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Lancashire Local. Issue 29. Page 1.
Welcome to the
Lancashire Local’s
“Your Golf Guide” Within our Golfing Guide we aim to provide stimulating yet also valuable information for our readers. We have sought out the most up-to-date and insightful stories for our readers to enjoy whilst providing more in depth information on certain clubs and the services they provide. Regardless of whether you deem yourself as an experienced golfer or somewhat of an amateur… This is the guide for you! The North West of England is considered a golfing heaven by many, with perhaps one of the highest concentration of top quality links golf courses in the world. There are no less than 15 classic links courses within any given area, all of which span no more than an hour's drive - and there are three Open Championship venues within each of these.
New trophy lets club golfers
‘Chase Their Dreams’ Club golfers will get the chance to chase their dreams this to connect thousands of club golfers with Bridgestone’s season – and could win a place in a European Tour Pro- golf sponsorships throughout 2017” Am, thanks to a partnership between Bridgestone Tyres and England Golf. Rory Colville, Championship Director of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, endorsed the partnership, The Bridgestone Chase your Dream Trophy, which is saying “This is a great opportunity for regular club golfers being played for the first time in 2017, will be an annual to graduate to mix with the leading lights of the Tour. We event open to members of England Golf’s 1900 affiliated look forward to seeing England Golf’s qualifying players clubs. It features separate competitions for men and reaching the final stages at the Bridgestone Challenge and women to discover the country’s top handicap golfers of ultimately the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports the year. at Close House”. It will take them on a golfing adventure with nine men and nine women qualifying to play in the Pro-Am at the Bridgestone Challenge on the European Challenge Tour, followed by a dream outing with a top Tour player at the Pro-Am of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. England Golf’s Chief Executive Nick Pink commented: “We are delighted to partner with Bridgestone and join their campaign to inspire new golfers and put existing players at the heart of the grassroots game.” Bridgestone’s Consumer Sales & Marketing Director, Farrell Dolan, said “Joining forces with England Golf is the perfect way
Last season, England Golf and Bridgestone worked together to run the Driveguard Trophy for club golfers and made a dream come true for South West players Zack Rosen, Carl Broomfield and Peter Carr. The trio qualified to play alongside Dylan Frittelli in the pro-am of the Bridgestone Challenge at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire. They were victorious on the day and then found themselves as guests of Bridgestone at the British Zack Rosen said: “As a club golfer, you can only ever Masters supported by Sky Sports, at The Grove, playing dream of the experiences that we’ve had, and that’s down to Bridgestone. To win the DriveGuard Trophy was alongside 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell. special enough, but to play on some of the courses during the process was something to remember forever. And of course, the round of golf with Graeme McDowell was the icing on the cake.” The Bridgestone Chase Your Dream Trophy will replace the women’s Grand Medal and the men’s Gold Medal competitions. Each year the club players who had the best medal scores of the previous season will qualify for regional finals, where the leaders will go forward to men's and women's national finals. So, the stakes are high in 2017 club medals!
Here you will find a mass of information that endeavours to assist in the process of finding the best suited golf club for you. We have six featured golf clubs that are located nearby which we believe showcase true golfing values. These features help the clubs to display their courses, products, and any other services they may provide. Likewise, we have each of the club’s current membership offers in order to help find the best suited deals for you. Ensure you check out our map of the North West on page 10 to see the exact locations of our featured clubs! There are, of course, also many other top quality inland golf clubs also presenting with excellent facilities with a variety of course styles and membership prices. A directory has also been compiled within our guide to help you find these other clubs, of which contains the name and contact details for every golf club within the North West and North Wales area. The North West is sure to provide you and your golfing friends with the kind of golfing experience you are looking for. For those readers who find themselves already established and content within a golf club, we have also included entertaining stories for a pleasant read. Find out more about Tiger Woods’ trip to Dubai on page 3. Club golfers can also get the chance to chase their dreams this season – and could win a place in a European Tour ProAm, thanks to a partnership between Bridgestone Tyres and England Golf.! By Jemma Fisher
This year’s grande finale will take place in England Golf Week at Woodhall Spa in August. There, the players will be the overnight guests of England Golf and be treated to the full championship experience. The individual winners will be England’s handicap golfers of the year and the top nine players at each final will play in the Pro-Am at the Bridgestone Challenge on 6 September. The most successful team there will play in the Pro-Am at The British Masters supported by Sky Sports, at Close House Golf Club, Northumberland, on Wednesday 27 September.
Graeme McDowell with the winners of Bridgestone’s 2016 amateur golf tournament, from left, Peter Carr, Carl Broomfield and Zack Rosen.
Bridgestone is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company and all players in the Chase Your Dream Trophies will have the opportunity to receive tyre offers from Bridgestone as well as additional opportunities to win golf tickets and hospitality prizes.
Gleneagles named as official supporter of Glasgow 2018 European Championships
Gleneagles, the world-renowned luxury hotel, has today been unveiled as an Official Supporter of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships – an exciting new multi-sport event that will see Gleneagles make golfing history as host of the first ever European Golf Team Championships. To be staged every four years, the European Championships will combine the existing European Championships of Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon. The first edition will be held in 2018 in a unique sporting partnership between Host Cities Glasgow and Berlin. The European Golf Team Championships is the only new event being staged as part of Glasgow 2018 and will take place at the famous Jack Nicklaus-designed Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course – the same venue that hosted Europe’s memorable victory over the USA in the 2014 Ryder Cup. The Championships promise to be a game changing moment for golf, with Europe’s elite men and
women set to compete together for the first time. It is backed by the European Tour and Ladies European Tour and will include a men’s and women’s event along with a groundbreaking mixed competition. Host Venue and Official Supporter Gleneagles is home to some of the best golf facilities in the world including three championship courses and the PGA National Golf Academy. Gleneagles is a former long-standing European Tour and Ladies European Tour venue and has unrivalled experience of hosting international events such as The Ryder Cup. The European Golf Team Championships will also build on Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage for major events such as The Open, Scottish Open and Women’s British Open as well as major one-off events like The Ryder Cup and The Solheim Cup. Aileen Campbell MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Sport, said: “Gleneagles has staged many prestigious golf tournaments through its history and was the home to what many regard as the best Ryder Cup ever in 2014. In 2018 Gleneagles
will be the magnificent setting for European Championships and will see elite men and women golfers compete together for the first time. “In 2014 the Ryder Cup players spoke about the top class facilities, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd and left with good memories and we know it will be the same for those taking part in the inaugural European Championships in 2018.” Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The European Championships will be a new highlight on the global sporting calendar, set to be played out in front of a potential television audience of up to one billion people. “Gleneagles is a world leader when it comes to golf and we are delighted that they will play such a crucial role in the delivery of the new European Golf Team Championships, which will be a real first for world sport. “Glasgow is the gateway to Scotland and partnerships such as this with Gleneagles will help us bring one million more people to the city as part of Glasgow’s Tourism and Visitor Plan to 2023.” Bernard Murphy, Gleneagles’ Managing Director, said:
“We’re proud to be associated with what will be a groundbreaking moment in sporting history. The event will build on Gleneagles’ long history of raising the bar in golf and breaking cultural boundaries in sport – including the first match between British and American professionals in 1921. “We look forward to continuing that tradition at the European Golf Team Championships, when Europe’s leading men and women compete together for the first time, in what will be a real historic moment for the sport. “We are therefore delighted to be announced as an Official Supporter of Glasgow 2018, and look forward to delivering an inspiring event that will strengthen Gleneagles’ reputation as one of the foremost golfing venues in the world.” Attendances across Glasgow 2018 are expected to be in the region of 250,000 with registration for priority access to tickets currently available at www. glasgow2018.com for all sports including golf. As part of the inaugural European Championships in 2018 around 3,000 athletes will visit Scotland for six events (Aquatics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon) while a further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin as part of the European Athletics Championships.
Dubai commits to the
future growth of golf
A new entity called Falcon Golf has been established to work with Dubai’s golf stakeholders locally and internationally to maximise long-term benefits for the emirate. Dubai’s commitment to golf has been underlined through the establishment of a new entity which will serve to optimise the benefits the sport brings to the emirate.
Falcon Golf will convene all relevant parties in the industry to enhance Dubai’s golf efforts – including driving greater golf tourism, using the sport as a platform to tell Dubai’s story in overseas markets, promoting grass roots participation and managing the successful hosting of tournaments. The organisation will be Chaired by Peter Dawson, former Chief Executive of The R&A and former Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. It will work to increase knowledge about Dubai through the lens of golf, as well as boost Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s leading golf destinations. Commenting on his appointment and the establishment of Falcon Golf, Mr Dawson said: “Dubai has a fantastic golf offering and, combined with the emirate’s forwardthinking approach, I believe there is a real opportunity to develop it further. It is a sporting partnership that, over the years, has not only contributed to the growth of Dubai, but also to the global growth and popularity of the game. I am delighted to have been chosen for this special role and motivated by the exciting challenge ahead. Dubai’s investment in its golfing credentials, including its relationship with the European Tour, has proved to be very successful and I look forward to working with all of our stakeholders as we look to the future.” His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, said: “Dubai has long recognised the potential of both golf’s contribution to the sport economy and the platform it provides to tell our story to the world. The entity will bring together the emirate’s fantastic golf assets and ensure that these continue to deliver for Dubai. This is great news for the continued development of the game in this part of the world. With world-class facilities and courses, a number of professional golfers calling Dubai home, including Rory McIlroy and Rafael Cabrera Bello, as well as new courses coming to the market, we see a clear opportunity for future growth.” Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation, said: “Golf has been played in the UAE for more than 40 years. In Dubai, as recently highlighted in a Deloitte report, it has grown into an industry worth $270 million. In Falcon Golf, we now
have an entity that is responsible for the growth of the game.” Falcon Golf will manage Dubai's involvement with the Race to Dubai, a season-long competition on the European Tour which celebrates both the diversity and shared passion for golf in 26 countries across the globe. The world’s best golfers accumulate Race to Dubai ranking points as they compete across four continents, earning a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November 2017, when the European Tour’s Number One player will be crowned. This season’s Race to Dubai is well under way, showcasing a new ‘look’ that incorporates Dubai’s official brand logo.
Management of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic will transfer to Falcon Golf from April 1st 2017. Mohamed Juma Buamim will become Honorary President of the tournaments and continue to impart his knowledge and expertise that has led to the successful hosting of these two events, while golf in DUBAi – under a new name – will continue to oversee the MENA Golf Tour and tee-time booking platform Golf Citizen.
and its golf offering and I am excited to see the industry being convened in this way. I am honoured to have been able to contribute to the success of Dubai’s growth through golf over the last two decades and look forward to my continued involvement, guiding the success of the two tournaments that are so close to my heart.”
Peter Dawson added: “Mohamed Juma Buamim and the team at golf in DUBAi have done an outstanding Commenting on Dubai’s renewed commitments to golf, job and I look forward to building on the strong Buamim said: “These are very energising times for Dubai foundations they have laid.”
Golf Greats Jacobsen, McDowell,
Tiger Woods at the Burj Al Arab
Sorenstam and Strange to host 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Getty Images for Falcon ©
Four of golf’s most recognizable players will help lead Arnold Palmer’s namesake tournament this year, ensuring his life is honored and his legacy continued. Peter Jacobsen, Graeme McDowell, Annika Sörenstam and Curtis Strange will join former Secretary of Homeland Security and family friend Tom Ridge to host the 39th Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, taking place in Orlando March 13-19. “Arnold was a force of nature, on and off the course,” said McDowell. “We can’t fill his shoes but we can carry on his passion for helping others. I live with my family in Orlando and my children were born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, so I've been a direct beneficiary of Arnold's charitable legacy. I’m honored to be part of such a remarkable event.” As hosts, the group will step into traditional roles held by Palmer throughout the tournament — greeting players and guests, hosting Pro-Am parties and helping to present the championship trophy on Sunday. They will also take part in new events planned to honor Palmer’s legacy, including a special ceremony to mark the start of the tournament on Wednesday, March 15. In addition
to announcing its new hosts, tournament officials today also shared plans to add all-new photo spots and signage throughout the course. Each spot will tell a different story about Palmer’s many accomplishments and his far-reaching influence. Each day of tournament play, Palmer’s iconic golf cart and clubs will be on display overlooking the 16th green, where Palmer most frequently watched the game and greeted players and fans. Guests can also expect a bigger emphasis on Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation, Palmer’s philanthropic organization. All proceeds from the tournament support the foundation. “Part of my dad’s legacy was to inspire others to care about things he thought were important,” said Palmer’s daughter Amy Saunders, chairman of Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. “With the help of his many friends, fans and followers, we intend to keep that light shining brightly.” For more information or event tickets, visit www. arnoldpalmerinvitational.com.
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Lancashire Local. Issue 29. Page 9.
La Manga Club added to
Top European line-up
Offering the chance to play some of the world’s top golf courses, the European Amateur Golf Tour (EAGT) is a must for any serious golfer, and the tour continues to go from strength to strength after adding Spain’s five-star La Manga Club to its list of venues.
The famous resort in Murcia, south-east Spain, has joined the likes of Royal Birkdale – venue for this summer’s Open Championship – Pebble Beach, Sawgrass, Carnoustie, Sunningdale and Woburn on the EAGT’s impressive tournament schedule for 2017. Boasting three 18-hole golf courses, a nine-hole academy course and outstanding practice facilities, La Manga Club is a firm favourite with golfers across Europe, making it the perfect setting for any professional or amateur event. Taking place from November 17-20, the four-day EAGT programme costs £694 per person and includes four rounds of golf – two rounds on the resort’s North Course and two on its South Course, the host venue for five Spanish Opens and numerous other high-profile tournaments. Open to all male and female golf club members with an active CONGU handicap, the event will be scored on an individual Stableford points basis with competitors playing off their full handicaps. As well as golf, players will enjoy three nights’ bedand-breakfast accommodation in the five-star Hotel Principe Felipe and complimentary access to the facilities at the luxury Spa La Manga Club, plus the opportunity to experience La Manga Club’s array of other sports and leisure amenities, including a choice of 20 bars and restaurants. Launched in 1997, the EAGT is now established as the most popular amateur golf tour in Europe. Starting in April, it will feature 90 events at 30-
plus world-class golfing venues throughout 2017, with experience some of the most exclusive courses in Europe each event contributing to an overall Order of Merit table. and North America including Les Bordes in France, Whistling Straits – venue for the 2020 Ryder Cup – and As well as featuring many of the UK’s top golfing Erin Hills, which will stage the US Open for the first time venues, the tour also offers gives amateurs the chance to in June.
For more information on the EAGT and each event, go to www.eagt.co.uk, call 0845 4662222 or email info@gmmltd.co.uk For further details about La Manga Club and to book, go to www.lamangaclub.com
Prime date to display Fiji at its finest
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism together with PGA of Australia announced the dates for 2017 Fiji International. The tournament dates are from 17-20 August 2017 at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course the Fiji International will be staged during Fiji’s tourism peak season. The August 2017 date is anticipated to attract some of the best players in the world to the tropical destination. “The Fiji International showcases Fiji to the world, so we want the world to see Fiji at its finest and what better time than in August,” said Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism. “We hope that the allure of Fiji in August along with a prime
position in the world, golf schedule will again ensure a quality field of Professionals competing in the fourth edition of the Fiji International.” “We also look forward to welcoming holiday makers to experience the Fiji International, which is Fiji’s biggest and most prestigious sporting event. Fiji international has over the past three tournaments attracted a large number of visitors to our shores, who are interested in golf. In fact our visitor numbers during the tournament month (October 2016) saw an increase in arrivals by 6.5% (or 73,595), proving that Fiji has grown as a golfing destination since the inaugural Fiji International,” added the Hon. Minister. The move to August will see the Fiji International, which is co-sanctioned by the
European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, played in a less congested part of the global golf schedule which will help the event secure another strong field. “Now that the Fiji International is on the European Tour schedule we took a more global approach to scheduling,” said Peter O’Malley, Chairman of the PGA of Australia. “We believe the August date will better enable some of the leading European Tour players to include the Fiji International on their playing schedules.” “The three stagings of the Fiji International have produced excellent champions in Steven Jeffress (2014), World Number 20 Matt Kuchar (2015) and World Number 27 Brandt Snedeker (2016) and we are looking forward to seeing
who will emerge the champion in August 2017.” The 2017 Fiji International will also be the first time Vijay Singh’s redeveloped holes 1-6, 8, 9 and 11 -16 at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course will be played by the Professionals. “The date of the Fiji International will coincide with the reopening of Natadola Bay Golf Course following the changes currently being made under the design of Fijian Golf legend, Vijay Singh,” said Basil Scaffidi, Managing Director of SEL, the promoter of the Fiji International. About the Fiji International To be held from 17-20 August the Fiji International will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course which boasts breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and is home
to the Natadola Beach Land Estate. Enticed by the tropical destination, the Fiji International has attracted some of the world’s best golfers since its inaugural staging in 2014 including Fijian hero and three time Major champion Vijay Singh, 2016 champion Brandt Snedeker, 2015 champion Matt Kuchar, Steven Bowditch, Boo Weekley, Nick Price, Robert Allenby, Heath Slocum, Liang Wenchong, and Anirban Lahiri. In 2017, the Fiji International continues to have a global presence confirming its position as an integral tournament in the South Pacific region, with the tournament being co-sanctioned by the European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. A Pacific paradise, the Fiji International also boasts some
of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 4th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach. More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji. The Fiji International is proudly supported by the Fijian Government, Tourism Fiji and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa as the official resort of the tournament until 2017.
The Smurfit Course undergoes major renovation programme
The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare in Ireland is well known for its championship golf courses, both of which were designed by the legend and ‘King of Golf’, Mr. Arnold Palmer. The resort famously hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006 and has set the scene for some of golf’s most exciting moments, many of which happened on the Arnold Palmer designed Smurfit Course. Who could forget the excitement of the 2004 Smurfit European Open when Retief Goosen went on to win just two weeks after taking his second US Open title? Or the closing stages of the 2007 Smurfit European Open, when Colin Montgomerie finally ended his 18-month drought without a trophy and somehow stayed out of the water on the 18th to win the 2007 European Open by just one shot?
This inland inspired course is situated to the south of the River Liffey which flows through the 550-acre estate course and boldly faces its sister to the north, the Arnold Palmer designed Ryder Cup Course. While the Ryder Cup Course is generally described as a mature parkland course, the Smurfit Course is distinctly different. A combination of doglegs skirt the water’s edge on the 5th
and 6th holes leading up to the breath taking signature hole, the almighty 7th. The magnetic feature of this hole is the ‘Swallow Quarry’, a vast man made rock face that rises some 60 feet out of a glorious lake. A series of waterfalls cascade the water hazard but its beauty belies its treachery and players are well advised to admire the view from the centre of the fairway! The course has recently undergone a substantial rejuvenation programme in order to make it sharper, fresher and more challenging. Course Superintendent, Gerry Byrne and his team have been busy and the refresh of the golf course was just the third phase in a reinvestment programme that has seen over €20 million being spent on the famous Kildare resort. The full reinvestment programme commenced when Sir Michael Smurfit became the sole owner of the resort and started to put money into all aspects of the property in order to firmly place it as one of the most exciting resorts in Europe. Stage one involved resurfacing the full entrance avenue, the refreshing of public areas in the hotel and the laying of new, handmade Connemara carpets. New tennis courts were also constructed and a new, Thai Restaurant now enhances the Smurfit Clubhouse. Stage two got
under way two years ago, involving the construction of 70 new hotel bedrooms, comprising the Liffey Wing of the Five AA Red Star hotel, along with a new hotel bar, the Media Puzzle Lounge and the extensive renovation of bedrooms in the original wing.
Most of the work on the Smurfit Course was completed in late 2016 and was done after the team finished working on the Ryder Cup Course which was the venue for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in May 2016. For Gerry and his team the work represented a great challenge, coming as it did nine years after the last European Open and 10 years since the resort staged the Ryder Cup. Work began in earnest on the Smurfit course when more than 3,000 metres of drains were laid. Then came extensive sanding, the fairways were re-seeded and top-dressed with 1,000 tonnes of sand, hauled from a pit in Wexford in Southern Ireland. And one application wasn’t considered sufficient, rather there were as many as three in a year. The plan is for this sand treatment to become part of the course-maintenance programme from
now on. Meanwhile, various lakes throughout the course had become heavily overgrown and needed to be cut back. Little landing areas for fishing were also created and all the lakes were restocked. “Our aim here is to present premium playing surfaces with attention to all the key details,” said Gerry Byrne. “I believe the drainage upgrade will help us create those surfaces. That, and nearly two tonnes of seed onto our fairways should gradually deliver the lush, uniform look that we desire.” Director of Golf at The K Club Sharon Smurfit said that the work on the course has been very successful and was warmly welcomed by the members and guests. “Work never stops here, it can’t. We must continually strive for excellence – an attribute that The K Club is well known for. New course furniture and signage will also be put in place this summer and various upgrades are due to take place in the Smurfit Clubhouse later in the year.” For more information on The K Club see www.kclub.ie or call 353 (0) 1 6017200
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