School in central London, Atkinson has already put dozens of club golfers, from 36 handicappers to county scratch players, on the road to equipment enlightenment – helping players to gain more distance, improve accuracy, increase consistency, and ultimately get more enjoyment

■ THE INDOOR STUDIO AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE GOLF SCHOOL

a sale,” says Rhys. “We fit with Ping, Callaway, Titleist and Mizuno among other top brands, but unless you are after a particular model, we encourage you to remain open-minded and allow us to guide you to the best club choice for your game.”

Eclipse Golf has recently started working with one of the hottest new brands on tour, Parsons Xtreme Golf. Founded by Bob Parsons just two years ago, PXG already boasts two major winners on its growing staff, with 2015 Open champion Zach Johnson and Rocco Mediate, winner of last month’s Senior PGA Championship, both using its equipment. Atkinson is about to embark on a club fitting tour with PXG clubs to golf facilities in the South East, so that club golfers can find more about one of the most-talked about equipment

■ ATKINSTON HAS WORKED WITH MANY LEADING TOUR PROS

from their game.

As well as his expert eye and inside knowledge, Atkinson backs up his experience with a host of state-of-the-art technology to help fine tune equipment, using high speed cameras and the very latest launch monitors to compile a complete picture of a client’s performance, and build clubs that suits their technique, speed, tempo, height, strength and skill level.

“My custom fitting philosophy is driven by our desire to improve a player, rather than to simply close

TESTIMONIAL:

"RHYS WAS A BIG HELP FOR ME WHEN WE BUILT MY CLUBS TO FIT MY GAME AND THE COURSES I AM PLAYING. EQUIPMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND RHYS KNOWS IT ALL" ALEX NOREN, FIVE-TIME EUROPEAN TOUR WINNER

WEBUYANYGOLFCLUB WE ARE THE COUNTRIES LEADING BUYER OF USED GOLF CLUBS We will consider the clubs the other guys will not ➽ South East, we can come to

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GOLF UNIT, NESTINGS, JIGS LANE, N. BRACKNELL. GU42 3DH We are the opposite side of the roundabout at TESCO, Warfield Email: graham@webuyanygolfclub.com Tel: 07880 706308

brands on tour.

Both Ifield and Knightsbridge studios offer fully equipped workshops, where full repair services can be carried out, and where a client’s current set of clubs can be carefully scrutinised before testing begins. This, combined with a thorough questioning of their current game and goals, ensures that customers leave with the best solution to match their specific needs.

And Atkinson is a firm believer that his equipment service should be a long-term relationship, much like a swing coach has with a student. “It was an advantage on Tour, where I’d work every week with the same players. We were constantly refining their equipment, either looking for an edge, a feel, a certain look, or adjusting the clubs for different conditions. I like to know how customers get on with their equipment after they have seen me – it’s all part of the service that I hope to make more accessible to all golfers.”

To find out more, or to book an appointment with Rhys Atkinson, visit www.eclipse-golf.co.uk or call 01293 223 038.

P DEMO ING CENT G in s RE tock & NEW demo IN STOCK & i & i n DEMO`S stock G MAX ’s & XR16 DRIVER, NEW 2016 CHROME SOFT IN STOCK demo’s Strike it Rite! ®

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01689 890077

C.T. Golf, 1 Stanley Way, St. Mary’s Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 2HE website: www.ctgolf.co.uk email: enquiries@ctgolf.co.uk

[44] JULY 2016 | OPEN PREVIEW

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

T

hirty-nine years after the Duel in the Sun - the titanic battle between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson at Turnberry – Royal Troon played host to a match of equally heroic proportions, when Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson went head to head for two long days over the weather beaten Ayrshire links, producing one of the most dramatic and tension-filled denouements in the history of major championship golf.

But at the end of it all, there could only be one winner in this battle of the old timers, and that was 40-year-old Stenson, a mere spring chicken to Mickelson’s two score years and six. The Swede’s crushing final round of 63 took his total under par for the week to 20 – a figure normally associated with a run-of-the-mill PGA Tour event, not one of the most challenging links courses on the Open rota played in almost wintry conditions.

In his 42nd major appearance, Stenson finally found the keys to unlock the door to the Promised Land. Rather, he broke it down with a pickaxe, consigning Mickelson’s role to that of best man to the winner’s blushing groom.

The mercurial left-hander, shooting a final round 65, played his part in driving Stenson on to very last hole. And although in the immediate aftermath of defeat the champion of 2013 will draw little consolation from his runner-up finish – he was 11 shots clear of third-placed JB Holmes – in time he may come to appreciate the part he played in creating a golfing spectacle the like of which had never been seen since 1977.

In claiming his first major title, Stenson not only broke the record for the lowest score achieved by an Open champion – eclipsing Greg Norman’s 265 by one – and the lowest final round from the winner, but he also delivered Sweden its first triumph in one of golf’s four events. If he doesn’t already have them, the keys to Gothenburg surely await.

With Stenson enjoying a slender one-shot advantage over his rival at the start of the final round, the bookies made the Swede marginal favourite before play got under way – but within just one hole the odds had swung violently the other way, as Mickelson birdied and Stenson bogeyed to set the pendulum in motion on a match that, at times, resembled a rumble in the jungle rather than a battle in the breeze.

Walking apart, and barely acknowledging the other’s existence, the two players traded blows like Ali and Frasier over Troon’s supposedly easier front nine, both going out in 32 shots, with Stenson’s five birdies matched by Mickelson’s three birdies and a glorious eagle – his first of the week at the par-5 fourth.

After both birdied the 10th, Stenson bogeyed the difficult 11th to take the match all square – the rest of the field was more than eight shots behind, rendering it a straight shoot out.

Mickelson’s par save on 12 – converted from outside 20 feet – suggested the Open gods may have been smiling favourably upon him again, but Stenson refused to lie down, sensing his own time had come, and he bagged his 22nd birdie of the week from 12 feet at the 14th, to edge him back in front once more.

Minutes later, that advantage was doubled to two shots when, from off the 15th green, Stenson holed from 35 feet for birdie. Mickelson, a ferocious competitor but a respectful one, raised a smile. The American’s look on the 16th was of frustration as an eagle putt slid agonisingly past the hole. Typically, Stenson’s short putt to allow the relative cushion of three shots when standing on the 18th tee was to miss. The drama wasn’t over.

Stenson’s tee shot at the last – a monstrous, adrenalin-fuelled 312-yard blow with a 3-wood – stopped just 12 inches short of the treacherous fairway bunker that did for Greg Norman back in 2004.

Sensing fortune was on his side, a shot to the centre of the green and a single putt from 15 feet, sparked an outpouring of emotion from the normally ice cool man, as a lifetime of heartache at golf’s most important championships was finally laid to rest.

And in a week when the golfing gods chose not to shine on Troon for large parts of the time, when it mattered most they chose to put the spotlight on the one man who had played so much of his career in the shadows. But no more. Henrik Olaf Stenson’s moment in the sun has finally come.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD Pos

Par Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Total

1

Stenson

-20 68 65 68 63 264

2

Mickelson

-17 63 69 70 65 267

3 Holmes

-6 70 70 69 69 278

4 Stricker

-5 67 75 68 69 279

T5 Garcia

-4 68 70 73 69 280

T5 Hatton

-4 70 71 71 68 280

T5 McIlroy

-4 69 71 73 67 280

8

A Johnston

-3

69

69

70

73

281

T9

B Haas

-2

68

70

69

75

282

T9 Kjeldsen

-2 67 68 75 72 282

T9

-2

D Johnson

71

69

72

70

282

THE

ICEMAN COMETH

Super-cool Swede HENRIK STENSON consigned his reputation as the nearly man of golf to the history books, with a scintillating victory at The Open at Royal Troon

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

OPEN PREVIEW | JULY 2016 [45]

■ STENSON CELEBRATES WINNING THE OPEN FOLLOWING A MEMORABLE FINAL DAY'S PLAY AGAINST PHIL MICKELSON

HOLE-BY-HOLE: STENSON V MICKELSON STENSON 5 3 3 4 3 4 4 2 4 3 5 4 4 2 3 4 3 3 63 MICKELSON 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 65

SWEDE DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

Open Champion Henrik Stenson reveals what it feels like to come out on top in one of the most thrilling ever finales to a Major Championship

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE to have won your first Open Championship and your first Major title?

I'm very happy. I’m very proud of the way I played. It was a great match with Phil [Mickelson]. It seemed like it was going to be a two-horse race, and it was, all the way to the end. I knew he wasn't going to back down at any point, and in a way that made it easier for me. I knew I had to keep on pushing, keep on giving myself birdie chances. He wasn't going to give it to me, so I had to fight for every shot. I'm just delighted I managed to do that with a couple of birdies at the right time on the final stretch.

After three second places and six third places in majors, did you ever feel that it was going to be your turn?

It's not something you want to run around and shout, but I really felt like this was going to be my turn. I knew I was going to have to battle back if it wasn't, but I think that was the extra self-belief that made me go all the way.

I felt like my time had come.

At times it felt like we were watching a heavyweight boxing match. Did it feel like that to you and how emotionally and phyically drained do you feel right now?

Yeah, it certainly did. We managed to pull away from the rest of the field, and we both played some great golf. It makes it even more special to beat a competitor like Phil.

He's been one of the best to play the game – certainly in the last 20 years – so to come out on top after such a fight with him over four days makes it even more special. Right now I'm running on adrenaline, but I'm sure I struggle to make it up the stairs when I get back to the house tonight.

You dedicated your victory to your friend, Mike Gerbich. Could you just explain who he was and what he meant for you?

Mike was one of my good friends back in my days in Dubai. I'd known him for many, many years, and he was a very keen golfer and a great man. He had been battling cancer for a long time, but he passed away on Wednesday morning over in America.

He’d always been there as a big supporter of mine, and in good days and bad days he'd always sent me messages and been out at some events. This one is dedicated to him, for sure. I felt like he was there with me this week.

After all the great Swedish players that have come before you, how does it feel to be the one to finally bring a Major title home for your country?

It's been a long time coming, but I feel very privileged to be the one to hold this trophy.

There have been many great Swedish players in recent years and decades, and there have been a couple of really close calls: Jesper [Parnevik], in particular, twice. He sent me a message today – 'Go out and finish what I didn't manage to finish' – and I'm really proud to have done that. This win is going to be massive for golf in Sweden.

What gave you the self-belief that this was going to be your week?

I think that winning the BMW International in Germany last month was a huge boost for me. After so many near misses over the last 12 or 18 months, to finally get myself over the line in a big event like that gave me a big confidence boost. I was beginning to feel the pressure mounting up from not having won for a while, so it was great to release that and was able to bring that with me here. I felt like I was swinging really well, and playing some great golf, and somewhere deep inside I had this feeling that this was going to be my time, and thankfully it was.

Over which shot do you think you felt the most pressure, what was it like, and how did you handle it?

Well, the putt on 16 was huge. I mean, Phil missed his eagle putt, so it looked like it was going to go in, and I expected him to make every putt; you have to. And it just snuck by, and I'm standing over a five-footer downhill to keep ahead. That was a very important putt to make. Then, coming up on par-3 17th, I just knew I had to hit a good shot and hit the green, and not make worse than three there. The way it's set up, it could have been all done and dusted after my really good 4-iron to 10 feet and Phil missed it down the bank. But given it's Phil, of course he scrambled a three, and I nearly missed my birdie putt. But it could have been a more comfortable walk coming up 18, if 17 had ended up in a different way. But I considered myself lucky on 16 there. All in all it worked out. But the putt on 16 was probably the most pressured one.

The whole round seemed so relentless.

Did you sense that every shot mattered?

Yeah, I knew Phil was going to be there pushing me all the way, and I just tried to stick to my game plan, play the best I could, and put the best score together that I could. Again, there was a key moment on 14 when I had a 20-footer for birdie, and I just thought to myself, ‘How many chances am I going to have to try to pull away, because I know he's not going to make too many

mistakes?’ So I just knew I had to take it. I got that one, and moved one in front. And then I just made an absolute bomb on 15.

Those two putts were the ones that pulled me ahead and put me two in front. Then I hit some solid shots coming in to stay that way.

How important is experience when it comes to playing links golf?

I think the demands of links golf really play into the hands of more experienced players. We saw Tom’s [Watson] remarkable performance in 2009 at Turnberry, so even a few guys that are a little bit older than I am have enjoyed great success at The Open Championship. But experience definitely plays a big part of it. Yeah, it was quite an old-looking leaderboard for a change, I guess.

With all the records that you broke, and finally getting over the line, what on earth do you do for an encore? Do you still have the hunger to try to win even more of these prizes?

Yes, we're only just getting started, aren't we? You never know, once you open the floodgates, what might happen. Yeah, it's going to be a while before this sinks in. It's going to be a much busier week next week than I expected. I was going to have a nice couple of relaxed days back home with the family. We'll see how well that goes. But it's all good things that will happen.

How important was the support of the galleries out there?

I guess I'm a third Scottish now, aren't I? No, I really felt the support out there, even though Phil is a very popular major champion and a very popular player. There was a lot of encouragement for Phil, but also for me out there, so I really want to thank the fans for doing their part. They were really pushing me on.

It wasn't that long ago that you were really struggling with your game and fell in the world rankings. Did you ever think then that this was possible?

Yeah, the second slump in my career was nothing compared to the one I had in the early 2000s. So I managed to put my game together, with a lot of hard work, and a lot of help from my team, and support from my family and friends, and everyone else. If I didn't believe, I wouldn't be sitting here. It's a dream come true. I was 11 when I started playing. But it was the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship – those were the big early memories I had. So to be holding this trophy is really amazing.

[46] JULY 2016 | NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TOURNEWS...

■ RUNNER-UP ANNA NORDQVIST

CLARKE DEFENDS RORY'S DECISION TO SWERVE RIO OLYMPICS

E

uropean Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has lent his support to players who have decided not to take part in the Olympics owing to the congested schedule and fears over the Zika virus.

Clarke said players from both sides of the Atlantic were facing busy summers and would be lacking proper time off ahead of the Ryder Cup if they played in Rio. “Everything has become much more condensed for them because of the Olympics,” said Clarke. “The requirements on players has become far more intense.”

He added: “Guys might like to have a week off or whatever they need to do, but because the Olympics are there now, that opportunity

is taken away from them. Personally I’d like the guys as fresh as possible for the Ryder Cup.” Clarke added that the criticism heaped on players such as Rory McIlroy for missing the Olympics this year was ‘harsh’.

McIlroy cited his fears over the Zika virus as his reason for missing the Games and Clarke said: “He [McIlroy] is looking forward to becoming a father and having kids, so I think the criticism levelled towards him is very harsh. We don’t know enough about the virus, and right now he’s doing what he feels is best, as each and what every athlete in every other sport is entitled to do. Golfers are making their decisions based on family lives.”

“For me personally golf at the Olympics is not my thing. For me, the Olympics is all about amateur sportsmen at the pinnacle of their career. But I can understand why it is there now, and it is a wonderful chance to increase participation.”

Other high profile players to have deserted the event include Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, Shane Lowery, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, and Vijay Singh.

LANG WINS US WOMEN'S OPEN AFTER NORDQVIST GROUNDS CLUB IN BUNKER

Y

et another major championship has ended in an unfortunate rules controversy after Sweden's Anna Nordqvist was given a belated two-stroke penalty for touching the sand in a bunker during a play-off for the US Women's Open.

The penalty was only handed out to Nordqvist on the final hole of a three-hole play-off, after USGA officials reviewed TV footage of an incident in a fairway bunker on the second play-off hole, where her club was deemed to have grazed the sand as she prepared to take her shot. Nordqvist did not realise it at the time, and both players made par on the hole, heading to the final hole seemingly tied.

This led to Swede having

already hit her third shot to the 18th green before she was informed of the ruling, effectively handing the title to America's Brittany Lang, for whom this was her first Major championship victory.

Nordqvist said she would have been more aggressive going for the pin if she knew she needed birdie, while after hearing of her opponent's penalty, Lang changed clubs for a safer approach shot, knowing a par would win the tournament.

"It wasn't on purpose. It's just one of those things," said Nordqvist. "I wish the USGA would have told me a little bit earlier - they approached me after I already hit my third shot into 18, then I ran up to Brittany to tell her that I had

been penalised. I don't know if it would have changed the outcome, but it certainly would have changed that way I played my shot into the 18th."

Lang, 30, secured the win with par on the final hole, with Nordqvist recording a bogey to lose by three strokes. The Swede had earlier forced a playoff with a five-under final round 67, with Lang's 71 leaving both women on six under par.

"You never want to win with a penalty or something like that happen," Lang said. "It's unfortunate, but it's part of the game, and it happened. I think this is a huge step in the right direction for my career – to say you've won the US Open is a huge momentum builder."

Overnight leader and world number one Lydia Ko dropped back with a three-over 75 to finish in a tie for third, while Yorkshire’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was the highest place English player, finishing tied eighth place after a final round 70.

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NEWS | JULY 2016

LAWRIE FACES FOOT SURGERY

NOREN’S KING AT THE CASTLE

F

ormer Open champion Paul Lawrie is to undergo surgery on his left foot this winter in order to get his game back on track.

The 47-year-old Scot, who won The Open at Carnoustie in 1999, has slipped to 424th in the world rankings from a career high of 26.

"I hate the position I'm in," he said. "I don't like not being a good golfer. I've been putting off an operation on my foot for about four or five years now, and I'm going to go in and get it

done this winter."

Lawrie, who is a vice-captain at September’s Ryder Cup, said he had been troubled by bone spur and a cist, which had limited his ability to practise. "My foot is in total bits and I can't handle it any more. I'm going to bite the bullet, get it fixed and hopefully get my game to be back where I know it should be. It's just so difficult when you've got an injury and you're playing against guys who are all younger, fitter and stronger."

VALDERRAMMA TO REPLACE GREENS

P

lans have been drawn up to dig up nine of the greens at Valderrama later this year, as part of a major overhaul of the course following widespread criticism of the playing conditions from competitors at this year’s Spanish Open.

The halfway cut of nine over par was the highest on the

[47]

European Tour this year, while Andrew Johnston’s winning score of five over par was also a new high mark for the Tour.

The nine new greens will see the replacement of the uneven and unpopular poa anna grass with a bent variety that is natural to the southern Spanish coastline. Also

set to be replaced will be the thick rough surrounding the greens, which also came in for heavy criticism during the Spanish Open.

Prior to the tournament, the club had cut back many of

the cork trees that line the fairways in order to enable players to find more direct routes to the fairway and greens.

Valderrama was sold in January for €40m to the owners of La Zagaleta, a 36-hole resort in Marbella.

altonwood

STENSON DIGS DEEP TO CLAIM BMW TITLE

H

enrik Stenson won his tenth European Tour title as he held his nerve down the stretch to claim a three-shot victory at the BMW International Open at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof.

The Swede, along with a large group of the field, had to play 36 holes on the final day, after rain delays prevented them from taking to the course on day three. He signed for a third-round 67 to open up a one-shot lead, but then made three bogeys in five holes from the sixth in round four, to drop back into a tie with South Africa's Darren Fichardt. But Stenson birdied the par-five 13th and 15th holes, before driving the 17th for another birdie, and a 17 under winning total.

The victory saw him move him up to fifth in the world rankings just a week after he had to withdraw from the US Open through injury.

“I'm delighted to finally get my hands on this trophy again, after coming so close last year,” said Stenson. "It was hairy all the way, and I had to dig deep to come back. It was a bit hard at times, but you've just got to keep on trying and put yourself in position. I did that once again and this time I managed to go all the way."

Thorbjørn Olesen tied with Fichardt for second, with Raphaël Jacquelin three shots further back in fourth.

Alex Noren held his nerve to clinch a fifth career victory on the European Tour by one shot at the Scottish Open in Inverness. Two strokes in front heading into the final round at Castle Stuart Golf Links, Noren was briefly caught in a tie at the top before pulling away with two birdies in the last seven holes to card a two-under-par 70. The 33-year-old from Stockholm posted a 14-under total of 274 to finish one ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, who birdied the par-five 18th for a 69.

US OPEN RETURNS TO OAKMONT IN 2025 The US Open is to return to Oakmont Golf Club in 2025. The USGA has selected the Pittsburgh-based venue to host the tournament for a record tenth time in nine years’ time, with the following year’s tournament being held at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Next year’s US Open will be at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, while Shinnecock will host in 2018, and Pebble Beach in 2019

LIMA WINS NAJETI OPEN A tearful José-Filipe Lima sealed an emotional victory at the Najeti Open, 12 years after first winning the title at Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club, once again beating Alessandro Tadini into second place. The Portuguese player, who hadn’t won on since 2009, started the final day three shots behind overnight leader Duncan Stewart, but a closing round of 68 left him two shots ahead of the field on nine under par.

HURLEY HOLDS ON AT QUICKEN LOANS Billy Hurley III bagged his first PGA Tour win at the Quicken Loans National hosted

by Tiger Woods. The 34-year-old American shots a final round 69 at Congressional for a 17-under-par total and a three-shot victory over veteran Fijian Vijay Singh, who closed with a seven-under par 65 as he bid for his first win in eight years.

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NEWS | JULY 2016 [49]

MUIRFIELD SEEKS FRESH VOTE ON FEMALE MEMBERS TO 'RESTORE DAMAGED REPUTATION'

M

uirfield Golf Club is planning to hold a fresh ballot over whether to admit women members, just six weeks after rejecting the proposal.

The results of a vote in May revealed 64 per cent of members were in favour of the resolution and 36 per cent against, but as the required two-thirds majority was not reached, there was no change to policy. That resulted in Open Championship organisers the R&A removing Muirfield from the tournament rota, although it did say it would reconsider that position if the membership rules were altered.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs Muirfield, has called a special general meeting to seek authority from members to hold a new ballot before the end of the year.

"A substantial majority of our members voted for change, and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events," said HCEG captain Henry Fairweather. "The

club committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome."

The result of the first vote, which followed a twoyear membership review, was roundly criticised by tour professionals and politicians. At the time, fourtime major winner Rory McIlroy said: "It's not right to host the world's biggest tournament at a place that does not allow women to be members. Hopefully Muirfield can see some sense and we can get it back on The Open rota."

Prime Minister David Cameron said the tradition was ‘outdated’, while Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the decision as ‘indefensible’.

SURREY SWING STUDIO UNVEILS UK’S FIRST ROBOTIC GOLF PRO

Royal Troon, the only other club on the Open rota which did not admit women, held a special general meeting a fortnight before it hosted the Open Champiosnhip, at which a proposal was made to allow women to join, after a consultation among current members found three-quarters were in favour of changing the constitution of the club.

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

A

new state-of-the-art indoor golf academy featuring the UK’s first RoboGolfPro opened its doors to the public in Surrey earlier this month.

FairWeather Golf in Camberley is the most advanced new indoor golf academy in the UK, and will be helping golfers develop their swings with robot-assisted efficiency.

Two RoboGolfPro robots have been imported from America and will be operated by leading American golf coach Nate Weidner, director of instruction at FairWeather Golf.

“RoboGolfPro is the only machine that physically takes the club and corrects the golf swing specifically for the ability and physique of the student, which enables them to replicate that swing when they’re out on the course,” said Weidner. “Based on the information entered into the machine, the robot guides the golfer’s arms and body to formulate a golf swing and motion that is best fit for the individual. It’s your swing, but with robot-assisted efficiency.”

RoboGolfPro has attracted widespread attention in the United States, and is being used by a number of top tournament professionals. Vaughn Taylor, winner of the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, is a RoboGolfPro owner, calling the machine as ‘an awesome training aid’, while Tour professionals Mike Weir, David Toms and Bryson DeChambeau are also RoboGolfPro users.

The second mobile RoboGolfPro robot operated by FairWeather Golf will go on the road, and be available for golf days and corporate events.

Richard Simpson, managing director of FairWeather Golf, said: “In addition to the robots, the academy has an array of game performance technology, including BodiTrak, K-Vest and Trackman, to analyse and enhance golfers’ performance. We will also be helping new golfers and juniors get into the game, and provide a relaxed, social experience for groups who want to come along and have some fun with friends.

We have six golf simulators, with a choice of 63 world-class golf courses to play, and a bar and café.” To book a RoboGolfPro session, visit www.fairweather.golf

‘BAD SERVICE’ TOPS LIST OF GOLFERS’ COMPLAINTS

E

ngland is a nation of complainers, and it seems golfers are no different. We won’t stand for bad service.

Research by Golfsupport analysed over 1,000 TripAdvisor reviews written in the last year about golf clubs across England, and found that poor customer service was the most common complaint people had about their golf experiences.

They accounted for approximately 32% of all complaints. Many reviewers claimed how

they ‘would not return’ following the poor service received, describing the behaviour of pro shop staff, along with clubhouse waiting staff, as ‘inexcusable’.

After poor customer service, food was a close second, comprising 30% of all complaints, with food being below par for nearly a third at club reviewers. The worst food was found in clubs in Greater London, as was the worst overall experience, with 34% of all reviews in this region being negative.

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] JULY 2016 | EQUIPMENT

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME Four Golf News competition winners experience a GOLF BALL FITTING at Srixon’s Centre of Excellent at Studley Wood Golf Club in Oxfordshire

THE FITTING PROCESS

Each player was asked to hit six shots with their current ball, and six shots with a range of alternative Srixon balls. The shots, which were hit with a driver, were measured by a Trackman launch monitor, which recorded data on swing speed, ball speed, carry distance, spin rates, dispersion and launch angles. The players were then asked to hit half a dozen chips with a wedge from the edge of the green, and half a dozen long and shot putts, before a final ball choice was made. The fitting was conducted by Srixon’s UK fitting manager, Martin Conner.

WHICH SRIXON BALL SUITS YOUR GAME? • I’m still fairly new to golf; my handicap is around 25 or above; I’m looking for greater distance from my shots and I want a ball that won’t hurt my wallet if I lose a few each round.

= SRIXON DISTANCE • I’m a lady golfer with a swing speed of less than 90mph and I’m looking to hit longer and straighter shots.

= SRIXON SOFT FEEL LADY

ALAN WOOD

HANDICAP: 18 CURRENT BALL: TWO-PIECE BALL RECOMMENDED SRIXON BALL: ULTISOFT

STEVE MCDONALD

HANDICAP: 12 CURRENT BALL: PREMIUM TOUR BALL RECOMMENDED SRIXON BALL: AD333 TOUR

JANE HENMAN

HANDICAP: 26 CURRENT BALL: TWO-PIECE BALL RECOMMENDED SRIXON BALL: ULTISOFT

JOHN JEWSON

HANDICAP: 12 CURRENT BALL: PREMIUM TOUR BALL RECOMMENDED SRIXON BALL: AD333 TOUR

BALL SPEED: Up by 4mph to an average of 106mph.

CARRY DISTANCE: Up by 7 yards from 142 to 149 yards.

BACKSPIN: Down by 762rpm from 3,646rpm to 2,884rpm.

BALL SPEED: Up by an average of 7mph to 129mph.

CARRY DISTANCE: Up by 21 yards to an average 197 yards.

BACKSPIN: Down by 808rpm from 4,105rpm to 3,297rpm.

BALL SPEED: Up 3mph from 93mph to 96mph.

CARRY DISTANCE: Up by 7 yards from 115 to 122 yards.

BACKSPIN: Down 174rpm from 2,737rpm to 2,563rpm.

BALL SPEED: Maintained ball speed at 120mph.

CARRY DISTANCE: Up by 1 yard to an average of 164 yards.

BACKSPIN: Maintained at an average of 2,200rpm.

MARTIN: Alan’s clubhead speed isn’t high enough to compress a firmer ball, which results in too much backspin and a reduced total distance, so we started by trying the Srixon Soft feel, but Alan’s average ball speed dropped to 99mph, and the average carry dropped to 133 yards.

So we switched to the new Ultisoft ball, which is designed specifically for golfers with low to mid swing speeds that are looking for a combination of distance, control and feel. It’s lower compression make it feels softer, but its gradiented core still maintains maximum initial velocity.

This resulted in an immediate increase in ball speed and carry distance, and we managed to get his spin rate down too.

MARTIN: We started off testing the Soft Feel, as it maximised driving distance and provided the tightest dispersion, but Steve felt that it was too lively off the face from 100 yards and in. We then switched to the new AD333 Tour, which offered very similar performance to the Soft Feel with the driver – up to 20 yards extra distance over his normal ball – but offered a lot more feel with the wedges, with plenty of check. Like most good players, Steve needs a ball that performs well around the greens, while offering plenty of distance off the tee, and the latest version of the AD333 Tour does just that.

MARTIN: Jane is a classic senior lady golfer in that she doesn’t generate huge amounts of clubhead speed, and needs the clubhead and her golf ball to do more of the work. The UltiSoft is designed to do exactly that, with its super low compression and energetic growth core offering high launch and low spin for more distance and increased accuracy (less sidespin), while still offering plenty of touch around the greens. By switching Jane to a lower compression ball we were able to crank out seven extra yards on average, without sacrificing the feel that Jane likes to experience around the greens.

MARTIN: John tested both the Soft Feel and the AD333, but we lost ball speed with both balls and reduced his already low backspin rates in further. We then switched John to the AD333 Tour, which offered a softer feel on his chipping and putting over his current ball, and we were able to match the long game performance with better short game feel. The new version of the AD333 Tour feels softer then its predecessor, which is enhanced by the thin urethane cover, but still gives that high ball speed, high launch, and slightly lower driver spin that good players like John are looking for.

STEVE: I don’t need any extra distance; I need accuracy, so I need a ball that can give me maximum control around the greens.

While the Soft Feel was fine off the tee, it felt too lively off the face around the green, but the AD333 Tour provided all the control I am looking for without sacrificing any yards from the tee. If this ball helps me manage the wind and control the spin, I’ll be more than happy. Overall, I was very impressed with the whole fitting process, which has completely changed the way I think about golf balls.

JANE: At my level, distance is very important, but I also like to feel the ball off the clubface on those delicate chips, and the UltiSoft seemed to perform well on both fronts. Owing to its softness, I initially found it hard to get the ball up to the hole on longer putts, but once I’d hit a few, it soon became easier, and I particularly liked the way it checked up on short chips. The tee-to-green fitting process was very informative and I came away armed with lots of facts to pass on to my playing partners!

JOHN: I was very interested to find out firstly whether I was already playing a ball that would help my game, and secondly whether Srixon had an equivalent ball that could offer the same performance benefits.

After hitting both my current ball and the AD333 Tour, I was heartened to discover that both produced similar results, with almost identical flight and feel characteristics. The fitting process has certainly given me food for thought, and given the price differential, it may make me consider switching.

ALAN: During the fitting, I learned a lot more about what suits my game, and the importance of sticking with the same ball for consistency, especially on chips and putts. The UltiSoft felt soft on longer putts, but it offered plenty of grab on short chips from off the green, and I was more than happy to get a bit of extra distance off the tee.

• I’m a higher handicap golfer with a lower swing speed; I’m looking for a ball that is easy to hit, that feels great but still gives me maximum distance.

= SRIXON SOFT FEEL • I have a slow swing speed and often struggle to get the ball up in the air off the tee and with my longer irons, and occasionally hook or slice the ball.

= SRIXON ULTISOFT • I’m a mid-handicap golfer with a reasonable swing in excess of 80mph; I want a combination of distance off the tee, great feel and the ability to spin the ball around the greens.

= SRIXON AD333 • I’m a consistent and fairly accomplished golfer with a swing speed of less than 95mph; I’m looking for maximum control and spin on my approach shots, with a soft feel. = SRIXON AD333 TOUR • I’m a skilled player with a swing speed of 95mph or more; I hit the ball with consistency and authority and am looking for a ball designed to meet the needs of the pros.

= SRIXON Z-STAR • I’m a serious golfer with a swing speed of more than 105mph; I hit the ball a long way and am looking for a slightly firmer ball than the Z-Star that will spin less as a result .

= SRIXON Z-STAR XV Use Srixon’s Online Ball Selector to find your perfect ball match by visiting www.srixon.co.uk/make-the-switch

MARTIN CONNER, SRIXON UK FITTING MANAGER: “Every player, no matter what their handicap or how often they play, can benefit from a ball fitting. It is free, and only takes 20 minutes, so what have you got to lose? I’ve done thousands of fittings, and the average distance gain has been over 10 yards.”

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PRO V1S UP FOR GRABS AS TITLEIST BACKS PAR 3 CHALLENGE AT THE GROVE

T

NEWS | JULY 2016

[51]

SCHWARTZEL SIGNS WITH PXG F

ormer Masters champion Charl Schwartzel has signed a deal to play with PXG equipment.

The 31 year old South African, who got his hands on the green jacket in 2011, made the announcement ahead of the Open at Royal Troon, where he finished tied 18th.

“From clubs to club maker, I feel like PXG is behind me,” said Schwartzel, whose last win came at the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship in March. “They have taken an interest in all aspects of my game and are committed to helping me play the best golf of my life. I had the opportunity to speak with Bob Parsons and his enthusiasm for the game of golf and golf equipment is infectious.”

He joins 2015 Open champion Zach Johnson on the books, as well as Billy Horschel and Cristie Kerr.

“Not only is Charl a champion, he is a stand-up guy – the kind of guy we want on our team,” said PXG founder and American entrepreneur Bob Parsons. “I couldn’t be more proud to have such an accomplished player join the team of professionals representing PXG.”

he Grove has teamed up with Titleist and The European Tour to

create a unique birdie challenge as part of the countdown to the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, which takes place at the Watford-based resort from October 13-16.

Every golfer playing the course between now and October 2 will be offered the ultimate birdie challenge when they arrive on the par-3 4th hole (below), which will be the 13th during the tournament.

PREMIUM CLUB FITTING DAYS FEATURING: Golfers who manage to bag a birdie at the hole from the specially prepared back tee – exactly as it will appear for the tournament – will instantly win a commemorative 2-ball gift box of Titleist Pro V1 balls.

Anna Darnell, Director of Golf at The Grove, commented: “We wanted to create a British Masters-themed experience that every customer can enjoy and we could think of no better way than re-creating the kind of pressure shot European Tour players will face during tournament week. Our customers may not be playing for the British Masters title, but the lure of winning some very special Titleist Pro

European Tour Experienced Specialist / TrackMan Technology / Premium Balls / Full PXG Range

BOOK NOW FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DATES: Knightsbridge Golf School, London SW1X 9JU ..............Sat 23rd July Lingfield Park Golf Club, Surrey RH7 6PQ ......................Fri 29th July Holtye Golf Club, East Sussex, TN8 7ED ........................Fri 5th August Knightsbridge Golf School, London SW1X 9JU ..............Sat 6th August Ifield Golf Club, West Sussex, RH11 0NJ .......................Thurs 11th August Chartham Park, West Sussex RH19 2JT ........................Fri 12th August Knightsbridge Golf School, London SW1X 9JU ..............Sat 13th August We are also at other premium venues where dates have not been confirmed yet. If you are interested in having a fitting session at your club please contact us and we will try and arrange.

V1 golf balls should be a huge incentive for them to try the challenge and share their experiences on social media, we are even supplying a selfie stick on the tee to capture the action.”

Golfers who can one better, and bag an ace, will be placed into a draw for the chance to win a one-day VIP corporate hospitality package for 10 people at The British Masters, as well as a custom-fitted set of Titleist clubs, Titleist Pro V1 Balls, and a pair of FootJoy shoes.

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, said: “This challenge offers golfers an exciting opportunity to experience this par three exactly the way the best golfers in the world play it. I also hope we will be celebrating a few hole-in-ones through the summer months and that we will get the chance to reward one lucky golfer a very special Titleist experience come the autumn.”

For more information and bookings please go to: www.pxgclubfitting.uk email: enquiries@eclipse-golf.co.uk Telephone: 01293 223 038

[52] JULY 2016 | EQUIPMENT NEWS

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PUMA LAUNCHES LACE-FREE TITANTOUR IGNITE

THE GEAR EFFECT Inside The Bags Of Winners On Tour

HENRIK STENSON

PUMA GOLF has expanded its Ignite footwear range with the launch of a limited-edition version of its TitanTour Ignite shoe, which is equipped with its proprietary laceless ‘Disc’ closure system.

The technology enables wearers to tighten the upper part of the shoe from within by turning a dial, which shortens an internal wire. Turning the dial in the opposite direction loosens the shoe.

The shoe offers all of the features found in the original TitanTour shoe, including cushioning Ignite foam, and a DuoFlex outsole that allows the foot to move naturally while still providing support.

Costing £150, it is available in red / white/black and white/black.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Callaway XR 16 (9) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Diablo Octane (13) IRONS: Callaway Legacy Black (2-PW) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 3 Milled (52, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot XG #7H BALL: Titleist Pro V1

DUSTIN JOHNSON WGC BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL DRIVER: TaylorMade M1 460 (10.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M1 (17) IRONS: TaylorMade TP UDI (2); TaylorMade TP MB (3-PW) WEDGES: TaylorMade TP EF (52, 60) PUTTER: Scotty Cameron by Titleist prototype

WILLETT BREAKS HIS MAGIC WAND

BALL: TaylorMade TP X

BILLY HURLEY III QUICKEN LOANS NATIONAL DRIVER: TaylorMade M1 430 (9.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M2 (15) HYBRID: TaylorMade SLDR (19, 21), Adams Pro Mini (23) IRONS: (5-PW): Bridgestone J40 FORGED WEDGES: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 (54); Cleveland 588 (60) PUTTER: TaylorMade Itsy Bitsy Spider Ltd BALL: Bridgestone Tour B330 S

HENRIK STENSON BMW INTERNATIONAL

CHERVÒ MAKES BOLD STATEMENT WITH WINTER COLLECTION

DRIVER: Callaway XR 16 (9) FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Diablo Octane Tour (13), Callaway XR 16 (18) IRONS: Callaway Legacy Black (3-PW) WEDGES: Callaway MD3 Milled (52, 58) PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot XG #7H BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

GREG CHALMERS BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER: Titleist 917D2 (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade AeroBurner TP (14.5) HYBRID: Titleist 816H2 (19) Irons:

ITALIAN GOLF APPAREL BRAND Chervò has taken inspiration from contemporary European high street fashion trends for its new 2016 Autumn/Winter collection.

Making full use of the best materials and innovative processes, the range delivers high-class performance and maximum comfort in a bold and stylish mix of colours and patterns.

Featuring 150 individual pieces, Chervò’s AW16 collection is evenly split between men and women, and offers

a range of high-quality, performance jackets and garments in an array of striking colours.

Aqua-Block, Wind-Lock and ProTherm technologies are all present across the entire collection, which blends more traditional shades with new hues including deep yellow Balinese, emerald Wasabi, and blue Avio for a fashionable look that is at home both on and off the course.

Among the designs featured in the men’s range is Chervo’s latest use of

CLARKE FASHIONS RYDER CUP CLOTHING DEAL WITH LORO PIANA

With jumpers costing £795, and even a humble polo priced at £595, never let it be said that Clarke doesn’t want the best – and the most expensive – kit for his team.

“We are very proud to represent the European team at the Ryder Cup,” said Antoine Arnault, chairman of the family-owned company. “We have high hopes that Loro Piana’s elegance, quality and extensive experience in transforming the best natural fibres in the world into high performance clothing will win us yet another important victory.”

Clarke has been working with the brand to come up with a range for the team, with the collection comprising a cashmere sweater and gilet, a lightweight cotton polo shirt and trousers with a rain-repellant finish. The colours the team will be wearing for the match have yet to be announced, although European blue is expected to feature strongly.

Titleist 716 CB (3-9) WEDGES: Vokey Design SM6 (46, 50, 58) PUTTER: Bobby Grace MaGregor V-Foil BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

ALEX NOREN SCOTTISH OPEN DRIVER: Callaway XR 16 Sub Zero (8.5) FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway XR (15) HYBRID: Callaway Apex Hybrid (18) IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro (4-9) WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47, 52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey Works #1 BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft

BRITTANY LANG US WOMEN'S OPEN DRIVER: TaylorMade M2 (10.5) FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M2 (16.5, 21) Hybrid: TaylorMade AeroBurner (25) IRONS: PXG 0311 (5-PW) WEDGES: Cleveland RTX 2.0 Custom (52, 56, 60) PUTTER: Odyssey Works Big T #5 BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

THIS YEAR’S EUROPEAN RYDER CUP team will be striding the fairways at Hazeltine looking every inch like catwalk models, after it was revealed that team captain Darren Clarke has eschewed the usual golf clothing brands in favour of an Italian fashion company popular with the über-rich yachting fraternity.

The notoriously fashion-conscious Clarke has pinned his colours to Loro Piana, an Italian fashion house that prides itself on the softness of its baby cashmere knitwear and the pliability of its cotton pique polos.

check revival, with a ‘city’ theme being applied to trousers, jackets and even accessories to add an extra touch of glamour to a look.

And the women’s latest line of clothes and jackets includes the introduction of a new pattern inspired by the ancient Venetian tapestries, which produces a unique effect, especially on the back.

From autumn 2016, all Chervo’s jackets will be made exclusively with Happy Goose down, with the company’s Aqua-Block technology providing a 100 per cent down-free waterproof jacket which is not only breathable and ultralight, but is animal friendly with the same qualities and silky softness as down.

Chervò co-founder Peter Erlacher said: “The main drivers of the collection were to focus on selecting the best fabrics, accessories, manufacturing and finishing of our product; brightening up the line with few trendy and flashy styles and colours; but always preserving the heritage of the brand.”

To discover more about the range, visit www.chervo.com

THE PUTTER that Masters' champion Danny Willett used to help him win the Green Jacket at Auguata is no more. The Odyssey Versa model – which is no longer in the brand’s line up – was on the receiving end of a severe telling off from its owner at last month’s US Open at Oakmont, when the previously lucky putter was snapped in two.

After damaging the prized club towards the end of his third round, Willett was forced to use a wedge to hole out for the remaining holes. The 28 year old from Sheffield finished the tournament tied 37th on nine over par.

"It's now in two pieces,” Willett said. 'We'll have to get it refurbished and then I won't be using it again.”

SRIXON ROLLS OUT BIGGEST EVER BALL PROMOTION SRIXON HAS ROLLED OUT its biggest ever consumer promotion to celebrate 10 years as the UK and Ireland’s number one two-piece golf ball brand.

From the start of July to the end of August, customers have the opportunity to win prizes, including a ten-night golfing holiday to the Algarve, and a topprize of £10,000.

To win, golfers must purchase Srixon’s “#10 golf balls” in the Ten Year Anniversary promotional Srixon AD333 dozen pack. There are 1,583 prizes to be won, and there’s a freebie to be had as well – a trial of Srixon’s new AD333 Tour ball.

Leslie Hepworth, president of Srixon Sports Europe, said: “The last 10 years have been an incredible journey for Srixon, and one that has seen us remain at the top of the competitive two-piece golf ball market. This is our biggest ever promotion, and is about saying ‘thank you’ to our loyal customers, who have been instrumental in helping us achieve this success.”

For more details visit www.srixon.co.uk.

FIND A LUCKY ‘10’ BALL AND WIN UP TO

£10,000

r e h t o : S g n i d PLU u l c n i s e z i r p great r two in o f y a d i l o ng h

tar golfi ravel; s T f 5 l t o h G g r i u n • a 10 esy of Yo t r u o c , e v prizes! e r o m the Algar y n plus ma • ; s l l a b E E • 10,000 FR For the last decade, the Srixon AD333 has reigned supreme as the UK’s top-selling 2-piece ball. To celebrate we’ve hidden lucky ‘10’ balls in promotional dozen-packs of AD333s.

Find one and you can WIN fantastic prizes, from free balls to a cash prize of £10,000!

Go online to www.srixon10.co.uk for full details including a full list of prizes; instructions on how to claim; and terms & conditions. Claims by 31/12/16. *Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. & Golf Datatech Retail Audits, based on total sales over June 2006 to June 2016.

[54] JULY 2016 | PRO SHOP

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PXG MILLED PUTTERS £360, PXG.COM Fast-growing equipment brand Parsons Xtreme Golf has unveiled a new range of putters that offers golfers the choice of five head shapes and a total of 11 different models. As with the brand’s irons and woods, all five models incorporate titanium tungsten weights, enabling for adjustment during fittings. The weights are strategically placed to aid alignment, while a thermoplastic elastomer core insert enhances feel and creates a more consistent performance across the entire face. The putters are available in two finishes, and are milled from high-grade stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminium. The range comprises the Brandon blade, which is a face-balanced blade with a plumber’s neck hosel; the Dagger (classic blade, no offset); Drone (high MOI mallet); Gunboat (very high MOI mallet, full-shaft offset), and Mustang (blade with heel-toe weighting, toe hang or face balanced).

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 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.

PRO SHOP

GEAR

£179.99, MOTOCADDY.COM

GUIDE

MOTOCADDY DRI SERIES CART BAG

SRIXON Z 565 DRIVER £, SRIXON.CO.UK The all-new Z 565 driver is designed to promote a higher launch with more forgiveness with a slight draw bias. The driver has three specific design features that maximise distance and control off the tee; the first is a multi-step design on the sole, which allows the lower face to bend, helping increase distance across the face. The second is a new cup face, which stretches farther around the crown and sole to create a larger sweet spot; and the final element is a thinner, lighter crown, which serves to increase MOI and lower the 460cc clubhead’s centre of gravity.

Available in lofts of 9.5 and 10.5, it comes with a 45inch Miyazaki Kaula Mizu shaft in regular or stiff flex.

LYNX

BY SWASH PUTTERS £99, LYNXGOLF.CO.UK Lynx joined up with Harold Swash, one of the best-known putting coaches in the world, to create its latest range of putters.

Named ‘Swash by Lynx’, the range includes four models – Isis, Luxor (blade), Memphis (mallet), and Rameses (high MOI mallet) – all featuring brand new alignment designs and ball roll technology developed by the man dubbed ‘The Putting Doctor’.

The brand’s Pyramid Groove Design features throughout the range and is a unique trapezoid shape milled into a gold coloured aluminium face insert. Three years in the making and testing, the face design results in more consistent accuracy on off-centre strikes, with the groove design countering the damaging effects of sidespin to bring the ball back online. The range also introduces two new alignment technologies: one to help the golfer keep the putter head square at address and impact; the other to ensure the golfer’s eyes stay directly over the ball.

PROQUIP PX-5 STORMFORCE £295, PROQUIPGOLF.COM The PX in ProQuip’s latest range of outwear stands for ‘Performance Xtreme’, and its top-of-the-range rain suit is designed to offer just that, boasting the brand’s first ever lifetime waterproof guarantee. The jacket is made from an imported Japanese fabric that is exclusive to ProQuip which feels like silk to wear and stretches four ways for complete freedom of movement. Its membrane technology promotes advanced breathability and temperature regulation, while retaining the highest levels of waterproof protection. Other features include a cushioned collar; waterproof zips; side adjustment tabs; and Velcro cuffs. The jacket is available in black/red, grey/blue or ink/lime, with matching trousers in black or grey.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PRO SHOP | JULY 2016 [55]

LEICA PINMASTER II PRO ADIDAS TOUR360 PRIME BOOST £149, ADIDASGOLF.COM Knitting and golf shoes don’t seem like an obvious combo, but that’s precisely what’s on offer in the latest shoe to roll off the adidas production line. The Prime Boost features a seamless knitted upper – a material used in several of its trainers – which offers four-way stretch and enhanced breathability.

Worn by Sergio Garcia during the Masters, and during his recent victory at the Bryon Nelson, it also features a lighter and more flexible 360WRAP saddle and a new S-curve heel shape, which follows the natural contour of the foot.

It is available in white/blue and black/red/white.

Displaying a high toe profile and a semi-straight leading edge, each wedge features weight ports in the rear to reposition weight for better shot-making, especially out of deep rough.

BUSHNELL GOLF NEO ION

£480, LEICA-CAMERA.COM Capable of accurately measuring distances up to 725 metres away, the Pinmaster II Pro is the Rolls Royce of laser range finders. World renowned for its optics technology, Leica has packed its top of the range model with all the bells and whistles, including First Target Logic technology, which locks onto flags with unerring accuracy, cutting out background distractions for reliable target detection. It also automatically compensates for slopes and elevation, factoring in how far the target is above or below your feet to help with club selection. Its high quality lenses feature a special coating that repels water and dirt, while the outer casing is made from carbon fibre to guarantee durability, as well as maintain a pristine appearance.

A red LED screen ensures easy readings, even in bright sunlight, while x7 magnification enables golfers to pick out the flag even on the longest of par fives.

MIZUNO ORIGAMI POLO £60, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM

£139, BUSHNELL.COM Bushnell’s neo iON is the lightest and thinnest GPS golf watch the brand has ever made. Designed to be worn both on and off the course, the device comes loaded with more than 35,000 courses across 30 countries. It boasts instant course recognition and auto hole advance.

It also has a step counter, allowing players to monitor distance, speed and total activity time and boasts a battery charge capable of lasting three 18-hole rounds. It is available in black/lime or gunmetal/orange.

STEWART GOLF R1-S £199, STEWARTGOLF.CO.UK Although costing as much as an entry-level power trolley, Stewart Golf’s R1 push trolley has been a popular choice among the self-propelling golfing population since it first launched in 2014. The next generation R1-S is a restyling of the R1, with a choice of anodic black, pearl or platinum frame and a five different wheel colours – black, white, red, blue and green. In addition to the cosmetic changes, the trolley has benefitted from no fewer than 40 improvements to the original design, including new silicon bag supports and strengthened spine and axles. Other features include a foot brake and an adjustable-height soft-touch handle, while there is storage for a drinks bottle, scorecard, golf balls, pencil, and a new umbrella holder. It comes with a twoyear warranty.

All the polo shirts in Mizuno’s spring/summer range incorporate the brand’s Drylite technology - in either polyester or mercerised cotton fabrics - to help wick moisture away from the body, and keep the wearer comfortable and dry.

Among the ultra-soft, polyester performance shirts is the Origami Polo, which boasts contrasting colour panels on the sleeves and back in Methyl Blue/Total Eclipse, Magenta Haze and White/Castlerock.

Other designs to choose from include the X-Tint Argyle Polo (£60), sporting a striking sublimated Argyle design across the chest; the classic Plain Polo (£60), woven from a mini-piquet with contrast piping; and the Piquet Stripe Polo (£70) which is tailored from 100% double-mercerised cotton, and features a single contrasting stripe across the chest and a button-down collar.

The polo shirts are part of complete layering collection that also includes windproof vests and lightweight jackets.

tried + tested ODYSSEY X-ACT TANK CHIPPER £109, ODYSSEYGOLF.COM HITTING HIGH LOFTED WEDGES clearly isn’t everyone’s strong point – it’s certainly not mine – so we must be thankful for the invention of the chipper, which has saved the red faces of thousands of golfers the world over since its invention. My dad has been pulling out his trusty Chip ’n’ Go anytime he gets within 75 yards of the green for the best part of 25 years, and providing there isn’t a bunker between the ball and the flag – and often even when there is – he finds the dance floor with an irritatingly high success rate.

While some players revert to a dainty 3-wood or go down the shaft on a 7-iron when they’re looking to keep the ball low to the ground on a delicate greenside chip, these shots come with a high tariff due to their somewhat lively faces, for which the punishment can be as severe as a duffed wedge.

This is where the chipper’s unique design comes into play, with its wider, flatter sole preventing it from digging in, while its super-lofted face nips the ball off tight and fluffy lies with equal aplomb.

Being a putter brand by trade, Odyssey has brought all its technology and material know-how from its extensive range to bear on this vital piece of equipment, resulting in a club – the Odyssey X-Act Tank Chipper – that boasts many design elements and face technologies found in its putters.

Chief among those is heavy weighting found in its Tank range, which sees a 355g head encouraging a smoother swing and promoting more consistent contact. A soft polymer face insert ensures plenty of feel off the face, while a hybrid-like sole design improves turf interaction, especially on tight lies, to help eliminate stubbed or bladed shots. Correct alignment is helped by two stripes running the

length of the club, while a non-tapered oversized SuperStroke grip helps stabilise the wrists and hands through impact. The longer design allows for choking up and down for greater control on long and short shots, although golfers of a fragile disposition will never like to hear the word ‘choking’ used in connection with their short game.

It’s available in 37- and 46-degree models, which are equivalent to an 8-iron and a wedge in terms of loft, so it’s worth deciding what kind of shots you’re looking to play – lower running shots, or more lofted chips. I found the 37-degree option more to my liking, although those with serious dislike of their SW or LW should perhaps consider buying both. The soft face really allows you to give it a surprisingly hefty blow without the ball disappearing over the horizon, and the ball pops up sweetly off a variety of lies and runs out with nicely. All told, it’s not a club that you should be proud to carry around in your bag, but for those who come out in cold sweats at the mere thought of a wedge, loss of pride is the least of your worries.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

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FOR THE

PLAYERS THE LATEST IRONS FOR LOWER HANDICAPPERS

PXG 0311

TITLEIST 716 AP2

CALLAWAY APEX CF16

PXG irons may be at the top end of the premium market, but the price is due to the use of premium materials and expensive production processes. The back, hosel and sole of the new 0311 irons are all forged from a single piece of soft carbon steel, which offers a tighter grain structure for improved feel, while a hollow internal cavity allows extra mass to be positioned around the perimeter in the form of 11 removable black tungsten weights, which raises MOI levels to that normally found in game improvement irons.

An ultra-thin steel face removes ineffective weight behind the face and a thermo-plastic elastomer is injected into the hollow body to dampen vibrations and add stability.

With full sets often played by pros, the AP2s are designed to appeal to a wide cross-section of players. That appeal has been broadened still further with the 716, which offers added forgiveness and ball speed without compromising its Tour pedigree. Made from forged carbon steel, the long irons (3-7) have 25% more tungsten in the heel and toe than the 714 (56g per club), which concentrates mass low and toward the perimeter. And because the 716’s blade length is identical to the 714’s, the result – an 8.5% higher MOI – is even more impressive. The longest irons (3-5) have a slightly lower centre of gravity, positioned closer to where the ball typically strikes the face, which helps increase speed.

The first ever forged irons to feature cup face technology, the Apex CF16s have a multi-piece construction that creates the feeling of a forged iron, while still offering the control and forgiveness associated with a cast club. The head is made up of six individual pieces based around a forged carbon steel body and a stainless steel face that is supported by various TPU, TPE and aluminium parts which improve sound and feel. However, rather than use a rigid face plate, the CF16 borrows the cup face design from Callaway's woods, which enables the face to flex at impact and deliver increased ball speeds. A progressive head design ensures a smooth transition of flight, forgiveness and control through the set.

LYNX BOOM BOOM TOUR

COBRA KING CB/MB

TAYLORMADE PSI

Designed with input from Lynx ambassadors Paul Eales and Laura Davies, the Boom Boom Tour irons benefits from Lynx's twin slot technology and variable face thickness. The one-piece steel casting features two cavities – the first, a muscle-back design, which distributes weight effectively around the clubhead for forgiveness; the second, a narrower deep power channel immediately behind the clubface. This feature, when combined with variable face thickness, gives phenomenal distance and feel. Thin top lines, narrow soles and stronger lofts make them perfect for pure ball strikers, while distinctive cosmetics, a combination of black satin, gloss and matt PVD, give them plenty of shelf appeal.

Aimed squarely at single figure players, Cobra’s cavity back and muscle back King forged irons are made with a five-step forging process than produces tighter tolerances and enhanced feel at impact. Tungsten toe weights place the centre of gravity directly in line with the centre of the clubface for improved consistency and accuracy, while milled faces and grooves further enhance spin and shot control. The combination set is comprised of cavity-back mid and long irons (3-6), and muscle back short irons (7-PW), all of which come with a diamonised black metal finish, KBS Tour C-Taper steel shafts and Lamkin UTX grips.

Players Slotted Irons are designed to deliver both feel and distance for low handicappers – rather than offering, as many players’ irons do, either one element or the other.

This has been made possible by TaylorMade’s Dynamic Feel System, which comprises a compression damper and a multi-material cavity badge, reducing vibration across the face without sacrificing ball speed. Redesigned head shapes feature tungsten weighting in the long irons (3-5), and forged short irons (8-SW). A new speed pocket appears as a cut-through slot that feeds directly into the cavity undercut, which increases ball speeds for shots struck lower on the face. Slots located in the heel and toe of the clubface protect ball speeds and distance on off-centre hits.

£240 PER CLUB, PXG.COM

£629, LYNXGOLF.CO.UK

£117/£133 (ST/GR), TITLEIST.CO.UK

£117/£133 PER CLUB, COBRAGOLF.CO.UK

£849/£1,099, CALLAWAYGOLF.COM

£799/£899, TAYLORMADEGOLF.EU

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

IRONS | JULY 2016

[57]

WILSON STAFF FG TOUR V4

PING I IRONS

MIZUNO MP-25

The latest version of Wilson’s muscleback FG Tour iron sees a new design innovation in the shape of an 18g tungsten weight placed in the sole of the long and midirons (3-7) that lowers the centre of gravity and increases the launch angle without adding spin. This results in greater height on all shots, producing a steeper angle of descent to hold greens and attack difficult pins. The upper portion of the face has been thinned by 11% in order to reposition weight into the heel and toe, where it can have most impact on launch conditions and increasing forgiveness. The set can be added to at the top end with a matching set of V4 utility irons.

Made from 431 stainless steel, which offers a high strengthto-weight ratio and softer feel, the new i irons deliver workability and trajectory control in a set that features progressively larger heads and a lower, deeper centre of gravity as you move from the short irons to the long irons.

A custom tuning port placed deep in the cavity allows for expanded perimeter weighting, which will ensure that players will benefit from plenty of forgiveness from occasional miss-hits, without losing the precision and control for which the series is known. With a thin top rail, minimal offset, and a soft feel off the face, the i iron will appeal to a wide section of mid to low handicappers.

Mizuno brought the proven ball speed advantages of boronfuelled technology to its MP line-up for the first time with the MP-25, a compact forged iron boasting a tour-inspired design. Rather than seeking to cram distance technology into the smaller head that better players prefer, the MP-25 starts from a pre-determined tour-dictated profile, with engineers then adding in ball speed via the Boron forged technology. The heads are grain flow forged from a single billet of boron steel, with the injection of boron allowing a micro-slot pocket cavity to be engineered into the longer irons (3-6) for greater ball speeds, while still delivering the feel and touch that good players demand.

SRIXON Z765

YONEX N1-CB

HONMA TW727 VN

Part of an all-new range of Z Series irons, the 765s provide the confidence and workability that better players demand.

Forged from premium carbon steel, the 3-6 irons feature a tungsten weight in the toe to help tune the sweet spot for a longer and more forgiving flight. They also benefit from a newly developed Tour V.T. sole, which improves turf interactio. By increasing leading bounce and decreasing trailing bounce, a ‘V’ is created in the sole profile that helps tighten shot dispersion. Shot control is enhanced by the use of double laser milled faces, which places two different patterns on the face to stablise spin performance, while larger grooves increases spin, especially in wet conditions.

Hand crafted in Japan, the forged N1-CB irons claim a world first in that they are the only irons on the market that feature graphite in the cavity of the head. This serves to absorb vibration, increase playability, and lower the centre of gravity. The clubfaces offer a large and forgiving sweet spot with the softness of touch and ball control of a muscleback iron, while a deep centre of gravity creates a high launch with low spin. The soles are a little wider and the toes a little higher than most traditional players’ irons, which helps them move more easily through the turf. They come with a N.S.Pro Modus 3 Tour 125 steel shaft with Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet 360 grip.

Designed for players looking for a compact muscleback cavity with the same lofts as a blade, VN irons are made from high-grade carbon steel using a new process call W-Forging. This is a ‘two-press’ process, starting with a very hot pressing, followed by a cold forged press.

This improves the granular grain flow of the steel and makes the centre of the face slightly more dense, which offers players more feel and more distance. Available in 3-10 iron, VN irons are offered with a full custom-fitting service for lie, loft, length, swing weight, grip size, finish (including gold plating), and Vizard graphite shafts or Dynamic Gold steel.

£549, WILSON-STAFF.COM

£600/£699, SRIXON.CO.UK

£112/£124 PER CLUB, PING.COM

£1,050, YONEX.CO.UK

£115 PER CLUB, GOLF.MIZUNOEUROPE.COM

£1,275, HONMA.CO.UK

NIPPON SHAFT: THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREAT IRON PERFORMANCE

VEGA VDC-01

£1,069, VEGA-GOLF.COM Japanese-made Vega irons are becoming an increasingly popular choice for good golfers, with their premium onepiece forgings offering the ultimate in feel. The brand new VDC irons are a dual cavity design that fits between a traditional blade and a semi cavity, making them ideal for good players seeking a penetrating, powerful ball flight. The smaller cavity reduces the thickness of the main muscle back giving a softer feel, while moving the centre of gravity slightly higher up the blade. With a slightly squarer toe than other Vega cavity backs, the VDC irons also feature less offset.

BASED IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, Nippon Shaft has been making high quality golf club shafts for over 50 years.

During that time, the brand has recorded hundreds of victories on the worldwide professional tours, and that number is growing fast, with last season seeing 106 players on the PGA and European Tours playing with Nippon Shafts – representing an increase of over 50% on the previous year.

Nippon Shaft makes all of its steel and graphite shafts in its own state-of-the-art factory in Japan, where the entire manufacturing process - from material selection to final testing – is strictly monitored to ensure a consistently high quality product.

While the NS PRO MODUS3 Tour range shafts is popular among fastswinging tour pros, Nippon Shafts produces a wide range of steel and graphite shafts to suit all levels of player, including the NS Pro, and its latest launch, the NS PRO Zelos. 8.

An ultra-light model that combines the lightweight properties of graphite with the stability of steel, the Zelos 8 is designed with a low kick-point, and provides a lightweight steel option for players that struggle to generate high

clubhead speeds, but still want to benefit from the stability that steel provides.

Nippon Shafts are available either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world's top iron brands, while custom-fitting options are available through a global club fitter network.

For more details on the complete range, as well as where to find the nearest Nippon Shaft fitting centre, visit www.nipponshaft.com.

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[58] JULY 2016 | TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

LET CHAKA SHOW YOU THE BEST OF

SOUTH AFRICA

TURIN RESORT OFFERS

ROYAL TREAT

I

taly’s top-rated golf resort, Royal Park in Turin, has cemented itself as a firm favourite among visiting golfers from mainland Europe in the last year – and now, with the launch of new packages, UK golfers have the opportunity to experience it for themselves.

The Royal Park I Roveri golf club – founded by the Agnelli family, which still manages the club – boasts two 18-hole courses and is surrounded by centuries-old forest and overlooked by the Italian Alps.

The first of its two courses, an eponymous design by Robert Trent Jones Snr, was opened in 1971.

Royal Park’s 6,566m, par-72, Trent Jones course was rated the top track in Italy in the latest Golf World top 100 courses in continental Europe ranking – and 41st on the continent.

The second course, the

6,572m Pramerica, was laid out

by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Frey in 2013 – the duo behind 2017 US Open venue Erin Hills – and was named Italy’s best new course in 2014. Pramerica course. It was described by the club’s former touring pro, Matteo Manassero, as ‘unique … a challenging course which often requires a good long game and does not forgive mistakes’.

Royal Park’s golf breaks comprise four and five-star options, and can include additional courses and cultural tours, visiting places as diverse as local winemakers or the Juventus Stadium and club museum.

General tours of the city of Turin, including visits to the famed Reggia di Venaria and Egyptian Museum, are also available.

In addition to two golf courses, the club boasts extensive practice facilities

G

including a 30-bay driving range, a floodlit 36-hole putting green and a short-game area.

Off-course facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath, swimming pool, two gymnasiums, a conference hall and a traditional Piedmontese restaurant.

The four-star Quality Hotel Atlantic, in Borgaro, is just 12km from the golf club, and even closer to Turin-Caselle Airport. It features a spa with indoor pool, Turkish bath and sauna, and a restaurant.

A three-night, room only, two green-fee package – including free trolley, 25 range balls, liability insurance and 15 per cent discount in the pro shop – costs

from €350 per person, based on two sharing a double room.

The recently renovated, fourstar superior Turin Palace hotel is located in a prestigious 19thcentury building, close to Porta Nuova, the city’s main railway station, just a few minutes from the city centre. It offers 126 rooms, restaurant and a spa.

Royal Park is 13km from Turin-Caselle Airport, into which several airlines – including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch and Ryanair – fly daily from UK airports.

For further details on golf breaks to Royal Park, visit www.royalparkgolf.it/en

olf travellers looking to benefit from the very best local knowledge on their next golfing break should consider booking up a guide golf tour with one of the most experienced operators in the businesss.

Established in 1995, Chaka Travel is widely recognised as one of the UK and Ireland's leading luxury golf tour operators, providing bespoke golf holidays to far flung destinations such as Mauritius, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, USA, Morocco and Dubai, as well as golfing nations closer to home, such as Spain, Italy and Turkey.

The company has recently expanded its portfolio of holidays by offering escorted tours, lead by a team of expert golf professionals, to help guide guests on the course. Exploring new destinations, while sharing experiences with like-minded travelers, escorted tours offer the luxury of being accompanied by a golf professional who will be on hand to not only offer golf tuition, but also share first-hand knowledge of the local sights to enhance the overall holiday experience.

Chaka Travel’s next escorted tour to is being held in South Africa from November 23- December 2, when South African professional Nico Els will be hosting a nine-night golf and safari trip to the Limpopo region. The holiday will take in a five-round Pro-m, with three rounds at Zebula and two at Elements, with Nico on hand to offer swing tips and course management, while guests will also enjoy six-hole night golf game; a 10-hole, par-3 challenge; and a three-hour safari, as part of the package.

Prices start from £2,200pp, including return flights on Virgin Airlines from London, and nine night’s accommodation in luxury lodges at Zebula, with all meals included.

For more details, visit www.chakatravel.com, or call 028 9023 2112.

ALGARVE LAUNCHES ‘GOLDEN TEE’ PROMOTION TO CELEBRATE 50TH GOLFING ANNIVERSARY

W

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

Such is the popularity of the region with the golfing public that a record 1.2m green fee rounds were played in 2015, and early indications suggest 2016 is set to continue on a similar path.

Venues such as the legendary Penina – Sir Henry Cotton’s iconic layout that started the golf boom in 1966 – and the much-loved San Lorenzo, which is ranked in the top 30 in Europe, are just two highlights.

The five courses of the Pestana Group – including Vila Sol and Pinta – are also hugely popular, so too the Vilamoura courses of the Oceanico group.

Along with the famous Old, the jewel in the Oceanico crown is the stunning Arnold Palmer-designed Victoria layout, which last month hosted the Portugal Masters. The tournament is one of the most popular stops on the European Tour circuit, with players enjoying both the challenge of the Victoria course and the off-course attractions of the Algarve.

To mark its 50th year as a golf holiday destination, all of the Algarve’s top courses will feature speciallycommissioned commemorative golden tee markers. Each visiting golfer will be invited to play their part in marking the milestone by playing from the new golden tees and will then get the chance to register their details on a dedicated website for an opportunity to win 50 green fees.

President of the Algarve Tourism Association, Carlos Luis, said: “We are honoured to be able to mark the 50th anniversary of golf in the Algarve this year and hope golfers will be part of the celebrations with us. It’s just another perfect reason for golfers to visit us in 2016 as the Algarve golf industry continues to provide the very best in hospitality, accommodation and golf venues with great value and diversity.

For more information go to www.visitgolfalgarve.com.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | JULY 2016 [59]

ZIP OVER TO ZAFIRO TO SAMPLE THE BEST OF

MALLORCAN GOLF

T

he newest five-star hotel on the holiday island of Mallorca is offering autumn stay-and-play golf packages with its near neighbour, Club de Golf Alcanada.

The new Viva Zafiro Alcudia & Spa, which opened last summer, sits in an unrivalled location just 300 metres from the sea at Alcudia Bay, and a few minutes from Alcanada's golf course.

The Zafiro has 369 suites, five restaurants, three bars, 10 swimming pools, gym, spa and wellness centre, solarium, and

myriad sports facilities. And, close by, are the pleasant streets of Puerto de Alcudia, one of the oldest towns in Mallorca, where there is a wide selection of restaurants, bars and shops.

The resort is offering three, four and seven-night breaks from €147pp/pn. The threenight ‘Wedge' break, with B&B accommodation in a junior suite, free access to the Balneum Spa, and two green fees at Alcanada, costs €442 per person, based on two sharing.

The four-night ‘Eagle' package

offers three green fees at Alcanada and costs €621, while the seven-night ‘Albatross' includes five rounds for €1,038.

The prices are valid from October 3 to November 14.

Alcanada's 7,108-yard, Trent Jones Jr-designed course has won a steady stream of awards since opening 12 years ago.

Enjoying a breathtaking location overlooking the Bay of Alcudia, the course blends naturally into the typical Mallorcan terrain and takes its name from an island with a lighthouse, situated just

offshore, which can be seen from most of the holes.

In addition, the club boasts a centuries-old Mallorca clubhouse that offers guests the opportunity to sample regional specialties in its first-class dining facilities. A golf academy, including a short-game area and covered driving range, is also available.

For reservations call 0034 971 897 008, email infogolf@hotelsviva.com or visit www.hotelsviva.com.

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[60] JULY 2016 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRUMPIFIED TURNBERRY:

STYLISH SPORTING RETREAT OR GOLDPLATED PALACE?

The new-look TURNBERRY reopened to the sound of bagpipes and helicopters last month, as its controversial owner cut the ribbon following a £200m renovation of the iconic hotel and Ailsa course

V

isitors to the official reopening of the Trump Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire last month got a first-hand appreciation of what £200 million looks like when it is spent on renovating a hotel and golf course.

Donald Trump’s love affair with gold is in evidence inside the revamped interiors, especially the bathrooms, but has thankfully been kept in check, with the 103 rooms far from being the gaudy, gilt-infested boudoirs that many had feared, with perhaps the exception of the bathrooms, where King Midas and Liberace would both feel right at home.

However, his affection for over-the-top features seems to have won the day against good taste in other areas, with the presence of a Roman-style fountain at the entrance to the hotel, a pair of his and hers over-sized thrones in the lobby, and a mind-bendingly busy carpet in the public spaces, being surprising additions for a genteel sporting retreat. Throw in some kiltwearing porters and vast chandeliers swinging from every spare bit of ceiling, and you have all the boxes ticked for how Vegas does Scotland.

Trump likes to do things on a big scale, and the newly-renovated rooms are all well proportioned, and for those that like their TVs big and their showers walk-in, the suites won’t disappoint on that front either.

Ralph Porciani, the resort’s general manager, said: "We have always known that once it was renovated, Trump Turnberry would be among

the finest hotels anywhere in the world. The Trump Organisation has spared no expense - it is a genuine masterpiece. Guests can expect an opulent and very private experience. No request will be too great and no detail too small."

Part of the reason for all the expense was Trump’s desire to see the Open Championship return to the Ailsa course again. And while the R&A has been unforthcoming about voicing any commitment for its showpiece event to return to the club in the immediate future, it’s going to be hard to ignore following the transformation of what is unquestionably the Open rota’s most scenic venue.

Those sentiments are certainly echoed by Martin Ebert, the course architect charged with turning Trump’s vision into reality. He believes that the sheer majesty of the Ailsa Course should be the primary focus when choosing a championship host, and admitted that the resort’s fading grandeur prior to Trump’s purchase may have been partially responsible for its unpopularity as an Open venue.

■ THE AILSA COURSE'S NEW 11TH HOLE BRINGS THE SEA MUCH MORE INTO PLAY

“I don't think we should fool ourselves that without Mr Trump's investment at Turnberry, it might have lost its Open status with such a lack of investment,” said Ebert, who advises the R&A on course alterations at seven of the nine courses on the Open rota. “When he came in and bought the place he immediately bought a full set of maintenance equipment and immediately commissioned a new irrigation system for the Ailsa. It wasn't being looked after as it should have been at that stage. It was always a jewel, but it was a fading jewel and the investment that's been made in all the right

directions in my view should be the focus.”

The most dramatic changes include construction of a new par three over the rocks towards the Turnberry lighthouse – which has been converted into a two-bedroom apartment that can be rented out for £3,500 a night – and the addition of another short hole over the sea at the 11th, adding a breathtaking background of vistas that Ebert believes will prove irresistible for the R&A. “IPortrush and Turnberry, I would argue, are the two most scenic of the Open venues. In an age of television and the contracts being so important, I would hope that has some bearing on the R&A’s decision. I know it's largely down to the stars that play in the event, but to have a canvass like that to present them upon I would hope will have some allure for the R&A.” Asked about how much input Trump had in the look of the finished product, Ebert added: “I was quite surprised how involved he has been. There were times when we didn’t agree on some things to the point where he describes me as ‘the most stubborn man he’s ever met’ – which I took as a compliment – but I’ve been struck by his passion for golf and his passion for Turnberry.

I have also worked closely with his son, Eric, but I think even he would say his father is the guy who runs the rule over every decision when it comes to the golf course.”

Visitor green fees for the redesigned course, which officially reopened on July 1, have been set at £250 for weekday rounds and £275 at weekends, while hotel guests will have to pay £195 and £210 respectively for the same privilege. A stay-and-play package, comprising one round on the Aisla Course, overnight accommodation, breakfast, and a three-course dinner in the hotel’s 1906 restaurant, costs from £539pp.

Quite how many people will be queuing up to pay these kind of sums of money remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting that Trump Turnberry Resort’s heart is in the right place, even if the same can’t be said of its owner when it comes to the world’s bigger issues.

To book, call 01655 333991 or email reservations@trumpturnberry.com.

‘A MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION’

JEREMY ELLWOOD gives his verdict on the new-look Ailsa course after playing at last month’s official reopening

I HAVE PLAYED TURNBERRY’S AILSA COURSE three times before, and already rated it very highly, so I was eager to see the much-talked about upgrades, especially as the most dramatic changes, under the guidance of experienced architect, Martin Ebert, were from the 4th to the 11th, a stretch of holes already regarded as the jewels in the Ailsa crown, particularly the 9th, 10th and 11th near the famous lighthouse.

I was a little concerned about changing the holes around the lighthouse, but having played the new holes, there’s no doubt that they have taken the course up to a spectacular new level. But they aren't the only ones to have changed.

Indeed every hole has been altered

slightly, even if just a relaying of the green. With nine greens moving anyway, it was deemed the ideal time to relay all 18 to ensure consistency throughout.

The changes kick in from the off, with a significantly strengthened opener - a good thing, for the old first provided a relatively uninspiring start. The hole is now longer, with the green pushed back and right, and attractive rough-edged bunkers introduced, a common feature of the redesigned Ailsa.

I liked the existing par-3 4th, but it is now a much more visually arresting one-shotter, set off beautifully by a 100-yard waste area stretching from the tee up towards the new green.

The 6th, which used to be a fearsomely long par three, is now a mere 171 yards – a change which has allowed the 18th tee to be moved up on to the dunes close to the shore, turning what was once a sharp dogleg into a straight hole playing directly towards the magnificent hotel.

The changes to the ninth are most striking of all, as this former par four has morphed into a wonderful long par three played to a completely new

green in front of the lighthouse.

It can stretch to a full 248 yards, with the 235-yard carry enough to persuade mere mortals forward to the white tees, which are still a healthy 187 yards. This change has also allowed the 14th to be extended into a par five that follows a new fairway further right up to a new green on the old 9th fairway, with the hole now making far better use of the lighthouse as a skyline backdrop.

The 10th and 11th now boast even more drama too, with a new tee on the 10th presenting another daunting carry across the shore, and the green pushed back close to where the old 11th tee. The famous doughnut bunker short of the green has been extended and reworked in that beautiful rough-edged style. The stirring new 11th is then a shorter reprise of the 9th, again playing across the rocky shoreline to a green that finally allows the hole to realise the full potential of its setting The changes are truly breathtaking, and for me, there is no disputing that they have turned a course that was already special into something magical.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | JULY 2016

[61]

THE MANOR HOUSE AND ASHBURY HOTELS THE MANOR HOUSE AND ASHBURY HOTELS ARE SET IN THE FOOTHILLS OF DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK AND FORM ONE OF THE LARGEST GOLF COMPLEXES IN THE UK

T

here is an unrivalled choice of seven 18-hole course options all on one site. With courses ranging from Kigbeare at 6,528 yards, through to Oakwood at 5,502 yards, plus an 18-hole par-3 course. With 27 holes of golf, per night of stay, included free of charge, to all residents, you are guaranteed great value.

The golf courses have been beautifully designed, using the natural features of the landscape with mature trees, hedgerows and ponds integrated into the design. All of our courses are maintained in peak condition by our talented ground staff - meaning that you may enjoy spectacular golf all year round.

Other facilities available to guests, free of charge, include:

TheManor House

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12 tennis courts, 12 badminton courts, 13 bowls rinks, 28 snooker tables, 10 lanes of ten pin bowling, three swimming pools, five target ranges featuring archery, air rifles, air pistols and laser shooting, team sports, dance and exercise classes and much more!

minimal material costs.

Guests also enjoy free use of the state-of-the-art Hydro Spas throughout their stay. With saunas, steam rooms, hydro pools, relaxation loungers and more - it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy day of on the course.

PLUS NEW FOR 2016!

And why stop there? Treat yourself to a choice of over 20 health and beauty treatments, including hot stones massage, facials and manicures - all at great value prices!

With all our breaks FULL BOARD plus generous GROUP DISCOUNTS you’re guaranteed a great value break!

91x54m astro sports pitch, with 100m running track. Perfect for a variety of team sports. PLUS 4 NEW multi sport simulators featuring Golf Football and Rugby.

There are also two unique craft centres offering 17 tutored crafts, including pottery, glass engraving, hot press printing and woodwork - all tutoring is free, so guests only pay

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Pines 17th 442 yards, Par 4

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[62] JULY 2016 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

DELIGHTFUL DARTMOUTH OFFERS THE PERFECT TONIC

G

LEEDS CASTLE ADDS TO KENT’S GOLFING ATTRACTIONS

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eeds Castle Golf Club, set against the backdrop of one of Kent’s most picturesque castles, has joined the Golf in Kent partnership to further enhance the county as one of England’s finest golfing destinations.

The Golf in Kent offering comprises many of Kent’s most notable golf courses, including three Open Championship courses, two Open Qualifying venues, and a European Tour host, as well

as a range of golf-friendly accommodation providers.

With the addition of Leeds Castle, the group now boasts another of Kent’s most delightful 9-hole, parkland courses set in rolling countryside against the backdrop of a castle widelyregarded as ‘the loveliest castle in the world’, less than an hour from London.

The Maidstone-based venue lines up alongside the Golf in Kent partners that comprise of the county’s

Open Championship venues of Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s Golf Club, as well as the Final Open Qualifying venues of North Foreland and Littlestone and the London Golf Club.

Two more courses with castles are also members, namely Lullingstone Park and Hever Castle, while Pentland Golf’s Boughton and Etchinghill Golf Clubs and the Tudor Park Marriott also form part of the Golf in Kent group.

SELSDON OFFERS GOLF BREAKS TO SAVOUR L

ocated in one of the leafier parts of South Croydon, Selsdon Park offers best of both worlds for those thousands of golfers who live within the confines of the M25, and for whom leaving the city to play golf is often just too time-consuming.

Although popular with locals, the resort is also a popular with tourists preparing to tackle London’s sights, with the four-star 200-bedroom NeoJacobean hotel providing all the modern comforts demanded by the international

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Golf in Kent is also supported by accommodation providers Shepherd Neame Coaching Inns & Hotels and Hand Picked Hotels, which have two hotels in Kent, Chilston Park and Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa. There is also accommodation for golfers available at The Lodge at Prince’s, Hever Castle, and the Tudor Park Marriott.

For more details on the latest golf breaks to Kent, visit www.golfinkent.co.uk.

traveller. With a thriving conference business, and a leisure club that offers a heated indoor pool, sauna, fitness suite and beauty treatment rooms, its got all the facilities you’d expect of a four-star deluxe hotel.

But those with a passion for golf, it’s also got a fantastic parkland course.

First laid out in 1929 by five-time Open champion J.H. Taylor, Selsdon Park quickly earned a reputation as being one of the finest facilities in the south. Although the course has been extended over the years, Taylor’s original layout has barely changed since it was first cut from the woodland that covers this picturesque part of Surrey. Today’s layout measures 6,473 yards off the back tees and plays to a par of 73, and despite the unrelenting developments in equipment technology, the course remains an excellent test thanks to the tree-lined fairways and the heavily sculptured greens.

The five par fives – four of which measure over 500 yards – represent the stiffest challenge, but this is countered by the fact that all but one of the nine par fours are under 400 yards – two of them under 300. Thus the course can be tackled in many different ways, making it a venue that players want to come back to again and again in search of the perfect way to get round.

The gently undulating typography of the course also creates some interesting

olfers who enjoy a bit of post-match pampering should check in to the Best Western Dartmouth Hotel, Golf & Spa in Devon, which boasts a new £850,000 spa facility where a number of relaxing treatments are available for weary limbs.

Following a major renovation, the spa boasts an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and fully-equipped gym. The spa also includes three treatment rooms, a dual treatment room for couples, manicure and pedicure areas and relaxation room.

Among the new treatments on offer is the unique Rasul experience renowned for its detoxifying properties – that involves specially formulated muds, infused steams and a dedicated Rasul bathing chamber.

Away from the spa, the 18-hole Championship Course is designed to challenge the most proficient golfer, with strategic positioning of tees, meandering streams, 12 water features, and undulating greens. An additional nine-hole layout, the Dartmouth course, is built to the same high standards as its sister course. Measuring 2,252 yards, with a par of 33, it is guaranteed to test players while they enjoy a more relaxed round.

Weekday golf breaks during September, comprising two night’s accommodation, three rounds of golf, a three-course evening meal and breakfast the following morning, cost from just £185pp, while the same package at the weekend costs £215.

Situated in 225 acres of south Devon countryside, just outside the beautiful town of Dartmouth, the three-star resort offers a variety of accommodation split between luxury self-catering cottages and a 35-bedroom hotel, which also offers an excellent restaurant, the Bar & Bistro.

For bookings, call 01803 712686 or visit www.dgcc.co.uk.

changes in elevation, with several shots to raised greens, and ones many yards below your feet, demanding imagination and creativity in equal measure. While it’s an enjoyable walk, there are plenty of buggies available for those that are happier travelling on four wheels.

Selsdon Park also offers one of the finest 19th holes in the country, where golfers are treated to luxurious surroundings. Golfers can chose from the informality of the Tempus bar, to the ‘old world’ comfort of the wood-panelled lounge. More formal gatherings will also enjoy the elegant Cedar

restaurant, where a comprehensive a la carte menu can be enjoyed while overlooking the estate.

The hotel offers a range midweek and weekend residential golf packages, with one-night breaks, with two rounds of golf and a three-course dinner, starting from £99.

For bookings, call 020 8768 3116 or visit www.selsdonparkcroydon.co.uk.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TRAVEL | JULY 2016 [63]

ME&MYTRAVELS

Former England rugby captain and World Cup winner MIKE TINDALL found retired life difficult to adapt to – but now he’s swapped the scrum-cap for a handicap and focussed his sporting attention on improving his golf game

My most recent holiday was to…somewhere away up north.

Zara was competing so we were in a horse box most of the time…If Zara gets selected for Team GB, then I’ll definitely be going to Rio – so I guess it’s just a case of watch this space and see whether she gets picked or not.

My favourite golf course is…Old Head in Kinsale. I was lucky enough to play it a couple of weekends ago.

You stand on the tee, and it’s on its own little peninsula at the bottom of Ireland, and every hole is just beautiful. When the wind picks up it’s a real challenge, and when it’s sunny and beautiful it’s just an incredible four hours of playing – it was a fantastic experience.

My most memorable round ever was at…Celtic Manor last year.

We always play in the Celebrity Cup, which comes up in July, and that’s always great fun. It’s Home Nations – so it’s England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – and we go toe-to-toe.

I do have a sort of English outfit, so if I’m ever playing any of my Irish or

Scottish friends, or any of the Home Nations, I’ll always put on my red trousers and white jumper, so I look like the St George’s flag, just so they know. The Celebrity Cup is when the red and the white comes out.

My favourite golf resort is…

The Belfry, where we’re doing the ISPS Handa Celebrity Golf Classic, is great. I played it a long, long time ago, not long after the Ryder Cup was there years ago. They used to have a Benson & Hedges Open there – that was one of my first Pro-Ams, and it was quite nerve-wracking teeing off.

You think you’ll be all right teeing off in front of people, but when there’s 200 people and you’re playing off 18, and there’s a good chance you’re going to injure someone, it becomes very nerve-wracking! I’ve played it a couple of times this years as well; they’ve just completed a major renovation project, and they’ve just specced it up so much – it’s a great place. There’s so much history around it as well, with the Brabazon course and the Ryder Cups, and hopefully we’ll have a good day up there.

■ THE BELFRY

■ THE OLD HEAD OF KINSALE GOLF LINKS

I always travel with… music.

When I was with England I had the honour of being in control of music so I was always up to date, and I always needed to be carrying the best speakers.

Sydney, that’s a nice fish restaurant – just a very old fish and chip shop.

During the World Cup we stayed at the Manly Beach Pacific. That’s got some great memories after what we achieved down there.

My favourite city in the world is… Sydney. We’ve been there a few

My worst holiday experience was…It’s difficult, because when you

times since I’ve retired, and we’ve got friends over there, so it’s made it a bit more special. I really like Brisbane as well, and Melbourne, and Perth actually; I think Australia was one of the places we toured the most, and it was always my favourite place to play.

go abroad with a rugby tour you get a very skewed perception of cities.

You’re there to do a job so it’s really just a lot of rugby pitches and hotel lobbies, you don’t really get out and about much.

I’m planning a golf trip to…

My most memorable holiday meal was at… Ribs and Rum, which is in Manly, is one of my favourite restaurants too; we used to go a lot with the England squad. They used to do a ‘Meat Challenge’ that some of the boys would take on. Doyle’s in

I haven’t done that much golfing abroad since I retired, but the plan is to go on a few more and play a few more courses abroad and experience a bit more what’s out there, so that’s definitely in the pipeline. The big problem with me is that I play a lot

throughout the summer, and then the rugby season comes around and I end up doing a load of bits and pieces and then you let it slide a bit.

You probably get to your handicap and start improving by the end of summer, and then you don’t get to play for a long time, and it's back to square one. That’s the challenge: to be a 12-months-of-the-year golfer and keep working on it.

My top golf tip is… to buy an electric trolley. I've just bought my first one, which makes me feel really old. I got it because moving forward I think it’s really easier just to walk rather than carry my stuff around. There’s a competition at Minchinhampton called the Tom Long, which is three courses in a day, and I thought that using a power trolleywould be easier. Playing 54 holes can leave you a bit sore!

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