8 minute read
Green days
Inspired by the stars GREEN DAYS
Our luxe guide to golf days, overnight stays and local praise...
Summer saw Close House host the British Masters on the Lee Westwood Colt course, the first European Tour event since the COVID pandemic. Sally HintonLewis gives us an insider update...
The event was held behind closed doors with no spectators and strict guidelines were in place to ensure the bubble was maintained for the safety of the players and staff.
I was lucky enough to be allowed inside-the-ropes access at the Academy. The week had a very different feel to what it did in 2017, but it was still very exciting to be a part of it.
It was great to see the players up close warming up before their rounds and practicing afterwards. I was amazed at the smooth tempo of their swings. This is something that regularly comes up in coaching as club players wrongly believe a faster swing speed will guarantee more distance or that you should speed up in the downswing. Both of these generally lead to a deterioration in the quality of the strike and a resulting loss of distance.
Another observation I made was the fantastic quality of the player’s short games. They spent as much time around the green as they did hitting balls. This is another mistake club golfers often make. An overemphasis on long game practice, therefore neglecting the short game. At least 50% of practice should be on short game- pitching, chipping, putting and bunker play.
It was a great week, congratulations to Renato Paratore who won the event and to The European Tour and Close House for putting on a fantastic event.
BEAUTIFUL BREAKS >>
Big things are happening over at Aldwark Manor, a golf, spa and hotel estate nestled in the North Yorkshire countryside between Harrogate and York. The lockdown period gave the estate owners a chance to get ahead of the game, completing a major transformation to the hotel and its first-class facilities. With everything from a gorgeous Secret Garden including a stunning wedding pavilion and a glorious walled garden, to elegant new bedrooms, an indoor-outdoor atrium restaurant and sparkling new health and wellness facilities, its new look makes it an unrivalled destination for golf, wellness and staycations. Backed with a vibrant new a la carte menu featuring some of the finest Yorkshire produce, there’s never been a better time to book a luxe golf break close to home. Golfers of all abilities will be blown away by the facilities here. Think rolling Yorkshire countryside, natural hazards including the winding River Ure, a short game area and two dining options for pre and post-round refreshments. Whether it’s a couples getaway, a family staycation, or a golf break with friends, the historic manor house and grounds, having had a stunning contemporary makeover, is the ultimate place to relax, unwind and enjoy some of the best golf in the region.
aldwarkmanorhotel.co.uk
Kit list >>
LULULEMON >> Days Shade Ball Cap £35, lululemon.co.uk
BOGNER SPORT >> Florin Functional Shirt in White £90, bogner.com
LULULEMON >> Tech Pique Polo £68, lululemon.co.uk NIKE GOLF >> Therma Half-Zip Fleece Hoodie £75, mrporter.com
EYES ON THE PRIZE >>
CLUB CHAMPION Huge congratulations to Shannon O’Dwyer, who lifted the club championship trophy at Wynyard Golf Club at the end of the summer season. Scoring a round of 67, Shannon became the club’s first ever female champion. Way to go! wynyardgolfclub.co.uk A DOUBLE WIN There were big celebrations at Rockliffe Hall Golf in September as two of the club’s familiar faces came away with a win following the North East & North West Professional Golfers’ Association competitions at Ramside Hall. Head of Instruction, Simon Robinson came away with the Matchplay Championship trophy and PGA Assistant Professional, James Maw topped the scoreboard for Assistants Championship. rockliffehall.com
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI >> Suede-Trimmed Burnished Full-Grain Leather Backpack £1,990, mrporter.com THE REAL MCCOY’S >> Mouton Collar Leather Vest £1,315, endclothing.com RED WING >> 1907 Classic 6” Moc Toe Copper Rough & Tough Leather Boot £299, commonilke.co.uk ORLEBAR BROWN >> James Bond Cotton and Linen-Blend Trousers £245, selfridges.com
MONCLER >> Retro Brown Sunglasses £240, aphrodite1994.com
JW ANDERSON >> Wool Overcoat, Camel £1,079, endclothing.com
MAN KIT Fall finds
Fall fashion invites luxe layers, warm hues and leather accessories
DRIES VAN NOTEN >> 3.5cm Leather Belt, Brown £190, mrporter.com
NORMAN COPENHAGEN >> Hyg Swivel Lounge Chair - Ultra Leather £2,350, amara.com
JAEGER LECOULTRE >> Master Ultra Thin Date 39mm 18ct Pink Gold Automatic Watch
£13,800, berrysjewellers.co.uk
Improving an icon
It is rare that a car designer gets the opportunity to improve upon one of their creations, let alone when that design is as recognisable as the Aston Martin Vanquish. Two decades after it was first penned, its revered designer, Ian Callum CBE, has retold the iconic model for today’s GT driver
“It’s the refresh the car always deserved,” says Ian Callum, Head of Design at eponymous design and engineering outfit, CALLUM. “It’s over 20 years since I first sketched the car, and during that time, materials and technologies have advanced significantly. We had to make certain choices back then due to restrictions, but now there are much greater possibilities. Together with quite a few more years of design experience under my belt, it’s meant we’ve been able to introduce new ideas along with some that just weren’t feasible when the car was first launched.” And that design experience hasn’t just been gleaned from anywhere; Callum spent two decades at Jaguar, creating the F-Type, F-PACE and the World Car of the Year Award-winning I-PACE, amongst many others. The result is the Aston Martin CALLUM Vanquish 25 by R-Reforged – a limited production run of just 25 cars. The CALLUM business and manufacturing partner, R-Reforged, has made over 350 engineering, material and design changes to update and upgrade the car’s form and function. “The icon lines of the Vanquish remain, but now they have been refined to create a sharper and more purposeful look,” explains Callum. “It’s wider, lower and has more presence on the road. It has a whole new lease of life; I feel that this is the ultimate Vanquish.” From an engineering perspective, the car sits 10mm lower, has a revised suspension setup that includes stiffer anti-roll bars, tuned dampers and custom springs that have sharpened the ride without being too stiff for Grand Touring. New custom forged 20” wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot tyres that deliver better steering accuracy, while 3D printed ducts feed air to the new carbon ceramic brake set up, that brings stopping power right up to date. In the beautifully detailed engine bay, the team has extracted more performance from the 5.9-litre V12 engine to deliver an extra 60bhp. Manual and fully automatic gearbox options are also available alongside the automated manual. The result is a GT that blends sports car performance with usability. “It can comfortably complete a thousandmile journey across Europe, but equally offers this rewarding, responsive and supple experience in a 20-minute run,” says Callum. “Compared to the original, the driving experience is transformed. Turn in, push on, or lean on the brakes, it’s got plenty in reserve.”
Inside, Callum is confident that owners will appreciate the significant improvements made. R-Reforged and CALLUM have partnered with British watch manufacturer, Bremont, to create the brand’s first automotive instrument cluster that sits in the central console. Bremont has also produced a removable mechanical pocket watch that can be used in and outside the car. For those enjoying the true purpose of the Vanquish – a long journey – Mulberry has created bespoke luggage at its Somerset Artisan Studio. This perfectly complements the interior of the Vanquish 25, which features the CALLUM abstract tartan design. With revisions to the seats, it now has a lower, more sculpted and cosseted driving position, complemented with a finer steering wheel and more tactile gear shifters. A revised centre console with new infotainment further enhances the driving experience. Elsewhere, Callum has also added playful design touches such as the fuel filler cap, which is embossed with ‘Thunder Road’, a nod to his love of music as a creative medium. “This car is an absolute delight to drive,” says Callum. “Alongside the aesthetic changes, the setup and driving feel have been transformed: it now feels composed, taut and sharp. This is a car you will just want to drive for the sheer pleasure.” Owners of the 25 limited edition models will get the opportunity to specify their Vanquish alongside Callum and his team.
But first, coffee
There’s one thing proven to drive you out of the house on a cold, dark morning, and it’s a good cup of coffee. Start the day right with Cuisinart’s effortlessly stylish Veloce Coffee Machine. Experience coffee shop quality in your own home. £600.
cuisinart.co.uk
