Golf October
Golf
Tournaments
2012 Andalucia Masters Cancelled
The European Tour regrets to announce that the 2012 Andalucía Masters, due to be played at the Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, on October 18 - 21, will now be cancelled. The Junta de Andalucía confirmed this decision by letter, and also announced by a press release on Monday September 10. Despite discussions with the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, and a formal legal agreement with the Junta de Andalucía, the tournament, won in 2011 by Sergio García, will not take place.
Pro Am Sunday 14th October L ocal C El Higueral, Benahavís. omp 10am shotgun start. Format: Pro - 3 Ams. 2 best stableford scores to count! Entry fee: €45 each (buggy not included) Enter individually or as a team of 3 Ams. A pro will be allocated to you.
Jo in
Contact Bradley Smith on: 600 345 882 or email: Bradleygolf882@yahoo.com 14
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
in!
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St. Andrews 4th - 7th Oct
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship held at St Andrews is sure to be a great tournament with a strong field including no fewer than 11 Major champions. Scotland’s top golfer Paul Lawrie and England’s world No. 4, Lee Westwood, lead the home challenge for this years Championship.
PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda 22nd - 24th October 2012 With reigning PGA Champion Rory McIlroy unable to attend due to a prior commitment, 2011 PGA and PGA Grand Slam of Golf champion, Keegan Bradley, will join Masters champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, and Open Champion Ernie Els in golf’s most exclusive foursome.
2012 sees a new tournament on the European Tour - The BMW Masters. It is to be played at Lake Malaren Golf Club, in Luodian, Shanghai, China. Last year’s event here was called Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters and had a small field consisting of 30 top players from the European Tour and the Asian Tour. The winner received a cheque of US$2 million, the largest first prize in golf, coming from a overall prize fund of 5 million dollars. This year, the field will be expanded to 78 players and the purse will be increased to US$7 million. Rory Mcilroy will sure to be the Major attraction, but will Justin Rose manage to beat the Irishman?
BMW Masters, Lake Malaren Golf Club, Shanghai 25th - 28th October
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
15
DECEMBER 14, 2011. ÁLVARO QUIRÓS DRIVES 310 YARDS ACROSS THE FOUNTAINS OF BELLAGIO IN LAS VEGAS. CALLAWAYGOLF.COM SCAN CODE FOR MORE
SIMPLE ADJUSTABILITY THAT MATTERS.
INTRODUCING THE
™
Built from the most advanced materials in the world, it’s the first driver to incorporate meaningful adjustability without sacrificing performance. Which at Callaway, is one feature we’ve never been willing to compromise.
16
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
© 2012 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, Callaway Golf, the Chevron Device and RAZR Fit are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Golf Digest and the Hot List logo are the property of Conde Naste Publications. 110391
Which ball is for you?
I’m often amazed at how many golfers don’t know which type of ball is best for them. I hear so many people saying “I can only play with ProV1’s” or “I only use Callaway Blacks”. That’s crazy as 90% of players are using a ball that will not help them get the most out of their game! Let’s examine the types of ball on the market and what they are designed to do.
The Professional Tournament Ball Titleist ProV1 and ProV1X, Callaway Hex Black, Callaway Hex Chrome, Bridgestone B330, Srixon Z Star, Taylor Made Penta TP5, Nike One Tour. These balls are designed to be used under tournament conditions when there are firm running fairways and firm to hard greens (running at 8 or more on a stimp meter). Now how many courses, especially here on the coast, are in that condition? Three or four at the very most. So if you play with a ball that isn’t the longest and spins much more, well this is not going to help your game. Here on the coast you need a ball that flies further, doesn’t spin as much (not necessary on soft greens) and is a little livelier around the green when chipping and putting.
So what fits the bill? Well there’s a really good choice out there. There’s the Titleist NXT, Callaway Diablo Tour, TaylorMade Rocketball Z or Burner and the Srixon Distance. For the ladies or seniors who need a little extra distance, a harder ball is needed. There is the Pinnacle, Top Flite and Callaway Warbird, all these will definitely give you the maximum distance.
So whatever your standard of golf, choose a ball that will help you in the general conditions that you are playing in at the time, and take into account the standard you are able to play at.
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
17
Chipping from close to the green 1
Use the reverse overlap putting grip, don’t strangle the grip. Too much pressure will reduce feel.
2
Here is a simple way to make consistent chips without hours of practice.
Set up with ball position slightly back, hands forward and weight favouring the left side.
Make a nice easy smooth backswing.
! a i v i r T Golf
Tiger Woods snagged his first ace at the tender age of eight years old.
Balls travel significantly further on hot days. A golfer swinging a club at around 100 mph will carry the driver up to eight yards longer for each increase in air temperature of 25°F. The largest bunker in the world is Hell’s Half Acre on the 585-yard 7th hole of the Pine Valley Course in New Jersey.
18
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
Then make a smooth swing-through swing. Don’t force it or stab at it!
Golf Trivia!
3
For longer running shots use the same set up and action, just a longer club.
The first golf balls were made of thin leather stuffed with feathers. Tightlypacked feathers made balls that flew the farthest. Feather balls were used until 1848.
Important with short game is to stay still and down longer.
4
Even with a much longer club, the action stays the same.
Follow through nice and smooth. The reverse grip will stop you flicking the wrists.
Again, stay down. As Arnold Palmer said, “Don’t look up too soon, you might not like what you see!”
This simple method only requires you to decide which club to use. I base my decision purely on how far on the green the flag is. For example, if only a couple of metres on, then I use a Sandwedge; 5 metres, a Pitching Wedge; 10 metres, an 8-iron; and longer, a 6-iron. This will vary depending on the speed of the greens, but it is far simpler to use the same technique and change club, than use one club and take bigger swings.
Bradley Smith A PGA qualified professional for 36 years. Qualified for the senior open championship at Carnoustie 2010. Available for individual, group and playing lessons.
Email: Bradleygolf882@yahoo.com Mobile: 0034 600 345 882
menslifestylespain.com october 2012
19