38 minute read
JENNY HENNESSY
Tiger made the game more inclusive
Growing up in Ireland fi ve hours ahead of US East Coast time, many Sunday nights were spectacles of golf on TV by the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods. Watching Tiger play was electric. From his confi dent stride up the fairways, wearing his intimidating red attire for the Sunday charge, to the emotion he displayed, and above all, hitting golf shots that were simply out of this world. Tiger had it all.
Last month Tiger Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the PGA Tour Headquarters in Florida. An emotional Woods accepted the award from his 14-year-old daughter, Sam. With Tiger Woods claiming 82 PGA Tour victories, and an astonishing total of 15 Major wins, he is without a doubt the greatest golfer of all time. Sam spoke about how proud she was of her father for constantly overcoming obstacles, she referred to him as a ‘fi ghter’. Both Tiger and Sam took some time in their respective speeches to talk about the obstacles and challenges Tiger has had to overcome as a minority in the sport. Thanks to role models like Tiger Woods, defying the odds every time and breaking down barriers in the sport, golf has become a much more inclusive and diverse sport and continues to evolve every day. I fi rst saw Tiger play at the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club at home in Ireland. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. As a young 13-year-old golfer with big dreams, this day out at The K Club was certainly one to remember. I attended the event with my Mum, Dad and older sister. The crowds were massive and the atmosphere electric. Getting my fi rst glimpse of him in the fl esh didn’t even seem real, it was a true ‘pinch me’ moment. The golfi ng hero who I had spent many Sunday nights cheering on behind a television screen was now there, right in front of my eyes. To me, he was a total rockstar and I was in complete awe of his presence!
Chasing Tiger
A few years later I got another glimpse of Tiger at the 2010 JP McManus Pro-Am held at Adare Manor. At this stage my younger brother, Jack, was probably the biggest Tiger Woods fan in Ireland, he couldn’t get close enough to Tiger and followed his every move around the course that day. I tried to keep up with him as he dashed along the fairways following his ‘hero’s’ every move, but I simply couldn’t keep up! Fast forward eight years, my most recent sighting of the star golfer was at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2018. Studying in the US at the time, I spent my spring break in Orlando with family. The morning was enjoyed with Mickey Mouse, lunchtime watching Tiger Woods and to end a perfect day, I spent the evening watching Rory McIlroy take the win at Bay Hill in true style, which ended his 18-month victory drought on Tour. Days like this I will simply never forget.
Tiger winning the 2019 Masters was a weekend to remember, his fi rst Major win in 11 years. Winning another Masters in front of his children meant so much to him. Many Tiger fans all over the world are sitting on the edge of their seats to see if he will announce himself to play in the upcoming Masters later this month. Playing in the PNC Championship with his 12-year-old son Charlie back in December was his fi rst and only appearance since his car accident, we are all hoping he will make his great return soon. Like all of us, Tiger has had some blips along the way, but his sheer grit and perseverance in all traces of life is hugely admirable. I know we haven’t seen the end of Tiger Woods, I can’t wait to see what his future holds, he is simply the greatest player of all time.
“One of the things my parents have taught me is never listen to other people’s expectations. You should live your own life and live up to your own expectations, and those are the only things I really care about.”- Tiger Woods
Swing easy!
POSTURE
BY DIVAN EHMKE
PGA PROFESSIONAL, MY GOLF DUBAI.
In part two of our back to basics series we’re going to look at the importance of having the correct posture. It’s an extremely important fundamental as if you don’t start with the correct posture, every single part of your swing will be aff ected.
First stand up nice and straight with your feet together. 2
Next, move your feet to shoulder width apart. 3
From this position take the golf club and hold it in front of you as shown in this picture.
WRONG POSTURE
4
This stage is crucial. From this position, bend over from the hips until the golf club touches the ground.
5
Finally, unlock your knees and you should be in a good golf posture.
Book a lesson at My Golf Dubai, the UAE’s fi rst luxury indoor golf and entertainment lounge, and we will assist with your every golfi ng need! Visit mygolfdubai.com, call +971 43863535 or email: info@mygolfdubai.com
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ELITE GOLF PROGRAM
NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT
The route from junior golf through to college student athlete is a road littered with constraints and obstacles. It can often be daunting to even know where to start, let alone build an effective profile to attract colleges and coaches.
Drawing from their years of experience helping students find their place in Universities such as Oklahoma State, Notre Dame and the University of Florida, The Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy has established the Elite Golf Program, in partnership with GEMS FirstPoint School.
The program aims to provide students with a first-class education and golf coaching program to holistically prepare them for collegiate and professional golf. The partnership provides a unique pathway for junior golfers, allowing them to gain qualifications both academically and vocationally without impacting on their training and coaching development. Students enrolled into the Elite Golf Program receive a first-class British education from internationally renowned provider GEMS Education, alongside world-class golf coaching at the prestigious Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy.
Balancing academic demands and a fulltime golf practice and competition schedule can place extreme pressure on students and can affect performance and progression if not managed properly. The Elite Golf Program aims to alleviate these constraints and build a bespoke academic and golf schedule that are holistically linked to facilitate a student’s progression.
HOW CAN THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM BE ALTERED TO FACILITATE GOLF PRACTICE?
GEMS FirstPoint School are a United Arab Emirates KHDA Rahhal 10X initiative school; this gives the school flexibility with a student’s timetable in order to focus on the development of specialist areas, including golf.
Elite Programme students’ timetable is a bespoke curriculum with each student having an “Individual Education Golf Plan” (IEGP) allowing them to be released during school time and attend daylight training and practice at The Claude Harmon III Performance Academy, without missing core subjects and lessons.
FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM
✔ A bespoke curriculum that is tailored to support success ✔ Pastoral care and support to ensure students are managing their schedules and maintaining excellence in both their golf and education ✔ Personalised timetable for each student enrolled in the programme ✔ A school that understands the pressures and demands in golf for elite performers ✔ Regular communication between the school and home regarding performance in school ✔ College application planning and support ✔ First class golf coaching from Claude Harmon III
Performance Golf Academy ✔ Fitness, strength and conditioning training in state-of-the-art facilities ✔ Mid-week golf membership ✔ Transport between the school and golf facility provided by STS Transport For years we have looked for an academic partner willing to facilitate our students’ growth outside of just the academic world and in GEMS FPS we have exactly that. The balancing act between managing progression within the world of elite sport and achieving the essential academic levels to get into top level colleges is one that is extremely important to get right and we are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our students.”
Jamie McConnell, CH3 Director of Instruction
All Elite Golf Program students also receive continuous support and CV building during the college preparation and application process.
ForeCollegeGolf (FCG) is a company that has supported a number of CH3 students in being recruited on University and college golf scholarships in the United States. All Elite Golf Programme students receive an initial 1-on-1 consultation with FCG with the aim of working together closely to build links with colleges, providing their golf profile and CV and also a personalised recruiting timeline. This relationship is unique to the region and provides direct links to college coaches and universities whilst adhering to the strict contact and recruitment legislation of the NCAA.
“We have been delighted with the success of the Elite Golf Program,” said CH3 Director of Instruction Jamie McConnell.
“For years we have looked for an academic partner willing to facilitate our students’ growth outside of just the academic world and in GEMS FPS we have exactly that. The balancing act between managing progression within the world of elite sport and achieving the essential academic levels to get into top level colleges is one that is extremely important to get right and we are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our students.”
To learn more about the Elite Golf Program or to see if you would qualify for a scholarship on the program please visit the below link for more information; www.ch3performancegolf.com/elite-golf-program or contact; mike@ch3performancegolf.com
GEAR
NEW TOUR TECHNOLOGY IN DUBAI
eGolf Megastore is devoted to providing an unparalleled level of club fi tting and building with the recent expansion of its largest store in the United Arab Emirates. This month the company has offi cially opened the expansion of its state-of-the-art club fi tting and building area in its Al Quoz store with an upscale and modern fi t-out. The expansion incorporates a new putting lab and two new club fi tting bays, both of which are powered by Trackman 4. This increases the total number of club-fi tting bays to four, to keep pace with the growing demand at its busiest store. Now doubled in size, the expanded fi tting area is now home to the fi rst and only SST PURE machine in the region.
About SST PURE
Over $2 billion has been made on the PGA Tour by players who have SST PUREd their shafts for consistency, accuracy and distance. The man responsible for making this technology available is Dick Weiss, a Florida businessman and clubmaker. The top expert club fi tters on the PGA Tour and around the world use SST PURE® Shaft Alignment to analyse and align their custom clubs and more and more are becoming licensed. On every major professional tour, the best golfers in the world rely on the ground-breaking SST PURE Shaft Alignment to make sure their golf clubs perform consistently.
WHAT IS SST PURE?
SST PURE shaft analysis is the highly sophisticated, USGA approved, patented process through which a golf shaft can be analysed and its most stable or ‘PURE’ position identifi ed and marked, before it is installed into the clubhead. By assembling the club with the shaft in the PUREd position, off-line twisting and bending during the golf swing and at impact are greatly minimised.
Since the USGA’s approval in 1999, the SST PURE alignment process has been used on every major professional tour by some of the best golfers in the world as they rely on the ground-breaking technology to make sure their golf clubs perform consistently. A SST PUREing machine is present at every tour event and the process is used by more than 75% of players on the PGA Tour, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickleson, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and more.
“For several years, we’d been acutely aware of the need to secure an SST PURE machine for the Middle East in order to provide golfers in the region with access to the benefi ts of this remarkable technology,” commented Dean Cheesley, Founding CEO of eGolf Megastore. “Generally speaking, the Middle East can lay claim to having access to the very best of everything golf-related but experiencing this rare piece of tour-level technology has eluded our local clubmakers and Middle East golfers until now. This was largely down to the strict vetting process of SST, who have a thorough selection process where fi tters and clubmakers have to showcase their continuous commitment and dedication towards the art of clubmaking.” “It has taken our team years of hard work to hone their craft and with this announcement, we’re proud to become one of only 10 club fi tting organisations outside of the United States to have a SST PURE machine to service their region. “As a company, we are constantly striving to make our customer’s golf game better which is why we continue to bring new technologies like SST PURE to the region. Our SST PURE machine investment is the most signifi cant investment we have made in our club fi tting technology to date, and its arrival ties in with the opening of our newly expanded Al Quoz fi tting area. Together with newly incorporated putter fi tting technology, the new expansion area offers our customers the closest possible tour-level fi tting experience in the region.”
“Our business has grown to 95 employees and the company achieved growth years in 2020 and 2021 following the pandemic. Today’s expansion of our original and first store is very personal to me, it’s where eGolf started, and along with the expansion we doubled our warehousing capacity and added new offices adjacent to the store to keep pace with the growth. I’m tremendously proud of the entire team for what they have achieved in such a short history and their alignment with our vision for the future”, stated Cheesley.
SST PROCESS AND BENEFITS
● The process of PUREing takes three to four minutes per shaft and generates a customer printout for each PUREd shaft showing its structural and performance analysis both before and after PUREing.
● Independent robot testing has shown that SST PUREing makes a signifi cant impact on all clubs in the bag, with PUREd iron shafts fi nishing up to 17 feet closer to the centre line and 2.5 yards further on average than shafts installed in a sub-optimum position. The same and other testing has shown that driver shots fl ew an average of 5 yards further and fi nished 13 yards closer to the centre line with PUREd driver shafts.
“Anyone who plays golf can benefi t from the SST process, not just the elite and tour players who use SST PUREing on their own clubs each year. As each shaft passes through the PUREing machine, the before and after shaft alignment data provides our clubmakers with the opportunity to build the most stable clubs possible for our customers. When that happens, our customers stand to benefi t from a longer, straighter ball fl ight and more consistent performance throughout the bag. It is a marvellous piece of technology and we’re excited to launch it at eGolf,” explained Cheesley.
SST PURE PRICING
eGolf Megastore will offer SST PUREing on new shafts, as well as retro PUREing on already built clubs or sets. PUREing will start at AED 150 per club for new shafts and AED 220 per club for retro PUREing, where the club or set will need to be disassembled so the shafts can be PUREd and then re-assembled back into the clubhead. SST PUREing is offered at all eGolf Megastore’s on-course and off-course locations throughout the Middle East. Manufacturer restrictions apply on Titleist and Ping.
MASTERS TOURNAMENT Who will be wearing the Green Jacket?
BY WYNAND DU BRUYN,
MANAGER & CUSTOM FITTING SPECIALIST AT GOLF SUPERSTORE
As one of the most iconic events in golf and beyond, attention within the golfi ng fraternity is starting to turn towards the Masters Tournament this month – taking place at August National Golf Club from April 7-10. The opening Grand Slam of the year, the Masters has been held in Georgia since 1934, with the list of winners deemed by many to be the defi nitive Who’s Who of professional golf. We’re going to look at some of the favourites to slip into the Green Jacket and what clubs they will be using in what promises to be a brilliant week of golf.
JON RAHM
After a blockbuster 2021, the Spaniard will be looking to recapture his status as the world’s best player. Four top ten fi nishes in all of the Majors last year signal his appetite for the big occasion. He remains the man to beat.
Smith is making it harder to be overlooked after his superb Players Championship triumph. The idea of a player with a mullet being crowned Masters champion might seem crazy to American fans, but there’s defi nitely one corner of the golf world that believes it can happen: Australia. Smith opts for Titleist clubs in the bag, playing with a Titleist driver, 3-wood and 7-wood as well as the new Titleist Vokey Design SM9 wedges and T100 irons
DRIVER
FAIRWAY WOODS
IRONS
WEDGES
PUTTER
WHATS IN THE BAG
Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS (10.5˚ at 11.2˚; Aldila Tour Green 75 TX shaft) Callaway Rogue ST LS Triple Diamond Proto (15 degrees at 14.2º; Aldila Tour Green 75 TX shaft) Callaway Epic Speed Sub Zero Triple Diamond T (18.1˚; Aldila Tour Green 75 TX shaft) Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW, Project X 6.5 shaft) Callaway Jaws MD5 (60-08W, Project X 6.5 shaft) Callaway Jaws Forged (52-10, 56-12 at 55.25˚, Project X 6.5 shaft) Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S (2.5˚, steel stepped shaft)
CAMERON SMITH
WHATS IN THE BAG
DRIVER Titleist TSi3 (10˚ A1 SureFit, Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X) FAIRWAY WOODS Titleist TSi2 (15˚ at 16˚ D4 SureFit, Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X) Titleist TS2 (18º at 19 D4 SureFit, UST Elements Red 8F5 X shaft)
IRONS
Titleist T100 Black (5-9, KBS Tour 130 X Custom Matte Black shaft)
WEDGES
Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-08M, 60-10S, KBS Tour 130 X)
JUSTIN THOMAS
Thomas has improved each year at the Masters since debuting in 2016, including a fourth-place fi nish at Augusta National. With four top-10 fi nishes in six starts this year, he moved up to seventh in the Offi cial World Golf Ranking. With Major Championship season right around the corner, he hopes getting back into the winner’s circle will be worth the wait.
DRIVER
FAIRWAY WOODS
IRONS
WEDGES
PUTTER
WHATS IN THE BAG
Titleist TSi3 with 10 degrees of loft fi tted with a Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX shaft Titleist TS3 (15º, A1 SureFit setting, Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 85 TX shaft) Titleist 915Fd (18º at 19.5º B3 SureFit3, Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 Tour Spec X shaft) Titleist T100 (4-iron), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft) Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F at 47.5º; 52-12F at 52.5º, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft) Titleist Vokey SM8 (56-14F at 57º, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft) Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-T at 60.5º, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft) Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Tour Prototype
VIKTOR HOVLAND
Victory at the Dubai Desert Classic means Viktor Hovland now has six worldwide career wins in just two-and-a-half years as a pro. The Norwegian beat veteran Richard Bland in a play-off to win his fi rst Rolex Series event and second DP World Tour title to move up to third in the World Ranking. He will be a force to be reckoned with at Augusta National.
WHATS IN THE BAG
DRIVER Ping G425 LST (9˚ at 8.4º; Fujikura Speeder 661 TX shaft, 45.5”, tipped 1/2 an inch) FAIRWAY WOODS TaylorMade SIM (15˚, Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X)
HYBRID
IRONS
WEDGES
PUTTER
Ping G425 (21º; Fujikura Ventus Blue 9 X) Ping i59 (4-PW, KBS Tour V 120 X shaft) Ping Glide Forged Pro (50˚-SS, 56˚-SS, KBS Tour-V 130 X shafts) Titleist Vokey SM8 Wedgeworks (60˚, KBS Tour-V 130 X shaft) Ping PLD DS 72 (patina fi nish, 36Ð, 20º lie, 2.5º loft, stepped shaft)
Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges
The Wedge to use at this year’s Master Tournament
Sometimes the toughest changes are the subtlest ones, like in the SM9, where Titleist engineers added weight to the back toe to raise the club’s overall CG. In moving the CG further in front of the clubface, the SM9 produces shots with lower trajectory and greater spin, giving players more control. Titleist also overhauled its groove cutting process, tightening the spin tolerance to ensure sharper grooves and higher overall spin rates. Vokey grinds help you manipulate bounce more precisely: the high bounce wedge grinds like the D and K grinds offer more forgiveness on your wedge shots, while the low bounce L grind helps you create shots around the green. Wedge bounce and grind improves your consistency and control over your wedge shots.
To take advantage of our full custom fi tting service using Trackman technology, please contact me on wynand@golfsuperstore.ae
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR WORLDWIDE GOLF READERS! GOLF SUPERSTORE ARE OFFERING 20% OFF ALL PRODUCTS* IN STORE SIMPLY BY QUOTING ‘WORLDWIDE GOLF’ AT THE POINT OF SALE.
PING i525
HAVE PING FOUND THE MODERN DAY EYE2 FORMULA FOR THE WEALTHY GOLFER?
By Alex Gallemore
I fi rst learned to play the game with a cut down half set of blades passed down by a family friend and it was a struggle at the best of times. Then I managed to buy a second-hand set of Ping Eye2 and my handicap tumbled. PING had a formula of making irons that were forgiving and suited a wide range of abilities. The Eye2 was the weapon of choice for the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in their early years and could be found in the bag of many amateurs around the world up to the end of the 1990s.
Today PING has maintained that winning formula and their latest i525 iron is arguably as close to the Eye2 in terms of wide-ranging handicap appeal. At fi rst glance it resembles a slightly larger version of their i59 iron but when you compare the lofts they are poles apart. So it made sense to test the i525 along side the i59 to showcase the performance differences.
7 iron loft:
i525 – 30.5o i59 – 34o
9 iron loft:
i525 – 40 o i59 – 42o
PING I525 Tech
FORGED, MARAGING STEEL FACE
The strength of the variable-thickness, maraging steel allows for a thinner, more dynamic face structure with an internal sole undercut in the 17-4 stainless steel body to increase fl exing to launch shots faster and higher with predictability.
EXTREME WEIGHTING
Tungsten toe and shaft tip weights combine with a tiered, dynamic face structure to expand the perimeter weighting while preserving ball speed through greater face defl ection for added distance and improved accuracy.
SOUND, FEEL
A polymer is precisely injected onto the inside of the face to improve feel and sound without interfering with face deflection, the source of its increased ball speed
MICROMAX GROOVES
A precision-milled groove pattern allows for tighter spacing and a geometry that results in an average of four extra grooves to reduce fliers in the short irons and preserve spin in the long irons for greater control and consistency.
PREFERRED STYLING
The players-style blade length and offset with a modest topline create a clean, compact profile favoured by discerning players. The hydropearl 2.0 finish repels water to ensure predictable, consistent performance from wet and dry conditions.
The Test
The i59 nine iron had a peak height of 111 feet and carried 137 yards. The i525 nine iron peak height was 108 feet and carried 144 yards. The spin rates were 400 rpm higher with i59. The flight with the i525 was strong and you could tell instantly that this club was all about holding greens through drop and stop instead of spin. The low centre of gravity and strong loft combination is common practice with distance irons but to enable a 40 degree nine iron to still peak at 108 feet is impressive.
THE VERDICT
Do not expect to hold greens with a knock down shot. If you remember the i525 is all about drop and stop you can’t go wrong. Over the ball these are confi dence inspiring but the minimal offset might not suit players looking to combat a slice. The only thing that lets these clubs down is the feel. The polymer injection is designed to enhance the sound but the feel resembled a hybrid and not a forged iron. Finally we come to the price. Ping are now at the top end of the premium brands when it comes to price and the i525 is nearly double the price of other branded irons. The days of having mass market appeal seem to be gone but are Ping setting their stall out to become a boutique brand like PXG? Having a set of i525 irons and matching Ping Glide 4.0 wedges is serious bling.
Pros: Looks,performance and durability. Cons: Price! Sound and feel needs enhancing.
i525 PRICE PER IRON: AED 1,050
ODYSSEY TOULON DESIGN PUTTERS
A PUTTER THAT CAN HANDLE YOUR POOR STRIKES?
By Alex Gallemore
Odyssey have been a major force in the putting game ever since they introduced their White Hot putter back in 2000. Odyssey launched their Toulon range in 2020 to target the high-end putter market and this year they have revised the line up.. But what is so special about the Toulon and is it worth the extra dollar over the standard White Hot range?
The Tech
Deep Diamond Groove Mill pattern
Deep full-face grooves are designed to control sound and feel by channelling vibration. The face also features a medium depth double fly cut to enhance forward roll and feel.
Midnight Black Finish
Toulon Design is widely recognised for its premium look and construction.
Stroke Lab Weighting
Innovative multi-material shaft saves 40 grams of weight, which is redistributed to the head and grip end of the putter. Stroke Lab completely rebalances the putter for improved tempo and consistency in the stroke.
Adjustable Weighting System
Every Toulon Design putter comes with a new two split-weight design that moves the weights forward, and toward the toe and heel.
The Test
Just like our irons, we strike the ball in a variety of places across the face. So it was interesting to see how the new 2022 Toulon lineup performed in regards to consistency from heel to toe strikes. No putter can adapt greatly for miss-alignment or a poor stroke, but a forgiving putter is all about looking after your distance control across the face. Every Toulon putter comes with a new two split-weight design that moves the weights forward, and toward the toe and heel. The positioning improves the inertia of the head, while also improving the consistency of impact ratio and forward roll. This paired with their deep diamond groove face are designed to give better feel and distance control from heel and toe strikes. We tried the Le Mans mallet design and on average a putt struck from nearer the heel still came up short compared to a centre strike that found the hole, but there was not much drop in speed from a strike closer to the toe.
THE VERDICT
Even the heel strikes felt solid but we just loved the aesthetics of the Toulon range. The dark finish and white centre line are ideal for the Middle East sun glare, but at close to $500 each it’s worth trying other premium putters. Like an expensive jacket, make sure you get fitted as you are paying for the looks and quality. But it is worth noting the Toulon putters are double the price of the standard White Hot model which are still used by many Tour professionals including the World No.2, Jon Rahm.
Pros: Looks, quality and distance control Cons Price and nearly all the Callaway staff players use the lower priced White Hot model .
ODYSSEY TOULON DESIGN PUTTER: AED 2,350
TAYLORMADE STEALTH
THE IRONS THAT HAVE HYBRIDS RUNNING TO THE GYM!
By Alex Gallemore
There is nothing Stealth about TaylorMade’s latest performance iron. From the moment you put the club behind the ball it just shouts distance and forgiveness. Though unlike the questionable build quality of the Stealth fairway metal we tested last month, the Stealth iron is well engineered and put together. It is also a huge hit when it comes to looks, as the robust performance irons muscle back design shares similar lines to TaylorMade’s popular P770 irons.
P770
THE TECHNOLOGY
STEALTH
CAP BACK DESIGN WITH TOE WRAP CONSTRUCTION
Cap Back Design with toe wrap construction is an advanced engineering feat that shifts mass from the extreme high toe of the head and repositions it in the sole to create an extremely low CG. It expands the distance, forgiveness and feel benefi ts, delivering an iron that is easy to launch with a hot trajectory throughout the set.
FAST FORGIVING FACE WITH PROGRESSIVE INVERTED CONE TECHNOLOGY
The 450 stainless steel face has a sweet spot that spans the most common impact points, generating faster ball speeds and consistency.
ECHO DAMPING SYSTEM
Located behind the face, the ECHO Damping System uses a soft polymer blend and multiple contact points across the face to channel away harsh vibrations and create a forged-like feel at impact.
THRU-SLOT SPEED POCKET
Patented TaylorMade technology engineered to maximise face fl exibility for increased ball speed and forgiveness for miss-hits low on the face. THE TEST
The more you analyse the technology in this head the more you understand how it is going to perform. It’s a heavyweight in both physical size and distance but I was intrigued to see how a 28 degree seven iron can be marketed as having a high launch. When you consider their Tiger Woods Tour iron has a seven-iron loft of 35 degrees and the matching fi ve-iron’s loft is 27 degrees, you can start to appreciate that Stealth is going to go deep. On warm up swings we were getting strong ball speeds but the height was similar to my current fi ve iron of just over 80 feet. Though once warmed up, the average carry distance was just over 175 yards with a total shy of 190, but the height had climbed to an astonishing 100 feet due to the ridiculous ball speed of 124mph and increased spin. The dispersion was tight in regard to direction but distance and height control was the main issue as there was that hot one where we saw a spike in distance. A couple of shots were nine yards longer in carry distance with a similar launch and ball speed to other shots. This wasn’t due to the club path changing or increased swing speed, just where the ball was struck slightly differently on the face.
THE VERDICT
The Stealth iron certainly massages your ego, as I’ve never hit a seven iron that far or high. To consistently carry 175 yards with little effort is impressive but the better player might struggle with gapping and dialling in consistent numbers. Over the ball this has to be one of the most confi dence boosting irons but it has some serious bulk. TaylorMade has disguised the size well with a clever muscle back look but these are more like hybrid irons.
Pros: Effortless distance, forgiveness and price
Cons: It’s huge and plays more like a hybrid. Hot strikes!
COBRA KING FORGED TEC
COPPER HEAD BRINGS FEEL TO THE DISTANCE IRON RANGE
By Alex Gallemore
Many irons these days are marketed through distance and forgiveness, to the point many are starting to resemble hybrids and not a conventional iron. Huge sweet spot, tungsten weighting and ultra-thin faces with a sizeable offset appears to be the ingredients to making this powerful modern distance iron. Which is why I was drawn to the Cobra King Forged Tec Copper irons. They follow the same formula as all the other distance irons but Cobra have aimed it at the slightly better golfer that requires feel and workability in a mid sized head.
THE TECHNOLOGY
A classic, muscle back shape conceals an unassuming hollow core that delivers a low centre of gravity and controlled distance for maximum playability.
The hollow cavity is infused with foam microspheres that fine-tune acoustics and create a softer feel.
Cobra King Forged Tec Copper irons have a forged face that wraps around the sole of the club also know as PWRSHELL. This creates a huge sweet spot as well as high launch and loads of forgiveness. When this tech is paired with the other elements of the design, it offers high launch and long distance in a compact yet forgiving head.
THE TEST
Our issue with distance irons in the past is consistency and this is where the Cobra King Forged Tec Copper scores the highest. Out of 15 shots the worst carried 168 and the best was 173 yards with a total average yardage of 182. Not the longest distance iron I’ve tested but by far the most consistent. The fact the seven iron is just 29.5 degrees and still launched, on average, 93 feet, shows the tech is working. With a steady swing the ball speed was around 116 mph and we managed to peak it at 123mph but the control wasn’t there. The lower swing speed still achieved a height of 86 feet, so you can still play a softer shot into a green knowing it will drop and stop. The minimal offset also allows you to work the ball slightly, but the huge benefit of the copper head is not just the looks but the feel. It’s not comparable to a true forged muscle back blade but as a distance iron goes the feel is one of the best on the market.
THE VERDICT
The Cobra King Forged Tec Copper will appeal more to the low to mid handicapper that wants a little more distance while still maintaining a high launch. The clean design doesn’t shout distance iron but lack of toe height was slightly off putting, as it made the club appear to be sitting too flat. The huge down side is the price and you start to bring in similar clubs from the leading brands. Cobra has recently won me over with their performance over price ratio, but this iron bucks the tread. If I was to opt for this model I would try Cobra’s King Tour MIM Copper head before committing to buy. It’s even more money but worth considering. It’s great to see copper heads being reborn, as it reminds me of the legendary Ping Eye2 Beryllium Copper irons and that’s a great role model.
Pros: Looks, feel and distance control
Cons: Expensive and that low toe takes some getting use to. Price looses Cobra’s value for money appeal.
ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB
Breytenbach breezes to title
Lizette Breytenbach was crowned Ladies Club champion after conquering the fast greens and diffi cult pin positions to post a total of 166 at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. In the Men’s Division, Victor Peña Cortes carded rounds of 75 and 70, which included a hole-in-one on the 13th in the second round, to take home the title. Craig Bruce won the Men’s Net Division on a countback over Wael Shami Mohamad Rahman while Inka Stever secured the Ladies Net Division.
ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB
Bishop continues hot streak in Abu Dhabi
Toby Bishop continued his scintillating form of late after securing another Men’s Open title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club with an impressive fi nal round 67 over the National Course.
The Welshman started the fi nal round four shots adrift of leader Jake Wiltshire but soon rose to the summit of the leaderboard with four birdies before making the turn. The youngster continued his purple patch over the back nine, adding three more birdies to fi nish with a 67, the best 18-hole score of the week, which secured a three-stroke victory over James Nash.
The win, which extends Bishop’s lead at the top of the EGF Order of Merit, comes off the back of three consecutive Men’s Open victories last month at Tower Links Golf Club, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai and Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.
The youngster would go on to win a fi fth Men’s Open title from six events the following week at Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
Zach strikes Gould over the Faldo
Zach Gould got his hands on the latest Peter Cowen Academy Junior Tour event after posting a gross score of 36, which included one birdie, one bogey and seven pars, over the Falco Course at Emirates Golf Club. In the Net Division, Siddhan Chibber was victorious with a net 41 with an eagle on the sixth the highlight of his round..
Complimentary access to par 3 course for juniors
Junior golfers in the UAE can enjoy a selection of facilities, including full access to the academy and the par 3 course, at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club free of charge with the club’s Junior Academy Pass, which aims to help introduce the younger generation to the game.
The Junior Academy Pass, which is available to kids aged 17 and under, is the perfect way for youngsters to take their fi rst steps into the game while gaining some fantastic experience and having fun. As well as complimentary access to the par 3 course, which is fl oodlit, youngsters can also take advantage of the fl oodlit double-sided driving range (up to 80 grass hitting bays) with range balls, short game areas, practice putting greens and members discount on pro shop purchases.
All of those facilities will be free to use from Monday to Friday for children with the pass. During weekends and public holidays, a reduced fee of just 40AED is required for access.
“We introduced this as an option for any junior to take advantage of, as we wanted them to feel they were members of the club even though they had maybe not yet achieved an offi cial handicap, or felt ready for regular golf on the championship course,” said Gavin Chappell, Director of Instruction.
EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION
U.S. Kids Golf a success
U.S. Kids Golf United Arab Emirates, with the support of the Emirates Golf Federation, have just completed a successful second season with eight tournaments across the Emirates, in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras al Khaimah. The organisation had an increase of 91 juniors participating in the fi rst Local Tour in 2021 to 143 juniors participating in the second Local Tour in 2022, with 72 of the juniors obtaining Priority Status, which can earn them invitations to events above Local Tours up to and including the World Championship.
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB The UAE Junior Team secured the GCC Junior Golf Championship after Abdalla Al Suwaidi, Rashid Al Jassmy and Mohammad Skaik posted a team total of +42 for a 15 stroke triumph over Oman at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Bahrain took home third while Qatar fi nished in fourth in the 54-hole competition over the National Course. In the Individual competition, Kuwait’s Salem Alabkal fi nished on top of the leaderboard on +14, while Ali Babatein fi nished six shots back to take home second for Saudi Arabia.
In the main event, Team Qatar got their hands on the GCC Golf Championship trophy after Jaham Al Kuwari, Ali Al Shaharani, Saleh Al Kaabi led the team to glory on the fi nal day of the 72-hole tournament.
Team Saudi Arabia fi nished second, Bahrain third, hosts UAE in fourth, Oman in fi fth and Kuwait sixth in the six-nation regional team event.
It was double joy for Al Kaabi, who also claimed the Men’s Individual title with rounds of 71, 66, 75 and 79 sealing a four-stroke triumph over Saudi’s Faisal Sahleb. Emirati Ahmad Skaik, who is ranked 29th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, fi nished four shots further in back in third.
Al Kaabi and Alabkal were awarded Honorary Membership of Abu Dhabi Golf Club in recognition of their achievements.
Vance and Smith on cloud nine after Club Championship triumph
Craig Vance was on fi ne form as he carded rounds of 66 and 69 to sign for a seven under par total to be crowned Men’s Club Champion. In the Ladies Division, Kate Smith successfully defended her title with rounds of 73 and 79 while Jack White and Julie Goodall secured the Men’s and Ladies Net Divisions respectively.
SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB
Craig blows the eld away
Tim Craig was the star of the day at the recently held Red Tee Four Club Challenge after securing an unbelievable score of a net 58, which included a staggering 13 net birdies and a net eagle. There were several other good scores on the day including runner up Marghoob Khan posting 61 and Sam Gilbert in third on 67.
Experirnce shines through at monthly medal
Experience shined through at the Monthly Stableford as SGSC member Shaheen Butt produced a brilliant round of golf to top the leaderboard with an excellent score of 37 points which included fi ve net birdies. Diman Ravi also carded 37 points to top Division A while Sultan Qazi carded 36 points to home the Division B title.
JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES
Delight for Choudry on Fire course
Jameel Choudry didn’t drop a single shot on the way to winning the Peter Cowen Academy Dubai Junior Medal as the youngster carded one net eagle and two net birdies on the front nine of the Fire Course. Ivo Yanez Matesans had to settle for runner-up after narrowly missing out on a card play-off for top spot, while Seth Hopkinson secured the Gross Division on level par.
IN THE BAG WITH AKRAM SKAIK
DIRECTOR GENERAL, EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION
Favourite club in the bag and why? My 17-year-old putter. It’s 50% of the game and I love it!
Favourite player? Ian Poulter. I like his fighting soul and he’s helped my son Ahmad a lot, especially with his putting. He is a master at putting.
Fantasy fourball? Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter and my son Ahmad.
Best Course in the UAE? Yas Links, Abu Dhabi.
Favourite par 3 hole in the UAE? 6th at Montgomerie. It’s tough and challenging!
Item you never leave behind on your travels? My golf bag!
Bryson or Books? Brooks. Bryson is too interested in his muscles!
Driver: TaylorMade M5 Woods: TaylorMade M6 Hybrid: Nike Vapor Speed Irons: TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB Irons Wedges: Titleist SM7 52° Callaway MD3 Milled 56° TaylorMade Hi-toe 60°C Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport
